Daily WHUFC News - 17th December 2014

Carroll relishing festive football
WHUFC.com
Andy Carroll is gearing up for the festive football after his latest 90
minutes at Sunderland
15.12.2014

While the festive season tends to be a testing one for most in the Barclays
Premier League, Andy Carroll is relishing the prospect of a flurry of
football. Following ankle surgery in the summer, the England international
missed the first three months of the season, but has now started each of
West Ham United's last five league outings. With lost time to make up, the
25-year-old reckons he is still in the equivalent of a traditional
pre-season and so is looking forward to getting stuck into a hectic
Christmas and New Year schedule. Speaking after his latest 90 minutes in
Saturday's 1-1 draw at Sunderland, Carroll said: "It feels great for me.
It's very important for me to come back from injury and stay injury free.
All the work I'm doing with the medical staff and the treatment team is
keeping me toned and fully fit, so it's obviously great for me to get
another 90 minutes. "Even though I haven't been playing games at the start
of the season, I've still been working very, very hard getting myself fit.
It's probably even more strenuous and harder work being injured and working
yourself back up than it is playing. "It's like my pre-season now, just
coming back. It's my first few games, so I'm raring to go. I'm still feeling
good and feeling fresh."

Reflecting on the weekend's hard-earned point at the Stadium of Light,
Carroll lamented missed opportunities, not least a late side-footed effort
that was a whisker away from bagging the Hammers another away win. He also
went close early on, nodding a pinpoint Stewart Downing cross over the top.
He explained: "It was a fantastic ball from Stewie and I thought I could
have done better with it. I got too much on it and my timing was a little
bit out. It was the first real cross that we got in and had it been another
five minutes into the game, maybe I'd have done better with it. "The one at
the end fell nicely for me and I've side-footed it just past the post. I
thought it was a decent effort, but it wasn't on target. It was a good
strike, but unfortunately it's not got gone in. "It was great to get a point
away from home, but I think we could have had the three and deservedly
should have had the three."

On the back of Saturday's stalemate, Carroll reckons the visit of Leicester
City has now taken on greater significance, with the Hammers targeting
maximum points against the Premier League strugglers. "It'll be another
tough game, every game's a tough game and obviously they're not doing
particularly well at the minute but it's still going to be tough for us," he
continued. "We've got to go out there and try to get the points that we
want. "With the game on Saturday, we felt the next two were winnable games
and six points would have been great for us. We've come up here, it's been a
tough game, got the one, so it's more important now to get the three against
Leicester, which I think we can do."

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Mediawatch - 16 December
WHUFC.com
Our daily look at West Ham United in the news
16.12.2014

Andy Carroll tells the Mail Online that he is raring to go after completing
another 90 minutes at Sunderland on Saturday.

Sam Allardyce is quoted in the Evening Standard as saying his team are
making life easy for him this season.

According to the Mirror, Alex Song has given the Club fresh hope that they
would be able to sign him on a permanent basis.

BBC Sport confirm that Ravel Morrison has been granted compassionate leave
by Cardiff City to train with the Hammers.

Sticking with Morrison, the Mail believe that the Hammers could be peparing
to sell the midfielder in January.

In the same newspaper, West Ham are said to be renewing their interest in
26-year-old Sporting Lisbon striker Islam Slimani.

Meanwhile, the Telegraph include a round-up of possible transfer deadlings
for the Hammers in January.

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On this day - 16 December
WHUFc.com
Elliot Lee turns 20 today while the Hammers also enjoyed home success on
this day in 1972
16.12.2014

Anniversary
West Ham United striker Elliot Lee celebrates his 20th birthday today. The
forward was born on this day in Durham in 1994. Stocky, powerful and blessed
with a natural finisher's ability, Lee finished the 2011/12 season as the
under-18s leading goal scorer, netting more than 20 times in all
competitions. The son of former West Ham United and England midfielder Rob
Lee, the frontman is a prolific goal-getter. This season he is the
Development Squad's top scorer, having already netted five goals in eight
games.

Classic match
West Ham United 3-2 Stoke City
Division One
16 December 1972
The Hammers recorded only their second win in six games as they earned a
hard fought victory over Stoke City at the Boleyn Ground.
A double from Bryan 'Pop' Robson helped the home side on their way with
Clyde Best also to thank as he netted one of the seven league goals which he
managed during the season. The win moved the Hammers up to seventh place, a
position they would be in and around all season before they eventually ended
up sixth.

Complete record - 16 December

1922 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-4 West Ham United (Division Two)
1933 Port Vale 0-0 West Ham United (Division Two)
1950 Hull City 1-2 West Ham United (Division Two)
1961 Manchester United 1-2 West Ham United (Division One)
1963 West Ham United 6-0 Workington Town (League Cup)
1967 Sheffield Wednesday 4-1 West Ham United (Division One)
1972 West Ham United 3-2 Stoke City (Division One)
1978 West Ham United 2-0 Charlton Athletic (Division Two)
1989 West Ham United 0-2 Oldham Athletic (Division Two)
1995 West Ham United 2-1 Southampton (Premier League)
1999 West Ham United 2-2 Aston Villa (League Cup)
2000 Everton 1-1 West Ham United (Premier League)
Played 12, Won 6, Drawn, 3, Lost 3, Scored 25, Conceded 15

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New deal for Sakho?
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 16th December 2014
By: Staff Writer

Speculation is rife tonight that Diafra Sakho has been rewarded for his fine
form with a new contract. The Senegal international, who signed for West Ham
back in August spent the afternoon at the home of co-owner David Sullivan
where, it has been claimed, negotiations over a new, improved contract were
had. Either way, it seems the two found some common ground at some point ...
as the image below, posted by Sakho on his Twitter feed this afternoon,
indicates!

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Go now, Ravel!
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 16th December 2014
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United are planning to release Ravel Morrison on a free transfer
with immediate effect, according to Matt Law. Law, writing in the Telegraph
tonight claims that the club are seeking to effectively cancel Morrison's
contract six months before it is due to expire, at the end of the current
season. The troubled midfielder returned to West Ham at the weekend 10 days
ahead of his scheduled return from Cardiff, where he had been on loan since
August. During his time with the Bluebirds Morrison made 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). Law adds that West Ham will argue Morrison's
numerous off-field issues - combined with a poor disciplinary record whilst
on club duty - allows the club to refrain from paying off his contract in
full - a sum in the region of £400,000.

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West Ham take half of FA Cup allocation
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 16th December 2014
By: Staff Writer

West Ham have requested 3,000 tickets for the FA Cup tie at Everton on
Tuesday, 6 January - just 50 per cent of those available.
As a result of the tie being moved from the weekend to a Tuesday night, West
Ham have taken just half of the available allocation for Goodison Park as
opposed to the larger number available to away teams in the FA Cup. FA rules
state that clubs can ask for up to 15 per cent of the stadium's capacity,
which in this case is just over 40,000 - meaning that the Hammers could have
requested up to 6,000 tickets. However the decision to move the tie to a
Tuesday evening for the benefit of the TV audience- a first for an FA Cup
third round tie - means that thousands of West Ham fans who would have
otherwise made the 220 mile trip from east London to Merseyside will not now
be able to attend.

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Allardyce to break Cup hoodoo?
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 16th December 2014
By: Staff Writer

Sam Allardyce will be hoping to win his first ever FA Cup tie since joining
West Ham when he takes his team to Goodison Park next month.
West Ham might be flying high in the Premier League right now but Big Sam
will have to break an unwelcome sequence if he is to help propel West Ham
into the next round of the FA Cup. Back in 2012, in Allardyce's first season
at the Boleyn Ground, West Ham were dumped out of the competition at the
first attempt by Sheffield Wednesday, then a League One club; the only goal
of the game coming from Chris O'Grady two minutes from the end of normal
time. The Hammers fared little better a year later when drawn against
Manchester United. Despite having home advantage, West Ham were denied a
famous victory when Robin Van Persie scored a 90th minute equaliser to send
the game into a replay at Old Trafford, which the hosts won 1-0. And the
less said about last season the better, when a mostly young and
inexperienced West Ham team including the likes of George Moncur (now at
Colchester), Callum Driver (now at non-league Dartford), Alou Diarra
(currently training with Brighton) and Modibo Maiga (on loan at Metz) were
thrashed 5-0 by Championship side Nottingham Forest in front of live TV
cameras.
In fact, the last time Allardyce managed to take a team beyond the third
round of the competition was back in 2009, when his then Blackburn side
reached the fifth round before being beaten by Coventry City. And only twice
in 19 seasons has he led a team beyond the 5th round - both whilst at
Bolton, in 2000 (semi final) and 2005 (quarter final).

Big Sam's FA Cup Record

West Ham United
2013: 3rd Round (Nottingham Forest)
2012: 3rd Round (Manchester United, replay)
2011: 3rd Round (Sheffield Wednesday)

Blackburn Rovers
2010: 3rd Round (Aston Villa)
2009: 5th Round (Coventry City)

Newcastle United
2008: 3rd Round (sacked before replay with Stoke)

Bolton Wanderers
2007: 4th Round (Arsenal, replay)
2006: 5th Round (West Ham, replay)
2005: Quarter Final (Arsenal)
2004: 3rd Round (Tranmere, replay)
2003: 3rd Round (Sunderland, replay)
2002: 4th Round (Tottenham)
2001: 5th Round (Blackburn, replay)
2000: Semi Final (Aston Villa, penalties)

Notts County
1999: 1st Round (Bournemouth, replay)
1998: 3rd Round (Sheffield Wednesday, replay)
1997: 3rd Round (Aston Villa, replay)

Blackpool
1996: 3rd Round: (Huddersfield)
1995: 1st Round (Preston North End)

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Kevin Nolan leads West Ham team in visit to children's ward in east London
hospital
West Ham stars gave out festive goodie bags to young patients
They visited the Rainbow Ward at Newham University Hospital on Tuesday
Kevin Nolan led seven of his team-mates in giving out the presents
James Tomkins, James Collins, Stewart Downing, Mauro Zarate, Diego Poyet,
Matt Jarvis and Alex Song were among those at the visit
By MATT LAWLESS FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 20:24, 16 December 2014 | UPDATED: 20:25, 16 December 2014

West Ham's stars helped spread some Christmas cheer on Tuesday afternoon as
captain Kevin Nolan led a hospital visit to a children's ward in east
London. Just a stone's throw away from the Hammers' Upton Park home, Nolan
was one of eight first-team players from Sam Allardyce's squad to hand out
festive goodie bags containing games, mini-footballs, towels and much more
to young patients on the Rainbow Ward at Newham University Hospital. Nurses
and hospital staff were equally delighted as they posed for photographs and
got autographs from Nolan, James Tomkins, James Collins, Stewart Downing,
Mauro Zarate, Diego Poyet, Matt Jarvis and Alex Song. Defender Tomkins said
he and his team-mates were aware of how difficult the holiday season can be
for those who cannot be at home for Christmas. 'It's a time of year I enjoy
coming to see the kids and being very humble, as some of them are really ill
and you just hope they can get home in time for Christmas,' he said.
'Spending time with family is what it's all about at this time of year, so
it keeps your feet on the ground when you know there are kids out there
going through a tough time. 'We just wish them all well and hope they get
home and spend Christmas in front of the tree, which is where everyone wants
to be. I have got a fairly big family and I can obviously relate to seeing
the mums and dads here with their kids in hospital, which is not the ideal
place they want to be. 'All the lads have been really positive and given
them some nice West Ham treats for Christmas, so hopefully we have puts some
smiles on faces.' The Hammers, meanwhile, will be looking to maintain their
fine form when they host the Premier League's bottom side Leicester on
Saturday. Allardyce's side are unbeaten in their last five games and sit
high in fourth place, just three points behind Manchester United.

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Irons won't rule out move for Spaniard
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 16, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

West Ham are not entirely ruling out a move for Valencia defensive
midfielder Javi Fuego but insist there have been no talks "at this stage."
The 30 year old has been on the Irons radar for some time without any formal
moves having been put together and as the stories emerged again today a top
Hammers source told ClaretandHugh: "You can never say never." "However, at
this moment it appears to be agents talking although no approach has been
made by West Ham at this time." However, should the Irons move in on the
player, it may be tricky taking him out of the Spanish club where he is
under contract until 2016. Reports coming out of the club are that Valencia
– one of the financially poorest in La Liga – are simply not interested in
selling but there's more than an even money chance the Irons may go back in
for him.

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Ravel can have no complaints as time runs out
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 16, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

That Ravel Morrison should take a picture of himself and post it on
Instagram on his return to Upton Park showing his track suit bottoms
accompanied by the single word "gym" showed that nothing much has changed.
We've become used to the boy posting pictures of himself in Chelsea and
Arsenal shirts and the like over the past couple of years along with a
number of enigmatic Tweets. My first thought when seeing the latest pic was:
"Why?" After everything that's gone off in his life why would he be posting
on social media at a time when his sole focus should surely have been on
life at the club given the current circumstances. We've seen Ravel score
truly stupendous goals and produce a level of performance which brought him
to the attention of England under-21 manager Gareth Southgate before being
shipped out to Queens Park Rangers and later Cardiff City. His talent and
skill factor is unique. He's a player the like of which at his best, we
probably haven't seen in this country since the days of Gazza. But along
the way there have also been court appearances with the main hearing due
for January 26. The questions he faces in Crown Court may be easier to
answer than those regarding his future football career which looks certain
to be away from Upton Park. After being managed by three of the country's
most experienced bosses – Sir Alex Ferguson, Sam Allardyce and Harry
Redknapp – the obvious question now is where on earth next?
It's a tragedy. Players like Ravel come along only two or three times in a
lifetime and he could have – still might if he can truly get his thing
together – a big career. Ravel is a young man with a troubled past who
somehow has to find his way into a future. I, for one, hope and pray the boy
finds his way forward for if not we will witness one of the saddest stories
of the modern game. One thing I know for sure is that West Ham United has
given him every chance to find himself at the Boleyn. He has received more
arms around the shoulder than can be counted. Now a decision is about to be
made and whatever the outcome the boy can have no complaints over the
decisions taken after being given every opportunity to find himself. The
only one West Ham may regret not taking was the offer from Fulham when it
was allegedly on the table. In every respect they have managed a hugely
difficult situation as well as anyone could have expected.

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Sakho new deal done – Noble next!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 16, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Diafra Sakho has ironed out his new West Ham deal which is due to kick in
after 25 games. ClaretandHugh revealed several weeks ago that co chairman
David Sullivan wanted to reward the player and after pictures were posted by
Sakho on the social media networks it was clear a deal had been done. The
player and chairman thrashed out the deal at Sullivan's mansion today after
the player has made one of the most successful steps into the Premier League
by any player EVER! Currently much of the striker's deal is based on
appearance money but the new deal is thought to take him up tpo £25k a week
with bonuses. Sakho arrived at the club for £3.5 million which goes to £7
million after he has played around 150 games and we were told by a well
placed source there are no escape clauses. A ClaretandHugh source said:
"This has been on the cards for some time and is a great deal for player and
the club. The next big deal on the agenda is Mark Noble's who will be
offered another five years in the summer

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Sakho: The financials …as Noble waits
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 16, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Mark Noble is the next Hammer in line to be offered a hefty new contract. Co
chairman and chief shareholder David Sullivan tonight kept his pledge to
reward the extraordinary Diafra Sakho with a vastly improved deal after his
early season goal-scoring feats. ClaretandHugh reported on October 28 that
Sullivan was ready to up his contract as a reward for excellence. The player
accepted terms of around £15,000 a week, a percentage of which was based on
first team appearances when joining the club. We said: "Such has been his
utterly outstanding start to the season the club are set to review the terms
of his contract. sakho-diafra_3214372A well placed insider was reported as
saying: "David is keen to reward him. He gets a review after 25 starts in
his contract. If he keeps scoring, however, David will bring that forward as
a reward for excellence." And that is precisely what has happened with the
player now believed to be on £25k a week with appearance bonuses. Noble is
now set to receive a new offer although we are told that will be closer to
the summer with Sullivan taking up the two year option the club hold on him
whilst offering another three years on improved money.

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Downing makes a very serious point
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 16, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Stewart Downing has made a particularly strong point in claiming the manager
and players were happy with the point at Sunderland. Quite apart from the
fact that it's a hard place to visit – as Chelsea discovered when being held
to a draw – he makes it clear that after three games in nine days, all of
them won, this was a fine effort. Such has been the excitement of watching
the Hammers reverting whenever possible to the brand of football that
attracted most of us to the club in the first place, it's easy to overlook
simple virtues. And the resilience of this side in beating Newcastle West
Brom and Swansea, coming from behind in the last two games whilst doing the
same for the Sunderland point, is a tremendous achievement. This comes from
the confidence the team has amassed this season in never knowing when it is
beaten and reinforces the point made by Claretandhugh's chief analyst/pundit
that they are truly where they belong.

Downing sums it up neatly saying: "We should go into Christmas with a lot of
confidence now. Obviously we've got games in the space of three days over
that period – away at Chelsea on Boxing Day and here against Arsenal on 28
December – 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. As David Gold Claretandhugh last week in an interview:
"We can all start believing we are supporting a very good team."

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West Ham ready to terminate Ravel Morrison's contract
Ravel Morrison, the troubled West Ham United midfielder, faces Upton Park
exit
By Matt Law
4:28PM GMT 16 Dec 2014

West Ham United want to terminate troubled midfielder Ravel Morrison's
contract with immediate effect. Morrison has returned to the Upton Park club
after his Cardiff City loan was cut short and has trained with West Ham's
Under-21s. But, rather than wait to try to find another club willing to sign
him, West Ham have decided they want to get rid of Morrison as quickly as
possible. Morrison earns around £15,000-a-week, but West Ham are unlikely to
offer him the full terms of his contract to leave. Instead, they will argue
that a host of disciplinary issues mean they do not have to hand the
21-year-old a pay-off. It remains to be seen whether or not Morrison digs
his heels in and tries to fight his corner, but the England Under-21
international looks set to be faced with trying to find himself a new club.
Co-owner David Sullivan rejected advice from close allies on numerous
occasions to try to help Morrison realise his potential at Upton Park, but
even his patience appears to have now snapped. Cardiff claimed that Morrison
had returned to West Ham on compassionate grounds, but the player made
little impact in Wales despite his considerable talent. Not wanting to risk
him disturbing the good spirit within the first-team squad, who lie fourth
in the Premier League table, the club told Morrison that he would have to
train with the club's youngsters. Morrison has an £18 million release clause
in his West Ham contract and there was also a second clause that stated the
club would have to increase his wages to £60,000-a-week if they received a
£10m bid. Fulham had a £4m offer for Morrison turned down 12 months ago and
were reported to the Premier League by West Ham, before he joined Queens
Park Rangers on loan in February. Morrison enjoyed bright moments under
Harry Redknapp at Loftus Road, but, ultimately, failed to convince QPR to
try to sign him permanently. The loan to Championship club Cardiff was seen
as a last chance for Morrison to get his career on track, but with that
opportunity now gone West Ham no longer want to be responsible for his next
move. Morrison was last month cleared of threatening to throw acid in the
face of his ex-girlfriend and have her killed. But he will stand trial at
Manchester Crown Court on January 26 on on three remaining charges of
assaulting Reah Mansoor, 19, and her mother, Parveen Mansoor, 39, in the
early hours of July 24.

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