Daily WHUFC News - 10th November 2014

AC ready to engage
WHUFC.com
Newly-engaged Andy Carroll is fit and ready to fire for West Ham United
09.11.2014

Andy Carroll is fit and ready to fire for West Ham United. The centre
forward made a dramatic return from the ankle injury that has ruled him out
since July in Saturday's goalless Barclays Premier League draw with Aston
Villa. Carroll did not make his entrance as a substitute until the second
minute of added time, but his impact was huge, as the No9 was twice denied a
late, late winner by Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan. While the 25-year-old
unable to complete a fairytale comeback, he was delighted to pull on a
Claret and Blue shirt again after a frustrating few months on the sidelines.
"It is a great feeling to be back out on the pitch," Carroll, who became
engaged to fiancee Billi Mucklow last weekend, told West Ham TV. "It took a
long time, a lot of hard work and I have to give credit to all of the
medical staff for getting me back fit. It has been a long time and getting
on the pitch is a great feeling. "I was edging to get on a bit earlier, but
the gaffer saved me for the last five minutes. I had a great chance and the
keeper pulled off a great save."

Carroll's return came after two successful behind-closed-doors appearances
at Chadwell Heath. The striker has naturally been 'champing at the bit' to
make his first-team return, but he knows the medical staff were right to err
on the cautious side. "I had to make sure it was 100% before I started doing
anything," he confirmed. "I had a couple of weeks after the surgery where I
could not do anything, even go to the gym. "With me being active, that was
more annoying than anything. Getting back in the gym, working hard, training
and getting on the training pitch again is a great feeling, but getting out
on the pitch again at Upton Park is even better."

While Carroll has been working his way back to fitness, he has been
impressed by the form shown by his team-mates. Now, he is ready to challenge
Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia for a starting place. "We have been playing
really well and winning games we probably did not expect to. The crosses
which have been coming in from out wide have been fantastic and the lads
have been getting on the end of them.
"We have a quality squad this year and it shows in the games."

Carroll now has two weeks to prepare for West Ham's next game at Everton,
before the Hammers welcome the club where he began his career to the Boleyn
Ground. Newcastle United come to east London on 29 November and the
Gateshead-born player would love nothing more than to feature against the
Magpies. "I am back now with my first bit of football, so from now going
forward I am going to be champing at the bit. We have got a two-week break
now, so I will be champing at the bit after that!"

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A fourth to be reckoned with
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 9th November 2014
By: Staff Writer

West Ham have ended the weekend in the Premier League's Champions League
zone after both Arsenal and Tottenham were surprisingly beaten today. A
hapless Spurs are down to 12th place in the table after falling to a 2-1
defeat at home to Stoke City, who threw away a 2-0 lead at home to West Ham
just eight days ago. Meanwhile Arsenal - who could have overtaken Sam
Allardyce's side had they won in Wales this afternoon - went down 2-1 at
Swansea, despite having taken the lead midway through the second half. Those
results - combined with West Ham's goalless draw at home to Aston Villa
yesterday - keep West Ham fourth in the table on 18 points, ahead of
fifth-places Swansea on goal difference.

* To cap a miserable day for Spurs, earlier this afternoon their Ladies team
were smashed 4-0 by West Ham Ladies. Gemma Abela and Sasha Kelly both
grabbed a brace in the second half to secure an excellent win for Julian
Dicks' side.

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OH HOW FICKLE WE ARE
By Iain Dale 9 Nov 2014 at 20:20
West Ham till I Die
Guest Post by DC

I was recently taking a sneaky look at some of the posts and comments on
WHTID that followed our 3-1 home defeat to Southampton back in August. It
made for interesting reading. There's nothing like having the odd
'emotionally detached' snigger to yourself when your team are sitting in a
Champions League spot in the Premier League.

And my, how opinion swayed that day ……….

Yes, for sure, our collective weekend was ruined. It was hard to understand
how Southampton replaced so many key players yet maintained their style,
whilst we added so many key players but reverted back to type. Make no
mistake, it certainly seemed like a giant step backwards.

Others were deep in thought over what went wrong. It wasn't the line-up. We
saw what the team could do against Palace. But now everyone was playing
deeper. Maybe, it wasn't just that West Ham played poorly, but rather that
Southampton played quite a good game? Surely that's heresy if ever you've
heard it?

Others couldn't see us winning more than 1 game in the next 6. Hopefully
that would see Big Sam gone. Hopefully there would be 10 teams worse than us
by the end of the season. Clearly there was a lot of damage to be repaired
and it was deep. It was a gutless shameful performance and was ultimately
'The Dave's' fault for this woeful mess.

After all, look at the team Southampton put out. Our players, on paper,
should have been all over them. They were nothing special. They just wanted
the ball more than us. We could well stumble through the season to safety
even allowing for the shambolic set-up but come on, is it good enough to run
a club in this fashion?

Then again, Southampton were properly up for it all over the pitch. Didn't
they press, chase and break quickly in numbers? Surely they deserved some
credit even if we were very poor?

Balderdash! Allardyce was making us the laughing stock of the Premiership.
PLEASE SACK THE MAN!!!!! Just to think, if only the Board were doing their
job properly, we could have had Warnock. HOOORAH! I bet he keeps Palace up.
Quite frankly, there was nothing more to discuss. We clearly needed a new
manager.

………. and so the comments went on.

So, let's put a question back out there, the same one that was asked after
that Southampton game. A question that goes to those supporters, that in my
eyes, matter the most. How do you season ticket holders feel now about the
fact that you renewed your season tickets? Gutted?

Perhaps, Southampton are a decent side after all. But not on paper.

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REMEMBERING THE WEST HAM FALLEN 100 YEARS ON
By Sean Whetstone 9 Nov 2014 at 08:26
West Ham Till I Die
Guest post by Nigel Kahn

This weekend we remember those that gave their lives during service to their
country and with the 100th anniversary of the start of World War 1 the
country is looking to remember those the fell in that horrific War. I
visited the Poppy display at the tower of London last weekend and the scale
of Death that this country suffered is laid bare, like a river of blood of
those that died the display winds it way the whole the way round the tower,
over 800,000 poppies, one for every soldier that died. Here today I would
like to highlight the plight of seven men, all in a way associated with West
Ham either by playing for the club or by being born in the area, we all owe
these and the others a great debt for the life they gave.


Frederick Costello (Known as Frank)
Born in 1884 in the city of Birmingham, he is listed as playing for West
Bromwich and Halesowen before joining Southampton in 1907. He joined the
Hammers in 1909 and didn't stay long, in just 12 games in which he scored 3
goals. His listing in West Ham Who's who starts with "a poor mans Ian Rush"
he quickly moved on to Bolton. In 1914 he was living back in Southampton but
joined his hometowns regiment the Royal Warwickshire. A member of the 2nd
Battalion they were one of the 1st regiments to see action in Northern
France at the Battles of Le Cateau. Moving south and east towards Belgium
they also partook in the Battles of Marne and Aisne and for Frank finally to
Messines, not far from Ypres in Belgium. Sometime on the 19/12/1914, 30 year
old Frank was killed, he sadly has no grave but is remembered on the
Ploegstreet memorial, in Hainaut Belgium, between Lille and Ypres to its
North. Just to give you the scale of the memorial, it lists 11,386 men who
have no grave.

Sydney Hammond
Born in Woolwich in 1883, Joined the club as an amateur in 1904 but in 4
years only managed 32 appearances for the club. Worked as a commercial Clerk
and lived in Twickenham road Leytonstone he enlisted into the Royal field
Artillery in Romford. When he died he was listed as being in C battery 242nd
brigade who at the time were fighting in the Pashendale region. Sydney has a
grave and is buried in La Clytte cemetery Belgium.


Edward Arthur James Stallard
Born Sept 1892 in Hackney yet in 1901 he was living with his family At 526
Barking Road E13, which is now a chemist heading towards Canning Town just
past the old Castle pub at the junction of the Greengate. He joined West Ham
from Chatham In 1913, He played for the Hammers right up until the end of
the 1916/17 season playing in the War competition he played 37 games scoring
25 goals with his last appearance being a 2-0 loss to Millwall in April
1917. Then 1917 he was in the London Regiment (London Scottish) 14th
Battalion. During the battle of Cambrai (North East France) which was an
assault that lasted 17 Days, (20/11-7/12) The British made early gains but
the Germans launched an offensive on the 28/11, on the 30th the Germans are
believed to have exploded 16,000 shells over allied lines. And it was on
that day that Edward Stallard is listed as dying. He has no Grave but is
listed on the Cambrai memorial.

William Kennedy
Born in Grays in 1890 was a schoolteacher who played for West Ham between
1910-1912. Living in Cromwell st in Gray sat the time he played for the
club. It is listed that he retired in 1912 but can find no reason.His
parents were Scottish and so it was he joined the London regiment and also
in the London Scottish 14th Brigade, he though was to die on the
13/10/1915.Like many others he has no Grave but is listed on the Loos
memorial.That memorial commemorates over 20,000 dead that have no grave and
on the panel that names William, above his is the name of his brother as
well, John aged 29.


Frederick John Griffiths

Born 1876 in Presteigne in the county of Powys mid Wales, a welsh
international keeper he played 52 times for us in just 2 seasons 1902-04.
Not only West Ham but he also played for Millwall and for Spurs before
joining us New Brompton the forerunner of Gillingham in 1904. Working as a
coal miner in the midlands he enlisted in the Notts and Derbyshire (Sherwood
forest) Regiment. His battalion found themselves just across the Belgium
Border south and East of Dunkirk; a diary entry from the 30th of October
reads "30: 4am. Very heavy artillery fire on ground immediately behind our
front line. 6am Our snipers hit several enemy seen running about in the wood
east of
Marechal House. Our casualties today 1 officer and 4 or killed, 1 officer
and 14 or wounded.One of those killed was Fred Griffiths. He is buried in
Dozingham Cemetery in Belgium


Frank Cannon
Born this very day in Hitchin in Hertfordshire in 1886, Frank was signed in
1909 from QPR after scoring a hatrick against us in 1908. He only played 4
games for us scoring 1 goal against Norwich City in a 5-2 win. Leaving the
hammers he joined Gillingham but moved on from there to finish at Halifax.He
rose to be a Colour sergeant major in the 11th Essex Regiment he fought
mainly around Ypres and the battlefields of Passhendale. He died on the
15/2/1917 of shrapnel wounds. After his death this appeared in his local
newspaper written by QM Sergeant L.P Martin, "The 13th Essex had been in the
trenches for sixteen days and were just about to be relieved, 'He was just
ready to leave the trench when several shrapnel shells burst over him,
wounding him and several others. Although his wound was rather serious – he
was wounded in the back – it was quite thought he would get to England and
recover, but I am sorry to say he died on his way to the dressing station
about an hour after he was hit.' On the day of his death the Germans fired
over 16,000 shells The 13th Essex was the West Ham Pals, remembered with a
plaque at the ground.

Lastly but no way least

Frederick Anderson
born in West Ham in 1896, living just off the Hermit Road, in Canning Town,
near the site of where the Thames Ironworks once played. Its not known when
or where he joined up but in 1917 he too was to be found in the Royal field
artillery in A Battery 159th Brigade a Howitzer Division. Fighting around
Ypres he was wounded and not long after on the 3/11/1917 he died of his
Wounds and is buried with 299 of his comrades in Solferino Cemetery. Married
for only 2 years on hearing the news of his death his widow collapsed and
then lost the child she was carrying. An unlisted victim of the not so Great
War. His widow re-married and one of her grandchildren was my mother in law
who entrusted Fredericks Medals to my wife's safe keeping and we have them
framed with a picture of him. We have our legends and Heroes' at West Ham
but I hope in this article I have given you an insight into 3 real heroes,
all linked to West Ham and all gave their ultimate Sacrifice so we can be
here today.


Forever in a foreign field, there will always be a part of West Ham.

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Many owners wouldn't have given Sam this chance
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 9, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Sometimes a bit of mental stocktaking is a good idea and admitting you were
wrong is always good for the soul. For it's in being wrong that we learn,
grow up and become more tolerant and understanding. So far this season Sam
Allardyce – with a lot of help from the two Davids – has indeed managed to
prove a lot of us, including myself, wrong. Now when I say " a lot of help "
I am not necessarily talking about signings in the transfer market. More,
that they supported him for what may or may not be his last season at the
end of one which I consider one of the worst in our history. DS and DG are
known not to sack easily but they had more than enough reason to give Sam
Allardyce the bullet during or at the end of last season. To a lot of
people's disappointment – again including mine – they kept the faith with
him and are being rewarded for their loyalty as a result. A lot of people
have been proved wrong but the Davids have shown that backing your man
isn't such a bad idea in a game where it can be tremendously costly both
financially and on the field to get rid.
If anyone doubts this they would be well advised to cast their eyes in the
direction of White Hart Lane – that's not going so well is it? So let's
accept that – for now anyway – we were indeed wrong and that the two Davids
were right. Sam has shown there's a bit more to him than the Route One
merchant many of us believed him to be. Loyalty is a rare commodity in this
game but the Davids have shown it in spades yet despite all of the above
it's still too early to make a judgement on Sam's future. League position
won't be the be all and end all – as has been written on another page. A
decent FA Cup run is required and a continuation of the type of football
which has brought the fans onside is a must. For now everything is sweet
but nobody at board level is getting carried away – neither should we!
In the meantime it's the loyalty from the two Davids which has been the key
to the enjoyment we have all experienced. Ok, Sam has made the system work
but many owners would never have given him the chance.

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Hammers on the Jarvis/Townsend link
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 9, 2014 in Whispers
Clart & Hugh

Speculation that Matt Jarvis is on his way out of Upton Park and Tottenham's
Andros Townsend is on his way in. has been rubbished by the club.
ClaretandHugh has established over the last few minutes that there is no
truth in the link whatsoever and that the Irons are more than happy to allow
the former Wolves man to fight for his place. A well placed source said:
"Matt Jarvis is in the same position as several other players, he's fighting
for a recall, We are a different club from last season – there's
competition everywhere. "It smacks of the Andy Carroll talk, that he would
be allowed to move because of the form of other strikers. It's silly. We
want as many good players as we can get in the squad. "To be discussing Matt
as a possible departure is wrong simply because we don't want to sell him
nor have there been any inquiries since last summer when West Brom wanted
him on loan. "The Townsend link simply isn't right at all and it seems that
some agents are busy trying to concoct something. There's absolutely nothing
in it."

The Hammers. however, are looking to move Ricardo Vaz Te out on loan and
will consider offers.

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Sam talks up the 'crossing and heading' game!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 9, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Sam Allardyce has been talking up the crossing and heading approachCar after
a grandstand finish to yesterday's game against Aston Villa.
Perhaps that's a tad worrying for some who remember that as the sole tactic
at one time but there can be no doubt he has the right to draw attention to
it after such an amazing climax to the game. We aren't gonna win every week
regardless of who is on the pitch although maybe we should have beaten Villa
given the chances we crated despite only five of them on target. However,
there's an irony hidden away in the fact that despite having three strikers
on the pitch at that stage we couldn't find the net. Afterwards, Allardyce
was keen to talk up the performance and the last few minutes in particular
when we appeared to resort to what had preceded the "play, play, play"
philosophy the team has adopted this season. He said: " With Andy Carroll,
[Diafra] Sakho and [Carlton] Cole coming in on those crosses you could see
how exciting it was getting the fans when they were getting up and heading
that ball at goal. "People forget how exciting crossing and heading the ball
in the back of the net is these days."

Agreed but it will be a MIXTURE of that and the free flowing approach which
will drive us on to the heights we want to achieve. Please, no returns to
the one dimensional approach of the past Sam. Villa should have been buried
and but for some great goalkeeping would have been and the finale raised one
huge question again: Could Sam be tempted to play Carroll with Enner
Valencia and Diafra Sakho? Neil McDonald refused to rule out the possibility
in an interview a few weeks ago but I can't see it and I am praying that the
boss rotates his strikers. However, the disappearance of Mauro Zarate from
the scene and the reappearance of Carroll and regular appearances of Cole in
his absence fill me with more than a little foreboding. I really hope I'm
wrong and that the manager continues to surprise me.

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Reid: Irons start to face the realities!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 9, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Winston Reid is looking less and less likely to stay at West Ham United.
ClaretandHugh understands that despite regular talks with the player over
recent weeks and his agent the club is no closer to getting a reaction to
their new contract offer. The Hammers are nearly at their limits having gone
beyond £60k a week but are now becoming resigned to the fact that Reid looks
more likely to take advantage of several options he is likely to get as a
free agent next summer. And with such as Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester
United likely to be in the market for a defender, they believe the New
Zealander is unlikely to agree a new deal ahead of the winter or summer
windows. A very well placed Boleyn source told us: "The club could hardly do
more – they have really pushed the boat out but it seems more and more
apparent that Winston wants to wait until he's a free agent. "The club has
been talking regularly to Reid's advisers and that had raised hopes a deal
may be on but the reality is we are really no closer. "The club remain
desperate to do a deal but there's now a realism that despite attending
talks he and his agents may be simply going through the motions. "We want
him to sign but he's looking at all angles and we believe it's as much about
Europe as it is money. However, as a free agent there could be some £100k a
week offers out there with the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and
Arsenal looking for defenders. "Whilst we are talking there's always hope
but we have to start being realistic about things."

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