Daily WHUFC News - 25th December 2012

Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce will be hoping to get a few more players back from the
treatment table ahead of Reading
24.12.2012

Sam Allardyce is hoping his depleted squad will once more deliver a defiant
performance when they visit Reading on Saturday. The Hammers lost by the odd
goal in three to Everton last Saturday after being reduced to ten men
following Carlton Cole's controversial red card. While the outcome of the
appeal is yet to be heard, the West Ham United manager will be planning for
a trip to Berkshire without last season's top scorer. "We couldn't afford to
lose Carlton Cole, not just the fact that we went on to lose the game
because of that but because he may now miss at Reading. That is a massive
blow to us. "We will appeal Carlton Cole's sending off because we need
Carlton for Reading. Losing him for three games will be a severe blow that
we can't cope with Andy Carroll being out as well. "Modibo has made an
impact from the sub's bench but we don't think he's ready to start a game in
the Premier League as it's a big jump from the French league to the Barclays
Premier League."

Alou Diarra and Jack Collison did provide some festive cheer on a damp
afternoon in east London by taking their places among the substitutes.
Diarra has been missing since he played in the Capital One cup match against
Crewe Alexandra on 28 August, while Play-Off semi-final hero Collison, who
entered the fray for a brief cameo on Saturday, had not played since May's
Wembley final against Blackpool. "I don't think we'll have many more back
for Reading, the best we can hope to have back is Yossi Benayoun," Allardyce
said. "I give the lads full credit for their efforts but we need variation
and options. Without those it becomes difficult, but it was a brilliant
effort by the players."

Although there will be a West Ham-sized hole in the lives of many in east
London and beyond on Boxing Day, Big Sam plans to use the gap to get a few
more players back fighting fit. "I haven't got a team to play Arsenal so
it's work out OK. Gary O'Neil started at about 80% fit and Guy Demel had the
virus that was floating around so we just came in on Monday to count up the
bodies. We won't do any training and see how packed the medical room is."

Although Cole's dismissal seemed to be a turning point in the game, Big Sam
was also left to rue the goalscoring chances that were spurned by the home
side. Kevin Nolan - who has been so prolific - this season shot wide, while
Modibo Maiga's deflected drive spun narrowly wide. "With our position at
this moment in time the red card was difficult to take but having said that
we did have a massive chance to equalise at the death when Kevin Nolan had
the best chance of the game to make sure it isn't hurting us as much as it
did after the game. We could have picked up another valuable point."

While the result might not have gone the Hammers' way, another sell-out
crowd once again offered some fantastic backing for the team. Tickets for
the next three home games are in high demand and with Norwich City and
Manchester United set to sell out by the end of the week, seats for the
following home game with Queens Park Rangers are also now selling fast. For
more information, click here.

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O'Brien's honest assessment
WHUFC.com
Joey O'Brien refused to blame Carlton Cole's dismissal for West Ham United's
2-1 defeat by Everton
24.12.2012

Joey O'Brien refused to blame Carlton Cole's controversial dismissal for
West Ham United's 2-1 Barclays Premier League defeat at home to Everton.
Cole was sent-off for a high challenge on Leighton Baines, but the forward
appeared to have both eyes on the ball before making contact with his fellow
England international. O'Brien conceded that the red card did not help the
hosts' cause but admitted the Hammers could have done more throughout the
course of the 90 minutes to avoid defeat. "I do not think we were playing
well and I do not think that we played well, so maybe Carlton Cole getting
sent-off gives us an excuse," said the No17. "After he went off it obviously
changed the game but after they scored one they looked like they would go on
and win it anyway. It may have made it a little easier but we are obviously
very disappointed."

There was an element of fortune in Steven Pienaar's winner, with the ball
bouncing off Kevin Nolan and then the South African midfielder before
rolling into the net. "It has hit Kevin, bounced off Pienaar and ended up in
the net so it is very unfortunate but it is one of those things. "I think
that summed up the day for us to be honest. We did not get going, we did not
play very well, Coley got sent off and the winner was very scrappy."

O'Brien admitted Everton had been the better side, as the likes of Leon
Osman and Pienaar put in very good performances. Indeed, the Republic of
Ireland international even tipped the Toffees for a top-four finish.
"Everton have some very good players who played well and they are a team in
the top half of the table who are pushing towards the top four. That said,
after going 1-0 up at home we should not have lost the game. It was not good
enough from us, so like I said we are very disappointed."

The Hammers game at Arsenal on Boxing Day has been called off, so a trip to
Reading is next on the fixture list. O'Brien said West Ham would be going to
the Madejski Stadium targeting a return to winning ways against a Royals
team which has won just once in 18 league games. "The important thing now is
to bounce back with a positive result. We lost to Liverpool here but then
went to West Bromwich Albion, which is a hard place to go, and put in a
positive performance [and drew 0-0]. "We are disappointed we are not playing
Boxing Day, but we are looking forward to taking on Reading and we need to
use the extra days off of rest to our advantage."

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The (ex) Rev's Christmas message
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 24th December 2012
By: Elwin Cockett

Elwin Cockett is the former Chaplain of West Ham United FC and the current
Archdeacon of West Ham. Every year he pens a Christmas message for the
readers of KUMB, which this year looks back at a wonderful year for east
London - and the prospect of an equally exciting future...

Just like my dreams..?

Whoever decided to include "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" in the opening
ceremony of the London Olympics was a genius. I'd guess that for West Ham
fans around the world that was one of the great 'tingle factor' moments in a
year full of such moments. It was if the organisers were acknowledging that
just as the Olympics were London's games, the UK's games and, in another
sense, the world's games, they were also our games – West Ham's games.

That's not only because the Olympic stadium stands in the old borough of
West Ham, although we can be proud of that, or because the games were based
in East London, in contrast to the 1908 and 1948 Olympics. It was also
because as the world-wide TV audience of billions heard "Bubbles" ring out
from that stadium for the first time we realised that, politics and jealous
rivals notwithstanding, that remarkable place was always destined to be our
home.

It's not a done deal yet, of course. Like anyone who has ever moved house,
we won't quite believe it until we're there. But we're starting to believe
in the vision of those who first imagined that our club could thrive there.

Of course, if we do move we're going to miss Upton Park. A midweek game
under the lights at the Boleyn Ground is still a special experience. But we
have to acknowledge that it is actually in East Ham, and that, in truth, it
lacks the atmosphere it had in the past, when fans stood in packed terraces
within feet of the touchline and banter with the players was part of the
experience. The game has changed and, while we will miss the best of the
past, we can make sure that the future is as good as it can be if we return
to our roots in West Ham.

I say 'we' because we are all part of our club, and therefore all part of
the future of our club.

If you were lucky enough, as I was, to spend time in the Olympic Park, you
will have been impressed by the buildings, the organisation and the events,
and probably thrilled by the athletes' performances. But what impressed me
most was the attitude of the crowds.

It was as if everyone was determined to have the best possible experience
together, but without the need to denigrate anyone else. There were no
negative chants, no racism, no abuse of the opposition, and no boos, apart
from well-deserved ones for politicians (Why anyone responsible for cutting
benefits for disabled people would expect a welcome at the Paralympics I
don't know). The atmosphere was still electric, and the celebration every
time our athletes won was as loud as anything I've ever heard, so we didn't
lose anything. And, for a little while, many of us wondered whether football
could be like that one day.

I'd like to think that the volunteers and the armed forces helped in that.
We were all grateful to the young squaddies who took on the unfamiliar task
of dealing cheerfully with thousands of visitors while carrying out the
serious task keeping us safe. They, along with the 70,000 Gamesmakers were
the ones who made London 2012 go with a smile.

I met a lot of them in my role as a Chaplain to the games. Quite a few of
them were West Ham fans. Remarkably, however tired they got and however
menial their tasks, they all seem to have had an amazing time. They felt
that they were part of a community doing something that mattered. They were
positive in their attitudes and optimistic about the future, and that
positivity and optimism spilled over into the people they met and the crowds
in their venues. They made me proud of East London.


"Come on you Irons..."


So what has all that got to do with Christmas? Well, Christmas is a time
when we appreciate things like community, friendship and family. That
applies to believers and non-believers alike. We have a chance to stop and
appreciate others, to show our gratitude, and to show goodwill to all,
including those less fortunate than ourselves. To seek, in the words of the
angels, 'peace on Earth and good will to men'.

As we look to 2013 and whatever lies beyond, is it possible that those
thoughts – along with the best of all that we have experienced in 2013 -
could inspire us to a better future?

I'm really proud of much of what goes on behind the scenes among West Ham
fans. I know of so many who give time and money to worthwhile causes, so
many who are contributing in different ways to their communities, or who are
simply good neighbours. Our club's fans can be the salt of the earth.

Maybe preparing to move to a new home gives us a chance to think about how
we can do things even better? Maybe seeing how the 2012 games succeeded
gives us an opportunity to see how the West Ham experience can be improved
for everyone? Maybe understanding that we're all part of a greater
community, whether we're part of the West Ham family or not, could inspire
us all to greater things on behalf of our fellow men and women? The only
limit to that is our imagination, it seems to me.

And maybe, just maybe, if we get it right, if together we can live up to our
dreams, we can start to look forward to many more tingle-factor moments in
years to come, with "Bubbles" sung with pride from every corner of our new
home, back in West Ham once more.

Meanwhile, Happy Christmas, everyone!
Elwin - Archdeacon of West Ham and one-time chaplain to West Ham United FC

* You may find Elwin on Twitter at twitter.com/elwincockett.

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The Julian Dicks column: Christmas Eve
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 24th December 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 KUMB column, the latest of which
begins with JD's thoughts on football during the festive period...

Merry Christmas everybody!

I used to love Christmas as a player and never had a Christmas off when I
was playing. I liked going in Christmas Day and playing on Boxing Day
because everybody was happy!

Saying that, I remember going in one Christmas Day - I think during Billy
Bonds' reign - and Ronnie Boyce was there. Ronnie wished me "Merry
Christmas" and I replied, "What's f*cking merry about it?" - and he went
"you're a miserable b*stard, you are!" But it was good; everybody was happy
and I loved it.

They liked to take us away to stay in a hotel, even for home games because
they didn't want you to have a drink - even though I could drink any time!
For home games you usually had a choice whether to come in on Christmas Day
afternoon and then go straight from training to the hotel, or come in early
in the morning, go home, then meet everyone later at the hotel. Usually for
away games you'd train in the morning or, if it was a long journey, you'd
get the coach up and train there.

This year I'm spending Christmas with my daughters, which will be good. I
was only 20 when they were born so they're grown up now and out of my hair -
but I'm looking forward to it, even though they're in their twenties!


Make them pay

Some referees, like Anthony Taylor in the West Ham v Everton game last
weekend, are making massive, massive mistakes. As soon as you look at
Carlton Cole's red card you go "hang on, that's not a sending off".

I don't even think the challenge should have been a yellow card; he wasn't
looking where the ball was going and he didn't do it on purpose. We all make
mistakes and it's the same for referees, but when you've got 35,000 people
knowing it wasn't a sending off but the man in the middle decides it is,
something's got to be wrong.

At the end of the day he's getting paid to do a job, but the flipside of
that is say for instance West Ham hadn't won for seven or eight games - it
could have been Sam Allardyce's last game in charge. This referee could be
costing people their livelihoods and the manager could have got the sack,
because of the man in the middle making horrendous decisions.

When Darron Gibson followed Cole up the tunnel, it was the first time I've
ever seen the West Ham fans boo an opposition player's sending off - which
proves what a bad decision Taylor made. Now the referee might get punished
and not take charge of a game for a week or two but the punishment has to be
more severe - especially with decisions like that.

I know they've got a hard job now with FIFA constantly changing the rules
but there's got to be some common sense in their decisions rather than going
bang, yellow card or bang, red card. It can cost people their livelihoods
and it's ridiculous.

The problem is that these referees have never played competitive football -
although I don't think any professional footballer would want to be a
referee, if I'm honest. I do think it would help as they've played the game
and know what warrants a card, but would I like to do it? Not a chance. I
got enough stick when I was a player, let alone being a referee!


Deal or no deal?

There's been lots of speculation about Sam Allardyce's future this week. I
don't think managers should be given long-term contracts unless they're
people like Alex Ferguson who've won trophy after trophy. Sam has done a
great job but if they give him a long-term contract - say five or six years
- and things go wrong and they want to get rid of him, they still have to
pay him up - and it's not as if he's on £100-per-week. The club would have
to pay him a fortune.

So I think a two-year deal is good enough for any manager and, if they're
good enough and do well at the club, the Chairman will want to give you
another year or two.


Coming up

The Arsenal match being cancelled could be a blessing in disguise due to the
sheer number of injuries - although it's a shame as I was supposed to be
doing the commentary for the game and I've never been to the Emirates! But
I'm doing the commentary for the Reading game and I'll be at the Norwich
game as well.

Norwich are doing well at the moment under Chrissy Hughton, he's turned
their fortunes around - but Reading are not doing so well and I would expect
West Ham to go there and get three points. There's a few teams - especially
the two that came up with West Ham - that can't defend. When Southampton
came to West Ham for example, they were awful.

Every team is going to go through a spell when they lose a few games but
it's how you react to the next game that counts - and West Ham can put it
all right with wins against Reading and Norwich which could yield six
points. But as we all know it's never as easy as that - they have to go out
there, perform and everyone has to be on their game.

West Ham brought Chrissy Hughton in to take my place when I was injured
around 1992 so I know him well. He's one of the nicest blokes you could wish
to meet and not the sort of person you'd think would become a manager.

He's a good coach and a lot of people rave about him, but at the end of the
day as a manger you don't have to be ruthless. Don't get me wrong, Chrissy
can lose his rag if he wants to but as a manager it's about getting the best
out of your players, about your man management and treating people how you
want to be treated.

He's done well at Carrow Road. They started off pretty poorly but I like
Chrissy's style of football, they get the ball on the floor and play and
he's turned it around so it'll be a tricky game, especially at Upton Park.
But I would expect West Ham to beat them and get six points from the two
games.


JD's Festive Favourites

Film: Miracle on 34th Street.

Song: The Pogues - Fairytale of New York.

Best Present: Box of cigars.

Drink: Any! But specifically whiskey.

TV or pub? Pub.

Best Moment of 2012: The play-off Final. To go there, win and get promotion
was absolutely fantastic for the players, the manager and especially the
supporters.

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Everton and West Ham challenge Darron Gibson and Carlton Cole red cards
Last Updated: December 24, 2012 2:09pm
SSN

West Ham and Everton have appealed against the red cards shown to Carlton
Cole and Darron Gibson in Saturday's clash at Upton Park. Cole and Gibson
were dismissed by referee Anthony Taylor for similar high challenges in the
match that Everton went on to win 2-1. The West Ham striker was the first to
see red for his challenge on Leighton Baines - he had earlier given them the
lead in the 14th minute. Republic of Ireland international Gibson was
dismissed in stoppage-time after Victor Anichebe and Steven Pienaar had
scored to send Everton on their way to three vital points. David Moyes was
quick to bemoan the performance of the match officials in the aftermath of
an important win for his side, with an appeal against Gibson's red card
broadly hinted at. "The Blues will submit the paperwork on Christmas Eve and
due to the FA protocol it does mean that Gibson will be able to participate
in the Boxing Day clash with Wigan Athletic," read a statement released on
the club's official website. "Everton's case will be heard on Thursday 27
December and expect to hear the outcome of the appeal later this week."

Cole's appeal will be heard on the same day, but West Ham are not in action
on Boxing Day after their derby clash with Arsenal was called off because of
industrial action on the tube.

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Allow technology - Allardyce
Last Updated: December 24, 2012 8:41am
SSN

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has hit out at football's governing bodies
for failing to introduce video technology to the sport. The Hammers had
Carlton Cole sent off during Saturday's 2-1 home defeat against Everton for
a high tackle on Leighton Baines, although referee Anthony Taylor's decision
to dismiss the striker seemed to be a harsh one. Everton's Darron Gibson
also saw red in the closing stages of their win for a similar offence, but
Allardyce beleives it is time for football's governing bodies to implement
the use of technology to help officials make the correct decisions. The only
way to make it better for us all is to bring technology into it," he said.
"I always said that two and three challenges a game should be in our favour.
We should be allowed it, should allow technology into the game. "Forget
about your old (Michel) Platinis, who are antiquated. "The only way to make
it better for us all is to bring technology into it."
Sam Allardyce
Quotes of the week

"I know they're in strong positions and they affect the game but they're not
doing us any favours by not allowing technology to come into play. "The
technology today means it's done in less than two minutes, isn't it - at the
absolute most. "I had two TVs in the dugout and it used to be a bigger help
for me on the fact that I thought what decision the referee had or hadn't
given. "The fourth official could see that it wasn't an offside, or it was
or it wasn't a goal - at least you knew it was or it wasn't."

Allardyce also revealed he had the televisions installed in his dugouts
whilst manager of Bolton and the 58-year-old criticised the FA for removing
them. "We put TVs in the dugouts in 2005 and had them ripped out by the
Premier League in 2006, that shows you just how backwards they are doesn't
it?," he said.
"In fact we had two TVs in the dugout - one had a 10-second delay and the
other showed replays of incidents."

Appeal

Allardyce insisted the club would look to appeal against Cole's red card
but, if the ban is upheld, West Ham will be without a main striker for the
next three games with Andy Carroll also ruled out through injury. The
Hammers were due to travel across London to face Arsenal on Boxing Day but
the match was postponed following the news London Underground staff will
strike. Allardyce said it was a blessing as he could not name a fully-fit
side if he was forced to face the Gunners. "I haven't got a team to play
Arsenal," he said. "I haven't got a team so it's worked out all right -
we'll just come in on Monday and count up the bodies. "We won't do any
training and we'll just go and see how packed the medical room is."

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