Saturday, March 31

Daily WHUFC News - 31st MArch 2012

Reading match preview
WHUFC.com
All the background information and team news ahead of Saturday's big game at the Boleyn Ground
30.03.2012

WEST HAM UNITED v READING
npower CHAMPIONSHIP
SATURDAY 31 MARCH 2012
KICK-OFF: 3PM
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV

Introduction
• West Ham United go into Saturday afternoon's crunch game with Reading in third place in the npower Championship just a point behind the Royals.
• The Hammers recorded their eleventh away victory of the season on Tuesday evening beating Peterborough 2-0. This equaled the Hammers club record for most away wins in a season that has been achieved twice before in 1922/23 and 1957/58.
• Reading have lost just one game in their last 12. A run of results which has seen them go from eleventh place at the beginning of December up to their current position of second.
• West Ham United have not been beaten at home since Burnley won 1-0 in December, a run of nine games. The Hammers have however drawn their last five home games.
• Reading have won ten of their away games this season and have the third best away record in the league. The Royals did however lose their last away game 3-1 to Peterborough.
• The fixture at the Madjeski stadium in December was a feisty affair, with West Ham United having both Jack Collison and Joey O'Brien sent off. Reading won the game 3-0.

Team News
West Ham United
• Sam Allardyce could welcome Winston Reid (head), Guy Demel (thigh) and Papa Bouba Diop (hamstring) back into his matchday squad. All have been in full training with the first-team squad this week.
• Abdoulaye Faye is facing a race to be fit after receiving a nasty blow to the head during Tuesday's win at Peterborough United.
• Joey O'Brien was also withdraw at half-time at London Road with a tight calf and may miss out. Should the Irishman not be fit, he could be replaced by Julien Faubert, who was hugely impressive on his own return from injury in midweek.
Reading
• Royals boss Brian McDermott will hope to have striker Jason Roberts fit after the Grenada international missed a number of matches with a hamstring injury. Should he fail to make it, Arsenal loanee Benik Afobe could continue to deputise.

Last Time Out
Tuesday 27 March 2012
npower Championship
Peterborough United 0-2 West Ham United
West Ham United: Green, O'Brien, Tomkins, Faye (Collins 46), McCartney, O'Neil (Maynard 88), Noble, Nolan, Taylor, Cole, Vaz Te
Subs not used: Baldock, Carew
Goals: Vaz Te (51), O'Neil (57)

Saturday 24 March 2012
npower Championship
Reading 3-1 Blackpool
Reading: Federici, Pearce, Gorkss, Harte, Cummings, Karacan, Leigertwood, McAnuff, Kebe, Hunt, Afobe (Church 69)
Subs not used: Andersen, Tabb, Robson-Kanu, Le Fondre
Goals: Harte (30), Pearce (35), Leigertwood (60)

Last six meetings
(Championship unless stated)
10 December 2011 - Reading 3-0 West Ham United
26 December 2007 - West Ham United 1-1 Reading
(Premier League)
1 September 2007 - Reading 0-3 West Ham United
(Premier League)
1 January 2007: Reading 6-0 West Ham United
(Premier League)
1 October 2006: West Ham United 0-1 Reading
(Premier League)
12 March 2005: Reading 3-1 West Ham United

All-time record v Reading: W3 D2 L5

Ten-year records
West Ham United
2010/11 Premier League 20th (relegated to Championship)

2009/10 Premier League 17th

2008/09 Premier League 9th

2007/08 Premier League 10th

2006/07 Premier League 15th

2005/06 Premier League 9th

2004/05 Championship 6th (promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)

2003/04 Division One 4th

2002/03 Premier League 18th (relegated to Championship)

2001/02 Premier League 7th
Reading
2010/11 Championship 5th

2009/10 Championship 9th

2008/09 Championship 4th

2007/08 Premier League 18th (relegated to Championship)

2006/07 Premier League 8th

2005/06 Championship 1st (promoted to Premier League)

2004/05 Championship 7th

2003/04 Division One 9th

2002/03 Division One 4th

2001/02 Division Two 3rd (promoted to Division 1)

Referee
• Saturday afternoon's referee will be Chris Foy.
• Foy has refereed West Ham United once previously this season in the Hammers' 2-0 npower Championship away win at Cardiff City at the beginning of March.
• Previous to that Foy was referee when they lost 1-0 at home to Birmingham City in the Premier League on 6 February last year. Prior to that, he had taken charge of the 2-1 loss at home to Newcastle United on 23 October 2010 and the 3-1 defeat by Chelsea at the Boleyn Ground on 11 September 2010.
• Foy has been a Barclays Premier League referee since 2001, having originally made the Select Group list of assistant referees in 1995.
• The St Helens-born official has been a Premier League referee since 2001, having originally made the Select Group list of assistant referees in 1995.
• In 2007, Foy took charge of the FA Trophy final at Wembley, before returning to the Home of Football a year later to act as fourth official for Portsmouth's FA Cup final victory over Cardiff.
• In 2009, he was back at Wembley to take charge of the League Cup final and Community Shield, while Portsmouth were in action again as Foy refereed the 2010 FA Cup final, which Pompey lost to Chelsea.
• This season, Foy has issued 62 yellow cards and sent off seven players in 26 matches.
• Foy will be assisted by Simon Bennett and Richard West. The fourth official will be Mick Russell.

Us and Them
• The following players have worn the colours of both West Ham United and Reading during their careers - Tommy Allison, Ken Bainbridge, John Blackwood, Charles Cotton, William Davidson, Steve Death, Tommy Dixon, Jack Fletcher, Jack Flynn, Harry Gunning, Shaka Hislop, Jim Holmes, Sam Jennings, Thomas Kinsell, Herbert Lyon, Jobi McAnuff, Steve Mautone, Trevor Morley, Hayden Mullins, Geordie Reid, James Reid, Horace Ricketts, William Robson, Peter Simpson, Ron Tindall, Ernest Watts, Rod Williams, Alan Wooler and Len Young.
• Jobi McAnuff, the Reading captain, played 14 games for the Hammers in the second half of the 2003/04 season.
• Wally Downes spent five years as a coach at Reading between 2004 and 2009, working under Steve Coppell.
• Reading Academy manager Eamonn Dolan is a former Hammers youth striker, who rose through the ranks to play 15 league games for the first team and scored three goals between 1985 and 1990.
• Alan Pardew has been in charge at both clubs, taking the helm at the Royals in his first managerial role in 1999 and staying there until 2003 when he moved to West Ham United.
• The last time Reading visited the Boleyn Ground was on Boxing Day 2007. On that day, Nolberto Solano gave West Ham United the lead just before the break before Dave Kitson equalised 15 minutes after half-time. Reading had Brynjar Gunnarsson sent-off in the first half.

Up Next
• West Ham United face a trip to Barnsley on Good Friday for a 5.15pm kick-off. Ticket information for that game can be found by clicking here. Reading face Leeds United at home on the same day, with kick-off at 2pm.

General Information
• Tickets still remain for Saturdya's top of the table clash. Click here to get more information.
• Saturday's weather forecast is for a cloudy day with temperatures reaching 15C (59F).

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Big Sam targets early goal
WHUFC.com
The manager believes a fast start is imperative in Saturday's showdown with Reading
31.03.2012

Sam Allardyce has spoken of his desire to make sure his team hit the ground running in their crunch match against Reading on Saturday afternoon. With just a point separating the two sides in the npower Championship, a win on Saturday would see the Hammers leapfrog Reading into second place and put them back on track for automatic promotion. Manager Allardyce is demanding his team start the game on the front foot. With tickets available at the day at the Boleyn Ground, there is still time to ensure you are there to cheer the Hammers on. To do so, click the link at the bottom of the page. "We need to score the first goal, I believe, and get ourselves in front," said Big Sam. "If we get the early goal it will settle everyone down. A good start will see the crowd get behind us and then we can build momentum and hopefully go on to win the game."

At Peterborough United on Tuesday, the Hammers had 24 attempts at goal with ten on target; Allardyce is expecting more clinical finishing against the Royals. However, Big Sam is also aware of the threat Reading will pose when they visit east London. "We need to become clinical in our finishing. We always create chances here and now it's just a question of taking them when they arrive. "We have to be patient on Saturday. Reading won't make it easy. I'm not sure what type of game they will play. Maybe they will be full of confidence and take the game to us or they might decide to wait patiently and make life difficult for us. "Either way there will be chances for us in the match and we must make sure we take them."

With only seven games left to go this season, the pressure is on to secure promotion back to the Premier League. The manager expects the players to use this pressure to their advantage and claim an important victory. "We have to handle the pressure and make sure we can do our job properly and get the win we need. The players have to deliver their best on Saturday and make the pressure they are under work in their favour."

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Carr targets strong finish
WHUFC.com
Tony Carr is aiming for victory in the U18s' final home game of the season
29.03.2012

Academy Director Tony Carr is targeting victory in West Ham United U18s' final home FA Premier Academy League fixture of the season. The Hammers host Leicester City on Saturday at Little Heath - kick-off 11.30am - knowing three points could secure them a top-two Group A finish. With that in mind, Carr is aiming to sign-off the club's 2011/12 slate of home games on a positive note. The game will also mark a final Little Heath appearance for a host of second-year scholars, some of whom will remain at the club as professionals and others who will move on to pastures new after being released. "We host Leicester City in our final home game today and unfortunately it's an 11.30am kick-off so the traffic may prevent a lot of fans getting to the match and then driving to Upton Park. We've been looking forward to it and hopefully we can sign off with a victory in our final home match. "A number of the players will soon leave the Academy and go into the Development Squad, while others will be released at the end of this season, so for them it will be their final appearance at Little Heath. "The ones who are staying have to stake their claims in Ian Hendon's squad and push on towards the first-team squad."

Carr looked back on what has been a productive season for the Academy. Not only have the U18s done well in the league, but they reached the last-16 of the FA Youth Cup and saw three players make their first-team debuts. "We started off with a trip to Estonia in August and began the campaign with five straight wins, then we stumbled and picked up again and had a decent run in the FA Youth Cup before losing to Chelsea on penalties. "All in all, it's been a decent season. Three former youth-team players have made their first-team debuts in Callum McNaughton, Rob Hall and Daniel Potts, so in terms of development it's been a good season. "We're greedy and we want to increase that tally next season."

While the season may be coming to an end, Carr and his staff will continue the hard work behind the scenes as the club awaits its first Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) audit. The new criteria for youth football will see all clubs graded and Carr is aiming for Category One status, which will enable the club to spend more time coaching and educating schoolboys and scholars. "Our work towards the new Elite Player Performance Plan continues and it will be a busy summer at the Academy. We have expanded and recruited new staff in recent weeks to improve our player/staff ratio because we want to get Category One status. "We will be audited sometime between now and next season and hopefully we will reach that standard and move on from there."

*First-year scholar Leo Chambers has been in action for England's U17s as they seek to qualify for the UEFA European Championship finals in Georgia. England defeated Ukraine 1-0 in their opening Elite Round fixture before Chambers returned from injury to play as a late substitute in their 1-0 defeat by the mini-group hosts.
The Young Lions face Spain in Tbilisi on Saturday knowing only a win will give them a chance of qualifying for the final tournament in Slovenia in the summer.

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West Ham United v Reading
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 30th March 2012
By: Preview Percy

Preview Percy has spent his time in the sunshine this week queuing for petrol. He doesn't actually own a car - he just wants to lend a hand should riots start up in Croydon again. He's also panic buying beer in case brewery deliveries are affected by the tanker drivers' strike. Before he went to the pub he left us this. Or was it after? As usual John Northcutt supplies the history....

Next up Reading will be the visitors to the Boleyn for a glorious 3pm Saturday kick-off. Deep joy. Tubes in the general vicinity of E13 will be unburdened by works of an engineering nature so it'll be just the usual glitches and groans that'll be the cause of any delays. I expect there'll be some weather of some sort as well but you can look that up yourselves.

You're all aware of the current league positions etc so I won't bother to run through the usual stats. If you don't know what are you doing here.

Of our visitors, it is rare indeed that this column gets to award a club the full five Kermit marks to a club for its efforts towards Muppetry. However our visitors this weekend are almost the benchmark (along with Palace whose latest change involves a redesign of the club crest) for all things of that ilk.

The Reading checklist is full to bursting with examples of all that is annoying about the modern game. A change of nickname (no club should tell people what its nickname is – otherwise it's not a nickname), playing music after goals, listing "the fans" as a substitute in the squad list, trying to instigate rivalries with others because they're too insignificant even for Aldershot to be bothered anymore are all amongst the "things we thought that proper clubs do". I

n that respect they're a bit like that kid who hung around on the fringes of us trendy people at school and tried to copy us, usually missing the point by several miles. If one might be permitted to use an anachronistic metaphor, they were the ones who rushed out to buy a copy of "Invisible Touch" when they saw you carrying around a copy of "Selling England By The Pound".

Latest on the "things other clubs do that we ought to copy" list has been to acquire a rich Russian owner. Suspiciously-coiffeured owner John Madejski is currently in the process of bringing in Thames Sports Investments in as investors with a view to a takeover. Details are a bit sketchy but it is understood that the due-diligence process is currently in progress as we speak. Whatever happens, Madejski will remain as chairman until at least 2014.

Although Thames Sports Investments sounds nice and cuddly British it is in fact an investment vehicle for 29 year-old Russian moneybags Anton Zingarevich, which is a bit like discovering that there's no Mr Kipling and all his cakes are mass produced on an industrial estate somewhere. Zingarevich comes complete with supermodel missus who, presumably, fell for his looks.

The Zingarevich family made their money from timber and pulp products in post –Soviet Russia in amongst all the usual commercial wars that that entailed. Anton's Dad – the reassuringly Russian-sounding "Boris" - was linked with a bid for Everton a while back. Meanwhile, following the announcement of the proposed Reading takeover, Anton's PR machine went into charm overload, with heavy emphasis on his connections with the Berkshire town.

Some sources suggested that he'd been at university there, though this turned out to be a private school. Still he seems to have grasped some of the finer traditions of English football, his spokesman being quick to play the "he stood on the terraces of Elm Park as a kid" card. It took him a while to see his first official match as part of the new ownership set up though – unspecified "visa issues" prevented him from getting into the country, though based on my normal experience of Heathrow the delays were probably just a result of him being stuck in a queue.

Zingarevich will of course have to get past the current "fit and proper" tests before he can take over properly at Reading. After the debacle at Pompey these tests have been tightened up and the football authorities now demand that you complete the question "I think I should be allowed to own a football club because" in 12 words or fewer.

Whatever the outcome of the tests, TSI are said to have already made funds available to the club who duly went shopping in the January window. Our old nemesis Jason Roberts came in on an 18 month deal from the BBC for whom he was appearing more than for his actual club Blackburn. Roberts, who has an MBE for his services to sport in the UK and Grenada, has been an irritant to us for many years. He's one of those players that you'd see missing a succession of sitters on MOTD before turning up and playing out of his skin and picking up a couple of goals against us, before returning once more to his usual form a week later. He's had a spot of hamstring trouble of late but reports suggest that this may have cleared up, which is a pain as he always seems to score against us.

They also brought in QPR defender Matthew Connolly on loan for the rest of the season and the out of favour pole Tomasz Cywka came in on a free from Derby. Cywka famously upset Rams' boss Nigel Clough who called the player "not very bright". Presumably the player failed to respond to Clough's usual tactic of "shouting loudly at the foreigner in the hope he'll cotton on eventually." Another loan signing was Arsenal kid Benik Afobe who came in last week on another "until the end of season" deal. Dagenham kid and (allegedly) a Hammer he stood in for Roberts last week and may repeat the exercise if the veteran's hamstring hasn't healed yet.

There a couple of ex-Hammers to look out for. Jobi McAnuff seems to have found his niche at the Madejski and has been given the armband. Meanwhile, the meltdown at Fratton Park also enabled them to circle the carcass and carry away Hayden Mullins, a saving that will help us to hang onto the six points we picked up from Pompey.

The latest wheeze of their supporters involves the oh-so-hilarious idea of throwing socks on the pitch to commemorate Jimmy Kebe's infamous mime in the reverse fixture last December. You see they're actually not embarrassed by the idiot's antics which led to Collison giving him a deserved kicking. Though Collison's red was deserved it was hardly the "career threatener" their boss made it out to be (unless a place at RADA was at stake).

Going back a few years to my own playing days, had a team mate of ours done something as pathetic as that we'd probably have joined in with the opposition if they'd lumped him over the touchline. Kebe can at least think himself lucky that his career did not overlap with that of Julian Dicks, who would have put him into the crowd.

Now I'm not one to suggest or condone breaking the laws of the game and I'd urge caution on the part of our players, especially if they already have a yellow card. However, if we were to score at the STB end and the scorer were to come up with a sock-based celebration, I'm sure I could misappropriate some of the Rest Home's maintenance budget (£2.50) towards a foaming pint of ale in the Swan & Superinjunction by way of compensation for the inevitable caution that would come their way.

There's a three-way tie at the top for the title of top scorer with each of Church, Hunt & Le Fondre sitting on 7 goals each. Church & Le Fondre were both on the bench for last week's 3-1 defeat of Blackpool, with Church getting on as sub for the aforementioned Afobe who made his debut in that match, which might have been made a bit more interesting had Kevin Phillips not missed a sitter at 2-1.

And so to us. Well Tuesday was a bit of a game of two halves really. The first half saw us at our most tentative, or, alternatively, waiting until the opposition's energy levels had run out depending on your viewpoint. Fortunately we rode our luck in this period with Posh hitting the bar and us surviving a bit of a scramble late in the first half. Once we'd scored, however, we bossed it and could have won by far more than the 2-0 by which we eventually prevailed.

The win came at a cost. Abdoullaye Faye took a frightening crack to the noggin which was at one stage feared to be a fractured skull. Thankfully a trip to hospital proved that he had just sustained bruising and a spot of concussion which, while probably serious enough to rule him out of this one, is at least not as bad as feared. Joey O'Brien pulled up lame and is another doubt. On the credit side of the equation Papa Bouba Diop and Winston Reid are now back in full training and join Ricardo Vaz Te and Julien Faubert, both of whom turned up on Tuesday, in returning to the squad.

And now a historic moment as we announce the return to contention of the one and only Guy Demel. For younger readers, Demel came in during the summer window but injuries delayed his debut until the 2-0 win up at Middlesbrough. His second match lasted all of 90 seconds of the disastrous trip to Reading, a badly torn thigh muscle bringing his Hammers career to a stuttering halt. Three and a half months later he is now, once more, back and available for selection, which at least means that I won't have the bother of making up imaginary injuries and ailments for him every week.

It's good to have gotten back to winning ways as the three points on Tuesday which let's not forget, came against a side that had comprehensively outplayed this weekend's opponents not that long ago, will have relieved a bit of the pressure that was building up – though some of the manager's comments did him little credit in my opinion. His comments in reaction to the "we play on the floor" chant rather ignored the fact that Tuesday's win came as a result of our playing it on the deck in the second half.

There should be no problem with getting the players roused for this one. A video of Kebe's antics alone should be enough to get the blood stirring, though it would be wise of the management to ensure that the adrenaline is channelled to positive ends – as the usually docile Collison found out to his cost getting a red card for being wound up just lets everyone down.

Prediction – well if we don't win this we don't deserve automatic promotion. I reckon the injustice factor arising from the first match will prove decisive so I'll be putting the Rest Home Laundry Budget (£2.50) on a 3-1 win as our forwards finally discover the goal touch that has eluded them in recent weeks.

Enjoy the game!


When last we met: Lost 3-0, Demel injured after 90 seconds. O'Brien gets two yellows. Collison gets wound up and they get two late goals to give them a 3-0 win that flattered them a bit. Other than that it was a good day.

Referee: Chris Foy. They've sent down someone from upstairs who presumably will know what the sanction for unsporting behaviour is. Last time out he handled our trip to Cardiff before presumably cycling home to practice for the Olympics eh Spurs fans?

Danger Man: Jason Roberts – journeyman veteran striker who has a habit of scoring against us.

Daft fact of the week: Reading is another one of those places that applied to become a city as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Presumably they forgot that Her Majesty only lives up the road and therefore knows exactly what the place is like which is why their being passed over for that cottage in Wales for the title came as no surprise. It is also an often forgotten fact that the insult "berk", though considered to be very mild in the grand scheme of things these days, is in fact a very rude bit of rhyming slang arising from the phrase "Berkshire Hunt". Until now Matron was unaware of this fact, but she has now placed the word "berk" on the Rest Home's banned list along with ****, ****, ********, and Lampard.


Stat man John: Northcutt's corner

Head to Head
Pld 10; West Ham Utd 3, Reading 5, Draws 2.

Biggest Win
1st September 2007: Reading 0-3 West Ham Utd (Madejski Stadium, Premier League)

Heaviest Defeat
1st January 2007: Reading 6-0 West Ham Utd (Madejski Stadium, Premiership)

First Meeting
11th September 2001: Reading 0-0 West Ham Utd (AET, Reading win 6-5 on pens) (League Cup)

Last Five Meetings
10th December 2011: Reading 3-0 West Ham Utd (Madejski Stadium, Championship)
26th December 2007: West Ham Utd 1-1 Reading (Boleyn Ground, Premier League)
1st September 2007: Reading 0-3 West Ham Utd (Madejski Stadium, Premier League)
1st January 2007: Reading 6-0 West Ham Utd (Madejski Stadium, Premiership)
1st October 2006: West Ham Utd 0-1 Reading (Boleyn Ground, Premiership)

Memorable Match
1st September 2007: Reading 0-3 West Ham Utd (Madejski Stadium, Premier League)

With the Great Escape in the bag and following a summer of decent transfer activity, this win was the first sign that Alan Curbishley's cunning plan was finally coming together. Their fifth game of the season and unbeaten since the opening day - a 2-0 home defeat against a pre cash-rich Man City - West Ham blew away the Royals with a brace from Matthew Etherington and a 6th-minute opener from Craig Bellamy that set the tone. Curbs's side were that good (at both ends, centre half Anton Ferdinand picked up KUMB's MotM award) it could easily have been six, with a little more composure in front of goal. It was also one of those rare occasions on which Bellamy and Dean Ashton started up front together.

Friendly Meetings
April 1970: Reading 3-3 West Ham Utd (Brooking, Bonds, Greaves)
August 1971: Reading 0-0 West Ham Utd
July 1996: Reading 1-2 West Ham Utd (Quinn, Morley)
August 2002: Reading 5-4 West Ham Utd (Kanoute, Cole, Defoe, Camara)

They Played For Both
Bill Robson; Jimmy Quinn; Jobi McAnuff; Ken Bainbridge; Tommy Dixon; Harry Kinsell; Sam Jennings; Trevor Morley; Ron Tindall; Rod Williams; Len Young; Steve Death; Shaka Hislop; Jim Holmes; Ray Houghton; Keith McPherson; Adrian Whitbread; Hayden Mullins; Steve Mautone.

Bossing It
Our former manager Alan Pardew was the Reading manager between 1999 and 2003.

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Sam taking it on the chin(s)
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 30th March 2012
By: Staff Writer

In a week when he's taken a virtual shoeing from a great number of fans, Sam Allardyce has admitted that West Ham's recent results have been below par. West Ham's boss has spent the latter half of the week fending off a volley of abuse and severe criticism after referrring to his doubters as 'deluded' in the aftermath of Tuesday night's 2-0 win at Peterborough. But speaking in a piece with the Daily Mail's Lee Clayton today, the man referred to by one of KUMB's fiercest critics as 'the Dudley Dinosaur' has held his hands up and admitted "we haven't delivered recently".

"You have to take it on the chin," he told Clayton. "In adversity, when we were down to 10 men, the supporters were magnificent. And the players responded. I want them to go home happy. If we are not delivering, they will criticise. Fair enough.

"[But] against Watford, we had 11 men, we were drawing and one guy ran down with five minutes to go and said, "F*** off back up north, you ****". I'm from Dudley in the Midlands. It's not the north!

"I am trying to turn around a relegated club quickly. We are a scalp in this division, teams come to stop us. If we can overcome that, we will get promoted. It may happen, it may not. But it has been exciting and, in a short space of time, I have started to enjoy where I work.

"When we won at Peterborough, the supporters were singing my name. Thousands of them went up there, took over the place. It was uplifting for the players and we gave them a performance, a win. That's what they want."

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McAnuff: we'll make them boo
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 30th March 2012
By: Staff Writer

Reading captain Jobi McAnuff says his team will be aiming to use West Ham's volatile home crowd to their advantage when the two sides meet at the Boleyn Ground tomorrow.

McAnuff, who briefly played for West Ham during United's last stint in the Championship back in 2004 told the Independent that the key to success for Brian McDermott's side will be to frustrate the Boleyn crowd, who have booed their own side a number of times already this season.

"If we nick a goal or even keep it 0-0 in the first 30 minutes or up to half-time, the fans will start getting edgy," he said. "'Of course that will be in our thinking.

"Hopefully [we can] ramp up the frustration a little bit. That will be the game plan. If we start well, maybe get the frustration and nerves going a bit, then hopefully we can use that to our advantage."

That opinion was backed up by team mate Mikele Leigertwood, who added: "There is a lot of pressure on West Ham, especially at home. They will be physical and we have to match them. If we do that, we can frustrate them and frustrate their crowd. That might work against them."

Meanwhile Royals boss McDermott believes that momentum will carry his team over the finishing line. "If you look at the last 33 games you'd see that we'd have 69 points, Southampton have 63 then West Ham with 59. Over 30-odd games we're top of the league, by a very long way.

"Apart from our start, our form has been top of the league form."

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Big man set for return
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 30th March 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham could welcome Abdoulaye Faye back into the starting XI against Reading tomorrow - just four days after the central defender sustained a suspected fractured skull. The 34-year-old central defender, who is firmly in the running for KUMB's Player of the Season award was replaced at half time in the 2-0 win over Peterborough having taken a knock after a clash of head's with Posh's Paul Taylor. Faye - who is currently one of the first names on Sam Allardyce's team sheet - spent several minutes on the deck with a stretcher being called for at one stage, although the former Bolton and Newcastle defender was able to walk off the pitch eventually. It was feared at the time that Faye may have sustained a fracture as a result of the collision, although scans later confirmed the damage was less serious that first thought. And with West Ham set to face their biggest test of the season against the Royals at the Boleyn Ground tomorrow, Sam Allardyce could be boosted by news of his return. "He had a big lump on his forehead and the doctor feared it may have caused more trauma than we first expected," Allardyce said on Wednesday afternoon. "But on X-ray it showed only a mild injury and an outer swelling and nothing too serious, so it's a minor injury. "Friday morning will give an indication of whether he feels good enough to be selected on Saturday."

In other injury news, Papa Bouba Diop and forgotten man Guy Demel have also trained with the first team this week whilst both Julian Faubert and Ricardo Vaz Te, who both made their return to first team action at London Road on Tuesday night, both came through the match unscathed.

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Sam: drown out the negativity
KUMb.com
Filed: Friday, 30th March 2012
By: Staff Writer

Sam Allardyce has appealed to the majority of Hammers fans to drown out any negativity that may arise when West Ham take on Reading at the Boleyn Ground tomorrow afternoon.

Allardyce, speaking on Talksport this morning pleaded with all Hammers fans to get behind the team when they take on the Royals in what will be the club's most important game of the season so far.

Should West Ham manage to overcome the challenge on the in-form Berkshire side they will find themselves just three points behind current leaders Southampton, who face a difficult trip to Blackpool in tomorrow's late kick-off (5:20pm).

However Allardyce is concerned that an element of the home crowd may put a spanner in the works by voicing their disapproval should all not go to plan during the game - something that he is keen for the rest of the crowd - the vast majority - to shout down.

"We've got to try and drown out the negativity if we can," he said. "If we see the team struggling, cheer it on to try and get over the particular difficult period.

"If Reading are going to come and sit back and sit in then you can't play a fluent game of football no matter who you are. I watched Manchester United and Fulham this week and there were spells in that game where they [Man Utd] couldn't get the normal flowing football that they wanted going.

"But they still achieved the ultimate [aim] at the end of the day and won the game. You've got to win the game - and if you can win the game and you've been fantastic with great entertainment that's fine. But it's about winning and getting over the line now."

Allardyce admitted that supporters may have to show a degree of patience - as happened in midweek at Peterbough when an insipid first half display was followed by an outstanding second period.

"If you look at the Peterborough game, Peterborough had the early stages of the game," said Sam. "They shut us down from the front and we couldn't get the ball out and get the ball down - but we knew they wouldn't last.

"They tired, spaces opened up and then we completely outplayed and outpassed them and beat them quite comfortably - and that's what might happen on Saturday.

"But the best way to get the game flowing is for us to score as early as we can, because if there's any negative tactics then of course the opposition can sit in and frustrate you, they're quite entitled to do that. I used to do that myself when I played away from home.

"If you can score first and score early then that changes the way the play and you get a more open and more game where you can perhaps provide more entertainment. At the end of the day we want to win and most West Ham fans want to win. I don't know a West Ham who says 'we don't want to win'."

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West Ham v Reading preview
Last updated: 30th March 2012
SSN

Team news ahead of the Championship clash between West Ham and Reading at Upton Park on Saturday. Sam Allardyce will leave it as late as possible to assess Abdoulaye Faye's fitness. Faye was withdrawn at half-time during the Hammers' victory over Peterborough on Tuesday due to a head injury, but an X-ray has revealed he has not suffered a fractured skull as first feared. Allardyce will wait until the morning of the game to determine whether the Senegalese defender is fit.
Danny Collins replaced Faye on Tuesday night and will deputise should he be deemed unfit. Joey O'Brien was also substituted at half-time during the Peterborough game as a precaution, but is expected to be fit to face Reading. Julien Faubert is on standby should O'Brien miss out. Winston Reid and Guy Demel are back in training following spells on the treatment table, but neither are expected to be involved.

Reading are hopeful that striker Jason Roberts will be available. The former Blackburn forward suffered a hamstring injury during the 3-1 defeat at Peterborough last week and missed the victory over Blackpool. On-loan Arsenal starlet Benik Afobe deputised for Roberts against the Tangerines, but he may drop to the bench if the veteran hitman recovers in time. Full-back Matthew Connolly continues to miss out with an ankle problem, with Shaun Cummings likely to continue on the right of defence in his absence, while Joseph Mills is also sidelined through injury. Reserve goalkeeper Mikkel Andersen will be unavailable to manager Brian McDermott because of a knee problem, and the Royals have recalled Alex McCarthy from his loan spell at Ipswich to provide cover to regular number one Adam Federici.

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Allardyce - no 'West Ham way'
Hammers boss responds to criticism of tactics
Last Updated: March 30, 2012 1:13pm
SSN

Sam Allardyce has defended his side's style of play after West Ham fans criticised the manager's tactics. Hammers supporters have been quick to voice their displeasure this season with what they have seen as some less than attractive football played by their side. They were in full voice at Peterborough earlier this week with some heard to sing "we're West Ham, we play on the floor" during the Irons' 2-0 win at London Road.

Allardyce bites back
When asked about a perceived 'West Ham way' of playing by Sky Sports News' Gary Cotterill, Allardyce responded: "It sounds like not winning." He continued: "There has never been a 'West Ham way' shown to me, not by anyone who has worked at the club. I've spoken to a lot of people at the club and no one can tell me what it is, so it is a bit of a delusion."

Sick

Victory over second-placed Reading in a massive game at Upton Park on Saturday will lift the Hammers back into the Championship's top two with only six games remaining. Before the club's biggest game of the season, the Irons manager has called for fans to back his side's bid for an immediate return to the Premier League.
"Come and enjoy yourself - that is what it is all about," he told The Mirror. "If you don't want to come and enjoy yourself, I am not sure why you want to come at all, really. "We are in a winning environment. This club has not been in a winning environment for donkey's years. Last time they got up [to the Premier League] by scraping up in sixth spot by the play-offs. I can understand if you are losing and at the bottom of the league and not playing well. I can't understand it if you are playing the opposition off the park. "I am a little bit sick of defending myself because it is something I shouldn't have to do."

Opinions

The Hammers entertain the Royals on the back of a solid unbeaten run but Allardyce admits his side need to be winning more games at Upton Park. "We're not winning as many as we like at home. But we've just equalled a club record for most away wins and we're likely to beat it. We're performing away frm home and if we get the winning streak back at home then we'll be OK. "There's nothing to be negative about. We've not won some of the games but that happens in football. If we'd lost five on the trot then fair enough but we've only drawn five on the trot. "No matter how well you're doing not everyone will be behind you. The game is about opinions and everyone is entitled to theirs. You've got to accept theirs and keep on doing what you know is right."

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West Ham v Reading: Mark Noble keeps the ball rolling in the quest for automatic promotion
By Jason Burt, Deputy Football Correspondent8:35PM BST 30 Mar 2012
Telegraph.co.uk

What nefarious messages does Big Sam convey to the midfielder whose style would be described in the game's parlance as "cultured"? "The manager just says to me, 'Mark get on the ball as much as you can'," Noble explains. "He doesn't ask me to do anything that is strange to me. He wants me to get the ball, play and make the right decisions." But surely he is a betrayer of the so-called 'West Ham way', isn't he? "There is a West Ham way," confirms the Championship club's longest-serving player, at just 24, and a product of the famed youth academy. "And we play football on the floor But we've got really good footballers in our team now, we've brought in good footballers and it's about doing it at the right time. "If we had come away with two or three more wins from the homes games [four successive draws] then it would be a completely different story. We would be top and I don't think any of this would have been said."

"This" refers to the criticism by supporters — which has spilled into frustrated chants of "we play on the floor" and "Paolo Di Canio" — that Allardyce's team are not playing good enough football; that it is a long-ball game; that he is betraying the traditions of the club. "I think there was a statistic last year that Manchester United played the highest number of long balls in the Premier League," is Noble's reply. "He's the manager and he plays exactly how he wants to play. He's experienced so he's not going to change simply because some people disagree with it. There have been times this season when we have played fantastic football."

Noble insists that in the 2-0 win at Peterborough "we kept the ball for 45 minutes and made them chase and run and burn out. The manager has his way and his statistics that he follows and it's why he's been so sought after and been successful". Success this season is simply defined. Promotion. It is the only stat that matters. It consumes Noble 24 hours a day. "I can't think about anything else," he says. "Whether that is good or bad. Sometimes you do need to get anyway from it because everyone you see asks you what is going on and sometimes it just drives you mad."

West Ham are at home to Reading on Saturday. Win and they leapfrog their opponents into the second automatic promotion place; lose and the dreaded play-offs beckon. It is, Noble says, a contest that will define West Ham's season. Despite the stakes, it is not sold out. Tickets are available at the turnstiles and a full house is needed. The encounter will, Noble adds, "sort out the men from the boys".

"We are only thinking about automatic promotion, it's what all our meetings are about, it's what the lads are talking about and you need to have that vibe. "You need to believe it. Some people react differently to that pressure. Some thrive on it, some go into their shells." Noble is pumped up. He understands the fans' irritation. But he wants it shelved. "Obviously the West Ham fans chant and sing what they want and they always have done. "They are passionate fans, they pay their money and they have a right to, but this is the point in the season when they need to rally and really get behind us," he says. "You sense their anxiety and it affects players in different ways. But with the crowd behind us it helps massively — and vice-versa. It can have a negative effect."

No one at West Ham is more ingrained in the club than Noble. He was born in Canning Town, he grew up a supporter, he joined the club's academy, he is West Ham and, to such an extent, that he has become the 'go-to' man for new players asking advice on such things on where they should live. "I know the club inside out," he says. "People see me as a leader and I like to feel that. I like that responsibility."

It is why, when chairman David Sullivan came to him last summer after the trauma of Premier League relegation and asked him to stay, he stayed. "There was a strong possibility I would leave," Noble says. "Everyone was talking about it and there were players on big wages who had to go first to keep the club afloat but the chairman said 'you're an important part of our plans and I want you to stay'. "After that, and with the players being brought in and the money spent, it was a big thing to stay. And automatic promotion has been our aim the moment we got relegated. We want to play in the Premier League, I do. "I was at that level for five years of my career and I want to get back there as quickly as possible. I'm desperate to get back there. "No one likes failure and when you do get relegated, no matter what anyone says, it's a failure. It was a horrible time and with the players we had here it was unbelievable. "It should have never been the case. One hundred per cent we had a good enough team with Scottie Parker, Demba Ba, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Matty Upson, James Tomkins, but we didn't do it. "I personally swore to myself that if I stayed at the club I would take us straight back up."

Despite being in the Championship, West Ham feels, to Noble, like a more "stable" club under the ownership of Sullivan and David Gold. He winces when reminded of the doomed Icelandic regime of Eggert Magnusson. "I have seen them all," he says. "Managers, chairmen, directors of football - some crazy stuff at times. It was never stable and that's why what happened, happened."

It is another reason why, with the club on a sounder footing, promotion matters so much. Noble says: "This club, the way it is run, the size of the fan-base, it shouldn't be in this league it should be in the Premier League."

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Friday, March 30

Daily WHUFC News - 30th March 2012

Big Sam on: Reading
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce says West Ham United are steeled for Saturday's big game with
Reading
29.03.2012

Sam Allardyce says his West Ham United squad are ready for the 'big' game
with second-placed Reading at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday. Speaking at his
weekly pre-match press conference, the West Ham United manager explained
that the squad are 'in a positive frame of mind' ahead of the game that
could see them leapfrog their visitors back into second place in the npower
Championship table. There was good news on the injury-front with Abdoulaye
Faye's injury not as serious as first thought and Winston Reid back in the
running for first-team football.

Would you have taken this position if people had offered you it at the
beginning of the season?

SA: Absolutely, yes. We've made massive strides this season. Even though
there's been something of a recent lull it's been a fantastic season. We've
not won as many of the easy games as we should have done but the bottom line
is it's been a fantastic season up to now. 2012 has only brought one defeat.
We're on a great run of eleven undefeated. The overall picture is it's a
really good season, we're looking forward to Saturday's game in a positive
frame of mind and looking to extend our unbeaten run. We all know how big
the game is. If we win we go back into second spot and if we don't it's not
over and there are still a few games and a few points to play for. We can
win all of the games so it's not the be all and end all. If we don't and we
end up drawing then we're still only a point behind Reading going into the
last eight games with a very good record and an undefeated run.

What are your thoughts on the club's form?

SA: We're not winning as many as we like at home. But we've just equalled a
club record for most away wins and we're likely to beat it. We're performing
away from home and if we get the winning steak back at home then we'll be
OK. There's nothing to be negative about. We've not won some of the games
but that happens in football. If we'd lost five on the trot then fair enough
but we've only drawn five on the trot. No matter how well you're doing not
everyone will be behind you. The game is about opinions and everyone is
entitled to theirs. You've got to accept theirs and keep on doing what you
know is right.

Some people have said the second half against Peterborough was some of the
best football West Ham have played this season?

SA: It was a great to finally see the opposition off. When we started the
game, Peterborough were kicking off in front of a full house and they made
life difficult for us in the first 25 minutes. When we were tied they didn't
have the legs to wear us down. We then took control of the game and did what
we had to do. We played much better at Burnley than that but our analysis of
the game has always been very positive in terms of what we've done against
the opposition. The one thing we haven't done is score more goals than them
in some games.

Do you think that with Southampton clear at the top you are now playing for
second with Reading?

SA: Well I think it's difficult but it's not mathematically dead so never
say never. If we're to catch them we'd have to win every game and that's a
possibility with the squad we've got but that might still not be enough.
It's about us winning and whenever that win comes around, you look at
Southampton's results and if they have won then you just move on towards
your on total.

Could anyone else kick on from below?

SA: You never know. At this time of the season the anxiety takes over and
people can't quite achieve what they'd like to and everyone gets a bit more
nervous.

What's the latest on Abdoulaye Faye?

SA: It's better news than we thought. He had a big lump on his forehead and
the doctor feared it may have caused more trauma than we first expected, but
on X-ray it showed only a mild injury and an outer swelling and nothing too
serious so it's a minor injury. Friday morning will give an indication of
whether he feels good enough to be selected on Saturday.

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Gary gunning for Royal ascent
WHUFC.com
Gary O'Neil is targeting a victory that would see the Hammers leapfrog
Reading
29.03.2012

Gary O'Neil is targeting a victory in West Ham United's biggest game of the
season so far. The Hammers entertain Reading on Saturday knowing a win would
see them leapfrog the Royals into the npower Championship automatic
promotion places. O'Neil, who scored an outstanding goal in Tuesday's 2-0
win at Peterborough United, cannot wait for Saturday's game to kick-off. He
said Tuesday's win at London Road proved the Hammers could handle the
pressures of a promotion battle after going on a run of five successive
league draws. "At half time on Saturday we were in all sorts of trouble, but
the reaction from then on has been fantastic," he told West Ham TV. "We
should have won at Burnley really. To deal with what Peterborough threw at
us first half and then go on and win so comfortably in the second shows that
we haven't fallen away in any way. "There was some talk of us slipping away
into the Play-Offs but there is none of that talk here. We are still gunning
for the title. We are only six points off Southampton and we haven't done a
lot wrong in the last four months performance wise and we have managed to
drop points."

Having made a successful return this year after eight-and-a-half months out
injured, the No32 is hoping to play his third game in a week when Brian
McDermott's side come to the Boleyn Ground. "I have a bit of work to do
between now and then to be available," said the midfielder, "It is going to
be a big ask to do three in a week but the other lads are going to be ready,
you know Nobes [Mark Noble] and Nobby [Kevin Nolan] have been playing three
times a week all year so it will be no problem for them. "As you say it is a
massive game and it is back in our hands. If we win every game we go up."

Whether he is involved or not, O'Neil is hoping the Hammers can translate
their record-equalling away form - Tuesday's win was their eleventh of the
season - to the Boleyn Ground. At the same time, the 28-year-old is eager to
help the team gain revenge over the Royals for the 3-0 defeat they suffered
at the Madejski Stadium in December. "I think there will be a bit of payback
in our thoughts. We haven't lost to many sides this year so getting beat 3-0
at Reading is something that the lads will want to put right. There is only
one real focus and that is to finish in the top two and we need to win on
Saturday to give ourselves a chance. That is the only motivation that we
need."

Finally, O'Neil called on the supporters to roar the team onto victory and
back into the top-two, pointing out that the players will find it much
easier to relax and play their best football with the crowd behind them.
"Reading have been on a magnificent run. They are probably the form team in
all of the leagues at the minute and they've been fantastic. It will be a
big test, because they will be coming thinking that if they can beat us they
are away from us. They will have their own side to it but with the squad
that we have got, we have got the best squad in the league we just need to
show it at home. "We have struggled a little bit at home, but as you saw on
Tuesday, when you go 1 or 2-0 up you can start to play and it becomes a lot
easier for you. "The second half at Burnley was so much hard work because we
were 2-0 down. The difference between how easy it was second half today and
at Burnley. It is important that we start well at home, I'm sure that the
fans will be right behind us and hopefully we can get in front and start to
play again."

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Thames Ironworks unearthed!
WHUFC.com
Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of the Thames Ironworks and
Shipbuilding Company
29.03.2012

Work to build a new high-speed rail link across London has unearthed an
amazing reminder of the roots of West Ham United. Archaeologists working on
the Crossrail project have uncovered evidence of the Thames Ironworks and
Shipbuilding Company four metres below the surface on the Limmo Peninsula,
near Canning Town.
At its peak, the Thames Ironworks employed 6,000 people, constructing huge
vessels for navies all over the world including HMS Warrior, the largest
warship ever built when it was launched in 1860. In the 1890s,
philanthropist Arnold Hills became managing director, introducing the
eight-hour working day and a number of sports and recreational clubs for his
workforce - including a football club. Thames Ironworks FC existed for five
seasons, playing home matches at Hermit Road in Canning Town, Browning Road
in East Ham and the Memorial Grounds in West Ham. On the pitch, the team was
hugely successful, winning the West Ham Charity Cup in 1896, the London
League in 1897/98 and Southern League Division Two in 1898/99. However, in
June 1900, the club was wound up after the Thames Ironworks became a limited
company and reformed the following month as West Ham United. The Ironworks
itself closed in 1912, having played a significant part in the economic and
social history of east London. Crossrail project archaeologist Jay Carver
explained the significance of what was found to West Ham TV.

"We have made quite an exciting discovery," said Carver. "One hundred years
ago the Thames Ironworks shipbuilding company went out of business and was
covered over. "We have been excavating two big shafts for the Crossrail
project and we've rediscovered that level where the shipbuilding yards were
and we've been able to reveal the remains of the engineering workshops and
we hope to soon do the same with the slipways from where the great boats
were launched. "About four metres down we found the brick floors and the
various structural bases of all the big machines. If you can imagine, it was
a big workshop with huge iron-making machines and cutters which were used.
"We found the bolts still in place and the outlines of the buildings. To be
in contact with such a historical building was amazing."

Club historian John Helliar, whose great-grandfather Samuel worked as a
brass founder at the Ironworks in the 1890s, visited the site himself and
spoke to both West Ham TV and BBC London news reporter Sarah Harris. "My
great-grandfather actually worked at the Ironworks before starting up the
family printing business, so to be on the site brought back memories and was
something I shall cherish knowing he was there all those years ago," he
said.

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Faye could be fit for Hammers' crunch clash with Reading
By talkSPORT | Thursday, March 29, 2012

West Ham defender Abdoulaye Faye faces a race against time to prove his
fitness for the crucial promotion clash with Reading on Saturday. Faye
suffered a serious head injury during the 2-0 win over Peterborough and was
forced to leave the field just before half-time. There were original fears
that Faye had fractured his skull, but x-rays have showed no serious damage
and he is hoping to resume training on Friday. The news will come as a major
boost to manager Sam Allardyce as Faye has played a major role in helping
the club go on an unbeaten run of 11 games. Allardyce said: "It is better
news as the doctor feared it was worst than we first expected. "It is just a
minor injury and we will know on Friday morning if the headache has cleared
up and he is available for selection."

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West Ham manager Sam Allardyce calls on supporters to start enjoying
promotion battle
Sam Allardyce has told disgruntled supporters to stop moaning about the West
Ham way of football and says they should start enjoying success in east
London again.
By Marc Isaacs11:00PM BST 29 Mar 2012
Telegraph.co.uk

Allardyce came under attack from his own fans at Peterborough on Tuesday
night. They started singing the name of Paolo Di Canio and made their
feelings known towards his style of football when they continually sang,
"West Ham United - we play on the floor". After the 2-0 win Allardyce
labelled West Ham supporters who questioned his style of football as
"deluded" The West Ham manager is preparing his side for a crucial
Championship encounter against Reading, who sit just one point above them in
second place. He admited he was shocked by the criticism, particularly as
the team are on an 11-match unbeaten run and can move back into the top two
with a victory at Upton Park on Saturday. Allardyce said: "Those who work at
West Ham haven't told me what the West Ham way is, so it is rubbish. "There
isn't one because people who have worked here for a number of years cannot
say what it is. "It is not passing and losing, that is for sure. "It didn't
happen with Curbs [Alan Curbishley], Avram Grant, Alan Pardew or Gianfranco
Zola, so when did it happen last? "This club has not been in a winning
environment for donkey's years.
"The last time they got up was by scraping up in sixth spot by the
play-offs. "This is a winning environment so I don't know why you listen to
the small minority, but I suppose you have to because they make themselves
heard. "All the best coaches I have seen worldwide have never said you have
to outplay the opposition to win.
"My message to the fans is come and enjoy yourself. "That is what it is all
about. If you don't want to come and enjoy yourself, I am not sure why you
want to come at all really."

Allardyce believes the West Ham supporters have been given great value for
money this season and feels the club's owners deserve a lot of credit for
the way they have managed to reduce ticket prices for Championship games
despite their relegation from the Premier League last season. Allardyce
added: "The club does as much as it possibly can to make it as cheap as
possible. It is a fantastic football club. "We all want a full stadium
because that is what gets the adrenalin going and we all want to be
positive. "We all want entertaining and we want to get back in the Premier
League. "That has not happened very often recently for the three teams that
have been relegated. "If you look at the facts, bouncing back is one of the
most difficult things to do in year one and it hasn't happened too often in
the last 10 years.
"It is not an easy task because of the catastrophic fallout that you get by
being relegated. "It devastates the football club and it cannot be
resurrected in one season normally due to the difficulties of adjusting
financially and not going bust."

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McDermott's teamwork secret to Reading's right royal ascent
Championship's form team meet Hammers tomorrow in bullish mood
JACK PITT-BROOKE FRIDAY 30 MARCH 2012
Independent

If West Ham's season has been a gradual, disheartening dip, Reading have
been on the ascent ever since a poor start after their play-off final defeat
to Swansea last season. Although the two teams' paths have only just
crossed, they have been travelling in opposite directions for months.

Reading's thoughtful manager Brian McDermott, who signed a new contract last
month despite interest from Wolves, is popular with players and fans. He
praised their form yesterday, not as a spurt but as a sustained run of
excellence. "If you look at the last 33 games," he said, removing Reading's
poor start to the season, "you'd see that we'd have 69 points. The next-best
team, Southampton, would have 63, then West Ham with 59 and Birmingham with
53. Over 30-odd games we're top of the league, by a very long way. Apart
from our start, our form has been top of the league form."

Patience, McDermott said, was how Reading gathered their impetus. "When we
were 20-whatever in the league, I tried to catch 20-whatever-was in front of
us," he said. "And when we were 19th I tried to catch 18th. And when we were
fifth I tried to catch fourth. That's how we do things, really. I just
wanted to catch whoever was in front of us."

Reading do have good players, with veteran striker Jason Roberts, goalkeeper
Adam Federici and defender Kaspars Gorkss all performing well, but teamwork
seems to be at the root of their recent run. "When I get on that coach going
to West Ham I know that I've got a group of men who are ready to play,"
McDermott said. "This group of players know what's required, and Jobi
McAnuff's been skipper and has done a fantastic job."

McAnuff, who had a brief spell at West Ham, understands the pressures of
Upton Park. While the Reading fans sing for their manager, the West Ham fans
sing for Paolo Di Canio, and McAnuff believes Reading can exploit that
tomorrow. "If we can start well and get the frustration and nerves going a
bit then hopefully we can use it to our advantage," he said.

West Ham have drawn their last five home league games, and it does not take
much for the fans' support to sour. "Their home form is somewhere they have
slipped up a bit," McAnuff said. "I know more than most how difficult it can
be, there is a massive expectation from the fans. We have proved we can
finish games very strongly. We have to use that to our advantage and ramp up
the frustration a little bit."

Reading may have to do it without Roberts, their inspiration January
signing, who is an injury doubt. "He's brought such a lot to the football
club, as a person and as a player," McDermott said. "People gravitate
towards him, he's such a good guy. He's everything that's good about
football."

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EXCLUSIVE: Sam Allardyce - there have been times when we've played like
Swansea
By LEE CLAYTON
PUBLISHED: 22:00, 29 March 2012 | UPDATED: 23:48, 29 March 2012
Daily Mail

Lee Clayton interviews the West Ham manager as the promotion dogfight
reaches a critical stage, with his team taking on Reading at home on
Saturday...
'We need a win, this is killing me,' Sam Allardyce says in a telephone call.
It's 10.17 on the morning of a fixture at Peterborough this week. He's in
his hotel, sounding relaxed and in control. It is 23 days since West Ham
last won a football match. Half-time: Peterborough 0 West Ham 0.

'Paolo Di Canio,' sing the large West Ham following at London Road, after
just 17 minutes. It's followed by: 'We're West Ham United, we play on the
floor.'
He's a confident man, Big Sam. There is a clause in his two-year contract
that determines he can leave for the England job and he was 25-1 on the day
Fabio Capello departed. He also has tickets to take his 11-year-old grandson
to Amir Khan's world light-welterweight title fight in Las Vegas on May 19,
the same day as the play-off final. Allardyce expects to be in Vegas.

The style of football, a lack of goals, a dip in form... it's all getting a
bit bumpy. It was meant to be a romp through the division and big
attendances bring big expectations. There were 6,000 away fans at
Peterborough, for a midweek game. At London Road, West Ham win 2-0 to move
within a point of the top two. Still, it's not good enough for some.
Allardyce calls his critics 'deluded'. One supporter writes on Twitter:
'Witnessing the animosity, the writing is on the wall for Big Sam.'
Another: 'He has mocked the West Ham Way. A little more respect for the club
would have served him better.'

Personally, I find his touchline swagger compelling and enjoy his disdain
for West Ham's past failings. What is the West Ham Way? No trophy since
1980. David Sullivan and his partner David Gold are propping up West Ham
with their personal fortune. They have gambled on Allardyce and they like
what they see.
Sullivan says: 'The fans have always sung for Paolo. One day, they might get
him. In five years' time, perhaps. We like him, but only after Sam wins
promotion, takes West Ham into Europe and then leaves for the England job.
'Myself and David Gold stand 100 per cent behind the manager. It's hard to
play in the Championship. Teams shut you down, there is no time to play.
This happened at Peterborough, but in the second half we played magnificent
football. Now it's on to Reading.'

The win at Peterborough is a first in six games, but it's a result that
means positives can now be accentuated; West Ham haven't lost since January
31 and are 11 unbeaten. They have equalled the club record for away wins in
a season, previously achieved in 1923 and 1958 (both promotion years).
Beat Reading at home and they are back in the top two. Di Canio, who excited
many, but not all, as a player at Upton Park, can stay in Swindon for a bit
longer. The subject seems a good place at which to start.

How does it feel when you are standing out in the technical area and the Di
Canio chants start?

SAM ALLARDYCE: 'I accept that we haven't delivered recently. You have to
take it on the chin. In adversity, when we were down to 10 men, the
supporters were, wow . . . magnificent. And the players responded: three
times we went down to 10 men and we won seven points. 'Against Watford, we
had 11 men, we were drawing and one guy ran down with five minutes to go and
said, "F*** off back up north, you ****". I'm from Dudley in the Midlands.
It's not the north! I'm proud of coming from Dudley. It's where Duncan
Edwards came from.'

There has been a lot of criticism.

SA: 'Yes, but when we won at Peterborough, the supporters were singing my
name. Thousands of them went up there, took over the place. It was uplifting
for the players and we gave them a performance, a win. That's what they
want.'

West Ham fans are demanding...

SA: 'I don't mind that. I'm not stupid. I have been a manager for 20 years
and I came here knowing what the fans expect. I know about the history of
the club. I know where they want to be, but I also know how few times they
have been there. It excites me that I am the man trying to take them there.
I want them to go home happy. If we are not delivering, they will criticise.
Fair enough.'

But the fans want to be...

SA: '...excited. I know. That's what we have to do. We are here to create,
inspire, to fulfil people's dreams. That's what I am about. I am a creative
person. My mind doesn't think about boring logistics. I want to do
something different. Footballers respond to atmosphere. Atmosphere comes
from bums on seats. Bums on seats create expectation. We have to deal with
that. People are impatient, everyone is. I had a 10-year contract at Bolton,
a blank piece of paper with little or no expectation.'

But West Ham...?

SA: 'There isn't the same time here. I am trying to turn around a relegated
club quickly. We have equalled a record, of away wins, but it's the wrong
one! You want to break records for home games, but opponents have made life
difficult. We are a scalp in this division, teams come to stop us. If we can
overcome that, we will get promoted. It may happen, it may not. But it has
been exciting and, in a short space of time, I have started to enjoy where I
work.'

You seem confident?

SA: 'I have the evidence. I know if we have played well, I know if we have
been better than the opposition. You will ask me about the style of play
now. People usually do. I've had it all my career. 'The negativity came in
at Bolton. It was a shock. I don't blame the media or the fans. It was the
other managers, they were embarrassed. We were walking in someone else's
garden and they didn't want us there. 'We would beat Arsenal, Liverpool.
Bolton shouldn't be around the top six, they said. I didn't want managers
telling TV how well we had played after beating us 3-0 and talking bull****
before coming into my office. Arsene Wenger didn't like playing us - and he
didn't come into my office! I wanted them to go and moan because I'd just
beaten them. Unfortunately, the legacy.'

What is the legacy?

SA: 'Look, it took 24 seconds at my first West Ham press conference for
someone to ask me about the style of play.'

On the battle for promotion

'I have tickets for Amir Khan's next fight. It's the same date as the
play-off final. I expect to be in Las Vegas that day'

What did you say?

SA: 'I asked, "What style do you want?" I'd done my homework. I don't want
conflict. I can't fight it. I can't stop it. I just get on with it. I can
tell you what I think the West Ham Way is... win and they're happy. You
can't get more entertainment than the Peterborough game: for 30 minutes they
were really into us and then it was deplete, punish and then totally destroy
your opposition.'

What is the style?

SA: 'I change the style depending on who we are playing, the players we have
available. I look for a winning style.'

Everyone is talking about Swansea in the Premier League. Could you play like
that?

SA: 'We have played like Swansea. At Watford (4-0), at Nottingham Forest
(4-1), Portsmouth at home (4-3), the second half at Peterborough.'

Earlier in the season, the Brighton fans shouted 'hoof' throughout the game
because of the long balls.

SA: 'We didn't hoof it. We sat in and played on the break, won 1-0, did them
tactically. So when Gus Poyet criticises us, he's done well. Fabulous. Let's
see him in 20 years.'

But Rickie Lambert has 24 League goals. The top scorer at West Ham is Kevin
Nolan with 10.

SA: 'There are two things that make a difference: clean sheets and a
goalscorer. We have kept clean sheets.'

What about the other end? Carlton Cole has scored once in 2012.

SA: 'That's been the problem. Not enough goals. They've all dried up, all
the forwards. Kevin Nolan's goal at Burnley - he is a midfield goalscorer of
the highest level - was brilliant. He's not a creative midfielder, his
talent comes alive in the opposition penalty area. Ten goals. That's been
critical to us. If we had a 15-goal striker, we would be up and away. We
have to put it right, but I don't think it will stop us.'

James Tomkins has had a very good season.

SA: 'Mark Noble has done very well too. James reminds me of Phil Jones and
Chris Smalling at Manchester United. He has their quality. He has played at
the back and in midfield for me. He can play in the Premier League. Can he
play for England? He has to answer that with his performances.'

Where are you at now?

SA: 'Loving the challenge of taking West Ham to where it needs to be, as
quickly as possible. We have good owners, the fanbase and that has an
appeal, doesn't it? I want that promotion. I'm hungry for it. After the high
of taking Bolton into Europe, my career hasn't gone where I wanted it to.
Newcastle was the right club at the wrong time, then came the damage of the
sack. It was damage to the progress of my career. I want to talk about
damage to a manager, actually.
'Lee Clark is a great young manager, only three defeats in 55 games and then
sacked by Huddersfield! It will take him time to recover from that. He won't
get linked with the better jobs until he puts that right and becomes
fashionable again. I know how that feels, the bruising. It hurts us all. You
can come back, though. Look at Alan Pardew. And I'm here.'

Will West Ham go up?

SA: 'I know what I think. These are high stakes. We are where everyone
expects us to be so nobody praises us. Southampton, Reading, Brighton...
they get the praise. West Ham? On the BBC, on Sky - Steve Claridge and Don
Goodman - I'll be seeing them. It's all negatives, which feeds back to the
supporters.
'Style of play? Do you think I am here wanting to play long ball? I am not
daft. I've been a manager for 20 years. I'm not here thinking (stands up,
puts on an accent), "Hit it, lump it up". I want us to win matches. Let's
start with the Reading game and then see where we go. I'd like to make that
Amir fight. He's a good lad, worked with my sports science team at Bolton
and I don't want to let down my grandson.'

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
McAnuff plans to wind up former club West Ham during Reading's vital
promotion showdown
By IAN GIBB
PUBLISHED: 19:24, 29 March 2012 | UPDATED: 19:27, 29 March 2012
Daily Mail

Jobi McAnuff, the Reading captain and a former West Ham winger, has heaped
the pressure on Hammers manager Sam Allardyce before the crucial automatic
promotion clash. McAnuff vowed that his side would frustrate the home
supporters, making them turn on Allardyce and his team. McAnuff said: 'If we
nick a goal, great, or even keep it 0-0 in the first 30 minutes or up to
half-time, the fans will start getting edgy. 'Of course that will be in our
thinking. You have to use that to your advantage - and hopefully ramp up the
frustration a little bit. And we have proved we can finish games very
strongly.' Reading's midfield enforcer Mikele Leigertwood backed up McAnuff,
saying: 'I think there is a lot of pressure on West Ham, especially at home.
They will be physical and we have to match them. If we do that, we can
frustrate them and frustrate their crowd. That might work against them.'
McAnuff added: 'That will be in the game plan. And if we start well, maybe
get the frustration and nerves going a bit, then hopefully we can use that
to our advantage.' McAnuff also hit back at West Ham midfielder Julien
Faubert for saying Reading had been disrespectful over an incident at the
Madejski Stadium earlier this season, when Jimmy Kebe was accused of mocking
the Hammers by pulling up his sock while in possession.

The visitors were left with nine men on the pitch and collapsed to a 3-0
defeat. Faubert this week promised: 'We will make it a bad day for Reading
because they didn't respect us.' But McAnuff responded: 'They have taken
issue with it. Our focus is on winning. If they want to focus on other
matters, maybe that works better for us. 'Jimmy will go there and do his
stuff. From our point of view, the matter was done and dusted. It's about
winning a game. 'At the time, probably too much was made of it. They've
reacted to something they deemed as disrespectful - that is their
prerogative. We got on with the game, we won and that was the end of it. If
people want to start it up now, it's up to them. 'Knowing Jimmy and the sock
incident, he hasn't gone out to disrespect West Ham or any player. It gets
focused on a bit much.'

Reading believe they can keep their cool better than most and have not had a
player sent off this season, while two Hammers saw red in that Madejski
Stadium clash alone - Joey O'Brien sent off with the game goalless and
Collison following. Leigertwood said: 'There is no point in getting
frustrated and agitated. The temperament is good. If we keep 11 on the
pitch, we'll give ourselves a good chance. 'We've scored numerous late goals
this season so we know we've got a chance, wherever we go.'

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tony Cottee Column: We must get behind West Ham and inspire them to Reading
victory
Tony Cottee, London24 West Ham Columnist
Thursday, March 29, 2012
1:00 PM

It's great to finally have something positive to write about following West
Ham getting back to winning ways against Peterborough on Tuesday. The
Hammers' away form has been magnificent this season and what made the
victory that bit more impressive was the pressure that the players were
under. If we didn't manage to win at London Road then I think we would have
been really up against it to finish in the top two. However, the win means
that we are just one point behind Reading, who probably have the hardest
run-in between ourselves, them and Southampton. It was important to bounce
back after five consecutive draws, and to get 11 away wins - a joint club
record - is a real achievement in itself. To emulate the success of two West
Ham teams that also went on to get promotion is a fantastic feeling.
It is hard to win away matches at any level, but Sam Allardyce has worked
wonders with the team on the road. It has been some time since the Hammers
were so difficult to beat away from home and long may it continue. We are
now in a good position to break that club record with three away games still
to be played, and if we do break it it will give the whole team a big boost
towards the final few matches of the season. I was pleased to see Ricardo
Vaz Te back in the team on Tuesday and I really feel it is important for us
to have a player like him as he offers us options. He moves around and draws
defenders in, he can play on either flank and as we saw we know he can score
goals. His versatility will prove crucial as we enter the final stage of the
season. One disappointment for me on Tuesday was the fans chanting Paolo Di
Canio's name. It all depends on whether they were chanting it is a legendary
player of times gone by or whether they were calling for him to be manager.
I just don't understand if the fans are calling for Di Canio to take over at
Upton Park. There is no doubting that the Italian is passionate about the
club and he wanted the job before Allardyce, but he is not ready for it yet
in my opinion. Every new manager needs to cut their teeth and Di Canio is
doing just that at Swindon at the moment. I understand the fan's frustration
but I don't condone in calling for another manager as it puts unfair
pressure on Big Sam and the rest of his management team, which is
unnecessary. The other chant about playing on the floor is also
understandable but doesn't help the team. The Championship is a different
beast to the Premier League, where you get more time and can show more
skill. In the Championship you don't get as much time, so you can't always
play silky football. This weekend is a huge game for the Hammers as Reading
come to town. They are a dangerous team with some very good players, but I
think if the home fans get behind West Ham they can inspire the team to
victory. It won't be an easy game, but now is the time for the players to
stand up and be counted.

Tony Cottee was talking to Nathaniel John

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Thursday, March 29

Daily WHUFC News - 29th March 2012

The Big Interview - Ricardo Vaz Te
WHUFC.com
The No12 was back in action and back on the scoresheet at Peterborough
United
28.03.2012

Ricardo Vaz Te is a cool customer, but even he was excited by the nature of
West Ham United's 2-0 npower Championship winat Peterborough United on
Tuesday.
The No12 returned from two-and-a-half weeks out with a hamstring injury to
produce a scintillating display at London Road capped by a superb
52nd-minute header which set his side on the road to victory. Vaz Te told
whufc.com the players had not allowed a run of five draws to affect their
confidence and that the squad cannot wait for Saturday's visit of
second-place Reading to kick-off.

Ricardo, you must have been delighted with your return to the team, both
individually and collectively?

"I am definitely happy to be back and happy to see the team win again. I am
happy to be part of that. The lads have put in a great effort over the last
few weeks and they did not get the recognition at times. The most important
thing is that we continued to pick up points. Hopefully we are on course now
and we just need to keep our heads."

You must have really enjoyed the way we worked hard earned the right to play
some cracking football in the second half at Peterborough?

"Every game, you try to earn the right to play, but you don't always earn
that right. We were very patient and we took our chances and I think we
deserved to win, to be fair. I am just delighted to be back in the team and
I am glad that I made a contribution to us getting the three points. My goal
was a bonus. Like I said, I am just happy that we won and I got to be part
of that. That's my intention all the time."

The players have clearly kept faith, despite the run of recent draws?

"We knew that we had created chances in all of those games, so we were
confident that we could take them as long as we kept creating the chances.
People get frustrated sometimes but this is normal. We get impatient as
players, but we just need to remain positive and keep creating chances. If
we do then the wins will come like they did on Tuesday."

You know Sam Allardyce better than most from your time at Bolton Wanderers.
How important has the manager's influence been in retaining that confidence
and
belief?

"I have said before that nobody is running away from the responsibility and
the manager is first person. He needs to be doing the job and he is doing
the job. He is very respected, he knows his stuff and he always passes the
right message. I think everyone digests his message well and on Tuesday we
delivered. We just have to keep on going and remain positive. We are a team
and we are here to do a job."

Are you looking forward to Saturday's visit of Reading?

"I love the West Ham crowd. I love being there and being involvedand getting
them going. I am happy there. I don't particularly care whether it is
Reading. I just want to play and be part of something and part of a winning
team. As long as I am part of that, I don't really like look at the
opposition. I get my message and I know who I'm playing against and I try to
do my best every time."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Big Sam hails 'perfect' second half
WHUFC.com
An outstanding second-half performance saw West Ham United leave London Road
with a vital win
28.03.2012

Sam Allardyce was delighted to see West Ham United register their club
record-equalling eleventh away win of the season at Peterborough United to
set up a mouth-watering date with Reading on Saturday. The visitors were on
top for much of the 2-0 win as second-half goals from the returning Ricardo
Vaz Te and Gary O'Neil put paid to the host's spirited defiance. The Hammers
were cheered on superbly throughout by 5,000 travelling fans, the majority
of whom had saved their tickets from the game's original date in February.
Peterborough raced out of the blocks in front of a packed house at London
Road, but once West Ham had resisted their early threat, the visitors'
greater class told in stunning fashion after the break. "It was a full house
with 14,000 fans, 5,000 of whom were our fans and it created a fantastic
atmosphere," Big Sam said. "When you move the ball and when you have the
space to move the ball it's great. In the first-half when we had the ball,
the whole of the Peterborough team were sprinting at us and we knew at
half-time they wouldn't be able to keep it up. "The second-half was the
perfect performance once we got in the lead. We controlled the game, created
more chances and didn't let the opposition have a sniff of a goal and they
ran out of legs and got tired for the last 30 minutes. "We also got the
all-important clean sheet. We got it right at both ends, with two goals
scored and a clean sheet."

Big Sam has stressed the need for his collective team to provide more of a
goal threat and he got his wish as Vaz Te, returning from a hamstring
injury, headed a 52nd-minute opener from a Matt Taylor cross before O'Neil
added a second five minutes later with a fine 25-yard shot. The Hammers were
unlucky not to get a third when Kevin Nolan's audacious backheel-volley
crashed against the crossbar. "It was a pity Kevin Nolan's didn't go in as
it would have been one of the goals of the season for us. It was an
outstanding piece of individual ability off a fizzing cross from Matt
Taylor," the manager confirmed. "As soon as we came out in the second half
they'd lost that momentum and we took real control of the game and
thoroughly deserved to win it. Once you wear them down, which we did, you
can play as you want to. "When you see the confidence flood back into the
players like it did when we got the goal, it is great. We have to carry that
confidence into Saturday's game with Reading."

The opening 45 minutes saw both sides pass up good chances, most notably
when James Tomkins made a superb goal-line clearance from George Boyd to
keep the scores level at the interval. It was a different story after the
break though as Big Sam introduced Julien Faubert and Danny Collins at the
interval and the Hammers duly took control with Faubert in particular
impressing as an attacking right-back.. "We had thirty minutes when
Peterborough were - like most teams we play- right up for it and were
causing us a few problems with the high tempo they created. "At half-time we
said we just need to be a bit more composed on the ball and get our
full-backs in the game a bit more and that was the key to the victory.
George McCartney in the second half, Joey O'Brien in the first and then
Julien in the second, all created the chances that we had today and in the
end I was disappointed we didn't score a few more. "We had two severe blows
at half time. Abdy Faye had to go to hospital with a severe head injury,
which we hope is only a severe bruise and not a fractured skull. Joey also
pulled a thigh muscle so it shows how important it is that we have the
players fit and available. "

The result takes West Ham back to within a point of second-place Reading
ahead of the meeting between the two sides at the Boleyn Ground. The Hammers
had two players sent off in a 3-0 loss at the Madejski Stadium back in
December and Big Sam is eager to turn the tables on the Royals. "We have a
score to settle with Reading. We had two sent off and lost 3-0 so we want to
make sure we turn it into a big victory on Saturday but we look forward to
it," he said. "The only problems we have are the injuries and the fact that
we played on Tuesday and they didn't. Energy levels are going to have to be
recharged as quickly as possible. Reading are going to come and fight for
their lives against us and make it very difficult. "We've got to be up for
it like we were against Peterborough in the second half. Then hopefully
we'll start winning at home as well as away."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Turgott too good
WHUFC.com
Ian Hendon has been impressed with England U-18 international Blair
Turgott's recent performances
28.03.2012

The Development Squad lost a close encounter against Dagenham and Redbridge
4-3 on Tuesday afternoon, but there were certainly positives to take out of
the game, most notably the performance of winger Blair Turgott. The
17-year-old scored two fantastic goals at Victoria Road with both shots
crashing into the top-corner of the net from 25 yards out. Reflecting on the
match, Turgott said how his goals were bittersweet moments in the context of
the final score. "For the first one I think it took a ricochet off a few
defenders and I looked up and thought why not have a go? Thankfully it went
in the top corner which was nice," Turgott said. "For the second goal the
ball came to me on the edge and I flicked it round the defender
instinctively and just hit it. When you hit the ball well you know and I
knew I'd hit a clean one with that strike. It was nice to see it settle in
top corner!"

Yet the midfielder was still disappointed his goals had not earned his side
a win. Unusual defensive errors ultimately cost the young West Ham side
against the Daggers. "We weren't at the races and it was a poor game from us
overall; we kept making silly defensive mistakes. The lads are a bit down
after that performance as we know we are better than that and we didn't show
it. I'm pleased with my goals but disappointed we lost overall."

Development Squad boss Ian Hendon was understandably pleased with how well
he believes Turgott is playing at the moment. "Blair worked hard today he
was our biggest threat from an attacking point of view. He's doing well at
the moment, he looks bright. He got his crosses in and scored two great
goals. He's an up-and-coming player with a bright future ahead of him."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Reading ready for West Ham United showdown
BBC.co.uk

Reading will rely on a carefully-formulated game plan when they travel to
West Ham for a match which could decide which of the two Championship clubs
wins automatic promotion. After beating the Hammers 3-0 earlier this season,
the Royals are relishing the prospect of Saturday's showdown. "We know what
we have to do and we'll go there full of confidence," said Reading striker
Noel Hunt. "It's a big game, but the more people we play in front of the
better."

Reading have had a week of training to prepare for the match, while West Ham
had to play a re-arranged fixture at Peterborough on Tuesday. Reading have
won 9 and drawn one of their last 11 Championship matches The Hammers won
2-0 at London Road to close to within a point of Reading, but while he was
pleased with the performance, West Ham manager Sam Allardyce admitted his
concern about what it might mean for Saturday's fixture. "If we'd drawn or
lost against Peterborough we couldn't have gone into the match against
Reading knowing we could catch them, which was a big motivation," said
Allardyce. "But my concern is the fact Reading are not playing this week,
and we put so much effort into Burnley away and then Peterborough away, then
we have to be ready to do whatever we need to do physically to make sure we
have enough ability to beat Reading. "If we tire a little bit towards the
end I want us to be in front, because we will tire a little bit more than
them because we played in midweek and they didn't."

Hunt said Reading were looking forward to playing in front of the 30,000
crowd, including 3,000 Reading supporters, expected to pack the Boleyn
Ground. "Our last couple of performances [in front of big crowds at the
Madjeski Stadium] have been full of energy from start to finish, so the more
are crammed in and the more we take to away games is massive for us," said
the Irishman. "They've had a lot of draws recently and we know what we have
to do, we've worked on our game plan, and we go there full of confidence."

Both Hunt and midfielder Jem Karacan said the Royals would be boosted by
memories of beating West Ham 3-0 in a feisty encounter at the Madjeski
earlier in December. "They have some great players, but looking back on that
game Mikele Leigertwood was brilliant," said Karacan. "The main thing is to
keep doing what we've been doing and pick up the three points."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
A score to settle
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 28th March 2012
By: Staff Writer

Sam Allardyce has asked his team to keep the momentum going when they face
Reading in the biggest game of the season so far this Saturday. West Ham's
encouraging 2-0 win at Peterborough last night moves United to within a
point of the second-placed Royals, who will go into the game with a slight
advantage in fitness terms having not played since Saturday. Allardyce, who
saw his team produce one of their best 45 minutes of the season in the
second half at London Road last night suffered his heaviest defeat as West
Ham manager (at the time) at the Madejski Stadium back in December when West
Ham were beaten 3-0. The Irons ended that game with just nine men after Joey
O'Brien and Jack Collison were sent off - the latter following some
disgraceful antics from Malian midfielder Jimmy Kebe, who will no doubt be
the target of much abuse this weekend should he play. A win over Reading
would take West Ham back into the Championship's automatic promotion spots
and just three points behind leaders Southampton, who face a difficult trip
to Blackpool later in the day. And Allardyce has sent a rallying call out to
his troops, telling them that they have "a score to settle" following the
defeat in the reverse fixture last year. "We had two sent off and lost 3-0
so we want to make sure we turn it into a big victory on Saturday," Big Sam
told whufc.com. "We've got to be up for it like we were against Peterborough
in the second half. Then hopefully we'll start winning at home as well as
away. "The only problems we have are the injuries and the fact that we
played on Tuesday and they didn't. Energy levels are going to have to be
recharged as quickly as possible. Reading are going to come and fight for
their lives against us and make it very difficult."

Allardyce is hoping to have the likes of Papa Bouba Diop and Guy Demel back
in contention for selection ahead of the big game, although there are fresh
concerns over Abdoulaye Faye and Joey O'Brien who were both substituted at
half time last night. "Abdy Faye had to go to hospital with a severe head
injury, which we hope is only a severe bruise and not a fractured skull," he
confirmed . "Joey also pulled a thigh muscle, so it shows how important it
is that we have the players fit and available."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Vinny's Peterborough Report
Vinny 3:20 Wed Mar 28
West Ham Online

Peterborough United 0 West Ham United 2

West Ham secured their eleventh away victory of the season at Peterborough's
London Road to equal the record of away wins in a season set back in the
1922/23 campaign.

Whilst this game was vital for us to get back on track given our recent poor
form which has seen us slip out of the automatic promotion places one of the
main talking points will be the chants directed at manager Sam Allardyce and
his post-match reaction as he labelled any fan who dare criticise him as
'deluded'.

There were a number of positives not only the three points but that in the
second half we got the ball down and played football on the floor causing
Peterborough to be chasing shadows for 45 minutes as we simply outplayed
them.

The two goals were well worked and like at Burnley they came very close
together and really set us on our way.

The gripe from the supporters was that in the first half we were playing a
lot of long balls forward to Cole who was not very successful in winning
them which saw possession go straight back to the home side.

The chant of 'We play on the floor, West Ham United, We play on the floor'
was sung loudly by the 5000 strong West Ham support. Allardyce has not
reacted well to this although his reaction is to be expected by a man who
cannot find any fault in himself.

Now I don't mean to say that it was the fans that got the team playing
passing football in the second half but it does seem odd that after this
chant went out we played some good football on the floor.

I am delighted with the victory and this makes sure that promotion is in our
own hands with Reading at the Boleyn coming up next. A win in this game will
put us back in a automatic promotion spot and give us a real chance to get
back to the Premiership.

The Team

Despite us winning I still think Allardyce got it all wrong again and after
the second half display against Burnley I firmly expected to see both Sam
Baldock and Nicky Maynard start with Cole dropping to the bench but
Allardyce is stubborn and continued with the same formation.

In defence Danny Collins was dropped to the bench with Abdoulaye Faye coming
back from injury to replace him at centre half.

In midfield, Jack Collison was not in the squad with Ricardo Vaz Te
replacing him and taking up a position on the right hand side.

It was Gary O'Neil who went into the centre of midfield with Kevin Nolan and
Mark Noble.

Carlton Cole continued up front alone.

Starting for Peterborough was former Hammer Grant McCann who came through
the youth system and made a few sub appearances but failed to break into the
side under Harry Redknapp or Glenn Roeder.

First Half

Peterborough's London Road stadium still retains terracing so when the large
West Ham following entered the ground it was a throwback to years gone by
with everyone attempting to find a spot to stand.

Though I did mention it after the Burnley game I have to bring up how good
the West Ham support was yet again. The club is lucky to have fans that make
so much noise and travel to games in their numbers.

The first half was very similar to our last few games where we look one
dimensional and keep giving the ball away. Peterborough were sharp from the
kick off and nearly took the lead inside the first minute as Tomlin saw his
bobbling effort saved by Robert Green.

A half-hearted penalty appeal was turned down by the referee early on as a
Noble free kick was clipped into the area for Cole to go down under a
challenge.

Cole was struggling early on to win any of the high balls presented to him
and the centre halves were finding it easy to cope. Cole of course was
baring much criticism from the West Ham support and it is difficult to argue
as he has only scored one goal this calendar year.

On the ten minute mark Peterborough came very close to taking the lead as
Paul Taylor saw his curling effort beat Robert Green but not the cross bar
and the rebound was met weakly by Frecklington as Green was able to save
comfortably.

Our first half chance came when Vaz Te received the ball and took an early
shot which Paul Jones in the Peterborough goal had to clutch at the second
attempt.

Most of our play was now being based down the right hand side with O'Brien
coming forward and Va Te attempting to make something happen.

The home side were still looking dangerous when going forward and a superb
block from James Tomkins prevented a possible effort on goal which would
have caused problems.

A cross from Matthew Taylor found Nolan who nodded down for Cole who
attempted to bundle the ball over the line but defender Brisley did just
enough to prevent this and it was put out for a corner.

Peterborough were certainly comfortable on the ball and were attempting to
play passing football and with our high 'hoofs' towards Cole the West Ham
supporter were becoming increasingly frustrated and that is where the chant
of 'We Play on the floor' was born.

A corner was won by Vaz Te and taken by Matthew Taylor but this was cleared
back to Vaz Te who worked the ball out to Taylor who got into the area, beat
two men before hitting a shot over the top from around 12 yards.

As we went into first half stoppage time we had appeared to be getting on
top but in that minute of added on time we were lucky to go in at half time
on level terms.

It started from our corner which was poorly taken and saw Peterborough
counter attack and it looked as though one of their players was bundled over
in the area but the play continued and Barnett got the ball back across for
Faye to win the head but the ball fell central to George Boyd who seemed to
have an age to pick his spot but his shot was superbly blocked by James
Tomkins who saved his team a goal.

From the resulting corner Faye clashed heads with a Peterborough player and
went down needing treatment for a number of minutes.

The corner was eventually taken and obviously straight off the training
ground as it was put to the edge of the area where two players dummied the
ball only for the resulting shot to go well wide.
The half time whistle was blown and it seemed that we would need to up our
game if we were to get the three points we so desperately needed.

Second Half

Two changes were made at half time with Abdoulaye Faye failing to recover
from the clash of heads at the end of the first half and Joey O'Brien
picking up a knock. On in their place was Danny Collins and Julien Faubert.

The second half was to be complete dominance from us and the hosts barely
got a kick. Allardyce claims that this was because we wore them down in the
first half which may be the case but I look at it as we simply out passed
them and kept the ball a lot better than we had done in the first half.

We were not just knocking it long for Cole and were getting down the flanks
with McCartney bombing down the left hand side on numerous occasions.

Seven minutes into the second half we took the lead as McCartney got forward
and played the ball back for Taylor to cross with his left foot to the back
post where Ricardo Vaz Te got up highest and planted his header inside the
post to make it 1-0.

The celebrations in the away end were fantastic as everyone leapt about and
bundled forward. It was some proper terrace celebrations.

Peterborough came at us straight from kick off with Faubert committing a
foul but the free kick into the area was met superbly by Danny Collins who
firmly head away from danger.

Robert Green sent Vaz Te racing down the right hand side and his ball into
Cole saw the striker turn and hit a left foot shot which went just wide.

But a second goal would come just a minute late when Gary O'Neil picked up a
loose pass, drove forward unopposed and curled a shot from 25 yards past
Paul Jones to make it 2-0.

If the celebrations for the first goal were manic the second was turned up a
notch as the standing West Ham fans fell all over the place. You will be
pleased to know that I remained on my feet, and my back is feeling just
fine.

The noise from the West Ham fans was superb and as enjoyable an away game as
I've experienced in quite some time. Robert Green was receiving a number of
chants from the support although when chanting "Greeno, What's the score?"
his reaction was one to tell us not to think the game is won just yet. I
think he has been here too long.

Green would be called into action just the once in the second half and that
was when the 'Posh' broke forward with Alcock who had sight on goal but his
shot was turned around the post by Green for a corner.

The fans were now chanting for Green to sign a new contract and soon.

A wonderful piece of skill from Kevin Nolan nearly saw us score our third
when a low cross into the area saw an outrageous flick which cannoned of the
cross bar.

Cole was a little unlucky when O'Neil played him through down the right and
he challenged with the defender and was penalised for a foul although he had
gone on to finish well.

Tomkins was brought down by a scathing tackle from Sinclair which saw the
Peterborough man booked for this poor challenge.

There was some great banter between the West Ham fans standing behind the
goal and the fans seated to the right.

We were in complete control of the game and were the shouts of 'Ole' could
be heard with every pass.

McCartney nearly scored a smart goal as he got forward again and burst into
the area only for his low right foot shot to be saved by Jones.

Kevin Nolan saw a header from a Faubert cross loop just over onto the roof
of the net as the full time whistle approached.

All the players came over the travelling support to show their appreciation
which was good to see and we left London Road with all three points and
promotion is firmly in our own hands.

Player Reviews

Robert Green
When he was needed he came through for us yet again with a great stop in the
second half. Will have been pleased to have kept his first clean sheet since
the trip to Cardiff.

Joey O'Brien
Was having a decent game although does lack quality in forward positions
which was a little bit of a hindrance in the first half but was by no means
a poor display from the Irish full back.

James Tomkins
A wonderful performance from Tomkins whose block at the end of the first
half prevented us from going in at half time 1-0 down. I believe if we had
conceded then we would have lost the game so this was vital. Was dominant in
the air and solid throughout.

Abdoulaye Faye
A solid first half from the strong centre half. He rarely misses any of his
defensive headers and hopefully his injury is not in fact a fractured skull
which may keep him out for some time.

George McCartney
Very impressed with McCartney again who since the Cardiff game and goal has
become very confident when bursting forward and is playing like an attacking
left winger. Very good.

Ricardo Vaz Te
Played most of the game on the right hand side which I do believe he would
be better down the middle. The fact is Vaz Te is our creative player. He
might lose the ball on occasion but he makes things happen and you need one
of these players in your side. He scored, he created, he was the player who
drove the team forward.

Mark Noble
With O'Neil in the midfield this seemed to free up space for Noble to put
his foot on the ball and calm things down. He was efficient, tidy and always
involved.

Kevin Nolan
A really good display from Nolan who like at Burnley seemed to be everywhere
and wasn't hiding like he has been doing for a lot of the season. Was very
unlucky not to have scored with a cheeky flick in the second half.

Gary O'Neil
Step forward Mr Gary O'Neil. We have had much debate on whether to play
Collison or Lansbury in the centre of midfield that Gary O'Neil plays there
and shows us how to actually be a centre midfielder. The work rate was
excellent, but his passing and willingness to pass the ball forward is what
impressed me. Of course his goal was fantastic and he will surely be keeping
his place.

Matthew Taylor
In and out of the game and I was surprised to see him start given how bad he
was at Burnley. But this was a better outing and his cross for our first
goal is what we have been missing from him since his return from injury.

Carlton Cole
I couldn't quite believe that we had started with him again as he is
completely out of form and seemingly out of confidence. This was a better
performance than that at Burnley but I still am not convinced he should be
starting at the moment.

Subs Used

Danny Collins (on for Faye 45 mins)
A good half from Collins who looked mobile and was good in the air.

Julien Faubert (on for O'Brien 45 mins)
Rarely troubled defensively and got forward well but his crossing was more
miss than hit.

Nicky Maynard (on for O'Neil 88 mins)
Not on for long but showed plenty of enthusiasm.

Subs Not Used: Baldock, Carew

Bookings: None

Peterborough United: Jones, Zakuani, Tomlin, Boyd, McCann, Rowe, Bennett,
Brisley, Frecklington, Taylor, Alcock
Subs: Lewis, Little, Ball, Sinclair, Kearns

Attendance: 13,517

Overall

Sam Allardyce should not be calling West Ham fans deluded. This is not what
the manager should be saying in response to some very valid comments.

If anyone is deluded it is Mr Allardyce who claims that it is a myth that he
plays a long ball style.

The reason we think he plays this way is because when a defender gets the
ball they more often than not knock it long to the lone striker. Simple as
that. A spade is a spade Mr Allardyce.

I find his comments galling and makes me dislike him even more. How can he
honestly be this arrogant? I only want what is best for West Ham but having
such a horrible individual as your manager is very off putting.

He states that we outplayed everyone that we have drawn with recently. There
is no truth behind this at all. We were not better than Doncaster, Crystal
Palace or Watford over 90 minutes and it is insulting to those clubs that he
would just make up these so called facts.

He harped on early in the season about results being the only important
thing and now he is talking about 'outplaying' teams and this being a
'fact'.

When asked about the fans not being harmonious at home games he just has
another dig and states that "I think we've lost three at home all season so
I don't know why they are not harmonious - you'll have to ask the fans
that,"

Ok Sam, you did ask.

Southampton have won 15 games at home this season. We have won 9. This is a
fact.

Reading have won 12 games at home. We have won 9. This is a fact.

Southampton, Reading, Brighton, Birmingham Blackpool, Cardiff, Leeds,
Leicester, Watford, Ipswich, Burnley, Barnsley, and Peterborough have all
scored more goals at home than us this season.

Southampton, Reading, Brighton, Birmingham, Crystal Palace, Hull, and
Portsmouth have all conceded less with Middlesbrough having conceded the
same amount. Third from bottom Coventry have only conceded three more.

Are our expectations high? Damn fucking right they are, with the shit this
club has been through and the money invested in the side in the summer and
since, yes we have the right to expect to win this league. On paper our
squad was the strongest in the league and still is, Southampton meanwhile
have only been promoted from League One.

No Allardyce you have some respect for the West Ham fans because you won't
last long without us and this is the beginning of a slippery slope if you
continue to make comments like this.

Next Game – Reading (home), Saturday 31st March 3pm Kick Off

Biggest game of the season, and whoever wins it will be in pole position to
take second place and get that automatic promotion.

Sam's View

"It was a full house with 14,000 fans, 5,000 of whom were our fans and it
created a fantastic atmosphere,"

"When you move the ball and when you have the space to move the ball it's
great. In the first-half when we had the ball, the whole of the Peterborough
team were sprinting at us and we knew at half-time they wouldn't be able to
keep it up.

"The second-half was the perfect performance once we got in the lead. We
controlled the game, created more chances and didn't let the opposition have
a sniff of a goal and they ran out of legs and got tired for the last 30
minutes.

"We also got the all-important clean sheet. We got it right at both ends,
with two goals scored and a clean sheet."

"It was a pity Kevin Nolan's didn't go in as it would have been one of the
goals of the season for us. It was an outstanding piece of individual
ability off a fizzing cross from Matt Taylor,"

"As soon as we came out in the second half they'd lost that momentum and we
took real control of the game and thoroughly deserved to win it. Once you
wear them down, which we did, you can play as you want to.

"When you see the confidence flood back into the players like it did when we
got the goal, it is great. We have to carry that confidence into Saturday's
game with Reading."

"We had thirty minutes when Peterborough were - like most teams we play-
right up for it and were causing us a few problems with the high tempo they
created.

"At half-time we said we just need to be a bit more composed on the ball and
get our full-backs in the game a bit more and that was the key to the
victory. George McCartney in the second half, Joey O'Brien in the first and
then Julien in the second, all created the chances that we had today and in
the end I was disappointed we didn't score a few more.

"We had two severe blows at half time. Abdy Faye had to go to hospital with
a severe head injury, which we hope is only a severe bruise and not a
fractured skull. Joey also pulled a thigh muscle so it shows how important
it is that we have the players fit and available. "

"We have a score to settle with Reading. We had two sent off and lost 3-0 so
we want to make sure we turn it into a big victory on Saturday but we look
forward to it,"

"The only problems we have are the injuries and the fact that we played on
Tuesday and they didn't. Energy levels are going to have to be recharged as
quickly as possible. Reading are going to come and fight for their lives
against us and make it very difficult.

"We've got to be up for it like we were against Peterborough in the second
half. Then hopefully we'll start winning at home as well as away."

[On the Chants]

"The perception of some people is deluded as the facts about my teams
clearly speak for themselves.
"It is a tag that has followed me around for a long time and one I'm never
going to be able to shift. I can't do anything about that but I can win
football matches.

"We have had to overcome home teams playing with a lot of energy in front of
full houses throughout this season. We did it again here and once we got the
goals, we out-passed and outplayed Peterborough.

"It was a good performance, although not as good as at Burnley on Saturday.
We only drew that game though so everyone was miserable whereas they will be
happy tonight."

[On Home Form]

"I think we've lost three at home all season so I don't know why they are
not harmonious - you'll have to ask the fans that,"

"Perhaps their expectations are too much and they're getting a bit carried
away, I don't know."
"The pressure is on us like it is every week. We have more pressure on us
than anyone else, but we have to live with that and deliver, and today we
did. Let's hope we do on Saturday."

"I looked at the facts, and the facts are that at Burnley we've out-played
them, out-passed them, away from home, and all the other six teams recently
we've done exactly the same, that we've drawn against.

"The only team we didn't outplay was Southampton with 10 men recently, and
that's probably eight games ago."

"It didn't start off from there though [the media] - it started off from
other managers many years ago, because they got jealous because I kept
beating them.

"It's there and I just have to carry on, I don't let it affect me
personally, I just know what's good for the players at West Ham, I know
what's good for West Ham as a football club, and I know how to win football
matches."

Season 2011/12 Scorers and Red Cards

Kevin Nolan - 10 (10 League)
Carlton Cole - 9 (9 League)
Mark Noble - 7 (7 League)
Sam Baldock - 5 (5 League)
Ricardo Vaz Te - 3 (3 League)
Jack Collison - 3 (3 League)
James Tomkins - 3 (3 League)
Own Goal - 3 (3 League)
Gary O'Neil - 2 (2 League)
Winston Reid - 2 (2 League)
John Carew - 2 (2 League)
Frederique Piquionne - 2 (2 League)
Papa Bouba Diop - 1 (1 League)
Joey O'Brien - 1 (1 League)
Matthew Taylor - 1 (1 League)
Henri Lansbury - 1 (1 League)
Julien Faubert - 1 (1 League)
Frank Nouble - 1 (1 League)
Nicky Maynard - 1 (1 League)
George McCartney - 1 (1 League)
Danny Collins - 1 (1 League)
Scott Parker - 1 (1 League)
Junior Stanislas - 1 (1 Cup)


Red Cards

Callum McNaughton - 1 (vs Aldershot home)
Frederique Piquionne - 1 (vs Portsmouth home)
Joey O'Brien - 1 (vs Reading away)
Jack Collison - 1 (vs Reading away)
Kevin Nolan - 1 (vs Millwall home)
Matthew Taylor - 1 (vs Southampton home)
Robert Green - 1 (vs Blackpool away)*

*rescinded by FA on appeal

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Faye's in a daze
The Sun
Last Updated: 29th March 2012

WEST HAM'S Abdoulaye Faye has escaped serious injury following an horrific
clash of heads in the 2-0 win at Peterborough. The Senegal defender collided
with home striker Paul Taylor and was taken to hospital. Boss Sam Allardyce
feared Faye, 34, had fractured his skull. Scans showed only severe bruising
but Faye is a doubt for Saturday's crunch with Reading.

Hammers striker Carlton Cole revealed he received racist abuse on his
Twitter site soon after the London Road date. It came hours after student
Liam Stacey was jailed for posting offensive comments about Fabrice Muamba.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Vengeful West Ham star: Reading showed us no respect
Dave Evans, West Ham Correspondent
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
5:06 PM
London 24

West Ham midfielder Julien Faubert has thrown down the gauntlet to Reading
ahead of Saturday's promotion showdown by saying the Royals have no respect
for the Hammers. The 28-year-old France international was part of the team
that were thumped 3-0 at the Madejski Stadium back in December when both
Joey O'Brien and Jack Collison were red-carded and he was not impressed by
what he witnessed. "It wasn't a good day, but we will make a bad day for
them when they come as they don't respect us," he said this week. "They
tried to do some crazy things on the pitch and they don't respect us so we
are waiting for them to come to give them bad things on Saturday."

Faubert is hinting at the controversial moment during the first game when
winger Jimmy Kebe taunted the Hammers by pulling up his socks mid-dribble,
an action that resulted in Collison lashing out and being sent off. "I am
not the only one to think about this because we have been waiting for this
for a long time, but now we are ready and we want to win this game
definitely – that is what is going to happen," he added. As if the game
wasn't big enough already, those sorts of words are likely to fan the flames
of rivalry between the two for a game where if the Hammers can win, they
will leapfrog the Royals back into the automatic promotion positions.

West Ham midfielder Gary O'Neil is hoping that the team can find the home
form that will pay Reading back for the earlier defeat. We haven't lost to
many sides this year so getting beat 3-0 at Reading is something that the
lads will want to put right," he insisted, after the 2-2 draw at
Peterborough on Tuesday. "There is only one real focus and that is to finish
in the top two and we need to win on Saturday to give ourselves a chance.
"That is the only motivation that we need."

If West Ham are to win their first home game since February 4, then they are
likely to do it without Abdoulaye Faye and Joey O'Brien. Both were replaced
at half time at London Road with Faye suffering a head injury and O'Brien a
thigh strain. Faubert is likely to start, though Guy Demel is fit, while
Jack Collison will come back into contention. Saturday's game is simply the
biggest of the season so far and though it may not be decisive, whoever wins
will have a huge psychological advantage.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce: a good but stubborn manager who must secure promotion for
West Ham
When you have failed to win trophies for as long as Newcastle United and
West Ham, there is perhaps an emphasis on style over substance.
By Luke Edwards3:51PM BST 28 Mar 20127
The Telegraph

Perhaps Sam Allardyce would seem less like a round peg in a square hole if
he was not so keen to tell everyone that is stupid. Allardyce is a manager
who believes winning is all that counts; that there are no points awarded
for artistic impression, flair or entertainment value. He does not want
plaudits for the way his teams play the game, he wants points and he is not
afraid to tell people just that – repeatedly. It is a mantra that has served
him well at clubs like Bolton and Blackburn, the just glad to be among the
elite sides that need to make the most of limited resources and do what they
can. The picture was rather different at Newcastle and it is a vista largely
shared at West Ham.. These are clubs with a tradition of playing with
panache - clubs where fans have pride in the manner in which their team go
about their business as a substitute for their persistent failure to live up
to other, grander expectations.

Allardyce claims he was never given a fair chance at Newcastle and, to an
extent, he is right. He was Freddie Shepherd's final managerial appointment
just months before Mike Ashley booted the former chairman out in the summer
of 2007. Managers who are not appointed by the owner are always running up
hill and Newcastle were mid-table in the Premier League when he was sacked
just eight months after he had left Bolton to accept the "big job at a big
club" he craved. Newcastle had started well, enjoying their best start to a
Premier League season in more than a decade, but when results dipped,
Allardyce's football philosophy became the issue.
Significantly, having worked for local paper The Journal during Allardyce's
brief Tyneside tenure, few moaned about his appointment, in fact he was
largely welcomed.

Newcastle fans had grown tired of the constant near-misses and their flaky
reputation. They had tried the Entertainers route under Kevin Keegan and Sir
Bobby Robson and fallen short of the standards needed to actually put a
silver pot in a dusty trophy cabinet. Allardyce was perceived as a manager
who would introduce a steely streak, a manager who would bring winning
football and if that meant scrappy 1-0 victories, a new emphasis on defence
and set-pieces, it was a price worth paying. Allardyce, though, was too keen
to hammer home the point, taking a slightly mocking tone whenever
conversation moved towards reflecting on the club's recent flirts with
triumph and the Keegan era in particular. A mistake in a part of the world
where Keegan was still hero worshiped and the 1995/6 season run-in meltdown
was still lauded, if only for the fact the ride had been an exhilarating
experience for a generation of supporters who remembered the dark days.
Allardyce implied Newcastle had nothing to be proud of because they had
actually failed to win the league. They were losers in the end. True, but he
failed to appreciate the context. Newcastle fans had never expected to win
the league that season. Three years earlier they had believed they were
going to be relegated to the third tier of English football, the culmination
of decades of mis-management and failure.

Keegan had completely transformed the football landscape and helped give an
entire city its self-esteem back in the process after the dire
post-industrial eighties.
Allardyce did not stop there. Annoyed by what he perceived as negative
reporting of his team's performances, Allardyce told reporters they were
"miserable" because they were stuck in the North-East and wanted to be where
the real action was in London or Manchester.

Maybe some did, but most were, like the fans most of them used to be, loved
the region they called home. North-East people do not have an inferiority
complex when it comes to where they live, they are smug about it. It all
helped to create an atmosphere where people were waiting for Allardyce to
fail and as soon as results dropped, the criticism focused on the manner in
which they were achieved. Allardyce responded with typical bullishness. He
knew best, he understood the game and he had the success to back it up. The
bullet came at the start of January after four league games without a win
and an ugly 0-0 draw at Championship side Stoke City in the FA Cup. But it
was a 4-1 home defeat to Portsmouth at the start of November, less than four
months into his first season, that sowed the seeds of doubt and discontent.
Newcastle were ripped to shreds despite all the talk of defence comes first.

The players were more interested on what they could do with the ball than
worrying about stopping the opposition having it. Allardyce's approach
insisted that nullifying the opposition was always the first priority and it
fuelled a negative approach. Ashley, seeking a tonic to the drabness, added
insult to Allardyce's badly injured ego, he lured Keegan out of retirement
to replace him. Allardyce is a good manager, but he is stubborn and highly
opinionated. At West Ham, he is suffering many of the same problems, but he
is either unable or unwilling to change his philosophy just to pander to an
increasingly restless crowd. Ultimately, Allardyce was brought in to do a
job - protect the business by making sure of promotion back to the Premier
League at the first attempt. He may yet do that and it is premature to
believe Allardyce is a busted flush. Go up and he will be vindicated in
everything he has done. Fail and he'll surely be swelling the ranks of the
unemployed.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United youngster features in England defeat
Guardian Series
3:45pm Wednesday 28th March 2012 in News

West Ham United youngster Leo Chambers came on during England Under-17's 1-0
defeat to Georgia. The defender was brought on in the 75th minute in
Georgia.
A Giorgi Papunashvili goal in the third minute of added time sunk England in
the elite round qualifier for the European Championships.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Bobby Zamora not looking for QPR exit route to West Ham – agent
Metro.co.uk

QPR striker Bobby Zamora is not looking for a move to West Ham, according to
the player's agent. The former Hammers frontman is currently on a contract
of around £70,000-a-week without a relegation release clause. QPR find
themselves in the bottom three in the Premier League and will be forced to
sell players or face financial turmoil if they fail to beat the drop, with a
number of players in a similar scenario to Zamora. Rumours have also
circulated that the England international is unhappy with the Loftus Road
side's training facilities and a lack of professionalism at the club. But
his agent Eric Black refuted the speculation and told West London Sport:
'It's total rubbish. Bobby's said nothing of the sort to me. There's no
truth in it whatsoever. As for the training ground, it's not as bad as some
people make out. Chelsea did okay when they were there, didn't they?' A
mooted move back to West Ham could keep England hopeful Zamora in the
Premier League next season if Mark Hughes' side fail to beat the drop. The
Upton Park outfit currently find themselves in third position in the
Championship and are just one point shy of an automatic promotion place.

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