Bobby Moore - Gone but never forgotten
WHUFC.com
Today marks the 23rd anniversary of the passing of West Ham United's
finest-ever player and captain - Bobby Moore OBE...
Bobby Moore OBE, West Ham United's greatest-ever player and England's 1966
World Cup-winning captain, sadly passed away on this day 23 years ago. The
central defender made 646 league and cup appearances for the Hammers,
scoring 27 goals. Moore was born in Barking on 12 April 1941, making his
debut for his local club in a 3-2 win over Manchester United at the Boleyn
Ground as a 17-year-old on 8 September 1958. It was the start of a
glittering career that is remembered fondly by football fans the world over.
As a West Ham player, Moore lifted the FA Cup in 1964 and the European Cup
Winners' Cup in 1965. A year later, he was back at Wembley to complete an
unforgettable hat-trick by lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy following
England's 4-2 victory over West Germany. Moore would go on to star at the
1970 World Cup finals in Mexico before moving to Fulham, for whom he played
against the Hammers in the 1975 FA Cup final. Following his retirement,
Moore moved first into management and then into the world of broadcasting
before his life was cut short by cancer in February 1993. He was just 51.
Fellow Hammers legend Billy Bonds MBE recalls Bobby's memory fondly. He
said: "Mooro was an absolute icon. I respected a lot of team-mates and
opponents down the years but he was the only person in my entire career, who
made me feel that way. "He was fantastic to me from the day that I arrived
and I loved him as a player and as a person. Bobby Moore had a presence both
off and on the field. "There was no side to him at all and, having lifted
the World Cup, he'd been the most famous person on the planet on that July
afternoon at Wembley in 1966 but, despite all of that, Bobby wasn't the
slightest bit lairy. Mooro treated everyone the same, no matter who they
were. "Bobby Moore wasn't a particularly good header of the ball and he
wasn't very quick either but, boy, his timing was impeccable. He didn't need
to be good in the air or fast because he could read the game so well - he
always seemed to be in the right place at the right time to nick the ball
off a centre-forward. "And he was just so good at bringing the ball out of
defence and starting attacks, too."
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Antonio - Payet is a dream to play with
WHUFC.com
West Ham United midfielder Michail Antonio reveals it is a dream to play
with Dimitri Payet and says he helps to get the best out of everyone in the
squad. Payet stole the show once again during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth
Round tie against Blackburn when he scored another sublime free-kick and
then went on a great solo run and produced a great piece of skill to score
his second at the end of a convincing 5-1 victory at Ewood Park. The French
star has been rewarded for his superb form this season with a new contract
which will keep him at the Boleyn Ground until 2021. And Antonio hopes he
can continue to play his part in a memorable season for the Club as they
look to reach Wembley and win the Emirates FA Cup this season. Antonio said:
"Dimitri Payet is a dream to play with and he is definitely the best player
I have played with in my career. "His vision, his work-rate – he is not one
of these flair players that makes everyone else get the ball for him and
then does damage. He will go and win the ball back himself and then cause
damage. "He does both – the gritty side and the flair. "You saw in the
Blackburn game that players are looking to mark Dimitri and it allows other
players like Victor Moses to burst clear into holes and that is how he
scored a goal. "Manchester United at Old Trafford (in the quarter finals) is
a big game and is where I started playing again in the first-team and it is
a great stage to play on."
Antonio also has nothing but praise for the way Slaven Bilic has managed to
get the best out of the whole squad and says it was one of their best
performances of the season against Blackburn on Sunday. Antonio added: "We
gelled perfectly on Sunday and Blackburn got the brunt of it. I think that
is probably the best we have performed all-round. "Defensively and in attack
we all gelled well together and switching the play, that is the best we have
performed. "Slaven remains calm and even in games when he feels we should be
doing better, he will come in and say 'boys we have the ability to get back
in there and I believe in you.' "Even if we don't get the points he wants us
to show we can do better and make him proud."
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Bobby Moore and the Sixties
WHUFC.com
Lifelong West Ham United fan and author Tim Crane looks ahead to Saturday's
Barclays Premier League visit of Sunderland, which will be themed in honour
of Bobby Moore and the Sixties - the golden era in Hammers history...
It is now 23 years since Bobby Moore prematurely left our world. His legacy
remains colossal and will outlive us all. His combined domestic, European
and world successes have never been matched by any Englishman in the history
of our game. On Saturday, his former teammates have returned to the Boleyn
Ground as a mark of respect for their captain. It is a poignant reunion of
the Club's history makers. These are the very players who helped realise the
dreams of thousands. They are the reason so many of us follow the Club, the
great performers whom our forefathers took us to see through clicking
turnstile and swaying crowds. They fulfilled expectation, beat the best,
brought home the silverware via the streets of east London and, a couple of
them – Sir Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters – even managed to help Bobby lift
the World Cup. Quite simply, they raised the bar of achievement at West Ham
United and are the measure for any future player wearing the famous Claret
and Blue shirt. Only seven Hammers in the history of the Club have won both
the FA Cup and a European trophy. Alongside Bobby Moore, they form the
Magnificent Seven and we are fortunate to have four of them with us here
today – Ken Brown, Sir Geoff Hurst, Jack Burkett and Ron Boyce. The
remaining two, Jim Standen and John Sissons now live in California and Cape
Town, respectively and were unable to attend today's match. Both took the
time to call and relay their warmest wishes to both the Moore and Greenwood
families as well as their teammates for today's tribute. Increasing the
frisson of excitement with their attendance today are European Cup Winners'
Cup winner Brian Dear, FA Cup winners Peter Brabrook and Eddie Bovington,
former goalkeeper and part of the successful 1965 European campaign Alan
Dickie, 1963 FA Youth Cup final four-goal hero Martin Britt and the
goalkeeper and forward from that youth side, Colin Mackleworth and Peter
Bennett respectively. Last but not least Bobby's centre-half partner from
the late 1960s, Alan Stephenson. These heroes will be presented to the crowd
on matchday, giving the Claret and Blue Army an opportunity to thank them -
and the late, great Bobby Moore - for the part they played in an
unfogettable decade in West Ham United history.
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Champions Place legends announced
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are delighted to reveal the Legends stones set to take
centre stage in the new Champions Place landmark outside the new Stadium on
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
As voted for by supporters on whufc.com, World Cup winning trio Bobby Moore,
Sir Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters head the list of those to be immortalised
at the new Stadium, alongside decorated management duo Ron Greenwood and
John Lyall.
Long-serving legends Billy Bonds and Sir Trevor Brooking, who boast a
remarkable nine Hammer of the Year accolades between them, will rightfully
be celebrated in Champions Place too.
Cult hero Julian Dicks, now a member of Slaven Bilic's coaching staff, is
among the eleven, together with the mercurial Paolo Di Canio, and, in his
Testimonial year, Club captain Mark Noble earns his place in esteemed
company.
The dearly departed Dylan Tombides completes the line-up, as the second
anniversary of his tragic passing approaches. The prodigiously talented
Dylan, who lost his brave battle with testicular cancer in April 2014, will
forever be remembered with great affection by the Club he loved.
First team players Cheikhou Kouyate, Pedro Obiang and Development Squad
goalkeeper Sam Howes visited the Hammers new home to unveil West Ham and
England legend Bobby Moore's stone on the site of Champions Place.
On seeing the stone in situ Obiang said: "Every football player, every
football fan wherever you come from knows about Bobby Moore and I know West
Ham fans are very proud of his history with the Club. It's special to see a
tribute to this history sitting so close to a new Stadium that holds so much
promise for the future."
The specially-designed landscaped area outside the north entrance to the
former Olympic Stadium will become the new home of the famous Champions
Sculpture as well as thousands of supporters' stones, inscribed with
personalised messages.
At the heart of the installation will stand an initial eleven larger Legends
stones, each dedicated to a Hammers hero or magical West Ham moment and a
permanent tribute to the Club's glorious history.
With the first set of stones scheduled to be laid in June, further Legends
stones will be added as the Hammers' Champions Place installation grows over
the coming weeks and months.
It is not too late to purchase your own Champions Place stone and
personalise it with your own name or message but, in order to have your
stone in situ for the historic first game of the 2016/17 season, supporters
have until Tuesday 8 March to place their orders.
Your stone will sit permanently alongside the stones commemorating the
Club's greatest legends and memories, an immortal tribute to your support
for West Ham.
Do not miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make your mark in
history or buy a gift for a friend or family member that will never be
forgotten. Order your stone here today > championsplace.whufc.com.
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Adrian wants to silence Black Cats' roar
WHUFC.com
Adrian is looking forward to coming up against his old boss Sam Allardyce
when West Ham United lock horns with Sunderland on Saturday. Big Sam was the
man who brought the Hammers' No13 to English football back in the summer of
2013, and as such the Spanish stopper feels a debt of gratitude to the Black
Cats' boss. However, that will be put to one side at the Boleyn Ground this
weekend as he looks for a vital three points in West Ham's quest to move
back into the top six. He said: "I have many reasons to thank Sam Allardyce
because he brought me to West Ham United.
"He went to Seville to watch me in some games before he signed me and
Sunderland need to work hard to save their situation in the Premier League.
"After Saturday I hope they can keep their Premier League position because I
have appreciation for Sam. "For us every game in the Premier League is
important, but this is especially important because we didn't get the three
points in our last league game [at Norwich] and we need another three points
urgently to stay near the top of the table."
Adrian is likely to return to the team after watching on from the sidelines
as the Hammers took Blackburn apart in the FA Cup last weekend – and he says
that result will give the Londoners plenty of confidence as they return to
league action. He added: "We are playing at home with our fans behind us, so
I think we have a lot of confidence after the FA Cup game at Blackburn. "It
was a great game on Sunday, we played so well, and when you have time to
score one more goal you need to score. "We need to keep going like that in
the FA Cup, but also to get the three points in the next game."
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From the Treatment Room
WHUFC.com
Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke with his latest
update – in association with Spire Roding Hospital...
Hello everyone,
We have had a memorable few days with our important FA Cup win over
Blackburn on Sunday and it was great to see the players come away with such
an emphatic victory. It was also pleasing to see Manuel Lanzini back in
action. He is training this week with the first-team squad and will be
available for selection for the Sunderland game on Saturday.
We also have positive news with the return of three key players to
first-team training this week. Diafra Sakho, Winston Reid and Andy Carroll
are all back in training and will now spend the next few days building up
their fitness. Diafra has obviously been out for three months and will need
a bit more time, while Andy and Winston will hope to play some part in the
games that we have got coming up next week. The planned integration of these
players back into the games is very important as they enter the final stages
of their rehab/training/playing. The difficult exercise is that the players
and staff don't get carried away in the last phase, the return to play
phase. We try to integrate each player that returns from injury into games,
minimising the risk of a re-injury but maximise the team performance. But I
am confident that Sakho, Reid and Carroll will all play their part in a busy
schedule for the club when we face Sunderland, Tottenham and Everton in the
space of a week. Depending on injuries we will have to see game-by-game who
is available and take it from there.
James Tomkins and Joey O'Brien are both working on their rehab and it will
be a couple more weeks before they can start training again.
Enner Valencia has seen a specialist and is doing individual training at the
moment. We will know in the next few days if he has a part to play in the
three games that we face next week.
Stijn Vandenbroucke
Head of Medical and Sports Science
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Trio return ahead of Sunderland test
KUMb.com
Filed: Wednesday, 24th February 2016
By: Staff Writer
Slaven Bilic has a major selection headache ahead of this weekend's home
clash with Sunderland - and for a change, it's a positive one. Strike duo
Diafra Sakho and Andy Carroll - along with central defender Winston Reid -
have all returned to first team training today, leaving the manager with a
considerable dilemma ahead of this weekend's Premier League encounter at the
Boleyn Ground.
Sakho - who has been out of action since the end of November with a thigh
muscle injury - was widely considered to be the club's first choice striker
prior to being sidelined. However loan signing Emmanuel Emenike - the only
available striker for last weekend's trip to Blackburn - scored twice at
Ewood Park on Sunday, staking his claim for a start against the North East
side this Saturday.
Meanwhile Carroll, who has once again endured a stop/start season is also in
contention having shaken off the minor knock sustained during the 1-0 defeat
at Southampton a fortnight ago. At the other end of the field Winston Reid's
return means both Angelo Ogbonna and James Collins, who has been in
imperious form this season both find themselves facing a challenge for a
first team spot. There is also further good news on the defensive front with
recent signing Sam Byram once again available for selection. The young full
back was Cup tied for last weekend's trip to Lancashire, having featured for
former club Leeds United in an earlier round of the competition. Although
neither Enner Valencia or James Tomkins will be available for this weekend's
clash with former manager Sam Allardyce's current side, Manuel Lanzini - who
returned against Blackburn on Sunday - is expected to feature once again.
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West Ham welcome Andy Carroll and Winston Reid back from injury
By Jonathon Moar
Last Updated: 24/02/16 1:19pm
SSN
Andy Carroll and Winston Reid could return to the West Ham squad for
Saturday's Premier League clash with Sunderland at the Boleyn Ground.
The club's co-chairman David Gold took to Twitter to suggest the pair will
swell manager Slaven Bilic's selection options this weekend. "Andy Carroll
and Winston Reid should both be available for the Sunderland game," wrote
Gold. "Andy Carroll and Winston Reid should both be available for the
Sunderland game" Carroll's latest injury setback saw him sustain a groin
problem during the warm-up ahead of the 2-2 draw at Norwich on February 13,
although he still managed to come on as a second-half substitute. Central
defender Reid suffered a hamstring strain during the 2-1 FA Cup fourth-round
replay win over Liverpool on February 9 and was initially expected to be
sidelined for four weeks. Saturday's game sees West Ham take on former
manager Sam Allardyce for the first time since his departure from the club
last summer.
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ExWHUEmployee's Exclusive Column: Marseille to be raided? New deals offered
and triggered?
February 23, 2016
WestHamWay.co.uk
ExWHUEmployee
What a performance this weekend. It was such lovely football and so
refreshing to see how we attacked Blackburn with such fluency. Payet
obviously stole the show and got all the plaudits. The guy is seriously
class and is so talented. Bilic and Payet seem to have a fantastic
relationship. It was almost fate that had brought them together here.
Bilic had tried to sign him in Turkey in previous years but wasn't able to
pull it off. We had been scouting him for a number of months and David
Sullivan has close links to his agent and so we had pretty much set up the
deal before Bilic arrived. There were some doubts from Payet whether he
would stay in France or move to us but the appointment of Bilic persuaded
Payet to move.
Emenike also showed his class during this game and as I said in last week's
column, will and now already has, proved the early doubters wrong. It does
frustrate me that our fans are so quick to write off new players before they
have even had a chance to settle in and produce their best form. This also
happened with Randolph, sometimes it just takes some players slightly longer
to settle than others and let's be fair, Emenike was hardly given much of a
chance. We have to accept now that the recruitment lead by Tony Henry and
supported by very good scouts, reliable agents and David Sullivan's own
knowledge, have brought us many good players in recent years. It must also
be said how brilliant I thought Antonio was, out of position at right back.
The guy has a great attitude and has been brilliant since he broke into the
team.
Today we were greeted by the West Ham Way Writer Jack Sullivan showing us
photos of him wearing a Marseille shirt with Batshuayi on the back. I have
mentioned a number of times in my articles and tweets that this is our
number one striking target for the summer. We also have a number, and by
that I mean about five players from them,that we would be tempted in. The
quote I was told last week is that we will move "heaven and earth" to land
Batshuayi and the club are really thinking outside the box because there are
a number of clubs interested in him. Payet is also a close mate of his so
things are well in our favour. I would be surprised if we didn't sign him,
although it is a long way from a done deal at this stage.
There are a few players that are close to triggering clauses within their
contracts, on season milestones, which will change their terms of their
deals. Many youth contracts are also being evaluated at the moment. I
cannot say much more but these season milestones could prove to be quite
significant to player retention and summer targets.
We have many players lined up for summer moves already and some of the names
that I have seen are extremely exciting. For example if we do not land
Batshuayi, which is unlikely, we have a number of other names in the frame.
Including one very big name which people would say is "b4llsh5t" and not
believe me on but he is just one of a number of options being considered.
The club want to land a number of "marque" signings to celebrate the move to
the stadium.
It looks like, due to either us or Man U being guaranteed to be in the
semi-finals of the FA Cup, that the league game against Man U will now move
to be the final game of the season at Upton Park. I am personally sad that
it is going to be on a midweek evening because with most of us having work
the next day and needing to travel home, it is not going to be quite the
opportunity to party, like we could have at the weekend. This decision is
however way out of the clubs hands and there isn't anything we can do.
We should have Winston Reid back for the weekend and Carroll could also be
involved. We will update you factually near the kick off time to what the
team shall be.
The FA Cup was a tough draw but not one that we should fear. I think we can
beat anyone on our day and some of my favourite away memories have been at
Old Trafford and I hope this will be another.
The club plan to sit down with Bilic soon and negotiate a longer term deal
for our brilliant manager. Everything feels so positive about the club at
the moment and the chairmen are fully aware and excited by this. Slav has
delivered everything that they wanted to and Sam didn't manage to. So they
want to reward him for this.
As for Sam, he obviously returns this weekend. Whilst there was many
disappointing things about his spell as manager towards the end, I
personally think we should respect what he achieved at the club during a
difficult time. Whilst he certainly wasn't everyone's cup of tea we were
certainly in a much better position when he left, than when he took over.
We have now moved on to bigger and better things.
Evan Jones of the West Ham Way, will be filming outside the John Lyall gates
at the match on Saturday and they should be easy to spot as they will be
sporting new West Ham Way t-shirts (which you can buy if you are interested
or win!). We will be interviewing the Sullivan's again, the lads from Sex,
Drugs and Carlton Cole and we want to hear from you, the fans, before and
after the match. We want to know your thoughts on Big Sam, the match, Payet
and anything else that you want to share! The best interview, as chosen by
you lot, will win a prize so do come, stop and chat.
COYI
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Sullivan gives big Batshuayi hint
Posted by Sean Whetstone on February 24, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Chairman's son Jack Sullivan gives a hint that summer transfer target Michy
Batshuayi is a firm favourite in the Sullivan household. Last night the
youngster tweeted a picture of himself in a Batshuayi shirt. A Marseille fan
recently asked the 22 year old striker whether the rumours about West Ham
were true. His answer in French roughly translates as 'I don't know, it's
not really my problem right now', as Batshuayi looks to put the rumours
behind him until the end of the season. Hardly a denial was it!
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Mooro's boot boy Galey pays his CandH tribute
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 24, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Tony Gale recalls his greatest hero and says that Mooro would have been the
leading player in the country had he been in the Premier League of 2015-16
and says: "He was always a member of football's royalty for me who tried
tofollow him." Tony Gale walked in Bobby Moore's footsteps for much of his
career – starting as a kid at Fulham where he became the great man's boot
boy!
He said: I would have been about 15 and it was an honour because this was
the man I'd tried to model myself upon since I started kicking a football.
And with him coming towards the end of his career I remember reading him
saying a newspaper that I was the guy who should follow him into the England
tea after I'd inherited his No 6 shirt at Craven Cottage. "Later I did the
same at West Ham and even went on to work for Capital Gold just as he did –
Bobby Moore was my greatest influence and I want to believe that most of
what you saw in my game was influenced by him."
Bob was always seen as a very private person with only a few very close
friends and Galey said: "That was perfectly understandable to me. He was the
most famous person in England and he had to remain closed in. "But he was a
lovely, lovely bloke and the way I always saw him as a member of footballing
royalty and I'll tell you this, had he been playing today he would have been
the best player in the country. "He was by far the best of his day back then
on often rubbish pitches. Today he would have been king of the game and the
so called pace of the Premier League wouldn't have been a problem – he was
always bigger than all that."
Galey explained that he was as neat and tidy off the pitch as he was on it
recalling: Everybody else would throw their kit everywhere but Bobby took
care to fold it up and put it back the way he found it – what a bloke. I
remember too he had a beautiful yellow Jag. "I grew up watching him and
Franz Beckanbauer and other great defenders but if I have to call it. Bobby
was the best. Sir Alf Ramsey called him the heartbeat of his team – he was
that and more. "I look back now at those World Cup matches and he absolutely
ran everything from start to finish. What a man, what a player and he was
ours and I salute him today."
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DG's tribute to the great man
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 24, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
David Gold puts it very simply declaring: "Bobby was the greatest English
footballer of all time and way up at the top of the international tree." Yet
– like everybody else you speak to about the man – DG remembers a man who –
given his status – was "embarrassingly humble." He said: "I'm delighted
ClaretandHugh is giving Bobby this Boleyn Farewell because he is the man who
is frst mentioned whenever and wherever West Ham is discussed. We all owe
him so much as a club and a country. "Seeing him lift the FA Cuo back in
1964 is probably my greatest memory of this club and then the Cup Winners
Cup – what wonderful years to precede the World Cup Final when he became a
national icon. But he was always ours "It is probably because he was a
national icon and so loved that nobody complains when us lot talking about
the Irons winning the World Cup – his legend will never die. "When he joined
Sport Newspapers I, like everybody else, wanted to talk about special
moments I'd seen with him involved. But he just didn't want to talk about
them. He was embarrassed. A wonderful humble man and the greatest footballer
I ever saw. It's a pleasure to pay tribute to such a great human being."
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Farewell Boleyn: Thank you Scotty Parker
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 24, 2016 in Farewell Boleyn, News,
Whispers
Reader Ben Kelly is the latest CandH reader to give us his favourite Boleyn
memory!
C and H
Scott-Parker-006It was in 1997 that I experienced my first Boleyn Ground
game at the tender age of seven alongside my aunt and uncle, both of which
desperate to secure my allegiances to West Ham United.
A 2-1 victory over Liverpool with goals from John Hartson and Eyal Berkovic
certainly helped peak my interest into the football club.
Furthermore, I could have been forgiven for believing that it was a forgone
conclusion that West Ham would win any game I attended, as my second game
finished in yet another 2-1 victory later that season, against Blackburn
Rovers.
Unfortunately, as I wish I had realised at the time, my early encounters
with the football club were proven to be a false dawn.
My Aunt and Uncle had need not worry because, as for so many Hammers fans,
the club had chosen me long before I was conceived, with a long line of West
Ham fans both on my mother and father's side.
The inherent curse is that, no matter how bad the times have got, and there
have been more than enough, my dedication and support for the football club
has never dwindled.
However, my sanity has certainly been tested, especially in the immediate
aftermath of Icelandic exit and David Sullivan and Gold's arrival at the
club.
With West Ham coming off a strong 2008-09 campaign under Gianfranco Zola, I
was full of expectation for the following season, especially with, what I
considered, a strong squad of England internationals such as Robert Green,
Matthew Upson & Dean Ashton.
Unfortunately, 2009-10 proved to be a very difficult campaign for the
Hammers, fighting of relegation and surviving by the skin of our teeth
against Burnley, Hull City and the cash-stricken Portsmouth.
However, the one and only reason why we survived in 2009-10 was because of
the greatest player I have ever seen play at Upton Park, Scott Parker.
Everyone has their own respective favourite players and perfectly valid
reasons behind that, whether it be Paolo Di Canio, Joe Cole, Carlos Tevez or
even, dear I say it, Marco Boogers.
For me, Parker emulated everything that I love and what I stood for both on
the football pitch and in life itself, 100% effort, never giving up on a
lost cause and filing the unforgiving minute with 60 seconds of distant run.
I will never forget the winning goal against Wigan Athletic at the end of
the 2009-10 season that effectively secured our Premier League status.
Driving towards goal late in the game, Parker struck the ball from outside
the box into the bottom corner and sprinted towards Zola to embrace his
Italian boss after a whirlwind season.
In my opinion, Parker should have taken both the PFA and FWA player of the
year awards that season, an acclaim which was eventually given to Wayne
Rooney. What was unfathomable was that, despite a distinctively under par
supporting cast, the midfielder had achieved the impossible and saved us
from the drop almost single handily.
The following season, with the sacking of Zola and arrival of Avram Grant,
the team situation became distinctively worse and we were once again thrown
into another relegation dog fight.
In a season which yielded only seven victories, West Ham fans could have
been forgiven for giving up on the club and waiting for the inevitable
relegation. However, we all kept returning to Upton Park to support the team
and to watch Parker play.
Carlton Cole revealed to us all the type of character Parker was for West
Ham and how he laid his body on the line for the club when no one else
would. Half-time at the Hawthornes and 3-0 down against West Bromwich
Albion, the former Chelsea man gave an impassioned speech to his team-mates
and got them fired up to fight back and claim an unlikely draw.
More so was Parker's performance against Liverpool at Upton Park and
Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane with the illness and sad passing of his
father. Against Liverpool, our no. 8 dominated the midfield against Steven
Gerrard and co, scoring a brilliant goal from outside the box passed the
diving Pepe Reina.
Against Spurs, just hours after his father's passing, Parker produced one of
his finest West Ham performances, battling with a strong Tottenham team to
help earn us a point in a difficult away fixture.
Despite being relegated, Parker won the FWA player of the year and only lost
to the emerging Gareth Bale for the PFA award.
Understandably, Tottenham came knocking for our warrior in the midfield once
we had become a Championship club. However, this was not to deter Parker
from his West Ham duties and he duly made four further appearances for the
club, scoring against Watford at Vicarage Road.
Times are changing for the better at West Ham, with the arrival of quality
and skilful footballers into the team and much credit has to be given to the
owners for picking the club up whilst it was on its knees.
Our bright future awaits us in Stratford come August and I am excited for
the adventure that awaits us all ahead once the curtain falls upon the
Boleyn Ground.
Bobby Moore, Trevor Brooking, Billy Bonds and Paolo Di Canio should all be
considered the kings of Upton Park.
However, the warrior of E13, the man who raged against the dying of the
light and filled that unforgiving minute with 60 seconds of distant run was
Super Scotty Parker.
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'SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS' AND WILL ALWAYS CONTINUE TO DO SO!
By S J Chandos 24 Feb 2016 at 08:00
WTID
The quality of the 1-5 victory over Blackburn Rovers cannot be praised
highly enough. Although we had our customary sluggish start, and fell a goal
behind, it was superb the manner in which we roared back to claim an
emphatic passage in to the FA Cup quarter-finals. As previously stated, we
must improve the urgency with which we start matches, as it could prove
costly against different opposition. Yet, regardless, the passing and
movement was a joy to behold and we looked likely to score every time that
we attacked their half. Especially when Lanzini was re-united with Payet in
midfield. It really reminded us what we have been missing in recent weeks.
And with the impending return of Sakho, Carroll, Reid and Tomkins things can
hopefully only improve in the run-in to the season's end. The quarter-final
draw could have been better, but we have no need to fear Manchester United
these days. Lets be positive and see it as an opportunity to excel. If we do
win the FA Cup this season, no one can say we did not earn it or had an easy
ride to glory. Which will make the achievement all the more impressive and
satisfying.
The display at Rovers only further underlined to me the scale of improvement
in the quality of the squad that the club have assembled and how crucial
this summer's transfer dealings are going to be taking us further forward.
This is most definitely not a time for complacency, nor a myopic retreat in
to some comfort zone notion of success on the 'never, never.' The
opportunity is there now and the club must grasp it. That means retaining
our best players (which I have every faith we will do this summer),
upgrading one or two and securing the extra quality to ensure that we can
compete at an even higher level next season. For me, a 'gradualist' or
'incremental' approach may have been correct in a different set of
circumstances. However, the quality of the club's recruitment over the past
two seasons has taken us behind that point. No, the 'iron is hot' and we
need to strike it without delay. Low expectations/lack of ambition have
always been the problem at West Ham in the past. As a club we will
positively benefit from some raised expectations/standards. It is healthy
and higher expectations/standards always accompany success anyway, so we
might as well reconcile ourselves to it! And the very best way of doing that
is by realising them.
We need Champions League qualification next season. Otherwise, we will
remain vulnerable to losing our best players to those clubs that can offer
it. I do not think this is a threat in the short-term, but if we continually
fall-short on CL qualification it could become a different matter. Are there
any fans who can deny that players of the quality of Payet, Lanzini and
Sakho deserve to play in the CL? So, lets ensure that they do, sooner rather
than later, and it is in a West Ham United shirt. Also, CL qualification (or
imminent potential to achieve it) will be a factor in attracting top quality
players to the club in future. 'Success breeds success' and we must not be
afraid of it. On the contrary, we must embrace it, with the realisation that
we are entering unfamiliar territory(with new pressures and demands) called
'sustained success.' The new stadium beckons and actual developments show
that all the negative soothsayers were wrong about the OS. They argued that
the club would struggle to fill a stadium of that size. Well, the season
tickets have been sold, demand outstrips supply and it will be necessary to
expand the OS's capacity to keep pace. That has happened largely because of
the decisive action taken by the board in recruiting Slaven Bilic and
backing him in the transfer market. Which, in turn, has led to a revolution
on the pitch, the style of which, has motivated people to want to watch the
team in action. Yes, success definitely does breed success and we must keep
the accelerator pressed to the floor. Standing still next season will
effectively mean slipping back, as the existing PL elite utilise their
substantial transfer resources in an attempt to reinforce the status quo.
Lets not make that mistake! I am certain the board are aware of this and
will do whatever is necessary to keep the club ahead of the curve.
So, it is Allardyce's Sunderland up next, which is a match with added spice
– for obvious reasons. After the glory of the FA Cup, it is back to the
business of locking-on and attempting to chase down that 4th spot. We sit
seven points behind Man City, in 4th, and anything is still possible if we
both maintain our form and have a bit of luck with other results. We may end
up not doing it this season, but I want to be able to say, come the season's
end, that we kept chasing that 4th place, maintained our PL results and
finished as high as we could. At the very least, that means a top six
finish. I certainly do not want to see PL results trail off, as we focus on
progressing in the FA Cup. With the quality of our squad (and injuries
permitting), we should be able to do both.
Obviously, there is going to be a lot of attention on Sam Allardyce and his
problematic relationship with the Hammers fans. Ideally, I would like to see
our fans rise above it all and focus on supporting the team. However,
realistically, there are always going to be supporters who will relish the
opportunity to 'have a go.' So, it is likely that there is going to be some
off-the-pitch hostility towards our ex-manager. However, I prefer to focus
on the response on the pitch. This is the perfect opportunity to make a
major point to Mr Allardyce that there is a 'West Ham Way,' this is what it
looks like and your team has just been steamrollered by it!. I would love to
see the team beat Sunderland with stylish and expansive attacking play and
secure a substantial victory. In short, ram home the point where it counts –
on the pitch, rather than fan hostility off of it.
Sam Allardyce has secured Sunderland a bit of momentum and is capable of
setting up his side to nick a win if we are off our game and/or players have
their heads elsewhere. No one wants Allardyce to walk away feeling justified
in his controversial comments about the club and its fans, so it is up to
Bilic and the team to ensure that does not happen. After Saturday's match I
sincerely wish Sunderland well. They are a good community based club, with
industrial origins and working-class traditions (much like us), and I would
like to see them survive the drop.
However, we need to use this match to further underline our new found
professionalism and ability to maintain PL results and position. If we are
on our game I see a comfortable Hammers win. So, I am going for a 3-0
victory, with anything extra an added bonus. COYI!
SJ. Chandos.
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West Ham defender Angelo Ogbonna has cheeky message on Twitter for Italy
coach
HITC
Mathew Nash
The Italian had a message for Antonio Conte as he looks to end his absence
from national selection. West Ham United have been in excellent form this
season and much of that form is down to some shrewd recruitment in the
summer. The club of course brought in star player Dimitri Payet, but the
impact of Italian defender Angelo Ogbonna cannot go unnoticed. He was signed
from Juventus in a deal reported by the BBC to be worth around £10 million.
He has since gone on to feature 20 times for the club this season and even
found the back of the net with a crucial header to knock Liverpool out of
the FA Cup. His form will, he hopes, be catching the attention of his
national team boss Antonio Conte. He posted this cheeky photo and message
for the Italy head coach on his Twitter account yesterday:
Angelo Ogbonna ? ?@OgbonnaOfficial
Who knows if Mr. Conte has my English number??!!
#WholivedhopingdiedIcantsayhow #NationalTeam #Azzurri #Italy
6:16 PM - 23 Feb 2016
Ogbonna currently has 10 caps for the Italian national team, after making
his debut in 2011. However he last played for Italy back in October 2014 as
a late substitute against Malta and has not been in contention for some
time. Hopefully the West Ham player can catch the eye of Conte and get his
chance to shine in the European Championships this summer.
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West Ham transfer news: Victor Camarasa tops wishlist as Slaven Bilic
prepares for life at Olympic Stadium
The 21-year-old is rated as one of the best young midfielders in La Liga
Jack Pitt-Brooke @jackpittbrooke 51 minutes ago0 comments
The Independant
West Ham United have targeted Levante midfielder Victor Camarasa as they
begin to prepare for their first season in the Olympic Stadium. Slaven
Bilic's side, sat in seventh in the Premier League, are facing the prospect
of European football next season and have identified the Spain under-21
international as part of their summer of ambitious recruitment. Camarasa is
rated as one of the best young midfielders in La Liga, and is an integral
part of the side who are currently struggling second from bottom in the
table. If Levante are relegated to the Segunda Division they will have to
sell Camarasa, and West Ham are confident that they could sign him for as
little as £3million this summer. Stoke City were thought to be interested
in him during last month's transfer window, before settling for the
higher-profile Gianelli Imbula of Porto instead, while Newcastle United were
also keen. 21-year-old Camarasa is an imposing box-to-box midfielder who has
caught the eye this season with his ability from dead-ball situations and
eye-catching goals from long range. If he came to West Ham he would
compliment their already powerful midfield options of Cheikhou Kouyate, Mark
Noble and Pedro Obiang. West Ham have already started their ambitious
planning for their new era by tying Dimitri Payet to a new £125,000 per week
deal which will last until 2021. With more contracts on the way for their
biggest players, as well as a summer of signings, West Ham are hoping to
step into the ranks of England's bigger clubs. "Many other clubs are selling
clubs," Slaven Bilic said at a press conference last month. "But we are
moving stadium, we are talking and acting like we are going to try – not
overnight – but trying to go up as a club. For me, the most important thing
regarding that is not to sell your best players." Speaking before Payet
signed a new deal, Bilic said that him staying at the club would help to
attract new players. "Keeping Payet would attract other players as well,"
Bilic said. "Because they would think not only about playing with Payet, but
that West Ham thinking big and long term."
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Despite MacAnthony comments, West Ham should keep Martin Samuelsen next
season
HITC
Vincent Ralph
The young Norwegian is ready for more minutes in West Ham United's
first-team. Recent comments from Peterborough United chairman Darragh
MacAnthony during a question and answer session on Periscope suggested that
West Ham United midfielder Martin Samuelsen could be a loan target again
next season provided Posh earn promotion to the Championship. The
18-year-old has been brilliant since he arrived at the League One club, his
standout performance to date coming in the FA Cup fourth round replay
against West Bromwich Albion when he outperformed his more experienced
opponents from beginning to end. That match may have gone the Baggies' way
following a penalty shoot-out but it also proved emphatically that Samuelsen
is a future Premier League star, and while MacAnthony may feel the Hammers
will loan the youngster out at a higher level next season, they would be
wise to keep him at Upton Park. Manager Slaven Bilic has seen what injuries
can do this season and while he has the players to cope, Samuelsen would
have been a wonderful option from the bench. Of course at just 18 the
Norwegian will take time to reach the top of his game but he should be
training day after day alongside the likes of Dimitri Payet and Manuel
Lanzini; players he can learn from and ultimately emulate. You only need to
watch Samuelsen play for a few minutes to see he has what it takes, and
while a Championship loan spell would make a degree of sense, it would be a
braver and arguably smarter choice to keep him at West Ham and slowly give
him the chance to shine.
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