Daily WHUFC News - 28th August 2012

Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce is expecting a stronger defensive showing when West Ham United
host Crewe Alexandra
25.08.2012

Sam Allardyce is looking to put things right on Tuesday night after two
defensive errors cost his West Ham United side dear in Wales at the weekend.
Big Sam's side play host to Crewe Alexandra in the Capital One Cup second
round on Tuesday evening and the manager is grateful that the opportunity to
right the wrongs of the weekend has come around so quickly. Swansea City
took full advantage of the Hammers' lapses at the back to steal a 3-0 win, a
situation Allardyce is not keen to see repeated at the Boleyn Ground when
the Railwaymen visit. "In the end everyone that saw the game will know why
we lost it," said Big Sam. "Two major errors made by our goalkeeper and our
central defender are not things that are easy to come back from. I was
really disappointed and we never really recovered from it. "We've got to
make sure that those kind of errors don't creep into our game again. Where
we were so good at the back last week against Aston Villa we were dreadful
this week. The Premier League is unforgiving and if you make those kind of
errors you're going to get punished for them. We've now got a very important
game against Crewe where we've got to try to bounce back before Fulham at
home."

Although the scoreline was not what West Ham would have been hoping for from
their first away game since their return to the Barclays Premier League,
some heart can be taken from the promising debut of Matt Jarvis. The new No7
looked lively throughout and came close to setting up Kevin Nolan with a
dangerous cross as early as the first minute. "It's about us continuing to
provide him with the kind of service he requires and when you give him that
service he's exceptionally talented in the final third. The full-backs just
couldn't stop him crossing the ball. When he drops the shoulder the
full-back doesn't know if he's going to go left or right as he's equally as
good with either foot. "It's been a big week for the lad. He tired a bit
towards the end as it's been such a busy week, but he'll only get better and
better as he settles in with the players and gets to know them better."

With the Crewe game falling so quickly after the Swansea match, Big Sam is
likely to shuffle his pack with several experienced players being offered
the chance to gain some valuable match time. There could be first starts for
the likes of Stephen Henderson, Modibo Maiga and Alou Diarra, with a couple
of Academy graduates included as well to help aid their development "We've
got a hugely-experienced group of players to play on Tuesday night and that
will provide an opportunity to get as many minutes for them as some of the
other players. We've got new signings like Maiga and Diarra that we can give
a game to too. They can play with people like Joey O'Brien, Nick Maynard and
Ricardo Vaz Te, who could all feature. We'll have an experienced squad that
should have enough to beat Crewe and get us through to the next round. "Our
priority is the Premier League as always, but what it does is offer the
players who are disappointed about not playing is the chance to play in a
very good competition. It tells me where they are and are they staking a
claim to get in the first team to play as early as Fulham next week. I'm
hoping the players make a statement to me on Tuesday that says I've got to
play them in the first team against Fulham next week."

The transfer window closes on Friday evening and although West Ham have
already bought in nine players since May, Big Sam is keeping an open mind
about whether there will be any more arrivals. "There is a lot to be said
about the transfer window. Managers before me have often said that there is
no need for a window or it needs to close before the start of the season. As
time goes on I am beginning to think they are right. I see no reason why we
could not attempt to do this on a trial period and see how it goes rather
than set it in stone."

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Noble keeping calm
WHUFC.com
Mark Noble insists the Hammers are still full of confidence after their
first away defeat since January
27.08.2012

Mark Noble has called for calm after West Ham United's 3-0 Barclays Premier
League defeat at Swansea City. The Hammer of the Year admitted that
defensive errors and missed chances had left Sam Allardyce's side with
little hope of collecting points at the Liberty Stadium, but insisted that
the manner of the defeat would not be repeated anytime soon. Instead, Noble
said the mistakes and profligacy that cost West Ham dear in Wales would make
them even more determined to put things right when Fulham visit the Boleyn
Ground on Saturday. "We started really well," the No16 pointed out. "We knew
Swansea like to pop it about and really play football and we stopped that
early doors, but then we obviously let in two silly goals. Apart from those
goals, I don't think they had another clear chance in the first half. We had
an uphill task after that. "We put them on back foot early on. We had a game
plan and until their first goal it worked. Our set-plays caused them a lot
of trouble and we were unlucky not to get a couple of goals, but at this
level you can't afford to make mistakes because you get punished. "Obviously
if we'd gone in 2-1 down or even level at 2-2 with the chances that we had,
it would have made things different. It was all down to us with the mistakes
that we made. We started well enough but then two mistakes give them a 2-0
lead going into the second half and it was an uphill task. "It was a
frustrating game because they kept the ball so well in the second half that
we couldn't really press them well enough. Being 2-0 up, they didn't really
need to score another goal so they just kept it and made us run. That sort
of football is hard work. "We have got to look forward now. We have another
home game to look forward to and we've got to win that one."

West Ham's defeat at the weekend was just their second in 23 matches dating
back to 31 January. With that enviable record in mind, Noble said the
Hammers would not allow their confidence to be dented by one bad day at the
office. "We went to Swansea on Saturday to win the game and I said to the
fellas that we only lost because of the mistakes and nothing else. We
created the chances but didn't convert them and were a bit unlucky to be
honest. They got the luck they needed and the goals they needed to win the
game. "People don't make mistakes on purpose. They were silly mistakes that
professionals shouldn't make, but everybody makes them now and then. It's
just a case of not making too many of them, but we made two in one game and
they got punished. "We're not used to losing games after last season, so it
hurts that little bit more. We need to pick ourselves up, forget about it
and look forward to the next one."

One plus point at Swansea was the sight of Matt Jarvis in a West Ham shirt.
Noble believes the Hammers' new No7 will add a new dimension to the team
over the course of the Barclays Premier League campaign. "He has got loads
of quality. His crossing is brilliant and he has got loads of pace, so he's
going to be a massive asset to us. Obviously we didn't have that much of the
ball on Saturday so he was defending a lot of the time. "Hopefully when we
play other teams and different styles of opponents he can get into the game
a bit more and show everybody the ability that he has got. He is a top
quality player and we can get him the ball more in future games and he can
show the quality that he possesses."

Jarvis and Noble will both expect to feature against Martin Jol's Fulham on
Saturday. Having beaten Aston Villa 1-0 in their opening home game of the
season, Noble said the Hammers would be going all out to make it six points
from six at the Boleyn Ground. "We will go into it like we did the last home
game. We'll be positive because we're at home. We obviously won our last
game at home so we'll go into it with confidence. We've got to go and put
pressure on them and win the game.
"They have got some good players and have had some good results but we're
looking forward to it now."

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West Ham v Crewe
KO 19:45
27 August 2012

CARLING CUP SECOND ROUND
Venue: Upton Park Date: Tuesday, 28 August Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Coverage: Watch highlights on The League Cup Show on Thursday, 30 August
from 2320 BST, BBC One

TEAM NEWS

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is set to hand his bench players a chance to
impress in Tuesday's Capital One Cup meeting with Crewe. Summer signings
Alou Diarra and Modibo Maiga could start, but defender James Collins (groin)
is set to be rested.

Crewe are without keeper Steve Phillips (knee), utility-man Matt Tootle
(hip) and forward Michael West (heel). Boss Steve Davis has promised changes
for the trip to Upton Park following the 5-1 defeat at Brentford.

MATCH FACTS

West Ham

The Hammers were runners-up to West Brom in 1966, and to Liverpool in 1981.
This is West Ham's 200th League Cup match (W103, D39, L57).
They were semi-finalists in the season before last but the Hammers were
victims of League Two Aldershot Town in the first round last term; the first
time in 10 years they had not figured in the third round.
Sam Allardyce's men have failed to score in only one of their last 16 League
Cup outings.
Crewe

The Alex reached the third round four years ago.
Crewe were also third round qualifiers in the first ever League Cup in 1960,
but have never progressed beyond that stage.
The 5-0 victory over Hartlepool in this season's first round was the
Railwaymen's widest ever League Cup victory.
The League One club have not knocked out a Premier League club since Wigan
in the second round in 2006.

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Sam wants selection headache
Hammers boss hopes players take chance against Crewe
Last Updated: August 27, 2012 5:24pm
SSN

Sam Allardyce has urged his fringe men to seize their opportunity to shine
as he prepares to rotate his West Ham United squad against Crewe. The
Hammers go into Tuesday's Capital One Cup clash on the back of a
comprehensive 3-0 Premier League defeat at Swansea and Allardyce says there
are places up for grabs in his first-choice starting XI. He will give
chances to those players such as Alou Diarra and Modibo Maiga who have had
to make do with limited game time so far this campaign. "The players who are
disappointed about not playing get the opportunity to play in a very good
competition," said Allardyce. "It tells me where they are and are they
staking a claim to be playing as early as Fulham next week. "They can go and
make a statement to me. I want players to show me they should be playing."

Experienced

Allardyce admits that Premier League survival is his No.1 target for the
season but says he would love a cup run and will not be fielding a weakened
side against Crewe. He said: "My approach is to field a group of players
that will be hugely experienced on Tuesday and that will be a great
opportunity for some of the players who haven't had as many minutes on the
pitch. "We have new signings, like Maiga, like Diarra, that we can give a
game to. "There is Nicky Maynard too, Ricardo Vaz Te, Matt Taylor. We'll
have an experienced squad with a couple of younger players and it should be
enough to beat Crewe and get us into the next round."

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Big Sam not planning late deals
Manager insists Hammers have finished spending
Last Updated: August 27, 2012 7:13pm
SSN

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce says he does not expect the club to be busy
in the final few days of the transfer window. The Hammers have brought in
nine new players this summer and parted ways with the same number as
Allardyce reshuffled his squad in preparation for the club's return to the
Premier League. The Upton Park outfit are still being linked with targets as
Friday's deadline draws nearer, including Liverpool duo Andy Carroll and Joe
Cole. But Allardyce says further signings are unlikely after speaking with
the club's co-chairman, who has informed the manager the Hammers have
reached their spending limit.

Limit

He told Sky Sports: "I don't see much at all, to be honest with you, in
terms of ins. "I think that our finances now are on the limit, as it were,
speaking to our co-chairmen. I think that we'll work with what we've got."
Allardyce added if he does make any last-minute reinforcements it is likely
to be on a loan basis. He added: "We'll never say never, you never know what
might turn up. But if it's going to be anything, it's never going to get
past a loan deal, I think."

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Match Preview: West Ham v Crewe Alexandra
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die

It's traditional now to ring the changes for League Cup ties, especially in
he early rounds, and Sam Allardyce has signalled that is exactly his
intention against Crewe. Because it worked so well against Aldershot last
year didn't it?! But it's true that new signings in particular need to be
given a chance. But we should take this competition very seriously, and try
to win it.

It's fair to assume Stephen Henderson will get his first competitive game in
goal, but quite how the defence will line up is anyone's guess. There's
certainly an argument for Jordan Spence and young Daniel Potts to get a
game. I'd like to see Diarra play alongside Tomkins in the centre too.

Assuming this is a real 4-3-3 as opposed to a 4-5-1, I think we'll see a
front line of Vaz Te, Maiga and Jarvis, with Nicky Maynard also getting 45
minutes, but surely against Crewe we need to go to a 4-4-2, with Maynard and
Maiga playing up front. Yeah, you're right, I'm living in dreamland, aren't
I? Because perish the thought we should be adventurous!

Sadly I won't be able to go as I'll be doing my radio show, but I look
forward to hearing your views on what transpires!

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Sam OK with a headache
Published: 27th August 2012
The Sun

SAM ALLARDYCE has urged his stand-in West Ham stars to give him a selection
headache. Joey O'Brien, Nicky Maynard, Ricardo Vaz Te and Matty Taylor are
all expected to start tonight at home to League One club Crewe. And Hammers
boss Allardyce said: "It will be a great opportunity for them to get as many
minutes on the pitch as possible. "And it will tell me if they are staking a
claim to be in the first-team squad."

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West Ham v Crewe team news: Big Sam gives bench warmers a chance
The Mirror

Sam Allardyce has challenged his squad players to use the Capital One Cup to
prove they deserve a chance to play in the league. West Ham lost at home to
Aldershot at this same second-round stage of the League Cup last season. But
after bringing in nine players over the summer, the Hammers boss said: "Our
priority is the Premier League, as always, but what it does is offer the
players who are disappointed about not playing the chance to play in a very
good competition. "It tells me where they are staking a claim to get into
the first team. I'm hoping the players make a statement to me that says I
have got to play them in the first team against Fulham next week. "We've got
new signings like Maiga and Diarra that we can give a game to. "They can
play with people like Joey O'Brien, Nick Maynard and Ricardo Vaz Te, who
could all feature. "We'll have an experienced squad that should have enough
to beat Crewe and get us through to the next round." Matt Jarvis may start
again on the wing following his debut at Swansea but defender James Collins
is set to be rested due to a niggling groin problem.

Provisional squad: Jaaskelainen, Henderson, Demel, Tomkins, Collins, Reid,
McCartney, O'Brien, Potts, Spence, Diarra, Diame, Noble, Taylor, O'Neil,
Nolan, Jarvis, Vaz Te, Maiga, Maynard, Cole.

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Anger at Cup ruling after Football League clubs forced to play strong teams
By MATT BARLOW
PUBLISHED: 22:30, 27 August 2012 | UPDATED: 22:30, 27 August 2012
Daily Mail

Football League clubs are under strict orders not to play weakened teams in
the League Cup this season - but Premier League teams can do as they please.
The new rule has been introduced into the newly named Capital One Cup, in an
effort to ensure supporters get value for money, but has provoked anger at
Football League clubs. Aggrieved managers feel the principle of different
rules for teams in the same competition is unfair and raised the issue at a
recent LMA meeting.
Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert can rotate his squad and rest players against
Tranmere on Tuesday, as can West Ham against Crewe, but Leeds, who play
Oxford, are among those clubs who must field a strong team.

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Allardyce admits Carroll move unlikely as West Ham spending stops
Goal.com
27 Aug 2012 20:06:00
By John Christodoulou

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce does not expect any more transfers into Upton
Park after hitting his spending limit, with a late bid for Liverpool striker
Andy Carroll unlikely. The Hammers have brought in nine fresh faces during
the summer as they prepare to battle to remain in the Premier League.
However the east London club have long been linked with the out-of-favour
Reds forward, as well as their former youth academy star, Joe Cole, both
reported to be surplus to requirements at Anfield. Allardyce told Sky
Sports: "I don't see much at all, to be honest with you, in terms of ins
[transfers in]. "I think that our finances now are on the limit, as it were,
speaking to our co-chairmen. I think that we'll work with what we've got."
The veteran manager left the door open for late movement but implied that
any such deals would only be temporary. "We'll never say never, you never
know what might turn up," he added, "but if it's going to be anything, it's
never going to get past a loan deal, I think."

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West Ham targeting surprise move for Liverpool midfielder
By talkSPORT | Monday, August 27, 2012

Joe Cole could be set for a shock return to West Ham before the end of the
transfer window. The Liverpool midfielder has struggled to make an impact at
Anfield since moving up north from Chelsea three years ago. And with Brendan
Rodgers radically altering the club's playing style it is believed he is
keen to offload a lot of the squad he has inherited from previous regimes.
Cole is believed to be among the players at Liverpool who have been told
they can leave the club and West Ham, who brought the 30-year-old through
their academy, have agreed a deal in principle for him to make a sensational
return to Upton Park. Any deal is far from being completed at the moment,
and talkSPORT understands Cole's future will become clearer by the middle of
the week. A formal offer is being prepared by Hammers' chiefs and then the
decision will rest with Cole.

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