Saturday, September 18

Daily WHUFC News - 18th September 2010

Avram on Friday
WHUFC.com
Avram Grant has given his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's
trip to Stoke City
17.09.2010

Avram Grant has given his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's
Barclays Premier League visit to Stoke City. The West Ham United manager
discussed a wide range of topics, including his plans for the Jewish holy
day of Yom Kippur, dealing with the Potters' direct style and his strong
belief in goalkeeper Robert Green and captain Matthew Upson.

Avram on Yom Kippur...

"I will not be at the stadium because this is a very significant day and out
of respect to my father and my mother, especially after all they have gone
through, and the tradition of thousands and thousands of years. It is the
one day I have respected since I was a child and unfortunately it came on a
Saturday this time. I am going to respect this day. "It is something I have
done since I was a child. Unfortunately it fell on the day of the game, but
I say it again, I have a lot of respect for a tradition of thousands of
years and I think everybody respects this. I have respected other religions
since I was a child and there is no other way. "I didn't notice any negative
reaction. Everyone was very positive and even the rector Alan [club chaplain
Rev Alan Bolding] came to visit me today. We need to respect this tradition
of thousands of years because it is a very special day. I think everybody
respects it - we have had a lot of emails, plus support from the Board, the
owners and from the supporters. "The team will be ready. We prepared the
team. I will not be in the dugout, but that's why we have staff. I have a
good staff and the team will be ready 100 per cent and that's what is
important."

Avram on his role in preparing the team...

"I will have all the input except I will not be in the dugout. The meeting
with the team, the talking with the team, the tactics, the training and the
preparation for the team is the same. The staff know exactly what they need
to know in any situation, and so do the team."

Avram on the importance of the Stoke City match...

"It's a big game for us, especially as I think we have improved by the game
but still have zero points. I know that it's very difficult for any team to
play at the Britannia Stadium, but it's also a good challenge. We need the
points and we will do everything possible to take the points.
"I think it can be a turning point, but even though we have zero points, I
believe in this team, I believe in this club and I believe in these players
that we can have a good season. We know what our target is and it didn't
change. Of course, zero points is not something that we were dreaming about,
but we knew that we had bad fixtures. Even with the bad fixtures, we didn't
give up. "If you saw the last game against the best team in the country
[Chelsea], we didn't give up. We deserved more than we got, but in football
there is no deserve and we need to take the points. We're going to take the
points, in this game and the next games. We don't have any intention to stay
on zero points."

Avram on feeling under pressure...

"All my life I feel under pressure. I don't want to live without this
pressure. It is pressure to achieve something. I was in a team at the top
and when you drew it was a pressure. I was at a team with problems and I was
with the national team where you have the pressure of all the country on
your back. Now, I have the pressure. I don't think it is a good pressure,
but the pressure to push you is a good pressure. I don't want a life in
football without pressure - I don't think it's good."

Avram on Robert Green...

"It has happened to everybody. For him, it has happened at the beginning of
the season. I don't think he is alone. Everybody makes a few mistakes. It
has happened to every goalkeeper and the most important thing is his
reaction. I saw him this week in training and he was very good, very strong
and had good spirit. That is what is important to me because mistakes are
part of the game - your reaction is very important. "I never thought about
taking him out of the team. It is another kind of football than those we
have played against. They have set pieces and throw-ins but we have trained
a lot for this and are prepared for this. "When you want to say about a
player, you have to see all the season. Sometimes you have bad moments in
the game - it has happened to goalkeepers, to strikers, to everybody. The
most important thing is the reaction and I have a feeling you will see Rob
Green at his best tomorrow."

Avram on Matthew Upson...

"I don't speak about all the individuals. The team is winning as a team and
losing as a team. I don't think Matthew did a bad job until now."

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Absent Avram Grant backs West Ham '100%' against Stoke
BBC.co.uk

West Ham boss Avram Grant insists his team will be "100% ready" to take on
Stoke on Saturday despite his absence to observe Yom Kippur. The Hammers
have allowed Grant time off for the Day of Atonement, which requires Jews to
fast and pray over the course of Friday night and Saturday. "I may not be in
the dugout, but we have prepared well," said Grant. "The meeting, the
talking, the tactics, the training and the preparation with the team is the
same."
He explained he follows the custom out of respect for his parents, who
survived the Holocaust, and their heritage - a decision, he claims, his
bottom-of-the-table team understands. "This is a very significant day and
out of respect for my father and mother, especially after all they have gone
through, the traditions of thousands of years, it is one day in the year
that I always respect, since I have been a child," added the former
Portsmouth manager. "I have players from all religions, and they know that
there needs to be respect for the traditions. I didn't notice any negative
reaction."

Three years ago, Grant observed Yom Kippur prior to his first match as
Chelsea manager before flying by helicopter to Old Trafford for the game
against Manchester United. Grant will pick the team for Saturday's game,
while assistant manager Zeljko Petrovic will take charge at the Britannia
Stadium with the help of senior coach Paul Groves and first-team coach Kevin
Keen. The Hammers, who have also given Israeli defender Tal Ben Haim
permission to observe the Day of Atonement, have lost all four of their
Premier League games this season, but Grant is maintaining a positive
outlook. "Even though we have zero points, I believe in this team, that we
can have a good season," stated the 55-year-old. "We know what our target is
and it didn't change.
"Against the best team in the country [Chelsea] we didn't give up. We
deserved more than we got, but in football there is no 'deserve'."

The second of Chelsea's goal in last Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Upton Park
resulted from another glaring error by goalkeeper Robert Green. Green, who
famously spilled a Clint Dempsey shot in England's 1-1 draw with the United
States at the World Cup, failed to hang on to a Didier Drogba free-kick
before Salomon Kalou scored. But Grant has backed Green to bounce back from
his latest howler on Saturday. "It has happened to every goalkeeper and the
most important thing is his reaction, because mistakes are part of the
game," said Grant. "I have a feeling you will see Rob Green at his best on
Saturday."

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Carr off to the Palace
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 17th September 2010
By: Staff Writer

Tony Carr will be awarded his MBE in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace next
month, it has been confirmed. West Ham United's Youth Academy Director was
recently delighted to learn that he had been granted the MBE - short for The
Most Excellent Order of the British Empire - in recognition of his
contribution to both West Ham and the English national team, which spans
some 37 years as a coach. The Bow-born life-long Hammer, a striker during
his playing days learned that he had been awarded the MBE in June of this
year. Talking at time, he spoke of his surprise at being given the award
which he called 'a great honour'. "I had to read the letter three or four
times before I could believe it. I was with my wife Brenda and we were just
looking at each other and saying 'wow', " he said. "Who would have thought
of it? Growing up on a council estate in Bow to someone who ends up with an
MBE. I would never have dreamed something like this would happen to me. It
is very humbling to think that you have been recognised by the
establishment. "

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Grant - Players understand
Hammers boss expands on why he has to miss Stoke game
Last updated: 18th September 2010
SSN

Avram Grant insists his players understand why he has to miss West Ham
United's game at Stoke City on Saturday. The Israeli will not be in the
dugout at the Britannia Stadium due to the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur and
his coaching staff will take charge of first-team affairs. Grant's absence
comes as the Hammers go in search of a first Premier League point of the
season after suffering four consecutive defeats. The Hammers boss
acknowledged he is not a religious person, but he stressed there was no way
he could not respect Jewish tradition. "This is a very significant day,"
said Grant. "Out of respect for my father and to mother, especially after
all they have gone through, and the traditions of thousands of years, it is
one day in the year that I have respected since I was 11. "Unfortunately it
came on this Saturday, but I am going to respect it. I cannot do anything,
eat or drink. "I'm not a religious person, by the way, but I respect
religion and the traditions of thousands of years. "It was never a question
I would be in the dugout at Stoke. It's one day in a year and it came on a
Saturday. It's not easy for me. "I will have someone tell me what is going
on during the game. I don't know when I will watch the match on TV, but I
will watch the game on more than one occasion. We're desperate to win a game
and hope it will be against Stoke." He added: "I spoke to a few of the
players about the situation and they know. They respect the tradition and
said 'if you stay away we will do our job'. "I really like the reaction of
the players I spoke with, the owners, the board and many, many supporters. I
have had a lot of emails and it is touching. "I heard about a few fans being
unhappy, but it's normal, some of the people don't understand it."

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Grant has Hammers confidence
Experienced coach confident team will cope without him
Last updated: 17th September 2010
SSN

West Ham manager Avram Grant insists his team will be able to cope without
him when they take on Stoke on Saturday. The Hammers boss will be absent
from the Britannia Stadium for the Premier League clash because it is the
Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. Grant has travelled with the squad up to
Stoke but his coaching staff of Zeljko Petrovic, Paul Groves and Kevin Keen
will be in charge of first-team affairs against the Potters. However, the
Israeli does not believe his absence will have a detrimental effect on the
team as they search for their first Premier League points of the campaign.
"I may not be in the dugout, but we have prepared well," he said. "The
meeting with the team, the talking with the team, the tactics, the training
and the preparation for the team is the same. "The team will be ready 100
per cent and that's what is important. "I have good staff, they know exactly
what they need to know in any situation, and so do the team."

West Ham have frequently denied that Grant is under pressure following a
difficult start to the season, having lost four out of four. Stoke will
prove tough opponents having dispatched of Aston Villa last time out, but
Grant has every confidence in his side despite the standings. "Even though
we have zero points, I believe in this team, that we can have a good
season," he added. "We know what our target is and it didn't change.
"Against the best team in the country (Chelsea), we didn't give up. We
deserved more than we got, but in football there is no deserve. "I know that
it's very difficult for any team to play at the Britannia Stadium, but it's
also a good challenge."

On his current situation, the former Chelsea and Portsmouth boss remarked:
"All my life I feel under pressure. I don't want to live without this
pressure.
"I was in a team at the top and when you drew it was a pressure. I was at a
team with problems and I was with the national team where you have the
pressure of all the country on your back. "I don't think it is a good
pressure, but the pressure to push you is a good pressure."

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Upson eyes Hammers win
West Ham defender targets Britannia success
Last updated: 17th September 2010
SSN

Matthew Upson sees no reason why bottom of the table West Ham cannot claim a
much-needed victory over Stoke at the Britannia Stadium. The Hammers have
endured a miserable start to the campaign with four straight league defeats,
their worst-ever start to a season. Upson is not dwelling on the team's
woeful start and is of the firm belief that his colleagues have more quality
than they are showing. West Ham have star players and the England
international knows that if everyone steps up their game they can pull off a
positive result at Stoke. Upson is prepared for the physical battle Stoke
are sure to serve up and is backing his team-mates' character to get their
season back on track. "We're massively better than bottom of the table," he
told the club's official website. "We've got opportunities to put things
right and I think once we've got that solidarity and consistency we'll start
to pick up results. "I'm so looking forward to this game at the weekend. I
want us to turn up as a group feeling positive and really go to win the
game. "Yes, it's a difficult place to go, they've got their tactics and they
structure their team well around it, but if we can deal with that and hit
them with some quality, there's no doubt we can win the game. "It's going to
be a physical game, but we've got to be up for that. We've got to put our
heads in places where we don't want to put them and be prepared to get them
kicked off. "If we can do that and then play with the ball, we can beat
Stoke. We do need to do that first and foremost - it'll be a good test of
our character."

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We'll hammer out a victory
The Sun
Published: 17 Sep 2010

AVRAM GRANT insists his absence will not stop West Ham beating Stoke on
Saturday. The Hammers boss has confirmed he will travel with the squad but
cannot be present at the Britannia Stadium due to the holy day of Yom
Kippur. But he is confident his rock-bottom side can pick up their first
points of the season. Grant said: "I will not be at the stadium. "This is a
very significant day and out of respect for my father and to mother, it is
one day in the year that I always respect. "Unfortunately it came on this
Saturday, but I am going to respect it. "I may not be in the dugout, but we
have prepared well. "The meeting with the team, the talking with the team,
the tactics, the training and the preparation for the team is the same. "The
team will be ready 100 per cent and that's what is important. "I have good
staff, they know exactly what they need to know in any situation, and so do
the team. "Even though we have zero points, I believe in this team, that we
can have a good season."

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Rob is still tops for Hammers
The Sun
By CHARLIE WYETT
Published: Today

AVRAM GRANT hopes Rob Green will rediscover his top form for West Ham today.
The England keeper is suffering the worst spell of his career and made
another mistake against Chelsea a week ago in the 3-1 home defeat. But the
30-year-old will start against Stoke. Hammers boss Grant said: "We're doing
everything for Robert Green. "He's a good keeper, but sometimes the best
make mistakes. These things happen to every goalkeeper. "I have a feeling
you will see Rob Green at his best today. "I have seen him in training this
week and he has been very good, very strong and in good spirits."

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Karren Brady's football Diary
The Sun
KARREN BRADY - First lady of football
Published: Today
Saturday, Sep 11

A LOT of my years in football have been spent trying to persuade fans they
should look at the balance sheet but for some reason they prefer to look at
the team sheet. On the other hand, these days, supporters sniff a financial
mess at a hundred paces. But I want to assure our fans we are cleaning up
ours at a phenomenal rate, whilst at the same time giving everyone a plan
and a purpose. Yes, we have inherited £50million of long-term debts, to the
banks and Sheffield United. But the bank debt will be down to £25m by 2013,
a sustainable level for a business with a turnover over £80m, and that's
only three years away. And in seven months we have been running the club we
have paid back £20m in bank debt, cut costs by £6m and increased income by
£2m. If we've done that in seven months imagine where we can be in a few
years time. No consolation West Ham have lost their opening four matches,
including today's against Chelsea, but I'm hoping the players will soon
become as mean at giving away goals as I am about handing out free tickets.

Sunday, Sep 12

NO doubt Wayne Rooney is relieved not to be the main headline today even if
his pal, boxer Ricky Hatton, has taken his place. Alleged cocaine-snorter
Hatton announces he's going into a rehab clinic, a far more comfortable
place than the doghouse Rooney currently inhabits at home. The two men come
from similar backgrounds - good working-class families in tough areas where
the love of boxing is second only to football. Their parents must be
distraught.
Hatton has been in decline since he sacked long-time trainer and mentor
Billy Graham. Rooney is fortunate Alex Ferguson is in a far more powerful
position than Graham and he left Rooney out of the squad to face former
club, Everton. The Man U manager has shown him the flying boot. He's a brave
and foolish lad if he ignores the implications.

Monday, Sep 13
FAMOUSLY, the great jockey Lester Piggott used to dine on toast and water to
keep his weight down. Benni McCarthy has been allowed the water. And he's
lighter by close on £100,000 in fines, too. Avram Grant had to be pitiless
with the striker who was expanding daily on a Supersize-Me diet and McCarthy
could shortly be filling a West Ham shirt that doesn't need letting out. I'm
back in Wimpole Street today meeting the club's lawyer when I see a
well-known football manager and his chairman emerging from an anger
management clinic. I call the chairman in question later and he explains
he's trying to restrict his manager to two f****s per sentence rather than
six. Knowing what I do of this manager, he's wasting his money!

Tuesday, Sep 14
DARREN FERGUSON is told he must appear before the FA's beaks to answer a
charge that he cursed referee Kevin Friend in the tunnel after Preston's
late collapse against local rivals Burnley. It seems Scottish blood was
certainly racing at the weekend because David Moyes must also appear before
the FA after dashing on to the pitch because he thought referee Martin
Atkinson had whistled time too soon in their thrilling 3-3 draw with
Manchester United at Goodison Park. Well, knock me off my six-inch
stilettos. Moyes should have been on his knees thanking God for the two
added-time goals that enabled Everton to draw with United, not playing at
Braveheart in pursuit of Edward Longshanks.

Wednesday, Sep 15
THE burden of Wembley costs and the wages of Fabio and his Italian amicos
have helped to shake up the FA's finances. If you look hard you'll find a
trifling sum is spent on developing coaches, probably not an eighth of the
amount set aside by Spain and Germany. My belief is the FA is wrongly
structured and although I could write a small book on that you might be more
interested to hear Roberto Mancini considers he hasn't enough strikers for
Man City's Europa League match in Salzburg. He spent £126million in transfer
fees and his plight is that he has only Carlos Tevez and Jo - combined fees
£40m-plus - to try to beat a team currently third from last in the Austrian
League. At West Ham we eked out £16m for summer transfers and wages, so I'll
hold back on the tears, Roberto.

Thursday, Sep 16
TO return to Tevez, I see he's had his hair cut, an improvement that moves
him instantly from the Boris Karloff portfolio into rugged (ish ... with one
eye closed and the other squinted) Latino. Amazing what difference a good
scissoring can make. But a serious trim marks the day a man gives up
thinking he'd look good in a boy band and becomes a grown up. Usually, the
chop is for the better but not always. Many of us hardly recognised the
mousey-haired striker as Fernando Torres when he turned out for Spain in
South Africa and that went for his play, too. It takes a woman to wonder
whether, like Samson, he lost his pzazz when his locks were snipped.

Friday, Sep 17
DOES Tony Pulis come from the Neil Warnock School of Football Management or
is it the other way round? Anyway, my team is at Pulis' Stoke tomorrow and
if we're not prepared for a relentless battle we'll not pick up points we
need. My married PL director pal rings to tell me he is worried. About his
team, his manager, his debt? No, he informed me he has seen the Angelina
Jolie movie Salt - which is about CIA agents and Russian spies - with his
Russian girlfriend and from the way she keeps practising his signature on
his chequebook he thinks she could be a spy. I tell him that if his wife
finds out about their relationship, whether or not she is a spy will be of
no consequence. His assets and private parts are likely to go in any case!

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Av: I have to respect religion
The Sun
By CHARLIE WYETT
Published: Today

AVRAM GRANT admits he is not religious. But the West Ham manager will miss
West Ham's game at Stoke today out of respect for his parents and Judaism.
The Jewish festival of Yom Kippur started yesterday evening - one of the
holiest days of the year for Jews. And while Grant travelled with the team
to their Staffordshire hotel he will be fasting throughout the 25 hours -
meaning he did not join his players for dinner last night or breakfast
today. Grant, who will be informed of the Hammers' progress this lunchtime,
intends travelling back to London this evening when Yom Kippur finishes. It
is a year since the death of Grant's father, Meir, who lost most of his
family in the Holocaust and buried his parents, sisters and brothers with
his bare hands. So while the Hammers boss may not be religious, his faith
has clearly had a major impact on his life. He said: "This is a very
significant day. "Out of respect for my father and to mother, especially
after all they have gone through, and the traditions of thousands of years,
it is one day in the year that I have respected since I was 11.
"Unfortunately it came on this Saturday but I am going to respect it. I
cannot do anything, eat or drink. "I'm not a religious person, by the way
but I respect religion and the traditions of thousands of years. "It was
never a question I would be in the dugout at Stoke. It's one day in a year
and it came on a Saturday. It's not easy for me. "It clashed when I was at
Chelsea, the day before my first game at Manchester United, so I couldn't
train the players that day and they travelled without me. "I will have
someone tell me what is going on during the game. I don't know when I will
watch the match on TV but I will watch the game on more than one occasion.
We're desperate to win a game and hope it will be against Stoke."
Grant, who has suffered a nightmare in the Upton Park hotseat, admitted his
decision to miss the game has generally been positive. He added: "I spoke to
a few of the players about the situation and they know. They respect the
tradition and said 'if you stay away we will do our job.' "I really like the
reaction of the players I spoke with, the owners, the board and many, many
supporters. I have had a lot of emails and it is touching. "All my life I
have respected others and it is good it is happening the other way -
including Alan, the club chaplain. "I heard about a few fans being unhappy
but it's normal, some of the people don't understand it."
Grant is hopeful his side can finally break their duck. He said: "We knew we
had bad fixtures, but we will not give up. "We deserved more against Chelsea
the best team in the country, but in football you do not always get what you
deserve. "I have been coaching since I was 18. In three years I will have
been doing it for 40 years. I don't know any other life than being under
pressure. "When you're coaching the youth team you want to win and are under
pressure. Then you come to the Premier League, then top clubs and the
national team. "West Ham are a good project. Even though we have zero points
I am very confident in what we are doing and I still believe we can do the
right things for the club. "But it is a pressure I live with all my life. I
don't know any other life. Maybe one day I will try."

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Avram & Dyer in bust-up
The Sun
By SHAUN CUSTIS
Published: Today

KIERON DYER was left behind by West Ham last night, after a furious bust-up
with Avram Grant. West Ham's boss, who will miss today's match at Stoke as
he observes a Jewish holy day, had named Dyer only as a sub. But the Hammers
midfielder hit the roof and pleaded to play, even though he is currently
carrying a thigh injury. A club insider revealed: "Kieron told Grant he was
desperate to start and was happy to play through the pain if it helped stop
the team losing another match. "But he was gobsmacked when the manager told
him 'No, you're on the bench'. Everyone knows Kieron's our best player.
"He proved that when he came on at half-time against Chelsea last Saturday.
"So Kieron told Avram to stuff it, saying 'If I'm not fit to play, I'm not
fit for the bench either. I'm going to get some treatment if you think I'm
so badly injured'."
Former England midfielder Dyer did not join his team-mates for the trip to
the Potteries. The row is another blow to the embattled Londoners, who are
rock-bottom of the Premier League without a point from four games. And it
was the last thing Grant needs as he observes Yom Kippur, which forbids him
from working on the Jewish holy day today.

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Avram Grant confident his absence will not harm West Ham at Stoke
Yom Kippur holy day keeps manager away from vital match
Stoke complain to Premier League over Arsène Wenger's jibes
Jamie Jackson
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 18 September 2010 00.06 BST

Avram Grant is confident his West Ham United team will be fully prepared for
their Premier League fixture at Stoke City today despite being unable to
attend the game because he will be observing the Jewish holy day of Yom
Kippur. Tal Ben-Haim will miss the game for the same reason.

West Ham have lost their opening four games and scored only two goals. Grant
travelled with the team yesterday, having prepared and selected the side to
take on Stoke, who have so far won only three points.

"The team will be ready 100% and that's what is important. The meeting with
the team, the talking with the team, the tactics, the training and the
preparation for the team is the same," Grant said. "I will not be at the
stadium. This is a very significant day and, out of respect for my father
and mother, especially after all they have gone through, it is one day in
the year that I always respect."

Grant said his decision is understood by the club. "We have had a lot of
emails, a lot of support from the board, the owners and the fans," he said,
adding that he is not concerned by the pressure deriving from West Ham's
start. "I don't want to live without this pressure," he said.

The West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green made a mistake that led to Chelsea's
second goal in their 3-1 defeat last weekend but Grant is adamant he will
recover. "I have a feeling you will see Rob Green at his best," he said.

Stoke's chief executive, Tony Scholes, said the club have complained to the
Premier League regarding Arsène Wenger's comments that Tony Pulis's team
play "rugby-style" football following their game against Tottenham Hotspur
last month.

"We have written to him objecting to these comments and have asked for an
apology. Much as we respect Arsène Wenger, we cannot allow him to continue
criticising us in this way," Scholes said. "In the absence of any apology,
we will continue with our complaint, even though it has been reported that
the FA will take no action. It is not right that anyone in the game can
criticise one of our players without reproach."

It is understood Stoke have written twice to Arsenal but received no reply.

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Now Kieron Dyer's missing from West Ham's trip to Stoke after row with
absent Avram Grant
By MATT LAWTON
Last updated at 12:15 AM on 18th September 2010
Daily Mail

The crisis at West Ham deepened last night after it emerged that Kieron Dyer
did not travel to Stoke for today's crunch Barclays Premier League game
after a row with boss Avram Grant. Sportsmail understands that Dyer took
exception after the Hammers manager suggested the injury troubled midfielder
was only fit enough for a place on the bench. It is believed the former
England man responded by suggesting that if he was not fit enough to start
the game then he was not fit enough to play at all. Grant did travel with
the team yesterday, but because he will be marking the Jewish festival of
Yom Kippur he will not be present when his side, without a point in four
games, kick-off at lunchtime. Dyer's latest clash is another twist in his
troubled time at Upton Park since a £6million move from Newcastle in 2007,
with his £60,000-a-week wages singled out by owner David Sullivan as an
example of money wasted by the club.

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Friday, September 17

Daily WHUFC News - 17th September 2010

Stoke City match preview
WHUFC.com
All the background information and early team news ahead of Saturday's trip
to the Potteries
16.09.2010

Stoke City v West Ham United
Barclays Premier League
Britannia Stadium
Saturday 18 September 2010
Kick-off: 12.45pm
Referee: Lee Mason

Introduction
• West Ham United travel to Stoke City for their fifth Barclays Premier
League match of the 2010/11 season.
• The Hammers are aiming to kick-start their season after tasting defeat in
each of their opening four Premier League fixtures. An opening-day reverse
at Aston Villa (0-3) was followed by a disappointing home reverse against
Bolton Wanderers on Saturday 21 August (1-3), a loss at Manchester United on
Saturday 28 August (0-3) and a closely-fought home defeat by champions
Chelsea last Saturday (1-3). Avram Grant's side also defeated Oxford United
(1-0) in the Carling Cup second round to set up a third-round trip to
Sunderland on Tuesday 21 September.
• Stoke picked up their first league points of the season when Robert Huth's
last-gasp goal handed the Potters a 2-1 home victory over Aston Villa. Prior
to that dramatic victory, Tony Pulis's side had been defeated at
Wolverhampton Wanderers (1-2) and Chelsea (0-2) and home by Tottenham
Hotspur (1-2). Stoke also reached the Carling Cup third round by defeating
Shrewsbury Town (2-1) and face Fulham at home in the third round on Tuesday
21 September.
• West Ham manager Avram Grant and centre-back Tal Ben Haim will both be
absent from Saturday's game as they respect the Jewish holy day of Yom
Kippur. Dating back thousands of years, Yom Kippur - or Day of Atonement -
is the most significant day of the year. It is a strict day of fasting and
abstaining that forbids all followers to work. The club fully respect and
understand the situation. The manager will pick and prepare the side as
usual and fully ensure that all are ready for the match this weekend.
Assistant manager Zeljko Petrovic, senior coach Paul Groves and first-team
coach Kevin Keen will all be on the bench at the Britannia Stadium.
• The match is live on Sky Sports. West Ham will be appearing in front of
live television cameras for the first time since Monday 19 April, when the
Hammers were beaten 3-0 by Liverpool at Anfield in front of the ESPN
cameras. Stoke's 2-1 victory over Aston Villa last Monday evening was
screened live by Sky Sports.

• West Ham's biggest away win at Stoke came courtesy of a 4-1 Division Two
victory on 29 March 1958. Vic Keeble scored twice and John Dick and Mike
Grice once apiece as the Hammers continued their march towards the title and
promotion to Division One.

Saturday's team news
West Ham United

• New signings Lars Jacobsen and Victor Obinna look set to keep their places
after impressing on their West Ham United debuts against Chelsea last
Saturday.
• Defender Tal Ben Haim will miss Saturday's game in respect for the Jewish
holy day of Yom Kippur. The Israel defender's place will go to either James
Tomkins or Winston Reid, who both impressed in Tuesday's reserve-team
victory at Everton, or Danny Gabbidon or Manuel da Costa.
• South Africa striker Benni McCarthy could be included for the first time
since the Carling Cup victory over Oxford United on 24 August after working
hard on his fitness during the recent international break.
• The Hammers could again be without Thomas Hitzlsperger after the
28-year-old picked up a thigh injury during Germany's international friendly
draw in Denmark last month.
• Peter Kurucz, Jack Collison, Zavon Hines and Anthony Edgar on the
long-term injured list are all recovering from knee surgery. Kurucz and
Edgar have recently undergone surgery, while Collison and Hines are regular
visitors to Chadwell Heath as they continue their rehabilitation.

Stoke City

• Stoke City will definitely be without Mali international striker Mamady
Sidibe, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2010/11 season after
suffering a ruptured achilles in the 2-1 home Barclays Premier League defeat
by Tottenham Hotspur on 21 August.

Previous meetings

• The most recent meeting between the two sides was on 27 March 2010, when
34,564 supporters saw Stoke City run out fortunate 1-0 winners in a Barclays
Premier League fixture at the Boleyn Ground. Despite the Hammers having the
majority of the play and the clear-cut chances, striker Ricardo Fuller
scored the only goal of the game with an individual strike on 69 minutes.

The lineups were:
West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Upson, Da Costa, Spector, Parker, Noble
(Ilan 76), Dyer (Diamanti 46), Behrami, Cole, Mido (McCarthy 84)
Subs not used: Kurucz, Daprela, Gabbidon, Kovac
Stoke City: Sorensen, Huth, Faye (Wilkinson 26), Collins, Higginbotham,
Lawrence, Whelan, Delap, Etherington (Fuller 67), Sidibe, Kitson (Tuncay 48)

Subs not used: Begovic, Pugh, Amdy Faye, Moult

• Saturday's game marks the 79th time West Ham and Stoke have faced one
another in competitive fixtures, and the 67th in the Football League and
Premier League. West Ham have won 31, Stoke 29 and there have been 18 draws.
In this competition, West Ham have won 26, Stoke 25 and 15 matches have been
drawn.
Overall record v Stoke City (all competitions) W 31 D 18 L 29

Last time out

• West Ham United were beaten 3-1 by Chelsea at the Boleyn Ground on
Saturday 11 September. The Barclays Premier League champions took the lead
in the second minute when Michael Essien headed in Didier Drogba's corner.
Chelsea doubled their lead on 18 when Matthew Upson's clearance hit Salomon
Kalou on the heel and looped past Robert Green. Essien put the Blues 3-0 up
with seven minutes remaining with another header from Paulo Ferreira's cross
before Scott Parker scored an 85th-minute consolation with a superb
cushioned volley. Frederic Piquionne hit the underside of the bar with a
late header, but Chelsea held on.

11 September 2010
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United 1-3 Chelsea
West Ham United: Green, Jacobsen, Ben-Haim, Upson, Ilunga, Parker, Noble,
Behrami (Piquionne 72), Boa Morte (Dyer 45), Cole, Obinna
Subs not used: Stech, Kovac, Faubert, Tomkins, Barrera

• Stoke City picked up their first win of the Barclays Premier League season
in from of live Sky Sports cameras on Monday 13 September, defeating Aston
Villa 2-1 at the Britannia Stadium. Having fallen behind to a diving header
from Stewart Downing, the Potters equalised through summer signing Kenwyne
Jones with ten minutes remaining before Robert Huth diverted the ball into
the net in the third minute of added time.

13 September 2010
Barclays Premier League
Stoke City 2-1 Aston Villa
Stoke City: Sorensen, Huth, Faye, Collins, Wilson (Pennant 65), Shawcross,
Delap (Whelan 87), Etherington, Whitehead, Walters (Fuller 61), Jones
Subs not used: Begovic, Gudjohnsen, Wilkinson, Higginbotham

West Ham United

• Valon Behrami could make his 50th Barclays Premier League start for the
club at the Britannia Stadium. The Switzerland midfielder has made 56 league
and cup appearances in total, scoring three goals.
• The Hammers brought in eight new players this summer - Obinna, Jacobsen,
Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, Mexico winger Pablo Barrera, France
forward Frederic Piquionne, New Zealand defender Winston Reid, Belgian
goalkeeper Ruud Boffin and Israel defender Tal Ben Haim, who has arrived on
loan from Grant's former club Portsmouth.
• Five senior players left the Boleyn Ground during the summer transfer
window - Alessandro Diamanti and Fabio Daprela both joined Italian Serie A
new boys Brescia Calcio on permanent contracts. Brazilian Ilan was released
at the end of his short-term contract, Egyptian Mido returned to
Middlesbrough following the end of his loan spell and has since joined Ajax,
while Mexican Guillermo Franco was released at the end of his one-year
contract.
• Teenage midfielder Josh Payne was released and subsequently joined
Doncaster Rovers before being loaned to Oxford United. Academy graduate
Bondz N'Gala has linked up with Plymouth Argyle on a permanent basis.
• West Ham possess the tenth-best record in Premier League history. The
Hammers have contested 582 matches, winning 195, drawing 146 and losing 241.
West Ham have scored 682 goals and conceded 822 in those matches. In total,
the Hammers have won 731 Premier League points.

Stoke City

• Stoke City go into Saturday's match 18th in the Barclays Premier League
table, having collected three points from four matches.
• Stoke brought in two strikers to boost their attacking options. Jon
Walters was snapped up from Ipswich Town for £2.75m, while the club splashed
out £8m to bring in Trinidad and Tobago international Kenwyne Jones from
Sunderland. Iceland forward Eidur Gudjohnsen was snapped up from AS Monaco
on a permanent contract, while midfielder Salif Diao rejoined the club on a
free contract. Winger Jermaine Pennant has been brought in on loan from
Spanish club Real Zaragoza. Finally, defender Marc Wilson has arrived from
Portsmouth.
• The Potters allowed young striker Nathaniel Wedderburn to join Northampton
Town on a free transfer, veteran defender Andy Griffin to join Reading for
an undisclosed fee, while England striker James Beattie left for Scottish
giants Rangers, also for an undisclosed fee. Striker Dave Kitson joined
Portsmouth on transfer deadline day as part of the deal that took Marc
Wilson to Stoke, but team-mate Liam Lawrence missed the transfer deadline
and has instead joined Pompey on an emergency loan until January 2011.
• Diego Arismendi has joined Barnsley on loan, while Ibrahima Sonko and Carl
Dickinson have also linked up with Portsmouth on a temporary basis. Ben
Marshall has been loaned to Carlisle United.
• Stoke have the 34th-best record in the history of the Premier League. The
Potters have contested 80 matches, winning 24, drawing 23 and losing 33.
Stoke have scored 76 goals in those matches, conceding 110. In all, Stoke
have collected 95 Premier League points.

Ten-year League records
West Ham United
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted via play-offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated to Championship)
2001/02 Premier League 7th (53 points)
2000/01 Premier League 15th (42 points)
Stoke City
2009/10 Premier League 11th (47 points)
2008/09 Premier League 12th (45 points)
2007/08 Championship 2nd (79 points - promoted)
2006/07 Championship 8th (73 points)
2005/06 Championship 13th (58 points)
2004/05 Championship 12th (61 points)
2003/04 Championship 11th (66 points)
2002/03 Championship 21st (50 points)
2001/02 League One 5th (80 points - promoted via play-offs)
2000/01 League One 5th (77 points)

Old boys

• West Ham first-team coach Kevin Keen made 201 league and cup appearances
for Stoke between October 1994 and September 2000, scoring 12 goals. Keen, a
former West Ham apprentice, made 279 league and cup appearances for the
Hammers between March 1984 and July 1993, scoring 30 goals.
• Stoke winger Matthew Etherington made 195 appearances for West Ham between
August 2003 and January 2009, scoring 18 goals. He joined the Potters on 8
January 2009, having moved to the Boleyn Ground from Tottenham Hotspur
five-and-a-half years previously.
• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are Clive Clarke,
Bob Dixon, Sir Geoff Hurst, Lawrie Leslie, Nicky Morgan, Henri Camara and
Frank Richardson.

Saturday's officials
Referee - Lee Mason
Assistant referees - Andy Halliday and Mick McDonough
Fourth Official - Kevin Friend

• Lee Mason started refereeing in 1988 and in 1992 he was added to the North
West Counties Football League assistant referees' list, and progressed to
full referee for that competition four years later.
• He was included on the Football League list of assistant referees in 1998,
and was then added to the Premier League list in 2000.
• In 2002, he was promoted to referee for the Football League and in 2003
became a 'Development Group' referee, before finally reaching the Premier
League list of Select Group referees in 2006.
• His first ever match in the top tier was on 4 February 2006, when
Middlesbrough lost 4-0 at home to Aston Villa.
• Mason was also chosen to control the League One Play-Off final between
Barnsley and Swansea on 27 May 2006 and also took charge of the 2009 FA
Youth Cup final first leg between Arsenal and Liverpool.
• Mason took charge of West Ham United's FA Cup fourth-round victory at
Hartlepool United on 24 January 2009. He also officiated the 1-0 Barclays
Premier League defeat at Birmingham City on 12 December 2009.
• The 38-year-old has refereed two Barclays Premier League fixtures so far
this season - Everton's 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers on 21 August
and Blackpool's 2-0 victory at Newcastle United on 11 September.

Next up

• West Ham United travel to the Stadium of Light on Tuesday evening to face
Sunderland in the Carling Cup third round, with kick-off at 7.45pm.
• Stoke City host Fulham in the Carling Cup third round on Tuesday evening,
with kick-off at 7.45pm.

General information
• Saturday's weather forecast is for light rain with a maximum daytime
temperature of 15C (59F) in Stoke on Trent.

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Stoke v West Ham
BBC.co.uk
Barclays Premier League
Venue: Britannia Stadium Date: Saturday, 18 September Kick-off: 1245 BST
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, local radio, Final Score,
live on Sky Sports 2 & highlights on Match of the Day

TEAM NEWS
Stoke have a clean bill of health ahead of the visit of West Ham United.
Striker Eidur Gudjohnson will be hoping to make his Potters debut, but
Mamady Sidibe remains a long-term absentee with an Achilles injury.

West Ham manager Avran Grant and defender Tal Ben Haim will miss the game
because it falls on the Jewish holy day Yom Kippur. Danny Gabbidon and
Thomas Hitzlsperger are struggling with hamstring and thigh injuries
respectively.

Stoke
Injured: Sidibe (Achilles)
West Ham
Doubtful: Gabbidon (hamstring), Hitzlsperger (thigh)
Injured: Collison, Hines & Kurucz (all knee)

MATCH PREVIEW
Avram Grant's hangdog demeanour may be nothing new, but if the rumours are
true then the former Chelsea manager's future at West Ham looks bleak.
Dating back thousands of years, Yom Kippur is the most significant day of
the Jewish year. It is a strict day of fasting and abstaining that forbids
all followers to work. West Ham United fully respect and understand the
situation The Hammers have made their worst start to a league campaign in
their 115-year history, and fans have already had to lower their
expectations from a mid-table finish to simply top-flight survival. A fifth
straight defeat at Stoke is unthinkable. Grant will miss the game that many
are speculating could decide his future in order to observe the Jewish holy
day of Yom Kippur. Also missing for the same reason will be Tal Ben Haim,
which means captain Matthew Upson's plea for a settled backline will go
unheeded.
The Hammers need look no further than Stoke for inspiration. The Potters
shrugged off their own nightmare start to the season with a late comeback
against Aston Villa for their first victory of the campaign. Tony Pulis
illustrated his commitment to the cause by attending the Villa game despite
a family bereavement earlier in the day, and the Stoke boss will be looking
for the same level of bravery from his squad as he plots the club's ascent
up the table.

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• These sides have met on 78 previous occasions. Stoke have won 29, West Ham
31 and there have been 18 draws.
• West Ham have won on three of their last four visits to Stoke.
• Stoke are yet to keep a clean sheet in five league and cup fixtures this
season.
• They have lost six of their last nine Premier League matches.
• Kenwyne Jones is set to make his 100th Premier League appearance.
• Matthew Etherington has been the most successful crosser in the league
this season, finding a team-mate 12 times.

West Ham
• Only Swindon in 1993/94 (-12) have ever had a worse goal difference after
four Premier League games than West Ham this season (-10).
• The Hammers have kept one clean sheet in their last 16 league games.
• They have not won a match away from home since the opening day of last
season (a 2-0 win at Wolves).
LEADING GOALSCORERS

Stoke
Faye, Fuller, Huth & Jones: 1 goal (1 league);
Sanli & Walters: 1 goal (0 league)

West Ham
Parker: 2 goals (1 league); Noble: 1 goal (1 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Lee Mason
Assistant referees: Andy Halliday & Mick McDonough
Fourth official: Kevin Friend
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Stoke (W2-1 v Aston Villa, h): Sorensen, Huth, Shawcross, Faye, Collins,
Delap (Whelan 87), Whitehead, Wilson (Pennant 65), Etherington, Walters
(Fuller 61), Jones. Subs not used: Begovic, Higginbotham, Gudjohnsen,
Wilkinson.
West Ham (L1-3 v Chelsea, h): Green, Jacobsen, Ben-Haim, Upson, Ilunga,
Parker, Behrami (Piquionne 72), Noble, Boa Morte (Dyer 46), Cole, Obinna.
Subs not used: Stech, Tomkins, Barrera, Kovac, Faubert.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Stoke City v West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 16th September 2010
By: Preview Percy

Top Gear has "The Stig". We have Preview Percy. I wonder if Clarkson would
entertain a swap deal....

Next up we face a trip up the motorways to face Stoke City at the Britannia
Stadium for a 12:45 kick-off in a match that will be shown live on Sky.

Stoke currently lie two places and three points above us in 18th spot. The
Potters' results up to Monday night were fairly similar to ours. They lost
away at Wolves on the opening day and followed that match up with a slightly
unfortunate defeat to Spurs at home. Having ignored a foul in the build up,
the ref decided that the ball hadn't crossed the line from a late header,
despite being in perfect position to see that it had done so. The usual
arguments for goal-line technology followed but frankly when something is
that obvious to an official and he still misses it, I'm not sure I'd trust
an employee of the Professional Game Match Officials organisation to press
the right button on the recording machine without accidentally recording
EastEnders all over the vital moment.

Their three points to date came on Monday night following their somewhat
controversial win at home to Villa. Their late winner followed one of the
worst dives you could ever wish to see from Jermaine "Tag Boy" Pennant.
Pennant has spells at both Arsenal and Liverpool on his CV so his
unsteadiness came as no surprise to anyone, except obviously ref Probert,
who was so shocked that he compounded his original error by allowing Stoke
to take the free kick miles away from where the original, er, "offence" had
allegedly taken place.

They were reasonably active in the window with five plus a loan in and five
plus two loans out. In the arrivals lounge were Pennant, a loan from Real
Zaragoza, Marc Wilson, an alleged Hammers target from Pompey, Eidur
Gudjonsen from Monaco, Jonathan Walters from Ipswich, Kenwyne Jones from
Sunderland and 'keeper Carlo Nash from Everton. Jones, for whom Stoke paid
£8m, will be familiar to Hammers fans from his Mackem days. In one match at
the Boleyn few seasons ago he came off the bench and caused mayhem in the
defence. In subsequent matches the defence managed to keep him fairly quiet
but he still made an impression, getting sent off for a shove into the face
of Herita Ilunga in our match at the Stadium of Light. Jones is likely to be
more of a threat with his current employers, whose "unsophisticated"
approach to the game is right up his street.

Eidur Gudjonsen is another familiar name, having been linked with us during
virtually every transfer window for the last five years. That he wasn't
linked with us during the last window owes much to the fact that SuGo got
rather cheesed off with the way he messed us about during the previous one
before electing to sit on the bench at Spurs for a few months.

No preview of our opponents would be complete without a mention of Rory
Delap whose throw-ins cause so much excitement amongst the home support. So
much so, that a throw-in at the Britannia Stadium is greeted with louder
applause than a corner. Delap has a willing target in Jones, which, given
the fact that we struggled last week in the air against the relatively
diminutive Essien, could be something of a worry. Delap was at the centre of
an hilarious kerfuffle between Lucas Neill and a ball boy a few years ago,
Neill eventually winning the argument by stopping Delap from using the
towels dotted around the pitch in preparation for his party trick.

Another source of high balls into the box is former Hammers winger Matty
Etherington who is enjoying a new lease of life in the Potteries, having
apparently put his personal and gambling issues behind him. Received wisdom
suggests that Etherington retreats into his shell if he gets a kick in the
first few minutes of a match from the opposition right back, so it'll be
interesting to see how the side copes now that we actually have a
right-back. Prior to Jacobsen's arrival, the previous specialist in that
position was the aforementioned Neill, who certainly wasn't above dishing
out an early "reminder" to Etherington when last he faced the winger whilst
wearing the claret and blue. It remains to be seen whether Jacobsen's card
will have been similarly marked.


Apart from Jones and Ilunga there will be another rematch that owes little
to the laws of the game. In the corresponding match last season Matthew
Upson was minding his own business at a set piece when he was felled by a
rather cowardly punch from German defender Robert Huth, who crept up and
decked the skipper from behind. The punch resulted in a deserved three-match
ban for the Stoke player who, when confronted with the rather damning video
evidence wisely elected not to contest the charge of violent conduct.

So what of us. Well we've already mentioned our frailty in the air as
displayed last week against Chelsea and we'll draw a discreet veil over that
second goal. Selection wise, we'll probably be without Hitzlesperger again,
though some sources suggest that Gabbidon may have recovered enough to be
available for at least a spot on the bench. The big question will be the
central defensive pairing. Like Avram Grant, Tal Ben-Haim will be absent due
to his observance of the Jewish Yom Kippur religious holiday. This leaves
one of Gabbidon, Reid, Tomkins or DaCosta to play alongside Upson.
Personally this is not a match that I'd select for Tomkins to use to repair
his apparently fragile confidence. Similarly, I'd rather someone with a bit
more experience than Reid start this one and, with Gabbidon possibly a
doubt, I'd plump for DaCosta to come in.

In midfield Berrera is likely to come into contention having missed out last
week in recovery from two matches in a week for Mexico. Up front, the form
of Carlton Cole is causing some concern – well to me anyway. The player who,
this time last season, seemed to be progressing well under the watchful eye
of Zola, seems to have forgotten much of what he learned. Time and time
again last week he would lose the ball when played up to him and it may be
time to consider the viability of the selection policy that currently reads
"Cole plus one of....."

This match will be equally as tough as last week's was supposed to be – we
are unlikely to receive the respite of them trying to play an awful lot of
football and their general attitude to the game can be gleaned from their
attitude to the skilful Tuncay, who failed to make an appearance on Monday
night. The Villa result, will see them with their tails up – any doubts
about the legitimacy of the goal will be forgotten. The emotional boost
gained from the background to the match, given the sad loss of Pulis' mother
in the run-up, should also not be underestimated.

So with a perfectly bad record, and a tough match to follow is there any
shaft of light at the end of the tunnel? Well strangely I believe there is –
but there is a caveat. For long spells on Monday Villa played football and
ought to have wrapped the match up well before half time. That they didn't
do so is largely down to poor finishing which they lived to regret in the
second half. That too has been part of our problem. The match against Bolton
should have been over by half time and even against Chelsea there were
opportunities – Obinna and Piquionne in particular ought to be devastated
that they didn't open their accounts.

I'm going to plump for a 1-1 draw on this one – optimistic maybe but you
gotta have faith as George Michael used to say. Whatever happened to him?

Enjoy the game!

Last Season: Lost 2-1 - Beattie's pair, the first a penalty following an
Etherington dive, came either side of Upson's equaliser in a match in which
we were probably worth a point.

Danger Man: Rory Delap - Given our recent frailties in defence, their one
"tactic" is just what we don't want to see this week.

Referee: Lee Mason – We only had him once last season, in the 1-0 defeat at
Birmingham in which he sent off Mark Noble for two yellows. Mason is
described as a "turkey" in one leading referee's discussion forum. Then
again the members of the same forum think Mike Dean is our best ref so make
of that what you will.

Local Tip: - There's virtually nowhere close by to the Britannia in which to
get a drink. There is a Harvester across the road which gets jam packed on
match days. If you're going to drink in there get arrive really early and
sort yourself out a table in the restaurant bit – that way you'll get
waitress service for whatever drinks you get with your grub.

Daft Fact of The Day: - Stoke's old stadium, The Victoria Ground, was
actually named after the sponge cake and not the monarch.

(Note this may not actually be true but the page on the local authority's
website headed up "Interesting facts about Stoke" turned out to contain
nothing of the sort so I made one up).

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ben-Haim stays positive
Defender remains optimistic Hammers can get wins they need
Last updated: 16th September 2010
SSN

Tal Ben-Haim is optimistic rock bottom West Ham can start to get the wins
they need to climb the Premier League table. The Hammers go into their clash
at Stoke on Saturday on the back of four losses in the top flight this term,
conceding 12 goals and scoring just two. But Ben-Haim - who along with boss
Avram Grant has been given special dispensation to miss the Stoke game as
they observe the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur - has every confidence the
team can turn things around. The Israeli defender told WHUTV: "Of course we
should be optimistic. "I am sure that if we get one or two good results we
can move forward."
The on-loan Portsmouth defender believes the Hammers played well against
champions Chelsea last time out, despite the 3-1 loss. Ben-Haim, who played
under Grant at both Chelsea and Pompey, added: "We played well and created
chances against Chelsea, but we suddenly found ourselves 2-0 down.
"That is football - we need to look forward and take the points in the next
game. "It will take time, but in football we need to take the points very
quick.
"We hope that we can do it next week."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Nouble set for Swans flight
Teenage striker set to be reunited with Rodgers on loan
Last updated: 16th September 2010
SSN

Skysports.com understands teenage West Ham striker Frank Nouble is poised to
join Swansea on a three-month loan deal. Cardiff and QPR were also
interested in the 18-year-old, who has yet to feature for the Hammers under
Avram Grant this term. But Nouble played under Brendan Rodgersas a youth at
Chelsea and the chance to work with the Swansea boss again persuaded him to
choose a switch to the Liberty Stadium. Nouble told skysports.com: "I am
looking forward to playing for Brendan again and then going back to West Ham
as a better player to help them for the rest of the season."

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Hammers - Grant is safe
Gold insists they are behind manager despite poor start
Last updated: 16th September 2010
SSN

West Ham manager Avram Grant has again been told his job is safe by Upton
Park co-owner David Gold. Grant's position has come under scrutiny with the
Hammers currently propping up the Premier League with no points from their
opening four games. The Israeli was appointed as Gianfranco Zola's
replacement following last season's battle against the drop but has so far
been unable to improve the club's fortunes. Defeats by Aston Villa, Bolton,
Manchester United and Chelsea have left the East London outfit bottom of the
pile ahead of Saturday's trip to Stoke, live on Sky Sports HD2 and Sky
Sports 2. Grant will not be in attendance at the Britannia Stadium this
weekend as he observes the Jewish Holy Day of Yom Kippur. And Gold has moved
to reiterate that there are no plans to part company with the former Chelsea
and Portsmouth boss. Gold told The Sun: "It's four games against clubs who
we took two points off last term so we're just behind. "This will be called
a vote of confidence but I assure you it is a proper vote of confidence.
"Against one of the world's best, Chelsea, we saw a spirited performance
which we can build on. "Avram is safe. We will very quickly climb up."

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We'll Av a good go at Stoke
The Sun
Published: 16 Sep 2010

TAL BEN HAIM claims West Ham can get a result at Stoke — despite the fact
Avram Grant will not be there. Hammers boss Grant and Ben Haim will both
miss Saturday's trip to the Britannia to observe the Jewish holy day of Yom
Kippur. The Israeli will still pick the team but his absence is unlikely to
go down well with the West Ham faithful considering the club are rock bottom
in the Premier League. But defender Ben Haim is confident his team-mates are
more than capable of picking up the club's first points of the season. He
said: "Of course we should be optimistic. We need to look forward and take
the points in the next game. "It will take time but in football we need to
take the points very quick."

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Av had enough of you two flops
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today

AVRAM GRANT is running out of patience with Robert Green and Matthew Upson.
Tomorrow's crunch clash at Stoke could be the last chance for West Ham's
World Cup keeper and England defender to beat the chop. The Hammers are rock
bottom of the Premier League and the only team in the top four divisions
without a single point after four games. Much of the blame is being heaped
on the England duo, for mistakes and lapses in concentration which have seen
the Londoners concede 12 league goals already. Their combined clanger led to
Salomon Kalou's crazy goal in last week's 3-1 home defeat by Chelsea. A
Hammers insider said: "They seem to have returned from the World Cup shadows
of the players they were. "They are running out of chances and won't get
many more. The team is bottom of the table and shipping goals at an alarming
rate."
Grant will reshuffle his team for the trip to Sunderland next week in the
Carling Cup. And if he sees an improved performance, he will be ready to
stick with his stand-ins and drop West Ham's two biggest players. Czech
Under-21 keeper Marek Stech, 20, is especially earning rave reviews at Upton
Park.

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Hammer Nouble to nail down Swansea switch
Published 22:30 16/09/10 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror

West Ham striker Frank Nouble is to link up with his old Chelsea gaffer
Brendan Rogers again - at Swansea. Rogers knows what the 18-year-old can do
after managing him in the Stamford Bridge reserve and youth set-ups before
they both moved on to new challenges. Now, he's set to sign him up on a
three-month loan deal. The Swans boss happily recalls one training session
when the then-16-year-old Nouble gave Branislav Ivanovic, now a first-team
regular at the champions, a torrid time. "Everything has been agreed between
the clubs and I'm absolutely delighted we have got a player with big
potential whom I have worked with before," he said. "I brought Frank into
the reserve team at Chelsea when he was 16 and I never forget a session
where we had a training game after we'd just signed Ivanovic. "Frank was up
against a £10milion player but his performance that day took all the coaches
by surprise.
"He was absolutely incredible. It was an amazing display from such a young
guy. But I remember thinking that day that he had all the tools to be a top
player in the Premier League. "Players like him don't come around often but
this is the perfect place for him to come on loan. Frank knows me and he's
coming to a good place. He will be a great addition to the squad."
England Under-19 international Nouble is expected to train with the Swans on
Friday and should be in the squad for tomorrow's trip to Scunthorpe. "Frank
is 6ft 2in, strong, powerful, has great pace, mobility and a real handful -
I've no doubts he will excite the crowd," said Rogers. "I spoke to Steve
Clarke and Avram Grant and they both said Frank has been fantastic in the
games he has played for West Ham. "He is highly-rated but he wasn't going to
be the first choice striker at that level at his age. He needs to play so I
say thank you to West Ham for their help. "There are different types of
loans and some clubs bring in young lads to sit on the bench. But I prefer
for them to come in and make an impact."

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West Ham can get a result at Stoke without Grant or me, says Ben Haim
Published 13:38 16/09/10 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror

Tal Ben Haim maintains his West Ham team-mates can go to Stoke and get a
result, despite the absence of both the Israeli defender and manager Avram
Grant. Both men have been given special dispensation by the Barclays Premier
League club to sit out the game at the Britannia Stadium as they observe the
Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. Grant - whose side have yet to get a point
from four matches - will pick and prepare the side as usual, but will not be
on the bench as he is required to participate in 25 hours of fasting and
prayer over the course of Friday and Saturday. There have been some
suggestions the position of Grant - only appointed in the summer - is
already under threat following the Irons' terrible start. However, co-owner
David Gold maintains Grant is "safe" and has every confidence the team will
soon start climbing the table. Ben Haim agrees. He told WHUTV: "Of course we
should be optimistic. "I am sure that if we get one or two good results we
can move forward."
The defender, who played under Grant at both Chelsea and Portsmouth,
continued: "We played well and created chances against Chelsea, but we
suddenly found ourselves 2-0 down. That is football - we need to look
forward and take the points in the next game. "It will take time, but in
football we need to take the points very quick. "We hope that we can do it
next week."

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London 2012 Olympics: London Assembly criticises Olympic Board over stadium
legacy
The London Assembly has attacked the Olympic Board for making a wrong
decision in pursuing an athletics track legacy for the main Olympic stadium.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jacquelin Magnay, Olympics Editor
Published: 6:00AM BST 17 Sep 2010

The Assembly's economic development, culture, sport and tourism committee
has found that the plans to transform the stadium from its 80,000 capacity
at Games time to a 25,000 seat athletics arena was "flawed" and has
contributed to delays in securing a lasting legacy. It has also raised
questions about the amount of unsourced money required to convert the
stadium and the nearby media centre into workable premises post-Games. But
the promise of leaving an athletics track for major competitions in London
was a central plank of the Olympic bid and it found much favour with the
voting IOC members, many of whom have track and field links. At the time the
Olympic Board comprised the Mayor of London, the sports minister, the head
of the London organising committee and the British Olympic Committee. The
Olympic Park Legacy Company, which now has control of securing a more
wide-ranging mix of tenants for the stadium, has yet to confirm that the
West Ham United Football Club will be a major post-Games tenant, with the
stadium reconfigured to 65,000 seats and the athletics track also remaining.
The committee said only a major football or rugby club could provide the
huge crowds and regular use that would allow the stadium to pay for itself
and provide significant local employment. "The Olympic Board made the wrong
decision when opting for an athletics legacy and that decision could have
serious consequences for the OPLC and for whoever ultimately takes over the
stadium," committee chairman Len Duvall said. "The only sustainable future
for the stadium is regular, high capacity events and realistically that
means football or rugby. Only then will we see a stadium that pays for
itself and delivers a significant amount of local jobs."
"Put simply, an elite 25,000-seat athletics stadium is not, and was never
going to be, in the long-term interests of the East End or of the taxpayer."
The committee also found the 90,000 square metre media centre has been built
with low ceilings, the roofs being too weak to support rigging equipment and
a lack of central heating, which the committee says, would reduce its
attractiveness to tenants from the industry.

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Avram Grant in bid to be at Stoke on Saturday for West Ham despite Yom
Kippur commitment
EXCLUSIVE By MATT LAWTON Chief Football Correspondent
Last updated at 11:01 PM on 16th September 2010
Daily Mail

Avram Grant is trying to find a solution that will enable him to be at the
Britannia Stadium on Saturday for West Ham's important Barclays Premier
League clash against Stoke. West Ham's Israeli manager has accepted that he
cannot manage his team on what is Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of Atonement.
But Grant is also painfully aware of his team's current predicament - they
have failed to gain a single point from their opening four games - and
concern among many of the club's supporters that the players need their
manager more than ever. On Thursday night Grant was in discussion with
religious leaders in a bid to come up with a plan which he hopes will ease
the sense of anxiety among fans while also not offending people in Israel.
If Avram decides to walk to the Britannia Stadium from the nearest synagogue
it will take him about as long as the match itself as the closest place of
Jewish worship is in Newcastle-upon-Lyme, 4.3 miles away. The Jewish
community traditionally observe the holy day with a 25-hour period of
fasting and intensive prayer that will begin at nightfall on Friday evening
and finish on Saturday night. Grant wants to respect the tradition of Yom
Kippur, as he always has. But he will prepare the team and pick the team for
Saturday's game and he hopes that, by being close by and possibly even
somewhere in the stadium, the players and the fans will not feel he has
deserted them. If Grant were to arrive in Stoke before nightfall on Friday,
attend a synagogue service in the area, return there on Saturday morning and
then walk to to the stadium, without coming into contact with his players,
it might be considered acceptable. Particularly if he then returned to a
synagogue after the match, although again he would be expected to walk - and
not in leather shoes. Stephen Pollard, the editor of the Jewish Chronicle,
wrote on Thursday of Grant's predicament. 'Yom Kippur has no equivalent in
other religions,' said Pollard. 'The nearest is Ramadan, when Muslims fast
during the day. But Yom Kippur is far more intense. 'Grant's problem is that
he is damned whatever he does. If he stays away he will endure the wrath of
some Hammers fans who do not appreciate what Yom Kippur means to him. And he
is damned if he goes - damned in his own mind, that is.
'There is also the small matter of the reaction in Israel. If he desecrated
Yom Kippur, he would turn from being a national icon to a pariah.'
Avi Cohen, the first Israeli to play in England, caused a storm in 1980 by
playing for Liverpool against Southampton on Yom Kippur while Israeli
parliament members demanded that goalkeeper Ddudu Awat be ousted from the
national team for playing for Deportivo on Yom Kippur in 2006 - although no
action was taken. This is not new to Grant. After being appointed Chelsea
manager in 2007, he observed Yom Kippur on the day before an away match at
Manchester United. Pollard added: 'To fans who don't understand the meaning
of Yom Kippur to a Jew, it must seem a terrible dereliction of Grant's duty.
But Yom Kippur transcends everything else to a Jew.'

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Paul Ince Keen To Manage West Ham United Despite Controversial Exit As A
Player
Former midfielder would like return to Upton Park...
By Kevin Emery
Sep 16, 2010 4:22:00 PM
Goal.com

Paul Ince says he wants to become manager of West Ham United before he
finishes his career in football. The former England international would like
to manage his former club despite the hateful abuse he has received at Upton
Park over the years. Ince began his playing career at the club but signed
for Manchester United in a controversial move and he has never been forgiven
by Hammers fans for his exit in 1989, when he was photographed in a Red
Devils shirt before he had completed his move to Old Trafford. But speaking
to talkSPORT, the former midfielder said: "I would like to go back there as
a manager because that is where I started my career as a kid. "It's funny,
when Zola left my wife Clare said to me 'could you go back there?' I said it
would be a shock. "But it was in my head that one day I would like to go
back there as a manager because that is where I started my career as a kid.
"I still love the club, whether the fans might think completely different
that's fair enough, but it's always something that's in my mind." Ince
carved an excellent reputation as a manager in the lower leagues with
Macclesfield Town and MK Dons before moving to Blackburn Rovers, where he
was sacked after a short spell in charge of the Premier League club.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Please donate to my sisters Kenyan Cycle ride for Women v Cancer
http://www.justgiving.com/sandhy-cycles-kenya

Thursday, September 16

Daily WHUFC News - 16th September 2010

Dyer hails reserves
WHUFC.com
Alex Dyer has heaped praise on his men after a Barclays Premier Reserve
League win at Everton
15.09.2010

Alex Dyer was brimming with pride as West Ham United began the new Barclays
Premier Reserve League season with a superb 1-0 win at Everton. Junior
Stanislas scored the match-winner, but it took a resilient all-round
performance from the Hammers to secure victory over a strong Toffees side.
Extensive match highlights are available to view now on WHUTV here. Both
clubs named first-team players in their starting lineups, with Stech, James
Tomkins, Winston Reid, Radoslav Kovac, Stanislas, Freddie Sears and Frank
Nouble all featuring for Dyer's side. Everton, meanwhile, handed starts to
Phil Neville, Jermaine Beckford and Yakubu. With a strong, gusty wind
blowing around Everton's Finch Farm training complex, West Ham had to be at
their very best to keep the Toffees at bay, both before and after
Stanislas's 28th-minute goal.

"It was a great day," said Dyer. "It was a great day for the boys who have
come all the way up to Everton. They put in a superb performance. Every
single one of them worked their hearts out and deserved their win. "Both
clubs put out a mixture of first-team players and youngsters and it was a
proper reserve-team game. I like to think that for our part, the first-team
boys who came and played showed great attitude and application. They helped
out the younger ones and I wouldn't have swapped our boys for their boys.
"Marek was very good. He made some great saves and kept us in the game. I
also thought James Tomkins and Winston Reid were very good at the back. I
was very pleased with Kovac, as he looked a lot fitter and worked very hard
and controlled the midfield for us. Freddie Sears was also outstanding - his
movement up front was very good - and Junior obviously got the goal to cap a
decent performance. "I was also happy with Olly Lee and Ahmed Abdulla in the
midfield, because they worked hard to get tight to their men and did not
stop running for the whole game."

Dyer was particularly pleased with the approach taken to the fixture shown
by the senior players. An early-morning departure meant 6am alarm calls for
the squad, but they showed no signs of tiredness despite the early start.
"This is reserve-team football and I want it to be done properly. I hate it
when people say to me 'It's just reserves and it's all about developing the
lads'. Of course it is about bringing them through, but part of their
development is learning how to win games. "We scored midway through the
first half and, like we did against Leicester last week, we had to hold on
to the result that we had. "It was very difficult and very windy, but we
coped with the conditions well. Every single one of the lads gave 100 per
cent right until the last minute. It was a long way to come and not play
well and we didn't do that. It's the first time some of the younger lads
have travelled so far to play and they all delivered."

Dyer's day was capped by a handshake and message of congratulations from
Everton first-team manager David Moyes, who watched the whole match from a
balcony outside his training ground office. "It was nice. He came over and
said 'Well done' and that it was a good game and our boys did well. It's
very pleasing that the opposition first-team manager could see that our
first-team boys came out with the right attitude. That's what pleased me
most - that they travelled all that way and wanted to do a job for West Ham
United."

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Jonjo's walk from Wembley
WHUFC.com
The Bobby Moore Fund stands to benefit from the actions of a plucky
eight-year-old Hammer
16.09.2010

Jonjo Heuerman is no ordinary West Ham United fan. His mum Donna and dad
Gary first contacted the club back in August to explain that the
eight-year-old Jonjo was planning to walk from the centre-circle at Wembley
Stadium to the Boleyn Ground to raise money for the Bobby Moore Fund for
Cancer Research UK. Since then, the club have been right behind his amazing
idea, which follows previous fundraising efforts by his older sister Megan.
Jonjo's grandmother Lynda passed away on 17 February 2009 from bowel cancer,
eight days before the anniversary of Bobby Moore's tragic death from the
same illness on 24 February 1993. Now, 18 years later, Jonjo will set out on
that date to walk 23 miles from the national stadium to Upton Park. He plans
to arrive on Saturday 26 February, just before the Hammers take on
Liverpool. Jonjo, from Kent, said: "I am very excited and I want to raise
lots of money for the Bobby Moore Fund. I need to do it over three days
because it is a long way and I am only eight. "I will be walking with my
Mummy and Daddy and will be collecting money along the way. I am being
helped by the local area Cancer Research UK office who will be speaking with
the Bobby Moore Fund for me and they will be helping with all of the money I
collect too. "The walk is very long and my Mummy and Daddy are helping me
organise things. I want to raise £10,000 or more because my sister raised
£9,500 last year for our local hospice in memory of my Nanny and I want to
beat her amount."

Jonjo's story has attracted huge interest with fans on Facebook and Twitter
starting to follow him, with the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Pixie Lott and
Jamie Cullum all taking up his cause. The walk itself will take in six
London boroughs and Newham Police have agreed to support the last leg of his
walk from Stratford to Green Street, with bucket collections along the
route. The family will lay a wreath at the 1966 FIFA World Cup winners'
statue before continuing on to the stadium and finishing on the pitch. Among
those backing Jonjo are club principal partners SBOBET, with a £500 pledge
already to the fund and an invitation to the family to raise more awareness
at a future West Ham game. Bill Mummery, SBOBET Executive Director said: "I
received an email from Jonjo and was very moved by his story and his
proposed walk in memory of his Nan and support of the Bobby Moore Cancer
Charity. "I telephoned Jonjo's parents to pledge our support and suggested
how we might provide additional help "This is an excellent opportunity for
us to help a family who are avid West Ham supporters, the Bobby Moore Fund
and an excellent local community initiative. I very much looking forward to
meeting Jonjo and his family at West Ham to congratulate him on his
magnificent efforts"

Jonjo's links

www.fornannyandbobby.piczo.com
www.justgiving.com/forannyandbobby
www.twitter.com/jonjoheuerman
www.facebook.com/jonjos.walk

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Manager update for Stoke
WHUFC.com
Avram Grant will not be taking the team for the match against Stoke City on
Saturday
15.09.2010

Out of respect for the traditions, heritage and religious obligations of the
Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, Avram Grant will not be in the dug-out at
Stoke City this Saturday. Dating back thousands of years, Yom Kippur - or
Day of Atonement - is the most significant day of the year. It is a strict
day of fasting and abstaining that forbids all followers to work. West Ham
United fully respect and understand the situation. It is very unusual for
the day to clash with the fixture list. The manager will pick and prepare
the side as usual and fully ensure that all are ready for the match this
weekend. Assistant manager Zeljko Petrovic, senior coach Paul Groves and
first-team coach Kevin Keen will all be on the bench at the Britannia
Stadium.

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Carr set for Testimonial dinner
WHUFC.com
Academy Director Tony Carr MBE will host his Testimonial dinner on 18
November
16.09.2010

Academy Director Tony Carr will complete a memorable Testimonial year by
holding a special dinner at the Boleyn Ground on Thursday 18 November.
A former West Ham United trainee, injury forced Carr to take up a coaching
career in the early 1970s. After joining the club as a youth coach working
under Ronnie Boyce in 1973, Carr has become one of English football's finest
developers of young talent. A host of his famous graduates, including Rio
and Anton Ferdinand, Joe Cole, Frank Lampard and John Terry, returned to the
Boleyn Ground in early May for an unforgettable Testimonial match. With a
successful golf day also held last year, Carr is hoping to round-off his
Testimonial year with a memorable evening. "This will be the culmination of
a terrific year for me in terms of the players who turned out for me on the
night and obviously then being made an MBE. I want to finish the Testimonial
year off with a dinner to say 'Thank you' to a few people and hopefully a
few supporters can come along and enjoy it. "It's going to be at Upton Park,
so the maximum will be 600 guests. We will have tables of ten and hopefully
a few companies, box holders and supporters would like to come along. "We
will have some entertainment on the night. I will give talk on my year and
my experiences and we'll also have an interesting auction. Hopefully a few
ex-West Ham players and guests will come and it'll be a star-studded evening
that everyone can enjoy "Tickets will go on sale very shortly and fans
should keep an eye on the official website and programme for details."

Carr will also have reason to celebrate next month when he and his family
travel to Buckingham Palace for his investiture after being made an MBE in
the Queen's Birthday Honours list. "It is in October that I will be going to
the Palace, as I've had a letter now confirming that, so I'm really looking
forward to that. It should be an experience to remember. "I've bought a new
suit so I'll be smart for the day, and now I just can't wait for it to
arrive."

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Tal backing team-mates
WHUFC.com
Tal Ben Haim believes scoring first can only lead to good things at Stoke
City on Saturday
16.09.2010

Tal Ben Haim is backing his West Ham United team-mates to do the business at
Stoke City this weekend. Ben Haim will not be available because of the
Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, but is sure his team-mates can hit the back
of the net first at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday. The Hammers have
fallen behind in all of their opening four league matches, leading to four
disappointing defeats. "In the Premier League it is very important that you
score first, because when you score first you have a big chance to win the
game," the Israel centre-back told WHUTV. "Of course we should be
optimistic. I'm sure that if we get one or two good results we can move
forward."

The 28-year-old was a calm and composed presence against his former club,
defending strongly, using the ball intelligently and striking up an instant
rapport with captain and centre-back partner Matthew Upson. With Denmark
international Lars Jacobsen also settling in immediately at right-back and
Nigeria forward Victor Obinna producing a lively display in attack, the
Hammers No3 has plenty of reasons for optimism ahead of this weekend's trip
to the Potteries. Manager Avram Grant could choose between Winston Reid and
James Tomkins - both impressive for the reserves on Tuesday - as well as
Danny Gabbidon and Manuel da Costa to line up alongside Upson this Saturday.
Ben Haim added: "I think we played well and created chances but we suddenly
found ourselves 2-0 down and Chelsea didn't get in many good situations or
create much. That is football - we need to look forward and take the points
in the next game. "I think it will take time, but in football we need to
take the points very quick. We hope that we can do it next week."

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Avram Grant to miss Stoke game to observe Yom Kippur
BBC.co.uk

West Ham boss Avram Grant will miss the Hammers' league game at Stoke on
Saturday to observe Yom Kippur. The Day of Atonement is a key date in the
Jewish calendar and requires Jews to fast and pray over the course of Friday
night and Saturday. "West Ham fully respect and understand the situation,"
said the Hammers in a statement. "It's very unusual for the day to clash
with the fixture list."
Grant's assistant manager Zeljko Petrovic will take charge of the team.
Grant will pick West Ham's team for Saturday's game, while Petrovic will be
helped by senior coach Paul Groves and first-team coach Kevin Keen. Three
years ago, Grant observed Yom Kippur prior to his first match as Chelsea
manager before flying by helicopter to Old Trafford for the game against
Manchester United. Defender Tal Ben Haim will, reportedly, also be given
permission to miss the Stoke game to allow the Israeli to observe Yom
Kippur. West Ham, who have lost all four of their league games this season,
are bottom of the table.

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Leave Granted
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 15th September 2010
By: Staff Writer

West Ham have confirmed that Avram Grant 'will not be in the dug-out' when
the Hammers play Stoke this weekend. With both teams under immense pressure
already due to their respective poor starts this weekend's clash at the
Brittania Stadium is being referred to in some quarters as a 'six pointer' -
despite the season being less than a month old.

However it has now been confirmed that West Ham's new manager will not be in
attendance due to the game falling on the same day as the Jewish faith's Day
of Atonement, or Yom Kippur as it is popularly known.

West Ham, in a brief statement issued on whufc.com this evening confirmed
that Grant would not be at the game 'out of respect for the traditions,
herittage and religious observations of the Jewish holy day'.

"West Ham United fully respect and understand the situation. It is very
unusual for the day to clash with the fixture list," read the statement.
"The manager will pick and prepare the side as usual and fully ensure that
all are ready for the match this weekend. Assistant manager Zeljko Petrovic,
senior coach Paul Groves and first-team coach Kevin Keen will all be on the
bench at the Britannia Stadium. "

This weekend's match is the first time that Yom Kippur has conincided with a
Premier League match day since Grant began his management career in England.
Three years ago, whilst at Chelsea, it fell the day before a clash with
Manchester United whilst last year - when Grant was at Portsmouth - a clash
was also narrowly avoided.

* 60% of KUMB.com members agree that Grant and fellow Israeli Tal Ben Haim
should be granted the day off, according to a poll conducted today. You may
view the poll and its accompanying comments - or even cast your own vote
(KUMB members only) - by visiting this thread.

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Tomkins eyeing recall
Young defender aiming to work hard to force return into first team
Last updated: 15th September 2010
SSN

West Ham defender James Tomkins is determined to do the best he can to earn
a first team recall. The 21-year-old was a regular under old boss Gianfranco
Zola last season but has featured in just the opening day loss to Aston
Villa in the top flight under Avram Grant this term. However, the defender
is determined to force his way back into the struggling side, who have yet
to pick up a point from four attempts. He featured in the reserve's 1-0
victory at Everton on Tuesday and now hopes to play a part in the
bottom-of-the-table clash with Stoke this weekend. Tomkins told the club's
official website: "I really want to play. I will keep working hard and
trying to impress in training, as that's all I can do. "If I do play well
for the reserves, hopefully the feedback will get back to the manager and,
you never know, I might get to play. That's all that I want to do - to
play."

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Grant absent from Potters tie
Hammers confirm boss missing on Saturday due to religious reasons
By Elliot Ball Last updated: 15th September 2010
SSN

Avram Grant will not be taking charge of West Ham's team against Stoke
because of the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. The Israeli had hinted that he
may not be able to take charge of the Premier League game on Saturday and
the club have confirmed the Hammers boss will not be present for the
Britannia Stadium clash. Grant will select and prepare the side for the trip
to the Potters but will hand control to his assistant Zeljko Petrovic. Out
of respect for the traditions, heritage and religious obligations of the
Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, Avram Grant will not be in the dugout at
Stoke City this Saturday," a club statement confirmed. "Dating back
thousands of years, Yom Kippur - or Day of Atonement - is the most
significant day of the year. It is a strict day of fasting and abstaining
that forbids all followers to work. West Ham United fully respect and
understand the situation. It is very unusual for the day to clash with the
fixture list. "The manager will pick and prepare the side as usual and fully
ensure that all are ready for the match this weekend. Assistant manager
Zeljko Petrovic, senior coach Paul Groves and first-team coach Kevin Keen
will all be on the bench at the Britannia Stadium." West Ham have lost their
opening four games of the season so far, having shipped in 12 goals against
the likes of Aston Villa, Bolton, Manchester United and Chelsea.

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You can take it for Granted Av
The Sun
By HUGH SOUTHON
Published: Today

WEST HAM co-owner David Gold has declared: "Avram Grant is absolutely safe."
Hammers are without a point in four league games under new boss Grant.
But Gold said: "It's four games against clubs who we took two points off
last term so we're just behind. "This will be called a vote of confidence
but I assure you it is a proper vote of confidence. "Against one of the
world's best, Chelsea, we saw a spirited performance which we can build on.
"Avram is safe. We will very quickly climb up."

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Respect Avram Grant's absense for Yom Kippur, West Ham fans are told
By LAURA WILLIAMSON
Last updated at 11:44 PM on 15th September 2010
Daily Mail

West Ham have urged fans to respect manager Avram Grant's decision not to
take charge of Saturday's Barclays Premier League match against Stoke City
as he observes the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. Grant, 55, will pick and
prepare his side but will not travel to the Britannia Stadium as bottom of
the table West Ham try to earn their first points of the season after four
straight defeats. Serbian Zeljko Petrovic will take control of team affairs
on the day.
Over Yom Kippur — or the Day of Atonement — Grant is expected to fast for 25
hours and spend the day in continuous prayer for forgiveness. A West Ham
statement said: 'West Ham United fully respect and understand the situation.
It is very unusual for the day to clash with the fixture list. The manager
will pick and prepare the side as usual and fully ensure that all are ready
for the match this weekend.'

Petrovic, 44, arrived at Upton Park in the summer, having previously worked
as a No 2 to former Tottenham boss Martin Jol at Hamburg. Before that he had
spells in charge of Boavista in Portugal and RKC Waalwijk in Holland. He was
a former team-mate of Diego Maradona's at Sevilla in the early 1990s, where
he played as a defensive midfielder. After being appointed as Chelsea
manager on Thursday September 20, 2007 Grant stayed at home on the Friday
and Saturday to observe the holy day, missing the preparations for his first
match against Manchester United on the Sunday, which Chelsea lost.

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Juventus set to make move for West Ham's Valon Behrami after poor start
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 12:17 PM on 15th September 2010
Daily Mail

Juventus have joined the race for unsettled West Ham utility man Valon
Behrami. The Italian giants have started the season badly, losing at Bari
and drawing and twice throwing away leads to draw at home against Sampdoria.
Reports in Italy say they are already working on targets for the winter
transfer window, with a full back high on their list of priorities. Behrami
is one of three players in their sights and the former Lazio player is keen
to move back to the country to satisfy family problems. Roma, Palermo,
Sampdoria and Cesena were all interested in the summer but could not reach
an agreement with West Ham for the 25-year-old. Behrami recently admitted
his disappointment at not sealing a switch to Serie A, but he has vowed to
give his full commitment to the Hammers. Juve like the Switzerland
international's versatility as he can play in defence or midfield. The Turin
club could turn to his compatriot Stephan Lichtsteiner as an alternative,
but he is more pigeonholed as a raiding right back. Palermo's Mattia
Cassani, who can play on either side of defence, is another alternative,
reports Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Please donate to my sisters Kenyan Cycle ride for Women v Cancer
http://www.justgiving.com/sandhy-cycles-kenya

Wednesday, September 15

Daily WHUFC News - 15th September 2010

Tomkins on top
WHUFC.com
James Tomkins is hoping to be rewarded for shackling old foe Yakubu by
earning a first-team recall
14.09.2010

James Tomkins completed a memorable personal hat-trick by helping West Ham
United to a 1-0 Barclays Premier Reserve League victory at Everton. Trips to
the blue half of Merseyside have played a huge part in the young
centre-back's career. After making his first-team debut Goodison Park in
March 2008, Tomkins was sent-off in the Hammers' 3-1 defeat at the same
venue in May 2009. The 21-year-old's debut - now some two-and-a-half years
ago - saw him come face to face with Yakubu, with the powerful Nigerian
striker giving the rookie defender a testing afternoon with his physical
approach. On Tuesday, Tomkins got his revenge, combining well with New
Zealand FIFA World Cup star Winston Reid to shackle both Yakubu and Jermaine
Beckford as Alex Dyer's side made a winning start to the 2010/11 campaign.
"It was a good game for us lads coming in because they had some good players
in their side and it was a good run out," said the Academy graduate. "It was
good to play in the reserves and, with them having some first-team players,
it made it even more important to do well. "They had Yakubu and Beckford who
are both good players and it was a good contest for us at the back. We were
delighted with a win and a clean sheet. "It brought back memories of my
debut. I've had a few weird scenarios against Everton in my career -
obviously my debut up there and I also got sent-off in the other game I
played there, so it brought back a few different feelings. "It was good to
get 90 minutes under my belt and was good for the lads who haven't played
that much to get their fitness in."

Tomkins appeared in the Barclays Premier League meeting with Aston Villa and
Carling Cup second-round victory over Oxford United, but has found first-
team chances harder to come by in recent weeks. Having impressed against an
experienced Everton strike-force, however, the England Under-21
international is hoping to force his way back into Avram Grant's plans for
Saturday's trip to Stoke City. "It's important to get match-practice in -
that's important. I've known Alex for a long time and he's a good man, and
he has got a good team spirit in the reserves, which is good. "I really want
to play. I'll keep working hard and trying to impress in training, as that's
all I can do. If I do play well for the reserves, hopefully the feedback
will get back to the manager and, you never, know, I might get to play.
That's all that I want to do - to play."

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Under 3,000 Spurs tickets left
WHUFC.com
Tottenham arrive next in east London and you will have to move fast if you
want to be there
08.09.2010

Hammers fans are snapping up tickets for the derby date with Tottenham
Hotspur on Saturday week. Under 3,000 tickets remain for the clash, which
will take place at 3pm on Saturday 25 September and is not being televised
live in England. A packed stadium is expected with Avram Grant's men looking
to kick-start their Boleyn Ground campaign. It will be another entertaining
encounter with UEFA Champions League contenders Spurs set to include new
recruits William Gallas and Rafael van der Vaart. The Hammers could also be
at full strength with real competition for places - particularly in attack,
including exciting new forwards Pablo Barrera and Victor Obinna.

A season ticket is still the easiest way to make sure of your seat for every
single match played at the Boleyn Ground - and fans can get ten per cent off
if they buy before Spurs. With a season ticket, you never miss a kick from
the comfort of your own reserved seat, and never have the worry of missing
out on the big matches.

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Everton 0-1 Reserves
WHUFC.com
West Ham United kick-off their Barclays Premier Reserve League season with a
fine win on Merseyside
14.09.2010

Everton reserves v West Ham United reserves
Barclays Premier Reserve League
Finch Farm training ground
Tuesday 14 September 2010
Kick-off: 2pm

Everton reserves 0-1 West Ham United reserves

West Ham United reserves kicked-off the new season with a superb away win
courtesy of Junior Stanislas's first-half goal. The England Under-21
attacker's strike was just reward for a terrific display from the whole
side, with particular plaudits going to goalkeeper Marek Stech and forward
Ahmed Abdulla. James Tomkins and Winston Reid also formed a valuable
partnership in central defence, keeping Everton duo Yakubu and Jermaine
Beckford at bay. Manager Alex Dyer will be delighted with all his players,
with Radoslav Kovac, Freddie Sears and Frank Nouble also getting valuable
run-outs. The reserves return to competitive action with the visit of Wigan
Athletic a fortnight today. Keep an eye on whufc.com for information about
that match and exclusive reaction from today's game at Finch Farm

Full time
93 mins - That's it! The full-time whistle is blown.
91 mins - Sears holds the ball up and wins a free-kick. Valuable time used
up. Stech and Abdulla have really caught the eye this afternoon, but then
every player in a claret and blue shirt has worked themselves into the
ground.
90 mins - Into the final minute plus added-time and Everton are still
pressing. The West Ham youngsters are working their socks off to protect
their lead and are rewarded when Coleman smashes his cross miles too long
and out for a throw to the Hammers.
88 mins - Time is ticking away for the hosts as Brown shields the ball out
for a goal kick. Dyer is again patrolling the touchline, no doubt desperate
for the game to be over. Barkley comes forward again, but Abdulla makes a
fine tackle and Stanislas brings the ball clear.
85 mins - So close from Sears. Reid finds Stanislas with a fine pass, the
winger turns and plays a ball over the top to Sears, but the forward can
only smash his shot high into the side-netting at the near post.
82 mins - Good defending twice in the space of 30 seconds there with first
Reid and then Modelski showing good strength and composure to keep Gueye and
Silva at bay.
81 mins - Lee wins a fine challenge and tries to play in Stanislas, who is
clean through, but he is halted by the offside flag. That must have been
close.
77 mins - West Ham make a second change, with skipper Spence being replaced
by Filip Modelski, the Poland U19 captain.
75 mins - Two changes for Everton. Beckford and Mustafi go off, with Joao
Silva and David Wallace coming on.
74 mins - Stech claims the corner and bowls the ball out to Stanislas. He
finds Lee, who plays the ball on to Sears, but the No10's cross is wayward.
73 mins - Everton are on top here. Coleman comes close for the Toffees,
seeing his volley deflect off a defender and wide. Can West Ham hold on?
70 mins - Stech makes a truly amazing save! A through ball from Coleman
loops over Tomkins to Beckford, who lobs Stech. The goalkeeper scrambles
back and somehow pushes the ball on to the inside of the post and underside
of the crossbar before it bounces clear. All eyes are on the assistant
referee, but nothing is given.
69 mins - Spence is back on as Everton come forward through Beckford. He
tries to flick the ball over Tomkins for himself, but Stech is alert and
rushes out to claim.
67 mins - Beckford has no fewer than three bites of the cherry, only to see
his first two shots blocked and his third roll into the arms of Stech. We're
going to have a slight delay while Spence receives some treatment.
66 mins - Kovac is replaced by George Moncur in the centre of midfield.
64 mins - Nouble picks out Sears at the far post. He controls and tries to
beat Bidwell, but the left-back sticks to his task to stab the ball out for
a corner. Stanislas's cross is headed out to Abdulla, who catches his
half-volley flush, only for Turner to fling himself to his left and turn the
ball around the post. West Ham maintain the pressure and when Stanislas
crosses again, the ball drops to Sears, but he can only lash his effort over
the top.
59 mins - The home side come forward again through the lively Barkley, whose
run is stopped by Abdulla. The first-year professional is booked for his
challenge. Barkley slams the ball to the turf in frustration.
58 mins - The Hammers really fancy this. Abdulla forces Duffy into a mistake
before Everton gift possession to Sears.
57 mins - Another chance for Stanislas, but this time to pick out a
team-mate. Unfortunately, his cross catches on the wind and floats into the
hands of Turner instead of on to the head of Nouble.
56 mins - It is real end-to-end stuff all of a sudden. First, Reid does
supremely well to halt the rampaging Barkley. The Hammers break and
Stanislas curls a shot a yard wide of the post from 25 yards out.
54 mins - The Toffees do mount their first attack of the half. A good piece
of possession football ends with Bidwell cutting inside and trying to chip
Stech, but the goalkeeper clings on. West Ham break immediately and Spence
picks out Lee with a low cross, only for Duffy to block again.
52 mins - Everton are really struggling to mount any sort of attack in the
face of this wind. At present, West Ham are really in control.
50 mins - Good pressure from West Ham results in Stanislas feeding Spence
wide on the right. His low cross finds Sears, whose first-time shot is
blocked by Duffy. Positive start to the second period from the Hammers.
49 mins - The wind is really causing havoc again. It had died down, but the
gusts are really blowing the ball all over the place. I should have said
that no changes were made by either side at the break.
47 mins - Sears nearly gets goal-side of Mustafi, but the No6 does well to
recover and clear. Moments later, Nouble sends Sears clear again, but his
cross is cut out.
46 mins - After an eight-minute half-time break, we're back underway...
Moyes is standing behind Turner's goal for a closer look.

Half-time score - Everton reserves 0-1 West Ham United reserves

47 mins - That's half-time...
46 mins - Into added time and Everton win a corner off Spence down their
left. Gueye crosses and Duffy heads powerfully over the bar, but Nsiala had
already been penalised for a push.
44 mins - Coleman again, skipping past Brown and Abdulla, but failing to
keep his shot down. Not long until half-time now.
42 mins - Just when it looks like Everton will equalise, West Ham break
through Nouble down the left, but his cross is too deep for Spence. The
captain retains possession and sees his cross headed behind by Duffy. The
corner is lifted to the back post where Tomkins crosses back to Spence, but
his volley flies over the top.
41 mins - The Toffees are really piling on the pressure. Neville finds
Barkley, who cuts past one defender on to his left foot, but can only drag
his shot wide of the post from 20 yards.
40 mins - Two more Gueye corners are cleared behind by Tomkins at the near
post. The third is hacked clear by Kovac at the second attempt. Everton are
finishing the half strongly here.
38 mins - Everton come forward again and threaten down the left through
Coleman. Beckford goes down with Spence in close attendance, but nothing is
given. Tomkins clears for a corner.
37 mins - I would say there are about 30 fans watching the game this
afternoon, plus twice as many Everton staff and players. They watch on as
Kovac is the second West Ham player to be booked for deliberate handball.
35 mins - Yakubu threads another superb ball through for Beckford. His
first-time shot is powerful, but straight at Stech, who parries. Abdulla
cleans up by heading the ball back to the goalkeeper.
33 mins - Neville takes the free-kick and Duffy wins it in the air, but
there is neither the power nor the direction on the header to trouble Stech.
31 mins - Reid is booked for a challenge on Barkley that leaves the Everton
skipper needing treatment to his right leg. Apologies if the updates are not
appearing immediately, as the wind is playing havoc with the internet
connection. It might not be the wind, but that's what I'm blaming for the
technology issues I'm having.
30 mins - Tomkins does well to deal with Yakubu. Fans will remember that the
young defender came up against the Nigerian on his first-team debut way back
in March 2008. Yakubu scored that day, while Tomkins hit the crossbar in a
1-1 draw that also saw Freddie Sears hit the post.
28 mins - GOAL! Stanislas puts the ball away at the second attempt following
a sweeping counter-attack from the Hammers. Tomkins hacked the ball clear
and found Nouble on the right. The England Under-19 man controlled superbly
on his chest and raced upfield. Stanislas cut across with a decoy run to
leave Sears one-on-one on the left. A superb first-touch saw Sears make
space to cross and, when Turner clashed with a defender and dropped the
ball, Stanislas was on hand to score after his initial attempt had been
blocked on the line.
26 mins - Turner springs Everton on the attack and Yakubu picks out Beckford
with a superb pass. The former Leeds United man should score, but is denied
by another superb save from Stech, who blocks with his feet. Coleman reacts
quickest and tries another shot, but this time Reid is there to block.
25 mins - Sears has been superb so far. He has shown for the ball, held it
up well and been very tidy in possession. Now, he has swapped with Nouble
and has a run at Everton No5 Shane Duffy, forcing the defender to concede a
corner. Stanislas curls it over but Turner shows good handling to claim the
high ball.
23 mins - Nouble tries again, but is caught offside as he runs on to Lee's
pass. The striker doesn't agree with the decision, but seeing as I'm at the
other end of the pitch on a balcony outside David Moyes' office, I can't
comment either way.
22 mins - Sears shows his defensive qualities, crowding out Gueye and
allowing Spence to complete the clearance to Kovac. The Czech tries to pick
out Nouble's run, but the ball catches on the wind and sails through to
Turner.
20 mins - Just to clarify, Winston Reid is playing at centre-back alongside
James Tomkins, with Jordan Spence at right-back. Meanwhile, Lee releases
Sears in acres of space down the right. He runs at the defence before
sending over a threatening cross-shot that rolls narrowly past the far post.
Close. Sears is actually playing wide on the right of a five-man midfield,
with Kovac, Lee and Ahmed Abdulla in the middle. Nouble is leading the
attack on his own.
18 mins - Stanislas finds Brown wide on the left. The full-back beats his
opposite number Nsiala before sending over a dangerous cross that Lee meets
with a header that loops over the crossbar.
16 mins - Stech does well again. Everton keep possession well around the
Hammers box before Neville feeds Barkley. The midfielder takes a touch and
shoots from 25 yards, forcing the Czech goalkeeper to tip over. The corner
is curled in wickedly by Gueye and Stech is again there at the near post to
block before Tomkins completes the clearance.
14 mins - Better from the Hammers. Stanislas and Nouble combine well on the
edge of the penalty area before Lee is crowded out as he tries to fashion a
shooting chance.
10 mins - Stech does well to keep the game scoreless, diving low to his left
to push the ball around the post after Coleman had beaten Brown to Reid's
header. The resulting corner comes to nothing.
9 mins - Alex Dyer is right on the touchline barking orders at his players.
The Hammers are playing into the wind this half, so it's going to be tough
for the visitors during the opening 45 minutes. Everton, meanwhile, are
having trouble judging their range of passing in the gusty wind, with plenty
of balls being over-hit.
7 mins - This time it is Seamus Coleman who crosses from the right, but
Tomkins judges the ball well to stoop and head clear of danger.
6 mins - Everton attack down the right flank but Nsiala's low cross is poor
and Kovac is able to clear with ease from the edge of his own penalty area.
4 mins - Turner shanks his clearance out of play. From the resulting
throw-in, Brown is felled by Beckford's late challenge.
2 mins - West Ham have made the better start in what are very difficult
conditions. Junior Stanislas has been very lively in the early going,
cutting in from the left and seeing plenty of the ball.
2.01pm - West Ham kick-off... A few of Everton's first-team players are
watching on, including Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini.

1.59pm - Here come the two teams, led by captains Jordan Spence and Ross
Barkley. It is a sunny yet very windy afternoon here on Merseyside. For
those that know the area, we are to the south east of the city, near
Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Good afternoon and welcome to Everton's Finch
Farm training ground for West Ham United's first fixture of the 2010/11
Barclays Premier Reserve League season. The Hammers have contested eight
pre-season friendly matches in preparation for the campaign, beating the
likes of Crystal Palace and Leicester City. Everton, meanwhile, have already
drawn at Chelsea and beaten Wolverhampton Wanderers in league action. Alex
Dyer has a number of first-team squad members at his disposal this
afternoon, with goalkeeper Marek Stech, defenders Winston Reid and James
Tomkins and midfielders Radoslav Kovac and Junior Stanislas all starting.
Everton boss Alan Stubbs has also named a strong lineup, with Phil Neville,
Yakubu and summer signing Jermaine Beckford all involved. For anyone
wondering why West Ham and Everton are meeting at reserve level, the
Barclays Premier Reserve League has been re-organised this season. West Ham
are in the six-team Southern division, while Everton are top of five-team
Northern B. Five other teams are in Northern A. West Ham will play the
Southern teams home and away and the Northern teams once each, making for a
20-game season overall.

Everton reserves: Turner, Nsiala, Bidwell, Duffy, Mustafi (Silva 75),
Coleman, Neville, Barkley, Gueye, Beckford (Wallace 75), Yakubu
Subs: Davis, Akpan
West Ham United reserves: Stech, Spence (Modelski 77), Reid, Tomkins, Brown,
Lee, Kovac (Moncur 66), Abdulla, Stanislas, Sears, Nouble
Subs: Cowler, Eyjolfsson, Sanchez

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Eyjolfsson eyes U21 finals
WHUFC.com
Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson is hoping his Iceland U21 side can make history by
reaching EURO 2011
14.09.2010

Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson and Marek Stech have learnt their fate after the UEFA
European Under-21 Championship qualifying play-off draw was made in Denmark.
Stech's Czech Republic will take on Greece in their two-legged tie, while
Eyjolfsson and his Iceland team-mates face Scotland. The winners will join
the Danish hosts and five other play-off winners at the final tournament in
Aalborg, Aarhus, Viborg and Herning from 11 to 25 June 2011. The Czechs and
Icelanders came through qualifying Group 5 to reach the play-offs, with
Stech and his fellow countrymen edging out Eyjolfsson and his compatriots by
six points following the former's 3-1 victory in Jablonec nad Nisou last
week. Both nations eliminated holders Germany, who finished third in the
group.
While the Czech Republic U21 side has reached the finals on four previous
occasions, finishing as runners-up in 2000 and winning the title in 2002,
Iceland have never before reached a major UEFA or FIFA tournament at any
level. For that reason, Eyjolfsson - who will be in action again for the
reserves away to Everton on Tuesday - is excited about his country's
prospects of reaching Denmark 2011, but knows they face a tough assignment
in trying to overcome Group 10 winners Scotland. "To be fair I don't know
much about Scotland but I think I know the type of football they will play.
It will be a physical game, I'm sure," said Eyjolfsson, who played in seven
of Iceland's eight group matches, scoring once.

"There were teams like Holland and Croatia in the draw which maybe would
have been harder games but with the Under-21s you never know. You can't
always compare countries to their senior teams. "This is the longest we've
ever gone in the competition so we've already made history. Whatever we do
now is a bonus. It would be really good to make it to the finals. Against
the Czech Republic last week, the seniors took loads of our players, so
we're hoping we'll have some of them back for the play-offs to give us a
great chance of making the finals."

For Eyjolfsson, his team's achievement is all the more personal as the
Iceland U21 squad is coached by his father, former Iceland international
midfielder Eyjolfur Sverrisson. "It's very personal for me and emotional for
me to see us progress because it's glory for me and glory for my father as
well. It's nice for our family."

Elsewhere in the draw, England face Romania, with the likes of Hammers
youngsters James Tomkins and Junior Stanislas hopeful of receiving a call-up
to Stuart Pearce's squad.

Full play-off draw
England v Romania
Netherlands v Ukraine
Spain v Croatia
Switzerland v Sweden
Iceland v Scotland
Czech Republic v Greece
Italy v Belarus

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Hammers duo set to miss Stoke
Grant and Ben Haim to observe Yom Kippur
Last updated: 14th September 2010
LIVE ON SKY SPORTS
Stoke v West Ham
12.30pm, Sat, Sky Sports HD2, Sky Sports 2 and online with Sky Player
SSN

West Ham are set to be without boss Avram Grant and defender Tal Ben Haim
for Saturday's crunch bottom-of-the-table clash with Stoke City. The Israeli
pair are expected to be absent at the Britannia Stadium so they can observe
the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. They are required to participate in 25
hours of fasting and prayer over the course of Friday and Saturday, during
which time Grant's assistant Zeljko Petrovic is likely to take charge of
team affairs.
Grant observed Yom Kippur prior to his first match as Chelsea manager three
years ago before flying by helicopter to Old Trafford for the game against
Manchester United. On-loan Portsmouth defender Ben Haim made his league
debut for the Hammers in last weekend's 3-1 home defeat to Chelsea, which
left Grant's men still searching for their first point of the season. The
defender could be replaced in the squad on Saturday by fellow newcomer
Winston Reid, who made his comeback from a torn buttock muscle in Tuesday
afternoon's reserve team victory at Everton.

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Avram Grant and Tal Ben Haim to be absent as West Ham seek first point
Winston Reid set to return after torn buttock muscle
Benni McCarthy reportedly fined for weight problems
Press Association
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 14 September 2010 20.55 BST

Avram Grant and Tal Ben Haim are set to be given permission to miss West
Ham's Premier League game at Stoke so they can observe Yom Kippur. The
manager Grant and his on-loan Portsmouth defender Ben Haim are expected to
be absent at the Britannia Stadium for Saturday's bottom-of-the-table clash
while they celebrate the Jewish holy day.

The Israeli pair are required to participate in 25 hours of fasting and
prayer over the course of Friday and Saturday, during which time Grant's
assistant Zeljko Petrovic is likely to take charge of team affairs. Grant
observed Yom Kippur prior to his first match as Chelsea manager three years
ago before flying by helicopter to Old Trafford for the game against
Manchester United.

Ben Haim made his league debut for the Hammers in last weekend's 3-1 home
defeat by his former club Chelsea, which left Grant's side still searching
for their first point of the season. The defender could be replaced in the
squad on Saturday by fellow new boy Winston Reid, who made his comeback from
a torn buttock muscle in this afternoon's reserve team victory at Everton.

It is understood the striker Benni McCarthy was recently fined for failing
to meet certain deadlines in his weight-loss regime. The South Africa
international was reportedly docked the equivalent of two weeks' wages, or
£80,000.

He is now thought to have reached the target set by the Hammers medical
staff. McCarthy, who has previously admitted his weight balloons when he
does not train with intensity, joined West Ham from Blackburn in January but
has yet to score for his new club.

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Petrovic set to take charge of West Ham
15.09.10 | tribalfootball.com

Zeljko Petrovic is set to take charge of West Ham United for their clash
with Stoke City this weekend. Avram Grant and Tal Ben Haim are set to be
given permission to miss West Ham's Premier League game at Stoke so they can
observe Yom Kippur. Manager Grant and on-loan Portsmouth defender Ben Haim
are expected to be absent at the Britannia Stadium for Saturday's
bottom-of-the-table clash while they celebrate the Jewish holy day. The
Israeli pair are required to participate in 25 hours of fasting and prayer
over the course of Friday and Saturday, during which time Grant's assistant
Petrovic is likely to take charge of team affairs.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Please donate to my sisters Kenyan Cycle ride for Women v Cancer
http://www.justgiving.com/sandhy-cycles-kenya