Tag Archives: Hammers

Hammers target cup cheer

Posted on by
Reply

West Ham United and Birmingham City meet at Upton Park to kick off the first-leg ties of the Carling Cup semi-finals this week, with the opportunity to set up a trip to Wembley offering a welcome distraction for the relegation-threatened Hammers.

Avram Grant’s future at the Irons helm remains in major doubt, although a 2-0 FA Cup third-round win over Barnsley eased the pressure on the Israeli for the time being.

An optimistic note can also be struck by his side’s progress to the last four of the Carling Cup, with a 4-0 Boleyn Ground demolition of Manchester United in the last round the major highlight. Grant’s men have also seen off Stoke City and Sunderland on their way to the semis.

However, West Ham are the outsiders to reach Wembley (evens for the tie) in a tie given extra spice by the former owner of the Blues, Davids Gold and Sullivan, having taken charge of the claret and blues.

City head to the capital as slight outsiders to win on the night (Birmingham 23/10 – match betting), but they are expected to edge out their London rivals to reach a first final since their heartbreaking penalty shoot-out loss to Liverpool in 2001.

Much of their strength is derived from a resolute back four in which both Roger Johnson and Scott Dann have been mooted as possible England calls, but goals remain hard to come by for Alex McLeish’s side and the Scot may be tempted to draft in striker Matt Derbyshire, who netted twice in a 4-1 weekend FA Cup win over Millwall.

Wednesday evening sees Championship strugglers Ipswich Town play host to Arsenal in a tie which is seen by most tipsters as a one-horse race.

The hosts, who axed manager Roy Keane last week and drafted in Paul Jewell as a replacement, were thumped 7-0 at Chelsea in the FA Cup third round at the weekend, while their league form has seen them win just once in nine games to plunge down the Championship table.

They have also scored a mere one goal in their last five games and Town’s dreadful recent form is reflected heavily in the match odds, which see the Gunners as overwhelming favourites for victory in East Anglia (Ipswich 15/2 – match betting).

Arsene Wenger’s men have their eyes on bigger prizes this season but having gone five years without a trophy, the chance of booking a Wembley final should be very tempting.

Town fans will be doom-laden when confronted by the fact that the Gunners have sailed through to the semis by despatching Wigan Athletic, Newcastle United and north London rivals Spurs, who scored the only goals that Arsenal have conceded in the competition this season.

Ten goals scored in three ties also show that the Arsenal attack is having few problems in firing in the Carling Cup, even though Wenger continues to use the competition as something of an avenue for experimentation.

With a place in the final seemingly certain, Wenger may be tempted to field a full-strength team in the home second leg, but whatever side takes the field at Portman Road it should still be more than enough to see off a downbeat Town outfit.

The only note of caution for Arsenal comes with the knowledge that new Tractor Boys boss Jewell masterminded Wigan’s shock semi-final success over the Gunners in 2005-06.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Hammers must defy history

Posted on by
Reply

Cold, hard stats show only one team has been bottom of the Premier League at Christmas and managed to stay up, and that was West Brom five years ago (Baggies 8/1 to be relegated).

West Ham must hope that feat is repeated as they will prop up the table when they sit down to their Christmas dinners on Saturday.

A point was a creditable result from their last match at Blackburn, especially considering the Hammers have not broken their duck on their travels this season. But all the same, they will feel it was two points dropped against a team without a manager (West Ham 4/9 to be relegated).

In the end, it took a late equaliser from Junior Stanislas to even give them a point after Ryan Nelsen had bundled home Blackburn’s opening goal.

With all teams facing three games between now and January 2, all a club could really want at this time of year is for two of them to be at home. And that is the Hammers’ situation, as they face vital back-to-back games at Upton Park against fellow strugglers Everton and Wolves.

Avram Grant has denied having been told by the board that he had to win one of his next three games – including the Blackburn match – but if it is true then he must target a maximum return against Everton who are the draw specialists on their travels. The Goodison Park side have drawn five of their nine away games, losing just two.

The Hammers will be glad all three of their games are against teams in the bottom seven – their away match comes next, at Craven Cottage, where Fulham are battling for their lives, outside the drop zone on goal difference.

Going into the Boxing Day fixture, West Ham are three points away from safety, but the bottom half of the table is the tightest it has been for years and from Wigan – third from bottom on 16 points – there are only six points up to eighth-placed Newcastle.

Few teams can hope to survive without picking up at least a couple of away wins, and there are three others besides the Hammers who have drawn a blank on their travels so far. Christmas would be the perfect time for Wolves, Fulham and Birmingham to win away from home for the first time.

After such an impressive season last time, it is surprising to see Birmingham flirting with the relegation zone, but they have only won three times all season. Despite only losing once at St Andrews, the Blues are failing to kill teams off and have drawn four home games.

Birmingham’s festive programme is not what they would have wanted. They go to Everton on Boxing Day, then have to host Manchester United and Arsenal in successive matches (Birmingham 7/2 to be relegated).

Fulham could be forgiven for being distracted in the league last season while they progressed in the Europa League, but they have no such excuses this time. The Cottagers’ problem has been failing to get over the finishing line – they have drawn 10 Premier League games and only won twice (Fulham 7/2 to be relegated).

There is no escaping it, the Boxing Day clash between Wolves and Wigan at Molineux is a relegation six-pointer and neither side wants a draw from the fixture.

Latics have bounced back after the 2-0 defeat at Arsenal to draw 2-2 at home to Stoke and hold Everton to a goalless draw at Goodison Park. Wolves’ good work in the 3-2 home win over Sunderland in late November was undone in their only game since, a 3-0 defeat at Blackburn (Wigan 8/11 to be relegated, Wolves 5/6).

Of all the clubs at the bottom, Aston Villa arguably have most reason to feel confident going towards the turn of the year.

Villa are five places from the bottom and not entirely free of rumours that Gerard Houllier’s stay at the club will be a short one, but owner Randy Lerner is ready to splash the cash in January to try and help the club climb up the table (Aston Villa 10/1 to be relegated).

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Hammers head relegation scrap

Posted on by
Reply

Pressure continues to mount on Avram Grant, whose West Ham side are 4/9 favourites to be relegated as they sit nestled to the bottom of the Premier League table following Saturday’s defeat at home to Manchester City but who will end up slipping out of the top flight next May?

With just 12 points accumulated from 17 games – and with only four goals scored away from Upton Park this season – all signs point to the Championship for the Hammers at the minute and their next two fixtures are tricky away games to Blackburn and Fulham.

Rumours are rife that time is running out for Grant, who went to the East End this summer following Gianfranco Zola’s departure and newly-sacked ex-Newcastle boss Chris Hughton reported to be favourite to replace Grant if the axe does indeed fall.

New Toon boss Alan Pardew oversaw his first victory at St James’ Park at the weekend over Liverpool. However, with the dressing room angered by Hughton’s departure and widespread fan resentment of owner Mike Ashley, Pardew’s honeymoon may come to an abrupt end.

Pardew’s credentials in the top flight are not wholly desirable – he does not have too much Premier League managerial experience – and dark days could yet return to the newly-promoted Toon Army who are still 11/2 to be relegation.

Meanwhile, Wolves face an uphill struggle to stayout of the relegation zone, despite registering a much needed 1-0 victory over Birmingham at the weekend. Mick McCarthy’s side have already leaked 30 goals this season, the same number as West Ham, and look prime candidates for the drop unless they sort out their defensive frailties. (Wolves 3/4 to be relegated)

Wigan (7/10) and Fulham are both tied on 16 points above West Ham and Wolves and have talent. If Charles N’Zogbia continues his scintillating form, Roberto Martinez’s side will climb out of the relegation zone.

Wigan host Aston Villa next Saturday and then face a crunch game against relegation rivals Wolves the following weekend. Martinez would love to gain four points or more from those fixtures.

Fulham’s season (7/2 to go down) has started in stark contrast to life under former boss Roy Hodgson. Mark Hughes has had his work cut out since arriving at Craven Cottage and will be well aware of their precarious position above the drop zone.

Speaking after this weekend’s goalless draw with Sunderland, Hughes commented: “It only takes one win.”

However, with an away trip to Liverpool next weekend, this season’s draw masters will be targeting the Boxing Day fixture at home to West Ham as the win to turn their season around. Another draw in that fixture and Sparky Hughes may have to make some changes come January or risk being out of a job come May.

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Hammers star wants winning habit

Posted on by
Reply

James Tomkins is hoping that West Ham’s first away win in over a year can kick-start the club’s struggling start to their league season (Hammers 11/8 to be relegated).

The Hammers currently sit rock bottom of the Premier League table, with their only point coming in a 1-1 draw at Stoke last weekend.

However, the side managed their first win away from home in 13 months with a 2-1 win over Sunderland in the Carling Cup third round on Tuesday night.

Goals from Frederic Piquionne and Victor Obinna were enough to give the Hammers the win, and Tomkins wants the players to take confidence from this victory and take it forward into their Premier League clash with Tottenham (West Ham 13/5 to win, Spurs evens, draw 23/10) at Upton Park on Saturday.

West Ham need to make their home ground a fortress if they are to climb off the bottom of the table, but face a tough challenge against a Spurs side sitting in fifth spot and looking for a Premier League top-four finish for the second season in succession (Spurs 11/4 to finish in top four).

“The lads are buzzing. It is good to get our confidence back and start on winning ways. We need to get in the habit of doing this now as in the last few games we had played well but hadn’t taken anything,” said the Hammers Academy graduate.

“We did it against Stoke on Saturday. Not many teams go there and get a draw. We were able to build on that with the victory against Sunderland.

“It would be nice to have a cup run but first it is back to Tottenham in the league on Saturday and that is a massive game.”

West Ham boss Avram Grant paid particular praise to his front two of Piquionne and Obinna after the Sunderland win. He knows that goals have been hard to come by this season and the Hammers need someone to score regularly if they are to win games on a consistent basis.

The club’s striker’s inability to get goals led to the relegation dogfight last season and all the fans around Upton Park are hoping for no repeat this campaign.

Grant claims the club is making progress and he wants his players to continue to perform “with the same style” and convert chances into goals.

Speaking about his front two, he added: “They worked very hard, they moved very well and they played well together – but all the team behind them played well..

“We passed the ball very well in the midfield so it was more easy for them to find space to score two fantastic goals.”

After the Spurs game, West Ham (8/15 to stay up) then face Fulham at Upton Park before travelling to Wolves in their next two Premier League games.

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Sullivan calls for Hammers calm

Posted on by
Reply

Co-owner David Sullivan has insisted there is no need for any West Ham fans to panic, despite their dreadful start to the new Premier League season (West Ham 7/4 to be relegated).

The east London outfit have lost all three of their Premier League matches thus far and the club’s only victory came thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Scott Parker against League Two side Oxford United in the Carling Cup.

West Ham currently find themselves rooted to the foot of the league having been beaten by Manchester United, Bolton and Aston Villa, conceding nine goals and scoring just one.

The Hammers are likely to remain there for the next week at least as they prepare to welcome league leaders and defending champions Chelsea (1/3 to beat West Ham) to Upton Park on Saturday.

Having replaced Gianfranco Zola with Avram Grant at the back end of last season and brought in six new players during the transfer window the Hammers had been expected to move away from the wrong end of the league.

However, Grant’s new additions have failed to bed in and with constant speculation linking the likes of Scott Parker and Carlton Cole with moves away from London it has been a tough start for the Israeli manager.

West Ham owners Sullivan and David Gold were outspoken in their criticism of former boss Zola when the team were struggling last season.

However, Sullivan has come out in support of Grant and insists there is no truth behind the rumours the new manager is already under pressure to produce results.

“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.”

The former Birmingham owner also backtracked on comments he had made about the foreign contingent at Upton Park after he suggested last weekend that some of them ‘couldn’t be bothered’.

Sullivan now insists that it was just one or two players he was talking about when made his controversial outburst and claims the other members of the squad are all working hard to improve the Hammers situation.

Grant has also given his backing to the players and the board, insisting everyone is trying to do their best to rectify the current situation.

However, Grant will do well to start his salvage operation against Chelsea (6/5 Premier League outright) with the Blues having won all three of their opening matches, scoring 14 goals and conceding none thus far.

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Hammers look to land Demel

Posted on by
Reply

West Ham (40/1 – Premier League top six) have tabled a bid for Hamburg defender Guy Demel – as well as seeking to beat Stoke to the signature of Portsmouth’s highly-rated Marc Wilson.

But the Hammers’ chances of landing Juventus’ David Trezeguet look to be over.

West Ham boss Avram Grant, looking to give himself more strength in his problematic right-back spot before the transfer window closes, has reportedly bid just under £2million for Ivory Coast international Demel.

Demel’s agent, Saif Rubie, says the Hammers have firmed their bid for the former Arsenal defender, currently playing for Hamburg.

“West Ham have made an offer on Friday of 2million euros for Guy,” Rubie told skysports.com.

“However, whether it will be enough for Hamburg to do business with just three days of the transfer window left remains to be seen.

“Guy is very happy at Hamburg and committed to doing the very best he can for the club.”

The Upton Park outfit (40/1 – FA Cup outright) are also in the market for Portsmouth captain Wilson, who can play at the back or in midfield.

Wilson looks set to leave Fratton Park before the transfer deadline, and three clubs are now battling for his signature.

West Brom have bid more than £2.5million for the player, after having a lower bid rejected.

Stoke City are believed to have valued the player at just over £3million, which would be made up of a combination of cash plus players, with out-of-favour striker Dave Kitson and midfielder Liam Lawrence the makeweights.

However, West Ham have now entered the race though they have yet to make a formal offer for the player. Pompey’s administrators may look more kindly on a Hammers cash bid rather than the player exchanges offered by Stoke.

Meanwhile, West Ham look to have failed with a bid to sign former France international Trezeguet.

The Juventus ace, 32, looks set to leave the Italian club and has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs including Birmingham and Liverpool, but he now looks set to join Spanish side Hercules.

A Hammers insider told Soccernet: “West Ham tried, but they were told he’s going to Spain.”

Asked about the situation on Friday, boss Avram Grant said: “I cannot answer about Trezeguet or others. There are a few areas that we don’t have players at all so this is our first priority, but in any position if there are players that can be good for us because we have a long season.”

West Ham are still looking to add another striker to the side despite the arrival of Victor Obinna on loan from Inter.

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Grant admits Hammers worries

Posted on by
Reply

Avram Grant believes his West Ham side are lacking the belief they will need to survive in the Premier League this season after watching them scrape past Oxford in the second round of the Carling Cup (West Ham 5/2 to be relegated).

The former Portsmouth and Chelsea coach took over at Upton Park in the summer after the Hammers board decided to sack Gianfranco Zola following their brush with the drop.

The east London side narrowly avoided relegation last year and had hoped with Grant at the helm they would be challenging for a place in the top half.

However, so far it hasn’t worked out for Grant’s men, losing their first two matches in the Premier League.

West Ham (40/1 Carling Cup Outright) are one of three teams without a point from their opening fixtures and could easily have been on the wrong end of a cup upset on Tuesday night.

They welcomed League Two side Oxford to Upton Park expecting to roll over the Yellows and boost their confidence ahead of this weekend’s match against Manchester United.

Instead they had to rely on skipper Scott Parker to get them out of jail again with a 90th-minute winner after surviving a number of close shaves.

Despite West Ham getting their first win of the season under their belts Grant was unhappy with the manner of their performance and pointed to the players’ delicate mindset as to why they are currently struggling.

“Mentally it is not just because it is the first win but that we did it in the last moment,” said Grant. “This team carried a lot of psychology problems.

“When everything goes well we are OK, when it does not we are a bit nervous.”

The Israeli will be desperate to get his player’s heads right ahead of this Saturday’s match against Manchester United (1/6 to beat the Hammers) at Old Trafford.

West Ham have won one of their previous seven meetings at the Theatre of Dreams, shipping nine goals in their last three matches there.

With a match against champions Chelsea to come the week after Grant is hopeful that Tuesday’s victory will give his side a much needed confidence boost.

“Tonight [Tuesday] they saw that if you don’t give up and keep trying to do the right things you can score in the last moment,” he added.

“When you play against a team not from our league they will always defend. I liked that the players continued to pass the ball and were not crazy to score.

“We are in the next round and that is the most important thing.”

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Hammers boss backs Green

Posted on by
Reply

Rob Green can bounce back from his World Cup disaster and hit new heights this season, says West Ham boss Avram Grant (Hammers 9/2 to be relegated).

The Hammers manager says that, although Green and other England players may get a rough ride from fans – particularly of opposition clubs – early this season it should not affect their form.

Green’s clanger saw him allow a harmless-looking shot from USA’s Clint Dempsey to find the net in England’s opening 1-1 draw at the World Cup.

The keeper was axed for the rest of the tournament but has been publicly backed by his club manager.

“I believe any player needs to give answers on the pitch,” Grant told the club’s official website.

“I remember David Beckham after the World Cup in 1998, it was his best season. I remember Cristiano Ronaldo in 2006, the supporters did not like him and it was his best season.

“In the 2002 final Oliver Kahn conceded a goal my grandmother could have stopped and Germany lost the title, but he was still a good goalkeeper.

“Rob is a very good goalkeeper, very good mentally, high quality.

“It will not be the last time a goalkeeper lets a goal in like that, there were many at the World Cup.

“But with the support – it happened to Beckham and it happened to Ronaldo and I hope his reaction will be the same.”

Green was overlooked for this week’s friendly against Hungary, even though Ben Foster withdrew with an injury and Paul Robinson announced his international retirement.

But the West Ham (1/8 to stay up) boss feels Green has no intention of following Robinson’s lead and says he can force his way back into Fabio Capello’s plans.

“I didn’t have to speak to him,” said Grant. “It’s part of the game.

“I don’t think he needs to retire because in my opinion he will play many games for the England team. At the moment he is one of the top two goalkeepers in the country.”

Meanwhile, Grant says he is preparing to live out his dreams at Upton Park.

As a young man in Israel, he says he loved the way West Ham (20/1 to finish in top six) would try to entertain with attacking football.

He visited the club and sat at the feet of former boss Ron Greenwood.

Grant told the Daily Express: “I know everything about West Ham and their traditions. I know what they believed in, how they wanted to play the game and be judged. It was probably the main reason I took the job. I absorbed everything about them and about English football too

“I would very much like to carry on the traditions of this club.

“This season, for me and for West Ham, is a big challenge, but always success is a journey, not just a target.”

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Hammers snub Spurs’ Parker bid

Posted on by
Reply

West Ham United (2/1 to be relegated from the Premier League) have rejected a bid from London rivals Tottenham Hotspur for their captain Scott Parker.

The former Chelsea midfielder was a key player for the Hammers last season as they managed to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

Parker was one of the seven players that missed out on the final England World Cup squad after making the initial 30 man selection.

Speculation that clubs would make a move for the player this summer has been confirmed as Spurs (3/1 to finish in the top four)  boss Harry Redknapp has made a bid for the talented midfielder.

The White Hart Lane club are looking to strengthen their squad as they attempt to retain a top-four place in the Premier League and begin their journey in the Champions League.

However, Hammers chairman David Sullivan is adamant that the club will be keeping hold of their skipper.

He said: “I made a promise that I would not sell Scott and I will not, for any amount of money, break that promise to the West Ham supporters.

“Scott is not for sale at any price, to anyone. West Ham supporters, for too long, have had owners that sell their best players and promise one thing and do another.

“This is a new era. We are building a bigger, better West Ham and when we make a promise, we honour it,” he added.

Sullivan also stated that he did not want any offers from Spurs that would unsettle his players prior to their move for Parker.

The Upton Park club look set to offer Parker a new five-year-contact despite the player having three years left on his current deal.

West Ham (7/2 to finish in the top half in the Premier League) have been linked with a number of big names this summer which included Thierry Henry and David Beckham.

However, it is keeping hold of their better players which currently seems to be the priority for the club as the likes of Matthew Upson and Robert Green are linked with moves away from Upton Park.

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Hammers handed Dorrans blow

Posted on by
Reply

West Brom midfielder Graham Dorrans has ended speculation over his future by signing a new four-year deal with the Baggies to keep him at the Hawthorns until 2015 (West Brom – 4/5 to be relegated next season).

The Scotland international had been a summer target of West Ham, with Albion turning down three bids from the Londoners for the 23-year-old.

He only agreed a new deal with the Baggies in January but, underlining how desperate Roberto Di Matteo was to hold on to him, Dorrans was offered fresh terms and he has now penned a new four-year contract with the option of a further year after that.

The midfielder scored 18 goals in all competitions to help West Brom (40/1 to be top Midlands club next term) win promotion back up to the Premier League last season and Di Matteo is looking forward to building a team around him in the top flight.

“I’m delighted Graham has signed a new long-term contract, which is fully deserved,” the boss said on the club’s website.

“He made excellent progress last season and we’re now very hopeful he can make the step up to the Premier League.

“There has been a lot of media speculation about Graham’s future, but it hasn’t affected him one bit.

“Ever since he has reported back for pre-season training, his attitude has been as spot on as it always is and I know for a fact how much he’s looking forward to the new season.”

He added: “The exciting thing is that Graham knows he still has a lot of work to do and is yet to reach his full potential.”

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.