Daily WHUFC News - 10th December 2014

Big Sam reacts to FA Cup draw
WHUFc.com
Sam Allardyce believes West Ham United can win at Everton in the FA Cup
third round
09.12.2014

Sam Allardyce is backing his players to rise to the challenge when West Ham
United travel to Everton in the FA Cup third round. The Hammers could not
have been handed a much tougher draw than a trip to Goodison Park, where
they succumbed to a narrow 2-1 Barclays Premier League defeat in November.
However, Big Sam believes his in-form side can continue their outstanding
recent run, with the likes of Diafra Sakho, Cheikhou Kouyate and Alex Song
possibly playing their final game before heading to the 2015 Africa Cup of
Nations. "It wasn't so long ago we were at Goodison Park, where we got a
disappointing result but put in what I thought was a very good performance,"
the manager began. "Obviously it will be a really tough game, our fourth
game in eight days and away from home against Premier League opposition.
"That said, if you are going to do well in the FA Cup, you need to pull off
wins over sides of a similar level to yourselves. We are in fantastic form
at the moment and hopefully by the time we get to 3 January, the injury list
won't be too big and we will still have the three players available before
they go to the African Nations Cup. "If I have a full squad available for
those four games in eight days, that will be very useful as it will give me
the opportunity to rotate the squad and continue the fantastic form we are
in at the moment. I've been changing the side on a regular basis due to
injuries and to cope with three games last week, so the squad has done
exceptionally well to achieve the results we have acquired, so I don't see
any reason why won't continue in that vein."

West Ham have met Everton eight times in the FA Cup previously, with each
club coming out on top on four occasions. The Toffees won the first four
ties, including the first-ever meeting between the pair in February 1907 and
a semi-final in March 1933. More recently, the Hammers prevailed after a
semi-final replay on their way to winning the trophy in 1980, when Frank
Lampard scored a memorable winner at Elland Road, and Stuart Slater produced
a virtuoso display in a quarter-final success in 1991. "The recent record
against Everton in the FA Cup is very good, so let's hope we can keep that
going!" said Big Sam, who has never managed against Everton in the FA Cup
himself.
The tie will see two former Everton FA Cup finalists return to Goodison Park
in the shape of assistant manager Neil McDonald, who started the 1989 defeat
by Liverpool, and goalkeeper coach Bobby Mimms, who was between the sticks
in the loss to the Reds in 1986. Ticket and fixture details for West Ham's
visit to Goodison Park on the weekend of 3 January 2015 will be confirmed
soon.

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Ben's Big Sam surprise!
WHUFC.com
Big Sam gave Hammers fan Ben Shephard a big 40th birthday surprise live on
television!
09.12.2014

Ben Shephard received the best 40th birthday gift a West Ham United
supporter could wish for - a Claret and Blue cake presented by manager Sam
Allardyce.Big Sam surprised Hammers fan Shephard live on ITV's Good Morning
Britain on Tuesday, appearing on the set to the sound of Bubbles before
handing the cake to the shocked presenter. Shephard, who knows the manager
well after playing under him in the annual Soccer Aid charity match and
presenting West Ham's annual Player Awards in recent years. As he approaches
his big milestone on Thursday, however, the popular host admits his dream of
receiving a call-up by Big Sam to pull on the famous West Ham shirt is fast
receding!

"I don't want to ever think that there is not a chance that I will see Sam
at one point and he is going to say 'Sheps, have you got your boots because
we need you this Saturday?'" he smiled. "It is getting harder and harder
every day when I get up that little bit older and that little bit creakier
to think that the dream is still alive! "Seriously, though, I get the chance
to play down at Upton Park after the end of the season and that's enough.
Besides, the way the boys are playing at the moment they don't need any help
from muppets like me!
"Sam is doing a cracking job and it's an absolute pleasure to be a West Ham
fan right now."

While his fellow hosts - Sean Fletcher, Susanna Reid and Charlotte Hawkins -
were in on the surprise, Shephard himself had no idea that he would be
joined on the sofa by the manager of his favourite football club. "I am
rubbish with surprises and Sam always gives me so much stick because I am on
the telly in the morning, then doing the quiz [Tipping Point] and then doing
Goals on Sunday with Kammy!" he continued. "I genuinely cannot believe Sam
came onto Good Morning Britain. It will be one of the most surreal but
brilliant moments of my career, him delivering my birthday cake for my 40th
birthday! "It's softened the blow of turning 40, but to be honest things are
great - West Ham are flying high in the Premier League, I've got a very
happy family and I work with some great people, so there are a few things
I'm not that concerned about and turning 40 is one of them! "Sam just
escalated my birthday to something really special by bringing my cake in!"

Focusing on football, Shephard has been hugely impressed with how the
Hammers have performed under Big Sam this season, and paid tribute to the
loyalty shown to the manager by Joint-Chairmen David Sullivan and David
Gold. "I was talking to a good friend of mine the other day and I said that
one of the sensational things about our recent form is the fact we have come
back to win the last few games. We have gone behind and come back to win and
we're doing really well. "To see the boys playing with confidence,
enthusiasm and energy, playing creative, exciting football is the West Ham
we all want to see and I think it bodes really, really well. "The faith that
that the Chairmen and the Club had in Sam have allowed him to prove that,
given a fit squad, he is definitely the manager want as West Ham fans to go
forward. You can see it pulsing through the team. "It's an absolute pleasure
being a West Ham fan, which is why turning 40 won't be quite so painful!"

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Cresswell's aiming high
WHUFc.com
West Ham United defender Aaron Cresswell believes his team can keep on
surprising people
09.12.2014

Aaron Cresswell is loving life at the top end of the Barclays Premier League
table, just a matter of months after swapping the Championship for the top
flight. The 24-year-old defender has played a key role since arriving at the
Boleyn Ground, featuring in every minute of the season to date and helping
Sam Allardyce's men record three straight victories over the past
week-and-a-half. Now, as the Hammers head towards the busy Christmas
schedule, Cresswell believes the Londoners have the required team spirit to
keep on surprising people. "We're on a high and full of confidence," he
confirmed. "We've got a great team spirit down here and we've won three
games in a row, which is massive. "We've come from behind a few times this
season. We went 1-0 down against both West Brom and Swansea last week before
bringing the game back to win. "We're just looking forward to each game as
it comes. "At the start of the season the aim was top ten, and if we can
finish anything above top ten, of course we'd like to be in Europe. We'll
see where we come at the end of the season."

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Etherington: I regret leaving West Ham
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 9th December 2014
By: Staff Writer

Matthew Etherington admits that he was disappointed to leave West Ham in the
manner in which he did. The left winger spent six years at West Ham between
2003 and 2009 before being sold to Stoke City in January 2009 in a deal
worth £3million, amidst widespread rumours of off-the-field problems. Now
33, the former Spurs and Stoke player told the KUMB Podcast's Chris Scull
and James Longman that he bitterly regrets the way in which he left West Ham
- a club he still feels a great affection for. "I started off really well
under Zola and scored a few goals," he said. "He liked me as a player and I
was playing in a different position, just off the striker and it suited me
as I was getting more of the ball there. "Everyone knows about my personal
problems and it kind of got on top of me a little. That's one regret I have
about my time at West Ham, that I did leave under a little bit of a cloud. I
had such good times there and still think fondly of the club. "It's still my
team now so to leave under that little bit of a cloud left a little bit of a
bad taste in my mouth. It was my fault, no-one else's but I just wish that I
hadn't have left that way. West Ham is genuinely my team and always will be.
I had such great times at the club; it was brilliant."

Despite leaving the BG in less than happy circumstances, Etherington is
determined to visit the club as much as possible in future. A close friend
of central defender James Collins, the former winger has been very impressed
by the current West Ham team. "I speak to Ginge every day, we're really
close," he added. "He's loving it though he's not too happy at the minute
because he's not playing! "The competition they've got there now for places
is frightening, really. You've you Sakho, Carroll and Valencia up front;
Downing, Amalfitano and players like that. Then you've got Nobes and Song
vying for position in centre midfield. "The competition for places there is
looking really strong. I watched the game on Sunday and they played
fantastic. Ginge has got a box so I'm definitely going to get down there now
I've retired towards the end of the season and watch a few games."

And with view to how he'll fill his time having hung up his boots,
Etherington - whose pro career began 17 years ago at Peterborough United -
believes a little downtime is required before he makes a decision on to his
future. "I'll play plenty of golf and look after my daughter!" he laughed.
"I'm going to do my badges but won't go into coaching for another couple of
years. "Maybe I'll do a bit of media work here or there but I just want to
enjoy myself for a couple of years, chill out and see my little girl grow
up. Then we'll take it from there."

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Winston Reid buys London apartment
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 9th December 2014
By: Staff Writer

Winston Reid looks set to remain in London on a long-term basis after the
central defender purchased a property in the city. KUMB has learned that
Reid, who is out of contract with West Ham next summer, is the new co-owner
of a property in Canary Wharf's exclusive Lincoln Plaza development. The new
development - which is described as "one of the most prestigious and
sophisticated new landmarks on Canary Wharf's iconic skyline" - boasts 31
floors, in comprised of two main towers and comes complete with a 100-suite
hotel, 24-hour concierge and a winter garden 'sky lounge'. Reid - who joined
West Ham from Danish club FC Midtjylland in 2011 - has consistently refused
to sign a contract extension at West Ham with the likes of Arsenal and
Manchester United said to be monitoring his situation. Should he continue to
refuse to sign a new deal West Ham are left with the option of keeping Reid
until June, when he can leave the club on a free transfer, or sell him for a
reduced fee in the January transfer window.

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Most impressive, Sam
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 9th December 2014
By: Staff Writer

Sam Allardyce is the manager who has most impressed in the Premier League so
far this season - according to a BBC poll. The Hammers boss polled more than
a third of the votes cast by general football fans in the weekend vote,
narrowly beating Southampton manager Ronald Koeman into second place.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho came in third behind Messrs Allardyce and
Koeman - whilst Quens Park Rangers' Harry Redknapp came last, having failed
to accrue a single vote.

Sportsday Top Three - as Voted for by BBC Readers

1. Sam Allardyce 35.6%
2. Ronald Koeman 32.0%
3. Jose Mourinho 10.3%

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West Ham eye Merseyside double
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 9th December 2014
By: Staff Writer

West Ham will be hoping to pull off a January Merseyside double having been
drawn away to Everton in the 3rd round of the FA Cup. The Hammers face the
Toffees at Goodison Park on the weekend of January 3/4 before returning to
Liverpool to do battle with their Stanley Park neighbours at Anfield, a
stone's throw from Goodison four weeks later in the Premier League. Despite
having a poor recent record at Goodison Park - where they haven't won a
league match since 2005 - West Ham's FA Cup record against the Blues is
rather more impressive with United unbeaten by Everton in the competition
since 1957, since when five meetings have been held with the Hammers winning
four and drawing one. Despite that poor recent record, it isn't a trip that
necessarily phases Sam Allardyce, who was naturally slightly disappointed
with the draw yet positive about the team's chances of progressing to the
next stage. "It will be a really tough game, our fourth game in eight days
and away from home against Premier League opposition," he told whufc.com.
"That said, if you are going to do well in the FA Cup, you need to pull off
wins over sides of a similar level to yourselves. "We are in fantastic form
at the moment and hopefully by the time we get to January, the injury list
won't be too big and we will still have the three players available before
they go to the African Nations Cup. "If I have a full squad available for
those four games in eight days, that will be very useful as it will give me
the opportunity to rotate the squad and continue the fantastic form we are
in at the moment. "I've been changing the side on a regular basis due to
injuries and to cope with three games last week, so the squad has done
exceptionally well to achieve the results we have acquired, so I don't see
any reason why won't continue in that vein."

Having tackled Everton in the FA Cup, West Ham return to Merseyside on 31
January when they attempt once again to break their Anfield hoodoo. It's now
51 years since Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst scored the goals in a 2-1 win
at Liverpool to record United's most recent win there.

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Diego returns to West Ham
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 9th December 2014
By: Staff Writer

Diego Poyet has returned to West Ham after his loan spell at Huddersfield
Town came to an end. The 19-year-old midfielder made just two appearances
for the Terriers during his month-long spell at the John Smith's Stadium.
He played for a full 90 minutes in the goalless draw with Sheffield
Wednesday and a further 76 minutes in a 1-0 defeat at Bolton Wanderers, the
weekend before last. Poyet's return coincides with the start of a hectic
Christmas period that will see West Ham play five times in 15 days - meaning
that the former Charlton youngster will almost certainly be involved at some
stage. He is also likely to feature in the first team squad during the
African Cup of Nations when the Hammers will lose the likes of Cheik Kouyate
and Diafra Sakho for up to a month.

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West Ham forward Andy Carroll is plotting an unlikely title tilt
Last Updated: 09/12/14 6:58am
SSN

West Ham forward Andy Carroll says there is no reason why the in-form London
side cannot launch a surprise Premier League title challenge.
The Hammers beat Swansea 3-1 on Sunday at Upton Park to make it three wins
in nine days and they are currently fourth in the table, nine points behind
leaders Chelsea. West Ham have been boosted by the return to fitness of
England international Carroll, who bagged his first two goals of the season
with a pair of trademark headers against the Swans. And although many
pundits expect the east Londoners to drop down the table a little as the
season goes on, Carroll does not think a title challenge is totally out of
the question. "We have a great squad and I can't say we are going to give
up, now we are in the top four. We have got a great team and we can go all
the way."

Asked how high he thought the Hammers could finish, the 25-year-old said: "I
think there is no limit, we can go all the way to the top.
"We have a great squad and I can't say we are going to give up, now we are
in the top four. We have got a great team and we can go all the way. "I
think with the team we have got and the manager, the way he is playing and
coaching everyone, it is fantastic and I don't think we will be giving up at
all."

Ahead of Sunday's match, Hammers boss Sam Allardyce spoke about how he
decided to sign Carroll rather than prolific Swansea forward Wilfried Bony
in the summer of 2013. And although Bony scored on Sunday and has been a key
figure since joining Swansea, Carroll's brace suggested his manager may yet
be proved right in the long term. Asked about Allardyce's comments, Carroll
said: "I've not seen anything about it but he chose the right one didn't he?
"I have been out for a long time and the last couple of games I've been
playing, I haven't been fully fit. "There have been a lot of injuries and I
was put in unexpectedly really and played a couple of 90 minutes before I
was fully fit. Now, I'm feeling good and strong, and I can put myself about
a bit more."

Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho performed well in attack during Carroll's
absence and the England man thinks West Ham's strength in depth will serve
them well. "It is always easier to come back when you have got a big squad,"
he said. "You are not relying on one player. "We have a big squad and
quality players that can come in. "That is why the players who are not
playing are disappointed and the players who are in are putting in the
performances to not be left out."

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Sullivan exclusive: "This nine day madness"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 9, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

David Sullivan has blasted as "madness" West Ham's Christmas and New Year
fixture pile up which will see the team facing four games in nine days! Sam
Allardyce's men confront Chelsea, Arsenal, West Brom and Everton in an FA
Cup third round clash between Boxing Day and January 3. The Hammers boss
himself called for a midwinter break over the weekend and now the club's
chief shareholder and co chairman has waded in on the issue. In an exclusive
interview with ClaretandHugh he snapped: "I've been in horse racing for 30
years and we don't ask racehorses to run to that sort of schedule. "Very few
players could play 90 minutes in all four games without seriously injuring
or over stressing their bodies. How can clubs treat the FA Cup seriously
when they have played a league game 48 hrs earlier.
There is nothing we can do, we'll have a very fatigued squad then two days
later three players leave for the African Nations ! "We do our best to win
every game, but we so much wanted a Cup run, its not easy with a tough away
game 2 days after we've played WBA, but we'll do our best."

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Doubts over third kit for Everton Cup tie
Posted by Sean Whetstone on December 9, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Big doubts over whether the Irons can use their third kit for the Third
Round FA Cup tie at Everton are arising. There's now heavy speculation that
the purple strip is too close to Everton's home blue to be used, but the FA
will make the final decision. Earlier in the week the club heavily marketed
the third shirt claiming it would be worn for FA Cup matches. In small
lettering on the emailed advert it was stated the third kit would be worn
for all home and away FA Cup matches where there is no kit clash. Whether we
get to see it now may depend entirely on the outcome of the Goodison Park
match. The club claim they have sold more than 2,000 of the 4,000 third kits
available.

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