Daily WHUFC News - 22nd April 2012

Lansbury looking to Leicester
WHUFC.com
Henri Lansbury is keen to make sure West Ham United get a positive result on
Monday evening
20.04.2012

Henri Lansbury is determined to end the season on a high with West Ham
United, starting with three points against Leicester on Monday night. The
midfielder - on-loan from Arsenal - has recently re-established himself in
the first-team picture and believes it is down to his hard work and positive
attitude. The England Under-21 international has started the last two games
for the Hammers - at home to Brighton & Hove Albion and away at Bristol
City. "To get back into the team I have had to just keep training hard and
looking after myself and keep fit and then take my chance." Lansbury said.
"It's the gaffer's choice who plays and all I can do is train and play well
and make myself available for selection. Hopefully I can continue to show
what I can do."

Lansbury also spoke about how well team-mate Ricardo Vaz Te is playing at
the moment after his stunning scoring streak since joining the club from
Barnsley in January. The Portuguese winger bagged a hat-trick against
Brighton, the first of which was a superb long-range effort that was
included in Sky Sports News' 'Goal of the Week' selection. "Ricardo's a
great player, he has hit a few of those long range shots in training and
they've gone wide, the gaffer calls them moon shots! But then he went out
against Brighton and they've gone in for him which is fantastic for all of
us."

Lansbury is hoping to have a part to play in the final two games of the
season at Leicester City and home to Hull City. The midfielder is aware how
much of a part the fans will play in making sure the Hammers finish the
season on a high. "The fans were great and out in their numbers against
Brighton and Bristol and we will need that for the final two games in order
to get positive results. If we can do that then who knows what may happen
come the end of the season."

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Get Play-Off priority!
WHUFC.com
Fans who buy a ticket for the Hull City match will be given special priority
for the Play-Off semi
21.04.2012

Fans who buy tickets for West Ham United's final home game of the season
with Hull City will be given special priority for the club's Play-Off
semi-final, should West Ham finish in the Play-Offs come the end of the
season. The Hull City match on 28 April will see the Hammers wrap up their
league campaign and any fans who buy a ticket for the 'Season Finale' will
be awarded special priority for the home leg of the Play-Off semi-final. As
with any game, usual ticket priorities will apply in the first instance, but
then any remaining tickets will be made available to fans who attended the
visit of the Tigers for an exclusive 24-hour period before they go on
general sale. Please note that as a result there may be none left for
general sale. Click here to buy your Hull City tickets today.

Midfielder Mark Noble has thanked the Hammers faithful, who helped make the
Hammers' 6-0 victory against Brighton and Hove Albion the third
highest-attended game across all competitions in England on Saturday. The
attendance of 32,335 was bettered only by the all-Merseyside FA Cup
Semi-Final and Sunderland's 0-0 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers. Then on
Tuesday, Noble and his team-mates were once again cheered on by a sell-out
away following at Bristol City as 1,866 fans travelled to the West Country
on a wet and windy night to get behind their team. "The atmosphere on
Saturday against Brighton was fantastic - our fans really played their part
and we got a great result, which was a fitting reward for them," Noble said.
"Then in Bristol on Tuesday night the supporters were once again magnificent
and travelled across the country in their thousands."

"I know we always say it, but nothing beats a full Boleyn Ground on a
matchday. Against Brighton the atmosphere was great from the moment Bubbles
was played and we need that again for Hull City."

The lowest the Hammers can now finish in the npower Championship this season
is third, meaning if they do end up in the Play-offs they would play their
first semi-final away from home on Thursday 3 May. The return leg at the
Boleyn Ground would be on Monday 7 May with a possible final date booked in
at Wembley 12 days later on 19 May.

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Tweeting Turgott
WHUFC.com
Prolific tweeter Blair Turgott has enjoyed a #DEEC season with West Ham
United
20.04.2012

Any West Ham United supporter who uses the social networking site twitter
cannot failed to have come across Blair Turgott. The young Hammers winger is
a prolific tweeter, attracting more than 4,300 followers with his views on
everything from football to fashion to music to the latest happenings in
soap opera EastEnders. The England Under-18 star's twittering has even seen
him create a new fashion line based on the hashtag #DEEC - a shortened term
for the word 'decent'. While tweeting is the 17-year-old's first love away
from the pitch, his focus is very much on his football at all other times.
"Twitter is good. The fans give me a good following and it's good to get a
reputation for the right reasons. "As for #DEEC, it started when I was away
with England. I used to say 'Deec' for 'decent' and other players started
using it and we became 'Team #DEEC'. "Suddenly loads of people have started
saying it. I got a T-shirt printed up with the slogan on and quite a lot of
people on twitter have been buying them!"

After signing his first professional contract while still a scholar, Turgott
has scored regularly, captained the Under-18s and progressed into Ian
Hendon's Development Squad this season. "I think things have gone well this
year. I've developed and gradually got myself into the Development Squad.
I've also captained the youth team, which was a good achievement, so it's
been a decent season. "My aim before the season started was to get 15 goals.
I knew it would be a tough but I am working towards that target and I'm only
one or two short with a few games left. "Every year I aim to get better and
that's my target. I've tightened up certain things in my game, but I've
still got a lot to work on. I try to strengthen my strengths and improve my
weaknesses and I've been reaping the benefits. "When you become a
second-year scholar, the manager expects more of you and you expect more of
yourself. You try to set a good example and be a leader and spur the team
on. "Personally, I thought I did alright in the FA Youth Cup but it was
gutting to go out on penalties to Chelsea like we did. It's about improving
with every game and I think we've done that."

While Turgott is part of a team, like all second-year scholars his focus has
got to be on his own progress towards first-team football. With team-mates
Dan Potts and Rob Hall taking the next step this season, the teenager is
eager to emulate them as soon as possible next term. "Obviously you've got
to have a single-mindedness about you and make sure your ship is in order.
You have got to be a leader at all times and make sure you give your all and
do your part in every game. If everyone does that, the team will do well.
"Next season, I want to start putting in the performances from the start of
pre-season and get my experience with the Development Squad and then in the
first team or by going out on loan. "I just want to show that I can play at
the next level. I've seen boys I have grown up with doing it and I want to
join them as well. It gives me more hunger and desire to push on. "Young
boys are getting the chances so I have to keep on doing the right things to
get mine."

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So, what about this Allardyce then?
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 21st April 2012
By: Geoff Toates

Let's be brutally honest here. Before 3rd June 2010, no self-respecting West
Ham fan would have believed, even in their darkest moments, that Sam
Allardyce would ever have occupied the seat once graced by the likes of Ron
Greenwood and John Lyall.

3rd June 2010 - in my opinion the blackest day in West Ham's history -
changed all that though. Enter Avram the Terrible. The incompetent. The
buffoon. I make no apology, as a West Ham supporter for more years than I
care to remember, for suggesting to many of my friends that they backed us
for relegation when Grant was foisted on us. In my view, and that of many
thousands of others I suspect, that appointment guaranteed relegation.

Sadly it proved to be the case and, because up in the boardroom the dynamic
duo managed to mis-handle his replacement mid-season, a manager already
hopelessly out of his depth also became a lame duck. A toxic combination
indeed. The inevitable relegation followed and, in true football tradition,
a miserable failure walked away, presumably trousering a decent wedge for
the remaining three years of his contract.

So fast forward to 1st June 2011. Sam Allardyce, to many of us the
Antichrist, the complete antithesis of everything West Ham's history
post-Greenwood has stood for, is announced as our new manager. Instead of
provoking civil unrest and mass season ticket boycotts, which would surely
have been the case pre-Grant, there was a grudging acceptance that at least
we had gone with a manager who had a pedigree of sorts. This is the man to
knock our underperformers into shape we said. And I think most of us meant
it as well.

Initial signs were, at least in my view, encouraging. Most, if not all, of
the players he brought in were recognised as decent material suited for a
season of slog in the Championship. Underperforming - and presumably
highly-paid - players like Matthew Upson and Pablo Barrera were shown the
door and I for one felt we were heading in the right direction. Early
results generally bore this out and our hastily-assembled team was soon
being tipped to make an immediate return to the top flight.

But gradually the wheels started to fall off. It soon became apparent,
particularly at Upton Park, that teams who got men in numbers behind the
ball caused us serious problems. To most of us from our vantage points up in
the stands or sitting in the comfort of our armchairs the reason was
glaringly obvious. Our midfield had no pace, apart from Faubert. Nor did it
have any guile or imagination.

Sadly it appears that Jack Collison, who might have been expected to provide
both, isn't the same player following his injury. Faubert's pace was too
often let down by poor distribution, Nolan who looked so effective at
Newcastle, didn't have Joey Barton to do his running and looked, at times, a
shadow of last season's player. David Bentley unfortunately got injured and
contributed nothing and Henri Lansbury has appeared to be out of favour most
of the time.

I had hoped Allardyce would have recognised this himself. Perhaps he hasn't
identified the problems, which would be very worrying. Of course he may have
identified them but doesn't care because, as many believe, Sam doesn't do
midfield, or wasn't able to bring in the right solutions within his January
budget. Whatever the reason, we have spectacularly snatched defeat from the
jaws of victory and although not the whole problem, Allardyce is undoubtedly
part of it.

So do we stick or twist? My gut feeling is to stick. I say this not because
I have become a fan of Sam but because I lack any confidence in the ability
of the Porn Brothers upstairs to get their next appointment right. Their
list of appointees at Birmingham reads a bit like a who's who of managerial
wannabees who have never done it at the top level, with the possible
exception of Trevor Francis who took Sheffield Wednesday to two domestic Cup
Finals.

So unfortunately the emotional roller coaster of supporting West Ham goes
on. The Grant appointment was so obviously going to end where it did so
relegation itself, when it happened, wasn't the body blow it otherwise might
have been. My despairing mind had already factored that in when he walked
through the door. Allardyce's appointment actually got me to look at the new
season with renewed optimism but, with hindsight, that probably says more
about Avram Grant and his reign than it does about anything else.

Of course we may still go up. In my view the quality in the Championship is
pretty dire. We haven't exactly been pulling up trees and we're third which
speaks volumes for the rest. So there's no reason why we shouldn't prevail
in the play offs. If we do then Allardyce, we assume, will be the man
leading us back into the Premier League. If we don't go up it looks like
he's been assured his job is safe but will he, knowing he isn't flavour of
the month with the fans, maybe walk?

One thing's for sure. Next year promises to be yet another eventful season
for us Hammers.

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A Ruud awakening
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 20th April 2012
By: Staff Writer

Reserve goalkeeper Ruud Boffin has left West Ham after agreeing to terminate
his contract. The 24-year-old, whose contract was due to expire this summer
has left the club early having been effectively replaced by Portsmouth's
Stephen Henderson, who arrived at the club last month on loan for the
remainder of the season.
Boffin, who was signed by Avram Grant in August 2010 on a two-year contract
made just three appearances for the first team during his 20-month stay with
the Hammers. The Belgian, who started his career with PSV Eindhoven debuted
in a 1-1 draw at Blackburn in December 2010 in his one and only appearance
during West Ham's relegation season. He went on to make two appearances
under Sam Allardyce this season - in the League Cup fixture against
Aldershot and the FA Cup third round tie at Sheffield Wednesday, which West
Ham lost 2-1 and 1-0 respectively. However the writing was on the wall for
Boffin just as soon as the highly-rated Henderson arrived at the club in
mid-March, and with no prospects of furthering his career at West Ham has
agreed to try his luck elsewhere.

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Funding Central
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 21st April 2012
By: Staff Writer

Next weekend the Central pub are hosting a charity event in aid of the Bobby
Moore Cancer research Fund - and all Hammers fans are invited. West Ham's
final league game of the Championship season, aganst Hull City, takes place
at the Boleyn Ground next Saturday, 28th April. With the game kicking off
early at 12:30pm, a great number of Hammers fans attending the game will
have plenty of spare time later in the day - so why not pop down to the
Central on Barking Road to join in the festivities?

With doors opening at 11:00am (and festivities set to continue until 2:00am
the following morning), both live music - from the band P45 - and DJ sets
from Move On Down and the Bosses Sound System are planned to keep visitors
entertained thoughout the day.

Additionally there will be auction of West Ham memorabilia - including
signed footballs and limited edition commemorative wrist bands - plus a
raffle. Meanwhile author Graham Johnson - whose current release 'Any Old
Iron', based on his exploits as a Hammers fan, will be featured here on
KUMB.com next week - will be signing copies of his new book. Jonjo Heuerman,
who has raised around £60,000 for the charity with a series of
well-publicised events will also be in attendance at the event, entry to
which is absolutely free of charge. So if you're at a loose end following
the game next weekend, why not pop down to the Central - at 150 Barking Road
- and join in the festivities?

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'Boro hand West Ham promotion lifeline
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 21st April 2012
By: Staff Writer

Middlesbrough have beaten Southampton 2-1 at the Riverside this afternoon -
keeping alive West Ham United's slim hopes of clinching automatic promotion
for another 48 hours at least. The defeat for Southampton - which meant
Reading were confirmed as Champions - leaves them five points clear of West
Ham with just one game of the season left to play, at home to Coventry City
next weekend. But should the Hampshire side lose or draw on the final day,
Sam Allardyce's side can still overtake the Saints should they manage to win
their final two games of the campaign at Leicester on Monday night and at
home to Hull at the Boleyn Ground next Saturday.

Initially it looked like plain sailing at the Riverside Stadium for Nigel
Adkins' side - who would have guaranteed promotion with a win today - after
they took the lead through Billy Sharp with just 46 seconds on the clock.
However Nicky Bailey's equaliser on the stroke of half time - followed by
Merouane Zemmama's dramatic winner with just 13 minutes left on the clock -
maintained 'Boro's slim hopes of reaching the play-offs whilst keeping West
Ham's admittedly slim hopes of finishing in the top two alive.

The omens aren't particularly good for West Ham as Southampton's opponents
next weekend were relegated from the Championship today by virtue of a 2-0
defeat at home to bottom club Doncaster. But with the Saints having thrown
away the footballing equivalent of two match points already - following
defeats against Reading and now Middlesbrough - who's to say there won't be
one final twist in what has already proved to be a remarkable season?

Championship: Top of Table

1. Reading 45-89 69-39 +30
2. Soton 45 85-81-46 +35
3. West Ham 44-80 77-46 +31

Remaining Fixtures

Mon, 23 April: Leicester City v West Ham Utd (7:45pm)
Sat, 28 April: West Ham Utd v Hull City; Southampton v Coventry City
(12:30pm)

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Hope Springs Eternal
By Iain Dale About 11 hours ago
West Ham Till I Die

When I saw that Billy Sharpe had scored for Southampton after 47 seconds in
their match against Middlesbrough I am afraid I didn't bother following the
rest of the match. Mistake. Middlesbrough ended up winning 2-1. So assuming
we beat Leicester on Monday, we could go into the last game with automatic
promotion still a mathematic possibility. What a shame it is therefore, that
Southampton have a home banker against already promoted Coventry. Still,
stranger things have happened, I suppose - especially on the last day of the
season. All we can do is win both our games and hope for the best. I am not
a religious person but even I might be saying a few prayers on Saturday!

Apparently our match against Hull kicks off at 12.30. I did wonder if that
would be the same for Southampton, but I have just been onto their website
and indeed it is.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 21st April 2012

Corden expecting special night
WHUFC.com
James Corden says the Player Awards night is the ultimate experience for
West Ham United fans
19.04.2012

Hammers fan James Corden has spoken about what a great experience the annual
West Ham United Player Awards evening is. Corden hosted the prestigious
event two years ago and he says it was an evening he will never forget. This
year's event will see the Hammer of the Year crowned plus several other
awards including Best Team Performance, Young Hammer of the Year, Goal of
the Season, Save of the Season and Top Goal Scorer. "When I hosted it, it
was such a great night.," Corden told West Ham TV. "What's great is if
you're like me and you're a massive Hammers fan, these are players you cheer
on every week so it's an honour to be in the same room as them. It's
fantastic to hear the Chairman speak too and ultimately the whole night is
just a really fantastic experience for any West Ham United fan."

The event this year takes place on Monday 30 April at the prestigious London
Hilton on Park Lane. The entire first-team squad and management will be in
attendance once more, making it the perfect event for any Hammers fan.
Corden said, "You get to meet your heroes, that's the best thing. There's no
other night quite like it, it's a must for West Ham United fans I think."

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Carr ready for final test
WHUFC.com
The Under-18s are gearing up for their final Academy game of the season on
Saturday
20.04.2012

Tony Carr is looking for West Ham United Under-18s to finish their season on
a high when they travel to MK Dons on Saturday. It will be the first time
the young Hammers have met the Dons this season, with the game being one of
the ten cross-group games that take place at either end of the season.
Academy Director Carr wants his side to sign off the season with
back-to-back wins following a 2-0 victory over Leicester City three weeks
ago. "It's one of those where at the beginning and end of the season you
play teams from other groups. Earlier in the season we played away at
Coventry and Sheffield United and in the last few games we play Leciester
City, Reading and Cardiff City. "It's our last league game so we're hoping
to end on a good note."

With a number of Carr's side having made the positive step up to the
Development Squad this season, he is likely to name a side comprising
current senior players and some of those that will be hoping to make the
step up next season. Elliot Lee and Blair Turgott were both on target
against the Foxes and the duo are likely to be inolved again, as Carr aims
to sign off what has been a positive year, which has seen three Academy
youngsters make their first-team debuts, with three points.
"It will be a young side and a mixture of some of next year's team and some
of the boys that will go up to be second years' next season. You always want
to end up on a positive note if you can. The season may be over but let's
set a high standard to finish on."

The highest Carr's side could finish in the Premier Acadmey League Group A
this season is third if they were to secure a comprehensive win, while a
defeat could mean Crystal Palace overtake them in the final standings.

*Check back on whifc.com next week for Tony Carr's review of the season

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Hasn't It Been a 'Fantastic Season'? Er, No Sam, It Hasn't
By Iain Dale About 13 hours ago
West Ham Till I Die

Now, take a deep breath. This is an extract from Sam Allardyce's London
Evening Standard column.

We will know, by the time we play at Leicester on Monday, whether we still
have a chance of automatic promotion or are in the play-offs. Whatever
happens, though, it has been a great season, considering what we were faced
with at the start of the campaign. Statistically, it's not easy to go
straight back up to the Premier League. In the last 10 years, out of 30
relegated clubs, only eight have made it back at the first time of asking.
It's one of the toughest challenges in football — to deal with the
consequences of relegation and to bounce back immediately.

Sam Allardyce, London Evening Standard

Let's just analyse that, shall we?

"It's been a great season". Er no, it has not. If we go up he can make that
case and not before. But even then, a season with more than eighty points
has yielded only a handful of games which one could say have been a real
pleasure to witness. "Considering what we were faced with at the start of
the campaign". What we were faced with was the most talented squad in the
division, with an England class goalkeeper, and a team which ought to have
walked automatic promotion, having been bolstered with several new signings.

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Sorry, Mr Platini, but I can't see your financial rules adding up
Evening Standard - Sam Allardyce
20 April 2012

Next week, while most football fans in this country are preparing to embrace
the climax of another domestic season, the Championship clubs are due to
vote on new financial fair play rules. Superficially, it looks a dry subject
and you can understand fans turning away from it to concentrate on more
crucial matters such as who will be going up or down at the end of it all.
That thought consumes me, too, at the moment but, taking a longer-term view,
the new fair play rules could precipitate a fundamental change in our
football in the years to come — and not for the better.

Basically, UEFA president Michel Platini's idea for financial fair play has
some merit because it would encourage clubs to live within their means. My
view, though, is that unless the rules are implemented very carefully, they
could stunt the ambition of investors and clubs plus ultimately seriously
damaging gates and future investment in years to come.

As an example, I'd ask you to consider Sky TV when it first appeared. Early
on, there were estimates that it was losing £1million a day and it certainly
had to be propped up by the banks. Look at it now, though, and consider,
because of its success, the financial support it has been able to give
football in this country. If owners are dissuaded, by threat of huge fines,
of speculating on strengthening playing squads with promotion or titles in
mind, entertainment value is bound to be affected and gates will drop along
with the support of television and, ultimately, sponsors. If an ambitious
club are allowed to spend only what their income generates, then how do they
cope with the huge pressure for instant success and ever-increasing
expectation levels demanded by their fans?

Had financial fair play rules already been in place throughout football,
would Chelsea have been backed by the millions of Roman Abramovich and been
in the position to take on and beat Barcelona at Stamford Bridge in the
semi-final of the Champions League?

Would Manchester City have the considerable financial help of the Abu Dhabi
United Group and be ready to take on the best clubs in Europe on an equal
footing?

I am not against 'fair play' in principle but it's always dangerous to leave
rules to the number-crunchers. I'm a football man and I can see grave
implications down the road. I can see, for example, a scenario where a club
and a manager, desperate for success, would say: "Let's forget about
financing the youth academy — we need that money in the first-team budget."

Would that be good for football? Bolton had £45m of debt when I was there
but, because I had a 10-year contract, I could afford to look at the bigger
picture. If I was on a one-year rollover deal, my priorities would have been
very different.

On paper, the proposed new rules might look all well and good but if
implemented — and for me that is a big if — there has to be a reasonable
adjustment period. Bring them in too quickly and there is likely to be
chaos.

Football is an emotional industry and it attracts all types of investors and
owners. Take the example of a businessman sitting on huge wealth who wants
to invest some of that in a club he has supported all his life and for whom
he played as a youngster.

Should he be told how much of his money he can spend on fulfilling his
dreams? Let's face it, football has never been a level playing field.

In the past, when the game belonged to the fans, it was unfair that one club
who could attract 45,000 fans could spend more on players than another with
a 20,000 capacity.

Now it's different and we have to look after and protect what is a fantastic
product worldwide and one which provides spectacular entertainment for
millions of people.

The main questions everyone should be asking themselves before next week
are: Will these new rules enhance the game? Are they going to protect the
entertainment value? Are they going to encourage investors, sponsors and
protect fans?

My advice is to think very carefully about the implications because, if the
rules are adopted but then found to be flawed, it may be too late. A perfect
example of that can be found in the Bosman ruling. It was supposed to be
great for football but it turned out to be the opposite, with large amounts
of money going out of the game.

Instead of transfer fees, clubs were forced to pay huge wages to players out
of contract. As a result their highest-paid players were quick in demanding
parity. It worked for the top five per cent but for the rest, it didn't.

I would say we need to learn our lesson from that disaster. Be careful, very
careful, with what you wish for.

Odds are against us but we won't give up

We will know, by the time we play at Leicester on Monday, whether we still
have a chance of automatic promotion or are in the play-offs.

Whatever happens, though, it has been a great season, considering what we
were faced with at the start of the campaign.

Statistically, it's not easy to go straight back up to the Premier League.
In the last 10 years, out of 30 relegated clubs, only eight have made it
back at the first time of asking.

It's one of the toughest challenges in football — to deal with the
consequences of relegation and to bounce back immediately.

If the probable becomes reality, then we will deal with two extra games —
not three.

The hardest thing is to get through those two legs of the semi-final. If you
are successful, then that's the time to think about and plan for the final.
Physically and mentally, the play-offs are unique. There is no pressure in
football like them and the truth is not many players have experienced that
unique experience.

One thing I would like to do through this column is congratulate Brian
McDermott, his staff and his players, for what they have achieved at
Reading. It has been a fantastic season for them.

A truly Olympic feat

It's the Olympic football draw next week and while the tournament promises
to be unforgettable, it will take some managing.

I would never prevent one of my players from participating in the event —
it would be a truly unforgettable experience for them — but there are some
potential hazards. If, for example, a player who finishes an arduous
domestic season is picked for summer internationals and then the Olympics,
he would not be fresh at the start of the new club campaign.

He might be okay for a time but somewhere down the line, the player's tank
will be empty.

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Introducing West Ham Under-23s
Posted on: Sat 21 Apr 2012
Cambridge-United.co.uk

West Ham United are sending a team of young players, many with first team
experience, to The R Costings Abbey Stadium this Tuesday 24 April to play in
a special fixture to mark the start of Cambridge United's Centenary
Celebrations against a side made up of our home-grown players [details].
Widely known as "The Academy of Football" West Ham United has a long history
in producing top class players. Those who have graduated include Frank
Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole, Glen Johnson, Michael Carrick and Jermaine
Defoe to name just a few. This fixture presents us with a tremendous
opportunity to see our youngsters play in a match against a club synonymous
with youth development, some of whom could be playing for the Irons in the
Premier League next season.

The npower Championship club are bringing with them a highly talented young
squad and you could potentially be seeing the next generation Premier League
or international stars in action. West Ham's development squad are managed
by former Barnet and Dover Athletic manager Ian Hendon and below is just a
flavour of the kind of players that he will be bringing with him to the R
Costings Abbey Stadium on Tuesday.

STEPHEN HENDERSON
Born: 2 May 1988, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Talented Republic of Ireland Under-21 international goalkeeper signed on
loan from npower Championship rivals Portsmouth in March 2012.

DAN POTTS (above)
Born: 13 April 1994, Barking, England
England Under-18 left-back who has forced his way into the Hammers starting
XI at Christmas. Dan is the son of former West Ham United defender Steve
Potts.

EOIN WEAREN
Born: 2 October 1992, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Tall and vocal centre-back who helped Republic of Ireland to reach the UEFA
European Under-19 Championship final in summer 2011.

SEBASTIAN LLETGET
Born: 3 September 1992, San Jose, California, United States
United States Under-23 international attacking midfielder blessed with
superb technique and the ability to open up defences with his range of
passing.

RAVEL MORRISON (above)
Born: 2 February 1993, Wythenshawe, England
Highly-rated attacking midfielder who joined West Ham United from Manchester
United in January 2012, making his first-team debut at Leeds United on 17
March.

MATTHIAS FANIMO
Born: 28 January 1994, London, England
Speedy left-sided winger with a low centre of gravity who has already signed
his first professional contract. Has been a regular for England at age-group
level.

BLAIR TURGOTT
Born: 22 May 1994, London, England
England Under-18 winger who has caught the eye this season by banging in
more than 15 goals at Under-18 and Development Squad levels.

BRIAN MONTENEGRO
Born: 18 June 1993, Asunción, Paraguay
Paraguay Under-20 international forward signed on loan from Uruguayan club
Deportivo Maldonado. Made his first-team debut in an FA Cup defeat at
Sheffield Wednesday in January.

ROB HALL (above)
Born: 20 October 1993, Aylesbury, England
Outstanding England Under-19 international forward who has enjoyed a
breakthrough season, making four first-team appearances and going on loan to
Oxford United and MK Dons.

These are just some of the players in line to represent West Ham on Tuesday
and, as you can see, many of them already have first team and even
international experience so be sure to attend the game and see them in
action!

You can purchase tickets in advance from the ticket office or by visiting
the CFU online shop. Fans will also have the chance to buy their tickets
from members of the Cambridge United first team squad ahead of this
afternoon's match against Fleetwood Town [details].

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Youngster Furbert handed Hammers chance
Royalgazette.com
By Stephen Wright
Published Apr 20, 2012 at 8:00 am (Updated Apr 20, 2012 at 8:08 am)

National academy striker Jahkari Furbert is to have trials at English
Championship side West Ham United. Bermuda Football Association have been
granted $4,329 from the Ministry of Sport to cover the costs of sending
Furbert to train with the Hammers. Furbert, who plays for Dandy Town,
received his award at yesterday's National Junior Youth Sponsorship
Programme ceremony at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel. Several National
Academy players have had tryouts with West Ham in recent years including
Paul Douglas and Rai Simons, both past recipients of Ministry of Sport
grants, and Amar Lewis. West Ham's International Academy entered a mutually
beneficial partnership with the Bermuda Football Association (BFA) two years
ago, which gives the Hammers first pick of the national academy's best
youngsters. BFA director of player development, Devarr Boyles, said Furbert,
a 13-year-old Whitney Institute pupil, had shown plenty of promise while
training in the National Academy.

"This is the first time we've picked someone (for trials) so young," he
said. "The earlier we can get him into this sort of environment can only
bode well for him in making the step up. "We think he has a chance (to make
it) and we're giving the opportunity to train with a professional football
club."

Junior Minister of Youth, Families and Sports, Diallo Rabain, handed out
around $60,000 to 14 different sports governing bodies, at yesterday's
ceremony. Bermuda national team cricketer Joshua Gilbert, 18, received
$6,372 to attend the Norfolk Cricket Academy in the UK where he will further
develop his skills. The Somerset Cricket Club spinner said: "It's a nice
opportunity and a real blessing for me. I'm just trying to become the best
player I can be and help push Bermuda cricket forward."

Baseball player Jacinto Brown, 17, was awarded $4,082 that will enable him
to compete for the North American Prospects IMG Academy Baseball Team in
Rome, Italy. Marquise Cann, a top junior cyclist, who finished third in last
year's Sinclair Packwood Memorial Race, was handed $5,237 to take part in
this summer's Longsjo Classic, and attend a training camp in Austerlitz, US.
Promising golfer Justin Dixon-Watts, 16, received $5,980 to cover the costs
of sending him to the IMG Academy in Florida for two weeks where he will
have lessons from a local professional and take part in the HJGT Tournament
in October. Triathlete Justin Ferreira, 15, will attend the USAT Skills Camp
West in California after being awarded a grant of $6,372, while Bermuda
hockey goalkeeper Latonia Fray, 16, will head to a training camp at the
University of Maryland after receiving $2,835.

UK-based tennis player Jack Keyes, 17, was given a grant of $4,329 to attend
an intensive training camp in Paris, France; squash player D'Vario Thompson,
15, was the recipient of $3,400 to allow him to play in the CASA
Championships in Jamaica and the Canadian Open Championships.

Silver medallist at the recent Carifta Games, Kyrah Scraders received a
grant of $5,500 so she can continue her progress by competing at the Russell
E Blunt East Coast Invitational Championship, the United Age Group Coaches
Championships and the Division 1 NCAA Track and Field Championships in Iowa.

Sailor Owen Siese, who finished 14th at the Orange Bowl International
Regatta in Miami, was handed $5,100 to attend the 2012 UK National
Championships in Wales and the Youth National Championships in Dublin,
Ireland.

Warwick Academy student Khaleb Tota, 15, received a sum of $6,500 to assist
in his development in equestrian. He will be attending the Hunting Valley
Training and Development Programme for three weeks.

Golden boy Jesse Washington, who claimed seven medals including five gold,
at the recent Carifta Swimming Championships in Bahamas, was awarded $4,714
to further hone skills. The 12-year-old will be heading to compete in the
Caribbean Island Swimming Championship in Aruba.

Asante Chapman, who was nominated for the Bermuda Junior Athlete of the Year
award, received $3,960 to have trials at the Surrey County Netball Academy.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 20th April 2012

Nolan leading the way
WHUFC.com
Captain Kevin Nolan remains focused on finishing the season on a high
19.04.2012

Kevin Nolan is planning to lead West Ham United to promotion this season,
however that may be. The Hammers still have an outside chance of going up
automatically but would require Southampton to slip up in both of their
final two games. Failing that, it will be a third-placed finish and the
Play-Offs for Nolan and his West Ham team-mates. "The situation is that
hopefully Southampton lose two, we win two and we go up, that is still
there," Nolan said. "But if not, then we still have to make sure we win
anyway, to keep up the momentum for ourselves if it is the Play-Offs. "Never
say never. Right now, we have to make sure we dust ourselves off and get
those two wins in the last two games starting at Leicester on Monday."

The captain knows all about successful Play-Off campaigns after winning the
mini-tournament with Bolton Wanderers in 2001. Nolan, then 18, played the
whole 90 minutes as the Trotters secured their place in the Premier League
after finishing third in the Championship table and he is hoping history can
now repeat itself for the east London club. "You have to keep the winning
mentality going. We have won a lot of games this season and we have to
continue in that way until the end of the season and finish on a high. Once
we have done that, if it is then the Play-Offs, then we treat those games
and the teams we have to play with the respect they deserve. "I am very
confident that if we have to go through the Play-Offs to gain promotion, we
will do. You have to be confident and we are as a team - we will see when it
comes round who we have to face and do what we have to do."

Nolan was one of a number of new arrivals for the Hammers after relegation
last season and the team were forced to gel quickly ahead of a demanding
Championship season. Although the campaign does not look to be heading for
automatic promotion, the desire to reward the Hammers' faithful for their
unwavering backing home and away with a Play-Off win is motivation enough
for Nolan. "We have had a lot of changes but have come a long way in a short
space of time. I think everyone who is at the club deserves great praise for
how they have helped with a lot of changes - from players to
behind-the-scenes staff. "We have had a lot of pressure on us all season and
have been in the top two for a long time. We haven't dropped out and are
only just now into third place - and that is only because we have drawn more
games than we lost. "At the end of the day, we just want to give our fans
what they deserve, that is to be back in the Premier League. Hopefully we
can do that on 28 April, but if not, then through the Play-Offs if that is
what it comes down to."

The Hammers have had to contend with being a big draw for many opposing
teams and subsequently opposing players tend to give their all when facing
Nolan and his team-mates. Likewise many stadiums across the division are
full and intimidating when West Ham come to visit and it is experience like
that that Nolan believes will have been hugely beneficial to his younger
team-mates in the long-run. "There are some young lads, young boys in our
dressing room who I really feel for because they have taken on a lot of
responsibility that they will learn from. "Especially going to away grounds
- everywhere we have gone this year has been a sell-out. It is the highest
gates for some clubs when we have visited them. It is something that a lot
of the younger lads have not been used to but they will grow and get better,
and will be better for it. "But it is something we have become used to since
the start of the season, we just have to keep learning how to deal with this
and hopefully over the season we have. "We have two games left and we have
to treat them as looking to get six points from them and that will stand us
in good stead if we are then in the Play-Offs."

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Cole inspired
WHUFC.com
Youngsters impressed Carlton Cole with their enthusiasm for a special
Olympic and Paralympic project
17.04.2012

'Inspiration' was the keyword as youngsters from local Newham schools teamed
up with West Ham United striker Carlton Cole to show just what an impact
this summer's London 2012 Olympic Games will have and the legacy it can
leave behind. The event, organised by the West Ham United Learning Zone
Centre, saw the children meet at Plaistow Primary School to showcase a
project which has seen them explore the legacy of the biggest sporting event
in the world and the inspiration it can bring now and in the future. Over
ten two-hour sessions, the children enjoyed researching and re-enacting the
history of the Olympics, going right back to ancient Greek times, designing
an Olympic and Paralympic comic as well as writing, shooting and editing
their own promotional films. Cole met up to see what the project was all
about and also took part in a question and answer session with the
youngsters, who asked him about his own inspirations and how he has achieved
his aims in football. He then presented certificates to the youngsters to
mark their achievements. The No9 said: "This was a lot about inspiration and
these kids were very inspirational - I love attending events like this with
children and youngsters from the local community. They were amazing, they
had worked hard on something they clearly enjoyed doing and the aim for them
is to better themselves and find the right path in life. "To me that is
inspirational - these kids are still a bit young to know what they really
want to do when they are older, but already they are using time they have to
themselves after school wisely and it is heart-warming to see the effort and
focus they have put into doing this. "Credit to the teachers, volunteers and
our club for supporting schemes like this, you can see for yourself here,
just how important it is."

Cole said the forthcoming Olympics and Paralympics are already having an
impact in the London Borough of Newham, even though the games themselves
have not yet begun. "You just have to look at how the area has been boosted
already - everyone is excited about seeing the sports in the summer but
already you have new transport links, shopping centres, new jobs created and
youngsters being able to go out and enjoy playing sports with this on their
doorstep."

The course was organised through a partnership between West Ham United
Learning Centre and the London Borough of Newham Employability and Skills,
with funding provided by Awards for All. Learning Centre Manager Pia
Tanneraho said: "It was a special treat for the children to meet Carlton, we
thank him for coming along. They have really worked hard on their projects
and it gave them an extra boost to show Carlton what they have done and ask
him questions, as he is at the top of his sport. "It was all about
inspiration and I think the children got a lot out of this and I think they
have even more of an understanding of what impact the Olympics will have on
the area where they either live or go to school."

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One step from glory
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 19th April 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham could be appearing in one fairly important Final before the end of
this season - however a supporters' team will be hoping to win some
silverware of their own before then. Long before Sam Allardyce's side hope
to appear at Wembley in the Championship play-off Final next month (barring
a collapse of catastrophic proportions by Southampton, of course), West Ham
iFC - a team comprised of Irons fans, the majority of whom are season ticket
holders - will be taking place in in the Final of the IFC London Cup, where
Watford await them.

WHiFC - who beat four rivals on their way to the final of the competition
and are in great form having won their last 13 games - take on the Hornets
this Saturday morning at the Paringdon Sports Club in Harlow hoping to win
their first London Cup since the team's formation back in 1998. And manager
Vinny White says his team are optimistic of winning the team their first
silverware for some considerable time. "We have a great chance," he told
KUMB.com. "Our regular squad is 100 per cent fit meaning we can put out the
team that has been so consistant this season.

"We know Watford will be stronger for a Final than they were in the league
games - both of which we won - so we have to be aware of the threat they
pose. But we should go into the game with confidence. "In our group [leading
to the Final] we had AFC Wimbledon 'A', Kingstonian and Carlisle Utd London.
We then beat Barnet in the semi-final. So far this season we have played 20,
won 17, drawn one and lost two."

Meanwhile Watford joint manager Dave Messenger, whose team go into the game
very much the underdogs added: "The games with West Ham are our favourite
fixtures in the calendar. We've never met with silverware at stake but both
teams will be desperate to win once the first ball is kicked. "We've got a
strong squad out with six survivors from our Worldnet Final against Preston
in 2008. Though we know West Ham will be hard to beat, we're confident of
going one better than that day and bringing the cup back to Watford."

The IFA London Cup Final kicks off at 10am this Saturday morning. With West
Ham's first team not playing this weekend, all Irons fans are welcome to pop
along and give the iFC team their full support.

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Crushed hope
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 19th April 2012
By: Paul Walker

They say it's always the hope that gets you in the end, and that was exactly
what happened at Ashton Gate this week when we blew yet another chance to
hang onto a faint opportunity of automatic promotion.

It's been like it for weeks now, despite the exciting wins over Barnsley,
Cardiff and Brighton. Despite all the statistics flying about, we have
actually won just four of our last 13 matches, and there have been eight
draws in that lot.

Reading have suffered just three defeats in their last 18, and pointedly,
drawn just one of those games. They have shown they know how to win matches,
close out games they are leading and have made the most of their
opportunities. And they seem expert at scoring late, critical goals in the
Manchester United way, you just know they will score.

They have not been pretty, they have an annoying tactic of surrounding
referees at every given opportunity trying to get people into trouble, but
they have been better than us. More consistent and with a greater ability to
hold their nerve.

Sadly, we have consistently failed to maintain composure, and with the
play-offs on the horizon I pray this will not be our downfall when the chips
are down.

I travelled to Bristol in hope that Southampton would make a mistake. They
were 2-0 up in 12 minutes at Peterborough to put pay to that idea. We
started in fine style, scored a good set-piece goal but couldn't get the
second to deflate Bristol. Then Robert |Green, brilliant all season, lets
one bounce over his dive.

It was one of only two on-target shots the home side had all night, but
enough to give them a result to cling onto. Mark Noble was terrific again,
James Tomkins not far behind.

We battered them from start to finish, but it became a frantic,
uncoordinated performance. Desperate at times. Big Sam talks of the mass of
chances we had, but what he really means is the amount of ball into the last
third, and the box. It was a stream of crosses, low and high, and a failure
to connect.

That, to my mind, is not real chances. We did not create clear-cut openings
with astute passing as we did at Barnsley. I didn't actually feel that "we
would score in a minute", even if you could not doubt for a second the
effort of the players.

Bristol's away end is a dump, poor viewing, dirty, backless seats, and riot
police separating us from the City nutters. We had old folk, loads of kids
and women crammed into our section, too, not a pleasant experience.

But I drove home up the M6 with a heavy heart, listening to Reading's
celebrations. It should have been us.

The fact that we have drawn nine of our last 19 games--just three
defeats--says it all. That's 18 points lost. The three disasters that still
kill me are Crystal Palace, Doncaster and Watford at home.

If we had won those three rather than drawn, we would be above Southampton
still. And victory in those three was well within us, games we dominated but
couldn't kill off.

We have also suffered from the level of transfer dealings done last summer
when Sam arrived. For what ever reason, we could not attract top names, be
it our image, Sam's image, the recent memory of a shambolic season or not
enough money.

We signed players with injury history. At the time it was probably all that
was available in our price range., there was little choice as Sam rightly
moved on dozens of players from the previous regime.

Joey O'Brien, Guy Demel, Papa Bouba Diop, Abdoulaye Faye and John Carew all
arrived with difficult injury histories, Demel barely played in Germany last
season.

O'Brien has been outstanding to get his career back on track and Diop a
major midfield influence, while Faye a big player in defence.. But the fears
that these five may not last the season has come back to haunt us, they have
all been injured for long spells at crucial times.

Demel does not seem capable of lasting a match, how ever good he may be. The
constant changes to the side in recent months tells it's own story. And that
is really not the fault of anyone, least of all the players. We were where
we were with money and image.

These are some of the reasons that we have fallen short in the race for
automatic promotion, as much as any perceived problems over Sam's tactics.

Sam keeps complaining about the strikers, and that may well have effected
Nicky Maynard and Sam Baldock.

Neither were first choice signings. Would we have signed Maynard if we'd
managed to land Nikica Jelavic, who had a major part to play in taking
Everton the cup semi-finals. And would Baldock have been signed if other,
more experienced, strikers been brought in?

They are both good prospects with pace, talent and skill. But they have not
found the jump in class easy to handle.

And Stoke made it pretty clear that they did not consider Carlton Cole would
get through a medical when they tried to sign him pre-season. He, too, has
to be nursed through matches.

In the painful aftermath of relegation, if someone had offered me a play-off
place then, I'd have taken it. Maybe there are thousands who would disagree
with that. But this is a better performance than the last two seasons we
spent in the Championship.

And I know it sounds like another defence of Big Sam. But we have suffered
badly through injuries all season. Matt Taylor, Jack Collison, George
McCartney, Winston Reid, Tomkins, Baldock, Faye, Diop, Carew, O'Brien,
Demel, Julien Faubert and Gary O'Neil have missed significant spells.

I don't accept that we should have breezed through this division like
Newcastle did. We have never had the required level of creative quality in
midfield.

But people are already asking "where did it all go wrong?" while we still
have a good chance of promotion. And the attitude seems to be that we will
struggle in the play-offs because we can be so brittle under high pressure.

It's not the right attitude to be approaching the play-offs with. I must
admit I fear for the reception and send-off the team will get heading into
the play-offs after the Hull home game.

We've beaten Blackpool twice, registered a win over Cardiff and drawn twice
with Birmingham, plus winning at Middlesbrough and Hull. Let's stick to the
positives for now and believe we can do it, because if we don't believe how
can the players be expected to?

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Five mistakes that ruined our chances
WHUFC.com
Filed: Thursday, 19th April 2012
By: Richard Williams

As we begin our charge (ok flop) to the play-offs the resentment towards Sam
Allardyce and his tactics appears to be growing on a daily basis. With a
Premier League-standard squad and the inconsistency of all but two
Championship challengers, the league SHOULD have been won weeks ago.

I have looked back at where it all went wrong and am not ashamed to admit
that Allardyce is at the heart of it. Below are the five mistakes that
single handedly ruined our season:

1) Long Ball Insistence. I'm not one of the very many Hammers who believe in
'the West Ham Way'. I fully agree with Allardyce that the West Ham way is
losing football matches in a cloud of mediocrity while achieving nothing. I
also understand Allardyce's insistence on going direct to win football
matches. He did it successfully with Bolton and Blackburn, achieving
European football in the process.

The mistake made, was that this type of tactic cannot be used week in, week
out and is easy to defend against unless you have the strongest and best
target man in the league to hold up and win headers. We don't. It proved in
the Birmingham home draw recently that if you switch from passing to direct
quickly you can score goals, pen the team back and exert pressure but if
they are expecting it they will park the proverbial bus and swat us away
like flies. It is an ABSOLUTE MUST that a team challenging for a title has a
plan B. Throughout the season there has been no plan B.

2) The Wrong Personnel. Our owners were fantastic in backing Allardyce both
before the season and during the January window. Allardyce showed them his
targets, they succeeded in obtaining the signatures. The question I ask is,
were they the right signings? With such a direct nature in style, why did we
sign pacey strikers who like the ball to feet and get in behind the back
four such as Baldock and Maynard? With Jason Roberts available on a free and
scoring vital goals, surely he was a better target man (literally)?

Carew showed that signing players at the end of their career HAS to stop if
we are to progress but more on that in a minute. Instead of buying four
strikers, why were we not in the market for quick midfielders/wingers who
can actually get to the by line, beat a man and deliver into the box?
Allardyce appears to be signing the same players repeatedly which just backs
up the claims of no plan B. Variety is the spice of life and our squad has
none.

3) Lack of Youth. Rob Hall, Montano, Potts, Moncur, Spence, Nouble - and
dare I say the name Ravel Morrison? If ever there was a chance to bring
through the next Lampard or Joe Cole a season in the Championship was the
time to do it. I am in agreement with those who would tell me you must have
experience but surely there has to be a blend of the two? The youth,
excitement, creativity, commitment and fitness has been lacking all season.
We have a youth team of stars waiting for their opportunity to shine, why
have we kept with the journeymen who have nothing to prove or play for?
Carew, O'Neil, Taylor, Collins, Faye or Faubert would all leave in a
heartbeat if offered more money or Premier League football.

Southampton were promoted from League One last season, did they panic-buy
Stoke or Bolton's cast offs? No. They had faith in their young players.
Players who showed they would die for the shirt. The excitement as Sky
Sports News informed us of Ravel Morrison's signature was clear to see
across the social media circles. This is a player who Paul Scholes quoted
"Is the best talent to come from the [Manchester] United youth set up since
Ryan Giggs". We all knew he came with baggage, but ask Maradona's managers
if that worried them? Where is he and why has he not been included when the
team was CRYING out for creativity?

4) A Starting XI. Championship facts to date tell us that Reading and
Southampton have made fewer changes to their starting XI than all but two
teams in the league. Week in week out the players know exactly who is
playing, what the tactics are and how to play to their strengths. Allardyce
has shown how clueless he has been with regards to his squad and although we
have had injuries all season, there has not been a consistent spine to the
team. Our best player in Tomkins has been used at right back, centre back
(his best and only position), holding midfielder and centre midfielder.
Carlton Cole has been used as a target man, a secondary striker, on his own
or with one of MANY strike partners. Faubert has been on the bench, then up
front, then wide right then right back… You get the point.

The best managers keep it simple. They build a first XI, playing each player
to their strengths and stick with it to create consistency and confidence.
The fans have been on Carlton Cole's back all season (In some instances it
has been justified) but do you blame the guy? This guy was in the England
set-up last year with an impressive debut, this season he has been in and
out the team more than anyone! Does Brian McDermott rest Ian Harte every
other week because he passed 30 years old? No, he plays him every week
because he is the best left back at the club. As a result, Ian Harte scores
goals and consistently provides an attacking threat for the team. He is one
of many examples….

5) Bad Attitude. Sam is known for his 'No Nonsense' attitude and I have to
admit I have always respected him for it. In his own words, he has a "thick
skin" and will not listen to the negativity thrown at him by anyone. The
issue this season is that you MUST back up a strong front with results. The
above points have shown that he has continuously made mistakes all season.
Our current position in the league shows that his way has not worked.
Instead of insulting the fans with accusations of being "thick" and
"deluded" a quality manager and motivator will use the media to the
advantage of the team and ultimately get the fans onside.

You may not care what we think of you Mr Allardyce but it is us who pay your
wages and ultimately provide the atmosphere on a match day at the Boleyn. Is
it a coincidence that we have struggled at home all season and there has
been a growing discontent towards the manager? Do you think Mr Mourinho or
Ferguson would throw insults at their own fans? They would spin it like all
good motivators would. They would ensure the fans left the televised or
paper interview with renewed optimism that we were all working towards the
same goal. When the fans turn on you, the writing's on the wall.

With all of this being said, we still have a chance of promotion through the
players and I for one will be behind the team as normal come rain or shine.
For those of you using the "it's a tough league to get out of" excuse, ask
yourself the following question;

"If it is SUCH a tough league, how have we got it wrong, continued to make
mistakes and still have a very good chance of Premier League football next
season?"

* You may contact the author via his blog at claretsweatandtears.co.uk or
via Twitter at @CSAT_whufc.

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Allardyce: West Ham must be fully prepared for the play-offs
Nathaniel John, West Ham Correspondent
Thursday, April 19, 2012
9:32 AM
London 24

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has conceded that his side's automatic promotion
hopes are now out of their own hands, following Tuesday night's 1-1 draw at
Bristol City. The Hammers now sit five points behind second-placed
Southampton, with just two games remaining. And with the Saints making a
trip to Middlesbrough on Saturday, two days before West Ham visit Leicester
City, Allardyce admits that his side are in a state of limbo. "We have to
wait until Saturday now, there is nothing we can do until Monday in terms of
ourselves and how we prepare for Leicester and what we do, based on what the
result is at Boro," he said. "So we will wait and see after Saturday, we
will decide what way forward will be better for us and where we go from
there. "We were always going to have to ask someone else to do us a favour
and even if we get that favour from Middlesbrough on Saturday against
Southampton, we still have to go and beat Leicester. "It is still going to
be difficult for us having to win our home game and think that Southampton
might slip up but that is what we have to believe in."

With it looking increasingly likely that West Ham will now end up in the
play-offs, Allardyce is keen to stress the importance of preparing his side
correctly. "Whatever happens in the play-offs, whether you finish third,
fourth, fifth or sixth, it is about the mentality of preparing yourself
correctly," he added. "There is no other game to compare with the experience
of the play-offs, they are completely one-off and on their own and you have
got to handle the pressure that comes with it and deliver over three games.
"You don't have to win the first two games, over two legs you can draw and
win and get through and when the other one comes you have got to be ready.
"The most important thing if we end up there is being prepared for the first
two games and not to be thinking about anything other than that, otherwise
anyone can beat anyone as we have seen in the play-offs. "Form and league
positioning means absolutely nothing when the play-offs come round."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tony Cottee Column: Momentum is the key for West Ham now the play-offs
beckon
Tony Cottee, London24 West Ham Columnist
Thursday, April 19, 2012
12:00 PM
London 24

Another column, and another disappointing midweek game for West Ham and it
now looks like we are headed for the play-offs. I have to say that Tuesday
night did not decide that the Hammers would not earn automatic promotion.
For me, that was decided with the poor run of home form in recent weeks and
the course of the season has meant that we are now third, five points behind
Southampton with two games left to play. Of course, it is not impossible,
but even the most die-hard of West Ham fans must admit that is seems highly
unlikely that the Saints will not get more than one point from their last
two games. However, there is no reason to be downbeat. I have said all
season long that it would be fantastic for the Hammers to go up via the
play-offs and I stand by that. There is always a good buzz around the
semi-finals and the final and I am sure that many of us fondly remember that
Preston game in Cardiff when Bobby Zamora scored the crucial goal to take us
back to the Premier League. The one negative about getting automatic
promotion from the Championship is that there isn't really a day when the
fans can celebrate. However, the play-offs provide that opportunity and
there is a whole generation of West Ham fans that haven't seen their team
play at Wembley. That could all change come May 19.

Of course there are four games between now and then, but what better way
would there be for the club and the players to pay back the fans than
winning at Wembley to get back to the top flight. Now we will find out
whether this West Ham team has the bottle to perform under pressure. It is
time for the players to stand up and be counted and there is nowhere to
hide. For me, I would prefer to play Cardiff City in the semi-finals for two
reasons. I have seen them a couple of times recently and I don't think that
they are flying at the moment. Added to that is the Hammers' recent success
there where they turned up and professionally won 2-0, so that will still be
fresh in their minds. However, on the opening day of the season Cardiff came
to Upton Park and manage to sneak a 1-0 win so they have shown that on their
day they can be a match for anyone. It will be a blessing for the Hammers to
play the first leg away from home and if they can secure a big victory, then
it would take the pressure off playing at Upton Park in the second
semi-final. Then, all being well, with the final at Wembley, it would feel
like another away day, which can only help.

The one thing that the Hammers will need between now and the end of the
season is momentum, though and that starts by winning their last two league
games, starting with a trip to Leicester City on Monday. I know from
experience that the Foxes like to make the most of their last home game of
the season, but the one thing that could work in West Ham's favour is that
Leicester are playing for nothing now that they cannot reach the play-offs.
The Hammers on the other hand must win to build confidence, and I think that
they should just about manage to get back to winning ways.

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Rowing insists Vaz Te sale was a good deal for Oakwell club
Barnsleyt Chronicle
Thursday 19th April 2012

Barnsley's general manager Don Rowing has defended the club's decision to
sell Ricardo Vaz Te for £500,000 during the January transfer window. The fee
had remained undisclosed until it was revealed by West Ham boss Sam
Allardyce at the weekend. At the time of his sale, Reds' boss Keith Hill
said the club had received 'peanuts' for the striker but Rowing insists it
is a good price for a player who was out of contract in the summer and did
not want a new deal at Oakwell.

Rowing told the Chronicle: "We could have kept Ricardo at the club against
his wishes and let him leave on a free transfer but we decided to put our
business heads on and get as much money as we could. The fee of £500,000 was
as high as West Ham were prepared to pay so it left us with little option
but to sell."

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Allardyce aware of pressure
Nolan confident Hammers will win promotion, one way or another
Last Updated: April 19, 2012 9:55am
SSN

Sam Allardyce has warned his West Ham squad that they must learn how to
handle their nerves if they are to prevail in the play-offs. The Hammers
boss appears to have conceded defeat in his side's efforts to secure
automatic promotion back to the Premier League, with it unlikely that a
five-point gap can be bridged in two games. Reading have already booked
their place back in the big time and Southampton, who tackle Middlesbrough
on Saturday, look set to join them. Allardyce appreciates that West Ham are
destined to miss out on a top-two finish in the Championship, and for that
reason he is already planning for a play-off push. He knows how tricky that
promotion path can be and has informed his players that they must prepare
themselves for the most intense of pressure. Allardyce said: "If we are to
go up automatically we will need someone to do us a favour. "If not, it's
about preparing yourself properly for a game the players will never
experience anything like in their life. "There is nothing to compare to it.
And you've got to handle the pressure that comes with it."

Momentum

Kevin Nolan is confident the Hammers can handle the heat should they be
forced into the play-offs, with it his opinion that Allardyce's men will be
turning out in the top flight next season. He said: "Hopefully Southampton
lose two, we win two and we go up. "If not, we have to make sure we win our
next two to keep our momentum going into the play-offs. You never say never,
but that's how it goes. "I am confident that if we are in the play-offs, we
will go up that way. You have to be confident with the squad we have. "We
want to give the fans what they deserve and that is getting back into the
Premier League. Hopefully we can do that on 28th April and if not, 19th
May."

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 19th April 2012

Barnsley boss Keith Hill regrets Ricardo Vaz Te exit
BBC.co.uk

Barnsley boss Keith Hill says he has learned a lot from the departure of
Ricardo Vaz Te to West Ham. The 25-year-old Portuguese striker moved to the
Hammers for an undisclosed fee in January having joined the Tykes on a
one-year deal last summer. "It's important when we have good players at the
club that we can retain them," he told BBC Radio Sheffield. "In hindsight we
would have kept Ricardo, but I don't know what frame of mind he'd have been
in." He added: "It was difficult because if we'd sold him and gone down then
we would have lost a lot more money than we'd have made on the transfer. "We
need to look at getting our better players on longer term contracts so that
when we sell them it's because it's right for us."

The Oakwell side were 14th with 36 points from 27 games when they sold Vaz
Te, who had 10 goals from 22 league appearances for the Tykes, in January.
Since his departure they have picked up just 11 points from their following
16 matches and only secured their Championship status on Tuesday thanks to
Coventry's defeat by Millwall.

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Lee makes Hammers return
Last Updated: April 18, 2012 2:47pm
SSN

Olly Lee has returned to West Ham following the completion of his second
month on loan at Gillingham. The midfielder, 20, arrived at Priestfield in
mid-February and has made a total of eight appearances for the League Two
club, although Saturday's late cameo off the bench was his only run-out in
the last four weeks. And manager Andy Hessenthaler has now decided not to
extend Lee's stay as he prepares to welcome back a wealth of midfield
options after injury. "With the likes of Curtis Weston, Charlie Lee, Danny
Jackman and Jack Payne coming back, we decided to let Olly go back to West
Ham," Hessenthaler told the club's official website.
"He was in the side and then came out of it, it was probably a bit
frustrating for him. But he was a pleasure to work with and we wish him
well. "It didn't work out for him, he'll tell you that himself. He just
didn't get going, in the Cheltenham game (in mid-March) he did ever so well
but in general he perhaps didn't get going in his spell with us."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham's Nolan: Count on us going up at Wembley
Published 22:29 18/04/12 By Neil McLeman
The Mirror

Kevin Nolan has backed West Ham to win promotion through the playoffs if
they cannot catch Southampton. The Saints, who are five points clear with
two games to go, will guarantee a return to the Premier League with victory
over Middlesborough on Saturday. And although Hammers skipper has not given
hope of the second automatic promotion spot, he said winning their final two
games at Leicester and Hull would also ensure momentum going into the
playoff showdowns. "Hopefully Southampton lose two, we win two and we go
up," Nolan said. "If not, we have got to make sure we win our next two to
keep our momentum going into the playoffs.
"You never say never but that is the way it goes. We have to make sure we
dust ourselves off from this result and try and go and win our next two.
"Form going into the playoffs is crucial - you have got to keep the winning
mentality going. We have won a lot of games this season and we have to
ensure we keep doing that until the end of the season and finish on as many
points as we can. "If we get six points from our next two games, that will
stand us in good stead for the playoffs if we have to go in them. "I am very
confident that if we go through the playoffs, we will go up that way. You
have got to be confident with the squad we have got. "We want to give the
fans what they deserve and that is getting back into the Premier League.
"Hopefully we can do that April 28 - and if not, on May 19."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham and Sunderland youngsters extend Dons stay
Apr 9 2012 By Paul Warburton
HounslowChronicle.co.uk

DONS have extended loans for both George Moncur and Billy Knott until the
end of the season. The worry for Brown is that Knott picked up a hamstring
injury in the 2-0 defeat to Southend and now awaits word to see if the
on-loan Sunderland midfielder can face Crawley on Saturday. Knott went down
in a heap on 36 minutes admist a tangle of bodies - but as Brown pointed out
the extended loan was a done deal before the game. He said: "We'll just have
to wait and see how Billy is, but we just lost three centre halves - I can't
afford to lose two more players and we've extended their time with us."

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 18th April 2012

'It's not mathematically over'
WHUFC.com
Big Sam admitted an inability to take chances at Bristol City means
automatic promotion is unlikely
17.04.2012

Sam Allardyce admitted his West Ham United side had simply not been clinical
enough in Tuesday's 1-1 npower Championship draw at Bristol City. The
Hammers went ahead through James Tomkins' header after dominating the
opening 25 minutes at Ashton Gate, only for Robert Green to allow Cole
Skuse's speculative long-range strike to slip past him less than five
minutes later. West Ham re-established their superiority after the break,
only for Henri Lansbury, Winston Reid and substitute John Carew to pass up a
succession of chances to secure a vital victory for their side. Lansbury
clipped the bar with an angled drive before Reid was unable to stab the ball
past Dean Gerken. Then, late on, Carew flashed a header over before seeing
his low shot repelled by the goalkeeper. As it is, a draw leaves Big Sam's
men five points adrift of second-place Southampton with just two games to
play and the manager wondering what might have been if his players had taken
their opportunities to put the game to bed. "The amount of chances we've had
is the hardest thing to take," the manager told West Ham TV. "On dominance
of play, on power of play and on chances created it should have been a
victory for us. Because we've missed those chances, we've not capitalised on
a very dominant and powerful performance by the players. "It's very
disappointing to not stay in the race as close as we wanted to. It's not
mathematically over but it's going to be very difficult now. We can only
really look towards Middlesbrough beating Southampton on Saturday and us
beating Leicester on Monday to take it to the last game of the season. "Even
then, a victory would be what we needed and then a bit of a miracle from
Coventry playing away at Southampton. It's going to be very, very difficult
now. "It's very disappointing that we didn't get the victory we deserved. We
had no margin for error but because we haven't taken the chances we created
we ended up with a disappointing draw from a very good performance with the
vast majority of the play in the opposition penalty box. "Our free-scoring
spirit has let us down and those chances that were created were not
converted so it's 1-1, it's disappointing and we move on."

Bristol City had hardly had a kick before Skuse let fly with a dipping
effort that eluded Green and bounced high into the net. The equaliser gave
the Robins and their fans renewed energy and belief, but Big Sam insisted
that his team should still have had more than enough quality to defeat Derek
McInnes' relegation-threatened battlers. "Goals change games, but it didn't
change it that much. It lifted them and it lifted the crowd of course, but
it didn't give them any more impetus in terms of the chances they created.
It gave them something to hang on and fight for. "We were in complete
control of the game from start to finish and, even though they had a little
spell after they scored, we took complete control again in the second half.
"We can't really have created any more chances than we created away from
home. We just didn't have the man to finish them off or that man didn't take
the right touch, make the right header or have the right bit of luck. "When
the ball went squirming across the box it just wouldn't deflect off someone
and go into the back of the net for us. A scruffy goal or any goal would
have done for us, but we just couldn't find it."

With Southampton travelling to Middlesbrough on Saturday, West Ham could be
out of the race for automatic promotion before they go to Leicester City on
Monday.
Should the Saints prevail on Teesside and West Ham assured of a top-three
finish, the manager admitted he may reconsider his options for the final two
league matches with one eye on the Play-Off fixtures to come in early May.
"It depends on what happens at Middlesbrough now as to how we see it and
what we plan for. We can do nothing but just wait until Saturday and take it
from there. "Our hope is that Middlesbrough beat Southampton now, but even
then it is going to be a difficult task for Coventry to go to Southampton
and get a victory. "Even though Coventry will do their best to get as many
points as they can to get themselves out of the situation that they're in,
it's difficult to see Southampton losing. "We haven't kept enough pressure
on them and we could have done so by winning. You have to expect Southampton
to beat Peterborough but we'd still have been in the race if we'd have won
because they have a difficult game and their nerve-ends would have been
jangling. We should have won, but we didn't."

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The Big Interview - James Tomkins
WHUFC.com
The No5 believes West Ham United need to remain positive even if they have
to go through the Play-Offs
17.04.2012

James Tomkins believes West Ham United still have a great chance of gaining
promotion to the Premier League, even if they have to go through the
Play-Offs. The No5 scored in Tuesday's 1-1 npower Championship draw at
Bristol City, but the result means the Hammers are now odds-on to finish
outside the automatic promotion places in third. With two games to play,
West Ham sit five points behind second-place Southampton but eight clear of
fourth-place Birmingham City. The defender was naturally pleased to net his
career-high fourth goal of the season at Ashton Gate. Likewise, he is
determined to maintain a positive outlook as West Ham face up to the
prospect of their campaign being extended by three matches if they are to go
up.

When you scored the opening goal, it was just reward for dominating the
first 25 minutes, wasn't it?

"We started the game well again. It's typical of our game that we seem to
start games well away from home. It was important that we scored first
because normally when we score first we go on to win the game. "Obviously
that wasn't the case today but we got the draw and we need to push on from
here because our season isn't over."

You seem to win everything that arrives at the far post in the attacking
penalty area, while a fourth goal is the best haul of your career, which
must be pleasing?

"Yes, I feel confident in the air and I'm timing my jumps well. The service
has been good for me so I've got to thank the lads for that. Hopefully I can
just keep winning them."

The manager said we just failed to take our chances and that is why we
didn't win. Was that your assessment of the game?

"Yes, I think we dominated and got the ball into their penalty area and were
winning quite a lot in the air, but things just didn't go our way. Winston
Reid had a half-chance in the first half that could have gone our way but it
didn't."

Despite this setback and us seemingly being on course for the Play-Offs, we
have to remain confident of gaining promotion, don't we?

"Of course. We are still confident. I think our away record has been really
good this year and our home form, as we showed the other day, is definitely
better as well. We go into games confident. We're disappointed but we're
still positive."

We may not gain automatic promotion, but we have gained 80 points so far
this season - more than we collected in the previous two seasons combined.
There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic, aren't there?

"Of course we can go into the Play-Offs and win them. It's not the end of
the world. We've done well to get there and get there strong as well. We
have got there quite comfortably. We all know it's going to be tough but we
would go into it as favourites and will strive to go on and win it.
"We will concentrate on the rest of the season first, though, because it's
still mathematically possible that we could go up automatically. We just
have to concentrate on that."

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Play-Off ticket update
WHUFC.com
Fans who buy a ticket for the Hull City match will be given special priority
for the Play-Off semi
18.04.2012

Fans who buy tickets for West Ham United's final home game of the season
with Hull City will be given special priority for the club's Play-Off
semi-final, should West Ham finish in the Play-Offs come the end of the
season. The Hull City match on 28 April will see the Hammers wrap up their
league campaign and any fans who buy a ticket for the 'Season Finale' will
be awarded special priority for the home leg of the Play-Off semi-final. As
with any game, usual ticket priorities will apply in the first instance, but
then any remaining tickets will be made available to fans who attended the
visit of the Tigers for an exclusive 24-hour period before they go on
general sale. Click here to buy your Hull City tickets today.

Midfielder Mark Noble has thanked the Hammers faithful, who helped make the
Hammers' 6-0 victory against Brighton and Hove Albion the third
highest-attended game across all competitions in England on Saturday. The
attendance of 32,335 was bettered only by the all-Merseyside FA Cup
Semi-Final and Sunderland's 0-0 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Then on Tuesday, Noble and his team-mates were once again cheered on by a
sell-out away following at Bristol City as 1,866 fans travelled to the West
Country on a wet and windy night to get behind their team. "The atmosphere
on Saturday against Brighton was fantastic - our fans really played their
part and we got a great result, which was a fitting reward for them," Noble
said. "Then in Bristol on Tuesday night the supporters were once again
magnificent and travelled across the country in their thousands."

"I know we always say it, but nothing beats a full Boleyn Ground on a
matchday. Against Brighton the atmosphere was great from the moment Bubbles
was played and we need that again for Hull City." The lowest the Hammers can
now finish in the npower Championship this season is third, meaning if they
do end up in the Play-offs they would play their first semi-final away from
home on Thursday 3 May. The return leg at the Boleyn Ground would be on
Monday 7 May with a possible final date booked in at Wembley 12 days later
on 19 May.

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Hopes of West Ham automatic spot distant, says Allardyce
BBC.co.uk

West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce says the club's hopes of automatic
promotion to the Premier League are now distant. The 1-1 draw at Bristol
City on Tuesday means the Hammers now lie five points behind second-placed
Southampton, with two games left to play. He told BBC London 94.9: "We
wanted to stay in with a fighting chance by winning. We were always going to
have ask someone else to do us a favour. "It's difficult to win our game and
hope Southampton slip up." He added: "First and foremost, we've got to hope
Middlesbrough do us a favour and beat Southampton on Saturday. "Even if we
get that favour we've still got to go and beat Leicester [on Monday].
There's nothing we can do until Monday in terms of ourselves to prepare.
"We'll wait and see and then decide what way forward would be better for
us."

Allardyce believes if the Hammers do miss out on the one remaining automatic
promotion place, they must not be over-confident going into the play-offs.
"The most important thing, if we end up there, is being prepared for the
first two games and not to be thinking about anything other than that," the
former Bolton and Blackburn manager continued. "Anybody can beat anybody in
the play-offs. "Form, league form and position in the league means
absolutely nothing when the play-offs come around. You've got to handle the
pressure and deliver."

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Bristol City 1 West Ham 1
17 April 2012
Last updated at 22:26
BBC.co.uk

Cole Skuse's equaliser all but ended West Ham's hopes of automatic promotion
from the Championship and edged Bristol City nearer to survival. James
Tomkins put West Ham ahead with a header midway through the first half. But
Skuse saw his long-range shot squirm past Robert Green to leave the Hammers
five points adrift of second-placed Southampton with two games left. City
are five points above the relegation zone and will be safe if they beat
Barnsley on Saturday. The visitors saw Ricardo Vaz Te waste a couple of
early opportunities. They took the lead when Tomkins got on the end of Mark
Noble's free-kick to head in for his fifth goal of the season. But, only
four minutes later, Derek McInnes's side pulled level when Skuse's weak
25-yard effort somehow bobbled its way past former England goalkeeper Green.
Henri Lansbury clipped the bar with an effort just after the restart as the
visitors looked to restore their advantage. Green had to make a scrambling
save to deny Chris Wood as the hosts continued to threaten on the break.
Substitute John Carew could have snatched a winner but headed Matt Taylor's
free-kick over and toe-poked wide late on.

Bristol City manager Derek McInnes: "There's not many teams that will get a
fluency against West Ham. It's the way it is. You've got to do the ugly side
of the game well, you've got to stand up to it. "West Ham are a big, big
side with a lot of experience and they know how to win games and they ask
questions of you so you won't get a lot of teams playing against West Ham
with a lot of fluency. "We showed enough of the right qualities to get our
point and we more than earned it. "I wasn't expecting it to be a pretty
night, I wasn't expecting it to be expansive. I was expecting it to be
naughty at times, I was expecting it to be physical and that was exactly
what it was."

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce: "I've been looking at the chances we've
created and it's just sickening that we didn't have the quality of finish we
needed with so many opportunities. "From start to finish we always looked
like the dominant force, we created so many chances and to finish 1-1 is
very disappointing considering the performance was so good. "It's difficult
as we know (catching Southampton). We wanted to stay in with a fighting
chance, winning today and keeping that little bit closer to Southampton. "We
know we have to ask someone to do us a favour, and even if we get that
favour from Middlesbrough we've still got to go and beat Leicester and it's
still difficult for us."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Play-off dates: confirmed
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 17th April 2012
By: Staff Writer

Barring a major collapse by Southampton, West Ham will play the first leg of
their play-off semi final away from home on Thursday, 3rd May. Tonight's 1-1
draw at Ashton Gate secured third place in the Championship for the Hammers
- although the Saints' 3-1 win at Peterborough means that only two defeats
for the Hampshire club, combined with two wins for West Ham in their
remaining league games, can prevent United from going into the play-offs.
The return leg for the semi-final would take place at the Boleyn Ground the
following Monday afternoon, 7th May - with the final taking place at Wembley
12 days later on Saturday, 19th May.

Full details of all dates and times as follows:

Play off semi final, first leg

Thursday, 3rd May 2012: 6th place v West Ham/Soton (7.45pm)
Friday, 4th May 2012: 5th place v 4th place (7.45pm)

Play off semi final, second leg

Monday, 7th May 20122: West Ham/Soton v 6th place (4.30pm)
Wednesday, 9th May 20122: 4th place v 5th place (7.45pm)

Play off Final

Saturday, 19th May 2012 (3:00pm)

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Bristol City 1 West Ham Utd 1
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 17th April 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham are heading for the play offs barring a miracle after failing to
secure a record 13th away win of the season at Ashton Gate tonight. With
Southampton winning comfortably at Peterborough tonight - and Reading
beating Nottingham Forest in this evening's late kick off - West Ham find
themselves five points adrift of the automatic promotion places with just
two games of the league campaign left to play, after failing to break down a
Bristol City side fighting for their own Championship survival. However
Birmingham's failure to beat Ipswich at Portman Road tonight ensured that
West Ham cannot finish lower than third in the table - meaning a guaranteed
home fixture in the second leg of the play-off semi finals. Although there
was no lack of effort on West Ham's part tonight, it just wasn't to be as
Big Sam's boys failed to break down a resolute City side for whom a point
virtually guarantees another season in the Championship. James Tomkins got
the Hammers off to an excellent start by putting the visitors in front on 25
minutes with a well-taken header from a deep Mark Noble free-kick. However
United's lead was to last just four minutes before the usually-reliable
Robert Green made an uncharacteristic error, allowing Cole Skuse's
long-range effort to find the back of the net.

Despite enjoying 53 per cent of possession and enjoying 12 shots at goal
compared to Bristol's seven, the Hammers never really looked like adding to
Tomkins' first half opener - even when Allardyce went for broke, leaving
just two men at the back for the final few minutes. All of which means that
barring unlikely defeats for Southampton in their final two games of the
campaign against Middlesbrough (a) and Coventry (h) - combined with wins for
West Ham at Leicester and then at home to Hull - Irons fans face the
nerve-wracking prospect of the play-offs for the third time in the last
eight years. With the remaining three places looking likely to be filled by
Birmingham, Blackpool and Cardiff it promises to be a tough fight - although
one consolation is that should West Ham win their semi-final they will be
facing a return to Wembley for the first time since 1981.

Bristol City 1 West Ham Utd 1: match facts
West Ham Utd: Green, Demel (Faubert 74), Reid, Tomkins, Collins (Carew 63),
Lansbury, Noble, Nolan, Taylor, Vaz Te, Maynard (Collison 74).
Subs not used: Henderson, Diop.
Goals: Tomkins (25).
Booked: Reid (49), Collins (58).
Shots on/off target: 6/6 (12).

Bristol City: Gerken, Fontaine, Amougou, Skuse, Foster, Bolasie (Woolford
69), McGivern, Cisse (Adomah 69), Pearson, Wood, Stead (Carey 88).
Subs not used: James, Kilkenny.
Goals: Skuse (29).
Booked: Skuse (56), Amougou (66), McGivern (74), Stead (81).
Shots on/off target: 2/5 (7).
Possession: Bristol City 47%; West Ham Utd 53%.

Referee: Craig Pawson.
Assistants: Justin Amey and Andrew Bennett.
Fourth Official: Wayne Barratt.
Attendance: 16,669.

Did you know? West Ham have still lost less games than any other team in the
Championship this season - just eight out of 44.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Di Canio nominated
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 17th April 2012
By: Staff Writer

Paolo Di Canio's 1999/2000 'Goal of the Season' is one of ten goals
nominated for the Premier League's '20 Seasons' celebrations. The Premier
League is 20 years old this year and, to highlight the occasion, is asking
visitors to its website at premierleague.com to nominate their favourite
moments. There are four categories in which visitors to the site may vote -
Best Match, Best Goal, Best Celebration and Best Save. Unsurprisingly the
categories are dominated by the league's major players although Di Canio's
wonder strike against Wimbledon is one of the ten goals nominated in the
Best Goal category. Meanwhile, Ian Wright and Neil Ruddock's goal
celebration - that mimicked Paolo Di Canio's famous pushing-over of referee
Paul Alcock - is one of the ten nominees in the 'Best Celebration' category.

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Skuse strikes to deny Hammers
Last updated: 17th April 2012
SSN

Cole Skuse's equaliser all but confined West Ham to the play-offs and helped
edge Bristol City closer to safety in a 1-1 draw at Ashton Gate. Skuse's
long-range drive earned the Robins a point when his 29th-minute strike
deceived Robert Green, the ball bouncing up and over his diving body. It
means his side have plenty to do if they are to secure automatic promotion
to the Premier League. With Southampton winning at Peterborough, Sam
Allardyce's outfit are five points off the top two with just two games
remaining. It could have been so different for the Hammers, who led thanks
to James Tomkins' header midway through the opening period and saw
second-half chances spurned by Henri Lansbury and John Carew. But for City,
a battling point improves their chances of playing in the Championship next
season.

West Ham spent the first 15 minutes camped in the City half, and Ricardo Vaz
Te had the ball in the back of the net on the quarter-hour mark, only for
referee Craig Pawson to disallow the goal for a handball by Hammers skipper
Kevin Nolan in the build-up. At the other end, Skuse dragged a tame
daisy-cutter well wide, while Vaz Te followed suit as neither side could
open the other up. But with 25 minutes gone the away side finally found a
way through. Andre Amougou fouled Maynard wide on the left, Noble floated in
the resulting free-kick and Tomkins picked his spot with a free header back
across Dean Gerken. The hosts, already firmly on the back foot, could have
been forgiven for folding - but within four minutes they were level.

Skuse latched on to a bobbling ball 25 yards from goal and took aim, more
out of hope than expectation. Green appeared to have the effort covered, but
the ball bounced up off the turf in front of him and, although the England
stopper got a hand to it, nestled in the right-hand corner of the net. The
Hammers almost nudged ahead just before the break, but Gerken dived bravely
on Nolan's shot-cum-cross before Winston Reid could bundle the ball home,
and the two teams went into half-time all-square. The visitors started
brightly after the interval, and Lansbury clipped the top of the crossbar
before forcing a decent save out of Gerken from a narrow angle. Allardyce
introduced striker Carew for full-back Danny Collins as his side desperately
chased a winning goal. Carew was quickly in the game, shooting low at Gerken
after being played in by Vaz Te, but City always looked lively going forward
and it required a good stop from Green to keep out Chris Wood's effort with
18 minutes remaining. Carew headed Matt Taylor's free-kick over and
toe-poked wide late on but the Hammers could not find a crucial second.

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McInnes pleased with 'ugly' point
Allardyce concedes automatic promotion unlikely
Last Updated: April 17, 2012 11:10pm
SSN

Bristol City manager Derek McInnes was pleased with the way his side got the
'ugly' things right in order to secure a 1-1 draw at home to promotion
chasing West Ham on Tuesday. The Robins now have safety in their sights as
they sit five points clear of the relegation zone with two games to play.
They had to come from behind to secure the point at Ashton Gate though, with
defender James Tomkins nodding the Hammers in front from Mark Noble's
free-kick after 25 minutes. However, the hosts were level four minutes later
when Cole Skuse's speculative 25-yard effort somehow squirmed past
goalkeeper Robert Green. "There's not many teams that will get a fluency
against West Ham. It's the way it is. You've got to do the ugly side of the
game well, you've got to stand up to it," said McInnes. "West Ham are a big,
big side with a lot of experience and they know how to win games and they
ask questions of you so you won't get a lot of teams playing against West
Ham with a lot of fluency. "We showed enough of the right qualities to get
our point and we more than earned it. "I wasn't expecting it to be a pretty
night, I wasn't expecting it to be expansive. I was expecting it to be
naughty at times, I was expecting it to be physical and that was exactly
what it was."

A win at home to Barnsley on Saturday will secure Championship survival with
a game to spare, but McInnes is not getting carried away just yet. "There's
still work to be done," he added. "We've only given ourselves an opportunity
to finish the job off and it's important that myself and the players put all
our energy and focus on Barnsley on Saturday. "Hopefully we can get it sold
out and with the fans' backing, and the players getting every encouragement
from them, then we'll make it a good day Saturday. "There's still work to be
done, there's no back-slapping yet, the players need to dust themselves down
and get themselves ready to try to take care of business on Saturday."

Frustrated

Meanwhile, West Ham boss Sam Allardyce was left frustrated after seeing his
side miss a host of second half chances. With five points now separating
themselves and second placed Southampton with two games to play, Allardyce
concedes his side are unlikely to secure automatic promotion. "I've been
looking at the chances we've created and it's just sickening that we didn't
have the quality of finish we needed with so many opportunities," he said.
"From start to finish we always looked like the dominant force, we created
so many chances and to finish 1-1 is very disappointing considering the
performance was so good. "It's difficult as we know [catching Southampton].
We wanted to stay in with a fighting chance, winning today and keeping that
little bit closer to Southampton. "We know we have to ask someone to do us a
favour, and even if we get that favour from Middlesbrough we've still got to
go and beat Leicester and it's still difficult for us."

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The Consequences of Failure
By Iain Dale About 2 hours ago
West Ham Till I Die

Yes, I am as disappointed as you. It seems astonishing that with the players
we have got we haven't achieved automatic promotion. And let's not kid
outselves. We haven't. OK, there's still a mathematical possibility, but do
any of us really think Southampton won't get at least two more points? And
for that matter, does anyone think we will get a maximum six points now? Me
neither. So all thoughts must now be directed towards the play-offs. I am
sure none of us are confident of success, but we have to compare our team
with the others and take solace from the fact that on our day we should beat
any of the other three teams in contention. But too seldom have we been "on
our day" this season.

I suppose this is another statement of the bleeding obvious, but the
consequences off not winning the playoffs are almost too painful to think
about. Do we really think that we will be able to hang on to Robert Green,
James Tomkins, Mark Noble and several others besides? No, me neither.

There is another intriguing possibility - that failure to get promotion
might result is us withdrawing our bid for the Olympic Stadium. The Play-off
final is on 19 May. The bid result is due to be announced two days later. Is
it conceivable that West Ham could withdraw their bid in those two days if
we don't win the Play-off final? I suspect not, but it has to be considered
a possibility, however vague.

Sam Allardyce has a tricky task over the next fortnight - how to motivate
the players for the next two games, and to think about tactics for the
double headed playoff semi final. The next month may be one of the most
crucial in the club's history. It could decide whether we return as a top
flight club or are destined to another few years of Championship mediocrity.

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Sam Allardyce: Only a miracle can save West Ham from play-off agony
Evening Standard
Ken Dyer
18 April 2012

Sam Allardyce admits his West Ham team need a miracle to avoid the
play-offs after losing ground on second-placed Southampton in the race for
automatic promotion to the Premier League. While West Ham secured a 1-1 draw
at Bristol City last night, Southampton won 3-1 at Peterborough to stretch
their advantage over the Hammers to five points, meaning the south coast
club just need to win just one of their remaining two matches, at
Middlesbrough or at home against Coventry, to go up. "It's very
disappointing to not stay in the race as close as we wanted to," said
Allardyce, who may know his side's fate by the time West Ham go to Leicester
next Monday. "It's not mathematically over but it's going to be very
difficult now. We can only really look towards Middlesbrough beating
Southampton and us beating Leicester to take it to the last game of the
season. "Even then, a victory would be needed and a bit of a miracle from
Coventry at Southampton."

Allardyce looks certain to make changes if, as seems likely, West Ham know
they are destined for the play-offs by the time they face Leicester at the
Walkers Stadium. He could rest some players who have played the majority of
the season and take the opportunity to give others, such as Papa Bouba Diop
who has just returned from injury, important game time before a possible
semi-final first leg away from home on May 3. James Tomkins, who opened the
scoring last night in the 25th minute before the home side equalised just
five minutes later with a speculative effort from Cole which skidded off the
greasy surface and over Robert Green, insists the Hammers can still pip the
Saints to claim second place. "We are confident," he said. "Our away record
has been really good this year and our home form, as we showed the other day
against Brighton, is improving. We go into games with confidence. "We're
disappointed but we're still positive. We have gained 80 points so far this
season — more than we collected in the previous two seasons combined. There
are plenty of reasons to be optimistic.

"Of course we can go into the play-offs and win them. It's not the end of
the world. We've done well to get there. We know it's going to be tough but
we would go into it as favourites. "We will concentrate on the rest of the
season first, though, because it's still possible that we could go up
automatically. We just have to concentrate on that."

West Ham captain Kevin Nolan was also putting a brave face on things when he
said: "Part of my job is making sure that the lads keep together and don't
get too down. It has been a good season, we have come a long way in such a
short space of time. "All there is left for us is that we stick together,
keep going and make sure we don't lose sight of what we want and that is the
Premier League."

Reading secured promotion to the Premier League after a four-year absence
with a 1-0 win at home against Nottingham Forest last night. Manager Brian
McDermott said: "This is my best moment in football. It's really strange. It
doesn't seem real at the moment."

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Green's error dents West Ham hopes
Bristol City 1 West Ham United 1
DECLAN WARRINGTON ASHTON GATE WEDNESDAY 18 APRIL 2012
Independent

Though the second automatic promotion place remains a mathematic
possibility, West Ham's mental preparations for the play-offs will begin
after battling Bristol City held Sam Allardyce's side to a draw that went
some way to securing their own Championship status. "We didn't find the
quality of finish," said Allardyce. "We always looked like the dominant
force so to finish 1-1 was very disappointing. Maybe the nerve ends are
jangling because it is so important to us."

West Ham pressured City from the off, but it was not until the 25th minute
when a clear chance was created for James Tomkins' goal, the centre-half
scoring with a far-post header from Mark Noble's free-kick. The home side's
equaliser, however, was almost instantaneous. Cole Skuse shot on the half
volley from 25 yards and while Robert Green dived well and early, he somehow
let the shot fly straight through his hands and into the net. In the
second-half both Henri Lansbury and substitute John Carew went close but the
reality was West Ham never truly looked like scoring, especially with City's
attempts to contain.

Bristol City (4-5-1):Gerken; Foster, Amougou, Fontaine, McGivern; Bolasie
(Woolford, 69), Skuse, Cissé (Adomah, 69), Pearson, Wood; Stead (Carey, 88).
Substitutes not used James, Kilkenny.

West Ham United (4-5-1): Green; Demel (Faubert, 74), Tomkins, Reid, Collins
(Carew, 63); Lansbury, Noble, Nolan, Taylor, Vaz Te; Maynard (Collison, 74).
Substitutes not used Henderson, Diop.

Referee C Pawson (South Yorkshire).

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