Daily WHUFC News - 31st December 2012

Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
The manager is expecting his side to bounce back when Norwich City visit the
Boleyn Ground
31.12.2012

Sam Allardyce is hoping West Ham United can cut out the uncharacteristic
mistakes that cost them dearly at Reading when Norwich City visit the Boleyn
Ground on New Year's Day. The Royals scored the only goal of the game on
five minutes after a mistake from James Collins, but Big Sam is backing his
players to shake off the disappointment and start 2013 with a win.
Substitutes Jack Collison, Modibo Maiga and Ricardo Vaz Te could not take
advantage of good chances to level the game on Saturday, which has led Big
Sam to put greater impetus on his side's attacking play. "We need to bounce
back and we've got to make sure we become better at creating and taking our
chances, otherwise it's going to be tough," said Big Sam. "The balls into
the box haven't been given enough quality to open up a defence as everybody
starts tightening up at this stage of the season. "Points become harder to
come by and everyone knows about everyone else so you can ill-afford basic
errors. The team that makes the fewest basic errors wins the game. We made
far too many and ended up losing it. "kkI didn't think I would ever see
James Collins make that kind of mistake again after the one at Swansea City.
He's been one of our best and most consistent players from that time in the
season, but he misplaces a backpass and they take advantage. "The lads
should have got him out of the mire and got at least a point and then it
wouldn't be lying on him as heavy as it is now. He was distraught in the
dressing room afterwards."

The Hammers will be offered the perfect opportunity to 'bounce back' when
the Canaries, who sit one place above them in the Barclays Premier League
table, visit the Boleyn Ground. While Collison and Vaz Te will be pushing to
start the game, Kevin Nolan and Collins will be missing after picking up
their fifth booking of the season against The Royals. "We're in a pretty bad
spell at the moment and to boot Kevin Nolan and James Collins got booked and
will miss Tuesday's game with Norwich City. "Too many injures have disrupted
our performances and results. We've got some coming back now. Vaz Te could
have been the hero and Jack Collison comes on and shows his ability. It's
great their back but the blow is James Collins and Kevin Nolan missing.
"James has to get over the mistake but unfortunately he can't on Tuesday as
he's suspended. The rest of the team have to get over it and start getting a
few more points."

Vaz Te had a great opportunity to cap his lively return to the team with a
goal, but he missed a header from three yards out. His manager felt
afterwards that it could have been the turning point in the game had it
bounced into the corner of the net rather than two inches wide. "I think we
missed the best chance created in the entire world of football! Overall, I
think it was one point lost, you're 1-0 down and the golden chance comes
with Vaz Te three yards out, he would take it to 1-1 and Reading would be
bound to think 'Here we go again.' Their fans would get nervous and we would
go on to try and win the game. We should have had a point but we didn't and
that's down to our deficiencies at both ends. "It was probably our worst
performance for a while but even then it was one where Reading weren't going
to make it easy, they wanted to defend deep and then when you gift them a
goal they're going to defend with even more numbers to try and hang on to
it."

The return of Vaz Te, Collison and Alou Diarra from long-term injury will
certainly boost Big Sam's options and Andy Carroll could be back in training
next week. With George McCartney and Momo Diame the only slightly longer
absentees, the manager looks forward to the day when he can once again name
his first choice XI. "We haven't had our best team out for ages and since we
beat Chelsea, our points total has diminished rather than kicked on from
there. Normally when you get a result as big as that one you kick on and get
more and more results as the euphoria keeps you going. "The injuries have
unfortunately kicked in and we've not been able to pick up the results we
wanted to. It's about getting the players back fit and then keeping them
fit, and then we'll be OK but that's got to happen very quickly now. "The
lads I've picked have done very well and done a great job in terms of the
performances they've given but not the results that we needed."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Nolan aiming for Happy New Year
WHUFC.com
West Ham United captain Kevin Nolan believes the club will enjoy a
successful and positive 2013
31.12.2012

Kevin Nolan says West Ham United will show grit and determination to start
picking up Barclays Premier League points again during the second half of
the season. The Hammers captain admitted that, while everyone was
disappointed not to come away with anything from Reading on Saturday, the
aim is to move on and put things right. While Nolan himself will serve a
one-match ban in the New Year's Day visit of Norwich City, the skipper has
backed his team-mates to get the job done in his absence. "We know it was
not good enough from us on Saturday, but we are good enough to get back on
it," said the No4. "You look at the game and for Vaz [Ricardo Vaz Te], a
player of his quality you think [his late header] is in, but it just didn't
happen for us. It went the wrong side of the post, but it happens. "We are a
newly-promoted team. We have been great and made a really good start. We
have faltered a bit in recent weeks with losing a few, but some of those
were against top sides. I have to say this was one of the most disappointing
losses because, with no disrespect to Reading, we wanted to go there and
come away with at least a point. I think we did deserve that but, fair play
to them, they defended and saw it out until the end, so hats off to them.
"They didn't really have a lot of other chances that they created.Ginge's
[James Collins] unfortunate back pass led to their goal and it happens. We
are upset that we lost the game and the manner in which we lost it, but we
have to keep our heads up and have Norwich at home on New Year's Day and
have got to be looking to put the record straight there."

Nolan said the return of Vaz Te and more match action at the Madejski
Stadium for Jack Collison were huge positives for the side. With Andy
Carroll, Mohamed Diame and George McCartney also hoping to return early in
the New Year, the captain said West Ham would look to start 2013 as they
mean to go on.
"It was good to see Vaz back - he is really important for us and that was a
huge positive and hopefully in the next few weeks we will see more lads
back. That will certainly help us as we look to pick up points again, which
we are fully capable of doing."

A busy January schedule will see Sam Allardyce's men host Manchester United
in the FA Cup third round in between league matches with Norwich and at
Sunderland and Nolan said there is no time to rest. Although the Hammers
skipper will have to sit out Tuesday's match, he will be illustrating the
spirit in the squad by supporting his team-mates and says there is a strong
sense of belief. "You hear people say that this is a critical part of the
season. Look, every part of the season is critical and at the end of the
day, you can't for a minute take your foot off the gas in the Premier
League. "We are going through a little sticky patch but we are confident we
can carry on looking up and not down. You look over your shoulder of course,
but we have belief that we won't be dragged into that and, as I said, we are
confident we can start picking up points again. "This is what we are here
for, got promoted for - to be in the Premier League. All the hard work, grit
and determination, that is what we have to show in the next month now, to
show why we are here, and I am sure we will. "We have had a decent start and
I think if you had given us that at the start of the season, those points at
this stage, we would have taken it. That is how we have to look at it, we
have to go for another 23 points and more in the next half of the season. It
will be tough, but we are more than capable of doing it."

As January begins, the speculation starts as to which players may come and
go from different clubs. Nolan said that, if there were to be any arrivals,
they would be a welcome boost, but it was also the case of the players
already here continuing to their jobs to keep the club in a good position.
"The Joint-Chairmen did some fantastic business in the last transfer window.
They supported Sam massively and there is nothing better than seeing a few
new faces coming into the training ground, so hopefully that might be the
case again. "But if not, we have the resources to work with, with the squad
we have. If we can keep everyone fit, then we can carry on what we have done
well already and to get into that top ten and finish in there."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Vaz Te: I 'let the team down'
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 30th December 2012
By: Staff Writer

Ricardo Vaz Te held his hands up and admitted he should have scored late on
in yesterday's 1-0 defeat at Reading. The Portuguese forward, who made his
long-awaited return from injury as a second half substitute for Gary O'Neil
missed a glaring opportunity to level the scores after being set up by Matt
Jarvis.
The winger's deep cross found Vaz Te four yards from goal and unmarked at
the far post, but he could only nod the ball wide of its intended target
despite having the entire frame of the goal to aim at. "I'm just very
disappointed. I felt like I should have done better and I should have
scored. There was no excuse for that," he told whufc.tv. "I felt like I let
everybody down and I'm just going to try to do better next time. "It was a
great chance - the easiest chance I will ever have to score and I should
have put it in the back of the net. I'm obviously very disappointed so I'm
going to strive to do better next time. "I'm going to keep work and keep
improving and as my fitness picks up, I will surely do better. I was just
very disappointed to let the team down."

Despite making his comeback having finally recovered from the dislocated
shoulder that has kept him sidelined since the beginning of October, the
26-year-old admitted that he was far from fully fit - and is unlikely to
start against Norwich on New Year's Day. "I'm not sure I am ready to start
yet; I have only trained the past week and I didn't play any games before,"
he mused. "I played for 20 minutes at Reading and it was quite hard, so I'm
just going to keep training to get my fitness as quick as possible.
"Personally, I don't think I'm ready to start a game but if that's the
gaffer's choice I will always do my best."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ricardo Vaz Te accepts blame for West Ham's defeat at Reading
Last Updated: December 30, 2012 2:09pm
SSN

West Ham forward Ricardo Vaz Te has shouldered the blame for the 1-0 defeat
at Reading on Saturday. Pavel Pogrebnyak scored the only goal of the game
for the Royals in the fifth minute but Vaz Te missed a glorious chance to
equalise for the Hammers after being introduced from the bench with 23
minutes remaining. The 26-year-old, who was making his first appearance
since dislocating a shoulder against Arsenal on 6 October, headed Matt
Jarvis' cross wide of the post from just four yards out when completely
unmarked. West Ham boss Sam Allardyce later labelled it "the easiest chance
to score a goal you'll ever see in a Premier League football match". "I felt
like I should have done better and I should have scored, there was no excuse
for that," Vaz Te told West Ham's website. "I'm just very disappointed with
the result, especially after coming on and having a great chance to score.
"I'm just really disappointed I couldn't make it for the lads. I felt like I
let everybody down and I'm just going to try to do better next time. "I'm
going to keep working and keep improving and as my fitness picks up, I will
surely do better. "I'm not sure I am ready to start yet. I have only trained
the past week and I didn't play any games before. I played for 20 minutes at
Reading and it was quite hard, so I'm just going to keep training to get my
fitness as quick as possible. "I will do my best if the gaffer decides to
put me on. Personally, I don't think I'm ready to start a game but if that's
the gaffer's choice I will always do my best, like I said."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Are These Our January Transfer Targets?
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die

Sports Mail have published a peice suggesting that West Ham's January
transfer targets are: Givet from Blackburn Rovers, Kaolou from Lille and
Chamakh from Arsenal. Givet is in the final year of his contract at
Blackburn and could be available for a nominal fee. The French defender can
play both at centre half and full-back, so would bring a utility value to
the squad. While, it is thought that West Ham will seek to secure both Kalou
and Chamakh, from their respective clubs, on loan until the end of the
season, with possible permanent deals following in the summer. Kalou could
be a useful signing and would fit well in Sam Allardyce's preferred 4-3-3
system, having operated successfully in that type of formation at Chelsea.
While Chamakh has largely disappointed at Arsenal, but they do not
necessarily employ a formation that plays to the strikers strengths. Would
Chamakh prove a better fit at Allardyce's West Ham?

Elsewhere, Mirror Sport are suggesting that West Ham are targeting a move
for Blackburn Rover's former England international keeper, Paul Robinson.
Like Givet, Allardyce worked with Robinson previously at Blackburn and
apparently rates him highly. The Mirror article also suggests Allardyce is
looking to off-load Maiga in January. If that was true, why did we reject
the offer from Marsailles for a part-exchange deal, involving Remy? This
supposes, of course, that such an offer was actually made?

Based on these stories, which we should not accept uncritically, Givet and
Kalou could be good potential sigings. However, I am not totally convinced
that Chamakh is the proven goal scorer that we desperately need. He
previously had a good goal scoring record in France andit is a matter of
whether Allardyce could get the best out of him? The Anelka to West Ham
rumours continue to circulate and there is a suggestion that West Ham
officials have met with the player to discuss terms. Anelka is another
former player that Allardyce also rates highly, having worked productively
with him at Bolton.

Time will tell if these stories have any basis in fact.

SJ. Chandos.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
No Need to Hit the Panic Button Just Yet!
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die

The result against Reading was very disappointing. Collin's error gifted
Reading a 5th minute lead that they scarcely deserved. Indeed, apart from
that one event of note, the remainder of the first half was largely a
non-event. In the second half, we made changes and largely took control. A
pattern emerged of West Ham dominating possession and Reading putting nine
men behind the ball. And their attacking threat was largely restricted to
trying to hit us on the counter-attack. It was a strange half because it was
almost as if we were the home team. Unfortunately, for all our possession
and the creation of some decent chances, we were ultimately unable to
equalize.

That point blank miss by Vaz Te was certainly something to behold. It was
one of those situations where it was easier to score than miss! Vaz Te has
been out since October and the reactions are probably a bit rusty, but one
would think that a striker would have finished that chance purely from
memory! Still, what's done is done and we must hope that Vaz Te keeps his
post-match promise to make up for it in the next few matches. Both Maiga and
Collins also had good chances to score, but it was not to be on the day.
Indeed, on another day we would have won the match based on our second half
domination and chances created.

On the plus side, both Collison and Vaz Te made first team returns.
Collison, in particular, made a good impression, on his return, after being
out so long. Reid continued his, season long, excellent form at the back;
and Noble had a good game in the middle of the park. On the down side, both
Collins and Nolan are now suspended for the Norwich City match. So, it seems
that, we get two players back from injury, only to then lose two to
suspension. Yet, it will give James Tomkins the opportunity to return to his
proper position, at centre half, and renew his partnership with Reid.
Tomkins must take the chance with both hands and make himself first choice
for the remainder of the season. The absence of Nolan may well mean that Sam
Allardyce will change his formation against Norwich City. Perhaps he will
switch to a 4-4-2, with Collison-Noble-O'Neill-Jarvis across the middle and
Maiga partnering Cole up front? We shall see? But it is possible that the
suspensions of Collins and Nolan will force Allardyce's hand, to make
changes, and provide the shake up that we probably need?

I am sure that the more alarmist and sensationalist elements are frantically
hitting the panic buttons after Saturday's defeat. There is no doubt that
since the Chelsea victory we have experienced a minor dip in results. But if
you look at recent matches, we were extremely unlucky not to emerge with
points from the Liverpool and Everton home games. They were close games,
where fate intervened at crucial junctures, to contribute to narrow 2-3 and
1-2 defeats. As I feared pre-match, we played the 'fall guys' once again in
the Reading match, but our second half display would normally have earnt us
a share of the spoils. And this has occurred within the context of an injury
crisis that has seriously stretched the playing resources of our squad.
There was always going to hit a 'rough patch' at some point this season and
it could have been far worse, considering the series of tough matches in
this second phase of the season up to the New Year. Yet, we have taken 9
valuable points and, even though we have lost three of our last four
matches, we have remained competitive and the results have been close. If we
were getting battered 3-0 or 4-0 every match, it would be a different
matter, but that is not currently the case.

No, during a dip in results, it is crucial that the management and squad
buckle down and play their way out of it. Things are not critical yet, we
are on 23 points and in 12th position. Win a New Year's Day, against Norwich
City, and talk of a so-called 'crisis' will abate. Indeed, in this respect
the Norwich City game could be a pivotal fixture. Win and it will help us
get back on track and allay any anxiety amongst the supporters. Lose and
everyone will start looking nervously over their shoulder, fearing the
worst. That is not to say that there are not issues that need to be
addressed, particularly the need to strengthen key positions in the squad.
We must sign a minumum of a full-back, a forward and a striker and they must
be top quality players that significantly improve what we already have! In
particular, we ideally need a proven goal scorer, who can score 15-20 goals
a season; which is undoubtedly going to cost.

Do some good business in the January window and we can refocus and
re-vitalize our efforts in the second half of the season. But more
immediately, it is crucial that we take the three points on New Years Day
and it would be nice if the team went about the task with pace, passion and
commitment. Norwich City have hit form of late and they have some dangerous
players, but the game is winnable. We need to dominate from the first
whistle and serve up a morale boosting victory, especially for those feint
hearts amongst us! COYI !

Finally, there were reports in today's papers that QPR have submitted a
£3.5m bid for Mo Diame, to activate the alleged release clause in his
contract. Are the reports true? Who knows, at this stage, but I would think
that Diame would be most ill-advised to go there! There are alternative
reports circulating that West Ham are engaged in discussions with Diame
regarding a new, improved contract. Lets hope that the latter reports prove
to be true!

SJ. Chandos.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Upton sparks: Big Sam looks to get Robinson IN and Maiga OUT
The Mirror
30 Dec 2012 22:30
Laurence Griffiths

Sam Allardyce will offer Paul Robinson an escape route from Blackburn in
January. West Ham boss Allardyce is tipped to bid for the former England
keeper as back-up for No.1 keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. He is a big fan of
Robinson after working with him at Blackburn and hopes to take advantage of
the current turmoil at Ewood Park. Robinson, 33, has also interested LA
Galaxy and Fulham. But Allardyce is looking to off-load striker Modibo
Maiga, hit and miss since joining from Sochaux at the start of the season.
Marseille are keen to sign the Mali international.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammer blow for Norwich as injuries hit
SUNDAY 30 DECEMBER 2012
The Independent

Norwich City face being without their two senior strikers and a key
midfielder as they attempt to end a losing run of three games at West Ham on
New Year's Day. Grant Holt, the captain, missed Saturday's 4-3 defeat by
Manchester City with a hamstring strain and his replacement in the 4-4-1-1
system, Steve Morison, limped off just before half-time. The young Tottenham
loanee Harry Kane came on for him, before Simeon Jackson appeared as an even
later substitute.

Chris Hughton, the Norwich manager, revealed he may have to do without both
Holt and Morison for the trip to Upton Park. The defensive midfielder
Bradley Johnson is suspended, and will be missing for the first time this
season.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hughton and Allardyce left to struggle with their numbers as mid-winter
aches and pains are matched by five yellows and match bans
Mon 31 Dec 12 by Rick Waghorn

City boss Chris Hughton readily admitted that his squad would be down to
some pretty bare bones for tomorrow's trip to West Ham United as a
combination of niggling injuries and suspensions took their toll. Bradley
Johnson's fifth yellow card – just 48-hours before the mid-season 'amnesty'
– ensures that the combative Canary midfielder will miss the trip to Upton
Park, while both skipper Grant Holt and Steve Morison have to be doubtful
with their hamstring and thigh complaints respectively. The eye-catching
nature of Jonny Howson's second-half performance against Manchester City on
Saturday should cover for Johnson's one-match ban; the bigger concern is up
top where minus Holt and Morison, Hughton will be left with little
alternative but to place his faith in 19-year-old Spurs youngster Harry
Kane. Wes Hoolahan, Alexander Tettey, Anthony Pilkington and Robert
Snodgrass all look set in stone team-wise; Simeon Jackson may well have to
wait his chance again on the bench. "We'll asses Steve afterwards," was
Hughton's immediate reaction to Morison's 44th minute exit.
"He just felt his thigh, so we'll have to see. And Grant [Holt] will be
touch and go. We'll just have to assess it over the next couple of games,
but hopefully we'll get Grant back." And if not? "If not then it's always an
opportunity for somebody else," Hughton told BBC Radio Norfolk.

And then there was Johnson, whose temper was not helped by Vincent Kompany's
4th minute challenge that via Edin Dzeko's subsequent second goal, set the
early foundation for Manchester City's 4-3 success. "It is a test of the
depth of our squad," the Canary chief admitted, as Norwich look to end a run
of three, straight festive defeats at West Ham. Had Johnson kept his nose
clean booking-wise for those 90 minutes then the slate would have been wiped
clean. As it was and once the yellow mist descended, so Norwich were left to
pay a one-match penalty. But Hughton was clearly loathe to break up such a
solid formula at the heart of his team – particularly with a character the
size of Holt already out of the running. "We knew that was a risk with Brad
[Johnson]. But it was a risk that we thought was worth taking today because
we knew that Grant [Holt] was missing as well, we were very keen to keep the
spine of the team. "But I thought when Jonny Howson came on he showed what a
good player he is."

The plus side, of course, is that the Canaries are not alone in having a few
headaches player-wise. Bookings for both James Collins and Kevin Nolan in
the Hammers' 1-0 away defeat at Reading on Saturday will find both joining
Norwich's Johnson on the sidelines.

Like Norwich, Sam Allardyce's troops have been somewhat becalmed of late;
they too will be looking to return to winning ways after the earlier home
defeat by Everton. They have also picked up some big injuries – John Ruddy's
three-month absence for the Canaries being matched by that of Mohamed Diame
who tore his hamstring in the 3-2 home defeat by Liverpool at the start of
December.

"We shot ourselves in the foot from the early stages," bemoaned Allardyce
afterwards, as Pavel Pogrebnyak's early strike proved decisive. "James
Collins has been solid for us this season but he made a basic error and they
took full advantage. The Hammers, he said, needed to pick up a result.
Sooner rather than later, ideally, as the drop zone just started to beckon.
Like the Canaries, a little bit of clear blue water is what Allardyce wants
between the Hammers and the Villas, the Sunderlands, the Wigans and the
Readings down below. QPR look doomed – whatever the ever-confident Harry
Redknapp may claim.

"We are slipping back down that way now and that is going to put pressure on
us," Allardyce told the BBC. "We are bitterly disappointed not to come away
with a point and now we are without James (Collins) and Kevin (Nolan)
through suspension for an important game against Norwich."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers eye move for Rovers defender Givet and wants strikers Kalou and
Chamakh
By SIMON JONES
PUBLISHED: 22:45, 30 December 2012 | UPDATED: 22:45, 30 December 2012
Daily Mail

West Ham are weighing up a move for Blackburn Rovers French defender Gael
Givet, 31, who is out of contract in the summer. Manager Sam Allardyce
remains keen on a loan for Lille forward Salomon Kalou and Arsenal striker
Marouane Chamakh. Leeds will compete with Norwich City for Brighton striker
Craig Mackail-Smith. Swansea are hopeful of signing Bristol City winger
Albert Adomah for £3m. Sheffield United manager Danny Wilson is talking
terms with Motherwell winger Jamie Murphy after agreeing a £100,000 fee.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce slams 'unprofessional' Nolan and Collins after they pick up fifth
yellow cards in Reading defeat
By SAM CUNNINGHAM
PUBLISHED: 22:30, 30 December 2012 | UPDATED: 22:38, 30 December 2012
Daily Mail

Sam Allardyce blasted two of his key players who picked up yellow cards
against Reading that will force them to miss their New Year's Day match with
Norwich. Captain Kevin Nolan and defender James Collins have been at the
heart of West Ham's season but will miss their match against Norwich on
Tuesday as they serve a one-match suspension for picking up five yellow
cards. If they had not been booked on Saturday the suspension threshold
would been have extended to 10 yellow cards.

The Hammers have struggled with injuries this season and only two weeks ago
they could not name a full list of substitutes against West Brom. Nolan was
booked with 10 minutes to play for a late challenge on Hal Robson-Kanu who
was breaking away inside his own half and Collins's yellow was for a late
challenge on Pavel Pogrebnyak – both needless tackles. And manager Allardyce
branded the two players 'unprofessional' for picking up a fifth booking this
season so close to the deadline. The 58-year-old said: 'Suddenly Norwich
becomes a test of nerve – we are now in our worst run of results this
season, and the unprofessionalism of players, due to frustration, means we
are now without our captain and James Collins on New Year's Day through
suspension. 'Losing the game was hard enough, but to lose two key players in
the last game of the suspension period makes it even worse. If they had got
booked on Tuesday, there's no suspension, but they go and get booked at
Reading and now we have to make do without them.' The yellow card compounded
a particularly bad afternoon for Collins. The centre back was one of West
Ham's best players in reducing Reading to a single shot on target – but it
was his glaring mistake that handed them that chance that resulted in the
winner. On five minutes Collins played a woefully short pass back to Jussi
Jaaskelainen and Pogrebnyak ran on to the ball and finished one-on-one with
the goalkeeper.

The result was only Reading's second win in the league this season against a
team they came up with from the Championship. West Ham are now only six
points clear of the relegation zone following a run of one win in eight
matches. They have lost five of their last seven games and Allardyce
admitted they are starting to worry about Premier League survival. But his
captain Nolan insisted that during the previous four seasons no-one outside
of the top four are safe in the Barclays Premier League until close to the
end of the campaign. The 30-year-old said: 'In the Premier League no matter
where you are unless it's two games to go and you're in the top 10 you don't
not look behind you.

'I think if you can include Everton [and Arsenal] with the top four all the
rest of the teams could be around [the relegation place], a few losses and
you're all dragged back into it. 'It's just the way it is, the way the
league has been the last three or four years.' He added: 'We're on 23
points, it's been a decent start, if you'd offered us that at the beginning
of the season we would've taken it. That's how we've got to look at it.
'We've got to go for another 23 points and plus that for the next half of
the season which is going to be tough but we're more than capable of doing
it.'

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

http://vyperz.blogspot.com