Daily WHUFC News - 22nd November 2012

Hammers look forward to FA Youth Cup
Whufc.COM
West Ham United will start their FA Youth Cup challenge at Aldershot Town on
Monday 10 December
20.11.2012

West Ham United will start their FA Youth Cup challenge with a third-round
tie at Aldershot Town on Monday 10 December. The Hammers, who have won the
competition three times in their history, will take on The Shots for the
second time in three seasons, having overcome the same opposition 5-0 at the
third-round stage in December 2010. Last season, West Ham beat Brighton and
Hove Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers before being edged out by Chelsea on
penalties in the fifth round. Academy Director Tony Carr MBE is looking
forward to a similarly successful run this time around. "The FA Youth Cup is
something that every club looks forward to," confirmed Carr. "It's a
knockout competition and to get to the latter stages would be a great
achievement. "Most of the ties are played in the club's main stadiums and
it's a good test for where you can come as a team. "It's amazing that we'll
be playing Aldershot for the third time in successive seasons - we've played
them in the Youth Cup and then last season in the League Cup at first-team
level at home, but this time it will be away at their stadium."

Carr and his coaching staff have already watched Aldershot in action and
they know that the Football League Youth Alliance South East division side
will be eager to upset their Barclays U18 Premier League opponents. "We
watched them beat Leyton Orient in the second round and it was a very even
game, it must be said. They came from a goal down to win the game 2-1. One
thing that must be said is that they have got a really good team spirit and
looked very well-organised as a team and everybody worked for each other, as
you would expect. "We cannot take them lightly, because if we do we'll come
unstuck. It's one of those games where we have to be on our mettle to get
through to the next round, which is obviously our aim. "We look forward to
it and hopefully we can do the job and get through to the fourth round."

The FA Youth Cup will see Carr and Under-18s coach Nick Haycock name their
strongest-possible side, but they will have to do without injured England
Under-18 defender Leo Chambers. "We will try to field our strongest team but
losing Leo Chambers to a thigh injury that needed surgery and will rule him
out for the remainder of the season is a big miss for the team," confirmed
Carr. Chambers was one of a host of Academy products who have made their
mark for the Development Squad this season, some of whom have also forced
their way into Sam Allardyce's first-team thoughts. Carr is naturally proud
of the success enjoyed by the likes of Chambers, Jordan Spence, Rob Hall,
Dan Potts, Matthias Fanimo, George Moncur and Sebastian Lletget in being
recognised by Big Sam.
"The Under-21s have done brilliantly with their team being made up of
Academy graduates and players almost to a man. It's great to see them top of
their group and having already qualified for the Elite Group Stage of the
competition. "All credit to them because their pre-season was not as good in
terms of results. However, because they played a lot senior men's teams, it
toughened them up and now they are playing Under-21 teams their talents are
coming through. "The good thing was that many of them have got in and around
the first-team squad. It all bodes well for the development of young players
and the conveyor belt of them coming through. It all bodes well for the
second half of the season and long may it continue."

The tie is scheduled to take place at Aldershot Town's Ebb Stadium on Monday
10 December at 7pm. Admission prices are set at £3 for Adults and £1 for
Concessions.

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'We showed what we are capable of'
WHUFC.com
George McCartney says West Ham United's second-half show against Stoke City
was a joy to be part of
20.11.2012

George McCartney hailed the fight shown by West Ham United after they came
from a goal down to secure a valuable point against a resilient Stoke City.
The Potters took a first-half lead through Jon Walters before McCartney's
fellow full-back Joey O'Brien equalised three minutes after the restart. The
Hammers then proceeded to dominate the second half, with the Northern
Irishman at the focal point of a number of threatening attacks. Reflecting
on yet another positive result in the Barclays Premier League, McCartney
told West Ham TV he thought the second 45 minutes was West Ham's best period
of an impressive season so far. "In the second-half we really showed what we
are capable of and for me it was the best we have played all season," said
the left-back, who came close to chalking up an assist when Kevin Nolan's
volley was saved by Asmir Begovic. "Our passing was great, we created a host
of chance and I think that we were very unfortunate not to win the game.
"Stoke are a very tough team to break down, even more so when they go a goal
up, so to respond like we did and get a point is very pleasing. "They have a
lot of good, strong players in their squad but we were excellent in the
second half and by far the better team. We deserved to win."

Stoke were the better side before half-time, not allowing West Ham space in
the midfield or the hosts' wide players to get in behind their own back
four.
Tony Pulis's side were rewarded when Walters lost McCartney inside the
penalty area to sweep home Glenn Whelan's corner. However, the No3 was
blocked off by Potters midfielder Charlie Adam in a clearly rehearsed
training ground move. "I think you always expect a tough, physical game
against Stoke because they are a very difficult team to play against. In the
first half we found it hard to get in behind them, it was probably not the
best game to watch and after they took the lead it was always going to be
tough. "It was obviously a well-worked set piece and that is a big part of
their game. It was a very good finish, but it is always disappointing to
concede in that fashion. "Walters made the run and Adam blocked me off. Once
you get someone in that position, they are always going to make you pay, but
if the referee had seen the block I think it would have given a free-kick."

Despite the disappointment of falling behind, West Ham regrouped at the
break and came out a completely different side after half-time. Less than a
minute into the second period, McCartney crossed for Nolan, who was denied
by Begovic, but it would not be long before the home team got their reward
through O'Brien's close-range finish. "The manager was very good at
half-time - he just told us to lift the tempo and play like we know we can
and have done already this season. "Thankfully we did just that and we
dominated the half and, on another night, we could have had three or four so
it is a shame we did not win the game."

The Hammers now face Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Chelsea and
Liverpool, but McCartney insists they will go into all of those fixtures
aiming to pick up at least a point. With West Ham sitting seventh in the
Barclays Premier League table ahead of their short trip to north London, the
full-back insisted that Sam Allardyce's side have nothing to fear against a
Spurs side beaten 5-2 at Arsenal last weekend. "It is going to be a
difficult run of games but we will take it one game at a time starting, with
Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on Sunday. We can take a lot of
confidence from our second half display against Stoke and Spurs are a little
shaky at the minute so I think they will find it difficult to beat us. "We
have got 19 points so far this season and, despite us having tough matches
after Tottenham, we hope to add to them in the next few weeks. We were
promoted last season through the Play-Offs and I think everybody was
expecting Reading and Southampton to do better than we have. "The manager
has made some excellent signings and they will need to perform as will we
all if we wish to be in the top half come the end of an extremely long and
tough season."

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Hendon happy with young Hammers
WHUFC.com
Ian Hendon's Development Squad have reached the Barclays U21 Premier League
Elite Group Stage
20.11.2012

Similar to their first-team counterparts, the West Ham United Development
Squad has enjoyed quite a 2012/13 season so far. Ian Hendon's youngsters
have won nine of their 12 Barclays Under-21 Premier League Group 1 matches
so far to top the table and qualify for the post-Christmas Elite Group Stage
with two games to spare. The Hammers' youngsters have been quite simply
superb, losing just twice and keeping five clean sheets to streak away from
the likes of Arsenal, Everton, Norwich City and West Bromwich Albion. Hendon
has been able to name a settled side, with seven players making at least ten
starts, and his players have responded by producing a string of consistent
and resilient performances at home and away. Last Friday, top scorer Paul
McCallum's 86th-minute winner at home to West Bromwich Albion was the latest
in a series of impressive and hard-fought victories. "It is always nice to
win 1-0," said the coach. "It does not matter when you score, but to score
so late makes it even sweeter and the clean sheet really was the cherry on
top. "The lads have been working ever so hard to qualify for the Elite Group
Stage and hopefully now we can cap it all off by winning Group 1. "It was
not the prettiest of games [against West Brom] and the conditions were not
in the best for great football or passing football, but you have to deal
with those conditions and we did that. "We were more direct and, in the
second half in particular, we got the ball wide and got some good deliveries
in the box which ultimately won us the game."

Rob Hall provided an inch-perfect free-kick for McCallum to divert home,
capping another outstanding performance from the England Under-19 forward.
"There is a reason why Rob is on the fringes of the first team and you saw
it against West Brom because his delivery is second to none," Hendon
confirmed. "He has put a great ball in the box and credit to Paul because he
has done well to get on the end of it. I was very pleased for him because he
deserved it."
Injuries to centre-backs Leo Chambers and Eoin Wearen handed Pelly Ruddock
the opportunity to make his first start of the season in an unaccustomed
position, but the former Boreham Wood man did not let Hendon down. "It was a
very good collective effort but if I had to single one player out it would
be Pelly because he did not put a foot wrong. He is a midfield player who
has been asked to fill in at centre-back due to injuries and he has kept a
clean sheet. I could not have asked for anymore. "Our wide players Matthias
Fanimo and Blair Turgott were a constant threat throughout and Paul McCallum
always looked like scoring. George Moncur and Seb Lletget also did a great
job playing against three midfielders - they had their hands full but they
coped well."

West Ham complete the Group 1 stage by travelling to Norwich City on Monday
26 November before welcoming Blackburn Rovers to Rush Green four days later
on Friday 30 November (7pm kick-off). With an Elite Group Stage place
confirmed, Hendon now hopes to give his star turns a rest and give a few
younger players an opportunity to shine. Whoever players, the coach is
determined to close out 2012 on a high. "We have got a good squad of players
and also a few Academy players that we want to have a look at so they will
definitely get a run out. We want to see how they step up and how they cope
in games beyond their age-group. It is all about pushing players on and that
is what we will do in the final two games. "We now go into the next game and
try and win again. The boys don't want to fizzle out now and lose two games
- they want to carry on winning and finish strong."

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Much Ayew about nothing
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 21st November 2012
By: Staff Writer

Marseille forward Andre Ayew has played down reports linking him with a move
to West Ham. The 22-year-old Ghanaian - also known as 'Dede' - has spent the
last five years in France but rumours from across the Channel have linked
him with a winter transfer window move to east London. However Ayew, who has
also been watched by Liverpool recently revealed that he had heard nothing
about West Ham's interest in him and younger brother Jordan, 21, bar
speculation in the media. "We are very interested in playing abroad one day
in our career," he said. "There is no official bid from West Ham but if
there is a possibility of one arriving, we will speak to our advisors. West
Ham are an excellent team."

The French-born forward - son of former African Footballer of the Year Abedi
Pele - has already made more than 100 appearances for Marseille in Ligue 1
despite not reaching his 23rd birthday until next month. He also featured
for Ghana in the 2010 World Cup Finals, in which the Balck Stars reached the
quarter finals of the competition. Younger brother Jordan is also a striker
and has been at Marseille since 2006. he signed his first professional
contract with the club three years later since when he has made more than 70
first team appearances.

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Marseille forward Andre Ayew ruling nothing out as reports link him with
West Ham
By Giscard Gourizro. Last Updated: November 21, 2012 1:54pm
SSN

Marseille forward Andre Ayew admits he could be lured away from France, as
speculation linking him with West Ham United mounts. The Hammers are in the
process of drawing up a list of possible targets for the January transfer
window. Ayew is believed to be in Sam Allardyce's thoughts, with the
22-year-old having already shown what he is capable of on the grandest of
stages. The Ghana international has already made well over 150 senior
appearances in his career and was among those to catch the eye as the Black
Stars reached the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup. A switch to England
has been touted for some time, and Ayew has now revealed that a transfer
door could be opened if a bid is received and Marseille are prepared to
listen. He has also hinted that his younger brother Jordan, who has also
been linked with West Ham, could join him in heading for the exits at Stade
Velodrome. "We are very interested in playing abroad one day in our career,"
said Ayew. "There is no official bid from West Ham and if there is a
possibility of one arriving, we will speak to our advisors. "West Ham are an
excellent team."

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David Gold keen to bring David Beckham to West Ham United
Last Updated: November 21, 2012 10:15am
SSN

David Gold believes it would be a 'fantastic statement' if West Ham could
sign David Beckham as the midfielder weighs up his future options. Beckham
has confirmed he is leaving Los Angeles Galaxy after next month's MLS Cup
final and the 37-year-old has been attracting interest from clubs across the
world.
West Ham have been linked with the former Manchester Unitedstar in the past
and co-chairman Gold would be keen to offer Beckham a return to the Premier
League. "He was an ambassador for the London 2012 bid and it would be a
fantastic statement if he came to us," said Gold. "He's an East End boy and
it would be a fitting end to his career. "We've also been mindful of his
value as an ambassador to help us secure the Olympic Stadium."

Melbourne Heart are one of several Australian clubs to show an interest in
Beckham, while Paris St Germain are also considering a move for the
ex-England captain. However, Beckham says he has yet to make a decision on
his future and simply felt it was the right time to announce he would be
leaving the Galaxy.
In an interview on the Galaxy's YouTube channel, he said: "What's next? I
haven't decided yet. "I'd been thinking about this for a few months and I
came to the decision a couple of weeks ago. We were just about to head into
the play-offs so I felt it wasn't the right time to announce it. "Now we're
through the play-offs and in the MLS Cup final which is going to be in our
stadium and in front of our fans I felt it was the right time to do so."

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Joey O'Brien confident West Ham can build on positive results to this point
Last Updated: November 21, 2012 10:01am
SSN

Joey O'Brien believes West Ham United can continue to 'surprise' and hold
their own among the Premier League elite. The Hammers only bounced back into
the top-flight last season, as play-off winners, but appear to have
benefitted from an enforced spell in the second tier. They have returned
with a steely determination not to slip through the trapdoor again, with Sam
Allardyce having assembled a squad which blends creatve spark with defensive
steel. That formula has worked a treat during the opening weeks of the
2012/13 campaign, and O'Brien is confident that West Ham can build on their
seventh-placed standing despite facing a daunting run of fixtures heading
into the festive period - including trips to Manchester United and
Tottenham. O'Brien, who netted his first Premier League goal in Monday's 1-1
draw with Stoke, said: "We were in the Championship last year and when times
got bad that's what we said our aim was, to play against the Uniteds and
Spurs and teams like that. "So we look forward to it. It's tough but that's
what it's about. "We're here to surprise one or two. That's the aim. We're
not going out just to turn up and get beat and enjoy it. We're going out
there to get results, like we did at Newcastle last week.
"We have nothing to lose against these teams. We can play freely and have no
real pressure to get a win." He added: "We think we're a good team. That's
how we go out and play. We don't have that mentality where we're from the
Championship and a newly promoted team. "We have some quality players that
have played in the Premier League for a long time. That's the mentality we
play with."

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Another David Beckham Link!
By S J Chandos
West Ham till I Die

Various reports have been flying around that West Ham are interested in
bringing a 37 year old David Beckham to Upton Park. The speculation seems to
be linked to a comment by co-Chairman, David Gold, that he would be
interested in bringing Beckham to the club. There has since been reported
denials by West Ham, but the Gold comment has been enough to set off the
rumour mill. Personally, I think it highly unlikely that Beckham would come
to Upton Park, even if the club were genuinely interested. It would
undoubtedly be a very expensive deal and one must seriously question whether
it would be a forward looking move. We have a good spirit in the squad and a
sense of 'togetherness' that has been carefully constructed by Sam
Allardyce, his coaches and senior professionals, like Kevin Nolan. Do we
really want to add Beckham to that mix, given the current stage that he is
at in his career and the fact that his presence will focus all media
attention on an individual, rather than the progress and achievements of the
collective?

West Ham should always be interested in top quality players, who add further
to the squad, but they also need to 'fit in' and contribute to the good team
spirit at the club. I do not believe that this particular move is one that
we should consider. If it happened, by some chance, then we would just have
see how it turned out. However, I feel that it is unlikely. And if it does
not come to pass then that is not too much of a problem in my book!
Moreover, if the sort of resources are available to finance a deal for
Beckham, then it might be wiser to invest them elsewhere.

The Stoke City match was a high paced and 'cut and thrust' affair. It was an
enjoyable match and it is clear that Stoke City have evolved, in footballing
terms, from when we were last in the PL. They have added better quality
players and integrated them in to their very physical and high paced game.
Of course, the familiar characteristics were still there, the physical
approach, organisation/work rate, direct play and use of the 'darker arts'
such as playing for free kicks, appealing for everything and time wasting.
But they appear to have moved on from the more mono-casual days of the Rory
Delap throw in.

We started strongly, but Stoke came back in to the match and had the best of
the first half. During that period of ascendency, they played with a high
line and pressed us very well. The West Ham attacks were largely directed
through the centre of their defence and this played in to Stoke City's hands
to a large extent. The Stoke City goal was a well worked set peice, in which
Walters completely lost his marker to score. A lot of West Ham teams, in the
past, would have folded in that first half, but this team is made of tougher
stuff. We competed with Stoke City and matched them to go in at half-time
only 0-1 down.

Allardyce changed West Ham's approach in the second half, with an emphasis
upon getting the ball wide and playing sharp one-two passing moves on the
flanks to put dangerous balls behind their defence. In bypassing their
central defence, we started using the flanks to turn their defence, a far
more effective and productive tactic. We also implemented the tactical
change with a high paced approach that rocked our opponents and threatened
to overpower them. We secured the equaliser via Joey O'Brien and were
unlucky on the night not to grab the winner. At 1-1, despite our dominance,
we were always vulnerable to a goal from a swift counter-attack and Stoke
City nearly did just that, at one point, only for us to be saved by our
defensive organisation and the linesman's flag. That incident underlined the
old lesson that when you are 'on top' you need to convert your chances and
kill the other team off. It is one of the areas that we need to work at and
continue to improve.

Still, I enjoyed the match for its 'blood and thunder' nature, end-to-end
play and fast paced passing. It was not the boring, one-dimension clash that
was predicted in many quarters. There were high balls, but there was also a
lot of good passing movement. The whole Hammers defence played well,
particularly James Tomkins and George McCartney.The West Ham midfield
asserted themselves and wrestled control from Stoke City. Noble, Diame,
O'Neill and Nolan were all excellent throughout the match. Nolan took quite
a bit of stick in the second half, presumably to try to nullify his goal
scoring threat, but Nolan stuck to his task and refused to be muscled out of
it. Andy Carroll also got quite a bit of tougt 'treatment' from Stoke City's
centre backs, but similiarly he kept to his allotted task and gave 100%
commitment once again. However, I did feel that we could have brought
Carlton Cole on a bit earlier, because he might have set the opposition
slightly different problems. Maiga did very well, he looked skillful and
pacy on the ball. Whenever he received the ball he caused alarm in the
opposition with his strong and skillful forward runs. Some of his early
final balls in to the box were a bit off target, but that improved as the
match went on.

I thought that we might win this match with our greater technique. And if
Benayoun and Jarvis had been available that might well have been the case.
But it is a great testimony to the players selected, that they were able to
adapt their approach and continually carve Stoke City open, on the flanks,
to cause recurring panic in the heart of their defence. Watching the match
in the second half, I found myself thinking how well West Ham had stood up
to the physical challenges and, changed their play, to force Stoke City in
to some, pretty desperate, last ditch defending. Not many teams are able to
do that to them. Yet more evidence of the new ethos and approach at the
club. Long may it continue.

So, that's 5 points in three matches, one would have expected 3 points
against Stoke City, but never mind. We have exceeded the expections of most
fans so far. The Chelsea and Man Utd matches are the high point of the
difficult second phase of the season up to the New Year. But we need to
approach those matches with a game plan, give a good account of ourselves
and see if we can secure a result. The way that West Ham are playing, we
should go in to every game with the expection of both competing and coming
away wth a result. Even where we lose against a top four side, the secondary
objective must be to make the opposition work hard for their win and to know
that they have been in a tough match. In the event that we were to suffer a
heavy defeat, then we must show the strength to bounce straight back, just
like after the Swansea and Wigan reverses.

An impressive 19 points in 12 matches, and 7th in the PL, who would not have
took that pre-season? There is definitely a decent prospect of a point or
three at White Hart Lane this Sunday. If we continue to apply ourselves,
impose our game and contain the threat of Bale and Lennon down the flanks
then we can get a result. COYI!

SJ Chandos.

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Becks fit the bill
Published: 21st November 2012
The Sun

SAM ALLARDYCE wants David Beckham to join West Ham... if he is fit. Becks,
37, will quit LA Galaxy after five years following next month's MLS Cup
final against Houston. And Hammers boss Allardyce has declared his interest
in signing the former England midfielder. Big Sam said: "Yes, I would like
to see a fit David Beckham at West Ham. "But he would need to come and do a
fitness test like any other player." Becks has been linked with Paris
Saint-Germain, Shanghai, Melbourne Heart, Flamengo and Corinthians.

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Ravel Morrison pondering international future with Jamaica
The West Ham-owned midfielder has represented England up to Under-18 level
but could pledge his allegiance to his mother's homeland after impressing on
loan at Birmingham City
22 Nov 2012 00:13:00
By Ryan Benson
Goal.com

West Ham United youngster Ravel Morrison has admitted he is thinking about
declaring himself available for selection for the Jamaican national football
team instead of England. Born in Wythenshaw, the 19-year-old has had a
fairly turbulent career to date, getting into several legal problems while
contracted to Manchester United, despite being rated as one of the club's
finest youth products since Paul Scholes and was eventually offloaded to the
Hammers in January.
The England youth international is currently on loan at Birmingham City in
the Championship and has impressed in his nine league appearances so far
this season, and although he is highly-rated by many in English football, he
could be set to pick an international career with Jamaica over the Three
Lions.
Speaking on his Twitter account, Morrison said: "Should I go play for
Jamaica hmmm...
Thus far, Morrison has played at every level for England until Under-18 and
was one of the stars of Manchester United's 2011 FA Youth Cup triumph
alongside Juventus star Paul Pogba. He has played once for West Ham since
signing 10 months ago, but scored his first senior goal for the Blues last
weekend against Hull City.

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