Daily WHUFC News - 30th April 2012

Positive Guy
WHUFC.com
Guy Demel is determined to finish his season on a high by winning promotion
via the Play-Offs
29.04.2012

Guy Demel is determined to finish his first season at West Ham United on a
high by winning promotion via the Play-Offs. The right-back is also eager to
make up for the error that saw the Hammers concede a goal in Saturday's 2-1
npower Championship victory over Hull City. West Ham's win at the Boleyn
Ground saw them finish the season on a six-match unbeaten run and third in
the table - just two points behind second-place Southampton and three adrift
of champions Reading. Having lost just once in their previous 18 league
matches, the Ivorian believes West Ham can bounce back immediately from the
disappointment of missing out on automatic promotion by going up at Wembley
on 19 May. "I think the team did well against Hull. We played a good game
and won the game but the fact that Southampton won means we are going to the
Play-Offs," the right-back told West Ham TV. "I think we are going with a
victory to the Play-Offs and that was the most important thing.
"For me, I made a mistake that led to their goal which I'm not really happy
about now, but I am happy with the fact that I played 90 minutes. It was
really important for me and really important for the Play-Offs. I hope I
will get to my best form quickly and this was the next step."

Aside from his wayward header that led to Corry Evans' 81st-minute
consolation goal, Demel looked solid and strong, defending well and getting
forward down the right wing with encouraging regularity. "My form is coming
and my fitness is coming," said the former Hamburger SV man. "That is why
I'm really upset because if I had played the ball better their goal would
not have happened, but that happens sometimes in football. "We work hard all
the week so it was nice to be on the field with the players. It's important
that we keep winning and we're going to the Play-Offs with a good feeling."

An experienced international, Demel believes West Ham go into Thursday's
semi-final first leg at Cardiff City with every chance of recording a second
victory of the season in the Welsh capital. "There is a good mentality in
the dressing room. We tried our best on Saturday and did our job, so that
wasn't too disappointing. We can get promoted by the Play-Offs so now we
just have to give our best in the first two games, starting with the game on
Thursday."

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2011/12 in numbers
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 29th April 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham's 13 away wins in the Championship this season was a new club
record. But how did the season compare to the rest in other areas?

Away wins

West Ham's 13 away wins this season is a new club record, beating the
previous record set 55 years previously...

1. 2011/12: 13 wins (Championship, 46 game season)
2. 1957/58: 11 wins (Division Two, 42 game season)
3. 1922/23: 11 wins (Division Two, 42 game season)
4. 1926/27: 10 wins (Division One, 42 game season)

Points

Sam Allardyce's team were just one win shy of achieving the highest points
total in a season by any West Ham side...

1. 1992/93: 88 points (Division One old, 46 game season)
2. 1990/91: 87 points (Division Two, 46 game season)
3. 2011/12: 86 points (Championship, 46 game season)
4. 1985/86: 84 points (Division One, 42 game season)

Away goals scored

Only twice before have West Ham scored more than 40 goals away from home in
a single league season...

1. 1957/58: 45 goals (Division Two, 42 game season)
2. 1922/23: 42 goals (Division Two, 42 game season)
3. 1966/67: 40 goals (Division One, 42 game season)
4. 2011/12: 40 goals (Championship, 46 game season)

Away goals conceded

The 22 goals conceded by West Ham on their travels this season has only been
bettered once previously in a 46 match league campaign...

1. 1990/91: 16 goals (Division Two, 46 game season)
2. 1980/81: 17 goals (Division Two, 42 game season)
3. 1920/21: 19 goals (Division Two, 42 game season)
4. 2011/12: 22 goals (Championship, 46 game season)


Away Defeats

West Ham's four defeats on their travels this season - at Southampton,
Reading, Derby and Ipswich - has only been bettered once previously...

1. 1980/81: 3 defeats (Division Two, 42 game season)
2. 2011/12: 4 defeats (Championship, 46 game season)
3. 1990/91: 5 defeats (Division Two, 46 game season)
4. 2003/04: 6 defeats (Championship, 46 game season)


Total Defeats

Only twice before have West Ham lost less than eight league games in any one
season...

1. 1980/81: 4 defeats (Division Two, 42 game season)
2. 1990/91: 7 defeats (Division Two, 46 game season)
3. 1957/58: 8 defeats (Division Two, 42 game season)
4. 2011/12: 8 defeats (Championship, 46 game season)


Goal Difference

West Ham's final goal difference of +33 was their best in 20 years - and
their fifth highest of all time...

1. 1980/81: +50 (Division Two, 42 game season)
2. 1957/58: +47 (Division Two, 42 game season)
3. 1992/93: +40 (Division One old, 46 game season)
4. 1985/86: +34 (Division One, 42 game season)
5. 2011/12: +33 (Championship, 46 game season)


Finishing third

A West Ham team has only finished third in the league on two previous
occasions. Additionally, West Ham have won a division twice and finished
runners-up on three occasions...

1. 1934/35: Division Two
2. 1985/86: Division One
3. 2011/12: Championship


Championship Points

West Ham's points total for a third place finish in the Championship has
been bettered by just four clubs in the last 20 years...

1. 1997/98: 90 points (Sunderland)
2. 1992/93: 88 points (Portsmouth)
3. 2000/01: 87 points (Bolton Wanderers); 1999/00: 87 points (Ipswich Town)
5. 2011/12: 86 points (West Ham Utd); 2001/02: 86 points (Wolves); 1998/99:
86 points (Ipswich)

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Keep cool
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Last Updated: 30th April 2012

MARK NOBLE has warned his Hammers team-mates to stay cool in the run-up to
the play-offs. SAM ALLARDYCE admits the ball is in the air again as West Ham
enter the play-off The midfielder is the sole survivor of the squad from the
2005 final victory over Preston. And he has since matured to become an Upton
Park icon. West Ham travel to Cardiff on Thursday before next Monday's
second leg in a week which will shape the destiny of the club. Carlton
Cole's two goals were not enough to keep the dream of automatic promotion
alive. Noble, 24, said: "We had ice baths and put that firmly in the back of
our heads and concentrated on Thursday. "I know they say that the playoffs
are massive games but it is the same-sized ball and same colour grass and
same white lines. "We have played Cardiff twice and we know what to expect.
"We were disappointed as we wanted to go up straight away. But we need to
get that disappointment out quickly. "I told the lads after the game we must
get our heads around it, as I have been in the situation of just getting
into the play-offs and everyone is buzzing as you have a chance of getting
to Wembley and the Premier League."

Noble played alongside Cardiff boss Malky Mackay briefly at Upton Park and
reckons he was always destined for management. He added: "Even in training,
Malky was giving me rollickings and stuff so I knew he had it in him."
Striker Cole was on target after 36 and 48 minutes - the first time he has
scored twice in a game all season - before Corry Evans netted a late
consolation for Hull. Hammers boss Sam Allardyce reckons his squad is fitter
now than at the start of the season - despite 46 Championship games and nine
months on the road. Big Sam said: "Our fitness levels are greater now than
they were in the first half of the season. We've grown in our capabilities
in using our physical and technical abilities to beat the opposition. "I
won't enjoy the play-offs. The only thing you enjoy is getting through, then
planning for the final. "The hardest thing and most tense thing for a
manager is to not let the pressure of the play-offs cloud your preparation.
"You're the guy who has to guide the players into that critical situation
and they're the ones who have to go out and enjoy it, not me. "I'm here to
worry about it for them. I won't smile much from now on."

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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce tells players to focus on Cardiff City tie
by Terry Phillips, South Wales Echo
Apr 30 2012

SAM Allardyce is adamant his West Ham team will ease past Cardiff City and
earn promotion at Wembley Stadium. But he has also warned his players:
"Don't you dare think about the final - we have to focus on beating Cardiff
City and nothing else." Allardyce, who took over from Avram Grant at West
Ham, said: "I stuck my neck out and we wanted promotion in my first season
here. "I have a two-year contract, but getting up in the first season is
important. We still have three games to win and we will do it. "Our ultimate
goal of automatic promotion was not achieved, we left ourselves too much to
do, but we have to lick our wounds, get over our disappointment and get
ready for the vital games ahead of us. The hardest thing, and believe me I
speak from experience, is to banish thoughts of the final at Wembley. If you
start thinking about that game before the semi-finals, you won't get there.
"The most difficult challenge is to come out on top after the two games
coming up against Cardiff. The pressure a two-leg tie brings to players who
have never experienced it should not be minimised in any way. "Fortunately,
some of our players have sampled that since they've played in Europe, but
for others it will be a new challenge. "The play-offs are a one-off event,
unique in atmosphere, tension and pressure. You have got to deal with it
properly. "There's no margin for error. You have to do it right on the day
and then hope the other forces you can't control don't go against you. "We
lost in the last minute against Cardiff in our first game of the season and
beat them at their ground in March. "One win each and we go into the game on
Thursday making sure that when we come back to the Boleyn Ground we are
still in the tie, hopefully with a lead which we can build on and progress
to Wembley."

West Ham's home form has proved costly this season, starting with a 1-0
defeat against City on the opening day of this season when Kenny Miller
struck a winner.
The Hammers won a club record 13 away games, but let 28 points slip away at
Upton Park. Carlton Cole scored West Ham's goals in their 2-1 win against
Hull City in their final game of the season, a result which means they have
won back-to-back home matches. They have not lost in their last eight away
matches and Allardyce says: "We finished the season on a high. "We have
earned outstanding away results this season and have done well at home, too,
apart from the string of four draws. "That was the only difference between
automatic promotion and the play-offs. That run of four home draws has
ultimately cost us."

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Peter Whittingham-inspired Cardiff City can upset the bookies against West
Ham
By Steve Tucker
Apr 30 2012

CARDIFF CITY ace Peter Whittingham tweeted yesterday that he was staying in
bed all day and you could hardly blame him. The weather was bad enough, but
the 27-year-old midfielder had certainly earned a lie-in after one moment of
magic at Selhurst Park brought the heart-rates of Bluebirds' supporters down
to almost tolerable levels. It was on 53 minutes when the maestro teed up a
free-kick just yards in from the by-line and then curled it sublimely into
the net past Palace goalkeeper Lewis Price. The Wales international
shot-stopper was doing Cardiff no favours up until then with a series of
saves to frustrate the Bluebirds. In typical fashion Cardiff had determined
to make things as nerve-wracking as possible for their 2,500 travelling
supporters by going behind after a dominant start. The excellent Wilfried
Zaha latched onto a Darren Ambrose pass that spilt the seemingly reliable
Cardiff back-line and stroked home with David Marshall exposed on 13
minutes.

Cue all attention shifting to Vicarage Road where a goal for Middlesbrough
against Watford would have made things paranoiac for the Bluebirds with
reports suggesting only Hornets 'keeper Scott Loach was standing in the way
of disaster happening. But the Bluebirds, while never thrilling here, are
made of sterner stuff it seems, than teams who have indulged in previous
capitulations and they came out in the second-half and got the job done.
Whittingham calmed the nerves before a superb right-foot volley from Don
Cowie convinced even the most pessimistic Bluebirds' watcher that for once,
Cardiff were not going to 'do a Cardiff'. The securing of a play-off place
crowns in many ways what has been a fantastic first season in charge for
manager Malky Mackay, who again looked the coolest man in the ground here.
The massive rebuilding job he was forced into upon his arrival had suggested
to many that his first term in charge would be one of consolidation, of
planning for the future, but the no-nonsense Scot has surpassed all that.

A penalty kick away from lifting the Carling Cup and now a top six finish
suggests the Cardiff board got things spot on when they brought in Mackay
last summer.
To be honest it has not been a pretty ride for long periods, the Bluebirds
determinedly having to hold on in there as their form suffered in the
second-half of the campaign, but the achievement is great none the less. It
surpasses totally that of former boss Dave Jones whose star-studded squad
last season should really have gone up automatically, but instead stumbled
at the semi-final stage.

For the Bluebirds last year read West Ham this time around, who the
Bluebirds now face over two-legs. Sam Allardyce has come out fighting,
insisting his side will see off the Bluebirds and then dispatch either
Birmingham or Blackpool at Wembley. But Allardyce's bravado right now sounds
false, the braggadocio of a man under extreme pressure half hoping to
convince himself that his side's return to the top flight is inevitable.

The Hammers have blown it in many ways, secure in the automatic places for
so long. The idea they are content with a play-off place is absurd
especially when you consider the money thrown about and expectation levels
in the East End. Allardyce knows right now, even if he is three games from
the Premier League, he is also two matches away from getting the sack.

The pressure is immense on the Londoners and Cardiff, well, according to
your Anglo-centric pundits they are there now simply to make up the numbers,
to provide a mere inconvenience as the Hammers return to where they rightly
belong. That could well not be the case though. Mackay and his men are the
outsiders and that will suit them just fine. When we look back at last
season they were expected to finally achieve promotion and they blew it, but
one does get the nagging suspicion things could be different this time
around. Sure plenty of the current Cardiff side have been through the
heartbreak of the previous two campaigns, but this time they have Mackay
guiding them and that could make all the difference.

His side have already proven this season in their Carling Cup semi-final
over Palace that they are quite happy in a two-legged war of attrition and
ready to fight to their very last breath. And, whatever else which could be
said about them this season, they remain incredibly hard to beat. Cardiff
have lost just once in their last 13 games, a reverse at home to Hull way
back on March 13. And, to use one of Mackay's favourite words, they really
do have 'momentum' as they go into the extended season.

Of their last six games they have won four and drawn two and, with the
first-leg against West Ham at home, followed by the second clash at Upton
Park next Monday, Mackay's men also seem to like things on the road, with
three of those wins coming away from the Welsh capital. The Bluebirds will
have nothing to fear travelling up to the East End as long as they have kept
things tight at home, which they are more than capable of doing. Of course
the Hammers will be favourites with the likes of Kevin Nolan, Carlton Cole
and Ricardo Vaz Te at Allardyce's disposal, but anyone writing off Cardiff
at this point is being very foolish indeed.

They are going to need to call upon the services of their own big name
players once more. Even more magic from Whittingham required and Joe Mason
needing once more to prove he is the young man for the big occasion. In
particular Kenny Miller desperately needs to find his goal-scoring touch,
with only one goal in 21 games he again endured a frustrating afternoon at
Selhurst Park. It is going to take something special for Cardiff to see off
West Ham and make it to Wembley, but under Mackay you feel they are always
capable of upsetting the odds. Just by reaching the play-offs Mackay has
excelled already this campaign, but now he, his players and the club's often
let down supporters will be wanting more. So much more.

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Mark Noble: 'West Ham must get over disappointment and focus on Cardiff'
'We wanted to go up straight away,' says Noble
Squad have spirit and experience to get to Wembley
Jonny Weeks at Upton Park
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 29 April 2012 23.01 BST

His 18th birthday was barely behind him when Mark Noble, still in his first
season as a professional footballer, savoured one of his finest moments in
the game. As a late substitute for Shaun Newton, Noble entered the
Millennium Stadium pitch and helped West Ham United to secure promotion to
the Premier League via the play-off final. It was, he says, "an unbelievable
occasion for a young kid".

Seven years on, West Ham will return to south Wales in pursuit of similar
exaltation, this time for a semi-final first leg against the city's resident
club. Noble's memories could fuel their efforts.

"I remember sitting on the bench and Pards [Alan Pardew] said: 'Get ready
you are going to come on.' It was unbelievable to get out there, especially
to see the game out and the feeling afterwards. I've only ever had that
feeling a couple of times in my career but hopefully I'll get it again."

West Ham had finished sixth that season after a late run of form, they then
swatted the third-placed Ipswich Town in the semi-finals before edging past
Preston North End. Such fortunes made Noble acutely conscious of the
momentum and confidence engendered by clasping a play-off spot on the final
day of the season, as Cardiff City have done this term.

"I've been in the situation of just getting into the play-offs and everyone
is buzzing as you have a chance of getting to the Premier League. Obviously
we were disappointed this year because we wanted to go up straight away. But
we need to get that disappointment out quickly and concentrate on Cardiff as
they are a top team. I told the lads after the game against Hull: 'We'd
better get our heads around it quick.'"

Sam Allardyce has overseen resurgence in recent weeks - the perfunctory 2-1
win over Hull City on Saturday was achieved through a brace from the often
wayward striker Carlton Cole. His headed goal in the first half was sound,
but technically eclipsed after the interval by a marvellous second goal when
he cushioned a drifting pass and arced the ball away from Vito Mannone with
the outside of his right boot. Hull scored when a calamitous clearing header
from Guy Demel dropped to Corry Evans and the visitors even thought they had
equalised until Richard Garcia's late diving header was ruled marginally
offside.

West Ham's season has been blighted by matches drawn, especially eight at
Upton Park; had two of them been victories the Hammers would have won the
league. Since Christmas, Southampton, Crystal Palace, Watford, Doncaster,
Middlesbrough and Birmingham City have all left East London with a point.
More pertinently, the Bluebirds departed with three points courtesy of a 1-0
victory on the opening day of the season, though West Ham responded by
winning 2-0 at Cardiff City Stadium in March.

"The play-offs are massive games but it is the same sized ball and the same
colour grass and the same white lines," said Noble. "With the spirit and
experience that we've got in our squad we have enough to go to Wembley. We
need to take our away form into the game and hopefully come back from
Cardiff with a lead. It will probably start off as a bit of a chess match
and then hopefully it will open up."

Cardiff ended the season with four wins from six matches after a similarly
fruitless spell to United's through early spring. Following successive
play-off failures they will hunger for victory this year. Last year Cardiff
endured a 3-0 aggregate defeat in the semi-final against Reading and 2010
ended in demise at the final versus Blackpool.

The Carling Cup final defeat to Liverpool on penalties this year was a
further cuff to a team of undisputed promise. Allardyce must now exploit
Cardiff's perceived psychological insecurity.

"I'll tell my players to relax and enjoy the couple of days that we have
between now and Thursday with our families. They need to get rid of as much
fatigue physically and mentally as they can," the West Ham manager said.
"I'll do the worrying."

Man of the match Carlton Cole (West Ham United)

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Worrying times ahead for Big Sam as West Ham prepare for play-offs
By PHIL GRADWELL
PUBLISHED: 22:30, 29 April 2012 | UPDATED: 22:30, 29 April 2012
Daily Mail

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has told his players to go out and enjoy the
play-offs - he will do all their worrying for them. The Hammers were the
pre-season favourites to go up but missed out on second place despite
beating Hull 2-1 on Saturday. They will be under increased pressure now to
beat Cardiff in the play-off semi-finals, with the first leg in South Wales
on Thursday. Allardyce knows all about play-off emotion, having been
knocked out in the semi-finals twice but also having taken Bolton up to the
Premier League in 2001.

So, when asked whether he would enjoy the next fortnight Allardyce said:
'No, no, no. 'The only thing you enjoy is getting through first, then
planning for the final. The hardest thing for a manager is not to let the
pressure of the play-offs cloud your preparation or judgment. You're the guy
who has to guide the players into that critical situation and they're the
ones who have to go out and enjoy it. I'm here to worry for them.'

The West Ham manager says he has failed by not taking the club up
automatically but added his players are ready for the play-offs. He said:
'Our physical stats have been magnificent. In fact, our fitness levels are
greater now than in the first half of the season.' Mark Noble came on in
the final the last time West Ham went up via the play-offs, against Preston
in 2005. The midfielder admits he would love to experience that again at
Wembley on May 19. He said: 'It was unbelievable for me as I was still
young. It was an unbelievable occasion to get out there and especially to
see a game out and win it and the feeling afterwards. 'I have only ever had
that feeling a couple of times. Hopefully I will get it again.'

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West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce hits out at timing of play-offs
following defeat of Hull City
Telegraph.co.uk
Sam Allardyce has questioned the Football League's scheduling of the
Championship play-offs after West Ham and Cardiff were given just four clear
days to prepare for Thursday's semi-final first-leg in south Wales.
By Declan Taylor, Upton Park10:00PM BST 29 Apr 2012

Carlton Cole struck twice to earn a 2-1 victory over Hull City on Saturday
but West Ham still missed out on the second automatic promotion spot when
Southampton put Coventry to the sword on the season's final day. And
Allardyce is unhappy at the time he has been given to prepare for their
second shot at promotion, via the play-offs. After Thursday's first leg, the
two sides meet at Upton Park in the second on Bank Holiday Monday, 12 days
before the final at Wembley. Allardyce said: "After 46 arduous, long,
enduring games we could have perhaps done with longer, perhaps a full week,
to overcome the knocks, bruises and injuries. But other schedules overrule
and tight schedules have to be met." But Allardyce warned Cardiff that his
players are fitter now than they were in August, when the West Ham manager
outlined automatic promotion as their target. "Our fitness levels are far
greater now than they were in the first part of the season," he said. "Our
physical stats have been magnificent, they've been increasing since we came
back from Dubai [in March]. "They're stronger and fitter than they were at
the start of the season. It's an important thing at this stage to increase
the fitness levels of the players by preparing, recovering and using them in
the right way." Captain Kevin Nolan is likely to recover from the dead leg
he sustained against Hull in time for Thursday's first leg. Gary O'Neill,
however, is a major doubt after injuring the same ankle that required
surgery last April. "The injury to Gary O'Neil was very unfortunate for us
and particularly for Gary, considering how well he's played," Allardyce
said.

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