Daily WHUFC News - 16th December 2014

Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce had high praise for Stewart Downing after
Saturday's draw
14.12.2014

Sam Allardyce is thrilled that Stewart Downing is continuing to produce some
of the best football of his career with West Ham United this season. The
Hammers midfielder notched his third goal of the campaign in Saturday's 1-1
draw with Sunderland, to cancel out Jordi Gomez's opener and earn his side a
point. Downing's goal threat has increased significantly this season after
only notching once last term and Big Sam says his shift to a more central
role has helped with that. He explained: "When you talk about changing a
player's position, with somebody like Stewart's experience, you say 'well,
if it doesn't work you go back to where you were and we don't worry about it
- it's more my responsibility than yours.' "But he hasn't just liked it,
he's loved it. You can see the freedom he's gained by being able to pop up
in different areas of the field, finding space that we need to find, and our
other midfield players will find him with the ball. "He will turn and run at
opposition defenders and cause them huge amounts of problems. Not only did
he do that on Saturday, but he scored as well. He got one all of last
season, but he's got three already now and could have had six or seven, so I
hope he continues in the same vein. "Lots of players have to change the way
they play when they get that little bit older and gain that experience,
finding a different way of expressing their ability, and it's worked
brilliantly for us and him at the minute."

The point at Sunderland extended the Hammers' unbeaten run to four matches
and Allardyce felt his side showed the necessary attacking instincts to have
won the game. He added: "We didn't sit back at any stage of the game on
Saturday, every time we got the chance to go forward we did, and that was us
trying to get the win. "It's coming up to half way now and we're still in
the top four. It makes my job easier when the team goes out and plays like
it did on Saturday."

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Hard-earned point pleases Downing
WHUFC.com
Goalscorer Stewart Downing was content to grab a share of the spoils at
Sunderland
15.12.2014

Stewart Downing continued his outstanding 2014/15 season by scoring West Ham
United's goal in a competitive 1-1 draw at Sunderland.
The No11 drew the Hammers level when Jordi Gomez deflected his 20-yard shot
past Costel Pantilimon just minutes after the Black Cats had taken the lead
through the Spaniard's disputed penalty. West Ham started the brighter, but
Sunderland took the lead on 21 minutes when James Tomkins was penalised for
what looked like minimal contact with Adam Johnson. Sam Allardyce's side
regrouped and Downing bagged his third goal of the season eight minutes
later. With six assists and three goals in 15 league appearances this
season, the England international is in wonderful form. "I am obviously
pleased with the goal but the most important thing was that we got something
out of the game," he began. "We had a tough week, but we managed to get the
maximum nine points out of nine, so this point was a bonus for us from a
really tough game. "The manager stressed that we needed to get off to a good
start and I thought we did and could have gone a couple of goals up. "The
penalty was a little bit soft and they took the lead, but I thought we
responded very well and I think a draw was a fair result in the end."

For the third league match in succession, West Ham had to come from a goal
down to secure a positive result, grabbing a draw following wins over West
Bromwich Albion and Swansea City. It is a habit the midfielder is keen to
shake off. "The manager stressed that, although we're doing well by coming
back and not losing games, we need to start well because, if you're playing
against the top boys and they get a cushion of two or three goals, you won't
come back from that. "I think that's the only disappointing thing [going
behind], because we started well and then we conceded, so we did things the
opposite way around! "I don't think it was a penalty, but we got a big point
and now we go into the next home game and if we get maximum points in that
then we've had a good couple of weeks."

Downing's goal was similar to the one he netted at Crystal Palace in August,
cutting in from the right before shooting low with his left foot. "I think
my shot took a deflection off Gomez and went past him. He's a big lad, their
'keeper, so had to be something in the corner to get round him. "I just hit
it hard and low and, if he parries it, then one of the other lads could have
been sniffing and followed it in. I think the deflection has taken it in, so
I'll take it!"

With 28 points from 16 games, West Ham's dressing room is a hugely confident
place at present, but both Downing and manager Sam Allardyce have warned
that the Hammers cannot afford to start congratulating themselves. "The
manager is obviously pleased with us, but he is keeping us on our toes
because the competition for places is driving us on. One bad performance and
you're out and you could be out for weeks. "I think it breeds a lot of
confidence in the team. I'm sure the manager is very pleased at the moment
because he has a lot to pick from, but we're making it easier for him
because we keep winning games and getting back to back wins. "That was a big
point for us and hopefully we can carry on our home form and get another
three points next week. "The manager has told us that, because we beat Man
City, we can't just expect to turn up and win easily. It's not always like
that. "Sunderland is a difficult place to play and it proved that, with
their fans behind them. They will probably be disappointed they didn't win
with the chances they had, but we're the same so it probably evened itself
out in the end. A draw was a good result."

Now, West Ham gave a home fixture with bottom club Leicester City to look
forward to before a busy Christmas period that includes a Boxing Day trip to
Chelsea and home games with Arsenal and West Brom. "We should go into
Christmas with a lot of confidence. If you look at the table, we're in a
healthy position and we've got games we're confident of getting results in.
"Obviously we've got games in the space of three days over that period, but
there are no excuses because we have a big squad and can make changes, so
onwards and upwards.
"We're brimming with confidence, as you could see with the way we came back
at Sunderland. We kept going and got a big point in the end."

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Mediawatch - 15 December
WHUFc.com
Our daily look at West Ham United in the news
15.12.2014

Monday's newspapers include further coverage of Saturday's 1-1 draw at
Sunderland, with this report in the Express focusing on the Hammers' top-six
credentials.

In the Mail Online, Sam Allardyce again champions Stewart Downing's England
cause after his goalscoring display at the Stadium of Light.

Downing's praises are also sung in the Guardian, Times (£) and Mirror.

Andy Carroll says his party-boy reputation is an unfair one in the Mirror.

A comment piece in City AM reckons West Ham will battle it out with
Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal for fourth place in the league.
Finally, Modibo Maiga will learn his punishment for missing Metz's game at
Marseille from Les Grenats this week, according to the Mirror.

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Loan watch
WHUFC.com
Catch up on how the West Ham United loanees fared this weekend
15.12.2014

Tim Brown played the full game as Canvey Island beat Peacehaven & Telscombe
2-1 in the Ryman Premier League. Canvey came from a goal behind to win
through a Harrison Chatting penalty and John Easterford's winner in the
second half. Sean Maguire played the full 90 minutes as Accrington Stanley
beat Portsmouth 3-2. Stanley raced to a 2-0 lead after just 15 minutes
through Rob Atkinson and John O'Sullivan. However the hosts responded well
with goals from Marcus Bean and Craig Westcarr to make it 2-2 at half-time.
Piero Mingoia sealed the victory for Stanley to take them to eleventh in
League Two.

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Ladies held in six-goal thriller
WHUFC.com
West Ham United led and trailed before drawing 3-3 at Charlton Athletic
15.12.2014

West Ham United Ladies came from behind to rescue a 3-3 FA Women's Premier
League Southern Division draw at Charlton Athletic on Sunday afternoon. The
Hammers led at the break through winger Sarah McCrea's volley, before Kelley
Blanchflower doubled the visitors' lead shortly after half-time after good
build-up play involving Lily Mellors and April Bowers. Charlton forced their
way back into the game through Kit Graham's brace, before Addicks skipper
Charley Clifford netted a third directly from a corner. The Hammers worked
hard to get back into the game and got their reward when Vicky Kinsman rose
the highest in a crowd to head home from Danica Revell's free-kick.
Manager Julian Dicks had a near full-strength team available for the match
at Sporting Club Thamesmead, with striker Emma Sherwood overcoming injury
and illness to take a place on the substitutes' bench alongside Development
Squad star Jade Smith and returning Hammer Kerry Stimson. Adele Sale made
her first-team debut in place of Ruby Baxter, who was ruled out with illness
on the day of the game.
The visitors went into the game looking to end 2014 with a positive result,
having picked up six victories from their nine league fixtures prior to
kick-off.

After Charlton had bossed the game in the early minutes, West Ham worked
hard to regain control of the match and were rewarded with the opening goal
when McCrea timed her run perfectly towards the front post to meet
Blanchflower's corner with a sweet volley into the bottom corner of the net.

The Hammers kept up their pressure for the remainder of the first half and
almost doubled their lead when Bowers met Blanchflower's cross with a free
header from six yards out, before McCrea fired low straight at Charlton
goalkeeper Megan Linch. After the break, the pressure told and the visitors
did register their second goal. After Mellors plucked the ball out of the
air, Bowers refused to give up inside the penalty area, battling for
possession and allowing Blanchflower to step in and find the back of the net
despite the best efforts of an Addicks defender to clear off the line.
Within the next 15 minutes however, West Ham found themselves level at 2-2
after a brace from Graham. Firstly, the 19-year-old met Nikita Whinnett's
cross to head home, before slamming in the equalizer from close range with
68 minutes on the clock.

If that was not enough to shock the travelling Hammers, they found
themselves behind three minutes later when Clifford's right-wing corner
somehow managed to find its way directly into the top left-hand corner of
the net. After suffering defeat by Charlton earlier this season in the Ryman
Cup, the visitors refused to give up on the game and they levelled with just
over ten minutes left on the clock when Kinsman appeared to get the final
touch in a crowd to head home from Revell's free-kick just inside the
Charlton half.

In the final ten minutes, both sides had chances to steal all three points.
Graham continued to threaten as she looked for her third goal of the game,
whilst McCrea narrowly fired over the bar at the other end of the pitch. The
Hammers end 2014 in sixth position in the Women's Premier League South, with
19 points from their ten fixtures this season. Dicks' side return to action
in the New Year with a trip to Somerset to face Keynsham Town Ladies on
Sunday 4 January 2015, with kick off scheduled for 2pm. The following
weekend, West Ham hit the road again to Brighton & Hove Albion for an FA
Women's Cup second round tie, before returning to Aveley to host Billericay
Town as they begin their defence of the Essex FA County Cup on Sunday 18
January.

Ladies: Runnacles, King (Stimson), Revell, Little, Bottom, McCrea, Bowers,
Sale (Sherwood), Blanchflower, Kinsman, Mellors
Sub not used: Smith

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Cardiff City: Ravel Morrison returns to West Ham
BBC.co.uk

Cardiff have granted Ravel Morrison compassionate leave and permitted him to
train with parent club West Ham. The midfielder, 21, on loan from the
Hammers, had been due to remain at Cardiff until after the Boxing Day match
against Charlton Athletic. But he has been allowed to return to more
familiar surroundings because of personal circumstances. The former
Manchester United trainee has made seven appearances for Cardiff since
joining in September. Morrison's last outing for Cardiff was as a substitute
in the 0-0 draw against Rotherham United at the beginning of December. His
appearance against the Millers was his first since Cardiff's 3-0 defeat away
at Bolton on 4 November. Morrison joined West Ham from Manchester United in
a £650,000 deal in January 2012.

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Ravel Morrison back at West Ham
KUMb.com
Filed: Monday, 15th December 2014
By: Staff Writer

Ravel Morrison has ended his loan spell at Cardiff a fortnight early - and
is already back in training at West Ham. The troubled midfielder posted a
picture of himself on Instagram this afternoon working in the gym at
Chadwell Heath - almost two weeks before he was scheduled to return to the
club. Morrison's post is likely to be in response to a story by Jason Burt
in the Telegraph at the weekend in which it was claimed West Ham were set to
sell the England Under 21 international at the earliest possible
opportunity, having finally ran out of patience with him. During his brief
stint with the Bluebirds, Morrison managed just seven appearances, without
scoring a single goal. Prior to that he featured twice for West Ham this
season, against Sheffield United (defeat on penalties) and Southampton (a
3-1 defeat).

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Ravel Morrison back with West Ham after Cardiff loan is cut short
Last Updated: 15/12/14 7:45pm
SSN

Ravel Morrison has returned to West Ham after his loan spell with Cardiff
was cut short due to 'personal circumstances'. Morrison was due to remain on
loan with the Championship club until Boxing Day but the 21-year-old is now
back training with his parent club. The 21-year-old, who made just seven
appearances for Cardiff since joining the Welsh club two-and-a-half months
ago, posted a picture of himself during a training session at Upton Park on
Monday. Cardiff said in a statement: "Due to personal circumstances, Cardiff
City have allowed Ravel Morrison compassionate leave and permission to train
in more familiar surroundings at this time with his parent club, West Ham
United." Former Manchester United starlet Morrison joined Sam Allardyce's
side in January 2012 and has previously been loaned out to Birmingham City
and Queens Park Rangers.

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Hammers rule out midfielder move
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 15, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Speculation that the Hammers are ready to hold talks for Brescia playmaker
Ismail H'Maidat were tonight denied. Reports have been circulating for the
last couple of days that the Hammers had joined AC Milan, Fiorentina and
Sassuolo in the chase for the 19 year old.
H'Maidat has made 12 appearances in Serie B for Brescia so far this season,
providing a lone assist. He is a product of Anderlecht's youth academy, has
also turned out twice in the Coppa Italia. However, a Hammers source told
Claretandhugh this evening: "We are aware of him but there's no truth in
stories that we are planning to hold talks with his agent."

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Leroy: "Champions League on way to Boleyn"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 15, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

West Ham are about to have their current and future situations defined in
the games against Arsenal and Chelsea. And I believe they will emerge from
the Christmas games with English football being forced to accept that they
are now a genuine top four club. I bumped into Sam Allardyce over the
weekend at the Premier League where I work as a pundit and this is a man who
is extraordinarily confident at the moment – there's a spring in his step
and quite rightly too. Sam has always been a manager who has planned how to
defend against or exploit the weaknesses of the opposition. I really don't
think that's the case anymore. He knows – and so do I – that the Irons are a
team for others to worry about. They are genuinely top class and can stay in
the top four from now until the end of the season.

There are very few teams who carry the pace, power and threat of West Ham
United and I fully expect them to show how good they are by beating
Leicester and Arsenal. Chelsea may be a slightly different proposition but
we are gonna give them one hell of a game. We may be beaten but don't count
on it and we will then go on to beat West Brom! I watch an awful lot of
football over the course of a season and to date i haven't seen a team in
action of which the Hammers need to be afraid – the opposite is true. For us
to be coming from behind to gain points on a regular basis tells us all we
need to know about this team – we a re top four and I think Champions league
football is a very real possibility at the Boleyn next season. The rest of
English football will soon have to wake up to the fact hat we are a top top
side!

COYI

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Cole has chance of a new deal
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 15, 2014 in News Agenda, Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Carlton Cole still has the chance to earn himself a new West Ham deal over
the rest of the season. ClaretandHugh mistakenly reported yesterday that the
Cole contract was up in January, for which we apologise, when in fact his
deal runs out in the summer. And we were told earlier this afternoon that it
would be wrong to entirely rule out a new contract offer to the player who
has served the club for eight years. Cole, however, remains down the pecking
order of course and were an offer to come in for him the club would
understand were he to decide that he wanted the chance of of regular first
team football. We were told: "It's all in Carlton's hands. A new offer may
be considered unlikely by some but it depends on how he performs over the
second half of the season. "We never rule anything out on any front until we
have the end of season review as was demonstrated very clearly last season
with the manager."

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West Ham United January transfer news and rumours
Latest: All the transfer news, rumours and gossip for West Ham United in the
Premier League's summer window - will Manchester City's Micah Richards be
tempted to become a Hammers player?
By Matt Law
The Telegraph

Transfer window history: West Ham fans will pray there are no repeats of the
bizarre January loan signing of central defender Roger Johnson from
Wolverhampton Wanderers. Co-chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold are not
big fans of the January sales.

Budget: £5m. West Ham did superb business in the summer transfer window and
won't be looking make major January moves. The club may, however, need a
replacement for central defender Winston Reid.

Dream signing: Winston Reid. West Ham are desperate to tie the Kiwi down to
a new contract, but have so far been able to negotiate an agreement.
Allardyce may have to sell him in January, rather than risk losing him for
free. Arsenal and Everton are interested.

Probable signing: Nicolas N'Koulou. West Ham have been watching the
Marseille defender in case Reid leaves in January. The 24-year-old Cameroon
international would cost around £5m.

Other targets: West Ham would love to turn the loan signing of midfielder
Alex Song, who has been a revelation, into a permanent deal, but
negotiations will have to wait until the summer.

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