WHUFC.com
Papa Bouba Diop is aiming to add to his medal collection with West Ham
United
09.11.2011
Papa Bouba Diop is determined to prove to himself that he made the right
decision to join West Ham United - by helping the Hammers gain promotion
back to the Premier League this season. The experienced Senegal
internaitional midfielder has played at the very highest level during a
successful playing career, whether it be by scoring his country's winner
against holders France at the 2002 FIFA World Cup or winning trophies in
Switzerland, England and Greece. Diop is determined to add to his medal
collection by inspiring West Ham to the npower Championship title, and
believed the positive result at Hull City last Saturday was a sign of the
club's intentions. "West Ham are a big club," said the No21. "Last year, the
team maybe wasn't confident because it was a difficult time. But we have
good players here, we are a big club, have a big fanbase and we have
honours, so it wasn't difficult for me to decide. "When I came here, I said
'I am here with the team to help the club go up again' - that is the aim and
I am happy to be in this situation. Everyone is working towards going up and
being in the top league, so for me that is good. "This is a difficult league
but we are a good team and we want to work to go up again."
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Hendon happy with draw
WHUFC.com
Ian Hendon was pleased to see his development squad grab a share of the
spoils at Gillingham
09.11.2011
Ian Hendon was happy to avoid a defeat at the hands of his former employers
after Dan Potts' added-time equaliser secured a 2-2 development squad draw
at Gillingham. Hendon left the post of assistant manager at the MEMS
Priestfield Stadium to join West Ham United in July and bumped into plenty
of familiar faces during Tuesday's visit to the Medway town. It looked like
Hendon would lose the bragging rights when two second-half goals cancelled
out Brian Montenegro's first-half opener, only for Potts to save the day
when he swept home from close range with just seconds remaining. "It was
very nice to come back because I have still got a lot of friends here behind
the scenes and among the staff like Malcolm the kit man," Hendon told West
Ham TV. "I had a little wander around upstairs and said 'Hello' to a few
people so it was nice to be back. "The playing surface for the game was
superb, which is a tribute to John the groundsman. I can certainly say that
it is a lot better this season than it was last year so they're moving in
the right direction. "I've got to say the first half was the best one of my
teams has played all season in terms of the work-rate and the way we moved
the ball and created chances, even though we didn't take them. I was very
pleased at half-time. "Credit to Gillingham because they came out and
ruffled a few feathers and got into us as you would expect. I'm sure Andy
went in at half-time and had a few words with their boys and they came out
fighting in the second half. "We lost our way a little bit and maybe they
intimidated our younger lads a little bit in the second half and they got
the two goals and deserved their lead in the end because they got about us.
"Then credit our boys because we started to play a little bit better towards
the end and we nicked a late equaliser which, on the balance of play, was
the right result."
When asked what he made of Gillingham's young players, Hendon was quick to
point out that the home side had also included a smattering of seasoned
professionals.
"Gillingham's squad wasn't that young! I know Kingy [Simon King] from when I
was at Barnet and he is a very experienced centre-back. They had some
experienced lads out there and it was a good test for our young ones. "I
spoke to their manager Andy after the game and he was in agreement with me
that it was a good workout and a proper game of football."
One player who did not play on Tuesday but is familiar to fans of both clubs
is Frank Nouble, the Hammers forward who is currently impressing on loan at
Gillingham.
The player himself watched the action and told whufc.com how much he was
enjoying his football at the Kent club, while Hendon is happy with the
striker's development. "I''ve been watching Frank as part of my job because
we don't send players out on loan and forget about them. I get out and watch
them and I've been down to see Frank on numerous occasions. He has scored a
few goals and on Saturday he was a thorn in Northampton's side, creating
goals and winning a penalty for Gillingham. "I know Frank is doing well and
I'm in contact with Andy all the time and he keeps me updated."
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Lee looking forward
WHUFC.com
Olly Lee is targeting a first-team debut after returning from a productive
loan spell
09.11.2011
Olly Lee is targeting a West Ham United debut after returning from a
productive loan spell at Dagenham & Redbridge. The 20-year-old made 17
appearances during his three-month stay with the League Two club, scoring
his maiden senior goal in a 2-1 home defeat byMorecambe on 17 September.
Despite consistent performances and two further goals from the midfielder
against Northampton Town and Crawley Town, the Daggers have struggled
following their relegation from League One last season. However, Lee
believes it will not be long before John Still's side return to winning
ways. "I'm pleased with how it went. It was obviously nice to get my first
goal and to push on from there - hopefully there will be many more to come,"
he told West Ham TV. "it was brilliant for me to be playing every week -
sometimes a couple of games a week - and I felt I grew up a lot over the
three months I was there. Being part of the first team every week and
playing in games that mean something was great. "Unfortunately for the team,
it didn't go quite how we wanted it to, but there is a good bunch of lads
there and they'll push on and be back up the league soon."
Lee's loan spell at Dagenham & Redbridge was his second with the Hammers'
near neighbours, having previously played five times for the club at the
tail-end of last season. The Academy product admitted he would love to have
gone out on loan earlier in his career, only for illness and injury to
prevent him gaining first-team experience sooner. "I'd have loved to have
done it earlier, but obviously I had a few setbacks when I was younger. I
had glandular fever which really held me back.
"I'm just thankful that the opportunity has come along now and I'll push on
again from here."
Having returned to Chadwell Heath and captaining the development squad in
Tuesday's 2-2 draw with Gillingham, Lee is hoping to push himself into Sam
Allardyce's plans. With the likes of Henri Lansbury and David Bentley
unavailable, the youngster has seen George Moncur named on the substitutes'
bench for one npower Championship fixture and would love to emulate his
fellow graduate. Should that opportunity not arise, he would be more than
happy to go out on loan again to another Football League club. "I have
obviously seen that there are some injuries and I'd love to be involved and
will be working hard every day. Eventually, hopefully I'll get my chance and
will grab it with both hands. "I'd like to test myself again. I played in
League One at the end of last season and I felt comfortable there and am a
much better player. I'd like to go wherever the opportunity presents itself
and see what happens."
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Allardyce looking to beef up squad
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 9th November 2011
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United have taken centre half Calum Angus on trial. With the
Championship currently on hiatus due to this weekend's international
fixtures, Sam Allardyce has taken the opportunity to have a look at a couple
of players in training at Chadwell Heath this week. One of those is GAIS
defender Angus, who made his way to Sweden's Allsvenskan via Portsmouth -
his home town club - and the USA, where he played between 2004 and 2009
following his release by Portsmouth in 2004, when he was just 18. Having
played for a series of minor clubs - including college side St Louis Lions
and USL-2 outfit Wilmington Hammerheads - Angus was offered the chance to
return to Europe in June 2009 when Makrillarna offered him a trial.
After completing a successful trial period, Angus signed for GAIS - who rank
ninth in the list of most successful Swedish clubs - with whom he has
remained since. The Gothenburg-based club currently ply their trade in the
Allsvenskan, the top flight of Swedish football, finishing fifth in the
(16-team) table last season. Speaking about life in Sweden recently, Angus
admitted that he was enjoying life in Scandinavia - but yearned to return
home to England should the opportunity arise. "Sweden is a really nice
country and Gothenburg, where I am based, is a great city," he told Blagul
Football. "It's not too far from England and I have family and friends
visiting when they can. "My girlfriend is over so things like that are
pretty good - though the difference is that I do miss my home. I'd love to
play back in England at one time."
Angus arrived in London today and is expected to train with the Hammers for
the rest of the week. He is expected to be joined at Chadwell Heath by
17-year-old Boreham Wood midfielder Pelly Ruddock, who is also expected to
spend time with QPR and Watford before reaching a decision on his future.
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Gold cool on OS move
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 9th November 2011
By: Staff Writer
David Gold has hinted that the club's future may not lie in Stratford at the
Olympic Stadium. West Ham's co-chairman, a studio guest of Talksport's this
morning admitted for the first time since taking control of the club in
January 2010 that he is far from convinced that a move to the Olympic site
would be beneficial to the club.
"There are many issues that are unresolved as we speak but I think it would
be inappropriate for me to discuss them," he told hosts Andy Gray and
Richard Keys.
"A lease has now been given to the athletics people [confirming] that there
will be a track there for 99 years. That is a fact. So whoever takes on the
Olympic Stadium takes on the running track." And when pushed to confirm
whether he still wanted to move to Stratford, Gold paused before replying:
"I have mixed feelings. I think that the Olympic Stadium can be very
exciting. "
However those fans who support the club remaining at the Boleyn Ground are
unlikely to have their wish granted regardless of whether the Hammers up
sticks and move to move to Stratford or not - with Gold insisting that a
move from the ground that West Ham United FC have called home since 1904 is
an absolute necessity.
"I think we've got to do something," he insisted. "What we can't do is
nothing. You can't develop the Boleyn; you will be pouring money down the
drain. The issue at the Boleyn Ground is not the capacity. The issue is the
area around it, the facilities around it. Access to it is impossible. "West
Ham have been at the Boleyn for over 100 years. I believe we are the eighth
largest supported club in the country and yet we don't perform like the
eighth biggest; we perform more like the 20th biggest. I believe that's
because we're at the Boleyn. "So I think you have to change that, if you
want to pursue the possibilities of being a bigger club. And we do believe
that [we can be]; we came back into West Ham believing that we can transform
that whole concept and get West Ham challenging at the highest end of the
Premier League. "That will mean some form of a change. The obvious one that
everyone is looking at - and if difficult for me to really speak about in
depth - is the Olympic Stadium. But it is a doubt becasue there are issues
that are unresolved."
There was also good news for pressure group 'WHU's View', who are
campaigning for supporters to be consulted over any potential move away from
the Boleyn Ground. "I think we've got to go through a consultive procedure
with our fans," accepted Gold. "I think that's important."
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Gold: we wanted Fernandez
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 9th November 2011
By: Staff Writer
David Gold has revealed that he and fellow chairman David Sullivan wanted to
bring new QPR owner Tony Fernandez on board. West Ham's co-chairman,
speaking to TalkSport this morning, confirmed that an offer was made to
Fernandez - but rejected by the Malaysian entrepreneur, who insisted on full
control should he become financially involved. "He wouldn't work with us as
a third/third/third," said Gold. "Our offer to Tony was, "Come in and join
us on this fantastic adventure. It's tough - don't come in with any
illusions. This is a tough ask". We believe the three of us could have
[worked together]. But it had to be three shareholders."
Gold also revealed that he and Sullivan were still looking for a
'super-wealthy' party to take on the third of the club currently under the
ownership of Straumur, the Icelandic bank. "David Sullivan owns a third of
the football, I own a third of the football club and the banks own a third,
as we speak," he said. "If a big player - by that I mean a big investor -
comes in and takes the other third - and he is a super-wealthy person - it
can be done. "I think we're the eighth largest supported club in the
country. We should be in that position."
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Gold admits stadium doubts
Hammers chief has doubts over plans for Olympic Stadium move
Last Updated: November 9, 2011 2:43pm
SSN
Co-chairman David Gold has admitted for the first time that West Ham may not
make the move into the Olympic Stadium. The Hammers were awarded the stadium
earlier this year only for the deal to collapse last month due to legal
challenges by Tottenham and Leyton Orient, as well as an anonymous complaint
to the European Commission. A new tender process is being launched by the
Olympic Park Legacy Company and the venue, complete with an athletics track,
will now be rented out after the London 2012 Games with West Ham seemingly
the most likely tenants. But Gold revealed that while the club remain
desperate to leave their current Boleyn Ground at Upton Park, there is now a
doubt surrounding their plans to move into the Stratford site. "I have mixed
feelings," Gold told talkSPORT. "The Olympic Stadium is very exciting, but
we need a consultancy procedure with our fans, that is important. "I am
ruling out developing the Boleyn, that would be pouring money down the
drain. "But what we can't do is nothing. West Ham have been at the Boleyn
for over 100 years. I believe we are the eighth largest supported club in
the country, and yet we perform more like the 20th biggest, and that's
because we are at the Boleyn. "So we have to change that. The obvious change
that everyone is looking at is the Olympic Stadium. But there is a doubt,
there are issues unresolved."
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Diop backs Hammers for Prem
Senegal star delighted with London club's start
Last Updated: November 9, 2011 6:13pm
SSN
Papa Bouba Diop believes West Ham have enough quality to instantly bounce
back to the Premier League. The Hammers have made a great start to the
season under new boss Sam Allardyce and currently sit second place in the
Championship. Senegal midfielder Diop, who has featured six times since
joining from Greek outfit AEK Athens in the summer, is delighted with the
Hammers' recent form and he feels promotion is a realistic target for the
East London club. The 33-year-old said: "West Ham are a big club. Last year
maybe the team wasn't confident because it was a difficult time. "When I
came here I said I wanted to help the club go up again - that is the aim and
I am happy to be in this situation."Everyone is working towards going up and
being in the top league. "This is a difficult league but we are a good team
and we want to work to go up again."
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Gold: Hammers may not move to Olympic Stadium
Published 13:15 09/11/11 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
West Ham co-chairman David Gold has admitted for the first time the club may
not move into the Olympic Stadium. The Hammers were awarded the stadium
earlier this year only for the deal to collapse last month due to legal
challenges by Tottenham and Leyton Orient, as well as an anonymous complaint
to the European Commission. A new tender process is being launched by the
Olympic Park Legacy Company and the venue, complete with an athletics track,
will now be rented out after the London 2012 Games with West Ham seemingly
the most likely tenants. But Gold today revealed that while the club remain
desperate to leave their current Boleyn Ground at Upton Park, there is now a
doubt surrounding their plans to move into the Stratford site. "I have
mixed feelings," Gold told talkSPORT. "The Olympic Stadium is very exciting,
but we need a consultancy procedure with our fans, that is important. I am
ruling out developing the Boleyn, that would be pouring money down the
drain. "But what we can't do is nothing. West Ham have been at the Boleyn
for over 100 years. I believe we are the eighth largest supported club in
the country, and yet we perform more like the 20th biggest, and that's
because we are at the Boleyn. "So we have to change that. The obvious change
that everyone is looking at is the Olympic Stadium. But there is a doubt,
there are issues unresolved."
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West Ham set sights on Swedish winger
By talkSPORT
Wednesday, November 9
West Ham are poised to make a move for Swedish winger Mervan Celik. Sam
Allardyce is desperate to strengthen his squad after being hit by an injury
crisis at a crucial stage of the season. David Bentley has been ruled out
for six months while Henri Lansbury will also be missing until Christmas.
With Matt Taylor also being sidelined with a calf injury, Allardyce has been
short of players in the wide areas and is hoping Celik could be a welcome
addition to the squad. Celik, 21, plays for GAIS in the Swedish League and
has scored an impressive 14 goals in 27 games this season. The Swedish
Under-21 international, whose contract runs out in December, has also been
linked with Fulham and Middlesbrough, but the east London club appear to be
the strong favourites to clinch his signature.
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Wood Teenager Trials At West Ham
Thenonleaguefootballpaper.com
by Andy White
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
BOREHAM WOOD have revealed that their teenage midfielder Pelly Ruddock is
spending the week on trial with West Ham United. The 17-year-old has
featured 11 times for the Wood first team this season and his performances
have caught the eye of a number of Football League clubs, including Watford
and QPR. But it is West Ham who have moved first to take a closer look at
the talented youngster and he will remain at Upton Park until Friday.
Speaking about the trial, Wood chairman Danny Hunter told the club's
website: "Pelly's been with us for three seasons now and he improves each
year. "However. nobody should get too carried away with these recent
developments. Although at only 17 years of age he's powerful, athletic,
hungry and does appear to be coping well at Conference South level, which
suggests he's got a sniff if somebody wants to take a chance. "I must stress
at this stage, that we as a club are in no hurry to disrupt Pelly's
education or PASE coaching schedule. "As such he will get the opportunity
to also trial at Watford and QPR in the coming weeks and only after that,
will I sit down with Pelly, his parents, our coaches and speak to the Pro
clubs to assess if it's been successful for all parties and get everybody's
feedback."
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West Ham linked with Swedish star
London 24
Dave Evans, West Ham Correspondent
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
4:28 PM
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has run the rule over Swedish winger Mervan
Celik as he looks to strenghten his team for the promotion push in January.
The 21-year-old, who plays for Gais in Gothenburg, scored an impressive 14
goals in 27 games this season as his club finished fifth, playing either up
front or on the wing. The Sweden under-21 international, whose contract runs
out in December has been linked with Middlesbrough and Fulham, but West Ham
have also watched him and are considering a move. Although he is out of
contract, they would still have to pay a fee for the player as he is under
24.
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Tony Cottee Column: West Ham owe a lot to Green for their fantastic away
results
London 24
Tony Cottee, London24 West Ham columnist
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
4:24 PM
What a superb result Saturday's win at Hull was for the Hammers. And it
certainly looks like we owe a lot to Robert Green for making sure we got the
three points.
The England keeper was in inspirational form, and some of the saves he was
pulling off were world class. You don't see many Premier League keepers
making saves like those, let alone in the Championship. Green has been a
real asset to West Ham and some of the goals he has prevented this season
already have saved the Hammers from dropping valuable points. I have always
said that having a quality keeper in your side can be as good as having a
goalscorer, and luckily for West Ham it looks as though they have both in
Green and young Sam Baldock. At the moment, it seems that Baldock cant stop
scoring, which is great news for the Hammers.
He is the first real goalscorer that the club have had since they sold
Jermain Defoe and I think that he has a really big future in the game. There
were some doubts over whether he would be able to make the step up from
League One to the Championship, but he has proved he has what it takes to
score lots of goals in this league.
If the Hammers are to get promoted, then I expect Baldock to score plenty in
the Premier League too. When West Ham signed him, he was not a League One
player, he has too much quality for that, and that is what we are seeing
now. He has been given a chance to show what he can do in the Championship,
and he has grabbed it with both hands and he has been outstanding for the
Hammers, scoring five goals already. Another striker who really impressed me
on Saturday was Carlton Cole, and I thought that he really changed the game
for West Ham.
Cole has been struggling with injury for the past month or so, but on his
day I honestly believe he is a real handful and when he is on top form he is
unstoppable.
Cole created both goals on Saturday and it was a pleasure to see that side
of his game too. People dont appreciate the vision and awareness that is
part of Carlton's game and the second Hammers goal showed that when he set
up Jack Collison. I was really pleased for Jack to score on Saturday, he is
a really lovely lad and it's about time that he had some good fortune. It
was a disappointing time for him when he got injured, and it has taken a
while for him to get back into the side, and I am sure that he will be the
first to admit that he is still not on top of his game, but that will come
with time. The Hammers were only on top at Hull for 20 minutes, but they
scored two goals to secure three points in that time, and that is the sign
of a good team. Going away in the Championship, West Ham will have to
weather storms and then score when they are on top. The Hammers are a big
scalp in this division, so teams will want to beat them. It is a welcome
surprise to see a West Ham team that know how to win away from home, though.
If our away form carries on like this, that alone could well see us
promoted. They say that if you win your home games and draw away then you
will get promoted, yet the Hammers seem to be doing the exact opposite!
Some West Ham fans have expressed their worry about Southampton's current
form and the fact that they are five points clear of us, but I am not
concerned.
Southampton can run away with the league if they want, as long as West Ham
finish second and get promoted. It is a big psychological boost for the
Hammers to go into the international break in second place, and it gives
everyone associated with the club a good feeling. Hopefully after the break
we will see some of our injured players return to action, which will be a
welcome sight. Tony Cottee was talking to Nathaniel John
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West Ham United co-owner David Gold admits club have no long term future at
Upton Park
3:19pm Wednesday 9th November 2011
Guardian Series
By Simon Mail >
West Ham United co-owner David Gold has admitted the club have no long term
future at Upton Park. Speaking to Talksport, Gold said there are unresolved
issues for them to overcome if they are to become tenants at the Olympic
Stadium. But Gold accepted that the Championship club cannot develop the
Boleyn Ground further and need to find a new home. Gold told the radio
station: "I am ruling out redeveloping the Boleyn. You can't develop the
Boleyn. You will be pouring money down the drain. "The issue at the Boleyn
is not the capacity, the issue is the area around it, the facilities around
it. Access around it is impossible. We have got to do something. What we
can't do is nothing. "West Ham have been at the Boleyn for over a hundred
years. They are the eighth largest supported football club in the country, I
believe, and yet we don't perform like the eighth biggest. "We perform like
the 20th biggest. And that's because we are at the Boleyn, I believe. We
have to change that. "We came back into West Ham believing that we can
transform that whole concept and get West Ham challenging at the highest
level of the Premier League.
"That will mean some form of change and the one everyone is looking at is
the Olympic Stadium. But there is a doubt, there are issues unresolved."
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Exclusive - Gold tells West Ham fans: Look what Allardyce did for Bolton
TalkSport
By Alex Varney
Wednesday, November 9
David Gold has launched a passionate defence of Sam Allardyce, insisting he
is the right man to lead West Ham back to the Premier League. Hammers are
currently sitting second in the Championship but that has not stopped some
fans from criticising their side's style of play. Gold has now urged
supporters to get fully behind Allardyce, pointing to his record at former
club Bolton, and claiming the Lancashire side have the 57-year-old to thank
for their Premier League status. He told Keys & Gray: "He took a club like
Bolton - and no disrespect to the fanbase - but they over-performed for
twelve years. Incredibly. If you look at where they would be in terms of
support, they should be in the middle of the Championship, and yet they're
not. They've absolutely been fantastic and a major contribution to that
would be Sam Allardyce. "If you play Barcelona are you going to play their
football? You'd get murdered. So Sam was saying at times, against certain
clubs his policy would 'I'm going to play the long ball today' or 'I'm going
to play the long ball in the last 20 minutes when we are 1-0 down'. "He
plays horses for courses. He is a skilled manager. If it means to win that
game he is going to play the long ball for 20 minutes, or the whole game, he
will do it."
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West Ham co-chairman rules out developing the Boleyn Ground
London24
Nathaniel John, West Ham correspondent
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
1:40 PM
West Ham co-chairman David Gold has categorically ruled out developing the
Hammers' Boleyn Ground, even if the club loses its bid to move into the
Olympic Stadium. The Championship outfit were awarded the Olympic Stadium
earlier in the year, only for those plans to be scrapped following legal
challenges from Tottenham Hotspur and Leyton Orient as well as an anonymous
complaint to the European Commission. However, speaking earlier today, Gold
confirmed that the Hammers will not stay at their Boleyn Ground home. "I am
ruling out redeveloping the Boleyn," said Gold. "You can't develop the
Boleyn. You will be pouting money down the drain. "The issue at the Boleyn
is not the capacity, the issue is the area around it, the facilities around
it. "Access around it is impossible. We have got to do something. What we
can't do is nothing."
The Hammers co-owner also revealed that he believes that the club need to
move to a new home, if they are to progress and be able to challenge in the
Premier League. "West Ham have been at the Boleyn for over a 100 years," he
said. "They are the eighth largest supported football club in the country, I
believe, and yet we don't perform like the eighth biggest. "We perform like
the 20th biggest. And that's because we are at the Boleyn, I believe. We
have to change that. "We came back into West Ham believing that we can
transform that whole concept and get West Ham challenging at the highest
level of the Premier League. "That will mean some form of change and the one
everyone is looking at is the Olympic Stadium."
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Hammers owner points to Big Sam's Reebok CV
10:30pm Wednesday 9th November 2011
Guardian Series
By Staff Sports Reporter >
WEST Ham owner David Gold reckons the wonders Sam Allardyce worked at the
Reebok are exactly the reason fans should back their manager right now.
Despite sitting second in the Championship table, a segment of the Hammers
support have criticised Big Sam's playing style at Upton Park. But Gold
pointed to his seven-and-a-half year reign at Bolton, during which he took
Wanderers from the second tier into Europe, as an example of why some
patience should be shown on the terraces.
"He took a club like Bolton - and no disrespect to the fanbase - but they
over-performed for twelve years," Gold said. Incredibly. If you look at
where they would be in terms of support, they should be in the middle of the
Championship, and yet they're not. They've absolutely been fantastic and a
major contribution to that would be Sam Allardyce. "If you play Barcelona
are you going to play their football? You'd get murdered. So Sam was saying
at times, against certain clubs his policy would 'I'm going to play the long
ball today' or 'I'm going to play the long ball in the last 20 minutes when
we are 1-0 down'. "He plays horses for courses. He is a skilled manager. If
it means to win that game he is going to play the long ball for 20 minutes,
or the whole game, he will do it."
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