Daily WHUFC News - 25th October 2012

The Big Interview - Jordan Spence
WHUFC.com
Jordan Spence talks West Ham United from top to bottom in this week's Big
Interview
23.10.2012

Jordan Spence is enjoying a good season, but he is aiming to make it a great
one by forcing his way into the West Ham United first team on a regular
basis.
The 22-year-old defender has helped the Development Squad to the top of
Barclays U21 Premier League Group 1, most notably by scoring the winner in
Monday's victory at Bolton Wanderers. Spence's form has also been noted by
first-team manager Sam Allardyce, who handed him starts in the Capital One
Cup ties against Crewe Alexandra and Wigan Athletic and his maiden Barclays
Premier League appearance of the season as a substitute against Southampton
on Saturday..

Jordan here we are talking about another win for the Development Squad. That
is now six wins in eight matches and a first competitive goal of the season
for yourself, so you must be delighted?

JS: "Yes, it is very pleasing to be part of a winning set-up and the boys
put in another hard-fought performance and got a good win against Bolton."

Bolton are the only team to beat you in the Barclays Under-21 Premier League
this season, so did that make the win all the more satisfying?

JS: "Of course because the result (a 3-1 home defeat) last time was very
disappointing. I was not involved but I still watched the game and losing at
Upton Park made it even harder to take. We have spoken about the game since
to make sure it does not happen again and it was important to make it right
by beating them on Monday."

The game was a battle, with limited opportunities for both sides, so it must
been even more pleasing that you were the one who got the goal?

JS: "I was very pleased with it because I have been working on being a
threat from set-pieces and for me it is just as key as my defensive play. My
job first and foremost is to stop the ball going in which we did but it is
also great to be able to chip in with a goal."
Earlier on in the season, the team struggled a little defensively, but that
is now three successive clean sheets?

JS: "We have done a lot of work on pressing and shutting the opposition down
so it is very pleasing that it is paying off. You have to credit our
goalkeeper
Raphael Spiegel and the back four but our job is made a lot easier by the
boys in front of us because they always help the defence."

You are one of the older members of the Development Squad, so do you feel a
sense of responsibility when things do not go to plan?

JS: "It has always been quite a natural thing for me to be a talker on the
pitch. Whether I have been the most senior or junior player on the pitch, I
have always taken up that philosophy because when you are at centre-half you
see it all. I would like to think that I set a good example for the younger
lads but. if you look at the way these boys play. they do not really need
it."

Your regular partner at the back. Leo Chambers. is a few years younger than
you at 17 but is that something you have noticed playing alongside him?

JS: "There is a big age gap between me and Leo but everybody knows he is an
exceptional talent and he plays in a way far more mature than his age would
suggest. That means when I go out there I only see him as a capable
team-mate and there is no divide despite the gap in age. That said, because
of my age, I am more experienced than him so any advice I can pass onto him
I will."

You missed the majority of last season away on loan at Bristol City, so how
pleasing was it to come on as a substitute in the Barclays Premier League
against Southampton on Saturday?

JS: "First and foremost it was great for me to get out and play for the
first team because I missed most of last year. It is important for me to
play for the first team because everybody knows how proud I am every time I
pull on a West Ham United shirt. It was also very pleasing to also be part
of another great win."

You are not the only member of the Development Squad to feature in the
first-team this year, so does that show the strength of the new set-up?

JS: "Everybody who has seen the Development Squad this season has seen the
step up in quality this year from the old reserve set-up. I think it is
paying dividends. We have to now show week in week out that we are good
enough and Sam and Macca were both in attendance on Monday night which made
it even more important to get the win and perform."

Has it also instilled a sense of pride because now you are essentially
playing for something as a team and not just for your individual
development?

JS: "Yes, I think it does and it is nice because wherever we have been so
far we have had West Ham fans singing 'We are top of the league'. It is
something that we pride ourselves on and despite having a number of tough
away trips we have given a good account of ourselves. We have thrown down a
marker now of the talent we possess, not just as individuals but as a team."

Presumably you are now targeting further first-team opportunities in the
Barclays Premier League?

JS: "Yes, because I have always said that I believe that I am good enough to
play in the top flight. I have had the opportunity to do that a few times
now and it is where every young footballer in this club should be working
towards. I have now got to continue working hard, day in day out, and hope
that people notice that so I get more chances to show what I can do."

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Trio entertain at fans' forum
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce, Guy Demel and Robert Hall hosted an enjoyable disabled fans'
forum on Tuesday night
24.10.2012

Sam Allardyce, Guy Demel and Robert Hall took part in an entertaining
disabled fans' forum at the Boleyn Ground on Tuesday night. About 50 of the
club's most loyal supporters were invited to the special night at the home
of the Hammers, where they got the chance to quiz Big Sam and two of his
first-team stars.
Demel and Hall kicked-off the evening with a lively question and answer
session, where the fans in attendance asked the pair a range of questions,
from who their footballing idols were growing up to which team-mate is the
worst-dressed. The pair amused the supporters with some funny anecdotes and
stories from the training ground before posing for photos and signing
autographs. After a quick break for refreshments, Big Sam took to the
microphone to answer questions. With the audience enthralled, the West Ham
United manager covered areas such as how his early career experiences helped
shape him into the Barclays Premier League manager we see today and how he
hopes to exceed some people's expectations with West Ham United this year.

After the event, a beaming Demel explained how happy he was to spend some
time with the supporters and praised Disability Liaison Officer Julie
Pidgeon and her team for putting on such a successful night. "I really
enjoyed it and it is nice to meet our fans and to talk about all the
different areas," Demel said. "We had some really good questions and some of
them were really hard! "It's really important to give footballers a good
image and it's vital to give something back to our fans. I think it's great
for the club to set up something like this where we can meet the fans. I
hope everyone that attended on the night enjoyed it.
"I don't remember saying who were the worst dressed were! [laughs] If you
want I can take a few of them shopping in central London to give them a
personal shopping experience!"

Season Ticket holder Cathy Bayford certainly seemed to agree that the night
had gone well. She said: "It's been wonderful. Julie's team are so
supportive and really good at getting us all involved and making us feel
part of it. "The players did really well as it was probably a bit daunting
for them, especially for Rob Hall as he's so young, but he is confident and
I love the way they shared a joke. It was nice to hear Sam open up and we
really felt like we went behind-the-scenes. "We get really looked after here
at the club. Even when we go to away grounds they make sure we are OK as
some of those grounds are nowhere near as accommodating."

Pidgeon was glad to see her guests enjoy the evening. She said: "It went
really well and we're really pleased with it. We had a bigger variety of
fans here, including Season Ticket holders and people that don't manage to
come along regularly because of their disability. "It's all part of the
package we offer. On a matchday, people that are non-disabled have more
opportunity to meet players at the gates and other places. These people
can't, so we give them the opportunity to meet them in relaxed surroundings.

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Two weeks
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 24th October 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham discover if they have been awarded use of the Olympic Stadium
"within two weeks", according to latest speculation. A decision as to whom
should be granted preferred bidder status was expected at the beginning of
October but delayed once again over a dispute regarding funding the
conversion costs.

However it has been revealed that the club - who remain strong favourites to
receive the backing of the London Legacy Development Corporation, with whom
responsibilty for the decision lies - should finally discover whether they
have been given the green light to move to Stratford by the end of the first
week of November.

Sports minister Hugh Robertson, speaking yesterday said: "It is now such an
iconic building. The Olympic and Paralympic Games have established the
stadium as a iconic building for use. "I am relatively relaxed about
[negotiations] and can afford to be because it is not my negotiation.
[However] there is no danger of it being empty or a white elephant. "It will
not stay empty. We already have a World Athletics Championships in 2017 and
a series of small athletics competitions coming in the years before that.
"It is very likely that even if that was the only use of it, an event
management company would come on side and use it for concerts and a host of
other things - but clearly many of us would like to see a football club in
there because that would get it used once a fortnight at least."

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Dishing out a Hammering: UFC star Jimi Manuwa trains with West Ham striker
Carlton Cole
The Mirror
22 Oct 2012 17:15

One is a striker who terrorises defences, the other is a striker who knocks
people out. Last week, West Ham's Carlton Cole went head-to-head with
Britain's newest UFC star, light-heavyweight Jimi "The Posterboy" Manuwa.
The London-based fighter paid Cole a visit at West Ham's training ground to
put him through his paces, testing the Hammers front man with a series of
boxing and kickboxing drills, while fellow Hammer Jack Collison, strength
and conditioning coach Matthew Monte-Colombo and the West Ham Under-21 team
watched from the sidelines in awe of the MMA star. The pair then moved on to
some grappling techniques with Manuwa laying down the basics, and Cole
catching on quickly. "He actually wasn't half bad!" said Manuwa of his new
protege. "I was expecting a lot worse but with a few more lessons I reckon
I'll be able to show him how to get some of my explosive power."

The two then switched roles and Cole helped Manuwa out with his penalty kick
technique. "I'm a bit rusty when it comes to football," explained Manuwa,
who earns his money by kicking opponents rather than footballs. "I like
watching it, but I haven't played in a while." For Cole, it brought a new
twist to a regular day's training. "It was fun and really interesting to do
some of the techniques that Jimi uses for his sport and get to test my
reflexes doing them," he explained.
"Some of the basic and core strength work that Jimi does is not far away
from what we do in that area, so it was also good to see how the two sports
came together. "I hope Jimi enjoyed what I showed him, he has a good strike
of the ball!"

The day was wrapped up with Cole making Manuwa an honorary Hammer by
presenting him with his own jersey with the number 12 signifying the number
of wins the Poster Boy has under his belt. In exchange, Manuwa gave Cole a
set of UFC gloves, just in case the big striker fancied throwing a few more
punches in the gym. "It's been a privilege to come down to train with Cole,"
said Manuwa. "I'll definitely be supporting the Hammers in their upcoming
season, and I hope he'll be able to make it to my next fight with the UFC,
or even pop down to my gym to finish off his training!" Jimi didn't need to
convert Cole to the excitement of the UFC, as the Hammers striker admitted
he was already a fan. "I am a big UFC fan, it's exciting to watch, there is
always so much going on," Carlton remarked. "Jimi has been doing really well
and, on behalf of us here at West Ham United, we wish him well for his next
fight and hope to see him visit us again here soon."

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Carroll blasts Rodgers
HITC
by Jenny Leigh

Liverpool striker Andy Carroll, currently on loan at West Ham United has
criticized Reds boss Brendan Rodgers for not giving him a 'fair chance'. The
English target-man who signed for Liverpool in 2010 for £35million from
Newcastle United was ousted from the Merseyside club upon the arrival of the
new manager.
Upon his appointment, Rodgers insisted that the 6ft3" striker did not fit
into his plan for Liverpool's new system and was thus rendered surplus to
requirements at Anfield. The 23-year-old was subsequently sent out on loan
at Sam Allardyce's newly promoted West Ham United but has now fired back at
his Liverpool manager for moving him on. "I haven't really had a fair chance
at Liverpool," he complained. "I was 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."

The English centre-forward had impressed at Newcastle and was hailed as one
of the country's brightest young prospects up front. But his £35million
price-tag seemed to sit uneasy on his shoulder and the pressure clearly
affected the confidence of the player who failed to make a substantial
impact on the Reds. "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."

Rodgers has outlined his intention of impressing a 'total football' style of
play at Liverpool – a possession-based game that is not centred around a
traditional target-man up front. But the striker feels he could have
adapted, given the chance. "I think I could fit into every system. I believe
in what I can do. Obviously he has his beliefs and he didn't think that."
Liverpool currently sit in 12th place after a poor start to the Premier
League season which saw them lack a clinical finish up front. Having failed
to adequately replace Carroll, they are now in desperate need of a striker
and are being linked with a bid for Schalke's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, amongst
several others. But the manager has rules out an early return for Carroll
claiming it is not something he would 'consider'. It sounds as if Carroll is
unlikely to see his 'chance' any time soon.

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Spence wants West Ham first-team spot
By talkSPORT | Wednesday, October 24, 2012

West Ham youngster Jordan Spence wants to force his way into the first-team
after earning his stripes on loan. The defender spent some of last season on
loan at Bristol City and has been a pivotal figure in the club's growing
success in the Development Squad that is now top of Barclays Under-21
Premier League Group 1. Now the 22-year-old wants to prove his worth in the
first-team after making a substitute appearance in the 4-1 Premier League
win against Southampton on Saturday. "I have always said that I believe that
I am good enough to play in the top flight," Spence said. "I have had the
opportunity to do that a few times now and it is where every young
footballer in this club should be working towards. "I have now got to
continue working hard, day in day out, and hope that people notice that so I
get more chances to show what I can do."

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EPL: Why West Ham's Good Start to the Season Will End Soon
By Joe Tansey (Featured Columnist) on October 24, 2012
Bleacher Report

Out of all the clubs that sit in the top 10 in the EPL, West Ham United have
gotten the least amount of recognition for their spot in the table.
Currently, that spot is sixth place as the Hammers have 14 points are only
out of a Europa League position because Tottenham currently have a better
goal differential. The main reason for the hot start by the newly promoted
side is the weak schedule they have played so far. In their first eight
matches of the EPL season, the highest placed club in the table that the
Hammers have faced is eighth place Fulham. In those eight matches, the
Hammers have won four, drawn two and lost two.

The four wins have come against three clubs bound for the relegation fight,
Southampton, QPR and Aston Villa, with the fourth coming against Fulham.
West Ham are following the philosophy of beating the clubs that you are
supposed to beat as they will face a struggle in the upcoming weeks to find
points. After Saturday's road trip to the DW Stadium to play 16th place
Wigan, Sam Allardyce's club face a stretch of 10 matches where they will
face the top five clubs in the EPL table along with Newcastle, Arsenal,
Stoke, Liverpool and West Brom.

In that set of matches, Allardyce and company will have to rely on their
home form at Upton Park, where they have earned 10 of their 14 points this
season.
The bad news about their home form is that their one loss at Upton Park this
season was to the best club they faced was Arsenal who beat the Hammers
convincingly 3-1 on October 6th. There is no doubt that West Ham will be in
trouble after this stretch of matches. It ends on Boxing Day with a trip to
the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal. If West Ham perform poorly during
this stretch do not be surprised to hear calls for Allardyce to be sacked
and for pundits to question what went wrong with this club. The reason why
West Ham are not getting a ton of attention is because everyone knows the
grueling stretch of fixtures the club are about to encounter.

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West Ham want to bring back Rio Ferdinand
Manchester United transfer news: West Ham United want Rio Ferdinand this
summer
Givemefootball.com
Published about 8 hours ago by Brendan Simpson.


West Ham United are reportedly planning a shock move to bring Manchester
United defender Rio Ferdinand back to Upton Park. A report from the East
London and West Essex Guardian series claims the Hammers have been linked
with persuading him to return on a free transfer when his contract expires
at the end of the season. Ferdinand has struggled to player regularly for
Manchester United in recent seasons because of various injury problems, but
he appears to be over those troubles and has been a regular in the Old
Trafford starting XI for the last few months. Sir Alex Ferguson recently
admitted he was unaware the former England captain's deal was finishing next
summer, but also hinted that a new deal could be on the table for the
centre-back. It would be a major shock if Ferdinand returned to West Ham in
the summer, as he has publicly stated his desire to continue playing at the
highest level and Ferguson indicated he thought the former Leeds United man
could play one for another few years. Ferdinand has won every trophy there
is to win in club football with Manchester Untied, but there could be a
romantic attraction to returning to the place he began his illustrious
career and play there before he hangs up his boots.

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