WHUFC.com
Skipper Kevin Nolan has backed West Ham United to bounce back to winning
ways next weekend
13.12.2011
Captain Kevin Nolan has backed his West Ham United team-mates to get over
the disappointment of Saturday's 3-0 npower Championship defeat at Reading
by beating Barnsley this weekend. The Hammers suffered back-to-back defeats
for the first time this season courtesy of their reverse at the Madejski
Stadium in a game also marred by red cards shown to Joey O'Brien and Jack
Collison. While Sam Allardyce may be short of numbers come the sold-out
visit of the Tykes, Nolan believes West Ham still have more than enough
quality to halt their mini-slide against Keith Hill's side. "To be honest, I
didn't think we were up to scratch," admitted the skipper when talking to
West Ham TV. "We've been playing really well of late and were very unlucky
last week against Burnley. There was nothing in the game really and the
referee has given a decision which was a bit harsh, I think. The two yellow
cards were a bit harsh, but that was the turning point really. "We were
sloppy and the bottom line is that we were not good enough. After going down
to ten men we needed to get a seige mentality and make sure we didn't
concede a goal and try to go from there and try to make a few chances, but
we didn't. "It's a learning curve for us as a team and as a squad and we
have to make sure we learn from it."
Nolan has been around long enough to know that players will be sent-off and
injured - particularly in a league like the npower Championship when teams
are in action so often. With that in mind, he believes the Hammers will show
the resilience required to return to the winner's circle at the Boleyn
Ground on Saturday. "You're going to have games like that and you've got to
expect things like that to happen. "As I said, we weren't great but I
thought we were better than Reading for the majority part of the game. The
sending-off was a positive thing for them and they made it into a positive.
That's where we've got to be stronger and do better and we didn't do that.
"We're going to have to learn from it and quickly and bounce back from it
quickly. "At the end of the day, it's always going to be like that because
we've got a few games coming up over Christmas but we've got enough quality
in the squad. We're not going to make excuses. "We are light in places but
we're where we are because of what we've done up to now. There are going to
be a few hiccups here and there and this was a massive hiccup. "We've got to
make sure that next week we give the supporters what they deserve and that's
a win. Southampton have made a point on us and a few other teams have made
up points on us but we've got to make sure that we get back to winning ways.
"We're looking for a reaction and I'm sure there will be one."
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Olly and Eoin down Red Devils
WHUFC.com
Goals from Olly Lee and Eoin Wearen saw the development squad defeat Crawley
Town on Tuesday
13.12.2011
Ian Hendon was full of praise for his West Ham United development squad
following a 2-0 win over Crawley Town at Little Heath. The Hammers overcame
a strong and experienced Red Devils side, as well as cold and windy
conditions, to record an impressive victory through second-half goals from
Olly Lee and Eoin Wearen.
Hendon was able to call upon experience himself in the shape of Gary O'Neil,
who completed another 45 minutes as he continues his comeback from a
long-term ankle injury. "I'm very pleased," said the coach. "We've had a
couple of games in the last couple of weeks when perhaps the opposition
wasn't as strong as we would have liked. "That was a good test. They were a
good side with the likes of big John Akinde who has played in the
Championship in his time and a few other Football League players. It was
tough in the first half but we fully deserved our win. "As a group of lads,
a few of them have been out on loan and I have watched them and they have
come back and are kicking on again. They are learning all the time and, as
their coach, it's very pleasing. "As a group, they've worked hard together
and they passed the ball well. It was windy and the pitch was difficult. We
competed well in the first half when they got balls into the box and then in
the second half we got the ball down and played it. "We got it wide for
Matthias [Fanimo] and Sebby [Lletget] and we've got our rewards. Sebby has
got in behind for the first goal and Matty has whipped the free-kick over
for the second. I'm very pleased because we never really looked in any
trouble. "Credit to the lads because they have worked their socks off and
our quality came through and we passed the ball well in the second half."
Having adapted well to the trying conditions, the Hammers passed the ball
well with the tireless Lee, lively Matthias Fanimo and the returning Ahmed
Abdulla (pictured) - back from a leg injury - all looking assured in
possession. It was a trialist who could have put the Hammers in front early
on, seeing one shot deflected wide by Crawley centre-back Pablo Mills before
volleying wide from a low Fanimo Cross. Lee also tested visiting goalkeeper
Michel Kuipers during an entertaining opening 45 minutes. Crawley also
threatened, with tall ex-Bristol City striker John Akinde forcing Peter
Kurucz into a smart low save before the Hungarian produced an even better
stop to keep out Byron Napper's volley from the resulting corner. Into the
second half and the introduction of O'Neil coincide with the game being
turned in West Ham's favour. Callum Driver won a throw-in down the West Ham
right. O'Neil collected the set piece before rolling the ball into the path
of the over-lapping Sebastian Lletget. The United States Under-23
international cut the ball back for Lee to calmly slot into the far corner
from 16 yards. Both before and after Lee's opener, however, Akinde passed up
great opportunities of his own to hit the net, lifting a shot over Kurucz
from 12 yards before heading Michael Doughty's left-wing centre over the top
from close-range.
Crawley came even closer to scoring with 15 minutes remaining when Scott
Neilson cut in from the left wing before shooting low. The ball squirmed
through Kurucz but bounced back off the base of the post and into the arms
of the grateful goalkeeper. Within 90 seconds, West Ham had settled matters
when Driver was fouled, Fanimo bent over a free-kick and Wearen was on hand
to stab the ball past substitute goalkeeper Jack Eaden and high into the
net.
West Ham United XI: Kurucz, Driver, Brown, Sanchez, Wearen, Moncur, O.Lee,
Lletget, Abdulla (O'Neil 46), Fanimo (Trialist 78), Trialist (Trialist 78)
Subs not used: Cowler, K.Lee
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Maeda in Japan
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 13th December 2011
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have launched a bid to sign Japanese international Ryoichi Maeda,
according to reports emanating from the Far East. Nikkan Sports report that
the Hammers have offered the striker, who spent his formative years in the
United States and is currently contracted to J-League side Jubilo Iwata, a
two-year contract.
However the major stumbling block appears to be Maeda's lack of involvement
at interntional level in the last two years. A player must have featured in
more than 75 per cent of his country's competitive fixtures during that
period but Maeda has not fulfilled that particular criteria. 30-year-old
Maeda is set to become a free agent shortly once his two year contract at
the Yamaha Stadium expires. His availablility has also sparked interest from
a number of fellow J-League clubs but he is thought to favour a move to
Europe. The player is said to have been watched by West Ham scouts when he
featured in Japan's recent 4-0 World Cup qualifying win in Tajikistan last
month. On as a second half substitute, he scored the third of Japan's four
goals
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Silly boy
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 12th December 2011
By: Staff Writer
Joey O'Brien has expressed his regret at being sent off during last
weekend's defeat at Reading. Full-back O'Brien started the game as a
substitute but was introduced as a fifth-minute replacement for permacrock
Guy Demel, who was hauled off after his second touch of the ball left him in
a heap on the floor. However he was to find himself on his way back to the
dressing room an hour later when he was dismissed for a fairly innocuous
foul on former Hammer Jobi McAnuff by trigger-happy referee Neil Swarbrick.
"The first one was silly on my behalf," O'Brien, speaking to whufc.tv
admitted. "I reacted to Noel [Hunt's foul] because I thought he left a
little bit in the challenge and I think the ref had given the free-kick.
"[Having been] booked, I suppose committing a foul so soon after the
incident it was in the referee's mind and he sent me off. I was very
disappointed because we were right in the game. We were in the game and
looking all right, then I got sent-off and they scored straight away. It
rubbed salt in the wound for me personally."
Jack Collison was also dismissed during the game for violent conduct - the
first red card of his professional career.
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No go for triallist
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 13th December 2011
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce has rejected the opportunity to sign striker Habib Habibou.
Despite reports to the contrary appearing in the national media over the
weekend, Allardyce had already decided against making a move for the SV
Zulte Waregem forward. Habibou hit a brace for Ian Hendon's development
squad in their recent victory against Brentford - a game in which the
24-year-old hit a brace. However he failed to impress Allardyce sufficiently
and has now returned to his parent club in Belgium. The Hammers boss is now
thought to have turned his attention to Japanese international Ryoichi
Maeda, whom the Japanese media are now linking with a move to east London.
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Big Sam rallies Hammers
Boss urges patched-up Hammers team to perform
Last Updated: December 13, 2011 12:16pm
SSN
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has challenged his decimated side to step up
and get the job done against Barnsley on Saturday. Allardyce will be without
a host of his key players, with Jack Collison and Joey O'Brien suspended
after their red cards in the 3-0 defeat at Reading, while Guy Demel misses
out after he was stretchered off in the opening moments with a thigh injury.
Demel joins Matt Taylor, Sam Baldock, Winston Reid, David Bentley, Gary
O'Neil and Henri Lansbury in a crowded treatment room. "We have lost two to
suspension and with Guy Demel's injury after two minutes, it means we are
short on numbers for Barnsley next week," said Allardyce. "The challenge is
to come back. The players that come in will have to do the job against
Barnsley." The Hammers sit second in the Championship and three points
behind leaders Southampton, despite suffering successive defeats.
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Hammers want the Wil to win
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today
The Sun
WEST HAM are eyeing £5million-rated Crystal Palace whizkid Wilfried Zaha to
boost their promotion push. Hammers boss Sam Allardyce is hot on the trail
of the England Under-19 wideman. Zaha, who was born in the Ivory Coast, has
shot to fame in the past year with the Eagles. Allardyce was particularly
impressed by the 19-year-old's display against his own team in a 2-2 draw at
Selhurst Park earlier this season. Big Sam has already told club owners
David Gold and David Sullivan he needs new blood to boost their bid for a
quick return to the Premier League. The Hammers have also been rocked by
recent injuries to winger Matt Taylor and striker Sam Baldock.
Zaha can play on either wing and is seen as a Premier League player of the
future. Allardyce is also looking to sign a new striker to boost his front
line of Carlton Cole, John Carew, Freddie Piquionne and Baldock. West Ham
would be unlikely to meet Palace's valuation for Zaha and hope to secure a
deal for around £3m. Winger Gary O'Neil is on his way back from a
career-threatening knee injury but is still some way off a full return.
After suffering two defeats in a row Big Sam feels he needs more strength in
depth to help cope with the demands of a 46-game season. That is eight
matches more than last season when West Ham finished bottom of the Premier
League. Saturday's home match with Barnsley is now taking on extra
importance with the Hammers just clinging on to second place in the
Championship.
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Newcastle move for Hammers' Tomkins
Published 22:30 13/12/11 By Football Spy
The Mirror
West Ham have rejected a £2.5million bid from Newcastle for James Tomkins.
But the Hammers are still facing a battle to convince the highly-rated
defender to sign a new contract. Manager Sam Allardyce is determined to keep
the 22-year-old and snubbed Newcastle's offer, which was made over the
weekend. Allardyce's Magpies counterpart Alan Pardew, a former West Ham
boss, had targeted Tomkins after losing centre-back Steven Taylor for the
rest of the season with an Achilles injury. Tomkins, who has been with the
London club since the age of seven, has been in talks over a new deal but is
keen on a return to the Premier League following Hammers' relegation last
season. Newcastle could come back with another offer in the New Year, while
QPR are also huge admirers of the player. "We've been negotiating with him
and will continue that in January. I am optimistic," said Allardyce. "We can
ill afford to lose any players at this stage of the season." Tomkins has
over two years remaining on his current deal.
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A night to forget (that I will always remember)
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 13th December 2011
By: Tom Logan
West Brom at home 8th November 2003, one day after my thirteenth birthday.
As you could imagine, my mood was great. It was going to be a much more
productive day as I had probably spent the day before celebrating my
birthday with by mates (or the Stanford Massive as my Dad 'hilariously'
called us) getting up to mischief in the park.
I was about half way into my first season as a season ticket holder and had
quickly learned not to expect West Ham to make things easy for themselves,
dominate a game for the whole 90 minutes, take full advantage of the chances
we created, to defend like a unit a not make silly mistakes.
However I was quietly confident as we approached the ground. We kicked off
and within 45 seconds Jermain Defoe had picked the ball up out on the left,
sprinted into the box leaving three West Brom defenders eating his dust.
Just as it seemed he had taken the ball too far, Defoe squeezed the ball in
to the net. 1-0.
Just nine minutes later the ball comes to Brian Deane on the edge of the
box. Deane plays a neat pass in front of Don Hutchinson, who is making a run
down the left flank before making a clever run in towards the six-yard box.
Hutchinson plays the short pass back and Deane strokes it in with his left
foot on his début. 2-0 West Ham.
20 minutes in and West Ham have a free about 25 yards away from goal. Don
Hutchinson and Jermain Defoe are lined up next to the ball; Defoe dinks the
ball into the box, finds the completely unmarked Deane who flicks it into
the net with the back of his head for his second and West Ham's third.
"We're going to win this", I thought in my head - but knew not to say out
loud, just in case.
A few minutes after, a West Brom defender hoofs the ball forward. It bounces
on the edge of the box, Christian Dailly and David James get into a
calamitous mix up (not for the first time, or last for that matter) and the
chasing Rob Hulse tucks the ball into an empty net. "Don't do this to me
today", I prayed in my head. Just see it through to half time. But five
minutes before half time, West Brom pull it back to just a one goal lead
with a corker from striker Rob Hulse. "That's OK", I tried to reassure
myself. "We're still ahead, if we just make it to half time Alan Pardew will
know how to sort it". I had every confidence in him. Then on the stroke on
half time, Jermain Defoe dives in ridiculously late on a West Brom defender
- a tackle that really didn't have to be made and one that got him sent off
for the second time in 10 league games.
"Dick", I thought in my head, knowing that if I said it out loud I probably
would have got told off. As I sat at half time watching the lovely
Hammerettes I was very anxious. "I just know they're going to balls this
up", I kept saying in my head. I remember it was a very shaky start to the
second half. The momentum had swung West Brom's way and they were knocking
on the door for an equaliser.
With just over an hour gone, the inevitable happened. West Brom swung a
corner in which fell to Brian Deane who, instead of punting it into Row Z,
sliced it into his own net completing a not-so-perfect début hat-trick. West
Brom had pulled level. 3-3.
Groans rang out around the stadium with the occasional "you useless
w*nkers", from the pissed blokes that sit on their own and are usually
situated about 20 or 30 seats from each other.
I slumped in my seat reading the programme, more excited about the sausage
roll and chips I was going to get afterwards than the rest of this match. I
looked over the top of my programme and saw Jason Koumas take a shot just on
the edge of the box that hit one of the West Ham defenders and shoot up into
the air.
David James rushed out to punch it but it only reached Lee Hughes (who had
only come on the pitch eight minutes earlier). Hughes hit it on the volley
and it rolled into the net to complete the unlikely comeback.
"We said we'd win 4-3", chanted the Baggies fans with their stupid smug
faces. I don't think I could repeat what I heard from the West Ham fans.
As we all piled out of the stadium with our heads down, various theories
could be heard as to why we lost that game along with speculation that
Jermain Defoe was on his way out the door.
I think I remember this match mainly because it was the first time I had
witnessed a big comeback and also because it was in my first year I owned a
season ticket with my dad and brothers. It was our first "do you
remember..?" game which would always crop up in conversation from time to
time.
On the bright side, the sausage roll and chips was really nice.
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West Ham United beat Crawley Town
5:24pm Tuesday 13th December 2011 in News
Guardian Series
West Ham United's development side picked up a 2-0 win over Crawley Town
this afternoon. Second-half goals from Olly Lee and Eoin Wearen gave the
Hammers the victory at Little Heath. Gary O'Neil came on for the whole of
the second half as he continued his comeback from a long-term ankle injury.
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West Ham target Japanese hot-shot
By talkSPORT
Tuesday, December 13
West Ham are poised to make a move for Japanese hot-shot Ryoichi Maeda.
Maeda, 30, is one of the most prolific forwards in the J League and has won
the Golden Boot award in both 2009 and 2010. West Ham manager Sam Allardyce
is desperate to strengthen his forward line in January and has already
missed out on a move for Chelsea forward Nicolas Anelka. Maeda will become a
free agent when his two-year contract with Jubilo Iwata expires and he would
love the chance to showcase his talents in England. The talented striker has
a wealth of experience and is a key member of the Japan side, having scored
three goals as his side won the Asian Cup back in January. With West Ham
suffering two consecutive defeats against Burnley and Reading, Allardyce
hopes a deal can be finalised in the New Year.
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Andy Hessenthaler could 'revisit' bringing West Ham United striker Frank
Nouble back to Gillingham
KentOnline.co.uk
by Luke Cawdell
Frank Nouble made his penultimate appearance for Gillingham on Saturday, but
the manager Andy Hessenthaler hasn't ruled out trying to bring him back in
January.
Nouble started from the bench at Macclesfield as Hessenthaler made just one
change to his side from last weekend, with Jo Kuffour replacing Stefan Payne
in attack. Nouble reaches the end of his three-month loan this coming
weekend but it may not be the last Gills fans see of him. Hessenthaler said:
"When the (transfer) window reopens again maybe we could revisit that but we
will wait and see."
Explaining his team selection at the weekend, Hessenthaler added: "It would
have been hard to change things too much from last week's game at Orient. I
decided to bring Kuffour in. He was a livewire at times but he has been
suffering with a bit of a chest infection during the week."
Kuffour is a player the Gills also want to keep long-term. Hessenthaler
added: "We would like to get him sorted and hopefully we can do that come
January."
Tuesday, December 13 2011
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