U18s earn Aston Villa draw
WHUFC.com
Djair Parfitt-Williams' seventh goal of the season earned the U18s a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa
15.02.2015
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West Ham United battled to a tough 1-1 Barclays U18 Premier League draw at Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon. The Hammers deservedly went ahead when Bermuda-born attacker Djair Parfitt-Williams finished low into the corner from Grady Diangana's cut-back, but the visitors then wasted several chances to double their advantage. It was the forward's seventh goal of a productive season. Villa pulled themselves level on 69 minutes when Rushian Hepburn-Murphy finished well into the corner, before England international goalkeeper Sam Howes denied the hosts a last-minute winner to secure a point for the Hammers. U18s coach Mark Phillips made six changes to the Academy side that had been defeated 3-2 at home by Fulham just a week earlier. Jake Eggleton and Declan Rice were replaced at the back by Tunji Akinola and Manny Onariase, while Alex Pike also returned to the squad. Kieran Bailey dropped to the bench, allowing Jerry Amoo a starting role at Bodymoor Heath, while Jahmal Hector-Ingram and Decarrey Sheriff both missed out on the trip to the Midlands and were replaced by recent Development Squad call-ups Jordan Brown and Djair Parfitt-Williams
Throughout the opening 20 minutes, both sides were very even in terms of possession and efforts on goal. Diangana fired high over the bar on nine minutes before Brown forced a low save out of the home goalkeeper. Down the other end of the pitch, Villa were looking threatening with their impressive combination of pace and skill, but the hosts also failed to turn their possession into meaningful efforts on goal.
After the break, the Hammers stepped up a level and began to push the hosts back deeper into their own half. They got their reward on 52 minutes when Diangana picked the ball up inside the Villa penalty area and found Parfitt-Williams unmarked near the edge of the box. He took the shot first time and buried it low into the far corner of the net. The Hammers could have made it two when a dangerous chip in the Villa box caused a goalmouth scramble that ended with left-back Oscar Borg flicking a shot towards goal that was cleared off the line.
Following that, Carter also had a chance to double the Hammers' slender advantage, but unlike Parfitt-Williams earlier in the half, the central midfielder failed to keep his low shot on target.
Aston Villa took advantage and grabbed themselves and equaliser just a minute later though, when the hosts broke quickly with pace and found Hepburn-Murphy, who duly finished the impressive move with a fine finish. In the closing stages, the hosts thought they had scored the goal to win them the game. However, Howes appeared from nowhere to superbly tip the ball just over the bar. The Hammers will return to action when they host Norwich City at Little Heath on Saturday 21 February 2015. Kick-off is at 12pm, with parking and admission both completely FREE of charge!
U18s: Howes, Knoyle, Onariase, Akinola, Borg, Pike, Carter, Diangana (Bailey), Amoo, Brown, Parfitt-Williams
Subs not used: Bogard, Elsom, Eggleton, Hamilton
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SUNDAY ROUND-UP
By Iain Dale 15 Feb 2015 at 10:30
West Ham Till I Die
Well the Sunday papers and West Ham websites make for some interesting reading this morning. Here's a flavour to get your teeth stuck into.
Various papers say Romalu Lukaku wants to leave Everton for either West Ham or Tottenham. West Ham would pay for him by selling Enner Valencia to Tottenham.
The Express says Sam Allardyce's future at West Ham is under a cloud following West Ham fan reaction to the FA CUp defeat
Aaron Creswell is interesting Manchester City
Richard Keys reckons West Ham won't win many more games this season. Richard who?
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'The Three' were NOT Hammers
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 15, 2015 in Whispers
Claret &Hugh
Early reports that three Hammers supporters were killed in a road traffic accident are incorrect. Every media outlet, including ClaretandHugh, had been led to believe this was the case but Bedfordshire Police have issued a statement which shows that not to be the case. It read: "BEDFORDSHIRE Police investigating yesterday's (Sat 14 Feb) fatal collision on the M1 say the coach driver who was arrested at the time has been released. The man, who was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, was released on unconditional bail to return to police headquarters custody suite in Kempston in May. It is now known that all three passengers in the Audi A3 were men in their twenties who were returning to their Buckinghamshire homes following a night out in London. Two died at the scene and the third is in a critical but stable condition at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford following surgery. The driver of the car died and was a man in his late 50s from London. All next of kin have now been located and are being supported by specially trained family liaision officers from Bedfordshire Police. None of the victims will be named until formal identification has taken place and inquests are opened and adjourned, which will be early next week. No-one in the coach, which was travelling from Kent with a group of 60 women and three men in their late teens and early 20s, was hurt. They were given alternative transport home."
Police continue to appeal for witnesses to the collision, which happened on the northbound hard shoulder of the M1 between junction 12 and 13 at 6.46am. The road was closed for several hours." Our condolences to all those involved regardless and apologies for the misinformation.
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How many more points can Irons collect?
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 15, 2015 in Whispers
Claret &Hugh
Thirteen games to go and below you will see them listed! Some may say we have an easy run-in but nothing at all is straightforward at this level and at least five of the clubs we face are likely to be battling for their lives against relegation. At the top end four of those we face are battling for European places, making the situation as tough as it has been at any stage this season. The question we want answered this evening is just how many more points we can expect to add to the current total of 38 and we want to hear from YOU.
Our prediction is the Irons will end the season with 56 – over to you!
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Irons Cluedo e-mail truly the pits!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 15, 2015 in Whispers
Claret &Hugh
Sometimes words are not enough! And the decision to send this automated e-mail to fans this morning given the shocking defeat against West Brom is one of those occasions. It appears to be the sickest joke imaginable and someone needs the dressing downs of dressing downs.
Look at the words, look at the beaming face and ask yourself: "Did the person in the West Ham marketing department responsible for this debacle actually have a clue what they were doing or saying? ClaretandHugh's phones haven't stopped since this shocking piece of promotional activity took place as it was a proper smack on the face for all those who travelled to the midlands yesterday. It beggars belief that anybody could dream up such a heading and associate it with the last piece of merchandise in the world that should have been promoted. For nobody this weekend inside the club appears to have a clue.
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What's gone wrong with Irons – an analysis
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 15, 2015 in Whispers
By Rich Sprent
Claret & Hugh
Six more wins or 1.38 points per game. That's the season's remaining target! West Ham sit in 8th spot, the Cup 'run' stopped before it got to mid-stride, but the pre-season target of 56pts still well within reach. The team is more than capable in achieving this total. Their early season form shows that they are able to play good attacking football and win points. However, the temporary solution to the injuries at central defence will need to be addressed. It is clear that Cheik Kouyate is a capable deputy at the back. However, it is also crystal that has a huge effect in the middle of the park. The club's failure to secure another midfielder in the transfer window means that the pedestrian pairing of Noble and Nolan is being seen far too often. It would be easy to direct all this at the club captain as many have done. He has shown that he can put in a shift and a recent article showed that the team win as many games with him as without him. Together however, their lack of ability, pace, acceleration and movement is a problem doubled. It causes less options for the player in possession; more pitch for him to have to ball carry ; gifts the opposition more time to reset and get bodies behind the ball; gives less space for the forwards to operate in and makes life more difficult. In brief, it stifles us.
And all of that explains Song is holding onto the ball; tries difficult passe with mire not coming off . It's why Downing sinks deeper to find the ball; why he is less effective; and he drifts out wide to find space.
It's why the fullbacks aren't raiding. Instead they are left covering after the midfield have been turned up the pitch; or are closed down with little support for the angle pass from the midfield. It is why Valencia and Sakho look like strangers to each other and their teammates. They revel in space and quick transition of play, hitting the opposition with pace and movement. How often have we seen the almost inevitable traffic jam of defenders around them by the time the ball is passed around the back to give time for either Nolan or Noble to find space to contribute? That or the inevitable easy long ball to try and turn the opposition back four. Meat and drink to a back six waiting to soak it up. One of either Noble or Nolan needs to be replaced in that centre pairing. Despite the populist view, to play the glittering way of early in the season, it really doesn't matter which of them. Kouyate is the obvious choice as Poyet is clearly not being considered ready yet. And if that means blooding Henry a little early or even trying Joey O'Brien back there. If not then 1.38pts per game looks like an arthritic lurch to the finish line with two players in the engine room who turn with the speed of the 15 bus at the White Horse, East Ham.
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Let's have an end to the excuse finding for failure
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 15, 2015 in Whispers
Claret &Hugh
I am fully aware I have a reputation as being an anti Sam man – I wish it wasn't the case but I have always believed in personal responsibility and owning up rather than finding a handy excuse in the event of dismal failure.
After yesterday's game I waited with huge anticipation that he apologise for our shocking non performance and getting his team selection wrong – notably in the case of Kevin Nolan.
Instead we were told the team's energy levels were down because of matches against Manchester United last weekend and Saints in midweek.
His explanation quite apart from making the lads sound like a bunch of wimps didn't bear the closest examination because the same had been true of West Brom who had beaten Swansea and drawn with Burnley.
Thankfully Adrian came out a little later declaring that the players should always be 100 per cent for every game – nice to hear a bit of honesty and the aforementioned personal responsibility.
It doesn't matter whether it's Sam Allardyce or our kids, honesty and a refusal to excuse poor behaviour or performance is unacceptable.
Please, can we have an end to this excuse finding…it's poor form!
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West Ham striker Carlton Cole praises Tottenham's Harry Kane on Twitter
HITC
Mathew Nash
The pair may be club level rivals but Cole rates Kane very highly. It is no secret now that Harry Kane is having an absolutely sublime season at Tottenham Hotspur. The talented striker has already netted 23 goals for the club this season and is improving by the game.
Such performances are helping Tottenham stay in the race for the Champions League places while he is also on the cusp of an England call-up, as Roy Hodgson confirmed to TheFA.com this week. His performances are also being noticed by a striker who has played for England and is currently employed by one of Tottenham's fiercest rivals, West Ham United. Carlton Cole may not be the most appreciated striker around but he has managed to play seven times for his country since making his debut in 2013. But Cole took a moment on Twitter yesterday to put London rivalry between Spurs and West Ham to one side and just pay tribute to the Tottenham striker, banging in the goals this season.
Here is the Tweet in question:
Carlton Cole ✔ @CarltonCole1
Follow
You got to rate talent when it's due and Harry Kane is doing a lot right now ✊
The reality is Cole's England days are over but in Kane the country surely realises, as Cole himself likely does, they have a far superior up-and-comer.
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