Daily WHUFC News - 17th October 2014

Big Sam on: Burnley
WHUFC.com
The manager speaks to the media ahead of Saturday's game at Burnley
16.10.2014

Sam Allardyce faced the media on Thursday ahead of Saturday's Barclays
Premier League game at Burnley. The manager spoke of his desire to land
back-to-back wins for the first time this season and has challenged his side
to show a level of consistency

Is everyone back on time and in shape from the international break?

SA: "Yeah, the last one in was Enner, he came in last night. He's in for a
recovery session today we'll see how he gets on. It was good to see him
hitting the goal trail while he was away, hopefully he'll do the same
against Burnley. Obviously with the length of the travel and potential
fatigue we need to take extra caution, but he should be fine to play against
Burnley."

Have the owners indicated their happiness at the way the club is playing as
well as the results?

SA: "The owners have never questioned the style of play ever. They've never
said to me I have to change my style, it's a myth that they have. "They
want better results than last season, we all do. And we've started to do
that and we're playing well at the same time. We've recruited well over the
summer. But it's still early into the season, a truer reflection of a
squad's strength starts around 10 or 12 games. We're in a good moment so
far, I'm still disappointed our points total isn't higher than it is. We
should have more than ten, at least 13 or 14 for me. But all in all things
are looking good.

"The main thing for me on Saturday is to see whether the players have the
mentality to remain as consistent as they have been and to see if we can get
back to back wins for the first time this time this season. It'll be a tough
game as Burnley are a well-organised, extremely fit side who make life
difficult, even though they haven't won yet. It'll be a big mental test and
a good indicator of where we are."

Given the limited resources at Burnley, how difficult do you think Sean
Dyche's job is?

SA: "It's a very difficult job. These days the expectations are high and
pressure builds on managers very quickly. He's still looking for that first
win which is always difficult. But once that happens, the confidence builds
and a feelgood factor within the squad grows.
"Their last game they drew 2-2 away to Leicester with a late goal, which
probably felt like a win. They've struggled for goals but apart from that
they've done well to adapt to life in the Premier League."

Will Mark Noble be back, and if he is how big a boost will that be?

SA: "He's back in training this week so hopefully he'll be ready for the
weekend. Having him back will be huge for us as he's been fantastic for us
since my time here."

With new players such as Alex Song and Morgan Amalfitano, is it a given
players like Noble will come straight back in?

SA: "I don't know if it's a given, but these are the decisions you have to
make as a manager. Sometimes you have to disappoint players for benefit of
the team, you can't play everyone. My duty as manager is to make sure the
strongest team possible plays against Burnley against on Saturday."

What did you make of the whole situation surrounding Raheem Sterling asking
to sit the game out?

SA: "I think people haven't got enough to write about over the international
break so they make a big fuss about the Raheem Sterling thing. I think he's
done exactly the right thing if he's feeling fatigued.
"He's a very talented young man that you can't overuse. You have to consider
his situation. He's 19, he went to the World Cup in Brazil, then went on
Liverpool's pre-season tour of America and then comes back and starts the
season. So he's had very little time to rest and recover, most players have
a full six week break and he hasn't had that. It's not surprising that
fatigue has settled in physically and perhaps mentally as well.

How would you respond if a player came up to you and asked to sit a game out
through fatigue?

SA: "It completely depends on the player's situation. How old they are, are
they coming back from injury, have they had a busy schedule? There are so
many different things to take into account with each player.
"In Sterling's case he's been doing a marathon. Not only in the summer but
last season he was fantastic and Liverpool almost won the league. Without
the necessary time to recover it's not surprising. More players will
experience fatigue as the season goes on. Especially in December as there's
no winter break."

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Sakho targeting more success
WHUFC.com
Diafra Sakho will not rest on his laurels after making a fine start to life
in claret and blue
15.10.2014

Diafra Sakho is determined to keep on improving after making a dream start
to his West Ham United career. The 24-year-old was playing in the French
third tier just two years ago with FC Metz, but following back-to-back
promotions and a move to the Hammers, he has hit the ground running in the
Barclays Premier League with four goals in as many starts. Sakho always
backed himself to shine at his new Club, but even he has been taken slightly
aback at the pace at which he has adapted. He explained: "From the moment I
arrived I set myself targets. Personally, that was to get in the team. I
knew that I was going to score goals, but I didn't think it would happen so
quickly. "I came from Ligue 2 and I was voted Player of the Year and on
coming here people [there] told me that I wasn't up to playing in the
Premier League. That motivated me to want to come here and to prove to
everyone, that even having come from Ligue 2, I can still compete in the
Premier League. "Honestly, it's not been difficult [to settle in] and, when
I arrived, I already felt good - even before having played. It already felt
good in London. Now, that's also partly because of how well I've begun on
the pitch."

Part of Sakho's bright start has been the swift partnership he has struck up
with Enner Valencia, and he believes each other's game is well suited. He
continued: "I train with Enner just as I train with everyone else. We're
trying to be in sync with one another. "Enner is a much more technical
player than I am, Me, I'm better suited to individual battles, to breaking
the lines and getting defenders running back toward their own goal. Enner is
more someone who likes to be in possession of the football. And so we
complement one another. "It's far too early to say what heights we can reach
as a team. We know that the club targets are already set, but in relation to
us as players in the here and now, it's to be among the top ten. If we can
do better, then better still for us and for everyone. We've got a lot of
quality, individual and collectively and so we've got to put it in to
progress and to aim high."

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Six of the Best - Burnley
WHUFC.com
whufc.com begins the countdown to Saturday's game at Burnley by recalling
six classic victories
16.10.2014

West Ham United travel to Burnley on Saturday for their first Barclays
Premier League game at Turf Moor since February 2010.
In our regular Six of the Best feature, we look back at the last six West
Ham wins at Burnley's home..

Burnley 0-2 West Ham United
Capital One Cup Round Four
29 October 2013
The Hammers may not have played at Burnley since 2010 in the league, but
last season did bring a trip to the Clarets in the form of a Capital One Cup
fourth round tie. Having played at Swansea less than 72 hours previously,
Sam Allardyce made nine changes to his team for this game, and it was
Burnley who made the better start. But West Ham held firm and improved as
the game went on, winning the tie with two penalties in the final 14
minutes. Matt Taylor netted the first, following a foul on Kevin Nolan by
Jason Shackell, then Jack Collison wrapped up the victory after picking
himself up from a foul by Keith Treacy.

Burnley 0-1 West Ham United
Championship
5 April 2005
Teddy Sheringham scored the only goal of the game when the Hammers last
triumphed at Turf Moor in the league. Both clubs were in the Championship at
this juncture and a crowd of 12,209 gathered at Burnley for the game, which
wasn't settled until the final seven minutes when Sheringham was set up by
Marlon Harewood to drill home. This victory, the Hammers' second 1-0 win
over Burnley of the season, kept West Ham seventh in the table. They would
eventually finish sixth and gain promotion to the Premier League by
defeating Preston North End in the Play-Off final.

Burnley 0-2 West Ham United
League Cup Second Round First Leg
26 August 1980
West Ham were in the Second Division when they took on Burnley. of Division
Three, in the second round of the League Cup in the 1980/81 season. The
Londoners would progress with no drama, helped by this comfortable first leg
victory. Paul Goddard and Trevor Brooking were the men on target as the
Hammers sealed a 2-0 success, before going on to win 4-0 at the Boleyn
Ground a week later. West Ham would go on to reach the final of the League
Cup that season, beating Charlton Athletic, Barnsley, Tottenham Hotspur and
Coventry City, before losing to Liverpool after a replay - meaning the wait
for their first triumph in this competiton would go on.

Burnley 0-1 West Ham United
Division Two
19 February 1980
Turf Moor proved to be a happy hunting ground for the Hammers in 1980, as a
league visit in February brought them maximum points.
The Clarets were on their way to relegation, while West Ham were challenging
at the other end of the table, and Alan Devonshire's goal kept up the status
quo. Burnley ended the camapign in 21st and suffered the pain of demotion to
the third tier, while West Ham would finish in seventh, six points shy of
promotion.

Burnley 3-5 West Ham United
Division One
28 September 1974
The Hammers' highest-scoring victory over Burnley came back in September
1974, after the Londoners had the better of an eight-goal thriller. The
Clarets were on target three times, but it would count for nothing as West
Ham showed the greater firepower on the day.
Four different scorers were on target, as Keith Robson's double was added to
by Trevor Brooking, Billy Jennings and Billy Bonds. This was a mid-table
campaign for the Hammers, who ended in 13th, while Burnley were three places
and six points better off.

Burnley 1-3 West Ham United
FA Cup Third Round
27 January 1968
Martin Peters enjoyed a goal-laden 1967/68 season, with 18 goals to his
credit by the season's end - and two of those helped see off Burnley in the
FA Cup third round. This was an all-top flight clash, and although Burnley
held West Ham to a 3-3 draw in the league clash at Turf Moor, they were less
proflic on this occasion. West Ham repeated the feat of scoring three goals,
with Peters' brace being added to by Brian Dear, as Burnley's one in reply
counted for little. The Hammers would go on to beat Stoke City in the fourth
round, before their FA Cup run was ended by Sheffield United.

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'U21s must learn from Euro loss'
WHUFC.com
Nick Haycock said his Development Squad must learn from the 5-3 defeat by
Bilbao
15.10.2014

Development Squad manager Nick Haycock said his team must learn quickly from
their mistakes after they slipped to a 5-3 home defeat to Spanish side
Athletic Club Bilbao. Defensive errors cost the Dev Squad dearly,
particularly in the first half as they fell 3-1 behind at half-time. The
Hammers rallied in the second half with goals from Elliot Lee and Kieran
Bywater keeping them in it yet the Spaniards ran out deserved winners.

Speaking after the game, Haycock said: "I'm disappointed, I've just said to
the boys in the dressing room if you score three goals that usually wins you
a football match. But tonight we needed to score six and it doesn't happen
at this level.
"We don't want to take anything away from Bilbao Athletic because they are a
good side - a B team playing in the Spanish league. They're more experienced
than we were but that's what the development process is about. It's about
challenging young players at higher levels and seeing if they can cope."

With regular U21 players such as Reece Burke and Reece Oxford unavailable,
Haycock fielded a youthful side with five U18s in the squad.
"Obviously we've made five changes and given some their debut at this level.
Some of the boys have been doing well for Steve in the U18s. I'm not sure
some of the experienced players did enough tonight. If you look at the
manner of the goals we conceded it was football suicide. "It was a learning
curve for them. I thought four of the five goals were easily avoidable and I
think we have to defend better as a team. The young lads coming in will
learn that you get punished when you lose the ball high up the field.
"They'll also learn that if they make sloppy errors or don't concentrate for
95 minutes, the players at this level will punish you. The next step for
every player out there tonight is pushing into the first team of the club
they're at. Consistency and reliability is what's needed as a professional
footballer first and foremost. If they've got flashes of brilliance you take
that as an added."

First team manager Sam Allardyce was watching on, as well as assistant
manager Neil McDonald and Academy manager Terry Westley. Haycock continued
to highlight the positives of his team's display: "I think the team showed
fight, we got back in it at 3-2 down and had some control of the game. "We
need to be able to do that from the start of games, not just after we've
scored. Any manager will tell you that football's about good players. And
good players have to take what the coaches have said onto the pitch with
them. "Equally, if things aren't quite working, the bright players need to
tuck each other into position. When Kevin Nolan played against Sunderland,
one thing he did was tell the players around him where they should be. And I
think we need a bit more of that in the team. As they're young, it makes it
slightly more difficult, but that's the demands we're placing on them."

The Development Squad's next game is another tough match against Manchester
United on Friday 24 October at Rush Green. "It'll be a tough game. Under
Louis van Gaal they've played some strong U21 sides. He's also given some
young players a chance in the first team. "They'll be experienced and
strong. We've qualified to be in this league, we've qualified to be in this
European tournament. These are the games that we want to play in. At the end
of the day, yes we're disappointed with the defeat, but we have to look at
it as a learning curve.
"There was good things and bad things tonight. We'll take the good things
and learn from the bad, to make sure we get rid of them as soon as
possible."

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Knoyle enjoys Euro experience
WHUFC.com
Development Squad's Kyle Knolye is relishing more European nights at the
Boleyn Ground
16.10.2014

Development Squad defender Kyle Knolye has been in good form for the Dev
Squad this season and the youngster put in another good performance despite
losing 5-3 to Bilbao Athletic. The Dev Squad made life difficult for
themselves as they conceded in the second minute following some sloppy
defending. The Hammers equalised through Matthias Fanimo's deflcted shot,
however the visitors stormed to a 3-1 lead at half-time. Nick Haycock's men
rallied in the second half as Elliot Lee's 77 minute goal brought them back
into the game. The exciting match had a thrilling finale as three goals were
scored in as many minutes, including a wonderful strike by Kieran Bywater to
leave the score 5-3.

Speaking after the game, Knoyle said: "It was a good experience playing
against European opposition, but I don't think we started the game well
enough. That then set the tone for the rest of the game, we suffered from
individual errors too. We got back into the game but it wasn't enough."

The Hammers faced Athletic Bilbao in their first game of the Barclays
Premier League International Cup and Knoyle compared the difference between
the Spanish giants and the Hammers' regular Premier League opponents. "They
were good, a typical Spanish side they were good in possession, more
technical than other teams we've played against. Other sides are more
physical, Sunderland last week were much more physical. The England U18
international has enjoyed a run of three consecutive games in the U21s,
putting in impressive displays in each.
"I think I did my job quite well, defensively I was pretty solid but I know
I can improve. I let a cross come in which I'm disappointed with. Attacking
wise, I could have done better, my final ball needs to be better but I'll
work on that in training. "Last season as first year scholar I made nine U21
appearances so as a second year it's been a bit easier. Over the summer I
worked on my physicality, I'm feeling stronger and quicker. As a result the
games are easier for me."

The Dev Squad's next match is a tough encounter with Manchester United on
Friday 24 November at Rush Green: "Manchester United are great opposition,
they have a lot of great players. Luke Shaw and Adnan Januzaj have played
for the U21s this season. Whoever plays for them next week, we know they'll
be good players and it'll be a tough game."

The Dev Squad's next European fixture is against PSV Eindhoven at the Boleyn
Ground on Wednesday 19 November, followed by Fulham on Monday 8 December at
Rush Green.

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PDC on TV
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 16th October 2014
By: Staff Writer

Hammers favourite Paolo DI Canio returns to our TV screens this weekend as
star guest for Sky's Goal on Sunday programme. Di Canio, who has been out of
football since leaving Sunderland a year ago last month will join Chris
Kamara and Ben Shepherd - a West Ham supporter and former guest of the KUMB
Podcast - on the studio sofa this Sunday morning to discuss the weekend's
Premier League action. The 46-year-old, who spent four years at West Ham -
during which he produced arguably the finest football of a long and eventful
career - has been unable to find work in management since being fired by the
Black Cats just five games into the 2013/14 season. Most recently Di Canio
applied unsuccessfully for the vacant position at Championship strugglers
Bolton Wanderers - a role that eventually went to former Celtic manager Neil
Lennon. He has also been linked with vacancies at Scunthorpe and Celtic
recently, having declared in May that he was ready to return to management.
"I'm available, I'm ready," he said. "I've had time to think abou) what's
happened in the past and I have a more positive opinion about my
philosophy."

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Taylor to miss reunion
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 16th October 2014
By: Staff Writer

Matt Taylor will not feature against West Ham for Burnley on Saturday after
it was confirmed the veteran midfielder requires surgery on a troublesome
Achilles. Oxford-born Taylor, who left the Hammers at the end of last season
on a free transfer joined the newly-promoted Clarets at the beginning of
July. However he made just four appearances for his latest club before
complaining of a mystery ankle injury, which will require medical attention;
Burnley confirmed today he will be "out for the foreseeable future". However
there is better news for Sean Dyche and his team as they prepare to host
West Ham at Turf Moor tomorrow afternoon with last season's leading
goalscorer Danny Ings and David Jones both deemed fit to play this weekend.
Meanwhile the trio of Kieran Trippier, Michael Keane and the
on-loan-from-Chelsea Nathaniel Chalobah all face late fitness tests, whilst
Dean Marney is "touch and go".

Taylor was signed by Sam Allardyce from former club Bolton for £2.2million
in July 2011 following West Ham's relegation from the Premier League. He
spent three season at the Boleyn Ground making 90 appearances for the club.

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Sam slams attacking myth
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 16th October 2014
By: Staff Writer

Sam Allardyce has refuted the notion that he was ordered him to play a more
attacking brand of football by the club's board during the summer. Since
Allardyce's immediate future at the club was guaranteed following a board
meeting in May, it has been heavily-speculated that one of the conditions of
his continued employment was to deliver a more entertaining style of play.
Although this was never directly confirmed by the board, it was almost
universally accepted by fans as the football on offer this seaosn has
improved dramatically, with West Ham going into this weekend's trip to
Burnley in seventh place in the Premier League. However Allardyce, speaking
to the press this morning ahead of Saturday's visit to Turf Moor, denied
that this was ever the case - insisting that a successful recruitment
programme was the main factor in the squad's improved form. "The owners have
never questioned the style of play, ever," he said. "They've never said to
me I have to change my style, it's a myth. "They want better results than
last season, we all do. We've started to do that and we're playing well at
the same time. We've recruited well over the summer but it's still early in
the season. A truer reflection of a squad's strength starts around ten or 12
games."

Although he has received plaudits from some quarters (and grudging
acceptance from others) already this season - and is generally happy with
the way his team is playing - Allardyce believes that club's return of 10
points from seven games isn't quite as high as it should be. "I'm still
disappointed our points total isn't higher," he added. "We should have more
than ten, at least 13 or 14 for me. But all in all things are looking good.
"The main thing for me on Saturday is to see whether the players have the
mentality to remain as consistent as they have been and to see if we can get
back to back wins for the first time this time this season. "It'll be a
tough game as Burnley are a well-organised, extremely fit side who make life
difficult, even though they haven't won yet. It'll be a big mental test and
a good indicator of where we are."

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Sam Allardyce ready for selection headache when injured West Ham players
return
Last Updated: 16/10/14 2:47pm
0


West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has defended Raheem Sterling The Liverpool
youngster told Roy Hodgson he was too tired to start England's match against
Esto

Sam Allardyce: Looking forward to getting some influential players back from
injury
Sam Allardyce has warned his West Ham side their recent impressive form will
not protect them from being dropped when key players return from injury.
SSN

Mark Noble is close to a return for the Hammers and could be available for
the weekend trip to Burnley after recovering from a calf injury, while
skipper Kevin Nolan (dislocated shoulder) and Andy Carroll (ankle) are both
working their way back to full fitness after extended periods out.Matt
Jarvis and James Collins have also been sidelined with niggling problems,
but Allardyce's side have made an encouraging start to the season - sitting
seventh in the Premier League - and he is looking forward to any potential
selection headaches.

Decisions

"I don't know whether it's a given or not," Allardyce said, when asked if
his injured players would come straight back in. "The sooner you get all
your players fit the bigger decisions you have to make as a manager. That
puts you in a better position, even though those decisions are big ones,
because you are going to start disappointing players on a more regular
basis. "The challenge for me is to make sure I pick the right team and
formation in the game and how you are going to play against the opposition.
"When you have a full squad to choose from then you have to make big
decisions and you have to disappoint people if they are all fit. That's what
they have to accept.
"If we all want to do better - even though you are disappointed if you
aren't selected - then you have to accept it and wait for your time to go in
and make sure you play at your best so it's very difficult for me to leave
you out."

West Ham are yet to record successive Premier League wins this season and it
is consistency that Allardyce is hoping will come in time.

Consistency

"I just want to see on Saturday if the players have the mentality to show
the same consistency as they have and whether they have got the right desire
and determination to win back-to-back football matches for the first time
this season," he added. "That is their first test against a Burnley side
that are undoubtedly well-organised and make things very difficult, even if
they have not won a game yet. "Somewhere along the line they are going to
win a game very shortly and we have got to make sure it is not against us."

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Goals on Sunday preview: Former Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio is on
Last Updated: 16/10/14 3:44pm
SSN
Goals on Sunday: 10.30am, Sunday, Sky Sports 1

Paolo di Canio joins Ben Shephard and Chris Kamara on this week's Goals on
Sunday. The Italian had an action-packed six months in charge of Sunderland
in 2013 - Di Canio saved the club from Premier League relegation after
replacing Martin O'Neill in March that year but, after signing 14 players in
the summer, was sacked five games into the next campaign amid talk of
dressing-room unrest. We'll quiz Di Canio about his time with the Black
Cats, ask him what went wrong and see what his managerial plans for the
future are. The former forward will also look back on his successful – but
sometimes controversial – spells in the Premier League as a player with
Sheffield Wednesday, West Ham and Charlton and discuss the top flight's
current crop of talent. Di Canio will be on hand to offer some expert
analysis on the best of Saturday's action, too. We'll bring you highlights
and views on the Premier League clashes, including Crystal Palace v Chelsea
and Everton v Aston Villa, plus the best bits from the Championship and
Scottish Premiership.

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OH CARROLL!
By Bianca Westwood 16 Oct 2014 at 08:00
West Ham till I Die

Finally! A return to normality. Something has been missing from my life for
too long. There's been a big football-shaped void chez Westwood. My
existence without a full fixture list just isn't the same. I don't like
weekends with no Saturday Night Football, Match of the Day, Football First,
Super Sunday or Monday Night Football! Yes I love England. I'm as patriotic
as the next (wo)man. I do support our national team. Despite the constant
let-downs and inherent feelings of dismay and crushing doom during major
tournaments, there is always the distant but distinct hope I manage to cling
to that one day we'll over achieve and reach a semi final once again. What
can I say I'm an eternal optimist! Fair play to the hordes who made up the
numbers at Wembley too. It was a record lowest-ever attendance since the new
stadium was built but I think 55,990 fans showing up to watch a
less-than-convincing rout of San Marino is pretty good going. St.George
would have been so proud.

I enjoy lower league football too. I watched a bit of Dagenham v Leyton
Orient in the JPT last week and I covered Colchester v Fleetwood on
Saturday's show. Both decent enough games and I saw some great goals from
Jay Simpson and Gavin Massey, worthy of any top flight team. So I got my
necessary football fix. But I'm super HAPPY when the international break is
over!! It's the weirdest week when the qualifiers or the friendlies are in
town. It kind of feels like the last day of term when you took your Connect
Four into school before you broke up for the holidays. It's surreal. It just
doesn't feel right!

So we now have the mouth-watering prospect of the claret and blue versus the
claret and blue to look forward to this weekend and, as we're all still
riding on the "West Ham are surprisingly good" express, I'm predicting a
triumphant performance from our boys at Turf Moor. I know Burnley are
steadily improving and will be emboldened by the point they won at the King
Power but they're still without a league win and I feel we'll be too strong
for them.

It must have been a quiet week because the Andy Carroll headlines cropped up
yet again. Reports of his imminent return to the North East were splashed
all over the back pages and I often wonder who starts these rumours. Does
Johnny Journo pluck these stories out of thin air or is there a genuine
interest from either side for Carroll to re-enlist with the Toon Army? I
know Newcastle are struggling but are they desperate enough to take a giant
risk on an injury-prone player on a rumoured 100k per week? Even if he is a
talismanic Geordie anti-hero. I guess the January transfer window will
provide the answer to that question but I can't see it myself. Plus I don't
think Carroll wants to go anywhere. I've not spoken to the lad and,
annoyingly, Soccer Saturday has never been given interview access to him
either so I can't say I'm writing this from a well-informed standpoint. I
just don't think he'll leave. Do you?

He's said this week in the London Evening Standard that he's keen to stay to
fight for his place in the team. I hope he's got his gloves ready because
he's going to need to go a few rounds. He's got some serious competition
what with Sakho breaking Hammers records in his debut season & Enner
Valencia knocking them in for club and country. It's going to take one hell
of an effort for the big man to regain a regular slot in the first eleven.

I was happy when we signed him on a permanent deal but I wasn't impressed
with the naivety shown by not signing him a strike partner. Carroll was
staggeringly unfortunate in more ways than one. I interviewed Peter Crouch
this week and he voiced his frustrations at often being isolated in his role
as the lone target man for Stoke last season. Service and delivery is key
and with the signings of Mame Diouf and Victor Moses there has been pace
added to the Potters, they break quickly and are dangerous on the counter.
Crouch is now reaping the rewards and will probably reach the 100 Premier
League Goals club well before May.

I can't imagine Carroll will become a member anytime soon but it was a
strikingly similar situation for him last season. When he was fit to play he
scored 2 goals in 16 appearances. Lump it to the big lump and hope for the
best. We were a one-trick pony team with a one trick pony-tailed striker and
we got rumbled rapidly. The situation now couldn't be more different. The
hooves are off!

Carroll's time at Upton Park has largely been a disaster but I still think
he can be a real asset to us and it gives Allardyce further attacking
options. We all know what he's capable of when fit. He's an absolute
powerhouse who, on his day, can terrorise defences. Ok he has cost West Ham
a substantial amount of cash for very little reward so far but for my money
(as insignificant an amount that may be) I believe he would relish the
chance to repay the club that looked after him during his injury woes in the
best way possible. By scoring goals. With the players he'll now have around
him, the potency and diversity of our attack would penetrate any Premier
League defence.

I'd love to see him finally fulfill his potential with us. He's still only
25 and he now has a huge point to prove. He's an expensive impact player but
if he has a successful remainder of the season that will benefit the team on
the pitch and hopefully boost his price tag off it.

Whether he will spearhead a three man frontline or start from the bench, the
role he'll play going forward (literally) is a subject for much debate. I'm
interested to hear how you all feel about our unlucky marksman. He still
harbours hopes of a return to the England set up but, if he does ever get
that chance again, it's a long, long, long way off. There'll be few more
boring international breaks for us to endure yet!

Come on you Irons!

B x

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Sam's "it's a myth" claims knocked down!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on October 16, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Sam Allardyce's claims that West Ham's owners never told him to change the
way West Ham played were tonight dubbed "rewriting the script." Allardyce
declared in his morning press conference ahead of the clash with Burnley:
"The owners have never questioned the style of play ever. They've never said
to me I have to change my style, it's a myth that they have. "They want
better results than last season, we all do. And we've started to do that and
we're playing well at the same time." But tonight a very well placed insider
told ClaretandHugh said the the remarks were a little bizarre given that is
is "well known everywhere that was a big point at the end of season review
meeting. He said: "Sam accepted the board's decision to introduce an
attacking coach in their pursuit of a a more attacking brand of football.
Sam accepted that decision and recruited Teddy Sheringham. "It seem perhaps
like a little re-writing of the script was going on but nobody would attempt
to take any credit away from Sam for the change of system. "However, to
claim that there was no input from the board on the matter of the way we
played seems perhaps a bit rich."

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Hammers fans react to City boycott threat
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on October 16, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

West Ham fans have given a mixed response to news that Man City supporters
are planning a boycott of next week's clash between the two sides at the
Boleyn. ClaretandHugh reported exclusively today that many are angry at the
£55 cost of tickets and are planning a 'stay at home' Saturday. So far, less
than 2,000 of City's 3,000 allocation have been sold and this followed last
year's boycott of the Boleyn leg of the League Cup clash. Whilst some Irons
supported the City's fans stance others weren't so enthusiastic towards
their attitude.

Here's a selection from our twitter responses:

‏@Turner131D don't blame them tbh. £55 for away is a lot of money.

@davidhattton96 I'm with them on this. £55 is an absolute joke

@wildman_paul The point being missed is that everyone pays far too much. If
supporters adopted this approach things might get better.

@damo_84 Crying over one game. We get ripped off every week.

@steven52Lebeau If I can recall, our away match at the Etihad last season
was £56 and £34 and club subsidised by £10

@OakleySean I paid nearly £200 for two tickets and travel to Old Trafford so
get over it! Pay what you have to to see ya team play

@adielehay &Citah fans get their travel subsidised by their club and Away
Fans fund. WHU only use AFF if tickets are not selling.

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Pottsie wears heart on sleeve for Joanna
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on October 16, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Danny Potts' professional life may be unable to complete his professional
life with a first team appearance. But it seems his love life could hardly
be going better given his latest post on Twitter where he's wearing his
heart very much on his sleeve. He has posted a birthday message to his
girlfriend which may just bring him a fair bit of ribbing on the training
ground. He tweeted: "Happy Birthday to my beautiful girlfriend
@joannaChim_xx Hope your day is as special as what you are to me! I love
you."

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Watch out…the old Sam may be about
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on October 16, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Sam Allardyce's spell of West Ham success seems to have generated a return
to the super-confidence in his abilities we have witnessed perhaps a little
too regularly in past years. His press conference statement claiming he was
never told to change his style by the owners suggests everything that's
happened this season is down to him. Indeed he described the story as a
'myth' but we know that's not really the case but we'll let it go for now as
he enjoys the moment with the rest of us! The appointment of Teddy
Sheringham as attacking coach came as a result of regular reports that this
was a board idea as they looked for a change of style. And beyond that
there's been the appointment of recruitment director Tony Henry whom we
noted carefully is reporting solely to David Sullivan who is responsible to
the board on these issues. If that wasn't enough for one day, the manager
has also been speaking to the Newcastle Chronicle on his time at United - a
club from which he was sacked after 24 games. He seems to believe that the
change of ownership at St James' Park at a critical moment thwarted his
ambitions of managing some of the biggest clubs around. He's reported as
saying: "It ended up where I couldn't get that bigger or better club, so I
think there must have been something in my career that stopped me. "I think
it was Newcastle. Had that been successful with Freddy Shepherd, the man who
appointed me, staying on, I might have got an even bigger club than
Newcastle. "I don't blame Mike Ashley, because when you pay that amount for
a football club and you know what you want to do with it, sometimes you like
to get rid of the furniture you have inherited.""It ended up where I
couldn't get that bigger or better club, so I think there must have been
something in my career that stopped me," Allardyce told the Evening
Chronicle. "I think it was Newcastle. Had that been successful with Freddy
Shepherd, the man who appointed me, staying on, I might have got an even
bigger club than Newcastle.
"I don't blame Mike Ashley, because when you pay that amount for a football
club and you know what you want to do with it, sometimes you like to get rid
of the furniture you have inherited." Interesting comments from a man who
dubbed himself 'Allerdici' at one time and most of us may well hang on to
old furniture if it does a job and remains solid and reliable.


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