Daily WHUFC News - 3rd May 2012

Green saves the best
WHUFC.com
Robert Green is hoping to end another fine season with a win at Wembley
02.05.2012

Of the ten trophies presented at the 2011/12 Awards Dinner, the Save of the
Season produced the most predictable winner. As the only contender, Robert
Green was always destined to collect the prize, but it was just a question
of which of his five best stops would be picked by West Ham United
supporters. As it happened, the No1 and the fans had a different view over
which was the most impressive - while they chose the last-gasp save to deny
Cardiff City's Kenny Miller, Green himself was happier with the acrobatics
he produced to keep out a header from Barnsley defender Rob Edwards in
December. "The winning save against Cardiff was one that I'm definitely
proud and happy with," said the 32-year-old. "It didn't affect the outcome
of the match but it's important for me to keep my focus and do my job from
minute one to minute 95. "It was not literally the most vital save but every
save that maintains a clean sheet is a good one. "My own Save of the Season
would have been the one against Barnsley, largely for the importance of it
because we were 1-0 up but under the cosh. It changed the course of the
game, so I'd have chosen that one."

Green joked that he was happy to have beaten off the challenge of Arsenal
loanee Manuel Almunia, who appeared four times last autumn, and stand-in
Henri Lansbury to win the award. Lansbury famously pulled on the gloves when
Green was sent-off at Blackpool in February, keeping a clean sheet for 35
minutes as the Hammers triumphed 4-1. "It was slightly debateable whether I
would win over Henri and Manuel, who did well when he came on loan.
Seriously, though, it is always good to get awards because it shows you are
doing your job. "Hopefully I will be making more saves and we'll go up in
the Play-Offs. "Henri is lively and is always hanging around the
goalkeepers. We get a bit of stick, us goalkeepers, but everybody wants to
be one really!"

For Green, being part of a winning team has been a new experience after two
busy seasons spent trying to keep West Ham in matches. He said both are
skills that goalkeepers have to master if they are going to be successful.
"It's been different this season because we've been dominating games and
I've had to keep my focus as opposed to being kept busy and having to keep
them out throughout the game. "It's been a good season for us."

Green is now looking to climax another consistent season by appearing at
Wembley in the npower Championship Play-Off final. Having played at the Home
of Football for England and knowing the value of the 19 May showcase, the
stopper is desperate to help the Hammers sign-off 2011/12 on a high. "To
play at Wembley in front of a full-house of 90,000 people in one of the
biggest one-off games in the world would be nice. "If that's not enough of a
carrot dangled in front of us, I don't know what it. "We can't look past the
semi-finals though because it will be tough. We've definitely got the
motivation there to do the job in hand, though."

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The Big Interview - Gary O'Neil
WHUFC.com
Gary O'Neil believes West Ham United can keep their fine run of form going
in the Play-Offs
02.05.2012

Gary O'Neil believes West Ham United have the 'quality and experience'
required to negotiate the npower Championship Play-Offs. The Hammers face
six-placed Cardiff City after finishing third in the table behind
Southampton following Saturday's 2-1 win over Hull City. West Ham have
already scored a win at the Cardiff City Stadium this season and the No32
insists lightning can strike twice this coming Thursday evening. O'Neil, who
has returned from a long-term ankle injury to make an important contribution
to the club's promotion challenge, spoke at length about the season gone by,
his recovery from injury and the Play-Offs.

How did you assess the way Saturday panned out, with us winning but
Southampton pipping us by beating Coventry City 4-0?

GON - We had to start well, which we did and we got ahead. Obviously when we
found out at half-time that Southampton were so far clear [2-0 up], we took
our foot off the pedal a little bit. If we needed to go on from two goals I
think we had it in us. Southampton were comfortably clear, so we made a few
substitutions and rested a few bodies for the big game on Thursday.
It was sewn-up when we didn't win at Bristol City [on 17 April] - not that
it was the one that really cost us because it was the home draws that cost
us, really. When we drew at Bristol we knew it would be an uphill task with
Southampton having already-relegated Coventry at home on the final day. It
was always going to be a tough one for Coventry to get something out of. We
did our job and finished with two wins. At Leicester we went 1-0 down and
came back and won and showed good resilience. We won on Saturday and were
comfortable so we're in a good bit of form going into the Play-Offs.

Were the five successive home draws in February and March what cost you
automatic promotion?

GON - I think so. We finished two points and a few goals short after
Southampton won by so many on Saturday. We were only one win away from going
up and you can count those five games here on the trot where we should have
won. We were up against Middlesbrough with a few minutes to go and against
Doncaster and only drew with Watford. They have probably cost us a promotion
place.

How do you prepare for the Play-Offs?

GON - We just start again really now. It doesn't matter where we finished.
League positions don't matter. There are four of us in the semi-final and we
go to Cardiff on Thursday and we'll try to get a win. We're in decent form -
we've only lost one game in 18 and that was at home to Reading - so we're
looking forward to it.

Are you comfortable with the tag of favourites for the Play-Offs?

GON - It's a tag that doesn't really mean anything. We deal with everything
that we deal with in the dressing room. We've got a tight unit in there and
we can't let outside influences affect us. You can guarantee that we'll be
giving it all we can and hopefully it'll be good enough.

Who do you see as the biggest threat in the Play-Offs?

GON - I don't see one as a bigger threat than the others. They have all had
decent seasons to get where they are. Birmingham have been on a good run
since they got knocked out of Europe and probably have the strongest squad,
having been relegated from the Premier League last season. They still have a
few of those players. I think the Play-Offs are like that - in the final you
only have 90 minutes to prove you are the team who should be in the Premier
League, whereas over the course of the season you have 46 games to prove you
are the better team. That's why they are a bit of a lottery. Hopefully the
quality and experience we have should get us through.

Will our outstanding away form hold us in good stead, considering two of the
possible three games will be away from the Boleyn Ground?

GON - I'm not sure. Going away to Cardiff first could be an advantage if we
treat is as a one-off game and try to win that game. Coming back here, we'd
be confident. It's an old cliche but we need to take it one game at a time.
We need to try to be solid and keep a clean sheet, score a few goals and see
how we get on. Then we can come back here and finish the job off. They have
got in the Play-Offs the other way by scraping in with a win on Saturday so
they'll be buzzing that they've made it, whereas we've come the other way
from second into third. It'll be a tough tie.

You must be amazed with how many games you have played - and started - this
season after your ankle injury?

GON - Yes, I am amazed. One, I didn't think I'd play so many games and two,
I didn't think I'd be selected for as many as I have been. I'm really
pleased on a personal level that I've made ten starts this season. That's
probably about nine more than I expected, so that's a real positive on a
personal note. If we can get to the Premier League then we'll have less
games and that'll be good for my ankle!

You got a kick on it from Corry Evans near the end of Saturday's game. Any
fears you had hurt it again?

GON - I knew it wasn't serious. I wasn't too pleased with the tackle in the
last minute of the last game of the season. I thought it was a little bit
unnecessary. It was the same ankle and it's a little bit sore, so I'll try
to get it ready for Thursday. It's not a worry for me in tackles or
anything. It's more the constant grind of playing that takes its toll on it.
It lets me know if I've done too much, but I've been playing
Saturday/Tuesday most of the time so I'm really pleased.

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Cardiff v West Ham
BBC.co.uk
KO 19:45
2 May 2012
Last updated at 19:00
NPOWER CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL FIRST LEG
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium Date: Thursday, 3 May Kick-off: 1945 BST
Coverage: Watch highlights on The Football League Show; listen on BBC Radio
5 live and BBC local radio; text commentary on the BBC Sport website

TEAM NEWS

Cardiff boss Malky Mackay will select his starting line-up for the first leg
of their play-off semi-final against West Ham from a full-strength squad.
Four unspecified players sustained knocks in the win at Crystal Palace, but
are all expected to be back.

West Ham also have a fully fit squad available with midfielder Gary O'Neil
(ankle) passed fit. Kevin Nolan is also fine despite suffering a dead leg
and James Tomkins has shaken off a knock to the head.

Mackay is determined that his team will not be unnerved by recent
disappointment in the play-offs. The Bluebirds lost out to Blackpool in a
thrilling Wembley final two seasons ago, before being beaten by Reading at
the last-four stage last term. "That's in the past, you have to take the
individual games on their own merit," the Bluebirds boss said. "Each of us
have been better away from home so it will be interesting. But it's a
180-minute game of football. Nothing will be decided until 6.15pm on Monday.
"When you get to this stage it is about who is the calmest on the day, who
gets that bit of luck, but also who tactically gets it right over the 180
minutes."

Meanwhile, West Ham assistant boss Neil McDonald insisted the Hammers would
not be affected by their favourites tag. The Londoners finished 11 points
ahead of sixth-placed Cardiff and have won a club-record 13 matches away
from home this term. "There's no reason why we shouldn't handle the
pressure," McDonald said. "There were doubts about our home form but we've
put that to bed with our last two games and our away form is fantastic. I
don't think we have anything to be afraid of. "It will be a unique
atmosphere but our experienced players will calm everyone down and the ones
who haven't done it before should be positive. It will be a close game but
hopefully we can take advantage of our away form and then bring them back to
Upton Park on Monday and show what we did in the last two matches, which is
play positive football, create chances and score goals."

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
. This is their 50th meeting, spanning 92 years. West Ham have won 25
of the last 49, and Cardiff nine.
. The Championship clashes this season were both away wins; 1-0 for
Cardiff at Upton Park in August, and 2-0 for the Hammers at the Cardiff City
Stadium in March.
. This is their first meeting in the play-offs.

Cardiff City
. The Bluebirds ended the season on a 10-match undefeated sequence
(W4, D6), with the four wins in their last six, to end the campaign in sixth
spot, five points ahead of seventh-placed Middlesbrough.
. The club finishing sixth in this division has won promotion through
the play-offs five times in 20 years.
. Cardiff are participating in their sixth play-off campaign, and
third in successive seasons. They gained promotion to the second tier
through them in 2003, lost to Blackpool in the Wembley final in 2010, and
were knocked out at this stage by Reading last year.
. The Welsh club have spent the last nine seasons in the second tier,
and last played top-flight football in 1962.
. Manager Malky Mackay was part of the Watford team that beat Leeds
3-0 in the 2006 Championship play-off final, at the Millennium Stadium.

West Ham United
. The Hammers missed out on automatic promotion by two points, but
also ended the regular season with four wins in six games. They lost one of
the last 18 to wind up third.
. The club finishing third has been the most successful in the
play-offs over the last 20 years, gaining promotion seven times - the most
recent being Swansea last season.
. West Ham are aiming to make an immediate return to the Premier
League. They qualified for the final in both previous experiences of the
play-offs, and were successful in 2005, beating Preston in the final at the
Millennium Stadium, when Malky Mackay was at the club, but did not play.
. These will be the fourth play-offs in which Sam Allardyce has
managed a club. He took Bolton up to the Premier League via this route in
2001.

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Green aiming for Wembley farewell?
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 2nd May 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham's number one Rob Green says he is looking forward to ending the
season - and possibly his career in east London - at Wembley.

Despite a lucrative contract being on the table for some considerable time,
the former Norwich stopper has refused to extend the five-year deal he
signed in the summer of 2007 and he appears destined to leave Upton Park at
the end of the season.

But the prospect of making a potential farewell in the play-off Final -
which would also be the club's first appearance at the new stadium and their
first at Wembley since 1981 when they drew with Liverpool in the League Cup
Final - is an irresistable prospect for Green.

"To play at Wembley in front of a full-house of 90,000 people in one of the
biggest one-off games in the world would be nice," the England 'keeper told
whufc.com. "If that's not enough of a carrot dangled in front of us, I don't
know what is.

"We can't look past the semi-final [against Cardiff] though because it will
be tough. We've definitely got the motivation there to do the job in hand,
though."

Green, who was signed by Alan Pardew in the summer of 2006 as replacement
for Shaka Hislop has been a virtual ever-present for West Ham since and has
made 238 first team appearances in total.

Now 32, the Chertsey-born Woking supporter has played for just two clubs
throughout his entire career - the first ten years of which were spent at
Norwich, for whom he made 240 starts and one substitute appearance.

He has also been capped 11 times for England having made his debut against
Columbia in May 2005. His most recent appearance at international level came
in the ill-fated 1-1 draw with the USA in the 2010 World Cup Finals.

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Getting twitchy, Malky?
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 2nd May 2012
By: Staff Writer

Cardiff boss Malky Mackay has banned his players from using social networks
until after the play-off semi finals. The Cardiff boss, who was in the West
Ham squad the last time United were promoted from the Championship back in
2005 has banned his players from using Facebook and Twitter until the result
of the two-legged play-off semi final is known. "I want the players focused
on their game, their training and the two matches coming up," said the
40-year-old Scot. "All focus is on that and nothing else other than just
living the best they can for the next seven days, because there will be so
many rewards for that."

Mackay - who lost his place in Alan Pardew's side to rookie Elliott Ward and
subsequently missed out on the opportunity of playing at the Millennium
Stadium against Preston - also tried to rack up the pressure on his former
club by claiming that his current club were the underdogs going into the
tie. "I think there's an expectation level on West Ham so automatically with
that we would be underdogs in that game," he summised. "You're talking
about a team that for a vast part of the season were in second place - they
might have been in first place at some points. "So no matter what, there is
that disappointment that they never got promoted automatically."

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Confidence is key
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 2nd May 2012
By: Staff Writer

Neil McDonald is expecting a tight game when West Ham meet Cardiff in the
first leg of the play-off semi final tomorrow night - but says United go
into the game full of confidence.

Sam Allardyce's right-hand man fielded the questions from the press this
afternoon in the wake of the manager's pre-planned absence at today's
pre-match press conference and was quick to highlight the potential danger
of the opposition, who finished the Championship season in sixth place some
11 points behind the Hammers.

However McDonald insisted that the players go into the game on a high
following their excellent form in recent matches - especially away from home
- and are fully confident of gaining a positive result in South Wales
tomorrow night.

"Both teams are in really good form and it's certainly going to be a tight
affair," he told reporters. "But our away form is good, we're scoring goals
and keeping clean sheets.

"You can intimidate teams sometimes and hopefully our away form might
intimidate Cardiff. The momentum's there, we're unbeaten in six games, we've
scored lots of goals and we've created lots of chances.

"It's about getting the right blend and making sure everybody copes with the
information that's given to them. We see no reason why they shouldn't
because they've done fantastically well this season. We know what we have to
do and we're full of confidence, that's for sure."

With the return leg to follow at the Boleyn on Monday afternoon, it will be
imperative to follow what will hopefully be a positive result at the Cardiff
City Stadium with an equally good performance at home.

And looking ahead to that game, McDonald highlighted West Ham's
much-improved home form which has seen United take maximum points from their
last two games at the Boleyn Ground courtesy of the 6-0 win against Brighton
and 2-1 defeat of Hull.

"To win the last two games by scoring eight goals is a fantastic boost for
everybody," he added. "I'm sure that if we get a good result away to Cardiff
the whole place will lift, because the supporters have been fantastic for
the last two home games.

"We're geared up for it and we're very, very confident."

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McDonald confident in Hammers
Assistant boss says West Ham are in 'really good spirits'
Last Updated: May 2, 2012 9:05pm
SSN

West Ham assistant boss Neil McDonald is confident the club have shrugged
off the disappointment of missing out on automatic promotion to Southampton
last Saturday. Sam Allardyce's right-hand man also claims the Hammers are
not afraid of their favourites tag as they head into their Championship
play-offs semi-final first leg against Cardiff on Thursday evening. The East
Londoners won a club-record 13 games on the road this season and on the back
of two successive home wins, including a 6-0 thumping of Brighton.
Meanwhile, Malky Mackay's side finished 11 points behind West Ham in the
Championship, but McDonald still expects a tough test at the Cardiff City
Stadium.

Sky Bet Odds
Championship Promotion 2011/12 - West Ham 7/4, Birmingham 12/5, Blackpool
3/1, Cardiff 7/2. Bet Now

"In our heart of hearts we always knew Southampton would win their last
game," he said "We were more disappointed when we drew at Bristol City
before that in a game we needed to win.

Spirits

"But the boys are in really good spirits and we are all ready for the game.
There's a great atmosphere and good competition for places. "We were
favourites at the start of the season to go up so it was disappointing we
didn't do it automatically. But we'll take the favourite tag if everyone
wants to give it to us and we are ready for the two games against Cardiff.
"There's no reason why we shouldn't handle the pressure. There were doubts
about our home form but we've put that to bed with our last two games and
our away form is fantastic. I don't think we have anything to be afraid of.
"It will be a unique atmosphere but our experienced players will calm
everyone down and the ones who haven't done it before should be positive.
"It will be a close game but hopefully we can take advantage of our away
form and then bring them back to Upton Park on Monday and show what we did
in the last two matches, which is play positive football, create chances and
score goals."

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Cardiff v West Ham preview
Last updated: 2nd May 2012
SSN

Team news for Thursday night's play-off semi-final first-leg clash between
Cardiff and West Ham at the Cardiff City Stadium. Cardiff manager Malky
Mackay will select his starting line-up for the first leg clash from
virtually a full-strength squad. Four unspecified players all sustained
various knocks in the last-day win at Crystal Palacethat secured the
Bluebirds' top-six finish, but are all expected to be back in contention for
the visit of West Ham. Striker Rudy Gestede shook off a hip injury to step
off the bench in last weekend's 2-1 win and, together with fellow
substitutes Robert Earnshaw and defender Darcy Blake, is pushing for a
recall. Mackay, able to choose from a settled squad in recent weeks, is
expected to opt for Don Cowie in midfield ahead of Stephen McPhail. Cardiff,
beaten only once in their last 13 matches, are bidding to reach Wembley for
a second time this season, having lost on penalties to Liverpool in the
Carling Cup final. The Welsh side are also hoping to end their play-off
hoodoo after losing in last season's semi-finals to Reading and in the final
to Blackpool the previous year, while they were also losing FA Cup finalists
to Portsmouth at Wembley in 2008.

West Ham have a fully-fit squad available. Midfielder Gary O'Neil was a
doubt after taking a whack on the ankle towards the end of Saturday's 2-1
win over Hull but he has been passed fit. Skipper Kevin Nolan is also fine
despite suffering a dead leg at the weekend and defender James Tomkins has
shaken off a knock to the head.
Manager Sam Allardyce was able to take off two-goal Carlton Cole and strike
partner Ricardo Vaz Te early in the second half against Hull as the news
Southampton were winning made the result academic, so they are expected to
start up front. Fit-again George McCartney (concussion), a substitute on
Saturday, should reclaim his left-back spot.

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Vaz Te eyes play-off glory
Former Bolton man enjoying the best form of his career
By Soriebah Kajue. Last Updated: May 2, 2012 3:39pm
SSN

Ricardo Vaz Te insists West Ham can find the tonic for missing out on
automatic promotion by succeeding in the play-offs. Vaz Te, 25, joined the
Hammers in January from Barnsley and has plundered 10 goals in 15
appearances this term. Sam Allardyce's team will face Cardiff in the first
leg of their play-off tie on Thursday and the former Portugal Under-23
attacker wants them to make up for finishing third in the Championship. "We
felt like we deserved to be promoted but nevertheless we are still in it and
can't feel sorry for ourselves," he told Sky Sports News. "We've got
ourselves in this position so we just have to look forward to the games now
and try and come out on top."

Movement

Brighton felt the full brunt of Vaz Te's attacking prowess last month when
he plundered a hat-trick against them in a 6-0 win. And when asked what his
favourite goal of the season is too date, he recalls one his strikes against
the Seagulls. "I think it would have to be against Brighton - the first
one," he added. "I remember cutting in from left to right and I managed to
hit it in the right place and got the movement on the ball. As soon as I hit
it, I felt it was going in."

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Play off referee appointments
By Michael Morris
Updated Thursday, 3rd May 2012
Cardiff City RSS Feed

Neil Swarbrick and Mike Dean are the referees allocated to the Cardiff/West
Ham play off matches.

NEIL SWARBRICK will take charge of the first leg at Cardiff City Stadium
tonight. He will be assisted by Ron Ganfield and Simon Long. The Fourth
Official is Anthony Taylor Mr Swarbrick sent off two West Ham players when
they lost 3 - 0 at Reading in December. He has officiated three Cardiff gams
in the past with City winning all three. The last one was Craig Bellamy's
debut in 2010 when City beat Doncaster 4 - 0. This season he has issued 103
yellow and 7 red cards in 29 games.

MIKE DEAN is the referee at Upton Park next Monday. He will be assisted by
Gary Beswick and John Flynn. The Fourth Official is Michael Oliver. Mr Dean
was the man who took charge of City's 2008 FA Cup final against Portsmouth.
He was in charge of City's Carling Cup semi final defeat at Selhurst Park
against Crystal Palace this season and last night was the referee at The
Reebok for Bolton's home defeat against Spurs. You have to go back to April
1999 to find his first game in charge of Cardiff City. A 0-0 draw at
Cambridge. This season he has issued 139 yellow and 4 red cards in 41 games.

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