Daily WHUFC News - 15th December 2014

Nolan - 'Our response was fantastic'
WHUFC.com
Kevin Nolan was impressed with another comeback but is desperate to break
the habit of conceding first
14.12.2014

Kevin Nolan hopes he has seen the last of West Ham United's rescue acts for
the time being, keen to get the Hammers firmly back on the front foot.
Following Saturday's 1-1 Barclays Premier League stalemate at Sunderland,
Sam Allardyce's men have now conceded the first goal in three successive
outings. Impressively, they have still managed to collect seven points in
the process, but skipper Nolan insists that falling behind is a habit they
need to shake and need to shake quickly. "It's something we've got to get
out of our systems," he said. "Once we get ahead I think we could be one of
those teams that can really start to punish sides. Gifting teams goals the
way we have in previous games is not what we're about and not a habit we
want to get into. "We've been fantastic coming from behind in the last three
games, but it's something we want to eradicate quickly, because in the
Premier League, sooner or later, teams are going to hold out or hit us on
the counter. "But you can't fault the lads' effort, their response or the
way we've been playing in the last few games. Three wins on the spin and
then obviously this draw makes it ten points out of 12. If you'd have given
us that a fortnight ago going into the Newcastle game, everyone would have
taken that."

While Nolan was hardly about to underestimate the value of a point away from
home, he still felt a tinge of disappointment that West Ham were not leaving
the Stadium of a Light with all three. He continued: "All in all you've got
to respect the point when you get it, you're never going to get an easy game
when you come away from home. I'm just a bit gutted that we had to come from
behind and through no fault of our own. "We're a bit disappointed with a few
major decisions that didn't go our way, especially the penalty, which got
their spirits up. The response from us was fantastic, again, and we could
have gone on to win it. I thought we dominated the game throughout the 90
minutes, but it wasn't to be. "You've got to respect the point, it's a tough
place to come. Everyone finds it tough when they come to Sunderland. They're
a good side and we had to respect that, so we're happy to leave with a
point."

Saturday's draw sees the Hammers unbeaten in four and a November defeat by
Everton is now the only blemish on a ten-game record that includes six wins
and three draws. Nolan is still smarting about that reverse at Goodison Park
and urged the Hammers to keep their latest undefeated sequence intact. "Even
that one defeat against Everton, we thoroughly deserved something out of
it," he added. "So we're very disappointed that we've got that on the
record, but it's now about trying to go as many games without defeat. "We've
got a few tough ones coming up, Leicester, who are fighting for their lives,
next week at home and then we've got Chelsea, who are flying high. They've
been fantastic, so we've got to go to Stamford Bridge and then Arsenal at
home. It's going to be an exciting Christmas and hopefully one that we'll be
celebrating."

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Stewart Downing delighted with West Ham form
Last Updated: 12/12/14 12:15pm
SSN

Stewart Downing says West Ham are loving being one of this season's surprise
packages after gatecrashing the Premier League top four.
The Hammers are fourth in the table and Downing reckons breaking the 'big
four' stranglehold on the Champions League places is important for the good
of football. West Ham boss Sam Allardyce spent a reported £31m in the summer
on the likes of Diafra Sahko, Cheikhou Kouyate and Aaron Cresswell but that
was dwarfed by the spending of Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.
"It's good, teams have spent a lot of money and people expected them to be
in the top four because of what they've spent but it doesn't always work
that way," Downing said.
"We have bought very well, the players coming in have settled well.
Sometimes you see players coming to the Premier League struggle to adapt.
It's a big plus for us."

Southampton and the Hammers have shocked the big clubs with their form
during the first half of the season and Downing says that is a good thing.
"I think it would be good for the league," he added. "If you looked at the
league at the minute you'd say it was false but we're there on merit, we've
done well and we've played some big teams and played them off the park on
the day. "We've beaten Liverpool and Manchester City and ground out a win
against Newcastle, which we would have lost last season. We have shown good
qualities." The Hammers head to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland on
Saturday and the ex-Liverpool winger thinks they can maintain their
challenge for a European spot. "We have to look at each game as it comes.
It's a big thing for us, Christmas, hopefully we can get lucky with injuries
and suspensions," said the 30-year-old. "We had a difficult year last year,
found it hard and were sucked in (to the relegation scrap) so this year
we're playing with confidence. "Selection gets hard and it's one the manager
would like because he's never really had it. Everyone is fighting for their
place and the step up in quality has been good this year."

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WOULD RON VLAAR BE A QUALITY REPLACEMENT FOR WINSTON REID?
By S J Chandos 14 Dec 2014 at 13:00
West Ham till I Die

The contract situation with Winston Reid continues to rumble on. At this
stage, the obvious conclusion to be drawn is that Reid is running down his
contract to secure a lucrative Bosman move. So, the £60k contract offer
remains on the table and the club must seriously contemplate the worst case
scenerio and act decisively to line up a replacement, either in January or
more likely when Reid's current deal expires next June. A number of possible
names have already been linked as a possible replacement, including Celtic's
Virgil Diijk and Austrian international duo, Aleksandar Dragovic and Martin
Hinteregger. All three are promising, young centre-backs, with the potential
to make a major contribution to the future success of the club.

However, there may be another possibility that the club might consider.
According to the transfermarkt website Villa's powerful centre-back, Ron
Vlaar, is in the final year of his contract, which is due to expire on 30
June 2015. In fact, Vlaar's contractual position directly mirror's that of
our own Winston Reid. At 29 years of age, Vlaar is at the peak of his career
and would bring a wealth of experience to central defence. A current Dutch
international, he is a dominant figure, who leads by example. You can never
have enough leaders on the pitch and Vlaar is certainly that. He would
marshall the rearguard magnificently and pass on valuable experience to the
likes of Tomkins and emerging youngsters like Burke and Oxford. Allied to
that, a player of Vlaar's international experience would most definitely be
a positive addition should the club qualify for European competition season
in 2015-16.

I have previously made the point that no player is, or can ever be, bigger
than the club. If a player wants to try his luck elsewhere then West Ham
must set themselves the targets of (a) getting the best deal for the exiting
player and (b) signing a replacement who ideally represents an upgrade in
quality. It could be argued that Vlaar is an upgrade on Reid and would
significantly strengthen our defensive and leadership capacity. He is also
the type of all-action and committed footballer that West Ham fans
traditionally idolise. Could West Ham land Vlaar? Well, there is bound to be
a lot of interest both in the PL and abroad. And he can, of course, sign a
pre-contract deal with a overseas club from January 2015. However, he is the
type of player that an aspiring/upwardly mobile club like the Hammers should
be targeting, especially in view of the significant improvements achieved so
far this season.

Of course, a lot depends on Reid and the PL club's supposedly tracking him.
Will they bid in January or will they seek to capture him on a Bosman next
summer? Of course, there is the very real possibility that Reid is also
lining up a pre-contract deal to move to one of the major European leagues.
In which case, he is effectively going nowhere until the end of the season.
But that might not be too much of a problem if we could snap up a player
like Vlaar on a similiar Bosman deal. It might even be preferable, because
the defensive change could then be made in pre-season to minimise any
disruption and bed-in a new defensive unit.

So, is Ron Vlaar the type of centre-back that West Ham should be looking at
as a replacement for Winston Reid? Is he a realistic target, especially
financially, seeing as he is apparently in the final year of his contract at
Villa? If not, who would be a better option?

SJ. Chandos

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West Ham flop Modibo Maiga facing Upton Park return after going AWOL during
Metz loan
Dec 14, 2014 11:14 By Steve Goodman
The 27-year-old striker failed to turn up for the Ligue 1 clash against
Marseille with Metz chiefs considering cutting his short his loan spell
The Mirror

West Ham flop Modibo Maiga has been made to sweat on his future after going
AWOL while out on loan, reports Steve Goodman in the Sunday People. The Mali
striker is at Metz, but the French club could ship him back to Upton Park
for missing their game last Sunday. Metz chiefs carpeted the 27-year-old
following the 3-1 loss to Marseille. Maiga also missed training on Tuesday.
"Modibo Maiga had a hearing on Thursday with Metz's disciplinary board," a
club spokesman revealed. "He'll be told its decision about his punishment
midway through next week. "Maiga didn't turn up on Decemeber 7 in time to
catch the plane to Marseille. "The club was unable to contact him and had to
set out with just 17 players."

Maiga has made 31 Premier League appearances for the Hammers since his
£5million arrival from Sochaux in 2012. Under contract until 2016, he spent
the second half of last season at QPR.

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West Ham's Andy Carroll says his life of partying is over - but his
reputation was unfair anyway
Dec 14, 2014 10:55 By Dean Jones
The West Ham striker is trying to make himself an integral part of the side
after a long spell out with injury
The Mirror

Andy Carroll insists his party-boy reputation is unfair, writes Dean Jones
in the Sunday People. The West Ham striker is trying to change public
opinion of himself and become a pivotal part of Sam Allardyce's plans now
that he is fit again. But he reckons any wild days of partying were blown
out of proportion. Carroll, once pictured partying until 4am in Las Vegas 36
hours before his West Ham medical, said: "I did get a lot of stick but I
went out no more than other players. "It was just that I was seen – so I got
the label. Hopefully that has gone now." In an interview on Soccer AM,
Hammers team-mate Kevin Nolan backed him up. Nolan said: "People notice him
more because he is 6ft 6in and has got long hair. He sticks out in a crowd
whereas I can go into London and not be noticed or recognised."

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Irons signings for the future in January
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 14, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

West Ham are set for a quiet January but are hoping to sign "one or two
players for the future." However, apart from offering a broad outline of
possible plans the club are keeping their cards very close to their chest
on their January plans. The two Davids haven't had a January – either here
or at Birmingham City – when they haven't brought players in but with the
club flying this season all bases look covered. ClaretandHugh was told by a
source: "The squad is strong and January is a time for troubled clubs to try
finding players who can make a difference to their situation. "There's no
serious need to spend a lot of cash on players. Big clubs don't spend a lot
at this time. "It could be the club will invest in one two for the future
and terms for a young centre back subject to work permit are close to being
agreed. He's about six months away from the first team though." He added:
"There's also a possibility one may go and we might sign a replacement."

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Irons make big African tournament decision
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 14, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

West Ham WILL be sending a team of medics to the African Nations Cup to look
after Diafra Sakho, Cheik Kouyate and Alex Song tournament
A top source finally revealed today the decision had been made to ensure
against any cock-ups such as affected Sakho on his last international trip.
ClaretandHugh was told this morning: "That is now the plan and it will
happen. "We can't afford to take any chances at all with the health of our
players. If they are selected to go then they will have our medics with
them." The club has hinted regularly over recent weeks that they are likely
to send club medical staff and have now firmed up the decision. They will
hire medical professionals to travel with the players to ensure there is no
shortage of staff at the club itself should then need to. We were told: "We
understand the players' desire to take part but we have to make sure as far
as we can there is absolutely no threat to any of them."

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Bleaker and bleaker for Morrison
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 14, 2014 in Whispers
Clart & Hugh

Ravel Morrison's days at the club now look well and truly sealed as the
national press at large pick up the "it's over" story we published
yesterday. Various newspapers are repeating that the club could now even
consider cancelling the 21 year old's contract at Upton Park after a
miserable loan spell at Cardiff City. And this morning a club source
revealed that although he hasn't been helped by a change of manager at the
Welsh club, manager Sam Allardyce had really hoped to see the player buckle
down and play for his West Ham future. Both he and the two owners had wanted
to see the midfielder fulfill his huge potential and return to the Boleyn
ready to rumble.
The club remain hopeful that they will receive an offer for the player in
January but we were told the only "marginal interest" may be from Celtic.
Should nothing come of that and Morrison remains at the club when next
month's transfer window closes, the Hammers seem bound to consider paying
up the remainder of his contract which runs out at the end of the year as
both sides move on.

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