Daily WHUFC News - 6th January 2014

Paterson treble sends Hammers out
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's FA Cup challenge was ended with a 5-0 defeat at Nottingham
Forest
05.01.2014

Nottingham Forest 5-0 West Ham United
FA Cup with Budweiser third round

Jamie Paterson's 14-minute hat-trick sent West Ham United tumbling out of
the FA Cup with Budweiser on Sunday afternoon. Nottingham Forest already led
at the break through a Djamal Abdoun penalty before Paterson took over in
the closing quarter of the contest. His treble started with a goal in the
65th minute, with others in the 71st and 79th soon following. Andy Reid's
stoppage time strike completed a 5-0 rout and ended the Hammers' interest in
the competition for 2014. Three young Hammers were given their debuts from
the start, with Callum Driver, Seb Lletget and Danny Whitehead all in the
line-up. The inexperienced visitors did not get off to the start they hoped
for, though, falling behind to a twelfth minute penalty. George Moncur was
the unfortunate guilty party, perhaps showing too much eagerness in trying
to win the ball back after being dispossessed and only succeeding in
clipping Paterson. Abdoun showed considerable calm in dispatching the
penalty, chipping down the middle with Adrian committed to diving to his
right. Twelve minutes later the Hammers were within a whisker of equalising,
when Ravel Morrison's free kick flew over the wall and towards goal, but
Karl Darlow stretched out a hand to touch over. At the other end the Forest
fans felt they may have had a second penalty when Greg Halford and Driver
slid in to contest a loose ball in the six yard box, but referee Martin
Atkinson was correct in his assessment that the West Ham man had made the
tackle. West Ham's moments of genuine threat were limited before the
interval, although they did create an opportunity with 35 minutes played
when Matt Jarvis drove at the home backline and fed Modibo Maiga, but the
ball got stuck under his feet and Eric Lichaj recovered to make the tackle.
Seven minutes later Adrian kept the deficit at one, spreading himself to
block from Lichaj, after he drifted in unchecked from the flank to collect a
pass from Andy Reid.

The Hammers started the second half in brighter fashion as they got on the
ball more and Morrison drew a save from Darlow after working a corner short
and weaving his way past Dan Harding down the by-line. Forest withstood that
spell as the Hammers gathered momentum and Henri Lansbury should have done
better on 61 minutes when he met Reid's free kick in a good position but
headed over. The hosts did not have to wait long for their second, as with
65 minutes played Halford got the better of Reece Burke over a bouncing
ball, allowing Paterson to take over and net via the far post. Six minutes
later Paterson killed the tie when he picked up a pass from Lansbury and
unleashed a shot which flicked off Burke's foot and left Adrian helpless. It
was to get even worse for the Hammers eleven minutes from time when Paterson
completed his hat-trick, being allowed to move across the face of the
Hammers defence too easily before drilling into the bottom left corner. The
rout wasn't yet complete and Reid added to the Hammers woes in stoppage
time, stroking into the top left hand corner after the hosts seized on a
loose Maiga pass to break quickly. Abdoun raced clear before slamming the
brakes on and squaring unselfishly for Reid to do the rest.

Nottingham Forest: Darlow; Jara, Lascelles, Hobbs, Lichaj (Harding 58);
Moussi, Reid; Abdoun, Lansbury, Paterson (Derbyshire 75); Halford (Cox 75)
Subs: Mackie, MIller, Evitmov, Majewski
Goals: Abdoun pen 12, Paterson 65, 71, 79, Reid 90+1
Booked: Derbyshire

West Ham United: Adrian; Driver, Diarra (Burke 55), Potts; Jarvis, Lletget,
Whitehead, Moncur (Fanimo 55), Downing (Turgott 64); Morrison; Maiga
Subs: Spiegel, Lee, Maguire, Gordon
Booked: Lletget

Referee: Martin Atkinson
Attendance: 14,397

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Big Sam reflects on FA Cup exit
WHUFC.com
Manager Sam Allardyce has spoken following Sunday's FA Cup third round
defeat at Nottingham Forest
05.01.2014

Sam Allardyce said his young West Ham United side will learn from the
experience of Sunday's 5-0 FA Cup with Budweiser third-round defeat at
Nottingham Forest. Injuries and a packed fixture list, including a Capital
One Cup semi-final first leg at Manchester City and Barclays Premier League
trip to Cardiff City this week, forced the manager to blood a host of
youngsters at the City Ground. A Hammers team containing three debutants and
two other Development Squad regulars gave the Championship high-fliers a
stern test for more than an hour, only for the hosts to score four times in
the final 25 minutes. After falling behind to Djamel Abdoun's early penalty,
Big Sam saw his players battle back and enjoy a dangerous spell around the
hour-mark. Just when it looked like the Hammers could grab an equaliser,
Jamie Paterson drilled in a second. With youth-team defender Reece Burke and
Development Squad players Matthias Fanimo and Blair Turgott also introduced
from the bench, the young Hammers conceded three more goals in the closing
stages - two more to Paterson and one to Andy Reid - to give the final
score-line an unfortunately one-sided appearance.. "We were having our best
spell attacking-wise and I always say to young lads, when you're having a
few sustained attacks, you have to be careful about it because if you don't
score and take full advantage at that time you have to make sure you don't
leave the back door open," said Big Sam. "I think it happens at first-team
level sometimes and it happened on Sunday. "When we allowed the second goal
to go in, which was probably against the run of play at that time, they
didn't do themselves any favours with the way they approached the tie after
that, going all guns blazing on the all-out attack, making it very easy for
Nottingham Forest to run through us and score more goals. That was the
disappointing thing for me - not the first hour. "I thought everybody stuck
to their task and tried to play to their best and put a huge amount of
effort in. We all know how many young players we had out on the field which
gave Forest an advantage as they played their Championship side that played
week-in and week-out. "In the end it over-ran them by the fact the young
players got lost at the end and didn't realise that, at 2-0, the most
important thing was to make sure that Nottingham Forest didn't score another
goal. We needed to try to play our way back into the game and stabilise the
situation, but they didn't do that."

The magnificent 3,000-strong travelling support continued to sing until the
very end, despite seeing their unfamiliar-looking team defeated. The manager
said he took no joy or pride whatsoever in overseeing a defeat, but pointed
to this week's semi-final and the need to secure Barclays Premier League
safety as the reasons for his team selection on Sunday. "The big picture is
that my hands were tied in the selection process regarding who I could pick.
My hands have been tied nearly all season, because a lot of my players have
not played even a third of the season so far due to trauma and other
injuries. "We know what the problem is and we've got to overcome the problem
as quickly as possible. "Nobody wants to get beat and we certainly don't
want to get beat 5-0, but at the end of the day the semi-final against
Manchester City is more important than this game. "More managers change
their team for the FA Cup than don't. Billy Davies didn't change his team,
but he is one of very few. Most managers, even from the Championship, will
change their team for the FA Cup third round.
"Managers change their team in the Capital One Cup as we did this year to
good effect because we've got to the semi-finals. "It would have been
impossible to play the same 14 players on Sunday, on Wednesday and next
Saturday at Cardiff, because that would have promoted us getting more
injuries than we have already got. "Circumstances were against me and I had
to play the young players. I told everybody very early, so everybody knew
what was going to happen. I was hoping the players were still going to stand
up and make a better game of it, but unfortunately they didn't. "Manchester
City played on Saturday and we had to play on Sunday. I still needed to use
Ravel Morrison, Modibo Maiga and Matt Jarvis and they played the whole game,
while I brought Stewart Downing and Alou Diarra off as I need them as well.
"We also have the lads at home who are fit and they will all get themselves
ready and prepare for the big, big game on Wednesday."

Finally, the manager confirmed again that the Club are working hard to bring
in new recruits to bolster the injury-affected squad. "We're still looking
in the market to sign more players if we can. It's a critical situation at
the moment and there nobody aware of it more than me, how desperate our
situation has become over the last few weeks. "With our position in the
league, we have all got to stick together and get people back in the side
with the experience and the quality and determination I know they have got
to secure our Premier League status and get to the Capital One Cup final."

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Nottm Forest 5 West Ham 0
5 January 2014
Last updated at 14:37
By Mandeep Sanghera
BBC Sport

Jamie Paterson scored a hat-trick as Nottingham Forest added to West Ham's
woes by knocking the struggling Premier League side out of the FA Cup.
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce fielded a youthful side and the visitors went
behind to a Djamel Abdoun penalty after George Moncur tripped Paterson.
Forest were dominant, and Paterson angled in the second before slotting in
from eight yards to make it 3-0. Paterson drove home his third before Andy
Reid sealed a comfortable win. "We looked at the sides pre-match and thought
it looked like it could be an uneven match-up. That was exactly the way it
panned out.
"West Ham have gone out of this competition with a whimper, never at any
stage looking like they were going to give Forest a problem on the day. Big
Sam is now under big pressure."

Whether Forest's win counts as an upset is debatable considering the team
selected by Allardyce, but the comprehensive manner of the defeat will only
add to the pressure on the West Ham boss. Allardyce said before the game
that the FA Cup fell behind top-flight survival and the Capital One Cup
semi-final against Manchester City in his priorities, and also bemoaned the
injury problems he is having to contend with. He fielded three debutants at
Championship promotion chasers Forest in Danny Whitehead, Callum Driver and
Sebastian Lletget, as well as handing George Moncur his first start. And
Allardyce's decision to put the emphasis on youth soon backfired. Moncur's
over-exuberance resulted in the midfielder making a rash challenge on
Paterson, and Abdoun nonchalantly chipped in the resulting penalty. Ravel
Morrison had a dipping 22-yard free-kick tipped over by Forest keeper Karl
Darlow, but the visitors struggled to make any impression as they were
outplayed by the East Midlands side. Forest striker Greg Halford found
himself in on goal after a fortunate deflection and only a last-ditch
sliding tackle from Driver denied him the chance to shoot from close range.
Halford, who had scored three goals in as many games operating as a
makeshift forward, then headed another chance straight at keeper Adrian
following a well-worked move. The home side's main regret would have been
they were not further ahead, and that feeling was compounded when Eric
Lichaj was through on goal only to have his low shot saved, with Henri
Lansbury shooting high from the rebound. Forest's inability to turn their
dominance into more goals was almost punished as the visitors briefly
rallied after the break. Lletget had a deflected shot parried away by
Darlow, who also had to palm a Morrison shot wide before the home side's
nerves were settled. Paterson made the most of Halford holding off a
defender to latch onto a loose ball, surging into the area and finishing
with a drilled left-foot shot. The forward then made the most of a Lansbury
lay-off to drive in his second via a deflection before completing his
hat-trick with a powerful shot after running across West Ham's box. The
Hammers fell apart and, after Reid shot home, referee Martin Atkinson's
final whistle was all that could end their misery.

Nottingham Forest manager Billy Davies: "I think someone was waiting to be
hit for four or five here. Our play has been very good and we created a host
of chances, I'm delighted with the way we played. "I have to say we know
[West Ham boss] Sam Allardyce has bigger fish to fry... We know he has
injuries like ourselves. "But before the game we were concerned, because in
[Stewart] Downing and [Matt] Jarvis, [Modibo] Maiga and [Ravel] Morrison
they had £20m of talent in the front four. We had to make sure we were up
for the game, I wish I had £20m worth of front players because they have
very good players."

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Sam Allardyce: West Ham owners knew of FA Cup team changes
BBC.co.uk

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce says he informed the club's owners of the
changes he was planning for the FA Cup third round tie at Nottingham Forest.
Allardyce made nine changes from the New Year's Day Premier League defeat by
Fulham, including three debutants. Two players also made debuts from the
bench as a youthful side were thrashed 5-0 by the Championship outfit. "I
made them (David Gold and David Sullivan) aware of what would happen," said
Allardyce. "I'm not in the position to go and do these things without
telling everybody internally what is planned for the next few games." West
Ham are second-from-bottom of the Premier League after only one top-flight
win in their last 13 games. They also have a lengthy injury list, with Andy
Carroll, Riacrdo Vaz Te, James Tomkins, James Collins, Winston Reid and Mark
Noble sidelined. Captain Kevin Nolan is also unavailable as he serves a
four-game suspension after his sending off at Craven Cottage. With a Capital
One Cup semi-final first-leg tie at Manchester City on Wednesday and league
game at fellow strugglers Cardiff on Saturday, Allardyce said he had little
choice in the team he picked for the FA Cup. "My hands are tied behind my
back every time I see what's available and the team is almost picking
itself," he said. "It's a disaster at the moment, a total disaster and in
certain areas we've not been able to cope. "My priorities meant I put too
many youngsters in and they were not able to withstand Forest's pressure in
the last half an hour. "I picked the team so it is my responsibility. You
know what my priorities are: the priorities are the Premier League first and
then Capital One Cup."

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Allardyce defends Cup policy
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 5th January 2014
By: Staff Writer

Sam Allardyce says that he fielded a seriously weakened team at Nottingham
Forest this afternoon in order to protect his senior players ahead of
Wednesday night's Capital One Cup semi final, first leg at Manchester City.
Allardyce - along with almost 3,000 embarrassed travelling supporters -
watched his team thrashed 5-0 by the Championship side before insisting that
he had very little choice in the matter, given West Ham's busy programme of
fixtures and his chronic shortage of fully fit, first team players. "My
experience told me to play the young players today to protect the players
I've got fit at the moment to play in the Capital One Cup semi final," he
told 5-Live's Rob Nothman. "It's a very difficult period for us all and
nobody knows more than I do how important it is and what it means to
everybody - myself included. "But I have to keep professional, I have to
keep focused on what is the right thing to do - not just for the next game
but for the next few games that are coming up and manage that situation to
make sure we've got the best chance for Wednesday and at Cardiff after."

Allardyce also praised his young debutants for their efforts today, but
conceded that they ran out of steam as the game progressed. "The sad thing
is, after an hour I thought they were showing a reasonable understanding of
how the game has to be played against a very strong Championship side here
at Forest," he said. "It was looking like we may get back in the game at
1-0 as we had some chances, but when the second goal went in they lost their
shape, they lost their desire to defend correctly and they chased the game -
and when you chase a game, you very rarely get in back. "What they did was
leave themselves too open and allow Forest to score at will in the final
part of the game, which was a shame considering how well some of them had
done up to the hour. But the game is 90 minutes [long], not 60."

Eight Games In 32 Days: Big Sam's January Backlog

Weds, 1st Jan: Fulham (a) 1-2
Sun, 5th Jan: Nottingham Forest (a) 0-5
Weds, 8th Jan: Manchester City (a)
Sat, 11th Jan: Cardiff City (a)
Sat, 18th Jan: Newcastle United (h)
Tues, 21st Jan: Manchester City (h)
Weds, 29th Jan: Chelsea (a)
Sat, 1st Feb: Swansea (h)

Injury Outlook: Return Dates

James Tomkins: Fit for Man City or Cardiff
James Collins: Fit for Man City or Cardiff
Ricardo Vaz Te: Mid-to-late January
Andy Carroll: Mid-to-late January
Winston Reid: Early-to-mid February

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Jamie Paterson hits a hat-trick in Nottingham Forest's 5-0 rout of West Ham
Last Updated: 05/01/14 9:00pm
SSN

Jamie Paterson notched a quick-fire second-half hat-trick as Nottingham
Forest beat an under-strength West Ham 5-0 to dump them out of the FA Cup.
Djamel Abdoun put the Championship side ahead via the penalty spot in the
12th minute after George Moncur had fouled Paterson in the box. Paterson
slotted home on 65, 71 and 79 minutes and Andy Reid scored in injury-time to
see their side easily progress to the fourth round. Sam Allardyce faces
fresh questions over his future as West Ham manager as his unrecognisable
side were routed. While Forest's win might go down in some quarters as a cup
upset, once the team-sheets were announced the bookmakers had already
installed the hosts as odds-on favourites. Allardyce, with injury and
suspension problems and a Capital One Cup semi-final in midweek, handed out
a total of five debuts, three from the start and two more off the bench,
among nine changes to his team. It was a gamble that backfired horribly as
the relegation-battling Hammers simply had their confidence further
assaulted by lower-league opposition. The young rookies - Seb Lletget, Danny
Whitehead, Callum Driver, Reece Burke and Blair Turgott - can hardly be
blamed for the humbling result, but Allardyce may not be as lucky. His
future may detract slightly from Paterson's efforts, but it should not -
with the winger winning his side's spot-kick and then converting three fine
goals of his own. The opener came after just 12 minutes as Paterson beat
Moncur with some neat footwork before being tripped by the midfielder.
Referee Martin Atkinson pointed to the spot and Abdoun dinked the ball down
the middle with a cheeky finish.

Experienced players

West Ham's most experienced players were stationed on either wing, with
captain-for-the-day Stewart Downing left and Matt Jarvis right. The Hammers
looked for the pair with every attack and in the 23rd minute, the visitors
went close to levelling. Reid's foul gave Ravel Morrison a chance to test
his free-kick skills from 20 yards out and his bending shot would have crept
under the crossbar had Karl Darlow not responded with a fine save. At the
other end, there was a big penalty appeal soon after when Driver went in
hard on Greg Halford as he looked to convert from close range, but the
defender got a piece of the ball. Regardless, West Ham were clinging on -
goalkeeper Adrian tested first by Jamaal Lascelles' long-ranger and then by
Halford's downward header. Three minutes before the break, Forest missed two
more chances to double the lead. Reid's clever through-ball deserved a
better finish than Eric Lichaj could provide and, when Adrian's save came
back out, Henri Lansbury shot over from an inviting position. After the
break, Downing's shot deflected over and Whitehead followed up with a wild
attempt of his own. Allardyce threw on more youth, handing debuts to Burke
and Turgott and also sending on Mathias Fanimo. The visitors might have
equalised before the hour mark had it not been for Darlow, who saved low
from Lletget while unsighted and stood firm to Morrison's near-post drive.
That was as good as it got, though, with the game ended as a contest on 65
minutes when Halford held the ball up well before teeing up Paterson to find
the bottom corner. Paterson's second came just six minutes later as West
Ham's frailties continued to be exposed. Lansbury played creator this time,
squaring the ball for Paterson, who stroked home confidently with a
first-time effort. By now, Forest were all over their opponents - Lansbury,
Paterson and Abdoun taking turns to torture their young markers. Paterson's
hat-trick duly arrived and there was one final insult when Reid smashed home
Abdoun's lay-off in injury time, leaving West Ham thoroughly humbled and
with plenty to ponder.

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West Ham's Sam Allardyce admits there could be repercussions after loss
Last Updated: 05/01/14 4:05pm
SSN

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is looking ahead but he admits there could be
repercussions after he saw his youthful side routed 5-0 by Nottingham Forest
in the FA Cup. Allardyce made nine changes for the third-round tie at the
City Ground, handing debuts to three rookies in his starting XI and two more
from the bench. But the move backfired as Jamie Paterson notched a
quick-fire second-half hat-trick - sandwiched between a Djamel Abdoun
penalty and Andy Reid's injury-time effort - as Forest progressed to the
fourth round. Asked if he expected repercussions from the club's co-owners
David Gold and David Sullivan, he said: "There might be, who knows? It's
their decision, not mine. "I'm not saying it won't happen unless I start to
get results. I have got to get results, I know that. "But I made them (Gold
and Sullivan) aware of what would happen today because I'm not in the
position to go and do these things without telling everybody internally what
is planned for the next few games."

No apologies

Allardyce made no apologies for his decision to place the trip to Nottingham
down the pecking order, saying: "My priorities meant I put too many
youngsters in and they were not able to withstand Forest's pressure in the
last half an hour. "I picked the team so it is my responsibility. You know
what my priorities are: the priorities are the Premier League first and then
Capital One Cup (semi-final against Manchester City). "It's leg one on
Wednesday and we need to get back to the second leg with an opportunity to
get to Wembley and then get some points at Cardiff. "My hands are tied
behind my back every time I see what's available and the team is almost
picking itself. It's a disaster at the moment, a total disaster and in
certain areas we've not been able to cope."

The Hammers' most pressing concerns at present are in defence, where there
are several injuries and - on this evidence - few ready to take up the
mantle.
The January transfer window may help with that and Allardyce confirmed he
was interested in, though not confident, of a move for Manchester City's
Joleon Lescott. "I don't know if Joleon is available, but if it is possible
I would like to get him," he confirmed.

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NOTTINGHAM FOREST 5 WEST HAM 0 - STUFFED, HUMILIATED & MAULED
By Iain Dale 5 Jan 2014 at 13:53
West Ham Till I Die

As my LBC colleague Steve Allen would say, "Dreadful, Ladies & Gentlemen,
Dreadful". What a way to go out of the FA Cup. It was Nottingham Forest who
looked like a Premier League side. We looked like a League One side at best.
And for the most part, I don't blame the West Ham players at all. I blame
one man.

Sam Allardyce.

It wasn't the fact that he played far too many inexperienced players. It was
the fact that he played them in an unfamiliar formation and played several
of them in positions they have never played before. Since when did Daniel
Potts play as a centre back? Callum Driver is a full back, not a centre
back. Dan Whitehead is a deep playing midfielder. In this game he seemed to
be playing a forward attacking role alongside the totally anonymous Modibo
Maiga.

Where was Jack Collison? Where was Matt Taylor? That's just to name two. Joe
Cole and Mo Diame could have done with runouts for at least part of the
match.

The first teamers who played hardly covered themselves with glory. Ravel
Morrison looks a shadow of the player who started the season. Jarvis and
Downing created very little and Maiga, well, what's the point? After his
last game he should have taken this game by the scruff of the neck, yet he
was totally anonymous. Funnily enough Adrian did quite well and you could
only really blame him in any way for one of the goals.

Of the young players I thought Callum Driver did really well, and Blair
Turgott had a couple of great shots and runs late on. For the others it was
largely a day they ought to want to remember, but probably will want to
forget.

This was a humiliation, a mauling, a stuffing. I wanted to cower behind my
sofa. If I had traveled up to Nottingham and paid £30 to watch that I think
I'd want my money back. I wrote this before Sam Allardyce has given his post
match interview. God alone knows how he can explain this one. If he for one
moment blames 'the kids' then he's finished as far as I am concerned. He
needs to take 100% of the blame for playing the wrong players in the wrong
formation. But he won't. He'll blame injuries. He'll blame the number of
games. Anyone but the real culprit. Himself.

I'll finish odd by paying tribute to Nottingham Forest. They were fantastic
mainly because they were allowed to be. They clearly couldn't believe their
luck. Jamie Patterson was superb and deserved his hattrick, and the
evergreen Andy Reid had a brilliant game too. Well done to them.

As for us. If we lose 5-0 to Nottingham Forest, just imagine what Manchester
City will do to us on Wednesday.

Knowing us we'll probably win that.

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Sam Allardyce says situation at West Ham is a DISASTER after 5-0 mauling by
Nottingham Forest
Jan 05, 2014 17:46 By Liam Prenderville 4 Comments
The Mirror

The Hammers are already struggling in the league and after being dumped out
of the FA Cup, Allardyce accepts there could be repercussions for his future
Dejected: Allardyce watches his young players get dismantled at
ForestDejected: Allardyce watches his young players get dismantled at
ForestIan Walton
West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce accepts the current situation at Upton
Park is a "disaster" following the 5-0 FA Cup humiliation against Nottingham
Forest. A number of injuries and suspensions led to the Hammers' boss making
nine changes for the trip to the City Ground - as the Premier League
strugglers were thumped by their Championship opponents. And Allardyce
accepts things are currently at an all-time low at Upton Park - as the
problems continue to mount. He said: "My hands are tied behind my back every
time I see what's available and the team is almost picking itself. "It's a
disaster at the moment, a total disaster and in certain areas we've not been
able to cope."

The defeat compiles the misery for Allardyce - who is now under immense
pressure - with the club sliding perilously to 19th in the Premier League
table, following a run of seven games without a win. Co-owners David Gold
and David Sullivan are unlikely to act immediately but their hand could well
be forced - should the Hammers fail to pick up in the coming weeks -
something which Allardyce is well aware of. Asked if he expected
repercussions, he said: "There might be, who knows? It's their decision, not
mine. "I'm not saying it won't happen unless I start to get results. I have
got to get results, I know that."

Injuries and suspensions led to the West Ham manager handing debuts to
several of the club's youngsters - including Seb Lletget, Danny Whitehead
and Callum Driver - as his second string were thumped by the Reds. And with
a Capital One Cup semi-final against Manchester City coming up this week,
Allardyce admits his priorities ultimately lay away from this afternoon's
encounter. The 59-year-old said: "What choice did I have? I don't think I
had one. "I make the decisions for benefit of everyone at the football club.
We have a huge amount of problems in terms of available players. "I picked
the team so it's my responsibility. You know what my priorities are: the
priorities are the Premier League first and then Capital One Cup."

His problems have not been helped by the failure to sign Everton defender
John Heitinga - with the Dutchman rejecting a move to Upton Park last week.
Allardyce has made no secret of his desire to improve his defence this month
and earmarked Manchester City's out-of-favour man Joleon Lescott as a
potential acquisition. He added: "I don't know if Joleon is available, but
if it is possible, I would like to get him."

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West Ham eye move for Joleon Lescott
Last Updated: 05/01/14 7:38pm
SSN

West Ham United have made an approach for Manchester City defender Joleon
Lescott. Sky Sports understands that in a similar deal to that for Everton's
John Heitinga, who turned down a move to Upton Park earlier this week, West
Ham are willing to take over the remaining six months of Lescott's deal,
with an additional two years on top. Turkish outfit Besiktas have previously
claimed that they are hopeful of landing the England international, who is
keen to secure regular first team football ahead of the summer's World Cup.
Now West Ham are looking to entice Lescott to East London, and help bolster
their relegation battle.

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Sam Allardyce: FA Cup gamble won't cost me West Ham job
Sunday 5 Jan 2014 8:27 pm
Metro.co.uk

Sam Allardyce does not think his selection gamble in the FA Cup humiliation
at Nottingham Forest will cost him his job as West Ham manager. Allardyce
made nine changes for the third round tie, with debuts to three rookies in
his starting XI and two more from the bench. His youthful side were thrashed
with Jamie Paterson scoring a superb second-half hat-trick for Forest in
between Djamel Abdoun's penalty and Andy Reid's late goal. But with a
lengthy injury list, Allardyce insisted co-owners David Gold and David
Sullivan were fully aware of his plans to prioritise Wednesday's Capital One
Cup semi-final with Manchester City and Premier League survival. Asked if he
expected repercussions from his team selection, he said: 'There might be,
who knows? It's their decision, not mine. 'I'm not saying it won't happen
unless I start to get results. I have got to get results, I know that. 'But
I made them aware of what would happen today because I'm not in the position
to go and do these things without telling everybody internally what is
planned.' Seven games without a win have seen the Hammers drop to
second-bottom in the league and Allardyce added: 'My priorities meant I put
too many youngsters in and they were not able to withstand Forest's pressure
in the last half an hour. 'My hands are tied and the team is almost picking
itself. It's a disaster at the moment and in certain areas we've not been
able to cope.'

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West Ham appeal to find fan forced to tears following Forest capitulation...
and offer him chance to watch another Hammers fixture in the director's box
By ELLIOTT BRETLAND
PUBLISHED: 21:54, 5 January 2014 | UPDATED: 21:54, 5 January 2014
Daily Mail

West Ham have offered one young supporter and his family the chance to watch
a future match in the club's director's box after the fan was spotted crying
by TV cameras during the Hammers' 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Nottingham
Forest in the FA Cup third round. Sam Allardyce's side suffered a deflating
defeat away to the Championship outfit on Sunday and it was too much to take
for some supporters. A statement on West Ham's official website read:
'Sunday afternoon's defeat at Nottingham Forest was tough for all to take,
but particularly for one tearful young man in the away end.'Everyone at West
Ham United shares this young man's disappointment and are grateful for the
large numbers of fans that made the trip to the City Ground.' 'To show the
Club's appreciation for the travelling Claret and Blue army, the Board,
manager and captain would like to offer this young fan and his family a
chance to watch an upcoming fixture at the Boleyn Ground from the Directors'
Box.' The east Londoners travelled to Nottinghamshire with a depleted squad
and were deservedly beaten - Forest frontman Jamie Paterson scored a
14-minute second-half hat-trick while wideman Djamel Abdoun and Andy Reid
also got their names on the scoresheet.
West Ham, who travel to Cardiff next Saturday, currently sit 19th in the
Premier League table, three points from safety, and have lost four and drawn
two of their last six fixtures.

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West Ham enter race for Defoe's signature as Hammers eye loan move to boost
survival hopes
PUBLISHED: 22:59, 4 January 2014 | UPDATED: 19:33, 5 January 2014
Daily Mail

West Ham will enter the race for England striker Jermain Defoe if Spurs let
him leave this month. Hammers owners David Sullivan and David Gold are
prepared to bankroll a move for a proven Premier League goalscorer such as
Defoe, 31, to help in their relegation battle. A loan would be the most
likely option as they will not want to commit to a permanent deal until they
know which division they will be playing in next season. Defoe, who spent
five years with West Ham, needs to play to boost his World Cup hopes and
will talk to his manager Tim Sherwood about his prospects at Tottenham. A
move to Toronto is not sealed and QPR's interest will come to nothing if
Defoe is offered Premier League football elsewhere.

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