Daily WHUFC News - 27th August 2014

Hammers bow out of League Cup
WHUFc.com
Sheffield United prevail on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the Capital One
Cup second round
26.08.2014

Capital One Cup
West Ham United 1-1 Sheffield United, (4-5 on penalties)

West Ham United fell to a shock shootout defeat by Sheffield United in the
Capital One Cup on Tuesday evening, as the Sky Bet League One side prevailed
5-4 from the spot to book their place in the last 32. After the first eight
penalties had all been confidently converted, summer signing Enner Valencia
was denied by the excellent Mark Howard, allowing visiting skipper Michael
Doyle to tuck home the decisive strike from 12 yards. West Ham had looked
to be in control when Diafra Sakho marked his home debut with a maiden goal,
but Winston Reid put through his own net after 12 second half minutes to
force the extra 30 minutes. But there would be no winner in the additional
half hour, leaving Sheffield United to seal victory from the spot.

As expected, manager Sam Allardyce had earlier shuffled his pack, making
nine changes to the side that started in the Barclays Premier League at
Crystal Palace on Saturday. Of the new faces, there were starts for
Valencia, Sakho and Diego Poyet, while Reece Burke was rewarded for his
winning cameo against US Sampdoria with a first competitive outing.
Elsewhere, Ravel Morrison made his first appearance of the new campaign,
having worked his way back from minor groin surgery over the summer.

A new-look West Ham XI took a little while to hit their straps at the Boleyn
Ground and Ricardo Vaz Te's misdirected header, from a Guy Demel centre, was
the best they had to show from the first quarter-of-an-hour.

At the other end, Marc McNulty stole a yard on Reid in the Hammers box, but
then scarcely made contact as he hurriedly slashed at goal. Ben Davies swung
in the resulting corner and full-back Craig Alcock hooked wide of the near
post.

Moments later and Blades 'keeper Mark Howard was forced into a first save,
getting down smartly to gather Valencia's fiercely driven strike from 20
yards. Poyet was next to try his luck, unleashing a dipping volley from the
edge of the D that rose a yard or two over Howard's crossbar.

The chances, now, continued to come. Mohamed Diame set Valencia free, who
was again foiled by an excellent Howard stop, on this occasion at his near
post. And the busy 'keeper was back in action after 35 minutes, flinging
himself to his left to palm a Morrison free-kick around the post. Morrison
jogged across to take the corner in front of the East Stand and watched on
as Burke's goalbound header was, just, forced behind by a scurrying Howard.

But the Blades custodian was finally beaten when Sakho met Reece Burke's
right-wing centre and glanced a perfect header over the Blades keeper to
open the scoring and his Hammers account. Sakho very nearly turned provider
before the half was out, brilliantly bringing the ball under his spell and
squaring for Valencia, who, on the slide, was agonisingly close to applying
a touch.

The second half, much like the first, began quietly and the Blades made the
most of an indifferent start, bagging the equaliser after 57 minutes. A
cross from the left glanced off McNulty's head and Reid, unable to adjust
his feet, inadvertently stabbed goalward and wide of a wrong-footed Jussi
Jaaskelainen.

Now with their tails up, the hosts might have completed the turnaround but
Chris Basham headed well wide of Jaaskelainen's right-hand upright from a
Bob Harris centre.

A first West Ham change followed, as Sakho was replaced by Stewart Downing
and the pendulum almost instantly swung back towards the hosts. West Ham's
No11 firstly crossed for Reid, whose first-time effort flashed beyond the
near post, before a ball to the back post this time was met by an acrobatic
Vaz Te and blocked behind.

With little more than ten minutes to play, Alcock made his presence felt
from another set-piece, heading a ring-wing corner narrowly over the top.
Seconds later and Saturday's hero Mauro Zarate joined the fray in place of
Vaz Te, as the Hammers sought a route into the last 32. And it so nearly
came via Downing's wand of a left foot as he measured one up from 25 yards
and forced Howard, at full stretch, to tip it over the top.

Substitute Zarate then worried Howard, as he spilled the Argentine's drive,
albeit Valencia was unable to make anything of the rebound. Valencia was
presented with an even better chance in the 88th minute, when Demel's
knockdown sat up kindly for the Ecuadorian but a Blades block kept the
visitors in it.

So to extra time and Zarate looked the most likely for the men in Claret and
Blue, as Allardyce made his final switch with the introduction of Mark Noble
for Morrison. Jamal Campbell-Ryce's mazy run ended in a blocked short on the
edge of the box, before Valencia's effort at the other end suffered a
similar fate, flicking off a Sheffield shirt and flying well wide.

A nervous moment for Jaaskelainen followed, as Jay McEveley's bobbler almost
squirmed through the Hammers stopper, with Noble thankfully on hand to hack
clear of harm's way. As the first half of extra time drew to an end, Poyet
chanced his arm from range, only to see his effort nestle safely in the arms
of a well-positioned Howard.

Upon the restart, Noble's deep free-kick nearly deceived Howard, who was
ultimately grateful to claw it beyond the far post. Then, having been teed
up by Poyet, Noble's effort looked a good one, but cannoned into the limbs
of James Wallace.

Valencia blasted a free-kick goalward in the dying minutes and though it
moved in the air, proved no trouble for Howard. That was it for the added
30, with spot-kicks to decide the winners.

As it transpired, the first eight spot-kicks were almost nerveless. Noble
got the ball rolling for the hosts, with Davies doing likewise for the
Sheffield side. Then Downing, Collins, Zarate, McNulty, Poyet and McEveley
were each faultless, handing responsibility to Valencia. The Ecuador man
opted to go down the middle and, having motioned to his right, Howard
comfortably kept it out, before Doyle sent Jaaskelainen the wrong way.

West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Reid, Burke, Potts, Poyet, Diame,
Morrison (98), Sakho (Downing 63), Vaz Te (Zarate 80), Valencia
Subs: Spiegel, Oxford, Lee, Page

Goal: Sakho 40

Booked: Morrison

Sheffield United: Howard, Alcock, Harris (McEveley 72), Basham, Flynn
(Campbell-Ryce 84), Doyle, Baxter (Wallace 100), McNulty, Collins, Davies,
McGahey
Subs: Turner, Wallace, Murphy, Higdon, Reed

Goal: Reid o.g. 57

Booked: Doyle

Referee: James Linington

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
IT'S DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN
By Iain Dale 26 Aug 2014 at 22:23
West Ham Till I Die

Those of us who are slightly longer in the tooth have experienced nights
like this quite a few times over the years. But even though we think we
might have become immune to it, it's still a total humiliation.

I wasn't there, so maybe I am not the best person to pass comment, but with
a lineup like that, how the hell do we lose to a League Two side? There will
be plenty of people willing to blame Sam Allardyce, but it's the players who
have to accept responsibility. Those who were there can point the finger at
individuals, but from the BBC Sheffield commentary which I listened to it
didn't seem as though we did a lot wrong. They reckoned Enner Valencia
wasn't at the races, but in midfield they reckoned Diame had a stormer, even
if they couldn't pronounce his name (Dee-Am).

So if you were there, tell us what you made of it.

It's a crying shame that we are out of this competition which we nearly made
the final of last year. I hope the riot act is being read in the dressing
room as we speak.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sheffield fans stay away in droves
KUMb.com
Filed: Tuesday, 26th August 2014
By: Staff Writer

Sheffield United are understood to have been left with thousands of unsold
tickets for their trip to West Ham this evening. Following the draw for the
second round of the Capital One Cup, which was made on 13 August, Hammers
fans residing in the Trevor Brooking Lower were informed that they would
have to find alternative seating for tonight's game as the entire lower tier
was being reserved for travelling Blades supporters. However that would
appear to have been an unnecessary move in hindsight as away fans have
decided to stay away from the ground en masse, with some citing the
potential for trouble - as a result of the recent animosity between the two
clubs - as the main reason for failing to attend. Sheffield had been
allocated approximately 3,500 tickets for the game, however less than half
of that number are likely to be used when the two teams meet at the Boleyn
Ground this evening.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Duxbury on Tevez: 'we did absolutely nothing wrong'
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 26th August 2014
By: Staff Writer

Five years ago KUMB.com sat down with Scott Duxbury for an exclusive
interview during which West Ham United's then-CEO revealed the full story
behind the Carlos Tevez case.

Subsequently blamed by many for the events that led to West Ham cutting
their losses and agreeing to a £20million+ out-of-court settlement with
Sheffield United in September 2008 following Lord Griffiths' bizarre
assertion that "West Ham would have secured at least three fewer points ...
if Carlos Tevez had not been playing for the club", Duxbury gave his side of
the story in a no-holds-barred interview - some of which missed the cut when
the original article was published.

On the day that West Ham United meet Sheffield United for the first time
since the acrimonious 'Tevez Affair' split the world of football, we reveal
the story behind the clandestine talks that led to the out-of-court
settlement figure of circa £20million - and the lengths Duxbury went to in
order to keep Carlos Tevez at the club for the final three games of the
2006/07 season.

Following months of legal wrangling and numerous hearings, all of which had
gone in West Ham's favour, a tribunal led by Lord Griffiths decided that the
Hammers should pay massive compensation to the Blades following their
relegation from the Premiership at the end of the 2006/07 season. The
Yorkshire club, who had led West Ham by 10 points just two months earlier
had asked for damages of between £30m-£45m to be considered.

Devastated by the incomprehensible verdict, Duxbury was keen to avoid
returning to court as he knew that to do so could potentially leave West Ham
facing administration. It was, he believed, a genuine possibility following
the previous year's worldwide banking collapse that left the club saddled
with massive debts and him effectively in charge by default, after the hasty
departure of Eggert Magnusson and Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson.

Duxbury persuaded Sheffield United's Kevin McCabe to attend a meeting in
Belgium, where the Blades chairman held business interests. And according to
the man introduced to West Ham by former chairman Terry Brown, proceedings
got off to a dreadful start. "We did it all in Brussels," he told KUMB. "But
the first meeting went really badly. Myself and Nick went to this bar in
Bruges because we thought that's it, we're screwed."

However a second meeting proved to be far more productive after the duo
representing West Ham decided that a more direct approach was necessary -
which ultimately proved successful. "We played hard-ball, and it was
fantastic," said Duxbury. "We said right, fine. Either you're going to put
us into administration or we will put the club into administration and you
won't get a penny. It was real brinkmanship. He [McCabe] wanted the money up
front and that would have made a difference to Sheffield. We staged it over
five years."

It was only last year that the final tranche of some £5million was paid to
the Blades, who have essentially squandered the huge sum of money they
managed to extort from West Ham. Brian Robson and Kevin Blackwell are held
culpable by many Blades followers for wasting sizeable warchests during the
club's Championship years (2007-11), since when they have fallen further
down the league ladder.

Even though the settlement figure nearly crippled West Ham and, combined
with other factors, left the club uncompetitive in the transfer market for
several years, Duxbury believed that the arrangement represented a good deal
for the club - who he maintained could have faced a bill twice the size had
the two parties not reached an agreement.

"It's a stupid amount of money but when you put it over five years it
doesn't hurt us," he insisted. "It's less than what we paid for Freddie
Ljungberg. But it became clear to me we simply couldn't risk an absurd
decision by Lord Griffiths that says the full £40million that Sheffield
United are claiming is payable, and it's payable within seven days - which
would be the award."

Duxbury, who departed West Ham shortly after the arrival of current owners
David Sullivan and David Gold was at the very centre of the entire Tevez
affair from beginning to end. The club's Legal Secretary at the time Tevez
and fellow Argentine Javier Mascherano joined West Ham, he was later accused
of misleading Tevez's representatives in order to keep the striker at the
club until the end of the 2006/07 season.

Famously referred to as 'oral cuddles', it was claimed that Duxbury lied to
Kia Joorbachian's lawyer Graham Shear regarding the player's contractual
status. Whilst the Premier League insisted that a new contract be drawn up
in order to allow Tevez to play the final games of the 2006/07 season
following an enquiry, Duxbury was said to have told Shear that the existing
deal remained in place - albeit now as a verbal agreement only.

They are charges that Duxbury vehemently denied.

"It was just a loan agreement, effectively," he began. "We had to serve
notice to Kia and Tevez, the Premier League insisted. Tevez was in a hotel
in Wigan when we had to serve this notice to him terminating the agreement.
So Tevez was kicking off, wondering what's going on.

"I calmed him down, saying we'd discuss it next week. Kia was saying 'right,
we need to talk because Tevez ain't playing again, you've terminated the
agreement and I'm going to sue you for tens of millions of pounds'. Good.
Nice preparation for the next couple of games...

"So we met with Kia in Eggert's office [following the Wigan game]. Eggert
didn't want to meet him originally, he was saying 'Kia's dangerous, I don't
want him here'. I said if we don't meet, he isn't going to play. Kia's not
bluffing, Tevez just won't play.

"At that point, Tevez was in an oxygen tent with an ankle injury and it
would have been the easiest thing in the world for him to say 'I'm not fit'.
But we met with Kia in his office and I dragged Eggert there.

"I said 'look, you're going to be absolutely destroyed in the world media if
Tevez doesn't play because you're seen as this evil third party. A judgment
goes against you and then Tevez doesn't play? It's absolutely in your
interest that Tevez plays. If he wants to go in the summer he can, but he
must play in these three games. It's absolutely in his interest.'

"At the same time, Lucas Neill was in the oxygen tent with Tevez so I had
Lucas getting into his head saying 'come on, you must play. It's ridiculous,
if you've got your dream move to Man Utd or whoever, you've got to play'.

"So the purpose of those meetings was, as I would do with any player or
agent that's not happy, to convince him to play and to convince his agent to
sort it out in the summer.

"The Premier League were happy with that. But Griffiths, who doesn't
understand football believes that the fact we even met Kia, the fact that we
convinced Tevez to stay was in some way a breach of the rules - which is
absolute nonsense."

It is often forgotten that Carlos Tevez failed to score a single goal in his
first 19 appearances for West Ham. However in his final three matches -
games in which West Ham beat Wigan, Bolton and Manchester United to
miraculously avoid relegation - he scored three times, giving him a total of
seven for the season.

And it was the Argentine's (considerable) influence in those trio of games
alone which led Lord Griffiths to rule in favour of Sheffield United,
leaving West Ham with the prospect of paying a world-record compensation
sum.

That inexplicable ruling followed the world record £5million fine West Ham
had already been hit with by the Premier League as a result of
irregularities regarding Tevez's original contract which, with agent's fees,
wages and other associated costs considered, meant the player ended up
costing the Hammers around £35million - all for just 29 matches.

Yet on reflection, Duxbury - now CEO at Championship club Watford -
maintained that he was content with the manner in which he handled the
affair immediately following the Premier League's insistence that Tevez's
contract be ripped up.

"As an executive of a football club it's exactly what you've got to do," he
argued. "You've just terminated their contract, you've just p*ssed them off
royally, you've got to do what you can to convince the player to play. If
you want to go in the summer - no problem. But it's entirely in your
interest to play now. And the Premier League agreed with this.

"If I had refused to meet Kia, Tevez wouldn't have played and that would
have been negligent. I had to meet Kia and Tevez and say 'look, if you want
to go somewhere else, that is not a problem'. I had the same conversation
with Nigel Reo-Coker in January when he wanted to go.

"It would've been easier for me for, self preservation, not to have met them
and just said 'I'm not getting involved' and Tevez wouldn't have played," he
continued. "But I did, and we did absolutely nothing wrong.

"We met, we got him to play and in the summer it was a huge battle, a
massive battle. We could not have done anything more consistent with
terminating the side agreement because we had legal battles, we were slagged
off in the press and after months of turmoil we eventually reached an
agreement where Tevez could go.

"If we were acting consistently with the side agreement he would have just
gone on 1 July. Griffiths just totally missed it. Quite frankly I think it
was the finest negotiation I've ever done. I'm proud of that, I've done
nothing wrong - and I got Tevez to play."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce: Nolan injury a 'massive blow'
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 25th August 2014
By: Staff Writer

Sam Allardyce says that captain Kevin Nolan's injury is a huge loss to West
Ham. As reported here on KUMB at the weekend, Nolan injured a shoulder
during a training session at Chadwell Heath last Thursday and is now facing
a lengthy lay-off. And whilst some supporters sunk as low as to revel in the
captain's injury, Big Sam is under no illusion as to how much Nolan will be
missed both on and off the pitch. "Kevin fractured his shoulder and that's a
massive blow to us, along with all the other players we've got injured,"
said Allardyce. "He will be out for probably six weeks. It isn't a
dislocated shoulder, it's a fractured shoulder, but I don't know just how
long that will keep Kevin out. "We dealt with it brilliantly at Palace and
let's hope we can continue to do that. It didn't affect us at Palace and
maybe that's a sign there's more to come. "We were missing five players who
play a big part in our squad, so to win the game comfortably with as many
injuries as that was extremely pleasing. This might be the best and
strongest squad I've put together at the club; I hope it is."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Big Sam blunted by Blades
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce said Sheffield United had goalkeeper Mark Howard to thank for
their Capital One Cup victory
26.08.2014

Sam Allardyce said Sheffield United had goalkeeper Mark Howard to thank for
their Capital One Cup second round win over West Ham United. Howard
repeatedly denied the Hammers during both normal and extra-time at the
Boleyn Ground. He saved from Enner Valencia, Ravel Morrison, Reece Burke,
Mauro Zarate, Stewart Downing, Diego Poyet and Mark Noble before winning the
tie for the League One side by saving Ecuador striker Valencia's shootout
penalty.
The 27-year-old was beaten by Diafra Sakho's header five minutes before
half-time, but Winston Reid's second-half own-goal gifted Sheffield United
an equaliser and the Blades defended resolutely to take the game to
penalties. After eight successful spot-kicks, Howard dived right to save
from Valencia before Blades skipper Michael Doyle beat Jussi Jaaskelainen to
settle the tie in the Yorkshire club's favour. "They were fantastic save by
their goalkeeper because time after time we hit the target, and time after
time he pulled off saves well beyond the league he is playing in," said Big
Sam, whose side had 23 shots on goal, nine of which tested Howard. "He has
had one of those inspired nights and, of course, if he plays like that all
season he won't be staying in League One.
"We found a 'keeper in his top form and that has cost us in the end because
he's the one who saved the penalty as well. It's a disappointing night in
the fact that we lost, but the football that we played and the people going
out there and getting the game they needed under their belts gave an
excellent account of themselves. "We didn't score enough goals because a
reflective score would have been three or maybe even four-one. The fact they
scored through an own-goal was very lucky for them when they went through
the entire 120 minutes having just two shots on target. "That showed how
much we dominated. Yet again, we should have got more goals, but we didn't.
"You've got to give Sheffield United credit for the way they defended. When
you decide to not try to go forward, which they did, it's difficult to break
them down. However, we had the quality of player to break them down, but we
didn't and we couldn't find a way past their goalkeeper. "The own-goal realy
knocked us off our stride because it was an average cross which wasn't going
anywhere until it hit Reidy on the knee and went past Jussi. If it hadn't, I
think we'd have won at least won 1-0, if not by more."

Had West Ham added to Sakho's maiden goal in Claret and Blue before
half-time - or even before Reid's unfortunate own-goal - then the manager
was confident his side would have played out the tie comfortably. Instead,
Sheffield United's equaliser gave them something to defend as a team and
they did that well in the second hour of play. "I think a second goal would
have settled it. Two or three-nil at half-time would have been a fairer
score to us, but their goalkeeper kept them in the game, so it wasn't poor
finishing so much as him having a storming game. "Even if he parried it out,
it didn't seem to be our night where it dropped to one of our players. It
went to one of their defenders instead. Then, our goalbound shots seemed to
hit their defenders and get blocked, so I can't complain about the
performance, but I can complain that we have lost on penalties after a very
good performance where we shouldn't have done.
"It's a disappointing night from that point of view, but there were a lot of
positives from the way the players played for most of the game, except
finishing the opposition off."

The manager had warm words for the performances of teenagers Poyet, Burke -
who assisted Sakho's goal - and Dan Potts. "They were very, very good. Three
Under-21 players didn't look out of place and were comfortable, so that's
good for the future of West Ham. Ravel Morrison also had his first game and
Enner had his first game since the World Cup, and he had to play 120
minutes, which was some going and he did a fantastic job. "Sakho took his
goal well and he also got down the right-hand side well during the game. so
that was good."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce on... Sheffield United
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 27th August 2014
By: Staff Writer

Sam Allardyce remained upbeat despite having witnessed his team tumble out
of the Capital One Cup on penalties. His full post-match presser here...

Sam: that must be hard to take given the performance, given that you were
winning..?

... Given the fact that we gave an own goal away? Given the fact that
Sheffield United had one shot on target? One shot on target in the first 90
minutes and in the 30 minutes of extra time. At the end of the day it's our
fault, isn't it?

I think it was an inspired performance by the goalkeeper for Sheffield
United. Whatever we threw at him he saved it or blocked it and if it came
off him it seemed to drop to one of the Sheffield United boys.

So from our point of view, it's a frustrating night after a very good
performance by players who have just joined us in their first full games -
[that's Diafra] Sakho and Enner [Valencia]. Considering Enner's not played a
game since the World Cup, that was going to be his first 60 minutes or so -
but Sakho tweaked his back so he's had to play 120 minutes.

It was Rav's first game since 30 minutes at Stevenage, so it's really good
for him. The three young players under 21 were very impressive; Danny Potts,
Diego Poyet and Reece Burke at the back. The rest tried their very best and
played very well up to the fact that we didn't score more goals than
Sheffield United, which we should have done but didn't.

We're very frustrated. Then to lose on penalties as well was even more
frustrating.

Was this a competition in which you wanted to go far again? West Ham do have
the Cup tradition thing.

Well like I just said, there's nowhere else to get members of my 25-man
squad football at a very competitive level. Only the Capital One Cup that
can do that. The rest of the time we can only train them and play amongst
each other because the Under 21 league is not where you play them, because
that's not competitive enough.

It's a disappointment that when you have a 25-man squad - which we're going
to name two days after the [transfer] window shuts - a lot of them are going
to have to keep themselves by training and training alone rather than
getting a game in the Capital One Cup and making a statement to me.

The reason Adrian got the goalkeeping number one slot in the end was because
of his performances in the Capital One Cup last year and a few others. So
it's a disappointing night to go out of the competition.

Before the game started I was concerned by the fact that I already had five
injured players who weren't available today; everybody knows those five
first team players. Then there's players who needed a game or for whom it
was their first game and there's young players that get a game.

To get through to the next round of the competition, and have those players
and some of the players who come back from injury after the international
break play again - like Matt Jarvis, Carl Jenkinson, James Collins plus Andy
[Carroll] and Kevin [Nolan], who are a good way off - would have been
fantastic.

Now we're going to have to find a different way of picking up their match
fitness when they are fit - and keeping the players who played tonight fit
on the training ground for when they're needed in the first team in the
Premier League.

I know it was before your time but the shadow of Carlos Tevez was hanging
over this. Do you appreciate how frustrating it must be for the fans to lose
this?

Well we've lost on penalties at the end of the day and the fans know we
should have won the game. We haven't been outplayed by Sheffield United, we
haven't been under pressure, they've had one shot on target in the entire 90
minutes.

They made life very difficult for us by playing that defensive unit, which
they are well within their right to when they come here. With the quality of
players we had tonight, we opened them up time and time again with patience
and good, quality football. At the end of the day, the end product deserted
us tonight but that was mainly due to their goalkeeper making some top-class
saves.

Young Poyet did well for you tonight?

Well him, Burke and Pottsy did nothing wrong at all. Praise to them, because
they didn't look out of place, they didn't look like young players in that
team tonight. It must have been a fantastic experience for them apart from,
like everybody, losing on a penalty shootout.

I've got to ask - Ravel Morrison started with gloves and then in the second
half, no gloves?

Rav's Rav... [laughs] Thank you.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 1-1 Sheffield United AET: Blades exact shoot-out revenge on Hammers
after Tevez affair
Aug 26, 2014 22:49 By Darren Lewis
The League One side took the Hammers to 120 minutes and then beat them from
12 yards despite being outplayed for large spells
The Mirror

Sheffield United exacted sweet revenge as they dumped West Ham out of the
Capital One Cup - seven years after the Carlos Tevez affair. The simmering
League One club have had to bide their time after the Hammers stayed in the
Premier League at their expense back in 2007 amid the Tevez controversy.
But the Blades laughed loudest by the end of this tie after Winston Reid
gifted them an own goal then £12million World Cup star Enner Valencia missed
a penalty in the shoot-out. Midfielder Michael Doyle hit winner to put the
Blades into the next round and end the hopes of last year's semi-finalists.
Blades boss Nigel Clough now believes it is time to bury the hatchet after
burying the ghost of controversial Tevez. "It was an injustice felt by our
supporters and it always will be," he said, "But you can't keep going on
with things like that. How many years ago was it? Seven years? We all move
on and we are now trying to get out of League One."
The night had started so differently for West Ham. who dominated early on
with their new signings gelling impressively. Striker Diafra Sakho, who
netted 20 times for Metz last season, capped the Hammers' first-half
dominance by heading in from Mo Diame's cross five minutes before the break.
As Sam Allardyce's men stroked the ball around confidently, the home fans
taunted their frustrated Bramall Lane rivals with chants of "you're gonna
sue in a minute!"

The jibe was a reference to the legal battle that eventually saw West Ham -
who were not docked points - agree an out-of-court settlement to pay
Sheffield United £25million in compensation for their Premier League exit.
United believe they have lost out on a whopping £260m in Premier League and
TV revenue since that tumble out of the top flight. West Ham, by contrast,
have invested heavily this summer in a bid to improve on the squad that had
flirted with relegation last season. Chairman David Sullivan has been open
about his desire to give the club's supporters a trip to Wembley and the
club's top brass had been confident of improving on last season's heroics in
this competition. They were denied, however, by a string of superb saves
from keeper Mark Howard.
The 27-year-old, who began his career at Arsenal, kept out efforts from
Valencia, Ravel Morrison, debutant Dan Burke and substitutes Mark Noble and
Stewart Downing. Allardyce said later: "They had one shot on goal in the
entire 90 minutes. But at the end of the day its our fault. It was an
inspired performance from their goalkeeper. "Whatever we hit at him he
seemed to save it. It was a frustrating night after a very good performance
from some of our new players.
"To lose on penalties is even more frustrating. The fans will be
disappointed in me but we should not have lost the game. We have not been
outplayed. They had one shot on goal in the first 90 minutes and another
shot on goal in extra time."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers in clear on Friedel claims
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 26, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Sam Allardyce's decision to leave the grass at a particular length for the
visit of Spurs on opening day was approved by Premier League officials.
Former player Don Hutchison had revealed in his newspaper column that Brad
Friedel had claimed the grass had been left six inches long. The inference
was that the Hammers manager had wanted to slow the Spurs passing game. We
reported the story earlier today on ClaretandHugh and a Hammers source has
since contacted us saying: "The grass was checked by Premier League
officials and was found to be fine." There was never any suggestion of
wrongdoing anyway but we're pleased to report the manager's plan didn't
impinge on Premier League rules.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham plot Carlton Cole transfer after summer swoops for strikers
Valencia, Zarate and Sakho
Aug 25, 2014 22:30 By Neil McLeman
Hammers are ready to ditch the big striker for the second time in 13 months
in a £1million deal with Championship side Bournemouth
The Mirror

West Ham are ready to sell Carlton Cole to Bournemouth for £1million – but
the striker is reluctant to move to the Championship. The 30-year-old former
England star has started both Premier League games for the Hammers this
season and scored at Crystal Palace, but is set to drop down the pecking
order with the signings of Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho. He was released
by West Ham in July 2013, then rejoined last season after Andy Carroll's
heel injury and was rewarded with an 18-month deal in January. It is
understood Cole is also reluctant to accept a cut in his £25,000-a-week
wages. The Cherries have funds after pocketing £5m from Adam Lallana's
sell-on clause when he went from Southampton to Liverpool.

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

http://vyperz.blogspot.com



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