WHUFC.com
All the background information and team news ahead of the New Year's Eve
fixture
29.12.2011
DERBY COUNTY v WEST HAM UNITED
npower CHAMPIONSHIP
SATURDAY 31 DECEMBER 2011
KICK-OFF: 1PM
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
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Introduction
• West Ham United travel to Derby County for their final league fixture of
2011. The Hammers go to Pride Park having amassed more points (24) on the
road than any other npower Championship club this term. West Ham have won
seven times (Doncaster Rovers, Watford, Nottingham Forest, Brighton & Hove
Albion, Hull City, Coventry City and Middlesbrough) and drawn three
(Millwall, Crystal Palace and Birmingham City) of their 12 away matches this
season.
• The Hammers are seeking a first away victory in three attempts. Sam
Allardyce's side have lost at Reading (3-0) and drawn at Birmingham City
(1-1) since winning 2-0 at Middlesbrough on 29 November.
• West Ham United are unbeaten in their previous seven visits to Derby
County - a run dating back to a 2-0 Rams success in the Premier League on 6
December 1997. The Hammers' most-recent trip to Pride Park ended in a 5-0
victory on 10 November 2007 - a game that saw Robert Green, George McCartney
and Carlton Cole start for West Ham.
• West Ham United's 38 league goals have been shared between 15 different
players. Carlton Cole leads the way with eight goals to his name.
• Derby County go into Saturday's fixture having won two their previous
three straight npower Championship matches. The Rams secured home successes
against Bristol City (2-1) and Leeds United (1-0) either side of a 1-0
defeat at Ipswich Town.
• The Rams, who won their opening four npower Championship fixtures, sit
14th in the table, having collected 31 points from 23 matches played.
• Derby County's 27 league goals have been shared between 12 players. Theo
Robinson and Steve Davies lead the way with five goals each.
• West Ham United scored a 3-1 win over Derby County in the reverse npower
Championship fixture on Saturday 26 November. Derby went a goal up through
on-loan Ipswich Town striker Tamas Priskin before Carlton Cole levelled
things up a minute before half-time. Kevin Nolan put the Hammers in front
before Mark Noble's penalty made the game safe.
• West Ham United and Derby County met on 31 December 1927. A 2-2 Division
One draw was watched by 22,000 fans at the Boleyn Ground, with the hosts'
goals being scored by Vic Watson and Jimmy Ruffell.
• The first-ever meeting between West Ham United and Derby County took place
on 17 December 1921. The Hammers ran out 3-1 Division Two winners in front
of 20,000 supporters at the Boleyn Ground, with Syd Puddefoot scoring twice
and Bill James once.
• West Ham United have lost just one of their previous 16 matches against
Derby County in all competitions - a run dating back to December 1997. The
Rams' sole win during that span was a 2-1 Championship win at the Boleyn
Ground on 23 January 2005.
• West Ham United will contest their first New Year's Eve fixture since
travelling to Charlton Athletic on 31 December 2005. The Addicks triumphed
2-0 through goals from Shaun Bartlett and Darren Bent.
• Sam Allardyce recorded his first victory in five meetings with Derby
County as a manager when West Ham United scored a 3-1 home success in the
reverse npower Championship fixture on 26 November 2011. Big Sam lost twice
in the Premier League while with Bolton Wanderers during the 2001/02 season.
In 2007/08, his Newcastle United side were the only side beaten by the Rams
during the whole Premier League season, going down to a 1-0 defeat at Pride
Park on 17 September 2007. Abdoulaye Faye also appeared as a substitute in
the same game.
Team news
West Ham United
• Winston Reid (dislocated shoulder), Gary O'Neil (knee), Henri Lansbury
(knee), and Sam Baldock (hamstring) are all back in contention to start the
New Year's Eve fixture after recovering from their respective injuries.
• Marek Stech (shoulder), Matt Taylor (calf), Abdoulaye Faye (calf) and Guy
Demel (thigh) are the only injury absentees from Sam Allardyce's squad that
will travel to the Midlands early on Friday.
• The Hammers will also be without suspended quartet Jack Collison, George
McCartney, Julien Faubert and Kevin Nolan. All four will be available again
for the 2 January visit of Coventry City.
• Pablo Barrera and Jordan Spence are on season-long loans at Real Zaragoza
and Bristol City respectively. Cristian Montano (Dagenham & Redbridge),
Herita Ilunga (Doncaster Rovers) and Callum McNaughton (AFC Wimbledon) are
all out on temporary loans.
Derby County
• Derby County will definitely be without defender Mark O'Brien, who has
been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury.
• Promising midfielder Jeff Hendrick is sidelined with an ankle injury that
will keep him out until mid-January.
• Scotland international Stephen Pearson (Bristol City) is out on loan, but
former West Ham United goalkeeper Stephen Bywater is back from a temporary
spell with League One side Sheffield Wednesday.
• Former England Under-20 striker Nathan Tyson has recently returned from
injury and is likely to start up front.
Last time out
Monday 26 December 2011
npower Championship
Birmingham City 1-1 West Ham United
West Ham United: Green, O'Brien, McCartney, Tomkins, Potts, Nolan, Noble,
Faubert (Sears 84), Diop, Cole (Carew 74), Piquionne (Lansbury 58)
Subs not used: Boffin, O'Neil
Goal: Cole 4
Monday 26 December 2011
npower Championship
Derby County 1-0 Leeds United
Derby County: Fielding, Brayford, Roberts, Barker, Shackell, Bryson, Bailey,
Green, Tyson (Robinson 65), Ward, Ball (O'Brien 90)
Subs not used: Legzdins, B.Davies, Priskin
Goal: Ward 67
Last six meetings
26 November 2011 West Ham United 3-1 Derby County (Championship)
19 April 2008 West Ham United 2-1 Derby County (Premier League)
10 November 2007 Derby County 0-5 West Ham United (Premier League)
23 January 2005 West Ham United 1-2 Derby County (Championship)
29 September 2004 Derby County 1-1 West Ham United (Championship)
10 April 2004 West Ham United 0-0 Derby County (Division One)
Overall record v Derby County (all competitions) W 27 D 23 L 25
Ten-year records
West Ham United
2010/11 Premier League 20th (relegated to Championship)
2009/10 Premier League 17th
2008/09 Premier League 9th
2007/08 Premier League 10th
2006/07 Premier League 15th
2005/06 Premier League 9th
2004/05 Championship 6th (promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)
2003/04 Division One 4th
2002/03 Premier League 18th (relegated to Championship)
2001/02 Premier League 7th
Derby County
2010/11 Championship 19th
2009/10 Championship 14th
2008/09 Championship 19th
2007/08 Premier League 20th (relegated to Championship)
2006/07 Championship 3rd (promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)
2005/06 Championship 20th
2004/05 Championship 4th
2003/04 Division One 20th
2002/03 Division One 18th
2001/02 Division One 19th
Referee
• Saturday's referee will be Jon Moss.
• Headteacher Moss was promoted to the Select Group of referees in June 2011
and has been officiating in the Premier League this season.
• After progressing through the Northern Counties East League and Northern
Premier League, Moss was promoted to the National Group of assistant
referees in 2003.
• Moss took charge of the 2005 Conference Play-off final between Carlisle
United and Stevenage. He was then promoted to the National Group of referees
in 2005.
• Moss will be assisted by Bobby Pollock and Adrian Holmes, while the fourth
official will be Tony Bates.
Us and them
• The following players have worn the colours of both West Ham United and
Derby County during their careers - Vic Blore, Stephen Bywater, Paul
Goddard, Derek Hales, John Harkes, Robert Lee, Chris Powell, William Robson,
Igor Stimac, Dave Swindlehurst, Paulo Wanchope.
• James Tomkins spent five weeks on loan at Derby County between November
2008 and January 2010, making seven Championship and one League Cup
appearances.
• West Ham United beat Derby County 5-2 in an FA Cup semi-final played on 23
March 1923. The fixture between two Division Two sides was played at
Stamford Bridge in front of a 50,795-strong crowd - the second-largest to
witness a match between the Hammers and the Rams.
• West Ham United and Derby County met in the FA Charity Shield at Wembley
on 9 August 1975. The League champions ran out 2-0 winners, with Kevin
Hector and Kevin McFarland scoring the Rams' goals in front of an attendance
of 59,000.
• The largest crowd to watch West Ham United take on Derby County at the
Boleyn Ground is the 35,000 who watched Jim Barrett and Jimmy Ruffell score
in a 2-0 Division One victory for the Hammers on 21 September 1929.
• The smallest attendance for a West Ham United versus Derby County fixture
at the Boleyn Ground is the 11,493 who saw the sides draw 1-1 in Division
One on 20 September 1992.
• West Ham United's largest win at Derby County was the 5-0 Premier League
victory secured on the Hammers' most-recent visit on 10 November 2007. Lee
Bowyer (two), Matty Etherington, Nobby Solano and an Eddie Lewis own-goal
completed the scoring in front of a 32,440-strong crowd.
• Derby County's biggest home win over West Ham United came on 8 December
1927, when the Rams ran out 6-0 Division One winners at the Baseball Ground
in front of an estimated 20,000 crowd.
• Ten players have made their West Ham United debuts against Derby County -
John Coshall (December 1928), Jim Wood (September 1929), Arthur Fryatt
(March 1931), Leslie Bennett (25 December 1954), Alan Blackburn (27 December
1954), Stuart Slater (October 1987), Ralph Milne (January 1990), John
Hartson and Paul Kitson (February 1997) and Ian Feuer (April 2000).
• Don Hutchison made his second 'debut' for West Ham United against Derby
County in September 2001.
Up next
• West Ham United host Coventry City on Monday 2 January 2012 at 3pm, while
Derby County travel to Hull City at the same time.
General information
• Saturday's weather forecast is for light rain with a maximum daytime
temperature of 12C (54F).
• Tickets will be on sale from the Alpari Stand Ticket Office at the Boleyn
Ground until 3pm on Friday 30 December. Tickets will also be available to
purchase on the day of the game from the Away Ticket Office in the South
Stand at Pride Park from 11.30am on Saturday.
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Tonks relishes Derby date
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce will again ask James Tomkins to dominate in the Hammers
rearguard on Saturday
29.12.2011
James Tomkins has consistently risen to the challenge this season and is
aiming to do so again at the familiar setting of Pride Park on Saturday. One
of the Hammers star performers at Birmingham City in the 1-1 draw on Boxing
Day, the 22-year-old will once again be the constant in the back four. Other
players may have come and gone through suspension and injury, but Tomkins
has become one of the reliable regulars on the team-sheet. He has partnered
Winston Reid, Abdoulaye Faye and George McCartney at the back already this
campaign and it still remains to be seen who will be alongside him for
Saturday's trip to Derby, with the first two struggling with fitness and the
latter suspended. No matter to Tomkins. He will simply be focused on trying
to get a vital three points as the Hammers managed when they won 3-1 in the
first meeting of the teams this season back on 26 November. He also has
extra incentive to want to do well after eight loan matches with the Rams at
the end of 2008. "We have played Derby and we know what their strengths
are," he told West Ham TV. "We know what we need to do to win the game. We
have a few suspensions and injuries so we have to get the lads back this
week and push on from Birmingham. We are just looking to the next game now."
With Julien Faubert, Jack Collison and Kevin Nolan also banned for the
weekend, Tomkins said whoever comes into the side has to follow the lead of
Dan Potts, the 17-year-old who has slotted in at left-back with aplomb in
the last two matches. "It is all about taking yoru chance when you get the
chance with injuries. Young Pottsy is doing that at the minute. Hopefully we
can take three points at Derby and stay high up in the league. It is the
last game of the year and we want to start off next year in the way we have
finished this year."
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The barest bones
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 29th December 2011
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce is preparing for the News Year's Day clash with Derby at Pride
Park with as few as ELEVEN first team regulars available for selection. With
four first team players due to miss the game through suspension and a
further nine either injured or out on loan, Allardyce will be forced to look
to his youth team in order to provide a seventeen-man squad for the game.
However it is in defence that his biggest problems lie, with just Joey
O'Brien and James Tomkins available for selection from the regular first
team squad. That means young Danny Potts, who made his first team debut
against Barnsley just a fortnight ago will almost certainly extend his
recent run in the first team, with Henri Lansbury likely to drop in at right
back and O'Brien moved to the centre.
Possible starting XI: Green; Lansbury, O'Brien, Tomkins, Potts; Diop, Noble,
Sears; Cole, Carew, Piquionne.
Missing in action: who's out and why
Suspended: Kevin Nolan, Jack Collison, George McCartney, Julien Faubert.
Injured: Sam Baldock, Matt Taylor, Guy Demel, Winston Reid, Abdoulaye Faye.
On Loan: Pablo Barrera, Herita Ilunga, Frank Nouble, Jordan Spence, Cristian
Montano, Callum McNaughton, Jordan Brown, Olly Lee, Ahmed Abdullah.
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Hammers launch striker bid
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 29th December 2011
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are reported to have submitted a £3million bid for Huddersfield
striker Jordan Rhodes. The highly-rated 21-year-old is reported to have been
the subject of a firm bid by West Ham and Sam Allardyce, who is said to have
handed Chairman David Gold a list of 25 potential transfer window targets.
The Scottish forward has already scored 20 goals this season for
promotion-chasing Town including four braces, two hat-tricks and one
four-goal haul - that coming the week before Christmas in the 4-4 draw at
Sheffield Wednesday. However the Hammers are up against a number of clubs as
they vie for Rhodes' services; scouts from Bolton, Wolves, West Brom and
Celtic are reported to have watched the youngster on Boxing Day. Meanwhile
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp - never one to talk about other clubs' players
- recently stated that the striker was "a natural finisher", adding that he
was "quick, strong and good in the air".
West Ham's initial bid is said to have been rejected, although the Hammers
are hopeful that an improved offer in the region of £4million will be enough
to land Rhodes.
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Hammers warned off Rhodes
Terriers have no plans to part with highly-rated frontman
Last Updated: December 29, 2011 4:00pm
SSN
Sam Allardyce admits West Ham have enquired about Jordan Rhodes, but has
been left in no doubt that the Huddersfield striker is not for sale. The
Terriers frontman is hot property heading into the January transfer window,
with his exploits in League One this season earning widespread acclaim. The
21-year-old has already netted 20 goals in all competitions this term and
has been awarded his senior debut for Scotland. His potential for further
improvement has caught the eye of those further up the Football League
ladder, with West Ham among those who would welcome the addition of Rhodes
to their ranks. They have, however, been given short shrift by Huddersfield
after tentatively addressing the subject with the Terriers. "Jordan Rhodes
has only been an enquiry, not an offer or a bid by any stretch of the
imagination," Hammers boss Allardyce told Sky Sports News HD.
Main man
"And we have had a straightforward 'absolute no', 'not for sale' from
Huddersfield Town so that's out of equation. "That was just an enquiry to
see what the situation was and nothing more than that." Asked if he felt
there was any room for manoeuvre in the negotiations, he added: "I don't
think so. He is the main man for them to get them out of that division. This
young lad is their main goalscorer. "I suppose if the bid was big enough
they would have to think about it, but I don't think we have that sort of
money."
Rhodes does, however, fit the mould when it comes to the type of player
Allardyce is looking to take to Upton Park. He said: "He is a goalscorer
with the potential to get better, the same as Sam Baldock. "We have got the
experienced players here in our squad, Freddy Piquionne, John Carew,
Abdoulaye Faye, Papa Bouba Diop - it's the younger end of the squad that
gives you the good balance."
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Clarets keen on Stech
Hammers shot-stopper keen to move on
By Vasek Kadlec. Last Updated: December 29, 2011 5:33pm
SSN
West Ham goalkeeper Marek Stech has revealed Championship rivals Burnley are
keen on acquiring his services. The 21-year-old Czech has been frozen out at
Upton Park, primarily due to the impressive form of No.1 Rob Green. Stech
had been on loan at Yeovil Town earlier this season, but was recalled by
manager Sam Allardyce as injury cover. When asked which clubs want him on
trial, he replied to isport.blesk.cz: "Ipswich Town, but more clubs have
called me.
Interest
"Anyway, Burnley are keen to sign me. I've already played a game in their
reserves. "Two weeks ago they played at West Ham and I discussed it with
their goalkeeper coach. He said there was interest. "In January it would
most likely be for a six-month loan. Then I would have one year left on my
West Ham deal and at such situation you usually open talks over a new
contract or move on." The shot-stopper's future seems away from Upton Park
with the club due to pay Sparta Prague a bonus if he makes five appearances.
Clause
Stech is unlikely to play for the Hammers again anytime soon and he is keen
to move on and secure regular first-team football. "I still can't play
because of that money. It is unpleasant and has been going for a year. I'm
trapped," he continued. "(West Ham) don't have a reason to keep me because
of the clause. Perhaps they might even be happier if I moved elsewhere. "I
don't want to mention the figure, but my feeling is it is not a big sum for
West Ham. "I think the fee is not too big and it makes me feel sorry because
I like West Ham. This is my fifth season here and I have always been happy
here."
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Tomkins ready for Derby day
West Ham looking to complete league double over Rams
Last Updated: December 29, 2011 9:39pm
SSN
West Ham defender James Tomkins is expecting a tough match against Derby at
Pride Park on Saturday. Tomkins, who helped the Hammers to a 1-1 draw at
Birmingham City on Boxing Day, will be returning to face the club he spent
eight games on loan with in 2008. West Ham have selection issues as George
McCartney, Julien Faubert, Jack Collison and Kevin Nolan all miss the Derby
trip due to suspension, while Winston Reid and Abdoulaye Faye are struggling
with injury. "We have played Derby and we know what their strengths are,"
Tomkins told West Ham TV. "We know what we need to do to win the game. We
have a few suspensions and injuries so we have to get the lads back this
week and push on from Birmingham. We are just looking to the next game now."
Dan Potts, 17, has played the last two matches at left-back and Tomkins
wants others to follow the teenager's example. "It is all about taking your
chance when you get the chance with injuries," added Tomkins. "Young Pottsy
is doing that at the minute. Hopefully we can take three points at Derby and
stay high up in the league. It is the last game of the year and we want to
start off next year in the way we have finished this year."
West Ham beat Derby 3-1 at Upton Park earlier in the season.
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The Transfer Fun Starts With Jordan Rhodes
December 29th, 2011 - 11:27 am by Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die
According to the Daily Mail and others West Ham have had a £3 million bid
for Huddersfield striker Jordan Rhodes rejected, and are set to up to £4
million to land a player who has so far scored 26 goals in 26 starts this
season, including three hat-tricks, two of them back to back, and the other
occasion was when he scored all four goals in the 4-4 draw at Sheffield
Wednesday. I have to admit, I had never heard of him before yesterday, but
at the age of twenty, he looks some prospect. He's the son of former Oldham
Ahletic player Andy Rhodes, and has so far scored 53 goals in 100 games for
Huddersfield. Not a bad scoring rate, at all.
Allardyce has turned to Rhodes after reportedly being quoted £4.5 million
for Nicky Maynard from Bristol City. I'm pretty sure he is out of contract
in the summer, so he may be one to pick up for nothing then.
It seems to me that there will be three or four signings in the window – one
striker, two central defenders and a wide player. And if reports are to be
believed they will all be signed early on in the window to avoid the
problems we have had in previous years. Let's hope so.
In addition, there is much speculation about who Sam Allardyce might let go
from the existing squad. Quite frankly, I doubt there will be many leaving
Upton Park, but they could, I suppose, include Freddie Sears and Freddie
Piquionne (please God). Alan Pardew has been sniffing around James Tomkins
and Martin Jol is said to be interested in Mark Noble. Hands off both of
them!
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Sam heads for the high Rhodes
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: 29 Dec 2011
The Sun
SAM ALLARDYCE has made a £3million bid for Huddersfield wonderkid Jordan
Rhodes. Rhodes, 21, is the most talked about striker outside the Premier
League. He has already scored 20 goals in 20 League One appearances this
season. His huge tally includes all four in the 4-4 draw with Yorkshire
rivals Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on December 17 and a classy
winner against Chesterfield on Boxing Day. West Ham's offer was rejected but
boss Big Sam is set for another go to lure the Scottish hot-shot to Upton
Park to boost his side's promotion push. Rhodes is a full Scotland
international and Allardyce reckons he would be the perfect addition to his
squad as injuries and suspensions take their toll in a tough season. The
Hammers are still second in the Championship but have seen the gap cut to
just goal difference between them and third-placed Middlesbrough. Allardyce
has set his sights on automatic promotion at the very least if the title
proves beyond his team and has targeted a two-points- per-game average to
achieve it. But impressive new striker Sam Baldock, snapped up from League
One MK Dons, has been struggling with a hamstring injury. And wideman Matt
Taylor has also had injury problems, along with several other key players.
Allardyce hopes that the prospect of Premier League football next season,
higher wages and a bigger stage with the Hammers could help close a deal for
Rhodes. West Ham, determined to bolster their squad during next month's
transfer window, are also interested in Crystal Palace wideman Wilfried Zaha
and Southend's highly-rated and versatile midfielder Kane Ferdinand. Hammers
striker Carlton Cole wants their senior players to get the club through
their current injury crisis. He said: "Everyone involved, right through the
squad, has a part to play. "The experienced lads have to help the young
lads."
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Hammers eye double swoop
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today
The Sun
WEST HAM want Cardiff midfield ace Peter Whittingham for around £3million.
Whittingham, 27, has scored seven goals to help fire the Bluebirds into the
Championship play-off places. West Ham's bid comes just 24 hours after
SunSport revealed they had made an official £3m offer for Huddersfield
striker Jordan Rhodes. Allardyce is keen to add both players to bolster the
final charge in the second half of the season — as the club look to nail one
of the two automatic promotion spots. Although both bids have been initially
rebuffed, West Ham are not giving up the chase. Rhodes, 21, in particular,
is a top target for Big Sam and he is set to raise the stakes with a higher
offer for the 20-goal hitman. Hammers have been hit by a series of injuries
and bans, prompting Allardyce to get started on his transfer plans early,
although the window does not open until Sunday.
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Sam: Tomkins will cost mega bucks
By JIM MUNRO
Published: 29 Dec 2011
The Sun
WEST HAM boss Sam Allardyce has said it will take a "mega bucks" offer from
Newcastle to prise England Under-21 star James Tomkins away from Upton Park.
The 22-year-old central defender has had his best season in a claret and
blue shirt as West Ham attempt to bounce back into the Premier League at the
first time of asking. While Tomkins is regarded as a big part of the club's
future, Allardyce confirmed that there will come a point where the club will
have to listen to offers.
Allardyce said: "I was speaking to [co-owner] David Sullivan yesterday and
while there might be some interest in James it would have to be mega bucks
for us to even consider that. "Not that we want to, but you never know
what's round the corner and it would be the same with anybody else really.
"We just have to wait and see."
Regarding his own targets in the January transfer window, Allardyce said an
approach for Huddersfield striker Jordan Rhodes, who has bagged 20 goals in
20 games this season, had been immediately kicked into touch by the League
One club. "Jordan Rhodes has only been an enquiry, not an offer or a bid by
any stretch of the imagination," said Allardyce. "We've had a
straightforward, absolute no, not for sale from Huddersfield Town so that's
out of the equation. "I suppose if the bid was big enough they'd have to
think about it, but I'm not so sure we've got that sort of money available.
"He's a goalscorer, young, good potential, could get better - the same as
Sam Baldock. "We've got the experienced players here in our squad. We've got
your Freddy Piquionnes, we've got the John Carews, the Abdoulaye Fayes and
Papa Bouba Diops. "It's the younger end with more potential that's more
vibrant for the squad that we want to come in. That gives you a good
balance."
Asked about his list of 25 transfer targets for January, Allardyce at first
asked: "Who told you I'd got a list of 25?" When the answer came "the
owners", he laughed and said: "They shouldn't be letting those secrets out
of the bag. Mr Sullivan, Mr Gold, what are you doing?" But clarifying just
who and what type of player is on that list, Allardyce said: "It's only each
position area and what might be available. That's not actually what we are
going to go for. "I suppose if you lookd at that list at the start of the
season, it was more like 75 than 25. "So yes, we've identified and they've
made some enquiries into some of the players we are looking at which is very
encouraging indeed. "But it's got to be at the right price but more
importantly for me it's got to be the right quality."
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Hammers struggling to nail down Cole on new contract
Published 22:29 29/12/11 By John Cross
The Mirror
West Ham could face a battle to keep Carlton Cole in January. The England
striker is due for new deal talks at the Boleyn, with several Premier League
clubs monitoring developments should he become available. Hammers boss Sam
Allardyce is keen to keep the 28 year old to help push their promotion
campaign but knows there is growing interest from Newcastle, Sunderland and
Aston Villa.
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West Ham refuse to budge on Tomkins deal as Newcastle are told to up offer
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 10:30 PM on 29th December 2011
Daily Mail
West Ham have told Newcastle they will have to increase their £3million
offer for James Tomkins considerably to tempt them into a sale. Newcastle
are also interested in Middlesbrough's Rhys Williams and Manchester City's
Nedum Onuoha but are looking for the best value. West Ham manager Sam
Allardyce said: 'There might be some interest in James but it would have to
be mega bucks for us to even consider that.' Allardyce has been rebuffed in
an enquiry for Huddersfield's Jordan Rhodes while goalkeeper Marek Stech is
wanted by Burnley.
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Hands off! Huddersfield reject Hammers bid for £3m-rated hitman Rhodes
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 5:17 PM on 29th December 2011
Daily Mail
West Ham must up the ante in their pursuit to land exciting Huddersfield
striker Jordan Rhodes after the League One club rejected a bid from the
Premier League promotion hopefuls. The 21-year-old Scotland international
has struck 20 goals in 20 League One games to his name so far this season
attracting interest from a host of suitors including Norwich, QPR and
Celtic. But the Championship side have made him their No 1 target for when
the January transfer window reopens for business with Hammers boss Sam
Allardyce desperate to stengthen his injury-hit squad. In addition to this
latest snub, it is understood the Hammers had an initial offer rejected by
Huddersfield. 'Jordan Rhodes has only been an enquiry, not an offer or a bid
by any stretch of the imagination,' Allardyce told Sky Sports News. 'And we
have had a straightforward "absolute no", "not for sale" from Huddersfield
Town so that's out of equation. 'That was just an enquiry to see what the
situation was and nothing more than that. 'He is the main man for them to
get them out of that division. This young lad is their main goalscorer. 'I
suppose if the bid was big enough they would have to think about it, but I
don't think we have that sort of money.' Despite Allardyce's admission that
the player is 'not for sale', the Hammers are certain to continue to monitor
the player who recently scored all four in the Yorkshire derby against
Sheffield United. Among his list of 25 potential targets, Allardyce has also
identified Southend teenager Kane Ferdinand and Crystal Palace winger
Wilfired Zaha while USA striker Eddson Buddle has been on trial at the
club's Chadwell Heath training ground.
West Ham are second in the Championship, three points behind leaders
Southampton who can stretch their lead to six when they face Bristol City on
Friday night, a day before the Hammers' difficult New Year's Eve visit to
Derby. Allardyce is without several first team players for the trip to Pride
Park. Captain Kevin Nolan, Jack Collison, George McCartney and Julien
Faubert are suspended while Sam Baldock, Matty Taylor, David Bentleym, Guy
Demel, Winston Reid and Abdoulaye Faye are all sidelined through injury.
Striker Carlton Cole, who scored at Birmingham on Boxing Day, has called on
his fellow experienced senior players to help the club's youngsters get
through a tough and busy period of fixtures, with Coventry at home next on
January 2. 'The experienced lads have to help the young lads,' he said.
'Everyone involved, right through the squad, has a part to play.'
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