Daily WHUFC News - 16th January 2013

Manchester United match preview
WHUFC.com
Your guide to Wednesday evening's FA Cup third round replay at Old Trafford
15.01.2013

MANCHESTER UNITED V WEST HAM UNITED
FA CUP with BUDWEISER THIRD ROUND REPLAY
WEDNESDAY 16 JANUARY 2013
KICK-OFF: 8.05PM
REFEREE: PHIL DOWD
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV

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Introduction
• West Ham United travel to Manchester United in an FA Cup third round
replay, having played out a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Boleyn Ground less
than a fortnight ago. The winners will host either Fulham or Blackpool in
the fourth round.
• The Hammers go into the match hoping to banish the memory of Saturday's
3-0 Premier League defeat at Sunderland, their joint heaviest of the
campaign to date. Manchester United, meanwhile, were 2-1 victors at home to
Liverpool at the weekend. And they have serious FA Cup pedigree, having won
the competition more than any other team (11) and reached more finals than
anyone else (18).
• One of the most recent FA Cup meetings turned out to be a good one for the
Hammers as they beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford in the FA Cup
fourth round in January 2001. Joe Cole started in midfield as Paolo Di Canio
scored past a stranded Fabien Barthez. United got their own back two years
later though when they beat the Hammers 6-0 in another fourth-round tie.
• Manchester United have won the last nine Barclays Premier League meetings
between the two sides. West Ham United's last win came at the Boleyn Ground
on 29 December 2007 as Anton Ferdinand (77) cancelled out Cristiano
Ronaldo's opener (14) before Matthew Upson scored an 82nd-minute winner.
• The Hammers have however emerged victorious against the Red Devils since
2007 in the Carling Cup and they did so in spectacular fashion. On 30
November 2010 the Hammers secured a famous 4-0 win over United in the fifth
round. Jonathan Spector scored twice against his former club before Carlton
Cole added a double of his own on a cold and snowy night at the Boleyn
Ground.
• West Ham United have lifted the FA Cup on three occasions, in 1964, 1975
and 1980, and were runners-up in 1923 and 2006. Manchester United have won
the prestigious trophy on eleven occasions - 1909, 1948, 1963, 1977, 1983,
1985, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004

Last time out
Saturday 12 January 2013
Barclays Premier League
Sunderland 3-0 West Ham United
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen; Reid, Collins, Demel, (Tomkins 34), Potts,
Nolan, Jarvis, Collison (Vaz Te 46), Diarra, J Cole, C Cole (Chamakh 56)
Booked: Reid, Tomkins, Diarra

Sunday 13 January 2013
Barclays Premier League
Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool
Manchester United: De Gea; Rafael, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic (Smalling 79),
Carrick, Young (Valencia 46), Cleverley, Kagawa (Jones 77), Welbeck, Van
Persie
Booked: Evra
Goals: Van Persie 19, Vidic 54

Previous meeting
• The Hammers were only minutes away from progressing in the original tie,
as Robin van Persie rescued Sir Alex Ferguson's men with a stoppage-time
equaliser. Tom Cleverly struck first for Manchester United, before James
Collins twice headed home Joe Cole crosses to turn the cup tie on its head.
But the Dutchman's late show consigned the Hammers to an Old Trafford date.
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Collins, Tomkins, Potts, Nolan,
Collison, Diarra (Noble 73), J Cole (Taylor 78), C Cole, Vaz Te (Jarvis 61)
Subs: Spiegel, Reid, Spence, E.Lee
Goals: Collins 27, 59
Manchester United: De Gea, Rafael, Evans, Smalling (Giggs 78), Vidic,
Buttner, Scholes (Valencia 68), Cleverley, Kagawa, Hernandez (Van Persie
68), Welbeck
Subs: Lindegaard, Ferdinand, Young, Macheda
Goal: Cleverley 23, Van Persie 90

Background
• The first meeting between West Ham United and Manchester United came on 25
February 1911 in the FA Cup. The Hammers won 2-1 with Thomas Caldwell and
Danny Shea scoring the goals.
• West Ham United's biggest win over Manchester United came at the Boleyn
Ground on 11 October 1930. A Viv Gibbins hat-trick inspired the Hammers to a
5-1 win with Jim Barrett and Jimmy Ruffell also on the score sheet.
• Manchester United's biggest win ever over West Ham United came almost 70
years later on 1 April 2000. This time they had a hat-trick hero of their
own as Paul Scholes scored a treble in a 7-1 win. Denis Irwin, Andrew Cole,
David Beckham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored the other goals with Paulo
Wanchope on target for the Hammers.
• Manchester United's biggest triumph in east London was a 6-1 victory on 6
May 1967.
• Wednesday's fixture marks the 125th competitive fixture between West Ham
United and Manchester United. The Hammers have won 42, the Red Devils have
won 57 and there have been 25 draws.

Last six meetings
(Premier League unless stated)
5 January 2013 West Ham United 2-2 Manchester United (FA Cup third round)
28 November 2012 Manchester United 1-0 West Ham United
2 April 2011 West Ham United 2-4 Manchester United
30 November 2010 West Ham United 4-0 Manchester United (Carling Cup fifth
round)
28 August 2010 - Manchester United 3-0 West Ham United
23 February 2010 - Manchester United 3-0 West Ham United

Overall record v Manchester United (all competitions) W 42 D 25 L 57

Ten-year record

West Ham United

2011/12 Championship 3rd (86 points - promoted to Premier League via
Play-Offs)
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points - relegated to Championship)
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted to Premier League via
Play-Offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated to Championship)

Manchester United
2011/12 Premier League 2nd (89 points)
2010/11 Premier League 1st (80 points)
2009/10 Premier League 2nd (85 points)
2008/09 Premier League 1st (90 points)
2007/08 Premier League 1st (87 points)
2006/07 Premier League 1st (89 points)
2005/06 Premier League 2nd (83 points)
2004/05 Premier League 3rd (77 points)
2003/04 Premier League 3rd (75 points)
2002/03 Premier League 1st (83 points)


Referee
• Wednesday's referee will be Phil Dowd
• Dowd is in his 12th season as a Select Group official, having initially
been promoted to the Barclays Premier League list of referees in 2001.

• Dowd began refereeing in local leagues in 1984, officiating in the
Staffordshire Senior League and Midland Football Alliance. He was appointed
to the Football League list of assistant referees in 1992, before joining
the League's full list of referees in 1997, aged 34.

• The 49-year-old is commonly considered to be one of England's best match
officials, an opinion backed by his appointments as the referee for the 2012
FA Cup and 2010 Football League Cup finals.

• Previously, Dowd was the fourth official at the 2006 FA Cup final between
West Ham United and Liverpool at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

• Dowd has refereed 20 West Ham fixtures in total, the most-recent being a
goalless draw at West Bromwich Albion in December.
• He will be assisted by Simon Long and Gary Beswick, while the fourth
official is Lee Probert.

Team news
West Ham United
• January recruits Marouane Chamakh and Wellington Paulista are both
ineligible, having not registered in time for the original tie at the Boleyn
Ground.
• James Collins is likely to miss out having limped off at Sunderland with a
hamstring problem, while it remains to be seen whether Mark Noble will
recover in time from a slight calf strain.
• Mohamed Diame was an unused substitute at the Stadium of Light and could
feature as he steps up his return from injury. • Joey O'Brien is still
struggling with his hamstring injury and if he fails to recover, Potts will
likely deputise once more. Big Sam may also choose to make changes in light
of the Sunderland result and to ensure his side are fresh for Saturday's
vital Barclays Premier League meeting with Queens Park Rangers.
• Modibo Maiga will definitely be missing after he travelled away to Mali
for the Africa Cup of Nations finals in South Africa.
• Andy Carroll is edging closer to a return to light training, leaving
George McCartney as the club's only long-term absentee.

Manchester United
• Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to make a number of changes for the replay,
with the fit-again Nani one option he could turn to in attack.
• Wayne Rooney is also set to make a return for the home side after
recovering from the knee injury he suffered in training on Christmas Day.
• Ashley Young (knee) and Johnny Evans (hamstring) are both definitely out.
Old boys
• Manchester United have two former West Ham United players in their squad.
England defender Rio Ferdinand made 158 appearances for the club between May
1996 and November 2000, scoring two goals. Midfielder Michael Carrick scored
six goals in 159 appearances between July 1999 and May 2004.
• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are Jonathan
Spector, Roy Carroll, Noel Cantwell, Luke Chadwick, Billy Grassam, Paul
Ince, Ralph Milne, Frederick Milnes, Ravel Morrison, Frank O'Farrell, Stuart
Pearson, Les Sealey, Dave Sexton, Teddy Sheringham, Carlos Tevez and Raimond
van der Gouw.

General Information
• The weather forecast is for a largely dry evening, but fans are advised to
wrap up warm with temperature set to struggle to get above freezing.
• There are less than 100 away tickets left on general sale - relevant
ticket information can be obtained here.

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Big Sam on Manchester United
WHUFC.com
The manager has spoken to the media ahead of West Ham United's FA Cup with
Budweiser replay at Old Trafford
15.01.2013

Sam Allardyce is hoping West Ham United can reproduce their fine performance
against Manchester United of ten days ago in Wednesday's FA Cup with
Budweiser third-round replay, despite having to cope with a shortage of
defensive personnel. James Collins' hamstring injury, sustained in
Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Sunderland, leaves Big Sam with only three senior
defenders to call on. However, he is still banking on another competent
rear-guard display at Old Trafford.
The Hammers conceded after just 32 seconds in a 1-0 Barclays Premier League
defeat at Old Trafford in November, but then kept Manchester United's array
of attacking flair at bay for the remainder. Big Sam insists it will require
a similarly stoic effort to produce a positive outcome on Wednesday evening.

Sam, could you start with the team news for Wednesday's trip to Old
Trafford?

SA: "It's not great from a defensive point of view with James Collins going
down injured and with both George McCartney and Joey O'Brien unavailable. So
it's very desperate in that particular area which is one thing, with the
window being open, I can do something about. It's less than the bare bones
at the moment, so it gives me great difficulty going to Old Trafford with
only Guy Demel, James Tomkins and Winston Reid of our senior defenders fit.
After that we're down to young lads like Jordan Spence and Danny Potts. In
front of that it is looking alright. I think the rest of the team are
getting there. Mohamed Diame is back with us, which is good news, and we're
still waiting for Andy Carroll to join up with us again."

Given your injury worries, is it tempting to rest some of your more senior
players?

SA: "I can't rest any of the defenders. The trouble is, if I don't rest them
and they get injured, I'm in trouble against Queens Park Rangers on
Saturday. If I lose any of those senior three, I move into bigger problems.
We'll have to take a big look at the squad and try to plan a different way
of playing as well as a team that's going to be quite different, based on
the number of injuries I've got and the big game we've got on Saturday as
well."

How difficult will it be to repeat the two very good performances you've
given against Manchester United this season?

SA: "Obviously it will be more difficult to beat Manchester United on their
own patch than it would have been at the Boleyn Ground a week ago. I think
that was a huge effort that we gave, which nearly brought us a fantastic
result. But unfortunately, because of that man, Robin van Persie, it was
snatched away from us at the very last gasp - which is something Manchester
United have always been capable of doing. "It was a huge disappointment on
the day and all we have to do tomorrow night is just to enjoy the game, play
our best and see where that takes us. And if we put our best performance on,
you can ask no more than that. The challenge is set for the players that
start the game and hopefully they'll know they have to play to their best at
Old Trafford. "We did very well there in the league, after recovering from a
very tricky start, with a deflected own goal after 30 seconds. So we did
very well to stifle Manchester United's huge amount of flair on the
frontline and we've obviously got to do that again."

What can you tell us about new signing Wellington Paulista?

SA: "I think he's a talented player in terms of his ability on the front
line. Let's see if we can apply the talent into the team as quickly as
possible. I don't know how quickly that's going to be, sooner rather than
later hopefully, but it might take a little while. Talent is the most
important thing and then applying that talent where it's most difficult in
the Premier League and that's in the final third."

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Diarra raring to go
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's French midfielder is fit and focused on FA Cup success at
Old Trafford
15.01.2013

Alou Diarra is hoping for a clean bill of health in 2013, as he and his West
Ham United teammates prepare for this season's third meeting with Manchester
United. Diarra, who joined from Marseille in the summer, endured an
injury-plagued beginning to life at the Boleyn Ground but, having started
West Ham's last two fixtures, is now intent on kick-starting his Hammers
career. And the France international, who lined up against England at last
summer's UEFA European Championship, sees no reason why West Ham cannot
spring an FA Cup surprise at Old Trafford. "It's not going to be easy in
Manchester, they're in confident mood, even if they make a few changes. They
have strength in depth and a lot of players and can rotate," Diarra
admitted. "For us, it's a question of raising our game in comparison to our
performance at Sunderland and start the match just as we did in the home
game. It's not an easy game but in the cup anything is possible. We'll have
chances at Old Trafford. "The home tie was a good experience. For me it was
my first game back after a long injury, and against Manchester United! It
was amazing. This type of game is great for the fans and makes for a good
atmosphere at the Boleyn Ground. "It wasn't easy but I played just over an
hour which for a return is pretty good. The fact we managed to draw 2-2
against them proves that there's quality at West Ham. But we've got to make
sure we stay the distance this time. "Danny Welbeck and Wayne Rooney are
two very good players of international, world class. I had the opportunity
to play against them at the Euros. That means I know them a little bit, I
know their quality. They're two very good forwards, both very dangerous, and
we'll have to keep an eye on them and not give them any space whatsoever."

Meanwhile, the French midfielder was adamant that West Ham fans have not
seen the best of him yet, as he slowly finds his feet again after
two-and-a-half months on the sidelines. "It's obviously not easy to arrive
at a new club and be injured for so long. I've worked well with the medical
staff here. Now I'm now enjoying getting back to competitive action. "I
think I'll need several matches to get back into a rhythm, like all players
coming back from injury. Perhaps even more so in my case, seeing as I didn't
start the season. That means I've worked very hard physically, but of course
that's no substitute for game time. But I'm sure that the combined physical
effect of several games is going to do me a lot of good."

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Potts proud of winning start
WHUFC.com
New U18s manager Steve Potts was delighted to see his team overcome
Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday
15.01.2013

Under-18s manager Steve Potts was brimming with pride after West Ham
United's 1-0 Barclays U18 Premier League Tier One Stage victory over
Tottenham Hotspur at Little Heath on Saturday. A competitive first half saw
Potts' men having to endure extensive periods of Tottenham possession, but a
solid and stable Hammers back line cut short any of Spurs' attacking moves,
giving West Ham the chance to grab the only goal of the game. Central
midfielder Ben Marlow finished an impressive attacking move just one minute
into the second half and Potts acknowledged the goal as the turning point in
his team's performance.
"It was a very tight game as the scoreline indicated," said Potts. "The
start of the game wasn't too bad. I felt that Tottenham dictated quite a bit
of the first half after that. They had good possession without really
cutting us open and hurting us. "Second half, we came out really strong, got
ourselves a goal straight away and I think we settled down after that, both
with and without the ball. We made it more difficult for Tottenham and we
showed more composure with the ball and started moving it around quite
well."

Potts expressed his pride at the hard work he saw from his young Hammers
team, knowing that everyone had worked together to earn the three points.
"It was one of those games where they all did their jobs," he continued. "It
was a very good team effort and I couldn't fault anyone out there today."
"They really did work as hard as they possibly could and worked hard for
each other, that's for sure. Without doing that I don't think we would have
got a result."

West Ham's goal came just after the break, when Thomas Gogo set up Marlow to
finish from 15 yards out. Potts was delighted at the way his side used the
ball wisely to create the opening. "We were looking for a bit more composure
on the ball and I think we shifted the ball around quite well. We had the
ball on the left, then bought it into the middle and out to the right. "Our
right full-back [Josh Siafa] then put the right winger in [Gogo], who
crossed it and one of our centre midfield players has put the ball in the
back of the net. There were four people in the box at the time so it was
quite a well worked move."

The win over Tottenham was Potts' debut match since his promotion from
Under-16s manager, knowing that his new squad should be looking to push on
towards the West Ham first team. "I'd say that from an age point of view,
they are that little bit closer to the first team. I think that would be the
big difference [between them and the Under-16s]. "Through all the ages at
West Ham, there are bits of quality there amongst the groups, but because
they are that little bit older, you are looking to think 'Well go on then,
can you push on and get closer to that first team?'"

Next up for the Under-18s is a trip to face Stoke City before another
meeting with Tottenham for the FA Youth Cup fourth round at the Boleyn
Ground on Tuesday 22 January. Potts admitted he hasn't had time to look past
this weekend's match, but knows his side must prepare themselves for the
challenge that lies ahead. "To be honest I've only thought about our opening
match so far. I haven't really thought about anything else so far. I've had
a week's training with the boys last week and they have gone out there and I
couldn't have asked for any more from them today. "They have run themselves
into the ground and as long as they show that sort of attitude, they won't
have a problem at all. "They've got the deal with the occasion. They are
going to be playing at Upton Park and I would've thought there will be a
fair crowd there. As it proved on Saturday, there wasn't much in the game.
It will be whoever performs better on the night, I think."

Under-18s: Rosique, Siafa, Page (Homans), Marlow, Harney, Girdlestone, Gogo,
Cullen, T.Tombides (Martins), Makasi, Boakye-Yiadom (Pike)

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Man Utd v West Ham
KO 20:05
15 January 2013
Last updated at 14:43

FA CUP THIRD ROUND REPLAY
Venue: Old Trafford Date: Wednesday, 16 January Kick-off: 20:05 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC local radio,

TEAM NEWS

Wayne Rooney will feature for Manchester United for the first time since
damaging his knee during training on Christmas Day. Nani is also scheduled
to play, having recovered from a hamstring problem that has kept him out of
the last 15 games. Defender Nemanja Vidic is set to play despite suffering a
knock to his head in Sunday's win over Liverpool. But Ashley Young is out,
having picked up a knee injury that makes him a doubt for Sunday's game
against Tottenham.
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: "[Vidic] had a bit of concussion but he's
OK. He trained yesterday and was good." Vidic had also appeared to hurt his
knee when falling badly in the Liverpool game, but Ferguson said the
centre-half had not done any damage. He added: "Obviously, Young has got a
dull knock, a little bit of a strain on the knee, but it's nothing serious.
"I think he'll be back next week - maybe not for Tottenham but the week
after he should be OK."

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
• Manchester United have won eight of their last 10 league and cup
matches against West Ham, and beat them with a goal from Robin van Persie
after only 33 seconds in the equivalent Premier League fixture in November.
• But the Red Devils had to rely on a stoppage-time equaliser from the
same player to avoid a quick exit from the FA Cup. The winners will be home
to either Fulham or Blackpool in the fourth round.
• The Hammers hold a 4-3 winning record over United in the FA Cup.
Their most notable triumph was 3-1 at Hillsborough in the 1964 semi-finals,
on their way to winning the trophy. The third of United's victories was 6-0
in the fourth round in 2003 at Old Trafford, when Ryan Giggs scored twice.
Manchester United
• Treble-chasing Manchester United boast the best record in the FA
Cup, with 18 appearances in the final, 11 of which were won - five under Sir
Alex Ferguson.
• This is the fifth successive time they have been drawn against
fellow Premier League opposition in the competition, and the 20th in 25
rounds. When Fergie's men last qualified for the final in 2007, they faced
fellow top-flight opposition in all six rounds.
• The Red Devils have only gone out in the third round once under
Ferguson, and are looking for their 150th clean sheet in the FA Cup.
West Ham United
• The 1964, 1975 and 1980 winners, who last made an appearance in the
final in 2006, have failed to get past the FA Cup third round in three of
the past five seasons.
• They have also been beaten on each of the last six occasions they
have been drawn against Premier League clubs in the FA Cup, and have not
knocked one out since Middlesbrough in the 2006 semi-finals.
• Four Premier League clubs were certain to fall by the wayside when
the third round draw was made.

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Allardyce bemoans bare bones
WHUFC.com
Filed: Tuesday, 15th January 2013
By: Staff Writer

Sam Allardyce has spoken about his defensive worries 24 hours ahead of the
FA Cup third round replay against Manchester United. Allardyce takes his
injury-ravaged squad to Old Trafford tomorrow night hoping to upset the odds
and beat the Premier League leaders on their own patch, ten days after Robin
Van Persie's 90th-minute equaliser earned Man Utd a replay. However the
manager faces a major dilemma in defence with only THREE regular first team
defenders considered to be fully fit. "It's not great from a defensive point
of view," he told the assembled media this morning. "With James Collins
going down and with both George McCartney and Joey O'Brien unavailable it's
very desperate in that particular area - but with the window being open, I
can do something about it.
"It's less than bare bones at the moment, so it gives me great difficulty
going to Old Trafford with only Guy Demel, James Tomkins and Winston Reid of
our senior defenders fit. After that we're down to young lads like Jordan
Spence and Danny Potts. "The trouble is, if I don't rest them and they get
injured, I'm in trouble against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday. If I lose
any of those senior three, I move into bigger problems. "We'll have to take
a big look at the squad and try to plan a different way of playing as well
as a team that's going to be quite different, based on the number of
injuries I've got and the big game we've got on Saturday as well." However
there was some good news for Allardyce with the return od Mo Diame, who is
expected to play some part in tomorrow night's fixture.

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New deals a plenty
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 15th January 2013
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United are still hoping to sign Mo Diame up to a new contract -
having already secured Joey O'Brien and Matthais Fanimo on long-term deals
in the past 72 hours. The Senegalese midfielder has been subject to a flurry
of transfer speculation in the past few weeks after it was revealed that he
has a £3.5million release clause in his existing contract. West Ham have
already made Diame - who only moved to east London last summer - an improved
offer, but the 25-year-old is yet to commit his long-term future to the
club. That refusal to sign a new deal has alerted a number of fellow Premier
League including Arsenal who, it has been reported, are said to be
monitoring the situation. However no offer has been made, according to Sam
Allardyce. "You are always worried about losing players," he said earlier
today, "but we have not had a bid from Arsenal for Mo Diame. I can't see
where he would fit into their side."

Diame is just one of a string of players Allardyce is looking to secure on a
long-term basis as his Premier League squad begins to take shape. Joey
O'Brien and youngster Matthais Fanimo both signed new contracts at the
weekend - Fanimo for a further two years, and O'Brien for three. "I am
delighted," the Irish full back told whufc.com. "Hopefully I'll have plenty
more good times with the club and that's what I'm looking forward to doing
now. Since I have come here, things have worked out well from the start."

Meanwhile Carlton Cole and Winston Reid, both of whom are out of contact at
West Ham this summer, are also said to be close to landing new deals.

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Sam Allardyce admits he needs to strengthen his defence at West Ham before
the end of January
Last Updated: January 15, 2013 3:37pm
SSN

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce says he needs to strengthen his defence before
the end of the month but admits his desperation will not make it easy to
deals.
James Collins' hamstring injury suffered in the 3-0 defeat at Sunderland
means Guy Demel, James Tomkins and Winston Reid are the only senior
defenders available for Wednesday's FA Cup third-round replay at Manchester
United. "I've got to strengthen our defensive areas," Allardyce said. "It's
less than the bare bones at the moment. It gives me great difficulty going
to Old Trafford."

"What you don't want to be is like what we are, which is a little desperate
because of our injury problems. At this stage of the season it's 'Call My
Bluff'. You say no, they say no and then you sit and wait and bite your
fingernails and hope they change their mind and say yes. "That's why so much
happens in the last week of the January transfer window. It's more expensive
at this stage of January than it is at the latter stage of January."

Allardyce insisted he has not made a further bid for Blackburn's Martin
Olsson, adding: "We haven't got the funds to go in with a higher bid."

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Sam Allardyce plays down speculation linking Mohamed Diame with Arsenal
Last Updated: January 15, 2013 11:36am
SSN

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has cooled speculation linking Arsenal with a
move for his midfielder Mohamed Diame. The Senegalese only joined the
Hammers during the summer but he has been linked with a January departure
after it was revealed a clause in his contract could allow him to leave for
just £3.5m. Arsenal have had a disappointing first half of the season and
are sixth in the Premier League table, 21 points behind leaders Manchester
United and six points off fourth-place Spurs. So Gunners manager Arsene
Wenger is expected to reinforce his squad during the transfer window, with a
move for Diame suggested. But Allardyce said: "You are always worried about
losing players but we have not had a bid from Arsenal for Mo Diame. I can't
see where he would fit into their side."

Allardyce is also hoping to bring in more new players during January, with
Blackburn left-back Martin Olsson on his list. But after an initial enquiry,
Allardyce revealed: "We have not made any further bids for Martin Olsson."

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Gunners are all go for Mo
By PHIL THOMAS
Last Updated: 15th January 2013
The SUn

ARSENAL are lining up a move to nick West Ham midfielder Mohamed Diame. The
Hammers have offered the Senegal star, 25, a new deal just six months after
he joined from Wigan Athletic. But it depends on him agreeing to double a
release clause to £7million. Diame has yet to sign and the Gunners are keen
on him — just as soon as he proves his fitness again. He tore a hamstring
last month but was an unused sub in Saturday's loss at Sunderland. He is set
to play in the FA Cup replay at Manchester United tomorrow. Arsenal plan to
watch him then and are poised to make a £3.5m bid. Boss Arsene Wenger wants
to strengthen his midfield with Mikel Arteta out for at least two weeks with
a calf strain.

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Hammers eye N'Sakala
Published: 14th January 2013
The Sun

WEST HAM may make a move to sign Troyes defender Fabrice N'Sakala, 22.

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Sam: Just say no, Mo
Last Updated: 16th January 2013
The Sun

WEST HAM boss Sam Allardyce believes that Mohamed Diame would be mad to join
Arsenal. SunSport reported yesterday the north London club are lining up a
£3.5million bid for the Senegal midfielder, 25, who has been one of the star
performers for the Hammers this season. Allardyce said: "I can't see where
he is going to fit in. There is no point him going if he is not going to
play. "You are always worried about losing players if people are interested
in them at this stage of the season."

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Tackle out: I barely teach players to make challenges any more admits
Allardyce
The Mirror
15 Jan 2013 22:30
Mike Hewitt

Sam Allardyce has revealed he no longer coaches tackling with his West Ham
players as the Vincent Kompany row rumbles on. The football world is split
over whether the Manchester City defender's red card for his tackle on
Arsenal's Jack Wilshere was justified or not. Big Sam, firmly behind
Kompany, who had his dismissal rescinded by the FA on Tuesday, fears for the
future of tackling in the game. He believes accomplished Manchester United
passer Michael Carrick is an example of the Premier League holding
midfielder of the future. Allardyce, whose team visit Carrick's Premier
League leaders in an FA Cup third round replay on Wednesday, said: "If you
look around and say, 'Where are the tackling midfielders today?' then they
are few and far between. "It is more about reading and intercepting and
nicking the ball off the opposition player. Is Carrick a good example of
that? I think so."

Asked about the impact on players hoping to emulate the likes of Roy Keane
and Nicky Butt, Big Sam added: "What about Bryan Robson? "It [tackling] is
almost dead. We [at West Ham] have to say as coaches we don't coach tackling
any more. That's rather sad. "We teach staying on your feet. We teach
pinch, nick, intercept. We very rarely teach tackle."If you are going to go
to ground, try and be 100 per cent sure you are going to win the ball. "Now
they are saying that even if the tackle is a perfectly good one, if it's
ferocious in their eyes or is done with too much force, then that is still a
booking or a sending off. "Well, that's ridiculous. "You tell me how to slow
a player down - how to make a player say to himself, 'I'm going to go into
this tackle, and I am going to pull pout and not go in quite as hard as I
should do in case the referee sends me off.' "Do you know what happens? The
player who is tackling breaks his leg - the player who is tackling gets
injured. He is the one that gets stretchered off if he goes through that
process. "It's a ridiculous rule and the referees have to cope with it. It's
not their fault."

Allardyce - an uncompromising defender back in the day, who played more than
400 games for 10 clubs - believes Wilshere was in less control going into
last Sunday's controversial challenge than Kompany. He added: "Football is a
collision sport and while you want to protect your players as best you can -
we have done a very good job over the years - the Vincent Kompany tackle was
a perfect tackle. "Listen to an expert - me. "'Do FIFA and UEFA want to ban
tackling? It looks like yes, is the answer to that. FIFA and UEFA are not
experts in tackling. It was my job to tackle, it was my whole life, and
tackling for me was an art, a technique. "Kompany timed that tackle
perfectly. It wasn't out of control, he was in perfect control. The person
who was more out of control was Jack Wilshere, that's what made it look so
bad. "So, yes, [if they are] leaping in, two feet off the floor, like The
Karate Kid, send them off. But not that. And that's where the big problem
lies. "As soon as anybody says, 'Let's have a look at it, let's slow it
down. Oh yes, look, both feet are off the ground, so he can't' be in
control.' But that's not true. You can be in control. He [Kompany] was in
perfect control. "Like I said, he was in more control than Wilshere was.
But, unfortunately, referees are lumbered with inept rules."

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