Hammers host Gridiron stars
WHUFC.com
West Ham United played host to Indianapolis Colts pair Andrew Luck and Coby
Fleener
12.04.2014
West Ham United were visited by two of world's biggest football stars
recently, but the vast majority of fans did not even know they were here!
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck and tight end Coby Fleener were
guests of the Hammers for the Barclays Premier League fixture with
Liverpool. American footballers Luck, who stands 6'4", and close friend and
former Stanford University team-mate Fleener, 6'6", are both enthusiastic
fans of what Americans commonly call soccer. Luck, who spent part of his
childhood living in west London, and Fleener thoroughly enjoyed their first
visit to the Boleyn Ground, asking countless questions about the team, the
history of the Club and the Hammers' upcoming move to the Olympic Stadium.
"I love soccer, or I will try to refer it as football!" smiled the
24-year-old quarterback, who was the No1 pick in the 2012 NFL draft and has
led the Colts to the Play-Offs in each of his first two seasons as a
professional. "I love playing it and love watching it and it's definitely
getting a lot of popularity in the States as well. I have been to a bunch of
MLS games and watched Robbie Keane and David Beckham play, but it's nice to
be over here and be a fan. It's fun for us to play [American football] but
it's also fun for us to watch and be fans of sports. "My Dad was working
over here for the NFL and growing up I remember going to Arsenal and Crystal
Palace games, but this is my first trip out to West Ham, so we're very
excited and happy that you had us to visit."
Aside from living in London, Luck also spent part of his upbringing in
Texas, where he father served as President and General Manager of the MLS
franchise Houston Dynamo. While Illinois native Fleener has no historical
links with soccer like his friend, the 25-year-old has quickly been educated
in the nuances of the sport by Luck. "Andrew has definitely been the driving
force behind my love of the game," said Fleener. "He has shown me the way as
to how to be a fan and this is my first time out here to watch a game, so
I'm excited!" While American football has big hits, touchdowns and timeouts,
soccer is a continuous, fast-flowing game with fewer goals - or points -
scored, so what do the two NFL giants like so much about the beautiful game?
"For me, I'm interested in seeing fans because they are so passionate about
their team, their home base and where they are from," Fleener revealed.
"That, to me, is the most exciting thing about soccer. "I catch games in the
States every once in a while. As Andrew said, the sport is growing in
popularity so with football and 'football' together, there is always
something on TV."
Neither player has a favourite team, with Luck instead choosing to follow
the American players in the Barclays Premier League, but Fleener admitted he
could well become a Hammer. "I think there's a good chance of that
happening, absolutely!" confirmed the No80. While the Barclays Premier
League season is approaching its conclusion, Luck and Fleener and their
fellow American footballers are currently resting their bodies ahead of the
start of the 2014 NFL season in early September. The Colts have reached the
Play-Offs in eleven of the previous 12 years, defeating the Chicago Bears in
Super Bowl XLI in 2006 and losing to the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl
XLIV in 2009. Both of those games were played prior to Luck and Fleener's
arrival in Indianapolis, however, and the pair are now eager to write their
own names into the Colts illustrious history books. "Hopefully we're going
to win a Super Bowl!" said Luck, who was in London to host a Skills Camp at
The Soccerdome in North Greenwich. "We hope to improve and I think we have
great pieces, with a bunch of great young players and some veteran
leadership. "We hope this can be our year, but every team is saying the same
thing in the off-season."
As a tight end, Fleener fulfils one of the few positions on the offense
where he can both defend as a blocker and attack by catching passes thrown
by his quarterback - a bit like a central midfielder in soccer. He knows he
has an important role to play if the Colts are to match Luck's ambition by
winning Super Bowl XLIX in February 2015. "It's always my goal to be the No1
tight end, but more importantly for me it's about winning for the team, for
the organisation and for the fans back home. "Just as the West Ham players
give their all for the fans around them, that's the same for what we try to
do for the Colts. There's always a chance for us to win the Super Bowl, but
there is a lot of work to be done before we know if that's going to be an
option for us."
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U18s suffer City setback
WHUFC.com
West Ham United went down 3-0 at Manchester City in the Barclays U18 Premier
League
12.04.2014
West Ham United went down to a 3-0 defeat at Manchester City in the Barclays
U18 Premier League on Saturday. The Hammers' South Division title hopes took
a major blow as the North Division leaders proved too strong at Platt Lane,
where goals from Thierry Ambrose, Brandon Barker and Kean Bryan settled
matters. Defeat leaves West Ham three points behind leaders Tottenham
Hotspur, with three home matches remaining. Despite their loss, Steve Potts'
side remain in the hunt for top spot as Spurs lost 1-0 at Manchester United
on Saturday. It could have been different if West Ham forward Marcio Martins
had not been denied early on, when home goalkeeper Billy O'Brien thrust out
a hand to divert his shot around the post. Ambrose's opener came on 12
minutes when he headed in Tosin Adarabioyo's flick-on from a corner. West
Ham came back into things after falling behind, with Kieran Bywater firing a
free-kick narrowly over the crossbar and Denziel Boadu hitting the post for
City shortly before the half-hour mark. Into the second half and Reece Burke
was penalised for a foul inside the West Ham penalty area, allowing Barker
to fire past Tim Brown from the spot after 58 minutes. The hosts' third came
on 71 minutes, when substitute Bryan ran through the defence and finished
accurately past Brown. West Ham return to action on Wednesday 16 April, when
they welcome West Bromwich Albion to Little Heath for a 12noon kick-off.
Highlights of Saturday's defeat at Manchester City will be available to
watch on West Ham TV shortly.
U18s: T.Brown, Pike, Mavila, Nasha, Burke, Onariase, Amoo, Makasi, Martins,
Bywater, Parfitt-Williams
Subs not used: Diangana, Nemrava, Bailey, Marlow, Akinola
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WEST HAM IN TALKS WITH JEREMY MENEZ AND JOSIP DRMIC
By Sean Whetstone 12 Apr 2014 at 08:06
West Ham Till I Die
News has broken in the past 24 hours that West Ham United are in talks with
FC Nurnberg striker Josip Drmic.
The Daily Mail claim Sam Allardyce will fly to Germany today to take a
closer look at the 21 year old swiss striker. Drmic is also been linked with
Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton along with Borussia Dortmund who are claimed
to have made an enquiry this week according to the Daily Mail.
The Swiss international, has scored 16 goals in 28 games this season. The
player is valued at £8million by his club although he is believed to have a
£4.5 million buy out clause. Former Germany captain Lothar Matthaus claimed
the player was house hunting in London and that he was Arsenal-bound this
summer. But Drmic replied: 'At the moment I am single and there is no one
house hunting in London.'
I understand West Ham are not best pleased that their interest in him has
been leaked.
Another West Ham target which has emerged is Paris St Germain's Jeremy Menez
as revealed by WHTID author EXWHUEmployee on twitter yesterday.
His contract runs out at the end of the season and he has started just six
league games for the Ligue 1 side this season. He has refused to sign a new
contract.The winger has admitted he is uncertain of his future in France
saying: "We talked about an extension, but it was not sorted out. "I have
three months remaining on my contract at PSG, we will see what will happen
at the end of the" I understand West Ham representatives will fly out to
speak to his agent.
In other early transfer talk Talksport claimed yesterday that West Ham are
close to a deal with Leed's striker Ross McCormack. I understand that one is
far from true and not even on extended list of transfer targets. The Phil
Bardsley rumour does appear to have some legs and I am told he is on the
fabled long list but one of many targets.
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REMEMBERING BOBBY MOORE'S BIRTHDAY GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
By Sean Whetstone 12 Apr 2014 at 18:00
West Ham Till I Die
If Bobby Moore had survived his fight with cancer he would of turned 73
today. The barking born boy played over 500 times for the Hammers as well as
being capped 108 times for England. He may be gone but he is not forgotten.
Many happy returns Mooro!
Robert Frederick Chelsea Moore was born in Baking on 12th April 1941. He was
recruited to West Ham's academy in 1956, making his debut for the senior
team as a replacement for Malcolm Allison against Manchester United in
September 1958.
In 1960, at the young age of 19, he was called up to the England under-23's,
and earned his debut cap in 1962 in Peru. In 1963 he was made captain of the
squad, quickly earning the trust of his coach and manager. At first Moore
was just filling in for more senior players, but the position was made
permanent in 1964. That year Moore was first treated for testicular cancer,
but he did not let that stop him winning the FA Cup with West Ham. He was
also named Football Writer's Association Football player of the Year.
In 1966, he captained England to their only World Cup victory.
After the World Cup, Moore continued to play for West Ham and England, as
well as promoting the British pub industry and opening his own sports shop.
In the second half of the decade, he received national recognition. In 1966
Moore was the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, and in 1967 he was awarded
an OBE, and a punk band even recorded a song about him entitled 'Viva Bobby
Moore'.
Moore was again named captain of England again for the 1970 World Cup. The
tournament was not a wild success for England, but it went down for one
piece of genius from Moore when, during their match with Brazil, he
performed a spectacular tackle on the advancing Jairzinho – still considered
perhaps the finest (if not, the most iconic) tackle in history.
Moore made his final appearance for England in 1973, when they failed to
qualify for the World Cup. On his retirement, he was the most capped player
in the history of the England football team.
Why not support the Bobby Moore Fund in his memory?
bobbymoorefund.cancerresearchuk.org/
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West Ham target Guilherme Siqueira transfer to finally fix problem left-back
spot
Apr 12, 2014 23:00 By Steve Bates
The Mirror
Granada's Guilherme Siqueira is a £5.5million target for West Ham, writes
Steve Bates in the Sunday People. The 27-year-old Brazilian is on loan at
Benfica, who have an option to make the move permanent, but the Hammers'
manager Sam Allardyce is keen to solve his problematic left-back slot.
Meanwhile, Abdul Razak has left the Hammers. The former Manchester City
midfielder, 21, joined from Anzhi Makhachkala but did not play for the first
team.
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West Ham's Collison misses penalty in FA Cup semi-final
By matt_harris | Posted: April 12, 2014
BrentwoodGazette.co.uk
WEST Ham United's Jack Collison missed as Wigan lost to Arsenal in a penalty
shootout in the FA Cup semi-final. Collison, who is on loan to the Latics
until the end of the season, came on as a 64th minute substitute just after
Wigan had taken the lead through Jordi Gomes' penalty. But Per Metesacker
levelled for Arsenal with eight minutes to go taking to game to extra-time
and eventually penalties. Collison was the second penalty taker for Wigan,
put Lukas Fabianksi went the right way to saved the spot kick. Wigan lost
the shootout 4-2.
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Richards set for summer exit
Micah Richards has told Manchester City that he will not be signing a new
deal at the club, and will look to leave this summer.
Football365
Last Updated: 12/04/14 at 12:28 Post Comment
Sky Sports understands that Richards confirmed to City chiefs in early March
that he would not be signing a deal which was offered to him last summer.
Richards, who has come through the ranks at City, has decided that the time
is right to seek a new challenge. The 25-year-old has just over 12 months
left on his current deal at the Etihad Stadium and City were keen on
extending his stay to keep him at the club. However, with first-team
football not guaranteed under Manuel Pellegrini, Richards is now looking
elsewhere and City will opt to sell this summer rather than risk losing him
for nothing in a year's time. A source told Sky Sports: "It is with a heavy
heart that Micah has told City that he will not be signing his new deal and
they have now accepted he will be leaving. Micah has grown up at City and
given his all but this is the right time to move on."
A host of clubs are now monitoring Richards, who has spent much of his time
at City at full-back, but is also viewed as a centre-half. In the Premier
League, Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle, West Ham and Tottenham are all
believed to be monitoring the situation, whilst there are clubs in France,
Spain and Italy also looking, with AC Milan known to be one of those keen on
taking him. A spokesman for Richards' agents Sidekick refused to comment on
the situation.
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Hammers After Sunderland Duo!
VitalFootball.co.uk
The tabloid speculation, relating to summer signings, has already suggested
that West Ham United might be interested in signing one Sunderland player,
it now appears we might be after two. Nestling amongst the transfer gossip
column of one leading tabloid is the inference that as well as being in the
hunt to bring the Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley to Upton Park this
summer, West Ham United are also interested in bringing his team-mate Jack
Colback to East London.
Whether there is any element of truth in the rumour we can only wait and
see.
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