WHUFC.com
Henri Lansbury was on target as Ian Hendon's Development Squad scored a 2-1
victory at QPR
03.04.2012
Henri Lansbury and Brian Montenegro were on target as the Development Squad
scored a convincing 2-1 victory at Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday.
Captain-for-the-day Lansbury belted in a fantastic long-range volley before
substitute Montenegro pounced on a loose clearance to net the winner after
DJ Campbell had equalised. With Guy Demel, Winston Reid, Papa Bouba Diop,
Paul McCallum and Montenegro returning from injury and Stephen Henderson
looking solid on his first start in goal, Ian Hendon's side were too good
for an experienced Rangers team. Young professionals Sebastian Lletget and
Eoin Wearen caught the eye, while scholars Kenzer Lee, Blair Turgott, Pelly
Ruddock and Frazer Shaw showed why they are all rated so highly. QPR named
France international Djibril Cisse, top scorer Heidar Helguson, Tommy Smith,
Fitz Hall, Danny Shittu and Campbell in a strong starting XI, but they had
no answer to Hendon's team. Even when they did find a way through in the
second half, Henderson made a pair of smart saves to keep Rangers at bay.
Hendon told West Ham TV he was proud of his players after an impressive
afternoon's work at the Harlington Training Ground. "QPR are a Premier
League side and they had a few first-team players out, like we did, and it
was a good competitive game and we came out on top," said the coach. It
could have been a lot more comprehensive. We played ever so well and created
a lot of chances and on another day it could have been a few more. They have
not really opened us up that much and we came out with a win."
Lansbury's goal was an absolute pearler, with the England Under-21 star
smashing a bouncing ball into the top right-hand corner from all of 30
yards. Nicky Maynard, Sam Baldock and John Carew all started up front, with
all three coming close to getting their names on the scoresheet. With
Lletget outstanding in central midfield, Montenegro went one better by
slamming in the winner 12 minutes after replacing Carew at half-time. Hendon
was pleased with every single member of his squad, many of whom will want to
force their way into Sam Allardyce's first-team reckoning over the coming
weeks. "Guy, Winston and Papa all came through fine and that was the plan.
Henri got 90 minutes under his belt and Sam and Nicky also got some game
time, which was pleasing. "Our young lads also did extremely well. Eoin and
Sebby have been in my group for the majority of the season and have been
unsung players. Eoin is now comfortable at centre-back after moving midway
through the season and is starting to shine through. "Sebby has got the
ability there - we know that. He's got to keep producing performances like
he did here and the manager will take notice of him. He's done every so well
to link play in the midfield. "Brian has been out with an ankle injury and
he's come back and scored, which he has a habit of doing."
West Ham United XI: Henderson, Demel (Shaw 61), Reid (K.Lee 61), Wearen,
Potts, Diop (Ruddock 61), Lansbury, Lletget, Maynard (Turgott 61), Baldock
(McCallum 71), Carew (Montenegro 46)
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The Big Interview - George McCartney
WHUFC.com
The popular left-back is not giving up hope of gaining automatic promotion
this season
03.04.2012
George McCartney says West Ham United are remaining upbeat ahead of their
final half-dozen npower Championship fixtures. The left-back, who has been
one of West Ham United's most consistent players this season, pointed to
Reading's tough run-in as a reason to be optimistic despite Saturday's 4-2
home defeat by the Royals. The No3 is targeting a return of 16 points from
the Hammers' final six matches to overhaul Brian McDermott's side and secure
automatic promotion.
George, will we have to settle for the Play-Offs now after Saturday's defeat
by Reading?
GM - No I don't think so. If you look at Reading's run-in, they've still got
lots of tough games. I think we have six games left and we need to win five
and draw one. I can't see Reading going unbeaten for the rest of the season
- they are away to Southampton, Brighton and Birmingham and have Leeds at
home, which are tough games. Ours aren't the easiest either but we all know
what we're capable of, so it's just a matter of going on to the pitch in
those six games and producing the performances. We need five wins and a
draw, if not six wins, to secure automatic promotion and that's what we'll
be aiming for. I think we've probably got one of the best squads in the
league but, for one reason or another, we haven't produced the performances
at home over the last few weeks. It's got to the stage of the season and
we've had five or six draws in a row and, against lesser teams, that is not
good enough.
It looked like there was only going to be one winner for much of the first
half on Saturday, didn't there?
GM - I think for 43 minutes there was only one team out there. We passed
them off the park, created chances, got the lead and had chances to make it
two, maybe three. But in the last couple of minutes of the half we have let
them score from a set-piece and as for the second goal, I don't even know
what was going on there. They went in 2-1 up and I think our lads were a bit
shellshocked really. To go in level at half time would have been an
injustice, but to go in 2-1 down was incredible.
We came out second half and played like we had in the first half. We passed
the ball well and had a couple of corners and a free-kick, then they went up
the other end and got a penalty to make it 3-1 and the game was more or less
over. We got ourselves back in it at 3-2 and I thought everyone was looking
for a big finish, then we gave away another stupid goal.
What went wrong? Why did we commit so many uncharacteristic defensive
mistakes?
GM - I don't' know what happened. For the majority of the season we have
defended really well and not conceded that many goals. But I think
throughout the season, our downfall has been conceding off set-pieces and
obviously their first goal has come from a corner and the second has come
from a long kick from the keeper, which we haven't dealt with either. We
were on top so much in the first half and were 1-0 up and were all pushing
to get the second goal and it's probably cost us. I actually said to Matt
Taylor in about the 39th or 40th minute 'We need a second goal, because I
think that would see Reading off'. Reading weren't playing with any
confidence, they didn't really have much of the ball and never really
threatened us. Every time we had the ball we were getting forward, creating
chances, getting crosses into the box, but it just evaded us really. We lost
the first goal and then to be 2-1 down at half-time, it took a big effort at
the start of the second half. We started well and the penalty more or less
knocked our confidence and as much as we tried and the fans were behind us,
we couldn't get back into it. Once it went to 4-2, the game was over,
really, and we were never going to get back from that.
Is one point from 12 against Southampton and Reading this season going to
prove crucial in the end?
GM - It's looking that way at the minute but we'll keep fighting right the
way until the end of the season. We've got six games to go and there are
going to be more twists and turns. We can only do our part and if we do
that, we'll see where it takes us at the end of the season.
Is team spirit still good?
GM - Yes, of course it is. It didn't help us losing on Saturday, but all the
lads had a chat after the game and we're more than up for the challenge
ahead of getting the wins we need to get automatic promotion. That's still
what we're pushing for.
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U18s outfox Foxes
WHUFC.com
Nick Haycock's side scored a 2-0 win over Leicester City in their final home
game of the season
02.04.2012
West Ham United's Under-18s are still in with an outside chance of winning
the FA Premier Academy League Group A title after scoring a 2-0 win over
Leicester City.
Nick Haycock's side completed their slate of home fixtures for the 2011/12
season with a fine victory over the Foxes, who began the weekend top of the
Group B table themselves. Elliot Lee opened the scoring with a penalty
before a staunch defensive display was rewarded with a breakaway goal from
Blair Turgott.
Saturday's success means the Hammers could go into their final game of the
season at MK Dons on 28 April with an opportunity to win the title. However,
third-place West Ham need to thrash their opponents and receive a huge
amount of help to finish in top spot. Leaders Arsenal are three points ahead
and need to lose at Birmingham City, while second-place Southampton need to
pick up just one point from their final two matches. Fourth-place Fulham - a
point behind West Ham - have three games remaining, while fifth-place
Charlton Athletic have four matches left to play.
U18s coach Haycock admitted his side's title chances might be slim, but he
was justifiably proud of the fine result they achieved against Leicester on
Saturday.
"Leicester were a good team," he said. "They were top of their league going
into the game and were really going for it. We had a young side out but we
rose to the challenge. "I played [first-year professional] Eoin Wearen at
centre-back as Leo Chambers was away with England and a couple of the
Under-16s were injured. Eoin was terrific. We don't play over-age players
too often but we needed to. He showed a great attitude and the lads
responded to him. "The first half was tight but we went in front when Kieran
Bywater got himself into the box and was brought down and Elliot tucked away
the penalty. The game then ebbed and flowed for the remainder of the half
and both teams had chances. "In the second half, they were playing in our
half as much as they could, but we defended resolutely from the front and
worked really hard. We broke away on the counter-attack and doubled our lead
through Blair. "Leicester will be disappointed not to have scored at least
one goal late on, but we also had a few chances. It was a good, solid
performance from the whole team and Sam Baxter in goal made a good save with
the score at 1-0. "We now go into our final game at MK Dons knowing we could
finish anywhere from first to sixth in the table!"
West Ham United U18s: Baxter, Young, Wearen, K.Lee, Shaw, Turgott, Miles
(Fanimo 87), Ruddock, Bywater (Powell 81), Sadlier, E.Lee
Subs not used: Brown, Nasha, Boakye-Yiadom
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Hammers back Football v Homophobia
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are backing the Football v Homophobia campaign
03.04.2012
West Ham United players used the warm-up for Saturday's game with Reading to
show their support for the Football v Homophobia campaign. FvH is an
international initiative opposing homophobia in football. In England it is
the FA's endorsed campaign to tackle homophobia and prejudice against
lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in grassroots football.
Across football in the UK it is the only specifically designed campaign to
tackle issues around homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. The Justin
Campaign uses FvH to work around the year to enable people to take action
against prejudice and discrimination based on sexuality or gender identity
in football, and to celebrate and welcome diversity. Through the message of
FvH, the Justin Campaign provides support, communication materials,
education and training to enable anyone - including fans, LGBT communities,
grassroots teams, professional football clubs and football authorities - to
communicate and promote the message that football is for everyone.
A recent study by FvH suggests that almost two out every three football fans
believe football would be a better sport if anti-gay abuse was eradicated,
and one out of two lesbian, gay and bisexual fans feel it effects their
participation in the sport. West Ham United has supports the FvH campaign
that wants football to take a clear stand against homophobia so that
everyone can enjoy the beautiful game and so that football leads the way in
removing discrimination and prejudice based on gender identity and sexual
orientation. FvH are delighted that West Ham United are supporting Football
v Homophobia. If you would like to find out more about what FvH are doing to
tackle these issues and about the simple things you can do to make a
difference, go to www.footballvhomophobia.com and www.thejustincampaign.com.
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David Gold Interview Tomorrow at 8pm on LBC 97.3 ( This Morning )
West Ham Till I Die
Tomorrow night (Wednesday) I will have West Ham co-chairman David Gold in my
LBC studio for an hour. I'll be interviewing him and we'll be taking
questions from callers too. If you have any questions you think I should put
to him, please leave them in the comments, but I hope you will also take the
opportuniity to phone into the studio and put your question personally.
One thing I should make clear is that this is not going to be a West Ham
geek hour. I have an audience whiich is not necessarily into the whys and
wherefores of long ball football or the 4-3-3 formation, so I need to keep
the interview focussed on wider issues like the Olympic Stadium, football
finance, what it's like running a football club, players' wages. the role of
agents etc. Of course we will talk about a few West Ham issues -
consequences of not getting promoted, could we stay up etc, but I can't
allow the interview to get bogged down in West Ham minutae which would of
course be fascinating to you and me, but maybe not to my LBC audience.
Anyway, if you can't get LBC on 97.3 FM, there are loads of other ways to
listen...
On Digital radio in 70% of the country
Sky Channel 0112
Virgin Media Channel 973
LBC iPhone App
LBC iPad App
Stream live online at www.lbc.co.uk
On the evening you can call in on 0845 60 60 973 (we will call you back),
Text 84850 or email iain@lbc.co.uk
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West Ham supporters back move to Olympic Stadium, insists club vice-chairman
Karren Brady
West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady claimed that the supporters who had seen
the detailed proposals to move from Upton Park to the Olympic Stadium were
"100 per cent" behind the switch if their 99-year lease tender to become the
anchor tenant succeeds.
By Jacquelin Magnay8:59PM BST 03 Apr 20126
Telegraph.co.uk
Brady said she had shown scores of supporters on an advisory board,
representing a cross-section of the club membership, the detailed plans for
the move, the finances underpinning the optimism for a switch from the
35,000-seat Upton Park and the opportunities to grow the club and the area.
She said having West Ham at the 60,000-seat Olympic Stadium would attract an
extra million visitors a year to the Olympic Park and bring a global profile
to the stadium. Importantly for the supporters, such a move would bring
about reduced ticket prices, even though the club's owners were injecting
around £30 million a year to underpin the club's finances. "They are persons
of substantial wealth," said Brady of David Sullivan and David Gold, noting
that they were personally committed to the club having taken on £100 million
of debt – an amount since whittled down to £70 million – and were fully
behind the proposed move. Brady said all of the supporters have had to sign
a strict confidentiality clause before hearing the plans but claimed "all of
them have agreed with what I have presented, there hasn't been a single
dissenting voice".
She was slightly frustrated that the plans could not be divulged to the
wider fan base until a decision had been taken.
Brady said the club's Olympic Stadium proposals would work with football in
winter and athletics in summer and that the football sight lines would not
be an issue.
"We believe this is the best move for our fans and supporters and makes
attending matches more affordable. There is a chance to grow revenue and
increase financial stability and is the only way for us to move to the next
level," she said. She said the stadium offered twice the spectator capacity
and much greater corporate hospitality options. West Ham are one of four
main bidders for the Olympic Stadium with a decision expected on successful
"anchor concessionaires" due at the end of May. US sports operators and
concert promoters could also be involved in the bidding process. It is
understood the Mayor of London, whether that be Boris Johnson or Ken
Livingstone, will sign off on the successful applicants. West Ham have
permission for any future move from the Premier League but the club had not
yet sought permission from the football league.
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We must move into Olympic Stadium to recreate glory days, claim Hammers
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 18:22, 3 April 2012 | UPDATED: 18:42, 3 April 2012
Daily Mail
West Ham claim that moving to the Olympic Stadium is the only way that they
will be able to develop in to a major player in English football again. Two
weeks ago the Hammers, who were relegated to the npower Championship last
season, declared that they had renewed their application to move to the
Olympic Stadium after their original bid collapsed in the wake of complaints
from Tottenham and Leyton Orient. The Hammers have now had to apply for a
99-year lease of the London 2012 showpiece in Stratford, which will be
converted in to a 60,000-seater stadium following the Games, after the
London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) reopened the bidding process.
Some fans are against the move, mainly because the OPLC insist the running
track must remain as it was part of organisers' commitment to provide the
capital with a post-Games athletics legacy. Having inherited a club saddled
with £100million of debt, co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold are keen
to bring in more money to the club and the Hammers' marketing director Tara
Warren today insisted moving to Stratford was crucial to the east London
outfit's development. She said: 'It's an opportunity that we think is too
good to miss and it's the only way that the club can really grow. This is
the only way we can move to the next level. 'We wouldn't be doing this if
this wasn't going to benefit us commercially. "It will do that and it will
improve our stability. It will improve our profile as a club on a global
stage.
'There are many financial benefits associated with the move. 'We have twice
the capacity for general admission, we have increased hospitality
opportunities and we would benefit from the profile of this new fantastic
stadium.' West Ham are one of four parties who have applied to become
tenants of the stadium, with a moving in date pencilled in for the summer of
the 2014. Essex County Cricket Club and the university of east London have
also tabled a joint bid. The two other candidates are unknown.
The Hammers, who currently sit third in the Championship, won the original
contest to move to the stadium permanently mainly because of their
commitment to keep the running track. Vice chairman Karren Brady said
following that victory that they would consider introducing retractable
seating so fans were not far away from the pitch. The club have made no
comment on whether that remains their stance for their tenancy application
due to confidentiality rules. Warren thinks West Ham stand a good chance of
being successful with their bid - the LLDC announce their decision on May 21
- and believes the move will be beneficial to the club's fans. 'It's the
best move for our fans,' she said. 'They will have improved facilities, it
will solve many of the issues that they have at Upton Park and it's an
opportunity to make matches more affordable. 'We think we bring a good
proposition to the LLDC because we bring a rental for 99 years, that's a
decent guaranteed income for a long period of time and that gives them quite
a bit of security. 'We bring an attractive name as we are a football club,
and we hope a Premier League football club by the time this is resolved, and
we will bring businesses to the Olympic Park.'
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West Ham Fans Don't Understand Olympic Move
Lbc.co.uk
Wednesday 3rd April 2012
Karren Brady has told LBC 97.3 she doesn't think the West Ham fans
"understand" why the club wants to move to the Olympic Stadium - but once
they do they'll fully support it. She's also blamed the way the competition
is being run for not allowing them to show off their plans to fans. The
Hammers vice chair, who can see the Olympic Park from her boardroom window,
has been leading on the East London's clubs plans for more than 2 years.
West Ham were nominated as preferred bidders last year to takeover the
Stadium from 2014 before a legal challenge from London rivals Spurs & Leyton
Orient forced the process to start all over again. Now they're one of four
bidders looking to become 'tenants'.
Asked by our Olympics correspondent John Cushing whether she thought West
Ham fans want to go she admitted many still need persuading but its not
their fault.
"I think the fans don't understand what it means to go. I think if their
view is that what West Ham will do is pick up goalposts on a Friday and play
there on a Saturday then I don't think they do want to go. If they could see
the vision we have for it that makes it a world class football stadium - I
mean a stadium for football as well as stadium for athletics and that would
mean certain different configurations in winter compared to summer months
then I think if they understand the facilities, the views and the easy
location in terms of transport they would understand that, but because of
the way competition is run we're not allowed to visualise for our supporters
what the stadium will be if lucky enough to move their."
A spokesman for the London Legacy Development Corporation (formerly the
Olympic Park Legacy Company) said it was to make sure the competition was
"robust" and fair to all.
The Olympic Stadium will become the home of British Athletics after the
London Olympics and will stage the 2017 World Athletic Championships. The
University of East London and Essex Cricket Club confirmed to LBC 97.3 last
week they are also jointly bidding to use the stadium - but Ms Brady is
quite clear West Ham and Athletics are the perfect permanent match.
"In terms of sharing the stadium I think as many uses as possible will make
it very viable but I think there needs to be anchor tenants. It has to
centre around football as the winter sport and the summer sport being
athletics and then if can slot in pop concerts and one off large sporting
events then I think that helps make stadium viable as well as community
use."
And fans used to going to the Boleyn Ground or Upton Park will also have to
get used to a new name. The Legacy Company are looking to seel 'naming
rights' but "as long as looks and feels like home for West Ham that's all we
care about - and I mean look and feel - we've got certain traditions we'd
like to take with us and that will be important to us."
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KARREN BRADY'S STADIUM CONCERN
Sporting Life
Karren Brady has claimed that moving to the Olympic Stadium is the only way
West Ham will be able to develop into a bigger, more successful club. Two
weeks ago West Ham, who were relegated to the npower Championship last
season, declared that they had renewed their application to move to the
Olympic Stadium after their original bid collapsed in the wake of complaints
from Tottenham and Leyton Orient. The Hammers have now had to apply for a
99-year lease of the London 2012 showpiece in Stratford, which will be
converted in to a 60,000-seater stadium following the Games, after the
London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC - formerly known as the Olympic
Park Development Company) reopened the bidding process. Some fans are
against the move, mainly because the LLDC insist the running track must
remain as it was part of organisers' commitment to provide the capital with
a post-Games athletics legacy. Having inherited a club saddled with
£100million of debt, co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold are keen to
bring in more money to the club and vice-chairman Brady insists moving to
Stratford is crucial to the east London outfit's development.
She said: "There is a chance to grow revenue and increase financial
stability and is the only way for us to move to the next level. "It's a
piece of history. It's the only Olympic stadium in the UK and it will
attract crowds." Many fans had felt aggrieved at moving from Upton Park,
their home of 108 years, but Brady revealed the West Ham board have
consulted with supporters to allay their fears and claims they have been
very impressed with the club's plans. She added: "All of them have agreed
with what I have presented, there hasn't been a single dissenting voice.
"Everybody who has seen our vision has voted in favour even those who write
for fanzines and have been very negative. Who else can use it or would want
to use it?"
West Ham are one of four parties who have applied to become tenants of the
stadium, with a moving in date pencilled in for the summer of the 2014.
Essex county cricket club and the university of east London have also tabled
a joint bid. The two other candidates are unknown. The Hammers, who sit
third in the Championship, won the original contest to move to the stadium
permanently mainly because of their commitment to keep the running track.
Brady said following that victory that they would consider introducing
retractable seating so fans were not far away from the pitch, but today made
no comment on whether that remains their stance for their tenancy
application due to confidentiality rules.
With Tottenham now out of the race, West Ham are arguably in a stronger
position now than they were in the original contest, and have told the LLDC
that they will only move to Stratford if it can be converted in to a
"world-class" football arena. Brady insisted today that does not mean they
will go to the government with a list of unreasonable demands when they
start deciding how the stadium will look post-Games, however. "You cannot
bully the government," she said. "They are not going to be strong-armed into
decisions under the threat of judicial review. "The most important thing for
them is usage, community, jobs and revenue and we tick all boxes."
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England and Arsenal midfielder nets in West Ham United's win over Queens
Park Rangers
3:51pm Tuesday 3rd April 2012 in News
Guardian Series
West Ham United midfielder Henri Lansbury netted for the development side in
their win over Queens Park Rangers this afternoon. The Arsenal and England
Under-21 talent was handed the captaincy and led a strong Hammers team to
victory. Striker Brian Montenegro also scored for West Ham against QPR.
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