Daily WHUFC News - 16th October 2012

Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce is planning a busy week to make sure West Ham United return to
winning ways
15.10.2012

Sam Allardyce is hoping for some good fortune this week as his West Ham
United side look to return to action with a Barclays Premier League victory
over Southampton on Saturday. Big Sam is hoping to see his international
stars from around the globe return in one piece, with Andy Carroll, Modibo
Maiga, Mohamed Diame, Guy Demel and Winston Reid all away with their
respective nations. Despite serious crowd trouble at Senegal's match with
the Ivory Coast on Saturday, Demel and Diame are safely on their way back to
east London and will re-join their club-mates, who were put through some
tough double training sessions at Chadwell Heath last week. "The first thing
is looking at the international lads in the hope that they come back and are
not injured," said the manager. "We need to bounce back from a disappointing
result but a very gutsy performance and then get back on the victory trail
at home. "Southampton have not had the best of starts and have had some
difficult games and have been conceding a number of goals and we've got to
try and take advantage of that."

Although West Ham have enjoyed the best start of the three newly-promoted
teams, with eleven points from seven games, an experienced manager like
Allardyce knows one should not read too much into the Barclays Premier
League table at this early stage. A Hammers win at the Boleyn Ground on
Saturday, though, would open up a ten-point gap between the Hammers and
their fellow new boys. "From our point of view we'd like to beat them on the
basis that we have both been promoted and we both know how much of a
struggle it is in year one. If you can pick up points from teams of similar
standing to you then you take three points and they don't get any points.
"It's almost a six-pointer this early in the season. If we win, they'd only
have four points and we'd have 14 and that's a massive gap that they'd have
to try and close over the coming games."

The Saints, though, will take heart from last season's npower Championship
campaign, where they remained unbeaten against the Hammers by winning 1-0 at
home a year ago and drawing 1-1 at the Boleyn Ground in February. "They've
had some hard fixtures and they beat us away and then drew with us at Upton
Park so they will be thinking that it is a good chance for them to come and
get some points so we've got to try to stop that."

The last few tickets for Saturday's game are quickly being snapped up and
with seats for the visit of Barclays Premier League champions Manchester
City on 3 November already in high demand, the manager has reiterated the
important part Hammers fans have played in his side's solid start to the
season. "We've played some good football and played one of the big boys and
even though we lost the fans were right behind us until the end. It gives us
a good platform to beat the opposition. It intimidates the opposition and it
is hugely supportive for us. That can help to give us that extra drive to
get the positive result."

*whufc.com will carrying a further update on Ricardo Vaz Te's injury on
Tuesday.

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Stadium decision delayed again
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 15th October 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham's anxious wait to find out whether they will be awarded use of the
Olympic Stadium will go on a little longer after it was revealed that a
decision expected this week would not now be made. It had been expected
that a decision as to which of the four bidding parties - West Ham United,
Formula One, Leyton Orient or a football business college - would take
control of the iconic venue would be made this week. However West Ham
United co-owner David Gold revealed tonight that that decision is to be
delayed further. "Sadly the decision on the Olympic Stadium has been
postponed," he said tonight via Twitter. "We must be patient but resolute."

The delay is thought to centre on a dispute as to who will provde the
necessary funding to convert the stadium, which hosted the summer Olympic
and Paralympic games, into a stadium suitable for football. The London
Legacy Development Corporation, with whom responsibilty for the decision
lies are reported to have decided on Monday to delay the decision until such
time as further negotiations have taken place.

The LLDC are keen for West Ham to make a sizeable contribution to the
redevelopment costs, whilst United's board are keen for the Government to
bear the brunt of it. The Corporations Chief Executive Dennis Hone is said
to have claimed that a final decision could be delayed until December. West
Ham are yet to comment on this latest blow to their plans to move to
Stratford. The latest KUMB.com poll on the Olympic Stadium has resulted in
two-thirds of voters backing the Board's plans to move from Upton Park to
Stratford. You may see the current standings here.

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Sam: Saturday's a six-pointer
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 15th October 2012
By: Staff Writer

Hammers boss Sam Allardyce has stoked up the pressure ahead of Saturday's
Boleyn Ground clash with strugglers Southampton by calling the game "almost
a six-pointer".

West Ham, who have enjoyed a solid start to their 2012/13 campaign take on
last season's Championship runners-up Southampton, who have endured a rather
more difficult start to their season. Having taken only four points from
their opening seven matches, the pressure is on Nigel Adkins' struggling
side to produce the goods and take all three points on Saturday. However
Allardyce is keen to impress upon his squad the importance of the fixture,
despite a full week's preparation yet to come. "From our point of view we'd
like to beat them on the basis that we have both been promoted and we both
know how much of a struggle it is in year one," he told the press this
morning. "It's almost a six-pointer this early in the season. If we win,
they'd only have four points and we'd have 14 - and that's a massive gap
that they'd have to try and close over the coming games. "Southampton have
not had the best of starts and have been conceding a number of goals - and
we've got to try and take advantage of that."

Last season West Ham were forced to play the majority of the corresponding
fixture with only ten men after Southampton striker Billy Sharp feigned
injury in order to get Matt Taylor sent off. The game finished in a 1-1
draw. And although he stopped short of saying it, revenge for that
particular incident may not be too far from Allardyce's mind. "They beat us
away and then drew with us at Upton Park so they will be thinking that it is
a good chance for them to come and get some points," he added. "So we've got
to try to stop that."

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Henderson joins Town
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 15th October 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United reserve goalkeeper Stephen Henderson has joined Championship
side Ipswich Town on loan. The former Portsmouth goalkeeper moved to West
Ham on a permanent basis in the summer but has struggled to impress in his
pre-season and Cup outings thus far. Ipswich - who have also recently signed
former Hammer Nigel Reo-Coker and summer triallist Bilel Moshni - have taken
the 24-year-old Irish goalkeeper on a short-term basis. Henderson becomes
Town's eighth loan signing of the season and will compete with Scott Loach
and Arran Lee-Barrett for a place in Pau lJewell's starting eleven. West
Ham's third-choice goalkeeper - Swiss stopper Raphael Spiegel - will
deputise for Henderson in his absence.

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The LLDC is set to evaluate the four bids for the Olympic Stadium
Last Updated: October 15, 2012 2:17pm
SSN

Today is a significant day for the future of the Olympic Stadium with a
board meeting of the London Legacy Development Corporation scheduled to take
place.
The four bids to take over the £486m venue in Stratford on a 99-year lease
will be evaluated before Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, makes an
announcement. The bids are from West Ham United, Leyton Orient, Intelligent
Transport Services - who plan to stage a Formula One race at the Olympic
Park - and UCFB (College of Football Business). However there are
suggestions that Johnson may be forced to postpone an announcement due to a
fresh European Commission inquiry into illegal state aid for football.
According to The Times, the Government has received notice of the
investigation, which covers the issue of public financing for stadiums used
by professional clubs and that could complicate any deal with West Ham or
Leyton Orient. Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn admits a football club may
not even win the bid to take over the Stratford venue. He told Sky Sports
News: "That stadium has got to have £200m or thereabouts spent on it to make
it convertible into a fit for football stadium. "Do the legacy people think
it's worthwhile to spend that money? There is a very real chance they are
going to decide not to spend that money and to leave the stadium pretty well
in its existing state. The cynic in me, if I was a bookmaker, makes option
one of a non-football stadium odds-on."

West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady said: "Someone has to ensure that the
jobs are created, that local people get a chance to be part of it and that
it continues to be on such a worldwide stage because it is such a phenomenal
facility. "And that's what I think we would like to bring to the stadium
should we have an opportunity to be part of that."

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West Ham goalkeeper Stephen Henderson set to join Ipswich on loan
By Pete O'Rourke - Follow me: @skysportspeteo. Last Updated:
October 15, 2012 12:45pm
SSN

Sky Sports understands Ipswich have agreed a deal to sign West Ham
goalkeeper Stephen Henderson on loan. Ipswich boss Paul Jewell has been
looking to bolster his goalkeeping options and has moved to bring in
Henderson. Scott Loach has been Ipswich's No.1 keeper this season, but
Jewell has brought in Henderson to inject competition for places. Henderson,
who has found himself playing back-up to Jussi Jaaskelainen at Upton Park,
has made two appearance for the Hammers this season in the Capital One Cup
games against Crewe and Wigan. The 24-year-old initially joined West Ham on
loan from Portsmouth last March before making the move permanent in May.
Henderson is the fifth new signing at Ipswich in recent weeks following the
arrivals of Nigel Reo-Coker,DJ Campbell, Richie Wellens and Bilel Mohsni.

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Sam Allardyce looking for West Ham United to bounce back against Southampton
Last Updated: October 15, 2012 2:32pm
SSN

Sam Allardyce is hoping West Ham United's international stars will be
returned to him in one piece, as he looks ahead to a crucial fixture. The
Hammers headed into the international break on the back of a 3-1 home defeat
to Arsenal and will have been stewing on that result for a fortnight by the
time they next take to the field. A visit from Southampton awaits West Ham
on Saturday, and the importance of taking points off a fellow promoted side
has not been lost on Allardyce. "The first thing is looking at the
international lads in the hope that they come back and are not injured," he
told the club's official website. "We need to bounce back from a
disappointing result but a very gutsy performance and then get back on the
victory trail at home. "Southampton have not had the best of starts and have
had some difficult games and have been conceding a number of goals and we've
got to try to take advantage of that." He added: "From our point of view,
we'd like to beat them on the basis that we have both been promoted and we
both know how much of a struggle it is in year one. "If you can pick up
points from teams of similar standing to you then you take three points and
they don't get any points. "It's almost a six-pointer this early in the
season. If we win, they'd only have four points and we'd have 14 and that's
a massive gap that they'd have to try and close over the coming games."

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Is Vaz Te's misfortune, Maiga's Opportunity?
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die

With the news that Vaz Te is likely to be sidelined for two months with his
shoulder dislocation, it begs the question how Sam Allardyce will rejig the
front three. Yossi Benayoun obviously sees this as his chance to get a first
team run, hence his recent public statements about his determination to take
his opportunity when it comes along. Yossi certainly is one option on the
right flank and I totally agree that he is player that still has much to
bring to the first team. We should certainly be using him more regularly
from the substitutes bench, particularly if we are chasing a game and need
more invention in the final third. Another option, and one that I suspect
Sam Allardyce might tend to favour, is to switch Jarvis to the right flank
and bring Taylor in on the left.

However, I think that my favoured option is to switch jarvis to the right,
but bring Maiga in on the left. I feel that Vaz Te's absence provides the
perfect opportunity to give Maga a run to see exactly what he brings to the
team. The thing with playing a 4-3-3 is that the forwards either side of the
centre forward need to not only bring width, but also be able to come inside
and play as a more conventional striker. Arguably, Maiga is very well
equipped to do that. Allardyce has been very sensible in acclimatizing Maiga
to the PL. He has featured in the Carling Cup games and has been given
rationed PL game time from the bench. When he has appeared, he has done well
and one gets the impression that there is much more to come from him this
season. And Southampton, at home, is a good fixture to give him his start on
the left of the attack. Indeed, Jarvis, Carroll & Maiga looks a front three
with a lot of potential and this could be just the match to test it.

Talking of 4-3-3 formations, it is interesting that West Ham are getting
linked once again with Ajax's Serbian international forward, Miralem
Sulejmani. It will be recalled that Sulejmani was originally linked with the
club back in 2010, but the deal broke down. The move was mooted once again
this summer, although it came to nothing. Yet, it appears that Sam Allardyce
is an admirer and the move could happen this January or next summer. The
added bonus is that he is in the final year of his Ajax contract and he
might be available on very reasonable fee in the January transfer window or
even a Bosman in the summer. He is certainly a player who is very effective
playing in a front three, with his mobility, ability to create and take
chances and a excellent left foot. His possible addition would certainly
strengthen the squad, add crucial extra class in the forward line and give
us fresh options up front. Obviously, nothing will happen until January at
the latest, but it might be a potential deal that is worth keeping an eye
on.

Elsewhere, David Gold announced this evening, via his twitter account, that
the OS tenancy decision has been subject to a further delay. It is likely
that this is due to West Ham and LLDC reaching a deadlock regarding the cost
of restructuring the stadium for football usage. Although there may also be
other sticking points, such as the revenue from the stadium naming rights.
The truth is that PL football is the best option for ensuring a sustainable
future for the OS. The Leyton Orient bid is probably not a serious
contender, hence Hearn revising his position in seeking a ground sharing
arrangement with West Ham. F1 may generate significant revenue and be high
profile, but how often will be be staged? Certainly not with the frequency
of a fixture list of home PL and cup matches during the course of a
season.The college proposal is interesting, but it cannot seriously match PL
football as the main anchor activity for the stadium. Moreover, none of the
other bids can compete with West Ham's ability to help deliver the sporting
and community legacy that underpinned the 2012 Olympics/Paralympics bid and
should determine the post-games usage of the Olympic Park and its
facilities.

It was also reported recently that the EU had intervened in the issue by
raising the issue of 'state aid.' More specifically, there is allegedly a EU
letter received that enquires whether Newham Council's £40m investment is
effectively state aid in assisting West Ham to switch to the OS. If this is
a factor, which is not entirely clear at the moment, then it is up to the
Council's solicitors to argue their case. Presumably this will be that the
investment is to ensure that the community and sporting legacy is delivered
for the residents of the borough, with its collateral economic and
employment gains. Surely this is legitimate under the Council's promotion of
the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of the residents of the
borough. Obviously, there is a contrary legal argument, but that is how
these legal issues are settled, via contesting the issues. No doubt Newham
Council have the protection of a QC's opinion that constitutes a legal
defence of why that they are acting properly in making the £40m investment?
Least ways, one would assume so!

Finally, I missed the Arsenal match, due to the fact that I had
ill-advisedly booked a country break long before the fixtures were
published. I actually listened to the game on the radio, something that I
have not done for many a year! No Sky, no broad band and poor mobile phone
coverage in our chosen lodgings. It makes you realise just how much we are
reliant upon 'being connected' and take it for granted. Although I must
admit, after overcoming my initial panic attack, it was quite liberating
.... in short measure! From what I heard on the radio/saw on MoTD, we played
with great spirit and some skill, but our mistakes allied to Arsenal's extra
class in forward positions made the vital difference. But having said that,
if Carroll and Nolan had taken their chances we could still have earnt a
draw. Still it was a good 'benchmark' of how far we have come and where we
need to go! Lets hope it proves to be an important staging post in our PL
learning curve this season.

Hopefully, it will be service resumed this Saturday against Southampton. We
certainly owe them one after that extremely frustrating home draw last
season. COYI!

SJ. Chandos.

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Sweep the leg! Allardyce in no mood to take it easy on struggling
Southampton
The Mirror

Sam Allardyce has ordered his West Ham side to show struggling Southampton
no mercy. Saints have just one win from their first seven Premier League
games and have lost all three away matches - scoring four goals and
conceding 12 - as they prepare to visit Upton Park on Saturday. In contrast,
West Ham, also in their first season back in the top flight, have won three
times and are in eighth place with 11 points. And Big Sam wants his Hammers
to go for the throat at the weekend. He said: "It's almost a six-pointer
this early in the season - If we win, they'd only have four points and we'd
have 14 and that's a massive gap that they'd have to try to close over the
coming games. "Southampton have not had the best of starts, with some
difficult games, and have been conceding a number of goals [Saints' 20 goals
allowed is the highest total in the division]. "We've got to try to take
advantage of that. "Our fans intimidate the opposition and it is hugely
supportive for us. That can help to give us extra drive to get the positive
result. "They beat us away and then drew with us at Upton Park [in the
Championship last season] so they will be thinking that it is a good chance
for them to come and get some points so we've got to try to stop that."

West Ham will be looking for maximum points against Southampton ahead of a
tough run of fixtures. After Saturday, they travel to Wigan, then face
champions Manchester City, Newcastle, Stoke, Spurs, Manchester United,
Chelsea and Liverpool in a seven-game stretch.

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West Ham made to wait for decision over future of the Olympic Stadium
• Sadly the decision has been postponed, tweets David Gold
• Hammers convinced they offer only viable solution
Owen Gibson
The Guardian, Monday 15 October 2012 20.13 BST

West Ham United have confirmed that a long-delayed decision over their bid
to move into the Olympic Stadium has been postponed. The board of the London
Legacy Development Corporation met on Monday but was informed that
negotiations with West Ham had yet to reach a definitive conclusion. The
Guardian revealed last week that a conclusion to the long-running saga was
likely to be delayed again amid ongoing discussions over how costs of up to
£160m to convert the stadium into a permanent venue with retractable seats
should be met. West Ham remain convinced they offer the only financially
viable solution and that their offer to rent the stadium will pay off twice
over the length of the tenancy.

Their co-owner David Gold tweeted: "Sadly the decision on the Olympic
Stadium has been postponed. We must be patient but resolute." But the LLDC
wants to ensure that West Ham make a meaningful contribution to the
conversion costs and is also adamant the stadium could pay for itself
without football if necessary. The next fortnight is believed to be crucial,
with both sides keen to reach a definitive conclusion, although the LLDC
chief executive, Dennis Hone, has said it could take a couple of months.
Leyton Orient, an ambitious but unlikely scheme to host Formula One races in
the Olympic Park and a football business college are the other bidders for
the £468m stadium, which will have 60,000 capacity in its post-Games
configuration. UK Athletics is guaranteed use of the stadium for 20 days a
year and it will also play host to pop concerts, community days and other
sporting events programmed by an events organiser who will also liaise with
the main tenants.

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Poland v England: Andy Carroll under attack from Zbigniew Boniek ahead of
World Cup qualifier in Warsaw
Andy Carroll was ridiculed upon his arrival here with England on Monday
night by Zbigniew Boniek, the legendary former Juventus striker who is
expected to become the next president of Poland's Football Association.
By Jeremy Wilson11:00PM BST 15 Oct 20121
Telegraph.co.uk

Boniek, who was named by Pele as one of the greatest 100 players of
all-time, mocked Carroll's ungainly playing style and said that his
eight-year-old grandson, Mateo, was more elegant than Liverpool's £35
million record signing. "My grandson Mateo moves better on the pitch than
Andy Carroll," said Boniek. "Mateo is very good at golf and tennis. He has
better co-ordination." England were also greeted with a warning about the
playing surface at Warsaw's spectacular national stadium, which is relaid
before every set of internationals. "There may be situations which are quite
unpredictable," said Waldemar Fornalik, the Poland coach. "The ball can
perhaps bounce unpredictably and the players can be slipping. It is just
something we have to cope with. It is the same for both teams."

The deeper narrative, though, has been one of disharmony within the Polish
FA after Poland's failure to win a match as joint host nation at Euro 2012.
In Friday's 1-0 friendly win against South Africa, there were loud insults
for their outgoing FA president Grzegorz Lato and Fornalik has recently
replaced Franciszek Smuda as the coach.

Although the playing style is now regarded as less expansive, the early
results have been reasonable and Poland have begun their World Cup
qualifying campaign with four points from two matches although Jakub
Blaszczykowski, their captain, is unavailable tonight. The rivalry with
England has captured the public's imagination and all 56,000 tickets were
sold within 24 hours of going on sale.

"This is quite an event this year in Polish football," said Fornalik. "The
Euros were a huge event on a European, if not a global, scale and this match
is similar. Poland versus England has always been of big importance." Poland
have not beaten England since 1973 but Marcin Wasilewski, who will captain
the team tonight, also spoke yesterday of a desire to make up for the
disappointments at Euro 2012. There was also a mildly more diplomatic
assessment of Carroll. "We know he is tall and well built – he does all
right in the air, with the fights," said Wasilewski. "He plays the ball with
his head well. We are all aware of England's high quality."

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BONIEK MOCKS ANDY CARROLL
Express.co.uk
Andy Carroll found himself at the centre of a bizarre attack last night
Tuesday October 16,2012
By Daily Express Reporter

ANDY CARROLL found himself at the centre of a bizarre attack last night as
Poland legend Zbigniew Boniek claimed his eight-year-old grandson was a more
natural footballer than the striker. Carroll was handed extra motivation
should he step off the substitutes' bench tonight as Boniek took a pot-shot
at his playing style. "My grandson Mateo moves better on the pitch than Andy
Carroll. He has better co-ordination," said Boniek, named by Pele as one of
the 125 greatest living footballers. The swipe at Carroll, on loan to West
Ham from Liverpool, came during an interview on Polish TV. Poland captain
Marcin Wasilewski says his players could not be more motivated tonight after
failing to qualify from their group during the European Championship in the
summer. Wasilewski said: "Can this game make up for the Euros? Such a match
is much needed."

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My grandson is more skilful than Carroll, claims Boniek
Former star Boniek says his grandson possesses better technique than the
England striker
SAM WALLACE WARSAW TUESDAY 16 OCTOBER 2012
The Independent

The famous former Poland international Zbigniew Boniek fired the first shot
ahead of tonight's World Cup qualifier against England when he said that his
eight-year-old grandson was a more technically accomplished player than
striker Andy Carroll.

Carroll, 23, is highly unlikely to start the match in Warsaw but asked about
the merits of the Liverpool striker, on loan at West Ham this season, on
Polish television, Boniek was caustic. He said: "My grandson Mateo moves
better on the pitch than Andy Carroll. He has better co-ordination. He is
very good at golf and tennis."

Boniek is currently the favourite to succeed another celebrated Poland
international, Grzegorz Lato, in elections for president of the Polish
football association later this year. Yesterday, the Polish coach Waldemar
Fornalik presented an upbeat message ahead of the game, although his team
are missing captain Jakub Blaszczykowski and striker Artur Sobiech through
injury. The midfielder Eugen Polanski was given leave to return to his
family this week on what the Polish FA said was a private matter. He will be
available to play, they said yesterday.

With Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, Poland's first choice, missing
through injury it is expected that Fornalik, who took over after Euro 2012,
will turn to Przemyslaw Tyton despite the fact the goalkeeper is no longer
the first choice at his club side, PSV Eindhoven

Fornalik said last night that his side believed they could beat England. "A
wise man told me that if you try to draw a game, you lose. If you try to
win, it is possible to win. I've always told my teams we have to go for the
three points. The way we plan this game might be different but the objective
is to win.

"When I took over the position, I was aware of the fact I would have very
little time and that this match was coming up in the calendar. I thought
perhaps this match was going to be an opportunity, this match would give us
a better picture of what we are after the changes we have implemented.

"It is a very important game but it will not determine the final result of
the qualifiers.

"This game is a big event in Polish football. The Euros were a huge event on
a European, if not a global, scale. Poland v England has always been of big
importance and this is how we see this match as well. The two teams are
fighting for the three points. We are aware of the high class of our
opponents but we also know what we are worth."

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