WHUFC.com
Sam Baldock was delighted to net a rare header in his match-winning display against Leicester City
30.10.2011
Sam Baldock is using his head to aid West Ham United's promotion challenge. The striker nodded in just the third headed goal of his career to set the Hammers on course for a 3-2 npower Championship victory over Leicester City at the Boleyn Ground. The No7, who celebrated his match-winning display by taking his girlfriend out for dinner, smashed in an unstoppable second to secure three vital points for Sam Allardyce's side. "I think I've only ever scored two headers before and both of them were in the same game against Swindon [in August 2010]!" a smiling Baldock told West Ham TV. "As a striker you are pleased with every goal you score but I think these two have shown the fans something a little bit different. "I think I had the run on him, but to be fair it was a great ball from John as he has put it about two yards out. Any striker jumps a little bit higher when he has the goal in front of him and I managed to get a start and get above him and nod it in. "The third goal turned out to be vital in the end and I think the whole team heaved a sigh of relief when it went in. We then conceded a great goal to make it 3-2 and make it a little bit nervy at the end, but we don't do anything easily here - we give the fans value for money!"
Baldock has now netted four times in three home appearances and is quickly becoming a favourite among the Boleyn Ground faithful. The 22-year-old, who has netted ten goals in 13 games in total this season, is also enjoying the flourishing relationship he is forging with his new team-mates following his arrival from MK Dons in late August. "It's still early days and the honeymoon period, but I think the lads are starting to get to know me a bit better and I'm getting to know them and I think it's working quite well so far and long may it continue."
Having played his part in a 4-0 thrashing of Blackpool, the hard-fought 1-0 win at Brighton & Hove Albion and Saturday's rollercoaster against Leicester, Baldock is now looking forward to Tuesday's visit of Bristol City. However, the Aylesbury-born forward knows the Robins will be no pushovers following their own 2-1 success at Barnsley on Saturday. "I think it's good that we're showing we can win in different ways because we're going to need to. We're not going to go through the season winning in only one way, so I think we've shown our versatility and how important that can be in recent weeks. "No games are easy in this division and Bristol City will be buoyed by their win. They've got a new manager and will be trying to impress him. "Their league position doesn't reflect the strength of their squad because they're a good side and I think they should be doing better than they are at the moment. "We'll go into the game again fancying ourselves as we do in every game and hopefully we'll come away with the three points."
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Allardyce on... Leicester City
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 30th October 2011
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce reflects on a win that his team were made to work for in his post-match press conference, which we once again bring you exclusively in full...
Sam: You might have thought that with all the late goals you've conceded at home that might have happened again today - but the boys held out?
Yeah, they did. When they put big Steve Howard on and started thumping the balls up there he was creating a few problems because he's so good in the air. But Leicester, going into the last few minutes were always going to throw everybody [forward] to try and get on the end of the flick-ons - which happened for the second goal, a wonderful strike - I don't think there's an awful lot we could have done about that one. But after that we saw the game out really, really well. So a great, entertaining football match, a great amount of goals from the game itself.
It looked like we were going to be very comfortable today [based] on the first half performance. We got ourselves 2-0 in front and it could have been more with the opportunities we'd had. Then a change of system and Leicester playing a little bit more direct caused us a few problems. But Robert Green made a couple of good saves - good to see him back - and Sam Baldock has going on with the headlines again because he's scored two, very unlucky not to have had three.
The quality of our three finishes today was really pleasing for me. Sam on the far post out-jumping somebody six inches bigger than him and he's headed it in; Julien Faubert's finish off the full-back and then of course Sam Baldock's volley off Freddie's flick. So all the goals were earned - rather than gifted by Leicester - by the quality of our finishing.
A great performance by [Mark] Noble as well?
Yes Mark Noble played very, very well. The whole team are giving everything they've got at the moment with the shortage of numbers we have at the minute. They're asked to continue to do that until other players come back, get themselves fit and get themselves back in the squad. So back-to-back wins, great entertainment and on the right end of the result to get three very important points.
How satisfying is it Sam to be in the situation you are in with so many key players out? Most Championship teams have to have a full squad to be where you are at the moment?
I've quoted this one before. Most teams, over the last five years when they've won automatic promotion they've used 29-33 players - and we haven't got that many in the squad at the moment. What we had on the bench, which is only five subs now... Had we been on the seven subs scenario we'd have had two very young professionals on the bench today, so our squad is tested to the full.
Being tested like that and continuing to get the results - because we're asking some players to play out of position, not quite where they want sometimes - we're doing very, very well. We changed our shape today and that meant Sam Baldock is looking like a big, big threat to everybody. I think the word will go reverberating around football, "you've got to keep your eye on him" when he plays here at Upton Park. He hasn't quite done it or had the same impact away but certainly here he's had a terrific impact for us on the Blackpool result and on today's result. We scored four against Blackpool and we scored three today.
Were you impressed with the way Noble's adapted to that new role you've gave him?
Well today was a 4-4-2 so it wasn't quite the sitting role that we've been playing, particularly when away from home. It's just when he gets on the ball, that's what we want to do with Mark Noble. His qualities in his passing and in his vision to set off attacks and play the right balls and stretch the opposition.
Like I said, if you look at the first half you probably thought, "well this is all over" - but I never do that. I expected a reaction from Leicester and in the end it was a great reaction from them because they pushed us right to the end. But it looked to be all over at half time by the fact that Leicester didn't look in terms of creating anything really dangerous. But second half, they got the boost with the goal and of course got a second boost by a great second goal. But we had already got our noses in front and managed to keep the lead, so it's great.
Do you feel that you lost some of your rhythm when [John] Carew went off?
Not particularly. I had to take John Carew off because of the referee, before he sent him off. I just can't believe it. I can't believe that why does a 6'5" man have to foul a centre half who's 6'1"? Body strength means that John Carew is going to be stronger than the centre half he's playing against. So when the centre half bounces off him and falls on the floor and the referee keeps giving a free kick, it baffles me. It really does baffle me.
John got five fouls given against him in 20, 25 minutes and got booked. So it would have been irresponsible of me to leave him on. So the referee spoilt our rhythm with his inability to weigh up the situation on what were coming-togethers of centre halfs and centre forwards, which happens in every single game. There wasn't a malicious challenge I could see from John in any of the incidents but the referee just [blew up] whenever anybody went down.
It's one of those where I say to John, "you get fouled John, stay on your feet". The opposition gets fouled, dives on the floor and the referee gives a free kick. It's always been one of my biggest bugbears of referees, that they don't give free-kicks to people who stay on their feet. So honest people don't get what they deserve. You all moan about simulation in the game and referees are promoting simulation.
Did he get booked for dissent or...
No, persistant fouling the referee told us. And then he gave another one just afer he booked him and we just said, "look, he gives one more and he's going to get his hand in his pocket again and send him off so we've got to bring him off". So I was very disappointed with that. I don't think the referee got anything too wrong in terms of major decisions today but that particular situation made it very difficult for me, having to change a player I want to be playing on the field, [a player] who's been outstanding in the last few games. He scored here against Blackpool and always looked a threat.
It's always going to be difficult without him but Freddie (Piquionne] is a great replacement to be fair. He made the third goal with a great flick-on and could have scored himself just after half time with a great run [when he] took the ball off the centre forward, cut inside - but they got a block on it. Freddie was a great asset to us today.
Did you take [Abdoulaye] Faye off for the same reason?
Faye was struggling a little bit with the bottom of his hamstring. I didn't really want to take him off when they put Howard on, but we really couldn't afford for him to extend that injury and to be out for [another] two weeks. We've got two games now before we can recover everybody - against Bristol City and against Hull City - and we need everybody fit. So I think he'll be available for Tuesday now.
Had we kept him on, he might have tweaked the hamstring and we would have been struggling for Tuesday - as we were struggling for Brighton. Had we had an injury to any of our back four against Brighton we didn't have a[nother first team] defender to play in any of the back four positions [today].
You know what it's all about going into clubs and changing their fortunes. Given that Leicester appear to have tried everybody and his uncle what would your message be to them to get some stability?
Don't sack Sven, give him longer. But it's too late for them, isn't it? Everybody's pays a price, as a manager today as a sacrificial lamb. Because the statistics will tell you that every year, 50 per cent or more of the managers lose their jobs in every single year so we just know that at the end of the day all we've got to do to stay in a job today is first and foremost, concentrate on winning football matches and then trying to make sure you entertain them and win football matches. Because it's only wins that keep you in the position today.
At what point did you decide that [Robert] Green was going to come back in?
He played behind closed doors on Monday afternoon, we played Tottenham. I told Ian Hendon to play so [that] Robert could get the sort of work that we would need to see him [get] in a game of football. [He played] for about 80 minutes, we lost 5-2 so he had plenty to do! [laughs] Martyn Margetson who watched him - he's my goalkeeping coach who is outstanding, by the way - just came back and said, "he's ready".
To be fair to Manny [Almunia], I spoke to Manny yesterday. An outstanding individual, because I offered him the place on the bench for his last game today but he said, "no no, listen, I'll go back [to Arsenal] and you give it to Ruud [Boffin]. He's here, he's at the football club, I've enjoyed my time". We've enjoyed having him so Ruud went on the bench, Manny's gone back and Robert made some very important saves today.
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Stowell and Rudkin on... West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 30th October 2011
By: Staff Writer
Leicester's temporary management duo reflect on a narrow defeat - whilst fending off questions regarding the departure of Sven Goran Eriksson...
Mike - You must be very disappointed not to have got something out of that game?
[Mike Stowell] Yeah. We was after the second half, maybe not after the first half. We put in a real shift i nthe second half and gave it a right good go up against a strong Championship team in West Ham who know how to win under Sam [Allardyce] at their own stadium, on their own ground - and we've had a real good go. With a little bit more good fortune we might have got something.
The players did seem to play for you, they wanted to play for you. They were geeing each other up from the start of the game and even when they were 2-1 down, 3-1 down. They kept on going for you?
[Mike Stowell] They kept on going and especially when that third one did go in. It might have knocked the stuffing out of them but they're resilient, they're good lads, they're good good players. They're desperate to do well for Leicester City and, personally, I think it's been good this week. It's been easy and that's because they are good players and want to do well. They were a little bit unfortunate but they've had a real good go today.
The six-million dollar question of course if would you want the job as a dual role?
[long pause, followed by laughs] [Mike Stowell] We're just happy to be employed be Leicester City! I love my job, John loves his I'm sure.
[Jon Rudkin] Our only interest at the moment is to oversee things until the new manager's in place. The board have obviously looked at the candidates and both myself and Mike, and the rest of the team that are working with us as well are looking to prepare as well as we can in preparation for the games. As Mike said, it's been helped massively by the fact of the application and the way that the players have been. I'm disappointed today but we can take a great deal of positives from the second half. Going forward, not just for Tuesday but for the rest of the season.
It's a wierd situation though, having joint managers in charge?
[Jon Rudkin] Well no, I've done it before. I won that game so maybe I won't get asked again! [laughs] No, it's happened before, then they brought Sven in. The owners will be searching and I'm sure they won't be rushed. But then again, it won't surprise me in football if we turn up for work tomorrow and there might be someone there. Eh, listen - the owners are good people and they're desperate to take this club into the Premier League so I'm sure they're seaching high and wide.
Sven said after he left that he still believed the club will end up in the Premier League. On that second half performance, it's still there isn't it?
[Jon Rudkin] Of course it is and we've got some good players in that dressing room. Whoever the appoint and whenever, they'll come in and they'll have the template to do that. Good players, a good training ground, good facilities. Fantastic travelling support, again today. It's just there, ready to fire.
Any idea why Sven was sacked? He'd been given all that money to assemble a squad?
[Jon Rudkin] No, not really. I mean, that's a decision by the owners and obviously the board, but we're in this position at the moment and we continue to look to prepare the team for the next trip.
You say they're ready to fire but I think it's 11 managers now since Martin O'Neill took you to the Premiership. That's quite a lot, isn't it? What is it about the club that doesn't seem to get the ability that other clubs do - or did?
[Mike Stowell] That goes to the owners, doesn't it. The owners want success and it's demanding, isn't it? It's a results business. I think the longest manager here since I've been here was Nigel Pearson who had two years, took us up and then got us to the play-offs. So he's had two successful years, so that's probably why he left!
Didn't he go of his own accord?
[Mike Stowell] He did, I believe. There's always stories but you don't know, that's up to the owners and the club to tell you about.
[Jon Rudkin] I think that the average tenure of managers is... the rewards of getting into the Premier League are so great it does put pressure on the club and the team to get there. You only have to look at the statistics that are produced right across football. It's tough, there's a lot of good clubs out there with good infrastructures - and we're one of them - that are gearing ready for the Premier League.
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Vinny's Leicester Report
Vinny 6:08 Sun Oct 30
West Ham Online
West Ham United 3 Leicester City 2
West Ham came out 3-2 winners with Sam Baldock hitting another brace in a pulsating game at Upton Park. This was a cracking game of football and had a number of twists and turns making it compelling viewing. It was heart in mouths stuff at times but if excitement is something that we want when playing at home we surely got it during this one.
Whilst the game was good to watch it is the result that will have most of the West Ham fans happy as we continued to keep up the pace at the top of the division with Southampton still three points clear.
It was perhaps a little disappointing that we let Leicester back into the game during the second half but they certainly had upped their game and even when we looked as though we had wrapped things up with the third goal the visitors almost immediately got back into the game with a wonderful strike.
This result leaves in a very healthy position in the league and after fourteen games you can't deny that things are going just about according to plan and we are bobbing along nicely.
With bottom club Bristol City to come on Tuesday night it gives us a great chance to get a run of results going and results only ever breed confidence especially at our football club who usually deal in negativity far too often.
I criticised the style of football we displayed in the game at Brighton last Monday but the same cannot be said for this one as at times I thought we played some excellent stuff with Mark Noble putting in a top performance as he took control of the game in the midfield.
The work rate of our team is so much better than the last few seasons and of course we shouldn't expect anything less from a team managed by Sam Allardyce but even so, it is great to see how hard the players are working.
The Team
Allardyce made a few changes from the side who were successful at Brighton in the previous game.
In Goal, Robert Green returned from injury and replaced Manuel Almunia whose loan spell was to finish after this game but it would appear that he had played his last game for the club already.
The defence was the same but we went to a 4-4-2 with Papa Bouba Diop dropping to the bench and Sam Baldock coming in to the starting eleven to play alongside John Carew.
Starting for Leicester City at left back was former Hammer Paul Konchesky. It was Alan Pardew who brought him to the club in 2005 and he started 68 times in all competitions scoring 2 goals in his two year spell at the club with one of those goals coming in the FA Cup Final of 2006 against Liverpool.
On the bench for Leicester was another former Hammer, John Pantsil. In two seasons Pantsil only started 10 games for the club but became a bit of a cult hero amongst the supporters despite his apparent lack of ability.
First Half
The opening quarter of the game was very poor with both sides doing little in the way of attacking. I had expected an tentative start from Leicester given that they had recently sacked their manager but our game plan again looked as though it was simply to get it long to Carew.
But we were gradually starting to get on top and Noble and Nolan were seeing more of the ball and getting it into wide areas. Faubert was in a lot of space on the right and he was also joining in with the attacks and saw a shooting chance spurned as he put his shot way over the bar into the Leicester fans.
With just over a quarter of the game gone we were awarded our first corner with Noble taking it and Faye meeting the ball with a flick into the danger area but it was cleared only as far as Collison who neglected to shoot first time and the chance was snuffed out.
A long ball towards Carew saw the big striker penalised for a foul and then shown the yellow card by Referee James Linington. This was a poor decision by the ref who was booking Carew for persistent fouling but all four free kicks given against him were questionable.
Whilst the crowd were incensed by this decision it was all forgotten just a minute later when we took the lead.
Nolan won the ball in midfield and gave it to Mark Noble who burst forward unopposed and thread the ball through for John Carew who clipped his cross to the back post for Sam Baldock to out jump his marker and head home from close range.
Whilst this goal was from close range it was a lovely passing move and a sign of a striker who really wants the ball and will make sure he is there score. A proper goal scorer you could say.
Up until that point the Leicester fans had been quite vocal and although the first goal went some way to quiet them down, just a minute later they would be looking on in shock as we struck again.
We hadn't long kicked off after the first goal when Noble picked the ball up in midfield and played a sublime pass over the head of Konchesky to Joey O'Brien who had raced forward. The Irish full back cut the ball back for Julien Faubert to send his low shot past Schmeichel and make it 2-0.
Faubert instantly ran over to a section of the ground where he has taken a lot of stick, most notably in the Peterborough game where he had an ongoing argument with a supporter.
Many of the fans could have been forgiven for thinking that this could quickly become another Blackpool game as we had proven once again to be clinical when we need to be. It was great to see us look a class above from the opposition and in that first half we were far the better team.
Just four minutes later and we nearly had the third when a pass towards Carew was taken down and given to Baldock whose curling shot crashed off the crossbar. It wouldn't have counted though because Carew had yet again been penalised for a foul.
Leicester began to get into the game more and a cross shot from Beckford was nearly turned in by David Nugent.
On the half hour mark Sam Allardyce made his first sub of the game with John Carew coming off and being replaced by Frederique Piquionne. Carew was slightly limping as he came off although it appears that he was not injured after all and this may have had something to do with the booking he received.
Piquionne meanwhile was in search of his first league goal in 2011. For any striker that is a pretty shocking statistic.
A corner for Leicester was claimed by Robert Green and his quick through released Faubert and the ball eventually found Piquionne whose shot was deflected wide for another corner. It was great to see us defending a corner one moment and up the other end forcing one of our own within 30 seconds.
Leicester so nearly got one back on 38 minutes when Peltier gave George McCartney the nutmeg and burst into the area and cross for Darius Vassell to turn his shot goalwards but the ball hit O'Brien and somehow went wide.
From the resulting corner we broke away on the counter again with Piquionne finding a lot of room. He fed the ball to his fellow countryman Faubert but his finish was poor.
Leicester's best chance of the half came with only a minute of normal time left. A long range effort from Wellans hit his own man Nugent and deflected out to Vassell on the left whose cross into the box found Jermaine Beckford who looked poised to score from close range but Robert Green got down to make an excellent save and keep the game at 2-0 going into half time.
Second Half
Two minutes into the second period and we should have made it 3-0. It was Piquionne was played in by Mark Noble and the striker got down the left wing, one on one with the defender and he cut inside and hit a shot which was well blocked by the defender. Piquionne should have just waited a moment so he could play it back for Baldock.
From the block the ball fell to Faubert who did the right thing and hit it first time but his shot was also charged down and the chance was unfortunately gone.
Leicester were still looking for a way back into the game and surprisingly took off Jermaine Beckford and replaced him with a big lump of a striker - Steve Howard.
A lump Howard may be but he made the impact that Leicester would have wanted with his physical presence unsettling our backline.
Just four minutes after his introduction and Leicester were firmly back in the came. A ball into the area saw Howard hit a shot which was blocked and it came to Wellens who put a cross to the back post for striker Andy King to send a thumping header past Green from close range.
The visitors were lifted by this and roared on by their vocal support they came at us in waves with West Ham fans looking on with discomfort.
Despite being under pressure it was us who came so close to scoring the next goal when a wonderful footballing move saw the overlapping McCartney getting down the left and his pinpoint cross found Baldock who must have thought he was certain to score but Schmeichel made a magnificent one handed save to deny him.
Leicester came at us again and despite a poor challenge from Faye the ref played the advantage and the ball was played into the feet of Andy King who went down under a challenge but the ref refused to give the penalty. Faye was subsequently booked for the previous challenge.
Any Leicester supporter at the game cannot accuse their side of not having a go and they were really putting us under some pressure but they were being met by a wall of West Ham players who were doing everything they could to stop them from equalising. We laud attacking play often but some of our defending was brave, committed and very necessary.
Whilst Leicester were convinced the equaliser was coming we did exactly the most devastating thing we could and that was to score again.
It was as route one as route one can be. Robert Green played a long ball forward, Piquionne flicked the ball on for Sam Baldock to volley past Schmeichel and surely wrap the points up.
So as we are all breathing a sigh of relief yet another twist was to unfold as three minutes after our goal Leicester managed to get themselves back in the game for the second time.
We can talk about closing players down but when an opposition player is going to hit the ball like Andy Kingdid then you really can't do much about it. A the ball dropped to King outside the area he hit a superb shot into the top corner giving Green no chances. Brilliant goal.
I think the last ten minutes aged me.
Leicester were all over us for a five minute period and I was convinced they were going to score. You could feel the tension amongst the fans as they piled forward.
The big chance came on the 81st minute when Konchesky put a cross in for Howard who won the ball but it hit off Tomkins (who had come on for Faye moments earlier) and left Green stranded but cannoned off the crossbar and was cleared.
It was a difficult last ten minutes and then to see an additional four minutes added on by the Ref we were all breathing a sigh of relief when the final whistle was blown.
We defended very well and showed the type of grit that we have lacked for such a long time. Late goals have been an issue this season but we saw this one out and I hope that this puts to bed this issue.
I can't deny that I thoroughly enjoyed this game and was really good entertainment. We saw a number of positives and we look mentally strong as well as clinical when we need to be.
Player Reviews
Robert Green
I mentioned in the last game that without Green we do not counter attack enough as he has the ability to spot a pass quickly and all though this game he was distributing the ball well. Made a couple of excellent saves especially the one in the first half from Beckford and was on top form when claiming crosses. It showed how much the victory meant to him at the final whistle as he gave a bit back to the Leicester fans who had been giving him some stick. If they are going to dish it out….
Joey O'Brien
Much better than against Brighton and was racing forward at every opportunity. He was difficult to beat and although he did pick up a yellow card this was a solid display from a consistent performer.
Abdoulaye Faye
Both Leicester Strikers had been easily snuffed out by Faye and Reid and it wasn't until Howard came on where we had any issues. Faye was a beast in the air and was first to nearly everything. He is a little awkward when the ball is at his feet but he is there to do a job and he does it well.
Winston Reid
A good display from Reid was equal to most that was thrown his way. He is continues to grow in confidence and his West Ham career is firmly back on track.
George McCartney
I am very pleased with his impact since he came back to the club. He again put in a strong performance, linked up with Collison well down the left.
Julien Faubert
He certainly stood up and was counted in this one. His performances are usually very hit and miss but this was certainly more hit. His goal was excellent but his work rate for the full 90 minutes is what really impressed me.
Kevin Nolan
A tenacious performance from the captain whose form might be slightly improving. Playing as part of a midfield two he has to cover a lot more ground as he cannot drift in and out of the game. This suits us and him much better because we can actually see his involvement and how many tackles he is putting in.
Mark Noble
The best player on the pitch. Won tackles, kept the ball, played passes, was involved in the first two goals, worked hard and was different class.
Jack Collison
A bit better, especially in the first half where he was linking up well with some nice short passing. But ultimately Collison doesn't get involved in the game enough.
John Carew
The referee seemed immediately against him and his booking would have probably led to another given the way Carew plays. Despite only being on the pitch for around half and hour he still managed to get an assist for Baldock's first.
Sam Baldock
He get's into those positions and scores goal. We needed a goal scorer and it would seem that we have one. Wonderful.
Subs Used
Frederique Piquionne (on for Carew 31 mins)
A chance to play down the middle and perhaps score his first goal in 2011. But it wasn't to be and he didn't really have many chances to score in all honesty.
James Tomkins (on for Faye 64 mins)
Got straight involved and had to deal with a lot coming into the area. Did it well as he usually does.
Freddie Sears (on for Baldock 86 mins)
Another bright display from Sears who saw quite a bit of the ball on the right wing and did well enough.
Subs Not Used: Boffin, Diop
Bookings: Carew, O'Brien, Faye
Man Of The Match: Mark Noble
Leicester City: Schmeichel, Peltier, Bamba, St. Ledger, Konchesky, Abe, King, Wellens, Vassell, Nugent, Beckford
Subs: Weale, Pantsil, Dyer, Johnson, Howard
Attendance: 30,410
Overall
Two wins on the spin and it is also two wins in a row at home. Hopefully the early season jitters regarding our home form can be laid to rest and we go into our home games confident of beating anyone.
This was not all about the long ball game and we did get the ball down and played some good football throughout the game. It would have been nice to see us be a bit more dominant especially in the second half but credit to Leicester who threw everything at us.
We showed steel and determination and in a way were very unlike West Ham.
Next Game - Bristol City (h) Tuesday 1st November
Bristol City are bottom of the league with just 9 points accumulated this season. On paper this is an easy victory but I would be inclined to think it will be anything but.
When were in the Championship before it was these sorts of games which would cause us problems so we need to be focussed and come out with another three points.
We certainly should have enough but you never really know what is going to happen when West Ham are concerned. I would hope that we have now found some consistency in our performances.
The View From Sam
"Sam Baldock is going home with the headlines again," the manager said. "Sam Baldock is looking like a big, big threat for everybody. I am sure the word will reverberate around football, you have to keep your eye on him when he plays at Upton Park.
"He hasn't quite done it or had the same impact away from home yet. But he has been terrific here.
"Sam has scored two and was very unlucky not to have had three. The quality of our finishing today was really pleasing for me. The first goal saw Sam on the far post, outjumping someone who is six inches bigger than him to head it in.
"Then there was Julien Faubert's finish and finally Sam's volley off Freddie Piquionne's flick. All the goals were earned rather than gifted."
"The boys held out. Leicester started to pump balls up there. Their substitute Steve Howard was starting to create problems because he is so good in the air. Leicester were throwing everyone forward to try and get on the end of the flick-ons which happened for the second goal.
"I don't think there was an awful lot we could have done about their second goal - what a wonderful strike - but we saw the game out really well."
"It was a great entertaining football match, with a great amount of goals. It looked like we would be very comfortable today on the first-half performance. We got ourselves two-nil in front.
"It could have been more on opportunities we had and then a change in system and Leicester played a bit more direct. That caused us a few problems but Robert Green made a couple of good saves. It was good to see him back.
"Mark Noble played very well. We like to get him on the ball. Mark's quality is in his vision and his passing to set off attacks. He can play the right balls to stretch the opposition."
[On Carew] "It would have been irresponsible to leave him on.
"The whole team are giving everything they have got and at the moment with the shortage of numbers we have got at the minute, they are being asked to do that until other players come back. It was a fantastic victory to get back to back wins.
"It was great entertainment and we got three very good points."
Season 2011/12 Scorers and Bookings
Carlton Cole - 4 (4 League)
Kevin Nolan - 4 (4 League)
Sam Baldock - 4 (4 League)
John Carew - 2 (2 League)
Mark Noble - 2 (2 League)
Own Goal - 2 (2 League)
James Tomkins - 1 (1 League)
Joey O'Brien - 1 (1 League)
Scott Parker - 1 (1 League)
Winston Reid - 1 (1 League)
Matthew Taylor - 1 (1 League)
Henri Lansbury - 1 (1 League)
Jack Collison - 1 (1 League)
Julien Faubert - 1 (1 League)
Junior Stanislas - 1 (1 Cup)
Yellow Cards
Mark Noble - 3
Kevin Nolan - 3
Julien Faubert - 3
Henri Lansbury - 2
Joey O'Brien - 2
James Tomkins - 1
Carlton Cole - 1
Matthew Taylor - 1
George McCartney - 1
Sam Baldock -1
Winston Reid - 1
Abdoulaye Faye - 1
John Carew - 1
Red Cards
Callum McNaughton - 1 (vs Aldershot home)
Frederique Piquionne - 1 (vs Portsmouth home)
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Now Can they Make it Three Wins in a Row?
October 30th, 2011 - 11:56 pm by S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
The 3-2 victory over Leicester City was a far closer contest than it should have been by rights. At 2-0 up we were cruising to the three points, but then one of those dreaded defensive lapses struck and King got their first goal with a header at the far post. That encouraged the Foxes and they started knocking it around well and for periods put us under pressure. During that period, Robert Green saved us with a world class save and we went on to get the third through a mighty Green punt up field, a deft Piquionne header and a clinical finish from Baldock. It was a direct and very good quality goal, which just goes to show that you do not have to exchange 25 passes, in the build up, to score a quality goal! I well remember Alan Taylor scoring a similar sort of goal against Man Utd in 1975-76, at Upton Park, from a Mervyn Day kick. Only in that case, there was no deft knock on, Taylor just brilliantly anticipated the bounce and finished strongly with a looping header over a totally exposed Alex Stepney. I do not recall any criticism of us playing it direct on that occasion!
Leicester City came back at us, scoring a 2nd with an impressive long range strike by, their outstanding player, Andy King. However, we held on to secure back-to-back wins. What a difference from the strong, hard working and tactical 0-1 defeat of Brighton. In this game we passed the ball, played some nice attacking football and were thoroughly entertaining. This is the style of football that we all admire as Hammers fans, but there was also a certain admirable quality about the Brighton victory, as there always is when a team set out their stall, implement a tactical game plan and totally neutralise and then defeat the opposition. The fact that Brighton had 69% of the possession and yet only really seriously threatened us once is a testament to Allardyce's tactics and the ability of this squad of players to put it into action. As a spectator, I was uncomfortable with the amount of possession that Brighton had, but I was also fascinated watching a durable and professional smash and grab raid by this West Ham side.
Against The Foxes, I was surprised that we did not use Diop in the second half to tighten up the midfield, but Noble was doing exceptionaly well and Nolan was never going to be substituted. It was a good performance, but we still demonstrated some vulnerability in letting the opposition back in to the game, when we should have killed them off by adding a another goal to make it 3-0. Still, that is only an observation at this stage, not a criticism, Allardyce will no doubt continue to work on it and I am sure that aspect will come right soon.
I was glad to see Mark Noble put two strong performances together on Tuesday night and Saturday. Against the Foxes, he played very well and was the fulcrum of most of our best passing moves, as well as consistantly seeking to find players with longer balls in to space. Sam Baldock is showing a real finisher's instincts now, with good movement and pace. Lets hope that he really goes on to terrorise opposition defences and have a key role in a successful promotion campaign. It was also good to see both Tomkins and Sears come on as substitutes. Tomkins is our best central defender and we need him fit and playing. Also, it is noticable that, along with Taylor's injury, his absence is one of the reasons that we have not been so dangerous at set peices in recent matches. Tomkins is a real threat on the far post and even when he does not meet the ball, he pulls defenders away, creating space and opportunities for others. While, Sears showed that he brings something diferent to the team with his pace on the right and ability to get in to the box. Indeed, I want to see Sears use his attributes more and deploy that pace to both give width on the right and also, crucially, time his runs in to the box to get on the end of goal scoring opportunities. I well remember the goal he scored last season at Upton Park against Wolves, when he made that late run in to the box, received a timely pass and finished it with aplomb, on the run. Lets see more of that please Freddie!
There was a report yesterday that Carlton Cole is back in training and could very well be on the bench on Tuesday evening against Bristol City. Lets hope so, because we need him back in first team contention for the centre forward position with Carew and Piquionne. Other interesting Sunday newspaper reports have suggested that having declined the chance to sign Diouf, Allardyce has now turned his attentions to securing Alan Smith, on loan from Newcastle Utd, for the remainder of the season. Personally, I am fairly agnostic about this move. You have to acknowledge that he is a fiery player, who has had more than his fair share of injury problems during his career. But he is also a very good player, who at 31 years of age will bring even more experience and quality to the squad. Also he did extremely well in the Newcastle Utd side that achieved a runaway promotion back to the PL, a couple of seasons ago, alongside a certain Kevin Nolan. So, there are both potential pros and cons attached to this potential loan signing. However, if he is fit and hungry to play, then it could just work out. We definitely need to compensate for our injury absentees, the price will presumably be right and, after all, he is not Diouf, is he?
I do not want make any assumptions, nor do I wish to tempt fate, but if we do achieve promotion this season and Leicester City remain in the second tier, then we could do a lot worse than attempting to sign Andy King as a goal scoring midfielder. We all saw the quality of his midfield play and finishing on Saturday. Arguably, he has attributes that could help a newly promoted Hammers squad next season.
Finally, we have secured back-to-back victories, the question is can we now make it three wins in a row on Tuesday evening? We should against Bristol City, but nothing can be taken for granted. We must go out and do the business and take the points, this is no 'give me' game. I certainly do not want us to put in another poor, spiritless, performance like that against Ipswich, because that is a sure way to come unstuck. Personally, I think that we will keep the momentum going and make it a run of three straight victories, with a 4-1 win. COYI!
SJ. Chandos.
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SAM ALLARDYCE BID ON WAY FOR ALAN SMITH
Daily Star
Alan Pardew
30th October 2011 By Clive Hetherington
WEST HAM are understood to be ready to test Newcastle's resolve to hang on to Alan Smith before the loan window closes next month. Boss Alan Pardew has insisted that Toon outcast Smith, who has played only four minutes as a sub this season, won't be allowed to leave on loan. But Hammers manager Sam Allardyce, who signed Smith from Manchester United for £6million four years ago, is interested in reuniting him with former Magpies skipper Kevin Nolan. Smith, now 31, won't be offered a new deal when his contract runs out next summer and his first club, Leeds – and Doncaster – have also been linked with him.
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Allardyce: Referees are promoting simulation
TalkSport
By Anton Stanley
Sunday, October 30
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce believes referees encourage footballers to dive when they don't give free-kicks to players who stay on their feet when tackled.
The Hammers boss was fuming after their 3-2 win over Leicester City about the performance of official James Linnington, who booked John Carew after just 20 minutes for persistent fouling even though he didn't commit a real tackle. And Allardyce believes rewarding players who fall over easily when fouled instead players who try stay on their feet promotes simulation within the game. He said: "I had to take John Carew off because of the referee, before he sent him off and I just can't believe it. Why does a six-foot-five man have to foul a centre-half who is six-foot-one? "Body strength means that John Carew is going to be stronger than the centre-half he is playing against. So when a centre-half bounces off him and falls on the floor and the referee keeps giving a free-kick it baffles me, it really does baffle me.
"John got five fouls given against him in 20-25 minutes and got booked, it would have been irresponsible of me to keep him on so the referee spoilt our rhythm by his inability to weigh up the situation on what were coming togethers, they happen in every single game. "I couldn't see a single malicious challenge by John in any of the incidents but the referee [gave a foul] whenever anybody went down. "So it's one of those ones where I say John, 'You get fouled John, you stay on your feet', the opposition gets fouled, dives on the floor and the referee always gives a free-kick. "It's always been one of my biggest bugbears with referees; they don't give free-kicks to people who stay on their feet. Honest people don't get what they deserve and people moan about simulation in the game and referees are promoting simulation."
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Sam Allardyce thinks big with West Ham after victory over Leicester
He may have dropped down a division, but there is no shortage of ambition for Sam Allardyce at Upton Park
Guardian.co.uk
Jeremy Alexander at Upton Park
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 30 October 2011 22.01 GMT
Little Sams make Sam Allardyce feel bigger than Big. At Bolton Wanderers the manager had some of his best years with Sammy Lee as assistant. At West Ham United since June, he signed Sam Baldock from MK Dons in late August for an "undisclosed" fee, believed to be about £2m. The 5ft 7in striker had just got a hat‑trick against Chesterfield, then another goal in a 4-0 win at Norwich City in the Carling Cup. On Saturday, for the second home game running, he scored two as West Ham beat Leicester City 3-2 to stay second in the Championship behind Southampton.
Pies are not humble in the north-west but Allardyce, sacked by Blackburn Rovers in December, has had to drop down a division, to London's sixth‑ranked club, to satisfy his aspirations. He gave Bolton four comfortable years in the Premier League but on leaving them in 2007 he said he wanted silverware. While at Blackburn, whom he left in 13th place, he said he would win trophies in abundance with Manchester United or Real Madrid. At 57, time may be running out. That those two Old Allardycians are in the Premier League's relegation places may enhance his standing.
West Ham, relegated in May, offer a different challenge, which he is enjoying more than West Ham's fans. He signs his programme notes "Big Sam", suggesting the comfort of a good relationship. At his appointment he vowed to try to "play the West Ham way" and respected the club's "great tradition and loyal supporters". Loyal they are, travelling in numbers and with home crowds holding up at just under 30,000. But they reckon to know more of the West Ham way than he does and there have been murmurings of discontent. "I don't know why they moan about winning when all they did before was lose," he said on Saturday. With eight wins they are only one short of last season's final total.
"I wouldn't have taken the job if I didn't think we could bounce straight back," said Allardyce and the owners, David Gold and David Sullivan, lifelong fans, may be happier than most. With "the academy of football" wearing kit sponsored by an Asian betting company, style can wait and only get better after the Davids' disastrous first appointment of Avram Grant, who increasingly last season looked like a bloodhound that had lost the scent. Allardyce, positive and pragmatic, has the nose for promotion.
He brought in 14 players, including Kevin Nolan (Newcastle), Matt Taylor (Bolton) and, true to his readiness to go direct, John Carew. It was ironic, then, that the 6ft 5in Carew should cross for Baldock, rising above a taller defender, to head the first goal after 21 minutes. The second, a minute later by Julien Faubert, also came from a pull-back from the right byline. At the end of the team announcements there had been a rare and generous welcome for a former player, Leicester's left-back Paul Konchesky. Perhaps he was still wiping the tears from his eyes.
West Ham were fortunate to be receiving Leicester five days after the sacking of Sven-Goran Eriksson. Through the first half City were as anaemic as one of his match analyses, though a vestige of commitment from Jermaine Beckford would have converted David Nugent's cross. His substitution by Steve Howard ignited them and at once found a soft spot at the heart of West Ham's defence and proof that Nolan and Mark Noble do not add up to the midfield mainstay of Scott Parker.
Within three minutes Andy King had headed in Konchesky's cross and West Ham resembled sunshine strollers caught in a tornado. Baldock relieved the pressure, volleying home in his stride as Frédéric Piquionne headed on a punt from Rob Green, a goal perfected with Kevin Davies at Bolton, but Leicester capped it at once as the ball went from Kasper Schmeichel's boot via the heads of Howard and Nugent for King to volley into the roof of the net. There were still 15 minutes to go, in which Howard headed against the bar and Green made a second sharp, smothering save.
Big Sam called it "a great, entertaining match". He might have seen it differently with only one point. The England job comes up next summer and promotion would do him no harm. He is already big enough to have refused to talk to the BBC. He need not concern himself with the Olympic Stadium. He can see no further than Tuesday, at home to Bristol City, hoping Little Sam is still in golden form.
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Sam Allardyce hits out at 'moaning' West Ham fans after victory over managerless Leicester
Sam Allardyce says West Ham fans critical of his side's style of play should stop complaining as the club, 3-2 victors over Leicester in the Npower Championship on Saturday, were not winning matches before he took over.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Rajvir Rais10:57PM GMT 30 Oct 20111
Despite West Ham sitting three points behind Championship leaders Southampton there have been murmurs of discontent from sections of the Upton Park faithful at the tactics employed by their manager. "I don't know why some people moan about winning when all this team did before was lose," said Allardyce. "It doesn't make any sense to me. "I've been in this game all my life and not for the life of me would I expect a football fan to accept playing well and losing rather than playing well and winning, but if you are unable to play well then just win. Haven't met one yet and I think it is all b-------." Allardyce does, however, believe the dissenters are in the minority as most fans are "happy they are winning football matches". Importantly, he has the backing of chairman David Sullivan, who used his programme notes before Saturday's victory over Leicester to state that unfashionable football was acceptable as long as the club kept winning.
Allardyce also seems to have a great relationship with his players. Having rewarded Mark Noble, who returned to action after missing the last two games with a toe injury, for his man-of-the-match performance with a kiss, he was also full of praise for Sam Baldock, a £2.75 million signing from MK Dons, who netted his second brace in as many home games. "He has been an outstanding purchase and hopefully he will continue what he has done in the last two home games," said Allardyce.
The only negative from Saturday's game for Allardyce was the absence of Sven Goran Eriksson, who was sacked as Leicester manager last week. And his treatment has Allardyce fearing for young British managers. "I fear for the young talented managers who get cast aside without being given a chance," he said. "They will probably not get the chance to manage at the highest level. It is a great shame we don't promote our own as much as all the other European countries do." Andy King, who celebrated his 23rd birthday with two goals of his own, said the Leicester players are concentrating on football and not on who their new manager might be. "We are paid to play and we trust the board to bring in the right man," he said.
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