Big Sam on: Aston Villa
WHUFC.com
The West Ham United manager talks to the press ahead of Sunday's game at
Aston Villa
08.02.2013
Sam Allardyce is looking for an end to the Hammers' 'Jekyll and Hyde' form
when they travel to Aston Villa on Sunday. West Ham have produced the goods
at the Boleyn Ground all season but have only picked up eight of their 30
points on the road and the boss says that has to change. Big Sam believes
the first goal at Villa Park could prove to be crucial so he will be looking
for a strong start from his side.
Sam, have you noticed more of a spring in the step in training this week,
more confidence?
SA - "Everyone's fit and well and everyone's looking forward to the Villa
game. Everyone knows the responsibility of turning around our away results -
they must get better and we've got a fantastic opportunity to change the
results we've had recently away from home on Sunday, given that we had a big
boost in confidence with a well deserved win against Swansea last week."
It's one point from 21 away from home, can you put your finger on why you've
struggled away?
SA - "Not scoring at the right time mostly. The fact of the matter is that
we've always had opportunities to score, but when we've failed to take them
we've allowed the opposition to take advantage by scoring themselves. We
then haven't managed to retrieve that position. It's always a difficult task
to win a game of football when you go a goal down and much more difficult
still when you're away from home. It's rare as a side playing in the Premier
League for the first season to turn around a result when you lose the first
goal. It can be done but it's rare. We have to focus on keeping on a level
playing field with Aston Villa and we have to try to be the team that scores
the first goal."
Conversely you're playing a side on Sunday that's really struggled at home,
so are they there for the taking?
SA - "I think they're up and at you, and there's nothing wrong with the
effort and the will to try and win at Aston Villa. I think what has cost
them on occasion is perhaps a lapse of concentration at certain times
probably due to the inexperience of the team. You can see that Paul
[Lambert} has introduced more experienced players again now. Agbonlahor,
Ireland, players like that, so it is a mixture of both now but if we can
take advantage of anything that is a weakness we'll try to do that. For us,
it's an opportunity to get a result and try to get some points on the board
away from home after what was a very good win and a very good performance
against Swansea. We are Jekyll and Hyde, there's no doubt about it. It does
niggle me that we can't quite find the same type of form away from home that
we've been producing all season at home."
You say you're a bit Jekyll and Hyde and the same can be said of Villa. A
team who can beat Liverpool 3-1 and nearly beat Everton last weekend, but
lose to Bradford City and Millwall.
SA - "The danger of Aston Villa is that if we allow them to get 3-1 up, I
don't think we'll come back from that. We can't afford that. Having the
lowest goalscoring ratio away from home in the Premier League is why we
haven't picked the results up. We can ill afford to let Aston Villa get off
the the sort of start they did against Everton. We've got to avoid that at
all costs and play our way into the game, making sure we don't give them any
opportunities to score. If we can do that and then start to create the
chances we always get - and put one or two in the back of the net - that's
what we're looking for."
How big a threat is Christian Benteke going to be?
SA - "He's the biggest threat. He's the man who scores the goals for Aston
Villa on a regular basis, he's the focal point for their attacks in that he
not only scores goals, but he holds the ball up, he's strong. He's had a
fantastic start in what must have been a very disappointing season so far
for Aston Villa. It says a lot for what he is as a player when he's
producing what he is in a team that's been struggling for results."
Sam, could you tell us injury or team news?
SA - "Our international players are all back fit and well, which is good
news for us. From an injury point of view, James Collins and George
McCartney are the only two players who are missing out of our squad at the
moment, which is good news for us at this stage of the season. Emanuel
Pogatetz was away but only in Wales, Mo Diame played in Paris and only
played 45 minutes, so nobody's had a long journey. Playing on the Sunday too
we've had an extra day's rest so we've got no problems from that point of
view."
People have been praising Andy Carroll after his performance against Swansea
weekend.
SA - "I would say that he was a lot better than we all expected. I expected
him to be a bit rusty maybe, a bit off the pace, but still a very poignant
figure in our attack. But he was even better than that, which is why I left
him on for 90 minutes. Not only did he play very well, but his fitness
looked very, very good as well. He's set a standard to hit and hopefully
improve on over the next few weeks and over the rest of the season."
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Aston Villa v West Ham
KO 13:30
8 February 2013
Last updated at 13:40
By Simon Brotherton
Match of the Day commentator
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Villa Park Date: Sunday, 10 February
TEAM NEWS
Aston Villa midfielder Ashley Westwood has a virus and could miss Sunday's
game with West Ham. Karim El Ahmadi and Fabian Delph have overcome knee
injuries, while recent signing Yacouba Sylla could make his first start.
West Ham have no new injury concerns after their players returned from
international duty unscathed. Modibo Maiga remains on Africa Cup of Nations
duty, and James Collins and George McCartney are still out.
MATCH PREVIEW
I have two images in my head as I think about this game. Firstly, how good
Andy Carroll looked for West Ham last week against Swansea when he crashed
home the winner with his head from a corner. Secondly, how Aston Villa's
defenders failed yet again to deal with a corner in conceding the equaliser
at Everton deep into stoppage time. "Set-pieces are Aston Villa's biggest
issue, which is a particular problem when you play the Hammers because they
thrive on set-pieces and organisation - you may as well call their manager
Sam Allardyce 'set-piece Sam'. Richard Dunne's absence through injury is a
particular blow for Villa on that front but maybe they are due a little bit
of luck, and you have to remember West Ham's away form is pretty dire."
This inability to defend a lead or to deal with set plays has been a
recurrent theme for Villa which could cost them dearly and, based on what I
saw last week, Carroll will give them all they can handle and maybe a bit
more. He's had a frustrating season interrupted by injury and last weekend's
game saw him start for the first time since the back end of November, but he
looked surprisingly sharp and kept Swansea's back line on their toes
throughout.
Sam Allardyce was visibly relieved to have got the three points against
Swansea, as it brought to an end a rough patch of results that had seen an
over achieving start to the season threaten to unravel completely in the new
year. An up and down first campaign back in the Premier League is
illustrated by the fact that a win here would secure the team's first
back-to-back victories of the season and complete West Ham's first double of
the campaign, having beaten Villa 1-0 back in August.
Having praised Carroll for his efforts last week, it would be remiss not to
mention Aston Villa's leading striker Christian Benteke as well. What a
positive impact he's made in his first season in the Premier League. At 22
years of age you have to think there's more to come, but Villa will surely
find some big vultures circling in the summer, keen to acquire his services.
Paul Lambert knows it and has been quick to point out "they'd better have a
few quid in their pockets" if they want to prise him away from Villa Park.
Aston Villa haven't won any of their last eight Premier League matches, but
Benteke's form is good and he's scored on each of his last four appearances.
Villa badly need a win and are up against a West Ham side with a poor recent
away record. They've taken just one point from the last 21 available and
only scored five goals in the last nine games on the road, but the home team
can hardly be confident after four straight home defeats in the league to
Spurs, Wigan, Southampton and Newcastle.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
West Ham are looking to complete the league double over Aston Villa for the
first time since 2005-06. They won the reverse fixture 1-0 on the opening
day thanks to a Kevin Nolan goal - his fifth Premier League goal against the
West Midlands club.
Villa have won seven of their 16 Premier League meetings at home to West
Ham, with another seven matches drawn. West Ham's most win recent came in
January 2006.
Aston Villa
If Villa lose they will equal their top-flight club record five-match home
losing streak set between April to May 1963.
Aston Villa are winless in their last eight league games and without a clean
sheet in their last nine, conceding 26 goals in the process.
The West Midlands club have failed to win in their last 12 league matches
played on a Sunday since a 1-0 home win against Liverpool in May 2011.
Christian Benteke has scored in four successive appearances for Aston Villa
in all competitions (five goals). He has 10 Premier League goals this term
and is the first Villa player to reach double figures in his debut season
since Dion Dublin in 1998-1999 (11 goals).
West Ham
West Ham are searching for back-to-back league wins for the first time this
season. They last won successive Premier League games between February and
March 2011 when the beat Liverpool and Stoke.
Six of West Ham's eight Premier League wins have come against clubs in the
bottom half of the Premier League table.
Sam Allardyce's side have let in 11 goals in their last three away fixtures.
They are also the Premier League's most goal-shy attack on their travels
with just seven to date.
Andy Carroll, who has scored two league goals in his last four league
appearances for the Hammers, fired his only Premier League hat-trick against
Villa - for Newcastle in August 2010.
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Aston Villa v West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 8th February 2013
By: Preview Percy
Next up we go up the M1, M6 and down the A38(M) to Villa Park where our
hosts will be Aston Villa.
It's a Sunday 1.30pm kick off. There's engineering works on the Circle line
so if you are travelling via Euston you may need to give yourselves extra
time to get there. Otherwise it's on one of those space tv channels for
which coverage will probably start about four hours before kick-off if you
really have nothing else to do.
By and large it's been a pretty wretched season for the Villains, who have
spent much of the season flirting with the relegation places. As it stands
they're second from bottom with 21 points from 25 games. They're 4 points
clear from QPR who occupy the bottom slot and level on points with Wigan
thanks to an eight goal deficit on the goal-difference front. That'll be the
Chelsea defeat just before Christmas then.
Their last six league matches have seen them draw three (2-2 at Swansea and
West Brom and 3-3 at Everton) and lost three (all at home, 0-3 to Wigan, 1-2
to Newcastle and 0-1 to Southampton). In amongst all that they got knocked
out of the League Cup at the semi-final stage by Bradford and suffered the
ultimate ignominy of being knocked out of the FA Cup by Millwall. Pretty
grim stuff.
The man tasked with handling all this is Paul Lambert. Lambert came in to
replace the never popular Alex McLeish who stuck his head round the door at
Forest for a few days recently. One of the notable features of the Lambert
tenure is that he appears to share my views on the baffling "talents" of
Darren Bent. Regular readers will know that, despite his habit of scoring
against us on an irritatingly frequent basis, I really don't rate Bent. It
seems that Lambert is of similar opinion as he's only been given a handful
of starts in the league this season.
Instead, the first choice striker is near-namesake Christian Benteke.
Benteke (Congolese for "better than Darren Bent" I expect) is the club's top
scorer with 14 this season, of which ten have come in the league. Although
born in the Congo, Benteke qualifies for Belgium at international level and
has 4 goals from his 8 caps thus far. There are murmurings that Benteke
wants out at the end of the season. Whether there's any substance to the
murmurings or they represent some kite-flying from an agent, it's hardly the
sort of thing that they want to be hearing at Villa Park in the middle of a
relegation scrap.
The received wisdom on Villa's season so far is that they've lacked
experience in crucial areas. In defence the "old head" might have been
expected to have been Richard Dunne. The 33 year old Irish international
has, however, been injured all season with that old favourite of this column
"Gilmore's Groin" which, until I started doing these previews, I had
previously assumed to have been a small sheep-farming community somewhere in
the middle of nowhere in Australia. Dunne's had three operations on the
problem this season. Although he has apparently returned to training, he's
still listed as "no return date" by the usual sources.
Right at the time their most experienced defender caught Gilmore's, they
sold another central defender in the shape of James Collins to us. All of
which made the recent two month injury absence of skipper Ron Vlaar more
important. Vlaar's back now to bolster a defence that against Everton
included Matt Lowton, who came in from Sheffield Hypocrisy in the close
season, Ciaran Clark, the 23 year-old former England U18 & U19 skipper who
nailed his colours to the Republic of Ireland mast rather than not be
selected at grown-up level, and left-back Joe Bennett who came in from Boro'
last summer. There's a fair bit of "learning on the job" going on in there
and the defensive resources will be further tested with the news that there
is a doubt over Bennett who has that mysterious ailment of "a knock".
Another notable absentee will be midfielder Stiliyan Petrov. Petrov is
recovering from leukaemia which was discovered when he underwent tests
following Fabrice Muamba's collapse at Spurs last year. So the medics saved
at least two lives that night. Petrov is said to be in remission at the
moment and the general noises coming out from the player suggests that the
prognosis is good. Those of us here at the Avram Grant Rest Home For The
Bewildered send our best wishes anyway. They have taken to having a minute's
applause for the player in the 19th minute of matches. A laudable sentiment,
though I'm never quite sure of the etiquette on such occasions. What happens
if there's an incident in the 19th minute – a foul or a goal or something.
Does one just abandon the applause or what. Clearly I need some sort of
handbook to modern living.
They appear to have been playing in 4-2-3-1 formation. The three behind
Benteke last week were Weimann, N'Zogbia and Agbonlahor.
N'Zogbia famously had a falling out in 2009 at Newcastle with the then boss
Joe Kinnear. Kinnear, displaying all the wit and intellect we've come to
expect from him over the years, referred to the player as "insomnia". Whilst
the rest of the world were out having their split sides repaired after the
paroxysms of laughter, for N'Zogbia it was the final straw and, having
already earlier announced that he wanted to move to a club more in line with
his loftier ambitions a move in the January window was inevitable. He ended
up settling for Wigan, indicating the player's fundamental misunderstanding
of the meaning of the word "ambition". He spent much of his time at Wigan
seemingly looking for another club (well you would, wouldn't you) and at one
stage it looked like he might be off to Birmingham until someone had a word
in his ear about that word "ambition". He couldn't agree personal terms (he
wanted paying) and ended up at Villa Park in July 2011 for a reported fee of
£9.5m
It was a quiet window for them. Residing as one does in a rest home, most of
us are a bit mutton in these parts. So when I heard that Cilla had signed
for them I was a bit confused. After all, if you were going to sign an
untalented irritating scouser surely Carragher would be your first choice?
Once I'd replaced the Ever-Readies on the electric ear-trumpet I have to
wear these days I discovered that the player in question was in fact Yacouba
Sylla, a defensive midfielder who has arrived from the splendidly-named
Clermont Foot. He may get his first start on Sunday.
And so to us. That win has released some of the pressure that was building
up in recent weeks and the return of Mr Carroll was paramount in that. Kevin
Nolan looks a much better player with his one time lodger about and he does
bring other players into the game in a manner that Carlton Cole tries to do
but does so without consistency. Now he's fit (hopefully) we need to see him
scoring on a regular basis.
In other news Mr Allardyce has found himself £8,000 lighter in the wallet
for, well you tell me. It's as if the FA have rumbled that our referees are
rubbish but have decreed it to be some sort of a state secret that is not to
be revealed under any circumstances. Surely the FA would be better served
trying to find out why referees are so in thrall to the home side at Old
Trafford. For example, why don't they examine whether it was appropriate for
a referee to give a yellow card for a red card offence calling the player
over with a cheery "come here Scholsey". Why don't they look at certain
referees seem to be immune from sanction no matter how bad their
performances (clue – if you put someone like Riley in charge what exactly do
you expect?) Stop shooting the messengers and look at the real problem.
Rant over. There are no fresh injury worries Collins, McCartney, Demel and
Potts will all miss out, whilst Mo Maiga is still down in South Africa where
Mali will contest the third place playoff with Ghana.
This is an interesting match statistically speaking. Their home form is
about as good as our away form at the moment so that'll be preying on their
minds – and we all know how that feels. They will have felt good for 90 or
so minutes last week but the fact that they played ok but still managed to
throw away a 3-1 lead will also do little for their confidence. Hopefully it
won't have escaped their notice that Carroll scored from a corner –
something that they've not exactly been good at defending of late.
As for us we really need to actually go for it away from home a bit more.
When Mr Allardyce took over he made great play of how he intended to tighten
things up away from home. We saw that on a number of occasions last season
but the problem is that this season we've been conceding early goals, at
which point the sitting deep and attacking on the counter tactic becomes
self defeating. Nobody's saying we should go all gung-ho about things but
whatever we're doing at the moment isn't working – 6 goals on the road all
season would seem to bear that out. And if you can't go for it a little bit
against a team with a home record like Villa's when can you?
With as full a squad as we can hope for to choose from, and with the
confidence boost of last week's win against what was, let's not forget, a
fairly useful Swansea side, behind us I think we can get a rare win from
this one. I'm therefore going to put the Avram Grant Rest Home For The
Bewildered "investment" fund that would otherwise have been placed on
something that would have ended up as a Findus Lasagne (£2.50) on a 2-1 win
to us.
Enjoy the game!
When Last We Met At Villa Park Lost 3-0 (August 2010) First game of the
season, full of optimism, what could possibly go wrong? Well they appointed
Mike Dean as referee for a start and he decided to repeal the offside law.
He needn't have bothered. We were so bad we'd have lost 3-0 without his
usual incompetence helping the home side out.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg. Has milked the wave of sympathy over the crap
that Chelsea sent his way. Not the most reliable of refs but had a decent
match when last we saw him in the home match against Norwich on New Year's
Day.
Danger Man:Christian Benteke – he's their top scorer and will provide their
main threat. Unless they bring on Bent of course. He'll score against us
despite being useless.
Daft Fact Of The Week: Aston is a suburb of Birmingham which, by
coincidence, is also the name of a city in Alabama. You can tell the
difference between the two: one is a city where, due to a limited gene pool
caused by inbreeding, everyone looks like that scary kid with the banjo in
"Deliverance" whilst the other……nah far too easy and obvious!
Stat man John: Northcutt's corner
Head to Head
Pld 104; West Ham Utd 38, Aston Villa 36, Draws 30.
Biggest Win
30th August 1958: West Ham Utd 7-2 Aston Villa (Boleyn Ground, Division One)
Heaviest Defeat
6th September 1930: Aston Villa 6-1 West Ham Utd (Villa Park, Division One)
First Meeting
1t February 1913: Aston Villa 5-0 West Ham Utd (Villa Park, FA Cup)
Last Five Meetings
18th August 2012: West Ham Utd 1-0 Aston Villa (Boleyn Ground, Premier
League)
16th April 2011: West Ham Utd 1-2 Aston Villa (Boleyn Ground, Premier
League)
14h August 2010: Aston Villa 3-0 West Ham Utd (Villa Park, Premier League)
17th January 2010: Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham Utd (Villa Park, Premier League)
4th November 2009: West Ham Utd 2-1 Aston Villa (Boleyn Ground, Premier
League)
Memorable Match
8th March 1980: West Ham Utd 1-0 Aston Villa (Boleyn Ground, FA Cup)
Second division West Ham were huge underdogs in this FA Cup quarter Final
against a first division Aston Villa side who were to be crowned European
Champions within two years. With the game entering the final minute of
normal time Ken McNaught's hand struck Trevor Brooking's corner. Referee
David Richardson had no doubt and pointed immediately to the penalty spot -
to the delight of more than 36,000 fans crammed into the Boleyn Ground.
With several of his team mates unable to watch, 20-year-old full-back Ray
'Tonka' Stewart - at Second Division West Ham for less than a year following
his £400,000 move from Dundee United - stepped up to smash the ball into
Jimmy Rimmer's bottom right corner to send the happy Hammers through to a
semi-final clash with another First Division team, Everton.
Video: http://youtu.be/bmDijc0Oc5U
Seeing Red
4th December 1982: Ray Stewart for body-checking Mark Walters
They Played For Both
William Askew; Carlton Cole; James Collins; Alan Curbishley; Mervyn Day; Ray
Houghton; Thomas Hitzlsperger; David James; Fred Norris; Nigel Reo-Coker;
Tony Scott; Les Sealey; Tommy Southren; Phil Woosnam; John Carew; Frank
McAvennie; Nobby Solano; Marlon Harewood.
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Alou Diarra claims he never felt part of the set-up at West Ham
By Patrick Haond. Last Updated: February 8, 2013 12:33pm
SSN
Alou Diarra claims to have been given the impression that he was never
wanted by West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce. The France international
appeared to represent something of a coup for the Hammers last summer, with
the highly-rated midfielder having been linked with a move to England for
some time.
Things did not work out as planned for Diarra, though, as he found
first-team football hard to come by. Having aired his frustration, he was
then loaned to Rennes during the January transfer window. Diarra has now
suggested that his move to Upton Park was driven by agents, rather than
Allardyce, and that he was left with no choice but to look for regular game
time elsewhere. He told France Football: "In London, I knew that I had no
guarantee to start games and I knew there would be competition, but I was
not told that I would be a reserve. "The coach did not refuse my arrival,
but he didn't want it either. I was just one additional player. "I never
gave up, but in the end you get fed up of fighting for nothing. "Maybe that
is why the officials granted me a loan. They understood that I was no cheat.
A lot of players could have just waited for their cheques, but I won't do
that."
Cheated
The 31-year-old added: "Should I have spoken to the coach before I signed? I
wanted to but he was always at training. "I was handed a three-year
contract, but he (Allardyce) wanted to work with his own players that have
followed him for years. "It is one of my worst memories because I have been
cheated. I could not accept the situation any longer and went to meet with
my representatives. They understood and I thank them. "I have turned the
West Ham page until the end of the season, because I have been loaned with
no option to buy."
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Sam Allardyce defiant over FA fine
Last Updated: February 8, 2013 1:52pm
SSN
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce believes his fine from the Football
Association was for "speaking the truth" following his side's FA Cup
fourth-round replay defeat at Manchester United. The 58-year-old Hammers
boss was fined £8,000 and warned about his future conduct by the FA for
questioning the integrity of the officials in his post-match comments
following the game at Old Trafford. He was unhappy at the awarding of a
penalty to the home team while his side were denied two spot-kicks for what
he felt were clear handballs. Allardyce said he did not intend to suggest
any bias in the officials but stood by his suggestion that they may be
affected by large home crowds. "For me I spoke the truth, so if you like I
have been fined for speaking the truth, but there you go, we move on," he
said. "What I had to do was present my case and give it to the panel and
make sure they understood what I meant and there was no doubt I meant
nothing other than the influence that happens at the big arenas that happens
to everyone when you go there. "Those influences can make people make
decisions that are right or wrong, not just Phil Dowd but players and you as
a manager. "I thought we put an outstanding case forward and I thought I
should have got the benefit of the doubt based on the fact I didn't say
anyone was biased. "It is the implication that people might have thought I
meant the referee was biased and that I may have thought it on my comments,
and that was why I was fined. I tried to choose my words carefully and never
mentioned that word (bias) whatsoever."
In the aftermath of the FA Cup game, Allardyce said: "You see it time and
time again at Old Trafford. There's no doubt about the difference between
Rafael's handball and Jordan Spence's. Spence plays for West Ham and the
away team, while Rafael plays for the home side at Old Trafford." He
confirmed that he would not be appealing the fine.
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Aston Villa v West Ham preview
Last Updated: February 8, 2013 12:19pm
SSN
Aston Villa will aim to take advantage of West Ham's poor away form as they
look to boost their survival bid on Sunday. In the battle of the Claret and
Blue sides, it is the home team most urgently in need of points in front of
the Sky Sports cameras at Villa Park. A run of eight games without a win has
seen the Premier League perennials plummet into the drop zone. Only Queens
Park Rangers sit below Villa in the table and, with pressure mounting on
manager Paul Lambert, three points against dodgy travellers West Ham are
surely a must. The Hammers haven't won away from Upton Park since
mid-November but six home wins have helped ensure that Sam Allardyce's side
are nine points clear of their hosts going into this one. Despite their
questionable form, both these sides enjoyed encouraging results at the
weekend.
West Ham produced a gritty display to see off Swansea at the Boleyn Ground,
while Villa drew 3-3 in an entertaining contest at Everton. But it is the
manner of that draw - after conceding yet another late goal - that will
concern Villa supporters. Their fragile team will need to be strong both
mentally and physically against Allardyce's robust outfit in what could be a
significant afternoon in establishing Villa's survival credentials.
A Villa
Last 6
3-3
1-2
2-1
2-1
2-2
0-1
Villa midfielder Fabian Delph has recovered from an ankle injury after a
two-game absence and is included in the squad. Karim El Ahmadi has also
shaken off a knock to the knee sustained in the draw at Everton last
weekend. Villa boss Paul Lambert will run a fitness check over a third
midfielder in Ashley Westwood, who is currently suffering from illness, but
defender Richard Dunne is still out with a groin problem.
West Ham
Last 6
1-0
3-1
5-1
1-1
1-0
3-0
Sam Allardyce has no fresh injury concerns ahead of his side's trip to face
Villa and is able to welcome Modibo Maiga back to the squad. The forward has
returned to the club following Mali's exit from the Africa Cup of Nations
but is unlikely to feature. Defensive duo James Collins (hamstring) and
George McCartney (knee) are still out but all of the Hammers players on
international duty returned from their midweek exertions unscathed.
Opta Facts:
Aston Villa have recovered fewer points than any other team from matches
they have been trailing this season (two).
Paul Lambert's side are on a run of nine Premier League games without a
clean sheet; only Fulham (11 games) are on a longer current run in the PL.
The Hammers have taken just one point from the last 21 available on the road
and scored just five goals in their last nine games away from home in the
Premier League.
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Three Goals in Three Matches, as Paulista Takes Sam Allardyce at His Word!
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
Wellington Paulista scored another goal in the recent Development Squad
match against WBA. That makes it Three goals in Three appearances. Paulista
has obviously taken Sam Allardyce at his word, when he stated that the
striker faced stiffen competition in wining a first team place, but the way
to force himself in to contention was to just score goals!
You will recall that there was a certain air of negativity surrounding
Paulista's loan signing, mostly created by online criticism by Brazilian
football fans. My attitude from the beginning was that the Paulista was
useful, we should give him a fair chance and then make up our own minds
about his ability. After his clinical finishes for the U-21s, I feel
justified in my view that he could make a positive impact in the final
months of the season. He gives 100% on the pitch and is a bit of a
character, both qualities that will endear him to the Hammers supporters;
additionally, he really looks like he can convert his chance. I have not
seen the travelling squad, for the Villa match, but if he is included then
he might very well be selected for the bench. It may be ill-advised for
Paulista to start the match. Rather, it is better if he is introduced from
the bench, given the opportunity to build up his game time and adapt to the
significantly greater demands of PL football.
Talking of words spoken, it appears that those imparted by Sam Allardyce
with such conviction, after the 3rd Round FA Cup Replay at Old Trafford,
have proven costly. He may very well have spoken the truth, based on all the
available evidence, but in the rarified atmosphere of the FA Disciplinary
rules and procedures, being right is no justification. Rather, it is all
about protecting the integrity of the officials and, through them, that of
the Football Assocation itself. Still, perhaps Sam Allardyce considers it
worthwhile to put the truth on record, even if it comes at a price in terms
of a possible fine/suspension?
Similarly, it seems that Alou Diarra still has plenty of words to bring
forth about his negative experience at West Ham. Following his loan move to
Rennes, Diarra has been reported as criticising an agent and the club for
allegedly making him false promises in order to capture his signature. There
is no apparent reference to the injury that effectively side lined him for
four months, nor the fact that this was a pretty pivotal reason for his
non-selection over that period. Unless, he is actually stating that he was
fit all along and was simply ignored for selection by the manager? I am
fairly sure that was not the case, so why the absence of this one central,
pertinent and inconvenient fact?
Finally, the team can do themselves a massive favour by securing a vital
away victory at Villa Park this weekend. Can they do it? Most certainly,
especially if they dig in, like against Swansea, and Andy Carroll can
faithfully replicate his prior outstanding performance. Of course, there is
still the distinct possibility that we will be victim to the 'fall guy'
tendency, which still so frequently afflicts us. Will we, once again, play
the hapless victims to a team that hitherto could not even buy a win? Or
will we buck the trend, build upon the admirably gritty Swansea victory and
accummulate a healthy looking 33 points total up to that point in the
season?
Villa certainly have some good players and their manager is very well
regarded in the game, so could they choose to launch their PL resurgence
against us? I certainly hope not and I am backing West Ham grind out another
hard fought 0-1 victory. Who knows, perhaps, a certain Welington Paulista
might even figure at some point in the procedings? COYI !
SJ. Chandos.
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Sign here, pal
Kevin Nolan has urged Andy Carroll to sign for West Ham on a permanent basis
The Sun
Published: 08th February 2013
KEVIN NOLAN has urged Andy Carroll to sign for West Ham on a permanent
basis. But he admits his big £35million pal still has unfinished business at
Liverpool. The England striker, 24, is currently on loan at Upton Park after
failing to fit into the plans of new Reds boss Brendan Rodgers. And best
mate Nolan believes Carroll should stay in London and become part of a club
where he is truly wanted and appreciated. The pair played together at
Newcastle before Nolan headed south to the East End for £3m in June 2011.
And former Toon skipper Nolan said: "Everyone at West Ham has really enjoyed
working with Andy — and we all believe there is no better place for him to
be than at our club. "He's in one of the best cities in the world. playing
with lads who want to play with him. "He was probably a bit harshly treated
by Liverpool and I think he feels hard done by with all that's happened
there. "I think most Liverpool fans were shocked by what happened to him in
pre-season, after the way he came into his own with some of his performances
towards the end of last season. "But he still loves Liverpool and he has the
hunger to prove to everyone there that he is good enough to play there. "No
one has spoken about what happens when his loan spell with us is up but
everyone in our dressing-room will want Andy to stay beyond the end of this
season."
Midfielder Nolan, 30, infamously took Carroll into his family home as a
lodger to keep the controversial striker out of trouble when they were
together at Newcastle. And Nolan believes that leaving the North-East was
probably the best thing for Carroll — despite his failure to live up to the
huge price-tag that took him to Anfield. He said: "Moving out of Newcastle
was important for Andy because he was getting himself into a bit too much
trouble. "He was here, there and everywhere but people forget that he has
still only just turned 24 and is a young man. "He's made a few mistakes but
because he's 6ft 4in tall and has long hair, he tends to stand out a bit
more. "Thankfully he's had his hair cut now. I told him I was getting sick
of looking at his greasy image and at least he washes it now! "But I do feel
sorry for him at times. "I tell him I hate going out with him because he
can't step out of the door without someone asking for an autograph. "I can
walk around London for days, go on the Tube and everything, and no one
recognises me. But two minutes next to him and we get mobbed.
"Only time will tell where Andy plays next season. We feel we're a good fit
at West Ham but he's only scored two goals for us so far so he's going to
have to get his finger out or we won't want to buy him."
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Kevin Nolan: Villa must stick together or face drop
Published: 08th February 2013
The SUn
WEST HAM skipper Kevin Nolan has warned struggling Aston Villa to sort out
the dressing room cliques or risk relegation. Nolan was part of the
Newcastle team which dropped out of the Premier League four years ago and
says that no club is too big to go down. And as the Hammers look to pile on
the problems for boss Paul Lambert at Villa Park tomorrow Nolan says it is
vital everyone is united. The midfielder, 30, said: "When your team is
struggling it's really important you stick together and don't start going
off in your little cliques. If there's a problem you need to all sit round
together and air your feelings. "When the chips are down and there is an
atmosphere about the place, a lot of people start worrying. "We had a lot of
big-name players at Newcastle and people were talking about the situation
escalating and the club going down. "But we stuck together and did what was
right for the club. "It's slightly different at Villa because they have
stopped spending the kind of money they were a few years ago and are
bringing in a lot of youngsters instead. "They have handled things quite
well considering the stick they have come under, but when you play for a big
club you have to expect criticism if results don't go well."
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Big Sam: We're a Jekyll 'n Hyde team
By PAT SHEEHAN
Last Updated: 09th February 2013
The SUn
SAM ALLARDYCE has branded West Ham a Jekyll and Hyde team. Big Sam takes his
side to relegation-threatened Aston Villa tomorrow worried by his side's
lack of firepower on the road. The Hammers have scored just seven times on
their travels — the worst record in the top flight. They have also taken
just one point from 21 in their last seven away matches. But, at Upton Park,
they have lost just three all season. Allardyce, 58, said: "We are a Jekyll
and Hyde side. It niggles me we can't replicate our home form on our
travels. "Away from home, we have the worst goalscoring ratio — even though
we have been putting the opposition under real pressure." Villa have won
just two at home this term and let in twice as many as the nine they have
scored.
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Allardyce: I've been fined for speaking truth
Published: 08th February 2013
The Sun
SAM ALLARDYCE believes he has been fined by the FA for "speaking the truth"
after West Ham's defeat to Man United. Allardyce was told to pay £8,000 for
his criticism of the referee. Speaking on January 16, he said: "You see it
time and time again at Old Trafford. "There's no doubt about the difference
between Rafael's handball and Jordan Spence's. Spence plays for West Ham and
the away team, while Rafael plays for the home side at Old Trafford."
Allardyce today claimed his comments did not suggest referee Phil Dowd was
biased. But he stood by his accusation that people are influenced by crowds
in big stadiums. He said: "For me I spoke the truth, so if you like I have
been fined for speaking the truth, but there you go, we move on. "What I had
to do was present my case and give it to the panel and make sure they
understood what I meant. "There was no doubt I meant nothing other than the
influence that happens at the big arenas that happens to everyone when you
go there. "Those influences can make people make decisions that are right or
wrong, not just Phil Dowd but players and you as a manager." Allardyce
added: "I thought we put an outstanding case forward and I thought I should
have got the benefit of the doubt based on the fact I didn't say anyone was
biased. "It is the implication that people might have thought I meant the
referee was biased and that I may have thought it on my comments, and that
was why I was fined. "I tried to choose my words carefully and never
mentioned that word whatsoever." The Hammmers have taken just eight points
away from home this season and Allardyce is desperate for a win at
struggling Aston Villa on Sunday. He said: "Everyone knows the
responsibility of turning around our away results, they must get better. "We
have a fantastic opportunity to change the results we have had recently on
Sunday given we had a big boost of confidence with a well-deserved win
against Swansea last week."
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Hoodwinked! Alou Diarra claims he was 'conned' into signing for West Ham
The Mirror
8 Feb 2013 12:15
Alou Diarra has claimed he was "conned" into signing for West Ham. The
Hammers midfielder, who has been loaned out to Rennes for the rest of the
season, told France Football: "They were not honest with me. They made me
believe I was the priority of the club but it was not true. "It shows that
at my age you can still be conned. "I wanted (to speak to Sam Allardyce) but
he was always at training camps, travelling left and right. At the same
time, I had the guarantee of a three-year contract. "But he came to West Ham
with his players, who have followed him for several seasons. The manager was
not against my arrival but he was not for it either! "I was an extra player.
It is tough to feel useless. In the end, you have enough of fighting for no
reason."
Diarra, 31, played only two hours in five months. "Yes, essentially because
I was misled. I could not accept this situation any longer and I went to see
the directors. They understood and I thanked them." Former Liverpool
midfielder Diarra, who cost £2m from Marseille, suffered a serious thigh
strain in training in September and has only started one Premier League
match. He made four appearances since returning to fitness in the New Year -
the last against Arsenal on January 23. Allardyce said last month: "It
hasn't quite worked out and he feels a little disgruntled in terms of
playing more. "Because of Alou's long-standing injury he has found it hard
to adjust to what is needed in the Premier League."
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Kevin Nolan interview: Sometimes I look at Andy Carroll and feel sorry for
him
The Mirror
8 Feb 2013 22:30
It's still not easy Being: Andy Carroll, even away from Liverpool. But West
Ham's Kevin Nolan reckons Carroll, his old Newcastle team-mate, is "perfect"
for the Hammers and should stay and play in London - even if the £35million
striker's fame means he could have his own fly-on-the-wall series following
his colourful life off the pitch. "Sometimes I do look at it and I feel
sorry for him," admitted West Ham captain Nolan, who has scored three times
as many Premier League goals from midfield this season as on-loan Liverpool
frontman Carroll has. "The lad can't walk out of here without somebody
asking for his autograph -I can walk around London for three days and not
get noticed once. "I am with him for two minutes and we get mobbed. I always
tell him I hate going anywhere with him. "I can sit on the Tube for two days
without anybody noticing me, but two minutes next to him and we are being
bothered for photos. It is part and parcel of it. "But, as a lad, I think it
has made him grow up and made him the person he is. He is a top lad - a good
person to know - and everybody who does know him enjoys being in his
company."
After an injury-hit start at Upton Park, the England forward has reformed
his on-field double act with Nolan and scored to give the Hammers a
pressure-relieving win last weekend. But Mrs Nolan will be relieved he is
not a house guest again following his eventful stay in 2010. "I wouldn't let
him anyway," Nolan laughed. "Once is enough." Nolan reckons leaving the
north-east has benefited Britain's most expensive ever player. "Moving out
of Newcastle was important because he was probably tending to get himself
into a bit too much trouble," the 30-year-old recalled. "He was here, there
and everywhere. But that was because he was young. "Everybody forgets he has
just turned 24. He has made a few mistakes but because he is 6ft 3in and has
got long hair, it tends to get out a bit more."
Now, the question is where Carroll will go next. He was last seen in a Reds
kit in Channel 5 documentary series Being: Liverpool - the day before he was
loaned out to West Ham for the season. Even though Kop boss Brendan Rodgers
doesn't want him, Carroll clearly feels he has unfinished Anfield business.
"He loves Liverpool," said Nolan, a born and bred Scouser. "He still wants
to prove to everybody that he is good enough to play there. He has got that
hunger - that is what people don't see. "Andy was probably a bit harshly
treated at Liverpool. I think most Liverpool fans were quite shocked at what
happened to him in pre-season and him getting loaned out, but that's
football. "You just have to take it on the chin. He's big enough and ugly
enough to do that and get on with it. I think he's done that."
Although Carroll's hometown club Newcastle could also be interested this
summer, playing alongside Nolan for Sam Allardyce's Hammers seems the next
best alternative. "I think Andy's perfect for us and we're perfect for him,"
said the Irons skipper. "Sam is definitely the right man to get the best out
of him. "He's in London, one of the best cities in the world. He's playing
for a great club, he's playing with lads who know him, want to play with
him. Only time will tell. "You'll never know what's going to happen in the
next window. We'll just have to wait and see. But he's got to score goals or
we won't want to buy him, will we? He's only scored two for us. "He's got to
start pulling his finger out for us if he wants us to buy him!"
Nolan is the Upton Park shop steward and the go-between for the team and
manager. "Maybe someone's been fined for something that's a bit harsh, I'll
go in and fight his corner for him," he said. "I tend to get them off - I'm
quite good at that." But the future of Allardyce is also not settled as
Nolan's former Bolton boss is out of contract this summer."I don't think
there's any rush," Nolan said. "But hopefully in the next month or so Sam
will be sitting down with the owners and trying to sort out the deal or
seeing if they want him or not." On Sunday, the Hammers face an Aston Villa
side whose torrid season has echoes of Newcastle's relegation season in
2009."What's happened this season has been tough," said Nolan. "They've got
a lot of young lads and they've handled it quite well with the stick they've
come under but when you play for a big club you have to expect the stick.
"I'm sure Paul Lambert will have them fired up and ready to go against us.
We've got to make sure we're up for it."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Saturday, February 9
Friday, February 8
Daily WHUFC News - 8th February 2013
Noble set for Twitter Q&A
WHUFC.com
West Ham United midfielder to answer your questions on Friday
06.02.2013
Got a question that you would love to ask West Ham United midfielder Mark
Noble? Your chance will come later this week, as the Hammers man will be
taking part in a live Q&A session on Twitter on Friday! We'll be sitting
down with the 25-year-old after training and he will be answering the best
of your questions live on the club's Official Twitter page. If you are not
already following us, then make sure you join the 139,000 who are, and keep
looking out for a confirmed time for Noble's Q&A on Friday - use the
#ASKNOBES hashtag to get those questions to us on the day.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Joint-Chairman confident ahead of Villa
WHUFC.com
Joint-Chairman David Gold looks ahead to Sunday's Barclays Premier League
clash at Villa Park
07.02.2013
David Gold was thrilled to take his seat in the Directors Box for West Ham
United's Barclays Premier League win over Swansea City, having been laid low
with a bout of pneumonia. Thanks to a brief stay in hospital, the
Joint-Chairman is now fighting fit once more and relieved to be back in the
thick of things at such a crucial stage of the season. With a win under his
belt on his return to the Boleyn Ground, Mr Gold has high hopes for Sunday's
all-important clash against Aston Villa. Speaking exclusively to West Ham
TV, he said: "I'm feeling so much better. It was pneumonia, and luckily my
daughters got me into hospital and within a week or so I was beginning to
feel better. So here I am! "When you're poorly and the team's having a bad
run, you're anxious to get back and be amongst it and do whatever you can.
And because of the transfer window being open as well, it's frustrating,
you're lying there feeling ill, but at the same time desperate to get back."
Looking ahead to the weekend trip to Villa Park, the Joint-Chairman believes
West Ham's squad is stronger than ever, with astute January signings made
and key personnel back from injury. "I'd like to think it's going to go the
way we would like it, which is that we'd go there and win," he said.
"They're going through a terrible time, but you can't believe that's going
to last through the season, at some time they're going to recover. "But I
think we're strong, and we're getting stronger. The squad is not only
strengthened by the incoming players but also by a number of players
returning from injury, in particular, Jack Collison and Andy Carroll. These
are fantastic additions to the squad so we should be in as good a shape as
we have been, if not our best shape going into Aston Villa."
For exclusive access to the full-length interview, in which the
Joint-Chairman shares his views on a busy transfer window and West Ham's
away-day fortunes, login or subscribe to West Ham TV using the link below.
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Taylor expects big things from Carroll
WHUFC.com
Matt Taylor lauds the return of Andy Carroll and expects him to play a big
part in the Hammers' run-in
07.02.2013
Matt Taylor is convinced that Andy Carroll's match-winning performance
against Swansea City is a sign of things to come, now that the England
striker is enjoying a clean bill of health. Carroll's imperious display at
the Boleyn Ground last Saturday will have convinced most that he is already
back to his best, but Taylor insists there is still plenty more to come from
the 6'3 forward. Though injuries have restricted 24-year-old Carroll to just
ten Barclays Premier League starts this season, Taylor is confident Carroll
will have a considerable say in West Ham United's fortunes between now and
the season's end. "I think what you probably saw against Swansea was the tip
of the iceberg," said Taylor. "Hopefully when Andy gets a good run of games
under his belt, he'll start scoring some more goals and prove to be another
vital member of the squad for us. "It's just nice to see him score and I'm
sure he'll be happy first and foremost to play 90 minutes but also to score
a goal and the winning goal, that's fantastic. "He gives us a different
dimension in terms of the way that we can play and utilise his strengths.
He's a very good player, but we need to make sure we keep him fit now.
That's imperative from now until the end of the season. "Injuries are part
and parcel of football. Andy's a very good player but also the other players
that we've got that have come in when Andy hasn't been playing have also
done very well and are also very good players. "It's just one of those
things in football, you get injuries and Andy has been unfortunate. He's
disappointed that he hasn't been fit for the majority of the season, but
hopefully he'll continue to stay fit now until the end of the season."
Meanwhile, Taylor was understandably glad to record another Barclays Premier
League win, though he saw no reason to be relieved after the final whistle
on Saturday. "I wouldn't say relieved, but it's just nice to win a game of
football," he added." I don't think there needs to be a relief, to be
honest, because it's not as if we're sitting at the bottom of the table and
hadn't won for goodness knows how long. "It was just nice to get three
points. But to be brutally honest, our home form has been pretty good, so we
weren't too worried going into the game. Obviously we knew it was going to
be a tough game, they had a lot of possession. I'm pleased for Andy getting
a goal as well. "Let's just continue to build on what's hopefully going to
be a good period from now until the end of the season."
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Driver banking on home comforts
WHUFC.com
Dev Squad skipper Callum Driver is relieved to be homeward bound after two
tough away days
07.02.2013
Callum Driver is setting his sights on Friday's return to 'fortress' Rush
Green, after the Development Squad suffered a first defeat in the Barclays
U21 Premier League Elite Group at Tottenham Hotspur. The Hammers won all but
one of their six contests at Rush Green in the competition's first group
phase and entertain West Bromwich Albion on Friday night. It will be a first
home fixture for the U21s since 30 November 2012, which the hosts lost 1-0
to Blackburn Rovers, having already been crowned Group 1 champions.
Meanwhile, 20-year-old skipper Driver, who spent two months last term on
loan at npower League Two side Burton Albion, is hopeful the modest
surroundings will play in to their hands. "We've had good results at Rush
Green, I think we've only lost there once all season," Driver told West Ham
TV. "It's not the greatest place to come to if you're an away team but we
enjoy playing there. I haven't been there [for some time], so I don't know
what the pitch is like, but it'll be good to get back to the fortress."
Driver, the only ever present in this season's Development Squad, revealed
that manager Nick Haycock had some stern words for the players at half-time
in Monday's 3-2 defeat . It had the desired effect, however, as West Ham
piled on the pressure after the break. "Nick was a little bit disappointed
with us," Driver added. "Obviously conceding the goals that we did, he gave
us a kick up the backside to get us going again, and I think it worked. It
showed in the second half which we dominated. "The second-half performance
was a lot better than the first. We started slowly, and then had a good
period in the first half, where our confidence grew and we started playing.
We were unlucky not to get the result. "Conceding just before half-time
didn't help. It's not the greatest time to concede. It's something that
we've tried to avoid in games before, but a lapse of concentration has not
helped us. "We had plenty of chances that on another day we'd probably have
taken and won by three or four. But we were unlucky not to get them, we've
hit the post, George Moncur has had one that's hit the keeper, so we're
unfortunate not to get the result."
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Matt Taylor pays tribute to Andy Carroll after striker scored against
Swansea
Last Updated: February 7, 2013 12:16pm
SSN
Matt Taylor has paid tribute to Andy Carroll after the striker scored the
winner against Swansea on Saturday. Carroll has been plagued by hamstring
and knee injuries since joining on loan from Liverpool last summer but has
recently rediscovered his form. And Taylor is confident the 24-year-old can
play a pivotal role in helping Sam Allardyce's men build on their
11th-placed spot. "I think what you probably saw against Swansea was the tip
of the iceberg" said Taylor. "Hopefully when Andy gets a good run of games
under his belt, he'll start scoring some more goals and prove to be another
vital member of the squad for us.
"It's just nice to see him score and I'm sure he'll be happy first and
foremost to play 90 minutes but also to score a goal and the winning goal,
that's fantastic.
"He gives us a different dimension in terms of the way that we can play and
utilise his strengths. "He's a very good player, but we need to make sure we
keep him fit now. That's imperative from now until the end of the season."
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Financial fair play draws closer as Premier League chairmen vote in favour
Last Updated: February 7, 2013 6:23pm
SSN
Premier League clubs have voted "overwhelmingly" in favour of introducing
financial restrictions, according to West Ham joint-chairman David Gold.
Representatives of the clubs initially met in December to discuss proposals
which would impose short-term limits on wage rises and force clubs to work
towards breaking even. The 20 members agreed to reconvene this week, when 14
votes were required to approve the proposals. Full details of the agreement
are expected to be disclosed later on Thursday, but Gold emerged from the
vote to tell Sky Sports News: "The clubs supported change. "We've all voted
and it was overwhelmingly supported. Some clubs are a little concerned, but
the vast majority voted in favour. "That will now go to the board for
putting into rules, and we'll vote on that in April. "It's not a salary cap,
it's a restraint on over-spending. If clubs increase their revenues then
they can increase their spending. We have got restraint, that's the
important thing." The possibility of regulation has arisen against the
backdrop of UEFA's Financial Fair Play initiative. Under UEFA's new rules
clubs are being forced to minimise losses or risk the possibility of
exclusion from European competition from 2014/15.
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Premier League clubs facing points deduction if they breach new spending
controls
Last Updated: February 7, 2013 7:35pm
SSN
Premier League clubs will face a points deduction if they breach new
spending controls, chief executive Richard Scudamore has confirmed. The 20
club chairmen agreed to two significant controls on Thursday - to limit
players' wage bills from next season and to longer-term measures that will
restrict the amount of losses clubs can make to £105million over three
years. Clubs whose total wage bill is more than £52m will only be allowed to
increase their wages by £4m per season for the next three years, but the cap
does not cover extra money coming in from increases in commercial or
matchday income. Scudamore said: "As all things in our rulebook you will
subject to a disciplinary commission. "The clubs understand that if people
break the £105m we will look for the top-end ultimate sanction range - a
points deduction. "Normally we stay silent on sanctions as the commission
has a free range but clearly if there is a material breach of that rule we
will be asking the commission to consider top-end sanctions."
The vote for financial regulations could hardly have been closer, with only
13 of the 20 clubs voting in favour, with six against and Reading
abstaining. It meant that the 'yes' vote only narrowly achieved the
necessary two-thirds majority of the 19 votes cast. Clubs sources say
Fulham, West Brom, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Swansea and Southampton all
voted against. Scudamore said there would be an "absolute prohibition" on
clubs reporting losses of more than £105m over the next three years with the
first sanctions possible in 2016. Of the 20 clubs in the top flight, only
Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool have reported losses of more than
£105m over the last three years, according to the most up-to-date published
accounts. The regulations have come about against the backdrop of UEFA's
Financial Fair Play (FFP) initiative.
Under UEFA's new rules clubs are being forced to minimise losses or risk the
possibility of exclusion from European competition from 2014/15. Scudamore
admitted that their own FFP measures would mean it will take longer for
benefactor owners to achieve success, but that it would still be possible.
He said: "The balance we have tried to strike is that a new owner can still
invest a decent amount of money to improve their club but they are not going
to be throwing hundreds and hundreds of millions in a very short period of
time. "While it has worked for a couple of clubs in the last 10 years, and I
am not critical of that, if that's going to be done in the future it's going
to have to be over a slightly longer term without the huge losses being
made. "I think at £105m you can still build a very decent club with
substantial owner funding but you have to do it over time, you can't do it
in a season."
Chelsea won the Premier League two years after Roman Abramovich's takeover,
and Manchester City's title success came three years after Sheikh Mansour's
takeover. Any club making any loss of over £5m a year will have guarantee
those losses against the owner's assets. "In some ways that's the most
significant part; this is a three-year rolling system of secure funding -
it's one year at the moment," added Scudamore. The ceiling when the wage
increase restrictions kick in will be £52m next season, £56m the following
year and £60m in 2015-16. Only seven of the current top-flight clubs would
be under that ceiling at the moment.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
West Ham United midfielder to answer your questions on Friday
06.02.2013
Got a question that you would love to ask West Ham United midfielder Mark
Noble? Your chance will come later this week, as the Hammers man will be
taking part in a live Q&A session on Twitter on Friday! We'll be sitting
down with the 25-year-old after training and he will be answering the best
of your questions live on the club's Official Twitter page. If you are not
already following us, then make sure you join the 139,000 who are, and keep
looking out for a confirmed time for Noble's Q&A on Friday - use the
#ASKNOBES hashtag to get those questions to us on the day.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Joint-Chairman confident ahead of Villa
WHUFC.com
Joint-Chairman David Gold looks ahead to Sunday's Barclays Premier League
clash at Villa Park
07.02.2013
David Gold was thrilled to take his seat in the Directors Box for West Ham
United's Barclays Premier League win over Swansea City, having been laid low
with a bout of pneumonia. Thanks to a brief stay in hospital, the
Joint-Chairman is now fighting fit once more and relieved to be back in the
thick of things at such a crucial stage of the season. With a win under his
belt on his return to the Boleyn Ground, Mr Gold has high hopes for Sunday's
all-important clash against Aston Villa. Speaking exclusively to West Ham
TV, he said: "I'm feeling so much better. It was pneumonia, and luckily my
daughters got me into hospital and within a week or so I was beginning to
feel better. So here I am! "When you're poorly and the team's having a bad
run, you're anxious to get back and be amongst it and do whatever you can.
And because of the transfer window being open as well, it's frustrating,
you're lying there feeling ill, but at the same time desperate to get back."
Looking ahead to the weekend trip to Villa Park, the Joint-Chairman believes
West Ham's squad is stronger than ever, with astute January signings made
and key personnel back from injury. "I'd like to think it's going to go the
way we would like it, which is that we'd go there and win," he said.
"They're going through a terrible time, but you can't believe that's going
to last through the season, at some time they're going to recover. "But I
think we're strong, and we're getting stronger. The squad is not only
strengthened by the incoming players but also by a number of players
returning from injury, in particular, Jack Collison and Andy Carroll. These
are fantastic additions to the squad so we should be in as good a shape as
we have been, if not our best shape going into Aston Villa."
For exclusive access to the full-length interview, in which the
Joint-Chairman shares his views on a busy transfer window and West Ham's
away-day fortunes, login or subscribe to West Ham TV using the link below.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Taylor expects big things from Carroll
WHUFC.com
Matt Taylor lauds the return of Andy Carroll and expects him to play a big
part in the Hammers' run-in
07.02.2013
Matt Taylor is convinced that Andy Carroll's match-winning performance
against Swansea City is a sign of things to come, now that the England
striker is enjoying a clean bill of health. Carroll's imperious display at
the Boleyn Ground last Saturday will have convinced most that he is already
back to his best, but Taylor insists there is still plenty more to come from
the 6'3 forward. Though injuries have restricted 24-year-old Carroll to just
ten Barclays Premier League starts this season, Taylor is confident Carroll
will have a considerable say in West Ham United's fortunes between now and
the season's end. "I think what you probably saw against Swansea was the tip
of the iceberg," said Taylor. "Hopefully when Andy gets a good run of games
under his belt, he'll start scoring some more goals and prove to be another
vital member of the squad for us. "It's just nice to see him score and I'm
sure he'll be happy first and foremost to play 90 minutes but also to score
a goal and the winning goal, that's fantastic. "He gives us a different
dimension in terms of the way that we can play and utilise his strengths.
He's a very good player, but we need to make sure we keep him fit now.
That's imperative from now until the end of the season. "Injuries are part
and parcel of football. Andy's a very good player but also the other players
that we've got that have come in when Andy hasn't been playing have also
done very well and are also very good players. "It's just one of those
things in football, you get injuries and Andy has been unfortunate. He's
disappointed that he hasn't been fit for the majority of the season, but
hopefully he'll continue to stay fit now until the end of the season."
Meanwhile, Taylor was understandably glad to record another Barclays Premier
League win, though he saw no reason to be relieved after the final whistle
on Saturday. "I wouldn't say relieved, but it's just nice to win a game of
football," he added." I don't think there needs to be a relief, to be
honest, because it's not as if we're sitting at the bottom of the table and
hadn't won for goodness knows how long. "It was just nice to get three
points. But to be brutally honest, our home form has been pretty good, so we
weren't too worried going into the game. Obviously we knew it was going to
be a tough game, they had a lot of possession. I'm pleased for Andy getting
a goal as well. "Let's just continue to build on what's hopefully going to
be a good period from now until the end of the season."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Driver banking on home comforts
WHUFC.com
Dev Squad skipper Callum Driver is relieved to be homeward bound after two
tough away days
07.02.2013
Callum Driver is setting his sights on Friday's return to 'fortress' Rush
Green, after the Development Squad suffered a first defeat in the Barclays
U21 Premier League Elite Group at Tottenham Hotspur. The Hammers won all but
one of their six contests at Rush Green in the competition's first group
phase and entertain West Bromwich Albion on Friday night. It will be a first
home fixture for the U21s since 30 November 2012, which the hosts lost 1-0
to Blackburn Rovers, having already been crowned Group 1 champions.
Meanwhile, 20-year-old skipper Driver, who spent two months last term on
loan at npower League Two side Burton Albion, is hopeful the modest
surroundings will play in to their hands. "We've had good results at Rush
Green, I think we've only lost there once all season," Driver told West Ham
TV. "It's not the greatest place to come to if you're an away team but we
enjoy playing there. I haven't been there [for some time], so I don't know
what the pitch is like, but it'll be good to get back to the fortress."
Driver, the only ever present in this season's Development Squad, revealed
that manager Nick Haycock had some stern words for the players at half-time
in Monday's 3-2 defeat . It had the desired effect, however, as West Ham
piled on the pressure after the break. "Nick was a little bit disappointed
with us," Driver added. "Obviously conceding the goals that we did, he gave
us a kick up the backside to get us going again, and I think it worked. It
showed in the second half which we dominated. "The second-half performance
was a lot better than the first. We started slowly, and then had a good
period in the first half, where our confidence grew and we started playing.
We were unlucky not to get the result. "Conceding just before half-time
didn't help. It's not the greatest time to concede. It's something that
we've tried to avoid in games before, but a lapse of concentration has not
helped us. "We had plenty of chances that on another day we'd probably have
taken and won by three or four. But we were unlucky not to get them, we've
hit the post, George Moncur has had one that's hit the keeper, so we're
unfortunate not to get the result."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Matt Taylor pays tribute to Andy Carroll after striker scored against
Swansea
Last Updated: February 7, 2013 12:16pm
SSN
Matt Taylor has paid tribute to Andy Carroll after the striker scored the
winner against Swansea on Saturday. Carroll has been plagued by hamstring
and knee injuries since joining on loan from Liverpool last summer but has
recently rediscovered his form. And Taylor is confident the 24-year-old can
play a pivotal role in helping Sam Allardyce's men build on their
11th-placed spot. "I think what you probably saw against Swansea was the tip
of the iceberg" said Taylor. "Hopefully when Andy gets a good run of games
under his belt, he'll start scoring some more goals and prove to be another
vital member of the squad for us.
"It's just nice to see him score and I'm sure he'll be happy first and
foremost to play 90 minutes but also to score a goal and the winning goal,
that's fantastic.
"He gives us a different dimension in terms of the way that we can play and
utilise his strengths. "He's a very good player, but we need to make sure we
keep him fit now. That's imperative from now until the end of the season."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Financial fair play draws closer as Premier League chairmen vote in favour
Last Updated: February 7, 2013 6:23pm
SSN
Premier League clubs have voted "overwhelmingly" in favour of introducing
financial restrictions, according to West Ham joint-chairman David Gold.
Representatives of the clubs initially met in December to discuss proposals
which would impose short-term limits on wage rises and force clubs to work
towards breaking even. The 20 members agreed to reconvene this week, when 14
votes were required to approve the proposals. Full details of the agreement
are expected to be disclosed later on Thursday, but Gold emerged from the
vote to tell Sky Sports News: "The clubs supported change. "We've all voted
and it was overwhelmingly supported. Some clubs are a little concerned, but
the vast majority voted in favour. "That will now go to the board for
putting into rules, and we'll vote on that in April. "It's not a salary cap,
it's a restraint on over-spending. If clubs increase their revenues then
they can increase their spending. We have got restraint, that's the
important thing." The possibility of regulation has arisen against the
backdrop of UEFA's Financial Fair Play initiative. Under UEFA's new rules
clubs are being forced to minimise losses or risk the possibility of
exclusion from European competition from 2014/15.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Premier League clubs facing points deduction if they breach new spending
controls
Last Updated: February 7, 2013 7:35pm
SSN
Premier League clubs will face a points deduction if they breach new
spending controls, chief executive Richard Scudamore has confirmed. The 20
club chairmen agreed to two significant controls on Thursday - to limit
players' wage bills from next season and to longer-term measures that will
restrict the amount of losses clubs can make to £105million over three
years. Clubs whose total wage bill is more than £52m will only be allowed to
increase their wages by £4m per season for the next three years, but the cap
does not cover extra money coming in from increases in commercial or
matchday income. Scudamore said: "As all things in our rulebook you will
subject to a disciplinary commission. "The clubs understand that if people
break the £105m we will look for the top-end ultimate sanction range - a
points deduction. "Normally we stay silent on sanctions as the commission
has a free range but clearly if there is a material breach of that rule we
will be asking the commission to consider top-end sanctions."
The vote for financial regulations could hardly have been closer, with only
13 of the 20 clubs voting in favour, with six against and Reading
abstaining. It meant that the 'yes' vote only narrowly achieved the
necessary two-thirds majority of the 19 votes cast. Clubs sources say
Fulham, West Brom, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Swansea and Southampton all
voted against. Scudamore said there would be an "absolute prohibition" on
clubs reporting losses of more than £105m over the next three years with the
first sanctions possible in 2016. Of the 20 clubs in the top flight, only
Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool have reported losses of more than
£105m over the last three years, according to the most up-to-date published
accounts. The regulations have come about against the backdrop of UEFA's
Financial Fair Play (FFP) initiative.
Under UEFA's new rules clubs are being forced to minimise losses or risk the
possibility of exclusion from European competition from 2014/15. Scudamore
admitted that their own FFP measures would mean it will take longer for
benefactor owners to achieve success, but that it would still be possible.
He said: "The balance we have tried to strike is that a new owner can still
invest a decent amount of money to improve their club but they are not going
to be throwing hundreds and hundreds of millions in a very short period of
time. "While it has worked for a couple of clubs in the last 10 years, and I
am not critical of that, if that's going to be done in the future it's going
to have to be over a slightly longer term without the huge losses being
made. "I think at £105m you can still build a very decent club with
substantial owner funding but you have to do it over time, you can't do it
in a season."
Chelsea won the Premier League two years after Roman Abramovich's takeover,
and Manchester City's title success came three years after Sheikh Mansour's
takeover. Any club making any loss of over £5m a year will have guarantee
those losses against the owner's assets. "In some ways that's the most
significant part; this is a three-year rolling system of secure funding -
it's one year at the moment," added Scudamore. The ceiling when the wage
increase restrictions kick in will be £52m next season, £56m the following
year and £60m in 2015-16. Only seven of the current top-flight clubs would
be under that ceiling at the moment.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Thursday, February 7
Daily WHUFC News - 7th February 2013
Cole looking to build momentum
WHUFC.com
Hammers midfielder wants to start replicating home performances on the road
06.02.2013
Joe Cole wants to use last weekend's victory over Swansea City as a
springboard for West Ham United's fortunes when they head to Aston Villa
this Sunday.
The Hammers ended a run of six games without victory by seeing off the
challenge of the Swans at the Boleyn Ground and lifted themselves back up to
eleventh in the Barclays Premier League table. Now the focus shifts to
improving their away form and January transfer window arrival Cole is
desperate for that quest to start at Villa Park. However, he is ignoring
Villa's perilous position near the foot of the Premier League and is
expecting a tough test. "I think Saturday has given us a lift," Cole told
whufc.com. "30 points is a big barrier to get to and now we're all looking
up. The next game is Aston Villa - we want to improve our away form and it's
important that we get a result there. "In every game there's pressure and
it's so difficult to win in this league - every team gives you different
kinds of problems. It really is competitive at the moment and we'll just be
taking every game as it comes. "Aston Villa are a young team and you don't
know what you're going to get from them really. They have a lot of talent
and Benteke is a handful up front. It's going to be a tough game I imagine.
"We need to get some momentum going on the road by getting points on the
board."
Cole also took time this week to help launch the Hammers' new partnership
with leading global forex brokers Alpari, taking part in a virtual trading
competition with manager Sam Allardyce, Kevin Nolan and Matt Jarvis. "We've
been doing a bit of trading," he continued. "We were taught how to do it by
the guys at Alpari, it's been very interesting, but very difficult - I lost
a virtual £80,000 in 20 minutes so I don't think I'm cut out for this as a
career after football!
"The others beat me hands down - Kevin Nolan made a couple of grand profit -
but I went down early doors and just threw caution to the wind. It went pear
shaped, but it was good fun. "Seeing a new side of things was good too,
we're not normally in offices. My brother's worked in the City, so now I can
see what he does every day."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce: West Ham boss fined by FA for misconduct
BBC.co.uk
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has been fined £8,000 for criticising match
officials after his side's FA Cup defeat by Manchester United last month.
Allardyce claimed United got the benefit of decisions as the home side in
the third-round replay at Old Trafford, which West Ham lost 1-0. The
Hammers boss, who denied the charge and wanted a personal hearing, was
warned about his future conduct. Allardyce was unhappy with two penalty
decisions that went against his side. The Hammers were denied a penalty when
the ball struck United defender Rafael's arm, only for the hosts to be
awarded one when Jordan Spence handled late on. Allardyce said: "With
Rafael, the ball hits his hand but no penalty is given. With Jordan Spence,
the ball hits his hand and it's a penalty.
"The incidents are the same. If you give one you've got to give both, simple
as that."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
A tribute to Bobby Moore
KUMb.com
Filed: Wednesday, 6th February 2013
By: Staff Writer
It's 20 years this month since the death of West Ham United's World
Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore. Moore died on 24th February 1993 at the age
of just 51 and there are a series of tributes planned to mark the event -
one of which was boradcast by 5 Live last night. During the hour-long
programme 5 Live Sport examined Moore's legacy and impact on the game and
talked to teammates, friends, relatives and his widow Stephanie Moore.
Presenter Mark Pougatch was joined in the studio by Jonathan Pearce and
journalist Jeff Powell, both of whom were close friends of Moore. To listen
to the 60-minute show, click here.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce fined for stating the obvious
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 6th February 2013
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce has been fined £8,000 by the FA for comments he made regarding
referee Phil Dowd following West Ham United's FA Cup exit at Old Trafford.
A furious Allardyce, speaking to ITV immediately after the game blasted Dowd
for giving a penalty to Manchester United whilst denying West Ham a spot
kick for a similar offence. "There's no doubt whatsoever about the
difference between Rafael's hand ball and Jordan Spence's," he raged.
"Jordan Spence plays for West Ham away at Man United and Rafael plays at
home at Old Trafford. It's got to be that simple when you see it." However
the FA, who charged Allardyce with misconduct 48 hours after his comments
were made have subsequently fined him £8,000, for pointing out what much of
football recognises as a clear home bias where Manchester United are
concerned. "Following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today,
Sam Allardyce has been fined for media comments made after his side's FA Cup
with Budweiser Third Round replay against Manchester United on 16 January
2013," read a brief statement on the FA's website. "The West Ham United
manager was charged for a breach of FA Rule E3 in that he questioned the
integrity of the match referee and/or match officials in general, and/or
implied that the match referee and/or match officials in general were
motivated by bias; and/or brought the game into disrepute. "Allardyce, who
had denied the misconduct charge and requested a personal hearing, was also
warned as to his future conduct."
It is not revealed whether match official Dowd was reprimanded for his
blatant example of home bias, although we suspect that is rather unlikely.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Joe Cole keen to build on West Ham win over Swansea
Last Updated: February 6, 2013 6:29pm
SSN
West Ham midfielder Joe Cole believes Saturday's 1-0 home win over Swansea
can provide a platform for a good run for the Hammers. The win ended a
streak of six games without a victory and West Ham will bid for back-to-back
successes at Aston Villa on Sunday. Cole told the club's official website:
"I think Saturday has given us a lift. "Thirty points is a big barrier to
get to and now we're all looking up. The next game is Aston Villa - we want
to improve our away form and it's important that we get a result there. "In
every game there's pressure and it's so difficult to win in this league as
every team gives you different kinds of problems. It really is competitive
at the moment and we'll just be taking every game as it comes. "Aston Villa
are a young team and you don't know what you're going to get from them
really. They have a lot of talent and Benteke is a handful up front. It's
going to be a tough game I imagine. "We need to get some momentum going on
the road by getting points on the board."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United sign forex broker Alpari as sponsor
BBC.co.uk
West Ham has signed forex broker Alpari as the club's new principal sponsor.
The "Alpari FX Trading" logo will feature on the front of the Premier League
team's claret and blue shirts, and other kit, from the start of the 2013-14
season. The value of the three-year, multi-million-pound deal has not been
revealed by the east London club. This agreement adds to the existing naming
rights of the Alpari Stand and branding at Upton Park. Alpari initially
became a sponsor of West Ham in 2011, before extending their relationship to
the current level. West Ham returned to the Premier League this year, and
are hoping to move into the Olympic Stadium after having been announced last
month as the preferred bidder to take over the venue. Alpari has offices in
more than 20 countries, with locations including London, New York, Tokyo,
Dubai, Moscow, Mumbai and Frankfurt. It has a total of 207,000 clients
worldwide and average daily trading volumes of $9.4bn (£6bn). Its other
sports sponsorships include being title sponsor of sailing series, the
Alpari World Match Racing Tour, and being a sponsor of the famous Madison
Square Garden arena in New York. It is also the official partner of the New
York Knicks basketball team and New York Rangers ice hockey team.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Hammers midfielder wants to start replicating home performances on the road
06.02.2013
Joe Cole wants to use last weekend's victory over Swansea City as a
springboard for West Ham United's fortunes when they head to Aston Villa
this Sunday.
The Hammers ended a run of six games without victory by seeing off the
challenge of the Swans at the Boleyn Ground and lifted themselves back up to
eleventh in the Barclays Premier League table. Now the focus shifts to
improving their away form and January transfer window arrival Cole is
desperate for that quest to start at Villa Park. However, he is ignoring
Villa's perilous position near the foot of the Premier League and is
expecting a tough test. "I think Saturday has given us a lift," Cole told
whufc.com. "30 points is a big barrier to get to and now we're all looking
up. The next game is Aston Villa - we want to improve our away form and it's
important that we get a result there. "In every game there's pressure and
it's so difficult to win in this league - every team gives you different
kinds of problems. It really is competitive at the moment and we'll just be
taking every game as it comes. "Aston Villa are a young team and you don't
know what you're going to get from them really. They have a lot of talent
and Benteke is a handful up front. It's going to be a tough game I imagine.
"We need to get some momentum going on the road by getting points on the
board."
Cole also took time this week to help launch the Hammers' new partnership
with leading global forex brokers Alpari, taking part in a virtual trading
competition with manager Sam Allardyce, Kevin Nolan and Matt Jarvis. "We've
been doing a bit of trading," he continued. "We were taught how to do it by
the guys at Alpari, it's been very interesting, but very difficult - I lost
a virtual £80,000 in 20 minutes so I don't think I'm cut out for this as a
career after football!
"The others beat me hands down - Kevin Nolan made a couple of grand profit -
but I went down early doors and just threw caution to the wind. It went pear
shaped, but it was good fun. "Seeing a new side of things was good too,
we're not normally in offices. My brother's worked in the City, so now I can
see what he does every day."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce: West Ham boss fined by FA for misconduct
BBC.co.uk
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has been fined £8,000 for criticising match
officials after his side's FA Cup defeat by Manchester United last month.
Allardyce claimed United got the benefit of decisions as the home side in
the third-round replay at Old Trafford, which West Ham lost 1-0. The
Hammers boss, who denied the charge and wanted a personal hearing, was
warned about his future conduct. Allardyce was unhappy with two penalty
decisions that went against his side. The Hammers were denied a penalty when
the ball struck United defender Rafael's arm, only for the hosts to be
awarded one when Jordan Spence handled late on. Allardyce said: "With
Rafael, the ball hits his hand but no penalty is given. With Jordan Spence,
the ball hits his hand and it's a penalty.
"The incidents are the same. If you give one you've got to give both, simple
as that."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
A tribute to Bobby Moore
KUMb.com
Filed: Wednesday, 6th February 2013
By: Staff Writer
It's 20 years this month since the death of West Ham United's World
Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore. Moore died on 24th February 1993 at the age
of just 51 and there are a series of tributes planned to mark the event -
one of which was boradcast by 5 Live last night. During the hour-long
programme 5 Live Sport examined Moore's legacy and impact on the game and
talked to teammates, friends, relatives and his widow Stephanie Moore.
Presenter Mark Pougatch was joined in the studio by Jonathan Pearce and
journalist Jeff Powell, both of whom were close friends of Moore. To listen
to the 60-minute show, click here.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce fined for stating the obvious
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 6th February 2013
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce has been fined £8,000 by the FA for comments he made regarding
referee Phil Dowd following West Ham United's FA Cup exit at Old Trafford.
A furious Allardyce, speaking to ITV immediately after the game blasted Dowd
for giving a penalty to Manchester United whilst denying West Ham a spot
kick for a similar offence. "There's no doubt whatsoever about the
difference between Rafael's hand ball and Jordan Spence's," he raged.
"Jordan Spence plays for West Ham away at Man United and Rafael plays at
home at Old Trafford. It's got to be that simple when you see it." However
the FA, who charged Allardyce with misconduct 48 hours after his comments
were made have subsequently fined him £8,000, for pointing out what much of
football recognises as a clear home bias where Manchester United are
concerned. "Following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today,
Sam Allardyce has been fined for media comments made after his side's FA Cup
with Budweiser Third Round replay against Manchester United on 16 January
2013," read a brief statement on the FA's website. "The West Ham United
manager was charged for a breach of FA Rule E3 in that he questioned the
integrity of the match referee and/or match officials in general, and/or
implied that the match referee and/or match officials in general were
motivated by bias; and/or brought the game into disrepute. "Allardyce, who
had denied the misconduct charge and requested a personal hearing, was also
warned as to his future conduct."
It is not revealed whether match official Dowd was reprimanded for his
blatant example of home bias, although we suspect that is rather unlikely.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Joe Cole keen to build on West Ham win over Swansea
Last Updated: February 6, 2013 6:29pm
SSN
West Ham midfielder Joe Cole believes Saturday's 1-0 home win over Swansea
can provide a platform for a good run for the Hammers. The win ended a
streak of six games without a victory and West Ham will bid for back-to-back
successes at Aston Villa on Sunday. Cole told the club's official website:
"I think Saturday has given us a lift. "Thirty points is a big barrier to
get to and now we're all looking up. The next game is Aston Villa - we want
to improve our away form and it's important that we get a result there. "In
every game there's pressure and it's so difficult to win in this league as
every team gives you different kinds of problems. It really is competitive
at the moment and we'll just be taking every game as it comes. "Aston Villa
are a young team and you don't know what you're going to get from them
really. They have a lot of talent and Benteke is a handful up front. It's
going to be a tough game I imagine. "We need to get some momentum going on
the road by getting points on the board."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United sign forex broker Alpari as sponsor
BBC.co.uk
West Ham has signed forex broker Alpari as the club's new principal sponsor.
The "Alpari FX Trading" logo will feature on the front of the Premier League
team's claret and blue shirts, and other kit, from the start of the 2013-14
season. The value of the three-year, multi-million-pound deal has not been
revealed by the east London club. This agreement adds to the existing naming
rights of the Alpari Stand and branding at Upton Park. Alpari initially
became a sponsor of West Ham in 2011, before extending their relationship to
the current level. West Ham returned to the Premier League this year, and
are hoping to move into the Olympic Stadium after having been announced last
month as the preferred bidder to take over the venue. Alpari has offices in
more than 20 countries, with locations including London, New York, Tokyo,
Dubai, Moscow, Mumbai and Frankfurt. It has a total of 207,000 clients
worldwide and average daily trading volumes of $9.4bn (£6bn). Its other
sports sponsorships include being title sponsor of sailing series, the
Alpari World Match Racing Tour, and being a sponsor of the famous Madison
Square Garden arena in New York. It is also the official partner of the New
York Knicks basketball team and New York Rangers ice hockey team.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Wednesday, February 6
Daily WHUFC News - 6th February 2013
Alpari named new Principal Sponsor
WHUFC.com
Global Forex trader Alpari has been confirmed as West Ham United's new
Principal Sponsor
05.02.2013
West Ham United have announced a historic partnership with leading global
forex broker Alpari. The agreement will see the association of Alpari
companies worldwide become the club's new Principal Sponsor - including the
Alpari logo on the front of the famous claret and blue shirt - from the
start of the 2013/14 season.
West Ham United and Alpari marked the signing of the new partnership with a
live event on the Alpari trading floor in London. Sam Allardyce and Kevin
Nolan, Matt Jarvis and Joe Cole competed against each other in a currency
trading contest that brought the worlds of football and online trading
together. This three-year, multimillion-pound deal will see "Alpari FX
Trading" feature on West Ham United's team kit and apparel. This adds to the
existing naming rights of the Alpari Stand and branding at the Boleyn
Ground. Alpari has been a loyal supporter of West Ham United, having
partnered with the club initially as an official sponsor in 2011, when they
were battling their way back into the Barclays Premier League.
The new agreement comes at a hugely exciting time for the east London side.
Having returned to the Barclays Premier League this season, they have played
their last eleven games in front of sell-out crowds. The club's global
profile was further enhanced when it was named highest-ranked bidder in the
process to find an anchor concessionaire for London's iconic Olympic Stadium
on 6 December 2012.
Karren Brady, Vice Chairman, West Ham United, said: "We are enthused and
excited to enter into this new partnership with Alpari. This landmark deal,
along with a host of other significant strides forward our business has made
recently, is yet further evidence of the growth we have witnessed and I can
only see things getting better. "This partnership demonstrates Alpari's
belief in our vision and ambition for the club and I know they are excited
about how the sponsorship can build their brand.''
West Ham United Commercial Director Barry Webber added: "A lot of hard work
has gone into the completion of this Agreement and we are delighted to have
stepped up our relationship with Alpari. "We have all enjoyed working with
the team at Alpari so far and we look forward to working with them to
maximise this new partnership in key international territories."
At Tuesday's contest, Kevin Nolan demonstrated that he's not just an
excellent captain. He remained cool when the markets heated up and won the
contest with a balance of £4,457 in virtual money. Nolan said, "I've never
traded currencies before and I found it quite easy to understand how the
trading platform works and how you place trades. Had I traded with my money,
I would have done a bit more market research and I think I wouldn't have
taken such big stakes. However, even with virtual money you feel your pulse
racing and it was good fun."
As a prize, Alpari will donate £5,000 in Kevin's name to West Ham United's
Academy, where the money will help young talents achieve more in football.
Daniel Skowronski, Chief Executive Officer, Alpari (UK) Limited, commented:
"Alpari is a leading global forex trading provider with significant growth
ambitions. The Barclays Premier League is a truly global phenomenon with
broadcast distribution now reaching in excess of 700 million households per
season. Taking our partnership with West Ham United one stage further to
Principal Sponsor was a logical step as we continue to build awareness for
our products on the world stage."
Alpari will take over from SBOBET as the club's principal partner. SBOBET
Executive Director Bill Mummery said: "We have enjoyed a mutually beneficial
relationship these past four years during which SBOBET and West Ham United
have each gained a heightened level of global exposure. We will remain
closely linked with the Club and continue our links and support of the Bobby
Moore Fund. This is an amicable parting that heralds change and exciting
opportunities for both businesses. We wish all those at West Ham United with
whom we have had the privilege to be involved every success for the future."
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Nolan is top trader
WHUFC.com
Kevin Nolan won the battle of the traders as the club launched its new
partnership with Alpari
05.02.2013
Kevin Nolan won the battle of the traders as West Ham United manager Sam
Allardyce and three of his players helped launch the club's new partnership
with Alpari at the leading global forex broker's London offices on Tuesday.
Alpari will become the club's Principal Sponsor - with their name appearing
on the famous claret and blue shirts - from the start of the 2012/13 season,
and Nolan was competing against his manager, winger Matt Jarvis and
midfielder Joe Cole in foreign exchange spread trading, with virtual money.
The four Hammers were taught and guided by Alpari on how to place trades.
While it was not real money they were trading, it still gave them a taste of
what trading the markets for real could be like. Each player received
£500,000 in virtual money to play with. Their task was to decide whether the
prices of certain currencies (British pound, US dollar, Canadian dollar and
the Japanese yen) were likely to rise or fall. On a real trade, there would
be some intensive research, but as this was for fun, the players were
encouraged to be creative. Hammers skipper Nolan loved getting stuck into
the challenge: "It was great fun," he said. "When you first look at it all
on screen, there is just so much to take in, what would be the best deal. I
was pleased to have won, just a shame it wasn't real money as could have
treated everyone on that! "I think the Gaffer and the boys, Jarvs and Joe
enjoyed it too. It was certainly interesting to see what these guys do there
on the trading floor, to get a taste of it all. It was a good event to kick
off the new deal that Alpari have with our club and we hope for a good and
successful partnership with them."
Nolan took the honours by recording a healthy profit of £4,457 on his
virtual trading and as a prize, Alpari will donate £5,000 in Kevin's name to
West Ham United's Academy, where the money will help young talents achieve
more in football.
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The Big Interview - Andy Carroll
WHUFC.com
West Ham United striker speaks of his delight at returning from injury
05.02.2013
Andy Carroll has had to travel down a long, hard road to return to fitness
after suffering a knee injury in November, so he was delighted that all the
hard work came to fruition with the winning goal against Swansea City on
Saturday. The 24-year-old striker played the full 90 minutes against the
Swans, on the back of only a 14-minute run out at Fulham the previous
Wednesday as he took his first steps towards a first team return. There were
no signs of rustiness in Carroll's play, as he laid on several opportunities
for his teammates before finally popping up with the winning goal 13 minutes
from time. The victory lifted the Hammers back up to eleventh in the
Barclays Premier League table, and Carroll told whufc.com the result gives
him and his team-mates cause for optimism ahead of the final 13 games of the
campaign.
What was it like to score your first goal at the Boleyn Ground?
AC: "It's a great feeling to score anywhere, but when you've got the fans
behind you like this, signing your name after you've scored, it's even
better. Coming off the pitch, man of the match and with three points, it's a
great feeling. The fans are great, they got behind us and they were like the
12th man, helping us along. Even when Swansea put the pressure on late in
the game, they gave us confidence with the singing and cheering us on. It's
great."
Did you surprise yourself how well you got through the game so soon after
coming back from injury?
AC: "I've been keeping fit in the gym and all the backroom staff have been
helping me. The fitness coaches and physios have been on me, working hard.
When I couldn't run I was in the gym and the hard work paid off with 90
minutes on Saturday.
"I didn't find out until the day of the game that I was going to start and
obviously I was over the moon with the decision. I just had to work hard,
run around and keep the ball as much as I could. It was a tough game and I'm
just happy that we got the three points."
Has it been a frustrating season for you so far with the injuries?
AC: "It has. Coming into a new team and getting injured in my first game to
put me out for six weeks was frustrating. Then I was back for a couple of
games and was out for eight weeks. It's hard when you're injured anyway, but
when it's at a new club it's even harder. I've kept my head up as much as
possible and worked hard with the physios and fitness coaches to get back
and I showed on Saturday that I am fit."
Gerhard Tremmel was playing well on Saturday and made quite a few saves in
the Swansea goal. Did it feel like it was going to be one of those days?
AC: "He was on fire, he made a couple of good saves from Kev, and I had a
chance too which he blocked. He kept them in it because we pounded the goal.
So
it was great to score one at the end."
It seemed on Saturday that, before the goal, you'd done everything trying to
set people up and you just needed one really good ball to attack.
AC: "Yes, I had a chance earlier on from Jarvis. He put it in, a great ball,
and it was unfortunate that I didn't hit the target. But I kept my head up
and another great ball came in from Nobes. I made a little movement to get
free and I put it in the back of the net. It was a fantastic ball in, we've
been working on it and he's put it right where we wanted."
What about the relationship you have on the pitch with the captain? Kevin
could have had a hat trick in the first half if it wasn't for the goalkeeper
and two of those chances came from your knockdowns.
AC: "He just knows where I am and I know where he is. He's always talking to
me and moving off me, like I am with him and it's a good partnership. I
really enjoy playing up there with him."
How big do you think these three points are, because results haven't gone
your way in recent weeks?
AC: "We've been unlucky with the run of games that we've had. We've had
chances to win games which we haven't taken, but we kept at it. All the lads
kept their heads in training and it showed on Saturday that everyone wants
to get a run going. All the lads are buzzing so it'll be good to go out at
Villa, after an eight-day break between games to re-charge, and do exactly
what we did today hopefully.
"We've still got to work hard and keep at it to get more points in the games
coming up. It's not over by a long shot, we've got to keep training as we've
been training, and try to get a run going."
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Middle East Ender
WHUFC.com
HM Ambassador to Lebanon Tom Fletcher is flying the claret and blue flag in
the Middle East
05.02.2013
The Greedy Goose Restaurant in Beirut is not exactly the first place you
would expect to find a West Ham United supporter cheering on his team. HM
Ambassador to Lebanon Tom Fletcher is that supporter. When he is not working
with the UK's Lebanese partners to promote democracy, stability and human
rights or to increase trade and British investment in the Middle East
country, Fletcher is keeping an eye on his beloved Hammers. Born in Kent,
Fletcher graduated from Oxford University before joining the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1994. The young diplomat served in across
Africa, the United States and Europe before becoming the Foreign Policy
Adviser to the Prime Minister in 2007, giving informed advice to Tony Blair,
Gordon Brown and David Cameron.
In 2010, he was awarded the Companion of St Michael and St George (CMG) -
awarded to individuals who render extraordinary or important non-military
service in a foreign country - for services to the Prime Minister, before
being appointed to his current role in August 2011. While some people might
see being an ambassador as little more than chauffeur-driven cars and dinner
parties, Fletcher says the reality is rather different. Indeed, he says the
role is akin to that of a football manager working out his tactics,
man-management and best approach to each particular issue. "I became a
British diplomat immediately after leaving university and have worked all
over the world, including postings in Nairobi, Paris and now Lebanon," he
explained. "You have to work very hard, but I'm proud to be representing
Britain. Unlike the cliche, there is no Ferrero Rocher!"
"I worked in No 10 Downing Street for the last three Prime Ministers. I
guess that you learn - and this applies even more to football management -
that judgement is more important than intellect. You need to be clear about
what you stand for, and know who you can rely on. I was always a sweeper
when I played football, and I'm still in some ways still playing that role."
There may be similarities in terms of the role, but the working environment
certainly differs from a cold Wednesday night at Old Trafford, for example.
Lebanon is a small Eastern Mediterranean country that borders conflict-torn
Syria and Israel that, between 1975 and 1990, was subject to a horrific
civil war that resulted in an estimated 120,000 deaths in a country of a
little more than four million.
After two decades of relative peace, a civil war in neighbouring Syria is
threatening to spill over into Lebanon. Despite the prospect of renewed
unrest, Fletcher is confident the future is bright for the country and its
picturesque capital. "It is a tough neighbourhood, but the Lebanese are
incredibly resilient. I have a big security team, given the potential
threats against me, and spend a lot of time trying to influence the politics
in the right direction. Like taking a penalty away from home, you have to
block out the distractions and focus on what you're there to do. But now and
again you still smack it into the top row of the stands
"I think that after No 10, someone concluded that I had learnt something
about raw politics and resilience. Every week is different. As well as the
politics, I work hard on delivering commercial deals that will bring jobs
and growth to the UK. For example, we sell more Jaguars and Bentleys per
capita in Lebanon than anywhere in the world, and we've opened up a new
British brand here every month in 2012."
Fletcher said Britain's amazing sporting year, in particular the London 2012
Olympic Games, and even the new James Bond film had boosted this country's
profile in Lebanon. "The Jubilee, Skyfall and London 2012 gave us a massive
boost. I do a lot of media, including using social media - you can follow me
on twitter @hmatomfletcher - to promote the UK: music, sport, creativity,
business, innovation. And we aim to support Brits in Lebanon, whether
they're in trouble, or doing business. I don't get much time off, but
Lebanon is an amazing country - you can ski and swim in the sea in the same
day!"
When he is not working or watching West Ham, Fletcher spends his free time
with his wife Louise and two sons. It may be a long way from home, but the
ambassador says his family have settled into their new lives well. "I'm
lucky that my family are all here in Lebanon with me. Six-year-old Charlie
wants to be a goalkeeper - in the Phil Parkes mould, I reckon - and my
one-year-old Theodor has a good engine."
It is heartening to hear that Charles and Theodor are both West Ham fans
like their Dad, but when Fletcher recalls his family's football history, it
is hardly surprising! "My brothers Luke and John are also keen West Ham
fans, so I guess my DNA is claret and blue. I also follow my local team,
Folkestone Town, but they're a long way from the Premier League! "For me,
1985/86 was the most amazing year. I still have the Panini sticker books and
scrapbooks of all the West Ham matches, with Frank McAvennie and Tony Cottee
at their peak. My all-time favourite match was the 8-1 thrashing of
Newcastle, when Peter Beardsley ended up in goal. Those were happy days!"
Nowadays, Fletcher's opportunities to watch his team in person are few and
far between, but he is still able to watch Hammers matches live on
television when time allows. When he has been down to the Greedy Goose, he
has largely been impressed with what he has seen this season. "There are a
few keen Hammers who gather in the Greedy Goose pub for key matches, and we
camped out there for the Play-Offs in May!" "I would definitely take the
last four months. I'm a big fan of youth-team products Mark Noble and Jack
Collison, and of course the newer ex-Bolton contingent. The Chelsea match
was obviously the highlight. I watched it at home, but you could probably
have heard me in the East End!"
Fletcher's one wish is for his favourite team to emulate Manchester City -
not by winning the Barclays Premier League title but by visiting Lebanon. In
April 2012, the champions opened the International School of Football in
Lebanon, with the club's coaches visiting the country to deliver the latest
training techniques to aspiring youngsters. As it is in many parts of the
world, English football is hugely popular in Lebanon, while the country's
Premier League has attracted players from South America and Africa and
continues to grow. "The Lebanese are crazy about the Premier League. Most
support Manchester United or Liverpool, but I'm working on converting them
to The Academy. The national team is doing pretty well - just as we found in
London 2012, sport is a great force for unity. "Manchester City visited last
year and, fingers crossed that we get the Irons out here soon. That would be
a great diplomatic result - Moore than an ambassador could hope for!"
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O'Brien is happy to keep it clean
WHUFC.com
Defender's delight after West Ham United shut Swansea out in 1-0 Barclays
Premier League victory
05.02.2013
Andy Carroll may have taken most of the plaudits after scoring the winning
goal against Swansea City on Saturday, but there was another element of the
Hammers' play which gave manager Sam Allardyce immense satisfaction too. The
home defence protected Jussi Jaaskelainen's goal with such efficiency that
the home keeper was relatively untroubled until a late rally from the
in-form Swans. West Ham were the more dynamic team throughout the Boleyn
Ground contest and their ability to cause the visitors a headache in attack
owed much to their solidity in nullifying the Welsh side's possession. Joey
O'Brien performed admirably at right back following a spell in the opposite
full back position and the Republic of Ireland international was delighted
to keep a first clean sheet in ten attempts. "We haven't been on it
defensively lately," he told West Ham TV exclusively. "At the start of the
season we were doing some good stuff at the back, but we had gone off the
boil and were giving easy goals away. "So it was great to get back with a
clean sheet against Swansea. That's the first thing you have to get right -
the manager said that just before the game, make sure we come in with a
clean sheet. "That's what we wanted and we got the result, which was massive
for us. "It was grand at right back. I've played there quite a lot, and
although I've been at left back too it's not that big a deal for me to go to
the other side. People see me as a right footer so in some ways it's an
easier position for me."
The three point haul ended a seven-game search for victory by the Hammers
and lifted Allardyce's men back up to eleventh in the Barclays Premier
League table. O'Brien felt the result was all-important and the fact that it
came as the product of a fine performance was the icing on the cake. He
added: "It was a massive win. The last few results have been disappointing -
and in the previous home game against QPR we did everything but get the
winning goal - so it was great to get back on track with three points
against Swansea. "The result was all that mattered. The performances this
season have been really good, but at this stage that doesn't really matter,
it's all about the three points. "That said, I thought we played really well
on Saturday and had plenty of chances so it was great when Andy scored. He's
been out for a while so I was delighted that he got on the scoresheet.
"We've got Villa away next week and we'll be looking to go there and win
after this result. If we get another three points on the board next week
we'll be in a good position."
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Haycock upbeat despite Spurs defeat
WHUFC.com
Development Squad manager Nick Haycock remains optimistic despite defeat at
Tottenham Hotspur
05.02.2013
Nick Haycock is adamant he has plenty to be cheerful about, despite seeing
his side slip to a 3-2 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur. A spirited West Ham
United side twice fought back from a goal down to level matters at two
apiece, only to be undone for a decisive third time, as Spurs hit the summit
of the Barclays U21 Premier League Elite Group. The ever reliable Elliot Lee
cancelled out Jonathan Obika's opener, before Harry Kane restored the home
side's slender advantage, just seconds before the interval. Though
Wellington Paulista stabbed home from close range, Giancarlo Gallifuoco's
header ensured the Hammers would depart empty handed, much to the
frustration of a philosophical Haycock. "On another day I think we could
have come away with three points," he told West Ham TV. "We're very
disappointed not to come away with a point, but like I said to the boys,
it's onwards and upwards again from here. The second half showed that we can
compete at this level. "I thought we had a 15 minute spell before half time
where we started to look like the side we know we're capable of being. We
came out after half-time and definitely took the game to Tottenham. We asked
the boys to get higher up the pitch, deny the spaces in between the lines
and be a little bit braver at the back. "We were definitely the better team
in the second half. We equalise and I'm thinking we could go on to win the
game, and straight away again, we conceded off a set piece, a bit sloppy!
"Without digging him out, Amos [Nasha] has let the centre-half run off him
for the goal and he's a young 17-year-old. But I'm really pleased with his
performance and Amos will get better and better, as he plays more games at
this level."
Monday's defeat might rankle with Haycock, but the U21s boss insisted
there's every reason to be positive with a talented and determined group at
his disposal. "They're a good set of lads, every day in training," he added.
They're an honest group, they've worked hard. Ian [Hendon] has done a great
job with them in the first part of the season and there's a good camaraderie
about the team. "I'm always a positive person. During the game I can see
mistakes being made, but that's what the players are out there to do, to
learn. Some are getting tested at a higher level and it's a quick learning
curve for them. "Like we said in the changing room, collectively you've lost
a game, but individually some of you can be proud of your performances and
it's about catching the manager's eye. The reports Ian and I take back are
what they're looking for as young players."
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West Ham strike £9million deal
KUMb.com
Filed: Tuesday, 5th February 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United have agreed a £9million shirt sponsorship deal with Alpari.
The three-year deal, worth £3million per season, will see the Forex traders
replace current sponsors SBOBET on the front of West Ham United's kit from
the beginning of the 2013/14 season. Alpari, who have offices worldwide but
are based in Bishopsgate already sponsor the West Stand of the Boleyn Ground
having agreed a three-year contract back in 2011. However the latest deal
struck by West Ham's commerical department, as revealed by the Daily Mail,
is distinctly small fry compared to some Premier League agreements.
Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool command a whopping
£20million per year each from their shirt sponsors - Etihad, Aon and
Standard Chartered respectively.
Meanwhile the deal between Aurasma and Tottenham, West Ham's nearest Premier
League club, is worth more than three times United's new deal at £10million
per annum. And even the likes of Fulham (FxPro, £4.2million per year) and
Aston Villa (Genting, £8million per year) will earn considerably more from
their commerical shirt arrangements than West Ham. However the new contract
represents a 40 per cent increase on the club's previous deal with SBOBET,
which was worth around £1.7million per annum.
Getting Shirty: how the various Premier League sponsorship deals compare
1. Man Utd/Aon - £20m
1. Liverpool/Standard Chartered - £20m
1. Man City/Etihad - £20m
1. Sunderland/Invest In Africa - (up to) £20m
5. Chelsea/Samsung - £13.8m
6. Newcastle/Virgin Money - £10m
6. Tottenham/Aurasma - £10m
8. Aston Villa/Genting - £8m
9. Arsenal/Fly Emirates - £5.5m
10. Fulham/FxPro - £4.2m
11. Everton/Chang Beer - £4m
12. QPR/AirAsia - £2.5m
13. West Ham Utd/SBOBET - £1.7m
14. WBA/Zoopla - £1.5m
15. Stoke/Bet365 - £1.3m
16. Swansea/32Red - £1.1m
17. Norwich/Aviva - £1m
17. Wigan/12Bet - £1m
17. Southampton/aap3 - £1m
20. Reading/Waitrose - £500k
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Jack Collison pleased to be back playing for West Ham and Wales
Last Updated: February 5, 2013 8:46am
SSN
Jack Collison claims to be over his injury troubles and ready to produce his
best for West Ham United and Wales. A niggling knee problem has prevented
the midfielder from competing for club and country as often as he would have
liked in recent years. Collison has spent regular spells on the sidelines
since 2009, with a setback last summer keeping him out of West Ham's return
to Premier League competition. He has, however, been back in contention
since December and is confident that he can put the struggles of the past
behind him. Ahead of his first outing for Wales in almost a year, against
Austria on Wednesday, Collison said: "It's been great to be back out on the
pitch because it's been a bit of a long time once again. "It's been
frustrating after playing almost the whole of last season and then watching
the boys play in the Premier League week in, week out against the best
teams. "It's good to be back and I've had some good games since then. I'm
looking to build on those now and prove myself again. "To be honest, the
knee feels better than it has done in about three years, which is obviously
good."
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West Ham striker Andy Carroll is relishing his return from injury
Last Updated: February 5, 2013 1:41pm
SSN
West Ham striker Andy Carroll is hopeful his recent injuries problems are
behind him after scoring the winner against Swansea on Saturday. The
24-year-old's season has been blighted by hamstring and knee injuries since
joining West Ham on loan from Liverpool last summer. Carroll's strike in
West Ham's 1-0 win over Swansea was only his second since joining the
Hammers. He admits it has been tough to find his form whilst battling to
stay fit, but hopes he is now on course for a long run in Sam Allardyce's
team. "Coming into a new team and getting injured in my first game to put me
out for six weeks was frustrating," he told West Ham's official website.
"Then I was back for a couple of games and was out for eight weeks. It's
hard when you're injured anyway, but when it's at a new club it's even
harder. "I've kept my head up as much as possible and worked hard with the
physios and fitness coaches to get back and I showed on Saturday that I am
fit."
Carroll praised the club's medical team for getting him back to fitness in
time to make a match-winning start against Swansea as West Ham claimed only
their second Premier League win in 10 games. He said: "I've been keeping fit
in the gym and all the backroom staff have been helping me. The fitness
coaches and physios have been on me, working me hard. "When I couldn't run I
was in the gym and the hard work paid off with 90 minutes on Saturday. "I
didn't find out until the day of the game that I was going to start and
obviously I was over the moon with the decision. I just had to work hard,
run around and keep the ball as much as I could. "It was a tough game and
I'm just happy that we got the three points."
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Sam's big on Bony
The Sun
Exclusive
By ANDREW DILLON
Last Updated: 06th February 2013
WEST HAM are planning for life without Andy Carroll by lining up a move for
Ivory Coast hitman Wilfried Bony. The £12million-rated striker is top scorer
in Holland with 16 goals in just 18 league games for Vitesse Arnhem. Big
Bony, 24, also played at the African Nations Cup before Ivory Coast's
quarter-final defeat to Nigeria on Sunday. Hammers boss Sam Allardyce is
already considering where to go shopping for forwards in the summer when
Carroll's loan from Liverpool expires. Upton Park top brass fear Carroll is
determined either to prove himself at Anfield or rejoin old club Newcastle
instead of signing a £17m deal to stay in East London. Bony, who was linked
with both Newcastle and Liverpool in last month's transfer window, is one of
the most promising strikers around and it would be an ambitious coup for
West Ham should Carroll leave.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Global Forex trader Alpari has been confirmed as West Ham United's new
Principal Sponsor
05.02.2013
West Ham United have announced a historic partnership with leading global
forex broker Alpari. The agreement will see the association of Alpari
companies worldwide become the club's new Principal Sponsor - including the
Alpari logo on the front of the famous claret and blue shirt - from the
start of the 2013/14 season.
West Ham United and Alpari marked the signing of the new partnership with a
live event on the Alpari trading floor in London. Sam Allardyce and Kevin
Nolan, Matt Jarvis and Joe Cole competed against each other in a currency
trading contest that brought the worlds of football and online trading
together. This three-year, multimillion-pound deal will see "Alpari FX
Trading" feature on West Ham United's team kit and apparel. This adds to the
existing naming rights of the Alpari Stand and branding at the Boleyn
Ground. Alpari has been a loyal supporter of West Ham United, having
partnered with the club initially as an official sponsor in 2011, when they
were battling their way back into the Barclays Premier League.
The new agreement comes at a hugely exciting time for the east London side.
Having returned to the Barclays Premier League this season, they have played
their last eleven games in front of sell-out crowds. The club's global
profile was further enhanced when it was named highest-ranked bidder in the
process to find an anchor concessionaire for London's iconic Olympic Stadium
on 6 December 2012.
Karren Brady, Vice Chairman, West Ham United, said: "We are enthused and
excited to enter into this new partnership with Alpari. This landmark deal,
along with a host of other significant strides forward our business has made
recently, is yet further evidence of the growth we have witnessed and I can
only see things getting better. "This partnership demonstrates Alpari's
belief in our vision and ambition for the club and I know they are excited
about how the sponsorship can build their brand.''
West Ham United Commercial Director Barry Webber added: "A lot of hard work
has gone into the completion of this Agreement and we are delighted to have
stepped up our relationship with Alpari. "We have all enjoyed working with
the team at Alpari so far and we look forward to working with them to
maximise this new partnership in key international territories."
At Tuesday's contest, Kevin Nolan demonstrated that he's not just an
excellent captain. He remained cool when the markets heated up and won the
contest with a balance of £4,457 in virtual money. Nolan said, "I've never
traded currencies before and I found it quite easy to understand how the
trading platform works and how you place trades. Had I traded with my money,
I would have done a bit more market research and I think I wouldn't have
taken such big stakes. However, even with virtual money you feel your pulse
racing and it was good fun."
As a prize, Alpari will donate £5,000 in Kevin's name to West Ham United's
Academy, where the money will help young talents achieve more in football.
Daniel Skowronski, Chief Executive Officer, Alpari (UK) Limited, commented:
"Alpari is a leading global forex trading provider with significant growth
ambitions. The Barclays Premier League is a truly global phenomenon with
broadcast distribution now reaching in excess of 700 million households per
season. Taking our partnership with West Ham United one stage further to
Principal Sponsor was a logical step as we continue to build awareness for
our products on the world stage."
Alpari will take over from SBOBET as the club's principal partner. SBOBET
Executive Director Bill Mummery said: "We have enjoyed a mutually beneficial
relationship these past four years during which SBOBET and West Ham United
have each gained a heightened level of global exposure. We will remain
closely linked with the Club and continue our links and support of the Bobby
Moore Fund. This is an amicable parting that heralds change and exciting
opportunities for both businesses. We wish all those at West Ham United with
whom we have had the privilege to be involved every success for the future."
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Nolan is top trader
WHUFC.com
Kevin Nolan won the battle of the traders as the club launched its new
partnership with Alpari
05.02.2013
Kevin Nolan won the battle of the traders as West Ham United manager Sam
Allardyce and three of his players helped launch the club's new partnership
with Alpari at the leading global forex broker's London offices on Tuesday.
Alpari will become the club's Principal Sponsor - with their name appearing
on the famous claret and blue shirts - from the start of the 2012/13 season,
and Nolan was competing against his manager, winger Matt Jarvis and
midfielder Joe Cole in foreign exchange spread trading, with virtual money.
The four Hammers were taught and guided by Alpari on how to place trades.
While it was not real money they were trading, it still gave them a taste of
what trading the markets for real could be like. Each player received
£500,000 in virtual money to play with. Their task was to decide whether the
prices of certain currencies (British pound, US dollar, Canadian dollar and
the Japanese yen) were likely to rise or fall. On a real trade, there would
be some intensive research, but as this was for fun, the players were
encouraged to be creative. Hammers skipper Nolan loved getting stuck into
the challenge: "It was great fun," he said. "When you first look at it all
on screen, there is just so much to take in, what would be the best deal. I
was pleased to have won, just a shame it wasn't real money as could have
treated everyone on that! "I think the Gaffer and the boys, Jarvs and Joe
enjoyed it too. It was certainly interesting to see what these guys do there
on the trading floor, to get a taste of it all. It was a good event to kick
off the new deal that Alpari have with our club and we hope for a good and
successful partnership with them."
Nolan took the honours by recording a healthy profit of £4,457 on his
virtual trading and as a prize, Alpari will donate £5,000 in Kevin's name to
West Ham United's Academy, where the money will help young talents achieve
more in football.
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The Big Interview - Andy Carroll
WHUFC.com
West Ham United striker speaks of his delight at returning from injury
05.02.2013
Andy Carroll has had to travel down a long, hard road to return to fitness
after suffering a knee injury in November, so he was delighted that all the
hard work came to fruition with the winning goal against Swansea City on
Saturday. The 24-year-old striker played the full 90 minutes against the
Swans, on the back of only a 14-minute run out at Fulham the previous
Wednesday as he took his first steps towards a first team return. There were
no signs of rustiness in Carroll's play, as he laid on several opportunities
for his teammates before finally popping up with the winning goal 13 minutes
from time. The victory lifted the Hammers back up to eleventh in the
Barclays Premier League table, and Carroll told whufc.com the result gives
him and his team-mates cause for optimism ahead of the final 13 games of the
campaign.
What was it like to score your first goal at the Boleyn Ground?
AC: "It's a great feeling to score anywhere, but when you've got the fans
behind you like this, signing your name after you've scored, it's even
better. Coming off the pitch, man of the match and with three points, it's a
great feeling. The fans are great, they got behind us and they were like the
12th man, helping us along. Even when Swansea put the pressure on late in
the game, they gave us confidence with the singing and cheering us on. It's
great."
Did you surprise yourself how well you got through the game so soon after
coming back from injury?
AC: "I've been keeping fit in the gym and all the backroom staff have been
helping me. The fitness coaches and physios have been on me, working hard.
When I couldn't run I was in the gym and the hard work paid off with 90
minutes on Saturday.
"I didn't find out until the day of the game that I was going to start and
obviously I was over the moon with the decision. I just had to work hard,
run around and keep the ball as much as I could. It was a tough game and I'm
just happy that we got the three points."
Has it been a frustrating season for you so far with the injuries?
AC: "It has. Coming into a new team and getting injured in my first game to
put me out for six weeks was frustrating. Then I was back for a couple of
games and was out for eight weeks. It's hard when you're injured anyway, but
when it's at a new club it's even harder. I've kept my head up as much as
possible and worked hard with the physios and fitness coaches to get back
and I showed on Saturday that I am fit."
Gerhard Tremmel was playing well on Saturday and made quite a few saves in
the Swansea goal. Did it feel like it was going to be one of those days?
AC: "He was on fire, he made a couple of good saves from Kev, and I had a
chance too which he blocked. He kept them in it because we pounded the goal.
So
it was great to score one at the end."
It seemed on Saturday that, before the goal, you'd done everything trying to
set people up and you just needed one really good ball to attack.
AC: "Yes, I had a chance earlier on from Jarvis. He put it in, a great ball,
and it was unfortunate that I didn't hit the target. But I kept my head up
and another great ball came in from Nobes. I made a little movement to get
free and I put it in the back of the net. It was a fantastic ball in, we've
been working on it and he's put it right where we wanted."
What about the relationship you have on the pitch with the captain? Kevin
could have had a hat trick in the first half if it wasn't for the goalkeeper
and two of those chances came from your knockdowns.
AC: "He just knows where I am and I know where he is. He's always talking to
me and moving off me, like I am with him and it's a good partnership. I
really enjoy playing up there with him."
How big do you think these three points are, because results haven't gone
your way in recent weeks?
AC: "We've been unlucky with the run of games that we've had. We've had
chances to win games which we haven't taken, but we kept at it. All the lads
kept their heads in training and it showed on Saturday that everyone wants
to get a run going. All the lads are buzzing so it'll be good to go out at
Villa, after an eight-day break between games to re-charge, and do exactly
what we did today hopefully.
"We've still got to work hard and keep at it to get more points in the games
coming up. It's not over by a long shot, we've got to keep training as we've
been training, and try to get a run going."
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Middle East Ender
WHUFC.com
HM Ambassador to Lebanon Tom Fletcher is flying the claret and blue flag in
the Middle East
05.02.2013
The Greedy Goose Restaurant in Beirut is not exactly the first place you
would expect to find a West Ham United supporter cheering on his team. HM
Ambassador to Lebanon Tom Fletcher is that supporter. When he is not working
with the UK's Lebanese partners to promote democracy, stability and human
rights or to increase trade and British investment in the Middle East
country, Fletcher is keeping an eye on his beloved Hammers. Born in Kent,
Fletcher graduated from Oxford University before joining the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1994. The young diplomat served in across
Africa, the United States and Europe before becoming the Foreign Policy
Adviser to the Prime Minister in 2007, giving informed advice to Tony Blair,
Gordon Brown and David Cameron.
In 2010, he was awarded the Companion of St Michael and St George (CMG) -
awarded to individuals who render extraordinary or important non-military
service in a foreign country - for services to the Prime Minister, before
being appointed to his current role in August 2011. While some people might
see being an ambassador as little more than chauffeur-driven cars and dinner
parties, Fletcher says the reality is rather different. Indeed, he says the
role is akin to that of a football manager working out his tactics,
man-management and best approach to each particular issue. "I became a
British diplomat immediately after leaving university and have worked all
over the world, including postings in Nairobi, Paris and now Lebanon," he
explained. "You have to work very hard, but I'm proud to be representing
Britain. Unlike the cliche, there is no Ferrero Rocher!"
"I worked in No 10 Downing Street for the last three Prime Ministers. I
guess that you learn - and this applies even more to football management -
that judgement is more important than intellect. You need to be clear about
what you stand for, and know who you can rely on. I was always a sweeper
when I played football, and I'm still in some ways still playing that role."
There may be similarities in terms of the role, but the working environment
certainly differs from a cold Wednesday night at Old Trafford, for example.
Lebanon is a small Eastern Mediterranean country that borders conflict-torn
Syria and Israel that, between 1975 and 1990, was subject to a horrific
civil war that resulted in an estimated 120,000 deaths in a country of a
little more than four million.
After two decades of relative peace, a civil war in neighbouring Syria is
threatening to spill over into Lebanon. Despite the prospect of renewed
unrest, Fletcher is confident the future is bright for the country and its
picturesque capital. "It is a tough neighbourhood, but the Lebanese are
incredibly resilient. I have a big security team, given the potential
threats against me, and spend a lot of time trying to influence the politics
in the right direction. Like taking a penalty away from home, you have to
block out the distractions and focus on what you're there to do. But now and
again you still smack it into the top row of the stands
"I think that after No 10, someone concluded that I had learnt something
about raw politics and resilience. Every week is different. As well as the
politics, I work hard on delivering commercial deals that will bring jobs
and growth to the UK. For example, we sell more Jaguars and Bentleys per
capita in Lebanon than anywhere in the world, and we've opened up a new
British brand here every month in 2012."
Fletcher said Britain's amazing sporting year, in particular the London 2012
Olympic Games, and even the new James Bond film had boosted this country's
profile in Lebanon. "The Jubilee, Skyfall and London 2012 gave us a massive
boost. I do a lot of media, including using social media - you can follow me
on twitter @hmatomfletcher - to promote the UK: music, sport, creativity,
business, innovation. And we aim to support Brits in Lebanon, whether
they're in trouble, or doing business. I don't get much time off, but
Lebanon is an amazing country - you can ski and swim in the sea in the same
day!"
When he is not working or watching West Ham, Fletcher spends his free time
with his wife Louise and two sons. It may be a long way from home, but the
ambassador says his family have settled into their new lives well. "I'm
lucky that my family are all here in Lebanon with me. Six-year-old Charlie
wants to be a goalkeeper - in the Phil Parkes mould, I reckon - and my
one-year-old Theodor has a good engine."
It is heartening to hear that Charles and Theodor are both West Ham fans
like their Dad, but when Fletcher recalls his family's football history, it
is hardly surprising! "My brothers Luke and John are also keen West Ham
fans, so I guess my DNA is claret and blue. I also follow my local team,
Folkestone Town, but they're a long way from the Premier League! "For me,
1985/86 was the most amazing year. I still have the Panini sticker books and
scrapbooks of all the West Ham matches, with Frank McAvennie and Tony Cottee
at their peak. My all-time favourite match was the 8-1 thrashing of
Newcastle, when Peter Beardsley ended up in goal. Those were happy days!"
Nowadays, Fletcher's opportunities to watch his team in person are few and
far between, but he is still able to watch Hammers matches live on
television when time allows. When he has been down to the Greedy Goose, he
has largely been impressed with what he has seen this season. "There are a
few keen Hammers who gather in the Greedy Goose pub for key matches, and we
camped out there for the Play-Offs in May!" "I would definitely take the
last four months. I'm a big fan of youth-team products Mark Noble and Jack
Collison, and of course the newer ex-Bolton contingent. The Chelsea match
was obviously the highlight. I watched it at home, but you could probably
have heard me in the East End!"
Fletcher's one wish is for his favourite team to emulate Manchester City -
not by winning the Barclays Premier League title but by visiting Lebanon. In
April 2012, the champions opened the International School of Football in
Lebanon, with the club's coaches visiting the country to deliver the latest
training techniques to aspiring youngsters. As it is in many parts of the
world, English football is hugely popular in Lebanon, while the country's
Premier League has attracted players from South America and Africa and
continues to grow. "The Lebanese are crazy about the Premier League. Most
support Manchester United or Liverpool, but I'm working on converting them
to The Academy. The national team is doing pretty well - just as we found in
London 2012, sport is a great force for unity. "Manchester City visited last
year and, fingers crossed that we get the Irons out here soon. That would be
a great diplomatic result - Moore than an ambassador could hope for!"
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O'Brien is happy to keep it clean
WHUFC.com
Defender's delight after West Ham United shut Swansea out in 1-0 Barclays
Premier League victory
05.02.2013
Andy Carroll may have taken most of the plaudits after scoring the winning
goal against Swansea City on Saturday, but there was another element of the
Hammers' play which gave manager Sam Allardyce immense satisfaction too. The
home defence protected Jussi Jaaskelainen's goal with such efficiency that
the home keeper was relatively untroubled until a late rally from the
in-form Swans. West Ham were the more dynamic team throughout the Boleyn
Ground contest and their ability to cause the visitors a headache in attack
owed much to their solidity in nullifying the Welsh side's possession. Joey
O'Brien performed admirably at right back following a spell in the opposite
full back position and the Republic of Ireland international was delighted
to keep a first clean sheet in ten attempts. "We haven't been on it
defensively lately," he told West Ham TV exclusively. "At the start of the
season we were doing some good stuff at the back, but we had gone off the
boil and were giving easy goals away. "So it was great to get back with a
clean sheet against Swansea. That's the first thing you have to get right -
the manager said that just before the game, make sure we come in with a
clean sheet. "That's what we wanted and we got the result, which was massive
for us. "It was grand at right back. I've played there quite a lot, and
although I've been at left back too it's not that big a deal for me to go to
the other side. People see me as a right footer so in some ways it's an
easier position for me."
The three point haul ended a seven-game search for victory by the Hammers
and lifted Allardyce's men back up to eleventh in the Barclays Premier
League table. O'Brien felt the result was all-important and the fact that it
came as the product of a fine performance was the icing on the cake. He
added: "It was a massive win. The last few results have been disappointing -
and in the previous home game against QPR we did everything but get the
winning goal - so it was great to get back on track with three points
against Swansea. "The result was all that mattered. The performances this
season have been really good, but at this stage that doesn't really matter,
it's all about the three points. "That said, I thought we played really well
on Saturday and had plenty of chances so it was great when Andy scored. He's
been out for a while so I was delighted that he got on the scoresheet.
"We've got Villa away next week and we'll be looking to go there and win
after this result. If we get another three points on the board next week
we'll be in a good position."
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Haycock upbeat despite Spurs defeat
WHUFC.com
Development Squad manager Nick Haycock remains optimistic despite defeat at
Tottenham Hotspur
05.02.2013
Nick Haycock is adamant he has plenty to be cheerful about, despite seeing
his side slip to a 3-2 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur. A spirited West Ham
United side twice fought back from a goal down to level matters at two
apiece, only to be undone for a decisive third time, as Spurs hit the summit
of the Barclays U21 Premier League Elite Group. The ever reliable Elliot Lee
cancelled out Jonathan Obika's opener, before Harry Kane restored the home
side's slender advantage, just seconds before the interval. Though
Wellington Paulista stabbed home from close range, Giancarlo Gallifuoco's
header ensured the Hammers would depart empty handed, much to the
frustration of a philosophical Haycock. "On another day I think we could
have come away with three points," he told West Ham TV. "We're very
disappointed not to come away with a point, but like I said to the boys,
it's onwards and upwards again from here. The second half showed that we can
compete at this level. "I thought we had a 15 minute spell before half time
where we started to look like the side we know we're capable of being. We
came out after half-time and definitely took the game to Tottenham. We asked
the boys to get higher up the pitch, deny the spaces in between the lines
and be a little bit braver at the back. "We were definitely the better team
in the second half. We equalise and I'm thinking we could go on to win the
game, and straight away again, we conceded off a set piece, a bit sloppy!
"Without digging him out, Amos [Nasha] has let the centre-half run off him
for the goal and he's a young 17-year-old. But I'm really pleased with his
performance and Amos will get better and better, as he plays more games at
this level."
Monday's defeat might rankle with Haycock, but the U21s boss insisted
there's every reason to be positive with a talented and determined group at
his disposal. "They're a good set of lads, every day in training," he added.
They're an honest group, they've worked hard. Ian [Hendon] has done a great
job with them in the first part of the season and there's a good camaraderie
about the team. "I'm always a positive person. During the game I can see
mistakes being made, but that's what the players are out there to do, to
learn. Some are getting tested at a higher level and it's a quick learning
curve for them. "Like we said in the changing room, collectively you've lost
a game, but individually some of you can be proud of your performances and
it's about catching the manager's eye. The reports Ian and I take back are
what they're looking for as young players."
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West Ham strike £9million deal
KUMb.com
Filed: Tuesday, 5th February 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United have agreed a £9million shirt sponsorship deal with Alpari.
The three-year deal, worth £3million per season, will see the Forex traders
replace current sponsors SBOBET on the front of West Ham United's kit from
the beginning of the 2013/14 season. Alpari, who have offices worldwide but
are based in Bishopsgate already sponsor the West Stand of the Boleyn Ground
having agreed a three-year contract back in 2011. However the latest deal
struck by West Ham's commerical department, as revealed by the Daily Mail,
is distinctly small fry compared to some Premier League agreements.
Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool command a whopping
£20million per year each from their shirt sponsors - Etihad, Aon and
Standard Chartered respectively.
Meanwhile the deal between Aurasma and Tottenham, West Ham's nearest Premier
League club, is worth more than three times United's new deal at £10million
per annum. And even the likes of Fulham (FxPro, £4.2million per year) and
Aston Villa (Genting, £8million per year) will earn considerably more from
their commerical shirt arrangements than West Ham. However the new contract
represents a 40 per cent increase on the club's previous deal with SBOBET,
which was worth around £1.7million per annum.
Getting Shirty: how the various Premier League sponsorship deals compare
1. Man Utd/Aon - £20m
1. Liverpool/Standard Chartered - £20m
1. Man City/Etihad - £20m
1. Sunderland/Invest In Africa - (up to) £20m
5. Chelsea/Samsung - £13.8m
6. Newcastle/Virgin Money - £10m
6. Tottenham/Aurasma - £10m
8. Aston Villa/Genting - £8m
9. Arsenal/Fly Emirates - £5.5m
10. Fulham/FxPro - £4.2m
11. Everton/Chang Beer - £4m
12. QPR/AirAsia - £2.5m
13. West Ham Utd/SBOBET - £1.7m
14. WBA/Zoopla - £1.5m
15. Stoke/Bet365 - £1.3m
16. Swansea/32Red - £1.1m
17. Norwich/Aviva - £1m
17. Wigan/12Bet - £1m
17. Southampton/aap3 - £1m
20. Reading/Waitrose - £500k
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Jack Collison pleased to be back playing for West Ham and Wales
Last Updated: February 5, 2013 8:46am
SSN
Jack Collison claims to be over his injury troubles and ready to produce his
best for West Ham United and Wales. A niggling knee problem has prevented
the midfielder from competing for club and country as often as he would have
liked in recent years. Collison has spent regular spells on the sidelines
since 2009, with a setback last summer keeping him out of West Ham's return
to Premier League competition. He has, however, been back in contention
since December and is confident that he can put the struggles of the past
behind him. Ahead of his first outing for Wales in almost a year, against
Austria on Wednesday, Collison said: "It's been great to be back out on the
pitch because it's been a bit of a long time once again. "It's been
frustrating after playing almost the whole of last season and then watching
the boys play in the Premier League week in, week out against the best
teams. "It's good to be back and I've had some good games since then. I'm
looking to build on those now and prove myself again. "To be honest, the
knee feels better than it has done in about three years, which is obviously
good."
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West Ham striker Andy Carroll is relishing his return from injury
Last Updated: February 5, 2013 1:41pm
SSN
West Ham striker Andy Carroll is hopeful his recent injuries problems are
behind him after scoring the winner against Swansea on Saturday. The
24-year-old's season has been blighted by hamstring and knee injuries since
joining West Ham on loan from Liverpool last summer. Carroll's strike in
West Ham's 1-0 win over Swansea was only his second since joining the
Hammers. He admits it has been tough to find his form whilst battling to
stay fit, but hopes he is now on course for a long run in Sam Allardyce's
team. "Coming into a new team and getting injured in my first game to put me
out for six weeks was frustrating," he told West Ham's official website.
"Then I was back for a couple of games and was out for eight weeks. It's
hard when you're injured anyway, but when it's at a new club it's even
harder. "I've kept my head up as much as possible and worked hard with the
physios and fitness coaches to get back and I showed on Saturday that I am
fit."
Carroll praised the club's medical team for getting him back to fitness in
time to make a match-winning start against Swansea as West Ham claimed only
their second Premier League win in 10 games. He said: "I've been keeping fit
in the gym and all the backroom staff have been helping me. The fitness
coaches and physios have been on me, working me hard. "When I couldn't run I
was in the gym and the hard work paid off with 90 minutes on Saturday. "I
didn't find out until the day of the game that I was going to start and
obviously I was over the moon with the decision. I just had to work hard,
run around and keep the ball as much as I could. "It was a tough game and
I'm just happy that we got the three points."
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Sam's big on Bony
The Sun
Exclusive
By ANDREW DILLON
Last Updated: 06th February 2013
WEST HAM are planning for life without Andy Carroll by lining up a move for
Ivory Coast hitman Wilfried Bony. The £12million-rated striker is top scorer
in Holland with 16 goals in just 18 league games for Vitesse Arnhem. Big
Bony, 24, also played at the African Nations Cup before Ivory Coast's
quarter-final defeat to Nigeria on Sunday. Hammers boss Sam Allardyce is
already considering where to go shopping for forwards in the summer when
Carroll's loan from Liverpool expires. Upton Park top brass fear Carroll is
determined either to prove himself at Anfield or rejoin old club Newcastle
instead of signing a £17m deal to stay in East London. Bony, who was linked
with both Newcastle and Liverpool in last month's transfer window, is one of
the most promising strikers around and it would be an ambitious coup for
West Ham should Carroll leave.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Tuesday, February 5
Daily WHUFC News - 5th February 2013
Jarvis hoping Hammers will kick on
WHUFC.com
West Ham United winger Matt Jarvis is looking upward after Saturday's win
over Swansea City
04.02.2013
Matt Jarvis expects West Ham United's victory over Swansea City to provide
the perfect springboard for a renewed charge towards a top-half Barclays
Premier League finish. Saturday's timely 1-0 success, a first win in seven
in all competitions, saw the Hammers move on to 30 points, with some 13
league contests still to be negotiated. Sam Allardyce's side have now
amassed six league wins at the Boleyn Ground this term and Jarvis reckons
their home performances have warranted even greater rewards. "We've been
playing well at home and creating all the chances, but maybe not getting the
results we wanted or deserved," he explained. "Getting the 1-0 win on
Saturday is a massive boost to us. It takes us to 30 points and we can push
on from there. "We just have to keep doing exactly what we have been,
creating the chances and hope that one goes in. This time Andy [Carroll] got
a great header and it proved to be the 1-0 win we needed. It's a good three
points to move on to next week, which will be a tough game away at Villa.
But we're looking to go there full of confidence and get another result."
As well as three precious points, West Ham's club-record signing was just as
pleased with a first clean sheet since a goalless draw at West Bromwich
Albion in December. The shutout was all the more satisfying against the
in-form Swans and Jarvis pointed to his team's endeavour in protecting Jussi
Jaaskelainen's goal.
"Swansea are a great passing team and you've seen the results recently,
that's why they're up there in the league," he added. "We had to really play
well and defend well as a team to stop them getting the chances and I don't
think they really created too much. As for match-winner Carroll, Jarvis
welcomed the return of the 6'3'' striker, insisting his enthusiasm on the
pitch is something to behold. "He's a great player, he wants to go and
contest every ball, every cross, every goal-kick, every corner, everything!
It's great to have him back in the team."
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Maguire scoops Ireland prize
WHUFC.com
West Ham United striker honoured at FAI International Football Awards
04.02.2013
West Ham United striker Sean Maguire was honoured at the Football
Association of Ireland's International Awards on Sunday when he was named as
the FAI Schools International Player of the Year. The 18-year-old has
represented his country up to Under-19 level and joined the Hammers in
January after impressing for Waterford United. He is in his country's
Under-19 squad for their double header of friendlies with the Czech Republic
this week and collected his prize at the 23rd running of the Three FAI
International Football Awards. Bolton Wanderers midfielder Keith Andrews
took the main prize at the award ceremony in Dublin, being named as the
Republic of Ireland's Senior International Player of the Year.
The full list of award winners was:
3 International Goal of the Year: Kevin Doyle (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Senior International Player of the Year: Keith Andrews (Bolton Wanderers)
Young International Player of the Year: James McCarthy (Wigan Athletic)
Airtricity League Player of the Year: Jason McGuinness (Shamrock Rovers)
Senior Women's International Player of the Year: Emma Byrne (Arsenal)
Under 21 International Player of the Year: Robbie Brady (Hull City)
Under 19 International Player of the Year: Anthony Forde (Wolverhampton
Wanderers)
Under 19 Women's International Player of the Year: Emma Hansberry (Castlebar
Celtic)
Under 17 International Player of the Year: Jack Grealish (Aston Villa)
Under 17 Women's International Player of the Year: Lauren Dwyer (Wexford
Ladies)
Under 16 International Player of the Year: Noe Baba (Fulham)
Under 15 International Player of the Year: James Talbot (Home Farm)
Junior International Player of the Year: Adrian Walsh (Carrick United)
Intermediate Player of the Year: David O'Sullivan (Wayside Celtic)
Football for All International Player of the Year: Davy Byrne (Irish
Homeless World Cup Team)
FAI Schools International Player of the Year: Sean Maguire (CBS Kilkenny)
Hall of Fame: Kevin Sheedy
International Personality: Zbigniew Boniek
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Paulista on target again
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 4th February 2013
By: Staff Writer
Wellington Paulista grabbed his second goal in as many games - but couldn't
prevent the Development Squad from falling to defeat against Tottenham.
The Brazilian striker, who opened his account for West Ham in last week's
2-0 win over Arsenal was on target again at Bulls Cross as Nick Hancock's
side made their second outing in the Premier League Elite Group. However
West Ham were beaten 3-2 on the day by a strong Spurs side, who now have
seven points from their opening three outings in the new under 21's league.
Jonathan Obika - who happens to be the cousin of R&B singer Lemar - gave the
home side a 28th minute lead when he converted a Harry Kane cross. However
West Ham were back on level terms two minutes ahead of the half time whistle
through Elliott Lee, who had been played in by Matthias Fanimo.
Just 90 seconds later Tottenham regained the lead when Kane - who was part
of the Norwich team that drew 0-0 with Sam Allardyce's first team at Carrow
Road last September - beat West Ham goalkeeper Jake Larkins from distance.
But Hancock's side restored parity for a second time 12 minutes into the
second period when Paulista, grabiing his second goal for West Ham converted
Lee's centre.
However it was to be the home side who grabbed all three points courtesy of
a 69th minute winner from Australian youth international Giancarlo
Gallifuoco. The 19-year-old midfielder met Cristian Ceballos' cross which he
nodded home to secure a second win of the campaign for Tottenham.
* The Development Squad clash with Manchester United scheduled for Friday,
1st March will now take place at the Boleyn Ground.
West Ham Utd: Larkins, Driver, Shaw, Spence, Ruddock, Moncur, Lletget,
Nasha, Paulista, Lee, Fanimo.
Substitutes: Bywater, Howes, Miles, Onariase, Mavila.
Tottenham: Miles, Fredericks, Fryers, Luongo, Gallifuoco, Veljkovic,
Ceballos, Carroll, Obika, Kane, Parrett.
Substitutes: Stewart, Priestley, Byrne, Bostock.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce unsure on Andy Carroll's future
Last Updated: February 4, 2013 12:02pm
SSN
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce says he will wait until the end of the season
before making a decision on the future of Andy Carroll. The striker scored
just the second goal of his season-long loan from Liverpool, which has been
badly disrupted by injury, in Saturday's 1-0 win against Swansea. Hammers
co-owner David Sullivan confirmed on Friday that an agreement had already
been reached with Liverpool to sign Carroll on a permanent basis, although
they were yet to agree terms with the player. But despite praising Carroll's
ability, Allardyce admits he is uncertain whether the club will be able to
secure the 24-year-old's signature permanently. "You always want a top class
centre forward," Allardyce told talkSPORT. "There are not many of Andy
Carroll's type. The sad thing for football is that it now seems
unfashionable to have a big centre forward in your team, which really
disappoints me." "I know he's been short on goals and he's had a disrupted
season, but he'll only get better if he's got a settled future, whether
that's with us or not [I don't know]. "It would be a long process though. We
will have a conversation at the end of the season with Andy and Liverpool.
It all depends on how he feels and what he does between now and the end of
the season. "It's also about where Andy thinks his future lies. He hasn't
thought about that yet, he just wants to play as much as he can. "There are
not many of Andy Carroll's type. The sad thing for football is that it now
seems unfashionable to have a big centre forward in your team, which really
disappoints me. "It excites people when you see him rise above everybody
else to get the ball in the back of the net. "I've known him since he was a
youngster. I could see the talent that he had and that talent flourished
very quickly into Liverpool paying £35million for him. It didn't work there
for whatever reason but he's such a young man, who's desperate to play
football and do well."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham winger Matt Jarvis urges team-mates to push on
Last Updated: February 4, 2013 10:44pm
SSN
Matt Jarvis hopes West Ham United will be able to build on their 1-0 win
over Swansea City and go on to enjoy a successful second half to the season.
Andy Carroll's late goal secured victory for the hosts at Upton Park and
took the Hammers to the 30-point mark for the season, with 13 games still to
play. Jarvis was delighted with the result but has urged his team-mates to
follow it up with another solid performance at Aston Villa on Sunday. "We've
been playing well at home and creating all the chances, but maybe not
getting the results we wanted or deserved," he told the club's official
website. "Getting the 1-0 win on Saturday is a massive boost to us. It takes
us to 30 points and we can push on from there. "We just have to keep doing
exactly what we have been, creating the chances and hope that one goes in.
This time Andy got a great header and it proved to be the 1-0 win we needed.
"It's a good three points to move on to next week, which will be a tough
game away at Villa. But we're looking to go there full of confidence and get
another result." Jarvis reserved special praise for Carroll after he
produced an impressive display up front against the Swans. "He's a great
player, he wants to go and contest every ball, every cross, every goal-kick,
every corner, everything! It's great to have him back in the team," said
Jarvis.
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Turgott extends Bantams stay
Last Updated: February 4, 2013 4:41pm
SSN
Bradford have agreed with West Ham to extend teenage winger Blair Turgott's
loan spell for a second time. The 18-year-old, currently away with the
England Under-19s squad ahead of Tuesday night's friendly against Denmark,
will stay with the Bantams until March 3. Turgott originally joined Bradford
on loan for a month at the end of November before agreeing to the first
extension at the beginning of January. He missed Saturday's 2-2 draw at
Fleetwood due to international duty, but has made four starts for Phil
Parkinson's side and seven appearances off the bench during his time in West
Yorkshire.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
West Ham United winger Matt Jarvis is looking upward after Saturday's win
over Swansea City
04.02.2013
Matt Jarvis expects West Ham United's victory over Swansea City to provide
the perfect springboard for a renewed charge towards a top-half Barclays
Premier League finish. Saturday's timely 1-0 success, a first win in seven
in all competitions, saw the Hammers move on to 30 points, with some 13
league contests still to be negotiated. Sam Allardyce's side have now
amassed six league wins at the Boleyn Ground this term and Jarvis reckons
their home performances have warranted even greater rewards. "We've been
playing well at home and creating all the chances, but maybe not getting the
results we wanted or deserved," he explained. "Getting the 1-0 win on
Saturday is a massive boost to us. It takes us to 30 points and we can push
on from there. "We just have to keep doing exactly what we have been,
creating the chances and hope that one goes in. This time Andy [Carroll] got
a great header and it proved to be the 1-0 win we needed. It's a good three
points to move on to next week, which will be a tough game away at Villa.
But we're looking to go there full of confidence and get another result."
As well as three precious points, West Ham's club-record signing was just as
pleased with a first clean sheet since a goalless draw at West Bromwich
Albion in December. The shutout was all the more satisfying against the
in-form Swans and Jarvis pointed to his team's endeavour in protecting Jussi
Jaaskelainen's goal.
"Swansea are a great passing team and you've seen the results recently,
that's why they're up there in the league," he added. "We had to really play
well and defend well as a team to stop them getting the chances and I don't
think they really created too much. As for match-winner Carroll, Jarvis
welcomed the return of the 6'3'' striker, insisting his enthusiasm on the
pitch is something to behold. "He's a great player, he wants to go and
contest every ball, every cross, every goal-kick, every corner, everything!
It's great to have him back in the team."
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Maguire scoops Ireland prize
WHUFC.com
West Ham United striker honoured at FAI International Football Awards
04.02.2013
West Ham United striker Sean Maguire was honoured at the Football
Association of Ireland's International Awards on Sunday when he was named as
the FAI Schools International Player of the Year. The 18-year-old has
represented his country up to Under-19 level and joined the Hammers in
January after impressing for Waterford United. He is in his country's
Under-19 squad for their double header of friendlies with the Czech Republic
this week and collected his prize at the 23rd running of the Three FAI
International Football Awards. Bolton Wanderers midfielder Keith Andrews
took the main prize at the award ceremony in Dublin, being named as the
Republic of Ireland's Senior International Player of the Year.
The full list of award winners was:
3 International Goal of the Year: Kevin Doyle (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Senior International Player of the Year: Keith Andrews (Bolton Wanderers)
Young International Player of the Year: James McCarthy (Wigan Athletic)
Airtricity League Player of the Year: Jason McGuinness (Shamrock Rovers)
Senior Women's International Player of the Year: Emma Byrne (Arsenal)
Under 21 International Player of the Year: Robbie Brady (Hull City)
Under 19 International Player of the Year: Anthony Forde (Wolverhampton
Wanderers)
Under 19 Women's International Player of the Year: Emma Hansberry (Castlebar
Celtic)
Under 17 International Player of the Year: Jack Grealish (Aston Villa)
Under 17 Women's International Player of the Year: Lauren Dwyer (Wexford
Ladies)
Under 16 International Player of the Year: Noe Baba (Fulham)
Under 15 International Player of the Year: James Talbot (Home Farm)
Junior International Player of the Year: Adrian Walsh (Carrick United)
Intermediate Player of the Year: David O'Sullivan (Wayside Celtic)
Football for All International Player of the Year: Davy Byrne (Irish
Homeless World Cup Team)
FAI Schools International Player of the Year: Sean Maguire (CBS Kilkenny)
Hall of Fame: Kevin Sheedy
International Personality: Zbigniew Boniek
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Paulista on target again
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 4th February 2013
By: Staff Writer
Wellington Paulista grabbed his second goal in as many games - but couldn't
prevent the Development Squad from falling to defeat against Tottenham.
The Brazilian striker, who opened his account for West Ham in last week's
2-0 win over Arsenal was on target again at Bulls Cross as Nick Hancock's
side made their second outing in the Premier League Elite Group. However
West Ham were beaten 3-2 on the day by a strong Spurs side, who now have
seven points from their opening three outings in the new under 21's league.
Jonathan Obika - who happens to be the cousin of R&B singer Lemar - gave the
home side a 28th minute lead when he converted a Harry Kane cross. However
West Ham were back on level terms two minutes ahead of the half time whistle
through Elliott Lee, who had been played in by Matthias Fanimo.
Just 90 seconds later Tottenham regained the lead when Kane - who was part
of the Norwich team that drew 0-0 with Sam Allardyce's first team at Carrow
Road last September - beat West Ham goalkeeper Jake Larkins from distance.
But Hancock's side restored parity for a second time 12 minutes into the
second period when Paulista, grabiing his second goal for West Ham converted
Lee's centre.
However it was to be the home side who grabbed all three points courtesy of
a 69th minute winner from Australian youth international Giancarlo
Gallifuoco. The 19-year-old midfielder met Cristian Ceballos' cross which he
nodded home to secure a second win of the campaign for Tottenham.
* The Development Squad clash with Manchester United scheduled for Friday,
1st March will now take place at the Boleyn Ground.
West Ham Utd: Larkins, Driver, Shaw, Spence, Ruddock, Moncur, Lletget,
Nasha, Paulista, Lee, Fanimo.
Substitutes: Bywater, Howes, Miles, Onariase, Mavila.
Tottenham: Miles, Fredericks, Fryers, Luongo, Gallifuoco, Veljkovic,
Ceballos, Carroll, Obika, Kane, Parrett.
Substitutes: Stewart, Priestley, Byrne, Bostock.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce unsure on Andy Carroll's future
Last Updated: February 4, 2013 12:02pm
SSN
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce says he will wait until the end of the season
before making a decision on the future of Andy Carroll. The striker scored
just the second goal of his season-long loan from Liverpool, which has been
badly disrupted by injury, in Saturday's 1-0 win against Swansea. Hammers
co-owner David Sullivan confirmed on Friday that an agreement had already
been reached with Liverpool to sign Carroll on a permanent basis, although
they were yet to agree terms with the player. But despite praising Carroll's
ability, Allardyce admits he is uncertain whether the club will be able to
secure the 24-year-old's signature permanently. "You always want a top class
centre forward," Allardyce told talkSPORT. "There are not many of Andy
Carroll's type. The sad thing for football is that it now seems
unfashionable to have a big centre forward in your team, which really
disappoints me." "I know he's been short on goals and he's had a disrupted
season, but he'll only get better if he's got a settled future, whether
that's with us or not [I don't know]. "It would be a long process though. We
will have a conversation at the end of the season with Andy and Liverpool.
It all depends on how he feels and what he does between now and the end of
the season. "It's also about where Andy thinks his future lies. He hasn't
thought about that yet, he just wants to play as much as he can. "There are
not many of Andy Carroll's type. The sad thing for football is that it now
seems unfashionable to have a big centre forward in your team, which really
disappoints me. "It excites people when you see him rise above everybody
else to get the ball in the back of the net. "I've known him since he was a
youngster. I could see the talent that he had and that talent flourished
very quickly into Liverpool paying £35million for him. It didn't work there
for whatever reason but he's such a young man, who's desperate to play
football and do well."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham winger Matt Jarvis urges team-mates to push on
Last Updated: February 4, 2013 10:44pm
SSN
Matt Jarvis hopes West Ham United will be able to build on their 1-0 win
over Swansea City and go on to enjoy a successful second half to the season.
Andy Carroll's late goal secured victory for the hosts at Upton Park and
took the Hammers to the 30-point mark for the season, with 13 games still to
play. Jarvis was delighted with the result but has urged his team-mates to
follow it up with another solid performance at Aston Villa on Sunday. "We've
been playing well at home and creating all the chances, but maybe not
getting the results we wanted or deserved," he told the club's official
website. "Getting the 1-0 win on Saturday is a massive boost to us. It takes
us to 30 points and we can push on from there. "We just have to keep doing
exactly what we have been, creating the chances and hope that one goes in.
This time Andy got a great header and it proved to be the 1-0 win we needed.
"It's a good three points to move on to next week, which will be a tough
game away at Villa. But we're looking to go there full of confidence and get
another result." Jarvis reserved special praise for Carroll after he
produced an impressive display up front against the Swans. "He's a great
player, he wants to go and contest every ball, every cross, every goal-kick,
every corner, everything! It's great to have him back in the team," said
Jarvis.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Turgott extends Bantams stay
Last Updated: February 4, 2013 4:41pm
SSN
Bradford have agreed with West Ham to extend teenage winger Blair Turgott's
loan spell for a second time. The 18-year-old, currently away with the
England Under-19s squad ahead of Tuesday night's friendly against Denmark,
will stay with the Bantams until March 3. Turgott originally joined Bradford
on loan for a month at the end of November before agreeing to the first
extension at the beginning of January. He missed Saturday's 2-2 draw at
Fleetwood due to international duty, but has made four starts for Phil
Parkinson's side and seven appearances off the bench during his time in West
Yorkshire.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Monday, February 4
Daily WHUFC News - 4th February 2013
Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce was suitably impressed with West Ham United's first clean sheet of 2013
03.02.2013
Sam Allardyce will be hoping West Ham United can replicate their dominant display from the Swansea City match when they visit Aston Villa on Sunday. Big Sam's side were thoroughly good value for their 1-0 win against The Swans on Saturday, with a relentlessly offensive display matched only by a defensive team effort that was far more reminiscent of the side that had looked so hard to score against earlier this season. The West Ham United manager clearly felt that goals had been offered up to cheaply in the recent away games at Arsenal and Aston Villa, so after some detailed analysis and hard work on the Chadwell Heath training pitches, he was delighted to see his team stand tall to thwart the usually potent Swansea attack. "We were compact as a unit, getting back to how we know we can defend together," Allardyce said. "When you see that Swansea had not lost for seven games and one of the best goalscorers in the Premier League in Michu has been limited to little or no chances, it tells you that it must be the basis of any team being successful. "Clean sheets are hugely important and of course if you keep one and score a goal it means you win the game. Nothing you can do can be better than that other than when you look at a game like Saturday's and think it should have been two or three goals to the good rather than one."
Andy Carroll scored the only goal of the game to cap an energetic display, but his performance was not just about goalscoring as he set up a series of chances for his team-mates and in particular Kevin Nolan, who was unlucky not to register with two fine efforts that were saved by Gerhard Tremmel in the Swansea goal. The Hammers captain and the on-loan Liverpool striker were up to their old tricks again straight from kick-off and combined to cause Michael Laudrup's side no end of problems. "Kevin is ultimately disappointed that he hasn't put either of his two chances in the back of the net," Big Sam explained, "you've got to give the goalkeeper a lot of credit for the saves he made but Kevin will always be disappointed when he's in that position that he didn't score. "Andy and Kevin seem to have this natural instinct when they play together. They didn't play for too long together at Newcastle but since he has been here, Kevin has got quite a few goals off Andy's play. "It wasn't just Andy's contribution to the game with the goal he scored but also the contribution in how well he helped the other lads create chances to score as well."
The West Ham No8 was making his first start since picking up a knee injury against Manchester United on 28 November and his return seemed to add an extra zest to the hosts' attacking play. With Carlton Cole, Modibo Maiga and Marouane Chamakh all an option to provide competition to Carroll, Big Sam is delighted with his bolstered striking options. "If your front man plays well then the team plays well. If the ball is held up well then the whole team can break well. The likes of Mo Diame, Matt Jarvis, Ricardo Vaz Te, Kevin Nolan and Joe Cole can all go on from there and get in the opposition's box, take the full-backs on and sustain a bit of pressure on the opposition's back four. "What happens is if the ball is played up there and it doesn't stick then the lads stop making the runs, they start sitting back and waiting and then you don't get the forward movement that you'd like. "When you consider Andy has come back from nine weeks out, I'm impressed that he could last for the full 90 minutes. He played about 15 minutes at Fulham on Wednesday and we thought we'd get the first hour out of him and see how he was. We thought he might be walking around puffing and blowing but that wasn't the case. "If he can produce that when he hasn't played for nine weeks, when he gets on top of his match fitness, I'm really looking forward to seeing what he can produce."
Momo Diame also demonstrated that the media scrutiny he was subjected to during the January transfer window has not affected him with another blockbuster display in the heart of the Hammers' midfield. Big Sam reiterated how happy he is to have kept the Senegal international and is looking forward to helping him continue the improvement he has shown since he oined from Wigan in the summer. "You see a lot of ability in the way that he keeps the ball and wriggles his way past the opposition midfield, although sometimes he gets a little frustrated with his final shot or his pass. He's settled now the window is shut and he knows he's got to produce his best performances this season and to just keep enjoying his football."
Looking back at the window as a whole, Big Sam is happy with the work West Ham did and is looking forward to seeing what his improved squad can achieve in the remaining 13 Barclays Premier League games. "We got Wellington from Brazil and he may be the goalscorer we're looking for. We also got some cover from the back - Emanuel Pogatetz experienced Premier League football before playing in the German league for four or five years. "We all know what Joe Cole can do if we can keep him fit, Vaz Te's back from three months out and Matt Jarvis is starting to show the kind of form that he did at Wolves. Kevin Nolan is our leading goalscorer and could have scored a couple more on Saturday so if he keeps that up he'll get into double figures and if someone can get up and near him we'll be OK."
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Ladies lose out
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Ladies suffer narrow FA Cup defeat at Leeds
03.02.2013
A stirring second half fightback was not enough to prolong West Ham United Ladies' FA Cup campaign as Julia Setford's team suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat to Leeds United in the third round on Saturday. The Hammers were slow out of the blocks in Yorkshire and trailed 3-0 to the FA Women's Premier League National Division side at the break. Leeds' double strike from Danielle Sheen and Hayley Sharp just before the interval, which allowed them to build on Carey Huegett's ninth minute opener, appeared to have killed the game off as a contest, but the visitors came roaring back in the second half and came so close to completing their comeback. A freak own goal from Leeds keeper Jules Draycott, after her sliced clearance was caught in the wind and flew back past her into the net, gave the Hammers hope, and Leeds' nerves were jangling 10 minutes from the end when Hannah Gowland finished neatly. But the visitors could not force an equaliser as Leeds' first half work proved enough to claim victory.
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Big Sam loves having 'top-class' Carroll available at West Ham
By RIATH AL-SAMARRAI
PUBLISHED: 23:58, 3 February 2013 | UPDATED: 23:58, 3 February 2013
Daily Mail
Sam Allardyce isn't the sort for showy demonstrations of affection, but he sounded as though he wanted to kiss Andy Carroll on Saturday evening. Carroll had battered Swansea's tippy-tappy kings in West Ham's 1-0 win despite it being his first start in nearly 10 weeks after injuring his left knee. 'There is no one of his type who is being thought about for England so if he stays fit and keeps putting in top-class performances you get picked, don't you?' said Allardyce when asked about his chances of an international recall. 'Everyone says that is playing to his head but it's not. It's playing to his feet or chest. He is good at holding the ball up and then you can break from there.'
For his part, Carroll, whose headed goal late on clinched the points, is glad to be back after his second serious injury this season. He said: 'It was very hard keeping sane, to be honest. Seeing all the lads go out training when I had to go to the gym and the treatment room, it was difficult. But I am back and I have got the goal.'
The challenge for Allardyce now is to keep Carroll fit. Then, it is to decide whether his form merits West Ham exercising their option to sign him permanently from Liverpool in the summer.
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Andy Carroll has 14 games to make up mind on future as West Ham beat Swansea City
West Ham United 1 Swansea City 0
JACK PITT-BROOKE SUNDAY 03 FEBRUARY 2013
The Independent
Andy Carroll's West Ham United career starts now. With 14 games left this season Carroll, finally fit, can focus on playing and scoring for the team to whom he is on loan, and where he could well move permanently in the summer ‑ if he enjoys himself.
If he replicates his performance on Saturday, when he dominated Swansea and scored the game's only goal – just "the tip of the iceberg" according to team-mate Matt Taylor – Sam Allardyce, the West Ham manager, hopes he can settle.
"I think it's about Andy enjoying his football between now and the end of the season and looking at the end of this season and asking himself 'what have I achieved here this season?' We just hope that he has an injury-free 14 games and produces better form. If he gets on top of his full match fitness I am looking forward to what he can produce," Allardyce said.
This was Carroll's first start for two months but Allardyce admitted he was "surprised" how fit he was. "Obviously, you see a player come back from nine weeks out and then play 15 minutes against Fulham on Wednesday, you think, 'Come on, let's get the first hour out of him and see how he is'. Generally you will see them walking around that bit more and puffing and blowing, but that wasn't the case. He seemed really fresh and really excited that he was playing. He made such a big contribution, helping the other lads get in for chances, and the fact he scored the goal."
More of this and Carroll could well be picked again by England soon. "There is no one of his type who is being thought about being selected," Allardyce said. "If he stays fit and keeps putting in top-class performances in the Premier League you get picked again, don't you?"
Match facts
Goals: West Ham Carroll 77.
Substitutions: West Ham Cole (Jarvis, 62), O'Neil (Diame, 86), Pogatetz (Nolan, 90+2).
Swansea Moore (Britton, 57), Dyer (Routledge, 75).
Bookings: West Ham Vaz Te. Swansea Chico.
Man of the match Carroll.
Match rating 4/10.
Possession: West Ham 36%. Swansea 64%. Attempts on target: West Ham 7. Swansea 3. Referee L Probert (Wiltshire).
Attendance 34,962.
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Andy Carroll's endurance delights and surprises bubbly West Ham
• Sam Allardyce praises Andy Carroll's worth after winner
• Michael Laudrup upbeat despite Swansea defeat
Jacob Steinberg at Upton Park
The Guardian, Sunday 3 February 2013 22.29 GMT
The overriding emotion provoked by Liverpool's decision to spend £35m on Andy Carroll two years ago is still one of disbelief but for West Ham United he is worth his weight in gold. Sam Allardyce's side had toiled badly during his two-month absence, their form unravelling to the extent that there has even been talk of them being dragged into the dogfight down at the bottom, but Carroll's return was the catalyst for a richly deserved victory over Swansea City, West Ham's first since New Year's Day.
Michael Laudrup said he knew what to expect from West Ham – a direct, physical game centred around getting the ball forward quickly and profiting from set pieces – although he might have been surprised to see Carroll on the pitch when he headed Mark Noble's corner past Swansea's outstanding goalkeeper, Gerhard Tremmel, after 77 minutes.
Making his first start after his return from injury, the striker was not supposed to last 90 minutes yet his performance provided a reminder of what persuaded Liverpool to make him the most expensive English player of all time. Allardyce could not take him off.
"I was surprised," Allardyce said. "Obviously, you see a player come back from nine weeks out and then play 15 minutes against Fulham on Wednesday and you think: 'Come on, let's get the first hour out of him and see how he is.' Generally you will see them walking around that bit more and puffing and blowing, but that wasn't the case. He seemed really fresh and really excited that he was playing. There was no need to bring him off. He made such a big contribution with the way he played, helping the other lads get in for chances, and the fact he scored the goal."
Last week West Ham's co-owner, David Sullivan, said that the club had an agreement with Liverpool to make Carroll's loan move permanent at the end of the season. Carroll still has to agree and Allardyce is not looking too far ahead yet. "I think it's about Andy enjoying his football between now and the end of the season and asking himself: 'What have I achieved here this season?'" he said. "The disappointment was being let go by Liverpool and the disappointment for us was that he had too many injuries. We just hope before we think about the end of the season that he has an injury-free 13 games."
For West Ham, this was a first clean sheet in 10 games and Allardyce praised his defence for snuffing out the threat of Michu, who has gone six games without scoring. Just as pleasing was the contribution made by Mohamed Diamé, whose release clause made him the subject of interest from Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur during the transfer window.
Relieved to have held on to the influential Senegalese midfielder, West Ham's challenge now is to agree a new deal with him. "I think he is settled," Allardyce said. "The window is shut now. He knows he has to produce his best performances from now until the end of the season and he just has to keep enjoying his football and then at the end of the season we can pick up where we left off at the end of this window and start talking again."
Despite a first defeat in seven matches, Laudrup was pleased with how Swansea had fared. The danger for them, with the Capital One Cup final against Bradford City three weeks away, is a loss of focus and Laudrup has warned his players not to rest on their laurels after their victory over Chelsea in the semi-final.
"We are talking about a major event for the club," he said. "Beating the European champions in two legs. I thought there would be a reaction and it hasn't arrived. I said it was important to be more mature as a team. Even as I said it I thought there would be a reaction but it didn't come.
"I don't like to lose, not even in training so imagine a game. It's several weeks since we last lost in the league and I think we have had a very positive run. Sometimes you will lose games and you have to get back on the horse."
Man of the match Andy Carroll (West Ham)
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce was suitably impressed with West Ham United's first clean sheet of 2013
03.02.2013
Sam Allardyce will be hoping West Ham United can replicate their dominant display from the Swansea City match when they visit Aston Villa on Sunday. Big Sam's side were thoroughly good value for their 1-0 win against The Swans on Saturday, with a relentlessly offensive display matched only by a defensive team effort that was far more reminiscent of the side that had looked so hard to score against earlier this season. The West Ham United manager clearly felt that goals had been offered up to cheaply in the recent away games at Arsenal and Aston Villa, so after some detailed analysis and hard work on the Chadwell Heath training pitches, he was delighted to see his team stand tall to thwart the usually potent Swansea attack. "We were compact as a unit, getting back to how we know we can defend together," Allardyce said. "When you see that Swansea had not lost for seven games and one of the best goalscorers in the Premier League in Michu has been limited to little or no chances, it tells you that it must be the basis of any team being successful. "Clean sheets are hugely important and of course if you keep one and score a goal it means you win the game. Nothing you can do can be better than that other than when you look at a game like Saturday's and think it should have been two or three goals to the good rather than one."
Andy Carroll scored the only goal of the game to cap an energetic display, but his performance was not just about goalscoring as he set up a series of chances for his team-mates and in particular Kevin Nolan, who was unlucky not to register with two fine efforts that were saved by Gerhard Tremmel in the Swansea goal. The Hammers captain and the on-loan Liverpool striker were up to their old tricks again straight from kick-off and combined to cause Michael Laudrup's side no end of problems. "Kevin is ultimately disappointed that he hasn't put either of his two chances in the back of the net," Big Sam explained, "you've got to give the goalkeeper a lot of credit for the saves he made but Kevin will always be disappointed when he's in that position that he didn't score. "Andy and Kevin seem to have this natural instinct when they play together. They didn't play for too long together at Newcastle but since he has been here, Kevin has got quite a few goals off Andy's play. "It wasn't just Andy's contribution to the game with the goal he scored but also the contribution in how well he helped the other lads create chances to score as well."
The West Ham No8 was making his first start since picking up a knee injury against Manchester United on 28 November and his return seemed to add an extra zest to the hosts' attacking play. With Carlton Cole, Modibo Maiga and Marouane Chamakh all an option to provide competition to Carroll, Big Sam is delighted with his bolstered striking options. "If your front man plays well then the team plays well. If the ball is held up well then the whole team can break well. The likes of Mo Diame, Matt Jarvis, Ricardo Vaz Te, Kevin Nolan and Joe Cole can all go on from there and get in the opposition's box, take the full-backs on and sustain a bit of pressure on the opposition's back four. "What happens is if the ball is played up there and it doesn't stick then the lads stop making the runs, they start sitting back and waiting and then you don't get the forward movement that you'd like. "When you consider Andy has come back from nine weeks out, I'm impressed that he could last for the full 90 minutes. He played about 15 minutes at Fulham on Wednesday and we thought we'd get the first hour out of him and see how he was. We thought he might be walking around puffing and blowing but that wasn't the case. "If he can produce that when he hasn't played for nine weeks, when he gets on top of his match fitness, I'm really looking forward to seeing what he can produce."
Momo Diame also demonstrated that the media scrutiny he was subjected to during the January transfer window has not affected him with another blockbuster display in the heart of the Hammers' midfield. Big Sam reiterated how happy he is to have kept the Senegal international and is looking forward to helping him continue the improvement he has shown since he oined from Wigan in the summer. "You see a lot of ability in the way that he keeps the ball and wriggles his way past the opposition midfield, although sometimes he gets a little frustrated with his final shot or his pass. He's settled now the window is shut and he knows he's got to produce his best performances this season and to just keep enjoying his football."
Looking back at the window as a whole, Big Sam is happy with the work West Ham did and is looking forward to seeing what his improved squad can achieve in the remaining 13 Barclays Premier League games. "We got Wellington from Brazil and he may be the goalscorer we're looking for. We also got some cover from the back - Emanuel Pogatetz experienced Premier League football before playing in the German league for four or five years. "We all know what Joe Cole can do if we can keep him fit, Vaz Te's back from three months out and Matt Jarvis is starting to show the kind of form that he did at Wolves. Kevin Nolan is our leading goalscorer and could have scored a couple more on Saturday so if he keeps that up he'll get into double figures and if someone can get up and near him we'll be OK."
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Ladies lose out
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Ladies suffer narrow FA Cup defeat at Leeds
03.02.2013
A stirring second half fightback was not enough to prolong West Ham United Ladies' FA Cup campaign as Julia Setford's team suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat to Leeds United in the third round on Saturday. The Hammers were slow out of the blocks in Yorkshire and trailed 3-0 to the FA Women's Premier League National Division side at the break. Leeds' double strike from Danielle Sheen and Hayley Sharp just before the interval, which allowed them to build on Carey Huegett's ninth minute opener, appeared to have killed the game off as a contest, but the visitors came roaring back in the second half and came so close to completing their comeback. A freak own goal from Leeds keeper Jules Draycott, after her sliced clearance was caught in the wind and flew back past her into the net, gave the Hammers hope, and Leeds' nerves were jangling 10 minutes from the end when Hannah Gowland finished neatly. But the visitors could not force an equaliser as Leeds' first half work proved enough to claim victory.
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Big Sam loves having 'top-class' Carroll available at West Ham
By RIATH AL-SAMARRAI
PUBLISHED: 23:58, 3 February 2013 | UPDATED: 23:58, 3 February 2013
Daily Mail
Sam Allardyce isn't the sort for showy demonstrations of affection, but he sounded as though he wanted to kiss Andy Carroll on Saturday evening. Carroll had battered Swansea's tippy-tappy kings in West Ham's 1-0 win despite it being his first start in nearly 10 weeks after injuring his left knee. 'There is no one of his type who is being thought about for England so if he stays fit and keeps putting in top-class performances you get picked, don't you?' said Allardyce when asked about his chances of an international recall. 'Everyone says that is playing to his head but it's not. It's playing to his feet or chest. He is good at holding the ball up and then you can break from there.'
For his part, Carroll, whose headed goal late on clinched the points, is glad to be back after his second serious injury this season. He said: 'It was very hard keeping sane, to be honest. Seeing all the lads go out training when I had to go to the gym and the treatment room, it was difficult. But I am back and I have got the goal.'
The challenge for Allardyce now is to keep Carroll fit. Then, it is to decide whether his form merits West Ham exercising their option to sign him permanently from Liverpool in the summer.
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Andy Carroll has 14 games to make up mind on future as West Ham beat Swansea City
West Ham United 1 Swansea City 0
JACK PITT-BROOKE SUNDAY 03 FEBRUARY 2013
The Independent
Andy Carroll's West Ham United career starts now. With 14 games left this season Carroll, finally fit, can focus on playing and scoring for the team to whom he is on loan, and where he could well move permanently in the summer ‑ if he enjoys himself.
If he replicates his performance on Saturday, when he dominated Swansea and scored the game's only goal – just "the tip of the iceberg" according to team-mate Matt Taylor – Sam Allardyce, the West Ham manager, hopes he can settle.
"I think it's about Andy enjoying his football between now and the end of the season and looking at the end of this season and asking himself 'what have I achieved here this season?' We just hope that he has an injury-free 14 games and produces better form. If he gets on top of his full match fitness I am looking forward to what he can produce," Allardyce said.
This was Carroll's first start for two months but Allardyce admitted he was "surprised" how fit he was. "Obviously, you see a player come back from nine weeks out and then play 15 minutes against Fulham on Wednesday, you think, 'Come on, let's get the first hour out of him and see how he is'. Generally you will see them walking around that bit more and puffing and blowing, but that wasn't the case. He seemed really fresh and really excited that he was playing. He made such a big contribution, helping the other lads get in for chances, and the fact he scored the goal."
More of this and Carroll could well be picked again by England soon. "There is no one of his type who is being thought about being selected," Allardyce said. "If he stays fit and keeps putting in top-class performances in the Premier League you get picked again, don't you?"
Match facts
Goals: West Ham Carroll 77.
Substitutions: West Ham Cole (Jarvis, 62), O'Neil (Diame, 86), Pogatetz (Nolan, 90+2).
Swansea Moore (Britton, 57), Dyer (Routledge, 75).
Bookings: West Ham Vaz Te. Swansea Chico.
Man of the match Carroll.
Match rating 4/10.
Possession: West Ham 36%. Swansea 64%. Attempts on target: West Ham 7. Swansea 3. Referee L Probert (Wiltshire).
Attendance 34,962.
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Andy Carroll's endurance delights and surprises bubbly West Ham
• Sam Allardyce praises Andy Carroll's worth after winner
• Michael Laudrup upbeat despite Swansea defeat
Jacob Steinberg at Upton Park
The Guardian, Sunday 3 February 2013 22.29 GMT
The overriding emotion provoked by Liverpool's decision to spend £35m on Andy Carroll two years ago is still one of disbelief but for West Ham United he is worth his weight in gold. Sam Allardyce's side had toiled badly during his two-month absence, their form unravelling to the extent that there has even been talk of them being dragged into the dogfight down at the bottom, but Carroll's return was the catalyst for a richly deserved victory over Swansea City, West Ham's first since New Year's Day.
Michael Laudrup said he knew what to expect from West Ham – a direct, physical game centred around getting the ball forward quickly and profiting from set pieces – although he might have been surprised to see Carroll on the pitch when he headed Mark Noble's corner past Swansea's outstanding goalkeeper, Gerhard Tremmel, after 77 minutes.
Making his first start after his return from injury, the striker was not supposed to last 90 minutes yet his performance provided a reminder of what persuaded Liverpool to make him the most expensive English player of all time. Allardyce could not take him off.
"I was surprised," Allardyce said. "Obviously, you see a player come back from nine weeks out and then play 15 minutes against Fulham on Wednesday and you think: 'Come on, let's get the first hour out of him and see how he is.' Generally you will see them walking around that bit more and puffing and blowing, but that wasn't the case. He seemed really fresh and really excited that he was playing. There was no need to bring him off. He made such a big contribution with the way he played, helping the other lads get in for chances, and the fact he scored the goal."
Last week West Ham's co-owner, David Sullivan, said that the club had an agreement with Liverpool to make Carroll's loan move permanent at the end of the season. Carroll still has to agree and Allardyce is not looking too far ahead yet. "I think it's about Andy enjoying his football between now and the end of the season and asking himself: 'What have I achieved here this season?'" he said. "The disappointment was being let go by Liverpool and the disappointment for us was that he had too many injuries. We just hope before we think about the end of the season that he has an injury-free 13 games."
For West Ham, this was a first clean sheet in 10 games and Allardyce praised his defence for snuffing out the threat of Michu, who has gone six games without scoring. Just as pleasing was the contribution made by Mohamed Diamé, whose release clause made him the subject of interest from Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur during the transfer window.
Relieved to have held on to the influential Senegalese midfielder, West Ham's challenge now is to agree a new deal with him. "I think he is settled," Allardyce said. "The window is shut now. He knows he has to produce his best performances from now until the end of the season and he just has to keep enjoying his football and then at the end of the season we can pick up where we left off at the end of this window and start talking again."
Despite a first defeat in seven matches, Laudrup was pleased with how Swansea had fared. The danger for them, with the Capital One Cup final against Bradford City three weeks away, is a loss of focus and Laudrup has warned his players not to rest on their laurels after their victory over Chelsea in the semi-final.
"We are talking about a major event for the club," he said. "Beating the European champions in two legs. I thought there would be a reaction and it hasn't arrived. I said it was important to be more mature as a team. Even as I said it I thought there would be a reaction but it didn't come.
"I don't like to lose, not even in training so imagine a game. It's several weeks since we last lost in the league and I think we have had a very positive run. Sometimes you will lose games and you have to get back on the horse."
Man of the match Andy Carroll (West Ham)
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
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