Preview - Stoke City
WHUFC.com
Everything you need to know about the Hammers' trip to the Britannia Stadium
this Saturday
31.10.2014
STOKE CITY v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
BRITANNIA STADIUM
SATURDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2014
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: CHRIS FOY
In brief
West Ham United travel to the Britannia Stadium to play Stoke City on
Saturday, with the Hammers aiming to secure their fourth consecutive win in
the Barclays Premier League.
The Potters are currently 12th, having taken eleven points from their first
nine games. Mark Hughes' side have struggled for consistency this season,
securing a shock away victory at Manchester City yet losing at home to Aston
Villa and Leicester City.
Sam Allardyce's team are eight places ahead of Saturday's hosts with 16
points from their first nine games after the Hammers secured a deserved 2-1
victory over reigning champions Manchester City last weekend at the Boleyn
Ground. Goals from new signings Morgan Amalfitano and Diafra Sakho, his
sixth in as many games, secured the three points. Last season the Potters
secured a league double over the Hammers with a 3-1 victory in the same
fixture last term.
Who are they?
Formed in 1863 as Stoke Ramblers they became Stoke Football Club following a
merger with Stoke Victoria Athletic Club. Having turned professional in 1885
they became Stoke City Football Club in 1925 after Stoke-on-Trent was
granted 'City status'. The Potters moved from the Victoria Ground after 119
years to their current home at the Britannia Stadium in 1997. Stoke were
one of the twelve founding members of the Football League. Among their club
honours is winning the League Cup in 1971/72 as well as being crowned
Division Two champions in 1932/33 and 1962/63. More recently Stoke have
enjoyed one of their more successful eras having established themselves as a
Premier League club since promotion in 2008. They narrowly missed out on
being crowned FA Cup winners after losing to Manchester City 1-0 in the 2011
final.
Team news
West Ham United
Diafra Sakho will face a late fitness test to assess his recovery on a
shoulder injury picked up against Manchester City last Saturday.
James Tomkins has overcome his thigh injury and is available for selection,
as is winger Matt Jarvis following a knock. Andy Carroll is also back in
training but not yet ready to return to the first team.
Stoke City
Peter Crouch is unavailable due to suspension after being sent off in
Stoke's midweek 3-2 defeat by Southampton in the League Cup.
Influential players such as Robert Huth (calf) and Peter Odemwingie (knee)
are out while Glenn Whelan is also unavailable as he recovers from a broken
leg, he is expected to return in early December at the earliest.
Referee
Saturday's match referee will be Merseyside based Chris Foy. The experienced
referee took charge of his first Premier League match almost 13 years ago.
Foy has refereed five matches so far this season including the Hammers'
opening day 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur which included a James Collins
red card. In Foy's only game involving West Ham last season they lost 3-0 to
London rivals Chelsea.
One to watch
West Ham United
Aaron Cresswell has been a revelation since signing from Ipswich Town. The
24-year-old left back has taken to life in the Premier League like a duck to
water as he has played every minute of the Hammers' league campaign so far.
An energetic defender, Cresswell has won plaudits for his marauding runs
forward and excellent deliveries for the front men, claiming two assists in
the last two games after pinpoint crosses for Diafra Sakho to head home.
Stoke City
French midfielder Steven Nzonzi is a powerful figure in the centre of the
park for Stoke. The dominating 25-year-old is an integral part of Stoke's
line up having featured eleven times already this season. Nzonzi is a
competitive midfielder who can create openings for his teammates while not
afraid to put himself about and do the unglamorous hard graft.
Tickets
Standard tickets for this game have now sold out. Tickets for the Hammers
next home game with Aston Villa are available here.
Travel
Directions to the Britannia Stadium can be found here.
Weather
An overcast day with sunny spells is predicted for Saturday, with
temperature at kick-off of 12C (54F)
Last meeting
Stoke City 3-1 West Ham United
Barclays Premier League
15 March 2014
Stoke City came from a goal down to win 3-1 at the Britannia Stadium last
season. West Ham United striker Andy Carroll opened the scoring after just
five minutes before Stoke equalised after Peter Crouch's shot was deflected
in by Peter Odemwingie.
Stoke took the lead through Marko Arnautovic before Odemwingie sealed the
victory with eleven minutes to go.
Stoke City: Begovic, Wilson, Shawcross, Pieters (Muniesa 14), Cameron,
Whelan, Ireland, Odemwingie, Arnautovic, Nzonzi, Crouch
Subs not used: Shotton, Etherington, Palacios, Guidetti, Sorensen, Wilkinson
Goals: Crouch 32, Arnautovic 69, Odemwingie 79
West Ham United: Adrian, Demel, Reid, Tomkins, McCartney, Downing (J Cole
62), Noble, Diame, Nocerino (C Cole 76), Nolan, Carroll (Armero 83)
Subs: Jaaskelainen, Jarvis, Taylor, Collins
Goal: Carroll 5
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Cheikh mate
WHUFC.com
Cheikhou Kouyate hopes close friend Mame Biram Diouf fires a blank at Stoke
City on Saturday
31.10.2014
Usually, Cheikhou Kouyate is desperate for Mame Biram Diouf to hit the net
when the pair share the same pitch. On Saturday, though, the Senegal
national teammates and close friends will be on opposite sides when West Ham
United travel to Stoke City in the Barclays Premier League. The Hammers
midfielder, who made a successful return to action against Manchester City
after a month out with a groin injury, cannot wait for this weekend's trip
to the Britannia Stadium. "I'm happy to be back on the pitch," confirmed the
No8. "I didn't play for one month, which was very bad for me, but I'm back
now and I played against Manchester City last week and I'm very happy. "The
wins we have got were good for confidence for the team and we want to keep
this same mentality for us and the supporters. We must stay humble and
continue to work hard, because this is very important. "It will not be the
same game against Stoke as it was against City, but it will be a tough game
because Stoke are a hard team. They have a very strong mentality, but this
is an interesting one and one where our concentration is very important. If
all our players concentrate and show the same mentality, we can go for the
win again.
"Mame Biram Diouf is my big friend and my best friend with the national team
of Senegal. He is a very good striker, a very good player and scores all the
time, but I hope he doesn't score this Saturday!" Manager Sam Allardyce has
praised the speed with which Kouyate and his fellow summer arrivals have
settled at the Boleyn Ground and, in the case of the midfielder and strikers
Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho, into English football. The Senegalese star
said midfielder partners Alex Song, Mark Noble and Kevin Nolan had played a
big part in helping the overseas arrivals feel at home. "It has been a big
change in culture for myself, Enner and Diafra. Alex has been here before
and played for Arsenal, while for myself, Enner and Diafra it is all new.
Alex has helped us to gain confidence. "Mark Noble and Kevin Nolan have also
helped us settle into the team, which is very important for us as players.
Football is our lives and it is not easy to come into a new country, because
you don't know the culture or the football, but the other players have
helped us. "It is difficult and it will take a little time for us to settle
fully, but we have the support here to do so."
On Tuesday evening - hopefully with a win at Stoke under his belt - Kouyate
will make the shorter trip across London to the Emirates Stadium, where he
will watch former team RSC Anderlecht take on Arsenal in the UEFA Champions
League. The Belgian champions came within a few minutes of shocking the
Gunners at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium in Brussels last week,
conceding twice late on to lose 2-1. The midfielder is hoping for better
luck in the second meeting. "I will go to the game to support Anderlecht -
this is my team and my family from my time in Belgium. I will be there for
Anderlecht, because they did great things for me and my family. "They were
very unlucky in the first game, which usually they would have won 2-0 or
3-0, because they played a very good game. It was a very big shame for
everyone at Anderlecht."
Following his trip to north London, Kouyate will fly to Senegal to prepare
for two vital Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers away in Egypt and home to
Botswana. A win over the Pharaohs would see Senegal qualify for the finals
in Morocco in early 2015, but defeat would leave Les Lions de la Teranga
needing to beat Botswana and rely on Egypt slipping up. "I didn't play in
our defeat in Tunisia last month, which was very upsetting. Now we have a
very important game in Egypt, where we will qualify if we win. If we don't
win, it will be difficult.
"This is a very, very difficult game in Egypt, but we will be playing for
our country, for ourselves and for our people. It will be good if Senegal
qualify, and we have to do it. It is impossible that we will not qualify."
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Pask turns professional
WHUFC.com
U18's Josh Pask has signed his first professional contract with the Hammers
01.11.2014
West Ham United Academy player Josh Pask is the latest player to have signed
his first professional contract at the club. The central defender has signed
a three year contract on his 17th birthday, having first joined the Academy
at just eight years old. Pask has been an U18s regular having made nine
appearances as an U16 schoolboy, and is now forcing his way into the
Development Squad side. Speaking after the signing of his first professional
deal, he said: "It's definitely a proud day for me and my family. I've
worked really hard for this. When West Ham offered me the contract, I
thought why not take it. Arsenal offered me a contract as well but I thought
West Ham was the best place for me."
When Pask first joined the Academy he started out as a striker, yet over the
years the coaching staff at the West Ham Academy transformed him into a
commanding centre-back. Now, Pask hopes to emulate fellow academy products
James Tomkins and Rio Ferdinand. "I've been here for long time now, eight
years already but it has flown by. I've thoroughly enjoyed it here so far
and I'm looking forward to that continuing. Hopefully I'll involved in the
first team sometime soon. This season, Pask has played an integral role in
the U18s' eight-game unbeaten start to the season. As part of that run,
Steve Potts' men managed to keep three consecutive clean sheets. Pask's
performances were recognized as he made his U21 debut as a substitute
against Liverpool as well as starting against Athletic Bilbao and Manchester
United.
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Big Sam waits on Sakho fitness
WHUFC.com
The Hammers will give Diafra Sakho every chance to play in Saturday's game
at Stoke City
31.10.2014
Sam Allardyce says he will wait until the last minute to make a decision
over Diafra Sakho's fitness ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League game
at Stoke City. The Hammers head to the Britannia Stadium looking for a
fourth straight win, but have doubts over Sakho after he injured his
shoulder in last weekend's 2-1 victory over Manchester City. The manager
rates his chances of playing as touch and go, but says he has the players to
cover should the Senegal striker not make it. He told whufc.com: "We're
going to have to wait until the last minute to make a decision on Diafra,
because of the pain and movement that he has to get through and be
comfortable with. "Obviously the mobility of the shoulder is a concern, and
we'll wait as late as Saturday morning to see if he's ready or not. "There
are lots of players desperate to get back in the team and that's the great
thing about the squad with the injury list reducing. "We've got the
capability of hopefully coping with the loss of Sakho [if it comes to that],
and not losing the level of performance we were showing. "Our big problem is
that he is our leading goalscorer, so somebody else might have to come in
and take the chances he's been taking."
Big Sam says the biggest challenge facing his players this weekend is
forgetting about their success against Manchester City and starting again
from scratch. He added: "Historically you would say that the team who was
the underdog and beaten a top four team, statistically they lose the next
game. "I've been telling the players about the level of performance they
will have to hit. The euphoria that went around us beating Manchester City
and the effort the players put in, means that they have got to make sure
they get themselves to that level again. "Mentally they have to approach the
game in the right way. All the hype behind playing Manchester City was build
up by the media and the press, and with no disrespect to Stoke that won't be
the same, so the players have to do it themselves, with me stimulating them
to think that way in the last few days."
The Hammers will be backed by close to 3,000 fans at Stoke and Allardyce is
keen to give them a happy trip. He said: "Seeing the fans with smiles on
their faces is what we do it for. Everybody comes to a football match or
works in football for that kind of feeling. We're paid to entertain, we're
paid to win and we're paid to put smiles on people's faces. "The way that
can happen is not always that easy because the level of money spent in the
Premier League, compared to how it used to be, means sometimes it's a
massive handicap to continue to do that. "But hopefully we'll continue to do
it for a considerable time for the West Ham fans, and most importantly at
Stoke this weekend."
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Chadwell Chatter
WHUFC.com
James Collins on keeping Sergio Aguero quiet, meeting the fans and facing
Stoke
30.10.2014
Hello everybody,
This is the first opportunity I've had to write a column this season and I'd
like to start by thanking all the fans for their unbelievable support during
the win over Manchester City. The support was massive and it gave us the
belief and energy we needed to beat a very good City side. I thought every
single one of the lads but in a performance last Saturday and we deservedly
got the three points. Our front men have been incredible so far this season,
having trained with them for a while now I know how good they really are.
Trust me, there is no fluke behind Diafra's goal streak or Enner's ability,
they are both top quality players. We've also got Carlton scoring off the
bench which is another positive. Against City, we were 2-0 up when David
Silva scored. As a defender I obviously want to get as many clean sheets as
possible but you have to take your hat off to a goal of that quality.
When you concede late on you always have doubts in the back of your mind but
the fans got right behind us and it made that last ten minutes a lot easier.
I've been at West Ham for eight years now and they've always been great to
me. We're on the crest of a wave at the moment so hopefully that will
continue for as long as possible. Our next game, Stoke away, is a
notoriously difficult game. They're a strong side, particularly at home, so
we'll have to be at our best to secure a positive result. We got great
confidence from beating Man City, the current champions and the squad is
looking good in training. Added to that the few players that are out injured
are making good progress and will hopefully be back soon.
On Tuesday, I went to our Club Store signing at Lakeside Thurrock alongside
Morgan Amalfitano and Alex Song. It is always great to see the huge number
of people turning up for these events. The turnout was unbelievable, some of
them said they've been queuing for hours!
On a personal level, I'm delighted to be back in the side after my injury.
Obviously I didn't get off to a great start getting sent off against
Tottenham on the opening day but I've really enjoyed the last two games and
I can't wait for our next home match against Aston Villa next Saturday.
Come on you Irons!
Ginge
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Howe's plotting Canaries win
WHUFC.com
Goalkeeper Sam Howes wants his side to get back to winning ways against
Norwich
31.10.2014
West Ham United U18s goalkeeper Sam Howes is looking to get back to winning
ways this Saturday against Norwich after the Academy lost their last two
games 3-1. The U18s have had a fantastic start to their league campaign,
going eight games unbeaten before their recent blip, leaving them in third
in the Barclays U18 Premier League South table. The 16-year-old goalkeeper
has had limited game time due to injuries but he returned to action for the
U21s in a narrow 2-1 defeat to league leaders Manchester United, which
included the likes of Michael Carrick and James Wilson. "I was out for a few
weeks with an injury which was frustrating but I'm glad to be back now.
Clarke Bogard has done really well in goal for the U18s this season.
"Playing against Man United was a very tough game, they had a lot of Premier
League experience but it was a good test for me and the rest of the boys."
Speaking ahead of the game with Norwich, Howes said: "It's been a good start
to the season, all the boys have been working really hard in training. The
results have been taking care of themselves and the performances have
generally been good. "After eight games unbeaten we're on a bit of a dip,
but that happens in football. We're looking forward to getting back to
winning ways this Saturday against Norwich. It's a good opportunity for us
and hopefully we can get another unbeaten run going again."
Having beaten bottom of the league Norwich twice last season, Howes is
hoping his side can repeat the feat. "We beat them twice last season, but we
know it will still be a hard game. With the players we've got available we
should have enough to get the three points."
The highly rated goalkeeper is developing well, having made his first team
debut during the Hammers' pre-season tour to New Zealand. However the shot
stopper isn't getting carried away. "Last year was a successful one for me
so I hope to continue that. It's going to be a busy time but I just want to
play as many games as I can for the U18s or the U21s."
West Ham United U18s travel to Norwich City on Saturday, with kick off at
12pm.
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Lee loaned to Shrimpers
WHUFC.com
Striker Elliot Lee has joined League Two Southend United on loan until
January 2015
31.10.2014
Promising West Ham United striker Elliot Lee has joined Sky Bet League Two
side Southend United on loan until 31 January 2015. The 19-year-old forward
has been in prolific form yet again this season, scoring five goals in seven
Barclays U21 Premier League and Premier League International Cup
appearances. All those goals have come in his last four appearances,
tempting Shrimpers manager Phil Brown to make the move to take Lee to Roots
Hall. The forward has twice featured for the first team, being handed a
Barclays Premier League debut as a substitute in the 1-0 home defeat by
Stoke City on 31 August 2013, having made his first-team bow in the FA Cup
third-round replay at Manchester United in January of the same year. The
youngster spent a period on loan with League One side Colchester United,
scoring his maiden league goal against Rotherham United on 2 November 2013.
Lee could make his debut in Southend's League Two fixture at Mansfield Town
on Saturday, while the teenager has also been given permission to play in
the Essex club's FA Cup first-round tie with Chester on 8 November. West Ham
have the right to recall Lee any time after the first 28 days of his loan
period has elapsed. Southend sit ninth in League Two, just a point outside
the Play-Off places, but are without a victory in five matches stretching
back to September. Lee will hope to boost an attack that has scored just 14
goals in those 15 matches. The Durham-born player becomes the fifth West Ham
player out on loan at present. George Moncur is with Colchester United,
Ravel Morrison at Cardiff City, Modibo Maiga with French side Metz and Sean
Maguire at Accrington Stanley.
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Stoke v West Ham
KO 15:00
31 October 2014
Last updated at 13:11
By John Roder
Match of the Day commentator
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Britannia Stadium Date: Saturday, 1 November
TEAM NEWS
Stoke are without the suspended duo of Peter Crouch and Phil Bardsley.
Defender Marc Muniesa is doubtful after injuring his ankle in training but
boss Mark Hughes is hopeful he will be fit.
West Ham's in-form striker Diafra Sakho faces a fitness test on a shoulder
injury, with his chances rated at "50-50" by manager Sam Allardyce. Fellow
forward Mauro Zarate is also a doubt with a thigh problem but winger Matt
Jarvis and defender James Tomkins are available again.
MATCH PREVIEW
The goalscoring exploits of West Ham's Diafra Sakho have quite rightly
earned him many headlines since his August move from French club Metz. To
score in seven successive matches - six in six in the Premier League - is a
terrific start to his time at Upton Park, but the Hammers may be without the
Senegalese striker for this match because of a shoulder problem. It would be
a blow for the visitors, who come into the weekend in what many see as a
surprising but refreshing fourth place in the Premier League table.
Lawro's prediction
"This is a big game for the Potters, because they come into it on the back
of two defeats in the Premier League and Capital One Cup, and they need to
find a way of winning it." If Sakho is absent, then the Britannia Stadium
crowd may again struggle to see goals. Amazingly, only six goals (three for
Stoke, three for their opponents) have been scored there in the league so
far this season, and that is the lowest total for a venue in all four
English divisions. Stoke are 12th, but a win for them this weekend would see
the Potters narrow the gap on the London side to only two points. It was
only in March when Stoke beat the Hammers 3-1 at the Britannia , with goals
from Peter Crouch, Marko Arnautovic and Peter Odemwingie, completing the
double over Sam Allardyce's team. Will it be a happy birthday for Mark
Hughes? The Stoke manager is 51 this Saturday and three points will be the
perfect present. West Ham have won their last three in a row but they have
kept only one clean sheet in the Premier League this season and, if you
include last season, only two clean sheets in their last 21. On the flip
side, they usually score at Stoke, having done so in every meeting since
1973. It's an intriguing match to predict and one I am looking forward to
tremendously.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Stoke won at home to West Ham last season for only the second time since
1983.
Stoke
The Potters have won eight of their last 12 Premier League home games.
They have allowed their opponents fewer shots on target than any other side
in the top flight this season (22).
West Ham
West Ham have now scored in eight successive Premier League games, which is
their best run since a 10-match streak in November 2009.
This is West Ham's joint-best start to a top-flight season (along with
1999-2000) after nine matches since 1983-84.
Diafra Sakho could become the first player in Premier League history to
score in his first seven starts in the competition.
If he features, Carlton Cole will play his 200th Premier League game for
West Ham. Only two players Steve Potts (204) and Mark Noble (201 currently)
have featured more. Only Paolo Di Canio (47) has scored more Premier League
goals for West Ham than Cole (41).
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Elliot Lee completes Southend switch
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 31st October 2014
By: Staff Writer
Young striker Elliot Lee has joined League Two side Southend United on loan
for three months. The 19-year-old was one of two players snapped up by
Shrimpers boss Phil Brown, Sam Allardyce's former assistant at Bolton
Wanderers, along with Yeovil defender Jakub Sokolik.
Brown, speaking to southendunited.co.uk said: "I'd like to thank Sam
Allardyce for allowing us to take Elliot on loan. He's someone who is
capable of scoring goals at this level and I'm delighted to have him here."
Lee is in line to make his debut for the Blues at Mansfield this weekend.
His only other previous spell out on loan came at Colchester last season,
when he made four appearances, scoring one goal during a one-month spell
with the League One side. Lee, the son of former Hammer Rob has made just
two first team appearances for West Ham thus far, despite having been on the
fringes of the first team squad for the last 18 months or so. He made his
debut for West Ham in the 1-0 FA Cup defeat at Manchester United in January
2013, before making his only Premier League appearance as a late sub in a
1-0 home defeat to Stoke in August of the same year.
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Sorry boo boys, but you haven't changed Sam's ways
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 27th October 2014
By: Mark Torode
It saddens me to still be defending Sam Allardyce after the job he has done
for us, but finally, through gritted teeth, more Hammers fans are coming
around to him.
Unfortunately some can't accept him getting the praise - instead were now
hearing ''it's us that's made him change his ways''!
So... If the reason that our good form is down to the crowd's demands, then
why bother having Sam as manager? Why not let the Bobby Moore Lower run the
team? It's laughable that this is the argument for the anti-Sam fans now.
It's like they are clinging on to anything to avoid admitting they were
wrong about Sam and the fact he has done a great job - long before the start
of this season.
Give him the likes of Jussi Jaaskelainen, George McCartney, Carlton Cole.
Matt Taylor and Kevin Nolan (exactly the right sort of players needed to get
up and stay up in the Premier League and good solid signings on our budget)
then he will go defensive, rely on set pieces, work rate and energy to
ultimately get the points needed to survive.
After surviving the drop, slowly but surely you acquire better players. Out
goes Jussi, in comes Adrian. Out goes Joey O'Brien and in comes Demel. Out
goes Matt Taylor, in comes Cheikhou Kayoute - and so on and so on.
It takes time (and money) to bring in better players. With the likes of
Enner Valencia, Diafra Sakho, Kouyate, Alex Song and attacking full backs
Allardyce will attempt to play open, expansive football and be more
attacking. NOT because the boo boys told him to do so, but simply because he
can now he now has the players.
Sam has always said he will play to the team's strengths and can only work
with what he's got. He did the exact same thing at Bolton adopting a
primarily defensive approach, utilising the long ball to Kevin Davies and
grinding out results at all costs.
He promoted them and then kept them in Premiership - then introduced the
likes of Nicolas Anelka, Jay-Jay Okocha and Youri Djorkaeff. They were
quality to watch. (Sound familiar?) He then took Bolton into Europe; was it
the Bolton fans that forced this on him ? I don't think so.
Every fan has a right to moan and criticise at times and some of it was
justified - but last season, it went too far. The X Factor-style banners,
the internet polls, the abuse shouted at him after every substitution and
the booing even when we won. As a season ticket holder of 20 years, it got
to me. Just why had our supporters turned into - dare I say it - the likes
of Spurs and Geordie fans!
I couldn't understand it. A manager that's taken over a relegated team, in
debt, with a desolate squad inherited from the shambles under Avram Grant.
He got us promoted at the first attempt whilst the first season back in the
Premier League seems to be totally forgotten, a brilliant campaign we ended
in 10th place.
Last season wasn't great but still resulted in a 13th-place finish, a
Capital One Cup semi final and the treble over Spurs, with an injury hit
squad. I've seen far worse seasons in my time watching West Ham United.
Throughout last season, internet forums were full of snide remarks. "He's a
dinosaur and will never change his ways''; ''He's only here for the money'';
''He can't attract decent players''; ''He will definately get us relegated''
... and so on. It was a really nasty campaign and it bought about a negative
atmosphere at Upton Park.
A minority of fans went solely for a moan and a boo. ''We want
entertainment!'', they demanded - like they were turning up for a theatre
show, not a game of football where so much is at stake and there are so many
variables. It was over the top and laughable at times - even losing a
pre-season friendly was unacceptable to some.
I don't stick by Sam no matter what. He's not bigger than the club and not
the reason to support West Ham. I remember thinking before the Cardiff game
last season, three or four more defeats and I want him gone - despite the
long injury list and being unlucky in some games. It's a results business
after all.
If he loses the players and the results don't come I will want him out, but
I do give a manager time to turn it around. All the best managers including
Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho have had poor seasons. We
have to admit, our fans do not allow ONE under-par season.
I'm not writing all this just to say I was right all along, I'm saying it in
hope that next time we hit a bad patch - which we will - the fans will see
the bigger picture and not turn like they did last season. The owners, Big
Sam, the players and the fans who stick by the club through thick and thin
all deserve the credit for where we have got too at present.
Not the boo boys.
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Stoke play host to West Ham at the Britannia Stadium
Last Updated: 01/11/14 7:25am
SSN
West Ham United travel to Stoke City on Saturday aiming to maintain their
place in the top four of the Premier League. Sam Allardyce's side have been
one of the surprise packages of the season so far sitting in fourth spot
with 16 points from their opening nine games.
Opta Stats
West Ham have now scored in eight successive Premier League games; their
best run in the competition since Nov 2009 (10 games).
Stoke City have allowed their opponents fewer shots on target than any other
side in the Premier League (22).
Just six goals have been scored at the Britannia Stadium so far this season,
fewer than any other Premier League ground.
The Hammers go into the game against Stoke on the back of an impressive 2-1
win over reigning champions Manchester City and victory at the Britannia
Stadium would lift them into third spot for 24 hours at least. On the other
side, Stoke welcome West Ham to the Potteries aiming to bounce back from
their midweek Capital One Cup defeat to Southampton. The defeat was Stoke's
third in four games in all competitions, with Mark Hughes's side sitting in
12th spot in the table. Stoke did the double over West Ham last season and
Hughes will be looking for all three points this weekend as he looks to
kick-start what has been inconsistent opening to the season.
Stoke will be without Peter Crouch and Phil Bardsley for the visit of West
Ham through suspension. Crouch is banned having been sent off in midweek
against Southampton, while summer signing Bardsley has already picked up
five bookings resulting in a suspension. Jon Walters will be hoping to start
in attack in the absence of Crouch, while Geoff Cameron could revert to
right-back to full in for Bardsley.
Glenn Whelan and Peter Odemwingie are long-term absentees for Mark Hughes as
they recover from a broken leg and knee injury respectively.
Diafra Sakho will be assessed as late as Saturday morning as Sam Allardyce
gives the West Ham striker as much time as possible to prove his fitness for
their game at Stoke. The in-form forward injured a shoulder in the 2-1 win
over Manchester City last week and it remains to be seen if he is risked at
the Britannia Stadium despite scoring six goals in as many Premier League
starts. James Tomkins and Matt Jarvis return to the squad after both
recovered from thigh injuries but Guy Demel remains sidelined with Mauro
Zarate (thigh) a doubt and Andy Carroll not in contention despite returning
to training following ankle surgery.
Paul Merson's prediction
I never like going against Stoke, who had a bad result in the Capital One
Cup and will miss Peter Crouch after he got sent off. He will be a big miss,
there's no doubt about that. West Ham are going to go there and have a go
with the confidence they are playing with at the moment, so there should be
goals. However, it's a hard place to go, so I'm going to go for a Desmond.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-2
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce to enforce winter breaks for West Ham players
Last Updated: 30/10/14 11:30pm
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is considering enforcing winter breaks to his
key players to avoid burnout.
SSN
The Hammers have stared this season in impressive form and sit fourth after
last weekend's 2-1 victory over reigning Barclays Premier League champions
Manchester City. However, Allardyce is worried that some of the club's new
signings face growing fatigue during the busy Christmas period when they are
used to winter breaks at their previous clubs. "The games come so thick and
fast you are pushing to get them back when they are not really ready but you
have to," said Allardyce. "The squad still has to be fitter than now going
into that period. New players - particularly Enner Valencia, (Diafra) Sakho,
(Cheikhou) Kouyate, (Mauro) Zarate won't have hit that cauldron of mental
and physical output during that particular period. All of those normally
have a break. "If they fatigue and they need a rest, the rest of the squad
has to be fit for us to give them that rest." Allardyce insisted he would
have no qualms following in the footsteps of former Manchester United boss
Sir Alex Ferguson in giving players a break to maintain their peak fitness
as the games stack up. "I remember speaking to Alex many years ago about the
fact he used to send players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani away at
Christmas: 'Off you go, go away for a week, back to Portugal, have a rest',"
he said. "They were finding it difficult to cope with that period so he gave
them a rest and then brought them back in and they kick on. "If we leave
them out, we leave them out. You know, all you lot say 'why should he leave
him out, it's a disgrace leaving him out when he's playing so well'. "It's
not your decision, it's mine and I do the job properly because I know what
I'm doing. "If you take Enner Valencia's load, for instance, he goes to
Mexico and is an outstanding success, plays a lot of games, scores 18 goals,
he plays internationals, breaks into the international team. "He trains with
the international squad, plays international friendlies before the World
Cup, plays the World Cup, has a few weeks off, comes to England for the
first time, has a late pre-season, gets in the team, stays in the team and
between that he's gone and played four games back in South America."
Allardyce's sports science department would be in a position to decide
whether players like Valencia were in need of a rest, even if the boss would
expect the individuals to want to stay in the side. He added: "Enner would
say 'No, I don't want to'. That's what he'd say. I'm sure he'd say that. But
it's not their decision. "We can see their fatigue levels quite easily - and
their mental fatigue. That's another one. That's sometimes bigger than
physical fatigue. "We can certainly monitor physical fatigue easier than
mental fatigue because it is in our data every day. "He will start slowing
down, he won't be running as far or sprinting as much. He won't be as active
as he is and those red flashes will start coming up if that is the case.
They might not, let's hope it doesn't but it may and we have to guard for
that."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce warns his players: Don't believe the hype
Oct 31, 2014 22:30 By Neil McLeman
Fourth-placed Hammers urged to remain focused amid widespread praise as they
prepare for Saturday's trip to Stoke
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce has told his West Ham stars not to believe the hype – in case
he has to widen the doors at Upton Park to fit their heads through. The
Hammers are up to fourth place in the Premier League after beating champions
Manchester City last weekend – above Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester
United - as they head north to face Stoke. On-loan Barcelona midfielder Alex
Song has told Mirror Sport the Londoners can be one of the top teams in
England in five years time, while crocked striker Andy Carroll claimed on
the club's website that they can qualify for Europe THIS season. But Big Sam
has introduced a reality check, saying: "The big danger for us at Stoke is
the hype surrounding us beating Manchester City. It's important that we
don't go and produce the same level [of hype] again – otherwise Stoke will
beat us. "I said to the players: 'Don't start reading about yourself too
much or else we'll have to start changing the doors to get their heads
through.'"
Allardyce, who will give a late fitness test to in-form striker Diafra
Sakho, added: "I've said keep your feet on the ground and don't read too
much praise about yourself like you shouldn't read too much criticism." He
added: "And I don't think we should start predicting where we should and
shouldn't be. "We have still got November and December to compete with and
historically it has been our worst time of the season. "I am waiting till we
get through that period and have a better indication of where we might
finish."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham foreign stars set for bonus Christmas break as a present from boss
Sam Allardyce
Oct 30, 2014 22:30 By Neil McLeman
Hammers' manager is ready to use a tip from Man United legend Alex Ferguson
to get the best out of his African and South American players
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce is ready to follow Sir Alex Ferguson's policy and gift his new
foreign signings a Christmas holiday. Allardyce's West Ham side sit fourth
in the Premier League after a great start to the season, with the likes of
Diafra Sakho, Enner Valencia and Cheikhou Kouyate making instant impacts
following their summer arrrivals. But Allardyce warned the next two months
will test the strength of his squad - especially imports not used to English
football's hectic festive period. Former Manchester United manager Fergie
used to send Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani home over Christmas to recharge
their batteries in the Portuguese sun. And Allardyce said he will insist his
new stars take a break if he feels their levels of performance start to
drop. "I have got a much better squad with more strength in depth but that
squad still has to be fitter going into that period," said the Irons' boss.
"New players - particularly Enner Valencia, Sakho, Kouyate, (Mauro) Zarate -
won't have hit that cauldron of mental and physical output during that
particular period. All of them normally have a break. "If they fatigue and
they need a rest, the rest of the squad has to be fit for us to give them
that rest. "I remember speaking to Alex many years ago about the fact he
used to send players like Ronaldo and Nani away at Christmas. 'Off you go,
go away for a week, back to Portugal, have a rest'. "They were finding it
difficult to cope with that period so he gave them a rest and then brought
them back in and they kick on. "I won't send Enner back to Ecuador. I might
give him a rest here and there, but not all that way.
"Enner would say, 'No, I don't want to'. But it's not their decision. We can
see their fatigue levels quite easily - and their mental fatigue. That's
sometimes bigger than physical fatigue." Allardyce said Sakho is "50-50" to
play at Stoke after suffering a shoulder injury in the win over Manchester
City. "It depends on his pain threshold," he claimed. The former Newcastle
boss also praised Mike Ashley for not "taking the bait" and sacking Alan
Pardew to appease angry fans. Pardew has boosted his job security with two
big wins this week. And Allardyce said he hope Newcastle would be rewarded
for their loyalty like the West Ham board after backing him over the summer.
"The big thing is that with David Sullivan and David Gold here and Mike
Ashley at Newcastle, they haven't taken the bait," he said. "And really it
is full marks to them for showing some solidarity."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Enner Valencia interview: The striker takes whirlwind way to West Ham
Striker has enjoyed a rapid rise to fame via winning the title with 'The
Blue Ballet' in Ecuador, moving to Mexico and shining at the World Cup – but
is now happy helping fire Sam Allardyce's high-flying Irons, he tells Sam
Wallace
SAM WALLACE Author Biography Friday 31 October 2014
The Independent
This time last year, Enner Valencia was playing for his first professional
club in Ecuador, in the process of building a career that began in the far
northern reaches of the country, near the border with Colombia. In the last
10 months his life has changed beyond recognition, via Mexico, Brazil and
now east London, a good story of football's extraordinary power to propel a
young man to great heights. Valencia is slight, and softly spoken when he
presents himself at West Ham's training ground this week, still very much
the new boy. He has not yet learnt much English and his car keys still have
the garage's cardboard tag on them. After he leaves our interview he has to
pick up his wife to shop for some new baby clothes – their second child is
due on Christmas Day.
Life is good for Valencia, 25 on Tuesday, a key player in West Ham's
excellent start to the season. His partnership with Diafra Sakho has been a
crucial part of the success but Sakho is struggling to be fit for Saturday's
Stoke City match so it may be another new experience for Valencia, a player
who has had to learn fast in the Premier League. He has thrived so far,
blessed with pace and a remarkable spring that makes him a threat in the
air.
He smiles when it is pointed out that not every West Ham season tends to go
this well. "They have told me that it is not always like this, but that is
where we are," he says. "The objective we have is to keep on going up, right
until the end of the league."
As for the club itself, he says he feels a natural affinity with the place.
"The fans are spectacular. They are always supporting. You are away from
home and you feel like you're at home, and for a player that is really good.
The supporters in South America sing a lot more, they are always singing.
But the West Ham fans are a bit South American. There is always one song
here, another there, they are always singing."
Valencia arrived at West Ham following a fine World Cup, in which he scored
three goals in Ecuador's first two group games, having first scored against
England in one of the two warm-up matches in Miami. As far as putting
himself in the frame for a move to Europe, there is not much more he could
have done – and so it was West Ham paid £12m for him.
He had only joined the Mexican side Pachuca in January, where he was the
league's leading goalscorer. "After the World Cup, Pachuca said there was an
English club who were interested in me," Valencia says. "They did not want
to tell me the name of the team. I don't know why they didn't want to tell.
That's what directors are like. They're always watching something. They had
to reveal it eventually and here I am at a marvellous club."
Before joining Pachuca he had won the league title at Emelec, one of the
leading Ecuadorean clubs, based in the city of Guayaquil. He had waited a
long time for his opportunity there, having originally been spotted playing
near his hometown in the Esmeraldas province.
"The truth is that it never even occurred to me that I would be a
professional footballer, never," Valencia says. "I am from a small town. I
always just liked playing. Then one day a director from a club in the east
of the country came to my town and saw me play. I was 15. He said he wanted
to sign me for Caribe Junior, in Lago Agrio – the town that Antonio Valencia
is from – and I spoke with my parents and I decided that yes, I would go. I
had a year in the Oriente, and from there I went to Emelec."
Was it a risk, placing so much importance on his football career? "Yes, but
one I had to take. It cost a lot. I cried every day I was there. My first
two months were so hard. I missed my family so much. But all the effort at
the end was worth it."
He eventually flourished at Emelec under Jorge Sampaoli, the manager of
Chile, and after three runners-up medals won the league title in his last
season there. Emelec, who play in blue, were originally the works team of
Ecuador's national electricity company, and they have two of the best
nicknames in football. They are known as El Ballet Azul, "the blue ballet",
for their playing style, or, for rather more obvious reasons, El Bombillo,
"the lightbulb".
Valencia's roots, however, lie nine hours' drive to the north of Guayaquil
in Esmeraldas, where he grew up and returns to when his job allows. "In
Ecuador, it is very famous. It has beaches that are very touristy. The
majority of players in the Ecuador team are from Esmeraldas. It is the
football zone. The big teams are in Guayaquil and Quito but the players come
from Esmeraldas.
"Almost all of the national team now, and it has been the same thing
throughout history. There are a lot of players from Valle del Chota [an area
that lies partly within Esmeraldas]: Agustin Delgado, Ulises de la Cruz,
Edison Mendez. It has always been the same. The majority come from
Esmeraldas. I don't know why. It is a good profession for people in a poor
province, so football helps a lot.
"As a kid, there were competitions between parroquias – little villages – a
championship between all of them. I did not play against other famous
players in those competitions, but I was very small. The only people who
knew me were my family."
He is conscious of the fact that everyone loves a classic South American
football rags-to-riches story but wants to point out that he had a happy
childhood. "My family run a farm, with animals and pigs. There was fruit as
well, bananas, everything. The people in my town they are used to this life,
to living like this, and they live well. My family are still on the farm and
they do not want to leave. My mother came with me to Guayaquil but the
remainder don't want to leave.
"There is always a lot to do on the farm. But the days went quickly. For me,
they went very fast. I went to the farm with my dad and then from four
o'clock in the afternoon I went to play. Going back there is very important.
I support them in any way I can. At Christmas and in the religious holidays,
there is a tradition in Ecuador of giving out games and sweets to the kids.
In my parish, this year will be my third when I have given them out to
people to help."
Behind him on West Ham's indoor pitch, the players are browsing through the
clothes and shoes on offer that Harvey Nichols have brought to the training
ground – truly, these days the mountain comes to Mohamed so far as the
modern footballer is concerned. It is a world away from most people's
working day, not least a young man, one of six siblings, from a farm in
northern Ecuador.
Yet, if there is one thing to which Valencia has become accustomed it is
change, even if the last 10 months have been remarkable. "From the start it
has been crazy. So many important things have happened: winning the title in
Ecuador with Emelec, going to Mexico, where they play a very different
football to us, and then the Premier League, the most important league in
the world. I think things are going well. There are always things to
improve, but it has been good."
As I walk back with the photographer to the car, parked a street away,
Valencia passes, pulls over and asks if we need a lift. You get the feeling
that he will be just fine.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce determined to keep West Ham's feet firmly on ground
Manager is not getting carried away after flying start and has warned his
players to be on guard against Stoke
Jacob Steinberg
The Guardian, Friday 31 October 2014 22.30 GMT
Some West Ham United supporters believe that the club should change their
anthem if they are ever going to enjoy a period of sustained success. Their
argument is that constantly singing about bubbles nearly reaching the sky
and then fading and dying at the crucial moment is asking for trouble and it
is true that West Ham have an unfortunate habit of crashing back down to
earth just when it seems that they are heading in the right direction.
Maybe that explains why Sam Allardyce is not getting too carried away about
his side's brilliant start to the season. West Ham's victory over Manchester
City last weekend kept them in fourth place and, having been widely expected
to struggle in the bottom half this season, there is a growing feeling that
they can challenge for Europe.
Alex Song, outstanding since his loan move from Barcelona in the summer, has
even said that West Ham can become one of the biggest clubs in the country
in the next five years. Allardyce smiled when he heard about that. "I hope
he's going to be here in five years' time," he says. "Does that mean he's
going to sign for us? I hope so."
Allardyce is too experienced to start thinking about Europe yet. He admits
that West Ham's performances have taken him by surprise and he is delighted
with how his new players have settled, yet he also knows that Stoke City
will relish trying to take them down a peg or two at the Britannia Stadium
on Saturday afternoon. West Ham's preparations have not been ideal.
Diafra Sakho, who has scored seven goals since his arrival from Metz, is a
doubt with a shoulder injury and he will be assessed on Saturday morning.
"The big danger for us at Stoke is the hype surrounding us beating
Manchester City cannot have a negative effect on us and we don't go out and
produce the same level again – otherwise Stoke will beat us," Allardyce
says. "Stoke and Mark Hughes will be looking forward to us coming and
thinking: 'Let's put these lot to task and see if they can cope after that
big result.'"
Allardyce is aware that West Ham's form has deteriorated in November and
December in the past two seasons; they took six points from 11 games during
that period last year and nine points from 10 matches in 2012. "We have got
to maintain it and our levels of performance," Allardyce says. "That is my
responsibility because we have not been tested like this before and whether
we can sustain this success.
"We have had our brief moments. Even last year when we had our darkest
moments, we came out of it and won four on the trot and then lost four on
the trot. We have got to find that level of sustainability and consistency
in our levels of results and performances. They have got to find out and I
have got to find out if we are capable of that."
It is easy to forget that this is only West Ham's third season back in the
Premier League or that there were calls for Allardyce to be sacked a few
months ago. Yet the 60-year-old survived the summer, allowing him to
continue West Ham's gradual rebuild.
"I think, as a manager, sustainable progress is what it's all about,"
Allardyce says. "You can be too slow and lose your job and then too quick
and falter and then lose your job and if you build slowly and steadily and
success is improved year in, year out then you can eventually get to a stage
where West Ham becomes like an Everton is at the moment.
"That's not only sustainability but looking at cup competitions and winning
a trophy and getting into Europe and that can happen this season and in the
next two or three years, perhaps depending upon the investment and the
improvement of the squad as it goes on. So we've got to try and keep our
feet on the ground. But five years is a long way for me to be looking
forward, by the way."
Allardyce is wary of what too much praise will do to his players' egos.
"It's not difficult for me but sometimes the players find it a bit
difficult," he says. "I said to the players don't start reading about
yourself too much or else we'll have to start changing the size of the doors
to get their heads through. So keep your feet on the ground and don't read
too much praise about yourself, just like you shouldn't read too much of the
criticism."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Leroy on Allardyce/Nolan link
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on October 31, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Leroy Rosenior has laid into the knockers who claim that Kevin Nolan is a
Sam Allardyce favourite……and worse, declaring: "Every manager has players
they like and trust." And he added: "There's absolutely nothing wrong with
it – why would you not appreciate those who have done it for you over and
over again. " Nolan is widely expected to get the shout at Stoke City
tomorrior said (Sat) if Diafra Sakho fails a late fitness test, sparking
immediate claims on Twitter that Nolan is the 'teacher's pet' …and worse.
But Rosenior said: "I've managed and had my favourites, guys you know will
do it for you and always put in the shift. I really don't see the problem
and can't even see such remarks in terms of abuse. "Kevin has been with Sam
for most of his career but has found over the last few games he has no
special rights when others are in form despite many believing he would be
straight back as soon as fit. "I'm sure he will do a great job if required
tomorrow. He can score goals and help out in midfield whenever it is
necessary. "The fella still has a lot to offer but is obviously going to get
fewer opportunities than previously and that should put a real edge on him
when he does get the chance."
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