Daily WHUFC News - 22nd September 2013

'It's a marathon, not a sprint'
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce is keeping calm despite seeing West Ham United edged out by
Everton in a five-goal thriller
21.09.2013

Having taken charge of more than 800 matches in his managerial career, Sam
Allardyce knows now is not the time to panic. The West Ham United boss
watched on in near-disbelief as his side twice lost the lead before going
down to ten men and being edged out 3-2 by Everton in a pulsating Barclays
Premier League fixture. The Hammers went in front after 31 minutes through
Ravel Morrison's maiden top-flight goal, only for Baines to curl his first
outstanding free-kick into the top left-hand corner after a James Collins
foul on Ross Barkley after an hour. James McCarthy's trip on Kevin Nolan
allowed Mark Noble to slot West Ham back into the lead from the penalty spot
on 76 minutes, only for the No16's foul on Barkley to see him sent-off for a
second bookable offence - despite it appearing that he got a foot to the
ball. With the Hammers down to ten men, Kevin Mirallas combined with Belgian
compatriot Romelu Lukaku, who bravely headed in the winner with five minutes
to go. The Boleyn Ground faithful were left equally stunned by the Hammers'
second home defeat in succession, but Big Sam insists time is on his team's
side just five matches into a 38-game 2013/14 season. "It was a gut-wrencher
and leaves you feeling so sorry for the players deep down inside," said the
manager. "Obviously the fans are disappointed too because they've seen a
good performance but seen us lose 3-2. "For me the players have done so much
and created a good game in terms of what we've come to expect at Upton Park,
but then unfortunately Everton don't seem to be our team here. Last year, we
went 1-0 up and I remember Carlton Cole getting sent-off and we ended up
losing 2-1. "The game has hinged on a free-kick that the referee has given
that has not only given them a free-kick that they've scored from, but he's
also sent Mark Noble off. Then, they've scored the winner because we were
down to ten men. It's difficult to take. "I have looked at it again and I
know it's easy for me to say because I've looked at it on the laptop, but
he's taken the ball and he's not played the man until after he's played the
ball. For me, that would then be difficult to take.
"My problem would then be if they don't see it that way, because development
and constructive criticism is a big part of referees getting better and if
they say that's a free-kick and it was the right decision to send him off,
then I would have a problem with that. "I think many decision these days
don't appear to be rectified enough and the responsibility of the referees'
coaches and bosses is to make sure that development is right and clear and
they understand it. Then mistakes get fewer and farther between. That's how
we find players and develop them and coach them into being better players.
"It wouldn't have been a major decision had it been a free-kick and a yellow
card and we still would have said it's not a free-kick in the first place,
but he'd not have been sent-off. Baines then scores a goal, which was great
technique which we could do nothing about, but I don't think we'd have lost
the game."

It had all been a different story before half-time, when West Ham dominated
for long periods against Roberto Martinez's men, not allowing them to settle
into their new patient passing style. As a result, it was no surprise when
Morrison collected Matt Jarvis' pass and fired in a shot that clipped Phil
Jagielka on the way into the net. "Even though Everton had a good part of
the game in the second half, with the players they could introduce from the
bench [in Lukaku and McCarthy] we always knew that could happen. "Jussi has
hardly had a save to make other than the two free-kicks and the header,
which I don't think he could have got to anyway. Other than that, he only
had one save when Mirallas came inside and hit one in the first ten minutes
and Jussi saved it. "It's a great shame with our defensive record and the
way we defended that we actually conceded three goals."

There were positives for the manager to take, with Morrison continuing his
development with an eye-catching, goalscoring performance in central
midfield and debutant Mladen Petric playing a huge role in the move that led
to West Ham's penalty. "Ravel is getting better. He's got to be careful
because I thought he tried to buy a free-kick when he shouldn't have done,
so I'll have a word with him about that. At that stage, he'd been booked as
well, so I'll have to make sure that doesn't happen again. "He's looking
better and better and in the end, you talk about players being ready and
managers not playing young players, but the trouble is that most young
players aren't good enough. When you know Ravel Morrison is good enough then
it's not a hard decision for me to put him in the team. "It's not difficult
for me to stick young ones in when I know he's good enough. I did it many
times at Bolton and at Blackburn Rovers and I'll do it here. They get their
chance and they either step up to the mark or they don't. If they don't, you
either put them back down to develop or you get rid ot them, that's the
bottom line to play in the Premier League. "With Ravel, it's not a difficult
decision as everybody can see. He can only get better with the more
experience that he gets."

Finally, Big Sam has been in the managerial game long enough to know that a
four-game winless run will cause some supporters to get a little restless.
However, the boss is not about to start worrying just yet. "Everybody else
is not scoring goals or having a little wobble. Manchester United lost at
Liverpool, Chelsea have lost two on the trot, Newcastle won two and lost at
home on Saturday. "We would love to have got off to a great start but we
have now made that difficult with our good group of fixtures, especially
losing to Everton. I don't consider it all our fault losing on Saturday, but
we have got to pick ourselves up and make sure we get something at Hull City
and then come back here and try to win the next game to get more points on
the board. "If that doesn't happen, it's a marathon, not a sprint."

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Hammers stunned by late Toffees blast
WHUFC.com
West Ham United saw a 2-1 lead turn into a 3-2 defeat inside the final seven
minutes against Everton
21.09.2013

West Ham United 2-3 Everton
Barclays Premier League

West Ham United twice had the lead wrestled away from them along the way to
a 3-2 defeat to Everton at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday. Ravel Morrison and
Mark Noble were on target for the hosts, but their efforts were cancelled
out by two stunning free-kicks from Leighton Baines. Noble collected a
second booking for the offence which led to the second equaliser just seven
minutes from the end, and the Toffees made use of their extra man two
minutes later when Romelu Lukaku headed home. It was a remarkable turnaround
which left the home crowd stunned as it sent the Hammers to a second home
defeat in succession. Jussi Jaaskelainen was the first of the goalkeepers to
be called into action, diving to his left to push Kevin Mirallas' drilled
shot behind after the Everton wingman cut in from the left hand side to
fashion the opportunity. The first sight of goal for the Hammers came on
eight minutes when Matt Jarvis made a rapid burst of pace to run in behind
Seamus Coleman and advance on the penalty area. Just as it looked as though
a shooting opportunity would arise, Sylvain Distin came across to block his
path to goal. There was plenty of endeavour from both sides in the opening
exchanges, but little in the way of goalscoring chances as West Ham looked
to continue their solid start to the campaign. They were also searching for
their first Barclays Premier League goal since the opening game of the
season, and it duly arrived with 31 minutes on the clock, thanks in part to
a helpful deflection off Everton defender Phil Jagielka.
That will not take any shine off Morrison's debut top flight goal, as he
received the ball just outside the area following good work from Jarvis down
the left and let fly. Tim Howard probably had it covered before Jagielka's
touch, but the home side did not care as the ball flew into the net. Everton
almost hit back immediately when they broke quickly from a corner and all of
a sudden Ross Barkley found himself in on goal. Joey O'Brien got back to
make a tremendous saving tackle to deny the England youngster and allow the
Boleyn Ground crowd to breathe a sigh of relief. The visitors had not been
able to make much headway during the opening period, and they made a change
to their attacking line-up at the break, with both Lukaku and James McCarthy
being introduced from the bench. Seven minutes into the second half they
made their third change as Brian Oviedo entered the fray and the
substitutions had the desired effect as the Toffees upped the pressure. They
were rewarded with an equalising goal on 62 minutes when James Collins was
penalised for a foul on Barkley 25 yards out and Baines stepped up to fire a
pinpoint free-kick into the top left hand corner of Jaaskelainen's net.
Baines very nearly provided the route for a second not long after when he
drove a low cross over from the left which took a nick off Collins and would
have snuck in at the near post had it not been for Jaaskelainen's block.

But West Ham regrouped, and thanks in no small part to the contribution of
debutant sub Mladen Petric, moved back in front 14 minutes from time. Petric
showed great persistence to nick the ball away from Distin on the byline and
knock back for Kevin Nolan, who beat the first challenge and was sent
tumbling by McCarthy's trailing leg. Referee Lee Mason pointed to the spot
and Noble made no mistake from 12 yards, sending Howard the wrong way to
stroke into the bottom right corner. That was not the end of the drama
though, as seven minutes later Noble caught Barkley as he made another
piercing run through the home midfield and having already been booked, was
sent for an early bath. Baines again produced a free-kick from out of the
top drawer, going for the opposite corner this time and giving Jaaskelainen
no chance with his shot which found the net via the upright. Worse was to
follow just two minutes later as the Hammers were dragged out of position by
an Everton attack, which ended with Mirallas crossing for Lukaku to guide a
header home.

West Ham United: Jaaskelainen; O'Brien, Collins, Reid, Rat; Morrison, Noble,
Nolan (Taylor 80); Diame, Maiga (Petric 63), Jarvis (Vaz Te 72)
Subs: Adrian, McCartney, Tomkins, Collison
Goals: Morrison 31, Noble pen 76
Booked: Morrison, Collins, Noble
Sent off: Noble
Everton: Howard; Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Osman (Oviedo 52),
Barry; Naismith (McCarthy 46), Barkley, Mirallas; Jelavic (Lukaku 46)
Subs: Joel, Heitinga, Deulofeu, Stones
Goals: Baines 62, Baines 83, Lukaku 85
Booked: Barkley
Referee: Lee Mason
Attendance: 34,952

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Under-18s slip to Sunderland defeat
WHUFC.com
A second-half penalty proved sufficient to consign Steve Potts' men to
defeat at the Academy of Light
21.09.2013

West Ham United Under-18s slipped to a slender 1-0 Barclays U18 Premier
League defeat at Sunderland on Saturday, as Martin Smith's second-half
penalty settled the contest. The game's only goal arrived just after the
hour, when Lynden Gooch turned smartly in the box, before being felled by
Amos Nasha.
Smith took charge from the spot, slotting beyond Hammers keeper Sam Howes.
It proved to be the winner, leaving manager Steve Potts to rue a string of
missed chances. He told whufc.com: "It's frustrating. We're left wondering
how we failed to get anything from the game. We had a lot of the play,
managed to create good chances and didn't take them. When it's like that,
you never know, you're always vulnerable. "The penalty gave them more of an
incentive to hold on to a lead and we just couldn't break them down. But
performance wise, there wasn't a lot wrong with it. It's just a case of
whether we could put the ball in the back of the net and unfortunately we
couldn't."

For Potts, defeat at the Academy of Light represented another missed
opportunity for his young charges, after squandering a 3-1 advantage against
Blackburn Rovers last time out. "Last week, we were in a great position,
played some really good stuff and then gave away a couple of sloppy goals,"
he continued. "Minor mistakes cost us a win there and at Sunderland, our
biggest mistake was not being ruthless enough in front of goal. "We had
very good chances to win the game and we didn't take them. The level we're
at now, it boils down to what happens at either end. In between that, I
thought we controlled the game. We were really good with the ball and I
couldn't fault the boys in that regard."

West Ham United U18s: Howes, Knoyle, Page, Nasha, Burke, Harney, Makasi,
Cullen, Brown, Bywater, Parfitt-Williams.

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Pair named in England U18 squad
WHUFC.com
Defenders Kyle Knoyle and Reece Burke have been named in the England U18
squad for the first time
21.09.2013

West Ham United defenders Kyle Knoyle and Reece Burke have been named in the
England U18 squad for the first time. Right-back Knoyle (pictured) and
centre-back Burke have both begun the second year of their scholarships in
impressive form, and have been rewarded with places in Neil Dewsnip's squad
for two friendly internationals with Hungary. The fixtures will be played
behind-closed-doors at St. George's Park on Friday 11 October and Monday 14
October, for invited guests only. The call-ups continue a fine tradition of
West Ham youngsters being included by England at U18 level. Promising
defender Leo Chambers started a 2-0 win over Italy in Mansfield in October
2012, while Joe Cole, Mark Noble, James Tomkins, Dan Potts, George Moncur,
Blair Turgott, Matthias Fanimo and Jordan Spence have all played for England
U18s previously. A non-competitive age group with no UEFA or FIFA matches
scheduled, the U18s will be coached by Dewsnip, The FA's Technical Lead for
the 17-21s age group and he will be assisted by Dan Micciche, Technical Lead
for 12-16s. They have selected an 18-man squad for the meet-up, which
includes a number of players who were involved with England U17s last season
along with some new faces who will be involved at international level for
the first time. Meanwhile, Hammers schoolboy defenders Reece Oxford and Ben
Sheaf have been named in the first England U16 squad of the new campaign as
the Young Lions prepare for the 2013 Victory Shield. This season England
start with home advantage in the Shield, by hosting Wales at Kidderminster
Harriers' Aggborough Stadium on Friday 4 October at 7.35pm. The Shield
remains an important competition for Swain and all of the England
development team, with a large pool of players selected across the three
games and given a chance to impress.

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Dev Squad 1-0 Stoke - FT
WHUFC.com
Minute-by-minute report of the Development Squad's game against Stoke
21.09.2013

STOKE CITY U21 v DEVELOPMENT SQUAD
BARCLAYS U21 PREMIER LEAGUE
BRITANNIA STADIUM
SATURDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2013
KICK-OFF: 3PM

Full-time: That's it! Nick Haycock's team have secured a brilliant away
victory courtesy of Moncur's strike after 15 minutes. The Hammers had a host
of good
chances with Lletget, Tombides and Shaw all going close but in the end one
goal was all they needed to leave the Britannia Stadium with three points.

90 mins: Lletget nearly seals it as we move into stoppage time. A powerful
header produces a good save from Bachmann.
89 mins: Another corner, it's taken short to Fanimo before eventually the
ball makes it's way to Tombides who nearly wraps the game up but places his
shot just over.
87 mins: Henderson does well to control a bouncing back pass before calmly
passing the ball back to Ruddock who clears.
85 mins: Stoke are losing their discipline as they make a couple of dirty
challenges the last of which leaves Moncur in pain on the floor. He's ok to
continue and takes the free-kick which finds a leaping Tombides who's header
is tipped over the bar.
83 mins: Yet another corner as Fanimo trots across to take it. His ball in
doesn't clear the first man however and the attack comes to nothing.
81 mins: Turgott nearly gets the goal his performance deserves but his
powerful effort is deflected onto the post behind the goal. The resulting
corner is then easily cleared away.
80 mins: Just ten minutes left for the Hammers to hold out and secure what
would be an excellent away win.
78 mins: Turgott clips the bar but once again he's strayed just to far and
is caught offside. A second goal would be lovely to calm any nerves right
about now.
76 mins: just over ten minutes to go in this one and, touch wood, West Ham
are looking good value for their lead with their goal under little or no
threat in this second half.
74 mins: Fanimo has a shot charged down on the edge of the box and it
ricochets to Alabi who surges forward before finding Rossi who drags his
shot wide after a jinking run.
72 mins: Moncur is booked after he chips the ball into the net after the
linesman flagged for offside, harsh, very harsh.
71 mins: Shea is having no joy against Ruddock today with the imperious
defender too strong and quick for the American.
70 mins: Moncur is working his socks off in midfield as Stoke have a period
of possession before the centre-back lumps it cross field and out of play.
68 mins: Ironic cheers from the home support as the referee awards them a
free-kick, their cheers are short lived however as the free-kick comes to
nothing.
66 mins: Stoke make their first change, replacing Thomas with Rossi.
64 mins: Fanimo is straight into the action, crossing the ball after good
link-up play with Turgott. His cross is cut-out before it reaches the
awaiting Tombides.
63 mins: Sadlier is replaced with Matthias Fanimo who makes his second
appearance of the season after his recent return from injury.
61 mins: Sadlier jinks his way into the box leaving a defender bamboozled on
his back side before chipping it to Moncur who has time to size up a volley
before striking it into the ground and off target.
59 mins: A rare moment of attacking promise sees Thomas fire a shot at goal
but Henderson deals with it.
58 mins: Turgott skins his man once more and stands up a cross to the back
post which is met by Sadlier, the ball rebounds to Turgott but his shot is
blocked.
56 mins: Driver links up well with Turgott as he swings a cross in which is
lacking in any power and easily cleared.
54 mins: Stoke are really struggling to find any rythm going forward at the
moment with over-hit crosses the best they can muster right now.
52 mins: Turgott is again causing problems this time firing in a low cross
across the face of goal which is cleared by a lunging defender.
51 mins: Alabi has the home side's first shot of the second half as he looks
to place an effort beyond Henderson but only succeeds in picking out the
keeper.
49 mins: Another corner for the Hammers and this time Moncur's ball in finds
Potts just a couple of yards from goal but he can only fire his effort
staright at the keeper. That was a glorious chance to make the lead a lot
more comfortable.
48 mins: Moncur whips in another corner but it's easilt cleared by Grant.
47 mins: Potts has slotted into the centre of defence alongside Ruddock with
Shaw occupying the left and Driver on the right.
46 mins: We're underway for the second half as the Hammers look to hold onto
their one goal lead. Dan Potts has also emerged in his kit for the next 45
minutes replacing Chambers in defence.

Half-time: The referee brings an entertaining first half to an end at the
Britannia Stadium with West Ham ahead and looking good so far. George Moncur
netted his third goal in as many games after turning home a cross from the
impressive Blair Turgott who has run his marker ragged. The Hammers should
lead by more having hit the post twice through a Dylan Tombides shot and
then a deflected Frazer Shaw effort. As things stand Nick Haycock will be
delighted with his team's performance and will ask for more of the same
after the interval.

45 mins: Turgott wins a corner, Moncur takes but finds only the gloves of
the keeper who launches a long throw down field but Chambers is there ready
and waiting to deal with the ball.
43 mins: Stoke are resorting to long balls now as they struggle to find any
chink in the West Ham armour.
41 mins: The gloves are off! For Henderson that is, but it looks as though
he'll be able to continue through to half-time after recieving treatment.
40 mins: Henderson is called into action as Shea shoots from a few yards out
but the Irishman is able to smother the ball and collect his parried save.
He has however stayed down with what looks like a hand injury
39 mins: The return of Sebastien Lletget in West Ham's midfield has provided
the side with even more attacking threat and up to this point they are
controlling the game.
37 mins: The standard of the crossing has so far been superb from the
Hammers today with Shaw the latest man to whip in an inviting ball which is
just to high for Sadlier to reach.
36 mins: Turgott nearly nicks the ball as Stoke again play themselves into
trouble, the defender is able to recover though and launches the ball
forward.
35 mins: The game is in full swing as both sides release the shackles and
look to attack at every opportunity.
33 mins: Lletget is denied by a fine save after a header from Sadlier's
delicious cross. Stoke break and the visitors have Henderson to thank as he
keeps out a powerful effort from Waring.
32 mins: Post! Shaw hits an absolute piledriver and it deflects off a
defender and cannons into the post!
30 mins: Ruddock goes down holding his leg and this break in play sees 19
players head to the touchline for a beverage break.
28 mins: A couple of great defensive blocks from first Ruddock and then
Driver preserves the Hammers lead with shots from Shea and Waring
threatening Henderson's goal.
26 mins: The corner is taken short by Moncur who plays a one-two with
Whitehead before crossing but he's unables to pick out a man in claret and
blue.
25 mins: Stoke's youngsters are clearly following the first team as they
seek to play out from defence. A risky strategy and one which is nearly
capitalised upon after a mix-up between defenders sees them concede a
corner.
23 mins: The Hammers are ahead and looking good so far after a shaky start.
Turgott has been particularly impressive and is causing Stoke's full-backs
no end of trouble on the right-hand side.
21 mins: Tombides has another chance but his glancing header from a Moncur
corner is cleared off the line by Wheeler.
20 mins: Tombides nearly makes it 2-0 with a chance which was identical to
the one Moncur finished to put the Hammers in front. The striker however can
only fire his effort at the post and is unable to reach the rebound as Stoke
clear.
17 mins: The referee waves away a penalty appeal from the home side as the
winger takes a tumble after a light shove.
15 mins: GOAL! West Ham are ahead with their first shot on goal! Excellent
work on the wing by Turgott sees him beat two defenders before pulling the
ball back for Moncur to fire home.
14 mins: Turgott wins a free-kick on the halfway line. Driver takes but his
lofted ball is easily cleared away.
12 mins: The home side are starting to hit their stride with some easy on
the eye passing but as yet unable to find a decent final ball.
10 mins: A let-off for the Hammers as Waring prods the ball over Henderson
after a slick team move, but much to his disgust his shot tbounces inches
wide of the post.
8 mins: A lovely through ball from Lletget has Turgott sprinting on to the
end of it but just before he can reach the ball the on rushing keeper slides
to gather the ball.
7 mins: The Hammers back four are running towards their own goal following a
ball over the top but Shaw is on hand to clear the danger.
6 mins: Shaw launches a diagonal ball towards Turgott but it's easy pickings
for the Stoke keeper who collects with ease.
4 mins: The right hand side looks like it may prove profitable for the
Hammers today, with the lively Turgott keen to make a good impact.
3 mins: Turgott swings a cross in from the right but Sadlier's control lets
him down and the ball runs out of play.
1 min: We're underway at the Britannia with Stoke kicking us off.

The Development Squad travel north to the Britannia Stadium to take on
Stoke, looking to extend their good start to the Barclay Under-21 Premier
League season. Nick Haycock's side are without frontman Elliot Lee who is
involved with the first team's match at the Boleyn Ground against Everton.
The striker has five goals so far this season and the Under-21s will be
looking to the talented Dylan Tombides to fill the void left by Lee.
A 1-1 draw last time out against Manchester City meant the Hammers had
picked up three wins, a draw and just one defeat from their opening five
fixtures of the campaign. Stephen Henderson starts in goal for the young
Hammers having last featured in the 5-4 victory away at Newcastle where the
team rallied from 3-0 down to secure an amazing win. There is also a return
to Development Squad action following injury for Dan Potts who takes a place
on the bench for today's game.
West Ham United: Henderson, Driver, Shaw, Chambers, Ruddock, Turgott,
Moncur, Tombides, Whitehead, Sadlier.
Subs: Fanimo, Nemrava, Maguire, Potts, Miles.
Stoke: Bachmann, Wheeler, Gomez, Edu, Grant, Keane, Thomas, Ness, Waring,
Alabi, Shea.
Subs: Watkins, Eve, Ward, Heneghan, Rossi.

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West Ham 2 Everton 3
21 September 2013
Last updated at 19:21
By David Ornstein
BBC Sport

Leighton Baines scored two free-kicks as Everton twice came from behind to
win at 10-man West Ham and remain the Premier League's only unbeaten team.
Ravel Morrison put the hosts ahead but Everton brought on Romelu Lukaku at
the break and that helped turn the match. After Baines fired across Jussi
Jaaskelainen to equalise, Mark Noble restored West Ham's lead from the
penalty spot, but was then sent off. Baines curled home his second to level
and Lukaku headed the winner. Everton secured a fine victory over Chelsea
last weekend and rise to fifth with this result, which was a reward for
their superb second-half display. West Ham drop to 14th having still not won
since the opening day, but there were encouraging signs as they ended a
three-match goal drought. The opening half-hour was high in quality but low
in chances - Jaaskelainen reacted well to stop a Kevin Mirallas drive but
that was Everton's only attempt in the first 45 minutes. West Ham pursued
the likes of Jermain Defoe, Loic Remy, Lukaku and Demba Ba during the
summer, and it was easy to see why as Modibo Maiga struggled to make an
impact in the lone striker role. However, they looked more the likely to
break through and did just that when Matt Jarvis surged inside from the left
and found Morrison, whose effort from just outside the area flew in off Phil
Jagielka.

Roberto Martinez signalled his intent at half-time by replacing Steven
Naismith and Nikica Jelavic with Lukaku and James McCarthy, and the response
was instant as Lukaku released Mirallas to round Jaaskelainen, only to see
his low cross scrambled away. A final substitution was enforced on the
Toffees when Leon Osman limped off, but their play continued to improve and
Mirallas narrowly failed to convert a Baines cross following a period of
intense pressure.
With West Ham barely able to escape their own territory, James Collins
fouled Barkley and Baines beat Jaaskelainen with a sublime set-piece.
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce decided to meet fire with fire by introducing two
strikers in Mladen Petric and Ricardo Vaz Te, and it paid off when Nolan
drew a foul from McCarthy after superb work from Petric - Noble dispatched
the penalty. But the momentum took a decisive shift after Noble was given a
second booking for a challenge on Everton midfielder Barkley 18 yards out.
This time Baines picked the opposite corner with another stunning free-kick.
With Lukaku causing West Ham no shortage of problems Everton went in search
of a winner, and it arrived when the Belgium international started a move
before finishing it with an emphatic header from Mirallas's centre.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez: "We knew we were going to be tested, we
knew we had to defend our box well and be strong in dead-ball situations. We
started brightly and should have scored, but then West Ham stopped us from
playing. "They imposed themselves on the game. Last week's result took a bit
of energy out of a few individuals, but the strength in our squad is very
encouraging. "To score three goals with the individual quality Leighton and
Romelu showed is very, very pleasing. "I'm delighted with the attitude and
mentality we have showed in every performance this season. I'm proud at
being unbeaten so far - now we need to work even harder to become better and
make sure we keep improving."

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce on Mark Noble's second yellow card for a
tackle on Ross Barkley: "It is always easy to look at the situation on my
laptop afterwards and say Mark played the ball first. Unfortunately for us,
the referee didn't see it that way and, to make things worse, Leighton
Baines has then fired an unstoppable free-kick right into the top corner.
"With our defensive ability, I thought we would see it out at 2-1 but it is
really frustrating for us that, not only was Mark sent off but we were
punished again by them putting ball in the net straight after we went
ahead."

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West Ham Utd 2-3 Everton
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 21st September 2013
By: Staff Writer

West Ham's inability to hold a winning position cost them dear this
afternoon as Everton seized all three points at the Boleyn Ground with two
late goals.

Sam Allardyce's side were looking reasonably comfortable at 2-1 with 15
minutes of normal time remaining, before disaster struck. Firstly, Mark
Noble received his marching orders for a second bookable offence - then
Everton struck twice in two minutes to record a second successive Premier
League victory against London opposition.

In stark contrast to their last outing here against Stoke, the Hammers
started brightly and were good value for the 1-0 lead they held at the break
courtesy of Ravel Morrison's first Premier League goal. On the half hour
mark, Matt Jarvis jinked his way down the left wing before darting inside
and passing short to the youngster, whose shot was diverted in the opposite
direction by Phil Jagielka's flailing right foot and into the back of a
prone Tim Howard's net.

The game changed as a result of Roberto Martinez's decision to introduce
James McCarthy - who shackled the previously marauding Ravel Morrison
effectively - and Romalu Lukaku, who tormented West Ham's defence throughout
the second half. That would have been particularly hard to swallow for
Allardyce, for whom the on-loan striker was a key summer transfer target.

Both substitutes played a major part in swinging the game Everton's way, but
it was a desperate lunge from James Collins that proved to be the catalyst
for the visitors' revival. The Welshman lunged in on Ross Barkley as the
youngster was poised to shoot and conceded a free kick on the edge of the
box; an opportunity that Leighton Baines took full advantage of by expertly
guiding the resulting free kick into Jaaskelainen's right hand corner.

Everton, full of confidence having restored parity drove on in search of a
second, yet it was to be West Ham who unexpectedly grabbed the next goal.
Completely against the run of play, United restored their slender advantage
from the penalty spot as Mark Noble, unerringly accurate from 12 yards, made
it 2-1 with just 15 minutes of normal time remaining.

Although it was captain Kevin Noble who won the spot kick when he fell over
substitute McCarthy's trailing leg, all credit goes to debutant Mladen
Petric whose persistence prior to the foul had kept the ball in play.

Determined to make the most of the 70 per cent of possession they'd enjoyed
up to that point in the second period, Everton continued to apply the
pressure. Having failed to clear their lines once or twice, West Ham began
to get decidedly edgy and that slight whiff of panic eventually manifested
itself in a late challenge from Noble on Barkley - again - on the edge of
the box. Again.

Having already been booked, Noble knew he was in trouble and referee Lee
Mason had no hesitation in pulling out a red card - although many inside the
stadium were convinced the midfielder made contact with the ball before
colliding with Barkley. Once Noble departed and the debate had ceased, up
stepped Baines to send the ball into the opposite side of Jaaskelainen's
goal to where he'd placed his first, equally stunning, free kick.

So with just seven minutes remaining the question on everyone's lips was
"could West Ham hold out for a point?" Just a minute later they had their
answer, when sub Lukaku stopped bravely to head home what proved to be both
the winning goal and the first West Ham have conceded from open play this
season. Lukaku's reward for his bravery was a head butt to the face from
marker James Collins and several minutes' medical treatment.

Seven minutes of added-on time ensued but the Hammers never looked like
grabbing a third goal and a share of the spoils, leaving Allardyce and his
troops reflecting on a second successive home defeat. The season may be
young but worrying signs are beginning to emerge - whilst yet again the
Hammers failed to trouble the opposition 'keeper (two shots on target today
took the season total from five games to just eight).

Next weekend, Big Sam takes his squad to newly-promoted Hull City for their
next Premier League clash. Prior to that is the second visit of Cardiff City
already this season for Tuesday night's Capital One Cup clash. Whilst that
game has no impact on the league, it at least offers Allardyce and his squad
- who have now taken just two points from their last four games - the
opportunity for brief respite from the league campaign and the chance to
rebuild some flagging morale.

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Ricardo Vaz Te remains part of West Ham manager Sam Allardyce's plans
Last Updated: September 21, 2013 11:37am
SSN

Ricardo Vaz Te will not be frozen out at West Ham United, with Sam Allardyce
prepared to consider him for selection. The Portuguese forward handed in a
transfer request late in the summer window in an effort to force through a
move elsewhere. He was, however, to be left frustrated as the deadline came
and went with him still on the books at Upton Park. A lack of first team
opportunities led Vaz Te to look elsewhere, but he must now re-focus on the
battle for starting berths. Allardyce is happy to still have the 26-year-old
involved, with West Ham searching for an attacking spark - with Andy Carroll
injured and Modibo Maiga goalless. The Hammers boss said: "Ricardo has never
had a bad attitude. "What he is is a frustrated footballer. He thinks he
should be playing on a more regular basis. "Opportunities will arise. If he
takes them, he will be in the team."

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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce frustrated by Mark Noble's dismissal in Everton
defeat
Last Updated: September 21, 2013 6:06pm
SSN

West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce felt referee Lee Mason cost his side
against Everton, with Mark Noble's red card the turning point in a 3-2
defeat. The Hammers, who brought to an end their long wait for a Premier
League goal, were undone in the final nine minutes against the Toffees. They
led 2-1 entering the closing stages, but saw Noble collect a second yellow
card for a foul on Ross Barkley and the game suddenly swung in Everton's
favour. Two fantastic free-kicks from Leighton Baines and a powerful header
from Romelu Lukaku ultimately left them empty-handed, but Allardyce believes
it was the performance of the match officials which hit them hardest. "What
we should have done is not get a man sent off, but I'm not too sure that's
Mark Noble's fault more than the referee's."

He told Sky Sports on the decision to dismiss Noble: "He's played the ball
actually. I've just had five or six looks at it before I've come out and I
think the lad has took the chance to go down on the tackle, but you see Mark
Noble plays the ball first and then the lad goes down. "I know it looks like
a free-kick but, from where the referee is, he has got to be absolutely
certain in that area and the fact that it's Mark Noble, because he's going
to get sent off. "I think he made a huge mistake there. Mind you, other
people might see it different. "If you look at the other free-kicks today
that he didn't even give as fouls, in terms of consistency, I thought he was
very inconsistent today - in particular that decision for us. "Because of
Bainesy hitting the first one, he's hit the second one even better and it's
very costly for us today because not only have they scored but he's also got
sent off in a 2-1 position. So, very frustrated for the players, very
disappointed on that decision and we have to pick ourselves up.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce says he can't blame goalkeeper Jussi
Jääskeläinen for the three goals they conceded at the hands of Everton. "We
kept Everton to the minimum today - as good a side as they are and the money
they have spent over the years, where they finish - we kept them to the bare
minimum of chances and if it wasn't for Bainesy today with two outstanding
free-kicks, I think we might have won the game."

Allardyce added on what his side could have done differently: "What we
should have done is not get a man sent off, but I'm not too sure that's Mark
Noble's fault more than the referee's. "I could say to Mark Noble don't make
the tackle, but it's difficult for me to say that when the lad is out there
playing and thinks he's going to get it and play the ball. "It's a cruel
blow for us today but one we have to take on the chin and bounce back from."

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Everton edge five-goal thriller with West Ham 3-2 at Upton Park
Last Updated: September 21, 2013 7:26pm
SSN

Two brilliant free-kicks from Leighton Baines and a debut goal from Romelu
Lukaku saw Everton to a thrilling 3-2 win at West Ham United. Sam
Allardyce's side, who ended the game with 10 men, thought they had done
enough to secure at least a point as Ravel Morrison and Mark Noble netted
their first Premier League goals since the opening day of the season.

Best of the match

Man of the match: Leighton Baines. Showed his class with two moments of
brilliance which kept Everton in the hunt for three points.
Goal of the match: Both of Baines' efforts are contenders, but his second
just edges it as he bent the ball brilliantly over the wall and in off the
post - with Jussi Jaaskelainen rooted to the spot.
Moment of the match: Mark Noble's dismissal turned the game, with Baines
levelling from the resulting free-kick and Romelu Lukaku grabbing a late
winner.
Talking points: Can West Ham consider themselves unfortunate to have ended
the game empty-handed? Everton are still unbeaten, what can they achieve
this season?

The Hammers had gone more than five hours of top-flight football without
finding the target before edging ahead against the Toffees. They survived an
early scare when Kevin Mirallas forced Jussi Jaaskelainen into a fine
sprawling stop, but broke the deadlock on 31 minutes when Matt Jarvis teed
up Morrison on the edge of the box and his drilled effort took a wicked
deflection off Phil Jagielka to leave Tim Howard wrong-footed. Lukaku came
on for his Everton bow as part of a double change at the interval, and
Roberto Martinez was forced to play his final card within seven minutes of
the re-start as Leon Osman hobbled from the field.

Fresh faces appeared to breathe new life into the visitors and they had been
knocking on the door for some time before hauling themselves level in
spectacular fashion just past the hour mark, with Baines crashing a
trademark 25-yard free-kick into the top corner. It was, however, to be the
hosts who got their noses back in front, with Noble stepping up on 76
minutes to calmly convert from the penalty spot after Kevin Nolan had been
tripped inside the box by James McCarthy. The West Ham midfielder went from
hero to villain in the space of five minutes, though, as he collected a
second yellow card for a foul on Ross Barkley and saw Baines bend another
fabulous free-kick into the back of the net off the inside of the post.

With the Hammers rocking, Everton rammed home their numerical advantage five
minutes from time when Mirallas floated over a cross and Lukaku bravely
powered a header past Jaaskelainen - with a nasty clash of heads suggesting
he may not remember too much about his dramatic clincher. Leighton Baines
scored two goals from free kicks and praised Romelu Lukaku's winning goal in
Everton's 3-2 victory over West Ham.

Options

West Ham - missing attacking options Andy Carroll, Joe Cole and Stewart
Downing to injury - can take comfort from the end of their scoring drought
which had lasted 314 minutes until Morrison fired them ahead after half an
hour. Everton went close after six minutes when Mirallas tested Jaaskelainen
and Steven Naismith was inches away from a second attempt when the ball
sailed past. It was West Ham, though, who showed precision in the 31st
minute as they surged ahead, although a large deflection off Jagielka helped
them to take the lead.

Jarvis, once again proving a handful down the left wing, skillfully threaded
his way infield and teed up Morrison and the former Manchester United
midfielder drilled the ball home. West Ham manager Sam Allardyce says he
can't blame goalkeeper Jussi Jääskeläinen for the three goals they conceded
at the hands of Everton. Lukaku came on for the second half and his delicate
early touch was taken on by compatriot Mirallas, who raced to the byline and
crossed only for West Ham to recover by getting numbers back.

Naismith had also made way for McCarthy as Martinez attempted to invigorate
his side, but the Hammers were more creative with Jarvis galloping free and
just failing to find Modibo Maiga. Showing vision once more, Lukaku played
Barkley into the area only for the England midfielder to run down a blind
alley.
The initiative had been seized and in the 62nd minute the equaliser arrived,
Baines steering a terrific 20-yard free-kick beyond Jaaskelainen into the
top left corner.

Noble flashed a corner wide of the left post and Baines forced a save from
close range as the match opened up. Noble powered home from the spot after
Nolan had been hacked down by McCarthy, but then he trudged off after
receiving a second yellow from referee Lee Mason and Baines delivered the
equaliser.
The outstanding Lukaku deserved a goal and it duly arrived as he nodded
Everton to victory.

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MATCH REPORT: WEST HAM 2 THE REFEREE 3
By Iain Dale 21 Sep 2013 at 19:24
West Ham Till I Die

If I see a worse referee at Upton Park this season, we'll be in real
trouble. Mr Lee Mason gives his profession a bad name. He had an absolute
stinker today. The only thing he got right was our penalty, but that was so
blatant he couldn't really have done anything else. He gave corners when
they were goal kicks and vice versa. He gave fouls when they weren't and
didn't when they were. And he lost us the game. From my vantage point Mark
Noble's tackle on Ross Barklay was a brilliantly timed one. It wasn't a
foul, and it certainly wasn't a yellow card. Sadly Sun Goals haven't shown
the incident, only the goal, so I will have to wait for MOTD to see if I am
right. *UPDATE: OK, having seen MOTD, I admit it, I was wrong!

The first half was scrappy. Everton had a lot of the possession for the
first ten minutes but we gradually made our mark and began to slot some
passes together. There was no lumping it forward and defensively we were
very sound. Everton played a lot of pretty stuff around the penalty area but
I don't remember them really having a shot in the first half. Morrison took
his goal well, and even though it got a deflection which wrongfooted Tim
Howard, it was well deserved. Ravel Morrison improved with every minute of
the game. In the second half he felt confident enough to do some Joe
Cole-esque flicks. To accommodate Morrison in his favourite position Mo
Diame played out on the right and did really well. I thought Mark Noble had
a great game. At times he orchestrated the midfield like a conductor. He won
the ball tenaciously and drove forward at every opportunity. It was just a
pity that his midfield partner Kevin Nolan contributed very little to the
game. His balls forward were invariably hit too hard.

Defensively we were magnificent. The scoreline will never reflect that, but
Reid and Collins were outstanding. And I thought Joey O'Brien was brilliant,
back in his customary position of right back. The timing of his tackle on an
Everton player when he was through on goal was superlative and is probably
the incident I shall remember most from this game. Razvan Rat didn't do
badly in his first premier league game, although I thought the pace got to
him at times. I felt he hadn't really got much of an understanding with Matt
Jarvis, but did better when Vaz Te switched wings.

And as for Maiga… well, the best that can be said is that he had a shot.
Admittedly it flew over the crossbar, but at least he tried. Maybe I just
can't see what he does, but my Everton supporting friend thought he did well
in the first half. Well, he would, wouldn't he? Mladen Petric didn't set the
pitch on fire, but he did play a major part in winning the penalty, so
that's more than Maiga has achieved in five games.

Jussi Jaaskelainen has now conceded three consecutive goals from free kicks
outside the area. Simply not good enough. He was man of the match last week,
but those statistics will give cause for concern. However, would any
goalkeeper have saved any of those free kicks? I'm not sure.

I think we just have the chalk this one down. For most of the game we played
well. We played some good football. The sending off changed everything.
Onwards.

Afterthought: What did we all think of the new stadium announcer? I thought
he did OK initially, but no one could hear the half-times because he wasn't
close enough to the microphone, and he mispronounced Petric's name, which
was pretty poor. He kept saying Petrick.

Jaaskelainen 5
Reid 8
Collins 8
O'Brien 8
Rat 6
Diame 7
Nolan 5
Noble 8
Morrison 7
Jarvis 7
Maiga 4
Petric 6
Taylor 5
Vaz Te 6

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Tottenham set to sign Ciprian Marica on a free as striker rejects Arsenal
and West Ham interest
21 Sep 2013 23:00
The Mirror

Big-spending Spurs are set to land another striker this week – after
splashing £107million in the transfer window, writes Alan Nixon of the
Sunday People.
Romanian hitman Ciprian Marica is set to snub Arsenal and West Ham advances
to join Andre Villas-Boas's new-look Tottenham side. Marica, capped 60 times
by Romania, is looking for a £60,000-a-week three-year deal at White Hart
Lane. After blowing the £86m Gareth Bale cash on stars like Brazilian
Paulinho and Spain's Roberto Soldado, Villas-Boas can net the 28-year-old
for free because Marica had his contract with German outfit Schalke
terminated a year early at the end of last season. His club CV is
impressive, playing for Shakhtar Donetsk and Stuttgart in a wandering career
around Europe over the past decade. Spurs boss Villas-Boas, who takes his
club to Cardiff today, wants to move flop Emmanuel Adebayor and young Harry
Kane out of north London, freeing up a slot for Marica. If the deal cannot
be done, Villas-Boas will be under pressure from Daniel Levy to bring
£100,000-a-week outcast Adebayor in from the cold. The £9.3m striker has
been banished to training with the kids at White Hart Lane. Marica, who has
previously captained Romania, has netted 22 goals for his country.

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Mixed feelings for Mladen
WHUFC.com
Hammers debutant disappointed to see lead slip away in dying moments against
Everton
22.09.2013

It was an afternoon of mixed emotions for West Ham United debutant Mladen
Petric on Saturday. The Croatian striker was introduced from the bench with
the score at 1-1, then played his part in the Hammers' second goal before
watching on as Everton turned the game around late on to take the points.
The defeat was tough to take for the ex-Fulham man, although he was happy to
get his first run-out in claret and blue. "It was a really tough loss," he
said. "When you go in front twice you shouldn't give it away."We were a bit
unlucky in the end with the red card and the two goals in the last ten
minutes, so it was disappointing.
"They did pressurise us in the second half and played a lot better than they
did in the first, but I think we did enough to keep them to one goal. "The
positive was that we scored two goals in the game. The first half was very
good from our side, we had a lot of ball possession and scored the goal, so
we will try to move on with that. "I'm very happy to be playing again. It's
been a long break for me, so every day I'm feeling better and better. "I'm
doing intensive training, it's hard but you get used to it - and I want to
get really fit and help the team. "For Tuesday [against Cardiff]. we'll see,
I don't know what the manager has in his mind, but I hope to be involved and
get some time on the pitch. "I hope to score as soon as possible, and the
most important thing is that the team wins."

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com