WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce says West Ham United are steeled for Saturday's big game with
Reading
29.03.2012
Sam Allardyce says his West Ham United squad are ready for the 'big' game
with second-placed Reading at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday. Speaking at his
weekly pre-match press conference, the West Ham United manager explained
that the squad are 'in a positive frame of mind' ahead of the game that
could see them leapfrog their visitors back into second place in the npower
Championship table. There was good news on the injury-front with Abdoulaye
Faye's injury not as serious as first thought and Winston Reid back in the
running for first-team football.
Would you have taken this position if people had offered you it at the
beginning of the season?
SA: Absolutely, yes. We've made massive strides this season. Even though
there's been something of a recent lull it's been a fantastic season. We've
not won as many of the easy games as we should have done but the bottom line
is it's been a fantastic season up to now. 2012 has only brought one defeat.
We're on a great run of eleven undefeated. The overall picture is it's a
really good season, we're looking forward to Saturday's game in a positive
frame of mind and looking to extend our unbeaten run. We all know how big
the game is. If we win we go back into second spot and if we don't it's not
over and there are still a few games and a few points to play for. We can
win all of the games so it's not the be all and end all. If we don't and we
end up drawing then we're still only a point behind Reading going into the
last eight games with a very good record and an undefeated run.
What are your thoughts on the club's form?
SA: We're not winning as many as we like at home. But we've just equalled a
club record for most away wins and we're likely to beat it. We're performing
away from home and if we get the winning steak back at home then we'll be
OK. There's nothing to be negative about. We've not won some of the games
but that happens in football. If we'd lost five on the trot then fair enough
but we've only drawn five on the trot. No matter how well you're doing not
everyone will be behind you. The game is about opinions and everyone is
entitled to theirs. You've got to accept theirs and keep on doing what you
know is right.
Some people have said the second half against Peterborough was some of the
best football West Ham have played this season?
SA: It was a great to finally see the opposition off. When we started the
game, Peterborough were kicking off in front of a full house and they made
life difficult for us in the first 25 minutes. When we were tied they didn't
have the legs to wear us down. We then took control of the game and did what
we had to do. We played much better at Burnley than that but our analysis of
the game has always been very positive in terms of what we've done against
the opposition. The one thing we haven't done is score more goals than them
in some games.
Do you think that with Southampton clear at the top you are now playing for
second with Reading?
SA: Well I think it's difficult but it's not mathematically dead so never
say never. If we're to catch them we'd have to win every game and that's a
possibility with the squad we've got but that might still not be enough.
It's about us winning and whenever that win comes around, you look at
Southampton's results and if they have won then you just move on towards
your on total.
Could anyone else kick on from below?
SA: You never know. At this time of the season the anxiety takes over and
people can't quite achieve what they'd like to and everyone gets a bit more
nervous.
What's the latest on Abdoulaye Faye?
SA: It's better news than we thought. He had a big lump on his forehead and
the doctor feared it may have caused more trauma than we first expected, but
on X-ray it showed only a mild injury and an outer swelling and nothing too
serious so it's a minor injury. Friday morning will give an indication of
whether he feels good enough to be selected on Saturday.
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Gary gunning for Royal ascent
WHUFC.com
Gary O'Neil is targeting a victory that would see the Hammers leapfrog
Reading
29.03.2012
Gary O'Neil is targeting a victory in West Ham United's biggest game of the
season so far. The Hammers entertain Reading on Saturday knowing a win would
see them leapfrog the Royals into the npower Championship automatic
promotion places. O'Neil, who scored an outstanding goal in Tuesday's 2-0
win at Peterborough United, cannot wait for Saturday's game to kick-off. He
said Tuesday's win at London Road proved the Hammers could handle the
pressures of a promotion battle after going on a run of five successive
league draws. "At half time on Saturday we were in all sorts of trouble, but
the reaction from then on has been fantastic," he told West Ham TV. "We
should have won at Burnley really. To deal with what Peterborough threw at
us first half and then go on and win so comfortably in the second shows that
we haven't fallen away in any way. "There was some talk of us slipping away
into the Play-Offs but there is none of that talk here. We are still gunning
for the title. We are only six points off Southampton and we haven't done a
lot wrong in the last four months performance wise and we have managed to
drop points."
Having made a successful return this year after eight-and-a-half months out
injured, the No32 is hoping to play his third game in a week when Brian
McDermott's side come to the Boleyn Ground. "I have a bit of work to do
between now and then to be available," said the midfielder, "It is going to
be a big ask to do three in a week but the other lads are going to be ready,
you know Nobes [Mark Noble] and Nobby [Kevin Nolan] have been playing three
times a week all year so it will be no problem for them. "As you say it is a
massive game and it is back in our hands. If we win every game we go up."
Whether he is involved or not, O'Neil is hoping the Hammers can translate
their record-equalling away form - Tuesday's win was their eleventh of the
season - to the Boleyn Ground. At the same time, the 28-year-old is eager to
help the team gain revenge over the Royals for the 3-0 defeat they suffered
at the Madejski Stadium in December. "I think there will be a bit of payback
in our thoughts. We haven't lost to many sides this year so getting beat 3-0
at Reading is something that the lads will want to put right. There is only
one real focus and that is to finish in the top two and we need to win on
Saturday to give ourselves a chance. That is the only motivation that we
need."
Finally, O'Neil called on the supporters to roar the team onto victory and
back into the top-two, pointing out that the players will find it much
easier to relax and play their best football with the crowd behind them.
"Reading have been on a magnificent run. They are probably the form team in
all of the leagues at the minute and they've been fantastic. It will be a
big test, because they will be coming thinking that if they can beat us they
are away from us. They will have their own side to it but with the squad
that we have got, we have got the best squad in the league we just need to
show it at home. "We have struggled a little bit at home, but as you saw on
Tuesday, when you go 1 or 2-0 up you can start to play and it becomes a lot
easier for you. "The second half at Burnley was so much hard work because we
were 2-0 down. The difference between how easy it was second half today and
at Burnley. It is important that we start well at home, I'm sure that the
fans will be right behind us and hopefully we can get in front and start to
play again."
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Thames Ironworks unearthed!
WHUFC.com
Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of the Thames Ironworks and
Shipbuilding Company
29.03.2012
Work to build a new high-speed rail link across London has unearthed an
amazing reminder of the roots of West Ham United. Archaeologists working on
the Crossrail project have uncovered evidence of the Thames Ironworks and
Shipbuilding Company four metres below the surface on the Limmo Peninsula,
near Canning Town.
At its peak, the Thames Ironworks employed 6,000 people, constructing huge
vessels for navies all over the world including HMS Warrior, the largest
warship ever built when it was launched in 1860. In the 1890s,
philanthropist Arnold Hills became managing director, introducing the
eight-hour working day and a number of sports and recreational clubs for his
workforce - including a football club. Thames Ironworks FC existed for five
seasons, playing home matches at Hermit Road in Canning Town, Browning Road
in East Ham and the Memorial Grounds in West Ham. On the pitch, the team was
hugely successful, winning the West Ham Charity Cup in 1896, the London
League in 1897/98 and Southern League Division Two in 1898/99. However, in
June 1900, the club was wound up after the Thames Ironworks became a limited
company and reformed the following month as West Ham United. The Ironworks
itself closed in 1912, having played a significant part in the economic and
social history of east London. Crossrail project archaeologist Jay Carver
explained the significance of what was found to West Ham TV.
"We have made quite an exciting discovery," said Carver. "One hundred years
ago the Thames Ironworks shipbuilding company went out of business and was
covered over. "We have been excavating two big shafts for the Crossrail
project and we've rediscovered that level where the shipbuilding yards were
and we've been able to reveal the remains of the engineering workshops and
we hope to soon do the same with the slipways from where the great boats
were launched. "About four metres down we found the brick floors and the
various structural bases of all the big machines. If you can imagine, it was
a big workshop with huge iron-making machines and cutters which were used.
"We found the bolts still in place and the outlines of the buildings. To be
in contact with such a historical building was amazing."
Club historian John Helliar, whose great-grandfather Samuel worked as a
brass founder at the Ironworks in the 1890s, visited the site himself and
spoke to both West Ham TV and BBC London news reporter Sarah Harris. "My
great-grandfather actually worked at the Ironworks before starting up the
family printing business, so to be on the site brought back memories and was
something I shall cherish knowing he was there all those years ago," he
said.
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Faye could be fit for Hammers' crunch clash with Reading
By talkSPORT | Thursday, March 29, 2012
West Ham defender Abdoulaye Faye faces a race against time to prove his
fitness for the crucial promotion clash with Reading on Saturday. Faye
suffered a serious head injury during the 2-0 win over Peterborough and was
forced to leave the field just before half-time. There were original fears
that Faye had fractured his skull, but x-rays have showed no serious damage
and he is hoping to resume training on Friday. The news will come as a major
boost to manager Sam Allardyce as Faye has played a major role in helping
the club go on an unbeaten run of 11 games. Allardyce said: "It is better
news as the doctor feared it was worst than we first expected. "It is just a
minor injury and we will know on Friday morning if the headache has cleared
up and he is available for selection."
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West Ham manager Sam Allardyce calls on supporters to start enjoying
promotion battle
Sam Allardyce has told disgruntled supporters to stop moaning about the West
Ham way of football and says they should start enjoying success in east
London again.
By Marc Isaacs11:00PM BST 29 Mar 2012
Telegraph.co.uk
Allardyce came under attack from his own fans at Peterborough on Tuesday
night. They started singing the name of Paolo Di Canio and made their
feelings known towards his style of football when they continually sang,
"West Ham United - we play on the floor". After the 2-0 win Allardyce
labelled West Ham supporters who questioned his style of football as
"deluded" The West Ham manager is preparing his side for a crucial
Championship encounter against Reading, who sit just one point above them in
second place. He admited he was shocked by the criticism, particularly as
the team are on an 11-match unbeaten run and can move back into the top two
with a victory at Upton Park on Saturday. Allardyce said: "Those who work at
West Ham haven't told me what the West Ham way is, so it is rubbish. "There
isn't one because people who have worked here for a number of years cannot
say what it is. "It is not passing and losing, that is for sure. "It didn't
happen with Curbs [Alan Curbishley], Avram Grant, Alan Pardew or Gianfranco
Zola, so when did it happen last? "This club has not been in a winning
environment for donkey's years.
"The last time they got up was by scraping up in sixth spot by the
play-offs. "This is a winning environment so I don't know why you listen to
the small minority, but I suppose you have to because they make themselves
heard. "All the best coaches I have seen worldwide have never said you have
to outplay the opposition to win.
"My message to the fans is come and enjoy yourself. "That is what it is all
about. If you don't want to come and enjoy yourself, I am not sure why you
want to come at all really."
Allardyce believes the West Ham supporters have been given great value for
money this season and feels the club's owners deserve a lot of credit for
the way they have managed to reduce ticket prices for Championship games
despite their relegation from the Premier League last season. Allardyce
added: "The club does as much as it possibly can to make it as cheap as
possible. It is a fantastic football club. "We all want a full stadium
because that is what gets the adrenalin going and we all want to be
positive. "We all want entertaining and we want to get back in the Premier
League. "That has not happened very often recently for the three teams that
have been relegated. "If you look at the facts, bouncing back is one of the
most difficult things to do in year one and it hasn't happened too often in
the last 10 years.
"It is not an easy task because of the catastrophic fallout that you get by
being relegated. "It devastates the football club and it cannot be
resurrected in one season normally due to the difficulties of adjusting
financially and not going bust."
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McDermott's teamwork secret to Reading's right royal ascent
Championship's form team meet Hammers tomorrow in bullish mood
JACK PITT-BROOKE FRIDAY 30 MARCH 2012
Independent
If West Ham's season has been a gradual, disheartening dip, Reading have
been on the ascent ever since a poor start after their play-off final defeat
to Swansea last season. Although the two teams' paths have only just
crossed, they have been travelling in opposite directions for months.
Reading's thoughtful manager Brian McDermott, who signed a new contract last
month despite interest from Wolves, is popular with players and fans. He
praised their form yesterday, not as a spurt but as a sustained run of
excellence. "If you look at the last 33 games," he said, removing Reading's
poor start to the season, "you'd see that we'd have 69 points. The next-best
team, Southampton, would have 63, then West Ham with 59 and Birmingham with
53. Over 30-odd games we're top of the league, by a very long way. Apart
from our start, our form has been top of the league form."
Patience, McDermott said, was how Reading gathered their impetus. "When we
were 20-whatever in the league, I tried to catch 20-whatever-was in front of
us," he said. "And when we were 19th I tried to catch 18th. And when we were
fifth I tried to catch fourth. That's how we do things, really. I just
wanted to catch whoever was in front of us."
Reading do have good players, with veteran striker Jason Roberts, goalkeeper
Adam Federici and defender Kaspars Gorkss all performing well, but teamwork
seems to be at the root of their recent run. "When I get on that coach going
to West Ham I know that I've got a group of men who are ready to play,"
McDermott said. "This group of players know what's required, and Jobi
McAnuff's been skipper and has done a fantastic job."
McAnuff, who had a brief spell at West Ham, understands the pressures of
Upton Park. While the Reading fans sing for their manager, the West Ham fans
sing for Paolo Di Canio, and McAnuff believes Reading can exploit that
tomorrow. "If we can start well and get the frustration and nerves going a
bit then hopefully we can use it to our advantage," he said.
West Ham have drawn their last five home league games, and it does not take
much for the fans' support to sour. "Their home form is somewhere they have
slipped up a bit," McAnuff said. "I know more than most how difficult it can
be, there is a massive expectation from the fans. We have proved we can
finish games very strongly. We have to use that to our advantage and ramp up
the frustration a little bit."
Reading may have to do it without Roberts, their inspiration January
signing, who is an injury doubt. "He's brought such a lot to the football
club, as a person and as a player," McDermott said. "People gravitate
towards him, he's such a good guy. He's everything that's good about
football."
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EXCLUSIVE: Sam Allardyce - there have been times when we've played like
Swansea
By LEE CLAYTON
PUBLISHED: 22:00, 29 March 2012 | UPDATED: 23:48, 29 March 2012
Daily Mail
Lee Clayton interviews the West Ham manager as the promotion dogfight
reaches a critical stage, with his team taking on Reading at home on
Saturday...
'We need a win, this is killing me,' Sam Allardyce says in a telephone call.
It's 10.17 on the morning of a fixture at Peterborough this week. He's in
his hotel, sounding relaxed and in control. It is 23 days since West Ham
last won a football match. Half-time: Peterborough 0 West Ham 0.
'Paolo Di Canio,' sing the large West Ham following at London Road, after
just 17 minutes. It's followed by: 'We're West Ham United, we play on the
floor.'
He's a confident man, Big Sam. There is a clause in his two-year contract
that determines he can leave for the England job and he was 25-1 on the day
Fabio Capello departed. He also has tickets to take his 11-year-old grandson
to Amir Khan's world light-welterweight title fight in Las Vegas on May 19,
the same day as the play-off final. Allardyce expects to be in Vegas.
The style of football, a lack of goals, a dip in form... it's all getting a
bit bumpy. It was meant to be a romp through the division and big
attendances bring big expectations. There were 6,000 away fans at
Peterborough, for a midweek game. At London Road, West Ham win 2-0 to move
within a point of the top two. Still, it's not good enough for some.
Allardyce calls his critics 'deluded'. One supporter writes on Twitter:
'Witnessing the animosity, the writing is on the wall for Big Sam.'
Another: 'He has mocked the West Ham Way. A little more respect for the club
would have served him better.'
Personally, I find his touchline swagger compelling and enjoy his disdain
for West Ham's past failings. What is the West Ham Way? No trophy since
1980. David Sullivan and his partner David Gold are propping up West Ham
with their personal fortune. They have gambled on Allardyce and they like
what they see.
Sullivan says: 'The fans have always sung for Paolo. One day, they might get
him. In five years' time, perhaps. We like him, but only after Sam wins
promotion, takes West Ham into Europe and then leaves for the England job.
'Myself and David Gold stand 100 per cent behind the manager. It's hard to
play in the Championship. Teams shut you down, there is no time to play.
This happened at Peterborough, but in the second half we played magnificent
football. Now it's on to Reading.'
The win at Peterborough is a first in six games, but it's a result that
means positives can now be accentuated; West Ham haven't lost since January
31 and are 11 unbeaten. They have equalled the club record for away wins in
a season, previously achieved in 1923 and 1958 (both promotion years).
Beat Reading at home and they are back in the top two. Di Canio, who excited
many, but not all, as a player at Upton Park, can stay in Swindon for a bit
longer. The subject seems a good place at which to start.
How does it feel when you are standing out in the technical area and the Di
Canio chants start?
SAM ALLARDYCE: 'I accept that we haven't delivered recently. You have to
take it on the chin. In adversity, when we were down to 10 men, the
supporters were, wow . . . magnificent. And the players responded: three
times we went down to 10 men and we won seven points. 'Against Watford, we
had 11 men, we were drawing and one guy ran down with five minutes to go and
said, "F*** off back up north, you ****". I'm from Dudley in the Midlands.
It's not the north! I'm proud of coming from Dudley. It's where Duncan
Edwards came from.'
There has been a lot of criticism.
SA: 'Yes, but when we won at Peterborough, the supporters were singing my
name. Thousands of them went up there, took over the place. It was uplifting
for the players and we gave them a performance, a win. That's what they
want.'
West Ham fans are demanding...
SA: 'I don't mind that. I'm not stupid. I have been a manager for 20 years
and I came here knowing what the fans expect. I know about the history of
the club. I know where they want to be, but I also know how few times they
have been there. It excites me that I am the man trying to take them there.
I want them to go home happy. If we are not delivering, they will criticise.
Fair enough.'
But the fans want to be...
SA: '...excited. I know. That's what we have to do. We are here to create,
inspire, to fulfil people's dreams. That's what I am about. I am a creative
person. My mind doesn't think about boring logistics. I want to do
something different. Footballers respond to atmosphere. Atmosphere comes
from bums on seats. Bums on seats create expectation. We have to deal with
that. People are impatient, everyone is. I had a 10-year contract at Bolton,
a blank piece of paper with little or no expectation.'
But West Ham...?
SA: 'There isn't the same time here. I am trying to turn around a relegated
club quickly. We have equalled a record, of away wins, but it's the wrong
one! You want to break records for home games, but opponents have made life
difficult. We are a scalp in this division, teams come to stop us. If we can
overcome that, we will get promoted. It may happen, it may not. But it has
been exciting and, in a short space of time, I have started to enjoy where I
work.'
You seem confident?
SA: 'I have the evidence. I know if we have played well, I know if we have
been better than the opposition. You will ask me about the style of play
now. People usually do. I've had it all my career. 'The negativity came in
at Bolton. It was a shock. I don't blame the media or the fans. It was the
other managers, they were embarrassed. We were walking in someone else's
garden and they didn't want us there. 'We would beat Arsenal, Liverpool.
Bolton shouldn't be around the top six, they said. I didn't want managers
telling TV how well we had played after beating us 3-0 and talking bull****
before coming into my office. Arsene Wenger didn't like playing us - and he
didn't come into my office! I wanted them to go and moan because I'd just
beaten them. Unfortunately, the legacy.'
What is the legacy?
SA: 'Look, it took 24 seconds at my first West Ham press conference for
someone to ask me about the style of play.'
On the battle for promotion
'I have tickets for Amir Khan's next fight. It's the same date as the
play-off final. I expect to be in Las Vegas that day'
What did you say?
SA: 'I asked, "What style do you want?" I'd done my homework. I don't want
conflict. I can't fight it. I can't stop it. I just get on with it. I can
tell you what I think the West Ham Way is... win and they're happy. You
can't get more entertainment than the Peterborough game: for 30 minutes they
were really into us and then it was deplete, punish and then totally destroy
your opposition.'
What is the style?
SA: 'I change the style depending on who we are playing, the players we have
available. I look for a winning style.'
Everyone is talking about Swansea in the Premier League. Could you play like
that?
SA: 'We have played like Swansea. At Watford (4-0), at Nottingham Forest
(4-1), Portsmouth at home (4-3), the second half at Peterborough.'
Earlier in the season, the Brighton fans shouted 'hoof' throughout the game
because of the long balls.
SA: 'We didn't hoof it. We sat in and played on the break, won 1-0, did them
tactically. So when Gus Poyet criticises us, he's done well. Fabulous. Let's
see him in 20 years.'
But Rickie Lambert has 24 League goals. The top scorer at West Ham is Kevin
Nolan with 10.
SA: 'There are two things that make a difference: clean sheets and a
goalscorer. We have kept clean sheets.'
What about the other end? Carlton Cole has scored once in 2012.
SA: 'That's been the problem. Not enough goals. They've all dried up, all
the forwards. Kevin Nolan's goal at Burnley - he is a midfield goalscorer of
the highest level - was brilliant. He's not a creative midfielder, his
talent comes alive in the opposition penalty area. Ten goals. That's been
critical to us. If we had a 15-goal striker, we would be up and away. We
have to put it right, but I don't think it will stop us.'
James Tomkins has had a very good season.
SA: 'Mark Noble has done very well too. James reminds me of Phil Jones and
Chris Smalling at Manchester United. He has their quality. He has played at
the back and in midfield for me. He can play in the Premier League. Can he
play for England? He has to answer that with his performances.'
Where are you at now?
SA: 'Loving the challenge of taking West Ham to where it needs to be, as
quickly as possible. We have good owners, the fanbase and that has an
appeal, doesn't it? I want that promotion. I'm hungry for it. After the high
of taking Bolton into Europe, my career hasn't gone where I wanted it to.
Newcastle was the right club at the wrong time, then came the damage of the
sack. It was damage to the progress of my career. I want to talk about
damage to a manager, actually.
'Lee Clark is a great young manager, only three defeats in 55 games and then
sacked by Huddersfield! It will take him time to recover from that. He won't
get linked with the better jobs until he puts that right and becomes
fashionable again. I know how that feels, the bruising. It hurts us all. You
can come back, though. Look at Alan Pardew. And I'm here.'
Will West Ham go up?
SA: 'I know what I think. These are high stakes. We are where everyone
expects us to be so nobody praises us. Southampton, Reading, Brighton...
they get the praise. West Ham? On the BBC, on Sky - Steve Claridge and Don
Goodman - I'll be seeing them. It's all negatives, which feeds back to the
supporters.
'Style of play? Do you think I am here wanting to play long ball? I am not
daft. I've been a manager for 20 years. I'm not here thinking (stands up,
puts on an accent), "Hit it, lump it up". I want us to win matches. Let's
start with the Reading game and then see where we go. I'd like to make that
Amir fight. He's a good lad, worked with my sports science team at Bolton
and I don't want to let down my grandson.'
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McAnuff plans to wind up former club West Ham during Reading's vital
promotion showdown
By IAN GIBB
PUBLISHED: 19:24, 29 March 2012 | UPDATED: 19:27, 29 March 2012
Daily Mail
Jobi McAnuff, the Reading captain and a former West Ham winger, has heaped
the pressure on Hammers manager Sam Allardyce before the crucial automatic
promotion clash. McAnuff vowed that his side would frustrate the home
supporters, making them turn on Allardyce and his team. McAnuff said: 'If we
nick a goal, great, or even keep it 0-0 in the first 30 minutes or up to
half-time, the fans will start getting edgy. 'Of course that will be in our
thinking. You have to use that to your advantage - and hopefully ramp up the
frustration a little bit. And we have proved we can finish games very
strongly.' Reading's midfield enforcer Mikele Leigertwood backed up McAnuff,
saying: 'I think there is a lot of pressure on West Ham, especially at home.
They will be physical and we have to match them. If we do that, we can
frustrate them and frustrate their crowd. That might work against them.'
McAnuff added: 'That will be in the game plan. And if we start well, maybe
get the frustration and nerves going a bit, then hopefully we can use that
to our advantage.' McAnuff also hit back at West Ham midfielder Julien
Faubert for saying Reading had been disrespectful over an incident at the
Madejski Stadium earlier this season, when Jimmy Kebe was accused of mocking
the Hammers by pulling up his sock while in possession.
The visitors were left with nine men on the pitch and collapsed to a 3-0
defeat. Faubert this week promised: 'We will make it a bad day for Reading
because they didn't respect us.' But McAnuff responded: 'They have taken
issue with it. Our focus is on winning. If they want to focus on other
matters, maybe that works better for us. 'Jimmy will go there and do his
stuff. From our point of view, the matter was done and dusted. It's about
winning a game. 'At the time, probably too much was made of it. They've
reacted to something they deemed as disrespectful - that is their
prerogative. We got on with the game, we won and that was the end of it. If
people want to start it up now, it's up to them. 'Knowing Jimmy and the sock
incident, he hasn't gone out to disrespect West Ham or any player. It gets
focused on a bit much.'
Reading believe they can keep their cool better than most and have not had a
player sent off this season, while two Hammers saw red in that Madejski
Stadium clash alone - Joey O'Brien sent off with the game goalless and
Collison following. Leigertwood said: 'There is no point in getting
frustrated and agitated. The temperament is good. If we keep 11 on the
pitch, we'll give ourselves a good chance. 'We've scored numerous late goals
this season so we know we've got a chance, wherever we go.'
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Tony Cottee Column: We must get behind West Ham and inspire them to Reading
victory
Tony Cottee, London24 West Ham Columnist
Thursday, March 29, 2012
1:00 PM
It's great to finally have something positive to write about following West
Ham getting back to winning ways against Peterborough on Tuesday. The
Hammers' away form has been magnificent this season and what made the
victory that bit more impressive was the pressure that the players were
under. If we didn't manage to win at London Road then I think we would have
been really up against it to finish in the top two. However, the win means
that we are just one point behind Reading, who probably have the hardest
run-in between ourselves, them and Southampton. It was important to bounce
back after five consecutive draws, and to get 11 away wins - a joint club
record - is a real achievement in itself. To emulate the success of two West
Ham teams that also went on to get promotion is a fantastic feeling.
It is hard to win away matches at any level, but Sam Allardyce has worked
wonders with the team on the road. It has been some time since the Hammers
were so difficult to beat away from home and long may it continue. We are
now in a good position to break that club record with three away games still
to be played, and if we do break it it will give the whole team a big boost
towards the final few matches of the season. I was pleased to see Ricardo
Vaz Te back in the team on Tuesday and I really feel it is important for us
to have a player like him as he offers us options. He moves around and draws
defenders in, he can play on either flank and as we saw we know he can score
goals. His versatility will prove crucial as we enter the final stage of the
season. One disappointment for me on Tuesday was the fans chanting Paolo Di
Canio's name. It all depends on whether they were chanting it is a legendary
player of times gone by or whether they were calling for him to be manager.
I just don't understand if the fans are calling for Di Canio to take over at
Upton Park. There is no doubting that the Italian is passionate about the
club and he wanted the job before Allardyce, but he is not ready for it yet
in my opinion. Every new manager needs to cut their teeth and Di Canio is
doing just that at Swindon at the moment. I understand the fan's frustration
but I don't condone in calling for another manager as it puts unfair
pressure on Big Sam and the rest of his management team, which is
unnecessary. The other chant about playing on the floor is also
understandable but doesn't help the team. The Championship is a different
beast to the Premier League, where you get more time and can show more
skill. In the Championship you don't get as much time, so you can't always
play silky football. This weekend is a huge game for the Hammers as Reading
come to town. They are a dangerous team with some very good players, but I
think if the home fans get behind West Ham they can inspire the team to
victory. It won't be an easy game, but now is the time for the players to
stand up and be counted.
Tony Cottee was talking to Nathaniel John
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