Daily WHUFC News - 14th November 2012

The Big Interview: Guy Demel
WHUFC.com
Guy Demel is pleased to be showing the West Ham United fans what he can do after a strong start
13.11.2012

Guy Demel is relishing the opportunity to finally make his mark on England's top division with West Ham United after a career spent mainly plying his trade at some of the biggest teams in Germany. The Ivory Coast international spent a season with Arsenal at the turn of the century without making a single appearance before moving abroad and enjoying huge success with Borussia Dortmund and then Hamburger SV. After playing a pivotal role in West Ham's promotion back to the Barclays Premier League last season, Demel has been a key player in a Hammers backline that has managed five clean sheets already this season.

Guy, you missed a few weeks recently through injury. What was the problem and how has it progressed?

GD: "I tore my hernia, so I had to have an operation two weeks ago. After a couple of days we started the rehab and everything went really well. This week was my first week back training with the team and I got the opportunity to play 20 minutes at Newcastle, so I was very happy, though I need a couple more games to get back my top form.

Was it frustrating getting injured after starting the season so well?

GD: "Yeah, but that kind of thing happens in a season. What is important is the team so it doesn't really matter who plays. It is always better to come back into a team that is winning, rather than come back in a team that is struggling.
"I am happy that the players in my position in those couple of games did really well. It is good to have competition in the team and now I am just looking to get
back on to my best form and give my best when the coach and the team need me. "There are so many games in this league so I am sure that I will get my chance."

Was it hard coming off the bench against Newcastle when they were throwing everything they had at West Ham to try and get a goal back?

GD: "Of course it is quite a difficult thing to do because the game was quite intensive. Newcastle were really pushing in the last few minutes, but I think we did really well and my team-mates really helped me as well, but it wasn't easy to be fair.
"Hatem Ben Arfa and some of the other lads are quick so it is difficult to catch them but the most important thing is that we won today, we are near the top of the league, it is a good start to the season."

Was the Newcastle win West Ham's best performance of the season so far?

GD: "I think we have had others too. Manchester City at home, QPR away. But now we have to have success at home in the next game just to make this game count.

It was West Ham's fifth Premier League clean sheet and their sixth in all competitions. The defence really does seem to be playing well at the moment?

GD: "This is our strength this season. Everyone in the team defends. Of course there is the back four and the keeper, but the whole team defends and even the players when they come off the bench have done well.

"When the first defender is the striker then everything works well."

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Hammers head off for international duty
WHUFC.com
A number of West Ham United players have travelled to represent their countries
12.11.2012

West Ham United players will travel far and wide to represent their respective international sides this week. Mohamed Diame, Guy Demel and Winston Reid will be in action for their senior national teams, while Blair Turgott and Dan Potts will turn out for England's Under-19 side. Reid will travel the furthest distance. The centre-back faces an 11,500-mile round-trip to Shanghai, where his New Zealand side take on the People's Republic of China in a friendly. The All Whites will take on China at the Hongkou Football Stadium at 7.30pm local time on Wednesday (11.30am UK time). The No2 has been in outstanding form this season, helping the Hammers to keep a Barclays Premier League-leading five clean sheets in their opening eleven league matches. Capped 12 times by his country, North Shore-born Reid starred for New Zealand at the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals, where he scored a dramatic equaliser in the All Whites' 1-1 group-stage draw with Slovakia.

Diame will also be boarding a long-haul flight as his Senegal side travel to Niger for a friendly in the capital city Niamey. Senegal did not qualify for the 2013 CAF Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa so are likely to use the game to start their planning for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The 25-year-old midfielder has become an important member of his national team in recent years, captaining the Lions of Teranga at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, where they reached the quarter-finals.

Demel will have a much shorter trip to contend with as Ivory Coast, who have qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations, travel to Austria for a friendly international in Linz on Wednesday and will use the fixture as a warm-up for the tournament, which kicks-off on 19 January. The right-back is one of five English-based players in the Elephants squad along with Manchester City trio Kolo Toure and Abdul Razak and Wigan Athletic striker Arouna Kone.
Potts and Turgott will both hope to be involved when Noel Blake's England Under-19s host Finland at AFC Telford's New Buck's Head stadium on Tuesday evening. England will use the game as preparation for their forthcoming 2013 UEFA European Under-19 Championship Elite Round qualifiers, which will take place next year.

Turgott has been capped more than 25 times at age-group level by England and starred for his country at the UEFA European Under-17 Championship finals and FIFA Under-17 World Cup finals in 2011. Potts, in contrast, made his England debut for the Under-18s in a friendly victory over Poland in March this year, having previously represented the United States.

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Diame has release clause
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 14th November 2012
By: Staff Writer

A tabloid has claimed that West Ham's Momo Diame can talk to other clubs in January due to a release clause in his current contract. The Senegalese international joined United on a free transfer from Wigan Athletic in the summer and promptly signed a three-year contract that appeared to tie him down until 2015. But tomorrow's Daily Mail claims that Diame insisted on including a clause in his contract allowing him to speak with any club offering in excess of £7million for his services. And, according to the story, that has alerted the likes of Newcastle and Everton who are just two of the clubs said to have been inpressed by the 25-year-old's start to the 2012/13 season.

Diame, who had been interesting the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United prior to agreeing to join West Ham in June first moved to England from Spanish club Reyo to the Latics in August 2009 in a cash-plus-player swap ( €3.8 million plus defender Antonio Amaya). Upon moving to east London, he said: "I'm very happy and very excited to have joined the club and I'm looking forward to the start of the season. I know the fans here get behind the team all the time and I'm looking forward to showing everybody what I can do on the pitch."

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West Ham want to extend the trial of young Chelsea striker Walter Figueira
By James Pearson - Follow me on Twitter @SkySportsPeo. Last Updated: November 13, 2012 6:09pm
SSN

Sky Sports understands West Ham are hoping to extend the trial of Chelsea youngster Walter Figueira after he impressed for their Under-18s against Arsenal.
The 17-year-old marksman, who scored in Saturday's 2-0 U18s victory over the Gunners, initially joined the Hammers for a week. The Londoner has been with Chelsea for the past three years after joining from Hampton & Richmond Borough FC. West Ham are keen to see more of Figueira with a view to making the youngster's stay a permanent arrangement. Figueira, who is out of contract in the summer, will have another chance to impress when the Hammers' U18s take on West Brom on Saturday.

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West Ham star Winston Reid is being tracked by a host of top clubs
By Graeme Bailey - Tweet me: @skygraemebailey. Last Updated: November 13, 2012 1:53pm
SSN

Sky Sports understands that West Ham United defender Winston Reid is attracting interest from some of Europe's top clubs. The 24-year-old has been outstanding for The Hammers this season since their return to the Premier League. West Ham are set to open talks with the defender and his representatives over a new deal in recognition of the huge strides he has taken in the past 12 months. Reid has two-and-a-half-years left on his current deal, but the terms are from when he joined the club from Midtjylland in 2010. It is believed West Ham are ready to offer him a significant pay hike. However, Sky Sports understands that the performances of the New Zealand stopper have not gone unnoticed elsewhere. Clubs from Italy, Spain and Germany have all been alerted to his progress but the interest is strongest in the Premier League, where some of West Ham's rivals are weighing up bids, even as early as January, to try and lure him away from Upton Park. West Ham will fight hard to keep Reid, and remain hopeful he will sign a new deal.

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Kevin Nolan is not surprised by West Ham's start to the Premier League season
Last Updated: November 13, 2012 9:55am
SSN

West Ham midfielder Kevin Nolan says he is not surprised by his newly-promoted side's impressive start to the Premier League season. The Hammers moved up to sixth in the table when Nolan's first-half winner clinched a 1-0 victory at his former club Newcastle on Sunday. Many tipped Sam Allardyce's men to struggle after they booked their top-flight return with a narrow Championship play-off final victory over Blackpool in May. Allardyce strengthened his promotion-winning squad by signing a number of experienced Premier League campaigners, including Jussi Jaaskelainen, James Collins and Andy Carroll, in the summer.

And they have made a healthy start by taking 18 points from their opening 11 matches. Nolan said: "If people have been surprised by us so far, then that's their fault for underestimating us. "We added some more quality to the squad that we came up with in the summer, so we knew we had a chance of finishing in the top 10. We're looking like we can do that."

Meanwhile, Nolan says he has no ill-feeling towards Newcastle chairman Mike Ashley and manager Alan Pardew following his exit from St James' Park. The 30-year-old swapped Tyneside for East London in the summer of 2011 after Ashley refused to hand him a long-term contract. Allardyce swooped in a £3m deal for his former Bolton skipper, who helped fire the Hammers back into the Premier League with 13 goals. Nolan said: "I needed to get the best for myself and Newcastle needed to get what they felt was the best for them. "I'd shake the owner's hand as willingly as I'd shake Alan Pardew's, because I got on well with them and they were good to me. "I hope there is no animosity between us. I built up a great relationship with people while I was Newcastle."

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Diame Allegedy Attracting New PL Admirers!
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die

There was an interesting report this evening that the likes of Everton, Newcastle Utd and Fulham are casting envious eyes in the direction of West Ham's midfield dynamo, Mo Diame. More controversially, the report alleges that Diame negotiated a clause in his contract that he can speak to another club if they bid £7m or above. If that is true, then West Ham have learnt absolutely nothing from the Demba Ba contract situation. I certainly hope that it is not true.

Diame has been massive for us this season. His power and strength in midfield have added a whole new dimension to the team. In particular, Diame's surging runs cause panic in the opposition ranks, even if he could do with improving his decision-making in the final third. No doubt it is something that Sam Allardyce, and his coaching staff, will have raised with Diame and that he will be working on. He has formed a very good midfield unit with Noble and Nolan. Indeed, it is a long time since we have had such a well balanced and effective midfield trio. If we are to progress, we need to retain our best players and strengthen the squad still further via the transfer market and our Academy graduates.

It is inevitable in a way, given West Ham's excellent return to the PL, that other clubs will start taking an interest in our players. But the club must resist the temptation to cash in and aim to build a squad capable of challenging for regular top 6 finishes. Even his sternest critics must surely concede that Sam Allardyce has turned the club around, since the shambolic relegation season of 2010-11, and has built both a very solid and promising foundation. This West Ham team is solid in defence, well organised and capable of competing in the PL. Allardyce deserves a new contract and the ongoing commitment of the club to build upon and progress the good work done to date. While admittedly, it is currently difficult to resist the top four sides, should they take an interest in one of our players, we must at least try. We should certainly not be selling our best assets to roughly comparable clubs like Everton, Newcastle Utd or Fulham. If we do that we stand nil chance of achieving the necessary progress.

Yesterday's Evening Standard ran a story comparing the current West Ham side with the 'boys of 1986,' who achieved the highest league finish in the club's history. It's a fun exercise, the type that fans like to engage in, even if arguably it is stretching it a bit to make the comparison at the moment. However, the fact is that the club could develop this team in to something special, given time, investment and a commitment to the Academy. The club must ditch it's former 'selling club tag' and turn us in to serious contenders for domestic honours and European football. Easier said than done I know, in competition with billionaire owned clubs like Man City and Chelsea, but we have to have the ambition and purpose to try to mount a genuine challenge to them.

West Ham's bubbles have nearly reached the sky so many times, only to fade and die. The fans deserve sustained success and, maybe, this time it can be delivered?

SJ. Chandos.

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The Allardyce effect: Why Big Sam deserves credit for changing the West Ham way into winning ways
The Mirror
13 Nov 2012 11:18
Ian Horrocks

Sam Allardyce has never been backwards in going forwards – on or off the football field. He thought he should have been England manager, he believes he would be a good Real Madrid boss and insists he is only a foreign name short of being offered a chance with a top-four club. Of course, such lofty claims have earned Dudley-born Allardyce a fair amount of ridicule but his record is nothing to laugh at. Now, the man so often accused of having illusions of grandeur is succeeding at a club that has regularly been burdened by an inflated opinion of themselves. Did you know West Ham won the World Cup? Or that they are the only club to have some supremely talented former players? Had you heard Upton Park is the Academy of football? None of that bothers Allardyce, who chose the new wallpaper in the Upton Park tunnel himself and replaced photographs of the old greats with pictures of West Ham's Championship play-off final victory.

Questioned about the famous 'West Ham way' soon after taking the job, Allardyce remarked the Hammers' recent way had been to lose games. He wasn't wrong. Allardyce quickly put that right, securing promotion at the first attempt and leading West Ham to a wonderful Premier League start that sees the club occupy sixth place ahead of Arsenal and Tottenham. In many ways, however, Allardyce and West Ham remain the odd couple. The fans are yet to fully embrace him and many still complain about his style of football. On the flip side, one suspects Allardyce will never be able to understand supporters who cling to the past and enjoy manipulating history through claret and blue-tinted spectacles. He doubts how many current Upton Park regulars saw Bobby Moore and Trevor Brooking play. Allardyce argues his billing as a long-ball manager is a myth. His teams play effective football and if that means moving the ball forwards quickly, then so-be-it. Sometimes it is pretty, sometimes it's not – you could say the same about 90 per cent of all Premier League clubs. And Allardyce is certainly no dinosaur. He was one of the first English-based managers to embrace sports science and psychology, and continues to search for the best and most innovative methods of keeping his players fit. Attention to detail is one of the 58-year-old's strengths.

While the loan capture of Andy Carroll grabbed the headlines and Kevin Nolan continues to show what a superb £3million signing he was, West Ham's impressive start has been built on an incredible defensive display. Of the rearguard that kept a clean sheet in the victory over Newcastle, goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and defender Joey O'Brien were signed on free transfers. Many people thought 37-year-old Jaaskelainen was heading towards retirement, while O'Brien had been playing on loan at Sheffield Wednesday before Allardyce snapped him up. Only Manchester City and Stoke have conceded less goals than West Ham so far this season. Moneyball is an annoying phrase that has only recently been adopted by so-called bright young football managers and chief executives, but Allardyce has been employing a similar transfer philosophy for years. He sees value in what the individual can add to the collective and discards name, reputation and popular opinion when making decisions on new signings. Midfielder Mohamed Diame, who joined West Ham on a free transfer after his Wigan contract expired, has proved to be one of the early signings of the season.

Yossi Benayoun was not brought in on loan to please the Hammers fans who so fondly remember the Israeli's first spell with the club. The appeal to Allardyce was his know-how and intelligence, regardless of where he used to play. Bolton, Newcastle and Blackburn all suffered after Allardyce departed, something West Ham fans ready to chant Paolo Di Canio's name at the slightest hint of a slip may wish to consider. The West Ham way too often brings false hope. The Allardyce way brings results.

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Everton and Newcastle are dazzled by West Ham ace Diame
PUBLISHED: 22:38, 13 November 2012 | UPDATED: 22:38, 13 November 2012
Daily Mail

West Ham midfielder Mohamed Diame is attracting interest from rival clubs just four months after signing on a free transfer from Wigan. The 25-year-old is understood to have a clause in his contract that allows him to talk to other clubs if £7million is offered. The Senegal star was outstanding against Newcastle on Sunday and Everton and Fulham are among his admirers. West Ham are hoping to extend the trial of Chelsea striker Walter Figueira, 17, after he scored for their Under 18s against Arsenal at the weekend.

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