Daily WHUFC News - 23rd October 2012

Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce is hoping for more of the same when West Ham United visit
Wigan Athletic on Saturday
22.10.2012

Sam Allardyce has set his West Ham United players the target of securing
back-to-back wins for the first time this season when they travel to Wigan
Athletic on Saturday. Allardyce and his players are likely to travel to the
North West in high spirits, with Saturday's 4-1 win against Southampton
helping West Ham to their second-best start to a Barclays Premier League
campaign. Big Sam, though, will not be letting his side rest on their
laurels and will demand more of the same at the DW Stadium. Tickets are
still available for Saturday's game, with West Ham being given a giant
allocation of 4,800 tickets at the home of the Latics.

"We focus on Wigan away now," he said. "Our last away game was against
Queens Park Rangers, which was a terrific performance and a well-deserved
victory. "Can we now go and get our first back-to-back wins in the Premier
League? When you've won a game, to go and try to win the next one is a
massive ask and it makes a huge difference. That's our aim. Wigan haven't
won at home this season so there might be a lack of confidence there, so if
we can take advantage of that then we might do back-to-back wins. "This is a
fantastic start considering we have just been promoted. We don't get too
carried away because the fixtures have been very kind to us. The teams that
we have played in our first eight games were very difficult but there's only
Arsenal in there that might be in the top four that we've played. "We've
done the job better than I expected with 14 points from eight and we're on
two or three points more than I had hoped."

Saturday's win owed much to the home side's perfect start to the second
half, when Mark Noble's free-kick opener was quickly followed up by Kevin
Nolan's tap-in. Big Sam believes that his side's dominance in the second
period was a credit to the improvements made to the squad over the summer.
"In the second half the difference between us and them shows how far we've
come. I think the players that we've brought in and added to the squad,
which was tested to the full with the injuries we had, have delivered
again."

Indeed, West Ham's victory was all the more impressive considering they had
to contend with absence of a host of injured players, including Guy Demel,
Joey O'Brien, Matt Taylor, Ricardo Vaz Te, Jack Collison and Alou Diarra.
"When we came back from the international break we had six injuries. Demel
went away so I thought he was OK but we couldn't treat him. Winston Reid
couldn't play because he was injured so he came back and just made his
fitness test before the game. "Joey O'Brien is out and we haven't seen Jack
Collison this year. Alou Diarra has a damaged thigh and Matt Taylor was also
out with calf injury but the squad stepped up to the mark, which was really
pleasing for me."

Andy Carroll terrorised the Southampton back line with his imposing
physicality. He was ably supported by Nolan through the middle and Yossi
Benayoun and Matt Jarvis on the flanks, with Modibo Maiga making a stunning
impact with his first Barclays Premier League goal soon after coming off the
bench. "Andy Carroll was putting more and more pressure on Southampton and
their defenders to make more and more mistakes. We kept the pressure on them
and they cracked in the end. Andy will score sooner or later but it's not
about him scoring, it's about us winning. The old saying is if the front man
plays well, the team plays well. "It was great to see Modibo score and it
was a terrific piece of skill as well. We all feel good with Matt Jarvis and
Yossi Benayoun, who has been waiting patiently, making an impact too. Yossi
wasn't in the game as much as he would have liked but when he was he showed
his quality. Kevin Nolan scored again so that was great for us. "What's
important is playing well and winning, as we did on Saturday. We had nearly
35,000 fans here and in the end they went home very happy which is very
important for you as a manager."

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Nolan hails Hammers squad depth
WHUFC.com
Captain Kevin Nolan has hailed the impacts made by James Tomkins, Yossi
Benayoun and Modibo Maiga
22.10.2012

Kevin Nolan has hailed West Ham United's strength in depth following
Saturday's 4-1 Barclays Premier League victory over Southampton at the
Boleyn Ground.
Injuries to six first-team players saw James Tomkins and Yossi Benayoun
drafted in to the starting XI by manager Sam Allardyce, while Mali striker
Modibo Maiga bagged his first Barclays Premier League goal after being sent
on as a second-half substitute. While the Hammers started slowly and went in
goalless at half-time, the captain said the combined contribution of the
recalled players and the remaining regular starters proves the club has the
depth to cope with the absence of key players. Tomkins produced a composed
display on his return to the starting line-up at right-back, while Benayoun
highlighted a lively display by providing the assist for Nolan's 48th-minute
goal. "To be fair, I thought we were below par in the first half.
Southampton came out and did really well," Nolan told West Ham TV. "I
thought they were superb and got to more second balls than we did. We got a
bit of a rollocking at half-time and tried to come our and up our game and
within a few minutes we were two-nil up. "It was a good reaction from the
boys in the second half. It was a bit disappointing to concede a goal and
let them back it but overall and in the end I thought we deserved our
victory. "It was a real team effort. We have got a good work ethic and squad
ethic and I think you saw that on Saturday. With the depth we've got in the
squad now, we were able to bring in players like James Tomkins, who is going
to go on and get full international honours, and another full international
in Yossi Benayoun who has been at all the top clubs. "They were waiting in
the wings and itching for their chance and they have taken it. It's
fantastic for them. Nobes (Mark Noble) had another big game and the big man
(Andy Carroll) has taken a bit of a battering but that's what he does for
the team. If he's not on form or getting the goals or setting things up, he
still makes things happen by getting free-kicks. I thought he was fantastic,
even though he himself thinks he was below par."

After a lacklustre first-half display, West Ham's players received a
stirring team talk from manager Sam Allardyce and captain Nolan at the
break. To a man, the players upped their performance after the break and
were rewarded by going two goals up within three minutes of the restart.
"Yes, I am captain and I enjoy all that but to be fair the lads are a good
bunch and they respond to the right things. We have got a good understanding
and I think the lads know what I'm like and we are all enjoying playing at
the moment. "After the Arsenal game we were a bit disappointed to have come
off the pitch with a 3-1 defeat but now, when you look at it, fourteen
points from eight games is a very, very good start."

While Noble scored twice and Nolan netted his fourth league goal of the
campaign, victory was capped by an outstanding individual strike from Maiga.
The No11 has now scored on all three of his starts for the Hammers and the
skipper is predicting big things to come from the former FC
Sochaux-Montbeliard forward as he settles into life in a new country. "I
think his talent is fantastic and there to admire. He is still learning
English and it is tough for these lads when they first come over and don't
speak the language and everything. You could see all the lads were buzzing
for him. It was a fantastic finish and we're all delighted for him. "In time
and over the season as he gets settled in more and more and his Engilsh gets
better, I think you'll see an even better player. I'm delighted for him
because his first Premier League goal is a big, big thing. "He could have
had one in the first game of the season [against Aston Villa] which could
have catapulted him, but I'm absolutely delighted for him because it's
well-deserved. He's waited patiently and he'll go on and hopeful;y score a
few more goals for us."

Maiga may have to wait for his first Barclays Premier League start, but his
form will see him come into consideration when West Ham travel to Wigan
Athletic on Saturday. The Latics have failed to win a home fixture so far
this season and, while Nolan knows nothing will come easy at the DW Stadium,
the No4 believes the Hammers are more than capable of achieving their second
away success of 2012/13. "At the end of the day, we've got to enjoy this win
and then go back to the drawing board on Tuesday. We'll look over everything
we did well and everything we did poorly on Saturday on the video and then
look forward to Wigan. "Hopefully we can go into that game and give another
solid performance and come away with three points. Fourteen points from
eight games is fantastic but seventeen from nine would be even better!"

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Hammers stay top
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 22nd October 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United's development squad remain top of the Premier League Group 1
table after beating Bolton Wanderers this evening. Jordan Spence - who made
a brief cameo for the first team when replacing James Tomkins late on in the
4-1 win over Southampton on Saturday - grabbed the only goal of a
keenly-fought encounter 13 minutes into the second half to keep Ian Hendon's
youngsters top of the pile. The development squad have now won six of their
opening eight games - including wins over Everton and Arsenal - losing just
once, against tonight's opponents in the corresponding fixture last month.
And this evening's victory keeps them three points ahead of closest rivals
Arsenal, who beat Everton 2-0 on Merseyside tonight to keep the pressure on
Hendon's squad. The eight-team league - which also contains West Bromwich
Albion, Reading, Norwich and Blackburn - continues until Christmas when the
top two teams from each of the three divisions - plus the two best
third-placed teams - form an eight-team Elite Group in the New Year. The
winners of the Elite Group will face the winners of the Tier One and Tier
Two groups - consisting of the remaining squads - in a semi-final play off,
with the second and third-placed teams from the Elite group facing each
other in the other semi-final. The winners of the two semis go head to head
in the Final to find the overall winners of the inaugural Barclays Under 21s
Premier League. West Ham's next fixture is this Friday, 26th October against
Everton at Rush Green Stadium. The match kicks off at 7pm kick off and
entrance is free for season ticket holders or £3 adults and £1 for children.

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Rav off the mark
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 22nd October 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham's on-loan midfielder Ravel Morrison completed his first ever 90
minutes of competitive first-team football on Saturday. The 19-year-old
midfielder, who is on loan at Birmingham for the season was reinstated to
struggling City's first team - for the first time since the beginning of the
season - for their 1-1 draw with pace-setters Leicester City at the weekend.
And Blues boss Lee Clark was effusive in his praise of the former Manchester
United youngster, who only last week he hailed as a potenital successor to
former England star Paul Gascoigne. "I didn't bring him here not to play, or
even to be on the bench, I brought him here to be one of the main players,"
added Clark. "He can be whatever he wants to be. "We had a watershed moment
a few weeks ago when I had a good chat with him. I sat him down, and said
it's the whole package of being a professional footballer. I'm delighted
with how he has reacted."

Just a fortnight ago Clark was forced to deny suggestions that he had fallen
out with the Enlgand youth international after it was claimed that he wanted
to send Morrison back to West Ham. But he did admit that the player had to
be treated with kid gloves at times due to his desire to play and lack of
concentration. "Sometimes he loves the game so much that he gets a little
bit disappointed with the decision I make when I don't pick him in the
starting X1," added Clark, "and it affects his training performances. "He's
had publicity away from the pitch but I've never seen any of that. I've
never had a minute's problem with him away from the football field."

Birmingham took the lead on Saturday in the opening minute of the second
half through Peter Lovenkrands and looked to be heading towards their first
win in three games - before Leicester's Ben Marshall salvaged a point for
the visitors four minutes from the end of normal time. Former Hammer
Jonathan Spector, also currently at Birmingham was sent off in the final
minute of the game for a second bookable offence.

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Sam Allardyce is pleased with West Ham's start to the season
Last Updated: October 22, 2012 10:01pm
SSN

Sam Allardyce admits West Ham United's start to the season has exceeded
expectations and he now wants to gain back-to-back Premier League wins.
The Hammers' 4-1 victory over Southampton on Saturday was a fourth win from
eight matches since securing promotion back to the top flight and the start
has pleased Allardyce. However, West Ham have yet to follow up a win with
another three points and Allardyce wants to put that statistic right at
Wigan Athletic.
"We focus on Wigan away now," Allardyce told the club's official website.
"Our last away game was against Queens Park Rangers, which was a terrific
performance and a well-deserved victory. "Can we now go and get our first
back-to-back wins in the Premier League? When you've won a game, to go and
try to win the next one is a massive ask and it makes a huge difference.
That's our aim. "Wigan haven't won at home this season so there might be a
lack of confidence there, so if we can take advantage of that then we might
do back-to-back wins. "This is a fantastic start considering we have just
been promoted. We don't get too carried away because the fixtures have been
very kind to us. The teams that we have played in our first eight games were
very difficult but there's only Arsenal in there that might be in the top
four that we've played. "We've done the job better than I expected with 14
points from eight and we're on two or three points more than I had hoped."

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Cole fired up
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: 22nd October 2012
The Sun

CARLTON COLE has vowed to stay and fight for his place at West Ham. The loan
signing of striker Andy Carroll has fuelled speculation that Cole wants out.
He was a sub for Saturday's 4-1 win over Southampton and his contract
expires at the end of this season. But Cole said: "I don't want to leave.
I've told the board that I want to stay for the rest of my career. I want to
stay and help out the club anyway I can. "Because Andy Carroll is here, it
doesn't mean I am going to go. "I've never been one to lie down. Andy's a
great player. "I see it as good competition having him here. "It will be
good for the club and for me because it makes me up my game and set my goals
higher. "By the end of the season you will see a different me and a
different team as we'll be working well together."

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No chance! Liverpool never gave me a fair crack of the whip complains
Carroll
The Mirror
22 Oct 2012 22:32

Andy Carroll has claimed he never had a "fair chance" at Liverpool. And the
£35million striker admitted he could have lost his head in frustration at
his Anfield situation last season. The England forward moved out on loan to
West Ham in August - and has so far helped the Londoners to seventh place in
their first season back in the Premier League. But the 23-year-old insists
he would adapted his game to play in Brendan Rodgers' system if he'd stayed
on Merseyside instead. "I haven't really had a fair chance at Liverpool,"
Carroll said. "I was really told that I should move on to keep playing
regular football, and obviously then Sam wanted me here and told me I would
be playing regular games. "So, for me it was a no-brainer coming here and to
play. "Obviously, I didn't really get a chance there. "A new manager came in
and I wasn't part of his plans. For me to play football, that was my chance
to do that. That is why I am here at Upton Park. "I think I could fit into
every system. I believe in what I can do. Obviously he [Rodgers] has his
beliefs and he didn't think that. "But for me, obviously, it was better to
move on instead of waiting for my chance - which he told me might not come.
"Coming here, I have got a great chance to start games and score goals,
which I haven't really had many of last season. "I don't think I have got a
point to prove, that is the wrong way to put it. "I know what I can do and
the ability I have got. I know what I am capable of. "If other people don't
believe it, that is fine. I just get on with it. "But at the end of the day,
I know what I can do."

After a difficult first full season at Liverpool, Carroll scored a stunning
header at Euro 2012 as England beat Sweden. "The work I put in over the
season, I deserved that goal," he told ESPN. "I kept my head a lot when I
could have lost it at Liverpool. I got my chance at the Euros and I took
it." Carroll's friend, his former Newcastle team-mate and now his West Ham
skipper Kevin Nolan added: "I don't think he got a fair crack of the whip at
Liverpool, because he will get you goals and create goals and cause carnage
when he is up there." After West Ham's 4-1 win over Southampton on
Saturday, meanwhile, Hammers boss Sam Allardyce admitted he did not know if
his on-loan striker will stay in East London all season. Liverpool have only
one senior striker in Luis Suarez, after failing to buy before the summer
window closed having loan out Carroll and then losing Fabio Borini for
months through injury. "I think that depends," said Allardyce on the
possibility of Carroll being recalled early to Anfield. "Obviously when
January comes around it will be assessed then, on just what has happened at
Liverpool and how well Andy is doing. "He is still only a young man and he
has got a lot of improving to do. But he is such an important player for us
already. "We have got off to this start and everybody has played their part
but as the old saying goes, the front man plays well, the team plays well."

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