Gold: Green is the England Keeper

The Daily Mail say that West Ham are considering making a move for Bournemouth midfielder Marc Pugh. The paper say that West Ham sent first team coach Kevin Keen to watch Pugh, 23, in Bournemouth's 3-0 win over Exeter on Tuesday.


David Gold has been defending Robert Green following his small rebuke from the FA,

"I have to say I don't think there was any malice in it whatsoever," he said.

"I think he was just saying: 'Didn't I have a good game guys? Look, this is the real Robert Green. I'm back.'

"I think that was what happened and we ought to allow him to have that moment because that's all that it was. If the FA have written to him to explain that then fair enough, that's fine. Let's move on. He didn't kill anyone.

"When that game was over I thought, wow, what a performance. He made some world class saves.

"In my mind, he is the England goalkeeper. He will have a bad day from time to time, goalkeepers do. Robert Green is an international goalkeeper, full stop. I would like to think he'd be back in contention for a place in the squad for the next England match.

"If I was the manager, I would pick him. He is a class act and he has a great character and a strong fibre within him. He's a great professional and I'd like to see him back in the England side on a regular basis."

West Ham Move into Ten Downing Street

The Daily Telegraph claim that West Ham will launch their bid to take over the Olympic Stadium from Number 10 Downing Street on Thursday. The Telegraph seem to think this recognition can only help West Ham's bid.

The Teegraph also claim that Sp#rs may will still make a bid for the stadium. They say the north London club is expecting to hear on Thursday whether they have been granted planning permission to build a new stadium. If they haven't they will then turn their attentions to moving to east London.


TEAMtalk claim that Kieron Dyer will be fit for the weekend. They say he had a virus on Saturday and isn't injured. The website also say that Winston Reid will also be in contention, having recovered from food poisoning.

The Hammer Out for Two More Weeks

The Mirror are reporting that Thomas Hitzlsperger will be injured for at least two more weeks. The website claim that the midfielder is unable to play until mid-October with a thigh injury.

Robert Green has escaped being fined by the FA for his gesture at the end of Saturday's game. However the FA will write to Green to remind him of his responsibilities.

The Sun report that Robert Green is now training with one of Britain's top Olympic coaches to help improve his performances. They say he has now started working with sprint coach Ayo Falola.

West Ham vs Sp#rs - in the Papers

Most of the Sunday papers today are concentrating on Rob Green's performance and his gesture to the press at the end of the game.

Reading the papers you might be lead to believe that West Ham won the game against the run of play and facing a barrage of shots from Sp#rs.

The Mirror say "he (Green) was simply magnificent yesterday, inspiring the revitalised Hammers to their first league victory of the season."

The News of the World say, 'it was Green's four fine saves, one of them world class, that secured the points against their bitter rivals.' However the NoW also has praise for the front line and for Parker,

"Piquionne is starting to look a bargain at just £1million and his winning header in the 29th minute gave a glimpse of his potential for the season ahead. He, along with Nigerian strike partner Victor Obinna, have added some desperately needed pace to the front line which was sorely lacking under Gianfranco Zola.

Scott Parker looks like one of the best midfielders in the country at present."

The Daily Mail say that "Sp#rs had been forced into long-range shots, with West Ham closing them down quickly and denying them room to create clear chances, Scott Parker and Noble terrier-like in midfield."

West Ham 1 Spurs 0

Dyer started the game instead of Behrami and Carlton Cole started on the bench for the second game in a row.

In the first half West Ham had probably their best 45 minutes of this Premier League season. Within 40 seconds of the start of the game Obinna shot just wide from the edge of the area. This set the scene for the first 15 minutes of the game as West Ham created a number of chances and forced a succession of corners.

In the 8th minute a Dyer shot was deflected wide for a corner. From the corner a Da Costa header was also deflected wide. In the 10th minute a Dyer shot from the edge of the area was saved. A minute late a Piquionne shot was also saved from wide left in the area. In the 13th minute Obinna shot from 20 yards only to see his shot also kept out by the keeper.

After the opening 15 minutes Spurs started to get a toe hold in the game. In the 14th minute a 25 yard effort from Jenas was saved by Green. In the 21st minute Van der Vaart forced another save from Green. Then two minutes later Van der Vaart shot just wide left.

However in the 29th minute West Ham won another corner and this time Piquionne managed to find the net with a header from 7 yards. Tottenham rallied fairly well after going behind and Modric came very close to getting the equaliser. Modric's shot from just inside the area was only kept out by an amazing save from Green, tipping the ball up against the crossbar at full stretch.

In the 40th minute Dyer was forced off and was replaced by Barrera but West Ham managed to hold on to the lead and go into the break a deserved goal to the good.


West Ham were possibly not quite so adventurous in the second half and seemed happy to soak up pressure and hit Spurs on the break. It was a tactic that worked very well on the whole. Tottenham had a great chance to draw level in the 55th minute when Huddlestone rounded Green and then, with an open goal, fired wide.

However apart from that chance West Ham looked the more likely to score, hitting Tottenham on the break. In the 57th minute Upson headed over from 11 yards. In the 65th minute a fierce shot from Obinna from 10 yards forced a brilliant save from Cudicini. In the 70th minute Cole shot wide left from wide left.

In the 74th minute Noble forced another great save from the keeper at the expense of a corner with a 20 yard effort. From the corner Cole's header was deflected over. Tottenham's only other clear cut chance came in the 78th minute but Keane fired wide from 12 yards.

All in all it was a great performance from West Ham from start to finish. Obinna and Piquionne look good up front. The defence kept a clean sheet and West Ham pick up their first league win of the season.

Come on you Irons!

West Ham Draw Stoke

West Ham have been drawn at home against Stoke in the Carling Cup fourth round. The game will be played during the week beginning 25th October.

The Phoney War: West Ham vs Redknapp

Sky Sports News report that Harry Redknapp has accused West Ham of trying to 'tap-up' midfielder Jamie O'Hara over the summer. The world is still rolling on the floor with laughter at the sheer audacity of the world's leading proponent of the dark art of tapping-up trying to deflect attention form his own misdemeanours.

The Sun report that the club Harry has just tried to stitch up like a kipper (West Ham) will always have a special place in his heart,

"I still look for their results every week. I grew up there. I was there at 15 and have great memories as a kid growing up with all those great players, Frank Lampard, Trevor Brooking.

They were great days and it was a great part of my life."

With friends like you Harry ...


The Daily Star quote Avram Grant as saying that Redknapp tried to get Scott Parker on the cheap over the summer.

"They knew our financial situation, they tried to take advantage of this"

This theme is continued in The Mail which quotes Karen Brady saying,

"Harry Redknapp has introduced something in the transfer market I call "Harry's Law". It goes: "Do what I like, when I like, with whom I like.

Scott Parker grew unsettled by Sp#rs' clear interest in him even though West Ham joint-chairman David Sullivan stated he was not for sale. No permission to speak to Scott was requested or would have been given. But this was not good enough for Sp#rs who were convinced we would be pressured into selling."

West Ham to Bid for Mackie

The Mail say that Avram Grant is their favourite for the next manager to be sacked.

The Mirror say that Gianfranco Zola has applied to manage the Ghana national team.

Some reports suggest that West Ham are considering a move for QPR striker Jamie Mackie in the January transfer window. Mackie has scored eight goals in seven matches. However I have a feeling that a cash rich QPR might be able to fend off any transfer advances from a cash poor West Ham.

Sunderland 1 West Ham 2

West Ham gave Upson and Green a rest for this game and also started with Noble and Cole on the bench.

West Ham took the lead after some good early play when in the 35th minute Piquionne's shot from close range found the bottom right corner of the goal. West Ham however were unable to hold on to the lead for long. Six minutes after losing the goal Sunderland were level after Gyan headed in from five yards from a good Richardson cross.


In the 58th minute West Ham regained the lead after Obinna scored from just inside the penalty area. In the 70th minute Dyer came on for Obinna. In the 78th minute Cole came on for Piquionne and in the 90th minute Noble was brought on for Barrera.

As the half progressed West Ham sat deep and looked to hit Sunderland on the break. In the dying seconds of the game Cole had a really good chance to get his first goal of the season but, after a good run, his shot was easily saved.


A win for West Ham away from home (the first in over a year I think) and goals for Piquionne and Obinna equals a very good result.

Behrami and Gabbidon Out of Cup Game

Avram Grant yesterday said that, 'Valon Behrami got injured on Saturday and also Thomas Hitzlsperger is injured.' So neither player will feature in today's Carling Cup tie against Sunderland.

Danny Gabbidon says he will not be travelling with the team today. On Twitter Gabbidon says he is not injured but having just come back from an injury three games in little over a week is too risky.

The Daily Mail report that Benni McCarthy feels ready to play, 'I feel extremely sharp and good. If a chance comes my way, I would like to grab it.'

The Scott Parker Show

The Daily Mail say West Ham will need to stump up £12.5 to prise Kevin Gameiro from Lorient. This story is purely based on the Lorient club president saying that they will not sell the player for any less.

There is no evidence that West Ham are actually interested in the player. It seems The Daily Mail have just thrown West Ham's name into the headline of the story to try and making it interesting to English football fans. It certainly caught my attention but has hardly raised my estimation of The Daily Mail.


The Daily Mail do much better in their match report of the Stoke game. The report says West Ham is a one man team and without Scott Parker would be rudderless. They say West Ham dominated midfield because of Parker's 'probing and prodding' but that the club are lightweight up front.

West ham fans might want to argue that the team is more than a one man show but I don't think there are many who will knock the paper's praise for Parker or their assessment of our misfiring front line.


Sky news report that Scott Parker says West Ham were pleased to get a point from the Stoke game but that the club needs to start winning games.

"The way things were going there were a lot of people who wouldn't have thought we would have got a result at Stoke. We came away with a point and before the game we would have taken that if we are being brutally honest with ourselves.

"But we do need to start winning. We all know that in the Premier League you can have as much quality as you want, but you need a real desire to go and win.

Stoke 1 West Ham 1

With reports of a bust up between Grant and Dyer the player didn't even make the bench. Behrami made his first start of the season. Da Costa was brought in to central defence to replace Ben Haim, Gabbidon started at left back and Jacobsen at right back.

The first half soon took on a predictable pattern with West Ham dominating possession and Stoke reliant on long balls and long throws forward to Jones. West Ham had a couple of early chances to grab the lead. In the 10th minute Cole fired wide from the edge of the box and in the 15th minute Obinna forced a save from Sorensen.

In the 31st minute Parker grabbed a goal from close range. After the goal West Ham only really challenged the Stoke goal once with a 20 yard effort from Noble that was straight at Sorenson.

At the other end Stoke looked dangerous from set plays. In the 17th minute Huth got to a freekick first and his shot from about four yards hit the post. In the 37th minute Jones headed over from a corner from only five yards out.


Stoke came out strongly in the second half and it only took them three minutes to get the equaliser. Pennant crossed from the right wing and Jones ran into the box and beat Da Costa and Green to the ball at the far post to head in from four yards.

Stoke then began to dominate the play and nearly got their second in the 59th minute. Jones shrugged Upson off the ball in the area and turned and shot from ten yards wide of the left hand post. Green did really well to just get his fingertips to the ball and deflect it onto the post.

It took West ham about twenty minutes to settle into the second half and start to keep possession again. In the 70th minute Obinna pounced on a loose ball and fired a low shot in from the edge of the area. Sorensen did well to get down and tip the ball wide for a corner. From the corner Da Costa rose at the far post and forced another good save from Sorenson with a powerful header.

In the 74th minute Piquionne headed wide from 10 yards from an Obinna cross. In the 82nd minute Delap threw another long ball into the box, Fuller rose and headed the ball down from 8 yards. The ball bounced up and onto the underside of the crossbar and luckily for West Ham came down the right side of the goal-line.

in the 85th minute Parker shot just wide left from the edge of the area. Late on in the 90th minute Etherington tried to chip Green from wide left but Green managed to back-pedal and tip the ball over the bar.


So West Ham get their first point of the season, scored another goal from open play and didn't let three goals in. In West Ham's terms I guess that's a result.

West Ham to Buy Formica

Sport.co.uk are reporting that West Ham have finalised a deal to buy Newell’s Old Boys forward Mauro Formica. The site claims that the move will happen in the January transfer window.

The 22-year has scored 15 goals in 62 appearances for Newell Old Boys and has been named in the Argentinian national side, but was forced to pull out because of an injury.


In other news Frank Nouble has been sent on a three month loan to Swansea City.

Grant & Ben Haim Absent from Stoke Game

The West Ham official website has confirmed that Avram Grant and Tal Ben Haim will both be absent from the Stoke game because of their religious observance of Yom Kippur.

Grant will pick the side as usual but the West Ham bench will consist of Assistant manager Zeljko Petrovic, senior coach Paul Groves and first-team coach Kevin Keen. presumably that means that Petrovic will be in charge of team decisions during the game.


In other news Gabbidon has revealed to the world via Twitter that he is back in training today and hopes to be available for selection on Saturday.

McCarthy's £80,000 in Fat Fines

The Mail report that West Ham have fined Benni McCarthy over £80,000 for not reaching his weight limit targets. However the paper claim he has now lost the weight and The Mail have even picked him to play in next week's Carling Cup tie against Sunderland.

Now that The Mail are picking the team West Ham won't need West Ham's senior coach Paul Groves to take charge of the team for the Stoke game on Saturday. Avram Grant will miss the game whilst he observes Yom Kippur and it is reported that Groves will be in charge.

West Ham vs Chelsea - What the Papers Say

The Mirror and the News of the world both today report that West Ham's debts are now more than £100 million. Both papers quote David Gold saying,

"With the help of our bankers we will keep the club afloat, but it will take years to take West Ham where we want them to be."


The Sunday papers take a very bleak view of West Ham's hopes this season. The paper's match reports for the Chelsea game make for pretty bleak reading.

The Mail say that West Ham are a club who have given up hope of getting points off better teams and that they are "hoping they can find three who are even less able than themselves."

The NoW match report for yesterday's game says that David Sullivan is running short on excuses and that the only bright spot for West Ham was Kieron Dyer's introduction, "Dyer was inventive, the only highlight of another depressing day down Green Street."

The Mirror claim that West Ham only 'occasionally threatened' the Chelsea defence.

The Telegraph actually saw a few seeds of hope in West Ham's performance, "for West Ham there was improvement in defeat. They might now have conceded 12 goals in four games but there was fight in this performance and a first goal from open play."

Parker Signs New Contract

Scott Parker has signed a new contract with West Ham. The new contract runs until 2014 with the option of a further 12 months. The sun are reporting that Parker will pick up around £70,000 a week after a modest £2,000 rise.


The Daily Star say that Kieron Dyer could also earn himself a new contract if he stays fit. Dyer’s existing contract expires in 2011, and the club are ready to open talks so long as he proves he is up to the rigours of a full season.

David Gold said, "If he plays two thirds of the games this season, why wouldn’t we want him to stay at the club for the rest of his career? A new contract is certainly something we would look into."


The Guardian are reporting that West Ham have revoked the privileges previously given to the families of John Lyall and Ron Greenwood.

Both families used to receive complimentary directors' box tickets. These were downgraded when David Sullivan and David Gold took over the club to complimentary season tickets. The Guardian are reporting that now they won't even receive season tickets.

Don't Panic!

David Sullivan says there is no need to panic at West Ham's poor start to the season,

"I'd like to put the record straight," Sullivan told the London Evening Standard.

"Nobody is pressing any panic buttons and reports to the contrary are rubbish. We are building a new team under a new manager and transition is a tough time but game by game, I anticipate an improvement over the coming months.

"We expect the team to come together over the next few games and see some real progress. When we looked at the early fixtures we knew we faced a tough time but we only managed two points from the same fixtures last season."


Victor Obinna believes West Ham fans need to be patient for the team to gel,

"We just need a little time for the players to come together. We need to work with each other and understand our strengths. Why can't we do something against Chelsea?"

Green Fit But Hitz Still Out

The Sun are reporting that Robert Green should be fit for Saturday's game after undergoing a minor operation on his groin. However The Sun say that Thomas Hitzlsperger is still unfit to play.


Bloomberg are reporting that the West Ham owners have fallen well short of their hope to sell 40 million pounds worth of shares by May 2010. They report that West Ham have so far raised just 5 million pounds.

David Gold blames the poor response to the club's league position,

"We are a club that nobody’s sure about," Gold said. "We only escaped relegation last year, so ‘Are we going to be in a relegation fight this year?’ is going to be in the thoughts of investors. I will be saying to them have confidence in the new regime and we will not be fighting relegation by Christmas."

Moncur Signs for West Ham

George Moncur, the son of John Moncur, has signed a three year professional contract with West Ham. Midfielder Moncur, aged 17, said on signing,

"I found out a couple of weeks ago when Alex Dyer had a word with me after training. I told my Dad and he was really happy and told me to work hard and keep doing well.

"It helps so much to have a Dad who has been through the same experiences himself. He tells me lots and I've just got to take it all on board and listen to what he says."


Daniel Harris, a 50-year-old medical-company owner, has been given a place on the West Ham board. Harris subscribed to West Ham's recent £4m share issue.


Zavon Hines has joined Danny Gabbidon and Jack Collison on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/TheRealZavon

Avram Grant Fighting for his Job? Not Yet.

The News of the World and the Daily Mirror claim that Avram Grant has three more games to save his job. In a nice piece of fantasy The Mirror claims that West Ham fans are bombarding radio stations and message boards calling for his head.

Despite the obvious lies in The Mirror both these articles are great examples of stating the bleeding obvious. All you have to do is change the name of the manager in those articles and you can print the same story, e.g.

"If Alex Ferguson doesn't get any points in the next six games he faces the chop".

West Ham Injury Update

TalkSport claim that Thomas Hitzlsperger is still two weeks away from full fitness and will miss the Chelsea game.

Danny Gabbidon has responded to another Twitter user's enquiry about his hamstring injury by saying "it won't be too long mate it's not too bad."

If you use Twitter you might also like to follow Jack Collison. Collison, responding to a fan's enquiry about how soon Hines will be fit, said that "he starts running in the next few weeks.. So soon we hope!"

Behrami Statement

Valon Behrami has made a statement on the official West Ham website to state his dedication to West Ham. It is a really positive response from Behrami to his failed move to Roma and I think is exactly what West ham fans wanted to hear from him.

"I am concentrating 100 per cent to give this club good results. There is nothing more in my head.

"In the last three weeks, the manager and the chairman have both helped me a lot because they understood the situation. Of course in football, there is the business side as well. We didn't find the right solution for the club and for me.

"I now just want to try to help everyone here, the people who have helped me with a difficult moment [in my life]. Now we as a team are in a difficult moment and I give everything.

"I feel that the fans understand my situation and they will help me like they did in my first two years at West Ham. And they will also do that for the third year. They know I try to give 100 per cent, sometimes it was good, sometimes not - but if we are all together I feel we can do something good this year."

Will Behrami End His Strike Now?

Valon Behrami has spoken of his disappointment at not getting the opportunity to move to Roma. The proposed deal failed to be agreed on the last day of the transfer rumour.

"I am disappointed the deal failed to go through - that is for certain," Behrami said. "Avram Grant gave me his permission to speak with Roma.

"But he also said he needs me, with West Ham bottom of the table. I’m sure I’ll still get to play for them (Roma)."

It has been widely rumoured that Behrami has been refusing to play for West Ham. It remains unclear whether Behrami is now willing to earn his wages at West Ham.


The Sun reports that Robert Green has undergone a hip operation this week. The paper say he is expected to be fit to play against Chelsea next week.

Gabbidon Injured?

Danny Gabbidon used his Twitter account half an hour ago to say,

"Tweaked my hamstring in training today doing one on ones, absolutely fuming right now !!!"

The fact that Gabbidon says he has only tweaked a hamstring and not pulled a hamstring hopefully means that this isn't too serious. West Ham also do not have a game until next Saturday so that does give him over a week to recover.


Better news is that The Sun today reported that Scott Parker is on the verge of signing a new five year contract. They say the news will be released within a week.

West Ham's 25 Man Squad Named

West Ham have confirmed the signing of right back Lars Jacobsen from Blackburn and Belgian goalkeeper Ruud Boffin from Dutch side MVV Maastricht.

Boffin, 22 years old, has been signed on a 2 year contract and Jacobsen has signed a one year contract.

Both players have been named in West Ham's 25 man squad for the season. One player I thought, until yesterday, that wouldn't make the squad was Behrami. Behrami had spoken about his wife's difficulties in settling in London and looked a cert to be sold. However Sky are reporting that West Ham and Roma couldn't finalise an agreement before the deadline.

Sky are suggesting that Behrami will probably move on in January but he has been named in West Ham's 25 man squad for this season (presumably because of the January transfer window some changes can be made to the squad at that time).


West Ham United 25-man squad

Goalkeepers: Boffin, Green
Defenders: Ben Haim, Da Costa, Gabbidon, Ilunga, Jacobsen, Reid, Spector,
Upson
Midfielders: Boa Morte, Behrami, Collison, Dyer, Faubert, Hitzlsperger, Kovac, Noble, Parker
Forwards: Barrera, Cole, Hines, McCarthy, Obinna, Piquionne

Under-21 pros

Goalkeepers: Stech
Defenders: Brown, Eyjolfsson, Fry (on loan at Charlton Athletic), McNaughton, Modelski, Spence, Tomkins
Midfielders: Edgar, Lee, Stanislas, Wearen
Forwards: Abdulla, Montano, Nouble, Sears

West Ham Awaiting Clearance on Jacobsen

Transfer deadline day was not a complete failure for West Ham. In fact the club did agree to sign Lars Jacobsen. The deal seems to involve the full-back signing from Blackburn Rovers on a permanent deal but for no money.

The transfer is still awaiting Premier League clearance as checks are being made to ensure the relevant paperwork was submitted before the 6pm transfer deadline.

Jacobsen has previously failed to break into the first team at Blackburn and Everton, although to be fair he was injured for most of his time at Everton.