Tuesday, May 13

Daily WHUFC News - 13th May 2014

Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce reflects on another rollercoaster season for West Ham United
12.05.2014

Sam Allardyce says he is pleased with the way his West Ham United side
safely steered themselves away from the situation they found themselves in
at the turn of the year. Saturday's defeat to Champions Manchester City
wrapped up the 2013/14 season, but it was the vital victories that preceded
its finale which provided the West Ham United manager with his best moments
from the season. Last Saturday's 2-0 victory against Tottenham Hotspur took
the Hammers to the safety of 40 points and an eventual 13th place finish.
"We were in no real threat of relegation for a while," Big Sam said. "We
pulled ourselves out of the bottom three and finished 13th this year. We've
got 14 clean sheets and if we'd converted a few more of them into wins we'd
be on 46 points. "Overall the season has been very up and down. The way it
panned out in the end was about right, our points total being roughly where
you'd expect to finish. However, we've really done the best part of our
season in the last 15 games. "In the last 15 games we've won seven of those
so we've nearly got a 50 per cent win rate from those fixtures. To achieve
that after where we were in January is a pretty good job."

Despite the strong finish, the season has not always been plain sailing as
the Hammers went through a difficult run of results at the turn of the year.
Big Sam believes that next season should prove more straightforward for a
side that will be kicking off their third consecutive campaign in the
Barclays Premier League.
"The lads have withstood the pressure and we're established in the Premier
League for the second season in a row. "In statistic terms, the third year
should get better but that depends on how much you can improve your squad
with new players. In three years you've had the opportunity to improve your
squad and we can ask for a bit more from the players so we will hopefully
finish in a better position next season."

City secured their second Premier League title as their
expensively-assembled squad provided a performance worthy of Champions. Big
Sam admitted the better side had won, although he felt his team had suffered
at the hands of some bad defending and misfortune. "The real sickener for me
was letting that goal in just before half time so we went in 1-0 down at the
break. We should have kept it as tight as we did in the first half at the
start of the second half, but we gave a goal away from a corner. "City are a
fantastic side with quality players and they had them all out in the team on
Saturday. It was always going to be a difficult task but we tried to do as
best as we possibly could."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Loan round-up
WHUFC.com
George Moncur finshed his loan spell at Partick Thistle with a goal at the
weekend
12.05.2014

George Moncur ended his loan spell at Scottish Premiership side Partick
Thistle with a bang, notching in the Jags' 3-2 defeat to Ross County on
Saturday. Hammers youngster Moncur has had to wait for his chance at
Firhill, and helped his team come from 2-0 down to draw level, before James
Craigen's late own goal proved decisive in the visitors' favour. Moncur was
a 67th minute substitute at the weekend, and his strike means his loan comes
to a conclusion with one goal from his two Partick appearances.

Back in England, Hammers loanees Jack Collison and Ravel Morrison faced each
other in Friday night's first leg of the Sky Bet Championship play-off
semi-final between Wigan Athletic and Queens Park Rangers. Collison was an
unused sub for the Latics, while Morrison played 77 minutes for QPR as the
pair drew 0-0. The second leg takes place at Loftus Road on Monday evening.

Meanwhile, Sean Maguire was an unused substitute as Sligo Rovers lifted the
Setanta Sports Cup with a 1-0 victory over Dundalk in the final.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Noble points to Man City positives
WHUFC.com
Mark Noble felt West Ham United had cause for optimism after Sunday's season
finale
12.05.2014

Mark Noble commended a spirited West Ham United display at the Etihad
Stadium on Sunday, despite going down 2-0 to newly-crowned Barclays Premier
League champions Manchester City. The Hammers frustrated their fluent hosts
for some 39 minutes, before Samir Nasri's fine low strike flew in via the
right hand of Adrian and the inside of a post. Once David Silva had seen his
effort, on the stroke of half-time, thud back off the bar, City all but
settled matters five minutes after the restart, when skipper Vincent Kompany
fired Nasri's corner home from close range. Reflecting on the season finale,
Noble felt the Hammers had done themselves, not forgetting the occasion,
justice. "We didn't want to come here and just roll over, though everyone
was expecting us to," he confirmed. "We knew we were going to have to
defend. We watched Villa come here on Wednesday and they defended
brilliantly for 60 minutes. But the quality City have is incredible and they
always seem to score at home, as they did again on Sunday. "So we knew what
it was going to be like, they do that to every team that comes here. It was
a fantastic atmosphere and I thought we defended well for half-an-hour, 40
minutes. "They scored a goal out of nowhere and then it's their game to
lose. It was an uphill battle against a team, at home, that only had to draw
to win the league. They've got some of the best players in the world and
that's why they've won the league."

While City celebrate a second title in three seasons, West Ham are now
looking forward to a third successive campaign in the top flight, no mean
feat, says the Hammer of the Year. He continued: "It has been tough but
we've finished 13th now and we were second from bottom in December. This is
the best league in the world and it is credit to the lads and to everyone
involved that we've got ourselves out of that position. "It was a tight
league and a tough league this season and a couple of results pushed you
right up the table. We managed to win four in February and then against Hull
City and Sunderland, which confirmed our safety. To beat Spurs in the last
home game of the season finished it off nicely. "It was looking a bit
worrying for a while, but now it's safe and we're looking forward to next
season."

Finally, Noble, as he typically does, reserved a special mention for the
Hammers' travelling army, who made their presence felt at a jubilant Etihad
Stadium.
"We come to expect that from our fans, we don't expect anything else," he
explained. "They come away and can be heard at every away game, no matter
where you are. That's a credit to them and we can't thank them enough."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers make NZ recce
WHUFc.com
West Ham United officials have visited New Zealand ahead of the Club's
pre-season tour in July
12.05.2014

West Ham United club secretary Andrew Pincher and fitness coach Eamon Swift
visited New Zealand on a reconaissance mission ahead of the Club's
pre-season tour in July. Pincher and Swift made a flying visit to Auckland
and Wellington ahead of the Hammers' Football United Tour, which will see
the first team take on A-League clubs Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC on 23
and 26 July respectively. The duo checked out the hotels, training
facilities and stadia which West Ham will use during their nine-day stay in
New Zealand this summer. Swift, pictured, was also keen to calculate the
effects the 11,400-mile trip would have on the players to enable him and his
colleagues to plan their training schedule accordingly. "The issues they
will have to deal with are fatigue, jet lag and lack of sleep," he
confirmed. "We will have to see how hard we can push them, bearing in mind
we're not sure how they are going to recover from the journey."

Having dropped in at the country's biggest stadium, 50,000-capacity Eden
Park in Auckland, Pincher and Swift flew south to Wellington, where they
were impressed by the 34,500-capacity Westpac Stadium. "It's a great modern
stadium and similar to some of the stadiums back home," said Swift, who has
travelled all over Europe and the Middle East in his role with the Club.
Pincher, whose role on the reconaissance trip was of a more administrative
nature, said the reaction to West Ham's impending visit had been hugely
positive in New Zealand and the surrounding region. "It's not easy for our
UK fans to get to but we've got fans in New Zealand, Australia and Asia so
it'll be great for them," said Pincher. "It's exciting, it's different, and
the facilities are first-class."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
AC rues season end
WHUFc.com
A fit Andy Carroll would rather be playing regular football than going away
on his summer holidays
12.05.2014

Whether or not Andy Carroll goes to the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals with
England, the West Ham United forward cannot wait to return to the pitch.
Having been named as one of seven standby players by England manager Roy
Hodgson, the No9 has jetted off on his holidays knowing only injury to one
of his fellow strikers will see him go to Brazil. After missing the opening
half of the 2013/14 season due to a serious foot problem, Carroll played
just 16 times last term, leaving his appetite for competitive football
unfulfilled and the player counting down the days until pre-season training
kicks-off on 3 July. "It has been a long season for me," he admitted. "When
I was going through all the recovery work to get back from injury, I had to
wait what seemed a long time for my chance to be back. "What with not being
able to come back until the last part of the season to play, I still feel
fresh now and I would be pretty happy if there were still a few games to
play, I must admit. "But it is the end of the season so I will have to wait
a bit. It will be just as important to re-charge the batteries and then I
just want to kick on and be raring to go from pre-season."

While the season just ended proved frustrating for Carroll and his
team-mates for a variety of reasons - injuries, suspensions, missed chances,
disappointing cup exits - the centre forward insisted there were still
plenty of positives to take from the way West Ham climbed out of relegation
trouble in the New Year.
"It has been a tough season in many ways, of course," he conceded. "But we
had a talk after the match and we spoke about how we won 60 per cent of our
last phase of games of the last part of the season so that was a good thing
to touch on and it means we take that on to the next year. "We came through
the tough times when players were injured, many at the same time, which
meant a lot of the lads were playing out of position when we didn't have the
numbers, but we came through it together. "We said as soon as we got those
players back, we could get better and we did that. We got ourselves out of
trouble and we knew we could be pushing more once we had everyone back. "We
kept together, the manager, players and staff, and I think that showed as we
got ourselves safe and we want to push on now. "There was the relegation
fight which we got sucked into for a bit but we were determined that, once
we were stronger, we could get out of it and we did that."

Having secured their safety by defeating local rivals Tottenham Hotspur in
their final home game, West Ham completed the campaign with a 2-0 defeat at
Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City. Yet again, the Claret and
Blue Army sold out the away section at the Eithad Stadium and the Big Man
said every member of the squad was appreciative of the support they have
received throughout a rollercoaster season. "It is always disappointing to
lose any game, but we knew facing Manchester City would be tough especially
as they were going for the title and were in prime position to do that, so
well done to them. "We were determined to finish as strongly as we could and
I think that showed in our win over Tottenham Hotspur in our final home
match of the season and for the fans. It was the result that definitely
secured our safety in the league and we were determined to do that. "The
fans were out in their numbers again for our last match of the season. There
has been frustration for them but their support was still strong and we all
appreciate that."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Potts philosophical over Play-Off loss
WHUFC.com
Academy boss Steve Potts gives his assessment of the U18s' Play-Off defeat
to Manchester City
12.05.2014

West Ham United Under-18s were defeated 2-1 in a dramatic Barclays Under-18
Premier League Play-Off Semi-Final at Manchester City on Saturday. The
Hammers' hopes of an appearance in the final looked good when Jordan Brown
finished into an empty net in the opening 10 minutes, before the hosts
grabbed victory in the closing 10 minutes through captain Ashley
Smith-Brown's deflected effort and Kean Bryan's penalty. Despite coming out
of the game with a defeat, U18 boss Steve Potts felt that that his side
performed to the best of their abilities. "I couldn't have asked for more
from the lads," admitted Potts. "At the start of the game, we were playing
some excellent football and were by far the better team. We went a goal in
front and then could have had a penalty, but then they got back into the
game in the last 15 minutes of the first half like you expect them to. They
had a few opportunities but didn't exactly cut us open. We also had a great
chance at the end of the first half when Jamie Harney's header was cleared
off the line where we could have got the second goal.
"In the second half, we came out pretty strong again and I know they did
have a lot of possession after that but it was a case of whether we could
defend properly to keep them out and when we had the ball, could we hold
onto it and work it well to have a pop at them, which we did once or twice.
"We held on till the last 10 minutes when they were having a lot of the
possession and they managed to get a deflected goal and a penalty.
"I really couldn't have asked for more effort from the boys and I'm just
gutted for them. They've been excellent all year and they showed their
qualities again in this game but it just wasn't enough in the end."
Considering that the Hammers finished their Southern Group with 13 points
fewer than the Northern Group winners, Potts feels that his side could have
shocked the hosts with their first half performance, although it was nothing
out of the ordinary in his opinion.
"Maybe we shocked them in the first half by the way we were playing, but it
didn't surprise me as I know what these lads are capable of," continued
Potts. "We were the much better team in the first half and the lads can take
a lot of encouragement from that.
"Ideally you want to be taking the game to them for the whole 90 minutes and
take all your chances but let's not underestimate what a great team
Manchester City are. They finished at the top of the Northern Group quite
easily so we were always up against one of the best teams in the country and
we nearly got the result."
The game was filled with a number of questionable decisions, including
striker Brown not being awarded a penalty in the first half for a foul and
the referee awarding a dubious penalty for the Citizens in the 88th minute.
Potts admits that he felt both were penalties, but the referee should have
dealt with the winning penalty at the end better.
"I thought they were both penalties. Jordan went over in the first half and
I thought it was a clear penalty. He got away from his marker and in between
two bodies and was taken down when he was ready to get a shot in.
"For theirs, I think there was a handball from our player but what happened
with the referee was that he consulted his assistant, who didn't give it,
and then gave the penalty. That was the dubious part about the penalty. If
he had pointing to the spot straight away then we would have thought that it
was fair enough because there was a handball but he wasn't quite sure what
to do and he gave the penalty."
The defeat to Manchester City brings the Academy's season to an end and
Potts feels that his side can take a number of positives out of their
performances throughout the year.
"There has been plenty of positives this season, this game included. The
middle part of the season was fantastic for us when we went of the long run
of results. At the start of the season we were playing really well but were
not getting the results, but like I said, it picked up for the middle part
of the year.
"More recently we have been playing well with some mixed results at times
but we got to second in the table and I think we deserved our shot at
Manchester City in the Play-Offs.
"We have played some excellent football and plenty of positives but we
didn't quite get what we wanted against Man City."
After the match, Irish defender Jamie Harney acknowledged that the Academy
could have defended better, but believed that the club deserved to take a
result out of the game.
"It was very, very difficult for the lads to take," conceded Harney. "As a
team I thought we defended superbly throughout the game and coming up to the
last 10 minutes I really thought we were going to win it!
"A couple of refereeing decisions really cost us in the game but overall we
have to congratulate Manchester City. We also have to congratulate ourselves
on a good season but it was a tough result to take at the end of the day.
"In the first 30 minutes, I thought we were playing outstanding football and
I feel that Man City were shocked at the way we came out the blocks. Josh
Cullen did really well to close down the keeper for the first goal and
Jordan finished well and again, I felt a few penalties could have come our
way. I even had a header myself cleared off the line so in the first half I
think we did really well. In the second half though, Man City were dominant
throughout.
"I think we should have realised that with ten minutes to go, we were too
open at the back when they were breaking forward on us and we should have
just kept our back line nice and solid. One of their players got past
someone and went to put the ball in and I just went for the ball as a last
ditch attempt to win it and unfortunately I've got a touch on it and it's
gone in. It's one of those moments when you've got to put your hands up and
admit that we could have defended it much better.
"As a team, I thought we have been outstanding all season; bar the Youth
Cup. We have played well and got results against most of the big clubs in
the league and felt we really deserved this opportunity."
On a personal level, Harney is pleased with his performances and development
throughout this campaign but is already looking to better himself next
season.
"For myself, I feel like I've had a good, solid season," continued Harney.
"I've pushed myself up to the Development Squad and feel that I've shown
that I can play at that level.
"Hopefully I can come back next year and see where I am, push on and maybe
even force my way into a first team appearance at some point. All I can do
is keep playing as well as I can and I'm really happy at the moment."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Taylor explains 'ghost punch'
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 12th May 2014
By: Staff Writer

Matt Taylor has explained the reason for his bizarre collapse on the field
during Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Manchester City. Earlier today a Vine in which
Taylor can be seen collapsing - as if "punched by a ghost", according to
Hammers youngster Blair Turgott - went viral. In the short video, the
Hammers midfielder falls to his knees before remonstrating with match
official Martin Atkinson, leading to much speculation as to what was
occurring. However the mystery was solved ealier this evening when Taylor
took to Twitter to explain. " I was just replicating the dive from Negredo
that won them a free kick!" he revealed.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Andy Carroll out of World Cup squad
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 12th May 2014
By: Staff Writer

Andy Carroll has failed to make the cut for the England World Cup squad
taking part in the World Cup Finals in Brazil this summer. The Hammers
striker is out of the squad having been overlooked by England manager Roy
Hodgson in favour of Southampton veteran Rickie Lambert. However 25-year-old
Carroll has been named as one of seven players on a 'standby' list, which
includes two ex-Hammers in Michael Carrick and Jermain Defoe. "It's great to
see Andy Carroll back playing but it was a choice between two players and I
didn't think there was room for both," said Hodgson this afternoon. "The
fact he played for Southampton had no effect, but Lambert had been with us
throughout qualifying campaign." The very first West Ham player to represent
West Ham at a World Cup Finals was Bobby Moore in 1962. A then 21-year-old
Harry Hooper was included in the 1954 squad but the striker failed to
feature. In all, 12 Hammers have been selected for England's World Cup
squads since the nation took part in their first competition back in 1950.
The full England squad for 2014 is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion),
Fraser Forster (Celtic)

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka
(Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Man Utd), Luke Shaw
(Southampton), Chris Smalling (Man Utd)

Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Ross Barkley (Everton), Jordan
Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Southampton), Frank Lampard (Chelsea),
James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Raheem
Sterling (Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)

Forwards: Rickie Lambert (Southampton), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United),
Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United)

Standby: Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Andy Carroll (West Ham
United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Jermain Defoe (Toronto FC), Jon
Flanagan (Liverpool), John Ruddy (Norwich City), John Stones (Everton)


Hammers to have represented England at the World Cup

2010 (South Africa): Robert Green; Matthew Upson.

2006 (Germany): None.

2002 (South Korea): Trevor Sinclair; Joe Cole; David James.

1998 (France): Rio Ferdinand.

1990 (Italy): None.

1986 (Mexico): Alvin Martin.

1982 (Spain): Trevor Brooking.

1970 (Mexico): Bobby Moore; Geoff Hurst.

1966 (England): Bobby Moore; Geoff Hurst; Martin Peters.

1962 (Chile): Bobby Moore.

1958 (Sweden): None.

1954 (Switzerland): Harry Hooper.

1950 (Brazil): None.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce: we've turned it around
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 12th May 2014
By: Staff Writer

Sam Allardyce believes a relatively successful second half of the 2013/14
campaign has given the Hammers a springboard from which to prepare for next
season. Allardyce, speaking after the 2-0 defeat at Manchester City was
naturally disappointed at the reversal - in which the Hammers failed to
produce a single shot on target - but believes that the upturn in form since
Christmas will stand the squad in good stead for the 2014/15 campaign, which
kicks off in August. "In 2014 we have turned it around," he said. "We've won
seven of our 15 games and if you tot that up over a full season, you can see
what sort of season we would have had - and that's similar to last year. "We
know one thing we're short of and which we've missed out on this year, apart
from having to suffered from all the injuries which cost us results, is
scoring goals. We didn't create many chances on Sunday, but when we have
created chances we have not converted enough of them. "Our focus is to be as
good as we were defensively this season and to create more chances and be
more clinical in front of goal. When we do that, we are fine, but on too
many occasions we have suffered the negative effect of not turning our
chances into goals. "Two or three more one-nil wins and we'd have matched
the 46 points we got last season, so it's very small margins of improvement
that we need to do better."

And on the game itself, which was won through courtesy of goals from Samir
Nasri and Vincent Kompany either side of the break, Allardyce admitted that
his team had perhapsd been playing within themselves. "We didn't really
cause them too many problems, which was a little disappointing," he
summised. "We defended well but then wasted a lot of good possession with
our final ball and didn't create chances. "To be fair, we weren't expecting
many, but we were expecting a little better. The sickener was just after
half-time when they got a goal off a corner which, when you look at it, was
extremely lucky from Manchester City's point of view. "It was always going
to be hard work to come back from that against such a great team. The lads
put their best efforts in and tried as hard as they could but we finished
the season not quite as high as we wanted to. "For us [now], it's about
re-grouping for next season and getting ready for pre-season training."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham midfielder Mark Noble proud of performances
Last Updated: 12/05/14 2:10pm
SSN

Mark Noble believes West Ham's players should be proud of their performances
over the second half of the season. On New Year's Day, the Hammers were
second from bottom in the Premier League table and three points from safety.
But by May, they had moved six places up the standings to 13th to finish
seven points clear of the relegation zone. Starting with a goalless draw
against Chelsea on January 29, Sam Allardyce's side went on a run of six
wins and one draw in 10 games to secure their Premier League status for
another season. And Noble admitted: "It was a tight league and a couple of
results can push you up the table. "We managed to win four in February, then
beat Hull at home and Sunderland away to confirm our safety. "To beat Spurs
in the last home game of the season finished it off nicely. "It has been
tough but we have finished 13th and we were second from bottom in December.
"It is a credit to the lads and everyone involved in the club that we got
ourselves out of that and ended up 13th."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Premier League rivals target Swansea defender Neil Taylor
By Pete O'Rourke - Follow me: @skysportspeteo | Last Updated: 12/05/14
11:32am
SSN

Sky Sports understands a host of Premier League clubs are weighing up a move
for Swansea defender Neil Taylor. Taylor, who was the subject of bids from
Fulham and West Ham in the January transfer window, is considering his
future at Swansea after struggling to hold down a regular starting place
this season.
The news has alerted a number of Swansea's Premier League rivals to Taylor's
possible availability this summer with the left-back establishing himself as
one of the best left-backs in the country before he broke his ankle in
September 2012. Ben Davies emerged as first-choice left-back for Swansea
during Taylor's enforced absence and he has forced Taylor to play second
fiddle at the Liberty Stadium since his return to fitness. Taylor, who has
started 18 games this season, is keen to be playing regular first-team
football and is expected to discuss his future with Swansea boss Garry Monk
this summer. The 25-year-old has no shortage of admirers in the Premier
League with the likes of Tottenham, Southampton, West Ham and Hull City all
actively monitoring Taylor's situation at Swansea. Taylor, who played for
Great Britain in the 2012 London Olympics, has two years to run on his
current deal and Swansea are bracing themselves for interest in the Wales
international during the summer transfer window.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham's Joey O'Brien misses Republic end-of-season friendlies
Last Updated: 12/05/14 7:33pm
SSN

West Ham defender Joey O'Brien has withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland
squad for their end-of-season matches. O'Brien was included in the
provisional 32-man party for the games against Turkey, Italy, Costa Rica and
Portugal when manager Martin O'Neill named it last week. However, he will
now not join up and will concentrate instead on his own fitness programme
ahead of the 2014/15 campaign. O'Brien missed much of the second half of
last season with a shoulder injury sustained in January, only returning in
the middle of April and finally making his first-team return on Sunday as
Manchester City took the Premier League title with a win over the Hammers. A
spokesman for the Football Association of Ireland said: "Following
discussions between FAI and West Ham's medical teams, Joey O'Brien has been
released from Martin O'Neill's provisional squad to manage his off season
medical programme." O'Brien will not be replaced in the initial party for
the clashes with Turkey in Dublin on May 25, Italy at Craven Cottage on May
31, Costa Rica in Philadelphia on June 6 and the Portugal in New Jersey on
June 10.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce to discover his fate on Tuesday as
speculation increases
May 12, 2014 22:30 By David Anderson, Darren Lewis
The Mirror

Sam Allardyce will discover his West Ham fate on Tuesday. The Hammers boss
faces the prospect of being the second manager to lose his job in the
end-of-season bloodletting after West Brom fired Pepe Mel on Monday
afternoon. Big Sam will meet with owners David Gold and David Sullivan to
learn his fate following a season marked by angry fans demanding his exit.
Captain Kevin Nolan has pleaded with the club to keep him on but a fan poll,
forwarded to Sullivan recently, revealed that 77 per cent of supporters want
Allardyce out of the club. Allardyce, who steered the club into the top
flight from the Championship and kept them up last season, saved them from
relegation once again this term. The campaign, however, has been marked by
widespread fan anger at what supporters perceive negative, one-dimensional
football from the Hammers boss. At times this season that frustration has
been shared by senior figures within the club. Yet Nolan believes Allardyce
is angry that the man who has worked so hard for the club is facing the
sack. The midfielder said: "At the end of the day he deserves more respect
than he has received. I'm disappointed there is all this talk, but that's
the life of a football manager. "It's crazy, but that's the world of
football these days. He's got a thick skin and he's got a meeting with the
chairman this week to discuss where we go in the future. "All the lads are
hoping it's only paper talk and that we can look forward to another season
in the Premier League."

Nolan claims all the players want Allardyce to stay and dismissed the
opposition from fans, claiming his critics in the stands are a vocal
minority. He added: "I'd be very disappointed if he lost his job. All the
boys would be very disappointed because of what he's done this year to make
sure this club remains in this league again," said the midfielder. "Before
he came, we were in the Championship and the club was in a real bad state.
Not just on the outside, but inside.
"That's what he does. He builds from the foundations up and he's starting
to build something here. "He's got the vision and if we all get behind him,
chairman, myself, players, the fans, then this club will have a successful
future. "You have to remember it's a minority of fans who do all the
shouting and sometimes they shout loudest."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


http://vyperz.blogspot.com



---
This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active.
http://www.avast.com

No comments: