Daily WHUFC News - 12th December 2012

Duo meet fans at Lakeside Store
WHUFC.com
George McCartney and Guy Demel met supporters at a special pre-Christmas
signing session
11.12.2012

West Ham United defenders George McCartney and Guy Demel met supporters at
the club's Lakeside Thurrock Store for a festive signing session on Tuesday.
Both players came straight from training to meet and greet fans, who queued
up at the shop to get autographs and photographs with their Hammers heroes.
Many were buying official club merchandise as gifts for Christmas for
relatives and friends and were delighted to add both McCartney and Demel's
signatures to the presents. The players signed everything from shirts to
Christmas cards and chatted to fans about how the season has gone so far.
Demel said: "It was good to meet our fans like this - we enjoy this and
everyone had nice messages of good luck for our next match. These are good
events to do and it was nice to see everyone." And McCartney added: "It was
good to see our fans and they were all talking about how pleased the season
is going for us, so it was good to hear that from them."

The next club store appearance is scheduled Tuesday 18 December, when
Carlton Cole and Matt Taylor will be visiting the Stadium Superstore from
3pm. Supporters should note that all player appearances and timings are
subject to change. Details will be published on whufc.com and
@whufc_official on twitter, should there be any changes. The signings give
fans the chance to find the perfect Christmas gift for Hammers fans. We have
lots of official merchandise to make the right present, none more so than a
2012/13 Macron replica shirt. Whether it is a gift for the Hammer in your
life or yourself, make it personal with official Premier League name and
number printing - available instore.

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Hammers feature in The Simpsons!
WHUFC.com
West Ham United were delighted to feature in the latest episode of hit TV
show The Simpsons
11.12.2012

West Ham United were delighted to feature in the latest episode of hit TV
show The Simpsons. The Hammers reportedly became the first-ever Barclays
Premier League club to appear on the long-running Fox animated sitcom
series, which depicts a family from the fictitious American town of
Springfield. West Ham featured in the seventh episode of the current series
- the 24th - entitled 'The Day The Earth Stood Cool', which aired on Sky1 on
Sunday evening. In the episode, Bart and Lisa are shown into the bedroom of
their new bohemian neighbour T-Rex. Hanging above T-Rex's bed is a large
banner emblazoned with the club's famous Boleyn Castle badge and the wording
'WEST HAM UNITED'. While the drumkit and bedroom carpet are both claret, the
banner is coloured green and gold!

West Ham follow in the footsteps of a host of famous sporting names to have
been included in The Simpsons, which has now passed the 500-episode mark
since it first aired as part of The Tracey Ullman Show in April 1987. Real
Madrid and Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo appeared before the 2010 FIFA
World Cup, while Spain's World Cup-winning side were turned into
Simpsons-style characters by the show's creator Matt Groening later the same
year. Tennis players Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, and Venus and Serena
Williams, basketball star LeBron James, boxer Oscar de la Hoya, American
football great Joe Namath and baseball players Don Mattingly, Wade Boggs and
Ken Griffey Jr. have all been immortalised in the show. Father Homer and son
Bart are also depicted as supporters of the local minor league baseball
team, the Springfield Isotopes.

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The Big Interview - Nick Haycock
WHUFC.com
Under-18s coach Nick Haycock discusses Monday's 3-1 FA Youth Cup third-round
victory at Aldershot Town
11.12.2012

Under-18s coach Nick Haycock said his players had risen to the challenge in
Monday's 3-1 FA Youth Cup third-round victory at Aldershot Town. Playing on
a bitterly cold night against useful and determined opponents, West Ham
United recovered from a nervous first half to score three second-half goals
and win through to the last-32. Striker Elliot Lee scored twice, either side
of a thumping header from Northern Ireland U17 international centre-back
Jamie Harney, as the Hammers completed a hard-fought success. Speaking to
West Ham TV afterwards, Haycock discussed the tie and the club's positive
approach to bring young players through from the Academy to the first-team
squad.

Nick, what was your assessment of a victory earned on a cold and, at times,
tricky night at the Ebb Stadium?

NH - "In the end it was a great victory. All credit to Aldershot because I
thought they were well-organised and had a game plan to try to upset us. I
thought there were a lot of niggly tackles and fouls but, at the end of the
day, our boys have got to learn that sometimes decisions don't go your way.
"I just felt that the younger lads, particularly the first-year scholars,
looked a little bit apprehensive, which is understandable and all part of
the development process that they are going through. It's probably the first
game in their lives which is a must-win game and if they lose they are out
of the competition. We set up to win every game but on a Saturday, win, lose
or draw it is in a league. The FA Youth Cup is different. You put your best
team out to try to win it.
"I think we missed the experience of Leo Chambers at the back, which is a
big miss both for him and for the club because he was pushing down the lines
of the first team. Dymon Labonne is another one who has an injury. He is a
second-year whose experience we could have done with in the forward line. I
think it told during the game. "As the game went on, we got more and more
into it. I still think we had the better chances and had we scored in the
first five minutes when we had two great chances, it may have settled the
lads down. Sometimes coming away to a smaller club in an environment that
the boys aren't used to, it took them time to adapt. Fair play to them,
though, because they avoided a giant-killing. It could have gone a different
way at various stages of the game so, all-in, I'm pleased."

Elliot Lee scored two typically clinical goals, while Jamie Harney's header
was a real thumping effort, wasn't it?

NH - "One of Jamie's main attributes is his heading and, in a game like that
where there was a lot of aerial stuff when they put the ball in our box, I
thought he was very good in the air. I said to him as we came off the pitch
that I thought he was one of our better performers and I felt that the game
suited him.
"Fair play to Elliot. I said to him at half-time that they had a game plan
to try to upset him. They had watched him play and credit to him because a
few years ago he'd have probably snapped and got himself a booking for
retaliating. At half-time, we said to him that 'They are nudging you and the
ref isn't giving everything, but if you keep your cool you will get your
chances' and that is what he is about - he's a clinical finisher and he took
both of his goals well."

It may sound silly, but did Aldershot Town's goal to make it 2-1 with 15
minutes to go give you a welcome opportunity to see how your players would
react to a difficult situation - especially as they did well and made it 3-1
to kill the game off?

NH - "I'd have preferred it if it had stayed 2-0! No, they could have had a
little wobble and Aldershot were getting balls into the box and they dealt
with it in the main. Aldershot did play the game the right way, but their
main threat came from set pieces. They had a little height advantage over
us, as most teams do at the minute as we are developing our players. "I have
to give Josh Cullen a mention as I brought him off but I could have brought
anyone off at half-time. I just felt we needed to get Kieran Bywater into
his best position in the middle of the park. We tried him out wide because
he's been doing well there but I think the change gave us a bit more
stability. I said to Josh that it is part of his development and that it
could have been one of eleven at half-time. He was the one I replaced mainly
because I felt that their major danger would come from set pieces and I
needed height out there and Josh is still physically developing. Josh is a
terrific player and a terrific lad and I told him that it was all part of
his experience."

The Under-18s now take a break for Christmas and the New Year before
returning for the Barclays U18 Premier League Tier One Stage and the next
round of the FA Youth Cup. How do you keep the boys ticking over?

NH - "It was brilliant that the assistant manager Neil McDonald and the
Development Squad coach Ian Hendon both came along and watched the whole
game on Monday. We have got a great feeling going through the club and a
great relationship with the senior set-up and it's always been the main aim
to have to have a strong development side because those players could be the
next first team. "The second-year scholars will be in with the Development
Squad, as will some first-years as well. The final Development Squad game is
at Norwich City on Monday and that will be a young side because Hendo wants
to have a look at the players he will be blooding after Christmas. As has
always been the plan, he will take the players he wants and I will be left
with the others, who we will then blend with the Under-16s and Under-15s in
the youth team. We have got some good schoolboys coming through. "It was
always all about the development process, whichever league we ended up in.
It will probably suit us being in the Tier One league because we will be
young, as we were at Blackburn Rovers in our last Group 1. We want to see
more players pushing on because the more players we can get near to the
first team on a regular basis, that's what we're all about. "Macca and Hendo
would want us to go out to win the FA Youth Cup and the Development Squad
will obviously go out to win the Elite Group Stage after Christmas, but the
overall aim is to keep an eye on the ones who can train with the first team
and go on the bench."

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Green light for retractable seating
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 12th December 2012
By: Staff Writer

The Olympic Stadium will feature four stands of retractable seating around
the pitch - should West Ham United agree to move to Stratford. Fans
attending an emergency Supporters' Advisory Board meeting at the Boleyn
Ground this evening were shown the first ever artists' impression of how the
new stadium will look. And KUMB.com can reveal that this will include fully
retractable seating that brings all four stands in the lower tier - which
will replace the existing banks of seats - to within a few metres of the
playing area. The new images, which are set to be released to the public in
early January indicated how the new roof, that will cover the entire seating
area, will look. Those present at the three-hour meeting were also shown
detailed plans of how the rest of the stadium would take shape following its
£200million refit. Unfortunately we are unable to bring you any further
details of the stadium or the Club's plans as all members of the SAB were
asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) upon entering the meeting
room.

However a show of hands requested by co-Chairman David Gold - who gave a
short yet passionate speech backing the move - indicated that the vast
majority of fans present appeared to support the club's plans for the
Olympic Stadium. Karren Brady, who chaired the meeting also confirmed that a
supporters' poll would take place within the next few weeks - although
details of exactly what that will entail remain unconfirmed at present.
Former Hammer Tony Cottee also appeared briefly to back the Club's plans.

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Exclusive: Downes and out
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 11th December 2012
By: Staff Writer

First team coach Wally Downes has left Sam Allardyce's backroom squad. The
former Wimbledon defender, who has been at West Ham for the past two seasons
left the club earlier today. Details of the reasons for Downes' departure
are yet to be revealed although West Ham confirmed that he was no longer
employed by the club earlier this evening. News of the 51-year-old's exit
emerged just before United's vice-chair Karren Brady gave the first glimpse
of the board's plans for the Olympic Stadium to a meeting of the Supporters'
Advisory Board. Brady, who is responsible for hiring and firing and who
chaired tonight's meeting revealed that she had spent part of the day at
West Ham's Chadwell Heath training ground. Downes, who is usually a prolific
poster on social network Twitter last posted a message at 11am this morning.
His latest Tweets gave no indication that he would be leaving the club
imminently. Indeed, as recently as Monday he commented on the West Ham
squad, saying: "It's a pleasure to be involved with a team that has the
'bravest wall in the league'. You wont see us jump and turn 'cos it might
hurt."

The nephew of former boxing champion Terry Downes, Wally joined West Ham in
November 2010 when he joined the doomed Avram Grant's backroom squad as
defensive coach. Prior to moving to West Ham he had worked in a coaching
capacity for Reading, Southampton and Gillingham.

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West Ham United fans to be consulted over planned Olympic Stadium move
Last Updated: December 11, 2012 4:44pm
SSN

West Ham United are to consult their fans about the planned move to the
Olympic Stadium by holding an emergency meeting of their Supporter Advisory
Board (SAB) on Tuesday. The club were recently named as the No.1 choice to
move into the £429m venue and they will now give their fans the chance to
air their views. The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) made the
announcement last week, although there are a number of loose ends to sort
out before the deal is finally completed. The SAB will discuss the LLDC's
decision at Tuesday's emergency meeting which will be attended by
vice-chairman Karren Brady, joint-chairman David Gold and ex-West Ham
striker Tony Cottee. A statement on the club's official website reads: "The
LLDC decision represents a huge step forward but, as the club has stated
throughout, highest-ranked bidder status does not mean that West Ham have at
this stage agreed to the move and it remains the case that we will only do
so if the final proposal is right for the club and its supporters. "The time
for supporters to have their voices heard is now and a more intensive
consultation process will commence on Tuesday evening. "The club will
consult with SAB members to agree how the club takes that consultation
process forward. "The club stands by its commitment to conduct full
supporter consultation regarding the proposed move, including the polling of
supporters. "West Ham fans can be confident that wherever there is an
opportunity for West Ham to input in the decisions going forward, supporters
will be at the forefront."

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West Ham duo Jack Collison and Alou Diarra could soon return from injury
Last Updated: December 11, 2012 12:01pm
SSN

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is hopeful that midfield duo Jack Collison and
Alou Diarra will return from injury in the festive period. Collison has been
sidelined since May because of his troublesome knee problem, while Diarra
has been restricted to just two appearances due to a thigh strain, but both
are closing on full fitness. The Hammers are in need of reinforcements as
their squad is also without Mohamed Diame, Ricardo Vaz Te, Andy Carroll, and
Yossi Benayoun, who are all sidelined through injury. Diame is the most
recent arrival in the treatment room as he suffered a hamstring problem in
Sunday's 3-2 defeat by Liverpool.
Allardyce told the Daily Mirror: "Diarra is close, but he hasn't played a
Premier League game yet. "He hasn't felt what it is like to play there and
that would be difficult after a three-month lay-off. "Collison might be
close to start joining in again over the next few weeks."

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West Ham are coolest team in Springfield
The Sun
By JIM MUNRO
Published: 11th December 2012

WEST HAM have won a major Homer victory by becoming the first Premier League
club to be featured in hit US TV series The Simpsons. Bart if Hammers fans
want to savour the moment, they'll probably need to use a D'oh Motion Replay
as it's one of those 'blink and you'll miss it' appearances. In the seventh
episode of the current series shown on Sky 1, 'The Day The Earth Stood
Cool', Bart Simpson and sister Lisa can't wait to visit new next door
neighbour T-Rex. Their uber cool playmate opens the door to his Bohemian
bedroom to reveal a West Ham United banner suspended from the ceiling. But
while the room's carpet and curtains are pure claret and blue, the club's
famous castle crest with crossed hammers can be seen mounted on an
unfamiliar green and gold background.
Could that be something to do with Hollywood movie Green Street in which the
Hammers feature heavily? Or a sneaky reference to co-chairman David Gold?
Whatever, it's not worth having a Barney over.

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WEST HAM MAKE THEIR STAND
Daily Express
Tuesday December 11,2012
By Matthew Dunn

STANDING at Premier League grounds could be reintroduced for the first time
in 18 years if a campaign to get the backing of MPs for the scheme is
successful.
West Ham's proposed tenancy of the Olympic Stadium could lead the way, while
top-flight rivals Aston Villa have come out in support of a scheme to
reverse the decision to ban standing at high-level football matches as part
of the Taylor Report into the Hillsborough disaster. The Football
Supporters' Federation are hoping that an Early Day Motion being put through
Parliament by Roger Godsiffin MP will pave the way for a limited trial.
Twelve other clubs have signed up for a trial of tip-up "rail seats",
currently used in countries such as Germany, where a safety barrier prevents
the sort of mass movement of spectators that was so devastating at
Hillsborough. West Ham are not among those names, but joint owner David Gold
indicated his approval for standing on Twitter. In response to a direct
request as to whether West Ham would be looking to go along those lines in
planning for a move to Stratford, Gold wrote: "I do hope so." However, the
Premier League remain against the proposals. They said: "Since the
introduction of all-seater stadiums, the supporter experience has improved
significantly and we have seen more diverse crowds attending Premier League
games, including more women and children."

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Downes leaves post as West Ham first team coach in Upton Park shake-up
By SAMI MOKBEL
PUBLISHED: 19:13, 11 December 2012 | UPDATED: 23:58, 11 December 2012
Daily Mail

Wally Downes surprisingly left his role as West Ham first-team coach.
Hammers manager Sam Allardyce has taken the decision to allow the
51-year-old to leave Upton Park, with his departure confirmed by the club.
Downes' departure ends his two year spell at the East London club, having
joined as a defensive coach in November 2010 under Avram Grant. Only at the
start of this month ago Downes' relationship with Allardyce looked rock
solid as he celebrated euphorically with the Hammers boss during the 3-1 win
over Chelsea. Allardyce inherited Downes after he was installed as manager
by co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan at the start of last season.
Downes, a midfielder, played more than 200 times for Wimbledon and was
credited with being a key part of the club's Crazy Gang spirit. He later
managed Brentford.

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