Hurst eyes big future with Olympic move
WHUFC.com
Legendary former West Ham United striker Sir Geoff Hurst is excited by the
club's proposed move
14.03.2013
Legendary former West Ham United striker Sir Geoff Hurst has expressed his
excitement about the club's proposed move to the Olympic Stadium. Sir Geoff,
who famously formed part of a trio of Hammers who helped England lift the
World Cup in 1966, says the move will help the club drive forward. He
notched 249 goals in a prolific 500-game career at the Boleyn Ground, which
included FA Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup triumphs, and eyes success in
the future on the back of the proposed move. Speaking to the Mail Online, he
said: "It's [a big future] not beyond the realms of possibility if we go to
the stadium and with the support we've got. "West Ham has a huge supporter
base. If you could make a comparison to another club of a similar stature
and I would say Manchester City is it. "Look what has happened to them after
they went to a new stadium. "I think it has been great for Chelsea with
[Roman] Abramovich and for Manchester City. It has been great for the game.
Of course I'd be thrilled to bits if it happened to West Ham. "I do strongly
believe that for the club to move forward we need to move to a bigger
stadium. '"Nobody has a greater connection to Upton Park than I have as a
player or a fan. I've had some great days and I have a great connection with
the club. "I firmly believe it [moving to the Olympic Park] is the future
for us. We need to be there."
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Cole hopes for happy homecoming
WHUFc.com
West Ham United striker Carlton Cole is looking to get one over his former
club at the weekend
14.03.2013
Carlton Cole is eyeing a Barclays Premier League double when West Ham United
travel to Chelsea on Sunday. The former Blues striker headed the Hammers'
first goal in their 3-1 win over Sunday's opponents earlier this season. He
spent five years as a pro at Stamford Bridge prior to linking up with the
Hammers in 2006 and is looking forward to going back to his old stamping
ground on Sunday. "I always enjoy going back to Chelsea," he told West Ham
TV. "I see old friends - there's a lot of backroom staff still there and the
captain's the same. I've got good good friends there like Ashley Cole. "I've
got loads of connections and i love playing against them. When you play
against your old teams you want to impress. If I get the opportunity I'll be
on it."
Cole was certainly on form the last time the sides met back in December,
getting West Ham's comeback going with a 63rd minute header to cancel out
Juan Mata's opener. Sam Allardyce's men went on to claim all three points
thanks to further strikes from Mohamed Diame and Modibo Maiga and Cole says
his team should take inspiration from that success. He continued: "When we
played them at home it was a fantastic win, a fantastic day. The boys all
pulled in the same direction and the second half was unreal. "Hopefully
we'll have the same opportunity to do that again and it would be a good
thing to have on your CV to do the double over Chelsea. "You don't fear the
opposition, but you have to respect them. We want to get something out of
the game - I haven't actually ever gone there and won in my career. "That's
not a good record, but then again I hadn't beaten them anywhere until this
season so hopefully we can do it again. Never say never."
The Hammers will arrive at Stamford Bridge having ended their nine-game wait
for an away victory with a welcome success at Stoke City on their last road
trip. Cole added: "The Stoke game is a massive turning point for us. Our
away record hasn't been great this year and we really needed to get a result
there.
"Jack [Collison}, funnily enough, said he had a feeling we'd turn it around.
He's the one who scored the winning goal, so we'll be plugging away to try
to do Chelsea some damage on Sunday."
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Six of the best - Chelsea
WHUFC.com
A look back at half-a-dozen outstanding West Ham United displays at Stamford
Bridge
14.03.2013
West Ham United travel to Chelsea on Sunday looking to record back-to-back
away wins for the first time this season. To get Hammers fans in the mood
for this weekend's Barclays Premier League trip to Stamford Bridge, we take
a look into the archives to remember six fine claret and blue victories at
Stamford Bridge. A ten-goal show during the Second World War, a four-star
performance from the Boys of '86 and a match-winning performance from Paolo
Di Canio all feature in our Six of the Best against Chelsea.
Chelsea 2-3 West Ham United
Premier League
28 September 2002
Paolo Di Canio (pictured, celebrating with Jermain Defoe, Scott Minto and
Sebastian Schemmel) took centre-stage on the occasion of West Ham United's
most-recent victory at Stamford Bridge - and their long-awaited first win of
the 2002/03 Premier League season. After Jermain Defoe had equalised Jimmy
Floyd Hasselbaink's penalty opener before half-time, the Italian forward
took control of proceedings after the interval. On 48 minutes, Di Canio
allowed a throw-in to bounce before controlling on his thigh and sending a
rasping volley past a stunned Carlo Cudicini in the Chelsea goal. Future
Hammers manager Gianfranco Zola then made his own case for goal of the match
by curling an exquisite free-kick high into David James' net with 16 minutes
remaining. Di Canio would have the last laugh, however, firing a low shot
between Cudicini and his near post after William Gallas's clearance had
ricocheted off Defoe's head.
Chelsea 1-2 West Ham United
Premier League
17 February 1996
West Ham United arrived at Stamford Bridge having been humbled 3-0 at
Division One side Grimsby Town in an FA Cup fourth-round replay in their
previous fixture - missing out on a potential fifth-round meeting with
Chelsea. However, Harry Redknapp's Hammers turned things around by pulling
off a stunning Premier League victory over the Blues in west London. With
Julian Dicks playing in a central defensive role, West Ham stormed to their
fourth consecutive Premier League win, despite falling behind to Gavin
Peacock's 13th-minute opener. Dicks himself headed in the equaliser just
after the hour-mark before midfielder Danny Williamson completed the
turnaround with 18 minutes remaining, silencing the majority of the
25,252-strong crowd inside the three-sided Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea 0-4 West Ham United
Division One
29 March 1986
Easter Saturday 1986 is a date that will be forever remembered by West Ham
United supporters. On a muddy quagmire of a pitch, the Hammers turned on the
style to rip Chelsea to shreds at Stamford Bridge. Alan Devonshire put West
Ham in front on 23 minutes before the Hammers truly turned on the style
after half-time. Tony Cottee scored twice in the space of nine minutes - the
first to complete a sweeping counter-attack led by George Parris and the
second a clinical finish from Frank McAvennie's square pass - before
McAvennie himself completed the rout by smashing Cottee's mis-hit high past
goalkeeper Tony Godden. Victory took West Ham up to sixth in the table and
continued a fine second half to the season that ended with John Lyall's side
finishing in a club-record high finish of third in Division One.
Chelsea 0-3 West Ham United
Division One
28 November 1964
Six months on from lifting the FA Cup at Wembley for the first time in the
club's history, Ron Greenwood's West Ham United chalked up another memorable
victory. Having defeated Arsenal and Leeds United in their previous two
league fixtures and scored a 2-0 win over Sparta Prague in the European Cup
Winners' Cup second round first leg in midweek, the Hammers travelled to
Chelsea full of confidence. Alan Sealey, who would scored both goals in West
Ham's Cup Winners' Cup final victory over TSV Munich 1860 the following May,
opened the scoring at Stamford Bridge after just eight minutes. Martin
Peters and Geoff Hurst then made the game safe. Amazingly, West Ham's win
meant they had scored at least one goal in every one of their 19 league
matches played so far in the 1964/65 season. The Hammers would complete the
'double' over Chelsea the following April, but the Blues would knock the
holders out of the FA Cup at the fourth round stage in January 1965.
Chelsea 2-4 West Ham United
Division One
19 September 1959
John Dick (pictured) scored twice as West Ham United stunned Chelsea at
Stamford Bridge in September 1959. The centre forward kick-started an
injury-affected season in claret and blue by scoring his first two goals of
the 1959/60 campaign in a 4-2 Division One victory. Amazingly, Dick failed
to score in any of his next six appearances before going on a tear for the
remainder of the season, netting ten goals in 14 appearances between
November and early March.
Concentrating on the 4-2 win that lifted West Ham up to seventh in the
Division One table, Phil Woosnam and Malcolm Musgrove also found the net at
Stamford Bridge in front of a bumper crowd of 54,349.
Chelsea 3-10 West Ham United
War League South C Division
30 March 1940
With many regular players away serving their country and others making guest
appearances for clubs, weird and wonderful scorelines were something of the
norm during the Second World War. Indeed, during their seasons in the War
League South, West Ham United chalked up 10-3, 8-4, 6-2, 5-0 and 4-3
victories over Chelsea. The biggest and most eye-catching of those occurred
on Saturday 30 March 1940, when the Hammers scored ten times on their visit
to the Blues. Sam Small bagged four goals, while Ted Fenton helped himself
to a hat-trick. Alec George Foreman netted a brace and Joseph Stanley Foxall
was also on target for Charlie Paynter's side. Foreman would end the
campaign with an amazing 42 goals in 43 appearances to his name.
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Support the Dev Squad at the Boleyn
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's Under-21s are in action at the Boleyn Ground against
Arsenal on Friday night
14.03.2013
West Ham United's Development Squad are back at the Boleyn Ground for their
next Barclays U21 Premier League Elite Group Stage fixture on Friday 15
March. Nick Haycock's (pictured) side will be playing host to Arsenal as
they go for a fourth victory of the season over the Gunners. Having
triumphed home and away in the first stage of the campaign, the Hammers
followed that with a 2-0 win at Arsenal's Training Centre at the end of
January. Three points could take West Ham back up to fourth in the table as
they chase a top-three play off spot. Kick-off is at 7pm and admission is
free for season ticket holders and just £3 for adults and £1 concessions.
The Stadium Store will also be open up until kick-off at 7pm, giving
supporters the chance to make great savings in our sale on the Macron range,
and much more.
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West Ham off to Sweden?
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 14th March 2013
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce could be set to take his squad to Scandinavia this summer,
according to reports. And the Hammers may be in line to open a brand-new
multi-purpose stadium based in Stockholm. The £2.7bn Tele2 Arena - a brand
new, 30,000 all-seater stadium complete with a retractable roof - is due to
open for business this summer. And according to reports emanating from
Scandinavia, West Ham are being lined up to open the stadium against an
as-yet unnamed opponent later this year. Both Hammarby or Djurgårdens, who
are both set to play at the Tele2 from next season are strong favourites to
face United in the planned friendly. West Ham have not visited Sweden since
2005 when Alan Pardew took his freshly-promoted squad to Sweden for three
pre-season fixtures against Trollhatten, Gothenburg and Ljungskile. United's
last visit to Scandinavia came two years ago when Freddie Sears scored the
only goal in a 1-0 win over Copenhagen.
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France midfielder Alou Diarra keen to put permanent end to West Ham spell
Last Updated: March 14, 2013 1:59pm
SSN
West Ham's forgotten man Alou Diarra does not see a way he can return to the
club when his Rennes loan expires. The France midfielder was signed from
Marseille last summer after playing at Euro 2012 but featured just six times
before heading back to Ligue 1 in January. And the 31-year-old told French
newspaper L'Equipe his lack of action in east London continues to affect his
fitness. He said: "People expect a lot of me but it's hard to forget what
happened in my first six months at West Ham. "I am concentrating on
improving my physical condition and playing for Rennes. But it is true that
I don't want to relive what I went through at West Ham. "It is impossible to
go back under the same conditions. I wanted to prove that I could play in
the Premier League but they never wanted to give me the opportunity. "I
don't blame Sam Allardyce but rather the agent commissioned by West Ham. It
is incomprehensible to buy a player, give him a three-year contract, and
then ignore him."
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Brazilian star set for West Ham bow against Chelsea
By talkSPORT | Thursday, March 14, 2013
West Ham striker Wellington Paulista could finally get the chance to make
his Premier League debut against Chelsea on Sunday after scoring once again
for the reserves this week. The Brazilian forward has had to wait patiently
for his chance following his loan move from Cruzeiro back in January.
Wellington netted his fourth goal for the east London club during the 3-3
draw against Liverpool last Monday. West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is keen to
solve the club's goalscoring problems with Andy Carroll netting just three
goals this season and Carlton Cole scoring only two. Wellington could earn a
place on the substitute's bench for the London derby at Stamford Bridge on
Sunday as Joe Cole looks set to miss out with a hamstring injury and captain
Kevin Nolan is rated extremely doubtful with a broken toe.
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Cole wants Hammers to wrap up league double over former club Chelsea
By CHARLIE SKILLEN
PUBLISHED: 13:16, 14 March 2013 | UPDATED: 15:37, 14 March 2013
Daily Mail
Carlton Cole is hoping to get one over former club Chelsea and help West Ham
win at Stamford Bridge to wrap up a league double over their London rivals.
The Hammers won 3-1 at Upton Park in December in Rafa Benitez's third game
in charge of the Blues, and travel to the side where Cole started his career
on Sunday. The striker, who made 34 appearances for Chelsea, scored West
Ham's first goal in the December win and revealed his delight at the result.
'When we played them at home it was a fantastic win, a fantastic day,' he
told West Ham's official website. 'The boys all pulled in the same direction
and the second half was unreal. 'Hopefully we'll have the same opportunity
to do that again and it would be a good thing to have on your c.v. to do the
double over Chelsea.'
And the striker now wants to experience what it is like to win at Stamford
Bridge as an away player. You don't fear the opposition but you have to
respect them,' he said. 'We want to get something out of the game - I
haven't actually ever gone there and won in my career. 'That's not a good
record but then again I hadn't beaten them anywhere until this season so
hopefully we can do it again. Never say never.' The Hammers will arrive at
Stamford Bridge having ended their nine-game wait for an away victory with a
welcome success at Stoke City on their last road trip. Cole added: 'The
Stoke game is a massive turning point for us. Our away record hasn't been
great this year and we really needed to get a result there. 'Jack
[Collison], funnily enough, said he had a feeling we'd turn it around. 'He's
the one who scored the winning goal, so we'll be plugging away to try to do
Chelsea some damage on Sunday.'
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Joe Cole's Comments Ruffle a Few Feathers!
West Ham Till I Die
It seems that Joe Cole's admission that his move to Liverpool was a mistake,
and apparent indication that the Reds might no longer be the top club in the
land, has caused some consternation down Merseyside way! Former Pool player,
John Aldridge has been reported as stating that Cole's comments are a
disgrace. And I am sure that the nature of Aldridge's response is typical of
that of many Liverpool fans, if by no means all.
Now there is little doubt that Liverpool's post-1960 history is packed with
domestic and European honours. They may have not been the first British club
to taste European glory (beaten to it by Spurs, West Ham, Celtic, Man Utd,
etc) but they have probably tasted more of it, most often. They have had
excellent players (like Keegan, Dalgish, Souness and Gerrard) and great
teams. But are they increasingly in danger of living in a world of past
glories and contemporary delusion? I well remember, in the late 1980s,
former Liverpool captain Emlyn Hughes launching a stinging attack upon West
Ham's reputation and alleged delusions about itself as the 'Academy of
Football' in the sports pages of the Daily Mirror. His basic argument was
that West Ham suffered grand delusions about their standing and importance
in the English game.
Forget the more recent Tevez controversy, the late 1980s was the juncture at
which the general perception of West Ham, as a club, shifted significantly.
From the 1960s onwards, West Ham were hugely respected for their style of
football and their contribution to the English game. Yes, it was recognised
that the club had massively under-achieved from 1966-67 onwards, but they
were nevertheless seen as representing everything that was good in the game.
At the beginning of the 1970s, Greenwood's teams were regularly out-muscled
by teams such as Leeds Utd, Chelsea and even Man Utd, who adopted a much
more physical and cynical approach to the game. But Greenwood's purists held
out against the trend and they were respected for it. The 'Academy of
Football' title originally developed in response to both the innovations in
training and tactics developed in the Fenton-Allison era and the number of
former Hammers players who subsequently went on to become top class
managers. Later it become more associated with the club's excellent youth
academy and the constant supply of quality players that it has produced down
the decades.
Yet, since the Hughes article, the same sentiments have been echoed many
times in the media down the years. Any paper article on West Ham is
incomplete these days without some side swipe like 'they like to think of
themselves as the Academy of Football' or 'the self-styled Academy of
Football.' An extension and variation of this is 'they like to claim that
they won the World Cup in 1966.' Well, those of us with long enough lives
and memories, know very well that this view of the club, as Academy/World
Cup winners, was not held solely by its supporters. On the contrary, it was
once a much more popular public perception. This due regard for the club and
its heritage was a reality in more respectful former times. The specific
historical branching point was probably occasioned by the relegation of
1988-89 and the subsequent sacking of the legendary John Lyall as manager.
That effectively both broke the continuous link with the Fenton-Greenwood
heritage and the magic reputational/attitudinal spell that it had hitherto
cast around the club. And that facilitated the shift to a new paradigam.
Nevertheless, perhaps it should be admitted that amidst the hostile and
partial opinion, there was a kernel of truth in the Hughes article. The
heritage and reputation of West Ham was and is real enough, but maybe as the
great days of Moore-Hurst-Peters gave way to less glorious times, as the
promise was unfulfilled and the honours won by other clubs superseded ours,
we were guilty of taking increasing refuge in our reputation and things that
made us stand apart. And perhaps that reputational focus helped our fans
come to terms with the infrequency of honours in later years. It is probably
reflected in the commonly heard fans lament, associated with the
Greenwood-Lyall years, that 'we may not win much, but at least we play the
game the right way.' As stated, its a speculative propostion, which if we
are being honest and self-critical, we might accept has some basis of truth.
Yet, irony of ironies, is a similar thing now besetting Hughes' mighty Reds?
Are the harsh realities of their failure to keep pace with the Manchester
clubs and Chelsea leading to delusions about their position at the apex of
the English game? Do they now live too much in the past glories of he
Shankley, Paisley and Dalgish's eras and are they guilty of hypostatizing
their past as their present and their future? Is that a reason why a person
so closely associated with Liverpool's past achievements responded badly to
Cole seemingly indicating that the self-image of the club may not conform
with the current reality?
Hughes did not live to see it, but are accusations akin to those he once
levelled at West Ham now applicable to Liverpool? If so, that would indeed
be ironic. Personally, I honestly have no axe to grind with Liverpool
Football Club, I have always enjoyed visits there, if not too many of the
actual matches. Nor do I blame Liverpool for an article written, a long time
ago, by one of their former players. It also has to be said they are more
than capable of being the beneficiaries of a resurgence of fortunes under
Brendon Roger's promising management. Of course, for many Hammers fan, the
ultimate proof of Liverpool's current, relative decline would be if the 50
year period without a win at Anfield was to come to a end this season. That
is some unwanted record! Surely that event would supersede the home win over
Chelsea (and even a double victory this coming Sunday) as the outstanding
highlight of the season!
SJ. Chandos
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Kev ready toe play on
Published: 14th March 2013
The SUn
KEVIN NOLAN is to have a pain-killing injection in his broken toe to ease
West Ham's injury crisis. The Hammers skipper has not played since the 3-2
home loss to Spurs three weeks' ago. And he faces a battle to be fit for
Sunday's London derby at Chelsea. A Hammers insider said: "The sick list
looks pretty grim at the moment. "But Kevin is determined to be there."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Friday, March 15
Thursday, March 14
Daily WHUFC News - 14th March 2013
The Big Interview - Rob Hall
WHUFC.com
Rob Hall is on the road to recovery after undergoing keyhole surgery to
rectify a hernia injury
13.03.2013
A familiar face returned to West Ham United's Chadwell Heath training ground
this week in the shape of forward Rob Hall. The England Under-19
international forward, who is currently on loan at npower Championship club
Birmingham City, has undergone keyhole surgery to rectify a hernia injury.
Hall has been in fine form for the Blues, where he in the same squad as
fellow loanee Ravel Morrison and former Hammers Hayden Mullins and Jonathan
Spector, chalking up seven assists in just 13 appearances.
Rob, we haven't seen you at Chadwell Heath for a few weeks, so can you fill
us in with what you have been up to?
RH - "I've been at Birmingham on loan and it's been a good spell. I've
learnt a lot, played a lot of games and got a lot of minutes under my belt.
I've played a lot more than I expected, so I was disappointed to pick up a
hernia injury that needed to be sorted out. Hopefully I can get back on the
pitch as soon as possible. I've spoken to the medical team and it should be
sorted as soon as possible and I hope to be fit in a few weeks. I'm a bit
sore and aching but I'm told that's normal and I'm already doing a lot of
exercise and that helps reduce the pain."
You have made 13 Championship appearances for Birmingham, so have you felt
comfortable playing regularly at that level?
RH - "Definitely. If anything, you can only learn more when you play at the
highest possible level. I'm at the age when I don't think I can lose. I'm
19, so I'm not going to lose my pace or shape of my game - rather, I'm going
to add to my game. I think I can handle it in the Championship, so if I play
football there or in the Premier League in the future, I feel I can play
more at that level. It is my dream to play for West Ham and to start my next
game for the club, but that's not my first aim. I want to focus on getting
back from this injury and see where I am after that."
How have you found playing regularly at first-team level physically?
RH - "Playing games has been great and my form was good. It died off a bit
in the last three matches, when I was a bit inconsistent. I was just a bit
quiet, rather than bad. It's been good to learn how to react to different
times of the season. I was there for the Christmas period and it was
possibly the hardest part of the season, so to learn how your body is during
that period is what I have gone out on loan for as well. All three of my
loan spells - at Oxford United, MK Dons and Birmingham - have been
beneficial. I've enjoyed learning from senior professionals - Michael
Duberry at Oxford, Alan Smith at MK Dons and people like Paul Robinson,
Stephen Carr and Hayden at Birmingham."
You have chalked up seven assists in your 13 appearances. That is some
going! Are you taking all the free-kicks and corners?
RH - "Being more experienced this season, having played a lot of
reserve-team football at West Ham last year, I have been confident and taken
more of the set pieces. I like setting things up by putting the ball into
dangerous areas and going for goal, so I have got a few assists at
Birmingham. I think I've done well there, in the main. There was only one
game when I got a negative response and that was the same for pretty much
the whole team on the day, anyway.
Hopefully, the Birmingham fans and other people who watched me have a good
impression of me."
Did joining a Birmingham squad that contained so many ex-Hammers - Hayden
Mullins, Jonathan Spector, Papa Bouba Diop and fellow loanee Ravel Morrison
- make it easier to settle in at St Andrew's?
RH - "It definitely made it easier on my first day, yes. I also know Nathan
Redmond and Jack Butland as well [from England age-group duty] and they are
both really good friends of mine away from football anyway. It was good to
know them and to get to know everyone better. Seeing Hayden and Specs and
Papa and Rav meant I immediately had more to talk about and have a laugh
with. After the first couple of days, we had two games on the Saturday and
Tuesday so we were together all the time so meeting all the boys was nice. I
bonded with the new lads I met there just as well as the ones I already
knew. They are now all good friends."
How do you see the remainder of the season going for Birmingham?
RH - "I can only see the club moving upwards. I know we have been
under-achieving as a squad with the players we have got there, but I can't
see them going down. If you look at the Championship, everyone is beating
everyone and from about tenth place downwards, anyone could go down! It's
about those last three or four games and how many points you can pick up
then as long as you stay in and around it. At one stage we were six points
outside the Play-Offs, then we lost two on the spin and went back down the
table. The Championship is very tough, as the lads at West Ham saw last
year. The games come thick and fast and you just have to get a run going."
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Hammers duo in Wales squad
WHUFC.com
James Collins and Jack Collison are in the Wales squad to face Scotland and
Croatia in March
13.03.2013
West Ham United duo James Collins and Jack Collison have been named in the
Wales squad for their FIFA 2014 World Cup Qualifiers against Scotland and
Croatia later in March. Chris Coleman's side take on Scotland in Glasgow on
Friday 22 March before returning home to play Croatia at Swansea City's
Liberty Stadium on Tuesday 26 March. The pair will be hoping to lift Wales
from their current fifth position in Group A as the qualifying process
reaches its halfway point. They join Hammers defender Winston Reid in being
called for international duty this month. New Zealand have selected the
24-year-old for their World Cup Qualifiers against New Caledonia and Solomon
Islands, also on 22 and 26 March. The All Whites have won four games out of
four in this phase and a victory against New Caledonia would guarantee their
place in the intercontinental play-off in November. Fellow defender Joey
O'Brien, meanwhile, is in the Republic of Ireland's provisional squad for
their World Cup Qualifiers against Sweden and Austria on 22 March and 26
March. Ireland currently sit third in their group, four points off leaders
Germany having played a game less. - At Age Group level, Dan Potts is part
of the England Under-19 party for their international friendly against
Turkey on Thursday 21 March.
The game, which is due to place at AFC Telford United, will provide Noel
Blake's side with their final warm-up before the Elite Round of
qualification for this summer's UEFA U19 Championship in Lithuania.
International Hammers
James Collins - Wales v Scotland and Croatia, 22/26 March
Jack Collison - Wales v Scotland and Croatia, 22/26 March
Winston Reid - New Zealand v New Caledonia and Solomon Islands, 22/26 March
Joey O'Brien - Republic of ireland v Sweden and Austria, 22/26 March
Dan Potts - England U19 v Turkey U19, 21 March
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Brabrook's split loyalties
WHUFC.com
Ex-West Ham United and Chelsea winger Peter Brabrook cannot wait for
Sunday's London derby
13.03.2013
Sunday's Barclays Premier League London derby between West Ham United and
Chelsea is sure to be keenly contested. However, one man whose loyalties
will be split down the middle at Stamford Bridge is former Hammers and Blues
winger Peter Brabrook. Now 75, Brabrook joined Chelsea from school before
making his debut at the age of 17 in 1954, ending his first season by
winning the Division One championship. After 271 games and appearing for
England at the 1958 FIFA World Cup, he joined West Ham for £35,000 in 1962.
The transfer certainly paid-off as Brabrook helped the Hammers to win the FA
Cup for the first time in the club's history in 1964. The following season,
he helped West Ham to lift the European Cup Winners' Cup, but unfortunately
missed the final through injury. "I was at Chelsea for nine years and played
a lot of games," he explained. "I broke into the side at 17 and was a
regular up until 1962 when I went to West Ham. I was fortunate enough to
play three or four games in the Championship side in 1955 when I was just
17, which was a great honour. "I have some really good memories of my time
at Chelsea and we certainly had some good players - Roy Bentley who played
centre forward, a winger called Frank Blunstone and a right-back called
Peter Sillett who also played for England. From there, I joined West Ham and
some great players like Bobby Moore, Martin Peters, Geoff Hurst and Johnny
Byrne. "I went to Sweden in 1958, to Gothenburg, when I was 20, and I made
my England debut when I played in the play-off against the Soviet Union."
Following his retirement from playing, Brabrook took up a role within the
Academy of Football, helping to unearth and mould the likes of current
Chelsea and England midfielder Frank Lampard and Hammers and former Blues
star Joe Cole. He still works for West Ham in a scouting capacity. Brabrook
is positive about the prospects of both of his former clubs, and cannot wait
to see his former scholar Lampard in action again. "I think Chelsea are a
good footballing side. I think they are very good. I know a few of them are
pushing on a bit from a few years ago when they were winning everything,
which obviously hasn't helped, but they are still good players and warrant
being in the team. "I still think they'll be a force to be reckoned with
over the next four or five years as long as their owner Mr Abramovich is
still there. He is not short of a few bob, so I'm sure he'll put it into the
club and help bring them back to where they were. "It's fantastic for Frank
[that he is still playing so well]. He had to work so hard at his game and
made himself a player. He's probably near enough the best player who has
ever played for Chelsea. I had him in the Academy with a lot of other good
players here and Frank was a massive part of it. He's done exceptionally
well to make himself a great player. "Frank always sneaked in and got a goal
as a youngster, too. His overall contribution and work-rate and
determination to do well and make himself a player were there to see. He was
not a ready-made player. Frank made himself a player with the help of his
Dad. "I'm not leaning either way on Sunday - I'm going to sit on the fence!
To me, they are two great clubs. I left school to join Chelsea and was there
for nine years. Then I went to West Ham in 1962 and had a fantastic time
winning the FA Cup in 1964 and being part of the squad that won the European
Cup Winners' Cup. It was great to be here with some really top players."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Man Utd date set - under 1,000 left
WHUFC.com
Table-topping Red Devils to visit West Ham United on Wednesday 17 April
13.03.2013
West Ham United's home Barclays Premier League meeting with Manchester
United has been set for Wednesday 17 April with a 7.45pm kick-off. With
under 1,000 tickets available, supporters should move quickly to secure
their seat. Click here for ticketing information for this fixture. The
fixture had to be rescheduled after the original date clashed with the Red
Devils' involvement in the FA Cup with Budweiser sixth round last weekend.
Alex Ferguson's side currently sit top of the Premier League table, but
needed a replay to see off the Hammers' challenge in the FA Cup earlier this
season. West Ham were only a minute away from claiming their scalp in the
home tie, leading through two James Collins headers before Robin van Persie
struck a last-gasp leveller.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Elliot elated with late leveller
WHUFC.com
Elliot Lee was thrilled to bag a late equaliser as West Ham made their point
at Liverpool
13.03.2013
West Ham United marksman Elliot Lee could hardly contain his joy after
popping up with an all-important last-gasp leveller at Liverpool's Kirkby
Academy.
Despite taking a fifth-minute lead courtesy of Dan Potts, Nick Haycock's
Hammers found themselves 3-2 behind as the game entered a fourth minute of
stoppage time.
But 18-year-old Lee slammed home from close range to earn West Ham's U21s a
valuable point in their pursuit of a top-three Barclays Under-21 Premier
League Elite Group finish. "It was obviously great to get the equaliser with
only seconds to go," he told West Ham TV. "We were told to just keep going
and a few decisions went our way at the end. The [character we showed] is
brilliant. The boys have got great team morale at the minute. Results
haven't been going our way but we've got a great team spirit and we just
keep believing. "Liverpool put a great side out on Monday and we're still
really young. We've got first-year scholars in our side and it just shows
the character we've got in our team to get the equaliser with seconds to go.
"It was always going to be tough when they have players like Jonjo Shelvey
and Raheem Sterling. They have got great Premier League experience, but it's
a good experience for us as well to play against the top players. At the end
of the day we got a great result, a 3-3 draw, it's good."
A beaming Lee reckoned his dramatic late volley ranks as one of the most
memorable goals he has ever scored, while he was similarly delighted to
share the plaudits with fellow frontman Wellington Paulista. "It's up there,
a last-second equaliser, it's right up there," he added. "I just want to
carry on now and hopefully get a few more. "To come to Kirkby and score
three just shows the type of players we've got in this team. We've got
goalscorers and we've got creative players. To score three goals puts us on
a good track and hopefully against Arsenal on Friday we'll score some more.
"It was obviously in my head that it had been about four games since I last
scored, so to get a goal right at the end was really good and I hope I can
progress now. "We seem to score together, me and Wellington. It was really
good, I'm really happy that he got his goal. We got a great result against
Liverpool, we've beaten Arsenal once this season, and I'm sure we can do it
again on Friday."
The Development Squad are back in action at the Boleyn Ground on Friday 15
March when they play host to Arsenal. The game kicks off at 7pm and
admission is free for season ticket holders, and just £3 for adults, £1
concessions.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Man Utd fixture confirmed
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 13th March 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United's Premier League home clash with runaway league leaders
Manchester United has been scheduled for 17th April. The fixture was
originally pencilled in for Sunday, 10th March but postponed due to the Red
Devils' continued paticipation in the FA Cup. It will now take place on
Wednesday, 17th at 7.45pm. All of which means that West Ham - who have just
three fixtures to play in the entire month of March - have to play five
times in the space of 20 days during April. It will be the second time that
Manchester United have visted the Boleyn Ground this season; on their
previous visit in January, the Reds had to rely on a last minute Robin Van
Persie to earn a 2-2 draw in the FA Cup third round tie.
2012/13: Remaining Fixtures
March
Sunday 17th: Chelsea (A)
Saturday 30th: WBA (H)
April
Sunday 7th:Liverpool (A)
Saturday 13th: Southampton (A)
Wednesday 17th: Manchester United (H)
Saturday 20th: Wigan Athletic (H)
Saturday 27th: Manchester City (A)
May
Saturday 4th: Newcastle Utd (H)
Sunday 12th: Everton (A)
Sunday 19th: Reading (H)
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham legend Sir Geoff Hurst forecasts a bright future for the club
Last Updated: March 13, 2013 6:45pm
SSN
West Ham legend Sir Geoff Hurst is confident the impending move to the
Olympic Stadium could signal the start of a golden era for the club. Hammers
co-chairman David Gold revealed earlier this month that talks over the £429m
venue are at an advanced stage, and Hurst believes a deal could help them
become the next Manchester City. World Cup 1966 hero Hurst, 71, said when
asked if the east Londoners could emulate the likes of Chelsea and City:
"It's not beyond the realms of possibility if we go to the stadium and with
the support we've got. "West Ham has a huge supporter base. If you could
make a comparison to another club of a similar stature and I would say
Manchester City is it. Look what has happened to them after they went to a
new stadium. "If you were a foreign investor looking to buy a football club
then West Ham would be a similar contender in the new stadium. "More so if
you want to buy a London club rather than a team in Manchester. It would be
absolutely unbelievable. That could happen. "I think it has been great for
Chelsea with (Roman) Abramovich and for Manchester City. It has been great
for the game. Of course I'd be thrilled to bits if it happened to West Ham."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Rob Hall is on the road to recovery after undergoing keyhole surgery to
rectify a hernia injury
13.03.2013
A familiar face returned to West Ham United's Chadwell Heath training ground
this week in the shape of forward Rob Hall. The England Under-19
international forward, who is currently on loan at npower Championship club
Birmingham City, has undergone keyhole surgery to rectify a hernia injury.
Hall has been in fine form for the Blues, where he in the same squad as
fellow loanee Ravel Morrison and former Hammers Hayden Mullins and Jonathan
Spector, chalking up seven assists in just 13 appearances.
Rob, we haven't seen you at Chadwell Heath for a few weeks, so can you fill
us in with what you have been up to?
RH - "I've been at Birmingham on loan and it's been a good spell. I've
learnt a lot, played a lot of games and got a lot of minutes under my belt.
I've played a lot more than I expected, so I was disappointed to pick up a
hernia injury that needed to be sorted out. Hopefully I can get back on the
pitch as soon as possible. I've spoken to the medical team and it should be
sorted as soon as possible and I hope to be fit in a few weeks. I'm a bit
sore and aching but I'm told that's normal and I'm already doing a lot of
exercise and that helps reduce the pain."
You have made 13 Championship appearances for Birmingham, so have you felt
comfortable playing regularly at that level?
RH - "Definitely. If anything, you can only learn more when you play at the
highest possible level. I'm at the age when I don't think I can lose. I'm
19, so I'm not going to lose my pace or shape of my game - rather, I'm going
to add to my game. I think I can handle it in the Championship, so if I play
football there or in the Premier League in the future, I feel I can play
more at that level. It is my dream to play for West Ham and to start my next
game for the club, but that's not my first aim. I want to focus on getting
back from this injury and see where I am after that."
How have you found playing regularly at first-team level physically?
RH - "Playing games has been great and my form was good. It died off a bit
in the last three matches, when I was a bit inconsistent. I was just a bit
quiet, rather than bad. It's been good to learn how to react to different
times of the season. I was there for the Christmas period and it was
possibly the hardest part of the season, so to learn how your body is during
that period is what I have gone out on loan for as well. All three of my
loan spells - at Oxford United, MK Dons and Birmingham - have been
beneficial. I've enjoyed learning from senior professionals - Michael
Duberry at Oxford, Alan Smith at MK Dons and people like Paul Robinson,
Stephen Carr and Hayden at Birmingham."
You have chalked up seven assists in your 13 appearances. That is some
going! Are you taking all the free-kicks and corners?
RH - "Being more experienced this season, having played a lot of
reserve-team football at West Ham last year, I have been confident and taken
more of the set pieces. I like setting things up by putting the ball into
dangerous areas and going for goal, so I have got a few assists at
Birmingham. I think I've done well there, in the main. There was only one
game when I got a negative response and that was the same for pretty much
the whole team on the day, anyway.
Hopefully, the Birmingham fans and other people who watched me have a good
impression of me."
Did joining a Birmingham squad that contained so many ex-Hammers - Hayden
Mullins, Jonathan Spector, Papa Bouba Diop and fellow loanee Ravel Morrison
- make it easier to settle in at St Andrew's?
RH - "It definitely made it easier on my first day, yes. I also know Nathan
Redmond and Jack Butland as well [from England age-group duty] and they are
both really good friends of mine away from football anyway. It was good to
know them and to get to know everyone better. Seeing Hayden and Specs and
Papa and Rav meant I immediately had more to talk about and have a laugh
with. After the first couple of days, we had two games on the Saturday and
Tuesday so we were together all the time so meeting all the boys was nice. I
bonded with the new lads I met there just as well as the ones I already
knew. They are now all good friends."
How do you see the remainder of the season going for Birmingham?
RH - "I can only see the club moving upwards. I know we have been
under-achieving as a squad with the players we have got there, but I can't
see them going down. If you look at the Championship, everyone is beating
everyone and from about tenth place downwards, anyone could go down! It's
about those last three or four games and how many points you can pick up
then as long as you stay in and around it. At one stage we were six points
outside the Play-Offs, then we lost two on the spin and went back down the
table. The Championship is very tough, as the lads at West Ham saw last
year. The games come thick and fast and you just have to get a run going."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers duo in Wales squad
WHUFC.com
James Collins and Jack Collison are in the Wales squad to face Scotland and
Croatia in March
13.03.2013
West Ham United duo James Collins and Jack Collison have been named in the
Wales squad for their FIFA 2014 World Cup Qualifiers against Scotland and
Croatia later in March. Chris Coleman's side take on Scotland in Glasgow on
Friday 22 March before returning home to play Croatia at Swansea City's
Liberty Stadium on Tuesday 26 March. The pair will be hoping to lift Wales
from their current fifth position in Group A as the qualifying process
reaches its halfway point. They join Hammers defender Winston Reid in being
called for international duty this month. New Zealand have selected the
24-year-old for their World Cup Qualifiers against New Caledonia and Solomon
Islands, also on 22 and 26 March. The All Whites have won four games out of
four in this phase and a victory against New Caledonia would guarantee their
place in the intercontinental play-off in November. Fellow defender Joey
O'Brien, meanwhile, is in the Republic of Ireland's provisional squad for
their World Cup Qualifiers against Sweden and Austria on 22 March and 26
March. Ireland currently sit third in their group, four points off leaders
Germany having played a game less. - At Age Group level, Dan Potts is part
of the England Under-19 party for their international friendly against
Turkey on Thursday 21 March.
The game, which is due to place at AFC Telford United, will provide Noel
Blake's side with their final warm-up before the Elite Round of
qualification for this summer's UEFA U19 Championship in Lithuania.
International Hammers
James Collins - Wales v Scotland and Croatia, 22/26 March
Jack Collison - Wales v Scotland and Croatia, 22/26 March
Winston Reid - New Zealand v New Caledonia and Solomon Islands, 22/26 March
Joey O'Brien - Republic of ireland v Sweden and Austria, 22/26 March
Dan Potts - England U19 v Turkey U19, 21 March
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Brabrook's split loyalties
WHUFC.com
Ex-West Ham United and Chelsea winger Peter Brabrook cannot wait for
Sunday's London derby
13.03.2013
Sunday's Barclays Premier League London derby between West Ham United and
Chelsea is sure to be keenly contested. However, one man whose loyalties
will be split down the middle at Stamford Bridge is former Hammers and Blues
winger Peter Brabrook. Now 75, Brabrook joined Chelsea from school before
making his debut at the age of 17 in 1954, ending his first season by
winning the Division One championship. After 271 games and appearing for
England at the 1958 FIFA World Cup, he joined West Ham for £35,000 in 1962.
The transfer certainly paid-off as Brabrook helped the Hammers to win the FA
Cup for the first time in the club's history in 1964. The following season,
he helped West Ham to lift the European Cup Winners' Cup, but unfortunately
missed the final through injury. "I was at Chelsea for nine years and played
a lot of games," he explained. "I broke into the side at 17 and was a
regular up until 1962 when I went to West Ham. I was fortunate enough to
play three or four games in the Championship side in 1955 when I was just
17, which was a great honour. "I have some really good memories of my time
at Chelsea and we certainly had some good players - Roy Bentley who played
centre forward, a winger called Frank Blunstone and a right-back called
Peter Sillett who also played for England. From there, I joined West Ham and
some great players like Bobby Moore, Martin Peters, Geoff Hurst and Johnny
Byrne. "I went to Sweden in 1958, to Gothenburg, when I was 20, and I made
my England debut when I played in the play-off against the Soviet Union."
Following his retirement from playing, Brabrook took up a role within the
Academy of Football, helping to unearth and mould the likes of current
Chelsea and England midfielder Frank Lampard and Hammers and former Blues
star Joe Cole. He still works for West Ham in a scouting capacity. Brabrook
is positive about the prospects of both of his former clubs, and cannot wait
to see his former scholar Lampard in action again. "I think Chelsea are a
good footballing side. I think they are very good. I know a few of them are
pushing on a bit from a few years ago when they were winning everything,
which obviously hasn't helped, but they are still good players and warrant
being in the team. "I still think they'll be a force to be reckoned with
over the next four or five years as long as their owner Mr Abramovich is
still there. He is not short of a few bob, so I'm sure he'll put it into the
club and help bring them back to where they were. "It's fantastic for Frank
[that he is still playing so well]. He had to work so hard at his game and
made himself a player. He's probably near enough the best player who has
ever played for Chelsea. I had him in the Academy with a lot of other good
players here and Frank was a massive part of it. He's done exceptionally
well to make himself a great player. "Frank always sneaked in and got a goal
as a youngster, too. His overall contribution and work-rate and
determination to do well and make himself a player were there to see. He was
not a ready-made player. Frank made himself a player with the help of his
Dad. "I'm not leaning either way on Sunday - I'm going to sit on the fence!
To me, they are two great clubs. I left school to join Chelsea and was there
for nine years. Then I went to West Ham in 1962 and had a fantastic time
winning the FA Cup in 1964 and being part of the squad that won the European
Cup Winners' Cup. It was great to be here with some really top players."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Man Utd date set - under 1,000 left
WHUFC.com
Table-topping Red Devils to visit West Ham United on Wednesday 17 April
13.03.2013
West Ham United's home Barclays Premier League meeting with Manchester
United has been set for Wednesday 17 April with a 7.45pm kick-off. With
under 1,000 tickets available, supporters should move quickly to secure
their seat. Click here for ticketing information for this fixture. The
fixture had to be rescheduled after the original date clashed with the Red
Devils' involvement in the FA Cup with Budweiser sixth round last weekend.
Alex Ferguson's side currently sit top of the Premier League table, but
needed a replay to see off the Hammers' challenge in the FA Cup earlier this
season. West Ham were only a minute away from claiming their scalp in the
home tie, leading through two James Collins headers before Robin van Persie
struck a last-gasp leveller.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Elliot elated with late leveller
WHUFC.com
Elliot Lee was thrilled to bag a late equaliser as West Ham made their point
at Liverpool
13.03.2013
West Ham United marksman Elliot Lee could hardly contain his joy after
popping up with an all-important last-gasp leveller at Liverpool's Kirkby
Academy.
Despite taking a fifth-minute lead courtesy of Dan Potts, Nick Haycock's
Hammers found themselves 3-2 behind as the game entered a fourth minute of
stoppage time.
But 18-year-old Lee slammed home from close range to earn West Ham's U21s a
valuable point in their pursuit of a top-three Barclays Under-21 Premier
League Elite Group finish. "It was obviously great to get the equaliser with
only seconds to go," he told West Ham TV. "We were told to just keep going
and a few decisions went our way at the end. The [character we showed] is
brilliant. The boys have got great team morale at the minute. Results
haven't been going our way but we've got a great team spirit and we just
keep believing. "Liverpool put a great side out on Monday and we're still
really young. We've got first-year scholars in our side and it just shows
the character we've got in our team to get the equaliser with seconds to go.
"It was always going to be tough when they have players like Jonjo Shelvey
and Raheem Sterling. They have got great Premier League experience, but it's
a good experience for us as well to play against the top players. At the end
of the day we got a great result, a 3-3 draw, it's good."
A beaming Lee reckoned his dramatic late volley ranks as one of the most
memorable goals he has ever scored, while he was similarly delighted to
share the plaudits with fellow frontman Wellington Paulista. "It's up there,
a last-second equaliser, it's right up there," he added. "I just want to
carry on now and hopefully get a few more. "To come to Kirkby and score
three just shows the type of players we've got in this team. We've got
goalscorers and we've got creative players. To score three goals puts us on
a good track and hopefully against Arsenal on Friday we'll score some more.
"It was obviously in my head that it had been about four games since I last
scored, so to get a goal right at the end was really good and I hope I can
progress now. "We seem to score together, me and Wellington. It was really
good, I'm really happy that he got his goal. We got a great result against
Liverpool, we've beaten Arsenal once this season, and I'm sure we can do it
again on Friday."
The Development Squad are back in action at the Boleyn Ground on Friday 15
March when they play host to Arsenal. The game kicks off at 7pm and
admission is free for season ticket holders, and just £3 for adults, £1
concessions.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Man Utd fixture confirmed
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 13th March 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United's Premier League home clash with runaway league leaders
Manchester United has been scheduled for 17th April. The fixture was
originally pencilled in for Sunday, 10th March but postponed due to the Red
Devils' continued paticipation in the FA Cup. It will now take place on
Wednesday, 17th at 7.45pm. All of which means that West Ham - who have just
three fixtures to play in the entire month of March - have to play five
times in the space of 20 days during April. It will be the second time that
Manchester United have visted the Boleyn Ground this season; on their
previous visit in January, the Reds had to rely on a last minute Robin Van
Persie to earn a 2-2 draw in the FA Cup third round tie.
2012/13: Remaining Fixtures
March
Sunday 17th: Chelsea (A)
Saturday 30th: WBA (H)
April
Sunday 7th:Liverpool (A)
Saturday 13th: Southampton (A)
Wednesday 17th: Manchester United (H)
Saturday 20th: Wigan Athletic (H)
Saturday 27th: Manchester City (A)
May
Saturday 4th: Newcastle Utd (H)
Sunday 12th: Everton (A)
Sunday 19th: Reading (H)
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham legend Sir Geoff Hurst forecasts a bright future for the club
Last Updated: March 13, 2013 6:45pm
SSN
West Ham legend Sir Geoff Hurst is confident the impending move to the
Olympic Stadium could signal the start of a golden era for the club. Hammers
co-chairman David Gold revealed earlier this month that talks over the £429m
venue are at an advanced stage, and Hurst believes a deal could help them
become the next Manchester City. World Cup 1966 hero Hurst, 71, said when
asked if the east Londoners could emulate the likes of Chelsea and City:
"It's not beyond the realms of possibility if we go to the stadium and with
the support we've got. "West Ham has a huge supporter base. If you could
make a comparison to another club of a similar stature and I would say
Manchester City is it. Look what has happened to them after they went to a
new stadium. "If you were a foreign investor looking to buy a football club
then West Ham would be a similar contender in the new stadium. "More so if
you want to buy a London club rather than a team in Manchester. It would be
absolutely unbelievable. That could happen. "I think it has been great for
Chelsea with (Roman) Abramovich and for Manchester City. It has been great
for the game. Of course I'd be thrilled to bits if it happened to West Ham."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Wednesday, March 13
Daily WHUFC News - 13th March 2013
Haycock hails goal-happy Hammers
WHUFC.com
Haycock was delighted to see the Dev Squad get back among the goals in a 3-3
draw at Liverpool
12.03.2013
Nick Haycock paid tribute to the Development Squad's impressive attacking
exploits, as West Ham United struck three times in an absorbing 3-3 Barclays
Under-21 Premier League draw at Liverpool's Kirkby Academy. While Dan
Potts, Wellington Paulista and Elliot Lee were each to profit from
well-worked corners, Haycock felt his side looked dangerous each and every
time they poured forward. Though, ultimately, it would take Lee's last-gasp
leveller to earn the Hammers a share of the spoils, the U21s boss was
adamant his young charges might have bagged even more on the day. At times,
when we had the confidence, we showed what we are capable of as an attacking
threat," Haycock told West Ham TV. "With the team Liverpool put out, you're
going to concede possession from time to time. At half-time we needed to be
a little bit braver, take the game to them a little bit more and play the
game higher up the pitch. You could see they were vulnerable at the back.
"Every time we got into the final third, I was expecting an opportunity for
us and the more we did it in the second half, we looked a lot better.
Obviously the three goals came from set pieces but that's part of the game
and in terms of defending set pieces, we were better on the day. "I
actually said to the boys, it was fantastic to get the equaliser at the end,
but I'm slightly disappointed. Had we shown a little more impetus in the
final third, I felt there were goals to be scored."
Though Haycock was rightly thrilled with Lee's 94th minute leveller, the way
his maturing side acquitted themselves against a comparatively experienced
Reds outfit, was the source of even greater satisfaction. "You have to bear
in mind, we started with two 17-year-olds, and two 18-year-olds, which is
fantastic and I thought they all put in solid performances," he added. "I
was delighted for Elliot, I thought his work rate deserved a goal, so he
will be made up with that. Frazer Shaw did well at left-back, Amos goes from
strength to strength and Kieran, playing in his preferred role in the middle
of the park, had a good game as well. "I actually wanted to see Jonjo
Shelvey, Raheem Sterling and Suso play. Because this is the standard and if
our boys aren't playing against the best at this level, Sam Allardyce is not
going to get players that can cope. It's the experience the boys are getting
that counts and I'll stand by that."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Potts praises U18s
WHUFC.com
U18s manager Steve Potts was pleased to see his youngsters battle back to
earn a 1-1 draw with Stoke City
12.03.2013
Steve Potts praised his young side for coming from behind after West Ham
United's 1-1 Barclays U18 Premier League Tier One Stage draw with Stoke
City.
The visitors took an early lead when Kieran Monlouis popped up in the box to
stab the ball into the net from Kris Scott's sliced effort. However, a
change of tactics and increased attacking mentality after half time at
Little Heath led to a late West Ham equaliser from Nathan Mavila. Just a
week after a disappointing 3-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur, U18s manager
Potts was pleased with his players' efforts against the Potters. "The boys
gave everything," said Potts. "It was unfortunate to draw because I think we
had a good start to the game. We were unfortunate to go 1-0 down from the
point of view that we had most of the play to start with. Then the rest of
the first half was fairly even, I'd say. If you look at it, they had one
shot and scored one goal. "In the second half, I feel we totally dominated
and it was a case of whether we could get the goal or not. We did and with
ten minutes to go you start to think that we could push on and get the
winner, but it wasn't to be. "A few of the younger lads came in against
Tottenham when some of the scholars gave way for them. I put them back in
and I think they responded well. I had a trialist in there too. I think
all-round we performed well. We drew the game and to be honest, I'm pretty
disappointed to draw on the balance of play. I thought we dominated a lot of
the game but we just couldn't dig the result out."
Potts could see the errors that his defence made in the run up to Stoke's
goal, knowing that his team had several opportunities to prevent a goal that
was scored against the run of play. "We just switched off for a few moments
really," he continued. "One of their players picked up the ball in a little
bit of space and moved it out wide, where we could have made it harder for
the cross to come in. Then it got deflected and finished off in the six-yard
box and you are left thinking that there should have been a challenge put in
there. "I think there were three or four little instances where we could
have prevented the goal."
West Ham went in behind at half-time, but Potts motivated his team and urged
them to play with more passion and belief. He also decided to make two
substitutions and reshaped his side into a more attacking formation. "We
just needed to move the ball with more purpose and more belief. If we had
done that earlier, we would have got our rewards. We did move the ball
around better and started to push on in the second half so Stoke couldn't
get out of their half at all. Most of the play in the second half was in
their half, which shows we pushed on really well. Without a doubt we
deserved our goal near the end."
Saturday's result will give Potts a clearer mind-set of his team's potential
this season, compared to last week's defeat at Spurs Training Centre, where
the Hammers boss believes they let themselves down for the first time. "I
hope the next victory is coming. The only league performance in which I
think the team let themselves down in was Tottenham away. For over half of
the game at Tottenham, the lads totally let themselves down. "The rest of
the league performances so far this season, I can't fault them at all. I
don't think that the points we have so far this season show what they
actually deserve. With performances, though, you have to see the bigger
picture, because I think they have done well. Results haven't been the best
but the performances I can't fault, both individually and as a team. It was
just the Tottenham away game where they didn't perform like they could. "We
will just keep training the same and if they keep up the hard work and
putting in the performances then I am sure we will get a deserved victory
soon."
Next up for the Under-18s is a trip to face Liverpool on Saturday 16 March,
with kick-off at 11am.
West Ham United U18s: Baxter, Homans, Burke, Onariase, Page (Girdlestone),
Makasi, Miles (Marlow), Freeman (Gogo), Mavila, Sadlier, Boakye-Yiadom
Subs not used: Brown, T.Tombides
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Borussia Dortmund to decide on Daniel Ginczek's future
By Graeme Bailey - Tweet me: @graemebailey. Last Updated: March 12,
2013 3:23pm
SSN
Reported West Ham target Daniel Ginczek is waiting to hear about his future
from Borussia Dortmund. Ginczek is currently on-loan at St Pauli in the
German Second Division from German champions Dortmund. The German Under-21
international striker has impressed with 12 goals in Bundesliga Zwei and his
form has caught the attention of a number of clubs - one of which is
reportedly West Ham. 21-year-old Ginczek, who has also spent time on loan at
Bochum, is yet to play for Borussia's first team and his agent Bjorn Etzel
confirmed that his future was not decided. "Dortmund don't know what they
want to do yet," he told Sky Sports. "We will wait until later in March or
even April, and then Dortmund will decide what will happen." On West Ham's
interest, Etzel said: "I only really know what I have read and seen in the
press about West Ham watching him - I was at the last game too, but I did
not speak to them or see them."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
What a Difference a Year Makes ......
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
especially on the PL managerial assault course. Last year, in March-April,
we saw a series of frustrating draws undermine West Ham's Championship title
challenge. Then, our automatic promotion prospects also slipped away as our
promotion rivals, Southampton and Reading, left us trailing in the wake of
strong finishes to their respective seasons. All Hammers fans will recall
the wild scenes of jubliation at their home grounds, as both Reading and
Southampton confirmed their promotion, while we faced the challenge of the
play-offs.
The rival managers, Brian MacDermott and Nigel Adkins, basked in the glory
of their respective promotion achievements and were afforded the certainty
of a early start to their planning for the following season's PL campaign.
In contrast, many Hammers fans were uneasy about the challenge of Cardiff
City in the semis and then Blackpool in the Final at Wembley. There was
widespread unease at the way that our results had 'flat lined' at a key
stage of the season and aspects of Sam Allardyce's management. Although that
was largely allayed by the crushing nature of victory over Cardiff City in
the semis and an exciting defeat of Blackpool in the Final, yet some
reservations and apprehension still lingered concerning the upcoming new
season back in the PL.
A year later and both rival managers have been sacked, many would say
harshly. Reading are in a desperate relegation struggle and Southampton have
had an indifferent season. Of the three promoted managers, only Sam
Allardyce is still in post. Of the three promoted clubs, West Ham have had
the best return to the top flight. Yes, there have been a number of ups and
downs this season. Yes, the discontent is still there amongst sections of
the support regarding aspects of Allardyce's management and our alleged
playing style. But overall, one can only conclude that Sam Allardyce is on
target to achieve the head line objectives of his two year contract, which
were to gain promotion and keep the club up in our first season back in the
PL.
Indeed, a lot can change in a year, especially in football management, just
ask Messrs Adkins and MacDermott!
SJ. Chandos.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Haycock was delighted to see the Dev Squad get back among the goals in a 3-3
draw at Liverpool
12.03.2013
Nick Haycock paid tribute to the Development Squad's impressive attacking
exploits, as West Ham United struck three times in an absorbing 3-3 Barclays
Under-21 Premier League draw at Liverpool's Kirkby Academy. While Dan
Potts, Wellington Paulista and Elliot Lee were each to profit from
well-worked corners, Haycock felt his side looked dangerous each and every
time they poured forward. Though, ultimately, it would take Lee's last-gasp
leveller to earn the Hammers a share of the spoils, the U21s boss was
adamant his young charges might have bagged even more on the day. At times,
when we had the confidence, we showed what we are capable of as an attacking
threat," Haycock told West Ham TV. "With the team Liverpool put out, you're
going to concede possession from time to time. At half-time we needed to be
a little bit braver, take the game to them a little bit more and play the
game higher up the pitch. You could see they were vulnerable at the back.
"Every time we got into the final third, I was expecting an opportunity for
us and the more we did it in the second half, we looked a lot better.
Obviously the three goals came from set pieces but that's part of the game
and in terms of defending set pieces, we were better on the day. "I
actually said to the boys, it was fantastic to get the equaliser at the end,
but I'm slightly disappointed. Had we shown a little more impetus in the
final third, I felt there were goals to be scored."
Though Haycock was rightly thrilled with Lee's 94th minute leveller, the way
his maturing side acquitted themselves against a comparatively experienced
Reds outfit, was the source of even greater satisfaction. "You have to bear
in mind, we started with two 17-year-olds, and two 18-year-olds, which is
fantastic and I thought they all put in solid performances," he added. "I
was delighted for Elliot, I thought his work rate deserved a goal, so he
will be made up with that. Frazer Shaw did well at left-back, Amos goes from
strength to strength and Kieran, playing in his preferred role in the middle
of the park, had a good game as well. "I actually wanted to see Jonjo
Shelvey, Raheem Sterling and Suso play. Because this is the standard and if
our boys aren't playing against the best at this level, Sam Allardyce is not
going to get players that can cope. It's the experience the boys are getting
that counts and I'll stand by that."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Potts praises U18s
WHUFC.com
U18s manager Steve Potts was pleased to see his youngsters battle back to
earn a 1-1 draw with Stoke City
12.03.2013
Steve Potts praised his young side for coming from behind after West Ham
United's 1-1 Barclays U18 Premier League Tier One Stage draw with Stoke
City.
The visitors took an early lead when Kieran Monlouis popped up in the box to
stab the ball into the net from Kris Scott's sliced effort. However, a
change of tactics and increased attacking mentality after half time at
Little Heath led to a late West Ham equaliser from Nathan Mavila. Just a
week after a disappointing 3-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur, U18s manager
Potts was pleased with his players' efforts against the Potters. "The boys
gave everything," said Potts. "It was unfortunate to draw because I think we
had a good start to the game. We were unfortunate to go 1-0 down from the
point of view that we had most of the play to start with. Then the rest of
the first half was fairly even, I'd say. If you look at it, they had one
shot and scored one goal. "In the second half, I feel we totally dominated
and it was a case of whether we could get the goal or not. We did and with
ten minutes to go you start to think that we could push on and get the
winner, but it wasn't to be. "A few of the younger lads came in against
Tottenham when some of the scholars gave way for them. I put them back in
and I think they responded well. I had a trialist in there too. I think
all-round we performed well. We drew the game and to be honest, I'm pretty
disappointed to draw on the balance of play. I thought we dominated a lot of
the game but we just couldn't dig the result out."
Potts could see the errors that his defence made in the run up to Stoke's
goal, knowing that his team had several opportunities to prevent a goal that
was scored against the run of play. "We just switched off for a few moments
really," he continued. "One of their players picked up the ball in a little
bit of space and moved it out wide, where we could have made it harder for
the cross to come in. Then it got deflected and finished off in the six-yard
box and you are left thinking that there should have been a challenge put in
there. "I think there were three or four little instances where we could
have prevented the goal."
West Ham went in behind at half-time, but Potts motivated his team and urged
them to play with more passion and belief. He also decided to make two
substitutions and reshaped his side into a more attacking formation. "We
just needed to move the ball with more purpose and more belief. If we had
done that earlier, we would have got our rewards. We did move the ball
around better and started to push on in the second half so Stoke couldn't
get out of their half at all. Most of the play in the second half was in
their half, which shows we pushed on really well. Without a doubt we
deserved our goal near the end."
Saturday's result will give Potts a clearer mind-set of his team's potential
this season, compared to last week's defeat at Spurs Training Centre, where
the Hammers boss believes they let themselves down for the first time. "I
hope the next victory is coming. The only league performance in which I
think the team let themselves down in was Tottenham away. For over half of
the game at Tottenham, the lads totally let themselves down. "The rest of
the league performances so far this season, I can't fault them at all. I
don't think that the points we have so far this season show what they
actually deserve. With performances, though, you have to see the bigger
picture, because I think they have done well. Results haven't been the best
but the performances I can't fault, both individually and as a team. It was
just the Tottenham away game where they didn't perform like they could. "We
will just keep training the same and if they keep up the hard work and
putting in the performances then I am sure we will get a deserved victory
soon."
Next up for the Under-18s is a trip to face Liverpool on Saturday 16 March,
with kick-off at 11am.
West Ham United U18s: Baxter, Homans, Burke, Onariase, Page (Girdlestone),
Makasi, Miles (Marlow), Freeman (Gogo), Mavila, Sadlier, Boakye-Yiadom
Subs not used: Brown, T.Tombides
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Borussia Dortmund to decide on Daniel Ginczek's future
By Graeme Bailey - Tweet me: @graemebailey. Last Updated: March 12,
2013 3:23pm
SSN
Reported West Ham target Daniel Ginczek is waiting to hear about his future
from Borussia Dortmund. Ginczek is currently on-loan at St Pauli in the
German Second Division from German champions Dortmund. The German Under-21
international striker has impressed with 12 goals in Bundesliga Zwei and his
form has caught the attention of a number of clubs - one of which is
reportedly West Ham. 21-year-old Ginczek, who has also spent time on loan at
Bochum, is yet to play for Borussia's first team and his agent Bjorn Etzel
confirmed that his future was not decided. "Dortmund don't know what they
want to do yet," he told Sky Sports. "We will wait until later in March or
even April, and then Dortmund will decide what will happen." On West Ham's
interest, Etzel said: "I only really know what I have read and seen in the
press about West Ham watching him - I was at the last game too, but I did
not speak to them or see them."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
What a Difference a Year Makes ......
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
especially on the PL managerial assault course. Last year, in March-April,
we saw a series of frustrating draws undermine West Ham's Championship title
challenge. Then, our automatic promotion prospects also slipped away as our
promotion rivals, Southampton and Reading, left us trailing in the wake of
strong finishes to their respective seasons. All Hammers fans will recall
the wild scenes of jubliation at their home grounds, as both Reading and
Southampton confirmed their promotion, while we faced the challenge of the
play-offs.
The rival managers, Brian MacDermott and Nigel Adkins, basked in the glory
of their respective promotion achievements and were afforded the certainty
of a early start to their planning for the following season's PL campaign.
In contrast, many Hammers fans were uneasy about the challenge of Cardiff
City in the semis and then Blackpool in the Final at Wembley. There was
widespread unease at the way that our results had 'flat lined' at a key
stage of the season and aspects of Sam Allardyce's management. Although that
was largely allayed by the crushing nature of victory over Cardiff City in
the semis and an exciting defeat of Blackpool in the Final, yet some
reservations and apprehension still lingered concerning the upcoming new
season back in the PL.
A year later and both rival managers have been sacked, many would say
harshly. Reading are in a desperate relegation struggle and Southampton have
had an indifferent season. Of the three promoted managers, only Sam
Allardyce is still in post. Of the three promoted clubs, West Ham have had
the best return to the top flight. Yes, there have been a number of ups and
downs this season. Yes, the discontent is still there amongst sections of
the support regarding aspects of Allardyce's management and our alleged
playing style. But overall, one can only conclude that Sam Allardyce is on
target to achieve the head line objectives of his two year contract, which
were to gain promotion and keep the club up in our first season back in the
PL.
Indeed, a lot can change in a year, especially in football management, just
ask Messrs Adkins and MacDermott!
SJ. Chandos.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Tuesday, March 12
Daily WHUFC News - 12th March 2013
Jussi takes SBOBET Player of the Month prize
WHUFC.com
Goalkeeper wins February's award while Joe Cole's strike v Spurs wins Goal
of the Month
11.03.2013
Jussi Jaaskelainen has been named as the SBOBET Player of the Month for
February after polling 40% of the fan vote on whufc.com Goalkeeper
Jaaskelainen held off competition from Winston Reid (25%) to land the prize,
while Joe Cole's 17% share of the poll saw him round off the top three.
Jaaskelainen's most telling contribution of the month was the clean sheet he
kept against Swansea City which helped the Hammers to a valuable Boleyn
Ground victory. He was also in top form in the 3-2 Barclays Premier League
defeat to Tottenham, making a string of fine saves to frustrate the visitors
before Gareth Bale's last minute stunner broke home hearts.
Meanwhile, Joe Cole's goal in that narrow loss to Spurs saw him take
February's Goal of the Month prize. Cole controlled Joey O'Brien's clipped
pass with a deft touch before swivelling and shooting past Hugo Lloris to
put West Ham 2-1 up at the time.
In a poll conducted on the club's Official Facebook Page, Cole's strike
earned 68% of the vote to beat Andy Carroll's header against Swansea into
second.
Wellington Paulista's and Elliot Lee's goals against West Bromwich Albion
U21, as well as Kieran Sadlier's strike against Wolverhampton Wanderers U18
were also nominated.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Diame looking for Chelsea repeat
WHUFC.com
West Ham United midfielder looks to Boleyn Ground win over Chelsea ahead of
Stamford Bridge trip
11.03.2013
Mohamed Diame believes West Ham United are capable of building on last
weekend's away win at Stoke City when they tackle their final five road
Barclays Premier League fixtures of the campaign. The Hammers are on their
travels again this coming Sunday when they make the journey across London to
take on Chelsea and Diame has fond memories of the last meeting with the
Champions League holders. He came off the bench at the interval to notch
West Ham's second goal in a fine 3-1 Boleyn Ground victory and the Senegal
international sees no reason why Sam Allardyce's side cannot cause Chelsea
more problems.
"It's about confidence, it's eleven v eleven on the pitch whether we're at
home or away," he said. "I don't know why we haven't got better results when
we've played away this season, so the Stoke result was very important for us
and now we can look forward to the Chelsea game. "We have to go there, give
our best on the pitch and try to put them in trouble. Winning at Stoke gives
us belief and that's important. "We beat Chelsea at home earlier in the
season and it was a very good win. You always want to play when you're up
against the big four, so I was happy to get on and play my part. I had a lot
of confidence going into that game, and that helped me to do my job on the
pitch that day. "Emotionally, that was the best feeling I've had at West
Ham. The fans were very happy and pushed the team on when Coley scored the
equaliser. It was a great atmosphere and it got even better when we scored
the second and third to win the game. "Now Chelsea know what we can do, so
it's not going to be easy, but we just need to give our best and we'll see
what happens."
Diame is especially looking forward to locking horns with Chelsea winger
Victor Moses, who was a teammate of his at Wigan Athletic last term. He
added: "I still speak to Victor, he's a very good guy and he's my friend.
He's a very good player and I'm looking forward to coming up against him.
"They have good players there, but we will have our chance too. We know how
we want to play and we're going to prepare well over the week, watch videos
of Chelsea to see how they've played in recent games and then try to stop
them on the day."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Reid in New Zealand squad
WHUFC.com
Hammers defender Winston Reid is in the New Zealand squad for World Cup
Qualifiers in March
11.03.2013
West Ham United defender Winston Reid has been named in the New Zealand
squad for their FIFA 2014 World Cup Qualifiers against New Caledonia and the
Solomon Islands later this month. The All Whites will face New Caledonia at
home on Friday 22 March before travelling to the Solomon Islands for their
final fixture in the third stage of the Oceania qualifying process on
Tuesday 26 March. New Zealand have won four games out of four in this phase
and a victory against New Caledonia would guarantee their place in the
intercontinental play-off in November. Reid joins fellow Hammers defender
Joey O'Brien in receiving an international call-up this month, with the
27-year-old featuring in the Republic of Ireland's provisional squad for
their World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Austria on 22 March and 26
March. Ireland currently sit third in their group, four points off leaders
Germany having played a game less. - Meanwhile, Dan Potts is part of the
Engalnd Under-19 party for their international friendly against Turkey on
Thursday 21 March. The game, which is due to place at AFC Telford United,
will provide Noel Blake's side with their final warm-up before the Elite
Round of qualification for this summer's UEFA U19 Championship in Lithuania.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Potts hopeful of Liverpool scalp
WHUFc.com
Dan Potts is confident of an upturn in fortunes as the Development Squad
head for Liverpool
11.03.2013
Dan Potts insists Monday's Barclays Under-21 Premier League Elite Group
clash at Liverpool is now 'vital' in their pursuit of a top-three finish, as
West Ham United bid for a first win in five. The Hammers succumbed to a 2-0
defeat at Altrincham against Manchester United last time out, their third
successive fruitless away day in the competition's second phase.
Eighteen-year-old Potts, however, expects his teammates to come back
fighting as they hope to breathe fresh life into their campaign with three
points at Liverpool's Kirkby Academy.
"Monday's vital now," Potts told West Ham TV. "We've been on a bit of a bad
run, but we'll definitely be going there to bring back all three points,
that's for sure. "We all know the top three is where we want to be and with
it being so tight at the moment, it's just a matter of getting the points on
the board."
Victory in Monday's 2pm kick-off would lift the Hammers above Liverpool and,
for the time being at least, into third. Boss Nick Haycock, meanwhile, is
under no illusions of the size of the task at hand, up against one of the
country's elite clubs. "They're a good passing side," Haycock explained. I
respect coach Alex Inglethorpe highly, with what he achieved previously at
Tottenham Hotspur and now at Liverpool as well. "We're playing against the
big boys in our eyes. We're up against the top six teams, who are looking
for Champions League football and their youth setups are no different.
That's what we've got to compete with. "We're delighted [to be in the Elite
Group] and we'd always prefer to be in these games. The results might not be
going our way at the minute, but what the boys get out of these experiences
is paramount for their development."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Liverpool 3-3 Development Squad FT
WHUFC.com
A last-gasp Elliot Lee goal earns the Dev Squad a point in a thrilling 3-3
draw at Liverpool
11.03.2013
LIVERPOOL v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS U21 PREMIER LEAGUE ELITE GROUP STAGE
MONDAY 11 MARCH 2013
KICK-OFF: 2PM
REFEREE: STEVEN COPELAND
iPHONE APP I TWITTER I FACEBOOK I PODCAST
Final score - Liverpool 3-3 West Ham United
94 mins - GOAL! Elliot Lee pops up with a vital last-gasp leveller and it's
nothing more than the visitors deserve. Moncur's corner is met by Potts,
before Lee volleys home to spark wild celebrations. It's pretty much the
last kick of the game and West Ham have themselves a stunning point against
a hugely experienced Liverpool side.
90 mins - Chance. Moncur tip toes into the box and appears to be tripped,
though to his credit he stays on his feet. Mr Copeland is not interested and
awards the goal-kick. Not long left now.
88 mins - As the clock ticks down West Ham are struggling to get their foot
on the ball. Jordan Spence concedes the corner and the Reds are now happy to
play out these dying seconds in the corner.
85 mins - The hosts are inches away from settling the contest as Driver well
and truly puts his body on the line to prevent a low cross from squirming
over the line, Liverpool are claiming hand ball but Mr Copeland is having
none of it.
83 mins - The Hammers are throwing men forward here in search of the
leveller and with that in mind, Sean Maguire joins the action at the expense
of Bywater.
80 mins - Goal! Heartbreak for the Hammers as Suso puts the Reds in front
once more. He cuts inside off the right flank, before angling a drive across
Spiegel. It doesn't have a great deal on it, but it still manages to trickle
into the corner.
79 mins - Turgott has goal and glory in his sights as he takes aim from the
edge of the box. He's denied, however, by a stupendous block and the chance
has gone.
76 mins - This time Spiegel is forced to make the stop, as he beats away
Suso's effort. It prompts a first change for the Hammers, as young
midfielder Ben Marlow replaces Amos Nasha in the heart of midfield.
73 mins - Sterling wins a free-kick on the nearside and it's Shelvey who's
charged with the dead ball responsibility. A clever routine sees the ball
worked out to Suso, whose shot, for once, is not the cleanest and is cleared
relatively easily.
70 mins - The Hammers are defending deep but defending well. Dare I say it,
but the hosts appear to be running out of ideas.
66 mins - In truth it's all gone rather quiet here, with West Ham having a
great deal more joy in shackling the hosts. Sterling sets off on another of
his dangerous runs but overruns it, allowing Frazer Shaw to clear his lines.
64 mins - Paulista does brilliantly to worm his way to the byline before
digging out a very inviting centre. Sadly, there's no one on hand to apply a
touch of any description and it drifts harmlessly across the face of goal.
61 mins - The Reds make a double switch with Adam Morgan replacing Daniel
Carr and McLaughlin making way for Conor Randall.
58 mins - At the other end, Spiegel is at full-stretch to tip Suso's strike
round the post. The first-half sunshine is now but a distant memory as the
snow starts to fall!
56 mins - GOAL! It's almost a carbon copy of the opener as Bywater's corner
hangs in the air, but this time it's Paulista who's the beneficiary, as he
nods in his fourth goal in claret and blue.
53 mins - It's all hands on deck for West Ham here, as Liverpool remain
camped in the opposition half. An offside flag, meanwhile, grants the
visitors an opportunity to draw breath.
50 mins - Liverpool are bossing possession at the start of the second half,
with Shelvey pulling the strings in midfield. That said, the Hammers win a
corner, but much like their hosts in the first half, the wind sees it sail
harmlessly behind.
48 mins - Stering gets the better of Driver but his low centre is cut out by
Potts. It's only cleared as far as Suso, however, whose drive forces Spiegel
into action, as he tips it over the bar.
46 mins - Mr Copeland gets us back underway here. The Hammers have a stern
test on their hands here and on the evidence of the first half, set-pieces
are perhaps their most likely route back into this one.
45 mins - Callum Driver falls to earth thanks to an ill-timed lunge from
Sterling. Fortunately, Driver is back on his feet promptly enough and there
doesn't appear to be any lasting damage. That's more or less the last action
of the opening 45, one that started so very well for Nick Haycock's men.
43 mins - A West Ham corner from the right this time flicks off a head or
two, before travelling goalward. Ward is back pedalling in a hurry and
relieved to see the ball bobble off the top of the bar and behind to
relative safety.
41 mins - The Hammers are finishing the half the stronger, as Moncur
attempts to square for Lee. It's poked behind for a corner, which is too
close to Ward who gathers under no pressure whatever.
39 mins - West Ham should be level. Kieran Bywater's set piece drops on the
head of an unmarked Paulista, whose header is only parried by Ward into the
path of Lee. The No.11 is only too glad to slot home but his celebrations
are cut short by the sight of the linesman's flag.
37 mins - A rare West Ham attack ends prematurely as Turgott is
dispossessed. Suso takes over before playing it into the feet of Sterling.
Fortunately, there's a breakdown in communications and the Hammers are able
to hack it clear.
35 mins - The young reds have a free-kick on the edge of the box, a few
yards left of centre. Shelvey takes charge but whips his strike comfortably
wide of Spiegel's left-hand upright.
33 mins - It's wave after wave of Liverpool attack at present and the
Hammers have got to hold on here. Ryan McLaughlin strides forward but this
time Spiegel is on hand to prevent any further damage.
30 mins - Goal! Another exceptional individual effort, Suso picks it up
inside the West Ham half, before surging towards the box and unleashing a
rasping drive. It's past Spiegel in a flash and you have to say, it's
another mightily impressive goal.
27 mins - No need for Nick Haycock's young men to be dispirited here. They
have been excellent up until now against a Liverpool side with a great deal
more experience. Shelvey whips in a free-kick from the left, but it's
expertly dealt with by full-back Frazer Shaw.
24 mins - Goal! Sterling works his magic with an absolute thunderbolt from
25 yards. It crashes off the underside of the bar and past an utterly
helpless Spiegel. Not much you can do about goals like that.
21 mins - Liverpool have a second corner in a matter of seconds, as the
first causes unrest in the West Ham six-yard box. Somehow, it's shovelled
behind. The second set-piece comes to nothing but the hosts are just
starting to get on top here.
19 mins - Blair Turgott wins it some 30 yards from goal and despite the
pleas of Moncur opts to let fly. He screws it well wide and it's fair to say
Moncur is not best pleased.
16 mins - Sterling is beginning to show his worth here and stings the palms
of Spiegel. The Hammers stopper cannot hold on at the first time of asking
but reacts smartly to gather second time round.
15 mins - Jose Ignacio has the goal in his sights from 20 yards but his shot
cannons off a West Ham body and behind Spiegel's goal. The corner is a poor
one and intercepted by Lee at the near post.
12 mins - Liverpool win a corner on the left-hand side but the wind takes
hold and yanks it behind for a goal kick. Meanwhile, Raheem Sterling sets
off from halfway and darts into the Hammers box, before seeing his drive
deflected behind, The resulting corner is overhit once more.
10 mins - Apologies for the delay, rest assured I am still with you and West
Ham are still winning. The trusty laptop failed me momentarily. Anywho,
you've missed nothing. For all of Liverpool's attacking talent on show, West
Ham are holding firm and Raphael Spiegel is yet to face a test of any note.
So far so good.
4 mins - GOAL! Perfect start! Turgott does well to win a corner and it's
Kieran Bywater who floats it towards the far post. Dan Potts climbs highest
and nods home at the far post. That's the young Hammers' first goal in
upwards of three hours of football.
3 mins - Wellington Paulista does well to pick out Elliot Lee, who juggles
with the ball on the edge of the box. It's nicked away from him but Mr
Copeland awards a goal-kick. Much to the disgust of Lee.
1 mins - It's West Ham who get us underway, but surrender possession all too
quickly. Daniel Carr sets off down the right and though his cross is an
inviting one, it's too high for those waiting in the centre.
13:59pm - Having prepared for a blizzard, I'm now faced with the unlikely
scenario of having the sun in my eyes! It's an idyllic day here.. Here come
the players, we're seconds from the off.
13:40pm - Here's a brief opposition view, from none other than former Hammer
Neil Mellor. He told us: "In the Elite Group Liverpool have had a lot of
injuries, quite a few players have gone out on loan and they have been quite
short on numbers really, particularly against Manchester United and
Tottenham Hotspur - both of which they lost 1-0.
"But in truth, it's not about winning the Elite League, it's about getting
players through to the first team. While of course, it's good to win, the
aim is always progression.
"Joao Teixeria signed from Sporting Lisbon for £1million last season and
though he's not played in the first team yet, he's a really good technical
footballer. He can play some fantastic passes and he has a real elegance
about him on the football pitch. He's a talented footballer!"
13:15pm - The teams are in and, as expected, Nick Haycock makes just one
change to the side that lost 2-0 against Manchester United, with Kieran
Bywater coming in for Paul McCallum. Meanwhile, it is a strong-looking
Liverpool line-up, with first-teamers Andre Wisdom, Conor Coady, Jonjo
Shelvey, Suso and Raheem Sterling all in the hosts' starting XI.
Liverpool U21s: Ward, McLaughlin, Roddan, Wisdom, Coady, Shelvey, Ignacio,
Teixeria, Carr, Suso, Sterling. Subs: Morgan, Belford, Randall, Petersson,
Bijev.
West Ham United U21s: Spiegel, Driver, Shaw, Nasha, Potts, Spence, Turgott,
Moncur, Paulista, Bywater, Lee. Subs: Maguire, Larkins, Marlow, Miles, Page.
Good afternoon and welcome to Kirkby Academy for today's Barclays Under-21
Premier League Elite Group fixture featuring Liverpool and West Ham United.
Nick Haycock's men take to the road for the third time in less than a
fortnight, hoping to fare rather better than defeats at the hands of both
Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United.
Despite taking six points from their first three fixtures, the Development
Squad are now winless in four, a sequence that today sees the Hammers
bidding for a first success since a 2-0 home win over West Bromwich Albion
on 8 February.
West Ham will, at the very least, be forced into one change, with Paul
McCallum having joined npower League Two side Aldershot Town on a month's
loan. Meanwhile, it remains to be seen whether either Pelly Ruddock or
Sebastian Lletget will feature, having missed Wednesday's 2-0 reverse at
Altrincham through injury.
Today's hosts sit third in the Elite Group with ten points from their six
clashes in the competition's second phase. Liverpool are three points and
two places better off than the Hammers, but a victory of any sort for West
Ham would lift them above the Reds.
Last time out, Liverpool were held to a 1-1 away draw with Southampton,
their first and only stalemate to date. We will have team news shortly,
while you can follow live text updates as of this afternoon's 2pm kick-off.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham midfielder Mohamed Diame unfazed by Chelsea test
Last Updated: March 11, 2013 2:18pm
SSN
West Ham midfielder Mohamed Diame insists they have nothing to fear when
they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Sunday.
Diame came off the bench to score the second goal in the Hammers' 3-1 win in
the reverse fixture on 1 December. Sam Allardyce's side were not in action
this weekend due to the FA Cup but they won their last league match at Stoke
1-0 to give them a further boost. "It's about confidence, it's eleven v
eleven on the pitch whether we're at home or away," Diame told the club's
official website. "I don't know why we haven't got better results when we've
played away this season, so the Stoke result was very important for us and
now we can look forward to the Chelsea game. "We have to go there, give our
best on the pitch and try to put them in trouble. Winning at Stoke gives us
belief and that's important. "We beat Chelsea at home earlier in the season
and it was a very good win. You always want to play when you're up against
the big four, so I was happy to get on and play my part. I had a lot of
confidence going into that game, and that helped me to do my job on the
pitch that day. "Emotionally, that was the best feeling I've had at West
Ham. The fans were very happy and pushed the team on when Coley scored the
equaliser. It was a great atmosphere and it got even better when we scored
the second and third to win the game. "Now Chelsea know what we can do, so
it's not going to be easy, but we just need to give our best and we'll see
what happens. "They have good players there, but we will have our chance
too. We know how we want to play and we're going to prepare well over the
week, watch videos of Chelsea to see how they've played in recent games and
then try to stop them on the day."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Goalkeeper wins February's award while Joe Cole's strike v Spurs wins Goal
of the Month
11.03.2013
Jussi Jaaskelainen has been named as the SBOBET Player of the Month for
February after polling 40% of the fan vote on whufc.com Goalkeeper
Jaaskelainen held off competition from Winston Reid (25%) to land the prize,
while Joe Cole's 17% share of the poll saw him round off the top three.
Jaaskelainen's most telling contribution of the month was the clean sheet he
kept against Swansea City which helped the Hammers to a valuable Boleyn
Ground victory. He was also in top form in the 3-2 Barclays Premier League
defeat to Tottenham, making a string of fine saves to frustrate the visitors
before Gareth Bale's last minute stunner broke home hearts.
Meanwhile, Joe Cole's goal in that narrow loss to Spurs saw him take
February's Goal of the Month prize. Cole controlled Joey O'Brien's clipped
pass with a deft touch before swivelling and shooting past Hugo Lloris to
put West Ham 2-1 up at the time.
In a poll conducted on the club's Official Facebook Page, Cole's strike
earned 68% of the vote to beat Andy Carroll's header against Swansea into
second.
Wellington Paulista's and Elliot Lee's goals against West Bromwich Albion
U21, as well as Kieran Sadlier's strike against Wolverhampton Wanderers U18
were also nominated.
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Diame looking for Chelsea repeat
WHUFC.com
West Ham United midfielder looks to Boleyn Ground win over Chelsea ahead of
Stamford Bridge trip
11.03.2013
Mohamed Diame believes West Ham United are capable of building on last
weekend's away win at Stoke City when they tackle their final five road
Barclays Premier League fixtures of the campaign. The Hammers are on their
travels again this coming Sunday when they make the journey across London to
take on Chelsea and Diame has fond memories of the last meeting with the
Champions League holders. He came off the bench at the interval to notch
West Ham's second goal in a fine 3-1 Boleyn Ground victory and the Senegal
international sees no reason why Sam Allardyce's side cannot cause Chelsea
more problems.
"It's about confidence, it's eleven v eleven on the pitch whether we're at
home or away," he said. "I don't know why we haven't got better results when
we've played away this season, so the Stoke result was very important for us
and now we can look forward to the Chelsea game. "We have to go there, give
our best on the pitch and try to put them in trouble. Winning at Stoke gives
us belief and that's important. "We beat Chelsea at home earlier in the
season and it was a very good win. You always want to play when you're up
against the big four, so I was happy to get on and play my part. I had a lot
of confidence going into that game, and that helped me to do my job on the
pitch that day. "Emotionally, that was the best feeling I've had at West
Ham. The fans were very happy and pushed the team on when Coley scored the
equaliser. It was a great atmosphere and it got even better when we scored
the second and third to win the game. "Now Chelsea know what we can do, so
it's not going to be easy, but we just need to give our best and we'll see
what happens."
Diame is especially looking forward to locking horns with Chelsea winger
Victor Moses, who was a teammate of his at Wigan Athletic last term. He
added: "I still speak to Victor, he's a very good guy and he's my friend.
He's a very good player and I'm looking forward to coming up against him.
"They have good players there, but we will have our chance too. We know how
we want to play and we're going to prepare well over the week, watch videos
of Chelsea to see how they've played in recent games and then try to stop
them on the day."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Reid in New Zealand squad
WHUFC.com
Hammers defender Winston Reid is in the New Zealand squad for World Cup
Qualifiers in March
11.03.2013
West Ham United defender Winston Reid has been named in the New Zealand
squad for their FIFA 2014 World Cup Qualifiers against New Caledonia and the
Solomon Islands later this month. The All Whites will face New Caledonia at
home on Friday 22 March before travelling to the Solomon Islands for their
final fixture in the third stage of the Oceania qualifying process on
Tuesday 26 March. New Zealand have won four games out of four in this phase
and a victory against New Caledonia would guarantee their place in the
intercontinental play-off in November. Reid joins fellow Hammers defender
Joey O'Brien in receiving an international call-up this month, with the
27-year-old featuring in the Republic of Ireland's provisional squad for
their World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Austria on 22 March and 26
March. Ireland currently sit third in their group, four points off leaders
Germany having played a game less. - Meanwhile, Dan Potts is part of the
Engalnd Under-19 party for their international friendly against Turkey on
Thursday 21 March. The game, which is due to place at AFC Telford United,
will provide Noel Blake's side with their final warm-up before the Elite
Round of qualification for this summer's UEFA U19 Championship in Lithuania.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Potts hopeful of Liverpool scalp
WHUFc.com
Dan Potts is confident of an upturn in fortunes as the Development Squad
head for Liverpool
11.03.2013
Dan Potts insists Monday's Barclays Under-21 Premier League Elite Group
clash at Liverpool is now 'vital' in their pursuit of a top-three finish, as
West Ham United bid for a first win in five. The Hammers succumbed to a 2-0
defeat at Altrincham against Manchester United last time out, their third
successive fruitless away day in the competition's second phase.
Eighteen-year-old Potts, however, expects his teammates to come back
fighting as they hope to breathe fresh life into their campaign with three
points at Liverpool's Kirkby Academy.
"Monday's vital now," Potts told West Ham TV. "We've been on a bit of a bad
run, but we'll definitely be going there to bring back all three points,
that's for sure. "We all know the top three is where we want to be and with
it being so tight at the moment, it's just a matter of getting the points on
the board."
Victory in Monday's 2pm kick-off would lift the Hammers above Liverpool and,
for the time being at least, into third. Boss Nick Haycock, meanwhile, is
under no illusions of the size of the task at hand, up against one of the
country's elite clubs. "They're a good passing side," Haycock explained. I
respect coach Alex Inglethorpe highly, with what he achieved previously at
Tottenham Hotspur and now at Liverpool as well. "We're playing against the
big boys in our eyes. We're up against the top six teams, who are looking
for Champions League football and their youth setups are no different.
That's what we've got to compete with. "We're delighted [to be in the Elite
Group] and we'd always prefer to be in these games. The results might not be
going our way at the minute, but what the boys get out of these experiences
is paramount for their development."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Liverpool 3-3 Development Squad FT
WHUFC.com
A last-gasp Elliot Lee goal earns the Dev Squad a point in a thrilling 3-3
draw at Liverpool
11.03.2013
LIVERPOOL v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS U21 PREMIER LEAGUE ELITE GROUP STAGE
MONDAY 11 MARCH 2013
KICK-OFF: 2PM
REFEREE: STEVEN COPELAND
iPHONE APP I TWITTER I FACEBOOK I PODCAST
Final score - Liverpool 3-3 West Ham United
94 mins - GOAL! Elliot Lee pops up with a vital last-gasp leveller and it's
nothing more than the visitors deserve. Moncur's corner is met by Potts,
before Lee volleys home to spark wild celebrations. It's pretty much the
last kick of the game and West Ham have themselves a stunning point against
a hugely experienced Liverpool side.
90 mins - Chance. Moncur tip toes into the box and appears to be tripped,
though to his credit he stays on his feet. Mr Copeland is not interested and
awards the goal-kick. Not long left now.
88 mins - As the clock ticks down West Ham are struggling to get their foot
on the ball. Jordan Spence concedes the corner and the Reds are now happy to
play out these dying seconds in the corner.
85 mins - The hosts are inches away from settling the contest as Driver well
and truly puts his body on the line to prevent a low cross from squirming
over the line, Liverpool are claiming hand ball but Mr Copeland is having
none of it.
83 mins - The Hammers are throwing men forward here in search of the
leveller and with that in mind, Sean Maguire joins the action at the expense
of Bywater.
80 mins - Goal! Heartbreak for the Hammers as Suso puts the Reds in front
once more. He cuts inside off the right flank, before angling a drive across
Spiegel. It doesn't have a great deal on it, but it still manages to trickle
into the corner.
79 mins - Turgott has goal and glory in his sights as he takes aim from the
edge of the box. He's denied, however, by a stupendous block and the chance
has gone.
76 mins - This time Spiegel is forced to make the stop, as he beats away
Suso's effort. It prompts a first change for the Hammers, as young
midfielder Ben Marlow replaces Amos Nasha in the heart of midfield.
73 mins - Sterling wins a free-kick on the nearside and it's Shelvey who's
charged with the dead ball responsibility. A clever routine sees the ball
worked out to Suso, whose shot, for once, is not the cleanest and is cleared
relatively easily.
70 mins - The Hammers are defending deep but defending well. Dare I say it,
but the hosts appear to be running out of ideas.
66 mins - In truth it's all gone rather quiet here, with West Ham having a
great deal more joy in shackling the hosts. Sterling sets off on another of
his dangerous runs but overruns it, allowing Frazer Shaw to clear his lines.
64 mins - Paulista does brilliantly to worm his way to the byline before
digging out a very inviting centre. Sadly, there's no one on hand to apply a
touch of any description and it drifts harmlessly across the face of goal.
61 mins - The Reds make a double switch with Adam Morgan replacing Daniel
Carr and McLaughlin making way for Conor Randall.
58 mins - At the other end, Spiegel is at full-stretch to tip Suso's strike
round the post. The first-half sunshine is now but a distant memory as the
snow starts to fall!
56 mins - GOAL! It's almost a carbon copy of the opener as Bywater's corner
hangs in the air, but this time it's Paulista who's the beneficiary, as he
nods in his fourth goal in claret and blue.
53 mins - It's all hands on deck for West Ham here, as Liverpool remain
camped in the opposition half. An offside flag, meanwhile, grants the
visitors an opportunity to draw breath.
50 mins - Liverpool are bossing possession at the start of the second half,
with Shelvey pulling the strings in midfield. That said, the Hammers win a
corner, but much like their hosts in the first half, the wind sees it sail
harmlessly behind.
48 mins - Stering gets the better of Driver but his low centre is cut out by
Potts. It's only cleared as far as Suso, however, whose drive forces Spiegel
into action, as he tips it over the bar.
46 mins - Mr Copeland gets us back underway here. The Hammers have a stern
test on their hands here and on the evidence of the first half, set-pieces
are perhaps their most likely route back into this one.
45 mins - Callum Driver falls to earth thanks to an ill-timed lunge from
Sterling. Fortunately, Driver is back on his feet promptly enough and there
doesn't appear to be any lasting damage. That's more or less the last action
of the opening 45, one that started so very well for Nick Haycock's men.
43 mins - A West Ham corner from the right this time flicks off a head or
two, before travelling goalward. Ward is back pedalling in a hurry and
relieved to see the ball bobble off the top of the bar and behind to
relative safety.
41 mins - The Hammers are finishing the half the stronger, as Moncur
attempts to square for Lee. It's poked behind for a corner, which is too
close to Ward who gathers under no pressure whatever.
39 mins - West Ham should be level. Kieran Bywater's set piece drops on the
head of an unmarked Paulista, whose header is only parried by Ward into the
path of Lee. The No.11 is only too glad to slot home but his celebrations
are cut short by the sight of the linesman's flag.
37 mins - A rare West Ham attack ends prematurely as Turgott is
dispossessed. Suso takes over before playing it into the feet of Sterling.
Fortunately, there's a breakdown in communications and the Hammers are able
to hack it clear.
35 mins - The young reds have a free-kick on the edge of the box, a few
yards left of centre. Shelvey takes charge but whips his strike comfortably
wide of Spiegel's left-hand upright.
33 mins - It's wave after wave of Liverpool attack at present and the
Hammers have got to hold on here. Ryan McLaughlin strides forward but this
time Spiegel is on hand to prevent any further damage.
30 mins - Goal! Another exceptional individual effort, Suso picks it up
inside the West Ham half, before surging towards the box and unleashing a
rasping drive. It's past Spiegel in a flash and you have to say, it's
another mightily impressive goal.
27 mins - No need for Nick Haycock's young men to be dispirited here. They
have been excellent up until now against a Liverpool side with a great deal
more experience. Shelvey whips in a free-kick from the left, but it's
expertly dealt with by full-back Frazer Shaw.
24 mins - Goal! Sterling works his magic with an absolute thunderbolt from
25 yards. It crashes off the underside of the bar and past an utterly
helpless Spiegel. Not much you can do about goals like that.
21 mins - Liverpool have a second corner in a matter of seconds, as the
first causes unrest in the West Ham six-yard box. Somehow, it's shovelled
behind. The second set-piece comes to nothing but the hosts are just
starting to get on top here.
19 mins - Blair Turgott wins it some 30 yards from goal and despite the
pleas of Moncur opts to let fly. He screws it well wide and it's fair to say
Moncur is not best pleased.
16 mins - Sterling is beginning to show his worth here and stings the palms
of Spiegel. The Hammers stopper cannot hold on at the first time of asking
but reacts smartly to gather second time round.
15 mins - Jose Ignacio has the goal in his sights from 20 yards but his shot
cannons off a West Ham body and behind Spiegel's goal. The corner is a poor
one and intercepted by Lee at the near post.
12 mins - Liverpool win a corner on the left-hand side but the wind takes
hold and yanks it behind for a goal kick. Meanwhile, Raheem Sterling sets
off from halfway and darts into the Hammers box, before seeing his drive
deflected behind, The resulting corner is overhit once more.
10 mins - Apologies for the delay, rest assured I am still with you and West
Ham are still winning. The trusty laptop failed me momentarily. Anywho,
you've missed nothing. For all of Liverpool's attacking talent on show, West
Ham are holding firm and Raphael Spiegel is yet to face a test of any note.
So far so good.
4 mins - GOAL! Perfect start! Turgott does well to win a corner and it's
Kieran Bywater who floats it towards the far post. Dan Potts climbs highest
and nods home at the far post. That's the young Hammers' first goal in
upwards of three hours of football.
3 mins - Wellington Paulista does well to pick out Elliot Lee, who juggles
with the ball on the edge of the box. It's nicked away from him but Mr
Copeland awards a goal-kick. Much to the disgust of Lee.
1 mins - It's West Ham who get us underway, but surrender possession all too
quickly. Daniel Carr sets off down the right and though his cross is an
inviting one, it's too high for those waiting in the centre.
13:59pm - Having prepared for a blizzard, I'm now faced with the unlikely
scenario of having the sun in my eyes! It's an idyllic day here.. Here come
the players, we're seconds from the off.
13:40pm - Here's a brief opposition view, from none other than former Hammer
Neil Mellor. He told us: "In the Elite Group Liverpool have had a lot of
injuries, quite a few players have gone out on loan and they have been quite
short on numbers really, particularly against Manchester United and
Tottenham Hotspur - both of which they lost 1-0.
"But in truth, it's not about winning the Elite League, it's about getting
players through to the first team. While of course, it's good to win, the
aim is always progression.
"Joao Teixeria signed from Sporting Lisbon for £1million last season and
though he's not played in the first team yet, he's a really good technical
footballer. He can play some fantastic passes and he has a real elegance
about him on the football pitch. He's a talented footballer!"
13:15pm - The teams are in and, as expected, Nick Haycock makes just one
change to the side that lost 2-0 against Manchester United, with Kieran
Bywater coming in for Paul McCallum. Meanwhile, it is a strong-looking
Liverpool line-up, with first-teamers Andre Wisdom, Conor Coady, Jonjo
Shelvey, Suso and Raheem Sterling all in the hosts' starting XI.
Liverpool U21s: Ward, McLaughlin, Roddan, Wisdom, Coady, Shelvey, Ignacio,
Teixeria, Carr, Suso, Sterling. Subs: Morgan, Belford, Randall, Petersson,
Bijev.
West Ham United U21s: Spiegel, Driver, Shaw, Nasha, Potts, Spence, Turgott,
Moncur, Paulista, Bywater, Lee. Subs: Maguire, Larkins, Marlow, Miles, Page.
Good afternoon and welcome to Kirkby Academy for today's Barclays Under-21
Premier League Elite Group fixture featuring Liverpool and West Ham United.
Nick Haycock's men take to the road for the third time in less than a
fortnight, hoping to fare rather better than defeats at the hands of both
Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United.
Despite taking six points from their first three fixtures, the Development
Squad are now winless in four, a sequence that today sees the Hammers
bidding for a first success since a 2-0 home win over West Bromwich Albion
on 8 February.
West Ham will, at the very least, be forced into one change, with Paul
McCallum having joined npower League Two side Aldershot Town on a month's
loan. Meanwhile, it remains to be seen whether either Pelly Ruddock or
Sebastian Lletget will feature, having missed Wednesday's 2-0 reverse at
Altrincham through injury.
Today's hosts sit third in the Elite Group with ten points from their six
clashes in the competition's second phase. Liverpool are three points and
two places better off than the Hammers, but a victory of any sort for West
Ham would lift them above the Reds.
Last time out, Liverpool were held to a 1-1 away draw with Southampton,
their first and only stalemate to date. We will have team news shortly,
while you can follow live text updates as of this afternoon's 2pm kick-off.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham midfielder Mohamed Diame unfazed by Chelsea test
Last Updated: March 11, 2013 2:18pm
SSN
West Ham midfielder Mohamed Diame insists they have nothing to fear when
they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Sunday.
Diame came off the bench to score the second goal in the Hammers' 3-1 win in
the reverse fixture on 1 December. Sam Allardyce's side were not in action
this weekend due to the FA Cup but they won their last league match at Stoke
1-0 to give them a further boost. "It's about confidence, it's eleven v
eleven on the pitch whether we're at home or away," Diame told the club's
official website. "I don't know why we haven't got better results when we've
played away this season, so the Stoke result was very important for us and
now we can look forward to the Chelsea game. "We have to go there, give our
best on the pitch and try to put them in trouble. Winning at Stoke gives us
belief and that's important. "We beat Chelsea at home earlier in the season
and it was a very good win. You always want to play when you're up against
the big four, so I was happy to get on and play my part. I had a lot of
confidence going into that game, and that helped me to do my job on the
pitch that day. "Emotionally, that was the best feeling I've had at West
Ham. The fans were very happy and pushed the team on when Coley scored the
equaliser. It was a great atmosphere and it got even better when we scored
the second and third to win the game. "Now Chelsea know what we can do, so
it's not going to be easy, but we just need to give our best and we'll see
what happens. "They have good players there, but we will have our chance
too. We know how we want to play and we're going to prepare well over the
week, watch videos of Chelsea to see how they've played in recent games and
then try to stop them on the day."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Monday, March 11
Daily WHUFC News - 11th March 2013
On this day - 10 March
WHUFC.com
Mauricio Taricco and Jimmy Wood take centre-stage on this date in West Ham
United's history
10.03.2013
Anniversary
Mauricio Taricco
Date of birth: 10 March 1973
Clubs: Argentinos Juniors, Ipswich Town, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United,
AS Villasimius, Brighton and Hove Albion
Mauricio Taricco spent just 27 minutes as a West Ham United player, but will
forever be thought of fondly in east London after generously agreeing to
have his contract ripped up after suffering a serious hamstring injury on
his debut. The Argentina-born former Argentinos Juniors, Ipswich Town and
Tottenham Hotspur full-back joined the Hammers in the autumn of 2004 and was
named in the starting XI by manager Alan Pardew for the Championship fixture
at Millwall on 21 November. However, when the defender tore his hamstring at
The New Den, ruling him out for eight weeks, he offered to pull out of the
short-term contract he had signed with the club and retired from
professional football. The gesture was lauded by Pardew and the club's Board
and supporters alike. Taricco was able to return to playing with Italian
lower-league club AS Villasimius before taking on a coaching role under Gus
Poyet at Brighton and Hove Albion. There, he pulled on his boots again in
November 2010 - six years after his last game in English football. He has
not played a competitive fixture for the Seagulls since January 2012.
Classic Match
Lincoln City 0-2 West Ham United
Football League Division Two
10 March 1934
Jimmy Wood was a speedy outside-right who bagged 13 goals in 67 appearances
for West Ham United between 1929 and 1935, including one in a 2-0 Division
Two win at Lincoln City on this date in 1934. Born in Royton in Lancashire -
now Greater Manchester - Wood began his professional career with Hyde
United. After a short spell with Bournemouth, he returned to Hyde before
joining West Ham in July 1929. Over the next six seasons, he was in and out
of the first XI, never making more than 17 appearances in a single season.
However, Wood did start the FA Cup semi-final defeat by Everton at Molineux
on 18 March 1933.
Despite his uncertain status, Wood scored at least one goal in each of his
six campaigns in claret and blue, including four in 16 appearances in
1933/34. One of those goals came in a 2-0 win at Sincil Bank. Jimmy Ruffell
was also on target in front of a crowd of just 5,213 as the Hammers climbed
to 12th in the table.
West Ham would finish the season in seventh place, while Lincoln would end
up bottom of the table. As for Wood, he moved to Crystal Palace in 1935,
scoring four goals in ten matches for the Eagles.
Complete record - 10 March
2012 West Ham United 1-1 Doncaster Rovers (Championship)
1990 West Ham United 2-1 Portsmouth (Division Two)
1984 West Ham United 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Division One)
1979 West Ham United 0-0 Brighton and Hove Albion (Division Two)
1973 Sheffield United 0-0 West Ham United (Division One)
1956 West Ham United 2-1 Bristol Rovers (Division Two)
1951 Leicester City 1-0 West Ham United (Division Two)
1934 Lincoln City 0-2 West Ham United (Division Two)
1928 Manchester United 1-1 West Ham United (Division One)
Played 9, Won 3, Drawn 5, Lost 1, Scored 9, Conceded 6
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ladies held by Lionesses
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Ladies were held to a goalless league draw by Millwall
Lionesses on Sunday
10.03.2013
West Ham United Ladies were held to a goalless FA Women's Premier League
Southern Division draw by Millwall Lionesses on Sunday. The Hammers went
into the match knowing victory would close the gap between themselves and
leaders Millwall to just five points - with West Ham also having a game
in-hand on their south London rivals. However, despite creating a succession
of chances at Thurrock FC and forcing the Millwall goalkeeper to make a host
of saves, Julia Setford's team could not find a goal to secure all three
points. At the back, West Ham kept their seventh clean sheet in ten league
matches. The Hammers have conceded just four goals in those ten games and
have by far the best defensive record in the division With eight league
matches still to play, including two against traditional rivals Colchester
United, the Ladies retain a chance of catching Millwall and winning the
title. However, Setford and her players know they need to return to winning
ways when they host Colchester at Ship Lane on Sunday 17 March, when
kick-off will be at 2pm. Supporters can find out more about West Ham Ladies
by watching a special three-part report on the club on West Ham TV. Parts
one and two, covering the Hammers' plan to open an Academy this summer and
the build-up to Sunday's game, are available to view now. Part three, which
looks at the club's hopes for the future and the application the Ladies have
submitted to join the expanded FA Women's Super League next season, will be
available to watch soon.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Joint-Chairman to host signing sessions
WHUFc.com
Hammers Joint-Chairman David Gold will hold exclusive signing sessions for
his new booklet
09.03.2013
West Ham United Joint-Chairman David Gold is set to host two exclusive
signing sessions of his new booklet 'David Gold - Triumph over Adversity'
during the Easter half-term holiday.
The 24-page interview, written by Robin M Pilley, details Mr Gold's
extraordinary life story. A story of poverty, a story of faith and hope, a
story of friendship, love and betrayal but overall a story of courage. It is
the story of David Gold, Joint-Chairman of West Ham United and owner of the
Ann Summers business.
Mr Gold will be at the Stadium Store and the club's Lakeside Store to
exclusively sign copies of the new publication. The booklet costs just £2.99
and with limited availability, fans are advised to arrive early to avoid
disappointment.
The Hammers' Joint-Chairman will be attending the Stadium Store on Wednesday
3 April and the Lakeside Store on Tuesday 9 April. On both dates, the
booklet signing will run from 12pm until 1.30pm and to ensure as many fans
as possible get to meet Mr Gold, time with the Joint-Chairman will be
limited.
Please note both dates are subject to change so keep checking whufc.com for
further updates. Booklets bought prior to the signing day will be eligible
for signing, but other items are not
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Mauricio Taricco and Jimmy Wood take centre-stage on this date in West Ham
United's history
10.03.2013
Anniversary
Mauricio Taricco
Date of birth: 10 March 1973
Clubs: Argentinos Juniors, Ipswich Town, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United,
AS Villasimius, Brighton and Hove Albion
Mauricio Taricco spent just 27 minutes as a West Ham United player, but will
forever be thought of fondly in east London after generously agreeing to
have his contract ripped up after suffering a serious hamstring injury on
his debut. The Argentina-born former Argentinos Juniors, Ipswich Town and
Tottenham Hotspur full-back joined the Hammers in the autumn of 2004 and was
named in the starting XI by manager Alan Pardew for the Championship fixture
at Millwall on 21 November. However, when the defender tore his hamstring at
The New Den, ruling him out for eight weeks, he offered to pull out of the
short-term contract he had signed with the club and retired from
professional football. The gesture was lauded by Pardew and the club's Board
and supporters alike. Taricco was able to return to playing with Italian
lower-league club AS Villasimius before taking on a coaching role under Gus
Poyet at Brighton and Hove Albion. There, he pulled on his boots again in
November 2010 - six years after his last game in English football. He has
not played a competitive fixture for the Seagulls since January 2012.
Classic Match
Lincoln City 0-2 West Ham United
Football League Division Two
10 March 1934
Jimmy Wood was a speedy outside-right who bagged 13 goals in 67 appearances
for West Ham United between 1929 and 1935, including one in a 2-0 Division
Two win at Lincoln City on this date in 1934. Born in Royton in Lancashire -
now Greater Manchester - Wood began his professional career with Hyde
United. After a short spell with Bournemouth, he returned to Hyde before
joining West Ham in July 1929. Over the next six seasons, he was in and out
of the first XI, never making more than 17 appearances in a single season.
However, Wood did start the FA Cup semi-final defeat by Everton at Molineux
on 18 March 1933.
Despite his uncertain status, Wood scored at least one goal in each of his
six campaigns in claret and blue, including four in 16 appearances in
1933/34. One of those goals came in a 2-0 win at Sincil Bank. Jimmy Ruffell
was also on target in front of a crowd of just 5,213 as the Hammers climbed
to 12th in the table.
West Ham would finish the season in seventh place, while Lincoln would end
up bottom of the table. As for Wood, he moved to Crystal Palace in 1935,
scoring four goals in ten matches for the Eagles.
Complete record - 10 March
2012 West Ham United 1-1 Doncaster Rovers (Championship)
1990 West Ham United 2-1 Portsmouth (Division Two)
1984 West Ham United 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Division One)
1979 West Ham United 0-0 Brighton and Hove Albion (Division Two)
1973 Sheffield United 0-0 West Ham United (Division One)
1956 West Ham United 2-1 Bristol Rovers (Division Two)
1951 Leicester City 1-0 West Ham United (Division Two)
1934 Lincoln City 0-2 West Ham United (Division Two)
1928 Manchester United 1-1 West Ham United (Division One)
Played 9, Won 3, Drawn 5, Lost 1, Scored 9, Conceded 6
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ladies held by Lionesses
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Ladies were held to a goalless league draw by Millwall
Lionesses on Sunday
10.03.2013
West Ham United Ladies were held to a goalless FA Women's Premier League
Southern Division draw by Millwall Lionesses on Sunday. The Hammers went
into the match knowing victory would close the gap between themselves and
leaders Millwall to just five points - with West Ham also having a game
in-hand on their south London rivals. However, despite creating a succession
of chances at Thurrock FC and forcing the Millwall goalkeeper to make a host
of saves, Julia Setford's team could not find a goal to secure all three
points. At the back, West Ham kept their seventh clean sheet in ten league
matches. The Hammers have conceded just four goals in those ten games and
have by far the best defensive record in the division With eight league
matches still to play, including two against traditional rivals Colchester
United, the Ladies retain a chance of catching Millwall and winning the
title. However, Setford and her players know they need to return to winning
ways when they host Colchester at Ship Lane on Sunday 17 March, when
kick-off will be at 2pm. Supporters can find out more about West Ham Ladies
by watching a special three-part report on the club on West Ham TV. Parts
one and two, covering the Hammers' plan to open an Academy this summer and
the build-up to Sunday's game, are available to view now. Part three, which
looks at the club's hopes for the future and the application the Ladies have
submitted to join the expanded FA Women's Super League next season, will be
available to watch soon.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Joint-Chairman to host signing sessions
WHUFc.com
Hammers Joint-Chairman David Gold will hold exclusive signing sessions for
his new booklet
09.03.2013
West Ham United Joint-Chairman David Gold is set to host two exclusive
signing sessions of his new booklet 'David Gold - Triumph over Adversity'
during the Easter half-term holiday.
The 24-page interview, written by Robin M Pilley, details Mr Gold's
extraordinary life story. A story of poverty, a story of faith and hope, a
story of friendship, love and betrayal but overall a story of courage. It is
the story of David Gold, Joint-Chairman of West Ham United and owner of the
Ann Summers business.
Mr Gold will be at the Stadium Store and the club's Lakeside Store to
exclusively sign copies of the new publication. The booklet costs just £2.99
and with limited availability, fans are advised to arrive early to avoid
disappointment.
The Hammers' Joint-Chairman will be attending the Stadium Store on Wednesday
3 April and the Lakeside Store on Tuesday 9 April. On both dates, the
booklet signing will run from 12pm until 1.30pm and to ensure as many fans
as possible get to meet Mr Gold, time with the Joint-Chairman will be
limited.
Please note both dates are subject to change so keep checking whufc.com for
further updates. Booklets bought prior to the signing day will be eligible
for signing, but other items are not
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Sunday, March 10
Daily WHUFC News - 10th March 2013
Mavila snatches draw for U18s
WHUFC.com
Nathan Mavila's late equaliser saw West Ham United U18s draw 1-1 with Stoke
City at Little Heath
09.03.2013
West Ham United put defeat at Tottenham Hotspur behind them by earning a
creditable 1-1 Barclays U18 Premier League Tier One draw against Stoke City
at Little Heath on Saturday. Stoke went ahead early on when Kieran Monlouis
diverted Kris Scott's shot low into the Hammers net, but Nathan Mavila
volleyed the Hammers level with less than ten minutes remaining on the
clock. Mavila's late intervention ensured a share of the spoils and ended a
run of three straight league defeats for the Hammers, who began Saturday's
match with just three second-year scholars in their starting XI - goalkeeper
Sam Baxter and midfielders Taylor Miles and Kieran Sadlier. The match
started with a West Ham chance on goal. A long punt forward from Baxter
caught the whole Stoke team out, with Nana Boakye-Yiadom collecting the ball
through on goal, and he drew an impressive low save from Dale Eve. Despite
the Hammers' strong start, it was Stoke who pushed forward and grabbed the
opening goal of the game. The majority of the visitors' attacking moves came
down the right wing, where they opened up the angle to spot Scott unmarked
in the middle. He sliced his effort into the path of Monlouis, who was free
to roll the ball past Baxter and into the net. The goal shocked the young
Hammers, as they had been punished from a single lapse in concentration
during the first half. As half-time approached, West Ham had two close
efforts on goal that bought impressive saves out of Stoke captain Eve in
goal. Firstly, Boakye-Yiadom was bought down 20 yards from goal, allowing
Lewis Page to bend a left-footed free-kick towards the top left-hand corner,
but Eve was there to foil the left-back by pushing the ball around the post.
Then, from the resulting corner, Kieran Sadlier picked up the ball on the
edge of the penalty area. He fired a shot towards the top right-hand corner,
but again Eve stood up to keep his side ahead.
The hosts needed to push on after half-time to avoid a fourth consecutive
loss, with manager Steve Potts bringing Ben Marlow and Rob Girdlestone into
the match and changing to a more attacking formation. West Ham continued to
search for an equaliser, looking dangerous in attack through Sadlier and
Boakye-Yiadom, who both found space in the box, but their efforts were
blocked by a the legs of Stoke defenders. The visitors were not out of the
game, though, and tricky midfielder Scott had a chance to double Stoke's
lead, but he disappointed himself by blazing his shot wide. With the game
entering its final stages, Stoke's impressive defensive resolve finally
broke. The Hammers won a corner which was whipped in by Sadlier and met on
the head of a Stoke defender. The clearance fell to the feet of Mavila
standing 22 yards from goal, and the summer arrival from Wycombe Wanderers
unleashed a powerful low volley through the crowd and into the goal. The
Hammers took confidence from Mavila's goal and started to believe they could
snatch all three points late on However, it was Stoke who had the best
chance to take the win when Charlie Ward broke forward and passed to Scott.
The No10 decided against taking a shot and instead created the opportunity
yet again for scorer Monlouis, but the Hammers defence reshaped and cleared
the danger. Having ended their run of defeats, Potts' side will have renewed
confidence as they begin preparations for their next Barclays U18 Premier
League Tier One match at Liverpool on Saturday 16 March
West Ham United U18s: Baxter, Homans, Burke, Onaraise, Page (Girdlestone),
Makasi, Miles (Marlow), Freeman (Gogo), Sadlier, Boakye-Yiadom, Mavila
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Cole lauds community effort
WHUFC.com
Hammers striker attends Football Mash Up event at Dagenham Goals
09.03.2013
Carlton Cole took time out this week to pay a visit to the FA Vauxhall
Football Mash Up event at the Dagenham Goals Centre, in conjunction with
West Ham United Community Sports Trust. The Hammers striker was on hand to
give advice to a group of local youngsters who, as part of the FA's 150th
anniversary's emphasis on shining a light on grass roots initiatives, had
been provided with the opportunity to play the nation's favourite game. Cole
was joined for the afternoon by rapper Lethal Bizzle as the pair assisted
the FA and West Ham coaches in directing the local youngsters. 29-year-old
frontman Cole was full of praise for the Hammers' work in the community. He
told West Ham TV: "Obviously West Ham are very interested in the community
around us and we're trying to help in any way we can. "I'm always there to
help the club promote our work around the community and it's these kids who
need to stay out of trouble and have something to do after school.
"Football's always a good place to start - any sport in fact - and I'm
pleased to be able to lend a helping hand. "People need good role models. I
try to give advice to the youngsters coming up. My brother and sister are
always asking me for advice. Youngsters don't get to see Premier League
footballers for advice every day, so that's why I like to show my support
and any questions they have for me I try to answer them. "This is a massive
scheme that contributes to the well-being of kids staying out of trouble."
Cole's own inspiration as he was growing up was provided by his uncle Duncan
King and, having now forged a career in top level football, he is only too
happy to give back to the local community. He added: "I always had my uncle
to support me - he told me about myself and let me know when I was going
wrong. He's still by my side every step of the way. "He's been my mentor,
and obviously there are other stars in the public eye - as a young black guy
I always looked to Johnny Barnes, Ian Wright, John Fashanu, all these other
players that I could relate to. I wanted to be where they were. "Football
clubs have the tools and they have to use them. West Ham are up there in
terms of their work for the community. I've been to loads of schools and
schemes like this one. They've always looked out for the community around
them and that's great."
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Ladies primed for Millwall showdown
WHUFC.com
The second instalment of our three-part feature on the Ladies looks to
Sunday's clash with Millwall
09.03.2013
For manager Julia Setford and her West Ham United Ladies, games rarely come
any bigger than Sunday's showdown with local rivals and league leaders
Millwall Lionesses. Having lost the reverse fixture on the opening day of
the season, revenge is on the agenda, while three points would put the
Hammers right back in the promotion picture. A repeat of last weekend's
results would do very nicely indeed, with each of the top three dropping
points and West Ham taking full advantage courtesy of a 1-0 home win over
Lewes. As it stands, the Hammers are some eight points and three places
behind Millwall, but having played two games fewer, a win at Thurrock FC's
Ship Lane on Sunday would certainly put the frighteners on the south
Londoners. Nineteen-year-old Kelley Blanchflower will pose as big a threat
as anyone to the visitors' goal and, having suffered an injury-blighted
campaign, she was thrilled to bag the winner last time out. "It was
brilliant to get the winner last Sunday, I really was happy," she told West
Ham TV. "This season didn't start so well and then breaking my collarbone I
was really on a low, so to score on Sunday really helped my confidence. "We
definitely deserve to be promoted. I know it's only my second season but
they've been up there, that's why I joined West Ham. With our games in hand,
that's a good positive thing for us, knowing where we've got to be, I think
we can do it. It's game on!"
Meanwhile, boss Setford is banking on her side's unrivalled defensive record
to help them topple the league leaders. What's more, she is convinced that
momentum is firmly with her side going into the business end of the
campaign. "It's always a massive game against Millwall, it doesn't get any
better," Setford said. "The girls are going to be up for it, they won't need
a team talk. They're ready to go. They beat us first game of the season, so
we're hoping to get three points on Sunday. We can really go at them. "We've
got the best defence in the league, we've only let in four goals in nine
games and I think the next best is actually Millwall who have conceded ten.
So I'm not too worried about letting too many goals in. It's just about
putting the ball in the back of the net and hoping that brings three points.
"We started off slowly, but after the Christmas period we've really started
to pick up. Hopefully on Sunday we can go there strong and get the win."
Vicky King knows better than most just what a fixture with Millwall means,
having donned the claret and blue for some 15 years now. The club's longest
serving player expects the next month to decide the Hammers' fate, with the
visit of Colchester and back-to-back clashes with Reading still to come in
March.
"Millwall's a big game, we lost to them on the first day of the season, but
I think it will be a very different game this time around. "Promotion is
definitely possible. The next four games are vital for us. March is going to
be a very important month, it's pivotal for us and our season."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Olympic Stadium cannot be called West Ham's home for just 25 days
One questions whether this move is really about West Ham, or whether it is
more likely a great opportunity to put the club in a lucrative shop window,
for sale to the highest bidder come 2016
David James
The Observer, Saturday 9 March 2013 22.00 GMT
If I were a West Ham fan I would be worried right now. As early as next week
the club are expected to sign a 99-year lease to relocate to the Olympic
Stadium, but I am unconvinced that the move will guarantee benefits for the
club and their supporters. My concerns are not merely rooted in nostalgia,
although I admit I do love the atmosphere of Upton Park – the sense of an
old-fashioned East End, jellied eels and 1960s football icons. The thought
of all that history being wiped away and replaced with a bunch of corporate
box prawn sandwich munchers from the City breaks my heart.
That the club will be renting the stadium, 25 matchdays a year, exacerbates
that feeling of loss. I've heard that they plan to counter the lack of
homeliness with "dressing" – but what does that mean? Shipping in the Bobby
Moore statue once a fortnight? Putting up a few hoardings? What if you want
to go on a stadium tour on a non-match day? Will the corridors be lined with
photographs of Hammer heroes in claret and blue? Or are those only allowed
on the allotted 25 days? Crucially, how will this new arena promote the
club's history and identity?
Putting the emotional arguments to one side, the cold, hard facts are simple
enough: West Ham need more revenue if they are to grow as a club and that
means increasing gate receipts. The Olympic Stadium looks a cheap option
when you consider that Arsenal's Emirates Stadium cost the club a whopping
£390m while West Ham will pay £15m upfront for the Olympic Stadium and then
£2.5m per year in rent thereafter. A steal, no?
Unfortunately, those figures only stack up as value for money if the club
can attract enough supporters to fill a 60,000-seat stadium. And how will
the club attract new supporters if the team don't perform? Last season they
were in the Championship; what is to guarantee their enduring presence in
the Premier League? They are hardly the model of consistency, having spent
three seasons in football's second tier in the last decade alone. To me
that's worrying.
And where is the model of success for them to follow? Arsenal have not made
a footballing success of their own move. Since leaving Highbury, the club
have failed to win a single trophy. We can argue about why that is but to my
mind part of the problem has been that opposition teams simply love playing
there. And who could blame them? The away dressing room is like Claridge's –
a joy to behold. The experience is a world away from the old Highbury where
the radiators in the away dressing room – mysteriously – used to reach
unbearably high temperatures and the opposition would sit there roasting
before they had even stepped out on to the pitch.
For most top-end clubs no trophies in seven years would have the fans baying
for blood. Luckily for Arsène Wenger – and Arsenal – the club have a history
of success and that has bought them time and patience from the fans. But
West Ham won't have that luxury.
Manchester City is another example, and the club have been incredibly
successful since relocating to Eastlands, now the Etihad. But their model
differs to West Ham in that their attendances have hardly wavered over the
years. While West Ham's figures have leapt about inconsistently, Manchester
City's fans always seemed to turn up. Even when the club were relegated from
the Premier League in 1997, attendances dropped on average by a mere 1,200.
And then they went and got themselves a billionaire sheikh.
In contrast, West Ham have struggled to keep their gates consistent over the
past 10 years. Three spells in the Championship have not helped, but the
situation is as much to do with the club having successful big-name rivals
in Tottenham and Arsenal located a few miles away.
In short, West Ham's recruitment is challenged by the transient fan. On
moving to the new stadium they will have an extra 30,000 seats to fill, and
that cannot be done on "kids for a quid" days and extra corporate boxes
alone. And if the football isn't pretty, and the results are not
forthcoming, then why would business people, or anyone else for that matter,
want to pay to watch mediocre football? Even historically West Ham's best
Premier League finish was fifth under Harry Redknapp with a team stuffed
full of talent – players such as Paolo Di Canio and a young Frank Lampard.
All of which leads me to question whether this move is really about West
Ham, or whether it is more likely a great opportunity to place the club in a
shop window, for sale to the highest bidder come 2016. Arguably that might
be no bad thing. If an investor in the mould of Sheikh Mansour came along,
West Ham could soon out-rival their more high-profile neighbours in Arsenal
or Tottenham. Still, the venture seems like a gamble to me. In 2016 the club
could be handed the keys to their new stadium and be playing in the
Championship. Are an extra 30,000 fans going to want to start attending West
Ham games to witness that? I don't think so.
To think, Bobby Moore's statue, commemorating an England legend, consigned
to 25 days' exposure, or worse still, placed next to Costa Coffee.
David James has donated his fee for this column to charity
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
WEST HAM STAR HEADING FOR UPTON PARK EXIT DOOR
Posted on Saturday, 9th March 2013 by Bud Hedges
ForeeverWestHam.com
2012 was one of the best years in recent times for West Ham United;
promotion, impeccable win rate, only losing 4 games at the Boleyn during the
entire calendar year, a year that we can truly remember for the unbridling
success that it brought us. Though one current Hammer may be regretting his
time at West Ham and publically expressed this in January and forced a loan
move away from the club, so I ask the question. Is it over for Alou Diarra?
This isn't the first time a Frenchman has made his intentions and feelings
about the club very clear. It was reported that during half time of game
against Stoke City, Julien Faubert stated his feelings for the club and his
intention on leaving due to the lack of games. He was bizarrely rewarded
with loan move to Real Madrid as he was frustrated by a lack of game time
under Gianfranco Zola. He was best remembered during his short-lived time at
the Bernabeu for falling asleep whilst on the bench.
The major difference between the potential exile of Diarra and the
questioned exit of Faubert was that Faubert never left the club until his
contract finished in the summer. Julien Faubert became somewhat of a
talisman during our promotion season and was part of the side that
playedagainst Blackpool at Wembley last year. Though, with the slightly
bizarre outburst from Diarra that Allardyce 'doesn't talk to him' claim is
there a future for Diarra with West Ham United?
Alou Diarra has a very different pedigree to the one that Julien Faubert.
Alou Diarra is a decorated international who has played with some of
Europe's top clubs, so for him to be out of favour is strange. Although it
wasn't long into his time that he picked up an injury that kept him out of
the team for a long period of time.
The problem that Alou has is that he seems to have burnt his bridges with
the club and it seems as though he wants to leave West Ham United when he
has the chance to do so, I would expect Diarra to be out of the club. We
cannot be sure of the full circumstances because Sam Allardyce claimed to be
as surprised as anyone about the remarks that Alou Diarra made a few weeks
ago. Allardyce was unsure about whose time he had wasted at the club,
Diarra's or the clubs time in getting him fit from an injury. I cannot see a
return to the side, at least Allardyce's side, unless they can come to an
agreement as I'm sure a negative influence and an unhappy one would not be
welcomed back to the squad. In my opinion, his time at the club will be at
an end in the Summer window, nevertheless we all said that about Faubert in
2009, didn't we?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
WHAT WAS THE POINT OF WEST HAM SIGNING HIM?
Posted on Saturday, 9th March 2013 by Sam Hodges
ForverWestHam.com
West Ham signed Wellington Paulista in January with not many people knowing
too much about him and it's now heading towards mid-March and we still don't
know much about him. The player has been in and around the Development squad
since he arrived and has scored a few goals for them but still hasn't been
around the first team squad to be given a game. Even when the squad flew out
to Dubai a few weeks ago for a training camp he decided to stay in England
to play for the development squad.
This makes me think what was the point in signing him if we aren't going to
play him? When he signed I was quite excited even though I didn't know
anything about him. But after doing some research on him I realised that he
had a good goal scoring record and would bring something different to the
team. I have said for ages now that we need a striker that is different to
all our others. He is a small striker and is a natural goal scorer which I
think all West Ham fans will agree we haven't had at all this season.
However Sam Allardyce doesn't feel the need to include him in any of the
first team games. It was rumoured when he arrived he wasn't match fit but he
must surely be fit enough now to just be on the bench. Maybe I am a bit
biased because all season I have been saying how it was wrong for the club
to sell both Sam Baldock and Nicky Maynard and not bring in a similar
striker to replace them. I think it is always good to have a striker like
them in team because they can bring something totally different and can be a
big impact from the bench. It also gives the manager more options when
changing tactics if we are losing or drawing the game.
Although saying this I haven't seen much evidence of Allardyce wanting to
change tactics during a game and go 442 for example. So this brings me back
to the question, what was the point in signing him if we aren't going to use
him?
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Avram Grant compares managing Chelsea to West Ham
London24.com
Saturday, March 9, 2013
8:20 AM
Former Chelsea, Portsmouth and West Ham manager Avram Grant believes that
managing the Blues is easy, compared to the Hammers. The Israeli guided the
west Londoners to the 2008 Champions League final but suffered relegation
with the east London outfit. Grant told The Sun: "I don't think Rafa
Benitez will be replaced any time soon. But, let me tell you something,
coaching at Chelsea is very easy."It's way easier than coaching West Ham,
for instance, because you have a very big budget and top players to choose
from. All you have to do is go after the win. "Things aren't going well at
Chelsea. They have made huge investments but the mood there is not good.
"They can't be happy when they are not challenging for the league. "They
don't like being in the Europa League and their players are not dreaming
about being in that final. "Their motivation would have been much greater in
the Champions League."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Nathan Mavila's late equaliser saw West Ham United U18s draw 1-1 with Stoke
City at Little Heath
09.03.2013
West Ham United put defeat at Tottenham Hotspur behind them by earning a
creditable 1-1 Barclays U18 Premier League Tier One draw against Stoke City
at Little Heath on Saturday. Stoke went ahead early on when Kieran Monlouis
diverted Kris Scott's shot low into the Hammers net, but Nathan Mavila
volleyed the Hammers level with less than ten minutes remaining on the
clock. Mavila's late intervention ensured a share of the spoils and ended a
run of three straight league defeats for the Hammers, who began Saturday's
match with just three second-year scholars in their starting XI - goalkeeper
Sam Baxter and midfielders Taylor Miles and Kieran Sadlier. The match
started with a West Ham chance on goal. A long punt forward from Baxter
caught the whole Stoke team out, with Nana Boakye-Yiadom collecting the ball
through on goal, and he drew an impressive low save from Dale Eve. Despite
the Hammers' strong start, it was Stoke who pushed forward and grabbed the
opening goal of the game. The majority of the visitors' attacking moves came
down the right wing, where they opened up the angle to spot Scott unmarked
in the middle. He sliced his effort into the path of Monlouis, who was free
to roll the ball past Baxter and into the net. The goal shocked the young
Hammers, as they had been punished from a single lapse in concentration
during the first half. As half-time approached, West Ham had two close
efforts on goal that bought impressive saves out of Stoke captain Eve in
goal. Firstly, Boakye-Yiadom was bought down 20 yards from goal, allowing
Lewis Page to bend a left-footed free-kick towards the top left-hand corner,
but Eve was there to foil the left-back by pushing the ball around the post.
Then, from the resulting corner, Kieran Sadlier picked up the ball on the
edge of the penalty area. He fired a shot towards the top right-hand corner,
but again Eve stood up to keep his side ahead.
The hosts needed to push on after half-time to avoid a fourth consecutive
loss, with manager Steve Potts bringing Ben Marlow and Rob Girdlestone into
the match and changing to a more attacking formation. West Ham continued to
search for an equaliser, looking dangerous in attack through Sadlier and
Boakye-Yiadom, who both found space in the box, but their efforts were
blocked by a the legs of Stoke defenders. The visitors were not out of the
game, though, and tricky midfielder Scott had a chance to double Stoke's
lead, but he disappointed himself by blazing his shot wide. With the game
entering its final stages, Stoke's impressive defensive resolve finally
broke. The Hammers won a corner which was whipped in by Sadlier and met on
the head of a Stoke defender. The clearance fell to the feet of Mavila
standing 22 yards from goal, and the summer arrival from Wycombe Wanderers
unleashed a powerful low volley through the crowd and into the goal. The
Hammers took confidence from Mavila's goal and started to believe they could
snatch all three points late on However, it was Stoke who had the best
chance to take the win when Charlie Ward broke forward and passed to Scott.
The No10 decided against taking a shot and instead created the opportunity
yet again for scorer Monlouis, but the Hammers defence reshaped and cleared
the danger. Having ended their run of defeats, Potts' side will have renewed
confidence as they begin preparations for their next Barclays U18 Premier
League Tier One match at Liverpool on Saturday 16 March
West Ham United U18s: Baxter, Homans, Burke, Onaraise, Page (Girdlestone),
Makasi, Miles (Marlow), Freeman (Gogo), Sadlier, Boakye-Yiadom, Mavila
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Cole lauds community effort
WHUFC.com
Hammers striker attends Football Mash Up event at Dagenham Goals
09.03.2013
Carlton Cole took time out this week to pay a visit to the FA Vauxhall
Football Mash Up event at the Dagenham Goals Centre, in conjunction with
West Ham United Community Sports Trust. The Hammers striker was on hand to
give advice to a group of local youngsters who, as part of the FA's 150th
anniversary's emphasis on shining a light on grass roots initiatives, had
been provided with the opportunity to play the nation's favourite game. Cole
was joined for the afternoon by rapper Lethal Bizzle as the pair assisted
the FA and West Ham coaches in directing the local youngsters. 29-year-old
frontman Cole was full of praise for the Hammers' work in the community. He
told West Ham TV: "Obviously West Ham are very interested in the community
around us and we're trying to help in any way we can. "I'm always there to
help the club promote our work around the community and it's these kids who
need to stay out of trouble and have something to do after school.
"Football's always a good place to start - any sport in fact - and I'm
pleased to be able to lend a helping hand. "People need good role models. I
try to give advice to the youngsters coming up. My brother and sister are
always asking me for advice. Youngsters don't get to see Premier League
footballers for advice every day, so that's why I like to show my support
and any questions they have for me I try to answer them. "This is a massive
scheme that contributes to the well-being of kids staying out of trouble."
Cole's own inspiration as he was growing up was provided by his uncle Duncan
King and, having now forged a career in top level football, he is only too
happy to give back to the local community. He added: "I always had my uncle
to support me - he told me about myself and let me know when I was going
wrong. He's still by my side every step of the way. "He's been my mentor,
and obviously there are other stars in the public eye - as a young black guy
I always looked to Johnny Barnes, Ian Wright, John Fashanu, all these other
players that I could relate to. I wanted to be where they were. "Football
clubs have the tools and they have to use them. West Ham are up there in
terms of their work for the community. I've been to loads of schools and
schemes like this one. They've always looked out for the community around
them and that's great."
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Ladies primed for Millwall showdown
WHUFC.com
The second instalment of our three-part feature on the Ladies looks to
Sunday's clash with Millwall
09.03.2013
For manager Julia Setford and her West Ham United Ladies, games rarely come
any bigger than Sunday's showdown with local rivals and league leaders
Millwall Lionesses. Having lost the reverse fixture on the opening day of
the season, revenge is on the agenda, while three points would put the
Hammers right back in the promotion picture. A repeat of last weekend's
results would do very nicely indeed, with each of the top three dropping
points and West Ham taking full advantage courtesy of a 1-0 home win over
Lewes. As it stands, the Hammers are some eight points and three places
behind Millwall, but having played two games fewer, a win at Thurrock FC's
Ship Lane on Sunday would certainly put the frighteners on the south
Londoners. Nineteen-year-old Kelley Blanchflower will pose as big a threat
as anyone to the visitors' goal and, having suffered an injury-blighted
campaign, she was thrilled to bag the winner last time out. "It was
brilliant to get the winner last Sunday, I really was happy," she told West
Ham TV. "This season didn't start so well and then breaking my collarbone I
was really on a low, so to score on Sunday really helped my confidence. "We
definitely deserve to be promoted. I know it's only my second season but
they've been up there, that's why I joined West Ham. With our games in hand,
that's a good positive thing for us, knowing where we've got to be, I think
we can do it. It's game on!"
Meanwhile, boss Setford is banking on her side's unrivalled defensive record
to help them topple the league leaders. What's more, she is convinced that
momentum is firmly with her side going into the business end of the
campaign. "It's always a massive game against Millwall, it doesn't get any
better," Setford said. "The girls are going to be up for it, they won't need
a team talk. They're ready to go. They beat us first game of the season, so
we're hoping to get three points on Sunday. We can really go at them. "We've
got the best defence in the league, we've only let in four goals in nine
games and I think the next best is actually Millwall who have conceded ten.
So I'm not too worried about letting too many goals in. It's just about
putting the ball in the back of the net and hoping that brings three points.
"We started off slowly, but after the Christmas period we've really started
to pick up. Hopefully on Sunday we can go there strong and get the win."
Vicky King knows better than most just what a fixture with Millwall means,
having donned the claret and blue for some 15 years now. The club's longest
serving player expects the next month to decide the Hammers' fate, with the
visit of Colchester and back-to-back clashes with Reading still to come in
March.
"Millwall's a big game, we lost to them on the first day of the season, but
I think it will be a very different game this time around. "Promotion is
definitely possible. The next four games are vital for us. March is going to
be a very important month, it's pivotal for us and our season."
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Olympic Stadium cannot be called West Ham's home for just 25 days
One questions whether this move is really about West Ham, or whether it is
more likely a great opportunity to put the club in a lucrative shop window,
for sale to the highest bidder come 2016
David James
The Observer, Saturday 9 March 2013 22.00 GMT
If I were a West Ham fan I would be worried right now. As early as next week
the club are expected to sign a 99-year lease to relocate to the Olympic
Stadium, but I am unconvinced that the move will guarantee benefits for the
club and their supporters. My concerns are not merely rooted in nostalgia,
although I admit I do love the atmosphere of Upton Park – the sense of an
old-fashioned East End, jellied eels and 1960s football icons. The thought
of all that history being wiped away and replaced with a bunch of corporate
box prawn sandwich munchers from the City breaks my heart.
That the club will be renting the stadium, 25 matchdays a year, exacerbates
that feeling of loss. I've heard that they plan to counter the lack of
homeliness with "dressing" – but what does that mean? Shipping in the Bobby
Moore statue once a fortnight? Putting up a few hoardings? What if you want
to go on a stadium tour on a non-match day? Will the corridors be lined with
photographs of Hammer heroes in claret and blue? Or are those only allowed
on the allotted 25 days? Crucially, how will this new arena promote the
club's history and identity?
Putting the emotional arguments to one side, the cold, hard facts are simple
enough: West Ham need more revenue if they are to grow as a club and that
means increasing gate receipts. The Olympic Stadium looks a cheap option
when you consider that Arsenal's Emirates Stadium cost the club a whopping
£390m while West Ham will pay £15m upfront for the Olympic Stadium and then
£2.5m per year in rent thereafter. A steal, no?
Unfortunately, those figures only stack up as value for money if the club
can attract enough supporters to fill a 60,000-seat stadium. And how will
the club attract new supporters if the team don't perform? Last season they
were in the Championship; what is to guarantee their enduring presence in
the Premier League? They are hardly the model of consistency, having spent
three seasons in football's second tier in the last decade alone. To me
that's worrying.
And where is the model of success for them to follow? Arsenal have not made
a footballing success of their own move. Since leaving Highbury, the club
have failed to win a single trophy. We can argue about why that is but to my
mind part of the problem has been that opposition teams simply love playing
there. And who could blame them? The away dressing room is like Claridge's –
a joy to behold. The experience is a world away from the old Highbury where
the radiators in the away dressing room – mysteriously – used to reach
unbearably high temperatures and the opposition would sit there roasting
before they had even stepped out on to the pitch.
For most top-end clubs no trophies in seven years would have the fans baying
for blood. Luckily for Arsène Wenger – and Arsenal – the club have a history
of success and that has bought them time and patience from the fans. But
West Ham won't have that luxury.
Manchester City is another example, and the club have been incredibly
successful since relocating to Eastlands, now the Etihad. But their model
differs to West Ham in that their attendances have hardly wavered over the
years. While West Ham's figures have leapt about inconsistently, Manchester
City's fans always seemed to turn up. Even when the club were relegated from
the Premier League in 1997, attendances dropped on average by a mere 1,200.
And then they went and got themselves a billionaire sheikh.
In contrast, West Ham have struggled to keep their gates consistent over the
past 10 years. Three spells in the Championship have not helped, but the
situation is as much to do with the club having successful big-name rivals
in Tottenham and Arsenal located a few miles away.
In short, West Ham's recruitment is challenged by the transient fan. On
moving to the new stadium they will have an extra 30,000 seats to fill, and
that cannot be done on "kids for a quid" days and extra corporate boxes
alone. And if the football isn't pretty, and the results are not
forthcoming, then why would business people, or anyone else for that matter,
want to pay to watch mediocre football? Even historically West Ham's best
Premier League finish was fifth under Harry Redknapp with a team stuffed
full of talent – players such as Paolo Di Canio and a young Frank Lampard.
All of which leads me to question whether this move is really about West
Ham, or whether it is more likely a great opportunity to place the club in a
shop window, for sale to the highest bidder come 2016. Arguably that might
be no bad thing. If an investor in the mould of Sheikh Mansour came along,
West Ham could soon out-rival their more high-profile neighbours in Arsenal
or Tottenham. Still, the venture seems like a gamble to me. In 2016 the club
could be handed the keys to their new stadium and be playing in the
Championship. Are an extra 30,000 fans going to want to start attending West
Ham games to witness that? I don't think so.
To think, Bobby Moore's statue, commemorating an England legend, consigned
to 25 days' exposure, or worse still, placed next to Costa Coffee.
David James has donated his fee for this column to charity
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
WEST HAM STAR HEADING FOR UPTON PARK EXIT DOOR
Posted on Saturday, 9th March 2013 by Bud Hedges
ForeeverWestHam.com
2012 was one of the best years in recent times for West Ham United;
promotion, impeccable win rate, only losing 4 games at the Boleyn during the
entire calendar year, a year that we can truly remember for the unbridling
success that it brought us. Though one current Hammer may be regretting his
time at West Ham and publically expressed this in January and forced a loan
move away from the club, so I ask the question. Is it over for Alou Diarra?
This isn't the first time a Frenchman has made his intentions and feelings
about the club very clear. It was reported that during half time of game
against Stoke City, Julien Faubert stated his feelings for the club and his
intention on leaving due to the lack of games. He was bizarrely rewarded
with loan move to Real Madrid as he was frustrated by a lack of game time
under Gianfranco Zola. He was best remembered during his short-lived time at
the Bernabeu for falling asleep whilst on the bench.
The major difference between the potential exile of Diarra and the
questioned exit of Faubert was that Faubert never left the club until his
contract finished in the summer. Julien Faubert became somewhat of a
talisman during our promotion season and was part of the side that
playedagainst Blackpool at Wembley last year. Though, with the slightly
bizarre outburst from Diarra that Allardyce 'doesn't talk to him' claim is
there a future for Diarra with West Ham United?
Alou Diarra has a very different pedigree to the one that Julien Faubert.
Alou Diarra is a decorated international who has played with some of
Europe's top clubs, so for him to be out of favour is strange. Although it
wasn't long into his time that he picked up an injury that kept him out of
the team for a long period of time.
The problem that Alou has is that he seems to have burnt his bridges with
the club and it seems as though he wants to leave West Ham United when he
has the chance to do so, I would expect Diarra to be out of the club. We
cannot be sure of the full circumstances because Sam Allardyce claimed to be
as surprised as anyone about the remarks that Alou Diarra made a few weeks
ago. Allardyce was unsure about whose time he had wasted at the club,
Diarra's or the clubs time in getting him fit from an injury. I cannot see a
return to the side, at least Allardyce's side, unless they can come to an
agreement as I'm sure a negative influence and an unhappy one would not be
welcomed back to the squad. In my opinion, his time at the club will be at
an end in the Summer window, nevertheless we all said that about Faubert in
2009, didn't we?
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WHAT WAS THE POINT OF WEST HAM SIGNING HIM?
Posted on Saturday, 9th March 2013 by Sam Hodges
ForverWestHam.com
West Ham signed Wellington Paulista in January with not many people knowing
too much about him and it's now heading towards mid-March and we still don't
know much about him. The player has been in and around the Development squad
since he arrived and has scored a few goals for them but still hasn't been
around the first team squad to be given a game. Even when the squad flew out
to Dubai a few weeks ago for a training camp he decided to stay in England
to play for the development squad.
This makes me think what was the point in signing him if we aren't going to
play him? When he signed I was quite excited even though I didn't know
anything about him. But after doing some research on him I realised that he
had a good goal scoring record and would bring something different to the
team. I have said for ages now that we need a striker that is different to
all our others. He is a small striker and is a natural goal scorer which I
think all West Ham fans will agree we haven't had at all this season.
However Sam Allardyce doesn't feel the need to include him in any of the
first team games. It was rumoured when he arrived he wasn't match fit but he
must surely be fit enough now to just be on the bench. Maybe I am a bit
biased because all season I have been saying how it was wrong for the club
to sell both Sam Baldock and Nicky Maynard and not bring in a similar
striker to replace them. I think it is always good to have a striker like
them in team because they can bring something totally different and can be a
big impact from the bench. It also gives the manager more options when
changing tactics if we are losing or drawing the game.
Although saying this I haven't seen much evidence of Allardyce wanting to
change tactics during a game and go 442 for example. So this brings me back
to the question, what was the point in signing him if we aren't going to use
him?
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Avram Grant compares managing Chelsea to West Ham
London24.com
Saturday, March 9, 2013
8:20 AM
Former Chelsea, Portsmouth and West Ham manager Avram Grant believes that
managing the Blues is easy, compared to the Hammers. The Israeli guided the
west Londoners to the 2008 Champions League final but suffered relegation
with the east London outfit. Grant told The Sun: "I don't think Rafa
Benitez will be replaced any time soon. But, let me tell you something,
coaching at Chelsea is very easy."It's way easier than coaching West Ham,
for instance, because you have a very big budget and top players to choose
from. All you have to do is go after the win. "Things aren't going well at
Chelsea. They have made huge investments but the mood there is not good.
"They can't be happy when they are not challenging for the league. "They
don't like being in the Europa League and their players are not dreaming
about being in that final. "Their motivation would have been much greater in
the Champions League."
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