Daily WHUFC News - 30th December 2012

'I should have scored'
WHUFC.com
Ricardo Vaz Te has apologised after missing a gilt-edged chance in
Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Reading
30.12.2012

For Ricardo Vaz Te, returning to action after ten weeks out with a
dislocated shoulder - two weeks ahead of schedule - should have been a day
full of positives.
Instead, the popular No12 was almost inconsolable after his second-half miss
saw West Ham United fall to a 1-0 Barclays Premier League defeat at Reading.
While he clearly did not intend to head Matt Jarvis's late cross wide from
six yards, the winger felt the need to apologise to Sam Allardyce, his
team-mates and West Ham United supporters for passing up the opportunity to
net a deserved equaliser. "I'm just very disappointed with the result,
especially after coming on and having a great chance to score," he told West
Ham TV. "I felt like I should have done better and I should have scored.
There was no excuse for that. "I'm just really disappointed I couldn't make
it for the lads, really. I felt like I let everybody down and I'm just going
to try to do better next time. I'm glad to be back and I want to regain my
place again."

Even when he was reminded that every associated with the club would not
blame him for heading his chance wide, Vaz Te felt his miss overshadowed the
positive impact he made on the game on his return. "I know you can look at
that, but I know that alone is not good enough. It was a great chance - the
easiest chance I will ever have to score and I should have put it in the
back of the net. "I'm obviously very disappointed so I'm going to strive to
do better next time. I'm going to keep work and keep improving and as my
fitness picks up, I will surely do better. "I was just very disappointed to
let the team down."

Having not played any reserve-team football before his return to first-team
action at the Madejski Stadium, it is unlikely Vaz Te will be thrown into
the starting XI against Norwich City on New Year's Day. However, the
Portuguese said he is desperate to contribute if required. "I'm not sure I
am ready to start yet. I have only trained the past week and I didn't play
any games before. I played for 20 minutes at Reading and it was quite hard,
so I'm just going to keep training to get my fitness as quick as possible.
"I will do my best if the gaffer decides to put me on. Personally, I don't
think I'm ready to start a game but if that's the gaffer's choice I will
always do my best, like I said."

Whether he features or not against the Canaries, Vaz Te believes West Ham
can take heart from their second-half showing at Reading going into their
New Year's Day fixture. "We started out sloppy but the second half was much
better. As the game went on, Reading got really tired and they opened up a
bit more and we got opportunities - we just failed to score. "They could
have gone in and we would be celebrating, but they didn't and we're left
disappointed."

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Big Sam laments Reading 'bloopers'
WHUFC.com
Manager Sam Allardyce admitted a poor backpass and a missed chance had cost
West Ham United dear
29.12.2012

Sam Allardyce admitted his West Ham United team had been their own worst
enemies in Saturday's 1-0 Barclays Premier League defeat at Reading.
Speaking to West Ham TV in typically honest fashion, the manager said the
Hammers gifted the Royals three points. First, James Collins played in Pavel
Pobregnyak with a short backpass that the Russian finished expertly past
Jussi Jaaskelainen for the game's opening goal. Then, with time running out,
the returning Ricardo Vaz Te inexplicably headed Matt Jarvis's cross past
the post when it seemed easier to score. "The phrase 'Bogey team' is right
for Reading because no matter what we do or when we seem to play them, we
cannot get a result out of the game," said Big Sam, who also saw his side
beaten twice by Reading in the npower Championship last season. "Obviously,
when you look at Saturday's game and the two bloopers we made - one to gift
them the first goal and the other when Vaz missed the easiest chance I've
seen in a Premier League match for about ten years - I still cannot believe
it now. "That chance was what we had waited patiently for after dominating
the second half completely. It was the right opportunity to break down
Reading's stubborn defence with eight, nine or ten men behind the ball. It
came and it went and we should have scored. "We might well have gone on to
win the game had we scored that but I think we'd have got a point on the
balance of play but we didn't and we paid a heavy price for those two
mistakes."

Sadly for Collins, it is not the first time a mis-hit backpass has cost the
Hammers dear this season. The No19 also left the ball short at Swansea City
in August, allowing Michu to open the scoring in a 3-0 defeat at the Liberty
Stadium. "You can't legislate for it because you don't expect that sort of
thing to happen. When a player makes one mistake like that in a season, it's
generally only the only one and you don't see it again, but that's two
because James made the same sort of mistake at Swansea early doors. "We
haven't seen anything like that since but, lo and behold, it lifted up
Reading. They haven't earned their goal - we gifted it to them. Then it was
a slow recovery from us until the second half, when we started applying the
sort of pressure that we should have done more of in the first half. "We
waited for the golden chance and the golden chance came and we missed it so
we got no points."

Vaz Te's glaring miss aside, both he and fellow substitute Jack Collison
gave West Ham added impetus and energy in the final third, with the latter
also working Royals goalkeeper Adam Federici with a fierce low drive.
However, the manager lamented the lack of options he has had available in a
run of one victory in eight Barclays Premier League matches. And Big Sam's
frustration was compounded by Kevin Nolan and Collins receiving yellow cards
that sees them suspended from the New Year's Day visit of Norwich City. "Vaz
did well and Jack made some really good runs. Everyone talks about our
injuries being an excuse but they are a fact of life. Injured players not
being able to play cost you an awful lot and it has cost us an awful lot in
results terms - not so much our performances because they have been
relatively good - because we haven't had enough players to select from like
the other teams. "We're now in a position of our worst run of results this
season and then the unprofessionalism of our players, due to frustration,
means our skipper gets booked and James Collins gets booked [and are now
suspended for Tuesday]. "Losing the game was hard enough but to lose these
two players for the next game in the last game of the suspension period
[made it even worse]. If they get booked on Tuesday there is no suspension,
but they went and got themselves booked at Reading. "It's tough going for us
at the minute so we have dig in, become a bit more resilient and show a bit
more quality in the final third and make sure we try to win and get three
points as quickly as possible."

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Reading 1 West Ham 0
29 December 2012
By Nabil Hassan
BBC Sport

Reading earned only their second Premier League win of the season as Pavel
Pogrebnyak's fifth-minute goal secured a vital win over West Ham. Pogrebnyak
latched onto a poor backpass from Hammers defender James Collins, before
beating Jussi Jaaskelainen. Adam Federici tipped Collins's header over while
Jem Karacan's shot was pushed onto the bar by Jaaskelainen. Substitute
Ricardo Vaz Te nodded wide from three yards as the hosts held on to move
within five points of safety. "It was a gruelling battle and one Reading
just had to win with Pavel Pogrebnyak's fifth-minute goal proving decisive"
The result means the Royals remain a place above bottom side QPR on 13
points, with Southampton (17 points) and Aston Villa (18) above them.
Reading beat West Ham twice last season in the Championship and they made a
flying start to the game, Pogrebnyak giving them the lead after just five
minutes. Collins under hit a backpass to goalkeeper Jaaskelainen and the
Russian intercepted the ball, slotting home beautifully for the opener. The
goal settled Reading, who dominated midfield in the opening stages with
Jimmy Kebe on the right wing their best outlet. West Ham slowly started to
come into the game, threatening with crosses from wider positions, and
Collins almost made amends for his earlier mistake with a close-range header
that was superbly tipped over the bar by Federici.

Nolan also tested the Australian keeper with a curling effort from the edge
of the area, while Reading needed several late tackles from central defender
Alex Pearce to keep West Ham at bay. It was a half low on quality and full
of poor challenges, with Mark Noble, Pogrebnyak and Collins all booked, and
another four yellow cards following in the second half. Carlton Cole had
West Ham's first chance after the break, heading Matt Jarvis's cross wide as
the visitors introduced Jack Collison for Matt Taylor to try to give them a
grip in midfield. Cole was involved again soon after, stamping on Chris
Gunter, with the Hammers forward lucky to escape punishment. As the rain
lashed down it became a gruelling battle, with Reading dropping deeper and
deeper as they looked to hold on.
Collison went close with a low strike that Federici did well to keep out at
full stretch, and Karacan crashed a shot against the crossbar from 18 yards.
Vaz Te made his return after 12 weeks out with a shoulder injury. And the
Portuguese had a great opportunity to level the game but headed wide when
unmarked three yards out.

Reading manager Brian McDermott told BBC Sport: "I'm very pleased. We were
very resilient today and we needed to be. We know what we have to do to get
results in this league and we move on now and look forward to our next game
against Spurs. "We had to deal with facing a very physical side and we have
kept another clean sheet. I didn't feel they had too many opportunities.
Pavel took his chance very well and we've also hit the bar. "A couple of
their players could have been sent off and you saw two teams desperate to
win out there."

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce told BBC Sport: "We shot ourselves in the
foot from the early stages. James Collins has been solid for us this season
but he made a basic error and they took full advantage. "Reading defended
deep and in numbers and Vaz Te has missed a glaring, glaring chance and two
errors mean we have not taken any points against them . "We are slipping
back down that way now and that is going to put pressure on us. We should
have undone our early error but Vaz has missed it. "We are bitterly
disappointed not to come away with a point and now we are without James
(Collins) and Kevin (Nolan) through suspension for an important game against
Norwich."

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Gold to open wallet for January sales
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 29th December 2012
By: Staff Writer

David Gold has confirmed that West Ham will be looking to boost their squad
in the forthcoming January transfer window. Speaking on the BBC's Football
Focus programme this lunchtime, the co-chairman confirmed that Sam Allardyce
would be given funds to spend during the month-long window in order to
address weaknesses in the squad which have been highlighted recently by a
string of injuries. "Sam would like another 20 players - as most managers
would!" joked Gold. "We've had injuries but we are beginning to see a number
of the players returning. "A couple of weeks ago when we only had six subs
on the bench it was like making a statement saying we are short of numbers -
and that is true. But all of a sudden two or three players comne back from
injury and you become a bit more comfortable. "Having said that, I'm sure
that we'll be bringing in some additional players."

One player clearly on Allardyce's radar is Nicolas Anelka, who vice chair
Karren Brady revealed in her weekly tabloid newspaper column that she met
earlier this week. "I saw the former Chelsea striker today," she said. "I'm
pleased to report that he is fit and well and relaxed in Dubai. Sam
Allardyce would like to bring him back to the UK, so let's see what
happens."

Whatever the outcome of the January window, Gold says he is happy with the
progress of the team - and Allardyce himself, whose current two-year
contract expires this coming summer. "We're pleased with Sam," he added.
"There was a concern by some West Ham fans at the very beginning; they felt
that Sam was a long ball man but I think he has proved them all wrong. "I
wanted to be top of the division but I'm realistic! If you had asked us at
the beginning of the season we'd have taken where we are right now.
"Certainly we'd have liked to have beaten Liverpool, we were winning that
game and were ahead against Arsenal so we've lost a few home games from
winning positions. But having said that, we've done very well and I think
most people are pleased with what we've achieved."

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Chairman David Gold hints Sam Allardyce will be handed new West Ham deal
Last Updated: December 29, 2012 10:10am
SSN

West Ham chairman David Gold has admitted that manager Sam Allardyce is
'highly likely' to remain at Upton Park. Reports had claimed that Allardyce
is facing an uncertain future as there are six months left on his current
contract and he is yet to start formal talks about a new deal. Allardyce has
expressed his desire to have a long reign at West Ham, who have made a solid
start to the season, and Gold has suggested he will be offered the chance to
stay at the helm.
"Its highly likely that Sam will be with us next season. He likes us we like
him. Thats a good basis for a on going relationship." Allardyce's squad has
been stretched thin by a string of injuries and he was disappointed to lose
Yossi Benayoun, who has returned to Chelsea after failing to make a big
impact during his loan spell. The Israeli midfielder has been struggling
with injuries and Allardyce intends to replace him with a new face during
the January transfer window.
"He's obviously not contributed the level of games that we thought he would
do," Allardyce said. "On that basis he's going to return to Chelsea which
frees up an opportunity for us to go out in the market to do a little bit
more. "Had he been involved more and played a bit more than he has we'd have
been only too delighted to continue the loan but because of the lack of
contribution he's gone back."

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Reading gain their second victory of the season at home to West Ham United
By @danielstorey85. Last Updated: December 29, 2012 11:09pm
SSN

Reading gained their second victory of the season after Pavel Pogrebnyak's
goal sealed a 1-0 win over visiting West Ham. Reading came into the game
with the worst winless run in the Premier League (eight games without
victory), and the game paired together the worst home defence against the
worst travelling attack.

Best of the Game

Man of the game - Pavel Pogrebnyak was full of energy, his strength in
holding up the ball crucial to every attack from his side
Mistake of the game - James Collins is not immune to the occasional
individual error, and his backpass after five minutes was woefully short
Goal of the game - Only one to choose from, but Pogrebnyak's finish showed
impressive calmness so early on in the piece
Save of the game - In a game of few chances, Adam Federici tipped over a
Winston Reid header during the first half
Miss of the match - Quite how Ricardo Vaz Te managed to miss the target with
his header from three yards he will only know
Talking point - Will Sam Allardyce be happy with side's break on Boxing Day,
or did it in fact hamper the Hammers? They looked off the pace and lacked
fluidity throughout the match

It was the hosts who took the lead after five minutes, Pogrebnyak
capitalising on a poor error from James Collins in defence, and the visitors
struggled to gain any fluidity in attacks, all too often losing the ball in
midfield. The second half followed the same pattern. West Ham did enjoy
spells of dominance, but their final ball and set-piece delivery continued
to hold them back. Their best chance fell to substitute Ricardo Vaz Te three
yards out, but he could only head wide. It merely summed up the day for the
Hammers. Sam Allardyce was able to call on Carlton Cole after his red card
against Everton was overturned, and the West Ham boss chose to operate a
4-5-1 formation, with Kevin Nolan operating behind Cole. Brian McDermott
chose to match his opposite number, with Pavel Pogrebnyak utilised as a lone
striker with Adam Le Fondre and Noel Hunt on the bench. It took just five
minutes for the home side to take the lead. Collins struggled to control a
high ball and compounded his error with an awful back pass to Jussi
Jaaskelainen. Pogrebnyak gratefull advanced on goal, and with the goalkeeper
venturing out, guided it home with his left foot.

It was, in truth, one of the only action points of a sloppy first half.
Pogrebnyak continued to be effective whilst Carlton Cole worked hard in his
lone role for the visitors, but both were left slightly isolated through a
lack of runners from midfield. Quite whether it was due to the prolonged
break after a postponed Boxing Day fixture or otherwise, Allardyce would
have been less than impressed by his side's first-half display. There were
mistakes and confusion in defence, and in midfield effort had led to little
end result. A header from Winston Reid tipped over the bar by Adam Federici
was the closest the Hammers came to equalising as half-time approached.

West Ham improved during the second half, but their final ball consistently
let them down, and too many set pieces hit the first man, a fact that will
frustrate their manager. It was Reading that had the first chance of the
half, with Pogrebnyak firing low into the bottom corner, only to see an
offside flag deny him, correctly so. As the game wore on, an element of
needle was introduced. With seven players booked in total, all too often
individuals reacted to challenges, causing unnecessary headaches for referee
Michael Oliver, who officiated the game admirably under considerable
pressure from both sets of players.

Halfway through the half and Reading again had the opportunity to increase
their lead, with Jem Karacan hitting the underside of the bar from the edge
of the area with Jaaskelainen beaten. Jimmy Kebe could only fire over from
the rebound.

For the last 20 minutes, however, West ham had all the pressure as the home
side seemed happy to sit on their valuable lead, and the Hammers should have
taken a point on 84 minutes. A cross was played high into the box where
substitute Vaz Te found himself completely unmarked just three yards out.
Inexplicably, he tried to be cute with the header and allowed it to slide
wide of the goal.

The game meandered to a close without any more chances amidst moments of
timewasting and tension, and Reading held on for just their second victory
of the season in the Premier League. They were not at their best, but were
not forced to be by a West Ham side that have now won just one in eight. Sam
Allardyce will be deeply disappointed in the way his side could not play
with a fluidity often seen when playing at home.

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Mistake and miss prove costly for West Ham boss Sam Allardyce at Reading
Last Updated: December 30, 2012 8:18am
SSN

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce pinpointed two crucial moments following his
side's 1-0 defeat at Reading. An early mistake from James Collins allowed
Pavel Pogrebnyakto net the fifth-minute winner for the Royals and substitute
Ricardo Vaz Te then wasted a glorious opportunity to equalise. "James
Collins makes a basic error, they take advantage of it then Vaz Te misses
the chance," said Allardyce. "He had the easiest chance to score a goal
you'll ever see in a Premier League football match and misses it - hence no
points. You make those types of mistakes, you can't expect to get anything
out of a game at this level.
"Once they got the goal they wouldn't want to come out and play. They wanted
to protect the goal we'd gifted them. The loss of the goal disrupted our
flow.
"I never thought I'd see James make that type of error again - he did it at
Swansea. "He has been one of our most consistent from that time but low and
behold he has a simple back-pass he misplaces and they take advantage of it.
"The lads should have got him out of the mire. We should've got at least a
point and then it wouldn't by lying as heavily on him as it is now. He's
distraught at the moment. He knows what that mistake has meant. He has to
get over it."

The defeat leaves West Ham six points above the relegation zone with
Allardyce now looking over his shoulder. He added: "We're beginning to look
down now for the first time this season. All of a sudden now, we're looking
a bit cautious and we don't want to get dragged in if we can help it."

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Queens Park Rangers have made an offer for West Ham midfielder Mohamed Diame
By Pete O'Rourke - Follow me: @skysportspeteo.
Last Updated: December 29, 2012 12:37pm
SSN

Sky Sports understands Queens Park Rangers have made an offer for West Ham
midfielder Mohamed Diame as they look to bolster their squad in the transfer
window. QPR boss Harry Redknapp is desperate to bring in new faces next
month as he looks to steer the club clear of relegation and he has made
Diame one of his top targets. Redknapp is ready to exploit Diame's release
clause in his West Ham contract which is thought to be £3.5million.
All-action midfielder Diame has been a revelation for West Ham since his
arrival on a free transfer from Wigan last summer. A number of clubs have
been keeping tabs on his progress at Upton Park, but QPR have made the first
move to try and sign him by triggering the release clause in his contract.
West Ham had moved to try and fend off the growing interest in Diame by
setting up talks aimed at taking out the release clause from his contract,
but as yet no agreement has been reached. Diame, who has been out of action
since picking up a hamstring injury in the defeat by Liverpool earlier this
month, is back in light training and is expected to be back playing in 10
days. Redknapp is now hoping to be given the green light to hold talks with
Diame as he sees him as the midfield powerhouse who can lead his side to
safety in the second half of the season.

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Gold: Mo no go
Published: 29th December 2012
The Sun

DAVID GOLD has denied QPR have made a bid for West Ham's Mohamed Diame.
Hoops boss Harry Redknapp is said to have triggered a £3.5million escape
clause in the 25-year-old midfielder's contract. But Irons co-chairman Gold
said: "I'm confident Mo will remain our player. There's been no offer."

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Big Sam has big sympathy
Published: 29th December 2012
The Sun

SAM ALLARDYCE says James Collins was left "distraught" after his costly
error. The Hammers defender gifted Reading's Pavel Pogrebnyak the chance to
score as the struggling Royals won 1-0. Manager Big Sam said: "I never
thought I'd see James make that sort of mistake again. "He made one at
Swansea earlier in the season and he's been one of our most consistent
players since then. The lads should have got James out of the mire. He's
distraught in the dressing room."
Allardyce was also angry over Ricardo Vaz Te's late miss with a free header.
Big Sam said: "Vaz Te misses a chance — the best and easiest chance to score
a goal you'll ever see in a Prem match. Hence no points."

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WEST HAM CONTACT BAN FOR SAM ALLARDYCE
Daily Star
30th December 2012 By Tony Stenson

WEST HAM boss Sam Allardyce has banned full contact training until his
injury crisis clears. He cannot risk losing any more players during the
festive period as he faces up to the prospect of being without first-team
players Carlton Cole, Andy Carroll, Mohamed Diame, Yossi Benayoun, Ricardo
Vaz Te and Guy Demel.
Allardyce said: "Medical staff are busier than us coaches at the moment. We
can't afford any more ­contact or any more injuries, so we can't even do any
training. "If we try to do any training and try to do any shape or build-up,
we will get contact between players and if you get contact between players,
you risk injury and we can't do that. "We haven't been able to even get out
on the field and do a bit of coaching at the moment."

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MANCHESTER UNITED FANS FURIOUS AT WEST HAM CUP TICKET CUTBACKS
Daily Star
Darren King
30th December 2012 By Carl Eldridge

FURIOUS Manchester United fans have slammed West Ham for reducing their
ticket allocation for the FA Cup Third Round tie at Upton Park. Red Devils
supporters have hit out at the Hammers after they cut the number of away
followers allowed to attend the mouth-watering clash by 762 to just under
5,000. And they are angry that West Ham officials will not explain why they
have slashed their entitlement ahead of ­Saturday's encounter. Irate United
follower Darren King, 44, said: "It's one thing refusing to give you what
you are entitled to by FA Cup rules but another not to tell you why. It's a
joke. We deserve answers and an openness on this issue. We are the lifeblood
of the game."

West Ham's safety advisory group – a committee made up of representatives
from West Ham, the emergency services and Newham Council – took the decision
on safety grounds. West Ham co-owner David Gold claims that police were
responsible for the allocation cut but a Met Police spokesman said: "I
cannot comment about what was ­discussed at the meeting."

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Gold likely to extend Allardyce's stay at Upton Park before contract runs
down in six months
By DAVID KENT
PUBLISHED: 18:01, 29 December 2012 | UPDATED: 18:01, 29 December 2012
Daily Mail

Sam Allardyce is likely to stay at West Ham after his contract expires in
six months' time, according to chairman David Gold. With such a short period
left on his current deal at Upton Park, there had been reports that
Allardyce was ready to leave the east London club with talks for a new deal
yet to commence. Allardyce, who guided the Hammers to promotion from the
npower Championship last season, has hit the ground running in the Premier
League after a steady start, and has said int he past that he wants to stay
at the helm for years to come. Gold has hinted that he is ready to offer the
former Bolton and Newcastle manager an extension. The co-owner said on his
official Twitter account: 'Its highly likely that Sam will be with us next
season. He likes us we like him. Thats a good basis for a on going
relationship. Dg' That relationship will be put to the test in the January
transfer window, as Allardyce is determined to draft in a replacement for
Yossi Benayoun, who will return to his parent club Chelsea after failing to
make the expected impact. Allardyce said: 'He's obviously not contributed
the level of games that we thought he would do.' 'On that basis he's going
to return to Chelsea which frees up an opportunity for us to go out in the
market to do a little bit more. 'Had he been involved more and played a bit
more than he has we'd have been only too delighted to continue the loan but
because of the lack of contribution he's gone back.'

Meanwhile, Allardyce wants more professional referees in the Barclays
Premier League to provide more competition for matches. He was upset with
the consistency shown by Anthony Taylor during his side's 2-1 defeat at home
to Everton last weekend where he saw both striker Carlton Cole and Toffees'
midfielder Darron Gibson dismissed. Both red cards have since been rescinded
but Allardyce, who also said he thinks tiredness can affect refereeing
decisions at this time of year, said the introduction of more trained
officials can improve the standard in England. 'There's not enough
referees,' he said. 'If there's more referees, there's more competition. If
there's more competition there's more competition for your game.'

Despite having two of his key decisions overturned at Upton Park, Taylor
will be the man in the middle for Liverpool's trip to QPR tomorrow and
Allardyce believes a referee sitting out for a week following a bad
performance would also help their development. He said: 'A referee hates not
refereeing on a Saturday. The biggest punishment for a referee is not to be
refereeing on a Saturday - like a player not to be playing. 'They love it.
They enjoy doing what they're doing. They're professional now and they're
full-time. But if we have more high quality numbers and more professional
referees, and you look at fatigue, which I think there's a problem now. 'I
don't think a referee can be rested or left out at the moment, and that's
one of the problems.' Allardyce watched his side lose this afternoon at the
Madejski Stadium, as Pavel Pogrebnyak scored the decisive goal for Reading.

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