Daily WHUFC News - 22nd October 2014

Aaron's all about the points
Whufc.COM
Aaron Cresswell only had eyes for three Barclays Premier League points at Burnley on Saturday
20.10.2014

Aaron Cresswell is little fussed about taking personal plaudits, just so long as he is contributing to a winning West Ham United cause.
The former Ipswich Town full-back provided the ammunition for Diafra Sakho's opener at Burnley on Saturday and very nearly got on the scoresheet himself, slamming a volley into the midriff of Clarets stopper Tom Heaton. But while his wonderful left-wing cross was hardly about to go unnoticed, the modest 24-year-old insisted it is all in a day's work for the all-action full-back. "It's nice to get an assist and when you do put the ball in and you see the ball go in the back of the net, it's great, but the main thing was the three points and we got that," he told West Ham TV. "It was a good ball and it was a good header. Even the same with Jenks [Carl Jenkinson]. Jenks put in a great ball for Enner [Valencia] and Enner scored it. "That's the modern day full-back and for both teams on Saturday, both full-backs put a lot of balls in the box. It's something we work on in training with the gaffer and Macca [Neil McDonald]. So if you keep putting good balls in the box, nine times out of ten you should score one."

The Hammers' lightning start to the second period was a far cry from the opening exchanges and Cresswell confessed that West Ham were fortunate to find themselves level at the break. He explained: "In the first half I don't think we were as good as we have been this season, at all. The gaffer had a little pop at us at half-time, it wasn't good enough and we knew it wasn't good enough. "They're the home team and we knew they were going to come out of the blocks flying, which they did. And the first 15 minutes, you could say we were all over the place, we were lucky to stay 0-0 at some times. We rode the storm, came out flying second half and scored two early goals."

Saturday's success makes it three wins out of the last four for Sam Allardyce's men and Cresswell is loving it, adamant that a top-ten finish is now well within West Ham's reach. The next challenge comes in the shape of league champions Manchester City at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday, one that holds little fear for Cresswell and co. "Man City are one of the best teams in the Premier League, but we're going to go into that game full of confidence, flying and looking forward to it. "We've played eight games, got 13 points, if we keep that sort of form there's no reason why we can't make the top ten. I think that's realistically a good achievement for us, anywhere in the top ten.
"On and off the pitch it's going well for me down here. The main thing for me was to get my head down, work hard and hopefully try to stay in the team as long as I can."

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Jim Barrett Jr - 1930-2014
WHUFC.com
Former West Ham United forward Jim Barrett Jr has sadly passed away at the age of 83
21.10.2014

Former West Ham United forward Jim Barrett Jr has sadly passed away following a short illness at the age of 83. Inside forward Barrett Jr played 91 times in Claret and Blue between 1950 and 1954, scoring 26 goals. He returned to the Club to coach the A team during the 1960s, helping to develop a number of players at the Academy of Football. Born just a stone's throw from the Boleyn Ground on Bonfire Night 1930, Barrett was the son of Hammers legend 'Big' Jim Barrett - a centre-half who played more than 500 games for West Ham between 1925 and 1945 - and played alongside his father for the A team himself in the 1945/46 season. Barrett Jr made his first-team debut at the age of 19 in a Division Two fixture at Blackburn Rovers on 22 April 1950, netting his first goal in a 2-1 victory at Chesterfield in October of the same year. In May 1951, he was part of the side which defeated Southend United 2-0 in the Essex Professional Cup final at the Boleyn Ground. The 1951/52 season was Barrett Jr's most productive in a West Ham shirt as he scored ten goals in 25 appearances in all competitions, including nine in Division Two.

Barrett Jr made a memorable final appearance for the Hammers on 18 December 1954, when he scored one of West Ham's goals in a 3-3 Division Two draw with Swansea Town at the Boleyn Ground. Joint-Chairman David Gold was a schoolboy and A team player during Barrett Jr's time at West Ham and has fond memories of the inside forward. "I am really sorry to hear of Jim's death," he began. "I remember him so well. He joined the Football Club when I was a schoolboy and we would train on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. "Sometimes we would train at the Boleyn Ground and that would give us the opportunity to see the first-team players. We warmed-up indoors there in a gym the size of a squash court and Jim would come in and ask us how we were doing, which was a real thrill for us all. "I remember that he became involved in the A team and I particularly remember him when I was in the Colts. What was nice about Jim was that he was always willing to help the youngsters. I played for the A team a number of times and I have great memories of him - he was a nice man. "As a player, he was an inside forward who played as one of the front three in the old W formation, and he scored a fair few goals. The fans liked Jim and I liked him too."

West Ham's Division Two rivals Nottingham Forest swooped to sign Barrett Jr in December 1954, taking the inside forward to the City Ground. The forward enjoyed an outstanding time for the Tricky Trees, finishing as the club's leading scorer in three straight seasons between 1954 and 1957. In 1956/57, he scored 30 goals as Forest finished second and gained promotion to Division One. Barrett Jr moved to Birmingham City in 1959, scoring four goals in ten league appearances before hanging up his boots from the professional game at the age of 29. He returned to the Boleyn Ground in the 1960s as player-coach of the A team, where he assisted the development of the likes of Harry Redknapp, John Charles and Paul Heffer. Barrett Jr completed his coaching career at Millwall, where he worked under former West Ham wing half Benny Fenton.

Everyone at West Ham United was saddened to learn of Jim's passing and would like to pass on their sincere condolences to his family and friends.

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Lionel Messi at the Boleyn as West Ham stage international friendly
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 21st October 2014
By: Staff Writer

West Ham's United Boleyn Ground will play host to an international friendly between Croatia and Argentina next month, according to reports. For the first (and possibly the last!) time ever, the likes of Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuaín and Éver Banega will strut their stuff at West Ham's famous old ground, according to Steven Goff of the Washington post. After a planned clash between the United States and Croatia at Fulham's Craven Cottage ground fell through, the South Americans stepped in to provide an opponent for the European side with the venue now set to be switched from West to East London. The game could also mark the return to Upton Park for both Javier Mascherano (Barcelona) and Carlos Tevez (Juventus), although the latter has failed to make recent Argentina squads. Croatia, despite not featuring a single UK-based player in their current squad still boast one or two major continental stars such as midfielder Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona) and Dnipro's Ivan Strinic, both of whom are well-known across the continent. Meanwhile any Hammers fans present may also be able to get a glimpse of Rijeka's young striker Andrej Kramaric, who was linked with a move to West Ham earlier this month.
The game is provisionally scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 12th November. The US will instead face Columbia at Craven Cottage on the same evening.

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Jim Barrett Jnr
KUMb.com
Filed: Tuesday, 21st October 2014
By: Staff Writer

Former Hammer Jim Barrett Jnr has passed away at the age of 83. Born in London between the wars, the home grown star began his career at West Ham where he went on to make 85 appearances for the club as an inside forward, scoring 24 goals. However after five years as a first team squad member Barrett was sold to Nottingham Forest in 1954. The son of Jim Barrett Snr, who himself was on West Ham's books for 15 years between 1924 and 1939, the two appeared together when representing West Ham's 'A' Team during the 1945/46 season. Jim Snr, who had retired from the professional game at the age of 32 was the team's coach at the time.

West Ham co-chairman David Gold, himself a young player on West Ham's books at the time, told whufc.com that Barrett was always willing to support the young players. "I am really sorry to hear of Jim's death," he said. "I remember him so well. He joined the Football Club when I was a schoolboy and we would train on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

"I remember that he became involved in the A team and I particularly remember him when I was in the Colts. What was nice about Jim was that he was always willing to help the youngsters. I played for the A team a number of times and I have great memories of him - he was a nice man."

KUMB's sincere condolences go to Jim's family and friends at this difficult time.

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Colin Murray: shut up, Shearer
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 21st October 2014
By: Staff Writer

Ex-BBC presenter Colin Murray has launched a no-holds-barred attack on Beeb employee Alan Shearer after he criticised Hammers fans on Match of the Day at the weekend.

Following Match of the Day's highlights of West Ham's 3-1 win at Burnley on Saturday, Shearer - a BBC pundit who is not shy in having a pop at the club or its fans - asked "where are they now?" with regard to those who had been critical of Sam Allardyce's tactical approach last season. That led Murray, speaking on his TalkSport show last night to castigate his former colleague - without specifically referring to Shearer in person. "I've heard a few people say on TV and radio at the weekend - so the guns aren't aimed at anyone in particular - where's the Sam Out brigade? "How insulting that is to West Ham fans, that people are ridiculing them for West Ham having a decent start to the season. They're doing well - and people are goading the West Ham fans? It doesn't mean you can sit on radio or television and lambast a whole fanbase who pay their money week in, week out. "There was an element of truth on both sides. Sam Allardyce was right to a certain extent to say we don't always play the ball in the air but the stats pointed out they did more often than any other team last season. But it's all relevant to the season we're in.

People said 'where are they'? I tell you where they are - they're in their jobs this morning, working hard and paying money to go and see their football team. Nothing they said was wrong - some of them took it a bit too far at times, but I just hate that idea that West Ham fans, for some reason, have no knowledge of football. "I've been waiting to get that off my chest for about 36 hours. I couldn't wait to get on and just say 'come on, have a bit of respect for them, they're allowed to have their point of view'. I don't think anything the vast majority did was out of character or wrong. It doesn't mean you can sit and slag them off on TV."

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WHAT THE JANUARY TRANSFER WINDOW MAY HOLD
By Sean Whetstone 21 Oct 2014 at 13:00
West Ham Till I Die

I know it is early for transfer speculation especially as David Sullivan has already gone on record to say it will quiet window as we have reached our FFP wages limit. 'I'm hoping we don't have to do any', Sullivan told The London Evening Standard when asked if West Ham could sign any players in January. "We're right up against our wage cap and this is the best squad we've ever had in terms of depth and quality.It's a tall order but I'm hoping we will have 30 points at the halfway stage. That means realistically you can't be relegated and we can throw everything at the FA Cup"

I know what the Chairman has said but I can't believe we are not looking to cover Reid's centre back position should he decide not to re-sign, in my view we are unlikely to sign Carl Jenkinson permanently in the right back position at the the end of his loan plus James Collins, Joey O'Brien, Ricardo Vaz Te and Guy Demel days at the club could be limited. These could all bring significant amounts off the wage bill to dabble a little in the January transfer window. We know Sullivan won't be able to restrain himself when the transfer window opens again.

Here the a round up of the players we have been linked with in October:

Virgil Van Dijk
According to the Scotsman West Ham have joined the chase to land Virgil Van Dijk. It is claimed that that Arsene Wenger is ready to bid £8 million for the player after reports from Arsenal's scouts following his displays for Celtic in the Europa League. However could mix it up with a bid of their own with Southampton, Sunderland and unnamed Serie A side are also said to be interested. Celtic are said to be looking for at least £10 million for the Dutchman.Virgil came through the ranks at Willem II in Holland before moving to Groningen as a teenager, where he played in the same side as Southampton's Dusan Tadic. He has played for the Dutch Under 19 and Under 21 sides and in 2013 he moved to Celtic for £2.6million. In 42 games for Celtic he has scored 5 goals.

Abdoulaye Konko Faye
The 30 year old Frenchman is an attacking right back of Senegalese and Moroccan descent and is believed to be on the wanted list as a long term replacement for Guy Demel. Although the Hammers have on loan Carl Jenkinson in place for this season, the club is covering its back should Arsenal refuse to do business on a permanent basis.
Konko signed a five year deal with Lazio in 2011 at a fee of four million euros and could be available for around half that should the Italian decide to sell.

Antonio Rudiger
West Ham could compete to bid for Stuttgart's German international defender Antonio Rudiger in the January transfer window, according to the Daily Express. The 21-year-old was claimed to be of interest to the Hammers in the summer and it is understood Sam Allardyce might look to sign the centre-back once more during the January transfer window.Rudiger has made 54 league appearances for Stuttgart and was part of the side which were runners up in the 2013 DFB Pokal

Shinji Okazaki
FSV Mainz 05 star striker Shinji Okazaki is being chased by the Hammers, according to German media.The German newspaper Bild has reported that scouts from West Ham were spotted watching him at his last match. Okazaki has scored five goals this season for Mainz in the Bundesliga league.The Japanese International is contracted at the club until the summer of 2016 but the German side could be tempted to cash in for the 28 year-old in the next window if the right offer is made. Mainz could accept offers for around 8-10 million euros.In the last year, the number 23 has scored 39 goals in 79 games.West Ham were among three clubs who sent a scout to watch Modena 20-goal top scorer Khouma Babacar recently.The player has now returned to his club Fiorentina since but West Ham scout George Dixon watched hiom before his return.Babacar has spent the last two seasons out on loan first with Padova in 2012/13 when he scored just one goal from 16 appearances before bursting into life at Modena last term with 20 goals from 41.

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WEST HAM IN MY HEART, CHOLESTEROL IN MY VEINS
By Brian Williams 21 Oct 2014 at 08:00
West Ham Till I Die

Having knotted several sets of claret and blue underwear last week with the suggestion that Alex Song may not be the new Trevor Brooking quite yet, I thought it would be a good idea to write about something rather less controversial this time – like why I believe Bobby Moore was actually over-rated; or not only is Nigel Farage the right man to run the country, he should be given overall control at West Ham as well.

In the end I rejected the idea of playing safe (you don't win a Pulitzer prize taking the easy options) and have instead decided to look at the big issue facing football supporters everywhere squarely in the eye: is a pie really an essential part of the proceedings on a Saturday?

Before you answer the next question I would like to remind you that you are under oath and the penalties for perjury in this country are severe. So, think back, then answer clearly and concisely: when did you last have a pie at a game?

Aha – just as I suspected! So why is there this myth that football and pies go together like Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia? The idea seems particularly popular with affluent, middle-class supporters who suddenly turned into instant experts on the game when it became fashionable to start going to "footy". Is it, I wonder, the glory-hunters' revenge for Roy Keane's crack about the "prawn sandwich brigade"? If so, this nonsense has gone on long enough.

Just take a stroll down the Barking Road before any home game. Immediately behind the Bobby Moore stand is a row of shops including one that sells pie and mash and another that does fish and chips. They're two doors apart. Sure, Nathan's pies are popular, but the queue for the Ercan Fish Bar is reminiscent of the snaking lines of people who wait for days outside polling stations in those courageous countries that have thrown off the shackles of dictatorship and won the right to democracy for the first time. Ably assisted by my son, who has a master's in computer science, I have done some highly sophisticated analytical research here – namely standing by the nearby programme stall and noting the length of the queues for well over a minute. Trust me, the chippy has got this one wrapped up … so to speak.

Personally, I prefer the brilliant hot food on sale in Priory Road. Anywhere that offers a Mad Dog, a Terminator and a Stevie Bacon burger cannot be ignored by anyone who truly has West Ham in their heart (and cholesterol in their arteries). This wonderful institution simply has to be rebuilt, brick by brick, outside the main gates of the Olympic Stadium when we move.

When I first started going to the Boleyn Ground in the Sixties, I would invariably travel by tube and alight at Upton Park. Had I turned left when I exited the station, rather than go south and head for the ground, I may well have encountered my future sister-in-law, who had a Saturday job in the pie and mash shop that used to be further up Green Street, on the same side of the road. In fact, I might have met the woman I would one day marry, because she sometimes stood in for her. The shop made its own pies, but the example set by the manager to his staff is something that I adhere to now. "Mike would never touch the pies," says my sister-in-law. "He knew what went in them."

Now, if I'm not going to have a pie on familiar soil, I'm certainly not going to risk it at away games. Why? Because, as I drive home after a match in some far flung part of the nation which has culinary traditions all of its own, I have no wish to hammer down the motorway with one eye peeled for a service station as my small intestine makes increasingly alarming noises, that's why.

To be strictly honest here, I did break my own rule by having a Seagull pie at the Amex stadium in Brighton when we were in the Championship. But then I live in Brighton (yeah, yeah, my boyfriend knows I'm here … and I'm sure you can see us holding hands) so for once I wasn't overly concerned about being struck down with gastro enteritis half an hour after the final whistle. And, just in case you were wondering, no – they don't put seagulls in Seagull pies. They do, however, charge a fortune for them. A recent survey (journalists just love recent surveys) found that Brighton and Hove Albion ask more than any other club in the Prem or the Championship when it comes to shortcrust shenanigans.

Anyway, to return to my argument that it's the clever dicks rather than the true fan who is obsessed with pies, I have categorical proof that I am right and everybody else is wrong (as my wife will tell you, this is not always the case).

We are at St Andrews, watching our brave lads teach the Bluenoses a thing or two about how to pass and move. A chubby gentleman, clearly of the Birmingham persuasion, has spent most of the first 45 minutes single-handedly abusing us from the adjacent stand and then decides to beat the half-time rush. As he heads for the exit he is sent on his way with the spontaneous chant of "Home for his dinner, he's going home for his dinner." But he didn't go home – he came back after the interval. And this is where the proof of the pudding, or rather the pie, can be found.

"Only went for a burger, he only went for a burger," was the greeting from the travelling claret and blue support as our Brummie friend took his seat.

A burger, you will notice. Not a steak pie. Which just goes to show the first thing on the menu that pops into the typical football supporter's mind doesn't come wrapped in pastry but is generally found between two slices of some form of bread (in my case, it's a bacon sandwich – the Great Dane – if I'm in Priory Road). Case proven, I think you will agree.

Perhaps it will all be different at the Olympic Stadium. If the proponents of the move are to be believed, this is the promised land that will not only turn us into a Champions League side but will also offer a half time of fine dining and service with a smile. The queues Sir? Ha-ha, we don't have those here – they are so Upton Park. This is Stratford.

Come to think of it, I won't be sorry to leave queuing behind. I will be sorry to leave the Boleyn Ground and everything else that goes with it, though. A pint in the Black Lion beforehand, one in the Denmark afterwards. A bacon sandwich in Priory Road. The programme stall in the Barking Road, the OLAS guys by the entrance to the Bobby Moore stand. The matchday routine is almost as important as the game itself, and it won't be the same when we move.

As you may have guessed by now, I am one of those grumpy old gits who does not believe moving to the OS is in the best interests of the club I have supported for 50 years. As a lesson in long-term asset management, flogging the family home and then renting a luxury flat leaves a lot to be desired. Still, I suppose there will always be Wonga when the cash runs out.

Yes, I know it's a done deal and I'll have just have to suck it up. Doesn't mean I have to like it, though.

All I would suggest is that, before we go, you savour every minute of the time left in E13. In particular, enjoy your own matchday rituals – whatever they may be. It's my guess you'll miss them when they're gone.

See – I told you pies were controversial.

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West Ham United block Tottenham hopes of renting Upton Park
Ahead of their move to the Olympic Park, West Ham have taken steps to prevent Spurs from using Upton Park ahead of their north London redevelopment
West Ham United block Tottenham hopes of renting Upton Park
Telegraph.co.uk
By Matt Law, Football News Correspondent10:00PM BST 21 Oct 2014

West Ham United have "Tottenham-proofed" their contract with the buyers of Upton Park to prevent it falling into the hands of their fierce rivals. The property developer Galliard Group agreed to buy Upton Park once West Ham make the move to the Olympic Stadium in 2016.
It has now emerged that a clause in the contract states that West Ham do not have to leave Upton Park in a fit state for football and plan to gut the stadium ahead of their exit. That rules out Tottenham Hotspur trying to rent Upton Park off Galliard while they wait for White Hart Lane to be redeveloped, having already failed in a bid to buy West Ham's stadium to use for a season. A senior West Ham source said: "It is correct that the Boleyn Ground will not be fit for football after West Ham's final game in 2016.

This is because Hammers fans will be offered the opportunity to secure their own piece of history through a special auction of memorabilia, which will cover most, if not all, of the essential parts of the stadium. "In addition, some of the most identifiable fixtures will be coming with us to Stratford and essential equipment relating to the pitch and other areas will be taken away and reused at the club's training facilities."

With Daniel Levy, the Tottenham chairman, still searching for a sponsor to pay £150 million for the naming rights for the club's new stadium, its projected opening date has been pushed back to 2018-19. That means Spurs need a temporary home for the 2017-18 season and have been looking at ground-sharing with MK Dons and playing big games at Wembley. However, the possibility of Spurs ground-sharing with West Ham in the Olympic Stadium for the 2017-18 campaign, the season after West Ham move in, will be debated again, with Mayor of London Boris Johnson to be quizzed on the subject.

Andrew Boff, leader of the Greater London Authority Conservatives, will ask Johnson if West Ham have the power to veto Tottenham, if the club approached the London Legacy Development Corporation requesting a ground-share deal. Boff is a critic of the LLDC's decision to sign the Olympic Stadium over to West Ham on a 99-year lease, arguing that it represents a poor deal for the taxpayer.

Karren Brady, the West Ham vice-chairman, has claimed that the club would block any attempt by their London rivals to share the stadium and they are insistent they hold a permanent right of veto. It was revealed this week that the firm working on the Olympic Stadium, Balfour Beatty, had lobbied for another £50 million of taxpayers' cash to complete the work at the site. Under the terms of the 99-year lease deal signed by West Ham with the LLDC, the club is not obliged to foot any of the extra cost. West Ham appeared to consider the prospect of introducing a 'singing section' at the Olympic Stadium for all of four hours on Tuesday afternoon. Jack Sullivan, son of the co-owner David, posted two messages on Twitter that said: "Possibility of a singing fans section at the OS anyone got any ideas what it should be called? Also, do you think a singing section is a good idea, an area where all the passionate fans can sit together and chant throughout the game."

However, following a host of negative responses, Sullivan added another tweet that read: "Thanks for your help – bad idea so will not be doing that."

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Under-21s Report: Chelsea 2 West Ham United 1
NEWS Mon, 6 Jan 2014
Chelasefc.com

Dermot Drummy's Under-21s earned themselves a place in the last eight of the inaugural Under-21 Premier League Cup with a win in difficult conditions at Aldershot. An own goal cancelled out Isaiah Brown's early opener, before captain Nathan Ake put the hosts back in front midway through the first half with what proved to be the winning goal.

Team news

Dermot Drummy made four changes from the side that defeated Cardiff City 4-0 in the previous round, with Mitchell Beeney returning in goal in place of Jamal Blackman and Andreas Christensen taking Danny Pappoe's place in central defence.

Adam Nditi and Alex Davey retained their places at left-back and centre-back respectively, while Fankaty Dabo replaced Isak Ssewankambo on the right side to make up the back four.

Isaiah Brown led the line up front, supported by Jeremie Boga and John Swift from the flanks, while Lewis Baker kept his place in midfield after his first team debut from the bench at Derby County in the FA Cup third round. Ruben Loftus-Cheek and captain Nathan Ake made up the midfield trio.

Five of the West Ham starting team from November's league meeting featured in the first team's 5-0 FA Cup defeat at Nottingham Forest on Sunday so there were 10 changes from the side that began that 3-3 draw.

First half

With the rain subsiding just in time for kick-off at Aldershot the early proceedings were even and Beeney had an early scare as a short back-pass put him under pressure from the eager forward closing down. Yet the first chance of the game came down the other end after Baker had been felled as his tricky footwork evaded defenders.

The midfielder stepped up himself and bent in an excellent effort from just over 20 yards that the visiting goalkeeper Sam Howes impressively tipped on to the post. That was an early warning sign from the young Blues, though West Ham threatened themselves moments later as Beeney denied captain Kieran Bywater's well-hit strike at the near post.

The end-to-end early exchanges quickly saw an opening goal arrive after six minutes and it was the hosts taking a lead. Baker, involved in much of the attacking play early on operating from a more advanced No.10 midfield role, supplied the pass for Brown, and the striker fired emphatically hard and low beyond Howes for his eighth goal of the season.
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The young Hammers responded positively, continuing to cause problems as they pushed forward, and were quickly rewarded with an equaliser inside a quarter of an hour. Jerry Amoo's enterprising burst from right-back created the danger and his low centre was spilled into his own net by Beeney via a deflection from Nditi.

Both sides were enjoying possession and opportunities in an open encounter and Amoo threatened once again with a powerful run down the right, bursting away from the defending Boga, although his delivery was eventually overhit beyond the supporting attackers.

Davey finished confidently past Howes as the aftermath of a Chelsea corner was poorly cleared, though the lineman's flag was raised for a narrow offside call, before the game's third goal arrived midway through the half.

Skipper Ake found space running from deep midfield and was found with an excellent ball through from Loftus-Cheek, before providing an accomplished finish down low and across the goalkeeper into the far bottom corner to net his second goal of the campaign. His first, incidentally, came back in November when these two sides met in the league and the Dutchman grabbed a last-minute equaliser.

As the half wore on Chelsea's control of the game grew stronger, as did the influence of the lively front four of Brown, Baker, Swift and Boga. Baker's corner from the left got caught by the swirling wind and almost caught out goalkeeper Howes, before Nditi's super cross from the left narrowly evaded the onrushing Swift at the far post.

A brilliant exchange between Baker and Boga fashioned another opening for the hosts, though the Frenchman was denied by Howes, and the West Ham stopper was called into action once again moments later as he saved Boga's header after Swift had beaten his man and delivered from the right.

Jordan Brown was denied by a succession of close tackles from Davey (pictured below) after Nathan Mavila had provided from the left, before the last action of the half saw Chelsea go close to extending the lead. Ake swept a brilliant cross-field pass out to the attacking Nditi on the left and the defender's excellent first touch allowed him to get into space, though goalscorer Brown couldn't add to his tally as his bending effort flew over the bar.
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Second half

The visitors began the second period eager to get on the front foot as they searched for an equaliser in the tie, though it was Brown for the hosts who found himself presented with the first chance of the half as he raced in behind. The striker attempted to flick the ball over the covering defender but Amos Nasha defended cleverly and marshalled the danger away.

With a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs there was plenty to play for and the visitors came close to levelling terms shortly after the restart. Jordan Brown forced the save from Beeney, though the shot was straight at the goalkeeper and the save was ultimately a routine one.

That warning sign set the tone for the young Blues to respond strongly as they sought to grab a third goal and finish off the game. Manny Onariase cleared well for West Ham as a dangerous delivery from the right from Dabo landed invitingly inside the six-yard box, before Brown was twice thwarted as he looked to get his second goal of the evening.

Howes in the Hammers' goal was certainly proving to be the busiest man on the field and he was needed again to save from Baker's flick after Swift had beaten Reece Burke and delivered from the right.

The bright Swift continued to pose problems for the visitors, either using his skill and pace to beat his man on the outside or coming infield to threaten. It was through the latter that the Under-21s' top goalscorer almost got his 11th goal of the season, coming inside off the right touchline and beating a couple of defenders before firing an arrowing effort towards goal that flew just inches wide.

The windy conditions and intermittent driving rain continued to make playing conditions difficult and goalmouth action was rare as the half wore on. Nditi dragged a shot wide past the far post after finding space down the left, though the game continued to be cagey and chances were limited.

Charly Musonda and Ola Aina were introduced by Drummy to provide an energising boost to proceedings and the young Belgian proved lively, creating openings for himself with some clever footwork and skill, though a combination of a bumpy pitch and some brave blocks from defenders limited his impact somewhat.

Swift tested Howes late on while Brown (pictured below) might have done better when advanced in the box but chose to look for a pass rather than shoot as Chelsea held on to ensure their progress in the competition.
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Next up for Drummy's Under-21s is a league game against Reading. This game is moved from Aldershot and will now be played at Cobham, with kick-off at 2pm. The match will be played behind closed doors and we regret supporters will not be admitted.


Manager Reaction

Dermot Drummy was pleased the game went ahead despite heavy rain in the days preceding it and high wind on the night. 'Well done to [Chelsea head groundsman] Jason Griffin and the Aldershot staff for getting this game on,' he said. 'We needed the match because we did give the lads, especially the foreign players a good break at Christmas and no matter what training you do, it is nothing like going through a game. 'It was a cup tie and we won it so we are pleased with that but compliments to West Ham, they had a good game plan and their goalkeeper made some outstanding saves. If you look on the balance of chances we were worthy winners and I've said to the boys it is a nice trait to keep winning. 'West Ham knew we attack centrally and we didn't have real width with Alex Kiwomya being ill, but it was a great move for Nathan's goal, we moved the ball quickly which we didn't always do tonight but it is the way I like to play. 'Isaiah finished well for his goal and Lew Baker has come off the back of making his first team debut, which is wonderful, to perform well tonight.'

Chelsea: Mitchell Beeney; Fankaty Dabo, Alex Davey, Andreas Christensen, Adam Nditi (Ola Aina 80); Nathan Ake (c), Lewis Baker, Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Charly Musonda 72); John Swift, Jeremie Boga, Isaiah Brown.

Unused subs: Bradley Collins, Dion Conroy

West Ham: Sam Howes, Jerry Amoo (Matthew Carter 77), Lewis Page, Amos Nasha, Reece Burke, Manny Onariase, Moses Makasi, Josh Cullen, Jordan Brown, Kieran Bywater (c), Nathan Mavila (Marcio Martins 77)

Unused subs: Gines Guzman Rosique, Oscar Borg, Josh Pask

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DG names his next big objective
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on October 21, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Ask David Gold to describe the dressing room spirit at Upton Park and he will point to a picture of Mark Noble out of his mind with delight at Burnley on Saturday! He posted it on Twitter and explained: "It tells you better than any words of mine what the lads are feeling at the moment – elation, joy overwhelming confidence and more besides. It's the kind of spirit that can carry us to an FA Cup Final Day out and I really am looking forward to a big run in that competition.

That is the next big ambition and the co chairman but is convinced it's achievable and that it should run in harness with a major bid to make the last Boleyn season a European season. That has been David Sullivan's stated aim for some time but the FA Cup campaign offers a real opportunity of a major trophy for the first time in a lot of years."

Generally speaking DG is a cautious man but really does believe that an assault on Wembley is realistic. He said: "The big clubs are always going to pitch hard for Europe and we shouldn't rule that out either but the FA Cup gives us a real chance and it's something I've been wanting for several years. "I think we can give it a real go this season."

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Reid contract clause headaches
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on October 21, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Reports this morning that Queens Park Rangers are planning a possible move for Winston Reid are bizarre to put it very mildly indeed!
The story goes that Rio Ferdinand will be allowed to leave in January and that Reid has been watched as a possible alternative by Harry Redknapp. As reported earlier on ClaretandHugh today, new talks will get underway between the Hammers and Reid's advisers later this week with the Irons ready to offer improved terms to the Kiwi. The QPR scenario becomes increasingly unbelievable given that among the various clauses the Reid side want, in talks with the Hammers, is one involving relegation. We were told the requirement is that the player would be allowed to leave Upton Park for around £2 million should that happen over the terms of a new deal.

Given that, it's difficult in the extreme to see why the player would be remotely tempted by a move to Loftus Road. Hammers negotiators know they face a tough task nailing down a new deal with Reid admitting "the cards are all stacked in his favour." They want to get a deal agreed by the end of December but accept the situation could even run into next summer when he becomes a free agent. A source told us: "We'll be offering a very good deal but we understand he is in a position where he can take his time and talk to various clubs."

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