Daily WHUFC News - 10th February 2013

Aston Villa match preview
WHUFC.com
Your comprehensive guide to Sunday's lunchtime Barclays Premier League clash
at Villa Park
09.02.2013

ASTON VILLA v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SUNDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2013
KICK-OFF: 1.30PM
REFEREE: MARK CLATTENBURG
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
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Introduction
• West Ham United make the trip to Villa Park buoyed by Saturday's 1-0
Barclays Premier League win over Swansea City, their first success in seven
fixtures in all competitions.
• The Hammers are in the hunt for a first double of the 2012/13 campaign,
courtesy of a 1-0 win in the reverse fixture on the opening day. While
Sunday's meeting also presents an opportunity to record back-to-back league
wins for the first time this season.
• Sam Allardyce's side go in search of a first away win since 11 November
2012, when Kevin Nolan's first-half goal earned them all three points at
Newcastle United. The Hammers have endured a tough time on the road ever
since, taking just a solitary point from the next 21 available.
• The Hammers' last away win against Aston Villa was on 14 January 2006,
when Bobby Zamora cancelled out Lee Hendrie's opener, before Marlon Harewood
settled the contest from the penalty spot. In their five subsequent visits
to Villa Park, West Ham have lost three and drawn twice, scoring just once
in the process.
• Aston Villa, meanwhile, are enduring a turbulent time in the Premier
League, as they languish in 19th place, with just 21 points. The Villans
have not won any of their last eight league contests, five of which ended in
defeat.
• Paul Lambert's side have not fared well at Villa Park this term, recording
just two league wins and netting only nine goals in a dozen home fixtures.
Last time out

• West Ham United continued their impressive form at the Boleyn Ground, as
they saw off Captital One Cup finalists Swansea City. Despite goalkeeper
Gerhard Tremmel's heroics, the visitor's resistance was broken with 12
minutes to play, when Andy Carroll rose to convert Mark Noble's corner.
Michael Laudrup's side launched a late surge for a point, but the Hammers
stood firm to seal a first win since New Year's Day.
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 2 February 2013
West Ham United 1-0 Swansea City
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, Reid, Tomkins, Taylor, Vaz Te,
Noble, Nolan (Pogatetz 90), Diame (O'Neil 86), Jarvis (J.Cole 62), Carroll
Subs not used: Spiegel, Collison, C.Cole, Chamakh
Goal: Carroll 78
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 2 February 2013
Everton 3-3 Aston Villa
Aston Villa: Guzan, Vlaar, Clark, Clark, Bennett, Lowton, El Ahmadi (Holman
82), N'Zogbia (Sylla 79), Westwood, Agbonlahor (Baker 90), Benteke, Weimann
Subs not used: Given, Dawkins, Bent, Bowery
Goals: Benteke 2, 61, Agbonlahor 24

Previous meeting
• The sides last met on the opening day of the 2012/13 Barclays Premier
League campaign, as the Hammers marked their return to the top flight with a
1-0 win at the Boleyn Ground. Sam Allardyce's side netted the winner five
minutes before the interval, when skipper Kevin Nolan turned home Ricardo
Vaz Te's cross.
• The teams that day were:
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Reid, Collins, McCartney (O'Brien 71),
Noble, Nolan (Tomkins 73), Diame, Vaz Te, Cole (Maiga 81), Taylor
Subs not used: Henderson, Diarra, O'Neil, Maynard
Goal: Nolan 40
Aston Villa: Given, Vlaar, Clark, Baker, Lowton, Ireland, El Ahmadi,
N'Zogbia (Gardner 74), Delph (Bannan 77, Bent, Holman (Weimann 61)
Subs not used: Guzan, Lichaj, Herd, Gardner, Burke

Background
• West Ham United and Aston Villa have met in a total of 106 competitive
fixtures, of which the Hammers have won 38, Villa 37 and 31 have ended in
draws.
• The first-ever meeting between the two clubs proved to be a forgettable
one for West Ham United, who were beaten 5-0 at Villa Park in the FA Cup
second round on 1 February 1913.
• West Ham United's largest victory over Aston Villa came in Division One on
30 August 1958, when the newly-promoted Hammers won 7-2 at the Boleyn
Ground. A 30,506-strong crowd saw John Dick, Vic Keeble and Malcolm Musgrove
score twice apiece and Bill Lansdowne once.
• Sam Allardyce faced Aston Villa five times as a manager during the 2009/10
season, when his Blackburn Rovers side were eliminated from the FA Cup and
League Cup by the Villans.
• West Ham United's all-time record goalscorer Vic Watson netted 18 goals in
15 appearances against Aston Villa, including three hat-tricks in November
1926, December 1929 and April 1930.
• Marlon Harewood scored West Ham United's most-recent Premier League
hat-trick when he bagged three times in a 4-0 home win over Aston Villa on
12 September 2005. He later went on to play for Villa.
• A total of 15 West Ham United players have made their debuts against
today's opponents Aston Villa - Alfred Earl, Ernest England, Alvin Martin,
Carlos Tevez, Winston Reid, Pablo Barrera, Frederic Piquionne, Archibald
Macauley, Ian Crawford, Bill Green, Craig Forrest, Paulo Alves, Matthew
Upson, Mohamed Diame and Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Last six meetings
(Premier League unless stated)
18 August 2012 - West Ham United 1-0 Aston Villa
16 April 2011 - West Ham United 1-2 Aston Villa
14 August 2010 - Aston Villa 3-0 West Ham United
17 January 2010 - Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham United
4 November 2009 - West Ham United 2-1 Aston Villa
18 April 2009 - Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham United
Overall record v Aston Villa (all competitions) W 38 D 31 L 37

Ten-year record
West Ham United
2011/12 Championship 3rd (86 points - promoted via Play-Offs)
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points)
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted via Play-Offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated to Championship)
Aston Villa
2011/12 Premier League 16th (38 points)
2010/11 Premier League 9th (48 points)
2009/10 Premier League 6th (64 points)
2008/09 Premier League 6th (62 points)
2007/08 Premier League 6th (60 points)
2006/07 Premier League 11th (50 points)
2005/06 Premier League 16th (42 points)
2004/05 Premier League 10th (47 points)
2003/04 Premier League 6th (56 points)
2002/03 Premier League 16th (45 points)

Referee
• Sunday's referee is Mark Clattenburg, whose last West Ham United game was
the 2-1 home win over Norwich City on New Year's Day.
• Clattenburg was the man with the whistle for the stunning 4-0 win against
Manchester United in the League Cup fifth round back in November 2010
• The 37-year-old was the man in the middle for the Championship Play-Off
semi-final first leg in May 2004 when Ipswich Town won 1-0 against the
visiting West Ham.
• Clattenburg has been on the Select List since 2004, the same year he took
charge of the Division Three Play-Off final between Mansfield Town and
Huddersfield Town at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
• After becoming a FIFA official in 2006 at the age of 31, Clattenburg has
taken control of a number of international and UEFA Champions League
matches.
• Clattenburg will be assisted by Steve Child and Simon Beck, while Michael
Oliver will be the fourth official at Villa Park.

Team news

West Ham United

• Sam Allardyce has almost a full complement to choose from with Jack
Collison, Emanuel Pogatetz and Mohamed Diame among those to have returned
unscathed from international duty.

• Defensive duo James Collins (hamstring) and George McCartney (knee) are
West Ham's only absentees, while Wellington Paulista is still plying his
trade in the Development Squad for the time being.

Aston Villa

• Paul Lambert may be without former Crewe Alexandra midfielder Ashley
Westwood, who has been suffering with a bug this week.
• Midfielders Karim El Ahmadi (knee) and Fabian Delph (ankle) are both
expected to be fit.
• Centre-back Richard Dunne (hip and groin) is still out:

Old boys
• James Collins swapped east London for Birmingham on 1 September 2009 for
an undisclosed fee after making 65 appearances in all competitions for West
Ham United, scoring two goals. The Wales centre-back returned to West Ham on
1 August 2012, having scored six goals in 109 games for the Villans.
• Carlton Cole would be playing against the team where he spent the 2004/05
season on loan. Cole scored three goals in 30 league and cup appearances for
Aston Villa.
• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are Billy Askew,
Alan Curbishley, Mervyn Day, Marlon Harewood, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Ray
Houghton, David James, Fred Norris, Nigel Reo-Coker, Tony Scott, Les Sealey,
Nolberto Solano, Tommy Southren, David Unsworth and Phil Woosnam.


General information

• Tickets are now on General Sale and can only be purchased on the day of
the fixture from Aston Villa. Tickets will be available from midday, from
the the Away Ticket Kiosk on Witton Lane. For full ticket information, click
here.

• Sunday is set for a cold and wet afternoon, with heavy rain forecast and
temperatures likely to be hovering at around 3C (38F).

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Tomkins targets Villa victory
WHUFC.com
Defender James Tomkins is a happy Hammer and prepared for Sunday's visit to
Villa Park
10.02.2013

James Tomkins feels very much at home at West Ham United after coming
through the Academy ranks to become an established member of Sam Allardyce's
first team. Having already completed his first century of league starts at
just 23 years of age, the defender can draw upon a bank of experience
unavailable to many of his contemporaries. With a trip to a relatively
inexperienced Aston Villa side next up on Sunday, Tomkins is keen to build
on last week's Barclays Premier League victory by improving the Hammers'
away form, which has seen them take only eight of their 30 points this
campaign on the road. "I've been here since I was eight years old and it's
hard to see myself anywhere else," he told whufc.com. "I'm enjoying it here
and my objective is to go places with West Ham. I feel very much settled
here, I'm still enjoying it as much as I did when I was a kid. My family are
all local so it's very much a West Ham family.
"It was an important win last week. We had been conceding more goals than we
deserved to in the previous few games. It showed at Arsenal that if you have
a bad couple of minutes they can stick four past you, then at Fulham they
didn't deserve the win they got, not 3-1 anyway, so it was nice to come back
and get the result against Swansea, which was very much needed. "People were
talking after losing a couple in a row about being dragged into a dogfight
at the bottom, but we've proved that we can do it under pressure and we got
the victory we needed. Hopefully we can go on from there really with another
win on Sunday."

Much has been made of Aston Villa's lack of experience this season, but
Tomkins believes his game has developed by being thrown in at the deep end,
and having played with the likes of Gabriel Agbonlahor, Marc Albrighton and
Fabian Delph with England at age-group level, he is sure his Villa
counterparts will come out of their trials and tribulations stronger. He
continued: "It is a hard situation that they're in with all the young lads
they have throughout the team. I remember here under Gianfranco Zola when we
were in a relegation fight and I was a young lad growing up and still
learning my trade. "It's hard and all the experienced players are important
to you. Personally, I felt I thrived off the pressure, and it was good for
me really growing up. It's made me more ready for the harder times which
follow. After that and a year in the Championship last season I feel much
more experienced and happier with my game."

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Reid ready for Villa return
WHUFC.com
Winston Reid is aiming to put a difficult debut behind him when West Ham
United visit Aston Villa
09.02.2013

Winston Reid had been a West Ham United player for just nine days when he
was handed his debut at Aston Villa on the opening day of the 2010/11
season.
Having recently returned to action with Danish club FC Midtjylland after
representing New Zealand at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Reid was thrown in at
the deep end at Villa Park. Picked as a right-back, the central defender
endured a difficult maiden appearance in claret and blue and was substituted
with West Ham trailing 2-0 at half-time. Since then, the 24-year-old has
established himself as a first-choice centre-back at the Boleyn Ground,
making more than 70 appearances and producing some outstanding performances
as West Ham stormed back to the Barclays Premier League at the first
attempt. On Sunday, Reid and his team-mates return to Villa Park hoping to
pick up a victory that would strengthen West Ham's position in the Barclays
Premier League. "I had actually forgotten about it, to be honest!" joked
Reid, referring to his debut. "Last time we obviously didn't have the best
of games but we are hoping to win this time and I'm sure we are going to
Villa in a positive frame of mind. "Obviously it wasn't the greatest debut
in the world but I don't really remember that much about the game. It's all
a blur but I do know they scored three and we didn't score any."

Reid's positivity comes from a 1-0 home win over Swansea City last weekend -
a match that saw the Hammers keep their first clean sheet in ten games and
Andy Carroll mark his return to the starting XI with a towering winner. "It
was very important that we kept a clean sheet and even more important that
we got a win," he confirmed. "Hopefully we can pick up from there and go on
for the rest of the season. "The return of players like Andy improves the
quality of the squad. It's good for the rest of us and we're all hoping to
push on together."

While Villa go into Sunday's game inside the relegation zone, Paul Lambert's
side have scored six goals in their previous three Barclays Premier League
matches and came within a whisker of winning at Everton last weekend. With
that in mind, Reid knows West Ham will not have it easy in the West
Midlands.
"They are still a good side and we have to give them a lot of respect. We'll
go there with a gameplan and hopefully bring some points home."

If Villa are to score against Reid and company on Sunday, the man most
likely to do so is Belgium striker Christian Benteke. The 22-year-old has
banged in 14 goals in all competitions since arriving from Genk last summer.
"I think he is a good striker and he has scored quite a few goals already in
his first year in England," confirmed the No2. "We have to give him respect
but we relish the opportunity as defenders to make sure they don't score."

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Haycock salutes brilliant back line
WHUFC.com
Development Squad coach delighted with a clean sheet in the 2-0 win over
West Bromwich Albion
09.02.2013

Nick Haycock paid tribute to a fine rearguard display as the Development
Squad returned to winning ways in the Barclays Under-21 Premier League,
courtesy of a stylish 2-0 success against West Bromwich Albion at Rush
Green. Haycock's side were unusually charitable in Monday's 3-2 defeat at
Tottenham Hotspur, but there was no such generosity on show this time round,
as West Ham United recorded a second clean sheet in only three Elite Group
outings. As well as keeping the Baggies at bay, the Hammers were equally
impressive at the other end, as Elliot Lee and Wellington Paulista struck
either side of the interval, just as they did at Spurs. The duo now have
five between them in the Elite Group and Haycock heaped praise on his
quickly maturing squad. "I'm delighted with the lads," he told West Ham TV.
"To come here, back to Rush Green, the surface didn't play too badly and the
boys did what I asked. I said I wanted a high intensity performance, play
the game in the opposition's half and to make sure that we got a clean
sheet. I thought we gave a few loose goals away against Tottenham. "I
thought the back four were outstanding. I think Pelly Ruddock, who came to
the club as a midfield player, dropped into centre back and with the
experience of Jordan Spence alongside him, we looked assured at the back. As
for Dan Potts, it was a great delivery for the goal and great character. He
goes back into a game, having just had a period out with concussion.
Terrific. But I wouldn't expect any less of him. Callum Driver, again, I
think complemented him at right back. "We had two under-17s playing in the
game with Amos Nasha composed in midfield, and I think Kieran Bywater,
again, has got great character and commitment up and down the right-hand
side. There were some good performances right through the team."

Turning his attention to the goalscorers, Haycock was suitably impressed by
Lee's contribution. The U21s coach explained that Lee has long been on his
radar and insists that a healthy blend of dedication and ability gives the
forward every chance of a bright future in the game. "Two great goals, two
good finishes by two good goalscorers," he added. "I think Elliot's showing
another side to his game. We're playing him in a wider role, but he's got
the licence to drift along that frontline and he looks a threat at the
minute. "He always has been [lethal in front of goal]. I remember Elliot
being a nine-year-old at the club, I've been here seven years and he has
been with me quite a long time. So I know what Elliot's about. I've got a
good relationship with him and I think he's got a chance. If he keeps
playing like that, he's going to catch the manager's eye. "Being only an
under-18, he has still got plenty of time and he's enjoying his football.
The work he has been doing with the Sport Science team, he has done a lot of
extra work in the gym and physically he looks a lot better at the moment. I
think it's showing and he looks like a stronger player and obviously the
goals will always come with Elliot, he's a finisher."

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U18s suffer late disappointment
WHUFC.com
Wolverhampton Wanderers struck late to defeat the Hammers on Saturday
09.02.2013

West Ham United Under-18s suffered late disappointment as a 2-1 lead was
overhauled by Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Barclays U18 Premier League
Tier One on Saturday. Kieran Sadlier returned from a week with the Republic
of Ireland Under-19s to score twice for Steve Potts' side, but Wolves
finished strongly to take the result away from the visitors. Despite the 3-2
final scoreline, Potts was pleased with the performance from the Hammers. He
said: "We went 1-0 and 2-1 up, and looked quite comfortable at that stage,
but Wolves came on strongly to get the win. We played well though, and
speaking to their coach afterwards, they had a team full of second years
while we were the opposite. "We had a 15-year-old goalkeeper with us, and
plenty of first years, but we coped with the challenge really well.
Physically we matched them and football-wise we played some good stuff. "I'm
disappointed to get nothing from the game but pleased with the performance
because it deserved better than a defeat. "We should have more points on the
board, but with performances like this we'll get the results too."

Sadlier was the man on target with both Hammers goals, striking to twice
give the visitors the lead and take his tally of league goals this season to
eight.
West Ham held a 1-0 advantage at the break, but Wolves came back strongly to
eventually send the Hammers home empty handed.

West Ham United: Howes, Alexander (Gogo), Page, Marlow, Onariase,
Girdlestone, Mavila (Harney), Miles, Boakye-Yiadom (T.Tombides), Cullen,
Sadlier

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Loanee round-up
WHUFc.com
West Ham United's loanees were in action in the npower Football League on
Saturday afternoon
09.02.2013

West Ham United's loanees were in action in the npower Football League on
Saturday afternoon, with differing results. In the npower Championship,
Stephen Henderson returned to the Ipswich Town starting XI after heading
back for his second loan spell with the Tractor Boys this season. However,
the Irishman had a day to forget as his own-goal saw Ipswich beaten 1-0 at
Blackburn Rovers. Defeat at Ewood Park saw Mick McCarthy's side drop to 20th
in the table, just a point above the relegation zone.

Elsewhere in the same division, Rob Hall played for 73 minutes as Birmingham
City snatched a 1-1 draw at Charlton Athletic. The forward had been replaced
by Nathan Redmond before Yann Kermorgant seemed to have handed the Addicks
victory with an 88th-minute goal. However, Wade Elliott headed in Chris
Burke's last-minute cross to secure a draw that leaves the Blues 16th. Ravel
Morrison was not involved.

In npower League Two, Paul McCallum played for 21 minutes as a substitute
for bottom club AFC Wimbledon, but could not prevent the Dons from losing
2-0 at Rotherham. Blair Turgott was not involved in Bradford City's 1-0 home
defeat by Gillingham. The Capital One Cup finalists stand 12th.

In France, Alou Diarra will hope to add to the assist he chalked up in Stade
Rennais' 2-2 draw at L'Orient last weekend when his team host Toulouse on
Sunday.

Finally, Academy youngster Marcio Martins helped Portugal U17s to recover
from a goal down to snatch a 1-1 draw with Netherlands at their opening
match at the Algarve Tournament. Portugal take on England on Sunday and
Germany on Tuesday.

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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce worried by new Premier League proposals
Last Updated: February 9, 2013 1:18pm
SSN

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce claims that the Premier League's new spending
proposals could force his players to move elsewhere for a better earning.
The Hammers were one of the clubs in favour of the proposals agreed on
Thursday, whereby clubs will not be permitted to rack up losses of more than
£105million over three years. Top-flight clubs will also face limits on the
amount by which they can increase their total player wage bills, but
Allardyce believes the new system may leave to an exodus of star players. He
told The Times: "If other countries take up the same process that we do,
then it won't be a problem. But if that process is left for three or four
seasons, then I fear it might be a problem for us in the Premier League.
"Players today will travel anywhere. If it's not the same financial
restrictions somewhere else and money is greater somewhere else, then the
best players will move to foreign fields. "We have seen top players moving
to Russia and China and that's a concern because that is not about the
football there - that is about the money."

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Did Avram Grant Turn Down Jack Wilshere?
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die

This is what Karren Brady wrote in her Sun column this mornng...

Watching Wilshere (against Brazil) reminded me of a manager who refused to
take him on the loan I had arranged because he said he wasn't good enough.
Is it any wonder he was sacked?

I am pretty sure i remember Wilshere being linked with us when he eventually
went to Bolton on loan. If Avram Grant really did turn him down he is even
more of a prat than I thought he was. And that's going some...

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Dozy boss who didn't want Jack
The Sun
By KARREN BRADY
Published: 08th February 2013

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2

THE sight of Andy Carroll rising to head the winner against Swansea sends my
optimism soaring. I have had too many seasons on the edge of the precipice
to be complacent about remaining in the Premier League but I have to say
West Ham at home are wonderfully encouraging. Swansea directors seemed
mightily upset after the game. One director's suit and tie must have fallen
off in rage at losing. We guessed they have got too used to winning.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3
SOON after I started at Birmingham, we were bitterly criticised for selling
Simon Sturridge to Stoke for £75,000. The Sturridges are a Brummie
institution. Daniel, still only 22, is bigger, cleverer and just as quick as
the brothers Dean and Simon and family pride will be high today as he
ransacks Man City's defence, scoring with a low, scorching drive. I hope
this is the end of the lad's restless travels because his need for a stable
role is even greater than Liverpool's for such a talented star.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4
THE simple truth is Champions League players in England cannot afford to be
bribed. Only a madman would risk £1million a year or more for a backhander
that could land him in jail for years. This is a long way from saying
match-fixing does not exist. But when I read that Europol suspect bribery at
Liverpool's game with Debrecen, you can be sure the offender was not from
the home team.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5
FANS who cheer new foreign owners in the belief the bank vaults are going to
be opened in pursuit of better players are learning this is often far from
the truth. Today Alex McLeish walks out on Forest because he believes the
Al-Hasawi family don't seem to understand that if you want a manager to
perform miracles, you have to buy him a few disciples.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6
NO England performance in years has given as much pleasure as tonight's. Roy
Hodgson, the friendliest England boss I've met, has started to prove we can
play modern international football. He is a great believer in structured
progress for young players, which is why I urge him to allow Stuart Pearce
to select the best of them — including Jack Wilshere — for the Under-21
Euros next June. Watching Wilshere reminded me of a manager who refused to
take him on the loan I'd arranged because he said he wasn't good enough. Is
it any wonder he was sacked?

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7
A 13 v 6 vote at the PL meeting means the principles of Financial Fair Play
have been agreed and the rule changes next season. Against were Swansea, Man
City, Fulham, WBA, QPR and Villa. The rule is you need a two-thirds majority
of those who vote to get a positive outcome so 13 out of 19 reached over
this. I have to admit I thought the vote was lost but Reading abstaining was
crucial.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8
MY team heads for Birmingham where they plan to add to the agonies of Aston
Villa. I return today from a few days at a health clinic in Austria, forced
to miss every treat known to woman. I once sent a player here to lose
weight. He did, too. One whole pound. He must have toured the local cafes
savouring weinersnitchel. I wonder where he is now? In a Cape Town pie shop
perhaps.

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It's a real downer
The Sun
By PAT SHEEHAN
Published: 09th February 2013

JAMES TOMKINS has told Aston Villa's kids: You will know what heartbreak is
if you fail to beat the drop. The West Ham centre-half steps out at Villa
Park today with Paul Lambert's young team in a tailspin and second from
bottom. Tomkins knows how teams can crack with so much pressure heaped on
young shoulders as he suffered relegation with West Ham when he had not long
turned 21. The former England Under-21 star, now 23, admitted: "Its
heartbreaking to go down. "That season we went down in 2011, I'll never
forget. It took me longer than the summer break to get over our relegation.
"I was in a tough situation when I made my first-team debut at 19 under
Gianfranco Zola, so I know how hard it can be. It has surprised me how it
has gone for Villa. You have to look at how big the club is and their
stature. "When you look at their team it is very, very inexperienced. We can
hopefully make the most of it. "I believe when teams are down there, you
need experienced heads among you. "The experienced lads are important to
Villa but it's about handling the situation you are in. "Personally, I
thrive off pressure. "Relegation was a tough experience for me as I was
growing up as a player. "I have to say I had a good year in the
Championship, it helped me with my game. Now when the going gets hard now, I
am ready for it. "It was vital West Ham came back straight away. We managed
it even though it's tough when you look at the quality of the teams in the
Championship these days. It gets harder every year."

Villa boss Paul Lambert stuck to his pre-season brief of using young players
coming through. But it has backfired and Tomkins added: "It's a hard
situation for all the young lads in the Villa team. "But I am surprised when
I look at their position because when I was growing up Aston Villa was
always one of the big clubs. I am sure they are fighting hard to stay up —
but we want to make the most of their current position." After spending time
on loan at Derby, Tomkins has fought hard to establish himself as
first-choice centre half and insists he wants to do a 'Carragher' and stay
at one club for his entire career — as the Liverpool legend has done. He
explained: "I'd like to think I can stay just here. I have been at Upton
Park since I was eight years old. I enjoy it here — I want to go places with
West Ham."

Newcastle made a strong enquiry to buy Tomkins but the Toon were seen off
when the Hammers gave him a new contract. He explained: "There was a bit of
fuss last year when my contract needed sorting out. But I have never grown
up thinking about the money, I have grown up just loving the game. "I am
very much settled here, it's very much a family club, all my family are West
Ham."

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Delays expected: West Ham in no hurry to offer Sam Allardyce a new deal
The Mirror
9 Feb 2013 22:28

West Ham are in no hurry to hand boss Sam Allardyce a new contract. Any
delay will inevitably lead to speculation about the manager's long-term
future. His current deal expires in the ­summer and opinion around the club
is widely divided. Allardyce, who steered the Hammers back to the Premier
League last May to crown his first campaign in charge, has always maintained
he would walk rather than be pushed if he failed to deliver. Yet, despite
embarking on a lavish spending spree the Hammers have endured some winter
wobbles on their return to top flight football. Co-owners David Sullivan and
David Gold are not prepared to open contract negotiations with ­Allardyce
until the club are safe from relegation. In fact, there is a growing belief
­inside the club that it would come as no surprise if Allardyce left at the
end of the current campaign and a new manager was brought in to replace him,
even if they stay in the Premier League. Allardyce's style of football has
not always appealed to die-hard Hammers supporters. That is a source of
frustration to Big Sam who believes his team are ­entertaining as well as
effective. But the ­criticism won't go away and last ­season he was
constantly forced to ­defend his tactics in the face of growing criticism.
Although the co-owners refuse to publicly criticise Allardyce, and have
­frequently been forced to defend him, it's fair to say their expectations
have not been met so far this season.

The biggest problem facing Sullivan and Gold is who to bring in if they
decide against renewing ­Allardyce's contract. Prior to his ­appointment at
QPR, ex-Hammers boss Harry Redknapp had been touted as a possible
replacement. But even he has ­enemies inside the club and would not be a
universally popular appointment. One man who would find favour with the
fans, and was interviewed for the post prior to Allardyce's ­appointment, is
Paolo Di Canio. Sullivan is aware the Italian would have delighted
supporters, but he felt the ex-Hammers striker needed to gain experience at
another club. Since then Di Canio has excelled at Swindon, leading them to
promotion from League Two in his first season. They are currently flying
high in League One with back-to-back ­promotions a ­distinct possibility. Di
Canio's future at the Wiltshire club is currently in doubt amid debates over
their long-term ­finances. He could yet prove a viable solution if West Ham
and Allardyce do part company.

Meanwhile, defender James Tomkins admits the Hammers have needed some
rollickings from the club's old heads to keep clear of the ­relegation
battle.
West Ham visit struggling Aston Villa today with Premier League safety now
in sight. And Tomkins, 23, said: "It's a hard situation Villa are in with
all the young lads throughout the team. "I remember being a young lad
growing up in a relegation fight under Gianfranco Zola and still learning my
trade, and going down under Avram Grant. It's a hard thing. "The experienced
lads are important in that situation. When you are down there, you need
experienced heads around you. Kevin Nolan has been a very good captain for
us and that's what we needed when he came in. "His leadership has been very
important. You need somebody having a go at you sometimes, it can be good
for the team. "It shows you all care and that you're all fighting for the
same thing. If he feels somebody is not doing what they should, then he's
going to speak up. "It is important for all of us that he stands up and says
that sort of stuff."

Meanwhile, Allardyce toasted the end of the transfer window on Thursday with
a glass of brandy – after he avoided having to sell Mohamed Diame on the
cheap.

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JACK COLLISON WANTS TO BE A HAMMER FOR LIFE
The Star
10th February 2013 By Tony Stenson

WEST HAM midfield star Jack Collison wants to follow in the footsteps of
Liverpool's Jamie Carragher and be a one-club man. The Kop idol announced
last week he will retire at the end of the season after a trophy-laden
career spanning more than 720 games. Wales international Collison shares
the same passion about the Hammers as Carragher does for Liverpool.His
statement of intent is music to the ears of boss Sam Allardyce who is
acutely aware that Newcastle have chased him all ­season. Collison, 24,
can't forget how the Hammers rescued him as a 17-year-old after his old club
Cambridge ­United disbanded their youth set-up due to ­financial problems
following their ­relegation from the Football League. He was offered a trial
at Upton Park and impressed academy director Tony Carr enough to be offered
a first-year scholarship. Then they stood by him through a long-term knee
injury. The club closed ranks again when, in August 2009, Collison's dad Ian
was killed in a ­motorbike accident on his way to watch the ­Hammers play
Spurs at Upton Park. Collison doesn't forget. He said: "I have been here
since I was eight and I don't want to go anywhere else. "I have always
wanted to be a West Ham player. "It is like family to me and we're all
local here. Everything I know is round here and I just don't see myself
­anywhere else." The Hammers beat Swansea last Saturday to steady a rocking
ship and now they have to beat Aston Villa ­today to forge forward once
more. Collison said: "The Swansea win was very important. We have ­conceded
more than anyone away from home and we had been coming up against the
pressure and fear that we could end up in a relegation dogfight."
Villa have relied on youth this ­season and have slipped into the drop zone.
Collison added: "I remember ­coming into the side when we were struggling
under Gianfranco Zola. "It was tough, so I know how Villa will be feeling
right now."

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Villa must not let West Ham and Carroll exploit our set-piece frailties,
insists Vlaar
By JOHN CURTIS, PRESS ASSOCIATION
PUBLISHED: 00:26, 10 February 2013 | UPDATED: 00:26, 10 February 2013
Daily Mail

Skipper Ron Vlaar admits Aston Villa have to conquer their frailty at
defending set-pieces as they prepare for another searching examination from
Andy Carroll into tomorrow's home game with West Ham. Vlaar held his hand up
and took responsibility for Everton striker Marouane Fellaini's late
equaliser in last weekend's 3-3 draw at Goodison Park. It was the latest
blow to hurt Villa from a dead-ball situation which has become their
Achilles heel this season - in the Barclays Premier League and also their
Capital One Cup semi-final setback against Bradford. Vlaar knows West Ham
will look to exploit their weakness in that area although the Dutch
international, who has played five games in 15 days since returning from
injury, can see signs of improvement. Vlaar said: 'Are teams beginning to
target Villa? People will know our struggles (at set pieces). I bet they do.
That's what I would have done. 'West Ham have a very strong team and play a
lot of long balls. We know that so we have to be ready for that. 'It's
something we have to take care of and focus on. We know the situation, I'm
not afraid of that. We have to stand up and be counted, be brave enough.'
Equaliser: Vlaar fails to contend with Everton's Marouane Fellaini from a
corner kick
Vlaar is aware of the threat that Carroll, on loan at the Hammers from
Liverpool, will pose after his return from injury. He said: 'He's a very
good player. I remember his goal for England in the Euros against Sweden. It
was top class. That's his quality. 'We have to face that and deal with it
and make sure he cannot come in that position. We also have to stop the
crosses. 'He scored a lot of goals for Newcastle, it was not easy for him at
Liverpool, I guess, and now he is playing at West Ham. He was injured as
well for a while. 'But I think he has the ability to play at the highest
level and he has quality, that is for sure. If you score goals like that
(against Sweden), it says something.'

Vlaar, signed from Feyenoord last summer, believes Villa are coming to terms
with what is required to stem the flood of goals from corners and
free-kicks.
He said: 'I think we have improved on that. If you look at the last game at
Everton, they had 20 corners and free-kicks all game. I think they all went
well except one. 'It's too bad that it cost us the three points. That's
something we work really hard on. It's getting better, but we still need to
be even better. 'For everybody it was frustrating when the equaliser went in
but also for me. I know my responsibility so that moment was bad.' Vlaar
believes the negatives should not be allowed to outweigh the positives from
the performances in the second half against Newcastle - where they were
beaten 2-1 - and for long spells at Goodison Park. He said: 'You think about
that moment of course (when Everton equalised) but I think there also were a
lot of good moments in the game, for me but also for the team. 'I think we
have to hold onto the things that went well and we played very well as a
team. 'The second half against Newcastle and the 90 minutes against Everton,
that's something we can build on and that's the most important thing. 'We
believe in each other, that's the most important thing for now and we
definitely need a result now.

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West Ham United midfielder Joe Cole reveals desire that drives him and his
determination to make England return
Joe Cole is back where his career began, with West Ham United 14 years ago,
but his passion and self-belief have not diminished over the years.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt, Football Correspondent11:59PM GMT 09 Feb 2013

"My first game back at Upton Park and the weather was bad," Joe Cole recalls
of his debut for West Ham United following his move from Liverpool during
the January transfer window. "It only takes me 25 minutes to get from my
house to Upton Park but the Met Office had said leave treble-time for your
journey so I set off really early – and it still only takes me 25 minutes.
"There's nobody else there and it's freezing, minus two, and I'm trying to
force the stadium gates open to get my car in. It made me chuckle. There's
me, on my return to West Ham, and I can't get in."

Not that it relieved the stomach-knotting tension he felt. "There was a lot
of attention on me," Cole says. "The cameras follow you around. Some players
love it but I've never enjoyed debuts. I don't like the fuss, really. "You
want to get off to a good start. I didn't enjoy it as much as I I did
afterwards because it went well and it was good to be back."

Indeed, it felt very good. Remarkably, Cole rates that FA Cup third-round
tie against Manchester United on Jan 5, which ended in a 2-2 draw with
United eventually winning the replay, as one of the three most "emotional"
games of his career – even more emotional than when he made his 'first'
debut for West Ham 14 years ago as a fresh-faced 17-year-old with the ball,
and the world, at his feet. "I'd say there have been three games in my
career when I've got a bit choked up. One was when we won the first [Premier
League] title at Chelsea [2004-05] and we came home and played Charlton.
Those moments you don't know why but the final whistle went, we won the game
1-0 and it kind of caught me off-guard. "I looked at where I used to sit as
a young lad [Cole grew up a Chelsea fan] and I thought of all the things I
went through to reach that pinnacle. The other time was a World Cup game
against Paraguay. The first game in the 2006 finals and the national anthem
was playing. "I caught sight of my family in the crowd and that was a big
moment. And then this game, right at the end, once the pressure had gone and
I looked round and saw people giving me a standing ovation. It chokes you up
a little bit."

Cole's return to West Ham, whom he left in 2003 to join the Roman Abramovich
revolution at Stamford Bridge, has dripped with emotion. Even going to
training has the memories rushing back, thick and fast and evocative. "The
gym there, the pitches there," Cole says, as he takes a break from preparing
for Sunday's Premier League match at Aston Villa, pointing to the facilities
at West Ham's Chadwell Heath training ground. "That's where I learnt
football, learnt my trade. All the good things I've done, all the mistakes I
made – I can picture it all. There are so many memories around the place.
I'm out there training and my mind will go back to, maybe, a goal I scored
when I was under-12. It really gets you thinking about your career and what
you've done."

Undoubtedly Cole has achieved a lot. Three Premier League titles, two FA
Cups, a Champions League final and 56 caps for England represent astonishing
success – and yet Cole has spent much of his career being told what kind of
footballer he should have been rather than simply being embraced for the
exceptional one he is. "I made my peace long ago with that because not
everyone can love you, in whatever walk of life. Football is about
expectations and perspectives. I certainly know when I put on my boots that
I give everything. "But people's expectations might have been for more from
me. Also, what do you perceive as success? How do you judge a player? Is it
how many caps he's won, how many medals, how many goals? How well loved he
is at a club? How do you, for example, compare someone like Paoli Di Canio
with someone like Gary Neville?"

There is one measure that Cole himself treasures. "The proudest thing I've
achieved in football is the love of the fans. That's the best thing you can
take out of your football career. The way I see it, pundits only watch you a
few times a season. The fans are there every week and they pay their money."

It is why, when it came to leaving Chelsea in 2010, when his contract
expired and he was not offered a new deal, he chose Liverpool over Tottenham
Hotspur.
"The reason I didn't go to Tottenham was having played for West Ham and
Chelsea, the fans think so much of me at both clubs that I couldn't do it to
them. For my family, Champions League football and with Harry [Redknapp]
there then it would have been sensible to go to Tottenham and it had nothing
to do with finance. I'm no mercenary. It was just because of the fans of
West Ham and Chelsea." His career at Liverpool did not work out, of course.
"I went in every day and gave it my all at Liverpool and probably the reason
why I stayed there so long was my stubbornness," Cole explains. "I wanted to
make it work. "But when there is so much against you it becomes difficult. I
wouldn't knock anyone at the club because they treated me with respect, as I
did them, but sometimes people want to go in a different direction and you
are swimming against the tide and I just wasn't in the plans. I just had to
go in the end."

A successful loan spell at Lille, then returning to Liverpool, was followed
by a straight choice last month between West Ham and Redknapp's new club
Queens Park Rangers. Despite Redknapp's influence it was, Cole admits, an
"easy decision". "People say never go back but I'm not one to worry about
what people think," he adds. "People said 'don't go to Lille, you'll be out
of sight' but I had a great time there, I loved it." Cole will also cherish
every minute at West Ham. He is no longer that fresh-faced kid but there is
still much to achieve and much to play for. "The good moments are sometimes
few and far between so you have to enjoy them," he says. "When you are
younger you don't realise what you are doing, sometimes. "When I scored the
goal in the World Cup [in 2006] against Sweden, a goal that's gone down as
one of the great goals, afterwards I just gave my shirt to one of the
Swedish players. And JT [John Terry] said to me 'what are you doing? With
that goal you scored you can't just give your shirt away!' and I'm like 'oh,
no' and went and got the shirt back. "I hadn't thought of it as a
career-defining moment but now when people think of me in an England shirt
they think of that goal. Like Michael Owen against Argentina, [Steven]
Gerrard against Germany. But as you get older you learn to appreciate what
you've done."

Cole was at Wembley Stadium last Wednesday, an interested spectator as
England beat Brazil 2-1. He has not given up hope of playing for his country
again especially as, with players such as Jack Wilshere and Tom Cleverley,
he sees kindred spirits. "They are fantastic players," he says. "Wilshere is
top-drawer, world-class I was thinking 'how am I going to get in this team?'
Because I still want to play for England. It's a long time since I played
and I know the odds are against me because I've been away for so long. But I
enjoy the challenge. That's the masochist in me!"

But the primary task is to establish West Ham in the Premier League. "If my
career stopped tomorrow then I would be happy with everything that I've
achieved but I've still got the desire to do more, play more games, score
more goals, win more trophies. We can win the League Cup, FA Cup and
[manager] Sam Allardyce is an ambitious man. "He has come here because he
wants to do well and maybe one day get the England job. You can feel that
everything's pointing in the right direction for the club."

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