'It's just what we needed'
WHUFC.com
Matt Jarvis hopes to use Wednesday's Capital One Cup win at Spurs as a
springboard
18.12.2013
Matt Jarvis would be happy to play at White Hart Lane every week after
helping the Hammers secure their second away win of the season at Tottenham
Hotspur on Wednesday night. The winger crashed home with ten minutes
remaining to cancel out Emmanuel Adebayor's opener and set up the Hammers'
turnaround. Modibo Maiga won it for the visitors on 85 minutes and Jarvis
was thrilled to secure a place in the last four of the Capital One Cup. Sam
Allardyce utilised his squad, and the incoming players had a real impact -
another fact that pleased the No7. "It was a fantastic result for us and
just what we needed," Jarvis said. "This is a tough place to come to, so
we're delighted with the win. "This shows what a great squad we've got,
we're really working hard for each other and it paid off tonight."
Jarvis' goal was crucial to the Hammers fightback and he admitted that he
could not have picked a better moment to notch his second goal of the
campaign.
He added: "All that was going through my mind when I saw Matt Taylor laying
it off was to get on the end of it and hit the target. "I did that and I'm
absolutely delighted that it went in, especially in front of the West Ham
fans. "That's what it's all about, scoring goals, and to do it in front of
your own fans is a fantastic experience and let's hope we can get a few
more."
Maiga then sealed the win and Jarvis was thrilled for his teammate as he
also broke his duck for the campaign. He explained: "Modibo did really well,
he was really good in the air and managed to flick the ball on quite a few
times and we were able to pick up the knockdowns. "He took his goal really
well and I'm delighted for him. It's all about confidence and hopefully his
first goal of the season will push him on now. "This could be a massive
springboard for us and it's just what we needed. It was a win and a good
performance, and hopefully we can take it into the weekend now. "I'll be
looking to kick-on from this too, I was really pleased to get on the
scoresheet tonight."
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Dates set for semi-final ties
WHUFC.com
Fixture details have been confirmed for the Capital One Cup semi-final
19.12.2013
West Ham United will travel to Manchester City for the first leg of their
Capital One Cup semi-final on Wednesday 8 January with a 7.45pm kick-off.
The teams will then return to the Boleyn Ground for the second leg of the
tie on Tuesday 21 January, with kick-off again at 7.45pm. The Hammers booked
their place in the competition's last four with a stunning 2-1 victory at
London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, with Matt Jarvis and Modibo
Maiga on target. City, meanwhile, proved too hot for Leicester City in their
quarter-final, as they defeated the Championship side 3-1 at the King Power
Stadium the day before.
Ticketing details are yet to be confirmed and will be announced on whufc.com
in due course.
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Maiga celebrates 'special moment'
WHUFC.com
Match-winner Modibo Maiga was in high spirits after heading the Hammers into
the last four
19.12.2013
Modibo Maiga certainly knows how to pick his moments. His last West Ham
United goal was a late clincher in a 3-1 Barclays Premier League win over
Chelsea. This time, the Mali frontman leapt off the bench against Tottenham
Hotspur to transform the Hammers' evening. A dominant force in the air, one
of Maiga's many flick-ons laid the groundwork for Matt Jarvis' leveller,
before he powered home Mohamed Diame's cross to bag an 85th-minute winner.
And this, his first goal of the season, right in front of 4,200 jubilant
Hammers fans at White Hart Lane, to send West Ham United into the last four
of the Capital One Cup. As good timing goes, this was just about immaculate.
Though it has, by his own admission, been a frustrating wait for a first
goal of the campaign, the 26-year-old has complete faith in his own ability
and saw Wednesday night as just reward for his perseverance. He exclusively
told West Ham TV: "Definitely, it was a special moment. I'm absolutely
delighted, it's a huge reward for me and I hope it's going to continue that
way. "I've had quite a few chances in the last three or four games and
particularly with my head. It has really annoyed me, because in France I was
known for my ability in the air. "It's not happened for me until now, but
I've got my rewards in the Spurs game and I'm really happy, for the team
too! They all worked really hard in the first half, particularly
defensively, so as a unit we've got what we deserved and I'm chuffed."
With his account for the season now opened, Maiga is planning to make the
most of the momentum, hopeful that the goals will now flow. That very surge
of confidence was in evidence almost instantly, as the No11 rattled the
crossbar with a long-range drive in stoppage time. He continued: "Already
it feels great, because for me, what was going on wasn't normal! But that's
football and that's how it goes. You have to think, you have to work and,
sometimes, to wait. It [the goal] was always going to come and it happened
on Wednesday night. Here's hoping it carries on."
As with the Hammers' 3-0 league win at Spurs back in October, the visitors'
goals were scored in front of West Ham's traveling faithful, an experience
that Maiga absolutely loved. "As I always say, the supporters are
incredible, just incredible," he confirmed. "I love it, I really do and I
respect them a lot. They're fantastic, that's for sure. "The atmosphere was
mad! It's impressive, really impressive. Even though it was a cup match and
all that they bring, the support was still brilliant."
Admittedly, the Hammers have not had a whole lot to celebrate in recent
weeks, but Maiga reckons the tide is turning and they were good value for
victory on Wednesday. "Absolutely, we deserved it," he said. "We've had a
tough time in the last few games, where we've managed to create chances but
not got our rewards, like me, for example. "But now we're really happy.
Honestly, we really deserved it and I hope we're going to continue in this
vein and with results like this."
While Manchester City await in the semi-final, Maiga would rather
concentrate on league matters for now, starting with Saturday's trip to Old
Trafford. As tough a fixture as it is, the centre-forward is adamant that
West Ham will be positive in their approach. "Well, the draw's good and
we'll see how it goes. But that's done and now we go again for the next
league game, which is very, very important for us as well, for West Ham, for
everyone. So for now, we're thinking about that. "It's Manchester United, we
know what to expect. We're going to push to beat them. That's all I can say,
we're going there to win and come the end we'll see."
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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce wants league boost from Cup win
BBC.co.uk
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce hopes his players can "kick on" from their
Capital One Cup quarter-final victory against Tottenham as the Hammers look
to improve their Premier League form. The Irons, who are 17th in the
league, beat managerless Spurs 2-1 at White Hart Lane on Wednesday to reach
the last four of the League Cup. It was their first win in four games and
Allardyce said: "It's a relief. "For me, the challenge is to get the players
to kick on from this."
West Ham - last eight league games
Swansea City - drew 0-0
Aston Villa - drew 0-0
Norwich City - lost 3-1
Chelsea - lost 3-0
Fulham - won 3-0
Crystal Palace - lost 1-0
Liverpool - lost 4-1
Sunderland - drew 0-0
Spurs, with caretaker manager Tim Sherwood in charge following Andre
Villas-Boas's sacking on Monday, took the lead in the second half when
Emmanuel Adebayor volleyed home superbly for his first goal since May. But
the Hammers levelled late on through Matt Jarvis before substitute Modibo
Maiga headed in the winner five minutes from time. They will play Manchester
City in the semi-final, with the first leg taking place in the week
commencing 6 January. "We saw the shaken nerve-ends of Tottenham when we
scored," said Allardyce. "We then went for the jugular. Our substitutes, who
came on with fresh legs, exploited the spaces." It was West Ham's second win
at Spurs in three months, following October's 3-0 victory in the league.
Allardyce's men have only won two other Premier League games so far this
season, though, and are just one point above the relegation zone. "When we
beat [Tottenham] last time, I thought we'd go on a run of results and pick
up more points than we have done," he told West Ham's official website. "I
don't know where we'll go from here but it's just a fantastic result and the
lads are absolutely delighted."
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Sam gives Sullivan reasons to believe
KUMb.com
Filed: Thursday, 19th December 2013
By: Paul Walker
David Sullivan got the sort of result and performance he no doubt feels
justify his claims that if West Ham were looking for a new manager, Sam
Allardyce would be the sort of person they would want in a mounting
relegation crisis.
Our co-chairman was given all the ammunition he needs to ride out the storm
over Allardyce's tenure as manager with that remarkable 2-1 League Cup win
at Spurs.
I feel now you can write off any thoughts of the axe falling on Big Sam
after such a morale-boosting triumph at White Hart Lane, certainly
unexpected by anyone who witnessed Saturday's turgid, feeble display against
Sunderland. Only shame really is that it wasn't another league game because
points are more important than cup wins to us at the moment.
Now we all have to pray that we can get something at Manchester United on
Saturday and then against Arsenal on Boxing Day before the more winnable
games at home to West Brom and then away to Fulham on New Years day arrive.
The euphoria of another victory at Spurs - getting too easy, isn't it? -
will be swept away, I fear, when reality bites again in our next two
matches.
But let's be happy for small mercies. Actually, if you read the coverage
after the win at Spurs, you would be forgiven for thinking we were not
really there. It was all about Spurs' downfall, Tim Sherwood's chances of
being manager (not a hope with Daniel Levy wanting another fantasy manager)
and the shambles that is now White Hart Lane.
Do we really care about all that? So it is worth underlining what a very
good win it was for our lot in the circumstances. Sam says he had 16 fit
players, with James Tomkins clearly failing a fitness test as he was not
even on the bench.
Then there was the little problem of having three full-backs in our back
four, and George McCartney as a central defender alongside James Collins.
Both were outstanding on the night.
Then we had the rare opportunity of seeing Alou Diarra in a starting line-up
(only his sixth) since he joined at the beginning of last season. And the
big Frenchman did very well in a holding role.
Our Spanish goalkeeper Adrian was excellent and Jack Collison produced
another high-energy display. All this has generally gone unnoticed in what
has became a Spurs wake in the national media. And of course we had the even
more unlikely situation of Modibo Maiga scoring, Matt Jarvis too, only his
fourth for the club.
All in all, Sam threw together one of the weakest sides we have fielded this
season and they showed spirit and effort for the cause. That is what
Sullivan was talking about when he praised the sort of professionalism that
Sam provides in a crisis.
Now Sam is cute (no not like that, even his old lady must feel the grizzled
old groaner has gone past the cute stage by now) and he may feel he can
utilise a few of the cup heroes at Old Trafford on Saturday. We are not
expected to get anything, so why not give Adrian a run out, as well as
Diarra?
If Adrian can produce a miracle performance, there could be a point in it
for us. And you never know how long it will be before Diarra gets injured
again, so why not play him now?
After the win at Spurs, both probably feel they deserve another crack.
Getting the best out of a job lot of our fringe players was the requirement,
and the result unexpected. The sack race stuff seems to wash over Sam, and
the fact that emerged on Thursday that he is one of the highest paid
managers in the world just underlines why.
Let's face it. He is a very, very rich man with business interests in Dubai
and elsewhere, and he doesn't need to work. If we sack him, he will care
because it will hurt his pride, but financially it's not an issue.
Not say for someone like David Flitcroft who was axed by Barnsley and jumped
straight into a new job at Rochdale. He, like many others in the lower
divisions, does need the money.
If Sam leaves West Ham, someone, somewhere, will give him a job. He's a
fire-fighter and a tough as old boots realist. None of that, however, will
appease the many West Ham fans who were brought up on the fine traditions of
our past.
But that's the way it is. Sullivan got the performance he needed to justify
his backing for the manager. Now we will see Sam working through the
transfer window trying to bring in new faces and no doubt sell a few too.
He now has three cup ties in January, only one - at Nottingham Forest -
where anyone gives us a dogs' chance. Manchester City home and away could be
very painful, and it is not as if they have the Champions League to distract
them again until February.
City are averaging over four goals per home game. as Manchester United,
Spurs and Arsenal have discovered, as well as Norwich. But on their travels
they are not as predictable, even over-cocky to be honest.
If we can just survive the away leg without being massacred, maybe, just
maybe, we can do to them what Cardiff and Sunderland have managed against
them on their own patches. You never know. And by then Andy Carroll will be
back and maybe another new striker could be in the squad. You can always
hope.
But just for now, let's bask in another humiliation for Spurs. It's worth it
just to see Levy's face (but don't expect him to sell us anyone in the
window!)
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Sam Allardyce praises his West Ham players ahead of Manchester United trip
By Dev Trehan | Last Updated: 19/12/13 6:42pm
SSN
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce insists he cannot fault the attitude of his
players ahead of their visit to Manchester United in the Premier League on
Saturday. Both teams progressed to the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup on
Wednesday night, with West Ham coming from behind late on to score two goals
in five minutes to beat Tottenham at White Hart Lane. Allardyce's men lie
17th in the Barclays Premier League - one place above the relegation zone -
and know they face a difficult task against David Moyes' side at Old
Trafford this weekend. The West Ham manager admitted that while he is not
satisfied with the club's current league placing, he is delighted with the
attitude, application and determination his players are showing. "I'm not
happy with the way things are progressing because we are in the position we
are," Allardyce told skysports.com. "I expected us to be in a better
position than we are but what I am happy with is the amount of work the
players have put in, the amount of commitment they shown as a team to try
and win. "The end result is we have not won the games that we should have
done. We certainly are creating the chances and we're certainly doing our
very, very best to try and improve the situation." Allardyce added: "What
goes against us at this moment in time is too many key players injured and
suspended. Once we overcome that I am confident we will improve our position
in the league and improve our results."
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