WHUFC.com
Nicky Maynard enjoyed his West Ham United debut and is eager to notch his first goal for the club
16.02.2012
Nicky Maynard thoroughly enjoyed his first experience of the Boleyn Ground as a West Ham United player. The Hammers' new No8 made an impact as a second-half substitute in Tuesday's 1-1 npower Championship draw with Southampton, coming within inches of snatching all three points with a fierce late volley. That effort was saved by Saints goalkeeper Kelvin Davis, but Maynard's debut suggests he will not be waiting too long for his first West Ham goal. "The atmosphere was great and something I've been waiting for and chomping at the bit to get at," he said. "Obviously it wasn't ideal to come on when we were a man down but the main thing was that we didn't lose. "The lads put in another fantastic effort as they did against Millwall and kept Southampton at arm's length and we just have to make sure we win our game in-hand now. "I'm one of them who likes to thrive off chances and get my shots off as quickly as possible. I managed to get a shot off towards the end and I was devastated that the goalkeeper got a touch to it. "Every chance I get I'm going to try to make an impact, whether that is from the start or when I come on from the bench. I was disappointed not to get on against Millwall but that just made me more hungry to make an impression in the next match, which hopefully I did on Tuesday."
The midweek draw with second-placed Southampton keeps West Ham a point clear at the top of the table and Maynard believes the Hammers have everything in place to make an immediate return to the Premier League. Having joined from Bristol City on transfer deadline day in January, the striker is also keen to pay back the club's outstanding supporters by delivering both goals and promotion. "The atmosphere was just great and the fans were right behind us throughout the 90 minutes. We just need to make sure we give them something to shout about and we've been doing that in the last couple of weeks. "It's just a massive club. The lads are top-class and made me feel welcome, There is nothing in anybody's mind except winning automatic promotion. The players here have Premier League ability and Premier League experience and I want to be amongst that."
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Mixed emotions for Haycock
WHUFC.com
Nick Haycock admitted to feeling pride and frustration after seeing his side eliminated from the FA Youth Cup
15.02.2012
Nick Haycock admitted to having mixed emotions after West Ham United's agonising FA Youth Cup fifth-round defeat at Chelsea. The Hammers battled back to level twice and were within a minute of winning the game 3-2, only for the Blues to equalise in the 94th minute and edge the penalty shootout 5-4 to win through to the quarter-finals. The Under-18s coach was justifiably proud of his players' efforts but understandably gutted to lose out in such heart-breaking circumstances. "I have known the boys a long time and I'm gutted for them but I'm not gutted with them," Haycock told West Ham TV. "I said 'When you come in the changing room at the end of the game say you couldn't give any more', and they couldn't have given any more. "In the first half we tried to get after them and press them high up the pitch with a 4-4-2 and because we were going in ones and twos and not all together, they were passing it around us and creating too many chances for our liking. "We got them in at half-time and changed the shape of the midfield and one or two of the personnel and Lamar Hurley and Dominic Vose made a difference to the side, not only to the running of the side but also to the also the quality on the ball that they showed. "Obviously at 3-2 up we should have won the game but we celebrated deep near their corner flag and as we were coming back in we were all screaming to them to win the first tackle and put the ball into their half. "Unfortunately we never made contact with the ball and they hit the post and fortunately for them it has fallen to the centre-half and he's tapped it home. Losing on penalties is a lottery.
"I'm proud of the boys. At the end of the day, as much as we wanted to win the Youth Cup, I'm sure Ian Hendon will report back to the first team management that we have got players coming through the system. "I am disappointed but ultimately that's the most important thing. The game was dead and buried and we should be in the next round, in my opinion. Chelsea bossed the first half, we bossed the second but we should have won the game."
While West Ham were eliminated, they would not have reached a penalty shootout were it not for a truly outstanding display by goalkeeper David Wootton. The regular No2 stepped in for the injured Jake Larkins and responded with a fantastic performance featuring at least four fine saves. "All credit to him because David has had a tough time of it playing second fiddle to Jake. Fair play to David because the character he showed, knowing he is the No2, he put in a No1 performance. "I said to the boys in the dressing room, he kept us in the game in the first half and made a great save on about 75 minutes when they got in down the left-hand channel.
"His kicking was great and in the shootout, Chelsea showed a bit of a German mentality and every penalty went in the corner or over the bar, so David couldn't do anything about them. "He was top-drawer, to be fair to the boy."
Wednesday's game was watched by a 1,500-plus crowd at Staines Town FC, while fans were also given the opportunity to view the club's next generation through an
exclusive live presentation on West Ham TV.
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Bubbles/bubbled in Wales
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 16th February 2012
By: Staff Writer No.2
South Wales Police have confirmed the travel details for West Ham United supporters attending the away fixture in Cardiff on 4 March. As mentioned in the ticket news section of whufc.com, supporters attending this match will be sent vouchers which they will be required to exchange for match tickets at the Cardiff West motorway service area, located at junction 33 of the M4.
South Wales Police have additionally confirmed to KUMB.com that:
1. Supporters can travel to Junction 33 Services by any means to collect their tickets;
2. Tickets will be available for exchange between 11.00-11.30am in advance of the 12.45pm kick-off;
3. Supporters can then travel from the services to the stadium independently - the police advise car travellers to use the away car park at the stadium. The only exceptions are Coach and Minibuses who will be provided a Police escort from the Services to the stadium; and
4. There will be no other pre or post-match travel restrictions on away supporters, other than for coaches and minibuses, which will be escorted away from the Stadium by Police escort after the match.
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Hearn wants the truth
Orient boss says Olympic Stadium not fit for football
By Paul Higham Twitter: @SkySportsPaulH. Last Updated: February 16, 2012 12:07pm
SSN
A furious Barry Hearn told Sky Sports News that Leyton Orient will be looking to recoup their legal costs after revelations about the bidding process for the Olympic Stadium - which he says could become a huge white elephant as it is not fit to be used as a football stadium. Hearn's Leyton Orient launched an appeal to stop West Ham's move into the Olympic Stadium claiming that the bidding process was flawed, but all legal proceedings were stopped when an 'anonymous complainant' brought the process to a halt.
Sky Sports News has now revealed that the complaint came from architect Steve Lawrence, the man who did the original legacy study and who claims he was not 'anonymous' to the Olympic Park Legacy Company. Hearn now wants the OPLC and the government to come out and reveal the entire truth, and he also wants Orient's legal fees back. "This is a horrifying situation, there are a number of really important questions that need to be asked," Hearn told Sky Sports News. "Yes, the reason the judicial review was pulled by the OPLC and the government was because they knew they'd broken the law, a European law was being breached in the question of state aid.
Invention
"They've invented a reason, and we thought that at the time, and blamed this so-called anonymous complainant for pulling the plug on the review and abandoning the process, but the fact remains this person was not anonymous and they've misled a judge in the high court to think that was the reason why they were pulling the plug on the whole bidding process. "Baroness Ford, Sports Minister Hugh Robertson and our colleagues at the OPLC have a number of questions to answer here, have they misled a judge in the high court or have they themselves been misled by their own colleagues. "For us at Leyton Orient we're sitting on hundreds of thousands of pounds of legal bills that were thwarted because this process was stopped by the government, it was stopped on incorrect grounds, on misleading evidence - the anonymous complainant was never anonymous. "We're taking legal advice on whether we appeal the courts views on costs. We'd like someone to take responsibility and admit responsibility, we want the truth, we want it out in the open. "The fact is the bid process was halted because Leyton Orient brought about a very worthwhile case that proved the bid process was flawed. "I'd like someone to admit that, we're fighting our corner on this case, we've been seriously punished by the courts on legal costs when in fact we were going to win the case."
White elephant
Hearn says Orient will keep their options open, but another bid to try and use the venue seems highly unlikely as he is convinced the Olympic Stadium is not fit to house a football team. "It's a wonderful athletics stadium, I appreciate it's great for the Olympics but it's just not viable as a football venue, it just doesn't work at all," he added. "After my tour of the stadium I'm becoming more and more convinced that this stadium is not fit for football purposes, obviously we're keeping our options open to see how the land lies and if there are any alternatives. "The Olympic Stadium is only 700 yards from our current ground and we've got a huge vested interest, but I have to say, wonderful stadium though it is, I don't think it makes a good football ground. "There are some serious problems with this stadium and let's just hope it's not an horrendous white elephant, we've seen it happen all around the world, let's hope it doesn't happen in London."
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An Interview For The Football Trader
February 17th, 2012 - 12:01 am by Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die
This month's Football Trader magazine has an interview with yours truly. I thought it might interest some of you, so I have reprinted it here.
What is your earliest memory of following West Ham and and what was it that made you decide to follow the Hammers?
I can remember the moment I became a West Ham fan. It was shortly after my then team Manchester United were relegated in 1974. I was 11 and very impressionable. To be frank I was embarrassed. My best friend at the time, Roger Sizer, supported West Ham and being easily led, I decided to follow his lead. Believe it or not I have never regretted it. Even when the Hammers have periodically been relegated themselves. The first game I ever attended at Upton Park came a year later when I watched West Ham lose 1-0 to Chelsea. Alan Curbishley made his debut that day. I remember the fighting battlezone in Green Street outside the ground. Very different to today.
What West Ham game is the one that sticks in your mind more than the others?
There are two. A 5-4 win at home against Bradford when Paolo di Canio staged a sit in and asked Harry Redknapp to sub him. He then fought with Frank Lampard to take a penalty. We came back from 4-2 down to win 5-4. An amazing game. The other is the 2006 FA Cup Final which we lost to Liverpool on penalties. I came out of the Millennium Stadium not feeling we had lost. It was probably the most exciting game I have ever witnessed. Having gone 2-0 up I just couldn't see how we could lose it. Until Stevie Gerrard scored an equaliser in the last minute of normal time. From then on, you just knew. But it was a privilege to be at the game.
Who is your all-time favourite West Ham player and why?
I have had a season ticket since 1991. The greatest player I have seen during that time has to be Paolo di Canio. He had everything. Some of his goals were simply unbelievable. His scissors kick against Wimbledon will stay with me for decades. If Glenn Roeder had played him more in our relegation season we'd surely have avoided the drop. He loves West Ham and West Ham loves him. His debut in management at Swindon suggests he might do rather well in the managerial hotseat. Who knows? One day we might seem him again in the West Ham dugout. Or maybe not.
Who would make your all-time West Ham XI ?
Phil Parkes, Bobby Moore, Alvin Martin, Julian Dicks, Martin Peters, Trevor Brooking, Billy Bonds, Alan Devonshire, Stan Puddefoot, Carlos Tevez, Paolo di Canio
Saddest moment following The Hammers?
There are many to choose from. The day Bobby Moore died is one which will stay with me forever. The outpouring of grief had to be seen to be believed. Another was the day Carlos Tevez played his last game. But he kept us up. And whenever he returns he gives the crossed Irons sign with his arms and every time it makes my eyes well up.
What things have changed a) for the better and b) for worse during football since you have been following the game?
The advent of Sky TV has improved the game beyond measure, but it's also hurt it in some ways. I don't like the influx of foreign players, even though they are fantastic to watch. Well, except Marco Boogers…. West Ham have maintained a good home grown element, but I fear for the future of the England team. I also like all seater stadiums and could never understand the attraction of terraces.
Do you have a favourite item of memorabilia from the past?
I have a West Ham shirt signed by Ronnie Boyce, Alan Taylor and Trevor Brooking – West Ham's three FA Cup winning goalscorers. I bought it recently for £100 at a collector's fair. It's surely got to be a bargain at that price.
If you could interview ANY Legend from the world of football, who would it be and what 3 questions would you put to them?
Well, I recently interviewed Paul Gascoigne for my LBC Radio programme (weeknights 7-10pm!) and he is certainly a legend in my book. But that probably doesn't count. I'll go for Harry Redknapp as he knows how to give a good interview. My three questions would be: 1. Titi Camara. Why? 2. What would Bobby Moore think about modern day football? 3. How did you steal Scott Parker for only £5 million?
Which particular era of the game have you enjoyed watching football mostly, in general?
We all probably think thing were better in "our day" whatever that means, but I do think football has improved in both skill and entertainment since I was a lad. I think I'd have to say since the advent of the Premier league. I really do think it is the most exciting league in the world.
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Stadium complaint 'not anonymous'
CityAM.com
Friday 17th February 2012, 3:44am
THE MAN who submitted the so-called anonymous complaint to the European Commission blamed for scuppering West Ham's Olympic Stadium move says he had told authorities he was behind it all along, City A.M. can reveal. A deal with the football club was scrapped in October amid fears it would be delayed by legal action, with legacy chief Baroness Margaret Ford blaming a "sickening" and "vindictive" anonymous complaint. But architect Steve Lawrence, who helped draw up initial plans for the Olympic Park, says he had extensive correspondence with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in which he told them he was complaining to the EC.
Lawrence also believes his complaint was used as an "excuse" to abandon the deal because Ford's Olympic Park Legacy Company feared it would lose a looming judicial review of its decision to choose West Ham as tenants. He told City A.M.: "I challenged DCMS and the Greater London Authority many times. They told me they had a robust process in place. I challenged them again and, when I didn't get a response, finally I contacted the commissioner's office and I told DCMS I was contacting them."
A spokesperson for DCMS confirmed it had corresponded with Lawrence but said it "didn't have any knowledge" he intended to complain to the EC. An OPLC spokesperson said it had not known Lawrence was behind the complaint until yesterday.
Lawrence says he complained over concerns the project would become a burden on the taxpayer, and that a £40m loan from Newham council to West Ham might constitute illegal state aid. He says he sent 32 emails to bodies including DCMS, the GLA and OPLC before contacting the EC on 23 September 2011. He concedes he did ask the European Commissioner not to publish his name, as it was not relevant and might attract harassment, "knowing of course the authorities would know who the complaint had come from due to the history of correspondence between us".
Lawrence emerged as the man behind the complaint yesterday, telling Sky Sports News: "My feeling is that they used the complaint as an excuse for pulling out in advance of the judicial review as they knew they were going to lose."
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Carew set for West Ham return
By talkSPORT
Thursday, February 16, 2012
John Carew is hoping to get his West Ham career back on track and declare his fitness for the league game against Blackpool on Tuesday night. Carew has failed to make any impact at Upton Park this season and has fallen way down the pecking order following the arrivals of Nicky Maynard and Ricardo Vaz Te in the January transfer window. The Norwegian striker has only played 65 minutes of action in 2012 and has only scored two goals following his move to east London last summer.
Carew has even been warned that he risks losing his place in the Norway team by coach Egil Olsen if he doesn't find another club. The 32-year-old forward has been troubled by a knee problem but is hoping to resume training and force his way back into first-team contention. Carew tweeted: "I hope to be back in training end of this week."
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Named: man who sank stadium deal
Matthew Beard, Olympics Editor
16 Feb 2012
Evening Standard
The identity of the man behind an anonymous legal challenge that led to the collapse of West Ham's purchase of the Olympic stadium was revealed today. Steve Lawrence said he lodged the complaint with the European Union because the deal for West Ham to move in after the Games would leave taxpayers picking up the bill.
Mr Lawrence was commissioned by Stratford Development Partnerships more than a decade ago to carry out a feasibility study for the Olympics on Stratford Rail Lands, once it became clear that Wembley was not a viable site for the Games. He is a long-standing critic of the plan to keep the running track in the Stratford stadium. His argument is that West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur should have shared the venue with a separate running track outside the stadium after the Games.
"(The taxpayer) will be supporting the stadium for the next 100 years," Mr Lawrence said. The West Ham deal collapsed last year amid concerns that legal objections to a £40 million loan from Newham council for the stadium would derail the sale. Legacy chiefs say they have closed the legal loophole and are offering the stadium for rent. However, West Ham say they might not bid because of the changed commercial terms. Last week the process suffered a setback when Boris Johnson's legacy chief Baroness Ford announced her resignation, leaving the post-Games stadium and the £300 million media centre with an uncertain future.
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West Ham defender gets a midfield masterclass from Hammers star Mark Noble
London24
Dave Evans, West Ham Correspondent
Thursday, February 16, 2012
12:53 PM
Of all the bizarre ideas that West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has come up with this season, the inclusion of centre half James Tomkins in a midfield role is probably the strangest. The idea is for the former Academy boy to slot into the defensive midfield role made popular by Papa Bouba Diop while he is out injured, but in reality it has been a real baptism of fire for the youngster for a very different reason. "It is a new experience for me," admitted the 22-year-old. "The gaffer has put me there twice with the idea that I was just going to screen the back four, but both times we have had sendings off, so it has been different."
His manager has certainly been surprised by how well Tomkins has adapted to his task. "We've found a new position for him, haven't we," smiled Allardyce after Tuesday's battling 1-1 draw with Southampton. "The adversity of having to cope with it twice when you've gone into midfield for the first time tells you a lot about the lad. "Basically, we want him to use his football ability and also his protection of the back four by playing the sitting role. "Both times it's not lasted very long and he's had to come and play in the two and been great."
Praise indeed for Tomkins, but he was quick to extol the virtues of midfield team-mate Mark Noble in helping him to adapt. "The manager has had the faith to keep me there as part of a two and I feel like I have been working with Mark Noble really well," he said. "I am half looking at him and learning from him and he has certainly helped me through it." "He has been brilliant and I appreciate how much he runs around playing with him in centre midfield. He is full of energy and desire and that is what I have been trying to thrive off. "I still need the legs that he has at the minute, but I think I will get there."
Tomkins' move into midfield has coincided with two red cards, but at the same time, there have been two monumental rearguard performances with him at the heart of things. "I think we could have won against Southampton," he said. "They had most of the possession, but I didn't think they were really causing us too much trouble in the second half. "In the first half, 'Greeny' pulled off a couple of 'worldy' saves to keep us in the game, but I think we defended well. "I suppose the Millwall game was good practice in terms of playing with 10 men, but we could have done it against the Saints as we showed against Millwall and that is the disappointment of tonight."
Another disappointment for Tomkins on the night was referee Lee Probert, not so much for the decision that saw Matt Taylor sent off, but more for the two penalties that he didn't give. "One of them was from my header at a corner and I saw the guy palm it with his hand and that was a stonewall penalty for me and the other one could have been as well – I've seen them given," he added. "It's disappointing that the referee hasn't seen those, but he has seen the push that led to the red card.
"We did get one penalty, so I suppose he wasn't going to give us two."
West Ham still held on for a point to stay on top of the table and Tomkins was taking the positives out of the performance. "The table has closed up, but we do have a game in hand and we need to take advantage," he said. "The Southampton game is a really big boost though because it showed what we can do with 10 men. "I think with 11 men we looked so far on top it could have been a lot more than one, I was thinking two or three. The sending off has killed it, but it shows that even with 10 men we can still do it."
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West Ham's Tomkins: 'We were lucky more were not sent off'
London 24
Dave Evans, West Ham Correspondent
Thursday, February 16, 2012
10:04 AM
West Ham's James Tomkins confessed that the team were lucky to get away with just one red card from their bad-tempered showdown with Southampton on Tuesday night. Matt Taylor was given his marching orders for pushing over Billy Sharp and West Ham struggled with their discipline for the rest of that tense first half.
"I saw Matt Taylor running over and I saw him raising his arms and you can't do that these days," said the defender turned midfielder. "If you raise your arms at another player then you are giving the referee the problem and it was always going to happen I suppose." Tomkins did suggest that the West Ham players were provoked by the visitors, but he insisted that was no real excuse. "I think it was the lad's reaction to Mark Noble that incensed Matt. He thought it was a dive and he was in his face and winding the situation up," said Tomkins. "He shouldn't have done that, but our players have gone over there and we really need to keep our heads at times. "We had a couple of yellow cards after that and we were lucky that we didn't get any more sent off because it was tough enough as it is."
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