Mo ready to return to action
WHUFC.com
Mo Diame is looking forward to Saturday's Barclays Premier League trip to
Stoke City
10.03.2014
After a fortnight without Barclays Premier League action, Mohamed Diame is
raring to go ahead of Saturday's trip to Stoke City. West Ham United have
not played since going down to a late 1-0 defeat at Everton on 1 March, with
the first-team squad enjoying a rare weekend off during the break in the
fixture list.
Diame, who started Senegal's 1-1 friendly international draw with Mali in
Paris last week, is looking forward to playing for points again at the
Britannia Stadium.
"Things are good amongst the squad," confirmed the No21. "After the game
against Everton, I think it was important to have some rest and a break to
come back here and start again and try to find the win again. "I went with
my country and it's always good to see my guys and to think about the family
I have in Senegal. It was good to play this game in Paris and we drew. It
was a friendly game and I thought we did well. We tried to win this game,
but I think a draw was OK. "Now, we are back to league action and we are in
a better position than a few months ago, but we want to keep picking up
points. We just need to keep going and need to make sure we take as many
points as possible by the end of the season."
Diame was part of the West Ham side which secured a superb 1-0 victory at
Stoke a year ago - a result that ended a run of two straight defeats - and
the midfielder is targeting a similar result this time around. That said, he
knows things will not be easy against a Stoke team which scored a 1-0 home
win over Arsenal in their last home game before drawing 1-1 at Norwich City
on Saturday. "Of course we can win there again, but Stoke did well in their
last game by winning against Arsenal, so we need to go there and try to give
our best and come back with the win."
Finally, Diame had words of support for his former club Wigan Athletic, who
continued their defence of the FA Cup by scoring a shock 2-1 win at
Manchester City on Sunday. "I am impressed with what they have achieved.
It's always good to see Wigan win their games, so now I can see they are
back near the Play-Offs too in the Championship. I hope they are going to do
well and come back to the Premier League."
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Loan watch - Weekend round-up
WHUFC.com
Find out how West Ham United's loan players fared with their clubs over the
weekend
10.03.2014
It was another busy weekend for the Hammers' band of loan players in England
and Scotland. In the Sky Bet Championship Ravel Morrison starred for Queens
Park Rangers, as the Hammers youngster scored twice to help his side defeat
Birmingham City 2-0 and end a five-game winless run for Harry Redknapp's
side in the league. Morrison was on loan at Birmingham last season and came
back to haunt his old club with goals in the 14th and 73rd minutes at St
Andrew's.
In the division below, defender Jordan Spence was also on the winning side
as Milton Keynes Dons kept their play-off hopes alive with a 2-1 victory at
fellow top-six hopefuls Swindon Town. The Dons trailed to Michael Smith's
first half strike, but Antony Kay levelled before the hour and George
Baldock, brother of former Hammer Sam, completed the turnaround
North of the border, Paul McCallum was a second half substitute as Heart of
Midlothian went down to a 4-2 defeat at Kilmarnock. Hearts, who were
deducted 15 points before the start of the season after entering
administration, remain at the foot of the Scottish Premiership table.
Finally, youngster Taylor Miles started for Concord Rangers as they secured
a 3-2 victory over Eastleigh in Skrill South. In a thrilling contest at the
Aspect Arena, Miles set up Sam Collins to curl a shot into the top corner
and give the Essex side a 37th minute lead. Eastleigh turned the game on its
head to go 2-1 up, but with Reece Connolly's red card reducing them to ten
men, Concord took advantage to triumph thanks to goals from Tony Stokes and
Gary Ogilvie.
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Ladies reach County Cup final
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Ladies are through to the Essex FA County Cup final after a
thrilling penalty shootout victory
10.03.2014
West Ham United Ladies are through to the Essex FA County Cup final after a
thrilling penalty shootout victory at holders C&K Basildon. The Hammers,
who defeated the same opposition in a shootout in the FA Women's Cup in
February, made sure lightning stuck twice through the heroics of goalkeeper
Lauren Picton. The stopper saved two Basildon penalties to see West Ham
through 4-3 in the shootout following a 1-1 draw after extra-time in
Sunday's semi-final.
The game started with great pace and commitment from both sides and when
Lily Mellors turned inside and fired a shot into the far corner of the net
after just seven minutes, the signs were looking good for a routine West
Ham victory.
But the lead barely lasted a full minute when Basildon equalised. A deep
cross came over from the left and it was the Basildon defender who got her
head to the ball first and sent the ball into the back of the Hammers net.
To make matters worse, after 15 minutes Hammers skipper Stacey Little was
carried from the field with an ankle injury. A subsequent trip to hospital
revealed that, thankfully, there was no fracture as was initially feared.
The game lost its momentum after the stoppages and West Ham lost their flow.
This allowed Basildon to put further pressure onto the Hammers defence and
they came close on a number of occasions but their finishing was off target.
Just before the 90 minutes were up the Hammers had a purple patch which saw
Mellors, Cherrelle Albert and April Bowers all go close, but the scores
remained level at the end of normal time.
The 30 minutes of extra-time also failed to provide a winning goal, with
both sides a little more cautious in their ventures into the opposition
half. Finally it came down to a penalty shootout. Basildon were first at the
spot and Picton pulled off a fine save low down to her right, giving the
Hammers an advantage. Sarah McCrea stepped up and scored putting West Ham
one up, before once again Picton foiled the Basildon taker. Mellors was up
next, but her effort hit the post, to keep the score at 1-0 on penalties.
Basildon scored all three of their remaining penalties and with Albert and
Bowers scoring for the Hammers, it was 3-3 with just Danica Revell to come
and without showing any nerves she but the ball into the back of the net for
a fantastic win.
West Ham will face Barking in the final at AFC Hornchurch on 17 April, with
kick-off at 7.45pm. There, the Hammers will be seeking to win the
competition for
a third time, having previously lifted the trophy in 2009 and 2011. Barking
have also won it twice previously, in 2001 and 2003.
Ladies: Picton, King, McCrea, West, Revell, Blanchflower (Cliffe 46), Little
(Lipley-Hinton 15, Masters 103), Morgan, Bowers, Albert, Mellors
Subs not used : Bottom, Beard
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Macca: consistency is key for Ravel
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 10th March 2014
By: Staff Writer
West Ham assistant manager Neil McDonald has challenged Ravel Morrison to
deliver on a regular basis, following his Man of the Match performance
against Birmingham last weekend. The 21-year-old midfielder scored both of
Queens Park Rangers' goals on Saturday as the Championship promotion
contenders boosted their ailing hopes of an automatic promotion spot with a
2-0 win against against the club with whom Morrison spent last season on
loan. McDonald has worked with the England Under 21 international since he
arrived at West Ham in the 2012 winter transfer window. And whilst he has
always championed Morrison's immense talent, McDonald believes that his
biggest challenge now is to remain focused and repeat some of this season's
eye-catching performances consistently. "There are lots of young players
like Ravel who have the talent, but at the same time they have to have
consistency," McDonald told London 24's Dave Evans. "When you are young you
very rarely have that consistency and you have to work really hard on your
game. "He will have his time when he gets that and plays 10, 20-odd games
where he is consistent and everyone will think he is a complete player. "He
is very, very good on the ball, but he has to learn the other side because
there are two parts to learn about the game. There is off the field as well,
but we can't control that. We can control as much as we can on the training
field and on the pitch and like a lot of young players he will learn as he
gets older. That is our challenge."
Morrison joined QPR on loan for the rest of the season on February 19th,
since when he has made three appearances. He is under contract at West Ham
until the summer of 2015.
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Morrison praised for solo show
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 10th March 2014
By: Staff Writer
Ravel Morrison was named Man of the Match on Saturday for scoring the two
goals that condemned former club Birmingham City to a narrow 2-1 defeat. The
on-loan Hammer struck in the 14th and 73rd minute of the game to seal a 2-1
win for the R's at St Andrews which keeps alive their fading hopes of
automatic promotion. Morrison's two goals - a placed, side-footed shot and a
delicious, dipping 20-yard free kick either side of the break - gave Harry
Redknapp's side all three valuable points but it was his general display
that left other purring after the game. Team mate Nedum Onuoha was effusive
in his praise of the Hammers youngster. "Ravel is a boost for us," he said.
"He was very good for us at Birmingham. He keeps impressing us with his
work-rate and his ability as well. "If he can keep doing that between now
and the end of the season we will be very happy. His main role is a
play-maker and trying to give people opportunities. He is good in training
and hopefully things are looking up now." Onuoha's assessment was backed by
current R's boss Harry Redknapp, who purred: "There's a shortage of talent
in the world of players like Ravel, especially in England. The kid has
everything to be a great player. "I love working with talented players like
Ravel, players who can do something different, something special. I just
hope he can continue to keep on doing what he's doing and go on to become
the player he is undoubtedly capable of being." Morrison, who has scored
five times for West Ham this season is on-loan at QPR for the rest of the
campaign.
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Maiga facing QPR axe
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 10th March 2014
By: Staff Writer
Harry Redknapp says Modibo Maiga needs to improve is he is to maintain a
regular spot in Queens Park Rangers' starting eleven. The 26-year-old
striker joined the Championship club on transfer deadline day for the
remainder of the current campaign. However since moving to Loftus Road,
Maiga has made just three appearances. The former Sochaux forward opened his
account for QPR on his debut in a 3-3 draw against Burnley on February 1st -
since when he has made just two substitute appearances, with Redknapp
choosing to go with the likes of Kevin Doyle and David Hoilett instead.
"He's got make me want to pick him," Redknapp told Get West London, when
asked about Maiga lack of appearances. "It's true he's from a Premier League
club but so is Will Keane, and Kevin Doyle was there with Wolves two years
ago." Maiga's move to England has proven to be an unmitigated disaster so
far. Since joining West Ham in July 2012 for circa £5million he made just 19
starts in all competitions before dropping a division to join the
Championship promotion candidates. Meanwhile, 67-year-old Redknapp, who
managed West Ham between 1994 and 2001 is said to be considering retirement
having struggled to keep his side in touch with the Championship league
leaders.
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