Loanee round-up
WHUFC.com
Elliot Lee and Paul McCallum were in Sky Bet Football League action for their loan clubs at the weekend
18.11.2013
Elliot Lee and Paul McCallum were in Sky Bet Football League action for their loan clubs at the weekend. The young West Ham United forwards unfortunately both ended up on the losing side, however. Lee played for 55 minutes in Colchester United's 2-1 League One home defeat by Swindon Town - the 18-year-old's fourth appearance for the U's. Defeat left Colchester 15th in the table ahead of Saturday's trip to Preston North End. McCallum played his fifth game for Torquay United, but the Gulls slumped to a 2-0 home League Two defeat by Chesterfield. Torquay sit in the relegation zone ahead of Saturday's away match at Accrington Stanley. Both players' loan spells are set to end after Saturday's games. Jordan Spence was left without a game on Saturday after MK Dons' League One trip to Oldham Athletic was postponed due to international call-ups.
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Potts positive over friendly form
WHUFC.com
Dan Potts was confident after the Club's recent friendlies yielded good performances
19.11.2013
West Ham United defender Dan Potts is in positive mood after the Club's recent showings over the course of the international break. While they may have been billed as friendlies, there was nothing too amicable about the way a West Ham United XI dismantled Gillingham 9-0 and then played out a tough 2-2 draw with Millwall. Potts played a full part in both matches and while Millwall fielded a stronger side than Gillingham, the defender was pleased with the attitude of the team on both occasions. Potts told West Ham TV: "We know that you can only play what's in front of you and face the team that they put out. "Last Tuesday it was a much younger team than we faced against Millwall but I thought in both games we've applied ourselves well. "Obviously against Millwall we came away with a draw but it was important also that we didn't lose."
Both matches provided valuable game time for some of the Club's senior players as well as handing some of the younger players a chance to impress.
Potts believes scheduling these sorts of games over the course of an international break helps the players to maintain their match fitness amongst their normal training schedules. "It's always good to have these types of matches in place. You want to keep ticking over, keep that match fitness up. "You can train all you like but when there aren't games there's nothing that you can do to resemble what you do in a game. So these sorts of games are very good over the course of the international break."
During the draw with Millwall, Potts and centre-back partner Pelly Ruddock were able to pit their wits against seasoned Championship and Wales international striker Steve Morison and Republic of Ireland forward Andy Keogh. Keogh and Richard Chaplow netted for the visitors and Potts was happy with the test provided. He said: "Any game you're involved in you have to enjoy playing, especially at Upton Park. They put a strong team out and I thought in the end that it was a very fair game. Both teams had chances and it ended up 2-2. "We obviously want to be playing against senior opponents, especially myself, and it was good to see that they had a strong team out. But overall it was a very good experience playing against Steve."
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Rat's World Cup dream dashed
WHUFC.com
Razvan Rat's Romania were defeated 4-2 on aggregate by Greece in their FIFA World Cup Play-Off
19.11.2013
Razvan Rat's Romania drew 1-1 with Greece on Tuesday to see their FIFA World Cup dreams dashed courtesy of a 4-2 aggregate defeat. The Greeks held a 3-1 advantage ahead of the European Play-Off second leg at the National Arena in Bucharest and lengthened their lead through Kostas Mitroglou midway through the first half. Rat was substituted moments later. Romania levelled ten minutes into the second half through a Vasilios Torosidis own-goal, but the Greeks were able to hold on to secure qualification. Elsewhere, Winston Reid's New Zealand face a near impossible task when they take on Mexico in their Intercontinental Play-Off second leg in Wellington. The Kiwis, without the injured Reid, slumped to a 5-1 defeat in the first leg in Mexico City last Wednesday, need something close to a miracle to turn things around at the Westpac Stadium at 7pm NZ time on Wednesday (6am on Wednesday UK time).
Closer to home, Ravel Morrison was an unused substitute as England U21s romped to a record 9-0 Euro 2015 qualifying Group 1 win over San Marino in Shrewsbury on Tuesday. England stay top of Group 1, having collected 16 points from six matches played so far. Raphael Spiegel's own Euro 2015 hopes took a turn for the worse as Switzerland were defeated 2-1 at home by Ukraine in Thun on Monday. The Hammers goalkeeper was an unused substitute as the Swiss lost for the second time in five Group 5 qualifiers to leave them second in the table. Finally, Academy defenders Kyle Knoyle and Reece Burke have both been with England U18s at a special two-day training camp at St George's Park. Knoyle and Burke made their debuts in a recent friendly win over Hungary and will want to remain in the fold ahead of next season's UEFA European U19 Championship campaign.
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Rat injury scare
Kumb.COM
Filed: Tuesday, 19th November 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham left back Razvan Rat could add to Sam Allardyce's injury problems after he was withdrawn less than half an hour into tonight's World Cup play-off tie between Romania and Greece in Bucharest. Allardyce, who is already missing key first team players such as Andy Carroll and Winston Reid could now be facing the loss of the experienced full back who was making his 93rd appearance for his country. Details of the specific nature of the injury are yet to emerge, although Rat was clearly in some discomfort when leaving the field. Greece lead the match 1-0 at half time courtesy of a 25th minute Konstantinos Mitroglou goal.
* Ravel Morrison was an unused substitute as England Under 21s secured a record 9-0 win against San Marino at the Greenhous Meadow Stadium, Shrewsbury.
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Morrison benched
Kumb.COM
Filed: Tuesday, 19th November 2013
By: Staff Writer
Ravel Morrison was demoted to the bench for England's Under 21 European Championship clash with San Marino this evening. The young Hammer, who dazzled against Finland last week in a comfortable 3-0 win began tonight's game as a substitute when the two sides met at the Greenhous Meadow Stadium, Shrewsbury. Although he hasn't had the opportunity to wow the crowd this evening, earlier this week another of Morrison's training videos went viral after the young Hammer scored an outrageous back-heeled volley during an Under 21s training session.
England's Under 21s currently lead tonight's game 5-0 through goals from Michael Keane, Raheem Sterling, Danny Ings James Ward-Prowse and Tom Ince.
Team: Butland, Jenkinson, Robinson, Hughes, Stones, Keane, Ince, Ward-Prowse, Ings, Lingard, Sterling.
Subs: Shaw, Bond, Chalobah, Dier, Zaha, Bamford, Morrison.
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REMEMBERING ALAN DEVONSHIRE
By Tony Hanna 19 Nov 2013 at 14:19
West Ham Till I Die
In September 1976 West Ham made one of the best signings in the clubs history. Plucked from non-league Southall for a mere 5,000 pounds, little did we know then what a gem we had bought. Fourteen seasons and over 400 games later Alan Devonshire finally moved on and finished his career with 25 games at Watford. What is astonishing is that he only gained 8 caps for England? One of the most talented players ever to wear the Claret and Blue, his silky and graceful skills were a joy to watch. He struck up a telepathic relationship in midfield with Trevor Brooking that blessed the glory years that included the FA Cup final win in 1980, the League Cup final defeat a year later and our 3rd placing in the top flight in 1986 – our highest finish in the clubs history. His mazy runs down the left flank will be engraved in fans memories, especially the ones against Arsenal in the Cup Final that led to the only goal of the game and the one that led to his goal against Everton in the preceding semi final.
Results did not go our way immediately when Devo was brought into the side in October 1976. In his first 10 games we only won once, 5-3 at home to Spurs. But things would get better for a player who became a true legend of our club. His ability to glide past defenders was a joy to watch but also ensured in an era where the tackle from behind was fair game, that injuries would blight his career. Indeed he missed the whole of the 1984/5 season. Devo was also a player who suffered extreme nerves before games. He was encouraged to try and sleep on the physios bench before games and quite often had to be woken up just before the teams went out to play. Whilst the stats show he only scored 32 goals for West Ham a calculator would be needed to count the goals and chances he made for others.
Alan Devonshire is one past player that I have no doubt would have excelled in todays Premier League. The protection he would get from the law changes in the game together with the pristine playing surfaces would have him right up there with the superstars of the game. Nowadays, at the ripe old age of 57 he is managing Braintree Town after a successful stint at Hampton and Richmond Borough. On a recent podcast Devo gave tribute to both Trevor Brooking and Billy Bonds for being inspirational in his career. Trevor for being the super player he was and Billy for being a great leader and always looking out for him. He also agreed with some of my own philosophies on todays game – mainly that the sideways/ backwards passes between defenders is harming the game as a spectacle. Coming from amateur football initially, meant that he worked a normal job for 18 months before the Hammers signed him. Therefore, he was always one player that had a true appreciation of how lucky he was to earn a living playing football. He loved playing for West Ham and especially the electric atmosphere filled evening games at Upton Park. One thing is for sure, when you went to watch Alan Devonshire you got entertainment and witnessed courage.
I was going to attach a video clip of one of Devo's best goals (against Chelsea), but true to my nostalgia series of "remembering" West Ham's legends, I found the goal amongst a collection of West Ham legend goals, enjoy a trip down memory lane
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West Ham keeping tabs on Portugal international Hugo Almeida
2013-11-19 11:50:55
Turkish-football.com
West Ham have been keeping tabs on Beşiktaş striker Hugo Almeida. Almeida still has a year left on his contract however, the 29-year-old has been reluctant to renew his contract on a lower wage. The Portugal international has been embroiled in a contract dispute with the Black Eagles over the renewal of his contract all season. Beşiktaş Director of Football Önder Özen told reporters back during the summer transfer window that Almeida's reluctance to accept a wage cut had forced the club into transfer listing the powerful striker. Özen said, "We need to restructure our wages and and negotiate a more reasonable contract deal with him. "We will consider offers for Almeida, especially if we can't reach an agreement regarding his wages." The Hammers have kept tabs on the Portugal international and were linked with a bid over the summer. Almeida has made no secret of his desire to play in the Premier League. It is no secret and I've said several times, I would like to play in England or Spain sometime," Almeida told Portuguese newspaper A Bola last summer. West Ham have only scored 9 goals this season the joint third lowest figure in the Premier League. Almeida joined Beşiktaş from Werder Bremen in 2011 on a €2 million transfer fee. The 29-year-old striker has seven goals and two assists in 12 appearances for the Eagles this season.
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West Ham news: Hammers close in on French veteran
Exclusive
by Robert Shepherd19th November 2013 9:36pm GMT
sportsdirectnews.com
West Ham are planning a January loan deal for ex-Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre, SportsDirect News understands. The former France international, who plays for US side Portland Timbers, is keen on maintaining his fitness in the MLS close season and is looking at 'one final adventure' before he hangs up his boots. At 36, Silvestre would fit into West Ham's policy of signing experienced players beyond their best and his signature could coincide with the potential signing of Seattle Sounders forward, Clint Dempsey. The ex-Fulham is expected to join the east London side next month. A source told SportsDirect News: "Of course there is the whole financial fair play thing, but if Clint joins he is likely to be a 'pay-as-you-play-hire and Mikael would be just what we need - a centre-back comfortable on the ball." West Ham face Fulham at home this weekend.
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