Daily WHUFC News - 21st March 2012

Dev Squad pay the penalty
WHUFC.com
A Lee Barnard spot-kick saw Southampton edge out Ian Hendon's side 1-0 at
Chadwell Heath
20.03.2012

Lee Barnard's second-half penalty was the difference between the teams as
Southampton edged out West Ham United's Development Squad 1-0 on Tuesday.
The Romford-born striker netted the only goal of the game 20 minutes from
the end of a closely-contested game at Chadwell Heath, stepping up to beat
Sam Baxter after Pelly Ruddock had fouled Yago Falque. Barnard's spot-kick
was one of few clear-cut chances on a sunny but blustery afternoon at the
Hammers training ground, with neither Baxter nor opposite number Tommy
Forecast overly troubled. Southampton brought a relatively experienced side
to Essex, with Tunisia international Radhi Jaidi, centre-back Danny
Seabourne, Barnard and Falque all having appeared for the Saints first-team
this season. Development Squad coach Ian Hendon saw a team that contained no
fewer than eight scholars work hard and come close to earning a share of the
spoils through substitute Matthias Fanimo's late free-kick. "We didn't
deserve to lose," said Hendon. "They had two centre-halves who have probably
played five or six hundred league games between them and they actually
looked like they had. Elliot Lee plugged away and he's a first-year scholar
and he's worked his socks off for the team and on another day something
might have fallen for him.
"When you look at our team, they were all young lads and they were willing
and wanted to learn from the things we told them. That's the important
thing. They've played against an experienced team with the likes of Barnard
and Falque, who is on loan from Tottenham - they're no mugs. "We were very
young and that's the way it was because the first team play tonight. They
haven't disappointed me and they shouldn't be disappointed with themselves.
Nobody likes losing, but they're on a learning curve and they set a good
standard today."

In fairness, Southampton did create the clearer chances, with Falque
controlling proceedings from the centre of the midfield. The Saints went
close through Lloyd Isgrove and Sam McQueen, while Kenzer Lee and Jack
Powell did superbly to block efforts from Jake Sinclair and James
Ward-Prowse. Late on, Falque himself went close with a quickly-taken
free-kick, but Baxter flew to his left to push the ball away. At the other
end, Lee worked hard with Ruddock, Powell and Sebastian Lletget supporting
him from midfield and Blair Turgott and Dominic Vose threatening from wide
areas. Hendon conceded that his team had not played perfectly, but was
enthusiastic about the way they eradicated their individual mistakes as the
game went on. "I've got to say there were a few little issues in the first
half which we had a chat about at half-time - mailnly the defenders not
putting their foot through the ball and clearing their lines when we were
under a lot of pressure. "That's the thing with young players - you want
them to take on board what you tell them. It's difficult playing against
good, older, experienced players and they've acquitted themselves well
today. "Captain Eoin Wearen did well, putting his body on the line by
throwing himself bravely in to make blocks. He led us well. It's about
learning and I think they've learned a lot today."

Development Squad: Baxter, Driver, Young, Wearen, K.Lee, Ruddock, Powell,
Turgott, Vose (Fanimo 68), Lletget (Sadlier 86), E.Lee

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West Ham 1 Middlesbrough 1
BBC.co.uk
20 March 2012
Last updated at 22:29

West Ham were again booed off by their fans after they failed to help their
Championship automatic promotion claims with a draw against Middlesbrough.
The Hammers took the lead through an Abdoulaye Faye header looping in off
Joe Bennett after 67 minutes. But Middlesbrough equalised when Bart Ogbeche
fired in a precise shot. The visitors finished the stronger and a Lukas
Jutkiewicz effort struck the Hammers bar before Ogbeche had a shot cleared
off the line. It was a fourth successive 1-1 draw for the Hammers, who lost
ground on leaders Southampton after their 2-0 win at Hull. The only
consolation for West Ham was that second-placed Reading were beaten 3-1 by
Peterborough and they are now only two points behind the Royals.

WEST HAM'S RECENT RUN
West Ham 1-1 Boro
Leeds 1-1 West Ham
West Ham 1-1 Doncaster
West Ham 1-1 Watford

West Ham had plenty of the play in the first half but lacked the cutting
edge to break down a Boro side who had come to frustrate their hosts. The
Hammers fans upped their volume level after the break and their side
responded by increasing their intensity. The reward came with Faye's first
goal for the club, when his header took a touch off Bennett to leave keeper
Jason Steele wrong-footed. James Tomkins had the chance to extend West Ham's
lead only for Steele to produce an excellent save, pushing a close-range
header onto the bar. The incident proved crucial as Ogbeche cut inside and
powered in an angled shot late on for Boro to leave the Hammers to endure
more frustration.

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce: "Eventually these draws will cost us. We were
very, very patient tonight and got into the lead which was not easy because
of the way the opposition sets up against us. It's frustrating because this
is the best unbeaten run we've been on this season but we're not getting the
points that we need from these matches. "We didn't have that little bit of
quality or the ability to just add the killer instinct and then we go and
concede one of the best goals this season, it was a real moment of quality.
"It is five draws at home but then one of those was against Southampton when
we had 10 men for most of the game. "The turning point for me is the save
that their goalkeeper made from James Tomkins when we were 1-0 up. If we had
got it to 2-0 I think that would have been game over."

Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray: "I was pleased with the way that we came
here and set up to frustrate West Ham because of the run they've been on we
thought we could play on their anxiety a bit. "We're in the top six and with
a bit of luck and a few players back hopefully we will stay there in the
last nine games of the season and get into the play-offs. "I'm pleased for
Bart - he does that kind of thing every day in training but he's been coming
into my office this week and asking me for more game time. Had he not done
that would he have got his chance today? It's very hard to say but I'm
pleased that he did."

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Allardyce bemoans Boro draw
Hammers boss says draws will cost his side; Mowbray pleased
Last Updated: March 20, 2012 11:29pm
SSN

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce was left to rue yet another home draw as
Middlesbrough substitute Bart Ogbeche stole a share of the spoils at Upton
Park. Abdoulaye Faye's deflected goal off Joe Bennett midway through the
second half looked to have reignited the hosts' Championship promotion bid.
But the Hammers have not won a league match on a Tuesday night in front of
their own fans in more than two years, and Nigerian forward Ogbeche's superb
strike ensured that sorry run continued.
The final whistle was greeted by a chorus of boos and Allardyce admits his
players are feeling anxious every time they play on their own turf. He said:
"Eventually these draws will cost us. We were very, very patient tonight and
got into the lead which was not easy because of the way the opposition sets
up against us.

Killer instinct

"It's frustrating because this is the best unbeaten run we've been on this
season but we're not getting the points that we need from these matches. "We
didn't have that little bit of quality or the ability to just add the killer
instinct and then we go and concede one of the best goals this season, it
was a real moment of quality.
"It is five draws at home but then one of those was against Southampton when
we had 10 men for most of the game. "The turning point for me is the save
that their goalkeeper made from James Tomkins when we were 1-0 up. If we had
got it to 2-0 I think that would have been game over."

Reading's shock defeat at Peterborough leaves West Ham just two points
adrift of the Royals in third place while Boro are now up to fifth place.
"It's a bit crazy that it's all doom and gloom and here we are, both clubs
in the top six," said Boro boss Tony Mowbray.

Anxiety

"I was pleased with the way that we came here and set up to frustrate West
Ham because of the run they've been on we thought we could play on their
anxiety a bit.
"We're in the top six and with a bit of luck and a few players back
hopefully we will stay there in the last nine games of the season and get
into the play-offs. "I'm pleased for Bart - he does that kind of thing every
day in training but he's been coming into my office this week and asking me
for more game time. "Had he not done that would he have got his chance
today? It's very hard to say but I'm pleased that he did."

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Boro sub Bart grabs point
Last updated: 20th March 2012
SSN

Middlesbrough substitute Bart Ogbeche inflicted yet more midweek misery on
West Ham at Upton Park as the Hammers were held to a 1-1 draw. Abdoulaye
Faye's deflected goal midway through the second half looked to have
reignited the Hammers' Championship promotion bid. But the east Londoners
have not won a league match on a Tuesday night in front of their own fans in
more than two years, and Nigerian forward Ogbeche's superb strike ensured
that sorry run continued. In fact it could have been worse for the
under-fire hosts but Lukas Jutkiewicz hit the bar and Ogbeche had a shot
cleared off the line at the death. Manager Sam Allardyce admits his players
currently feel anxious every time they play on their own turf, having been
booed off following three straight draws. And that was certainly apparent in
a tense first half against a Middlesbrough side hardly bursting with
confidence themselves on the back of successive defeats. Faye headed wide
from a corner, Matt Taylor's shot was blocked by Seb Hines, Nicky Maynard's
long-range effort was held by Jason Steele and Noble drove over the bar, but
there was little to lift the home faithful.

Boro were not faring any better, though, with Adam Hamill firing wide and
Jutkiewicz putting a couple of headers too high. As half-time approached
West Ham felt they should have had a penalty for handball but James Tomkins'
header seemed to come off the shoulder of Matthew Bates. Carlton Cole then
curled a shot narrowly wide and George McCartney's 30-yard effort was dealt
with by Steele, but the hosts trooped off at the break to familiar murmurs
of discontent. But the Hammers went on the attack in the second half and
Maynard's chip dropped on to the roof of Steele's net before Cole just
failed to get on the end of Taylor's looping cross. And the slice of luck
they needed finally arrived in the 67th minute, courtesy of Faye. The giant
defender rose to meet a long, high ball from McCartney and his header spun
off the back of marker Joe Bennett's head and looped over Steele into the
far corner. Tomkins could have killed Boro off with a close-range header
only to see Steele pull off a stunning save, pushing the ball on to the bar.

And instead Ogbeche pegged West Ham back seven minutes before full-time,
skipping past Danny Collins on the edge of the area and crashing a superb
shot past Rob Green. Suddenly West Ham were clinging on as Jutkiewicz's shot
was deflected on to the bar and McCartney cleared off the line from Ogbeche.
But holding out for a draw did not stop more boos ringing out at the final
whistle.

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West Ham 1-1 Middlesbrough: Sub torpedoes Hammers
Published 21:50 20/03/12 By Neil McLeman
The Mirror

Tony Mowbray claimed West Ham fans treat playing in the Championship as "an
insult" after the Irons were held for a record fifth successive home draw.
The Hammers had been set for a needed win when Abdoulaye Faye looped home
his first goal for the club after 67 minutes. But sub Bart Ogbeche's late
equaliser means the Hammers have still not won a Tuesday night league match
at Upton Park since October 2004. And they could have lost a game they
dominated in a frantic finish.
The point for West Ham's fourth consecutive 1-1 draw still closed the gap on
second-placed Reading as Sam Allardyce's side extended their unbeaten run to
nine games, but there were still muted boos at the end. Mowbray, whose side
climbed up to fifth place, said Allardyce's side were also competing against
the expectations of a restless support after now dropping 23 points at home.
"I thought our team came and did what was expected," said the Boro boss. "It
was our prerogative to come here and make life difficult for them and to see
if we could create some anxiety in the stadium. I think we did that. "The
crowd get frustrated - every bad pass, every interception, there's a groan.
"I think the expectation of the fan base is they should be in the Premier
League. They see it almost as an insult that they're playing their football
in the Championship. "I'm sure Big Sam is dealing with that every day. I
think there's a fair chance he'll do that and get them back in the Premier
League."

But Allardyce admitted his side must start winning home games if they are to
gain automatic promotion. "We are frustrated and disappointed - you've got
to turn your draws into wins and it is too many," he said. "We haven't gone
this far undefeated all season but we've drawn too many. "You have to say it
was a wonder goal. You have to give him credit. He hit an unbelievable shot
in off the far post. "It was one of the goals of the season. Usually they go
wide but it went in against us. At the moment the rub of the green's just
not with us."

The Hammers boss claimed his men were denied two penalties for a first-half
handball by Matthew Bates and for a late challenge by keeper Jason Steele on
sub Sam Baldock. But after a dire first half, there was a touch of luck
after Faye's header deflected off Joe Bennett and looped home after 67
minutes. The Senegalese even covered his mouth in embarrassment after his
first goal for the club. But Allardyce then rightly identified the Boro
keeper tipping James Tomkings' header onto the bar after 75 minutes as the
game's turning point. "That would have been 2-0 and would have killed off
Middlesbrough and made us less nervous," he said. Instead, Ogbeche cracked
in his angled drive off the far post - and Boro could have stolen all three
points when Nicky Bailey's deflected shot hit the bar in injury time.
Mowbray said: "He's been in my office this week, asking if he can have more
game time. I'm just so pleased he's come on and done what he's done, really.
"That's what he can do. Bart Ogbeche - remember the name."

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West Ham United 1 Middlesbrough 1: match report
Telegraph.co.uk
By Marc Isaacs10:17PM GMT 20 Mar 2012

Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray felt his side laid bare West Ham's fans'
delusions of grandeur as they held the promotion-chasing side to their
fourth consecutive league draw. Mowbray's men stifled the home team for the
first hour before Abdoulaye Faye scored with a looping header, his first
goal for the club, but substitute Bart Ogbeche levelled late on with an
exquisite solo effort. The result left Sam Allardyce's side outside the
automatic promotion places and Mowbray hinted that the Upton Park fans'
lofty opinion of their club maybe counting against them "I thought our team
came and did what was expected. It was our prerogative to come here and make
life difficult for them; to see if we could create some anxiety in the
stadium," Mowbray said. "I think we did that. The crowd get frustrated,
every bad pass, every interception, there's a groan. "I think the
expectation of the fan base is they should be in the Premier League. They
see it almost as an insult that they're playing their football in the
Championship."

The story of the game could have been very different had Mowbray not faced
difficult talks with Nigerian striker Ogbeche who has become jaded with his
lack of first-team-opportunities. "Bart scores them every day" Mowbray
jested. "He's been in my office this week, asking if he can have more game
time. I'm just wondering if I would have put him on if he hadn't have come
in my office this week and said 'Can you give me some time, I'm desperate to
help.' "I'm just so pleased he's come on and done what he's done. That's
what he can do. Bart Ogbeche. Remember the name."

West Ham's miserable run, in the shadow of Reading's recent surge and
Southampton's continued dominance, was not helped by what Allardyce deemed
unacceptable refereeing decisions.

West Ham (4-2-3-1): Green; McCartney, Faye, Collins O'Brien; Tomkins, Noble;
Maynard (Collison 71); Taylor, Nolan (Baldock 87); Cole (Carew 71). Subs:
Lansbury, Morrison.

Middlesbrough (4-3-3): Steele; Bennett, Bates, Hines, Hoyte; Smallwood
(Martin 80), Thomson (Ogbeche 80), Bailey; Emnes (Zemmama 76), Jutkiewicz,
Hammill. Subs: Arca, McMahon

Referee: S Mathieson (Cheshire)

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - II 20th March 2012

Middlesbrough match preview
WHUFC.com
All of the early team news and stats ahead of Tuesday's big game at the
Boleyn Ground
19.03.2012

WEST HAM UNITED v MIDDLESBROUGH
npower CHAMPIONSHIP
TUESDAY 20 MARCH 2012
KICK-OFF: 7.45PM
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
iPHONE APP I TWITTER I FACEBOOK I PODCAST

Introduction
• West Ham United welcome Middlesbrough to the Boleyn Ground on Tuesday
evening looking to continue their impressive unbeaten run at home that
stretches back nine games to the beginning of December.
• Middlesbrough travel to east London looking to bounce back from two
defeats in a row at the hands of Leeds United and Birmingham City.
• The fixture between the two sides at The Riverside earlier this season in
November saw West Ham United gain a valuable three points with a 2-0 win
courtesy of goals from Carlton Cole and Freddie Piquionne.
• West Ham sit in third place in the npower Championship table only three
points off an automatic promotion spot whilst Middlesbrough are in the final
play-off place level on points with both Birmingham and Blackpool.
• Of the 63 games played between the two sides since 1912, the Hammers have
won 26 of them to Boro's 24.
Team News
• West Ham United are waiting on the fitness of James Tomkins and Abdoulaye
Faye, who both picked up knocks during the Leeds match. Big Sam is
optimistic they may both return but has options in midfield should Tomkins
not make it.
• Gary O'Neil, Henri Lansbury and Ravel Morrison - who made his debut at
Leeds - are all standing by to step in should they be needed.
• Guy Demel and Papa Bouba Diop are still long-term injured, while Ricardo
Vaz Te, Julien Faubert and Winston Reid are all still struggling with
hamstring, groin and head injuries respectively.
• Middlesbrough will once again be without key midfielder Barry Robson, who
serves the second game of his three-match ban. Rhys Williams will miss the
game with an ankle injury, while Faris Haroun's remains a doubt with a
hamstring problem.
Last Time Out

Saturday 17 March 2012
npower Championship
Leeds United 1-1 West Ham United
West Ham United: Green, O'Brien, Collins, Faye, McCartney, Noble, Nolan,
Collison (Morrison 81), Tomkins (O'Neil 46), Taylor, Maynard (Cole 56)
Subs not used: Henderson, Baldock
Goals: Collins (90)
Saturday 17 March 2012
npower Championship
Birmingham City 3-0 Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough: Steele, McMahon, Bates, Hines, Hoyte (Main 72), Thomson,
Bailey, Bennett, Hammill (Martin 72), Jutkiewicz, Arca (Smallwood 72)
Subs not used: Ogbeche, Emnes
Last Six Meetings
(Championship unless stated)
29 November 2011 - Middlesbrough 0-2 West Ham United
24 May 2009 - West Ham United 2-1 Middlesbrough
25 February 2009 - Middlesbrough 2-0 West Ham United (FA Cup)
14 February 2009 - West Ham United 1-1 Middlesbrough (FA Cup)
1 November 2008 - Middlesbrough 1-1 West Ham United
22 December 2007 - Middlesbrough 1-2 West Ham United
Overall record v Middlesbrough (all competitions) W26 D13 L24
Ten Year Records
West Ham United
2010/11 Premier League 20th (relegated to Championship)
2009/10 Premier League 17th
2008/09 Premier League 9th
2007/08 Premier League 10th
2006/07 Premier League 15th
2005/06 Premier League 9th
2004/05 Championship 6th (promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)
2003/04 Division One 4th
2002/03 Premier League 18th (relegated to Championship)
2001/02 Premier League 7th
Middlesbrough
2010/11 Championship 11th
2009/10 Premier League 19th (relegated to Championship)
2008/09 Premier League 13th
2007/08 Premier League 12th
2006/07 Premier League 14th
2005/06 Premier League 7th
2004/05 Premier League 11th
2003/04 Premier League 11th
2002/03 Premier League 12th
2001/02 Premier League 9th
Referee
• Tuesday evening's referee will be Scott Mathieson.
• Mathieson has taken charge of two West Ham United fixtures this term.
Mathieson took charge of West Ham's 1-0 home win against Barnsley in
December and their victory at Doncaster Rovers in August by the same score
line.
• He had the honour of getting the 2011/12 npower Football League season up
and running when he took charge of Blackpool's 1-0 win at Hull City on
Friday 5 August.
• Mathieson last took charge of Middlesbrough on the 2nd January 2012 when
Boro went down 3-0 away at Blackpool.
• Mathieson will be assisted by assistant referees Stuart Butler and Mark
Scholes. The fourth official for Tuesday night's match will be Michael
Russell.
Old Boys
• Gary O'Neil played for Middlesbrough between August 2007 and January 2011,
when he signed for the Hammers. He scored seven goals in 119 appearances for
Boro in all competitions.
• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are Jeremie
Aliadiere, Brian Deane, James Dow, Paul Ince, Frank Piercy, Luke 'Lou'
Raisbeck, George 'Geordie' Reid, Robbie Stockdale and Robert Young.
Next Up
• West Ham United will travel to Turf Moor this Saturday 24 March to take on
Burnley, ticket information for this game can be found here.
• On the same afternoon, Middlesbrough will play host to Bristol City at The
Riverside. Both games will kick off at 3:00pm.
General Information
• Tickets for tonight's game will be available on the door. Click here for
more details.
• Tuesday's weather forecast is for an overcast day in East London with
temperatures expected to be mild at around 14C (57F).

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Big Sam on: Middlesbrough
WHUFC.com
The manager is targeting a return to winning ways at the Boleyn Ground
20.03.2012

Sam Allardyce is eager for his West Ham United side to return to winning
ways when Middlesbrough visit in the npower Championship on Tuesday. Tickets
are still available for the big match, with Youth Academy members able to
claim a FREE seat and Academy members' tickets available for HALF-PRICE.
Click the link at the bottom of this story to purchase now. The Hammers are
on an eight-game unbeaten run, but five of those matches have ended in draws
and the manager knows three-pointers are the order of the day as the season
approaches its climax. Speaking to the media ahead of the visit of Tony
Mowbray's men, Big Sam also expressed his support for Bolton Wanderers
midfielder Fabrice Muamba, who is critically ill in hospital after
collapsing during an FA Cup quarter-final on Saturday.

Do you have any team news ahead of Tuesday's game?

SA - We're waiting on a couple of players until tomorrow, particularly James
Tomkins and Abdoulaye Faye. We think everybody else is going to be OK, so
we're desperate to get those two players back and available for tomorrow
because squad-wise we've been struggling a bit with the number of players we
have missing.
Obviously Guy Demel and Papa Bouba Diop have been long-term injuries, while
shorter-term we've lost Ricardo Vaz Te, Julien Faubert and Winston Reid. We
don't want to add any more injuries on top of those with so many games
coming up and such a big game against Middlesbrough on Tuesday. I think
they'll be OK. If they had to play today it would probably be a 'No' but
another 30 hours looks like enough for them to recover from what they have
got.

How do you see your team shaping up for the final big push for promotion?

SA - It's quite simple, really, we need 23 points to give us 90. Ninety has
been enough over the past five years. Based on last season, 88 was enough
for QPR to win the league but we don't want to rely on 88 because that could
be a Play-Off place. Generally, 90 has guaranteed you to go up.
It's 23 points in ten games and we've done 22 before so it's a big target,
but one we're capable of, of course. If we're going to get that, then we
need to start winning at home again, starting with Middlesbrough.

Does the late goal you scored at Leeds United give you some momentum ahead
of Tuesday's game?

SA - We wanted it to be the winner rather than the equaliser and, looking
back on the game, we thought we'd done more than enough to win it. Sadly, we
didn't make it the winner, but it was a great, sound, solid performance
again and we have got to take that into our home games and not get anxious
or too frustrated by the fact the opposition want to make life difficult for
us. If we can repeat the form we've shown with a little bit more quality in
front of goal, we'll get the victory we're looking for.
It'll be tough for two reasons. One, Middlesbrough have the second-best away
record in the league and two, we're a little bit anxious at home because of
our draws against Crystal Palace, Watford and Doncaster Rovers. That will
make it a bit edgy and nervous for our players and we've got to make sure we
handle that situation and we do what we need to do and win the game.
It's about winning the game on Tuesday. Winning with style would be great,
but we just need to get back to winning ways. Eight games undefeated is
great but it's not if you draw too many and we've just drawn too many of our
last few games after starting the run so well under such amazing
circumstances.

What has been the reaction around the club to the on-field collapse of
Fabrice Muamba on Saturday?

SA - There are a lot of players here who have played with Fabrice. I know
him through Steve Bruce, who is a big mate of mine, and just what a good lad
he is as he had him at Birmingham. Some of the lads here have played with
him at England Under-21 level or at Bolton so they are pretty distraught and
are trying to ring around to get the actualy situation, rather than the
speculation.
We can only hope and pray that, when they bring him round from his sedated
state, they get a massive positive and hopefully he can recover from there.
Football pales into insignificance and we all get wound-up, angry,
frustrated and excited but it doesn't mean a lot in life when you see
something like that.
Kevin Nolan, Matt Taylor, Joey O'Brien, Mark Noble and Henri Lansbury have
all played with Fabrice. They are concerned about his welfare, but we are a
distance away from it. While our deepest sympathies go to him and his family
and we hope he recovers, we're professional and need to get on with the job
in-hand and win a game of football. Hopefully, we'll get some good news
after.

Should football do more to detect heart issues?

SA - This situation always poses that question but I think there is
protection and there is 'is it really necessary?'. In this case, you say
everything was necessary, but top cardiologists have given an opinion and
they say it cannot be detected. This type of situation seems to appear at
any single moment, no matter what. The only way it might be detected is if
you have inherited the condition through your family if someone has suffered
from a similar situation.
It looks like it doesn't matter if you're a top athlete or not - it might
just happen to you anytime, no matter how young or how old you are. If it
had to happen somewhere, it happened in the right place for Fabrice. From a
medical care point of view, the attention he got and how quickly he got it
is going to be critical to the recovery.

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West Ham United v Middlesbrough
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 20th March 2012
By: Preview Percy

Old people. Some age gracefully, moving on in their twilight years with as
much dignity as they can muster, trying as hard as they can not to be a
burden on the younger generation. They can be a font of knowledge with a
wealth of experience gained from a life well-lived over the years.

So quite why Preview Percy is such a complete pain in the backside we can't
imagine. Here he takes a break from writing letters of complaint to the BBC
to have a look at this week's visit of Middlesbrough. Stats round-up from
John Northcutt. It's a team effort, you see....

You'll barely have got home from Yorkshire before it's time to go back out
for the visit of Middlesbrough, who will be our visitors this Tuesday.
Kick-off is 7.45pm.

Before I start on my usual in(s)ane ramblings, I'd just like to add my good
wishes to all those currently on their way to Fabrice Muamba. To say
Saturday's events put football into perspective is something of an
understatement. It has been, however, heartwarming (at least to this bitter
and twisted old fool) to see the almost universal tide of goodwill toward
the player from "the football family" and, if the power of positive thought
(or prayer if you prefer) has anything to do with things, Muamba will be ok.

Ok on to less weighty matters. Boro's current form is what you might call a
bit 'bi-polar'. Of their last six they've won three (3-1 at Millwall and
Pompey and 2-0 at home to Barnsley) and lost three (0-2 at home to Reading
and Leeds and 0-3 away at Brum on Saturday). This has left them in 6th place
with 59 points from 36 games. That's level on points with 4th placed
Birmingham and 5th placed Blackpool, though both Birmingham and Blackpool
have a game in hand on the Tangerines.

Boro' are also a point clear of Hull in 7th, Cardiff in 8th and Brighton in
9th, though both Boro' and Hull have a game in hand over the Bluebirds and
the Seagulls. With the top play-off place seemingly destined for one of us,
Reading or Southampton that leaves six clubs separated by one point chasing
(probably) three places. Which is nice.

It appears that the defeat at St Andrews at the weekend was about as
comprehensive as the scoreline suggests, though a brief perusal of match
reports would indicate that there was the odd chance or two to equalise at
1-0 which, had they been taken, might have altered the direction of the
match. Life's like that.

They had a quiet transfer window with their priority seemingly being to keep
hold of the likes of Bates, Bennett and Williams, a target that they managed
to achieve. Despite the obvious Welshness of his name, Rhys Williams is a
full Aussie international (or 'Socceroo' as they will insist on referring to
such players). Through various combinations of parentage and grandparentage,
qualified for international recognition for England, India and, yes, Wales.

He has two younger brothers in the game; Ryan is currently working his way
through the ranks at Fulham whilst Aryn is in a similar position at Fulham.
All of which tells us that Mr and Mrs Williams really need to enlist help in
the naming department if they're planning on having any more kids. Rhys is
currently hors de combat with ankle ligament problems that will probably see
him miss this one.

Having little in the way of available funds, the lack of sales activity
meant that there was limited scope to do much on the purchasing ledger side
of things. The one significant arrival in January was Lukas Jutkiewicz from
Coventry for something like £1.3m. Jutkiewicz actually signed on an
emergency loan basis – something that allowed him to play for Boro' while
the two clubs were sorting out the fine print of the transfer deal.

Since his arrival from a few miles away from Highfield Road he's netted but
twice in 12 games (one in ten in the league and one in two in the Cup). Even
when you add in his nine goals (all league) for Coventry this term that
still leaves him second in the Boro' chart.

Top of that particular chart is Marvin Emnes who has 15 goals in all
competitions, 11 of which have been in the league. Emnes set off like Jesse
Owens (ok younger readers Usain Bolt if you must) at the start of the
season, netting seven in his first seven matches. However, goals have been a
bit thinner on the ground of late. In fact he went between November and
February without troubling the league statisticians. Which is probably why
Tony Mowbray felt the need to blow his transfer budget on Jutkiewicz.

Another absentee will be left winger Barry Robson. He's twiddling his thumbs
on the naughty step following a late kick at Adam Clayton in the home defeat
to Leeds. I must admit I felt much the same way when I heard the last U2
album.

Robson used to have a goal to his name for the Scottish national side.
Following up James McFadden's penalty in a World Cup qualifier a few years
back against Iceland (then Bejam), it was a race between Robson and McFadden
to stick away the rebound. This was a race that McFadden appeared to have
won. So FIFA gave the goal to Robson, obviously, only to change their mind
six months later.

I suppose when you're as poor a team as Scotland it matters quite a lot
which of your players scored – I mean with so few goals being scored it'd be
a bit embarrassing not knowing who was responsible. Robson was one of the
million players brought to Boro' from Celtic when Gordon Strachan made the
same move at managerial level, and his absence is something that Boro' will
be getting used to as he's off to Vancouver Whitecaps as soon as the season
ends.

And so to us. Injuries? Well you can add Tomkins (calf) to the list of
probable absentees that includes Demel (strained purlicue), Diop
(hamstring), Vaz Te (ditto), Reid (who presumably must has one of those
comedy bumps on his head like you see in cartoons) and Faubert (groin).

The draw on Saturday seems to have produced mixed feelings amongst the
faithful. I reckon that the point up at Elland Road was a decent one and is
one that normally, taken on its own merits at face value, would usually have
met with general approval. Only results elsewhere seem to have dulled its
lustre.

Southampton proved once more that there is no leg too far out of his way for
Lambert to fall over and surely the time has come for them to run out of
dubious refereeing decisions to save them from the defeat that has been
coming for a while. Reading did what was expected of them against Barnsley
and our match against them at the end of the month is looking to be a six
pointer.

I think this one will see us return to winning ways – Boro' aren't exactly
firing on all cylinders at present and, even if we're similarly spluttering,
at least we're not losing. I reckon that we'll be too strong for them. I
shall therefore elect to place the Rest Home's catering budget for the week
(£2.50) on a 3-1 win to us.

Enjoy the game!

When last we met: Won 2-0. An early goal from Piquionne and a late one from
Cole book-ended one of our better performances of the season.

Referee: Scott Mathieson. Displayed a less than satisfactory knowledge of
the laws of the game the last time he was in charge of one of our matches
(the 1-0 win over Barnsley). So much so that Mr Allardyce took his
frustration out on a tray of plastic bottles, a kick that saw him sent to
the stands once the 4th official had grassed him up.

Danger Man: Marvin Emnes. Although he's gone off the boil since his storming
start to the season we have had this habit over the years of being sequence
busters...

Daft Fact Of The Week: Every time there's a major royal anniversary or some
significant date like the millennium, the mayor of Middlesbrough fills out
the competition form for his town to become a city (I think that my town
should be a city because...). Every year the organisers have a good laugh at
the entry before binning it. This year Middlesbrough lost out to St Asaph,
which is a small cottage so obscure even the Welsh nationalists haven't
gotten round to burning it down yet. Meanwhile the mayor of Middlesbrough
has given up on the city idea and has returned to doing 'Spot The Ball'
instead.

Stat man John: Northcutt's corner

Head to Head
Pld 63; West Ham Utd 26, Middlesbrough 24, Draws 13.

Biggest Win
16th May 1999: West Ham Utd 4-0 Middlesbrough (Boleyn Ground, Premiership)

Heaviest Defeat
30th October 1954: Middlesbrough 6-0 West Ham Utd (Ayresome Park, Division
One)

First Meeting
3rd February 1912: Middlesbrough 1-1 West Ham Utd (Ayresome Park, FA Cup 2nd
Round)

Last Five Meetings
29th November 2011: 2-0 (Riverside Stadium, Championship)
24th May 2009: 2-1 (Boleyn Ground, Premier League)
25th February 2009: 0-2 (Riverside Stadium, FA Cup 5th Round replay)
14th February 2009: 1-1 (Boleyn Ground, FA Cup 5th Round)
1st November 2008: 1-1 (Riverside Stadium, Premier League)

Memorable Match
23rd April 2006: West Ham Utd 1-0 Middlesbrough (Villa Park, FA Cup Semi
Final)

West Ham reached the 2006 FA Cup FA Cup Final against Liverpool courtesy of
Marlon Harewood's 78th minute winner in a tightly-fought semi-final at a
packed Villa Park having previously beaten Norwich, Blackburn, Bolton and
Man City. However the abiding memory of the day happened before a ball had
even been kicked. Four days before the semi final, the club was rocked by
the news of the passing of former manager John Lyall. A minutes' silence was
held before the game, but just a few seconds in one lone supporter broke
into a chorus of 'Johnny Lyall's claret and blue army' - and was followed by
the entire away support. It was an outstanding and unique tribute to
possibly the club's greatest manager.

You're Off! Red Cards Received
Shaka Hislop (Riverside Stadium, 1999-2000); Tomas Repka (Riverside Stadium,
2001-02).

They Played For Both
Brian Deane; John Dow; Jeremie Aladiere; Paul Ince; Sam Jennings; Matthew
Kilgallon; Mido; Gary O'Neil; Robbie Stockdale; Frank Piercy.

Bossing It
Our former player Malcolm Allison was Middlesbrough manager between 1982 and
1984.

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Sam not bothered by flak
West Ham boss sets target for automatic promotion
Last Updated: March 20, 2012 9:08am
SSN

Sam Allardyce has insisted he can cope with any negativity from West Ham
supporters, while he has set a target of 23 points from their final ten
games of the season to secure automatic promotion. The Hammers have slipped
to third in the Championship following a run of three straight draws and
some fans have made their frustration at recent performances clear.
Allardyce can understand their feelings but says he can put up with the
boo-boys and remain focused on the task of trying to steer West Ham back to
the Premier League. "I have got two skins on top of my own," he said in the
Daily Mirror. "I could put my rhino skin on if it gets half bad, and if it
gets really bad I can put my elephant skin on top of that. "I have got two
skins on top of my own. I could put my rhino skin on if it gets half bad,
and if it gets really bad I can put my elephant skin on top of that. "
"That's life. It's what you have to deal with no matter where you go. At one
stage, you're going to get abused.
"With playing or managing, things are going to get a bit sticky as nobody
has patience now. But if you excite the fans, they'll get behind you."

Pressure

Southampton and Reading are currently three points clear of West Ham in what
is looking like a three-way battle for automatic promotion, and Allardyce
knows his men must enjoy a strong finish to break back into the top two. "I
think 23 points will be enough, that is the realistic target if you want
automatic promotion," he said.
"It is quite simple, 90 points has been good enough these past few years.
It's a big target, but one we are capable of." West Ham entertain fellow
promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough at Upton Park on Tuesday night and
Allardyce has urged his players to keep calm.

Live on Sky Sports
West Ham v Middlesbro'
March 20, 2012 7:30pm

He added: "We have been anxious in front of our own fans recently. "It has
been difficult for them to feel comfortable in their own environment. But if
we don't stay calm, it could cause the nerve endings to jangle. "Players
want to win more than the fans, whatever the fans think. "That's why we do
this job. We enjoy pressure - we want to win and send the fans home happy."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce sets promotion target
Sam Allardyce can cope with any negativity from fans, while he has set West
Ham a target of 23 points from the final 10 games for promotion.
Football365
Last Updated: 20/03/12 at 09:16 Post Comment

The Hammers have slipped to third in the Championship following a run of
three straight draws and some fans have made their frustration at recent
performances clear. Allardyce can understand their feelings but says he can
put up with the boo-boys and remain focused on the task of trying to steer
West Ham back to the Premier League. "I have got two skins on top of my
own," he said in the Daily Mirror. "I could put my rhino skin on if it gets
half bad, and if it gets really bad I can put my elephant skin on top of
that. "That's life. It's what you have to deal with no matter where you go.
At one stage, you're going to get abused. "With playing or managing, things
are going to get a bit sticky as nobody has patience now. But if you excite
the fans, they'll get behind you."

Southampton and Reading are currently three points clear of West Ham in what
is looking like a three-way battle for automatic promotion, and Allardyce
knows his men must enjoy a strong finish to break back into the top two. "I
think 23 points will be enough, that is the realistic target if you want
automatic promotion," he said.
"It is quite simple, 90 points has been good enough these past few years.
It's a big target, but one we are capable of."

West Ham entertain fellow promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough at Upton Park on
Tuesday night and Allardyce has urged his players to keep calm. He added:
"We have been anxious in front of our own fans recently. "It has been
difficult for them to feel comfortable in their own environment. But if we
don't stay calm, it could cause the nerve endings to jangle. "Players want
to win more than the fans, whatever the fans think. "That's why we do this
job. We enjoy pressure - we want to win and send the fans home happy."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham vs Middlesbrough: Hammers to revive promotion bid
Upton Park victory will see Sam Allardyce's side re-ignite top two finish
aspirations
Ladbrokes.co.uk

West Ham's bid for automatic promotion has stalled of late, but they can end
their recent inconsistent Championship form by beating Middlesbrough at 4/5.
Their visitors Middlesbrough have lost their last two games without finding
the net, and are therefore lengthy at 7/2 to win at Upton Park. Meanwhile,
the draw is available at 5/2, and some punters may be interested in those
odds considering that West Ham have drawn their last three Championship
fixtures. The Hammers were assertive in recording a 2-0 victory over 'Boro
at the Riverside Stadium earlier in the season, and the 8/1 odds about them
triumphing by the same scoreline here looks an attractive price. Only four
sides have scored more than Allardyce's men though, and so it could pay
dividends to back a 3-0 scoreline at a longer 12/1.

Also, given Middlesbrough's recent woes in front of goal, it makes sense to
back the home side to win with 2 or fewer goals in the match at 10/3, and
also to win with three or more goals going in at 9/5. Half markets could be
worth paying attention to in this match too, and as West Ham have been ahead
in half of their eighteen Upton Park games by the break, the 8/5 odds on
them leading at half-time and full-time here look generous. It is 7/2 that
the teams go into the break level with West Ham eventually coming out on
top, and bearing in mind that the Hammers have yet to go into half-time
behind this season, this price could also be worth investing in.

Frederic Piquionne and Carlton Cole got West Ham's goals in the reverse
fixture earlier this term, and with the former out on loan, Cole is 9/2
favourite to notch first on Tuesday. His captain Kevin Nolan is good value
at 5/1 for the opener however, whilst Mark Noble is reliable from the
penalty spot, and can be backed at 9/1 to break the deadlock.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Cavenaghi rumour
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 20th March 2012
By: Staff Writer

Twitter is not exactly known as the most reliable source when it comes to
transfer rumours. With anybody being able to set themselves up as a
purported 'ITK' on the social network - as we have seen increasingly during
the past few transfer windows - the vast majority turn out to be false
prophets. So bearing that in mind, the following should perhaps be taken
with a rather large dose of salt. However one self-appointed 'ITK', who
calls himself 'Agent_ITK' has started one of the most interesting and
intriguing rumours to circulate for a while.

According to the Twitter account - which has been active since August 2011 -
West Ham are interested in signing former Argentinian international Fernando
Cavenaghi on loan for the remainder of the current season with view to a
permanent transfer. It has been suggested that the agent - understood to be
a gentleman named Marcelo Simonian - has arrived in London today in order to
hold talks with the Hammers over a proposed deal, said to be worth around
£7million. Further, Cavenaghi's agent is said to be the guest of the club at
tonight's Championship clash with Middlesbrough - a game that the Hammers
almost certainly need to win to stay in touch with current front-runners
Southampton and Reading.

The 28-year-old striker, who has made four appearances for Argentina - the
first being against Egypt in 2008 - currently plays in the Argentinian
second division with his home town club River Plate, with whom he started
his professional career. Having hit 71 goals in 122 appearances for Los
Millonarios , Cavenaghi was picked up by Russian giants Spartak Moscow in
2004. Moscow, who paid £6.5million for the forward failed to see much of a
reward for their investment and following three difficult seasons in Russia
during which he managed just 13 goals from 53 games, the player was on his
way to France where he joined Bordeaux for a fee estimated to be worth
around £9million.

After three-and-a-half years across the channel - that included brief loan
spells with Mallorca (Spain) and Internacional (Brazil) - Cavenaghi returned
to Argentina last summer to rejoin River Plate who had sensationally been
relegated from the Argentinian top flight. Having already hit 17 goals in 24
appearances this season, it seems unlikely that River would be keen to sell
him on. However that is exactly what is being claimed today.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Football Firsts
Mitch Ayling of The Milk talks West Ham, hating Spurs and watching England
outside Dixons with Sky Sports.
By Rachel Griffiths - Follow me on Twitter @SkySportsRachG. Last Updated:
March 19, 2012 4:27pm
SSN

The Milk: Release new single 'Broke Up The Family' on April 2nd
.
Essex four-piece The Milk may be made up of fans from three rival London
clubs but drummer and West Ham supporter Mitch Ayling is adamant the band's
blood runs claret and blue. The Milk are currently in the middle of a
27-date UK tour ahead of the release of their new single 'Broke Up The
Family' on April 2nd, meaning cherished afternoons at Upton Park are
currently thin on the ground for Ayling. But the Hammers are never far from
his thoughts and he regaled Sky Sports with some of his earliest memories,
including pre-season friendlies against Billericay Town and growing up with
a "black sheep" Arsenal fan for a brother.

West Ham

My dad is a massive West Ham fan, he'd always take us to Upton Park. It was
either that or Southend, but I've got more to do with East London than I do
with Southend. Our whole family is from the East End, most people from Essex
are. I wish it was the case that all my family were West Ham fans but my
Grandad was an Arsenal fan. When Luke, the bass player in the band and my
brother, was young my Grandad got in there first and turned him into an
Arsenal fan. So he's definitely the black sheep of the family. Rick, our
singer, is a West Ham fan and that makes the majority of the band West Ham -
so we are a West Ham band. Dan is a Tottenham supporter so we don't really
listen to anything he says, ever, about football. When Arsenal and Tottenham
were playing the other day and Tottenham were 2-0 up, Dan was getting up in
Luke's grill - and then they go and get five goals back. Dan didn't say a
word. I think he went home.

Hammers pre-season friendly

For some reason I'm thinking it was Leicester at home. But West Ham often do
their pre-season games against Southend and Billericay Town and these places
were on my doorstep. So I've got the impression my first official game would
have been away at one of those and my dad would have taken me as a right
youngster. I think we won, I would have hoped so against Billericay Town. My
dad used to take us a few times when I was a kid, but it was when I left
school and started to earn money for myself that it became a bit of a hobby.
I went up there a couple of times last season because we were a bit quieter,
but the band is so busy now that sadly I'm struggling to get up there. When
we come back off the tour I might be able to catch a couple of games towards
the end of the season, at the business end. I think we can definitely go up,
it'll be good.

Julian Dicks

As soon as I got into football, he was our star man. He was like the first
proper West Ham legend for the generation of when I was a kid. He was on the
brink of the England squad around 1996. He should have got in, he was the
best left-back in the country at the time. Later on I suppose Paulo di Canio
and then there was Joe Cole. I remember when Joe came on the scene it was
the most exciting English footballer we'd had since Gazza. Then there was
Rio (Ferdiand), obviously, Michael Carrick, Frank Lampard. It was brilliant
- I had heroes coming out of my ears.

Jurgen Klinsmann

I know our rivals are Millwall, but it's anyone who plays for Tottenham. I'm
talking the likes of Jurgen Klinsmann and Darren Anderton, I just can't bear
the look of them. Anything involved with Tottenham. We've been in the
Premier League for most of my life, so only for the past couple of seasons
and when we went down a few years back is when we've been playing Millwall.
A lot of my friends are Tottenham fans as well, not many of them are
Millwall fans.

Euro '96

I vaguely remember Italia '90, although I was very young, but it was Euro
'96 when I first knew I was going to get into football. It was the first
time I really got how important international football tournaments are. I
was about 10 at the time, out on my rollerskates and it was England versus
Spain. We missed our bus or something to get back to watch it so we ended up
watching it outside the front of Dixons. That particular game went to
penalties and we actually won a penalty shoot-out, so it started out with me
and Rick sitting out the front on a Saturday afternoon but it went on so
long and by the time all the shops had shut, there was a massive crowd
outside Dixons. Everyone went berserk at the end.

West Ham home 1991-92

It had the old BAC Windows on it. I must have been six or seven, it was
right early on when the Premier League first started, so around 1991. That's
the first kit I can remember but I've got a feeling my dad would have bought
me a bib or something as a kid, like 'West Ham's Best Dribbler'.

Wickford Dynamos

I used to play 11-a-side as a kid. I played all through school but after
leaving school it was all about the band. I wasn't training during the week
or playing on a Sunday, I was usually rehearsing in the week and playing
gigs at the weekend. It was that point that music took over. I was a good
player - not amazing - but I was alright. I played anywhere down the
right-hand side; I was a right-back then on the wing for a bit. I had a
decent right peg. It wasn't about skill or pace, I just had a decent right
foot. There were much better players at that age than me, so it never really
took off.

The brand new single 'Broke Up The Family' from the hotly-tipped Essex
four-piece will be released on April 2nd. Visit The Milk's official website
and place your delivery order today!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 20th March 2012

Gary ready for Boro test
WHUFC.com
Gary O'Neil is targeting a victory over former club Middlesbrough on Tuesday
19.03.2012

Gary O'Neil is looking forward to a date with an familiar friend when West
Ham United take on Middlesbrough on Tuesday evening. However, the No32
insists there will be no old pals act when the Hammers face his former club
at the Boleyn Ground. West Ham are eight games unbeaten, but need a victory
over Tony Mowbray's men if they are to reignite their promotion challenge
and heap the pressure on leaders Southampton and second-place Reading.
Speaking to West Ham TV, O'Neil said the Hammers would take confidence from
their 1-1 draw at Leeds United on Saturday, while the player himself is
feeling fit despite suffering two heavy challenges on his recently-injured
ankle at Elland Road. "I think it was a big goal for us. We didn't deserve
to lose the game. We had enough opportunities in and around their box to
have got a winner earlier, but it was a decent point in the end considering
they scored so late. "I had a chance to put in a decent cross for Kevin
Nolan right at the end, but I made a mess of it and that's probably down to
a lack of games. I'd back myself to put in a decent cross and under the
circumstances it was disappointing because it was the last minute and we
could have gone on and won it. "It was a tough game to come into because it
was quite physical and quite fast and they were being physical. I got a
couple of tackles on the ankle and it was good. I was pleased to get on."The
ankle is not bad. There was a little bit of panic getting caught on it that
badly after being out for so long. There were memories of Aston Villa at
home [when I was injured in April 2011] but it's good. I think I took quite
a big bang on it, so it was good to come through it because we have a big
game on Tuesday. I am ready if needed. "I am desperate to be involved and to
play against my old club. More importantly, we need league points at the
moment."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce is seeking a positive evening for all when Middlesbrough visit
the Boleyn Ground
18.03.2012

Sam Allardyce is hoping West Ham United can build on the last-minute
equaliser they snatched at Leeds United on Saturday. The Hammers players
were all back in training bright and early on Sunday morning with the visit
of Middlesbrough arriving on Tuesday night. The mood in the camp would
certainly have been buoyed by Danny Collins' 90th minute equaliser in the
1-1 draw at Elland Road. "We were always in the game and looked comfortable
and looked like we might create something and get a goal," Big Sam said.
"Leeds is not an easy place to go and no away game is easy. You've got to
earn the right to get the victory and to earn the right to play. "In the
second half we had more space and more opportunity to play but we didn't
find the finish to get one goal in front. I thought we might have nicked the
win when Gary O'Neil went down the right in the last minute with three men
in the box but when you need that bit of vital bit of quality we didn't
produce it to get the goal and win."

James Tomkins' calf injury from Saturday means he is a doubt for the Boro
game, with Ravel Morrison - who made his debut on Saturday - and Gary O'Neil
standing by to replace him. The strength of the squad will be tested with
games with four games scheduled for the next 12 days.

"We're having a little struggle with injuries again. James Tomkins had to
come off with a trapped nerve in the calf, Julien Faubert was at home with
Winston Reid, Guy Demel and Papa Bouba Diop. The earliest we can expect
Ricardo Vaz Te back is against Burnley on Saturday. "We'll need some fresh
legs over the next ten days so that was a disappointment. We coped with the
change well and Gary did a good job when he came on. Ravel got a good feel
for what football was all about. He didn't get much of a touch but at least
he's on the field."

Although the Hammers are unbeaten on home soil since early December, the
last four home matches have ended in draws. If they are to start following
their managers wishes and win against Tony Mowbray's men then Big Sam knows
there must be a positive atmosphere inside the Boleyn Ground.

"Hopefully we can keep the unbeaten run going and start turning the draws
into wins. We need to start doing better at home and we need the fans'
support. We all want the same thing so we need to pull in the same
direction. "We need to help the team across the finishing line. If we are
playing badly then I don't expect to be let off the hook but we aren't
playing badly we just aren't winning."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers united for Muamba
WHUFC.com
The thoughts of everyone at West Ham United are with Fabrice Muamba
19.03.2012

Kevin Nolan has spoken on behalf of everyone at West Ham United in support
of Fabrice Muamba. The Bolton Wanderers midfielder remains in a critical
condition in hospital after collapsing on the pitch at White Hart Lane
during the Trotters' FA Cup quarter-final with Tottenham Hotspur on
Saturday. The news reached the West Ham squad as they travelled back from
Leeds. Hammers captain Nolan played alongside the 23-year-old at Bolton and
is one of a number of Hammers players and staff members to have worked with
the former England Under-21 international. Matt Taylor, Joey O'Brien and
Ricardo Vaz Te played with Muamba at the Reebok Stadium, while Mark Noble,
James Tomkins and Henri Lansbury have lined up with him for England U21s.
The skipper said the thoughts of everyone at the Boleyn Ground are with
Muamba and his family. "I played with Fab at Bolton and he's a great lad,"
Nolan confirmed. "He is a young lad with a young family and we're all just
hoping and praying that he pulls through and everything is fine. We're all
praying for him at the moment. "A lot of the boys here know him from playing
with Fab at Bolton and the England Under-21s, or from playing against him
with Arsenal, Birmingham or Bolton. "We just hope for his young family's
sake and for his little boy that he will pull through and everything will be
fine."

Joint Chairmen David Gold and David Sullivan signed Muamba for Birmingham
from Arsenal on loan in 2007 and on a permanent basis a year later. Mr Gold
tweeted: "Fabrice Muamba is one of the nicest and most respectful young men
I ever met in football. I'm thinking of you Fab, get well soon."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Leicester game moved
WHUFC.com
The away game at Leicester City will now take place on Monday 23 April
19.03.2012

West Ham United's penultimate game away at Leicester City has been moved to
Monday 23 April for live television coverage. The npower Championship match
was originally scheduled for Saturday 21 April but has been moved back by
two days to allow for live Sky Sports coverage. The fixture, which could go
a long way to deciding the Hammers' promotion fate, will now kick-off at
7.45pm. whufc.com will have ticketing news as soon as it is available.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gillingham extend Oliver Lee loan from West Ham
BBC.co.uk

Gillingham have extended West Ham midfielder Oliver Lee's loan spell until
15 April. Lee's loan at Priestfield expired on Sunday but the Gills took up
an option in his contract. The 20-year-old has made six appearances for the
Gills since moving from West Ham at the end of February. With suspensions
and injuries hitting the Gillingham squad hard in recent weeks, Lee has been
given an extended run in the first team. But manager Andy Hessenthaler
believes that it took until their 3-0 win over Cheltenham on Saturday for
the midfielder to finally come good. "There was a slight question mark on
him and he'll tell you himself that he hasn't really got to level that he's
at. "Today he got to that level," Hessenthaler said.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham v Middlesbrough
KO 19:45
19 March 2012
Last updated at 14:04
BBC.co.uk
NPOWER CHAMPIONSHIP
Venue: Upton Park Date: Tuesday 20 March Kick-off: 1945 GMT
Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

TEAM NEWS

James Tomkins is West Ham's latest injury worry for the visit of
Middlesbrough after the defender injured his calf at the weekend. The
Hammers are already without Papa Bouba Diop, Ricardo Vaz Te (both
hamstring), Winston Reid (head), Julien Faubert (groin) and Guy Demel
(thigh).

Boro will be without captain Barry Robson who is still banned following his
red card against Leeds. Utility man Rhys Williams will also be missing with
an ankle ligament problem.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
. West Ham are looking for a 25th win from their 58th league match
against Middlesbrough, who've won 22 of the previous 57.
. The Hammers are unbeaten in six league clashes with Middlesbrough,
winning five of them including the last two. They are hoping to complete a
second double over Boro in five years.
. The Teesside club have lost on their last seven league visits to
Upton Park, scoring only two goals in the process. They last claimed maximum
points on the east London ground in April 2000, with a 1-0 Premier League
triumph.

West Ham United
. West Ham had a third successive 1-1 draw on Saturday, away to Leeds.
. It took their unbeaten league run to eight games, but only three of
those have been victories, leaving them in third spot, three points behind
second-placed Reading, but with a game in hand.
. Sam Allardyce has not seen his side lose in eight games at Upton
Park - since Burnley's visit on 3 December - but neither have they won in
the last four.

Middlesbrough
. Middlesbrough have lost three of their last five league games
without scoring, including the most recent two. It's seen them slip to sixth
place, eight points behind West Ham in third, 11 shy of the top two.
. Tony Mowbray is hoping his side can collect a third win in four
away, although they have not managed to keep a clean sheet in league games
on the road in 2012.
. They are also still seeking the one goal that will take their total
in Championship games under the current manager to 100.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
So what do you really want?
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 19th March 2012
By: Paul Walker

Ok, so let's get things straight once and for all as we face the final ten
games of this relentlessly demanding season.

Two questions. Do we want to stay in the Championship a second longer than
is necessary? Secondly, are we happy to continue abusing our own manager and
players with so much at stake over the final weeks of the season?

If the answers to both question are not a resounding NO on both occasions,
then you should really take a hard look at yourself.

Whether you think it is right or not that manager and players have got the
hump with the Boleyn fans over booing, the reality is that they have. Big
Sam is even claiming (in his Evening Standard column) that our players are
actually "frightened" of playing at home.

The damage that is causing is obvious to anyone casting an eye over the
league table. We have given away 21 points at home. Reading have conceded 20
and Southampton 12. Such fine margins will dictate who goes up.

My view is that a debate on whether players, who live in a financial bubble
with some being paid in one week what fans earn in a year, should feel this
way, is pointless.

Yes, they should be able to handle such pressure and do their job. But the
reality is different. There's also a valid discussion to be had over our
style of play, but not now.

The time has come for hostilities and booing to end. The greater objective
is too important. If we stay in this division one more season, the financial
implications are devastating, reading David Sullivan's interview with Iain
Dale recently over our financial situation should have left nobody in any
doubt.

Our debts, overall funding, quality of squad and ability to attract players
depends on us winning promotion this season. Sullivan's comments about
exactly where we are, made me feel sick to the pit of my stomach. The debt
does not seem to being cut significantly, it's being managed and the owners
are funding the promotion chase.

This club could change forever more if we cannot get back into the Premier
League and take our share of the vast wealth being generated there.

So for a matter of about six weeks before the season ends, surely we should
give every ounce of support we can muster to this team. There's no point in
berating Sam over tactics at this stage, he isn't going to change and does
not have the creative ability in the squad to do so anyway, in my view.

And if the players are using the booing at home as an excuse, then we should
make sure that problem is no longer an issue. Fans maintain they have every
right to express a view, and they have, even if I wish people would think
first. But for six weeks, can we have a truce?

I am led to believe that the players were upset with the crowd reaction
after the Palace draw, and that they were not afforded greater credit for
their performances in three previous matches with ten men, in particular the
win at Blackpool.

I also understand that Big Sam has a group of fans who sit behind the home
dug-out area who are not slow to let him know what they feel. He's big
enough and ugly enough to handle that, it is not harming the performance on
the pitch.

It was evident during the Watford game that players were turning to the
crowd appealing for more noise and support, Abdoulaye Faye, Ricardo Vaz Te
and Mark Noble all turned to different areas of the ground urging more
support, in desperation at times.

I feel that the booing has been blown up out of all proportion anyway. But
it has become an issue because the players have made it so. And I don't take
kindly to a Spurs-supporting pal who asks me now if I'm booing my team.
Enough is enough.

So let's just give it a rest for the greater good of the club. People are
entitled to their opinions, we pay good money for tickets and are in an age
that demands for instant success, so patience is getting shorter from fans
who have still not really got over the disgrace of last season.

But I also believe players have pointed out that it is fine for the crowd to
bawl out Bubbles before the game, but that when the game starts the stadium
falls silent. Faye - and now Danny Collins - for example, have experienced
something very different at Stoke.

We have six weeks to put things right, to give the manager and players the
platform they want to perform, then there can be no excuses. Too many
players have left this club over recent years and complained about the fans
here, let's take away that final excuse this season.

The manager and players are quick to highlight the different atmosphere they
believe that emanates from the away support. Nearly 5,000 were at Leeds to
see an undistinguished game, but a vital point and a battling performance.

It was never going to be pretty, no game against a Neil Warnock side ever
is. But standing watching Leeds score with seven minutes left, I did wonder
what the reaction would have been had that happened at the Boleyn.

But the away fans just got on with things and kept pushing the players on,
to be rewarded with Collins' equaliser. In isolation, a point at Elland Road
is a good one, it's never been our happiest hunting ground.

I notice Warnock was complaining (not a surprise) about a perceived foul by
Carlton Cole in the build-up to Collins' equaliser. But he was strangely
quiet about Michael Brown's clear two-handed offence in the box in the first
half.

Warnock was given loud and deserved dogs' abuse by the visiting fans, who
found themselves conveniently placed almost behind the home dug-out. Carlos
Tevez's name hammered Warnock's ears.

The former Sheffield United boss turned and gave us a smile and a wiggle of
his bum at the end, at least he can take and give out stick. There's no
point is asking why our fragile players cannot do the same.

Sadly, away wins by Southampton and Reading left us that bit further away
from the top two places in the league.

But Sam and the players interviewed afterward were determinedly positive.
That has to be the only reaction, because negativity at this stage achieves
nothing when you are ten games from the end of the season.

What we have to do now is go on the sort of run that has taken Reading ahead
of us. Sam is still talking of 90 points to be sure, so maybe seven more
wins and a draw or two will reach that target.

That is not impossible. Reading have to visit us, Southampton and Birmingham
in their final nine games, plus matches against Blackpool, Leeds and
Brighton. If they win that lot, they deserve to go up.

Southampton play Hull, Blackpool, Reading and Middlesbrough. So there is
scope for them to slip up as well.

So negative talk of us blowing it should end. There is still almost a third
of the season left in six frantic weeks. As fans we should put all our
complaints to one side and give this great club the best possible chance to
win promotion. The alternative does not bear thinking about.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gold's warning
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 19th March 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham co-owner David Gold has issued a thinly-veiled warning to Sam
Allardyce after the Hammers fell further behind in the promotion race at the
weekend.
Despite pulling off a creditable draw at Leeds thanks to Danny Collins'
90th-minute equaliser on Saturday afternoon, West Ham found themselves three
points behind second-placed Reading and five behind leaders Southampton
after both won at Barnsley and Millwall respectively. And Gold, who faced
the fury of disappointed Hammers fans via Twitter on Saturday night admitted
that the situation would have to improve soon. Despite stating that, "We are
7 [matches] unbeaten" (it's actually eight) Gold, when questioned whether he
would be content with a top-six finish, added: "No, I will not be satisfied
with a play-off place. We have to start winning and I think we will."

Despite remaining unbeaten since the 5-1 defeat at Ipswich on 31st January,
West Ham have managed to win just two of their last seven matches, with only
the difficult away matches at Blackpool and Cardiff resulting in three
points gained. Meanwhile draws again Southampton, Crystal Palace, Watford
and Doncaster at the Boleyn Ground - plus Saturday's stalemate at Elland
Road - have left Allardyce's team playing catch-up with just ten games of
the season to play. The first of which comes against Middlesbrough at the BG
tomorrow evening; a good crowd is expected for a match from which anything
less than a win is likely to leave the Hammers facing an uphill task to
achieve automatic promotion.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Spoil Sports
KUMB,.com
Filed: Monday, 19th March 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United's final away game of the season has been moved from a
Saturday afternoon to a Monday night at the behest of Sky TV. Once again
another weekend away has been spoiled for travelling fans in order that Sky
Sports fill their Monday night slot. Initially planned for Saturday, 21st
April at 3pm, the match will now take place on Monday, 23rd April at 7:45pm.
Many of those supporters hoping to attend the match will now have to book at
least half-a-day off work in order to make the game - West Ham's penultimate
fixture of the Championship season.

West Ham's remaining fixtures

Middlesbrough (h); Burnley (a); Peterborough (a); Reading (h); Barnsley (a);
Birmingham (h); Brighton (h); Bristol City (a); Leicester (a); Hull (h).

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tomkins to miss 'Boro test
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 19th March 2012
By: Staff Writer

James Tomkins will miss tomorrow night's visit of Middlesbrough - but should
be back for Saturday's trip to Burnley. That's according to the latest
missive via Twitter from co-chairman David Gold who was questioned about the
central defender by Hammers fans. "James Tomkins' injury isn't as bad as
first thought," tweeted Gold, adding: "[He] should be back for Saturday".

Tomkins failed to appear for the second half of Saturday's 1-1 draw with
Leeds at Elland Road on Saturday after sustaining an injury as the first
half drew to a close.
The 22-year-old central defender, who was once again playing in the holding
role just ahead of the back four fell awkwardly after attempting to win the
ball on the edge of West Ham's penalty area. Up until that point, the former
England under 21 - who celebrates his 23rd birthday in ten days time - had
been an effective force in nullifying the Leeds threat, going some way to
justifying his inclusion in the Championship managers' top ten players of
the season which was announced last week.

Fortunately for Sam Allaryce - who is also without the injured Winston Reid
(the New Zealander likely to miss the rest of the season with a shoulder
injury) - having signed Danny Collins from Stoke on an emergency loan last
week, he has cover for the central defensive position. Collins will be keen
to repeat his exploits of Saturday when he marked his full debut for West
Ham with the last-gasp equaliser that earned United what could yet prove to
be a vital point in the race for promotion.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham v Middlesbrough preview
Last updated: 19th March 2012
SSN

Team news ahead of the Championship clash between West Ham and Middlesbrough
at Upton Park on Tuesday. James Tomkins is West Ham's latest injury worry.
The England Under-21 international had to come off during Saturday's 1-1
draw at Leeds due to a calf problem and is set to miss out. Tomkins, usually
a centre-half, has been playing in midfield as Papa Bouba Diop remains
sidelined with a hamstring injury. Winger Ricardo Vaz Te will be out for at
least another week with his hamstring problem while Winston Reid (head),
Julien Faubert (groin) and Guy Demel (thigh) are still carrying knocks.
Ravel Morrison, who made his first Hammers appearance as a late substitute
at Elland Road, could therefore be in line for a full debut while Gary
O'Neil is also on standby.

Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray will be without influential midfielder Barry
Robson once again. The Scotland international will sit out the second
instalment of the three-match ban be picked up for his sending-off in the
2-0 home defeat by Leeds. Utility man Rhys Williams will also be missing as
he recovers from the ankle ligament problem he suffered during the same
game. Faris Haroun's hamstring injury continues to be assessed, but he
remains a doubt for the game at Upton Park.
Goalkeeper Danny Coyne is back in training after a calf problem, but striker
Scott McDonald, while making good progress, continues his rehabilitation for
medial ligament damage.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Lee extends stay with Gills
Last Updated: March 19, 2012 5:35pm
SSN

Olly Lee has extended his loan stay with Gillingham by a further month. The
midfielder, 20, arrived at Priestfield on a youth loan from West Ham last
month and has made five appearances to date, his most impressive coming in
Saturday's 3-0 victory at Cheltenham. Speaking of Lee's performance, boss
Andy Hessenthaler told the club's official website: "We saw the best bits of
Olly and to be honest we haven't seen that yet, we know what he can do.
"I've seen him at West Ham and I think he produced what we have all been
waiting for and he will tell you that himself." Lee, who is not expected to
be handed a new deal by the Hammers in the summer, will now remain with
Gillingham until at least April 15.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Purge Your Negative Thoughts & Get Behind the Team!
March 19th, 2012 - 6:39 pm by Iain Dale

Paul Walker has written a superb rally call on Kumb today. Read his article
- above...

I feel like writing something similar myself, but with only 20 minutes to go
before I go on air with my LBC show I had better resist temptation.

OK, I wasn't at the Leeds game, but the negativity from people commenting
during the game and since has to be seen to be believed. Yes, it's
disappointing not to get a win, but people seem to forget we're unbeaten in
8. Yes, Reading and Southampton are on great runs and we need to start
winning rather than drawing to ensure a top two finish. But are we going to
do that by wallowing in our own negativity? It's a simple question with a
simple answer. No.

I can't be at the Middlesbrough game tomorrow, but if I were, I'd be
shouting myself horse. I wouldn't boo a player having an off day either. We
will get promotion by sticking together, backing the team, backing the
manager and trying not to react to setbacks by jerking our knees.

COME. ON. YOU. IRONS!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Fan flak doesn't bother me - Allardyce
Published 22:30 19/03/12 By Alex Shaw
The Mirror

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce insists he is tough enough to deal with Upton
Park's boo-boys. Big Sam has come under fire from some fans in recent weeks,
following disappointing home draws with Crystal Palace, Watford and
Doncaster. But Allardyce, whose third-placed side host promotion rivals
Middlesbrough- on Tuesday, says he can cope with the detractor-s - while
also targeting 23 more points from their final 10 games to avoid the
play-offs. He said: "I have got two skins on top of my own. "I could put my
rhino skin on if it gets half bad, and if it gets really bad I can put my
elephant skin on top of that. "That's life. It's what you have to deal with
no matter where you go. At one stage, you're going to get abused. "With
playing or managing, things are going to get a bit sticky as nobody has
patience now. But if you excite the fans, they'll get behind you. "I think
23 points will be enough, that is the realistic target if you want automatic
promotion. "It is quite simple, 90 points has been good enough these past
few years. It's a big target, but one we are capable of."

Allardyce has urged his men to keep calm tonight and pick up a 10th home win
of the season. He added: "We have been anxious in front of our own fans
recently.
"It has been difficult for them to feel comfortable in their own
environment. But if we don't stay calm, it could cause the nerve endings to
jangle. "Players want to win more than the fans, whatever- the fans think.
"That's why we do this job. We enjoy pressure - we want to win and send the
fans home happy."

Boro have lost three of their last five matches and boss Tony Mowbray is
using his special wall chart for inspiration. He said: "I break down the
whole season and colour code it. "There are red games for losses, but there
are plenty of yellow and green games. Maybe too many yellows, draws.
"There's positivity there. We must keep believing."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Muamba's 'best friend in football' Hoyte may miss West Ham clash over heart
attack horror
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 22:32, 19 March 2012 | UPDATED: 22:32, 19 March 2012
Daily Mail

Middlesbrough defender Justin Hoyte will decide late on Tuesday whether he
is in the right mental state to play at West Ham. The former Arsenal full
back is a close friend of Fabrice Muamba and on Saturday, as he headed back
from his side's game at Birmingham, he was one of the first footballers to
tweet his support for the Bolton midfielder. Hoyte wrote: 'I hope my best
friend in football is ok. Stay strong bro. God is with u.' Hoyte travelled
to London with the rest of the squad after training on Monday but manager
Tony Mowbray said the defender will decide whether he plays. Mowbray, who
watched the horror at White Hart Lane unfold with his players on the team
bus, said: 'I have every respect for Justin. I will gauge his frame of mind
and what he is thinking but ultimately it will be down to him.'

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 19th March 2012

Youth Team Interview - Blair Turgott
Youth Reporter 10:45 Sat Mar 17
West Ham Online

The West Ham United has been known as the Academy of Football for nearly 50
Years. It has produced many talented footballers that have gone on to very
successful careers both at club and international levels. World Cup winners
Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters all started their careers at West
Ham and since then, through the last 5 decades the Academy have continued to
produce many more, even this season we have seen the debuts of Dan Potts and
Rob Hall. Trying to add their name to that impressive list is Blair Turgott
who at just 17 years of age has already signed a professional contract with
the club. I caught up with Blair after today's match to find out a bit more
on one of our most promising youths and get his thoughts on The Academy.

YR: Tell us a bit about yourself before joining The Academy?

BT: My Dad (Bob) runs a football team in South London where I grew up and at
about 6 years old myself and some lads got together and played for him. We
got quite good and so entered a league, then when I was 9 I got a trial at
West Ham.

YR: Were any other clubs interested in you at that time?

BT: Yes, most of the other London clubs were interested in me, Charlton and
other South London clubs wanted me and I was close to signing for Arsenal.

YR: How did it feel having big clubs interested in you and Why did you
choose West Ham?

BT: It was brilliant, but especially having West Ham interested because they
are known for their academy. When I heard they wanted me I knew that's where
I wanted to be. My brother had been here a few years ago so I knew it was a
good place to be.

YR: Did you know the scout was watching you, how does that work?

BT: No not really, a couple of times after a game a scout would come up to
my dad or the manager after a game and give him his business card and say
I'm interested in this player or that player. I remember once there was a
big cup final game between us and our closest rivals and we knew that a lot
of clubs would have been watching, so although I was quite nervous when
you're so young you just concentrate on enjoying the football. From that
team about 6 or 7 players went on to sign for league clubs, including me and
Lamar Hurley here at West Ham.

YR: Describe an average day at The Academy?

BT: We come here to Little Heath in the morning and have certain jobs that
have to be done, only once the jobs are done do we start training. After
morning Training we come back in and change before heading over to Chadwell
Heath to have lunch and in the afternoon either do another training session
or a gym session.

YR: Do you get to mix with the first team and manager at all?

BT: Yes, quite a lot actually. On a Friday we have a 11 v 11 game with the
starting 11 First team for the next match against the U18's, We are asked to
watch videos of the opposition and then line up and play as we expect them
to. So for instance when we play Leeds I was asked to play the role
Snodgrass would play, hopefully it gives the 1st an idea on what to expect
and we get to learn from the first team plus it means Mr Allardyce gets a
good look at us too.

YR: I've seen you play Right midfield, Left Midfield and striker, where do
you think is your best position?

BT: Probably right midfield, but I also like to play the number 10 free role
just off the striker where you're not too restricted and can get involved
with play more.

YR: Who is the best player you have played against?

BT: Really hard question because there is a lot of talent around at youth
level , when I was 15 I was playing for the U16's and came up against Josh
McEachran and he was really good.

YR: You made your England debut in 2009 against Northern Ireland, explain
how that felt?

BT: Ah it was just amazing! There was a camp before where we did light
training and got the squad together. The night before we all sit down and
there is a small power point presentation of who is in the team and how and
where we are going to play, when I found out I was playing I was just
buzzin' had butterflies the lot. Pulling on the England shirt, walking out
the tunnel and singing along with the National Anthem was one of the best
experiences ever. Sadly I'm too old for Under 17's for the Euros this year
but I aim to push into the U19 squad for next year.

YR: How would you like to see your career progress?

BT: I just want to keep playing football, keep doing well and hopefully
break into the West Ham first team. When I first started out I just wanted
to do the best I could, now when I'm around a big club and big players I
want to fulfil my potential and of course the dream is to play in the
Premier League.

YR: Do you think you are good enough for the first team now?

BT: I still need to strengthen up my frame, playing against men I know I
need to work on getting a bit stronger, technically I'd might be in with a
shout but I just need to work hard and be patient and whether I'm in youths,
reserves or 1st team just work hard and be the best I can.

YR: Lots of the youths seem to go out on loan, is that something you'd be
happy doing?

BT: It's something I would consider of course, I need to concentrate on
doing well for the development squad next year and then if clubs see me and
want to take me on load I'd consider it then. Getting first team experience
is needed, it's all very well doing good with the reserves but that 3
O'clock kick off in front of lots of fans is different and going out on loan
can give you that experience.

YR: What other players should we be looking out for from The Academy?

BT: As a group we have some very good players, it would be unfair to mention
just 1 or 2 as there are quite a few who have a good future. We've already
seen Rob Hall and Dan Potts get their debuts this year but I really think
that in the next year we could see a few more.

YR: Is there more or less of a chance of that happening should we get
promoted?

BT: It's hard because when we get in the Premier League the aim will be to
stay there so a manager could be tempted to go and buy experienced players,
but if as a reserve player you're doing well in the Development squad or out
on loan then there is no reason you wouldn't be in with a shout.

YR: @blairturgott is your Twitter name, you seem to enjoy it on there, why
should people follow you?

BT: Ha yeah I enjoy it, I like the banter. I speak my mind and don't take
myself too seriously. It's good to be able to go somewhere and be able to
speak you mind.

YR: I have to ask this for the website I post on – what is your favourite
flavour crisps?

BT: (laughs) Salt and Vinegar

YR: Thanks very much for taking the time to chat, when you get your first
team debut maybe I can interview you again?

BT: Nice one Little Man, yeah I'd like that, thank you it's been good.

I would like to thank Blair again for being good to chat to in my first
(hopefully of many) interview with the youth team. Blair will be starting
his second year of his professional contract next year and will be moving on
to the reserve team/development squad. We wish him well and look forward to
seeing him progress into the first team. You can keep up to date with him on
Twitter @blairturgott or with the whole of the youth team by following me
@WillisJamieson

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Championship
Saturday, 17th March 2012
Leeds United 1
West Ham United 1
by James May
KUMB.com

Another game, another point.
The undefeated run may well have stretched to eight games but with
Southampton and Reading both recording wins this weekend; we lose more
ground on our promotion rivals.

In all fairness, a point at Elland Road against a rejuvenated Leeds side who
have been on form and on a high since Neil Warnock took charge is not a bad
result. And the last minute equaliser courtesy of new boy Danny Collins made
the point seem that much sweeter.

However, all in all the performance yesterday was uninspiring and average at
best. The last three performances, all ending in one all draws are not
performances of a side trying to gain automatic promotion back to the
Premier League. With ten games to go, we need to start converting these
points into three or otherwise another nervous playoff campaign will have to
be endured.

West Ham took 4,000 fans to Yorkshire, making for an electric and intense
atmosphere. Julien Faubert, Papa Bouba Diop and Winston Reid were all ruled
out, all of which were big losses. For me, Diop has been a major loss in the
past few weeks as he is the only defensive midfielder we have and offers us
great power and drive in the middle of the park. Faubert has been very good
this season and his pace, which we often lack from elsewhere, and width has
been key recently.

Big Sam went with a starting line-up of Green in goal, O'Brien, Faye,
Collins and McCartney at the back and a midfield trio of Tomkins, Noble and
Nolan. Collison and Taylor played wide with Nicky Maynard being the solitary
man up top. The bench consisted of new loan signing Stephen Henderson, Gary
O'Neil, Ravel Morrison, Sam Baldock and Carlton Cole.

I think given the options available to Allardyce, the team was not really
surprising. Perhaps playing Maynard over Cole was the toughest decision to
make but given our performances away at Blackpool and Cardiff, where Maynard
started, it was fair to stick with him up front.

The game in truth was not the most pleasing on the eye and never really got
going until the final 10 minutes. In the first twenty minutes of the game
there were very few chances for either side as the game developed into a
midfield battle. The dangerous Robert Snodgrass fired a hopeful shot wide
and a very optimistic penalty claim for handball from Leeds was all the game
could must in the early stages.

Just after the twenty minute mark we produced our first meaningful chance.
After some good football in the midfield Nolan found Taylor who flicked it
into the path of Maynard. The frontman's touch took it away from the Leeds
defender but unfortunately was just too heavy. Maynard and Leeds keeper Andy
Lonergan met the ball at the same time and unluckily for West Ham Lonergan
came out with the ball.

Just minutes later Leeds almost found a way through. After some good work
from Snodgrass cutting in from the left, his pass looked to have put in Ross
McCormack who had the goal at his mercy. However back came Matty Taylor to
crucially intercept and clear his lines to keep the scores level.

From then on until the half time whistle, chances really were few and far
between. It just seemed that neither team were brave enough to attack in
numbers and really take the game to the opposition. Nolan sliced a shot
horribly wide after Collison had dragged it back from the byline. While
looking very solid at the back, we were struggling to break Leeds down and
lacking creativity and width.

Leeds had their best spell of the half for the final ten minutes before the
break. Snodgrass hit a 25 yard free kick agonisingly wide, although I'm sure
Green will tell you he had it covered. Five minutes before the break Adam
Clayton fired just wide from the edge of the area after some pinball in and
around the West Ham box.

We managed a couple of corners late on in the half with Faye rising highest
for one of them, only to see his header cannon off the defender and wide.
Leeds did find the back of the net in added time but the goal was disallowed
by referee Peter Walton after a clear push on Nolan. There were no
complaints from the Leeds players.

It was a dour first half and no surprises that the game was still 0-0 at the
break. I feel this time Allardyce got it wrong. I have no problems with
playing 4-5-1 away from home and it certainly has worked for us this season
on our travels. However we were consistently knocking 40 yard balls from the
back up to Maynard who isn't the tallest and greatest in the air and
therefore he unsurprisingly won very little against the Leeds defenders. If
you are going to play that way, then Allardyce had to play Cole up top as he
is a big presence and can hold the ball up there. We were giving the ball
away far too much in the first half and our midfield was just not affecting
the game enough. A big improvement was needed in the second half.

HALF TIME: LEEDS UNITED 0 WEST HAM UNITED 0

I would love to say the second half was a completely different game and was
action packed. Unfortunately up until the final 10 minutes it was much of
the same. Even more disappointingly James Tomkins, who suffered a knock just
before half time didn't come out for the second half and was replaced by
Gary O'Neil. I couldn't tell what injury Tomkins had suffered but he was
limping badly but hopefully it's not too serious. He has arguably been our
player of the season this year and has even been doing an excellent job in
an unfamiliar midfield role over the past few weeks.

The game just couldn't get out of first gear and both sides seemed content
with the point. Aiden White shot comfortably wide after a Luciano Becchio
knock down in the only chance early on in the second half. Our creativity
was next to nothing and Allardyce had to change things up and he did. 10
minutes into the half Carlton Cole was brought on for Nicky Maynard, who had
found it difficult all afternoon being isolated and receiving very poor
service. I would have liked to see Maynard stay on and Allardyce go to 4-4-2
just to mix things up and give Leeds something different to think about.

Cole almost made an immediate impact just before the hour mark. He took the
ball down well out wide and put in an inviting cross. Unfortunately the ball
just eluded Nolan who swung a leg at it just eight yards out. Cole's
introduction certainly gave us a lift and we began to take control of the
game and enjoy our best bit of pressure.

Abdoulaye Faye headed wide a Noble corner and just minutes later Collison's
audacious volley was blocked and found its way to O'Neil whose goalbound
header was blocked by a defender. Then came probably our best chance in the
68th minute. A typically excellent delivery from a free kick out wide from
Taylor found Cole, whose header went narrowly over. It was a good spell from
the Hammers but we just couldn't find the breakthrough.

Back came Leeds. Ross McCormack whipped in a vicious cross which was flicked
on by Matthew Connolly and brilliantly saved from Green. For the first time
the game had opened up and it felt like a goal was coming. And with 10
minutes left a goal finally did come.

Snodgrass crossed it to the back post, Connolly rose highest and saw his
header cannon off the bar. However, fortunately for the home side the ball
kindly fell to Becchio who nodded home from three yards.

It was an unlucky goal to concede and one which Leeds didn't deserve. We had
been defensively solid throughout and certainly didn't deserve to lose the
game, even if we hadn't done enough to win it.

Initially our response was poor. Leeds, clearly on a high from the goal,
looked the more likely to score again and dominated possession for the last
10 minutes. However when it looked as though the 4,000 travelling claret and
blue were going back down south disappointed we got a corner as the official
put up four minutes additional time.

Mark Noble delivered an inviting ball and up stepped Danny Collins to head
home and send the travelling fans into delirium. Despite not playing well,
it was certainly a deserved equaliser and who knows how important that point
may be come the end of the season.

It was Collins' first start for the club and in truth I thought he did look
shaky at the back and struggled against Becchio for large periods of the
game. However he popped up with a crucial goal and it will do his confidence
the world of good.

All in all, unlike the previous two draws, I think we have to be happy with
the result. Leeds are a decent side and could still just sneak into the
playoffs if they finish the season well. Defensively we were solid, which we
generally have been all season barring a couple of disaster displays.
Abdoulaye was immense at the back and marshalled the defence quite
brilliantly. Attackingly once again we were poor and lacked creativity.
There was not enough pace or guile in the midfield and Faubert was a big
loss out wide. In hindsight, Allardyce should have started with Cole as he
looked dangerous when he came on and there is simply no point in just
hitting long passes up to Maynard.

It was very disappointing to hear Southampton had turned it around to beat
Millwall and that Reading had thumped Barnsley as both moved further ahead
of us at the top of the table. However we still need to be positive and if
we win our game in hand we go level Reading and two points behind
Southampton.

There are still plenty of ups and downs and points to play for this season
and who knows, we all might be looking back on that late Danny Collins
equaliser at Elland Road as a crucial crucial point.

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COULD WE HAVE BEEN IN RANGERS, PORT VALE AND PORTSMOUTH'S POSITION?
Posted on Sunday, 18th March 2012 by Etwal Teja
Forever WestHam

Recently Rangers FC, Port Vale FC and Portsmouth FC have gone into
administration and as a result they have been deducted ten points. They have
gone into administration because of the huge debts they had. They are now in
danger of going into liquidation and the fans are the ones that will suffer
the most. A couple of years ago West Ham United were in a bad state and run
badly by the owners. They could have possibly gone into administration if
David Gold and David Sullivan did not buy the club.

When an Icelandic Consortium bought West Ham in 2006 they set their targets
high of reaching the Champions League within five years and moving away from
Upton Park. In order to achieve these targets the new owners set out to
spend heavy. They
bought players like Lucas Neil, Freddie Ljungberg, Mathew Upson and Kieron
Dyer and gave them 4 or 5 year contracts. They paid excessive fees for these
players and offered them high wages. Eggert Magnusson gave Alan Curbishley a
free bank cheque to purchase who ever he wanted.

Curbishley bought players that were simply not worth what he was paying.
They offered players like Dyer, who has a well known reputation of being an
injury prone player a five year contract worth at least £70,000 a week. Most
of these players had
no interest in playing for the club and just wanted the high wages the club
were willing to pay. With no decent cup runs, no European qualification and
mid table finishes, the club was simply not making enough profit. This put
the club into huge debt and they were forced to sell a few players. The club
were rumoured to have paid off Ljungberg so that he can terminate his four
year contract with them. The Icelandic owners put the club up for sale but
no one wanted to purchase the club with its huge debts. The future of the
club did not look good and quite possibly could have gone into
administration.

Thank god that did not happen because life long West Ham fans David Gold and
David Sullivan bought the club they love so much. Sullivan revealed that if
they did not become owners West Ham United would have gone into
administration because the Icelandic Bank's could not afford to run the
club. DG and DS also revealed that the club was in debt of £110 million and
they will balance the books after the crazy wages the Icelandic owners paid
that brought the club to its knees. For many of the West Ham fans the
takeover was a relief because quite simply the club could have
folded if the two did not become owners of the club.

Since their takeover in 2010 Sullivan and Gola, alongside Karen Brady have
decreased the debt and the club is run properly with people that care about
the club. The club no longer offer silly wages to players and do not pay
excessive fees for players.
They have also planned to relocate to the newly built Olympic Stadium. The
West Ham fans quite simply are grateful to the trio for putting the club in
a stable condition. The club could quite simply been in the same situation
as Rangers, Port Vale and Portsmouth had they decided to stay away from West
Ham. I hope we West Ham fans never experience what Rangers, Port Vale and
Portsmouth fans are going through right now with their troubled clubs. For
now The West Ham fans can worry less about the financial situation
surrounding the club.

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Leeds United v West Ham United: We can take final promotion step - Allardyce
Yorkshireeveningport.co.uk
Published on Monday 19 March 2012 05:00

Hammers boss Sam Allardyce refused to see his side's 1-1 draw at Leeds
United as two points dropped and insisted that his faltering club could
still claim automatic promotion. The West Ham manager declared himself
satisfied with the result after Danny Collins' last-gasp goal averted their
eighth defeat of the season. The London club were under mounting pressure
having dropped out of the Championship's top two on the back of four
successive home draws and they are now three points behind second place
after Reading and Southampton claimed victories on Saturday. West Ham have
long been favourites not only for automatic promotion but for the
Championship title and they hold a game in hand over both of the sides above
them. Asked if his players remained confident of a top-two finish, Allardyce
said: "There's no problem with that. "We're a bit edgy because of what we've
allowed to happen – too many draws – but we're confident we can take the
final step. This isn't a slip-up for me. It's a slip up at home against
Crystal Palace, Watford and most disappointingly against Doncaster Rovers.
That's been the crux of our slip up. We're on an eight-game undefeated run
but we've simply had too many draws. "However, it still boils down to us
knowing that the sort of points total we need to get to is 90 plus if we
want automatic promotion. Last year QPR went up with 88 but we can't rely on
88 getting us up. We've got to rely on 90."

A tight and competitive game at Elland Road saw few clear chances but West
Ham's performance improved in the second half after Allardyce withdrew
ineffective lone striker Nicky Maynard and introduced England international
Carlton Cole. His team were stung seven minutes from time when Luciano
Becchio broke the deadlock and it fell to Collins to rescue a point with a
goal which Leeds boss Neil Warnock disputed bitterly. "At the position in
the game leading up to the Leeds goal, we were in our best spell," Allardyce
said. "We were in attacking mode and looking like we'd get an opportunity to
score. Unfortunately we slipped up so to come back and get a draw, you have
to accept it as a good point. "The players defended very well and that's the
basis of prompting your team to go and attack. Bringing on Carlton Cole made
a difference. "I thought we'd find an earlier opportunity to stick one in
the back of the net and we failed to do that but we came back brilliantly to
get a point."

Allardyce suffered a blow, however, when influential midfielder James
Tomkins limped out of the game at the end of the first half. West Ham are
dealing with an increasingly-lengthy injury list and Allardyce was forced to
leave Ricardo Vaz Te, Winston Reid, Julien Faubert and Papa Bouba Diop in
London. "They were all unable to travel and now we've got another injury,"
Allardyce said. "It's a good job we've got a good squad because it was
tested to the full by Leeds but we need these players back."

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