Daily WHUFC News - 12th February 2013

Potts relieved to be back in the mix
WHUFC.com
Dan Potts made a welcome return at left-back on Friday night in the
Development Squad's 2-0 win
11.02.2013

Dan Potts was delighted to be part of an exemplary defensive display against
West Bromwich Albion, as the 18-year-old enjoyed a first Development Squad
run-out since suffering a concussion at the Emirates Stadium. Little more
than two weeks ago, Potts fell to earth after an ugly collision with Bacary
Sagna and despite being subsequently admitted to hospital, he is already
back raiding up and down the left-wing. Potts marked his return with a
typically impressive showing, providing the ammunition for Wellington
Paulista's second-half goal, as well as going close himself with a
speculative drive. All in all, it was a more than satisfying evening for the
teenager, who experienced no ill-effects following the 2-0 win at Rush
Green. "Over the last couple of weeks, it's not been frustrating, but
obviously there's not been much I could do in terms of on the pitch," he
told West Ham TV. "I just had to rest up and when I felt back to myself I
was allowed out on the training pitch. The last couple of days I've been
training, I felt fine. I got a good 90 minutes under my belt and I felt
fine. So it's all good and well. "I've been out two, almost three weeks now.
I haven't done much as I said. These are the sort of games where you get a
good run-out. It's a good test against good opposition, that's what the
league is for. It does your fitness no harm at all. Like I said, I didn't
feel out of place fitness wise. I felt strong, so I was pleased with that
aspect, definitely. "In the Under-21 games, the whole team, not just the
back four, have based ourselves on good defensive displays and clean sheets.
You see a clean sheet and the credit automatically goes to the 'keeper and
the back four, but the lads in front of us worked their socks off and it
shows in a good team performance. Potts, meanwhile, was effusive in his
praise of Paulista, who thundered his left-wing cross home to double West
Ham's lead. And while Potts paid tribute to the significance of the
Development Squad, he remains intent on fighting his way back into
first-team contention. "I just played a one-two with George Moncur and I
only had one thing in my mind and that was to whip it in the box," he added.
"I've trained with Wellington and he's a finisher. He showed that against
West Brom. He gets in the right areas at the right time and as long as you
put it there, he's going to be there. He loves to score goals and that's
what good strikers are about. I was pleased with that, definitely. "That's
where I want to be [in the first team]. I've had a few games there this
season and that's definitely where my sights are. With a young lad coming
in, we've obviously got a good squad as well, there's a lot of competition
for places. And you want to keep your match fitness up, so these run-outs
and these games are perfect for that matter."

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West Ham: Sam Allardyce told to seal survival before new deal talks
BBC.co.uk

West Ham co-chairman David Gold says the club will not talk to manager Sam
Allardyce about a new contract until their Premier League future is secured.
Allardyce's current deal expires at the end of the season. West Ham are 11th
in the Premier League with 30 points, but have only won one of their last
six league games. "We will sit down and discuss Sam's contract situation
once our Premier League status has been confirmed and not before," Gold said
in a statement. "This is purely because the three of us [Allardyce, Gold and
co-chairman David Sullivan] don't want anything to distract attention from
our aim of finishing as high up the Premier League table as possible." The
Hammers have outperformed last season's other two promoted sides - Reading
and Southampton - but defeat at Aston Villa on Sunday did not please Gold.

West Ham's poor league run
Sunderland 3 West Ham 0 (12 January)
West Ham 1 QPR 1 (19 January)
Arsenal 5 West Ham 1 (23 January)
Fulham 3 West Ham 1 (30 January)
West Ham 1 Swansea 0 (February 2)
Aston Villa 2 West Ham 1 (February 10)

He tweeted: "Disappointed for the fans who travelled hundreds of miles on a
miserable day to lose to a team in the bottom three. We should do better."
But in his statement on the club's website he said the club were very happy
with Allardyce's performance. He said: "Sam did a fantastic job of gaining
promotion from the Championship at the first attempt last season and we are
all pleased with how quickly he has got the team to adapt to life back in
the Premier League. "We went into Sunday's game with Aston Villa one place
off the top 10 and that is no mean feat for a newly promoted side."

Allardyce, 58, who has been in charge at Upton Park since last summer, says
that he will keep contract discussions between himself and the owners.
"I know my relationship with David Sullivan and David Gold well and the
conversations that we have remain confidential," he said after the defeat at
Villa Park.
"I'm more than happy to do the job that I'm doing right now and speculation
regarding my contract situation has nothing to do with anybody else but the
owners."

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Sam Allardyce says his West Ham contract negotiations are confidential
Last Updated: February 11, 2013 3:31pm
SSN

Sam Allardyce says contract negotiations have nothing to do with anyone
other than himself and West Ham's owners. Hammers' co-chairman David Gold
confirmed on Sunday that any talks over a new contract for Allardyce will
have to wait until Premier League survival has been assured. Allardyce, 58,
guided West Ham back to the top flight last season after replacing Avram
Grant at the helm and has taken the Hammers to 11th in the Premier League
with just 12 games remaining. A 2-1 defeat at struggling Aston Villa on
Sunday was followed by a statement from Gold saying Allardyce was still the
man to lead the Hammers forward and the manager himself was in bullish mood.
"I know my relationship with David Sullivan and David Gold well and the
conversations that we have remain confidential," he said. "I'm more than
happy to do the job that I'm doing right now and speculation regarding my
contract situation has nothing to do with anybody else but the owners."

Hammers skipper Kevin Nolan backed Allardyce to comfortably lead the east
Londoners to top-flight safety. "We still want to get more points to get
safe, but we are in a good position," he said. "We would like to be where we
are, the position we are in now, not with the teams scrapping at the bottom.
"We have to just make sure we keep our noses in front and are picking up the
results at home, and then as many as we can get away. "We are looking
upwards, making sure we are top of the pile of the teams we are currently on
top of. We want to keep pushing still for that top 10 place, as that is
where we want to be and is where we know we can be."

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Snow joke! Welly boots Hammers
Exclusive
By ANDREW DILLON
Last Updated: 12th February 2013
The Sun

WEST HAM'S flops have been shamed by Wellington Paulista - who snubbed a
sunshine break in Dubai to stay here and play in the snow. The rest of the
Hammers' first-team squad flew to the Middle East for six days of
warm-weather training after Sunday's dismal 2-1 defeat at struggling Aston
Villa. Reserve-team striker Paulista was invited to join the party but told
boss Sam Allardyce he would play in Friday's Development Squad game against
Southampton. The Brazilian new-boy signed on a six-month loan from South
American side Cruzeiro in January and has scored three goals in three
matches for the B-team.
In contrast West Ham's senior strikers have hit just two goals between them
in 11 games since December 22. An Upton Park insider admitted: "Everyone was
a bit surprised to hear about Wellington turning down the chance to go. "He
plays for a top-six side in Brazil but has come to West Ham to prove
himself. And he is happy to play in front of 300 fans for the reserves to do
so. "He's 28 and in his youth scored against Barcelona at the Nou Camp so he
knows what the big time is. "He says staying here will help make him fitter
and reckons playing for the reserves will get him fitter than going to
Dubai. "This boy could surprise a few people."

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Poy wonder: Gus Poyet in the frame to succeed Sam Allardyce as West Ham boss
The Mirror
11 Feb 2013 22:28

Gus Poyet is the shock name in the frame if West Ham do not renew Sam
Allardyce's contract at the end of the season. West Ham co-chairman David
Gold confirmed the club will not discuss a new deal with Big Sam until their
Premier League safety is secured. But even then Allardyce may not stay on
and the Hammers are scouting around for possible contenders with Brighton's
impressive young manager Poyet in their thoughts. Poyet has built a strong
team at Brighton, they play attractive football and, with the club finding
their feet in a new stadium, he could fit the bill for West Ham. Swindon's
fiery Paolo di Canio would be a popular choice among the fans but West Ham
will look closely at other bright young managers should the job become
available. Watford's Gianfranco Zola would be another contender.

Allardyce's deal expires at the end of the season and the uncertainty is a
concern for the manager as he has mentioned it to senior players. Gold has
moved to try to quell any doubts about their admiration for Allardyce - set
for a huge survival bonus if they stay up - but it is understood the club
may also look to change the terms of future deals to make them more
incentive based. Gold, who has seen West Ham win just one of their last six
games, said: "We will sit down and discuss Sam's contract situation once our
Premier League status has been confirmed and not before. "This is purely
because the three of us [Allardyce, Gold and co-chairman David Sullivan]
don't want anything to distract attention from our aim of finishing as high
up the Premier League table as possible. "Sam did a fantastic job of gaining
promotion from the Championship at the first attempt last season and we are
all pleased with how quickly he has got the team to adapt to life back in
the Premier League. "We went into Sunday's game with Aston Villa one place
off the top 10 and that is no mean feat for a newly promoted side."

Meanwhile. Kevin Nolan insists West Ham will not be dragged into a
relegation fight.

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