monday's news 30th april includes west ham

An archive of Cockney Hammer's West Ham-related daily news digests from 2009-2015. For the latest daily digests, see the General Discussion Forum.

Moderator: Gnome

Post Reply
User avatar
cockney hammer
Resident badge expert
Posts: 108461
Joined: Sat Dec 07, 2002 12:52 pm
Location: http://boleynbadges.com
Has liked: 1 like
Total likes: 143 likes
Contact:

monday's news 30th april includes west ham

Post by cockney hammer »

Image





the sun



Image






Keep cool

MARK NOBLE has warned his Hammers team-mates to stay cool in the run-up to the play-offs.


The midfielder is the sole survivor of the squad from the 2005 final victory over Preston.

And he has since matured to become an Upton Park icon.

West Ham travel to Cardiff on Thursday before next Monday’s second leg in a week which will shape the destiny of the club.

Carlton Cole’s two goals were not enough to keep the dream of automatic promotion alive.

Noble, 24, said: “We had ice baths and put that firmly in the back of our heads and concentrated on Thursday.

“I know they say that the playoffs are massive games but it is the same-sized ball and same colour grass and same white lines.

“We have played Cardiff twice and we know what to expect.

“We were disappointed as we wanted to go up straight away. But we need to get that disappointment out quickly.

“I told the lads after the game we must get our heads around it, as I have been in the situation of just getting into the play-offs and everyone is buzzing as you have a chance of getting to Wembley and the Premier League.”

Noble played alongside Cardiff boss Malky Mackay briefly at Upton Park and reckons he was always destined for management.

He added: “Even in training, Malky was giving me rollickings and stuff so I knew he had it in him.”

Striker Cole was on target after 36 and 48 minutes — the first time he has scored twice in a game all season — before Corry Evans netted a late consolation for Hull.

Hammers boss Sam Allardyce reckons his squad is fitter now than at the start of the season — despite 46 Championship games and nine months on the road.

Big Sam said: “Our fitness levels are greater now than they were in the first half of the season. We’ve grown in our capabilities in using our physical and technical abilities to beat the opposition.

“I won’t enjoy the play-offs. The only thing you enjoy is getting through, then planning for the final.

“The hardest thing and most tense thing for a manager is to not let the pressure of the play-offs cloud your preparation.

“You’re the guy who has to guide the players into that critical situation and they’re the ones who have to go out and enjoy it, not me.

“I’m here to worry about it for them. I won’t smile much from now on.”







the mail




Image
Image
Image






Worrying times ahead for Big Sam as West Ham prepare for play-offs




West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has told his players to go out and enjoy the play-offs - he will do all their worrying for them.

The Hammers were the pre-season favourites to go up but missed out on second place despite beating Hull 2-1 on Saturday.

They will be under increased pressure now to beat Cardiff in the play-off semi-finals, with the first leg in South Wales on Thursday.

Allardyce knows all about play-off emotion, having been knocked out in the semi-finals twice but also having taken Bolton up to the Premier League in 2001.


So, when asked whether he would enjoy the next fortnight Allardyce said: 'No, no, no. 'The only thing you enjoy is getting through first, then planning for the final. The hardest thing for a manager is not to let the pressure of the play-offs cloud your preparation or judgment. You're the guy who has to guide the players into that critical situation and they're the ones who have to go out and enjoy it. I'm here to worry for them.'

The West Ham manager says he has failed by not taking the club up automatically but added his players are ready for the play-offs.


He said: 'Our physical stats have been magnificent. In fact, our fitness levels are greater now than in the first half of the season.'

Mark Noble came on in the final the last time West Ham went up via the play-offs, against Preston in 2005.

The midfielder admits he would love to experience that again at Wembley on May 19.

He said: 'It was unbelievable for me as I was still young. It was an unbelievable occasion to get out there and especially to see a game out and win it and the feeling afterwards.

'I have only ever had that feeling a couple of times. Hopefully I will get it again.'






The Football Association sees Roy Hodgson as a "better fit" than Spurs boss Harry Redknapp for the England manager's job.

Daily Mirror

One of the reasons Hodgson is holding talks about the position is because he will have met with support from the Football Association's chairman David Bernstein.

Daily Telegraph

But Spurs and Redknapp have been damaged by the hunt for the new England manager.

the Guardian

Liverpool have joined the list of clubs showing interest in Montpellier striker Olivier Giroud, 25, with manager Kenny Dalglish attending the French club's win at Toulouse on Friday. Arsenal are also believed to be keen on signing him.

Daily Mail

The Anfield club will also have to find at least £12.5m if they are serious about signing FC Twente's Dutch international striker Luuk de Jong.
Steven Pienaar

Pienaar is in his second spell at Goodison Park

Metro

Everton will make re-signing South African playmaker Steven Pienaar a priority at the end of the Premier League season

Daily Mail


Manchester United winger Nani has revealed he has opened negotiations with the Old Trafford club about a new long-term contract.

Metro


Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini believes striker Carlos Tevez is "destined" to score the winner in Monday's crucial derby against city rivals Manchester Unite







READING are battling Everton and Fulham to sign Bjorn Bergmann Sigurdarson.

Royals boss Brian McDermott is lining up a £1million bid for the Iceland striker, 21, who plays for Norway side Lillestrom.

BILLY SHARP has handed relegated Doncaster a £50,000 goodbye gift.

Sharp, 26, joined Southampton from Rovers in January for £1.85million — and a clause in the deal said promoted Saints would pay Donny a bonus if they went up.

UAE club Al Ain are confident of signing Asamoah Gyan on a permanent basis in June.

Ghana striker Gyan, who is on a season-long loan from Sunderland, has led the club to their domestic title with 17 goals in 15 games.



babe of the day




http://oi47.tinypic.com/kafoed.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
RyanWHUFC
Posts: 13787
Joined: Thu Nov 11, 2010 8:33 am
Location: Gold Sullivan and Brady OUT
Total likes: 1 like

Re: monday's news 30th april includes west ham

Post by RyanWHUFC »

Cheers CH :thup:
User avatar
Muddy
Posts: 11572
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:50 pm
Has liked: 12 likes
Total likes: 27 likes

Re: monday's news 30th april includes west ham

Post by Muddy »

Cheers CH.
User avatar
Hammer Smith
Posts: 3253
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2004 6:43 pm
Location: In the shadows

Re: monday's news 30th april includes west ham

Post by Hammer Smith »

Thanks CH
User avatar
Headtheball
Posts: 504
Joined: Wed Oct 29, 2003 10:22 pm
Location: In exile - Newport, South Wales

Re: monday's news 30th april includes west ham

Post by Headtheball »

Down in Cardiff, they are already piling on the pressure using the same tactics they did against Palace in the Carling Cup semi final i,e that Sam said they would beat Cardiff easily.
Well worth tracking this site all week as there are other articles here as well such as comment from Nathan blake (remember him!).

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... -30865275/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Analysis: Peter Whittingham-inspired Cardiff City can upset the bookies against West Ham
By Steve Tucker Apr 30 2012 Add a commentRecommend (1) inShare0 1Share on emailShare on print CARDIFF CITY ace Peter Whittingham tweeted yesterday that he was staying in bed all day and you could hardly blame him.

The weather was bad enough, but the 27-year-old midfielder had certainly earned a lie-in after one moment of magic at Selhurst Park brought the heart-rates of Bluebirds’ supporters down to almost tolerable levels.

It was on 53 minutes when the maestro teed up a free-kick just yards in from the by-line and then curled it sublimely into the net past Palace goalkeeper Lewis Price.

The Wales international shot-stopper was doing Cardiff no favours up until then with a series of saves to frustrate the Bluebirds.

In typical fashion Cardiff had determined to make things as nerve-wracking as possible for their 2,500 travelling supporters by going behind after a dominant start.

The excellent Wilfried Zaha latched onto a Darren Ambrose pass that spilt the seemingly reliable Cardiff back-line and stroked home with David Marshall exposed on 13 minutes.

Cue all attention shifting to Vicarage Road where a goal for Middlesbrough against Watford would have made things paranoiac for the Bluebirds with reports suggesting only Hornets ’keeper Scott Loach was standing in the way of disaster happening.

But the Bluebirds, while never thrilling here, are made of sterner stuff it seems, than teams who have indulged in previous capitulations and they came out in the second-half and got the job done.

Whittingham calmed the nerves before a superb right-foot volley from Don Cowie convinced even the most pessimistic Bluebirds’ watcher that for once, Cardiff were not going to ‘do a Cardiff’.

The securing of a play-off place crowns in many ways what has been a fantastic first season in charge for manager Malky Mackay, who again looked the coolest man in the ground here.

The massive rebuilding job he was forced into upon his arrival had suggested to many that his first term in charge would be one of consolidation, of planning for the future, but the no-nonsense Scot has surpassed all that.

A penalty kick away from lifting the Carling Cup and now a top six finish suggests the Cardiff board got things spot on when they brought in Mackay last summer.

To be honest it has not been a pretty ride for long periods, the Bluebirds determinedly having to hold on in there as their form suffered in the second-half of the campaign, but the achievement is great none the less.

It surpasses totally that of former boss Dave Jones whose star-studded squad last season should really have gone up automatically, but instead stumbled at the semi-final stage.

For the Bluebirds last year read West Ham this time around, who the Bluebirds now face over two-legs.

Sam Allardyce has come out fighting, insisting his side will see off the Bluebirds and then dispatch either Birmingham or Blackpool at Wembley.

But Allardyce’s bravado right now sounds false, the braggadocio of a man under extreme pressure half hoping to convince himself that his side’s return to the top flight is inevitable.

The Hammers have blown it in many ways, secure in the automatic places for so long. The idea they are content with a play-off place is absurd especially when you consider the money thrown about and expectation levels in the East End. Allardyce knows right now, even if he is three games from the Premier League, he is also two matches away from getting the sack.

The pressure is immense on the Londoners and Cardiff, well, according to your Anglo-centric pundits they are there now simply to make up the numbers, to provide a mere inconvenience as the Hammers return to where they rightly belong.

That could well not be the case though.

Mackay and his men are the outsiders and that will suit them just fine.

When we look back at last season they were expected to finally achieve promotion and they blew it, but one does get the nagging suspicion things could be different this time around.

Sure plenty of the current Cardiff side have been through the heartbreak of the previous two campaigns, but this time they have Mackay guiding them and that could make all the difference.

His side have already proven this season in their Carling Cup semi-final over Palace that they are quite happy in a two-legged war of attrition and ready to fight to their very last breath.

And, whatever else which could be said about them this season, they remain incredibly hard to beat.

Cardiff have lost just once in their last 13 games, a reverse at home to Hull way back on March 13.

And, to use one of Mackay’s favourite words, they really do have ‘momentum’ as they go into the extended season.

Of their last six games they have won four and drawn two and, with the first-leg against West Ham at home, followed by the second clash at Upton Park next Monday, Mackay’s men also seem to like things on the road, with three of those wins coming away from the Welsh capital.

The Bluebirds will have nothing to fear travelling up to the East End as long as they have kept things tight at home, which they are more than capable of doing.

Of course the Hammers will be favourites with the likes of Kevin Nolan, Carlton Cole and Ricardo Vaz Te at Allardyce’s disposal, but anyone writing off Cardiff at this point is being very foolish indeed.

They are going to need to call upon the services of their own big name players once more. Even more magic from Whittingham required and Joe Mason needing once more to prove he is the young man for the big occasion.

In particular Kenny Miller desperately needs to find his goal-scoring touch, with only one goal in 21 games he again endured a frustrating afternoon at Selhurst Park.

It is going to take something special for Cardiff to see off West Ham and make it to Wembley, but under Mackay you feel they are always capable of upsetting the odds.

Just by reaching the play-offs Mackay has excelled already this campaign, but now he, his players and the club’s often let down supporters will be wanting more. So much more.
User avatar
Los Martillos
Posts: 6473
Joined: Mon May 23, 2005 8:20 pm
Location: Coggeshall
Total likes: 1 like

Re: monday's news 30th april includes west ham

Post by Los Martillos »

Cheers mate.

Much as I hate the play-oofs, i will be at all the games and giving it my all.

COYI

:crest:
User avatar
Kitt the car
Posts: 6860
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2009 10:41 am
Has liked: 13 likes
Total likes: 155 likes

Re: monday's news 30th april includes west ham

Post by Kitt the car »

Cheers CH
User avatar
hammerjohn
Posts: 4433
Joined: Mon May 15, 2006 3:42 pm
Location: Living the life of Reilly and she knows it.. !

Re: monday's news 30th april includes west ham

Post by hammerjohn »

had a brilliant weekend, thanks again CH.
Bergen Hammer
Posts: 2196
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2009 2:25 pm
Location: bla bla bla or whatever
Has liked: 1 like

Re: monday's news 30th april includes west ham

Post by Bergen Hammer »

Cheers CH!

"READING are battling Everton and Fulham to sign Bjorn Bergmann Sigurdarson.

Royals boss Brian McDermott is lining up a £1million bid for the Iceland striker, 21, who plays for Norway side Lillestrom."

He's talented, but totally incapable of putting the ball between the sticks. Hopefully the trend won't change if he signs for Reading :twisted:
User avatar
Adie64
Posts: 2263
Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2010 3:59 pm
Location: Southend Essex
Has liked: 463 likes

Re: monday's news 30th april includes west ham

Post by Adie64 »

Thanks again CH :crest: CCCCCCCOOOOOOYYYYYYYIIIIIIIIII
User avatar
rciron
Posts: 3627
Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2004 9:32 am
Location: Chicken Run
Has liked: 294 likes
Total likes: 16 likes

Re: monday's news 30th april includes west ham

Post by rciron »

Cheers CH :thup: COYI
User avatar
Cuenca 'ammer
ex 'ouston 'ammer
Posts: 40710
Joined: Thu Dec 05, 2002 4:19 pm
Location: Journey to the dead of night. High on a hill in Eldorado
Has liked: 1904 likes
Total likes: 1612 likes

Re: monday's news 30th april includes west ham

Post by Cuenca 'ammer »

Cheers as per CH

Joe Lewis has left Posh....

:think:
Post Reply