Daily WHUFC News - 29th April 2013

Skipper rues City defeat
WHUFC.com
Kevin Nolan was disappointed that Manchester City ended West Ham United's
unbeaten run
28.04.2013

West Ham United skipper Kevin Nolan praised the battling qualities of his
team after they ran FA Cup finalists Manchester City close at the Etihad
Stadium on Saturday. The Hammers came out on the wrong side of a 2-1
scoreline, but Nolan was impressed with how they brushed off an indifferent
first half display to give the Citizens moments of concern after the break.
Ultimately Andy Carroll's injury-time strike was nothing more than a
consolation and Nolan was disappointed that the Hammers' five-game unbeaten
run had come to an end. He said: "First half it was backs against the wall
and when we got on the ball we just couldn't seem to keep it, which was very
frustrating. "We came in at 1-0 down and we said to try and keep in the game
as long as possible, and retain the ball a lot better. "In the second half
we did that, we came out firing on all cylinders, had a few early
opportunities, but the ball wasn't falling for us. "The goal came five
minutes too late for us, If we had scored in the 85th minute we could have
given it a real go. "But they're a top team, and goals like Yaya Toure's is
what they do. Out of nothing he strikes it with his weaker foot and it's in
the top corner - that just took all the pressure off them. "It's
disappointing because we've lost our five-game unbeaten run. It's a shame we
couldn't extend it to a sixth, but it's about us now going on a run until
the end of the season. "We've got Newcastle at home next, which is a massive
one for us, being at home. It's going to be a good day for me, Andy and Sam
with Newcastle coming to us, and we're looking forward to it. "We want to
win our home games, it's as simple as that. We've been a very good home team
this year, we love playing at the Boleyn. I will be looking to score again,
the big man will be as well, so we're excited about it."

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Hurst backs poll importance
WHUFC.com
Sir Geoff Hurst says it is essential for all Hammers fans to take part in
the Supporter Consultation
27.04.2013

West Ham United legend Sir Geoff Hurst believes it is vital for all Hammers
fans to have their say in the Club's independent Supporter Consultation on
the Olympic Stadium. Hurst, an FA Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup winner
with the Hammers, as well as England's hero in the 1966 FIFA World Cup, was
present at the announcement last month that named the Club as the Stadium's
anchor concessionaire. He was excited by the plans and wants all supporters
to voice their opinions to help shape the Hammers' future He said: "I'm
delighted that the Hammers fans will have this opportunity to tell the Club
their opinions about the Olympic Stadium. It is essential that as many
supporters as possible take the opportunity to offer their opinions on this
exciting move. "I'm a fan and I know what I think about the move - it's a no
brainer. I wholeheartedly support it and I think it'll be a major step
forward for the Club. "For West Ham to move forward, we need a bigger
ground, we need better facilities, and that's what we'll get at the Olympic
Stadium. "The accessibility at Stratford is second to none, and we'll have
one of the best stadiums in the country, if not the world. "It's something
that I'll be looking forward to and I'm sure that the majority of fans will
be thinking the same, because it's such a fantastic opportunity for the
club. "I would urge everyone to have their say, whatever their opinion, on
what could be the biggest move our Club will ever make."

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Guest Post: Why Sam Should Go Now
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die

This is a guest post by a reader from Namibia, Brian Jones - it is his view,
and does not reflect the view of the site as whole, but it's a debate worth
having.

So Sam Allardyce has achieved what he was hired to do. We are back in the
Premiership and staying there. But should he be given a new contract? I
don't think so, and it has nothing to do with long balls (well almost
nothing). In a way, the long ball issue is a red herring, along with the
"West Ham way". There were times this season when we did play a lot of long
balls, but there were others when we mixed it up quite well and played some
good passing football.

No, what really concerns me is the defensive, negative tactics that Sam
employed too often this season. In too many games the team sat back, very
deep, inviting teams to come at them. The hope seemed to be that we would
soak up the pressure in the first half and then come out and win in the
second. Yes, this approach worked against Chelsea at home, but it just
doesn't work often enough against top teams - in the end the pressure will
tell and you end up chasing a goal or two. The problem with these tactics is
that players have to fall back on the long ball because the whole team is
playing too deep so the opposition presses forward and there is no space in
midfield to move the ball around. How many times did we see the defence
trying to move the ball forward, becoming bogged down in midfield, passing
back to Jussi, or Collins who then just punted it up field? It's not the
long ball itself that was the problem, but the tactics that led to us using
it so often almost as a defensive mechanism. Often the long ball wasn't a
deliberate tactic, we were simply forced into using it because we just had
no other option as the opposition closed us down. Even though Carroll is
really good at holding up the ball or nodding it on to another player, we
still ended up losing possession too often from the long ball, instead of it
helping us to set up an attack. Too many players were sitting deep and there
wasn't anyone available to take the knock down from Carroll.

There is a personal element to this. I feel betrayed as a fan by Sam's
tactics in two games in particular, the Arsenal and Aston Villa away games.
At Arsenal there was an opportunity to go out with a positive approach and
team selection and take them on. I was so looking forward to watching that
game! Instead we had Joe Cole on the bench and a defensive approach. We let
them play at us and they took us apart. The same story at Villa, although
different circumstances. Against Arsenal, nothing really to lose, why not go
for it? At Villa everything to gain against a team playing really poorly and
lacking confidence. Yet the same defensive, negative approach, and again,
look what happened.

To all of this I would add some really odd substitutions, particularly in
the first half of the season, an insistence on playing strikers such as
Maiga in wide positions, almost as wingers, and continued faith in an
under-performing Nolan (yes, I know he's our top scorer, but still, he does
disappear for large parts of the game). Joe Cole, Maiga and yes, even Vaz
Te, are potentially our most creative players in and around the box. When
they get into close positions they can make tight passes and open up a gap.
But they are not used in that role by Sam.

As a fan from 1964, I will still watch every game I can on TV, try to get to
England and the Boleyn when I can, and sing Bubbles in the off-key manner
that gets me banned by my musician wife from singing at any time other than
football matches. But it's time to say thank you Sam for what you've done
and look for someone who is willing to embrace some creativity and create a
team that will attract the extra fans needed to fill the Olympic Stadium.

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Big Sam's travel bug
Published: 5 hrs ago
The Sun

SAM ALLARDYCE admits West Ham must cure their travel sickness if they are to
build on a solid first season back in the top flight. The Hammers have taken
only 13 points from 18 matches on the road and have relied heavily on their
form at Upton Park. More worryingly they have managed just 11 goals in those
matches, so Andy Carroll's late consolation here was a rare moment of cheer
for the club's travelling fans. Boss Big Sam said: "Our away goals return
has been too poor this season - not just the performances - and we must
improve on that. "We need to get more goals to get the points but we'll
address that in the summer. Hopefully I can find some better players,
improve the squad before the start of the new season. "That could help us do
better but we have three games left to try and do better and keep improving
our performances." Allardyce could at least take heart from his team's
display in the second 45 minutes as they could have taken a point. He said:
"I was very pleased with the way we played in the second half when you bear
in mind the quality of this Manchester City side. "They have players who can
turn a game."

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