Hammers to visit New Zealand
WHUFC.com
West Ham United will visit New Zealand for the first time in July 2014
30.04.2014
West Ham United are delighted to announce that the Hammers will visit New
Zealand for the first time in the Club's history this July. The Football
United Tour will see West Ham play two games in the Pacific Ocean nation
against Hyundai A-League sides Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC as part of a
four-team tournament that also includes fellow Barclays Premier League side
Newcastle United.
The Hammers will face the Phoenix at Eden Park on Wednesday 23 July, before
they travel to Wellington for a fixture against Sydney FC at the
34,500-capacity Westpac Stadium on Saturday 26 July*.
The pre-season trip will be a special one for West Ham, who will be the
first leading English club to visit New Zealand since Everton in 1986, and
in particular for New Zealand captain Winston Reid. The All Whites skipper,
who was born in Auckland and starred for his country at the 2010 FIFA World
Cup, cannot wait to return to his homeland with the Hammers. "I'm really
excited to be bringing West Ham to New Zealand in July to play a bit of
footy in the Football United Tour and show them how we do things in New
Zealand!" said the centre-back. "New Zealand is a beautiful country full of
great people and I'm sure all the West Ham players, staff and supporters who
make the trip will have a fantastic time. "Football is really on the up in
both New Zealand and Australia and we are all looking forward to both
meeting all the fans and playing in exciting matches against two leading
Hyundai A-League clubs."
Manager Sam Allardyce is also looking forward to taking a team New Zealand
for the first time in his managerial career. "We've been busy putting
together the best pre-season preparation that I've had, and it's great that
we're able to go to New Zealand as a key part of that," said Big Sam. "A lot
of hard work has gone on behind the scenes between Angus Kinnear, Andrew
Pincher and Neil McDonald to pull it all together in terms of what we're
looking for and what we want. "The tournament in New Zealand is particularly
interesting, as it allows us to promote West Ham United and the Premier
League over there. It'll be great for our fans in the region to see us play.
I went over to Australia with Blackburn Rovers and I was quite surprised how
many Blackburn fans there were that lived there. "I'd expect ten times more
fans to be looking forward to us playing in New Zealand this summer!"
The arrival of two leading Premier League sides in New Zealand looks certain
to prove popular with the locals as General Manager of the Wellington
Phoenix, David Dome, explained. "We are delighted that we're making an
international first available to both Kiwi and Australian fans," Dome said.
"All of New Zealand will be able to be part of this unique sporting event,
with Newcastle United journeying to Dunedin and West Ham United to Auckland,
with both sides finishing their tour with the double-header in Wellington."
"This just isn't about action on the pitch. Wellington will be hosting a
'Festival of Football' throughout the day and night in the capital. We want
to create a weekend packed with entertainment, culture and sport that around
the theme of football - a real family festival day out offering so much more
for the fans and their families. "We anticipate tickets to the games will
sell fast as this is a rare and exciting opportunity for football fans and
their families throughout Australasia to be part of."
Ticket details for both matches will be confirmed shortly on whufc.com,
while New Zealand-based supporters should keep an eye on
wellingtonphoenix.com for details of how to make sure of your seat!
*Please note fixtures are still subject to change and fans are advised to
not book any travel arrangements until confirmed.
Wellington Phoenix
Founded: 2007
Best A-League finish: Third (2009/10)
Head coach: Ernie Merrick
Website: wellingtonphoenix.com
Who are they?
Founded in March 2007 following the dissolution of the New Zealand Knights,
Wellington Phoenix entered the A-League later the same year, becoming the
first expansion club in the league's history. The name for the new club was
picked from a shortlist of six, picked from 250 names suggested by the
public, and represents the 'fresh start' for football made in the city with
the club's birth. In 2009/10, under the guidance of future New Zealand
manager Ricki Herbert, Wellington Phoenix became the first ever New Zealand
side to reach the A-League play-offs, defeating Perth Glory and Newcastle
Jets to reach the Preliminary final, where they were beaten by Sydney FC.
The Nix, as they are nicknamed, reached the play-offs again in 2011 and
2012. Wellington Phoenix also provided five members of New Zealand's 2010
FIFA World Cup squad - winger Leo Bertos, goalkeeper Mark Paston, defenders
Ben Sigmund and Tony Lochhead and midfielder Tim Brown.
High profile players
Barbados international midfielder Paul Ifill was born in Brighton and played
more than 350 career games for Millwall, Sheffield United and Crystal
Palace. While he may not yet be known to West Ham supporters, Costa Rica
winger Kenny Cunningham could line up against England at the 2014 FIFA World
Cup finals in Brazil.
Sydney FC
Founded: 2004
Best A-League finish: Grand Finals winners (2005/06, 2009/10)
Manager: Frank Farina
Website: sydneyfc.com.au
Who are they?
The A-League's inaugural champions in 2005/06, Sydney FC were one of the
league's founder members and are considered to be one of its most successful
clubs. Under the management of former Germany international Pierre
Littbarski and with former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke leading
the attack, the Sky Blues defeated the Central Coast Mariners 1-0 in the
Grand Final in 2006. That same season, Sydney FC were also crowned Oceania
champions after beating Auckland City of New Zealand, AS Pirae of French
Polynesia and AS Magenta of New Caledonia. Ex-Middlesbrough and Brazil star
Juninho, former Sheffield Wednesday playmaker Benito Carbone and one-time
Coventry City and Australia striker John Aloisi added star power during the
seasons following Sydney's opening-year success, but the club would have to
wait four years for a second title. That arrived in 2010, when they defeated
Melbourne Victory 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the Grand Final.
In recent seasons, Sydney FC have failed to challenge for the title, but
have continued to attract big crowds due in large part to the presence of
former Juventus and Italy superstar Alessandro Del Piero in their squad.
Do they have any players known to West Ham United fans?
Perth-born Australia midfielder Richard Garcia joined West Ham United as a
15-year-old, helping the Hammers to win the FA Youth Cup in 1999 and making
22 first-team appearances. Having also played for Leyton Orient, Colchester
United and Hull City, he returned to his homeland with Melbourne Heart in
2012 before joining Sydney FC last summer. Australia midfielder Nick Carle
played nearly 100 games for Bristol City and Crystal Palace between 2008 and
2010, while left-back Marc Warren has represented Sheffield United and
Scottish club Airdrie.
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Reid looks for final flourish
WHUFC.com
Winston Reid is targeting a third victory of the season against Tottenham
Hotspur
29.04.2014
West Ham United defender Winston Reid insists his team are not suffering
from any end-of-season jitters as they look to secure a position of
mathematical safety. Victory over Sunderland at the end of March took West
Ham to 37 points and the brink of securing their Barclays Premier League
berth, but they have been unable to add to that tally in the four games
since. Nevertheless, they are still virtually assured of top flight football
in 2014/15 but Reid wants to make sure they seal it themselves by defeating
Tottenham Hotspur for a third time this season. He said: "I don't think we
are nervous. I just think that the balls are not really falling for us at
the moment. We have been punished in the last two games when maybe earlier
on in the year we would have got two draws. "We just can't seem to score
goals at the moment and we are conceding, so it is not really the best. It
is four defeats on the bounce now and we are not particularly happy with
that, so we have to win our next game and that is at home against Tottenham,
it is as simple as that. "Ben Foster played well on Saturday, but we have to
start putting away our chances. That is two games where we haven't scored
now, also we should really have done better with their goal, so all in all
we are not really hitting our best form at both ends."
Reid would love to complete the Spurs hat-trick on Saturday, especially as
the game provides the Hammers with the last opportunity to win in front of
their own fans this season, He continued: "We have got up for every single
game in the league so far, so it is not about that, but it is a local derby
so we will have to be on top form to get anything out of the game. They are
a good side and going well, so we will have to take it as it comes and get
ready for Saturday. "Basically there are still enough points that teams can
collect to go past us, so we are not safe. We haven't really been talking
about that to be honest, we have just be concentrating on trying to get more
points and try and keep pushing ourselves up the table, but we have lost
four games in a row at not at a good time. "It is the end of the season now
and we want to finish off well. We have two exciting games coming up and we
have to try and do well in those two games to finish the season off as best
as possible really."
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Reid spurred on by derby clash
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 29th April 2014
By: Staff Writer
Central defender Winston Reid says West Ham need to start taking their
chances if they are to have any hope of beating Tottenham this weekend. The
Hammers recorded a second consecutive blank at West Bromwich Albion on
Saturday - the 17th occasion this season in which they have failed to score
- with the New Zealander partially at fault for the Baggies' winning goal.
And Reid, who has once again found himself being linked with a summer move
by the media insists that the Hammers need to start hitting the target if
they are to avoid ending the season with eight successive defeats - a run
that would equal that which saw the end of Alan Pardew's reign as manager in
2006. "We just can't seem to score goals at the moment and we are conceding,
so it is not really the best," Reid told whufc.com. "It is four defeats on
the bounce now and we are not particularly happy with that. "The balls are
not really falling for us at the moment. We have been punished in the last
two games when maybe earlier on in the year we would have got two draws. Ben
Foster played well on Saturday, but we have to start putting away our
chances."
The next opportunity for Reid and his fellow team mates to do that comes
this weekend when Tottenham provide the opposition for the final home game
of the Premier League season. However the 25-year-old believes that the
Hammers will need to be at their best to beat a team still hoping to qualify
for European football next season. "We have to win our next game at home
against Tottenham, it is as simple as that," he said. "But we will have to
be on top form to get anything out of the game as they are a good side and
going well."
* Should West Ham lose this weekend, it will be the tenth time they have
lost at home in the league this season which would represent the most number
of home defeats in any Premier League campaign.
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JUDGE A MANAGER BY HIS SIGNINGS
By Sean Whetstone 29 Apr 2014 at 14:12
West Ham Till I Die
Guest Post by John Bucci
As a regular attendee to the Boleyn for more years than I care to remember,
I have seen many different West Ham teams, and in more recent times, many
different managers. I looked on in amazement/despair with the appointment of
an un-proven chelsea legend in Zola, and then just despair with the
appointment of Avram Grant. So with the club in such a poor state both on
and off the field I was not totally opposed to Allardyce's appointment, and
although I had voiced many a time when he would bring his Bolton side to
town, how much I disliked his teams one dimensional bullying tactics, I did
hope he would adjust his style to suit his audience. I welcomed the arrival
of a strong manager to steady the ship and sort out the mess that had been
left behind, and to give credit where credits due he looked to be doing what
I had hoped.
It wasn't until this last summer transfer window that I really started to
question things,and mainly his ability in the transfer market. I was
somewhat concerned that he had again broken our transfer record on the
permanent signing of Andy Carroll whom had a history of injuries and not too
many goals, and was even injured when he signed. But to not purchase another
striker having released Carlton Cole and then spend the remaining budget on
Stewart Downing was, in my opinion, the season we are enduring set in stone.
Having broken our transfer record previously on Jarvis, the signing of
Downing ,I felt, was just unnecessary. I was expecting Jarvis to justify his
fee being his second season,unfortunately he has on the whole been pretty
ineffective since joining us closely run by Downing this season. So with the
fact that our once famed academy production line seems to have dried up, and
the alleged falling out over agents resulting in Ravel Morrison being loaned
out this left behind a squad of players all 25 or over ( very Bolton'esque )
I wondered how after two transfer records broken in Sam's time, and with a
whole raft of players in and out of the club, our best players are still
Mark Noble, Winston Reid and James Tomkins (still improving all the time).
It was when we played Liverpool the other week when my son stated that if
you added up the value of our so called front three of Jarvis, Downing and
Carroll in the region of 31million, and then looked at Liverpool's front
three of Sterling, Coutinho and Suarez, there was only a couple of million
difference (all be it they bought Sterling in as a youngster from QPR). Not
only then did I question our managers competence in the transfer market, but
also our so called tough businessmen owners judgement as well, really how
did they ever agree to break our transfer record on Jarvis? Who has Sam
actually brought in that has been a success? You could argue Nolan and more
recently Adrian but don't forget Maiga for over 5 Million. Vaz Te was
definitely a success in the Championship but even he has locked horns with
Sam and put in a transfer request last summer, and Diame has supposedly had
his moments with Sam as well. We have spent money on Baldock, Maynard, Alou
Diarra and numerous free transfers, who have all been shown the door for
reasons I can only suspect that they have been judged not good enough, so
what is the problem? The scouting? The agents? Or the Owners and the
Manager?
Allardyce has been at the club long enough now (too long for some) to be
able to call this his team and his squad, and as the injuries started to hit
this season it is in my opinion his poor dealings in the transfer market
that left him reverting to type and playing the worst football I have seen
at the Boleyn since I started to attend in the mid 80's. To try and get
points on the board the best way he knows how, playing the one dimensional
football we see today, which is scuppered as shown by Palace and West Brom,
control Carroll and you win the the game. So putting aside Allardyce's
arrogance and clear disdain for West Ham fans, and even his hoof ball
football, I believe you can judge a manager on his signings and this will
probably prove to be his undoing. But if he does end up seeing out the last
year of his lucrative contract, will someone else please take control of the
transfer dealings?
COYI
About John: Watched West Ham from the South bank terraces in the eighties
and now a season ticket holder in the Sir Trevor Brooking lower.
Also a presenter on West Ham podcast Moore Than Just A Podcast.
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Vast majority of West Ham fans vote to axe Sam Allardyce at the end of the
season
Apr 28, 2014 22:30 By Mike Walters
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce has been driven up the poll by a landslide vote from West Ham
fans calling for him to be sacked. Nearly four out of five Hammers
supporters in a survey have delivered a huge blow to Big Sam's chances of
remaining in charge at Upton Park for a fourth season. Of the 12,392
supporters who took part in a single public opinion poll across 16
independent West Ham fanzines and websites, a damning 77.95 per cent said
Allardyce must go. With owners David Gold and David Sullivan admitting a
decision on Allardyce's reign will be made at the end of the season, the
fans' verdict could be the last straw before the haystack comes crashing
down. Travelling missionaries from the East end turned on Big Sam in
Saturday's 1-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion, the Hammers' fourth straight
loss. But the tide has been turning against Allardyce since a dismal run
over Christmas and New Year, which briefly dumped West Ham in the bottom
three. Diplomatic relations between jellied eels and the dugout collapsed
after last month's desperately laboured 2-1 home win against 10-man Hull,
when Allardyce cupped an ear sarcastically to the storm of boos which
greeted his side's artless win.
Now he has suffered arguably the most damaging result of all. In the poll,
conducted over a 72-hour window over the weekend, fans were asked: Should
Sam Allardyce be retained as our manager next season? The emphatic response,
from a sizeable sample, has left Gold and Sullivan with a dilemma as the Two
Daves bid to deliver West Ham to their new home at the Olympic Stadium in
2016 as a Premier League club. In the short term, Allardyce's main concern
is gaining the point which will make the Hammers mathematically safe from
relegation - at home against Tottenham on Saturday or at Manchester City on
the last day of term. Big Sam, who was not amused by a banner reading 'Fat
Sam Out' at West Brom, admitted: "I think we probably need one more point
and we've got to get it against Tottenham. It's our last home game and we
want to finish the season on a high. "We've already managed to beat
Tottenham twice this season so we will be doing all we can to make it three
wins in a row."
Allardyce is aware that finishing the season with six consecutive defeats is
likely to earn him the axe at the Boleyn with 12 months left on his
contract, with supporters demanding his removal. He added: "My
responsibility is to turn that around and get the players to win football
matches. We're very disappointed and I understand their frustration as they
want to see their team win. "They won't want to see them play well and lose
- they want to see them play well and win. We've got to get better and be
more resilient - the lads have got it in their own hands, they know what
they need to do."
Organisers of the Allardyce poll have sent the results, with some of the
fans' attendant comments, to Gold and Sullivan, who are concerned about a
slump in season ticket sales if Big Sam and his pragmatic style remain in
place for the 2014-15 campaign.
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Wednesday, April 30
Tuesday, April 29
Daily WHUFC News - 29th April 2014
Hammers say goodbye to Dylan
WHUFC.com
West Ham United held a moving Memorial Service for Dylan Tombides on Monday
28.04.2014
West Ham United said an emotional goodbye to Dylan Tombides at a moving Memorial Service on Monday afternoon. More than 200 mourners, led by the late striker's parents Tracylee and Jim and brother Taylor, attended the service at St Paul's Church in Woodford Bridge. Joint-Chairman David Gold and Vice-Chairman Karren Brady represented the Board, while manager Sam Allardyce, his staff, the first-team squad, Development Squad and Academy scholars all turned out to pay their respects to Dylan, who passed away on Good Friday following a three-year battle with cancer. Club chaplain Rev Alan Bolding led proceedings, telling Dylan's family, friends, current and former team-mates and colleagues about a 'talented footballer, loveable, fun-loving and courageous boy'.
Academy Director Tony Carr MBE, who coached the Australia U22 international throughout his first three seasons at the Academy, spoke glowingly of a player who shone brightly throughout his five years with the Club. "Dylan flourished in the environment of football," said Carr. "It was never a problem and he grasped his opportunity enthusiastically. He literally lived for football. "He was always a popular member of the youth squad, scored lots of goals and had a great sense of humour. He always had a positive attitude to everything. As a testament to his growing reputation as a player, he earned the Academy Player of the Year award in 2011. "To lose Dylan so young just seems so unfair. There are no words to describe this tragic loss. We will all miss you Dylan, and you will forever be in all of our thoughts."
The forward's former U16s, U18s and current Development Squad manager Nick Haycock talked of the No38's outstanding all-round talent on the pitch and inspiring approach to life off it.
Club Medical Officer Dr Richard Weiler and physiotherapist Jon Urwin, who both became close to Dylan during his treatment, spoke warmly of his relentlessly positive attitude, love of life, rare sense of humour and unique dress sense.
It was then the turn of the team-mates Dylan grew up with at West Ham, a number of whom acted as pall-bearers, to speak with respect and love for their late friend in a series of moving video messages.
To complete a service that gave Dylan the send-off he so richly deserved, the mourners also listened intently to poignant songs chosen by his family before singing the traditional football hymn 'Abide with me' and a specially-adapted version of 'Bubbles'. Outside the packed church, a group of around 50 supporters formed to listen to the service on speakers. Following the service, a wake was held at the Boleyn Ground, where the 20-year-old made his first-team debut for West Ham in September 2012. The thoughts and sincere condolences of everyone associated with West Ham United remain with Dylan's family and friends at this sad time.
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Loan round-up
WHUFC.com
A number of West Ham United loanees were in action across the Football League at the weekend
28.04.2014
As the football season draws to a close, a number of West Ham United loanees were in action across the Football League at the weekend. Ravel Morrison and his QPR teammates were left frustrated on Saturday afternoon after the R's conceded a last minute leveller in their Sky Bet Championship clash against Millwall at Loftus Road. Harry Redknapp's side took the lead with just eleven minutes left when Charlie Austin buried a penalty, but the Londoners could not hold out and a Rob Green mistake handed Scott Malone a 90th minute equaliser. Modibo Maiga didn't feature for Rangers, who are now secure in fourth spot as they turn their attentions to the Play-Offs.
Jack Collison is also likely to feature in the end of season Play-Offs with Wigan Athletic, although the midfielder was an unused substitute as the Latics went down 2-0 at home to Blackpool on Saturday.
In Sky Bet League One, Jordan Spence played the whole match as MK Dons surrendered a two goal lead against Rotherham in a 2-2 draw. The Dons led thanks to goals from Matthew Kennedy and Izale McLeod, but found themselves pegged back by Michael O'Connor and then Alex Revell's last minute strike.
Blair Turgott came on for the final few minutes as Dagenham & Redbridge suffered a 3-0 home defeat against Northampton in Sky Bet League Two. The winger had little time to affect the game as the Daggers went down to goals from Ian Morris and an Ivan Toney double.
North of the border, George Moncur (Partick Thistle) and Paul McCallum (Heart of Midlothian) were both unused subs in a 1-1 draw and 2-1 win for their teams respectively.
In Republic of Ireland, Sean Maguire watched on as Sligo Rovers earned a 3-0 win against Limerick in the SSE Airtricity League.
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'I could not fault my players' efforts'
WHUFC.com
U18s manager Steve Potts said his team did West Ham United proud with their display against Bolton Wanderers
28.04.2014
West Ham United U18s boss Steve Potts and his players went through the full range of emotions before, during and after his side's 2-2 draw with Bolton Wanderers on Saturday. Before kick-off at Little Heath, a ceremony was held in memory of Dylan Tombides, who passed away recently following a three-year battle with cancer. A minute's silence was held and captain Kieran Bywater laid a wreath on the centre spot. Potts watched Tombides throughout his time with the Academy. The striker was a close friend of his son and fellow graduate Dan, who came through the ranks in the same year-group. "As a player, and I don't say it lightly, Dylan had everything," said Potts. "I remember him having a fantastic season in the U16 group. He had two good feet, could hold the ball up, was good in the air, had great awareness and could finish as well as any youngster I have seen. "As a player, Dylan just had huge potential. Unfortunately he is never going to realise that potential and that is heart-breaking. "I know his parents Jim and Tracylee very well because I used to travel to games with them as my Dan was in the same team as Dylan. They are real down to earth parents and I cannot speak highly enough of them. They are parents who said it exactly how it was because if Dylan or his younger brother Taylor, who is in my group at the moment, weren't doing what they were meant to, then they would've been the first to sort it out themselves. "The thing that I will remember most about Dylan is Dylan the person. After everything that he went through, whenever I saw him at the training ground, he always had a smile on his face and wanted to get on with his training. "Everyone knows what he has been through and some of the treatments he has had, which were horrible for him, but he kept fighting it and coming back to work hard because he just wanted to be a professional footballer. It's heart-breaking for me that he hasn't been given the chance to fulfil his dreams. "I'm just so gutted and the whole Club is in shock really because he was just a great example to everyone. "There was an element of real sadness around the place when everyone turned up for the game. "I knew we were going to hold a minute's silence and have the wreath on the centre of the pitch but what I didn't realise was that Dylan's parents and Taylor were going to be there. It was just heart-breaking to see them and I feel so sorry for them. "Taylor has had terrible luck with injuries which has prevented him training and playing much this year. I often think that footballers find a release on the pitch during adversity but Taylor has not even had that luxury. I know he was very close to his brother."
As for the match itself, West Ham took an early lead through Jordan Brown before Bolton pair Carl Kennedy and William Abbotts netted either side of half-time to put the visitors in front. Brown levelled with 13 minutes remaining to secure a share of the spoils. Potts paid tribute to the professionalism of his players in the light of the recent loss of someone all of them liked and respected. "I could not fault the efforts of my players. I could see the shock and sadness in their eyes before the game so to produce a performance which warranted a win was fantastic. "We had some really good chances, but Bolton played very well and got lucky along the way with ricochets which took our efforts away from goal when, on another day, they would've hit the back of the net. "Fair play to Bolton for that because you are always going to come up against opposition that are going to defend for their lives. It was up to us to open them up and punish them."
West Ham have one regular season fixture remaining, with Arsenal visiting Little Heath on Friday afternoon. Victory then would firm up the Hammers' place in the Play-Offs. "It will be a fantastic game for the boys to play in against Arsenal. They are a good team and it's our final game this season at home so you couldn't ask for much better opposition because you already know that it's going to be a tough test for us. "That's all you really want from the season - that the boys are going to be tested as much as they can be and hopefully we can end the season on a high note."
Parking and admission for Friday's 1pm kick-off are both free of charge.
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Carr: he lived for football
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 28th April 2014
By: Staff Writer
Family and friends of West Ham United's Dylan Tombides said goodbye to the young footballer today at a memorial service held in St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge. A host of mourners - said to number in excess of 200 - attended the ceremony including Dylan's close family which also saw a small group of well-wishers gather outside the church where the service, conducted by West Ham's current chaplain Reverend Alan Bolding, was relayed on speakers. Tony Carr, who worked alongside Dylan for a number of years at the club's Academy led the way with a moving eulogy about Tombides, who died two weeks ago from cancer. Dylan flourished in the environment of football," he said. "It was never a problem and he grasped his opportunity enthusiastically. He literally lived for football. He was always a popular member of the youth squad, scored lots of goals and had a great sense of humour. "He always had a positive attitude to everything. As a testament to his growing reputation as a player he earned the Academy Player of the Year award in 2011. To lose Dylan so young just seems so unfair. There are no words to describe this tragic loss. "We will all miss you Dylan, and you will forever be in all of our thoughts."
Gunna miss you so much my brother! I know you'll be looking down on us! Rest In Paradise Dyl, sleep tight bro 😢😓🌹❤️
— Elliot Lee (@ElliotLee9) April 28, 2014
Very emotional day but a great send off for Dylan, just how he would've wanted it. Forever with me on and off the pitch! Rest in peace Bro❤️
— Blair Turgott (@blairturgott) April 28, 2014
Tough, tough day but a service you deserved mate. Really put life into perspective. Rest well Dyl, never forgotten 🙏❤️
— Dan Potts (@DanPotts03) April 28, 2014
Just returning home from Dylan Tombides Memorial Service. What a sad day for the friends and family of this fine young man. I will miss him
— David Gold (@davidgold) April 28, 2014
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Sayonara Sam?
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 28th April 2014
By: Staff Writer
The largest independent online poll of West Ham United supporters ever conducted has resulted in more than three quarters of voters failing to back Sam Allardyce. More than 12,500 people took part in the survey that was the result of a collaboration between 16 West Ham websites, blogs and forums. And after four days of voting, 77.95% expressed the view that Sam Allardyce should not be retained as West Ham manager next season with the remaining 22.05% opting to retain his services beyond the summer. The survey ran from Thursday until 7pm last night (Sunday). It is thought to be the largest opinion poll ever undertaken of the club's supporters. Of those who voted, 27 per cent said they were season ticket holders, with a further nine per cent attending more than half of each season's matches. However 65 per cent of those voting admiited to attending less than half of West Ham's matches, with 25 per cent never attending matches live, for varying reasons (but watching instead via TV/internet). 28 per cent of those who voted live in London, 26 per cent in the South East and 12 per cent in East Anglia. 14 per cent of voters are based overseas. Most respondents were in the 36-45 age bracket, closely followed by those aged from 46-55. Nearly one in three voters - some 4,850 in total - left comments.
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Matt Jarvis wants to see 'character' at West Ham
Last Updated: 28/04/14 10:22am
SSN
Matt Jarvis has called for a show of 'character' as the West Ham United players look to end the season on a positive note. Manager Sam Allardyce could also do with an upturn in fortune before the campaign comes to a close, with supporters targeting him again during a 1-0 reversal at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. It is, however, those on the field who will ultimately decide whether West Ham finish with a flourish or a whimper. Four straight defeats has them heading towards the latter, with Premier League safety not secured as yet. One more point would be enough to get them over that particular line, but Jarvis says an under-performing squad should be looking for more than that from testing fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City. The England winger said: "We feel strongly that we want to get another point - it's not about if we need another point. "We have to pick up points for ourselves and the fans. "We feel their frustration. It's a matter of us taking that into a massive game against Spurs. It's part and parcel of the game. "You have to take the good with the bad. We just need to get a result. We have to show character from everybody in the squad."
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The 10 possible replacements if under-pressure Sam Allardyce departs West Ham this summer
Apr 28, 2014 08:05 By Bruce Archer
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce's relationship with the West Ham faithful appears to be reaching melting point. Allardyce has just about guided the Hammers to safety, as they sit five points above the drop zone with two games to go, but his style of play has been heavily scrutinised. And the former Bolton boss has done himself no favours in recent weeks with damning comments towards his own supporters. They responded with a series of negative chants during Saturday's defeat to West Brom and it looks as if he could be on his way this summer. But who could replace him? Here's our shortlist of Allardyce's potential replacement at Upton Park.
Malky Mackay
Dismissed by Cardiff in December, Malky Mackay is available and the favourite to take over if Allardyce is removed by the Hammers' hierachy. The 42-year-old Scot has a lot of fans following his work in Wales, having taken the Bluebirds into the top flight and remained dignified in difficult circumstances - specifically having to work alongside Vincent Tan! Still only half a season of Premier League experience, but highly thought of.
Harry Redknapp
Harry Redknapp remains well-liked in some parts of east London and may be tempted to head back to Upton Park, particularly if QPR fail to win promotion through the Championship play-offs. The 67-year-old was in charge of the club for seven years before departing in 2001 and wants another crack at the top-flight. Redknapp would be keen to play a more attractive style than Allardyce but would certainly demand a bigger transfer budget to work with.
Glenn Hoddle
The former England boss is in the running if Big Sam gets the chop, even though he hasn't been involved in management since stepping down from Wolves in 2006. He was recently linked with the job at Spurs - if only by himself - and is now in the hat for most managerial vacancies. In reality, Hoddle has probably been out the game too long to be a genuine contender.
David Moyes
Sacked after just 10 months in charge at Old Trafford, David Moyes' reputation has taken a major dent. But the Scot's work at Everton shouldn't be forgotten and a number of clubs would welcome him with open arms. A move to Upton Park may be seen as a step down for Moyes, but he will want to improve his image as soon as possible.
Alan Pardew
With Newcastle dropping like flies, Alan Pardew may not be at St James' Park much longer and a move back to east London is a possibility for the 52 year-old.
He was sacked by the club in 2006 - when run by Icelandic Eggert Magnusson - and replaced by Alan Curbishley, who secured survival. Pardew is never far from the headlines, or touchline confrontations, so whether the fans would be keen on his return remains uncertain.
Slaven Bilic
Former Hammer Slaven Bilic was rumoured to be in the running for the job in the past while in charge of Croatia. Current side Besiktas are third in the Turkish league table and while he would need to be bought out of his contract, the 45-year-old may find the emotional pull too much to turn down.
Paolo Di Canio
Club legend Paulo Di Canio would certainly be interested in the role but whether his antics at Sunderland have put off Sullivan and Gold remains to be seen.
He played over 100 times for the club between 1999 and 2003 and is still loved by fans at Upton Park.
Neil Lennon
The Celtic boss is expected to leave Glasgow to give the Premier League a go at some point and has been heavily linked to the Norwich post. However, with the Canaries in the thick of the relegation battle, West Ham may be a more attractive proposition for the Northern Irishman. His former club Leicester will play Premier League football next season so he may have an eye on Nigel Pearson's role if the Foxes struggle early on.
Steve Clarke
The former West Brom boss worked at Upton Park under Gianfranco Zola and is available for a return after being sacked by the Midlands club earlier this season. Clarke built a strong reputation - guiding the Baggies to an eighth-place finish last season - before his surprise dismissal and encourages a brand of football that West Ham fans would appreciate.
Chris Hughton
The nice man of football Chris Hughton is back on the job hunt after being let go by Norwich. But his Canaries side didn't exactly set the world alight so his appointment would be met indifferently - particularly with his Tottenham links.
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WHUFC.com
West Ham United held a moving Memorial Service for Dylan Tombides on Monday
28.04.2014
West Ham United said an emotional goodbye to Dylan Tombides at a moving Memorial Service on Monday afternoon. More than 200 mourners, led by the late striker's parents Tracylee and Jim and brother Taylor, attended the service at St Paul's Church in Woodford Bridge. Joint-Chairman David Gold and Vice-Chairman Karren Brady represented the Board, while manager Sam Allardyce, his staff, the first-team squad, Development Squad and Academy scholars all turned out to pay their respects to Dylan, who passed away on Good Friday following a three-year battle with cancer. Club chaplain Rev Alan Bolding led proceedings, telling Dylan's family, friends, current and former team-mates and colleagues about a 'talented footballer, loveable, fun-loving and courageous boy'.
Academy Director Tony Carr MBE, who coached the Australia U22 international throughout his first three seasons at the Academy, spoke glowingly of a player who shone brightly throughout his five years with the Club. "Dylan flourished in the environment of football," said Carr. "It was never a problem and he grasped his opportunity enthusiastically. He literally lived for football. "He was always a popular member of the youth squad, scored lots of goals and had a great sense of humour. He always had a positive attitude to everything. As a testament to his growing reputation as a player, he earned the Academy Player of the Year award in 2011. "To lose Dylan so young just seems so unfair. There are no words to describe this tragic loss. We will all miss you Dylan, and you will forever be in all of our thoughts."
The forward's former U16s, U18s and current Development Squad manager Nick Haycock talked of the No38's outstanding all-round talent on the pitch and inspiring approach to life off it.
Club Medical Officer Dr Richard Weiler and physiotherapist Jon Urwin, who both became close to Dylan during his treatment, spoke warmly of his relentlessly positive attitude, love of life, rare sense of humour and unique dress sense.
It was then the turn of the team-mates Dylan grew up with at West Ham, a number of whom acted as pall-bearers, to speak with respect and love for their late friend in a series of moving video messages.
To complete a service that gave Dylan the send-off he so richly deserved, the mourners also listened intently to poignant songs chosen by his family before singing the traditional football hymn 'Abide with me' and a specially-adapted version of 'Bubbles'. Outside the packed church, a group of around 50 supporters formed to listen to the service on speakers. Following the service, a wake was held at the Boleyn Ground, where the 20-year-old made his first-team debut for West Ham in September 2012. The thoughts and sincere condolences of everyone associated with West Ham United remain with Dylan's family and friends at this sad time.
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Loan round-up
WHUFC.com
A number of West Ham United loanees were in action across the Football League at the weekend
28.04.2014
As the football season draws to a close, a number of West Ham United loanees were in action across the Football League at the weekend. Ravel Morrison and his QPR teammates were left frustrated on Saturday afternoon after the R's conceded a last minute leveller in their Sky Bet Championship clash against Millwall at Loftus Road. Harry Redknapp's side took the lead with just eleven minutes left when Charlie Austin buried a penalty, but the Londoners could not hold out and a Rob Green mistake handed Scott Malone a 90th minute equaliser. Modibo Maiga didn't feature for Rangers, who are now secure in fourth spot as they turn their attentions to the Play-Offs.
Jack Collison is also likely to feature in the end of season Play-Offs with Wigan Athletic, although the midfielder was an unused substitute as the Latics went down 2-0 at home to Blackpool on Saturday.
In Sky Bet League One, Jordan Spence played the whole match as MK Dons surrendered a two goal lead against Rotherham in a 2-2 draw. The Dons led thanks to goals from Matthew Kennedy and Izale McLeod, but found themselves pegged back by Michael O'Connor and then Alex Revell's last minute strike.
Blair Turgott came on for the final few minutes as Dagenham & Redbridge suffered a 3-0 home defeat against Northampton in Sky Bet League Two. The winger had little time to affect the game as the Daggers went down to goals from Ian Morris and an Ivan Toney double.
North of the border, George Moncur (Partick Thistle) and Paul McCallum (Heart of Midlothian) were both unused subs in a 1-1 draw and 2-1 win for their teams respectively.
In Republic of Ireland, Sean Maguire watched on as Sligo Rovers earned a 3-0 win against Limerick in the SSE Airtricity League.
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'I could not fault my players' efforts'
WHUFC.com
U18s manager Steve Potts said his team did West Ham United proud with their display against Bolton Wanderers
28.04.2014
West Ham United U18s boss Steve Potts and his players went through the full range of emotions before, during and after his side's 2-2 draw with Bolton Wanderers on Saturday. Before kick-off at Little Heath, a ceremony was held in memory of Dylan Tombides, who passed away recently following a three-year battle with cancer. A minute's silence was held and captain Kieran Bywater laid a wreath on the centre spot. Potts watched Tombides throughout his time with the Academy. The striker was a close friend of his son and fellow graduate Dan, who came through the ranks in the same year-group. "As a player, and I don't say it lightly, Dylan had everything," said Potts. "I remember him having a fantastic season in the U16 group. He had two good feet, could hold the ball up, was good in the air, had great awareness and could finish as well as any youngster I have seen. "As a player, Dylan just had huge potential. Unfortunately he is never going to realise that potential and that is heart-breaking. "I know his parents Jim and Tracylee very well because I used to travel to games with them as my Dan was in the same team as Dylan. They are real down to earth parents and I cannot speak highly enough of them. They are parents who said it exactly how it was because if Dylan or his younger brother Taylor, who is in my group at the moment, weren't doing what they were meant to, then they would've been the first to sort it out themselves. "The thing that I will remember most about Dylan is Dylan the person. After everything that he went through, whenever I saw him at the training ground, he always had a smile on his face and wanted to get on with his training. "Everyone knows what he has been through and some of the treatments he has had, which were horrible for him, but he kept fighting it and coming back to work hard because he just wanted to be a professional footballer. It's heart-breaking for me that he hasn't been given the chance to fulfil his dreams. "I'm just so gutted and the whole Club is in shock really because he was just a great example to everyone. "There was an element of real sadness around the place when everyone turned up for the game. "I knew we were going to hold a minute's silence and have the wreath on the centre of the pitch but what I didn't realise was that Dylan's parents and Taylor were going to be there. It was just heart-breaking to see them and I feel so sorry for them. "Taylor has had terrible luck with injuries which has prevented him training and playing much this year. I often think that footballers find a release on the pitch during adversity but Taylor has not even had that luxury. I know he was very close to his brother."
As for the match itself, West Ham took an early lead through Jordan Brown before Bolton pair Carl Kennedy and William Abbotts netted either side of half-time to put the visitors in front. Brown levelled with 13 minutes remaining to secure a share of the spoils. Potts paid tribute to the professionalism of his players in the light of the recent loss of someone all of them liked and respected. "I could not fault the efforts of my players. I could see the shock and sadness in their eyes before the game so to produce a performance which warranted a win was fantastic. "We had some really good chances, but Bolton played very well and got lucky along the way with ricochets which took our efforts away from goal when, on another day, they would've hit the back of the net. "Fair play to Bolton for that because you are always going to come up against opposition that are going to defend for their lives. It was up to us to open them up and punish them."
West Ham have one regular season fixture remaining, with Arsenal visiting Little Heath on Friday afternoon. Victory then would firm up the Hammers' place in the Play-Offs. "It will be a fantastic game for the boys to play in against Arsenal. They are a good team and it's our final game this season at home so you couldn't ask for much better opposition because you already know that it's going to be a tough test for us. "That's all you really want from the season - that the boys are going to be tested as much as they can be and hopefully we can end the season on a high note."
Parking and admission for Friday's 1pm kick-off are both free of charge.
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Carr: he lived for football
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 28th April 2014
By: Staff Writer
Family and friends of West Ham United's Dylan Tombides said goodbye to the young footballer today at a memorial service held in St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge. A host of mourners - said to number in excess of 200 - attended the ceremony including Dylan's close family which also saw a small group of well-wishers gather outside the church where the service, conducted by West Ham's current chaplain Reverend Alan Bolding, was relayed on speakers. Tony Carr, who worked alongside Dylan for a number of years at the club's Academy led the way with a moving eulogy about Tombides, who died two weeks ago from cancer. Dylan flourished in the environment of football," he said. "It was never a problem and he grasped his opportunity enthusiastically. He literally lived for football. He was always a popular member of the youth squad, scored lots of goals and had a great sense of humour. "He always had a positive attitude to everything. As a testament to his growing reputation as a player he earned the Academy Player of the Year award in 2011. To lose Dylan so young just seems so unfair. There are no words to describe this tragic loss. "We will all miss you Dylan, and you will forever be in all of our thoughts."
Gunna miss you so much my brother! I know you'll be looking down on us! Rest In Paradise Dyl, sleep tight bro 😢😓🌹❤️
— Elliot Lee (@ElliotLee9) April 28, 2014
Very emotional day but a great send off for Dylan, just how he would've wanted it. Forever with me on and off the pitch! Rest in peace Bro❤️
— Blair Turgott (@blairturgott) April 28, 2014
Tough, tough day but a service you deserved mate. Really put life into perspective. Rest well Dyl, never forgotten 🙏❤️
— Dan Potts (@DanPotts03) April 28, 2014
Just returning home from Dylan Tombides Memorial Service. What a sad day for the friends and family of this fine young man. I will miss him
— David Gold (@davidgold) April 28, 2014
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Sayonara Sam?
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 28th April 2014
By: Staff Writer
The largest independent online poll of West Ham United supporters ever conducted has resulted in more than three quarters of voters failing to back Sam Allardyce. More than 12,500 people took part in the survey that was the result of a collaboration between 16 West Ham websites, blogs and forums. And after four days of voting, 77.95% expressed the view that Sam Allardyce should not be retained as West Ham manager next season with the remaining 22.05% opting to retain his services beyond the summer. The survey ran from Thursday until 7pm last night (Sunday). It is thought to be the largest opinion poll ever undertaken of the club's supporters. Of those who voted, 27 per cent said they were season ticket holders, with a further nine per cent attending more than half of each season's matches. However 65 per cent of those voting admiited to attending less than half of West Ham's matches, with 25 per cent never attending matches live, for varying reasons (but watching instead via TV/internet). 28 per cent of those who voted live in London, 26 per cent in the South East and 12 per cent in East Anglia. 14 per cent of voters are based overseas. Most respondents were in the 36-45 age bracket, closely followed by those aged from 46-55. Nearly one in three voters - some 4,850 in total - left comments.
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Matt Jarvis wants to see 'character' at West Ham
Last Updated: 28/04/14 10:22am
SSN
Matt Jarvis has called for a show of 'character' as the West Ham United players look to end the season on a positive note. Manager Sam Allardyce could also do with an upturn in fortune before the campaign comes to a close, with supporters targeting him again during a 1-0 reversal at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. It is, however, those on the field who will ultimately decide whether West Ham finish with a flourish or a whimper. Four straight defeats has them heading towards the latter, with Premier League safety not secured as yet. One more point would be enough to get them over that particular line, but Jarvis says an under-performing squad should be looking for more than that from testing fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City. The England winger said: "We feel strongly that we want to get another point - it's not about if we need another point. "We have to pick up points for ourselves and the fans. "We feel their frustration. It's a matter of us taking that into a massive game against Spurs. It's part and parcel of the game. "You have to take the good with the bad. We just need to get a result. We have to show character from everybody in the squad."
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The 10 possible replacements if under-pressure Sam Allardyce departs West Ham this summer
Apr 28, 2014 08:05 By Bruce Archer
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce's relationship with the West Ham faithful appears to be reaching melting point. Allardyce has just about guided the Hammers to safety, as they sit five points above the drop zone with two games to go, but his style of play has been heavily scrutinised. And the former Bolton boss has done himself no favours in recent weeks with damning comments towards his own supporters. They responded with a series of negative chants during Saturday's defeat to West Brom and it looks as if he could be on his way this summer. But who could replace him? Here's our shortlist of Allardyce's potential replacement at Upton Park.
Malky Mackay
Dismissed by Cardiff in December, Malky Mackay is available and the favourite to take over if Allardyce is removed by the Hammers' hierachy. The 42-year-old Scot has a lot of fans following his work in Wales, having taken the Bluebirds into the top flight and remained dignified in difficult circumstances - specifically having to work alongside Vincent Tan! Still only half a season of Premier League experience, but highly thought of.
Harry Redknapp
Harry Redknapp remains well-liked in some parts of east London and may be tempted to head back to Upton Park, particularly if QPR fail to win promotion through the Championship play-offs. The 67-year-old was in charge of the club for seven years before departing in 2001 and wants another crack at the top-flight. Redknapp would be keen to play a more attractive style than Allardyce but would certainly demand a bigger transfer budget to work with.
Glenn Hoddle
The former England boss is in the running if Big Sam gets the chop, even though he hasn't been involved in management since stepping down from Wolves in 2006. He was recently linked with the job at Spurs - if only by himself - and is now in the hat for most managerial vacancies. In reality, Hoddle has probably been out the game too long to be a genuine contender.
David Moyes
Sacked after just 10 months in charge at Old Trafford, David Moyes' reputation has taken a major dent. But the Scot's work at Everton shouldn't be forgotten and a number of clubs would welcome him with open arms. A move to Upton Park may be seen as a step down for Moyes, but he will want to improve his image as soon as possible.
Alan Pardew
With Newcastle dropping like flies, Alan Pardew may not be at St James' Park much longer and a move back to east London is a possibility for the 52 year-old.
He was sacked by the club in 2006 - when run by Icelandic Eggert Magnusson - and replaced by Alan Curbishley, who secured survival. Pardew is never far from the headlines, or touchline confrontations, so whether the fans would be keen on his return remains uncertain.
Slaven Bilic
Former Hammer Slaven Bilic was rumoured to be in the running for the job in the past while in charge of Croatia. Current side Besiktas are third in the Turkish league table and while he would need to be bought out of his contract, the 45-year-old may find the emotional pull too much to turn down.
Paolo Di Canio
Club legend Paulo Di Canio would certainly be interested in the role but whether his antics at Sunderland have put off Sullivan and Gold remains to be seen.
He played over 100 times for the club between 1999 and 2003 and is still loved by fans at Upton Park.
Neil Lennon
The Celtic boss is expected to leave Glasgow to give the Premier League a go at some point and has been heavily linked to the Norwich post. However, with the Canaries in the thick of the relegation battle, West Ham may be a more attractive proposition for the Northern Irishman. His former club Leicester will play Premier League football next season so he may have an eye on Nigel Pearson's role if the Foxes struggle early on.
Steve Clarke
The former West Brom boss worked at Upton Park under Gianfranco Zola and is available for a return after being sacked by the Midlands club earlier this season. Clarke built a strong reputation - guiding the Baggies to an eighth-place finish last season - before his surprise dismissal and encourages a brand of football that West Ham fans would appreciate.
Chris Hughton
The nice man of football Chris Hughton is back on the job hunt after being let go by Norwich. But his Canaries side didn't exactly set the world alight so his appointment would be met indifferently - particularly with his Tottenham links.
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Monday, April 28
Daily WHUFC News - 28th April 2014
Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce knows West Ham United have an opportunity to put things right
when Tottenham Hotspur visit the Boleyn Ground
27.04.2014
Sam Allardyce is determined to end West Ham United's home campaign on a high
when Tottenham Hotspur travel to east London on Saturday. Big Sam has the
opportunity to complete a rare hat-trick of victories against the Hammers'
neighbours following the two stunning victories at White Hart Lane earlier
in the season. The West Ham United manager is adamant that if a positive
result can be achieved, it would also secure West Ham United's status as a
Barclays Premier League side for the 2014/15 season. "I think we probably
need one more point and we've got to get it next week against Tottenham," he
said. "It's our last home game and we've got to go and finish the season on
a high against a very good team. We've managed to beat Tottenham twice
already this season so we will be doing all we can to make it three wins in
a row."
The Hammers go into the game on the back of a difficult run of four defeats
in a row, which has caused understandable frustration for everyone connected
the Club. The manager has explained that he shares the fans' anxiety and
knows the only way to put things right is to start winning games of
football. "My responsibly is to turn that around, to win football matches
and get the players to win football matches. We're very disappointed and I
understand their frustration as they want to see their team win. They won't
want to see them play well and lose, they want to see them play well and
win. "We've got to get better and be more resilient and at the other end
we've got to start taking our opportunities when they come. "The lads have
got it in their own hands. They know what they need to do but it's my
responsibility to keep them focused. The focus is there but we're missing
the clinical ability to put the ball in the back of the net."
The latest in that quartet of losses was the 1-0 defeat at West Bromwich
Albion on Saturday, a game in which the Hammers once again failed to
capitalise on some promising openings. Big Sam feels it is a habit his side
have to break soon if they are to gain anything from their final two
fixtures at White Hart Lane and then Manchester City a week on Sunday.
"Having controlled the game and crated so many chances to score a goal and
then not do that left me really frustrated. Even though we know we have to
give their goalkeeper Ben Foster a lot of credit for some of the saves he
made, we still shouldn't be stood here having not scored at least one goal,
if not two. "It's been our real Achilles heel in that bad turn of results
we've had. While performances might be seen to be up there and we are
creating chances, we're not winning football matches at the moment and we're
not even drawing them and that's of huge concern for me.
"At the other end, when we used to be so solid defensively we don't seem to
be quite so solid as we were. We haven't had a clean sheet for a long time
and having got 13 clean sheets up until the last six games, just one clean
sheet would give us enough points to start planning for next year."
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Diame determined
WHUFc.com
Momo Diame is focused on helping the Hammers get back to winning ways
against Tottenham Hotspur
26.04.2014
Mohamed Diame has reiterated his desire to help West Ham United end the
season on a high. The skilful midfielder put in a tireless shift at West
Bromwich Albion on Saturday but sadly could not stop West Ham United going
down to a 1-0 defeat. The Senegal international now wants to help the Club
in the huge London derby with Tottenham Hotspur at the Boleyn Ground on
Saturday and has sought to clarify that he is happy to play wherever he is
needed by the manager. Diame said: "Like every other player in the squad, I
want to do all I can to make our results better. I know that both personally
and together we could be playing better and I am happy to take my place in
the team wherever the manager wants me to play. "Although I enjoy being able
to use my skills, I know I have an important job to do for the team and that
is the most important thing to me. I have enjoyed showing the West Ham fans
what I can do and I hope I can create many more happy memories for them. "We
were all frustrated to not get a result at West Brom on Saturday but we have
a perfect chance to put it right against Tottenham on Saturday. We will be
doing all we can to put on a show and win in front of our fans."
Diame and his team-mates were back at Chadwell Heath on Sunday morning,
going through a recovery session following Saturday's game and training
ahead
of next weekend's London derby with Tottenham Hotspur at the Boleyn Ground.
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U18s snatch Bolton draw
WHUFC.com
Jordan Brown scored twice as West Ham United U18s held Bolton Wanderers to a
2-2 draw
27.04.2014
West Ham United came from behind to secure a 2-2 Barclays U18 Premier League
draw with Bolton Wanderers at Little Heath on Saturday. After featuring for
the Development Squad over the past few months, striker Jordan Brown marked
his return to the U18 squad by putting the home side ahead early on.
Bolton captain Carl Kennedy and striker William Abbotts then turned the game
on its head with a goal either side of half-time. West Ham were not going to
be denied a share of the points, however, as Brown popped up within a minute
of Abbotts' 76th-minute strike to snatch a share of the spoils. U18s manager
Steve Potts welcomed back a number of experienced Academy players into his
squad - England U17 international goalkeeper Sam Howes was back between the
sticks, while Northern Ireland U19 centre0back Jamie Harney boosted the home
side's defensive ranks. In attack, Jaanai Gordon returned to the
substitutes' bench after recently recovering from an injury. Prior to
kick-off at Little Heath, there was a minute's silence and a wreath laid on
the centre spot by captain Kieran Bywater to remember West Ham Academy
graduate Dylan Tombides, who lost his three-year battle with cancer last
week. The late striker's family were in attendance during an emotional
ceremony. When the game kicked-off, West Ham started positively by launching
a few attacking moves. On two occasions, Brown's crosses into the penalty
area were defended well by the visiting defence. After just 15 minutes, West
Ham went ahead when Brown was in the right place to slot the ball past Harry
Campbell. The visitors reacted well though and almost grabbed an instant
equaliser when Abbott struck a powerful effort towards the top corner, but
Howes managed to get a strong hand to the ball. Just five minutes later, the
Hammers were appealing for a penalty as Djair Parfitt-Williams was dragged
down in the box while skipping through the defence, although the referee had
no interest in pointing to the spot on that occasion. West Ham's lead did
not last long, however, as Trotters' captain Kennedy fired the visitors
level against the run of play on 23 minutes. In the closing stages of the
first half, West Ham had a handful of opportunities to retake the lead, but
Brown and Jerry Amoo both failed to convert.
After half-time, West Ham continued to pressure and look to get their noses
back in front, but both Bywater and Parfitt-Williams saw their efforts go
inches wide of the goal. Bolton punished the home side's inability to finish
their chances when Saul Hamir won the ball back just inside his own half,
before moving forward and setting up Abbott to put the visitors ahead with
14 minutes remaining. However, within a minute of Abbott's goal, West Ham
were level thanks to Brown's second goal of the game - the ex-Arsenal
forward finishing a good through ball from Parfitt-Williams. Both sides had
chances to win it in the final minutes, but ultimately left Little Heath
with a point each. With Fulham suffering a 4-1 defeat by Manchester United
earlier on Saturday morning, the Hammers stay in second position in Barclays
U18 Premier League South, currently six points and five goals ahead of
Fulham.
West Ham will look to confirm their spot in the Play-Offs when they host
Arsenal in their final league fixture this season on Friday 2 May at 1pm.
U18s: Howes, Pike, Harney, Knoyle, Mavila, Nasha (Onariase), Makasi, Amoo
(Gordon), Parfitt-Williams, J Brown, Bywater
Subs not used: T.Brown, Bailey, Martins
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Allardyce on Euro scouting mission
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 27th April 2014
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce has been spotted in the crowd at this afternoon's
top-of-the-table Jupiler League play-off clash between Anderlecht v Standard
Liege. The Hammers boss, who saw his team fall to a fourth consecutive
Premier League defeat at West Bromwich Albion yesterday is preparing to
spend big this summer once West Ham's Premier League status is secured. And
that has led Big Sam to the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium today for the
meeting between two of Belgium's biggest clubs. One of those potentially on
Allardyce's radar is 20-year-old striker Michy Batshuayi, who has scored 21
goals in 39 appearances for Liege so far this season. The 5'11" home grown
forward, the league's current top goalscorer is in his third full season
with Standard, having made his first team debut in July 2011.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam holds his hands up - but is it too late?
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 27th April 2014
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce's words of contrition may have come too late to reconcile the
deep divide between himself and a growing number of West Ham United
supporters. For perhaps the first time since Allardyce took West Ham back
into the Premier League the under fire coach held his hands up to admit that
the team's current poor run of form - seven defeats in their last nine
matches - was his "responsibility". However his new-found conciliatory tone
almost certainly comes too late to repair the relationship with some fans
who have demanded that the 59-year-old be replaced, with West Ham having
flirted with the relegation zone all season. Supporter unrest manifested
itself in the shape of a 'Fat Sam Out' banner at The Hawthorns yesterday,
courtesy of a couple of disgruntled, middle-aged fans who waited until
Albion were ahead before revealing their succinct message. That those
unfurling the banner soon became embroiled in heated exchanges with other
supporters illustrates that the anti-Allardyce feeling is far from
universal. However it is a cause attracting new converts with every passing
match. When asked about the protests by the BBC, Allardyce said: "It's not
[my job] to get concerned about off-the-field activities. It's for me to
focus on the players, to make them do better than they are doing at the
moment and produce more results. "I can understand the fans' disapproval, we
haven't won for four games. Every fan in the Premier League shows
disappointment towards their manager when it's not going so well - and it's
not going well for us. "I accept the criticism that comes my way because
it's my responsibility to get it right."
Whether or not Allardyce, who joined West Ham in June 2011 has the
opportunity to do that remains to be seen, with various whispers suggesting
that his time at the club may be coming to an end.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce upset at fan anger
Last Updated: 27/04/14 3:53pm
SSN
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has expressed his dismay at the rising trend for
supporters to vent their frustrations from the stands. The Hammers suffered
their fourth successive defeat at the weekend, but it has still been a
reasonable season for the east London team who sit relatively comfortably in
14th spot in the Premier League. During Saturday's 1-0 loss at West Brom,
Allardyce was the target of abuse from the away section, with boos and
chants aimed at him and a banner held aloft reading: "Fat Sam out, killing
WHU". On the hostility at The Hawthorns, Allardyce said: "We all get it at
some stage or another, no matter where we are or who we are with. If we are
not winning football matches, we all get criticised. "Fans are showing their
disapproval quicker than at any other time I've known in the last 20 years
or so. So we have to accept that change in the game and try to keep them
happy as best we can - and the best way to do that is to win football
matches. "My responsibility is to build a better team than this one. That is
my responsibility, along with the owners - making sure that everything gets
put into place in the hope that next season we can be better than this
season. "Overall this season we haven't really been as good as we should
have been and we haven't really produced as many results as we should have
done. So getting better and improving that is the highest thing on the
agenda. "I'm well aware of the situation in terms of how we have to finish
the season off - as high as we possibly can, in terms of performances and
results. And also, I know there is a huge amount of work to be done in the
summer - hopefully for me to make the squad better." With West Ham's
top-flight status appearing to be secured - they are five points above the
relegation zone with two more games to play - Allardyce insisted his players
would not be taking their feet off the gas. He added: "There is nothing in
my make-up that says we should therefore take it easy. I've been saying to
the players for the last few weeks that the game is about results, not going
out and playing games of football and losing. "It is about going out and
trying to win. I think the disappointing thing is, whether we are safe or
not, we have lost four games on the trot and we really should not have
allowed ourselves to have done that on the basis that, going into that
period, we had won six out of the last nine."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham fans' anti-Allardyce chants and banners at West Brom cast doubt on
manager's future
Apr 27, 2014 22:30 By James Nursey
Big Sam is planning for next season with the Hammers almost mathematically
safe from relegation, but his position WILL be reviewed in the summer
The Mirror
West Ham's latest nosedive left Sam Allardyce facing growing unrest from
fans ahead of a crunch meeting with the club's owners. The Hammers' boss had
to endure chants of, "F*** off Sam Allardyce" and, "You don't know what you
are doing" from the travelling fans as they watched their team lose 1-0 at
West Brom on Saturday. They also passed around a banner reading: "FAT SAM
OUT, KILLING WHUFC". The latest supporter unrest combined with a fourth
successive defeat has turned up the heat on Allardyce. Irons co-owner David
Sullivan said as he left the ground: "I'm not saying anything now. We'll
discuss it at the end of the season as we always do." Allardyce, who has
another year on his contract, has had preliminary talks over a summer
budget. But the grumbles over his team's direct style of play could turn
into open revolt if there are further defeats in the last two games, against
Spurs and Manchester City.
Sullivan and co-owner David Gold plan to assess his future in end-of-season
talks. They feel a home win over Spurs on Saturday would appease fans as it
would mean a record third win in a season over their bitter rivals. The
board understand supporters' frustrations and have noted how moans from the
terraces helped push David Moyes towards the Old Trafford exit. But Mirror
Sport understands Sullivan and Gold feel Allardyce has fulfilled the brief
they gave him, which was to take the club up, keep them up last season and
again this. Mathematical safety seems a formality likely to be confirmed
next weekend, and Allardyce is already planning for another season at the
helm. He said: "My job is about working with the players I have, about
working with the owners to build a better football club than they've ever
had before. I don't see any problem in terms of what we've been talking
about but you never know, do you?"
West Ham's limitations were exposed after Albion took the lead in the 11th
minute from Saido Berahino's tap-in. Baggies keeper Ben Foster then made two
crucial saves, including from Andy Carroll. The striker, who missed the
first five months of the season injured, also hit the bar with a second-half
header as he searched in vain for a third goal of the season. But other than
him, the -visitors posed little threat.
Albion were deserved winners thanks to a solid second-half display when
Berahino should have scored more. Allardyce, who wants to be judged when
Carroll is firing, claimed: "I still don't think Andy's on top of his game.
I still think he's a way off it, based on what we saw at the back end of
last season. "So getting this season out the way, particularly for him, is
important so he can get a very good pre-season and then a really good
season, hopefully without any injuries.
Any team that doesn't have their No.1 striker struggles, whether that be up
the top with Manchester United, or in the middle or down near the bottom
where we are. "When goals dry up, results become more difficult to come by,
even though you might be playing well." Allardyce hopes England take Carroll
to Brazil, saying: "He could do a lot of training with them and if he's
getting more games, get that sharpness back."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce knows West Ham United have an opportunity to put things right
when Tottenham Hotspur visit the Boleyn Ground
27.04.2014
Sam Allardyce is determined to end West Ham United's home campaign on a high
when Tottenham Hotspur travel to east London on Saturday. Big Sam has the
opportunity to complete a rare hat-trick of victories against the Hammers'
neighbours following the two stunning victories at White Hart Lane earlier
in the season. The West Ham United manager is adamant that if a positive
result can be achieved, it would also secure West Ham United's status as a
Barclays Premier League side for the 2014/15 season. "I think we probably
need one more point and we've got to get it next week against Tottenham," he
said. "It's our last home game and we've got to go and finish the season on
a high against a very good team. We've managed to beat Tottenham twice
already this season so we will be doing all we can to make it three wins in
a row."
The Hammers go into the game on the back of a difficult run of four defeats
in a row, which has caused understandable frustration for everyone connected
the Club. The manager has explained that he shares the fans' anxiety and
knows the only way to put things right is to start winning games of
football. "My responsibly is to turn that around, to win football matches
and get the players to win football matches. We're very disappointed and I
understand their frustration as they want to see their team win. They won't
want to see them play well and lose, they want to see them play well and
win. "We've got to get better and be more resilient and at the other end
we've got to start taking our opportunities when they come. "The lads have
got it in their own hands. They know what they need to do but it's my
responsibility to keep them focused. The focus is there but we're missing
the clinical ability to put the ball in the back of the net."
The latest in that quartet of losses was the 1-0 defeat at West Bromwich
Albion on Saturday, a game in which the Hammers once again failed to
capitalise on some promising openings. Big Sam feels it is a habit his side
have to break soon if they are to gain anything from their final two
fixtures at White Hart Lane and then Manchester City a week on Sunday.
"Having controlled the game and crated so many chances to score a goal and
then not do that left me really frustrated. Even though we know we have to
give their goalkeeper Ben Foster a lot of credit for some of the saves he
made, we still shouldn't be stood here having not scored at least one goal,
if not two. "It's been our real Achilles heel in that bad turn of results
we've had. While performances might be seen to be up there and we are
creating chances, we're not winning football matches at the moment and we're
not even drawing them and that's of huge concern for me.
"At the other end, when we used to be so solid defensively we don't seem to
be quite so solid as we were. We haven't had a clean sheet for a long time
and having got 13 clean sheets up until the last six games, just one clean
sheet would give us enough points to start planning for next year."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Diame determined
WHUFc.com
Momo Diame is focused on helping the Hammers get back to winning ways
against Tottenham Hotspur
26.04.2014
Mohamed Diame has reiterated his desire to help West Ham United end the
season on a high. The skilful midfielder put in a tireless shift at West
Bromwich Albion on Saturday but sadly could not stop West Ham United going
down to a 1-0 defeat. The Senegal international now wants to help the Club
in the huge London derby with Tottenham Hotspur at the Boleyn Ground on
Saturday and has sought to clarify that he is happy to play wherever he is
needed by the manager. Diame said: "Like every other player in the squad, I
want to do all I can to make our results better. I know that both personally
and together we could be playing better and I am happy to take my place in
the team wherever the manager wants me to play. "Although I enjoy being able
to use my skills, I know I have an important job to do for the team and that
is the most important thing to me. I have enjoyed showing the West Ham fans
what I can do and I hope I can create many more happy memories for them. "We
were all frustrated to not get a result at West Brom on Saturday but we have
a perfect chance to put it right against Tottenham on Saturday. We will be
doing all we can to put on a show and win in front of our fans."
Diame and his team-mates were back at Chadwell Heath on Sunday morning,
going through a recovery session following Saturday's game and training
ahead
of next weekend's London derby with Tottenham Hotspur at the Boleyn Ground.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
U18s snatch Bolton draw
WHUFC.com
Jordan Brown scored twice as West Ham United U18s held Bolton Wanderers to a
2-2 draw
27.04.2014
West Ham United came from behind to secure a 2-2 Barclays U18 Premier League
draw with Bolton Wanderers at Little Heath on Saturday. After featuring for
the Development Squad over the past few months, striker Jordan Brown marked
his return to the U18 squad by putting the home side ahead early on.
Bolton captain Carl Kennedy and striker William Abbotts then turned the game
on its head with a goal either side of half-time. West Ham were not going to
be denied a share of the points, however, as Brown popped up within a minute
of Abbotts' 76th-minute strike to snatch a share of the spoils. U18s manager
Steve Potts welcomed back a number of experienced Academy players into his
squad - England U17 international goalkeeper Sam Howes was back between the
sticks, while Northern Ireland U19 centre0back Jamie Harney boosted the home
side's defensive ranks. In attack, Jaanai Gordon returned to the
substitutes' bench after recently recovering from an injury. Prior to
kick-off at Little Heath, there was a minute's silence and a wreath laid on
the centre spot by captain Kieran Bywater to remember West Ham Academy
graduate Dylan Tombides, who lost his three-year battle with cancer last
week. The late striker's family were in attendance during an emotional
ceremony. When the game kicked-off, West Ham started positively by launching
a few attacking moves. On two occasions, Brown's crosses into the penalty
area were defended well by the visiting defence. After just 15 minutes, West
Ham went ahead when Brown was in the right place to slot the ball past Harry
Campbell. The visitors reacted well though and almost grabbed an instant
equaliser when Abbott struck a powerful effort towards the top corner, but
Howes managed to get a strong hand to the ball. Just five minutes later, the
Hammers were appealing for a penalty as Djair Parfitt-Williams was dragged
down in the box while skipping through the defence, although the referee had
no interest in pointing to the spot on that occasion. West Ham's lead did
not last long, however, as Trotters' captain Kennedy fired the visitors
level against the run of play on 23 minutes. In the closing stages of the
first half, West Ham had a handful of opportunities to retake the lead, but
Brown and Jerry Amoo both failed to convert.
After half-time, West Ham continued to pressure and look to get their noses
back in front, but both Bywater and Parfitt-Williams saw their efforts go
inches wide of the goal. Bolton punished the home side's inability to finish
their chances when Saul Hamir won the ball back just inside his own half,
before moving forward and setting up Abbott to put the visitors ahead with
14 minutes remaining. However, within a minute of Abbott's goal, West Ham
were level thanks to Brown's second goal of the game - the ex-Arsenal
forward finishing a good through ball from Parfitt-Williams. Both sides had
chances to win it in the final minutes, but ultimately left Little Heath
with a point each. With Fulham suffering a 4-1 defeat by Manchester United
earlier on Saturday morning, the Hammers stay in second position in Barclays
U18 Premier League South, currently six points and five goals ahead of
Fulham.
West Ham will look to confirm their spot in the Play-Offs when they host
Arsenal in their final league fixture this season on Friday 2 May at 1pm.
U18s: Howes, Pike, Harney, Knoyle, Mavila, Nasha (Onariase), Makasi, Amoo
(Gordon), Parfitt-Williams, J Brown, Bywater
Subs not used: T.Brown, Bailey, Martins
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce on Euro scouting mission
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 27th April 2014
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce has been spotted in the crowd at this afternoon's
top-of-the-table Jupiler League play-off clash between Anderlecht v Standard
Liege. The Hammers boss, who saw his team fall to a fourth consecutive
Premier League defeat at West Bromwich Albion yesterday is preparing to
spend big this summer once West Ham's Premier League status is secured. And
that has led Big Sam to the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium today for the
meeting between two of Belgium's biggest clubs. One of those potentially on
Allardyce's radar is 20-year-old striker Michy Batshuayi, who has scored 21
goals in 39 appearances for Liege so far this season. The 5'11" home grown
forward, the league's current top goalscorer is in his third full season
with Standard, having made his first team debut in July 2011.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam holds his hands up - but is it too late?
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 27th April 2014
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce's words of contrition may have come too late to reconcile the
deep divide between himself and a growing number of West Ham United
supporters. For perhaps the first time since Allardyce took West Ham back
into the Premier League the under fire coach held his hands up to admit that
the team's current poor run of form - seven defeats in their last nine
matches - was his "responsibility". However his new-found conciliatory tone
almost certainly comes too late to repair the relationship with some fans
who have demanded that the 59-year-old be replaced, with West Ham having
flirted with the relegation zone all season. Supporter unrest manifested
itself in the shape of a 'Fat Sam Out' banner at The Hawthorns yesterday,
courtesy of a couple of disgruntled, middle-aged fans who waited until
Albion were ahead before revealing their succinct message. That those
unfurling the banner soon became embroiled in heated exchanges with other
supporters illustrates that the anti-Allardyce feeling is far from
universal. However it is a cause attracting new converts with every passing
match. When asked about the protests by the BBC, Allardyce said: "It's not
[my job] to get concerned about off-the-field activities. It's for me to
focus on the players, to make them do better than they are doing at the
moment and produce more results. "I can understand the fans' disapproval, we
haven't won for four games. Every fan in the Premier League shows
disappointment towards their manager when it's not going so well - and it's
not going well for us. "I accept the criticism that comes my way because
it's my responsibility to get it right."
Whether or not Allardyce, who joined West Ham in June 2011 has the
opportunity to do that remains to be seen, with various whispers suggesting
that his time at the club may be coming to an end.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce upset at fan anger
Last Updated: 27/04/14 3:53pm
SSN
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has expressed his dismay at the rising trend for
supporters to vent their frustrations from the stands. The Hammers suffered
their fourth successive defeat at the weekend, but it has still been a
reasonable season for the east London team who sit relatively comfortably in
14th spot in the Premier League. During Saturday's 1-0 loss at West Brom,
Allardyce was the target of abuse from the away section, with boos and
chants aimed at him and a banner held aloft reading: "Fat Sam out, killing
WHU". On the hostility at The Hawthorns, Allardyce said: "We all get it at
some stage or another, no matter where we are or who we are with. If we are
not winning football matches, we all get criticised. "Fans are showing their
disapproval quicker than at any other time I've known in the last 20 years
or so. So we have to accept that change in the game and try to keep them
happy as best we can - and the best way to do that is to win football
matches. "My responsibility is to build a better team than this one. That is
my responsibility, along with the owners - making sure that everything gets
put into place in the hope that next season we can be better than this
season. "Overall this season we haven't really been as good as we should
have been and we haven't really produced as many results as we should have
done. So getting better and improving that is the highest thing on the
agenda. "I'm well aware of the situation in terms of how we have to finish
the season off - as high as we possibly can, in terms of performances and
results. And also, I know there is a huge amount of work to be done in the
summer - hopefully for me to make the squad better." With West Ham's
top-flight status appearing to be secured - they are five points above the
relegation zone with two more games to play - Allardyce insisted his players
would not be taking their feet off the gas. He added: "There is nothing in
my make-up that says we should therefore take it easy. I've been saying to
the players for the last few weeks that the game is about results, not going
out and playing games of football and losing. "It is about going out and
trying to win. I think the disappointing thing is, whether we are safe or
not, we have lost four games on the trot and we really should not have
allowed ourselves to have done that on the basis that, going into that
period, we had won six out of the last nine."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham fans' anti-Allardyce chants and banners at West Brom cast doubt on
manager's future
Apr 27, 2014 22:30 By James Nursey
Big Sam is planning for next season with the Hammers almost mathematically
safe from relegation, but his position WILL be reviewed in the summer
The Mirror
West Ham's latest nosedive left Sam Allardyce facing growing unrest from
fans ahead of a crunch meeting with the club's owners. The Hammers' boss had
to endure chants of, "F*** off Sam Allardyce" and, "You don't know what you
are doing" from the travelling fans as they watched their team lose 1-0 at
West Brom on Saturday. They also passed around a banner reading: "FAT SAM
OUT, KILLING WHUFC". The latest supporter unrest combined with a fourth
successive defeat has turned up the heat on Allardyce. Irons co-owner David
Sullivan said as he left the ground: "I'm not saying anything now. We'll
discuss it at the end of the season as we always do." Allardyce, who has
another year on his contract, has had preliminary talks over a summer
budget. But the grumbles over his team's direct style of play could turn
into open revolt if there are further defeats in the last two games, against
Spurs and Manchester City.
Sullivan and co-owner David Gold plan to assess his future in end-of-season
talks. They feel a home win over Spurs on Saturday would appease fans as it
would mean a record third win in a season over their bitter rivals. The
board understand supporters' frustrations and have noted how moans from the
terraces helped push David Moyes towards the Old Trafford exit. But Mirror
Sport understands Sullivan and Gold feel Allardyce has fulfilled the brief
they gave him, which was to take the club up, keep them up last season and
again this. Mathematical safety seems a formality likely to be confirmed
next weekend, and Allardyce is already planning for another season at the
helm. He said: "My job is about working with the players I have, about
working with the owners to build a better football club than they've ever
had before. I don't see any problem in terms of what we've been talking
about but you never know, do you?"
West Ham's limitations were exposed after Albion took the lead in the 11th
minute from Saido Berahino's tap-in. Baggies keeper Ben Foster then made two
crucial saves, including from Andy Carroll. The striker, who missed the
first five months of the season injured, also hit the bar with a second-half
header as he searched in vain for a third goal of the season. But other than
him, the -visitors posed little threat.
Albion were deserved winners thanks to a solid second-half display when
Berahino should have scored more. Allardyce, who wants to be judged when
Carroll is firing, claimed: "I still don't think Andy's on top of his game.
I still think he's a way off it, based on what we saw at the back end of
last season. "So getting this season out the way, particularly for him, is
important so he can get a very good pre-season and then a really good
season, hopefully without any injuries.
Any team that doesn't have their No.1 striker struggles, whether that be up
the top with Manchester United, or in the middle or down near the bottom
where we are. "When goals dry up, results become more difficult to come by,
even though you might be playing well." Allardyce hopes England take Carroll
to Brazil, saying: "He could do a lot of training with them and if he's
getting more games, get that sharpness back."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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Sunday, April 27
Daily WHUFC News - 27th April 2014
Hammers beaten by Berahino goal
WHUFC.com
West Bromwich Albion defeated West Ham United 1-0 on Saturday
26.04.2014
West Bromwich Albion 1-0 West Ham United
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United are still yet to secure their Barclays Premier League safety
after falling to a 1-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. Saido
Berahino's eleventh minute goal was enough to settle the match in West
Brom's favour as the Baggies claimed the points they so desperately needed.
The Hammers made a bright start, but faded as the game went on and could not
find a way past Ben Foster in the home goal. The Hammers welcomed Guy Demel
back into the starting line-up after he missed out last week with
illness,and the Londoners started brightly as they looked to put the Baggies
under early pressure. With six minutes on the clock Stewart Downing
delivered a corner from the right which dropped for Kevin Nolan at the far
post. He held the ball up with his back to goal and Andy Carroll rammed the
ball goalwards but Ben Foster stood up to block. It looked as though West
Ham were settling the quicker, but they fell behind with eleven minutes on
the clock as Stephane Sessegnon made his way through the midfield too easily
and slipped the ball through to Morgan Amalfitano. He spotted Berahino in
the box and picked him out for a simple tap-in. West Ham tried to respond
through Carroll, who came so close with a 19th minute header following
Downing's cross, but Foster got across brilliantly to parry the ball to
safety. At the other end Albion were a whisker away from a second on 26
minutes when Amalfitano delivered another dangerous cross from the right and
Billy Jones headed a couple of feet wide. Both teams had good chances in a
frantic 30th minute as first Guy Demel was denied by Foster, then West Brom
broke and Graham Dorrans should really have done better than drag his shot
wide when he made space for himself on the edge of the box. 1-0 was how it
stood at the break, but it should really have been two on the hour when an
Albion break left West Ham exposed. The Hammers escaped when Berahino first
could not get his feet sorted, then when the ball came back to him, he fired
straight at Adrian.
The Baggies were really forcing the issue by now and Berahino was in the
thick of the action again moments later when Mulumbu's off target fell to
his feet. It was a sharp chance, but he couldn't bring the ball under his
spell and Adrian pounced. West Ham were being frustrated in their attacking
efforts, but they were within the width of the crossbar of equalising on 71
minutes when Carroll rose unchallenged to meet Matt Jarvis' corner but sent
his header crashing against the woodwork. Adrian had to dive down to his
right to turn Sessegnon's low volley to safety, and the Hammers introduced
Carlton Cole from the bench, but there was to be no response from the
Hammers as they slipped to a fourth straight loss.
West Bromwich Albion: Foster; Reid (Morrison 45), Dawson, Olsson, Jones;
Mulumbu, Dorrans; Amalfitano, Sessegnon (Anichebe 81), Brunt; Berahino
(Yacob 90)
Subs: Myhill, Lugano, Vydra, Thievy
Goal: Berahino 11
West Ham United: Adrian; Demel, Tomkins (Collins 33), Reid, McCartney;
Nolan, Noble, Diame; Downing (J.Cole 67), Carroll, Jarvis (C.Cole 79)
Subs: Jaaskelainen, Armero, Vaz Te, Nocerino
Booked: Collins
Referee: Mike Dean
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
'We have to do more for the fans'
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce said he could empathise with supporters' frustrations after a
1-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion
26.04.2014
Sam Allardyce said he understands West Ham United supporters' frustrations
following Saturday's 1-0 Barclays Premier League defeat at West Bromwich
Albion. The manager could not conceal his own feelings following a
disappointing away day at The Hawthorns, where the Hammers were edged out
despite producing a hugely encouraging first-half performance. In a game
that mirrored the home defeat by Crystal Palace, West Ham played the better
football before the break, but a succession of missed chances ultimately
cost them dear. Ben Foster saved well from Andy Carroll and Mohamed Diame
before half-time, while the former also rattled the crossbar with a thumping
header with 20 minutes remaining. While Palace won the game with a
second-half penalty, on this occasion the opponents' goal came before
half-time, with Saido Berahino netting at the end of a move that literally
cut through the middle of the visitors' defence. A fourth defeat on the trot
produced some understandable anxiety among some members of the travelling
2,600-strong Claret and Blue Army - anxiety Big Sam said he could fully
empathise with. "I understand that the supporters want to see us play well
and they want to see us win," said the manager. "I understand that they have
travelled all this way and they don't want to go home disappointed again.
"We have to do more for them and more for ourselves in the last two games,
particularly at home against Tottenham, and try and repeat the thrilling
results we have achieved at White Hart Lane this season. We won there in the
league and in the Capital One Cup, so can we do it again and make it a
hat-trick against Tottenham this season? "They are our old enemy who our
fans would love to see us beat, so that's the challenge. As hard and as
difficult as it will be, as they are a very good side, it will send the fans
home happy if we can beat our local rivals and get three points on the
board. "In terms of my job, it's my job to worry about it and my job to get
it right. It's my position to take the burden of criticism and uneasiness
that there is at the moment because we're not winning games of football.
It's my job to do that and I'll do that to the best of my ability. "I've
been doing this job an awful long time and I will work as hard as I can
every single day of the week to make everybody happy."
Concentrating on Saturday's defeat at The Hawthorns, the manager was left to
lament another game that slipped away from his team, despite their
encouraging first-half performance. "I'm hugely disappointed because we're
heaping so much pressure on ourselves," said Big Sam. "It's stupid that
we've let ourselves get into this position. It's four defeats on the trot
now. "We can look at the game and say that we've created this chance and
that chance and we should have scored here or there, but the bottom line is
that we still haven't sorted both ends of the pitch out in the last four
games. We've given silly goals away and this was a silly goal. The back four
just opened up and let them run through the middle and score. I couldn't
understand it. "In the opening half an hour we were the best team and
created the best chances and, while you might criticise the defence for
letting a goal in, you've got to criticise the attack for not scoring. We're
not taking our chances at the minute and we've got to get better - it's as
simple as that. "We should have scored at least two goals on the chances we
have created but, in the end, we didn't score one and we lost the game 1-0.
It leaves us frustrated because there is no point sitting on the coach home
saying 'We played well' because we've got to win. That's what we're here for
and what we're paid to do. "It disappointed me a great deal that we didn't
play with the same fluency in the second half because that's all I wanted
the players to do at half-time. I said 'If you carry on like that and create
the same number of chances you did in the first half, you will get a goal
and you've got to believe that. "Obviously we couldn't afford to let them
get 2-0 up, but we needed to keep getting the ball through the midfield and
out wide to Matt Jarvis and Stewart Downing, who were causing their
full-backs all kinds of problems. We were arriving into the box onto some
quality balls, and we did make their 'keeper make some very good saves, but
in the end you have got to say we should have converted the good chances we
created."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Bromwich Albion 1-0 West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 26th April 2014
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce faced fresh calls for his resignation this afternoon as West
Ham slipped to a fourth consecutive defeat at The Hawthorns. Allardyce - who
watched from the dugout as his team fell to a defeat that still leaves them
uncertain of Premier League football next season - also faced further
derogatory chants from groups of Hammers fans, plus banners demanding his
immediate replacement. Once again there was little on the field for the
travelling supporters to get excited about after a bright opening in which
Albion's shaky defence was put to the test. West Ham created a number of
chances in the opening half but Albion's Ben Foster was in superb form,
twice denying Andy Carroll and making good stops from Matt Jarvis and Guy
Demel to prevent the Hammers registering. However the Hammers had been up
against it from as early as the 11th minute when Saido Berahino turned home
a low Morgan Amalfitano cross from what was Albion's first attack of the
game.
Current KUMB.com Player of the Year Winston Reid, who had looked out of
sorts since returning from injury in February failed to close down the
rapidly-approaching French midfielder as he burst into the box, giving
Amalfitano all the time in the world to pick out his team mate. The half
ended with fighting in the stands when some Hammers fans took exception to
what was reportedly to be excessively heavy-handed stewarding. The furore
began moments after some fans unfurled a banner proclaiming "Fat Sam Out",
which was followed by obscene chants aimed at Allardyce. Sadly it wasn't to
improve much for the Hammers after the break, despite Andy Carroll enjoying
three headers at goal - the last of which crashed against the woodwork when
he was criminally left unmarked at a corner with just 19 minutes left to
play.
In the end it was the home side who looked more likely to score next and but
for some hapless finishing, they would surely have been enjoying a more
comfortable victory. However Albion were more than happy with the one-goal
winning margin - their first victory at the Hawthorns under current manager
Pepe Mel.
* Elsewhere today fans of Blackpool FC - who West Ham narrowly beat in the
play-off Final at Wembley two years ago - joyously chanted "we are staying
up" following their 2-0 win at Wigan, a victory that lifts them out of the
Championship relegation zone.
West Bromwich Albion 1-0 West Ham Utd: Match Facts
West Ham Utd: Adrian, Demel, Tomkins (Collins 33), Reid, McCartney, Nolan,
Noble, Diame, Jarvis (C Cole 79), Carroll, Downing (J Cole 67).
Subs not Used: Armero, Vaz Te, Jaaskelainen, Nocerino.
Booked: James Collins (90+2).
Possession: 57%.
WBA: Foster, Reid (Morrison 45+1), Dawson, Olsson, Jones, Amalfitano,
Mulumbu, Dorrans, Brunt, Sessegnon (Anichebe 81), Berahino (Yacob 90+1).
Subs not Used: Myhill, Thievy, Vydra, Lugano.
Goals: Saido Berahino (11).
Possession: 43%.
Referee: Mike Dean.
Assistants: J Collin, J Brooks.
Fourth Official: M Jones.
Attendance: 26,541.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Saido Berahino's goal gives West Brom a valuable 1-0 win over West Ham
By David Bowers @davidalexbowers. Last Updated: 26/04/14 6:47pm
SSN
A first-half Saido Berahino goal gave West Brom a hugely significant 1-0 win
over West Ham at The Hawthorns. West Ham started the brighter of the two
teams with Andy Carroll firing in on goal after just five minutes - but his
powerful effort was well stopped by Ben Foster.
Best of the Match
Man of the Match: Ben Foster commanded his box with supreme conviction and
nullified numerous West Ham attacks.
Goal of the match: Saido Berahino's close-range strike could be one of the
biggest goals in Albion history.
Save of the match: Ben Foster produced a fantastic save early in the first
half to deny Andy Carroll's downwards header.
Moment of the match: Matt Jarvis was a real threat throughout, and Sam
Allardyce's decision to withdraw his winger in favour of Carlton Cole
backfired.
Talking point: How many points do the Baggies need to ensure Premier League
survival? Is 36 enough?
After early pressure from the Hammers, the Baggies broke on the
counter-attack in devastating style and after being fed through by Stephane
Sessegnon, winger Morgan Amalfitano fired into the path of Berahino - who
hit it high into the Irons goal to make it 1-0. Sam Allardyce's side has
chances to level the scores in the first half, but Foster kept out attempts
from Guy Demel and Carroll - the latter being a superb save from just six
yards out. In the second half, the Baggies keeper watched on in hope as
Carroll clattered the bar with a strong header whilst at the other end,
Albion scuppered numerous opportunities to double the lead - with both sides
guilty of poor finishing. However, West Brom managed to hold on for a hugely
valuable three points that takes them above local rivals Aston Villa and
into 15th place on 36 points, just one point off the Hammers. The visitors
looked likely to open the scoring and Carroll - the threat of whom Pepe Mel
had made particular reference to in the build-up to the contest - cracked a
shot goalwards from Kevin Nolan's lay-off in the sixth minute which Foster
saved. There was a further warning from West Ham moments later when Matt
Jarvis put a delivery into the dangerzone and the West Brom defence did just
about enough to clear the ball away.
Against the run of play, Sessegnon burst forward and slid the ball to
Amalfitano, who had plenty of time and space on the right of the box to
tee-up Berahino's finish. Pepe Mel has praised the performance of the
recalled Saido Berahino in West Brom's 1-0 win against West Ham. The England
Under-21 international was just inches from the line as he prodded the ball
over it for his ninth West Brom goal of the season, on what was his first
start for the club in eight games.
West Ham continued to push forward, with Carroll seeing a volley take a
deflection and get cleared behind, before bringing a great diving save out
of Foster with a firm header from Mohamed Diame's cross. West Brom's
response was a headed effort from Billy Jones, who threw himself at
Amalfitano's cross but could only send the ball wide. There were further
nervy moments for the hosts as Foster got away with a risky-looking sliding
tackle on Jarvis outside the box before the England goalkeeper made another
reaction save during a scramble inside it. Almost immediately, Albion were
back on the attack as Sessegnon and Graham Dorrans broke forward, but the
latter could only fire wide from the edge of the area. West Brom had to make
a reshuffle themselves due to injury as Steven Reid limped off for James
Morrison just before the break. They enjoyed a spell of pressure after the
interval, with Sessegnon twisting and turning before striking into the side
netting, Adrian getting down to save Jones' low shot and Dorrans dragging an
attempt wide.
Sam Allardyce has claimed results have not been good enough recently and
blames West Ham's inability to take chances. Sessegnon, who was appearing as
much in the mood for the game as the vociferous Albion fans, tried to feed
Berahino twice in quick succession, with the 20-year-old striker
miscontrolling first time around and then on the second occasion producing a
shot that rebounded off Adrian's legs. Soon after, Berahino lost control in
front of goal once more as Youssouf Mulumbu's ball came through to him. West
Brom were almost ruing those missed opportunities when Carroll met a corner
and powered a header against the crossbar. Adrian was then in action again,
saving well from a drilled Sessegnon effort. Baggies fans were taking
nothing for granted in the closing stages following recent results. But they
were celebrating come the final whistle, just like Mel as he savoured the
winning feeling on home turf for the first time since his appointment in
January.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce admits he has to shoulder the responsibility
Last Updated: 26/04/14 7:37pm
SSN
Manager Sam Allardyce admits he has to take responsibility for West Ham's
dismal form in the Premier League. Saturday saw the Irons slump to a 1-0
defeat at West Bromwich Albion, with Saido Berahino's goal condemning the
East London side to their fourth successive defeat in the league. A number
of West Ham fans voiced their frustrations throughout the game, and
Allardyce admits that their recent results have not been good enough. "It's
normal for West Ham fans to show their disapproval when they're not happy
with what's going on, so I accept it because I'm the manager at this moment
in time - just like all the other managers have accepted it before me," he
told Sky Sports. "You have to accept it and move on. I've got to get my team
playing and winning, when they do that, it dies down and we all look forward
to another Premier League season next year. But we still have a lot of work
to do, no doubt about that. "I'm focused on the fact that at this moment in
time, my results are not good enough. That is a pressure on me, a pressure I
have to accept and a criticism I have to accept," he added. Following the
1-0 defeat at West Brom, Sam Allardyce has claimed results have not been
good enough recently. "It's my responsibility to get the team picking up
points and they've let themselves down, not on the poor performances, but
certainly on the finishing and the way that they've given some silly goals
away."
The Hammers boss believes their performance at The Hawthorns warranted a
goal, but admits that poor defending cost them dearly - leaving them just
one point ahead of the Baggies in 14th place. "We had a similar problem
against Crystal Palace, but this time we gave a silly goal away when we're
on top of our game, creating havoc in the opposition's box but not
converting the chances. Last week (against Palace) it was a silly penalty we
gave away, this week it was a silly goal," he said. "We gave ourselves an
uphill climb. By the way we were playing and the chances created I'd have
expected us to score at least one today.
"Our finishing has let us down, not the creating but the finishing sadly.
We've ended up with a very disappointing defeat again - on the back of three
performances that were pretty good but no results," he added. "It's of great
concern to me because we still need the points on board. The players still
need to play and perform for the fans that pay and watch them, and get
results for them. It's OK playing well but it's no good if you lose and the
fans showed their disapproval about that today."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
ALLARDYCE ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR FOUR DEFEATS IN A ROW
By Iain Dale 26 Apr 2014 at 19:03
West Ham Till I Die
Some very interesting rumours emanting from West Ham tonight. We'll see if
any of them are true. Meanwhile, here's what Sam Allardyce told Sky Sports
folloiwng West Ham's fourth consecutive loss. And the second consecutive
game in which he throws Carlton Cole on and then plays with no wingers.
"It's normal for West Ham fans to show their disapproval when they're not
happy with what's going on, so I accept it because I'm the manager at this
moment in time - just like all the other managers have accepted it before
me. "You have to accept it and move on. I've got to get my team playing and
winning, when they do that, it dies down and we all look forward to another
Premier League season next year. But we still have a lot of work to do, no
doubt about that.
I'm focused on the fact that at this moment in time, my results are not good
enough. That is a pressure on me, a pressure I have to accept and a
criticism I have to accept. It's my responsibility to get the team picking
up points and they've let themselves down, not on the poor performances, but
certainly on the finishing and the way that they've given some silly goals
away. We had a similar problem against Crystal Palace, but this time we gave
a silly goal away when we're on top of our game, creating havoc in the
opposition's box but not converting the chances. Last week (against Palace)
it was a silly penalty we gave away, this week it was a silly goal. We gave
ourselves an uphill climb. By the way we were playing and the chances
created I'd have expected us to score at least one today. Our finishing has
let us down, not the creating but the finishing sadly. We've ended up with a
very disappointing defeat again - on the back of three performances that
were pretty good but no results.
It's of great concern to me because we still need the points on board. The
players still need to play and perform for the fans that pay and watch them,
and get results for them. It's OK playing well but it's no good if you lose
and the fans showed their disapproval about that today.
Discuss.
UPDATE 7.10pm: Meanwhile a very interesting blogpost on Claret & Hugh. Hugh
Southon is very close to senior people in the club and he believes that
Allardyce may be sacked this evening if a board meeting can be convened.
Amid intense speculation that Allardyce could be sacked tonight or tomorrow,
ClaretandHugh has learned exclusively that David Sullivan, David Gold,
Karren Brady, club solicitor Henry Brandman and Andrew Bernhardt MUST meet
first. However, it has also emerged that should David Sullivan, as main
shareholder, not agree with the majority view he has the power to make such
a decision himself. ClaretandHugh was told immediately following the defeat
at the Hawthorns - the seventh in nine games - that Allardyce could be
sacked this evening. But a source close to the board told us that it was
unlikely a board meeting could be called in sufficient time for that to
happen. Our source insisted also that ahead of today's game a view had been
taken at boardroom level that four points, and a minimum of three, were
expected from the last three games.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Mohamed Diame rubbishes rumours he is unhappy at West Ham
By SAMI MOKBEL
PUBLISHED: 00:29, 27 April 2014 | UPDATED: 00:29, 27 April 2014
Daily Mail
Mohamed Diame has distanced himself from rumours that he is unhappy at West
Ham United. The midfielder has been a key figure for the Hammers since
arriving from Wigan in 2009. It has been suggested in recent weeks that
Diame is unsettled at Upton Park, alerting rival clubs. But Diame has
privately sought to clarify that he is fully behind manager Sam Allardyce
and is ready and willing to fight for the team in whatever position he is
asked to play. The Senegal international has played an integral role for the
Hammers in their fight to avoid relegation. Diame has attracted interest
from Arsenal and Tottenham in the past and said earlier this month that he
has ambitions to play for a top six English club. But the Hammers will be
keen to keep hold of Diame, whose contract expires at the end of next
season.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce responds to angry West Ham fans after 'Fat Sam out' banner
unfurled at West Brom
Saturday, April 26, 2014
7:53 PM
London 24
Sam Allardyce has taken responsibility for West Ham's dismal form after fans
turned on the Hammers boss in their 1-0 defeat at West Brom. Saido
Berahino's close-range 11th-minute strike at the Hawthorns consigned West
Ham to a fourth straight defeat. While the West Brom faithful roared their
team on enthusiastically throughout the game, there was more disgruntlement
among West Ham supporters as they witnessed the London outfit's fourth
straight defeat.
Not for the first time, Hammers manager Sam Allardyce found himself the
target of abuse from some of the club's fans, with boos and chants being
hurled at him from the away section and a banner being unfurled within it
which displayed the message "Fat Sam out, killing WHU".
Allardyce, whose side are one spot above 15th-placed West Brom and a point
better off but have only two games left, said afterwards: "I have been
pleased with the performances overall of the players - with the creativity.
"But at the end of the day, that is no good to anybody whatsoever without
results and again we haven't got one, so you are bound to get criticised -
me more than anyone else, because I am the manager and I'm responsible for
it. "You don't want it (the abuse), do you? You don't want to stand there
and get abused in any way, shape or form. "But it is something you are aware
of, and you know what changes it around - the players going out on the pitch
and winning. "So until the players go and do that for themselves, me and
then the fans, the criticism is going to continue being thrown at me, and I
accept that criticism because it is my responsibility. "Fans show their
disapproval and they are quite entitled to. I don't have a problem with that
at all - well, I do have a problem with it, but I understand why they show
their frustration."
Asked if he wanted to stay at the club and win the fans over, Allardyce
said: "I'm contracted to West Ham United - until such time that the owners
tell me something different, that is exactly what I am. "I wake up every
day, come into work and do the very best I possibly can for West Ham, for
the players, for myself, for the owners, and for my family."
Allardyce also lamented the way his side had failed to make the most of
their goalscoring chances, the closest of which saw Andy Carroll head
against the bar.
The manager said: "When opportunities arise and when you create them, you
must take them in this very demanding league, which will not allow you to
miss as many as we did today. "Until we start converting these chances we
are creating, we are going to struggle to win a game."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Could West Ham United really still be relegated?
Saturday 26 Apr 2014 7:36 pm
Metro.co.uk
If West Ham didn't know what squeaky bum time was before, Saturday's defeat
at West Brom - a seventh in their last nine games - means they certainly do
now, and with the two remaining games being against Tottenham and Manchester
City, there is every chance that statistic may not improve before the season
is out.
When fixtures for the new campaign are published, one of the first things
many fans do is check the run-in, for a worst case scenario survival guide.
In West Ham's case, this season it was definitely a fixture list of two
halves, with the last eight games containing four likely European contenders
and four basement dwellers.
On March 31, after the win over Sunderland, with six matches remaining, club
owner David Gold tweeted 'we are safe now'. Almost, but not quite. Sadly too
many players seem to have taken him at his word as since then the record is
played four, lost four, as West Ham have stood still like confused tourists
in Piccadilly Circus, watching the hurly burly of the Premier League going
on around them.
A quick scan of social media, however, makes it clear how aware fans are of
the team's plight, a situation hardly improved by a steady stream of
comments from the club along the lines of 'so and so says he thinks the team
can turn things around this weekend' and 'the last few games have been
disappointing'. Oh really? Well it's nice to know we weren't the only ones
who noticed.
Could West Ham United really still be relegated?Some West Ham fans have
turned on manager Sam Allardyce (Picture: Getty Images)
Victory in April's final game would have been a giant leap towards the
survival supposedly assured by March's final game. This was a West Brom team
without a home victory under manager Pepe Mel, who had conceded three goals
in three of their last four games, and with a generous habit of throwing
away leads. Surely, with survival in sight, we could get the job done and
ensure survival, couldn't we?
Er, no. Aside from one Andy Carroll header (stop me if you've heard that one
before) against the woodwork, once the Baggies were in front, that lead was
rarely threatened. Cue home fan celebration at the final whistle, and a
ratcheting up of tension among the visitors - and there's only so long that
you can keep a lid on things before they blow.
As it is against Tottenham, next Saturday's final home game of the season
was always bound to be a feisty affair, but the fact West Ham go into it
with their survival still not guaranteed is appalling. The home finale is
supposed to be a celebratory affair, but recent form means the atmosphere
next Saturday could be precisely the opposite.
It would still take something pretty seismic for West Ham to be relegated,
but given the likelihood of them failing to get anything from their last two
games, they may well be reliant on the kindness of other teams messing up to
finish off the job they have failed to complete themselves. That is
shameful.
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WHUFC.com
West Bromwich Albion defeated West Ham United 1-0 on Saturday
26.04.2014
West Bromwich Albion 1-0 West Ham United
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United are still yet to secure their Barclays Premier League safety
after falling to a 1-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. Saido
Berahino's eleventh minute goal was enough to settle the match in West
Brom's favour as the Baggies claimed the points they so desperately needed.
The Hammers made a bright start, but faded as the game went on and could not
find a way past Ben Foster in the home goal. The Hammers welcomed Guy Demel
back into the starting line-up after he missed out last week with
illness,and the Londoners started brightly as they looked to put the Baggies
under early pressure. With six minutes on the clock Stewart Downing
delivered a corner from the right which dropped for Kevin Nolan at the far
post. He held the ball up with his back to goal and Andy Carroll rammed the
ball goalwards but Ben Foster stood up to block. It looked as though West
Ham were settling the quicker, but they fell behind with eleven minutes on
the clock as Stephane Sessegnon made his way through the midfield too easily
and slipped the ball through to Morgan Amalfitano. He spotted Berahino in
the box and picked him out for a simple tap-in. West Ham tried to respond
through Carroll, who came so close with a 19th minute header following
Downing's cross, but Foster got across brilliantly to parry the ball to
safety. At the other end Albion were a whisker away from a second on 26
minutes when Amalfitano delivered another dangerous cross from the right and
Billy Jones headed a couple of feet wide. Both teams had good chances in a
frantic 30th minute as first Guy Demel was denied by Foster, then West Brom
broke and Graham Dorrans should really have done better than drag his shot
wide when he made space for himself on the edge of the box. 1-0 was how it
stood at the break, but it should really have been two on the hour when an
Albion break left West Ham exposed. The Hammers escaped when Berahino first
could not get his feet sorted, then when the ball came back to him, he fired
straight at Adrian.
The Baggies were really forcing the issue by now and Berahino was in the
thick of the action again moments later when Mulumbu's off target fell to
his feet. It was a sharp chance, but he couldn't bring the ball under his
spell and Adrian pounced. West Ham were being frustrated in their attacking
efforts, but they were within the width of the crossbar of equalising on 71
minutes when Carroll rose unchallenged to meet Matt Jarvis' corner but sent
his header crashing against the woodwork. Adrian had to dive down to his
right to turn Sessegnon's low volley to safety, and the Hammers introduced
Carlton Cole from the bench, but there was to be no response from the
Hammers as they slipped to a fourth straight loss.
West Bromwich Albion: Foster; Reid (Morrison 45), Dawson, Olsson, Jones;
Mulumbu, Dorrans; Amalfitano, Sessegnon (Anichebe 81), Brunt; Berahino
(Yacob 90)
Subs: Myhill, Lugano, Vydra, Thievy
Goal: Berahino 11
West Ham United: Adrian; Demel, Tomkins (Collins 33), Reid, McCartney;
Nolan, Noble, Diame; Downing (J.Cole 67), Carroll, Jarvis (C.Cole 79)
Subs: Jaaskelainen, Armero, Vaz Te, Nocerino
Booked: Collins
Referee: Mike Dean
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
'We have to do more for the fans'
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce said he could empathise with supporters' frustrations after a
1-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion
26.04.2014
Sam Allardyce said he understands West Ham United supporters' frustrations
following Saturday's 1-0 Barclays Premier League defeat at West Bromwich
Albion. The manager could not conceal his own feelings following a
disappointing away day at The Hawthorns, where the Hammers were edged out
despite producing a hugely encouraging first-half performance. In a game
that mirrored the home defeat by Crystal Palace, West Ham played the better
football before the break, but a succession of missed chances ultimately
cost them dear. Ben Foster saved well from Andy Carroll and Mohamed Diame
before half-time, while the former also rattled the crossbar with a thumping
header with 20 minutes remaining. While Palace won the game with a
second-half penalty, on this occasion the opponents' goal came before
half-time, with Saido Berahino netting at the end of a move that literally
cut through the middle of the visitors' defence. A fourth defeat on the trot
produced some understandable anxiety among some members of the travelling
2,600-strong Claret and Blue Army - anxiety Big Sam said he could fully
empathise with. "I understand that the supporters want to see us play well
and they want to see us win," said the manager. "I understand that they have
travelled all this way and they don't want to go home disappointed again.
"We have to do more for them and more for ourselves in the last two games,
particularly at home against Tottenham, and try and repeat the thrilling
results we have achieved at White Hart Lane this season. We won there in the
league and in the Capital One Cup, so can we do it again and make it a
hat-trick against Tottenham this season? "They are our old enemy who our
fans would love to see us beat, so that's the challenge. As hard and as
difficult as it will be, as they are a very good side, it will send the fans
home happy if we can beat our local rivals and get three points on the
board. "In terms of my job, it's my job to worry about it and my job to get
it right. It's my position to take the burden of criticism and uneasiness
that there is at the moment because we're not winning games of football.
It's my job to do that and I'll do that to the best of my ability. "I've
been doing this job an awful long time and I will work as hard as I can
every single day of the week to make everybody happy."
Concentrating on Saturday's defeat at The Hawthorns, the manager was left to
lament another game that slipped away from his team, despite their
encouraging first-half performance. "I'm hugely disappointed because we're
heaping so much pressure on ourselves," said Big Sam. "It's stupid that
we've let ourselves get into this position. It's four defeats on the trot
now. "We can look at the game and say that we've created this chance and
that chance and we should have scored here or there, but the bottom line is
that we still haven't sorted both ends of the pitch out in the last four
games. We've given silly goals away and this was a silly goal. The back four
just opened up and let them run through the middle and score. I couldn't
understand it. "In the opening half an hour we were the best team and
created the best chances and, while you might criticise the defence for
letting a goal in, you've got to criticise the attack for not scoring. We're
not taking our chances at the minute and we've got to get better - it's as
simple as that. "We should have scored at least two goals on the chances we
have created but, in the end, we didn't score one and we lost the game 1-0.
It leaves us frustrated because there is no point sitting on the coach home
saying 'We played well' because we've got to win. That's what we're here for
and what we're paid to do. "It disappointed me a great deal that we didn't
play with the same fluency in the second half because that's all I wanted
the players to do at half-time. I said 'If you carry on like that and create
the same number of chances you did in the first half, you will get a goal
and you've got to believe that. "Obviously we couldn't afford to let them
get 2-0 up, but we needed to keep getting the ball through the midfield and
out wide to Matt Jarvis and Stewart Downing, who were causing their
full-backs all kinds of problems. We were arriving into the box onto some
quality balls, and we did make their 'keeper make some very good saves, but
in the end you have got to say we should have converted the good chances we
created."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Bromwich Albion 1-0 West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 26th April 2014
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce faced fresh calls for his resignation this afternoon as West
Ham slipped to a fourth consecutive defeat at The Hawthorns. Allardyce - who
watched from the dugout as his team fell to a defeat that still leaves them
uncertain of Premier League football next season - also faced further
derogatory chants from groups of Hammers fans, plus banners demanding his
immediate replacement. Once again there was little on the field for the
travelling supporters to get excited about after a bright opening in which
Albion's shaky defence was put to the test. West Ham created a number of
chances in the opening half but Albion's Ben Foster was in superb form,
twice denying Andy Carroll and making good stops from Matt Jarvis and Guy
Demel to prevent the Hammers registering. However the Hammers had been up
against it from as early as the 11th minute when Saido Berahino turned home
a low Morgan Amalfitano cross from what was Albion's first attack of the
game.
Current KUMB.com Player of the Year Winston Reid, who had looked out of
sorts since returning from injury in February failed to close down the
rapidly-approaching French midfielder as he burst into the box, giving
Amalfitano all the time in the world to pick out his team mate. The half
ended with fighting in the stands when some Hammers fans took exception to
what was reportedly to be excessively heavy-handed stewarding. The furore
began moments after some fans unfurled a banner proclaiming "Fat Sam Out",
which was followed by obscene chants aimed at Allardyce. Sadly it wasn't to
improve much for the Hammers after the break, despite Andy Carroll enjoying
three headers at goal - the last of which crashed against the woodwork when
he was criminally left unmarked at a corner with just 19 minutes left to
play.
In the end it was the home side who looked more likely to score next and but
for some hapless finishing, they would surely have been enjoying a more
comfortable victory. However Albion were more than happy with the one-goal
winning margin - their first victory at the Hawthorns under current manager
Pepe Mel.
* Elsewhere today fans of Blackpool FC - who West Ham narrowly beat in the
play-off Final at Wembley two years ago - joyously chanted "we are staying
up" following their 2-0 win at Wigan, a victory that lifts them out of the
Championship relegation zone.
West Bromwich Albion 1-0 West Ham Utd: Match Facts
West Ham Utd: Adrian, Demel, Tomkins (Collins 33), Reid, McCartney, Nolan,
Noble, Diame, Jarvis (C Cole 79), Carroll, Downing (J Cole 67).
Subs not Used: Armero, Vaz Te, Jaaskelainen, Nocerino.
Booked: James Collins (90+2).
Possession: 57%.
WBA: Foster, Reid (Morrison 45+1), Dawson, Olsson, Jones, Amalfitano,
Mulumbu, Dorrans, Brunt, Sessegnon (Anichebe 81), Berahino (Yacob 90+1).
Subs not Used: Myhill, Thievy, Vydra, Lugano.
Goals: Saido Berahino (11).
Possession: 43%.
Referee: Mike Dean.
Assistants: J Collin, J Brooks.
Fourth Official: M Jones.
Attendance: 26,541.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Saido Berahino's goal gives West Brom a valuable 1-0 win over West Ham
By David Bowers @davidalexbowers. Last Updated: 26/04/14 6:47pm
SSN
A first-half Saido Berahino goal gave West Brom a hugely significant 1-0 win
over West Ham at The Hawthorns. West Ham started the brighter of the two
teams with Andy Carroll firing in on goal after just five minutes - but his
powerful effort was well stopped by Ben Foster.
Best of the Match
Man of the Match: Ben Foster commanded his box with supreme conviction and
nullified numerous West Ham attacks.
Goal of the match: Saido Berahino's close-range strike could be one of the
biggest goals in Albion history.
Save of the match: Ben Foster produced a fantastic save early in the first
half to deny Andy Carroll's downwards header.
Moment of the match: Matt Jarvis was a real threat throughout, and Sam
Allardyce's decision to withdraw his winger in favour of Carlton Cole
backfired.
Talking point: How many points do the Baggies need to ensure Premier League
survival? Is 36 enough?
After early pressure from the Hammers, the Baggies broke on the
counter-attack in devastating style and after being fed through by Stephane
Sessegnon, winger Morgan Amalfitano fired into the path of Berahino - who
hit it high into the Irons goal to make it 1-0. Sam Allardyce's side has
chances to level the scores in the first half, but Foster kept out attempts
from Guy Demel and Carroll - the latter being a superb save from just six
yards out. In the second half, the Baggies keeper watched on in hope as
Carroll clattered the bar with a strong header whilst at the other end,
Albion scuppered numerous opportunities to double the lead - with both sides
guilty of poor finishing. However, West Brom managed to hold on for a hugely
valuable three points that takes them above local rivals Aston Villa and
into 15th place on 36 points, just one point off the Hammers. The visitors
looked likely to open the scoring and Carroll - the threat of whom Pepe Mel
had made particular reference to in the build-up to the contest - cracked a
shot goalwards from Kevin Nolan's lay-off in the sixth minute which Foster
saved. There was a further warning from West Ham moments later when Matt
Jarvis put a delivery into the dangerzone and the West Brom defence did just
about enough to clear the ball away.
Against the run of play, Sessegnon burst forward and slid the ball to
Amalfitano, who had plenty of time and space on the right of the box to
tee-up Berahino's finish. Pepe Mel has praised the performance of the
recalled Saido Berahino in West Brom's 1-0 win against West Ham. The England
Under-21 international was just inches from the line as he prodded the ball
over it for his ninth West Brom goal of the season, on what was his first
start for the club in eight games.
West Ham continued to push forward, with Carroll seeing a volley take a
deflection and get cleared behind, before bringing a great diving save out
of Foster with a firm header from Mohamed Diame's cross. West Brom's
response was a headed effort from Billy Jones, who threw himself at
Amalfitano's cross but could only send the ball wide. There were further
nervy moments for the hosts as Foster got away with a risky-looking sliding
tackle on Jarvis outside the box before the England goalkeeper made another
reaction save during a scramble inside it. Almost immediately, Albion were
back on the attack as Sessegnon and Graham Dorrans broke forward, but the
latter could only fire wide from the edge of the area. West Brom had to make
a reshuffle themselves due to injury as Steven Reid limped off for James
Morrison just before the break. They enjoyed a spell of pressure after the
interval, with Sessegnon twisting and turning before striking into the side
netting, Adrian getting down to save Jones' low shot and Dorrans dragging an
attempt wide.
Sam Allardyce has claimed results have not been good enough recently and
blames West Ham's inability to take chances. Sessegnon, who was appearing as
much in the mood for the game as the vociferous Albion fans, tried to feed
Berahino twice in quick succession, with the 20-year-old striker
miscontrolling first time around and then on the second occasion producing a
shot that rebounded off Adrian's legs. Soon after, Berahino lost control in
front of goal once more as Youssouf Mulumbu's ball came through to him. West
Brom were almost ruing those missed opportunities when Carroll met a corner
and powered a header against the crossbar. Adrian was then in action again,
saving well from a drilled Sessegnon effort. Baggies fans were taking
nothing for granted in the closing stages following recent results. But they
were celebrating come the final whistle, just like Mel as he savoured the
winning feeling on home turf for the first time since his appointment in
January.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce admits he has to shoulder the responsibility
Last Updated: 26/04/14 7:37pm
SSN
Manager Sam Allardyce admits he has to take responsibility for West Ham's
dismal form in the Premier League. Saturday saw the Irons slump to a 1-0
defeat at West Bromwich Albion, with Saido Berahino's goal condemning the
East London side to their fourth successive defeat in the league. A number
of West Ham fans voiced their frustrations throughout the game, and
Allardyce admits that their recent results have not been good enough. "It's
normal for West Ham fans to show their disapproval when they're not happy
with what's going on, so I accept it because I'm the manager at this moment
in time - just like all the other managers have accepted it before me," he
told Sky Sports. "You have to accept it and move on. I've got to get my team
playing and winning, when they do that, it dies down and we all look forward
to another Premier League season next year. But we still have a lot of work
to do, no doubt about that. "I'm focused on the fact that at this moment in
time, my results are not good enough. That is a pressure on me, a pressure I
have to accept and a criticism I have to accept," he added. Following the
1-0 defeat at West Brom, Sam Allardyce has claimed results have not been
good enough recently. "It's my responsibility to get the team picking up
points and they've let themselves down, not on the poor performances, but
certainly on the finishing and the way that they've given some silly goals
away."
The Hammers boss believes their performance at The Hawthorns warranted a
goal, but admits that poor defending cost them dearly - leaving them just
one point ahead of the Baggies in 14th place. "We had a similar problem
against Crystal Palace, but this time we gave a silly goal away when we're
on top of our game, creating havoc in the opposition's box but not
converting the chances. Last week (against Palace) it was a silly penalty we
gave away, this week it was a silly goal," he said. "We gave ourselves an
uphill climb. By the way we were playing and the chances created I'd have
expected us to score at least one today.
"Our finishing has let us down, not the creating but the finishing sadly.
We've ended up with a very disappointing defeat again - on the back of three
performances that were pretty good but no results," he added. "It's of great
concern to me because we still need the points on board. The players still
need to play and perform for the fans that pay and watch them, and get
results for them. It's OK playing well but it's no good if you lose and the
fans showed their disapproval about that today."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
ALLARDYCE ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR FOUR DEFEATS IN A ROW
By Iain Dale 26 Apr 2014 at 19:03
West Ham Till I Die
Some very interesting rumours emanting from West Ham tonight. We'll see if
any of them are true. Meanwhile, here's what Sam Allardyce told Sky Sports
folloiwng West Ham's fourth consecutive loss. And the second consecutive
game in which he throws Carlton Cole on and then plays with no wingers.
"It's normal for West Ham fans to show their disapproval when they're not
happy with what's going on, so I accept it because I'm the manager at this
moment in time - just like all the other managers have accepted it before
me. "You have to accept it and move on. I've got to get my team playing and
winning, when they do that, it dies down and we all look forward to another
Premier League season next year. But we still have a lot of work to do, no
doubt about that.
I'm focused on the fact that at this moment in time, my results are not good
enough. That is a pressure on me, a pressure I have to accept and a
criticism I have to accept. It's my responsibility to get the team picking
up points and they've let themselves down, not on the poor performances, but
certainly on the finishing and the way that they've given some silly goals
away. We had a similar problem against Crystal Palace, but this time we gave
a silly goal away when we're on top of our game, creating havoc in the
opposition's box but not converting the chances. Last week (against Palace)
it was a silly penalty we gave away, this week it was a silly goal. We gave
ourselves an uphill climb. By the way we were playing and the chances
created I'd have expected us to score at least one today. Our finishing has
let us down, not the creating but the finishing sadly. We've ended up with a
very disappointing defeat again - on the back of three performances that
were pretty good but no results.
It's of great concern to me because we still need the points on board. The
players still need to play and perform for the fans that pay and watch them,
and get results for them. It's OK playing well but it's no good if you lose
and the fans showed their disapproval about that today.
Discuss.
UPDATE 7.10pm: Meanwhile a very interesting blogpost on Claret & Hugh. Hugh
Southon is very close to senior people in the club and he believes that
Allardyce may be sacked this evening if a board meeting can be convened.
Amid intense speculation that Allardyce could be sacked tonight or tomorrow,
ClaretandHugh has learned exclusively that David Sullivan, David Gold,
Karren Brady, club solicitor Henry Brandman and Andrew Bernhardt MUST meet
first. However, it has also emerged that should David Sullivan, as main
shareholder, not agree with the majority view he has the power to make such
a decision himself. ClaretandHugh was told immediately following the defeat
at the Hawthorns - the seventh in nine games - that Allardyce could be
sacked this evening. But a source close to the board told us that it was
unlikely a board meeting could be called in sufficient time for that to
happen. Our source insisted also that ahead of today's game a view had been
taken at boardroom level that four points, and a minimum of three, were
expected from the last three games.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Mohamed Diame rubbishes rumours he is unhappy at West Ham
By SAMI MOKBEL
PUBLISHED: 00:29, 27 April 2014 | UPDATED: 00:29, 27 April 2014
Daily Mail
Mohamed Diame has distanced himself from rumours that he is unhappy at West
Ham United. The midfielder has been a key figure for the Hammers since
arriving from Wigan in 2009. It has been suggested in recent weeks that
Diame is unsettled at Upton Park, alerting rival clubs. But Diame has
privately sought to clarify that he is fully behind manager Sam Allardyce
and is ready and willing to fight for the team in whatever position he is
asked to play. The Senegal international has played an integral role for the
Hammers in their fight to avoid relegation. Diame has attracted interest
from Arsenal and Tottenham in the past and said earlier this month that he
has ambitions to play for a top six English club. But the Hammers will be
keen to keep hold of Diame, whose contract expires at the end of next
season.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce responds to angry West Ham fans after 'Fat Sam out' banner
unfurled at West Brom
Saturday, April 26, 2014
7:53 PM
London 24
Sam Allardyce has taken responsibility for West Ham's dismal form after fans
turned on the Hammers boss in their 1-0 defeat at West Brom. Saido
Berahino's close-range 11th-minute strike at the Hawthorns consigned West
Ham to a fourth straight defeat. While the West Brom faithful roared their
team on enthusiastically throughout the game, there was more disgruntlement
among West Ham supporters as they witnessed the London outfit's fourth
straight defeat.
Not for the first time, Hammers manager Sam Allardyce found himself the
target of abuse from some of the club's fans, with boos and chants being
hurled at him from the away section and a banner being unfurled within it
which displayed the message "Fat Sam out, killing WHU".
Allardyce, whose side are one spot above 15th-placed West Brom and a point
better off but have only two games left, said afterwards: "I have been
pleased with the performances overall of the players - with the creativity.
"But at the end of the day, that is no good to anybody whatsoever without
results and again we haven't got one, so you are bound to get criticised -
me more than anyone else, because I am the manager and I'm responsible for
it. "You don't want it (the abuse), do you? You don't want to stand there
and get abused in any way, shape or form. "But it is something you are aware
of, and you know what changes it around - the players going out on the pitch
and winning. "So until the players go and do that for themselves, me and
then the fans, the criticism is going to continue being thrown at me, and I
accept that criticism because it is my responsibility. "Fans show their
disapproval and they are quite entitled to. I don't have a problem with that
at all - well, I do have a problem with it, but I understand why they show
their frustration."
Asked if he wanted to stay at the club and win the fans over, Allardyce
said: "I'm contracted to West Ham United - until such time that the owners
tell me something different, that is exactly what I am. "I wake up every
day, come into work and do the very best I possibly can for West Ham, for
the players, for myself, for the owners, and for my family."
Allardyce also lamented the way his side had failed to make the most of
their goalscoring chances, the closest of which saw Andy Carroll head
against the bar.
The manager said: "When opportunities arise and when you create them, you
must take them in this very demanding league, which will not allow you to
miss as many as we did today. "Until we start converting these chances we
are creating, we are going to struggle to win a game."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Could West Ham United really still be relegated?
Saturday 26 Apr 2014 7:36 pm
Metro.co.uk
If West Ham didn't know what squeaky bum time was before, Saturday's defeat
at West Brom - a seventh in their last nine games - means they certainly do
now, and with the two remaining games being against Tottenham and Manchester
City, there is every chance that statistic may not improve before the season
is out.
When fixtures for the new campaign are published, one of the first things
many fans do is check the run-in, for a worst case scenario survival guide.
In West Ham's case, this season it was definitely a fixture list of two
halves, with the last eight games containing four likely European contenders
and four basement dwellers.
On March 31, after the win over Sunderland, with six matches remaining, club
owner David Gold tweeted 'we are safe now'. Almost, but not quite. Sadly too
many players seem to have taken him at his word as since then the record is
played four, lost four, as West Ham have stood still like confused tourists
in Piccadilly Circus, watching the hurly burly of the Premier League going
on around them.
A quick scan of social media, however, makes it clear how aware fans are of
the team's plight, a situation hardly improved by a steady stream of
comments from the club along the lines of 'so and so says he thinks the team
can turn things around this weekend' and 'the last few games have been
disappointing'. Oh really? Well it's nice to know we weren't the only ones
who noticed.
Could West Ham United really still be relegated?Some West Ham fans have
turned on manager Sam Allardyce (Picture: Getty Images)
Victory in April's final game would have been a giant leap towards the
survival supposedly assured by March's final game. This was a West Brom team
without a home victory under manager Pepe Mel, who had conceded three goals
in three of their last four games, and with a generous habit of throwing
away leads. Surely, with survival in sight, we could get the job done and
ensure survival, couldn't we?
Er, no. Aside from one Andy Carroll header (stop me if you've heard that one
before) against the woodwork, once the Baggies were in front, that lead was
rarely threatened. Cue home fan celebration at the final whistle, and a
ratcheting up of tension among the visitors - and there's only so long that
you can keep a lid on things before they blow.
As it is against Tottenham, next Saturday's final home game of the season
was always bound to be a feisty affair, but the fact West Ham go into it
with their survival still not guaranteed is appalling. The home finale is
supposed to be a celebratory affair, but recent form means the atmosphere
next Saturday could be precisely the opposite.
It would still take something pretty seismic for West Ham to be relegated,
but given the likelihood of them failing to get anything from their last two
games, they may well be reliant on the kindness of other teams messing up to
finish off the job they have failed to complete themselves. That is
shameful.
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Saturday, April 26
Daily WHUFC News - 26th April 2014
Memorial service for Dylan
WHUFC.com
A memorial service for Dylan Tombides is to be held on Monday afternoon at St Paul's Church
25.04.2014
West Ham United can confirm that a memorial service for the late Dylan Tombides is to be held on Monday 28 April at St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge.
The service is due to commence at 3pm and will be led by Club chaplain Reverend Alan Bolding. With Dylan's family and friends and the extended West Ham United family in attendance, it is not possible to accommodate supporters inside the church. However, there will be speakers outside relaying the service to the public so any Hammers fans or members of the public seeking to pay their respects are welcome to attend. For those wishing to do so, the full address is St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge, Cross Road, Woodford Green, Essex IG8 8BT. Dylan's family would like to thank the Club and the fans for their continued support at this difficult time.
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West Brom match preview
WHUFC.com
All the need to know information ahead of Saturday's trip to West Bromwich Albion
25.04.2014
WEST BROMWICH ALBION v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 26 APRIL 2014
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: MIKE DEAN
iPHONE APP I TWITTER I FACEBOOK I PODCAST I INSTAGRAM I YOUTUBE
Introduction
• West Ham United travel to the Hawthorns on Saturday hoping to avoid a fourth straight defeat when they take on West Bromwich Albion in the Barclays Premier League.
• Liverpool, Arsenal and Crystal Palace have all proved just too strong for the Hammers in their recent weeks, with a Mile Jedinak penalty condemning Sam Allardyce's team to a narrow loss against the Eagles last time out.
• A Matt Jarvis header gave the Hammers the lead in their last away trip against Arsenal, before the Gunners surged ahead to win the match 3-1.
• With two games left to play after this fixture, West Ham will be looking to make absolutely certain of their Premier League safety with three points against the Baggies.
• The Hammers are currently 12th in the table with 37 points, four places and four points better off than Pepe Mel's team.
• West Brom return to home turf following a 3-1 loss against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Monday night.
• The Baggies' last two matches at the Hawthorns have both ended 3-3 against Cardiff City and Tottenham respectively, with the draw against Spurs seeing the hosts let slip a three-goal lead.
• Mel's team are the division's draw specialists this season with 15 of their 34 games ending all square so far.
• The Midlands outfit are also without a win in their last seven outings in front of their home crowd, with six draws and a defeat from those matches.
Team news
West Ham United
• James Collins is back in full training and is in contention to make a return from the calf injury which has sidelined him recently.
• Fellow defender Guy Demel missed the home defeat against Crystal Palace through illness but should be fit to face the Baggies.
• Striker Marco Borriello has been absent with a calf injury and will miss out again against West Brom.
West Bromwich Albion
• Liam Ridgewell was forced off in the defeat against City on Monday with a knee injury and Pepe Mel has already indicated that Chris Brunt will fill in at left-back.
• Centre-back Gareth McAuley missed the game at the Etihad with a calf injury but could be back in time to face the Hammers.
• Zoltan Gera is also likely to be absent for the hosts with a hamstring injury.
Last time out
West Ham United 0-1 Crystal Palace
Barclays Premier League
19 April 2014
West Ham United: Adrian; McCartney, Tomkins, Reid, Armero; Nolan (Nocerino 85), Noble, Diame; Downing (J.Cole 78), Carroll, Jarvis (C.Cole 70)
Subs not used: Jaaskelainen, Taylor, O'Brien, Johnson
Manchester City 3-1 West Bromwich Albion
Barclays Premier League
21 April 2014
West Bromwich Albion: Foster, Ridgewell, Olsson, Jones, Dawson, Brunt, Amalfitano, Mulumbu (Morrison 84), Dorrans, Sessegnon (Berahino 76), Vydra (Anichebe 60)
Subs not used: Myhill, Yacob, Reid, Lugano
Goals: Dorrans 16
Previous meeting
West Ham and West Brom met back in December for the final game of 2013, and what a game it turned out to be. There was six goals and controversy aplenty at the Boleyn Ground as the points were shared. Joe Cole gave the Hammers an early lead before two goals in five minutes from Nicolas Anelka - who was later banned for eight matches by the FA for his quenelle celebration - sent the Baggies in ahead at the break. Modibo Maiga and Kevin Nolan put the home side back in front, but they couldn't hold on as Saido Berahino struck an equaliser.
West Ham United 3-3 West Bromwich Albion
Barclays Premier League
28 December 2013
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, Tomkins (Demel 10), McCartney, Rat, J Cole (Collison 83), Noble, C Cole (Maiga 45), Nolan, Jarvis
Subs not used: Adrian, Taylor, Diarra, Chambers
Goals: J Cole 4, Maiga 65, Nolan 67
West Bromwich Albion: Foster, Jones, Ridgewell, Lugano (Amalfitano 68), Olsson, McAuley, Morrison (Yacob 78), Brunt, Anelka, Berahino (Sessegnon 85), Mulumbu
Subs not used: Myhill, Sinclair, Vydra, Dawson
Goals: Anelka 40, 45; Berahino 69
Last six meetings (Premier League unless stated)
28 December 2013 West Ham United 3-3 West Bromwich Albion
30 March 2013 West Ham United 3-1 West Bromwich Albion
16 December 2012 West Bromwich Albion 0-0 West Ham United
12 February 2011 West Bromwich Albion 3-3 West Ham United
10 November 2010 West Ham 2-2 West Bromwich Albion
16 March 2009 West Ham United 0-0 West Bromwich Albion
Overall record v West Bromwich Albion
P94 W 36 D 21 L 37
Ten-year records
West Ham United
2012/13 Premier League 10th (46 points)
2011/12 Championship 3rd (86 points - promoted via Play-Offs)
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points - relegated to Championship)
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)
West Bromwich Albion
2012/13 Premier League 8th (49 points)
2011/12 Premier League 10th (47 points)
2010/11 Premier League 11th (47 points)
2009/10 Championship 2nd (91 points, promoted to Premier League)
2008/09 Premier League 20th (32 points, relegated to Championship)
2007/08 Championship 1st (81 points, promoted to Premier League)
2006/07 Championship 4th (76 points)
2005/06 Premier League 19th (30 points, relegated to Championship)
2004/05 Premier League17th (34 points)
2003/04 Championship 2nd (86 points, promoted to Premier League)
Background
• Today's fixture marks the 95th competitive meeting between West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion. The Hammers have won 36, the Baggies have tasted victory on 37 occasions and there have been 21 draws. It will also be the twelfth time the two clubs have met in the Premier League.
• The two clubs met for the first time on 13 January 1913 in an FA Cup first round tie at the Hawthorns. Fred Harrison scored for the Southern League First Division Hammers as they earned a 1-1 draw against the Baggies. The game was replayed three days later with that tie ending in a 2-2 draw at the Boleyn Ground, before a 3-0 win back at the Hawthorns finally settled matters in West Ham's favour.
• The Hammers recorded their biggest-ever win over the Baggies on 16 April 1965. Striker Brian Dear had a day to remember as he netted five goals within the space of 20 minutes either side of half-time in a 6-1 home Division One victory. Martin Peters had earlier opened the scoring.
• West Brom recorded their biggest win over West Ham back on 24 October 1925, romping to a 7-1 Division One victory at The Hawthorns. Jimmy Ruffell netted West Ham's consolation goal.
• West Ham and West Brom met in the 1966 Football League Cup final. The sixth and last League Cup final to be played over two legs, the Hammers won the first game 2-1 at the Boleyn Ground, with Geoff Hurst and Johnny Byrne cancelling out Jeff Astle's opener. The second leg was a different story, however, as the Baggies clinched a 4-1 win to secure a 5-3 aggregate success.
• West Ham have a good recent record at the Hawthorns and have suffered only one defeat in their last ten visits at the home of the Baggies. Five of those visits have ended in West Ham wins, the latest of which coming in May 2006 when a Nigel Reo-Coker goal won the match.
Referee
• The man in the middle for Saturday's fixture is Mike Dean.
• Dean last refereed the Hammers in a 2-1 home win against Hull City on 26 March 2014. He also took charge of the corresponding fixture earlier in the season when the sides played out a 3-3 draw at the Boleyn Ground.
• In all, he has refereed West Ham 37 times, with the Hammers winning 14, losing eleven and drawing twelve of those matches.
• The 45-year-old began refereeing in 1985, starting out his career in senior football in the Northern Premier League.
• In 2004, Dean took charge of his first international match, a friendly between the Netherlands and Republic of Ireland at Amsterdam ArenA. That same year, he took control of the FA Community Shield between Arsenal and Manchester United.
• In May 2006, he refereed the Championship play-off final between Leeds United and Watford at the Millennium Stadium. In 2008, he was the man-in-the-middle for the FA Cup final between Portsmouth and Cardiff City at Wembley Stadium.
• On Saturday, Dean will be assisted by Jake Collin and John Brooks, while the fourth official at the Hawthorns will be Mike Jones.
General information
• The forecast for Saturday's match is light rain with temperatures around 12C (53F).
• West Ham United's allocation of tickets for Saturday's match are now SOLD OUT. If you're travelling to the game via coach you will need to be on board by the time they leave the Boleyn Ground at 10am.
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Nolan gearing up for strong finish
WHUFC.com
Kevin Nolan wants the Hammers to finish 2013/14 with a bang
25.04.2014
Kevin Nolan is keen to kickstart a strong end to the campaign with three points at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. The Hammers have been stuck on 37 points for the last three games after losing to Liverpool, Arsenal and Crystal Palace. Nolan wants to end that losing run at the Hawthorns and, in doing so, secure mathematical safety for the Hammers. He said: "It's been three games too long for us getting to 40 points. We've been disappointed with those results, especially as we were doing so well beforehand. "You get punished at this level if you don't finish teams off and that's one of the factors why we are where we are going into the last three games. "Hopefully we can go to West Brom, get the win and pull further away from the relegation zone, which will allow us to look up again for the last two. "It's important for us to go out with a bang. We've got three major games coming up. "After West Brom we've got the local derby next weekend, and that's going to be a great send off so hopefully we can send all our home fans home happy. "Then after that we've got a lovely trip to Manchester where we could be playing against a team going for the title. That would be another fantastic fixture to be involved with. "We're hoping that by the time we go there we'll be safe and go there with no real pressure and hopefully give them a good game. Who knows, with the quality we've got on our day we can beat anyone."
Nolan notched when the Hammers drew 3-3 with West Brom at the Boleyn Ground in December and he is targeting another goal this weekend - along with keeping the hosts quiet. He explained: "We know they're fast starters, in the last few games they've gone up early doors and we can't afford to let that happen to us on Saturday because it's always hard to get back into it in the Premier League. "They've had a couple of defeats in their last couple of games, but it's never easy in the Premier League, whoever you're playing. Every loose ball, everything is competed for, so we've got to make sure we match that on Saturday and if we do I'm sure our quality will shine through in the end. "We need to silence them and then the anxiety levels go up. We sort of owe them one, because I thought we deserved to beat them at our place just after Christmas. "I scored that day and they've dried up of late, but it's not through the lack of trying. The chances have not been there, so I'm hoping that me and the big man can get back into our routine, I get a couple of chances on Saturday and I stick them in the back of the net. "Then we can all go home happy looking forward to another season in the Premier League."
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Cole looking to pastures new
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 25th April 2014
By: Staff Writer
Joe Cole believes he is unlikely to be offered a contract extension by West Ham at the end of the current campaign. The 31-year-old midfielder returned to the Boleyn Ground for a second spell with the club in January 2013 and signed a contract to take him until the end of the current season. However Paddington-born Cole believes he'll be playing his football elsewhere next season having failed to secure a first team place under Sam Allardyce. "If I could stay and play then that would be ideal, but it doesn't look like I'm the manager's first choice," he told Sky Sports. "I'm being used here and there and sparingly but at my age and where I am in my career I want to enjoy my football. I love competing and just I want to play. "If you look at the small amount of time I've played on the pitch I think I've performed reasonably well. But I still want more. The fire still burns; I still want to play and play at the highest level I can play."
Cole also revealed that he felt his best position is in the centre of midfield - unlike the wide role he was first given by Glenn Roeder more than a decade ago and where he has played much of his football since. "I'll be looking next year to play more centrally," he said. "Being a winger for the past 11 or 12 years you lose a bit of patience, you want to come inside. Playing central will be something I will be looking for in my next club or if I stay at West Ham. "People will tell you I'm a good professional, I work hard. If you look at the curves on my career, it was going up, up and up and then I got my injury. That has taken a little bit out of my game. "A lot of football is people's perception of what you could have done, what you should have done. But I'm happy with what I've done."
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West Brom host West Ham at The Hawthorns
By Subhankar Mondal - Follow me on Twitter @subhankarjourno. Last Updated: 25/04/14 10:44am
SSN
West Bromwich Albion will be looking to return to winning ways on Saturday when they host West Ham United at The Hawthorns in the Premier League.
A 3-3 home draw against Tottenham Hotspur and a 3-1 defeat at Manchester City in their last two games have left the Baggies just three points above the relegation zone. Pepe Mel's side will head into the encounter against the Hammers with 33 points from 34 matches and having won just three games at home.
Visitors West Ham aren't entirely safe at the moment either. Sam Allardyce's team are seven points above the drop zone, but have played a game more than some of the sides below them in the league table. The Hammers have lost their last three matches in the Premier League, the latest coming last weekend when they went down 1-0 to Crystal Palace at Upton Park. West Ham have won just four league matches on the road and have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last nine.
Paul Merson's prediction
West Ham at home is a nice game for West Brom and they need to get a result and not rely on the teams below them losing. The problem for Pepe Mel is they have got a couple of injuries and Chris Brunt might have to play at full-back - and the likes of Matt Jarvis or Stewart Downing should be able to get some success out of that. If the wingers get crosses in to Andy Carroll then anything can happen and I think it could be a draw. That will leave West Brom in a bit of trouble, but I think they have got enough in midfield and defence to survive. They are not too good going forward, but in the other positions they are decent.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-2
West Brom
Last 6
Man City (a)3-1
Tottenham (h)3-3
Norwich (a)0-1
Cardiff (h)3-3
Hull City (a)2-0
Swansea (a)1-2
West Brom centre-back Gareth McAuley will undergo a late fitness test ahead of the match. McAuley sat out the defeat to City at the Etihad Stadium on Monday due to a calf problem that Albion are hoping he will have recovered from in time to face West Ham. Fellow defender Liam Ridgewell will definitely miss out because of the knee injury he sustained in the City encounter, while on-loan winger Scott Sinclair is available again after being ineligible for that meeting with his parent club.
West Ham
Last 6
C Palace (h)0-1
Arsenal (a)3-1
Liverpool (h)1-2
Sunderland (a)1-2
Hull City (h)2-1
Man Utd (h)0-2
West Ham midfielder Matt Taylor has been given compassionate leave to be with his ill daughter ahead of Saturday's encounter. Italian striker Marco Borriello, who joined the London club on loan from Roma in January for the rest of the season, is sidelined with a calf injury. Defender Guy Demel could return to the team having been laid low by a virus.
Opta Stats
West Ham have lost six of their last eight Premier League games.
Andy Carroll has hit only 10 shots on target in 12 league appearances this season.
West Brom have won fewer games than any other Premier League side this season.
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Joe Cole expects to leave West Ham at the end of the season
Last Updated: 25/04/14 8:05pm
SSN
West Ham midfielder Joe Cole says it is unlikely he will stay at the club beyond this season. The 32-year-old rejoined the Hammers - with whom he started his career - from Liverpool in January 2013 on an 18-month deal, which runs out at the end of this season. He has started just six matches this season and rarely in his favoured position of central midfield. And the former Chelsea player accepts it is likely he will have to move elsewhere in search of first-team football.
When asked on Sky Sports' Weekend Warm-up if he would be staying at Upton Park, he replied: "At the moment it's probably looking unlikely. "If I could stay and play then that would be ideal but that doesn't look like I'm the manager's first choice. "I'm being used here and there and sparingly. But at my age and where I am in my career I want to enjoy my football. I love competing and just I want to play. "If you look at the small amount of time I've played on the pitch I think I've performed reasonably well. "I'll be looking next year to play in a more central role. Being a winger in the past 10-11-12 years you lose a bit of patience, you want to come inside. "Playing central will be something I will be looking for in my next club or if I stay at West Ham. "So we will sit down in a few weeks, I imagine, and get a plan for next year."
During his time at Chelsea, who he joined from West Ham in 2003 and remained at until 2010, Cole won the Premier League three times, the FA Cup on three occasions and the League Cup twice.
Player Profile
Appearances 11 (8)
Goals 4
Assists 0
Yellows 2
Reds 0
Current Season
He has also amassed 56 England caps and was included in the national squad for four major tournaments.
Expectation
Cole admits that had to combat high expectations when he broke into the West Ham first team as a teenager and also saw his progress curtailed somewhat by a cruciate ligament injury in 2009 but he still believes he has fulfilled his potential. "It's perception in football and there was a lot of pressure put on me as a youngster but I think I've achieved what I'm capable of achieving," he said. "People will tell you I'm a good professional, I work hard. If you look at the curves on my career, it was going up, up and up and then I got my injury. That has taken a little bit out of my game. "A lot of it in football is people's perception of what you could have done, what you should have done. "To be able to play at Chelsea for such long time at a top club it's an amazing achievement. I'm happy with what I've done." I still want more. The fire still burns. I still want to play and play at the highest level I can play." This weekend, two of Cole's former teams - Chelsea and Liverpool - face each other in a game that could go a long way to deciding the outcome of this season's title race. Having worked with both Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho and Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, who was a coach under the Portuguese during Cole's time at Stamford Bridge, the player can see a lot of similarities between the two. "You can see how studious they are with their approach and the fact that they are at the training ground every day and every session," added Cole. "That's what they have in common and I think Brendan takes a lot of that from Jose." "They are very similar."
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Sam Allardyce warns West Ham players to stay focused ahead of trip to West Brom
Last Updated: 25/04/14 3:00pm
SSN
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has warned his players any minor lapse in concentration at West Brom on Saturday could prove very costly. He feels his side's efforts in recent weeks should have yielded more rewards but for a lack of focus from his players at key moments. "We don't want any major decisions going against us, but more importantly I don't want my players to start making the basic errors they have made in the last three games which have cost us very dear," said Allardyce. "We have been very satisfied with overall performances, but at certain times mistakes have been made which shouldn't have been made and we have been punished heavily for them."
West Ham won four successive league matches in February to put daylight between themselves and the battle for Premier League survival but only managed two wins from five in March and since then have followed defeat to Liverpool and Arsenal with a 1-0 home loss against rejuvenated Crystal Palace. With his side seeking a single win to reach the fabled 'safety' of the 40 point mark, Allardyce knows the trip to the Hawthorns will not be easy with West Brom fighting to move more than three points clear of the relegation zone. Since February, Albion's results have included home draws against Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Fulham and Cardiff plus wins at Swansea and Norwich. "The points against the bigger clubs are just your bonus, the icing on your cake, but competing against the teams around you to win and draw against them has always been critical in where you finish the season."
Sam Allardyce
Allardyce knows all too well the importance for his side to retain composure against West Brom, with their final two matches against Tottenham and Manchester City. "The pressure will be pretty intense because we all know what is at stake. We have to handle it better than West Brom," said Allardyce.
"They have had a resurgence and at their home ground have been so close to so many victories and only slipped up in the dying seconds of two particularly thrilling 3-3 draws. "We don't want to be in that position where we are trying to fight our way back from behind on Saturday. "We want to be keeping a level playing field for as long as possible and our goal would be to do what we did at Sunderland, which was score the first goal and then go from there." He added: "There is always a need for your team to gain points against teams who have been below you or certainly not lose against them. That became really apparent when we won at Sunderland a few weeks ago, that the distance we put between us and them was critical for us at that time. "That has always been the case and it will certainly be the case against West Brom. "The points against the bigger clubs are just your bonus, the icing on your cake, but competing against the teams around you to win and draw against them has always been critical in where you finish the season."
Hammers goalkeeper Adrian - who played under Baggies boss Pepe Mel when the Spaniard was at Real Betis - is confident West Ham can produce the required performance. "Here in the Premier League, every game is hard. At the moment, when the season is nearly finished, the games are even tougher," he told the club's official website. "West Brom are only three points above the relegation places, they really need these three points, but we are going there to win the game."
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Chelsea blew title chances against Prem's smaller teams taunts West Ham boss Allardyce
Apr 25, 2014 22:30 By Neil McLeman
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce has taunted Jose Mourinho by claiming Chelsea blew the title against teams in the bottom half of the Premier League. The Blues boss accused West Ham of playing "19th century football" after their goalless draw at Stamford Bridge in January. Now the Irons boss has re-ignited the feud after Chelsea's defensive midweek performance in the Champions League. Speaking about their spat, Big Sam said: "He was just a frustrated man who we were able to get a point against in the end. Since then he has lost his own home record to Sunderland which he will bevery disappoited about. "Really, Chelsea in terms of winning the League would have nearly already clinched it had they not drawn with us and lost to Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa. "I don't know Jose that well but I know what he is like. Jose will be kicking himself that he has not won it on those results."
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West Ham's Andy Carroll is an English Diego Costa claims West Brom boss Pepe Mel
Apr 25, 2014 22:30 By John Wardle
The Mirror
West Brom boss Pepe Mel reckons Andy Carroll could terrorise La Liga after likening him to Atletico Madrid ace Diego Costa. The 16th-placed Baggies must try to stop Carroll on Saturday in a game Mel has called a cup final for his team. They sit just three points above the drop zone, yet anything but a victory could see that worsen, with bottom-three sides Sunderland and Cardiff facing off on Sunday. Mel hopes defender Gareth McAuley (calf) will be passed fit for an aerial battle with Carroll, a player who reminds him of Atletico's £32m-rated Chelsea target Costa. The Spaniard said : "Carroll really is a player of exceptional quality and I think he is a good option for the English national team at the World Cup. "What Carroll needs is to have good wingers who can put in crosses for him to finish, and in Italy and Spain there are some very good attacking sides. "He could be successful outside of England. Look at Diego Costa, of Atletico, who plays in a very aggressive way, he has been very successful in Spain. "In Spain, Andy Carroll could have some really great seasons and he could be a really important player in a big Spanish side."
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Sam Allardyce tells West Ham fans: Forget flair and entertainment, it's all about winning
Apr 25, 2014 22:29 By Neil McLeman
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce has told unhappy Hammers fans he will not change his style because football is only about results. Big Sam has previously dismissed the "West Ham way" as "not winning" and a "delusion". After the Irons were booed off Upton Park on Saturday following a third consecutive defeat , Allardyce now insists he uses "the team in the right way" and claims he always ignores criticism of his side's playing style. "If I allow that to affect me, I might as well pack my bags and walk away," he said. Allardyce has led West Ham back into the Premier League and is one win away from keeping them there with the move to the Olympic Stadium fast approaching in 2016. And in the week David Moyes was sacked at Manchester United , he stated: "It all boils down to one thing in the end. "Whatever anyone says, results are, in the end, the only thing that matters. The bosses have just proven that by doing what they have done to David Moyes. "Is it different at West Ham? No. I can't understand why people can't understand we're a results-driven business based on what happens. "All the money you earn is based on results. It's a results-driven formula." Allardyce is the third-longest serving boss in the Premier League after Arsene Wenger and Alan Pardew, despite being back in the top flight for under two seasons. All his career, the former Bolton, Blackburn and Newcastle manager has attracted flak for his football philosophy. Asked if he would address fans' concerns in the summer transfer market, he responded: "Style of play is just a label everyone uses against me, no matter what style I play. "I am never going to get rid of it because the style of play I have is not like that, just like the style I had at Bolton is not like that when they said it was. "When the tag is laid down, you just can't get rid of it, so you just ignore it and get on with it. "I use the team in the right way, to win as many matches as we can. We try to entertain, particularly at home by playing attacking football and winning. "There are many clubs where their fans are expressing their disapproval. That is the way of the game now. "If I allow that to affect me, I might as well pack my bags and walk away because you can't let that sort of thing affect what you are responsible for – the players, what the club is responsible for and what the club needs in order to move on and get better."
Allardyce admitted this season has been "an under-achievement up to now" after the "over-achievement" of last season. West Ham, seven points clear of the bottom three on 37 points, viait relegation-threatened West Brom on Saturday. Allardyce said: "The pressure will be pretty intense because we all know what's at stake."
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WHUFC.com
A memorial service for Dylan Tombides is to be held on Monday afternoon at St Paul's Church
25.04.2014
West Ham United can confirm that a memorial service for the late Dylan Tombides is to be held on Monday 28 April at St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge.
The service is due to commence at 3pm and will be led by Club chaplain Reverend Alan Bolding. With Dylan's family and friends and the extended West Ham United family in attendance, it is not possible to accommodate supporters inside the church. However, there will be speakers outside relaying the service to the public so any Hammers fans or members of the public seeking to pay their respects are welcome to attend. For those wishing to do so, the full address is St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge, Cross Road, Woodford Green, Essex IG8 8BT. Dylan's family would like to thank the Club and the fans for their continued support at this difficult time.
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West Brom match preview
WHUFC.com
All the need to know information ahead of Saturday's trip to West Bromwich Albion
25.04.2014
WEST BROMWICH ALBION v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 26 APRIL 2014
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: MIKE DEAN
iPHONE APP I TWITTER I FACEBOOK I PODCAST I INSTAGRAM I YOUTUBE
Introduction
• West Ham United travel to the Hawthorns on Saturday hoping to avoid a fourth straight defeat when they take on West Bromwich Albion in the Barclays Premier League.
• Liverpool, Arsenal and Crystal Palace have all proved just too strong for the Hammers in their recent weeks, with a Mile Jedinak penalty condemning Sam Allardyce's team to a narrow loss against the Eagles last time out.
• A Matt Jarvis header gave the Hammers the lead in their last away trip against Arsenal, before the Gunners surged ahead to win the match 3-1.
• With two games left to play after this fixture, West Ham will be looking to make absolutely certain of their Premier League safety with three points against the Baggies.
• The Hammers are currently 12th in the table with 37 points, four places and four points better off than Pepe Mel's team.
• West Brom return to home turf following a 3-1 loss against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Monday night.
• The Baggies' last two matches at the Hawthorns have both ended 3-3 against Cardiff City and Tottenham respectively, with the draw against Spurs seeing the hosts let slip a three-goal lead.
• Mel's team are the division's draw specialists this season with 15 of their 34 games ending all square so far.
• The Midlands outfit are also without a win in their last seven outings in front of their home crowd, with six draws and a defeat from those matches.
Team news
West Ham United
• James Collins is back in full training and is in contention to make a return from the calf injury which has sidelined him recently.
• Fellow defender Guy Demel missed the home defeat against Crystal Palace through illness but should be fit to face the Baggies.
• Striker Marco Borriello has been absent with a calf injury and will miss out again against West Brom.
West Bromwich Albion
• Liam Ridgewell was forced off in the defeat against City on Monday with a knee injury and Pepe Mel has already indicated that Chris Brunt will fill in at left-back.
• Centre-back Gareth McAuley missed the game at the Etihad with a calf injury but could be back in time to face the Hammers.
• Zoltan Gera is also likely to be absent for the hosts with a hamstring injury.
Last time out
West Ham United 0-1 Crystal Palace
Barclays Premier League
19 April 2014
West Ham United: Adrian; McCartney, Tomkins, Reid, Armero; Nolan (Nocerino 85), Noble, Diame; Downing (J.Cole 78), Carroll, Jarvis (C.Cole 70)
Subs not used: Jaaskelainen, Taylor, O'Brien, Johnson
Manchester City 3-1 West Bromwich Albion
Barclays Premier League
21 April 2014
West Bromwich Albion: Foster, Ridgewell, Olsson, Jones, Dawson, Brunt, Amalfitano, Mulumbu (Morrison 84), Dorrans, Sessegnon (Berahino 76), Vydra (Anichebe 60)
Subs not used: Myhill, Yacob, Reid, Lugano
Goals: Dorrans 16
Previous meeting
West Ham and West Brom met back in December for the final game of 2013, and what a game it turned out to be. There was six goals and controversy aplenty at the Boleyn Ground as the points were shared. Joe Cole gave the Hammers an early lead before two goals in five minutes from Nicolas Anelka - who was later banned for eight matches by the FA for his quenelle celebration - sent the Baggies in ahead at the break. Modibo Maiga and Kevin Nolan put the home side back in front, but they couldn't hold on as Saido Berahino struck an equaliser.
West Ham United 3-3 West Bromwich Albion
Barclays Premier League
28 December 2013
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, Tomkins (Demel 10), McCartney, Rat, J Cole (Collison 83), Noble, C Cole (Maiga 45), Nolan, Jarvis
Subs not used: Adrian, Taylor, Diarra, Chambers
Goals: J Cole 4, Maiga 65, Nolan 67
West Bromwich Albion: Foster, Jones, Ridgewell, Lugano (Amalfitano 68), Olsson, McAuley, Morrison (Yacob 78), Brunt, Anelka, Berahino (Sessegnon 85), Mulumbu
Subs not used: Myhill, Sinclair, Vydra, Dawson
Goals: Anelka 40, 45; Berahino 69
Last six meetings (Premier League unless stated)
28 December 2013 West Ham United 3-3 West Bromwich Albion
30 March 2013 West Ham United 3-1 West Bromwich Albion
16 December 2012 West Bromwich Albion 0-0 West Ham United
12 February 2011 West Bromwich Albion 3-3 West Ham United
10 November 2010 West Ham 2-2 West Bromwich Albion
16 March 2009 West Ham United 0-0 West Bromwich Albion
Overall record v West Bromwich Albion
P94 W 36 D 21 L 37
Ten-year records
West Ham United
2012/13 Premier League 10th (46 points)
2011/12 Championship 3rd (86 points - promoted via Play-Offs)
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points - relegated to Championship)
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)
West Bromwich Albion
2012/13 Premier League 8th (49 points)
2011/12 Premier League 10th (47 points)
2010/11 Premier League 11th (47 points)
2009/10 Championship 2nd (91 points, promoted to Premier League)
2008/09 Premier League 20th (32 points, relegated to Championship)
2007/08 Championship 1st (81 points, promoted to Premier League)
2006/07 Championship 4th (76 points)
2005/06 Premier League 19th (30 points, relegated to Championship)
2004/05 Premier League17th (34 points)
2003/04 Championship 2nd (86 points, promoted to Premier League)
Background
• Today's fixture marks the 95th competitive meeting between West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion. The Hammers have won 36, the Baggies have tasted victory on 37 occasions and there have been 21 draws. It will also be the twelfth time the two clubs have met in the Premier League.
• The two clubs met for the first time on 13 January 1913 in an FA Cup first round tie at the Hawthorns. Fred Harrison scored for the Southern League First Division Hammers as they earned a 1-1 draw against the Baggies. The game was replayed three days later with that tie ending in a 2-2 draw at the Boleyn Ground, before a 3-0 win back at the Hawthorns finally settled matters in West Ham's favour.
• The Hammers recorded their biggest-ever win over the Baggies on 16 April 1965. Striker Brian Dear had a day to remember as he netted five goals within the space of 20 minutes either side of half-time in a 6-1 home Division One victory. Martin Peters had earlier opened the scoring.
• West Brom recorded their biggest win over West Ham back on 24 October 1925, romping to a 7-1 Division One victory at The Hawthorns. Jimmy Ruffell netted West Ham's consolation goal.
• West Ham and West Brom met in the 1966 Football League Cup final. The sixth and last League Cup final to be played over two legs, the Hammers won the first game 2-1 at the Boleyn Ground, with Geoff Hurst and Johnny Byrne cancelling out Jeff Astle's opener. The second leg was a different story, however, as the Baggies clinched a 4-1 win to secure a 5-3 aggregate success.
• West Ham have a good recent record at the Hawthorns and have suffered only one defeat in their last ten visits at the home of the Baggies. Five of those visits have ended in West Ham wins, the latest of which coming in May 2006 when a Nigel Reo-Coker goal won the match.
Referee
• The man in the middle for Saturday's fixture is Mike Dean.
• Dean last refereed the Hammers in a 2-1 home win against Hull City on 26 March 2014. He also took charge of the corresponding fixture earlier in the season when the sides played out a 3-3 draw at the Boleyn Ground.
• In all, he has refereed West Ham 37 times, with the Hammers winning 14, losing eleven and drawing twelve of those matches.
• The 45-year-old began refereeing in 1985, starting out his career in senior football in the Northern Premier League.
• In 2004, Dean took charge of his first international match, a friendly between the Netherlands and Republic of Ireland at Amsterdam ArenA. That same year, he took control of the FA Community Shield between Arsenal and Manchester United.
• In May 2006, he refereed the Championship play-off final between Leeds United and Watford at the Millennium Stadium. In 2008, he was the man-in-the-middle for the FA Cup final between Portsmouth and Cardiff City at Wembley Stadium.
• On Saturday, Dean will be assisted by Jake Collin and John Brooks, while the fourth official at the Hawthorns will be Mike Jones.
General information
• The forecast for Saturday's match is light rain with temperatures around 12C (53F).
• West Ham United's allocation of tickets for Saturday's match are now SOLD OUT. If you're travelling to the game via coach you will need to be on board by the time they leave the Boleyn Ground at 10am.
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Nolan gearing up for strong finish
WHUFC.com
Kevin Nolan wants the Hammers to finish 2013/14 with a bang
25.04.2014
Kevin Nolan is keen to kickstart a strong end to the campaign with three points at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. The Hammers have been stuck on 37 points for the last three games after losing to Liverpool, Arsenal and Crystal Palace. Nolan wants to end that losing run at the Hawthorns and, in doing so, secure mathematical safety for the Hammers. He said: "It's been three games too long for us getting to 40 points. We've been disappointed with those results, especially as we were doing so well beforehand. "You get punished at this level if you don't finish teams off and that's one of the factors why we are where we are going into the last three games. "Hopefully we can go to West Brom, get the win and pull further away from the relegation zone, which will allow us to look up again for the last two. "It's important for us to go out with a bang. We've got three major games coming up. "After West Brom we've got the local derby next weekend, and that's going to be a great send off so hopefully we can send all our home fans home happy. "Then after that we've got a lovely trip to Manchester where we could be playing against a team going for the title. That would be another fantastic fixture to be involved with. "We're hoping that by the time we go there we'll be safe and go there with no real pressure and hopefully give them a good game. Who knows, with the quality we've got on our day we can beat anyone."
Nolan notched when the Hammers drew 3-3 with West Brom at the Boleyn Ground in December and he is targeting another goal this weekend - along with keeping the hosts quiet. He explained: "We know they're fast starters, in the last few games they've gone up early doors and we can't afford to let that happen to us on Saturday because it's always hard to get back into it in the Premier League. "They've had a couple of defeats in their last couple of games, but it's never easy in the Premier League, whoever you're playing. Every loose ball, everything is competed for, so we've got to make sure we match that on Saturday and if we do I'm sure our quality will shine through in the end. "We need to silence them and then the anxiety levels go up. We sort of owe them one, because I thought we deserved to beat them at our place just after Christmas. "I scored that day and they've dried up of late, but it's not through the lack of trying. The chances have not been there, so I'm hoping that me and the big man can get back into our routine, I get a couple of chances on Saturday and I stick them in the back of the net. "Then we can all go home happy looking forward to another season in the Premier League."
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Cole looking to pastures new
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 25th April 2014
By: Staff Writer
Joe Cole believes he is unlikely to be offered a contract extension by West Ham at the end of the current campaign. The 31-year-old midfielder returned to the Boleyn Ground for a second spell with the club in January 2013 and signed a contract to take him until the end of the current season. However Paddington-born Cole believes he'll be playing his football elsewhere next season having failed to secure a first team place under Sam Allardyce. "If I could stay and play then that would be ideal, but it doesn't look like I'm the manager's first choice," he told Sky Sports. "I'm being used here and there and sparingly but at my age and where I am in my career I want to enjoy my football. I love competing and just I want to play. "If you look at the small amount of time I've played on the pitch I think I've performed reasonably well. But I still want more. The fire still burns; I still want to play and play at the highest level I can play."
Cole also revealed that he felt his best position is in the centre of midfield - unlike the wide role he was first given by Glenn Roeder more than a decade ago and where he has played much of his football since. "I'll be looking next year to play more centrally," he said. "Being a winger for the past 11 or 12 years you lose a bit of patience, you want to come inside. Playing central will be something I will be looking for in my next club or if I stay at West Ham. "People will tell you I'm a good professional, I work hard. If you look at the curves on my career, it was going up, up and up and then I got my injury. That has taken a little bit out of my game. "A lot of football is people's perception of what you could have done, what you should have done. But I'm happy with what I've done."
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West Brom host West Ham at The Hawthorns
By Subhankar Mondal - Follow me on Twitter @subhankarjourno. Last Updated: 25/04/14 10:44am
SSN
West Bromwich Albion will be looking to return to winning ways on Saturday when they host West Ham United at The Hawthorns in the Premier League.
A 3-3 home draw against Tottenham Hotspur and a 3-1 defeat at Manchester City in their last two games have left the Baggies just three points above the relegation zone. Pepe Mel's side will head into the encounter against the Hammers with 33 points from 34 matches and having won just three games at home.
Visitors West Ham aren't entirely safe at the moment either. Sam Allardyce's team are seven points above the drop zone, but have played a game more than some of the sides below them in the league table. The Hammers have lost their last three matches in the Premier League, the latest coming last weekend when they went down 1-0 to Crystal Palace at Upton Park. West Ham have won just four league matches on the road and have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last nine.
Paul Merson's prediction
West Ham at home is a nice game for West Brom and they need to get a result and not rely on the teams below them losing. The problem for Pepe Mel is they have got a couple of injuries and Chris Brunt might have to play at full-back - and the likes of Matt Jarvis or Stewart Downing should be able to get some success out of that. If the wingers get crosses in to Andy Carroll then anything can happen and I think it could be a draw. That will leave West Brom in a bit of trouble, but I think they have got enough in midfield and defence to survive. They are not too good going forward, but in the other positions they are decent.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-2
West Brom
Last 6
Man City (a)3-1
Tottenham (h)3-3
Norwich (a)0-1
Cardiff (h)3-3
Hull City (a)2-0
Swansea (a)1-2
West Brom centre-back Gareth McAuley will undergo a late fitness test ahead of the match. McAuley sat out the defeat to City at the Etihad Stadium on Monday due to a calf problem that Albion are hoping he will have recovered from in time to face West Ham. Fellow defender Liam Ridgewell will definitely miss out because of the knee injury he sustained in the City encounter, while on-loan winger Scott Sinclair is available again after being ineligible for that meeting with his parent club.
West Ham
Last 6
C Palace (h)0-1
Arsenal (a)3-1
Liverpool (h)1-2
Sunderland (a)1-2
Hull City (h)2-1
Man Utd (h)0-2
West Ham midfielder Matt Taylor has been given compassionate leave to be with his ill daughter ahead of Saturday's encounter. Italian striker Marco Borriello, who joined the London club on loan from Roma in January for the rest of the season, is sidelined with a calf injury. Defender Guy Demel could return to the team having been laid low by a virus.
Opta Stats
West Ham have lost six of their last eight Premier League games.
Andy Carroll has hit only 10 shots on target in 12 league appearances this season.
West Brom have won fewer games than any other Premier League side this season.
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Joe Cole expects to leave West Ham at the end of the season
Last Updated: 25/04/14 8:05pm
SSN
West Ham midfielder Joe Cole says it is unlikely he will stay at the club beyond this season. The 32-year-old rejoined the Hammers - with whom he started his career - from Liverpool in January 2013 on an 18-month deal, which runs out at the end of this season. He has started just six matches this season and rarely in his favoured position of central midfield. And the former Chelsea player accepts it is likely he will have to move elsewhere in search of first-team football.
When asked on Sky Sports' Weekend Warm-up if he would be staying at Upton Park, he replied: "At the moment it's probably looking unlikely. "If I could stay and play then that would be ideal but that doesn't look like I'm the manager's first choice. "I'm being used here and there and sparingly. But at my age and where I am in my career I want to enjoy my football. I love competing and just I want to play. "If you look at the small amount of time I've played on the pitch I think I've performed reasonably well. "I'll be looking next year to play in a more central role. Being a winger in the past 10-11-12 years you lose a bit of patience, you want to come inside. "Playing central will be something I will be looking for in my next club or if I stay at West Ham. "So we will sit down in a few weeks, I imagine, and get a plan for next year."
During his time at Chelsea, who he joined from West Ham in 2003 and remained at until 2010, Cole won the Premier League three times, the FA Cup on three occasions and the League Cup twice.
Player Profile
Appearances 11 (8)
Goals 4
Assists 0
Yellows 2
Reds 0
Current Season
He has also amassed 56 England caps and was included in the national squad for four major tournaments.
Expectation
Cole admits that had to combat high expectations when he broke into the West Ham first team as a teenager and also saw his progress curtailed somewhat by a cruciate ligament injury in 2009 but he still believes he has fulfilled his potential. "It's perception in football and there was a lot of pressure put on me as a youngster but I think I've achieved what I'm capable of achieving," he said. "People will tell you I'm a good professional, I work hard. If you look at the curves on my career, it was going up, up and up and then I got my injury. That has taken a little bit out of my game. "A lot of it in football is people's perception of what you could have done, what you should have done. "To be able to play at Chelsea for such long time at a top club it's an amazing achievement. I'm happy with what I've done." I still want more. The fire still burns. I still want to play and play at the highest level I can play." This weekend, two of Cole's former teams - Chelsea and Liverpool - face each other in a game that could go a long way to deciding the outcome of this season's title race. Having worked with both Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho and Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, who was a coach under the Portuguese during Cole's time at Stamford Bridge, the player can see a lot of similarities between the two. "You can see how studious they are with their approach and the fact that they are at the training ground every day and every session," added Cole. "That's what they have in common and I think Brendan takes a lot of that from Jose." "They are very similar."
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Sam Allardyce warns West Ham players to stay focused ahead of trip to West Brom
Last Updated: 25/04/14 3:00pm
SSN
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has warned his players any minor lapse in concentration at West Brom on Saturday could prove very costly. He feels his side's efforts in recent weeks should have yielded more rewards but for a lack of focus from his players at key moments. "We don't want any major decisions going against us, but more importantly I don't want my players to start making the basic errors they have made in the last three games which have cost us very dear," said Allardyce. "We have been very satisfied with overall performances, but at certain times mistakes have been made which shouldn't have been made and we have been punished heavily for them."
West Ham won four successive league matches in February to put daylight between themselves and the battle for Premier League survival but only managed two wins from five in March and since then have followed defeat to Liverpool and Arsenal with a 1-0 home loss against rejuvenated Crystal Palace. With his side seeking a single win to reach the fabled 'safety' of the 40 point mark, Allardyce knows the trip to the Hawthorns will not be easy with West Brom fighting to move more than three points clear of the relegation zone. Since February, Albion's results have included home draws against Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Fulham and Cardiff plus wins at Swansea and Norwich. "The points against the bigger clubs are just your bonus, the icing on your cake, but competing against the teams around you to win and draw against them has always been critical in where you finish the season."
Sam Allardyce
Allardyce knows all too well the importance for his side to retain composure against West Brom, with their final two matches against Tottenham and Manchester City. "The pressure will be pretty intense because we all know what is at stake. We have to handle it better than West Brom," said Allardyce.
"They have had a resurgence and at their home ground have been so close to so many victories and only slipped up in the dying seconds of two particularly thrilling 3-3 draws. "We don't want to be in that position where we are trying to fight our way back from behind on Saturday. "We want to be keeping a level playing field for as long as possible and our goal would be to do what we did at Sunderland, which was score the first goal and then go from there." He added: "There is always a need for your team to gain points against teams who have been below you or certainly not lose against them. That became really apparent when we won at Sunderland a few weeks ago, that the distance we put between us and them was critical for us at that time. "That has always been the case and it will certainly be the case against West Brom. "The points against the bigger clubs are just your bonus, the icing on your cake, but competing against the teams around you to win and draw against them has always been critical in where you finish the season."
Hammers goalkeeper Adrian - who played under Baggies boss Pepe Mel when the Spaniard was at Real Betis - is confident West Ham can produce the required performance. "Here in the Premier League, every game is hard. At the moment, when the season is nearly finished, the games are even tougher," he told the club's official website. "West Brom are only three points above the relegation places, they really need these three points, but we are going there to win the game."
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Chelsea blew title chances against Prem's smaller teams taunts West Ham boss Allardyce
Apr 25, 2014 22:30 By Neil McLeman
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce has taunted Jose Mourinho by claiming Chelsea blew the title against teams in the bottom half of the Premier League. The Blues boss accused West Ham of playing "19th century football" after their goalless draw at Stamford Bridge in January. Now the Irons boss has re-ignited the feud after Chelsea's defensive midweek performance in the Champions League. Speaking about their spat, Big Sam said: "He was just a frustrated man who we were able to get a point against in the end. Since then he has lost his own home record to Sunderland which he will bevery disappoited about. "Really, Chelsea in terms of winning the League would have nearly already clinched it had they not drawn with us and lost to Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa. "I don't know Jose that well but I know what he is like. Jose will be kicking himself that he has not won it on those results."
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West Ham's Andy Carroll is an English Diego Costa claims West Brom boss Pepe Mel
Apr 25, 2014 22:30 By John Wardle
The Mirror
West Brom boss Pepe Mel reckons Andy Carroll could terrorise La Liga after likening him to Atletico Madrid ace Diego Costa. The 16th-placed Baggies must try to stop Carroll on Saturday in a game Mel has called a cup final for his team. They sit just three points above the drop zone, yet anything but a victory could see that worsen, with bottom-three sides Sunderland and Cardiff facing off on Sunday. Mel hopes defender Gareth McAuley (calf) will be passed fit for an aerial battle with Carroll, a player who reminds him of Atletico's £32m-rated Chelsea target Costa. The Spaniard said : "Carroll really is a player of exceptional quality and I think he is a good option for the English national team at the World Cup. "What Carroll needs is to have good wingers who can put in crosses for him to finish, and in Italy and Spain there are some very good attacking sides. "He could be successful outside of England. Look at Diego Costa, of Atletico, who plays in a very aggressive way, he has been very successful in Spain. "In Spain, Andy Carroll could have some really great seasons and he could be a really important player in a big Spanish side."
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Sam Allardyce tells West Ham fans: Forget flair and entertainment, it's all about winning
Apr 25, 2014 22:29 By Neil McLeman
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce has told unhappy Hammers fans he will not change his style because football is only about results. Big Sam has previously dismissed the "West Ham way" as "not winning" and a "delusion". After the Irons were booed off Upton Park on Saturday following a third consecutive defeat , Allardyce now insists he uses "the team in the right way" and claims he always ignores criticism of his side's playing style. "If I allow that to affect me, I might as well pack my bags and walk away," he said. Allardyce has led West Ham back into the Premier League and is one win away from keeping them there with the move to the Olympic Stadium fast approaching in 2016. And in the week David Moyes was sacked at Manchester United , he stated: "It all boils down to one thing in the end. "Whatever anyone says, results are, in the end, the only thing that matters. The bosses have just proven that by doing what they have done to David Moyes. "Is it different at West Ham? No. I can't understand why people can't understand we're a results-driven business based on what happens. "All the money you earn is based on results. It's a results-driven formula." Allardyce is the third-longest serving boss in the Premier League after Arsene Wenger and Alan Pardew, despite being back in the top flight for under two seasons. All his career, the former Bolton, Blackburn and Newcastle manager has attracted flak for his football philosophy. Asked if he would address fans' concerns in the summer transfer market, he responded: "Style of play is just a label everyone uses against me, no matter what style I play. "I am never going to get rid of it because the style of play I have is not like that, just like the style I had at Bolton is not like that when they said it was. "When the tag is laid down, you just can't get rid of it, so you just ignore it and get on with it. "I use the team in the right way, to win as many matches as we can. We try to entertain, particularly at home by playing attacking football and winning. "There are many clubs where their fans are expressing their disapproval. That is the way of the game now. "If I allow that to affect me, I might as well pack my bags and walk away because you can't let that sort of thing affect what you are responsible for – the players, what the club is responsible for and what the club needs in order to move on and get better."
Allardyce admitted this season has been "an under-achievement up to now" after the "over-achievement" of last season. West Ham, seven points clear of the bottom three on 37 points, viait relegation-threatened West Brom on Saturday. Allardyce said: "The pressure will be pretty intense because we all know what's at stake."
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