Daily WHUFC News - 22nd October 2013

Potts delighted as winning run continues
WHUFC.com
Under-18s boss Steve Potts was pleased to see his team come through a stern
test against Norwich
21.10.2013

Under-18s manager Steve Potts felt his team deserved the points after
beating Norwich City U18 2-0 at Little Heath on Saturday morning. The
Hammers were made to work hard for the opening 70 minutes, before young
Portuguese striker Marcio Martins capped a rare start with a well taken
goal. Kieran Bywater then grabbed his tenth goal in as many games from the
penalty spot in the final minute. After a true footballing battle against
Tottenham Hotspur the previous weekend, Potts knew that Norwich would test
his squad in a completely different way and his team stepped up to the
challenge and got their rewards. "I said to the boys straight after the game
that Norwich bought a completely different test for us compared to the
Tottenham game, but they did really well," said Potts. "Norwich had a game
plan and they were solid, which made it hard for us. "At Tottenham, it was a
free-flowing game that was all about the football, whereas against Norwich
we had to change and mix up our game a little. I think we were definitely
the better team and deserved to win."

Going into the match, the Hammers boss made several changes to the winning
starting eleven against Tottenham in an attempt to rotate the team.
"I just wanted to give some of the other boys a chance and rotate the team,"
he continued. "Marcio came into the side and worked really hard up front and
deservedly capped it with a well taken goal so that was very pleasing. "Ben
Marlow has not long been back from injury and after playing a whole game at
Spurs and a full week's training, he was a little stiff so we decided to
take him off late in the second half, put Josh Cullen in Ben's position and
throw Jerry [Amoo] in. Jerry has the pace to cause problems and did really
well to win the penalty at the end."

Saturday's result took the Hammers' recent winning streak to four games, but
Potts isn't getting carried away and wants his team to continue
concentrating on their performances to give Development Squad manager Nick
Haycock selection problems. "I don't think our recent run changes our
targets for the season at all because I just want the lads to concentrate on
their performance every single week," he added. "Throughout this season, I
have been impressed with the team so they just have to keep it going and the
results will continue to come. "Nick has got the Development Squad going
really well this season and they are raising the bar for us at the moment,
so I am hoping to get some of my boys into that squad."

Back when Potts was a player at West Ham, he recalled seeing a young Mark
Noble performing at a high standard in the Hammers Academy and believes his
players need to look no further that the current first teamer for
inspiration. "If the boys don't want to push on to the next level then there
isn't much point them trying to make a career out of football. The
Development Squad is the next step that they should be looking to then even
onto the first team after that. "I still remember seeing Mark Noble here at
the same age as these lads are now and I think there is no greater example
for the boys to follow than what Mark has done. "They have all made their
starts, so now they have to be looking to push on."

One player looking to take that next step is Under-18s captain Kieran
Bywater, who netted an injury time spot kick on Saturday to take his tally
to ten goals for the season. He is delighted with the way the team is
performing, and as an individual, he hopes to earn his space in Nick
Haycock's Development Squad by the end of the season. He explained:
"Everyone worked hard and the whole team is really happy to win our fourth
game in a row. I'm really happy to get my tenth goal for the season, but
goals are a bonus and everyone played really well and deserved to win.
"Obviously everyone is aiming to play well as a squad every week in the
Under-18s, but as an individual, you're always looking to improve and push
towards the Development Squad. "Last season I played a few games in the
Development Squad and that's where I'm looking at getting to again.
Hopefully by the end of the season I may feature a few times for them."

The Under-18s travel north for their next Barclays U18 Premier League
fixture when they face Middlesbrough on Saturday 26 October.

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Hammers' community spirit
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Community Sports Trust's outreach programme continues to
prove successful
21.10.2013

West Ham United Community Sports Trust's long-established outreach programme
is proving hugely successful. The Trust has partnered with a number of
leading groups and programmes throughout east London to support campaigns
that tackle anti-social behaviour, promote inclusion and inspire
participation through access to elite sport. As part of that long-term and
multi-faceted commitment to prominent community groups, the Trust has the
provision to offer West Ham United tickets at a discounted rate, to enable
individuals allied to those schemes to see top-level football in person.
Flagship inclusion programme Premier League Kicks, Premier League 4 Sport
and Tower Hamlets' Stifford Centre were each invited to take up the offer
for the visit of Manchester City as part of the wider commitment to making
football more accessible to all. This comprises just one element of
long-standing relationships with these initiatives and only participants
were eligible for the discounted tickets. As per the terms of the contracts
with said partners, the tickets were offered at a discounted rate, but
absolutely no tickets were provided free of charge and fans from all
locations, background, race and religion were included.

Stifford Centre manager Salman Alam explained: "This is extremely important
and useful for us to be able to reach out to our members. The partnership
with the Club gives us access that we would not normally be able to offer to
our local community. Football is a powerful tool and we use this to further
engage and inspire our young people and adult members."

Head of West Ham United Community Sports Trust. Joe Lyons, said: "I am
delighted with the success of our community outreach programme and it is
fantastic that West Ham United are leading the way in supporting programmes
that tackle anti-social behaviour and the other issues that affect our
Borough and beyond.

"Our focus is on engaging with our community and making football more
accessible to all and we want everyone from the local area to feel included
at the Club. We are rightly proud of the positive feedback we've received
from the campaign, which is essential for the Club to remain at the heart of
the community. I look forward to welcoming more groups at the selected games
throughout the season."

In addition to this key partnership agreement with Stifford, the Trust has
also joined forces with the Bangladesh Football Association UK. Together, an
agreement has been put in place to sustain a football strategy in Tower
Hamlets, one that comprises of establishing a West Ham United programme of
Bengali and Asian coaching education. This scheme, however, extends far
beyond traditional sport, by harnessing the power of football to engage
individuals through education and employment. Similarly, West Ham United
have relationships with numerous local schools and clubs, as they have done
for many years, that rewards their fantastic support with admission to
certain home fixtures.

Elsewhere, the Premier League Kicks programme continues to thrive, with
their work having proven most successful through the combination of coaching
and access to elite sport. Therefore, the Trust offers sports sessions
across a number of venues across east London at no cost to participants,
alongside the provision for match-day experiences for the young people and
their families at selected games throughout the season. Such schemes are
commonplace among other Premier League clubs and West Ham United are proud
of their work in this area and the outstanding results it produces.

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Wolves 0-2 Development Squad FT
WHUFC.com
Kieran Sadlier and Dan Potts scored the goals as West Ham United's U21s beat
Wolves on Monday
21.10.2013

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS v DEVELOPMENT SQUAD
BARCLAYS UNDER-21 PREMIER LEAGUE
NEW BUCKS HEAD STADIUM
MONDAY 21 OCTOBER 2013
KICK-OFF: 7PM

90 mins: It's all over here at AFC Telford and West Ham United have
triumphed 2-0. Apologies for the technical problems in the final 20 minutes
of the game, we'll have fuller updates on whufc.com shortly.
68 mins: Driver heads forward and it looks for a second as though Lletget
could be in. The keeper is smartly off his line though to smother the ball.
66 mins GOAL: From the resulting corner Potts is able to turn it home! Not
sure where it hit him but i'm sure that's the last of his worries!
65 mins: Potts brings the ball out of defence and with no one in a hurry to
close him down he decides to strike. His shot looks to be going over before
a deflection takes it for a corner.
63 mins: In the absence of Moncur, Sadlier steps up to stirke and just
misses the target with a bullet of a strike.
62 mins: Excellent piece of skill from Cole as he turns away from three
defenders before being hacked down and winning a free-kick on the edge of
the box.
60 mins: Indeed he can't continue and Reid is replaced by Ibrahim Keita.
59 mins: A good spell of possession yields nothing for the Hammers and on
the resulting counter attack the Wolves No9 looks to have pulled a muscle as
he chased down the ball.
57 mins: Spiegel's long clearance has Tombides racing through, the striker
checks back and strikes but his curling effort is just wide.
55 mins: Driver is having a battle on the left side with a pacy winger. This
time he wins the battle and a free-kick to boot.
53 mins: The home side are up in arms screaming for another penalty as Potts
looks as though he took down Reid in the box. Lucky escape.
50 mins: First change of the night for West Ham with Danny Whitehead
replacing George Moncur.
49 mins: It's been a slow start to the half by the visitors with Wolves
clearly keen to impress themselves upon the game more in the second half.
47 mins: Wolves are on the attack straight away and work the ball well
before Whittall strikes. Luckily for the Hammers Ruddock throws himself in
the way of the shot.
46 mins: The Hammers kick us off for the second half looking to secure the
win that would send them back to the top of the league.
Half-time: The corner comes to nothing and the referee ends the first half!
A good showing in atrocious conditions by the young Hammers so far and they
have the lead thanks to a Kieran Sadlier goal after just six minutes. The
left winger turned home a Moncur cross to give his side the perfect start.
Spiegel then came to the visitors rescue with a top class save from an
O'Hara penalty on 29 minutes. The big man got down well to his left to keep
out a good strike. So far, so good.
45+2 mins: An outrageous piece of skill from Tombides sees him pluck the
ball from the heavens and turn to run all in one motion. His skill earns the
Hammers a corner with just seconds remaining.
45 mins: And defend they do as Whittall tries his luck from range.
Fortunately for Spiegel it slams the hoarding just to the left of the goal.
44 mins: The ball boy managed to dodge the wayward shot and now with just a
minute until half-time the Hammers are content to defend.
43 mins: The former Tottenham man does strike it but his shot forces a ball
boy high up in the stand into evasive action as it flies toward him.
42 mins: Sadlier concedes a free-kick in a dangerous position with O'Hara on
the field.
40 mins: Cole nods down and releases Turgott who breaks into the box and
fires his shot just wide of the post.
38 mins: Turgott comes sliding back to try and help clear but insted sends
the ball towards his own goal. Spiegel is there again however and able to
clear.
36 mins: The rain is coming down hard and fast again making it even trickier
to keep control of the ball which so far both teams have managed well.
34 mins: Moncur and Turgott combine to win a corner. The ball in is good but
well cleared and allows the hosts to counter. They go down the right and
deliver a ball in but Turgott is back defending and able to clear.
32 mins: Cole has his first chance of the game as the ball is delivered into
the box but he can only stab it into the ground and watch it trickle wide.
29 mins: Wolves have a chance to equalise from the spot after Driver trips
his winger. O'Hara steps up and thunders it left but Spiegel produces a
magnificent one-handed save to deny him!
28 mins: It's taken short and allows Moncur to hit one, it's hard and low
but the keeper is able to deal with it easily enough.
27 mins: Tombides is set free down the right by a Turgott flick and his
cross is deflected out for a corner.
25 mins: Spiegel is snappy off his line to thwart Reid who's running in
behindand able to win a throw in the process.
24 mins: Turgott again has the chance to run and does so before firing low
across the box but no one is there to meet it.
23 mins: Potts throws himself in the way of a Jakobsson shot to keep the
Hammers ahead. Great defending.
21 mins: Moncur is looking on his game today and when that's the case it
usually spells trouble for his opponents.
20 mins: The rain has finally halted! And it may just prove to be a blessing
as this pitch couldn't take much more.
18 mins: Ruddock shepards the ball out for what he thinks will be a
goal-kick but the linesman has different ideas. From the resulting corner
O'Hara finds Whittall who heads straight at Spiegel.
16 mins: Conditions have made it hard going in the early stages althouh the
away side have coped better and could have been two up with Sadlier again
involved. The left winger can't put his header on target this time after a
chipped cross from Turgott.
14 mins: Carlton Cole looks to be enjoying himself in a West Ham shirt and
has already looked dangerous whilst also letting the keeper know of his
presence with a late challenge.
12 mins: Cranston fires in a shot at the near post and Spiegel puts it
behind from the corner. Turgott then clears off the line after a scramble in
the box, his clearance releases Moncur who is able to burst into the Wolves
half and set-up Tombides who can only sky the ball over the bar.
10 mins: The pitch does Moncur no favours as Sadlier looks to put him in
behind the Wolves defence. He would be clear but for the roll of the ball
which holds in the damp surface.
8 mins: The home side have responded well to going behind and forced Spiegel
into his first save of the evening. O'Hara strikes a right footed curler but
the keeper is equal to it.
6 mins GOAL: Sadlier has got the Hammers off to an absolute flyer! Moncur
breaks into the box and feeds Sadlier who fires home first time to score.
What a start!
5 mins: Turgott gets his first touches down the right side and decides to
cross from deep. The ball in is easy for the defenders to clear however.
3 mins: Driver is back on his feet and looks like he may be able to
continue. Good news for the visitors.
1 min: Callum Driver is on the ground and in need of medical attention after
making a committed challenge on the right midfielder.

Kick-off: Wolves kick us off as the rain continues to fall in the midlands.
6:57 pm: The players have emerged from the tunnel and now undertake the
pre-match formalities before we get this one underway.
6:52 pm: The players are in their respective changing rooms gearing up for
the game as some dance music gets the couple of hundred people in the ground
fired up for the match.
6:45 pm: The rain has eased up slightly as the teams prepare to head to
shelter for their final match preperations. There are plenty of scouts in
attendance keen to cast their eye's over the talent on show.
6:30 pm: Half an hour to go until kick-off and the Hammers are ramping up
their warm-up amidst a back drop of heavy rain which is already having an
affect on the roll of the ball on a very soggy surface. On the up side there
is a lovely waft of chips floating across the ground as the fans drift in.
6:05 pm: The team news is in. A strong line-up for the Hammers tonight as
they look to hand crucial game time to the forward pair of Carlton Cole and
Mladen Petric. Just under an hour to kick off but some pretty dreadful
country music can already be heard ringing out around the New Bucks Head
Stadium.
The Development Squad resume Barclays Under-21 Premier League action tonight
as they travel up to the home of AFC Telford to take on Wolverhampton
Wanderers. The young Hammers have kept themselves busy during the
international break with games against Conference National opposition in the
shape of Luton Town and Cambridge United as they geared up for this clash.
Nick Haycock's side are top of the league having won five of their opening
seven matches suffering only one defeat whilst their opponents occupy eighth
place in the table with three wins, three defeats and one draw to show from
their league matches thus far.
There are some big names on show tonight with a couple of familiar faces on
show for the Hammers. The Wolves backline should be in for a busy night with
Mladen Petirc and Carlton Cole both stepping up their quest for match
fitness with some valuable game time here tonight. The home side will be
looking towards the talents of former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara who
has found himself surplus to requirements of Kenny Jackett's first team.

West Ham United: Spiegel, Chambers, Driver, Potts, Ruddock, Lletget,
Turgott, Moncur, Tombides, Sadlier, Cole
Subs: Fanimo, Baxter, Petric, Whitehead, Lee

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Flatt, Kostrna, Ihiekwe, Tank, Cranston, Bancessi,
Whittall, Jakobsson, Parry, O'Hara, Reid
Subs: Dutton, Kellerman, Keita, Iorfa, Carter, Erdei

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Downing encouraged by second half
WHUFC.com
Hammers winger Stewart Downing took heart from the second half of Saturday's
game against Man City
21.10.2013

Stewart Downing felt that West Ham United could have got something out of
their clash with Manchester City on Saturday, had they performed in the
first half as they did in the second. The Hammers trailed to Sergio Aguero's
16th-minute strike at the break, and only really came to life after the
forward had doubled both his and City's tally six minutes after the restart.
Ricardo Vaz Te's overhead kick kept the game alive and it was not until ten
minutes from time that David Silva made the game safe for Manuel
Pellegrini's me n and Downing was encouraged by the second half performance.
"First and foremost, Man City are a top team," he said. "I thought that in
the first half we maybe showed them a little too much respect, although you
could see in the goal the quality that they have.
"In the second half, we probably left it a bit late, but after the second
goal we started to play and believe in ourselves. That's what will frustrate
the mananger and the players, that we left it too late on Saturday. "We got
plenty of balls into the box in the second half, got a good goal back and I
thought we had the momentum. But then Man City hit us on the break and
scored a quality goal to wrap it up."

Aguero had a hand in all three goals, scoring the first two before laying on
the third for David Silva and Downing thought the attacking pair made the
difference for the visitors. He added: "Aguero is certainly a top player.
Silva was very good too and you can go throughout the team, they're strong.
Look at the bench and the players they can bring on. "We held our own in the
second half and could maybe have got a draw out of it."

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Bonds: Redknapp was 'disrespectful'
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 21st October 2013
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United legend Billy Bonds MBE has broken a 19-year silence to
express his disappointment at comments made by Harry Redknapp in his new
autobiography.

Bonds, West Ham's record appearance holder - and a man who remains revered
by Hammers supporters - decided to set the record straight after Redknapp
accused his former best friend of being "a man out of time" and of
overseeing "a shambles" during his spell as manager of West Ham in the early
1990s.

West Ham's seventh full-time manager, who was in the post from 1990 to 1994
has never before spoken to the media about Redknapp, who many believe
undermined him in order to secure the managerial position.

But in an exclusive interview with KUMB.com - which you may hear in its
entirely from tomorrow morning - Bonds finally reveals what he truly thinks
about his former best friend and his new book.

"For him to come out with what he said was disrespectful to the players and
one or two of the staff who were over there," Bonds told KUMB.com. "I think
he's been very liberal with the truth - but that's much as I expected
really.

"I haven't spoken to him for 20 years; I find it quite pathetic that he
comes out with stuff [like that] really, to be quite honest with you."

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'Keeper set for six-month layoff
KUM<B.com
Filed: Monday, 21st October 2013
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United's Stephen Henderson will be out of action until Spring 2014
after dislocating a shoulder at the weekend. 25-year-old Henderson, who is
currently on loan at Championship side Bournemouth was substituted after
just 13 minutes of Saturday's 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest after colliding
with Forest forward Simon Cox. "When I ran on to the pitch, I knew straight
away it was his shoulder and he was in agony," Cherries physio Steve Hard
told the Daily Echo. "Andrew Balderston, the Nottingham Forest physio, came
on and helped me give him gas and air to get him settled. "We couldn't put
him on a stretcher until he had had some pain relief. The paramedics
supported us and it was a good team effort. Everybody worked together to
help put Stephen at ease. "

Henderson, who made just two appearances for Bournemouth is now set to
return to West Ham where he will recive treatment for the injury - and
possibly surgery too. Talking about the incident, Cherries boss Eddie Howe
said: "Our thoughts are with Stephen. It is a real shame because he has had
to be patient and wait for his chance to come out on loan and get some
football. "He did really well for us against Millwall, so it is a big blow
for him and us." Henderson joined West Ham from Portsmouth in March 2012 for
a nominal fee, but since then has made just two appearances - both in the
League Cup - for Sam Allardyce's first team.

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West Ham manager Sam Allardyce waiting on Andy Carroll's return
Last Updated: October 21, 2013 10:18am
SSN

Sam Allardyce is hoping for an update on Andy Carroll's fitness after a
frustrating start to the season for West Ham United in front of goal.
Carroll has yet to play for the Hammers this term due to a heel injury after
sealing a permanent transfer from Liverpool to Upton Park in the summer.
Allardyce has struggled to replace Carroll and was forced to go into the
game against Tottenham Hotspur before the international break without a
recognised striker. West Ham managed to come away from White Hart Lane with
a surprise 3-0 victory but they lacked an attacking threat in Saturday's 3-1
defeat by Manchester City as Ricardo Vaz Te's goal was one of only two shots
on target. A return date for Carroll has yet to be given but Allardyce
understands he is making good progress and is waiting for further news this
week. "I will be speaking to the specialist on Monday to see whether he can
give us at least a date when he thinks he will be able to come back to us,"
said Allardyce. "He is still improving week by week and is probably due back
with us I would hope. It is very important we get him back as quickly as we
can as I don't want to be continuing to play with no front man."

Allardyce added: "Having got strikers who were not scoring was the only
reason we played that system against Tottenham. "Andy won't play in it. We
bought him to be our leader of the front line. Once he gets fit and up and
running, he will not only score goals but he will create opportunities for
lots of other players to score goals."

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Stephen Henderson could miss six months with dislocated shoulder
Last Updated: October 21, 2013 12:06pm
SSN

Bournemouth's on-loan keeper Stephen Henderson could miss most of the rest
of the season after dislocating his shoulder in the 1-1 draw with Nottingham
Forest on Saturday. Henderson, on loan at the Sky Bet Championship club from
West Ham, was stretchered off inside the opening 10 minutes after an
accidental collision w ith Forest striker Simon Cox. The Irishman was taken
to hospital where a fracture was ruled out by X-rays, but he may still need
surgery and could miss up to six months - he has returned to Upton Park for
further treatment. Cherries physio Steve Hard paid tribute to the medical
staff who aided Henderson in the immediate aftermath of the incident. "When
I ran on to the pitch, I knew straight away it was his shoulder and he was
in agony," Hard told the Daily Echo. "We have a signal we give to the dugout
when we know it is serious and that means I need back up. Andrew Balderston,
the Nottingham Forest physio, came on and helped me give him gas and air to
get him settled. We couldn't put him on a stretcher until he had had some
pain relief. "The paramedics supported us and it was a good team effort.
Everybody worked together to help put Stephen at ease. "I thought the
situation was dealt with very well and, under the circumstances, everything
ran smoothly. I would like to thank everybody who helped."

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Billy Bonds says 'pathetic' Harry Redknapp has been 'very liberal with the
truth' over their West Ham feud
21 Oct 2013 16:46
The Mirror

Billy Bonds has branded Harry Redknapp "pathetic" and "liberal with the
truth" after reigniting their 20-year-old feud. Former West Ham boss and
fans' idol Bonds has not spoken to Redknapp for almost two decades after he
claimed 'Arry had stabbed him in the back. Bonds left the Upton Park club,
after 27 years as a player and manager, in 1994 when Redknapp - who had been
his assistant - took charge of the first team. In his autobiography,
serialised earlier this month Redknapp claimed he was offered Bonds' job
after being approached to return to his old club Bournemouth as boss.

According to Redknapp, Bonds was offered a role as the West Ham director of
football but walked out - and they have not spoken since. But after waiting
20 years to speak his mind, the Hammers legend has broken his silence on
their troubled relationship. Redknapp's memoirs accused 'Bonzo', now 67, of
being a "man out of time" and presiding over a "shambles" - but the QPR
manager will be stung by his former best mate's response. Bonds said: "For
him to come out with what he said was disrespectful to the players and one
or two of the staff who were there. He has been very liberal with the truth
but that's much as I expected. "I haven't spoken to him for 20 years. I find
it quite pathetic that he comes out with stuff like that really."

Such bitterness - in an interview on Hammers fans website Knees Up Mother
Brown (www.kumb.com) - will shatter Redknapp's hopes of patching up their
friendship. Redknapp's book has already put him at odds with players, past
and present, over his recollection of events. 'Arry claimed several senior
England players including Steve Gerrard sent him text messages backing him
to take over as Three Lions coach. Gerrard denies sending Redknapp such a
text. And former Hammers skipper Julian Dicks has also rejected Redknapp's
version of his timekeeping and conforming to dress code.

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