Daily WHUFC News - Web Item

West Ham's 'spoilt' players may not put their bodies on the line to keep
club up says David Sullivan
Daily Telegraph
By Jason Burt 11:00PM BST 28 Apr 2011

David Sullivan has questioned the commitment of some West Ham United players
as the club battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

In a frank and heartfelt interview with The Telegraph, the club's co-owner
and chairman also rated the team's chances of survival at just "25 per cent"
and said he personally will have "let down" the supporters if the demotion
happens. Sullivan, clearly frustrated, questioned whether some modern-day
footballers cared enough because they are "spoilt" by the huge amounts of
money they earn and this can affect their performances. West Ham are bottom
of the Premier League with just four matches to go, starting with Sunday's
trip to Manchester City, and Sullivan said that this season's struggles have
shocked him. "We didn't come here to be relegated, we didn't think at the
start of the season that we would be relegated and we have to put it right
next season," he said. "If we are in the Premier League we have to make sure
we are not fighting relegation, if we are in the Championship we have to
make sure we are in the top two this time next year."

Sullivan has thought about addressing the squad for the season's run-in, to
ram home the importance of not getting relegated, but admitted: "I've been
thinking about it but I think the players might think it's a joke. "I could
go in there and give them a Churchill speech but whether it's going to do
any good, I don't know. "I think some players are spoilt, I don't say just
with our players, I'm saying with all clubs. How do you motivate
millionaires? It's a problem all managers have. "Alex Ferguson has got that
fear factor and I do think that a manager needs that fear factor. You look
at Alex Ferguson, Arsène Wenger and Jose Mourinho. The players are a little
bit frightened of them. "But I'm sure a few of the players are already
looking at where they will be next season — their contracts are up, they'll
be off. "It means the manager [Avram Grant] might have a hard decision to
make if we go into the last game of the season needing a win to stay up — do
you trust the fate of the club to them or do you make the decision that you
will not play those players? "It's a very difficult decision. Do you go for
players who are committed to the club? If you look at that last game and
someone is on a Bosman [free transfer], will that player risk injury? Some
will, some won't. It depends on the mentality of the player."

There is a clear frustration in Sullivan's voice – and a personal toll also.
The 62 year-old said he wakes up "10 times a night" worrying about the fate
of the club he acquired in January 2010, but insisted he would rebuild the
squad over the summer — with an exodus of players expected. "I'm battling
on," he said. "Obviously we are facing the reality that 70-75 per cent we
are likely to be in the Championship next year. But there is still a 25-30
per cent chance we won't be. "We have to be realistic. The bookmakers put
our chances at 28 per cent and you have to accept that. "I feel for the
supporters. We have fantastic supporters and I feel myself and David [Gold,
the co-chairman ] have let them down. We have failed to deliver and the
bottom line in football is that it's a delivery business. "Forget all the
excuses – the bad luck, the good luck, the injuries – because over a season
it sort of averages out. OK, it probably hasn't quite averaged out for us
this year but you can't blame that. "I can't sleep at night. It hasn't
affected my health but it has affected my mind. I wake up 10 times a night
thinking about the state of the club. I ask myself, 'What can we do?' I know
there is only so much you can do. "But I can't switch off at all. I'm sure
most of our supporters can't either. We are supporters also. Supporters who
have made a huge investment, but that is secondary, and we, as supporters,
are gutted at the way things have developed. "We can scramble and stay up
and salvage something but we can't delude ourselves it's been a good season.
But at least we are in a better position to re-form for next season. "There
is no point denying it, but we are very depressed and we are very depressed
for the club's supporters. I feel I have let them down. I'm not a loser in
life and to get relegated is a serious loss. "It's not the end of the game
but it's like a boxing match and you take a bashing for three rounds. It's a
12-round fight and there are nine rounds to go, but you are in serious
trouble."

Sullivan insisted that he did not regret acquiring West Ham and inheriting
the perilous financial state of the club he now runs. "We haven't gone to
West Ham to make money," he insisted. "We would have bought Sheffield
Wednesday for £3 million or £4 million if we wanted to make an investment.
But we are not Sheffield Wednesday supporters; we are in this for the long
haul. Whatever it takes, we will turn this around."

Sullivan's and Gold's experience at their former club, Birmingham City, will
help. On the two occasions they were relegated from the Premier League, they
immediately returned to the top flight each time. "I hope that will count
for something," he said. "If it comes to it, we know what needs to be done
and we can put together a side to get us back up straight away. "I don't
accept it has come to that yet and there is a long way to go still. But
there is certainly no point being in denial and declaring 'we won't be
relegated'. "Against that the club is in a worse financial state. We will
have to shed a few players and a few players will not want to stay. We will
have to bring in new players to bring us back up. "I think a lot of the
players at West Ham will not want to play in that division [the
Championship]. I don't think it's going to be easy and you need players who
are proven in that division plus some young players who are fearless and who
have the energy to play 46 games a season. "We have some players who find 38
games very difficult. "I'm anticipating bringing in players who are £2
million, £3 million. I can't name names but you are looking at players who
might be, for example, the leading goalscorers in the Championship. "If you
buy two guys who can get you 25 goals each, well that's 50 goals and gives
you the basis for going straight back up."

Grant's future will also be decided. "We sit down at the end of every
season, and whatever club we have been in, with the manager and hear what
his thoughts are, what our thoughts are and we decide on the future at that
point in time," Sullivan said.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 29th April 2011

Carlton banks on Scott
WHUFC.com
The latest to add to the accolades for Scott Parker has been is club-mate
Carlton Cole
27.04.2011

Carlton Cole has paid tribute to the outstanding Scott Parker after he won
the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award. Parker will
be honoured at a special gala dinner in London in a fortnight's time, and
Cole said the No8 deserved all the accolades. Parker, like hernia-victim
Mark Noble who was hurt at Chelsea last Saturday, is battling to be fit for
the final three weeks of the season. Positive news has come with Jack
Collison's second successive 90 minutes in a run of four games for the
reserves, while Junior Stanislas is close to a first-team training return
after his own hernia issues. Winston Reid has also been back in action on
the practice pitches after a knock. It is Parker, though, that Cole said
everyone was looking to. "Scotty is one of those players that is a leading
player on the pitch, he leads by example, he will say how he feels," Cole
said. "Scotty won't shy away from anything, from a challenge, those are the
sort of characters you need in your team. "Especially when we are fighting
relegation as well, Scotty as a player and a person, is someone who will
always stand up and be counted - you need people like him. "Any accolade he
gets, any pat on the backs, Scotty deserves. That is how I look at it. I
hold him highly up there as one of the best players in the league at the
moment. "For the last three years, as soon as he got over the niggly
injuries he had when he was first here, once he started getting momentum, he
has not stopped. He is like a juggernaught."

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West Ham's Daniel Gabbidon charged over Twitter post
BBC.co.uk
Page last updated at 17:18 GMT, Thursday, 28 April 2011 18:18 UK

West Ham's Daniel Gabbidon has been charged by the Football Association in
relation to recent comments he made on social networking website Twitter.
The Welsh defender, 31, was charged on Thursday with improper conduct and/or
bringing the game into disrepute. Gabbidon, who made the comments after a
2-1 defeat at home by Aston Villa on 16 April, has until 1600 BST on
Wednesday 4 May to respond to the charge.
Team-mate Carlton Cole was fined last week for comments made on Twitter.
Gabbidon posted the message - which included swearing - in the wake of the
defeat at Upton Park, where Gabriel Agbonlahor scored an injury time winner
to keep West Ham deep in relegation trouble. The West Ham player ended his
final Twitter entry by writing: "U know what.... u will never get another
tweet from me again, you just don't get it do you. Bye bye."

Striker Cole was sanctioned by the FA for comments he made on Twitter about
Ghana fans during their friendly against England. He was also charged with
improper conduct and fined £20,000, as well as being warned about his future
conduct. In January, Dutch winger Ryan Babel was fined £10,000 and warned
about his future conduct by the FA over a post he made on Twitter.

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Mark targets Blackburn
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 28th April 2011
By: Staff Writer

Mark Noble could yet figure in West Ham's season-defining final three games
after it was revealed that initial injury fears were unfounded. The
23-year-old midfielder is set to undergo treatment on a hernia problem that,
it had been suggested, could rule him out for the remainder of the season.
However Noble is set to return for the home games against Blackburn and
Sunderland plus the visit to Wigan according to latest reports - although it
is thought that this weekend's trip to Manchester City comes too soon. With
Scott Parker also unlikely to feature at the City of Manchester Stadium and
with Gary O'Neil out until next season, Avram Grant's midfield options are,
once again, extremely limited. Jonathan Spector - who had the game of his
career against the other Mancunian club earlier in the season - is a likely
candidate to start, as is Freddie Sears who has impressed out wide in recent
outings.

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Sullivan says 75% chance of relegation
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 28th April 2011
By: Staff Writer

David Sullivan has spoken for the first time about the possibility of West
Ham being relegated from the Premier League this season. The club's
co-chairman - unusually quiet in recent weeks, in stark contrast to the same
stage of last season when Gianfranco Zola was battling to avoid the drop -
talked about the massive financial implications of relegation, whilst
gloomily predicting that Avram Grant's squad only have 'a 25-30 per cent
chance of staying up'. "There would have to be a dramatic change in players
coming and going as we could only keep those who are committed to the club
and willing to play in the Championship," he told tonight's Standard. "We
would also be totally committed to getting promoted immediately. "It would
be a huge setback if we were to go down but this is the club we support and
David [Gold] and I see it as a long-term project. Whatever happens we will
be sticking with the club. There is no more pressure than the pressure we
put on ourselves. "David and I took over a club £110m in debt. We are
keeping the club afloat and paying down the debt. We remain totally
committed to the club."

Sullivan also claimed that the club's existing '£10-12million [annual] hole
in the cash flow' would rise to £40million should West Ham drop into the
Championship.

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Here we go again...
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 28th April 2011
By: Staff Writer

Danny Gabbidon has become the latest recipient of an FA charge after he was
accused with 'bringing the game into disrepute'. Hot on the heels of team
mate Carlton Cole and manager Avram Grant, the Welsh defender was hit with
the charge after telling followers of his Twitter account 'f*ck the lot of
you will never get another tweet from me again' following the recent 2-1
home defeat to Aston Villa. Gabbidon's outburst is thought to have been in
reaction to a string of negative 'Tweets' from disappointed supporters
immediately following the game which was lost to an injury-time winner.
Unsurprisingly the FA were swift to sniff the opportunity for another
£20,000 boost to their bulging coffers and hit Gabbidon with the charge this
evening. A statement on the FA's site read: "West Ham United defender Daniel
Gabbidon has today been charged with Improper Conduct and/or bringing the
game into disrepute by The FA. "The charge follows media comments made on
Twitter on 16 April 2011. Gabbidon has until 4pm on 4 May 2011 to respond."

Carlton Cole was fined £20,000 and warned over his future conduct for a
Tweet made during the 1-1 draw between England and Ghana at Wembley last
month.
The heinous crime perpetrated by the West Ham striker was to imply - albeit
in jest - that immigration officers were preparing to swoop on the
20,000-strong away support.

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The story of Billie the grey
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 28th April 2011
By: Staff Writer

88 years ago today West Ham faced Bolton in the first ever FA Cup Final
staged at the new Wembley Stadium.

Delayed for over 40 minutes due to the massive crowds estimated to be in
excess of 200,000 (the stadium had a capacity of 127,000) - and by a
compulsory, rousing and heartfelt 'three cheers' for the attending King
George V - the game was eventually - and controversially - won by Wanderers
courtesy of goals from David Jack and Jack Smith.

Jack gave the Trotters an early lead amidst farcical scenes; West Ham
half-back Jack Tresadern became entangled in the crowd, pushed right up
against the touchline after taking a throw-in and Bolton profited from the
resulting space; Jack's shot was hit so hard that it rendered a supporter,
standing behind the net, unconscious upon impact.

More farce followed on the quarter-hour mark as a crowd surge behind one end
led to another charge from the mounted police in order to clear the playing
area. After the Red Cross had attended to a number of injured fans, play
resumed; Dick Richards' shot was cleared off the line as Bolton clung on to
their slender advantage.

The crowd problems - and obvious threat to public safety - forced West Ham
captain George Kay, ironically a former Bolton player, to request an
abandonment of the game; a request Kay persisted with throughout the match,
to no avail. Half-time followed - and went after just five minutes, as the
players were forced to take refreshment on the pitch as the heaving crowds
rendered access the the changing rooms impossible.

Vic Watson - United's biggest attacking threat on the day who remains, to
this day, the club's greatest goalscorer of all time - failed to take
advantage of any half-chances afforded him which proved to be the Irons'
ultimate undoing. The game was won after Wanderers added a controversial
second as referee David Asson adjudged a Smith shot to have carried over the
line.

West Ham protested bitterly; initially the ball had been kept from leaving
the field of play by a spectator on the touchline to Bolton's advantage
before hitting the post and bouncing clear of goal, according to them. Asson
insisted that the ball had instead crossed the goal-line and rebounded off a
spectator, much to the Irons' annoyance.

Charlie Paynter, West Ham's manager was left to rue the impact police horses
had had on the pitch: "It was that white horse thumping its big feet into
the pitch that made it hopeless. Our wingers were tumbling all over the
place, tripping up in great ruts and holes," he reflected.

Despite going home as the losing team, West Ham United's part in football
history was cemented by the appearance of the aforementioned and
now-legendary mounted 'white horse' that appeared amongst the vast throngs
in order to disperse the crowds.

However a little known fact is that the horse - Billy* - was actually grey,
and only appeared white due to the quality of the film used to record the
event.

Billy's mount, PC George Scorey of the Metropolitan Police later recalled
how his job on the day was made easier by the massive crowd's 'good nature'.

Sadly our equine friend passed away just seven years after the match with
which he will forever be remembered; former partner Scorey was subsequently
presented with one of Billy's hooves, mounted, in memory of his former
companion.

Meanwhile, West Ham had to wait another 42 years before finally getting
their hands on the FA Cup...

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Spector - We're stronger now
Hammers star confident of survival
Last Updated: April 28, 2011 10:15am
SSN

Jonathan Spector rates the current West Ham team as superior to the one that
staged a great escape under Alan Curbishley four years ago. The Hammers
looked set to be relegated in 2007 before embarking on a magnificent late
charge, winning seven of their last nine games to beat the drop.
Curbishley's side contained the likes of Carlos Tevez, Yossi Benayoun, Bobby
Zamora and Lucas Neill, but Spector feels West Ham are stronger this term.
The American, one of the few survivors from 2007, is confident the Hammers
can find their best form during the remainder of the season and avoid the
trapdoor once again. "It is a very different team from the one we had that
stayed up four years ago," Spector said in the Daily Mirror. "It is a strong
team that we have right now, probably stronger than we had back then. "It
hasn't happened for us this season but now we have to come together as a
group and get some points."

Massive games

West Ham may be in a better position than they were at the equivalent stage
four years ago but they remain two points adrift of safety with just four
games to go.
The next challenge is a clash with high-flying Manchester City on Sunday,
and Spector is determined to rise to the occasion. "They are massive games
coming up and it is a big stage for us," he told the club's official
website. "There is certainly the added pressure of that Premier League
status, which we definitely want to hang on to.
"Every player wants to play. There could be quite a few players who could
have an important role and have a massive impact on the games we have left.
"There have been times when we have played really good football and a lot of
people have been looking at us and saying: 'They are too good to go down'.
"They were saying that about Newcastle a couple of seasons ago and we don't
want to repeat what they did. "I am not sure there is a secret. It is about
hard work and determination and the guts to want the ball, to want to play
and to stick to your gameplan even if it is not going well for you."

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Jacobsen rallies Hammers
Defender pinpoints Blackburn & Wigan games
By Pete O'Rourke - Follow me on Twitter @skysportspeteo. Last
Updated: April 28, 2011 9:30pm
SSN

West Ham defender Lars Jacobsen insists they can still get out of trouble in
the fight for survival. The Hammers find themselves rooted to the bottom of
the table, two points adrift of safety with only four games left in the
campaign. West Ham face Manchester City, Blackburn, Wigan and Sunderland in
their final four games and Jacobsen admits the games against fellow
strugglers Blackburn and Wigan are games they cannot afford to lose. "As I
see it there are five teams that can be relegated and several of the teams
will meet each other," Jacobsen told onside.dk. "So there can be many
things. We still believe, although it will be difficult.

Must-win

"We cannot afford to lose to either Wigan or Blackburn - they are games we
need to win. "So it is clear that they will be two key battles as they are
two teams who are also struggling and perhaps the two teams we can catch.
"We cannot afford to lose to either Wigan or Blackburn they are games we
need to win. "

First up for West Ham is a trip to Champions League-chasing Manchester City
on Sunday and Jacobsen believes they can get a result at Eastlands. "If we
go with the same attitude we showed against Chelsea I think we have a good
chance to get something from City," added Jacobsen. "I know we lost 3-0 to
Chelsea, but we could have got something from there if we had been a little
sharper as we had many chances."

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 28th April 2011

Wolves 3-1 Reserves
WHUFC.com
Steve Lomas's side end the 2010/11 Barclays Premier Reserve League with
defeat in the Midlands
27.04.2011

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER RESERVE LEAGUE
WEDNESDAY 27 APRIL 2011
KICK-OFF: 7PM

Final score - Wolverhampton Wanderers reserves 3-1 West Ham United reserves

92 mins - West Ham come forward one last time through Collison, but Driver
loses control and fouls Forde. The Hammers break through Moncur but his pass
for Hall is wayward and as Ihiekwe intercepts. A second or two later,
referee Fletcher blows for full-time. West Ham finish fourth in the Southern
Group behind Arsenal, Chelsea and Aston Villa, but ahead of West Bromwich
Albion and Wolves. Highlights and exclusive reaction from this evening's
match will appear on whufc.com soon. Until next season...

90 mins - We're going to have at least two more minutes.
89 mins - It has not been West Ham's night in any way shape or form, but
let's not forget that they have enjoyed a fairly successful season.
86 mins - Gorman is replaced by Sam Whittall. The winger gets a decent
reception from the small crowd.
85 mins - Hall tries to pick out Collison's run. Ihiekwe intercepts but Hall
wants a free-kick for handball. The referee waves away his appeals.
84 mins - Moncur lobs the ball over the top for Edgar to chase. He looks as
if he is in on goal, but the ball just gets away from him far enough for
Ihiekwe to get a foot in and it rolls harmlessly through to Ikeme.
82 mins - Rooney shoots powerfully from 25 yards. His effort flicks off
Wearen and behind for a corner. Rooney takes it left-footed and Boffin comes
to claim. The Belgian has had a busy night tonight.
79 mins - It just isn't happening for West Ham in the final third. They are
still working hard, but the attacking moves and passing are just not coming
off.
75 mins - Fifteen minutes to go and if any team looks like scoring the next
goal, it's going to be Wolves. Rooney crosses but it turns into a shot and
Boffin pushes the ball aside for a corner. Gorman takes it and it flicks off
a player's head for another corner. McNaughton heads it clear.
73 mins - Collison gives the ball away from a quickly-taken free-kick and
Wolves break again down their right. Doherty crosses and Rooney picks the
ball up, but the Northern Ireland international screws his shot well wide.
72 mins - Moncur has some time to come forward before shooting low from 25
yards, but he drags his low effort wide of the near post.
70 mins - Potts is replaced by Sanchez for the final 20 minutes. The
Spaniard goes to right-back, with Driver coming across to the left.
69 mins - Gorman and Doherty combine again down the right - they've been a
constant menace - before the right-back pulls the ball into the path of
Rooney. He shoots powerfully, but Boffin beats the ball away.
67 mins - Gorman is a talented dribbler and he leaves Potts for dead inside
the penalty area before crossing low across the face of goal. The ball is no
more than three yards from the line, but there is no player in old gold to
apply the finish.
65 mins - McAlinden should make it 4-1, but his header from Forde's
left-wing cross is too high. Two changes for West Ham - Hall and Wearen on
for Tombides and Abdulla. For Wolves, Ebanks-Landell is replaced by Sam
Griffiths.
64 mins - There are some frustrated players out there in claret and blue,
but they need to pick themselves up as a goal could change this game
immediately. Tombides gets some space inside the box and lays the ball back
for Moncur. He chooses to take a touch instead of shooting first-time and
the chance is lost.
60 mins - West Ham's chance to have a go. Tombides holds the ball up and
Edgar runs at the Wolves defence. He shoots from 25 yards at least, but the
ball flies and dips just wide. The attendance is announced as 176.
58 mins - Wolves just keep coming forward. Forde this time, running past
Driver and shooting low and a yard wide of the far post.
57 mins - Another great chance for Wolves. Griffiths again has time and
space to pull the ball back for Rooney, but he leans back and his left-foot
effort flies over the top.
56 mins - This could get ugly if the Hammers don't up their game. The ball
drops to Rooney about 30 yards out and he shoots early. The ball flies a
couple of yards wide of the target with Boffin at full stretch.
54 mins - GOAL! West Ham have a mountain to climb. Gorman picks up the ball
near the corner flag before running at Potts, cutting on to his left foot
and curling a fantastic shot over Boffin's outstretched left hand and into
the far top corner.
53 mins - That's a better moment for West Ham. Moncur frees Faubert and he
out-paces Doherty before pulling the ball back for Tombides. He takes a
touch and feeds Moncur 20 yards out, but the midfielder's shot is just too
high.
51 mins - Driver needs the physio on after an aerial collision. I think he
suffered a bang on the head there. After some treatment, he is fine to
continue.
50 mins - GOAL! Wolves come again and Rooney has time and space in the
centre of the field to find the rampaging Doherty. Faubert has not tracked
the full-back's run and he has time and space to take a touch before
hammering the ball past Boffin at the Belgian's near post.
49 mins - Chance for West Ham to threaten, but Faubert's pass for Collison
curls away from the midfielder and into the arms of Ikeme. Wolves break
immediately and Hemmings has space to shoot, but his effort flashes just
past the angle of post and crossbar.
48 mins - Eyjolfsson does really well to repel McAlinden inside the box.
Collison had passed the ball straight to Doherty, leaving Potts and
McNaughton out of position and allowing Griffiths to run free down the
right.
46 mins - West Ham get the second half underway... The floodlights have been
turned on here, but it's still far from dark here in Shropshire.

The two teams emerge from the tunnel ahead of the second half - the final
half of the Barclays Premier Reserve League season for both clubs. Can West
Ham find the winner that sees them finish third in the Southern Group table?
No sign of any changes from either manager.

Half-time score - Wolverhampton Wanderers reserves 1-1 West Ham United
reserves

47 mins - That's half-time. West Ham started brightly and took an early
lead, but Wolves have come back strongly and deserved their equaliser. Join
us again in 15 minutes for the second half.
45 mins - We'll have one added minute...
44 mins - Better. Potts and Abdulla combine to win the ball from Griffiths
on halfway. Tombides breaks clear down the left and crosses deep for
Faubert. He takes a touch before pulling the ball into the path of Moncur,
whose first-time shot flicks the side-netting. Close.
43 mins - Moncur makes a good run through the middle but Faubert doesn't
spot him until late. The midfielder loses the ball. It's been that sort of
half for West Ham,
41 mins - Driver looked to have been fouled by Forde there, but the referee
gave nothing. Seconds later, a frustrated Driver kicks out at the No11. Mr
Fletcher calls the two players together but doesn't show a card.
39 mins - McNaughton concedes a corner. Rooney crosses and Boffin punches
powerfully clear. Wolves pick up possession and Ihiekwe wins a header inside
the box, Griffiths keeps the ball alive and crosses, but McAlinden slices
his volley well wide. Wolves have been the better team this half, of that
there is no doubt.
37 mins - Abdulla loses the battle in midfield, allowing Rooney to hook the
ball forward to Griffiths, who takes a touch but drags a low shot across the
face of goal and out for a goal kick.
35 mins - Ebanks-Landell pushes Tombides over. Faubert delivers, Eyjolfsson
flicks on and Harris needlessly concedes a corner. McNaughton wins the
delivery, but his header bounces straight into the arms of Ikeme.
32 mins - Griffiths shoots but his effort hits Abdulla and spins wide right
to Harris. He crosses for the striker, but Eyjolfsson gets enough of a head
on the ball to concede a corner. Eyjolfsson clears the initial delivery, but
Wolves keep it and Gorman crosses for McAlinden, but his header flashes well
wide.
29 mins - West Ham come forward down the right and win a throw. Driver lobs
it back to Eyjolfsson, but his cross is high and hanging and an easy catch
for Ikeme.
28 mins - That lad Griffiths is at it again, running at McNaughton before
Eyjolfsson comes across and blocks his cross. More cheers from the man in
front of me and his friend.
26 mins - GOAL! Wolves are level and Griffiths is not involved. Harris picks
out the run of right-back Doherty, who takes a touch and finishes
confidently past Boffin.
25 mins - No9 Leigh Griffiths has caught the eye for Wolves. He is certainly
the favourite of the man two rows in front who keeps shouting 'Come on
Leigh'.
21 mins - Wolves' young team are full of energy and enthusiasm as you might
expect, but West Ham still look dangerous. Tombides tries to spin away from
Ebanks-Landell, but the defender is just too strong. Shame, as otherwise the
Australian would have been clean through.

17 mins - The No9 beats Abdulla before nutmegging Driver and forcing Boffin
into a plunging save. Potts heads half-clear and the ball is worked to
Griffiths again. He finds Rooney, who blazes high and wide from a great
position inside the box.
16 mins - Collison gets forward down the right and lays the ball back for
Faubert. His curling cross is just too strong for Tombides but the ball is
headed behind by Ebanks-Lindell. The corner is cleared and Wolves break
through Griffiths.
14 mins - Lomas, his coaching staff and the substitutes are shielding their
eyes from the sun on the far side. Over here in the main stand, it's a bit
cool in the shade! West Ham have taken control again in recent moments and
look a threat down both flanks. Tombides shows just that by controlling,
beating a man and shooting wide from 20 yards.
10 mins - Eyjolfsson heads the ball straight to Rooney. When he plays the
ball wide right, Edgar pushes Doherty to the floor. Free-kick about 35 yards
from goal wide on the Wolves left. It's taken short to Gorman, but his cross
is hacked clear at the near post by McNaughton.
8 mins - The home side have come back into things and are looking a bit more
dangerous. A few loose clearances have given Wolves a chance to get on the
front foot - something Lomas will want his players to cut out.
7 mins - Eyjolfsson is penalised for holding down McAlinden. Rooney delivers
the free-kick and McNaughton heads it straight up in the air, but Boffin is
there to catch the high ball.
6 mins - Wolves No9 Leigh Griffiths has the ball in the net from
close-range, but one of his team-mates had long since been flagged for
offside.
5 mins - West Ham have started really well. Tombides wins a free-kick, then
does well to hold the ball up well again before Edgar crosses, but his
delivery flies behind for a goal kick.
3 mins - GOAL! Faubert! Boffin's long straight clearance is allowed to
bounce by the Wolves defence and the No11 uses his pace to get in behind. He
looks up and carefully lobs the ball over the advancing Ikeme. Great finish
to a very direct move!
2 mins - Tombides breaks the offside trap but he's got to hold the ball up
and wait for support. Moncur and Collison play a one-two but the former is
crowded out.

7pm - Wolves get us underway kicking from right to left as I look at it.
Forde delivers the first cross from wide on the left but it's an easy catch
for the towering Boffin.

6.57pm - Here come the West Ham players, led by captain Callum McNaughton.
Jeff Beck's 'Hi Ho Silver Lining' welcomes the home side out of the tunnel a
short time later. Our referee tonight is Russell Fletcher. I would think
West Ham will employ a 4-3-3 formation, with Driver, Eyjolfsson, McNaughton
and Potts across the back, Abdulla anchoring the midfield behind Moncur and
Collison and Tombides leading the line ahead of Faubert and Edgar.

6.55pm - It is sunny but chilly evening at Telford as we eagerly await
kick-off here at The New Bucks Head. I am afraid to say that my enthusiasm
for the game has not been shared by too many supporters. A quick look around
and I would say there are only about 100-odd people here this evening.
That's a shame, because West Ham have plenty of promising youngsters on
show, as I'm sure Wolves do too.

Good evening and welcome to the town of Telford for tonight's climax to the
2010/11 Barclays Premier Reserve League season.
West Ham United will be eager to finish the campaign on a high when they
take on Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Steve Lomas's side looking to end a
run of three matches without a victory at The New Bucks Head.

Blue Square Bet North side AFC Telford United's tidy stadium is bathed in
warm late-April sunshine for what promises to be a keenly-contested affair
between two young sides. For West Ham, however, Jack Collison, Julien
Faubert and Ruud Boffin provide some welcome first-team experience and
know-how.

At the other end of the age spectrum, first-year scholar Danny Potts makes
his reserve-team debut, becoming the 49th player to turn out for West Ham's
second-string this term. Midfielder Ahmed Abdulla makes his team-leading
18th reserve-team appearance of the season, while Callum McNaughton, George
Moncur and Dylan Tombides will be keen to end encouraging personal seasons
in style.

The Hammers defeated Wolves 2-0 in the reverse fixture at Bishop's Stortford
on 22 February, with Cristian Montano and Anthony Edgar getting the goals. A
victory tonight would lift West Ham above Aston Villa and guarantee them a
third-place finish in the Southern Division behind Arsenal and Chelsea.

Wolverhampton Wanderers reserves: Ikeme, Doherty, Ebanks-Landell
(S.Griffiths 65), Ihiekwe, Hemmings, Gorman (Whittall 86), Rooney, Harris,
Forde, L.Griffiths, McAlinden
Subs not used: McCarey, Kempton

West Ham United reserves: Boffin, Driver, Eyjolfsson, McNaughton, Potts
(Sanchez 70), Abdulla (Wearen 65), Moncur, Collison, Edgar, Faubert,
Tombides (Hall 65)
Subs not used: Larkins, Lletget

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Spector takes centre stage
WHUFC.com
Jonathan Spector is this season showing much of the early promise that
caught Sir Alex Ferguson's eye
27.04.2011

There may not be a surprise in store when the Hammer of the Year is crowned
next month but another hard-working midfielder will also deserve plenty of
plaudits come the end of the campaign. Jonathan Spector has been a loyal
servant since joining back in June 2006 - and is the club's longest serving
first-teamer after Mark Noble and Danny Gabbidon. Until this campaign he was
most known as a versatile defender but he has become central to the cause as
a central midfielder. Long respected by the Hammers faithful for his
hard-working and honest play, Spector has added attacking verve and fearless
forward running to his game. So much so that he was there in the box almost
heading past Petr Cech to open the scoring in Saturday's 3-0 defeat at
Chelsea and also the one who slipped a sublime pass through for Robbie Keane
to nearly level matters when just a goal down. It may be that his
opportunity has come with an injury to Footballer of the Year Scott Parker,
the overwhelming favourite for the club prize as well, but Spector is just
happy to be involved. He is determined to keep the team in the top-flight.
"I think every player wants to play. They are massive games [coming up] and
it is a big stage for us. "There is certainly the added pressure of that
Premier League status which we definitely want to hang on to."

Spector was there back in 2006/07 with the last 'Great Escape', coming on as
an early substitute for George McCartney at Old Trafford on the final day
and performing heroically against his old club Manchester United. He is
certainly ready, if asked, to channel that never-say-die attitude once
again. "It is a very different team from the one we had that stayed up [four
years ago]. It is a strong team that we have right now, probably stronger
than we had back then. But it hasn't happened for us this season but now we
have to come together as a group and get some points."

Spector is never one to shirk a challenge or be overawed by his opponent -
anyone who saw him play in wins for the United States against Egypt and
Spain on route to the FIFA Confederations Cup final back in 2009 will
testify to that. Now 25 and an experienced Premier League performer, he
would love to have a major impact in a game again this season, as he did
with two superb goals against Manchester United in this season's 4-0 Carling
Cup romp. Modest off the pitch but unerringly confident on it, Spector would
settle for anyone stepping up to the plate in the final four games - just as
long as the club survive. "There could be quite a few players who could have
an important role and have a massive impact on these games that we have
left. "There have been times when we have played really good football and a
lot of people have been looking at us and saying 'they are too good to go
down'. They were saying that about Newcastle a couple of seasons ago and we
don't want to repeat what they did. "I am not sure there is a secret. It is
about hard work and determination and the guts to want the ball, to want to
play and to stick to your gameplan even if it is not going well for you. "

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Mark KO is hard to stomach
By ROSS GREGORY
Published: Today
The Sun

MARK NOBLE looks certain to miss West Ham's vital game at Manchester City.
Tests confirmed that the midfielder, 23, does have a stomach problem - and
it could signal the end of his season. The injury is still being assessed
but if it is a hernia, as feared, it would require surgery. Losing him would
be another massive blow to the Hammers' survival hopes, with fellow midfield
stars Scott Parker and Gary O'Neil also sidelined. West Ham are bottom with
just four games to go to save their skins. Parker is unlikely to return
until after Sunday's game at Eastlands, having already missed the last two
matches with an Achilles problem, while O'Neil's season is over because of
an ankle injury. That would mean another start in midfield for American
defender Jonathan Spector. The 25-year-old was part of the West Ham side
which pulled off the 'Great Escape' four years ago by beating Manchester
United at Old Trafford. He said: "It is a strong team that we have right
now, probably stronger than we had back then. "But we have to come together
as a group now and get some points."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Spector: Current Hammers are better than 2007 escape artists
Published 23:00 27/04/11 By Neil McLeman
The Mirror

Jonathan Spector has claimed Avram Grant's side are better than the West Ham
team which staged the Great Escape in 2007. And the American has called on
the the Premier League's bottom side to show "guts" and prove it in their
final four games, starting at Manchester City on Sunday. The former
Manchester United defender was part of Alan Curbishley's side which won
seven of their last nine matches - including a last-day win at Old Trafford
- to beat the drop four years ago. That team included Argentina's Carlos
Tevez, Australian captain Lucas Neill, Bobby Zamora and Yossi Benayoun. But
Spector, one of the few Upton Park survivors of that team, reckons the
current side have more all-round strength. And he called on the Grant's men,
who are set to be without Scott Parker as well as Mark Noble and Gary O'Neil
at Eastlands, to finally prove their quality. "It is a very different team
from the one we had that stayed up four years ago," reckoned Spector, who
moved to Upton Park in 2006. "It is a strong team that we have right now,
probably stronger than we had back then. It hasn't happened for us this
season but now we have to come together as a group and get some points."

In 2007, the Hammers were still five points adrift with four games to go
while Grant's side are now two points from safety. Tevez was the star of the
side four years ago before his contribution cost the Hammers £25m in fines
and compensation. But the Irons went down in 2003 – with 42 points – despite
having a team full of big international names like Paolo Di Canio, Tomas
Repka and Freddie Kanoute and a host of England stars such as David James,
Glen Johnson, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Trevor Sinclair and Jermain Defoe.
And Spector, who is likely to start in the decimated Hammers midfield
against Champions League-chasing City, reckons it will take a brave team
effort this time. "They are massive games coming up and it is a big stage
for us," he told www.whufc.com. "There is certainly the added pressure of
that Premier League status, which we definitely want to hang on to. Every
player wants to play. There could be quite a few players who could have an
important role and have a massive impact on the games we have left. "There
have been times when we have played really good football and a lot of people
have been looking at us and saying: 'They are too good to go down'. They
were saying that about Newcastle a couple of seasons ago and we don't want
to repeat what they did. "I am not sure there is a secret. It is about hard
work and determination and the guts to want the ball, to want to play and to
stick to your gameplan even if it is not going well for you."

West Ham face a decision over the fitness of Player of the Year Parker, who
has missed the last two games with an Achilles injury, with the Hammers
facing Blackburn, Wigan and Sunderland in their final three games. "I don't
know about next Sunday, but Parker will definitely be fit for the week
after," Grant said. "He's a good player but we can do it without him."

Skipper Matthew Upson has returned to training after missing the defeat at
Chelsea due to illness. But Mark Noble needs a hernia operation after
suffering a stomach injury in the same game and will struggle to play again
this season. He had already missed six weeks this term with appendicitis and
has had groin problems in the past.

O'Neil is already out for the campaign with a serious ankle injury. Danny
Gabbidon, who is set to move to left-back with Wayne Bridge unable to play
against his parent club, said: "The last three games will be big games. But
every game from now on is big. We are not writing off Man City and thinking
just the three after that as the more you lose the harder the next games
becomes. "And those games are hard as well as the teams are down the bottom
and fighting for their lives as well. So we look to Man City and have to
believe that we go there and get some points from that and if we do it will
be a great confidence boost for the team going in and getting something
there and that sets us up nicely for those three games"

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham fear Noble could be out for the season
Published 14:27 27/04/11 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror

Mark Noble today appeared certain to miss West Ham's Barclays Premier League
game at Manchester City on Sunday, although the full extent of his stomach
injury was still being assessed. Tests yesterday confirmed the midfielder
did have a problem, which was feared could be a hernia. Should further
assessment back that up, the 23-year-old would likely require surgery that
would end his season. Noble left the field on a stretcher an hour into
Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Chelsea after going down with pains in his lower
stomach. He had already missed six weeks this term with appendicitis and has
had groin problems in the past. Losing him would be another massive blow to
West Ham's survival hopes, with fellow midfielders Scott Parker and Gary
O'Neil also currently sidelined. Parker is unlikely to return until after
Sunday's game, having already missed the last two matches with an Achilles
problem, while O'Neil's season is over because of a serious ankle injury.
That would mean another start in midfield for Jonathan Spector, who had been
known primarily as a defender until this term. The 25-year-old is just happy
to be playing as he looks to help the Hammers climb back off the foot of the
table during the final month of the campaign. He told his club's official
website, www.whufc.com: "I think every player wants to play. They are
massive games (coming up) and it is a big stage for us. "There is certainly
the added pressure of that Premier League status, which we definitely want
to hang on to."

Spector was part of the West Ham side which pulled off the 'Great Escape'
from relegation four years ago by beating Manchester United at Old Trafford.
"It is a very different team from the one we had that stayed up," he said.
"It is a strong team that we have right now, probably stronger than we had
back then. But it hasn't happened for us this season but now we have to come
together as a group and get some points." He added: "There could be quite a
few players who could have an important role and have a massive impact on
these games that we have left. "There have been times when we have played
really good football and a lot of people have been looking at us and saying,
'They are too good to go down'. "They were saying that about Newcastle a
couple of seasons ago and we don't want to repeat what they did. "I am not
sure there is a secret. It is about hard work and determination and the guts
to want the ball, to want to play and to stick to your gameplan even if it
is not going well for you."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers give veteran scout unceremonious send off
Published 23:00 27/04/11 By Alan Nixon
The Mirror

West Ham have sacked long-serving Roger Cross as chief scout. Veteran Cross
has been the Hammers talent-spotter for years and spent two decades at the
club as a player and then on the backroom staff where he was also reserve
team boss. Cross grew up as a Hammers hopeful at the same time as the Boys
of 66 – Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurts and Martin Peters – and returned to the
club after a spell with Tottenham as a senior spy. But with Hammers looking
to shake up their staff the 62-year-old has been made redundant and will be
given a settlement for his services. Cross's job of finding new talent has
been overtaken by the owners consulting agents who have pushed the recent
stream of players towards Upton Park. But the long-serving scout was
responsible for week-to-week covering of games and future opposition - and
he was told the news by one of the club's human resources officers. However
many West Ham insiders fear this will be the start of a handful of cutbacks,
whether Avram Grant's strugglers survive or not, as the heirarchy look to
trim the payroll. The way Cross was told the news came as a shock, with the
decision broken by a member of staff rather than one of the leading figures
at the club.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Mark Noble injury blow hits West Ham United's fight for Premier League
survival
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt 9:11PM BST 27 Apr 2011

West Ham's chances of avoiding relegation have suffered a severe blow with
Mark Noble set to miss the next three weeks after suffering a hernia injury.
It had been hoped that the 23-year-old midfielder, who joins Scott Parker on
the sidelines, had simply suffered a strain after leaving the pitch on a
stretcher after an hour of last Saturday's 3-0 defeat away to Chelsea. Noble
has already missed six weeks of the season with appendicitis and it's
believed that his latest setback is a recurrence of an existing problem. He
will miss West Ham's crucial game at Manchester City on Sunday along with
next weekend's home match against Blackburn Rovers and the away fixture at
Wigan Athletic. It remains to be seen whether he can recover in time to
feature in West Ham's final game of the season, at home to Sunderland, which
may determine their league status. Bottom of the table West Ham are
understood to be less confident than they were that Parker, who has an
Achilles problem, will make Sunday's match. A third midfielder, Gary O'Neil,
will not play again this season after suffering an ankle injury.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Stoke, Birmingham and West Ham tracking goalkeeper Bozovic
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER Last updated at 10:45 PM on 27th April 2011
Daily Mail

Stoke, Birmingham and West Ham are monitoring 6ft 5in Montenegro goalkeeper
Mladen Bozovic. The 25-year-old, who plays for Hungarian champions Videoton,
has been watched by Hamburg and Schalke in the German Bundesliga but is seen
as ideal cover for Premier League sides as he is available for around
£2million.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Noble's absence adds to West Ham concerns for relegation struggle
Midfielder set to miss game at Manchester City with stomach injury and may
be out for the rest of the season
The Independent
By Ben Rumsby
Thursday, 28 April 2011

Mark Noble appears certain to miss West Ham's Premier League game at
Manchester City on Sunday, although the full extent of his stomach injury
was still being assessed. Tests yesterday confirmed the midfielder did have
a problem, which was feared could be a hernia. Should further assessment
back that up, the 23-year-old would likely require surgery that would end
his season. Noble left the field on a stretcher an hour into Saturday's 3-0
defeat at Chelsea after going down with pains in his lower stomach. He had
already missed six weeks this term with appendicitis and has had groin
problems in the past.

Losing him would be another massive blow to West Ham's survival hopes, with
fellow midfielders Scott Parker and Gary O'Neil also currently sidelined.
Parker is unlikely to return until after Sunday's game, having already
missed the last two matches with an Achilles problem, while O'Neil's season
is over because of a serious ankle injury.

That would mean another start in midfield for Jonathan Spector, who had been
known primarily as a defender until this season. The 25-year-old is just
happy to be playing as he looks to help the Hammers climb back off the foot
of the table during the final month of the campaign. He said: "I think every
player wants to play. They are massive games [coming up] and it is a big
stage for us. There is certainly the added pressure of that Premier League
status, which we definitely want to hang on to."

Spector was part of the West Ham side which pulled off the "Great Escape"
from relegation four years ago by beating Manchester United at Old Trafford.
"It is a very different team from the one we had that stayed up," he said.
"It is a strong team that we have right now, probably stronger than we had
back then. But it hasn't happened for us this season but now we have to come
together as a group and get some points."

He added: "There could be quite a few players who could have an important
role and have a massive impact on these games that we have left. There have
been times when we have played really good football and a lot of people have
been looking at us and saying, 'They are too good to go down'. They were
saying that about Newcastle a couple of seasons ago and we don't want to
repeat what they did. "I am not sure there is a secret," Spector added. "It
is about hard work and determination and the guts to want the ball, to want
to play and to stick to your gameplan even if it is not going well for you."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
UP OR DOWN, WEST HAM WANT MARTIN O'NEILL
Daily Express
West Ham will make another bid for Martin O'Neill
Thursday April 28,2011
By Matt Law

WEST HAM will make another move to tempt Martin O'Neill back into management
at the end of the season even if Avram Grant keeps the club in the Premier
League. And if the Hammers fail to get O'Neill then they have identified his
clone, Norwich City boss Paul Lambert, as an alternative. Grant is expected
to be sacked at the end of the season whether West Ham stay up or are
relegated to the Championship, and the streamlining of staff has already
started after the club parted company with long-serving chief scout Roger
Cross. Sources at Upton Park claim O'Neill is still the No1 choice of
co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold to replace Grant, despite the fact
he turned down the job in January. Having been sounded out by the Hammers,
O'Neill was upset that his possible appointment was leaked out while Grant
remained in charge ahead of the home game against Arsenal. Despite being
offered a bonus of about £3million to keep West Ham up, O'Neill did not
accept the job and has now been out of work for eight months since quitting
Aston Villa days before the start of the season. If they are relegated, the
Hammers would be prepared to offer O'Neill a similar incentive to get them
promoted at the first attempt. West Ham hope O'Neill will have a change of
heart in the summer, when they can sort out Grant's pay-off terms before
formally approaching him. But if O'Neill holds out for a more attractive
offer from elsewhere, then West Ham will also enquire about Lambert, who is
closing in on a second successive promotion with Norwich. Lambert has won
many admirers for leading Norwich out of League One and to the brink of
promotion to the Premier League. His side currently occupy the second
automatic promotion place with only two Championship games of the season
remaining.

Having played under O'Neill at Celtic, Lambert's management style has been
compared with that of his former boss and the pair share similar training
and playing philosophies. Lambert turned down an approach from Burnley in
January and may be similarly reluctant to take up the challenge at Upton
Park. Whatever happens over the final four Premier League games of this
season, West Ham insiders are expecting big changes to the backroom and
playing staff. Former Hammers forward Cross is the first member of the
current staff to leave, bringing an end to an association with the club that
started as a 15-year-old on the groundstaff in 1964. He made eight
first-team appearances as a player for West Ham, returning to the club 10
years ago as a member of the backroom staff and most recently held the
position of chief scout.

It is unclear whether Cross will be replaced after his role was diminished
by the active part agent Barry Silkman has played in identifying and signing
new players since Sullivan and Gold took control of the club. The Hammers
will need to quickly identify new signings, with a number of their current
squad expected to leave.
Aston Villa are confident of signing goalkeeper Robert Green, while there
will be a battle involving Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal for the services
of Football Writers' Player of the Year Scott Parker. Strikers Carlton Cole
and Frederic Piquionne have also attracted the interest of Premier League
clubs.

West Ham's hopes of survival have been dealt a blow by the news they are set
to be without midfield duo Parker and Mark Noble for Sunday's trip to
Manchester City. Parker did not train yesterday because of the Achilles
tendon injury that kept him out of the Aston Villa and Chelsea games, and it
is looking increasingly likely that he will now be saved for the Hammers'
final three matches against Blackburn, Wigan and Sunderland. Noble, 23, is
also expected to miss at least the City game after tests revealed he is
suffering a hernia problem that will require treatment. West Ham are now
assessing the extent of the issue to determine whether he will be able to
play again this season.

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

http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - Reserves

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER RESERVE LEAGUE
WEDNESDAY 27 APRIL 2011
KICK-OFF: 7PM

Wolverhampton Wanderers reserves v West Ham United reserves

West Ham United will be eager to finish the campaign on a high when they
take on Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Steve Lomas's side looking to end a
run of three matches without a victory at The New Bucks Head.

Blue Square Bet North side AFC Telford United's tidy stadium is bathed in
warm late-April sunshine for what promises to be a keenly-contested affair
between two young sides. For West Ham, however, Jack Collison, Julien
Faubert and Ruud Boffin provide some welcome first-team experience and
know-how.

At the other end of the age spectrum, first-year scholar Danny Potts makes
his reserve-team debut, becoming the 49th player to turn out for West Ham's
second-string this term. Midfielder Ahmed Abdulla makes his team-leading
18th reserve-team appearance of the season, while Callum McNaughton, George
Moncur and
Dylan Tombides will be keen to end encouraging personal seasons in style.

The Hammers defeated Wolves 2-0 in the reverse fixture at Bishop's Stortford
on 22 February, with Cristian Montano and Anthony Edgar getting the goals. A
victory tonight would lift West Ham above Aston Villa and guarantee them a
third-place finish in the Southern Division behind Arsenal and Chelsea.

Wolverhampton Wanderers reserves: Ikeme, Doherty, Ebanks-Landell, Ihiekwe,
Hemmings, Gorman, Rooney, Harris, Forde, L.Griffiths, McAlinden
Subs: McCarey, S.Griffiths, Whittall, Kempton

West Ham United reserves: Boffin, Driver, Eyjolfsson, McNaughton, Potts,
Abdulla, Moncur, Collison, Edgar, Faubert, Tombides
Subs: Larkins, Sanchez, Wearen, Lletget, Hall

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

http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 27th April 2011

Reserves aim to sign off in style
WHUFC.com
The Hammers are heading to Telford on Wednesday for their final fixture of the campaign
26.04.2011

Steve Lomas will take his reserves to face Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday night looking to sign off the 2010/11 Barclays Premier Reserve League South season on a positive note. The Hammers have stumbled of late, without a win in the last four matches, although Lomas has had to shuffle his pack repeatedly to accommodate first-teamers looking for much-needed game time. Chief among them has been Jack Collison who should get his fourth run-out in as many weeks at AFC Telford United's home ground. whufc.com will have full text coverage as usual from 6pm ahead of the 7pm kick-off at the New Bucks Head Stadium. As well as the likes of Collison, youngsters will continue to be blooded - including possibly Republic of Ireland Under-19 midfielder Eoin Wearen, who has returned to the club on a high after a successful international tournament in Cyprus. Wearen is relishing the chance to show what he can do at this level again, having linked up with Collison to good effect a fortnight ago in the goalless draw with Aston Villa. "It's always nice to have senior players in the side," he said. "It makes you feel comfortable and then you can play and obviously confident that you can win the game. People like Jack Collison are really supportive to you. I really enjoyed playing with him. "He looked really sharp, he's going to be back to his best in no time and obviously he's looking forward. He will be a big plus to the club when he gets back judging on tonight's performance. "I'm hoping to get a good run of games now towards the end of the season. I've got the European Championships coming up with Ireland so I want to stay nice and fit for that. Wearen is certainly eager to play his part for the Irish in the UEFA European U19 Championship Elite round when it starts in Poland on 24 May. As well as meeting the mini-tournament hosts on the first day, Ireland will take on Ukraine two days later and then Italy on 29 May. "It is a group that contains, us, Italy, Poland and Ukraine so it's anybody group although only one team goes through. We are confident we've got the squad to go and maybe cause an upset."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gabbidon calls on strikers
West Ham defender says they need to start taking chances
By Graeme Bailey -
Last Updated: April 26, 2011 12:40pm
SSN

West Ham stopper Danny Gabbidon admits the clubs strikers cannot afford to be wasteful during the run-in. The Hammers slipped to the foot of the Premier League table over the weekend after defeat to Chelsea on Saturday. West Ham have not won for five league matches and within that run they have failed to score three times. Their failure to convert chances was highlighted at Stamford Bridge as they missed a host of opportunities to equalise before Chelsea sealed victory in the last ten minutes. And Gabbidon admits things need to improve in the last third, saying: "It seems the same old story that we never take our chances. "We play well and create and never get the result. So it is disappointing. We put in a lot of hard work and we had chances to score and when they had their chances, they took them.
"For long parts of the game we did well and 3-0 is really disappointing. "I can't really take any pride as a defender from my performance as we lost 3-0 so I am disappointed."

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Could the Chelski Defeat Prove a Dry Run for Success at City?
April 27th, 2011 - 12:05 am by S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die

Saturday's defeat was very strange. I do not remember West Ham having so much of the play, or carving out so many good chances at Stamford Bridge, since the Di Canio inspired victory in 2002-03! The 4-5-1 formation worked well, with Sears and Ba on the flanks providing the attacking threat, in support of lone striker Carlton Cole. Personally, I would have played Ba in the lone striker role and brought Boa Morte in on the left, but I said that prior to the match!

Lampard's goal was well worked, but we should have negated the threat. At 1-0 down, we had chances to level it, before falling victim to the inevitable Torres goal! The third was a sucker punch really, as we pushed forward trying to pull back the score line. Indeed, the second and third Chelski goals were undeserved and very harsh upon a Hammers team that had matched their hosts for much of the game. Questions should, however, be asked about the waterlogged state of the pitch. Chelski ground staff heavily watered the pitch prior to the match and then got caught out by the subsequent down pour. As a result, parts of the pitch had water laying upon the surface. Whether it aided or undermined the Hammers players is a moot point, but there is no doubt that it played a crucial part in the decisive second goal.

Who knows if the pitch also played a part in Mark Noble's injury? Lets hope that it is not serious and Noble will be available on Sunday? In addition, it is apparently touch and go whether Scott Parker will be fit. If there is the slightest doubt I would delay his return until the Blackburn match. Regardless of enforced changes I would go with a 4-5-1 formation once again at City. If Parker and Noble are injured, then we might have to go with Hitzlsperger, Spector, Kovac or Boa Morte, Sears and Ba as the midfield 5. However, if Jack Collison is fit then he needs to figure, if only from the substitutes bench. Wayne Bridge is not eligible for this match and it is likely that Gabbidon will move to left-back and Tomkins will partner Da Costa, if Matt Upson is not ready to return; while Jacobsen is an automatic choice at right-back.

No doubt Cole will play as the lone striker again. I hope that he applies himself to better hold up the ball, link up play and use his strength and skill to run at the centre of the City defence. The Monday and Tuesday defeats of Blackburn and Wolves have contrived to ensure that we stay well in touch of safety. Now we must start helping ourselves! The problem is not so much the other teams at the bottom, Blackpool, Blackburn, Wolves and Wigan will undoubtedly drop further points. The crucial question is: can we show the form and consistency to take advantage and thereby save ourselves? That is the pivotal variable factor, although it has to be said that key aspects of Saturday's performance were encouraging.

Hopefully, Grant will retain the same formation at City and the players selected will have learnt from the Chelski defeat and be better able to make it work on the day. The overarching lesson being that we must be more clinical and take any chances that we carve out in the course of Sunday's match. COYI!

SJ. Chandos.

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Danny hammers Irons strikers
Published: 26 Apr 2011
The Sun

DANNY GABBIDON believes it is about time West Ham's strikers started contributing to their relegation scrap. Avram Grant's side slipped to the foot of the Premier League table with a 3-0 hammering at Chelsea on Saturday. The Irons had plenty of chances to score, with Robbie Keane the worst offender after blasting wide from eight yards when they were just 1-0 down with 17 minutes remaining. West Ham have only scored four times in their current six-match winless streak and Gabbidon believes that must improve in their remaining four games if they are to avoid the drop. He said: "It seems the same old story that we never take our chances. "We play well and create and never get the result. So it is disappointing. We put in a lot of hard work and we had chances to score and when they had their chances, they took them. "For long parts of the game we did well and 3-0 is really disappointing. "I can't really take any pride as a defender from my performance as we lost 3-0 so I am disappointed."

Despite the criticism, Welshman Gabbidon insists there were plenty of positives to be taken from the showing at Stamford Bridge. And if the same passion is shown in the club's remaining fixtures against Manchester City, Blackburn, Wigan and Sunderland, survival will follow. He added: "If we can show that kind of fight and performance in all aspects of the game, we can stay up."

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Kid star can make his Marc
Published: Today
The Sun

WEST HAM are eyeing a move for Portuguese prodigy Marcio Dieb. Hammers boss Avram Grant has invited the £500,000-rated midfielder, who plays for third division club Barreirense, back for a second trial after he shone earlier this month.

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Collison boost for Hammers' relegation battle as midfielder gears up for return
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 6:23 PM on 26th April 2011
Daily Mail

Jack Collison could end his 14-month injury layoff by playing some part in West Ham's crucial clash against Manchester City this weekend. The midfielder was an integral part of the Hammers squad last season but suffered a serious knee injury while on international duty in March 2010 and has been out since. He has made steady progress in his rehabilitation, though, and could play in Sunday's game at Eastlands provided he comes through Wednesday's reserve fixture against Wolves unscathed. Collison's return would be timely for Avram Grant as the West Ham boss has a number of injury problems in midfield. Scott Parker has missed the last two games with an Achilles complaint while Gary O'Neil is out for the season with a serious ankle injury. The club should know the results of tests on Mark Noble's stomach injury on Wednesday. The central midfielder had to come off in the second half of Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Chelsea after feeling discomfort in his stomach after shooting at goal.

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West Ham United's Mark Noble's season at risk as he faces hernia test
Midfielder suffered stomach problem at Stamford Bridge
Scott Parker also a doubt for Sunday's game at Eastlands
Dominic Fifield
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 26 April 2011 22.31 BST

West Ham United's Mark Noble will undergo a scan on Wednesday amid fears that he suffered a hernia during the damaging defeat at Chelsea on Saturday – an injury that, if confirmed, would rule him out for the rest of the season.

Noble suffered pain in his lower stomach after shooting at Stamford Bridge last Saturday and, having been assessed on the pitch, departed on a stretcher. West Ham had hoped he had sustained only a minor stomach-muscle strain but the 23-year-old, who missed six weeks this season with appendicitis, has been sidelined by groin complaints in the past and there are real concerns that the root cause of this latest discomfort is a hernia. The tests will determine the extent of the problem and whether he will require surgery.

The midfielder's absence would be felt all the more keenly over the final four matches of what has proved to be a traumatic season given that Avram Grant's options in midfield have dwindled over recent weeks. Gary O'Neil suffered a serious ankle injury against Aston Villa in a tackle with Nigel Reo‑Coker and, having since had an operation on the joint, will be out for up to eight months. West Ham's most influential player, Scott Parker, is suffering from an achilles complaint.

Grant had hoped Parker would be fit tor the trip to Manchester City this Sunday, though the risk remains of aggravating the injury ahead of the critical three-game run-in which comprises more potentially winnable games against Blackburn Rovers, Wigan Athletic and Sunderland.

The West Ham manager said after the Chelsea loss that Parker's involvement at Eastlands is in serious doubt. "I don't know about next Sunday, but he will definitely be fit for the week after. I want him to play against City. I wanted him to play against Chelsea also but it depends on his condition. You know with Parker if it's 50-50 he will always play, but he was not ready. I hope he will be ready soon."

West Ham prop up the Premier League having lost four matches in succession. Their left-back Wayne Bridge will be ineligible at Eastlands as he is on loan from Manchester City, forcing Grant into further changes at the back, though Matthew Upson, who missed the Chelsea game through illness, is expected to return.

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Great Scott! Parker could return to face Man City for relegation strugglers West Ham
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 1:12 AM on 27th April 2011
Daily Mail

West Ham's Scott Parker could face Manchester City on Sunday even if he is not fully fit. The midfielder has missed the Hammers' last two defeats but, with Mark Noble also injured, boss Avram Grant said: 'If it's 50-50 he will always play.' Parker started running in training yesterday. Grant also hopes to have captain Matthew Upson back from a virus.

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Noble faces being ruled out of battle against the drop
By Mark Fleming
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
The Independent

Midfielder Mark Noble will undergo a scan today on a suspected hernia that will determine if he can play any part in West Ham's desperate fight against relegation from the Premier League. West Ham are hoping the injury that saw him taken off on a stretcher during Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Chelsea is nothing more than a muscle strain, but the more likely scenario is that Noble has suffered a hernia, which would rule him out for the rest of the season. The potential loss of Noble would be a huge blow for manager Avram Grant, who has already seen Footballer of the Year Scott Parker miss the last two games with a sore Achilles. Parker and Noble are unlikely to be fit for Sunday's game at Manchester City, where Grant will also be without midfielder Gary O'Neil (ankle) and Kieron Dyer (hamstring).

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Collison could return to face City
Tuesday 26th April 2011 17:58
TeamTalk

Jack Collison could end his 14-month injury lay-off by playing some part in West Ham's crucial clash against Manchester City this weekend. The midfielder was an integral part of the Hammers squad last season but suffered a serious knee injury while on international duty in March 2010 and has been out since. He has made steady progress in his rehabilitation, though, and could play in Sunday's game at Eastlands provided he comes through Wednesday's reserve fixture against Wolves unscathed. Collison's return would be timely for Avram Grant as the West Ham boss has a number of injury problems in midfield. Scott Parker has missed the last two games with an Achilles complaint while Gary O'Neil is out for the season with a serious ankle injury. The club should know the results of tests on Mark Noble's stomach injury on Wednesday. The central midfielder had to come off in the second half of Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Chelsea after feeling discomfort in his stomach after shooting at goal.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 26th April 2011

Danny disappointed
WHUFC.com
Danny Gabbidon has admitted Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Chelsea was a hard
scoreline to stomach
26.04.2011

With six minutes remaining at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, West Ham United
were still in with a chance of holding Barclays Premier League champions
Chelsea. The Hammers had produced a performance full of heart and commitment
and created a hatful of opportunities against the division's meanest
defence. Then, just as it has so often this season, luck deserted Avram
Grant's side. Substitute Fernando Torres was ushered across the penalty area
by the excellent Danny Gabbidon, only for the ball to stick in a puddle,
wrong-footing the defender and allowing the Spaniard to net his first goal
in Chelsea colours - ending West Ham's spirited resistance in the process.
"I can't really take any pride as a defender from my performance as we lost
3-0 so I am disappointed," the defender told West Ham TV. "That is probably
the bit of luck that Torres needed to get his first goal. The ball stopped
in a puddle and I am sure that he will go on to score a lot more."

Earlier, West Ham had matched their title-chasing hosts for long periods of
a game played in persistent, driving rain. Demba Ba, twice, and Jonathan
Spector forced Petr Cech into fine saves, while Robbie Keane flashed a
first-time shot narrowly wide when well-placed with the score at 1-0. Frank
Lampard had fired Chelsea into a 44th-minute lead from Ashley Cole's
left-wing cross, but aside from that, West Ham had restricted the hosts to
long-range shots. "The first goal was a good goal but we are looking to get
to half time at nil-nil and it was just before the break and it was a blow
for us to go in 1-0. We did well first half. The third goal was a good
finish [from Florent Malouda in added-time]. "It seems the same old story
that we never take our chances, we play well and create and never get the
result. So it is disappointing. We put in a lot of hard work and we had
chances to score and when they had their chances, they took them. "For long
parts of the game we did well and 3-0 is really disappointing."

Having performed so well against a Chelsea side that had won six of its
previous seven league games, Gabbidon said West Ham will travel to
fourth-placed Manchester City next Sunday firmly believing that they can
upset Roberto Mancini's team. "We need to do that from the first minute and
believe in ourselves. That is kind of tough at the moment because of the
position that we are in, but that is what we have to do - just go out there
and give everything that we have got. Man City are a good team but we can't
be thinking of that. We need to go out there and try and get some points on
the board."

Following Sunday's trip to Eastlands, West Ham round out the season with
winnable fixtures against Blackburn Rovers, at Wigan Athletic and at home to
Sunderland, with the No4 insisting that survival is far from beyond them.
"If we can show that kind of fight and performance in all aspects of the
game, [we can stay up]. We worked hard and created some chances which was
good and, at times, we played really well and passed the ball well. So, if
we keep creating those types of chances and put them away then hopefully we
can win a couple of games. "We have to keep with that same approach and try
and get some wins. The first 20 minutes, we looked a bit fearful of them and
what they could do and we couldn't keep the ball and then we realised that
we could play bit and create chances ourselves and it was completely
different after that. "We can't look at the last three games, [though]. We
are looking at the next game and if we can win that it helps us a lot. The
last three games will be big games but every game from now on is big. We are
not writing off Man City and thinking just the three after that as the more
you lose the harder the next games becomes. "Those games are hard as well as
the teams are down the bottom and fighting for their lives as well. So we
look to Man City and have to believe that we go there and get some points
from that and if we do it will be a great confidence boost for the team and
sets us up nicely for those three games."

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Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
It is crunch time in the Barclays Premier League with a massive month facing
the Hammers
25.04.2011

With a month to go in the Barclays Premier League, Avram Grant said West Ham
United still have everything in their hands to survive. Even so, Hammers
fans will spend the next four weeks looking as much at other results - for
example, this evening Blackburn Rovers receive high-flying Manchester City -
as their own. What is certain is that following four defeats in April, the
manager needs a May revival. After a 3-0 loss at Chelsea on a sodden
Saturday, Grant's team are two points adrift of safety. They play relegation
rivals Blackburn at home and Wigan Athletic away in between next Sunday's
trip to Manchester City and the final-day visit of Sunderland to the Boleyn.
"There is a lot of belief," Grant said. "Against Chelsea, we created chances
and we defended well. The spirit was very good. We played a very good team
in the best shape of their season and we deserved more from this. The final
score does not tell the story. "Until 85 minutes it was 1-0 and we had some
big chances before then. Everyone said Chelsea would beat us easily.
especially without Scott Parker and others [the ill Matthew Upson and Gary
O'Neil] but everyone saw we deserved more."

It remains to be seen whether Parker will return at the City of Manchester
Stadium next weekend because of his achilles tendonitis problem. "I don't
know about next Sunday, but he will definitely be fit for the week after. I
want him to play against City. I wanted him to play against Chelsea also but
it depends on his condition.
"You know with Parker if it's 50-50 he will always play, but he was not
ready. I hope he will be ready soon. "The players want to play with him.
Every player wants to play with him. He's a good player, the writers' player
of the year and everyone wants to play with him. But he didn't play and we
need to get results. But we can do it without him."

Grant added that "it is not looking so good" for Mark Noble's stomach
complaint after his enforced substitution at Stamford Bridge while fellow
midfielder O'Neil is out for the season with his ankle injury. The manager
was, though, delighted with the contribution of stand-ins Jonathan Spector
and Freddie Sears and is backing his squad to deliver. "You never know what
can happen next Sunday. Manchester City are another fantastic team but there
have been a lot of ups and downs this season.
"Since January we have a team that deserve to stay in the league. Of course
we are carrying on our back the first half of the season. It is not easy but
it is still possible. The gap stayed two points from safety. It is still in
our hands. Fan support will play a significant role and the manager was keen
to stress how crucial their backing was to the team - with an outstanding
display in the away end on Saturday. "The supporters are great," Grant
repeated, mindful of how crucial their impact could be in tense situations.
"If they continue like this we will stay in the league."

The final four matches will be a huge test of nerve with the manager knowing
the key to salvation is ultimately about what happens on the pitch, and
staying composed under pressure. "In our situation, we need to be calmer in
the box and take our chances. Whatever happens next week, we're still in
there. It depends on us."

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Gary O'Neil to miss rest of season after ankle surgery
Page last updated at 15:46 GMT, Friday, 22 April 2011 16:46 UK
BBC.co.uk

West Ham midfielder Gary O'Neil is set to miss the rest of the season after
undergoing surgery on an ankle injury. The 27-year-old was injured after a
tackle by Nigel Reo-Coker in the Hammers' 2-1 Premier League defeat by Aston
Villa at Upton Park on 16 April. O'Neil said: "I have got some joint damage
in the ankle which they had to sort but I am told it went well. "I am
disappointed not to be involved for the last five games but looking to get
back as fast as I can next season."

O'Neill has made eight appearances for the Hammers after joining in January
from Championship side Middlesbrough. West Ham currently sit second from
bottom in the Premier League table, two points from safety and they travel
to Stamford Bridge on Saturday to face third-placed Chelsea. "I will be
right behind the lads and I'll be cheering them on at the remaining
matches," continued O'Neil. "I have got my head around the timescale
involved for my comeback. I have just got to keep my foot up for a few weeks
and then take it from there."

Reports have surfaced that O'Neil was considering legal action against
Reo-Coker, but Villa assistant manager Gary McAllister insisted that the
tackle was fair. McAllister said: "I am surprised [about the reports]. I
know Gary O'Neill quite well. I worked with him at Middlesbrough so, when I
saw that the knock he got was bad, I got our video guys to show me the
challenge. "I've got to say it's a good tackle and it's the follow-through
of Gary O'Neil which catches the base of Nigel's boot, where I think the
problem comes from. Nigel clearly gets the ball. He's come from the side,
not from the back and I just don't think Gary O'Neil has seen him. "I think
Nigel can rest assured it was a good tackle."

West Ham manager Avram Grant admitted he was disappointed to lose O'Neil at
such a crucial stage in the campaign. "It was a bad, bad injury," said
Grant. "Gary is one of our best players, especially against the big teams.
He has experience to work hard and he knows how to pass the ball. "We missed
him last week and it was not easy for us to play [without him]. He's a good
lad who came to a new team and played like he's been with us for many, many
years."

Grant also bemoaned his side's recent luck with injuries. As well as O'Neil,
Scott Parker, Kieron Dyer, Junior Stanislas and back-up keeper Peter Kurucz
are ruled out of the Chelsea game, while Manuel Da Costa is doubtful. "It's
a fact that we have many, many injuries," he claimed. "We need to deal with
them. We need to know how to take points even when players are injured. "We
spoke about this and we need to give everything for the club. Players and
managers come and go, but I always say the club is more important than
everybody."

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The only way is ethics
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 24th April 2011
By: Brian Evans

Once again we arrive at matchday, the day of the week which matters more
than any other to a football fan.

And once again we have our club's Vice Chair offering her opinion on all and
sundry in a national newspaper column for which she is no doubt handsomely
paid.

This has to stop. Quite simply it is inappropriate for a senior, paid,
executive of the club to be commenting upon matters in public for which
other club employees are responsible and for which they will be held to
account, as they should be, in due course.

The open criticism of our team's performances since the bonding trip to
Portugal , on the eve of another crucial match, is at best ill timed and
worst treachery.

Can you imagine Frank Lampard, sat in the Chelsea dressing room, laughing
and joking with John Terry about how they dodged a bullet by escaping West
Ham and ever having to work for Brady? Spirits will have been soaring in
their dressing room, whilst in ours a disconsolate Scott Parker ponders what
might have been. If only.

What is it in her make-up that stops her seeing team-building exercises as a
solid investment as opposed to a waste of money? Her husband is a football
professional, who has played at a high level - I wonder what he thinks of
her sniping away at our Manager and players?

Does she ever stop to ask how a kid from Canada had to graft and hone his
skills to make it to the top of the sport he loves ? I have no doubt they
have interesting conversations about the amount of resources available to
Avram and his team when compared to his staff at Burton Albion, or even when
she makes a comparison with Birmingham City .

This is what Brady is failing to comprehend: this is West Ham United , not
Birmingham City or Burton Albion. Both fine clubs in their own right, but
anyone who played or managed at those clubs would see a move to ours as
career progression, as indeed should our Vice Chair. Her bosses gave her the
signal when promoting her. It looks to me like she has missed the signal.

Nobody much cares what the Vice Chair of Birmingham city or Burton Albion
says. It's not newsworthy, whereas every word that comes out of the MDF
Tower suite is like a puff of white smoke from the vatican: broadcast around
the world. The effect is magnified by the fact it comes from possibly the
most high profile businesswoman in the UK (note how I describe her as having
the highest profile, which is not the same as being the highest achiever).

She has achieved and I would, and have previously, commended her for holding
down a senior executive position in a competitve industry for nearly 20
years. That's no mean feat, more so when it is a male dominated industry
stuffed full of chauvanism and sexist commentators. She is however
continuing to run the risk of destroying her own hard earned legacy by a
catalogue of failures of leadership during her tenure at West Ham .

The continued cheap shots in the direction of the Chairman of a rival club
demean her. She doesn't need to make them. The failed attempt to offload the
Manager in January - and worse, to allow the fact we had been negotiating
with another manager when no vacancy existed - would have caused the
applicant deep embarassment.

Future applicants will have noted that and may shy away from forwarding
their candidiacy, effectively limiting the talent pool from which the club
can draw upon. Ethics matter to some people, even in the murky world of
professional football and this will leave a stain on the clubs reputation -
a stain that Karren , in her role as Lady Macbeth will not remove regardless
of how often she washes her hands.

As to player recruitment, a cynic would argue if you paid them two sugar
cubes more than the other club they'll join. Well the good ones won't. The
good ones tend to look at the bigger picture - the quality of the club's
infrastrusture, the training facilities, the access to medical staff, the
degree of stability, not least of which is for whom they will be playing.

They want to know who they need please on a Saturday afternoon. The Vice
Chair, with the power to humiliate in her newspaper column - or the Manager
effectively shackled as a condition of his contract from responding?

Does Karren not realise this comes across as a form of bullying? Picking on
people who are not allowed to fight back - players, managers , medical
teams.The resentement must build in those people , creating a posionous
environment, a negativity from which it is difficult to escape - even with a
trip to Portugal.

That negativity, that simmering resentment, coupled with the fact we have a
squad with too many loanees and soon-to-be out-of-contract players removes
the fight and determination to succeed from those the club need it from
most.

Instead of acting as a wrecking ball with every public comment Karren could
display real leadership by supporting the players and manager - as she did
this week with Carlton Cole, with regards his disgracefully inappropriate
fine by the FA. She could choose to take every bit of criticism that comes
our way on the chin and defiantly ask if that is the best our opponents
have?

Nobody is pretending we have the world's best manager, but we have him, we
appointed him - and Karren Brady was part of that process. To offer her
opinion that we have the best squad in the lower half of the league can only
be a direct and pointed criticism of the manager.

On matchday. In the midst of a relegation battle.

It's not important whether she is right or wrong in her opinion, it's wrong
of her to express it publicly - especially at this point in time. It smacks
of 'don't blame me', it's all somebody else's fault .

Poor leadership. And unlikely to improve the club's position. Many of us who
have followed the team through thick and thin and who paid £55 to watch us
at the Bridge yesterday expect more from the club's high command. We expect
them to support the side come hell or high water. That is a minimum standard
of behaviour .

It's called leadership, dignity in defeat and being United.

United. West Ham United.

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Grant waiting on Parker
Hammers boss keen to have key midfielder back
Last Updated: April 25, 2011 12:24pm
SSN

Avram Grant is eager to have talismanic midfielder Scott Parker back in
action as West Ham battle to beat the drop. The Football Writers'
Association Player of the Year has sat out the last two matches with an
Achilles injury during which time the Hammers have slipped back to the foot
of the table. The Upton Park outfit now have just four games remaining to
scramble out of the bottom three, starting with Sunday's testing trip to
Manchester City. Grant said: "I want him to play. It depends on his
condition. "He's not feeling so good and I hope that he will be available
for us soon. "The good news is maximum two weeks he will be fit, maybe next
week also."

Without

After the trip to Eastlands, the Hammers have further games against
Blackburn, Wigan and Sunderland. And Grant knows that his side must learn to
cope without their inspirational midfielder if his absence is extended over
the coming weeks. "Every player wants to play with a good player - he's the
player of the year," he added. "But he didn't play and we need to play also
without him."

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Gabbidon still a happy Hammer
Defender confident of survival, while Sears eyes regular role
Last Updated: April 25, 2011 11:05am
SSN

Danny Gabbidon has taken heart from West Ham's performance at Chelsea and
believes they will avoid the drop. The Hammers slipped to a 3-0 defeat at
Stamford Bridge on Saturday, returning them to the foot of the Premier
League table. They now sit two points from safety with four games of the
season remaining. "There is always going to be a little bit of fear there,
but that is something we have to banish." Time is fast running out on their
efforts to steer clear of trouble, with the vast majority of the campaign
having been spent languishing inside the bottom three. Gabbidon, though,
insists confidence remains high around Upton Park and is convinced that hard
work and self belief will see them safe. The Wales international said after
the weekend defeat at Chelsea:"If we play like that again, we'll get the
points we need. We just need to show that kind of fight and performance in
all aspects of the game.

Fear

"We worked hard, created some chances - which was good - and at times we
played really well. "Every game is a big game now. There is always going to
be a little bit of fear there, but that is something we have to banish. We
have to play with freedom, go out there and express ourselves."

England U21 international Freddie Sears was drafted back into the West Ham
starting XI on Saturday and he hopes Avram Grant will give him further
opportunities to aid the club's survival bid. He said: "It was a good
opportunity for me as I had not played for a long time. "It's been
frustrating. But we have four games to go and I want to play in all of them.
I would be lying if I said I didn't. "I feel that I have something to give.
The gaffer knows what I can do and it would be nice to feel that I can help
out."

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Sears begs Grant for more West Ham action
Published 16:29 25/04/11 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror

West Ham forward Freddie Sears has pleaded with manager Avram Grant to give
him the chance to help save the Hammers from the drop. Sears may have played
only a bit-part role in the Londoners' season, but he was one of the team's
best performers during Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Chelsea. The youngster gave
England left-back Ashley Cole a difficult time at Stamford Bridge in what
was his seventh Barclays Premier League start of the season. The forward
spent the first half of the season on loan at Scunthorpe, where he failed to
find the net in nine games, and has rarely lived up to the hype that
surrounded him since his debut goal against Blackburn three years ago. The
21-year-old admits being a frustrated spectator during the Hammers' woeful
season has left him desperate to play some part in helping them avoid
relegation. "It is never easy playing against Chelsea or Cole but it was a
good opportunity for me to play as I have not played for a long time," Sears
said. "I've not been playing and it has been frustrating. My last game was
against Burnley (in February) but I feel that I have been doing well. I
think I've impressed in training and have been working on my game so
hopefully that was my reward for the gaffer to give me the nod. "We have
four games to go and I want to play in all of them. I would be lying if I
said I didn't. I feel that I have something to give. The gaffer knows what I
can do and how I can help out the team and it would be nice to feel that I
can."

West Ham are currently in the midst of an injury crisis that is threatening
to hamper their bid to usurp the two-point gap that separates them from
safety. Matthew Upson and Scott Parker were absent on Saturday while Mark
Noble had to come off with a stomach injury that could rule him out of part
of the team's run-in. Right winger Gary O'Neil is also out with a serious
ankle injury, but Sears is confident he can fill the gap left by the former
Middlesbrough man. "I feel that I can stretch teams," Sears said. "The
gaffer looks at me as having a bit of pace and I am a young lad and he knows
that I have high energy levels and that I will work hard for the team. That
is obviously a good thing for me. "Gary has been doing very well on the
right but he has got injured so this is my chance to get in and stake my
place."

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Fast Freddie hopeful he can help Hammers last the pace in relegation battle
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER Last updated at 4:29 PM on 25th April 2011
Daily Mail

West Ham forward Freddie Sears has pleaded with manager Avram Grant to give
him the chance to help save the Hammers from the drop. Sears may have played
only a bit-part role in the Londoners' season, but he was one of the team's
best performers during Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Chelsea. The youngster gave
England left-back Ashley Cole a difficult time at Stamford Bridge in what
was his seventh Barclays Premier League start of the season. The forward
spent the first half of the season on loan at Scunthorpe, where he failed to
find the net in nine games, and has rarely lived up to the hype that
surrounded him since his debut goal against Blackburn three years ago. The
21-year-old admits being a frustrated spectator during the Hammers' woeful
season has left him desperate to play some part in helping them avoid
relegation. 'It is never easy playing against Chelsea or Cole but it was a
good opportunity for me to play as I have not played for a long time,' Sears
said. 'I've not been playing and it has been frustrating. My last game was
against Burnley (in February) but I feel that I have been doing well. I
think I've impressed in training and have been working on my game so
hopefully that was my reward for the gaffer to give me the nod. 'We have
four games to go and I want to play in all of them. I would be lying if I
said I didn't. I feel that I have something to give. The gaffer knows what I
can do and how I can help out the team and it would be nice to feel that I
can.'

West Ham are currently in the midst of an injury crisis that is threatening
to hamper their bid to usurp the two-point gap that separates them from
safety. Matthew Upson and Scott Parker were absent on Saturday while Mark
Noble had to come off with a stomach injury that could rule him out of part
of the team's run-in.
Right winger Gary O'Neil is also out with a serious ankle injury, but Sears
is confident he can fill the gap left by the former Middlesbrough man. 'I
feel that I can stretch teams,' Sears said. 'The gaffer looks at me as
having a bit of pace and I am a young lad and he knows that I have high
energy levels and that I will work hard for the team. That is obviously a
good thing for me. 'Gary has been doing very well on the right but he has
got injured so this is my chance to get in and stake my place.'

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Exclusive – Dicks: 'West Ham players have to take a look at themselves'
TalkSport
By Alex Varney
Monday, April 25

Julian Dicks says West Ham have underachieved this season because the
players have not worked hard enough. The 3-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday
has left the Hammers rooted to the bottom of the Premier League and Dicks
says the players must take responsibility for the club's miserable season.
He told talkSPORT: "They haven't performed in many of the games and they
have underachieved. The players have to take a lot of responsibility.
"Obviously the manager gets the blame and rightly so but the players have to
take a look at themselves because as individuals a lot of them have
underachieved and lot of them don't work hard enough." Avram Grant's men are
two points adrift of safety with four games to go and Dicks reckons his old
club must win three of those to survive. He added: "They've got Manchester
City [next], which hand on heart you don't really expect them to get
anything out of. The next three games after that are vital, which they can
get something out of. But they have to win all three of them."

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