Daily WHUFC News - 5th November 2012

Carroll axed
KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 8th November 2012
By: Staff Writer
Andy Carroll has been omitted from the England squad to face Sweden in
a friendly next week.

Roy Hodgson has named a 23-man squad for the trip to Stockholm next
week but Carroll, who is yet to score for West Ham since moving to the
Boleyn on a season-long loan, has not been included.

Instead, Hodgson has taken the reasonably unusual step of naming just
three strikers in his squad - Manchester United's Wayne Rooney and
Danny Welbeck plus Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge.

The in-form Mark Noble, who was watched by Hodgson in Saturday's
goalless draw with Manchester City has once again been overlooked in
favour of the likes of Leon Osman (Everton), Raheem Sterling and Jonjo
Shelvey (both Liverpool).

Full England squad

Goalkeepers
Fraser Forster (Celtic), Joe Hart (Manchester City), John Ruddy (Norwich City).

Defenders
Leighton Baines (Everton), Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Gary Cahill
(Chelsea), Steven Caulker (Tottenham Hotspur), Phil Jagielka
(Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Ryan Shawcross (Stoke City), Kyle
Walker (Tottenham Hotspur).

Midfielders
Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Aaron
Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur), Leon Osman (Everton), Jonjo Shelvey
(Liverpool), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Jack
Wilshere (Arsenal), Ashley Young (Manchester United).

Forwards
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Daniel
Welbeck (Manchester United).


________________________________________________________

No England Call Up for Carroll or Noble!
West Ham till I die
By S J Chandos
Andy Carroll has been left out of the England Squad for the
forthcoming friendly game against Sweden. Roy Hodgson has opted to
name only three strikers in this squad, Rooney, Welbeck and Sturridge.
Carroll's absence, along with the likes of Jermaine Defoe, is in all
probability not that significant. He is still likely to be part of
Hodgson's long-term plans.

In other positions, he has selected the likes of Osman, Shelvey,
Bertrand, Sterling and Caulker; as well as also caling up Arsenal's
Wilshere, who has only just returned from a very long injury lay off.
Yet, even in a squad partially selected to look at other player
options, there is no place for Mark Noble. Even though Noble has been
in absolutely outstanding form this season and put in another
excellent performance, in front of the England Manager, in the recent
0-0 draw with Man City. But it seems that regardless of how well Noble
plays, he is never in the frame for an England international chance.
That is very demoralising for the player, who must be asking himself,
this morning, what more he has got to do to get an call up?

It seems that Noble is suffering international frustration similiar to
that experienced by Scott Parker prior to the 2010 World Cup. it could
even be said to be worst, because at least Parker was called up to the
squad, even if he did not subsequently get selected. Capello was wrong
on Parker and arguably Hodgson is similiarly mistaken on Noble's
credentials. Of course, some observers will question whether Noble
actually has the ability to play for England. Although I do not agree
with it, it is possible that his viewpoint could ultimately turn out
to be correct? However, surely, the point is that the proposition
needs to be tested in order to determine the issue. And arguably this
friendly match was a perfect opportunity to do that. Even if you do
not see Noble as an England International, you do have to ask yourself
is Leon Osman or JoJo Shelvey really more worthy of a call up?
Personally, I do not feel that to be the case.

It is frustrating and unfair, but Noble cannot let it get him down.
All he can do is continue performing well for West Ham and hope that
he gets his chance sooner or later. It eventually happened for Scott
Parker and hopefully Mark Noble will also get the opportunity that is
performances deserve.

___________________________________________________________________


One Pound Fish Man
Internet singing phenomenon Muhammad Shahid Nazir is supporting the Hammers
07.11.2012
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You might not recognise the name Muhammad Shahid Nazir, but you may
well have heard his voice.
Nazir is better known as the 'One Pound Fish Man' - the Queen's Market
fishmonger whose song to entice customers to his stall has become an
internet sensation.
Footage of the Pakistani-born trader singing has notched up millions
of hits on YouTube, while his 'One Pound Fish' song has been covered
by pop stars Mindless Behaviour and Alesha Dixon.
The 31-year-old father of three, who appeared on the hit ITV programme
X-Factor and sang in front of Simon Cowell, is a familiar face among
West Ham United supporters walking along Green Street to the Boleyn
Ground.
The cricket-loving crooner was also happy to perform a new
Hammers-related version of his song, which is exclusively available to
view now on West Ham TV. For Nazir, it is all a far cry from a year
ago, when he moved to London from Pakistan.
"I'm from Pakistan, where I hail from Pattoki, a town near Lahore
which is well-known for its flower industry. I just came here a year
ago and found this job after two months. I started out by shouting
'One Pound, One Pound' and it was a tough job and gave me a headache.
People don't like it and feel disturbed by it.
"After a couple of days I made up a few lines and started singing. I
thought people might like to hear this. When I started, people said
'Well done' and were happy with the song. People said I had a good
voice and could be a pop star! Now, all in all, I have had more than
seven million hits on YouTube.
"I feel very good and can't believe everyone is singing the song. It's
become famous. People want my autograph and they take photographs as
well as make videos of me. West Ham football supporters often stop
here and tell me they've come to hear me sing as well as watch the
match.
"I'm very happy to be known as 'One Pound Fish Man' because that's how
everybody knows me and it's a sign of my popularity. Everybody comes
up to me and says 'How are you One Pound Fish Man?' so I'm happy to be
called that!"
While his popularity has led to TV appearances and interviews with
media outlets including the BBC, the Guardian and Brit Asia TV, Nazir
has no plans to stop working on the fish stall that has made him
famous.
Indeed, an hour before kick-off in the Hammers' recent 4-1 Barclays
Premier League win over Southampton, he was pushing a barrow around
Queen's Market before stopping to have a chat with West Ham TV.
While he admitted that cricket and Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi are
his first sporting loves, Nazir said he had developed an affinity for
his local football club, even singing an adapted version of his song
that begins: "Come on West Ham today, one pound fish!"
"I will do a special discount for West Ham fans - 99p fish! I don't
know much about football but I am a fan of Rio Ferdinand."
While it will never usurp 'Bubbles' as the anthem of east London, the
'One Pound Fish' song certainly appears to be here to stay!

_____________________________________________________


Toon tirade awaits Andy Carroll again
By CARL LONG
The Sun

ANDY CARROLL is desperate to erase the memory of his nightmare return
to Newcastle.
The former Toon hero was jeered before being hauled off in his first
return with parent club Liverpool last season.
Carroll stormed down the tunnel just moments after he was booked
following a dive that saw him confronted by former team-mate Tim Krul
in April's 2-0 defeat.
Now the £35million hitman returns as a West Ham player on Sunday
expecting another red-hot reception — but bidding for a different
outcome.
England ace Carroll, 23, said: "I am looking forward to going home.
"I went back with Liverpool and I got a few boos and a bit of stick
but it was all good.
"I want to go back now and hopefully win this time because last time I
went we were beaten."
Gateshead-born Carroll faces a rough ride from the fans who have not
forgiven him for forcing through a deadline-day move to Anfield in
January 2011.
But Hammers skipper Kevin Nolan hopes the Geordie boo-boys now show
Carroll some "respect".
Nolan, also a former Magpies favourite, said: "Andy might not get the
best reception because I know he has been back there and got a bit of
stick.
"I am hoping that Andy gets respect, as they know what efforts he put
in when playing for Newcastle and helping them to be where they are
today.
"I won't speak to him specifically about it before the game — he is a
big character.
"We both had some fantastic times up there.
"Now 50,000 people are going to want to boo us. But if we went out in
the evening they would probably still want pictures."
Carroll is still waiting to break his West Ham duck and has now gone
over seven hours since scoring for his new club.
But midfielder Nolan, 30, added: "Is Andy anxious? You have got to be joking.
"But we are all hoping that the first goal he scores for us is on Sunday.
"We want him to get off the mark and hopefully win the game for us and
break a few hearts."


_______________________________________________________________________________

Back in Toon: Andy Carroll hopes for a happier homecoming on Newcastle return

8 Nov 2012 22:30
Mirror

Geordie was booed off the pitch on his last visit with Liverpool but
wants to leave a winner this time


Andy Carroll is desperate to erase the memory over his nightmare
homecoming to Newcastle.

Carroll was jeered before being hauled off in the £35m striker's first
return to Tyneside with Liverpool in August.

Carroll stormed down the tunnel just moments after he was booked
following a dive that saw him confronted by ex-teammate Tim Krul in
the 2-0 defeat.

Now the England star heads back as a West Ham player on Sunday
expecting another red-hot reception - but bidding for a different
outcome.

Carroll, 23, said: "I am looking forward to going home.

"I went back with Liverpool and I got a few boos and a bit of stick
but it was all good.

"I want to go back now and hopefully win this time because last time I
went we got beat."

Carroll faces another rough ride from the fans who have not forgiven
him for forcing through a move to Anfield in January 2011.

But Hammers skipper Kevin Nolan hopes the Geordie boo-boys now show
Carroll some "respect".

Nolan, a former Magpies favourite, said: "Andy might not get the best
reception because I know he has been back there and got a bit of
stick.

"I am hoping that Andy gets respect, as they know what efforts he put
in when playing for Newcastle and helping them to be where they are
today.

"I won't speak to him specifically about it before the game - he is a
big character.

"We both had some fantastic times up there. Now 50,000 people are
going to want to boo us.

"But if we went out in the evening they would probably want pictures."

Carroll is still waiting to break his West Ham duck and has now gone
over seven hours since scoring for his new club.

Nolan added: "Is Andy anxious? You have got to be joking.

"But we are all hoping that the first goal he scores for us is on Sunday.

"We want him to get off the mark and hopefully win the game for us and
break a few hearts."


____________________________________________________________________

Young Grasshopper: West Ham monitoring Swiss U-21 starlet Izet Harjrovic

8 Nov 2012 22:30
Mirror
The Grasshoppers Zurich midfielder is rated at around £3million and
has also attracted interest from Lazio and Kaiserslautern

West Ham are scouting Grasshoppers Zurich midfielder Izet Hajrovic.

Swiss under-21 starlet Hajrovic, 21, is valued at around £3m and there
has also been interest from Lazio and Kaiserslautern.