Daily WHUFC News - 4th October 2012

Vaz pointing even higher
WHUFC.com
Ricardo Vaz Te says West Ham United will not rest on their laurels after making an encouraging start
03.10.2012

Ricardo Vaz Te struck his first Barclays Premier League goal for West Ham United and said the best is yet to come. Vaz Te, who celebrated his 26th birthday in fine style as his winning goal saw off London neighbours Queens Park Rangers in a 2-1 away victory, insists that this is only the beginning for Sam Allardyce's team. The volley was the No12's first Premier League goal since he netted the winner for Big Sam's Bolton Wanderers at home to Birmingham City on 7 May 2006. When asked by the national press post-match if that was his best performance in a Hammers shirt against the Hoops, the modest midfielder said: "No, I think my best is yet to come. Scoring was a bonus, because I am here to play my part for the team. "I am always looking to improve myself as we are as a team. I am still young. This is my first year in the Premier League after taking a long absence. I have to make sure I am working hard enough to be in the side, for the gaffer to pick me every week. I will get more confident, more comfortable and hopefully go on to have more performances like tonight and better."

It was Vaz Te's first goal since his late winner in the npower Championship Play-Off final helped West Ham gain promotion back to the top league. He said he was delighted to score but maintained that the key was getting the three points at Loftus Road. "The main thing was to try to get the three points. We knew it would be extremely hard because QPR are under extreme pressure and it was also a derby game. We knew they were going to come at us, so we just made sure we got the basics right and took our chances. It was a perfect night for us. "We had to make sure we stifled their strengths straight away. We knew with the players we have in our team we will always get chances. Sometimes you don't get many in a game but with us, I think it is more often that we will, so we knew we had to take them. The main thing was we took our chances and created the momentum for ourselves to go on and win."

The victory saw Hammers climb to seventh in the table and while Vaz Te said no one is getting carried away at this early stage of the season, a major factor behind West Ham's solid start to the new campaign was 'belief' - something he says also comes from the manager and his staff. "I think a lot has to do with the belief we have as a team. The main objective for us this season is to stay up and fight for a win and fight for the points in every match. "That is the mentality we have with everything. We approach each game with the belief we can get something from every match, get a result. We just believe we are and can be a good Premier League side. "There is no doubt in any individual at this football club, so I think that is the main thing and the gaffer makes us believe that all the time."

While praising the manager and all the staff around them, Vaz Te also spoke of the same desire his team-mates have to do their best to make sure that the club can get through the highs and lows of the season ahead. "It was great to see Andy [Carroll] back. We are very much looked after here at the club and this proves it. The gaffer focuses a lot on all the staff that work with us. With Andy everyone was working hard, as was he, to get him back but not to rush him, which was the main thing. He is such a handful [for teams to play against]. Coley [Carlton Cole] has also been terrific and it is great for the club that we have that competition and that quality of players in our team. "I'm really overwhelmed to be fair to be part of this squad, it is great. To be in the starting line-up is my aim every week but to be around everything here is also very good and you can only keep learning from it all. "We have made a great start to the season, but haven't achieved anything yet, so we must keep going and try to meet our targets. We won't get carried away, but we will strive every day to put in the performances and get the results we need."

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Hammers' style praised by Mail Online
WHUFC.com
Neil Ashton's story on the Mail Online examines some interesting statistics from the season so far
03.10.2012

In an interesting article posted on the Daily Mail Online website, football writer Neil Ashton felt inclined to conduct some research into some of West Ham United's statistics from this season after being impressed with their performance in the 2-1 win at Queens Park Rangers on Monday night. The article, which can be viewed here, is copied in full below.

Allardyce's Hammers play just like Real Madrid and Barcelona... but not how you think
By Neil Ashton

Take a look at these statistics and see whether you can spot a trend: Real Madrid 67. West Ham 65. Barcelona 59. At first glance it is difficult to think of a single reason why Sam Allardyce's team could possibly be mentioned in the same sentence as two of the biggest clubs in world football. Some would even say it is deeply offensive for Sam Allardyce's long-ball merchants to even be mentioned in the same breath as Jose Mourinho or Tito Vilanova's eye-catching teams.
The figures above for the three teams represent the average number of long balls that the teams have played in their respective leagues this season. For the purposes of this analysis, produced by Opta and freely available on the excellent website whoscored.com, any attempted pass which is 25 yards or more constitutes a long ball. They are surprising figures, particular for two Spanish teams who pride themselves on short, incisive passing to slice through the opposition.

The purists will claim that Gerard Pique can change gear at will, picking out Lionel Messi and sending a ball from one half to the other with his superior skills.
The reality is that even Barcelona and Real Madrid, in times of trouble, will resort to the outlets up front and send something long for Cristiano Ronaldo or Messi to chase down. Perhaps this is the reason that Allardyce, in an interview in September 2010 that brought much mirth and derision in football, claimed he could manage Real Madrid. At the time he claimed he would walk away with league titles year in, year out if he was given the chance to manage one of the world's biggest football clubs. Even last weekend, Allardyce's protests continued in an extensive interview with The Observer, when he argued for 'winning football' as opposed to 'pretty passing'. His case is helped by the number of long balls his rivals in the Barclays Premier League are playing.

Liverpool, who are supposed to be taking the short passing game to another level under Brendan Rodgers, average 66 long balls every match. These are the average number of long balls played, on average, this season by the teams who finished in the top four: Champions Manchester City (54), Manchester United (56), Arsenal (49), Tottenham (61). As for the rest of the Premier League, there are some eye-catching statistics among the other sides. Newcastle (78), Everton (69), Reading (67), Wigan (67), Chelsea (65) Fulham (64), West Bromwich (64), Aston Villa (62), Sunderland (62), Norwich (60), QPR (59), Stoke (59), Swansea (55) and Southampton (51).

Pity Rodgers, Alan Pardew, David Moyes, Brian McDermott, Roberto Martinez and Roberto Di Matteo when people become aware of the statistics. With the exception of Arsenal, Southampton and Swansea, it would be easy to argue that the rest of the Premier League is made up of hit and hope teams. Clearly that is not the case, with teams refining their systems to suit the demands of skilful players and a demanding public. No manager likes negative Press, particularly Allardyce. Although he has strengthened the team for the Premier League, he has refined the pattern and style for the Hammers' return to the top flight. At Loftus Road they looked like an established Premier League team, pouncing on the defensive deficiencies of a team who are afraid to play at home. Rangers are seizing up at Loftus Road, a legacy of their 5-0 opening day defeat against Swansea and their failure to win in the Premier League this season. Allardyce has a specific system in place designed to hunt down the opposition and take advantage of teams who want to play The Beautiful Game, but play it badly. At this moment, QPR fall into that category.

The idea that Allardyce takes training at Chadwell Heath each day with full-backs launching endless long balls towards Andy Carroll or Carlton Cole is a myth.
At the beginning of the week, his coaches Neil McDonald and Wally Downes take training and Allardyce has input from the sidelines. They are not trying to reinvent the wheel, but they play small-sided, passing and pressing games to take time away from the players and put them under pressure. As they build up towards matchday, Allardyce's role becomes more prominent and he is heavily involved on the training pitches. On Thursday and Friday, like most teams across the country, they practise set-pieces ahead of a Saturday fixture. Even then, for a team tagged 'long ball', they have won only 50 per cent of their aerial duels this season. Allardyce has always been prickly about the accusations that his teams know only one way to play, but he has adjusted to the demands of modern football. At times they might kick it long, but on Monday night they joined the culture club.

Note: The opinions expressed in the above article are those of the author and not of West Ham United.

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Tonks prepared to be patient
WHUFC.com
James Tomkins knows he may have to wait for his opportunity to become a first-team regular again
03.10.2012

James Tomkins showed West Ham United have strength in depth at centre-half by producing a fine display in Monday's 2-1 Barclays Premier League win at Queens Park Rangers. Tomkins has found himself on the substitutes bench due to the form of James Collins and Winston Reid, so the 2012 London Olympian was delighted to feature at Loftus Road after Reid was forced off with a head injury. A key figure in the club's promotion-winning campaign last season, Tomkins told West Ham TV he would love to be starting week-in week-out, but he is happy to wait for his chance and will be ready when called upon. "I want to play games," said the No5. "It is important to me, but the lads have come in and done really well in the back four so obviously they haven't changed it much.
"It is frustrating to watch [the matches rather than play], but understandable if we keep getting positive results, it was just nice to come on and help win the game on Monday. It gives me confidence and the team is doing really well which is great news."

The Basildon-born defender missed a large chunk of pre-season to play for Team GB at London 2012 and admitted in hindsight it hasn't brought the benefits he had wished. "I wanted to represent Great Britain and the manager gave me the chance to and I appreciated that but I went there expecting to play more than I did in the end. At the same time Ginge and Reidy played a lot together in pre-season. "It was disappointing for me, but I suppose that is what football is like. You have to keep your head down and keep working hard in training which is what I have done. It paid off on Monday because I came on the pitch and did well."

Tomkins was called into action after just 23 minutes when Reid was caught by team-mate Jussi Jaaskelainen and the 23-year-old felt he settled well. "You have to be ready at all times but coming on early as a defender it can take you a little while to get into the game. You always want to start well and try and settle down quite early. "This was my first proper [league] game all season but I thought I settled well and that was important for the rest of the game. I thought the team played very well and it was a well-deserved three points."

Matt Jarvis and Ricardo Vaz Te gave the Hammers a comfortable lead going into half-time but a wonder goal from Adel Taarabt meant a testing end to the game for Tomkins and his defence. "Playing at Loftus Road was difficult. It was my first experience there and it was a hard place to go. Particularly after they scored, the crowed got behind them and you could see how much it helped. "We had a few nervy moments towards the end but that is always going to happen when a team pulls a goal back. They put a lot of pressure on us but we held out and it was nice to shoot up the table again."

Tomkins also believes that those nerves could have been avoided with a bit more luck in front of goal, whilst also giving an insight into what it is like playing against Andy Carroll in training. "Andy had a chance right at the end and we had a few other opportunities we didn't take but as long as we are creating chances that's what matters. Hopefully we will keep putting them away, because the two finishes we did take were really impressive. "I've marked Andy a few times in training, he's an awkward player and he is going to be a good asset for us. We also have Carlton Cole challenging him for that starting spot and they are both good players."

The Hammers face Arsenal on Saturday but Tomkins revealed he and the rest of the players are looking forward to it and will do all they can to secure a positive result. "It will be the toughest game we have faced so far this season. So far we have played teams around where we could finish this season and we have stepped up to the challenge and done really well. "Hopefully we can continue that against Arsenal. We are going to be positive and give it a right go. We are at home where we have got a good record and I think now we are all just looking forward to it."

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"Where do we go from here?" Who cares if the journey's this much fun…
KUMB,com
Filed: Wednesday, 3rd October 2012
By: Rob Paul Chapman

A response to John Rolls' recent article for KUMB.com, which may be found here.

There's a famous story about the late Brian Clough: When a journalist asked the legendarily acerbic manager how he dealt with errant players who disagreed with him he replied "Well, it's like this. I'd invite him into my office, I'd allow him to put forward his point of view, then I'd put forward mine, and together we'd agree that I was right".

As fans, disagreement is to be expected in football. It's a game based on passionately held beliefs and unswayable convictions, put forward with vim and vigour and an unshakable certainty that we are, when all is said and done, absolutely right. All the time. Until we're wrong that is, by which time we've forgotten what our original position was anyway.

You don't get Brian Cloughs along very often these days. But perhaps Big Sam is the last of that old school. Last year our forthright manager may have implied that our fans have a tendency to sway towards delusion.

Well guess what? He was 100% correct. You are ALL deluded. Every single one of you. And before you start throwing things at the screen, so am I. We're all deluded. And not just West Ham fans. Every football fan in the land. That is, in fact, part of the fun.

We convince ourselves that 22 millionaires chasing an inflated pig's bladder around some grass is the single most important thing in the world. Many of us have, at some point, made what would rationally seem like completely inexplicable sacrifices in order to accommodate our great love. This is not the behaviour of a sentient balanced individual. These are the actions of the deluded. And I for one love it. Embrace the delusion. We live in a joyless world of recession and misery and genuinely catastrophic things happening around the world. If we can't take some solace out of our terminal delusion, then frankly what's the point?

But not all delusion is born equal. It comes I many splendored forms. I acknowledge that my own deluded tendency is to place absolute unfathomable and utterly unrealistic faith in my club, its management, players and owners. However I feel that as a self-aware delusional I'm equally capable of spotting the exact mirror image opposite of my brand of delusion in others (lets call them Type B delusionals). I refer to those unable to acknowledge the successes, strengths and triumphs of our club and those who run it. They see the negatives, the apparent failings and will undoubtedly be able to put a pessimistic spin on any given event. They are the kind of people who could win the lottery and then complain about the walk to the post office to cash the cheque.

There are a lot of these Type B delusionals in a football ground. We probably sit or stand near at least one at a game. And these people have their fortes for sure. Whilst my Type A brand of delusion may make me completely blind to impending catastrophe (I'll readily admit I thought Avram Grant and Glenn Roeder would turn out just fine in the long run…), these Type B delusionals are wise before the event.

However, whilst there are (ironically) positives to these Type B delusionals, I can't help feeling that they don't have anywhere near as much fun as us Type A delusionals. And I would like to take these people for a pint, as part of the same universal West Ham family, and try to convince them of the inherent beauty of every given situation; whilst they would do their best to explain why everything was, inherently, when you get to the nub of the matter, actually a bit shit.

I strongly suspect John Rolls, features writer of this parish, to be a Type B delusional. He recently wrote an article for KUMB entitled Where Do We Go From Here? It has been much discussed on the internet and in podcasts, and so as a fellow fan and delusional, I would like to extend a hand across the ocean. I'd like to go for a drink with Mr. Rolls, he would put forward his point of view, then I'd put forward mine, and together we'd agree that I was right.

I imagine it would go something like this:

JR: "My question now is where do we go from here? It was great to get back into the Premier League - but I want more."

RPC: It's one thing to want something, even to know what it is that you want. The ability and/or resources to achieve it are quite another. Football clubs are transient beings. Unless you're one of the tiny minority with the clout to set the pace, the best you can hope for is to be dynamic, reactive and responsible. Adapt to your surroundings and make the best of your situation. This might sound negative, but it's just pragmatic, and arguably more fun than – say – chucking £500m of Middle Eastern oil money into a bottomless pit of unsustainable, foundation-less profligacy dressed-up as ambition

JR: "Being honest, I cannot see us winning the league unless some mega-rich masochist buys the club and I suppose I should just be grateful for survival. "

RPC: This is not so much honesty as realism.

JR: "But being realistic, would I really be happy with West Ham being also-rans? Maybe flirting with the Cups and getting a route into Europe via that route. I am not going to say "yes" to that. "

RPC: This is not so much realism as nihilism, not to mention a fast-track to inevitable disappointment, and an unnecessary double-negative.

JR: "What I would like to know is why we haven't signed some of the bigger names available on free transfers to at least give us a chance of moving up?"

RPC: And this is where – to my Type A delusional mind – the argument just becomes baffling. We have had arguably our best ever transfer window. In the close season and opening couple of weeks of the new one we have signed the following: The current England Number 9 for whom Liverpool paid £35m, a club-record breaking winger, the Number 10 for the African Nations semi-finalists who Newcastle offered £7m for and no less than five current or former international captains. And that on the back of the previous transfer window which was arguably the second best (contextually) in the club's history which brought in the players who enabled us to get promoted, some of whom are currently showing their true class in the Premiership. And all of this from the team who finished third in the second flight last season. If that doesn't scream ambition I don't know what does.

JR: "Look at Stoke - at best, a mid-table side - but they had the balls to go and sign Michael Owen. A front two pairing of Carroll and Owen sounds like it has goals in it, whereas at present we look toothless. "

RPC: Signing Michael Owen for West Ham would have demonstrated a depressing lack of imagination. Owen appears significantly more interested in his horses than playing football these days. When I've seen West Ham this season I've seen a team, united, with a single purpose, fighting to the death for each other. I cannot imagine a world in which Michael Owen would fit into this set-up. You want a frontline with goals in it? You currently have the England #9 and the 6th highest goalscorer from midfield in Premier League history. You also have Jarvis banging in one sumptuous gimmie cross after another. And Vaz Te with his guile and trickery. And besides, if Owen came it'd only be a matter of time before he mistakenly had Andy Carroll tethered to the nearest tree, feeding him a carrot and entering him into the 3.45 at Chepstow. And no one wants to see that.

JR: "Another name that has come up is Thomas Hitzlsperger, another free agent. I think he's a great player."

RPC: So good in fact that the last time he was with us we got relegated. There may be a reason why he's (still) a free agent…

JR: "The board and the manager must change the whole mentality surrounding the club by insisting we finish in the top six and backing the manager to get the right players in. At the moment we are carrying too many Championship-level players."

RPC: It's not about mentality. You can't just will a team to 6th by positive thinking alone. Only a few months ago we were a championship squad. This may account for the championship players, as you can't just change-up a squad wholesale over night. That's what QPR have tried, and they currently sit bottom of the Premiership. But that aside, I actually don't think we have too many Championship-level players at all. Our keeper currently has the best shots to saves ratio in the league, aside from the odd freak error our back-four has looked supremely solid in the main, our midfield oozes class, and our frontline is as exciting as could possibly be expected for a club on our budget.

JR: "We should have - and it hurts to say this - the mentality of Spurs Chairman Daniel Levy and back the manager to sign quality players. "

RPC: You appear to be confusing mentality with money. We tried that once. We bankrupted a Northern European island state. It didn't go well. They're still quite cross.

JR: "Here's an aside for you. Rob Green is, it seems, really p*ssed off at QPR. Let's take him back on loan in January. In my eyes he should never have been let go. "

RPC: He wasn't let go. He was out of contract and he walked. You can only lead a horse to water… [insert Michael Owen/Andy Carroll joke here]

JR: "West Ham have the most fervent supporters and we always get behind the team no matter what the situation. "

RPC: And I've never heard the fans boo the team at half time once, guv'nor…

JR: "Is it not now time for the Board and the manager to realise we deserve more than mid-table mediocrity?"

RPC: Define 'deserve' here? We may end up mid-table this season. I sincerely hope so in fact. But so far there's been nothing remotely mediocre about our first few games. We've had glorious highs and some depressing lows; but we've been enthralled, and entertained, and always kept interested. It'll probably be a rollercoaster this season, and I for one cannot wait.

JR: "Why is it we never seem to make the big signing? "We get linked with so many but they never seem to materialise; why? Are they put off by the lack of ambition from the board? "

RPC: Like I said: The current England Number 9 for whom Liverpool paid £35m, a club-record breaking winger, the Number 10 for the African Nations semi-finalists who Newcastle offered £7m for and no less than five international captains… etc etc

JR: "It can't be the fans, we get behind new players even if they don't do well."

RPC: Mido says hi.

JR: "It raises questions as to whether the manager listens to the scouts. Or is he of the mind that it doesn't matter what they say, we don't sign them any way?"

RPC: The current England Number 9 for whom Liverpool paid £35m, a club-record breaking winger, the current… blah blah blah…. You get the idea.

JR: "In summary, would the board please show as much commitment to providing the fans with quality players so we can do something in the league - and would the scouting system find and insist the manager at least has a look at them. "

RPC: The current England Number 9 for whom Liverpool… yawn…

JR: "Finally can we, the supporters who spend our hard-earned cash watching the team and buying the merchandise and sometimes suffering numerous headaches and heartache as the Hammers cock it up again, get recognition from the board?"

RPC: Or how about this for the old switcheroo: The board get some recognition from us as the fans? They have come into a club ravaged by serial mismanagement, laden with crippling debts, have put their hands in their pockets, brought in a proven manager, recruited astutely and ambitiously and then stepped out of the limelight (thankfully) to let the manager take centre-stage. And that investment and faith is currently paying off in spades.

Yes, we're not going to challenge for the title, or the Champions' League, or probably Europe at all. Possibly ever. And it's possible we only just stave off or even – heaven forbid – succumb to relegation. But personally I'm having an absolute whale of a time right now. As a lifelong fan I've never been more in love with my club. Who knows exactly what the future will bring? But who wants a Cassandra Complex anyway? Enjoy the journey, make sure the driver knows what he's doing, and sit back and enjoy the view. The destination will take care of itself.

But then again, I'm a Type A delusional, so I would say that, wouldn't I?

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Now, where are they?
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 3rd October 2012
By: Jason Eves

I've noticed an article featured in the West Ham United programme (some articles hosted online) where past players are interviewed after their time at West Ham. And I thought to myself, why not find out where some players of old have turned up?

I mean, I could easily drone on about what Carlos Tevez and Scott Parker have been up to. But that would be way too easy, so here's a few previous players handpicked by me along with a summary of their West Ham career and where they've been since leaving...

Roy Carroll

Roy's time in the East End was a mixed bag, racking up just over thirty appearances, but struggles with alcohol and gambling curtailed his two-year stay. He left in the summer of 2007 seeking first team football, originally opting for now fallen giants Rangers, but then moving to Derby County in the new year. But not even he could keep the club up and suffered relegation.

Roy's days were numbered and come the following summer Derby allowed him to terminate his contract in order to join Danish club Odense Boldklub. He debuted for the club the day he signed his contract and after putting in some sterling perfomances he was award Superliga Goalkeeper of the Year 2009. However homesickness kicked in and Carroll eventually had his contract with the club terminated in order to find a club closer to home. Trials in Britain soon followed but nothing came to fruition.

Carroll racked up some more air-miles, opting to sign for OFI Crete in the summer of 2011. After putting in some stellar performances, Greek powerhouses Olympiakos came calling in January signing him for a reported fee of €100k. He is held in high regard by fans through his heart-on-sleeve perfomances.

Savio Nsereko

Ushered in as the man to solve our goalscoring problems, Savio was Signed by our Director of Football Gianluca Nani for a reported fee of £9 million (although the fee is still debated to this day). Mooted as our 'record signing', he was given the number 10 shirt, replacing the outgoing Craig Bellamy.

Savio's tenure at West Ham crumbled under the weight of expectation. He was subsequently sold on to Fiorentina for a Manuel da Costa-plus-cash deal, where he was then farmed out to various clubs around Europe. He continuously went AWOL during times at each loan stint. Savio has now since landed a permanent move to German Third Division club SpVgg Unterhachting. He signed for an undisclosed fee this summer, stating that location was a key factor in his decision.

Alessandro Diamanti

Diamanti was another of Gianluca Nani's scouted players signed for a reported £6million from Brescia (reportedly paid for by our sponsors). He was a landmark signing as he became the 800th player to play for West Ham as he made his debut in the 1-0 defeat to Wigan.

He struggled to adapt to the pace of the Premier League; although he tallied up eight goals in his maiden campaign, only three came from open play. But his energetic displays did earn him recognition as he claimed the runner-up spot of Hammer of the Year behind deserved winner Scott Parker. He has since returned to Brescia for a fraction of the cost (we are still locked in a battle to claim the money Brescia owe us).

In what proved to be a similar year statistically back at Brescia, as well as suffering relegation Diamanti received a call-up to the Italian national team. The following summer he packed his bags again as Bologna snapped him up on a co-ownership deal. He has since found his shooting boots again, hitting double figures for the club in his debut season.

Luís Boa Morte

Luís, I believe is best described as a 'Marmite signing' as the fans either loved him or loathed him during his four-year affiliation in claret and blue. He was signed by Alan Curbishley for an undisclosed fee, reported to be around the £5 million mark. In April 2007 he scored his first goal for the club in a 3-0 win against Wigan. But it wasn't until May 2010 in a 1-1 draw against Man City that he would double his tally for the long-waiting Hammers faithful. He signed a two-year deal come the end of the 2009/10 campaign but only saw out half of it before his contract was terminated.

He subsequently signed for Greek club Larissa, linking up once more with former gaffer Chris Coleman for whom he had worked under at Fulham. However financial problems soon hit the club and Boa Morte exited six months later. A brief stint at South African team Orlando Pirates soon followed and although he signed an 18-month deal, Luís only stayed for a mere four months. He then went on trial at MLS outfit Toronto FC but was back in the UK on trial with League One Portsmouth.

Benni McCarthy

Labelled by many fans as a panic buy in his deadline day move in the January 2010 transfer window, Benni signed a two-and-a-half year deal and widely reported as being very out of shape. As well as being fined in excess of £200,000 for reaching over 15 stone, strict dieting and training regimes soon followed but amounted to nothing. The ties were eventually cut and he was released at the start of the 2011 season, with Karren Brady famously labeling him 'A big fat mistake'.

McCarthy has since returned to his native South Africa, signing for the Orlando Pirates (briefing playing with Boa Morte) and leading the scoring charts averaging a goal every other game whilst aiding the team in retaining the league title. He has also wrote himself into South African folklore as the first South African player to win three league titles with three different teams on two different continents (now that's a mouthful!).

Lucas Neill

Often referred to as 'Lucash' by some sceptical fans following his arrival in January 2007 from Blackburn Rovers, Neill turned down the chance of joining Liverpool before joining the Hammers. His leadership qualities on the field were acknowledged and he was given the captain's armband on numerous occasions before eventually taking it permanently in the wake of Nigel Reo-Coker's transfer to Aston Villa.

The Australian's stay at Upton Park lasted only two years as he decided against prolonging his contract and he joined Everton on a free transfer, linking up with International team-mate and close friend Tim Cahill. His affiliation with the Goodison Park faithful was short-lived as he made the switch to Turkish side Galatasaray, with the reason being a longer contract on offer and linking up with fellow Socceroo Harry Kewell.

After being let go at the end of the Turkish season, Lucas was packing his bags to the oil-rich United Arab Emirates. Signing for Al Jazira on a year long deal where he amassed 19 appearances and scored three goals. Once again as his deal ran up, Lucas was let go and soon enough he landed another deal at fellow UAE club Al Wasl where he is due to start the upcoming season.

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WEST HAM STAR'S TOM-FOOLERY
Daily Star
4th October 2012 By Mike McGrath

JAMES TOMKINS admits he wasted his time by going to the London Olympics and losing his West Ham place. The 23-year-old made only two appearances for Team GB during the Games and slipped behind James Collins and Winston Reid in the pecking order at Upton Park. Hammers boss Sam Allardyce has started the centre-back in only one league game this season – and subbed him at half-time in the defeat by Swansea. But Tomkins said: "It is always hard of course. I wanted to represent Great Britain and the manager gave me the chance. "I went there expecting to play more than I did in the end. Obviously I wasted a lot of time and then Ginge (Collins) and Reidy played a lot together in pre-season. "It was disappointing for me but I suppose that is what football is like."

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Are Sam Allardyce's West Ham a 'dirty' team?
HereIsTheCity
by Jenny Leigh

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has fired back at claims that his team is 'dirty', after they became the first side in Premier League history to receive 8 yellow cards in one game. The Hammers' 1-2 away win against Queen's Park Rangers was a game that Allardyce felt was "an unfortunate scenario" for his side. He claimed, "There was hardly a bad tackle in the game and there was a lot of reaction from the crowd by Mark Clattenburg". Referee Mark Clattenburg also sent off QPR's Samba Diakite for two yellow card offenses in the space of 20 minutes. QPR manager Mark Hughes saw no substantial cause for complaint. He said, after the game: "The first one was a genuine attempt to get the ball but the lad has just nicked it away from him. It doesn't warrant a yellow card in my view. Some referees give them, some don't."

The referee booked Jaaskelainen, Collins, Nolan, Noble, Diame, Cole, Tomkins, and McCartney of West Ham and Taarabt along with the double-booking of Diakite. "We've ended up looking like a dirty team, giving 22 fouls away and getting so many players booked." Allardyce defended his team, "We are not a dirty side. There was hardly a dirty tackle in this game but it'll look a lot different to the people who weren't watching, which is a shame."

The Hammers' manager, formerly of Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers, has earned himself a reputation of utilizing very traditional tactics that rely upon a certain degree of physicality. He is also known to be an obsessive statistician who endlessly analyses performances not only based on the number of passes, fouls, corners, shots and possession percentages – as most managers do – but also states that is often his reason for his purchases.

Infamous for his 'long-ball' strategy, Allardyce has never been shy about his disinterest in "pretty football"; he has been criticized as being a "dinosaur".
Is it possible that simply his preference for his brand and philosophy of traditional football is becoming extinct in a modern game that has become more cultured? One thing's for sure: when the old-fashioned and the new-fashioned ideologies of the game go head-to-head it certainly won't be "pretty."

But critics should remember that direct and deliberately dirty don't necessarily go hand in hand, despite what eight bookings may suggest.

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