Daily WHUFC News - 3rd October 2012

The Big Interview - Andy Carroll
WHUFC.com
The returning England striker played his part as West Ham United scored a
fine 2-1 win at Queens Park Rangers
02.10.2012

Andy Carroll was all smiles after making a successful return from injury for
West Ham United in Monday's 2-1 Barclays Premier League victory at Queens
Park Rangers. The England centre forward was back after missing four matches
with a hamstring strain suffered on his debut against Fulham on 1 September.
After a month of hard work and rehabilitation, Carroll was clearly eager to
do well at Loftus Road. The 23-year-old was at his physically-imposing best
during a late cameo, coming close to beating home goalkeeper Julio Cesar
with two rasping efforts and just missing out on finishing crosses from Matt
Jarvis and Kevin Nolan. Speaking exclusively to West Ham TV, Carroll paid
tribute to the club's medical staff and his new team-mates for making his
return as speedy and painless as possible. Now, the No8 is targeting a start
and a win in Saturday's big tea-time clash with Arsenal at the Boleyn
Ground.

After making such an impact on your debut, you must have been itching to
return to action?

AC - "Yes, since the Fulham game I have been dying to get back. I've been
working hard in the gym and the staff here have helped me to get back fit
and obviously coming on at QPR and helping the lads to get the win was
great. It was hard. I was devastated when I got injured but I've worked hard
and I've been the gym every day. I've only been out on the training pitch a
handful of times since so it was great to be out there at Loftus Road
playing football again."

Is it a testament to your fitness that you have returned a lot quicker than
was originally forecast?

AC - "All the medical staff here are great and they have worked well with
us. I've been over the moon with what I've been doing and obviously that has
made for a speedy recovery. I had only trained a handful of times so it was
touch-and-go but all the staff have been great with me. I felt fine and
obviously they wouldn't have risked me if I had any problems. The medical
side have been great. As soon as I stopped feeling the hamstring a week or
two ago I wanted to get back on the pitch but they wouldn't let me because
they told me it wasn't right. I've had to keep working on it and I've got it
right and got 20 minutes on
Monday night. I'm absolutely fine."

Monday's game was an interesting one to make your return in as it certainly
wasn't for the faint-hearted, was it?

AC - "No, there were a few tackles going in and it was a good game to watch.
I was glad I got on and it was great for the lads that we got the three
points."

You spoke about the importance of Big Sam and Kevin Nolan being here in
helping you to decide to move to West Ham United. Has their presence made it
easier to get over the disappointment of being injured on your debut and to
settle in generally?

AC - "It's been great. All the lads are spot-on and there is always banter
flying around and they are a great group of lads. Everyone is in it for each
other and you can see they are behind each other in games. It's the same on
the training ground. It's just great so I'm enjoying it."

Are you looking forward to playing alongside Matt Jarvis on a regular basis,
considering his crossing ability?

AC - "That is what Matt is about. He loves putting balls in the box and that
is what I really thrive on, crosses coming in and getting my head on the end
of them. As you saw when I got on at QPR, he put four or five balls in
straight away. I didn't get on the end of them but he is putting them in
every time."

You have played for Newcastle United and Liverpool, but how do you assess
the quality in the current Hammers squad?

AC - "Yes, I think it is great. All the lads get on well and you can see the
quality in training. We showed that quality at QPR on Monday in what was a
tough game at a tough place to go. It was great to get the win and the three
points."

We move on to Arsenal on Saturday, but presumably we don't have to fear
anyone with the way we have been performing in the Barclays Premier League
so far?

AC - "No, we've obviously been playing really well and we proved that on
Monday. We had quite a few chances but we didn't put them all away. We've
been playing well and I think all the lads are looking forward to Arsenal on
Saturday."

How are you settling in down in London?

AC - "It's completely different. It's a huge city! I'm really enjoying it.
It's completely different but I like it."

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Ladies fightback earns point
WHUFC.com
West Ham United came from two goals down to snatch a valuable 2-2 draw with
Gillingham
02.10.2012

West Ham United Ladies came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Gillingham
in the FA Women's Premier League Southern Division on Sunday. The Gills took
the game by storm and could have been four goals clear within the opening 30
minutes had it not been for some excellent goalkeeping from Toni-Anne Wayne
at Thurrock FC's Ship Lane stadium. Unfortunately for the Hammers, however,
the visitors' persistence paid off and they took a 2-0 lead by scoring twice
in two minutes before the interval. Charlotte Gurr opened the scoring by
firing into the corner of the net past Wayne and just seconds later the
opportunistic Lauren Williams netted from close-range. The home side reacted
well, though, and responded with a goal of their own just before half-time.
With the consent of the referee, Becky Merritt (pictured) took a quick
free-kick from 25 yards which flew past the stranded Gills goalkeeper, who
was still attempting to build her wall. West Ham came out for the second
half rejuvenated by their goal and it took just under 20 minutes for the
Gills to crack under the relentless Hammers pressure. With 26 minutes
remaining in the contest Lindsey Morgan brought the sides level with a
wonderfully-taken goal. Morgan allowed a long ball to float over her
shoulder before lashing a dipping volley into the back of the net. Emma
Thomas almost snatched a late winner when she beat the offside trap but her
powerful shot went just the wrong side of the post. The Ladies' draw means
they now trail early pace-setters Millwall Lionesses by eight points, but
the Hammers do have a game in-hand on their south London rivals. Julia
Setford's side return to action on Sunday, when they travel to Tottenham
Hotspur.

West Ham United Ladies: Wayne, Barling, King, Revell, Sullivan, Little,
Roache, Morgan, Merritt, Rowland, Thomas
Subs used: Stimson, Lipley-Hinton

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Happy birthday, Sir Trevor
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 2nd October 2012
By: Staff Writer

One of West Ham United's greatest servants, Sir Trevor Brooking, is 64
today.

The former England midfielder, who had the former North Bank stand at the
Boleyn Ground named in his honour in 2009, made over 500 appearances for
United in a career that spanned some 17 years.

Born in Barking three years after the end of World War II, Brooking - the
son of a police footballer (a tough-tackling centre half) - was one of the
most gifted pupils at his school. He left Ilford County High with 11
O-Levels (the pre-cursor to GCSE's) and two A-Levels before joining West Ham
at the age of 16.

"I was at one of the old Grammar schools where the Academic side was quite
important," he told KUMB.com in a 2001 interview. "West Ham understood the
problems of leaving and not finishing your GCSE's as they are now.

"So I came to an agreement with West Ham that instead of signing in 1964 I
said I'd join them in 1965 when I'd finished my GCEs. I signed a two year
apprenticeship in the summer of 1965 which was a month after the Cup Winners
Cup final."

It was to be another two years before the talented young Brooking finally
made his debut, in a Division One fixture against Burnley at Turf Moor - and
it was a day to remember, with all three World Cup heroes from the previous
summer getting on the score sheet.

"I was really chuffed that we drew 3-3 and it was weird that they [Moore,
Peters and Hurst] scored," he recalled. "I think that I did okay, and
certainly enjoyed it - it was a decent performance. It was a fairly tough
place to get a result, so 3-3 was excellent."

Brooking soon became a firm fixture in the first team and it wasn't long
before he began to gain admirers - including former Derby manager Brian
Clough who made an audacious bid to sign Brooking and team mate Bobby Moore
in 1972.

"Bobby's agent did some work for me and I was part of the deal," said
Brooking. "Bobby and I were going to go but it was agreed at board level and
then referred to Ron [Greenwood] - and Ron said no.

"There was a spell in 1970/71 when I was on the [transfer] list. There were
a couple of clubs - Luton and Millwall, both second division clubs at the
time - who came in but Ron told them I wasn't for sale. So although I was on
the list, the word came back to me that I wasn't being offered and they
weren't accepting any bids."

That was good news for Hammers fans who saw the youngster blossom at the
Boleyn Ground following the departure of one of West Ham's World Cup winning
triumvirate, Martin Peters, to Tottenham.

Over the course of the next decade Brooking went on to star in all of West
Ham's biggest games - including FA Cup Finals against Fulham and Arsenal, a
Cup Winners' Cup Final against Anderlecht and a League Cup Final against
Liverpool - and make in excess of 50 appearances for England, including a
brief appearance at the 1982 World Cup Finals.

Of those games, the one he will be most remembered for by Hammers fans is
the 1980 FA Cup Final, when he headed home the only goal of the game to
bring the Cup back to east London.

"Bill [Bonds] and Alvin [Martin] never gave them a kick," he recalled. "The
key tactic was Stuart Pearson playing in midfield - we had five in midfield.
At half-time we were one-nil up and assumed that Arsenal would change it,
but they never changed their tactics throughout the 90 minutes - which was a
big mistake!"

It was that FA Cup-winning squad - and the subsequent promotion-winning team
which ran away with the Division Two title the following season - that
Brooking feels was the best West Ham team he was part of in his 17 years at
the club.

"There's no question that the 1980-83 team was the best," he affirmed.
"Parksie in goal; Ray Stewart, Alvin Martin, Bonzo and Frank [Lampard]; Pat,
Pikey, myself and Alan Dev with Crossie and Paul Goddard [up front]. That
was the best, most balanced team that I played in."

Brooking's final appearance for West Ham came on 14th May 1984 in a 1-0 home
defeat to FA Cup Finalists Everton - two years before John Lyall led the
Hammers to their best-ever top flight finish (third in 1985/86).

Since hanging up his boots Brooking has enjoyed spells as a TV pundit, as an
ambassador for Sport England and as Director of Football Development at the
FA. In 2004 he was knighted for his services to sport - a year after he made
his only appearance as a manager when stepping in for Glenn Roeder at West
Ham.

All of the team at KUMB.com would like to wish Sir Trev a very happy
birthday.

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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce happy for Andy Carroll to be called up by
England
By Pete O'Rourke - Follow me: @skysportspeteo. Last Updated:
October 2, 2012 9:53am
SSN

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce says he has no problem with Andy Carroll being
called up to the England squad for the forthcoming games against San Marino
and Poland. Carroll made a successful return to action in Monday's win over
Queens Park Rangers, playing the final 18 minutes after recovering from a
hamstring injury. England boss Roy Hodgson was an interested observer at
Loftus Road and Allardyce insists Carroll is ready to return for the Three
Lions despite being short of fitness after a month on the sidelines. "I will
speak to Roy personally and give him the lowdown on his match fitness," said
Allardyce.
"He only played twice for Liverpool, he has played 68 minutes for us and now
another 18, so he is short of match fitness which I am sure Roy will deal
with in the right way. "[England duty] gives him match fitness if it is done
sensibly but I don't want to tell Roy how to do his job. "I have to say we
have spent a huge amount of time getting him here and because of fatigue he
pulled his hamstring in the first game so we have to manage that. If England
call him up they will manage that."

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West Ham's Andy Carroll is delighted at his early return from a hamstring
injury
Last Updated: October 2, 2012 4:17pm
SSN

Andy Carroll is delighted with his return to action from injury that came
much sooner than expected. The striker was thought be have been ruled out
for around six weeks when he strained a hamstring in his first match for
West Ham after moving to Upton Park on loan from Liverpool. But his
18-minute cameo against QPR on Monday night came around two weeks ahead of
schedule, and the England international has revealed he was desperate to get
back in claret and blue.
"I have been dying to get back," he admitted. "I was devastated when I got
injured, but I've worked hard and I've been in the gym every day. "I've only
been out on the training pitch a handful of times since so it was great to
be out there at Loftus Road playing football again. "All the medical staff
here are great and they have worked well with us. I've been over the moon
with what I've been doing and obviously that has made for a speedy recovery.
"I had only trained a handful of times so it was touch-and-go, but all the
staff have been great with me. I felt fine and obviously they wouldn't have
risked me if I had any problems."

Carroll, who had made his presence felt in the 68 minutes he managed in the
3-0 win over Fulham on 1st September, says he had to be held back from
making himself available even earlier. He explained: "As soon as I stopped
feeling the hamstring a week or two ago, I wanted to get back on the pitch,
but they wouldn't let me because they told me it wasn't right. "I've had to
keep working on it and I've got it right. I'm absolutely fine."

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West Ham striker Ricardo Vaz Te has told his team-mates they must build on
their positive start to the Premier League campaign.
Last Updated: October 2, 2012 4:36pm
SSN

West Ham striker Ricardo Vaz Te has warned his team-mates they must not rest
on their laurels despite a promising start to the season. The Portuguese
scored the second goal in their 2-1 win away to QPR on Monday night, a
victory that leaves the Hammers seventh in the Premier League table. But
with the club having only just returned to the top-flight after a season in
the Championship, Vaz Te knows they have a long way to go before they can
claim to have had a successful campaign. "It is a great start but we just
have to keep it going. We haven't achieved anything," he said. "We have to
make sure our objectives (are reached) and we have to make sure we don't get
carried away. Week in and week out, we just have to make sure we keep on
performing. "We haven't won anything, we have not done anything. It has been
what six or seven games? It means nothing so far." As for his goal against
London rivals QPR, Vaz Te added: "If I score, it is a bonus. As long as the
team wins and we get the three points, that is the main thing."

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Real Madrid, West Ham and Barca!
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die

There is an interesting peice in the Sports Mail today, which focuses upon
the Opta statistics for the number of 'long balls' played by teams. A 'long
ball' being defined as a pass or forward ball over 25 yards or more. These
statistics show that so far this season, Real Madrid have played (67), West
Ham (65) and Barca (59). So it would seem, based on this Opta data, that
West Ham are broadly comparable to both of the Spanish giants, in this
respect.

In the PL, so far this season, the statistics for other PL teams are as
follows: Newcastle Utd have played (78), Wigan (67), Liverpool (66), Chelsea
(65), Fulham (64), WBA (64), Villa (62), Sunderland (62), Norwich (60) and
Spurs (61). Even the PL title chasing Manchester teams have played quite a
few such balls: Utd (56), and City (54). This would indicate, domestically,
that Newcastle Utd are the most direct team in the PL, followed by Wigan and
Liverpool; while we are on a par with Chelsea! So, as I have consisently
argued this season, it all comes down what you define as a 'long ball.' But
these statistics make interesting reading. Is it a case of Disraeli's 'lies,
damn lies and statistics' ? Or does it illustrate the fact that there is a
lot of ill defined and stereotypical talk about what constitutes a so-called
'long ball' team or 'direct' style of play. And that other managers use
direct play, without being labelled and stigmatized for it.

Against QPR we saw clear evidence of an another argument that I have
consistently made, that Allardyce's West Ham team will mix up its play,
playing it 'long,' and passing it as circumstances dictate. On Tuesday
evening, West Ham moved the ball very well, with some sharp passing play.
Look at the opening goal, where a well played one-two got behind the QPR
defence for Jarvis's headed goal. Later in the game, we successfully played
the ball around and retained possession. These are all traits that common
wisdom says that you do not see in a 'Big Sam team,' with the big boot
forward supposedly being the MO of their playing style.

The Sportsmail peice also sheds an interesting light on Allardyce's training
methods. Far from the defenders spending training sessions booting it long
to Carroll and Cole, McDonald and Downes put the players in to small groups
where the ball is passed quickly, and they are pressed by team mates, to
reduce the amount of time available on the ball. This not only refines the
ability of players to play the ball in tight, heavily marked games, but
assists with a key tactic of defending high and pressing the opposition in
their own half. As the week progresses Allardyce becomes more directly
involved in training sessions and, towards the end of the week, on Thursday
and Friday, they work on set peices.

Remarking on the victory over QPR, the article concludes by stating that:

'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.'

I know 'one swallow does not a summer make,' but one wonders if this fair
and interesting peice constitutes the start of a media re-assessment of
Allardyce's methods and playing style? If so, it will be a case of, to
paraphrase George Bernard Shaw's Professor Higgins, in Pygmalion (My Fair
Lady to fans of Cinema), 'By Jove I think they've got it.'

SJ. Chandos.

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Carroll a happy Hammer
Published: 02nd October 2012
The Sun

WEST HAM UNITED hitman Andy Carroll is pleased with his comeback performance
in win at QPR. The big striker - on a season long loan to the Hammers from
Liverpool - made a late cameo appearance in his first game since pulling a
hamstring in his debut against Fulham on September 1. Carroll said: "I have
been dying to get back. "I was devastated when I got injured, but I've
worked hard and I've been in the gym every day. "I've only been out on the
training pitch a handful of times since so it was great to be out there at
Loftus Road playing football again. "All the medical staff here are great
and they have worked well with us. I've been over the moon with what I've
been doing and obviously that has made for a speedy recovery." He added: "I
had only trained a handful of times so it was touch-and-go, but all the
staff have been great with me. I felt fine and obviously they wouldn't have
risked me if I had any problems. "As soon as I stopped feeling the hamstring
a week or two ago, I wanted to get back on the pitch, but they wouldn't let
me because they told me it wasn't right.
"I've had to keep working on it and I've got it right. I'm absolutely fine."

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Carroll's singing! Vaz Te risks Big Sam's wrath by urging England to pick
Andy
The Mirror

West Ham striker Andy Carroll is desperate for an England call-up - and has
been backed to turn Roy Hodgson's men into world beaters. Carroll's West Ham
team-mate Ricardo Vaz Te is convinced that the Geordie centre-forward will
relish the chance of a call-up for England's World Cup qualifiers with San
Marino next Friday and Poland four days later. Anxious Hammers boss Sam
Allardyce has warned Hodgson, who names his party on Thursday, that Carroll
is "woefully, woefully" short of fitness and sharpness. But, after Carroll
came on as a sub in Monday's win at QPR following a month out with a
hamstring injury, Vaz Te said: "He's great to have back. He's such a
handful. He is an England striker. "I'm not sure if he's back in time -
that's for Roy to prove. He [Carroll] proved for us that when he is fit he
is ready. We have one more game, hopefully, that will show [it too]. "Give
him a call - a player will know if he is ready.
"With Andy's strength, England can do anything. Every time you play a ball
to him, you know he is going to control it. He lets the team breathe, he
lets you push on. He buys you time. "Normally, you get big players who are
strong but not so good with their feet. Andy is an all rounder. He is not
fast - but not slow either. He showed that at QPR. "He is a terrific
player."

Carroll, who suffered the injury on his Hammers debut after joining on a
season's loan from Liverpool, said: "I have been dying to get back. "I was
devastated when I got injured, but I've worked hard and I've been in the gym
every day. "As soon as I stopped feeling the hamstring a week or two ago, I
wanted to get back on the pitch, but they wouldn't let me because they told
me it wasn't right. "I've had to keep working on it and I've got it right.
I'm absolutely fine."

Hodgson is also considering recalling Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon after
being impressed with his recent displays. The England boss watched him in
person as Spurs won at Manchester United on Saturday.

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Allardyce's Hammers play just like Real Madrid and Barcelona... but not how
you think
By NEIL ASHTON
PUBLISHED: 23:42, 2 October 2012 | UPDATED: 23:44, 2 October 2012
Daily Mail

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.
After watching West Ham's impressive and stylish victory over QPR at Loftus
Road from the halfway line on Monday night, it is easier to make sense of
the numbers. 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.

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