Daily WHUFC News - 9th March 2013

Manchester United match postponed
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's home fixture with Manchester United will be re-arranged
for a new date
13.02.2013

West Ham United's Barclays Premier League home fixture with Manchester
United, originally scheduled for Saturday 9 March, has been postponed. The
Red Devils' visit to east London will now be re-arranged after Sir Alex
Ferguson's side reached the FA Cup with Budweiser sixth round courtesy of a
2-1 fifth-round victory over Reading. A new date for the fixture has yet to
be agreed and a further announcement will follow in due course. Match
tickets previously purchased for the original match will still be valid for
the re-arranged fixture.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Jarvo relishing Chelsea challenge
WHUFC.com
Matt Jarvis says West Ham United will go to Stamford Bridge full of
confidence on Sunday afternoon
08.03.2013

Matt Jarvis says West Ham United will go to Chelsea full of confidence after
recording a valuable 1-0 Barclays Premier League success at Stoke City. The
winger was in fine form as the Hammers chalked up their third away win of
the campaign courtesy of a resilient performance and Jack Collison's
pinpoint finish.
The No7, who came close to scoring with a low shot at the Britannia Stadium,
says victory in the Potteries will send West Ham to Stamford Bridge
believing they can beat the Blues and record a first league 'double' over
Rafael Benitez's side since 2002/03.

"Stoke is always a tough place to go and we all had to work extremely hard
to pick up the three points," confirmed Jarvis. "It's been hard for us on
the road but we did extremely well and came away with the win. "Obviously it
was disappointing to lose two players early in the game [in the injured Joe
Cole and Matt Taylor] but the two players who came on made a massive impact
in the game - one, Ricardo Vaz Te, set up the goal and the other one, Jack
Collison, scored!
"We knew Stoke's strengths and we had to really concentrate and work hard to
stop any set pieces or long throws into the box and make sure we were
positive in the way we approached the game and when we attacked. We also had
to make sure that when we had a chance, we punished them. "It's always going
to be a very tough game away at Stamford Bridge, but I'm sure we'll have
this weekend off and be prepared to go there and put in another good
performance and hopefully get a good result."

While it may now be tempting to look further ahead following Saturday's
success at Stoke, Jarvis said everyone at the club is focused on the next
game and collecting enough points to guarantee Barclays Premier League
football next season. "First things first, we want to make sure we guarantee
our safety. Once we've done that, then we're going to push on and look how
far we can go."

For Jarvis personally, he is more than happy to be part of a positive squad
at West Ham, having joined the club from relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers
last August. "It's hard to change clubs. I was at Wolves for five years
before moving clubs and settling in. Everyone at the club has been fantastic
since I joined so I really do feel at home at West Ham now."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Page ready for Stoke test
WHUFC.com
Lewis Page is looking forward to Saturday's Barclays U18 Premier League
visit of Stoke City
08.03.2013

First-year scholar Lewis Page is looking forward to Saturday's Barclays U18
Premier League Tier One visit of Stoke City to Little Heath. The West Ham
United youngster, who does not turn 17 until May, has already chalked up 13
appearances for the Under-18s this term and is looking to make another start
when the Potters arrive in east London on Saturday. Kick-off at Little Heath
is at 11am, with admission and parking both free of charge. Steve Potts'
team have lost each of their previous three league matches, including a
disappointing 3-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur last weekend. However, Page
says the Hammers have got it in them to return to winning ways against
Stoke. "Performance-wise, we have been doing well apart from last Saturday's
defeat by Tottenham. That was our worst performance of the season, but the
rest of the season we have been playing well without getting the results. We
haven't finished our chances as well as we could have done and have made a
few mistakes at the back, but overall we've done well."

West Ham have played Spurs three times in six matches since Christmas,
winning the home league game before being knocked out of the FA Youth Cup at
the Boleyn Ground and going down to the aforementioned league defeat in
north London last weekend. While Page said the Hammers enjoy locking horns
with their local rivals, the players are relishing the opportunity to test
themselves against a different style of play this time around. "We enjoy
playing against Tottenham because it's a challenge. I think we can beat
them, as we showed in January, but it hasn't worked out in the last few
weeks. We have got Stoke on Saturday, which will be a tough game and a
different sort of game. Hopefully, we can deal with them. "Stoke have got a
good Academy and have brought quite a lot of players through. They will be a
big team so we've got to deal with them in the air and just compete.
Footballing-wise, I think we can win the game by doing that."

With second-year scholar Frazer Shaw now a regular in the Development Squad
at left-back, the path has opened up for Page to make the same position his
own in the U18s - an opportunity he is determined to take advantage of
between now at the end of the current campaign. "I'm a left-back who likes
to attack. I get forward and put crosses in and I also like to think I'm a
decent defender. I am from Bishop's Stortford originally but I stay at the
West Ham Academy House as it makes things a lot easier to get into training
and college in the mornings and takes the stress out of it. "I was playing
for my local team Bishop's Stortford Swifts when I got spotted by one of the
West Ham scouts. I came down for a trial and I started from there as an
Under-10."

"I think we've all settled in well and are all enjoying it. We've all had
good pitch-time and we're all sticking together as a team, so hopefully we
can get some results in our next few games. My personal ambition is to keep
playing, getting the minutes and play well."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Becky sees Merritt in Ladies Academy
WHUFC.com
West Ham TV caught up with the Hammers' Ladies at training ahead of
International Women's Day
08.03.2013

These are exciting times for West Ham United Ladies. September will mark the
launch of their Youth Academy, while the club's application to join Women's
Super League Two is currently pending.

If that weren't enough to occupy the mind, Julia Setford's side are in the
throngs of a title challenge, with none other than league leaders Millwall
Lionesses to play on Sunday. In support of International Women's Day, West
Ham United are to run a three-part feature on the Ladies, starting with a
closer look at the forward-thinking plans for an Academy programme. When she
is not scoring goals in claret and blue, Hammers forward Becky Merritt is
usually to be found coaching the next generation, on behalf of SCL (Schools
Coaching Ltd). It is they who will run the Ladies' Academy and Merritt who
is spearheading the campaign. Merritt is in no doubt of the importance of
the plans, if West Ham are to compete with the biggest and the best in the
game. Merritt told West Ham TV: "The Academy will run alongside an education
system, whereby girls from the age of 16 to 18 can incorporate education,
while still training and playing on a competitive basis. They will be
training every day and playing against the colleges in the league. So it
will virtually be a professional set up, but one where they can gain
qualifications as well. "It's massive for us because we don't have a
development side, so it's a huge step for the girls from Under-16s to come
and step into senior football. Hopefully this will bridge the gap. It will
give us the opportunity to develop those players further, even if they are
not quite ready for senior football. We'll be able to retain those players,
where in the past we've lost them to other clubs that can offer these
facilities. "With the management here they are very keen to focus on the
youth. So bringing the youngsters through will give them a great
opportunity. They will be training every day, developing at a pace and
hopefully coming to try and steal my shirt."

The Academy is likely to take on 24 girls in its first year, with that
number expected to double for the following season should all go to plan.
Merritt and her colleagues are busy getting the word out there and Merritt
expects the club to reap the benefits of the very welcome publicity.
"It's a massive advertising tool for us. Getting us out there among the
bigger clubs who already have these set ups in place. By putting these
things in place it gives us an extra chance to be in contention with the big
guns. "It's all very exciting, especially for me being involved as much as I
am. It's a bit of a guinea pig project for the company I work for, so, no
pressure then! But we're really trying to progress into women's football and
hopefully all being well this is will be the start of something brilliant.
"There are already some girls coming through now who are looking very
promising. It can only get better for us."

Trials for the Academy are to be held at 60a Albatross Close, Beckton,
London E6 5NX on Wednesday 10 April and Wednesday 29 May from 3pm until 5.
For further details, see the following information pack. Meanwhile, to keep
up to date with all the latest goings on at West Ham United Ladies, visit
their official website.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
O'Brien named in provisional Ireland squad
WHUFC.com
West Ham United defender Joey O'Brien named in squad to take on Sweden and
Austria
08.03.2013

West Ham United defender Joey O'Brien has been named in the provisional
Republic of Ireland squad for their FIFA 2014 World Cup Qualifiers against
Sweden and Austria later this month. Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has
selected the 27-year-old in his 29-man squad for the double header.
Trapattoni's men first travel to Stockholm to take on Sweden on Friday 22
March before returning to Dublin to face Austria on Tuesday 26 March. They
currently sit third in their group, four points off leaders Germany having
played a game less.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Piquionne departs by mutal consent
WHUFC.com
West Ham United striker ends Boleyn Ground spell after three years with the
club
08.03.2013

Frederic Piquionne has ended his spell with West Ham United by mutual
consent. The 34-year-old striker spent nearly three years with the Hammers
after joining the club in July 2010 from Lyon. He scored 11 goals in 62
games for the club but did not make a first team appearance this season.
West Ham United would like to thank Freddie for his service and wish him
well for his future career.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
McCallum joins Aldershot on loan
WHUFC.com
West Ham United youngster Paul McCallum signs for Aldershot Town on loan
08.03.2013

Hammers youngster Paul McCallum has joined npower League 2 side Aldershot
Town on a month-long loan. The 19-year-old forward recently completed a
similar spell with AFC Wimbledon, where he notched four goals in nine games
and earned a nomination for the League 2 Player of the Month award. His loan
spell with the Shots, who are currently 19th in their division, will run
until 7 April. McCallum said: "My spell at Wimbledon went well. I was a bit
nervous at the start, playing against people who had been playing in League
2 for a very long time, but the gaffer put me in and I scored four goals in
four starts. "The loan made me believe in myself that I can score goals in
senior football and I'm looking forward to going out again to prove I can
score more goals."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham winger Matt Jarvis sets sights on win over Chelsea and securing
safety
Last Updated: March 8, 2013 9:12pm
SSN

Matt Jarvis says West Ham United are focused on guaranteeing Premier League
survival and is confident they can challenge Chelsea at Stamford Bridge next
weekend. The Hammers are enjoying a fortnight off after beating Stoke City
1-0 away from home last time out, and Jarvis admits confidence will be high
when they head to Chelsea on 17th March. "Stoke is always a tough place to
go and we all had to work extremely hard to pick up the three points,"
Jarvis told the club's official website. "It's been hard for us on the road
but we did extremely well and came away with the win. "It's always going to
be a very tough game away at Stamford Bridge, but I'm sure we'll have this
weekend off and be prepared to go there and put in another good performance
and hopefully get a good result."

The victory over Stoke lifted West Ham on to 33 points, nine clear of the
relegation zone, but Jarvis insists they will continue to work hard to
ensure they stay up. He said: "First things first, we want to make sure we
guarantee our safety. Once we've done that, then we're going to push on and
look how far we can go."

Jarvis, who made the move to Upton Park from Wolves last summer, added:
"It's hard to change clubs. I was at Wolves for five years before moving
clubs and settling in. "Everyone at the club has been fantastic since I
joined so I really do feel at home at West Ham now."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Karren Brady's football diary
The Sun
By KARREN BRADY
SunSport columnist
Published: 7 hrs ago

SAT, MARCH 2

HARRY REDKNAPP is hopping mad about a report that his players were living it
up during a break in Dubai. It can be tough when such stories appear and you
know they are untrue. One manager I worked with bought drinks for the office
staff and was surprised to see it reported as practically a player orgy.

SUN, MARCH 3

I DON'T see a takeover of Arsenal as much of a runner. The owners don't need
the money and have no intention of selling. Some fans will see sultans
wishing to spray oil wealth as an easy way to buy the best players. I'm far
less sure. They could be as lucky as West Ham who believed they had
uncovered a treasure trove of ice lolly and, instead, landed a huge debt
when Iceland went bust.

MON, MARCH 4

WHATEVER next. The tattooed man in tight underpants with a smile to light up
even Victoria Beckham has landed a part-time job as ambassador to Chinese
football. This is like spreading lotus flowers on a dung heap. Calling on
David Beckham is purely a publicity stunt and all he'll get from it is
buckets of money, poor sod.

TUES, MARCH 5

IT'S pretty clear Sir Alex is in such a Nani-state he doesn't trust himself
to talk to the press so soon after the forward's red card leaves Man U
unable to defend their lead against Real Madrid. I received a text from a PL
manager, whose club is in far closer proximity to Man U than mine. "I guess
now he knows how we managers feel when we go to man u and get our players
sent off in ridiculous red-card decisions." There will be a few sly smiles
among the managers who have felt that winning a penalty at Old Trafford was
less likely than landing the EuroMillions jackpot.

WED, MARCH 6

IN the Scottish Third Division there is a football club that gets average
gates of 44,000. Glasgow Rangers supporters have demonstrated the true
impact of loyalty on a football club. They have ensured that it retains its
stature and dignity regardless of what happens to it outside of the actual
football pitch. A giant of a club, who don't deserve to be playing in the
Third Division, have now turned their sights south, considering a move to
play in England. I hear that there's one club in England that's up for a
ground share. Leyton Orient.

THURS, MARCH 7

CARLOS TEVEZ remains an idol around Upton Park. For me, his name is
associated with a pain in the pocket. Premier League chief executive Richard
Scudamore reminds us in an interview that he was lied to by the West Ham
executives who were there in 2006 over the terms of the Argentinian's
agreement.
The outcome was first a fine of £5.5million and that was followed by massive
compensation to Sheffield United — this season alone our burden is a £10m
instalment and none of the current owners or I were even at the club.
Contrast this with the behaviour of Brescia, the Italian club who have been
ordered to pay West Ham for the transfer of Alessandro Diamanti two years
ago and won't cough up the £1m-plus they owe.

FRIDAY, MARCH 8

AN EMAIL arrives from a PL director, with a link to a website, the message
saying 'I saw this and thought of you'. I open the link which informs me
that I can get a brow lift in Croatia for £71 a month. Two minutes later I
get another email. 'Ignore that email, it wasn't meant for you, it was meant
for my wife. Sorry'. He and his wife have had quite a bit of work done. His
wife in particular has had two big pieces of work done, if you get my drift.
I reply and say 'I don't know much about plastic surgery but a good rule of
thumb is that it's time to stop when you look permanently frightened'. Why
some people will spend more on footballs than their face is anyone's guess!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

http://vyperz.blogspot.com