Daily WHUFC News - 31st March 2014

Nolan keen to build on 'massive' win
WHUFC.com
Hammers skipper says momentum can be taken from scrappy victory over Hull
City
29.03.2014

West Ham United skipper Kevin Nolan wants to ensure Wednesday night's win
over Hull City sparks another fine run of form over the closing weeks of the
season. The Hammers may not have been at their fluent best against the
Tigers, but still took the points thanks to a Mark Noble penalty and a James
Chester own goal. Now, the east Londoners travel to Sunderland for a Monday
night fixture and Nolan is eyeing a charge towards last season's points
tally of 46.
He said: "I don't think Wednesday's result takes the pressure off us because
we put pressure on ourselves to get the same points tally as last year or
better.
"We knew that was going to be difficult with the situation we were in
earlier in the season, due to ourselves but also due to the injuries and
suspensions we had. "We were delighted with the result against Hull after
three losses on the spin. It was a massive win - our fourth in five home
games - and it puts us three points behind Stoke in tenth place. "Last
season we didn't drop below 14th and had a nice Steady Eddie season. I think
it would have been something similar or even better if we'd had everyone
fully fit this season. "No other team has had to deal with the volume of
injuries we've had to key players, but we've dealt with it and we should be
proud of what we've done with the squad. "We can continue now to keep going,
keep working hard and if we do that it'll get us to 40 points sooner rather
than later."

Sam Allardyce looks on course to lead the Hammers to a second consecutive
mid-table finish in the top flight and Nolan, who also played under the
manager at Bolton Wanderers, believes he is laying the foundations for
future success. He added: "We finished tenth last year, and quite
comfortably tenth. It really bugs me that people say he's [just] a manager
to keep you in the Premier League. "I don't see what other people are
seeing. I'm fed up of trying to tell everyone what a top manager he is, his
record is there for all to see and I think he gets unfair criticism. It's
hard to win games in the Premier League and he knows how to win games.
"We've got to add to our squad. It's going to be a massive summer for Sam
and his backroom staff to renew players' contracts or bring new players in.
"We've got to concentrate on making sure we are in the Premier League next
year so he can start planning for getting in the top ten again and start
pushing. "When we get to the Olympic Stadium, given the time and given the
resources he'll make sure we are pushing for European football by the time
we get to that Olympic Stadium. I really believe that."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
G-Mac ready for Sunderland return
WHUFC.com
Former Sunderland captain George McCartney is relishing his return to the
North East
30.03.2014

Monday evening's Barclays Premier League trip to Sunderland will see George
McCartney return to a town and a club he knows very well. The West Ham
United left-back initially joined the Black Cats as a 16-year-old following
a successful trial. He went on to captain Sunderland to promotion to the
Premier League in 2005. A year later, McCartney moved to West Ham, spending
three seasons in east London before returning to the Stadium of Light for a
second time. The final season of that spell saw the 32-year-old loaned back
to Hammers, who he helped to win promotion in 2012 before making his switch
back to the Boleyn Ground permanent. "I've watched Sunderland two or three
times this season and I don't think their league position reflects how
they've been playing, really," said the Belfast-born defender, who totalled
203 appearances for Sunderland over those two spells. "It'll be a tough
place to go. They have picked up one or two decent results at home against
the bigger teams and it won't be easy, but hopefully we can take a bit of
confidence from Wednesday and get three points, moving us closer to the
40-point mark. "If it's not going well for Sunderland after 20 or 30
minutes, their fans will get on their backs, but it's down to us to go out
and produce a decent performance. We need to keep it tight at the back and
if we can nick a goal or two, we can come away with at least a point. That
would go a massive way towards getting us the points we need to stay up."

McCartney could find himself up against January's Barclays Player of the
Month in England international Adam Johnson. The left-sided right winger has
been in very good form this season and will pose a threat to the Hammers.
"He had a very good January and scored a few goals and got Player of the
Month after winning them a few games, but he was on the bench against
Liverpool last Wednesday, as they changed their formation. "Whoever plays,
it's going to be a difficult game for both teams because we both need the
points. No matter who is out on the pitch, we have to give our all and
hopefully West Ham will come out on top."

Monday's game comes on the back of a welcome home win over Hull City on
Wednesday evening. The Hammers rode their luck to prevail 2-1 courtesy of a
penalty and an own-goal, but McCartney was certainly not complaining about
the manner of the victory. "We definitely needed the win over Hull,
especially coming off the back of three defeats," he confirmed. "We knew how
big that game was and it has given some breathing space again. We needed the
three points - I don't even think a draw would have been enough with the
fixtures we have got coming up. "It gives us a big of confidence going into
Monday night against Sunderland. "With our penalty, I think Mo did handball
it before, but he's given it. Throughout the season, it evens itself out and
we've been unlucky with decisions in recent games. They went for us on
Wednesday and we got a bit of luck with the own-goal. "Hull passed the ball
well with ten men, but didn't really create anything. We defended well and
we won the game, which was the main thing."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Big Sam on: Sunderland
WHUFC.com
West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce speaks ahead of Monday's trip to
Sunderland
29.03.2014

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has spoken to the broadcast media
ahead of Monday's Barclays Premier League trip to Sunderland. The Hammers
boss was asked for his thoughts on an important game at the Stadium of
Light, Wednesday's win over Hull City, the reaction of some to that game.
Big Sam also revealed that James Collins will miss Monday's game with a calf
injury, but Winston Reid and Matt Jarvis will be available to travel to the
North East.

Sam, a few days on, what are your thoughts about Wednesday's win over Hull
and the reaction of some?

SA: "I think, like everything else, it's a small minority but small
minorities are good at voicing their opinion, we all know that. It was all
borne out of frustration because they expected us to win more comfortably
than we did. "In the cold light of day, everyone realised how important that
win was and everybody has got to realise what we have done in the last eight
games - we've got 15 points in those eight games and that is about a top-six
finish in the Premier League, or at least a top-eight. So, our form has
never been as good and our results have never been as good. Overcoming three
consecutive losses with a victory was very important. "The frustration was
understandable because when people see you are playing against ten men, they
think it's easier. We know as professionals that it's not that easy and that
proved to be the case. The most important thing was to win the game, acquire
the three points and try to push on from here.
"As I said, we've never achieved 15 points from eight games since we've been
back in the Premier League, so we should all feel a little bit happier and
I'm sure everyone who vented their frustration on Wednesday is happier that
we're now nearer safety and looking forward to the Liverpool game at home.
"The fans who travel to Sunderland will get behind the team as they always
do."

Has your relationship with the fans been harmed irrevocably by what happened
Wednesday night?

SA: "Not for me, no. At the end of the day, there is good, bad and
indifferent today and you have to accept that your position is one where you
will be criticised, praised off and on depending the mood, the results and
where you are and what the expectation is. "You have to stick to your point
of view and stay professional, keep your thick skin on and move on. My job
is all about doing the best I possibly can for West Ham as a team and for
the players, which then reflects on everybody else who works at West Ham and
everybody who supports West Ham."

What would you say to those who say the fans deserve better?

SA: "Sometimes you don't get what you might expect. There are occasions
where Manchester City, Liverpool or Chelsea don't play very well and that's
the case. It's no different for us as it is for them. "Fans expect better
from a particular game and if you don't deliver then they vent their
frustration because they are wound up like everybody else in the emotion of
the game. That's why it's so important to have your fans back your players.
I'm protecting my players here, rather than myself. "Being criticised or
praised is part of my job, but if you affect the players on the field, it
puts them off their game. That's why I said it. I'm trying to say that the
atmosphere is critical to the players' performance and they lost a lot of
their composure the other night after hearing the criticism that was coming
their way. That made life difficult for them. "You could arguably say they
get paid a lot of money and that they should be able to handle it, but I
could put you all [the journalists] in that situation and you wouldn't
handle it. It's a given fact that certain amounts of pressure are good for
players and other types of pressure can make them not perform to their best.
I think that was a little bit of the case on Wednesday night. "It was one
isolated game in a long season, but a game during our best run of results in
our time back in the Premier League. We have to forget what happened on
Wednesday night, because we got the three points, and we look forward to
Sunderland."

You go to Sunderland on Monday on 34 points. How many more do you need to be
safe?

SA: "I would only say that we're in single figures of games left and now
wins become massive, because the games are running out. When it gets to this
stage, if you have got the points, it's critical because it becomes even
more difficult to achieve them now."

If West Ham win on Monday, can you start to plan for next season in the
Premier League?

SA: "Yes, but let's go and try to win the game because Sunderland have a
desperate need to win three points. It's going to be hugely difficult, as it
always is, but it will be more difficult because they will take some comfort
out of the performance they gave at Liverpool. "They will think this is a
great chance to get to safety by getting three points against us, who have
not picked up much away from home. We've got to keep the Mackems quiet on
Monday!"

What are your thoughts about Sunderland?

SA: "In the position they are in now, the games are running out. They have
games in hand due to their fantastic run to the League Cup final and when
you are catching those games up at this stage of the season, it is difficult
and puts that added bit of pressure on them. "Everybody goes around saying
'If you win this game or that game you are going to be safe' but points in
the bag are more important than games in hand at this stage of the season. I
think it puts a little extra pressure on them, knowing they need to win
those games to get out of the bottom three and out of trouble. That may tell
in the end. "Gus Poyet has done a fantastic job since he's been there and
the effort from their players and him have been great in terms of trying to
get out of the position he started from. It just goes to show how difficult
it is to get out of that situation after a bad start. "Their team has
changed around and played in a different way and has had some very good
results, but recently they have probably played well enough but haven't
finished the opposition off when they've had the chance.
"Their lack of goals has been a problem as we've found this season. If you
don't take your chances and score, you can end up losing when you don't
deserve to. It makes all the difference."

What team news do you have?

SA: "James Collins doesn't have a chance as he's pulled a calf muscle. James
Tomkins got a bad knock which we're looking at and we'll wait until Sunday,
but we think he's going to be OK. "Roger Johnson got a big lump under his
eye and we were worried that he might have slightly fractured the bone, but
he hasn't.
"We should have Winston Reid back from illness and Matt Jarvis will be back
with us as well after a slight thigh injury, so the squad is looking OK and
there are plenty of players available for selection."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Haycock delighted with U21s' attitude
WHUFc.com
Dev Squad coach Nick Haycock praised his side's will to win after their 2-1
victory over Middlesbrough
29.03.2014

Nick Haycock was thrilled to see his young West Ham United Development Squad
side bounce back from defeat by Arsenal in the best possible way by beating
Middlesbrough 2-1 at the Boleyn Ground on Friday nght. It may have been an
Under-21 fixture, but seven of Haycock's starters were in fact Under-18
players and they stepped up to the plate to secure the Hammers' first
Barclays U21 Premier League victory in three attempts. They had to battle
hard for the points, as Middlesbrough's Lewis Sirrell cancelled out an
opener from Jordan Brown, before Kieran Sadlier secured the win with an
83rd-minute strike. Haycock was happy with the attitude and application
shown by his side as they kept their hopes of reaching the end-of-season
play-offs alive. "I'm delighted that the boys got a victory," he said. "I
said before the game that both the youth team and the Under-21 team deserve
a bit of success this season for the way we've promoted young players,
challenging ourselves as coaches and the players moving on to the next
level. "We started the game with seven youth team players on Friday and four
of those were first years, and what a great experience it is for them to
play out there . "Even though we talk about development it's lovely to win
football matches too and there were good things on Friday and things we need
to work on. That's what you get when you have an inexperienced team.
"I thought we could have had more control on the game in the second half in
particular - their goal gave them the impetus to push - but had Reece
Burke's chance gone in to make it 2-0 we'd probably have seen a bit more
composure. "They rocked us a little bit, but again the boys showed a great
attitude to keep working and they got their just rewards with the winner at
the end. "The will to win was there for all to see and that's pleasing.
Everything that Steve Potts has been doing with them in the youth team
helps, it's created that understanding of how to win a football match."

Jordan Brown's goal was his third of the week for the Development Squad,
following a brace at Arsenal, and Haycock is pleased with the way the
first-year scholar has adjusted to the demands of Under-21 football. He
continued: "I've been impressed with Jordan. His finish for the goal was
fantastic, he kept on the move and banged it in the bottom corner with the
instep when you sometimes see players go for it with the laces and blaze
them over the bar. "The most pleasing thing was that I thought against
Arsenal the bits in and around the box were a bit untidy and he let the
centre half pinch it, whereas on Friday for the winner you saw him get the
body shape right, roll the defender and then he's done the right thing by
putting it back across goal. "He'll only learn by playing at this level and
he looks more than comfortable." Victory leaves the Hammers still in the
hunt for a top four finish and Haycock is eyeing a strong end to the
campaign. He added: "The lads have got the ambition still to finish in the
top four and make the play-offs. The main thing is that we finish in the top
half because it goes into two leagues next year, and it's important that
we're in the top one for the quality of the opposition we'll play.
"Hopefully we can do that, and if we take it game-by-game I set them the
target of winning four from four. We've won one now, so with three games to
go let's see where it takes us."
Haycock's side return to action on Monday 7 April, when they travel to
Leyland to take on Bolton Wanderers.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
U18s pay the penalty
WHUFC.com
A missed penalty cost West Ham United U18s dear as they went down to a 2-1
defeat at Everton
29.03.2014

A missed penalty cost West Ham United dear as they went down to a 2-1
Barclays U18 Premier League defeat at Everton on Saturday. With the U21s in
action on Friday evening, Steve Potts had a very inexperienced side at his
disposal on Merseyside, with a number of schoolboys being given
opportunities to shine at a higher age-group level. As it was, the Hammers
fought back from a Delial Brewster goal down to level at Finch Farm through
Jerry Amoo's deflected strike shortly before half-time. After the re-start,
Kieran Bywater saw his spot-kick saved by Everton goalkeeper Russell
Griffiths after Jake Adelson had committed a foul on Marcio Martins inside
the area. The Toffees took full advantage as Harry Charsley chased down
goalkeeper Gines Guzman's clearance, with the ball rebounding off the
midfielder and into the net. The hosts came close to making it three late on
but Calum Dyson's goalbound effort was acrobatically tipped onto the post by
the Hammers' stopper. Defeat puts a dent in West Ham's hopes of winning the
Barclays U18 Premier League South Group title and qualifying for the end of
season play-offs by finishing in the top two.

U18s: Guzman, Pike, Mavila, Diangana, Pask (Akinola), Onariase, Amoo, Bailey
(Hector-Ingram), Martins, Bywater, Parfitt-Williams
Subs: T.Brown, Browne, Borg

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Brady: fans undermined Allardyce
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 29th March 2014
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United's vice-chairman Karren Brady has leapt to the defence of Sam
Allardyce following the criticism he received after Wednesday night's win
over Hull City. Allardyce was heavily condemned by a section of the home
crowd on Wednesday immediately after the match, which he reacted to by
cupping his hand to his ear in defiance. That led to further criticism of
the manager, who some supporters claimed was out of touch, dismissive and
arrogant. However Brady, speaking via her weekly column for a tabloid
newspaper insisted that the supporters were wrong - and that Allardyce had
got it exactly right. Brady, a self-confessed Arsenal fan wrote: "Sam had
selected a team for a low-scoring match, knowing what to expect against Hull
and could not have predicted he needed instead a team to play against 10
men. "His actions on the pitch were prudent and, at this stage of the
season, correct. "There is no way I can accept my team being booed. It
undermines them when, in particular, they are giving everything they have to
make up for the bad time the club endured before Christmas. "Big Sam is so
upset he complains that he has never heard a winning team booed. While this
might not be strictly true, I doubt you would get the same at Fulham or
Sunderland if they had won."

Ms Brady - who is understood to have been awarded a £1.5million bonus last
year for pushing through the move to the Olympic Stadium - is no stranger to
critising the club's supporters. Last April, the 44-year-old accused the
club's fans of being economical with the truth regarding disabled season
ticket price rises - an accusation that was proved to be without foundation.
And in November 2011 she was roundly criticised for claiming that the east
end of London was once a "hotbed of racism" - before adding that Clyde Best
used to be pelted with bananas, a claim later refuted by the player himself
Meanwhile in May of the same year, Ms Brady and her husband were involved in
a fracas with travelling supporters. It was reported that her husband, Paul
Peschisolido, had to be restrained when attempting to attack a West Ham fan.


::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce: no rift with fans
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 29th March 2014
By: Staff Writer

Sam Allardyce believes that his relationship with the fans hasn't been
soured, despite the chorus of boos that rang out following Wednesday night's
2-1 win over Hull and his reaction to it. Allardyce, speaking to the press
ahead of Monday night's match at Sunderland insisted that he would retain a
"thick skin" despite being heavily criticised for what many supporters
perceived to be a poor performance against ten-man City. You have to stick
to your point of view and stay professional," said Allardyce, who was
slammed for raising his hand to his ear in what many perceived to be a
mocking gesture towards his critics. "Keep a thick skin on and move on. "My
job is all about doing the best I possibly can for West Ham as a team and
for the players, which then reflects on everybody else who works at West Ham
and everybody who supports West Ham. "You have to accept that your position
is one where you will be criticised, praised off and on depending on the
mood, the results and where you are and what the expectation is."

And in response to those who jeered Big Sam and his players off at the final
whistle on Wednesday, he added: "Fans expect better from a particular game
and if you don't deliver then they vent their frustration because they are
wound up like everybody else in the emotion of the game. "That's why it's
so important to have your fans back your players. I'm protecting my players
here, rather than myself. "Being criticised or praised is part of my job,
but if you affect the players on the field, it puts them off their game. The
atmosphere is critical to the players' performance and they lost a lot of
their composure the other night after hearing the criticism that was coming
their way. That made life difficult for them. "You could arguably say they
get paid a lot of money and that they should be able to handle it, but I
could put you all in that situation and you wouldn't handle it. It's a given
fact that certain amounts of pressure are good for players and other types
of pressure can make them not perform to their best. I think that was a
little bit of the case on Wednesday night. "It was one isolated game in a
long season, but a game during our best run of results in our time back in
the Premier League. We have to forget what happened on Wednesday night,
because we got the three points, and we look forward to Sunderland."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce bemoans false expectations at West Ham after reaction to Hull
win
Last Updated: 30/03/14 7:33am
SSN

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce believes his side have become victims of their
own success after being booed off the Upton Park pitch following last week's
win over Hull. The 2-1 win was crucial in the Hammers' battle against
relegation, but was met with jeers by the home fans, leaving Allardyce of
the belief that last season's impressive campaign has created unrealistic
expectations at the club. Speaking ahead of Monday's clash with Sunderland,
live on Sky Sports 1, he said: "I thought we over-achieved last year
finishing 10th. No doubt about that. "We had a fantastic season.
Over-achievement always brings a greater expectation. That's why we have
suffered at times this season, particularly at home. "Last year we were
immense. We only lost four games at home last year in the entire season.
That was to Arsenal, Tottenham, Everton and Liverpool. "This year at home
has been much tougher. (But) we have put it right recently with four home
wins from the last five games."

Asked where the Hammers should finish, Allardyce said: "We should finish no
lower than 12th or 13th. That's about our top level. "It would be the same
as last season. We are building steadily and slowly." Allardyce called for
supporters to consider the impact of the jeering on his players. "We can all
play very well and lose and nobody in the Premier League will end up keeping
their job," he added. "This is a winning game and winning industry. Life
depends on winning effectively. "Sometimes they (supporters) don't realise
the effect they have on the players. We couldn't play football in empty
stadiums, we can only play with an atmosphere. "You only get the best out of
players when the atmosphere is good. We have to create the atmosphere by
giving them something to cheer about, we know that, but there are occasions
when we do need their help. "We do need them to lift the players. I still
don't think they realise that anywhere in football how important that is."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce: Supporters should realise West Ham are showing top-six form
Last Updated: 29/03/14 12:21pm
SSN

Sam Allardyce has told West Ham's unhappy supporters they have never had it
so good during his time at the club. Allardyce was astonished to hear his
side booed off by a section of the home crowd in midweek despite a 2-1
victory over 10-man Hull City which took them nine points clear of the
relegation places.
The manager cupped his ear in response, and an apparently deteriorating
relationship with supporters led to renewed speculation he might lose his
job in the summer. But Allardyce has since been publicly backed by the
club's vice-chairman Karren Brady, and ahead of Monday's trip to
third-bottom Sunderland he insisted a run of five wins in eight games
represents "top-six" form. "It's a small minority, but small minorities are
good at voicing their opinion," he said. "It's all born out of frustration
because they expected us to win more comfortably. "Everybody in the cold
light of day, when they calmed down, realised how important the win was, and
everyone has to realise what we've done in the last eight games. "We've
taken 15 points in the last eight games - nearly two points per game - and
that's about a top-six finish in the Premier League. At least a top-eight
finish. "So our form at the moment has never been as good, our results have
never been as good at this stage of the season. "We've beaten our points
total in an eight-game spell. We've never done it before and we should all
feel a little bit happier. I'm sure everyone who vented their frustration is
happier we're nearer safety."

Allardyce dismissed suggestions his relationship with some supporters is
beyond repair and revealed he is barely sleeping as he plans for a better
season next year. "You have to accept your position is one where you'll be
criticised and praised off and on," he said. "You have to stay professional,
keep your thick skin on and move on. "It is very important to me to
communicate with the fans and not hide what's going on behind the scenes. "I
don't sleep much. I watched Will.i.am on the telly last night and he only
sleeps four hours a night like me, so...I was interested to see we have that
in common. "At the end of the day, we've had a difficult season. We plan to
do better next season in the Premier League once we are safe."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady offers Sam Allardyce support in wake of
booing
Last Updated: 29/03/14 11:22am
SSN

West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady has backed Sam Allardyce in the wake of
the midweek booing at the Boleyn. Wednesday's 2-1 victory over 10-man Hull
City did not spare West Ham the jeers of a large number of home supporters.
Allardyce's response on the night was defiant as he cupped an ear to the
stands and later said he could not understand the fans' behaviour. And
despite newspaper speculation suggesting West Ham might consider looking for
a new manager this summer, Allardyce retains the support of at least one
board member. Brady wrote in the Sun: "Sam had selected a team for a
low-scoring match, knowing what to expect against Hull, and could not have
predicted he needed instead a team to play against 10 men. "His actions on
the pitch were prudent and, at this stage of the season, correct. There is
no way I can accept my team being booed. It undermines them when, in
particular, they are giving everything they have to make up for the bad time
the club endured before Christmas. "Big Sam is so upset he complains that he
has never heard a winning team booed. While this might not be strictly true,
I doubt you would get the same at Fulham or Sunderland if they had won."
Fans' favourite Mark Noble has appealed to supporters to get behind the team
on the run-in as West Ham aim for the 38-point total Allardyce believes will
be enough for survival. The Hull result left them just four points short of
that target ahead of Monday night's trip to third-bottom Sunderland.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham's Kevin Nolan "fed up" with defending Sam Allardyce after midweek
boo-boy attack
Mar 29, 2014 22:30 By Steve Stammers
The Mirror

Kevin Nolan has launched a passionate defence of manager Sam Allardyce as
West Ham close in on the points total that will secure Premier League
safety.
The 2-1 win over Hull on Wednesday took the Hammers to 34 points, and two
more wins look certain to ensure survival. That quest starts at Sunderland
on Monday night – but they will go north reeling from the chorus of boos
that greeted their midweek victory. Allardyce was a particular target and
cupped his ear at the end in response to the jeers. Asked if he regretted
making the gesture, he said on Saturday: "Not really, no. Why should I? "I
couldn't believe what I was hearing. In my younger days, I might have done a
lot worse and got myself into more trouble." Nolan – who played for
Allardyce at Bolton and was made captain when he moved to West Ham –
dismissed talk that his manager plays "survival football". He said: "I don't
understand all the talk that Sam is just here to keep us up. We finished
10th last year and we did it comfortably. He is just not that kind of
manager." Nolan then pointed to the respective fortunes of two of
Allardyce's former clubs after they opted to change boss. He added: "Sam
left Newcastle and they were in the top 10 – 18 months later, they were
relegated. He then left Blackburn, and 18 months later they were relegated.
"To be honest, I am fed up trying to tell people what kind of manager he is.
His record is there for everyone to see. He gets criticism, which is very
unfair."

Nolan believes their problems have centred on a string of injuries and
suspensions which would have tested the resources of clubs with far larger
squads than the one Allardyce has. Now come second-bottom Sunderland, a team
scrapping for Premier League survival. Nolan said: "It will be tough, but
we've shown this season that we can handle that kind of match. We will go
there full of confidence after the win against Hull." Once their top-flight
status has been sealed, Nolan acknowledges the club faces a hectic close
season: "There are a lot of players out of contract at the end of the
season, so it'll be a massive year."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Malky Mackay eyes West Ham job as fans' frustration with Sam Allardyce
spills over
Mar 29, 2014 23:00 By Tom Hopkinson

The Mirror

Malky Mackay will wait to see if the West Ham job comes up this summer after
telling Nottingham Forest he is not interested in replacing Billy Davies,
writes Tom Hopkinson in the Sunday People. Mackay has been out of work since
Cardiff owner Vincent Tan sacked him in December and he was on the shortlist
for the City Ground vacancy. But now he has ruled himself out of contention,
preferring to discover the fate which awaits Sam Allardyce. Allardyce's
Hammers were roundly booed for their performance against Hull on Wednesday,
despite winning the game 2-1, and the Upton Park boss's future will be
reviewed at the end of the season both by the club and Big Sam himself. If
Allardyce does part company with West Ham then Mackay's name will be in the
frame. The fans are ­demanding more expansive football than Allardyce's team
have been giving them and former Hammers defender Mackay would have to
convince co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold he could deliver that.
Gianfranco Zola has also decided against the Forest job, leaving the door
open for Paul Hart – who managed the East Midlands side from 2001 to 2004 –
or ex-West Brom boss Steve Clarke. Clarke is on gardening leave from The
Hawthorns after being dismissed in December, and Forest have asked the
Baggies for permission to talk to him. Hart is academy director at Charlton.
Former Hammers boss Zola is not interested in Forest because he is the man
QPR will turn to if Harry Redknapp leaves in the summer. Rangers' chairman
Tony Fernandes is a huge fan of the Italian and with Redknapp's future in
doubt he is at the top of their wanted list.

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

http://vyperz.blogspot.com



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