Daily WHUFC News - 19th January 2014

Cabaye double defeats Hammers
WHUFC.com
West Ham United fell to a 3-1 defeat against Newcastle United on Saturday
18.01.2014

West Ham United 1-3 Newcastle United
Barclays Premier League

West Ham United's long wait for back-to-back Barclays Premier League
victories goes on after they fell to a 3-1 defeat to Newcastle United at the
Boleyn Ground on Saturday. Buoyed by last weekend's victory over Cardiff
City, the Hammers were hopeful of climbing towards mid-table, but were left
to rue a flat opening 33 minutes, which saw them fall two goals behind to
strikes from Yohan Cabaye and Loic Remy. Mike Williamson's own goal on the
stroke of half time gave West Ham hope, and after Carlton Cole and Andy
Carroll squandered chances to draw the Hammers level after the break, Cabaye
sealed it in stoppage time with an accurate free-kick. West Ham mounted the
first attack of the game, right from kick-off, with Mark Noble having a shot
deflected wide, but Newcastle soon settled and began to force the issue.
With six minutes on the clock, Remy received the ball in the Hammers box and
was able to work space for a shot, but failed to hit the target from 12
yards. The Hammers may have breathed a sigh of relief then, but it was only
shortlived as the visitors moved in front ten minutes later. Cabaye's first
touch from Yoan Gouffran's square pass was sublime to take him past Razvan
Rat on the edge of the box, then his second was even better to nudge beyond
Adrian in the home goal.

The Cabaye-Remy combination was causing the Hammers all sorts of problems,
and the former fed Moussa Sissoko inside the box on 23 minutes, but his
effort was gathered at the second attempt by Adrian. Newcastle were well on
top though, and duly doubled their lead twelve minutes before the break
through Remy, who peeled off at the far post as the Hammers defence got
caught under Sissoko's right-wing cross, controlled on his chest and poked
home. Cheick Tiote had a fierce shot blocked by Roger Johnson as Newcastle
looked for more, although it was the Hammers who had the final word of the
first half as Williamson's own goal gave them a timely lift. The game was
well into the two minutes of stoppage time signalled when Rat lifted the
ball into the box for Carlton Cole, who brought the ball down on his chest
and poked goalwards. Tim Krul blocked, but the ricochet off Williamson was
kind for the home side and travelled over the line.

West Ham made a change at the break, with Ravel Morrison replacing Jack
Collison, but it was the visitors who had the first chance of the second
period when Remy streaked clear down the right and forced a good save from
Adrian. The next opportunity fell to the Hammers, and it was a golden one
too, but Carlton Cole could only knock wide with the goal at his marcy after
Stewart Downing sent Matt Taylor clear down the right to deliver a low cross
into the danger area.
West Ham then called for Andy Carroll from the bench as the ex-Newcastle man
made his first Boleyn Ground appearance of the season, joining Cole up front
as the home side stepped up their search for a leveller. It was then
Carroll's turn to miss a sitter, knocking well over the top with 15 minutes
left after Downing's low cross had only been helped on by Krul's fingertips
and left the goal wide open. James Collins slammed a shot wide of the edge
of the box after a corner was only half cleared late on, but for all West
Ham's pressing, it was the Toon who sealed it at the death when Cabaye
curled a free-kick out of Adrian's desperate grasp.

West Ham United: Adrian; Taylor, Collins, Johnson, Rat; Collison (Collison
46), Noble, Diame (Carroll 62); Downing, C.Cole, Jarvis (J.Cole 73)
Subs: Jaaskelainen, Maiga, Diarra, Chambers
Goal: Williamson og 45+2

Newcastle United: Krul; Yanga-Mbiwa, Williamson, S.Taylor, Santon (Dummett
74); Cabaye, Tiote, Anita (Sh.Ameobi 60); Sissoko, Remy (Ben Arfa 78),
Gouffran
Subs: Elliot, Cisse, Haidara, Obertan
Goals: Cabaye 16, Remy 33, Cabaye 90+5

Referee: Andre Marriner
Attendance: 33,344

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Downing disappointed by sloppy start
WHUFC.com
Stewart Downing was frustrated as the Hammers slipped to a home defeat to
Newcastle United
18.01.2014

Stewart Downing felt the Hammers only had themselves to blame after falling
to a 3-1 defeat against Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon. The Hammers
improved after the break to give the Magpies a fright, but two goals in the
first 33 minutes from Yohan Cabaye and Loic Remy had already put them into a
position of power. Mike Williamson's own goal in first half stoppage time
reduced the deficit, and Carlton Cole and Andy Carroll both had glorious
chances to draw the hosts level, but Cabaye's last-gasp free-kick ultimately
sealed the Hammers' fate. Downing took some encouragement from that second
half revival, but admitted they needed to be sharper from the off. He
explained: "Them getting an early goal made things difficult for us and
giving them a two-goal start left us with a bit of a mountain [to climb].
"But after getting a goal back, we probably could have ended up with a draw
with the chances we had. "We wanted to start the second half well and
scoring the goal just before half-time changed the mood at half-time a bit.
"Then Carlton had a great chance, Andy had a chance too and we were putting
them under pressure, but a bit of quality from Cabaye on a free-kick at the
end, and the game was dead. "If we could have put one of those chances away
for 2-2, I think we could have gone on to get the winner. That's been the
story of our season a little bit, and we shot ourselves in the foot by
giving away two sloppy goals."

West Ham were looking for back-to-back home wins for the first time since
their promotion back to the top flight in 2012, and the fact they missed an
opportunity to do so was another source of disappointment for the No23.
"It's frustrating for everyone, but there's no point dwelling on it, we have
to look ahead and we have some big games coming up, in which we need goals
and wins," he continued. "Coming off a big result at Cardiff, it made it all
the more frustrating. Newcastle are a quality side, they've got goalscorers.
Two bits of brilliance from Cabaye for his goals and they've put their
chances away, which we didn't. "We're playing a lot of teams in and around
us in the next month, there's still a long way to go but we need to start
picking up points as quickly as we can."

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Big Sam on Newcastle setback
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce admitted the better team had won in West Ham United's 3-1 home
defeat by Newcastle United
18.01.2014

Sam Allardyce admitted the better team had won in West Ham United's 3-1 home
defeat by Newcastle United. The manager watched his team start well before
falling behind to two goals by Yohan Cabaye and Loic Remy. Carlton Cole
forced Mike Williamson to put through his own net on the stroke of half-time
to give the Hammers hope. West Ham went on the front foot after the break,
only for Cole and substitute Andy Carroll to miss presentable opportunities
to equalise before Cabaye's last-gasp free-kick rubbed salt into the wounds.
To add injury to insult, Big Sam was also forced to re-jig his starting XI
after George McCartney was ruled out hours before kick-off with a recurrence
of the neck injury he suffered at Cardiff City last weekend. "It was lapses
of concentration for their first two goals which cost us the game," said the
manager. "We started the game very well up until they scored the first goal
and then we got one back before half-time and that lifted us. We took that
impetus into the second half and continued to push Newcastle back, got the
chances but missed them, and it was as simple as that really. "You are going
to go behind in games and sometimes need to come from behind and we had the
opportunity to get something, but unfortunately failed to do it in the end.
By the time they scored the last goal, it was insignificant as it came in
the last few seconds, but everything we tried in the second half came good
apart from what we needed most, which was a finish on target to put the ball
in the back of the net. "From all the opportunities we created, we didn't do
that and, because of that, we didn't get the goal we were looking for to get
something out of the game."

The manager was asked what his reaction was to the result in terms of
whether or not he was pleased with the performance of a team without Winston
Reid, James Tomkins, Kevin Nolan, Ricardo Vaz Te, Guy Demel, George
McCartney, Joey O'Brien and, from the start, Andy Carroll. "I think, at the
end of the day, I've got to look at it overall and say that the lads are
trying hard. At times, they get a little bit nervous and you could see their
confidence had drained at 2-0 down, but you've got to be big enough to stand
up and drive yourself on. "I thought the response after half-time was very,
very good. If you look at Newcastle's squad and size of it and the money
they've spent on it, coupled with the players we're without at the minute,
we're a long way behind in talent terms to Newcastle United. "Until we
establish ourselves for longer in the Premier League and find more and more
quality players, we are getting the best out of the players we have got. At
the minute, it's not good enough to get consistent results, but we are
trying our hardest and our best and had a real opportunity to get something.
"We created lots of chances and the gulf in spending didn't show in the
second half on the field, which was very pleasing. At the end of the day is
that we need to get back to the defensive solidity we showed earlier this
season, because you can see what that is bringing Crystal Palace at the
moment. Tony Pulis has said it won't be easy to beat Crystal Palace and, if
you beat them at the minute, it's only by one goal. "If you do that, you end
up with the one-nil wins we should have had earlier in the season when we
had all those clean sheets. However, we can't get back to that until all our
defenders get back fit."

Yet again, the manager was forced to shuffle his pack when McCartney was
forced to pull out with a neck injury, adding to the long list of absentees
he has seemingly had to deal with all season long. "For the last two months
or so, every corner we turn around, there is another obstacle causing us
problems in terms of the selection process. It was hard enought last week at
Cardiff to get a result with James getting sent-off and Guy getting carried
off, then we got in on Saturday and George couldn't play due to the neck
injury he suffered last week and hadn't recovered from. "It's difficult at
the minute but one, we've got to be patient and wait for those players to
come back and two, we have got Ravel Morrison, Kevin, Ginge and James back
now and all of the players have a duty to give their best between now and
the end of the season. "If we get any additions in on top of what we have,
then that will make us a strong enough squad to get out of the situation
we're in at the moment."

On the subject of transfers, Big Sam revealed that the Club missed out on
signing a new player on Friday. "I was convinced that we had one on Friday.
I went out of my way and interrupted my training to make sure it got done,
only for the selling club to say they aren't going to let him come to us now
because another club has come in. "We will fight and fight on both fronts,
both on the field and to get new players in. The Chairman is trying as hard
as possible to get players to put on the pitch and get better results.
"Cardiff was now a brief moment of hope and relief, but now we're back in
where we don't want to be. We wanted to stay out of the bottom three but we
haven't done that, so we have to make sure we get out of it as quickly as we
can."

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Carlton named as Player of the Month
WHUFC.com
Strikers Carlton Cole and Modibo Maiga have taken this month's whufc.com
awards
18.01.2014

Carlton Cole has been named as the West Ham United Player of the Month for
December. The 30-year-old striker won a fan poll on whufc.com to take the
prize, after notching two goals in the month. He scored in the Hammers' 3-1
defeats to Arsenal and Manchester United, to take the position as the Club's
top Barclays Premier League goalscorer in 2013/14. Cole took 40% of the vote
to claim the prize, while Modibo Maiga was second and George McCartney
third.
Meanwhile, Maiga's header in the 2-1 Capital One Cup quarter-final victory
at Tottenham was December's West Ham United Goal of the Month. The Malian's
goal polled 50% of the whufc.com vote, while Matt Jarvis' goal in the same
game took second place.

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No go on Vermaelen
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 18th January 2014
By: Staff Writer

West Ham's interest in Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen is unlikely to go
any further, according to Sam Allardyce. The Hammers made an enquiry earlier
this week with view to taking the 28-year-old centre half on loan for the
remainder of the season. However Arsenal were unwilling to part with the
Belgian international who, whilst currently out of favour, is still seen as
an integral part of Arsene Wenger's first team squad. "Under the
circumstances Arsenal are in, with the Champions League coming up and other
Cup matches, they've had to use him as soon as any of the two [first choice]
central defenders have been injured," revealed Allardyce. "I don't think
there's any chance we'll get someone of his quality. It'd be nice if we
could..."

Speaking after this afternoon's 3-1 defeat at home to Newcastle, Allardyce
also revealed why the deal to sign Lacina Traore on loan from Monaco fell
through.

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Allardyce on... Newcastle Utd
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 18th January 2014
By: Staff Writer

Having once again failed to achieve back-to-back Premier League wins, a
disappointed Sam Allardyce faces the press - whilst revealing exactly why
the Lacina Traore deal fell through...

Sam: you had two great chances to grab a point in that second half?

Yeah. It's been about not taking our chances most of the time for us of the
season, which is why we haven't achieved more points than we have.

Unfortunately at the opposite end our defensive frailties were exposed a
little bit today in that first half. We overcame them but unfortunately even
a spirited fightback in the second half hasn't got us anything. But we'll
keep our chins up as we've 16 games to go and we know how many points we
need in those 16 games to get safe in the Barclays Premier League. We've got
to keep fighting on.

I think there comes a time where the players have to realise it doesn't
become about performances any more, it becomes about results more than
anything. Whichever way you get them you've got to get them and that'll
start with us bringing back some of the players who are suspended and some
of the players who have been injured. That'll help us of course and if we
can get any additions - and we've been trying desperately hard in the window
- then we'll do that as well.

It's very disappointing to have won three points at Cardiff away from home
and got nothing here. Certainly from our point of view I felt it was more
about our defensive lapses than the quality of Newcastle's play to score
both goals, even though they were two good finishes. We could have done
better.

In the end, the fighting spirit and the fight back was there but, you know.
I was watching Sunderland before our game and I was thinking "come on lads,
do a Sunderland for me" - because they came back well today in the early
game against Southampton. It didn't look like they were going to get much
from the game in the first half-an-hour.

But chances were there and we missed them when we could have got it back to
2-2. I think the one at the end went in with just a few seconds left so it
didn't mean too much, that one.

Can you explain what happened in the first half?

We didn't defend very well.

In what way?

In the way that we had five defenders missing or injured and one who should
have played but pulled out this morning. Five of our defenders are not
playing and our back four today had never played together at all this
season.

When you get continuous disruption in your back four, you don't then get a
solid unit. Sometimes the solid unit that you would like is difficult to
keep when players aren't used to playing with each other. Newcastle's
players, in that period, exposed the weaknesses we have and scored two
goals.

Alan Pardew made the point that had Andy Carroll been fully match fit or
sharp he might have put that one away. Is it going to take a few games to
get full match fitness?

Well it's eight months since he's played and he's had a long, gruelling
rehabilitation programme that's frustrated everybody. With Andy back, Kevin
back, Ravel back and Winston Reid, Guy Demel, Joey O'Brien and George
McCartney back as soon as possible... It's critical for us.

Without those players we get the results we're getting and our run of
results recently contains too many defeats. Six defeats, two draws and only
one victory tells you the problem that all those injuries and all those
disruptions have caused us.

If we're going to get out of it, those players have to stay fit. If
additional players can come in... which we're finding extremely difficult to
achieve. I had a terrible day yesterday when I thought that one player was
signing for us and then I found out he wasn't. But there you go, we have to
carry on.

Was that Traore? Is the deal still alive?

It's unlikely, by the sound of it.

In your understanding of the work permit, is he now allowed to join another
team despite you lodging the..?

....They can apply for a work permit - like we did - now. They'll have to
make a second application but obviously they know that if we got it, they
know they'll get it.

Have you made an enquiry about taking Thomas Vermaelen on loan?

No, because I think that under the circumstances Arsenal are in, with the
Champions League coming up and other Cup matches they've had to use him as
soon as any of the two central defenders have been injured. I don't think
there's any chance we'll get someone of his quality. It'd be nice if we
could.

Have you got any other targets?

I've a long list of targets and I haven't got one of them yet apart from
Roger Johnson! So I'll keep going and hope we get some.

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Allardyce: Traore deal dead
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 18th January 2014
By: Staff Writer

Sam Allardyce has admitted that the deal to sign Lacina Traore is almost
certainly dead in the water. Allardyce, speaking after West Ham's
disappointing 3-1 reversal at home to Newcastle this afternoon told
reporters that any deal is now "unlikely" after another unnamed club, known
to be Everton, came in for the player. "I had a terrible day yesterday when
I found out that one player I thought was signing for us wasn't," he said.
And on the question of obtaining a work permit, he added: "They [Everton]
can apply for a work permit like we did, they have to do a second
application. Obviously if we got it they know they can get it."
Everton are thought to have signed Traore on loan for the rest of the season
with view to an extra year should all parties agree. We'll have more from
Allardyce's post-match press conference later...

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Newcastle pile pressure on West Ham with Upton Park win
Last Updated: 18/01/14 6:51pm
SSN

Newcastle United got back to winning ways with a 3-1 victory at Upton Park
which pushed West Ham United into the Premier League drop zone. Yohan Cabaye
and Loic Remy made the most of the Magpies' control in the first half to
open up a commanding lead, and the Hammers were unable to build on the
lifeline of a Mike Williamson own goal as they conceded a third late on.

Best of the match

Man of the match: Yohan Cabaye. Two well-taken goals and makes Newcastle
tick.

Goal of the match: Cabaye's first saw him show great composure to collect a
pass, open up his body and stroke the ball into the bottom corner.

Moment of the match: Carlton Cole and Andy Carroll spurned glorious
opportunities to haul West Ham level, and were made to pay.

Talking point: Can West Ham steer clear of trouble? Are Newcastle contenders
for a European spot?

It took just 16 minutes for the visitors to break the deadlock, after three
Premier League games without a win or a goal, with Yoan Gouffran allowed to
carry the ball towards the box and tee up Cabaye to calmly stroke into the
bottom corner. Remy doubled that advantage on 33 minutes, with a Moussa
Sissoko cross picking him out six yards out - and the Frenchman made no
mistake as he controlled on his chest and poked under Adrian. West Ham found
a route back into the tie on the stroke of half-time, as Carlton Cole
bundled past a sliding Tim Krul and the unfortunate Williamson saw the ball
ricochet off his shin and over the line, but it was to be an afternoon of
further home discomfort for the Hammers. Cabaye made sure of that deep into
second half stoppage-time as he whipped a 20-yard free-kick over the wall
and past a full stretch Adrian, who could only touch the effort onto the
inside of the post. The Magpies in full flow were great to watch but they
will face few more accommodating back fours than Razvan Rat, James Collins,
Roger Johnson and Matt Taylor. Cabaye and Remy benefited from some woeful
defending and had the Magpies been just a little more clinical, the contest
would have been over by half-time. Injury-hit West Ham's shortcomings in
defence were exposed in the opening minutes when Cabaye threaded a terrific
pass to Remy. The Frenchman outfoxed Johnson and Collins and, having
created enough room to take a shot, sent the ball narrowly wide of the left
post. When Cabaye was given the opportunity to put Newcastle ahead in the
16th minute, he seized his chance. Yoan Gouffran darted infield and found
Cabaye, who took two touches and passed the ball into the net with West
Ham's passive defence all but waving him through.

It was turning into the Cabaye show as the French midfielder set up Moussa
Sissoko with a long pass, which should have been buried, before shooting
just wide himself. The half-hour mark saw West Ham's first chance, but
Stewart Downing stabbed the ball straight into the arms of Tim Krul. Any
hope that Downing's attempt might inspire the Hammers faded almost
immediately as Newcastle capitalised on more shambolic defending to surge
2-0 ahead. Sissoko floated in a cross that should have been cleared with
ease, but instead Remy was able to glide unmarked into the six-yard box and
stab home. West Ham have slipped back into the relegation zone but Sam
Allardyce is adamant he won't rush back star man Andy Carroll. Remarkably,
given the run of play, West Ham pulled one back deep into first-half injury
time and this time Newcastle's defence was at fault. Rat provided the cross
to Cole, who chested the ball down and muscled his way through two
defenders, Williamson adjudged to have got the final touch as the ball found
its way past Krul. The goal seemed only to be a momentary lapse in
concentration as Cabaye tested Adrian early in the second half, but slowly
West Ham began to display some stomach for the fight. A hint of complacency
had crept into Newcastle's play and it was now the Hammers who were driving
forward. Cole should have rounded off Matt Taylor's hard work by dispatching
the equaliser but instead he blundered over a simple chance, steering the
ball wide with the target at his mercy. Carroll's first appearance of the
season at Upton Park was greeted by a loud cheer, but when the stage
beckoned for the England forward to deliver he skied the ball into the
stands. Fittingly, it was the brilliant Cabaye who supplied Newcastle's
third goal in the 95th minute with a spectacular free-kick strike from the
edge of the box.

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Sam Allardyce admits West Ham are unlikely to sign Lacina Traore and Thomas
Vermaelen
Last Updated: 18/01/14 10:54pm
SSN

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has admitted they are set to miss out on Lacina
Traore and that a move for Arsenal's Thomas Vermaelen is unlikely to happen.
Allardyce is desperately searching for new faces to bolster his injury-hit
squad as he looks to steer West Ham out of trouble at the wrong end of the
table.
Allarydce has admitted he was was considering a move for Vermaelen, but
concedes Arsenal are unlikely to let the Belgian leave as the battle for
honours on three fronts in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.
"I think under the circumstances at Arsenal with the situation they're in
with the Champions League and cup matches, they've had to use him
[Vermaelen] as soon as any of the two defenders are injured," noted
Allardyce. "I don't think there's any chance we'll get someone of his
quality, but it would be nice if we could. "I'll keep going and hope we get
some [new players]. Allardyce also confirmed Monaco striker Traore will not
be making the move to Upton Park despite the Hammers agreeing a deal with
Monaco and applying for a work permit for the Ivory Coast forward. Reports
have suggested Everton have hijacked the deal for Traore and Allardyce says
there is nothing they can do to stop the Goodison Park outfit signing the
player. When asked after Saturday's defeat to Newcastle if Traore would be
signing, he said: "It's unlikely by the sounds of it. "We're finding it
extremely difficult (to bring players in). "We had a terrible day yesterday
(Friday) when I thought a player was signing for us and then I found out he
wasn't, but there you go. [Any other club] can apply for a work permit like
we did. "They would have to do a separate application."

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Allardyce says West Ham must ease Andy Carroll back
Last Updated: 18/01/14 6:29pm
SSN

Sam Allardyce says he has no choice but to ease Andy Carroll back into
action despite West Ham United sitting in the drop zone. The Hammers tumbled
back into the bottom three on Saturday after going down 3-1 at home to
Newcastle United. It had been suggested in the build-up to the game that
Carroll may be offered a starting berth against his former employers. He
made his long-awaited return to action after foot and ankle problems in a
2-0 win at Cardiff City, but is being forced to make do with a place on the
bench as West Ham favour a cautious approach when it comes to his long-term
fitness. On his decision to give Carroll half-an-hour against Newcastle,
Allardyce told Sky Sports: "I don't care what anyone says, we do what we
have been doing all season - it's the medical side that decide on how we get
Andy Carroll back fit and playing, not anyone else. "It's a difficult period
for us in the defensive side of it and I think that's the reason why we
conceded three goals today - not that they didn't try really hard, just the
unfamiliarity in our defensive unit at the moment."

"My decision, via the medical process, says that if you risk any more than
that, then you risk the lad getting injured again. Is that what we want? "He
is our biggest major asset that we have signed and we want him on the pitch
playing every week. We have to do that slowly. "Irrespective of how
desperate it gets, it's more about making sure Andy stays fit for the
entirety of this season to try and help us get some results than it is to
risk him for another 15 minutes and get him injured again."

Carroll spurned one glorious opportunity to level matters when West Ham
trailed 2-1, but Allardyce believes it is issues at the back - where he
continues to be denied the services of key senior performers - which are
costing his side dear. He said on a 12th defeat of the season: "We had quite
a bright start and had we shown a bit more quality in the final third, we
might have caused more problems. We didn't get a chance in that period and
then the two goals were a lot down to our deficiencies rather than the
opponent's play. "We came fighting back from that and got a lifeline just
before half-time with the goal, and the second half we piled the pressure on
but couldn't convert the chances that we created. "Again, it's really
disappointing because I keep telling the players and reminding them that
this period is difficult because we haven't drawn enough, never mind won
enough. You always set out in games thinking if you can win it, that's
great, but make sure you don't lose it. We are losing too many and we have
got to put that right as quickly as possible. "What will help us put that
right will be suspended players back - James Tomkins and Kevin Nolan - and
injured players as quickly as we possibly can. "George McCartney ended up
with a severe neck problem this morning, worse than we expected, so he
couldn't be selected. We put Matt Taylor in at right-back and two central
defenders who had never played together before, so it's a difficult period
for us in the defensive side of it and I think that's the reason why we
conceded three goals today - not that they didn't try really hard, just the
unfamiliarity in our defensive unit at the moment. "Because it has to change
every week, that is causing us a few problems in terms of the goals that
we're conceding. At the other end, we haven't scored enough all season."

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JUST WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE LACINA TRAORE LOAN?
By Sean Whetstone 18 Jan 2014 at 21:43
West Ham Till I Die

It is has widely reported in the media that Everton have hijacked our loan
deal for Lacina Traore. This now appears to be have been confirmed by Sam
Allardyce after the match.

West Ham successfully applied for a work permit through the FA appointed
appeal panel last week paying the required £1,000 + VAT fee as well as going
to the expense of preparing the appeal with Sam Allardyce and secretary
Andrew Pincher giving up their time to give evidence for the work permit. It
is my interpretation of the UK Border Agency rules that West Ham would be
named as the sponsor and the work permit issued is non transferable.

A certificate of Sponsorship is assigned to a player by the applicant Club
which must be submitted to the FA. The work permit situation is further
complicated that it went through on appeal. The regulations which can be
found HERE seem to suggest "If a player is moving to another club on loan
then the new club must make a fresh application before the player can play
for them. If the player does not meet the criteria and the club have
requested a panel, the panel will be arranged."

That would mean the FA appointed panel would need to sit again to make a
fresh recommendation to the UK Border Agency to issue a new work permit for
Everton. The panel regulations forbid another appeal hearing for the same
player within a four month period when the appeal has unsuccessful although
it is less clear within the rules if the appeal was successful. This is this
loophole Everton could use to get their own work permit building on West
Ham's effort to get the first one.

I understand West Ham agreed a loan fee with Monaco believed to be around
£500,000 but had not agreed personal terms and it was still subject to a
medical.

I also understand West Ham 's medical assessed Traore's match fitness and
possible hamstring injury which led them to believe he would not be fully
match fit for up to six weeks. At that stage I am told West Ham tried to
renegotiate the loan deal terms.

In the mean time the player had his head turned and decided he did want want
to come to West Ham and preferred Everton.

It may be no coincidence that West Ham's new Head of Sports Medicine and
former Everton physio Dominic Rogan may have advised West Ham on Traore's
fitness. Dominic Rogan was previously with Russian Premier League club Anzhi
Makhachkala where Lacina Traore has just transferred from. Rogan would have
been in a very good position to advise on Traore. Maybe this is a blessing
in disguise as we need a striker now not in six weeks time.

In his post match press conference Sam Allardyce admitted that it is
"unlikely by, the sound of it" that West Ham will be signing Lacina Traore,
He hinted that the move for 23-year-old Traore collapsed unexpectedly on
Friday. He said "We're finding it extremely difficult (to bring players in)
We had a terrible day yesterday (Friday) when I thought a player was signing
for us and then I found out he wasn't" You can see his post match interview
below.

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Alan Pardew a shock contender for West Ham job if Hammers decide to sack Sam
Allardyce
Jan 18, 2014 22:30 By Dave Kidd 3 Comments
The Mirror

The Newcastle boss remains close friends with David Gold, the east London
side's co-owner, and used to manage the club between 2003 and 2006

Alan Pardew will be a shock contender for the West Ham manager's job – if
they sack Sam Allardyce. The Newcastle boss is a close friend of Hammers
co-owner David Gold and was in charge of the Hammers from 2003 until 2006
under a previous regime. Pardew's family home is still in London. After
yesterday's defeat, Allardyce said: "The players have to realise it's now
about results, not performances. "There are 16 games to go and, at least
now, we have good players coming back from injury." West Ham's co-owners
Gold and David Sullivan are keen to back Allardyce, as they would have to
pay him £4million in compensation if they fire him.

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Newcastle defeat leaves West Ham desperate for Winston Reid's return
Saturday 18 Jan 2014 8:23 pm
Metro.co.uk

Winston Reid's extended absence has had a huge impact on West Ham's season.
In the darkest hours of the Blitz, the people of the East End took heart
from the leadership of Winston Churchill. As West Ham's season-long struggle
continues following their latest Premier League defeat, once again
Eastenders are left hoping a Winston can inspire them to victory – but this
one is from New Zealand, not Blenheim Palace. For all the attention paid to
their problems up front this season, arguably the real reason for West Ham's
current plight is weakness at the back, much of it down to the absence of
one player – Winston Reid. With the Kiwi calling the shots in defence, West
Ham kept six clean sheets in their opening 10 Premier League games; since he
was ruled out with a long-term ankle injury in November, they have managed
just three in 15 games in all competitions – tellingly, against the two
teams below them in the league, Sunderland and Cardiff, and the one above
them, Fulham. Every setback for the other strugglers is a positive for West
Ham. A week ago club co-owner David Gold tweeted that Reid had told him he
was 'close to a return' and with three out of four games in February against
teams in the bottom half of the table, his return cannot come soon enough.
No offence to Roger Johnson, drafted in on loan from Wolves earlier this
month to add height and experience to the defence, but Reid is the player
the back line and the whole team are crying out for. Johnson knows all about
relegation battles, having been involved in them for each of the last three
seasons at Birmingham and Wolves – but ominously for West Ham fans, they
have all ended in failure. Reid's absence was felt yet again on Saturday as
West Ham went down 3-1 at home to a Newcastle team who came into the match
on a poor run of form. The home team's defensive frailties were exposed as
early as the 16th minute when Yohan Cabaye shot the visitors ahead. Loic
Remy doubled the lead before only a fine save from Adrian prevented Cabaye
adding another, with Mike Williamson's own goal just before the break giving
the home fans something to cheer. Andy Caroll's second half introduction for
his first home appearance of the season was another positive but he could
not live up to the hoped-for script with a goal against his former side, and
at the death Cabaye's second wrapped up Newcastle's victory and put West Ham
back in the drop zone. Sam Allardyce's side should count their blessings
that things are so competitive at the foot of the table this season – the
bottom seven teams are covered by just three points – so February's fixture
list means that just a couple of decent results could make a huge difference
to the standings. If Reid is fit to play a part, those wins are a far more
realistic proposition. If not, then the likelihood of the curse of Roger
Johnson striking yet again grows ever greater.

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Vermaelen to West Ham OFF as Allardyce fumes at losing Traore to Everton
Express.co.uk
By: James DickensonPublished: Sat, January 18, 2014


WEST HAM manager Sam Allardyce lamented his bad luck in the transfer market
after seeing moves for Thomas Vermaelen and Lacina Traore scuppered by
Arsenal and Everton. Sam Allardyce is struggling to bring in new faces at
West Ham Sam Allardyce is struggling to bring in new faces at West Ham
[REUTERS]
Allardyce's side were plunged deeper into relegation trouble after losing
3-1 at home to former club Newcastle. And the West Ham boss revealed after
the game that neither Vermaelen or Traore will be heading to Upton Park. "I
had a terrible day yesterday when I thought one player was signing for us
and then I found out he wasn't," Allardyce said. "It's unlikely," he added
when asked if a deal for Traore was still alive. "They can apply for a work
permit like we did although they would have to a separate application and
obviously if we got it they know they will get it." Express Sport
understands Everton are set to sign the Ivory Coast international on loan
from Monaco after muscling their way in front of the Hammers for his
services. And a move for Vermaelen has been pulled by Allardyce as he feels
Arsenal would be unlikely to allow him to leave. "No, because I think that
under the circumstances and position Arsenal are in with the Champions
League coming up and cup matches that they've had to use him as soon as any
of the other two central defenders are injured," he said. "I don't think
theres any chance we will get someone with his quality." Allardyce joked
about the length of his list of targets, having only brought in Roger
Johnson on loan so far in the January transfer window.

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