Big Sam on: Everton
WHUFC.com
The manager has held his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's game
at Everton
20.11.2014
West Ham United return to action at Everton on Saturday following the
international break - and manager Sam Allardyce will wait on the fitness of
a couple of his players who featured for their countries. Both Stewart
Downing and Diafra Sakho have arrived back at Chadwell Heath nursing
injuries following their exertions for England and Senegal respectively. The
manager spoke to the media ahead of Saturday's game at Everton and updated
them on the injury status.
Diafra Sakho couldn't play for Senegal on Wednesday because of back pain, is
he ok for the game against Everton?
SA: "We don't know yet. He only got back last night so haven't had time to
assess him yet. We'll be looking at him today and make a decision soon.
Obviously we don't have too much time before the Everton game on Saturday so
it'll be touch and go. "It's a problem every manager faces after
international duty. Stewart Downing came off at half time with a knee
problem as well so we have to monitor that one too. They're both two players
that have been in top form for us. Sakho's goals and Downing's performances
are two of the reasons why we're fourth at the moment. "We need to be very
careful with both players because we don't want to take any risks with their
long term fitness. If they play on Saturday and aggravate the injury they
could be out for two or three weeks which would mean missing five or six
games and
we can't afford that. We have a hard enough task as it is and a tough run of
games coming."
If Sakho doesn't play, you've had two weeks to work on Andy's fitness, is he
ready to start?
SA: "I wouldn't say he's 100% match fit but he is ready to start. He's
raring to go as is Carlton Cole so we've got very good options up front. We
don't have much time to work together for Saturday but that's the situation
we're in, same as Everton. We'll work on a few things today and tomorrow and
then make a decision."
Do you think Stewart Downing blew his chance against Scotland?
SA: "No I don't think so. He had an injury in the first half which
restricted his movement. I watched the game and I didn't see him do anything
wrong. I know people have criticised his performance but I thought he did
OK. He certainly hasn't blown his chances of further international call
ups."
What's the situation with Winston Reid's contract at the moment?
SA: "It's an ongoing negotiation at the moment. We want him to stay at the
club, he's a great player who has done fantastically well for us. The
Chairmen will notify whenever an outcome, either way, has been reached. Like
everything these days it's probably down to money."
Roberto Martinez has said West Ham are one of the contenders for a European
place, what do you make of that?
SA: "We've made a good start in that direction but there is a long, long way
still to go. I think it's a huge ask which is probably just ahead of us at
the moment. Had we got three points against Aston Villa, which we should
have done, then maybe but I think that was a game that if we really are
going to push for Europe then we would have won that game.
"We have a vital part of the season coming up. November and December is a
tough time and it will determine where we finish. There isn't an
international break for a long time so we don't have an opportunity to
regroup if necessary so it will be a big test for us."
Given how well you've started the season, have your targets changed?
SA: "Not really, no. We want to finish higher than tenth, that has been our
aim all along. At the moment we are capable of doing more than that, it's
just of question of maintaining it over a season. Like a said we have the
chances and opportunities to score against Villa and we didn't take them
which was very disappointing. Hopefully we'll put that right on Saturday."
What have made of Everton so far this season, a little bit inconsistent?
SA: "Roberto like a lot of us has suffered more injuries than they did last
season. So he's had to change around the team a bit, he hasn't had many
opportunities to pick his strongest eleven yet. But they've consistently
been at this level for long, long time. First under David Moyes and now with
Roberto. They've had a legacy of getting into Europe, there's a history of
that having a negative effect in following games but I think it's better to
be in Europe than not."
Are Everton the benchmark for a club like West Ham?
SA: "I think sustainable growth is massively important. When David Moyes
took over they were a relegation threatened side but they've grown over the
years and are now one of the best teams in the league. They've been in
contention for Europe and a cup for a number of years now. They've also done
well with limited funds, they haven't spent millions and millions. To be
able to buy better players year-on-year with a limited budget is very
impressive."
Were you surprised David Moyes took the Real Sociedad job?
SA: "No not really I think it's a good move for him. To get out of the
country for a while and get back into the groove of managing. As long as
it's a stable club that supports him I think it's a good challenge. He's a
very good manager and I'm sure he'll be a success out there."
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Carroll - 'It's great to be back'
WHUFC.com
Now Andy Carroll wants more after using the international break productively
19.11.2014
Andy Carroll is looking forward to playing a fuller role with the Hammers
after stepping up his comeback over the international break.
The No9 featured in a behind closed doors match against Fulham over that
period, after making his competitive return in the closing stages of the 0-0
draw with Aston Villa on 8 November. With a trip to Everton now on the
horizon, Carroll is determined to keep his forward momentum going. "It's
great to be back," he explained. "It's been a while being out and I'm just
getting my fitness back up. Getting 90 minutes against Fulham was great and
obviously getting my first appearance for a while against Villa the previous
weekend was even better.
"I thought we were really unlucky [to only get a point against Villa], it
was a great save from the keeper, but I put myself about in the last three
minutes and got a couple on target, which possibly could have gone in. "I'm
feeling really good. I've worked a lot with the medical staff and they've
got me fighting fit and I'm feeling great. Obviously to train for a few
weeks, get on as a sub and to then play 90 minutes just proves that I'm
feeling good."
Not only did Carroll play 90 minutes against Fulham, he also got on the
scoresheet and he cannot wait to experience that feeling in the Barclays
Premier League once more. He added: "It's still nice to score, even though
there were no fans there. It's nice to get the 90 minute run-out and get a
few touches of the ball that you don't really get in training and a few
kicks that the lads don't do in training either, so it's good to be back and
good to get on the pitch and get a goal. "That's what I'm hoping for - [more
minutes at Everton] - Obviously we've been flying at the minute, we've been
doing great and all you can do is fight for your place. That's what I'm
doing in training and hopefully the gaffer puts us on for a few more minutes
and let's see what happens. "It's tough to displace anyone in the team,
anyone that's been playing, not just Sakho and Valencia. We've been playing
fantastic football, we've been scoring goals and creating a lot of chances
with all the players in the squad. So it's going to be a fight for everyone
to get back in."
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Cheikhou confident of AFCON success
WHUFC.com
Cheikhou Kouyate is targeting Senegal's maiden Africa Cup of Nations title
20.11.2014
Cheikhou Kouyate is targeting Africa Cup of Nations glory after helping
Senegal complete their qualification campaign in style. The West Ham United
midfielder was part of the Lions of Teranga side which defeated Botswana 3-0
in Dakar on Wednesday to finish second in Group G behind Tunisia. Senegal
are one of 15 teams who will join hosts Equatorial Guinea at the continent's
premier international tournament in January, and Kouyate believes the West
African country can win it for the first time in their history. With players
such as Kouyate's Hammers team-mate Diafra Sakho, Newcastle United forward
Papiss Cisse, Southampton striker Sadio Mane and Hull City's former West Ham
midfielder Mohamed Diame, his optimism is well-placed. However, the No8 did
temper his confidence by pointing out that he is one of just a handful of
players who featured at the tournament the last time Senegal qualified in
2012. "It's a new generation that goes to the Africa Cup of Nations," he
said following Wednesday's win. "Among us, there are four players who have
experienced the tournament, but we're going there with a goal of revenge and
try to win something. "Now everyone will go home and try to prepare for the
Africa Cup of Nations. We have two months before the start of the
competition and we will go to try to win the cup."
The tournament, which will run from 17 January to 8 February 2015, was
originally due to be hosted by Morocco, but was recently moved to Equatorial
Guinea due to the Ebola crisis affecting some parts of West Africa. Senegal
face a stiff challenge if they are to win the competition, with nine
previous winners among the 16-nation field, including four-times champions
Cameroon and Ghana, 2012 winners Zambia and North African football
powerhouses Algeria and Tunisia. Burkina Faso, who finished as runners-up at
the last tournament in 2013, will also be present. Defending champions
Nigeria failed to qualify after drawing 2-2 with 1996 winners South Africa
in their final group game. The 2010 FIFA World Cup winners finished top of
their group and will line up alongside fellow qualifiers Cape Verde, Gabon,
Ivory Coast, Guinea, Mali, Congo and DR Congo. Among the other current and
former West Ham players who could feature are Alex Song (Cameroon), Modibo
Maiga (Mali) and Demba Ba (Senegal).
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John Hartson: Kicking Eyal Berkovic 'biggest regret of career'
BBC.co.uk
John Hartson has admitted kicking West Ham team-mate Eyal Berkovic in the
head in a 1998 training-ground incident is the biggest regret of his career.
The former Wales striker, 39, told BBC Radio 5 live's Inside the Dressing
Room programme that he was ashamed of the incident.
Hartson was fined by West Ham and the Football Association after the
assault, which was filmed by a television crew. "I brought a lot of
embarrassment on my family, I felt ashamed," he said. Hartson, who played
more than 500 games for eight different clubs during a 15-year career,
retired in 2007 with more than 200 goals to his name. He was diagnosed with
testicular cancer in 2009 and underwent emergency surgery after doctors
discovered tumours in his brain and lungs. He is currently in remission.
Hartson has also fought a long battle with a gambling addiction.
Speaking in depth for the first time about the incident with former Israel
international Berkovic, Hartson said he was "constantly reminded" of the
incident. "Even today it is the biggest regret of my career," he said. "I
was 20 years of age. I was very boisterous, probably a little bit angry. I'd
left Arsenal in 1997 and they went on to win the double in 1998. "Eyal
Berkovic was a good lad and to this day I don't know why I reacted the way I
did. It was nothing personal against Eyal. It could have been anyone of the
players on the training ground that day." The incident was caught on video
by a camera crew and the clip was shown on TV news programmes and made
headlines in the national newspapers. John Hartson scored 14 goals in 51
games for Wales - this one against Azerbaijan in November 2002
"The aftermath of it was horrendous," Hartson added. "I was front page of
every national newspaper across the globe, I was on the News at Ten with
Trevor McDonald, there were newspapers knocking my mum and dad's door down
in Wales. "I've recovered from that, I've gone on and I've scored goals and
I've set up the charity doing good things now, but that always went before
me. "It was a massive incident in my life. I'm over it and it happens. I was
young."
Having signed for West Ham for £3.2m in 1997, Hartson was sold to Wimbledon
in January 1999 for £7.5m and went on to score more than 100 goals during
five seasons at Celtic. He added that he has since made up with Berkovic.
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Allardyce: Reid decision 'down to money'
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 20th November 2014
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce believes that Winston Reid's decision not to sign a new
contract with West Ham is a financial one. Despite having been offered the
opportunity to extend his current contract, which expires next summer, Kiwi
Reid has thus far refused to put pen to paper.
And whilst few will admit it, it is a commonly-held view within the club
that the 26-year-old is on his way out - even if Allardyce has refused to
give up hope of keeping the centre half beyond his current four-year deal.
"It's an ongoing negotiation at the moment," the manager told the press this
morning. "We want him to stay at the club, he's a great player who has done
fantastically well for us. "The Chairmen will notify whenever an outcome,
either way, has been reached. Like everything these days it's probably down
to money."
With Reid steadfastly refusing to extend his contract at the club, West Ham
have the choice of cashing in during the January transfer window or waiting
until the summer and losing the player on a free transfer. The New Zealand
international continues to be linked with clubs such as Arsenal, Manchester
United and Liverpool, despite West Ham's co-owner David Gold insisting this
week that the club were not "getting rid" of the player.
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Sakho and Downing doubtful, says Allardyce
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 20th November 2014
By: Staff Writer
West Ham's international duo of Diafra Sakho and Stewart Downing are both
doubtful for this weekend's trip to Everton after returning from
international duty with injuries. As revealed here on KUMB last night, Sakho
pulled out of Senegal's 3-0 win over Botswana after sustaining a back
strain. Meanwhile Downing, who played 45 minutes for England in the 3-1
friendly win against Scotland has also returned with a knock. That, says
Allardyce, could mean West Ham are without both for the trip to Goodison
Park this weekend. "It's a problem every manager faces after international
duty," bemoaned the Hammers boss at his pre-match press conference this
morning. "We'll be looking at him [Sakho] today and make a decision soon.
Stewart Downing came off at half time with a knee problem as well so we have
to monitor that one. They're both two players that have been in top form for
us. Sakho's goals and Downing's performances are two of the reasons why
we're fourth at the moment. "We need to be very careful with both players
because we don't want to take any risks with their long term fitness. If
they play on Saturday and aggravate the injury they could be out for two or
three weeks which would mean missing five or six games and we can't afford
that. We have a hard enough task as it is and a tough run of games coming."
However one man's misfortune is another's good news - and Allardyce revealed
that should he be needed, Andy Carroll, who made his return to the first
team against Aston Villa the weekend before last is ready to step up to the
plate. "I wouldn't say he's 100 per cent match fit but he is ready to
start," confirmed Big Sam. "He's raring to go, as is Carlton Cole, so we've
got very good options up front. We don't have much time to work together for
Saturday but that's the situation we're in, same as Everton. We'll work on a
few things today and tomorrow and then make a decision."
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Stewart Downing and Diafra Sakho concerning West Ham
Last Updated: 20/11/14 3:27pm
SSN
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is sweating over the fitness of international
pair Stewart Downing and Diafra Sakho ahead of Saturday's trip to Everton.
Downing suffered a knee problem and was withdrawn at half-time in England's
3-1 friendly victory over Scotland at Celtic Park on Tuesday night. Sakho
missed Senegal's Africa Cup of Nations victory over Botswana on Wednesday
due to injury and Allardyce said: "Obviously we don't have too much time
before the Everton game on Saturday so it'll be touch and go. It's a problem
every manager faces after international duty. "Stewart Downing came off at
half time with a knee problem as well so we have to monitor that one too.
They're two players that have been in top form for us. Sakho's goals and
Downing's performances are two of the reasons we're fourth at the moment.
"We need to be very careful with both players because we don't want to take
any risks with their long-term fitness." If in-form striker Sakho misses
out, England forward Andy Carroll could be in line for a first Premier
League start this term and Allardyce added: "I wouldn't say he's 100% match
fit but he is ready to start.
Good options
"He's raring to go as is Carlton Cole so we've got very good options up
front. We don't have much time to work together for Saturday but that's the
situation we're in, same as Everton." Recent rumours have been circling the
Boleyn Ground of possible interest from Manchester United and Arsenal in
Hammers New Zealand centre-half Winston Reid. "We have a vital part of the
season coming up. November and December is a tough time and it will
determine where we finish." The 26-year-old's contract is up at the end of
the season and Allardyce said: "It's an ongoing negotiation at the moment.
We want him to stay at the club, he's a great player who has done
fantastically well for us.
"The chairmen will notify whenever an outcome, either way, has been reached.
Like everything these days it's probably down to money."
Sam Allardyce says he could be without both Stewart Downing and Diafra Sakho
for West Ham's trip to Everton. But Allardyce is determined that rumours
over Reid will not deflect attention from the squad building on their best
start to a campaign since 1983/84. He said: "We have a vital part of the
season coming up. November and December is a tough time and it will
determine where we finish. There isn't an international break for a long
time so we don't have an opportunity to regroup if necessary so it will be a
big test for us. "Roberto Martinez like a lot of us has suffered more
injuries than they did last season. So he's had to change around the team a
bit, he hasn't had many opportunities to pick his strongest eleven yet.
"But they've consistently been at this level for long, long time. First
under David Moyes and now with Roberto. They've had a legacy of getting into
Europe, there's a history of that having a negative effect in following
games but I think it's better to be in Europe than not."
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LEGEND....WAIT FOR IT....ARY!!
By Bianca Westwood 20 Nov 2014 at 08:00
West Ham Till I Die
I've never really done the whole obsessive fangirl thing. I never really
understood it. I just don't get why people (especially adults) want to wait
for hours outside training grounds for a few seconds of seeing their
favourite player zoom by behind blacked-out windows, or camp out in
Leicester Square for tiny glimpses of a movie star, or, like my mates at
school, bunk off to sit outside HMV all day in the hope that Luke or Matt
Goss from Bros (nobody really fancied the other one) might smile at them. If
I was a tween now I wouldn't be a One Directioner, or one of Gaga's Monsters
or a member of the RihannaNavy. No chance!
Of course you know I'm a lifelong, fully-fledged, paid-up Hammer. So I am a
superfan of sorts. Just not an overzealous one. I had my moments as a kid
where I acted out my fandom in the expected ways, some weird and hugely
cringe-worthy (I've already explained to you the Mark Ward bathroom suite
story), some not-so-much. I did once get the tube to Oxford Street when I
was a wee whippersnapper to see Stewart Robson at his book-signing in Top
Man. Yes, really. As you can imagine my friend Michelle and I were the only
little girls there. We patiently queued with the other assorted fans (there
weren't too many if I remember rightly), our bits of paper for him to sign
clutched in our tiny sweaty palms (we couldn't afford the book) and we even
asked him for a kiss! How brazen! What he must have thought of us I don't
know and I've never met him since. I'm blushing just thinking about it!
So apart from that, and the time I told Frank McAvennie I loved him after
running on the pitch on the final day one season (I was a kid ok?!) that's
been the extent of my extreme-fan activities. Since I started working in
broadcasting though I've been surrounded by famous faces, big names,
"legends of the game". I'm not bragging it's a fact. I suppose I am used to
seeing these people milling around Sky HQ so I don't really get star struck
anymore. I am extremely fortunate to do what I do and I love my job, but
after spending years interviewing Premier League stars and their managers,
it is now less of an event, and more, just that, my job.
Over the years I may have been a little tongue-tied or over-awed by a
certain someone or situation. Post match environments are always a
challenge. Especially when facing the losing manager. You're stuffed in some
minuscule TV room, usually window-less and fresh air-free, hot, bothered and
awaiting the imminent arrival of an unhappy and often irate man. It's a
lesson in eggshell-walking at times and it's difficult to master. I really
admire reporters who seem so effortlessly cool doing post-match. I never got
to interview Sir Alex in my career. I can imagine I would have been slightly
nervous at that prospect. One of my first ever post-match interviewees was
Roy Keane at Ipswich and in my inexperience I worked myself up into such a
flustered frenzy I completely fluffed my first question. He laughed and
looked at me with what can only be described as semi-hostile pity but he
answered and I got through it…so, after that, any interview seemed a breeze!
Filming with Ray Winstone is another highlight during my time on Soccer
Saturday. It was just before our FA cup final and we spoke about our
adoration for all things West Ham. He was just as you'd imagine,
down-to-earth, funny, brutally honest, larger-than-life and fierce in his
love for the club. But even in the presence of that Hollywood superstar I
wasn't particularly daunted. He was so easy to talk to it was just like
talking to any West Ham fan. And I loved him for that.
One of the best interviews I ever did was while presenting Take It Like A
Fan from The County Ground. Swindon were on a high and I had the pleasure of
meeting the gaffer, another one of my Hammers heroes, the inimitable Paolo
Di Canio. Actually you can't really call it an interview. It was more of an
experience, a happening, a lesson in oratory. Di Canio spoke, the room
listened; gripped, rapt, engrossed and fascinated. I'm not exaggerating.
Tales of his life, insights into his career, anecdotes of his days with
Redknapp, impersonations of Capello, his hands flailing, arms wide, masses
of expression, tons of charisma, his audience open-mouthed and spellbound. I
barely got a word in!
The last time I physically felt nervous before a shoot was last season,
interviewing the man who ruined our cup final (no not Lionel Scaloni), the
former England captain and all-round Mr-Nice-Guy Steven Gerrard. I don't
know why. Maybe because it was a big interview, Liverpool were flying, the
camera set up was impressive and the lights seemed bigger than normal. There
were a few spectators in the room so I felt a bit more under pressure. But
mostly because it's Stevie G. Maybe not a top top player for some but he is
to me. In actual fact I swore to myself if I ever met him I'd give him a
piece of my mind. We needed that trophy more than they did! He broke my
heart that day! But when he came in, he shook everyone's hand from the
cameramen to the waiting journos, smiling warmly while he introduced himself
(like we didn't know) so I completely forgot my ire and vaguely resembled
that giggling schoolgirl waiting in line all those years ago in Top Man. It
was a great interview and I felt proud to be talking to a living legend.
Which brings me to the whole point of this week's blog. Legend. The word
legend is well over-used these days. Legendary. Everyone is a legend. Anyone
can be a legend. Everything is "legend…wait for it…..ary!" (if you didn't
watch How I Met Your Mother that reference is probably lost on you sorry).
Well, last week I met a real legend. And for the first time in twenty odd
years I was a true fangirl. I had the honour of attending the Bobby Moore
Fund charity dinner and lo and behold, on the table behind me, was the one
man I'd always wanted to meet but never had, the legend, the legendary, Sir
Trevor Brooking. Cue me, acting like a child, should I go and speak to him,
can I ask for a picture, what will I say, what will he say, should I bother
him, no I better not, but I must! Cut a long and very boring inner
stream-of-consciousness short I ventured over, introduced myself, asked for
a picture and had an amazing chat with him about how happy we are this
season and our hopes for West Ham's future. And no he didn't always sit on
the fence but I'll keep that between us! They say never meet your heroes,
you'll be disappointed. I was not.
When I floated back to my table I texted the picture to the family. A flurry
of texts hit my phone at once. Mum "Oh ledge!" Bro 1 "Oh wow get me an
autograph saying come on you irons!" Bro 2 "Absolute legend", Step-dad "Tell
him I said we will never forget the '76 Cup Winners Cup semi against
Frankfurt he was majestic!" Bro 3 "Get a signed pic Bee!"
I didn't return to hassle Sir Trev with those requests. But I knew I'd been
in the company of a true, true legend. A West Ham winner! Will we ever see
the like again? Who will be the next Hammer to achieve legendary status? Who
was the last? What constitutes a legend for us now?
For me a legend is a true servant of the club, who sticks with us in good
times and bad, a player who gives their all for the shirt. It's someone who
embodies the spirit of what it means to be West Ham. Who feels our pain, and
our joy. We haven't seen many of those in a few years but, who knows, with
the faint glimmer of hope we now feel about our future, the next Hammers
legend(s) may not be too far away.
In the meantime we'll have to…wait for it…..
B x
Come On You Irons
Ps – if you fancy an evening with some West Ham legends check out
http://www.awaydayfootball.com/#!christmas-at-the-boleyn-ground/cgsd
I think there's still some tickets left. Hope to see you there!
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Valencia rumour grows
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 20, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Enner Valenica is understood to be the latest injury worry to hit the
Hammers. ClaretandHugh is this afternoon hearing rumours that the Ecuadorian
striker picked up a knock from the Aston Villa clash from which he has not
fully recovered. And it is likely that along with Diafra Sakho, Stewart
Downing and Winston Reid he will face a fitness test ahead of the game
against Everton at the weekend. Manager Sam Allardyce admitted in his press
conference that Sakho and Downing were both doubts and Reid too can be added
to the list after www.physioroom.com revealed his may not make the match.
Valencia, however, comes as a surprise and we were told that his chances of
making the game rested on the fitness test and that he was rated
fifty/fifty. However, the manager has given a thumbs-up to Andy Carroll's
fitness who now looks set to start against The Toffees.
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Sam: 'Injury worries but AC good to go'
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 20, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Sam Allardyce appears to have changed his tune concerning Andy Carroll. With
a minor injury crisis on his hands which involves four players – Diafra
Sakho, Winston Reid, Stewart Downing and one other, currently unnamed, the
question of Andy Carroll's fitness is high on the agenda. Those with
reasonable memories will remember that the boss said after the Villa match
that the record signing was into a six week pre-season and the five minutes
he played was the first of those. Since then he has appeared in a practice
game against Fulham and we might have expected that, given the manager's
previous assessment, he might get half an hour at best against The Toffees.
How a few injuries change things however, and in his press conference this
morning Allardyce made it clear that the striker is fit and raring to go. He
said: "I wouldn't say he's 100% match fit but he is ready to start. He's
raring to go as is Carlton Cole so we've got very good options up front. "We
don't have much time to work together for Saturday but that's the situation
we're in, same as Everton. We'll work on a few things today and tomorrow and
then make a decision." What a difference a fortnight makes – WHEN IT HAS TO!
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
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Friday, November 21
Thursday, November 20
Daily WHUFC News - 20th November 2014
Hammers quartet entertain fans
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's disabled supporters enjoyed a good-humoured evening at the Boleyn Ground
19.11.2014
West Ham United's disabled supporters were treated to an entertaining evening at the Boleyn Ground on Tuesday, as assistant manager Neil McDonald, Club ambassador Tony Carr MBE and first-teamers Carlton Cole and Joey O'Brien took the floor at the latest fans' forum. The fans in attendance made the most of the opportunity to quiz the Hammers' coaching and playing staff on an excellent start to the season and the prospect of more of the same between now and the campaign's end. And while matters on the pitch naturally dominated proceedings, discussion also ranged from the popularity of James Collins' dressing room playlist to Academy graduate Jimmy Bullard's 'I'm a Celebrity' jungle diet!
Macca, meanwhile, spoke at length of the confidence in the camp and the positive impact of competition for places, and was only too glad to share his assessment of things with West Ham's loyal supporters. "It was really good fun," he told West Ham TV. "With the situation at the football club at the moment, it's on the up, everybody's enjoying themselves, everybody wants to hear a little bit of a story and hopefully we've entertained them. We've given them a little bit of information on how we're trying to do things, what's in the pipeline and I hope they've got something out of it, which is great."
Sentiments echoed by Hammers full-back Joey O'Brien, who had to field his fair share of testing questions too, and hoped the supporters had taken as much from the experience as he had. "That's part and parcel of why it's so good coming to these events, you don't know what you're going to be asked," he added. "You've got to be on your toes up there answering the questions! "It's really good coming to these events, the heartbeat of the football club is the fans and for us to come in and have a bit of a laugh and answer some questions, give them a bit of an insight into what we do behind the scenes, makes for a great event."
Elsewhere, Sanjay Chadha, a Season Ticket Holder in the Alpari Stand Lower, was impressed with the Hammers panel on the night, not least with the Club on the crest of a wave just now. "At the moment, because we are so exciting, because we are so positive, it vibrates throughout the fans and long may it continue," he said. "The trick now is for us to keep it up and maintain this vibrancy and this excitement. But the fans' forum in particular, is a very special time for the Club's disabled supporters "It was a chance for supporters that go week-in, week-out to get an insight into how the players and how the management structure is approaching the Premier League this season, particularly with the new attacking formation that we're playing. I think it's been a very positive evening, from the point of view of having someone like Tony Carr, right up to the players, and with the assistant manager, I think it was an all-round good representation of the team approach that we've had this year."
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FT: Dev Squad 2-1 Jong PSV
WHUFc.com
Coverage as the Dev Squad come from a goal down to beat Jong PSV 2-1
19.11.2014
DEVELOPMENT SQUAD v JONG PSV
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL CUP
BOLEYN GROUND
WEDNESDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2014
KICK-OFF: 7PM
REFEREE: ALAN YOUNG
FT: Dev Squad 2-1 Jong PSV
FT: The Hammers have done it. A superb performance to come back from a goal down to win 2-1. The best performance of the season by quite a margin. We'll have reaction for you shortly.
95: More great work from Mavila who has looked lively since coming on. He beats his man all ends up but the shot is tame.
94: Superb work from Mavila as he takes the ball the length of the pitch. He feels he should have a corner for his efforts but the ref rules it a goal kick.
93: Vloet misses a great opportunity in the final minutes. His shot from the edge of the box is skewed wide.
91: Another huge challenge from Pike. Mavila now has the ball in the corner. Last chance saloon for PSV.
90: Goalscorer Kieran Sadlier is replaced by Nathan Mavila. Sadlier deservedly gets a huge round of applause.
89: The Hammers have got the ball in the corner winding the clock down. Just a few minutes to go.
87: Alex Pike, making only his second U21 appearance, puts in a fantastic challenge to clear the danger.
85: Into the last few minutes here at the BG. The Hammers are ready for the final whistle but PSV haven't given up yet. Oxford his marshalling his side admirably. Final push needed.
83: Good opportunity for PSV as Vloet fires his free kick just wide.
81: Sam Westley is replaced by Alex Pike.
80: Huge let off for the Hammers as Nasha's stray sets up van Overbeek. The substitute really should score but Spiegel saves majestically. Nasha has his head in his hands even though the chance went begging. A lifeline for the Hammers.
78: Some tired legs beginning to show out there now.
77: Inch perfect tackle from Nasha on the edge of the box as Schaars was winding up to shoot. Nasha had to get the tackle right otherwise he would've been in serious trouble.
75: More good work from Lletget. He's held ball up fantastically well all evening. Great performance.
73: Smart save from Spiegel to deny Sanoh. The pressure is building. Can the Dev Squad hang on?
71: Substitution for the Hammers as Danny Whitehead is given a well deserved rest. He is replaced by Amos Nasha.
69: The game is getting a bit scrappy with a string of fouls. PSV are desperately pushing for an equaliser while the Hammers are trying to cling on to a valuable win.
65: Reece Oxford, tonight's captain, is on his haunches after having the wind knocked out of him by a shot. After a bit of treatment the defender is ok to continue.
62: Bywater gets the bend and accuracy right but it was just lacking enough power. Bertrams collects gratefully.
61: Free kick in a superb position for the Hammers. Whitehead was closing in on goal before being hauled down. This is a great chance.
58: Substitution for PSV as Elvio van Overbeek replaces goalscorer Andjelo Rudovic.
55: Free kick for PSV from distance. It looks as thoigh Vloet will shoot...And he does, he shapes up Ronaldo-esqe but the shot goes wide.
52: Going a goal down as woken PSV into life. Andrija Lukovic's had Spiegel beaten but his shot hits the post.
50: Bywater buys a foul off Tamata who clumsily bundles him to the floor. Clever work from the midfielder, he's been excellent all evening.
48: GOAL! 2-1! Kieran Sadlier wheels away in delight after slotting past Jesse Bertrams. An excellent ball from Lletget split the defence wide open.
46: We're back under way here at the Boleyn Ground. A fascinating 45 minutes ahead of us.
HT: Half-time here at the Boleyn Ground. A great team performance so far from the Dev Squad. They could, perhaps should, be ahead with some of the chances they've had.
45: More superb work from the Hammers this time from Sadlier. His shot from distance is swerving all over the place and Bertrams gets a finger to it and pushes it over.
44: Sanoh works it Vloet inside the box. The striker has looked hungry all night but Makasi is there is sweep up the danger.
42: Superb shot on the turn by Lletget which forces a wonderful save from Bertrams. Superb work from the American midfielder.
40: Sanoh tries his luck from long range however Spiegel see it from a long way and catches comfortably.
37: GOAL! 1-1! What a goal! Kieran Bywater smashes a shot on the edge of the into the top corner. Unstoppable. Game on!
33: Rai Vloet shoots from distance and it swerves and dips just in front of Spiegel. The big 'keeper does well to steer it out for a corner.
30: PSV are not happy at Oxford's challenge. It was hard but fair and referee rightly plays on. Seconds later Makasi rides a similar tackle from Clint Leemans.
26: A superb ball from Hermannsson sends Sanoh free down the wing. Pask does to cut the cross out. A flash of what the visitors can do.
22: Execellent play from Kieran Sadlier. He almost finishes the move he started after winning the ball off Menno Koch. Sadlier sprays the ball wide to Bywater who floats a cross to the back post. Marlow lays it to Sadlier who twists and turns in the box forcing a corner. Josh Pask's header fires agonizingly over the bar.
20: More good work from the Dev Squad as they push for an equaliser. Lletget's skillful turn wins him a corner which Ben Marlow connects to with a fierce half-volley whch goes wide of the right-hand post.
18: Moussa Sanoh gets down the right wing and drills a cross to the near post. A sliding block from Oxford cuts the ball out for a corner. The resulting corner is flicked over harmlessly.
15: Further pressure from the Hammers leads to an opportunity as Lletget closes the 'keepers clearance. He tries to connect to the rebound but the PSV defence scramble it away.
13: Patient build up play from the Hammers as they search for an equaliser. Eventually their pressure yields a free kick which Bywater lofts in. Goalkeeper Jesse Bertrams rises highest to collect calmly.
11: Moses Makasi takes a boot to face as he stoop for a header but the tenacious midfielder battles on.
8: The Hammers have responded well since going down. Danny Whitehead and Ben Marlow are looking to set up counter attacks but can't quite find the through ball.
5: PSV go close again as Vloet connects at the near post yet Spiegel produces a great reaction save from point blank range.
3: Not the start the Hammers had in mind. Andrija Lukovic holds the ball up and lays it off for Andjelo Rudovic to slot home. 0-1.
1: A stoppage in play almost immeditely as Abel Tamata is on the deck. Kieran Bywater's eagerness to press the ball got the better of him.
The teams are walking out onto the pitch. The Hammers led by captain Reece Oxford. Pre-match handshakes and coin toss complete and we are about to kick off!
Ten minutes to go until kick off. Both teams disappear down the tunnel for some final words of encouragement before we get started.
Both teams are out of the pitch warming up. The Hammers have been out for some time, both sides are doing intricate passing drills.
Jong PSV got their European campaign off to a great start by beating the Bilbao 1-0. Therefore the Dutch side will qualify for the knockout stages should they win tonight. On the overhand, the Hammers must get a result if they are to keep their European aspirations alive. The next fixture in the tournament is against Fulham on 8 December 2014 at Rush Green.
To bring you up to speed with the Premier League International Cup, this is the Hammers' second game of the tournament after narrowly losing 5-3 to Athletic Bilbao in a thrilling game at the Boleyn last month.
West Ham United: Spiegel (GK), Westley (Pike 81), Fanimo, Makasi, Pask, Oxford (c), Bywater, Marlow, Lletget, Whitehead (Nasha 71), Sadlier (Mavila 90)
Subs: Bogard, Tombides, Onariase, Gordon
Jong PSV: Bertrams (GK), Hermannsson, Kock, De Wijs, Tamata, Schaars, Sanoh, Leemans, Vloet, Lukovic (Rommens 65), Rudovic (van Overbeek 58)
Subs: Rommens, Loof, Heesakkers, van Overbeek, de la Paz
The teams are in! Starting with our visitors...
Just over an hour to go until kick off on a chilly night at the Boleyn Ground, we'll be bringing you the teams news very shortly...
Hello and welcome to live coverage of tonight's Barclays Premier Leaue International Cup match between West Ham United's Development squad and PSV Eindhoven's Jong PSV.
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Date set for Youth Cup tie
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's Under-18s will travel to Southampton for their FA Youth Cup tie on 9 December
19.11.2014
West Ham United's FA Youth Cup third round tie away at Southampton will be played at St Mary's Stadium on Tuesday 9 December, kick-off 7pm. Steve Potts' side will be looking to better their experience in this competition from last year, when Accrington Stanley ended their participation at this stage. The Hammers are currently third in the Barclays U18 Premier League South table, while Southampton are seven places worse off. West Ham enjoy a fine tradition in the FA Youth Cup, having lifted the trophy on three occasions - 1963, 1981 and 1999.
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Bankrupt keeper David James: Football memorabilia sold off
BBC.co.uk
Former England goalkeeper David James' football memorabilia has been auctioned off after the star went bankrupt. James, 44, who played for Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham, Manchester City and Portsmouth, was declared bankrupt in May despite earning around £20m. Signed shirts, shorts and balls were amongst the items sold by auctioneer Hilco at a sale registered in Kent. An England shirt the player wore in the Three Lions' 1-0 World Cup win over Argentina in 2002 fetched £672. A Liverpool FC goalkeeper's jersey worn during the Reds' 1995/96 season sold for more than £160 while a Portsmouth No 1 top James wore in 2008 went for £480. An England home kit signed by the team and a Portsmouth goalkeeper's jersey were among the items sold Hilco's Spencer Chapman said there had been "interest from around the world with more than 1,000 registrants across the 10-day sales period". "We've not really dealt with a sale on behalf of a sporting celebrity like this before and clearly that had added some value to the lots," he said. "Sports memorabilia is a very popular market and signed shirts are the kind of items you can't really put a price on, but there were also some very quirky lots in there too. "There were more than 1,800 vinyl records, DJ decks and a customised Vauxhall Astra van, which attracted a lot of interest and sold for a very reasonable price."
The lots also included a chainsaw, an exercise bicycle, a Korg synthesiser, a giant I Love NY mug sculpture and three flat screen televisions. The star, who now plays for and manages Kerala Blasters FC in the Indian Super League, won 53 England caps during a career that also saw spells at Watford, Bristol City and Bournemouth.
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Sakho sustains back injury
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 19th November 2014
By: Staff Writer
Diafra Sakho is out of Senegal's clash with Botswana in Dakar tonight - and a concern for this weekend's trip to Everton. The 24-year-old striker confirmed tonight that he had suffered a back injury ahead of the game, although further details are currently few and far between. Sakho - who has scored seven goals already this season for West Ham - missed out on the recent trip to Stoke with injury but was back the following week for the goalless draw with Aston Villa. Hammers fans will be hoping this latest stepback is no more serious, whilst Sakho will not be fully assessed until returning to England.
Diafra Sakho ✔ @iamdiafrasakho
Dear fans, unfortunately my back pain makes me unfit for the game I'm as devastated as you are, but i'll be back!
Thanks 4 your support!
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Essex boy
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 19th November 2014
By: Staff Writer
George Moncur has completed a permanent switch to Colchester United. Moncur, who has effectively been on trial with the Essex club since the beginning of the season put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half year contract yesterday, ending his long association with West Ham.
And the combative 21-year-old midfielder admitted that whilst he was sad to be leaving West Ham, he was equally excited by the challenge his move brings. "There is some sadness about leaving West Ham because I was there for a good few years and I had some great times there," he told cu-fc.com. "My Dad spent a few years there as well so I'll miss it, but I've got a new challenge in front of me now. "I have got to thank the people at West Ham, especially Nick Haycock and Ian Hendon who spent a lot of time with me and improved my game. I'm now looking forward to life with Colchester United and progressing my career."
Goerge's father John will no doubt be delighted at his son's move; speaking exclusively to the KUMB Podcast recently, Moncur Snr felt that a permanent move away from West Ham was the best scenario. "It's been a terrible year for him [George] after what happened at Nottingham Forest," he said. "I think it was unfair. I'm not bitter, but what happened there to the kids was ridiculous. "If you like a player and have high hopes for him you blood them into good teams, like all good clubs and managers do. Basically, that was just throwing them to the lions. So he's had to put up with that and all the stick they got."
Elliot Lee ✔ @ElliotLee9
Gutted to lose my best mate at the club! All the best to my bro @georgemonkz8 on his new chapter!Tear it up son!😪🔥⚽️
5:19 PM - 18 Nov 2014
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In form, out of position
KUMb.com
Filed: Tuesday, 18th November 2014
By: Staff Writer
Stewart Downing finally got his first start for England after nearly two years in the international wilderness - only to be hauled off at half time. Downing won a place back in Roy Hodgson's squad following a string of notable performances for West Ham this season at the tip of Sam Allardyce's 442 diamond formation, playing immediately behind the strikers. However his return to the international arena - in England's 3-1 win over Scotland at Celtic Park - was to last just 45 minutes after he was replaced by Adam Lallana at the break, having played the entire half in left midfield. Quite why manager Hodgson decided to re-introduce the in-form Downing only to play him away from his most effective position only the 67-year-old will know, but his choice of personnel proved effective enough as England strolled past the Scots in the first meeting between the two neighbours for nearly 15 years. England took the lead on 32 minutes when Arsenal's Oxlade-Chamberlain scored with a deft header. Minus Downing, England doubled their lead just 90 seconds after the restart through Wayne Rooney.
The hosts gave their supporters faint hopes of a comeback when Robertson scored seven minutes from time. However England - and Rooney - had other ideas and the Manchester United hitman restored England's two-goal advantage just two minutes later.
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WEST HAM: THE SEASON SO FAR
By Sean Whetstone 19 Nov 2014 at 09:30
West Ham till I Die
I was recently asked to complete a Q&A on West Ham's season so far with Turnstyle Football HERE
How would you summarise West Ham's season so far?
Fantastic! We are in fourth place, in a Champions League qualifying spot and three points behind the reigning Premier League champions Manchester City. We have had five wins and three hard-fought draws plus a narrow defeat at Old Trafford. It is a great start to the season considering we were in 16th place, one point off the relegation zone this time last year.
What has been the secret to Allardyce's early season success?
Simple, some great transfer buys over the summer together with a new style of playing. Last year we seemed to create a team around Andy Carroll with the sole purpose of knocking it up to him. When he wasn't available we had no Plan B. Playing Chelsea last year we used a false nine tactic to grind out a draw by parking the bus. This season we have two up front with Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia and Stewart Downing is in the form of his life in a new diamond formation.
Has Sam Allardyce won over his critics?
This is a difficult question to answer. We have all come a long way since the dark days of last season. The owners refused to be swayed by fan protests and stuck with their manager but they did insist on changes and bought extremely well in the transfer window as they took a greater control over the recruitment policy. It was never personal against Sam, just his style of play with no Plan B which annoyed many West Ham fans.
This season we look forward to the excitement of forthcoming matches. While the style of play and the results continue, who could have a problem with Sam? Whether he gets a new contract at the end of the season or leads us into the Olympic Stadium remains to be seen.
How would you rate the summer arrivals?
What Hammer couldn't be anything but delighted with our signings? Sakho cost £3.5m and has scored seven goals already although the deal with Metz can reportedly rise to £7m after 140 appearances. Aaron Cresswell was a £3.75m buy from the Championship which could raise to £7m. We've signed World Cup star Enner Valencia at £12m, Cheikhou Kouyate at £7m plus Carl Jenkinson and Alex Song on loan. Diego Poyet and Mauro Zarate are also useful additions to the squad. I haven't got a bad word to say about any of the new arrivals or transfer policy this season.
Which player has surprised you the most?
The obvious answer is Sakho. We all dreaded another Modibo Maiga so our hopes were not high but chairman David Sullivan had confidence in the striker after months of scouting and pushed through a deal at the expense of signing Connor Wickham. Our only problem now is keeping hold of him as I am sure he will attract interest from the poor performing so-called top six clubs in the January and summer transfer windows.
Honourable mentions need to go to Downing who has surprised many. He is like a new signing and the £6m we paid Liverpool seems a bargain now. Finally a mention must go to Cresswell. It is so hard to make the jump from the Championship but this guy has proved many doubters wrong. Not enough Championship players get the chance to play in the Premier league.
What is a realistic finish?
I have supported West Ham long enough to know not to get carried away with our early success and form, it is a long season. Injuries will take their toll and the bigger clubs have more quality in their squads to cope with this. A top four finish is completely unachievable, a top six has a remote outside chance but top eight is achievable. My prediction is a finish somewhere between seventh and ninth.
Has Andy Carroll still got a place in the team?
I think he showed against Aston Villa in his short substitute appearance that he can be an effective super sub whilst Valencia and Sakho are fit. He can be used to change a game and offer something different. It would be interesting to see him partner Sakho or Valencia for a whole game if one of them is injured or their form dips. I would hate to see Allardyce revert to Carroll as the lone striker and bang long balls up to him. Yes he is an expensive super sub, given his reported wages, but if we can afford him I would rather have him in our club than playing against us.
Are you confident Winston Reid will stay at the club and can you find a decent replacement?
It is looking increasing likely that Winston Reid will leave when his contract expires at the end of the season. He has been offered a new contract to stay but he appears unwilling to commit his long-term future to us. The situation reminds me of Matthew Upson, who thought he was bigger than West Ham and refused to sign a new contract. He is currently an un-used squad player at Leicester City following stints at Stoke and Brighton. Time will tell with Winston but he is free to sign a pre-contract with a foreign club from January.
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Room for one Morrison?
KUMb.com
Filed: Wednesday, 19th November 2014
By: Nicky Hawkins
It was the 6th of October 2013, we were 2-0 up and cruising at the Lane. Mo Diame gave the ball to Ravel Morrison just inside his own half. As he took the ball in his stride with close control, jinked in between two Tottenham defenders, accelerated away with a turn of pace into the box, then deftly dinked the ball over the oncoming Lloris, I was open jawed. The ball trickled in and Morrison wheeled away to celebrate. It drew comparisons immediately to an 18-year-old Michael Owen at the 1998 World Cup in France and the impact that goal had on the world.
I thought that was it; this was the point in this troubled youngster's career that highlights to everyone in England the potential this kid possesses. This is the goal that will prove that he is not just another over-hyped youngster and that the comparisons to a young Paul Scholes, by his former manager Alex Ferguson, were justified.
This was the coming of age, the day when he turned his life around, put all the troubles of the past behind him and realised he has a real shot at becoming a superstar! On that day, the kid had a real shot at being a wild card pick for the 2014 World Cup Finals.
Four days later, Morrison was in an England shirt scoring again - this time for the Under 21s. A video of an audacious volley scored in England training left me (and many others) salivating!
Fast forward to the present day and since then, Morrison has been involved in a half-hearted attempt at an on-pitch fight with Wilfred Zaha and had a couple of fall-outs with the manager. There have been pictures of him doing his best to pollute his lungs and another riding around in an open-top car wearing a rival's colours published in the papers.
Additionally there was a story linking him with a move to the doomed Fulham, which appeared to have been engineered by himself, his agent and René Meulensteen - something denied yet very, very suspicious. Oh - and a handful of deleted tweets criticising staff at the club.
Then there was a loan move to Queens Park Rangers in which Harry Redknapp, who has made a career of picking up cheap troubled footballers and turning seemingly-dead careers back into blossoming ones, has admitted that the kid is beyond help. Plus there was the small matter of an arrest on suspicion of domestic violence.
I cant help but to think that Ravel's skills clouded my judgement. His talent is undeniable, he is blessed, but unfortunately his attitude stinks to high heaven. He was a shining light at the beginning of last season, but a light always shines brightest in the dark.
This season a bunch of new signings have arrived, each shining as bright as the next, strengthening our squad in every department, and team spirit seems to be at an all time high. Could Ravel's style of play fit into our new found high tempo, attacking style of play?
Of course it could! His talent would shine once again, but sadly it's no coincidence that just as the new signings were arriving, Ravel was packing his bags for another stint in the Championship.
He is a bad apple and Big Sam, despite the owners backing the youngster, perhaps with the same clouded judgement as some of us fans had, recognises this and knew that West Ham is a better place without him around.
Sadly for Ravel - and even more so for his talent - I fear he has run out of chances at West Ham. He has overstepped the mark too many times for Big Sam's liking and with his contract rapidly coming to its end, unless a Christmas miracle occurs and he comes reborn as Mother Theresa, it will not be renewed.
It is with a heavy heart - and a huge slice of humble pie - that I agree that this would be best for all parties. Maybe he will get that move to Fulham after all...
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West Ham loan target described as 'anonymous and lazy' by his own fans
HITC
Olly Dawes
Borussia Dortmund fans don't appear to be fans of reported West Ham target Tim Vayrynen. Having picked up five wins from the first 11 games of the season, West Ham sit in fourth place in the Premier League, and will be looking to secure European football this season.
In order to do that, manager Sam Allardyce will need to bring in a couple more signings in January, despite snapping up a whole host of players this summer. Aaron Cresswell and Alex Song have impressed, but the star attractions from Allardyce's summer shopping trolley are strikers Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia. The duo have hit nine Premier League goals between them, yet despite impressing, it's believed that Allardyce is still in the market for another striker. Sunderland's Connor Wickham continues to be linked with the club, especially with Andy Carroll only just back from injury and question marks over the futures of Mauro Zarate and Carlton Cole. The latest name to be touted for a move to Upton Park is Borussia Dortmund youngster Tim Vayrynen, and a possible loan deal is on the cards. The 6ft 3in centre forward is one of the rising stars of Finnish football having hit 34 goals in 81 games for FC Honka, which earned him his big move to Dortmund earlier this year.
However, he's only spent time in the Dortmund second team, and as In Bed With Maradona assess their top 100 players - which Vayrynen was included in - they have received strong criticism for Vayrynen from Dortmund fans. "He has been used sparingly but when the chance to play has arrived the Dortmund fans we spoke to have been utterly scathing in their assessment: 'useless', 'anonymous', 'lazy', 'how can he be an international?", they write. He is just 21 so has time to learn and grow, but those comments from Dortmund fans is a big concern for Hammers fans, who may well be seeing the Finland international in claret and blue soon.
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Quiet January to signal growing status
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 19, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham's growing status as a "top club" will be reflected in the January window which is likely to be the quietest ever in the two Davids' time in the game. Unless injuries intervene it's highly unlikely that the club will buy or even loan anyone which is a signal of their growing status in the Premier League. A well placed source old ClaretandHugh: The two Davids have never failed to do business in January during their time at Birmingham and Upton Park. It's almost a given. "But such was the depth of their activity in the summer window we are looking very good across the squad. The big clubs rarely buy in January" "New arrivals remain a possibility as someone may go and a replacement would be needed and there's always the possibility of injuries in one position. "However, it has to be remembered that the entire wage budget is used, so unless somebody goes we don't have a wage budget for a replacement."
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Roy made Downing look like a fish out of water
Posted by Sean Whetstone on November 19, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
I felt incredibly sorry for Hammer Stewart Downing as I watched the match against Scotland last night – the poor guy looked like a fish out of water thanks to England manager Roy Hodgson.. Downing was played out of the position which has proved so fruitful this season for West Ham leaving the question as to why Hodgsen even bothered to start the guy. To add to his problems Stewart hadn't trained all week so lets cut him a load of slack. He looked lost at times and not knowing what was expected of him or what his role was supposed to be.
To a neutral he would have appeared as as outsider as the others England regulars celebrated the first half goal. I hope this appearance wasn't a token gesture by the manager in a bid to throw him a bone on the back of his amazing Premier League form. It was no surprise when Downing was replaced at half time by Adam Lallana. Some newspaper reports have suggested that Downing blew his second chance for England and that his first touch was inconsistent and he had poor control but I think his subdued performance was more to do with the non existent role he found himself in. Downing last played for England before last night in May 2012 in an England team that included past and present Hammers of Robert Green, Scott Parker, Andy Carroll and Jermain Defoe. That game against Norway was won 1-0. Let's hope it doesn't knock his club form for Saturday against Everton away.
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Young Irons floor the Dutch
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 19, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham Development squad came from behind to beat PSV Endhoven Jong 2-1 at Upton Park and in the Barclays Premier League International Cup match. The Hammers' were brilliant in their second game of the tournament afterlosing 5-3 to Athletic Bilbao in a thrilling game at the Boleyn last month. Jong PSV got their European campaign off to a great start by beating the Bilbao 1-0 and would have qualified for the knockout stages had they won this evening. But it was the Irons who got the result which kept their European ambitions alive. The next fixture in the tournament is against Fulham on 8 December 2014 at Rush Green. The Hammers got off to the worst possible start when after just three minutes the visitors scored after Andrija Lukovic held the ball up and laid it off for Andjelo Rudovic to slot home. But we were level after 37 minutes when Kieran Bywater ([pictured) smashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner before Kieran slotted past Jesse Bertrams after an excellent ball from Lletget split the defence wide open.
IRONS: Spiegel (GK), Westley (Pike 81), Fanimo, Makasi, Pask, Oxford (c), Bywater, Marlow, Lletget, Whitehead (Nasha 71), Sadlier (Mavila 90)
Subs: Bogard, Tombides, Onariase, Gordon
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Injury woes set to put squad to test
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 19, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
This isn't the way international breaks are supposed to work! Diafra Sakho tweets that he's out of tonight's international – just three days before a crucial clash at Everton and Winston Reid is likely to be missing until November 22 according to www.physioroom.com. We understand too that there are other injuries in the squad which were picked up in the games at Stoke and against Aston Villa and from which the unnamed players may or may not recover.
No names have been given to ClaretandHugh but it is very clear from the way the news was passed to us that there are some real concerns that we could be looking at a very different side for Goodison. Stewart Downing is an almost certain starter despite the bang he took with England but beyond that we are into guesswork. James Tomkins claims he is fit and Kouyate is available to cover in central defence should he be required – always assuming there are no injury problems sustained against Botswana. Much has been made of the depth of our squad this season. It seems we are about to find out a little too early just how good it is.
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Sakho injured and may miss Everton
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 19, 2014 in Whispers
Claret &hUgh
Diafra Sakho has pulled out of tonight's international between Senegal and Botswana and could be out of the weekend clash against Everton. The news came just half an hour after ClaretandHugh broke an exclusive story on a growing Hammers injury crisis in which we suggested Sakho had a problem. And within a few minutes Sakho tweeted news of the problem. We had written: "The most worrying rumour came this morning with the grapevine claiming Diafra Sakho was in a fitness race and if true that could put Andy Carroll into the frame earlier than expected. We were told: "We hope Diafra will be ok but we certainly expect Stewart Downing to be avaialable after his recent injury worries with England." A Hammers source repeated this evening that one or two players were struggling for fitness but declared: "We won't give up on Diafra. We remain hopeful. "But it's clear that Andy Carroll may get longer than was expected if things can't be sorted for Diafra in time."
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Senegal squad get the Irons habit
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 19, 2014 in Whispers
Clret & Hugh
We all know that Diafra Sakho and Chiekhou Kouyate are Hammers to their backbones! But the brilliant duo taking things to a whole new level whilst on international duty it seems as they indoctrinate their team mates into the Irons lifestyle. Senegal take on Botswana this evening and the question is will the line-up crossing their arms at the same time. As for the African Nations Cup, there's only one team any self respecting Hammer can support these days!
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WHUFC.com
West Ham United's disabled supporters enjoyed a good-humoured evening at the Boleyn Ground
19.11.2014
West Ham United's disabled supporters were treated to an entertaining evening at the Boleyn Ground on Tuesday, as assistant manager Neil McDonald, Club ambassador Tony Carr MBE and first-teamers Carlton Cole and Joey O'Brien took the floor at the latest fans' forum. The fans in attendance made the most of the opportunity to quiz the Hammers' coaching and playing staff on an excellent start to the season and the prospect of more of the same between now and the campaign's end. And while matters on the pitch naturally dominated proceedings, discussion also ranged from the popularity of James Collins' dressing room playlist to Academy graduate Jimmy Bullard's 'I'm a Celebrity' jungle diet!
Macca, meanwhile, spoke at length of the confidence in the camp and the positive impact of competition for places, and was only too glad to share his assessment of things with West Ham's loyal supporters. "It was really good fun," he told West Ham TV. "With the situation at the football club at the moment, it's on the up, everybody's enjoying themselves, everybody wants to hear a little bit of a story and hopefully we've entertained them. We've given them a little bit of information on how we're trying to do things, what's in the pipeline and I hope they've got something out of it, which is great."
Sentiments echoed by Hammers full-back Joey O'Brien, who had to field his fair share of testing questions too, and hoped the supporters had taken as much from the experience as he had. "That's part and parcel of why it's so good coming to these events, you don't know what you're going to be asked," he added. "You've got to be on your toes up there answering the questions! "It's really good coming to these events, the heartbeat of the football club is the fans and for us to come in and have a bit of a laugh and answer some questions, give them a bit of an insight into what we do behind the scenes, makes for a great event."
Elsewhere, Sanjay Chadha, a Season Ticket Holder in the Alpari Stand Lower, was impressed with the Hammers panel on the night, not least with the Club on the crest of a wave just now. "At the moment, because we are so exciting, because we are so positive, it vibrates throughout the fans and long may it continue," he said. "The trick now is for us to keep it up and maintain this vibrancy and this excitement. But the fans' forum in particular, is a very special time for the Club's disabled supporters "It was a chance for supporters that go week-in, week-out to get an insight into how the players and how the management structure is approaching the Premier League this season, particularly with the new attacking formation that we're playing. I think it's been a very positive evening, from the point of view of having someone like Tony Carr, right up to the players, and with the assistant manager, I think it was an all-round good representation of the team approach that we've had this year."
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FT: Dev Squad 2-1 Jong PSV
WHUFc.com
Coverage as the Dev Squad come from a goal down to beat Jong PSV 2-1
19.11.2014
DEVELOPMENT SQUAD v JONG PSV
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL CUP
BOLEYN GROUND
WEDNESDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2014
KICK-OFF: 7PM
REFEREE: ALAN YOUNG
FT: Dev Squad 2-1 Jong PSV
FT: The Hammers have done it. A superb performance to come back from a goal down to win 2-1. The best performance of the season by quite a margin. We'll have reaction for you shortly.
95: More great work from Mavila who has looked lively since coming on. He beats his man all ends up but the shot is tame.
94: Superb work from Mavila as he takes the ball the length of the pitch. He feels he should have a corner for his efforts but the ref rules it a goal kick.
93: Vloet misses a great opportunity in the final minutes. His shot from the edge of the box is skewed wide.
91: Another huge challenge from Pike. Mavila now has the ball in the corner. Last chance saloon for PSV.
90: Goalscorer Kieran Sadlier is replaced by Nathan Mavila. Sadlier deservedly gets a huge round of applause.
89: The Hammers have got the ball in the corner winding the clock down. Just a few minutes to go.
87: Alex Pike, making only his second U21 appearance, puts in a fantastic challenge to clear the danger.
85: Into the last few minutes here at the BG. The Hammers are ready for the final whistle but PSV haven't given up yet. Oxford his marshalling his side admirably. Final push needed.
83: Good opportunity for PSV as Vloet fires his free kick just wide.
81: Sam Westley is replaced by Alex Pike.
80: Huge let off for the Hammers as Nasha's stray sets up van Overbeek. The substitute really should score but Spiegel saves majestically. Nasha has his head in his hands even though the chance went begging. A lifeline for the Hammers.
78: Some tired legs beginning to show out there now.
77: Inch perfect tackle from Nasha on the edge of the box as Schaars was winding up to shoot. Nasha had to get the tackle right otherwise he would've been in serious trouble.
75: More good work from Lletget. He's held ball up fantastically well all evening. Great performance.
73: Smart save from Spiegel to deny Sanoh. The pressure is building. Can the Dev Squad hang on?
71: Substitution for the Hammers as Danny Whitehead is given a well deserved rest. He is replaced by Amos Nasha.
69: The game is getting a bit scrappy with a string of fouls. PSV are desperately pushing for an equaliser while the Hammers are trying to cling on to a valuable win.
65: Reece Oxford, tonight's captain, is on his haunches after having the wind knocked out of him by a shot. After a bit of treatment the defender is ok to continue.
62: Bywater gets the bend and accuracy right but it was just lacking enough power. Bertrams collects gratefully.
61: Free kick in a superb position for the Hammers. Whitehead was closing in on goal before being hauled down. This is a great chance.
58: Substitution for PSV as Elvio van Overbeek replaces goalscorer Andjelo Rudovic.
55: Free kick for PSV from distance. It looks as thoigh Vloet will shoot...And he does, he shapes up Ronaldo-esqe but the shot goes wide.
52: Going a goal down as woken PSV into life. Andrija Lukovic's had Spiegel beaten but his shot hits the post.
50: Bywater buys a foul off Tamata who clumsily bundles him to the floor. Clever work from the midfielder, he's been excellent all evening.
48: GOAL! 2-1! Kieran Sadlier wheels away in delight after slotting past Jesse Bertrams. An excellent ball from Lletget split the defence wide open.
46: We're back under way here at the Boleyn Ground. A fascinating 45 minutes ahead of us.
HT: Half-time here at the Boleyn Ground. A great team performance so far from the Dev Squad. They could, perhaps should, be ahead with some of the chances they've had.
45: More superb work from the Hammers this time from Sadlier. His shot from distance is swerving all over the place and Bertrams gets a finger to it and pushes it over.
44: Sanoh works it Vloet inside the box. The striker has looked hungry all night but Makasi is there is sweep up the danger.
42: Superb shot on the turn by Lletget which forces a wonderful save from Bertrams. Superb work from the American midfielder.
40: Sanoh tries his luck from long range however Spiegel see it from a long way and catches comfortably.
37: GOAL! 1-1! What a goal! Kieran Bywater smashes a shot on the edge of the into the top corner. Unstoppable. Game on!
33: Rai Vloet shoots from distance and it swerves and dips just in front of Spiegel. The big 'keeper does well to steer it out for a corner.
30: PSV are not happy at Oxford's challenge. It was hard but fair and referee rightly plays on. Seconds later Makasi rides a similar tackle from Clint Leemans.
26: A superb ball from Hermannsson sends Sanoh free down the wing. Pask does to cut the cross out. A flash of what the visitors can do.
22: Execellent play from Kieran Sadlier. He almost finishes the move he started after winning the ball off Menno Koch. Sadlier sprays the ball wide to Bywater who floats a cross to the back post. Marlow lays it to Sadlier who twists and turns in the box forcing a corner. Josh Pask's header fires agonizingly over the bar.
20: More good work from the Dev Squad as they push for an equaliser. Lletget's skillful turn wins him a corner which Ben Marlow connects to with a fierce half-volley whch goes wide of the right-hand post.
18: Moussa Sanoh gets down the right wing and drills a cross to the near post. A sliding block from Oxford cuts the ball out for a corner. The resulting corner is flicked over harmlessly.
15: Further pressure from the Hammers leads to an opportunity as Lletget closes the 'keepers clearance. He tries to connect to the rebound but the PSV defence scramble it away.
13: Patient build up play from the Hammers as they search for an equaliser. Eventually their pressure yields a free kick which Bywater lofts in. Goalkeeper Jesse Bertrams rises highest to collect calmly.
11: Moses Makasi takes a boot to face as he stoop for a header but the tenacious midfielder battles on.
8: The Hammers have responded well since going down. Danny Whitehead and Ben Marlow are looking to set up counter attacks but can't quite find the through ball.
5: PSV go close again as Vloet connects at the near post yet Spiegel produces a great reaction save from point blank range.
3: Not the start the Hammers had in mind. Andrija Lukovic holds the ball up and lays it off for Andjelo Rudovic to slot home. 0-1.
1: A stoppage in play almost immeditely as Abel Tamata is on the deck. Kieran Bywater's eagerness to press the ball got the better of him.
The teams are walking out onto the pitch. The Hammers led by captain Reece Oxford. Pre-match handshakes and coin toss complete and we are about to kick off!
Ten minutes to go until kick off. Both teams disappear down the tunnel for some final words of encouragement before we get started.
Both teams are out of the pitch warming up. The Hammers have been out for some time, both sides are doing intricate passing drills.
Jong PSV got their European campaign off to a great start by beating the Bilbao 1-0. Therefore the Dutch side will qualify for the knockout stages should they win tonight. On the overhand, the Hammers must get a result if they are to keep their European aspirations alive. The next fixture in the tournament is against Fulham on 8 December 2014 at Rush Green.
To bring you up to speed with the Premier League International Cup, this is the Hammers' second game of the tournament after narrowly losing 5-3 to Athletic Bilbao in a thrilling game at the Boleyn last month.
West Ham United: Spiegel (GK), Westley (Pike 81), Fanimo, Makasi, Pask, Oxford (c), Bywater, Marlow, Lletget, Whitehead (Nasha 71), Sadlier (Mavila 90)
Subs: Bogard, Tombides, Onariase, Gordon
Jong PSV: Bertrams (GK), Hermannsson, Kock, De Wijs, Tamata, Schaars, Sanoh, Leemans, Vloet, Lukovic (Rommens 65), Rudovic (van Overbeek 58)
Subs: Rommens, Loof, Heesakkers, van Overbeek, de la Paz
The teams are in! Starting with our visitors...
Just over an hour to go until kick off on a chilly night at the Boleyn Ground, we'll be bringing you the teams news very shortly...
Hello and welcome to live coverage of tonight's Barclays Premier Leaue International Cup match between West Ham United's Development squad and PSV Eindhoven's Jong PSV.
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Date set for Youth Cup tie
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's Under-18s will travel to Southampton for their FA Youth Cup tie on 9 December
19.11.2014
West Ham United's FA Youth Cup third round tie away at Southampton will be played at St Mary's Stadium on Tuesday 9 December, kick-off 7pm. Steve Potts' side will be looking to better their experience in this competition from last year, when Accrington Stanley ended their participation at this stage. The Hammers are currently third in the Barclays U18 Premier League South table, while Southampton are seven places worse off. West Ham enjoy a fine tradition in the FA Youth Cup, having lifted the trophy on three occasions - 1963, 1981 and 1999.
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Bankrupt keeper David James: Football memorabilia sold off
BBC.co.uk
Former England goalkeeper David James' football memorabilia has been auctioned off after the star went bankrupt. James, 44, who played for Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham, Manchester City and Portsmouth, was declared bankrupt in May despite earning around £20m. Signed shirts, shorts and balls were amongst the items sold by auctioneer Hilco at a sale registered in Kent. An England shirt the player wore in the Three Lions' 1-0 World Cup win over Argentina in 2002 fetched £672. A Liverpool FC goalkeeper's jersey worn during the Reds' 1995/96 season sold for more than £160 while a Portsmouth No 1 top James wore in 2008 went for £480. An England home kit signed by the team and a Portsmouth goalkeeper's jersey were among the items sold Hilco's Spencer Chapman said there had been "interest from around the world with more than 1,000 registrants across the 10-day sales period". "We've not really dealt with a sale on behalf of a sporting celebrity like this before and clearly that had added some value to the lots," he said. "Sports memorabilia is a very popular market and signed shirts are the kind of items you can't really put a price on, but there were also some very quirky lots in there too. "There were more than 1,800 vinyl records, DJ decks and a customised Vauxhall Astra van, which attracted a lot of interest and sold for a very reasonable price."
The lots also included a chainsaw, an exercise bicycle, a Korg synthesiser, a giant I Love NY mug sculpture and three flat screen televisions. The star, who now plays for and manages Kerala Blasters FC in the Indian Super League, won 53 England caps during a career that also saw spells at Watford, Bristol City and Bournemouth.
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Sakho sustains back injury
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 19th November 2014
By: Staff Writer
Diafra Sakho is out of Senegal's clash with Botswana in Dakar tonight - and a concern for this weekend's trip to Everton. The 24-year-old striker confirmed tonight that he had suffered a back injury ahead of the game, although further details are currently few and far between. Sakho - who has scored seven goals already this season for West Ham - missed out on the recent trip to Stoke with injury but was back the following week for the goalless draw with Aston Villa. Hammers fans will be hoping this latest stepback is no more serious, whilst Sakho will not be fully assessed until returning to England.
Diafra Sakho ✔ @iamdiafrasakho
Dear fans, unfortunately my back pain makes me unfit for the game I'm as devastated as you are, but i'll be back!
Thanks 4 your support!
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Essex boy
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 19th November 2014
By: Staff Writer
George Moncur has completed a permanent switch to Colchester United. Moncur, who has effectively been on trial with the Essex club since the beginning of the season put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half year contract yesterday, ending his long association with West Ham.
And the combative 21-year-old midfielder admitted that whilst he was sad to be leaving West Ham, he was equally excited by the challenge his move brings. "There is some sadness about leaving West Ham because I was there for a good few years and I had some great times there," he told cu-fc.com. "My Dad spent a few years there as well so I'll miss it, but I've got a new challenge in front of me now. "I have got to thank the people at West Ham, especially Nick Haycock and Ian Hendon who spent a lot of time with me and improved my game. I'm now looking forward to life with Colchester United and progressing my career."
Goerge's father John will no doubt be delighted at his son's move; speaking exclusively to the KUMB Podcast recently, Moncur Snr felt that a permanent move away from West Ham was the best scenario. "It's been a terrible year for him [George] after what happened at Nottingham Forest," he said. "I think it was unfair. I'm not bitter, but what happened there to the kids was ridiculous. "If you like a player and have high hopes for him you blood them into good teams, like all good clubs and managers do. Basically, that was just throwing them to the lions. So he's had to put up with that and all the stick they got."
Elliot Lee ✔ @ElliotLee9
Gutted to lose my best mate at the club! All the best to my bro @georgemonkz8 on his new chapter!Tear it up son!😪🔥⚽️
5:19 PM - 18 Nov 2014
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In form, out of position
KUMb.com
Filed: Tuesday, 18th November 2014
By: Staff Writer
Stewart Downing finally got his first start for England after nearly two years in the international wilderness - only to be hauled off at half time. Downing won a place back in Roy Hodgson's squad following a string of notable performances for West Ham this season at the tip of Sam Allardyce's 442 diamond formation, playing immediately behind the strikers. However his return to the international arena - in England's 3-1 win over Scotland at Celtic Park - was to last just 45 minutes after he was replaced by Adam Lallana at the break, having played the entire half in left midfield. Quite why manager Hodgson decided to re-introduce the in-form Downing only to play him away from his most effective position only the 67-year-old will know, but his choice of personnel proved effective enough as England strolled past the Scots in the first meeting between the two neighbours for nearly 15 years. England took the lead on 32 minutes when Arsenal's Oxlade-Chamberlain scored with a deft header. Minus Downing, England doubled their lead just 90 seconds after the restart through Wayne Rooney.
The hosts gave their supporters faint hopes of a comeback when Robertson scored seven minutes from time. However England - and Rooney - had other ideas and the Manchester United hitman restored England's two-goal advantage just two minutes later.
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WEST HAM: THE SEASON SO FAR
By Sean Whetstone 19 Nov 2014 at 09:30
West Ham till I Die
I was recently asked to complete a Q&A on West Ham's season so far with Turnstyle Football HERE
How would you summarise West Ham's season so far?
Fantastic! We are in fourth place, in a Champions League qualifying spot and three points behind the reigning Premier League champions Manchester City. We have had five wins and three hard-fought draws plus a narrow defeat at Old Trafford. It is a great start to the season considering we were in 16th place, one point off the relegation zone this time last year.
What has been the secret to Allardyce's early season success?
Simple, some great transfer buys over the summer together with a new style of playing. Last year we seemed to create a team around Andy Carroll with the sole purpose of knocking it up to him. When he wasn't available we had no Plan B. Playing Chelsea last year we used a false nine tactic to grind out a draw by parking the bus. This season we have two up front with Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia and Stewart Downing is in the form of his life in a new diamond formation.
Has Sam Allardyce won over his critics?
This is a difficult question to answer. We have all come a long way since the dark days of last season. The owners refused to be swayed by fan protests and stuck with their manager but they did insist on changes and bought extremely well in the transfer window as they took a greater control over the recruitment policy. It was never personal against Sam, just his style of play with no Plan B which annoyed many West Ham fans.
This season we look forward to the excitement of forthcoming matches. While the style of play and the results continue, who could have a problem with Sam? Whether he gets a new contract at the end of the season or leads us into the Olympic Stadium remains to be seen.
How would you rate the summer arrivals?
What Hammer couldn't be anything but delighted with our signings? Sakho cost £3.5m and has scored seven goals already although the deal with Metz can reportedly rise to £7m after 140 appearances. Aaron Cresswell was a £3.75m buy from the Championship which could raise to £7m. We've signed World Cup star Enner Valencia at £12m, Cheikhou Kouyate at £7m plus Carl Jenkinson and Alex Song on loan. Diego Poyet and Mauro Zarate are also useful additions to the squad. I haven't got a bad word to say about any of the new arrivals or transfer policy this season.
Which player has surprised you the most?
The obvious answer is Sakho. We all dreaded another Modibo Maiga so our hopes were not high but chairman David Sullivan had confidence in the striker after months of scouting and pushed through a deal at the expense of signing Connor Wickham. Our only problem now is keeping hold of him as I am sure he will attract interest from the poor performing so-called top six clubs in the January and summer transfer windows.
Honourable mentions need to go to Downing who has surprised many. He is like a new signing and the £6m we paid Liverpool seems a bargain now. Finally a mention must go to Cresswell. It is so hard to make the jump from the Championship but this guy has proved many doubters wrong. Not enough Championship players get the chance to play in the Premier league.
What is a realistic finish?
I have supported West Ham long enough to know not to get carried away with our early success and form, it is a long season. Injuries will take their toll and the bigger clubs have more quality in their squads to cope with this. A top four finish is completely unachievable, a top six has a remote outside chance but top eight is achievable. My prediction is a finish somewhere between seventh and ninth.
Has Andy Carroll still got a place in the team?
I think he showed against Aston Villa in his short substitute appearance that he can be an effective super sub whilst Valencia and Sakho are fit. He can be used to change a game and offer something different. It would be interesting to see him partner Sakho or Valencia for a whole game if one of them is injured or their form dips. I would hate to see Allardyce revert to Carroll as the lone striker and bang long balls up to him. Yes he is an expensive super sub, given his reported wages, but if we can afford him I would rather have him in our club than playing against us.
Are you confident Winston Reid will stay at the club and can you find a decent replacement?
It is looking increasing likely that Winston Reid will leave when his contract expires at the end of the season. He has been offered a new contract to stay but he appears unwilling to commit his long-term future to us. The situation reminds me of Matthew Upson, who thought he was bigger than West Ham and refused to sign a new contract. He is currently an un-used squad player at Leicester City following stints at Stoke and Brighton. Time will tell with Winston but he is free to sign a pre-contract with a foreign club from January.
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Room for one Morrison?
KUMb.com
Filed: Wednesday, 19th November 2014
By: Nicky Hawkins
It was the 6th of October 2013, we were 2-0 up and cruising at the Lane. Mo Diame gave the ball to Ravel Morrison just inside his own half. As he took the ball in his stride with close control, jinked in between two Tottenham defenders, accelerated away with a turn of pace into the box, then deftly dinked the ball over the oncoming Lloris, I was open jawed. The ball trickled in and Morrison wheeled away to celebrate. It drew comparisons immediately to an 18-year-old Michael Owen at the 1998 World Cup in France and the impact that goal had on the world.
I thought that was it; this was the point in this troubled youngster's career that highlights to everyone in England the potential this kid possesses. This is the goal that will prove that he is not just another over-hyped youngster and that the comparisons to a young Paul Scholes, by his former manager Alex Ferguson, were justified.
This was the coming of age, the day when he turned his life around, put all the troubles of the past behind him and realised he has a real shot at becoming a superstar! On that day, the kid had a real shot at being a wild card pick for the 2014 World Cup Finals.
Four days later, Morrison was in an England shirt scoring again - this time for the Under 21s. A video of an audacious volley scored in England training left me (and many others) salivating!
Fast forward to the present day and since then, Morrison has been involved in a half-hearted attempt at an on-pitch fight with Wilfred Zaha and had a couple of fall-outs with the manager. There have been pictures of him doing his best to pollute his lungs and another riding around in an open-top car wearing a rival's colours published in the papers.
Additionally there was a story linking him with a move to the doomed Fulham, which appeared to have been engineered by himself, his agent and René Meulensteen - something denied yet very, very suspicious. Oh - and a handful of deleted tweets criticising staff at the club.
Then there was a loan move to Queens Park Rangers in which Harry Redknapp, who has made a career of picking up cheap troubled footballers and turning seemingly-dead careers back into blossoming ones, has admitted that the kid is beyond help. Plus there was the small matter of an arrest on suspicion of domestic violence.
I cant help but to think that Ravel's skills clouded my judgement. His talent is undeniable, he is blessed, but unfortunately his attitude stinks to high heaven. He was a shining light at the beginning of last season, but a light always shines brightest in the dark.
This season a bunch of new signings have arrived, each shining as bright as the next, strengthening our squad in every department, and team spirit seems to be at an all time high. Could Ravel's style of play fit into our new found high tempo, attacking style of play?
Of course it could! His talent would shine once again, but sadly it's no coincidence that just as the new signings were arriving, Ravel was packing his bags for another stint in the Championship.
He is a bad apple and Big Sam, despite the owners backing the youngster, perhaps with the same clouded judgement as some of us fans had, recognises this and knew that West Ham is a better place without him around.
Sadly for Ravel - and even more so for his talent - I fear he has run out of chances at West Ham. He has overstepped the mark too many times for Big Sam's liking and with his contract rapidly coming to its end, unless a Christmas miracle occurs and he comes reborn as Mother Theresa, it will not be renewed.
It is with a heavy heart - and a huge slice of humble pie - that I agree that this would be best for all parties. Maybe he will get that move to Fulham after all...
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West Ham loan target described as 'anonymous and lazy' by his own fans
HITC
Olly Dawes
Borussia Dortmund fans don't appear to be fans of reported West Ham target Tim Vayrynen. Having picked up five wins from the first 11 games of the season, West Ham sit in fourth place in the Premier League, and will be looking to secure European football this season.
In order to do that, manager Sam Allardyce will need to bring in a couple more signings in January, despite snapping up a whole host of players this summer. Aaron Cresswell and Alex Song have impressed, but the star attractions from Allardyce's summer shopping trolley are strikers Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia. The duo have hit nine Premier League goals between them, yet despite impressing, it's believed that Allardyce is still in the market for another striker. Sunderland's Connor Wickham continues to be linked with the club, especially with Andy Carroll only just back from injury and question marks over the futures of Mauro Zarate and Carlton Cole. The latest name to be touted for a move to Upton Park is Borussia Dortmund youngster Tim Vayrynen, and a possible loan deal is on the cards. The 6ft 3in centre forward is one of the rising stars of Finnish football having hit 34 goals in 81 games for FC Honka, which earned him his big move to Dortmund earlier this year.
However, he's only spent time in the Dortmund second team, and as In Bed With Maradona assess their top 100 players - which Vayrynen was included in - they have received strong criticism for Vayrynen from Dortmund fans. "He has been used sparingly but when the chance to play has arrived the Dortmund fans we spoke to have been utterly scathing in their assessment: 'useless', 'anonymous', 'lazy', 'how can he be an international?", they write. He is just 21 so has time to learn and grow, but those comments from Dortmund fans is a big concern for Hammers fans, who may well be seeing the Finland international in claret and blue soon.
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Quiet January to signal growing status
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 19, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham's growing status as a "top club" will be reflected in the January window which is likely to be the quietest ever in the two Davids' time in the game. Unless injuries intervene it's highly unlikely that the club will buy or even loan anyone which is a signal of their growing status in the Premier League. A well placed source old ClaretandHugh: The two Davids have never failed to do business in January during their time at Birmingham and Upton Park. It's almost a given. "But such was the depth of their activity in the summer window we are looking very good across the squad. The big clubs rarely buy in January" "New arrivals remain a possibility as someone may go and a replacement would be needed and there's always the possibility of injuries in one position. "However, it has to be remembered that the entire wage budget is used, so unless somebody goes we don't have a wage budget for a replacement."
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Roy made Downing look like a fish out of water
Posted by Sean Whetstone on November 19, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
I felt incredibly sorry for Hammer Stewart Downing as I watched the match against Scotland last night – the poor guy looked like a fish out of water thanks to England manager Roy Hodgson.. Downing was played out of the position which has proved so fruitful this season for West Ham leaving the question as to why Hodgsen even bothered to start the guy. To add to his problems Stewart hadn't trained all week so lets cut him a load of slack. He looked lost at times and not knowing what was expected of him or what his role was supposed to be.
To a neutral he would have appeared as as outsider as the others England regulars celebrated the first half goal. I hope this appearance wasn't a token gesture by the manager in a bid to throw him a bone on the back of his amazing Premier League form. It was no surprise when Downing was replaced at half time by Adam Lallana. Some newspaper reports have suggested that Downing blew his second chance for England and that his first touch was inconsistent and he had poor control but I think his subdued performance was more to do with the non existent role he found himself in. Downing last played for England before last night in May 2012 in an England team that included past and present Hammers of Robert Green, Scott Parker, Andy Carroll and Jermain Defoe. That game against Norway was won 1-0. Let's hope it doesn't knock his club form for Saturday against Everton away.
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Young Irons floor the Dutch
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 19, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham Development squad came from behind to beat PSV Endhoven Jong 2-1 at Upton Park and in the Barclays Premier League International Cup match. The Hammers' were brilliant in their second game of the tournament afterlosing 5-3 to Athletic Bilbao in a thrilling game at the Boleyn last month. Jong PSV got their European campaign off to a great start by beating the Bilbao 1-0 and would have qualified for the knockout stages had they won this evening. But it was the Irons who got the result which kept their European ambitions alive. The next fixture in the tournament is against Fulham on 8 December 2014 at Rush Green. The Hammers got off to the worst possible start when after just three minutes the visitors scored after Andrija Lukovic held the ball up and laid it off for Andjelo Rudovic to slot home. But we were level after 37 minutes when Kieran Bywater ([pictured) smashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner before Kieran slotted past Jesse Bertrams after an excellent ball from Lletget split the defence wide open.
IRONS: Spiegel (GK), Westley (Pike 81), Fanimo, Makasi, Pask, Oxford (c), Bywater, Marlow, Lletget, Whitehead (Nasha 71), Sadlier (Mavila 90)
Subs: Bogard, Tombides, Onariase, Gordon
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Injury woes set to put squad to test
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 19, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
This isn't the way international breaks are supposed to work! Diafra Sakho tweets that he's out of tonight's international – just three days before a crucial clash at Everton and Winston Reid is likely to be missing until November 22 according to www.physioroom.com. We understand too that there are other injuries in the squad which were picked up in the games at Stoke and against Aston Villa and from which the unnamed players may or may not recover.
No names have been given to ClaretandHugh but it is very clear from the way the news was passed to us that there are some real concerns that we could be looking at a very different side for Goodison. Stewart Downing is an almost certain starter despite the bang he took with England but beyond that we are into guesswork. James Tomkins claims he is fit and Kouyate is available to cover in central defence should he be required – always assuming there are no injury problems sustained against Botswana. Much has been made of the depth of our squad this season. It seems we are about to find out a little too early just how good it is.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sakho injured and may miss Everton
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 19, 2014 in Whispers
Claret &hUgh
Diafra Sakho has pulled out of tonight's international between Senegal and Botswana and could be out of the weekend clash against Everton. The news came just half an hour after ClaretandHugh broke an exclusive story on a growing Hammers injury crisis in which we suggested Sakho had a problem. And within a few minutes Sakho tweeted news of the problem. We had written: "The most worrying rumour came this morning with the grapevine claiming Diafra Sakho was in a fitness race and if true that could put Andy Carroll into the frame earlier than expected. We were told: "We hope Diafra will be ok but we certainly expect Stewart Downing to be avaialable after his recent injury worries with England." A Hammers source repeated this evening that one or two players were struggling for fitness but declared: "We won't give up on Diafra. We remain hopeful. "But it's clear that Andy Carroll may get longer than was expected if things can't be sorted for Diafra in time."
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Senegal squad get the Irons habit
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 19, 2014 in Whispers
Clret & Hugh
We all know that Diafra Sakho and Chiekhou Kouyate are Hammers to their backbones! But the brilliant duo taking things to a whole new level whilst on international duty it seems as they indoctrinate their team mates into the Irons lifestyle. Senegal take on Botswana this evening and the question is will the line-up crossing their arms at the same time. As for the African Nations Cup, there's only one team any self respecting Hammer can support these days!
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Wednesday, November 19
Daily WHUFC News - 19th November 2014
Moncur departs
WHUFC.com
Midfielder George Moncur has joined Colchester United on a permanent basis
for an undisclosed fee
18.11.2014
West Ham United can confirm that midfielder George Moncur has joined
Colchester United on a permanent basis for an undisclosed fee. The
21-year-old has been with the U's on loan since pre-season, making 21
appearances and scoring three goals in all competitions. Moncur, who joined
the Hammers as a teenager, departs the Boleyn Ground after making two
first-team appearances for the Club. The son of former West Ham favourite
John, Moncur made his debut as a substitute in a League Cup tie against
Crewe Alexandra in August 2012 and his first and only start in an FA Cup
third-round match at Nottingham Forest in January 2014. During his time at
West Ham, he also made more than 50 Development Squad appearances and
enjoyed loan spells with AFC Wimbledon and Scottish side Partick Thistle.
On his departure, Moncur thanked the Hammers for the support the Club gave
him during the early part of his professional career. "There is some sadness
about leaving West Ham because I was there for a good few years and I had
some great times there," he said. "My Dad spent a few years there as well so
I'll miss it but I've got a new challenge in front of me now. I have got to
thank the people at West Ham, especially Nick Haycock and Ian Hendon who
spent a lot of time with me and improved my game. West Ham United would like
to thank George for his hard work and commitment and wish him all the very
best for his future career.
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Support the Dev Squad against PSV
WHUFC.com
West Ham United U21s take on PSV in their second U21 Premier League
International Cup game on Wednesday
18.11.2014
The Development Squad return to U21 Premier League International Cup action
on Wednesday evening when they play host to PSV Eindhoven. Having been
defeated 5-3 by Athletic Club Bilbao in their opening fixture, the Hammers
will be looking to bounce back against PSV. It has been a tough start to the
season for the U21s, who currently sit 12th in the Barclays U21 Premier
League table and have been beaten in their last three outings. However, a
break from league action gives them a chance to shine on the European stage
and you can be there to watch! Kick-off is at 7pm, and admission is free for
Season Ticket Holders. Non-Season Ticket Holders are admitted for £3 adults
and £1 concessions.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham's George Moncur makes Colchester United switch
BBC.co.uk
Colchester United have signed West Ham midfielder George Moncur for an
undisclosed fee. The U's are allowed to convert the 21-year-old's loan deal
into a permanent move, and he has signed a contract until 2017. The son of
former Hammers midfielder John Moncur, he has featured 20 times for
Colchester this season and was set to be on loan until January. He leaves
Upton Park four years after signing his first professional deal.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
RAVEL IN LAST CHANCE SALOON AGAIN
By Sean Whetstone 18 Nov 2014 at 13:31
West Ham Till I Die
According to the Independent on Sunday, Cardiff City will decide later this
month whether to give Ravel Morrison another chance to fulfil his potential
after a disappointing spell on loan at the Championship club. Manager
Russell Slade has not been impressed with Ravel's attempt to kick-start his
career yet again since his arrival in September.
It is claimed Slade will decide this month whether or not to ask West Ham to
extend the loan spell, but unless he starts to see the sort of form the
Cardiff manager may well let Morrison go.
Slade said: "There's no doubt that Ravel has got bags of ability. He has
been at Manchester United and West Ham under great managers and with quality
players all around him. But it has not quite happened for him. He still has
not fulfilled the potential he has shown and the ability he has got."
A knee injury has not helped Morrison, who produced a 25-minute cameo on his
debut against Sheffield Wednesday in September, but he has started only once
in eight games since and hasn't scored. Morrison's £15,000 per week contract
finishes at the end of the season and currently there appears little
possibility of him being being a new contract by the Hammers. West Ham paid
in the region of £600,000 upfront to Manchester United plus £25,000 per
Premier League appearance until a fee of £1 million was reached. Ravel
Morrison has made 18 appearances for West Ham adding the extra £400,000.
Manchester United, manager Sir Alex Ferguson told West Ham manager, Sam
Allardyce of Morrison, "A brilliant footballer. Brilliant ability. Top class
ability. Needs to get away from Manchester and start a new life"
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
THREE LIONS. TWO CROSSED IRONS. ONE WINNER
By Brian Williams 18 Nov 2014 at 08:00
West Ham Till I Die
So, tonight England and Scotland revive their historic rivalry at Celtic
Park. Forgive me while I stifle a jaw-dislocating yawn and check what's on
television this evening (come to think of it, there might still be Columbo
in the planner I haven't watched yet).
There was a time England's results really mattered to me. When Bobby Moore
wiped the mud off his hands on the velvet cloth draped over the edge of the
royal box and prepared to receive the Jules Rimet trophy from the Queen at
Wembley on a glorious July day in 1966 I couldn't have been happier. England
were world champions, and the nation's global triumph had been achieved with
the considerable help of three players from the club side to which I had
given my young heart two years earlier.
Moore, Hurst and Peters – the holy trinity for West Ham supporters of a
certain age (the age that means you should start watching your cholesterol
and hills seem steeper than they once did). Not only had West Ham provided
the captain of a world-conquering team, we had come up with the goal-scorers
too.
I had pictures of all three of them on my bedroom wall. By the time the
World Cup was won I wasn't allowed posters because my Dad didn't like the
way Sellotape stripped off a piece of the wallpaper when you took one down
for whatever reason (such as an elder brother inking in a Hitler moustache
on a favourite player in retaliation for some perceived offence by a totally
innocent party). Instead, I had framed photographs. The ten-by-eight prints
were supplied by Typhoo Tea in return for a set number of packet tops. The
frames – and the glass which prevented any further acts of sibling vandalism
– were provided by my old man, who was a dab hand at that sort of thing.
The pictures, hanging on pukka picture-hooks, were aligned with perfect
precision – my father was the sort of man who insisted on using a spirit
level for jobs like that.
For me, there was a similar and equally pleasing alignment between my club
and my country at that time. With Moore, Hurst and Peters automatic
selections for the national side, supporting England was merely an extension
of following West Ham.
The three of them remained on my wall, seemingly content to be there, for
the following four years. West Ham never quite enjoyed the success they
should have done in that period, but I knew it was only a matter of time
before we won another trophy. Besides, as all three were such an integral
part of Alf Ramsey's plans I happily regarded England as my "other" team.
And a very good team it was, too. They were certainly going to win a major
tournament again soon.
Had I given the matter any thought as I entered my teens, I suppose I would
have told you I expected West Ham's World Cup heroes to remain on their
hooks where my Dad had hung them for years to come. It never occurred to me
that any of them might want to leave Upton Park. And I couldn't have dreamt
that I would one day feel very differently about England.
The first picture to come down was Martin Peters. To be honest, I wasn't all
that upset. In fact, after I'd removed his photo and filled in the holes
left by the hook under the watchful eye of my father – who couldn't
understand how I could make such a mess with a little dab of Polyfilla and a
trowel – I actually wrote a letter to Goal magazine expressing my delight at
the deal which took Peters to Tottenham and brought us Jimmy Greaves in
exchange.
It certainly didn't change the way I felt about England. This was 1970, and
the three lions were preparing to defend the World Cup in Mexico. The fact
that Martin Peters no longer played his club football in claret and blue
mattered not one bit. I was desperate for England to retain the trophy.
Sadly, some dodgy substitutions, coupled with some even more dodgy
goalkeeping by Peter "The Cat" Bonetti, saw England crash out 3-2 to West
Germany in the quarter-final. (There is a piece of my soul that is still
bruised by that Sunday in Leon.)
Two years later, the picture of Geoff Hurst came down. My Dad, having given
up all hope of teaching me how do handyman-type jobs, filled in the holes
himself and finished off the job with a splash of paint that matched the
wallpaper.
Hurst left West Ham to join Stoke in August 1972. Not only would he never
wear the claret and blue again, he'd played his last international as well.
In the April of that year he'd been substituted with 20 minutes to go as
England went down 3-1 at Wembley to the nation he had put to the sword in
the World Cup final. That was his 49th cap for England. There would be no
50th.
That defeat effectively ended England's hopes of being champions of Europe,
but the tournament then had nothing of the prestige it does today and
supporters of the national side shrugged off the disappointment and turned
their attention to qualification for the next World Cup in West Germany.
The good news was that Bobby Moore was still at the helm – both for West Ham
and England. His face, now hanging proudly alone, looked out over my bedroom
with a knowing serenity that assured me all was well.
On Valentine's Day in 1973 he was awarded his 100th cap for England before
the Sassenachs demolished Scotland 5-0 at Hampden Park. There was no telling
how many more caps he would win as England sailed through the qualifying
games and then set about the more serious challenge of negotiating the group
stage of the World Cup finals. Then there would be the knock-out encounters
– quarter-final; semi-final; maybe even the final in Munich itself…
It didn't appear to be a difficult qualifying group. England, Poland and
Wales. Finish top of the pile and book the plane for Germany: what could be
more straightforward? The first feelings of foreboding came in the Polish
city of Katowice. The great Bobby Moore – the rock upon which the England
side was founded – had an absolute shocker, getting caught in possession to
gift the home side their second goal in a 2-0 defeat.
When the Poles came to Wembley in October 1973, England had to win if they
were going to qualify. Those of us who cared about the nation's pryle of
lions were nervous, but far from overawed by the challenge. Then came the
bombshell news: Sir Alf Ramsey had dropped Bobby Moore. And that was the
moment I fell out of love with England.
Of course, I wanted England to beat Poland. The World Cup finals without
England was unthinkable. But what was "England" now? Representing my hopes
were players I regularly abused when they turned up at Upton Park to
represent the likes of Leeds, Liverpool and Spurs. Norman Hunter; Emlyn
Hughes; Martin Chivers – I loathed them when they wore their club colours.
Now I was supposed to cheer them on in a side that – for the first time in
my life as a football supporter – contained no West Ham players. It didn't
feel right at all.
In the event, Moore played one more game for England – his 108th
international appearance – in a friendly against Italy a month after being
left out of the side. Five months later Sir Alf was sacked – and any hope
that the West Ham captain had of re-establishing his place in the national
side went with him. Not that it would have been much consolation to the
great man at the time, but Robert Frederick Chelsea Moore kept his place of
honour on my bedroom wall while the rest of the country turned its back on
him. He didn't come down until he finally said goodbye to West Ham and
retired to Fulham. As I remember, my Dad took the opportunity to completely
redecorate soon after.
Despite the wrench of Bobby Moore's departure, I saw a few internationals in
the wilderness years that followed the Ramsey era. A more depressing
experience is hard to imagine.
Don't ask me to explain precisely why, but I could never feel part of things
at Wembley the way I did at Upton Park. There's something very different
about an England crowd, which I don't really understand and – if I'm going
to be totally honest here – don't like very much. Some countries seem to be
able to take their sporting nationalism and turn it into a party. The
English can't.
There is an unwritten rule that all supporters are supposed to get behind
their national side when they play, and you are made to feel guilty by
so-called patriotic fans if you don't. Yet if the Genie of the Lamp offered
me the alternatives of West Ham winning the League or England lifting the
World Cup it wouldn't take me very long to make my choice. And I'd be
astonished if any serious supporter didn't put their club side's interests
first as well.
I reckon I've done my bit for England. I did my best. It's not my fault that
I can no longer summon up an emotional commitment to the national side. I am
the innocent party in all this. Honestly, like Bobby Moore when he was
presented with the World Cup by the Queen, my hands are clean.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Why Stewart Downing is BETTER than Cesc Fabregas and Angel Di Maria
Nov 18, 2014 19:16 By Liam Prenderville
The West Ham man has been recalled to the England squad after impressing at
Upton Park - and on this evidence, it is just deserts
The Mirror
Stewart Downing's recall to the England squad has been met with mixed
reviews. At the age of 30, the West Ham man would have been forgiven for
thinking his international days were behind him. After all, he hadn't played
for the Three Lions since Roy Hodgson's first game in charge. But such has
been his form in a free role for the Hammers, he has been drafted back into
the England set-up after out-performing his countrymen. And according to the
stats, Downing has even done better than big-name summer arrivals Angel Di
Maria and Cesc Fabregas.
In terms of chances created across the Premier League this season, only
Southampton's Dusan Tadic has performed better than Downing.
The Serb has set-up his colleagues on 35 occasions with Downing only one
behind on 34. Despite boasting the highest-number of assists, Fabregas is in
third with 32, while Leighton Baines and Di Maria are level on 28. Arsenal's
Alexis Sanchez - who has enjoyed a fine start to life in the Premier League
is way back on 24 chances.
In comparison to his Three Lions counterparts, Downing is clear at the top.
As mentioned, Everton left-back Baines has set-up 28 chances, while Raheem
Sterling is on 26, just ahead of Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard. James
Milner is level with his ex-England skipper while Jordan Henderson us
currently on 19. Interestingly, the likes of Jack Colback, Joey Barton and
Kieran Trippier all lead captain Wayne Rooney.
In terms of assists, Downing comes in second with four for Sam Allardyce's
men. Leighton Baines - who is chasing down Graeme Le Saux's assist record
for a defender - is the only English player ahead of him on six. Three Lions
stars Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson are level on third, with Crystal
Palace's Jason Puncheon.
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Everton could be without FOUR key players against West Ham
14:01 18 November 2014
London 24.com
Everton are sweating on the fitness of four important first team players
ahead of the Premier League visit of West Ham on Saturday.
The Toffees could be without Gareth Barry, James McCarthy, Leighton Baines
and Darron Gibson when the high-flying Hammers travel to Goodison Park.
Barry and McCarthy hurt their hamstrings during Everton's 1-1 draw at
Sunderland, while Baines and Gibson suffered injury scares while on
international duty. Everton boss Roberto Martinez said: "Gareth has got
incredible experience and he knows his body really well. When you have to be
stretchered off in a football game you know it is something seriously wrong.
"Gareth is a player who will be quick in his recovery period because of the
way he looks after himself. We will have to take it day-by-day for
confirmation of how long he will be out but he is recovering very well.
"James was desperate to be involved with his national team but he couldn't
make it. We will try to get him fit for West Ham but it is a bit too early
to tell. He hasn't been able to train with the team and that is a worry on a
Tuesday leading up to a Saturday game. "It's James' second injury of this
nature in the last month and that's a bit of a worry. We need to give him
perfect treatment and make sure he is fully fit. "When you see Leighton
Baines pull out of a training session you know that something is wrong but
at the moment he is responding well to treatment. Again, it is too early to
say how long he is going to be out but we remain very positive. Leighton is
the type of player that heals very quickly from those sort of injuries.
"Darron Gibson played against Scotland and got a bit of soreness in his
knee. He had a year-long lay-off with his ligaments, so we need to be
cautious. But I'm very confident he will be available to train very soon."
Baines' injury is potential the most worrying to Everton, as it means one of
rookie duo Tyias Browning or Luke Garbutt could be brought in for their
first Premier League start against West Ham, who are unbeaten in five.
Everton are also without long-term absentees John Stones, Arouna Kone and
Antolin Alcaraz.
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Reid soap opera: THE TRUTH
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 18, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Winston Reid remains no closer to signing a new Hammers contract despite
constant national newspaper stories over the past few days that the owners
want him to stay ! It seems extraordinary the media continues to pursue a
story via Twitter which clearly stalled weeks ago.
National newspapers are repeating that David Gold wants Reid to stay and
that Arsenal are apparently interested in the defender. David Sullivan has
already made it clear to ClaretandHugh in a question and answer session last
week that the board are talking to Reid's advisers. However, the facts are
these:
O Reid and his agent have attended a series of talks sought by the board bjt
never instigated them;
O they have listened to the various proposals, walked away without seeking
any further talks
O there have been no inquiries from Arsenal or any other club.
Upton Park sources believe the player preparing to let his contract run out
and look at his free agent options in the summer.
And – as they say – STORY ENDS!
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"Spurs can't share OS in season one"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 18, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham will not allow Spurs into the Olympic Stadium during their first
season at the club's new 'home.' Many mixed messages have been delivered on
the situation but within the last few minutes ClaretandHugh has been assured
by a highly placed Hammers source that it won't and can't happen! Spurs
chairman Daniel Levy will meet disgruntled White Hart Lane Supporters Trust
members on Thursday amid reports of growing unrest and protests over the
move to Milton Keynes. And that again raised the issue of our bitter rivals
moving either to the OS or Wembley Stadium during the year in which their
new ground is being built. But we have learned that there is "absolutely no
chance of it happening during our first year in the stadium" where the
Hammers have assurances the OS is entirely for their use. Our source said:
"It won't happen in season one. That a certainty. It might become a
proposition for clubs to share in the future but we'd have to get a huge
amount of money and it would need to be limited to one season .
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"West Ham becoming 'Everton of the south'"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 18, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham hero Tony Cottee reckons the Irons are becoming the "Everton of the
south" and will move on to even higher levels. The striking legend of course
played for both clubs and has always seen them in a very similar light as
"family clubs" born out of, and still based on the local community. And he
admitted: "That was probably the reason I settled so quickly there. It had
the feel of Upton Park but they have always been a step ahead of us having
been established as a top seven or eight club and won more trophies. "But
this season is seeing the Hammers start out on a journey which will take
them to that level and beyond it. I think we can expect to operate at the
same level as Everton. In years to come we can go beyond that.
There are many similarities between the two clubs – who clash at Goodison
Park on Saturday – notably the British ownership by self confessed lifelong
fans. Cottee said: "The two Davids are fans and great businessmen who are
taking West Ham to new levels. They have done an amazing job and Bill
Kenwright is cut from the same cloth. "They men share the same philosophy
for their clubs and would never sell to just anybody – it would have to be
new owners who could take them on and on. These are the most exciting times
I can remember as a Hammer for a very long time and want to believe we are
on our way to becoming one of the nation's biggest clubs!"
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WHUFC.com
Midfielder George Moncur has joined Colchester United on a permanent basis
for an undisclosed fee
18.11.2014
West Ham United can confirm that midfielder George Moncur has joined
Colchester United on a permanent basis for an undisclosed fee. The
21-year-old has been with the U's on loan since pre-season, making 21
appearances and scoring three goals in all competitions. Moncur, who joined
the Hammers as a teenager, departs the Boleyn Ground after making two
first-team appearances for the Club. The son of former West Ham favourite
John, Moncur made his debut as a substitute in a League Cup tie against
Crewe Alexandra in August 2012 and his first and only start in an FA Cup
third-round match at Nottingham Forest in January 2014. During his time at
West Ham, he also made more than 50 Development Squad appearances and
enjoyed loan spells with AFC Wimbledon and Scottish side Partick Thistle.
On his departure, Moncur thanked the Hammers for the support the Club gave
him during the early part of his professional career. "There is some sadness
about leaving West Ham because I was there for a good few years and I had
some great times there," he said. "My Dad spent a few years there as well so
I'll miss it but I've got a new challenge in front of me now. I have got to
thank the people at West Ham, especially Nick Haycock and Ian Hendon who
spent a lot of time with me and improved my game. West Ham United would like
to thank George for his hard work and commitment and wish him all the very
best for his future career.
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Support the Dev Squad against PSV
WHUFC.com
West Ham United U21s take on PSV in their second U21 Premier League
International Cup game on Wednesday
18.11.2014
The Development Squad return to U21 Premier League International Cup action
on Wednesday evening when they play host to PSV Eindhoven. Having been
defeated 5-3 by Athletic Club Bilbao in their opening fixture, the Hammers
will be looking to bounce back against PSV. It has been a tough start to the
season for the U21s, who currently sit 12th in the Barclays U21 Premier
League table and have been beaten in their last three outings. However, a
break from league action gives them a chance to shine on the European stage
and you can be there to watch! Kick-off is at 7pm, and admission is free for
Season Ticket Holders. Non-Season Ticket Holders are admitted for £3 adults
and £1 concessions.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham's George Moncur makes Colchester United switch
BBC.co.uk
Colchester United have signed West Ham midfielder George Moncur for an
undisclosed fee. The U's are allowed to convert the 21-year-old's loan deal
into a permanent move, and he has signed a contract until 2017. The son of
former Hammers midfielder John Moncur, he has featured 20 times for
Colchester this season and was set to be on loan until January. He leaves
Upton Park four years after signing his first professional deal.
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RAVEL IN LAST CHANCE SALOON AGAIN
By Sean Whetstone 18 Nov 2014 at 13:31
West Ham Till I Die
According to the Independent on Sunday, Cardiff City will decide later this
month whether to give Ravel Morrison another chance to fulfil his potential
after a disappointing spell on loan at the Championship club. Manager
Russell Slade has not been impressed with Ravel's attempt to kick-start his
career yet again since his arrival in September.
It is claimed Slade will decide this month whether or not to ask West Ham to
extend the loan spell, but unless he starts to see the sort of form the
Cardiff manager may well let Morrison go.
Slade said: "There's no doubt that Ravel has got bags of ability. He has
been at Manchester United and West Ham under great managers and with quality
players all around him. But it has not quite happened for him. He still has
not fulfilled the potential he has shown and the ability he has got."
A knee injury has not helped Morrison, who produced a 25-minute cameo on his
debut against Sheffield Wednesday in September, but he has started only once
in eight games since and hasn't scored. Morrison's £15,000 per week contract
finishes at the end of the season and currently there appears little
possibility of him being being a new contract by the Hammers. West Ham paid
in the region of £600,000 upfront to Manchester United plus £25,000 per
Premier League appearance until a fee of £1 million was reached. Ravel
Morrison has made 18 appearances for West Ham adding the extra £400,000.
Manchester United, manager Sir Alex Ferguson told West Ham manager, Sam
Allardyce of Morrison, "A brilliant footballer. Brilliant ability. Top class
ability. Needs to get away from Manchester and start a new life"
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THREE LIONS. TWO CROSSED IRONS. ONE WINNER
By Brian Williams 18 Nov 2014 at 08:00
West Ham Till I Die
So, tonight England and Scotland revive their historic rivalry at Celtic
Park. Forgive me while I stifle a jaw-dislocating yawn and check what's on
television this evening (come to think of it, there might still be Columbo
in the planner I haven't watched yet).
There was a time England's results really mattered to me. When Bobby Moore
wiped the mud off his hands on the velvet cloth draped over the edge of the
royal box and prepared to receive the Jules Rimet trophy from the Queen at
Wembley on a glorious July day in 1966 I couldn't have been happier. England
were world champions, and the nation's global triumph had been achieved with
the considerable help of three players from the club side to which I had
given my young heart two years earlier.
Moore, Hurst and Peters – the holy trinity for West Ham supporters of a
certain age (the age that means you should start watching your cholesterol
and hills seem steeper than they once did). Not only had West Ham provided
the captain of a world-conquering team, we had come up with the goal-scorers
too.
I had pictures of all three of them on my bedroom wall. By the time the
World Cup was won I wasn't allowed posters because my Dad didn't like the
way Sellotape stripped off a piece of the wallpaper when you took one down
for whatever reason (such as an elder brother inking in a Hitler moustache
on a favourite player in retaliation for some perceived offence by a totally
innocent party). Instead, I had framed photographs. The ten-by-eight prints
were supplied by Typhoo Tea in return for a set number of packet tops. The
frames – and the glass which prevented any further acts of sibling vandalism
– were provided by my old man, who was a dab hand at that sort of thing.
The pictures, hanging on pukka picture-hooks, were aligned with perfect
precision – my father was the sort of man who insisted on using a spirit
level for jobs like that.
For me, there was a similar and equally pleasing alignment between my club
and my country at that time. With Moore, Hurst and Peters automatic
selections for the national side, supporting England was merely an extension
of following West Ham.
The three of them remained on my wall, seemingly content to be there, for
the following four years. West Ham never quite enjoyed the success they
should have done in that period, but I knew it was only a matter of time
before we won another trophy. Besides, as all three were such an integral
part of Alf Ramsey's plans I happily regarded England as my "other" team.
And a very good team it was, too. They were certainly going to win a major
tournament again soon.
Had I given the matter any thought as I entered my teens, I suppose I would
have told you I expected West Ham's World Cup heroes to remain on their
hooks where my Dad had hung them for years to come. It never occurred to me
that any of them might want to leave Upton Park. And I couldn't have dreamt
that I would one day feel very differently about England.
The first picture to come down was Martin Peters. To be honest, I wasn't all
that upset. In fact, after I'd removed his photo and filled in the holes
left by the hook under the watchful eye of my father – who couldn't
understand how I could make such a mess with a little dab of Polyfilla and a
trowel – I actually wrote a letter to Goal magazine expressing my delight at
the deal which took Peters to Tottenham and brought us Jimmy Greaves in
exchange.
It certainly didn't change the way I felt about England. This was 1970, and
the three lions were preparing to defend the World Cup in Mexico. The fact
that Martin Peters no longer played his club football in claret and blue
mattered not one bit. I was desperate for England to retain the trophy.
Sadly, some dodgy substitutions, coupled with some even more dodgy
goalkeeping by Peter "The Cat" Bonetti, saw England crash out 3-2 to West
Germany in the quarter-final. (There is a piece of my soul that is still
bruised by that Sunday in Leon.)
Two years later, the picture of Geoff Hurst came down. My Dad, having given
up all hope of teaching me how do handyman-type jobs, filled in the holes
himself and finished off the job with a splash of paint that matched the
wallpaper.
Hurst left West Ham to join Stoke in August 1972. Not only would he never
wear the claret and blue again, he'd played his last international as well.
In the April of that year he'd been substituted with 20 minutes to go as
England went down 3-1 at Wembley to the nation he had put to the sword in
the World Cup final. That was his 49th cap for England. There would be no
50th.
That defeat effectively ended England's hopes of being champions of Europe,
but the tournament then had nothing of the prestige it does today and
supporters of the national side shrugged off the disappointment and turned
their attention to qualification for the next World Cup in West Germany.
The good news was that Bobby Moore was still at the helm – both for West Ham
and England. His face, now hanging proudly alone, looked out over my bedroom
with a knowing serenity that assured me all was well.
On Valentine's Day in 1973 he was awarded his 100th cap for England before
the Sassenachs demolished Scotland 5-0 at Hampden Park. There was no telling
how many more caps he would win as England sailed through the qualifying
games and then set about the more serious challenge of negotiating the group
stage of the World Cup finals. Then there would be the knock-out encounters
– quarter-final; semi-final; maybe even the final in Munich itself…
It didn't appear to be a difficult qualifying group. England, Poland and
Wales. Finish top of the pile and book the plane for Germany: what could be
more straightforward? The first feelings of foreboding came in the Polish
city of Katowice. The great Bobby Moore – the rock upon which the England
side was founded – had an absolute shocker, getting caught in possession to
gift the home side their second goal in a 2-0 defeat.
When the Poles came to Wembley in October 1973, England had to win if they
were going to qualify. Those of us who cared about the nation's pryle of
lions were nervous, but far from overawed by the challenge. Then came the
bombshell news: Sir Alf Ramsey had dropped Bobby Moore. And that was the
moment I fell out of love with England.
Of course, I wanted England to beat Poland. The World Cup finals without
England was unthinkable. But what was "England" now? Representing my hopes
were players I regularly abused when they turned up at Upton Park to
represent the likes of Leeds, Liverpool and Spurs. Norman Hunter; Emlyn
Hughes; Martin Chivers – I loathed them when they wore their club colours.
Now I was supposed to cheer them on in a side that – for the first time in
my life as a football supporter – contained no West Ham players. It didn't
feel right at all.
In the event, Moore played one more game for England – his 108th
international appearance – in a friendly against Italy a month after being
left out of the side. Five months later Sir Alf was sacked – and any hope
that the West Ham captain had of re-establishing his place in the national
side went with him. Not that it would have been much consolation to the
great man at the time, but Robert Frederick Chelsea Moore kept his place of
honour on my bedroom wall while the rest of the country turned its back on
him. He didn't come down until he finally said goodbye to West Ham and
retired to Fulham. As I remember, my Dad took the opportunity to completely
redecorate soon after.
Despite the wrench of Bobby Moore's departure, I saw a few internationals in
the wilderness years that followed the Ramsey era. A more depressing
experience is hard to imagine.
Don't ask me to explain precisely why, but I could never feel part of things
at Wembley the way I did at Upton Park. There's something very different
about an England crowd, which I don't really understand and – if I'm going
to be totally honest here – don't like very much. Some countries seem to be
able to take their sporting nationalism and turn it into a party. The
English can't.
There is an unwritten rule that all supporters are supposed to get behind
their national side when they play, and you are made to feel guilty by
so-called patriotic fans if you don't. Yet if the Genie of the Lamp offered
me the alternatives of West Ham winning the League or England lifting the
World Cup it wouldn't take me very long to make my choice. And I'd be
astonished if any serious supporter didn't put their club side's interests
first as well.
I reckon I've done my bit for England. I did my best. It's not my fault that
I can no longer summon up an emotional commitment to the national side. I am
the innocent party in all this. Honestly, like Bobby Moore when he was
presented with the World Cup by the Queen, my hands are clean.
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Why Stewart Downing is BETTER than Cesc Fabregas and Angel Di Maria
Nov 18, 2014 19:16 By Liam Prenderville
The West Ham man has been recalled to the England squad after impressing at
Upton Park - and on this evidence, it is just deserts
The Mirror
Stewart Downing's recall to the England squad has been met with mixed
reviews. At the age of 30, the West Ham man would have been forgiven for
thinking his international days were behind him. After all, he hadn't played
for the Three Lions since Roy Hodgson's first game in charge. But such has
been his form in a free role for the Hammers, he has been drafted back into
the England set-up after out-performing his countrymen. And according to the
stats, Downing has even done better than big-name summer arrivals Angel Di
Maria and Cesc Fabregas.
In terms of chances created across the Premier League this season, only
Southampton's Dusan Tadic has performed better than Downing.
The Serb has set-up his colleagues on 35 occasions with Downing only one
behind on 34. Despite boasting the highest-number of assists, Fabregas is in
third with 32, while Leighton Baines and Di Maria are level on 28. Arsenal's
Alexis Sanchez - who has enjoyed a fine start to life in the Premier League
is way back on 24 chances.
In comparison to his Three Lions counterparts, Downing is clear at the top.
As mentioned, Everton left-back Baines has set-up 28 chances, while Raheem
Sterling is on 26, just ahead of Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard. James
Milner is level with his ex-England skipper while Jordan Henderson us
currently on 19. Interestingly, the likes of Jack Colback, Joey Barton and
Kieran Trippier all lead captain Wayne Rooney.
In terms of assists, Downing comes in second with four for Sam Allardyce's
men. Leighton Baines - who is chasing down Graeme Le Saux's assist record
for a defender - is the only English player ahead of him on six. Three Lions
stars Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson are level on third, with Crystal
Palace's Jason Puncheon.
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Everton could be without FOUR key players against West Ham
14:01 18 November 2014
London 24.com
Everton are sweating on the fitness of four important first team players
ahead of the Premier League visit of West Ham on Saturday.
The Toffees could be without Gareth Barry, James McCarthy, Leighton Baines
and Darron Gibson when the high-flying Hammers travel to Goodison Park.
Barry and McCarthy hurt their hamstrings during Everton's 1-1 draw at
Sunderland, while Baines and Gibson suffered injury scares while on
international duty. Everton boss Roberto Martinez said: "Gareth has got
incredible experience and he knows his body really well. When you have to be
stretchered off in a football game you know it is something seriously wrong.
"Gareth is a player who will be quick in his recovery period because of the
way he looks after himself. We will have to take it day-by-day for
confirmation of how long he will be out but he is recovering very well.
"James was desperate to be involved with his national team but he couldn't
make it. We will try to get him fit for West Ham but it is a bit too early
to tell. He hasn't been able to train with the team and that is a worry on a
Tuesday leading up to a Saturday game. "It's James' second injury of this
nature in the last month and that's a bit of a worry. We need to give him
perfect treatment and make sure he is fully fit. "When you see Leighton
Baines pull out of a training session you know that something is wrong but
at the moment he is responding well to treatment. Again, it is too early to
say how long he is going to be out but we remain very positive. Leighton is
the type of player that heals very quickly from those sort of injuries.
"Darron Gibson played against Scotland and got a bit of soreness in his
knee. He had a year-long lay-off with his ligaments, so we need to be
cautious. But I'm very confident he will be available to train very soon."
Baines' injury is potential the most worrying to Everton, as it means one of
rookie duo Tyias Browning or Luke Garbutt could be brought in for their
first Premier League start against West Ham, who are unbeaten in five.
Everton are also without long-term absentees John Stones, Arouna Kone and
Antolin Alcaraz.
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Reid soap opera: THE TRUTH
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 18, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Winston Reid remains no closer to signing a new Hammers contract despite
constant national newspaper stories over the past few days that the owners
want him to stay ! It seems extraordinary the media continues to pursue a
story via Twitter which clearly stalled weeks ago.
National newspapers are repeating that David Gold wants Reid to stay and
that Arsenal are apparently interested in the defender. David Sullivan has
already made it clear to ClaretandHugh in a question and answer session last
week that the board are talking to Reid's advisers. However, the facts are
these:
O Reid and his agent have attended a series of talks sought by the board bjt
never instigated them;
O they have listened to the various proposals, walked away without seeking
any further talks
O there have been no inquiries from Arsenal or any other club.
Upton Park sources believe the player preparing to let his contract run out
and look at his free agent options in the summer.
And – as they say – STORY ENDS!
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"Spurs can't share OS in season one"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 18, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham will not allow Spurs into the Olympic Stadium during their first
season at the club's new 'home.' Many mixed messages have been delivered on
the situation but within the last few minutes ClaretandHugh has been assured
by a highly placed Hammers source that it won't and can't happen! Spurs
chairman Daniel Levy will meet disgruntled White Hart Lane Supporters Trust
members on Thursday amid reports of growing unrest and protests over the
move to Milton Keynes. And that again raised the issue of our bitter rivals
moving either to the OS or Wembley Stadium during the year in which their
new ground is being built. But we have learned that there is "absolutely no
chance of it happening during our first year in the stadium" where the
Hammers have assurances the OS is entirely for their use. Our source said:
"It won't happen in season one. That a certainty. It might become a
proposition for clubs to share in the future but we'd have to get a huge
amount of money and it would need to be limited to one season .
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"West Ham becoming 'Everton of the south'"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 18, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham hero Tony Cottee reckons the Irons are becoming the "Everton of the
south" and will move on to even higher levels. The striking legend of course
played for both clubs and has always seen them in a very similar light as
"family clubs" born out of, and still based on the local community. And he
admitted: "That was probably the reason I settled so quickly there. It had
the feel of Upton Park but they have always been a step ahead of us having
been established as a top seven or eight club and won more trophies. "But
this season is seeing the Hammers start out on a journey which will take
them to that level and beyond it. I think we can expect to operate at the
same level as Everton. In years to come we can go beyond that.
There are many similarities between the two clubs – who clash at Goodison
Park on Saturday – notably the British ownership by self confessed lifelong
fans. Cottee said: "The two Davids are fans and great businessmen who are
taking West Ham to new levels. They have done an amazing job and Bill
Kenwright is cut from the same cloth. "They men share the same philosophy
for their clubs and would never sell to just anybody – it would have to be
new owners who could take them on and on. These are the most exciting times
I can remember as a Hammer for a very long time and want to believe we are
on our way to becoming one of the nation's biggest clubs!"
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
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Tuesday, November 18
Daily WHUFC News - 18th November 2014
Loan round up
WHUFC.com
Three West Ham United players were in Football League action this weekend
17.11.2014
West Ham United's George Moncur played the full 90 minutes as Colchester United lost 3-2 away to Barnsley at Oakwell. Sam Winnall opened the scoring for the hosts after just four minutes before Sanchez Watt equalised.
Second half goals from Conor Hourihane and Peter Ramage were enough to seal the points despite Freddie Sears scoring a consolation goal - his twelfth of the season. Northern Irishman Jamie Harney, who recently joined the U's on loan from West Ham, was an unused substitute.
Sean Maguire played the full game in Accrington Stanley's 1-0 defeat by Carlisle United. Derek Asamoah scored the only goal of the game, leaving Stanley in 15th. Maguire almost equalised late on with a powerful header that was saved by goalkeeper Dan Hanford.
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International round-up
WHUFC.com
Carl Jenkinson earned his second cap of the week as England U21s were defeated by France on Monday
14.11.2014
Carl Jenkinson earned his second England U21 cap of the week as Gareth Southgate's men were edged out 3-2 by France in an international friendly on Monday night. Jenkinson came off the bench late in the first half, following an injury to Ben Gibson, and although Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane scored twice, France came roaring back to win. On Thursday, Jenkinson scored in England U21s international friendly victory against Portugal. After Burnley striker Danny Ings opened the scoring in front of his home fans at Turf Moor, Jenkinson doubled the advantage shortly before the interval with a cool finish following Will Hughes' cross. It was the 22-year-old's second goal at U21 level for the Three Lions and gave Gareth Southgate's men a cushion before Bernando Wilson halved the deficit on 48 minutes. However, Ings' second of the game just before the hour restored the two-goal advantage, which England held to the end of the game.
Stewart Downing will hope to win his 35th England cap when Roy Hodgson's side take on Scotland in a friendly in Glasgow on Tuesday. He was an unused substitute as the Three Lions continued their perfect start to UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying with a 3-1 win over Slovenia at Wembley on Saturday.
Cheikhou Kouyate started for Senegal in their 1-0 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying win over Egypt in Cairo on Saturday - a result which confirms the Lions of Teranga's place at the 2015 finals, which will take place in Equatorial Guinea between 17 January-8 February. Diafra Sakho replaced goalscorer Mame Biram Diouf with around ten minutes remaining.
James Collins was an unused substitute as Wales drew 0-0 with Belgium to extend their unbeaten start to their UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying.
Meanwhile, at age group level, Kieran Sadlier's Ireland U21 were beaten 1-0 USA in Marbella, Spain on Saturday, but bounced back by drawing 2-2 with Russia at the same venue on Monday. Goalkeeper Sam Howes was an unused sub as England U18 won 3-2 in Poland in a friendly match on Saturday, before starting in their 4-1 victory against the same opposition on Monday.
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Hodgson: 'I would like to see Downing'
WHUFC.com
England manager Roy Hodgson has hinted strongly that Stewart Downing could feature against Scotland
17.11.2014
Roy Hodgson has confirmed that, fitness allowing, Stewart Downing will make his England comeback against Scotland on Tuesday evening.
Speaking after Saturday's Euro 2016 qualifying win over Slovenia at Wembley, the Three Lions manager said Downing had missed that game after suffering a minor knee injury in training with the national side. The West Ham United star was named among the substitutes for the 3-1 success which keeps England on course for qualification, but was not called upon by Hodgson. However, Tuesday's Celtic Park fixture will give the manager a chance to run the rule over as many as 17 players, with Downing set to be among them. "You have six substitutes and that is a great advantage for a coach," said Hodgson, when asked about his squad options for the Scotland match. "Stewart Downing injured his knee slightly in a training accident on Thursday. We thought, and he thought, he was going to be OK on Saturday but when he started the warm-up he still felt it. "I believe he'll be available against Scotland and that's good news because I would like to see him at some stage during the game."
Downing has been in electric form for West Ham so far this season, scoring twice and assisting four times as the Hammers have climbed to fourth in the Barclays Premier League table. The 30-year-old's outstanding displays have been put down to a change in position to a more central role at the tip of a midfield diamond, enabling him to become more involved in the game. Downing has created more chances (28) than any other English player in the Barclays Premier League this season, and is second overall to Chelsea's Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas in that category. A versatile performer, the Middlesbrough-born player is also able to operate in a wide role and has provided 52 crosses in his eleven league appearances, including the one which led to a vital goal from Enner Valencia at Stoke City recently. Downing will now hope to be given the chance to replicate that level of performance at international level, two-and-a-half years after earning the most-recent of his 34 caps against Norway in May 2012. Should he appear in Glasgow, Downing will become the first West Ham player to represent England since Andy Carroll appeared against San Marino in October 2012 - and the 39th Hammer to pull on the Three Lions shirt.
At club level, the midfielder began his career with his hometown side, Middlesbrough, winning the League Cup in 2004 and twice being voted Player of the Year before moving to Aston Villa in 2009. There, he appeared in another League Cup final and was voted the club's Player of the Year. Downing moved to Liverpool in 2011, winning the Man of the Match award in the final as the Reds won the League Cup in 2012.
He joined West Ham in the summer of 2013, making 37 appearances in his debut season in Claret and Blue, and has missed just one minute of the Hammers' current campaign.
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Hammers herd Cowboys
WHUFc.com
West Ham United welcomed four Dallas Cowboys players to the Boleyn Ground
17.11.2014
America's Team and one of England's most historic football clubs came together recently as four members of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys visited West Ham United. Safety Jeff Heath, place kicker Dan Bailey tight end Gavin Escobar and cornerback Micah Pellerin attended the Hammers' Barclays Premier League fixture with Aston Villa during their visit to London for the NFL's International Series. The day after taking in an exciting but ultimately goalless draw at the Boleyn Ground, the Cowboys overcame the Jacksonville Jaguars 31-17 at Wembley Stadium in the third and final London game for 2014. During their visit to east London the players, who travelled to the match by Tube, spoke to West Ham TV and revealed their love for the sport Americans call soccer. "This is my first soccer game in the UK," said Michigan native Heath, who joined the Cowboys in 2013. "I actually saw Aston Villa play five years ago in Columbus, Ohio when they did a US tour, but this is my first time in London at a game. "The atmosphere is awesome. The fans are right on top of the field and everyone is going crazy through the whole game. I expected it to be crazy, but this exceeded my expectations."
While most NFL players make a living either throwing or catching a ball - or stopping their opponents from getting a hand on it - Bailey makes his by kicking it. A schoolboy soccer player, the 26-year-old was drafted out of Oklahoma State University in 2011 and has gone on to become one of the most-accurate kickers in NFL history - an achievement he puts down to his experience of playing the beautiful game.
"I grew up playing soccer and I followed specific players and I was a big Gareth Barry fan," Bailey explained. "He had a pretty good career with Villa, so I adopted the team and have followed the guys coming through there and have been a Villa fan since then. "No question playing soccer as a child has helped me with my career in American football. I played soccer until I was about 16, then I moved over to American football, and there is no question that it paved the way for me to take my career in this direction. I lacked the skill to become a professional soccer player, as I played in defence mostly, but I felt I could have held my own!"
While Bailey's interest in football comes from his own playing career, Pellerin and Escobar fell in love with the game for different reasons. "I am a huge FIFA fan and play it all the time," said Pellerin. "Literally before we came to the game I was talking about the Aston Villa centre-back Jores Okore and showing the guys that he was pretty good, then when we went to the pitch I met him, which was pretty crazy and surreal! "I have played as West Ham a couple of times, too. I'm a big soccer fan. I played a little bit before I started playing American football and have watched the game on TV a lot, particularly during the World Cup." "For me, my love for the game came from my girlfriend, as she has played her whole life and we met in college, where I watched all her games," revealed Escobar, who hails from California. "I also play FIFA too, which helped a little bit, but going to all my girlfriend's games made me appreciate the sport more."
The Cowboys players relished the opportunity to show their own sporting prowess at the Home of Football, where they romped to a convincing victory over the Jaguars in front of 86,000 fans. The Cowboys have long been one of the most popular NFL teams in the UK and that certainly proved to be the case during their visit. With rumours of a London-based franchise being established in the future, American football continues to grow in popularity on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. "We had a fan appreciation event in London and probably 90 per cent of the people there were Cowboys fans, which shows we are a worldwide team," said Heath. "Everybody recognises our logo and I was excited to play in front of a packed Wembley Stadium. "The fans here are great and I feel, if they had a team in London, it would make football that much more popular. That would be something great."
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Adrian speaking the right language
WHUFC.com
Adrian visited Coventry University to speak to students about the benefits of learning a new language
17.11.2014
It is easy to forget but for a foreign player arriving in the Premier League, it is not just a different brand of football that they must adapt to. Adrian gave an insight into the cultural and linguistic differences they must also overcome when he visited Coventry University on 29 October to talk to students about the experience of life in English football for a player from Spain. The goalkeeper, speaking at a special Q&A event to promote language learning, explained that communicating with his defenders did not come easy at first - in fact, as he confessed, on his first friendly appearance for West Ham United, he began issuing instructions in his native Spanish. "My first reaction was to shout in Spanish until I got used to it," he told the students from the university's English and Languages department. "The first time, the words were coming out in Spanish - 'lo tienes a espalda', which means 'you've got a man on your shoulder'."
Adrian spoke about getting used to the different accents in a dressing room featuring everything from Joey O'Brien's Irish to Kevin Nolan's Scouse via Andy Carroll's Geordie, and shed light on the tools used to make life easier for the club's non-native speakers.
"Almost all the explanations are done by Powerpoint and visual tools," he said, adding that club staff are having lessons in Spanish and French also to facilitate communication. As for the worst English learner he has encountered at Chadwell Heath, that was Pablo Armero, the club's former Colombian defender, who, he revealed, spoke less of the language than his four-year-old son. Adrian's wide-ranging talk also touched on football matters, including his admiration for the West Ham supporters - and fan culture in general in the English game. "Our stadium is always full," he told the students. "Any game in the Premier League is important - it's not just against the top teams as the fans still come and fill the ground against the bottom teams too. This is an impressive part of supporter culture here."
As for his favourite save that was his injury-time stop from Frank Lampard in last season's 0-0 draw at Chelsea - "I enjoyed this save so much" - and he also gave his thoughts on the belief running through Sam Allardyce's team this season. "The big difference is the signings who've come in and brought a lot of quality to the team," he said. "We know what we're doing and we can play against any team - we've beaten Liverpool and Man City so we know whoever we face, if we play our best we can beat them."
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Cole glad to see AC back
WHUFC.com
Carlton Cole said he enjoyed playing alongside Andy Carroll on Thursday
16.11.2014
West Ham United striker Carlton Cole played the full 90 minutes alongside Andy Carroll as the Hammers drew 3-3 with Fulham in a behind- closed-doors friendly at the Boleyn Ground on Thursday afternoon. Cole has been used as an effective impact substitute so far this season, scoring important goals against Crystal Palace and Burnley. Speaking after the 3-3 draw with the Cottagers, the 31-year-old said: "I felt good out there, it was good playing up front with the big man AC. "I was playing in the hole and pulling a few strings. It was good to see AC get back on the scoresheet and also set up one for Nolan. If you were watching from a neutral point of view, I think it was a good game."
With new strikers Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho making an instant impact, Cole has been an effective substitute, and gives manager Sam Allardyce a different type of striker to call upon. "It's hard to find form when you're not starting but everyone who knows me knows I always give 100% every game. "Our next game is Everton away which is always a tough game. We've got the personnel and good strength in depth to make a difference. We're confident at the moment and I think we can go there and get a result."
Cole continued to say he believes the international break has come at a good time for the Hammers as it gives the squad a chance to get to full fitness ahead of a busy schedule running up to Christmas. "We've picked up a few injuries so that gives them time to get back to fitness. We've got a few players out on international duty so with any luck they'll come back and we'll be ready for next weekend."
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BETWEEN THE STICKS TWICE IN 24 HOURS FOR FORMER HAMMER
By Sean Whetstone 17 Nov 2014 at 08:30
West ham Till I Die
Former West Ham goalkeeper Roy Carroll is 37 years of age and might be considered by many to be past his best. However, over the weekend Carroll did something quite extraordinary which showed up youngsters half his age that determination can overcome 'tiredness' in modern football.On Friday, Carroll featured for Northern Ireland against Romania away from home in a Euro 2016 Group F clash. The ex-Hammers goalkeeper then took the first 5am flight out of Romania on Saturday morning and drove himself to the Ricoh Arena, where his domestic club team Notts County were to take on Coventry City in league one, a trip of over 1700 miles. "For me, playing for Notts County back in the English league is fantastic,In the summer nobody was interested in me and Shaun Derry gave me a chance to come back to England and it's a great pleasure for me to come back here and play for Notts County.I think I had about two or three hours sleep but for me it's always the next day, two days after the game, and I think I'm going to feel it for the next two days so I'll probably sleep for the next two days!" said Carroll
West Ham signed Carroll in 2005, three weeks after being released by Manchester United, he enjoyed a successful start to his West Ham career, making 19 appearances until a back injury sustained in a game against Fulham on 23rd January 2006 left him needing surgery. His final game for the Hammers took place on 3rd February 2007 against Aston Villa but in May 2007, West Ham stated that he had been released after asking for a transfer to achieve regular first team football.
In his 2010 autobiography Carroll remembers the long months spent lying on his injured back in the lounge of his London home, he tells of depression over the injury led to drink. Carroll's drink problem was so acute that at one stage he checked himself in for rehabilitation at Marylebone's Capio Nightingale Hospital, under the name of Jonathon Walker. There was speculation that he fell victim to a perceived gambling culture at West Ham that left him owing one team-mate £30,000 although he says those tales was ''widely exaggerated'.
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Time to get in step with Irons revolution
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 17, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
A few weeks ago on one of my increasing infrequent Twitter sessions I recall reading that with Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia in such outstanding form we could ditch the club's record signing Andy Carroll. "Get rid now" and "taxi for Carroll" were two of the kinder comments as the keyboard warriors made their points, perhaps in the hope they would make their own names at the same time. Oddly, the same recommendations weren't made on behalf of Carlton Cole but we'll let that pass. Kevin Nolan of course has his share of knockers along at times, surprisingly, with Mark Noble who has occasionally been told that he may not be strong good to hold down a first team place. And there's a group who seem to believe that when a player can't make the starting line-up that automatically means – as is the argument with AC – that we might as well get rid. Now this isn't going to be the most insightful thing I ever write, but it seems to me that after the lack of player resources at the club last season, a "starting" mindset has fixed itself in the psyche of some. That's not the way big clubs – and that's what we are becoming – think. We need as many good players in the West Ham squad as we can get and rotate them without there being any immediate weaknesses becoming apparent. Up front and across the middle we are there and as I've written before it's at the back where we need a couple of decent signings, But when we get them as I believe we will next summer, let's not start suggesting that one or the other of those on the books can be flogged when they fail to make the team for four or five weeks.
We need to fix one thing very firmly in our minds: It's a squad game and West Ham are no longer a selling club thank God. This season is the start of something very big at the club. It almost feels like a revolution at times. Yes, there's some dead wood that needs to be cleared out but once it is, we will be well and truly on our way to the big time.
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Carroll set for Goodison 'level three' step up
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 17, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Andy Carroll enters level three of his comeback from injury at the weekend when he heads for Everton with the Irons squad. And in line with Sam Allardyce's programme he is likely to make more than the five minute cameo performance he was allowed against Aston Villa.
Since then he's featured in a behind closed doors match against Fulham, scoring one and setting up best mate Kevin Nolan for another!
Word from the training ground is that he's looking particularly good and that he could get half an hour in his next run-out if game conditions demand at the weekend. Allardyce has claimed the striker will need six games to complete what he called his "pre-season" and the weekend game could provide more clues as to who the manager sees as his most likely 'partner' when he gets the call. A source told
ClaretandHugh: "Andy's looking bis, strong and up for it. He's very likely to make another big step down the road at the weekend."
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Gold: "We want honesty and integrity"
Posted by Sean Whetstone on November 17, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham chairman David Gold – asked whether the Football Association should quit FIFA - and whether Premier League chairmen should push for that has declared: "We want honesty, leadership and integrity. dg" The question follows a damned FIFA document, published last Thursday which was put together by German judge Hans-Joachim Eckert based his findings on the work of American lawyer Michael Garcia and Gold took to Twitter to give his response. But less than four hours after publication Garcia, who spent two years investigating claims of corruption for world governing body Fifa, issued a statement questioning the report. He said Eckert's findings contained "numerous materially incomplete and erroneous representations".
FA Chairman Greg Dyke said he could not "take the report seriously". And he added: "The whole of the way football operates at that sort of level is suspect and has been for many years. I don't think Fifa is a straight organisation and hasn't been for many years." said Dyke
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Kouyate makes a big defensive point
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 17, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Chiekhou Kouyate this weekend demonstrated admirably the strength in depth available to the Irons this season. The Senegal international was employed at the centre of defence in the team's 1-0 victory over Egyptwhich saw them qualify for the African Nations Cup Finals.
Both his general performance and the clean sheet against good opposition shows he is an excellent performer in that position and that if required he will be more than useful if the Hammers need to employ him at the back. Defensive issues and the contractual situation surrounding Winston Reid have caused some concern over the past few weeks. But ClaretandHugh has been constantly assured by decent judges, including David Gold, that Kouyate is an excellent performer in the position. Whilst many believe the player is instrumental to the midfield operation. it was shown during his absence that we are well served in that area and that he can be used confidently at the back should the need arise.
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Irons pair could miss four games
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 17, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Diafra Sakho and Chiekhou Kouyate will leave for the African Nations Cup ahead of the game against Swansea on the 10th of January next year….if selected by Senegal. Although the competition doesn't start until the following weekend, ClaretandHugh has learned that the Irons will wave goodbye to the pair, should they be included in the squad, as they head for the Senegal training camp ahead of the clash in Wales. The pair – who were both involved in the weekend qualification victory over Egypt in Cairo – are expected to be included in the squad which will see them head for the Equatorial African training camp during the first week of January 2015. However, word is that Alex Song is unlikely to be in the Cameroon party which makes its 17th appearance in the Finals with the Senegalese appearing for the 13th time.
A Hammers source said: "Diafra and Cheik look certain starters so there's mixed emotions as far as we are concerned. It's good to have top internationals in the club but of course there's a price to be paid! "They will leave before the Swansea game and return after elimination although at worst they could miss four games against the Swans, Hull, Liverpool and Manchester United (should they make the Final)."
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West Ham striker Carlton Cole enjoys new role in friendly
HITC
John Verrall
West Ham United's Carlton Cole was utilised in a deeper role during the club's friendly against Fulham last week. Carlton Cole may not have managed to earn himself as many first-team chances as he was hoping for so far this season at West Ham United, but he may have found a way to force his way into the team. The target man centre-forward has found his chances limited, making just eight appearances, due to the form of Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia up front, but he was tested out in a new role in the club's most recent friendly match. Cole played as a deep-lying striker in the Hammers' 3-3 draw with Fulham in midweek and he says that he enjoyed playing in the unfamiliar position, alongside Andy Carroll. "I felt good out there, it was good playing up front with the big man, Carroll," he told the club's official site. "I was playing in the hole and pulling a few strings. It was good to see AC get back on the scoresheet and also set up one for [Kevin] Nolan. " "If you were watching from a neutral point of view, I think it was a good game." Cole has generally played as a battering-ram centre-forward for his career so far, but his showing last week highlighted another side to his game. Although the 31-year-old may never be the most graceful of forwards, he proved that he could have an impact on a game, even as a less advanced forward.
Cole will be hoping that Sam Allardyce was impressed by his performance and now trusts him to perform a similar function in the Premier League. The Hammers boss has already shown his ability to spot a potential playmaker, by moving Stewart Downing into a more central role with great effect, and Cole could be hoping to be the next player to benefit from this foresight. With Carroll coming back, though, he is more likely to have even more of a backseat role if the side continue their good form. SEE ALSO: Controversial West Ham youngster at career crossroads after criticism from loan boss Cole is likely to drop even further down the pecking order at the Boleyn Ground now and only a serious downturn in results or a succession of injuries would create the opportunity for him to start as an out-and-out striker.
West Ham are currently in the top four and they will be looking to consolidate their lofty position after the international break.
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West Ham to make €10 million January bid for Demba Ba
Posted by: Eren Sarigul November 17, 2014 in News
Turkish Football.com
West Ham have set aside €10 million for Besiktas's Senagalise striker Demba Ba. Ba has been in great form this season having scored ten goals in 14 appearances for Besiktas. According to the British newspaper the Daily Star, West ham have already begun negotiations with the Istanbul based side over a €10 million January transfer. West Ham sit forth in the Premier League following an impressive start to the season. The report goes on to say the West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is on the hunt for a new striker in January in order to bolster attacking options of his side. Former manager Tim Sherwood Tim Sherwood tried to sign him from Chelsea and said : "He should be at Tottenham. He would have been a great signing." Liverpool and Newcastle have also been linked with a move for the 29-year-old striker.
Ba moved to Besiktas from Chelsea for £6 million during the summer transfer window.
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FRANKFURT'S PERUVIAN ROCK A POSSIBLE REID REPLACEMENT AT WEST HAM
News.ladbrokes.com
As contract saga goes on we look at four players who could be ready-made replacements for the New Zealand international
17 November 2014
The longer things go on, the more West Ham fans may start to feel resigned to losing Winston Reid, be it in January or on a free at the end of the season. And with the centre back still not signing on the dotted line to put to bed any speculation regarding a potential exit, the Hammers should be on the lookout for possible replacements. Just to help Big Sam out, we've pinpointed a quartet that could fill the void left by the Kiwi.The former Schalke man made a centre back slot his own during his first season in Frankfurt and has been likened to ex-Inter powerhouse Lucio due to his style of play. With his contract up in the summer, a cut price fee of around €3.5m could be enough to secure his signature, especially with the Peruvian international stalling signing an extension when Premier League interest was reported back in January. Currently sidelined with a knee injury, West Ham would have to keep an eye on his recovery before making their move. Sam Allardyce's sacking when the pair were together at Blackburn was enough for the Congolese defender to speak out against the then new owners, the Venky's.
The regard he holds his former boss in is easy to see, and with his family still reportedly living in England, the foundations could be in place for another crack at the Premier League. His contract in Russia runs out in the summer, and with his time spent their fraught with racial abuse, may be keen to call time on his Baltic adventure. But with Samba reportedly on £100,000 a week when at QPR, wages may be a problem if he is in equally demanding mood this time round. A fall out with Rennes boss Philippe Montanier saw the big centre back train with the Hammers over the summer, with a fee of around £1.5m rumoured. Alas, nothing came of that trial, but with the Cameroon international still holding a grudge over his current gaffer, a move could still be on the cards. And after their bargain swoop of the French league for Diafra Sakho came off, the east London side may be more inclined to take a gamble, and they will need to be, with Betis also interested.
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Should Sheffield Wednesday sign West Ham's Carlton Cole on loan to solve their goalscoring problems?
HITC
John Verrall
Sheffield Wednesday should consider the possibility of signing West Ham United's Carlton Cole on loan. Just a brief glance at the Championship table will give an idea of where Sheffield Wednesday's problems lie. The Owls are currently occupying a mid-table spot, although they are falling at an alarming rate due to some poor form, but their deficiency is obvious. Wednesday have scored just 12 goals in their 17 games so far, which is worse than every other club in the division, with the exception of the doomed Blackpool. It has undone much of their good form defensively and it means they are struggling to pick up enough points to move up the table. The Owls actually made a good start to the season, but their form has dropped off since and they are now winless in ten games across all competitions.
The pressure is starting to rise on manager Stuart Gray and unless he can start offering them more threat going forward then their problems are likely to persist. Gray has already acted by bringing in Gary Taylor-Fletcher on loan from Leicester City, but he may also want to consider the possibility of more temporary fixes to fire in the goals needed. One of these could come in the form of Carlton Cole, who has fallen out of favour at West Ham United. The centre-forward is way down the pecking order at the Boleyn Ground and he is likely to find his chances of first-team action even more limited now Andy Carroll has returned to fitness. Gray likes to play with a 'big-man, little-man' combination up-front and having someone of Cole's experience alongside Stevie May could benefit the team. The 31-year-old already has two goals to his name at the top-level this season and he would surely pose more of a threat than Atdhe Nuhiu, the man he would likely replace in the Owls' starting line-up, currently is. The only issue could be over his wage-demands, but with his chances limited in London, Cole may be keen on a move and a switch to Hillsborough should be considered a possibility.
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WHUFC.com
Three West Ham United players were in Football League action this weekend
17.11.2014
West Ham United's George Moncur played the full 90 minutes as Colchester United lost 3-2 away to Barnsley at Oakwell. Sam Winnall opened the scoring for the hosts after just four minutes before Sanchez Watt equalised.
Second half goals from Conor Hourihane and Peter Ramage were enough to seal the points despite Freddie Sears scoring a consolation goal - his twelfth of the season. Northern Irishman Jamie Harney, who recently joined the U's on loan from West Ham, was an unused substitute.
Sean Maguire played the full game in Accrington Stanley's 1-0 defeat by Carlisle United. Derek Asamoah scored the only goal of the game, leaving Stanley in 15th. Maguire almost equalised late on with a powerful header that was saved by goalkeeper Dan Hanford.
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International round-up
WHUFC.com
Carl Jenkinson earned his second cap of the week as England U21s were defeated by France on Monday
14.11.2014
Carl Jenkinson earned his second England U21 cap of the week as Gareth Southgate's men were edged out 3-2 by France in an international friendly on Monday night. Jenkinson came off the bench late in the first half, following an injury to Ben Gibson, and although Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane scored twice, France came roaring back to win. On Thursday, Jenkinson scored in England U21s international friendly victory against Portugal. After Burnley striker Danny Ings opened the scoring in front of his home fans at Turf Moor, Jenkinson doubled the advantage shortly before the interval with a cool finish following Will Hughes' cross. It was the 22-year-old's second goal at U21 level for the Three Lions and gave Gareth Southgate's men a cushion before Bernando Wilson halved the deficit on 48 minutes. However, Ings' second of the game just before the hour restored the two-goal advantage, which England held to the end of the game.
Stewart Downing will hope to win his 35th England cap when Roy Hodgson's side take on Scotland in a friendly in Glasgow on Tuesday. He was an unused substitute as the Three Lions continued their perfect start to UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying with a 3-1 win over Slovenia at Wembley on Saturday.
Cheikhou Kouyate started for Senegal in their 1-0 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying win over Egypt in Cairo on Saturday - a result which confirms the Lions of Teranga's place at the 2015 finals, which will take place in Equatorial Guinea between 17 January-8 February. Diafra Sakho replaced goalscorer Mame Biram Diouf with around ten minutes remaining.
James Collins was an unused substitute as Wales drew 0-0 with Belgium to extend their unbeaten start to their UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying.
Meanwhile, at age group level, Kieran Sadlier's Ireland U21 were beaten 1-0 USA in Marbella, Spain on Saturday, but bounced back by drawing 2-2 with Russia at the same venue on Monday. Goalkeeper Sam Howes was an unused sub as England U18 won 3-2 in Poland in a friendly match on Saturday, before starting in their 4-1 victory against the same opposition on Monday.
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Hodgson: 'I would like to see Downing'
WHUFC.com
England manager Roy Hodgson has hinted strongly that Stewart Downing could feature against Scotland
17.11.2014
Roy Hodgson has confirmed that, fitness allowing, Stewart Downing will make his England comeback against Scotland on Tuesday evening.
Speaking after Saturday's Euro 2016 qualifying win over Slovenia at Wembley, the Three Lions manager said Downing had missed that game after suffering a minor knee injury in training with the national side. The West Ham United star was named among the substitutes for the 3-1 success which keeps England on course for qualification, but was not called upon by Hodgson. However, Tuesday's Celtic Park fixture will give the manager a chance to run the rule over as many as 17 players, with Downing set to be among them. "You have six substitutes and that is a great advantage for a coach," said Hodgson, when asked about his squad options for the Scotland match. "Stewart Downing injured his knee slightly in a training accident on Thursday. We thought, and he thought, he was going to be OK on Saturday but when he started the warm-up he still felt it. "I believe he'll be available against Scotland and that's good news because I would like to see him at some stage during the game."
Downing has been in electric form for West Ham so far this season, scoring twice and assisting four times as the Hammers have climbed to fourth in the Barclays Premier League table. The 30-year-old's outstanding displays have been put down to a change in position to a more central role at the tip of a midfield diamond, enabling him to become more involved in the game. Downing has created more chances (28) than any other English player in the Barclays Premier League this season, and is second overall to Chelsea's Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas in that category. A versatile performer, the Middlesbrough-born player is also able to operate in a wide role and has provided 52 crosses in his eleven league appearances, including the one which led to a vital goal from Enner Valencia at Stoke City recently. Downing will now hope to be given the chance to replicate that level of performance at international level, two-and-a-half years after earning the most-recent of his 34 caps against Norway in May 2012. Should he appear in Glasgow, Downing will become the first West Ham player to represent England since Andy Carroll appeared against San Marino in October 2012 - and the 39th Hammer to pull on the Three Lions shirt.
At club level, the midfielder began his career with his hometown side, Middlesbrough, winning the League Cup in 2004 and twice being voted Player of the Year before moving to Aston Villa in 2009. There, he appeared in another League Cup final and was voted the club's Player of the Year. Downing moved to Liverpool in 2011, winning the Man of the Match award in the final as the Reds won the League Cup in 2012.
He joined West Ham in the summer of 2013, making 37 appearances in his debut season in Claret and Blue, and has missed just one minute of the Hammers' current campaign.
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Hammers herd Cowboys
WHUFc.com
West Ham United welcomed four Dallas Cowboys players to the Boleyn Ground
17.11.2014
America's Team and one of England's most historic football clubs came together recently as four members of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys visited West Ham United. Safety Jeff Heath, place kicker Dan Bailey tight end Gavin Escobar and cornerback Micah Pellerin attended the Hammers' Barclays Premier League fixture with Aston Villa during their visit to London for the NFL's International Series. The day after taking in an exciting but ultimately goalless draw at the Boleyn Ground, the Cowboys overcame the Jacksonville Jaguars 31-17 at Wembley Stadium in the third and final London game for 2014. During their visit to east London the players, who travelled to the match by Tube, spoke to West Ham TV and revealed their love for the sport Americans call soccer. "This is my first soccer game in the UK," said Michigan native Heath, who joined the Cowboys in 2013. "I actually saw Aston Villa play five years ago in Columbus, Ohio when they did a US tour, but this is my first time in London at a game. "The atmosphere is awesome. The fans are right on top of the field and everyone is going crazy through the whole game. I expected it to be crazy, but this exceeded my expectations."
While most NFL players make a living either throwing or catching a ball - or stopping their opponents from getting a hand on it - Bailey makes his by kicking it. A schoolboy soccer player, the 26-year-old was drafted out of Oklahoma State University in 2011 and has gone on to become one of the most-accurate kickers in NFL history - an achievement he puts down to his experience of playing the beautiful game.
"I grew up playing soccer and I followed specific players and I was a big Gareth Barry fan," Bailey explained. "He had a pretty good career with Villa, so I adopted the team and have followed the guys coming through there and have been a Villa fan since then. "No question playing soccer as a child has helped me with my career in American football. I played soccer until I was about 16, then I moved over to American football, and there is no question that it paved the way for me to take my career in this direction. I lacked the skill to become a professional soccer player, as I played in defence mostly, but I felt I could have held my own!"
While Bailey's interest in football comes from his own playing career, Pellerin and Escobar fell in love with the game for different reasons. "I am a huge FIFA fan and play it all the time," said Pellerin. "Literally before we came to the game I was talking about the Aston Villa centre-back Jores Okore and showing the guys that he was pretty good, then when we went to the pitch I met him, which was pretty crazy and surreal! "I have played as West Ham a couple of times, too. I'm a big soccer fan. I played a little bit before I started playing American football and have watched the game on TV a lot, particularly during the World Cup." "For me, my love for the game came from my girlfriend, as she has played her whole life and we met in college, where I watched all her games," revealed Escobar, who hails from California. "I also play FIFA too, which helped a little bit, but going to all my girlfriend's games made me appreciate the sport more."
The Cowboys players relished the opportunity to show their own sporting prowess at the Home of Football, where they romped to a convincing victory over the Jaguars in front of 86,000 fans. The Cowboys have long been one of the most popular NFL teams in the UK and that certainly proved to be the case during their visit. With rumours of a London-based franchise being established in the future, American football continues to grow in popularity on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. "We had a fan appreciation event in London and probably 90 per cent of the people there were Cowboys fans, which shows we are a worldwide team," said Heath. "Everybody recognises our logo and I was excited to play in front of a packed Wembley Stadium. "The fans here are great and I feel, if they had a team in London, it would make football that much more popular. That would be something great."
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Adrian speaking the right language
WHUFC.com
Adrian visited Coventry University to speak to students about the benefits of learning a new language
17.11.2014
It is easy to forget but for a foreign player arriving in the Premier League, it is not just a different brand of football that they must adapt to. Adrian gave an insight into the cultural and linguistic differences they must also overcome when he visited Coventry University on 29 October to talk to students about the experience of life in English football for a player from Spain. The goalkeeper, speaking at a special Q&A event to promote language learning, explained that communicating with his defenders did not come easy at first - in fact, as he confessed, on his first friendly appearance for West Ham United, he began issuing instructions in his native Spanish. "My first reaction was to shout in Spanish until I got used to it," he told the students from the university's English and Languages department. "The first time, the words were coming out in Spanish - 'lo tienes a espalda', which means 'you've got a man on your shoulder'."
Adrian spoke about getting used to the different accents in a dressing room featuring everything from Joey O'Brien's Irish to Kevin Nolan's Scouse via Andy Carroll's Geordie, and shed light on the tools used to make life easier for the club's non-native speakers.
"Almost all the explanations are done by Powerpoint and visual tools," he said, adding that club staff are having lessons in Spanish and French also to facilitate communication. As for the worst English learner he has encountered at Chadwell Heath, that was Pablo Armero, the club's former Colombian defender, who, he revealed, spoke less of the language than his four-year-old son. Adrian's wide-ranging talk also touched on football matters, including his admiration for the West Ham supporters - and fan culture in general in the English game. "Our stadium is always full," he told the students. "Any game in the Premier League is important - it's not just against the top teams as the fans still come and fill the ground against the bottom teams too. This is an impressive part of supporter culture here."
As for his favourite save that was his injury-time stop from Frank Lampard in last season's 0-0 draw at Chelsea - "I enjoyed this save so much" - and he also gave his thoughts on the belief running through Sam Allardyce's team this season. "The big difference is the signings who've come in and brought a lot of quality to the team," he said. "We know what we're doing and we can play against any team - we've beaten Liverpool and Man City so we know whoever we face, if we play our best we can beat them."
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Cole glad to see AC back
WHUFC.com
Carlton Cole said he enjoyed playing alongside Andy Carroll on Thursday
16.11.2014
West Ham United striker Carlton Cole played the full 90 minutes alongside Andy Carroll as the Hammers drew 3-3 with Fulham in a behind- closed-doors friendly at the Boleyn Ground on Thursday afternoon. Cole has been used as an effective impact substitute so far this season, scoring important goals against Crystal Palace and Burnley. Speaking after the 3-3 draw with the Cottagers, the 31-year-old said: "I felt good out there, it was good playing up front with the big man AC. "I was playing in the hole and pulling a few strings. It was good to see AC get back on the scoresheet and also set up one for Nolan. If you were watching from a neutral point of view, I think it was a good game."
With new strikers Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho making an instant impact, Cole has been an effective substitute, and gives manager Sam Allardyce a different type of striker to call upon. "It's hard to find form when you're not starting but everyone who knows me knows I always give 100% every game. "Our next game is Everton away which is always a tough game. We've got the personnel and good strength in depth to make a difference. We're confident at the moment and I think we can go there and get a result."
Cole continued to say he believes the international break has come at a good time for the Hammers as it gives the squad a chance to get to full fitness ahead of a busy schedule running up to Christmas. "We've picked up a few injuries so that gives them time to get back to fitness. We've got a few players out on international duty so with any luck they'll come back and we'll be ready for next weekend."
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BETWEEN THE STICKS TWICE IN 24 HOURS FOR FORMER HAMMER
By Sean Whetstone 17 Nov 2014 at 08:30
West ham Till I Die
Former West Ham goalkeeper Roy Carroll is 37 years of age and might be considered by many to be past his best. However, over the weekend Carroll did something quite extraordinary which showed up youngsters half his age that determination can overcome 'tiredness' in modern football.On Friday, Carroll featured for Northern Ireland against Romania away from home in a Euro 2016 Group F clash. The ex-Hammers goalkeeper then took the first 5am flight out of Romania on Saturday morning and drove himself to the Ricoh Arena, where his domestic club team Notts County were to take on Coventry City in league one, a trip of over 1700 miles. "For me, playing for Notts County back in the English league is fantastic,In the summer nobody was interested in me and Shaun Derry gave me a chance to come back to England and it's a great pleasure for me to come back here and play for Notts County.I think I had about two or three hours sleep but for me it's always the next day, two days after the game, and I think I'm going to feel it for the next two days so I'll probably sleep for the next two days!" said Carroll
West Ham signed Carroll in 2005, three weeks after being released by Manchester United, he enjoyed a successful start to his West Ham career, making 19 appearances until a back injury sustained in a game against Fulham on 23rd January 2006 left him needing surgery. His final game for the Hammers took place on 3rd February 2007 against Aston Villa but in May 2007, West Ham stated that he had been released after asking for a transfer to achieve regular first team football.
In his 2010 autobiography Carroll remembers the long months spent lying on his injured back in the lounge of his London home, he tells of depression over the injury led to drink. Carroll's drink problem was so acute that at one stage he checked himself in for rehabilitation at Marylebone's Capio Nightingale Hospital, under the name of Jonathon Walker. There was speculation that he fell victim to a perceived gambling culture at West Ham that left him owing one team-mate £30,000 although he says those tales was ''widely exaggerated'.
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Time to get in step with Irons revolution
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 17, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
A few weeks ago on one of my increasing infrequent Twitter sessions I recall reading that with Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia in such outstanding form we could ditch the club's record signing Andy Carroll. "Get rid now" and "taxi for Carroll" were two of the kinder comments as the keyboard warriors made their points, perhaps in the hope they would make their own names at the same time. Oddly, the same recommendations weren't made on behalf of Carlton Cole but we'll let that pass. Kevin Nolan of course has his share of knockers along at times, surprisingly, with Mark Noble who has occasionally been told that he may not be strong good to hold down a first team place. And there's a group who seem to believe that when a player can't make the starting line-up that automatically means – as is the argument with AC – that we might as well get rid. Now this isn't going to be the most insightful thing I ever write, but it seems to me that after the lack of player resources at the club last season, a "starting" mindset has fixed itself in the psyche of some. That's not the way big clubs – and that's what we are becoming – think. We need as many good players in the West Ham squad as we can get and rotate them without there being any immediate weaknesses becoming apparent. Up front and across the middle we are there and as I've written before it's at the back where we need a couple of decent signings, But when we get them as I believe we will next summer, let's not start suggesting that one or the other of those on the books can be flogged when they fail to make the team for four or five weeks.
We need to fix one thing very firmly in our minds: It's a squad game and West Ham are no longer a selling club thank God. This season is the start of something very big at the club. It almost feels like a revolution at times. Yes, there's some dead wood that needs to be cleared out but once it is, we will be well and truly on our way to the big time.
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Carroll set for Goodison 'level three' step up
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 17, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Andy Carroll enters level three of his comeback from injury at the weekend when he heads for Everton with the Irons squad. And in line with Sam Allardyce's programme he is likely to make more than the five minute cameo performance he was allowed against Aston Villa.
Since then he's featured in a behind closed doors match against Fulham, scoring one and setting up best mate Kevin Nolan for another!
Word from the training ground is that he's looking particularly good and that he could get half an hour in his next run-out if game conditions demand at the weekend. Allardyce has claimed the striker will need six games to complete what he called his "pre-season" and the weekend game could provide more clues as to who the manager sees as his most likely 'partner' when he gets the call. A source told
ClaretandHugh: "Andy's looking bis, strong and up for it. He's very likely to make another big step down the road at the weekend."
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Gold: "We want honesty and integrity"
Posted by Sean Whetstone on November 17, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham chairman David Gold – asked whether the Football Association should quit FIFA - and whether Premier League chairmen should push for that has declared: "We want honesty, leadership and integrity. dg" The question follows a damned FIFA document, published last Thursday which was put together by German judge Hans-Joachim Eckert based his findings on the work of American lawyer Michael Garcia and Gold took to Twitter to give his response. But less than four hours after publication Garcia, who spent two years investigating claims of corruption for world governing body Fifa, issued a statement questioning the report. He said Eckert's findings contained "numerous materially incomplete and erroneous representations".
FA Chairman Greg Dyke said he could not "take the report seriously". And he added: "The whole of the way football operates at that sort of level is suspect and has been for many years. I don't think Fifa is a straight organisation and hasn't been for many years." said Dyke
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Kouyate makes a big defensive point
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 17, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Chiekhou Kouyate this weekend demonstrated admirably the strength in depth available to the Irons this season. The Senegal international was employed at the centre of defence in the team's 1-0 victory over Egyptwhich saw them qualify for the African Nations Cup Finals.
Both his general performance and the clean sheet against good opposition shows he is an excellent performer in that position and that if required he will be more than useful if the Hammers need to employ him at the back. Defensive issues and the contractual situation surrounding Winston Reid have caused some concern over the past few weeks. But ClaretandHugh has been constantly assured by decent judges, including David Gold, that Kouyate is an excellent performer in the position. Whilst many believe the player is instrumental to the midfield operation. it was shown during his absence that we are well served in that area and that he can be used confidently at the back should the need arise.
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Irons pair could miss four games
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 17, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Diafra Sakho and Chiekhou Kouyate will leave for the African Nations Cup ahead of the game against Swansea on the 10th of January next year….if selected by Senegal. Although the competition doesn't start until the following weekend, ClaretandHugh has learned that the Irons will wave goodbye to the pair, should they be included in the squad, as they head for the Senegal training camp ahead of the clash in Wales. The pair – who were both involved in the weekend qualification victory over Egypt in Cairo – are expected to be included in the squad which will see them head for the Equatorial African training camp during the first week of January 2015. However, word is that Alex Song is unlikely to be in the Cameroon party which makes its 17th appearance in the Finals with the Senegalese appearing for the 13th time.
A Hammers source said: "Diafra and Cheik look certain starters so there's mixed emotions as far as we are concerned. It's good to have top internationals in the club but of course there's a price to be paid! "They will leave before the Swansea game and return after elimination although at worst they could miss four games against the Swans, Hull, Liverpool and Manchester United (should they make the Final)."
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West Ham striker Carlton Cole enjoys new role in friendly
HITC
John Verrall
West Ham United's Carlton Cole was utilised in a deeper role during the club's friendly against Fulham last week. Carlton Cole may not have managed to earn himself as many first-team chances as he was hoping for so far this season at West Ham United, but he may have found a way to force his way into the team. The target man centre-forward has found his chances limited, making just eight appearances, due to the form of Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia up front, but he was tested out in a new role in the club's most recent friendly match. Cole played as a deep-lying striker in the Hammers' 3-3 draw with Fulham in midweek and he says that he enjoyed playing in the unfamiliar position, alongside Andy Carroll. "I felt good out there, it was good playing up front with the big man, Carroll," he told the club's official site. "I was playing in the hole and pulling a few strings. It was good to see AC get back on the scoresheet and also set up one for [Kevin] Nolan. " "If you were watching from a neutral point of view, I think it was a good game." Cole has generally played as a battering-ram centre-forward for his career so far, but his showing last week highlighted another side to his game. Although the 31-year-old may never be the most graceful of forwards, he proved that he could have an impact on a game, even as a less advanced forward.
Cole will be hoping that Sam Allardyce was impressed by his performance and now trusts him to perform a similar function in the Premier League. The Hammers boss has already shown his ability to spot a potential playmaker, by moving Stewart Downing into a more central role with great effect, and Cole could be hoping to be the next player to benefit from this foresight. With Carroll coming back, though, he is more likely to have even more of a backseat role if the side continue their good form. SEE ALSO: Controversial West Ham youngster at career crossroads after criticism from loan boss Cole is likely to drop even further down the pecking order at the Boleyn Ground now and only a serious downturn in results or a succession of injuries would create the opportunity for him to start as an out-and-out striker.
West Ham are currently in the top four and they will be looking to consolidate their lofty position after the international break.
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West Ham to make €10 million January bid for Demba Ba
Posted by: Eren Sarigul November 17, 2014 in News
Turkish Football.com
West Ham have set aside €10 million for Besiktas's Senagalise striker Demba Ba. Ba has been in great form this season having scored ten goals in 14 appearances for Besiktas. According to the British newspaper the Daily Star, West ham have already begun negotiations with the Istanbul based side over a €10 million January transfer. West Ham sit forth in the Premier League following an impressive start to the season. The report goes on to say the West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is on the hunt for a new striker in January in order to bolster attacking options of his side. Former manager Tim Sherwood Tim Sherwood tried to sign him from Chelsea and said : "He should be at Tottenham. He would have been a great signing." Liverpool and Newcastle have also been linked with a move for the 29-year-old striker.
Ba moved to Besiktas from Chelsea for £6 million during the summer transfer window.
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FRANKFURT'S PERUVIAN ROCK A POSSIBLE REID REPLACEMENT AT WEST HAM
News.ladbrokes.com
As contract saga goes on we look at four players who could be ready-made replacements for the New Zealand international
17 November 2014
The longer things go on, the more West Ham fans may start to feel resigned to losing Winston Reid, be it in January or on a free at the end of the season. And with the centre back still not signing on the dotted line to put to bed any speculation regarding a potential exit, the Hammers should be on the lookout for possible replacements. Just to help Big Sam out, we've pinpointed a quartet that could fill the void left by the Kiwi.The former Schalke man made a centre back slot his own during his first season in Frankfurt and has been likened to ex-Inter powerhouse Lucio due to his style of play. With his contract up in the summer, a cut price fee of around €3.5m could be enough to secure his signature, especially with the Peruvian international stalling signing an extension when Premier League interest was reported back in January. Currently sidelined with a knee injury, West Ham would have to keep an eye on his recovery before making their move. Sam Allardyce's sacking when the pair were together at Blackburn was enough for the Congolese defender to speak out against the then new owners, the Venky's.
The regard he holds his former boss in is easy to see, and with his family still reportedly living in England, the foundations could be in place for another crack at the Premier League. His contract in Russia runs out in the summer, and with his time spent their fraught with racial abuse, may be keen to call time on his Baltic adventure. But with Samba reportedly on £100,000 a week when at QPR, wages may be a problem if he is in equally demanding mood this time round. A fall out with Rennes boss Philippe Montanier saw the big centre back train with the Hammers over the summer, with a fee of around £1.5m rumoured. Alas, nothing came of that trial, but with the Cameroon international still holding a grudge over his current gaffer, a move could still be on the cards. And after their bargain swoop of the French league for Diafra Sakho came off, the east London side may be more inclined to take a gamble, and they will need to be, with Betis also interested.
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Should Sheffield Wednesday sign West Ham's Carlton Cole on loan to solve their goalscoring problems?
HITC
John Verrall
Sheffield Wednesday should consider the possibility of signing West Ham United's Carlton Cole on loan. Just a brief glance at the Championship table will give an idea of where Sheffield Wednesday's problems lie. The Owls are currently occupying a mid-table spot, although they are falling at an alarming rate due to some poor form, but their deficiency is obvious. Wednesday have scored just 12 goals in their 17 games so far, which is worse than every other club in the division, with the exception of the doomed Blackpool. It has undone much of their good form defensively and it means they are struggling to pick up enough points to move up the table. The Owls actually made a good start to the season, but their form has dropped off since and they are now winless in ten games across all competitions.
The pressure is starting to rise on manager Stuart Gray and unless he can start offering them more threat going forward then their problems are likely to persist. Gray has already acted by bringing in Gary Taylor-Fletcher on loan from Leicester City, but he may also want to consider the possibility of more temporary fixes to fire in the goals needed. One of these could come in the form of Carlton Cole, who has fallen out of favour at West Ham United. The centre-forward is way down the pecking order at the Boleyn Ground and he is likely to find his chances of first-team action even more limited now Andy Carroll has returned to fitness. Gray likes to play with a 'big-man, little-man' combination up-front and having someone of Cole's experience alongside Stevie May could benefit the team. The 31-year-old already has two goals to his name at the top-level this season and he would surely pose more of a threat than Atdhe Nuhiu, the man he would likely replace in the Owls' starting line-up, currently is. The only issue could be over his wage-demands, but with his chances limited in London, Cole may be keen on a move and a switch to Hillsborough should be considered a possibility.
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