Daily WHUFC News - 26th November 2013

Loanee round-up
WHUFC.com
Dan Potts and Paul McCallum were in action for their loan clubs in Sky Bet
League Two at the weekend
25.11.2013

Paul McCallum, Dan Potts and Jordan Spence were all in Sky Bet Football
League action for their loan clubs this weekend. All three played the full
90 minutes but were unable to prevent their respective clubs from slipping
to defeats. Potts, who was making his debut for Portsmouth after joining on
a one-month loan deal, played at left-back throughout and he saw his team
surrender a one goal lead as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat against Scunthorpe
at Fratton Park. Tom Craddock had given the south coast side the lead after
36 minutes but a double from Tom Syers, one either side of half-time, won it
for the visitors. McCallum was also on the wrong end of a 2-1 defeat despite
getting on the scoresheet himself. The big striker opened the scoring with a
superb right-footed half-volley from just inside the box as he gave the
Gulls the lead. Kai Naismith pulled one back three minutes before half-time
before consigning McCallum and Torquay to defeat with 16 minutes left.
Spence's Milton Keynes Dones, meanwhile, were edged out 3-2 by Bradford City
in League One. Patrick Bamford and Shaun Williams were on target for the
Dons, but Nakhi Wells, former Hammer Kyel Reid and Jason Kennedy scored to
win it for Bradford. Spence has extended his loan with Karl Robinson's side
until January 4, but McCallum will now return to the Boleyn Ground having
scored three goals in six games for the Gulls.

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'It's the story of our season'
WHUFC.com
Joey O'Brien says basic errors are hurting West Ham United at present
25.11.2013

Joey O'Brien says West Ham United are taking collective responsibility for
their current poor run of form. Sam Allardyce's men fell to a 3-0 defeat to
Chelsea on Saturday, the visitors taking the lead by seizing upon a Guy
Demel error which led to Jussi Jaaskelainen giving away a penalty. It was
the second spot-kick conceded by the Hammers in as many Barclays Premier
League games, and O'Brien feels too many mistakes are being made at crucial
times throughout the team - including on his own part. "The penalty on
Saturday was a massive moment and probably the story of the season for us,
with individual errors costing us," he said. "We've made a few of them - I
made one at Hull to give away a penalty there, Guy's a top player and will
come back from it. "Chelsea are a smashing team with some good players, but
I'm more concerned with how we're doing. We're confident we can turn it
around. We have some top players and proved that last year. "Hopefully that
little bit of luck will go our way and kick-start our season."

Having lost just four Barclays Premier League home games over the course of
last season, the Hammers have now matched that total already this term by
losing four of their opening six fixtures at the Boleyn Ground. The No17 is
well aware of the importance of next week's home clash with Fulham as the
Hammers look to put that right, both against the Cottagers and on the road
at Crystal Palace next Tuesday evening. He added: "The home form is a
concern for us, particularly not scoring goals. That's the main issue, and
the next two games are massive. "We find ourselves in a fight and we need
six points. Both ourselves and Fulham are in need of the three points next
week and we'll be doing our best for them."

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Downing laments Hammers' generosity
WHUFC.com
Stewart Downing felt the Hammers had themselves to blame for getting Chelsea
started on Saturday
25.11.2013

Stewart Downing felt West Ham United only had themselves to blame as they
slumped to a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday. The Hammers were giving as
good as they got until they conceded a needless penalty to their visitors 21
minutes in. Frank Lampard converted from the spot and Chelsea never looked
back from there, soon doubling their advantage through Oscar before Lampard
sealed the points late on. The defeat left the Hammers without a home win in
the Barclays Premier League since the opening day of the season and Downing
knows an improvement is necessary. "We gave Chelsea a goal start, and I
thought it was quite even up until then," he said. "They got the penalty,
Lampard rarely misses and from then on it was hard for us because they keep
the ball and have players who can hurt you."

Downing does not point the finger at a lack of chance creation for the
Hammers' current woes, more their deficiencies in taking those opportunities
at present.
"We've played ever so well in a lot of games but the problem is that we've
missed chances at important times," he added. "With the crosses we put in, I
remember Kevin Nolan got on the end of one and got it back for a half-chance
for Joe Cole, so even though we're not playing with a striker, we're still
getting people into the box. "It's people's jobs to make the runs, we don't
all sit behind the ball and cross to nobody. "We've got Fulham and Palace in
the next two games - two big games and we need the points."

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Phillips proud of U18s run
WHUFC.com
Assistant manager Mark Phillips saw West Ham United U18s go nine games
unbeaten by defeating leaders Fulham
25.11.2013

West Ham United U18s assistant manager Mark Phillips hailed the Hammers
following Saturday's 3-1 win over Barclays U18 Premier League leaders
Fulham.
After playing out a goalless first half at Little Heath on Saturday, striker
Jordan Brown and captain Kieran Bywater put the Hammers on track to victory.
George Williams halved the deficit from the penalty spot after a foul by
Hammers defender Jamie Harney. It was to be West Ham's day though when the
Hammers won a penalty of their own, which was coolly dispatched by Bywater
for his second of the game and his 13th goal in 15 games. Phillips was
naturally delighted as West Ham extended their unbeaten run to nine league
matches. "I don't want to be quoting clichés but I thought it was a game of
two halves," said Phillips. "In the first half, Fulham were on top but we
were definitely the better team in the second half. "We prepared for Fulham
the same way that we prepared for the Tottenham and Aston Villa games
because they are both up there in the top three with Fulham and we have
beaten both of them. "We obviously gave them respect for where they are in
the league, but made sure that we didn't over-respect them because we are
confident in what our team can do. I got a good feeling from training all
week and we went out and showed just how good we are."

Despite the result, Phillips believes that it was nowhere near a perfect
performance from the Hammers, but that the game came down to which team look
their chances in front of goal. "I wouldn't say it was a perfect game
because in the first half, Fulham were the better team. Steve Potts and I
identified a few things at half-time where we could negate their attack and
then it was about us taking our chances, which we did."

The game saw both sides being awarded controversial penalties, with Phillips
claiming Harney had been wrongly penalised for Fulham's spot-kick. "I didn't
think either was a penalty to be perfectly honest. For their penalty, I just
thought Jamie won the header, slightly aggressively, but he had to be to win
the header." The win stretches the Hammers' unbeaten run to nine games ahead
of home games with Arsenal and Leicester City to round out the pre-Christmas
league fixture list. West Ham will also travel to Accrington Stanley in the
FA Youth Cup third round before the festive season. "Hopefully the run can
continue till sometime in May!" Phillips continued. "The more we play and
pick up results, winning becomes a habit and we start expecting to beat
teams, no matter who we are playing against. "I thought that when we beat
Tottenham and Aston Villa. There is a good vibe around the Academy at the
moment. Togetherness is one of the main attributes that this team has got.
They are very close both on and off the pitch. Steve has got the team in a
very good place at the moment. "The results haven't always shown what the
performances have deserved. For example, we drew 1-1 with Southampton here
at Little Heath earlier in the season and we should have won that and drew
with Newcastle when they had ten men so we should have won that too.
Overall, we have played quite well this season."

This season is the first that Potts, Phillips and Academy director Tony Carr
MBE have worked together with the U18s. The trio have proved to be a
successful combination so far. "It's been very good working with both Steve
and Tony this season. Tony's experience is unquestionable and second to
none. He has been doing youth football for years and knows everything about
it. "I've recently come up from the U16s to be Steve's assistant so you then
have my enthusiasm. Steve is the cool head that tops it off and makes sure
we work well together."

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It's a bit Chile!
WHUFC.com
British Ambassador to Chile Jon Benjamin is following the West Ham Way in
South America
25.11.2013

West Ham United supporters can famously be found all over the world. One,
British Ambassador to Chile Jon Benjamin, has been supporting the Hammers
from postings on five different continents! After graduating with a degree
in Languages (German and Swedish) and International Relations, the
50-year-old joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1986. Since then
Benjamin, whose four-year stay in Santiago will end in March 2014, has
worked in Australia, Indonesia, Turkey, the United States and Chile during
his 27-year career in the diplomatic service. During his time in South
America, he has made some fantastic friends, including one of the 33 Chilean
miners freed after 69 days trapped underground and former West Ham defender
Javier Margas! The Ambassador began by explaining that claret and blue has
long run through the veins of the Benjamin family - Jewish immigrants who
settled in the East End.
You can follow Jon Benjamin on twitter @JonBenjamin19 "My Mum was born in
Mile End and my Dad in Stepney," he said. "Their house took a direct hit in
the Blitz and they had to move out to near Windsor. In fact, the whole
street he lived in - Skidmore Street - was so badly damaged that it doesn't
even exist anymore. "My Dad sadly passed away last year, aged 93. When I was
back in the UK a few months before, we took him on a very happy day trip to
all his old haunts in the East End, standing where we were pretty sure
Skidmore Street used to be - that will stay with me forever."

Benjamin's late father took him to the Boleyn Ground for the first time in
1974, at the age of eleven, for a 'thrilling' 4-3 win over Everton. Having
seen Clyde Best, Billy Bonds and Trevor Brooking in the flesh, he was
hooked. "From the age of 16 onwards, I went to every home game and, for two
seasons, every away game, including getting up at 4am to travel to places
like Sunderland - before I went to university. Ever since, whenever I'm
posted back in London for a couple of years, I get a Season Ticket again."

Benjamin, who names Alan Devonshire as his favourite all-time Hammer, has
attended some memorable matches down the years, enjoying the rollercoaster
of emotions that come with being a West Ham fan, "I always remember that
great Alf Garnett quote: 'Supporting West Ham is like life itself: there's
the odd moment of joy down the years, but most of it is bloody misery!'.
"But I do have some terrific memories of games I was at - the 1980 FA Cup
final against Arsenal where we won 1-0 against the odds; the Championship
Play-Off final in Cardiff against Preston where the seven minutes of
added-time almost finished me off!; that incredible 1-1 draw at home to
Manchester United [in May 1995] which prevented them winning the title. "Of
course, I don't like dwelling on defeats but I do remember seeing us lose
4-1 at home to Dinamo Tbilisi in 1981 in the European Cup Winners' Cup -
probably the most complete footballing performance I've ever seen. "Many
years later, in 1996, I got to visit Dinamo Tbilisi's home stadium in the
Republic of Georgia to see England win a World Cup qualifier, in which Teddy
Sheringham and Les Ferdinand scored, so revenge of a sort!"

Georgia is just one of the dozens of countries Benjamin has visited during a
career he planned to follow even as a child. "I never really wanted to do
anything else. When I was six, I wrote in that typical first primary school
essay 'What I want to be when I grow up' that I wanted to be an ambassador,
even though I spelt it all wrong. Well, it just took another 40 years to get
that title! "It's been a great and very varied ride, each posting highly
memorable in its own right, with a couple of postings back in London in
between, including three years as head of the Foreign Office's human rights
department which included some unforgettable trips, above all a week in
North Korea in 2004."

Since arriving in Chile, Benjamin has collected some 'fantastic memories',
met his partner Carolina and celebrated the birth of son Louis. "I've
travelling all over, including to remote and amazing Easter Island and spent
the night in the lighthouse on Cape Horn island. "My first full year here,
2010, was the most eventful: there was the world's fifth-largest earthquake
in February, where I thought my house was about to collapse and then, of
course, the famous rescue of the 33 trapped miners, one of whom has become a
very good friend since. "But, much more importantly than all that, in Chile
I've finally, aged 50, started a family. Louis, now just over one, is
naturally a big Hammers fan of the future. He's already seen a few games
live here on Chilean TV, though he did fall sound asleep during the West Ham
v Stoke game."

Father and son settle down in front of the television to watch live matches
and highlights whenever possible, while Benjamin himself has also gained an
affiliation with the Chilean national team. "I have seen a few World Cup
qualifiers in a great atmosphere in the national stadium. Chile will be in
the World Cup next year, which is fantastic for the team and for the
country." Benjamin plans to return to the Boleyn Ground early next year,
when he hopes to see a fit-again Andy Carroll banging in the goals. Whether
he is overseas or at the Boleyn Ground, West Ham are never far from his
thoughts. "Through thick and thin, I will always be a Hammer and, of course,
my little son, Louis, will, I hope, take the torch and hand it on in due
course to more generations of the Benjamin family down the years!"

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West Ham midfielder Mark Noble ready for two vital Premier League games
Last Updated: November 25, 2013 4:38pm
SSN

Mark Noble has called on West Ham United to 'stand up and be counted' ahead
of two 'vital' games in the Premier League. West Ham have won just once in
the league since the opening day of the season and were comfortably beaten
3-0 at home by Chelsea at the weekend. That result left Sam Allardyce's side
outside the relegation zone on goal difference and West Ham's next game is
at home to 18th-placed Fulham. The Hammers then travel to 19th-placed
Crystal Palace and Noble is looking forward to facing two teams who are also
fighting at the wrong end of the table. The midfielder is also waiting to
see if Allardyce continues with the 4-6-0 formation that has been used in
recent weeks after striker Modibo Maiga was brought on as a substitute just
before half-time against Chelsea. "It's up to gaffer what he does, but in
the second half we had more of a focal point and it looked a bit more
balanced," said Noble in the Evening Standard about whether a striker will
start against Fulham. "It seemed to work a bit better but Chelsea were 2-0
up by then and probably took their foot off the gas a little. "I just can't
believe the way it's going at the minute. We were holding Chelsea OK and
then we give away another unbelievable goal. "After the way things have been
going this season, giving penalties away and the opposition scoring from
free-kicks, this was another kick in the nether regions. "The next two
games, against Fulham and Crystal Palace, are vital for us now and we have
to stand up and be counted. They will be tough but I'm looking forward to
them."

West Ham have scored just five goals in six home games this season and
full-back Joey O'Brien acknowledged their form at Upton Park is a worry.
O'Brien told the club's official website: "The home form is a concern for
us, particularly not scoring goals. That's the main issue, and the next two
games are massive. "We find ourselves in a fight and we need six points.
Both ourselves and Fulham are in need of the three points next week and
we'll be doing our best for them."

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Sam Alladyce says West Ham fans entitled to boo team
Last Updated: November 25, 2013 7:45am
SSN

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce says he understands why he and the team were
jeered off on Saturday. The Hammers were beaten 3-0 at home to London rivals
Chelsea, and were booed off at half-time and full-time by the home support.
The Hammers have two wins all season - on the opening day against Cardiff
and, memorably, at Tottenham. The defeat by Chelsea was their fourth at home
this season - the same number as the whole of last season and Allardyce
admits he understands the increasing frustration in the stands and puts
recent performances down to 'fear' in the team. "If they (the supporters)
don't see the sort of determination and passion and desire they think they
should get they show their disapproval," Allardyce said. "I thought the
players tried as hard as they can, but they're playing with a bit of fear at
the minute. And that makes them look like they're not playing with the
passion that is normally seen."

West Ham have two more derbies coming up, and Allardyce says they need to
turn things around quickly. "When people say there's a pressure game at the
top - Manchester United versus Arsenal or Chelsea versus Manchester United
or Manchester City - it's not as big a pressure as when you're in the bottom
three or four," Allardyce added. "It's much greater pressure because it's
all about 'relegation this', 'relegation threatened that', all the money you
lose. "That becomes a constant flea in the players' ear. They've got to
dismiss all that, keep a clear mind, keep a clear head and focus on playing
how they know they can play. "It's my job to pick the players up and remind
them about previous performances we've had home and away this year, make
sure we get to that level and stop those fears creeping in."

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Spence extends Dons stay
Last Updated: November 25, 2013 6:09pm
SSN

MK Dons have extended the loan spell of West Ham defender Jordan Spence
until January 4, 2014. Spence, 23, whose initial month-long stay with the
Sky Bet League One club ended after their 3-2 home defeat to Bradford on
Saturday, has played every minute of every game since joining Karl
Robinson's side.
The former England Under-21 international will now be available for the
Dons' league fixtures against Colchester, on Tuesday night, Coventry,
Wolves, Port Vale, Crawley, Brentford and finally Colchester and Crewe in
the new year. Spence will also be eligible for Dons' FA Cup second-round tie
against Dover Athletic next month. Robinson said: "First of all we're
thankful to West Ham United and their manager Sam Allardyce for allowing us
to keep him until the new year. "He's done wonderfully well since signing
for us and we're very fortunate to have him until January. He is a typical
MK Dons centre-back and they are hard to find. "This now gives us
consistency in the back four and it's important over the forthcoming weeks
and months while Antony Kay is out, that he'll be there to fill that void."

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BIG SHAM SHOULD LOOK IN THE MIRROR
By Tony McDonald 25 Nov 2013 at 15:10
West Ham Till I Die

IF Sam Allardyce really wants to know the answer to West Ham's current
problems, he need only look in the mirror.

Instead of publicly blaming his players for failing to take chances (sorry,
did I miss something in the Chelsea game?), he must shoulder full
responsibility for the mess we are now in.

I know I sound like a broken record and, in truth, I might as well just cut
and paste my last two pieces (from Sept and Oct) up here and be done with
it. The all-our-eggs-in-one-basket approach to the ludicrous signing of an
injury-prone forward for vast sums that must make us the laughing stock of
football; the failure to sign another striker in the summer and then wasting
another £5m of the non-scoring Downing; the embarrassment of recalling
Carlton Cole (and, worse, not even playing him) . . . I stand by every word.
Nothing has changed since my last gripes about Allardyce, except relegation
is becoming a more realistic and worrying prospect with each passing game.

Depression deepens.

When Carlton Cole looked at the team-sheet at Norwich and saw he wasn't
starting against a poor team who had been smashed 7-0 at Manchester City the
previous weekend, I wonder if he contemplated collecting his boots and
selling them on eBay. He might as well give up.

Yeah, yeah, yeah . . . "we'd be mid-table now and chasing a European place
if only Carroll had been available," the sadly delusional pro-Allardyce
brigade will try and argue. Give over.

His unavailability should have come as a shock to no-one. As I keep banging
on, Carroll has a record of injuries worthy of a walk-on part in Casualty.
He was injured when we handed over that £17.5m gift to Liverpool, so to
lavish most of his summer budget on the big man was a very risky and
miscalculated gamble by BS that could yet have dire consequences.

Still, in accordance with modern speak, we can at least take the 'positives'
from this diabolical, shameful situation: Big Sham is another step closer to
the exit door and, for me, that glorious day cannot come quick enough if
West Ham United is ever to go forward as a club again.

BS swears by his stats, so here's one for him to ponder: Our first shot on
goal v Chelsea was recorded in the 93rd minute.

And another for him to mull over: The day after the Chelsea fiasco, Cardiff
City had 14 shots against Manchester United and were rewarded for their
enterprise with a 2-2 draw against the reigning champions. Allardyce should
have looked at that performance and the ambitious tactics employed by
Cardiff's ex-manager Malky MacKay and been squirming with embarrassment.
It's not rocket science, is it? You play a forward (or two), go at the other
team, put them under a bit of pressure and, hey presto, you bag yourself two
goals.

Chelsea are not in the form of Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. They
are a team who, until last Saturday night, had been underperforming, winning
just one of their previous five away league games and were very fortunate
not to have lost their last home match to West Brom.

Yet compare Malky Mackay's refreshing attitude to Allardyce's 'game plan'
for the Chelsea match.

*Start the game with NO strikers.

*See your team go 0-2 down.

*Make two substitutions in the 39th minute and put on a (useless) striker.

This man's a tactical genius!

It must have been John Terry's easiest game since he was playing for Senrab
on Wanstead Flats.

Of course, it's not results against top teams that will determine the fate
of clubs scrapping at the wrong end of the table. It's what we do against
fellow strugglers which matters most. In this respect, the 3-1 defeat at
Norwich (having taken the lead) was even more criminal and, ultimately, may
prove much more costly.

The forthcoming 'P45 Derby' with Martin Jol's faltering Fulham and the
'Neckbrace Derby' against Crystal Palace could have a huge bearing on West
Ham's season and the future of the manager himself. (Christ, the bloke at
Sky who had the bright idea of showing the Palace game live next Tuesday
should be shot, or forced to buy a season ticket at either Selhurst Park or
Upton Park. He must be some kind of a masochist, especially now that the
other anti-football merchant Tony Pulis has been inflicted on those poor
people of South London. Still, the good news is Pulis is no longer a
candidate to replace BS.)

It remains to be seen if the team will respond in the right manner but
reading critical quotes in the media from their beleaguered manager is not
normally conducive to a rallying effort in the face of adversity. To "waste
chances", as BS puts it, you first have to create them. And how the manager
sets his team up inevitably affects their ability to create or otherwise. I
shouldn't think Joe Cole, for one, was over the moon about being yanked off
before half-time, having been marooned on the right where he was never going
to be at his most effective. Jack Collison was also humiliated in front of
his home fans.

I fear, too, that Ravel Morrison, by far and away our best future prospect,
will quickly reach the conclusion (if he hasn't already) that he will never
fulfil his obvious talent playing for a manager as negative as BS. How
Mourinho and the Chelsea players must have relished seeing Morrison asked to
play a role alien to him – backtracking and desperately trying to pick up
advancing Chelsea runners, when he should have been running with the ball
towards their goal.

In the last couple of days there is a growing change of mood among even BS's
biggest disciples. More and more sheep are removing their heads from the
sand and waking up to reality. About time.

It's one thing getting criticised by fans but if Allardyce loses the
dressing room, then he will become a dead man walking.

So who would we replace him with? There are options out there: Di Matteo (a
mate of Zola's, so it's doubtful that he would want to work for our board);
Hoddle (England's best coach, tactically clued up and puts out attacking
sides, but is prone to paranoia and not popular with the media); Di Canio
(fruitcake), Holloway (another fruitcake and his teams can't defend),
McLeish (no thanks), Curbs (no thanks), Coleman (just signed a new deal with
Wales).

Whoever it is, the appointment should not be based on a quick fix, but one
that will restore the club's ethos and best traditions for playing
entertaining, attacking football, while at the same time laying a structured
foundation for the future. As at Barca and Arsenal and most other clubs, all
the club's teams beneath the first team should all be playing in
fundamentally the same basic style, whilst allowing for tweaks to formations
depending on the opponents and circumstances. How else can you expect
continuity and progression of young players through the ranks? West Ham's
academy teams don't hoof the ball.

Alan Devonshire has proved himself over many years in non-league football,
so he would have to be a strong candidate. No experience above the
Conference? So what.
Perhaps give him a go alongside a younger coach – Julian Dicks? – as his
assistant. This way, Dicksy could seamlessly succeed Dev as No.1 when the
time is right. And how about Alvin Martin as defensive coach and Tony Cottee
to work specifically with the strikers?

These men have been there and done it for West Ham; they understand the
history of the club and what it stands for (or used to). They know what most
supporters expect for their heard-earned money.

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West Ham should not get rid of Big Sam yet, but his next three games are
crucial
25 Nov 2013 09:22
The Mirror
Resident Hammer Dan Silver is none too pleased with Allardyce, who could
face the chop if this gets much worse

There's no shame in losing to Jose Mourinho's star-studded Chelsea side , of
course. Even at home. But there was plenty of shame to be had from West
Ham's performance during their 3-0 defeat on Saturday. Actually, it was
worse than that: it was embarrassing. Chelsea's performance was calm, cool
and clinical, yes. But I've also rarely seen a team have to work less for a
3-0 win away from home. Sam Allardyce bemoaned individual errors and poor
finishing for the Hammers' latest home hammering. And, yes, Guy Demel's
disastrous back pass that led to the visitors' opening penalty was
compounded by a miserable miss from Modibo Maiga in the second half that
could have halved the deficit to 2-1.

But the problems at Upton Park run far deeper than scapegoats, and it's time
the manager looked a little closer to home. Way back before the season had
even started in August I wrote that the manager's reliance on Andy Carroll's
fitness could be the difference between West Ham finishing 8th and 18th, and
was told on Twitter that I didn't know what I was talking about. Then,
following a fruitless transfer deadline day in which West Ham failed to
secure a striker on loan to cover for the crocked Carroll, I wrote another
piece criticising the rank mismanagement at the club.

Again, I was slammed on social media. Carroll would be back within weeks, I
was told in no uncertain terms. One Twitter user memorably told me that
youngster Elliot Lee would score the goals West Ham needed. He's just
returned from a League One loan spell at Colchester (Lee, that is, not the
Tweeter).

And so, with almost a third of the season gone, West Ham find themselves out
of the relegation zone on goal difference alone, having won just two games
from what many considered to be an opening fixture list that bordered on the
generous.

Big Sam, as he's affectionately known, has never enjoyed the West Ham fans'
affection. The respect he rightfully accrued for securing promotion to the
Premier League at the first attempt and keeping the side there last season
has been gradually eroded by workmanlike performances that must be endured
rather than enjoyed.

Sam's self-aggrandisement has grated, too. He revelled in the 3-0 win at
White Hart Lane , proclaiming his own tactical acumen and preparation in
producing a striker-less formation that bamboozled Andre Villas-Boas.

His obdurate decision to turn a surprise tactic into a predictable one
resulted in subsequent defeats to Manchester City and Norwich and two
goalless draws with Swansea and Aston Villa before Saturday's reverse to
Chelsea.

The striker-less formation returned two goals in five games. You wouldn't
have needed Nostradamus levels of foresight to see that coming, but the
results are now apparently the fault of the players' performances rather
than the manager's strategy.

Allardyce will point to his lack of options up front, of course, but as
manager he has to take a significant share of the blame for this. His
insistence on signing Stewart Downing in the summer to supply the crosses
for Carroll was a classic case of putting all your eggs in one basket. Now
West Ham don't even have a basket.

Whispers around Upton Park suggest members of the board wanted to spend the
Downing cash on Juventus hitman Fabio Quagliarella but eventually decided to
back their manager instead. Cynics might suggest they were merely giving
Allardyce enough rope to hang himself should the need arise.

And now many West Ham fans have come to the conclusion it has. Calls for
Allardyce's head are being taken up across the internet, with everything
from his negative tactics to his obdurate faith in woefully out of form
captain Kevin Nolan being used as sticks to beat him with.

For many, the very public humiliation of Joe Cole and Jack Collison - both
hauled off during the 40th minute of the Chelsea defeat rather than at
half-time, has proved the final straw.

There's no question that relegation would be a disaster for West Ham -
something reinforced by the photo op of builders starting work on the club's
new Olympic Stadium home staged last week. And despite David Sullivan and
David Gold's reputation for not firing managers, they've already dismissed
two since their arrival at Upton Park four years ago.

I would be astonished if they sacked Sam, though, Especially given that
three of West Ham's next four fixtures are against fellow strugglers Fulham,
Crystal Palace and Sunderland.

Changing managers mid-season is by no means a sure way of changing fortunes.
For every Southampton - and there must be many chairmen casting envious
glances at the way Mauricio Pochettino has turned that club around - there
are many more Readings and Hulls that remind us that the tactic is very much
a gamble.

Yes, a new manager might well shake things up ahead of those crucial
six-pointers but equally he could further disrupt a dressing room filled by
many of Sam's signings.

Then there's the question of who West Ham could bring in. As Crystal Palace
have found, there aren't many top managers around Europe enthralled with the
prospect of a Premier League relegation scrap.

Former Hammers hero Paolo Di Canio is out of work , of course, but surely
that would be a step too far even for owners as much in love of a futile
populist gesture as Sullivan and Gold.

Talking of which, only fans with amnesia would sanction an audacious move
for Harry Redknapp ahead of a transfer window.

Even if by default, Sam Allardyce deserves his chance to rectify his recent
shortcomings and salvage West Ham's season, securing much-needed points to
provide a platform from which he can sign his way out of trouble in January.

Fail to get anything out of those upcoming fixtures, however, and it could
well be a different story.

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West Ham: Allardyce defends substitution of Cole
By Rob Virtue on November 25, 2013 1:21 AM
Wharf.co.uk

Sam Allardyce defended his decision to take off Joe Cole during the
first-half of the side's 3-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday. The former
England international, along with Jack Collison, was substituted on 40
minutes after the second goal went in and stormed off straight to the
dressing room. When asked about the decision to take Cole off, Big Sam said
"the change was needed". "I can't help the team playing like that, and since
the two goals went in I had to change something," he said. "Somebody has to
come off. You look at the team and see who we're going to bring off and how
we're going to play. "Are we going to bring a lot more energy, a bit more
pace with Maiga and Diame? But if (Cole's) frustrated, then the next time he
plays, he's going to play so well that I am not going to substitute him, and
that's up to him."

Allardyce said Jose Mourinho's game plan was spot on, but he was
disappointed with how his team performed on the day. "I think we allowed
them to be good after the goal," said the West Ham manager. "In all
fairness, Jose's blocked the midfield with a bit more than he normally does,
and they haven't had the best two results of late. "When we saw Ramires,
Lampard and Mikel in midfield, you know they've come here to be a bit more
defensive, but it was our defensive frailties that broke first, not there's.
"Gifting them the penalty gave them a massive lift, and we couldn't really
get out of our own half."

A Frank Lampard brace and a goal from Oscar ensured a classy Chelsea side
ran riot against a struggling West Ham at Upton Park in the late kick-off on
Saturday. The first goal of the game came from the penalty spot, after right
back Guy Demel's lacklustre back-pass towards veteran shot stopper Jussi
Jaaskelainen was pounced on by Oscar, who was bought down by the former
Finnish international. Lampard dispatched the spot kick in a comfortable
fashion to end his 10 league game goal drought. Thirteen minutes later,
Chelsea doubled their lead, as a quick interchange of passing between man of
the match, Eden Hazard and Oscar, saw the Brazilian international burst
towards the Hammers backline, and his shot trickled past Jaaskelainen. With
no real threat from West Ham, who are now winless in their last five Premier
League games and have only scored two goals since then, Chelsea put the game
to bed in the 83rd minute when the Hammers defence failed to properly clear
Branislav Ivanovic driven cross, which fell to Lampard who has now scored
five goals in his last five appearances against his old side.

West Ham next have a 'relegation six pointer double' when they play host to
Fulham next Saturday, before a midweek game away at Crystal Palace.

Jack Pinnock

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Storm clouds gather over Allardyce
Posted by Peter Thorne
ESPN

Should he fail to pick up some results in the next few weeks, Sam
Allardyce's West Ham future could turn very grim. The forums on the
unofficial blog sites are not the place for a faint-hearted West Ham
supporter currently. The vitriolic abuse for Sam Allardyce -- always
bubbling below the surface since his appointment -- has emerged with a
vengeance, as most knew it would if results started to go against him.

Allardyce was never a popular appointment, and the type of football favoured
by the ex-Bolton boss has never found favour with the Claret and Blue
faithful brought up -- many by memory alone -- on Academy football, the
legendary triumvirate and the glowing legacy of the Greenwood and Lyall
years. The bemused Allardyce, like many who aren't supporters of the east
London side, questioned the validity of this supposed legacy and asked --
not unreasonably, it has to be said -- what success it had brought the club
since the mid-80's. Unfortunately, driving a coach and four through the
myths and legends of your new club is not really a good starting point for
any boss and Allardyce has been walking on thin ice ever since.

In 21st Century football though, results are all and while Allardyce eked
out dull draws away from home and smothered opposing sides at home, then
fans were prepared to -- if not exactly bite their tongue -- at least wear a
rictus smile. Once the wheel turned though, everyone knew the Dudley-born
ex-central defender, with his brusque and obdurate manner that sometimes
appears to border on the arrogant, would struggle to align himself with the
cockney and Essex based fan base. Dudley may only be in the West Midlands,
but this is a North v South argument that has been waiting to explode for
the past two years.

Inevitably, once the rumbling starts then whispered rumours and internet
scaremongering become cast-iron facts. At the weekend, when I was
questioning if all the blame for the situation that forces the Hammers to
play without a striker can be laid at the door of the manager, I was told
quite categorically that the West Ham board had wanted to sign Juventus
forward Fabio Quagliarella, but had been persuaded to back Allardyce who
wanted to spend the money on winger Stewart Downing instead. I have no idea
if that is the case -- I'd read Juventus decided not to release the player
and Quagliarella wouldn't have wanted West Ham anyway, but who is to know
the truth in the land of liniment and horse oils?

What is without doubt now, though, is that someone who knows someone who
knows David Gold's sister-in-law, is stating as a fact that Allardyce will
only save his job if he is successful in the three upcoming games against
Crystal Palace, Sunderland and Fulham. As these are fenced in with further
matches involving Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool, Allardyce's
options aren't great and not helped when he says things like "we need six
points from those games". We know what he means, but supporters are looking
for a more bullish response.

Further rumours that state that at least one of the executive board has
never been too impressed with Allardyce and is just itching to pull the
trigger may be the usual type of gossip you get when Christmas is
approaching and the team is staying out of the bottom three only on goal
difference.

It's a balancing act and -- scathing though I am about those who run
football clubs nowadays -- I don't envy the Board their options. Because for
every Nigel Adkins-Mauricio Pochettino scenario, there's a Reading or QPR
situation waiting to occur; indeed, Hammers supporters don't even need to
look that far, when they recall the patience shown to Avram Grant when
Martin O'Neill was an option. Amusingly, Big Sam himself, showing the type
of self-confidence that seems to aggravate as much as impress, has often
said that every time he has been sacked, the club he left has then gone
down.

Perhaps Allardyce could just do himself a big favour though and leave
captain Kevin Nolan on the bench for once, and try and play one player up
front -- whoever he is. It may not work, but it would at least look as if he
could see some of the shortcomings the fans are seeing. Losing at home to a
rampant Chelsea side doesn't really mean that much, but confidence looked
low on Saturday once the Hammers went behind and the idea of losing points
to teams in the bottom three could have a disastrous effect on team morale.

Sam Allardyce is going to have to prove there is some substance to his
bombast – although, even then, it might not be enough.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com



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