Hammers begin 2014 with Fulham loss
WHUFC.com
West Ham United were defeated 2-1 at Fulham on New Year's Day
01.01.2014
Fulham 2-1 West Ham United
Barclays Premier League
There was no New Year's Day cheer for West Ham United as they saw a lead go
to waste at Fulham. Mohamed Diame fired the Hammers into an early lead, but
Steve Sidwell's equaliser, coupled with Kevin Nolan's red card, meant the
Cottagers went into the break happier. Fulham made their extra man count in
the second period with Dimitar Berbatov notching the winner 24 minutes from
time. The defeat leaves the Hammers in the bottom three ahead of another
crucial Barclays Premier League match at Cardiff City. West Ham started
brightly in the driving rain at Craven Cottage and Nolan found himself clear
in the left channel on five minutes, but couldn't beat David Stockdale in
the Fulham goal from a tight angle. Two minutes later though, the home
stopper was powerless to prevent Diame from giving West Ham the lead when he
collected Jussi Jaaskelainen's long free-kick, turned and fired into the
net. West Ham looked capable of getting at the home defence early on and
Nolan had a great chance to double the advantage on 23 minutes when Diame
picked him out with a cross to the back post, but the skipper's header was
blocked by Stockdale, whose star jump provided an effective barrier. That
sparked the Cottagers into life and as they began to dominate possession,
the chances started to come. With 28 minutes played, Fernando Amorebieta
beat Jussi Jaaskelainen to Damien Duff's right wing corner, but Modibo Maiga
was stationed on the line to knock clear. Their next corner, four minutes
later, proved more profitable, as Sidwell got on the end of Duff's delivery
to crash a header home. A minute later the home side almost completed the
swiftest of turnarounds when Richardson got in down the left. His clipped
effort travelled all the way across the area, where Adel Taarabt picked up
possession and fired a low shot against the base of the post. Then on the
stroke of half-time, the Hammers' task was made all the more difficult when
Nolan saw red for kicking out at Amorebieta as the pair chased a ball into
the channel. Fulham kept up the pressure at the start of the second period
as John Arne Riise skipped past Joey O'Brien in the area, but couldn't force
the ball past Jaaskelainen. The Hammers keeper then had to save from George
McCartney as his header following Berbatov's cross skidded towards his own
goal. Fulham were getting closer and closer and Jaaskelainen had to claw
Taarabt's back post header onto the upright, before the home man fired the
rebound wide. The Hammers could not hold out, and midway through the half
Fulham made the most of a three-on-one situation, with Scott Parker steering
Alex Kacaniklic's cross into Barbatov's path to tap home. Sub Darren Bent
had a golden chance to add to the lead on 71 minutes when he raced clear
only to shoot at Jaaskelainen, and while Alou Diarra headed a Matt Taylor
free-kick over the top and Stewart Downing shot wide, the Hammers were
unable to trouble Stockdale again as Fulham claimed the derby spoils
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen; Demel, O'Brien, Diarra, McCartney, Taylor;
Nolan, Collison, Noble (Rat 32), Diame (Downing 56); Maiga (C.Cole 69)
Subs: Adrian, Jarvis, J.Cole, Potts
Goal: Diame 7
Booked: Rat
Sent off: Nolan
Fulham: Stockdale; Riether, Senderos, Amorebieta, Riise; Parker, Sidwell;
Duff (Kasami 78), Taarabt (Bent 69), Richardson (Kacaniklic 56); Berbatov
Subs: Bettinelli, Hughes, Dejagah, Dembele
Goals: Sidwell 32, Berbatov 66
Booked: Berbatov, Amorebieta
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Attendance: 25,335
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'Key moments' leave Sam frustrated
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce said a miraculous save, an injury and a sending-off all cost
West Ham United dear at Fulham
01.01.2014
Sam Allardyce said key moments had conspired against West Ham United to make
it an unhappy New Year courtesy of a 2-1 defeat at Fulham. 2014 looked set
to start on a Barclays Premier League high when Mohamed Diame fired the
Hammers into an early lead at a wet and wild Craven Cottage, only for Mark
Noble be forced off with a calf injury. Within seconds, Steve Sidwell had
headed Fulham level before Kevin Nolan was sent-off for the second time in a
month for inexplicably aiming a kick at Fernando Amorebieta a minute before
half-time. Down to ten men, Big Sam's side battled hard in the face of heavy
Fulham pressure, only for Scott Parker's miss-hit shot to tee-up Dimitar
Berbatov for the simplest of winners.
"There were three key moments in this game," said the Hammers manager, whose
side sit 19th in the table and three points from safety. "The first was our
goal, which was great, and then Kevin's header which we all thought was a
goal until the unbelievable save from Stockdale, which was a great shame for
us.
"If we'd gone 2-0 up, we wouldn't have seen Kevin Nolan sent-off from there,
but we shouldn't have seen Kevin Nolan sent-off anyway, but we did. "For
whatever reason, he's had a rush of blood and the red mist has descended and
he has acted irresponsibly and it's something that has made life extremely
difficult for us. He has let himself, his team-mates and the Club down by
his actions and he has to shoulder that responsibility and accept what he
has done was not right. "The rest of the lads battled right until the very
end trying to get something out of the game, all the way to the final
whistle in very difficult conditions, to try to get the goal. "Whatever
happens at the moment, whether it's a deflection or a knockdown or a break,
it's not seeming to go our way at the minute. "All we can do is pursue what
we can change, which is getting the injured players fit, getting some new
players in through the window and getting more results as quickly as
possible because that gap between points and games played has got that
little bit bigger and makes life so much more difficult to make the
difference up."
It had all started so well at Craven Cottage, too. West Ham scored and then
harried and harassed Fulham as the home side repeatedly tried to play out
from the back, frustrating the home supporters. From one interception by
Matt Taylor, Diame crossed for Nolan, only for Stockdale to make a
miraculous save with his right foot and keep the score at 1-0. "We nicked
lots of balls of them trying to pass it out and then Mo put in a fantastic
ball and I don't think Kevin could have headed it any better. Stockdale just
threw himself at it in hope and that bit of hope went his way and it didn't
go in the back of the net. "If Fulham had gone 2-0 down having lost 6-0 at
Hull City, it would have put a lot of fear into them, but it wasn't to be.
"We were in a good position but then our marking let us down on their goal
and the big key moment was the sending-off, sadly."
The manager was also left to lament the loss of Noble to a calf injury which
he blamed on the heavy Christmas fixture list. The midfielder has started
every one of West Ham's 20 league matches this season and Big Sam said the
physical effort had taken its toll on the No16 - as it has on countless
other Barclays Premier League players in recent weeks. "If it's not bad
enough that Mark Noble gets injured down to his fatigue levels because he's
played too many games over the Christmas period, "I watched Liverpool
against Chelsea and five players went off with muscle injuries in that game
on its own. Right across the board we're losing millions of pounds worth of
talent because the fixture load is being shown to be too much for players at
this time of year."
While he now has to contend with arrival of Noble in an already packed
treatment room, the manager did at least welcome Stewart Downing back after
four weeks out with a badly cut ankle. The England international was quickly
back into his stride at Craven Cottage, providing the rare bright moments of
a gloomy second half with his ability to keep possession and drive the team
forward with his direct running and accurate passing. "He got us back in the
game and got us going forward because he holds the ball up and receives the
ball when he is marked, wriggles around and gets us on the front foot. "We
saw a big lift in our attacking play when Stewart came on and ultimately got
us into areas where we might have nicked a draw, but we couldn't find the
ultimate finish."
West Ham now take a break from Barclays Premier League action until the trip
to Cardiff City on 11 January. In the meantime, the Hammers travel to
Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup third round on Sunday before making the
journey to Manchester City for a Capital One Cup semi-final first leg next
Wednesday evening. With so many players unavailable and new faces possibly
arriving over the next few days, the manager admitted he would have to make
changes to his starting XI for those two fixtures. "Well, the trouble is
that you have to put players out to play who can get injured again. It would
be lovely at this moment in time to go into these games with a fully fit
squad - we wouldn't be in the position in the league we are now for one,
because our points total would be better, and two, we'd all be looking
forward to the semi-final and the side we are going to put out. "At the
moment, I haven't got a clue what team I'm going to put out on Sunday or
next Wednesday because of all the problems we have got."
Finally, when asked for his one New Year's resolution, the manager was clear
- Barclays Premier League safety. "Obviously it's just about getting points
on the board now for me. The only thing we have got to do in this profession
is to get enough points to stay in the Premier League - that's the only goal
and only ambition and that's what we have got to push ourselves as hard as
possible to do."
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Fulham 2 West Ham 1
1 January 2014
Last updated at 17:57
By Timothy Abraham
BBC Sport
Dimitar Berbatov's fifth goal of the season helped Fulham climb out of the
Premier League drop zone with a victory over fellow strugglers West Ham. The
Hammers had taken the lead when Mohamed Diame slotted home from a long ball
but Steve Sidwell equalised with a header from a corner. West Ham captain
Kevin Nolan was sent off just before half-time for an off-the-ball kick at
Fernando Amorebieta. And Fulham made the extra man count when Bulgarian
Berbatov tapped home. New Fulham head coach Rene Meulensteen used the
festive period to beef up his backroom staff with the appointments of Alan
Curbishley as technical director and Ray Wilkins as assistant head coach.
However, it was the return to fitness of striker Berbatov, 32, who had not
played since the Cottagers' 4-1 defeat at Everton on 14 December because of
a groin problem, which could prove a more timely boost for Meulensteen.
Berbatov was one of seven changes the Dutchman made from the team thrashed
6-0 away to Hull City while West Ham also rotated with six different players
from the side which drew 3-3 with West Brom. It was the Hammers, without a
league win since a 3-0 success over Fulham at Upton Park at the end of
November, who took the lead after a positive start. A long kick up field
from goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen bounced on the edge of the Fulham area
and was controlled by Diame who planted a low shot on the turn into the
corner of the net. Fulham eventually found some rhythm and Bebatov
registered their first meaningful effort on goal with an acrobatic effort
while Amorebieta saw his goal-bound header from a corner cleared off the
line by West Ham striker Modibo Maiga.
"West Ham shot themselves in the foot when Kevin Nolan got himself sent off
after a fairly even first half and that proved the turning point. "It was
Nolan's irresponsible sending off for an off-the-ball incident which changed
the course of the game. "Fulham made use of the extra man and grabbed a
deserved winner through Dimitar Berbatov which lifts them out of the
relegation zone. West Ham, though, are in a whole heap of trouble."
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce believes the key to survival for his side will be
the return of the club's injured players but they were dealt a blow on the
half-hour mark when Mark Noble went down clutching his leg and was replaced
by Razvan Rat. West Ham's depleted defence - soon to be bolstered by the
arrival of Everton defender Johnny Heitinga - had looked suspect from
set-pieces throughout the first half, so it came as little surprise when
Fulham equalised from a corner. Damien Duff's flag kick picked out the run
of Sidwell, who escaped the attentions of George McCartney and planted a
header past Jaaskelainen.
It got worse for Allardyce's side on the stroke of half-time when Nolan was
shown a straight red card for a needless off-the-ball kick at Amorebieta
which proved to be the turning point in the game.
Nolan had only recently returned from suspension having been sent off in
West Ham's 4-1 defeat at Liverpool. Fulham signalled their intent to make
the extra man count after the break and John Arne Riise brought a reaction
save out of Jaaskelainen at his near post. Adel Taarabt missed a great
chance to put Fulham ahead when his initial header was saved by Jaaskelainen
but could only strike the rebound back across goal.
Fulham's persistence eventually paid off in the 66th minute when Alexander
Kacaniklic's low cross from the left was steered into the path of Berbatov
by Scott Parker which left the experienced former Manchester United striker
with a simple tap-in. West Ham threw on striker Carlton Cole as they
attempted to get back into the contest but Fulham's defence stood firm.
Fulham head coach Rene Meulensteen: "The key for us was getting the points
and moving out of the bottom three. It doesn't mean we've turned a corner
but we're looking confident. "We all know that when you're in our position,
home games are very important. I thought we played well. "We deserved the
equaliser and the sending off helped us because you get more space and more
possession. At 2-1 they obviously thought they still had a chance and put
balls into the mixer but we dealt well with it."
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce: "I am disappointed because we went down to 10
men and that was a turning point. "Our captain was irresponsible, not just
for today but for the future because he is suspended. He's let everyone down
and himself. "Kevin is an experienced player and I'm surprised because he
had a silly challenge at Liverpool. That's two in the space of the month and
it's something I will not allow to happen."
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West Ham: Sam Allardyce angry with "irresponsible" Kevin Nolan
BBC.co.uk
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce called captain Kevin Nolan "irresponsible"
after the midfielder was sent off against relegation rivals Fulham. Nolan
was shown a straight red card for an off-the-ball kick at Fernando
Amorebieta just before half-time in the Hammers' 2-1 defeat at Craven
Cottage. Allardyce says the 32-year-old can have no excuses for his poor
discipline. "Our captain was irresponsible. Not just today but for the
future because he is suspended," Allardyce said. "He's let everyone down and
himself. I just don't quite understand where he's lost his cool and why it's
happened. "I know their centre-half fouled him, and I also know that
[referee] Mark Clattenburg didn't give a free kick and he should have done.
"But it's still not an excuse for what Kevin did, and he ends up getting
himself sent off."
Nolan had only recently returned from suspension having been sent off in
West Ham's 4-1 defeat at Liverpool on 7 December. After picking up only two
red cards in his first 351 Premier League appearances, Nolan has now
collected another two in his last four appearances. Allardyce admits Nolan's
impending ban presents more problems because of the Hammers' growing injury
list. "Kevin is an experienced player and I'm surprised because he had a
silly challenge at Liverpool," Allardyce added. "That's two in the space of
the month now. It's not something I will allow to happen. "We have to rally
round now. We only have a few players to select from so losing Kevin and
Mark Noble injured is a massive blow."
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Johnny Heitinga: West Ham to sign Everton's Dutch defender
BBC.co.uk
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce says the club are set to sign Everton's Dutch
international defender Johnny Heitinga. The Hammers have centre-halves James
Tomkins and James Collins out injured and Allardyce says a deal for the
30-year-old could be completed soon. "We've had the OK from Everton and
we're talking to his agent at the moment so hopefully that will happen in
the next day or so," Allardyce said. Heitinga has not played in the Premier
League for Everton this season. The Toffees signed him from Atletico Madrid
for £7m in 2009.
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Allardyce slams 'irresponsible' Nolan
KUMb.com
Filed: Wednesday, 1st January 2014
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce has accused his captain Kevin Nolan of letting the Club down
after his dreadful dismissal at Craven Cottage this afternoon. Nolan was
issued a straight red card after inexplicably lashing out at Fulham's
Fernando Amorebieta in the closing stages of the first half with the game
delicately poised at 1-1. West Ham went on to lose 2-1 - and whilst
Allardyce stopped short of blaming Nolan, his anger was clear. "Our captain
was irresponsible today - not just for today but for the future because he
is suspended," said Allardyce. "He's let everyone down and himself. That was
a turning point. "Kevin is an experienced player and I'm surprised, because
he had a silly challenge at Liverpool. That's two in the space of a month
now. It's not something I will allow to happen."
Allardyce, whose extensive injury list was eased slightly ahead of the game
by the welcome return of Stewart Downing (who featured as a second half
substitute) also lost yet another key player when Mark Noble limped off
early on with what appeared to be a calf strain. "We have to rally round
now," he added. "We only have a few players to select from so losing both
Kevin and Mark is a massive blow."
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THE TIME IS NOW FOR A DECISION ON BIG SAM
By ExWHUemployee 1 Jan 2014 at 20:00
West Ham Till I Die
For those of you that follow me on Twitter, you will know I have regularly
backed Sam. I have written articles on it and have tweeted how I think he is
has done a good job for us. He got us promoted in our first season down with
a squad that had all its confidence and unity destroyed by the previous
management. He then got us a 10th place finish in the premiership which was
great for our first season back but perhaps it was this overachievement
which lead to some of the problems this season.
I really am losing my faith at the moment and think we have to act fast. If
we are to dismiss the manager it has to be now at the start of the window
where a new man can come in and make a difference to the squad and bring in
his own players. I am really worried that this season is beginning to
replicate the disastrous Avram Grant reign. There are many similarities:
beating Tottenham, Semi Finals of the League Cup, our main summer signing
picking up a long term injury and the underperformance of the club captain
being one of many.
I really hope I am not over reacting on the back of the defeat against
Fulham but I have been thinking this for a while. Firstly we played a team
who had just lost their last game 6-0 to Hull. I accept it was a changed
line up but this is the sort of team we should really be going out to attack
right from the start as their confidence would be very fragile. Let's also
take into account that we didn't have any fit central defenders anyway so we
couldn't really hope to defend too well, so attack was the best form of
defence. So for me he had to go with two up front in this game and he
didn't. We have a complete over reliance on one tactic which is largely
based around a fit Andy Carroll of course which we don't have!
Carlton Cole should have started this game. We all know he has dodgy knees
and that fitness can be an issue for him. He was however subbed off against
WBA and so could have been started today. He has a great scoring record
against Fulham, which their defenders and fans would have been aware of, so
they were probably delighted he was on the bench. I would have started with
him and Maiga up top.
The other concerning issue for me to come out of the Fulham game is the
Kevin Nolan situation. Our captain had a good game against WBA and I hoped
he would build on it. This season he has really struggled, admittedly he
plays better off a big target man but the bottom line is there has been
games when he should not have been selected to start or should have been
subbed off earlier. Sam clearly sees Nolan has his most important player and
his voice on the pitch. I saw someone on twitter describe him as "a manager
in a kit" which I thought did sum up a lot of his games this season. Sam and
the club have been badly let down by our "leader" today. What Kevin Nolan
did today is quite simply appalling from a club captain in such a crucial
game! When the manager is let down that badly by his captain you have to
question what is actually going on at the club.
We then have the off pitch problem with James Tomkins and apparent bust ups
with players, the latest apparently being Ravel Morrison. How much of this
is Sam's fault?!, I don't know, but one thing for certain at the moment is
that there is a lot of negative press going around about the club at the
moment. A new man could certainly change that in the short term.
There is the summer gamble of putting "all our eggs in one basket" – a quote
attributed to David Gold when buying Andy Carroll. I wanted us to sign him
and was delighted when we did. What I don't understand is how he passed a
medical when he was apparently injured in the last game of the season! This
is not necessarily Sam's fault but our failure to land another striker has
been a huge problem. I love Carlton Cole and am delighted he is back and
scoring but the whole situation of him being released and then being brought
back was a bit embarrassing for everyone involved.
Sam has been extremely unlucky with injuries without doubt, some referring
decisions and players underperforming. Not all the blame can be put solely
at Sam's feet and I do feel for him at times and I am not really convinced
on what the alternative is.
It just seems to me that in recent weeks it appears it is going to be very
hard to turn this situation around. The keeper rotation of recent weeks was
very odd in my opinion too as neither's confidence could have been
particularly helped by being dropped for games. I am not sure what was
really gained by those decisions. I have already mentioned the defensive
tactic today was a surprise but the team sheet was too. The midfield just
didn't set up right for me today and in my opinion Jarvis had a great game
against WBA. He should have started today to build on the last performance.
I am probably speaking from my heart and not my head here. I think Sam has
done a very good job for us and if he leaves tomorrow I will be grateful for
what he has done for the club. I just feel the chairmen have a very
important decision to make now and hiding behind "it will cost too much to
sack him" is not an acceptable excuse. It will cost us far more if we get
relegated I can assure them of that! One things for certain I couldn't have
predicted we would be in such a bad way at this point of the season, I had
us down to finish 8th!! I hate speaking about the club I love in such a
negative way but I really needed a medium to vent my frustrations and hope
to report on more positive things in future weeks on here and my twitter
account where I try to bring up to date transfer news!
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WHAT SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT KEVIN NOLAN?
By Iain Dale 1 Jan 2014 at 17:14
West Ham Till I Die
Let us remind ourselves that in their last match Fulham lost 6-0 to Hull. We
scored after 7 minutes. And then…
What on earth was he thinking? This was only his second match after coming
back from a three match ban having been sent off against Liverpool for
another needless attack on a Liverpool player. As a 31 year old and as team
captain, should he not know better?
That tweet got a massive reaction and was retweeted several hundred times.
And this was on my normal twitter feed – @IainDale -, not just my West Ham
one – @IainDaleWestHam. Many people are calling for him to be stripped of
the captaincy and even for him never to play for the club again.
That reaction is understandable not least because this was a game we should
have won, even with a makeshift side. Credit to the players for the way they
rallied in the second half, but the fact remains that we remain second from
bottom.
There are of course also calls again for Sam Allardyce to be sacked. We are
told that he is the best man to get us out of our difficulties, but the fact
is, he is the manager who put us there in the first place. If you want to
sack a manager you have to be pretty sure there is someone better out there
to put in his place. Remember what happened when Terry Brown got rid of
Harry Redknapp? We ended up with Glen Roeder. I don't see an obvious
replacement out there, much as though I'd like there to be.
Kevin Nolan should be fined the maximum amount possible and be publicly
rebuked by his manager. He should issue a televised abject apology and the
captaincy should now be transferred to Mark Noble. Except that it seems Mark
will now be out for a while too, having picked up a calf injury. This season
just gets worse and worse…
UPDATE: Watch Sam Allardyce's post match interview with Sky. He labels Nolan
"irresponsible to say the very least".
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Thursday, January 2
Wednesday, January 1
Daily WHUFC News - 1st January 2014
Vice-Chairman made CBE
WHUFC.com
The Vice-Chairman has been made a CBE in HM The Queen's New Year's Honours
List
31.12.2013
West Ham United Vice-Chairman Karren Brady has been made a CBE in HM The
Queen's New Year's Honours List. The Vice-Chairman has been recognised for
her outstanding contribution for services to entrepreneurship and women in
business, a cause for which she has tirelessly campaigned throughout her
career.
Ms Brady, who has previously won a host of high-profile awards for her work
and championing the cause of women in business, spoke of her pride at being
made Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. "I am
truly honoured to have received this award," the Vice-Chairman said. "I have
been extremely touched by all of the kind messages of congratulations from
West Ham United fans since the announcement was made this morning. I would
like to thank my Board at West Ham United and everyone who has worked with
and for me over the years. "I am particularly proud that my work for women
in the workplace has been recognised as it is something I feel so
passionately about. We have seen real progress in that field since I began
my career but that work is far from over as I know there is still so much
more that can be done. "However my primary focus at present is doing all in
my power to help West Ham return to a more stable league position as soon as
possible to give us the platform to continue our recent growth."
Since arriving at West Ham United in 2010, the Vice-Chairman has brought the
Club back to its core values celebrating West Ham's role at the heart of the
East London community through the Moore than a Football Club brand and has
grown the Hammers' fanbase at grassroots and an international level. Her
ability to grow commercial revenue at every operational level of the
business saw the Club record its first operating profit in recent history.
While working tirelessly to attract investment, increase revenue and reduce
the Club's historic debt burden, one of the Vice-Chairman's greatest
triumphs to date came in March 2013, when Her Majesty's Government selected
West Ham United as the anchor concessionaire for the Olympic Stadium
following its transformation into a UEFA Category 4 Football Stadium in
2016. Ms Brady is also an indefatigable supporter of charitable causes as an
Ambassador for The Stroke Association, WellChild and Teenage Cancer Trust.
She adds this accolade to fcbusiness Magazine CEO of the Year, which she
collected for her work at West Ham United in 2012.
Everyone at West Ham United would like to congratulate the Vice-Chairman on
today's exciting announcement.
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Hammers to sign Gordon
WHUFC.com
West Ham United will sign forward Jaanai Gordon from Peterborough United on
New Year's Day
31.12.2013
West Ham United are delighted to confirm the signing of Peterborough United
youngster Jaanai Gordon, which will be completed on 1 January 2014. The
18-year-old striker impressed during a recent trial period with the Club and
has sealed a move from the Sky Bet League One Club. Gordon scored twice in
the Hammers' Barclays U18 Premier League victory over Aston Villa, while
also notching in first-team friendlies against Gillingham and Millwall
during the November international break. Northampton-born Gordon made his
first team debut for Posh in September 2012, aged just 16, and has played
seven first-team games for the London Road club. Following his trial period
at Chadwell Heath, Gordon notched the winner for Peterborough in the FA
Youth Cup at Wolverhampton Wanderers, helping Posh to maintain their cup run
which has taken them to a fourth round tie against Arsenal, before agreeing
to put pen-to-paper with the Hammers.
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The Big Interview - George McCartney
WHUFC.com
George McCartney is keen to show his versatility while filling the Hammers'
void at centre-half
31.12.2013
Stand-in centre-half George McCartney is no stranger to slotting in at the
heart of the back four and is happy to do so if it helps West Ham United
climb the Barclays Premier League table. The Northern Ireland international
deputised at centre-half against Arsenal, following James Collins'
departure, and played in the middle once more in Saturday's topsy-turvy 3-3
draw against West Bromwich Albion.
While he would gladly see the Club's regular centre-halves back in the fold,
McCartney is hoping to hold the fort in the interim, however the situation
dictates.
George, Saturday was a real rollercoaster of a game, wasn't it?
GM: "Yes, it was. I thought we started well, we got the early goal and I was
thinking it's going to be a pretty comfortable day. But it ended up being a
bit of a thriller, a good game for the neutral but not so good for the two
teams, with both looking for the win and trying to move up the table. After
going 2-1 down, we got ourselves back into the game again and ended up
getting a point, which is better than nothing."
You're not a regular centre-half, what was it like when you saw Tomkins limp
off, leaving you with no recognised centre-halves? Perhaps a bit daunting?
GM: "No, I wouldn't say it was daunting. I've played centre-half before in
my life, I started out a centre-half and I've played international football
as a centre-half and I know what's required. Obviously it's not great when
you have two or three regular centre-halves out injured, but I think
nowadays players have got to fill in when needed. "When Tonks went down, we
finished the game with four full-backs in defence. It's required these days,
you've got to be able play in more than one position and fill in when
players are injured or when the manager needs you to do a job. So, it wasn't
ideal to finish the game with game with four full-backs in the defensive
slots but there was no other choice."
You seemed to cope pretty well, but Anelka's a top-class striker...
GM: "To be honest, Anelka wasn't like in his Chelsea days, when he was an
out and out striker sitting up top. Now he's dropping back into midfield,
trying to get on the ball a little bit more. Obviously he scored twice on
Saturday. The first one went down the middle of myself and Joey, it was a
good ball. For the second, he's standing on the line, it's fallen down to
him and he's got the lucky break. "It was one of those games in the end
that could have gone either way, both sides had chances. We're probably
disappointed after going 1-0 up and then getting 3-2 ahead that we didn't
hold onto the three points."
At 2-1 down and with the fans becoming anxious, the team showed great
character to come back and get themselves in front…
GM: "It's understandable. The fans want to see the team doing well and it's
not a pretty situation that we're in at the minute in the bottom three. As
much as the fans want us to do well, the players on the pitch are giving
their all, trying to get the three points. We're all, the manager, the
coaches and players, trying to pull it together and get ourselves out of
this situation. We need the fans behind us through the 90 minutes and after
starting the game so well, I can understand when you go 2-1 down at
half-time, that they want to see an improvement in the second half and I
think we did that. "After Van [Modibo Maiga] had scored and then Nolan gets
you ahead, you think for the next five, ten minutes just keep it tight. We
knew they'd want to come at us and unfortunately they went down the other
end and got the equaliser. It was disappointing, but we'll take a point
after being 2-1 down at half-time and we did well to get ourselves back into
the game. I think we knew in this situation of being near the bottom you
don't have the luck, things don't go for you. I think on Saturday we just
needed that little bit of luck and we'd probably have got the three points."
Are you surprised to see West Ham in the bottom three, with the squad that
you've got?
GM: "You look at the team, you look at the squad, it's experienced, it's got
some great players in it. I think in the first, probably, eight to ten games
of the season, there were games where we were picking up draws. It goes back
to having that little bit of luck and turning that one point into three
points, but we just couldn't put the ball in the net. Eventually it catches
up on you, if you're not really scoring too many goals, other teams are
gradually maybe going to get one or two chances and nick a goal. I think
that's why we've found ourselves in this situation. "I could go back to the
Newcastle game, the Hull game, the Everton game at the Boleyn Ground, there
are five or six games where we should have had the three points, we didn't,
so now it's up to ourselves to all pull together.
"We've got winnable games coming up again and we need to try and get the
players that are injured back again. Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing, Winston
Reid are important players. They're all big misses, so I think once we get
everyone fit again we'll have a full strength squad, we'll hopefully be
moving up the table."
Is the confidence still there?
GM: "You look over the last few weeks at the teams that have sacked their
managers, the players haven't been happy with whatever way they were
playing, all different things. But our dressing room is great, confidence is
high, the spirit is high. We're all in it together and we're still doing all
the right things on the training ground. "It's after Christmas now and when
you find yourselves in the bottom three, everyone maybe gets a little bit
edgy and games you feel you should be winning you're just not getting across
the line. It eventually catches up on you. The dressing room's great and
we're just trying to move up the table again and get ourselves out of this
situation."
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'Fanzone' launched
WHUFC.com
West Ham United fans can have their views heard in whufc.com's newest
feature
31.12.2013
whufc.com and West Ham TV will be launching a brand new feature for 2014,
called Fanzone. The official website and West Ham TV will be seeking opinion
pieces from supporters on all things West Ham United. So whether you thought
an individual impressed in the previous match at the Boleyn Ground, you had
an away day to remember, a Club legend needs remembering or the Under-21s
are catching your eye, whufc.com and West Ham TV want to hear from you.
There are two ways to get your opinions heard on the Club's official
channels. Firstly, whufc.com will carry written blogs of up to 500 words
written in the first person by supporters. Similarly, West Ham TV will be
host video clips of up to 60 seconds of fans voicing their thoughts to
camera. The most interesting and original posts will then be carried on the
website for Hammers fans all over the world to digest and debate. Please
note all submissions will be subject to the usual editorial standards of
whufc.com. If you would like your opinion heard, send your blog of no more
than 500 words or videos (preferably .mov or MP4) to
whufc.com@westhamunited.co.uk
To launch the new feature, Joint-Chairman David Sullivan's son, Jack, has
offered his take on the year that was for West Ham United, in a special West
Ham TV video.
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Macca on: Fulham
WHUFC.com
Neil McDonald took the press conference ahead of Wedesday's game against
Fulham
31.12.2013
Assistant manager Neil McDonald spoke to the media ahead of the game against
Fulham on New Year's day. Ahead of the trip to Craven Cottage, McDonald was
quizzed on the upcoming January transfer window, the latest team news and
for an update on the fitness of Andy Carroll.
Morning Neil, very nice to see you as always, but where's Sam?
NMc: "He's very busy on the phone at the minute, obviously we've got a few
defensive problems and with the window coming up his phone is non-stop so
he's just asked me to do it today."
So that's potentially good news on arrivals to fill some of the gaps?
NMc: "Potentially, yes. I think we need some reinforcements to try and boost
the players that we have here. Sam's working very hard behind the scenes
here with everybody else to try and do that so he apologises for not being
able to do the press conference today."
I guess it's central defenders that he's after?
NMc: "Of course, yes. We've got our three main centre halves injured at the
moment and we're obviously trying very hard to get them fit. We're trying to
bolster that area."
And I imagine you're looking to bring in strikers as well?
NMc: "Yes, of course. We're trying to improve the squad as much as possible,
they're the two main places that we're trying to strengthen."
And he has the board's backing for that financially?
NMc: "He's on the phone to the Chairman as we speak so you would imagine
so."
Do you feel that this game, like some described it, is a must-win game like
against West Brom?
NMc: "It's certainly don't lose the game, that's for sure. When you're
playing a team in and around you that's the most important thing to do.
We've scored three goals against West Brom but conceded three so we need to
stop conceding and keep scoring as we have been doing. We're creating lots
of chances but it's difficult when you haven't got all of your defenders
fit. Going into the Fulham game in this scenario it's a game that if you win
it puts you right up the table which is great, but it's more important that
we don't lose."
That difference between getting three points and not can really reflect on
your position in the table?
NMc: "It shows that even if we'd beaten West Brom that would have pushed us
right up the table, another back to back win over Fulham could have pushed
us right up to halfway so that's how very tight it is, how close it is and
how very important it is to pick up a point. You have to respect the point
if you get it because that could take you further up the league."
On the central defensive area, what's the news on James Collins and James
Tomkins?
NMc: "It looks as though they're not going to be fit for the Fulham game and
we will assess them straight after for the Nottingham Forest game. It's more
likely that they will both be fit, fingers crossed, for the Cardiff City
game."
What will he do in that area against Fulham?
NMc: "The plan would be to pick some players who are going to keep a clean
sheet and we're going to keep our cards close to our chest on that front."
What's the latest on Andy Carroll?
NMc: "He's done a training session yesterday which is very encouraging. It's
still early stages and it's a work in progress with him. Work one day on the
training pitch, massage and rehab the next day and let's see how it goes.
It's positive the fact that he's on the training pitch but it's slow
progress."
Do you hope that relatively soon he'll be able to play some part in the rest
of the season?
NMc: "When you've been out for seven months I don't think you can rush
anybody back. Obviously we're all desperate for him to come back into the
team as quick as we possibly can but we have to be sensible. He's getting
closer."
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O'Brien eyes Fulham success
WHUFC.com
Joey O'Brien is craving victory at Craven Cottage on New Year's Day
31.12.2013
Joey O'Brien says that every player is prepared to do whatever is asked of
them to help the team get the results needed to move up the league table.
The Hammers travel to west London to meet Fulham on New Year's Day, and
O'Brien moved into the centre of the West Ham defence alongside fellow
full-back George McCartney against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday after
centre-half James Tomkins had to come off with a groin injury. Despite
having not played in that position before in the Barclays Premier League,
O'Brien simply got on with it and alongside the rest of his team-mates did
all he could to make sure that West Ham took a share of the points. "It is
one of those things you do for the team. We had another injury in defence
and I was asked to do a job in another position to help the team. I went in
and my only thought was to put a shift in for the team and do my best, which
is what we were all doing. "In these times, when we have these injuries and
we are asked to play in another position, of course you do it, whatever it
takes to do your job for the team." O'Brien said that the team were
disappointed not to have taken all three points against the Baggies at the
Boleyn Ground and although they are missing players who would help
strengthen the cause at this time, he said it was simply a case of getting
on with it and aiming to get maximum points at Craven Cottage on Wednesday.
"Of course we want the players who are currently out injured back as soon
as, they are all important and with all your players fit and well, you have
a bigger chance of winning games. Earlier this season we had a lot of clean
sheets and defended well and on Saturday we were doing that, but not at the
same strength as we would have been normally. When we got to 3-2 after
coming back from behind, I felt we could win it so it was disappointing not
to. "I felt we were a bit unlucky in that their second goal, more often than
not that would have bounced back out instead of bouncing back into the goal
and there was a quality about the third goal that we couldn't do much
about."
The Republic of Ireland defender said that despite the position the Hammers
are in and with injuries to players, the squad are in good spirits and
remain steadfast on the job they have to do, and are more than capable of
doing. "Every game, not just the last one or the next one are all massive
games when you are in the position we are in. The manager with his record
knows what it takes to get out of it. It is not yet two years yet since we
were in the Championship, then got promoted and had a really solid season
back up last year and now we are having this dip which we are working hard
to get through. "But we know that we can only get out of it by winning more
games and the objective for us right now is to go to Fulham and play our
best to get three points."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Fulham v West Ham
KO 15:00
31 December 2013
Last updated at 13:55
By John Motson
BBC Match of the Day commentator
TEAM NEWS
Fulham will hand late fitness tests to Dimitar Berbatov (groin) and Adel
Taarabt (ankle). Scott Parker returns to the squad and is expected to be one
of several changes from the side beaten at Hull.
West Ham have major defensive problems once again but James Collins (groin)
reportedly has a chance of playing. Winston Reid (ankle), James Tomkins
(groin), Andy Carroll (heel) and Stewart Downing (calf) remain out, and
Ravel Morrison (groin) is doubtful.
MATCH PREVIEW
This fixture is already a real relegation battle for me, and not just
because the two clubs are in the bottom three right now. "Fulham are
conceding an unbelievable amount of goals and the first thing they need to
do is make themselves difficult to beat. "West Ham are out of sorts too at
the moment. They got a point against West Brom on Saturday but the Baggies
came across as a much better team." Fulham have conceded 41 goals in the
Premier League this season, nine more than any other club. Regardless of the
6-0 defeat they suffered at the hands of Hull last weekend, the Whites have
been guilty of letting in far too many sloppy goals. New Fulham head coach
Rene Meulensteen has beefed up his backroom staff with the appointments of
Alan Curbishley as technical director and Ray Wilkins as assistant head
coach. Curbishley slowly built Charlton into a Premier League force and
ultimately led them to a seventh-place finish, while Wilkins knows the
division inside out. Both men must work on tightening up that defence and
help Meulensteen get to grips with matters at the wrong end of a Premier
League table. Fulham's new management trio will also be looking to get the
best out of Dimitar Berbatov, who has missed the last three games, and help
Darren Bent rediscover the form that made him one of the division's most
lethal strikers. Berbatov and Bent are key to Fulham's survival hopes. West
Ham's goalscoring problems are well documented but just six away goals in
nine games explains why they are struggling, and three of those came in one
game. No-one could have foreseen their terrible luck with defensive injuries
but with problems now at both ends of the pitch it merely highlights their
threadbare squad. John Heitinga and Asamoah Gyan have been linked in recent
days and the Hammers urgently need squad reinforcements. I'm expecting there
to be a lot of tension at Craven Cottage following the 6-0 defeat at Hull, a
result even the Fulham players called unacceptable. I believe it will be
close, I don't think there will be many goals and it will be a dog-fight,
maybe even right through until the end of the season for both clubs.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Fulham's 3-1 win over West Ham last January was only their second victory
over the Hammers in 12 league and cup meetings at Craven Cottage since 1975
(W2, D3, L7).
Fulham did not manage a single shot on target against West Ham in November's
reverse fixture at Upton Park, a 3-0 defeat.
Thirteen goals have been scored in the last three league fixtures between
the two sides at Craven Cottage.
Fulham
Rene Meulensteen's men, beaten 6-0 at Hull on Saturday, have let in 15 goals
in their last four league games.
Fulham would be 11th in the table if only results against clubs in the
bottom half counted (W5, D1, L3).
The west London side have won all three matches when they have kept a clean
sheet. However no club has kept fewer clean sheets than the Whites.
Fulham have conceded the first goal (14) more often than any other Premier
League side this season.
West Ham
West Ham are winless in their last six league matches. Their only victory in
the last 12 games was November's 3-0 victory over Fulham.
The Hammers have one point fewer (15) than they did at this stage of the
2010-11 season when they were last relegated from the Premier League.
West Ham have kept eight clean sheets this campaign, the joint-highest in
the league along with Arsenal, Everton and Tottenham.
Carlton Cole has scored seven goals in his last nine league games against
Fulham. He also managed to score an own goal in a 3-2 defeat for the Hammers
in 2010.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham: Deal agreed to sign striker Jaanai Gordon
BBC.co.uk
West Ham will complete the signing of teenage striker Jaanai Gordon on 1
January after agreeing a deal with League One side Peterborough. Gordon, 18,
impressed during a recent trial with the Hammers, scoring in the Under-18s'
victory against Aston Villa and two first-team friendlies. He has played
seven senior games for Posh since September 2012. The Hammers have also been
linked with a loan bid for Ghana's Asamoah Gyan during the January transfer
window. Manager Sam Allardyce's side are short of attacking options because
of Andy Carroll's long-term injury-enforced absence. The club are 19th in
the table after winning just one of their last 10 Premier League fixtures.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Petric: I would have left West Ham anyway
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 31st December 2013
By: Staff Writer
Mladen Petric has left West Ham United having failed to secure a first team
spot at the Boleyn. The 32-year-old Croatian striker made just four
substitute appearances in his four months with the Club but revealed that he
will not be returning to Upton Park having activated a release clause in his
contract.
"Both the club and I had a right of termination for the winter," Petric told
mopo.de. "If West Ham didn't made use of it, I would have done. When I
arrived I was told that we were going to play with two strikers - but that
was never the case so, I couldn't go on. "Now I must find a club where I can
play regularly, because I want to be be involved with the World Cup in
Brazil."
West Ham signed the former Fulham striker on a free transfer at the start of
September having failed to secure a forward of sufficient quality during the
summer transfer window. Carlton Cole, who also recently returned to the Club
on a free transfer remains hopeful of agreeing an extension to his current
short-term deal, which expires next month. West Ham have been linked with a
string of strikers in recent days including Ishak Belfodil, Mirko Vucinic,
Fabio Quagliarella and Asamoah Gyan. Earlier today it was confirmed that
Peterborough's teenage prospect Jaanai Gordon had completed his move to east
London, as previously revealed on KUMB.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Here's Johnny
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 31st December 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham's defence could be featuring a new face before long if morning
reports are to prove correct. Everton's John Heitinga is the latest to be
linked with a transfer window move to east London, with the Hammers
desperate to increase their defensive options. James Tomkins, Winston Reid
and James Collins are all currently sidelined with various ailments, a
situation that prompted Sam Allardyce to call for the early return of Pelly
Ruddock from his loan spell with non-league Luton Town earlier this week.
However reports this morning suggest that the 30-year-old Dutch defender
could also be on his way to the Boleyn, with West Ham said to be set to take
the player on a free transfer. Earlier this week Heitinga, who has appeared
for the Toffees just twice this season - both in the early rounds of the
Capital One Cup - revealed that he was set to end his Everton torment
imminently, having been almost entirely overlooked by new manager Roberto
Martinez. "My contract expires in June, and there are many chances for me to
leave Everton," he said."I have played in Spain and England, and I'd also
try the Italian experience. There are a few Serie A teams interested in me
but I'm waiting for official news from my agents."
Heitinga, who has made 137 appearances for Everton since joining them from
Athletico Madrid for £6million in 2009 began his career in 2001 with Ajax,
with whom he spent the first seven years as a pro. In 2008 he moved to
Madrid in an £8.8million deal before he was on the move to Merseyside a year
later.
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Everton's John Heitinga claims West Ham are interested in him
By Gerrit van Leeuwen | Last Updated: 31/12/13 11:33am
SSN
Everton defender John Heitinga has told the Dutch media that he is flattered
by reported interest from West Ham United. The Holland international, who is
out of contract in the summer, is yet to feature in a league game this
season, instead having to be content with a place on the bench for most of
the campaign.
Now reports in his homeland claim that West Ham are closing in on a deal to
take him on loan for the rest of the season, as they are in desperate need
of defensive cover with Winston Reid, James Tomkins and James Collins all
ruled out. And Heitinga has been quoted in Holland as suggesting he is ready
to make the switch to Upton Park. "I am flattered with the interest of West
Ham," he is quoted as saying by Voetbal International. "Since this week the
market is open and it's clear that I have to make an important decision."
Heitinga admits he needs to be playing in order to try and maintain his bid
for a place in Holland's World Cup squad. "The chance of playing more
minutes is the most important," said Heitinga. "I want to be at the World
Cup and to realise that I have to play. Only then I can make it difficult to
Louis van Gaal."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
George McCartney believes morale remains high in the West Ham squad
Last Updated: 31/12/13 2:44pm
SSN
George McCartney insists West Ham's confidence has not been dented after
they slipped into the Premier League drop zone. The Hammers end the year on
a low with the team languishing in 19th place following the 3-3 draw with
West Brom at Upton Park on Saturday. A dismal run of six league games
without a win has left Sam Allardyce's side in a relegation dogfight, but
McCartney believes morale remains high in the squad. "You look over the last
few weeks at the teams that have sacked their managers," said the defender.
"The players haven't been happy with whatever way they were playing but our
dressing room is great, confidence is high, the spirit is high. "We're all
in it together and we're still doing all the right things on the training
ground. "It is after Christmas now and when you find yourselves in the
bottom three, everyone maybe gets a little bit edgy and games you feel you
should be winning you're just not getting across the line.
"It eventually catches up on you. The dressing room's great and we're just
trying to move up the table again and get ourselves out of this situation."
West Ham have been hampered by a shortage of centre-backs as Winston Reid,
James Collins and James Tomkins are all nursing injuries. McCartney was
moved from full-back to the heart of defence at the weekend and he believes
modern day players should all be versatile. "I wouldn't say it was
daunting," said the 32-year-old. "I've played centre-half before in my life,
I started out a centre-half and I've played international football as a
centre-half and I know what's required. "Obviously it's not great when you
have two or three regular centre-halves out injured, but I think nowadays
players have got to fill in when needed.
"We finished the game [against West Brom] with four full-backs in defence.
It's required these days. You've got to be able play in more than one
position and fill in when players are injured or when the manager needs you
to do a job. "So, it wasn't ideal to finish the game with four full-backs in
the defensive slots but there was no other choice."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham agree deal for Peterborough's Jaanai Gordon
Last Updated: 31/12/13 2:46pm
SSN
West Ham will complete the signing of Peterborough striker Jaanai Gordon
when the transfer window reopens on 1 January 2014. The 18-year-old frontman
impressed during a recent trial period with the Hammers and will seal his
switch from the League One club on Wednesday. Sam Allardyce has only one
striker available in Carlton Cole, with club-record signing Andy Carroll
still a couple weeks away from a return. Gordon, who made his first-team
debut for the Posh last September at the age of 16, has made seven
appearances for the London Road outfit. He scored twice in the Hammers'
Barclays U18 Premier League victory over Aston Villa, while also netting in
first-team friendlies against Gillingham and Millwall during the November
international break. Recently Gordon notched the winner for Peterborough in
the FA Youth Cup at Wolves, helping Posh to maintain their cup run.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
ohn Heitinga set for move to West Ham from Everton
Last Updated: 31/12/13 3:02pm
SSN
Sky Sports sources understand that Everton defender John Heitinga is set to
sign for West Ham this week. The Hammers are in need of defensive cover with
Winston Reid, James Tomkins and James Collins all ruled out. Now they have
made a move for Dutch international Heitinga, who has not played in a
Premier League game for Everton this season. New Toffees boss Roberto
Martinez is happy to let Heitinga leave, with his current deal due to expire
in the summer.
It is understood that West Ham are likely to take over the remaining six
months on the 30-year-old's contract. It is unlikely Everton will pick him
in the squad to face Stoke City on New Year's Day ahead of his expected move
to East London. Heitinga told the Dutch media on Tuesday that he was keen to
move on in order to secure a place in Holland's World Cup squad. West Ham
will also complete the signing of Peterborough striker Jaanai Gordon when
the transfer window reopens on Wednesday.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
WEST HAM SIGN PETERBOROUGH STARLET JAANAI GORDON
By Iain Dale 31 Dec 2013 at 12:36
West Ham Till I Die
West Ham have today announced the signing of 18 year old Jaanai Gordon for
an undisclosed fee. He is a striker who has played only four times for the
Peterborough first team without scoring.
Born in Northampton, England, Gordon signed his first professional contract,
with Peterborough United, in December 2012 on his 17th birthday. He had
joined the club in 2009 and had already made his first team debut, in a 2-0
home defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers in September 2012. In November 2013,
having made four league appearances for Peterborough, Gordon went on trial
with West Ham scoring twice in his opening trial game for West Ham under-18
side against Aston Villa under-18s and another two in a 9-0 defeat of
Gillingham in a friendly on 11 November 2013. In November, a West Ham bid
for Gordon was rejected by Peterborough United but an agreement has now been
reached.
It seems unlikely that he has been signed with a view to him solving our
striker problem, but he definitely seems to be one for the future.
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West Ham 'eye Inter Milan stiker Ishak Belfodil' as they look to resolve
Upton Park striker shortage
Dec 31, 2013 15:35 By Liam Prenderville 0 Comments
The Mirror
West Ham are looking to boost their striking options by signing Inter Milan
youngster Ishak Belfodil, according to reports. The Algerian international
signed for the Serie A club last summer from Parma but is yet to score in
his eight league appearances this season. However, that has not put off
Hammers' boss Allardyce - who is set to make a move in the January transfer
window - report the Times. Belfodil would be seen as a cheaper option to
other potential recruits as Allardyce desperately seeks to add extra
firepower to his front line. Club record signing Andy Carroll has returned
to training but is not thought to be close to first-team action, while
Carlton Cole and Modibo Maiga are only regarded as short-term fixes. Former
Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan is one of a number of strikers to be linked
with a switch to Upton Park - with a loan move reportedly in the pipeline.
The Ghanaian has already secured the UAE title with Al-Ain and could seek a
loan switch to maintain his fitness ahead of next summer's World Cup. Other
players linked include Everton's Nikica Jelavic and Marco Borriello as
Allardyce looks for a striker to drag his side away from the Premier League
danger zone. Meanwhile, Jelavic's Goodison Park team mate John Heitinga
appears close to a switch to Upton Park - having not featured for the
Toffees in the league this season. Incomings in East London could be funded
by the sale of Ravel Morrison - with Fulham showing a strong interest in the
England Under-21 midfielder.
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West Ham moving for out of favour Roma striker Marco Borriello to boost
firepower
Dec 30, 2013 11:10 By Alex Richards 0 Comments
The Mirror
West Ham United have opened talks with Italian club Roma over a January move
for striker Marco Borriello. According to various reports, the Giallorossi's
sporting director Walter Sabatini has been in London over the weekend,
discussing potential ins and outs at the Stadio Olimpico. And top of his
list was 31-year-old Borriello, who has struggled to hold down a regular
spot under manager Rudi Garcia this term. The seven-cap Italian
international has made 11 appearances so far, but only five starts.
Additionally, he has scored just one goal this season as unbeaten Roma have
moved to second in the race for the Scudetto. Borriello has already been
linked with a move to the Premier League this month, with his agent stating
that Tottenham Hotspur had opened talks over a January move. However, it's
reckoned that he could be set for the tenth loan move of his career, with
Sam Allardyce's side in pole position.
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Andy Carroll's West Ham comeback stepped up as striker eyes return for Man
City League Cup clash
Dec 30, 2013 22:30 By Neil McLeman 0 Comments
The Mirror
West Ham hope Andy Carroll will be back in action in a fortnight after
coming through his first training session with the first team squad. The
England striker has not played since completing his record £15million
signing in the summer - and broke down with a foot injury in his first
comeback in September. But in a rare piece of good news for the Hammers,
Carroll has taken another big step on his long comeback trail - and could be
back for the Capital One Cup semi-final with Manchester City. "It is very
good news but it is slow progress," said assistant manager Kevin McDonald.
"It is good that we have got him on the training field. That is a good sign
but it is slow progress. When you have been out for seven months, you can't
rush anybody back. "Obviously we are all desperate for him to come back and
get back into the team as quick as we possibly can but we have to be
sensible. He is getting closer."
Sam Allardyce missed yesterday's press conference as he had a telephone
conference with co-owner David Sullivan to discuss new signings. West Ham
need at least one more striker and go into tomorrow's relegation battle with
Fulham without a recognised centre-back. Co-chairman David Gold, who tweeted
that Carroll "could be available in 2/3 weeks", said: "Our primary and most
immediate aim is ensuring we stay in the Premier League. To that end, we
will be backing Sam Allardyce in the January transfer window to make sure we
stay at the top table."
Carlton Cole is on a short-term contract until January 13 and has yet to be
offered a new deal. "As it stands, I don't know what is happening right
now," said the former England striker. "Hopefully we can resolve something
so we'll see what happens."
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Fulham linked with audacious swoop for Ravel Morrison from relegation rivals
West Ham
Dec 31, 2013 11:36 By Ben Burrows 1 Comments
The Mirror
Fulham are set to for an audacious swoop for Ravel Morrison from relegation
rivals West Ham, according to reports. The Cottagers believe they can prize
away the highly-rated England Under-21 international from Upton Park in
January and are preparing a bid, reports the Daily Telegraph. Morrison has
an £18million release clause in his deal, as well as another which means
should the Hammers receive a £10million bid for him they would be forced to
QUADRUPLE his wages. While Rene Meulensteen will not stretch to such figures
it is understood the West Londoners may reluctantly cut their man loose in
order to raise money for new signings. With relegation a real possibility
and only 18 months left on his deal, they may see selling the 20-year-old as
the prudent course of action.
Fulham will reportedly begin negotiations with a £4million bid and a
significant increase on his current £15,000-per-week contract, with
Newcastle rumoured to be keeping a close eye on the situation.
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West Ham transfer target Asamoah Gyan plots January loan move back to
England
Dec 30, 2013 22:30 By Darren Lewis 0 Comments
The Mirror
Asamoah Gyan is still up for up for a January loan move to West Ham. The
powerful ex-Sunderland striker - now at UAE club Al Ain - responded to talk
of a return to England last week by pledging his future to his current
outfit. But Mirror Sport understands Gyan is open to a move back to England
and is set to hold talks with Al Ain within the next few days. The marksman
is a priority for the Hammers who are desperate to shoot themselves out of
relegation trouble. Gyan, confirmed as Ghana's captain for this summer's
World Cup, has already helped Al Ain to the UAE title as top scorer. He
moved to the club from Sunderland on an initial loan deal in 2011 and made
the move permanent last year, signing a lucrative five-year deal. West Ham
are already set to sell off several fringe players to free up cash on their
wage bill for two new forwards. They are also prepared to sacrifice talented
midfielder Ravel Morrison should they receive a big offer for the talented
20-year-old. Meanwhile Italian club Roma have emerged as rivals for Hammers
target John Heitinga. The east Londoners are keen on the 30-year-old
Dutchman who is surplus to requirements at Everton.
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John Heitinga set for West Ham move as Dutch defender looks to boost World
Cup chances
Dec 31, 2013 12:28 By David Anderson 0 Comments
The Mirror
John Heitinga is joining West Ham from Everton in the hope of reviving his
Premier League career. The 30-year-old does not figure in Roberto Martinez's
first-team plans and the Dutch defender has not played a single minute of
league action this season. Martinez is happy for Heitinga to leave Goodison
to boost his chances of playing for Holland in the World Cup. The
centre-half had six months remaining on the five-year £65,000-a-week deal he
signed when he joined from Atletico Madrid in 2009 and his departure will
save Everton £1.5million in wages. Sam Allardyce is desperate to strengthen
his injury-ravaged defence and feels the highly-experienced Heitinga will
slot straight into his backline. The West Ham boss is also interested in
Everton striker Nikica Jelavic, who is also on the fringes at Goodison, and
Martinez is open to the Croat leaving in January.
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West Ham striker Modibo Maiga says he's ready to shine - and reveals he
nearly quit for France last summer
Dec 31, 2013 22:30 By Neil McLeman 0 Comments
The Mirror
Modibo Maiga has refound his mojo – and is now in the mood to save the
Hammers from the drop. The Mali striker wanted to quit West Ham last summer
because of his lack of game time. But Maiga, who went a year without finding
the net, insisted he is finally showing his ability after scoring two in the
last three games as an impact sub. "I am happy and quite relieved," he said
ahead of the relegation clash at Fulham. "I was questioning myself. I was
not playing to my level. "You haven't seen the real Maiga. I know I have had
lots of chances to score, I was probably lacking in confidence." Maiga has
been deployed by boss Sam Allardyce as a lone front man in the absence of
the injured Andy Carroll. "It has been difficult because I am not used to
playing in this system," said the 26-year-old. "It really doesn't suit me. I
prefer to play deeper. But I know I am capable of playing well here." Maiga
scored only two Premier League goals last season following his £4.7million
switch from Sochaux – and nearly joined St Etienne in the summer. "It was
almost done," he said. "I wasn't happy. If a player doesn't play, and if you
want to progress, you have to leave. "The most important thing was to
rediscover the pleasure of playing again. The supporters have backed me very
well. When I hear them sing my name, it is a great feeling. It gives me
determination to work harder."
Meanwhile Fulham boss Rene Meulensteen is banking on ex-Hammers chief Alan
Curbishley to help beat the drop. Curbs led West Ham to a great escape in
2007, and joins former Chelsea coach Ray Wilkins at the Cottage. Meulensteen
said: "This is a relegation scrap. Alan Curbishley has been there. "Ray
Wilkins has been at different levels. I want to make sure I am well
prepared."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham target Rickie Lambert in shock £8m swoop for Southampton star
Dec 31, 2013 22:30 By Alan Nixon 5 Comments
The Mirror
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is making a staggering £8million bid for
Southampton's England striker Rickie Lambert. Allardyce is being backed by
owners David Sullivan and David Gold who are prepared to gamble a fortune on
a hit man to keep them up. And the Hammers are confident of success as
Lambert could be up for the move despite their lowly position. Lambert, the
fairy-tale success who made the Three Lions side from humble origins, needs
to play regularly to keep his World Cup hopes alive. Southampton cannot
offer him any guarantees of that right now because of the competition for
places at Mauricio Pochettino's side. Now the £8million offer may tempt
Saints supremo Nicola Cortese to sell - as long as enough of the cash is up
front and not based on staying-up bonuses. West Ham have laboured without a
top-class striker in the absence of Andy Carroll, whose return date is still
a mystery. Hammers have already agreed a deal for John Heitinga to join from
Everton to ease their defensive crisis. They will take over the remaining
six months of Heitinga's £65,000-a-week contract, saving Everton over
£1.5million.
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West Ham want Cisse but Newcastle United want to hang on to their No 9
1 Jan 2014 07:30
The Chronicle
West Ham United want to take Papiss Cisse on loan until the end of the
season. But sources in the East End say that Newcastle United have knocked
back their offer to give the No 9 first-team football. The Chronicle
understands that Cisse is one of the players that Sam Allardyce is
considering bringing during the January window and offer a loan deal until
May with a view to a permanent transfer. The enquiry means that Toon boss
Alan Pardew has a big decision to make with Cisse after leaving him on the
bench for THREE months. United do have money to spend in the window and are
thought to have players on their shortlist ahead of the January trading
period. However, there are a number of players out of the team that United
may have to deal with too with Jonas Gutierrez, Cisse, Steven Taylor and
Sylvain Marveaux all out of the side at the moment. Cisse did miss the start
of pre-season with United due to a dispute about wearing Wonga shirts. And
while many fans thought that was the end of any issues between United, Wonga
and Cisse, he has still spent the majority of the first half of the season
on the sidelines. Cisse's place has been taken by Shola Ameobi but even
though the Nigerian striker has been part of the team's winning run, the
long-serving Toon player did not find the net in the Premier League in 2013.
The No 9 on the other hand weighed in with 10 goals despite some games when
poor service was noted by supporters.
Cisse is understood to be concerned about his future at United after finding
himself frozen out of Alan Pardew's first team plans. The No 9 has not
started a game in the Premier League since the 2-1 win at Cardiff City at
the start of October. Since then Cisse has been restricted to cameo roles
from the bench with one sub appearance amounting to just 18 seconds in the
2-1 win against West Brom. West Ham are desperate for a striker to bolster
their bid for survival and would love to team up Cisse with ex-Toon stars
Kevin Nolan and Andy Carroll in the new year. United's last piece of
business with the Hammers was when Nolan was sold to the Upton Park club for
around £4m in 2011. Should Cisse be left on the bench against West Brom he
would then understandably expect to play against Cardiff City in the FA Cup
third round on Saturday. Pardew may use the FA Cup tie to give the likes of
Steven Taylor, Jonas Gutierrez, Sammy Ameobi and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa a
run-out. However, with Geordie fans keen to see United approach the cup with
a bit of ambition this year Pardew won't need to be told he must get that
balance exactly right.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham prepared to gamble and bid £8m for Southampton striker Lambert
By SIMON JONES
PUBLISHED: 23:26, 31 December 2013 | UPDATED: 23:47, 31 December 2013
Daily Mail
West Ham are ready to change their transfer policy and make an £8million
move for Southampton striker Rickie Lambert in a bid to avoid relegation.
Sam Allardyce had been told he could only bring in two strikers on loan but
with options limited the board are willing to gamble and bid for the
31-year-old England international. Allardyce has tried before to sign
Lambert in the summer and could finally land his man if the player agrees to
move with a potential World Cup place at stake. West ham have agreed a deal
for Everton defender John Heitinga and are still looking to bring another
striker in on loan.
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WHUFC.com
The Vice-Chairman has been made a CBE in HM The Queen's New Year's Honours
List
31.12.2013
West Ham United Vice-Chairman Karren Brady has been made a CBE in HM The
Queen's New Year's Honours List. The Vice-Chairman has been recognised for
her outstanding contribution for services to entrepreneurship and women in
business, a cause for which she has tirelessly campaigned throughout her
career.
Ms Brady, who has previously won a host of high-profile awards for her work
and championing the cause of women in business, spoke of her pride at being
made Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. "I am
truly honoured to have received this award," the Vice-Chairman said. "I have
been extremely touched by all of the kind messages of congratulations from
West Ham United fans since the announcement was made this morning. I would
like to thank my Board at West Ham United and everyone who has worked with
and for me over the years. "I am particularly proud that my work for women
in the workplace has been recognised as it is something I feel so
passionately about. We have seen real progress in that field since I began
my career but that work is far from over as I know there is still so much
more that can be done. "However my primary focus at present is doing all in
my power to help West Ham return to a more stable league position as soon as
possible to give us the platform to continue our recent growth."
Since arriving at West Ham United in 2010, the Vice-Chairman has brought the
Club back to its core values celebrating West Ham's role at the heart of the
East London community through the Moore than a Football Club brand and has
grown the Hammers' fanbase at grassroots and an international level. Her
ability to grow commercial revenue at every operational level of the
business saw the Club record its first operating profit in recent history.
While working tirelessly to attract investment, increase revenue and reduce
the Club's historic debt burden, one of the Vice-Chairman's greatest
triumphs to date came in March 2013, when Her Majesty's Government selected
West Ham United as the anchor concessionaire for the Olympic Stadium
following its transformation into a UEFA Category 4 Football Stadium in
2016. Ms Brady is also an indefatigable supporter of charitable causes as an
Ambassador for The Stroke Association, WellChild and Teenage Cancer Trust.
She adds this accolade to fcbusiness Magazine CEO of the Year, which she
collected for her work at West Ham United in 2012.
Everyone at West Ham United would like to congratulate the Vice-Chairman on
today's exciting announcement.
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Hammers to sign Gordon
WHUFC.com
West Ham United will sign forward Jaanai Gordon from Peterborough United on
New Year's Day
31.12.2013
West Ham United are delighted to confirm the signing of Peterborough United
youngster Jaanai Gordon, which will be completed on 1 January 2014. The
18-year-old striker impressed during a recent trial period with the Club and
has sealed a move from the Sky Bet League One Club. Gordon scored twice in
the Hammers' Barclays U18 Premier League victory over Aston Villa, while
also notching in first-team friendlies against Gillingham and Millwall
during the November international break. Northampton-born Gordon made his
first team debut for Posh in September 2012, aged just 16, and has played
seven first-team games for the London Road club. Following his trial period
at Chadwell Heath, Gordon notched the winner for Peterborough in the FA
Youth Cup at Wolverhampton Wanderers, helping Posh to maintain their cup run
which has taken them to a fourth round tie against Arsenal, before agreeing
to put pen-to-paper with the Hammers.
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The Big Interview - George McCartney
WHUFC.com
George McCartney is keen to show his versatility while filling the Hammers'
void at centre-half
31.12.2013
Stand-in centre-half George McCartney is no stranger to slotting in at the
heart of the back four and is happy to do so if it helps West Ham United
climb the Barclays Premier League table. The Northern Ireland international
deputised at centre-half against Arsenal, following James Collins'
departure, and played in the middle once more in Saturday's topsy-turvy 3-3
draw against West Bromwich Albion.
While he would gladly see the Club's regular centre-halves back in the fold,
McCartney is hoping to hold the fort in the interim, however the situation
dictates.
George, Saturday was a real rollercoaster of a game, wasn't it?
GM: "Yes, it was. I thought we started well, we got the early goal and I was
thinking it's going to be a pretty comfortable day. But it ended up being a
bit of a thriller, a good game for the neutral but not so good for the two
teams, with both looking for the win and trying to move up the table. After
going 2-1 down, we got ourselves back into the game again and ended up
getting a point, which is better than nothing."
You're not a regular centre-half, what was it like when you saw Tomkins limp
off, leaving you with no recognised centre-halves? Perhaps a bit daunting?
GM: "No, I wouldn't say it was daunting. I've played centre-half before in
my life, I started out a centre-half and I've played international football
as a centre-half and I know what's required. Obviously it's not great when
you have two or three regular centre-halves out injured, but I think
nowadays players have got to fill in when needed. "When Tonks went down, we
finished the game with four full-backs in defence. It's required these days,
you've got to be able play in more than one position and fill in when
players are injured or when the manager needs you to do a job. So, it wasn't
ideal to finish the game with game with four full-backs in the defensive
slots but there was no other choice."
You seemed to cope pretty well, but Anelka's a top-class striker...
GM: "To be honest, Anelka wasn't like in his Chelsea days, when he was an
out and out striker sitting up top. Now he's dropping back into midfield,
trying to get on the ball a little bit more. Obviously he scored twice on
Saturday. The first one went down the middle of myself and Joey, it was a
good ball. For the second, he's standing on the line, it's fallen down to
him and he's got the lucky break. "It was one of those games in the end
that could have gone either way, both sides had chances. We're probably
disappointed after going 1-0 up and then getting 3-2 ahead that we didn't
hold onto the three points."
At 2-1 down and with the fans becoming anxious, the team showed great
character to come back and get themselves in front…
GM: "It's understandable. The fans want to see the team doing well and it's
not a pretty situation that we're in at the minute in the bottom three. As
much as the fans want us to do well, the players on the pitch are giving
their all, trying to get the three points. We're all, the manager, the
coaches and players, trying to pull it together and get ourselves out of
this situation. We need the fans behind us through the 90 minutes and after
starting the game so well, I can understand when you go 2-1 down at
half-time, that they want to see an improvement in the second half and I
think we did that. "After Van [Modibo Maiga] had scored and then Nolan gets
you ahead, you think for the next five, ten minutes just keep it tight. We
knew they'd want to come at us and unfortunately they went down the other
end and got the equaliser. It was disappointing, but we'll take a point
after being 2-1 down at half-time and we did well to get ourselves back into
the game. I think we knew in this situation of being near the bottom you
don't have the luck, things don't go for you. I think on Saturday we just
needed that little bit of luck and we'd probably have got the three points."
Are you surprised to see West Ham in the bottom three, with the squad that
you've got?
GM: "You look at the team, you look at the squad, it's experienced, it's got
some great players in it. I think in the first, probably, eight to ten games
of the season, there were games where we were picking up draws. It goes back
to having that little bit of luck and turning that one point into three
points, but we just couldn't put the ball in the net. Eventually it catches
up on you, if you're not really scoring too many goals, other teams are
gradually maybe going to get one or two chances and nick a goal. I think
that's why we've found ourselves in this situation. "I could go back to the
Newcastle game, the Hull game, the Everton game at the Boleyn Ground, there
are five or six games where we should have had the three points, we didn't,
so now it's up to ourselves to all pull together.
"We've got winnable games coming up again and we need to try and get the
players that are injured back again. Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing, Winston
Reid are important players. They're all big misses, so I think once we get
everyone fit again we'll have a full strength squad, we'll hopefully be
moving up the table."
Is the confidence still there?
GM: "You look over the last few weeks at the teams that have sacked their
managers, the players haven't been happy with whatever way they were
playing, all different things. But our dressing room is great, confidence is
high, the spirit is high. We're all in it together and we're still doing all
the right things on the training ground. "It's after Christmas now and when
you find yourselves in the bottom three, everyone maybe gets a little bit
edgy and games you feel you should be winning you're just not getting across
the line. It eventually catches up on you. The dressing room's great and
we're just trying to move up the table again and get ourselves out of this
situation."
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'Fanzone' launched
WHUFC.com
West Ham United fans can have their views heard in whufc.com's newest
feature
31.12.2013
whufc.com and West Ham TV will be launching a brand new feature for 2014,
called Fanzone. The official website and West Ham TV will be seeking opinion
pieces from supporters on all things West Ham United. So whether you thought
an individual impressed in the previous match at the Boleyn Ground, you had
an away day to remember, a Club legend needs remembering or the Under-21s
are catching your eye, whufc.com and West Ham TV want to hear from you.
There are two ways to get your opinions heard on the Club's official
channels. Firstly, whufc.com will carry written blogs of up to 500 words
written in the first person by supporters. Similarly, West Ham TV will be
host video clips of up to 60 seconds of fans voicing their thoughts to
camera. The most interesting and original posts will then be carried on the
website for Hammers fans all over the world to digest and debate. Please
note all submissions will be subject to the usual editorial standards of
whufc.com. If you would like your opinion heard, send your blog of no more
than 500 words or videos (preferably .mov or MP4) to
whufc.com@westhamunited.co.uk
To launch the new feature, Joint-Chairman David Sullivan's son, Jack, has
offered his take on the year that was for West Ham United, in a special West
Ham TV video.
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Macca on: Fulham
WHUFC.com
Neil McDonald took the press conference ahead of Wedesday's game against
Fulham
31.12.2013
Assistant manager Neil McDonald spoke to the media ahead of the game against
Fulham on New Year's day. Ahead of the trip to Craven Cottage, McDonald was
quizzed on the upcoming January transfer window, the latest team news and
for an update on the fitness of Andy Carroll.
Morning Neil, very nice to see you as always, but where's Sam?
NMc: "He's very busy on the phone at the minute, obviously we've got a few
defensive problems and with the window coming up his phone is non-stop so
he's just asked me to do it today."
So that's potentially good news on arrivals to fill some of the gaps?
NMc: "Potentially, yes. I think we need some reinforcements to try and boost
the players that we have here. Sam's working very hard behind the scenes
here with everybody else to try and do that so he apologises for not being
able to do the press conference today."
I guess it's central defenders that he's after?
NMc: "Of course, yes. We've got our three main centre halves injured at the
moment and we're obviously trying very hard to get them fit. We're trying to
bolster that area."
And I imagine you're looking to bring in strikers as well?
NMc: "Yes, of course. We're trying to improve the squad as much as possible,
they're the two main places that we're trying to strengthen."
And he has the board's backing for that financially?
NMc: "He's on the phone to the Chairman as we speak so you would imagine
so."
Do you feel that this game, like some described it, is a must-win game like
against West Brom?
NMc: "It's certainly don't lose the game, that's for sure. When you're
playing a team in and around you that's the most important thing to do.
We've scored three goals against West Brom but conceded three so we need to
stop conceding and keep scoring as we have been doing. We're creating lots
of chances but it's difficult when you haven't got all of your defenders
fit. Going into the Fulham game in this scenario it's a game that if you win
it puts you right up the table which is great, but it's more important that
we don't lose."
That difference between getting three points and not can really reflect on
your position in the table?
NMc: "It shows that even if we'd beaten West Brom that would have pushed us
right up the table, another back to back win over Fulham could have pushed
us right up to halfway so that's how very tight it is, how close it is and
how very important it is to pick up a point. You have to respect the point
if you get it because that could take you further up the league."
On the central defensive area, what's the news on James Collins and James
Tomkins?
NMc: "It looks as though they're not going to be fit for the Fulham game and
we will assess them straight after for the Nottingham Forest game. It's more
likely that they will both be fit, fingers crossed, for the Cardiff City
game."
What will he do in that area against Fulham?
NMc: "The plan would be to pick some players who are going to keep a clean
sheet and we're going to keep our cards close to our chest on that front."
What's the latest on Andy Carroll?
NMc: "He's done a training session yesterday which is very encouraging. It's
still early stages and it's a work in progress with him. Work one day on the
training pitch, massage and rehab the next day and let's see how it goes.
It's positive the fact that he's on the training pitch but it's slow
progress."
Do you hope that relatively soon he'll be able to play some part in the rest
of the season?
NMc: "When you've been out for seven months I don't think you can rush
anybody back. Obviously we're all desperate for him to come back into the
team as quick as we possibly can but we have to be sensible. He's getting
closer."
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O'Brien eyes Fulham success
WHUFC.com
Joey O'Brien is craving victory at Craven Cottage on New Year's Day
31.12.2013
Joey O'Brien says that every player is prepared to do whatever is asked of
them to help the team get the results needed to move up the league table.
The Hammers travel to west London to meet Fulham on New Year's Day, and
O'Brien moved into the centre of the West Ham defence alongside fellow
full-back George McCartney against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday after
centre-half James Tomkins had to come off with a groin injury. Despite
having not played in that position before in the Barclays Premier League,
O'Brien simply got on with it and alongside the rest of his team-mates did
all he could to make sure that West Ham took a share of the points. "It is
one of those things you do for the team. We had another injury in defence
and I was asked to do a job in another position to help the team. I went in
and my only thought was to put a shift in for the team and do my best, which
is what we were all doing. "In these times, when we have these injuries and
we are asked to play in another position, of course you do it, whatever it
takes to do your job for the team." O'Brien said that the team were
disappointed not to have taken all three points against the Baggies at the
Boleyn Ground and although they are missing players who would help
strengthen the cause at this time, he said it was simply a case of getting
on with it and aiming to get maximum points at Craven Cottage on Wednesday.
"Of course we want the players who are currently out injured back as soon
as, they are all important and with all your players fit and well, you have
a bigger chance of winning games. Earlier this season we had a lot of clean
sheets and defended well and on Saturday we were doing that, but not at the
same strength as we would have been normally. When we got to 3-2 after
coming back from behind, I felt we could win it so it was disappointing not
to. "I felt we were a bit unlucky in that their second goal, more often than
not that would have bounced back out instead of bouncing back into the goal
and there was a quality about the third goal that we couldn't do much
about."
The Republic of Ireland defender said that despite the position the Hammers
are in and with injuries to players, the squad are in good spirits and
remain steadfast on the job they have to do, and are more than capable of
doing. "Every game, not just the last one or the next one are all massive
games when you are in the position we are in. The manager with his record
knows what it takes to get out of it. It is not yet two years yet since we
were in the Championship, then got promoted and had a really solid season
back up last year and now we are having this dip which we are working hard
to get through. "But we know that we can only get out of it by winning more
games and the objective for us right now is to go to Fulham and play our
best to get three points."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Fulham v West Ham
KO 15:00
31 December 2013
Last updated at 13:55
By John Motson
BBC Match of the Day commentator
TEAM NEWS
Fulham will hand late fitness tests to Dimitar Berbatov (groin) and Adel
Taarabt (ankle). Scott Parker returns to the squad and is expected to be one
of several changes from the side beaten at Hull.
West Ham have major defensive problems once again but James Collins (groin)
reportedly has a chance of playing. Winston Reid (ankle), James Tomkins
(groin), Andy Carroll (heel) and Stewart Downing (calf) remain out, and
Ravel Morrison (groin) is doubtful.
MATCH PREVIEW
This fixture is already a real relegation battle for me, and not just
because the two clubs are in the bottom three right now. "Fulham are
conceding an unbelievable amount of goals and the first thing they need to
do is make themselves difficult to beat. "West Ham are out of sorts too at
the moment. They got a point against West Brom on Saturday but the Baggies
came across as a much better team." Fulham have conceded 41 goals in the
Premier League this season, nine more than any other club. Regardless of the
6-0 defeat they suffered at the hands of Hull last weekend, the Whites have
been guilty of letting in far too many sloppy goals. New Fulham head coach
Rene Meulensteen has beefed up his backroom staff with the appointments of
Alan Curbishley as technical director and Ray Wilkins as assistant head
coach. Curbishley slowly built Charlton into a Premier League force and
ultimately led them to a seventh-place finish, while Wilkins knows the
division inside out. Both men must work on tightening up that defence and
help Meulensteen get to grips with matters at the wrong end of a Premier
League table. Fulham's new management trio will also be looking to get the
best out of Dimitar Berbatov, who has missed the last three games, and help
Darren Bent rediscover the form that made him one of the division's most
lethal strikers. Berbatov and Bent are key to Fulham's survival hopes. West
Ham's goalscoring problems are well documented but just six away goals in
nine games explains why they are struggling, and three of those came in one
game. No-one could have foreseen their terrible luck with defensive injuries
but with problems now at both ends of the pitch it merely highlights their
threadbare squad. John Heitinga and Asamoah Gyan have been linked in recent
days and the Hammers urgently need squad reinforcements. I'm expecting there
to be a lot of tension at Craven Cottage following the 6-0 defeat at Hull, a
result even the Fulham players called unacceptable. I believe it will be
close, I don't think there will be many goals and it will be a dog-fight,
maybe even right through until the end of the season for both clubs.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Fulham's 3-1 win over West Ham last January was only their second victory
over the Hammers in 12 league and cup meetings at Craven Cottage since 1975
(W2, D3, L7).
Fulham did not manage a single shot on target against West Ham in November's
reverse fixture at Upton Park, a 3-0 defeat.
Thirteen goals have been scored in the last three league fixtures between
the two sides at Craven Cottage.
Fulham
Rene Meulensteen's men, beaten 6-0 at Hull on Saturday, have let in 15 goals
in their last four league games.
Fulham would be 11th in the table if only results against clubs in the
bottom half counted (W5, D1, L3).
The west London side have won all three matches when they have kept a clean
sheet. However no club has kept fewer clean sheets than the Whites.
Fulham have conceded the first goal (14) more often than any other Premier
League side this season.
West Ham
West Ham are winless in their last six league matches. Their only victory in
the last 12 games was November's 3-0 victory over Fulham.
The Hammers have one point fewer (15) than they did at this stage of the
2010-11 season when they were last relegated from the Premier League.
West Ham have kept eight clean sheets this campaign, the joint-highest in
the league along with Arsenal, Everton and Tottenham.
Carlton Cole has scored seven goals in his last nine league games against
Fulham. He also managed to score an own goal in a 3-2 defeat for the Hammers
in 2010.
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West Ham: Deal agreed to sign striker Jaanai Gordon
BBC.co.uk
West Ham will complete the signing of teenage striker Jaanai Gordon on 1
January after agreeing a deal with League One side Peterborough. Gordon, 18,
impressed during a recent trial with the Hammers, scoring in the Under-18s'
victory against Aston Villa and two first-team friendlies. He has played
seven senior games for Posh since September 2012. The Hammers have also been
linked with a loan bid for Ghana's Asamoah Gyan during the January transfer
window. Manager Sam Allardyce's side are short of attacking options because
of Andy Carroll's long-term injury-enforced absence. The club are 19th in
the table after winning just one of their last 10 Premier League fixtures.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Petric: I would have left West Ham anyway
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 31st December 2013
By: Staff Writer
Mladen Petric has left West Ham United having failed to secure a first team
spot at the Boleyn. The 32-year-old Croatian striker made just four
substitute appearances in his four months with the Club but revealed that he
will not be returning to Upton Park having activated a release clause in his
contract.
"Both the club and I had a right of termination for the winter," Petric told
mopo.de. "If West Ham didn't made use of it, I would have done. When I
arrived I was told that we were going to play with two strikers - but that
was never the case so, I couldn't go on. "Now I must find a club where I can
play regularly, because I want to be be involved with the World Cup in
Brazil."
West Ham signed the former Fulham striker on a free transfer at the start of
September having failed to secure a forward of sufficient quality during the
summer transfer window. Carlton Cole, who also recently returned to the Club
on a free transfer remains hopeful of agreeing an extension to his current
short-term deal, which expires next month. West Ham have been linked with a
string of strikers in recent days including Ishak Belfodil, Mirko Vucinic,
Fabio Quagliarella and Asamoah Gyan. Earlier today it was confirmed that
Peterborough's teenage prospect Jaanai Gordon had completed his move to east
London, as previously revealed on KUMB.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Here's Johnny
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 31st December 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham's defence could be featuring a new face before long if morning
reports are to prove correct. Everton's John Heitinga is the latest to be
linked with a transfer window move to east London, with the Hammers
desperate to increase their defensive options. James Tomkins, Winston Reid
and James Collins are all currently sidelined with various ailments, a
situation that prompted Sam Allardyce to call for the early return of Pelly
Ruddock from his loan spell with non-league Luton Town earlier this week.
However reports this morning suggest that the 30-year-old Dutch defender
could also be on his way to the Boleyn, with West Ham said to be set to take
the player on a free transfer. Earlier this week Heitinga, who has appeared
for the Toffees just twice this season - both in the early rounds of the
Capital One Cup - revealed that he was set to end his Everton torment
imminently, having been almost entirely overlooked by new manager Roberto
Martinez. "My contract expires in June, and there are many chances for me to
leave Everton," he said."I have played in Spain and England, and I'd also
try the Italian experience. There are a few Serie A teams interested in me
but I'm waiting for official news from my agents."
Heitinga, who has made 137 appearances for Everton since joining them from
Athletico Madrid for £6million in 2009 began his career in 2001 with Ajax,
with whom he spent the first seven years as a pro. In 2008 he moved to
Madrid in an £8.8million deal before he was on the move to Merseyside a year
later.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Everton's John Heitinga claims West Ham are interested in him
By Gerrit van Leeuwen | Last Updated: 31/12/13 11:33am
SSN
Everton defender John Heitinga has told the Dutch media that he is flattered
by reported interest from West Ham United. The Holland international, who is
out of contract in the summer, is yet to feature in a league game this
season, instead having to be content with a place on the bench for most of
the campaign.
Now reports in his homeland claim that West Ham are closing in on a deal to
take him on loan for the rest of the season, as they are in desperate need
of defensive cover with Winston Reid, James Tomkins and James Collins all
ruled out. And Heitinga has been quoted in Holland as suggesting he is ready
to make the switch to Upton Park. "I am flattered with the interest of West
Ham," he is quoted as saying by Voetbal International. "Since this week the
market is open and it's clear that I have to make an important decision."
Heitinga admits he needs to be playing in order to try and maintain his bid
for a place in Holland's World Cup squad. "The chance of playing more
minutes is the most important," said Heitinga. "I want to be at the World
Cup and to realise that I have to play. Only then I can make it difficult to
Louis van Gaal."
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George McCartney believes morale remains high in the West Ham squad
Last Updated: 31/12/13 2:44pm
SSN
George McCartney insists West Ham's confidence has not been dented after
they slipped into the Premier League drop zone. The Hammers end the year on
a low with the team languishing in 19th place following the 3-3 draw with
West Brom at Upton Park on Saturday. A dismal run of six league games
without a win has left Sam Allardyce's side in a relegation dogfight, but
McCartney believes morale remains high in the squad. "You look over the last
few weeks at the teams that have sacked their managers," said the defender.
"The players haven't been happy with whatever way they were playing but our
dressing room is great, confidence is high, the spirit is high. "We're all
in it together and we're still doing all the right things on the training
ground. "It is after Christmas now and when you find yourselves in the
bottom three, everyone maybe gets a little bit edgy and games you feel you
should be winning you're just not getting across the line.
"It eventually catches up on you. The dressing room's great and we're just
trying to move up the table again and get ourselves out of this situation."
West Ham have been hampered by a shortage of centre-backs as Winston Reid,
James Collins and James Tomkins are all nursing injuries. McCartney was
moved from full-back to the heart of defence at the weekend and he believes
modern day players should all be versatile. "I wouldn't say it was
daunting," said the 32-year-old. "I've played centre-half before in my life,
I started out a centre-half and I've played international football as a
centre-half and I know what's required. "Obviously it's not great when you
have two or three regular centre-halves out injured, but I think nowadays
players have got to fill in when needed.
"We finished the game [against West Brom] with four full-backs in defence.
It's required these days. You've got to be able play in more than one
position and fill in when players are injured or when the manager needs you
to do a job. "So, it wasn't ideal to finish the game with four full-backs in
the defensive slots but there was no other choice."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham agree deal for Peterborough's Jaanai Gordon
Last Updated: 31/12/13 2:46pm
SSN
West Ham will complete the signing of Peterborough striker Jaanai Gordon
when the transfer window reopens on 1 January 2014. The 18-year-old frontman
impressed during a recent trial period with the Hammers and will seal his
switch from the League One club on Wednesday. Sam Allardyce has only one
striker available in Carlton Cole, with club-record signing Andy Carroll
still a couple weeks away from a return. Gordon, who made his first-team
debut for the Posh last September at the age of 16, has made seven
appearances for the London Road outfit. He scored twice in the Hammers'
Barclays U18 Premier League victory over Aston Villa, while also netting in
first-team friendlies against Gillingham and Millwall during the November
international break. Recently Gordon notched the winner for Peterborough in
the FA Youth Cup at Wolves, helping Posh to maintain their cup run.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
ohn Heitinga set for move to West Ham from Everton
Last Updated: 31/12/13 3:02pm
SSN
Sky Sports sources understand that Everton defender John Heitinga is set to
sign for West Ham this week. The Hammers are in need of defensive cover with
Winston Reid, James Tomkins and James Collins all ruled out. Now they have
made a move for Dutch international Heitinga, who has not played in a
Premier League game for Everton this season. New Toffees boss Roberto
Martinez is happy to let Heitinga leave, with his current deal due to expire
in the summer.
It is understood that West Ham are likely to take over the remaining six
months on the 30-year-old's contract. It is unlikely Everton will pick him
in the squad to face Stoke City on New Year's Day ahead of his expected move
to East London. Heitinga told the Dutch media on Tuesday that he was keen to
move on in order to secure a place in Holland's World Cup squad. West Ham
will also complete the signing of Peterborough striker Jaanai Gordon when
the transfer window reopens on Wednesday.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
WEST HAM SIGN PETERBOROUGH STARLET JAANAI GORDON
By Iain Dale 31 Dec 2013 at 12:36
West Ham Till I Die
West Ham have today announced the signing of 18 year old Jaanai Gordon for
an undisclosed fee. He is a striker who has played only four times for the
Peterborough first team without scoring.
Born in Northampton, England, Gordon signed his first professional contract,
with Peterborough United, in December 2012 on his 17th birthday. He had
joined the club in 2009 and had already made his first team debut, in a 2-0
home defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers in September 2012. In November 2013,
having made four league appearances for Peterborough, Gordon went on trial
with West Ham scoring twice in his opening trial game for West Ham under-18
side against Aston Villa under-18s and another two in a 9-0 defeat of
Gillingham in a friendly on 11 November 2013. In November, a West Ham bid
for Gordon was rejected by Peterborough United but an agreement has now been
reached.
It seems unlikely that he has been signed with a view to him solving our
striker problem, but he definitely seems to be one for the future.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 'eye Inter Milan stiker Ishak Belfodil' as they look to resolve
Upton Park striker shortage
Dec 31, 2013 15:35 By Liam Prenderville 0 Comments
The Mirror
West Ham are looking to boost their striking options by signing Inter Milan
youngster Ishak Belfodil, according to reports. The Algerian international
signed for the Serie A club last summer from Parma but is yet to score in
his eight league appearances this season. However, that has not put off
Hammers' boss Allardyce - who is set to make a move in the January transfer
window - report the Times. Belfodil would be seen as a cheaper option to
other potential recruits as Allardyce desperately seeks to add extra
firepower to his front line. Club record signing Andy Carroll has returned
to training but is not thought to be close to first-team action, while
Carlton Cole and Modibo Maiga are only regarded as short-term fixes. Former
Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan is one of a number of strikers to be linked
with a switch to Upton Park - with a loan move reportedly in the pipeline.
The Ghanaian has already secured the UAE title with Al-Ain and could seek a
loan switch to maintain his fitness ahead of next summer's World Cup. Other
players linked include Everton's Nikica Jelavic and Marco Borriello as
Allardyce looks for a striker to drag his side away from the Premier League
danger zone. Meanwhile, Jelavic's Goodison Park team mate John Heitinga
appears close to a switch to Upton Park - having not featured for the
Toffees in the league this season. Incomings in East London could be funded
by the sale of Ravel Morrison - with Fulham showing a strong interest in the
England Under-21 midfielder.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham moving for out of favour Roma striker Marco Borriello to boost
firepower
Dec 30, 2013 11:10 By Alex Richards 0 Comments
The Mirror
West Ham United have opened talks with Italian club Roma over a January move
for striker Marco Borriello. According to various reports, the Giallorossi's
sporting director Walter Sabatini has been in London over the weekend,
discussing potential ins and outs at the Stadio Olimpico. And top of his
list was 31-year-old Borriello, who has struggled to hold down a regular
spot under manager Rudi Garcia this term. The seven-cap Italian
international has made 11 appearances so far, but only five starts.
Additionally, he has scored just one goal this season as unbeaten Roma have
moved to second in the race for the Scudetto. Borriello has already been
linked with a move to the Premier League this month, with his agent stating
that Tottenham Hotspur had opened talks over a January move. However, it's
reckoned that he could be set for the tenth loan move of his career, with
Sam Allardyce's side in pole position.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Andy Carroll's West Ham comeback stepped up as striker eyes return for Man
City League Cup clash
Dec 30, 2013 22:30 By Neil McLeman 0 Comments
The Mirror
West Ham hope Andy Carroll will be back in action in a fortnight after
coming through his first training session with the first team squad. The
England striker has not played since completing his record £15million
signing in the summer - and broke down with a foot injury in his first
comeback in September. But in a rare piece of good news for the Hammers,
Carroll has taken another big step on his long comeback trail - and could be
back for the Capital One Cup semi-final with Manchester City. "It is very
good news but it is slow progress," said assistant manager Kevin McDonald.
"It is good that we have got him on the training field. That is a good sign
but it is slow progress. When you have been out for seven months, you can't
rush anybody back. "Obviously we are all desperate for him to come back and
get back into the team as quick as we possibly can but we have to be
sensible. He is getting closer."
Sam Allardyce missed yesterday's press conference as he had a telephone
conference with co-owner David Sullivan to discuss new signings. West Ham
need at least one more striker and go into tomorrow's relegation battle with
Fulham without a recognised centre-back. Co-chairman David Gold, who tweeted
that Carroll "could be available in 2/3 weeks", said: "Our primary and most
immediate aim is ensuring we stay in the Premier League. To that end, we
will be backing Sam Allardyce in the January transfer window to make sure we
stay at the top table."
Carlton Cole is on a short-term contract until January 13 and has yet to be
offered a new deal. "As it stands, I don't know what is happening right
now," said the former England striker. "Hopefully we can resolve something
so we'll see what happens."
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Fulham linked with audacious swoop for Ravel Morrison from relegation rivals
West Ham
Dec 31, 2013 11:36 By Ben Burrows 1 Comments
The Mirror
Fulham are set to for an audacious swoop for Ravel Morrison from relegation
rivals West Ham, according to reports. The Cottagers believe they can prize
away the highly-rated England Under-21 international from Upton Park in
January and are preparing a bid, reports the Daily Telegraph. Morrison has
an £18million release clause in his deal, as well as another which means
should the Hammers receive a £10million bid for him they would be forced to
QUADRUPLE his wages. While Rene Meulensteen will not stretch to such figures
it is understood the West Londoners may reluctantly cut their man loose in
order to raise money for new signings. With relegation a real possibility
and only 18 months left on his deal, they may see selling the 20-year-old as
the prudent course of action.
Fulham will reportedly begin negotiations with a £4million bid and a
significant increase on his current £15,000-per-week contract, with
Newcastle rumoured to be keeping a close eye on the situation.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham transfer target Asamoah Gyan plots January loan move back to
England
Dec 30, 2013 22:30 By Darren Lewis 0 Comments
The Mirror
Asamoah Gyan is still up for up for a January loan move to West Ham. The
powerful ex-Sunderland striker - now at UAE club Al Ain - responded to talk
of a return to England last week by pledging his future to his current
outfit. But Mirror Sport understands Gyan is open to a move back to England
and is set to hold talks with Al Ain within the next few days. The marksman
is a priority for the Hammers who are desperate to shoot themselves out of
relegation trouble. Gyan, confirmed as Ghana's captain for this summer's
World Cup, has already helped Al Ain to the UAE title as top scorer. He
moved to the club from Sunderland on an initial loan deal in 2011 and made
the move permanent last year, signing a lucrative five-year deal. West Ham
are already set to sell off several fringe players to free up cash on their
wage bill for two new forwards. They are also prepared to sacrifice talented
midfielder Ravel Morrison should they receive a big offer for the talented
20-year-old. Meanwhile Italian club Roma have emerged as rivals for Hammers
target John Heitinga. The east Londoners are keen on the 30-year-old
Dutchman who is surplus to requirements at Everton.
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John Heitinga set for West Ham move as Dutch defender looks to boost World
Cup chances
Dec 31, 2013 12:28 By David Anderson 0 Comments
The Mirror
John Heitinga is joining West Ham from Everton in the hope of reviving his
Premier League career. The 30-year-old does not figure in Roberto Martinez's
first-team plans and the Dutch defender has not played a single minute of
league action this season. Martinez is happy for Heitinga to leave Goodison
to boost his chances of playing for Holland in the World Cup. The
centre-half had six months remaining on the five-year £65,000-a-week deal he
signed when he joined from Atletico Madrid in 2009 and his departure will
save Everton £1.5million in wages. Sam Allardyce is desperate to strengthen
his injury-ravaged defence and feels the highly-experienced Heitinga will
slot straight into his backline. The West Ham boss is also interested in
Everton striker Nikica Jelavic, who is also on the fringes at Goodison, and
Martinez is open to the Croat leaving in January.
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West Ham striker Modibo Maiga says he's ready to shine - and reveals he
nearly quit for France last summer
Dec 31, 2013 22:30 By Neil McLeman 0 Comments
The Mirror
Modibo Maiga has refound his mojo – and is now in the mood to save the
Hammers from the drop. The Mali striker wanted to quit West Ham last summer
because of his lack of game time. But Maiga, who went a year without finding
the net, insisted he is finally showing his ability after scoring two in the
last three games as an impact sub. "I am happy and quite relieved," he said
ahead of the relegation clash at Fulham. "I was questioning myself. I was
not playing to my level. "You haven't seen the real Maiga. I know I have had
lots of chances to score, I was probably lacking in confidence." Maiga has
been deployed by boss Sam Allardyce as a lone front man in the absence of
the injured Andy Carroll. "It has been difficult because I am not used to
playing in this system," said the 26-year-old. "It really doesn't suit me. I
prefer to play deeper. But I know I am capable of playing well here." Maiga
scored only two Premier League goals last season following his £4.7million
switch from Sochaux – and nearly joined St Etienne in the summer. "It was
almost done," he said. "I wasn't happy. If a player doesn't play, and if you
want to progress, you have to leave. "The most important thing was to
rediscover the pleasure of playing again. The supporters have backed me very
well. When I hear them sing my name, it is a great feeling. It gives me
determination to work harder."
Meanwhile Fulham boss Rene Meulensteen is banking on ex-Hammers chief Alan
Curbishley to help beat the drop. Curbs led West Ham to a great escape in
2007, and joins former Chelsea coach Ray Wilkins at the Cottage. Meulensteen
said: "This is a relegation scrap. Alan Curbishley has been there. "Ray
Wilkins has been at different levels. I want to make sure I am well
prepared."
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West Ham target Rickie Lambert in shock £8m swoop for Southampton star
Dec 31, 2013 22:30 By Alan Nixon 5 Comments
The Mirror
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is making a staggering £8million bid for
Southampton's England striker Rickie Lambert. Allardyce is being backed by
owners David Sullivan and David Gold who are prepared to gamble a fortune on
a hit man to keep them up. And the Hammers are confident of success as
Lambert could be up for the move despite their lowly position. Lambert, the
fairy-tale success who made the Three Lions side from humble origins, needs
to play regularly to keep his World Cup hopes alive. Southampton cannot
offer him any guarantees of that right now because of the competition for
places at Mauricio Pochettino's side. Now the £8million offer may tempt
Saints supremo Nicola Cortese to sell - as long as enough of the cash is up
front and not based on staying-up bonuses. West Ham have laboured without a
top-class striker in the absence of Andy Carroll, whose return date is still
a mystery. Hammers have already agreed a deal for John Heitinga to join from
Everton to ease their defensive crisis. They will take over the remaining
six months of Heitinga's £65,000-a-week contract, saving Everton over
£1.5million.
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West Ham want Cisse but Newcastle United want to hang on to their No 9
1 Jan 2014 07:30
The Chronicle
West Ham United want to take Papiss Cisse on loan until the end of the
season. But sources in the East End say that Newcastle United have knocked
back their offer to give the No 9 first-team football. The Chronicle
understands that Cisse is one of the players that Sam Allardyce is
considering bringing during the January window and offer a loan deal until
May with a view to a permanent transfer. The enquiry means that Toon boss
Alan Pardew has a big decision to make with Cisse after leaving him on the
bench for THREE months. United do have money to spend in the window and are
thought to have players on their shortlist ahead of the January trading
period. However, there are a number of players out of the team that United
may have to deal with too with Jonas Gutierrez, Cisse, Steven Taylor and
Sylvain Marveaux all out of the side at the moment. Cisse did miss the start
of pre-season with United due to a dispute about wearing Wonga shirts. And
while many fans thought that was the end of any issues between United, Wonga
and Cisse, he has still spent the majority of the first half of the season
on the sidelines. Cisse's place has been taken by Shola Ameobi but even
though the Nigerian striker has been part of the team's winning run, the
long-serving Toon player did not find the net in the Premier League in 2013.
The No 9 on the other hand weighed in with 10 goals despite some games when
poor service was noted by supporters.
Cisse is understood to be concerned about his future at United after finding
himself frozen out of Alan Pardew's first team plans. The No 9 has not
started a game in the Premier League since the 2-1 win at Cardiff City at
the start of October. Since then Cisse has been restricted to cameo roles
from the bench with one sub appearance amounting to just 18 seconds in the
2-1 win against West Brom. West Ham are desperate for a striker to bolster
their bid for survival and would love to team up Cisse with ex-Toon stars
Kevin Nolan and Andy Carroll in the new year. United's last piece of
business with the Hammers was when Nolan was sold to the Upton Park club for
around £4m in 2011. Should Cisse be left on the bench against West Brom he
would then understandably expect to play against Cardiff City in the FA Cup
third round on Saturday. Pardew may use the FA Cup tie to give the likes of
Steven Taylor, Jonas Gutierrez, Sammy Ameobi and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa a
run-out. However, with Geordie fans keen to see United approach the cup with
a bit of ambition this year Pardew won't need to be told he must get that
balance exactly right.
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West Ham prepared to gamble and bid £8m for Southampton striker Lambert
By SIMON JONES
PUBLISHED: 23:26, 31 December 2013 | UPDATED: 23:47, 31 December 2013
Daily Mail
West Ham are ready to change their transfer policy and make an £8million
move for Southampton striker Rickie Lambert in a bid to avoid relegation.
Sam Allardyce had been told he could only bring in two strikers on loan but
with options limited the board are willing to gamble and bid for the
31-year-old England international. Allardyce has tried before to sign
Lambert in the summer and could finally land his man if the player agrees to
move with a potential World Cup place at stake. West ham have agreed a deal
for Everton defender John Heitinga and are still looking to bring another
striker in on loan.
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Tuesday, December 31
Daily WHUFC News - 31st December 2013
WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND ALL THE VERY BEST FOR 2014
and let's hope West Ham can sort themselves out too
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Fulham match preview
All the pre-match information ahead of the Hammers game against Fulham on
New Year's day
30.12.2013
FULHAM v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
WEDNESDAY 1 JANUARY 2014
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: MARK CLATTENBURG
FULL AUDIO COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
TWITTER I FACEBOOK I iPHONE APP I YOUTUBE I PROGRAMME I BIG SAM
Introduction
• West Ham United make the short trip across to west London on Wednesday as
they look to start 2014 with a win over Fulham at Craven Cottage.
• The Hammers head into the match without a win in six Barclays Premier
League starts following a 3-3 draw with West Bromwich Albion at the Boleyn
Ground last time out.
• Following the match against the Baggies, the Hammers sit 19th in the
league table, one place below Wednesday's opponents.
• On the team's last away outing, a trip to Old Trafford resulted in a 3-1
defeat at the hands of Manchester United, which made it five games without
an away league win.
• Sam Allardyce's team played Fulham in the Premier League at the Boleyn
Ground on 30 November and recorded a resounding 3-0 win.
• Since then the Cottagers have changed manager with Rene Meulensteen
replacing Martin Jol.
• The new man has presided over six league games so far, winning two and
losing the other four, conceding 17 goals in the process.
• Last time out the west Londoners received a shock as they were thumped 6-0
by Hull City at the KC Stadium as they remained third from bottom of the
table.
• Fulham have managed just one win in their last five home league outings,
suffering a 4-2 defeat to Manchester City in their last home encounter.
Team News
West Ham United
• James Tomkins picked up a groin injury against West Bromwich Albion and
joins fellow centre backs James Collins (calf) and Winston Reid (ankle) on
the sidelines.
• Andy Carroll has resumed training but is not yet fit enough to feature
whilst Ricardo Vaz Te (shoulder), Stewart Downing (ankle) and Mladen Petric
(calf) all miss out.
Fulham
• Maarten Stekelenburg could return for the Cottagers after David Stockdale
deputised in place of the Dutch stopper against Hull City.
• Dimitar Berbatov could also be in line for a return after missing the last
three games.
Last time out
West Ham United 3-3 West Bromwich Albion
Barclays Premier League
28 December 2013
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, McCartney, Tomkins (Demel 10), Rat,
Diame, Noble, Nolan, Jarvis, J.Cole (Collison 83), C.Cole (Maiga 46)
Subs not used: Adrian, Chambers, Taylor, Diarra
Goals: J.Cole 4, Maiga 65, Nolan 67
Hull City 6-0 Fulham
Barclays Premier League
28 December 2013
Fulham: Stockdale, Zverotic, Amorebieta, Hughes, Riise, Sidwell, Ruiz
(Kacaniklic 60), Karagounis (Richardson 74), Kasami, Dejagah (Bent 64),
Rodallega
Subs not used: Boateng, Riether, Bettinelli, David
Previous meeting
West Ham produced a strong second half performance to see off Fulham at the
Boleyn Ground. Mohamed Diame broke the deadlock less than two minutes after
half-time as he drove at the Fulham defence before his deflected shot fooled
Maarten Stekelenburg in the Fulham goal. The Hammers doubled the lead when
Carlton Cole got on the end of Stewart Downing's cross after 82 minutes
before Joe Cole put the finishing touches on the win with a third goal two
minutes from time.
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Tomkins, Collins, McCartney, Diame,
Noble, Downing, Jarvis (J Cole 68), Nolan (Morrison 77), Maiga (C Cole 81)
Subs not used: Adrian, Collison, Taylor, O'Brien
Goals: Diame 47, C Cole 82, J Cole 88
Fulham: Stekelenburg, Zverotic, Hughes, Amorebieta, Richardson (Dembele 83),
Duff (Ruiz 65), Sidwell (Karagounis 78), Parker, Taarabt, Kasami, Bent
Subs not used: Senderos, Boateng, Kacaniklic, Stockdale
Background
• West Ham United's first game against Fulham took place in 1898, in the
Southern League Second Division. The Hammers came away with a 2-1 win and
won the reverse fixture 1-0.
• The Hammers' record win over the Cottagers was a 7-2 home Division One
victory 3 February 1968. West Ham United have also beaten their London
rivals 6-1 and 5-1, with Fulham's record win being a 5-0 home victory on 7
November 1936.
• Carlton Cole has scored seven goals in his last nine matches against
Fulham, all of which have come in the Premier League.
• West Ham and Fulham have met 19 times in the Premier League era with the
Hammers winning eleven, drawing five and losing three.
Last six meetings (all Premier League)
30 November 2013 West Ham United 3-0 Fulham
30 January 2013 Fulham 3-1 West Ham United
1 September 2012 West Ham United 3-0 Fulham
26 December 2010 Fulham 1-3 West Ham United
2 October 2010 West Ham United 1-1 Fulham
2 May 2010 Fulham 3-2 West Ham United
Overall record v Fulham (all competitions) W 39 D 20 L 29
Ten-year records
West Ham United
2012/13 Premier League 10th (46 points)
2011/12 Championship 3rd (86 points - promoted via Play-Offs)
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points)
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted via Play-Offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
Fulham
2012/13 Premier League 12th (43 points)
2011/12 Premier League 9th (52 points)
2010/11 Premier League 8th (49 points)
2009/10 Premier League 12th (46 points)
2008/09 Premier League 7th (53 points)
2007/08 Premier League 17th (36 points)
2006/07 Premier League 16th (39 points)
2005/06 Premier League 12th (48 points)
2004/05 Premier League 13th (44 points)
2003/04 Premier League 9th (52 points)
Referee
• Wednesday's referee is Mark Clattenburg, whose last West Ham United game
came last season against Wigan Athletic in a 2-0 home win on 20 April 2013.
• Clattenburg was the man with the whistle for the stunning 4-0 win against
Manchester United in the League Cup fifth round back in November 2010
• The 38-year-old was the man in the middle for the Championship Play-Off
semi-final first leg in May 2004 when Ipswich Town won 1-0 against the
visiting West Ham.
• Clattenburg has been on the Select List since 2004, the same year he took
charge of the Division Three Play-Off final between Mansfield Town and
Huddersfield Town at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
• After becoming a FIFA official in 2006 at the age of 31, Clattenburg has
taken control of a number of international and UEFA Champions League
matches.
• Clattenburg will be assisted by Simon Beck and Ron Ganfield whilst the
fourth official is Scott Mathieson.
Old Boys
• Bobby Moore MBE played for both West Ham United and Fulham during his
glittering career. Moore made 544 appearances for the Hammers before moving
to Craven Cottage for £25,000 in 1974. England's World Cup-winning captain
remained at Fulham for three years, making a further 124 appearances and
facing his former side in the 1975 FA Cup final, which West Ham won 2-0.
• Fulham midfielder Scott Parker spent four years at West Ham, making 132
appearances between September 2007 and August 2011. Parker also netted 12
times in claret and blue before leaving to join Tottenham Hotspur.
• Among the other players who have represented both sides are Jan Lastuvka,
Jimmy Bullard, Ian Pearce, Rufus Brevett, George Carter, Brian Dear, Tony
Gale, Ron Greenwood, Jon Harley, Fred Harrison, Jack Hebden. George Horler,
Luis Boa Morte, Bobby Zamora, John Pantsil and Paul Konchesky.
General information
• The Club's full allocation of tickets for this match are SOLD OUT.
• The weather forecast for Wednesday's match is heavy rain with temperatures
around 10C.
• For live travel updates from across the London underground network click
here.
• All c2c trains will be operating on the basis of a Sunday service, details
of which can be found here.
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Nolan hails Hammers spirit
WHUFC.com
Kevin Nolan is sure that West Ham United's battling qualities will turn
their season around
30.12.2013
West Ham United skipper Kevin Nolan says his team's performance against West
Bromwich Albion displayed the battling characteristics required to turn
their season around. With a squad already shorn of James Collins and Winston
Reid because of injuries, the Hammers' defensive woes mounted early on when
James Tomkins had to hobble off with a groin problem. With a makeshift
centre-half pairing and facing a 2-1 interval deficit, West Ham could easily
have folded, but instead they gathered themselves again and turned the game
around in a two-minute spell, only to be pegged back once more by Saido
Berahino.
Having come from behind once, but seen leads slip by twice, Nolan held mixed
emotions at the game's conclusion. He said: "One thing that came through was
the spirit and the unity, with everything that's going on at the minute with
injuries. "That was more like us on Saturday, on the front foot and getting
in people's faces. I just feel disappointed that my goal wasn't a winner. We
have to take the positives out of it again, I thought we didn't get what we
deserved on Boxing Day [in losing 3-1 to Arsenal], and we didn't get it
again on Saturday. "Hopefully, the New Year will bring us new luck and for
us it's going to be a good second half of the season. "I felt that we should
have won it. We were the better team throughout, but you can't go to sleep
when you've got somebody like Nicolas Anelka against you, because that
[score twice] is what he does. "Going 2-1 down at half-time was very harsh
on us, but we responded well. We calmed everything down and got ourselves
ahead with two well-worked goals. "We were really on the front foot, but a
moment of quality from Berahino - you've got to give the lad that - has got
them level with a great strike off the post."
The Hammers travel to Fulham next for a New Year's Day London derby and
Nolan insists that more of the same from the east Londoners will result in
an upturn in form. He added: "We believe in what we're doing. We've got the
January transfer window coming, where the Chairmen says they are going to
back the manager. That's fantastic news for him and it'll give us all a lift
to see a few new faces come in. "We'll have a lot of boys coming back from
injury, but we lost James Tomkins on Saturday, we lost James Collins on
Boxing Day, so we had two lads who are right-back and left-back by trade go
into the centre of defence and play against one world class striker and
another who's up and coming. They did a fantastic job, and it shows what
we've got as a squad and as a team. "I'm proud to be leading them and we
will continue to stick together and do what we're doing, because I believe
that the tables will turn, our fortunes will turn and the New Year will
bring new luck. "We've put in two good performances in a couple of days, now
we've got to rest up and get everything right, which we will because the
staff here are fantastic. We have to do that and make sure that when it
comes to Wednesday afternoon we're raring to go again.
"If we put in another performance like that it'll give us a good chance to
get the three points. We're looking forward to it and the boys want to put
it right. We have a lot of fighters here and I'm sure we'll be happy at the
end of the season."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Loanee round-up
WHUFC.com
Three West Ham United youngsters were in action over the weekend
30.12.2013
Three West Ham United players were in action for their respective loan clubs
over the weekend. On Saturday, Pelly Ruddock maintained his 100 per cent
record with Skrill Premier side Luton Town, helping the Hatters to score a
fantastic 6-0 home victory over Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday. Luton
won all four league matches that Ruddock appeared in, scoring 17 goals in
the process. The Skrill Premier leaders won 5-0 at Alfreton and 2-1 at
Barnet and scored a 4-2 home victory over Gateshead. The 20-year-old
(pictured) also helped John Still's men to reach the FA Trophy third round
courtesy of victories over Staines Town and Wrexham. Ruddock has been
recalled from his loan spell at Kenilworth Road with immediate effect. The
centre-back will provide cover after Winston Reid, James Collins and James
Tomkins were ruled out through injury.
Blair Turgott and Jordan Spence were both in action in Sky Bet League One on
Sunday. Fresh from scoring in the 4-0 win over Stevenage on Boxing Day,
Turgott made his third start for Colchester United, but was unable to
prevent the U's from falling to a 2-1 home defeat by Crewe Alexandra. Spence
made his eleventh appearance for MK Dons, but Karl Robinson's side saw their
three-match winning run ended with a 3-1 defeat at Brentford. Turgott and
Spence will both hope to feature when their two sides face each other at
Stadium mk on New Year's Day.
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Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce will be going for goals when West Ham United visit Fulham on
New Year's Day
29.12.2013
They say attack is the best form of defence and Sam Allardyce will be
seeking to prove that theory correct when he takes his West Ham United side
to Fulham on New Year's Day. A chronic shortage of defenders has forced Big
Sam into a rethink on how he will approach the game and his solution is to
go on the offence. An injury to James Tomkins in Saturday's enthralling 3-3
draw with West Bromwich Albion means all three of the Hammers' first-choice
central defenders are injury doubts, leading their manager to revert to a
plan to simply outscore the hosts. "My problem is that this is a team that's
going to play Fulham on New Year's day that's depleted at the minute," Big
Sam said. "My problem is making sure we recover these players as quickly as
we can and get them back out on the field against Fulham and try to produce
the resilience and desire they produced against West Brom to get a result at
Fulham. "Ultimately, it's stopping goals which is my problem now. We used to
be great at it because we had all our defenders fit, now we have to say
'look it's unlikely we'll keep a clean sheet we've got to go out and score
two to win the game'. "With New Year's Day coming up it's unlikely that
we're going to have a central defender playing in the team because none of
them are going to be fit. If that means we try and score more goals than the
opposition then that might have to be the case."
Tomkins loss came at a particularly busy time for the medical team and while
James Collins has a chance of making the first game of 2014 at Craven
Cottage, it is the other high-profile names occupying the treatment table at
Chadwell Heath that the manager is keen to get back out on the pitch. Andy
Carroll, Stewart Downing, Winston Reid and Ricardo Vaz Te are all unlikely
to travel to West London, leading their manager to think what might have
been after West Brom struck three at the Boleyn Ground. "With six or seven
players injured for weeks and weeks and weeks and our most expensive player
injured that's why we are where we are. If I had them all back and I had
them all playing then we'd probably be around tenth like we were last year,
but we haven't. "Everything we try to do to is to relieve the situation, it
doesn't relieve itself it just gets bigger and bigger. We're finding that
difficult to cope with, we're trying our best with fantastic efforts against
Arsenal and again against West Brom but I believe with just our central
defensive players fit on Saturday I believe we would have won the game."
The injury situation has led the manager to place an even higher emphasis on
bringing in new talent when then transfer window opens on 2 January. Working
alongside Joint-Chairman David Sullivan, he has spent the past six weeks
scouring the world for the brightest talent and although no gems have yet
been captured, he remains determined to bring in at least two new faces. "I
want as many players as I can get with the budget I've got which would
probably be two. That would have to be two quality players that we'd have to
find. "We've been at it for six weeks or more now and we're finding it very
difficult to find a player who wants to come to the Club based on what we
can afford to pay at this time. We want to do it as early as we possibly can
but after six weeks of hard slog we haven't got anything definite to say
someone's going to come on 2 January."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ruddock returns
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 30th December 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United have recalled Pelly Ruddock from his loan spell at
non-league Luton Town. It's less than 25 years since the old
Bedfordshire-based club beat the Hammers in the semi-final of the League Cup
in a two-legged affair, but four divisions separate the two teams now with
the Hatters playing their football in the Conference Premier. That's where
Irons youngster Pelly Ruddock, who had been on loan at Kenilworth Road since
the end of November had intended to remain until January 4th - until he
received notification that West Ham were recalling him due to their chronic
injury crisis that has seen Winston Reid, James Tomkins and James Collins
all injured in recent weeks. Ruddock made seven appearances - in midfield -
during his spell with Luton, who currently sit atop the Conference Premier
one point ahead of fellow former Football League fodder, Cambridge United.
Described by local press as "a huge hit since arriving from Upton Park",
Ruddock is himself currently nursing a sore knee after being substituted
during Luton's 6-0 defeat of Kidderminster last weekend. However he will be
sadly missed by Town fans, with First team coach Hakan Hayrettin telling
Bedford Today: "Pelly's driven this team on when we've got the ball. When he
hasn't got the ball he's done his duty as well and for that we thank West
Ham for giving him the opportunity to play for us. "He's a great addition to
our football team and he's been a credit to West Ham."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham striker Andy Carroll won't be rushed back from injury
Last Updated: 30/12/13 3:34pm
SSN
West Ham's assistant manager Neil McDonald is satisfied with the progress
being made by injured striker Andy Carroll but insists he will not be rushed
back into first team action. Carroll has not played this season due to a
foot problem after making his loan move from Liverpool permanent over the
summer. The England international recently returned to light training and is
now stepping up his recovery with Sam Allardyce's side. McDonald said: "Andy
did a training session yesterday (Sunday) which is very encouraging. "It's
early stages but is a work in progress with him. Work one day on the
training pitch, massage and rehab the next day and let's see how it goes
from there. "It's a positive he is in training but it is a slow process.
"When you are out for seven months I don't think you can rush anybody back.
"Obviously, we are all desperate for him to come back and get into the team
as quickly as possible but we have to be sensible and he is getting closer."
Ahead of Wednesday's trip to Craven Cottage to face fellow strugglers
Fulham, McDonald confirmed that James Collins, Winston Reid and James
Tomkins are all likely absentees. He said: "It looks as though all three
(Collins, Reid and Tomkins) are not going to be fit for the Fulham game. "We
will assess them ahead of the Forest game (FA Cup) but it is more likely
they will be involved in the Cardiff game (January 11)."
And regarding January's transfer window, he added: "We have a few defensive
problems and with the window coming up Sam (Allardyce) is working non-stop.
"We need some reinforcements to boost the players we have here so he is
working behind the scenes with everyone else. His phone is going non-stop.
"We have three main centre-halves injured at the moment. We are aiming to
improve and the two main places are in defence and in attack."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham moving for out of favour Roma striker Marco Borriello to boost
firepower
Dec 30, 2013 11:10 By Alex Richards 0 Comments
The Mirror
The Hammers have been found wanting up front this term thanks to Andy
Carroll's injury problems and could turn to Italy for another option
West Ham United have opened talks with Italian club Roma over a January move
for striker Marco Borriello. According to various reports, the Giallorossi's
sporting director Walter Sabatini has been in London over the weekend,
discussing potential ins and outs at the Stadio Olimpico. And top of his
list was 31-year-old Borriello, who has struggled to hold down a regular
spot under manager Rudi Garcia this term. The seven-cap Italian
international has made 11 appearances so far, but only five starts.
Additionally, he has scored just one goal this season as unbeaten Roma have
moved to second in the race for the Scudetto. Borriello has already been
linked with a move to the Premier League this month, with his agent stating
that Tottenham Hotspur had opened talks over a January move.
However, it's reckoned that he could be set for the tenth loan move of his
career, with Sam Allardyce's side in pole position.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce so busy trying to bolster squad he misses
pre-match press conference
Dec 30, 2013 14:41 By Neil McLeman 0 Comments
The Mirror
The Hammers are short at either end of the field and have a mammoth
relegation battle against Fulham to contend with on New Year's Day
Sam Allardyce missed today's West Ham press conference to speak to club
co-chairman David Sullivan about transfer targets. The Hammers will go into
Wednesday's relegation battle with Fulham without a recognised centre-back.
And with Andy Carroll still unfit, the East London club are also looking to
sign at least one striker. Assistant manager Neil McDonald said: "He
[Allardyce] is very busy on the phone at the moment. We have got a few
defensive problems and with the window coming up, he is working non-stop
today. "Hopefully there will be some arrivals - we need some reinforcements
to fill the gaps and boost the players we already have here. He is working
very hard behind the scenes with everyone else to try and do that. "He
apologises for not doing the press conference today. His phone is non-stop
at the moment and he is working very hard behind the scenes to bolster the
squad. "Our three main centre-halves are injured at the moment. We are
obviously trying very hard to get them fit. We are trying to bolster that
and up front as well - we are trying to improve the squad as much as we
possibly can and they are the two main places. "He is on the phone to the
chairman as we speak so I would imagine he has got the backing of the club."
Carroll, who has not played this season, has re-started training with the
first-team squad. "He did a training session yesterday which is very
encouraging," McDonald added. "It is still early stages. It is a work in
progress with him. Work one day on the training pitch, massage, and rehab
the next day and see how he goes. "It is positive that he is on the training
pitch now but it is slow progress. When you have been out for seven months,
you can't rush anybody back.
"Obviously we are all desperate for him to come back and get back into the
team as quick as we possibly can but we have to be sensible. He is getting
closer."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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and let's hope West Ham can sort themselves out too
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Fulham match preview
All the pre-match information ahead of the Hammers game against Fulham on
New Year's day
30.12.2013
FULHAM v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
WEDNESDAY 1 JANUARY 2014
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: MARK CLATTENBURG
FULL AUDIO COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
TWITTER I FACEBOOK I iPHONE APP I YOUTUBE I PROGRAMME I BIG SAM
Introduction
• West Ham United make the short trip across to west London on Wednesday as
they look to start 2014 with a win over Fulham at Craven Cottage.
• The Hammers head into the match without a win in six Barclays Premier
League starts following a 3-3 draw with West Bromwich Albion at the Boleyn
Ground last time out.
• Following the match against the Baggies, the Hammers sit 19th in the
league table, one place below Wednesday's opponents.
• On the team's last away outing, a trip to Old Trafford resulted in a 3-1
defeat at the hands of Manchester United, which made it five games without
an away league win.
• Sam Allardyce's team played Fulham in the Premier League at the Boleyn
Ground on 30 November and recorded a resounding 3-0 win.
• Since then the Cottagers have changed manager with Rene Meulensteen
replacing Martin Jol.
• The new man has presided over six league games so far, winning two and
losing the other four, conceding 17 goals in the process.
• Last time out the west Londoners received a shock as they were thumped 6-0
by Hull City at the KC Stadium as they remained third from bottom of the
table.
• Fulham have managed just one win in their last five home league outings,
suffering a 4-2 defeat to Manchester City in their last home encounter.
Team News
West Ham United
• James Tomkins picked up a groin injury against West Bromwich Albion and
joins fellow centre backs James Collins (calf) and Winston Reid (ankle) on
the sidelines.
• Andy Carroll has resumed training but is not yet fit enough to feature
whilst Ricardo Vaz Te (shoulder), Stewart Downing (ankle) and Mladen Petric
(calf) all miss out.
Fulham
• Maarten Stekelenburg could return for the Cottagers after David Stockdale
deputised in place of the Dutch stopper against Hull City.
• Dimitar Berbatov could also be in line for a return after missing the last
three games.
Last time out
West Ham United 3-3 West Bromwich Albion
Barclays Premier League
28 December 2013
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, McCartney, Tomkins (Demel 10), Rat,
Diame, Noble, Nolan, Jarvis, J.Cole (Collison 83), C.Cole (Maiga 46)
Subs not used: Adrian, Chambers, Taylor, Diarra
Goals: J.Cole 4, Maiga 65, Nolan 67
Hull City 6-0 Fulham
Barclays Premier League
28 December 2013
Fulham: Stockdale, Zverotic, Amorebieta, Hughes, Riise, Sidwell, Ruiz
(Kacaniklic 60), Karagounis (Richardson 74), Kasami, Dejagah (Bent 64),
Rodallega
Subs not used: Boateng, Riether, Bettinelli, David
Previous meeting
West Ham produced a strong second half performance to see off Fulham at the
Boleyn Ground. Mohamed Diame broke the deadlock less than two minutes after
half-time as he drove at the Fulham defence before his deflected shot fooled
Maarten Stekelenburg in the Fulham goal. The Hammers doubled the lead when
Carlton Cole got on the end of Stewart Downing's cross after 82 minutes
before Joe Cole put the finishing touches on the win with a third goal two
minutes from time.
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Tomkins, Collins, McCartney, Diame,
Noble, Downing, Jarvis (J Cole 68), Nolan (Morrison 77), Maiga (C Cole 81)
Subs not used: Adrian, Collison, Taylor, O'Brien
Goals: Diame 47, C Cole 82, J Cole 88
Fulham: Stekelenburg, Zverotic, Hughes, Amorebieta, Richardson (Dembele 83),
Duff (Ruiz 65), Sidwell (Karagounis 78), Parker, Taarabt, Kasami, Bent
Subs not used: Senderos, Boateng, Kacaniklic, Stockdale
Background
• West Ham United's first game against Fulham took place in 1898, in the
Southern League Second Division. The Hammers came away with a 2-1 win and
won the reverse fixture 1-0.
• The Hammers' record win over the Cottagers was a 7-2 home Division One
victory 3 February 1968. West Ham United have also beaten their London
rivals 6-1 and 5-1, with Fulham's record win being a 5-0 home victory on 7
November 1936.
• Carlton Cole has scored seven goals in his last nine matches against
Fulham, all of which have come in the Premier League.
• West Ham and Fulham have met 19 times in the Premier League era with the
Hammers winning eleven, drawing five and losing three.
Last six meetings (all Premier League)
30 November 2013 West Ham United 3-0 Fulham
30 January 2013 Fulham 3-1 West Ham United
1 September 2012 West Ham United 3-0 Fulham
26 December 2010 Fulham 1-3 West Ham United
2 October 2010 West Ham United 1-1 Fulham
2 May 2010 Fulham 3-2 West Ham United
Overall record v Fulham (all competitions) W 39 D 20 L 29
Ten-year records
West Ham United
2012/13 Premier League 10th (46 points)
2011/12 Championship 3rd (86 points - promoted via Play-Offs)
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points)
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted via Play-Offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
Fulham
2012/13 Premier League 12th (43 points)
2011/12 Premier League 9th (52 points)
2010/11 Premier League 8th (49 points)
2009/10 Premier League 12th (46 points)
2008/09 Premier League 7th (53 points)
2007/08 Premier League 17th (36 points)
2006/07 Premier League 16th (39 points)
2005/06 Premier League 12th (48 points)
2004/05 Premier League 13th (44 points)
2003/04 Premier League 9th (52 points)
Referee
• Wednesday's referee is Mark Clattenburg, whose last West Ham United game
came last season against Wigan Athletic in a 2-0 home win on 20 April 2013.
• Clattenburg was the man with the whistle for the stunning 4-0 win against
Manchester United in the League Cup fifth round back in November 2010
• The 38-year-old was the man in the middle for the Championship Play-Off
semi-final first leg in May 2004 when Ipswich Town won 1-0 against the
visiting West Ham.
• Clattenburg has been on the Select List since 2004, the same year he took
charge of the Division Three Play-Off final between Mansfield Town and
Huddersfield Town at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
• After becoming a FIFA official in 2006 at the age of 31, Clattenburg has
taken control of a number of international and UEFA Champions League
matches.
• Clattenburg will be assisted by Simon Beck and Ron Ganfield whilst the
fourth official is Scott Mathieson.
Old Boys
• Bobby Moore MBE played for both West Ham United and Fulham during his
glittering career. Moore made 544 appearances for the Hammers before moving
to Craven Cottage for £25,000 in 1974. England's World Cup-winning captain
remained at Fulham for three years, making a further 124 appearances and
facing his former side in the 1975 FA Cup final, which West Ham won 2-0.
• Fulham midfielder Scott Parker spent four years at West Ham, making 132
appearances between September 2007 and August 2011. Parker also netted 12
times in claret and blue before leaving to join Tottenham Hotspur.
• Among the other players who have represented both sides are Jan Lastuvka,
Jimmy Bullard, Ian Pearce, Rufus Brevett, George Carter, Brian Dear, Tony
Gale, Ron Greenwood, Jon Harley, Fred Harrison, Jack Hebden. George Horler,
Luis Boa Morte, Bobby Zamora, John Pantsil and Paul Konchesky.
General information
• The Club's full allocation of tickets for this match are SOLD OUT.
• The weather forecast for Wednesday's match is heavy rain with temperatures
around 10C.
• For live travel updates from across the London underground network click
here.
• All c2c trains will be operating on the basis of a Sunday service, details
of which can be found here.
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Nolan hails Hammers spirit
WHUFC.com
Kevin Nolan is sure that West Ham United's battling qualities will turn
their season around
30.12.2013
West Ham United skipper Kevin Nolan says his team's performance against West
Bromwich Albion displayed the battling characteristics required to turn
their season around. With a squad already shorn of James Collins and Winston
Reid because of injuries, the Hammers' defensive woes mounted early on when
James Tomkins had to hobble off with a groin problem. With a makeshift
centre-half pairing and facing a 2-1 interval deficit, West Ham could easily
have folded, but instead they gathered themselves again and turned the game
around in a two-minute spell, only to be pegged back once more by Saido
Berahino.
Having come from behind once, but seen leads slip by twice, Nolan held mixed
emotions at the game's conclusion. He said: "One thing that came through was
the spirit and the unity, with everything that's going on at the minute with
injuries. "That was more like us on Saturday, on the front foot and getting
in people's faces. I just feel disappointed that my goal wasn't a winner. We
have to take the positives out of it again, I thought we didn't get what we
deserved on Boxing Day [in losing 3-1 to Arsenal], and we didn't get it
again on Saturday. "Hopefully, the New Year will bring us new luck and for
us it's going to be a good second half of the season. "I felt that we should
have won it. We were the better team throughout, but you can't go to sleep
when you've got somebody like Nicolas Anelka against you, because that
[score twice] is what he does. "Going 2-1 down at half-time was very harsh
on us, but we responded well. We calmed everything down and got ourselves
ahead with two well-worked goals. "We were really on the front foot, but a
moment of quality from Berahino - you've got to give the lad that - has got
them level with a great strike off the post."
The Hammers travel to Fulham next for a New Year's Day London derby and
Nolan insists that more of the same from the east Londoners will result in
an upturn in form. He added: "We believe in what we're doing. We've got the
January transfer window coming, where the Chairmen says they are going to
back the manager. That's fantastic news for him and it'll give us all a lift
to see a few new faces come in. "We'll have a lot of boys coming back from
injury, but we lost James Tomkins on Saturday, we lost James Collins on
Boxing Day, so we had two lads who are right-back and left-back by trade go
into the centre of defence and play against one world class striker and
another who's up and coming. They did a fantastic job, and it shows what
we've got as a squad and as a team. "I'm proud to be leading them and we
will continue to stick together and do what we're doing, because I believe
that the tables will turn, our fortunes will turn and the New Year will
bring new luck. "We've put in two good performances in a couple of days, now
we've got to rest up and get everything right, which we will because the
staff here are fantastic. We have to do that and make sure that when it
comes to Wednesday afternoon we're raring to go again.
"If we put in another performance like that it'll give us a good chance to
get the three points. We're looking forward to it and the boys want to put
it right. We have a lot of fighters here and I'm sure we'll be happy at the
end of the season."
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Loanee round-up
WHUFC.com
Three West Ham United youngsters were in action over the weekend
30.12.2013
Three West Ham United players were in action for their respective loan clubs
over the weekend. On Saturday, Pelly Ruddock maintained his 100 per cent
record with Skrill Premier side Luton Town, helping the Hatters to score a
fantastic 6-0 home victory over Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday. Luton
won all four league matches that Ruddock appeared in, scoring 17 goals in
the process. The Skrill Premier leaders won 5-0 at Alfreton and 2-1 at
Barnet and scored a 4-2 home victory over Gateshead. The 20-year-old
(pictured) also helped John Still's men to reach the FA Trophy third round
courtesy of victories over Staines Town and Wrexham. Ruddock has been
recalled from his loan spell at Kenilworth Road with immediate effect. The
centre-back will provide cover after Winston Reid, James Collins and James
Tomkins were ruled out through injury.
Blair Turgott and Jordan Spence were both in action in Sky Bet League One on
Sunday. Fresh from scoring in the 4-0 win over Stevenage on Boxing Day,
Turgott made his third start for Colchester United, but was unable to
prevent the U's from falling to a 2-1 home defeat by Crewe Alexandra. Spence
made his eleventh appearance for MK Dons, but Karl Robinson's side saw their
three-match winning run ended with a 3-1 defeat at Brentford. Turgott and
Spence will both hope to feature when their two sides face each other at
Stadium mk on New Year's Day.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce will be going for goals when West Ham United visit Fulham on
New Year's Day
29.12.2013
They say attack is the best form of defence and Sam Allardyce will be
seeking to prove that theory correct when he takes his West Ham United side
to Fulham on New Year's Day. A chronic shortage of defenders has forced Big
Sam into a rethink on how he will approach the game and his solution is to
go on the offence. An injury to James Tomkins in Saturday's enthralling 3-3
draw with West Bromwich Albion means all three of the Hammers' first-choice
central defenders are injury doubts, leading their manager to revert to a
plan to simply outscore the hosts. "My problem is that this is a team that's
going to play Fulham on New Year's day that's depleted at the minute," Big
Sam said. "My problem is making sure we recover these players as quickly as
we can and get them back out on the field against Fulham and try to produce
the resilience and desire they produced against West Brom to get a result at
Fulham. "Ultimately, it's stopping goals which is my problem now. We used to
be great at it because we had all our defenders fit, now we have to say
'look it's unlikely we'll keep a clean sheet we've got to go out and score
two to win the game'. "With New Year's Day coming up it's unlikely that
we're going to have a central defender playing in the team because none of
them are going to be fit. If that means we try and score more goals than the
opposition then that might have to be the case."
Tomkins loss came at a particularly busy time for the medical team and while
James Collins has a chance of making the first game of 2014 at Craven
Cottage, it is the other high-profile names occupying the treatment table at
Chadwell Heath that the manager is keen to get back out on the pitch. Andy
Carroll, Stewart Downing, Winston Reid and Ricardo Vaz Te are all unlikely
to travel to West London, leading their manager to think what might have
been after West Brom struck three at the Boleyn Ground. "With six or seven
players injured for weeks and weeks and weeks and our most expensive player
injured that's why we are where we are. If I had them all back and I had
them all playing then we'd probably be around tenth like we were last year,
but we haven't. "Everything we try to do to is to relieve the situation, it
doesn't relieve itself it just gets bigger and bigger. We're finding that
difficult to cope with, we're trying our best with fantastic efforts against
Arsenal and again against West Brom but I believe with just our central
defensive players fit on Saturday I believe we would have won the game."
The injury situation has led the manager to place an even higher emphasis on
bringing in new talent when then transfer window opens on 2 January. Working
alongside Joint-Chairman David Sullivan, he has spent the past six weeks
scouring the world for the brightest talent and although no gems have yet
been captured, he remains determined to bring in at least two new faces. "I
want as many players as I can get with the budget I've got which would
probably be two. That would have to be two quality players that we'd have to
find. "We've been at it for six weeks or more now and we're finding it very
difficult to find a player who wants to come to the Club based on what we
can afford to pay at this time. We want to do it as early as we possibly can
but after six weeks of hard slog we haven't got anything definite to say
someone's going to come on 2 January."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ruddock returns
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 30th December 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United have recalled Pelly Ruddock from his loan spell at
non-league Luton Town. It's less than 25 years since the old
Bedfordshire-based club beat the Hammers in the semi-final of the League Cup
in a two-legged affair, but four divisions separate the two teams now with
the Hatters playing their football in the Conference Premier. That's where
Irons youngster Pelly Ruddock, who had been on loan at Kenilworth Road since
the end of November had intended to remain until January 4th - until he
received notification that West Ham were recalling him due to their chronic
injury crisis that has seen Winston Reid, James Tomkins and James Collins
all injured in recent weeks. Ruddock made seven appearances - in midfield -
during his spell with Luton, who currently sit atop the Conference Premier
one point ahead of fellow former Football League fodder, Cambridge United.
Described by local press as "a huge hit since arriving from Upton Park",
Ruddock is himself currently nursing a sore knee after being substituted
during Luton's 6-0 defeat of Kidderminster last weekend. However he will be
sadly missed by Town fans, with First team coach Hakan Hayrettin telling
Bedford Today: "Pelly's driven this team on when we've got the ball. When he
hasn't got the ball he's done his duty as well and for that we thank West
Ham for giving him the opportunity to play for us. "He's a great addition to
our football team and he's been a credit to West Ham."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham striker Andy Carroll won't be rushed back from injury
Last Updated: 30/12/13 3:34pm
SSN
West Ham's assistant manager Neil McDonald is satisfied with the progress
being made by injured striker Andy Carroll but insists he will not be rushed
back into first team action. Carroll has not played this season due to a
foot problem after making his loan move from Liverpool permanent over the
summer. The England international recently returned to light training and is
now stepping up his recovery with Sam Allardyce's side. McDonald said: "Andy
did a training session yesterday (Sunday) which is very encouraging. "It's
early stages but is a work in progress with him. Work one day on the
training pitch, massage and rehab the next day and let's see how it goes
from there. "It's a positive he is in training but it is a slow process.
"When you are out for seven months I don't think you can rush anybody back.
"Obviously, we are all desperate for him to come back and get into the team
as quickly as possible but we have to be sensible and he is getting closer."
Ahead of Wednesday's trip to Craven Cottage to face fellow strugglers
Fulham, McDonald confirmed that James Collins, Winston Reid and James
Tomkins are all likely absentees. He said: "It looks as though all three
(Collins, Reid and Tomkins) are not going to be fit for the Fulham game. "We
will assess them ahead of the Forest game (FA Cup) but it is more likely
they will be involved in the Cardiff game (January 11)."
And regarding January's transfer window, he added: "We have a few defensive
problems and with the window coming up Sam (Allardyce) is working non-stop.
"We need some reinforcements to boost the players we have here so he is
working behind the scenes with everyone else. His phone is going non-stop.
"We have three main centre-halves injured at the moment. We are aiming to
improve and the two main places are in defence and in attack."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham moving for out of favour Roma striker Marco Borriello to boost
firepower
Dec 30, 2013 11:10 By Alex Richards 0 Comments
The Mirror
The Hammers have been found wanting up front this term thanks to Andy
Carroll's injury problems and could turn to Italy for another option
West Ham United have opened talks with Italian club Roma over a January move
for striker Marco Borriello. According to various reports, the Giallorossi's
sporting director Walter Sabatini has been in London over the weekend,
discussing potential ins and outs at the Stadio Olimpico. And top of his
list was 31-year-old Borriello, who has struggled to hold down a regular
spot under manager Rudi Garcia this term. The seven-cap Italian
international has made 11 appearances so far, but only five starts.
Additionally, he has scored just one goal this season as unbeaten Roma have
moved to second in the race for the Scudetto. Borriello has already been
linked with a move to the Premier League this month, with his agent stating
that Tottenham Hotspur had opened talks over a January move.
However, it's reckoned that he could be set for the tenth loan move of his
career, with Sam Allardyce's side in pole position.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce so busy trying to bolster squad he misses
pre-match press conference
Dec 30, 2013 14:41 By Neil McLeman 0 Comments
The Mirror
The Hammers are short at either end of the field and have a mammoth
relegation battle against Fulham to contend with on New Year's Day
Sam Allardyce missed today's West Ham press conference to speak to club
co-chairman David Sullivan about transfer targets. The Hammers will go into
Wednesday's relegation battle with Fulham without a recognised centre-back.
And with Andy Carroll still unfit, the East London club are also looking to
sign at least one striker. Assistant manager Neil McDonald said: "He
[Allardyce] is very busy on the phone at the moment. We have got a few
defensive problems and with the window coming up, he is working non-stop
today. "Hopefully there will be some arrivals - we need some reinforcements
to fill the gaps and boost the players we already have here. He is working
very hard behind the scenes with everyone else to try and do that. "He
apologises for not doing the press conference today. His phone is non-stop
at the moment and he is working very hard behind the scenes to bolster the
squad. "Our three main centre-halves are injured at the moment. We are
obviously trying very hard to get them fit. We are trying to bolster that
and up front as well - we are trying to improve the squad as much as we
possibly can and they are the two main places. "He is on the phone to the
chairman as we speak so I would imagine he has got the backing of the club."
Carroll, who has not played this season, has re-started training with the
first-team squad. "He did a training session yesterday which is very
encouraging," McDonald added. "It is still early stages. It is a work in
progress with him. Work one day on the training pitch, massage, and rehab
the next day and see how he goes. "It is positive that he is on the training
pitch now but it is slow progress. When you have been out for seven months,
you can't rush anybody back.
"Obviously we are all desperate for him to come back and get back into the
team as quick as we possibly can but we have to be sensible. He is getting
closer."
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