Jussi looking forward
WHUFC.com
Jussi Jaaskelainen believes West Ham United will learn from their mistakes
29.10.2012
Jussi Jaaskelainen believes West Ham United will learn from the mistakes
they made during the 2-1 Barclays Premier League defeat at Wigan Athletic on
Saturday. The experienced Finn conceded that the Hammers did not put in the
kind of performance fans have come to expect his season, but hopes the
experience will prevent it from happening again. Jaaskelainen also believes
that West Ham might even have grabbed a point if their goal - scored by
James Tomkins in the third minute of added-time - had come a few minutes
earlier. "We did not really turn up in the first-half and in the second-half
we gave them a soft goal which did not help," said the No22. "After that I
think we played OK. We created a few chances and as always when you are
losing we would have liked to play for a few more minutes at the end. "We
did not play well as individuals or as a team and we did not cope with the
counter-attacking way in which Wigan played, so it is very disappointing."
The goalkeeper admitted that Wigan had enjoyed the better of the game before
half-time, when their five-man midfield controlled the game. When West Ham
themselves moved to similar formation after the break, Jaaskelainen feels
they more than matched their hosts. "The level of performance we have had
this season has been very good and when we went system-against-system in the
second half we woke up a bit and played a lot better, but it was too late."
Whatever system the Hammers employ against champions Manchester City this
weekend, Jaaskelainen knows his side cannot afford to make a slow start as
they have done in their previous two Barclays Premier League matches. "Last
week against Southampton it was a similar kind of game. We did not turn up
in the first half but we got two early goals after half-time and it gave us
that little lift to go on and win the game. "We came in at half-time 1-0
down at Wigan but our biggest mistake was letting them take a 2-0 lead
[within two minutes of the restart]. You do not get second chances in this
league and once you make a mistake, the ball is in the back of the net."
Moving forward, the goalkeeper is hoping that he and his side will remain a
more focused, stronger and complete unit. "There was a few shots I had to
save but not a lot. The first goal came from a set piece and I think that is
the first we have conceded from all season. Hopefully it will not happen
again in the future but it is one of those things that can happen in
football so we cannot afford to dwell on it."
When asked if he was pleased with his individual performance Jaaskelainen
remained modest. "That is my job at the end of the day and if I did not do
it well somebody else would come in and do it - that is always the way I
look at it. They scored two goals but other than that we did OK which shows
how harsh the Barclays Premier League can be. "When I came here I knew Big
Sam was a great manager and I knew he would expect me to play well if he
gave me the opportunity to play. Working with Martyn Margetson is also going
very well so hopefully I can keep working hard and the results will be
better than Saturday."
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The Big Interview - Leo Chambers
WHUFC.com
Leo Chambers is relishing the step up from youth football to the Barclays
Premier League
29.10.2012
Leo Chambers has enjoyed an outstanding 2012/13 season so far with West Ham
United. The defender celebrated his 17th birthday at the start of August
before establishing himself in Ian Hendon's all-conquering Development
Squad. Chambers' form saw him called into Sam Allardyce's first-team squad,
with the teenager being named on the bench for each of the last two Barclays
Premier League fixtures. At international level, Chambers recently completed
a full 90 minutes in England Under-18' 2-0 friendly win over Italy. With Rob
Hall, Jordan Spence and Matthias Fanimo all making the step up to Big Sam's
squad this season, Chambers hopes he is next in line to graduate from the
Academy of Football to the first team.
You have been on the bench for the last two Barclays Premier League games
which is quite a step for someone who only turned 17 in August?
LC: "Being in the squad for the past two weeks has been a very good
experience. The team has been doing well, so I am very pleased to make the
step up and it has come earlier than I expected or hoped."
Did you get nervous at the possibility of making your first-team debut?
LC: "As a youngster I never really got too nervous and, even though it is a
great achievement, I will just take it stride by stride."
What have you done or changed this year that has allowed you to play well so
consistently?
LC: "My Under-18s coach at West Ham, Nick Haycock, will be pleased to hear
this but I have moved into the Academy House and it has stood me in good
stead because there have been no distractions at home. I am trying to get
into the England Under-19 squad for the next European Championships [in
Lithuania in 2013], which is something else to aim for. I am not content
just playing with my age group - I want to push on and play at as high a
level as possible."
In your absence the Development Squad picked up their fifth successive win
and another clean sheet against Everton on Friday. It is a great group that
you are
part of and the team is doing very well?
LC: "Definitely. It is a very good, talented group of players but as we
always say talent can only take you so far. The work ethic we have got not
just amongst ourselves but within the club is very good. Six wins out of
eight is a great run of results for any age group and it would not be
possible without our combined talent and hard work."
How do you mentally handle the high of being called into the first-team
squad with the relative low of being an unused substitute? Or do you
consider it all part
of the learning curve?
LC: "I would not really class it as a setback because these things happen in
football when you are young. Situations like this are what separate the best
from the rest because it is all about how you bounce back and react.The
experience has been wonderful and I will take that experience into whatever
I do next within football."
You can play at full-back or centre-half but have been playing regularly in
the middle this season, so would you say you have settled in that position
now?
LC: "I would not say that I have settled in a particular position but I have
often said I prefer to play at centre-back. If I have to play at right-back,
left-back, centre-back or even centre midfield I will do so because I am
happy to adapt for the team."
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Ladies lose at Yeovil
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Ladies were edged out 1-0 in the West Country on Sunday
30.10.2012
West Ham United Ladies slipped to their second FA Women's Premier League
Southern Division defeat of the season courtesy of a 1-0 reserve at Yeovil
Town.
A goal just before half-time from Stacey Pearson was enough to condemn Julia
Setford's side to a narrow loss at the Athletics Ground in Wells on Sunday
afternoon. Pearson scored the all-important goal with a diving header that
gave Hammers goalkeeper Toni Anne Wayne no chance. The goal came at the end
of a first half that saw both teams create chances. After a quiet opening 20
minutes, Wayne was forced to save smartly to turn away a low shot. West
Ham's first real chance came in the 36th minute when Zoe Lipley-Hinton rode
a couple of tackles but on rounding the Yeovil goalkeeper, could she not
find the finish as the angle closed. Lindsey Morgan then shot over before
Pearson's header put the visitors on the back foot. Setford's team found a
better rhythm after the break and Danica Revell found space to fire just
over from distance on 55 minutes. However, despite the Hammers now having
greater possession and several corners, Yeovil were still defending
comfortably. As the game went into the final ten minutes only a brilliant
double save by Wayne stopped the hosts extending their lead. Wayne's actions
were the signal for West Ham to throw caution to the wind and pour forward
in a late charge to salvage a point. Rosey Sullivan came closest, but her
header was turned away by the Yeovil goalkeeper at the far post. Wayne even
came forward for a late corner to support the attack, but the Hammers could
not fashion an equaliser. The Ladies travel to Colchester United for their
final FA Women's Premier League group-stage fixture on Sunday knowing only a
win will be good enough to see them qualify for the knockout stages.
Kick-off at Shrub End Community Sports Centre is at 2pm.
West Ham United Ladies: Wayne, Barling, King, Revell, Sullivan, Little,
Morgan, Lipley-Hinton, Merritt, Bowers, Rowland
Subs used: Stimson, Bottom
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Trailblazers
KUMb.com
Filed: Tuesday, 30th October 2012
By: Staff Writer
It's now 40 years since West Ham United became the first top flight club to
feature three black players in the same team - although you might not know
it.
A report on the BBC news website this morning perpetuates the myth that it
was actually West Bromwich Albion who were the first Division One club to
achieve this particular landmark when Laurie Cunningham, Brendan Batson and
Cyrille Regis featured for Ron Atkinson's Albion in 1978. Hoever more than
five years earlier - on April Fools' Day 1972, to be precise - Ron
Greenwood's West Ham United beat Tottenham 2-0 in a London derby with a team
that featured three young black players - 21-year-old Clyde Best, Clive
Charles (20) and Ade Coker, who was just 17. Coker, who was making only his
fourth appearance for the Hammers - some five months after his previous
outing for the first team at Manchester City in November 1971 - scored the
second of West Ham's goals in a 2-0 win (the other being a
goal-of-the-season contender from Trevor Brooking). Clive Charles - brother
of John 'Charlo' Charles, who was the the first black player to play in the
top flight when he featured for West Ham in a 1-0 defeat at Blackburn in May
1963 - was making just his second appearance for the first team having
debuted at Coventry three weeks earlier. Clyde Best - who went on to make
more than 180 appearances for the Hammers - was the most-established player
of the trio, having already played more than 75 times for West Ham since
moving from Bermuda to England in the late 1960s.
Trailblazers: Where are they now?
Clyde Best
After leaving West Ham in 1976, Best moved to the United States to continue
his pro career. Having featured for clubs such as the Tampa Bay Rowdies and
the LA Lazers he eventually hung up his boots in 1984 and took on various
(non-sporting) jobs in the private sector. He was hired as the national
manager of Bermuda in the late 1990s, a post he remained in for two years,
before leaving the game once again to work with prison inmates. Now
semi-retired, 61-year-old Best - who was awarded the MBE for his services to
football in 2006 - spends his time coaching young footballers and cricketers
in Bermuda. Still a regular visitor to England, he last visited the Boleyn
Ground in August.
Ade Coker
The Nigerian-born striker moved to England at the age of 11 and was spotted
playing local football by West Ham's legendary scout Wally St Pier. Like
Best, he moved to North America in 1975 having failed to become a permanent
fixture in West Ham's first team squad and spent the next 13 years playing
for various teams - including the USA national squad for whom he made five
appearances - before retiring. Now 58 and living in Seattle with his family,
Coker works for Home Depot - the US equivalent of Homebase.
Clive Charles
Clive Charles made just a handful of first-team appearances for West Ham
before moving on. A three-year stint at Cardiff between 1974 and 1977
preceeded six years in the USA where Charles, like Best and Coker,
eventually settled down. However it was as a coach that he truly excelled
and having cut his teeth managing High School and University teams, Charles
managed the national under 20s womens team, the men's under 23 team and
then, most notably, the USA men's senior team from 1995-1998. Sadly Charles
developed prostate cancer at the turn of the century and died in 2003.
*You may read more about Best, Charles and Coker in Brian Belton's book East
End Heroes, Stateside Kings.
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West Ham face new delay over Olympic stadium
Evening Standard
Ken Dyer
30 October 2012
West Ham may now have to wait until the new year before they discover
whether they will become the main tenants of the Olympic Stadium. It was
hoped that the London Legacy Development Corporation would finally make a
decision at their next board meeting on December 6 but fresh doubts about
the cost of retractable seating may cause a further delay. Mayor of London
Boris Johnson is keen for some of the £377million surplus from last summer's
Olympic Games to be spent on providing permanent retractable seating for the
stadium, rather than the temporary version originally planned. However, the
Treasury have indicated that the surplus cash will be used to boost the
economy rather than be spent on the stadium although it is understood that
Johnson is intending to make a personal appeal to the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, George Osborne. Whatever the outcome of those discussions, West
Ham, still favourites to be awarded the main tenancy of the £486m stadium,
will remain patient despite this latest uncertainty regarding the future of
the venue.
Meanwhile, the Hammers will continue to be without full-back Guy Demel for
at least two weeks, following a groin injury while France international Alou
Diarra will be sidelined until Christmas with a torn thigh muscle.
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Demel blow for Hammers
By talkSPORT | Tuesday, October 30, 2012
West Ham defender Guy Demel is expected to be sidelined for at least another
two weeks with a groin injury. Demel has been missing since the start of
October after picking up the problem during the 3-1 defeat against Arsenal.
The Ivory Coast international was hoping to be back for the game against
Wigan last weekend, but the injury is taking longer to heal. Demel has been
badly missed as West Ham suffered a 2-1 defeat at the DW Stadium and is now
expected to miss the next two games against Manchester City and Newcastle.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce will be hoping that his talented right-back
will be fit to return for the Premier League game against Stoke on November
19.
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Jaaskelainen confident West Ham can surprise Manchester City
The goalkeeper admits the team didn't perform well enough for the fans at
Wigan but is confident they will regain their form against the reigning
champions on Saturday
Goal.com
30 Oct 2012 14:27:00
By Tom Dunn
West Ham goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen believes him and his team-mates will
learn from their mistakes against Wigan and will bounce back against Premier
League champions Manchester City on Saturday. The Finland international
feels that the team did not produce the performance that the fans deserved
after travelling up to Lancashire last weekend, but added that the system
the team have been playing so far this season has been effective and their
second-half performance on deserves credit. "We did not play well as
individuals or as a team and we did not cope with the counter-attacking way
in which Wigan played, so it is very disappointing," Jaaskelainen told the
club's official website. "The level of performance we have had this season
has been very good and when we went system-against-system in the second half
we woke up a bit and played a lot better, but it was too late." And, even
though the Hammers have fallen behind in a number of games this season,
Jaaskelainen thinks that the London outfit can spring a surprise on
Manchester City even if they concede first.
The goalkeeper added: "Last week against Southampton it was a similar kind
of game. We did not turn up in the first half but we got two early goals
after half-time and it gave us that little lift to go on and win the game."
The former Bolton man spoke of his admiration for Sam Allardyce, and
insisted West Ham will do well this season if they stick to their manager's
playing style. He concluded: "When I came here I knew Big Sam was a great
manager and I knew he would expect me to play well if he gave me the
opportunity to play. Working with Martyn Margetson is also going very well
so hopefully I can keep working hard and the results will be better than
Saturday."
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Adidas and Nike lock horns for Premier League supremacy
Here Is The City
by Mathew Nash
@MathewNash89
As Adidas look set to takeover from Nike at Arsenal it represents a major
coup in control of London for the German company. With Fulham all set to
join them and West Ham up for grabs it leaves Nike doing battle from
up-north with Manchester United, Manchester City and Everton in the 'battle
of the brands'. It is a battle that goes on in front of our very eyes in
professional football yet it may sometimes escape you but the battle I speak
of is for corporate supremacy. To use another example if you are at a school
in America the likelihood is that school will sell only Coca-Cola soft
drinks; the school down the road however will more or less sell Pepsi soft
drinks and it is a balancing act that has gone on for an extremely long
time.
In football it is no different and despite the growing prevalence of the
Puma brand German company Adidas and American giants Nike rule the roost. In
the past there has been a propensity for city divides across continental
Europe particulary. Real Madrid and Atletico are opposites in this
fight(Barcelona are also Nike) and AC Milan and Internazionale have been
provided by Adidas and Nike respectively since 1998.
In the UK new battle lines are starting to be drawn. Now the companies are
aiming to control entire cities. It came after Nike felt they were going
head-to-head for the Liverpool market. In the wake of Everton's growing
reputation worldwide they took up the manufacturing of The Toffee's kit to
do battle with the three stripes at Liverpool. However US brand Warrior
changed the game when they signed a record breaking deal with the Anfield
club this summer.
However the dissolution of Umbro has leant its weight to Nike; as of next
season both clubs in Manchester will be sponsored by the American firm.
Adidas however now look set to take on Manchester by gaining a major
foothold in London. Nike have made huge steps in the capital, with the Nike
store occasionally looking like a shrine to Arsenal FC in recent years. The
likes of Thierry Henry have been great poster boys for the company but now
it seems Adidas will re-associate themselves with the North London club.
Adidas are also set to take over at Fulham and with Chelsea already in the
bag they are looking to gain the territory in the capital, despite Nike now
owning the rights to the England kit.
West Ham United's deal with Macron expires this summer and Adidas could
reignite the relationship they had in the 80's with The Hammers. While
gaining ground via Spurs will be difficult considering their long standing
contract with Under Armour there will be no doubting that London has become
Adidas territory.
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West Ham's style means they fit the bill to upset Man City
No-frills teams tend to do well when hosting a Mancini-led team
News.ladbrokes.com
West Ham v Manchester City
Match betting
Manchester City4/6
Draw11/4
West Ham4/1
West Ham's uncouth footballing style makes them prime candidates to get
something off Man City when the sides meet at Upton Park. City have been
unconvincing in their opening Premier League games and Sam Allardyce's
hard-working, direct style is akin to that of Everton, Sunderland and Stoke,
all of who the reigning Premier League champions have failed to beat away
from home under Roberto Mancini, adding value to the Hammers' sizeable price
of 4/1.
Unlike last season, West Ham have enjoyed playing at Upton Park, where they
have won three games from five in league action; their only defeat falling
against Arsenal. They bounced back from that setback with a 4-1 drubbing of
Southampton in their last home match and with City looking shaky, especially
on the road, where they were fortunate to beat both West Brom and Fulham,
they needn't fear the champions.
Recent history begs to differ with that statement, however, as West Ham have
lost five of their last six home games against the defending champions,
shipping 16 goals in that period. Their solitary win came against City's
arch rivals Man United, who they overcame in a 2-1 victory in 2007/08. Their
head-to-head record also suggests they are long overdue a win against the
Citizens. In the last six league and cup renewals of this fixture, the hosts
have won just once, as opposed to Man City's three wins, keeping as many
clean sheets in the process.
City look suspect at the back this season, Andy Carroll has it in his locker
to cause all kinds of chaos in their ranks with his strength and aerial
prowess, making it difficult to imagine the visitors keeping another clean
sheet this time around.
For the Hammers to keep their next adversaries at bay for 90 minutes,
however, will represent a momentous achievement; one even the might of Real
Madrid, or anyone else for that matter, has been able to pull off. This
means West Ham will be expected to score at least twice if they are to win
the game and the fact that they've only done this twice in five home league
games indicates how big victory in this one would be.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Wednesday, October 31
Tuesday, October 30
Daily WHUFC News - 30th October 2012
Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce will be making sure West Ham United's standards do not slip when Manchester City visit
29.10.2012
Sam Allardyce says he will be using this week's training at Chadwell Heath to make sure his West Ham United team learn the lessons from Saturday's defeat at Wigan Athletic ahead of Manchester City's visit the Boleyn Ground on Saturday. The Barclays Premier League champions are likely to provide the Hammers with their sternest test yet since their return to the top division and the manager is adamant that his team will not have another off-day this weekend. West Ham were second best for much of Saturday's 2-1 defeat and Big Sam knows that they cannot afford to offer City any leniency as they enter a tough-looking run of fixtures. "You can have an off-spell but not an off-spell for 90 minutes," Big Sam said. "When you look at the fixtures we've got coming now, we've got a group that if you give anything other than your very best it is going to be a problem to get a result and even your best might not be enough. "We had a very good performance against Arsenal and still got beaten 3-1 and now the big boys are coming round on a regular basis, we'll have to see if we can hit top form and see if we can get a result out of Saturday's game. You've got to minimalise your slip-ups."
Saturday's loss was only West Ham's third in the league this season and the failure to take maximum points prevented the Hammers securing their best-ever start to a Premier League season. Big Sam admitted that the result and performance were unexpected in the circumstances. "I was surprised at our performance and it was the kind of performance that you know you've got to avoid when you're a newly-promoted side playing away from home. We've got to give 100 per cent in every game because we you don't we'll get punished and we didn't do that on Saturday. "It was down to us as a unit not doing anything well enough in possession - not keeping the ball, not playing the ball in the right areas, not playing quality balls to the front-three and delivering. It just never happened, the quality wasn't good enough. The one thing that has got us where we are is that our technique has been very good in possession, which has kept the pressure off us at home and away from home, which is how we've managed to get results that perhaps people didn't expect us to. "When you play at this level and you want to win a game away from home you've got to play to your best. We didn't do that on Saturday at any time at all really."
Ivan Ramis scored his second goal against West Ham this season with a stunning volley from a corner, although Allardyce argues that he may have been aided by a push on Winston Reid. "The technique in the volley was good. Ramis has managed to get himself a bit of space by pushing Winston Reid off him so that was our first goal conceded this season off a set play, so we've been exceptionally good at those. "The defence was having to deal with situations on a constant basis and if we allow that to happen then it'll be a difficult day for them. Andy Carroll went into battle with Gary Caldwell, Ramis and Maynor Figueroa and often came out on top on a testing afternoon. His manager was once again pleased with the No8's efforts, but feels that he does not always get the rub of the green when it comes to refereeing decisions. "He doesn't get given enough free-kicks as he gets manhandled by defenders struggling to handle the quality that he's got. They don't seem to give the free-kicks that they would perhaps give against shorter players. Andy knows all that, so he's just got to be patient with it."
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Hendo happy with Dev Squad progress
WHUFC.com
Ian Hendon looks back on a fifth successive win for the Development Squad
29.10.2012
Ian Hendon was once again in a positive mood after seeing his Development Squad chalk up a fifth consecutive Barclays U21 Premier League victory against Everton. Played in cold and windy conditions, the match was nothing like the 5-1 drubbing that the Development Squad handed out to the Toffees at Finch Farm in August, but instead was a hard-fought, intense but equally satisfying 1-0 win. Reflecting on a fifth straight victory and fourth straight clean sheet, Hendon expressed his pleasure with the way his team dealt with the adverse weather conditions and praised the impact made by match-winner Elliot Lee. "We most definitely deserved the win, it was very windy and the pitch was not perfect but I think we dealt with the conditions a little better than they did. I was also very pleased for Elliot Lee because he came into the side and scored a very good goal.
"We were at the training ground on Friday afternoon doing some pre-match preparation and we watched a DVD of the last game and did a few set plays. We scored from a corner and it was one we had practiced so it is nice to see it come to fruition and know that the players are paying attention."
Hendon was without Jordan Spence, Leo Chambers, Rob Hall and Raphael Spiegel on Friday which made the result even more enjoyable. Second-year scholar left-back Frazer Shaw impressed on his Development Squad debut, while Jake Larkins made a solid first appearance of the season in goal. "We made four changes from the side who beat Bolton and, in a way, I am pleased because four went away with the first team [to Wigan] and four others came in and did very well. "Elliot and Frazer Shaw are both scholars yet they came in and looked like they had been playing all season, so I was very pleased."
The Development Squad's supremely-talented forward line have often taken the plaudits this season, but Hendon took a moment to praise the work being done at the opposite end of the field. "Jake Larkins played his first game for the Development Squad on Friday and kept a clean sheet, making some good saves. You also have to credit the back four because to be fair to Jake he had very little to do, I am very pleased with all of the lads, especially those who came in."
Qualification for the post-Christmas Elite Group Stage looks almost certain now but Hendon refused to get carried away following a difficult run of games.
"In recent weeks we have had to grind out results. We beat Everton comfortably away and did the same at home against Arsenal, but the last few games have been tough. Whether that is because people have wised up to the way we play or they know who our danger men are I do not know, but I do not get carried away as a coach."
Luck has also played its part according to Hendon, whose side have taken two 1-0 wins from two with both goals coming from corners in the second-half.
"We were very lucky at Bolton last week. We did not defend particularly well and we cleared a couple off the line, as did they, but we still came away with the win. "It was similar on Friday. We played a big, strong side who tested us early on and caused us problems. Right at the end they hit the post and luckily it landed in Jake's hands."
After a 2011/12 season in which the Dev Squad played friendly after friendly, Hendon made his intentions clear by demanding that his side continue their winning ways at Reading on Friday. "We are here to learn how to win. The players have come out of Academy football now and it is all about winning, so at the moment it is going very well. The one-nil win over Everton was our fifth on the bounce and what is even more pleasing is that it was our fourth consecutive clean sheet."
Sam Allardyce and Neil McDonald were both in attendance for the 1-0 win at Bolton and Hendon believes they will have been encouraged by what they saw.
"I think gives the lads extra incentive to perform when they see them at the games, Macca is at every game without fail and it is nice to now see the manager and the chief scout in attendance. I complete a match report for Sam after every game. I give him a hard copy and a copy via email and now he is here to see for himself which is great."
Hendon was previously assistant manager at Gillingham but believes he made the correct decision in making the decision to move to take over the Hammers Development Squad a little more than a year ago. "Last year I had a season to settle into the role because I did not know which players would be training with me and which would be with the first-team. That was initially hard to swallow but after a period of adjustment I am thoroughly enjoying it and it is making me a much better coach. "I am pleased because I am helping players into the first team and that is what it is all about. If we can keep playing well and keep making the step up it can only be healthy for everyone at the football club."
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Dangers of perception
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 29th October 2012
By: Paul Walker
"Perception" is one of Sam Allardyce's favourite words. He reckons he has suffered from an unfair perception about his style of play, and he's probably right...
Now we are suffering from a perception about our team. Sometimes it helps to see ourselves as other see us, to understand the problem. And there is now a clear perception that we are a bunch of argumentative cheats.
You only have to look at the amount of bookings this season for dissent to understand that. You have to search hard for cautions for arguing with referees in the top flight, but our crime sheet is littered with them.
Perception is a dangerous thing when it starts to work against you. Look at Luis Suarez. He is really suffering now, and not just because of the racist stuff from last season, criminally handled by Liverpool and Kenny Dalglish to the extent that it helped towards the manager's sacking.
Maybe I am in a minority, but I don't see too much wrong with Suarez. He is lightening quick, well balanced at speed and possesses great close control. Touch him and he will go over. If he was in our team, big Sam would be telling him to run at and commit defenders at every opportunity.
But now Suarez is branded a cheat. I even feel that the exaggerated swallow dive at Stoke was his way of showing exasperation to the referee at being continually kicked. Maybe I'm wrong, but surely it was too obvious to be taken seriously.
Suddenly Andy Carroll is finding himself tarred with the same brush. It seems to have started after the Southampton game, when I felt he was continually fouled and impeded. Southampton's youngster Adam Lallana started to moan in the papers that Carroll went down too easily.
Now referees read newspapers. And the performance of referee Jon Moss at Wigan on Saturday bordered on the disgraceful. He had it in for us from the word go. Mark Clattenburg, an officially I dislike intensely because of his infuriating self-importance - and whose shocking display at Chelsea yesterday just about sums up why I feel the way I do about him - started sticking the knife in at QPR.
He dished out countless bookings, some absolutely ridiculous but certainly some for dissent. Moss was no better, he was waving cards around whenever we complained about anything, and continually penalised Carroll.
Players and managers pick up on such things very quickly. Wigan's lot were pointing and moaning to the officially at every opportunity. We saw the same thing from Everton's David Moyes about Suarez ahead of Sunday's Mersey derby with Liverpool.
Don't forget that Moyes has employed Andy Johnson and Thomaz Radzinski in his time, two men not known for staying on their feet too long. Ironically, the only cheating came from his own captain Phil Neville's daft dive and booking.
But Moyes had openly complained about Suarez ahead of the game, trying to influence the official, Andre Marriner. This time it didn't really work. Suarez did little wrong but was verbally hounded by players and fans throughout, trying to underline the perception that he cheats.
Suarez's only suffering was the disallowing of what would have been his hat-trick and the winner, when he patently wasn't offside.
What I'm trying to do is explain why I believe we are now suffering because of a perception. Carroll is a big boy, he can handle himself and he is very good at getting his body between defender and ball. So if he is pushed, tugged (even his ponytail) or manhandled, of course he will go down. He has been fouled.
As for the moaning and dissent, yes, Kevin Nolan does maintain a near non-stop dialogue with officials which can look like a barrack roam lawyer at work. First Clattenburg didn't like it, and the inexperienced (at Premier League level) Moss has got in on the act.
The perception that we are only long ball has become tiring. But now every set of opposing fans takes the mickey. Southampton were the last, and they have Ricky Lambert in their squad! Wigan knock long balls up to Franco Di Santo. And then you get daft nonsense from Roberto Martinez claiming that he does not really approve of set piece goals!
That's only marginally worse than Fulham boss Martin Jol complaining that "West Ham's corners are really long balls, you know." Sometimes you can't make it up.
But all this adds to a perception about us, and it starting to hurt us, certainly as the cautions mount up and the decisions continually go against Carroll.
Mind you, even a perfect display from Mr. Moss would not have saved us at Wigan. We were awful, which was so disappointing for 4,000 plus of us who arrived at the DW stadium full of confidence after the mauling of Southampton and our high position in the table.
Sam, though, was never more than honest afterwards, even if we nearly sneaked a point at the end of a really inept display.
He picked up on our shocking lack of confidence in possession. Wigan pressed us really high up the pitch, no doubt to stop the supply to Carroll. They hounded our back line into countless mistakes and the defence never looked happy on the ball. Heaven help us against the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United in the weeks ahead.
Wigan also isolated our midfield men. They got between Nolan , Mark Noble and Mo Diame with neat passing. Sam also picked up on Wigan's better technique, and you could see that with their one-touch passing in tight situations.
It is very hard to tackle and win the ball if it is being moved first time, at pace. Wigan do not have better players than us, but on Saturday they had confidence in possession we never looked like matching.
But this may have quelled talk of Champions League positions for us. We are so far from that level it is laughable.
Our club website do not help but going on about records and high places. That only gives us unrealistic targets to match.
I got into trouble with my bunch of mates at the Southampton game by walking out of the Bobby Moore end proclaiming that we still needed 26 points to stay up. I hate to point out that it is still 26 needed, or in our case after recent history, a couple more than that.
I was told I should be thinking in terms of top four. Now this nonsense did not come from the youngest member of our group, nine-year-old Oscar, watching one of his first Hammers games. He was too bright for that (have you seen what nine year-olds can do with I phones? Frightening).
No, the misplaced confidence came from someone who can be free with grand claims (I wonder who he gets it from?)
Let's hope we can get things back into perspective now. I have done quick run-through the rest of our games, and reckon we may still have to get something on the last day against Reading. I hope not.
But we are now going into a seriously hard set of games, ones that Sam has been flagging up as very, very tough for some while. Frankly I cannot see us getting anything from the Manchester clubs, Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle, Spurs, Everton and Arsenal before the new year.
It means we must get something against Stoke, West Brom and Reading before the turn of the year. If we have six more points from those next 11 games I will be surprised.
Call me a pessimist, as people do. But I doubt Sam is counting on much more. I really hope I'm wrong. But that's the trouble with perceptions, they can give a false impression of things.
Mind you, a good time will be had by all on Saturday when we face Carlos Tevez and Manchester City. It's the home game looked forward to more than any other by my family and close friends, a group littered with fans of both clubs.
The worst thing about relegation was that the away-day trip from Manchester was put on hold. We travel down together on the early train (one lad is even bringing his wife this time!) and enjoy a beer or two ahead of the game, and a shandy on the way home. It's a cracking day out, even if the old hands struggle a bit to keep up the pace.
We don't hold out much hope of halting the champions, I know, but come on Sam and the boys, send me home with a smile on my face with all my City mates.
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Paolo Di Canio interview: Cup giant-killings are like sleeping with Madonna
The Mirror
29 Oct 2012 22:31
Scoring the winner in an FA Cup tie against Manchester United at Old Trafford was like "having sex with Madonna", according to Paolo Di Canio. And now the Swindon boss wants to recreate that feeling by knocking Aston Villa out of the Capital One Cup. The Italian, who famously netted for the Hammers in the fourth round in 2001, said: "I have to tell you, when I scored that goal to knock out Manchester United, it was a very exciting moment. "It was like having sex with Madonna. "I don't know if this will be the same as a manager. Probably yes. "It would be fantastic. Let me try it."
Di Canio took over at Swindon in May last year and has already won eight cup ties out of 10 against higher league opposition, including victories over top-flight sides Wigan and Stoke. The giant-killing Robins have scored 10 goals in their three Capital One Cup ties this season. "Since my arrival, we have tried to play more like football is played in the Premier League," added Di Canio. "The way I work on the details with my football, I think it is easier to play against Manchester United [than lesser sides] because we play good football "I am sure that if we play them one day, we are going to create four clear chances - and maybe concede six goals. "I'm never going to lie to my players. I told them we can win against Villa - we can win against any side. "But we play Macclesfield in the FA Cup on Saturday and that is more important than Aston Villa."
Di Canio also admits he feels sorry for today's referees – because so many players now behave like he used to. And the Swindon manager even tells his squad: 'Don't act like me on the pitch. I was stupid.' The fiery Italian was famously hit with an 11-match ban in 1998 after pushing ref Paul Alcock to the ground whie playing for Sheffield Wednesday – the highlight of a long disciplinary rap sheet. Di Canio, now 44, said Mark Clattenburg should be punished if he did verbally abuse Chelsea players during their match against Manchester United on Sunday. But he added modern referees are now under intolerable pressure from modern-day Di Canios. "He is the man that has to respect the rules – but the players should do this as well," said the former Wednesday, West Ham and Celtic star. "One day, I didn't. I was wrong, I paid the price. "The man that has to stay in the middle and let the others respect the rules, also has to maintain the healthy professionalism. "He can't blame the players. Even if I know that they have very high pressure. In the past only Di Canio used to go round the referee and protest. "But unfortunately, in modern football, even for a simple throw in, six or seven players will go round and abuse him more. "This is something that we should look carefully at, because the fact is that in a new era, saying a bad word that 20 years earlier would be punished heavily is normal. "The kids aged seven are saying it. It is normal, but it is not normal! "We have to stop that with education. In general. In life."
Di Canio has had a zero-tolerance approach to dissent since taking over at the County Ground. "I am stricter with my players because of my experience," he said. "Since last year, I have not had one player sent off and just a few yellow cards for throwing the ball away, which is wrong and stupid anyway to receive a yellow card for. "I tell them to protest less and think about playing football. "When someone says to me, 'How can you teach your players this? One day they will come back to you and say, 'You did this.' "But it is easy for me. I would say, 'I was wrong and I was stupid. I can help you. You want to be stupid like me? No. I was wrong.' "I am tough on this because I know. I lost a lot of energy during games and now I realise I missed a lot of chances, and would have been a better footballer and been more effective. I can help them. "At this club, there used to be a group of people who would go overnight and sleep away from home and throw away food. This is not discipline – this is like animals. "I know they used to come in here and have lunch together with both feet on the table. "That is rubbish. Not just for a footballer, but for a person in general. That reflects also in the field. "I think it is clear that in this club, and in my squad specifically, there is a very high level of discipline."
Robins captain Alan McCormack admitted: "He brings a fear factor. He is just so passionate and outspoken. He can be intimidating. You have got to accept that. If not, you would be a nervous wreck all the time."
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Mayor of London Boris Johnson's appeal for Games surplus fund to be used in Olympic Stadium rejected by Treasury
The future of the Olympic Stadium has again been thrown into doubt after the Government ruled out handing any of the £377 million London 2012 surplus over to the project.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Matt Scott10:00PM GMT 29 Oct 2012
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, had suggested that some of the surplus be used to finance the installation of retractable seating into the Stratford stadium to accommodate both football and athletics, at an estimated cost of up to £200 million. The sports minister, Hugh Robertson, has made clear to Johnson that his London Legacy Development Corporation would have to hold talks with the Treasury to gain access to the funds. But Telegraph Sport can reveal that when Treasury officials are approached they will reject Johnson's appeals because the department has more pressing needs for the cash. "Any financial benefits from the Olympics coming in under budget will be used to pay off our debts or help the economy," said a Treasury spokesman. The mayor is understood to planning to make a personal appeal to George Osborne, the Chancellor, for the funds. He will wait for reliable costings for the retractable seating and sources close to the mayor said that he would not be deterred by the Treasury's position.
As Telegraph Sport revealed on Oct 15, so far the LLDC's discussions have focused on demountable, temporary stands to be used during the football season. That would cost up to £500,000 a year and the works would also put the multi-use venue out of action for weeks during the close-season when concerts and athletics could otherwise be scheduled.
Johnson therefore considers the retractable-seating plan logistically preferable but it is costlier and if he wants to pursue it, City Hall is likely to have to foot the cost. It is certainly clear there will be no further funding from central government.
Working out a seating solution is becoming a matter of urgency as the process has been due to reach a conclusion. There have been hopes within the LLDC for a decision over the future of the venue to be reached by the middle of next month but the latest development might set that timetable back, perhaps beyond the next board meeting on 6 December.
The Treasury has already provided £38 million for the Olympic park transformation budget. City Hall has separately received commitments totalling £261.2 million from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and from the LLDC in return for the additional tax contributions paid by Londoners ahead of the Games.
Robertson announced to parliament last Tuesday that the 2012 Olympics had cost £8.921 billion against a £9.298 billion total budget including contingency. However the Treasury privately stresses that the contingency budget was only ever money funding held in reserve in case of cost overruns on the Olympic project. "This is taxpayers' money not spent on other things because we thought we might need it for the Olympic Games, so this frees it up for other growth-related projects," said one Treasury official. That might also disappoint sports bodies envisaging a new post-Olympic windfall after last week's news from the sports minister. Quangos such as Sport England and UK Sport already know their future funding arrangements and will not receive any further boost from an Olympics legacy fund. Apart from the future seating-configuration of the stadium other matters still to be decided include whether the athletics track will remain in situ for the 2017 World Athletics Championships due to be hosted there. Also the length of the lease and financing of the refit are up in the air. With three other bids from Leyton Orient, a joint tender involving formula one and a football-business college also having made the short list, it is West Ham United who remain favourites to land the tenancy contract.
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Former West Ham player Savio Nsereko arrested in Thailand
The ex-Germany Under-20 international was reportedly trying to extort money from his relatives before he got caught by the authorities in Pattaya
Goal.com
29 Oct 2012 20:59:00
By Chris Kvesa
Former West Ham winger Savio Nsereko has been arrested by police in Thailand for claiming to his family that he was abducted, before then demanding a sum of €3,000 [£2,500]. The 23-year-old had spent €25,000 [£20,000] on his trip before he allegedly thought about taking the unusual measures to refill his holiday bank account, a report by the Bangkok Post states. Having signed with West Ham from Brescia for a sum of €11 million [£9m] in 2009, the Uganda-born attacker has since enjoyed spells at Fiorentina, Bologna and 1860 Munich before ending up at German third division side SpVgg Unterhaching.
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West Ham's Trio of Second Generation Stars Impressing in Reserve Action
Elliot Lee, George Moncur and Dan Potts are all hoping to emulate their famous fathers by becoming first team regulars at West Ham
By ADRIAN BACK: Subscribe to Adrian's RSS feed
October 29, 2012 4:04 PM GMT
Ibtimes.co.uk
West Ham maintained their lead in the Under-21 Premier League thanks to a 1-0 win over Everton on Friday night which moved them six points clear of second placed Arsenal. The Hammers have always relied heavily on their academy and have a reputation as being able to bring through a number of talented individuals who have gone on to have great success for both club and country. A quick look around the Premier League shows former West Ham players at some of the top sides in the country. Liverpool can call upon Glen Johnson and Joe Cole, Manchester United have Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick, Tottenham rely heavily on Jermain Defoe for goals and Chelsea have the midfielder with the most goals ever in the Premier League in Frank Lampard. Even the current West Ham side often features on former academy players in Mark Noble, Jack Collison and James Tomkins. It is a tradition that the club is proud of and it seems likely to continue for some time. The latest batch of youngsters seems to be producing once again. It is perhaps no wonder when we see that there are three players whose dads also represented West Ham at some point in their careers. Against Everton it was Elliot Lee that grabbed the headlines as he scored the only goal of the game, superbly heading home a cross from Blair Turgot. The 17-year-old is the son of Rob Lee, the former England international who played more than 700 games in a career that saw him become a club legend at both Charlton and Newcastle.
Unlike his dad, a hard-working midfielder, Elloitt is a striker who has shown great promise in the youth ranks at West Ham and is a regular for the Under-18 side. However, he has made the step up to the Under-21 side this season and already has one goal in his two appearances. Lee was not the only son of a former player in that side as George Moncur and Daniel Potts also played the full ninety minutes against Everton. Moncur, whose dad John was at West ham for close to a decade, impressed last season while sent on-loan to AFC Wimbledon where he managed to score two goals in his 20 appearances. Capped at Under-18 level for England, Moncur is a box-to-box midfielder who has been an ever present in the Under-21 side this season, making nine appearances and scoring one goal.
The third youngster hoping to emulate his dad is Daniel Potts, son of Steve who joined the West Ham academy back in 1983 and did not leave the club for 19 years, making over 400 appearances in all competitions. The 18-year-old full-back has already managed to break into the West Ham first team and earlier this year made his debut for the England Under-18 side in a 3-0 win over Poland. He has made five appearances for the Under-21 side this season, further highlighting his ability which saw him win the Young Hammer of the Year award in May 2012. Having been diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of 12, Potts overcame the illness and was given the all clear when he was 16. Now he will be looking to further cement his place in the first team squad under Sam Allardyce. All three players will be hoping to continue the rich tradition of the East End club and become regulars in the first team in the coming years. They certainly have the pedigree and a fantastic youth team coach in Ian Hendon who will hope that the trio can help the Hammers win the inaugural Under-21 Premier League.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce will be making sure West Ham United's standards do not slip when Manchester City visit
29.10.2012
Sam Allardyce says he will be using this week's training at Chadwell Heath to make sure his West Ham United team learn the lessons from Saturday's defeat at Wigan Athletic ahead of Manchester City's visit the Boleyn Ground on Saturday. The Barclays Premier League champions are likely to provide the Hammers with their sternest test yet since their return to the top division and the manager is adamant that his team will not have another off-day this weekend. West Ham were second best for much of Saturday's 2-1 defeat and Big Sam knows that they cannot afford to offer City any leniency as they enter a tough-looking run of fixtures. "You can have an off-spell but not an off-spell for 90 minutes," Big Sam said. "When you look at the fixtures we've got coming now, we've got a group that if you give anything other than your very best it is going to be a problem to get a result and even your best might not be enough. "We had a very good performance against Arsenal and still got beaten 3-1 and now the big boys are coming round on a regular basis, we'll have to see if we can hit top form and see if we can get a result out of Saturday's game. You've got to minimalise your slip-ups."
Saturday's loss was only West Ham's third in the league this season and the failure to take maximum points prevented the Hammers securing their best-ever start to a Premier League season. Big Sam admitted that the result and performance were unexpected in the circumstances. "I was surprised at our performance and it was the kind of performance that you know you've got to avoid when you're a newly-promoted side playing away from home. We've got to give 100 per cent in every game because we you don't we'll get punished and we didn't do that on Saturday. "It was down to us as a unit not doing anything well enough in possession - not keeping the ball, not playing the ball in the right areas, not playing quality balls to the front-three and delivering. It just never happened, the quality wasn't good enough. The one thing that has got us where we are is that our technique has been very good in possession, which has kept the pressure off us at home and away from home, which is how we've managed to get results that perhaps people didn't expect us to. "When you play at this level and you want to win a game away from home you've got to play to your best. We didn't do that on Saturday at any time at all really."
Ivan Ramis scored his second goal against West Ham this season with a stunning volley from a corner, although Allardyce argues that he may have been aided by a push on Winston Reid. "The technique in the volley was good. Ramis has managed to get himself a bit of space by pushing Winston Reid off him so that was our first goal conceded this season off a set play, so we've been exceptionally good at those. "The defence was having to deal with situations on a constant basis and if we allow that to happen then it'll be a difficult day for them. Andy Carroll went into battle with Gary Caldwell, Ramis and Maynor Figueroa and often came out on top on a testing afternoon. His manager was once again pleased with the No8's efforts, but feels that he does not always get the rub of the green when it comes to refereeing decisions. "He doesn't get given enough free-kicks as he gets manhandled by defenders struggling to handle the quality that he's got. They don't seem to give the free-kicks that they would perhaps give against shorter players. Andy knows all that, so he's just got to be patient with it."
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Hendo happy with Dev Squad progress
WHUFC.com
Ian Hendon looks back on a fifth successive win for the Development Squad
29.10.2012
Ian Hendon was once again in a positive mood after seeing his Development Squad chalk up a fifth consecutive Barclays U21 Premier League victory against Everton. Played in cold and windy conditions, the match was nothing like the 5-1 drubbing that the Development Squad handed out to the Toffees at Finch Farm in August, but instead was a hard-fought, intense but equally satisfying 1-0 win. Reflecting on a fifth straight victory and fourth straight clean sheet, Hendon expressed his pleasure with the way his team dealt with the adverse weather conditions and praised the impact made by match-winner Elliot Lee. "We most definitely deserved the win, it was very windy and the pitch was not perfect but I think we dealt with the conditions a little better than they did. I was also very pleased for Elliot Lee because he came into the side and scored a very good goal.
"We were at the training ground on Friday afternoon doing some pre-match preparation and we watched a DVD of the last game and did a few set plays. We scored from a corner and it was one we had practiced so it is nice to see it come to fruition and know that the players are paying attention."
Hendon was without Jordan Spence, Leo Chambers, Rob Hall and Raphael Spiegel on Friday which made the result even more enjoyable. Second-year scholar left-back Frazer Shaw impressed on his Development Squad debut, while Jake Larkins made a solid first appearance of the season in goal. "We made four changes from the side who beat Bolton and, in a way, I am pleased because four went away with the first team [to Wigan] and four others came in and did very well. "Elliot and Frazer Shaw are both scholars yet they came in and looked like they had been playing all season, so I was very pleased."
The Development Squad's supremely-talented forward line have often taken the plaudits this season, but Hendon took a moment to praise the work being done at the opposite end of the field. "Jake Larkins played his first game for the Development Squad on Friday and kept a clean sheet, making some good saves. You also have to credit the back four because to be fair to Jake he had very little to do, I am very pleased with all of the lads, especially those who came in."
Qualification for the post-Christmas Elite Group Stage looks almost certain now but Hendon refused to get carried away following a difficult run of games.
"In recent weeks we have had to grind out results. We beat Everton comfortably away and did the same at home against Arsenal, but the last few games have been tough. Whether that is because people have wised up to the way we play or they know who our danger men are I do not know, but I do not get carried away as a coach."
Luck has also played its part according to Hendon, whose side have taken two 1-0 wins from two with both goals coming from corners in the second-half.
"We were very lucky at Bolton last week. We did not defend particularly well and we cleared a couple off the line, as did they, but we still came away with the win. "It was similar on Friday. We played a big, strong side who tested us early on and caused us problems. Right at the end they hit the post and luckily it landed in Jake's hands."
After a 2011/12 season in which the Dev Squad played friendly after friendly, Hendon made his intentions clear by demanding that his side continue their winning ways at Reading on Friday. "We are here to learn how to win. The players have come out of Academy football now and it is all about winning, so at the moment it is going very well. The one-nil win over Everton was our fifth on the bounce and what is even more pleasing is that it was our fourth consecutive clean sheet."
Sam Allardyce and Neil McDonald were both in attendance for the 1-0 win at Bolton and Hendon believes they will have been encouraged by what they saw.
"I think gives the lads extra incentive to perform when they see them at the games, Macca is at every game without fail and it is nice to now see the manager and the chief scout in attendance. I complete a match report for Sam after every game. I give him a hard copy and a copy via email and now he is here to see for himself which is great."
Hendon was previously assistant manager at Gillingham but believes he made the correct decision in making the decision to move to take over the Hammers Development Squad a little more than a year ago. "Last year I had a season to settle into the role because I did not know which players would be training with me and which would be with the first-team. That was initially hard to swallow but after a period of adjustment I am thoroughly enjoying it and it is making me a much better coach. "I am pleased because I am helping players into the first team and that is what it is all about. If we can keep playing well and keep making the step up it can only be healthy for everyone at the football club."
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Dangers of perception
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 29th October 2012
By: Paul Walker
"Perception" is one of Sam Allardyce's favourite words. He reckons he has suffered from an unfair perception about his style of play, and he's probably right...
Now we are suffering from a perception about our team. Sometimes it helps to see ourselves as other see us, to understand the problem. And there is now a clear perception that we are a bunch of argumentative cheats.
You only have to look at the amount of bookings this season for dissent to understand that. You have to search hard for cautions for arguing with referees in the top flight, but our crime sheet is littered with them.
Perception is a dangerous thing when it starts to work against you. Look at Luis Suarez. He is really suffering now, and not just because of the racist stuff from last season, criminally handled by Liverpool and Kenny Dalglish to the extent that it helped towards the manager's sacking.
Maybe I am in a minority, but I don't see too much wrong with Suarez. He is lightening quick, well balanced at speed and possesses great close control. Touch him and he will go over. If he was in our team, big Sam would be telling him to run at and commit defenders at every opportunity.
But now Suarez is branded a cheat. I even feel that the exaggerated swallow dive at Stoke was his way of showing exasperation to the referee at being continually kicked. Maybe I'm wrong, but surely it was too obvious to be taken seriously.
Suddenly Andy Carroll is finding himself tarred with the same brush. It seems to have started after the Southampton game, when I felt he was continually fouled and impeded. Southampton's youngster Adam Lallana started to moan in the papers that Carroll went down too easily.
Now referees read newspapers. And the performance of referee Jon Moss at Wigan on Saturday bordered on the disgraceful. He had it in for us from the word go. Mark Clattenburg, an officially I dislike intensely because of his infuriating self-importance - and whose shocking display at Chelsea yesterday just about sums up why I feel the way I do about him - started sticking the knife in at QPR.
He dished out countless bookings, some absolutely ridiculous but certainly some for dissent. Moss was no better, he was waving cards around whenever we complained about anything, and continually penalised Carroll.
Players and managers pick up on such things very quickly. Wigan's lot were pointing and moaning to the officially at every opportunity. We saw the same thing from Everton's David Moyes about Suarez ahead of Sunday's Mersey derby with Liverpool.
Don't forget that Moyes has employed Andy Johnson and Thomaz Radzinski in his time, two men not known for staying on their feet too long. Ironically, the only cheating came from his own captain Phil Neville's daft dive and booking.
But Moyes had openly complained about Suarez ahead of the game, trying to influence the official, Andre Marriner. This time it didn't really work. Suarez did little wrong but was verbally hounded by players and fans throughout, trying to underline the perception that he cheats.
Suarez's only suffering was the disallowing of what would have been his hat-trick and the winner, when he patently wasn't offside.
What I'm trying to do is explain why I believe we are now suffering because of a perception. Carroll is a big boy, he can handle himself and he is very good at getting his body between defender and ball. So if he is pushed, tugged (even his ponytail) or manhandled, of course he will go down. He has been fouled.
As for the moaning and dissent, yes, Kevin Nolan does maintain a near non-stop dialogue with officials which can look like a barrack roam lawyer at work. First Clattenburg didn't like it, and the inexperienced (at Premier League level) Moss has got in on the act.
The perception that we are only long ball has become tiring. But now every set of opposing fans takes the mickey. Southampton were the last, and they have Ricky Lambert in their squad! Wigan knock long balls up to Franco Di Santo. And then you get daft nonsense from Roberto Martinez claiming that he does not really approve of set piece goals!
That's only marginally worse than Fulham boss Martin Jol complaining that "West Ham's corners are really long balls, you know." Sometimes you can't make it up.
But all this adds to a perception about us, and it starting to hurt us, certainly as the cautions mount up and the decisions continually go against Carroll.
Mind you, even a perfect display from Mr. Moss would not have saved us at Wigan. We were awful, which was so disappointing for 4,000 plus of us who arrived at the DW stadium full of confidence after the mauling of Southampton and our high position in the table.
Sam, though, was never more than honest afterwards, even if we nearly sneaked a point at the end of a really inept display.
He picked up on our shocking lack of confidence in possession. Wigan pressed us really high up the pitch, no doubt to stop the supply to Carroll. They hounded our back line into countless mistakes and the defence never looked happy on the ball. Heaven help us against the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United in the weeks ahead.
Wigan also isolated our midfield men. They got between Nolan , Mark Noble and Mo Diame with neat passing. Sam also picked up on Wigan's better technique, and you could see that with their one-touch passing in tight situations.
It is very hard to tackle and win the ball if it is being moved first time, at pace. Wigan do not have better players than us, but on Saturday they had confidence in possession we never looked like matching.
But this may have quelled talk of Champions League positions for us. We are so far from that level it is laughable.
Our club website do not help but going on about records and high places. That only gives us unrealistic targets to match.
I got into trouble with my bunch of mates at the Southampton game by walking out of the Bobby Moore end proclaiming that we still needed 26 points to stay up. I hate to point out that it is still 26 needed, or in our case after recent history, a couple more than that.
I was told I should be thinking in terms of top four. Now this nonsense did not come from the youngest member of our group, nine-year-old Oscar, watching one of his first Hammers games. He was too bright for that (have you seen what nine year-olds can do with I phones? Frightening).
No, the misplaced confidence came from someone who can be free with grand claims (I wonder who he gets it from?)
Let's hope we can get things back into perspective now. I have done quick run-through the rest of our games, and reckon we may still have to get something on the last day against Reading. I hope not.
But we are now going into a seriously hard set of games, ones that Sam has been flagging up as very, very tough for some while. Frankly I cannot see us getting anything from the Manchester clubs, Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle, Spurs, Everton and Arsenal before the new year.
It means we must get something against Stoke, West Brom and Reading before the turn of the year. If we have six more points from those next 11 games I will be surprised.
Call me a pessimist, as people do. But I doubt Sam is counting on much more. I really hope I'm wrong. But that's the trouble with perceptions, they can give a false impression of things.
Mind you, a good time will be had by all on Saturday when we face Carlos Tevez and Manchester City. It's the home game looked forward to more than any other by my family and close friends, a group littered with fans of both clubs.
The worst thing about relegation was that the away-day trip from Manchester was put on hold. We travel down together on the early train (one lad is even bringing his wife this time!) and enjoy a beer or two ahead of the game, and a shandy on the way home. It's a cracking day out, even if the old hands struggle a bit to keep up the pace.
We don't hold out much hope of halting the champions, I know, but come on Sam and the boys, send me home with a smile on my face with all my City mates.
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Paolo Di Canio interview: Cup giant-killings are like sleeping with Madonna
The Mirror
29 Oct 2012 22:31
Scoring the winner in an FA Cup tie against Manchester United at Old Trafford was like "having sex with Madonna", according to Paolo Di Canio. And now the Swindon boss wants to recreate that feeling by knocking Aston Villa out of the Capital One Cup. The Italian, who famously netted for the Hammers in the fourth round in 2001, said: "I have to tell you, when I scored that goal to knock out Manchester United, it was a very exciting moment. "It was like having sex with Madonna. "I don't know if this will be the same as a manager. Probably yes. "It would be fantastic. Let me try it."
Di Canio took over at Swindon in May last year and has already won eight cup ties out of 10 against higher league opposition, including victories over top-flight sides Wigan and Stoke. The giant-killing Robins have scored 10 goals in their three Capital One Cup ties this season. "Since my arrival, we have tried to play more like football is played in the Premier League," added Di Canio. "The way I work on the details with my football, I think it is easier to play against Manchester United [than lesser sides] because we play good football "I am sure that if we play them one day, we are going to create four clear chances - and maybe concede six goals. "I'm never going to lie to my players. I told them we can win against Villa - we can win against any side. "But we play Macclesfield in the FA Cup on Saturday and that is more important than Aston Villa."
Di Canio also admits he feels sorry for today's referees – because so many players now behave like he used to. And the Swindon manager even tells his squad: 'Don't act like me on the pitch. I was stupid.' The fiery Italian was famously hit with an 11-match ban in 1998 after pushing ref Paul Alcock to the ground whie playing for Sheffield Wednesday – the highlight of a long disciplinary rap sheet. Di Canio, now 44, said Mark Clattenburg should be punished if he did verbally abuse Chelsea players during their match against Manchester United on Sunday. But he added modern referees are now under intolerable pressure from modern-day Di Canios. "He is the man that has to respect the rules – but the players should do this as well," said the former Wednesday, West Ham and Celtic star. "One day, I didn't. I was wrong, I paid the price. "The man that has to stay in the middle and let the others respect the rules, also has to maintain the healthy professionalism. "He can't blame the players. Even if I know that they have very high pressure. In the past only Di Canio used to go round the referee and protest. "But unfortunately, in modern football, even for a simple throw in, six or seven players will go round and abuse him more. "This is something that we should look carefully at, because the fact is that in a new era, saying a bad word that 20 years earlier would be punished heavily is normal. "The kids aged seven are saying it. It is normal, but it is not normal! "We have to stop that with education. In general. In life."
Di Canio has had a zero-tolerance approach to dissent since taking over at the County Ground. "I am stricter with my players because of my experience," he said. "Since last year, I have not had one player sent off and just a few yellow cards for throwing the ball away, which is wrong and stupid anyway to receive a yellow card for. "I tell them to protest less and think about playing football. "When someone says to me, 'How can you teach your players this? One day they will come back to you and say, 'You did this.' "But it is easy for me. I would say, 'I was wrong and I was stupid. I can help you. You want to be stupid like me? No. I was wrong.' "I am tough on this because I know. I lost a lot of energy during games and now I realise I missed a lot of chances, and would have been a better footballer and been more effective. I can help them. "At this club, there used to be a group of people who would go overnight and sleep away from home and throw away food. This is not discipline – this is like animals. "I know they used to come in here and have lunch together with both feet on the table. "That is rubbish. Not just for a footballer, but for a person in general. That reflects also in the field. "I think it is clear that in this club, and in my squad specifically, there is a very high level of discipline."
Robins captain Alan McCormack admitted: "He brings a fear factor. He is just so passionate and outspoken. He can be intimidating. You have got to accept that. If not, you would be a nervous wreck all the time."
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Mayor of London Boris Johnson's appeal for Games surplus fund to be used in Olympic Stadium rejected by Treasury
The future of the Olympic Stadium has again been thrown into doubt after the Government ruled out handing any of the £377 million London 2012 surplus over to the project.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Matt Scott10:00PM GMT 29 Oct 2012
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, had suggested that some of the surplus be used to finance the installation of retractable seating into the Stratford stadium to accommodate both football and athletics, at an estimated cost of up to £200 million. The sports minister, Hugh Robertson, has made clear to Johnson that his London Legacy Development Corporation would have to hold talks with the Treasury to gain access to the funds. But Telegraph Sport can reveal that when Treasury officials are approached they will reject Johnson's appeals because the department has more pressing needs for the cash. "Any financial benefits from the Olympics coming in under budget will be used to pay off our debts or help the economy," said a Treasury spokesman. The mayor is understood to planning to make a personal appeal to George Osborne, the Chancellor, for the funds. He will wait for reliable costings for the retractable seating and sources close to the mayor said that he would not be deterred by the Treasury's position.
As Telegraph Sport revealed on Oct 15, so far the LLDC's discussions have focused on demountable, temporary stands to be used during the football season. That would cost up to £500,000 a year and the works would also put the multi-use venue out of action for weeks during the close-season when concerts and athletics could otherwise be scheduled.
Johnson therefore considers the retractable-seating plan logistically preferable but it is costlier and if he wants to pursue it, City Hall is likely to have to foot the cost. It is certainly clear there will be no further funding from central government.
Working out a seating solution is becoming a matter of urgency as the process has been due to reach a conclusion. There have been hopes within the LLDC for a decision over the future of the venue to be reached by the middle of next month but the latest development might set that timetable back, perhaps beyond the next board meeting on 6 December.
The Treasury has already provided £38 million for the Olympic park transformation budget. City Hall has separately received commitments totalling £261.2 million from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and from the LLDC in return for the additional tax contributions paid by Londoners ahead of the Games.
Robertson announced to parliament last Tuesday that the 2012 Olympics had cost £8.921 billion against a £9.298 billion total budget including contingency. However the Treasury privately stresses that the contingency budget was only ever money funding held in reserve in case of cost overruns on the Olympic project. "This is taxpayers' money not spent on other things because we thought we might need it for the Olympic Games, so this frees it up for other growth-related projects," said one Treasury official. That might also disappoint sports bodies envisaging a new post-Olympic windfall after last week's news from the sports minister. Quangos such as Sport England and UK Sport already know their future funding arrangements and will not receive any further boost from an Olympics legacy fund. Apart from the future seating-configuration of the stadium other matters still to be decided include whether the athletics track will remain in situ for the 2017 World Athletics Championships due to be hosted there. Also the length of the lease and financing of the refit are up in the air. With three other bids from Leyton Orient, a joint tender involving formula one and a football-business college also having made the short list, it is West Ham United who remain favourites to land the tenancy contract.
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Former West Ham player Savio Nsereko arrested in Thailand
The ex-Germany Under-20 international was reportedly trying to extort money from his relatives before he got caught by the authorities in Pattaya
Goal.com
29 Oct 2012 20:59:00
By Chris Kvesa
Former West Ham winger Savio Nsereko has been arrested by police in Thailand for claiming to his family that he was abducted, before then demanding a sum of €3,000 [£2,500]. The 23-year-old had spent €25,000 [£20,000] on his trip before he allegedly thought about taking the unusual measures to refill his holiday bank account, a report by the Bangkok Post states. Having signed with West Ham from Brescia for a sum of €11 million [£9m] in 2009, the Uganda-born attacker has since enjoyed spells at Fiorentina, Bologna and 1860 Munich before ending up at German third division side SpVgg Unterhaching.
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West Ham's Trio of Second Generation Stars Impressing in Reserve Action
Elliot Lee, George Moncur and Dan Potts are all hoping to emulate their famous fathers by becoming first team regulars at West Ham
By ADRIAN BACK: Subscribe to Adrian's RSS feed
October 29, 2012 4:04 PM GMT
Ibtimes.co.uk
West Ham maintained their lead in the Under-21 Premier League thanks to a 1-0 win over Everton on Friday night which moved them six points clear of second placed Arsenal. The Hammers have always relied heavily on their academy and have a reputation as being able to bring through a number of talented individuals who have gone on to have great success for both club and country. A quick look around the Premier League shows former West Ham players at some of the top sides in the country. Liverpool can call upon Glen Johnson and Joe Cole, Manchester United have Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick, Tottenham rely heavily on Jermain Defoe for goals and Chelsea have the midfielder with the most goals ever in the Premier League in Frank Lampard. Even the current West Ham side often features on former academy players in Mark Noble, Jack Collison and James Tomkins. It is a tradition that the club is proud of and it seems likely to continue for some time. The latest batch of youngsters seems to be producing once again. It is perhaps no wonder when we see that there are three players whose dads also represented West Ham at some point in their careers. Against Everton it was Elliot Lee that grabbed the headlines as he scored the only goal of the game, superbly heading home a cross from Blair Turgot. The 17-year-old is the son of Rob Lee, the former England international who played more than 700 games in a career that saw him become a club legend at both Charlton and Newcastle.
Unlike his dad, a hard-working midfielder, Elloitt is a striker who has shown great promise in the youth ranks at West Ham and is a regular for the Under-18 side. However, he has made the step up to the Under-21 side this season and already has one goal in his two appearances. Lee was not the only son of a former player in that side as George Moncur and Daniel Potts also played the full ninety minutes against Everton. Moncur, whose dad John was at West ham for close to a decade, impressed last season while sent on-loan to AFC Wimbledon where he managed to score two goals in his 20 appearances. Capped at Under-18 level for England, Moncur is a box-to-box midfielder who has been an ever present in the Under-21 side this season, making nine appearances and scoring one goal.
The third youngster hoping to emulate his dad is Daniel Potts, son of Steve who joined the West Ham academy back in 1983 and did not leave the club for 19 years, making over 400 appearances in all competitions. The 18-year-old full-back has already managed to break into the West Ham first team and earlier this year made his debut for the England Under-18 side in a 3-0 win over Poland. He has made five appearances for the Under-21 side this season, further highlighting his ability which saw him win the Young Hammer of the Year award in May 2012. Having been diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of 12, Potts overcame the illness and was given the all clear when he was 16. Now he will be looking to further cement his place in the first team squad under Sam Allardyce. All three players will be hoping to continue the rich tradition of the East End club and become regulars in the first team in the coming years. They certainly have the pedigree and a fantastic youth team coach in Ian Hendon who will hope that the trio can help the Hammers win the inaugural Under-21 Premier League.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Monday, October 29
Daily WHUFC News - 29th October 2012
Goal no consolation for Tomkins
WHUFC.com
James Tomkins took next to no joy from scoring in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at
Wigan Athletic
28.10.2012
James Tomkins admitted scoring his first goal of the season meant next to
nothing as West Ham United slumped to a 2-1 Barclays Premier League defeat
at Wigan Athletic. By the time the defender nodded in George McCartney's
cross in the third minute of added-time, the Hammers had left it too late to
get anything from their trip to the DW Stadium. A strangely subdued
first-half performance allowed Wigan to take an eighth-minute lead through
Ivan Ramis' fierce volley from a Jean Beasejour corner. Any hopes that Sam
Allardyce's half-time team talk would change the course of the game were
then dashed when James McArthur took advantage of a loose ball inside the
visitors' penalty area less than two minutes after the re-start. To West
Ham's credit, they did create a succession of half-chances before Tomkins
himself saw his goal-bound volley deflected on to the crossbar by lunging
Latics captain Gary Caldwell. The No5 then found the back of the net, but
found little solace in his first goal of 2012/13. "It was a shame that my
goal didn't mean anything," said Tomkins, who started at right-back for the
second successive match. "Their first goal was a one-off really. It was a
good quality goal, while the second was a bit lucky the way it fell to them.
"All in all, it was a bad day for us and we should have played a lot better
than we did. We are paying for it now because we lost a game that we came
into full of confidence. We fully expected to get the three points but it
didn't work out like that."
The defender admitted that the Hammers had paid for making a slow start at
Wigan, having escaped punishment for a similarly lethargic first-half
display against Southampton the previous weekend. Against the Saints, West
Ham were able to turn around while still on level terms and pull away in the
second half. At Wigan, the Hammers fell behind early on and were all but out
of the game when McArthur struck so soon after the break. "I think we
started slowly and it happened in the last game against Southampton as well.
It's something we need to sit down and work out where we're going wrong.
"It's hard to put our fingers on it now without seeing the game back but I'm
sure we'll sit down this week and watch the game. We definitely need to
start games a lot quicker and a lot brighter than we have done. "They scored
at the right time after half-time. We kept going and had a few half-chances
near the end but it didn't really run for us. It was unfortunate for us, but
we're looking forward to the next game now. It's gone and we move on to
Manchester City now. "We've got a good home record so I'm sure they'll be
fearing us. We'll go in there with the confidence and the crowd behind us
and see how we go."
Tomkins himself was unfortunate not to get his name on the scoresheet
earlier than he did, sending one first-half header over the crossbar before
hitting the frame of the goal with a deflected shot late in the second
period. Andy Carroll, Kevin Nolan and Carlton Cole also had opportunities
inside the Wigan penalty area, but were unable to take advantage of them for
a variety of reasons. "It was unfortunate that the chances we did have
didn't fall for us, unlike theirs, which did. Sometimes you get games in
football like that and we need to start quicker and that's one of the main
things that we need to get out of Saturday."
For Tomkins, the frustration of defeat was tempered ever so slightly by the
fact he is back in the starting XI, having replaced the injured Guy Demel at
right-back in the Hammers' last two Barclays Premier League matches. "I'm
enjoying playing and I'll play anywhere for the team if it means I am
starting. Hopefully I can learn the position if I'm played there more in the
future. I'll just try to keep improving. "I'm getting minutes under my belt
now and that's the main thing."
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Shaw thing on his debut
WHUFC.com
Frazier Shaw's impressive debut helped the Development Squad to their fifth
straight win on Friday
28.10.2012
Frazer Shaw was in a positive mood after making his Development Squad debut
in the 1-0 win at home to Everton on Friday night. Shaw has been training
with Ian Hendon's side in recent weeks and with the likes of Jordan Spence
and Leo Chambers increasingly involved with the first-team, the full-back is
hoping to cement his place in the Development Squad. His first taste of
reserve-team football was a testing affair as Everton pushed their hosts to
their limits at Rush Green, but Shaw remained composed throughout and was
pleased to make his mark. "That was my first Barclays Under-21 Premier
League start for the Development Squad so it was great to get the three
points," he said. "It was not a very good game to pass the ball around and
play good football but I was pleased to get the opportunity, which is
hopefully the first of many. "My aim this season is to make the step-up and
become a regular in the Development Squad. However if I play in the youth
team I will play in the youth team but the plan is to be part of this squad
more and more."
The Development Squad kept their fourth-successive clean sheet and Shaw
revealed that defensive play is a key part of the work the squad to under
Hendon's tutorship at Chadwell Heath. "We focus on our defensive play a lot
in training, whether I am with Paul Heffer in the Under-18s or the
Development Squad. I have been training with Ian Hendon's side for a few
weeks now so I am used to the way they play and hopefully I will be involved
more in the future."
Like many of the new generation of full-backs, Shaw is incredibly
attack-minded, but he has an added sense of positional play having started
as a midfielder. With three years' experience at the club already under his
belt, he is enjoying his steady rise through the ranks. "I am not like many
left-backs who are more defensive, but I would like to think I am just as
strong and consistent. I have come from midfield so I am a lot more attack
minded. "I have been at the club a while now and I am really enjoying it -
the coaches are good and the lads are great. We have a great bunch of
players at the moment and hopefully a few of them can continue to push their
way into the first-team."
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Under-18s draw at Everton
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Under-18s secured an impressive 1-1 draw at Everton on
Saturday
27.10.2012
West Ham United's Under-18s shared a goal apiece with Everton on Saturday
afternoon. Nick Haycock's visitors took the lead through Kieran Sadlier's
penalty in the 20th minute after his shot was ruled to have hit Jake
Adelson's arm. Sadlier nearly doubled the lead soon after when he shot wide
when well placed as the Hammers adapted quicker to a cold and windy
afternoon at Finch Farm. The second half was a different story, though, as
the hosts increased the tempo and went close through Courtney Duffus and
Joseph Williams. Their pressure eventually told when they were awarded a
penalty of their own for a foul on Ryan Ledson, who stepped up to convert
the kick. The Hammers stood strong in the face of late Everton pressure to
end a run of two straight defeats. The Academy are next in action when they
play host to Reading on Saturday
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Under 21s: West Ham Utd 1 Everton 0
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 27th October 2012
By: Willis Jamieson
A colld and windy night at Rush Green saw the under 21s gain another three
vital points as they hosted mid-table team Everton. A second half goal from
Elliot Lee would be all that separated the two sides in a game in which both
teams were playing long ball,s which led to a scrappy game. There were few
chances in the first half with the conditions making it frustrating as both
teams struggled. There were two highlights for the home team: a clever lob
from Calum Driver on the halfway line as he glanced up and saw the keeper
off his line - his effort going just a few inches over - and a sprint across
the edge of the area by Elliot Lee who drilled the ball at goal which
produced an excellent save from Everton 'keeper Mateus Taudel.
The visitors created few chances and they were dealt with well by the West
Ham defence, with Wearen in particular looking strong. Larkins also produced
a couple of close-range saves. The second half started better although both
teams both still chose to go long too often. There were however more chances
and shots on goal. The best chance for Everton came from a defensive
mistake by the home team and led to a one-on-one with Larkins; the young
goalkeeper spread himself well and the Everton striker failed to hit the
target. Just 10 minutes later, the young Hammers look the lead with what
proved to be the game's only goal. A short corner was played into to Blair
Turgott who turned and chipped a clever ball for Elliot Lee, who glanced his
header into the top corner.
With Everton pushing forward for an equaliser, West Ham introduced Freddie
Piquionne to try and hold on to the point. Deep into injury time a ball
across the West Ham penalty area was diverted past Larkins, but fortunately
it hit the post and bounced up into the relieved West Ham goalkeeper's
hands. A few seconds later the final whistle blew, meaning West Ham move on
to 22 points from their nine games played and stay at the top of the table -
still having lost just once this season.
Player Ratings
Jake Larkins: 7 – Didn't have much to do but made a couple of important
saves in the first half with the score at 0-0
Callum Driver: 6 – Captain for the night was right back in a solid defence.
Was unlucky with his first half lob from half way line.
Dan Potts: 6 – Playing at Centre back was never put under pressure from a
poor Everton
Eoin Wearen: 7 – Really solid game at centre back, in the first half
especially he was excellent with a number of hard tackles.
Frazer Shaw: 6 – Stepping up from the Under 18 team Frazer did well at right
back, wasn't pressed too much and got forward when he could.
George Moncur: 6 – He looked good on the ball when it was on the floor, it
just wasn't on the floor enough for the midfield to have a great game. He
had a great shot saved in the second half after a neat layoff from McCallum
Sebastian Lletget: 7 – Playing the holding role, he is neat in possession
and in first half especially rarely lost the ball. Protected the defence
well.
Matthias Fanimo: 5 – Hard for the wingers in this game as we just didn't use
them enough as we chose to go long far too often.
Blair Turgott: 7 – Wasn't in the game enough, but gets a better mark as his
clever assist was the difference between 1 and 3 points
Paul McCallum: 6 – The long ball was usually played up to him and he did the
best he could against a big Everton defence. He is good in the air and won
lots of headers.
Elliot Lee: 7 – A lot of running after flicks from McCallum and wasted the
ball a number of times, but a good shot in the first half and a great
glancing header for the goal.
Sub: Freddie Piquionne: Hardly got a touch in the 10 mins he was on.
Unused Subs: Gines Guzman Posique (GK), Pelly Ruddock, Jack Powell, Declan
Hunt.
Willis Jamieson may also be found on Twitter at twitter.com/WillisJamieson.
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Matt Jarvis knows West Ham face a critical period over the next month
Last Updated: October 28, 2012 3:47pm
SSN
West Ham winger Matt Jarvis says the club are preparing for a tough spell
over the next month as they face their most challenging run of fixtures yet.
The Hammers will take on five of last season's Premier League top six over
the next five weeks, starting with a visit of defending champions Manchester
City next weekend. Jarvis knows November will be an important month for Sam
Allardyce's side but is confident they can do well after a bright start to
the campaign.
He told the Sunday People: "We have had a great start to the season which
has given us confidence but we have a really tough run of games now.
"November is going to be difficult. This is where we will get a taste of how
we are going to do this season because you discover how much strength in
depth you have over periods like this. "Confidence is so important - it
really is a massive factor in football. "It's a tough division and this is
going to be an important time but so far we have all worked hard to get into
this position we are in. "I'm sure collectively we can continue to do well."
Allardyce
Jarvis has been impressed by the approach of Allardyce since arriving from
Wolves in the summer and says the manager reminds him of his old boss Mick
McCarthy. e said: "There are similarities between Big Sam and Mick McCarthy,
who was my manager at Wolves. "They both have an aura and presence about
them. And if you do something wrong you know about it! "Sam has put his own
mix on things and a lot of his ideas are very heavy on stats. "We have
meetings about the opposition but he looks at our stats on set-pieces and
everything else. "It works for him and everyone is buying into it. It's the
first time I have had this approach. He really likes it and I think it shows
in what we do, there's no place to hide."
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Andy's reffin' hell
The Sun
Published: 28th October 2012
SAM ALLARDYCE says Andy Carroll gets a raw deal from refs — because he is so
big. The West Ham boss said: "Refs aren't giving him enough free-kicks when
he is manhandled. "Because he is 6ft 3in he doesn't get the free-kicks a lad
who is 5ft 2in might get. But we can't look at the ref here and say he's
cost us the game. We were so poor we've done more than enough ourselves to
do that!"
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I van the terrible: Ramis comes back to haunt Hammers AGAIN
28 Oct 2012 22:30
The Mirror
Big Sam has proved he can wheel and deal like Arthur Daley in the transfer
market. But he met his match in the battle to sign Ivan Ramis from Real
Mallorca in the summer when Roberto Martinez brought in his Minder. Dave
Whelan grabbed his chequebook and jumped on a plane to Majorca after an
anxious Martinez rang to tell him that Sam Allardyce had trumped their offer
for the centre-half. The Latics chairman financed the £4million deal as
Martinez did not have enough left in his transfer kitty to match the
Hammers' bid. Allardyce has twice rued Ramis's snub and the Spaniard's two
Latics goals have come in defeats for his side - the first in the Capital
Cup and now in the 2-1 league reverse at Wigan on Saturday. "I remember
that we couldn't match the valuation West Ham agreed with Mallorca," said
Wigan boss Martinez. "That moment is a worry because you feel you are going
to lose the player. But the chairman knew how much we wanted him and allowed
us to match the price. "The chairman found the money, which we didn't have
at the club. I don't know how deep his pockets are, but they were deep
enough on this occasion. "Being a football man makes a big difference. He
went over to Mallorca and was very influential in the deal."
Capital punishment: Ivan Ramis of Wigan Athletic is congratulated by his
team mates after scoring against West Ham in their Capital One Cup Third
Round match
Warren Little
Allardyce said: "Ramis wasn't quite sure whether he really wanted to come or
not. It was Wigan this and Wigan that. We wondered what was happening, left
it and brought James Collins in instead." Martinez fought hard to land Ramis
because he feels he combines silk and steel. The Spaniard opened the scoring
at the DW on eight minutes with a delicious volley no striker could have
hit more sweetly. His effort set the tone for the match and Wigan were
superior to West Ham in every department. Ramis, Gary Caldwell and Maynor
Figueroa were dominant at the back, James McArthur, James McCarthy and Shaun
Maloney controlled the midfield, while Franco Di Santo's strike partnership
with Arouna Kone continues to blossom. Andy Carroll and sidekick Kevin Nolan
struggled to make any impact up front for the Hammers. The Latics scored
their second when Jussi Jaaskelainen cleared poorly and Maloney teed up
McArthur to fire home two minutes after the break. James Tomkins pulled one
back in the third minute of stoppage time to give the scoreline a
flattering look for the Hammers. Allardyce added: "That was the performance
of a side in the bottom three."
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Biffa's being bullied: Big Sam says Carroll's getting no help from referees!
The Mirror
28 Oct 2012 22:30
He may be a strapping 6ft 3ins, but Sam Allardyce claims Andy Carroll still
needs more protection from referees. Allardyce feels opponents are getting
away with fouling Carroll because officials feel the West Ham striker is big
enough to take their knocks. The Hammers boss felt referee Jon Moss missed
several niggly fouls on the England international by Wigan players, during
Saturday's 2-1 defeat. "Referees aren't giving him enough free-kicks when he
is manhandled by central defenders who, let's face it, are having a
difficult job coping with the quality that he's got," said Allardyce.
"Because he is 6' 3'', they don't give the free-kicks they would perhaps
give to the 5' 2''s. Perhaps it's a subconscious thing. "Andy knows all
that. He's been there and has to be patient with it. He was bringing balls
down on his chest, getting nudged as he was bringing them down, but not
getting the free-kick so it makes it look like he's giving away possession
when it's not really his fault. "But we can't look at the referee and say
he's particularly cost us this game. We did more than enough ourselves to
cause that."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
James Tomkins took next to no joy from scoring in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at
Wigan Athletic
28.10.2012
James Tomkins admitted scoring his first goal of the season meant next to
nothing as West Ham United slumped to a 2-1 Barclays Premier League defeat
at Wigan Athletic. By the time the defender nodded in George McCartney's
cross in the third minute of added-time, the Hammers had left it too late to
get anything from their trip to the DW Stadium. A strangely subdued
first-half performance allowed Wigan to take an eighth-minute lead through
Ivan Ramis' fierce volley from a Jean Beasejour corner. Any hopes that Sam
Allardyce's half-time team talk would change the course of the game were
then dashed when James McArthur took advantage of a loose ball inside the
visitors' penalty area less than two minutes after the re-start. To West
Ham's credit, they did create a succession of half-chances before Tomkins
himself saw his goal-bound volley deflected on to the crossbar by lunging
Latics captain Gary Caldwell. The No5 then found the back of the net, but
found little solace in his first goal of 2012/13. "It was a shame that my
goal didn't mean anything," said Tomkins, who started at right-back for the
second successive match. "Their first goal was a one-off really. It was a
good quality goal, while the second was a bit lucky the way it fell to them.
"All in all, it was a bad day for us and we should have played a lot better
than we did. We are paying for it now because we lost a game that we came
into full of confidence. We fully expected to get the three points but it
didn't work out like that."
The defender admitted that the Hammers had paid for making a slow start at
Wigan, having escaped punishment for a similarly lethargic first-half
display against Southampton the previous weekend. Against the Saints, West
Ham were able to turn around while still on level terms and pull away in the
second half. At Wigan, the Hammers fell behind early on and were all but out
of the game when McArthur struck so soon after the break. "I think we
started slowly and it happened in the last game against Southampton as well.
It's something we need to sit down and work out where we're going wrong.
"It's hard to put our fingers on it now without seeing the game back but I'm
sure we'll sit down this week and watch the game. We definitely need to
start games a lot quicker and a lot brighter than we have done. "They scored
at the right time after half-time. We kept going and had a few half-chances
near the end but it didn't really run for us. It was unfortunate for us, but
we're looking forward to the next game now. It's gone and we move on to
Manchester City now. "We've got a good home record so I'm sure they'll be
fearing us. We'll go in there with the confidence and the crowd behind us
and see how we go."
Tomkins himself was unfortunate not to get his name on the scoresheet
earlier than he did, sending one first-half header over the crossbar before
hitting the frame of the goal with a deflected shot late in the second
period. Andy Carroll, Kevin Nolan and Carlton Cole also had opportunities
inside the Wigan penalty area, but were unable to take advantage of them for
a variety of reasons. "It was unfortunate that the chances we did have
didn't fall for us, unlike theirs, which did. Sometimes you get games in
football like that and we need to start quicker and that's one of the main
things that we need to get out of Saturday."
For Tomkins, the frustration of defeat was tempered ever so slightly by the
fact he is back in the starting XI, having replaced the injured Guy Demel at
right-back in the Hammers' last two Barclays Premier League matches. "I'm
enjoying playing and I'll play anywhere for the team if it means I am
starting. Hopefully I can learn the position if I'm played there more in the
future. I'll just try to keep improving. "I'm getting minutes under my belt
now and that's the main thing."
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Shaw thing on his debut
WHUFC.com
Frazier Shaw's impressive debut helped the Development Squad to their fifth
straight win on Friday
28.10.2012
Frazer Shaw was in a positive mood after making his Development Squad debut
in the 1-0 win at home to Everton on Friday night. Shaw has been training
with Ian Hendon's side in recent weeks and with the likes of Jordan Spence
and Leo Chambers increasingly involved with the first-team, the full-back is
hoping to cement his place in the Development Squad. His first taste of
reserve-team football was a testing affair as Everton pushed their hosts to
their limits at Rush Green, but Shaw remained composed throughout and was
pleased to make his mark. "That was my first Barclays Under-21 Premier
League start for the Development Squad so it was great to get the three
points," he said. "It was not a very good game to pass the ball around and
play good football but I was pleased to get the opportunity, which is
hopefully the first of many. "My aim this season is to make the step-up and
become a regular in the Development Squad. However if I play in the youth
team I will play in the youth team but the plan is to be part of this squad
more and more."
The Development Squad kept their fourth-successive clean sheet and Shaw
revealed that defensive play is a key part of the work the squad to under
Hendon's tutorship at Chadwell Heath. "We focus on our defensive play a lot
in training, whether I am with Paul Heffer in the Under-18s or the
Development Squad. I have been training with Ian Hendon's side for a few
weeks now so I am used to the way they play and hopefully I will be involved
more in the future."
Like many of the new generation of full-backs, Shaw is incredibly
attack-minded, but he has an added sense of positional play having started
as a midfielder. With three years' experience at the club already under his
belt, he is enjoying his steady rise through the ranks. "I am not like many
left-backs who are more defensive, but I would like to think I am just as
strong and consistent. I have come from midfield so I am a lot more attack
minded. "I have been at the club a while now and I am really enjoying it -
the coaches are good and the lads are great. We have a great bunch of
players at the moment and hopefully a few of them can continue to push their
way into the first-team."
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Under-18s draw at Everton
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Under-18s secured an impressive 1-1 draw at Everton on
Saturday
27.10.2012
West Ham United's Under-18s shared a goal apiece with Everton on Saturday
afternoon. Nick Haycock's visitors took the lead through Kieran Sadlier's
penalty in the 20th minute after his shot was ruled to have hit Jake
Adelson's arm. Sadlier nearly doubled the lead soon after when he shot wide
when well placed as the Hammers adapted quicker to a cold and windy
afternoon at Finch Farm. The second half was a different story, though, as
the hosts increased the tempo and went close through Courtney Duffus and
Joseph Williams. Their pressure eventually told when they were awarded a
penalty of their own for a foul on Ryan Ledson, who stepped up to convert
the kick. The Hammers stood strong in the face of late Everton pressure to
end a run of two straight defeats. The Academy are next in action when they
play host to Reading on Saturday
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Under 21s: West Ham Utd 1 Everton 0
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 27th October 2012
By: Willis Jamieson
A colld and windy night at Rush Green saw the under 21s gain another three
vital points as they hosted mid-table team Everton. A second half goal from
Elliot Lee would be all that separated the two sides in a game in which both
teams were playing long ball,s which led to a scrappy game. There were few
chances in the first half with the conditions making it frustrating as both
teams struggled. There were two highlights for the home team: a clever lob
from Calum Driver on the halfway line as he glanced up and saw the keeper
off his line - his effort going just a few inches over - and a sprint across
the edge of the area by Elliot Lee who drilled the ball at goal which
produced an excellent save from Everton 'keeper Mateus Taudel.
The visitors created few chances and they were dealt with well by the West
Ham defence, with Wearen in particular looking strong. Larkins also produced
a couple of close-range saves. The second half started better although both
teams both still chose to go long too often. There were however more chances
and shots on goal. The best chance for Everton came from a defensive
mistake by the home team and led to a one-on-one with Larkins; the young
goalkeeper spread himself well and the Everton striker failed to hit the
target. Just 10 minutes later, the young Hammers look the lead with what
proved to be the game's only goal. A short corner was played into to Blair
Turgott who turned and chipped a clever ball for Elliot Lee, who glanced his
header into the top corner.
With Everton pushing forward for an equaliser, West Ham introduced Freddie
Piquionne to try and hold on to the point. Deep into injury time a ball
across the West Ham penalty area was diverted past Larkins, but fortunately
it hit the post and bounced up into the relieved West Ham goalkeeper's
hands. A few seconds later the final whistle blew, meaning West Ham move on
to 22 points from their nine games played and stay at the top of the table -
still having lost just once this season.
Player Ratings
Jake Larkins: 7 – Didn't have much to do but made a couple of important
saves in the first half with the score at 0-0
Callum Driver: 6 – Captain for the night was right back in a solid defence.
Was unlucky with his first half lob from half way line.
Dan Potts: 6 – Playing at Centre back was never put under pressure from a
poor Everton
Eoin Wearen: 7 – Really solid game at centre back, in the first half
especially he was excellent with a number of hard tackles.
Frazer Shaw: 6 – Stepping up from the Under 18 team Frazer did well at right
back, wasn't pressed too much and got forward when he could.
George Moncur: 6 – He looked good on the ball when it was on the floor, it
just wasn't on the floor enough for the midfield to have a great game. He
had a great shot saved in the second half after a neat layoff from McCallum
Sebastian Lletget: 7 – Playing the holding role, he is neat in possession
and in first half especially rarely lost the ball. Protected the defence
well.
Matthias Fanimo: 5 – Hard for the wingers in this game as we just didn't use
them enough as we chose to go long far too often.
Blair Turgott: 7 – Wasn't in the game enough, but gets a better mark as his
clever assist was the difference between 1 and 3 points
Paul McCallum: 6 – The long ball was usually played up to him and he did the
best he could against a big Everton defence. He is good in the air and won
lots of headers.
Elliot Lee: 7 – A lot of running after flicks from McCallum and wasted the
ball a number of times, but a good shot in the first half and a great
glancing header for the goal.
Sub: Freddie Piquionne: Hardly got a touch in the 10 mins he was on.
Unused Subs: Gines Guzman Posique (GK), Pelly Ruddock, Jack Powell, Declan
Hunt.
Willis Jamieson may also be found on Twitter at twitter.com/WillisJamieson.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Matt Jarvis knows West Ham face a critical period over the next month
Last Updated: October 28, 2012 3:47pm
SSN
West Ham winger Matt Jarvis says the club are preparing for a tough spell
over the next month as they face their most challenging run of fixtures yet.
The Hammers will take on five of last season's Premier League top six over
the next five weeks, starting with a visit of defending champions Manchester
City next weekend. Jarvis knows November will be an important month for Sam
Allardyce's side but is confident they can do well after a bright start to
the campaign.
He told the Sunday People: "We have had a great start to the season which
has given us confidence but we have a really tough run of games now.
"November is going to be difficult. This is where we will get a taste of how
we are going to do this season because you discover how much strength in
depth you have over periods like this. "Confidence is so important - it
really is a massive factor in football. "It's a tough division and this is
going to be an important time but so far we have all worked hard to get into
this position we are in. "I'm sure collectively we can continue to do well."
Allardyce
Jarvis has been impressed by the approach of Allardyce since arriving from
Wolves in the summer and says the manager reminds him of his old boss Mick
McCarthy. e said: "There are similarities between Big Sam and Mick McCarthy,
who was my manager at Wolves. "They both have an aura and presence about
them. And if you do something wrong you know about it! "Sam has put his own
mix on things and a lot of his ideas are very heavy on stats. "We have
meetings about the opposition but he looks at our stats on set-pieces and
everything else. "It works for him and everyone is buying into it. It's the
first time I have had this approach. He really likes it and I think it shows
in what we do, there's no place to hide."
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Andy's reffin' hell
The Sun
Published: 28th October 2012
SAM ALLARDYCE says Andy Carroll gets a raw deal from refs — because he is so
big. The West Ham boss said: "Refs aren't giving him enough free-kicks when
he is manhandled. "Because he is 6ft 3in he doesn't get the free-kicks a lad
who is 5ft 2in might get. But we can't look at the ref here and say he's
cost us the game. We were so poor we've done more than enough ourselves to
do that!"
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I van the terrible: Ramis comes back to haunt Hammers AGAIN
28 Oct 2012 22:30
The Mirror
Big Sam has proved he can wheel and deal like Arthur Daley in the transfer
market. But he met his match in the battle to sign Ivan Ramis from Real
Mallorca in the summer when Roberto Martinez brought in his Minder. Dave
Whelan grabbed his chequebook and jumped on a plane to Majorca after an
anxious Martinez rang to tell him that Sam Allardyce had trumped their offer
for the centre-half. The Latics chairman financed the £4million deal as
Martinez did not have enough left in his transfer kitty to match the
Hammers' bid. Allardyce has twice rued Ramis's snub and the Spaniard's two
Latics goals have come in defeats for his side - the first in the Capital
Cup and now in the 2-1 league reverse at Wigan on Saturday. "I remember
that we couldn't match the valuation West Ham agreed with Mallorca," said
Wigan boss Martinez. "That moment is a worry because you feel you are going
to lose the player. But the chairman knew how much we wanted him and allowed
us to match the price. "The chairman found the money, which we didn't have
at the club. I don't know how deep his pockets are, but they were deep
enough on this occasion. "Being a football man makes a big difference. He
went over to Mallorca and was very influential in the deal."
Capital punishment: Ivan Ramis of Wigan Athletic is congratulated by his
team mates after scoring against West Ham in their Capital One Cup Third
Round match
Warren Little
Allardyce said: "Ramis wasn't quite sure whether he really wanted to come or
not. It was Wigan this and Wigan that. We wondered what was happening, left
it and brought James Collins in instead." Martinez fought hard to land Ramis
because he feels he combines silk and steel. The Spaniard opened the scoring
at the DW on eight minutes with a delicious volley no striker could have
hit more sweetly. His effort set the tone for the match and Wigan were
superior to West Ham in every department. Ramis, Gary Caldwell and Maynor
Figueroa were dominant at the back, James McArthur, James McCarthy and Shaun
Maloney controlled the midfield, while Franco Di Santo's strike partnership
with Arouna Kone continues to blossom. Andy Carroll and sidekick Kevin Nolan
struggled to make any impact up front for the Hammers. The Latics scored
their second when Jussi Jaaskelainen cleared poorly and Maloney teed up
McArthur to fire home two minutes after the break. James Tomkins pulled one
back in the third minute of stoppage time to give the scoreline a
flattering look for the Hammers. Allardyce added: "That was the performance
of a side in the bottom three."
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Biffa's being bullied: Big Sam says Carroll's getting no help from referees!
The Mirror
28 Oct 2012 22:30
He may be a strapping 6ft 3ins, but Sam Allardyce claims Andy Carroll still
needs more protection from referees. Allardyce feels opponents are getting
away with fouling Carroll because officials feel the West Ham striker is big
enough to take their knocks. The Hammers boss felt referee Jon Moss missed
several niggly fouls on the England international by Wigan players, during
Saturday's 2-1 defeat. "Referees aren't giving him enough free-kicks when he
is manhandled by central defenders who, let's face it, are having a
difficult job coping with the quality that he's got," said Allardyce.
"Because he is 6' 3'', they don't give the free-kicks they would perhaps
give to the 5' 2''s. Perhaps it's a subconscious thing. "Andy knows all
that. He's been there and has to be patient with it. He was bringing balls
down on his chest, getting nudged as he was bringing them down, but not
getting the free-kick so it makes it look like he's giving away possession
when it's not really his fault. "But we can't look at the referee and say
he's particularly cost us this game. We did more than enough ourselves to
cause that."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Sunday, October 28
Daily WHUFC News - 28th October 2012
Big Sam pulls no punches
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce admitted his side's performance was simply not good enough at
Wigan Athletic
27.10.2012
Sam Allardyce admitted his West Ham United team had not performed well
enough in their 2-1 Barclays Premier League defeat at Wigan Athletic. A slow
start at the DW Stadium saw West Ham fall a goal behind in the eighth
minute, although Big Sam felt Ivan Ramis had impeded Winston Reid before
lashing Jean Beausejour's corner into the net with an unstoppable volley. At
half-time, the manager demanded an improvement from his side, only for Wigan
to double their lead within two minutes of the re-start. Jussi
Jaaskelainen's clearance fell to a Latics player and when Shaun Maloney laid
the ball into the path of James McArthur, the midfielder had the freedom of
the penalty area to lash past the Finn. To the Hammers' credit, they did
rally late on, with James Tomkins seeing his volley deflect off home skipper
Gary Caldwell and onto the face of the crossbar. The No5 then found the net
when he headed in George McCartney's left-wing cross, but by then the clock
had already ticked into the 93rd-minute and there was next to no time left
for the visitors to fashion an equaliser. "I would say that in terms of
performance levels, there just wasn't one," said the manager with typical
honesty. "The terribly disappointing thing is that we came with a lot of
anticipation and were building up ready for another big game after a great
victory and second-half performance last week, then went out and basically
gifted the game to a team that had not won at home all season. "We didn't
really put any opposition up against them and the disappointing thing is
that our level of performance was such a surprise to me - not just one or
two players, which can happen in a game of football, but most of our
outfield players just didn't perform, particularly in possession, to the
level we know they can play at. "Because of that, we never got any momentum
going forward and, because we kept giving the ball away, the game was always
a struggle from start to finish."
While he admitted his team had not reached the standards he demands, the
manager felt the Hammers could still have got something out of the game if
they had scored a few minutes earlier. "We scored at the end but by then it
was too late. We needed a goal a little sooner and that might have got us
back in it because it would have got Wigan's nerve-ends twitching because
they had not won a game at home, but we never did that. "We had a couple of
chances and didn't score and finally when we did it was far too late."
Concentrating on Wigan's goals, the manager said there was a case for
disallowing Ramis's opener for a foul on Reid by the Spaniard. "You could
look at the first one and say that it's a foul because Ramis pushes Reidy
away. It is a hell of a volley, but there is a foul committed on Reidy and
had he not pushed him away he might have got a bit closer. The volley was so
good, though, that he might not have stopped it. "The second goal was the
worst one for me. We had just had the players in at half-time and told them
'We need to get the ball forward with some quality into our front three'
which we had decided to play with in the second half. "If you look at it, we
look at playing the ball forward then turn and give it to the centre-half.
He then looks to play the ball forward and turns around and plays it to the
goalie. The goalie miskicks it and it comes into our box. It bobbles around
and we probably should have cleared it, then it goes to McArthur and he puts
it in the net. "What were the players thinking about? What was the problem?
Hopefully it is a one-off, but it was really disappointing - not just the
result but the way we performed."
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Wigan 2 West Ham 1
27 October 2012
By Kevin Darling
BBC Sport
Wigan notched a first home win of the season with a typically slick passing
display against a sloppy West Ham. Ivan Ramis gave the Latics an early lead
with a magnificent volley straight from Jean Beausejour's corner. James
McArthur grabbed the hosts' deserved second with a 15-yard strike after
Jussi Jaaskelainen's poor kick. West Ham could have gone fourth with a win,
but they failed to trouble Wigan keeper Ali Al-Habsi until James Tomkins
headed a late consolation. The Hammers began the day 10 places above their
hosts in the table, but the outcome rarely looked in doubt after Ramis's
brilliant eighth-minute strike.
Roberto Martinez's Wigan side, without a league win since August, grew in
confidence after the goal and their rhythm was rarely interrupted by the
visitors.
The Hammers repeatedly gifted possession to the home side as their promising
early-season form deserted them. This had been billed as a match of
contrasting styles - Martinez's elegant passing game versus Sam Allardyce's
percentage football - so Wigan seemed to be going against type when they
scored their opener from a set piece. It was, however, the most spectacular
of set pieces. Beausejour sent in a corner and Ramis was allowed to drift
unmarked to a position 14 yards out, from where he unleashed an unstoppable
left-footed strike past Jaaskelainen.
The Spanish defender, who had agreed terms with West Ham before opting to
join Wigan from Mallorca in the summer, also hit a wonder strike against the
Hammers in a 4-1 League Cup win last month. The game then settled into its
predicted pattern: the Latics knocked the ball around sweetly while the
visitors pumped it forward in search of Andy Carroll's head. The home side's
tactic looked more effective, with James McCarthy, Shaun Maloney and
Beausejour all going close. Carroll got a first sight of goal just before
half-time when he headed Tomkins' cross wide, but the Hammers' hopes of
mounting a second-half fightback were snuffed out within two minutes of the
restart. A woeful clearance from Jaaskelainen gifted Wigan possession and
they took full advantage. Maloney helped Beausejour's pass on to McArthur,
who slammed home from the edge of the box to double the lead. The Latics
were happy to soak up West Ham pressure for the remainder of the match, but
the Hammers toiled without reward and Carroll cut a frustrated figure.
When his opportunity finally arrived from an accurate Matt Jarvis cross
midway through the second half, the England striker's control let him down.
In fact, Allardyce's side failed to muster a clear attempt on goal until the
final minutes when Tomkins's close-range volley hit the bar. The young
defender did get on the scoresheet moments later with a simple header from
George McCartney's cross, but there was little time to push for what would
have been a scarcely deserved leveller. There was a sense of relief in the
Wigan ranks at the final whistle as the Latics celebrated a belated return
to the form they showed at the tail-end of last season.
A win would have sent West Ham into a Champions League position, but with
games against Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea in
the coming weeks, this defeat could provide a reality check on their
ambitions.
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez: "We don't get too many goals from set plays,
but it was a tremendous finish from Ivan Ramis. "That early goal set the
tone of the game and allowed us to control it. "I really enjoyed the
performance. We have been showing flashes of our ability but today we were
really good. "Our philosophy and way of playing will never change."
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce: "It was a bit of a push on Winston Reid for
their first goal, but it was a brilliant volley. And they deserved to win.
"We didn't play any football today, we didn't get past half-decent. I'm
disappointed our performance has reduced to such a level. "It wasn't about
Wigan today, it was about us not using the ability we've got. We can't keep
giving the ball back to them." "We were not good enough, in any shape or
form. Our problems were all over the pitch."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce admitted West Ham 'never got going' in defeat to Wigan
Last Updated: October 27, 2012 9:26pm
SSN
Sam Allardyce was critical of his West Ham side after they slumped to a 2-1
away defeat by Wigan at the DW Stadium. Wigan were the better side and fully
deserved their victory, but Allardyce instead chose to focus on his own
players, who he said failed to take care of the ball properly. The West Ham
boss also felt that Wigan's first goal, a superb volley from defender Ivan
Ramis, should not have stood. "We never got going today, " Allardyce said.
"We never got to our level, never passed the ball properly and never stopped
Wigan playing. "The first goal was a great volley, I do think that there was
push on Reidy (Winston Reid) for the first goal, but the referee didn't see
it. "It wasn't about Wigan for me today. It was about a lack of our ability
to produce what we have got. It makes it difficult for us, because if you
keep giving the ball back to them they use it well. "Therefore the object of
the exercise is to take care of it and don't give it back to them, and we
didn't do it."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Wigan 2 West Ham 1
The Sun
By DAVID FACEY
Published: 27th October 2012
SAM ALLARDYCE must be sick of the sight of Ivan Ramis. The Spaniard snubbed
a move to West Ham before joining countryman Roberto Martinez at Wigan — and
the defender has quickly become a thorn in Big Sam's side. Ramis scored his
first goal for the Latics as they humiliated West Ham 4-1 in the Capital One
Cup at Upton Park last month. And his screamer of a volley after eight
minutes yesterday sent the Hammers sliding towards just their second loss in
14 away games. James McArthur sealed Wigan's first home win of the season
with a well-taken second on 47 minutes.
If the dominant home team had been more clinical in front of goal they could
easily have bettered their Upton Park tally. After that cup defeat,
Allardyce complained that his team "could not defend a fish supper". Another
roasting was on the menu for his back four after this display — but it was
starvation rations all over the park for his desperately disappointing
outfit. Big Sam said: "We never got going. It wasn't just the defence, we
did not function anywhere near our best in any department. "As a promoted
team you must give your very best to have any chance of winning on the road.
"Wigan were looking for a first home win and we needed to put pressure on
them to make them more nervous. "The technique Ramis showed for that first
goal was terrific — any striker would have been proud of it. If Robin van
Persie had scored it people would never stop going on about it. "We did try
to get him but Roberto's Spanish tipped it Wigan's way! "It was a
disappointment to see us perform that badly. We need to pick ourselves up
quickly because we've got some very tough games coming up."
Martinez was in a much better mood and said: "Maybe Ivan needs to play them
more often — both his goals against them were brilliant strikes. "I thought
we were in control throughout the game and created enough chances to have
scored another goal or two." Even when James Tomkins headed home an
injury-time consolation, the Hammers were left to rue what might have been.
Two minutes earlier he had seen another goalbound effort deflected on to the
bar off Gary Caldwell's leg. But it would have been a travesty if West Ham
had nicked a point at the end. Their normally snappy approach was lacking as
Wigan knocked the ball around at will, leaving the visitors chasing shadows.
Wigan strikers Arouna Kone and Franco Di Santo caused West Ham trouble and
it needed a superb block from George McCartney to deny Di Santo just before
half-time. Jussi Jaaskelainen also saved well from Shaun Maloney but was
powerless to prevent his team falling further behind. The Finn's defenders
were guilty of ball watching as Di Santo's cross was knocked back into
McArthur's path for a cool finish. That second goal gave Wigan the
confidence to produce some exhibition stuff. But Andy Carroll could have
made them pay for their extravagance as he was picked out by the
hard-working McCartney. The ball fell nicely for the £35million striker but
his first touch was woeful and the ball ran out of play, much to the delight
of the home fans.
Wigan: Al Habsi, Ramis, Caldwell, Figueroa, Boyce, McCarthy, McArthur,
Beausejour, Kone, Di Santo (Watson 78), Maloney. Subs not used: Pollitt,
Jones, Gomez, McManaman, Boselli, Stam. Booked: Ramis,Di Santo,McArthur.
Goals: Ramis 8, McArthur 47.
West Ham: Jaaskelainen, Tomkins, Collins, Reid, McCartney, Jarvis, Noble
(Cole 64), Nolan, Diame (O'Neil 73), Benayoun (Maiga 46), Carroll. Subs not
used: Spiegel, O'Brien, Chambers, Hall. Booked: Noble, Maiga, Reid, O'Neil.
Goals: Tomkins 90.
Att: 19,090
Ref: Jon Moss (W Yorkshire).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Brum deal: Ravel Morrison will return a changed man, claims Allardyce
The Mirror
27 Oct 2012 22:30
Sam Allardyce reckons West Ham starlet Ravel Morrison will return a new man
after finally getting his career on track at Birmingham. Read Sunday Mirror
match report - Wigan Athletic 2-1 West Ham United: Ramis and McArthur fire
Latics to first win in six The 19-year-old, who was turfed out of Manchester
United last season following a number of off-field problems, has started to
show glimpses of his potential after a loan move to St Andrews. Morrison's
future with the Midlanders looked bleak until manager Lee Clark held
showdown talks with the midfielder a fortnight ago. But Allardyce, who
signed the youngster after Sir Alex Ferguson reached the end of his tether
with him, believes Morrison's recent form has shown he's making strides.
"It's nice to see he has overcome those early problems he suffered by not
playing," said Allardyce. "We bought him for development. So first-team
football now until the end of the season hopefully will give him enough
experience. "So he can learn to put that ability into the game on a regular
basis. A player is always much better when he is in the team as well.
"Hopefully he will have the determination to continue playing in the side."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce admitted his side's performance was simply not good enough at
Wigan Athletic
27.10.2012
Sam Allardyce admitted his West Ham United team had not performed well
enough in their 2-1 Barclays Premier League defeat at Wigan Athletic. A slow
start at the DW Stadium saw West Ham fall a goal behind in the eighth
minute, although Big Sam felt Ivan Ramis had impeded Winston Reid before
lashing Jean Beausejour's corner into the net with an unstoppable volley. At
half-time, the manager demanded an improvement from his side, only for Wigan
to double their lead within two minutes of the re-start. Jussi
Jaaskelainen's clearance fell to a Latics player and when Shaun Maloney laid
the ball into the path of James McArthur, the midfielder had the freedom of
the penalty area to lash past the Finn. To the Hammers' credit, they did
rally late on, with James Tomkins seeing his volley deflect off home skipper
Gary Caldwell and onto the face of the crossbar. The No5 then found the net
when he headed in George McCartney's left-wing cross, but by then the clock
had already ticked into the 93rd-minute and there was next to no time left
for the visitors to fashion an equaliser. "I would say that in terms of
performance levels, there just wasn't one," said the manager with typical
honesty. "The terribly disappointing thing is that we came with a lot of
anticipation and were building up ready for another big game after a great
victory and second-half performance last week, then went out and basically
gifted the game to a team that had not won at home all season. "We didn't
really put any opposition up against them and the disappointing thing is
that our level of performance was such a surprise to me - not just one or
two players, which can happen in a game of football, but most of our
outfield players just didn't perform, particularly in possession, to the
level we know they can play at. "Because of that, we never got any momentum
going forward and, because we kept giving the ball away, the game was always
a struggle from start to finish."
While he admitted his team had not reached the standards he demands, the
manager felt the Hammers could still have got something out of the game if
they had scored a few minutes earlier. "We scored at the end but by then it
was too late. We needed a goal a little sooner and that might have got us
back in it because it would have got Wigan's nerve-ends twitching because
they had not won a game at home, but we never did that. "We had a couple of
chances and didn't score and finally when we did it was far too late."
Concentrating on Wigan's goals, the manager said there was a case for
disallowing Ramis's opener for a foul on Reid by the Spaniard. "You could
look at the first one and say that it's a foul because Ramis pushes Reidy
away. It is a hell of a volley, but there is a foul committed on Reidy and
had he not pushed him away he might have got a bit closer. The volley was so
good, though, that he might not have stopped it. "The second goal was the
worst one for me. We had just had the players in at half-time and told them
'We need to get the ball forward with some quality into our front three'
which we had decided to play with in the second half. "If you look at it, we
look at playing the ball forward then turn and give it to the centre-half.
He then looks to play the ball forward and turns around and plays it to the
goalie. The goalie miskicks it and it comes into our box. It bobbles around
and we probably should have cleared it, then it goes to McArthur and he puts
it in the net. "What were the players thinking about? What was the problem?
Hopefully it is a one-off, but it was really disappointing - not just the
result but the way we performed."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Wigan 2 West Ham 1
27 October 2012
By Kevin Darling
BBC Sport
Wigan notched a first home win of the season with a typically slick passing
display against a sloppy West Ham. Ivan Ramis gave the Latics an early lead
with a magnificent volley straight from Jean Beausejour's corner. James
McArthur grabbed the hosts' deserved second with a 15-yard strike after
Jussi Jaaskelainen's poor kick. West Ham could have gone fourth with a win,
but they failed to trouble Wigan keeper Ali Al-Habsi until James Tomkins
headed a late consolation. The Hammers began the day 10 places above their
hosts in the table, but the outcome rarely looked in doubt after Ramis's
brilliant eighth-minute strike.
Roberto Martinez's Wigan side, without a league win since August, grew in
confidence after the goal and their rhythm was rarely interrupted by the
visitors.
The Hammers repeatedly gifted possession to the home side as their promising
early-season form deserted them. This had been billed as a match of
contrasting styles - Martinez's elegant passing game versus Sam Allardyce's
percentage football - so Wigan seemed to be going against type when they
scored their opener from a set piece. It was, however, the most spectacular
of set pieces. Beausejour sent in a corner and Ramis was allowed to drift
unmarked to a position 14 yards out, from where he unleashed an unstoppable
left-footed strike past Jaaskelainen.
The Spanish defender, who had agreed terms with West Ham before opting to
join Wigan from Mallorca in the summer, also hit a wonder strike against the
Hammers in a 4-1 League Cup win last month. The game then settled into its
predicted pattern: the Latics knocked the ball around sweetly while the
visitors pumped it forward in search of Andy Carroll's head. The home side's
tactic looked more effective, with James McCarthy, Shaun Maloney and
Beausejour all going close. Carroll got a first sight of goal just before
half-time when he headed Tomkins' cross wide, but the Hammers' hopes of
mounting a second-half fightback were snuffed out within two minutes of the
restart. A woeful clearance from Jaaskelainen gifted Wigan possession and
they took full advantage. Maloney helped Beausejour's pass on to McArthur,
who slammed home from the edge of the box to double the lead. The Latics
were happy to soak up West Ham pressure for the remainder of the match, but
the Hammers toiled without reward and Carroll cut a frustrated figure.
When his opportunity finally arrived from an accurate Matt Jarvis cross
midway through the second half, the England striker's control let him down.
In fact, Allardyce's side failed to muster a clear attempt on goal until the
final minutes when Tomkins's close-range volley hit the bar. The young
defender did get on the scoresheet moments later with a simple header from
George McCartney's cross, but there was little time to push for what would
have been a scarcely deserved leveller. There was a sense of relief in the
Wigan ranks at the final whistle as the Latics celebrated a belated return
to the form they showed at the tail-end of last season.
A win would have sent West Ham into a Champions League position, but with
games against Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea in
the coming weeks, this defeat could provide a reality check on their
ambitions.
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez: "We don't get too many goals from set plays,
but it was a tremendous finish from Ivan Ramis. "That early goal set the
tone of the game and allowed us to control it. "I really enjoyed the
performance. We have been showing flashes of our ability but today we were
really good. "Our philosophy and way of playing will never change."
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce: "It was a bit of a push on Winston Reid for
their first goal, but it was a brilliant volley. And they deserved to win.
"We didn't play any football today, we didn't get past half-decent. I'm
disappointed our performance has reduced to such a level. "It wasn't about
Wigan today, it was about us not using the ability we've got. We can't keep
giving the ball back to them." "We were not good enough, in any shape or
form. Our problems were all over the pitch."
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Sam Allardyce admitted West Ham 'never got going' in defeat to Wigan
Last Updated: October 27, 2012 9:26pm
SSN
Sam Allardyce was critical of his West Ham side after they slumped to a 2-1
away defeat by Wigan at the DW Stadium. Wigan were the better side and fully
deserved their victory, but Allardyce instead chose to focus on his own
players, who he said failed to take care of the ball properly. The West Ham
boss also felt that Wigan's first goal, a superb volley from defender Ivan
Ramis, should not have stood. "We never got going today, " Allardyce said.
"We never got to our level, never passed the ball properly and never stopped
Wigan playing. "The first goal was a great volley, I do think that there was
push on Reidy (Winston Reid) for the first goal, but the referee didn't see
it. "It wasn't about Wigan for me today. It was about a lack of our ability
to produce what we have got. It makes it difficult for us, because if you
keep giving the ball back to them they use it well. "Therefore the object of
the exercise is to take care of it and don't give it back to them, and we
didn't do it."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Wigan 2 West Ham 1
The Sun
By DAVID FACEY
Published: 27th October 2012
SAM ALLARDYCE must be sick of the sight of Ivan Ramis. The Spaniard snubbed
a move to West Ham before joining countryman Roberto Martinez at Wigan — and
the defender has quickly become a thorn in Big Sam's side. Ramis scored his
first goal for the Latics as they humiliated West Ham 4-1 in the Capital One
Cup at Upton Park last month. And his screamer of a volley after eight
minutes yesterday sent the Hammers sliding towards just their second loss in
14 away games. James McArthur sealed Wigan's first home win of the season
with a well-taken second on 47 minutes.
If the dominant home team had been more clinical in front of goal they could
easily have bettered their Upton Park tally. After that cup defeat,
Allardyce complained that his team "could not defend a fish supper". Another
roasting was on the menu for his back four after this display — but it was
starvation rations all over the park for his desperately disappointing
outfit. Big Sam said: "We never got going. It wasn't just the defence, we
did not function anywhere near our best in any department. "As a promoted
team you must give your very best to have any chance of winning on the road.
"Wigan were looking for a first home win and we needed to put pressure on
them to make them more nervous. "The technique Ramis showed for that first
goal was terrific — any striker would have been proud of it. If Robin van
Persie had scored it people would never stop going on about it. "We did try
to get him but Roberto's Spanish tipped it Wigan's way! "It was a
disappointment to see us perform that badly. We need to pick ourselves up
quickly because we've got some very tough games coming up."
Martinez was in a much better mood and said: "Maybe Ivan needs to play them
more often — both his goals against them were brilliant strikes. "I thought
we were in control throughout the game and created enough chances to have
scored another goal or two." Even when James Tomkins headed home an
injury-time consolation, the Hammers were left to rue what might have been.
Two minutes earlier he had seen another goalbound effort deflected on to the
bar off Gary Caldwell's leg. But it would have been a travesty if West Ham
had nicked a point at the end. Their normally snappy approach was lacking as
Wigan knocked the ball around at will, leaving the visitors chasing shadows.
Wigan strikers Arouna Kone and Franco Di Santo caused West Ham trouble and
it needed a superb block from George McCartney to deny Di Santo just before
half-time. Jussi Jaaskelainen also saved well from Shaun Maloney but was
powerless to prevent his team falling further behind. The Finn's defenders
were guilty of ball watching as Di Santo's cross was knocked back into
McArthur's path for a cool finish. That second goal gave Wigan the
confidence to produce some exhibition stuff. But Andy Carroll could have
made them pay for their extravagance as he was picked out by the
hard-working McCartney. The ball fell nicely for the £35million striker but
his first touch was woeful and the ball ran out of play, much to the delight
of the home fans.
Wigan: Al Habsi, Ramis, Caldwell, Figueroa, Boyce, McCarthy, McArthur,
Beausejour, Kone, Di Santo (Watson 78), Maloney. Subs not used: Pollitt,
Jones, Gomez, McManaman, Boselli, Stam. Booked: Ramis,Di Santo,McArthur.
Goals: Ramis 8, McArthur 47.
West Ham: Jaaskelainen, Tomkins, Collins, Reid, McCartney, Jarvis, Noble
(Cole 64), Nolan, Diame (O'Neil 73), Benayoun (Maiga 46), Carroll. Subs not
used: Spiegel, O'Brien, Chambers, Hall. Booked: Noble, Maiga, Reid, O'Neil.
Goals: Tomkins 90.
Att: 19,090
Ref: Jon Moss (W Yorkshire).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Brum deal: Ravel Morrison will return a changed man, claims Allardyce
The Mirror
27 Oct 2012 22:30
Sam Allardyce reckons West Ham starlet Ravel Morrison will return a new man
after finally getting his career on track at Birmingham. Read Sunday Mirror
match report - Wigan Athletic 2-1 West Ham United: Ramis and McArthur fire
Latics to first win in six The 19-year-old, who was turfed out of Manchester
United last season following a number of off-field problems, has started to
show glimpses of his potential after a loan move to St Andrews. Morrison's
future with the Midlanders looked bleak until manager Lee Clark held
showdown talks with the midfielder a fortnight ago. But Allardyce, who
signed the youngster after Sir Alex Ferguson reached the end of his tether
with him, believes Morrison's recent form has shown he's making strides.
"It's nice to see he has overcome those early problems he suffered by not
playing," said Allardyce. "We bought him for development. So first-team
football now until the end of the season hopefully will give him enough
experience. "So he can learn to put that ability into the game on a regular
basis. A player is always much better when he is in the team as well.
"Hopefully he will have the determination to continue playing in the side."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Saturday, October 27
Daily WHUFC News - 27th October 2012
Wigan Athletic match preview
WHUFC.com
Background information and team news ahead of Saturday's visit to the DW
Stadium
26.10.2012
WIGAN ATHLETIC V WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 27 OCTOBER 2012
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: JONATHAN MOSS
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
iPHONE APP I TWITTER I FACEBOOK I PODCAST
Introduction
• West Ham United travel to the DW Stadium on Saturday to face Wigan
Athletic knowing a win could take them into the Barclays Premier League top
four. The Hammers start the weekend in seventh, having taken 14 points from
eight games. Wigan are 16th with five points from the same number of games
played.
• The two sides have already met once this season. West Ham United's Capital
One Cup campaign came to an end at the Boleyn Ground when the Latics earned
a 4-1 third-round win on 25 September.That fixture was the first-ever League
Cup meeting between the two sides and the 19th meeting overall.
• Sam Allardyce's side are chasing their first back-to-back Barclays Premier
League victories since overcoming Liverpool and Stoke City in February/March
2011. Big Sam's team have played just three away games this season, winning
2-1 at Queens Park Rangers last time out on 1 October, losing 3-0 at Swansea
City on 25 August and drawing 0-0 at Norwich City on 15 September.
• West Ham United have not won consecutive away Barclays Premier League
fixtures since Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough in December 2007.
• Roberto Martinez's side have yet to win a Barclays Premier League game at
home this season and have taken just two points from a possible 12.
• Nineteen goals have been scored in the last four matches between the two
sides. The most-recent Premier League fixture between the two sides saw
Wigan Athletic relegate West Ham United by defeating the Hammers 3-2 at the
DW Stadium on 15 May 2011.
• Mohamed Diame could face his former club for the first time if selected
after being rested for the 4-1 Capital One Cup loss to Wigan Athletic at the
Boleyn Ground in September.
• West Ham United's clash with Wigan Athletic is one of six Barclays Premier
League matches on Saturday. The others are as follows: (kick-off 3pm unless
stated) Aston Villa v Norwich City (12.45pm), Arsenal v Queens Park Rangers,
Manchester City v Swansea City (5.30pm), Reading v Fulham and Stoke City v
Sunderland.
Last time out
Saturday 20 October 2012
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United 4-1 Southampton
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Reid, McCartney, Nolan, Tomkins (Spence 88),
Collins, Jarvis, Benayoun, Noble, Diame (O'Neil 68), Carroll (Maiga 82).
Goals: Noble 46, 72, Nolan 48, Maiga 87.
Saturday 20 October 2012
Barclays Premier League
Swansea City 2-1 Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic: Al Habsi, Caldwell, Boyce, Ramis, Figueroa (Watson 71),
McCarthy, Maloney, McArthur (Boselli 83), Beausejour, Kone, Di Santo (Gomez
83).
Goals: Boyce 69.
Previous meeting
• West Ham United's last meeting with Wigan Athletic came just one month ago
in the Capital One Cup and ended in defeat. Modibo Maiga gave the Hammers
the perfect start by opening the scoring after seven minutes but the
visitors leveled through Mauro Boselli shortly after. Ivan Ramis, who was
touted to join the Hammers in the summer, powered home with seven minutes
remaining in the half before Boselli got his second on 41 minutes. The young
Hammers were unable to claw back the deficit and on 84 minutes their fate
was sealed when Jordi Gomez converted from the penalty spot. The line-ups
that day were:
West Ham United: Henderson, McCartney, Tomkins, Spence, Potts, Jarvis, Noble
(Taylor 72), O'Neil (Tombides 84), Maiga, Vaz Te (Fanimo 62), Hall.
Wigan Athletic: Al Habsi, Caldwell, Ramis, Stam, Lopez, Figueroa, Jones,
McArthur (Fyvie 85), McManaman (Gomez 74), Boselli (Orsula 90), Miyaichi.
Background
• West Ham United have faced Wigan Athletic just 19 times and they hold the
edge, winning ten of the encounters. Wigan have won seven with two ending in
draws.
• West Ham United's biggest win over Wigan Athletic came in the 2003/04
season, Kevin Horlock opened the scoring after four minutes and an own goal
from Jason Jarrett made it 2-0 before half-time. Marlon Harewood added a
brace in the second half, scoring his second from the spot, to give the
Hammers a 4-0 Division One win at the Boleyn Ground on 29 November 2003.
• Wigan Athletic's biggest win in the fixture came at the Boleyn Ground
earlier this season when they won 4-1 in the Capital One Cup third round.
Prior to that result, their biggest win came in the 2004/05 season when the
Latics secured a 3-1 Championship win on 15 August 2004. Nathan Ellington
scored a brace with Jason Roberts scoring in-between. Bobby Zamora pulled
one back for the Hammers but it was nothing more than a consolation.
Last six meetings (Premier League unless stated)
25 September 2012 - West Ham United 1-4 Wigan Athletic (Capital One Cup
third round)
15 May 2011- Wigan Athletic 3-2 West Ham United
27 November 2010 - West Ham United 3-1 Wigan Athletic
24 April 2010 - West Ham United 3-2 Wigan Athletic
12 September 2009 - Wigan Athletic 1-0 West Ham United
4 March 2009 - Wigan Athletic 1-0 West Ham United
Overall record v Wigan Athletic (all competitions) W 10 D 2 L 7
Ten-year record
West Ham United
2011/12 Championship 3rd (86 points - promoted to Premier League via
Play-Offs)
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points - relegated to Championship)
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted to Premier League via
Play-Offs)
2003/04 Division One 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated to Division One)
2001/02 Premier League 7th (53 points)
Wigan Athletic
2011/12 Premier League 15th (43 points)
2010/11 Premier League 16th (42 points)
2009/10 Premier League 16th (36 points)
2008/09 Premier League 11th (45 points)
2007/08 Premier League 14th (40 points)
2006/07 Premier League 17th (38 points)
2005/06 Premier League 10th (51 points)
2004/05 Championship 2nd (87 points - promoted to the Premier League)
2003/04 Division One 7th (71 points)
2002/03 Division Two 1st (100 points - promoted to Division One)
2001/02 Division Two 10th (64 points)
Referee
• Saturday's referee will be Jonathan Moss.
• Moss has take charge of two previous West Ham United matches, both last
season in the npower Championship, overseeing the 2-1 away defeat to Derby
County and the 3-3 Boleyn Ground draw with Birmingham City.
• Headteacher Moss was promoted to the Select Group of Referees in June
2011.
• He initially progressed through the Northern Counties East League and
Northern Premier League before being promoted to the National Group of
Assistant Referees in 2003.
• He took charge of the 2005 Conference Play-Off final between Carlisle
United and Stevenage and was then promoted to the National Group of
Referees.
Team news
• For West Ham United, Joey O'Brien has returned to fitness following a
hamstring problem and is expected to feature but Matty Taylor (calf) and Guy
Demel (groin) are unlikely to recover in time.
• Jack Collison will not play after missing the start of the season as he
continues to manage his long-term knee issues, while Alou Diarra is out with
a thigh problem.
• Ricardo Vaz Te will also be missing after surgery on a dislocated shoulder
ruled him out of action for three months.
• Matthias Fanimo, Leo Chambers, Rob Hall and Jordan Spence could also
feature and were all selected in Sam Allardyce's squad for last weekend's
victory over Southampton, with Spence coming off the bench.
• Wigan Athletic will give a late fitness test to Japan midfielder Riyo
Miyaichi (groin), but Spanish midfielder Albert Crusat (knee) and Paraguay
defender Antolin Alcaraz (groin) are both missing.
Old boys
• Mohamed Diame is in line to face his former club. The Senegal
international made 103 appearances for Wigan Athletic, scoring seven goals,
over a period of three years between 2009 and 2012.
• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are Jimmy Bullard,
Roy Carroll, Henri Camara, David Unsworth and Bill Wade.
General Information
• Tickets still remain for trip to the DW Stadium and are available online,
by phone and in person from the Alpari Stand Ticket Office until 3pm on
Friday. They will also be available on the day from Turnstile P in the North
Stand at the DW Stadium, priced £20 Adults, £15 Over-65s and £5 Under-16s.
For full ticket details, click here.
• All coach travel spaces for this fixtures have sold out.
• The weather forecast for Saturday is fine but cold, turning cloudier with
rain as the day progresses, with a maximum temperature of 7C (45F).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hall happy to help
WHUFC.com
Robert Hall has enjoyed the step up to Barclays Premier League action this
season
26.10.2012
Robert Hall is hoping for another taste of the first-team picture when West
Ham United travel to Wigan Athletic on Saturday. The forward, who celebrated
his 19th birthday last Saturday, was one of four Development Squad players
who made the matchday squad for last weekend's 4-1 defeat of Southampton.
Hall said he, Leo Chambers, Jordan Spence - who came on as a late substitute
- and Matthias Fanimo were all delighted to once again be part of the senior
squad after all getting varying degrees of first-team match action earlier
in the season. "When four of us Development Squad lads are in the squad it
makes it all a lot more comfortable because they are boys you have been with
for a while. Obviously the first-team lads are great and they make you feel
a part of it but it is nice to still be able to have those little jokes you
have in the Under-21s. "It is great being there together and helping each
other up the ladder."
The youngsters have all earned their place in Sam Allardyce's plans
following the Development Squad's stunning start to the Barclays Under-21
Premier League season. Hall has scored four times already for this season
and came close to opening his senior account when he hit the crossbar during
the Hammers last meeting with the Latics - a 4-1 Capital One Cup defeat at
the Boleyn Ground last month. "The season has been very busy and exciting so
far because the Barclays Under-21 Premier League has made reserve football a
lot more interesting. I have also been lucky enough to make my top-flight
debut this year so to play in the Under-21s, the Capital One Cup and then
the Premier League has been very hectic. "Going out on loan last season and
having two spells at Oxford United and one at MK Dons has definitely helped
my development. You learn a lot being out there on your own because you are
not at the club that is yours and you can only learn things which you can
bring back to West Ham."
Hall's only Barclays Premier League action came in the 3-0 win against
Fulham but he has found himself as a regular on the bench in recent weeks as
injuries to Matt Taylor and Ricardo Vaz Te have provided an opportunity to
some of Big Sam's squad players. "You do not wish injuries upon people but
at the same time if it allows me an opportunity then I am going to have to
be mature and brave enough to step up. I can only keep working hard in
training and listening to the older lads to make sure I learn more and more
day by day."
The Development Squad currently sit top of the Barclays Under-21 Premier
League Group A ahead of Friday night's 7pm meeting with Everton at Rush
Green, which is FREE for Season Ticket holders, £3 for Adults and £1 for
Under-16s. With first-team commitments the priority, it might be that Hall
is forced to miss the game but knows that his team-mates will still deliver
under the guidance of Development Squad manager Ian Hendon. "As a team we
know that Hendo will make us take it on a game-to-game basis, which is
working at the moment. Like myself the other lads have had busy schedules
but we are managing ourselves well with the medical staff and with Greg who
warms us up and cools us down. "We can only thank the people we work with
everyday when we do get into the first-team and get that opportunity to pay
them back."
Hall was also only too happy to play his part in an enjoyable disabled fans'
forum on Tuesday night at the Boleyn Ground alongside Guy Demel and Sam
Allardyce. Around 50 supporters fired questions at the trio, with Hall
joking that he could be in trouble for some of his answers. "Me and Guy
Demel answered some very funny and some very nice questions from some lovely
people so it was very entertaining. "They made me feel very comfortable so
it was a very nice evening. People often talk about giving something back to
the people that support you and respect you so doing things like this is
something I enjoy doing.
"There was some funny questions in there, the one that I had to bring
Carlton Cole and George McCartney into was a particular highlight. "Coley
will definitely say something to me but it is great to see them having a
good time and for them to know me and want to ask me questions is really
nice as well.
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Marlow aiming high
WHUFC.com
Tough-tackling first-year scholar Ben Marlow is targeting a strong season
for the Hammers
26.10.2012
To get to the top in any occupation, you have to aim high. For Ben Marlow,
it means having the ambition to emulate three-times Hammer of the Year and
England international Scott Parker. The first-year scholar is an all-action
midfielder in the mould of the former West Ham United favourite and would
love nothing more than to follow in his footsteps. "I play in centre
midfield and I like to get in my tackles and win them and break up the play
and give it to the more attacking players,"said Marlow, who joined the
Hammers at the age of six after being scouted playing for the club's
Performance Squad in his hometown of Chelmsford. "I want to be like Scott
Parker and I look up to him quite a bit. He wins his tackles and is involved
in the game and I like to do the same thing."
While he only celebrated his 17th birthday on 1 October, Marlow - who
thanked parents Julie and Nigel for supporting his career - has already
passed a decade as a West Ham player and has enjoyed developing his game at
the Academy of Football. He believes there is no coincidence that the
Hammers have such a good track record at producing top-class young players.
"The people and the coaching here are all good and they believe in you. They
build up your confidence and make you feel good, which means you train and
play well. All the staff get the best out you and you are always ready on
gameday. "If you play with fear then you are not going to play well. If you
play full of confidence and know that your manager believes in you then you
can express yourself, which is the main thing you want as a player."
Marlow is currently sidelined with an ankle injury, but even when he is fit
the competition for places in his position is fierce, with second-year
scholar Taylor Miles and first-year scholars Josh Cullen and Kieran Bywater
also challenging for starting places in the centre of midfield. "It has been
a good year-group to be part of. We have been together for four or five
years now and we all get on well, which is why we've done so well. "There
are a lot of first-year scholars which means we are all fighting for places.
That means we all have to work harder because only one player can get each
shirt. "When we're together in the Academy House, we all get on fine, but
when we're on the pitch you have to try to be better than everyone else
because you want that professional contract at the end of your scholarship.
"You cannot be nice and let someone else have your position. It's not about
being selfish, but you want to be starting every week.
"We're still all friends and enjoy living together, where everything is
about our football. We talk to each other and are all fully-focused on
football and we all want the same thing. "We're all on equal terms and I
think that is good."
While emulating Parker's achievements may be some way off, Marlow is
confident in his ability and cannot wait to return from the injury that has
sidelined him since early September. "I played a lot of minutes in
pre-season and the full game against Reading on the opening day but the
injury has halted my run in the team. When I get back I need to work hard,
train hard and try to work my way back into the team. "I am aiming to be a
regular starter by the end of the season. I have just got to show our coach
Nick Haycock that I am worthy of a place in the team."
Marlow will hope to be involved when the Hammers travel to Everton in
Barclays U18 Premier League Group 1 on Saturday, with kick-off at Finch Farm
at 11am. For those supporters who would like to attend, Finch Farm is
located at Finch Lane, Halewood, Merseyside, L26 3UE.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Dev Squad make it five in a row
WHUFC.com
Elliot Lee's superb header made it five league wins in succession for Ian
Hendon's side
26.10.2012
The Development Squad extended their lead at the top of Barclays U21 Premier
League Group 1 with a narrow 1-0 win over Everton on a cold and blustery
night at Rush Green. It was yet another hard-fought contest on the back of
Monday's win over Bolton Wanderers, but West Ham United thoroughly deserved
the win earned through Elliot Lee's superb 69th-minute header. The teenage
striker secured all three points when he met Blair Turgott's cross to send
the ball looping over Toffees goalkeeper Mateus Taudel and into the roof of
the net. West Ham's win was their fifth in succession and extended their
lead over second-place Arsenal to six points, although the Gunners now have
a game in-hand on their London rivals. The Hammers could have had a penalty
within the opening 60 seconds when Shane Duffy's attempted clearance
deflected onto his own hand, but referee Stuart Butler waved 'play on'. The
hosts settled well but struggled for creativity in the early stages as
Everton again went close when Christopher Long shot straight at Jake Larkins
following Tyias Browning's probing run. Larkins was called into action again
a minute later, using his legs to block Duffy's volley from a Matthew
Kennedy free-kick. As the game opened up, the home side went close when Lee
burst forward and unleashed a powerful shot on goal that Taudel was unable
to hold. The final chance of the half was arguably the best as West Ham
centre-back Eoin Wearen was denied a superb headed goal from Matthias
Fanimo's corner by the fingertips of Poland Under-17 international
goalkeeper Taudel.
The first chance of the second-half came in the 56th minute and in
controversial fashion as Wearen was arguably fouled in the build up. As the
Irishman lay on the floor, captain Driver's attempt to play the ball back to
Larkins fell short and allowed Apostolos Vellios in one-on-one, but the
Greek forward fired wide.
Wearen was in the thick of it at the other end eight minutes later, sending
a beautiful cross-field ball to Fanimo. He found Lee, who tee-up Sebastien
Lletget, but the American's shot was blocked. One minute later, Fanimo
almost scored directly from a corner as Pennington inadvertently cleared the
ball off the line with his back. The Hammers finally took the lead after 69
minutes when Turgott's cross from a short corner found Lee, whose flicked
header sailed into the top corner, much to the delight of the home fans
among the 308-strong crowd. Ten minutes from time the Hammers almost sealed
it when McCallum brought the ball down and found George Moncur, but Taudel
was able to repel the midfielder's fierce strike. There was still time for
plenty of late drama. First, with four minutes remaining, Everton went for
broke and were almost rewarded when left-back Ibou Touray's 40-yard
wind-assisted pile-driver flew inches past the post. Then, in the first
minute of added-time, victory was almost snatched from Ian Hendon's side
when Vellios' flick from Tyias Browning's cross bounced off the inside of
the far post and into the hands of a grateful Larkins.
Next up for the table-topping Development Squad is a trip to Reading on
Friday 2 November.
Development Squad: Larkins, Driver, Potts, Moncur, Wearen, Shaw, Turgott,
Lletget, McCallum, Fanimo, Lee (Piquionne 79)
Subs not used: Guzman Rosique, Ruddock, Powell, Hunt
Everton: Taudel, Browning, Touray, Lundstram, Duffy, Pennington, Jones,
Grant, Vellios, Long (Johns 72), Kennedy
Subs not used: Springthorpe, Forrester, Kelly, Hammar
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Morgan making an impact
WHUFC.com
Lindsey Morgan has been in superb form for West Ham United Ladies so far
this season
24.10.2012
With West Ham United Ladies sitting in fourth place in the FA Women's
Premier League Southern Division ahead of Sunday's trip to Yeovil Town, a
balance between youth and experience could be the solid base as they aim for
higher ground. The experienced head on this young team's shoulders is
attacking midfielder Lindsey Morgan, who has netted three competitive goals
in West Ham's opening eight matches this season. "Of course it gives me an
increased confidence to be scoring goals for the team, but my focus is that
the whole team performs well together. For me, providing assists for my
team-mates to score goals is just as important as scoring them myself," said
the 32-year-old. The goals scored by Morgan have helped the Hammers grab ten
points from a possible 15 and she knows that the strong opening will have a
big bearing on where the team finish come the end of the campaign. "It is
massively important to get off to a good start in the league because the
first few months are the foundation for how the season shapes up. "Having a
solid defence is also important, but the defending starts from the front. It
is equally as important that we work together as a team. Each player brings
their own qualities and strengths to the team, like Stacey Little, who has
been solid in the holding midfield role."
Morgan re-joined West Ham last summer from Millwall Lionesses, where she had
moved from the Hammers back in August 2009. During her career, the
midfielder has also represented Aston Villa and Dagenham and Redbridge. "I
started playing football at the age of seven in my school team. I was the
only girl in a boys' team and league. The first proper team I joined was
Aston Villa at the age of eight."
"I moved to Essex from the West Midlands when I was ten and joined the local
team, Dagenham and Redbridge. We had a great team and I won many honours
with them. I then joined West Ham and played for several years until I was
approached by Millwall Lionesses, who had recently gained promotion to the
Premier League. "I played for Millwall for two seasons and in that time I
played against some of the best teams in the country and competed well. We
had a great coach [Kay Cossington], who is now involved in the England set
up, and I learnt a lot of valuable lessons playing for that team at that
level. I then returned to West Ham last season."
Despite her history in the sport, full-time Royal Mail worker Morgan is
happy playing for West Ham, knowing that the team is progressing towards a
successful future. "I have always played football, so joining a semi-pro
club like West Ham was just a bonus. We are now getting more support from
the men's team and the club is moving in the right direction in an effort to
get alongside and compete with some of the best teams in the country. "I
really enjoyed last season, it was great to join back up with some of the
old team and get to know some of the new team members. The team had
definitely strengthened in the two seasons that I had been at Millwall."
The future looks bright for the Hammers, and despite being the oldest member
of the squad, Morgan is still a regular first-team player every week who
knows that there is only one target for the club come the end of the season.
"We have one aim and one aim only and that is to achieve promotion! We have
been so close for the past few seasons that failing again this season is
simply not an option. I am 100 per cent confident we can do it!"
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Wigan v West Ham
KO 15:00
26 October 2012
By Conor McNamara
BBC Match of the Day commentator
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: DW Stadium Date: Saturday, 27 October
TEAM NEWS
Wigan winger Ryo Miyaichi is doubtful for Saturday's game because of a
slight groin injury. Antolin Alcaraz is ruled out with a similar injury,
while Albert Crusat is still sidelined by a knee problem.
West Ham defender Joey O'Brien is available after recovering from a
hamstring injury. Matthew Taylor and Guy Demel could return to first-team
action shortly, although neither will be involved on Saturday.
MATCH PREVIEW
Roberto Martinez and Sam Allardyce. Chalk and cheese when it comes to
football philosophies, right? Well, maybe not as much as you'd think. This
time last year Wigan, as now, had five points from their opening eight
league games. The attractive passing style preferred by Martinez was deemed
by many observers to be beyond the capabilities of the Latics' squad. Stuck
at the bottom of the table through to mid-March, the Spaniard came very
close to losing his job. Then the passing came good in the latter stages of
the season and Wigan steered well clear of relegation in the end.
In his early days at Upton Park, Allardyce was asked about the negative
reaction from some West Ham supporters to his appointment. He answered: "Any
criticism of the way we play doesn't make any sense to me - all this team
did before was lose." It was fighting talk at the time, and could have
backfired massively if results did not back-up the rhetoric. Just over a
year later, and Allardyce can let his results do the talking. A month ago
the purists could purr as Wigan's pretty passing earned a 4-1 win at Upton
Park in the League Cup - a victory for style over substance. However, after
the opening eight games of the Premier League season Allardyce will care
little about perception, style, and attractiveness - or frankly, the Capital
One Cup. He will simply point to the table, where West Ham have more than
double Wigan's points tally. This has been West Ham's best top-flight start
in 13 years. The 4-1 win over Southampton last weekend was very easy on the
eye, and moved the club up to seventh. Back in July, Allardyce was the
bookmakers' favourite to become the first Premier League manager to receive
the sack this season. If results were to go their way this weekend, West Ham
could climb into the top four. They go about things differently, but Roberto
Martinez and Sam Allardyce are both very successful in proving doubters
wrong.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
The last four meetings in league and cup have produced a total of 19 goals.
That includes a 4-1 win for Wigan when the sides met at Upton Park in the
League Cup in September.
The Latics are chasing a third successive home win against the Hammers.
Wigan Athletic
Roberto Martinez's men have yet to win at home this season.
Their last victory at the DW Stadium came against Wolves on the final day of
last season.
They have only kept one clean sheet in their last 11 league and cup games.
The Latics have lost six of their last seven Premier League games against
London opposition. The exception was their 2-1 win at Arsenal in April.
Wigan are the only Premier League team who have yet to recoup any points
after falling behind this season.
West Ham United
Sam Allardyce's men have claimed 14 points from their opening eight matches.
It is their best start to a Premier League season since 1999-00 when, under
Harry Redknapp, they collected 16 points.
The Hammers have only lost one of their last 13 games away from Upton Park
(including play-off games), a run stretching back to January. Their only
defeat in that time was a 3-0 loss at Swansea in August.
West Ham will go in search of back-to-back Premier League away wins for the
first time since December 2007, when they won at Blackburn and then
Middlesbrough.
The Hammers have committed more fouls (120) than any other top-flight side
this term.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Julian Dicks Column: 26th October
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 26th October 2012
By: Julian Dicks
It's with great pleasure that we welcome West Ham United FC legend Julian
Dicks to KUMB.com. Julian shares his thoughts with the readers of Knees up
Mother Brown on a regular basis via his weekly column, the latest of which
begins with a preview of this weekend's big game...
Southampton
Although it was a good day against Southampton in the end, to be perfectly
honest West Ham were awful in the first half and Southampton were the better
side - without creating any chances. They passed the ball around well but we
didn't get after them; it looked like West Ham were at the bottom end of the
division and Southampton who were half way up the table.
I got the impression Sam went in [at half time] and told them they had to
put Southampton under pressure because that's what they did as soon as they
came back out. Scoring twice in the first three or four minutes knocked them
back a bit and it would have taken a special side to get back into the game.
In the end West Ham were comfortable winners although I don't think they
were worth a four-one win.
Defensively as a team, Southampton were very poor, even in the first half,
but West Ham didn't put them under any pressure so they got away with it. As
soon as we put them under pressure you could see them conceding goals as
they were all over the place. The first goal went in without anyone touching
it, and then a penalty - but the fourth and final goal from Modibo Maiga was
exceptional.
Goals like Mark Noble's first - the free kick that went straight in - happen
all the time. You can guarantee there's going to be one or two of those
every season. Sam said after the game that they practise those, as we used
to at West Ham and when I was manager at Grays. You have to have players
moving across the goalkeeper to make him unsighted and as long as you hit
the target it's got a chance of going in.
If the goalkeeper's unsighted when you've got two or three players running
across him and it's very crowded in the box, he's going to take his eye off
the ball as he's keeping an eye on them. You can't really blame the
goalkeeper in those situations as the defenders should be clearing the ball
as well.
Throw caution to the wind
With our current squad we have the beating of most teams - and perhaps every
team at home. Obviously away games are a lot more difficult, but I would
expect West Ham to beat Wigan - even though, for me, they're a better team
than Southampton.
The way West Ham have started this season, I hope Sam has a go at them this
weekend. I'd probably play the same team as he did the other day, with
perhaps the addition of a second striker. With the confidence that the
players are playing with I would consider sticking Modibo Maiga with Andy
Carroll up front. Against Southampton, Maiga looked bright, he looked sharp
and scored a fantastic goal - plus he's got a point to prove.
If you put him in and he scores - or has an outstanding game - then Sam's
got a tough decision to make. Whether Sam would do that or not away from
home I don't know, but Maiga's probably chomping at the bit waiting for a
chance. Sam's not silly, he knows what he's doing but if you keep bringing
him on and he's scoring goals one day he's got to give him a run in the
team. He looks a good prospect.
Yossi and Eyal
I thought Yossi Benayoun did well against Southampton last weekend in his
first home start since re-joining the club - and he had a better first half
than second, even though he was involved in the second goal. Obviously he
hasn't played a great deal so his match fitness isn't quite up to scratch
but I thought he worked hard. They're going to miss Ricardo Vaz Te because
of his pace and positivity, but Yossi is a more intelligent player so he'll
be good for West Ham.
I played with Eyal Berkovic quite a bit and like his compatriot, Eyal was
very intelligent. Again, like Yossi, he didn't possess much pace but when
you gave him the ball he could create things, like little balls in between
defenders; he was a good player.
I was training at Chadwell Heath the day Johnny Hartson kicked Eyal in the
head - and it was all caught on TV, which obviously didn't help! On that
particular occasion Harry Redknapp had to let it calm down before getting
involved otherwise I think Johnny Hartson might have smacked Harry too!
Harry spoke to them both individually afterwards but to his credit, Johnny
did apologise as soon as we got back to the changing rooms.
Things like that happened quite often; I can remember Alvin Martin having
bust-ups with Matthew Rush at training and Paul Ince in the tunnel at Luton.
It goes on all the time. At the end of the day you've got a load of blokes
playing football with each other day in, day out and people are going to
argue and lose their temper. It just happens.
I also remember Allan McKnight and Paul Ince - who was a young lad at the
time and very arrogant - having a fight. As long as they apologise at the
end of it, usually it's forgotten - but it's fun when you're watching it!
Banged up and bang to rights
Earlier this week Leeds fan Aaron Cawley was jailed, rightly, for four
months after attacking Sheffield Wednesday's Chris Kirkland. At the end of
the day you can't condone things like that; he could have been carrying a
knife, he could have had anything. He should never be able to watch another
game of football. Fortunately it's a minority of football supporters who
would do something like this.
I played at Leeds and Millwall and places like that and you got one or two
who were stupid - but then the whole club gets tarnished with the same
brush. Yeah, they're volatile supporters but they're also great supporters
who get behind their clubs. I never had to deal with anything like that; if
I had, I wouldn't have fallen over - I would have chased him into the crowd
and walloped him back!
I think the majority of supporters condone things like that and would have
outed him - it doesn't matter what club they're at. If it had been two
supporters fighting maybe it'd have been a bit different, but not when
you're talking about a player getting punched by a stupid fan.
Eric Cantona was banned once for having a go at a fan who had abused him,
but I agreed with him. As a footballer you have to take all the abuse in the
world from supporters but as soon as you tell them to "piss off" or
whatever, some of them report you. So when Cantona did that I thought "good
on him"!
Looking back: A record-breaking season
In 1995/96 I scored ten league goals for West Ham, which is still the record
for a defender in the Premier League. It was also the year in which I played
at centre half on a few occasions against the likes of Chelsea and QPR. I
used to enjoy playing at centre back and scored at Stamford Bridge against
Chelsea with a header that season; Gavin Peacock put them ahead and I
equalised before Danny Williamson scored the winner.
Five of my 11 goals that season came from the penalty spot. When I first
started taking penalties I always used to smash them, then I tried to place
one or two and missed one. After that I told myself that I was never going
to place another one and thereafter I'd hit them as hard as I could.
One of my most famous penalties came against Manchester United the following
season. We were 2-0 down with about ten minutes to go and Florin Raducioiu
came on and scored a great goal. Two minutes later we were awarded a
penalty.
I was waiting to take it - because Man Utd were playing up - and Eric
Cantona said to me, "Dicks, small goal". I replied "Eric, big heart" - and
scored. That was a great night, to come back from two-nil down against
Manchester United. You're expected to get beat as they had some fantastic
players - your Cantonas, Keanes, Scholes, Beckhams and Schmeichels - but at
Upton Park we always had the chance to beat anybody.
Back then Pony were our sponsors and the shirts used to have buttons on. If
you ever chested the ball down it'd hurt, so I used to cut the buttons and
the collars off. I was never a footballer to look posh, with nice cuffs and
collars, so off they came! It was purely for comfort. Prior to that we had a
Pony shirt with a round neck and I used to cut a 'V' into it - once again
because it was more comfortable.
Julian at West Ham Retro Forum
Julian Dicks heads a trio of former stars who will be attending the West Ham
Retro Forum & Fair in Romford on Sunday, 4th November.
Kevin Lock, an FA Cup winner with the Hammers in 1975, and 1976 European Cup
goal hero Keith Robson complete the star line-up for the fifth annual show
organised by EX magazine.
The event takes place at the usual venue – the R.U.S.S.C. (social club) in
Mawney Road, Romford, just off St. Edwards Way ring road – from 12.00 noon
until 4.00pm.
Tickets are priced £10 each (children under 16 free when accompanied by an
adult) in advance or £12 on the door. If you wish to pre-order your
ticket(s) for £10 and collect them on the day, phone EX on 01708 744 333 to
make this £2 saving. Or order online at www.ex-hammers.com.
After you've met the ex-players, had your picture taken with them and got
their autographs, enjoy the Hammers Heaven that awaits in our acclaimed
collectors' fair, including: signed memorabilia, books, programmes, photos,
trade cards, DVDs, badges, etc.
Signed copies of the new book, Tony Cottee – West Ham: The Inside Story
(£14.99), will also be on sale for the first time.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce pays tribute to Kevin Nolan
Last Updated: October 26, 2012 11:43pm
SSN
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce believes the signing of Kevin Nolan is the most
important deal he has made as a manager. Nolan moved to Upton Park from
Newcastle for £3m in June 2011 and played a key role as the Hammers clinched
promotion back to the Premier League via the play-offs. Allardyce reckons
his captain, who he also managed at Bolton, has been a revelation on and off
the field at West Ham. "I always said that Kevin Nolan was the most
important signing I ever made," he said. "It wasn't just about what he does
as a football player on the field, it's what he does as a captain. He unites
dressing rooms by his experience and the fact that he is a leader of
players. "He could lead that dressing room and he could pull them
altogether. He started that from the day he came in and that has grown as we
have come on. "As a goal-scoring midfield player, you have to look at his
record. There are very few who have the same goal-scoring record on a
consistent basis that Kevin has. "It's no fluke that over the past few years
- apart from one year out in the Championship when he scored 17 - he has
scored every year a considerable amount of goals, always very close to
double figure or just past double figures."
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Sochaux ace Sebastien Corchia reveals his desire to move to Italy
By Simone Bargellini. Last Updated: October 26, 2012 3:29pm
SSN
Sochaux ace Sebastien Corchia admits he would prefer a move to Italy after
being linked with clubs in Serie A and the Premier League. AC Milan and West
Ham United are both said to be keeping close tabs on the highly-rated
22-year-old. However, Corchia has revealed that because of Italian heritage
in his family, he would prefer a move to Serie A. "My preferences, I would
like to go to a major league like the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga or
Serie A," he told Tuttomercatoweb. "For now my goal is to grow with Sochaux,
but it is clear that I have a preference for Italy because I have Italian
origins and I already speak the language well. Being followed by AC Milan is
a real honour, it would be a dream to play in a club like that. AC Milan is
a legendary team, where my idol Paolo Maldinialso played."
Sochaux sporting director Bernard Maraval also spoke to the Italian media
and admitted he was not shocked by possible interest in the youngster. "AC
Milan and West Ham interested in him? Sebastien Corchia is a good player,
and there would be nothing strange if such important clubs like him,"
Maraval told Calciomercato.com. "I know that some outfits are following him
but we have not had direct contacts at the moment. "If someone were to come
up with an interesting offer we would definitely consider it, but not for
the January transfer window, unless it was a stratospheric offer. Something
could happen in the next summer, because we would have the time to replace
him."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Wigan v West Ham preview
Last Updated: October 26, 2012 10:45am
SSN
Halting an alarming dip in form will be foremost in Wigan Athletic's
thoughts when they welcome West Ham United to the DW Stadium. The Latics
still have just one win to show for their efforts this season, and that came
against Southampton on 25th August. Six games have come and gone since then,
with Roberto Martinez's men now perched just one point above the Premier
League drop zone. A leaky defence must be plugged if Wigan are to start
moving away from trouble, with two goals conceded in each of their last five
fixtures on home soil.
West Ham will be hoping that trend continues on Saturday, offering them a
shot at least a share of the spoils. Sam Allardcye's men travel to the North
West buoyed by their form since returning to the top flight, with only one
defeat suffered in their last six top flight outings. They are
handily-placed inside the top-half of the table and are only one point
adrift of fourth-placed Everton.
Wigan
Last 6
2-1
2-2
1-0
1-4
1-2
4-0
Wigan could be without winger Ryo Miyaichi this weekend. The Japan
international is suffering from a slight groin problem and is rated as
doubtful.
The Latics will again be without winger Albert Crusat (knee) and defender
Antolin Alcaraz (groin), with Martinez admitting the Paraguayan centre-back
is unlikely to be back much before Christmas.
West Ham
Last 6
4-1
1-3
1-2
1-4
1-1
0-0
West Ham will welcome defender Joey O'Brien back into their squad this
weekend. The 26-year-old suffered a hamstring injury during the Hammers' 2-1
win at QPR at the start of the month and his return will ease Allardyce's
defensive worries. Matthew Taylor (calf) and Guy Demel (thigh) could return
to first-team action shortly, but Allardyce will have to wait a little
longer for Ricardo Vaz Te (shoulder) and Jack Collison (knee), whose
injuries are more long term.
Opta stats
Wigan have won none and lost five of their last six Premier League home
games against sides from London.
Wigan are the only team who have not recouped any points from matches where
they have fallen behind this season.
West Ham are the only team who have not conceded any goals from set pieces
this season.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce says West Ham's season about to get harder
Last Updated: October 26, 2012 2:31pm
SSN
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has warned his team their Premier League
season is about to get much harder. The Hammers are flying high in seventh
place in the table but Allardyce admits their opening fixtures could have
been much harder, with Arsenal the only big guns they have faced to date.
And Allardyce says the Hammers will have to up their game away at Wigan on
Saturday, and in the fixtures that follow. He said: "Every game is difficult
but in our first eight fixtures we only had Arsenal who are in the top four
or top six on a regular basis. So that was relatively kind to us. But we
have taken full advantage of our opportunities. "There has only been one
real disappointing performance in the eight - that was Swansea away. Even
though we lost to Arsenal, I thought the performance was still good against
a team as good as they were. "The rest of the performances have been
excellent, followed by some excellent results as well. We have had an
excellent start but we look at the next few fixtures that are coming along.
"Wigan, Man City, Man United, Chelsea, Newcastle, Stoke, all those games
together, and Liverpool - and this makes this group of fixtures extremely
difficult to get more points. "At Wigan we have to look to increase the
points total with a positive result - whether that is a draw or a win. We
are hoping for a win but if we come away with something then we will be
delighted from our point of view."
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My King Kev
By STEVE PAGE
Published: 26th October 2012
The Sun
SAM ALLARDYCE reckons Kevin Nolan was crucial in uniting West Ham's dressing
room — after one of the worst days in their recent history. The Hammers
visit Wigan today for the first time since their relegation from the Premier
League last year. It was at the DW Stadium in May 2011 where Avram Grant's
hapless reign ended. The London side raced into a 2-0 lead before losing 3-2
— a result that condemned them to the drop. Grant was immediately sacked and
later replaced by Allardyce, who led the club to immediate promotion. And
Big Sam hailed Nolan — signed in June 2011 from Newcastle for £3m — as a key
factor. He said: "Whenever a team is relegated, there is lots of disruption.
There's no unity and you have to rebuild team spirit. "That's why I always
say Kevin was the most important signing I ever made. It's not what he does
as a footballer — it's what he does as a captain. He unites dressing rooms
with his experience and is a leader of players."
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Martinez: Big Andy Carroll is 'one of the best in Europe'
Last Updated: 27th October 2012
The Sun
WIGAN boss Roberto Martinez has hailed West Ham's Andy Carroll as one of the
best strikers in Europe. Martinez aims to guide the Latics to their first
home win of the season against the Hammers today. He said: "Andy Carroll is
a special player. You won't see another player in Europe with his
attributes." But Martinez warned his side not to forget about West Ham's
other attacking threats. He said: "The mistake you can make in the Premier
League is that you think too much about one player, then someone else
damages you."
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Hammers open to Rio return
Published: 26th October 2012
The Sun
SAM ALLARDYCE has told Rio Ferdinand the door is open for him to make a West
Ham return. Ferdinand, 33, is into the final year of his Manchester United
contract with his boss Alex Ferguson keen to sort a new deal. But should the
England centre-back fancy a return to the Hammers, the club he started out
at before big-money moves to Leeds and then United, Big Sam would try to
make it happen. He said: "If it's at the end of the season and he hasn't got
a new contract and he is released by Manchester United, then we would be
interested. "If he wants to live back in London eventually, which is where
he comes from, which you know quite a few players want to do when they come
to the end of their careers, that is an advantage for us. "It depends
entirely on Rio or which other clubs might be interested in him."
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Champs to chumps
By KARREN BRADY
Published: 26th October 2012
The Sun
SAT, OCT 20
NOT even his mum could accuse Andy Carroll of subtlety. Sam Allardyce
thought Carroll was exactly the goods he wanted — a striker with strength
and power.
I'm glad to say here today the Hammers fans show how much they appreciate
Carroll's attitude to his work. They recognise his quality and see him as a
working lad with a giant heart. For what we hope is not going to be a
temporary cause.
SUN, OCT 21
I CANNOT get my head around the revolt against 'Kick Racism out of
Football'. Partly it must be that the John Terry affair has become as
invasive as Japanese knotweed, popping up in all sorts of places and
refusing to die off. Our football record in the war against racism is as
good as any other country's and shows no sign of weakening. So instead of
making points about whether or not to wear a particular T-shirt it should
realise, as Sir Alex Ferguson clearly does, that solidarity is everything.
This is a fight everyone wants to win. But we will be stronger fighting
together than apart. It's called teamwork.
MON, OCT 25
REPORTS are linking my husband Paul Peschisolido with the Canada team
manager's job. It's news to me. But maybe that's what all the whispering on
the phone was! I'm sure Paul would love a position of this kind although,
judging by Canada's eight-goal thrashing by Honduras in a World Cup
qualifier a few days ago, he needs to start sooner rather than later. And
therein lies the problem. Commuting to Canada would be no ride on the Tube
for either of us. And me? I'm staying in London.
TUES, OCT 23
IT was obvious at the time that Chelsea's triumph in the Champions League
last May was the gold leaf concealing a Roman vessel springing leaks in
vital places. Some repairs were made in the summer, enough, indeed, to make
me at least believe they will win the Premier League title. But tonight in
the Ukraine the old vulnerabilities began to weep again and for Roberto Di
Matteo the full extent of his challenge is underlined. Chelsea, riddled by
controversies not of their own making, might shortly exit from the
competition they shocked themselves by winning. Di Matteo must be feeling
distinctly uneasy.
WEDS, OCT 24
FEW football columns exhibit the interest in footwear that this one does.
It's my exquisite dream I should be paid £1million or more to wear
shoes-to-die-for even if they must have a little tick on them. Top
footballers live in such a paradise. I've seen the contracts and felt my
eyes water. Most of the contracts have one simple action; You wear the boots
— and you get a cheque. So it takes a bit of a clot to wear a different
boot to the one stipulated in the contract. That clot is named today as Real
Madrid's Mesut Ozil and a court, aware that big money and endorsements go
together, has told him he'll have to pay the breathtaking sum — even for a
footballer — of £122,100 a day if he doesn't obey it. My guess is he will.
THURS, OCT 25
I'VE heard of 'as keen as mustard' but perhaps a close girlfriend goes
through that barrier and could better be described as 'keen as red-hot
chilli'. During a girls' night out we bump into a Premier League chairman at
the Arts Club. She declares she likes him (or perhaps more accurately his
wallet) and asks me to put in a word for her. He is currently single so I
text him inform him of her interest. He texts back in a nano-second and asks
whether she'd like to go for some champagne at the Savoy or the Ritz. I
report back to her and she says "He can save his money on the champagne. I'm
a "done deal!" The poor bloke won't know what's hit him!
FRI, OCT 26
KEEPING Wigan afloat in the Premier League has required the Herculean
efforts of owner Dave Whelan and a succession of managers, particularly
Roberto Martinez, a master of make-do-and-mend. Wigan know their size
(small), they know their attendance figures (small) and they know about
heart (huge). True to being the Tom Thumb of our league, they enjoy sticking
a digit where it hurts. They did so a month ago when they humbled us at
Upton Park in the Capital One Cup third round. I'll be shaken if they do it
again at the DW Stadium — shaken and disturbed.
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Allardyce: West Ham star should play for England
London 24
Saturday, October 27, 2012
7:00 AM
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has called on England manager Roy Hodgson to
call-up Kevin Nolan. Although he has always been a regular goalscorer the
30-year-old has never been capped by England and Allardyce believes he still
deserves a chance to represent his country. He said: "If he continues to do
well in the Premier League this year and he continues to score - he has four
in eight now and to be quite honest he could have had a few more. "Four in
eight from midfield, which is one every two games which is pretty good
going, so hopefully he will keep that up. He might be noticed, depending on
how Roy (England manager Hodgson) seems to set up his team and who is
available. "If he is one of my players, I always say they should be given
the chance. But that is a big step, stepping into the full England squad.
It's a big step. I mean he has done every other level. In his younger days,
up until (Under) 21s. That is one big step that he has never done yet."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss reveals why Newcastle let star go
London 24
Saturday, October 27, 2012
7:20 AM
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has labelled skipper Kevin Nolan as the most
important signing he has made in his long managerial history. Nolan moved
down from Barclays Premier League side Newcastle to join Allardyce at West
Ham as the marquee signing as the Hammers looked to return to the top flight
following relegation to the npower Championship. The 30-year-old Nolan
played a key part in achieving promotion and Allardyce, who also managed
Nolan at Bolton, believes his captain has been a revelation on and off the
field since moving to Upton Park. "I always said that Kevin Nolan was the
most important signing I ever made," he said. "It wasn't just about what he
does as a football player on the field, it's what he does as a captain. He
unites dressing rooms by his experience and the fact that he is a leader of
players. "He could lead that dressing room and he could pull them
altogether. He started that from the day he came in and that has grown as we
have come on. "As a goal-scoring midfield player, you have to look at his
record. There are very few who have the same goal-scoring record on a
consistent basis that Kevin has. "It's no fluke that over the past few years
- apart from one year out in the Championship when he scored 17 - he has
scored every year a considerable amount of goals, always very close to
double figure or just past double figures."
Allardyce also claimed Nolan moved to the club because Newcastle were
unwilling to offer their then-captain a longer contract and praised the work
done by co-owner David Sullivan in securing Nolan's services. "He didn't
have a point to prove. Apart from the fact that he wanted a reward from
Newcastle that he didn't get and that was a longer contract, which,
apparently, they refused to negotiate. "So we stepped in. It was only by the
quick and swift work of David Sullivan particularly that we got Kevin before
anybody else even knew he was on the market. "He chose to come which was a
big decision from his point of view because I think he could have waited and
gone for a Premier League side. Particularly after scoring 11 goals that
season. So, we managed to get him and it has paid dividends for us all."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Background information and team news ahead of Saturday's visit to the DW
Stadium
26.10.2012
WIGAN ATHLETIC V WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 27 OCTOBER 2012
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: JONATHAN MOSS
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
iPHONE APP I TWITTER I FACEBOOK I PODCAST
Introduction
• West Ham United travel to the DW Stadium on Saturday to face Wigan
Athletic knowing a win could take them into the Barclays Premier League top
four. The Hammers start the weekend in seventh, having taken 14 points from
eight games. Wigan are 16th with five points from the same number of games
played.
• The two sides have already met once this season. West Ham United's Capital
One Cup campaign came to an end at the Boleyn Ground when the Latics earned
a 4-1 third-round win on 25 September.That fixture was the first-ever League
Cup meeting between the two sides and the 19th meeting overall.
• Sam Allardyce's side are chasing their first back-to-back Barclays Premier
League victories since overcoming Liverpool and Stoke City in February/March
2011. Big Sam's team have played just three away games this season, winning
2-1 at Queens Park Rangers last time out on 1 October, losing 3-0 at Swansea
City on 25 August and drawing 0-0 at Norwich City on 15 September.
• West Ham United have not won consecutive away Barclays Premier League
fixtures since Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough in December 2007.
• Roberto Martinez's side have yet to win a Barclays Premier League game at
home this season and have taken just two points from a possible 12.
• Nineteen goals have been scored in the last four matches between the two
sides. The most-recent Premier League fixture between the two sides saw
Wigan Athletic relegate West Ham United by defeating the Hammers 3-2 at the
DW Stadium on 15 May 2011.
• Mohamed Diame could face his former club for the first time if selected
after being rested for the 4-1 Capital One Cup loss to Wigan Athletic at the
Boleyn Ground in September.
• West Ham United's clash with Wigan Athletic is one of six Barclays Premier
League matches on Saturday. The others are as follows: (kick-off 3pm unless
stated) Aston Villa v Norwich City (12.45pm), Arsenal v Queens Park Rangers,
Manchester City v Swansea City (5.30pm), Reading v Fulham and Stoke City v
Sunderland.
Last time out
Saturday 20 October 2012
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United 4-1 Southampton
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Reid, McCartney, Nolan, Tomkins (Spence 88),
Collins, Jarvis, Benayoun, Noble, Diame (O'Neil 68), Carroll (Maiga 82).
Goals: Noble 46, 72, Nolan 48, Maiga 87.
Saturday 20 October 2012
Barclays Premier League
Swansea City 2-1 Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic: Al Habsi, Caldwell, Boyce, Ramis, Figueroa (Watson 71),
McCarthy, Maloney, McArthur (Boselli 83), Beausejour, Kone, Di Santo (Gomez
83).
Goals: Boyce 69.
Previous meeting
• West Ham United's last meeting with Wigan Athletic came just one month ago
in the Capital One Cup and ended in defeat. Modibo Maiga gave the Hammers
the perfect start by opening the scoring after seven minutes but the
visitors leveled through Mauro Boselli shortly after. Ivan Ramis, who was
touted to join the Hammers in the summer, powered home with seven minutes
remaining in the half before Boselli got his second on 41 minutes. The young
Hammers were unable to claw back the deficit and on 84 minutes their fate
was sealed when Jordi Gomez converted from the penalty spot. The line-ups
that day were:
West Ham United: Henderson, McCartney, Tomkins, Spence, Potts, Jarvis, Noble
(Taylor 72), O'Neil (Tombides 84), Maiga, Vaz Te (Fanimo 62), Hall.
Wigan Athletic: Al Habsi, Caldwell, Ramis, Stam, Lopez, Figueroa, Jones,
McArthur (Fyvie 85), McManaman (Gomez 74), Boselli (Orsula 90), Miyaichi.
Background
• West Ham United have faced Wigan Athletic just 19 times and they hold the
edge, winning ten of the encounters. Wigan have won seven with two ending in
draws.
• West Ham United's biggest win over Wigan Athletic came in the 2003/04
season, Kevin Horlock opened the scoring after four minutes and an own goal
from Jason Jarrett made it 2-0 before half-time. Marlon Harewood added a
brace in the second half, scoring his second from the spot, to give the
Hammers a 4-0 Division One win at the Boleyn Ground on 29 November 2003.
• Wigan Athletic's biggest win in the fixture came at the Boleyn Ground
earlier this season when they won 4-1 in the Capital One Cup third round.
Prior to that result, their biggest win came in the 2004/05 season when the
Latics secured a 3-1 Championship win on 15 August 2004. Nathan Ellington
scored a brace with Jason Roberts scoring in-between. Bobby Zamora pulled
one back for the Hammers but it was nothing more than a consolation.
Last six meetings (Premier League unless stated)
25 September 2012 - West Ham United 1-4 Wigan Athletic (Capital One Cup
third round)
15 May 2011- Wigan Athletic 3-2 West Ham United
27 November 2010 - West Ham United 3-1 Wigan Athletic
24 April 2010 - West Ham United 3-2 Wigan Athletic
12 September 2009 - Wigan Athletic 1-0 West Ham United
4 March 2009 - Wigan Athletic 1-0 West Ham United
Overall record v Wigan Athletic (all competitions) W 10 D 2 L 7
Ten-year record
West Ham United
2011/12 Championship 3rd (86 points - promoted to Premier League via
Play-Offs)
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points - relegated to Championship)
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted to Premier League via
Play-Offs)
2003/04 Division One 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated to Division One)
2001/02 Premier League 7th (53 points)
Wigan Athletic
2011/12 Premier League 15th (43 points)
2010/11 Premier League 16th (42 points)
2009/10 Premier League 16th (36 points)
2008/09 Premier League 11th (45 points)
2007/08 Premier League 14th (40 points)
2006/07 Premier League 17th (38 points)
2005/06 Premier League 10th (51 points)
2004/05 Championship 2nd (87 points - promoted to the Premier League)
2003/04 Division One 7th (71 points)
2002/03 Division Two 1st (100 points - promoted to Division One)
2001/02 Division Two 10th (64 points)
Referee
• Saturday's referee will be Jonathan Moss.
• Moss has take charge of two previous West Ham United matches, both last
season in the npower Championship, overseeing the 2-1 away defeat to Derby
County and the 3-3 Boleyn Ground draw with Birmingham City.
• Headteacher Moss was promoted to the Select Group of Referees in June
2011.
• He initially progressed through the Northern Counties East League and
Northern Premier League before being promoted to the National Group of
Assistant Referees in 2003.
• He took charge of the 2005 Conference Play-Off final between Carlisle
United and Stevenage and was then promoted to the National Group of
Referees.
Team news
• For West Ham United, Joey O'Brien has returned to fitness following a
hamstring problem and is expected to feature but Matty Taylor (calf) and Guy
Demel (groin) are unlikely to recover in time.
• Jack Collison will not play after missing the start of the season as he
continues to manage his long-term knee issues, while Alou Diarra is out with
a thigh problem.
• Ricardo Vaz Te will also be missing after surgery on a dislocated shoulder
ruled him out of action for three months.
• Matthias Fanimo, Leo Chambers, Rob Hall and Jordan Spence could also
feature and were all selected in Sam Allardyce's squad for last weekend's
victory over Southampton, with Spence coming off the bench.
• Wigan Athletic will give a late fitness test to Japan midfielder Riyo
Miyaichi (groin), but Spanish midfielder Albert Crusat (knee) and Paraguay
defender Antolin Alcaraz (groin) are both missing.
Old boys
• Mohamed Diame is in line to face his former club. The Senegal
international made 103 appearances for Wigan Athletic, scoring seven goals,
over a period of three years between 2009 and 2012.
• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are Jimmy Bullard,
Roy Carroll, Henri Camara, David Unsworth and Bill Wade.
General Information
• Tickets still remain for trip to the DW Stadium and are available online,
by phone and in person from the Alpari Stand Ticket Office until 3pm on
Friday. They will also be available on the day from Turnstile P in the North
Stand at the DW Stadium, priced £20 Adults, £15 Over-65s and £5 Under-16s.
For full ticket details, click here.
• All coach travel spaces for this fixtures have sold out.
• The weather forecast for Saturday is fine but cold, turning cloudier with
rain as the day progresses, with a maximum temperature of 7C (45F).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hall happy to help
WHUFC.com
Robert Hall has enjoyed the step up to Barclays Premier League action this
season
26.10.2012
Robert Hall is hoping for another taste of the first-team picture when West
Ham United travel to Wigan Athletic on Saturday. The forward, who celebrated
his 19th birthday last Saturday, was one of four Development Squad players
who made the matchday squad for last weekend's 4-1 defeat of Southampton.
Hall said he, Leo Chambers, Jordan Spence - who came on as a late substitute
- and Matthias Fanimo were all delighted to once again be part of the senior
squad after all getting varying degrees of first-team match action earlier
in the season. "When four of us Development Squad lads are in the squad it
makes it all a lot more comfortable because they are boys you have been with
for a while. Obviously the first-team lads are great and they make you feel
a part of it but it is nice to still be able to have those little jokes you
have in the Under-21s. "It is great being there together and helping each
other up the ladder."
The youngsters have all earned their place in Sam Allardyce's plans
following the Development Squad's stunning start to the Barclays Under-21
Premier League season. Hall has scored four times already for this season
and came close to opening his senior account when he hit the crossbar during
the Hammers last meeting with the Latics - a 4-1 Capital One Cup defeat at
the Boleyn Ground last month. "The season has been very busy and exciting so
far because the Barclays Under-21 Premier League has made reserve football a
lot more interesting. I have also been lucky enough to make my top-flight
debut this year so to play in the Under-21s, the Capital One Cup and then
the Premier League has been very hectic. "Going out on loan last season and
having two spells at Oxford United and one at MK Dons has definitely helped
my development. You learn a lot being out there on your own because you are
not at the club that is yours and you can only learn things which you can
bring back to West Ham."
Hall's only Barclays Premier League action came in the 3-0 win against
Fulham but he has found himself as a regular on the bench in recent weeks as
injuries to Matt Taylor and Ricardo Vaz Te have provided an opportunity to
some of Big Sam's squad players. "You do not wish injuries upon people but
at the same time if it allows me an opportunity then I am going to have to
be mature and brave enough to step up. I can only keep working hard in
training and listening to the older lads to make sure I learn more and more
day by day."
The Development Squad currently sit top of the Barclays Under-21 Premier
League Group A ahead of Friday night's 7pm meeting with Everton at Rush
Green, which is FREE for Season Ticket holders, £3 for Adults and £1 for
Under-16s. With first-team commitments the priority, it might be that Hall
is forced to miss the game but knows that his team-mates will still deliver
under the guidance of Development Squad manager Ian Hendon. "As a team we
know that Hendo will make us take it on a game-to-game basis, which is
working at the moment. Like myself the other lads have had busy schedules
but we are managing ourselves well with the medical staff and with Greg who
warms us up and cools us down. "We can only thank the people we work with
everyday when we do get into the first-team and get that opportunity to pay
them back."
Hall was also only too happy to play his part in an enjoyable disabled fans'
forum on Tuesday night at the Boleyn Ground alongside Guy Demel and Sam
Allardyce. Around 50 supporters fired questions at the trio, with Hall
joking that he could be in trouble for some of his answers. "Me and Guy
Demel answered some very funny and some very nice questions from some lovely
people so it was very entertaining. "They made me feel very comfortable so
it was a very nice evening. People often talk about giving something back to
the people that support you and respect you so doing things like this is
something I enjoy doing.
"There was some funny questions in there, the one that I had to bring
Carlton Cole and George McCartney into was a particular highlight. "Coley
will definitely say something to me but it is great to see them having a
good time and for them to know me and want to ask me questions is really
nice as well.
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Marlow aiming high
WHUFC.com
Tough-tackling first-year scholar Ben Marlow is targeting a strong season
for the Hammers
26.10.2012
To get to the top in any occupation, you have to aim high. For Ben Marlow,
it means having the ambition to emulate three-times Hammer of the Year and
England international Scott Parker. The first-year scholar is an all-action
midfielder in the mould of the former West Ham United favourite and would
love nothing more than to follow in his footsteps. "I play in centre
midfield and I like to get in my tackles and win them and break up the play
and give it to the more attacking players,"said Marlow, who joined the
Hammers at the age of six after being scouted playing for the club's
Performance Squad in his hometown of Chelmsford. "I want to be like Scott
Parker and I look up to him quite a bit. He wins his tackles and is involved
in the game and I like to do the same thing."
While he only celebrated his 17th birthday on 1 October, Marlow - who
thanked parents Julie and Nigel for supporting his career - has already
passed a decade as a West Ham player and has enjoyed developing his game at
the Academy of Football. He believes there is no coincidence that the
Hammers have such a good track record at producing top-class young players.
"The people and the coaching here are all good and they believe in you. They
build up your confidence and make you feel good, which means you train and
play well. All the staff get the best out you and you are always ready on
gameday. "If you play with fear then you are not going to play well. If you
play full of confidence and know that your manager believes in you then you
can express yourself, which is the main thing you want as a player."
Marlow is currently sidelined with an ankle injury, but even when he is fit
the competition for places in his position is fierce, with second-year
scholar Taylor Miles and first-year scholars Josh Cullen and Kieran Bywater
also challenging for starting places in the centre of midfield. "It has been
a good year-group to be part of. We have been together for four or five
years now and we all get on well, which is why we've done so well. "There
are a lot of first-year scholars which means we are all fighting for places.
That means we all have to work harder because only one player can get each
shirt. "When we're together in the Academy House, we all get on fine, but
when we're on the pitch you have to try to be better than everyone else
because you want that professional contract at the end of your scholarship.
"You cannot be nice and let someone else have your position. It's not about
being selfish, but you want to be starting every week.
"We're still all friends and enjoy living together, where everything is
about our football. We talk to each other and are all fully-focused on
football and we all want the same thing. "We're all on equal terms and I
think that is good."
While emulating Parker's achievements may be some way off, Marlow is
confident in his ability and cannot wait to return from the injury that has
sidelined him since early September. "I played a lot of minutes in
pre-season and the full game against Reading on the opening day but the
injury has halted my run in the team. When I get back I need to work hard,
train hard and try to work my way back into the team. "I am aiming to be a
regular starter by the end of the season. I have just got to show our coach
Nick Haycock that I am worthy of a place in the team."
Marlow will hope to be involved when the Hammers travel to Everton in
Barclays U18 Premier League Group 1 on Saturday, with kick-off at Finch Farm
at 11am. For those supporters who would like to attend, Finch Farm is
located at Finch Lane, Halewood, Merseyside, L26 3UE.
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Dev Squad make it five in a row
WHUFC.com
Elliot Lee's superb header made it five league wins in succession for Ian
Hendon's side
26.10.2012
The Development Squad extended their lead at the top of Barclays U21 Premier
League Group 1 with a narrow 1-0 win over Everton on a cold and blustery
night at Rush Green. It was yet another hard-fought contest on the back of
Monday's win over Bolton Wanderers, but West Ham United thoroughly deserved
the win earned through Elliot Lee's superb 69th-minute header. The teenage
striker secured all three points when he met Blair Turgott's cross to send
the ball looping over Toffees goalkeeper Mateus Taudel and into the roof of
the net. West Ham's win was their fifth in succession and extended their
lead over second-place Arsenal to six points, although the Gunners now have
a game in-hand on their London rivals. The Hammers could have had a penalty
within the opening 60 seconds when Shane Duffy's attempted clearance
deflected onto his own hand, but referee Stuart Butler waved 'play on'. The
hosts settled well but struggled for creativity in the early stages as
Everton again went close when Christopher Long shot straight at Jake Larkins
following Tyias Browning's probing run. Larkins was called into action again
a minute later, using his legs to block Duffy's volley from a Matthew
Kennedy free-kick. As the game opened up, the home side went close when Lee
burst forward and unleashed a powerful shot on goal that Taudel was unable
to hold. The final chance of the half was arguably the best as West Ham
centre-back Eoin Wearen was denied a superb headed goal from Matthias
Fanimo's corner by the fingertips of Poland Under-17 international
goalkeeper Taudel.
The first chance of the second-half came in the 56th minute and in
controversial fashion as Wearen was arguably fouled in the build up. As the
Irishman lay on the floor, captain Driver's attempt to play the ball back to
Larkins fell short and allowed Apostolos Vellios in one-on-one, but the
Greek forward fired wide.
Wearen was in the thick of it at the other end eight minutes later, sending
a beautiful cross-field ball to Fanimo. He found Lee, who tee-up Sebastien
Lletget, but the American's shot was blocked. One minute later, Fanimo
almost scored directly from a corner as Pennington inadvertently cleared the
ball off the line with his back. The Hammers finally took the lead after 69
minutes when Turgott's cross from a short corner found Lee, whose flicked
header sailed into the top corner, much to the delight of the home fans
among the 308-strong crowd. Ten minutes from time the Hammers almost sealed
it when McCallum brought the ball down and found George Moncur, but Taudel
was able to repel the midfielder's fierce strike. There was still time for
plenty of late drama. First, with four minutes remaining, Everton went for
broke and were almost rewarded when left-back Ibou Touray's 40-yard
wind-assisted pile-driver flew inches past the post. Then, in the first
minute of added-time, victory was almost snatched from Ian Hendon's side
when Vellios' flick from Tyias Browning's cross bounced off the inside of
the far post and into the hands of a grateful Larkins.
Next up for the table-topping Development Squad is a trip to Reading on
Friday 2 November.
Development Squad: Larkins, Driver, Potts, Moncur, Wearen, Shaw, Turgott,
Lletget, McCallum, Fanimo, Lee (Piquionne 79)
Subs not used: Guzman Rosique, Ruddock, Powell, Hunt
Everton: Taudel, Browning, Touray, Lundstram, Duffy, Pennington, Jones,
Grant, Vellios, Long (Johns 72), Kennedy
Subs not used: Springthorpe, Forrester, Kelly, Hammar
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Morgan making an impact
WHUFC.com
Lindsey Morgan has been in superb form for West Ham United Ladies so far
this season
24.10.2012
With West Ham United Ladies sitting in fourth place in the FA Women's
Premier League Southern Division ahead of Sunday's trip to Yeovil Town, a
balance between youth and experience could be the solid base as they aim for
higher ground. The experienced head on this young team's shoulders is
attacking midfielder Lindsey Morgan, who has netted three competitive goals
in West Ham's opening eight matches this season. "Of course it gives me an
increased confidence to be scoring goals for the team, but my focus is that
the whole team performs well together. For me, providing assists for my
team-mates to score goals is just as important as scoring them myself," said
the 32-year-old. The goals scored by Morgan have helped the Hammers grab ten
points from a possible 15 and she knows that the strong opening will have a
big bearing on where the team finish come the end of the campaign. "It is
massively important to get off to a good start in the league because the
first few months are the foundation for how the season shapes up. "Having a
solid defence is also important, but the defending starts from the front. It
is equally as important that we work together as a team. Each player brings
their own qualities and strengths to the team, like Stacey Little, who has
been solid in the holding midfield role."
Morgan re-joined West Ham last summer from Millwall Lionesses, where she had
moved from the Hammers back in August 2009. During her career, the
midfielder has also represented Aston Villa and Dagenham and Redbridge. "I
started playing football at the age of seven in my school team. I was the
only girl in a boys' team and league. The first proper team I joined was
Aston Villa at the age of eight."
"I moved to Essex from the West Midlands when I was ten and joined the local
team, Dagenham and Redbridge. We had a great team and I won many honours
with them. I then joined West Ham and played for several years until I was
approached by Millwall Lionesses, who had recently gained promotion to the
Premier League. "I played for Millwall for two seasons and in that time I
played against some of the best teams in the country and competed well. We
had a great coach [Kay Cossington], who is now involved in the England set
up, and I learnt a lot of valuable lessons playing for that team at that
level. I then returned to West Ham last season."
Despite her history in the sport, full-time Royal Mail worker Morgan is
happy playing for West Ham, knowing that the team is progressing towards a
successful future. "I have always played football, so joining a semi-pro
club like West Ham was just a bonus. We are now getting more support from
the men's team and the club is moving in the right direction in an effort to
get alongside and compete with some of the best teams in the country. "I
really enjoyed last season, it was great to join back up with some of the
old team and get to know some of the new team members. The team had
definitely strengthened in the two seasons that I had been at Millwall."
The future looks bright for the Hammers, and despite being the oldest member
of the squad, Morgan is still a regular first-team player every week who
knows that there is only one target for the club come the end of the season.
"We have one aim and one aim only and that is to achieve promotion! We have
been so close for the past few seasons that failing again this season is
simply not an option. I am 100 per cent confident we can do it!"
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Wigan v West Ham
KO 15:00
26 October 2012
By Conor McNamara
BBC Match of the Day commentator
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: DW Stadium Date: Saturday, 27 October
TEAM NEWS
Wigan winger Ryo Miyaichi is doubtful for Saturday's game because of a
slight groin injury. Antolin Alcaraz is ruled out with a similar injury,
while Albert Crusat is still sidelined by a knee problem.
West Ham defender Joey O'Brien is available after recovering from a
hamstring injury. Matthew Taylor and Guy Demel could return to first-team
action shortly, although neither will be involved on Saturday.
MATCH PREVIEW
Roberto Martinez and Sam Allardyce. Chalk and cheese when it comes to
football philosophies, right? Well, maybe not as much as you'd think. This
time last year Wigan, as now, had five points from their opening eight
league games. The attractive passing style preferred by Martinez was deemed
by many observers to be beyond the capabilities of the Latics' squad. Stuck
at the bottom of the table through to mid-March, the Spaniard came very
close to losing his job. Then the passing came good in the latter stages of
the season and Wigan steered well clear of relegation in the end.
In his early days at Upton Park, Allardyce was asked about the negative
reaction from some West Ham supporters to his appointment. He answered: "Any
criticism of the way we play doesn't make any sense to me - all this team
did before was lose." It was fighting talk at the time, and could have
backfired massively if results did not back-up the rhetoric. Just over a
year later, and Allardyce can let his results do the talking. A month ago
the purists could purr as Wigan's pretty passing earned a 4-1 win at Upton
Park in the League Cup - a victory for style over substance. However, after
the opening eight games of the Premier League season Allardyce will care
little about perception, style, and attractiveness - or frankly, the Capital
One Cup. He will simply point to the table, where West Ham have more than
double Wigan's points tally. This has been West Ham's best top-flight start
in 13 years. The 4-1 win over Southampton last weekend was very easy on the
eye, and moved the club up to seventh. Back in July, Allardyce was the
bookmakers' favourite to become the first Premier League manager to receive
the sack this season. If results were to go their way this weekend, West Ham
could climb into the top four. They go about things differently, but Roberto
Martinez and Sam Allardyce are both very successful in proving doubters
wrong.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
The last four meetings in league and cup have produced a total of 19 goals.
That includes a 4-1 win for Wigan when the sides met at Upton Park in the
League Cup in September.
The Latics are chasing a third successive home win against the Hammers.
Wigan Athletic
Roberto Martinez's men have yet to win at home this season.
Their last victory at the DW Stadium came against Wolves on the final day of
last season.
They have only kept one clean sheet in their last 11 league and cup games.
The Latics have lost six of their last seven Premier League games against
London opposition. The exception was their 2-1 win at Arsenal in April.
Wigan are the only Premier League team who have yet to recoup any points
after falling behind this season.
West Ham United
Sam Allardyce's men have claimed 14 points from their opening eight matches.
It is their best start to a Premier League season since 1999-00 when, under
Harry Redknapp, they collected 16 points.
The Hammers have only lost one of their last 13 games away from Upton Park
(including play-off games), a run stretching back to January. Their only
defeat in that time was a 3-0 loss at Swansea in August.
West Ham will go in search of back-to-back Premier League away wins for the
first time since December 2007, when they won at Blackburn and then
Middlesbrough.
The Hammers have committed more fouls (120) than any other top-flight side
this term.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Julian Dicks Column: 26th October
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 26th October 2012
By: Julian Dicks
It's with great pleasure that we welcome West Ham United FC legend Julian
Dicks to KUMB.com. Julian shares his thoughts with the readers of Knees up
Mother Brown on a regular basis via his weekly column, the latest of which
begins with a preview of this weekend's big game...
Southampton
Although it was a good day against Southampton in the end, to be perfectly
honest West Ham were awful in the first half and Southampton were the better
side - without creating any chances. They passed the ball around well but we
didn't get after them; it looked like West Ham were at the bottom end of the
division and Southampton who were half way up the table.
I got the impression Sam went in [at half time] and told them they had to
put Southampton under pressure because that's what they did as soon as they
came back out. Scoring twice in the first three or four minutes knocked them
back a bit and it would have taken a special side to get back into the game.
In the end West Ham were comfortable winners although I don't think they
were worth a four-one win.
Defensively as a team, Southampton were very poor, even in the first half,
but West Ham didn't put them under any pressure so they got away with it. As
soon as we put them under pressure you could see them conceding goals as
they were all over the place. The first goal went in without anyone touching
it, and then a penalty - but the fourth and final goal from Modibo Maiga was
exceptional.
Goals like Mark Noble's first - the free kick that went straight in - happen
all the time. You can guarantee there's going to be one or two of those
every season. Sam said after the game that they practise those, as we used
to at West Ham and when I was manager at Grays. You have to have players
moving across the goalkeeper to make him unsighted and as long as you hit
the target it's got a chance of going in.
If the goalkeeper's unsighted when you've got two or three players running
across him and it's very crowded in the box, he's going to take his eye off
the ball as he's keeping an eye on them. You can't really blame the
goalkeeper in those situations as the defenders should be clearing the ball
as well.
Throw caution to the wind
With our current squad we have the beating of most teams - and perhaps every
team at home. Obviously away games are a lot more difficult, but I would
expect West Ham to beat Wigan - even though, for me, they're a better team
than Southampton.
The way West Ham have started this season, I hope Sam has a go at them this
weekend. I'd probably play the same team as he did the other day, with
perhaps the addition of a second striker. With the confidence that the
players are playing with I would consider sticking Modibo Maiga with Andy
Carroll up front. Against Southampton, Maiga looked bright, he looked sharp
and scored a fantastic goal - plus he's got a point to prove.
If you put him in and he scores - or has an outstanding game - then Sam's
got a tough decision to make. Whether Sam would do that or not away from
home I don't know, but Maiga's probably chomping at the bit waiting for a
chance. Sam's not silly, he knows what he's doing but if you keep bringing
him on and he's scoring goals one day he's got to give him a run in the
team. He looks a good prospect.
Yossi and Eyal
I thought Yossi Benayoun did well against Southampton last weekend in his
first home start since re-joining the club - and he had a better first half
than second, even though he was involved in the second goal. Obviously he
hasn't played a great deal so his match fitness isn't quite up to scratch
but I thought he worked hard. They're going to miss Ricardo Vaz Te because
of his pace and positivity, but Yossi is a more intelligent player so he'll
be good for West Ham.
I played with Eyal Berkovic quite a bit and like his compatriot, Eyal was
very intelligent. Again, like Yossi, he didn't possess much pace but when
you gave him the ball he could create things, like little balls in between
defenders; he was a good player.
I was training at Chadwell Heath the day Johnny Hartson kicked Eyal in the
head - and it was all caught on TV, which obviously didn't help! On that
particular occasion Harry Redknapp had to let it calm down before getting
involved otherwise I think Johnny Hartson might have smacked Harry too!
Harry spoke to them both individually afterwards but to his credit, Johnny
did apologise as soon as we got back to the changing rooms.
Things like that happened quite often; I can remember Alvin Martin having
bust-ups with Matthew Rush at training and Paul Ince in the tunnel at Luton.
It goes on all the time. At the end of the day you've got a load of blokes
playing football with each other day in, day out and people are going to
argue and lose their temper. It just happens.
I also remember Allan McKnight and Paul Ince - who was a young lad at the
time and very arrogant - having a fight. As long as they apologise at the
end of it, usually it's forgotten - but it's fun when you're watching it!
Banged up and bang to rights
Earlier this week Leeds fan Aaron Cawley was jailed, rightly, for four
months after attacking Sheffield Wednesday's Chris Kirkland. At the end of
the day you can't condone things like that; he could have been carrying a
knife, he could have had anything. He should never be able to watch another
game of football. Fortunately it's a minority of football supporters who
would do something like this.
I played at Leeds and Millwall and places like that and you got one or two
who were stupid - but then the whole club gets tarnished with the same
brush. Yeah, they're volatile supporters but they're also great supporters
who get behind their clubs. I never had to deal with anything like that; if
I had, I wouldn't have fallen over - I would have chased him into the crowd
and walloped him back!
I think the majority of supporters condone things like that and would have
outed him - it doesn't matter what club they're at. If it had been two
supporters fighting maybe it'd have been a bit different, but not when
you're talking about a player getting punched by a stupid fan.
Eric Cantona was banned once for having a go at a fan who had abused him,
but I agreed with him. As a footballer you have to take all the abuse in the
world from supporters but as soon as you tell them to "piss off" or
whatever, some of them report you. So when Cantona did that I thought "good
on him"!
Looking back: A record-breaking season
In 1995/96 I scored ten league goals for West Ham, which is still the record
for a defender in the Premier League. It was also the year in which I played
at centre half on a few occasions against the likes of Chelsea and QPR. I
used to enjoy playing at centre back and scored at Stamford Bridge against
Chelsea with a header that season; Gavin Peacock put them ahead and I
equalised before Danny Williamson scored the winner.
Five of my 11 goals that season came from the penalty spot. When I first
started taking penalties I always used to smash them, then I tried to place
one or two and missed one. After that I told myself that I was never going
to place another one and thereafter I'd hit them as hard as I could.
One of my most famous penalties came against Manchester United the following
season. We were 2-0 down with about ten minutes to go and Florin Raducioiu
came on and scored a great goal. Two minutes later we were awarded a
penalty.
I was waiting to take it - because Man Utd were playing up - and Eric
Cantona said to me, "Dicks, small goal". I replied "Eric, big heart" - and
scored. That was a great night, to come back from two-nil down against
Manchester United. You're expected to get beat as they had some fantastic
players - your Cantonas, Keanes, Scholes, Beckhams and Schmeichels - but at
Upton Park we always had the chance to beat anybody.
Back then Pony were our sponsors and the shirts used to have buttons on. If
you ever chested the ball down it'd hurt, so I used to cut the buttons and
the collars off. I was never a footballer to look posh, with nice cuffs and
collars, so off they came! It was purely for comfort. Prior to that we had a
Pony shirt with a round neck and I used to cut a 'V' into it - once again
because it was more comfortable.
Julian at West Ham Retro Forum
Julian Dicks heads a trio of former stars who will be attending the West Ham
Retro Forum & Fair in Romford on Sunday, 4th November.
Kevin Lock, an FA Cup winner with the Hammers in 1975, and 1976 European Cup
goal hero Keith Robson complete the star line-up for the fifth annual show
organised by EX magazine.
The event takes place at the usual venue – the R.U.S.S.C. (social club) in
Mawney Road, Romford, just off St. Edwards Way ring road – from 12.00 noon
until 4.00pm.
Tickets are priced £10 each (children under 16 free when accompanied by an
adult) in advance or £12 on the door. If you wish to pre-order your
ticket(s) for £10 and collect them on the day, phone EX on 01708 744 333 to
make this £2 saving. Or order online at www.ex-hammers.com.
After you've met the ex-players, had your picture taken with them and got
their autographs, enjoy the Hammers Heaven that awaits in our acclaimed
collectors' fair, including: signed memorabilia, books, programmes, photos,
trade cards, DVDs, badges, etc.
Signed copies of the new book, Tony Cottee – West Ham: The Inside Story
(£14.99), will also be on sale for the first time.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce pays tribute to Kevin Nolan
Last Updated: October 26, 2012 11:43pm
SSN
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce believes the signing of Kevin Nolan is the most
important deal he has made as a manager. Nolan moved to Upton Park from
Newcastle for £3m in June 2011 and played a key role as the Hammers clinched
promotion back to the Premier League via the play-offs. Allardyce reckons
his captain, who he also managed at Bolton, has been a revelation on and off
the field at West Ham. "I always said that Kevin Nolan was the most
important signing I ever made," he said. "It wasn't just about what he does
as a football player on the field, it's what he does as a captain. He unites
dressing rooms by his experience and the fact that he is a leader of
players. "He could lead that dressing room and he could pull them
altogether. He started that from the day he came in and that has grown as we
have come on. "As a goal-scoring midfield player, you have to look at his
record. There are very few who have the same goal-scoring record on a
consistent basis that Kevin has. "It's no fluke that over the past few years
- apart from one year out in the Championship when he scored 17 - he has
scored every year a considerable amount of goals, always very close to
double figure or just past double figures."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sochaux ace Sebastien Corchia reveals his desire to move to Italy
By Simone Bargellini. Last Updated: October 26, 2012 3:29pm
SSN
Sochaux ace Sebastien Corchia admits he would prefer a move to Italy after
being linked with clubs in Serie A and the Premier League. AC Milan and West
Ham United are both said to be keeping close tabs on the highly-rated
22-year-old. However, Corchia has revealed that because of Italian heritage
in his family, he would prefer a move to Serie A. "My preferences, I would
like to go to a major league like the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga or
Serie A," he told Tuttomercatoweb. "For now my goal is to grow with Sochaux,
but it is clear that I have a preference for Italy because I have Italian
origins and I already speak the language well. Being followed by AC Milan is
a real honour, it would be a dream to play in a club like that. AC Milan is
a legendary team, where my idol Paolo Maldinialso played."
Sochaux sporting director Bernard Maraval also spoke to the Italian media
and admitted he was not shocked by possible interest in the youngster. "AC
Milan and West Ham interested in him? Sebastien Corchia is a good player,
and there would be nothing strange if such important clubs like him,"
Maraval told Calciomercato.com. "I know that some outfits are following him
but we have not had direct contacts at the moment. "If someone were to come
up with an interesting offer we would definitely consider it, but not for
the January transfer window, unless it was a stratospheric offer. Something
could happen in the next summer, because we would have the time to replace
him."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Wigan v West Ham preview
Last Updated: October 26, 2012 10:45am
SSN
Halting an alarming dip in form will be foremost in Wigan Athletic's
thoughts when they welcome West Ham United to the DW Stadium. The Latics
still have just one win to show for their efforts this season, and that came
against Southampton on 25th August. Six games have come and gone since then,
with Roberto Martinez's men now perched just one point above the Premier
League drop zone. A leaky defence must be plugged if Wigan are to start
moving away from trouble, with two goals conceded in each of their last five
fixtures on home soil.
West Ham will be hoping that trend continues on Saturday, offering them a
shot at least a share of the spoils. Sam Allardcye's men travel to the North
West buoyed by their form since returning to the top flight, with only one
defeat suffered in their last six top flight outings. They are
handily-placed inside the top-half of the table and are only one point
adrift of fourth-placed Everton.
Wigan
Last 6
2-1
2-2
1-0
1-4
1-2
4-0
Wigan could be without winger Ryo Miyaichi this weekend. The Japan
international is suffering from a slight groin problem and is rated as
doubtful.
The Latics will again be without winger Albert Crusat (knee) and defender
Antolin Alcaraz (groin), with Martinez admitting the Paraguayan centre-back
is unlikely to be back much before Christmas.
West Ham
Last 6
4-1
1-3
1-2
1-4
1-1
0-0
West Ham will welcome defender Joey O'Brien back into their squad this
weekend. The 26-year-old suffered a hamstring injury during the Hammers' 2-1
win at QPR at the start of the month and his return will ease Allardyce's
defensive worries. Matthew Taylor (calf) and Guy Demel (thigh) could return
to first-team action shortly, but Allardyce will have to wait a little
longer for Ricardo Vaz Te (shoulder) and Jack Collison (knee), whose
injuries are more long term.
Opta stats
Wigan have won none and lost five of their last six Premier League home
games against sides from London.
Wigan are the only team who have not recouped any points from matches where
they have fallen behind this season.
West Ham are the only team who have not conceded any goals from set pieces
this season.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce says West Ham's season about to get harder
Last Updated: October 26, 2012 2:31pm
SSN
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has warned his team their Premier League
season is about to get much harder. The Hammers are flying high in seventh
place in the table but Allardyce admits their opening fixtures could have
been much harder, with Arsenal the only big guns they have faced to date.
And Allardyce says the Hammers will have to up their game away at Wigan on
Saturday, and in the fixtures that follow. He said: "Every game is difficult
but in our first eight fixtures we only had Arsenal who are in the top four
or top six on a regular basis. So that was relatively kind to us. But we
have taken full advantage of our opportunities. "There has only been one
real disappointing performance in the eight - that was Swansea away. Even
though we lost to Arsenal, I thought the performance was still good against
a team as good as they were. "The rest of the performances have been
excellent, followed by some excellent results as well. We have had an
excellent start but we look at the next few fixtures that are coming along.
"Wigan, Man City, Man United, Chelsea, Newcastle, Stoke, all those games
together, and Liverpool - and this makes this group of fixtures extremely
difficult to get more points. "At Wigan we have to look to increase the
points total with a positive result - whether that is a draw or a win. We
are hoping for a win but if we come away with something then we will be
delighted from our point of view."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
My King Kev
By STEVE PAGE
Published: 26th October 2012
The Sun
SAM ALLARDYCE reckons Kevin Nolan was crucial in uniting West Ham's dressing
room — after one of the worst days in their recent history. The Hammers
visit Wigan today for the first time since their relegation from the Premier
League last year. It was at the DW Stadium in May 2011 where Avram Grant's
hapless reign ended. The London side raced into a 2-0 lead before losing 3-2
— a result that condemned them to the drop. Grant was immediately sacked and
later replaced by Allardyce, who led the club to immediate promotion. And
Big Sam hailed Nolan — signed in June 2011 from Newcastle for £3m — as a key
factor. He said: "Whenever a team is relegated, there is lots of disruption.
There's no unity and you have to rebuild team spirit. "That's why I always
say Kevin was the most important signing I ever made. It's not what he does
as a footballer — it's what he does as a captain. He unites dressing rooms
with his experience and is a leader of players."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Martinez: Big Andy Carroll is 'one of the best in Europe'
Last Updated: 27th October 2012
The Sun
WIGAN boss Roberto Martinez has hailed West Ham's Andy Carroll as one of the
best strikers in Europe. Martinez aims to guide the Latics to their first
home win of the season against the Hammers today. He said: "Andy Carroll is
a special player. You won't see another player in Europe with his
attributes." But Martinez warned his side not to forget about West Ham's
other attacking threats. He said: "The mistake you can make in the Premier
League is that you think too much about one player, then someone else
damages you."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers open to Rio return
Published: 26th October 2012
The Sun
SAM ALLARDYCE has told Rio Ferdinand the door is open for him to make a West
Ham return. Ferdinand, 33, is into the final year of his Manchester United
contract with his boss Alex Ferguson keen to sort a new deal. But should the
England centre-back fancy a return to the Hammers, the club he started out
at before big-money moves to Leeds and then United, Big Sam would try to
make it happen. He said: "If it's at the end of the season and he hasn't got
a new contract and he is released by Manchester United, then we would be
interested. "If he wants to live back in London eventually, which is where
he comes from, which you know quite a few players want to do when they come
to the end of their careers, that is an advantage for us. "It depends
entirely on Rio or which other clubs might be interested in him."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Champs to chumps
By KARREN BRADY
Published: 26th October 2012
The Sun
SAT, OCT 20
NOT even his mum could accuse Andy Carroll of subtlety. Sam Allardyce
thought Carroll was exactly the goods he wanted — a striker with strength
and power.
I'm glad to say here today the Hammers fans show how much they appreciate
Carroll's attitude to his work. They recognise his quality and see him as a
working lad with a giant heart. For what we hope is not going to be a
temporary cause.
SUN, OCT 21
I CANNOT get my head around the revolt against 'Kick Racism out of
Football'. Partly it must be that the John Terry affair has become as
invasive as Japanese knotweed, popping up in all sorts of places and
refusing to die off. Our football record in the war against racism is as
good as any other country's and shows no sign of weakening. So instead of
making points about whether or not to wear a particular T-shirt it should
realise, as Sir Alex Ferguson clearly does, that solidarity is everything.
This is a fight everyone wants to win. But we will be stronger fighting
together than apart. It's called teamwork.
MON, OCT 25
REPORTS are linking my husband Paul Peschisolido with the Canada team
manager's job. It's news to me. But maybe that's what all the whispering on
the phone was! I'm sure Paul would love a position of this kind although,
judging by Canada's eight-goal thrashing by Honduras in a World Cup
qualifier a few days ago, he needs to start sooner rather than later. And
therein lies the problem. Commuting to Canada would be no ride on the Tube
for either of us. And me? I'm staying in London.
TUES, OCT 23
IT was obvious at the time that Chelsea's triumph in the Champions League
last May was the gold leaf concealing a Roman vessel springing leaks in
vital places. Some repairs were made in the summer, enough, indeed, to make
me at least believe they will win the Premier League title. But tonight in
the Ukraine the old vulnerabilities began to weep again and for Roberto Di
Matteo the full extent of his challenge is underlined. Chelsea, riddled by
controversies not of their own making, might shortly exit from the
competition they shocked themselves by winning. Di Matteo must be feeling
distinctly uneasy.
WEDS, OCT 24
FEW football columns exhibit the interest in footwear that this one does.
It's my exquisite dream I should be paid £1million or more to wear
shoes-to-die-for even if they must have a little tick on them. Top
footballers live in such a paradise. I've seen the contracts and felt my
eyes water. Most of the contracts have one simple action; You wear the boots
— and you get a cheque. So it takes a bit of a clot to wear a different
boot to the one stipulated in the contract. That clot is named today as Real
Madrid's Mesut Ozil and a court, aware that big money and endorsements go
together, has told him he'll have to pay the breathtaking sum — even for a
footballer — of £122,100 a day if he doesn't obey it. My guess is he will.
THURS, OCT 25
I'VE heard of 'as keen as mustard' but perhaps a close girlfriend goes
through that barrier and could better be described as 'keen as red-hot
chilli'. During a girls' night out we bump into a Premier League chairman at
the Arts Club. She declares she likes him (or perhaps more accurately his
wallet) and asks me to put in a word for her. He is currently single so I
text him inform him of her interest. He texts back in a nano-second and asks
whether she'd like to go for some champagne at the Savoy or the Ritz. I
report back to her and she says "He can save his money on the champagne. I'm
a "done deal!" The poor bloke won't know what's hit him!
FRI, OCT 26
KEEPING Wigan afloat in the Premier League has required the Herculean
efforts of owner Dave Whelan and a succession of managers, particularly
Roberto Martinez, a master of make-do-and-mend. Wigan know their size
(small), they know their attendance figures (small) and they know about
heart (huge). True to being the Tom Thumb of our league, they enjoy sticking
a digit where it hurts. They did so a month ago when they humbled us at
Upton Park in the Capital One Cup third round. I'll be shaken if they do it
again at the DW Stadium — shaken and disturbed.
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Allardyce: West Ham star should play for England
London 24
Saturday, October 27, 2012
7:00 AM
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has called on England manager Roy Hodgson to
call-up Kevin Nolan. Although he has always been a regular goalscorer the
30-year-old has never been capped by England and Allardyce believes he still
deserves a chance to represent his country. He said: "If he continues to do
well in the Premier League this year and he continues to score - he has four
in eight now and to be quite honest he could have had a few more. "Four in
eight from midfield, which is one every two games which is pretty good
going, so hopefully he will keep that up. He might be noticed, depending on
how Roy (England manager Hodgson) seems to set up his team and who is
available. "If he is one of my players, I always say they should be given
the chance. But that is a big step, stepping into the full England squad.
It's a big step. I mean he has done every other level. In his younger days,
up until (Under) 21s. That is one big step that he has never done yet."
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West Ham boss reveals why Newcastle let star go
London 24
Saturday, October 27, 2012
7:20 AM
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has labelled skipper Kevin Nolan as the most
important signing he has made in his long managerial history. Nolan moved
down from Barclays Premier League side Newcastle to join Allardyce at West
Ham as the marquee signing as the Hammers looked to return to the top flight
following relegation to the npower Championship. The 30-year-old Nolan
played a key part in achieving promotion and Allardyce, who also managed
Nolan at Bolton, believes his captain has been a revelation on and off the
field since moving to Upton Park. "I always said that Kevin Nolan was the
most important signing I ever made," he said. "It wasn't just about what he
does as a football player on the field, it's what he does as a captain. He
unites dressing rooms by his experience and the fact that he is a leader of
players. "He could lead that dressing room and he could pull them
altogether. He started that from the day he came in and that has grown as we
have come on. "As a goal-scoring midfield player, you have to look at his
record. There are very few who have the same goal-scoring record on a
consistent basis that Kevin has. "It's no fluke that over the past few years
- apart from one year out in the Championship when he scored 17 - he has
scored every year a considerable amount of goals, always very close to
double figure or just past double figures."
Allardyce also claimed Nolan moved to the club because Newcastle were
unwilling to offer their then-captain a longer contract and praised the work
done by co-owner David Sullivan in securing Nolan's services. "He didn't
have a point to prove. Apart from the fact that he wanted a reward from
Newcastle that he didn't get and that was a longer contract, which,
apparently, they refused to negotiate. "So we stepped in. It was only by the
quick and swift work of David Sullivan particularly that we got Kevin before
anybody else even knew he was on the market. "He chose to come which was a
big decision from his point of view because I think he could have waited and
gone for a Premier League side. Particularly after scoring 11 goals that
season. So, we managed to get him and it has paid dividends for us all."
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