Daily WHUFC News - 23rd August 2013

Big Sam on: Newcastle United
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce spoke to the press ahead of the Hammers' Barclays Premier
League trip to St James' Park
22.08.2013

Sam Allardyce urged his West Ham United players to continue where they left
off against Cardiff City, as the Hammers bid to replicate last season's
superb 1-0 Barclays Premier League victory at Newcastle United. Big Sam
insists there will be no let up from his side whatever, well aware that West
Ham need to improve on last year's haul of just three victories on their
travels. Meanwhile, their prospects of success at the weekend are boosted by
a virtual clean bill of health, with no additional injury concerns stemming
from Saturday's 2-0 triumph over the Bluebirds.

Good morning Sam, could you start by giving us the latest on Andy Carroll?

SA: "Andy's had an injection to finally finish off the last bit of pain he's
suffering in his heel. It's not anything other than to shift a little bit of
inflammation, the repair is complete, the specialist tells us. He just
hasn't been able to get rid of this little bit on inflammation, which has
been causing him some pain "Within the next few days we'll expect him to
step up his training and then take it one day at a time from there in terms
of his progression."

Have you got a vague idea of a return date?

SA: "Not really. It could be pretty quick but it could be something that
takes a little bit longer. We just go day by day based on how Andy feels and
if he's feeling good from the previous day, we step the training up and we
do that each day. As long he's feeling any pain we continue to step it up
until he joins in with the lads."

In view of Andy's injury, are you happy with the cover you've got?

SA: "I've got the squad I've got and that's it. If there is a new player to
come in, we'll need to sell first, yes. But I don't envisage that happening,
I'm not looking at doing it, because I'm happy with the squad I've got at
the moment. "It's not frustrating for me. There's a new set of regulations
that says you've got a limit on your wages, set by these new rules. I've hit
my limit and that's it, we move on. I've got no panic going on, I'm not
anxious about any transfers, like a lot of managers will get in the next few
weeks. Because we did all of our business as quick as we possibly could and
that's it. We've got a very good squad.

So, eleven days to go, and there are unlikely to be any ins and outs at West
Ham?

SA: "Unlikely that there will be any ins and outs. You never say never, but
we're not actively looking at any players to bring in, nor are we actively
looking at selling any players either."

Looking ahead, it's obviously hugely important to build on that great win on
the opening day of the season...

SA: "It should have been more than 2-0 based on the chances that we created.
I think that we were totally the dominant team in the first game of the
season, but at the end of the day, it's only game one. And we're not to
become over confident. We all know that we were poor away from home last
season, even if Newcastle wasn't one of the venues that we slipped up on
away from home last year. "I'll just remind the lads over the next couple of
days that we had a great start last season and then went to Swansea and got
beaten 3-0, and that could have been four or five. The Premier League is
obviously a very difficult place to play your football and without 100 per
cent commitment and focus on every single game, you won't get the result
that you're looking for. "You cannot ease off, every time you do that in
this league you get punished. We have to be 100 per cent focused and we have
to improve our away form from last season, starting with Saturday's game at
Newcastle." "Even though Newcastle had, probably a poor performance Alan
[Pardew] would say in the end, that was only brought about by circumstances
and Manchester City being absolutely brilliant. "First game of the season
at St James' Park and the fans will lift the players, so we will have to be
on top form to make sure we get a result."

Is it a strange feeling going back there?

SA: "Not now, I think I've been back quite a few times. From my point of
view, it's always been a very positive result whenever I've gone back. I
haven't gone back and been beaten yet, so I want the lads to keep that
record up for me if they can. It's a difficult place to go and a difficult
place to get points.
"As the years go by any [antipathy] soon diminishes, you look to the future
and look to build your career. Thinking about the past is not in my make up,
it's not my philosophy to keep going backwards. It's always about what's
going to happen next, how we're going to build a better future, how we're
going to become better as a team and improve the Club."

Sam, you mentioned Andy's injury, are there any other places you'll be
without at the weekend?

SA: "There's only George McCartney but he's moving into training with us and
we do have a game on Tuesday in the Capital One Cup, which he'll probably
figure in. It'll be nice to have him back in the squad. Everybody else at
this moment in time, apart from Andy, is fit, which is a wonderful piece of
news for me this morning. So we've completed the whole of pre-season and the
first game with a squad that has been fit all summer, so it should be raring
to go, whichever team I select!"

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Watch the U21s for free this Friday
WHUFC.com
Dev Squad defender Pelly Ruddock is looking forward to Friday's Under-21
game at the Boleyn Ground
22.08.2013

West Ham United Development Squad defender Pelly Ruddock cannot wait to
strut his stuff at the Boleyn Ground this Friday evening when Nick Haycock's
Under-21 side take on Tottenham Hotspur - and Season Ticket holders can get
in for free. The U21s have won their opening two matches of the league
season, seeing off both Aston Villa and Everton in the first week of the
campaign. Ruddock has been at the heart of a defence which has only conceded
one goal across those two matches and he wants that solidity to continue
against table-topping Tottenham. He explained: "We've been unlucky the last
few times we've played Tottenham. Hopefully we can get one over them on
Friday. "With it being a derby game, there'll be a little bit of an edge to
it and I'm sure it will be a good match. "It's always good to play at the
Boleyn Ground too, it's a great stadium and we want to produce the goods
there to get the win. "We've done well defensively, we kept a clean sheet
against Aston Villa and it was only a great strike that went in for Everton.
Hopefully we can continue that against Tottenham, keep a clean sheet and see
where that takes us."

Monday's win over Everton came late - Sebastian Lletget's goal for 2-1 came
in the very last minute - but Ruddock felt it was a just result. He
continued:"It's been a good start, and we just want to win game-by-game and
see how far we can progress. Hopefully we can continue how we've started.
"First half on Monday we should have scored. Moncs [George Moncur] missed a
penalty, but we got the goal in the second half from Callum Driver. It was a
bit of fluke but we'll take that. They equalised, but we deserved the win
and it was good for Seb to get the winner. We've got a great team spirit,
the eleven people on the pitch, plus the bench and that came through to help
us win."

Friday's game against Tottenham Hotspur at the Boleyn Ground kicks-off at
7pm. Admission is free for Season Ticket Holders or just £3 for adults and
£1 for concessions. The Stadium Store will be open up until kick-off for
supporters to stock up on new adidas kit, training wear and all Hammers
merchandise.
The Dev Squad are also in action at the Boleyn Ground on Friday September
13, when they play host to Manchester City, also with a 7pm kick-off.

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Six of the Best - Newcastle United
WHUFC.com
We look at six classic encounters with Saturday's opponents Newcastle United
22.08.2013

As whufc.com continues the countdown to Saturday's Barclays Premier League
trip to Newcastle United, we take a look back at six memorable St James'
Park clashes.

Newcastle United 0-1 West Ham United
Premier League
11 November 2012
Our first game is one that will be fresh in West Ham supporters' memories,
having come less than twelve months ago. Former Magpies boss Sam Allardyce
was to enjoy a fruitful return to his old club as West Ham moved up to sixth
in the Premier League table with a 1-0 victory. Another man with Newcastle
connections, Kevin Nolan, notched the winner, turning in a Joey O'Brien shot
as the Hammers celebrated one on only three away wins last season.
Newcastle United 0-3 West Ham United

Premier League
31 October 1998
The Hammers' previous win in the north east came under Harry Redknapp's
management, 14 years earlier. Following a tight first half, the game was
still scoreless, but West Ham ran away with the contest following Stuart
Pearce's dismissal for the hosts on 48 minutes. Ian Wright opened the
scoring eight minutes later, before Trevor Sinclair made sure of the points
with 76 minutes played. Wright's second in injury time added gloss to the
final scoreline and took the Hammers into the top half of the table.

Newcastle United 1-2 West Ham United
Division One
5 October 1985
The Hammers were in the middle of a recovery from a slow start to the
campaign when they travelled to Newcastle in October 1985. A six-game
unbeaten run had dragged them away from the foot of the early table and they
continued the momentum with a 2-1 win at St James' Park. Frank McAvennie and
Tony Cottee were on target - as they were so often in a season during which
West Ham continued to produce good form as they ended in third place, their
best ever league position.

Newcastle United 0-3 West Ham United
Division Two
23 August 1978
West Ham enjoyed a free-scoring start to the 1978/79 season, backing up an
opening day 5-2 win over Notts County by defeating another team in
black-and-white stripes, Newcastle United, 3-0. The Hammers were trying to
recover from relegation the previous season and made a good start, with Alan
Devonshire, David Cross and Bryan Robson scoring the goals. However, West
Ham could not maintain their flying start and ended the season in fifth
place, six points off the promotion places.

Newcastle United 2-3 West Ham United
Division One
3 September 1977
The previous season had also seen West Ham return home from the long journey
north with the points in their pocket. This match was a much closer-fought
affair, however, as the Hammers prevailed by the odd goal in five. Bryan
Robson scored in this game too, with Alan Taylor and Billy Jennings notching
the others. West Ham would also defeat Newcastle at the Boleyn Ground that
season, although it would end in agony for both sides as they suffered
relegation to the second tier.

Newcastle United 5-5 West Ham United
Division One
10 December 1960
West Ham and Newcastle shared ten goals in this thrilling draw at St James'
Park in the 1960/61 campaign. The game featured eight different goalscorers,
with Jackie Bell, John McGuigan, Len White (2) and Bobby Mitchell scoring
for the hosts. The Hammers' cause was helped by an own goal, as John Bond,
John Dick, Malcolm Musgrove and Dave Dunmore also hit the back of the net to
ensure a share of the spoils.

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Chamakh-down
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 22nd August 2013
By: Staff Writer

Crystal Palace striker Marouane Chamakh has accused Sam Allardyce of
reneging on a promise to give him first team football. The Morrocan striker
made the switch to Selhurst Park earlier this month having been allowed to
move across the capital on loan for the duration of the 2013/14 season,
after failing at both Arsenal and at West Ham where he spent the latter half
of last season on loan. Chamakh made just three appearances for West Ham
after moving to the Boleyn at the beginning of January - two starts (in
which he was substituted on both occasions) and one from the bench. However
speaking to L'Equipe, the 29-year-old former Bordeaux hitman claimed that
Allardyce had deceived him with regards to the amount of playing time he
would get at the Boleyn Ground.
"West Ham was a bad choice. It did not go well at all," he said. "The
manager promised me that because of the injury to Andy Carroll, I would get
playing time. Alou Diarra had warned me [about the manager]. "I know I'll
have plenty of time here at Palace. I'm going to get chances and find the
net. But I do not regret coming to England."

Chamakh was sent back to Arsenal at the end of the 2012/13 campaign having
played just 151 minutes of competitive football for West Ham in five months.
12th January: Replaced Carlton Cole as a 57th minute substitute to make his
debut in the 3-0 defeat at Sunderland. 19th January: Made his first start
for the club in the 1-1 draw with relegated Queens Park Rangers. Should have
been awarded two penalties before being replaced with an hour on the clock.
30th January: A second start in what would prove to be his third and final
appearance for the club as West Ham went down 3-1 to Fulham at Craven
Cottage.

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Crystal Palace striker Marouane Chamakh says he has no regrets
Last Updated: August 22, 2013 2:43pm
SSN

Crystal Palace striker Marouane Chamakh insists he has no regrets about
moving to England, but admits that joining West Ham last season was a
mistake.
The 29-year old, who initially signed for Arsenal from Bordeaux in 2010,
found opportunities limited at the Emirates Stadium, and joined the Hammers
on loan in January before making a permanent switch to Selhurst Park this
summer. Chamakh has only managed eight top-flight goals in his three-year
spell in England, but he says his love of the Premier League is his
reasoning for rejecting a move abroad. "There were several opportunities, in
Greece, Turkey, Spain, France and even the Middle East. But I preferred to
stay one more season in England because I love the league," he told
L'Equipe. "Do I regret moving to England? Not at all, even if it didn't go
as I had hoped. But I don't regret it because I found what I came for - the
league, the atmosphere. "It is just wonderful, even at a small stadium like
Crystal Palace's. This is what I want - just the game in a great atmosphere.
"It will be difficult not to end the season in the bottom three but if we
apply ourselves and show solidarity, we can stay in the Premier League." The
Morocco international made only three appearances during his spell at West
Ham and he says that the deal turned out to be based on false promises for
the striker. "My loan at West Ham? I made a bad choice. It didn't go
smoothly at all," he admitted. "The manager promised to play me considering
the Andy Carroll injury. He had words he didn't respect. "Alou Diarra warned
me but I did exactly as I pleased and I went anyway. I have been taken for a
ride. "That is the reason why I took my time to accept Crystal Palace. I
didn't want to make the same mistake twice."

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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce says no Cardiff City bid for Ricardo Vaz Te
Last Updated: August 22, 2013 12:23pm
SSN

West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce has dismissed talk suggesting that
Cardiff City have made an offer for striker Ricardo Vaz Te. The 26-year-old
joined the Hammers in January last year, helping them to a top-flight return
by scoring the decisive goal in a 2-1 play-off final win over Blackpool. Vaz
Te has been linked with an Upton Park exit this summer, but Allardyce denied
that the newly-promoted Welsh side have been in touch regarding a move. He
said: "There's no official bid from Cardiff for Ricardo Vaz Te. It always
happens at this time of year - it's just agents getting busy."

The Hammers broke their transfer record earlier this summer, spending
£15million on Andy Carroll, but when asked whether there would be any
further arrivals, Allardyce was quick to dismiss the idea. "Not unless the
chairman has found some money he hasn't told me about," he said. "I've got
no more money left, so the squad I've got is the squad I've got."

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The Gaffer
What are the secrets to football management? Alan Curbishley is next in our
'The Gaffer' series and the former Charlton and West Ham boss tells us about
the skills of being a boss
By Peter Fraser - Follow me on Twitter @SkySportsPeteF
Last Updated: August 22, 2013 9:30am
SSN

After a playing career which included time with Birmingham City and Aston
Villa, Alan Curbishley has built a fine reputation as a football manager
with another two of his former clubs, Charlton Athletic and West Ham United.

His managerial achievements over more than 15 years to date saw him linked
with the England job in the past and his other highlights have so far
included keeping Charlton in the Premier League, having twice been promoted
- once via an incredible penalty shootout play-off win over Sunderland at
Wembley and once as champions.

Curbishley has been out of football management since leaving West Ham in
2008 after a fallout with the club over transfer policy, having also
succeeded in a Carlos Tevez-inspired battle against relegation with the
Hammers in 2006/07. But, here, he gives Sky Sports an insight into being a
boss.

Have you always wanted to be a manager?

Yes. I had various managers and coaches in my playing career and I have
learned a bit and disregarded a bit. I always thought, if I was lucky
enough, I would give it a go. Management was exactly how I expected it would
be when I started - 24 hours-a-day work, full on and mad.

Who were your managerial role models?

I had Ron Greenwood and John Lyall when I was a player at West Ham. I
learned the art of coaching from them. They were always trying to make
everybody better. Whenever I came into contact with them, the decisions they
took were to improve my game. I also had Ron Saunders at Birmingham. He came
just after he had won the league at Aston Villa. We were only there together
a couple of weeks but I realised why Villa were such a good side. I
understood what he was trying to do and how he approached it. I took a lot
from that.

What so far has been your best day in management?

I think it has to be getting my first job. You have to get in. I got in at
Charlton and obviously we won promotion and stayed in the Premier League.
But, actually, getting my first job was better, because it is so difficult,
especially at Championship and Premier League level.

What so far has been your toughest day in management?

Leaving West Ham. It should never have happened. I have still got the best
win percentage of any West Ham manager in the Premier League. I left the
club when they were fifth from top. Who knows what could have happened if I
had not left. But, unfortunately, it is history now.

What are the keys to man-management? How do you decide if a player needs an
arm around the shoulder or the infamous hairdryer treatment?

That comes with experience. But the game has changed so dramatically. What a
lot of managers could do 10 years ago, you cannot do that now. It is a
totally different situation. Experience is a massive thing. It helps you
steer clear of problems and, obviously, solve problems. But the art of
man-management is now even more important, because of the way the game has
changed.

How important is a strong relationship between a club's manager and
owner/chairman/director of football?

I think it is the main relationship. I think it is more important than the
relationship between the manager and the players in some respects. I think
the relationship between the manager and the owner or chairman is paramount
to being successful.

Is there a difference between managing a team in a relegation battle and
managing a team in a race for promotion? Do you apply the same management
principles?

Being in a relegation fight is much more difficult. If you have got the
chance of going up, especially into the Premier League, you can see the big
prize. Relegation is horrible. No matter what league it is, I would much
prefer to be in a promotion push to a relegation scrap. The pressure,
especially coming out of the Premier League, is enormous. You have to adapt
in terms of principles. There are certain situations where you must get
something from a game. That is how you mentally approach it. The hardest
part about being involved in a relegation tussle is keeping the confidence
up and asking the players to do what they are good at.

What is your opinion on transfer windows? Are they positive or negative?

It all depends on what side of the phone you are on! If you are trying to
buy people, you could say it is a good thing. If you are desperate not to
sell, it can unhinge you. We sold Scott Parker to Chelsea [in 2004] when
Charlton were fourth in the Premier League. We ended up finishing seventh. I
am convinced we would have finished in the top five if we had kept Scott.
But these things happen.


How vital is it for a manager to have trust in their scouting network when
it comes to recruiting players?

You trust the scouting system as far as it can go and then you have got to
go and make the call yourself. You have got to go and see the player. You
cannot just rely on scouting reports and you cannot just rely on videos. You
have got to go and see the player at least, in my case, five or six times.

How do managers view football agents? Are they a good or bad thing in the
game?


There is good and bad in it. Agents can often alert you to something that is
going to happen and they can often make something happen. You have to take
the rough with the smooth. There is no manager who can say they have been on
the receiving end all the time from an agent. Managers can get players,
because of the agent's influence. So, they are a necessary evil.

Are managers increasingly under pressure to sign foreign imports, who can
often prove to be cheaper?

That is a point. Finding home-grown talent is a lot more expensive. You can
perhaps buy a more experienced player. It all depends on the situation at a
club and what you want.

How influential are statistics and technology becoming in management?


It became important five or six years ago. A lot of managers were heavily
influenced by it. But I do not think it has the same power as it did have. I
think managers manage with their own eyes. Statistics and technology became
all too powerful. Perhaps the fitness coaches and psychologists were picking
the team and training sessions. Although they are vitally important, I do
not think statistics and technology have as much say as they used to in
football.

Finally, what one piece of advice would you give for someone starting in
management?

It is the same piece of advice that I was given when I took over at
Charlton. I picked up the phone to some experienced managers and asked the
same question. The answer came out resoundingly - win games.

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IS SAM ALLARDYCE THE NEW ALASTAIR CAMPBELL?
By Iain Dale 22 Aug 2013 at 21:02
West Ham Till I Die

I tell you what, politicians have got nothing on football managers when it
comes to spin. Sam was at it at his press conference today, trying to make
out that he was perfectly happy only having one striker in his squad,
totally ignoring that the other one is trying to get a move to St Etienne.
And of course, no one has come in for Vaz Te. Perish. the Thought. Or Matt
Taylor. Or anyone come to that. And of course the club haven't been talking
to Juventus, or any other club for that matter, about bringing in another
striker. Well if that's the truth my name's Wim Van Hanegam. [Where did that
come from? Ed]. And if it really is the truth then someone isn't doing their
job properly.

I have rather lost count of all the European strikers we have been linked
with. Quagliarella seems to be the hottest tip, although Norwich might well
be competing with us for his services. Not sure the Norwich nightlife would
suit him, to be honest. but maybe it's changed since I was at university
there in the early 1980s. A nice pizza at Pizza One, Pancakes Too in
Tombland, then a night at Bonds or Ritzy's. I knew how to live. Eleven
pernod & blacks (remember, I come from Essex) in two hours was a particular
achievement. The night took a turn for the worse when I asked the captain of
the UEA Rugby Club: "Do you come here often?" I was dragged away by friends
before he could shove it where the carrot wouldn't crunch. Anyway, I
digress…

Quagliarella
If we are happy to pay £7 million for a 30 year old Italian, why not pay £6
million for Jermain Defoe or not much more for Jordan Rhodes. They are both
proven goalscorers and could both either lead the line or play alongside
Andy Carroll.

We have a chance to finish well inside the top half of the league this year.
But I can't see that happening if we are totally reliant on the midfield
players to chip in with ten goals each. Neither Jarvis nor Downing are known
for their goalscoring exploits, and while Nolan and Cole will always get
their fair share, what if Andy Carroll gets injured? Again. It hardly bears
thinking about.

Sorry if that all sounds depressing. I really feel we can push on this
season, but not if we have to rely totally on one player for goals. We've
seen what Swansea have done. We've seen Norwich sign a couple of cracking
strikers in Ricky van Wolfswinkel and Gary Hooper. I think both of them
could finish in the top half. We could well finish above them, in the top 8,
but only if we do what we all know needs to be done. And there are only 9
days left in which to do it.

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LADIES NAME NEW CAPTAIN
By Tommy Wathen 22 Aug 2013 at 17:38
West Ham Till I Die

This week, West Ham United Ladies have confirmed that midfielder Becky
Merritt will be the club's new first team captain for the coming season. The
news was confirmed on Merritt's own Twitter account on Tuesday evening when
she tweeted: "Delighted and honoured to be chosen as @Westhamladies captain.
The future looks bright and I am proud to be a part of it. #happy"

Merritt, who takes on the role from the start of the 2013/14 season,
replacing centre back Rosey Sullivan, told westhamtillidie.com that she was
delighted with being given the captain's armband.

"It is a massive achievement to be selected as captain for any team, but to
do it for the team that's in your heart is a huge honour.

"I am immensely proud and thankful for this opportunity. The support has
been amazing from within and outside of the club.

"I know the gaffer [Mark Saunderson] selected me because I understand him,
his expectations and what he wants on the pitch. He trusts me to be his
voice on the pitch.

"Even without the arm band, I had players coming to me for advice and I will
always go out of my way to help them. It is a pleasure to work with such an
established manager and my aim is to continue to help push the team forward
as the future is exciting."

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West Ham's Joe Cole aims to make England World Cup squad for fourth finals
running
22 Aug 2013 22:30
The Mirror

Joe Cole has targeted appearing in his fourth World Cup finals. The West Ham
star must first win a first-team place, and a new contract, at Upton Park.
But, after scoring for the Hammers as they beat Cardiff in the first Premier
League game of the season, Cole is confident he can also return to the
national set-up under his former Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson. The
31-year-old, who won the last of his 56 caps at the 2010 World Cup, said: "I
think any Englishman will want to play for his country, especially when you
look at how few English players are in the Premier League at the moment. "I
have been to three World Cups, so I would love to do it again, but it is
just a case of how well I play at West Ham - that's the main thing. "I had a
good pre-season, played a lot of minutes and a lot of games and it was nice
to get out there at Upton Park again. "The 18 months at Liverpool where I
didn't play is obviously a bad time in my career, but when I did play there
I felt I did all right. "Then I had a good season in France [on loan], so
there is nothing wrong with me. I am still only 31, so if people look at it
like that, I can still do a job for England, but we will just have to see
what happens."

Cole went to the 2002 finals in Japan and South Korea as a youngster, scored
an absolute belter in Germany four years later and was also in Fabio
Capello's party in South Africa. He has taken inspiration from Manchester
United's evergreen Ryan Giggs, who'll turn 40 in November, as he looks to
prolong his career.
"I want to play on for as long as I can and someone like Ryan Giggs is the
benchmark for players over 30," said Cole, who is in his second spell at the
Hammers. "I watched him in the Charity Shield and he was fantastic. "As to
the coaching, I am passionate about youth football in England. "It is
something I would enjoy and youth football in particular, developing young
players is something I am passionate about."

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West Ham reject St Etienne bid for Maiga... and free agent Cole's next on
their shortlist
By JOHN DRAYTON
PUBLISHED: 22:52, 22 August 2013 | UPDATED: 22:52, 22 August 2013
Daily Mail

West Ham have rejected St Etienne's bid to take Modibo Maiga on loan. The
French could yet revive interest in free agent Carlton Cole, however.Cole
has been without a club since leaving The Hammers at the end of last season.

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