Reid expecting strong final six games
WHUFC.com
Winston Reid said he is expecting his side to produce a better performance
than the one against Stoke City when they travel to play current champions
Manchester City on Sunday 19 April. Despite not playing to their best, the
Hammers were just seconds away from taking the three points after Aaron
Cresswell's arrowed free kick had put them ahead in the seventh minute.
However, it was not to be as Stoke's Marko Arnautovic equalised with a fine
solo goal in the fifth minute of injury time. Speaking ahead of the tough
time trip to the Etihad, Winston Reid said in his latest column for
Fanbookz: "Sometimes, especially lately, we haven't been concentrating
fully and in the last ten minutes we've been conceding unnecessary amounts
of points, which is extremely disappointing. "Obviously the performances
recently have not been reflective of what we are capable of, as we showed in
the first half of the season. From the outside, people might think that
we're already on holiday, but we've tried to maintain the effort on the
training pitch and in games. "The run we've been on in the past 15 games,
we've only gained 12 points from - which, considering where we were before,
is not good enough so our season's gone from being fairly high up in the
table to a mid-table season."
With six league game left of the season, Reid is targeting a strong finish,
for his team as well as personally after missing a month through injury. The
New Zealand international made his return to action against Leicester City
having picked up an injury in the game against Chelsea on 4 March. Speaking
about his return from the sidelines, the commanding centre-back said: "I've
had a couple of games since returning, against Leicester and Stoke, and the
injury was just one of those things that had to be managed within the time
period that it took to get me fit again. "I wanted to make sure I was fit
for the last six games of the campaign and make sure I can participate fully
within those matches. "I don't want to lose out any more time through
injury, as I've picked up a few annoying little injuries over the course of
the season which I accept is part of the toughness and number of games you
play, but hopefully I'll stay fit for the next few weeks."
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From the Treatment Room
WHUFC.com
We are firstly pleased to confirm that Enner Valencia completed an
individual training session on Wednesday morning, after suffering a foot
injury in Saturday's draw with Stoke City. Enner has a good chance of being
available for selection for the trip to Manchester City on Sunday.
Diafra Sakho, Andy Carroll, James Tomkins and Doneil Henry are all
continuing with their rehabilitation as planned and are progressing as we
would expect at this stage.
Stijn Vandenbroucke
Head of Medical and Sports Science
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Former Player Blog - Julian Dicks
WHUFC.com
As a player, Julian Dicks made 326 appearances in a claret and blue shirt,
scoring an impressive 65 goals. The four time Hammer of the Year is
currently in charge on the West Ham United Ladies team who are set to face
Charlton Athletic in the London FA Capital Women's Cup Final on Wednesday 6
May. Speaking exclusively to www.whufc.com, Dicks discussed the Ladies' 1-0
win over league leaders Cardiff City, Aaron Cresswell's goal against Stoke
City and the best free kick he ever scored…
Last weekend we beat Cardiff City 1-0 thanks to a 93rd minute goal by Vicky
Kinsman. We worked hard but if I'm honest we were lucky to win. That's
football sometimes, if you're keeping clean sheets you always give
yourselves a chance. We worked hard but our quality wasn't quite there.
Having said that, we've got seven points out of nine from the top teams.
Two weeks ago, we had a team meeting, a very honest chat about where we are
and what we want to achieve because I felt we were better than our
performances.
We won our first game back 2-1 away at Cardiff City, which was a fantastic
result. The following Tuesday we played Charlton who are a good side, we
were pretty poor but a point is a point.
Since our talk we've improved and we've only lost game in the last six. Some
we didn't deserve to win but that's football. We've played really well in
some games and lost so you have to take the rough with the smooth.
This weekend we play Lewes. Earlier in the season we beat them 1-0 but I'm
expecting a lot more because we could've played much better. Our work rate
was good but the quality let us down. Football is about keeping the ball and
we struggled to do that.
Overall, I've really enjoyed the season, there's times where I want to tear
my hair out and times where I want to bury my head. But that's football,
that happened throughout my career. I'm very passionate, I kick every ball
and the girls are probably sick of my voice. They are a good group, there
are no egos in the side which is a good thing.
On a different note, I thought Aaron Cresswell's goal against Stoke City was
a fantastic strike. It reminded me of the strike I put away against
Nottingham Forest, but mine was further out!
Cresswell's free kick was a great hit, to get it up and down the wall and
reverse it to the far corner was fantastic, it's just a shame it wasn't the
winning goal. I haven't had the chance to watch the men's team this season,
but from what I have seen I think he is a very good player.
He's still pretty young, hopefully he can go on leaps and bounds and keep on
improving. He's a very good player and I hope he builds on it.
As for my best free kick? My free kick against Nottingham Forest was a
special goal because we were chasing them at the top of the table.
There was another one going back a long time against Peter Shilton, I
remember hitting it from about 25 yards. Because it was against Peter
Shilton it was special but all my goals stand out for different reasons.
I used to practise free kicks a lot after training, I used to absolute
batter whoever was in goal, they'd be out there for as long as I wanted.
Sometimes I'd stay out there for an hour after training. Back then we didn't
have mannequins so I used some of the apprentices for the wall, they weren't
too happy!
When Lou Macari was here, he'd have me hitting balls from all over the
place, even the centre circle. For me it wasn't about bending them, it was
about putting my foot through it and testing how hard the wall was!
All the best,
Julian
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The Big Interview - Cheikhou Kouyate
WHUFC.com
There was a change of scenery for West Ham United powerhouse Cheikhou
Kouyate this week, as he swapped Chadwell Heath for London City Airport to
surprise Season Ticket Holder Gavin Bayer. The Senegal midfielder was keen
to remind Hammers fans just how important they are to the playing staff and
took great delight in thanking a gobsmacked Bayer for renewing his seat in
the Bobby Moore Stand.
All in a day's work for the 25-year-old, who is now setting his sights on
Sunday's Barclays Premier League showdown with Manchester City. Fresh from
their derby defeat at Old Trafford, Kouyate says beware the wounded animal,
though he admits if ever there is a good time to take on Manuel Pellegrini's
men, this is likely it.
Cheikhou, we've come down here to meet a supporter this afternoon and
clearly he was shocked…
CK: "We came to surprise him and thank him because the supporters are really
important to us and Gavin has renewed his Season Ticket for next season. So
we came here to thank him and to show that the supporters are really
important for the Club but also for us, the players. I enjoyed coming here
to say thank you and hand over his gift."
Next season, of course, is going to be particularly special, with it being
the last at the Boleyn Ground…
CK: "Next season is the last one at Upton Park, after that we're off to the
Olympic Stadium, so next season will really be special. We hope the
supporters will come in their numbers, to really try with us to get into the
top six or seven and try to grab a European place. The players are
important, but the supporters are also really important for the Club."
You'd imagine it's going to be tough to get tickets next season…
CK: "Upton Park is legendary, that's where West Ham has grown up and they've
played a lot of games there. The atmosphere there is top phenomenal, a lot
of people are going to miss it, even me who's not been there so long, it's
as if I've been playing there for years. But we'll see next year how it
goes."
Manchester City on Sunday, it's obviously going to be difficult, but
anything's possible…
CK: "Anything's possible in football, but we mustn't forget who we're up
against. They're a wounded animal, because they need points, so they have to
wake themselves up to win.
"We need the points as well, because we want to remain in the top ten. It's
not going to be easy because we'll be up against one of the best teams in
the country and last year's champions of England. If we're going to get
anything there, we have to enjoy it and really play as a team and work as a
team.
We've beaten them once already this season, does that boost confidence?
CK: "It's not going to be easy. It's away from home and they'll be out to
win, because they've played three or four matches, I think, without winning.
A team like Manchester City can't afford to make mistakes, so for us it's a
good time to catch them. It's a good time to face them. But we mustn't
underestimate them, there's life in them yet."
You'll be going head to head with Yaya Toure, a formidable battle…
CK: "Yaya is a role model of mine, an idol. I dreamed of being like him when
I was younger. He has played for top clubs and given great performances. For
three, four years, he was the best African player.
"He's a top man who is ready to help, ready to help all the African players.
For me it's always a pleasure to come up against him on the pitch. It's
always special when I play against him. I've played against him for Senegal
against the Ivory Coast and we've generally lost, I think we drew the once.
Hopefully Sunday will be the day for West Ham."
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Tony Cottee: 'it's Bilic for me'
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 14th April 2015
By: Staff Writer
Hammers legend Tony Cottee has revealed his choice should West Ham choose to
replace Sam Allardyce with a foreign manager.
Allardyce - whose contract is up at the end of this season - is highly
unlikely to be offered a new deal by the club, who have already begun to
look into alternative options.
The Board's number one choice appears to be Real Sociedad manager David
Moyes, who is contracted to the La Liga club until the summer of 2016.
However should the club fail to lure the former Everton boss back to
England, Cottee is unequivocal in his backing for one man - his former
colleague, Slaven Bilic.
"If we decide we're going to go down the foreign route, I would have Slaven
as my number one choice," said Cottee, speaking on the latest episode of the
KUMB West Ham Podcast.
"I was a team mate of his back in the 90s and he's a great lad. What I liked
about him was his British mentality when he arrived. He mucked in with the
lads, he spoke fantastic English and he had a drink and a fag at the back of
the bus with everybody else, as you did at the time!
"He's a real character and an excellent player. I really got on well with
Slaven and if there's to be a foreign manager coming in I'd like them to
understand what it means to be part of West Ham United Football Club.
With Slaven you'll get that and someone with passion who's proved himself;
he was brilliant as Croatia manager and is doing well at Besiktas."
Whilst he may be banging the drum for Bilic, Cottee was also receptive to
the possibility of Moyes returning to the Premier League for the first time
since leaving Manchester United. "I don't see it as a bad thing if we go for
David," he said.
"I keep coming back to the business side of things. I know football is
football, but from a business point of view we must retain our Premier
League status. If we get someone like David Moyes, who assures of of that, I
don't see that as too much of an issue.
"I like David Moyes as a person and I like what he did at Everton. He did a
really good job, he built the club with some good young players and made
some really good signings from lower league clubs. So, I don't have a
problem with Moyes coming."
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WHO WE KEEP IS AS IMPORTANT AS WHO WE BUY
By Iain Dale 15 Apr 2015 at 08:19
West Ham till I Die
Guest Post by Voice of Reason
We are getting very close to that time when the Silly Season Transfer Window
creaks open, agents feed the media unfounded rumours, the media invent
stories to fill space and fans start to express their, sometimes
unrealistic, expectations of who their club should, could or will buy.
As fans we will all probably have our own "shopping list" of players who
will improve the team and getting Jenkinson permanently, more central
defensive cover, a creative midfielder and maybe another striker would be on
mine, so I'd go for Matt Hummels, Eden Hazard and Christiano Ronaldo – yeah,
right!
Within the next few weeks we will probably know if we have another year or
two of Sam Allardyce or a new manager and this decision will surely have an
impact of who we might see come in – unless David Sullivan has decided that,
as well as being majority owner and joint chairman, he will now take on the
role of Director of Football.
However, I believe that it is just as important that we hang on to the key
members of the squad that we have if we are to move forward. A couple of
players – Tomkins, Noble – have recently signed long-term contracts and Reid
has also sorted out his immediate future. Any bids we get for these, plus
players such as Downing, Adrian and Collins would probably be from mid to
lower ranking clubs and we should be able to resist them. Fringe players
like Jarvis, Cole, O'Brien and Demel would free up space on the wage bill
were they to leave and that will be necessary to enable the club to bring in
any new players and meet FFP requirements. And, of course, we would all love
to see one of the youngsters breaking through.
But I think that we have three players who it is essential we keep, although
bids from the so-called "bigger" clubs (those who can afford to lash out
£20million plus) may prove harder to resist.
Firstly, there is the danger that a large bid for Cresswell, Sakho or
Kouyate may be seen as attractive by the club from a business standpoint
and, secondly, if a big club wants to double a players wages and offer
European football it can, as has been seen numerous times in the past, make
it impossible to keep a player if he really wants to go.
I didn't give any credence to the stories recently that Chelsea were
prepared to pay £30million for Enner Valencia and don't think anyone would
ever offer that sort of money for him during this window.
However, of the spendthrift clubs in the Premier League, Chelsea are
reported to be interested in Aaron Cresswell, as back up in case Felipe Luis
leaves (not good career development for Cresswell in my view) and the Man
City story may have some legs as they are shaky at the back and need to
increase their home-grown player quantity for the Champions League.
Liverpool also don't have a left back of Cresswell's quality and he is a
better left back – in my opinion – than Danny Rose at Tottenham.
Watching City fold to United yesterday it is easy to see how Kouyate could
improve their squad also, as he could with both Liverpool and Tottenham. If
Chelsea had Kouyate alongside Matic and moved Fabregas forward it could be
scary.
Diafra Sakho will always attract attention as long as he is scoring goals as
putting it in the onion bag is still the most valuable commodity in
football. Most of the big boys are pretty strong on the striker front but
Liverpool could use another decent one as they really only have Sturridge
who's injury record is iffy (Ballotelli will surely leave and Rodgers
doesn't seem to want to play Lambert) and Tottenham, apart from Kane, seem a
bit thin up front.
This, of course, doesn't take into account any big foreign club coming on
for any one of these three as well, with Sakho and Kouyate being the more
likely targets. It will be interesting to see if there are any serious bids
for these three key players and how determined the owners are to keep them
if they are confronted with a hefty bid. Also, how badly would the players
want to stay if they knew there was a substantial pay increase on the table.
Time alone will tell, but I believe it is crucial we do everything we can to
keep these three.
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Chelsea ready for Oscar transfer as they eye West Ham's Enner Valencia in
summer window
22:30, 15 April 2015 By Darren Lewis
The Hammer's pace and work-rate have impressed while the Brazilian doesn't
put in the sort of shift Mourinho wants and is among the Prem's most subbed
players
The Mirror
Jose Mourinho is finally set to axe Oscar this summer - and reignite
Chelsea's interest in West Ham forward Enner Valencia. Attacking midfielder
Oscar, bought for £25million in summer 2012 when Roberto di Matteo was
manager, has fallen down the pecking order after initially impressing when
he arrived from Internacional in his Brazilian homeland. The 23-year-old is
among the most substituted players in the Premier League this season, after
failing to maintain the work-rate Mourinho demands of his players. Oscar has
not started or finished a full 90 minutes in any competition since the end
of January. Italian champions Juventus are interested in him, with Valencia
being lined up by the Blues after impressing for West Ham since his £12m
arrival from Mexican side Pachuca last July.
Valencia - linked with the champions-elect Chelsea in the winter window -
has scored five goals, but has also impressed with his versatility, pace and
work-rate. Defiant West Ham have already insisted they will do all they can
to keep the 25-year-old Ecuador international. They have vowed to hold on to
ALL of their top stars this summer, with Chelsea and Manchester City also
keen on left-back Aaron Cresswell The Irons are well aware, however, that
they face a battle to avoid being asset-stripped at the end of the season.
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Cheikhou Kouyate insists West Ham players want Sam Allardyce to keep his job
as Hammers boss
16:35, 15 April 2015 By Adrian Kajumba
Allardyce looks unlikely to renew his contract with the Hammers at the end
of the current season but the players are doing all they can to keep him at
the club
The Mirror
Cheikhou Kouyate insists boss Sam Allardyce is the man for West Ham and the
players are fighting to keep him in a job. Allardyce's Upton Park future is
in doubt with his contract up this summer. A 2015 slump has dented his
chances of getting an extension when talks take place at the end of the
season while West Ham are also eyeing up possible successors including Real
Sociedad's David Moyes and Napoli's Rafa Benitez. But midfielder Kouyate,
who joined last summer from Anderlecht, said: "Football can be very
difficult sometimes to get the results you need but the players are all
fighting for the manager. "Sam has been a father for me. He wanted me at
West Ham and said he would make me a big player at West Ham and I could
continue my dream. "I signed for the club and that has happened. I love this
guy. He is very happy and is a big trainer."
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Tottenham transfers: West Ham risk seeing rivals gazump them for Basel
centre-back Fabian Schar
22:30, 14 April 2015 By Darren Lewis
Hammers have opened the door by putting player moves on hold until they know
who their manager will be next season PLUS: Spurs eye German starlet
The Mirror
Tottenham are ready to hijack neighbours West Ham's move for Basel defender
Fabian Schar - as the Hammers have put transfers on hold until they resolve
their managerial situation. West Ham have been keen on the talented
23-year-old for some time. The Swiss centre-back's contract expires this
summer - although he does have a one-year option, triggered if certain
clauses are met. Schar has Champions League and Europa League experience,
and has 12 caps for his country, including two appearances at the World Cup
finals last summer. The Irons, however, have yet to decide on whether Sam
Allardyce will remain as their manager beyond this season and are do not
want to commit themselves on transfers until that issue has been resolved.
Big Sam's contract expires in the summer and former Everton and Manchester
United manager David Moyes, now at Spain's Real Sociedad, has been linked
with his job - along with Marseille coach Marcelo Bielsa.
West Ham are unlikely to sign players until Allardyce's future is resolved
Napoli's ex-Liverpool and Chelsea coach Rafa Benitez has also been in the
frame, although it's said the Spaniard would prefer a club higher up the
Premier League table than the ninth-placed Hammers.
Spurs are monitoring the Schar situation, with their Champions League hopes
fading this season because of their poor defending.
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Liverpool and Chelsea old boy Raul Meireles eyeing a Premier League return
22:30, 14 April 2015 By Darren Witcoop
Midfielder who had a year at both Anfield and Stamford Bridge wants to leave
Turkish side Fenerbahce - West Ham and Everton will be sounded out
The Mirror
Raul Meireles has set his sights on a Premier League return. Meireles, who
spent two years with Liverpool and Chelsea, is eyeing a move back from
Fenerbahce. The Portuguese midfielder, 32, has a year left on his current
deal in Turkey but wants out now. He has instructed his super-agent Jorge
Mendes - the most powerful deal-maker in football - to fix him up back in
England. West Ham and Everton - known admirers of Meireles - will be among
the clubs sounded out.
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Moyes has a stand out record with youth!
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 14, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
David Moyes may or may not become the next Hammers boss but what is not in
question is his successful blooding of young players. He nurtured two
England superstars by giving them their professional starts and while some
Hammers fans see him as a Sam Allardyce clone – a boring replacement sghould
that be the case, history shows he has an eye for talented youth. Both Wayne
Rooney and Ross Barkley had their professional debuts under Moyes during his
Everton reign. Only last year Moyes revealed: "Let me tell you a story about
Wayne. We were training at Everton's old training ground, at Bellefield, and
Wayne would train with us every day and he'd be kicking the balls
everywhere. I'd be shouting at him: 'Wayne!' But he just wanted to kick
them. "Then we had a game one day and Wayne had the ball close to the byline
and he chipped the goalie. All the staff were watching and you could see
them all look up the line at each other."They all had the same look on their
face: 'Did you see that? Did that really happen?' "Everyone turned and
looked. No-one shouted 'What a goal!' Maybe everyone was wondering whether
he really mean it. But he did. From that moment we were all thinking: 'Wow,
what a player. What a player we have'."
Moyes joined Everton from Preston North End in April 2002 giving Wayne
Rooney his first professional debut later that year, he sold Wayne to
Manchester United two years later for a record £25.6m when Rooney was just
18. Ross Barkley also had his debut in 2010 at Everton under Moyes before
suffering a broken leg. Moyes was reported ready to pay £20m to buy Barkley
during his short stint as Manchester United manager. Moyes and Allardyce
differ greatly in their approach to youth development and should the
appointment happen the youth issue is one that looks as if it will fall into
very good hands.
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The hidden West Ham tax
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 15, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
With Friday's 5pm deadline of £75 season ticket deposits fast approaching
many season ticket holders will be taking to the West Ham Ticket office
hotline over the next few days. The West Ham 0871 529 1966 number is
regarded as a premium rate number with West Ham sharing revenue with a
telecoms provider based on the length of time you remain on the phone. While
the pricing starts at 10 pence per minute from a BT land line it can cost as
much as 41p per minute from a mobile phone and 0871 numbers are never
included as part of your monthly call package. This has left some Hammers
fan facing an unexpected bill of more than £4 for each 10 minute call to the
Ticket office at the end of the month. In 2013 the Government outlawed
companies using these premium rate numbers for post sales, customer services
or complaints but West Ham have stuck firm in their continued use of these
numbers and claims a loop hole that they are used for sales transactions
only.
While many ticket transactions can be now be done online through the website
there remains certain processes that can only be achieved by ringing the
premium rate number. For example if you want to use any Epurse credits to
pay for a ticket or the £75 deposit you need to call the premium rate number
to achieve this.
Claret and Hugh calls on West Ham to stop ripping off their season ticket
holders and loyal customers by charging up to 41p to buy tickets and instead
change their number to a London geographical number which would be free to
call in most people's monthly mobile call allowance.
From the 1st July Ofcom is forcing companies such as West Ham to clearly
advertise the cost of these calls and the service charge West Ham will make
from it's customers calling them.
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Changing tunes and sound of silence on Sam
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 15, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
The strident sound of changing tunes is becoming almost deafening across the
West Ham world. For it appears that even among those who a few weeks ago
doubted the stories of a managerial change the message that this may be the
last few weeks of Sam's controversial reign is now beginning to penetrate.
In the interests of professionalism and good taste I won't name any of them
but we too have had a change of heart in one particular direction – more of
that later .
Sufficient to say one – seemingly a long term supporter – wrote that "he is
highly unlikely to be offered a new deal by the club, who have already begun
to look into alternative options."
A little late on parade, they add that David Moyes appears to be the
preferred choice by the board – well yes!
A second long term supporter – and a guy for whom we have some real respect
over here at ClaretandHugh – writes that whilst he has always supported Sam,
he found Saturday very hard to take and is now much more open to change.
A veil of silence, meanwhile, has been drawn over things elsewhere. On the
official site the regular comments in the "From the Boardroom" haven't
appeared this week.
David Gold's look ahead at the Stoke City match remains in place with no
further updates from board level.
Over here our chief pundit and analyst Leroy Rosenior wrote last night that
Sam would surely have been told by now about his position by any other
manager who may have been approached and watching the carryings-on from a
distance had not been a pretty sight.
And before anyone accuses us of becoming holier than thou we too have had a
change of tune!
We cannot believe that so much uncertainty surrounding the manager is a good
thing at any time and that it has dominated the minds of fans for far too
long.
The sound of silence from the boardroom has become deafening and we reckon
the time has come for a clear statement from on high.
It can say much or little but as season ticket deposit time arrives on
Friday we believe the position should be made as clear as the club can
possibly make it.
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Hammers solve a big problem
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 15, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham are planning to blood Reece Oxford next season after an initial
Championship loan deal after the club reinforced its central defensive
situation. Following Winston Reid's decision to sign a new deal, the club
will also offer James Collins a new deal following the new contract agreed
with James Tomkins. And they will also allow Doniel Henry to go out on loan
– probably to Blackburn – once he is fully recovered from injury with the
player being seen as a massive future prospect. The club has cooled on Basel
defender Fabian Scher who was believed to be a target at around £9 million.
However, ClaretandHugh was told at the start of that piece of speculation
there was little more than a 10 per cent chance of the Swiss international
joining the club and that he was just one of several defenders they were
looking at. All of that preceded the Reid decision to commit to a new six
year deal in the east end and earlier yesterday we were told: "We are now
looking at the right back and central striking position. "Winston's decision
to sign saved the club a big problem in that area and we can look to
strengthen elsewhere. We're looking decent in that position"
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Time for Nene
Posted by bubbles fanzine on April 15, 2015 in News Agenda, Whispers
By Richard Oses
Claret & Hugh
founder of Bubbles Fanzine which can be found at
https://www.facebook.com/bubblesfanzine?fref=ts
Richard's views – like those of all other bloggers – are his own and are not
do not necessarily reflect those of ClaretandHugh
Nene has to play our next game. As simple as that!
In fact, being that Diafra Sakho is likely to miss the rest of the season,
Enner Valencia (should he return as expected) will be leading the line on
his own and one can only assume Nolan will be sat behind him.
What I would love to see is Downing sat behind Valencia and Nene on the
wing, the pace and creative play that trio would bring to our attack would
be streets ahead of what we have seen playing one upfront so far this
season.
It is a frustrating head scratcher as to why a former PSG winger is finding
himself even behind the likes of Nolan and Cole, especially in games where
some magic skill, a nippy runner and a seasoned finisher would have made the
required difference and perhaps helped convert draws into wins.
There are some who have voiced their Sam isn't keen on the Nene signing
therefore will not play him opinion – who knows but it's difficult to come
up with alternative theories.
Performances are poor, the players' confidence is fragile which may well be
due to the uncertainty surrounding the manager's own future. The fans are
fed up and the club has nothing to play for except more money and pride.
Get Nene on the pitch to add a touch of class to our misfiring front line
and we may just see the team scoring the required amount of goals in
remaining games to actually seal all three points and put some smiles back
on the faces of our fans.
Sam wouldn't even need to tweak the formation too much either, but one
simple addition to the starting XI to inject some pace and flare could make
a small change return huge results for the good of the team.
Not only that, but Big Sam can bow out with some dignity at the end of the
season which he surely deserves like any other human being.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Leroy: "No secrets in football – Sam will know"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
This managerial situation at West Ham is doing nobody any good and hasn't
been well handled at all.
Football is a tiny village where it's impossible to keep a secret and the
idea that Sam Allardyce won't have heard if someone else is approached over
his job is crazy. He will know.
sam-allardyce_1712364cBet your life away that were a boss to be approached
via an agent he would have got in touch with Sam to let him know the score.
It goes with the territory.
Sam's agent will have been on the case with other clubs. I'm certain of that
and he will never be out of work.I would reckon he is at the top or close to
the top of the wanted list at several clubs.
My own view is that given a contract hasn't been handed to him by now –
regardless of this stuff about only doing the deed at the end of each season
– means that the owners are on the case trying to find a new manager.
We hear the names Moyes and Bielsa. No doubt there are others but David
Sullivan and David Gold won't appoint until they are 100 per cent sure they
have the right man.
Only if they don't find him can we expect them to turn back and offer Sam
another deal but it may well be by then that he has another job anyway and
tells them 'thanks but no thanks.'
He could of course tell them to shove it even if he hasn't got another
position lined up but if it were me I wouldn't.
It's a bit of a blow to the ego to only be offered a contract because they
can't find anyone else but West Ham United is a great club with fabulous
young players coming through like Cressie, Sak and Cheik Kouyate.
Nobody would walk away from that in a hurry but of course he may not get
that chance because it seems to me that the circumstances show conclusively
they are gonna get themselves a new man.
That's their call but like I say it's all been badly handled with leaden
feet. The story has been running for months and has become a distraction to
everything else that's been going on and has possibly finally affected the
performances.
It's all too late now to do anything about that but it's not been great to
watch.
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West Ham release new image of 'The Academy' ahead of their move to the
Olympic Stadium
Evening Standard
CHARLIE DORIS
Published: 15 April 2015 Updated: 18:38, 15 April 2015
West Ham United have released a fresh image of their new supporter's bar
which will feature in their new home at the Olympic Stadium.
Pictures of 'The Academy' were released shortly after the club confirmed
that the high demand for corporate hospitality ahead of their move to
Stratford had forced them to build an additional state of the art companion
lounge.
Similar to the Hammers original supporters' bar 'The Boleyn', the club's
newest lounge promises fans a memorable match day experience, a gourmet meal
and a perfect view of West Ham's Premier League campaign.
Although the club will cut ties with its historic home when they make their
move across East London in 2016, 'The Academy' will pay homage to the club's
past and its famous academy with portraits celebrating Hammers legends and
current stars like Mark Noble.
The West Ham captain spoke of his excitement for the new development and
said that the new bar will give young players coming through an added
incentive to achieve at the club.
Noble stated "As a player, I am already dreaming of creating memories at
West Ham's new Stadium on the pitch, but the idea that Academy graduates
like me will also be honoured with a dedicated space is a big thrill, it
makes you proud."
West Ham Academy manager Terry Westley also spoke of his determination to
continue the club's tradition of developing world-class talent after
visiting the new site with his current crop of young stars.
"You look back at Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters, Trevor Brooking
and then I think of the Ferdinands, Lampard, Cole, Defoe, Carrick. That is
what this lot have got to do, that is now the task.
Members of 'The Academy' will be entitled to entry to every Premier League
home game, three cup games, priority for cup semi-finals and finals and a
dedicated VIP entrance to the stadium.
Current Hammers season ticket holders will have the opportunity to gain
membership to 'The Academy' from the club's Reservation Centre in May 2015.
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Thursday, April 16
Wednesday, April 15
Daily WHUFC News - 15th April 2015
Backroom Blog - Tony Carr
WHUFC.com
Club Ambassador Tony Carr MBE has had an illustrious and successful career
at West Ham United, helping to nurture some of the best Academy graduates
the Club has ever produced. Reflecting on his 42 years at the Club for an
upcoming Premier League World documentary due to air this summer, Carr
reminisced about his life from an emerging prospect himself in the 1960s to
his current role as Club Ambassador.
Speaking after the end of filming, on a gloriously sunny day at the Boleyn
Ground, Carr spoke to www.whufc.com...
The documentary came about after I was approached by Premier League
Productions and Premier League World to do a piece about my 40 odd years at
West Ham United. I was delighted to have the opportunity to celebrate what
we've achieved over the years. They've contacted some of the old players who
came through the youth system here, the likes of Frank Lampard, Rio
Ferdinand and Joe Cole. Hopefully when it comes out, the fans will enjoy it
because these were some incredible years for the club. Looking back, 42
years is a long time and there are a lot of memories so you can't cover
everything, I hoped I haven't missed anyone out – if I have I apologise!
It's nice to look back, but at the same time I'm really enjoying my new role
as Club Ambassador.
Obviously I'm still keeping my finger on the pulse on what's going on at the
Academy. I still love watching the youth team play and it's great to see so
many young coaches as well as players involved with the Academy. Since he's
come in, Terry Westley has done a fantastic job, he's trying to implement
new ideas which is great for everyone because I think the Academy needed a
new impetus and fresh eyes and Terry has done that. Nothing stays the same,
especially in football, and we need to evolve. Hopefully he can get some of
our promising young players across that line and into the first team because
we've struggled to do that over the last few years.
Currently, we've got some outstanding young players in our Academy, Reece
Oxford, Vashon Neufville and Anthony Scully are all internationals who are
doing very well. In the U21s, Josh Cullen is a great talent, and on the
fringes of getting an opportunity for the first team. He was Academy player
of the year last season after having an outstanding year. He's in the Mark
Noble mould, he's got great character and desire and he's West Ham through
and through. He just needs an opportunity and I'm sure he'll get it soon.
The production line may not be as fast as it once was but I think we're
getting there. We've had a number of youth players on the first team bench
who have not quite made it onto the pitch yet. Reece Burke played in the
League Cup and a few pre-season games which was fantastic for him. It's
incredibly tough to blood you talent, tougher than I was doing it and it's
getting tougher. Now, you get more than a million pounds per place in
Premier League prize money so it's a big incentive to fight for every place.
It used to be the case that if you were safe from relegation with a few
games to go you'd give the younger places a go but it's very hard to do that
now.
On another note, I'm delighted that Mark Noble and James Tomkins have signed
new long-term contracts. It is fantastic for the club and the fans and it
just shows how the club is growing. Not long ago we were producing the
players but finding it hard to keep them so it's great to see them commit
their futures to the club.
Tony Carr
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Dev Squad drawn against Hong Kong Champions
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's Development Squad have been drawn in Group B of the HKFC
Citibank Soccer Sevens tournament due to be held between May 29-31. The
Hammers will travel to Hong Kong to participate in the prestigious
tournament following the end of their Barclays U21 Premier League Campaign,
where they will face Hong Kong champions and last year's finalists Kitchee,
Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG and HKFC Captain's Select. This is
the first time the Hammers have taken part in the international competition
since 2012. Speaking ahead of the competition, Academy manager Terry Westley
said: "We were invited to participate which is nice. I've been to the
tournament before when I was at Birmingham City, so I know a little bit
about it.
"It's a very fast, physically demanding seven-a-side tournament played in
challenging conditions and presents a different type of experience. It's a
nice thing for us to be involved in at the end of the season. "It's a real
challenge for them. As its seven-a-side we'll be taking mainly attacking
players. We're hoping it'll be a great experience."
Alongside West Ham, fellow Premier League teams Stoke City, Aston Villa,
Leicester City and Newcastle United will all be sending teams to compete
During the tournament, we'll have match reports, pictures and reaction on
www.whufc.com and across all our platforms.
The full draw for the HKFC Soccer Sevens is:
Group A: Newcastle United (ENG), Leicester City (ENG), HK Premier League
Club 1 (HKG), Singapore Cricket Club (SIN)
Group B: West Ham United (ENG), Kitchee (HKG), Shanghai SIPG (CHN), HKFC
Captain's Select (HKG)
Group C: Aston Villa (ENG), Wellington Phoenix (NZL), HK Premier League Club
2 (HKG), Hong Kong Football Club (HKG)
Group D: Stoke City (ENG), Atletico Madrid (SPA), HKFA U-20 (HKG), Yau Yee
League Select (HKG)
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New Stadium priority window for Academy Members
WHUFC.com
Academy Members will have an exclusive 24-hour priority window on Tuesday 21
April to join the Season Ticket Priority List for the new Stadium. This is
the only way for Academy Members to guarantee priority when it comes to
Season Tickets for the 2016/17 campaign, the Club's first on Queen Elizabeth
Olympic Park.
All existing Academy Members will be eligible to join the Season Ticket
Priority List free of charge from 9am on Tuesday 21 April. To do so, they
will need to visit reservations.whufc.com and submit their details.
The Season Ticket Priority List will then become available from 9am on
Wednesday 22 April to all supporters, who will be required to pay a £10
deposit to join. The deposit is non-refundable but will be redeemed against
the purchase of a 2016/17 Season Ticket.
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Collins pulls no punches
WHUFC.com
James Collins pulled no punches after West Ham United saw another lead
disappear in the dying seconds on Saturday. With the Hammers seemingly on
course to record successive Barclays Premier League home wins, Stoke City's
Marko Arnautovic plundered a 95th minute leveller to floor Collins and co.
It is a feeling that the Wales international is becoming all too accustomed
to and he insists that the Hammers have to be more professional in the
game's final throes. "It's a loss," he said. "The game's over, we've got to
be more street wise and know how to win games. We've done it too many times
this season and we haven't learned from it. Everyone's bitterly
disappointed. "We've only ourselves to blame. The game's over, we've got to
keep it in the corner, do anything to win the football match and we're not
doing that. "It was three points in the bag, not the prettiest game again.
But three points are three points, especially with the run we're on. There's
not a lot more you can say."
On a more positive note, Collins was suitably impressed with Aaron
Cresswell's splendid opener, one that was certainly worthy of winning the
game. He continued: "It's a great free-kick and he's worked on it a bit. We
haven't scored too many from direct free-kicks, I can hardly remember any,
so for him to do that was great. Obviously it would have been better for him
if we'd hung on for the win, but that hasn't happened."
The No19 felt the Hammers could and should have made more of their perfect
start, rather than being forced to retreat in the game's latter stages.
"They had a lot of chances. They've hit the post and the two goals are
offside, I know. But if you go 1-0 up in the first seven minutes, you feel
like you've got to push on and go to score more goals, not sit back and hang
on, as we did on Saturday."
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Allardyce, Sheringham, Bilic and Sakho: Tuesday's news
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 14th April 2015
By: Staff Writer #2
Get the very latest West Ham news in one place, with our new daily media
round-up!
On this day - 14 April
West Ham United 6-0 Brighton & Hove Albion, npower Championship, 14 April
2012
http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2014/04/14/on-this-day-14-april_2236884_3
765693
West Ham striker Diafra Sakho ruled out for the rest of the season with
suspected torn thigh muscle
The 25-year-old marksman, who has scored 12 goals this season, is understood
to have sustained the injury in Saturday's draw at home to Stoke.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/west-ham-striker-diafra-sakho-55
13664
Slaven Bilic rubbishes rumours of a West Ham switch
SLAVEN BILIC has dismissed rumours that he's holding talks with West Ham,
according to reports in Turkey.
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/436361/Slaven-Bilic-rubbishes-rumo
urs-West-Ham-switch
West Ham confirm double injury blow ahead of Manchester City clash
West Ham Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke has
confirmed strike pair Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho picked up injuries at
the weekend.
http://www.london24.com/sport/football/clubs/west-ham/west_ham_confirm_doubl
e_injury_blow_ahead_of_manchester_city_clash_1_4033177
West Ham stars deliver a masterclass to the kids
Hammers first-teamers plus attacking coach Teddy Sheringham take Academy
boys through their paces
http://www.london24.com/sport/football/clubs/west-ham/west_ham_stars_deliver
_a_masterclass_to_the_kids_1_4032987
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West Ham will struggle to land David Moyes, says Graham Hunter
Last Updated: 14/04/15 12:08pm
SSN
West Ham will find it difficult to lure David Moyes to Upton Park this
summer, according to Spanish football expert Graham Hunter. He told Revista
de la Liga's live Periscope Q&A that Moyes is happy at Real Sociedad in La
Liga, where he has been in charge since November.
And Hunter says West Ham would find it difficult to convince the former
Manchester United and Everton boss to return to the Premier League, should
they look to replace Sam Allardyce at the end of the season. "If you'd
asked me that question six or seven months ago, when David Moyes was
beginning to find his feet (at Real Sociedad), not just at the club but in
the city, away from his family, the changing culture and climate, I would
have said it's feasible," said Hunter. "But he's enjoying himself,
absolutely finding that the thing he's always aspired to, working with a
high-profile club on the continent, can be as rewarding and interesting as
he imagined it to be.
"The players are working for him, his team is playing better, he has the
director of football more onside than ever and the club president is
beginning to think about some of the reforms he wants implemented. "So for
West Ham or anybody to drag him away will be much tougher now than it would
have been a few months ago."
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I'M NOT BEING ANTI-SAM, BUT...
By Iain Dale 14 Apr 2015 at 08:00
West Ham till I Die
Guest Post by Iron Fish
First of all, this is NOT an anti-Sam or pro-Sam thread, it is a thread from
someone who has wavered between the 2 for far too long now, but a poster who
feels it is time for change.
I would like to say a massive Thank-you to Sam Allardyce. Big Sam saved this
club, re-built our failing squad, brought back a "winning" mentality and has
turned this club around in the space of 4 years.
I remember being sat in the stands after we lost our final game of the
season in 2011 against a poor Sunderland team, we lost 3-0 with no
leadership, no fight and very little footballing quality. I thought then we
were doomed – I could not see how we would ever get back to the Premiership.
But we did, and we have one man to thank for that, and that man is Sam
Allardyce. Yes, he had great support from the board, who have always dipped
into their own pockets, but the one man who turned our great club around,
was Sam Allardyce.
But, ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for change – we have the greatest
opportunity in our footballing history, to get this club into the top 6, in
the next few years, with a fantastic new stadium, then build us into a top 4
side, within the next 5-10 years. We can do it, but to do that, it is of my
opinion, we need to change our manager in June of this year.
So, who should be the next manager? Well the board are insisting on
Premiership management experience, which would rule out Bielsa, Bilic, De
Boer, Rijkard, Simeone and Howe – all names we are linked with on a daily
basis. The only names that will tick that box are Redknapp, Rafa and Moyes.
Redknapp would probably cause even more divide against our loyal fan base,
Rafa would want at least £6m a year, plus another £50m – £75m on transfer
funds, which leaves one man………David Moyes.
He would make the perfect successor to Big Sam. It would keep the pro-Sam
supporters happy, as Moyes would set-up a similar way to Sam, but would want
wing backs, a pacey midfield and a big striker. He would set-up for us to
defend well, but might be more pleasing on the eye going forward. I think he
would bring more exciting football to our club, with a focus on scoring
goals too, which would keep our anti-Sam supporters happy. David Moyes could
re-UNITE our brilliant fan base.
It just seems to be the logical choice. David Moyes did a great job at both
Preston North End (achieving a 48.29% win ratio), and did a great job at
Everton, with limited resources (42.08% win ratio). If you look at his Man
Utd stats (52.94% win ratio), he actually did a pretty good job there too,
but the fans were never going to take to him, he just was not a big enough
name for them. Don't forget, he brought in Fellani, and look what he is
doing for Man Utd now. All of these are very impressive stats, and would
clearly move us forward from where we are now with Sam (38.29% win ratio –
he achieved 41.24% at Bolton, 33.33% at Newcastle and 34.88% at Blackburn).
Other key factors include, he would be working again with Tony Henry, our
new Recruitment Director. Tony would be the ideal middle man, working
closely with the board and working closely with David Moyes. We would not
need to completely change the current squad. The likes of Nolan, Cole,
O'Brien and Jussi would surely leave, but David Moyes would build a team
around the likes of Carroll, Sackho and Valencia, and might even add the
likes of Mirallas and Baines-type players, adding pace and creativity.
Surely, we would all be happy with that? A winning mentality, good solid
defence, but more creativity and looking to score goals. More energy, more
pace and more creativity – who does not want any of that?
Finally, and probably most importantly to the board, David Moyes would not
be a risk to our great club. We would not get us relegated in our last year
at the Boleyn Ground or the 1st year at the Olympic Stadium. David Moyes
would build on very strong foundations, the same foundations that Sam has
set-up and built for us over the last 4 years. Thank-you Sam Allardyce, you
are handing over a stable team and club to your younger successor, David
Moyes………..COME ON YOU IRONS !!!!
PS. I've got my tin hat at the ready, but I really do think this will
happen.
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Chelsea and Manchester City to battle it out for West Ham defender Aaron
Cresswell in the summer
17:42, 14 April 2015 By Darren Lewis
The 25-year-old joined the Hammers from Ipswich last summer for £2million
and has been hugely impressive since
The Mirror
Chelsea have joined Manchester City in the chase for West Ham left-back
Aaron Cresswell . The Irons have been digging their heels in after City's
initial interest but Chelsea 's admiration has presented them with a fresh
problem. The Blues are considering their options because Filipe Luis is
mulling over a move back to Atletico Madrid after just one season at
Stamford Bridge. Cresswell, 25, has been outstanding since his arrival at
Upton Park last summer for just £2million from Ipswich. West Ham believe
they can hold on to him without handing him a new deal as he signed a
lucrative five-year contract when he signed for the club last July. But both
Chelsea and City could test that defiance if they follow through with their
interest. Cresswell has scored twice for the Hammers, including last
Saturday's stunning free-kick in the 1-1 draw against Stoke.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers press on with player targets
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham insiders were today dismissing reports that Sam Allardyce's
uncertain position was hindering the club's summer signing policy.
It's the time of year when all sorts of stories get planted in the media
about any number of transfer related situations and it's not hard to work
out who the beneficiary of each of them may be. One national 'paper reported
this morning the club could "miss out on summer targets due to doubts over
who will be in charge at Upton Park next year."
This was dropped into a gossip section where the suggestion was made that
players wouldn't be ready to sign until the "identified targets" knew who
was in charge! However, that report assumed no decision has been made on the
next manager and that the club and person – whoever he may be – doesn't
already know the position! With David Sullivan's recruitment director Tony
Henry (above right) having a bigger and bigger say on the positions that
need filling no problems are expected in attracting the right players.
We were told: "The managerial situation would be explained clearly to any
potential signings but the report doesn't add up because that process
doesn't start until we have permission to talk to them anyway …and that's
not now! "Obviously we know who and who isn't available in the summer and by
that time we will have settled the managerial situation anyway."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers on Hernandez
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham are refusing to deny an interest in Manchester United's Javier
Hernandez. The Mexican striker – on loan at Real Madrid – is today being
linked with a move to Italian outfit Lazio. But ourselves, Liverpool, Spurs
and Southampton have also been linked with the player who has suffered a
serious loss of form whilst in Spain. The Hammers have promised to bring in
a couple of well known world names this summer and Hernandez would fit the
bill as one of them. We were told: "We're aware of his availability and
anything else on the transfer front is possible in the summer. We will
certainly need front line reinforcements."
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Collins: "We haven't learned…it's our fault"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in Whispers
Claret 7 Hugh
James Collins has admitted the Hammers have only themselves to blame for
surrendering points in the dying minutes of games. His admission comes soon
after Enner Valencia made it clear the side was falling back too far
defensively after going in front. Collins is as fed-up as everybody else
with the situation declaring on the official site: "It's a loss. The game's
over, we've got to be more street wise and know how to win games. "We've
done it too many times this season and we haven't learned from it.
Everyone's bitterly disappointed. "We've only ourselves to blame. The game's
over, we've got to keep it in the corner, do anything to win the football
match and we're not doing that. And Enner Valencis said: It's true that
after the result we can say that after we scored we went back a bit too far,
but they are a good side and looked after the ball well." Earlier today we
reported sources inside the club unhappy that we appear to be defending one
goal leads and the players are clearly showing a measure of agreement."
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Deep gloom but no public announcements
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in News Agenda, Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham United will be making absolutely no public declarations on Sam
Allardyce's position until the last ball of the season has been kicked.
ClaretandHugh has taken very much on board the worries and frustrations of
fans wanting an end to the constant speculation over the manager's position.
But despite constant nagging, the club is keeping the shutters closed until
the end of the season in line with their well known and oft stated policy.
However, there is desperate gloom about the team's inability to hold onto
leads with one source saying: "It's become a pschological thing and people
aren't helping themselves in trying to protect one goal leads. "We are
allowing teams to dominate us at home and at times look like a League Two
side defending against a Premier League side. " However, the board is
remaining entirely tight-lipped on the managerial issue given that all sides
involved have given each other their word nothing will be said before the
end of the season.
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Benitez Irons link fading and dying
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham's link with Rafa Benitez is this morning reported as 'fading and
dying' as he finds himself linked with Manchester City next season. This is
in line with reports ClaretandHugh has been bringing over the past fortnight
after being told that the former Liverpool boss was eyeing the Etihad or
Anfield jobs. Latest reports suggest that City may want the Spaniard as a
caretaker boss on the likely firing of Manuel Pellegrini at the end of the
season before the club moves for Pep Guardiola next summer. Benitez had been
a provisional candidate for the Hammers until it became clear the talking
would start at £6 million a year. But the major stumbling block was the
manager's desire to take one of the country's big clubs preferably in the
north west close to the family's Liverpool home. Benitz's wife Maria still
lives in the Merseyside area and with her husband out of contract this
summer, a reunion in the UK is now on the cards.
A source told Claretandhugh this morning: "As we told you several weeks back
it was a hopeful thing rather than a truly confident one.
"You never say never but he's a top manager who will be hunted by a lot of
clubs although the north west looks his most likely destination if it can be
made to happen."
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Carlton Cole eyes MLS switch if West Ham deal falls through
Simon Osborn for Metro.co.uk
Tuesday 14 Apr 2015 8:53 am
West Ham striker Carlton Cole says he will move abroad if the Hammers do not
offer him a new contract to stay at Upton Park. The former England star's
current deal expires at the end of the season and it is unlikely he will not
be offered new terms by the East End club.
'I love the place, I love the fans, I love everything about West Ham,' said
Cole. 'But I know all good things do come to an end sometimes and you have
got to just crack on. 'I'm trying my best to put myself in the best position
to have a new contract, if not at West Ham then somewhere else. 'I'm quite
open, I am an adventurous guy. I wouldn't mind a bit of China or even the
MLS, you never know. I'm really open and I just want to see what offers are
on the table and take it from there.' The 31-year-old joined West Ham in
2006 and has scored 67 goals in just under 300 games for the club.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 'making £10m offer to sign Arsenals Carl Jenkinson'
Jamie Sanderson for Metro.co.uk
Monday 13 Apr 2015 7:20 am
West Ham are reportedly looking to win the race for Carl Jenkinson by
offering Arsenal £10million for his services. Jenkinson had impressed during
a season-long loan at Upton Park, and the Hammers have been looking into
making the deal permanent. Liverpool have also been sniffing around, as they
look to replace Glen Johnson, but reports say West Ham will blow them out of
the water with a £10million offer. Arsenal would likely accept that, with
Mathieu Debuchy, Hector Bellerin and Calum Chambers all ahead of him in the
right-back slot.
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West Ham boys need a rocket up their backsides
13:30 14 April 2015
London 24
Dave Evans
West Ham fan James Corden is getting rave reviews in the States for his new
Late, Late Show – but for the Hammers it is nothing but misery and
condemnation. Sam Allardyce was chuckling away on The Clare Balding Show on
Friday night, but there was nothing much to laugh about from this dismal
late, late show which culminated in Stoke's deserved injury-time equaliser.
From the moment that Aaron Cresswell arrowed a superb free kick into the top
corner, until the final minute of injury time, West Ham were second best
against a Potters side who had little to play for either. Manager Sam
Allardyce rued the late goals that the Hammers have conceded in recent
games, but if you don't play well enough in the other 90 minutes, you don't
really deserve to hang on for the three points.
Mark Hughes' side had more attacking intent. They hit the post and had two
goals ruled out for offside before they finally scored, while the best West
Ham had to offer was Cheikhou Kouyate's shot which was saved and Carlton
Cole's header which went wide from Stewart Downing's cross. "We should have
50 points by now," insisted the boss. "We've now thrown away seven points in
the last few minutes.
"Had we not conceded those late goals against Manchester United, Tottenham
and Leicester we would have our record number of points since being back in
the Premier League. "We are struggling to find the key element that will
help us to close out games. We are panicking towards the end of games and
not keeping possession. "I think their goal was a very good one, but we
should have dealt with it better than we did. We are very nervous because
we've conceded late goals before."
With the likes of Alex Song and Mark Noble in the middle of the park, as
well as Downing further forward, the Hammers really should have dominated
possession. But they gave it away too often and put pressure on their
defence. This was not the fault of the back four, it was those further
forward to blame. With West Ham safe in the Premier League and leading in
this game, surely it was time for some more attacking endeavour. But Enner
Valencia played for much of the game on the wing, denying Diafra Sakho the
support he needed, while when Noble and Song are in the same team, they seem
to get in each other's way instead of complementing each other. Why
Allardyce does not give a start to Brazilian Nene remains a mystery. When he
comes on he seems to have some useful trickery, but once again the manager
opted for Kevin Nolan to come off the bench. Surely it is also time to have
a look at someone like Reece Oxford in defence or Diego Poyet in midfield,
as well as Nene up front just to freshen things up a little, though maybe
not next Sunday at Manchester City! This West Ham team needs a rocket up
their backside. Too many seem to have run out of steam and perhaps
predictably there is not the urgency there was earlier in the season.
Unless they can find it then they will not make the top 10.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Diafra Sakho out for the season as West Ham suffer blow with striker's
injury
West Ham drew 1-1 with Stoke City in the Premier League on Saturday
Diafra Sakho was forced off after 59 minutes due to an injury
It is understood the striker has torn a thigh muscle during the match
Sakho is unlikely to be able to feature for West Ham again this season
By KIERAN GILL FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 07:59, 14 April 2015 | UPDATED: 12:40, 14 April 2015
West Ham striker Diafra Sakho is out for the remainder of the season after
tearing a thigh muscle on Saturday against Stoke City.
The 25-year-old is West Ham's runaway top scorer this season with 12 goals
and was forced off after 59 minutes during their 1-1 draw at home. West Ham
claimed Sakho could return 'before the end of the season' on their official
website, but it appears unlikely the Senegal international will be fit
enough to feature before the next campaign. Ten of Sakho's 12 goals came in
the Barclays Premier League, with Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing the
club's next top scorers with just five apiece. It comes as a blow for
manager Sam Allardyce who is aiming to finish in eighth position as he
fights for a new contract with West Ham. Allardyce's current deal expires at
the end of the season and it is not certain co-owners David Gold and David
Sullivan will keep him on, despite already beating last season's total by
three points.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
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WHUFC.com
Club Ambassador Tony Carr MBE has had an illustrious and successful career
at West Ham United, helping to nurture some of the best Academy graduates
the Club has ever produced. Reflecting on his 42 years at the Club for an
upcoming Premier League World documentary due to air this summer, Carr
reminisced about his life from an emerging prospect himself in the 1960s to
his current role as Club Ambassador.
Speaking after the end of filming, on a gloriously sunny day at the Boleyn
Ground, Carr spoke to www.whufc.com...
The documentary came about after I was approached by Premier League
Productions and Premier League World to do a piece about my 40 odd years at
West Ham United. I was delighted to have the opportunity to celebrate what
we've achieved over the years. They've contacted some of the old players who
came through the youth system here, the likes of Frank Lampard, Rio
Ferdinand and Joe Cole. Hopefully when it comes out, the fans will enjoy it
because these were some incredible years for the club. Looking back, 42
years is a long time and there are a lot of memories so you can't cover
everything, I hoped I haven't missed anyone out – if I have I apologise!
It's nice to look back, but at the same time I'm really enjoying my new role
as Club Ambassador.
Obviously I'm still keeping my finger on the pulse on what's going on at the
Academy. I still love watching the youth team play and it's great to see so
many young coaches as well as players involved with the Academy. Since he's
come in, Terry Westley has done a fantastic job, he's trying to implement
new ideas which is great for everyone because I think the Academy needed a
new impetus and fresh eyes and Terry has done that. Nothing stays the same,
especially in football, and we need to evolve. Hopefully he can get some of
our promising young players across that line and into the first team because
we've struggled to do that over the last few years.
Currently, we've got some outstanding young players in our Academy, Reece
Oxford, Vashon Neufville and Anthony Scully are all internationals who are
doing very well. In the U21s, Josh Cullen is a great talent, and on the
fringes of getting an opportunity for the first team. He was Academy player
of the year last season after having an outstanding year. He's in the Mark
Noble mould, he's got great character and desire and he's West Ham through
and through. He just needs an opportunity and I'm sure he'll get it soon.
The production line may not be as fast as it once was but I think we're
getting there. We've had a number of youth players on the first team bench
who have not quite made it onto the pitch yet. Reece Burke played in the
League Cup and a few pre-season games which was fantastic for him. It's
incredibly tough to blood you talent, tougher than I was doing it and it's
getting tougher. Now, you get more than a million pounds per place in
Premier League prize money so it's a big incentive to fight for every place.
It used to be the case that if you were safe from relegation with a few
games to go you'd give the younger places a go but it's very hard to do that
now.
On another note, I'm delighted that Mark Noble and James Tomkins have signed
new long-term contracts. It is fantastic for the club and the fans and it
just shows how the club is growing. Not long ago we were producing the
players but finding it hard to keep them so it's great to see them commit
their futures to the club.
Tony Carr
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Dev Squad drawn against Hong Kong Champions
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's Development Squad have been drawn in Group B of the HKFC
Citibank Soccer Sevens tournament due to be held between May 29-31. The
Hammers will travel to Hong Kong to participate in the prestigious
tournament following the end of their Barclays U21 Premier League Campaign,
where they will face Hong Kong champions and last year's finalists Kitchee,
Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG and HKFC Captain's Select. This is
the first time the Hammers have taken part in the international competition
since 2012. Speaking ahead of the competition, Academy manager Terry Westley
said: "We were invited to participate which is nice. I've been to the
tournament before when I was at Birmingham City, so I know a little bit
about it.
"It's a very fast, physically demanding seven-a-side tournament played in
challenging conditions and presents a different type of experience. It's a
nice thing for us to be involved in at the end of the season. "It's a real
challenge for them. As its seven-a-side we'll be taking mainly attacking
players. We're hoping it'll be a great experience."
Alongside West Ham, fellow Premier League teams Stoke City, Aston Villa,
Leicester City and Newcastle United will all be sending teams to compete
During the tournament, we'll have match reports, pictures and reaction on
www.whufc.com and across all our platforms.
The full draw for the HKFC Soccer Sevens is:
Group A: Newcastle United (ENG), Leicester City (ENG), HK Premier League
Club 1 (HKG), Singapore Cricket Club (SIN)
Group B: West Ham United (ENG), Kitchee (HKG), Shanghai SIPG (CHN), HKFC
Captain's Select (HKG)
Group C: Aston Villa (ENG), Wellington Phoenix (NZL), HK Premier League Club
2 (HKG), Hong Kong Football Club (HKG)
Group D: Stoke City (ENG), Atletico Madrid (SPA), HKFA U-20 (HKG), Yau Yee
League Select (HKG)
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New Stadium priority window for Academy Members
WHUFC.com
Academy Members will have an exclusive 24-hour priority window on Tuesday 21
April to join the Season Ticket Priority List for the new Stadium. This is
the only way for Academy Members to guarantee priority when it comes to
Season Tickets for the 2016/17 campaign, the Club's first on Queen Elizabeth
Olympic Park.
All existing Academy Members will be eligible to join the Season Ticket
Priority List free of charge from 9am on Tuesday 21 April. To do so, they
will need to visit reservations.whufc.com and submit their details.
The Season Ticket Priority List will then become available from 9am on
Wednesday 22 April to all supporters, who will be required to pay a £10
deposit to join. The deposit is non-refundable but will be redeemed against
the purchase of a 2016/17 Season Ticket.
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Collins pulls no punches
WHUFC.com
James Collins pulled no punches after West Ham United saw another lead
disappear in the dying seconds on Saturday. With the Hammers seemingly on
course to record successive Barclays Premier League home wins, Stoke City's
Marko Arnautovic plundered a 95th minute leveller to floor Collins and co.
It is a feeling that the Wales international is becoming all too accustomed
to and he insists that the Hammers have to be more professional in the
game's final throes. "It's a loss," he said. "The game's over, we've got to
be more street wise and know how to win games. We've done it too many times
this season and we haven't learned from it. Everyone's bitterly
disappointed. "We've only ourselves to blame. The game's over, we've got to
keep it in the corner, do anything to win the football match and we're not
doing that. "It was three points in the bag, not the prettiest game again.
But three points are three points, especially with the run we're on. There's
not a lot more you can say."
On a more positive note, Collins was suitably impressed with Aaron
Cresswell's splendid opener, one that was certainly worthy of winning the
game. He continued: "It's a great free-kick and he's worked on it a bit. We
haven't scored too many from direct free-kicks, I can hardly remember any,
so for him to do that was great. Obviously it would have been better for him
if we'd hung on for the win, but that hasn't happened."
The No19 felt the Hammers could and should have made more of their perfect
start, rather than being forced to retreat in the game's latter stages.
"They had a lot of chances. They've hit the post and the two goals are
offside, I know. But if you go 1-0 up in the first seven minutes, you feel
like you've got to push on and go to score more goals, not sit back and hang
on, as we did on Saturday."
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Allardyce, Sheringham, Bilic and Sakho: Tuesday's news
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 14th April 2015
By: Staff Writer #2
Get the very latest West Ham news in one place, with our new daily media
round-up!
On this day - 14 April
West Ham United 6-0 Brighton & Hove Albion, npower Championship, 14 April
2012
http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2014/04/14/on-this-day-14-april_2236884_3
765693
West Ham striker Diafra Sakho ruled out for the rest of the season with
suspected torn thigh muscle
The 25-year-old marksman, who has scored 12 goals this season, is understood
to have sustained the injury in Saturday's draw at home to Stoke.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/west-ham-striker-diafra-sakho-55
13664
Slaven Bilic rubbishes rumours of a West Ham switch
SLAVEN BILIC has dismissed rumours that he's holding talks with West Ham,
according to reports in Turkey.
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/436361/Slaven-Bilic-rubbishes-rumo
urs-West-Ham-switch
West Ham confirm double injury blow ahead of Manchester City clash
West Ham Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke has
confirmed strike pair Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho picked up injuries at
the weekend.
http://www.london24.com/sport/football/clubs/west-ham/west_ham_confirm_doubl
e_injury_blow_ahead_of_manchester_city_clash_1_4033177
West Ham stars deliver a masterclass to the kids
Hammers first-teamers plus attacking coach Teddy Sheringham take Academy
boys through their paces
http://www.london24.com/sport/football/clubs/west-ham/west_ham_stars_deliver
_a_masterclass_to_the_kids_1_4032987
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West Ham will struggle to land David Moyes, says Graham Hunter
Last Updated: 14/04/15 12:08pm
SSN
West Ham will find it difficult to lure David Moyes to Upton Park this
summer, according to Spanish football expert Graham Hunter. He told Revista
de la Liga's live Periscope Q&A that Moyes is happy at Real Sociedad in La
Liga, where he has been in charge since November.
And Hunter says West Ham would find it difficult to convince the former
Manchester United and Everton boss to return to the Premier League, should
they look to replace Sam Allardyce at the end of the season. "If you'd
asked me that question six or seven months ago, when David Moyes was
beginning to find his feet (at Real Sociedad), not just at the club but in
the city, away from his family, the changing culture and climate, I would
have said it's feasible," said Hunter. "But he's enjoying himself,
absolutely finding that the thing he's always aspired to, working with a
high-profile club on the continent, can be as rewarding and interesting as
he imagined it to be.
"The players are working for him, his team is playing better, he has the
director of football more onside than ever and the club president is
beginning to think about some of the reforms he wants implemented. "So for
West Ham or anybody to drag him away will be much tougher now than it would
have been a few months ago."
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I'M NOT BEING ANTI-SAM, BUT...
By Iain Dale 14 Apr 2015 at 08:00
West Ham till I Die
Guest Post by Iron Fish
First of all, this is NOT an anti-Sam or pro-Sam thread, it is a thread from
someone who has wavered between the 2 for far too long now, but a poster who
feels it is time for change.
I would like to say a massive Thank-you to Sam Allardyce. Big Sam saved this
club, re-built our failing squad, brought back a "winning" mentality and has
turned this club around in the space of 4 years.
I remember being sat in the stands after we lost our final game of the
season in 2011 against a poor Sunderland team, we lost 3-0 with no
leadership, no fight and very little footballing quality. I thought then we
were doomed – I could not see how we would ever get back to the Premiership.
But we did, and we have one man to thank for that, and that man is Sam
Allardyce. Yes, he had great support from the board, who have always dipped
into their own pockets, but the one man who turned our great club around,
was Sam Allardyce.
But, ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for change – we have the greatest
opportunity in our footballing history, to get this club into the top 6, in
the next few years, with a fantastic new stadium, then build us into a top 4
side, within the next 5-10 years. We can do it, but to do that, it is of my
opinion, we need to change our manager in June of this year.
So, who should be the next manager? Well the board are insisting on
Premiership management experience, which would rule out Bielsa, Bilic, De
Boer, Rijkard, Simeone and Howe – all names we are linked with on a daily
basis. The only names that will tick that box are Redknapp, Rafa and Moyes.
Redknapp would probably cause even more divide against our loyal fan base,
Rafa would want at least £6m a year, plus another £50m – £75m on transfer
funds, which leaves one man………David Moyes.
He would make the perfect successor to Big Sam. It would keep the pro-Sam
supporters happy, as Moyes would set-up a similar way to Sam, but would want
wing backs, a pacey midfield and a big striker. He would set-up for us to
defend well, but might be more pleasing on the eye going forward. I think he
would bring more exciting football to our club, with a focus on scoring
goals too, which would keep our anti-Sam supporters happy. David Moyes could
re-UNITE our brilliant fan base.
It just seems to be the logical choice. David Moyes did a great job at both
Preston North End (achieving a 48.29% win ratio), and did a great job at
Everton, with limited resources (42.08% win ratio). If you look at his Man
Utd stats (52.94% win ratio), he actually did a pretty good job there too,
but the fans were never going to take to him, he just was not a big enough
name for them. Don't forget, he brought in Fellani, and look what he is
doing for Man Utd now. All of these are very impressive stats, and would
clearly move us forward from where we are now with Sam (38.29% win ratio –
he achieved 41.24% at Bolton, 33.33% at Newcastle and 34.88% at Blackburn).
Other key factors include, he would be working again with Tony Henry, our
new Recruitment Director. Tony would be the ideal middle man, working
closely with the board and working closely with David Moyes. We would not
need to completely change the current squad. The likes of Nolan, Cole,
O'Brien and Jussi would surely leave, but David Moyes would build a team
around the likes of Carroll, Sackho and Valencia, and might even add the
likes of Mirallas and Baines-type players, adding pace and creativity.
Surely, we would all be happy with that? A winning mentality, good solid
defence, but more creativity and looking to score goals. More energy, more
pace and more creativity – who does not want any of that?
Finally, and probably most importantly to the board, David Moyes would not
be a risk to our great club. We would not get us relegated in our last year
at the Boleyn Ground or the 1st year at the Olympic Stadium. David Moyes
would build on very strong foundations, the same foundations that Sam has
set-up and built for us over the last 4 years. Thank-you Sam Allardyce, you
are handing over a stable team and club to your younger successor, David
Moyes………..COME ON YOU IRONS !!!!
PS. I've got my tin hat at the ready, but I really do think this will
happen.
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Chelsea and Manchester City to battle it out for West Ham defender Aaron
Cresswell in the summer
17:42, 14 April 2015 By Darren Lewis
The 25-year-old joined the Hammers from Ipswich last summer for £2million
and has been hugely impressive since
The Mirror
Chelsea have joined Manchester City in the chase for West Ham left-back
Aaron Cresswell . The Irons have been digging their heels in after City's
initial interest but Chelsea 's admiration has presented them with a fresh
problem. The Blues are considering their options because Filipe Luis is
mulling over a move back to Atletico Madrid after just one season at
Stamford Bridge. Cresswell, 25, has been outstanding since his arrival at
Upton Park last summer for just £2million from Ipswich. West Ham believe
they can hold on to him without handing him a new deal as he signed a
lucrative five-year contract when he signed for the club last July. But both
Chelsea and City could test that defiance if they follow through with their
interest. Cresswell has scored twice for the Hammers, including last
Saturday's stunning free-kick in the 1-1 draw against Stoke.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers press on with player targets
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham insiders were today dismissing reports that Sam Allardyce's
uncertain position was hindering the club's summer signing policy.
It's the time of year when all sorts of stories get planted in the media
about any number of transfer related situations and it's not hard to work
out who the beneficiary of each of them may be. One national 'paper reported
this morning the club could "miss out on summer targets due to doubts over
who will be in charge at Upton Park next year."
This was dropped into a gossip section where the suggestion was made that
players wouldn't be ready to sign until the "identified targets" knew who
was in charge! However, that report assumed no decision has been made on the
next manager and that the club and person – whoever he may be – doesn't
already know the position! With David Sullivan's recruitment director Tony
Henry (above right) having a bigger and bigger say on the positions that
need filling no problems are expected in attracting the right players.
We were told: "The managerial situation would be explained clearly to any
potential signings but the report doesn't add up because that process
doesn't start until we have permission to talk to them anyway …and that's
not now! "Obviously we know who and who isn't available in the summer and by
that time we will have settled the managerial situation anyway."
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Hammers on Hernandez
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham are refusing to deny an interest in Manchester United's Javier
Hernandez. The Mexican striker – on loan at Real Madrid – is today being
linked with a move to Italian outfit Lazio. But ourselves, Liverpool, Spurs
and Southampton have also been linked with the player who has suffered a
serious loss of form whilst in Spain. The Hammers have promised to bring in
a couple of well known world names this summer and Hernandez would fit the
bill as one of them. We were told: "We're aware of his availability and
anything else on the transfer front is possible in the summer. We will
certainly need front line reinforcements."
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Collins: "We haven't learned…it's our fault"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in Whispers
Claret 7 Hugh
James Collins has admitted the Hammers have only themselves to blame for
surrendering points in the dying minutes of games. His admission comes soon
after Enner Valencia made it clear the side was falling back too far
defensively after going in front. Collins is as fed-up as everybody else
with the situation declaring on the official site: "It's a loss. The game's
over, we've got to be more street wise and know how to win games. "We've
done it too many times this season and we haven't learned from it.
Everyone's bitterly disappointed. "We've only ourselves to blame. The game's
over, we've got to keep it in the corner, do anything to win the football
match and we're not doing that. And Enner Valencis said: It's true that
after the result we can say that after we scored we went back a bit too far,
but they are a good side and looked after the ball well." Earlier today we
reported sources inside the club unhappy that we appear to be defending one
goal leads and the players are clearly showing a measure of agreement."
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Deep gloom but no public announcements
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in News Agenda, Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham United will be making absolutely no public declarations on Sam
Allardyce's position until the last ball of the season has been kicked.
ClaretandHugh has taken very much on board the worries and frustrations of
fans wanting an end to the constant speculation over the manager's position.
But despite constant nagging, the club is keeping the shutters closed until
the end of the season in line with their well known and oft stated policy.
However, there is desperate gloom about the team's inability to hold onto
leads with one source saying: "It's become a pschological thing and people
aren't helping themselves in trying to protect one goal leads. "We are
allowing teams to dominate us at home and at times look like a League Two
side defending against a Premier League side. " However, the board is
remaining entirely tight-lipped on the managerial issue given that all sides
involved have given each other their word nothing will be said before the
end of the season.
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Benitez Irons link fading and dying
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham's link with Rafa Benitez is this morning reported as 'fading and
dying' as he finds himself linked with Manchester City next season. This is
in line with reports ClaretandHugh has been bringing over the past fortnight
after being told that the former Liverpool boss was eyeing the Etihad or
Anfield jobs. Latest reports suggest that City may want the Spaniard as a
caretaker boss on the likely firing of Manuel Pellegrini at the end of the
season before the club moves for Pep Guardiola next summer. Benitez had been
a provisional candidate for the Hammers until it became clear the talking
would start at £6 million a year. But the major stumbling block was the
manager's desire to take one of the country's big clubs preferably in the
north west close to the family's Liverpool home. Benitz's wife Maria still
lives in the Merseyside area and with her husband out of contract this
summer, a reunion in the UK is now on the cards.
A source told Claretandhugh this morning: "As we told you several weeks back
it was a hopeful thing rather than a truly confident one.
"You never say never but he's a top manager who will be hunted by a lot of
clubs although the north west looks his most likely destination if it can be
made to happen."
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Carlton Cole eyes MLS switch if West Ham deal falls through
Simon Osborn for Metro.co.uk
Tuesday 14 Apr 2015 8:53 am
West Ham striker Carlton Cole says he will move abroad if the Hammers do not
offer him a new contract to stay at Upton Park. The former England star's
current deal expires at the end of the season and it is unlikely he will not
be offered new terms by the East End club.
'I love the place, I love the fans, I love everything about West Ham,' said
Cole. 'But I know all good things do come to an end sometimes and you have
got to just crack on. 'I'm trying my best to put myself in the best position
to have a new contract, if not at West Ham then somewhere else. 'I'm quite
open, I am an adventurous guy. I wouldn't mind a bit of China or even the
MLS, you never know. I'm really open and I just want to see what offers are
on the table and take it from there.' The 31-year-old joined West Ham in
2006 and has scored 67 goals in just under 300 games for the club.
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West Ham 'making £10m offer to sign Arsenals Carl Jenkinson'
Jamie Sanderson for Metro.co.uk
Monday 13 Apr 2015 7:20 am
West Ham are reportedly looking to win the race for Carl Jenkinson by
offering Arsenal £10million for his services. Jenkinson had impressed during
a season-long loan at Upton Park, and the Hammers have been looking into
making the deal permanent. Liverpool have also been sniffing around, as they
look to replace Glen Johnson, but reports say West Ham will blow them out of
the water with a £10million offer. Arsenal would likely accept that, with
Mathieu Debuchy, Hector Bellerin and Calum Chambers all ahead of him in the
right-back slot.
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West Ham boys need a rocket up their backsides
13:30 14 April 2015
London 24
Dave Evans
West Ham fan James Corden is getting rave reviews in the States for his new
Late, Late Show – but for the Hammers it is nothing but misery and
condemnation. Sam Allardyce was chuckling away on The Clare Balding Show on
Friday night, but there was nothing much to laugh about from this dismal
late, late show which culminated in Stoke's deserved injury-time equaliser.
From the moment that Aaron Cresswell arrowed a superb free kick into the top
corner, until the final minute of injury time, West Ham were second best
against a Potters side who had little to play for either. Manager Sam
Allardyce rued the late goals that the Hammers have conceded in recent
games, but if you don't play well enough in the other 90 minutes, you don't
really deserve to hang on for the three points.
Mark Hughes' side had more attacking intent. They hit the post and had two
goals ruled out for offside before they finally scored, while the best West
Ham had to offer was Cheikhou Kouyate's shot which was saved and Carlton
Cole's header which went wide from Stewart Downing's cross. "We should have
50 points by now," insisted the boss. "We've now thrown away seven points in
the last few minutes.
"Had we not conceded those late goals against Manchester United, Tottenham
and Leicester we would have our record number of points since being back in
the Premier League. "We are struggling to find the key element that will
help us to close out games. We are panicking towards the end of games and
not keeping possession. "I think their goal was a very good one, but we
should have dealt with it better than we did. We are very nervous because
we've conceded late goals before."
With the likes of Alex Song and Mark Noble in the middle of the park, as
well as Downing further forward, the Hammers really should have dominated
possession. But they gave it away too often and put pressure on their
defence. This was not the fault of the back four, it was those further
forward to blame. With West Ham safe in the Premier League and leading in
this game, surely it was time for some more attacking endeavour. But Enner
Valencia played for much of the game on the wing, denying Diafra Sakho the
support he needed, while when Noble and Song are in the same team, they seem
to get in each other's way instead of complementing each other. Why
Allardyce does not give a start to Brazilian Nene remains a mystery. When he
comes on he seems to have some useful trickery, but once again the manager
opted for Kevin Nolan to come off the bench. Surely it is also time to have
a look at someone like Reece Oxford in defence or Diego Poyet in midfield,
as well as Nene up front just to freshen things up a little, though maybe
not next Sunday at Manchester City! This West Ham team needs a rocket up
their backside. Too many seem to have run out of steam and perhaps
predictably there is not the urgency there was earlier in the season.
Unless they can find it then they will not make the top 10.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Diafra Sakho out for the season as West Ham suffer blow with striker's
injury
West Ham drew 1-1 with Stoke City in the Premier League on Saturday
Diafra Sakho was forced off after 59 minutes due to an injury
It is understood the striker has torn a thigh muscle during the match
Sakho is unlikely to be able to feature for West Ham again this season
By KIERAN GILL FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 07:59, 14 April 2015 | UPDATED: 12:40, 14 April 2015
West Ham striker Diafra Sakho is out for the remainder of the season after
tearing a thigh muscle on Saturday against Stoke City.
The 25-year-old is West Ham's runaway top scorer this season with 12 goals
and was forced off after 59 minutes during their 1-1 draw at home. West Ham
claimed Sakho could return 'before the end of the season' on their official
website, but it appears unlikely the Senegal international will be fit
enough to feature before the next campaign. Ten of Sakho's 12 goals came in
the Barclays Premier League, with Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing the
club's next top scorers with just five apiece. It comes as a blow for
manager Sam Allardyce who is aiming to finish in eighth position as he
fights for a new contract with West Ham. Allardyce's current deal expires at
the end of the season and it is not certain co-owners David Gold and David
Sullivan will keep him on, despite already beating last season's total by
three points.
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Tuesday, April 14
Daily WHUFC News - 14th April 2015
Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce said he believes the disappointment he and his players felt
after a 1-1 draw with Stoke City demonstrated how far the Hammers have come
this season. Reflecting on a tough encounter with the Potters, which saw
Marko Arnautovic's 95th minute equaliser cancel out Aaron Cresswell's superb
free-kick, Allardyce said: "We're on 43 points, but we're not happy with
that because we know it should be 50, we're in the top half of the table but
we could be higher up. "Aaron Cresswell scored a superb goal which was great
to see but we didn't hold on. It's up to the players to find it within
themselves to keep concentration levels up until the final whistle."
"Arnautovic's goal was a fantastic piece of skill, particularly his first
touch, but we should have dealt with it better." The visitors' late
equaliser has been a recent feature for Allardyce's men after conceding
other late goals against Manchester United, Tottenham hotspur and Leicester
City. The West Ham United manager continued to say that these were the
fine margins between gaining one and three points in the Premier League. "We
should have 50 points by now, we've thrown away seven points in the last few
minutes. Had we not conceded those late goals against Manchester United,
Tottenham and Leicester we would have our record number of points since
being back in the Premier League. "We're struggling to find the key element
that will help us to close out games, at the moment we're panicking towards
the end of games and not keeping possession. I think their goal was a very
good one, we should have dealt with it better than we did. We are very
nervous because we've conceded late goals before."
Up next for the Hammers is a tough away fixture to current champions
Manchester City on Sunday 19 April. Having beaten Manuel Pellegrini's men
2-1 at the Boleyn Ground in the reverse fixture, Allardyce is hoping the
players will recreate the impressive form demonstrated that day. "I think
Stoke deserve a lot of credit, from our point of view we didn't play as well
we know we can. We know we can improve and we have to improve quickly
because it is costing us. "A lot of our players are still new to the Premier
League, Aaron Cresswell. Diafra Sakho, Enner Valencia and Cheikhou Kouyate
have all done brilliantly but they are now feeling the pace."
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'We were left with a bitter taste'
WHUFC.com
Enner Valencia admitted to feeling a 'bitter taste' in his mouth after
Saturday's agonising 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw with Stoke City. The
Ecuador star returned to the starting XI after missing three matches after
suffering a lacerated toe in a freak accident at his home involving a
broken toothpaste holder. However, any joy the No31 felt at returning to the
team disappeared when the Potters snatched a late equaliser at the Boleyn
Ground. "I am happy to be back in the team, but we were left with a bitter
taste because I think it is the third or fourth time we have conceded right
at the end of a game," he said of Marko Arnautovic's 95th-minute goal. "To
be honest, I think we were playing against a very good Stoke side, as they
showed with their ball possession. It's true that after the result we can
say that after we scored we went back a bit too far, but they are a good
side and looked after the ball well."
Earlier, Valencia had joined in the celebrations after Aaron Cresswell
netted an unstoppable free-kick the South American himself would have been
proud of. "I was going into the box when Stewart Downing called me and asked
if I wanted to take it, but I didn't need to because Aaron took it
magnificently!" he smiled. Unfortunately for Valencia, he suffered another
painful foot injury during Saturday's game when a Stoke player accidentally
trod on his foot. He will undergo a scan to uncover the exact nature of the
injury on Monday. "I don't know yet how serious it is, as they are going to
run a scan on Monday," he confirmed. "It was not done on purpose – a Stoke
player stepped backwards and onto my foot. I think I have a little bit of an
injury on my foot, but we have to run a scan on Monday to be sure."
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Borg seals U18s success
WHUFC.com
West Ham United picked up their first Barclays U18 Premier League Final
Stage Group victory by beating Wolverhampton Wanderers. After opening their
end of season campaign with a goalless home draw with Brighton & Hove Albion
and a 2-0 away defeat to Derby County, a second-half goal from winger Oscar
Borg was enough to confirm a 1-0 success for the Hammers in the Black
Country. During the recent break in league fixtures, Academy Assistant
Manager James Rowe took a squad to an international U17 tournament in Abu
Dhabi, where the Hammers picked up one win, one draw and one defeat from
their three group-stage fixtures. Upon returning to domestic duty, U18s
coach Mark Phillips made five changes from the side that lost away at Derby
three weeks ago. England U18 international goalkeeper Sam Howes returned to
the starting line-up, while centre-back Emmanuel Onariase celebrated signing
his first professional deal with the Club by joining Alex Pike, Josh Pask
and Vashon Neufville in the defence.
The visitors started the game well and set about causing problems to the
Wolves back line. Idris Kanu, who has recently stepped up from the U16
squad, looked sharp in attack alongside Joe Powell and Borg as the Hammers
looked for the opening goal. Wolves had their fair share of efforts in the
first half too, but nothing that caused too much trouble for Howes in the
West Ham goal. The only goal of the game came seven minutes in the second
half when skilful midfielder Grady Diangana's clever pass through the Wolves
defence allowed Borg to tap past Harry Burgoyne. The win lifts the Hammers
to sixth, with four points from their three games. With four league matches
to go, West Ham's next league fixture is the visit of Liverpool to Little
Heath on Saturday 18th April 2015, with kick off scheduled for 11am. Parking
and admission for that game are completely FREE as usual.
U18s: Howes, Pike, Onariase, Pask, Neufville, Diangana, Carter, Sylvestre,
Borg, Powell, Kanu
Subs: Eggleton, Forde, Hector-Ingram, Elsom.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Loan round up
WHUFC.com
Sean Maguire played the full game as Accrington Stanley scored a last minute
equaliser away at Cambridge United.
Tom Elliott opened the scoring for Cambridge after just 8 minutes before
Piero Mingoia's strike six minutes before the break. Ryan Bird's late
deflected shot looked to have secured all three points for hosts however
Seamus Conneely scored his second goal in as many games to rescue a valuable
point for Stanley.
Elliot Lee played 61 minutes in Luton Town's 1-0 defeat at home to Burton
Albion. The young striker was replaced by Mark Cullen before Matty Palmer's
79th minute goal kept Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's side top of League Two.
Jaanai Gordon was an unused substitute in Nuneaton Town's 3-1 defeat away at
Dartford. Despite taking the lead through Andy Brown, a second half recovery
saw the hosts score three goals – two for Elliot Bradbrook and one for harry
Crawford. Nuneaton are 23rd in the Conference, needing to win the final two
games to have any chance of avoiding relegation.
Tim Brown played the full game in Canvey Island's 4-0 home defeat to Hampton
& Richmond Borough. Two goals from Moussa Diarra and one apiece for Charlie
Moone and Jerome Federico completed the rout.
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From the Treatment Room
WHUFC.com
We can issue the following update regarding injuries suffered by Diafra
Sakho and Enner Valencia in Saturday's 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw with
Stoke City. After undergoing a scan on Monday, Sakho has been diagnosed with
a thigh strain and will now commence rehabilitation with a view to returning
to action before the end of the season. Valencia sustained a foot injury
when he was accidentally trodden on by a Stoke player. He also underwent a
scan on Monday and will continue to be assessed ahead of Sunday's trip to
Manchester City.
Stijn Vandenbroucke
Head of Medical and Sports Science
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Carlton Cole says he would like to stay at West Ham
Last Updated: 13/04/15 2:39pm
SSN
West Ham striker Carlton Cole says he would like to stay at the club next
season but remains open minded about his next move. Cole's current contract
with the Hammers ends in the summer and the 31-year-old has yet to be
offered a new deal. The striker missed out on a January deadline-day move to
West Brom when West Ham's bid to bring in Tottenham's Emmanuel Adebayor fell
through at the last minute.
I love the place, I love the fans, I love everything about West Ham.
Carlton Cole
Albion boss Tony Pulis is an admirer of Cole's talents and may make a summer
bid to revive the move but in the meantime Cole is simply concentrating on
his football. Speaking at a 'Football Fighting Ebola' event, Cole told Sky
Sports News HQ: "I love the place, I love the fans, I love everything about
West Ham. "But I know all good things do come to an end sometimes and you
have got to just crack on. I'm trying my best to put myself in the best
position to have a new contract, if not at West Ham then somewhere else."
Cole, who is the co-founder of Football Fighting Ebola, says if he is not
offered another deal at West ham then he would consider a move abroad to
America or China. "I'm quite open, I am an adventurous guy," he added. "I
wouldn't mind a bit of China or even the MLS, you never know. I'm really
open and I just want to see what offers are on the table and take it from
there."
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MAKE NO MISTAKE, CHANGES ARE AFOOT
By Iain Dale 13 Apr 2015 at 14:13
West Ham till I Die
Guest Post by DC
However and whenever they occur, changes are afoot. Make no mistake about
that.
As the saying goes, time waits for no man. A quick glance to the end of last
season and we can reel off names like George McCartney, Matt Taylor, Joe
Cole, Jack Collison and this season Vaz Te. They all seem from quite a
distant past already.
Without wishing two seasons of football away, look towards the short-term
future and we'll soon be adding new names to that list, Cole, Demel and
Jaaskelainen (2015), Collins, O'Brien and Nolan (2016) and Amalfitano,
Downing and Jarvis (2017). Within a year the squad 'should' be totally
devoid of the 'ex-Bolton Factor' that is Jasskelainen, O'Brien, Taylor,
Nolan and Vaz Te.
Of that whole list mentioned, perhaps Matt Jarvis is currently the only
player that the club could and would want to trade-in to get some sort of
return on.
We then have the issue of certain loan players to resolve e.g. Jenkinson,
Song (and Diarra). If we're serious about planning for the long-term it
seems a good argument to make Jenkinson the priority.
And so we turn to our main assets: Adrian (2016+2), Kouyate and Sakho
(2018), Carroll, Cresswell and Valencia (2019), Noble and Tomkins (2020) and
Reid (2021). Maybe we'll be fortunate to add a few young guns to that list
in the shape of Potts, Burke, Oxford, Poyet and Lee, but let's be brutally
honest, old Harry would say we're not too far away from being "down to the
bare bones".
So as the cries for change intensify over the next 10 weeks or so – and they
almost certainly will do – we can be confident of one thing. Whatever
happens, changes are a coming. They have to.
Ladies and Gentleman – welcome to the calm (or not so calm) before the
storm!
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Moyes moves closer - but Real hold the key
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 9th April 2015
By: Staff Writer
David Moyes is likely to become West Ham's manager next season - but only if
current club Real Sociedad grant him permission to leave.
As widely predicted, current boss Sam Allardyce is almost certainly coming
to the end of an eventful four-year tenure at the club, in which he has
taken West Ham from the Championship to the top ten of the Premier League.
Although he was saved from the sack last summer when the Board were split
over a change, that barrier is understood to have been removed now with all
three key parties - David Sullivan, David Gold and Karren Brady - in
agreement that a new appointment is necessary.
Much has been written in recent weeks regarding Allardyce's potential
replacement, with Moyes, Rafa Benitiez, Slaven Bilic and Marcelo Bielsa
highly touted as likely candidates. However David Sullivan is thought to
favour signing a manager with Premier League experience.
That would essentially rule out both Croatian Bilic and Argentine Bielsa -
neither of whom have managed in England before. And although he may be
making waves in Ligue 1 at Marseille this season 59-year-old Bielsa's
inability to speak English would also rule him out of contention, with the
owners considering that a priority.
Benitez, as reported on KUMB in May 2014 was, like Moyes, sounded out by
West Ham last summer. Yet the Spaniard is reluctant to join a club outside
of England's established top four - especially with the Manchester City
position likely to become available at the end of the season.
Whilst that essentially leaves Moyes as the default 'top drawer' choice, the
former Everton man is highly-regarded by the Hammers board and, just as
importantly, Tony Henry who is leading the hunt for Allardyce's successor.
Henry, who was placed in charge of player and staff recruitment by the Board
last autumn previously worked with Scot Moyes at Goodison Park and the two
developed a close working relationship which could yet be renewed at the
Boleyn Ground.
However that rests upon West Ham being able to reach agreement with Moyes'
current club Real Sociedad, to whom the 51-year-old is contracted until the
end of the 2015/16 seasons after signing an 18-month contract last November.
Moyes has guided the Basque club to ninth place in this season's La Liga
following a disappointing start to the campaign under Jagoba Arrasate.
He is understood to be keen on a return to England to resurrect a domestic
career that faltered at Manchester United, from where he was fired after
just 10 months in the post (a blow softened by a £5million golden
handshake).
West Ham's Board are also keen on making at least two marquee signings this
summer to supplement the new manager's planned arrival and mark the club's
final season at the Boleyn Ground before moving to Stratford.
One player on the club's wish list is Carlos Tevez, who has just one more
year of a three-year contract left to run at Juventus. The 31-year-old has
previously signalled his intention to return to childhood club Boca, but
West Ham hope they can persuade the 31-year-old crowd favourite to return to
east London for a swansong
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Big Sam and the glass ceiling
KUMb.com
Filed: Monday, 13th April 2015
By: Anjado
Sam Allardyce for me is a good manager who could have been a great manager.
It is a malaise which effects English/British managers they hit the glass
ceiling. If Moyes and Allardyce were Spanish or Italian they would have been
given the opportunity to manage at top clubs ten years ago.
In England, because of a general mistrust of British talent and Ferguson and
Wenger being in their jobs for decades. English managers look purely for
results rather than trying to build teams and providing entertainment for
the fans.
Allardyce for West Ham has been at his best when he has been forced to
abandon the pragmatic style of football which he loves. His two best spells
as West Ham manager were the last two-to-three months of the Championship
season when we needed to win every game to stand a possibility of automatic
promotion.
His other good spell was at the start of this season when his job was on the
line after a terribly tedious season and a not so great start to this
season. Both of these spells coincided with us playing a midfield diamond
system with two strikers up front which could also be adapted into a 4-3-3
also. We play our best football using a diamond system going all the way
back to when Zola was manager.
Unfortunately both times he decided to abandon this system for a more
defensive one and results and performances got increasingly worse. It is no
surprise that the tactics he used which failed to break down Doncaster
Rovers at home in the Championship also fail more times than not in the
Premier League.
I think his main problem is that he is too stubborn to change his ways and
abandon his principles. The way he likes to play the game doesn't work as
effectively now as it did at Bolton. People will say this is down to having
the likes of Djorkaeff and Okocha, but i don't think it is solely down to
that.
Football has changed a lot since the heyday of his Bolton side. When Bolton
were at their best, Allardyce was ahead of the game. Greece won the European
Championships playing similar football and Porto were also a defensive team
when they won the Champions League. He was ahead in sports science and even
tactically for the time.
The problem is, it was Allardyce being ahead of the game and not his actual
system which was why he was successful. When he changes it up for us and
move away from his Bolton system, we look so much better and ahead of the
game.
Modern football is all about attacking with pace and we did that at the
beginning of the season. Yes, the board deserves blame for not spending
money and I said at the time that the club lacks ambition.
But the malaise we currently find ourselves in is more the manager's fault
than the boardroom. I think most people would have understood our results
slipping a bit but to be performing worse than nearly every other team since
the start of the year is both poor and unacceptable.
Some of his team selections have been frankly bizarre since the Chelsea
game. Kevin Nolan gets a lot of stick even though he has done well for the
club. But he has been finished as a starting player for a top flight club
for nearly two years now and I'm not sure if he offers enough from the bench
either to justify his position on the pitch.
Mark Noble was playing his best football screening the back four and now he
has been moved forward, for some reason. Downing was brilliant in behind the
strikers but he was moved out to the wing to accommodate Nolan.
Song has one weakness as a player which is that he dallies on the ball, so
playing him in front of the defence makes little sense. If we had blooded
Burke, Henry or Oxford we could have kept Kouyate in midfield rather than
making our team worse by having him fill in at centre half.
Amalfitano doesn't get to start because apparently he doesn't play as well.
(That didn't seem to be the case against Manchester City though.) Meanwhile
Sakho and Valencia were broken up as soon as Carroll was about 75 per cent
fit - instead of using Nene and Zarate, both of whom have provided a spark
for us.
If it wasn't for Zarate's performance against Palace, Allardyce might well
have been sacked by the third game of this season. He played well for us
when he was used and I would argue his worst game was against Southampton,
when everyone was equally poor. He was arguably our best player in two
matches this season.
Nene has only played for 52 minutes in total; he has hit the post, forced
the opposition goalkeeper into a couple of good saves and had a hand in
Sakho's winner against Sunderland.
Matt Jarvis, a player he spent a club record fee on two seasons previously
has only started twice this season. Diego Poyet, a player who could have
been brought on when defending a lead to give the likes of Downing, Noble,
Song a rest has only been used twice all season. He looks a capable player,
but hasn't been used at all.
Recently we have had both Guy Demel and Joey O'Brien on the bench, both of
whom are right backs, instead of having a central defender on there.
He rushed Andy Carroll back against Southampton and brought him on to the
right wing rather than resting him for the West Brom game, which was the
biggest of the season. He could have also brought Elliot Lee on for 30
minutes.
On Saturday we had our strongest starting XI, with the exception of Tomkins.
The same team that played at our best points during the season.
Instead of picking the obvious side and formation, we picked the same
bizarre formation we did against Leicester and then changed it after we
scored to a 4-6-0 until half time (and then back to the Leicester formation
after half time). We didn't play with two up front for any period of the
game yesterday despite having the personnel - and it led to a poor
performance.
Allardyce bought himself a lot of good will with the way we started the
season and we played well against Spurs, Manchester United and Chelsea this
year. But his negativity and favourtism to certain styles and players makes
it difficult to back him. Perhaps if he was ten years younger he would be
worth persevering with.
The only reason I would keep him now is due to a lack of trust in the
Board's ambition. It's basically the same situation as last season; if we
could get someone better or with potential, I would think about changing it.
If we kept Allardyce I really couldn't see him lasting the duration of his
next contract. He has provided a few great moments and has done well
generally, but his main problems has been Kevin Nolan - who he has been far
too loyal too - and a system he should have pretty much abandoned three
years ago.
For all the good he has done for the club - and he has done a lot - minor
complaints have built and built and when results don't go our way, then
people aren't going to be happy.
It's a shame he will probably be leaving at the end of the season, but I
feel it is less of a missed opportunity for us and more a missed opportunity
for him. He definitely had the chance to lead us to the new stadium and
become the manager he always says he is. Unfortunately, his negativity and
stubbornness has held him back from his goals.
It's a shame because Allardyce does come up with some brilliant ideas, but
he lets himself down with a lack of ambition. Since he is now in his 60s he
isn't going to learn or change his ways. His style of play does work, but
only to a point - and since we are going to be trying to move to the next
level, I'm not sure he can take us any further anymore.
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Frozen in time
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 12th April 2015
By: Paul Walker
West Ham are suffering from football inertia of the very worst kind… frozen
in time just waiting, begging almost, for something to happen.
Two wins in 15 league matches, plus a shocking exit from the FA Cup is the
sort of form that gets any manager the sack, sometimes much less.
But we all know that is not going to happen. Our beloved board just want
this season to end, quickly, so they can put into practice what we all know
is going to happen, Sam Allardyce's departure from these parts.
Nobody in their right mind now believes anything different, whatever we are
told by the people that make the decisions - eventally - about the future of
our club.
Us fans are being taken for something of a ride now because what we are
watching isn't worth the money we have paid for our season tickets, but of
course the Davids are not bothered as long as it doesn't cost them or the
club any more money than absolutely necessary.
Nobody expects the board to axe Sam on the strength of this current dreadful
run because he goes for nothing, as does his coaching staff I believe, on
June 30 when his contract ends. Sack him now, or last summer and there's all
sorts of cash to be paid out.
So we are all frozen in time. Us, the players, the people employed by Sam
and the club at Chadwell Heath, and it is those people I actually feel most
sorry for. They are on ordinary money doing ordinary jobs and have wives,
families and mortgages to worry about.
Those things don't bother our players, who are ever-increasingly going
through the motions. They don't bother millionaire owners. And it doesn't
bother Sam. He knows he could retire now and never work again, or he knows
he will get another job somewhere regardless. It wouldn't surprise me if it
was already lined up.
The owners know we are going to finish ninth, tenth or 11th. And the Europa
League via the Fair Play league is just a red-herring. They wouldn't want to
start matches again in the first week of July, just days after Sam has gone,
surely. David Sullivan will be hell-bent on too much wheeler-dealing to be
bothered by matches to play.
A new man will not be in place, unless David Moyes has already got his eyes
on Sam's docklands apartment, that is.
Sam is doing the rounds of his usual media haunts, the latest saw him doing
his cuddly uncle bit on Clare Balding's new chat show. Must admit, I
expected more, but it was very superficial, all the old stuff about clubs he
leaves being relegated, and the fact that he has achieved everything he was
asked to do.
Sam was his usual snug self, all jokes and arrogance. I'm a professional,
doing my job, And that's the bit every football professional understands.
Sam's media friends have done their bit too, with a string of articles
asking just why we want him long gone. But they are hardly going to write
that he should be chopped; they wouldn't want to upset him, now, would they?
The real piece of TV that said it all came when Sam was informed at his
press conference last week that David Sullivan had suggested he was
extremely disappointed with our current form. Sam' s "Did he" was worth more
than a thousand interviews.
The two just don't click any more, underlined by Sullivan's remark that "the
manager picks the team, ask him" when commenting on Nene's very rare
appearances on the pitch. Another player the co-owner had bought that Sam
didn't want.
I Don't know about you, but I am getting fed-up with being asked by fans of
other clubs just what we expected, and what more we want from BFS.
Outside the West Ham world, fans cannot understand. Surely we are safe from
the drop, there has been four seasons of first promotion and now steady
progress. It looks that way from the outside.
I have had this conversation from a barman in San Francisco to a taxi driver
in Cheshire these past weeks. (Had to get that bit in, sorry!) And the Yanks
are the worst. None of their sports are really based on flair, the NFL for
example is throwing, catching, running, stop. Basketball is end-to-end in
the blink of an eye and used as non-stop wallpaper on US television.
And nobody can see the puck when ice hockey is televised anyway! Maybe I am
being a bit harsh there, because the giants of basketball are amazingly
skilled. But I am sure you get my point, the Yanks only really understand
results and winning.
So isn't Sam producing that? Well, no, not at the moment anyway. We score,
defend and lose. Every time the fourth official holds up the 'Fergie time'
board, we seem to panic and throw away points.
It was the same at the weekend when Stoke came to town. Somehow we had hung
on after Aaron Cresswell's wonder free-kick, conceding 60 per cent plus of
possession. Thanks to the heroics of James Collins - on a weekend when West
Brom were remembering the brain damage that killed Jeff Astle, maybe Ginge
could consider how much his head must have hurt against Stoke!
And yes, we ended up drawing in the 95th minute. We used to chant ' It's
happening again' to Spurs fans, now the rest of the Premier League are
singing that to us!
We brought young Maddie with us on Saturday, she is soon to become my son's
sister-in-law, about a month away now. (The wedding is on the last weekend
of the season in Portugal. I ask you, who planned that?) She's a Stoke fan,
which probably explains a lot, and behaved impeccably. Not a flinch when we
scored, likewise when two Stoke efforts were disallowed. And still not a
reaction when the equaliser went in.
Well done, you can come again. Certainly if you buy your rounds like you
did. But to be fair, it would have been an insult to everyone's intelligence
if Stoke had left without a point, at least.
We were plain awful, and it's not going to get any better with Manchester
City next. But Sam will just amble on to the end of the season when he, and
us, will be put out of our misery. Hopefully there will be an end to the
vile bickering on fans' websites, the split in our support and the insidious
campaigns to get the manager out.
I had actually stopped recently trying to write constructive, balanced stuff
which put both sides of the case for Sam. Anything you say even slightly in
his favour is met with a barrage of abuse, a lot of it sneering, patronising
and from a self-established high moral ground. Anyone who does not share the
anti-Sam rhetoric is considered anti-football and defiling the soul of the
game.
Just look at the forums and social media after Saturday. Disdainful stuff.
And the pro-Sam lot are no better, preaching on about stability and a job
well done. The word pragmatic gets used a lot and detractors don't know what
they are talking about. I took a few weeks rest from it all.
So who do we get next? Forget Glenn Hoddle, his name only comes up when
Sullivan cannot find anyone else, and he's his mate. And I don't really
believe Rafa Benitez will come, we will have to pay him twice what Sam is
getting, and our board won't stomach that.
Mind you, Benitez still wants Liverpool and fancies Manchester City. He is
deluding himself, I feel. His family still live in Wirral and the kids go to
posh schools in Chester, I recall. But does anyone think that Liverpool will
go back to him, however well he did in winning the Champions League for
them?
And City can have anyone they want. Pep Guardiola would do nicely. Surely
they wouldn't want someone axed by Liverpool. Rafa for us, I doubt it. He
doesn't get out of bed for a transfer kitty under £100million these days,
much like Louis van Gaal, another from the big league.
So it's Moyes, you would think. Tony Henry must be bending his ear daily by
now. And I don't go along with the stuff that Moyes is just a cheap version
of Allardyce, although that would impress the Davids.
Back in my former life, I spent a decade working with Moyes, and he has
plenty of impressive qualities. A very good, organised coach and a man who
is capable of building a club slowly and soundly without vast sums of money.
What we must have is someone who does not cast out all the good progress we
have made,that is key for me.
We have put up with Sam because the progress has been there, if not very
pretty. After the bumbling nonsense of Avram Grant (well done you Davids for
that one) and the indecent haste that saw Lady Brady sacking Gianfranco
Zola, longevity is needed.
All that meant a huge turnover of very average players and absolutely no
progress. My lad pointed out at the weekend on our slow train back north
that he has had enough of us not being able to compete, to give him
something worth watching instead of constant dismantling of the club at
every level.
So Moyes would be trusted with that. Just ask Bill Kenwright, someone our
owners think highly of. Bill did not have bottomless pockets and Everton had
to work and struggle to build what they have now. They were once a financial
basket case like us, but not now.
And Moyes is credited with much of the good stuff that came to Goodison
Park. Yes, he can be as long-ball as anyone, even Sam, but there is variety
and the ability to adapt. He certainly isn't long ball in Spain, and if
given the sort of money Van Gaal has been allowed at Manchester United may
well have made a better fist of things there.
The other name that keeps coming up is the Argentinean looney tunes, Marcelo
Bielsa, currently at Marseille. He has won praise from the very best, Carlos
Tevez and Pep for a start.
There was an interesting, if highly pretentious piece in the Guardian about
Bielsa by Barney Roney last week. When I had managed to batter my way
through the arty stuff about Braque, Picasso and obscure American artists
(believe me, you couldn't make it up) Ronay was suggesting Bielsa and West
Ham were made for each other.
The problem, for me, is that he doesn't speak a word of English - so how on
earth would Mark Noble make himself understood?
Seriously, though. Bielsa has plenty going for him. He is a total advocate
of attacking football, is prone to great success (at Athletic Bilbao) and
spells of sheer nonsense. He can also rant with the best of them.
But if we wanted a Latin hero, who loves attacking and has no idea about
defence, and can rage away with sheer nonsense at the drop of a hat (plus
ruin the knees of a few expensive suits) why not give it to Paolo Di Canio?
Now there's a thought.
But our owners do not want a gamble like that, so maybe Bielsa is a step too
far with the very delicate matter of the Olympic Stadium just around the
corner.
No, for me, Moyes is the best bet. Young, safe hands, capable of decent
signings--that's where Henry comes in again--and capable of working with
what he finds and bringing on the youth. And he won't want Sullivan buying
players for him that are unfit, too old, or already in retirement in Qatar.
Now that's not such a bad thing, is it?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Jenkinson, Cresswell, Valencia and Allardyce: Monday's news
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 13th April 2015
By: Staff Writer #2
Get the very latest West Ham news in one place, with our new daily media
round-up!
West Ham plot £10m offer to beat Liverpool to Arsenal star Carl Jenkinson
According to reports, the Hammers are mobilising a sizeable offer to ward
off interest from Liverpool.
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/436168/Carl-Jenkinson-West-Ham-Liv
erpool-Arsenal-Transfer-News-Update-Gossip-Latest
Aaron Cresswell criticises West Ham for switching off as Stoke grab
equaliser
Aaron Cresswell accepts West Ham must learn to stay "switched on" until the
final whistle to avoid seeing their fruitful season drift away.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/apr/12/west-ham-stoke-city-premier-
league-match-report
Late show secures Ladies victory
West Ham United Ladies ended an unbeaten week by picking up a late 1-0
victory at home to Cardiff City Ladies on Sunday.
http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2015/April/12-April/Late-show-secures-Lad
ies-victory
Borg seals U18s success
West Ham United picked up their first Barclays U18 Premier League Final
Stage Group victory by beating Wolverhampton Wanderers.
http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2015/April/12-April/Borg-seals-U18s-succe
ss
'We were left with a bitter taste'
Enner Valencia admitted to feeling a 'bitter taste' in his mouth after
Saturday's agonising 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw with Stoke City.
http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2015/April/13-April/We-were-left-with-a-b
itter-taste
West Ham are reportedly looking to win the race for Carl Jenkinson
By offering Arsenal £10million for his services.
http://metro.co.uk/2015/04/13/west-ham-making-10m-offer-to-sign-arsenals-car
l-jenkinson-5147239/?
West Ham could offer Manchester City perfect tonic after derby humbling
Under-fire West Ham United could offer Manchester City the perfect
pick-me-up after their 4-2 defeat in the Manchester derby on Sunday.
http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2015/04/12/dl-west-ham-offer-man-city-perfect
-tonic-after-derby-humbling/?
Enner Valencia confirms yet another injury setback, will have scan today
West Ham striker Enner Valencia has admitted that he will have a scan on his
latest foot injury.
http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2015/04/13/enner-valencia-confirms-yet-anothe
r-injury-setback-will-have-sca/?
West Ham left "crushed" by another late defensive lapse grumbles Sam
Allardyce
Big Sam calls for calm after his Hammers yet again fail to cling on to three
points, this time against Stoke, but remain in the top half of the table
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/west-ham-left-crushed-another-55
07356
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce hopes for time to develop squad struggling to
keep pace in long Premier League season after conceding late again in draw
with Stoke City
West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce believes his squad are unable to deal
with the rigours of a full Barclays Premier League season after they dropped
points by conceding late against Stoke City.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3036047/West-Ham-manager-S
am-Allardyce-hopes-time-develop-squad-struggling-pace-Premier-League.html
I wouldn't turn it down: Redknapp U-turn over West Ham comeback?
Harry Redknapp has again been tipped to replace Sam Allardyce at West Ham
United after an apparent change of heart over a return to the Boleyn.
http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2015/04/12/dl-i-wouldnt-turn-it-down-redknapp
-u-turn-over-west-ham-comeback/
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West Ham left "crushed" by another late defensive lapse grumbles Sam
Allardyce
22:30, 12 April 2015 By Ann Gripper
Big Sam calls for calm after his Hammers yet again fail to cling on to three
points, this time against Stoke, but remain in the top half of the table
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce admits he and his side are "crushed" by West Ham's repeated
late collapses. Marko Arnautovic's stoppage-time equaliser was the fourth
time in recent games the Hammers have dropped points in the dying moments.
That inability to see games out has brought just one win and seven points
from their last 10 league matches – and intensified the spotlight on Big
Sam's future, with his contract up in the summer. Allardyce points to the
50-point tally his side could have had and a season catching up with
signings new to the Premier League. But he insists it is down to the players
to end their worrying trend of conceding late goals.
Allardyce said: "We are all very down about how many points we have thrown
away and how many games we should have won. "We are crushed about how we
have let leads slip in the final seconds. Only they can find a solution. "I
can't tell them what the opposition are going to do on the day, other than
what I can to guide them. Late in the game, the opposition will put four or
five up there, take a chance and play direct football against you. "They'll
get the ball forward to the edge of your box as quick as they can, they'll
all run up and forget about defending and try to put that pressure on you.
"We've got to calm ourselves and make sure our nerve ends don't jangle the
next time we're in this position."
Aaron Cresswell's majestic free-kick gave West Ham the perfect start. But
Stoke's leveller hardly came as a surprise. A Mame Biram Diouf header had
cannoned off an upright and Arnautovic had seen two offside efforts
disallowed – the second provoking furious protest from the Austrian.
Fired-up by his frustration, Arnautovic surged forward moments later and
slotted the goal which turned a laboured win into a draw which left Hammers
fans booing at the final whistle. City are far more satisfied with the
43-point tally the clubs share, and a club record mark in the Premier League
remains a possibility for the Potters. That progress in Mark Hughes' second
year means the departure of Bosnia keeper Asmir Begovic, who has a year left
on his contract, is not a foregone conclusion – and it would need a major
step up to tempt him away. Begovic said: "The club is doing some good things
and moving in the right direction. Let's see if we can sort something out.
I wouldn't leave for just anything."
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Allardyce, Moyes, Bielsa – career win stats!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 13, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Marrying up style and Premier League survival is a dilemma that's been
exercising many minds inside Upton Park over the past couple of years..
The major argument of those who support Sam Allardce and want him to stay is
that he will keep the Hammers safe – they will never be relegated under his
regime – he's "a safe pair of hands".
The main criticism of course is that his football lacks style and is not in
the West Ham tradition but given the extent to which the game has changed
and the finances involved it's hard to disagree with his assessment that
survival may be the name of the game.
It would seem that David Moyes is the figure most fancied to take his place
should the two Davids decide to replace him at the end of the season with
Marseilles boss Marcelo Bielsa still in the frame.
So how do the three measure up in terms of survival.
The style comparison is impossible to make but here is the record in terms
of results of the three men over their managerial careers.
We leave it with you:
Big Sam stats (win %):
Preston North End = 25%
Blackpool = 43.14%
Notts County = 38.62%
Bolton = 41.24%
Newcastle = 33.33%
Blackburn = 34.88%
West Ham = 38.29%
David Moyes stats (win%):
Preston North End = 48.29%
Everton = 42.08%
Man Utd = 52.94%
Real Sociedad = 40.91%
Marcelo Bielsa
Argentina = 61.76%
Chile = 51.2 %
Athletico Bilbao = 38.39%
Marseilles = 49.08%
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Valencia scan!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 13, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Enner Valencia will undergo a scan on his new foot injury later today (Mon).
The striker was injured when an opposition player accidentally trod on his
foot during the match at the weekend. He told the official site: "I don't
know yet how serious it is, as they are going to run a scan on Monday. It
was not done on purpose – a Stoke player stepped backwards and onto my foot.
I think I have a little bit of an injury on my foot, but we have to run a
scan on Monday to be sure."
On the game he said: " I think we were playing against a very good Stoke
side, as they showed with their ball possession. After we scored we went
back a bit too far, but they are a good side and looked after the ball
well."
Earlier, Valencia had joined in the celebrations after Aaron Cresswell
netted an unstoppable free-kick the South American himself would have been
proud of. "I was going into the box when Stewart Downing called me and asked
if I wanted to take it, but I didn't need to because Aaron took it
magnificently!" he smiled.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam: "We are all very down"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 13, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Sam Allardyce has claimed that it's time for everybody associated with the
team to "calm themselves" as they approach the dying embers of the season.
But he admits: ""We are all very down at the minute about how many points we
have thrown away and how many games we should have won." The manager,
however, believes there are good reasons why we haven't finished on a flier
saying: "The early part of the season was about the players achieving great
heights and the squad having little or no injuries "I think that, as a
squad, they are finding out at this stage about the nitty-gritty of the
Premier League, the physical and mental fatigue. "Some of them have not
experienced it before and are in their first seasons in the Premier League,
so for them, all of a sudden, it is week after week, pressure after
pressure, performance after performance. "Then looking at our new players
from abroad, they have all done brilliantly, but they are feeling the pace a
little bit now." He added: "While we haven't performed as well as we did in
the early part of the season, we have still been in a position where we
could have been on 50 points and we are only talking about the best part of
three minutes in four games (when points have been dropped). "Stoke are
happy and they are on 43 points. We are not as happy because we are on 43
and we know it should be 50, but we are (still) in the top half of the
table. "So we have all got to calm ourselves and make sure our nerve ends
don't jangle the next time we are in this position."
Allardyce, however, is confident the squad will emerge stronger from such a
disappointing spell. "Next season they will be better, they will be more
experienced, they will be more able to cope than they have this season. "We
should have been celebrating getting to 50 points, cruising at the top end,
making sure that we are going to finish at least eighth and beating our
previous points total, so we are crushed about how we have let leads slip in
the final seconds."
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Why Sam Allardyce deserves better than he is getting at West Ham
12:24 13 April 2015
London 24
Brad Pinard
The pressure is mounting on Sam Allardyce after West Ham's 1-1 draw with
Stoke City - but London24 Sport reporter Brad Pinard believes the Hammers
boss deserves better...
Last summer a large percentage of West Ham fans, myself included, would have
been pleased to see the back of Sam Allardyce after a dreadful season.
However, impressive summer recruitment with the backing of owners David Gold
and David Sullivan saw the Hammers surge towards the top four in the opening
few months of the 2014/15 campaign, proving plenty of people wrong. The
style of football improved, the goals were flowing and even the stubborn Roy
Hodgson found a place in his squad for an actual West Ham player! The busy
Christmas period was the beginning of the end, though. Resting key players
away at Chelsea will never go down well with the West Ham faithful,
accepting a defeat to a bitter rival like that, and following it up with a
home loss to another London side in Arsenal saw fans raise their first
questions of the season. Since then, West Ham have picked up 12 points from
a possible 39. Even Big Sam admits that is not good enough. But the start of
the season has been forgotten so quickly, it almost baffles the brain. The
performances in those famous wins over Liverpool and Manchester City were
stunning, that is what the squad Allardyce has built is capable of. Gold
and Sullivan gave Big Sam a set of aims for the season, and as the manager
said in his press conference on Thursday, he is set to meet them all. "Have
I delivered what I have been asked to deliver? Yes. Would I do anything
different, yes, but have we grown the club? Yes. Have we got a better team
going towards the new stadium? Yes. Is it a younger team? Yes. Do we create
more entertainment? Yes," he said, and he is right.
So why would Allardyce not be given a new contract and publicly backed by
the club? The owners openly criticising the team and speaking out in the
media is never helpful but it seems to have become the norm. Allardyce has
the dressing room behind him, but the players should be criticised too! Yes,
Kevin Nolan should be nowhere near the team and Carlton Cole is more of a
hindrance than a help on the pitch, but the lack of options on the bench
every single week is evident. The quality is there in the starting line-up
but Allardyce can't physically kick the ball in the goal, he needs his
players who are paid a fortune to do that. Gold and Sullivan should either
back or sack Allardyce, that is the least he deserves, rather than be put
through another month of abuse and speculation. We all know the story,
promoted in the first season in the Championship with a broken squad, an
impressive first season in the Premier League and now arguably the best side
West Ham have had in the Premier League era. Many would not be upset to see
Sam shown the door this summer, but the constant speculation is a major
cause for concern and the rest of this season will almost certainly follow
suit to Saturday's latest disappointment.
Big Sam is not the only boss who can keep West Ham up, which appears to be
one theory, but a change of manager with a year to go until the Olympic
Stadium move - which will offer billionaire investors the chance to take the
club to the next level - could be a dangerous game to play. The fans are
entitled to their opinions as they pay far too much to go down to Upton Park
every other week, but the owners are the ones who make the decisions and
they should have already made theirs on the manager instead of allowing
another season to go down the drain in uncertain circumstances. If Allardyce
was handed a new contract back in January, I believe West Ham would still be
battling for Europe. He deserves better from his bosses and his players.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham prepare for tug-of-war with Liverpool over £10m Arsenal man Carl
Jenkinson
Evening Standard
KEN DYER
Published: 13 April 2015 Updated: 11:21, 13 April 2015
West Ham will go head to head with Liverpool this summer to sign Carl
Jenkinson on a permanent deal from Arsenal. The full-back has impressed
since he arrived on loan at the beginning of this season and the Hammers
will have to fork out at least £10million to have a chance of signing him.
Liverpool are also reported to be interested in the 23-year-old England
international, who said today he would not allow himself to be distracted by
speculation on his future. "I am just concentrating on doing my very best
for the team and getting the results we need. I am not worried about
anything else," added Jenkinson. With Guy Demel also likely to leave West
Ham in the summer, a right-back is a priority for Sam Allardyce. The Hammers
are also being linked with a move for Liverpool's Glen Johnson, who began
his career at Upton Park before joining Chelsea in 2003. Jenkinson admitted
his frustration as West Ham dropped more points following a late goal — the
fourth time it has happened this season — as they drew 1-1 against Stoke on
Saturday. "It is bizarre why it keeps happening," he said. "It is
frustrating. We have been in similar positions before this season and we
haven't managed to hold on, so it is time we started. "What was frustrating
was that we didn't really build on that early goal from Aaron Cresswell, we
sat back and let them play. We started really well but we needed to
capitalise on that. Instead we invited the pressure on ourselves and in the
end it took its toll. "It is not really happening for us at the moment but
we have six games left and we want to finish as high as we can. We would
love to get eighth spot."
West Ham could be reduced to one fit striker — Carlton Cole — for next
Sunday's trip to Manchester City. With Andy Carroll out for the rest of the
season following knee surgery, Allardyce has also lost Diafra Sakho for
several weeks with a thigh injury, while Enner Valencia was due to have a
scan today on a foot injury.
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Gold and Sullivan target two 'big name' signings – The ExWHUemployee Column
Ironviews.com
By Liam Spencer on April 13, 2015 in ExWHUemployee column
Those of you who read my blogs regularly will know that I have backed Sam
constantly and taken a lot of slack for it in the process. I have supported
him and the team throughout the season and felt that much of the criticism
that has been levelled towards him had been unfair. Whilst I am still not
convinced that getting rid of him is necessarily the right move (cue abuse)
I found Saturday very hard to excuse and I am much more open to change now.
I was delighted when I heard the team Friday evening and thought it would be
very well received amongst the fans. Valencia was straight back in and it
looked on paper that we had resorted to the diamond with Downing at the tip
allowing room for the full backs to overlap. In reality this was not the
case as again; Downing and Valencia played more out on the wing and the
early season diamond was not very evident.
We got the perfect start with Cresswell's excellent goal and then we
proceeded to sit back as we have done so many times this season. We
allowed Stoke to attack us and in reality they should have won the game as a
result. The phrase "the best form of defence is attack is one that seems to
have slipped past our radars".
Another very disappointing thing was the substitutions. I know Sakho was
injured so it was forced upon Sam in that respect but I would have brought
Nene on instead of Cole. Stoke are such a physical team and their centre
backs are huge. Thus, if you are putting on a more physical player, he must
be able to match their physical ability. Unfortunately Cole could not and so
every ball that went to him was won by their centre backs. You need to
attack those centre backs not in the air but on the ground through quick
passing and direct running, and with Nene you would be much more likely to
get that than Cole. I wrote an article when Nene first joined suggesting he
will not play much because Sam wasn't that keen and disappointingly it has
been proven to be correct so far. Both Sakho and Valencia will have scans on
injuries today and it is a real worry that we will play the rest of the
season if they are out with Cole as a sole target man.
Alex Song was not having his best game and didn't appear to be 100% fit, and
whilst I wouldn't have taken him off I certainly wouldn't have brought Nolan
on. Morgan Amalfitano should have come on and kept the energy levels up. I
think Morgan is probably the most unlucky person at the club because no
matter how well he plays and how poorly the team plays he cannot get a
starting spot. Too regularly in 2015 have the wrong substitutions cost us.
Of course the players cannot be exempt from any criticism either ands too
many of them went missing on Saturday and have been for a while now. It
appears a few have started their holidays early but again, how much of this
is down to the unknown managerial situation and to the wrong tactics? It is
getting to the point now where it will be very hard for Sam to stay on next
year due to the growing resentment amongst the fans, along with this
dreadful 2015 form. Everyone needs to be pulling in the same direction going
into what will be an emotional last year at Upton Park and an extremely
important first at the Olympic Stadium and with him at the helm I am not
sure they will be. The latest name to be thrown into the hat is Di Matteo
who again is an interesting name and one who has won the Champions League
like Benitez (to go alongside the other names that I have reported in my
previous columns) but it is all speculation at this point.
If there was any doubt about who should win Hammer of the Year I think it is
now been concluded after Saturday. Cresswell was again a bright spark and
played with constant energy topped off by a brilliant goal. He has made the
transition from the Championship to the Premier League superbly and at his
age he will continue to grow and grow as a player. My order of Hammer of the
Year would be: Cresswell, Kouyate, Sakho, Adrian and then Collins. If we had
voted at Christmas I would have gone for Downing but he and Song appear to
be the players who have lost form the most in 2015. However, in Downing's
case how much of this is due to not being at the tip of the diamond anymore?
I think Jenkinson and Cresswell have the potential give us brilliant full
backs for many years to come. I really would love to hang onto Carl and I
have heard he wants to stay. The problem is that other clubs are looking at
him now, notably Liverpool. I am still confident we can persuade him to stay
in London where his family and friends all live. I have reported this many
times in the past and it appears to be being recycled by a number of other
sources this weekend; if we do not sign Jenkinson we will go for Glenn
Johnson on a free. We will sign another forward (we are still very keen on
Hernandez of Manchester United and Konate of Sion), a new centre midfield
(Obiang of Sampdoria likely to be a target and a few players in Europe who
we have watched) and a centre back (Schar of Bazel is another target) with
the right back at a minimum. The board are likely to provide the cash for at
least two big signings and a few less known players with potential. There
are also reports that we have looked at Cleverley who will be available on a
free from Manchester United but I do not have any confirmation on that.
I intend to write another article during the week of a more positive note,
believe it or not, but I felt the performance on Saturday could not be
avoided. I can't make up my mind whether we play Manchester City at a good
time or not and that is one beauty of supporting West Ham, anything is
possible.
ExWHUemployee
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham consider appointing Roberto Di Matteo as shock Allardyce
replacement
HITC
Olly Dawes
West Ham are reportedly interested in offering Roberto Di Matteo a return to
the Premier League.According to Tutto Mercato Web, West Ham are considering
a move to bring Roberto Di Matteo back to the Premier League. The Hammers
have won just twice in 2015, and after Saturday's 1-1 draw with Stoke City,
the pressure continues to mount on manager Sam Allardyce. With Allardyce's
contract set to expire this summer, West Ham are expected to let 'Big Sam'
leave Upton Park and then find someone to replace him. Now, Tutto Mercato
Web believe that the Hammers could offer ex-Chelsea boss Di Matteo a
surprise return to English football. The Italian, 44, managed Milton Keynes
Dons and West Bromwich Albion before replacing Andre Villas-Boas as Chelsea
manager in 2012, guiding them to the Champions League crown just months
later. However, Di Matteo lasted just over eight months in the Chelsea hot
seat before meeting Roman Abramovich's axe, and after two years out of
football, he returned in October 2014 to manage German side Schalke.
So far, Di Matteo has won 12 of his 27 games in charge, but two goalless
draws in a row mean they are now unlikely to qualify for the Champions
League - which could leave Di Matteo out of a job, according to TMW. They
also report that if he does leave Gelsenkirchen this summer, West Ham would
be interested in making him Allardyce's replacement in a surprise move which
may make fans recall the last time West Ham appointed a former Chelsea
player in Gianfranco Zola - which didn't go too well.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham striker Diafra Sakho ruled out for the rest of the season with
suspected torn thigh muscle
18:31, 13 April 2015 By Darren Lewis
The 25-year-old marksman, who has scored 12 goals this season, is understood
to have sustained the injury in Saturday's draw at home to Stoke
The Mirror
West Ham have been rocked by the news that striker Diafra Sakho is out for
the rest of the season. The 25-year-old marksman, who has scored 12 goals
this season, is understood to have torn a muscle in his thigh. The injury is
understood to have occurred in Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Stoke. It is a
huge blow to the club's ambitions of finishing in the top half. Also to boss
Sam Allardyce's hopes of renewing his contract when his current deal expires
at the end of the season.
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Vile Stoke chants aimed at Mooro
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 13, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Stoke City fans made vile chants at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday which
bought the memory of Hammers Legend Bobby Moore into disrepute on the eve of
what would of been his 74th birthday. Several West Ham fans in Sir Trevor
Brooking lower and East stand close to the away fans heard a small section
of the crowd singing "Jimmy Saville, he sh…ged Bobby Moore"
They also chanted "There`s only five of you English" which seemed to bemuse
some West Ham fans, although presumably it is a reference to the amount of
foreign players we fielded on Saturday. One Stoke fan took to Iain Dale's
West Ham Till Die.com this morning saying "As a Stoke City fan I am ashamed
at the behaviour and totally unacceptable chanting from a few of the away
supporters on Saturday.
"I shook my head in disbelief at some of the comments. All football clubs
have a small minority of "fans" who seem intent on embarrassing the good
name of their club and each and everyone of the true football supporters
that follow it. "Most of the comments on our own fanzine, agree that such
behaviour has no place in society I believe that Stoke City are
investigating the incident and as difficult as it can be, hopefully can
identify those involved. A big concern is the number of supporters who then
decide to sing along without even realising how offensive the words are.Your
club and fans were very welcoming"
Many fans on the Stoke City Fanzine "The Oatcake" message board also called
their own fans "embarrassing."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Mixed news on Sakho/Valencia injuries
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 13, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Strikers Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia had mixed results from their scans
following injury setbacks against Stoke at the weekend.
Boss Sam Allardyce had struck a gloomy note ahead of the medical claiming
that Sakho could be ruled out for the season. But Head of Medical sports
science Stijn Vandenbroucke reported to the official website: "After
undergoing a scan on Monday, Sakho has been diagnosed with a thigh strain
and will now commence rehabilitation with a view to returning to action
before the end of the season." The news on Valencia, who picked up a foot
injury when accidentally trodden on by a Stoke player, seems more
optimistic. Vandenbroucke said he will continue to be assessed ahead of
Sunday's trip to Manchester City.
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Pay up or lose season ticket!
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 13, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham have confirmed that Season Ticket Holders who do not pay the
minimum deposit of £75 before the 5pm deadline this Friday 17th April will
see their ticket released and offered to someone else.
Priority in the seat selection for the new stadium is assigned to the Season
Ticket and not the individual holder so anyone not renewing for the final
season at the Boleyn Ground will need to join the back of the new Stadium
priority list to purchase a Season Ticket for 2016/17
The club have confirmed there will be no extension to the renewal deadline
as they have a seat change / bring new fans weekend starting at 9am the
following day so if your seat is not secured there is a real chance it will
be instantly sold.
They have stressed that this is why it is so important that everyone is
aware they must renew before Friday 5pm as they fully expect Season Tickets
to sell out before the start of the season.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
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http://www.avast.com
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce said he believes the disappointment he and his players felt
after a 1-1 draw with Stoke City demonstrated how far the Hammers have come
this season. Reflecting on a tough encounter with the Potters, which saw
Marko Arnautovic's 95th minute equaliser cancel out Aaron Cresswell's superb
free-kick, Allardyce said: "We're on 43 points, but we're not happy with
that because we know it should be 50, we're in the top half of the table but
we could be higher up. "Aaron Cresswell scored a superb goal which was great
to see but we didn't hold on. It's up to the players to find it within
themselves to keep concentration levels up until the final whistle."
"Arnautovic's goal was a fantastic piece of skill, particularly his first
touch, but we should have dealt with it better." The visitors' late
equaliser has been a recent feature for Allardyce's men after conceding
other late goals against Manchester United, Tottenham hotspur and Leicester
City. The West Ham United manager continued to say that these were the
fine margins between gaining one and three points in the Premier League. "We
should have 50 points by now, we've thrown away seven points in the last few
minutes. Had we not conceded those late goals against Manchester United,
Tottenham and Leicester we would have our record number of points since
being back in the Premier League. "We're struggling to find the key element
that will help us to close out games, at the moment we're panicking towards
the end of games and not keeping possession. I think their goal was a very
good one, we should have dealt with it better than we did. We are very
nervous because we've conceded late goals before."
Up next for the Hammers is a tough away fixture to current champions
Manchester City on Sunday 19 April. Having beaten Manuel Pellegrini's men
2-1 at the Boleyn Ground in the reverse fixture, Allardyce is hoping the
players will recreate the impressive form demonstrated that day. "I think
Stoke deserve a lot of credit, from our point of view we didn't play as well
we know we can. We know we can improve and we have to improve quickly
because it is costing us. "A lot of our players are still new to the Premier
League, Aaron Cresswell. Diafra Sakho, Enner Valencia and Cheikhou Kouyate
have all done brilliantly but they are now feeling the pace."
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'We were left with a bitter taste'
WHUFC.com
Enner Valencia admitted to feeling a 'bitter taste' in his mouth after
Saturday's agonising 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw with Stoke City. The
Ecuador star returned to the starting XI after missing three matches after
suffering a lacerated toe in a freak accident at his home involving a
broken toothpaste holder. However, any joy the No31 felt at returning to the
team disappeared when the Potters snatched a late equaliser at the Boleyn
Ground. "I am happy to be back in the team, but we were left with a bitter
taste because I think it is the third or fourth time we have conceded right
at the end of a game," he said of Marko Arnautovic's 95th-minute goal. "To
be honest, I think we were playing against a very good Stoke side, as they
showed with their ball possession. It's true that after the result we can
say that after we scored we went back a bit too far, but they are a good
side and looked after the ball well."
Earlier, Valencia had joined in the celebrations after Aaron Cresswell
netted an unstoppable free-kick the South American himself would have been
proud of. "I was going into the box when Stewart Downing called me and asked
if I wanted to take it, but I didn't need to because Aaron took it
magnificently!" he smiled. Unfortunately for Valencia, he suffered another
painful foot injury during Saturday's game when a Stoke player accidentally
trod on his foot. He will undergo a scan to uncover the exact nature of the
injury on Monday. "I don't know yet how serious it is, as they are going to
run a scan on Monday," he confirmed. "It was not done on purpose – a Stoke
player stepped backwards and onto my foot. I think I have a little bit of an
injury on my foot, but we have to run a scan on Monday to be sure."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Borg seals U18s success
WHUFC.com
West Ham United picked up their first Barclays U18 Premier League Final
Stage Group victory by beating Wolverhampton Wanderers. After opening their
end of season campaign with a goalless home draw with Brighton & Hove Albion
and a 2-0 away defeat to Derby County, a second-half goal from winger Oscar
Borg was enough to confirm a 1-0 success for the Hammers in the Black
Country. During the recent break in league fixtures, Academy Assistant
Manager James Rowe took a squad to an international U17 tournament in Abu
Dhabi, where the Hammers picked up one win, one draw and one defeat from
their three group-stage fixtures. Upon returning to domestic duty, U18s
coach Mark Phillips made five changes from the side that lost away at Derby
three weeks ago. England U18 international goalkeeper Sam Howes returned to
the starting line-up, while centre-back Emmanuel Onariase celebrated signing
his first professional deal with the Club by joining Alex Pike, Josh Pask
and Vashon Neufville in the defence.
The visitors started the game well and set about causing problems to the
Wolves back line. Idris Kanu, who has recently stepped up from the U16
squad, looked sharp in attack alongside Joe Powell and Borg as the Hammers
looked for the opening goal. Wolves had their fair share of efforts in the
first half too, but nothing that caused too much trouble for Howes in the
West Ham goal. The only goal of the game came seven minutes in the second
half when skilful midfielder Grady Diangana's clever pass through the Wolves
defence allowed Borg to tap past Harry Burgoyne. The win lifts the Hammers
to sixth, with four points from their three games. With four league matches
to go, West Ham's next league fixture is the visit of Liverpool to Little
Heath on Saturday 18th April 2015, with kick off scheduled for 11am. Parking
and admission for that game are completely FREE as usual.
U18s: Howes, Pike, Onariase, Pask, Neufville, Diangana, Carter, Sylvestre,
Borg, Powell, Kanu
Subs: Eggleton, Forde, Hector-Ingram, Elsom.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Loan round up
WHUFC.com
Sean Maguire played the full game as Accrington Stanley scored a last minute
equaliser away at Cambridge United.
Tom Elliott opened the scoring for Cambridge after just 8 minutes before
Piero Mingoia's strike six minutes before the break. Ryan Bird's late
deflected shot looked to have secured all three points for hosts however
Seamus Conneely scored his second goal in as many games to rescue a valuable
point for Stanley.
Elliot Lee played 61 minutes in Luton Town's 1-0 defeat at home to Burton
Albion. The young striker was replaced by Mark Cullen before Matty Palmer's
79th minute goal kept Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's side top of League Two.
Jaanai Gordon was an unused substitute in Nuneaton Town's 3-1 defeat away at
Dartford. Despite taking the lead through Andy Brown, a second half recovery
saw the hosts score three goals – two for Elliot Bradbrook and one for harry
Crawford. Nuneaton are 23rd in the Conference, needing to win the final two
games to have any chance of avoiding relegation.
Tim Brown played the full game in Canvey Island's 4-0 home defeat to Hampton
& Richmond Borough. Two goals from Moussa Diarra and one apiece for Charlie
Moone and Jerome Federico completed the rout.
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From the Treatment Room
WHUFC.com
We can issue the following update regarding injuries suffered by Diafra
Sakho and Enner Valencia in Saturday's 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw with
Stoke City. After undergoing a scan on Monday, Sakho has been diagnosed with
a thigh strain and will now commence rehabilitation with a view to returning
to action before the end of the season. Valencia sustained a foot injury
when he was accidentally trodden on by a Stoke player. He also underwent a
scan on Monday and will continue to be assessed ahead of Sunday's trip to
Manchester City.
Stijn Vandenbroucke
Head of Medical and Sports Science
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Carlton Cole says he would like to stay at West Ham
Last Updated: 13/04/15 2:39pm
SSN
West Ham striker Carlton Cole says he would like to stay at the club next
season but remains open minded about his next move. Cole's current contract
with the Hammers ends in the summer and the 31-year-old has yet to be
offered a new deal. The striker missed out on a January deadline-day move to
West Brom when West Ham's bid to bring in Tottenham's Emmanuel Adebayor fell
through at the last minute.
I love the place, I love the fans, I love everything about West Ham.
Carlton Cole
Albion boss Tony Pulis is an admirer of Cole's talents and may make a summer
bid to revive the move but in the meantime Cole is simply concentrating on
his football. Speaking at a 'Football Fighting Ebola' event, Cole told Sky
Sports News HQ: "I love the place, I love the fans, I love everything about
West Ham. "But I know all good things do come to an end sometimes and you
have got to just crack on. I'm trying my best to put myself in the best
position to have a new contract, if not at West Ham then somewhere else."
Cole, who is the co-founder of Football Fighting Ebola, says if he is not
offered another deal at West ham then he would consider a move abroad to
America or China. "I'm quite open, I am an adventurous guy," he added. "I
wouldn't mind a bit of China or even the MLS, you never know. I'm really
open and I just want to see what offers are on the table and take it from
there."
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MAKE NO MISTAKE, CHANGES ARE AFOOT
By Iain Dale 13 Apr 2015 at 14:13
West Ham till I Die
Guest Post by DC
However and whenever they occur, changes are afoot. Make no mistake about
that.
As the saying goes, time waits for no man. A quick glance to the end of last
season and we can reel off names like George McCartney, Matt Taylor, Joe
Cole, Jack Collison and this season Vaz Te. They all seem from quite a
distant past already.
Without wishing two seasons of football away, look towards the short-term
future and we'll soon be adding new names to that list, Cole, Demel and
Jaaskelainen (2015), Collins, O'Brien and Nolan (2016) and Amalfitano,
Downing and Jarvis (2017). Within a year the squad 'should' be totally
devoid of the 'ex-Bolton Factor' that is Jasskelainen, O'Brien, Taylor,
Nolan and Vaz Te.
Of that whole list mentioned, perhaps Matt Jarvis is currently the only
player that the club could and would want to trade-in to get some sort of
return on.
We then have the issue of certain loan players to resolve e.g. Jenkinson,
Song (and Diarra). If we're serious about planning for the long-term it
seems a good argument to make Jenkinson the priority.
And so we turn to our main assets: Adrian (2016+2), Kouyate and Sakho
(2018), Carroll, Cresswell and Valencia (2019), Noble and Tomkins (2020) and
Reid (2021). Maybe we'll be fortunate to add a few young guns to that list
in the shape of Potts, Burke, Oxford, Poyet and Lee, but let's be brutally
honest, old Harry would say we're not too far away from being "down to the
bare bones".
So as the cries for change intensify over the next 10 weeks or so – and they
almost certainly will do – we can be confident of one thing. Whatever
happens, changes are a coming. They have to.
Ladies and Gentleman – welcome to the calm (or not so calm) before the
storm!
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Moyes moves closer - but Real hold the key
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 9th April 2015
By: Staff Writer
David Moyes is likely to become West Ham's manager next season - but only if
current club Real Sociedad grant him permission to leave.
As widely predicted, current boss Sam Allardyce is almost certainly coming
to the end of an eventful four-year tenure at the club, in which he has
taken West Ham from the Championship to the top ten of the Premier League.
Although he was saved from the sack last summer when the Board were split
over a change, that barrier is understood to have been removed now with all
three key parties - David Sullivan, David Gold and Karren Brady - in
agreement that a new appointment is necessary.
Much has been written in recent weeks regarding Allardyce's potential
replacement, with Moyes, Rafa Benitiez, Slaven Bilic and Marcelo Bielsa
highly touted as likely candidates. However David Sullivan is thought to
favour signing a manager with Premier League experience.
That would essentially rule out both Croatian Bilic and Argentine Bielsa -
neither of whom have managed in England before. And although he may be
making waves in Ligue 1 at Marseille this season 59-year-old Bielsa's
inability to speak English would also rule him out of contention, with the
owners considering that a priority.
Benitez, as reported on KUMB in May 2014 was, like Moyes, sounded out by
West Ham last summer. Yet the Spaniard is reluctant to join a club outside
of England's established top four - especially with the Manchester City
position likely to become available at the end of the season.
Whilst that essentially leaves Moyes as the default 'top drawer' choice, the
former Everton man is highly-regarded by the Hammers board and, just as
importantly, Tony Henry who is leading the hunt for Allardyce's successor.
Henry, who was placed in charge of player and staff recruitment by the Board
last autumn previously worked with Scot Moyes at Goodison Park and the two
developed a close working relationship which could yet be renewed at the
Boleyn Ground.
However that rests upon West Ham being able to reach agreement with Moyes'
current club Real Sociedad, to whom the 51-year-old is contracted until the
end of the 2015/16 seasons after signing an 18-month contract last November.
Moyes has guided the Basque club to ninth place in this season's La Liga
following a disappointing start to the campaign under Jagoba Arrasate.
He is understood to be keen on a return to England to resurrect a domestic
career that faltered at Manchester United, from where he was fired after
just 10 months in the post (a blow softened by a £5million golden
handshake).
West Ham's Board are also keen on making at least two marquee signings this
summer to supplement the new manager's planned arrival and mark the club's
final season at the Boleyn Ground before moving to Stratford.
One player on the club's wish list is Carlos Tevez, who has just one more
year of a three-year contract left to run at Juventus. The 31-year-old has
previously signalled his intention to return to childhood club Boca, but
West Ham hope they can persuade the 31-year-old crowd favourite to return to
east London for a swansong
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Big Sam and the glass ceiling
KUMb.com
Filed: Monday, 13th April 2015
By: Anjado
Sam Allardyce for me is a good manager who could have been a great manager.
It is a malaise which effects English/British managers they hit the glass
ceiling. If Moyes and Allardyce were Spanish or Italian they would have been
given the opportunity to manage at top clubs ten years ago.
In England, because of a general mistrust of British talent and Ferguson and
Wenger being in their jobs for decades. English managers look purely for
results rather than trying to build teams and providing entertainment for
the fans.
Allardyce for West Ham has been at his best when he has been forced to
abandon the pragmatic style of football which he loves. His two best spells
as West Ham manager were the last two-to-three months of the Championship
season when we needed to win every game to stand a possibility of automatic
promotion.
His other good spell was at the start of this season when his job was on the
line after a terribly tedious season and a not so great start to this
season. Both of these spells coincided with us playing a midfield diamond
system with two strikers up front which could also be adapted into a 4-3-3
also. We play our best football using a diamond system going all the way
back to when Zola was manager.
Unfortunately both times he decided to abandon this system for a more
defensive one and results and performances got increasingly worse. It is no
surprise that the tactics he used which failed to break down Doncaster
Rovers at home in the Championship also fail more times than not in the
Premier League.
I think his main problem is that he is too stubborn to change his ways and
abandon his principles. The way he likes to play the game doesn't work as
effectively now as it did at Bolton. People will say this is down to having
the likes of Djorkaeff and Okocha, but i don't think it is solely down to
that.
Football has changed a lot since the heyday of his Bolton side. When Bolton
were at their best, Allardyce was ahead of the game. Greece won the European
Championships playing similar football and Porto were also a defensive team
when they won the Champions League. He was ahead in sports science and even
tactically for the time.
The problem is, it was Allardyce being ahead of the game and not his actual
system which was why he was successful. When he changes it up for us and
move away from his Bolton system, we look so much better and ahead of the
game.
Modern football is all about attacking with pace and we did that at the
beginning of the season. Yes, the board deserves blame for not spending
money and I said at the time that the club lacks ambition.
But the malaise we currently find ourselves in is more the manager's fault
than the boardroom. I think most people would have understood our results
slipping a bit but to be performing worse than nearly every other team since
the start of the year is both poor and unacceptable.
Some of his team selections have been frankly bizarre since the Chelsea
game. Kevin Nolan gets a lot of stick even though he has done well for the
club. But he has been finished as a starting player for a top flight club
for nearly two years now and I'm not sure if he offers enough from the bench
either to justify his position on the pitch.
Mark Noble was playing his best football screening the back four and now he
has been moved forward, for some reason. Downing was brilliant in behind the
strikers but he was moved out to the wing to accommodate Nolan.
Song has one weakness as a player which is that he dallies on the ball, so
playing him in front of the defence makes little sense. If we had blooded
Burke, Henry or Oxford we could have kept Kouyate in midfield rather than
making our team worse by having him fill in at centre half.
Amalfitano doesn't get to start because apparently he doesn't play as well.
(That didn't seem to be the case against Manchester City though.) Meanwhile
Sakho and Valencia were broken up as soon as Carroll was about 75 per cent
fit - instead of using Nene and Zarate, both of whom have provided a spark
for us.
If it wasn't for Zarate's performance against Palace, Allardyce might well
have been sacked by the third game of this season. He played well for us
when he was used and I would argue his worst game was against Southampton,
when everyone was equally poor. He was arguably our best player in two
matches this season.
Nene has only played for 52 minutes in total; he has hit the post, forced
the opposition goalkeeper into a couple of good saves and had a hand in
Sakho's winner against Sunderland.
Matt Jarvis, a player he spent a club record fee on two seasons previously
has only started twice this season. Diego Poyet, a player who could have
been brought on when defending a lead to give the likes of Downing, Noble,
Song a rest has only been used twice all season. He looks a capable player,
but hasn't been used at all.
Recently we have had both Guy Demel and Joey O'Brien on the bench, both of
whom are right backs, instead of having a central defender on there.
He rushed Andy Carroll back against Southampton and brought him on to the
right wing rather than resting him for the West Brom game, which was the
biggest of the season. He could have also brought Elliot Lee on for 30
minutes.
On Saturday we had our strongest starting XI, with the exception of Tomkins.
The same team that played at our best points during the season.
Instead of picking the obvious side and formation, we picked the same
bizarre formation we did against Leicester and then changed it after we
scored to a 4-6-0 until half time (and then back to the Leicester formation
after half time). We didn't play with two up front for any period of the
game yesterday despite having the personnel - and it led to a poor
performance.
Allardyce bought himself a lot of good will with the way we started the
season and we played well against Spurs, Manchester United and Chelsea this
year. But his negativity and favourtism to certain styles and players makes
it difficult to back him. Perhaps if he was ten years younger he would be
worth persevering with.
The only reason I would keep him now is due to a lack of trust in the
Board's ambition. It's basically the same situation as last season; if we
could get someone better or with potential, I would think about changing it.
If we kept Allardyce I really couldn't see him lasting the duration of his
next contract. He has provided a few great moments and has done well
generally, but his main problems has been Kevin Nolan - who he has been far
too loyal too - and a system he should have pretty much abandoned three
years ago.
For all the good he has done for the club - and he has done a lot - minor
complaints have built and built and when results don't go our way, then
people aren't going to be happy.
It's a shame he will probably be leaving at the end of the season, but I
feel it is less of a missed opportunity for us and more a missed opportunity
for him. He definitely had the chance to lead us to the new stadium and
become the manager he always says he is. Unfortunately, his negativity and
stubbornness has held him back from his goals.
It's a shame because Allardyce does come up with some brilliant ideas, but
he lets himself down with a lack of ambition. Since he is now in his 60s he
isn't going to learn or change his ways. His style of play does work, but
only to a point - and since we are going to be trying to move to the next
level, I'm not sure he can take us any further anymore.
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Frozen in time
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 12th April 2015
By: Paul Walker
West Ham are suffering from football inertia of the very worst kind… frozen
in time just waiting, begging almost, for something to happen.
Two wins in 15 league matches, plus a shocking exit from the FA Cup is the
sort of form that gets any manager the sack, sometimes much less.
But we all know that is not going to happen. Our beloved board just want
this season to end, quickly, so they can put into practice what we all know
is going to happen, Sam Allardyce's departure from these parts.
Nobody in their right mind now believes anything different, whatever we are
told by the people that make the decisions - eventally - about the future of
our club.
Us fans are being taken for something of a ride now because what we are
watching isn't worth the money we have paid for our season tickets, but of
course the Davids are not bothered as long as it doesn't cost them or the
club any more money than absolutely necessary.
Nobody expects the board to axe Sam on the strength of this current dreadful
run because he goes for nothing, as does his coaching staff I believe, on
June 30 when his contract ends. Sack him now, or last summer and there's all
sorts of cash to be paid out.
So we are all frozen in time. Us, the players, the people employed by Sam
and the club at Chadwell Heath, and it is those people I actually feel most
sorry for. They are on ordinary money doing ordinary jobs and have wives,
families and mortgages to worry about.
Those things don't bother our players, who are ever-increasingly going
through the motions. They don't bother millionaire owners. And it doesn't
bother Sam. He knows he could retire now and never work again, or he knows
he will get another job somewhere regardless. It wouldn't surprise me if it
was already lined up.
The owners know we are going to finish ninth, tenth or 11th. And the Europa
League via the Fair Play league is just a red-herring. They wouldn't want to
start matches again in the first week of July, just days after Sam has gone,
surely. David Sullivan will be hell-bent on too much wheeler-dealing to be
bothered by matches to play.
A new man will not be in place, unless David Moyes has already got his eyes
on Sam's docklands apartment, that is.
Sam is doing the rounds of his usual media haunts, the latest saw him doing
his cuddly uncle bit on Clare Balding's new chat show. Must admit, I
expected more, but it was very superficial, all the old stuff about clubs he
leaves being relegated, and the fact that he has achieved everything he was
asked to do.
Sam was his usual snug self, all jokes and arrogance. I'm a professional,
doing my job, And that's the bit every football professional understands.
Sam's media friends have done their bit too, with a string of articles
asking just why we want him long gone. But they are hardly going to write
that he should be chopped; they wouldn't want to upset him, now, would they?
The real piece of TV that said it all came when Sam was informed at his
press conference last week that David Sullivan had suggested he was
extremely disappointed with our current form. Sam' s "Did he" was worth more
than a thousand interviews.
The two just don't click any more, underlined by Sullivan's remark that "the
manager picks the team, ask him" when commenting on Nene's very rare
appearances on the pitch. Another player the co-owner had bought that Sam
didn't want.
I Don't know about you, but I am getting fed-up with being asked by fans of
other clubs just what we expected, and what more we want from BFS.
Outside the West Ham world, fans cannot understand. Surely we are safe from
the drop, there has been four seasons of first promotion and now steady
progress. It looks that way from the outside.
I have had this conversation from a barman in San Francisco to a taxi driver
in Cheshire these past weeks. (Had to get that bit in, sorry!) And the Yanks
are the worst. None of their sports are really based on flair, the NFL for
example is throwing, catching, running, stop. Basketball is end-to-end in
the blink of an eye and used as non-stop wallpaper on US television.
And nobody can see the puck when ice hockey is televised anyway! Maybe I am
being a bit harsh there, because the giants of basketball are amazingly
skilled. But I am sure you get my point, the Yanks only really understand
results and winning.
So isn't Sam producing that? Well, no, not at the moment anyway. We score,
defend and lose. Every time the fourth official holds up the 'Fergie time'
board, we seem to panic and throw away points.
It was the same at the weekend when Stoke came to town. Somehow we had hung
on after Aaron Cresswell's wonder free-kick, conceding 60 per cent plus of
possession. Thanks to the heroics of James Collins - on a weekend when West
Brom were remembering the brain damage that killed Jeff Astle, maybe Ginge
could consider how much his head must have hurt against Stoke!
And yes, we ended up drawing in the 95th minute. We used to chant ' It's
happening again' to Spurs fans, now the rest of the Premier League are
singing that to us!
We brought young Maddie with us on Saturday, she is soon to become my son's
sister-in-law, about a month away now. (The wedding is on the last weekend
of the season in Portugal. I ask you, who planned that?) She's a Stoke fan,
which probably explains a lot, and behaved impeccably. Not a flinch when we
scored, likewise when two Stoke efforts were disallowed. And still not a
reaction when the equaliser went in.
Well done, you can come again. Certainly if you buy your rounds like you
did. But to be fair, it would have been an insult to everyone's intelligence
if Stoke had left without a point, at least.
We were plain awful, and it's not going to get any better with Manchester
City next. But Sam will just amble on to the end of the season when he, and
us, will be put out of our misery. Hopefully there will be an end to the
vile bickering on fans' websites, the split in our support and the insidious
campaigns to get the manager out.
I had actually stopped recently trying to write constructive, balanced stuff
which put both sides of the case for Sam. Anything you say even slightly in
his favour is met with a barrage of abuse, a lot of it sneering, patronising
and from a self-established high moral ground. Anyone who does not share the
anti-Sam rhetoric is considered anti-football and defiling the soul of the
game.
Just look at the forums and social media after Saturday. Disdainful stuff.
And the pro-Sam lot are no better, preaching on about stability and a job
well done. The word pragmatic gets used a lot and detractors don't know what
they are talking about. I took a few weeks rest from it all.
So who do we get next? Forget Glenn Hoddle, his name only comes up when
Sullivan cannot find anyone else, and he's his mate. And I don't really
believe Rafa Benitez will come, we will have to pay him twice what Sam is
getting, and our board won't stomach that.
Mind you, Benitez still wants Liverpool and fancies Manchester City. He is
deluding himself, I feel. His family still live in Wirral and the kids go to
posh schools in Chester, I recall. But does anyone think that Liverpool will
go back to him, however well he did in winning the Champions League for
them?
And City can have anyone they want. Pep Guardiola would do nicely. Surely
they wouldn't want someone axed by Liverpool. Rafa for us, I doubt it. He
doesn't get out of bed for a transfer kitty under £100million these days,
much like Louis van Gaal, another from the big league.
So it's Moyes, you would think. Tony Henry must be bending his ear daily by
now. And I don't go along with the stuff that Moyes is just a cheap version
of Allardyce, although that would impress the Davids.
Back in my former life, I spent a decade working with Moyes, and he has
plenty of impressive qualities. A very good, organised coach and a man who
is capable of building a club slowly and soundly without vast sums of money.
What we must have is someone who does not cast out all the good progress we
have made,that is key for me.
We have put up with Sam because the progress has been there, if not very
pretty. After the bumbling nonsense of Avram Grant (well done you Davids for
that one) and the indecent haste that saw Lady Brady sacking Gianfranco
Zola, longevity is needed.
All that meant a huge turnover of very average players and absolutely no
progress. My lad pointed out at the weekend on our slow train back north
that he has had enough of us not being able to compete, to give him
something worth watching instead of constant dismantling of the club at
every level.
So Moyes would be trusted with that. Just ask Bill Kenwright, someone our
owners think highly of. Bill did not have bottomless pockets and Everton had
to work and struggle to build what they have now. They were once a financial
basket case like us, but not now.
And Moyes is credited with much of the good stuff that came to Goodison
Park. Yes, he can be as long-ball as anyone, even Sam, but there is variety
and the ability to adapt. He certainly isn't long ball in Spain, and if
given the sort of money Van Gaal has been allowed at Manchester United may
well have made a better fist of things there.
The other name that keeps coming up is the Argentinean looney tunes, Marcelo
Bielsa, currently at Marseille. He has won praise from the very best, Carlos
Tevez and Pep for a start.
There was an interesting, if highly pretentious piece in the Guardian about
Bielsa by Barney Roney last week. When I had managed to batter my way
through the arty stuff about Braque, Picasso and obscure American artists
(believe me, you couldn't make it up) Ronay was suggesting Bielsa and West
Ham were made for each other.
The problem, for me, is that he doesn't speak a word of English - so how on
earth would Mark Noble make himself understood?
Seriously, though. Bielsa has plenty going for him. He is a total advocate
of attacking football, is prone to great success (at Athletic Bilbao) and
spells of sheer nonsense. He can also rant with the best of them.
But if we wanted a Latin hero, who loves attacking and has no idea about
defence, and can rage away with sheer nonsense at the drop of a hat (plus
ruin the knees of a few expensive suits) why not give it to Paolo Di Canio?
Now there's a thought.
But our owners do not want a gamble like that, so maybe Bielsa is a step too
far with the very delicate matter of the Olympic Stadium just around the
corner.
No, for me, Moyes is the best bet. Young, safe hands, capable of decent
signings--that's where Henry comes in again--and capable of working with
what he finds and bringing on the youth. And he won't want Sullivan buying
players for him that are unfit, too old, or already in retirement in Qatar.
Now that's not such a bad thing, is it?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Jenkinson, Cresswell, Valencia and Allardyce: Monday's news
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 13th April 2015
By: Staff Writer #2
Get the very latest West Ham news in one place, with our new daily media
round-up!
West Ham plot £10m offer to beat Liverpool to Arsenal star Carl Jenkinson
According to reports, the Hammers are mobilising a sizeable offer to ward
off interest from Liverpool.
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/436168/Carl-Jenkinson-West-Ham-Liv
erpool-Arsenal-Transfer-News-Update-Gossip-Latest
Aaron Cresswell criticises West Ham for switching off as Stoke grab
equaliser
Aaron Cresswell accepts West Ham must learn to stay "switched on" until the
final whistle to avoid seeing their fruitful season drift away.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/apr/12/west-ham-stoke-city-premier-
league-match-report
Late show secures Ladies victory
West Ham United Ladies ended an unbeaten week by picking up a late 1-0
victory at home to Cardiff City Ladies on Sunday.
http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2015/April/12-April/Late-show-secures-Lad
ies-victory
Borg seals U18s success
West Ham United picked up their first Barclays U18 Premier League Final
Stage Group victory by beating Wolverhampton Wanderers.
http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2015/April/12-April/Borg-seals-U18s-succe
ss
'We were left with a bitter taste'
Enner Valencia admitted to feeling a 'bitter taste' in his mouth after
Saturday's agonising 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw with Stoke City.
http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2015/April/13-April/We-were-left-with-a-b
itter-taste
West Ham are reportedly looking to win the race for Carl Jenkinson
By offering Arsenal £10million for his services.
http://metro.co.uk/2015/04/13/west-ham-making-10m-offer-to-sign-arsenals-car
l-jenkinson-5147239/?
West Ham could offer Manchester City perfect tonic after derby humbling
Under-fire West Ham United could offer Manchester City the perfect
pick-me-up after their 4-2 defeat in the Manchester derby on Sunday.
http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2015/04/12/dl-west-ham-offer-man-city-perfect
-tonic-after-derby-humbling/?
Enner Valencia confirms yet another injury setback, will have scan today
West Ham striker Enner Valencia has admitted that he will have a scan on his
latest foot injury.
http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2015/04/13/enner-valencia-confirms-yet-anothe
r-injury-setback-will-have-sca/?
West Ham left "crushed" by another late defensive lapse grumbles Sam
Allardyce
Big Sam calls for calm after his Hammers yet again fail to cling on to three
points, this time against Stoke, but remain in the top half of the table
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/west-ham-left-crushed-another-55
07356
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce hopes for time to develop squad struggling to
keep pace in long Premier League season after conceding late again in draw
with Stoke City
West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce believes his squad are unable to deal
with the rigours of a full Barclays Premier League season after they dropped
points by conceding late against Stoke City.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3036047/West-Ham-manager-S
am-Allardyce-hopes-time-develop-squad-struggling-pace-Premier-League.html
I wouldn't turn it down: Redknapp U-turn over West Ham comeback?
Harry Redknapp has again been tipped to replace Sam Allardyce at West Ham
United after an apparent change of heart over a return to the Boleyn.
http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2015/04/12/dl-i-wouldnt-turn-it-down-redknapp
-u-turn-over-west-ham-comeback/
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham left "crushed" by another late defensive lapse grumbles Sam
Allardyce
22:30, 12 April 2015 By Ann Gripper
Big Sam calls for calm after his Hammers yet again fail to cling on to three
points, this time against Stoke, but remain in the top half of the table
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce admits he and his side are "crushed" by West Ham's repeated
late collapses. Marko Arnautovic's stoppage-time equaliser was the fourth
time in recent games the Hammers have dropped points in the dying moments.
That inability to see games out has brought just one win and seven points
from their last 10 league matches – and intensified the spotlight on Big
Sam's future, with his contract up in the summer. Allardyce points to the
50-point tally his side could have had and a season catching up with
signings new to the Premier League. But he insists it is down to the players
to end their worrying trend of conceding late goals.
Allardyce said: "We are all very down about how many points we have thrown
away and how many games we should have won. "We are crushed about how we
have let leads slip in the final seconds. Only they can find a solution. "I
can't tell them what the opposition are going to do on the day, other than
what I can to guide them. Late in the game, the opposition will put four or
five up there, take a chance and play direct football against you. "They'll
get the ball forward to the edge of your box as quick as they can, they'll
all run up and forget about defending and try to put that pressure on you.
"We've got to calm ourselves and make sure our nerve ends don't jangle the
next time we're in this position."
Aaron Cresswell's majestic free-kick gave West Ham the perfect start. But
Stoke's leveller hardly came as a surprise. A Mame Biram Diouf header had
cannoned off an upright and Arnautovic had seen two offside efforts
disallowed – the second provoking furious protest from the Austrian.
Fired-up by his frustration, Arnautovic surged forward moments later and
slotted the goal which turned a laboured win into a draw which left Hammers
fans booing at the final whistle. City are far more satisfied with the
43-point tally the clubs share, and a club record mark in the Premier League
remains a possibility for the Potters. That progress in Mark Hughes' second
year means the departure of Bosnia keeper Asmir Begovic, who has a year left
on his contract, is not a foregone conclusion – and it would need a major
step up to tempt him away. Begovic said: "The club is doing some good things
and moving in the right direction. Let's see if we can sort something out.
I wouldn't leave for just anything."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce, Moyes, Bielsa – career win stats!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 13, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Marrying up style and Premier League survival is a dilemma that's been
exercising many minds inside Upton Park over the past couple of years..
The major argument of those who support Sam Allardce and want him to stay is
that he will keep the Hammers safe – they will never be relegated under his
regime – he's "a safe pair of hands".
The main criticism of course is that his football lacks style and is not in
the West Ham tradition but given the extent to which the game has changed
and the finances involved it's hard to disagree with his assessment that
survival may be the name of the game.
It would seem that David Moyes is the figure most fancied to take his place
should the two Davids decide to replace him at the end of the season with
Marseilles boss Marcelo Bielsa still in the frame.
So how do the three measure up in terms of survival.
The style comparison is impossible to make but here is the record in terms
of results of the three men over their managerial careers.
We leave it with you:
Big Sam stats (win %):
Preston North End = 25%
Blackpool = 43.14%
Notts County = 38.62%
Bolton = 41.24%
Newcastle = 33.33%
Blackburn = 34.88%
West Ham = 38.29%
David Moyes stats (win%):
Preston North End = 48.29%
Everton = 42.08%
Man Utd = 52.94%
Real Sociedad = 40.91%
Marcelo Bielsa
Argentina = 61.76%
Chile = 51.2 %
Athletico Bilbao = 38.39%
Marseilles = 49.08%
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Valencia scan!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 13, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Enner Valencia will undergo a scan on his new foot injury later today (Mon).
The striker was injured when an opposition player accidentally trod on his
foot during the match at the weekend. He told the official site: "I don't
know yet how serious it is, as they are going to run a scan on Monday. It
was not done on purpose – a Stoke player stepped backwards and onto my foot.
I think I have a little bit of an injury on my foot, but we have to run a
scan on Monday to be sure."
On the game he said: " I think we were playing against a very good Stoke
side, as they showed with their ball possession. After we scored we went
back a bit too far, but they are a good side and looked after the ball
well."
Earlier, Valencia had joined in the celebrations after Aaron Cresswell
netted an unstoppable free-kick the South American himself would have been
proud of. "I was going into the box when Stewart Downing called me and asked
if I wanted to take it, but I didn't need to because Aaron took it
magnificently!" he smiled.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam: "We are all very down"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 13, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Sam Allardyce has claimed that it's time for everybody associated with the
team to "calm themselves" as they approach the dying embers of the season.
But he admits: ""We are all very down at the minute about how many points we
have thrown away and how many games we should have won." The manager,
however, believes there are good reasons why we haven't finished on a flier
saying: "The early part of the season was about the players achieving great
heights and the squad having little or no injuries "I think that, as a
squad, they are finding out at this stage about the nitty-gritty of the
Premier League, the physical and mental fatigue. "Some of them have not
experienced it before and are in their first seasons in the Premier League,
so for them, all of a sudden, it is week after week, pressure after
pressure, performance after performance. "Then looking at our new players
from abroad, they have all done brilliantly, but they are feeling the pace a
little bit now." He added: "While we haven't performed as well as we did in
the early part of the season, we have still been in a position where we
could have been on 50 points and we are only talking about the best part of
three minutes in four games (when points have been dropped). "Stoke are
happy and they are on 43 points. We are not as happy because we are on 43
and we know it should be 50, but we are (still) in the top half of the
table. "So we have all got to calm ourselves and make sure our nerve ends
don't jangle the next time we are in this position."
Allardyce, however, is confident the squad will emerge stronger from such a
disappointing spell. "Next season they will be better, they will be more
experienced, they will be more able to cope than they have this season. "We
should have been celebrating getting to 50 points, cruising at the top end,
making sure that we are going to finish at least eighth and beating our
previous points total, so we are crushed about how we have let leads slip in
the final seconds."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Why Sam Allardyce deserves better than he is getting at West Ham
12:24 13 April 2015
London 24
Brad Pinard
The pressure is mounting on Sam Allardyce after West Ham's 1-1 draw with
Stoke City - but London24 Sport reporter Brad Pinard believes the Hammers
boss deserves better...
Last summer a large percentage of West Ham fans, myself included, would have
been pleased to see the back of Sam Allardyce after a dreadful season.
However, impressive summer recruitment with the backing of owners David Gold
and David Sullivan saw the Hammers surge towards the top four in the opening
few months of the 2014/15 campaign, proving plenty of people wrong. The
style of football improved, the goals were flowing and even the stubborn Roy
Hodgson found a place in his squad for an actual West Ham player! The busy
Christmas period was the beginning of the end, though. Resting key players
away at Chelsea will never go down well with the West Ham faithful,
accepting a defeat to a bitter rival like that, and following it up with a
home loss to another London side in Arsenal saw fans raise their first
questions of the season. Since then, West Ham have picked up 12 points from
a possible 39. Even Big Sam admits that is not good enough. But the start of
the season has been forgotten so quickly, it almost baffles the brain. The
performances in those famous wins over Liverpool and Manchester City were
stunning, that is what the squad Allardyce has built is capable of. Gold
and Sullivan gave Big Sam a set of aims for the season, and as the manager
said in his press conference on Thursday, he is set to meet them all. "Have
I delivered what I have been asked to deliver? Yes. Would I do anything
different, yes, but have we grown the club? Yes. Have we got a better team
going towards the new stadium? Yes. Is it a younger team? Yes. Do we create
more entertainment? Yes," he said, and he is right.
So why would Allardyce not be given a new contract and publicly backed by
the club? The owners openly criticising the team and speaking out in the
media is never helpful but it seems to have become the norm. Allardyce has
the dressing room behind him, but the players should be criticised too! Yes,
Kevin Nolan should be nowhere near the team and Carlton Cole is more of a
hindrance than a help on the pitch, but the lack of options on the bench
every single week is evident. The quality is there in the starting line-up
but Allardyce can't physically kick the ball in the goal, he needs his
players who are paid a fortune to do that. Gold and Sullivan should either
back or sack Allardyce, that is the least he deserves, rather than be put
through another month of abuse and speculation. We all know the story,
promoted in the first season in the Championship with a broken squad, an
impressive first season in the Premier League and now arguably the best side
West Ham have had in the Premier League era. Many would not be upset to see
Sam shown the door this summer, but the constant speculation is a major
cause for concern and the rest of this season will almost certainly follow
suit to Saturday's latest disappointment.
Big Sam is not the only boss who can keep West Ham up, which appears to be
one theory, but a change of manager with a year to go until the Olympic
Stadium move - which will offer billionaire investors the chance to take the
club to the next level - could be a dangerous game to play. The fans are
entitled to their opinions as they pay far too much to go down to Upton Park
every other week, but the owners are the ones who make the decisions and
they should have already made theirs on the manager instead of allowing
another season to go down the drain in uncertain circumstances. If Allardyce
was handed a new contract back in January, I believe West Ham would still be
battling for Europe. He deserves better from his bosses and his players.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham prepare for tug-of-war with Liverpool over £10m Arsenal man Carl
Jenkinson
Evening Standard
KEN DYER
Published: 13 April 2015 Updated: 11:21, 13 April 2015
West Ham will go head to head with Liverpool this summer to sign Carl
Jenkinson on a permanent deal from Arsenal. The full-back has impressed
since he arrived on loan at the beginning of this season and the Hammers
will have to fork out at least £10million to have a chance of signing him.
Liverpool are also reported to be interested in the 23-year-old England
international, who said today he would not allow himself to be distracted by
speculation on his future. "I am just concentrating on doing my very best
for the team and getting the results we need. I am not worried about
anything else," added Jenkinson. With Guy Demel also likely to leave West
Ham in the summer, a right-back is a priority for Sam Allardyce. The Hammers
are also being linked with a move for Liverpool's Glen Johnson, who began
his career at Upton Park before joining Chelsea in 2003. Jenkinson admitted
his frustration as West Ham dropped more points following a late goal — the
fourth time it has happened this season — as they drew 1-1 against Stoke on
Saturday. "It is bizarre why it keeps happening," he said. "It is
frustrating. We have been in similar positions before this season and we
haven't managed to hold on, so it is time we started. "What was frustrating
was that we didn't really build on that early goal from Aaron Cresswell, we
sat back and let them play. We started really well but we needed to
capitalise on that. Instead we invited the pressure on ourselves and in the
end it took its toll. "It is not really happening for us at the moment but
we have six games left and we want to finish as high as we can. We would
love to get eighth spot."
West Ham could be reduced to one fit striker — Carlton Cole — for next
Sunday's trip to Manchester City. With Andy Carroll out for the rest of the
season following knee surgery, Allardyce has also lost Diafra Sakho for
several weeks with a thigh injury, while Enner Valencia was due to have a
scan today on a foot injury.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gold and Sullivan target two 'big name' signings – The ExWHUemployee Column
Ironviews.com
By Liam Spencer on April 13, 2015 in ExWHUemployee column
Those of you who read my blogs regularly will know that I have backed Sam
constantly and taken a lot of slack for it in the process. I have supported
him and the team throughout the season and felt that much of the criticism
that has been levelled towards him had been unfair. Whilst I am still not
convinced that getting rid of him is necessarily the right move (cue abuse)
I found Saturday very hard to excuse and I am much more open to change now.
I was delighted when I heard the team Friday evening and thought it would be
very well received amongst the fans. Valencia was straight back in and it
looked on paper that we had resorted to the diamond with Downing at the tip
allowing room for the full backs to overlap. In reality this was not the
case as again; Downing and Valencia played more out on the wing and the
early season diamond was not very evident.
We got the perfect start with Cresswell's excellent goal and then we
proceeded to sit back as we have done so many times this season. We
allowed Stoke to attack us and in reality they should have won the game as a
result. The phrase "the best form of defence is attack is one that seems to
have slipped past our radars".
Another very disappointing thing was the substitutions. I know Sakho was
injured so it was forced upon Sam in that respect but I would have brought
Nene on instead of Cole. Stoke are such a physical team and their centre
backs are huge. Thus, if you are putting on a more physical player, he must
be able to match their physical ability. Unfortunately Cole could not and so
every ball that went to him was won by their centre backs. You need to
attack those centre backs not in the air but on the ground through quick
passing and direct running, and with Nene you would be much more likely to
get that than Cole. I wrote an article when Nene first joined suggesting he
will not play much because Sam wasn't that keen and disappointingly it has
been proven to be correct so far. Both Sakho and Valencia will have scans on
injuries today and it is a real worry that we will play the rest of the
season if they are out with Cole as a sole target man.
Alex Song was not having his best game and didn't appear to be 100% fit, and
whilst I wouldn't have taken him off I certainly wouldn't have brought Nolan
on. Morgan Amalfitano should have come on and kept the energy levels up. I
think Morgan is probably the most unlucky person at the club because no
matter how well he plays and how poorly the team plays he cannot get a
starting spot. Too regularly in 2015 have the wrong substitutions cost us.
Of course the players cannot be exempt from any criticism either ands too
many of them went missing on Saturday and have been for a while now. It
appears a few have started their holidays early but again, how much of this
is down to the unknown managerial situation and to the wrong tactics? It is
getting to the point now where it will be very hard for Sam to stay on next
year due to the growing resentment amongst the fans, along with this
dreadful 2015 form. Everyone needs to be pulling in the same direction going
into what will be an emotional last year at Upton Park and an extremely
important first at the Olympic Stadium and with him at the helm I am not
sure they will be. The latest name to be thrown into the hat is Di Matteo
who again is an interesting name and one who has won the Champions League
like Benitez (to go alongside the other names that I have reported in my
previous columns) but it is all speculation at this point.
If there was any doubt about who should win Hammer of the Year I think it is
now been concluded after Saturday. Cresswell was again a bright spark and
played with constant energy topped off by a brilliant goal. He has made the
transition from the Championship to the Premier League superbly and at his
age he will continue to grow and grow as a player. My order of Hammer of the
Year would be: Cresswell, Kouyate, Sakho, Adrian and then Collins. If we had
voted at Christmas I would have gone for Downing but he and Song appear to
be the players who have lost form the most in 2015. However, in Downing's
case how much of this is due to not being at the tip of the diamond anymore?
I think Jenkinson and Cresswell have the potential give us brilliant full
backs for many years to come. I really would love to hang onto Carl and I
have heard he wants to stay. The problem is that other clubs are looking at
him now, notably Liverpool. I am still confident we can persuade him to stay
in London where his family and friends all live. I have reported this many
times in the past and it appears to be being recycled by a number of other
sources this weekend; if we do not sign Jenkinson we will go for Glenn
Johnson on a free. We will sign another forward (we are still very keen on
Hernandez of Manchester United and Konate of Sion), a new centre midfield
(Obiang of Sampdoria likely to be a target and a few players in Europe who
we have watched) and a centre back (Schar of Bazel is another target) with
the right back at a minimum. The board are likely to provide the cash for at
least two big signings and a few less known players with potential. There
are also reports that we have looked at Cleverley who will be available on a
free from Manchester United but I do not have any confirmation on that.
I intend to write another article during the week of a more positive note,
believe it or not, but I felt the performance on Saturday could not be
avoided. I can't make up my mind whether we play Manchester City at a good
time or not and that is one beauty of supporting West Ham, anything is
possible.
ExWHUemployee
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham consider appointing Roberto Di Matteo as shock Allardyce
replacement
HITC
Olly Dawes
West Ham are reportedly interested in offering Roberto Di Matteo a return to
the Premier League.According to Tutto Mercato Web, West Ham are considering
a move to bring Roberto Di Matteo back to the Premier League. The Hammers
have won just twice in 2015, and after Saturday's 1-1 draw with Stoke City,
the pressure continues to mount on manager Sam Allardyce. With Allardyce's
contract set to expire this summer, West Ham are expected to let 'Big Sam'
leave Upton Park and then find someone to replace him. Now, Tutto Mercato
Web believe that the Hammers could offer ex-Chelsea boss Di Matteo a
surprise return to English football. The Italian, 44, managed Milton Keynes
Dons and West Bromwich Albion before replacing Andre Villas-Boas as Chelsea
manager in 2012, guiding them to the Champions League crown just months
later. However, Di Matteo lasted just over eight months in the Chelsea hot
seat before meeting Roman Abramovich's axe, and after two years out of
football, he returned in October 2014 to manage German side Schalke.
So far, Di Matteo has won 12 of his 27 games in charge, but two goalless
draws in a row mean they are now unlikely to qualify for the Champions
League - which could leave Di Matteo out of a job, according to TMW. They
also report that if he does leave Gelsenkirchen this summer, West Ham would
be interested in making him Allardyce's replacement in a surprise move which
may make fans recall the last time West Ham appointed a former Chelsea
player in Gianfranco Zola - which didn't go too well.
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West Ham striker Diafra Sakho ruled out for the rest of the season with
suspected torn thigh muscle
18:31, 13 April 2015 By Darren Lewis
The 25-year-old marksman, who has scored 12 goals this season, is understood
to have sustained the injury in Saturday's draw at home to Stoke
The Mirror
West Ham have been rocked by the news that striker Diafra Sakho is out for
the rest of the season. The 25-year-old marksman, who has scored 12 goals
this season, is understood to have torn a muscle in his thigh. The injury is
understood to have occurred in Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Stoke. It is a
huge blow to the club's ambitions of finishing in the top half. Also to boss
Sam Allardyce's hopes of renewing his contract when his current deal expires
at the end of the season.
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Vile Stoke chants aimed at Mooro
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 13, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Stoke City fans made vile chants at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday which
bought the memory of Hammers Legend Bobby Moore into disrepute on the eve of
what would of been his 74th birthday. Several West Ham fans in Sir Trevor
Brooking lower and East stand close to the away fans heard a small section
of the crowd singing "Jimmy Saville, he sh…ged Bobby Moore"
They also chanted "There`s only five of you English" which seemed to bemuse
some West Ham fans, although presumably it is a reference to the amount of
foreign players we fielded on Saturday. One Stoke fan took to Iain Dale's
West Ham Till Die.com this morning saying "As a Stoke City fan I am ashamed
at the behaviour and totally unacceptable chanting from a few of the away
supporters on Saturday.
"I shook my head in disbelief at some of the comments. All football clubs
have a small minority of "fans" who seem intent on embarrassing the good
name of their club and each and everyone of the true football supporters
that follow it. "Most of the comments on our own fanzine, agree that such
behaviour has no place in society I believe that Stoke City are
investigating the incident and as difficult as it can be, hopefully can
identify those involved. A big concern is the number of supporters who then
decide to sing along without even realising how offensive the words are.Your
club and fans were very welcoming"
Many fans on the Stoke City Fanzine "The Oatcake" message board also called
their own fans "embarrassing."
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Mixed news on Sakho/Valencia injuries
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 13, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Strikers Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia had mixed results from their scans
following injury setbacks against Stoke at the weekend.
Boss Sam Allardyce had struck a gloomy note ahead of the medical claiming
that Sakho could be ruled out for the season. But Head of Medical sports
science Stijn Vandenbroucke reported to the official website: "After
undergoing a scan on Monday, Sakho has been diagnosed with a thigh strain
and will now commence rehabilitation with a view to returning to action
before the end of the season." The news on Valencia, who picked up a foot
injury when accidentally trodden on by a Stoke player, seems more
optimistic. Vandenbroucke said he will continue to be assessed ahead of
Sunday's trip to Manchester City.
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Pay up or lose season ticket!
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 13, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham have confirmed that Season Ticket Holders who do not pay the
minimum deposit of £75 before the 5pm deadline this Friday 17th April will
see their ticket released and offered to someone else.
Priority in the seat selection for the new stadium is assigned to the Season
Ticket and not the individual holder so anyone not renewing for the final
season at the Boleyn Ground will need to join the back of the new Stadium
priority list to purchase a Season Ticket for 2016/17
The club have confirmed there will be no extension to the renewal deadline
as they have a seat change / bring new fans weekend starting at 9am the
following day so if your seat is not secured there is a real chance it will
be instantly sold.
They have stressed that this is why it is so important that everyone is
aware they must renew before Friday 5pm as they fully expect Season Tickets
to sell out before the start of the season.
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