Daily WHUFC News - 4th February 2014

Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Big Sam is looking forward with optimism after Saturday's fine 2-0 win
against Swansea City
02.02.2014

Sam Allardyce's first priority this week will be to do all he can to help
construct an appeal to overturn the red card shown to Andy Carroll during
Saturday's vital 2-0 win against Swansea City. The England international was
sent off following a tussle with Chico Flores and is set to suspended for
the upcoming games with Aston Villa, Norwich City and Southampton. The Club
will be lodging an appeal to the FA by Tuesday, with the decision expected
later in the week. Regardless of the outcome of that process, Big Sam is
hoping that Saturday's match at Villa Park has a slightly less dramatic
finale than the Hammers' recent fixtures. The West Ham United manager has
guided his side to clean sheets in three out of the last four fixtures,
despite finishing them with ten men after James Tomkins' dismissal at
Cardiff City and Joey O'Brien's late injury at Chelsea. "We have a squad of
players who are coming back from injury but we still haven't had a game
where we can come off and say 'Well done lads we've won the game, there are
no injuries and nobody's been sent off'," Allardyce said. "We got through
Saturday's game with no injuries but we've had someone sent-off, wrongly so
in my opinion. "Hopefully now we can continue to get better. We've had four
games where we've taken seven points. It's our best small spell of the
season and we've got to continue that to maintain a position outside of the
bottom three."

Carroll's red card - on his first Premier League start at home since joining
the Club on a permanent basis - was the only sour note on an otherwise
successful Saturday in east London. Hammer of the Year Winston Reid made a
welcome return from an ankle injury from the bench and he is set to be
joined in matchday squad for Villa by the deadline day loan signing from
Napoli, Pablo Armero. "We went right to the end in the transfer window.
Finding the player from Napoli at the end was a big bonus for us. With his
CV hopefully he'll come in and make a difference, as will the other players
that we've signed for the first-team squad. "The focus on Friday for me was
on training the players and getting them ready for the game because I was
hoping that the one thing that wasn't going to play a big part was fatigue
from Wednesday night. "The amount of effort that the players put in against
Chelsea was bound to leave them slightly fatigued, perhaps more so than
Swansea, but in the end that didn't show. It didn't make a difference I'm
glad to say. Our quality of finishing and ball in the final third was much
better than theirs, that's why we won 2-0 and they rarely had a shot on
target."

Such was the strength of Big Sam's matchday squad against Swansea that some
first-team regulars could not even get a place on the bench, but the West
Ham United manager knows everyone will need to play their part between now
and the end of the season. He plans to use the foundation of the
joint-highest total of eleven Barclays Premier League clean sheets to help
secure the Hammers' place at football's top table next season. "It's all
about everybody knowing that they've got to work that little bit harder,
they then have to focus collectively on one thing and that is not letting
the opposition have too many chances and defend with your lives. "That's why
we've got eleven clean sheets this year because our defending has been
superb. We just need a few more goals and we'll be out of trouble no
problem."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Reid revels in winning return
WHUFC.com
Winston Reid made a welcome return to action in Saturday's 2-0 victory over
Swansea City
02.02.2014

Winston Reid's three-month lay-off came to a timely end on Saturday
afternoon, as his late cameo helped ensure that the back door remained
firmly shut in victory over Swansea City. Not since 2 November had the
25-year-old turned out for West Ham United, following which a high ankle
sprain and subsequent surgery consigned the New Zealand skipper to a spell
on the side-lines. Twelve weeks on and this was no gentle reintroduction.
With eleven minutes, plus the extras, to see out and only ten men to do so,
Reid joined forces with fellow centre-halves James Collins and Tomkins, as
the Hammers recorded a league-high eleventh clean sheet. Saturday's 2-0
Barclays Premier League success comes just four days after a morale-boosting
goalless draw at Chelsea, with Reid, thankfully, now ready to play his part
too.

He told West Ham TV: "It's nice being back out there and the most important
thing was that we got the three points. It was a good victory on Saturday
and the boys needed it. "It has been 12 weeks now. It has not been the
easiest 12 weeks but you get injuries as a footballer and the main thing is
to get over it and deal with it. Fortunately enough I'm back fit and
healthy. "The ankle's coming along. I'm probably not 100 per cent yet, as
I've only just started training a couple of days ago. I think it was good
for me to just go out there and feel that I was OK. I'm just trying to work
hard, get back and get back to full fitness as quickly as possible."

Last season's Hammer of the Year, Reid was a welcome sight back at the
Boleyn Ground and thanked the Hammers faithful for his rapturous reception.
"It means a lot," he continued. "It means you're appreciated so it was nice
to be back out there. To come back and play in front of the fans and to get
the victory was good. With ten men it was a little bit difficult but we got
through it at the end. We needed the three points!"

The Auckland-born defender was also quick to commend the efforts of his
team-mates in securing a second successive shutout, a trend that Reid
reckons can carry the Club to top-flight safety. He added: "That's credit to
the back four and to the midfielders. In the first half, the team, as a
whole, worked really well. But I think the back four did [particularly] well
and the two, or three in front of them worked their socks off. That's what
we're going to need until the end of the season. "I think [the two clean
sheets] does give us a boost. That's four points in two games after a dull
period, where we haven't picked up a lot of points. I think everyone's
getting back to being fully fit. That's the main thing until the end of the
season, apart from Joey dislocating his shoulder unfortunately, everyone
else is raring to go."

At the other end, skipper Kevin Nolan doubled his tally for the campaign.
Twice the beneficiary of Andy Carroll's good work, Nolan firstly buried an
angled left-footed volley, before glancing a header into the far corner.
Reid believes Nolan's match-winning brace owes much to his commitment and
expects the Hammers to work every bit as hard between now and the season's
end. "He [Kevin Nolan] has got a lot of stick this year but I think he
showed on Saturday what he's all about, poaching chances in the area. Before
Saturday the ball probably hasn't fallen for him, but he keeps working hard
and keeps giving 100 per cent and when he does get a chance, he normally
puts them away. He did it for us on Saturday. "We're going to have to do
well now until the end of the season. It's going to be a tough run in. We
know that it's not going to be easy, there are a lot of teams down there. So
I think just because we got a win on Saturday doesn't mean we can rest,
we've got to go back and work hard."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Man jailed for Big Sam robbery
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 2nd February 2014
By: Staff Writer

A man has been jailed for breaking into a property owned by Sam Allardyce
and steaing a fake designer watch. Anthony Jackson appeared at Bolton Crown
Court on Friday charged with the offence after a house in Bromley Cross,
owned by Allardyce, was broken into last month. Police were on the scene
within five minutes to answer a burglar alarm and Jackson arrested two days
later. According to The Bolton News, Police originally valued the watch at
around £500 - before discovering it was a fake awaiting repair. Defending
barrister Nicholas Ross said: "He [Jackson] realised himself that it was
probably a fake or counterfeit watch. He was gobsmacked when he learned it
belonged to the manager of West Ham United Football Club."

According to Police, Jackson stated upon arrest that "I can't believe I have
sunk so low." At the time of the burglary Allardyce was with his squad at
Crystal Palace, where they were beaten 1-0 thanks to Marouane Chamakh's
first half strike. "The magnificent and early response by the police was
outstanding and one of the main reasons that this man has been caught,"
Allardyce told TBN. "I'm very pleased that he has been brought to justice."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Kevin Nolan feels West Ham's Andy Carroll was unlucky to be sent off against
Swansea
Last Updated: 02/02/14 3:16pm
SSN

Kevin Nolan is hoping West Ham will be able to overturn the red card shown
to Andy Carroll during Saturday's vital 2-0 victory over Swansea. Carroll,
who has just returned to action following a long injury lay-off, made a
brace of assists for Nolan before being dismissed in the second half at
Upton Park. The striker was sent off after clashing with Swansea defender
Chico Flores and now faces a three-game ban. And Nolan, skipper of the
Hammers, said: "We're absolutely delighted, it was a great victory after a
well-deserved point on Wednesday night. "It's just marred by an incident but
hopefully that'll get overturned and we can just get on with it and look
forward to what's going to be another tough game away to Aston Villa. "Andy
was gutted because he wanted to get minutes too, which is important for him,
and he's honest enough to say it's definitely not a red. "You sort of know
when someone's done something wrong and I sort of knew he hadn't. "He was
very surprised, it was difficult but we showed tremendous character to grind
the result out."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
THE MAIGA DEAL: WHO PAYS WHAT?
By Sean Whetstone 2 Feb 2014 at 19:14
West Ham Till I Die

Maiga's last minute transfer deadline day loan deal for the remainder of the
season is believed to be a typical Harry Redknapp bargin basement deal with
QPR only picking up around 50% of the players wages. Maiga is believed to
earn £30,000 basic per week but with performance related bonuses his earning
potential can reach £38,000 per week. The loan deal with QPR is understood
to be around half his basic wage at £15,000 per week plus further payments
for appearances and goals.QPR will also the option to buy him permanently at
the end of the season for a discounted price believed to be around £3
million. QPR boss Harry Redknapp explained that he feels the move can be
beneficial for both parties, commenting: "His confidence is perhaps a bit
low at the moment but I think he could come in here and do very well." Maiga
said "It is an exciting new chapter for me. I am here to play games and
score goals" Maiga scored an important goal for QPR on his debut earning QPR
a draw.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
RAT LEAVES BY MUTUAL CONSENT
By Sean Whetstone 2 Feb 2014 at 12:32
West Ham Till I Die

Razvan Rat had his contract terminated by mutual content on Friday after
just six short months at West Ham. He joined on a free transfer from
Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk on a one year contract with a option to
extend 2 or 3 years. Rat is believed to have earned £30,000 per week in
wages so it will release the equivalent of £1.5m off the annual wage bill
going forward although he was only contracted until the summer and his
compromise agreement is believed to be around 75% of his remaining wages
until the end of his contract in May.

Just last month Rat said his time at West Ham United "ends" if we are
relegated.The Romania left back was questioned about commitment by fans
after only arriving only in the summer.

Rat told the Express a few weeks ago "There are some clauses and conditions
in my contract but one thing is sure, my contract ends if West Ham are
relegated, I will be fighting to keep West Ham in the Premier League. I have
a wife and three-year-old daughter to look after. But I try to keep my
family away from what I do. They must only the know the good part of my job.
They need to feel only the good part of football.This is my job and I am
trying to do my best for me and my family and also the player that the fans
want to see. I want my family to read in the papers how good a performance
Razvan Rat had."

It understood his contract also included a clause to automatically extend
his contract by 2 years if he played at least 60% of games this season. Rat
played in 20 games and was dangerously close to that 27 game trigger clause.

It has also been rumoured that Allardyce had a major fall out with Rat after
he told Sam he was embarrassed to play for a club that always lost! It is
claimed he recently worsened that relationship by not following Sam team
talks or instructions by playing a more attacking forward role than the
manager gave him then tried to blame the misunderstanding on the language
barrier. When Rat signed Sam was quoted as saying "He speaks perfect
English, which he taught himself, and that shows the discipline and the
character of the man"

I understand he was offered out to other teams during the transfer window
but there were no takers so we offered him a compromise agreement to free up
a squad place and slightly reduce the wage bill.

The Sun used the headline pun 'Rat leaves sinking ship' I think the ship is
far more sea worthy without him and gives us a better chance to stay afloat
this season.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham WILL launch an appeal against Andy Carroll's red card today
Feb 02, 2014 22:30 By Neil McLeman 0
The Mirror

Andy Carroll has insisted he did not deserve to receive his first ever
Premier League red card. West Ham will today launch an appeal against the
three-match ban which would rule the England forward out for the rest of
February. World Cup final referee Howard Webb judged Carroll took a
deliberate swing of his arm against Chico Flores. The Spaniard, who has
posted a video of the incident on Twitter, received a glancing blow to the
top of his head but then grabbed his face in agony. Irons boss Sam Allardyce
accused Flores of "squealing" in a bid to get Carroll sent off while Michael
Laudrup admitted the decision was "harsh". The Dane added: "I don't really
think it was a red card this time." Hammers skipper Kevin Nolan admitted
their 2-0 win was "marred" by the incident but he added: "Hopefully that'll
get overturned and we can just get on with it. "I think the lad (Flores)
should come out and make sure Andy does get off with it. Because, at the end
of the day, it doesn't look too good on his part. "Andy was gutted because
he wanted to get minutes too, which is important for him, and he's honest
enough to say it's definitely not a red. You sort of know when someone's
done something wrong and I sort of knew he hadn't. He was very surprised."
Matt Jarvis added: "Everyone was delighted to get the win and then you come
into the changing room and he's sat there fuming. We're disappointed for
him."
Asked if West Ham had a good chance with the appeal, Allardyce said: "I
don't know you just hope so, but not everybody sees things the way I do."
Chico Flores later defended himself on Twitter after receiving abuse from
West Ham fans over the incident.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

http://vyperz.blogspot.com



---
This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active.
http://www.avast.com