Daily WHUFC News - 15th April 2013

Andy aiming for more goals
WHUFC.com
Andy Carroll wants to fire West Ham United to a strong finish to the
Barclays Premier League season
14.04.2013

Andy Carroll is in the goalscoring form of his life. The West Ham United
centre forward has bagged five goals in his last seven Barclays Premier
League appearances - his best-ever top-flight sequence. The 24-year-old now
has a chance of reaching double figures for the fifth consecutive campaign
after netting his sixth goal of 2012/13 in Saturday's 1-1 draw at
Southampton. Next up for the No8 is Wednesday evening's clash with runaway
leaders Manchester United at the Boleyn Ground - a challenge he is hugely
relishing. "I'm on a nice run of goals and obviously I'm playing games and
the goals are coming so I'm happy with that," Carroll told West Ham TV. "I'm
working hard in training and running about a bit in the games and the goals
are coming, so I must be doing something right."

After scoring a header and right-foot volley in the 3-1 home win over West
Bromwich Albion on his previous appearace - Carroll missed the trip to
Liverpool under the terms of his loan agreement - the big man showed his
versatilty by bagging a left-foot free-kick to equalise against the Saints.
Carroll produced another hard-working, all-action display at St Mary's,
putting centre-backs Jos Hooiveld and Maya Yoshida through the mill with his
physical approach and non-stop running. "The free-kick was on the edge of
the box and I thought it was my range, so I thought I could take it and get
it on target. I did and it ended up in the back of the net. I'm sure it
would have gone in without the deflection [off Steven Davis] anyway!"

"It was tough in the wind and the rain and Southampton are obviously a team
that pass it about and made it hard for us. We went 1-0 down and were
disappointed but we fought back and I thought we did really well and could
have even won it."

Carroll's hard work saw him end up on the turf as he tussled with his
markers. At one stage, the striker's frustration got the better of him and
he was booked for dissent by referee Mike Dean. "It was just frustrating
because they were blocking me off a few times and there were a couple of men
around me not even challenging for the ball and I couldn't make a move. The
referee was't giving me much so I had a little pop at him and he booked me.
"I had a couple of days off with the lads playing up at Liverpool and had
been waiting two weeks for this and I couldn't wait to get going."

Saturday's point took West Ham onto 38 and, with four home games out of
their final six fixtures, Carroll believes a strong finish is a distinct
possibility. The final half-dozen matches start with the visit of the Red
Devils to the Boleyn Ground on Wednesday evening. "I can't wait. Obviously
it's a massive game and a massive team coming to us. We've just got to go
out there and put some more points on the board for us. "A couple more
points and we should be safe. We've definitely got to go for a top-half
finish."

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Andy Carroll open to permanent West Ham move from Liverpool
BBC.co.uk

Andy Carroll is open to joining West Ham United permanently this summer, but
admits his future remains uncertain. The striker, bought by Liverpool for
£35m, is on a season-long loan from the Reds but the Hammers can make the
deal permanent for an undisclosed fee. Asked if he would stay if West Ham
put the right money on the table, Carroll said: "We will have to wait and
see. "It is obviously a great club and I do not see why not. We'll see what
happens at the end of the season."

Carroll, who netted his sixth goal of the campaign on Saturday to earn West
Ham a point at Southampton, added: "It has been great here and every minute
has been fantastic. "The lads have been great, the gaffer has been great
and the fans are unbelievable." Liverpool spent a club record to sign
Carroll from Newcastle United in January 2011. The 24-year-old failed to
establish himself at Anfield and only made two appearances for Liverpool
boss Brendan Rodgers before joining the Hammers in August. Carroll cancelled
out Gaston Ramirez's opener on Saturday to leave Sam Allardyce's Hammers
seven points clear of the relegation zone.

West Ham's Premier League run-in
17 April: Man Utd (h)
20 April: Wigan (h)
27 April: Man City (a)
4 May: Newcastle (h)
12 May: Everton (a)
19 May: Reading (h)

The striker said: "With my goal, I just had to hit the target. Obviously it
got a little bit of a deflection and went in, which sometimes happens. "I
have had a few injuries over the years and I am just getting over them now
so it is good to get on a run of games and goals. "I had a few chances and I
think we could have won the game in the end. We are disappointed not to but
happy we got the point." Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers insists he is
comfortable with the decision to loan Carroll out, despite Saturday's
goalless draw with Reading. "It's not at all unfortunate that Andy's scoring
goals," he said. "We're the fourth highest goal scorers in the league, so
scoring hasn't been a problem for us. "Andy's situation is really simple. He
didn't want to stay and be on the bench. He wanted to play games."

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Andy Carroll is not ruling out a permanent switch from Liverpool to West Ham
Last Updated: April 14, 2013 2:11pm
SSN

England striker Andy Carroll would be happy to make his loan from Liverpool
to West Ham United permanent during the summer. Carroll moved to Liverpool
in January 2011 for £35m, but struggled to settle at Anfield after his
switch. West Ham signed the 24-year-old on a season-long deal in August, and
he has rediscovered his scoring touch with six goals. When asked about his
future, Carroll said: "I have just got to wait and see, really. We'll see
what happens at the end of the season. "Obviously I don't know what is
happening so we will just have to wait and see. "It has been great here and
every minute has been fantastic. The lads have been great, the gaffer has
been great and the fans are unbelievable. "We will have to wait and see. It
is obviously a great club and I do not see why not."

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Juss superb
The Sun
Jussi Jaaskelainen to stay at top five more years — on this form
Published: 14th April 2013

THE HAMMERS' No 1 is Juss getting better and better with every game. Flying
Finn Jussi Jaaskelainen turns 38 on Friday but continues to pull out all the
stops to ensure a 13th campaign in the Premier League. Since reuniting with
old boss Sam Allardyce last summer he has made an incredible 136 top-flight
saves — more than any other keeper. He has become one of the Londoners'
coolest customers between the sticks and still springs like the young buck
who joined Bolton back in 1997. He snapped at the chance to work with Big
Sam again so it was fitting his stunning first-half stop helped the Irons
towards a vital point.
Gaston Ramirez whipped a left-footed free-kick across the Hammers goal on 36
minutes and hitman Rickie Lambert directed it towards the bottom corner.
But a sprawling Jaaskelainen somehow clawed the ball off the line and on to
a post — before finally kicking it clear. A second-half strike from Ramirez
followed by Andy Carroll's deflected equaliser meant the spoils were shared.
Both sides are sitting pretty on 38 points and beginning to dream of a
top-half finish instead of worrying about the drop. And for Allardyce and
Jaaskelainen survival is the only ticket to prolonging their stays in East
London. The Finnish keeper said: "When I first came I signed a contract that
if we stay up I stay on so there's no extension to sign. "I'm happy because
I don't really have to do anything about it apart from make sure we stay up.
"Big Sam was the reason why I wanted to come here. "When he gave me the
phone call straightaway I thought it would be fantastic to play with him
again."

Saints started strongly as Adam Lallana was denied by a brave block from
James Tomkins at close range. Carroll was again pitched in his role as the
lone frontman and worked tirelessly. Jaaskelainen's wonder-stop then denied
Lambert before the Saints striker went close again with a header from Jack
Cork's cross. Ramirez put Southampton ahead on 59 minutes, finding the net
after his initial effort rebounded to him off James Collins. Yet Mauricio
Pochettino's men could not hold on to their lead as in-form hitman Carroll
popped up seven minutes later with his fifth in the last seven games. The
big Geordie lashed a laid-off free-kick from 25 yards which deflected into
the net. Jaaskelainen said of the striker: "Even when he's not scoring goals
he's still a massively important figure."

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Hammer time: West Ham ready to swoop for Blackburn's £8m Jordan Rhodes
14 Apr 2013 22:30
The Mirror
Laurence Griffiths

Sam Allardyce is ready to swoop for Blackburn Rovers goal machine Jordan
Rhodes – if he gets big money from West Ham's owners. Hammers boss Big Sam
was keen on the Scotland international when he was at Huddersfield but
backed away as the asking price went too high. Rovers spent £8million on
Rhodes, who has been their top scorer and a consistent marksman in a poor
season – but he could go in the summer for the right bid. Allardyce is
unlikely to give Rovers their money back but could go some way to making the
deal attractive to owners Venky's as they try to balance their books.
Sources close to Rhodes suggest he would go if a top club came in. There
will be other interest in the striker at the end of the campaign, but
Allardyce is determined to land a proven finisher.

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Hair to stay: Andy Carroll fancies permanent West Ham deal after levelling
at Southampton
14 Apr 2013 22:30
The Mirror
Ian Walton

Andy Carroll has had more moves than Pickfords over the past two years but
is finally ready to rest his Alice band at Upton Park. Carroll's world was
turned upside down when sold by his beloved Newcastle to Liverpool for
£35million in the final hours of transfer deadline day in January 2011. The
England striker made just 26 Premier League starts for the ­Merseysiders
before being shipped out on loan to West Ham in August. Anfield boss Brendan
Rogers has made it clear Carroll is not in his plans and will look to sell
in the summer. After firing the Hammers a step closer to guaranteed Premier
League survival Carroll hinted he was keen to become a full time East Ender.
Carroll said: "We just have to wait and see at the end of the season but
I've really enjoyed it here. "It's a great club with great fans so I don't
see any reason why not." After an injury-interrupted start, Carroll has hit
form at the right time to help the Hammers ease any lingering fears of being
dragged into a relegation scrap. His equaliser at St Mary's was his sixth
goal in his last 11 appearances – as many as he managed in 19 months at
Anfield. Boss Sam Allardyce hopes Hammers owners David Gold and David
Sullivan will not be scrooges when it comes to keeping Carroll. He said:
"Andy is very important for us. "I always said once he got match-fit he
would put the goals in the back of the net and show he is a good scorer as
well as a top player and a strong target man. "We have to sit down at the
end of the season and make decisions on all of the out-of-contract and loan
players, including Andy. If it could be done it would be very nice but
there's a long way to go between now and then."

It could be a busy few weeks in the Upton Park boardroom with Allardyce
ready to open talks on a new deal now the Londoners have reached his
38-point survival target. Goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen also revealed he has
a clause in his contract triggering a one-year extension if the Hammers stay
up. Jaaskelainen's breathtaking save to turn Rickie Lambert's first-half
shot onto a post proves the veteran Finn can still cut it in the top flight.
But he was powerless to stop Gaston Ramirez firing Saints ahead on 59
minutes, with the £12m Uruguayan reacting quickest when his initial shot was
blocked to rifle in the rebound. Carroll cut a frustrated figure for much of
the game and enjoyed less service than a mobile phone user on the London
Underground. The Geordie took matters into his own hands seven minutes after
Ramirez scored, sending a low free-kick past Artur Boruc, albeit with the
aid of a deflection off Steven Davis.
Carroll aims to continue his scoring streak against Manchester United on
Wednesday. He added: "The goals are coming so I must be doing something
right. I can't wait for Wednesday, it's a massive game."

How they rated:

Southampton: Boruc 6; Clyne 6, Yoshida 6, Hooiveld 8, Fox 6; Cork 6,
Schneiderlin 6; Ramirez 6 (Puncheon, 78), S Davis 6, Lallana 7 (Rodriguez,
72, 7); Lambert 6.

West Ham: Jaaskelainen 7; Demel 7, Tomkins 6 (Pogatetz, 64, 6), Collins 7,
O'Brien 6; Diame 6, O'Neil 6; Vaz Te 6 (Taylor, 85), Nolan 6, Jarvis 5
(Collison, 58, 6); Carroll 7.

Hero: Jos Hooiveld (Southampton) Came out on top in aerial battle with
Carroll.

Villain: Matt Jarvis (West Ham) Forgot he was playing until he was hauled
off.

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And not strictly West Ham related, but I thought it may raise a smile on
afew face :


"They won't go!" Harry Redknapp can't see how to rid QPR of overpaid flops
after relegation
14 Apr 2013 22:30
The Mirror

Defeat at Everton sees Rangers boss appear to accept the drop – now he's
left asking how to shift big-wage underachievers... who'd have them?!


If talent, discipline and character are all needed for a side to stave off
­relegation, then QPR look doomed, writes Paul Hassall. Those qualities were
­conspicuous by their absence as the West Londoners slumped to a 17th league
defeat without so much as a whimper at Goodison Park. And doesn't Harry
Redknapp know it! The Rangers boss was exasperated by his team's lack of
second-half fight, levelling some harsh words at his underachieving players.
From the moment Darron Gibson gave Everton a 40th-minute lead with a shot
that deflected off the hapless Clint Hill, the visitors looked beaten. No
spirit, no fight, no points – and time is running out. QPR are now 10 points
adrift of safety with just five games remaining, so what can Harry Houdini
do to keep their belief alive? "There's not a lot you can do, you can't
change the way people are," said Redknapp. "It is very difficult. We were
unfortunate to come in 1-0 down, but we started the second half sloppily,
giving free-kicks away. We got done last week against Wigan through lack of
discipline. "If you look at QPR's record over the last two years they have
probably had more players sent off than anyone else in history. That's a
lack of discipline."

It may be a slight exaggeration but that dip in focus did hand Everton the
initiative, leading to Victor Anichebe's match-clinching second goal. And it
could have been much worse for QPR if it hadn't been for the heroics of
keeper Julio Cesar. The Brazilian was one of a number of high-profile
players on the visiting team sheet, but he was the only one who came close
to living up to his star billing as Rangers toiled.

Even Everton boss David Moyes conceded his side had secured victory at a
canter. "We won quite comfortably," he said. "But I wasn't sitting back
thinking 'this is great'." Such an admission would not have sat well with
Redknapp, who was left to question the character of his so-called stars. He
fumed: "People say they are talented players but I don't know. Are they that
talented? I don't know really. You have some experienced players but what
you need is a good group of characters, a good group of people together and
you have not got any problems when you have that."

With relegation now looming those 'big names' could already be looking
towards pastures new. Rumours are rife regarding QPR's prized assets, but
the inability to offload those on over-inflated wages would have worrying
ramifications if the club do slip through the trapdoor. Streamlining for the
Championship will be the order of the day, but Redknapp feels it will not be
that simple. "How are you going to get rid of them? That's your biggest
problem," he said. "They won't go. They all have contracts. Who is going to
pay them what they are earning here? It is going to be very hard to shift
them. "It is not a case of players wanting to leave suddenly. I hear that
all the time, that if they get relegated they want to go because they don't
want to play in the Championship. "But if they played better they would not
be in the Championship, so that's a load of cobblers."

QPR have just a handful of matches to take heed of their manager's words and
give themselves a fighting chance. Their next two games are at home to Stoke
and at rock-bottom Reading, representing a must-win double-header – but do
they have the desire, commitment and passion to even come close to saving
themselves? "There is an incentive for them," insisted Redknapp, who claimed
he had still not thought about his own future. "The incentive is playing in
the Premier League – that is the biggest incentive for everyone, to play in
the best league in the world."

On this evidence, it's not only the club's fans who might still need some
convincing.

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