first of all congratulations to mark noble for winning hammer of the year nice to see one of our own win it
the evening standard
Mark Noble urges West Ham to forget their final-day agony
Mark Noble today claimed it is vital West Ham do not let the disappointment of failing to secure one of the automatic promotion places affect their preparation for the play-offs.
West Ham’s 2-1 win over Hull on the final day of the Championship season wasn’t enough to overhaul Southampton, who were promoted along with champions Reading following their 4-0 victory over Coventry, and Sam Allardyce’s team now travel to Cardiff for Thursday’s play-off semi-final first leg.
Noble is the only member of West Ham’s squad who was involved when they last won promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs, in 2005.
“Last time we did it, I was a young kid and I remember Alan Pardew telling me to get ready to go on with about 25 minutes left,” said Noble.
“It was unbelievable to get on and see the final out, I’ve had that feeling only a couple of times before in my career and hopefully I can experience it again.
“We set out for automatic promotion at the start of the season and after the game against Hull I said to the lads that we had better get our heads around the situation quickly.
“When you just sneak in finishing sixth, as we did last time, everyone is buzzing but you could tell on Saturday we were disappointed having ended up third and just missing out.
“We need to banish that disappointment quickly because Cardiff are a top team with a top manager.”
Allardyce has injury concerns over captain Kevin Nolan (dead leg) and Gary O’Neil (ankle injury), following the win over Hull and admitted he would ideally have wanted longer for his players to recover.
“One of the problems is the short recovery time between now and Thursday after 46 arduous matches,“ he said. “We could have done with a week to rest the injuries and bruises but as always tight schedules have to be met.”
O’Neil, who missed the first half of the season with an ankle injury, is hoping he will be fit in time.
“I knew it wasn’t too serious,” said the midfielder. “But it was a kick on the same ankle and I wasn’t too pleased with the tackle, especially as it was late in the final game of the season. It was unnecessary and it’s a bit sore at the moment.”
footy latest,com
More fingers pointed at Trevor Brooking over insulting Redknapp snub
Former Southampton and England legend Matt Le Tissier has joined the growing chorus questioning the role of Sir Trevor Brooking in the insulting snub of Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp for the England manager job.
Le Tiss was quite scathing about the decision to approach Roy Hodgson claiming that England have gone for the cheap and safe option, however it is his comments on the role of Brooking that catches the eye.
“There are a whole bunch of issues – if you look at the committee that is selecting the next England manager. One of them, I think I’m right, is (Director of Football Development) Trevor Brooking, said Le Tissier
“I think Trevor and Harry had a falling-out many years ago and I’m not sure if that’s played a part in one of the reasons why they’ve decided against going for Harry.
Le Tissier is not the only person questioning the role of Brooking, anyone looking through today’s press cannot fail to see the unease that this shocking decision has caused.
Brooking needs to come clean, he will not of course, and even if he did he would no doubt deny the allegations being levelled against him, but too many people are asking what role he played in the decision to go against the players, fans and media alike.
transfer tavern
Three Reasons Why™ West Ham Don’t Deserve Promotion
Unfortunately for Hammers fans Carlton Cole’s brace against Hull on Saturday and the resultant victory was not enough to gain the second automatic promotion place after Southampton’s emphatic victory against Coventry.
The West Ham crowd were singing about bubbles and promotion, but to be fair automatic promotion was always out of United’s hands and was Southampton’s to lose.
The Irons did what they had to do but so did the Saints meaning the Hammers have to go through the pressure of the play-offs to attain promotion.
Below I look at three reasons why I believe the Hammers don’t deserve to be promoted to the Premier League:
THE HOME RECORD
The main stumbling block preventing the Hammers from achieveing automatic promotion this season must be their poor form at Upton Park. When you look at the Championship table in detail you can see that Sam Allardyce’s men have drawn far too many games at home when compared to the top two teams.
If a club is not performing well at home surely some of the blame can be assigned to the support. If the home crowd cannot push and encourage the team to a victory then the club has not got the foundations for success. Should West Ham make it through the play-offs and achieve promotion their home form has to become more consistent as Premier League survival hinges on home form and the ability to make your home stadium a ‘fortress’.
THE BIG SAM HATE
The fact that Allardyce has apparently decided to set the team to play in a way that is not what Hammers fans consider as attractive football is a real weak point. For a club to be successful I believe that manager, players, chairman, board and fans all need to be pulling in the same direction and singing from the same hymne sheet. The fact that a sizable proportion of fans are unhappy with the way the team is playing may link back to their inconsistency at home and thus undermines the teams performance.
MONEY
With all the big names at West Ham and the appointment of Allardyce as manager it seems to the casual outsider that the Hammers seem to be buying their way back into the Premiership. Now I am a realist and do understand that money can give you the ability to gain advantages, and this is fair enough. But I do not think it should be the only factor in determining who is successful and who is not.
Money for me is less important than the passion of the fans and the commitment of the players. A club that views money as the most important factor in achieving success is doomed to fail.
To say that West Ham deserve to be in the Premiership is short-sighted. It is true that they have the infrastructure, manager and some players which are of Premiership quality. However I believe you get what you deserve. Reading and Southampton deserve to be in the Premiership as they have achieved promotion already. Whoever comes through the play-offs to achieve promotion will deserve to be in the Premiership. Will this be West Ham? Well we’ll just have to wait and see…
Manchester City midfielder Vincent Kompany called on his side to finish the job in the race for the Premier League title after scoring the winner in a famous 1-0 victory over Manchester United.
Daily Mail
Noisy neighbours? You could say that. The roar that erupted from the Etihad Stadium at 9.56pm on Monday night will live long in the memory of all who heard it, whether it represented, to them, the rapturous celebration or, to Manchester United's players and supporters, the howling of some dreadful monster coming to life.
the Times (subscription required)
Birmingham boss Chris Hughton is West Brom's No 1 target to replace England-bound Roy Hodgson.
Chris Hughton
Hughton is being lined up as a replacement for Hodgson
the Sun
The Football Association have offered Hodgson a salary of £2m, £4m less than former manager Fabio Capello was earning before he resigned.
Daily Star
Former Switzerland international and Blackburn defender Stephane Henchoz has tipped Hodgson to be a success as England manager - although he admits he does have concerns about his ability to work with the very top players.
talkSPORT
Manchester City have moved ahead of Manchester United in the race to sign winger Eden Hazard, who is valued at £30m by his club Lille.
Daily Telegraph
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Daily Mirror
Hazard has long been a target for the Premier League's top clubs
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talkSPORT
Liverpool have joined Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain in the race for Montpellier winger Younes Belhanda, 22.
Metro
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the Sun
Everton boss David Moyes says South African midfielder Steven Pienaar wants to stay at Goodison Park.
Liverpool Echo
Wolves are lining up Blackpool boss Ian Holloway to replace Terry Connor as their new manager.
Steven Pienaar
Pienaar is in his second spell at Goodison Park
Daily Mirror
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew shrugged off his side's defensive woes against Wigan - and jetted straight to Holland on a Euro scouting mission.
Newcastle Chronicle
Sunderland centre-half Michael Turner is confident Martin O'Neill's summer spending spree will rejuvenate the feelgood factor on Wearside after a tepid conclusion to the campaign.
Sunderland Echo
Blackburn Rovers director Vineeth Rao has denied reports that the Venky's consortium was looking to sell the club.
ESPN
Leeds United have unveiled their new home strip for next season with a rousing '8 Mile-inspired' video starring their manager Neil Warnock.
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