Daily WHUFC News - 1st October 2014

Haycock delighted with first win
WHUFc.com
Elliot Lee's brace helped the Dev Squad beat Sunderland 2-0 at the Boleyn Ground
29.09.2014

West Ham United Development Squad manager Nick Haycock was delighted with his side's first win of the season as they beat a strong Sunderland team 2-0 at the Boleyn Ground. Two second half goals for striker Elliot Lee was enough to see the Hammers take all three points. Haycock fielded a side mixed of first team players such as Kevin Nolan and Matt Jarvis, through to emerging youngsters such as Reece Oxford and Kyle Knoyle. Speaking after the game, Haycock said: "I'm pleased. I've not been disappointed with many of the games. We've had a few 20 minute poor patches here and there but that's what you expect when you use young players. "Tonight we had two U18 players in the back line. We talk about playing players above their age level and we did that."

Another positive from Monday night's game was securing the Dev Squad's first clean sheet of the season: "We said to Raphael we need more from him in terms of commanding the back four and I thought he did that. He deserved his clean sheet. Nothing's perfect, there are still a few things we can work on but we were much more resilient."

Keeping the clean sheet was even more impressive considering they faced a Sunderland side with Duncan Watmore up front. The highly rated player was a constant thorn in the Hammers' side as he carved a number of opportunities for himself and his teammates. "Sunderland changed their formation slightly, we thought they would play Watmore wide right. But with a couple of injuries they played him upfront. "He proved a real good test against Reece's Burke and Oxford and as the game wore on they handled him better."

Speaking about the positive role club captain Kevin Nolan has had on the Dev Squad, Haycock said: "Kevin has been excellent with the younger boys ever since he came to the Club. He's a top guy, I get on with him off the pitch. When he's in the changing room it's like having an assistant manager with you. "He came back from Manchester United on Saturday annoyed that his goal didn't stand but he was in at 8.45 Sunday morning training with us to make sure we put in a performance. He was very, very good at talking to the boys out there, which is something we sometimes lack. We need a leader at times and have a go at someone if they're not doing the task they've been asked to do."

After a short goalless spell at the start of the season, Lee's brace took his personal tally to three goals in two games. Haycock praised his striker's attitude: "He was a bit disappointed at half time. He's had a season where deep down he knows he could have scored more goals. But he'll never give up running in the right areas. The first goal was a poacher's finish off a good corner from Matt Jarvis.
"For Elliot's second it was a good calm finish. In the other games so far they've been the ones shaving post or going narrowly wide. The most important thing was his overall performance. His hold up play excellent, he took some knocks and moved the centre half's around well."

Due to the International break, the Development Squad's next game is not until 24 October when they host Manchester United at Rush Green.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Seniors grateful for U21 experience
WHUFC.com
Captain Kevin Nolan thanked the U21s for helping him regain match fitness
30.09.2014

West Ham United first team players Kevin Nolan and Matt Jarvis both spoke of their positive experience playing with the Development Squad as they beat Sunderland U21s 2-0 on Monday night. Two second half goals from striker Elliot Lee were enough to seal the Dev Squad's first win of the season as they look to get their league campaign up and running. Both first team players are recovering from injuries and were played in an attempt to help them gain match fitness ahead of the first team's match with Queens Park Rangers this Sunday. Speaking after the match, Nolan, who played the full 90 minutes said: "I'd just like to thank all the lads and coach Nick Haycock. They've been fantastic with me in the last couple of days. It was great. "It's been five-and-a-half weeks since the fracture and I felt like I'd be out for a while. After about 50, 60 minutes I started to feel my legs wobble a bit. I'm just pleased to get fit and I thank them for helping me get fit again. "We had a few 15 years old playing tonight so it's massive for their development too. To be able to help them out, and them help me was really nice."

Despite not notching, Sunderland had a number of chances to score, especially in the first half. and Nolan praised the way Haycock had prepared the U21s beforehand. "We expected that. Especially me, an old man in there, they found a few more holes. If I'd have been fitter with the young whippersnappers around me we would have reduced their chances even more. "I'm in the process of getting my sharpness back and it was nice just to be out there again. My shoulder was fine so that was another positive. We've got the game against QPR here on Sunday so hopefully I might be involved again. If not I've got a good few weeks until the next game so I can properly get fit."

Matt Jarvis helped set up Lee's first goal with a pin-point corner, played 81 minutes and was also full of praise for his U21 teammates.
He said: "It's good to get out there and get some minutes, so I'm delighted. It's good for both really, it's a good experience for the younger players to play with first team players but also for me. Obviously its good for my fitness and trying to push on."

Jarvis continued to say he hoped the U21 experience would help him regain his sharpness in time for the QPR game at home on Sunday afternoon: "I felt good on Monday. I've trained all last week and was in the squad for the Manchester United game so hopefully I'll be selected for Sunday."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sakho happy to be a marked man
WHUFC.com
Striker Diafra Sakho is thrilled to be in the spotlight as his goalscoring streak continues
29.09.2014

Diafra Sakho is perfectly happy to be a marked man in the Barclays Premier League, just so long as the goals keep on coming. With four goals in his first four West Ham United starts in league and cup, Sakho has now sailed past Leroy Rosenior's 26-year-old Club record and so expects defenders to sit up and take notice. Not that he plans to become a victim of his own success, vowing to work harder still to ensure he remains firmly on the goal trail. Speaking after his headed goal at Old Trafford so nearly paved the way for a famous Hammers revival, he told West Ham TV: "That's what I work every day in training for, because from the moment you score, opposition defences pay more attention to you. So I'll have to work harder to continue scoring. "I'm here for exactly that, to help the Club by scoring goals. On Saturday, even though I scored, I'm not satisfied since we've not been able to take a point. We'll get back down to work on Tuesday to look to make sure that we get the three points next week."

Goals and personal milestones aside, the 24-year-old was mystified as to how the Hammers could perform so well in the second half and yet leave Manchester with nothing to show for their efforts. He hopes, however, that his colleagues can take solace from the manner of the defeat and will learn the lessons of a sluggish start. "It's disappointing," he admitted. "Based on the second half, I think we deserved a point, if not to win the game. But then we know the league, we know it's tough and that games are going to be tough from start to finish. Given the display we've produced at Manchester United in the second half, I think we can work on the foundations we've built on Saturday to win games at home. "We weren't really in the game in the first half. But we woke up in the second and began to realise that even though they were in front, we were creating opportunities. We put everything into that and we'll need more of the same to hit our targets come the end of the season."

Having produced the goods against Liverpool last time out and, to no avail, at Old Trafford, Sakho wants to see West Ham hit those heights every time they take to the field, starting with Queens Park Rangers at the Boleyn Ground on Sunday. He continued: "We can be confident because everyone's seen the performance we've produced on Saturday. We had them in trouble, particularly in that second half. We played really well after the break and we're going to try to [replicate that] all the time, whether it be against the big clubs or against the smaller clubs at home - to play in that same manner and win games."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Jarvis named Community patron
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are delighted to name Matt Jarvis as Community Sports Trust patron
30.09.2014

West Ham United winger Matt Jarvis has long been impressed with the Club's community outreach work and is now to experience it first hand, having been named patron of the Hammers' Community Sports Trust. Following in the footsteps of Academy graduate Joe Cole, patron Jarvis will be lending his support to the multitude of Trust programmes, while making selected special appearances to raise the organisation's profile further still. Having already been regularly involved in community projects in his two seasons at the Boleyn Ground, the 28-year-old is naturally delighted to take on this new mantle.

He told whufc.com: "It was great to be asked to fulfil the role and help the local community. As a footballer, to give back is the right thing to do and a rewarding thing to do as well." Jarvis, of course, is treating the responsibility with the utmost seriousness and insists that taking pride in and care of the community goes hand in hand with the role of a footballer. "We know as footballers that we're role models to a lot of people, especially young children so it's important to set a good example," he added. "I appreciate that, as a collective, we perhaps don't always have the best of reputations so it's one of the little things we can do to help."

Jarvis knows plenty of the fantastic work the Trust continue to do and is amazed with the breadth of the projects they have on offer.
He continued: "It's been fantastic, to be fair. There are so many different things the Club gets involved with, which is absolutely brilliant. There are a lot more projects and schemes than I first thought. It's great to be in a position to give something back and I'm really looking forward to getting started."

Head of Community, West Ham United Community Sports Trust, Joe Lyons said: "We're delighted to have Matt on board. Joe Cole did a fantastic job for us last season and I'm sure Matt will pick up where he left off. This is a hugely exciting time for the Trust and I really hope that that Matt will enjoy getting a glimpse of all the hard work that goes on."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Reece Burke signs pro deal
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 30th September 2014
By: Staff Writer

Rising star Reece Burke has put pen to paper on a professional contract with West Ham United. 18 earlier this month, the promising central defender grabbed the headlines when scoring the winning goal in the pre-season friendly against Sampdoria last month. Over the summer he has been the centre of a transfer tug of war with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United all vying for the England Under 18 international's signature. However Burke opted to reject all those and other, almost certainly more lucrative offers in favour of remaining at West Ham's world-famous Chadwell Heath Academy, where he has played since the age of nine.

Reece Burke @Reeceburke5
very happy to have signed my first professional contract with Westham ♥️⚽️ http://instagram.com/p/tlL9vYlbtw/

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham should have 'real go' at FA Cup this year says Hammers legend Trevor Brooking
Sep 30, 2014 22:30 By Darren Lewis
Upton Park hero who scored the winner in the 1980 FA Cup Final believes the club have their strongest squad for many years and should be chasing silverware
The Mirror

Trevor Brooking wants West Ham to "have a real go" at the FA Cup this year. The Upton Park legend shares the excitement of fans who believe the club now have their strongest squad for many years. Brooking, who recently retired as the FA's Director of Football Development, now wants the Hammers to make up for their early exit from the Capital One Cup at home to third-tier Sheffield United by punching their weight in the FA Cup. The 65-year-old, who scored the winner against Arsenal in the 1980 Final, said: "I'd like to see us confident in our Premier League status and have a real go at one of the cups. "I'm a traditionalist in that respect. I was lucky enough to score the winner in the FA Cup Final back in 1980 but that's a long time ago. You never lose those memories and I just think the current generation would find a cup run really exciting." "What is really important is that we stay in the Premier League for the next couple of years and this season I can see that happening because the squad is definitely stronger than at this time last year. "If we can end the season in mid-table, then we're only one season from the move and the feel good factor will be there."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Reece Oxford of West Ham watched again as Hammers place bumper contract on table
Sep 30, 2014 22:30 By Darren Lewis
The young defender captained England at the Under-17s tournament in Denmark this summer and is tipped to follow in the footsteps of Rio Ferdinand
The Mirror

Arsene Wenger has had 15-year-old West Ham defender Reece Oxford watched again – this time in an under-21 win over Sunderland on Monday.
The teenager has been tracked for some time by Arsenal, who poached another highly-promising youngster, Ben Sheaf, from the Upton Park academy. Oxford captained England at the Nordic Under-17 Tournament in Denmark this summer and West Ham want to tie him to a deal to ward off Premier League rivals. Oxford also interests Chelsea and is tipped to follow in the footsteps of another former Hammer, Rio Ferdinand.
He is understood to have been offered one of the biggest contracts for his age group by the east Londoners, but has yet to commit himself.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Former West Ham youth star opens up on 'shock' exit after recent transfer
Olly Dawes
HITC

Ex-West Ham United youngster Jack Collison says it was a 'shock to his system' to leave the club after joining Ipswich Town.West Ham United backed manager Sam Allardyce in the transfer market this summer, with the under fire Hammers boss bringing in the likes of Carl Jenkinson, Cheikhou Kouyate, Aaron Cresswell, Alex Song, Diego Poyet, Morgan Amalfitano, Mauro Zarate, Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho in a bid to push the club into the top ten of the Premier League table. Yet with so many new signings, some naturally had to leave. The likes of Stephen Henderson, Jordan Spence, George McCartney, Matthew Taylor and Mohamed Diame all left Upton Park, and another player who was allowed to leave was midfielder Jack Collison Collison, who has 17 caps for Wales, joined the club from Cambridge United in 2005 when he was just 16, and whilst he had been let go by Cambridge as a result of them disbanding their youth team upon relegation to non-league, he did enough to prove that he could be an asset to the Hammers. Injuries certainly stunted Collison's development, but he racked up well over 100 appearances for the club, with his best season coming in the Hammers' promotion campaign from the Championship back to the Premier League, where he scored six goals and made three assists from 35 appearances.

Yet with first team opportunities dwindling and loan spells with Bournemouth and Wigan, it was little surprise to many that West Ham let Collison leave the club at the end of his contract - yet Collison himself said it was a 'shock to his system' that he had to leave the club he had been with for nearly ten years, but is looking forward to his time with Ipswich having joined the club on a free transfer until December.

"Leaving West Ham was obviously a bit of a shock to the system because I'd been there since I was 16. But I think it was coming, to be fair. I hadn't been in the team much, so it was expected," he said. "But these things happen in football and you have to move on. This is a new chapter in my life, a fresh challenge and one I'm really looking forward to."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Nolan defensive role raises big question
Posted by Sean Whetstone on September 30, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

England.Eye witnesses at last night's Development Under 21 game under the flood lights at the Boleyn Ground claim Kevin Nolan played a centre back role for beginning and end of the match.

The match against Sunderland's Under 21′s was won 2-0 thanks to a Elliot Lee brace. It is claimed that Sam Allardyce was present last night watching the first team trio of Kevin Nolan, Ricardo Vaz Te and Matt Jarvis and there was speculation whether Sam was trying the 32 year old Kevin Nolan in a centre back role in case cover is needed because of injuries later in the season.

Nolan signed a five year contract in June 2011 so has over 1 year and 8 months remaining on his reported £50,000 per week contract but it remains to seen whether he could fulfil a centre back role to Premier League standards in the final year and a half of his contract.

Nolan himself admitted he faces a fight to win back his place in the West Ham team. Last week he said "No one is guaranteed a game, If you don't play well there is someone breathing down your neck and that can only be good for the squad. If you want to get better you need that strength in depth."

Nolan, Jarvis and Vaz Te are all expected to be available for selection for Sunday's match against QPR. After the match Nolan told WHUFC.com "It's been five-and-a-half weeks since the fracture and I felt like I'd be out for a while. After about 50, 60 minutes I started to feel my legs wobble a bit. I'm just pleased to get fit and I thank them for helping me get fit again.'

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Noble injury update
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on September 30, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Mark Noble has a real chance of returning to the West Ham team for the clash with Queens Park Rangers this weekend. The midfielder has been suffering from a shin/calf injury and faces a scan tomorrow but his chances are rated at 70/30 in his favour. Noble was forced to pull out of the match at Manchester United last weekend after suffering the injury in training. But this afternoon ClaretandHugh was told: "Mark is in no pain do if the scan is okay tomorrow (Wed) he could play on Sunday. It looks hopeful."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Parkes: "AC looks a back-up striker at moment"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on September 30, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Hammers legend Phil Parkes reckons Andy Carroll is going to have a really tough job on his hands getting back into the team when he finally returns to fitness. And having had both the striker and captain Kevin Nolan in his hospitality box recently he revealed the striker (and captain) both know they have a big fight. Parkes – addressing the issue – in typically forthright style declared: "I love the way the team are playing right now…people are running about and there's a lot of movement. It's great. "The manager has players who can play in a variety of ways and I think Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia have been great. "Andy knows he has a real job on his hands and this is exactly how it should be. Obviously one of the other of the new boys could play alongside him tu I don't think we will be seeing a return to the one up system anytime soon do you?

"And with those two up front Andy will find it tough. In fact if we are entirely honest he looks like a back up striker at the moment although much can happen in this game."It's amazing how things have turned out so far and everybody is looking forward to games and for Andy the competition can only do him the world of good."

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


http://vyperz.blogspot.com



---
This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active.
http://www.avast.com