Daily WHUFC News - 17th January 2014

Newcastle United match preview
WHUFC.com
All the essential information ahead of Saturday's game against Newcastle United
16.01.2014

WEST HAM UNITED v NEWCASTLE UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 18 JANUARY 2014
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: ANDRE MARRINER
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV

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Match sponsor
Blueprint Properties
West Ham United would like to welcome today's Match Sponsors Blueprint Properties.
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With their innovative team of property consultants and investment specialists, they aim to put Blueprint at the forefront of the estate agency domain in London.
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Introduction
• West Ham United play their first home game of 2014 when they welcome Newcastle United to the Boleyn Ground for a Barclays Premier League fixture on Saturday.
• The Hammers have played four consecutive away games since their last Boleyn Ground outing, losing at Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Manchester City before ending that run with a much-needed 2-0 victory over Cardiff City last Saturday.
• Carlton Cole and Mark Noble scored the goals as the Hammers chalked up their first league success in eight attempts. West Ham's trip to south Wales also saw Andy Carroll come off the bench for his first appearance of the campaign following a foot injury.
• Sam Allardyce's side moved out of the bottom three thanks to the victory and currently sit 17th in the table, with 18 points from 21 games.
• Newcastle United have enjoyed a strong first half of the campaign, although they arrive in E13 having lost their last four fixtures in all competitions.
• Edin Dzeko and Alvaro Negredo scored in a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City last Sunday, while Arsenal, West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City have all beaten Alan Pardew's men in recent weeks.
• Despite losing their last three league outings, the Magpies still sit eighth in the table, with 33 points from their 21 games.

Team news
West Ham United
• James Tomkins serves a one-game ban this weekend after being sent-off in last weekend's victory at Cardiff for a second bookable offence. Kevin Nolan is also banned as he serves the final match of his four-game suspension.
• Ravel Morrison could return to the squad following a groin injury, while James Collins is also targeting a comeback after his recent calf problem. However, Winston Reid remains sidelined with an ankle injury.

Newcastle United
To follow...

Last Time Out
West Ham United
Saturday 11 January 2014
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United 2-0 Cardiff City
West Ham United: Adrian; Demel (McCartney 17), Johnson, Tomkins, Rat; Collison (Diarra 75), Noble, Collison; Downing, C.Cole (Carroll 72), Jarvis
Subs not used: Jaaskelainen, Maiga, Diame, J.Cole
Goals: C.Cole 42, Noble 90

Newcastle United
Sunday 12 January 2014
Barclays Premier League
Newcastle United 0-2 Manchester City
Newcastle United: Krul; Santon, Williamson, S.Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa (Haidara 82), Anita (Cisse 73), Tiote, Cabaye, Sissoko, Remy, Gouffran (Ben Arfa 82)
Subs not used: Elliot, Gosling, Marveaux, Sa.Ameobi

Previous meeting
West Ham United's Barclays Premier League status was all but secure when relegation-threatened Newcastle United arrived in east London on Saturday 4 May 2013. Newcastle came closest in the first half, when Winston Reid miraculously cleared Papiss Cisse's shot off the line, while West Ham saw two Kevin Nolan efforts saved by Tim Krul and Andy Carroll head wide.

Saturday 4 May 2013
Barclays Premier League
Newcastle United 0-0 West Ham United
Newcastle United: Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-M'Biwa, Coloccini, Santon; Marveaux (Sa.Ameobi 66), Anita, Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Sh.Ameobi, Cisse (Gouffran 72)
Subs: Elliot, Gosling, Bigrimana, Vuckic, Dummett
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen; Demel, Collins, Reid, O'Brien; Nolan, Noble, Diame (Morrison 75); Downing (Cole 63), Maiga, Jarvis
Subs: Adrian, Tomkins, Rat, Vaz Te, Diarra

Last six meetings (Premier League unless stated)
24 August 2013 - Newcastle United 0-0 West Ham United
4 May 2013 - West Ham United 0-0 Newcastle United
11 November 2012 - Newcastle United 0-1 West Ham United
5 January 2011 - Newcastle United 5-0 West Ham United
23 October 2010 - West Ham United 1-2 Newcastle United
10 January 2009 - Newcastle United 2-2 West Ham United
Overall record v Newcastle United - P 124, W 38, D 37, L 49

Ten-year records
West Ham United
2012/13 Premier League 10th
2011/12 Championship 3rd (promoted via Play-Offs)
2010/11 Premier League 20th (relegated to Championship)

2009/10 Premier League 17th

2008/09 Premier League 9th

2007/08 Premier League 10th

2006/07 Premier League 15th

2005/06 Premier League 9th

2004/05 Championship 6th (promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)

2003/04 Division One 4th


Newcastle United
2012/13 Premier League 16th
2011/12 Premier League 5th
2010/11 Premier League 12th
2009/10 Championship 1st (promoted to Premier League)
2008/09 Premier League 18th (relegated to Championship)
2007/08 Premier League 12th
2006/07 Premier League 13th
2005/06 Premier League 7th
2004/05 Premier League 14th
2003/04 Premier League 5th

Background
·West Ham United and Newcastle United first met on 1 February 1908 at St James' Park. On that day the Magpies emerged as 2-0 winners of the FA Cup second round tie which was played in front of nearly 50,000 people.
·The Hammers had failed in their first 17 attempts to get an away win against Newcastle when finally victory did arrive on 26 May 1947. Almeric Hall, Jackie Wood and Ken Bainbridge were on target to score a 3-2 Second Division victory.
·The Club's largest victory at St James' Park came on 31 October 1998. Two goals from striker Ian Wright and one from Trevor Sinclair secured an emphatic 3-0 Premier League victory.
·The highest scoring encounter between the sides at St James' Park came back on 10 December 1960 when the teams played out a 5-5 draw. For the visitors, John Bond, Dave Dunmore, John Dick, Malcolm Musgrove and an own-goal from Alf McMichael earned them a share of the spoils.

Old boys
• West Ham United skipper Kevin Nolan scored 30 goals in 91 appearances for Newcastle United between January 2009 and May 2011, captaining the Magpies to the Championship title in 2009/10.
• Hammers striker Andy Carroll was born in Gateshead and came through the Academy ranks at Newcastle United. The 25-year-old netted 33 goals in 91 games for the Magpies before joining Liverpool in a record £35m deal in January 2011.
• Sam Allardyce took charge of Newcastle United 24 times between May 2007 and January 2008, winning eight matches, losing ten and drawing six.
• Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew spent a little more than three years in charge at West Ham between October 2003 and December 2006. Pardew led the Hammers to promotion via the play-offs in 2004/05 and the 2006 FA Cup final. In total, he took charge of 163 matches, winning 67, losing 58 and drawing 38.
• Others who have played for both clubs include Demba Ba, Craig Bellamy, Lee Bowyer, Franz Carr, John Dowsey, Kieron Dyer, Dave Gardner, Paul Goddard, Shaka Hislop, James Jackson, Vic Keeble, Matthew Kingsley, Paul Kitson, Robert Lee, Joe Loughlin, Scott Parker, Stuart Pearce, Wayne Quinn, Bryan 'Pop' Robson, George Robson, Keith Robson, Harold Smith, Nolberto Solano, Hal Tate and David Terrier.

Referee
• The man in the middle for Saturday's fixture is Andre Marriner.
• Marriner last took charge of a West Ham United game when he refereed the 0-0 draw with Sunderland in December - the second goalless stalemate he has overseen for the Hammers, following the trip to Southampton in September..
• Birmingham-born Marriner began refereeing in 1992, progressing through the Birmingham Amateur Football League and Southern League to become a Football League assistant referee in 2000.
• He was appointed to the Football League List of Referees in 2003 before joining the Select Group in 2005. Since then he has also been added to FIFA's International List in 2009.

General Information
• Tickets for Saturday's game remain on General Sale. You can secure your seat now at www.whufcboxoffice.com
• The weather forecast for Saturday is for light rain at 3pm, with temperatures at 9C (46F).
• No closures are planned on the eastern section of the District and Hammersmith & City Lines this weekend. Click here for the latest travel info on TfL routes, here for Greater Anglia train services, and here for c2c services

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Macca on: Newcastle United
WHUFC.com
Neil McDonald spoke to the media ahead of Saturday's match against Newcastle United
16.01.2014

Neil McDonald took to the hot seat on Thursday morning to face questions from the assembled media ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League match against Newcastle United. The assistant manager was quizzed on the mood at the training ground, Ravel Morrsion's future and Andy Carroll's fitness.

Morning Neil, good to see you, but could you explain why we haven't got Sam here this morning?

NMc: "He's busy trying to tie up a player so he's a little preoccupied with that. He's trying to get that done and dusted which is unfortunately taking up his time at the minute. Apologies for him not being here."

What's the mood been like this week after that win at Cardiff?

NMc: "The mood's been very, very good. We've had some good training sessions, the boys are all in a good frame of mind and they're certainly looking forward to the game against Newcastle on Saturday after a fine, gritty performance where we scored two excellent goals to finish Cardiff off and win for the first time in a while. That gives everybody confidence."

One win is only three points, yet in a sense does it feel like more than three points because of the effect it's had?

NMc: "Yes it certainly has. Not just the result but getting the injured players back as well. We've got two or three who are almost there and hopefully they'll be in the squad for Newcastle on Saturday which gives everybody an even bigger boost."

Can you name names in terms of team selection?

NMc: "Andy Carroll's coming along really, really well. We're hoping that James Collins is going to be fit as well which is excellent. James Tomkins and Kevin Nolan are suspended but everybody seems to coming along quite nicely to strengthen the side. If they're not back for Saturday then hopefully they'll be fit for the Manchester City second leg."

What's the process with Andy Carroll now?

NMc: "He has to go through a process of warming up properly to make sure he's ready to go. Then just get him on the training field. He's on the training field today, all the lads are in the gym doing a programme whilst he's outside working very, very hard on his fitness as well as the football aspect of it. It's not so much wrapping him in cotton wool, just making sure that he gets on the field and his fitness up."

Has his return given everybody a boost?

NMc: "Well I think it has, yes. It showed when he came on against Cardiff that he's a massive player for us. Whichever team you are, you have to have your best players and he's obviously one of ours. We need him back as quick as we can because he contributes so much. Holding the ball up, flicking the ball on, scoring goals, heading crosses in, inter-linking with people. His hold-up play's very good so that's what we're looking forward to seeing more often."

His first home appearance will come against his hometown club, it's a great script isn't it?

NMc: "It is, yes. He was pencilled in for the Newcastle game to be fair so it was a bit fortunate that he's come back a little bit earlier against Cardiff. Newcastle is a game that he's certainly looking forward to because he's played for them in the past."

So did you, Sam was manager there as well, does that make it all the sweeter if you were to win on Saturday?

NMc: "It certainly would because that means we would have won back-to-back games for the first time since we've been back in the Premier League so that
would be a huge bonus for us. It goes without saying that it's six points out of two games and that's certainly what we're trying to do."

What's the situation with Ravel Morrison, do the club believe he has been tapped up?

NMc: "It's best leaving it to the club for that. It's all media reports and whatever has been said, has been said. Obviously the club and the Premier League are dealing with that so I'd prefer not to dwell on that anymore."

There was one report stating that he was contemplating going on strike?

NMc: "There seems to be a story about Ravel every week. The lad comes in, trains, sometimes he's had a little bit of a groin injury but we've managed that. He trained yesterday with a huge smile on his face with the rest of the squad so that's news to me."

Do the club want to keep him?

NMc: "Why not? He needs to get in the team and he needs to be consistent. He had a little run of three or four game where he was outstanding but he's a young kin and he's still learning the game. He will go through inconsistency to a certain extent and he's had a little groin injury so that's been stop and start. We look forward to him being in the squad on Saturday. He should be fit, he's been training with the lads and he's bought a lot of joy, especially with the win over Cardiff, he'll cheer everybody up when he comes back as well."

Andy Rolls left the club this week, is that a blow to lose someone senior like that?

NMc: "Of course it is. Andy's been very, very good for the football club. He's held that role for a while, since before we were here. He's gone on to pastures new and we wish him all the best."

Will Andy Carroll start on Saturday?

NMc: "That's the manager's decision. Obviously we don't want to give too much away. He's certainly in the squad that's for sure. It's a slow process for him. To play 20 minutes and then possibly start is a calculated risk that the manager will have to weigh up."

Not a bad time to be playing Newcastle at the moment is it?

NMc: "They've had a couple of bad results, but having said all of that they're still in the top half of the league. They're still a very, very good team who've got some exciting, dangerous players. We've done our homework on them, we've got a game-plan for them, we know their strengths and weaknesses and we have to exploit those weaknesses."

How important was tying up Carlton Cole on a new deal for you?

NMc: "He's come in and got himself fit which is great. That took time with the summer that he'd had with relaxation and not being involved in football. He's come back, scored goals and that's all you can really ask from for centre forwards. You want them to score goals and be in positions to have the chances to score the goals and he's done that. He deserves his contract."

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Morrison back in action
WHUFC.com
Ravel Morrison is hoping to play a part when Newcastle United visit the Boleyn Ground on Saturday
16.01.2014

Ravel Morrison has said he is determined to help West Ham United secure a positive result against Newcastle United when they visit the Boleyn Ground on Saturday. Contrary to one report in the media this morning, Morrison has not threatened to go on strike at the Club and has been working hard in training this week to get back to full fitness following his recent groin injury. Morrison told whufc.com: "I've been working really hard over the past few weeks to get back to full fitness after missing a couple of recent games with a groin injury. I'm feeling fine now and I'm hoping to be involved in Saturday's important game with Newcastle and then the Capital One Cup semi-final with Manchester City on Tuesday. "Although it is frustrating to read some of the reports in the media, I always try to keep my focus on the next game and show people with my performances on the pitch that I want to do well for West Ham United."

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Johnson wants another clean sheet
WHUFC.com
New recruit Roger Johnson hopes to make it two clean sheets from two when the Hammers face Newcastle
16.01.2014

Roger Johnson wants to take West Ham United's clean sheet tally for the season into double figures when they host Newcastle United on Saturday. Last weekend's 2-0 victory over Cardiff City provided the Hammers with a ninth Barclays Premier League shutout of the campaign - and goalkeeper Adrian's first in league action. Newcastle will arrive in E13 having lost their last four fixtures, but Johnson recognises that they possess a formidable attacking threat and says the Londoners will have to be on their game to build on the Cardiff success. "On the back of our performance last weekend we'll go into the game with a bit of confidence," he explained. "They have some good attacking players so we can't take them lightly, and it's down to us to nullify that and hopefully keep another clean sheet - then maybe AC [Carroll] can come on for us and get the winner!"

Victory at Johnson's former club Cardiff meant the 30-year-old got off to a winning start on his return to top flight football, eighteen months since he last experienced it with Wolverhampton Wanderers. He continued: "It was massive, personally there's a bit of pressure on me to come in and perform in this league, and there are a few doubters, but it was great to start with a win, and certainly with a clean sheet to back that up as well. "Onwards and upwards now and we'll be looking to get a few more."

The No28 also had praise for the Hammers' support, after seeing the fans travel in numbers for his first two games at Manchester City and Cardiff. He added: "The fans have been great - there was a massive following at Man City, and a massive following again at Cardiff. They really got behind us, and I'm pleased we got the win for them as things haven't been going as well as we hoped so far this season.

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Ravel Morrison: Fulham target committed to West Ham
BBC.co.uk

Ravel Morrison has insisted he is fully committed to West Ham despite claims that he wants to move to Fulham. West Ham complained to the Premier League after Fulham manager Rene Meulensteen said midfielder Morrison wanted to sign for them. The 20-year-old has responded to the "frustrating" reports.
"I always try to keep my focus on the next game and show people with my performances that I want to do well for West Ham United," he said.

Morrison, who has 18 months left on his contract, worked with Meulensteen when the Dutchman was a coach at Manchester United. It had also been suggested that he had threatened to go on strike but West Ham denied those claims, insisting the player has trained this week following his recent groin injury. Morrison told West Ham's website: "I've been working really hard over the past few weeks to get back to full fitness after missing a couple of recent games with a groin injury. "I'm feeling fine now and I'm hoping to be involved in Saturday's important game with Newcastle and then the Capital One Cup semi-final with Manchester City on Tuesday."

West Ham are unhappy after Meulensteen said: "Yes, I think he does want to come [to Craven Cottage]." The Premier League has not confirmed receipt of any official complaint. After watching Fulham beat Norwich 3-0 in their FA Cup third-round replay on Tuesday, Meulensteen - who took over from sacked compatriot Martin Jol in December - confirmed his interest in signing England Under-21 international Morrison. "We have put in a bid that has been knocked back," he said. "He would add pace, power, unpredictability and a real attacking threat."

Meulensteen said it was too early to tell whether any deal can be struck before the transfer window closes at the end of January. "We got knocked back, it got rejected, and so we need to review it and move on," he said. "I've explained how I think about the situation [to the Fulham board], so we'll have to wait and see what happens." Meulensteen said in his press conference on Thursday that he would not speak further about potential targets. "I am not going to make any comments on (transfers) because it is going to get me into trouble," he added. "It is wiser at this moment in time that we are not going to comment on anything that is happening in regards to any transfer news or speculation. "Things are in hand with the club, with (chief executive) Alistair Mackintosh."

West Ham's complaint is likely to surround Premier League ruling T.8 concerning "statements made publicly by or on behalf of a club expressing interest in acquiring the registration of a contract player". If the Premier League deems Fulham to be in breach of the rules, the club could face a reprimand or fine.
It is also possible the case could be referred to the Football Association. Morrison has scored five times in 20 appearances since moving to Upton Park from Old Trafford in January 2012.

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Andy's a Gunner
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 16th January 2014
By: Staff Writer

Andy Rolls has completed his move to Arsenal, as exclusively revealed here on KUMB.com. The former Head of Sports Science and Medicine left east London earlier this week following four-and-a-half-years at the club in order to join the Gunners. Rolls' personal freindship with Arsenal physio Colin Lewin, the cousin of England's Gary Lewin is thought to have swung the deal. Neil McDonald, speaking to the press at Chadwell Heath this morning said the loss of Rolls was "a blow". "Andy's been very, very good for the football club," said Macca. "He's held that role for a while, since before we were here. He's gone on to pastures new and we wish him all the best."

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When we said we needed a striker...
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 16th January 2014
By: Staff Writer

The Ravel Morrison saga rumbled on this morning with more claims and counter-claims going back and forth.

Fresh rumours that the youngster was about to go on strike in order to push through a move to Fulham emerged this morning - rumours that were instantly dismissed by Neil McDonald, deputising for Sam Allardyce at this morning's Chadwell Heath press conference.

"I know nothing about that," Macca replied when asked about the speculation, "but there seems to be a story about Ravel every week. Sometimes he's had a little bit of a groin injury but we've managed that. He trained yesterday with a huge smile on his face with the rest of the squad so that's news to me.

"He needs to get in the team and he needs to be consistent. He had a little run of three or four game where he was outstanding but he's a young kid and he's still learning the game. He will go through inconsistency to a certain extent and he's had a little groin injury so that's been stop and start.

"We look forward to him being in the squad on Saturday. He should be fit, he's been training with the lads and he's bought a lot of joy, especially with the win over Cardiff, he'll cheer everybody up when he comes back as well."

On the claims that Fulham broke Premier League rules regarding "tapping up", McDonald added: "It's best leaving that to the club. It's all media reports and whatever has been said, has been said. Obviously the club and the Premier League are dealing with that so I'd prefer not to dwell on that anymore."

Morrison also featured on the Club's website this morning, no doubt in a bid to stave off rumours regarding his immediate future. "I've been working really hard over the past few weeks to get back to full fitness after missing a couple of recent games with a groin injury", he said.

"I'm feeling fine now and I'm hoping to be involved in Saturday's important game with Newcastle and then the Capital One Cup semi-final with Manchester City. Although it's frustrating to read some of the reports in the media, I always try to keep my focus on the next game and show people with my performances on the pitch that I want to do well for West Ham."

Oddly, just prior to McDonald's comments hitting the press Morrison posted another of his ambiguous tweets, which this time simply read: "the lies people make up its unreal".

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Ravel Morrison included in West Ham squad for match against Newcastle
Last Updated: 16/01/14 3:21pm
SSN

West Ham assistant boss Neil McDonald has confirmed that Ravel Morrison will be in the squad to play Newcastle, despite speculation about his future.
Fulham manager Rene Meulensteen revealed on Tuesday his club had made an unsuccessful bid to sign Morrison and his comments prompted a complaint from West Ham to the Premier League. Some reports had suggested that Morrison could go on strike in a bid to force a move through, but Hammers boss Sam Allardyce has still included him for Saturday's Premier League visit of the Magpies. And McDonald played down the claims, insisting that Morrison is happy at Upton Park. "It's all media reports and whatever has been said, has been said, and I think the club and the Premier League are dealing with that. I prefer not to dwell on that," he said. "There seems to be a story about Rav every week. The lad comes in, trains, sometimes he's had a little bit of a groin injury, but we've managed that. "He trained yesterday with a huge big smile on his face with the rest of the squad. That's news to me."

When asked if the club want to keep Morrison, McDonald said: "Well why not? He needs to get into the team and he needs to be consistent. "He had a great run of three or four games where he was outstanding, but he's a young kid. He's still learning the game and he goes through inconsistency to a certain extent.
"He had a great run of three or four games where he was outstanding, but he's a young kid. He's still learning the game and he goes through inconsistency to a certain extent." "He's had a little bit of a groin injury as well, so that's stop and start. We look forward to him being in the squad on Saturday. He should be fit." McDonald did not completely rule out a move for Morrison as he admitted: "I imagine everybody's got a price." Morrison also appeared to deny suggestions he wants to leave by tweeting: "The lies people make up its unreal."

There has been speculation that West Ham will make a renewed bid to sign Southampton striker Rickie Lambert this month. McDonald is hopeful the club will bring in some new players as they attempt to pull clear of the relegation zone, but refused to shed any light on a possible offer for Lambert. "I think there is lots of speculation on players that we are trying to bring to the club," he said. "They are obviously fantastic players and of course he is and he's in good form, but it's all speculation at the minute. Asked about a fruitful strike partnership between Lambert and Andy Carroll, he said: "It would be, we need as many good players as we can to try and push us further up the league. "Whoever the manager decides to bring in, I'm sure it will be a good addition to the squad."

Meanwhile, Meulensteen refused to comment on the Morrison situation at his press conference ahead of Saturday's game at Arsenal.

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West Ham United reject Ravel Morrison strike report
Last Updated: 16/01/14 6:07pm
SSN

West Ham United have rejected a report that Ravel Morrison is ready to go on strike to force a move away from the Premier League strugglers. The Hammers have reported London rivals Fulham to the Premier League following comments from Rene Meulensteen after his side's FA Cup replay win over Norwich which claimed the Craven Cottage club had had a bid rejected for the England U21. Meulensteen worked with the Englishman when first-team coach at his previous club, Manchester United, but a statement on West Ham's official website said: "Contrary to one report in the media this morning, Morrison has not threatened to go on strike at the club and has been working hard in training this week to get back to full fitness following his recent groin injury."

Hammers assistant manager Neil McDonald, sitting in for boss Sam Allardyce who was reportedly busy with transfer business, also played down suggestions Morrison wanted to leave at the pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's visit of Newcastle It is all media reports and whatever has been said... I think the club and the Premier League are dealing with that so I'd prefer not to dwell on that any more," McDonald said. "There seems to be a story about Rav every week. The lad comes in and trains, sometimes he has had a little bit of a groin injury, but we've man-managed that. He trained on Wednesday with a huge, big smile on his face with the rest of the squad so (reports he may go on strike) are news to me. "We look forward to him being in the squad on Saturday, he should be fit, he's been training with the lads and he's brought a lot of joy, especially with winning against Cardiff - he cheered everyone up when he came back as well."

Morrison, 20, was another who seemed to refute recent suggestions he wants to leave when he tweeted: "The lies people make up its unreal."

With West Ham reporting Meulensteen and Fulham to the Premier League, the Cottagers could face a reprimand or fine if they are found to be in breach of the rulings - it is also possible the case could be referred to the Football Association. And Morrison insisted he was happy in east London when he told the club website: "I've been working really hard over the past few weeks to get back to full fitness after missing a couple of recent games with a groin injury. "I'm feeling fine now and I'm hoping to be involved in Saturday's important game with Newcastle and then the Capital One Cup semi-final with Manchester City on Tuesday. "Although it is frustrating to read some of the reports in the media, I always try to keep my focus on the next game and show people with my performances on the pitch that I want to do well for West Ham United."

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West Ham's Ravel Morrison slams transfer saga ''lies'' after claims he'd strike for Fulham move
Jan 16, 2014 22:30 By Mike Walters 0 Comments
The Mirror

"I always try to keep my focus on the next game and show people with my performances on the pitch that I want to do well for West Ham United"

Ravel Morrison has blasted claims that he will try to engineer a move away from West Ham by going on strike as "lies." England Under-21 midfielder Morrison hopes to be involved in the Hammers' home date with Newcastle on Saturday - with the row over his future rumbling on in the background. The irate Irons have reported Fulham to the Premier League after manager Rene Meulensteen followed up a rejected £7.5million bid by claiming Morrison wanted to move across London to Craven Cottage.

The case could be referred to the FA, but former Manchester United bad boy Morrison was toeing the party line expertly, tweeting about the "lies" being "unreal" and telling the Hammers' official website: "I always try to keep my focus on the next game and show people with my performances on the pitch that I want to do well for West Ham United. "I've been working really hard over the past few weeks to get back to full fitness after missing a couple of recent games with a groin injury. I'm feeling fine now and I'm hoping to be involved in Saturday's important game with Newcastle and then the Capital One Cup semi-final with Manchester City on Tuesday."

As Hammers boss Sam Allardyce ducked pre-match media formalities, his assistant Neil McDonald admitted Morrison - like any player - had his price.
In an effort to puncture Fulham's interest, West Ham have now slapped a £15m tag on a player with only a handful of Premier League starts to his name, and McDonald revealed the Hammers want the 20-year-old to stay. But he also challenged Morrison to prove he is worthy of a place in Sam Allardyce's side, but also said a big offer may tempt the club to sell. When asked if the club wanted to keep the player, McDonald replied: "Well, why not? But he needs to get into the team and he needs to be consistent. I imagine every player has a price. "He had a great run of three or four games where he was outstanding but he's a young kid and he's still learning the game. He goes through inconsistency to a certain extent and he's had a little bit of a groin injury as well so that's stop and start."

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Ravel to a rival? No chance
KUMb.com
Filed: Friday, 17th January 2014
By: Paul Walker

How we handle the Ravel Morrison situation could define our season… and he most certainly should not be sold to any of our rivals in the relegation dogfight.

Such is the enigma that is Morrison, there are many - including me - who have been just waiting for something to go wrong with his time at West Ham.

Those who know a bit more about the lad from his Manchester United days have watched with bated breath for the whole thing to explode in our faces. It was going to happen just as night follows day.

Morrison, for all the stunning talent I have watched and monitored over the past few years in Manchester, is an insular, selfish, unpredictable young man. He seems to lack respect for anyone in authority and resents any form of pecking order.

He's been told since he was eight that he is a brilliant prospect, and his days in the excellent Fletcher Moss youth teams in south Manchester, his Manchester Schools days and ten years in the Manchester United academy system has probably never seen him play in a bad team.

He has also never had any doubt about his value. He knows he is brilliant and expects to play because he believes he is better than the rest. The fact that Big Sam has left him in the bench or not picked him at all in the last few months is probably the reason for the rumours that manager and player have fallen out.

Now he clearly wants out, as Fulham's rather arrogant coach Rene Meulensteen has informed us all. But because of his obvious talent and what he is capable of, we must not let him go to Fulham - or Cardiff for that matter - under any circumstances.

Why give our rivals a boost of a fine young footballer, for all his inadequacies in other ways? If a team in the top six want him, fine, they can pay the money and it will not come back to hurt us.

Fans get angry sometimes when players are working their ticket out of a club. Loyalty gets mentioned and the club are told to let the player rot in the reserves. That's always unrealistic in the modern era.

But just in this case it should be our last option. The lad is supposedly on £15,000 a week, which is £60,000 a month and £240,000 between now and the end of the season. If we go down it could cost us close on £100m from enhanced prize money and all the spin-offs from being in the Premier League.

Refusing to sell Morrison until the summer and taking the hit on his wages seems a small price to pay. But deep down I know that is a naive view and won't wash in this day and age.

When I first heard of Meulensteen's comments post-match after the Cup win over Norwich it was obvious that they broke the rules. How did he know Morrison wanted to joined Fulham?

The regulations over transfers and illegal approaches are roundly ignored by everyone these days, family members, friends, even tame journalisms, can do all the tapping. But the line seems to be drawn when a manager goes public and talks openly about another club's player.

Harry Redknapp always says something along the lines of "He's a quality player and we are always interested in quality players. But he's not our player." That just about covers it even though everyone knows what he really means.

But when you say what the Fulham coach did, maybe he's learned too much from being at Old Trafford for so long, you are crossing the line. It's destabilising and it is telling everyone else that the player wants to leave.

Big clubs like Man U get away with such things, but not when you are Fulham. And just guess what would happen to us if our manager said something like this about a potential target. They'd be down on us like a ton of bricks.

On the subject of Man U, surely the biggest tap-up of all time was when Alex Ferguson invited David Moyes to his home mid-term last season to offer him the Old Trafford job. You can bet he didn't ask Bill Kenwright at Everton first!

But I feel we should all accept that Morrison is now history. It started to unravel (sorry) I believe when the lad was overwhelmed in the 3-0 home defeat by Chelsea. It really brought him down to earth.

He came on as a second-half substitute in the next game at home to Fulham, and produced a spell-binding performance to destroy the West Londoners. But the next game he was a waste of space at Crystal Palace and could have easily been sent-off for that push in the face.

He was equally over-powered in the defeat at Manchester United when he no doubt really wanted to shine. Since then he has been generally poor, maybe in need of a rest.

His display at Nottingham Forest was little short of a disgrace. Big Sam had made sure he was cup-tied, and the lad just played for himself. He stopped tracking back and only wanted to go off on a run to score another wonder goal. When he might have been expected to stamp his quality onto a Championship side, he failed.

He was only on the bench at the Etihad for the League Cup massacre and word then was that he was unimpressed by that decision. Then the groin injury miraculously appeared again, and he wasn't even in the squad at Cardiff.

All the time the Fulham interest has been in the background, and surfaced again in the media on the morning of that match. I am sure Sam was far from impressed. Now I am sure there is not much sympathy for Sam on that score, he must surely understand the dark arts of the transfer market, but it could well be that Morrison had already become a disruptive influence.

That is why the Fulham coach maybe felt he could come out so brazenly and talk about a player he wanted to sign and who "wants to come to Fulham".

Some felt Morrison only knuckled down because he was told he had a chance of going to Brazil. That surely is dead in the water now, whatever Roy Hodgson has said recently. There has been rumours of problems at West Ham, and I have also been told of an alleged incident on England under 21 duty, involving a row over a table tennis match!

I also have an old acquaintance who is part of the England set-up who tells me that the big fear about Morrison is how he would cope being stuck in a hotel for several weeks at the World Cup with the pressure on and the eyes of the world on him. They fear he couldn't cope with the isolation and could not be trusted. Something could go badly wrong.

Sadly I feel we have seen the last of the lad in our claret and blue, I may be wrong. Part of the reason he fell out with Fergie was a laughable contract demand from his advisors. It is no surprise that all this has happened recently with us stalling on giving him a new contract and £65,000 a week.

But where does he go? Are Man U brave enough to risk a re-run of his previous behaviour, and do Man City want to risk the same with the lad back in an environment Fergie once said he just had to get away from? Spurs might be interested, Chelsea and Arsenal with their midfield quality surely not. And Liverpool and Everton are to near the Manchester region.

But I implore our club not to let the lad go to somewhere that would see him with the chance to damage our dodgy position in the top flight.

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West Ham's Maiga rejects loan move to QPR, leaving Redknapp to consider other options
By DECLAN WARRINGTON
PUBLISHED: 23:12, 16 January 2014 | UPDATED: 01:09, 17 January 2014
DailY Mail

West Ham's Modibo Maiga has rejected a loan switch to QPR. He had been given permission to leave after scoring just two goals in 19 games. West Ham's Andy Carroll is returning to fitness, Carlton Cole has signed a new 18-month contract at the club and Southampton's Rickie Lambert remains a £7million target to further limit Maiga's chances of first-team football.

QPR boss Harry Redknapp, however, still hopes to strengthen his striking options and is likely to instead pursue Auxerre's Paul Georges-Ntep and Inter Milan's Ishak Belfodil. His side are third in the Championship and possess one of the best defences in the league but have scored just 29 goals in 25 games.

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Fulham's Ravel Morrison remarks 'taken out of context'
The Independent
GIUSEPPE MURO Thursday 16 January 2014

Rene Meulensteen believes his comments about Ravel Morrison were taken out of context but the Fulham manager refused to be drawn further on the "tapping up" row with West Ham because it might "get me in trouble".

Meulensteen's decision to keep quiet came hours after Morrison suggested he does not want to leave West Ham. The club have made an official complaint to the Premier League after Meulensteen said the midfielder is keen to join Fulham. They see the remarks as an illegal approach and want action taken.

Fulham have received no formal communication from the Premier League and Meulensteen said: "I am not going to make any comment because it is going to get me into trouble."

Meulensteen, who also revealed that Fulham had received no offers for Dimitar Berbatov, added: "It shows that certain things can come out and be taken out of context and you have to deal with it."

Fulham have had a £4m bid for Morrison rejected and will now decide whether to return with a second offer. Morrison, who has 18 months left on his contract at Upton Park, earlier denied suggestions he threatened to go on strike. He tweeted: "The lies people make up it's unreal".

The 20-year-old insisted he is committed to West Ham, telling the club website: "Although it is frustrating to read some of the reports in the media, I always try to keep my focus on the next game and show people with my performances on the pitch that I want to do well for West Ham."

West Ham's assistant manager Neil McDonald has admitted that "every player has his price" and the manager Sam Allardyce may be willing to sell Morrison to free up some transfer funds.

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