Daily WHUFC News - 12th April 2013

Big Sam on: Southampton
WHUFC.com
Manager Sam Allardyce spoke to the press ahead of West Ham United's trip to
Southampton
11.04.2013

Sam Allardyce is plotting to spoil Southampton's party, as the Saints go in
search of a fourth successive Barclays Premier League win when West Ham
United visit St Mary's on Saturday. The Hammers are bolstered by the return
of Andy Carroll, but Big Sam is setting his sights on another sound
defensive display, after Sunday's shutout at Anfield. West Ham's boss is
still revelling in the weekend's resolute rearguard action and insists a
repeat performance would lay the foundations for a second positive away day
in as many weeks.

Firstly Sam, prospects for Saturday's game, is Andy Carroll fit?

SA: "Andy was always fit, it was only the loan system that doesn't allow him
to play against his parent club, so he's available. Winston Reid, George
McCartney, Mark Noble and Joe Cole are all still missing, which is obviously
something we have to overcome again. As we did against Liverpool. We were
missing those four and Andy Carroll, so I thought it was a tremendous
performance and unlike Brendan Rodgers says, I thought we did try and win
the game. We always tried to win the game and in the last throws of the game
we had several opportunities to maybe try and win it. In saying that, it was
a great performance from us and we've got to try and keep that up at a very
in-form Southampton on Saturday.

A good defensive display at Liverpool as well, that was the key wasn't it?

SA: "Every key-note performance comes from solid defending. The team that
generally defends the best in the league wins the league, not the one that
scores the most goals. So, it's always been an imperative part of everyone's
game as a manager, or as a coach. It doesn't get talked about as much as
attacking or trying to create chances, which is obviously very important
because you've got to score a goal to win it, but being solid defensively
gave us the basis to try and break out and create some chances and try to
score when we had the opportunity."

Andy Carroll at one end and Rickie Lambert at the other, how do you see that
shaping up?

SA: "Well I've got to pick Andy first. Whether I'm going to select him or
keep Carlton Cole in is a little dilemma because I thought Carlton did ever
so well last week. I suppose had Carlton scored, I'd have definitely kept
him but he didn't. "We just have to make sure that we perform as we did
against Liverpool. I think that's the key element for us. Southampton,
having won the last three on the trot has given them a tremendous boost and
virtually put them safe like ourselves. Nine points in three games, when
you're struggling at the bottom and have been for most of the season is a
pretty dramatic turnaround. So they will be full of confidence. The fans
will be expecting to beat us, there's no doubt about that, after they've
just beaten Liverpool and Chelsea at home. I think we'll just be the next
step on the ladder for them to beat. I thought the Liverpool fans probably
thought they were turning up and going to beat us last week, so we'll
hopefully spoil Southampton's party as well."

This is an opportunity for both sides to reach the magic 40 point mark,
would you call this the game that will definitely make you safe?

SA: "If we win it, I think so. I know mathematically people will say we can
still be caught and somebody could still overtake us but I find it difficult
to believe that anybody would. Over the 20 odd years there are only a few
cases of teams going down with 40 but it has been a long time since that was
actually the case."

Jay Rodriguez has had a great three games scoring in each, is he the
dangerman for you?

SA: "Lambert and Rodriguez without a doubt, and Lallana if he plays, all
three of them have mastered the challenge of the Premier League brilliantly.
Their skills and abilities have been shown in abundance. To be honest with
you, Lambert has been doing it right from the very start. He has scored
goals in every division he has played in now, which is a magnificent
achievement. "Rodriguez, of course, having had time to settle from Burnley,
has shown the sort of goalscoring form that he managed at Burnley before.
Lallana has always been a good player in my eyes, so that's a very dangerous
front three, if those three play. So we'll need to be as good defensively as
were against Liverpool."

A lot of people are talking about there being a more pressing game under
Pochettino?

SA: "At home, yes, I think so. I think that at home, we all want to use a
pressing game, because it creates a much more active and quicker game that
fans want to see at home. They don't want to see us playing with a slow
tempo and a slow build up in the Premier League. Certainly when you're the
home team, the emphasis is on you, so actually pressing high up the pitch is
a good way to get the players on a high tempo and then of course get the
fans cheering for the team. It's about coping with that and having the
ability to cope with that."

Finally, are you going to be watching the Masters?

SA: "Yes, I'll be watching. I like the early hours of the morning, sitting
watch the golf. It's a great time to watch it, when the rest of my family
are asleep. It's going to be really interesting as always. Everybody's
expecting Tiger this time. It has been a long time since he has been such a
big, big favourite and I suppose we'll find out after the first round,
whether he's there or thereabouts. For me personally, I hope it's Lee
Westwood, I really do. If he can just get the putting right, he never seems
to quite get it right, but if anyone deserves one it's him."

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'We're looking for one more win'
WHUFC.com
Gary O'Neil believes three points at Southampton will all but ensure West
Ham United's safety
11.04.2013

West Ham United midfielder Gary O'Neil is expecting a hot reception at
Southampton on Saturday. The in-form No32 began his professional career at
the Saints' biggest rivals Portsmouth, spending eight years at Fratton Park
and taking part in three keenly-contested south coast derbies. The stakes
will be just as high this weekend as both clubs seek a win that will take
them to the magical 40-point mark - a generally accepted benchmark for
safety in the Barclays Premier League. "I think we're looking for one more
win," O'Neil confirmed. "Hopefully it can come this week but Southampton are
in great form and they have had some fantastic results at home - I think
they have beaten Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool at home recently.
"It'll be a tough game because they've got some good players. We'll go there
and hopefully we'll have a couple more players fit and the gaffer will have
stronger squad to pick from. "I'm looking forward to it, even though I'll
get a bit of stick coming from Portsmouth. It's another chance to go and get
three points. Our away form has picked up with a win at Stoke and draw at
Anfield after five straight defeats on the road. Hopefully our improved form
can continue."

While West Ham have not been involved in the relegation battle all season
long, O'Neil says he and his team-mates are eager to get to the safety mark
as soon as possible so they can enjoy the final few weeks of the season. "I
don't think we're counting ourselves as safe yet, because we're only six
points above the bottom three. I don't think it's completely done dusted but
we're looking to hit as many points as we can anyway - we're not going to
get to 40 and stop.
"We're going to push on from there and try to get into the high 40s if we
can."

Once Saturday's game is out of the way, O'Neil will return home to his sofa
to enjoy the closing rounds of the Masters golf tournament. The scratch
handicapper, who tried unsuccessfully to qualify for last year's Open
Championship, would love to swing a club in a major one day, but concedes
that Augusta maybe a shot too far. Instead, he believes Tiger Woods will
instead challenge for his 15th major victory. "I'd love to play in the
Masters one day, but I don't think they'll let me!" he joked. "I think Tiger
Woods has got a good chance. I think he needs to hit it a little bit
straighter than he has done off the tee recently. He's been awesome this
year. I've watched most of it and he's been fantastic. "Obviously Rory
McIlroy playing well last week has made everyone fancy him a little bit as
well. It wouldn't surprise me if Rory, Tiger and Phil Mickelson are right up
there at the end."

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Sebby heeding Haycock's advice
WHUFC.com
Fit-again Sebastian Lletget insists he is reaping the rewards of Haycock's
management style
11.04.2013

Sebastian Lletget is thriving under the tutelage of Development Squad coach
Nick Haycock, even if it means getting a flea in his ear from time to time.
The American Under-23 international returned to the fold in Monday's
Barclays U21 Premier League 1-1 draw with Elite Group leaders Tottenham
Hotspur, after more than a month on the sidelines through injury. Despite
the unforgiving tempo of an end-to-end contest, the 20-year-old slotted
seamlessly back into his midfield role, as West Ham played out a third
successive draw. Lletget was happy enough with a job well done, but both he
and Haycock reckon there is plenty more still to come. He told West Ham TV:
"My fitness obviously needs to improve, but I think that will just come with
more games. I'm going to try to play every game until the end of the season.
My injury is long gone now, I feel 100 per cent and I'm just happy to be
back. "A lot of credit to Spurs, they had a really good side out, as they
always do and it's always a pleasure playing against them. You want to play
against good players and see how you match-up.
"I thought my performance was good, for my first game in a while, I thought
I put in the effort. There was a lot of running involved obviously, but I
could have had a goal or two and I'm happy that I made a couple of chances
for myself. "As soon as the 75th minute hit, I think a lot of us were
struggling but everybody worked extremely hard and that's why we came out
with a point."

U21s boss Haycock subsequently confessed to being somewhat harsher on
Lletget than anyone else, if only because he expects so much of the
American. The ever pragmatic Lletget insists he sees it as a compliment and
is grateful for all the guidance coming his way. "I really like playing
under Nick he gives me a lot of confidence," he added. "If he does give me a
bit of information in a high tone, so to speak, I take it well, I take it on
board and use it to my advantage.
"Maybe he is slightly harsh on me, but I like that, I like that he cares.
It's good to have that in a manager, he looks to you to do well in the team
and put the team on your back as well. Especially because I'm more
experienced than a lot of the kids that are coming through. "I view it as
every day's a step closer to the first team. Every time you train you want
to impress and all Nick wants is the best for me and for all of us."

For the time being, however, Lletget's focus is firmly on the final four
games of the U21 season, fixtures that could yet see the Hammers qualify for
the competition's semi-finals. First up, is Monday's trip to Eastleigh to
take on the Southampton, with West Ham bidding to make amends for a 1-0
defeat in the reverse fixture at Rush Green. "We've slipped up a bit earlier
in the Elite Group but our training and our whole setup has been very
professional. We're going to keep going right up until the last game and
hopefully we'll get a couple more wins. "We're definitely well motivated for
the Saints game. Nobody likes losing but especially us. Tactically and
mentally we need to be ready for that one and I'm pretty sure we will be."

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Montpellier defender Henri Bedimo eyes summer move
By Valer Gourizro. Last Updated: April 11, 2013 5:28pm
SSN

Montpellier left-back Henri Bedimo insists he will make a decision regarding
his future at the end of the season. The £5million-rated Cameroon star has
been linked with a number of Premier League clubs, including Newcastle and
West Ham. However, PSG, Lyon and Marseille are also reportedly keen on
signing the player in the summer. And Bedimo, who enjoyed playing in the
UEFA Champions League group stage with his club, says he wants more of the
same. He said: "I have heard of the interest of clubs in the Premier League,
but when you hear there is interest from a Champions League club in France
then you have to think about it. "Newcastle and West Ham are both good clubs
in the best league in the world, but I will not decide my future until at
the end of the season.
"I want to be playing in the Champions League as well."

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West Ham co-chairman David Gold welcomes technology and Financial Fair Play
Last Updated: April 11, 2013 4:48pm
SSN

West Ham co-chairman David Gold has welcomed the introduction of goal-line
technology to the Premier League and the ratification of rules regarding
Financial Fair Play. Hawk-Eye has been chosen as the provider of goal-line
technology in the English top flight after a meeting of the 20 clubs on
Thursday, and Gold is only surprised that it has not been implemented
sooner. He feels this is a step in the right direction to getting rid of
wrong decisions, and is interested to see whether there will now be a
greater demand for technology to be used for other parts of the game. "I am
disappointed it has taken so long," Gold told Sky Sports News. "Even if we
didn't have actual goal-line technology, we do have television with instant
replays, and we could have had a fourth official getting in touch to tell a
referee if it was a goal. I think this will be fantastic. "This is a start.
Who knows where it will take us. Fans will have a big say in this, and also
TV will have a big say. We want the big, bad decisions taken out of
football, and this type of technology will do that." Gold also expressed
his satisfaction that Premier League clubs had voted, by the required
two-thirds majority, to approve proposals on financial regulation. He said:
"We are happy they have been ratified so they'll go into the rule book, and
it is a good day for the Premier League." Asked about the clubs with doubts,
Gold added: "They had their reservations, and still do, but we are a
democratic unit and they'll support us going forward. "It is hard to get
unanimity on these things, but we are all pleased that we are addressing
these issues."

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West Ham cool on Carroll with cut-price £10m offer for Liverpool striker
By SIMON JONES
PUBLISHED: 22:30, 11 April 2013 | UPDATED: 22:30, 11 April 2013
Daily Mail

West Ham will offer around £10million for Liverpool striker Andy Carroll in
the summer. The England striker joined West Ham on loan with a view to a
£17m permanent deal, which remains Liverpool's valuation. However, his
injuries and goals return have prompted West Ham to re-evaluate the deal and
they will reduce their offer. Liverpool are likely to rebuff that as they
try to negotiate a deal with Carroll and Newcastle for Hatem Ben Arfa. Yet
Newcastle's valuation of the France midfielder will also make that deal
difficult. West Ham also like Southampton's Rickie Lambert and Vitesse
Arnhem's Wilfried Bony. However, while they want to give Sam Allardyce a
budget that will convince him to extend his stay, they will not overstretch
themselves with their Olympic Stadium move on the horizon.

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