Daily WHUFC News - 26th November 2012

Hendon hails title winners
WHUFC.com
Ian Hendon's Development Squad have clinched the Barclays U21 Premier League
Group 1 title
25.11.2012

West Ham United Development Squad have clinched the Barclays U21 Premier
League Group 1 title. The Hammers were confirmed as Group 1 winners after
second-place Arsenal lost 2-1 at home to West Bromwich Albion on Friday,
meaning Ian Hendon's side are now eight points clear with just two games
left to play. The Development Squad have won nine and lost just two of their
12 fixtures and will now go into the post-Christmas Elite Group Stage
against the finest Under-21 teams in the country. Speaking ahead of the
first of those two matches at Norwich City on Monday afternoon, Hendon was
naturally delighted to see his players and staff rewarded for their hard
work. "It's super news," Hendon told whufc.com, "We have won the league
without having to play, which is great. From a Development Squad point of
view, things could really not have gone any better before Christmas. It's a
nice little early Christmas present for everybody. "I have had pretty much
the same group of players all the way through from the start of the season
and that has been the major reason for our consistency and good results. The
vast majority of the them are Under-21, so it is not as if we have won the
league because we have been using lots of over-age players. "The fact that
both the first team and Development Squads are quite small has helped both
sides, in a funny sort of way, because it has meant that there has been a
consistency of team selection. "Our midfield four of George Moncur,
Sebastian Lletget, Blair Turgott and Matthias Fanimo have played in
virtually every game, as have right-back Callum Driver and Paul McCallum up
front. As a coach, I have been able to work on our deficiencies and our
strengths with the same group of players and there is nothing like having
the same team available most weeks."

Turgott and McCallum are two of four West Ham youngsters who were allowed to
leave the club for loan spells at npower Football League clubs this week -
Dan Potts and Rob Hall being the other two. Hendon believes the quartet will
benefit from the chance to play regular first-team football ahead of the
Elite Group Stage, which gets under way in January. "Now we are through we
can let a few players go out on loan and get some league experience while
also keeping them match-fit during the break in Development Squad fixtures.
"I have managed at League Two level and I am sure that Blair and Paul [who
have joined Bradford City and AFC Wimbledon respectively] have what it takes
to make a mark at that level. Likewise, I'm sure Rob and Dan will do well at
Birmingham City and Colchester United. "Paul is a big centre forward and
he's a bit of a target man and gets on the end of things. A lot of teams
have been in touch about loaning him and now he has a good chance to get
some league football under his belt and sample what it's all about."

Hendon. who will give some of his fringe players and Academy scholars
opportunities at Norwich on Monday and in Friday's final home Group 1 game
against Blackburn Rovers, also paid tribute to the hard work done by his
backroom staff this term. "It's a team effort. It's not all about me and the
players. I want to thank everyone who has played a part in our success -
physiotherapist Tom Smith, sports scientist Greg De Carnys, strength and
conditioning coach Dan Bernadin, GPS co-ordinator Adam Crossley, goalkeeper
coach Jerome John, performance analyst Charlie Radmore and our kit man Jamo
Saban - and long may it continue!"

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Mixed feelings for scorer Carroll
WHUFC.com
Andy Carroll was happy to score but disappointed to lose at Tottenham
Hotspur on Sunday
25.11.2012

Andy Carroll admitted to leaving White Hart Lane with mixed feelings after
Sunday's 3-1 Barclays Premier League defeat by Tottenham Hotspur. The
striker bagged his first goal for West Ham United with a towering header,
but it was no more than a consolation as Spurs completed a deserved victory.
Carroll's occasional England strike partner and former Hammer Jermain Defoe
scored twice either side of a low finish from Gareth Bale. Speaking
exclusively to West Ham TV, the No8 said he was happy to have broken his
duck after eight impressive yet goalless appearances, but that his maiden
goal meant little in the context of the final result. "It was about time, to
be honest," said Carroll. "I'm just grateful to have got off the mark and
hopefully there will be more to come this week. "I think I've put myself
about and been involved in our goals in previous matches. I think I've been
doing well so it was about time one went in. It was a great ball in by Joey
O'Brien and I just had to get up and head it across the 'keeper. That's what
I did and thankfully it went in."

Spurs were the better side for much of the opening hour and, having already
escaped when Bale's shot cannoned off the underside of the crossbar, West
Ham fell behind when Defoe streaked away from Winston Reid and Mark Noble
before finishing a minute before half-time. Into the second half and Clint
Dempsey hit the crossbar before Bale latched on to the American's through
ball and poked a low shot past Jussi Jaaskelainen on 58 minutes. Just four
minutes later, Defoe doubled his tally when Mohamed Diame was robbed in
midfield by Aaron Lennon, who squared for the striker to score from
close-range. "It was disappointing as we made mistakes for all three of
their goals, really," Carroll observed. "We should have done better, but
they have taken their chances and obviously beat us. "Coming here we were up
against a great team and they showed that tonight with the passing, the
rhythm and the pace they have got in their team. I have to say we were just
disappointed with our mistakes because they cost us."

While everybody connected with West Ham will be feeling downcast after
losing out to their biggest rivals, Carroll said there is no time to dwell
on Sunday's defeat. Instead, the 23-year-old is relishing Wednesday
evening's trip to Manchester United and Saturday's visit of Chelsea to the
Boleyn Ground. While he knows neither game will be easy, Carroll said the
prospect of facing the country's best teams is part of what being a Barclays
Premier League club is all about.
"We have got a tough week, obviously, with Manchester United and then
Chelsea and Liverpool coming up. It'll be tough so we just have to put this
behind us now and focus on Wednesday. "Of course, the big games are what
everyone looks forward to, but tonight was disappointing and we just have to
put it behind us now and get ready for the Manchester United game. This game
is all gone now so we're going to have to concentrate 100 per cent on
Wednesday, which is going to be another tough game."

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Dave Sexton 1930-2012
WHUFC.com
Everyone at West Ham United was saddened to hear of the passing of
ex-Hammers player Dave Sexton
25.11.2012

Everybody at West Ham United has been deeply saddened by the passing of
ex-Hammers inside forward Dave Sexton at the age of 82. Islington-born
Sexton made 77 appearances in claret and blue between 1953 and 1956, scoring
29 goals. During that period, he was one of the founders of the Academy of
Football, spending endless hours discussing the intricacies of the game with
his forward-thinking team-mates. Sexton's finest day in a West Ham shirt
came on 5 February 1955, when he scored his only hat-trick for the club in a
6-1 Division Two victory over Plymouth Argyle at the Boleyn Ground. He also
scored twice on his final appearance for the club in a 3-0 home win over
Bristol City on 28 April 1956. After spells with Leyton Orient, Brighton and
Hove Albion and Crystal Palace, Sexton embarked on a successful coaching
career, the seeds of which had been sewn during his time at West Ham.

Having learned his trade alongside the likes of Malcolm Allison, Noel
Cantwell, Vic Keeble, John Bond and Frank O'Farrell, Sexton started off his
managerial career at Leyton Orient in 1965. After spells coaching at Chelsea
and Arsenal, he took charge at Stamford Bridge in 1967, leading the Blues to
FA Cup glory in 1970 and the European Cup Winners' Cup the following year.

After making the short move to Queens Park Rangers in 1974, Sexton came
within a point of lifting the League title trophy with the Hoops in 1976. A
four-year spell at Manchester United was less successful, but he enhanced
his reputation yet again with two successful stints in charge of the England
Under-21 side, winning back-to-back UEFA European Championship titles in
1982 and 1984.

Sexton also was appointed as the Football Association's first-ever Technical
Director, overseeing the development of FA's National School at Lilleshall.
After an outstanding career that spanned more than 40 years, Sexton was
rewarded for his services to football by being made an OBE in 2006. The FA's
Director of Football Development, Hammers legend Sir Trevor Brooking, has
paid tribute to Sexton by saying: "It is a sad day for English football.
Anyone who was ever coached by Dave would be able to tell you what a good
man he was, but not only that, what a great coach in particular he was. "In
the last 30 or 40 years Dave's name was up there with any of the top coaches
we have produced in England - the likes of Terry Venables, Don Howe and Ron
Greenwood. His coaching was revered." Everyone at West Ham United would like
to pass on their sincere condolences to Dave Sexton's family and friends at
this sad time.

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Tottenham 3 West Ham 1
25 November 2012
Last updated at 17:55
By David Ornstein
BBC Sport

Jermain Defoe scored twice against his former club as Tottenham beat West
Ham to reverse a three-game losing streak. Gareth Bale hit the bar before
Defoe opened the scoring with a superb run from the right and crunching
finish. After rattling the bar himself, Clint Dempsey found Bale in the box
and he beat Jussi Jaaskelainen via a post. Aaron Lennon broke free and
squared for Defoe to seal the points, although Andy Carroll's header ended
the Liverpool loanee's 15-game wait for a goal. Unfortunately for Carroll
and West Ham, who came close to further reducing the deficit late on, the
effort was a mere consolation.
White Hart pain Tottenham are now unbeaten in their last 11 Premier League
games against West Ham at White Hart Lane, a run stretching back to 1999

It means Tottenham climb above the Hammers into seventh, with Sam
Allardyce's men facing a tough run on fixtures in December. Spurs will be
delighted to end a run of four straight domestic defeats and collect only
their third win in 10 matches in all competitions. Despite the poor results
of late, Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas would have expected a return to
form against a club who have not left White Hart Lane with maximum points
since 1999. Indeed, they began with the belief that victory was compulsory -
dominating possession and getting forward in numbers.

Defoe had two early sighters before Bale spun Mark Noble and crashed a drive
against the woodwork. But West Ham had conceded the third-fewest goals in
the Premier League this season and, for a time, it was easy to see why.
Typically well-drilled by Allardyce, their defence, midfield and attack work
in unison to grant opponents minimal time and space. But an approach
focusing so heavily on containment leaves little scope to attack and a team
that has scored just five away goals this season did not once trouble Hugo
Lloris in the first half.

West Ham's upcoming fixtures
28 Nov - Man Utd (a)
1 Dec - Chelsea (h)
9 Dec - Liverpool (h)
16 Dec - West Brom (a)
22 Dec - Everton (h)
26 Dec - Arsenal (a)
29 Dec - Reading (a)

While it was a fairly dour 45 minutes, if anyone deserved the opener it was
Tottenham - and their reward arrived just before the break. Defoe outmuscled
Winston Reid and George McCartney on the right touchline before making his
way inside, sidestepping Noble and sending a venomous finish past
Jaaskelainen.
It was a moment of class the match badly needed and meant West Ham had to
adopt a more positive approach in the second half. They obliged when Kevin
Nolan broke clear on right and sent in a low cross towards substitute Matt
Jarvis, only for Lloris to gather well. The problem with West Ham's greater
ambition was that it left them exposed at the back, and Spurs took full
advantage.

Dempsey - replacing the suspended Emmanuel Adebayor in support of Defoe -
became increasingly influential and was unfortunately to see a strike come
back off the bar. Within a minute he was involved again, scooping a pass
through for Bale to keep his balance and beat Jaaskelainen via a post.
Tottenham were now in total control and extended their lead when midfield
pressure from Tom Huddlestone and Sandro allowed Dempsey to release Lennon,
who squared for Defoe to tap home. Carroll managed to turn in Joey O'Brien's
cross and West Ham pushed hard for a second, but Tottenham held on to their
advantage and will be buoyed heading into Wednesday's visit of Liverpool.

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas: "It was a good 90-minute performance,
very solid, and we kept creating. It's difficult to defend long balls and
crosses into box, but the boys did extremely well to handle the situation.
"We played two away games at top teams [Manchester City and Arsenal] and
played well but didn't get the results we wanted. Getting back to winning
ways was extremely important. "Defoe is a great player in a great moment of
form. His desire and hunger are immense. He works hard and lives off
scoring. He's having a great season."

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce: "It looked like we didn't recover from the
first goal, which is disappointing because we still had a very good chance
if we came out and played like we can. We were relying a lot on good
defensive work and that let us down in the end. "We launched a spirited
comeback but it was far too late. It's a bad day for me watching the lads
play like they did. None of the players played their best and ended up being
beaten comfortably. "Our goal provides a platform to the players to show
where to put the ball. If they put it in the rights areas Andy Carroll will
score and he showed that with his header. Hopefully he can get on a bit of a
run."

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Tottenham 3-1 West Ham Utd
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 25th November 2012
By: Staff Writer

Andy Carroll finally grabbed his first goal since moving to West Ham -
although sadly it proved to be a consolation effort. The 23-year-old England
international struck with eight minutes of normal time remaining in today's
London derby to record his first goal in claret and blue after nodding home
Joey O'Brien's cross.
However it was scant consolation for Carroll and his team mates as they fell
to a 3-1 defeat. Chief tormentor of West Ham was former player Jermain
Defoe, who scored once in each half; inbetween the striker's brace, Gareth
Bale - who also struck the crossbar in the first half - grabbed the home
side's third goal on the hour mark.

West Ham's game plan of nullifying the opposition had initially worked
perfectly, with Spurs restricted to long shots (bar Bale's aforementioned
speculative effort) much to the frustration of an expectant crowd. But in
the final minute of the opening half all of United's good work came undone
as Defoe picked up the ball on the half way line, weaved his way towards
West Ham's penalty area before unleashing a fierce drive that fizzed past
Jussi Jaaskelainen.

That blow meant that West Ham were forced into a more attacking frame of
mind after the break and consequently that gave Tottenham opportunities that
simply hadn't been available in the opening 45. Spurs doubled their
advantage two minutes ahead of the hour mark when Bale maanged to squeeze a
shot inside Jaaskelainen's right hand post despite being unbalanced after
receiving a trhough ball from former Fulham striker Clint Dempsey. And Defoe
grabbed his second six minutes later when West Ham conceded possession on
the half way line and some sloppy defending allowed Aaron Lennon to escape
down the right before centreing a perfectly weighted cross for Defoe who
couldn't miss with an open goal before him.

Carroll's late consolation goal gave the scoreline a touch of
respectability, but the home side were deserved winners on a day when West
Ham never managed to reach top gear. Sadly the game was marred by some
inappropriate chanting from a minority of West Ham 'supporters' throughout
the game who will no doubt land the club in hot water as a result of their
stupidity.

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Under 18s: West Ham Utd 3-2 Norwich City
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 24th November 2012
By: Staff Writer

On a cold and wet morning at Little Heath, West Ham Under 18s moved up to
third in the National Premier League Group 1 after coming from behind to
beat bottom of the table Norwich in a thrilling 3-2 display. Two goals from
Kieran Sadlier and one from Nathan Mavila meant that the young Hammers
overtake Everton in the group and cling on to hope of progressing to the
Elite Group Stage. Before the game, players and fans held a minutes silence
in tribute to Alf Thain who has shown his support for the Academy sides for
many years. Alf passed away last week at the age of 92. The game started
with both teams looking to attack, but even though West Ham had twice as
many points in the league it was the away side that would take the lead. A
mix-up at the back saw the Norwich striker intercept a back pass and tapped
in to an empty net. The lead didn't last long as just five minutes later
after some neat work down the right hand side Kieran Bywater played a clever
chip which was neatly converted on the volley by Nathan Mavila.

The half continued to see both sides looking to attack with some excellent
passing football from the Academy side as the ball zipped around in the wet.

However it was Norwich that would once again take the lead. A free kick from
just outside the area wasn't cleared properly allowing the City striker to
toe poke the ball home.

The second half was an excellent display from the home side as they looked
to get back into the game. A lot of pressure coming down the left hand side
saw a number of crosses and corners creating chances in the City box.
Whether it was blocks, saves or hitting the crossbar the ball just wouldn't
seem to go in.

With just 10 minutes to go all the pressure West Ham had exerted paid off. A
header from yet another corner was palmed onto the crossbar by the City
keeper but the resulting goalmouth scramble saw the ball poked home.

Both Kieran Sadlier and Jamie Harney celebrated scoring although it looked
like Sadlier got the final touch. Either way, it was a well deserved goal
for the amount of pressure they had built up.

With just a few minutes to go Kieran Bywater split the Norwich defence with
a great ball that left Sadlier one on one with the keeper. He made no
mistake as he powered it inside the left hand post.

West Ham held out for an excellent three points having produced a good team
performance. The last game of the group comes at Blackburn next Saturday
with the Hammers needing a win to guarantee them a place in the Elite Group
stage.

West Ham Utd: Guzman, Siafa, Page (Girdlestone), Miles, Nasha, Onnariase
(Harney), Bywater, Cullen, Figueira, Sadlier, Mavila.

* I interviewed Kieran Sadlier after the game; this can be seen in the
forthcoming Chelsea match day programme.

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Andy Carroll was left with mixed feelings after claiming his first goal for
the club in their defeat at Spurs
Last Updated: November 25, 2012 8:52pm
SSN

Andy Carroll admits he had mixed feelings after grabbing his first goal for
West Ham as it came in their 3-1 loss at Tottenham. The England
international was making his eighth appearance for the Hammers after joining
from Liverpool on a season-long loan, and he finally found the back of the
net. But after being on the end of a 3-1 loss, he admits it does not feel
great. "It was about time, to be honest," Carroll told West Ham's website.
"I'm just grateful to have got off the mark and hopefully there will be more
to come this week. "I think I've put myself about and been involved in our
goals in previous matches. I think I've been doing well so it was about time
one went in. It was a great ball in by Joey O'Brien and I just had to get up
and head it across the keeper. That's what I did and thankfully it went in."

He admits the performance as a team was not good enough, adding: "It was
disappointing as we made mistakes for all three of their goals, really. "We
should have done better, but they have taken their chances and obviously
beat us. "Coming here we were up against a great team and they showed that
tonight with the passing, the rhythm and the pace they have got in their
team. I have to say we were just disappointed with our mistakes because they
cost us."

Carroll is hoping West Ham can bounce back from their heavy loss at White
Hart Lane, but they have a tough fixture list coming up. "We have got a
tough week, obviously, with Manchester United and then Chelsea and Liverpool
coming up. It'll be tough so we just have to put this behind us now and
focus on Wednesday," he said. "Of course, the big games are what everyone
looks forward to, but tonight was disappointing and we just have to put it
behind us now and get ready for the Manchester United game. This game is all
gone now so we're going to have to concentrate 100 per cent on Wednesday,
which is going to be another tough game."

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Sam Alladyce 'didn't hear' chanting from West Ham fans at White Hart Lane
Last Updated: November 26, 2012 5:06am
SSN

Sam Allardyce insists he did not hear the chanting by West Ham fans which
marred their derby with Spurs. Spurs won the game 3-1 but the main talking
point after it was not matters on the pitch but the anti-Semetic abuse
coming from the away support. Hammers boss Allardyce insists though that he
was concentrating on the football. "I didn't hear it," he said. "I don't
hear what the fans say or do when I'm concentrating as a manager on a game
of football. "They shouldn't be doing things like that, it is the least of
my worries at the minute isn't it? What do you want me to say? If I didn't
hear it I can't condemn it can I? "I will wait and look at it myself and
make a comment once I have listened to what they have said. "I don't want to
be a political animal, I'm here to talk about football and not what fans are
saying and singing."

On the match itself Allardyce admitted he was not happy with his team. "You
can accept defeat when you know your players have played their best and we
haven't done that today," he said. "I don't accept the way my players have
played today and I want them to bounce back."

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Tottenham moved up to seventh in the Premier League table after a 3-1 win
over West Ham
Last Updated: November 25, 2012 10:18pm
SSN

Jermain Defoe struck twice as Tottenham beat West Ham 3-1 at White Hart Lane
to move up to seventh in the Premier League table. Defoe scored either side
of half-time to help sink his former club and Gareth Bale also found the net
to give Tottenham a confidence and morale-boosting win. But the contest was
marred by offensive chanting from the away end at White Hart Lane.

Best of the Match:

Man of the match - Jermain Defoe. Scored twice, was incredibly sharp from
the first minute.
Moment of the match - Dempsey's delightful chipped pass to set up Bale for
the second goal.
Attempt of the match - Bale's early effort from distance which hit the
underside of the bar.
Save of the match - Jaaskelainen's double save to deny good strikes from
both Defoe and Bale.
Goal of the game - Defoe's opener was a fantastic individual effort, cutting
inside from the right, skipping past several West Ham players before
unleashing a fierce shot past Jaaskelainen.
Talking point - With a confident win that now puts Spurs on level points
with Arsenal, can they push on and grab a top four finish?

West Ham fans chanted "Viva Lazio" and sang the name of former Lazio and
Hammers man Paolo Di Canio on several occasions - something that was hard to
stomach for the home supporters who witnessed the horrifying attack on Spurs
fans in Rome that ended with one man in hospital for stab wounds to his leg
and head. The Hammers fans were also heard hissing on at least three
occasions during the game, which is interpreted to mimic the sound of gas
released into the death chambers at concentration camps during World War
Two. For a club that has a strong affinity with the Jewish community,
Tottenham's supporters are bound to be offended by the actions of the
travelling support especially after Lazio fans chanted "Juden Tottenham"
during Thursday's 0-0 draw in Rome.

Back on the pitch Spurs were far the better team and hugely deserved the
win, which moved the north London club above West Ham in to seventh. The
only crumb of comfort for the visitors was Andy Carroll's late header - his
first goal for the club. Defoe's first was a fine effort as he broke towards
the edge of the box and lashed his shot past a helpless Jussi Jaaskelainen.
The home fans, aware of Spurs' tendency to throw games away this season,
became nervous - but Clint Dempsey put those nerves to rest when he lifted
the ball over the West Ham defence and found Bale, who got the ball out from
under his feet to prod past Jaaskelainen. Six minutes later it was game
over. Tom Huddlestone robbed a dallying Carroll and Sandro snatched the ball
off Mohamed Diame to release Aaron Lennon.

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Big Sam slams his sorry stars
Tottenham 3 West Ham 1
Last Updated: 26th November 2012
The Sun

SAM ALLARDYCE blasted his West Ham players for being "over-awed" during
their 3-1 defeat at Tottenham. Two goals from Jermain Defoe and a Gareth
Bale effort sunk the Hammers, who netted a consolation through Andy Carroll.
Allardyce said: "There's not a lot to defend. "I'd like to but we were very
poor unfortunately. "The whole story looked like we were a bit overawed and
I don't know why. "Tottenham had lost three of the last four so they're
hardly in form.
"We've made it easy for them to win and that's disappointing. We have not
been anywhere near our best. "It shocked me but I've just got to accept it
and we've got to get over it very, very quickly." Allardyce was also upset
with keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen for failing to stop Defoe's opener. He added:
"I was a little disappointed with my goalie because he went in at the near
post. "But the rest of the lads should have made life much more difficult
for the second and the third." It was Carroll's first goal for West Ham and
he said: "It was about time. Hopefully there will be more to come."

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Hammers face rap over vile chants
By MIKE McGRATH
Last Updated: 26th November 2012
The Sun

WEST HAM face an FA probe after their fans' sick anti-Semitic chants at
Tottenham yesterday. Hammers' supporters were heard singing: "Adolf Hitler,
he's coming for you", and were heard hissing during the 3-1 defeat at Spurs,
who have a large Jewish fanbase. They also taunted Spurs with Lazio songs in
reference to stabbings last week ahead of the Europa League clash in Rome.
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce said: "They shouldn't be doing things like that
but it's the least of my worries at the moment. I'll wait to hear it myself
and make a comment after I've listened."

Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas called for action after Lazio fans also sang
anti-Semitic chants - but he did not want yesterday's incidents to take the
gloss off his team's win. He said: "I prefer not to mar the performance with
the situation like this. We know the animosity between Tottenham and West
Ham. As long as it doesn't reach stupidity, it is a great rivalry between
two London clubs."

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Sport Football News Racism in football
By John Cross 2 Comments
The Mirror
25 Nov 2012 22:32

West Ham could face an FA investigation after Spurs fans were subjected to
sick chants for the second time in a week. Travelling Hammers fans sang
horrific songs at White Hart Lane just three days after Tottenham supporters
were stabbed in Rome, with one of them left fighting for his life. They also
sang anti-semitic songs about Adolf Hitler and made hissing noises to taunt
Tottenham's Jewish supporters to bring shame on West Ham. The West Ham fans
chanted: "Can we stab you every week", "viva-Lazio", "there's only one Paolo
di Canio" and "Adolf Hitler's coming to get you" on a day which shocked
football. Football Association chiefs last night said they would study
reports and evidence before deciding whether to launch a full-scale
investigation. And a West Ham spokesman said: "We will review this on Monday
and decide if we can take action."

Both clubs also promised to see whether video evidence could be used to
identify those involved. West Ham boss Sam Allardyce said: "They shouldn't
be doing things like that, should they? I never heard it, so I don't know.
But if I didn't hear it, I can't condemn it. "I'll wait and look at it
myself, and then I'll make a comment after I've listened to what they've
said. I don't want to be a political animal. I'm in here to talk about
football, not what fans are saying or singing."

Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas said: "I prefer not to mar the performance with
the situation like this. We know the animosity there is between Tottenham
and West Ham. As long as it doesn't reach stupidity, it is a great, great
rivalry between two London clubs. "Although I understand your question, it
would be extremely unfair of me to mar the performance of the players. But I
understand the whole situation is unavoidable although we can't decipher the
complete meaning of what they were singing."

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