'We have turned the season around'
WHUFC.com
Jussi Jaaskelainen says West Ham United must kick-on after their recent run
of good form and results
05.03.2014
Jussi Jaaskelainen may not be in the starting XI at present, but the
experienced goalkeeper has still played his part in West Ham United's recent
improved form. The goalkeeper has recently seen Spaniard Adrian take his
place in Sam Allardyce's team, but the 38-year-old says the Hammers'
renaissance has been a real squad effort. With players returning from injury
and suspension, the intensity of training sessions has risen, resulting in a
run of five victories in the last eight Barclays Premier League matches.
Now, Jaaskelainen has challenged his squad-mates to maintain their charge up
the table and equal or better last season's tenth-place finish. "We have
turned the season around, but we need to keep going and try to finish as
high as we possibly can," said the No22, who has kept eight clean sheets in
18 league appearances this term. "For next season, we need to learn from
what we have done wrong this season. Things have gone a little bit against
us in certain parts of the season, but we've really bounced back so
hopefully we can finish high and can build on two successful seasons in the
coming years."
Jaaskelainen has won praise from goalkeeper coach Martyn Margetson and
team-mate Guy Demel for his reaction to being left out in recent weeks. The
goalkeeper has maintained an immaculate, professional approach to training
and preparation that has undoubtedly benefitted fellow goalkeeper Adrian.
"It's part and parcel of the way I'm thinking - I have been fortunate enough
to play for many years in the Premier League and at the start of this
season, so when you lose your place there is no point in sulking. "I am just
trying to work as hard as I can and to support Adrian in every possible way.
As I said, it's about how we finish the season as a team, not as
individuals. "It's a big team and hopefully, if I get one more chance, I
will try to to grab it and keep the shirt as long as I can. That's why I
keep working hard, because you never know what is happening in the future in
football."
Looking further forward, Jaaskelainen is sure to be in the running for the
Save of the Season at the 2013/14 Player Awards, which will take place on
Tuesday 6 May at the Grosvenor House Hotel on London's Park Lane. A year
ago, the Finn unsurprisingly took that trophy home with him, while also
being voted as runner-up for the Hammer of the Year award following an
outstanding first season at the Boleyn Ground. "It was a good evening, but
for me at the end of the day it's about the success of the team and it's
great that we've turned things around this season. We are doing well and
hopefully we can carry on the way we've been playing in the last six or
seven games. "Hopefully, we can finish as high as we did last season and we
can have a very good night at the Player Awards ceremony. "It was nice
because it was my first season here and obviously I wanted to carry on from
that. Obviously things change quickly in football, but you have to just keep
on working and hopefully get back in the team and get back playing."
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International round-up
WHUFC.com
James Collins scored as Wales defeated Iceland on Wednesday - check out how
all our international players fared
05.03.2014
James Collins scored for Wales as Chris Coleman's side began their
preparations for the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign with a 3-1 friendly win
over Iceland on Wednesday night. Collins netted Wales' first goal at the
Cardiff City Stadium, flicking home a Gareth Bale free-kick, only for an
Ashley Williams own goal to level matters before half-time. The Hammers No19
was withdrawn at the break, but goals from Sam Vokes and Bale ensured the
home side would claim victory against an Iceland outfit who only missed out
on this summer's World Cup finals due to a play-off defeat to Croatia. Jack
Collison came off the bench with 14 minutes left to play, as he played his
part in Wales seeing out the victory.
Pablo Armero played 66 minutes for Colombia in their 1-1 draw with Tunisia
at Espanyol's Estadi Cornella-El Prat in Barcelona. Monaco midfielder James
Rodriguez gave the South Americans the lead, but Tunisia levelled through
Bastia's Whabi Khazri as the game ended in stalemate.
West Ham's fourth player in senior international action on Wednesday was
Mohamed Diame, who skippered Senegal to a 1-1 draw against Mali in Paris.
Senegal lost out in World Cup qualifiying at the final stage, but took the
lead against Mali thanks to Sadio Mane of Red Bull Salzburg before Bordeaux
frontman Cheick Diabate levelled 12 minites from time.
At age group level, Ravel Morrison helped England U21 to another victory in
their 2015 UEFA U21 Championship qualification campaign. Nathan Redmond
scored the only goal to see off Wales at Derby County's Pride Park and keep
the Young Lions six points clear of second placed Moldova in their group,
Morrison, who is currently on loan at Queens Park Rangers, played 71
minutes as he gained his fourth cap at that level.
In the same competition, young Hammers goalkeeper Raphael Spiegel was an
unused substitute as Switzerland defeated Liechtenstein 5-1 in Thun. The
Swiss have gained 12 points from their six games to date and currently sit
three points behind group leaders Croatia.
Fellow defender Harney started as Northern Ireland U19s lost the first match
of their friendly double-header with Switzerland 3-0 in Belfast on Tuesday.
Robin Kamber of FC Basel put the Swiss in front on 19 minutes before
club-mate Cedric Itten doubled the lead 14 minutes from full-time. The
scoring was completed in added time by Lyon forward Kilian Pagliuca. The two
countries will square-off again in Dungannon on Thursday 6 March.
Academy defenders Reece Burke and Kyle Knoyle both started as England's
U18s' lost the first game of their own friendly double-header with Croatia
at St George's Park on Monday, going down 2-1. England were on top before
the break and were a whisker away from doubling the advantage when
Liverpool's Cameron Brannagan curled a shot just past the post. Croatia
turned the game on its head in the second half to claim the spoils thanks to
goal from Dinamo Zagreb's Marko Stolnik and Hadjuk Split's Nikola Vlasic.
The pair were unused substitutes as England suffered another loss by the
same scoreline to the same opponents on Wednesday.
Finally, Academy goalkeeper Sam Howes featured once in England U17s' three
matches at the Algarve Tournament in Portugal, starting a 2-2 draw with the
host nation on 28 February. England finished the tournament as runners-up.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
International round-up
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's international players are involved in a busy week of
action for their countries
05.03.2014
A host of West Ham United players are in action for their respective nations
during a busy week of international football at all levels. At senior level
James Collins, Jack Collison, Pablo Armero and Mohamed Diame all hope to
pull on their country's colours, while Ravel Morrison, Raphael Spiegel,
Jamie Harney, Reece Burke, Kyle Knoyle and Sam Howes are in age-group
action.
Four seniors could all be in friendly action on Wednesday 5 March. Collins
and Collison are in the Wales squad to face Iceland in Cardiff, Armero's
Colombia take on Tunisia in Barcelona and Diame's Senegal take on Mali in
Paris. Collins and Collison will hope to boost Chris Coleman's Wales after
they missed out on qualification for this summer's FIFA World Cup finals,
while opponents Iceland were edged out in a Play-Off by Croatia.
Armero will hope to cement his spot in José Pékerman's squad for Brazil
2014, having featured in all but one of Colombia's South American qualifiers
for the tournament.
Diame, meanwhile, will hope to erase the disappointment of an African
Play-Off defeat by Ivory Coast when Senegal take on their West African
neighbours in Saint-Leu La Forêt.
Morrison and Spiegel could both be in competitive action in UEFA European
U21 Championship qualfiers. Unbeaten England top Group 1 ahead of the visit
of third-place Wales to Derby County's Pride Park on 5 March, while
Spiegel's Switzerland are second in Group 5 ahead of their home fixture with
winless Liechtenstein in Thun on the same evening.
Fellow defender Harney started as Northern Ireland U19s lost the first match
of their friendly double-header with Switzerland 3-0 in Belfast on Tuesday.
Robin Kamber of FC Basel put the Swiss in front on 19 minutes before
club-mate Cedric Itten doubled the lead 14 minutes from full-time. The
scoring was completed in added time by Lyon forward Kilian Pagliuca. The two
countries will square-off again in Dungannon on Thursday 6 March.
Academy defenders Burke and Knoyle both started England's U18s' lost the
first game of their own friendly double-header with Croatia at St George's
Park on Monday, going down 2-1. England were on top before the break and
were a whisker away from doubling the advantage when Liverpool's Cameron
Brannagan curled a shot just past the post. Croatia turned the game on its
head in the second half to claim the spoils thanks to goal from Dinamo
Zagreb's Marko Stolnik and Hadjuk Split's Nikola Vlasic. The pair will meet
again at the same venue on Wednesday 5 March.
Finally, Academy goalkeeper Sam Howes featured once in England U17s' three
matches at the Algarve Tournament in Portugal, starting a 2-2 draw with the
host nation on 28 February. England finished the tournament as runners-up.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Big Interview - Jack Collison
WHUFC.com
The West Ham United midfielder is looking forward to returning to Wales duty
04.03.2014
Jack Collison returns to Wales duty for the first time since August 2013 on
Wednesday evening, when Chris Coleman's side take on Iceland in Cardiff. The
West Ham United No10 has great memories of playing at the Cardiff City
Stadium, having helped the Hammers to a Play-Off semi-final victory there in
May 2012, as well as a pair of other important league wins in recent
seasons. With Wales drawn alongside Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Israel,
Cyprus and Andorra in qualifying for the 24-nation 2016 UEFA European
Championship, the 25-year-old is hoping to represent his country at their
first major finals since the 1958 FIFA World Cup.
Jack, you have a big game with Wales to look forward to in the shape of an
international friendly with Iceland in Cardiff. I expect you are looking
forward to
pulling on the red shirt again?
JC: "Yeah, it's our first game since the group was drawn for Euro 2016, so
it'll be good to get together and obviously look ahead to the games we have
got in qualifying over the next 18 months or so. It's a great place to
start, at home against Iceland."
The Wales manager Chris Coleman has been quite bullish about your
qualification chances. Do you share his optimism?
JC: "Definitely. Especially with the players we have got, the boys who were
young and up and coming are starting to come into their own a little bit
now. They will be peaking over the next year or so. "Gareth Bale has gone on
to be an absolute superstar at Real Madrid and Aaron Ramsey has been
magnificent this season for Arsenal, while the likes of Sam Vokes has scored
about 20 goals this season in the Championship. It's a fantastic group of
players and, as Chris Coleman has already said, if he can get his team
together and everyone fit, I think we can give anyone a good game on the
night. "It's a very tricky group, as every group is, but you've got to fancy
your chances of doing as well as you can. We've got a nice start [away to
Andorra] and we'll look to build off that, really."
Iceland at home may not have been an attractive fixture a few years ago, but
they got to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Play-Offs and have a few players in the
top European leagues, so it should be a competitve game.
JC: "Everyone is looking forward to it. It's a nice chance for everyone to
meet up and, for me, I haven't had a Wales game in a while so it's good.
Even though it's a friendly, there's going to be a lot riding on it.
"The group for the Euros has been drawn, so it gets a bit more real. For
Wales, it's about qualifying for Euro 2016 and everything is geared towards
that.
Everyone will be looking to put in a good performance for the manager."
And, of course, you love playing at the Cardiff City Stadium...
JC: "Yes, we always seem to do well at Cardiff. Here at West Ham we got
another magnificent win there this season and it was nice to play a part in
that game. On a personal level, hopefully I'll get on the pitch and put in a
good performance."
Talking of West Ham, our recent positive run of results and lack of injuries
has led to a settled side and less opportunities for some players. Has that
been frustrating?
JC: "That's part and parcel of the game. If you look at the quality of our
squad, there are 22 outfield players and there is a lot of quality not even
making the bench, let alone the starting XI. There is a lot of competition
for places.
"The boys have been magnificent, so there has been no reason for the manager
to change it too much. They have got the shirts at the moment and, if they
keep producing, they deserve to keep them. "The likes of myself and others
are disappointed and are working hard in training so when that opportunity
comes, it's up to us to take it and keep hold of the shirt."
Our next Barclays Premier League game is at Stoke City, where you scored the
winner last season. So, it would be the perfect place to break into the side
and do it again!
JC: "Definitely! That win last year came at a very important time in the
season for us. We were down in 14th and had lost four of our previous five
league games and struggling a little bit, so the win was massive.
"The run we've been on, we'll look to go there and do the same again and get
the three points. It would be nice to get another clean sheet and keep
progressing, because we've been on a good run of form and want to keep
looking forward rather than behind us."
Just lastly, going back to international football, the England squad was
named for the friendly with Denmark but there were no places for West Ham
players.
Were you surprised?
JC: "When I looked at the squad, I was hoping one or two of our boys would
be in it. Obviously, Andy Carroll is desperate to be playing not just for
us, but for England.
"If you look beyond Andy, James Tomkins has been magnificent for us since he
has been in the side. We'd kept four clean sheets in five games before the
weekend and he's been fantastic.
"Mark Noble is what he is and I don't know if he can do much more. Not only
has he been our best player this season, but he's been the best player on
the pitch a lot of the time. For him, it must be disappointing, and for us
we want our players knocking on Roy Hodgson's door and making the England
squad.
"If you look at Southampton with four players in, it does show it is
possible for slightly smaller clubs to get there, so hopefully our lads will
keep doing well and, sooner or later, they will get their chance."
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U16s have their SPARQ measured
WHUFC.com
West Ham United U16s were put through a series of physical tests at Chadwell
Heath
05.03.2014
West Ham United U16s have been put through a series of physical tests at
Chadwell Heath. The Academy schoolboys were the latest age-group to undergo
the SPARQ tests - a standardised set of five components which will allow the
Club's coaching staff to measure each player's individual development. The
results of the five exercises - a 20-metre dash, kneeling power ball toss,
agility shuttle, a Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test (beep test) and a
vertical jump - can be compared against other players from both within the
Acdemy and other Barclays Premier League clubs. Academy sports scientist
Josh Ewens (pictured) explained the value of SPARQ testing. "The Premier
League ask all the clubs in Categories 1 to 4 to do their SPARQ testing
twice a year," he said. "They are a battery of tests which you do and then
they feed back the data and averages for each age-group, so you can see
where you are as a Club. "It involves a 20-metre dash, an agility test on
the left and right side, a jump test to look at peak power, the ball toss
and the Yo-Yo intermittent test, so all of those things combine to give us a
good idea about a player's top speed, how good they are at changing
direction at speed and their endurance capacity."
The U16s were just the latest age-group to take part in the SPARQ tests,
with every year-group from U9s up to U18s taking part in some or all of the
components. We actually do a few of the tests with the Under-9s - not the
Yo-Yo - to give us an idea of where they are maturation-wise. Their size has
a big impact on the scores that they get. We do the tests right up to
Under-21 level."
The Academy will receive data from the Premier League covering all the clubs
involved in the SPARQ scheme, allowing Ewens and his colleagues to compare
and contrast West Ham's results with the average. "We don't get specific
numbers from individual clubs, but we do get the national averages from
different age-groups and different Academy categories, so we'll get the
Category 1 average and Category 2 average and so on. "Alongside that, we'll
get national records, which are always quite interesting to compare your own
results against."
So, just how beneficial are the results of SPARQ tests when it comes to
identifying a schoolboy footballer's chances of developing into a future
professional?
"The U18s and U21s wear GPS monitors in every training session and every
game, so that will tell us everything we need to know about them from a
physical point of view," explained Ewens. "With the younger players, from
U15s and downwards, it gives us something to go off in terms of where they
are on a broad level physically and how they have improved across the
season. "The tests are not particularly specific to football, so the results
have to be taken with a pinch of salt in that regard, but they do give us an
idea about where they are."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Would you Adam n'Eve it?
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 5th March 2014
By: Staff Writer
Stoke's influential midfielder Charlie Adam has been ruled out o f West
Ham's visit to the Britannia Stadium next weekend after being handed a
three-match retrospectively. West Ham return to Premier League action
following the international break when they face the Potters at their
fiercely partisan home ground next weekend. However City will have to fare
without the former Liverpool midfielder, who was handed an instant
three-game ban today after an FA Panel decided to take retrospective action
following an incident in Stoke's clash with Arsenal last weekend. Adam was
found guilty of stamping on the ankle of Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud
during the match at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday, which Stoke won 1-0
courtesy of Jonathan Walters' second half penalty.
However the home side should have been down to ten men before Walters had
the chance to score with Adam's offence occurring well before the game's
only goal was scored. The decision to punish Adam retrospectively will leave
many Hammers fans scratching their heads after Chico Flores escaped
scot-free when feigning injury in order to get Andy Carroll sent off in the
West Ham v Swansea clash last month.
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Ravel Morrison says playing in Championship is tough
Last Updated: 05/03/14 1:24pm
SSN
On-loan QPR midfielder Ravel Morrison says the Sky Bet Championship is
actually a lot harder in some ways than the Premier League. The West Ham
man, who had a spell on loan with Birmingham last season, is back in the
second tier after making a temporary switch to QPR. Morrison, who made his
home debut for Rangers in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Leeds, said: "It's
very different to the Premier League. "I actually think it's a lot harder in
some respects. You get a lot more time on the ball in the Premier League.
"In the Championship you don't get much time on the ball and you have to
make decisions very quickly."
Having fallen out of favour at Upton Park following an impressive start to
the season, Morrison is hoping Rangers boss Harry Redknapp can help get his
career back on track. "I think it's pretty obvious that he's a really good
manager," added the 21-year-old. "From what I can tell, he is one that looks
after his players. I'm just hoping he can get the best out of me."
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Ravel Morrison throws tantrum as England Under-21s see off Wales in Euro
qualifying
Mar 05, 2014 22:43 By Brendan McLoughlin The Mirror
Nathan Redmond finished life as a teenager on a high - as Ravel Morrison
threw a tantrum at the iPro Stadium. Man-of-the-match Redmond, who turns 20
on Thursday, notched the winner to strengthen Gareth Southgate's team's grip
on top spot in Euro Under-21 Championship qualifying. But bad boy Morrison,
21, found himself back at the centre of controversy after 71 minutes when he
sulkily shook Southgate's hand when replaced by Will Hughes before storming
down the tunnel. Southgate said of the QPR loanee: "He lives for football
and he is disappointed probably not to get into the game as he would have
liked. "He had a tightness in his thigh, so we were never going to play him
for more than 60-65 minutes. I had a good chat with him after and he was
fine."
Having been named in the starting XI, Michael Keane was forced to pull out
before kick-off after the FA messed up his registration for the game with
Uefa.
After thrashing San Marino 9-0 in their last game, Southgate admitted this
was his team's "toughest task" to date and they "didn't flow" like in
previous matches. Wales should even have led on the hour-mark when Wes Burns
sped clean through only to drag his shot wide. They at least improved after
the break with Joe Walsh first almost diverting Saido Berahino's cross into
his own net and then Redmond seeing a devilish curler creep wide. But he
made no mistake from an almost identical position in the 56th minute when he
darted inside from the channel before driving a low shot inside the left
upright.
A string of decent chances went begging as Berahino, Tom Ince and substitute
Danny Ings all came close but in the end it proved enough.
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Thursday, March 6
Wednesday, March 5
Daily WHUFC News - 5th March 2014
Demel's still looking up
WHUFC.com
West Ham United defender Guy Demel remains focused on helping the Hammers
stay in the top half
04.03.2014
Guy Demel is staying positive despite West Ham United's late defeat at
Everton on Saturday. On loan Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku struck with just
nine minutes to play to end the Hammers' five-game unbeaten run. But the
No20 felt his side could have come away with a point after once again
defending solidly, and his eyes remain on the top half of the Barclays
Premier League table. He explained: "Of course there is still work to be
done, it's the Premier League so every game is going to be tough. Even top
teams are losing points, that's why everyone wants to play in this league,
and we have to fight in every game.
"We're still looking up rather than down, we're positive. We knew that when
we were down, we could get ourselves out of the situation - we did that and
now we have to make sure we stay away from there. "It's been good to have a
settled back line, and we've been lucky in the last few games that everyone
is fit. It's easier when you play every week with the same defence, but we
have a great squad. "We have people like Winston Reid, who is a great
defender. Joey O'Brien too, but this season we haven't had a settled defence
until recently, with so many injuries."
For Demel, Saturday's game was a tough one given that he only returned to
training the day before the match following a bout of tonsilitis. He
continued: "I had a fever. On Monday the doc came because I had a high
temperature and my glands were swollen. I stayed at home for a couple of
days, came back on Thursday and joined in on Friday. "It's not easy when
you're taking antibiotics, but no excuses, I tried my best on the pitch. I
was kind of disappointed because I had to leave my teammates on the pitch."
Behind the Ivorian and his defensive colleagues, Adrian has only conceded
two goals in six games, and Demel believes he is being pushed on by Jussi
Jaaskelainen behind him. He added: "Adrian is a very good goalkeeper, but I
don't want people to forget that Jussi was outstanding last year. If Adrian
plays well, people should know it's because he has Jussi in the back, who
helped him to integrate. "But yes, he's a good goalkeeper, we're happy for
him and I'm sure that the West Ham fans will see a lot more from him. We're
kind of lucky because we have two great goalkeepers."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
ARE WE ABOUT TO LOSE THE MOST PROMISING YOUNGSTER AT THE CLUB?
By S J Chandos 4 Mar 2014 at 08:30
West Ham Till I Die
There was a disturbing report in yesterday's Sports Mail that the we could
be on the verge of losing the most promising youngster at the club.
Apparently, Elliott Lee is in the final year of his current contract and
negotiations over a new deal have allegedly stalled. If there is no progress
in those contract talks then Lee will become a free agent this summer, with
a transfer fee being set by the Professional Football Compensation Committee
(PFCC). And, of course, it is easy to draw a comparison with the situation
of highly prized former starlet, Robert Hall, who last season ran down his
Hammers contract and subsequently joined Bolton Wanderers, with the PFCC
setting a fee of just £450,00.
Elliott Lee is undoubtedly an excellent striking prospect, this being
underlined this season by his record of 8 goals in 13 matches for the U-21
Development Squad. And it is thought that a number of other clubs are
actively monitoring his situation. Lee made his first team debut as a 78th
minute substitute in the FA Cup 3rd round away replay, against Man Utd, on
16 January 2013, in a 1-0 defeat. He followed that up with his Premier
League debut, as a substitute in a 0-1 home defeat to Stoke City, on 31
August 2013. Further first team opportunities have been scarce. And on 22
October 2013, Lee went out on a one month loan to Colchester Utd, where he
played made four appearances and scored one goal.
The emergence of this worrying report begs some pertinent questions. Namely,
has Elliott Lee decided that his career prospects are better off elsewhere;
does he not rate his chances of breaking in to the first team with the
currently preferred tactics/formation; or will this ultimately prove to be
an inaccurate report? Time will tell, but we should keep a careful eye on
developments. Following on from the lack of current first team opportunities
for our youngsters, the continual loan deals and the cynical sacrifice of a
youthful team at Notts Forrest, the loss of an outstanding prospect like Lee
would only reaffirm the perception that a negative direction of journey is
underway. West Ham have a proud heritage of producing its own talent, but
that tradition appears to be presently under threat. Much as it concerns and
saddens me to say it, this increasingly seems to be the unavoidable
conclusion to be drawn.
Lets hope that both the story and this conclusion proves erroneous. It would
certainly be interesting to hear how the Academy figures in the board's
plans and strategies for the future of the club. The club have made the
right noises in the past, but one might well ask where is the follow
through, where are the concrete outputs? Is the Academy of English Football
under threat, as we continue to base our first team plans predominantly on
the acquisition of a succession of 30 somethings? And will it all be
executed in the name of expediency and the cut throat nature of Premier
League survival?
SJ. Chandos.
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WHUFC.com
West Ham United defender Guy Demel remains focused on helping the Hammers
stay in the top half
04.03.2014
Guy Demel is staying positive despite West Ham United's late defeat at
Everton on Saturday. On loan Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku struck with just
nine minutes to play to end the Hammers' five-game unbeaten run. But the
No20 felt his side could have come away with a point after once again
defending solidly, and his eyes remain on the top half of the Barclays
Premier League table. He explained: "Of course there is still work to be
done, it's the Premier League so every game is going to be tough. Even top
teams are losing points, that's why everyone wants to play in this league,
and we have to fight in every game.
"We're still looking up rather than down, we're positive. We knew that when
we were down, we could get ourselves out of the situation - we did that and
now we have to make sure we stay away from there. "It's been good to have a
settled back line, and we've been lucky in the last few games that everyone
is fit. It's easier when you play every week with the same defence, but we
have a great squad. "We have people like Winston Reid, who is a great
defender. Joey O'Brien too, but this season we haven't had a settled defence
until recently, with so many injuries."
For Demel, Saturday's game was a tough one given that he only returned to
training the day before the match following a bout of tonsilitis. He
continued: "I had a fever. On Monday the doc came because I had a high
temperature and my glands were swollen. I stayed at home for a couple of
days, came back on Thursday and joined in on Friday. "It's not easy when
you're taking antibiotics, but no excuses, I tried my best on the pitch. I
was kind of disappointed because I had to leave my teammates on the pitch."
Behind the Ivorian and his defensive colleagues, Adrian has only conceded
two goals in six games, and Demel believes he is being pushed on by Jussi
Jaaskelainen behind him. He added: "Adrian is a very good goalkeeper, but I
don't want people to forget that Jussi was outstanding last year. If Adrian
plays well, people should know it's because he has Jussi in the back, who
helped him to integrate. "But yes, he's a good goalkeeper, we're happy for
him and I'm sure that the West Ham fans will see a lot more from him. We're
kind of lucky because we have two great goalkeepers."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
ARE WE ABOUT TO LOSE THE MOST PROMISING YOUNGSTER AT THE CLUB?
By S J Chandos 4 Mar 2014 at 08:30
West Ham Till I Die
There was a disturbing report in yesterday's Sports Mail that the we could
be on the verge of losing the most promising youngster at the club.
Apparently, Elliott Lee is in the final year of his current contract and
negotiations over a new deal have allegedly stalled. If there is no progress
in those contract talks then Lee will become a free agent this summer, with
a transfer fee being set by the Professional Football Compensation Committee
(PFCC). And, of course, it is easy to draw a comparison with the situation
of highly prized former starlet, Robert Hall, who last season ran down his
Hammers contract and subsequently joined Bolton Wanderers, with the PFCC
setting a fee of just £450,00.
Elliott Lee is undoubtedly an excellent striking prospect, this being
underlined this season by his record of 8 goals in 13 matches for the U-21
Development Squad. And it is thought that a number of other clubs are
actively monitoring his situation. Lee made his first team debut as a 78th
minute substitute in the FA Cup 3rd round away replay, against Man Utd, on
16 January 2013, in a 1-0 defeat. He followed that up with his Premier
League debut, as a substitute in a 0-1 home defeat to Stoke City, on 31
August 2013. Further first team opportunities have been scarce. And on 22
October 2013, Lee went out on a one month loan to Colchester Utd, where he
played made four appearances and scored one goal.
The emergence of this worrying report begs some pertinent questions. Namely,
has Elliott Lee decided that his career prospects are better off elsewhere;
does he not rate his chances of breaking in to the first team with the
currently preferred tactics/formation; or will this ultimately prove to be
an inaccurate report? Time will tell, but we should keep a careful eye on
developments. Following on from the lack of current first team opportunities
for our youngsters, the continual loan deals and the cynical sacrifice of a
youthful team at Notts Forrest, the loss of an outstanding prospect like Lee
would only reaffirm the perception that a negative direction of journey is
underway. West Ham have a proud heritage of producing its own talent, but
that tradition appears to be presently under threat. Much as it concerns and
saddens me to say it, this increasingly seems to be the unavoidable
conclusion to be drawn.
Lets hope that both the story and this conclusion proves erroneous. It would
certainly be interesting to hear how the Academy figures in the board's
plans and strategies for the future of the club. The club have made the
right noises in the past, but one might well ask where is the follow
through, where are the concrete outputs? Is the Academy of English Football
under threat, as we continue to base our first team plans predominantly on
the acquisition of a succession of 30 somethings? And will it all be
executed in the name of expediency and the cut throat nature of Premier
League survival?
SJ. Chandos.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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Tuesday, March 4
Daily WHUFC News - 4th March 2014
Lars looking forward to London return
WHUFC.com
Former West Ham United defender Lars Jacobsen will be back in London with
Denmark this week
03.03.2014
Former West Ham United defender Lars Jacobsen will be back in London with
Denmark this week. The right-back, who spent the 2010/11 campaign with the
Hammers, is in his national team's squad for the international friendly
meeting with England at Wembley on Wednesday evening. The FC Copenhagen
defender, who also played under Hammers boss Sam Allardyce at Blackburn
Rovers, is looking forward to returning to the stadium where he featured for
Everton in their 2009 FA Cup final defeat by Chelsea.. "Im very excited to
return to England and especially Wembley," said the 34-year-old, who has
been capped 64 times. "I have played there in the FA Cup final in 2009 with
Everton. It is an amazing venue that will forever be in my memory."
For Jacobsen, returning to London will also bring back less welcome memories
of suffering relegation with West Ham three years ago. The Dane was a
consistent figure that season, but was unable to prevent the Hammers from
finishing bottom of the Premier League table. Despite the disappointment of
relegation, Jacobsen looks back fondly on his time at the Boleyn Ground.
"The relegation was very disappointing for everybody in and around West Ham
but I still remember the time I had West Ham as very positive," he revealed.
"I played regularly and I particularly remember the home win against
Tottenham [in September 2010]. The atmosphere at The Boleyn was very
supporting throughout the season, even though the results were poor. "I
still watch the games in front of the telly and I am very happy that the
club is doing well and is climbing the table. I still have contact with some
of the players and staff."
One player Jacobsen knows well is centre-back Winston Reid, who grew up in
Denmark himself after moving there as a child. Like Jacobsen, Reid joined
West Ham in summer 2010 following his appearance the FIFA World Cup. After a
difficult first season, the New Zealand-born defend er has emerged as one of
the top defenders in the Barclays Premier League. "Winston was a big talent
when I was at the Club," Jacobsen confirmed. "Now he is a vice-captain and
and a fully matured player who is big, strong and powerful. "I think he fits
in perfectly as a top centre-half in the Premier League."
While Reid and West Ham are seeking the points needed to secure their
Barclays Premier League place for next season, Jacobsen and his FC
Copenhagen team-mates have their own ambitions. Captaining a side containing
the likes of former Aston Villa and Sweden defender Olof Mellberg and
ex-Cardiff City and Denmark striker Andreas Cornelius, the veteran full-back
is targeting a fifth Danish Superliga title of his illustrious career. "The
ambition is to win the league," he confirmed. England's friendly meeting
with Denmark will kick-off at 8pm on Wednesday, with the game being screened
live on ITV1.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers duo feature for England U18s
WHUFC.com
England U18s fell to defeat against Croatia on Monday afternoon
03.03.2014
West Ham United youngsters Kyle Knoyle and Reece Burke started as England
U18s took on Croatia in an international friendly at St George's Park on
Monday.
The Young Lions fell to a 2-1 defeat after holding the lead in the first
half through Cameron Brannagan's strike. England were on top before the
break and were a whisker away from doubling the advantage when Brannagan
curled a shot just past the post. Croatia turned the game on its head in the
second half to claim the spoils thanks to goal from Marko Stolnik and Nikola
Vlasic. England will have the oppotunity to gain swift revenge against the
same opponents, when they host them in a second friendly on Wednesday.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Statistically speaking
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 3rd March 2014
By: Staff Writer
West Ham's 13 clean sheets this season remains the Premier League's highest,
despite the 1-0 defeat at Goodison Park on Saturday.
The Hammers - for whom defeat last weekend signalled the end of a five-match
unbeaten run that propelled them from the relegation zone to the upper half
of the table - now head Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham by just one game.
Closing in are Manchester City, Norwich, Southampton and Everton, all of
whom have ten clean sheets apiece.
At the other end of the register, West Ham's inability to register at
Goodison Park was the 11th time this season that they have failed to score
in the Premier League. Cardiff City (16), Crystal Palace (13), Hull City,
Aston Villa and Stoke (12) are the only clubs to have been more profligate
in front of goal so far.
In contrast, West Ham have conceded the seventh fewest number of Premier
League goals this season. Chelsea (22), Manchester City, Everton (both 27),
Arsenal (28), Manchester United (31) and Tottenham (33) have shipped fewer
than West Ham's tally of 35, which is currently shared with Hull City,
Liverpool and Southampton.
Now, if 'value for money' was to be determined by the number of goals scored
per match West Ham's paying punters are getting a raw deal in comparison to
the vast majority of their fellow Premier League fans.
This season, games involving the Hammers have averaged just 2.36 goals per
match; only Norwich City (2.29), Hull City (2.32) and Crystal Palace (2.07)
have a lower average.
That figure also differs greatly between home and away games; matches played
at the Boleyn Ground have yielded an average of 2.86 goals per game (the
fifth highest in the league) compared to just 1.86 per match away from home
(the league's lowest).
Finally, with just ten Premier League matches left to play West Ham are the
only team in the league yet to win a game by a single goal this season. Six
of United's eight wins this term have been by two goals - Cardiff (twice),
Swansea, Aston Villa, Norwich and Southampton - and the remaining two
victories by three goals (Fulham, Tottenham).
Clean Sheets: Premier League 2013/14
1. WEST HAM UTD 46.4% (13 from 28 games)
2. Arsenal 42.9% (12/28)
2. Chelsea 42.9% (12/28)
2. Tottenham 42.9% (12/28)
5. Manchester City 38.5% (10/26)
6. Everton 37.0% (10/27)
7. Norwich City 35.7% (10/28)
8. Southampton 35.7% (10/28)
Failure To Score: Premier League 2013/14
1. Cardiff City 57.1% (16 of 28 games)
1. Crystal Palace 48.1% (13/27)
1. Aston Villa 42.9% (12/28)
1. Hull City 42.9% (12/28)
1. Stoke City 42.9% (12/28)
1. Norwich City 39.3% (11/28)
1. WEST HAM UTD 39.3% (11/28)
1. Sunderland 38.5% (10/26)
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce hoping West Ham use break positively
Last Updated: 03/03/14 12:26pm
SSN
West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce would rather not be enjoying a week off,
but plans to put an enforced break to good use. The Hammers were due to
entertain Hull City at Upton Park in their next Premier League outing, but
the Tigers' involvement in the FA Cup quarter-finals has forced a
rescheduling. West Ham will now be restricted to a spectator role this
weekend as league and cup competition takes centre stage. Allardyce will cut
a frustrated figure as he watches on from afar, but hopes an extended spell
on the training ground will have his side raring to go by the time an
opportunity to get a 1-0 defeat at Everton out of their system comes around.
He said on the club's official website: "We'd have liked to have another
game, which would have been our chance to overcome the Everton defeat and
get another victory. "We have to be patient. Everybody's going to get fitter
and they'll be able to get ready and excited for the away game at Stoke
City. "The players are all very disappointed that we have lost our
undefeated run but Everton are a good side and we just got slaughtered when
we played there last season and were fortunate to come away with a 2-0
defeat. "On Saturday we were very close to getting a point and the only
disappointment was our final third play wasn't good enough to cause Everton
the problems that we should have done."
While happy enough with how his side have been faring of late, Allardyce
will use the coming week to try and increase competition for places within
his squad - with the likes of Andy Carroll, Winston Reid, Joe Cole and Jack
Collison set to be offered a chance to catch the eye. The Hammers boss
added: "The lads will have a few days off with their families as they can't
get any fitter than they are at the minute. They are in a good frame of mind
at the moment. "We're disappointed now but we've got to get over that and
make sure that we've got the confidence and the energy and the belief to
play the next game when it comes around. "Andy Carroll has been constant in
training terms but it's match fitness that we need to help him with. "If
anybody needed a game next week it would be Andy but we've got to wait a
couple of weeks before we can get him fit again. We may fit in a
behind-closed doors game for him and some of the other squad players that
might not have been playing so much recently."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
DAVID GOLD SAYS STANDING AT FOOTBALL IS BOTH UNSAFE AND UNSOCIAL
By Sean Whetstone 3 Mar 2014 at 17:00
West Ham Till I Die
During a recent video interview former hooligan turned author & film maker
Cass Pennant asked the joint Chairman "What is your personal views to the
call for safe standing, fan areas for the supporters for the new stadium"
David Gold replied: "Good Question Cass, I am a great supporter of safe
standing, it is interesting that for many years we have had unsafe standing,
we do have that, I don't think there is a ground in the country that are all
seater stadium that don't have their fans in some area of the ground
standing. Now that standing is both unsafe and unsocial. In other words
unsocial from the point that if you were to bring a child to that match and
that child is suddenly confronted with rows and rows of people in front of
him, then he or she is not going to be able to see the match, So I think it
is time to revisit the issue of standing and of course when all the problems
of the eighties that we had where the taylor report said time to have an all
seater stadium and of course that changed everything and it stopped a lot of
bad behavior and it worked, but I think now it is time to look at safe
standing, I think the technologies have changed and I think we should
experiment, and I think that there is no reason at all in my mind why we
can't adopt some areas of safe standing in the future"
When Karren Brady was asked the question about the possibility of safe
standing at the Olympic Stadium at a Supporters Advisory Board OS meeting I
attended last year she all but dismissed the idea as 'extremely unlikely'.
Considering the Premier League rules & law that would need to change and it
is unlikely that the LLDC would rip up the existing seats in the £200m tax
payer funded refit to put in safe standing seats just to suit their football
tenant. While safe standing may be adopted in the premier league in the
future I personally don't see it at the multi purpose Olympic Stadium any
time soon.
Peter Caton, author of Stand Up Sit Down, West Ham Season Ticket Holder and
fellow member of the SAB, is concerned that problems will arise at the
Olympic Stadium unless there are areas where fans can stand as they are used
to doing at the Boleyn ground. Unmanaged standing blocks the views of those
who want to sit, but some fans have said they won't go to Stratford if they
can't stand. The possibility of unofficial 'singing areas' has been raised
at the SAB, but the club offered little hope. It was not a priority for them
and would be opposed by Newham Council and the SGSA. A disappointing
response when other clubs are backing the safe standing campaign and doing
their best to allow fans the choice to stand.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gareth Southgate tells Ravel Morrison to stay focused after being loaned out
by West Ham
Mar 03, 2014 22:51 By James Nursey
The Mirror
Gareth Southgate has urged Ravel Morrison not to become disillusioned after
the West Ham starlet's dramatic fall from grace. Morrison was tipped to go
to the World Cup with England after a stunning solo goal for the Hammers at
Spurs in October. But the 21-year-old lost his place and has since been
loaned to Championship QPR. Morrison is on England Under-21 duty this week
as they host Wales at Derby's Pride Park tomorrow. Boss Southgate said: "I
don't think it is a massive negative to be dropping back down into the
Championship if he is getting regular football. "I think for players of that
age they are going to have that path where there is a high and a dip. "It is
how you respond to all those successes or setbacks that forms you as a
player. This is a little challenge for him but he has the ability to be
successful."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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WHUFC.com
Former West Ham United defender Lars Jacobsen will be back in London with
Denmark this week
03.03.2014
Former West Ham United defender Lars Jacobsen will be back in London with
Denmark this week. The right-back, who spent the 2010/11 campaign with the
Hammers, is in his national team's squad for the international friendly
meeting with England at Wembley on Wednesday evening. The FC Copenhagen
defender, who also played under Hammers boss Sam Allardyce at Blackburn
Rovers, is looking forward to returning to the stadium where he featured for
Everton in their 2009 FA Cup final defeat by Chelsea.. "Im very excited to
return to England and especially Wembley," said the 34-year-old, who has
been capped 64 times. "I have played there in the FA Cup final in 2009 with
Everton. It is an amazing venue that will forever be in my memory."
For Jacobsen, returning to London will also bring back less welcome memories
of suffering relegation with West Ham three years ago. The Dane was a
consistent figure that season, but was unable to prevent the Hammers from
finishing bottom of the Premier League table. Despite the disappointment of
relegation, Jacobsen looks back fondly on his time at the Boleyn Ground.
"The relegation was very disappointing for everybody in and around West Ham
but I still remember the time I had West Ham as very positive," he revealed.
"I played regularly and I particularly remember the home win against
Tottenham [in September 2010]. The atmosphere at The Boleyn was very
supporting throughout the season, even though the results were poor. "I
still watch the games in front of the telly and I am very happy that the
club is doing well and is climbing the table. I still have contact with some
of the players and staff."
One player Jacobsen knows well is centre-back Winston Reid, who grew up in
Denmark himself after moving there as a child. Like Jacobsen, Reid joined
West Ham in summer 2010 following his appearance the FIFA World Cup. After a
difficult first season, the New Zealand-born defend er has emerged as one of
the top defenders in the Barclays Premier League. "Winston was a big talent
when I was at the Club," Jacobsen confirmed. "Now he is a vice-captain and
and a fully matured player who is big, strong and powerful. "I think he fits
in perfectly as a top centre-half in the Premier League."
While Reid and West Ham are seeking the points needed to secure their
Barclays Premier League place for next season, Jacobsen and his FC
Copenhagen team-mates have their own ambitions. Captaining a side containing
the likes of former Aston Villa and Sweden defender Olof Mellberg and
ex-Cardiff City and Denmark striker Andreas Cornelius, the veteran full-back
is targeting a fifth Danish Superliga title of his illustrious career. "The
ambition is to win the league," he confirmed. England's friendly meeting
with Denmark will kick-off at 8pm on Wednesday, with the game being screened
live on ITV1.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers duo feature for England U18s
WHUFC.com
England U18s fell to defeat against Croatia on Monday afternoon
03.03.2014
West Ham United youngsters Kyle Knoyle and Reece Burke started as England
U18s took on Croatia in an international friendly at St George's Park on
Monday.
The Young Lions fell to a 2-1 defeat after holding the lead in the first
half through Cameron Brannagan's strike. England were on top before the
break and were a whisker away from doubling the advantage when Brannagan
curled a shot just past the post. Croatia turned the game on its head in the
second half to claim the spoils thanks to goal from Marko Stolnik and Nikola
Vlasic. England will have the oppotunity to gain swift revenge against the
same opponents, when they host them in a second friendly on Wednesday.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Statistically speaking
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 3rd March 2014
By: Staff Writer
West Ham's 13 clean sheets this season remains the Premier League's highest,
despite the 1-0 defeat at Goodison Park on Saturday.
The Hammers - for whom defeat last weekend signalled the end of a five-match
unbeaten run that propelled them from the relegation zone to the upper half
of the table - now head Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham by just one game.
Closing in are Manchester City, Norwich, Southampton and Everton, all of
whom have ten clean sheets apiece.
At the other end of the register, West Ham's inability to register at
Goodison Park was the 11th time this season that they have failed to score
in the Premier League. Cardiff City (16), Crystal Palace (13), Hull City,
Aston Villa and Stoke (12) are the only clubs to have been more profligate
in front of goal so far.
In contrast, West Ham have conceded the seventh fewest number of Premier
League goals this season. Chelsea (22), Manchester City, Everton (both 27),
Arsenal (28), Manchester United (31) and Tottenham (33) have shipped fewer
than West Ham's tally of 35, which is currently shared with Hull City,
Liverpool and Southampton.
Now, if 'value for money' was to be determined by the number of goals scored
per match West Ham's paying punters are getting a raw deal in comparison to
the vast majority of their fellow Premier League fans.
This season, games involving the Hammers have averaged just 2.36 goals per
match; only Norwich City (2.29), Hull City (2.32) and Crystal Palace (2.07)
have a lower average.
That figure also differs greatly between home and away games; matches played
at the Boleyn Ground have yielded an average of 2.86 goals per game (the
fifth highest in the league) compared to just 1.86 per match away from home
(the league's lowest).
Finally, with just ten Premier League matches left to play West Ham are the
only team in the league yet to win a game by a single goal this season. Six
of United's eight wins this term have been by two goals - Cardiff (twice),
Swansea, Aston Villa, Norwich and Southampton - and the remaining two
victories by three goals (Fulham, Tottenham).
Clean Sheets: Premier League 2013/14
1. WEST HAM UTD 46.4% (13 from 28 games)
2. Arsenal 42.9% (12/28)
2. Chelsea 42.9% (12/28)
2. Tottenham 42.9% (12/28)
5. Manchester City 38.5% (10/26)
6. Everton 37.0% (10/27)
7. Norwich City 35.7% (10/28)
8. Southampton 35.7% (10/28)
Failure To Score: Premier League 2013/14
1. Cardiff City 57.1% (16 of 28 games)
1. Crystal Palace 48.1% (13/27)
1. Aston Villa 42.9% (12/28)
1. Hull City 42.9% (12/28)
1. Stoke City 42.9% (12/28)
1. Norwich City 39.3% (11/28)
1. WEST HAM UTD 39.3% (11/28)
1. Sunderland 38.5% (10/26)
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce hoping West Ham use break positively
Last Updated: 03/03/14 12:26pm
SSN
West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce would rather not be enjoying a week off,
but plans to put an enforced break to good use. The Hammers were due to
entertain Hull City at Upton Park in their next Premier League outing, but
the Tigers' involvement in the FA Cup quarter-finals has forced a
rescheduling. West Ham will now be restricted to a spectator role this
weekend as league and cup competition takes centre stage. Allardyce will cut
a frustrated figure as he watches on from afar, but hopes an extended spell
on the training ground will have his side raring to go by the time an
opportunity to get a 1-0 defeat at Everton out of their system comes around.
He said on the club's official website: "We'd have liked to have another
game, which would have been our chance to overcome the Everton defeat and
get another victory. "We have to be patient. Everybody's going to get fitter
and they'll be able to get ready and excited for the away game at Stoke
City. "The players are all very disappointed that we have lost our
undefeated run but Everton are a good side and we just got slaughtered when
we played there last season and were fortunate to come away with a 2-0
defeat. "On Saturday we were very close to getting a point and the only
disappointment was our final third play wasn't good enough to cause Everton
the problems that we should have done."
While happy enough with how his side have been faring of late, Allardyce
will use the coming week to try and increase competition for places within
his squad - with the likes of Andy Carroll, Winston Reid, Joe Cole and Jack
Collison set to be offered a chance to catch the eye. The Hammers boss
added: "The lads will have a few days off with their families as they can't
get any fitter than they are at the minute. They are in a good frame of mind
at the moment. "We're disappointed now but we've got to get over that and
make sure that we've got the confidence and the energy and the belief to
play the next game when it comes around. "Andy Carroll has been constant in
training terms but it's match fitness that we need to help him with. "If
anybody needed a game next week it would be Andy but we've got to wait a
couple of weeks before we can get him fit again. We may fit in a
behind-closed doors game for him and some of the other squad players that
might not have been playing so much recently."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
DAVID GOLD SAYS STANDING AT FOOTBALL IS BOTH UNSAFE AND UNSOCIAL
By Sean Whetstone 3 Mar 2014 at 17:00
West Ham Till I Die
During a recent video interview former hooligan turned author & film maker
Cass Pennant asked the joint Chairman "What is your personal views to the
call for safe standing, fan areas for the supporters for the new stadium"
David Gold replied: "Good Question Cass, I am a great supporter of safe
standing, it is interesting that for many years we have had unsafe standing,
we do have that, I don't think there is a ground in the country that are all
seater stadium that don't have their fans in some area of the ground
standing. Now that standing is both unsafe and unsocial. In other words
unsocial from the point that if you were to bring a child to that match and
that child is suddenly confronted with rows and rows of people in front of
him, then he or she is not going to be able to see the match, So I think it
is time to revisit the issue of standing and of course when all the problems
of the eighties that we had where the taylor report said time to have an all
seater stadium and of course that changed everything and it stopped a lot of
bad behavior and it worked, but I think now it is time to look at safe
standing, I think the technologies have changed and I think we should
experiment, and I think that there is no reason at all in my mind why we
can't adopt some areas of safe standing in the future"
When Karren Brady was asked the question about the possibility of safe
standing at the Olympic Stadium at a Supporters Advisory Board OS meeting I
attended last year she all but dismissed the idea as 'extremely unlikely'.
Considering the Premier League rules & law that would need to change and it
is unlikely that the LLDC would rip up the existing seats in the £200m tax
payer funded refit to put in safe standing seats just to suit their football
tenant. While safe standing may be adopted in the premier league in the
future I personally don't see it at the multi purpose Olympic Stadium any
time soon.
Peter Caton, author of Stand Up Sit Down, West Ham Season Ticket Holder and
fellow member of the SAB, is concerned that problems will arise at the
Olympic Stadium unless there are areas where fans can stand as they are used
to doing at the Boleyn ground. Unmanaged standing blocks the views of those
who want to sit, but some fans have said they won't go to Stratford if they
can't stand. The possibility of unofficial 'singing areas' has been raised
at the SAB, but the club offered little hope. It was not a priority for them
and would be opposed by Newham Council and the SGSA. A disappointing
response when other clubs are backing the safe standing campaign and doing
their best to allow fans the choice to stand.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gareth Southgate tells Ravel Morrison to stay focused after being loaned out
by West Ham
Mar 03, 2014 22:51 By James Nursey
The Mirror
Gareth Southgate has urged Ravel Morrison not to become disillusioned after
the West Ham starlet's dramatic fall from grace. Morrison was tipped to go
to the World Cup with England after a stunning solo goal for the Hammers at
Spurs in October. But the 21-year-old lost his place and has since been
loaned to Championship QPR. Morrison is on England Under-21 duty this week
as they host Wales at Derby's Pride Park tomorrow. Boss Southgate said: "I
don't think it is a massive negative to be dropping back down into the
Championship if he is getting regular football. "I think for players of that
age they are going to have that path where there is a high and a dip. "It is
how you respond to all those successes or setbacks that forms you as a
player. This is a little challenge for him but he has the ability to be
successful."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
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Monday, March 3
Daily WHUFC News - 3rd March 2014
Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
The manager has plans in place to ensure West Ham United come out fighting
fit in two weeks' time
02.03.2014
Sam Allardyce will be a frustrated spectator on Saturday as his West Ham
United side have a rare game-free weekend. Following last Saturday's 1-0
loss at Everton, the Hammers would have been preparing for a good
opportunity to get back to winning ways by hosting Hull City, but due to the
Tigers' progress in the FA Cup, the game has had to be rescheduled for
Wednesday 26 March. The West Ham United manager is planning to make the most
of the extended preparation period for the next outing - a trip to Stoke
City on Saturday 15 March - by nursing yet more injured players back to full
fitness. "We'd have liked to have another game, which would have been our
chance to overcome the Everton defeat and get another victory," he said. "We
have to be patient. Everybody's going to get fitter and they'll be able to
get ready and excited for the away game at Stoke City. "The players are all
very disappointed that we have lost our undefeated run but Everton are a
good side and we just got slaughtered when we played there last season and
were fortunate to come away with a 2-0 defeat.
"On Saturday we were very close to getting a point and the only
disappointment was our final third play wasn't good enough to cause Everton
the problems that we should have done."
Although clearly happy with his squad's physical condition, Big Sam will not
allow his players to take their foot off the pedal and has plans to organise
a behind-closed-doors practice game to provide some much needed game time
for those that have not been starting in the first team in recent weeks. The
likes of Andy Carroll, Winston Reid, Ricardo Vaz Te, Antonio Nocerino, Joe
Cole and Jack Collison could all feature as the manager seeks to ramp up the
competition for places in his squad. "The lads will have a few days off with
their families as they can't get any fitter than they are at the minute.
They are in a good frame of mind at the moment. We're disappointed now but
we've got to get over that and make sure that we've got the confidence and
the energy and the belief to play the next game when it comes around. "Andy
Carroll has been constant in training terms but it's match fitness that we
need to help him with. If anybody needed a game next week it would be Andy
but we've got to wait a couple of weeks before we can get him fit again. We
may fit in a behind-closed-doors game for him and some of the other squad
players that might not have been playing so much recently."
Big Sam concluded his Monday briefing by reiterating his belief that Carroll
has all the credentials to force his way into England's final squad for this
summer's FIFA World Cup in Brazil. West Ham's record signing returned from a
three-match suspension at Goodison Park on Saturday and his manager insists
the No9 just needs to focus on staying fully fit to guarantee his place in
England manager Roy Hodgson's squad. "I think Andy is a fantastic
alternative in so much as you can change from the plan that you've got,
whether you start with him or bring him off the bench. I'm not talking about
pumping the ball up to his head. I don't put him on to just win headers but
to control the ball with his chest and feet and bring other people into
play. "You saw on Saturday what he can do inside and outside the box. If he
stays fit, he's got it in his own hands and if he does as well as he did
last season, Roy can't ignore him."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
A painful return for AC
WHUFC.com
A dislocated finger and defeat at Goodison Park made for a painful day for
the returning Andy Carroll
02.03.2014
A dislocated finger and defeat by Everton at Goodison Park made for a
painful Saturday for the returning Andy Carroll. The centre forward returned
to West Ham United action as a first-half substitute after a three-match
suspension, but could not prevent the Hammers from falling to a 1-0 defeat
on Merseyside.To add injury to insult, Carroll suffered a horrific-looking
dislocated finger twice during his hour on the pitch. "It was a tough game,"
said the No9. "We obviously had a slow start and it was disappointing to
concede at the end, but that's how football goes. "We're obviously
disappointed now so it's a little bit upsetting.
"As for my finger. I stubbed it and it just popped out. It's a little bit
painful but it'll be all right and it won't slow me down."
Manager Sam Allardyce assessed that West Ham did not use the ball well
enough in the final-third - an opinion agreed with by Carroll, who fired two
long-range efforts narrowly off-target from the visitors' two best chances.
After a month out of Barclays Premier League action following his red card
against Swansea City on 1 February, the 25-year-old admitted to being a bit
rusty in front of goal. Andy Carroll has his finger re-set by physio
Dominic Rogan
"Of course, yes, we didn't pass it as well as we can or as well as we've
showed in the last few games. We just need to go back now and concentrate on
the next game. "I felt all right, but obviously I haven't played for a while
so I was a little bit rusty. We're just all disappointed at the minute. "The
two chances both landed good for me to hit, but I just caught them a little
bit high. It was disappointing but that's how it is."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers backing Kick It Out
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are pleased to confirm their involvement in Kick It Out's
season of action
02.03.2014
West Ham United are pleased to confirm that the Club will be backing Kick It
Out's season of action at the Boleyn Ground for the Barclays Premier League
visit of Liverpool on Sunday 6 April. The Hammers will continue their
commitment to promote tolerance and inclusion in 2014 with this landmark
campaign, one that celebrates Kick It Out's 20th anniversary. For 20 years,
Kick It Out has contributed to making football a safer, more enjoyable and
less intimidating place for those from under-represented communities wishing
to participate in the game. In addition to campaign activity in the build-up
to the fixture, the Hammers will once more warm up in campaign T-shirts to
raise awareness of the vital equality and inclusion work that continues
unabated. The Club is intent on tackling discrimination in whatever form it
takes, promoting events and campaigns throughout the season that highlight
and combat prejudice towards disability, race, sex, sexual orientation and
religion throughout the year. Fittingly, Hammers No20 and Kick It Out
ambassador Guy Demel is wholeheartedly championing the cause, insistent that
education is the pathway to ridding the sport of prejudice. "I believe the
only way to kick out the problem is to target educating youths," Demel
explained. "It's important for everybody to be happy in sport - and I think
it all starts with educating the kids. "It's important to have an
organisation like Kick It Out because it's never nice to be abused. Racism
isn't just against black people - it can be white people too. It's not
always about a specific colour or nation. "Any form is not good in society
so it's important to send out a positive message. Having lots of meetings
and discussions about this can educate people that football is no different
to anywhere else in the world. "We as a club here at West Ham United will
once again be supporting the Kick It Out campaign. In the 20 years it has
been running there has been a lot achieved, but there is more work still to
be done."
Kick It Out's Professional Game Manager, Keeley Baptista, has praised West
Ham's continued support for the organisation's campaigns. She said: "Kick It
Out has a long-standing relationship with West Ham United and is aware of
all of the work undertaken by the Club to promote anti-discrimination
initiatives throughout the year. "The campaign has developed strong links
with the West Ham United Community Sports Trust and sees how the Club
engages so positively with their supporters and the local community.
"Leadership on issues of equality, diversity and inclusion comes from the
very top of the club with joint-chairman David Gold a firm supporter of Kick
It Out and its key initiatives."
The Hammers also commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) earlier this
year, a poignant reminder of the tragedies of the past and a platform to
highlight the discrimination that is still prevalent in conflict today. HMD
demonstrates how lessons of the past can inform lives today to create a
safer future, while presenting a chance to cement a collective commitment to
social inclusion. Elsewhere, West Ham remain at the forefront where Football
v Homophobia is concerned. The Hammers lent their backing for a third
successive season, kick-starting February's international show of support.
As one of the very first professional clubs to do so in 2012, Club captain
Kevin Nolan reiterated: "We're passionate about supporting this and we hope
that it sends out a message that there is no place for discrimination in
football, nor in any sport."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce admits that he feared the sack
Last Updated: 02/03/14 2:03pm
SSN
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce admits that he did he fear being given the sack
after his side's miserable run of form throughout December and January. The
Hammers went seven Premier League games without a win as they slipped into
the bottom three, casting doubts over Allardyce's future at the club as they
also crashed out of the FA Cup and Capital One Cup. However, prior to the
late defeat at Everton, West Ham had won five and drawn one of their
previous seven outings, a run of form which has seen them climb to 10th in
the table and distance themselves seven points ahead of the bottom three.
Allardyce's perfect record throughout February has helped ease any
relegation fears and he says he is grateful for being allowed the time to
turn things around. "Thankfully the owners stuck by me, but I'd be lying if
I said I didn't wonder how much longer they could withstand the pressure,"
he told the Sunday People.
"I wouldn't have been surprised if they'd sacked me but it would have been
unlike them. "And I don't think I would have deserved it given my experience
in these situations and the problems we were having. "When they were at
Birmingham they were not owners who would quickly sack managers. But with
the move to the Olympic Stadium in the background, it means the stakes are
high. "Thankfully the owners stuck by me, but I'd be lying if I said I
didn't wonder how much longer they could withstand the pressure." "The
Premier League is worth about £70million a season. When you go down to the
Championship it's about £10million plus parachute money so the gulf between
the divisions is like the Grand Canyon. "The devastation caused by
relegation is huge and affects a club for years, so I don't mind admitting
January was probably the most difficult time in my Premier League
management. "It was the toughest I've ever known. We had poor results,
defensive problems, Andy Carroll injured and then Kevin Nolan getting sent
off on New Year's Day for the second time in a month. "We weren't far from
getting the results but the turning point was going to Cardiff." Allardyce
also admitted that he could feel the pressure mounting as results worsened,
but says he was relieved to have been backed in the January transfer window.
"David Gold replies to almost every message he gets on Twitter and I'm
certain there were a lot calling for me to be sacked," he said. "Then the
media are on the case and suddenly TV cameras start appearing at your
training ground trying to get footage of an adverse reaction or a fight bet
ween the players. "All that puts pressure on the owners as well as me and we
all know that many owners have succumbed to that and pressed the panic
button. "But in the January window they backed me by getting four players in
- Marco Boriello from Roma, Antonio Nocerino from AC Milan, Pablo Armero
from Napoli and Roger Johnson from Wolves. The irony of that is now those
players can't get a game."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Returning West Ham striker Andy Carroll dislocates finger in defeat at
Everton
Mar 02, 2014 11:08 By Ben Burrows
The Mirror
Crocked front man Andy Carroll has injured himself - again. But never fear
Hammers fans, it's only a dislocated finger. Tell that to Carroll though who
was clearly in a lot of pain after suffering the injury in the clash with
Everton on Saturday. Despite having to have the wayward digit relocated by
the side of the pitch - much to boss Sam Allardyce's anguish - the
25-year-old can see the funny side. Posting a image on his Instagram account
the England man said: "Where's he pointing!!!" Before the posting the after
pic: "And boom back in place!!"
Record-signing Carroll has endured a nightmare campaign for the Hammers.
Sidelined with a foot injury for much of the season, the lanky striker then
saw red for an elbow on Swansea's Chico Flores ruling him out for three more
matches. Carroll has been a busy boy on Instagram this weekend. Only
yesterday he shared a picture of his girlfriend Billi Mucklow with
suspiciosly hairy armpits.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
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WHUFC.com
The manager has plans in place to ensure West Ham United come out fighting
fit in two weeks' time
02.03.2014
Sam Allardyce will be a frustrated spectator on Saturday as his West Ham
United side have a rare game-free weekend. Following last Saturday's 1-0
loss at Everton, the Hammers would have been preparing for a good
opportunity to get back to winning ways by hosting Hull City, but due to the
Tigers' progress in the FA Cup, the game has had to be rescheduled for
Wednesday 26 March. The West Ham United manager is planning to make the most
of the extended preparation period for the next outing - a trip to Stoke
City on Saturday 15 March - by nursing yet more injured players back to full
fitness. "We'd have liked to have another game, which would have been our
chance to overcome the Everton defeat and get another victory," he said. "We
have to be patient. Everybody's going to get fitter and they'll be able to
get ready and excited for the away game at Stoke City. "The players are all
very disappointed that we have lost our undefeated run but Everton are a
good side and we just got slaughtered when we played there last season and
were fortunate to come away with a 2-0 defeat.
"On Saturday we were very close to getting a point and the only
disappointment was our final third play wasn't good enough to cause Everton
the problems that we should have done."
Although clearly happy with his squad's physical condition, Big Sam will not
allow his players to take their foot off the pedal and has plans to organise
a behind-closed-doors practice game to provide some much needed game time
for those that have not been starting in the first team in recent weeks. The
likes of Andy Carroll, Winston Reid, Ricardo Vaz Te, Antonio Nocerino, Joe
Cole and Jack Collison could all feature as the manager seeks to ramp up the
competition for places in his squad. "The lads will have a few days off with
their families as they can't get any fitter than they are at the minute.
They are in a good frame of mind at the moment. We're disappointed now but
we've got to get over that and make sure that we've got the confidence and
the energy and the belief to play the next game when it comes around. "Andy
Carroll has been constant in training terms but it's match fitness that we
need to help him with. If anybody needed a game next week it would be Andy
but we've got to wait a couple of weeks before we can get him fit again. We
may fit in a behind-closed-doors game for him and some of the other squad
players that might not have been playing so much recently."
Big Sam concluded his Monday briefing by reiterating his belief that Carroll
has all the credentials to force his way into England's final squad for this
summer's FIFA World Cup in Brazil. West Ham's record signing returned from a
three-match suspension at Goodison Park on Saturday and his manager insists
the No9 just needs to focus on staying fully fit to guarantee his place in
England manager Roy Hodgson's squad. "I think Andy is a fantastic
alternative in so much as you can change from the plan that you've got,
whether you start with him or bring him off the bench. I'm not talking about
pumping the ball up to his head. I don't put him on to just win headers but
to control the ball with his chest and feet and bring other people into
play. "You saw on Saturday what he can do inside and outside the box. If he
stays fit, he's got it in his own hands and if he does as well as he did
last season, Roy can't ignore him."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
A painful return for AC
WHUFC.com
A dislocated finger and defeat at Goodison Park made for a painful day for
the returning Andy Carroll
02.03.2014
A dislocated finger and defeat by Everton at Goodison Park made for a
painful Saturday for the returning Andy Carroll. The centre forward returned
to West Ham United action as a first-half substitute after a three-match
suspension, but could not prevent the Hammers from falling to a 1-0 defeat
on Merseyside.To add injury to insult, Carroll suffered a horrific-looking
dislocated finger twice during his hour on the pitch. "It was a tough game,"
said the No9. "We obviously had a slow start and it was disappointing to
concede at the end, but that's how football goes. "We're obviously
disappointed now so it's a little bit upsetting.
"As for my finger. I stubbed it and it just popped out. It's a little bit
painful but it'll be all right and it won't slow me down."
Manager Sam Allardyce assessed that West Ham did not use the ball well
enough in the final-third - an opinion agreed with by Carroll, who fired two
long-range efforts narrowly off-target from the visitors' two best chances.
After a month out of Barclays Premier League action following his red card
against Swansea City on 1 February, the 25-year-old admitted to being a bit
rusty in front of goal. Andy Carroll has his finger re-set by physio
Dominic Rogan
"Of course, yes, we didn't pass it as well as we can or as well as we've
showed in the last few games. We just need to go back now and concentrate on
the next game. "I felt all right, but obviously I haven't played for a while
so I was a little bit rusty. We're just all disappointed at the minute. "The
two chances both landed good for me to hit, but I just caught them a little
bit high. It was disappointing but that's how it is."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers backing Kick It Out
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are pleased to confirm their involvement in Kick It Out's
season of action
02.03.2014
West Ham United are pleased to confirm that the Club will be backing Kick It
Out's season of action at the Boleyn Ground for the Barclays Premier League
visit of Liverpool on Sunday 6 April. The Hammers will continue their
commitment to promote tolerance and inclusion in 2014 with this landmark
campaign, one that celebrates Kick It Out's 20th anniversary. For 20 years,
Kick It Out has contributed to making football a safer, more enjoyable and
less intimidating place for those from under-represented communities wishing
to participate in the game. In addition to campaign activity in the build-up
to the fixture, the Hammers will once more warm up in campaign T-shirts to
raise awareness of the vital equality and inclusion work that continues
unabated. The Club is intent on tackling discrimination in whatever form it
takes, promoting events and campaigns throughout the season that highlight
and combat prejudice towards disability, race, sex, sexual orientation and
religion throughout the year. Fittingly, Hammers No20 and Kick It Out
ambassador Guy Demel is wholeheartedly championing the cause, insistent that
education is the pathway to ridding the sport of prejudice. "I believe the
only way to kick out the problem is to target educating youths," Demel
explained. "It's important for everybody to be happy in sport - and I think
it all starts with educating the kids. "It's important to have an
organisation like Kick It Out because it's never nice to be abused. Racism
isn't just against black people - it can be white people too. It's not
always about a specific colour or nation. "Any form is not good in society
so it's important to send out a positive message. Having lots of meetings
and discussions about this can educate people that football is no different
to anywhere else in the world. "We as a club here at West Ham United will
once again be supporting the Kick It Out campaign. In the 20 years it has
been running there has been a lot achieved, but there is more work still to
be done."
Kick It Out's Professional Game Manager, Keeley Baptista, has praised West
Ham's continued support for the organisation's campaigns. She said: "Kick It
Out has a long-standing relationship with West Ham United and is aware of
all of the work undertaken by the Club to promote anti-discrimination
initiatives throughout the year. "The campaign has developed strong links
with the West Ham United Community Sports Trust and sees how the Club
engages so positively with their supporters and the local community.
"Leadership on issues of equality, diversity and inclusion comes from the
very top of the club with joint-chairman David Gold a firm supporter of Kick
It Out and its key initiatives."
The Hammers also commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) earlier this
year, a poignant reminder of the tragedies of the past and a platform to
highlight the discrimination that is still prevalent in conflict today. HMD
demonstrates how lessons of the past can inform lives today to create a
safer future, while presenting a chance to cement a collective commitment to
social inclusion. Elsewhere, West Ham remain at the forefront where Football
v Homophobia is concerned. The Hammers lent their backing for a third
successive season, kick-starting February's international show of support.
As one of the very first professional clubs to do so in 2012, Club captain
Kevin Nolan reiterated: "We're passionate about supporting this and we hope
that it sends out a message that there is no place for discrimination in
football, nor in any sport."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce admits that he feared the sack
Last Updated: 02/03/14 2:03pm
SSN
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce admits that he did he fear being given the sack
after his side's miserable run of form throughout December and January. The
Hammers went seven Premier League games without a win as they slipped into
the bottom three, casting doubts over Allardyce's future at the club as they
also crashed out of the FA Cup and Capital One Cup. However, prior to the
late defeat at Everton, West Ham had won five and drawn one of their
previous seven outings, a run of form which has seen them climb to 10th in
the table and distance themselves seven points ahead of the bottom three.
Allardyce's perfect record throughout February has helped ease any
relegation fears and he says he is grateful for being allowed the time to
turn things around. "Thankfully the owners stuck by me, but I'd be lying if
I said I didn't wonder how much longer they could withstand the pressure,"
he told the Sunday People.
"I wouldn't have been surprised if they'd sacked me but it would have been
unlike them. "And I don't think I would have deserved it given my experience
in these situations and the problems we were having. "When they were at
Birmingham they were not owners who would quickly sack managers. But with
the move to the Olympic Stadium in the background, it means the stakes are
high. "Thankfully the owners stuck by me, but I'd be lying if I said I
didn't wonder how much longer they could withstand the pressure." "The
Premier League is worth about £70million a season. When you go down to the
Championship it's about £10million plus parachute money so the gulf between
the divisions is like the Grand Canyon. "The devastation caused by
relegation is huge and affects a club for years, so I don't mind admitting
January was probably the most difficult time in my Premier League
management. "It was the toughest I've ever known. We had poor results,
defensive problems, Andy Carroll injured and then Kevin Nolan getting sent
off on New Year's Day for the second time in a month. "We weren't far from
getting the results but the turning point was going to Cardiff." Allardyce
also admitted that he could feel the pressure mounting as results worsened,
but says he was relieved to have been backed in the January transfer window.
"David Gold replies to almost every message he gets on Twitter and I'm
certain there were a lot calling for me to be sacked," he said. "Then the
media are on the case and suddenly TV cameras start appearing at your
training ground trying to get footage of an adverse reaction or a fight bet
ween the players. "All that puts pressure on the owners as well as me and we
all know that many owners have succumbed to that and pressed the panic
button. "But in the January window they backed me by getting four players in
- Marco Boriello from Roma, Antonio Nocerino from AC Milan, Pablo Armero
from Napoli and Roger Johnson from Wolves. The irony of that is now those
players can't get a game."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Returning West Ham striker Andy Carroll dislocates finger in defeat at
Everton
Mar 02, 2014 11:08 By Ben Burrows
The Mirror
Crocked front man Andy Carroll has injured himself - again. But never fear
Hammers fans, it's only a dislocated finger. Tell that to Carroll though who
was clearly in a lot of pain after suffering the injury in the clash with
Everton on Saturday. Despite having to have the wayward digit relocated by
the side of the pitch - much to boss Sam Allardyce's anguish - the
25-year-old can see the funny side. Posting a image on his Instagram account
the England man said: "Where's he pointing!!!" Before the posting the after
pic: "And boom back in place!!"
Record-signing Carroll has endured a nightmare campaign for the Hammers.
Sidelined with a foot injury for much of the season, the lanky striker then
saw red for an elbow on Swansea's Chico Flores ruling him out for three more
matches. Carroll has been a busy boy on Instagram this weekend. Only
yesterday he shared a picture of his girlfriend Billi Mucklow with
suspiciosly hairy armpits.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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Sunday, March 2
Daily WHUFC News - 2nd March 2014
Lukaku strikes late to end Hammers run
WHUFC.com
Romelu Lukaku's 81st minute goal was enough to defeat West Ham United on
Saturday
01.03.2014
Everton 1-0 West Ham United
Barclays Premier League
Romelu Lukaku came off the bench at Goodison Park on Saturday to turn a game
against West Ham United for the second time this season. The Everton
striker, on loan from Chelsea, notched twice at the Boleyn Ground in
September to overturn a 2-1 deficit in his team's favour, and this time he
stopped the contest from drifting to a 0-0 draw with his 81st minute goal.
West Ham defended solidly to restrict Everton's chances as much as they
could, given that the Toffees dominated possession, but they were eventually
undone inside the final ten minutes as their four-game winning streak came
to an end. The Hammers named an unchanged side for the fourth game in a row,
meaning Andy Carroll had to settle for a place on the bench following his
return from a three-match ban. The game started quietly in the Merseyside
sunshine as the Hammers set their stall out to be typically hard to break
down. The home side saw much of the ball as a result, but without the
presence of a regular striker until the hour, they could not make the most
of it at that stage. Adrian only had one save to make in the opening period,
and that was a comfortable one as he blocked off the near post to prevent
Steven Naismith's 22nd minute shot from finding a route to goal. Gerard
Deulofeu looked to be the home player most likely to possess the key to
unlock the Hammers' defence, and he weaved his way into the box on 39
minutes before placing a left-footed shot just wide of the mark. At the
other end the Hammers' chances were limited before the break and Carroll did
not have to wait long for his introduction, replacing Carlton Cole with 28
minutes played.
Everton began the second period at a quicker tempo and were desperately
close to opening the scoring in the first minute after the restart. Steven
Pienaar exchanged passes with Leighton Baines in the left hand channel and
shot for goal first time. The South African's effort looked goalbound, but
Adrian stretched out a hand to flick the ball onto the upright, before
getting up to stop Deulofeu's rebound. The same player went close five
minutes later when Baines got in down the left and crossed low, but Pienaar
lifted his shot over the top. Toffees keeper TIm Howard was called into
action on 55 minutes when Andy Carroll's venomous 30-yard shap shot needed a
tip over. 60 seconds later Kevin Nolan's curler was deflected behind as the
Hammers build some pressure for the first time, but Everton withstood it and
then signalled their intentions to press for the three points by bringing
Lukaku off the bench. When the breakthrough did arrive nine minutes from
time, it came as little surprise that the Chelsea loan player provided it.
Baines was the goal-maker, seizing his opportunity to burst clear inside the
box and cut back for Lukaku to apply the finish from ten yards. It was a
late blow that the Hammers could not recover from as their five-match
unbeaten run ground to a halt.
Everton: Howard; Coleman, Stones, Distin, Baines; McCarthy, Barry; Deulofeu
(McGeady 73), Osman (Lukaku 59) Pienaar; Naismith (Barkley 85)
Subs: Robles, Hibbert, Mirallas, Browning
Goal: Lukaku 81
Booked: Baines
West Ham United: Adrian; Demel (Reid 80), Collins, Tomkins, McCartney;
Nolan, Noble, Taylor; Jarvis (Diame 66), C.Cole (Carroll 28), Downing
Subs: Jaaskelainen, Armero, J.Cole, Nocerino
Booked: Tomkins
Referee: Jonathan Moss
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Adrian takes Player of the Month
WHUFC.com
Hammers No13 takes whufc.com fan vote for the second month in a row
01.03.2014
Adrian has won the whufc.com fan vote to be named as West Ham United Player
of the Month for the second month in succession. Having topped the January
poll by a landslide margin, the 27-year-old goalkeeper faced much sterner
opposition this month after the Hammers' enjoyed a stunning February. Four
wins in four meant there were plenty of candidates for the top honour, but
Adrian's three clean sheets gave him the nod, just ahead of skipper Kevin
Nolan. The Spaniard polled 38.8% of the vote, a slim 0.6% ahead of Nolan,
who scored five goals in February. Adrian conceded just once in 360 minutes
of play as the Hammers climbed out of the bottom three and up to tenth in
the Barclays Premier League table. Mark Noble was third after scooping 14%
of the vote.
whufc.com Players of the Month winners 2013/14
August James Collins
September Ravel Morrison
October Ravel Morrison
November Stewart Downing
December Carlton Cole
January Adrian
February Adrian
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Taylor frustrated by late blow
WHUFC.com
Matt Taylor felt the Hammers deserved to keep a clean sheet at Everton on
Saturday
02.03.2014
West Ham United suffered a frustrating end to their four-match winning
streak when Romelu Lukaku struck late to send them to defeat at Everton on
Saturday.
The Hammers spent much of the contest focused on keeping the Toffees out,
and their defensive work looked set to be rewarded with a point and another
clean sheet. But home danger man Lukaku came off the bench to settle the
contest and leave Matt Taylor disappointed that his side had not gone home
with something to show for their efforts. He said: "It was very
disappointing to come away with nothing. We know they are a top team and
they were going to have a lot of possession, but we defended relatively well
so it was disappointing to lose the game. "I thought we could maybe have
done better when we had our chances, and it was just unfortunate to lose
that goal late in the game. "Lukaku scored the goal so he made the
difference. He's a big player for them and it's disappointing we didn't get
a result, but we're still in a positive frame of mind. "We've got a weekend
off next week and we've now got to make sure that we're right to go to
Stoke, because they got a great result against Arsenal on Saturday."
Taylor is sure the Hammers possess the mental strength to bounce back and
perform at their best when they make that trip to the Britannia Stadium in
two weeks time. He continued: "It is a little frustrating that we haven't
got a game to bounce back in next week, but that's the FA Cup, you can't do
anything about it. "But what it does do is give the players who go away on
international duty extra time to come back and get themselves ready for
what's going to be a difficult game away at Stoke. "In possession we weren't
as good as we have been, but out of possession I thought we were. We didn't
look like conceding and then they've nicked a goal at the end. "We'll pick
ourselves up and move on. There are ten games left in the season and we have
to get as many good results as we can to try and stay in the top half."
Taylor made his ninth straight Barclays Premier League start on Saturday and
he is relishing the chance to show what he can do. He added: "I'm enjoying
my football, enjoying the opportunity to play because the older you get the
more you appreciate playing football. "If I can continue to contribute to
the team I'll be happy with that."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ladies head for Colchester Town
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Ladies take on Colchester Town in the Essex FA County Cup on
Sunday
01.03.2014
West Ham United Ladies take on Colchester Town in the Essex FA County Cup
quarter-finals on Sunday. The Hammers travel to the Boxted Sports Ground
eager to return to winning ways in the knockout competitions, having
suffered a 5-1 home defeat by Super League 2 club Watford in the FA Women's
Cup third round last weekend. Having recorded just four victories in 17
matches in all competitions in 2013/14, the County Cup represents West Ham's
final chance of winning silverware this term. Colchester Town have had a
similarly disappointing season, winning just two of their 15 Eastern Region
Women's Football League fixtures and going out of the FA Women's Cup at the
second qualifying round stage. Kick-off at the Boxted Sports Ground on
Sunday will be at 1.30pm.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Howes features in England draw
WHUFC.com
West Ham United goalkeeper Sam Howes started for England U17s in their 2-2
draw with Portugal on Friday
01.03.2014
West Ham United goalkeeper Sam Howes started for England U17s in their 2-2
draw with Portugal at the Algarve Tournament on Friday. The schoolboy
stopper, who has already played Development Squad football for the Hammers
this term, completed the full game at the Estadio Algarve - a stadium built
specially for the 2004 UEFA European Football Championship finals. Two goals
from Middlesbrough's Callum Cooke earned England a 2-2 draw but, having
twice led, the Young Lions were left frustrated by having to settle for a
share of the spoils as Portugal equalised with just two minutes remaining.
Cooke put England in front from the penalty spot on 33 minutes before the
host nation equalised three minutes after half-time through Diogo Goncalves.
Howes, 16, was then called into action again on 63 minutes, when he produced
a fine save to stop Renato Sanches putting Portugal in front. Cooke put
England back in front on 77 minutes, only for Goncalves to set up Anthony
Oliveira for a late leveller. England, who opened the tournament with a 2-0
win over Netherlands on Wednesday, will complete their Algarve Tournament
with a winner-takes-all clash with Germany on Sunday in Lagos - the same
stadium where West Ham's first-team squad trained during their pre-season
trip to Portugal in August. Howes will hope to keep his place ahead of
Newcastle United goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Big Sam laments final-third failures
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce admitted West Ham United did not create enough clear-cut
chances in their 1-0 defeat at Everton
01.03.2014
Sam Allardyce admitted West Ham United's failure to create clear-cut chances
in the final third had cost them dear in Saturday's 1-0 Barclays Premier
League defeat at Everton. The Hammers maintained their run of resilient,
organised and disciplined defensive displays at Goodison Park, only to be
undone by substitute Romelu Lukaku's crisp 81st-minute finish from Leighton
Baines' low cross. However, it was West Ham's inability to open Everton up
in the hosts' own penalty area - added to referee Jon Moss' decision not to
punish Gareth Barry for an alleged professional foul on Kevin Nolan - that
left Big Sam feeling frustrated. "That was the difference - the gilt-edged
chance that fell to Lukaku, he put away," said the manager. "When we were in
that position, on the counter-attack, we didn't find the type of ball that
Baines found to get a get a clear shot at goal and put it in the back of the
net. "We had several opportunities, particularly the second half, but we
couldn't produce a lot more effective deliveries to score a goal. "Whereas
our technique in the last four games has been absolutely spot-on, and we've
scored lots of goals, this time it wasn't as good as it has been. Because of
that, we lost the game. "Even right at the death, we had the last free-kick
of the game but the quality on the delivery wasn't there. Last game, we saw
Everton very unluckily lose at Chelsea on the last free-kick of the game.
"Our quality was missing when Frank Lampard's quality wasn't, which is why
they lost that game 1-0, even if it was unluckily so on the way they played.
"What we needed to do was produce that quality and we'd have got a 1-1. It
wasn't there when it had been over the previous four games. It's my
responsibility to get the lads producing that quality in the final-third,
like they had been in those games, when we got four very big wins."
While Everton's winner was not disputed, Big Sam was left apoplectic by the
referee's decision not to penalise Barry for appearing to tug back Nolan as
he went through on goal midway through the first half. "I was up and down
like a lunatic because I saw it, but unfortunately the referee said he
didn't, which is beyond me because I was in the same position [angle-wise]
as the referee, but 50 yards behind him. "I could see Gareth Barry putting
his arms around Kevin Nolan and pulling him down. I have no doubt he was
going to score, because he's scored five goals in four games and is through
one-on-one with the 'keeper."
After an opening half-hour dominated by the home side, aside from the Nolan
incident, Big Sam did make a big decision to replace Carlton Cole with Andy
Carroll after half-an-hour. The No9 worked hard on his return after a
three-match suspension, troubling the Everton back four and flashing two
well-struck 25-yard shots over Tim Howard's crossbar in the second half.
"Our hold-up play needed to be better because we did not counter-attack
enough, bar the odd occasion, which was a very good breakout from a header
from James Collins. Stewart Downing collected and, like I said, in the
previous four games he'd have produced a ball and if had then, Matt Taylor
was one-on-one with the goalie. "Other than that, we were stuck in our own
half, so I needed to get better hold-up play. I didn't think it was quite
happening for Carlton, so Andy came on and we got more into the game."
The manager now has two weeks to prepare for the trip to Stoke City on 15
March, where he hopes his side will embark on another unbeaten run.
"We can do that, but we've got to wait a couple of weeks before we play the
next game, which is a shame. "We'd have all liked to have had a game next
weekend and gone again, but Hull City being in the last 16 of the FA Cup
means that game is called-off now."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Everton 1 West Ham 0
1 March 2014
Last updated at 20:23
By Aimee Lewis
BBC Sport
Romelu Lukaku came off the bench to score a late winner for Everton against
a West Ham side that frustrated the hosts for the majority of the match.
Lukaku, making his first appearance following a month-long absence with an
ankle injury, side-footed home Leighton Baines's cross in the last 10
minutes. The hosts had monopolised possession, with Steven Naismith going
close and Steven Pienaar hitting the woodwork. But stubborn West Ham
defending kept the hosts at bay until Lukaku struck. In a tale of two
returning strikers it was Lukaku, rather than West Ham's Andy Carroll, who
stole the show and kept alive his side's hopes of qualifying for Europe next
season. Carroll, available again after serving a three-game suspension, was
on the pitch for longer, replacing Carlton Cole in the 28th minute, but it
was the 20-year-old Belgian who made his presence felt after coming on in
the 59th minute. His strike, only his second league goal in 11 games, not
only reduced the gap between Everton and fifth-placed Tottenham to two
points but also ended West Ham's five-match unbeaten run in the league. For
possession and territory there was only one team in the match, but for all
their dominance and neat passing the hosts were unable to break a West Ham
defence that has kept 13 clean sheets this season, the most in the Premier
League. Everton's best chances in the first half fell to Naismith. Seven of
Romelu Lukaku's 10 Premier League goals for Everton have come in the closing
quarter of the game. Leighton Baines has assisted his first Premier League
goal of the season. The striker was unable to keep two headers on target
early on but, midway through the half, forced West Ham goalkeeper Adrian
into a reflex save at the near post. That, however, proved to be the home
team's only shot on target in the opening 45 minutes. Gerard Deulofeu also
went close, weaving between a number of West Ham defenders before going
inches wide with a low shot from the edge of the box. West Ham occasionally
threatened on the counter-attack, and Deulofeu was called into action at the
other end of the field to prevent Matt Taylor running through on goal. But
even after the introduction of Carroll, the visitors were unable to muster a
shot on target. If the first half was a damp squib then at least Pienaar
ensured the second half started with a bang, hitting the woodwork with a low
shot across goal. The follow-up fell kindly for Deulofeu, but Adrian easily
gathered the Spaniard's mis-hit half-volley. Although this match would
suggest otherwise, scoring has not been a problem for West Ham of late, with
the Hammers hitting the net at least twice in each of their past four league
matches. A palm-stinging save from Tim Howard kept out Carroll's ferocious
first-time strike and, moments later, Kevin Nolan was inches wide with a
cleverly-worked curling effort - but that was as good as it got for Sam
Allardyce's side. It was no surprise that Roberto Martinez turned to Lukaku
for inspiration, and the club's top scorer made the most of his opportunity.
The Belgian, on loan from Chelsea, could have added a second, but shot high
with a first-time strike on the turn.
Everton manager Roberto Martinez: "Romelu is someone we have missed for a
long time and it was a clinical touch. "He had a bit of a chest infection
and I knew he would be more effective finishing the game rather than
starting. "West Ham had an accumulation of bodies behind the ball, but the
last few minutes become harder to defend with Rom with his freshness and
power."
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce: "Unfortunately, it wasn't quite good enough in
the end. "Our chances in the final third we should have done a lot better
with and those wasted moments could have been the turning point for us. "We
never caused Everton too many problems because of our final ball and our
final pass - they didn't put enough fear into their defenders."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Everton 1-0 West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 1st March 2014
By: Staff Writer
West Ham's unbeaten run finally came to an end at Goodison Park this
afternoon.
Romelu Lukaku's 81st-minute striker was all that separated the two teams,
but enough to condemn Sam Allardyce's side to their first Premier League
defeat since the 3-1 home defeat against Newcastle on January 18.
The game was listing towards a 14th clean sheet of the season for West Ham
before the on-loan striker - making his return from a month-long spell on
the sidelines - sidefooted Leighton Baines' low cross home from close range,
much to the frustration of the Hammers who had once again defended as if
their lives depended upon it.
Once again Allardyce's charges looked set to frustrate their opponents with
little more than dogged determination - Everton enjoyed 69 per cent of
possession from which they created 22 shots to West Ham's six - but for only
the second time in his last six games, Spanish goalkeeper Adrian was beaten
(by a player whose decision to join Everton rather than West Ham on transfer
deadline day last September indirectly led to a calamitous opening half of
the campaign at the Boleyn Ground).
Having fallen behind so late on, West Ham had little to offer in reply as
the final few minutes ebbed away with Allardyce devoid of options having
utilised his full quota of substitutes moments before the goal was scored
(Winston Reid for Guy Demel).
That was partly due to the removal of Carlton Cole (for Andy Carroll) after
just 28 minutes - a situation that evoked memories of Alan Pardew replacing
(a furious) Marlon Harewood at Reading several years before - for what
appeared to be tactical reasons, with the striker showing no obvious sign of
distress.
Whatever the reason, Carroll fared little better than his bemused team mate
for the remaining 62 minutes (plus added time), with his only reward for a
frustrating day being a badly-broken finger - see Andy's Instagram feed for
the grisly close-up, should you be of a curious (and non-squeamish) nature.
That too could be said of Everton in the opening half, from which the hosts
fashioned just a single shot on target - the in-form Adrian producing a
smart save from Naismith at his near post. The Spaniard was alert again to
deny the home side a second time less than two minutes after the restart,
when he pushed Pienaar's goal-bound strike against the post before saving
the rebound from Deulofeu.
West Ham's best chances of the game arrived a few minutes later; Carroll's
goal-bound 25-yard drive was tipped over by Tim Howard before a deflected
Kevin Nolan effort fizzed inches wide of the target. However there was
little else to cheer for a vocal travelling contingent of fans who, it has
to be said, have been unusually spoilt on their travels of late.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce bemused by refereeing decision
Last Updated: 01/03/14 7:22pm
SSN
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce was left bemused by referee Jonathan Moss'
decision not to send off Gareth Barry in the first half of his side's 1-0
defeat at Everton. Midway through the opening 45 minutes, Kevin Nolan went
down under the challenge of Barry, who was the last man just outside the
area, but Moss waved play on despite the Hammers' protestations. Moss kept
his cards pocketed and the hosts eventually went on to claim the three
points thanks to second-half substitute Romelu Lukaku's late strike.
Allardyce was mystified by the decision and says that he had the same view
as the referee at the time. "I saw it at the time and I saw it from behind
where John was positioned so I was in exactly the same position as John
Moss, 40 yards behind him so I could see it," he told Sky Sports.
"Apparently he said to Kevin (Nolan) that he couldn't, so it's beyond me to
say he can't see it when I can and he can't. "Gareth Barry knows he's got to
pull Kevin down because he's got behind him. He then knows that Leighton
Baines is not going to catch him up and that's why he pulls him down. But
not only was it not a free-kick, he didn't give anything." "It's clear that
Gareth Barry has got both arms around Kevin Nolan, that's why I was jumping
up and down like a lunatic at the time, moaning at the fourth official
saying 'why the hell has he not given us a free-kick?'. "Then having a look
at it, it's Kevin Nolan through on goal and Leighton Baines was well behind
Gareth Barry. "Gareth Barry knows he's got to pull Kevin down because he's
got behind him. He then knows that Leighton Baines is not going to catch him
up and that's why he pulls him down. But not only was it not a free-kick, he
didn't give anything. "I suppose he's going to say and hide behind the fact
that he's said he couldn't see it but it's a bit much when I can see it when
I'm in the same position as he is - no obstructed view, clear view of the
incident. "Like I said, I was directly behind him and I could see it from
the distance I was at and those are big turning points in game but they're
out of our hands. We can't affect what the referee does on the field, we can
only affect our own performance."
Despite the controversy, Allardyce was proud of the showing from his side
and admits that a draw would have suited him. "It looked like it was
probably going to pan out to a 0-0 draw which would've obviously been very
good for us, picking up another point and another clean sheet," he said.
"But unfortunately, in the end, that wasn't to be so we're disappointed but
we've got to bounce back from this. "We make life extremely difficult for
opposition players and then of course when we were in possession, I thought
we got a lot of good possession, particularly in the second half in the
final third. "Today we didn't do enough with it as we've shown in the last
five or six games. That's why we've scored goals and won by two-goal
margins. "Today we didn't find the final third play we've been finding and
hence we've ended up losing that 1-0."
Allardyce also cleared up his thinking behind swapping Carlton Cole for Andy
Carroll during the first half, stating tactical reasons for making the
change. He said: "I was going to bring him on at half-time but I just felt
that Carlton wasn't holding the ball up enough for us and that's why we
couldn't get out of our half in those first minutes of the first half. "I
needed better hold up play and I think that playing into Andy, he gave us
that and that's why we got going forward that little bit more."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham's Matt Taylor takes positives from Everton setback
Last Updated: 01/03/14 9:20pm
SSN
Matt Taylor remains positive about West Ham's future despite them going down
to a late 1-0 defeat at European hopefuls Everton. Romelu Lukaku denied the
Hammers a point with a goal nine minutes from time at Goodison Park and
ended their fine run of winning form in the Premier League. But Taylor says
they have to continue looking up at the teams ahead of them in the table,
rather than down at the relegation places as it was just over a month ago.
He said: "We conceded a lot of pressure and space, in the main we defended
well. We just didn't do enough, particularly in front of goal. Everton are
hard to come to, and had we got a point we would have deserved it. "You have
to take the positives. We would have loved to get a win with the run we've
been on. "We are tough to break down but when we have possession we need to
use it more in final third. If chances keep coming for them they'll take one
- that's the Premier League, the most unforgiving in the world. "Losing
hurts, we haven't had that feeling for a few weeks. It's international week
and some of us will have a bit of time of so we have more time to prepare
for Stoke and we want to go on another run like the one we just had.
"Everything is a work in progress, there aren't many teams in the position
they want to be but we're looking better than we were a few weeks back.
There's the games to go, we're in the top half, we want to cement our
position there." Defender Guy Demel added: "Of course we are disappointed
after defending so well, a draw would have been fair. "Next week we have a
game at home and we have to stay happy and work hard. "Of course there is
still work to be done, every Premier League game is hard. No-one gives you
points for free, that's why everyone wants to be in the Premier League. "We
knew when our heads were down, we could get ourselves out of the situation -
we did that and we have to make sure we stay there."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Romelu Lukaku earns Everton 1-0 win over West Ham at Goodison Park
Last Updated: 01/03/14 6:36pm
SSN
A late strike from second-half substitute Romelu Lukaku earned Everton a 1-0
win over West Ham in a closely-fought encounter at Goodison Park. The hosts
enjoyed the better of play in the opening stages but first-half chances were
few-and-far between for both sides with West Ham happy to sit deep and look
to counter.
Best of the Match:
Man of the Match: Leighton Baines was a constant thorn in the West Ham side
with his attacks down the left and he expertly picked out Lukaku for the
winner.
Controversial moment: Kevin Nolan went down under the challenge of Gareth
Barry, who was the last man, just outside of the box but nothing was given.
A first-half sending-off for the hosts could have changed everything.
Change of the Match: Introducing Romelu Lukaku proved to be an inspired
substitution from Roberto Martinez as the striker marked his return by
slotting home the winner.
Effort of the Match: Early in the second half, the lively Gerard Deulofeu
was inches away from finding the net after skipping past a number of
defenders with ease.
Steven Naismith forced Adrian into a smart near-post stop, before Tim Howard
bravely smothered Kevin Nolan for the visitors who introduced Andy Carroll
in the first half. At the other end, the lively Gerard Deulofeu jinked past
three defenders before firing wide as it remained deadlocked at the break.
Everton almost found themselves ahead immediately after the restart as
Steven Pienaar clipped the post following Leighton Baines' cut-back and
Deulofeu was unable to capitalise on the rebound. The Toffees eventually
took the lead as Lukaku stepped off the bench to guide Baines' 81st-minute
cross past a helpless Adrian, much to the relief of the home crowd. It was
perhaps fitting a striker should decide what was, in the majority, a rather
turgid affair on the 34th anniversary of the death of Goodison's greatest
goalscorer Dixie Dean.
With his loan spell due to end in three months, and no prospect of a
permanent stay so far, Lukaku will never match Dean's record of 383 goals in
433 appearances, but this strike was an important one as the Toffees had
failed to score in three of their last four league matches and had won just
twice since the turn of the year. That run has seen them drop well off the
pace for Champions League contention but this result will give them a
much-needed lift. Up to the goal being scored, the major talking point was
referee Jon Moss' assessment that Gareth Barry had not fouled Nolan just as
the West Ham captain looked to be clean through on goal in the first half. A
red card at that point may have changed the outcome, especially with West
Ham having won their last four and with four clean sheets in their last five
games, and manager Sam Allardyce was visibly aggrieved at the decision.
Roberto Martinez is very happy to have a fit-again Romelu Lukaku at his
disposal after the Belgian scored the winner against West Ham.
Everton, who have lost once in 21 league games at home, struggled to trouble
Adrian, with only Naismith's angled strike and Deulofeu's weaving run
through the Hammers' massed ranks to shoot narrowly wide genuinely
threatening.
With the hosts coming up against a barrier - both physical and mental - in
the final third, it seemed both sides were happier counter-attacking.
But when Carlton Cole flicked on a ball to Nolan, exploiting a space between
the centre-back pair of Sylvain Distin and John Stones, deputising for the
injured Phil Jagielka, Barry appeared to have both arms around the Hammers
captain's midriff before he went to ground on the edge of the area, although
Moss waved play on.
The introduction of Carroll, on for a frustrated Carlton Cole, saw West Ham
raise their game as they started to dominate the physical battle.
Sam Allardyce was left disappointed that a late Romelu Lukaku goal ended his
side's recent good run.
Pienaar came closest to scoring less than two minutes into the second half
when Baines teed him up for a low shot from the left of the penalty area,
but Adrian did enough to tip it on to the post and then recover to claim
Deulofeu's rebounded effort.
Pienaar did not do so well with Baines' next pass, looping a shot over the
crossbar, while Carroll forced Howard to tip over a rasping left-foot effort
from distance after Stones' poor touch and drilled over another powerful
half-volley.
Lukaku finally made his return on the hour and Aiden McGeady arrived 10
minutes later, but they struggled to add any life to Everton up front.
That was, however, until eight minutes from time, when Baines' cut-back
picked out Lukaku on the penalty spot and he rammed home left-footed through
a crowded box.
Energised, the Belgian was then narrowly over with a volley on the turn but
he had already done enough and his strike saw the Toffees overtake
Manchester United to move into sixth place.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce reflects on the crazy world of the Premier
League manager
Mar 02, 2014 03:01 By Steve Bates
The Mirror
Taking a walk near his apartment in Canary Wharf in London's East End, Sam
Allardyce can't help but chuckle at the crazy world of a Premier League
manager, writes Steve Bates in the Sunday People. West Ham well-wishers want
pictures and autographs and can't wait to shake his hand. But a few weeks
ago the knives were out for Big Sam. Today's back-slappers were yesterday's
dissenters and many would cheerfully have wrung his neck. They reckon the
only certainty in management is one day you'll get the sack but here's
another – after four straight wins Allardyce is surely odds-on to scoop the
Barclays manager of the month award for February. From zero to hero in a
month is an irony not lost on the Hammers boss. But Allardyce admits he
wouldn't have been surprised if West Ham's owners had hit the panic button
and sacked him after heavy cup defeats at Manchester City and Nottingham
Forest. And he praised the courage of David Sullivan and David Gold for
holding their nerve when others were screaming for his head. "I've not been
manager of the month since December 2006 when I was at Bolton," said Big
Sam. "In the middle of our crisis back in December and January, being a
contender for something like that wasn't even on my radar. "Thankfully the
owners stuck by me – but I'd be lying if I said I didn't wonder how much
longer they could withstand the pressure. "I wouldn't have been surprised if
they'd sacked me but it would have been unlike them. "And I don't think I
would have deserved it given my experience in these situations and the
problems we were having. "When they were at Birmingham they were not owners
who would quickly sack managers.
"But with the move to the Olympic Stadium in the background, it means the
stakes are high. "The Premier League is worth about £70million a season.
When you go down to the Championship it's about £10m plus parachute money so
the gulf between the two divisions is like the Grand Canyon. "The
devastation caused by relegation is huge and affects a club for years, so I
don't mind admitting January was probably my most difficult time in Premier
League management. "It was the toughest I've ever known. We had poor
results, defensive problems, Andy Carroll injured and then Kevin Nolan
getting sent off on New Year's Day for the second time in a month. "We
weren't far away from getting the results but the turning point was going to
Cardiff. "Andy was back on the bench and that gave everyone a boost but we
had James Tomkins sent off when we were winning 1-0 with 25 minutes left. I
just sat there thinking what else could possibly go wrong this season, but
Andy came on and made the second goal for Nolan. "To win in that manner
boosted belief, and to climb away from trouble with the results we've had in
February is massive credit to the players and staff. "I include the owners
in that too because the whole industry applies pressure to club owners
these days. "David Gold replies to almost every message he gets on Twitter
and I'm certain there were a lot calling for me to be sacked. Then the media
are on the case and suddenly TV cameras start appearing at your training
ground trying to get footage of an adverse reaction or a fight between the
players. "All that puts pressure on the owners as well as me and we all know
that many owners have succumbed to that and pressed the panic button. "But
in the January window they backed me by getting four players in – Marco
Borriello from Roma, Antonio Nocerino from AC Milan, Pablo Armero from
Napoli and Roger Johnson from Wolves. The irony of that is now those players
can't get a game. I've said to them all "Sorry, what can I do? The team is
winning every week." "If we weren't, they would be playing. They were
brought in to help us out but we haven't needed them. "But their arrival was
vital because it gave the other players a boost and showed what our
intentions are. That lifted everyone."
Allardyce and his stars had a break in Dubai after three of their February
wins and came back to add a fourth with a 3-1 victory over Southampton. "The
players loved the break and the new boys who came from Italy in January were
blown away by the camaraderie in the camp," Allardyce said. "But I've made
it clear we aren't out of the woods yet and need to reach a safety level of
at least 38 points before we push on. "To get four successive wins in a
calendar month is a great achievement at any time for West Ham – but
particularly at this time of the season because February is usually a month
when a top team chasing the big prizes strings a run of wins together. "We
are coming out of a very difficult period but we have nailed it."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
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WHUFC.com
Romelu Lukaku's 81st minute goal was enough to defeat West Ham United on
Saturday
01.03.2014
Everton 1-0 West Ham United
Barclays Premier League
Romelu Lukaku came off the bench at Goodison Park on Saturday to turn a game
against West Ham United for the second time this season. The Everton
striker, on loan from Chelsea, notched twice at the Boleyn Ground in
September to overturn a 2-1 deficit in his team's favour, and this time he
stopped the contest from drifting to a 0-0 draw with his 81st minute goal.
West Ham defended solidly to restrict Everton's chances as much as they
could, given that the Toffees dominated possession, but they were eventually
undone inside the final ten minutes as their four-game winning streak came
to an end. The Hammers named an unchanged side for the fourth game in a row,
meaning Andy Carroll had to settle for a place on the bench following his
return from a three-match ban. The game started quietly in the Merseyside
sunshine as the Hammers set their stall out to be typically hard to break
down. The home side saw much of the ball as a result, but without the
presence of a regular striker until the hour, they could not make the most
of it at that stage. Adrian only had one save to make in the opening period,
and that was a comfortable one as he blocked off the near post to prevent
Steven Naismith's 22nd minute shot from finding a route to goal. Gerard
Deulofeu looked to be the home player most likely to possess the key to
unlock the Hammers' defence, and he weaved his way into the box on 39
minutes before placing a left-footed shot just wide of the mark. At the
other end the Hammers' chances were limited before the break and Carroll did
not have to wait long for his introduction, replacing Carlton Cole with 28
minutes played.
Everton began the second period at a quicker tempo and were desperately
close to opening the scoring in the first minute after the restart. Steven
Pienaar exchanged passes with Leighton Baines in the left hand channel and
shot for goal first time. The South African's effort looked goalbound, but
Adrian stretched out a hand to flick the ball onto the upright, before
getting up to stop Deulofeu's rebound. The same player went close five
minutes later when Baines got in down the left and crossed low, but Pienaar
lifted his shot over the top. Toffees keeper TIm Howard was called into
action on 55 minutes when Andy Carroll's venomous 30-yard shap shot needed a
tip over. 60 seconds later Kevin Nolan's curler was deflected behind as the
Hammers build some pressure for the first time, but Everton withstood it and
then signalled their intentions to press for the three points by bringing
Lukaku off the bench. When the breakthrough did arrive nine minutes from
time, it came as little surprise that the Chelsea loan player provided it.
Baines was the goal-maker, seizing his opportunity to burst clear inside the
box and cut back for Lukaku to apply the finish from ten yards. It was a
late blow that the Hammers could not recover from as their five-match
unbeaten run ground to a halt.
Everton: Howard; Coleman, Stones, Distin, Baines; McCarthy, Barry; Deulofeu
(McGeady 73), Osman (Lukaku 59) Pienaar; Naismith (Barkley 85)
Subs: Robles, Hibbert, Mirallas, Browning
Goal: Lukaku 81
Booked: Baines
West Ham United: Adrian; Demel (Reid 80), Collins, Tomkins, McCartney;
Nolan, Noble, Taylor; Jarvis (Diame 66), C.Cole (Carroll 28), Downing
Subs: Jaaskelainen, Armero, J.Cole, Nocerino
Booked: Tomkins
Referee: Jonathan Moss
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Adrian takes Player of the Month
WHUFC.com
Hammers No13 takes whufc.com fan vote for the second month in a row
01.03.2014
Adrian has won the whufc.com fan vote to be named as West Ham United Player
of the Month for the second month in succession. Having topped the January
poll by a landslide margin, the 27-year-old goalkeeper faced much sterner
opposition this month after the Hammers' enjoyed a stunning February. Four
wins in four meant there were plenty of candidates for the top honour, but
Adrian's three clean sheets gave him the nod, just ahead of skipper Kevin
Nolan. The Spaniard polled 38.8% of the vote, a slim 0.6% ahead of Nolan,
who scored five goals in February. Adrian conceded just once in 360 minutes
of play as the Hammers climbed out of the bottom three and up to tenth in
the Barclays Premier League table. Mark Noble was third after scooping 14%
of the vote.
whufc.com Players of the Month winners 2013/14
August James Collins
September Ravel Morrison
October Ravel Morrison
November Stewart Downing
December Carlton Cole
January Adrian
February Adrian
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Taylor frustrated by late blow
WHUFC.com
Matt Taylor felt the Hammers deserved to keep a clean sheet at Everton on
Saturday
02.03.2014
West Ham United suffered a frustrating end to their four-match winning
streak when Romelu Lukaku struck late to send them to defeat at Everton on
Saturday.
The Hammers spent much of the contest focused on keeping the Toffees out,
and their defensive work looked set to be rewarded with a point and another
clean sheet. But home danger man Lukaku came off the bench to settle the
contest and leave Matt Taylor disappointed that his side had not gone home
with something to show for their efforts. He said: "It was very
disappointing to come away with nothing. We know they are a top team and
they were going to have a lot of possession, but we defended relatively well
so it was disappointing to lose the game. "I thought we could maybe have
done better when we had our chances, and it was just unfortunate to lose
that goal late in the game. "Lukaku scored the goal so he made the
difference. He's a big player for them and it's disappointing we didn't get
a result, but we're still in a positive frame of mind. "We've got a weekend
off next week and we've now got to make sure that we're right to go to
Stoke, because they got a great result against Arsenal on Saturday."
Taylor is sure the Hammers possess the mental strength to bounce back and
perform at their best when they make that trip to the Britannia Stadium in
two weeks time. He continued: "It is a little frustrating that we haven't
got a game to bounce back in next week, but that's the FA Cup, you can't do
anything about it. "But what it does do is give the players who go away on
international duty extra time to come back and get themselves ready for
what's going to be a difficult game away at Stoke. "In possession we weren't
as good as we have been, but out of possession I thought we were. We didn't
look like conceding and then they've nicked a goal at the end. "We'll pick
ourselves up and move on. There are ten games left in the season and we have
to get as many good results as we can to try and stay in the top half."
Taylor made his ninth straight Barclays Premier League start on Saturday and
he is relishing the chance to show what he can do. He added: "I'm enjoying
my football, enjoying the opportunity to play because the older you get the
more you appreciate playing football. "If I can continue to contribute to
the team I'll be happy with that."
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Ladies head for Colchester Town
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Ladies take on Colchester Town in the Essex FA County Cup on
Sunday
01.03.2014
West Ham United Ladies take on Colchester Town in the Essex FA County Cup
quarter-finals on Sunday. The Hammers travel to the Boxted Sports Ground
eager to return to winning ways in the knockout competitions, having
suffered a 5-1 home defeat by Super League 2 club Watford in the FA Women's
Cup third round last weekend. Having recorded just four victories in 17
matches in all competitions in 2013/14, the County Cup represents West Ham's
final chance of winning silverware this term. Colchester Town have had a
similarly disappointing season, winning just two of their 15 Eastern Region
Women's Football League fixtures and going out of the FA Women's Cup at the
second qualifying round stage. Kick-off at the Boxted Sports Ground on
Sunday will be at 1.30pm.
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Howes features in England draw
WHUFC.com
West Ham United goalkeeper Sam Howes started for England U17s in their 2-2
draw with Portugal on Friday
01.03.2014
West Ham United goalkeeper Sam Howes started for England U17s in their 2-2
draw with Portugal at the Algarve Tournament on Friday. The schoolboy
stopper, who has already played Development Squad football for the Hammers
this term, completed the full game at the Estadio Algarve - a stadium built
specially for the 2004 UEFA European Football Championship finals. Two goals
from Middlesbrough's Callum Cooke earned England a 2-2 draw but, having
twice led, the Young Lions were left frustrated by having to settle for a
share of the spoils as Portugal equalised with just two minutes remaining.
Cooke put England in front from the penalty spot on 33 minutes before the
host nation equalised three minutes after half-time through Diogo Goncalves.
Howes, 16, was then called into action again on 63 minutes, when he produced
a fine save to stop Renato Sanches putting Portugal in front. Cooke put
England back in front on 77 minutes, only for Goncalves to set up Anthony
Oliveira for a late leveller. England, who opened the tournament with a 2-0
win over Netherlands on Wednesday, will complete their Algarve Tournament
with a winner-takes-all clash with Germany on Sunday in Lagos - the same
stadium where West Ham's first-team squad trained during their pre-season
trip to Portugal in August. Howes will hope to keep his place ahead of
Newcastle United goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.
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Big Sam laments final-third failures
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce admitted West Ham United did not create enough clear-cut
chances in their 1-0 defeat at Everton
01.03.2014
Sam Allardyce admitted West Ham United's failure to create clear-cut chances
in the final third had cost them dear in Saturday's 1-0 Barclays Premier
League defeat at Everton. The Hammers maintained their run of resilient,
organised and disciplined defensive displays at Goodison Park, only to be
undone by substitute Romelu Lukaku's crisp 81st-minute finish from Leighton
Baines' low cross. However, it was West Ham's inability to open Everton up
in the hosts' own penalty area - added to referee Jon Moss' decision not to
punish Gareth Barry for an alleged professional foul on Kevin Nolan - that
left Big Sam feeling frustrated. "That was the difference - the gilt-edged
chance that fell to Lukaku, he put away," said the manager. "When we were in
that position, on the counter-attack, we didn't find the type of ball that
Baines found to get a get a clear shot at goal and put it in the back of the
net. "We had several opportunities, particularly the second half, but we
couldn't produce a lot more effective deliveries to score a goal. "Whereas
our technique in the last four games has been absolutely spot-on, and we've
scored lots of goals, this time it wasn't as good as it has been. Because of
that, we lost the game. "Even right at the death, we had the last free-kick
of the game but the quality on the delivery wasn't there. Last game, we saw
Everton very unluckily lose at Chelsea on the last free-kick of the game.
"Our quality was missing when Frank Lampard's quality wasn't, which is why
they lost that game 1-0, even if it was unluckily so on the way they played.
"What we needed to do was produce that quality and we'd have got a 1-1. It
wasn't there when it had been over the previous four games. It's my
responsibility to get the lads producing that quality in the final-third,
like they had been in those games, when we got four very big wins."
While Everton's winner was not disputed, Big Sam was left apoplectic by the
referee's decision not to penalise Barry for appearing to tug back Nolan as
he went through on goal midway through the first half. "I was up and down
like a lunatic because I saw it, but unfortunately the referee said he
didn't, which is beyond me because I was in the same position [angle-wise]
as the referee, but 50 yards behind him. "I could see Gareth Barry putting
his arms around Kevin Nolan and pulling him down. I have no doubt he was
going to score, because he's scored five goals in four games and is through
one-on-one with the 'keeper."
After an opening half-hour dominated by the home side, aside from the Nolan
incident, Big Sam did make a big decision to replace Carlton Cole with Andy
Carroll after half-an-hour. The No9 worked hard on his return after a
three-match suspension, troubling the Everton back four and flashing two
well-struck 25-yard shots over Tim Howard's crossbar in the second half.
"Our hold-up play needed to be better because we did not counter-attack
enough, bar the odd occasion, which was a very good breakout from a header
from James Collins. Stewart Downing collected and, like I said, in the
previous four games he'd have produced a ball and if had then, Matt Taylor
was one-on-one with the goalie. "Other than that, we were stuck in our own
half, so I needed to get better hold-up play. I didn't think it was quite
happening for Carlton, so Andy came on and we got more into the game."
The manager now has two weeks to prepare for the trip to Stoke City on 15
March, where he hopes his side will embark on another unbeaten run.
"We can do that, but we've got to wait a couple of weeks before we play the
next game, which is a shame. "We'd have all liked to have had a game next
weekend and gone again, but Hull City being in the last 16 of the FA Cup
means that game is called-off now."
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Everton 1 West Ham 0
1 March 2014
Last updated at 20:23
By Aimee Lewis
BBC Sport
Romelu Lukaku came off the bench to score a late winner for Everton against
a West Ham side that frustrated the hosts for the majority of the match.
Lukaku, making his first appearance following a month-long absence with an
ankle injury, side-footed home Leighton Baines's cross in the last 10
minutes. The hosts had monopolised possession, with Steven Naismith going
close and Steven Pienaar hitting the woodwork. But stubborn West Ham
defending kept the hosts at bay until Lukaku struck. In a tale of two
returning strikers it was Lukaku, rather than West Ham's Andy Carroll, who
stole the show and kept alive his side's hopes of qualifying for Europe next
season. Carroll, available again after serving a three-game suspension, was
on the pitch for longer, replacing Carlton Cole in the 28th minute, but it
was the 20-year-old Belgian who made his presence felt after coming on in
the 59th minute. His strike, only his second league goal in 11 games, not
only reduced the gap between Everton and fifth-placed Tottenham to two
points but also ended West Ham's five-match unbeaten run in the league. For
possession and territory there was only one team in the match, but for all
their dominance and neat passing the hosts were unable to break a West Ham
defence that has kept 13 clean sheets this season, the most in the Premier
League. Everton's best chances in the first half fell to Naismith. Seven of
Romelu Lukaku's 10 Premier League goals for Everton have come in the closing
quarter of the game. Leighton Baines has assisted his first Premier League
goal of the season. The striker was unable to keep two headers on target
early on but, midway through the half, forced West Ham goalkeeper Adrian
into a reflex save at the near post. That, however, proved to be the home
team's only shot on target in the opening 45 minutes. Gerard Deulofeu also
went close, weaving between a number of West Ham defenders before going
inches wide with a low shot from the edge of the box. West Ham occasionally
threatened on the counter-attack, and Deulofeu was called into action at the
other end of the field to prevent Matt Taylor running through on goal. But
even after the introduction of Carroll, the visitors were unable to muster a
shot on target. If the first half was a damp squib then at least Pienaar
ensured the second half started with a bang, hitting the woodwork with a low
shot across goal. The follow-up fell kindly for Deulofeu, but Adrian easily
gathered the Spaniard's mis-hit half-volley. Although this match would
suggest otherwise, scoring has not been a problem for West Ham of late, with
the Hammers hitting the net at least twice in each of their past four league
matches. A palm-stinging save from Tim Howard kept out Carroll's ferocious
first-time strike and, moments later, Kevin Nolan was inches wide with a
cleverly-worked curling effort - but that was as good as it got for Sam
Allardyce's side. It was no surprise that Roberto Martinez turned to Lukaku
for inspiration, and the club's top scorer made the most of his opportunity.
The Belgian, on loan from Chelsea, could have added a second, but shot high
with a first-time strike on the turn.
Everton manager Roberto Martinez: "Romelu is someone we have missed for a
long time and it was a clinical touch. "He had a bit of a chest infection
and I knew he would be more effective finishing the game rather than
starting. "West Ham had an accumulation of bodies behind the ball, but the
last few minutes become harder to defend with Rom with his freshness and
power."
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce: "Unfortunately, it wasn't quite good enough in
the end. "Our chances in the final third we should have done a lot better
with and those wasted moments could have been the turning point for us. "We
never caused Everton too many problems because of our final ball and our
final pass - they didn't put enough fear into their defenders."
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Everton 1-0 West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 1st March 2014
By: Staff Writer
West Ham's unbeaten run finally came to an end at Goodison Park this
afternoon.
Romelu Lukaku's 81st-minute striker was all that separated the two teams,
but enough to condemn Sam Allardyce's side to their first Premier League
defeat since the 3-1 home defeat against Newcastle on January 18.
The game was listing towards a 14th clean sheet of the season for West Ham
before the on-loan striker - making his return from a month-long spell on
the sidelines - sidefooted Leighton Baines' low cross home from close range,
much to the frustration of the Hammers who had once again defended as if
their lives depended upon it.
Once again Allardyce's charges looked set to frustrate their opponents with
little more than dogged determination - Everton enjoyed 69 per cent of
possession from which they created 22 shots to West Ham's six - but for only
the second time in his last six games, Spanish goalkeeper Adrian was beaten
(by a player whose decision to join Everton rather than West Ham on transfer
deadline day last September indirectly led to a calamitous opening half of
the campaign at the Boleyn Ground).
Having fallen behind so late on, West Ham had little to offer in reply as
the final few minutes ebbed away with Allardyce devoid of options having
utilised his full quota of substitutes moments before the goal was scored
(Winston Reid for Guy Demel).
That was partly due to the removal of Carlton Cole (for Andy Carroll) after
just 28 minutes - a situation that evoked memories of Alan Pardew replacing
(a furious) Marlon Harewood at Reading several years before - for what
appeared to be tactical reasons, with the striker showing no obvious sign of
distress.
Whatever the reason, Carroll fared little better than his bemused team mate
for the remaining 62 minutes (plus added time), with his only reward for a
frustrating day being a badly-broken finger - see Andy's Instagram feed for
the grisly close-up, should you be of a curious (and non-squeamish) nature.
That too could be said of Everton in the opening half, from which the hosts
fashioned just a single shot on target - the in-form Adrian producing a
smart save from Naismith at his near post. The Spaniard was alert again to
deny the home side a second time less than two minutes after the restart,
when he pushed Pienaar's goal-bound strike against the post before saving
the rebound from Deulofeu.
West Ham's best chances of the game arrived a few minutes later; Carroll's
goal-bound 25-yard drive was tipped over by Tim Howard before a deflected
Kevin Nolan effort fizzed inches wide of the target. However there was
little else to cheer for a vocal travelling contingent of fans who, it has
to be said, have been unusually spoilt on their travels of late.
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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce bemused by refereeing decision
Last Updated: 01/03/14 7:22pm
SSN
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce was left bemused by referee Jonathan Moss'
decision not to send off Gareth Barry in the first half of his side's 1-0
defeat at Everton. Midway through the opening 45 minutes, Kevin Nolan went
down under the challenge of Barry, who was the last man just outside the
area, but Moss waved play on despite the Hammers' protestations. Moss kept
his cards pocketed and the hosts eventually went on to claim the three
points thanks to second-half substitute Romelu Lukaku's late strike.
Allardyce was mystified by the decision and says that he had the same view
as the referee at the time. "I saw it at the time and I saw it from behind
where John was positioned so I was in exactly the same position as John
Moss, 40 yards behind him so I could see it," he told Sky Sports.
"Apparently he said to Kevin (Nolan) that he couldn't, so it's beyond me to
say he can't see it when I can and he can't. "Gareth Barry knows he's got to
pull Kevin down because he's got behind him. He then knows that Leighton
Baines is not going to catch him up and that's why he pulls him down. But
not only was it not a free-kick, he didn't give anything." "It's clear that
Gareth Barry has got both arms around Kevin Nolan, that's why I was jumping
up and down like a lunatic at the time, moaning at the fourth official
saying 'why the hell has he not given us a free-kick?'. "Then having a look
at it, it's Kevin Nolan through on goal and Leighton Baines was well behind
Gareth Barry. "Gareth Barry knows he's got to pull Kevin down because he's
got behind him. He then knows that Leighton Baines is not going to catch him
up and that's why he pulls him down. But not only was it not a free-kick, he
didn't give anything. "I suppose he's going to say and hide behind the fact
that he's said he couldn't see it but it's a bit much when I can see it when
I'm in the same position as he is - no obstructed view, clear view of the
incident. "Like I said, I was directly behind him and I could see it from
the distance I was at and those are big turning points in game but they're
out of our hands. We can't affect what the referee does on the field, we can
only affect our own performance."
Despite the controversy, Allardyce was proud of the showing from his side
and admits that a draw would have suited him. "It looked like it was
probably going to pan out to a 0-0 draw which would've obviously been very
good for us, picking up another point and another clean sheet," he said.
"But unfortunately, in the end, that wasn't to be so we're disappointed but
we've got to bounce back from this. "We make life extremely difficult for
opposition players and then of course when we were in possession, I thought
we got a lot of good possession, particularly in the second half in the
final third. "Today we didn't do enough with it as we've shown in the last
five or six games. That's why we've scored goals and won by two-goal
margins. "Today we didn't find the final third play we've been finding and
hence we've ended up losing that 1-0."
Allardyce also cleared up his thinking behind swapping Carlton Cole for Andy
Carroll during the first half, stating tactical reasons for making the
change. He said: "I was going to bring him on at half-time but I just felt
that Carlton wasn't holding the ball up enough for us and that's why we
couldn't get out of our half in those first minutes of the first half. "I
needed better hold up play and I think that playing into Andy, he gave us
that and that's why we got going forward that little bit more."
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West Ham's Matt Taylor takes positives from Everton setback
Last Updated: 01/03/14 9:20pm
SSN
Matt Taylor remains positive about West Ham's future despite them going down
to a late 1-0 defeat at European hopefuls Everton. Romelu Lukaku denied the
Hammers a point with a goal nine minutes from time at Goodison Park and
ended their fine run of winning form in the Premier League. But Taylor says
they have to continue looking up at the teams ahead of them in the table,
rather than down at the relegation places as it was just over a month ago.
He said: "We conceded a lot of pressure and space, in the main we defended
well. We just didn't do enough, particularly in front of goal. Everton are
hard to come to, and had we got a point we would have deserved it. "You have
to take the positives. We would have loved to get a win with the run we've
been on. "We are tough to break down but when we have possession we need to
use it more in final third. If chances keep coming for them they'll take one
- that's the Premier League, the most unforgiving in the world. "Losing
hurts, we haven't had that feeling for a few weeks. It's international week
and some of us will have a bit of time of so we have more time to prepare
for Stoke and we want to go on another run like the one we just had.
"Everything is a work in progress, there aren't many teams in the position
they want to be but we're looking better than we were a few weeks back.
There's the games to go, we're in the top half, we want to cement our
position there." Defender Guy Demel added: "Of course we are disappointed
after defending so well, a draw would have been fair. "Next week we have a
game at home and we have to stay happy and work hard. "Of course there is
still work to be done, every Premier League game is hard. No-one gives you
points for free, that's why everyone wants to be in the Premier League. "We
knew when our heads were down, we could get ourselves out of the situation -
we did that and we have to make sure we stay there."
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Romelu Lukaku earns Everton 1-0 win over West Ham at Goodison Park
Last Updated: 01/03/14 6:36pm
SSN
A late strike from second-half substitute Romelu Lukaku earned Everton a 1-0
win over West Ham in a closely-fought encounter at Goodison Park. The hosts
enjoyed the better of play in the opening stages but first-half chances were
few-and-far between for both sides with West Ham happy to sit deep and look
to counter.
Best of the Match:
Man of the Match: Leighton Baines was a constant thorn in the West Ham side
with his attacks down the left and he expertly picked out Lukaku for the
winner.
Controversial moment: Kevin Nolan went down under the challenge of Gareth
Barry, who was the last man, just outside of the box but nothing was given.
A first-half sending-off for the hosts could have changed everything.
Change of the Match: Introducing Romelu Lukaku proved to be an inspired
substitution from Roberto Martinez as the striker marked his return by
slotting home the winner.
Effort of the Match: Early in the second half, the lively Gerard Deulofeu
was inches away from finding the net after skipping past a number of
defenders with ease.
Steven Naismith forced Adrian into a smart near-post stop, before Tim Howard
bravely smothered Kevin Nolan for the visitors who introduced Andy Carroll
in the first half. At the other end, the lively Gerard Deulofeu jinked past
three defenders before firing wide as it remained deadlocked at the break.
Everton almost found themselves ahead immediately after the restart as
Steven Pienaar clipped the post following Leighton Baines' cut-back and
Deulofeu was unable to capitalise on the rebound. The Toffees eventually
took the lead as Lukaku stepped off the bench to guide Baines' 81st-minute
cross past a helpless Adrian, much to the relief of the home crowd. It was
perhaps fitting a striker should decide what was, in the majority, a rather
turgid affair on the 34th anniversary of the death of Goodison's greatest
goalscorer Dixie Dean.
With his loan spell due to end in three months, and no prospect of a
permanent stay so far, Lukaku will never match Dean's record of 383 goals in
433 appearances, but this strike was an important one as the Toffees had
failed to score in three of their last four league matches and had won just
twice since the turn of the year. That run has seen them drop well off the
pace for Champions League contention but this result will give them a
much-needed lift. Up to the goal being scored, the major talking point was
referee Jon Moss' assessment that Gareth Barry had not fouled Nolan just as
the West Ham captain looked to be clean through on goal in the first half. A
red card at that point may have changed the outcome, especially with West
Ham having won their last four and with four clean sheets in their last five
games, and manager Sam Allardyce was visibly aggrieved at the decision.
Roberto Martinez is very happy to have a fit-again Romelu Lukaku at his
disposal after the Belgian scored the winner against West Ham.
Everton, who have lost once in 21 league games at home, struggled to trouble
Adrian, with only Naismith's angled strike and Deulofeu's weaving run
through the Hammers' massed ranks to shoot narrowly wide genuinely
threatening.
With the hosts coming up against a barrier - both physical and mental - in
the final third, it seemed both sides were happier counter-attacking.
But when Carlton Cole flicked on a ball to Nolan, exploiting a space between
the centre-back pair of Sylvain Distin and John Stones, deputising for the
injured Phil Jagielka, Barry appeared to have both arms around the Hammers
captain's midriff before he went to ground on the edge of the area, although
Moss waved play on.
The introduction of Carroll, on for a frustrated Carlton Cole, saw West Ham
raise their game as they started to dominate the physical battle.
Sam Allardyce was left disappointed that a late Romelu Lukaku goal ended his
side's recent good run.
Pienaar came closest to scoring less than two minutes into the second half
when Baines teed him up for a low shot from the left of the penalty area,
but Adrian did enough to tip it on to the post and then recover to claim
Deulofeu's rebounded effort.
Pienaar did not do so well with Baines' next pass, looping a shot over the
crossbar, while Carroll forced Howard to tip over a rasping left-foot effort
from distance after Stones' poor touch and drilled over another powerful
half-volley.
Lukaku finally made his return on the hour and Aiden McGeady arrived 10
minutes later, but they struggled to add any life to Everton up front.
That was, however, until eight minutes from time, when Baines' cut-back
picked out Lukaku on the penalty spot and he rammed home left-footed through
a crowded box.
Energised, the Belgian was then narrowly over with a volley on the turn but
he had already done enough and his strike saw the Toffees overtake
Manchester United to move into sixth place.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce reflects on the crazy world of the Premier
League manager
Mar 02, 2014 03:01 By Steve Bates
The Mirror
Taking a walk near his apartment in Canary Wharf in London's East End, Sam
Allardyce can't help but chuckle at the crazy world of a Premier League
manager, writes Steve Bates in the Sunday People. West Ham well-wishers want
pictures and autographs and can't wait to shake his hand. But a few weeks
ago the knives were out for Big Sam. Today's back-slappers were yesterday's
dissenters and many would cheerfully have wrung his neck. They reckon the
only certainty in management is one day you'll get the sack but here's
another – after four straight wins Allardyce is surely odds-on to scoop the
Barclays manager of the month award for February. From zero to hero in a
month is an irony not lost on the Hammers boss. But Allardyce admits he
wouldn't have been surprised if West Ham's owners had hit the panic button
and sacked him after heavy cup defeats at Manchester City and Nottingham
Forest. And he praised the courage of David Sullivan and David Gold for
holding their nerve when others were screaming for his head. "I've not been
manager of the month since December 2006 when I was at Bolton," said Big
Sam. "In the middle of our crisis back in December and January, being a
contender for something like that wasn't even on my radar. "Thankfully the
owners stuck by me – but I'd be lying if I said I didn't wonder how much
longer they could withstand the pressure. "I wouldn't have been surprised if
they'd sacked me but it would have been unlike them. "And I don't think I
would have deserved it given my experience in these situations and the
problems we were having. "When they were at Birmingham they were not owners
who would quickly sack managers.
"But with the move to the Olympic Stadium in the background, it means the
stakes are high. "The Premier League is worth about £70million a season.
When you go down to the Championship it's about £10m plus parachute money so
the gulf between the two divisions is like the Grand Canyon. "The
devastation caused by relegation is huge and affects a club for years, so I
don't mind admitting January was probably my most difficult time in Premier
League management. "It was the toughest I've ever known. We had poor
results, defensive problems, Andy Carroll injured and then Kevin Nolan
getting sent off on New Year's Day for the second time in a month. "We
weren't far away from getting the results but the turning point was going to
Cardiff. "Andy was back on the bench and that gave everyone a boost but we
had James Tomkins sent off when we were winning 1-0 with 25 minutes left. I
just sat there thinking what else could possibly go wrong this season, but
Andy came on and made the second goal for Nolan. "To win in that manner
boosted belief, and to climb away from trouble with the results we've had in
February is massive credit to the players and staff. "I include the owners
in that too because the whole industry applies pressure to club owners
these days. "David Gold replies to almost every message he gets on Twitter
and I'm certain there were a lot calling for me to be sacked. Then the media
are on the case and suddenly TV cameras start appearing at your training
ground trying to get footage of an adverse reaction or a fight between the
players. "All that puts pressure on the owners as well as me and we all know
that many owners have succumbed to that and pressed the panic button. "But
in the January window they backed me by getting four players in – Marco
Borriello from Roma, Antonio Nocerino from AC Milan, Pablo Armero from
Napoli and Roger Johnson from Wolves. The irony of that is now those players
can't get a game. I've said to them all "Sorry, what can I do? The team is
winning every week." "If we weren't, they would be playing. They were
brought in to help us out but we haven't needed them. "But their arrival was
vital because it gave the other players a boost and showed what our
intentions are. That lifted everyone."
Allardyce and his stars had a break in Dubai after three of their February
wins and came back to add a fourth with a 3-1 victory over Southampton. "The
players loved the break and the new boys who came from Italy in January were
blown away by the camaraderie in the camp," Allardyce said. "But I've made
it clear we aren't out of the woods yet and need to reach a safety level of
at least 38 points before we push on. "To get four successive wins in a
calendar month is a great achievement at any time for West Ham – but
particularly at this time of the season because February is usually a month
when a top team chasing the big prizes strings a run of wins together. "We
are coming out of a very difficult period but we have nailed it."
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