Kenny Miller's added-time strike stuns the Hammers on the opening day of the
2011/12 season
07.08.2011
WEST HAM UNITED v CARDIFF CITY
npower CHAMPIONSHIP
SUNDAY 7 AUGUST 2011
KICK-OFF: 1PM
Final score - West Ham United 0-1 Cardiff City
93 mins - That's probably the last chance gone as Barrera crosses twice. The
first is headed back to the Mexican and the second is low and collected by
Marshall. The Bluebirds clear and the final whistle goes. Well, that's not
the start anybody was looking for, nor the finish! West Ham will have to
collect the 90 points they need to be promoted from 45 games, rather than
46. We'll be back here on Tuesday evening for the visit of Aldershot Town in
the Carling Cup first round.
92 mins - A long ball, Cole's flick on and Taylor can't get there. Marshall
collects.
91 mins - GOAL! You cannot make this up. Ilunga makes a mistake in trying to
clear the ball and is robbed by Gestede. He makes his way into the box and
crosses. Miller controls and fires in past Tomkins and Green.
90 mins - Into the final minute of the 90 and Whittingham cuts in from the
Cardiff right and shoots left-footed. Green raises his hands as the ball
flies well wide of the far post.
89 mins - It's absolutely chucking it down. Mackay calls for the waterproof
coat.
88 mins - Oooh! Cardiff work the corner shot and again Gestede is in the
right place at the right time, but this time his header is too close to
Green, who saves low down. West Ham break and within 30 seconds it's
Barrera's turn to work the goalkeeper. He heads the ball towards the net,
but Marshall dives to his right to catch.
87 mins - Cole wins it and the ball flies off his head and behind for a
corner. Although West Ham clear the initial danger, they don't clear their
own half. Cardiff build again and Ilunga has to be alert to head behind for
another corner.
86 mins - It's raining, but unfortunately not raining goals. The Cardiff
fans are singing away to my left. Both managers are out on the edge of
their respective technical areas as Parker is penalised midway inside his
own half. Whittingham to curl the ball over.
84 mins - West Ham's previous 0-0 draw was at Tottenham on 19 March. Their
previous goalless draw here was on 13 November 2010, when Blackpool were the
visitors.
83 mins - Cole is flagged offside. He shakes his head. He is right to. He
wasn't offside.
82 mins - Here comes the CONCACAF Gold Cup winner Pablo Barrera for Sears.
Can the Mexican make a difference?
80 mins - Sears and Taylor have swapped wings. Taylor nutmegs a defender and
crosses to the far post. Cardiff scramble the ball behind. The corner comes
over the Tomkins wins it cleanly, but Whittingham is there to knee the ball
off the line. Appeals from some of the home players, but replays show it
wasn't in.
78 mins - The two substitutes are involved straight away as Collison clears
his lines to Cole on halfway. He turns away from Gerrard and goes down. Mr
Webb stops play and books the No6. Taylor's delivery is cut out just inside
the box. Collison flicks the ball back in, but it bounces away from Tomkins
and drops into the hands of Marshall.
75 mins - Two changes from West Ham - Collison and Cole on for Noble and
Piquionne. Cardiff replace Conway with Joe Mason. I think Robert Green also
changed his boots during the break in play.
74 mins - Ilunga's poor pass sends Cardiff on their way. Green initially
clears with his head, but the visitors take the throw quickly and Miller has
a shooting chance. He blazes over.
72 mins - The chances are starting to come. First Noble slaloms his way past
two tackles before being challenged, then Piquionne's header nearly falls to
Sears, but Marshall is out quickly to tackle the forward.
71 mins - Ilunga and Taylor have linked up well at times and they do so
again here, with the No14 winning a corner. It's headed clear, but Ilunga
retrieves the situation and the ball is pumped back into the box. Piquionne
makes a nuisance of himself and the ball flies up for Tomkins' whose diving
header is tipped behind. The corner is cleared.
69 mins - Gestede could have made himself a hero then, too. A cross from the
right comes over from Cowie and the Frenchman gets there first, but his
glancing header flashes wide. Hands on head from manager Mackay.
68 mins - Gestede comes off for Cardiff hero Earnshaw. The away fans give
both players a clap. No sign of any changes from Big Sam yet, but he is deep
in conversation with Neil McDonald and Wally Downes, so maybe something is
brewing.
67 mins - Three-quarters of the way through and Cardiff are readying forward
Rudy Gestede.
65 mins - This is opening up a bit. First, Sears gets in behind Taylor, but
his cross is too short and Cardiff clear. Cardiff break and Earnshaw is in
space on the left. He cuts inside, but his low shot does not trouble Green.
61 mins - Argh! So close. Nolan intercepts on the edge of his own box and
sends Taylor away. He runs at and beats Gunnarsson before crossing low to
the near post, where Piquionne goes in with two Cardiff defenders. The No30
wins it and the ball thuds against the outside of the post and goes behind.
59 mins - Better! Parker drives forward down the inside-right channel and
passes to Taylor, who cuts inside on to his left foot and forces Marshall
into a diving save low to his right. Sears' corner is headed clear. West Ham
come again and Piquionne shoots, but Gerrard is there again with a vital
block.
57 mins - West Ham move the ball at pace and it creates a couple of
openings. First a cross from the right from O'Brien is headed away by
Gerrard, then Noble's delivery from the left is headed by Piquionne, but
loops harmlessly into the hands of Marshall.
53 mins - Cowie has plenty of space down the left and he crosses for
Earnshaw, but the little striker cannot direct his header from distance
anywhere near the target.
51 mins - The start of the second 45 minutes has been uneventful until now,
as Piquionne uses his strength and pace to outmuscle Hudson on the edge of
the penalty area. The assistant referee flags, but I don't think anybody
thought it was a foul. Even Hudson got straight back up and carried on
playing.
47 mins - Tomkins smashes the free-kick towards the Cardiff box, but that's
enough for Mr Webb. Half-time.
46 mins - Into the one minute of added-time and the Hammers have a throw
inside the Cardiff half, but O'Brien and Parker make a mess of it. Cardiff
try a long ball over the top, but Miller is offside.
45 mins - There is a lot of endeavour out there, but the quality is lacking
a bit in the final third. We've only got a few seconds until half-time.
There have been next to no stoppages and we haven't seen a physio.
43 mins - Ilunga gets forward again, Parker finds Taylor, who wins a corner.
Noble floats the ball over and Marshall makes an easy catch.
42 mins - Nolan feeds Taylor wide left. He tries to fashion a cross for
Sears, but it hits a defender and loops high through to Marshall.
40 mins - After an age setting up the wall and what have you, Whittingham
strikes left-footed and Green pushes the ball around the post. Ilunga heads
clear.
38 mins - Tomkins is harshly penalished for a high foot. He clearly won the
ball... Free-kick to Cardiff 25 yards from goal. The ball is teed-up for
Earnshaw, whose strike hits Parker on the arm as he rushes to charge it
down. It's outside the box, but Webb gives another free-kick.
37 mins - The manager controls a high ball and gets a cheer. He turns and
takes a bow to the crown. Good work. West Ham attack again and Parker finds
Piquionne. The No30 drops his shoulder, but his shot is weak and straight
into the arms of Marshall.
37 mins - The early morning sunshine has been replaced by good old-fashioned
English rain. It's coming down quite hard. Big Sam dons a rain jacket over
his grey suit.
35 mins - Taylor's second delivery is better, but Piquionne's header flies
into the air and Cardiff clear their lines. A counter-attack looks promising
before Parker gets his foot in in typical fashion.
34 mins - That's better. Noble finds Piquionne before Ilunga and Taylor
combine well down the left. The full-back's cross is blocked but he wins a
throw. From there, the deep cross is scrambled behind. The first corner is
headed out again by Cowie at the near post.
33 mins - More than half-an-hour gone and it's not been a great game, in all
honesty. West Ham have had the best opportunity through Sears' shot, but
Allardyce will want more from his side.
32 mins - Cardiff win a corner off Sears. It's wasted.
31 mins - Close. Sears and Parker swap passes on the right corner of the
Cardiff box before the former pulls the ball back for Nolan. He shoots, but
the ball ricochets off a West Ham player and out for a goal kick.
30 mins - Reid is called into action again, but he easily holds off Earnshaw
and the ball rolls behind for a goal kick. The Kiwi gets a high-five from
Tomkins.
28 mins - A slight flashpoint as Miller catches Reid as he clears to touch.
Referee Howard Webb trots over and has a word with the Scot. West Ham build
from the resulting free-kick and Piquionne and Taylor combine well. The
Frenchman crosses, but when Sears dummies, there is nobody there to take
advantage.
26 mins - Quick feet again from O'Brien, who spins away from Whittingham and
is brought down level with the edge of the Cardiff box. Free-kick. Taylor
curls the ball over, but Nolan can't reach it. Cardiff scramble the ball
clear.
24 mins - West Ham waste a couple of opportunities to get the ball into the
Cardiff box. First, Parker's control lets him down from Noble's diagonal
pass, then Ilunga's low cross is easily cut out. Cardiff come forward again
and Ilunga is slightly fortunate to clear with his weaker right foot.
22 mins - Good save Robert Green. Ilunga gives the ball away in midfield and
Cardiff break. A cross from the left is flicked on by Miller and Cowie heads
downwards. The ball flicks off a defender and Green plunges to his left to
push the ball around the post. The corner is header harmlessly over the top.
22 mins - Noble challenges Earnshaw and Cardiff have a throw. Gunnarsson
comes across to take a long one but he gets it all wrong, hurling the ball
into the side-netting. Cue loud cheers from the home fans.
21 mins - Ilunga gets forward down the left again. The DR Congo man has
looked like his old self so far, continually supporting the attacks down his
flank.
19 mins - The Hammers are playing some neat stuff here. Taylor and Parker
swap passes along the touchline with some superb one-touch stuff before
Hudson heads out for a throw. Cole applauds from the touchline.
18 mins - Collison and Cole are out warming up along the touchline. Both get
a decent reception. Indeed, the 'Always believe in your Cole!' tune rings
out.
16 mins - That should be 1-0. O'Brien and Noble combine superbly, the
Irishman bursts into the box and cuts the ball back for Sears, but the
youngster leans back and his shot flies well over the top. He was only 12
yards out and maybe should have done better there.
15 mins - Sears bursts down the right and is brought down by Cardiff
left-back Taylor. The other Taylor, West Ham's Matt, tests Marshall with a
dipping left-foot free-kick. The goalkeeper parries the ball over the top.
The corner is cleared but West Ham build again through Ilunga. Parker and
Tomkins combine before the former stabs the ball to the near post and Nolan
flicks a header too high. Good move.
13 mins - The internet connection has been a bit dodgy here, so apologies if
you haven't been getting the updates as quickly as you should be.
9 mins - Parker bursts through the middle and looks as though he could be in
the clear, but Gerrard gets across from left centre-back to make the sliding
challenge.
6 mins - Taylor curls the ball over, Marshall punches and Noble drives the
ball well wide from 18 yards.
5 mins - So close to an opening goal for the hosts as Piquionne bursts
through, jinks past Hudson and forces Marshall to save with his legs.
Corner.
4 mins - A long clearance is headed behind by a diving Hudson and West Ham
have a corner. It is swung over from the right and is too high.
2 mins - The Bluebirds are first to show after a short stoppage for head
injury to Miller. A long ball down the inside right channel sets Earnshaw
away. He shoots first-time and the ball dips a couple of yards over the
crossbar. Decent effort.
1.02pm - Cardiff get the new season kicked-off shooting towards the Bobby
Moore Stand end of the ground.
12.59pm - Big Sam gets a big cheer as he comes out to wave and applaud the
fans. That's a proper East End welcome for the new boss.
12.55pm - Here come the two teams, with the Hammers led by captain Kevin
Nolan. The noise inside the Boleyn Ground is deafening, even if Cardiff
supporters do have the entire Sir Trevor Brooking Stand to themselves. As
the teams are read out, Scott Parker gets the loudest cheer of the lot.
12.30pm - It's quite a warm day here in east London. A couple of the players
have ditched their tracksuit tops before going through a series of warm-up
exercises with fitness coach Eamon Swift. Over by the East Stand, former
Cardiff goalkeeper is going through some drills with Robert Green and Ruud
Boffin.
12.25pm - About five minutes after their opponents, the Hammers emerge from
the tunnel to warm applause from the home fans who have already taken their
seats.
12.15pm - The team news is in. Three debutants for the Hammers, with Kevin
Nolan captaining the side and Joey O'Brien and Matt Taylor also in the
starting XI.
West Ham United: Green, O'Brien, Ilunga, Reid, Tomkins, Noble, Parker,
Nolan, Sears, Taylor, Piquionne
Subs: Boffin, Faye, Collison, Barrera and Cole
Cardiff City: Marshall, McNaughton, Taylor, Hudson, Gerrard, Whittingham,
Gunnarsson, Cowie, Conway, Miller, Earnshaw
Subs: Heaton, Quinn, Parkin, Mason, Gestede
Here we go again!
Good afternoon and welcome to the Boleyn Ground for this afternoon's
season-opening npower Championship fixture against Cardiff City. Sam
Allardyce will take charge of his first competitive match since being
appointed as West Ham United's 14th full-time manager and will immediately
set about leading the Hammers back to the Premier League at the first
attempt. Cardiff themselves will also be looking to make up for the double
disappointment of losing out in the Play-Offs for the second straight
season, while also watching South Wales rivals Swansea City gaining
promotion to the top-flight. Kevin Nolan is set to captain the home side and
could be one of four debutants for Allardyce alongside Joey O'Brien, Matt
Taylor and Abdoulaye Faye. Cardiff have also been busy in the transfer
market, with manager and former West Ham centre-back Malky Mackay bringing
in nine new players.
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Sam rues missed chances
WHUFC.COM
A succession of golden opportunities spurned meant the Hammers suffered a
losing start
07.08.2011
Sam Allardyce could not hide the disappointment after seeing the season
start with a 1-0 home defeat against Cardiff City. Although Kenny Miller's
added-time winner was against the run of play and came courtesy of a
defensive lapse, Allardyce said his men paid the price for their profligacy
throughout the 90 minutes. He counted 14 chances for the Hammers at a
rain-sodden Boleyn Ground but while they were to be denied, Cardiff were to
profit from what was probably the one lapse in concentration at the back for
the home side. "That's the biggest problem we saw today," he said. "Not
burying a team when you are in the ascendancy and not finishing them off.
Professional football then kicks you right where it hurts sometimes and
today was exactly that."
Allardyce believed his men would learn a harsh lesson - that being to
sometimes settle for what you have and regroup ready to go again next time.
"We didn't get the clean sheet that we were looking for and we didn't get
the win that we wanted. "We should have at least come away with a point and
said 'OK, we have created a lot of chances, we have made a lot of
opportunities, we haven't converted them into three points which is what we
wanted but we've started from a good solid defensive base today.'
"Unfortunately we get the slip at the end and we get punished heavily for
that and we are all very disappointed that there is zero points from the
first game of the season when we know we should have had three. "We say to
the players if you can't win a game of football, make sure you don't lose
it. Tot the points up as they go along and you get enough at the end of the
season to get yourself promoted. It is a big loss the point, never mind that
we all know we should have had three."
Despite the result, Allardyce declared himself more than satisfied with the
efforts and attitude of his men, with debutants Joey O'Brien, Kevin Nolan
and man of the match Matt Taylor bedding in well to an eleven boasting
England duo Robert Green and Scott Parker. "Overall the players are getting
to know each other, new and old, and we have done everything we possibly
could today apart from doing the clinical end. That has let us down. When we
do the slip it shouldn't have mattered. We should have been two or three
up."
The manager has signed John Carew, although admitted it would be two or
three weeks before the big Norwegian could contribute to the claret and blue
cause. Whoever leads the attack in the weeks to come, Allardyce is most
concerned that his team can replicate the amount of chances created in
Saturday's opener. If that is the case, the goals will come. "We have had a
bit of bad luck on the Freddie Piquionne finish that hit the post and on the
header from James Tomkins that looked all the way in but got cleared off the
line. The rest of the opportunities we had, today we weren't clinical enough
to put one in the back of the net. "That would have made life so much easier
for us going into the back end of the game. What has happened is we are all
trying to go and get the winner. We know we wanted it and we know we've
deserved it but instead of saying 'woah just a minute, don't leave the back
door open', we went and did do. Like I say, we've paid the ultimate price.
"A split second makes people's opinions different from the reality. But
that's what you have to live with if you lose a game. Really, overall we
were very good and created much more than Cardiff. We were playing at home
so I expected us to but what I wanted us to do if we couldn't win was make
sure we don't lose. We didn't do that so there is no one more miserable than
me."
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Deal for Dylan
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are delighted to confirm that Dylan Tombides has signed his
first pro contract
07.08.2011
Academy striker Dylan Tombides has signed his first professional contract
with West Ham United. The 17-year-old put pen to paper on Monday after
impressing for both the reserves and youth team last season, culminating in
a place among the substitutes in the final home Premier League fixture of
the season against Sunderland in May. Tombides also appeared and scored for
Australia at the 2011 FIFA Under-17 World Cup. It was during that tournament
in Mexico that Tombides was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He immediately
returned to England and the club's medical staff arranged for a further
assessment by doctors. The youngster has already started his first course of
chemotherapy at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London, which is the standard
treatment for his condition. He has since returned home to rest and will
continue further treatment in the coming weeks.
Speaking when the news was confirmed, club medical officer Sean Howlett
said: "Dylan is receiving the best possible care. All the doctors involved
have advised Dylan that he will make a full recovery in terms of his illness
and his ability to return to his football career. "He is undergoing the
standard series of treatments for his condition which is a course of
chemotherapy." Tombides has been a very welcome visitor to both Chadwell
Heath and Little Heath over the past fortnight.
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West Ham 0 - 1 Cardiff
BBC.co.uk
Cardiff City's Kenny Miller scored a 91st-minute winner to ensure a losing
start for Sam Allardyce's West Ham in the Championship. The Hammers,
favourites for promotion, controlled the game for long periods but paid the
price after squandering a number of chances in front of goal. Frederic
Piquionne came closest to scoring when he hit the post from Matt Taylor's
superb low cross. But Miller's turn-and-shot a minute into added time
secured the points. West Ham's midfield quintet of Kevin Nolan, Scott
Parker, Mark Noble, Gary O'Neil and Taylor - arguably the strongest midfield
in the Championship - linked well and crafted plenty of chances early on.
With Cardiff firmly on the back foot, Parker, Nolan and Piquionne each came
close to rewarding West Ham for their early dominance. But the Blue Birds,
under the management of Malky Mackay for the first time, grew in confidence
the longer they kept West Ham at bay and Rob Green was forced into a smart
save low to his left when Don Cowie stole a yard and nodded towards goal
from six yards. Green was called into action again as Peter Whittingham drew
another agile save from the former England number one, with a stinging low
effort from a free-kick late in the first-half.
A revitalised West Ham tightened their grip on the game in the second half,
withTaylor emerging as their key attacking threat. Taylor's searing run down
the left wing left Kevin McNaughton in his wake before his fizzing low cross
found Piquionne, who could only steer his first-time shot on to the post.
Cardiff defenders Mark Hudson and Anthony Gerrard put their bodies on the
line on more than one occasion as the Cardiff reaguard held firm in the face
of incessant second-half pressure. West Ham defender James Tomkins saw his
late header cleared off the line as the game appeared to be edging towards a
draw. But Miller, one of nine new signings made by Cardiff over the summer,
secured a shock win for the visitors when he collected a pull-back from
substitute Rudy Gestede and lashed the ball past Green, who got a hand to
it. Boos rang out from home fans at full-time as West Ham remain without a
league win since beating Stoke on 5 March.
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West Ham manager Sam Allardyce bemoans poor finishing
Page last updated at 16:24 GMT, Sunday, 7 August 2011 17:24 UK
BBC.co.uk
Sam Allardyce blamed West Ham's poor finishing for their shock last-minute
defeat by Cardiff City. Promotion favourites West Ham were in control for
long periods but paid the price when Kenny Miller's turn and shot gave the
visitors a 1-0 win. "We've created numerous chances and today was one of
those days when we were not clinical enough to punish the opposition," said
Allardyce. "We paid the ultimate price right at the very end." Frederic
Piquionne came closest to scoring when he hit the post, while new signing
Matt Taylor was always a threat from set-pieces, testing Bluebirds keeper
David Marshall on a number of occassions. West Ham manager
But, for all their pressure, the Hammers could not break through and Malky
Mackay's men got their rewards for some stout defending when Miller, on
debut, snatched all three points. "I just hope it's one of those days,"
added Allardyce. "It didn't go for us, we've lost a game we really should
have won. "I told the players that you don't always get what you deserve but
don't go and throw a game away, and that's what we've done. "A point is not
the end of the world after a good performance, it should have been three,
but you get one and you move on. "But we didn't even do that so it's a
hugely disappointing day for everyone. As ever the expectation is high and
we haven't lived up to that expectation."
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Allardyce on... Cardiff City
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 7th August 2011
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce's reign as manager of West Ham couldn't have got off to a
worse start - but he still saw plenty of positives from today's
performance...
Sam: was that a harsh result?
Well, we are gutted because of our performance in terms of not converting
the chances we created today. That's the biggest problem we saw; not burying
a team when you are in the ascendancy and not finishing them off.
Professional football kicks you right where it hurts sometimes and today was
exactly that.
We didn't get the clean sheet that we were looking for and we didn't get the
win that we wanted and we should have at least come away with a point and
said 'ok, we have created a lot of chances, we have made a lot of
opportunities, we haven't converted them into three points which is what we
wanted but we've started from a good solid defensive base today'.
Unfortunately we get the slip at the end and we get punished heavily for
that. We are all very disappointed that there is zero points from the first
game of the season when we know we should have had three. If not three, then
we say to the players 'if you can't win a game of football, make sure you
don't lose it. Tot the points up as they go along and you get enough at the
end of the season to get yourself promoted'. It is a big loss the point,
never mind that we all know we should have had three.
Were the players fit enough?
Yeah, because we created 14 opportunities at their goal and I think they
created three. If you look at your stats, you will know we have dominated
most of the day's play by creating the opportunities that we've had. If you
get 14 attempts at goal in any game of football - whether it is the first
game, the middle of the season or the end - then it shows the players are
[ready]. Ok, they are not totally 100 per cent fit - but no one at this
stage of the season is because we have a marathon to deal with. One or two
players may have not had quite enough games because of niggling injuries,
but if you speak to Malky he would have had exactly the same situation.
You went with one up front. Did you think about leaving Freddie on when you
brought on Carlton?
We played 433. No, because we have created 14 chances like I said. Cardiff
played two up front and created three [chances] so the equation is telling
you that our system is better, from an attacking point of view, than theirs.
Is there a hangover from last year?
Everyone will think so now, won't they? Because they will think 'same old
story'. I have got to eradicate that and make sure that we don't make those
slips again as quickly as possible. Overall the new players are getting to
know each other and the players who are already here, and we have done
everything we possibly could today apart from doing the clinical end. That
has let us down. When we do the slip it shouldn't have mattered. We should
have been two or three up but when that happens, we are disappointed.
Pleased to get Carew in for that reason?
Goalscoring at the end of the day is the cutting edge of what you do and
create and today we were lacking in that department because we haven't
scored on those chances created. We have had a bit of bad luck on the
Freddie Piquionne finish that hit the post and on the header from James
Tomkins that looked in all the way but got cleared off the line. The rest of
the opportunities we had, today we weren't clinical enough to put one in the
back of the net. That just makes life so much easier for us going into the
back end of the game. What has happened is we are all trying to go and get
the winner. We know we wanted it and we know we've deserved it, but instead
of saying 'whoa, just a minute, don't leave the back door open', we went and
did. Like I say, we've paid the ultimate price.
How close are you to getting the team to play in your style, in terms of
your ideas?
Apart from winning today, it was fine because we have played the three best
creative players we have in midfield. We were very creative down the
left-hand side with Matt Taylor. Defensively, apart from the slip we were
extremely solid, which was the big problem last year. We are getting there;
you know it takes a while for it all to come together - and of course to
stop putting pressure on yourself like we've just done, you don't do what
you've done today.
A split second makes people's opinions different from the reality. But
that's what you have to live with. If you lose a game, everyone is going to
look at it and say you aren't as good as you should be. You are going to say
you should have done better. Really, overall we were very good and created
much more than Cardiff. We were playing at home so I expected us to, but
what I wanted us to do was win and, if we couldn't, make sure we don't lose.
We didn't do either, so there is no one more miserable than me.
Does Carew's arrival make it more likely Carlton Cole will be sold?
No, I don't think so because that means we have only got three strikers
again. They have got four, Cardiff. They have got Earnshaw, Miller, Parkin
and Gestede. We have got Freddie Piquionne, Carlton Cole and now we have
added John [Carew]. We have got a couple of young lads - we have Zavon Hines
and Frank Nouble but they aren't proven players at this level just yet. We
are light on the top end.
If there is another one available and the Chairman is good enough to do it I
would ask him, but certainly we all know from the very start it is an area
that is most difficult to fill. We have not been able to quite pull it off
just yet.
What is the contract situation with Carew?
Carew is a year with an option for another year. He won't be able to play
the next game, he has just come into the club. We have just done from 1 July
to 8 August preparing for this first game and John Carew has just joined us
having done no pre-season. So we will have to shorten that time, of course,
but it will have to be a mini pre-season where he doesn't get involved in
any of the games - but he certainly gets involved in double and triple
training sessions to try to get him up to speed as soon as we can.
How badly have you taken this?
I won't be sleeping tonight and I will probably be watching the game when I
get back, putting myself in a position to work out and learn as quickly as I
can from the defeat, talk to the players about not slipping up and also to
recreate the positives of the game because it is a marathon season - and we
are all disappointed. On Monday it is about a learning curve. We will start
from there and we all have to forget about it. Me more than anyone else. So
on Monday, no one picks me up - but I will pick myself up, I will get on
with the job and then pick the players up because there is not a lot wrong.
Believe me, I don't think there is a lot wrong. We have got to go out and
prove that against Doncaster away next week.
Scott Parker's performance?
Scott's performance was as good as everyone else's. I was very pleased.
Difficult for him?
Not with the crowd behind him and the way they cheer him and appreciate him
for what he does. He is like everyone else. If a set of fans appreciate you
that is what you do it for, that is what makes the hairs stand up on the
back of your neck and [makes you] play.
Like I said, we have not got what we wanted - but we are building towards
it.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Mackay on... West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 7th August 2011
By: Staff Writer
Once captain of West Ham but now manager of Championship rivals Cardiff, a
happy - and talkative - Malky Mackay reflects on an unexpected windfall at
his old stomping ground...
Malky: you've lost quite a lot of players in the summer so no-one was
expecting that to happen today. Do you feel you deserved it, or do you feel
you got a stroke of luck with that last minute goal?
I don't think there was any luck involved. It was a top-class game, it was
end to end. West Ham certainly created chances and I thought we created
chances. It was always going to be a tough game coming here today, there
were England internationals playing against us. A team, a club the size of
this who are expected to go straight back up and are one of the favourites.
I knew it was going to be a tough game and I'd be very surprised if West Ham
didn't have any chances against us today. But I thought it was an open game
and a game where we caused them problems as well.
We had eight debuts today, which is incredible for one day. And as you said,
we were left in the summer with 12 senior players leaving the club, which is
something I've never come across before. So we've had four weeks to bring in
the nine [players] we have so far into the group and adapt - and I think
that as much as you try and fast-track that, you need time for people to
play with each other regularly.
That'll come but today I thought they were outstanding, the way they worked
for each other and the way they found space at times to play good football
as well.
You couldn't really have hoped for a more perfect start, I'd imagine?
Yes, obviously three points at Upton Park was... A lot of teams are going to
come here this year and [find] this is going to be a very tough place to
come [to]. I know from having been at the club: the atmosphere here, the
beautiful pitch and the way West Ham can play when you play against
experienced players.
So to come away with the result we did is fantastic and it's testament to
the hard work - so far - that the staff and the players have put in at this
football club in the last five weeks.
How have you managed to get that team spirit that was shown out there today?
Because you were under the cosh a little bit in the first half. How much
better do you think these players can become given more time together?
It's just about the culture that we're employing at the club. My staff have
got a lot to take credit for the way that they've set the club up in the
last month and the way that we want to go forward. The way that I want my
players to be around the training ground, the culture I want to set at the
training ground and at my football club.
So the staff have got a big part to play in that, but also the players. The
players that were left here in the summer that were still at the club and
the nine we brought in that we've done our homework on in terms of getting
the right type of player in - not just on the pitch, but off the pitch,
that's important for a club to go forward and for a club to grow, together.
You need people to be working together and that includes staff, it includes
directors and it includes players. Fans see that and they come along with
it.
How important was it for Kenny Miller to get that? You brought him in in the
summer, didn't you?
Yeah, he's had a tough summer, it's not been easy for him. I've been closely
involved in his summer - too closely at times. He's had a bit of an upheaval
in his life during the summer; probably not trained as much as he'd like to,
through no fault of his own. So he's someone who's a little bit ring-rusty
at the moment but by goodness, he put in the effort and work rate today and
eventually got his reward.
He's a man who's captained Scotland, he's scored goals wherever he's been.
He was the fifth-highest scorer in Europe last year so I've brought a proven
scorer to the club but also a leader, someone who's got a voice in the
dressing room and someone that along with Earnie [Robert Earnshaw] - who's
again another captain of his country. They're going to do well for this
club, the more that they train and the thicker they get.
He's been away from English football for a few years but he can do real
damage in the Championship. Both of those playing together?
He's scored goals everywhere he's been; in Scotland, England, Turkey and at
international level. If you're a centre forward that works hard, runs
channels and runs people down with his work ethic, then you get chances -
certainly in the Championship.
Defensively you must have been pleased but David Marshall inparticular must
have caught your eye?
His handling, at the end, of the last cross that came in - sometimes that's
seen as bread and butter but on a sloppy pitch, under pressure and in the
last couple of minutes, I thought that was exceptional. David's someone who
I know from many moons back - I actually played with him, believe it or not,
at international level a long time ago when he was a baby. Thankfully it's
not scarred him too much in his life!
But Marsh needs that bit of confidence, and when you give him that
confidence and say 'go out there and be that man I know you can be' then
that's what you get. You get that man who's standing up there marshalling
his defence in front of him. I'm starting to see him vocal and pulling a
defence around him. That's what I want to see from a goalkeeper and all
credit to him today, the way that he looked so calm and composed at the end
there. It certainly helps a defence when your goalkeeper is so calm.
What's actually happened with Kenny in his personal life?
No no, forget that. Not personal life, just in the way that his last month
has been in terms of the move to the club and being out in Turkey. So
nothing to do with his personal life, just the way that his career has gone
the last month or so.
Only the first game but a great place to come and get a result. Does that up
the pressure a bit now? The start of the season was a bit low key but people
might be thinking you're real contenders now?
No, I don't think that. Everybody said on Friday that there's so much
pressure on you going there. On Saturday they said there'll be so much
pressure going into the next game... No. Absolutely not. Look at the people
who have hired me to do this job, they've not heaped pressure on me. There's
expectation on every manager in this division - expectation on everyone to
get a result every week and expectation from the media to win every week.
It's nothing different to anything I've seen in the last two years as a
football manager.
What it's about is making sure you stay calm, focused and stick to the plan
that we have here and not veering from that because of outside influences.
We've got a plan here for my group of players and staff for a way forward
this season and we won't deviate from that, ever.
It was a jittery first half performance - a couple of mistakes and obviously
a lot of pressure - after half time it looked like you'd tightened things up
a bit. What were you thinking at half time?
Yeah there were a couple of mistakes, I thought they were the same. I have
to say that both teams were like that and gave away possession. I thought
they gave away possession and we did in the first half, easily. But I think
the very first question has to be [about the] eight debuts today; that's
huge. Look back through your records and see the last time you saw eight
debuts at Cardiff; I'm pretty sure you're not going to see it until a long
time ago. Players need time to gel and play with each other, but they're
good players and they're hard-working guys. I think in the second half you
saw that when we, at times, controlled possession.
You've put the boot into your old club by winning. This is a big blow for
them; they were expected to win today?
It's one game. It's one game and whilst it's great to win your opening game,
we beat Norwich in the opening game of last season and Norwich got promoted.
It's one game and I think Sam [Allardyce] will be thinking that as well.
He's got a task in front of him that he was assigned by this football club
and I'm sure he's going about it in the way that he has done in his last 'x'
amount of years in professional football. He's an experienced man and as
much as I'm sure he'll be pretty disappointed today, I'm also pretty sure
that he's focused on what he needs to do for the next 45 games.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam rues poor finishing
Allardyce feels side should have won
Last Updated: August 7, 2011 5:31pm
SSN
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce blamed his side's poor finishing for their
shock 1-0 home defeat by Cardiff. The Hammers had numerous chances to get
off the mark in their opening npower Championship clash at Upton Park, but
instead were hit by a sucker punch when Kenny Miller grabbed a stoppage-time
goal at the other end. Scott Parker, still with West Ham despite constant
speculation linking him with a move back to the Premier League, set the tone
when he was sent through on goal but took a poor touch allowing Anthony
Gerrard to get a tackle in. Frederic Piquionne rattled a post, Peter
Whittingham cleared James Tomkins' header off the line and City goalkeeper
David Marshall made fine saves from Piquionne, Matt Taylor and Pablo
Barrera. And the Hammers were made to pay for not turning their dominance
into goals when former Rangersstriker Miller, who joined Cardiff from
Turkish side Bursaspor last month, hit a dramatic winner. "From our point of
view we've mastered the game, created numerous chances and today was one of
those days when we were not clinical enough to punish the opposition and
then we paid the ultimate price right at the very end," Allardyce told Sky
Sports News. "We've lost a game we really should have won. I told the
players that you don't always get what you deserve but don't go and throw a
game away, and that's what we've done. "A point is not the end of the world
after a good performance, it should have been three, but you get one and you
move on. ""We've lost a game we really should have won. I told the players
that you don't always get what you deserve but don't go and throw a game
away, and that's what we've done."" "But we didn't even do that so it's a
hugely disappointing day for everyone. As ever the expectation is high and
we haven't lived up to that expectation today. "I just hope it's one of
those days. It didn't go for us. The quality of our finishing is really what
let us down. With the numerous chances we had we weren't clinical enough.
"And we had a bit of misfortune, the Piquionne one was a fantastic finish
that rebounded off the post instead of going in, and James Tomkins' header
was going into the net but just came off the defender. "So that's the
unlucky side today, but when we had the opportunities the finishing just
wasn't good enough."
Fantastic
New Cardiff boss Malky Mackay would no doubt have settled for a point as the
clock moved into stoppage time. But substitute Rudy Gestede had other ideas,
charging down the wing before pulling the ball back for fellow debutant
Miller to lash home. "It's a fantastic result and it was a good performance
from the boys," said Miller.
"It was hard work at times, they threw everything at us, our defence was
outstanding and we got a reward in the end. "As a forward you want to score
goals and when you come to a new club it's always important to get off the
mark early, and there's no better place to do it than away at Upton Park.
"It's only one of 46 matches but it was important to come here and get a
good start, the last thing we wanted to do was get beaten. "A point would
have been a good result for us so to nick it at the end was a dream start."
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Irons shocked at home by City
Last updated: 7th August 2011
SSN
Kenny Miller scored in stoppage time as West Ham began life in the
Championship with a 1-0 defeat to Cardiff at Upton Park. Sam Allardyce's
first match in charge of the Hammers, who are favourites for promotion back
to the top flight, looked to be heading towards a goalless draw. But Miller
crashed home a dramatic winner on his Cardiff debut as West Ham were given a
stark reminder that the Championship may not be the cakewalk the bookmakers
are predicting. Their midfield pairing of Kevin Nolan and Scott Parker would
not look out of place in most Premier League teams yet the illustrious duo
could not break down a well-organised Cardiff side with a new manager of
their own in Malky Mackay. Parker should have put the home side ahead after
10 minutes when he found himself bearing down on goal but his touch let him
down and Anthony Gerrard was able to make the challenge. Frederic Piquionne
- preferred in attack to Carlton Cole - also had an early opportunity but
his shot was blocked by the legs of Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall, while
Nolan headed wide and Freddie Sears blazed over. Allardyce has also managed
to keep hold of Robert Green, another member of Fabio Capello's squad, for
the time being and the goalkeeper was called into action to pull off a smart
save from Don Cowie's header. Green also had to tip Peter Whittingham's
free-kick round the post as Cardiff finished the first half strongly while
West Ham's early promise faded. After the break Matt Taylor, another of
Allardyce's summer recruits, tried to breathe some life into his new side.
First the ex-Bolton midfielder cut inside and drove in a low shot which
Marshall palmed away, then his strong run and cross was turned onto a post
by Piquionne. Defender James Tomkins thought he had broken the deadlock but
his header was blocked on the line by Whittingham, while Marshall saved from
Pablo Barrera a minute from time. And as the clock ticked into stoppage time
Miller, who had hardly had a sniff all game, collected a pull-back from
substitute Rudy Gestede and lashed the ball past Green, who got a hand to
the ball but could not keep it out.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Match Report: West Ham 0 Cardiff City 1
August 7th, 2011 - 4:35 pm by Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die
The day started well. The booksigning at the Newham Bookshop for my new book
was so good we sold out of books apparently. Nice to meet some of you. I
took my seat just as the teams were running out and got that usual first day
of the season tingly feeling. Sam Allardyce was introduced to the crowd and
I loved it when, just as he walked off the pitch, he did a clenched fist
'yes'. And then the game started. Now, I am writing this not having read any
of your comments after the game yet, as I wanted to give my opinion without
being influenced by anyone else.
It is always gutting to lose a match when you don't deserve to. And we did
not deserve to lose this. But this is West Ham. You know in your water that
at 0-0 with five minutes to go what is likely to happen. And it did. So,
let's look at the positives…
The positives in this game were the superb performances of new signings
Matthew Taylor and Joey O'Brien. Both worked their socks off and both showed
some excellent wing play. Taylor looks to be the first player since Diamanti
who can play a dead ball, and O'Brien can also defend. Taylor was man of the
match for me and showed us why he is so highly rated. Bolton must have been
mad to let him go.
I also thought Herita Ilunga played really well. He combined well with
Taylor and looked solid in defence. Yes, it was he who was dispossed right
at the end, which ultimately led to the Cardiff goal, and you have to take
that into account, but compared to his performances over the last two
seasons, I thought he was excellent today.
In central defence, Reid and Tomkins never really looked under pressure and
were calmness personified. I'm always nervous when Reid plays, but I thought
he did well today.
It was in midfield where our class should have told, but somehow it didn't
lead to anything concrete. We played some nice intricate passing play, but
rarely did it lead to a chance. I thought Nolan was quieter than he should
have been and Freddie Sears was totally off his game and was lucky to last
as long as he did. Noble and Parker were their usual solid selves, although
you got the feeling that Parker was only giving 95%. He gave the ball away
far more often than usual. Collison looked very bright when he came on for
Noble, and I suspect those two will spend the season fighting each other for
the same place.
But it was up front where we lost the game. I was suprised we started with
Piquionne, but it soon became clear we would not be finishing with him. He
contributed very little and drifted out of the game for long periods. He
failed to hold the ball up and looked completely laconic. Cole brought a
sense of urgency when he came on, but he probably needed another 15 minutes
to make a real difference. Sears hit the bar and Nolan had a glancing header
cleared off the line from two yards out. Taylor also had a couple of long
range shots which on another day might have gone in too.
So there were plenty of positives to take away from this game (sorry for
sounding like Avram Grant) but also a few worrying negatives. It seems to me
that we need to buy a striker who is of more diminutive stature than the
three we currently have – someone who can score a regular number of goals. A
Jermain Defoe like player. Not asking much is it?
Green 7
Tomkins 6
Reid 6
Ilunga 7
O'Brien 8
Taylor 8
Noble 6
Parker 6
Collison 6
Nolan 5
Sears 4
Barrera 5
Piquionne 3
Cole 5
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Vinny's Cardiff Report
Vinny 11:04 Sun Aug 7
West Ham Online
West Ham United 0 Cardiff City 1
A new season is upon us and although there is a new manager, new players,
new ambitions and of course a new division the same horrible feeling could
be sense amongst all West Ham fans as they left Upton Park having witnessed
their side go down to an opening day defeat at the hands of Cardiff City.
It has been a summer of change at West Ham with Avram Grant having been
replaced by former Bolton and Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce. With
Allardyce known for a more direct style of football this appointment has had
a number of supporters questioning the direction in which the club has taken
but I think everyone can agree that something radical needed to be done
considering the disaster of the last two appointments.
A number of players left the club in the summer and we also brought in a
few. Leaving were Lars Jacobsen, Danny Gabbidon, Manuel Da Costa, Matthew
Upson, Kieron Dyer, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Radoslav Kovac, Jonathan Spector,
Anthony Edgar, Luis Boa Morte, and Demba Ba.
Robbie Keane, Wayne Bridge, and Victor Obinna all returned back to their
parent clubs following loan spells at the club.
We have made five signings and all decent purchases in my opinion. The
biggest signing of the summer was that of Newcastle top scorer and captain
Kevin Nolan. The versatile Joey O'Brien was brought in on a free transfer as
was Abdoulaye Faye. Another former Bolton player Matthew Taylor was brought
in to give us an option on the left hand side and the final signing (so far)
has been the recent acquisition of striker John Carew.
But it is the players who remain from last season which has caused far more
of a stir with the club still retaining Robert Green, Scott Parker and
Carlton Cole. All three we had expected to leave and whilst I still think at
least one of them will depart before the end of August they were all
available for selection going into this opening game.
There has been a lot of fighting talk from the manager and new captain in
the last few weeks about how we will be looking to get back into the
Premiership at the first attempt. A lot of anticipation had been built up
going into the first game which had been moved to the Sunday and screened
live on BBC1.
Cardiff had come close to promotion last season and despite a number of
changes within their team and manager they are fancied to do well again this
time around. So it was never going to be a walk in the park but to have lost
the game really does feel like a kick in the gut .
The Team
Starting in Goal was Robert Green with Joey O'Brien at right back, Winston
Reid in the centre of defence alongside James Tomkins and Herita Ilunga at
left back.
In midfield we would start with five as Freddie Sears started surprisingly
on the right wing, with Scott Parker, Mark Noble and Kevin Nolan in the
centre and Matthew Taylor on the left.
Up front on his own was Frederique Piquionne.
Managing Cardiff for the first time was former Hammer Malkay Mackay who
played for the club in our last stint in the Championship in 2004/05,
playing 18 times and scoring 2 goals.
First Half
I was content with our first half display as I thought we had been the
better side despite the lack of a final ball into the area. We saw a lot of
the ball and continued to press Cardiff back forcing a number of corners and
winning a number of free kicks.
Out first sight of goal came after five minute when Piquionne picked up on a
loose pass and knocked the ball past his man but his shot was blocked by the
keeper Marshall and away for a corner.
From that corner the ball was only punched out as far as Noble but his first
time shot was dragged well wide.
A few moments later Nolan put Scott Parker through and it seemed as though
the midfielder had a clear run on goal by Cardiff's Gerrard came in with a
perfectly time tackle to take it off Parker who may have done better.
There was only one team in the game at this stage as we looked to use the
wide areas to come forward. Freddie Sears was fouled as he burst forward and
the resulting free kick from Taylor was whipped in at goal with the keeper
having to tip over the bar for another corner.
We really should have taken the lead on the 16 minute mark when a great run
by O'Brien down the right saw him exchange passes with Noble and the
Irishman pulled the ball back for Sears but his finish was high over the bar
when he should have at the very least hit the target.
The visitors from Wales had offered very little going forward up until that
point with only a couple of terribly executed long throws going out for goal
kicks.
But they could always hit us on the counter attack and that is what they
nearly did when Ilunga squandered possession of the ball and a cross into
the area found Cowie whose header took a deflection and seemed to be going
in but for Robert Green to get down and tip around the post.
More good work from O'Brien on the right hand side saw the right back fouled
and win a free kick in the wide right area. Matthew Taylor again swung the
ball into the area but it was too high for Nolan and eventually cleared.
It wasn't a very good game and we certainly hadn't looked superior but I
still thought it was a decent display which was just lacking a goal to make
it a quite efficient performance.
With half time approaching Cardiff did have a little go and were fortunate
to win a free kick just outside the area when James Tomkins was penalised
for a high foot against Kenny Miller.
The resulting free kick was charged down by Parker but the ref Howard Webb
blew for another free kick after he had thought Parker had used his hand
deliberately which at the rate the ball was travelling could not have been
the case.
The free kick was direct and taken by Peter Whittingham and he found the
target by Robert Green was equal to it and pushed the ball away.
We had not had great spells of dominance but I was confident that if we
could get bodies forward to support Piquionne then we would surely score.
With just one uneventful minute of stoppage time awarded Howard Webb blew
the whistle for half time which was not greeted by any boo's but there was a
feeling of unease amongst the support who had seemingly thought they would
turn up and see us smash Cardiff to bits.
Second Half
It seemed as though we were going to get straight into Cardiff as the second
half began with a corner kick being won within 30 seconds of the restart but
like many of our corners during the game it was poor.
A good ball over the top saw Piquionne out muscle Cardiff defender Hudson
but the linesman flagged for a foul when from where I was sitting only saw
Piquionne go for the ball fairly.
On the hour mark good work from Parker saw the ball given to Matthew Taylor
who cut in from the right hand side and hit a lot shot which was well saved
Marshall and away for a corner.
Just two minutes later saw arguably our best chance of the game in what was
an excellent counter attacking move. Nolan intercepted a pass near our area
and played the ball out to Taylor who burst down the left in direct fashion
and beat his man. The cross needed to be good and it was pinpoint as
Piquionne got in between two defenders and made connection with the ball but
it smashed off the post and went out for a goal kick.
It was a moment such as this where I thought we would take the initiative
and perhaps start to take the game to them with constant attacking but we
had no flow to our football much like last season.
Changes needed to be made and Allardyce took off Mark Noble and Frederique
Piquionne with Jack Collison and Carlton Cole replacing them. I did not
agree with the changes as I felt we needed to play two up front so taking
Sears off for Cole would have made more sense because in effect we were
playing the exact same way just with different personnel.
Cardiff were seeing more of the ball and our distribution from the back was
becoming a little sloppy. But even so with ten minutes remaining we came so
close to taking the lead as a corner from Sears was missed by the keeper and
Tomkins got his head to the ball but it was cleared off the line by the knee
of Whittingham.
With the rain lashing down over the Boleyn Ground it was becoming clear that
a goal was looking unlikely as we just couldn't get enough players forward.
This use of the 4-5-1 didn't work last season, or the season before and it
was frustrating and disappointing to see Allardyce employ the same tactic.
I was not going to be too pleased with a draw but to have kept a clean sheet
I could have at least taken away a positive but I was about to get a bit of
a shock to the system in stoppage time.
With 91 minutes on the clock Herita Ilunga got himself into a complete mess
and was dispossessed by Gestede who strode into the area, crossed for Kenny
Miller who turned and shot past Robert Green to send the Cardiff fans
completely wild and the West Ham fans home in despair.
In all honest I was pretty speechless when they scored as I had been coming
to terms with just taking a point so to have actually lost the game was
pretty hard to take.
I am aware that it is the first game of the season and the opening game does
not tell the story of the season (look at Norwich losing 6-1 at home a
couple of seasons ago then winning the league), but getting off to a good
start is never a bad thing and we have failed to do that.
What we can take from this game is that we really needed to do more going
forward. This is something many had noticed in Pre Season and I am not sure
at this stage if John Carew is the answer to this problem. Starting with two
up front might be a start in addressing the issue in the meantime.
Player Reviews
Robert Green
Still and the club and still conceding goals and watching the team struggle
in front of him. He made a couple of decent saves in the first half but his
kicking was quite poor and there were far too many times where the pass was
not even near its intended target.
Joey O'Brien
Despite being a little too cautious at times when he had time on the ball I
thought he had a good game. He surprised me with a couple of strong runs
forward in the first half and defended quite well throughout the entire
game. A solid debut.
James Tomkins
I was impressed with both the centre halves and Tomkins impressed me. His
heading was spot on and he showed a fearlessness which he has added to his
game over the last couple of seasons.
Winston Reid
It is going to be a big season for Reid who has had a difficult start to his
West Ham career with a bit of a nightmare season last time around. I thought
he looked excellent during this game and I was thoroughly impressed. He was
up against a tough experienced striker in Miller and but for the error from
Ilunga he would have been able to come away from this game having had a
perfect game.
Herita Ilunga
His performance is only going to be remembered for his mistake at the end
which led to the goal. He was decent enough throughout the rest of the game
but making mistakes such as that is not good enough and cost us the game.
Freddie Sears
I was surprised by his inclusion as it had been Barrera and Faubert who I
would have presumed were the frontrunners for the right wing position. I can
only think that due to Sears scoring a couple of goals in pre season he was
included to give us more of a goal scoring threat. But Sears never got going
and struggled to make any impact on the game. I was just surprised that he
was on the pitch for as long as he was.
Scott Parker
I bit of a lethargic display from Parker who many would have not expected to
still be at the club. He was the best of the three midfielders but that
wasn't saying much. There were no crunching challenges but this seemed to be
because of the three in the centre it was he who was the more attacking
which I thought was a poor decision as Parker is a better defensive
midfielder.
Mark Noble
Hardly on the ball, and when he did get it there was little impact made. I
expected more from Noble but with Nolan and Parker in the centre there was
very little room for Noble and he seemed crowded out for the majority of the
game until he was taken off.
Kevin Nolan
We are expecting goals from Nolan given his previous exploits at Newcastle
and Bolton but to score goals he is going to have to get forward more than
he did in this one. I had presumed that he would be playing a very advanced
midfield role but he was very deep throughout.
Matthew Taylor
A positive display from Taylor although wasn't in the game enough which
could have made more of an impact on our attacking play. He was good when in
possession and put in a couple of good crosses, one which Piquionne hit the
post with.
Frederique Piquionne
I'm not really a fan of Piquionne but do find it difficult to criticise his
performance as he was extremely isolated throughout. Some of the long passes
forward to him were not even close to being accurate and were nowhere near
him. Taking him off for Cole did nothing for the way we played other than
bringing on fresher legs. But I will agree with many who say he is not the
answer to any goal scoring problems that we have as Piquionne's goal scoring
record is pretty shocking.
Subs Used
Jack Collison (on for Noble 75 mins)
Having been out of the a long time he was really only feeling his way back
into first team football and only managed to spray a few passes around
having little impact on the final 15 minutes.
Carlton Cole (on for Piquionne 75 mins)
Looked sharper than he has done in some of those pre season games but like
Piquionne he was isolated and needs a strike partner.
Pablo Barrera (on for Sears 82 mins)
Did have one chance with a header which didn't have enough power. I would
have preferred to have seen him start as I believe he could have an impact
this season.
Subs Not Used: Boffin, Faye
Bookings: None
Man Of The Match : Winston Reid
Cardiff City:
Attendance: 25,680
Overall
So it would seem all that optimism has been drained away from many of us but
there is a very long way to go and I am not going to get too down about the
result as I believe Allardyce will have seen where we are lacking and
hopefully rectify this over the coming weeks.
There were a few tactical decisions which I was a little puzzled by. Playing
one up front at home on the opening day is not required and we suffered
because we just didn't get enough people forward. The three midfielders were
too close together and there was very little room for any of them to burst
forward.
Cardiff were nothing special but they kept going to the end and took their
chance after a bad mistake from Ilunga. It was not as if Cardiff have played
us off the park so we must get things into perspective.
I'm certainly not as concerned as I was when we were brushed aside by Aston
Villa on the opening day last season but it was just very disappointing
after waiting so long for the season to start and being so convinced that we
were going to win the game.
Next Game - Aldershot (h) League Cup 1st Round - Tuesday 9th August
If there was ever a game which was going to struggle to generate interest it
was this one. Having been relegated we are now required to enter the League
Cup (which we got to the semis of last season) in the first round. The
opposition will be in the shape of League Two side Aldershot who I'm sure
like Oxford last season will bring a few to Upton Park.
It will give us the chance to play a few more fringe players although our
squad is so small I'm not sure who these players are actually going to be.
It is going to be a very long season but despite this result I still think
we can have confidence that come the end of the season West Ham will be
there or thereabouts for promotion.
I hope.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce goes from hero to zero after Kenny Miller downs West Ham
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today
The Sun
SAM ALLARDYCE'S brave new West Ham world was ruined in just two hours. Big
Sam was greeted with cheers when he was introduced to the Hammers faithful
before kick-off. But he soon went from hero to zero - thanks to Kenny
Miller's late winner for Cardiff. Allardyce groaned: "Nobody's more
miserable than me. I won't be sleeping tonight and I will probably be
watching the game when I get back home. "We're gutted because of our
performance in terms of chances created and not converted. "We had 14, they
had three. Professional football then kicks you right where it hurts
sometimes and today was exactly that. "But we have to take the positives
from the game because it's a marathon season. We do all have to forget about
it, me more than anybody else. "Nobody will pick me up. I will have to do it
myself and then pick the players up because we've got a game against
Aldershot on Tuesday and then Doncaster away next week."
Allardyce did complete the signing of giant striker John Carew before
kick-off on a one-year deal which he hopes will beef-up his front line. He
said: "I thought that was the biggest problem we saw today, not burying a
team when we are in the ascendancy. "We are all disappointed we didn't at
least get a point when we should have had three. It's a big, big loss, that
point. "Everybody will think it's a hangover from relegation last season.
It's my job to eradicate that and make sure we don't make those slips again.
"We have done everything we could today, apart from the clinical - and the
clinical side has let us down. "We did have a bit of misfortune. The Freddie
Piquionne one was a fantastic finish that rebounded off the post instead of
going in. "And then James Tomkins' header was going into the net but just
came off the defender. "So that's the unlucky side today. But when we had
the opportunities the finishing just wasn't good enough."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 0-1 Cardiff: Daily Mirror match report
Published 22:00 07/08/11 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
An Upton Park exhibition that started in bright sunshine ended with the
Cardiff fans singing in the rain. Welcome to the West Ham way, Sam
Allardyce. The Hammers have a different manager and players in a new
division, but it was the same old story yesterday for the worst team in the
Premier League last season. After playing lovely football and wasting a
procession of chances in the first half, they retreated to type and conceded
a sloppy late goal just like in the Avram Grant days.
Allardyce even sounded like the Israeli in claiming afterwards his team had
deserved to win as they were the better team. That was against a Cardiff
side fielding eight debutants. The Hammers, who last won on March 5, have
now extended their winless run to 11 in all competitions. They started last
term with four defeats in the Premier League and never recovered. With the
future of his three England stars still uncertain, Allardyce has his work
cut out to take the club straight back to the top flight. "Everybody will
think it's a hangover," he admitted. "They will think, 'Same old story'. So
I have to eradicate that and make sure as quickly as possible we don't make
those slips again. That's my job. "To stop putting pressure on yourselves,
you don't go and do what we've done today. We've done everything we
possibly could today apart from the clinical and the clinical has let us
down. "We had 14 chances, they had three. We should have been two or three
goals up when the slip happened. We just weren't clinical enough to put the
ball in the back of the net."
Allardyce has already moved to correct the problem by signing John Carew and
making a bid for Bristol City striker Nicky Maynard. "We're getting there,"
he added. "It takes a while for it all to come together."
This new beginning had started so promisingly for a West Ham side arguably
stronger than the team that went down. New signings Kevin Nolan, Matt Taylor
and Joey O'Brien made their debuts while England internationals Robert Green
and Scott Parker remain, for now, with Carlton Cole on the bench. Freddie
Piquionne forced David Marshall into his first save of a busy afternoon on
five minutes before Anthony Gerrard made a last-ditch tackle to deny Parker.
A Taylor free-kick drew another Marshall save while Sears and Piquionne
fired over. As Cardiff slowly found their feet, Green made saves from Don
Cowie and Peter Whittingham. After the break, Piquionne volleyed against a
post from inside the six-yard box, Whittingham cleared a Tomkins header off
the line and Marshall saved from Pablo Barrera. But the 68th-minute
introduction of sub Rudy Gestede added extra height and bite to the Cardiff
forward line. Gestede, on his debut, missed with one header and forced Green
into a low save with another before robbing Herita Illunga and crossing for
Kenny Miller to turn and score. "I don't think there was any luck," said
City boss Malky Mackay. "It was a top-class, end-to-end game. "It was always
going to be tough and getting three points at Upton Park is fantastic."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
No sleep for Allardyce after defeat to Cardiff
Published 22:54 07/08/11 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce admitted he would suffer a sleepless night after watching his
West Ham side slip straight into the Championship relegation zone
yesterday. The Irons only escaped the bottom three for three weeks while
finishing bottom of the Premier League last season. And despite dominating
most of their match against Cardiff, Kenny Miller scored an injury-time
winner to take the three points back to Wales. We're gutted because overall
we were very, very good," claimed Allardyce."We created chances and didn't
convert them. I thought that was the biggest problem today: not burying a
team when were in the ascendency. "Professional football kicks you right
where it hurts sometimes and today was exactly like that. "I won't sleep
tonight and will probably watch the game when I get back home. But we have
to take positives from this because it's a marathon season. We all have to
forget about it, me especially. "If we couldn't win, then we should have
made sure we didn't lose. And we didn't do either. Nobody's more miserable
than me."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United 0 Cardiff 1: match report
By Jonathan Liew9:40PM BST 07 Aug 2011Comment
Telegraph.co.uk
The legacy of Avram Grant is alive and well at Upton Park. It may be almost
three months since the nameplate on the manager's door was changed, but if
Grant's successor, Sam Allardyce, learnt anything during 90 miserable
minutes yesterday, it was that a change of culture will have to follow as
well. Here was a rejoinder to all those who expected West Ham to breeze
through the division with nary a hair out of place. Here was a reminder that
however rich their pool of individual talent, a disjointed team are no more
effective at getting out of the Championship than they are at staying in the
Premier League. The dis-unity and carelessness that characterised Grant's
reign was present again yesterday, and Allardyce's first priority must be to
instil some discipline. Given time, he should yet be backed to succeed. But
while the transfer window remains open and the future of so many players —
Scott Parker the obvious example — hangs in limbo, West Ham United will
remain a team yet to gel, yet to decide whether to bother to gel. Cardiff
City, who fielded eight debutants after a summer of change, showed the
solidity that can be generated by a relatively new side.
The fact that West Ham were better for long periods may provide them with
some comfort. But while they were comfortable enough on the ball, they
looked almost uninterested without it. Defence and midfield were often too
slow to close down Cardiff's players. Neither Frédéric Piquionne nor his
replacement Carlton Cole looked sufficiently motivated to chase down balls
and get on the end of crosses. The arrival of John Carew, signed on a free
transfer from Aston Villa, may stimulate them.
Having poured forward in search of a winner, West Ham momentarily switched
off at the back, and Kenny Miller's debut goal in injury time was some
punishment.
"If you look at the stats, you'll know that we dominated," Allardyce said.
"Overall, we were very good and created more than Cardiff, but we weren't
clinical enough to put the ball in the back of the net, and sometimes
football kicks you right where it hurts." "They created chances," Cardiff
manager Malky Mackay admitted. "But there were England internationals
playing against us today, and I'd be very surprised if they didn't have
chances. The way we worked for each other was outstanding."
It was a curious sort of first half. In the centre, Cardiff were
overwhelmed. Parker, Mark Noble and Kevin Nolan — a top-half Premier League
midfield in all but name — comfortably passed their way around Cardiff's
two, always providing an outlet. In response, Cardiff's wide midfielders,
Don Cowie and Peter Whittingham, came narrower, but with neither full-back
willing to advance into the extra space, Cardiff were left short of options
when they did win the ball. Accordingly, the best chances fell to the home
side. Freddie Sears blasted a glorious chance over the bar from eight yards
after some excellent work by Joey O'Brien. Piquionne and Parker both found
themselves one-on-one with David Marshall, but took too long over their
shots. Nolan shot disappointingly wide from 20 yards.
The second half saw West Ham get closer still. Matt Taylor's whipped
left-footed shot forced a good save from Marshall. Piquionne slammed a
Taylor cross against the post. James Tomkins's header was cleared off the
line by Whittingham, who had a splendid game. But as the 90 minutes ticked
over, substitute Rudy Gestede robbed Herita Ilunga on the Cardiff right and
charged fearlessly towards the byeline. The Frenchman's cut-back found
Miller, who controlled with one touch and shot past Robert Green with the
next. The dedicated chunk of Cardiff fans behind the goal exploded; the home
supporters merely rolled their eyeballs and set off for the exits. They had
arrived in hope, but it appears things may continue to get worse before they
start getting better. Allardyce's face told its own story. "There's nobody
more miserable than me," he said. "I won't be sleeping tonight. I'll watch
the game when I get back, trying to learn as quickly as I can. But tomorrow
I'll pick myself up, and then pick the players up. Because there's not a lot
wrong."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Cardiff extend rude welcome to Allardyce
West Ham United 0 Cardiff City 1
Monday, 8 August 2011
The Independent
It was only the first weekend of August but to West Ham fans it must have
felt like bleak midwinter. Squally rain showers fell over Upton Park
yesterday as Cardiff City dampened what enthusiasm the home supporters may
have brought to their team's opening match of the season.
Following relegation from the Premier League, West Ham have been installed
as one of the favourites for promotion but this was a sharp reminder to Sam
Allardyce, their new manager, of how tough the Championship can be. Without
ever taking full control of the match, his team had more than enough chances
to win but were punished when Kenny Miller scored the winner in the first
minute of stoppage time.
If there was anguish for Allardyce, the result brought a warm glow to Malky
Mackay, who took over as Cardiff manager in the summer. Expectations are
high in south Wales, Dave Jones having been dismissed despite reaching the
play-offs two seasons in a row, and a good start was important for Mackay,
especially after the departures of Jay Bothroyd and Michael Chopra,
Cardiff's main marksmen last season.
Mackay, hired on the basis of his fine debut in management with Watford,
went for experience in rebuilding his forward line. Although Miller and
Robert Earnshaw were quiet for much of the match, the former made no mistake
when given his opportunity at the end.
Credit must also go to Rudy Gestede, a 22-year-old striker recruited from
Metz on a free transfer. The Frenchman, a 67th-minute substitute for
Earnshaw, made an immediate impact. His harrying of Herita Ilunga and
subsequent cross set up the opportunity for Miller, whose shot on the turn
from 10 yards slipped through Rob Green's hands.
West Ham have lost several big-name players over the summer but they still
have one of the most powerful squads in the division. Scott Parker seems
likely to leave before the closure of the transfer window, but remains for
the moment a West Ham player. Parker and Green are both in the England
squad, while Allardyce named a bench that included four full internationals
in Carlton Cole (England), Jack Collison (Wales), Pablo Barrera (Mexico) and
Abdoulaye Faye (Senegal).
In the opening stages, it seemed only a matter of time before West Ham would
score, but Parker showed too much of the ball to Anthony Gerrard when
breaking through the middle and Freddie Sears shot wastefully over the bar
after Joey O'Brien's fine run.
Three more chances came in the space of three minutes early in the second
half. Matt Taylor, a growing influence in midfield, forced Marshall into a
diving stop with a rasping left-foot shot and Frédéric Piquionne was denied
firstly by Mark Hudson's late block and then by the woodwork following a
splendid cross by Taylor.
The home team's best chance came 11 minutes from time but Kevin Nolan, two
yards out, failed to make proper contact with James Tomkins' header and
Peter Whittingham cleared off the line.
Cardiff, with Gerrard and Hudson solid in defence, made a slow start in both
halves but finished strongly. Gestede's physical presence started to
unsettle the home defence in the final 20 minutes and chances were soon
created. Miller scorned a good opportunity on 73 minutes, shooting over the
bar from 12 yards after being set up by Craig Conway, but the Scotland
striker was not to be denied.
"We've lost a game we really should have won," Allardyce said afterward.
"We've mastered the game, created numerous chances and today was one of
those days when we were not clinical enough to punish the opposition."
Mackay described the win as "a dream start" and added: "It was hard work at
times. They threw everything at us. Our defence was outstanding and we got a
reward in the end."
West Ham United: (4-5-1) Green; O'Brien, Tomkins, Reid, Ilunga; Sears
(Barrera, 82), Parker, Noble (Collison, 74), Nolan, M Taylor; Piquionne
(Cole, 75). Substitutes not used Boffin (gk), Faye.
Cardiff City: (4-4-2) Marshall; McNaughton, Hudson, Gerrard, A Taylor;
Cowie, Gunnarsson, Whittingham, Conway (Mason, 75); Earnshaw (Gestede, 67),
Miller. Substitutes not used Heaton (gk), Quinn, Parkin.
Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire).
Attendance: 25,680.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 0 Cardiff 1: Hangover for the Hammers as Miller strikes to give Big
Sam a headache
By LAURA WILLIAMSON
Last updated at 10:55 PM on 7th August 2011
Daily Mail
West Ham ended their first day back in the Championship where they spent all
but three weeks in the Premier League last season - in the bottom three. It
started brightly enough, with new boss Sam Allardyce pumping his right fist
as he walked back to the dug-out after being introduced to the crowd. Then
it was a case of same old, same old for the Hammers. Kenny Miller's
90th-minute winner nicked all three points for Cardiff, as Allardyce's
new-look side failed to bury the ghost of the team relegated under Avram
Grant. Instead, it was Malky Mackay who celebrated his first League match in
charge of Cardiff with a win. Mackay said: 'I don't think there was any
luck. It was always going to be tough because we had England internationals
playing against us and West Ham are one of the favourites to go up. Three
points at Upton Park is fantastic.' A Cardiff team devoid of some of last
season's stars - Jay Bothroyd, Michael Chopra and Craig Bellamy - and
including eight debutants repelled chance after chance, then capitalised at
the death. Football, as Allardyce concluded, has a habit of 'kicking you
right where it hurts'.
The West Ham boss said: 'Nobody's more miserable than me. I won't be
sleeping tonight and I will probably be watching the game again when I get
home. 'But we all have to forget about it, me more than anybody else. I
have to pick the players up because there's not a lot wrong and we have to
prove that against Doncaster next week. 'We're gutted because we created 14
chances and they had three. Everybody will think it's a hangover. We have to
eradicate that - that's my job.' There were plenty of positives for the
Hammers - particularly the influence of Matt Taylor on the left and the
number of chances they created - but the individual errors and poor
finishing persisted. The central midfield three of Mark Noble, Kevin Nolan
and Scott Parker looked classy on paper, but it was cluttered in practice,
with new man Nolan lacking the burst of pace to support striker Frederic
Piquionne. New signing John Carew, who agreed a one-year deal with the
option of a second this weekend, may prove a shrewd addition. Piquionne
fired just wide when he met Taylor's cross at the near post after 61 minutes
and Peter Whittingham cleared a James Tomkins header off the line with a
knee with 10 minutes to go.
Match Facts
West Ham (4-5-1): Green 5; O'Brien 6, Tomkins 6,
Reid 6, Ilunga 5; Sears 5 (Barrera 82min), Noble 6
(Collison 74, 6), Parker 6, Nolan 6, M Taylor 8;
Piquionne 6 (Cole 75, 6).
Cardiff (4-1-3-2): Marshall 7; McNaughton 6, Hudson 6,
Gerrard 6, A Taylor 6; Gunnarsson 6; Cowie 6, Conway 6
(Mason 75, 6), Whittingham 6; Earnshaw 6
(Gestede 68, 7), Miller 7.
Booked: Gerrard
Man of the match: Matt Taylor.
Referee: Howard Webb 7.
But Herita Ilunga's slip allowed substitute Rudy Gestede to burst into the
area and Robert Green failed to stop Miller, who joined Cardiff this summer
from Bursaspor, firing the winner into the top left-hand corner. Mackay
said: 'Kenny Miller has had a tough summer. It has not been easy for him and
he's not trained as much as he would have liked, so he is a little ring
rusty. 'But he put in a great work-rate today and got his reward. He has
captained Scotland and he was the fifth highest scorer in Europe last year.
He's scored goals everywhere he has been - in England, Scotland, Turkey and
international level. And if you are a centre forward who works hard and
runs people down, with his work ethic, you get chances in the Championship.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
WEST HAM 0 CARDIFF 1: YOU CAN'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED, SAM ALLARDYCE
Daily Express
Monday August 8,2011
By Tony Banks
WEST HAM 0 CARDIFF 1: THIS bouncing back at the first attempt business is a
lot more complicated than it looks. For a start, you have to have some
bounce. Sam Allardyce's big bow yesterday as West Ham's saviour, the man who
will return them to the big time, fell horribly flat in the East End
downpour. As a squib, it was of the damp variety. So this morning, West Ham
are in dismally familiar territory – stuck in the bottom three of the
division, thanks to Kenny Miller's goal in the final minute at Upton Park.
Last season they were only out of the basement section of the Premier League
for three measly weeks. Allardyce received a great fanfare from the Hammers
faithful as he walked out, yearning for a fresh start after relegation from
the glitz of the Premier League last season. But it all went wrong – and
Allardyce admitted he will be having a restless night after this
performance. He said: "We're gutted because we created lots of chances but
simply did not convert them. That was our biggest problem – not burying a
team when we were in the ascendancy. "That one slip cost us dearly and we
got punished. We are all disappointed we didn't get at least a point. That
is a big loss. "We created 14 chances and they had three. Everybody will
think this is a hangover and it's the same old story. "I have to eradicate
that and make sure we don't make those slips again. But we are getting
there. It takes a while for it all to come together. Nobody is more
miserable than me, though. I won't be sleeping tonight."
Worryingly, he sounded a bit like Avram Grant. West Ham had three new
players in their side and it showed. Their football, which flowed brightly
in the early stages, became steadily more disjointed and aimless as the game
wore on. Crucially, the chances they did create they failed to take.
Frederic Piquionne should have put them ahead after only five minutes when
he raced clean through, but Cardiff keeper David Marshall saved with his
legs. It turned out to be the story of the afternoon. Marshall then did even
better to tip over Matt Taylor's free-kick, but the best chance of all went
begging as new full-back Joey O'Brien burst down the right to cross and
Freddie Sears blazed over a gaping goal. Cardiff, rebuilt by new manager
Malky Mackay after last season's play-off failure, almost caught out
Allardyce's team twice. First, Don Cowie's far post header had to be pushed
round the post by Robert Green and then, with Peter Whittingham's free-kick
looking goalbound, the Hammers keeper superbly tipped the ball away again.
West Ham – despite a stellar midfield in Scott Parker, Kevin Nolan, Matt
Taylor and Mark Noble, which should be picking Championship teams apart –
were far too predictable, lacking both width and pace. It was former Bolton
and Portsmouth man Taylor who was making the most inroads and he cut inside
to fire in a typically powerful shot that Marshall did well to turn away.
Then Taylor skinned Kevin McNaughton down the left and when his low cross
came in, Piquionne slammed it against the near post. Cardiff substitute Rudy
Gestede should have made the Hammers pay for their wastefulness, but when
Cowie's cross found him unmarked in the area, he placed his header wide and
then, from an even better position, headed straight at Green. The excellent
Marshall rescued his team yet again, with a timely flap to push away James
Tomkins' header after Cardiff failed to clear a corner. A desperate
Allardyce threw on his big gun in the shape of Carlton Cole and when he
flicked on Taylor's cross, Pablo Barrera, coming in at far post, nearly
sneaked in a header, but Marshall pulled off yet another fine save. Then
Gestede got to the byline, crossed and Miller fired it in. Green will know
he should have done better as he got a hand to the ball. Mackay said: "Kenny
has scored goals wherever he has gone. If you work hard like him in this
league, you get chances."
West Ham (4-1-4-1): Green; O'Brien, Reid, Tomkins, Ilunga; Noble (Collison
74); Sears (Barrera 81), Nolan, Parker, Taylor; Piquionne (Cole 74).
Cardiff (4-4-2): Marshall; McNaughton, Hudson, Gerrard, Taylor; Cowie,
Gunnarsson, Whittingham, Conway (Mason 75); Earnshaw (Gestede 67), Miller.
Booked: Gerrard. Goal: Miller 90.
Referee: H Webb (South Yorkshire).
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