Daily WHUFC News - 5th October 2014

Preview - QPR
WHUFC.com
All the key info ahead of Sunday's game against Queens Park Rangers
04.10.2014

WEST HAM UNITED v QUEENS PARK RANGERS
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
BOLEYN GROUND
SUNDAY 5 OCTOBER 2014
KICK-OFF: 4.15PM
REFEREE: ANTHONY TAYLOR
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In brief
West Ham United play their final game before the October international break
on Sunday when they host London rivals Queens Park Rangers.
The Hammers will want to register a second successive home victory,
following the 3-1 win over Liverpool on 20 September.
That three-point haul saw Winston Reid, Diafra Sakho and Morgan Amalfitano
hit the back of the net to cap a dominant display from the Hammers.
Although they could not back it up at Manchester United last week, there
were still many positives to take from the 2-1 defeat and Sam Allardyce will
be targeting a third win of the campaign.
QPR, meanwhile, have lost all three of their away games to date, suffering
4-0 defeats at Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, before going down
2-1 at Southampton last weekend.
Their sole success came at Loftus Road against Sunderland, and they have
four points from six starts, leaving them in 18th position..

Who are they?
Formed in 1882, Queens Park Rangers' early football was joined the Football
League in 1920, three years after settling at Loftus Road.
Their honours include winning the League Cup in 1967, being runners-up in
the top flight in 1975/76 and reaching the FA Cup final in 1982, when they
lost to Tottenham Hotspur after a replay.
They won promotion back to the top flight via the play-offs last season,
with former Hammer Bobby Zamora netting a dramatic late winner against Derby
County.

Team news
West Ham United
Sam Allardyce still expects to be without Mark Noble, Joey O'Brien and
Cheikhou Kouyate as they continue to come back from injury.
However, Matt Jarvis and Kevin Nolan have both resumed training and hope to
be involved for the London derby, but Guy Demel will be assessed late on
after suffering an injury in training.

QPR
Sandro has been cleared to play after suffering a heavy blow to the head in
last weekend's defeat at Southampton.
Joey Barton and Jordon Mutch have been nursing hamstring injuries and face
fitness tests.

Referee
Sunday's referee will be Anthony Taylor. Taylor is in his fifth season on
the Select Group of referees appointed to control Barclays Premier League
fixtures.
The Greater Manchester-born official started refereeing in the Northern
Premier League in 2002 before being appointed to the Football League list at
the start of the 2006/07 season, refereeing his first match between Wrexham
and Peterborough United in League Two on 12 August 2006.
Taylor's first Premier League appointment was the 3 February 2010 encounter
between Fulham and former West Ham United manager Avram Grant's Portsmouth,
with the Cottagers winning 1-0. In July of the same year, he travelled to
Japan and refereed three J.League fixtures as part of referee exchange
programmes signed between the English FA and Japanese FA
Taylor took charge of West Ham versus Liverpool fixtures in each of the
previous two seasons - a 0-0 draw at Anfield on 7 April 2013 and Liverpool's
2-1 victory here on 6 April 2014.
In all, he has controlled five West Ham matches during his career.
The 35-year-old took charge of Queens Park Rangers' 4-0 Barclays Premier
League defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on 24 August this year - one of eight QPR
fixtures he has refereed previously.
He was appointed to the FIFA List of referees in 2013 and has also taken
charge of UEFA European U21 Championship, UEFA Champions League and UEFA
Europa League qualifiers.
Taylor will be assisted by Gary Beswick and David Bryan, while the fourth
official will be Andre Marriner.

One to watch
West Ham United
Aaron Cresswell has enjoyed a fine start to life in a Hammers shirt, taking
the step up from Championship football in his stride.
The 24-year-old left back was a summer signing from Ipswich Town and has
played every minute of the Hammers' Barclays Premier League campaign to
date.
He will look to get up and down the touchline to assist with the home side's
attacks, while also keeping his eye on a first clean sheet of the campaign.
Queens Park Rangers
Rangers striker Charlie Austin will need to be shackled on Sunday if the
Hammers are to be successful.
The former Swindon and Burnley man joined QPR in summer 2013 and notched 17
league goals to help his new club to promotion.
After scoring spectacularly against Southampton last weekend, his confidence
will be high as he heads into this fixture.

Tickets
Standard tickets for this fixture have now SOLD OUT. However, a limited
number of re-listed Season Ticket Holder seats may be available online
through the Ticket Trader.

Travel
No planned closures will affect the eastern ends of the District or
Hammersmith & City lines on Sunday. Click here for the latest transport news
from Transport for London.

Weather
A dry day with sunny spells is expected on Sunday, with a temperature of 16C
(61F) at kick-off.

Charity
A group of QPR supporters will today make the long 14.5 mile walk from
Loftus Road to the Boleyn Ground in aid of the QPR Tiger Cubs, a football
team for children and young people with Downs Syndrome.
Run in partnership with the Downs Syndrome Association, the Tiger Cubs
project aims to create a multi-tier learning environment that will improve
the participants' overall physical, social and emotional health. The Trust
now runs three sessions for children and one adult's team.
To sponsor the walkers visit virginmoneygiving.com/tigerfeet6

Last meeting
West Ham United 1-1 Queens Park Rangers
Premier League
Saturday 19 January 2013
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Reid, Tomkins, O'Brien, Demel, Noble, Jarvis,
Nolan (Vaz Te 89), Diame, J.Cole, Chamakh (C.Cole 62)
Subs: Spiegel, Potts, Collison, Taylor, Diarra
Goal: J.Cole 68
QPR: Cesar, Hill, Onuoha, Nelsen, Fabio, Mbia, Derry, Taarabt (Park 82),
Wright-Phillips (Traore 59), Mackie (Bothroyd 67), Remy
Subs: Green, Ferdinand, Hoilett, Faurlin
Goal: Remy 14

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Cresswell targeting Hoops win
WHUFC.com
Aaron Cresswell is looking forward to Sunday's London derby against Queens
Park Rangers
04.10.2014

West Ham United left-back Aaron Cresswell has taken to life in the Barclays
Premier League like a duck to water. The 24-year-old was one of the Hammers'
first signings in a busy transfer window, as the Club recruited nine new
players in total. With the impressive performances of the recent arricals
such as Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia grabbing the headlines, Cresswell's
exploits have largely gone under the radar. Speaking ahead of Sunday's
London derby with Queens Park Rangers, he said: "We've put in some good
performances recently and had some good results too. "We should have got
something out of the Manchester United game, especially after they went down
to ten men. But there's a long way to go in the rest of the season, and
we're looking forward to each game."

Cresswell's move to the Boleyn Ground marked an impressive rise through the
Football League. After being released by boyhood club Liverpool at just 15
years old, he joined Tranmere Rovers and then Ipswich Town. "Being released
was heartbreaking. I supported Liverpool as a boy, so to be released by them
was really hard. "In a way it's helped me get where I am today, and I'm very
proud of that. In the end it worked out well for me because you get more
playing opportunities at lower league level."

Speaking about the Hammers' emphatic 3-1 win over Liverpool last time out at
the Boleyn Ground, he said: "It was a good day. I had about nine or ten of
my family down to watch the match. To get the three points was a great
feeling. "I think a couple of them jumped up when Liverpool scored! I'm sure
the West Ham weren't too happy about that, but it was of those moments. I'll
take the three points all day."
So far Cresswell has played every minute of every league match, and he is
set to continue his run in the team. "If I'm honest I've played more than
expected to. But that can only be a good thing. I didn't come in thinking
I'd play a certain amount of times but it's going well for me so far. "I'm
taking it each game as it comes. I'm looking forward to every game we play
and concentrating on doing well for West Ham United."

When comparing the differences between the Premier League and the lower
league, the defender explains: "Everything is very different in the lower
leagues than it is here. Obviously there's more money to spend on facilities
in the Premier League. But at the same time, the same rules apply anywhere
in football, hard work and determination is the key. "When West Ham came
knocking on my door it was impossible to turn down. When I heard they wanted
me, it was an easy decision to make."

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Jarvis looking ahead to QPR
WHUFC.com
West Ham United winger Matt Jarvis cannot wait to be back in first team
action
05.10.2014

West Ham United winger Matt Jarvis is looking forward to facing Queens Park
Rangers this Sunday at the Boleyn Ground. The pacey winger has been out of
action so far this season after he picked up a thigh injury on the eve of
the new campaign. The 28-year-old is near to full fitness as he played 80
minutes in the Under 21s' 2-0 win over Sunderland on Monday night, setting
up Elliot Lee's first of the evening with a pin point corner. "I can't wait
to get back on the pitch," he explained. "I haven't played yet this season
after having a good pre-season so I'm really looking forward to it."

Describing his frustration at missing the Hammers' good start to the league
campaign, he continued: "I'm a terrible spectator, ask anyone they'll tell
you the same. It's very frustrating as I did the whole of pre-season and got
injured just at the end."

In Jarvis' absence new signings such as Morgan Amalfitano and Diafra Sakho
have impressed in their brief time at the Club. "The team have been doing
extremely well so you can't expect to go straight back into the team. I'm
going to have to keep working hard in training and if I get an opportunity I
need to take it. "Competition for places is very important. It's important
to have good strength in depth to help us push up the league."

Jarvis is delighted with the attacking style of football the Hammers have
displayed in 2014/15. "I think everyone has noticed the difference. We're
playing more attacking football, creating more chances and shooting more.
The results have been good but I also think we can still improve. "We want
to improve year on year which means getting into the top ten and then
pushing for a European place. We all want to do the best that we can and the
move to the new stadium will help with that."

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Alex on Song for QPR derby
WHUFC.com
West Ham United midfielder Alex Song is looking ahead to the QPR game on
Sunday
05.10.2014

West Ham United midfielder Alex Song is relishing the prospect of playing
Queens Park Rangers on Sunday at the Boleyn Ground. Having joined the
Hammers from European giants Barcelona on loan, Song is enjoying being back
in the Premier League after a seven year spell at Arsenal. Song's home debut
could not have gone much better for him or West Ham as they secured a 3-1
win over Liverpool in a dominant display. Speaking ahead of his first London
derby since returning to England, Song said: "We need to start like we did
against Liverpool. We have to concentrate on ourselves because we can still
improve and if we do that we'll play very well. "The QPR game is very
important and we have to win if we want to get into the top ten. We have to
be focused and show our desire to win. If we play like we did in the second
half against Manchester United we have a good opportunity to win."

Despite good performances, the Hammers only have seven points for the
efforts so far. With QPR only three points behind, Song knows the team are
in for a tough match "QPR have good players and we need to respect them. But
we are playing at home in front of our fans and we need to win. We will give
our best for them to make them happy this Sunday. "We have to try our best,
if we do that we can finish in the top ten. "We might be able to get Europe
if we play very well, it is possible for sure. For me it is very important
that we aim high. It is also very important for the fans. I'm not saying
we'll get into the top four, but we will try to finish as high as possible
in the league. "Everyone is focused on that, it won't be easy with clubs
like Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal who are very strong. But we have
to stay positive."

Having been used sparingly by Barcelona, Song is nearing full fitness after
featuring in the Hammers' last three matches. "I'm feeling good. In the last
two years I haven't played a lot. In the past I was playing 45 games a year,
then I stopped to about 15 games a year. It is a very big gap, I need a bit
of time but I know I am getting there. When I am back to full fitness you'll
see more of what I can do."

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Sam Allardyce wants West Ham fans to respect QPR's returning old boys
Last Updated: 05/10/14 7:51am
SSN

Sam Allardyce has urged the West Ham fans to give QPR's former Hammers a
warm reception when the two sides meet at Upton Park live on Sky Sports
Super Sunday. Rob Green, Rio Ferdinand and Bobby Zamora have collectively
made more than 500 appearances for the Hammers while Harry Redknapp was West
Ham manager for six seasons from 1994. The quartet are all now plying their
trade on the other side of the capital but Allardyce insists their time in
East London should not be forgotten when they return to Upton Park this
weekend. "I think they should get a warm reception as all three of them were
here for a considerable amount of time - they weren't short-term stays,"
Allardyce said.
We would like them to be very miserable at the end of the game though. "The
year I had Robert (Green) when he helped us get back in to the Premier
League, he was a great professional, and we all know about Rio."Harry has
been managing longer than me - one of the few left who has."I think they
will all come back with an extra determination to return to their old club
and show everyone what they can still do."

Despite making some high-profile signings in the summer, QPR have struggled
so far this season and find themselves sitting 18th in the table.Ferdinand
and Steven Caulker were among the big names to arrive at Loftus Road but the
team have conceded 13 goals in six games - the most in the division – and
questions have been asked about the pair's performances. Alex Song says that
there were several clubs interested in him during the transfer window but
wanted to return to the Premier League and the midfielder is It's a team
game, I don't think you can point out those two individuals," Allardyce
added. "They have had a transition because they've changed the way they have
played - they thought that the back three would work and now they've moved
to a back four. "They will be talking about how much protection they are
getting - or not getting - from the midfield players to stop those goals
going in."

Allardyce has responded to the demands of the West Ham chairmen for a more
attacking style of football this season with the Hammers scoring 10 goals in
their opening six matches. At the heart of the more expansive approach has
been the resurgence of Stewart Downing, who has flourished in a more central
role behind the strikers. Regarding Downing's form this season, Allardyce
said: "His experience means he's made that transition to his new role very
quickly. "A player of his ability gets more possession on the inside than
he does on the outside and that's why he's more impressive. He's not past
his best by any stretch of the imagination. "You only get past your best
when your legs can't carry you where you want to go and Stewart is one of
our fittest players. "There's one angle for Stewart that he should score
more goals for the chances he creates and that he gets, but hopefully he'll
get that more this year playing in a different position."

West Ham entered the weekend lying 13th in the table but only three points
above QPR and the bottom three. Allardyce says it is never too early for
supporters to grow frustrated and believes it is vitally important to
maintain a gap above the relegation spots. "The pressure affects us all if
you're in and around the bottom even at this stage of the season," he said.
"There's no give or take whether it's the start, middle or end of the season
so you have to avoid ever being there if you can. "The only way of doing
that is to make sure you win and if you don't win make sure you draw - if we
had drawn rather than lost some of our games we'd be two or three points
better than we are now."That kind of gap can be important to take the
pressure off so it's almost a six-pointer on Sunday."

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West Ham new boy Diafra Sakho says he NEEDED to be a footballer following
his Dad's sudden death
Oct 04, 2014 22:30 By Steve Stammers
The Hammers' £4.5million summer recruit realised he had to financially
provide for his family after his father suddenly passed away
The Mirror

If Diafra Sakho needed further inspiration to succeed as a professional
footballer it came soon after he arrived in the French city of Metz. Sakho
had just left the sprawling poverty Guedeiawaye near the Senagalese capital
of Dakar and was adjusting to the lifestyle of his new home in an affluent
city in the North East of France. "It was not easy," Sakho recalled. "It was
so different to what I had left behind in Senegal. And back there, of
course, were all my family and friends. It was a new culture. "

But then came the news of the death of his father Mamadou at the age of 55.
His mother Diakha was left with four children to feed and educate and
precious little income. The choice for Sakho was made. "Suddenly I was the
senior man in the house, the oldest," he said. "It was my responsibility to
look after them. It made me even more determined to become a footballer."

And you have to say that he has achieved that aim in impressive fashion. At
18, Sakho knew he was the one wage­ earner in the family and a huge
proportion of his then modest salary was sent back to his mother.As he
progressed at Metz, so did his bank balance and so did the money he was able
to send to Diakha. "To lose my father was terrible for me but I knew what I
had to do for my mother and my two brothers and sister. It was up to me to
provide for them. That was my role, my duty. It gave perspective in my
life."

He was driven right enough. So much so that in the summer West Ham paid Metz
£4.5 million to bring him to Upton Park. That has enabled the 24­-year­-old
to ensure that his family in Guediawaye live in a new house, that his mother
can go to the town's huge covered market with the means to ensure the family
is fed and that his brother Amara has decent boots to wear at the Generation
Foot Academy near Dakar where he is emerging as a central defender of some
promise. Education is gold­dust in Senegal. His sister Orokhya has struck
gold because her elder brother is paying for her eduaction. A far cry from
the days when – in bare feet – Sakho played in the dusty streets. He was
spotted as the same academy which is now nurturing his brother and invited
to Metz. "That wasn't easy at first," he recalled. "Yes, there was some
racism but only some. You ignore that, you work harder and you become a
better player."

And Sakho believes there were some benefits from his early experiences
despite the demanding environment. "It makes you harder, definitely," he
said. "I am not really afraid of anything when I go on the field. It is not
possible to intimidate me. I can look after myself. I have had to learn to
do that on and off the field. "I have had many changes in my life but I have
been able to adapt. I have shown I can handle that. London is great, I love
it. But it is very different to Metz. And that was very different to
Senegal."But I have shown what is possible. Maybe the kids in Senegal may
see me on the television now and I hope they will see what is possible in
their lives."If I can do it, so can they."

And Sakho is certainly making his point on the field with West Ham. He never
shirks a challenge and it is unlikely any defender will be able to bully him
out of a game. "No, I am not afraid or anything like that," he said ahead of
this afternoon's clash with Queens Park Rangers at Upton Park. "After my
experiences, what is there to be afraid of? I love the physical side of the
game in England. It suits me."

He is sure to capture attention back in his homeland this afternoon – and
nowhere will more attention be paid than in the home he has been able to buy
for his family and they will watch the man of the house in action on the
television he bought them. "I am just happy I was able to do that," he said.
"Hopefully I will score a goal for them."

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West Ham star Diafra Sakho started a fire in his apartment while trying to
boil water
POSTED BY ROB PARKER - OCTOBER 5, 2014 - ALL NEWS, ODDBALLS, WEST HAM
Off the Post

West Ham striker Diafra Sakho started a fire in his apartment this week
after he forgot about a pan of water he had left boiling on his stove. The
Hammers new boy started boiling the water then jumped in the shower and
forgot about it. A fire started, which put the lives of him and three
team-mates, damaged his apartment and caused an evacuation of the building.
The incident happened shortly before 8pm on Wednesday evening and was
revealed by West Ham chief executive Karren Brady in her column in The Sun
on Sunday. She wrote: "At 8pm I get a call to say [Sakho] has had a fire in
his apartment which causes damaged and an evacuation. "Everyone in the block
(including three other Hammers) are unhurt. "Apparently, he did all this
making a cuppa by boiling water on his stove while he had a shower. I've
bought him an electric kettle."

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Early squad news on Tomkins and Nolan
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on October 5, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

James Tomkins has been included in Sam Allardyce's squad for today's clash.
Suggestion in the national press earlier in the week that the manager would
not include the central defender have proved false. ClaretandHugh was told
this morning: "James has been included in our 20 man squad and could well be
named to start. Captain Kevin Nolan is also in the squad and as
ClaretandHugh suggested yesterday (Sat) looks likely to get the nod for a
starting place. Our source said: "Nolan is in the squad and will probably
start although nothing is certain until the team sheet appears!"

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Nolan? "Every boss has his pet players"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on October 4, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & HUgh

I'm fully expecting West Ham to beat Queens Park Rangers at the Boleyn
tomorrow although I don't believe it will be as easy as some may be
thinking. Harrry Redknapp is slowly getting his team together and they were
unfortunate not to come away from in-form Southampton with something last
weekend. With with so many ex Hammers on the way back they'll be well up for
this game. The Hammers, meanwhile, have to bounce back from the
disappointment of failing to get that last minute equaliser against
Manchester United – ruled out by the linesman who got the decision spot on
for me.

That strike of course from Kevin Nolan who looks set to play at the top of
the diamond tomorrow despite the moans and groans from the fans who have
gone off the skipper in recent months. He's called 'Sam's favourite' but the
fact is that every manager has his pet players and that will never change.
Sam Allardyce has relied on the captain to a large extent over his
managerial career because he knows he is a player with a brain who can get
into the box at the right time to score important goals – ten goals or so
from midfield is a pretty healthy return after ll.

I think he will probably play at the tip of the diamond and deserves the
chance to fed off Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho. If he fails now and in
the games ahead I think he will get them same treatment as any other player
as the manager has several options now. But let's give him a chance.

It's bad news for Diego Poyet who was excellent at Old Trafford but I can
see Nolan doing well in the new system – whatever the fans feelings it was
always going to happen so let's find out whether it can work because there's
plenty on the bench. Although Rangers are looking okay I think the Hammers
will have too much for them and take them to win 2-1

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com



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