Daily WHUFC News - 26th December 2012

A Christmas message
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Club Chaplain Rev. Alan Bolding has shared a festive message
for supporters
25.12.2012

West Ham United Club Chaplain Rev. Alan Bolding has shared a festive message
for Hammers fans celebrating Christmas. Merry Christmas from everyone at
West Ham United. "It's that special time of year again and what a year we've
had. Who can forget that marvellous day at Wembley. Magnificent stadium,
beautiful weather and the right result. Didn't the lads do us proud and get
us back to top-flight football where we belong? "I'd like to tell you a
story about Father Robert, a Priest from Sao Paulo in Brazil. Just before
Christmas, he started telling people 'This year we're going to have a live
crib'. People were curious and anxious to see what he was talking about. "A
week before Christmas he said the same thing and after the service he got
his students together and told them that he'd like them to go into Sao Paulo
and find the poorest area and the poorest people. He said he'd like them to
take their names, addresses and number of children. After three days they
came back with over 100 names and addresses and father Robert wrote them all
on pieces of paper and put them on a tray. "Just before the mass on
Christmas Eve started, the crib was put on the right-side of the altar and
father Robert took the tray with all the names on and put it on the opposite
side of the altar. "When the mass started, he got two posters and he put one
up beside the usual crib, which said 'Dead Crib', and the other poster under
the tray said 'Live Crib' and all the congregation were asking what the
meaning was. "He spoke about social injustice, unemployment, the lack of
medical care, food and homes. He said: 'This Christmas, through poverty and
through ignorance, Christ has changed his address. On this Christmas Day,
you'll find him at his new address, which is on a piece of paper on that
tray. "After the service, the church emptied very quickly and so did the
paper on the tray. That day, the baker sold more bread than he'd ever sold,
the butcher sold more meat than he'd ever sold, rice and beans flew off the
shelf and the dairy ran out of milk. Clothes, toys, pens, paper and shoes
all found new owners at Christ's new address. "This Christmas, where will
you find Jesus Christ? Will you find him in church, at home, your
neighbour's home, a stranger's home or even at the Boleyn Ground? "Wherever
you find him, God bless you, have a Happy Christmas and a really prosperous
New Year. "Come on you Irons!"

Rev. Alan Bolding
West Ham United club Chaplain

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Captain's Christmas blog
WHUFC.com
Kevin Nolan has wished all Hammers fans a very merry Christmas
25.12.2012

Hello to everyone.
It is Christmas time! I just want to wish every single one of you a very
happy and healthy Christmas. For our young supporters, I hope Father
Christmas brings you everything you have wished for and for everyone to have
a safe Christmas, especially if you are driving and travelling to see your
family and friends. Have a good day and enjoy all the festivities, but keep
safe and sound. I would also like to send our very best wishes to all we met
at Whipps Cross Hospital and Richard House Children's Hospice on our team
visits a few weeks ago. We will be thinking of all of you and those of you
who might not have the best Christmas in the difficult circumstances and to
all those hard-working hospice and hospital staff who will be working over
this time. As our game scheduled for Boxing Day - against Arsenal - has been
called off, we won't be playing, so we have a bit of time with our families
but we will be training and focusing this week on what will be our next
match, away to Reading, on Saturday. That match will be followed by a home
match on New Year's Day, against Norwich, so there is much to concentrate on
and much to aim for.

Although we were disappointed to lose against Everton and how it all turned
out for us, we move on now to put things right in our next game. The big
boost for us was the welcome return of JC [Jack Collison] to the squad. JC
has been working so hard to get back and we are all delighted for him and to
have him back is a great addition to the team again. We hope that we will
have a few more bodies back soon and that will help strengthen us in the
month ahead. Once again, your support was boss at the Boleyn Ground on
Saturday which was appreciated by us all and a big thank-you to all of you
who will be following us to Reading next weekend.

Merry Christmas and enjoy!
Come on you Irons!
Kevin Nolan
Captain

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Big Sam plots plan for Reading
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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West Ham Half-Term Report: Get Micah Richards In On Loan & Get Tomkins Out
Of The Midfield
by Tom Shaw26 December 2012
Sabotagetime.com

Big Sam appears to be appeasing the Hammers faithful. We just need to hold
onto Diame and bolster the backline and it will undoubtedly be a second
season of Premier League football for us.

What's going right?

Quite a lot. Despite slipping into the bottom half of the table for the
first time this season, performances have generally been maintained at a
high standard, only the defeats to Swansea and Wigan away from home have
proved to be disappointing. The win against Chelsea was probably the
highlight of the season so far. At least the second half was, not the first,
where we were as threatening as Clint Hill's stake for the Ballon d'Or.

The midfield trio of Nolan, Noble and Diame all lead by example as Chelsea
simply became overran by the strength of West Ham's forward play. Fans are
generally content at Upton Park, a difficult Christmas is ahead, but
supporters enter the period with belief that any result is possible. Even
Andy Carroll is proving a minor success. Despite his lack of goals, his link
up play fits nicely into Allardyce's tactics and helps create chances for
others.

What's not?

It's difficult to pick out too many flaws from the season so far, but the
previously mentioned defeats against Swansea and Wigan were flattening. The
defence lacked organisation in both fixtures, something Allardyce would
undoubtedly have given them a bollocking for having worked so hard to
regiment his backline in the Championship. James Tomkins' role in midfield
has also proved ineffective. Allardyce persists with it, but a clear
reluctance for Tomkins to play there means we are playing with a passenger.

Got the right manager?

I've written previously about Allardyce's tactics being pivotal to a
successful return to the Premier League for West Ham. So far, I haven't seen
anything to change my mind. Team selections have been, on the whole,
positive and the build-up play at times has been outstanding. The recent
departure of Wally Downes has come as a surprise to most people connected
with the club, but Allardyce has done enough for me to trust his judgement.
His business in January will be interesting; he could move for signings that
will consolidate for this season, or plot ambitious moves that would signal
his intent for the club and his own future.

Star player?

Mohamed Diame has proved an absolute revelation. The hype surrounding him
right now is completely justified as his Yaya Toure-esque style of play has
caught the eye of the top clubs. Diame is now pivotal to the team,
embarrassingly highlighted by the 3-2 loss against Liverpool where after his
departure; the centre of the pitch became overran by Liverpool's counter
attacks. The midfield has generally moved like clockwork this season,
becoming finely tuned under the leadership of Kevin Nolan alongside Diame,
as well as the gallant Mark Noble. An honourable mention as well must go to
Jaaskelainen, who has kept many a top striker at bay, including keeping a
memorable clean sheet against Manchester City.

Who would you like to sell in January?

A story surfaced recently that said Frederic Piquionne is finding it
difficult being at the club and not playing. I had completely forgotten he
even existed so it would make sense for him to move on. Apart from that, the
squad is probably its most united it's been in over ten years so it would
seem foolish to force anyone out. Allardyce has given faith to a lot of
youngsters this season which is encouraging, with the senior players all
proving their worth at some point in the first half of the season.

Who do you want to sign?

While everyone likes Joey O'Brien, it's more a feeling of pity I get now
when I watch him play. Clearly not cut out for the top level, a top class
full back is needed to recover the many errors O'Brien has made. Depending
on injuries and how in favour they are at their respective clubs,
enterprising full backs like Micah Richards or Ryan Bertrand coming in on
loan could give a vigour to a backline that has been beleaguered in its play
a lot of the time where Demel and O'Brien can only hope that running with
the ball ends with them giving it to a team mate.

Best chant so far?

Most chants about Ricardo Vaz Te make me happy with this being my favourite:
"He scores with his left, he scores with his right, Ricardo Vaz Te, makes
Messi look shite!" The evergreen Ludo Miklosko chant has been present again
this season, it's my favourite chant of all time. Look it up.

Best opposition player/team you've seen this season?

Santi Cazorla had an outstanding game when Arsenal came to Upton Park. His
ball retention, as well as his distribution, is second to none and he capped
it off with a goal that was annoyingly brilliant. If he were not Spanish, he
would be leading the midfield threat for any nation. For team performance,
despite them losing 3-1. Chelsea's first half was terrifying. Hazard and
Mata were constantly dangerous with even Torres looking like he could give
our defenders serious trouble.

Biggest **** of the season?

Jermain Defoe. Just because.

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