Daily WHUFC News - 1st Mo-vember 2012

Noble excited by young stars
WHUFC.com
Mark Noble has spoken glowingly about the club's latest band of Academy
graduates
31.10.2012

Mark Noble knows a thing or two about what it takes to successfully graduate
from the Academy of Football to the West Ham United first team. The reigning
Hammer of the Year is now approaching 250 appearances for the club, having
made his reserve-team debut at the age of 15 and his first-team bow just
three months past his 17th birthday. Still just 25, Noble has seen a host of
home-grown players follow him into the first team - most notably Jack
Collison, James Tomkins, Jordan Spence, Rob Hall and Dan Potts. This season,
the next group of hopefuls have started to make their mark, with George
Moncur, Matthias Fanimo and Dylan Tombides making their debuts and Leo
Chambers, Callum Driver and Paul McCallum all being named on the
substitutes' bench by Sam Allardyce. The Development Squad and Under-18s
regularly train with the first team, giving Noble and his team-mates a
first-hand look at the club's promising youngsters. With the Ian Hendon's
side six points clear at the top of the Barclays U21 Premier League Group 1
table, the No16 is excited about the future of the club. "I think Jordan,
Moncs, Hally, Matthias, young Leo - who has travelled with us to the last
two Premier League games and been on the bench - and the others are doing
well," said Noble. "If they keep on grafting, don't let it go to their heads
when they travel with the first team and put it in when they play for the
Development Squad, then they will keep enjoying it and keep moving forward.
"We have got a good crop of young players and they will soon be pushing the
seniors for their places. The Premier League is obviously a tough league to
come into - I learnt that as a 17-year-old that it's a tough ask and you've
got to be mentally capable to do that - but hopefully they can keep pushing
us."

Perhaps more than at any other club, the Boleyn Ground faithful love nothing
more than seeing one of their own graduate to the first team. Noble,
Collison, Tomkins et al have received huge support whenever they have pulled
on the claret and blue shirt, and the midfielder said it gives them all a
huge boost to hear the roar of the crowd behind them. The lifelong West Ham
fan is looking forward to hearing more from his fellow supporters when he
takes to the field against Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City
on Saturday. "It's so important to have that support, particularly when
things aren't going well. You're not always going to be two or three-nil up
at half-time - it's not going to work out like that. "We all need the fans
behind us from kick-off until the final whistle because it only takes a
second or two to score a goal. Every little bit of noise and encouragement
that they give us helps us massively so I hope they carry on with the
support they have given us this year because it's been fantastic."

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Academy graduates go back to college
WHUFC.com
Dan Potts and Rob Hall spoke to a group of sports-mad students at Havering
College
31.10.2012

Dan Potts and Rob Hall returned to the classroom to meet a group of aspiring
youngsters looking to build a career in sport. The pair answered questions
about their careers and lifestyles posed by students working towards a Level
3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Sport or BTEC National Certificate in Sport at
Havering College of Higher and Further Education in Harold Hill. Joined by
Head of Academy Education Paul Tighe, the duo discussed everything from
their training schedules to nutritional plans to the sacrifices they have
had to make to get to the top of their profession. The 25-strong class was
made up of teenagers who are both talented sportsmen and women in their own
right, but are seeking to follow a career in sport off the pitch. Students
are taught a range of core subjects including Health and Safety in Sport,
Training and Fitness for Sport, Sports Nutrition, Psychology for Sports
Performance, Technical and Tactical Skills in Sport, Sports Coaching, Sports
Injuries and Rules, Regulations and Officiating in Sport. The visit of young
professionals Potts and Hall formed part of the Athlete's Lifestyle module,
where students find out more about what professional athletes have to do to
reach the elite level. After a half-hour question and answer session, the
pair headed out on to the college playing field to meet a group of aspiring
young footballers from the Romford Football Academy. The footballers split
their time between training and playing for Ryman League Division One North
Romford FC and studying for their own BTEC National Certificate in Sport.

Romford midfielder and West Ham fan Sean Bush said the visit of Potts and
Hall had shown him and his fellow students what could be achieved if they
take the right approach to their own lives. "We come to college on Mondays
and Tuesdays and train for three hours in the morning before going into the
classroom in the afternoons," said the 17-year-old, who watches the first
team home and away and sells fanzine 'Over Land and Sea' outside the Boleyn
Ground on matchdays. "We play matches against other Academies on Wednesdays
and then train and study the rest of the week before playing for Romford on
Saturdays.
"I hoped to become a professional footballer but I think it's too late for
me now, so I'm planning to do the next best thing and play semi-professional
football and become a coach. "It's a great inspiration for all of us for Dan
and Rob to come in because we can look at them and see what they have
achieved. It's even better to see players like them because they have come
through the ranks and worked their way up."

Lecturer Stacy Birchall said she and her students were grateful for the
visit of two Hammers home-grown stars. "The students from the Romford
Academy and those on our Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Sport course were
really excited to have the opportunity to quiz the players," she said. "They
are all studying towards becoming coaches, sports scientists and sports
psychologists and we thought it was a great idea for them to actually hear
from professional athletes as part of their Athlete's Lifestyle module. It
is inspiring for them, too. We have a lot of West Ham supporters at the
college and they are normally a rowdy bunch, but they seem happy with how
things are going at the moment!"

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Where will it all end?
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 31st October 2012
By: Staff Writer

The latest revelation about the future of the Olympic Stadium has left many
supporters wondering if West Ham United will ever have the opportunity to
play in the iconic stadium. Two weeks ago, when the London Legacy
Development Corporation were expected to name their preferred candidate to
take over the stadium yet another delay was announced. And hours before the
latest announcement was expected this week it was confirmed that no decision
would be forthcoming - and that West Ham's owners may now have to wait until
after Christmas before a final judgment is made. The green light to West
Ham's move to Stratford appeared to rely on Boris Johnson, the Mayor of
London, being granted access to a large portion the surplus funds from this
summer's games - some £200million - in order to update the stadium and
install retractable seating. But a Government Treasury spokesman told a
newspaper on Monday that there was no chance of the funds being appropriated
for such a purpose. "Any financial benefits from the Olympics coming in
under budget will be used to pay off our debts or help the economy", they
said. Despite the news, Johnson is reported to be preparing to approach
Chancellor George Osbourse directly with his request, which he is understood
to believe is the most economical solution for the future of the stadium.

However the waters were muddied further today after it was revealed that
Johnson has held talks with American Football's NFL, who last weekend held
their annual spectacle at Wembley Stadium. They are reported to be exploring
the possibility of staging more matches in the UK, with the Olympic Stadium
viwed as a potential venue. A spokesman for Johnson told The Telegraph this
morning: "The mayor and his team have held a number of meetings with senior
executives in the last few days to explore further opportunities for NFL in
London. The talks were exploratory and we are at an early stage but the
signs are encouraging."

West Ham re still considered to be favourites to take over use of the
stadium, despite news of the NFL's purported interest.

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Mark Noble has hailed the young players coming through the ranks at West Ham
Last Updated: October 31, 2012 4:56pm
SSN

Mark Noble believes the future is bright for West Ham with a wealth of
talent coming through their youth ranks. Noble, a product of the club's
Academy of Football, has seen other home-grown players follow him into the
first team, including Jack Collison, James Tomkins, Jordan Spence, Rob Hall
and Dan Potts.
This season youngsters George Moncur, Matthias Fanimo and Dylan Tombides
have made their debuts, while Leo Chambers, Callum Driver and Paul McCallum
have all been named on the substitutes' bench. Noble told the club's
official website: "I think Jordan, Moncs, Hally, Matthias, young Leo - who
has travelled with us to the last two Premier League games and been on the
bench - and the others are doing well. "If they keep on grafting, don't let
it go to their heads when they travel with the first team and put it in when
they play for the Development Squad, then they will keep enjoying it and
keep moving forward. "We have got a good crop of young players and they will
soon be pushing the seniors for their places. "The Premier League is
obviously a tough league to come into - I learnt that as a 17-year-old that
it's a tough ask and you've got to be mentally capable to do that. "But
hopefully they can keep pushing us."

Voice support

Meanwhile, Noble has urged the West Ham fans to roar the side on when
reigning Premier League champions Manchester City visit on Saturday. "It's
so important to have that support, particularly when things aren't going
well. You're not always going to be two or three-nil up at half-time - it's
not going to work out like that," he said. "We all need the fans behind us
from kick-off until the final whistle because it only takes a second or two
to score a goal. "Every little bit of noise and encouragement that they give
us helps us massively so I hope they carry on with the support they have
given us this year because it's been fantastic."

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Gazzumpers! NFL want Boris to take Olympic Stadium from West Ham...
The Mirror
31 Oct 2012 15:25

American Football's autumn love affair with London continues – and now NFL
franchises have entered the running to become the anchor tenant of the
Olympic Stadium... shoving West Ham out of the way. Talks between NFL
representatives and London Mayor Boris Johnson - chairman of the London
Legacy Development Corporation who operate the stadium - were opened last
weekend. The NFL and lots of bendy lasses in tiny shorts were enjoying their
annual visit to Wembley, and a spokesman for the Mayor is reported to have
said: "Given the ever-growing popularity of gridiron this side of the
Atlantic the mayor and his team have held a number of meetings with senior
executives in the last few days to explore further opportunities for NFL in
London.

"The talks were exploratory and we are at an early stage but the signs are
encouraging." Not encouraging for West Ham, whose Olympic Stadium plans have
already taken a knock with the Treasury's refusal to hand over the
£337million Olympic-contingency underspend to help install retractable
seating. The seating is expected to cost in the region of £200m – and any
anchor tenant would have to make a significant contribution, and West Ham
don't fancy stumping up the lion's share for that, given the mixed use plans
for the arena in the coming years.

A decision on the future of the stadium was expected to be announced by the
end of October but negotiations are ongoing. Other contenders for the
stadium tenancy are League One side Leyton Orient, a football business
college and a group wanting to host a Formula One race at the Olympic Park.
The NFL proposition is thought to be a live alternative, as the stadium
would only be required up to 10 times per year - compared to up to 25 times
a year for football.
The Mayor's spokesman continued: "Sunday's game at Wembley, in front of more
than 80,000 fans, further cements London's reputation as the natural home of
American football outside of the US. "Only last week the Mayor, in
conjunction with the NFL, announced an expansion from one to two
regular-season matches in London from 2013. That means in total an
additional £44 million in revenue for the capital from next year." West Ham
are in grave danger of looking like very small beer indeed compared to that.

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West Ham dismay as NFL look at Olympic Stadium
Evening Standard
Ken Dyer

31 October 2012

West Ham were left feeling confused and frustrated today following the news
that the NFL have been in talks with London Mayor Boris Johnson's office
over becoming the main tenant of the Olympic Stadium.

A spokesman for the mayor, who is also chairman of the London Legacy
Development Committee, said: "Given the growing popularity of gridiron this
side of the Atlantic, the mayor and his team have held a number of meetings
with senior executives in the last few days to explore further opportunities
for NFL in London. The talks were exploratory and we are at early stage but
the signs are encouraging."

The NFL's interest in having a team permanently based in London, following a
sell-out match at Wembley on Sunday, comes just a day after the Treasury
said that none of the money left from the underspend on the Olympic
contingency fund, £337million, would be used to pay for permanent
retractable seating at the stadium.

West Ham, who were prepared to accept the original plan of temporary seating
erected at the beginning of each season, are reluctant to contribute to the
far greater cost of permanent seating since other events, such as the Rugby
World Cup, the 2017 World Athletics Championships and proposed pop concerts,
would also benefit.

The latest development involving the NFL though, has caused further
confusion, with all potential tenants under the impression that the bidding
process was closed.

West Ham, who have been firm favourites to move the three miles from the
Boleyn Ground to Stratford, continue to believe their bid is the strongest
and have pointed out that the regeneration projects involved, both at
Stratford and particularly at Upton Park, would bring homes and jobs to the
area.

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An Unwanted Trait - Alive and Well it Seems!
By S J Chandos

West Ham Till I Die

Jussi Jääskeläinen's post-match assessment accurately summed up West Ham's
performance on Saturday. As our veteran keeper stated, 'We failed to turn
up.' Bitterly disappointing, but very true. And I am sure that, in the
aftermath of that abject capitulation, much of the travelling support wished
that they had done likewise. It's astonishing that highly paid professional
footballers could have 'failed to turn up.' However, they get paid whatever
the result. While the the supporters spend hard earned money to attend the
match, only to suffer a totally inept performance like that! Supporter
resentment would not be surprising in those circumstances. However, as much
as we Hammers may justifiably moan in the short-term, our proven loyalty and
commitment means that we are always back, with eager anticipation, for the
very next match.

I do not know about other fans, but the bottom line for me is that the team
shows fight and puts in a performance. Saturday was unacceptable and the
players need to be told that, just in case there is any lingering doubt in
that quarter. Arguably, Wigan are not a great team and, individually, they
are certainly not as strong as us. Yet, we made them look a very good team
on the day. We only started to perform at any sort of level in the final
phase of the match and that is when we could have grabbed a throughly
undeserved draw. Had that Tomkins' strike gone in, rather than hit the cross
bar, then that might very well have been the unlikely outcome.

While that would have been pleasing for us travelling supporters, in
retrospect, part of me is glad that it did not happen. Whilst much has
changed under Allardyce, it still shows that the 'fall guy' trait, that I
warned about pre-match, is still alive and well! Give us any team that has
not won at home, or a misfiring striker that cannot 'buy' a goal, and West
Ham play the obliging fall guy. As such, a draw would have detracted from it
persistence, but instead the manager and team now have to confront and work
to eradicate it. I had hoped that we had progressed enough to get a result
in that sort of match, but apparently not. And if that is the case, then it
is better that it is highlighted and worked on, rather than obscured and
swept under the carpet, only to re-emerge again later in the season. I said
at the start of the campaign that this season would be a steep learning
curve and, along the way, there would inevitably be some poor results. The
important thing, however, is that we learn from those and they contribute to
our development into a PL force.

It may also serve us well ahead of the testing second phase of matches in
November and December. There can be no doubt about it, play like that again
and the results will be punishing against the top teams. Hopefully, the
Wigan result will prove beneficial, in that it will concentrate minds and
galvinize attitudes ahead of this testing tranche of fixtures. To get
results we need to be organised, disciplined, play to our strengths and
exploit the opposition's identified weaknesses. And, of course, the Man
Citys, Man Utds and Chelseas of this world are not invincible. The hard bit
is to match them, and avoid being blown away, before you try to exploit the
vulnerable aspects of their game. Of course, Sam Allardyce built a
formidible reputation at Bolton Wanderers doing just that on a regular
basis, driving the big boys to distraction and gaining a powerful and
ongoing psychological advantage over them.

Can Allardyce achieve the same results at West Ham? Probably, given time.
But of course, we all know that the 'other side of the coin' to the 'fall
guy' trait is West Ham's consistent ability, over the years, to raise their
game and win matches in which they were given little chance. In that sense,
West Ham were no strangers to beating the odds, against the top teams, long
before Sam Allardyce arrived at Upton Park. Can that more pleasing trend
re-emerge and help deliver one or two unlikely victories in the next couple
of months? Maybe, I certainly fancy West Ham to accrue more points in
November and December than most pundits think probable. We shall see?

So, how will the players respond to the Wigan set back? The nature of that
response will tell us much about the team spirit and ability of this West
Ham team. Even if we lose the match, we must perform and make them work hard
for the three points. We must fight, set them problems and make their
expensive imports break sweat and battle. Commitment and the 'will to win'
can be a great leveller in a football match. Perhaps that might be the case
once again on Saturday? I think it is a logical response to be critical
about the nature of the performance against Wigan. However, it is not an
excuse to capitulate to defeatism and the notion that the PL sky is about to
fall in on our heads. If it does, we must deal with it, but in the interim
we must remember that the odds are that defeat is probable against the top
sides, but it is not inevitable. Even in the PL, with its huge inequity of
wealth and playing resources, that happily still remains the case. COYI!

SJ. Chandos.

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