WHUFC.com
The manager covered a range of subjects during his update before the big New Year's Eve game
30.12.2011
Sam Allardyce and his players head to Derby County on Saturday with the manager having plenty to ponder regarding his lineup. Four players are out suspended in Kevin Nolan, Julien Faubert, George McCartney and Jack Collison, while Big Sam has to think about whether to play the fit, but not match-fit, Winston Reid and Sam Baldock. Gary O'Neil is also pushing to play after eight months out. As ever at this time of the year, the transfer window dominates media activity with the manager ruling out a number of names put to him in the press conference while being adamant that James Tomkins is one he wants to keep at the club.
How is the squad looking for Saturday?
SA: We are pretty depleted. I think that our injury problems are doubled and escalated by our suspensions. It is very unusual to actually get three players who were on four bookings all booked in the same game and missing the next game along with Jack Collison. There are four out on suspension and five or six out injured.
It makes life very difficult for us. The defence is the biggest problem we have as the rest of the squad is not quite as weakened as we are at the back. It is about a side that needs to go out and play to its very best in a very difficult game at Derby, whoever is in the team.
Do you have anyone back to help?
SA: Sam Baldock is back in the squad but hasn't played for five weeks. Gary O'Neil is in the squad, he has played three games behind closed doors. Winston Reid has been out for seven or eight weeks but not played a game. He is fit so we have to include him in the Derby scenario. The players selected need to go out and do their very best. It is a little concerning but it is for one game only so maximum effort from everyone is needed to try and continue our fantastic away record and then we will have plenty of fresh players back from suspension to look at for the Monday game.
Can you afford to even think about that visit of Coventry yet?
SA: The game on Monday sort of takes care of itself. Jack Collison, Julien Faubert, Kevin Nolan and George McCartney will all be available again. That makes life a little bit easier. It would also have always been two different sides playing because it is such a short space of time. It is about the disruption. Making changes disrupts the flow of the team and it is beginning to do that. That has ended up costing us a few points, even though I think under the circumstances the performances have been very good.
How do you reflect now on the 1-1 draw at Birmingham City?
SA: It was just too many chances missed at the time. That would have put the game beyond Birmingham and we had one slip up on a corner. There are lots of things we have talked about. Not retaining possession in the second half like we did in the first half, which allowed too much pressure to come on us. We have ask 'Is that why we made a mistake and cracked' and 'What contribution did the changes make?' If you are a substitute you have got to make a bigger and better contribution than you've made. You are supposed to lift the team. We put you on because we want you to lift the team. We need you to come on with the energy and ability you have got and make us better, not make us the same. I don't think any of the subs lifted the team when they came on. We have had all those discussions. In the end, Birmingham are a very difficult side to play on their own patch. It is not bad being disappointed with a draw with the problems we have had, when you know you should have won.
You must be very impressed with how Dan Potts is doing at just 17?
SA: He has done very well. The idea of a young lad training with the first team on a regular basis gives you the opportunity as a manager to see the lads that the staff are promoting. They are writing out the reports and see players who are building up the higher-end performances. For me it is about bringing those players up to the first-team squad - playing against the first team in tactical sessions. Danny has jumped the queue, there is many a young professional in the squad that is older that hasn't made the first team. If they are looking on they need to get to his level and beyond, then they will get in the first team. It is a great achievement for Danny and he is very capable. We have to be very careful with him that it is not too much too soon. We don't have to prolong it for too long because he will feel the pace at some stage.
Kevin Nolan will miss his first minutes of the season. Who will captain the team?
SA: I don't know who will be the captain yet. It is the farthest thing from my mind. It is about getting the best eleven out on the field that is available and the best system for that eleven. That is my concern and when we have done all that, we will look at who the captain will be and give them the armband. Hopefully we can continue a very good record away from home. The transfer window is upon us and clubs will no doubt be looking at James Tomkins. Are you expecting a bid?
SA: Probably but it wouldn't be big enough to tempt us. I was speaking to 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.
What about players coming in? We have seen Jordan Rhodes and Ricardo Costa linked?
SA: We have identified names and made some inquiries into some players which is encouraging indeed. It has to be the right price but more importantly it has to be the right quality. [Huddersfield's] Jordan Rhodes has only been an inquiry but we have had a straightforward 'No, not for sale'. That is out of the equation. It was just an inquiry, nothing more than that. No [interest in Ricardo Costa]. We have got the experienced players in our squad. It is the younger end with potential we are looking for to add a bit more vibrancy to the squad. That gives you a good balance. We are looking for potential to get better, the same we got with Sam Baldock.
What are the plans for New Year's Eve after the Derby match?
SA: There will be no time for the players to be celebrating. They will be in the day after recovering as quickly as they possibly can. Anyone who wants to try and sneak out is not only harming the chance of a result but also their own career basically. Those days are long gone when you want to be seeing players sneaking out because it is New Year's Eve. It is a great temptation but you have to resist that if you are a true professional.
Have you got a stand-out memory of the year?
SA: A stand-out memory has been joining a club of this magnitude. The home attendances and the away support is a stand out thing for me. We are filling the ground
at home. Perhaps they could be a bit more intimidating on the opposition but tthey are there in their thousands and away from home, 6,500 here, 4,500 there.
It has been the standout memory for me. That makes you want to reward them for their support and try and give them what they want. That is a team that finishes in the top two of the league at the first time of asking.
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Cardiff City reject West Ham's Peter Whittingham approach
Page last updated at 09:58 GMT, Friday, 30 December 2011
BBC.co.uk
Malky Mackay has revealed Cardiff City have received an approach from Championship rivals West Ham United for playmaker Peter Whittingham. But Bluebirds boss Mackay has rejected an offer, thought to be in the region of £3m, by The Hammers for the former England under-21 international. And Mackay insists that Whittingham, who signed a new three-year Cardiff deal in August, "is not for sale". "I'm here to improve this football club," said Cardiff boss Mackay. "And bring players into the club, not sell them. "We had an approach in terms of a call. Peter Whittingham is not for sale."
Whittingham's impressive displays have helped propel Cardiff into the top six. The 27-year-old said earlier this month that he would have no complaints if the Welsh club rejected offers for him when the January transfer window opened. Whittingham has scored seven league goals and made seven assists this season, emphasising his importance to Cardiff's Championship play-off push. The 2002 FA Youth Cup winner with Aston Villa joined Cardiff in a £350,000 deal in January 2007 and quickly established himself as one of their key players. But having spent a number of seasons on the left-wing, Whittingham has impressed in a central midfield role this season under new manager Mackay.
Former Cardiff boss Dave Jones admitted in November that the club had a few "sniffs" for Whittingham from Premier League clubs during his reign last season and said he thought Cardiff's resolve to keep their man would be severely tested in January. West Ham are second in the Championship table, just three points behind leaders Southampton, and looking to get back into the Premier League at the first attempt following their relegation last season. "If you're not getting calls and not getting interest in your players then that tells its own story," added Mackay. "I'm here to grow Cardiff City, not wreck it. And our chairman and directors feel the same way."
Cardiff have rejected previous offers from Nottingham Forest and Burnley for Whittingham, regarded as one of the best midfielders outside of the Premier League.
Whittingham was the Championship's 25-goal top-scorer in the 2009-10 season and was named in the division's team of the season, in the year Cardiff lost a play-off final to Blackpool.
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Cole to Newcastle?
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 30th December 2011
By: Staff Writer
Fulham are set to make a move for Carlton Cole during the forthcoming transfer window, according to reports. Jason Burt, writing in today's Telegraph claims that Martin Jol is a long-term admirer of the West Ham striker and has identified him as a potential replacement for Bobby Zamora, who is likely to depart Craven Cottage this January. Fulham are said to value Cole at around the £4million mark; West Ham are likely to ask for double that should they decide to part with a player who, whilst blowing hot and cold during his five years at the club is considered a vital first team member at present.
* One player unlikely to be leaving the Boleyn Ground this winter is central defender James Tomkins, who has been a target of Newcastle's former West Ham manager Alan Pardew. Sam Allardyce, speaking about Newcastle's interest said: "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."
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Big Sam on Rhodes bid
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 30th December 2011
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce has revealed that he is unlikely to make a second bid for Huddersfield striker Jordan Rhodes. Allardyce boss confirmed that West Ham had indeed made an approach for the highly-rated 21-year-old - but insisted that a fee was never discussed. "Jordan Rhodes has only been an enquiry, not an offer or bid," he told the Sun. "We've had a straightforward, absolute 'no, not for sale' from Hudddersfield so that is out of the equation. "That was just an exquiry to assess what the situation was and nothing more than that. He's a goalscorer, young, got good potential and can get better, the same as Sam Baldock. "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."
The interest in Rhodes , added to the summer purchase of Sam Baldock points to the club looking to invest in potential rather than experience, as was the case during the pre-season transfer window. And Allardyce - who has signed SIX players aged thirty and over since succeeding Avram Grant at West Ham last June - agrees that the squad requires an injection of youth. "We've got the experienced players here in our squad," he said. "It's the younger end with potential that's more vibrant for the squad to come in. That gives you a good balance."
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For Pete's sake
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 30th December 2011
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are understood to have had another approach for a Football League player rejected. Cardiff City boss Malky Mackay claimed this morning that he had rejected an enquiry by the Hammers for tireless midfielder Peter Whittingham. "Peter Whiitingham is not for sale," he said. "I'm here to improve this football club and bring players in not sell them. We've had an approach in terms of a call but that's all it was. "It was from West Ham, but Peter is not for sale."
The Nuneaton-born former England under-21 international has been in sterling form for the Bluebirds this season. Under new boss Mackay, Whittingham - who has played the majority of his career as a wide man - has excelled in a more central role, from where he has already hit eight goals (from 27 appearances). Having started his career at Aston Villa - for whom he managed just 39 starts in four years - Whittingham moved to Cardiff in the January 2007 transfer window for £350,000, following loan spells at Burnley and Derby. Since then he has been virtually ever-present for City, fo whom he has made in excess of 200 starts in five years. West Ham's approach for Whittingham - whom the club are said to value at £3million - comes hot on the heels of United's approach for Huddersfield's Jordan Rhodes, the young striker for whom the Hammers are said to have offered a similar figure.
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Derby v West Ham preview
Last updated: 30th December 2011
SSN
Team news for Saturday's Championship clash between Derby and West Ham at Pride Park (kick-off 1pm). Mark O'Brien has joined Jeff Hendrick and Steve Davies on the casualty list for Derby ahead of the visit of West Ham. O'Brien has undergone knee surgery after damaging his anterior cruciate ligament in training on Tuesday and the defender is set to miss the remainder of the season. Midfielder Hendrick was ruled out of the Christmas and New Year programme after damaging ankle ligaments during the defeat at Ipswich on December 17. Davies has been sidelined since suffering a fractured skull against Southampton in mid-October. The striker could soon return depending on the results of his latest scan. Fit-again Theo Robinson and fellow forward Tamas Priskin, along with midfielder Ben Davies, are options for manager Nigel Clough, who could recall centre-half Jake Buxton to the squad following the injury to O'Brien. Robinson, Ben Davies and midfielder Craig Bryson go into the final game of 2001 on four yellow cards. They will escape a suspension if they can avoid collecting another because the cut-off point for five bookings is the end of the year.
West Ham have four players suspended for the trip to Pride Park. Skipper Kevin Nolan, winger Julien Faubert and defender George McCartney all travelled to Birmingham on Boxing Day knowing a yellow card would earn them a one-match ban and all three duly got themselves booked. Midfielder Jack Collison is still suspended following his red card against Reading a fortnight ago. The Hammers also have a big injury list with Abdoulaye Faye (thigh), Winston Reid(shoulder), Guy Demel (thigh), Matt Taylor (calf), David Bentley (knee) and Sam Baldock(hamstring) all receiving treatment. Boss Sam Allardyce hopes Faye will be available, otherwise James Tomkins is his only fit centre-half, while striker Baldock is also pushing to return after a month on the sidelines.
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Whittingham 'not for sale'
Cardiff boss confirms West Ham enquiry for midfielder
Last Updated: December 30, 2011 11:37am
SSN
Cardiff City boss Malky Mackay insists Peter Whittingham is 'not for sale' after confirming West Ham United had made an enquiry for the midfielder. Whittingham, who has 18 months remaining on his contract, has been linked with a £3million January move to Cardiff's promotion rivals. However, Mackay is determined to hang on to the 27-year-old and wants to focus on bringing new players in, rather than cashing in on current members of his squad. "Peter Whittingham is not for sale," said Mackay.
Approach
"I'm here to improve this football club and bring other players in to it, not sell the players I have. "We've had an approach in terms of a phone call but people call and ask questions regularly about players in football. The answer to West Ham regarding Peter was: 'Not for sale'. "We're trying to build something here and Peter is a big part of that. If you don't get calls for your players then that tells its own story. "Our chairman and directors feel the same way. We want to go forward at full strength and want to add to our squad."
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Fulham set to make move for West Ham striker Carlton Cole in January transfer window
By Jason Burt7:30AM GMT 30 Dec 2011
Telegraph.co.uk
West Ham do not want to sell Cole as they push for promotion from the Championship and are attempting to strengthen their own strike-force. On Thursday they had an offer of £3.25 million rejected by Cardiff City for Peter Whittingham, having already failed with a bid of £3 million for Huddersfield Town striker Jordan Rhodes.
Cardiff have warned clubs they will not sell Whittingham, 27, while Huddersfield have issued a similar rebuff for Rhodes, 21, who has scored 20 goals in 20 League One matches this season and become a full Scotland international. It is understood that West Ham will now turn to other transfer targets and are considering two other strikers, but are not going to let Cole go having already rejected a £4 million bid last August from Galatasaray for the 28-year-old England international. Fulham manager Martin Jol is, nevertheless, a long-time admirer of Cole and attempted to sign him when the Dutchman was in charge of Tottenham Hotspur. That interest was rekindled in the summer when it was also mooted that West Ham might be interested in Fulham striker Andrew Johnson, but no offer was made. West Ham remain interested in Johnson but accept that with his wage demands, of around £2 million a year, they would not be able to afford the 30 year-old in January.
Instead they might wait to see if they get promoted back into the Premier League. However, with Johnson in the final year of his contract at Craven Cottage and with no agreement on a new deal, Fulham would rather he left next month so they can recoup some money. It had been thought that Johnson would go to Queens Park Rangers but that deal has gone cold as they chase other targets. Blackburn Rovers are now showing the strongest interest in Johnson, who is believed to be available for £2 million, and have also been interested in Zamora although he is believed to be more likely to join Sunderland, or possibly Aston Villa, should be leave. It is understood that Zamora, having been told he is no longer regarded as an automatic first choice at Fulham, is keen to leave. Sunderland's new manager, Martin O'Neill, is in the market for an experienced striker and might meet the asking price, which could be as high as £8 million. Jol has played down suggestions of a rift between him and Zamora but there is believed to be tension and it is understood that the 30 year-old accepts that it may be best for him to seek a new club in the new year having joined Fulham from West Ham in 2008. Fulham have also been linked with a move for Billy Sharp, who has a £3 million release clause in his contract at Doncaster Rovers, but promotion-chasing Southampton, who are also desperate to sign a new striker, are believed to be in pole position to secure him should he leave.
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