Daily WHUFC News - 29th October 2012

Goal no consolation for Tomkins
WHUFC.com
James Tomkins took next to no joy from scoring in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at
Wigan Athletic
28.10.2012

James Tomkins admitted scoring his first goal of the season meant next to
nothing as West Ham United slumped to a 2-1 Barclays Premier League defeat
at Wigan Athletic. By the time the defender nodded in George McCartney's
cross in the third minute of added-time, the Hammers had left it too late to
get anything from their trip to the DW Stadium. A strangely subdued
first-half performance allowed Wigan to take an eighth-minute lead through
Ivan Ramis' fierce volley from a Jean Beasejour corner. Any hopes that Sam
Allardyce's half-time team talk would change the course of the game were
then dashed when James McArthur took advantage of a loose ball inside the
visitors' penalty area less than two minutes after the re-start. To West
Ham's credit, they did create a succession of half-chances before Tomkins
himself saw his goal-bound volley deflected on to the crossbar by lunging
Latics captain Gary Caldwell. The No5 then found the back of the net, but
found little solace in his first goal of 2012/13. "It was a shame that my
goal didn't mean anything," said Tomkins, who started at right-back for the
second successive match. "Their first goal was a one-off really. It was a
good quality goal, while the second was a bit lucky the way it fell to them.
"All in all, it was a bad day for us and we should have played a lot better
than we did. We are paying for it now because we lost a game that we came
into full of confidence. We fully expected to get the three points but it
didn't work out like that."

The defender admitted that the Hammers had paid for making a slow start at
Wigan, having escaped punishment for a similarly lethargic first-half
display against Southampton the previous weekend. Against the Saints, West
Ham were able to turn around while still on level terms and pull away in the
second half. At Wigan, the Hammers fell behind early on and were all but out
of the game when McArthur struck so soon after the break. "I think we
started slowly and it happened in the last game against Southampton as well.
It's something we need to sit down and work out where we're going wrong.
"It's hard to put our fingers on it now without seeing the game back but I'm
sure we'll sit down this week and watch the game. We definitely need to
start games a lot quicker and a lot brighter than we have done. "They scored
at the right time after half-time. We kept going and had a few half-chances
near the end but it didn't really run for us. It was unfortunate for us, but
we're looking forward to the next game now. It's gone and we move on to
Manchester City now. "We've got a good home record so I'm sure they'll be
fearing us. We'll go in there with the confidence and the crowd behind us
and see how we go."

Tomkins himself was unfortunate not to get his name on the scoresheet
earlier than he did, sending one first-half header over the crossbar before
hitting the frame of the goal with a deflected shot late in the second
period. Andy Carroll, Kevin Nolan and Carlton Cole also had opportunities
inside the Wigan penalty area, but were unable to take advantage of them for
a variety of reasons. "It was unfortunate that the chances we did have
didn't fall for us, unlike theirs, which did. Sometimes you get games in
football like that and we need to start quicker and that's one of the main
things that we need to get out of Saturday."

For Tomkins, the frustration of defeat was tempered ever so slightly by the
fact he is back in the starting XI, having replaced the injured Guy Demel at
right-back in the Hammers' last two Barclays Premier League matches. "I'm
enjoying playing and I'll play anywhere for the team if it means I am
starting. Hopefully I can learn the position if I'm played there more in the
future. I'll just try to keep improving. "I'm getting minutes under my belt
now and that's the main thing."

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Shaw thing on his debut
WHUFC.com
Frazier Shaw's impressive debut helped the Development Squad to their fifth
straight win on Friday
28.10.2012

Frazer Shaw was in a positive mood after making his Development Squad debut
in the 1-0 win at home to Everton on Friday night. Shaw has been training
with Ian Hendon's side in recent weeks and with the likes of Jordan Spence
and Leo Chambers increasingly involved with the first-team, the full-back is
hoping to cement his place in the Development Squad. His first taste of
reserve-team football was a testing affair as Everton pushed their hosts to
their limits at Rush Green, but Shaw remained composed throughout and was
pleased to make his mark. "That was my first Barclays Under-21 Premier
League start for the Development Squad so it was great to get the three
points," he said. "It was not a very good game to pass the ball around and
play good football but I was pleased to get the opportunity, which is
hopefully the first of many. "My aim this season is to make the step-up and
become a regular in the Development Squad. However if I play in the youth
team I will play in the youth team but the plan is to be part of this squad
more and more."

The Development Squad kept their fourth-successive clean sheet and Shaw
revealed that defensive play is a key part of the work the squad to under
Hendon's tutorship at Chadwell Heath. "We focus on our defensive play a lot
in training, whether I am with Paul Heffer in the Under-18s or the
Development Squad. I have been training with Ian Hendon's side for a few
weeks now so I am used to the way they play and hopefully I will be involved
more in the future."

Like many of the new generation of full-backs, Shaw is incredibly
attack-minded, but he has an added sense of positional play having started
as a midfielder. With three years' experience at the club already under his
belt, he is enjoying his steady rise through the ranks. "I am not like many
left-backs who are more defensive, but I would like to think I am just as
strong and consistent. I have come from midfield so I am a lot more attack
minded. "I have been at the club a while now and I am really enjoying it -
the coaches are good and the lads are great. We have a great bunch of
players at the moment and hopefully a few of them can continue to push their
way into the first-team."

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Under-18s draw at Everton
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Under-18s secured an impressive 1-1 draw at Everton on
Saturday
27.10.2012

West Ham United's Under-18s shared a goal apiece with Everton on Saturday
afternoon. Nick Haycock's visitors took the lead through Kieran Sadlier's
penalty in the 20th minute after his shot was ruled to have hit Jake
Adelson's arm. Sadlier nearly doubled the lead soon after when he shot wide
when well placed as the Hammers adapted quicker to a cold and windy
afternoon at Finch Farm. The second half was a different story, though, as
the hosts increased the tempo and went close through Courtney Duffus and
Joseph Williams. Their pressure eventually told when they were awarded a
penalty of their own for a foul on Ryan Ledson, who stepped up to convert
the kick. The Hammers stood strong in the face of late Everton pressure to
end a run of two straight defeats. The Academy are next in action when they
play host to Reading on Saturday

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Under 21s: West Ham Utd 1 Everton 0
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 27th October 2012
By: Willis Jamieson

A colld and windy night at Rush Green saw the under 21s gain another three
vital points as they hosted mid-table team Everton. A second half goal from
Elliot Lee would be all that separated the two sides in a game in which both
teams were playing long ball,s which led to a scrappy game. There were few
chances in the first half with the conditions making it frustrating as both
teams struggled. There were two highlights for the home team: a clever lob
from Calum Driver on the halfway line as he glanced up and saw the keeper
off his line - his effort going just a few inches over - and a sprint across
the edge of the area by Elliot Lee who drilled the ball at goal which
produced an excellent save from Everton 'keeper Mateus Taudel.

The visitors created few chances and they were dealt with well by the West
Ham defence, with Wearen in particular looking strong. Larkins also produced
a couple of close-range saves. The second half started better although both
teams both still chose to go long too often. There were however more chances
and shots on goal. The best chance for Everton came from a defensive
mistake by the home team and led to a one-on-one with Larkins; the young
goalkeeper spread himself well and the Everton striker failed to hit the
target. Just 10 minutes later, the young Hammers look the lead with what
proved to be the game's only goal. A short corner was played into to Blair
Turgott who turned and chipped a clever ball for Elliot Lee, who glanced his
header into the top corner.

With Everton pushing forward for an equaliser, West Ham introduced Freddie
Piquionne to try and hold on to the point. Deep into injury time a ball
across the West Ham penalty area was diverted past Larkins, but fortunately
it hit the post and bounced up into the relieved West Ham goalkeeper's
hands. A few seconds later the final whistle blew, meaning West Ham move on
to 22 points from their nine games played and stay at the top of the table -
still having lost just once this season.

Player Ratings

Jake Larkins: 7 – Didn't have much to do but made a couple of important
saves in the first half with the score at 0-0

Callum Driver: 6 – Captain for the night was right back in a solid defence.
Was unlucky with his first half lob from half way line.

Dan Potts: 6 – Playing at Centre back was never put under pressure from a
poor Everton

Eoin Wearen: 7 – Really solid game at centre back, in the first half
especially he was excellent with a number of hard tackles.

Frazer Shaw: 6 – Stepping up from the Under 18 team Frazer did well at right
back, wasn't pressed too much and got forward when he could.

George Moncur: 6 – He looked good on the ball when it was on the floor, it
just wasn't on the floor enough for the midfield to have a great game. He
had a great shot saved in the second half after a neat layoff from McCallum

Sebastian Lletget: 7 – Playing the holding role, he is neat in possession
and in first half especially rarely lost the ball. Protected the defence
well.

Matthias Fanimo: 5 – Hard for the wingers in this game as we just didn't use
them enough as we chose to go long far too often.

Blair Turgott: 7 – Wasn't in the game enough, but gets a better mark as his
clever assist was the difference between 1 and 3 points

Paul McCallum: 6 – The long ball was usually played up to him and he did the
best he could against a big Everton defence. He is good in the air and won
lots of headers.

Elliot Lee: 7 – A lot of running after flicks from McCallum and wasted the
ball a number of times, but a good shot in the first half and a great
glancing header for the goal.

Sub: Freddie Piquionne: Hardly got a touch in the 10 mins he was on.

Unused Subs: Gines Guzman Posique (GK), Pelly Ruddock, Jack Powell, Declan
Hunt.


Willis Jamieson may also be found on Twitter at twitter.com/WillisJamieson.

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Matt Jarvis knows West Ham face a critical period over the next month
Last Updated: October 28, 2012 3:47pm
SSN

West Ham winger Matt Jarvis says the club are preparing for a tough spell
over the next month as they face their most challenging run of fixtures yet.
The Hammers will take on five of last season's Premier League top six over
the next five weeks, starting with a visit of defending champions Manchester
City next weekend. Jarvis knows November will be an important month for Sam
Allardyce's side but is confident they can do well after a bright start to
the campaign.
He told the Sunday People: "We have had a great start to the season which
has given us confidence but we have a really tough run of games now.
"November is going to be difficult. This is where we will get a taste of how
we are going to do this season because you discover how much strength in
depth you have over periods like this. "Confidence is so important - it
really is a massive factor in football. "It's a tough division and this is
going to be an important time but so far we have all worked hard to get into
this position we are in. "I'm sure collectively we can continue to do well."

Allardyce

Jarvis has been impressed by the approach of Allardyce since arriving from
Wolves in the summer and says the manager reminds him of his old boss Mick
McCarthy. e said: "There are similarities between Big Sam and Mick McCarthy,
who was my manager at Wolves. "They both have an aura and presence about
them. And if you do something wrong you know about it! "Sam has put his own
mix on things and a lot of his ideas are very heavy on stats. "We have
meetings about the opposition but he looks at our stats on set-pieces and
everything else. "It works for him and everyone is buying into it. It's the
first time I have had this approach. He really likes it and I think it shows
in what we do, there's no place to hide."

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Andy's reffin' hell
The Sun
Published: 28th October 2012

SAM ALLARDYCE says Andy Carroll gets a raw deal from refs — because he is so
big. The West Ham boss said: "Refs aren't giving him enough free-kicks when
he is manhandled. "Because he is 6ft 3in he doesn't get the free-kicks a lad
who is 5ft 2in might get. But we can't look at the ref here and say he's
cost us the game. We were so poor we've done more than enough ourselves to
do that!"

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I van the terrible: Ramis comes back to haunt Hammers AGAIN
28 Oct 2012 22:30
The Mirror

Big Sam has proved he can wheel and deal like Arthur Daley in the transfer
market. But he met his match in the battle to sign Ivan Ramis from Real
Mallorca in the summer when Roberto Martinez brought in his Minder. Dave
Whelan grabbed his chequebook and jumped on a plane to Majorca after an
anxious Martinez rang to tell him that Sam Allardyce had trumped their offer
for the centre-half. The Latics chairman financed the £4million deal as
Martinez did not have enough left in his transfer kitty to match the
Hammers' bid. Allardyce has twice rued Ramis's snub and the ­Spaniard's two
Latics goals have come in defeats for his side - the first in the Capital
Cup and now in the 2-1 league reverse at Wigan on Saturday. "I remember
that we couldn't match the ­valuation West Ham agreed with Mallorca," said
Wigan boss Martinez. "That moment is a worry because you feel you are going
to lose the player. But the chairman knew how much we wanted him and allowed
us to match the price. "The chairman found the money, which we didn't have
at the club. I don't know how deep his pockets are, but they were deep
enough on this occasion. "Being a football man makes a big difference. He
went over to Mallorca and was very influential in the deal."
Capital punishment: Ivan Ramis of Wigan Athletic is congratulated by his
team mates after scoring against West Ham in their Capital One Cup Third
Round match
Warren Little

Allardyce said: "Ramis wasn't quite sure whether he really wanted to come or
not. It was Wigan this and Wigan that. We wondered what was happening, left
it and brought James Collins in instead." Martinez fought hard to land Ramis
because he feels he combines silk and steel. The Spaniard opened the scoring
at the DW on eight minutes with a ­delicious volley no striker could have
hit more sweetly. His effort set the tone for the match and Wigan were
superior to West Ham in every department. Ramis, Gary Caldwell and Maynor
Figueroa were dominant at the back, James McArthur, James McCarthy and Shaun
Maloney controlled the midfield, while Franco Di Santo's strike partnership
with Arouna Kone continues to blossom. Andy Carroll and sidekick Kevin Nolan
struggled to make any impact up front for the Hammers. The Latics scored
their second when Jussi ­Jaaskelainen cleared poorly and Maloney teed up
McArthur to fire home two minutes after the break. James Tomkins pulled one
back in the third minute of ­stoppage time to give the ­scoreline a
flattering look for the Hammers. Allardyce added: "That was the performance
of a side in the bottom three."

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Biffa's being bullied: Big Sam says Carroll's getting no help from referees!
The Mirror
28 Oct 2012 22:30

He may be a strapping 6ft 3ins, but Sam Allardyce claims Andy Carroll still
needs more protection from referees. Allardyce feels opponents are getting
away with fouling Carroll because officials feel the West Ham striker is big
enough to take their knocks. The Hammers boss felt referee Jon Moss missed
several niggly fouls on the England international by Wigan players, during
Saturday's 2-1 defeat. "Referees aren't giving him enough free-kicks when he
is manhandled by central defenders who, let's face it, are having a
difficult job coping with the quality that he's got," said Allardyce.
"Because he is 6' 3'', they don't give the free-kicks they would perhaps
give to the 5' 2''s. Perhaps it's a subconscious thing. "Andy knows all
that. He's been there and has to be patient with it. He was bringing balls
down on his chest, getting nudged as he was bringing them down, but not
getting the free-kick so it makes it look like he's giving away possession
when it's not really his fault. "But we can't look at the referee and say
he's particularly cost us this game. We did more than enough ourselves to
cause that."

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