Reid hails Hammers spirit
WHUFC.com
Match-winner Winston Reid was happy to be part of an outstanding all-round
display against Millwall
05.02.2012
Winston Reid has scored important goals in his career, but few will have
been more enjoyable than the 20-yard volley he lashed into the Millwall net
to complete West Ham United's 2-1 npower Championship victory on Saturday.
Reid, who scored a famous equaliser for New Zealand against Slovakia at the
2010 FIFA World Cup, was on hand to smash the Hammers to victory over the
Lions at the Boleyn Ground after David Forde's punch landed at his feet. The
quietly-spoken defender was also gratified to be part of a much-improved
defensive display following the 5-1 defeat at Ipswich Town four days
previously. "It was important game for the club against our main rivals so
it was nice to get a win. Unfortunately, we had Nobby sent-off early doors
so it was a nice win and shows what spirit we have in the squad. "I think we
played the balls into the right areas like the manager told us to do and I
don't think they had too many chances. They kept the ball a lot but you're
always going to have that when it's eleven against ten. It was a good
performance by us. "What happened on Tuesday, we felt was a bit embarrassing
as a defensive unit. We told ourselves before we went out that we were going
to put on a better performance and I think we did. "I thought the goal they
scored was a good finish but, apart from that, they didn't create too much.
The players knew they had to come out and play a lot better and I thought we
did. It's great for the fans to have a win over their big rivals to
celebrate."
Describing his goal in typically modest fashion, Reid said the result
achieved by the strike outweighed its spectacular nature. "I think Julien
[Faubert] went into their goalie and it fell out to me and all of a sudden
it got to me and I finished it off. Obviously I like to chip in whenever I
can scoring goals and obviously this was an important goal for the team and
we got three points. "We had to win so it was good to keep putting pressure
on the other teams at the top."
Looking forward to an important week, West Ham face Peterborough United on
Saturday before hosting promotion rivals Southampton on Valentine's Day, and
Reid would love nothing more than to collect another six points. "Our main
goal is to get wins in every game. It's important that we can put some
daylight between us and the other teams at the top. We're looking forward to
the challenge."
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Allardyce on... Millwall
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 5th February 2012
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce declared himself delighted with his team's response to last
Tuesday's drubbing and the early dismissal of captain Kevin Nolan in his
post match press conference, which we once again bring to you exclusively in
full...
Sam: With the disappointment of Tuesday night and the disappointment of a
red card so early in the game, that was a great performance in its entirety?
Yeah. I think it was a result that we deserved. I thought we managed the
disappointment of Kevin going off the field [well]. I think the team, once
they came to terms with that began to play and create problems for the
opposition. It wasn't as if we just sat back, let the game come onto us and
tried to play on the break.
We started to control and pass the ball well, push the full backs on and
finally got our reward by getting the goal just before half time. The second
half was difficult in terms of you're going to [have to] hang on at some
stage because Millwall are going to throw more players forward and take more
chances.
Julien Faubert could have got us a second goal just after half time. It
didn't quite happen and then when they scored I thought 'this might be
difficult for us now'. But Reidy with the volley - fantastic. A win we
thoroughly deserved and a fantastic performance.
When you start a game of football with 11 versus 11 and then you go down to
ten men after nine minutes, I think you'll have to go back a long way in
history to find a victory with that ten men. That's the size of the victory
today and after the disappointment of Tuesday it makes it a very, very
satisfying performance and result for all the players in the dressing room.
Were you surprised that with ten men that you played so well - and do you
think when you look back at the end of the season that will be one of the
defining moments?
A defining moment? Yes, I think I probably would. There's a pressure in this
fixture because it's a local derby and you have to handle the pressure and
let that bring the best out of you. You get the disappointment of going down
to ten men, then still delivering as a team and still keeping your composure
and using your ability to create chances against the opposition.
I honestly thought it unhinged Millwall; I felt that they found it a
struggle playing against our ten men. At half time I thought they were going
to pen us in our half, wait for their chance to come and take it - but that
wasn't the case. We kept getting at them and kept attacking them so that put
them on the back foot a bit. Like I say, it was a fantastic victory for me.
Kenny [Jackett] praised Carlton Cole and said he was like two men up front?
He was. There's a lot of ball that will go up there that he needs to hold up
for a little longer than he would normally. The more he held it up the more
encouraged our players were to spring forward - wide men particularly - and
get into supporting roles.
[Also] Mark Noble in midfield, in terms of having the composure to keep
possession and wait for the next pass to keep us going forward was very
good. James Tomkins played in midfield for the first time and did a nice
anchor job. Everybody today I thought played really, really well.
You had a little bit of luck maybe with the winner?
The second goal? Maybe it could have been a free kick, yeah. Sometimes they
go for you, sometimes they go against you. There were lots of free kicks we
could have had but didn't get. As it happens this one that Millwall might
have got ended up resulting in a goal so it makes it a bit worse for Kenny.
But that bit of luck was definitely taken full advantage of by the quality
of Winston Reid's volley. Don't forget the quality of that goal, you won't
see a better volley than that in the game this weekend I don't think - and
that's one of our central defenders.
Did you think it was a red card, Sam?
No. No I didn't. I thought he was in control of himself, I didn't think it
was over-vigorous, he hadn't left the ground. He'd gone in on the floor, he
only went to ground after, his left foot was nowhere near [the opponent].
The player's coming in from the side, he arrived and went through the ball
then caught the player. But it looks like the referees are told to red
[card] it, aren't they. They're told to give every one a red by the looks of
it and I don't think they've got any other choice.
What did Kevin [Nolan] have to say about it?
He's very upset; I'm upset - because it's going to spoil the game. That's
not the worst tackle in the game as I keep telling everybody. The worse
tackle is the lad that turns to the side and goes over the top of the ball
and stays on his feet. They never send anybody off for that one. If they're
going to keep red-carding those, every week we're going to see 10 versus 11
- and nobody wants 10 versus 11. Nobody wants it.
What was the thinking behind playing [James] Tomkins in midfield? Was it a
direct result of Tuesday night?
It was to give a little bit of protection in front of the back four with
Henderson, because he's good in the air. We know Abdoulaye Faye is great,
but just to step in in front and stop balls to his feet. Really, there was
nobody else; Mark Noble's tried to do that but he's not too comfortable with
it. We've tried Mark in that position to get his passing going more from
that position but he hasn't quite done it and he's better further forward.
So we thought with Papa [Bouba Diop] injured, Tonks looks to come out of the
back [four] and play, he loves to get the ball and come through the middle.
We thought from both an interception point of view - where the opposition
will struggle to get the ball up to Henderson - and from a playing point of
view, Tomkins is a really good passer and likes to play when he gets the
ball.
It was a little difficult knowing what to do when it ended up as a 4-4
[formation] and he'll need three days to recover because he's just covered
four times more ground than he normally does! When he sees his physical
output stats - and he's up around 800 or 900 metres and he usually does
about three or four - it's been a real test for him physically, but he did
very well.
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Jackett on... West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 5th February 2012
By: Staff Writer
Milwall boss Kenny Jackett reflects on a demoralising defeat at the hands of
ten men - whilst refusing to openly criticise referee Mike Jones...
Kenny: what are your thoughts on that?
My thoughts on the game... I've seen a replay of the major incidents. I
thought the second goal was a foul on David Forde. Perhaps he could have
selected to catch it but when somebody's coming in at you as ferociously as
that I'm not sure, he was very close to him. Anyway, he wiped out his legs
which in my opinion was a foul.
My overall thoughts on the game; it was tight, West Ham are a very capable
side. I was disappointed with the first goal where the ball was high in our
box and I just thought [Carlton] Cole wanted it more than us and attacked it
and headed it in.
When they went 4-4-1 with Carlton Cole up front, he's a very capable
centre-forward and he can still be a threat on his own. And he was that at
times, pulling goal kicks down on his chest; he was a constant threat.
There's a lot of good things that we did, some nice passing passages and I
thought we started the game better than West Ham up to the sending off. But
in the end the bottom line is the result - and too many results are going
against us and conceding goals like we're doing at the moments gives us a
mountain to climb in many games.
Given the way that you started and the sending off, do you think it was a
missed opportunity today?
Every time you lose a game it's a missed opportunity. Today was definitely
one. Having said that, I do think that it was a free kick for the winning
goal.
What positives do you take from that?
Well as I say, we weren't outclassed, we had a lot of the ball and some good
passing passages. Results in the end are the bottom line, but what we need
now is 21 points from the remaining 17 league games to get us to 50 points -
and that's our aim.
We must make sure we get as many people as fit as possible and finish this
season off strongly.
What did you think of the referee?
Generally, I did think that the second goal was a foul. That was the
outstanding one having viewed it again.
Card happy, perhaps?
I haven't watched all of those [incidents], I've only seen the second goal
and the sending-off so to watch every incident and maybe have a view on the
bookings is something I'd rather assess afterwards. But no, it didn't hit me
that he was particularly card happy.
Did you think the sending off was fair?
If you go in with a two-footed tackle nowadays it is compliant with a red
card, the way things are at the moment.
You say 21 points from 17, that shouldn't be too much?
Well that's our aim now. We've had a poor result today and that's a
disappointment. But we have to look forward and get it right going into the
next game. We have a home game against Derby [next weekend], we have a Cup
replay on Tuesday night against Southampton so there's no time to feel sorry
for ourselves, we must look forward.
To some degree as well, in some games you get a little bit of [good] fortune
and the run of the ball and the decisions at times. That does help you,
particularly when you're in our position which is just above the relegation
[zone].
How's your skipper?
Yeah, I think if he's not ready on Tuesday he'll be ready for Derby County.
What did you think of Andy Keogh on his debut?
Yeah, he looked bright and lively, I'm very hopeful that his acquisition
will help us to get the points we need. He had a lot of energy -
particularly down the right hand side early in the game. He was very
effective when he did go up front against the centre-halfs.
Early on in the first half he was bright; he hasn't played for a while but I
do think overall he has the type of pedigree that we need - and also the
experience we need - for playing up front in the Championship.
You used a different system in the first half?
Well we worked between the two today. We'll see. You have to adapt your
tactics and you have to adapt your system, particularly coming to a place
like this. We're one of the smaller clubs in the division. Personally I
think you have to be variable.
But the system wasn't responsible for the first goal. It was a poor free
kick to give away then the ball's gone in and, as I said, [I was]
disappointed that Cole just showed more determination to head it in and give
them something to hold on to.
You were quite critical of your centre halfs today [in your TV interview]?
I was thinking that they could have done better but the centre forward
[Carlton Cole] is a good player and when he plays well can play above the
level, play up front on his own and be effective. He doesn't necessarily
need a partner.
You've got Southampton, as you say, on Tuesday. Are you tempted to move the
squad around a little bit?
We'll see. I'll assess it tomorrow when I see the injuries, etcetera. But to
try to get people back; Hameur Bouazza, Paul Robinson, Jordan Stewart -
experienced players - we want to get as many people back as possible.
If you look between now and the end of the season there are a lot of Tuesday
games and the games will come thick and fast. So we will need all of that
squad; whether it happens to be this Tuesday against Southampton or after
that.
Injuries, suspensions, they do kick in - fresh energy [is what we need]. The
position we're in is one where we need everybody to put their shoulders to
the wheel.
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Maynard - I had to move
Hammers new boy defends decision to leave Robins
Last Updated: February 5, 2012 12:52pm
SSN
Nicky Maynard has been left disappointed by the reaction of some Bristol
City supporters to his recent exit, but could not snub West Ham. The
highly-rated forward linked up with the Hammers during the January transfer
window, bringing an end to intense speculation regarding his future. Maynard
claims he made the move in the hope of realising his Premier League dream,
with West Ham currently top of the Championship table. The 25-year-old
admits he would rather have been able to make that step up with City, given
all they have done for his career, but he makes no apologies for having
taken a decision he believes will benefit his career. Maynard said: "I'm not
going to spit my dummy out. I always had a good relationship with the fans
and I do regret how things ended.
Massive club
"The fans were great to me during my time with the club - it's just a blow
it came to that at the end. "Every player wants to play at the highest level
he can and I'm no different. "Of course, I'd have loved to have done it with
Bristol City, but that did not work out. "I enjoyed my time at City, but the
chance to join a massive club like West Ham, who are destined for the
Premier League, was just too good to turn down."
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Vinny's Millwall Report
Vinny 12:52 Sun Feb 5
West Ham Online
West Ham United 2 Millwall 1
Despite being reduced to ten men within the opening stages, West Ham battled
to a fine victory over rivals Millwall in what was surely the most
satisfying display of the season.
Forget promotion, forget where we are in the league, forget Sam Allardyce
and the ambivalence towards many of the players and forget about the Olympic
Stadium – as West Ham moments go, this was a pretty special one and a game
we will fondly look back on years down the line.
It wasn't a rout and I felt like I had been through an exhausting ordeal
when the match ended but to have beaten Millwall gave me much satisfaction.
We have had a number of seasons where the team have been criticised for a
lack of effort and perhaps desire but there could have been no such
criticism during this one as having gone down to ten men in just the 9th
minute after Kevin Nolan's silly challenge the players had to work extremely
hard and really dig in.
I cannot deny that I loved this game and am on a bit of high with the
result. It has been quite a while since we have beaten Millwall in the
league (February 1991) and I was only six years old.
Coming out of Upton Park station Green Street was reminiscent of the 2009
Cup game and was a sea of high visibility jackets as the Police presence had
been understandably kicked up a gear. Many fans were loitering about and
soaking up the tense atmosphere that only a game against Millwall can bring.
With no pubs open in the local radius and the weather bracing itself for
snow it was an early entrance into the ground. The Millwall fans were
already largely present and located in the Trevor Brooking Upper with the
lower tier being virtually empty other than some police.
Having been crushed by Ipswich in midweek with a quite shocking performance
we certainly needed to get back on track and there was surely no better game
to do so than against a team who are struggling to avoid relegation from the
Championship.
The Team
There was much disappointment with the starting line-up that Sam Allardyce
announced. We had been unhappy with the negative tactics employed last
Tuesday night at Portman Road but it seemed as though we had actually put
out a team even more defensive.
Abdoulaye Faye came in for Matthew Taylor who dropped to the bench which saw
us start the game with three centre halves with Winston Reid and James
Tomkins also in the side.
When the game began it was evident that James Tomkins was actually going to
play as a defensive midfielder, much in the same role Papa Bouba Diop has
been playing much of the season.
With Faubert on the right, Collison took up his place on the left with Nolan
and Noble in the middle. Carlton Cole was again up front on his own.
Joey O'Brien was also back in the team at right back. The other starter from
the previous game Henri Lansbury was dropped from the squad completely.
Having signed Nicky Maynard from Bristol City, Ricardo Vaz Te from Barnsley
and Ravel Morrison from Manchester United on transfer deadline day it was a
disappointment to have not seen one of them start the game. Maynard and Vaz
Te were both on the substitute's bench which did not include a goal keeper.
First Half
We began the game slowly and Millwall gave us an early warning when Dunne
won a header and flashed the ball across the goal.
A minute later we won a corner after a cross from O'Brien was deflected. It
was taken by Collison who continues to float his corners into the area which
amount to little.
Despite forcing a couple of corners Millwall were having more of the ball
and we hadn't managed to settle and play any sort of passing football.
The game took a massive turn on the 9th minute which would shape the rest of
the game as the captain Kevin Nolan went in two footed on Jack Smith and the
referee Jones produced a straight red card. There has been much debate
regarding this type of challenge in recent weeks but at this moment in time
you cannot go in like Nolan did and looking at the challenge first time I
was not surprised to see the red card given.
With the negative team that Allardyce has started with we did not need to
shuffle the pack too much as we still had Tomkins and Noble in the middle.
The latter would really take on the task of driving our team forward for the
remainder of the game.
Our first half chance came when Faubert did well to win a free kick on the
right and this was put into the area by Noble for Tomkins to head tamely at
the keeper.
We struggled to keep possession and Millwall were looking brighter. There
was a sense of dread that they would take the lead and all my hopes of
finally getting a win against them seemed to be on the rocks.
An over hit cross from Faubert saw Collison retrieve the ball and put it
back into the area for Cole to eventually see his header go just wide in a
much better move.
Most of our attacking play was being carved out by Julien Faubert who was
doing his best to make the most of high and hopeful balls forward. One of
these passes saw Faubert win a header and run on to his own flick, crossing
low but the defender cut his cross out at the near post.
Faubert was in the thick of things again when McCartney put a low cross into
the area which Faubert met as he slid in with the defender but he could only
stab the ball wide.
A long ball forward to Cole saw the striker bring the ball down, hold off
two defenders but could only drag his left foot shot wide.
Two minutes of added time were awarded and even the most confident West Ham
supporter could not have thought that we would be able to take the lead
before the half was up.
But it did happen.
A high ball forward to Carlton Cole saw the striker fouled and a free kick
awarded. The set piece was played into the area by Noble which saw Reid meet
the ball with a flick which went high into the air and Carlton Cole met the
ball with a powerful header which went over Millwall keeper Forde to put us
1-0 up.
Cole managed to get a lot of power on the header when this did not look to
be the case as the ball dropped to him and it was this power which got him
his 9th goal of the season.
Shortly after the restart the whistle blew for half time which the West Ham
fans taunting the Millwall support with chants of 'We've only got ten men'.
Second Half
Allardyce made a smart substitution at half time with Jack Collison being
replaced by Matthew Taylor. This would give us more shape and a chance to
get the ball wide as Collison tends to drift into the centre and gets a bit
lost.
Taylor was involved early on in the second half when he was taken out by a
strong challenged by Lowry. On the Football league Show they showed
highlights of this incident as they tried to show examples of strong
challenged which should have seen players booked or even sent off.
What they failed to point out that despite this strong challenge the free
kick was given to Millwall. I don't know about anyone else but I find this a
glaring omission when trying to show an example of a foul only to miss out
that it was given the other way.
This was though an example of how poor the referee was in this game and I am
not talking about our sending off as I can agree with that as it was a silly
challenge but the amount that he missed for both sides was quite startling.
We came so very close to scoring a second goal when a lovely move saw
Tomkins play the ball into Noble who dummied for McCartney who put in a
terrific cross for Faubert to meet the ball with a glancing header which
beat the keeper but thumped off the crossbar.
Lowry was booked for Millwall after tripping Julien Faubert in a challenge
which was identical to one which took place in the first half but no booking
was given on that occasion.
A corner played into the area by Noble saw the Millwall keeper Forde
apparently fouled when I saw very little to suggest this had happened. This
proves to be almost farcical when you see what happens for the goal which
proved to be the winner. More about that in a moment.
Millwall nearly found themselves back in the game when Keogh got in behind
Reid and his cross was destined for the substitute and Tottenham loanee
Harry Kane but James Tomkins just got back to divert the goal away. Superb
from James Tomkins.
Three minutes later Millwall did equalise and it was out of nothing.
We had done well to close the ball down and send Millwall across the pitch
in search for some space. O'Brien made a good tackle which went out for a
throw in.
The throw into the area saw Faye up against Henderson but instead of
clearing the ball Faye attempted to see the ball out but Henderson got a toe
to the ball and knocked it back for Liam Trotter who which the ball on the
half volley into the top corner.
The Millwall fans went mad, the West Ham fans looked shocked.
But we were not to be downbeat for too long.
A very poor challenge on Cole saw the ref play the advantage but the cross
into the area was flicked away for a corner.
The corner from Taylor saw Faye and Tomkins go up for the ball and it was
cleared off the line and away. The ball was played back into the area for
Faubert to challenge the keeper and punch only as far as Winston Reid who
took a touch and thumped the ball into the back of the net. It was a
fantastic finish and the Boleyn Ground erupted in jubilation.
We go to football for moments like this one and the ten men had again gone
into the lead.
Millwall will of course argue that Faubert fouled Forde and I have no doubt
that this was the case but what they need to realise is that no one at West
Ham gives a fuck.
It was a nervous final twenty minutes and I felt like I aged during this
time.
On 81 minutes Allardyce made his second change with Julien Faubert coming
off and Gary O'Neil replacing him. Faubert was given a standing ovation and
rightly so as he put in the type of effort we really needed and he played
very well.
A poor goal kick from Green saw the ball go straight to Keogh but he was
fouled by Faye in what I would consider a necessary foul given that a chance
would have surely presented itself.
The free kick was taken by Kane but curled well wide of the goal with Green
looking on with comfort.
It was all getting very tense and it was hard to look especially at one
incident when Mason put the ball into the area which Green spilled and then
it hit Faye only to come back to Green. I was fortunate to be wearing gloves
as I would have bitten every nail.
Millwall just seemed to be getting too many corners and those final few
moments were a whirlwind of emotions. Ricardo Vaz Te came on for his debut
as he replaced the hardworking Carlton Cole.
Five minutes of injury time were awarded and in the final of those minutes
Millwall won a corner. I had convinced myself that they were going to
equaliser. I was preparing for the disappointment and that sinking feeling I
have had far too many times over the years but it was headed clear and
eventually the referee did blow the final whistle.
A brilliant victory.
Player Reviews
Robert Green
Despite us being down to ten men for so long, Millwall did not pile on the
pressure in terms of chances on goal and Green did not have to make too many
saves. He claimed a few corners really well at times in the second half when
we needed him to do so.
Joey O'Brien
His form has been patchy of late but this was a display like earlier in the
season which forced me to refer to him only as 'Super Joey O'Brien'. And he
did do well, he got forward and his tackling was spot on when defending.
Abdoulaye Faye
His hesitance caused the equaliser and he needs to take responsibility for
that. But he did play very well for the rest of the game and was again a
beast in the air.
Winston Reid
He has added a toughness to his game which is developing as the months go
on. He is more physical than he was and this stint in the Championship could
well be the making of him. Oh and he scored the winner with a quite superb
finish. I won't get tired of watching that goal.
George McCartney
He was certainly a contender for Man Of The Match and was always involved in
the game making sure he covered as much ground as possible. Going forward is
something he has struggled with but he did well in this one and that cross
for Faubert in the second half which saw the header hit the bar was
excellent.
Julien Faubert
A wonderful display from Faubert. He is not a player I have enjoyed over the
last few seasons but despite me questioning his attitude previously I cannot
have anything other than praise for the way he approached this game. We may
have been down to ten men but he did the work of another player and he just
kept going.
Kevin Nolan
A poor challenge, unnecessary and stupid from one of our most senior
players. Out for the next three games.
James Tomkins
In an unfamiliar midfield role and took a little while to get used to it but
in the second half he was immense and one of the many reasons we managed to
get the result.
Mark Noble
I really enjoyed the performance from Faubert but Noble just edges it for
me. This is how you would have wanted your captain to approach the game and
Noble controlled everything in our midfield. His set pieces caused problems
and like the other night against Ipswich the ball into the area for the
first goal was begging to be put away. Noble continues to impress me.
Jack Collison
Not really in the game during his half on the pitch and it was the correct
decision to take him off.
Carlton Cole
His goal was a much better finish than he will get credit for and his
performance was also much better than fans will give him. Cole was isolated
up front but he worked hard, showed good movement and was a handful for the
Millwall defenders.
Subs Used
Matthew Taylor (on for Collison 46 mins)
Having looked unfit the other night he looked sharp in this one and put in a
very pleasing display. He got stuck in and gave us balance.
Gary O'Neil (on for Faubert 81 mins)
Attempted to get involved and is a player that many have forgotten but for
me he offers more than Lansbury who I have seen very little to suggest
brings much to the team.
Ricardo Vaz Te (on for Cole 89 mins)
Gave us a bit of energy and looked lively.
Subs Not Used: Baldock, Maynard
Bookings: Faye, Cole
Sent Off: Kevin Nolan (9 mins)
Man Of The Match: Mark Noble
Millwall: Forde, Barron, Dunne, Ward, Smith, Adbou, Lowry, Feeney, Trotter,
Henderson, Keogh
Subs: Allsop, N'Guessan, Mason, Kane, Wright
Attendance: 27, 774
Overall
Forgetting that this was Millwall for a moment this was a very important
result especially after being crushed by Ipswich in midweek. With
Southampton only drawing and Cardiff getting beaten at home by Blackpool
this has been a very good weekend for West Ham. We now have a four point
lead at the top of the league and stay on track for automatic promotion.
With this type of desire and effort we should be just fine.
Next Game – Peterborough United (a) Saturday 11th February 3pm Kick Off
A ground and place I have never visited and am extremely looking forward to
being on the terraces in a league game. This is a game we should be winning
(they all seem to be) and we need to get our away form back on track. I
still believe we should be playing with two up front and looking to be more
positive going forward especially with the signings of Maynard and Vaz Te.
People can moan about being in the Championship but when you get days like
this I can easily forget what league we are in because at the end of the day
beating your local rivals no matter what league or what type of game is
always satisfying, and this was a very good day.
The View From Sam
"I that is probably the best win I've ever had as a manager, wherever I have
been" Big Sam told West Ham TV. "We went down to ten men after nine minutes
on what I thought was a very harsh decision by the referee. It was not
endangering the opposing player and it was not out of control or with any
great force or velocity and there was no intent because that has been taken
out [of the rulebook].
"The character of the players at this club and the will to bounce back after
a very disappointing defeat on Tuesday [at Ipswich Town] was there for all
to see. With ten men, we began to control the game, to probe and put
Millwall under pressure rather than sitting back and waiting to play on the
break and catch them out.
"We took the game to them, we got the ball into their box and were producing
quality balls. We got another outstanding set play and Carlton scored for
us. We could have scored more.
"In the second half, we came out and went on the front foot. Julien Faubert
produced a great header and I was up because I thought it was in but it hit
the bar and came out. Then we had the disappointment of their goal and then
Matt Taylor put a great corner and we only had to head it in from a yard out
but we missed it.
"Then we got Reidy producing what you'd like your centre forward to do with
a stunning volley from the edge of the box. We even had some chances after
that and out-chanced Millwall with ten men and thoroughly deserved the win."
While his ten men continually created chances against the Lions, Big Sam was
equally pleased with the organisation, tenacity and discipline shown to keep
the visitors' chances to a minimum. "The discipline of the side to nullify
the 11v10 situation, we made life extremely difficult for them. They scored
a great goal, but that was the only way they were going to score."
Big Sam also hailed the performance of Man of the Match Mark Noble and
fellow Academy graduate James Tomkins, who played in a new defensive
midfield role for the first time. Cole, Julien Faubert and half-time
substitute Matt Taylor also drew praise from the manager.
"Everybody did their job In and out of possession, we were superb. As a
manager, when you see your team go down to ten men and you see that spirit
and desire to commit everything that you've got for themselves and the fans
it is absolutely magnificent."
Season 2011/12 Scorers and Red Cards
Carlton Cole - 9 (9 League)
Kevin Nolan - 7 (7 League)
Mark Noble - 6 (6 League)
Sam Baldock - 5 (5 League)
Jack Collison - 3 (3 League)
Winston Reid - 2 (2 League)
John Carew - 2 (2 League)
Frederique Piquionne - 2 (2 League)
Own Goal - 2 (2 League)
James Tomkins - 1 (1 League)
Papa Bouba Diop - 1 (1 League)
Joey O'Brien - 1 (1 League)
Scott Parker - 1 (1 League)
Matthew Taylor - 1 (1 League)
Henri Lansbury - 1 (1 League)
Julien Faubert - 1 (1 League)
Frank Nouble - 1 (1 League)
Junior Stanislas - 1 (1 Cup)
Red Cards
Callum McNaughton - 1 (vs Aldershot home)
Frederique Piquionne - 1 (vs Portsmouth home)
Joey O'Brien - 1 (vs Reading away)
Jack Collison - 1 (vs Reading away)
Kevin Nolan 1 - (vs Millwall home)
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Interview With David Sullivan
February 5th, 2012 - 7:46 pm by Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die
Well, I know it has been a long time in coming, but I have now nailed down a
date to interview David Sullivan. He's kindly invited me to his house in a
couple of weeks time. I'll be doing the interview along the same lines as
the political interviews I do for Total Politics magazine, so it'll be a
verbatim report, with the only editing for grammar and comprehensibility. I
never go into these interviews with a list of prepared questions as I tend
to get more out of people when it's a conversation, but that doesn't mean I
don't want your help in suggesting lines of questioning. So feel free to
email me, or leave comments here.
It's intended to be quite an extended interview and it will take a little
time to transcribe and edit, so don't expect it to appear on the day I meet
him!
SJ Chandos also intends to do some interviews with club personalities too,
so watch out for those.
By the way, there was record traffic on this site in January, with more than
55,000 absolute unique visitors. Thanks to all those who have been visiting
for some time and also a very warm welcome to those of you who are new to
the site.
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Birmingham target loan for high-earning Hammers striker
Published 23:00 04/02/12 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
West Ham striker Frederic Piquionne, 33, is a big-money loan target for
Chris Hughton's Birmingham City. The Blues want to give the Hammers player a
stunning £20,000-a-week package to join their promotion bid.
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WEST HAM 2 - MILLWALL 1: WE'LL CARRY ON SCRAPPING
6th February 2012 By Matt Butler
The Daily Star
CARLTON COLE claims West Ham will carry on playing ugly as long as it takes
them up. Cole scored the opener in a scrappy game against Millwall after the
home side had gone down to 10 men. Hammers captain Kevin Nolan was handed a
straight red for going in two-footed on Lions midfielder Jack Smith, leaving
the leaders fighting on with a man down for 80 minutes. The result was
impressive, if not the game – barring Winston Reid's spectacular volleyed
winner following Liam Trotter's equaliser. And Cole admitted it may have
been painful to watch. He said: "I know sometimes our football is ugly, but
as long as we tick off the wins I don't care how the football goes.
"Hopefully we can win the title. We just have to stay in there and see how
it goes. "That's why we're top of the league because we can bounce back from
situations like that and keep on plugging away, even in a tense atmosphere
like it was today."
Boss Sam Allardyce would love his side to start playing with the swagger
fans demand – but admits they are under too much pressure. He said: "There
is a lot of pressure on us as you know because we are expected to go up and
sometimes that can make players a little bit anxious. "But when a
performance like this is put together with a victory it should ease a lot of
doubts and fears they have in their own ability. "They should say 'let's
flourish' and 'let's blossom' but it is not as easy as that."
Referee Mick Jones drew attention to himself for first sending off Nolan in
a challenge that most fans warranted as a red card, but Allardyce insisted
was not. He then failed to award Millwall a free-kick for Julien Faubert's
tackle on Lions keeper David Forde, which took him out of action as Reid
volleyed the winner. Allardyce will not appeal against the red card but
admitted his side were lucky not to be penalised for Faubert's tackle. He
said: "We were a bit fortunate for the earlier decision on the keeper but he
still has to put it in the net and it was a quality finish."
The result leaves the Lions one place off the drop zone but Trotter believes
they have what it takes to stay up. He said: "There is a lot to be positive
about. West Ham only really looked to hit it to Cole and make it stick. "We
played the better football and I am confident we can kick on and push up the
league soon."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Karren Brady: Grounds for optimism
BRIAN VINER MONDAY 06 FEBRUARY 2012
The Independent
Karren Brady talks to Brian Viner about why West Ham will not give up on the
Olympic Stadium, her battle to overcome sexism and how brain surgery made
her reassess her life
West Ham United remain committed to the idea of moving to the Olympic
Stadium, contrary to reports last week that the club's executives are "going
cool" on the prospect. "I wouldn't be dragging my body to all the meetings,
or reading through a 900-page document every night, if we weren't still
committed," says Karren Brady, sitting behind her desk at Upton Park, in
front of an evocative portrait of the late Bobby Moore.
Nonetheless, West Ham's vice-chairman considers "the biggest disappointment"
of her life to be the way the bid process has unfolded. When pressed on the
greatest regrets of her 42 years, she denies that she has any. "But my
biggest disappointment is that I spent two years of my life getting to be
preferred bidder for the Olympic Stadium. It was their competition, their
rules, and we abided by that, and then not being the preferred bidder, and
having to go through another process, is like someone giving you the keys
and then changing the locks. We should now be planning a future there, as
opposed to having to go back and review everything."
The Olympic Park Legacy Committee abandoned the deal to sell the £486m arena
to West Ham last October, after legal challenges by Tottenham Hotspur and
Leyton Orient were compounded by an anonymous phone call to the European
Commission, complaining that Newham Council's partial funding of the West
Ham bid amounted to improper state aid. I ask Brady if she knows who made
that phone call? "I can narrow it down to one or two," she says, sweetly.
Whatever, the stadium will now remain in public ownership after the
Olympics, to be rented out from 2014 to the successful bidder. And, despite
her acute sense of disappointment, Brady insists that the claret-and-blue
hat is still very much in the ring.
"We do genuinely believe that we could make the stadium a success, both in
terms of our physical presence, and encouraging football supporters to
become involved in other sports," she says. "We passionately believe that it
was built for athletics, and should have an athletics legacy. But obviously,
the deal has to be right for us in terms of giving up here. We already have
a stadium, we could have 48,000 seats if we redevelop parts of it, there's a
hotel, a football atmosphere..."
So, if she were a betting woman, would she back the Hammers to leave or stay
put? I do not expect such a pragmatist to indulge me by playing
hypotheticals, and nor does she. "It's too big and too serious a
conversation to say 'if I were betting'," she says. "And I don't want to
negotiate in public. This is a serious process to make sure everything is
right. We're not going there for one match, it's 99 years. But our
commitment to make the stadium work is still there. Bids are due in by 23
March, and we've done that."
Brady pours herself a glass of water and asks her secretary to move back her
next appointment. She was over an hour late for our lunchtime meeting
because her previous meeting, in central London, over-ran. This is her
world, of appointments backing up all afternoon and into the evening, which
might be an eye-opener for the young person chosen to spend a day shadowing
her as part of a new npower-sponsored campaign called What's Your Goal?
Brady is one of 11 mentors prepared to share a working day – others include
Robbie Savage and Reading chairman Sir John Madejski – and there are also
more than 300 placements for schoolchildren available across 72 clubs, their
aim to promote football as a career option for youngsters whose talents
don't necessarily lie in kicking a ball. "Most people think football is 11
men representing a team," she says. "That's still the most important thing
we do, but football is also retail, finance, marketing, sales, ticketing,
sponsorship, hospitality, catering..."
She hopes that as many girls as boys will take up the placements, and
insists that great strides have been made since she turned heads, and camera
lenses, by becoming managing director of Birmingham City, aged 23. The
sexism stories are legion: of her being refused access to other clubs'
boardrooms, and even of one of Birmingham's own players telling her, on her
first day, that he could "see her tits" through the top she was wearing.
"Don't worry, you won't be able to see them when I sell you to Crewe," was
her oft-quoted response, but is it apocryphal?
"No, it's true," she says. She did sell him, too. Where is he now? "I have
no idea," she says, glacially, then recalls the last time she encountered
boardroom sexism, although it wasn't directed at her. "Delia [Smith's
Norwich City] had just been promoted to the Premier League, and there are
committees for this and that, so at a Premier League lunch Delia said: 'I'd
like to go on one of the committees'. And Doug Ellis said: 'We'll have to
set up a catering committee.' If looks could kill, he'd be dead. But that's
changed. What you have now are serious business people buying football clubs
as both an investment and part of a portfolio, and you'll find women putting
those deals together, running the football clubs, running the holding
company that's funding the purchase of the football clubs... the business of
football is not sexist any more."
All the same, she understands why she seemed such a novelty at Birmingham
all those years ago. "Of course, I was a woman in a man's world, which is
why I was always depicted as busty, with thigh-length boots and a whip. You
know, when you say you've just met a really ambitious man you think of
someone interesting, someone going places. But when you say you've met an
ambitious woman, you think 'I bet she's a right bitch, ruthless, prepared to
step over anybody...'
"For years that was the perception of me, that I went round sacking people
in my shoulder pads. In the meantime, I was carving out a business that sold
for £82m, that was hugely profitable, had no debt, yet those things in some
regard were not as interesting as the whip! But it didn't bother me, in fact
I used it as a platform to do other things, to sit on other people's boards,
to champion things I felt passionate about, to join The Apprentice, a show I
love."
On which subject, is it true that when her Apprentice co-star Alan Sugar
owned Tottenham, he nutmegged her in a business deal, as he claims? She
smiles. "I don't think we ever did a deal, if the truth be known."
Whether they did or not, it's not difficult to see why the tailor's son from
Hackney and the printer's daughter from Edmonton get on so well. "I don't
believe in financial fair play," she says dismissively, of Uefa's attempts
to restore some sanity to football's ledgers. "I don't believe in restraint
of trade. I do believe in competition and the free market. If you've made
money and want to invest it in a business, you should be allowed to. The
investment should probably not be in terms of a loan. If you've borrowed
from the bank to loan it to a football club then there's a chain that can
cause a catastrophic effect, but if you want to dump £50m into a football
club, to go and make Torquay the best club in the region, you should not be
prevented from doing that."
Doesn't she think the game is out of touch with the real world, though, even
the real world of sport, when some footballers are paid £250,000 a week? "I
don't. The truth is, if you're stupid enough to pay that to someone who
would be happy with 10 grand, then you're a bad business person. But if a
footballer has a choice between Manchester City and Manchester United, and
one is prepared to pay £250,000, and the other has to match it, that's
market forces."
Yet market forces can implode. And trading in the transfer window just
closed, even though West Ham were among the biggest spenders in the
Championship, was notably restrained. Brady, however, sees no evidence that
football is over-extending itself in these difficult economic times.
"The Premier League is one of the best exports we have, watched by more
people across the world than any other sport. As you get further down the
chain it gets more difficult, but the football industry is a healthy one.
People abroad can't believe that we have 92 league clubs, and very rarely do
we see a football club go out of business. Darlington was saved at the last
minute. There is always someone locally with that affection."
Or multi-millionaires with strong affiliations, as in the case of David Gold
and David Sullivan, who would not have taken on the financial headache that
was West Ham, and installed Brady at the helm, had they not been boyhood
fans. "We have a whole bag of historic debt," says Brady, and it is true
that the name Tevez shatters the serenity of the West Ham boardroom as much
as it does Manchester City's, for millions are still owed to Sheffield
United over the third-party ownership dispute concerning the wretched
Argentinian. "But we made a trading profit of nearly £7m last year," she
continues, "which just goes to show that with the right control, the right
strategy, the right energy, football clubs can make money."
Saturday's stirring win against Millwall eased the pain of last Tuesday's
heavy defeat at Ipswich, and with the Hammers again looking like promotion
favourites, Brady describes as "huge" the need to re-establish the club in
the Premier League. "A few weekends ago we had the second highest attendance
across all four divisions," she says. "This is a great club, with great
expectations."
Clearly, her commitment to the day job has not wavered since a cerebral
aneurysm was discovered during a routine MRI scan in 2006, though she
understands why such a reminder of mortality tempts people to change
direction. "It makes you rethink your priorities. I can see why some people
wake up and think, 'You know what, I'm going to get a divorce, or go round
the world, or change my job'. But I woke up and realised that I really love
my life and want to live it as long as possible."
All the same, she concedes that she has softened since the brain surgery.
And admits that in juggling professional and domestic duties – she and her
husband, the Burton Albion manager Paul Peschisolido (above), have two
children, aged 15 and 13 – she sometimes drops the balls. "What keeps me
awake at night is not how to make ends meet in business, but in my time. I
try to spend three nights a week in London and the rest at home in the
Midlands, but when my son phones and says 'What day is it you're coming
home, mum?' I know that's the day I need to go."
Karren Brady is one of 11 mentors working with npower for What's Your Goal?
2012. To apply for the chance to kickstart your career in football visit
www.npower.com/whatsyourgoal
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West Ham's character will prove key, says Allardyce
JACK PITT-BROOKE MONDAY 06 FEBRUARY 2012
The Independent
Sam Allardyce believes his West Ham team "answered every question" about
them with a 2-1 win with 10 men over Millwall on Saturday. West Ham are now
four points clear of second-placed Southampton, and Allardyce was obviously
delighted with the character his players showed, given Kevin Nolan's
dismissal just eight minutes in.
"To do it with 10 men just shows that everyone who had doubts about the
character of the team are wrong because it is there in abundance," Allardyce
said after his team outran an unambitious Millwall side. Carlton Cole headed
West Ham in front before Winston Reid volleyed the winner.
"The desire to get us of this division was shown in every department today,"
Allardyce continued, "however all the players took part with a willingness
to work hard for each other, cover each other and support each other. You
can't teach players that. It comes from building team spirit and every body
pulling in the same direction. To deliver that performance shows with have
an abundance of character."
From here, Allardyce is confident that West Ham can strengthen their hold on
the top end of the division. "We are building momentum and are top of the
league and that builds confidence," he said. "To win in the circumstances we
did today will tell everybody that we should kick on from here. Winning this
game was a six-pointer."
West Ham's lead over Southampton, whom they entertain in eight days' time,
increase, after Saints drew 0-0 at Birmingham City on Saturday. Birmingham –
five points behind Southampton with a game in hand – had the best chances
and Kelvin Davis had to save from Marlon King and Adam Rooney.
Blackpool, in fourth, are just two points behind third-placed Cardiff City
after winning 3-1 at the Welsh club. With 11 minutes left Cardiff were 1-0
up, but an equaliser from Kevin Phillips and two late goals from Matt
Phillips turned the game around.
Middlesbrough continued their slide down the table with a 0-0 home draw to
Crystal Palace. Tony Mowbray's team have not won in the league since Boxing
Day, with Tony McMahon and Lukas Jutkiewicz closest to breaking the deadlock
on Saturday.
Leeds United's first game since the dismissal of Simon Grayson ended in an
impressive 3-0 win at Bristol City. Robert Snodgrass puts Leeds ahead in the
first half and, with City reduced to nine men, Ross McCormack and Luciano
Becchio scored in the second half. Leeds, guided by caretaker manager Neil
Redfearn are now just two points from the play-off places.
Brighton are behind Leeds on only goal difference, after a last-minute 1-0
victory over Leicester City, Will Buckley volleying in Vicente's cross.
Brighton finished the game with 10 men, while the visitors had two players
sent off
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