Daily WHUFC News - 28th February 2015

Preview - Crystal Palace
WHUFC.com

In brief

The Hammers host Crystal Palace in what is their second London derby out of
a series of four. Having drawn against Tottenham last weekend, Sam
Allardyce's men will next face Chelsea and Arsenal. Despite enjoying a good
run of performances in the league, Allardyce's men have been short changed
in terms of a points return. The Hammers are currently eighth with 39 points
from 26 games. Crystal Palace have enjoyed an upswing since former Eagles
player Alan Pardew took over after leaving Newcastle United. Currently 13th
with 27 points, there is still a bit of work to do before relegation fears
can be put to bed, however they have taken big strides to ensure Premier
League survival with wins over Tottenham, Burnley and Leicester City.

Who are they?

The Eagles were founded as The Crystal Palace in 1905 to introduce a team to
the local area, whose people regularly supported the FA Cup final in numbers
when it was played in the Crystal Palace Park. They initially joined the
Southern League before becoming members of the Football League Third
Division in 1920. Palace reached the top flight for the first time in 1969
and were FA Cup runners-up in 1990.
Although they have spent more time in the second tier in recent years, they
won promotion to the Barclays Premier League via the play-offs in 2013 and
enjoyed a successful return to the highest level, finishing eleventh last
term.

Team news
West Ham United

The Hammers are blessed with a relatively clean bill of health as apart from
strikers Carlton Cole and Andy Carroll, Sam Allardyce has a full squad to
pick from. New signing Nene is likely to feature as a substitute as
Allardyce hinted at the Brazilian's inclusion in his pre-match press
conference on Thursday.

Crystal Palace

Alan Pardew has a few injury concerns to think about with Frazier Campbell,
Marouane Chamakh and Yaya Sanago all struggling with hamstring injuries. As
well as that, the Eagles could be without James McArthur (hip), Jerome
Thomas and Jonathan Williams (pelvis)

Referee
Saturday's referee is Mike Dean. The experienced referee made his Premier
League debut almost 15 years ago, and has refereed 354 games in total. This
season, Dean has taken charge of three West Ham league games – the 3-1 home
defeat to Southampton, the 1-0 win over Newcastle United and the 1-1 away
draw with Swansea City. In total this season, Dean has officiated 18 league
games, giving 78 yellow cards and four reds. Saturday's assistant referees
are Darren England and Simon Long, Kevin Friend is the fourth official.

One to watch
West Ham United

Diafra Sakho made his West Ham debut against Crystal Palace in the 3-1 win
at Selhurst Park at the start of the season, going close to scoring. Since
then Sakho's impact in a Claret and Blue shirt has been well documented.
Having scored against Tottenham last season, his 11th in all competitions,
Sakho will want to add to his impressive debut season tally.

Crystal Palace

25-year-old winger Yannick Bolasie has had a fantastic season for the
Eagles, in fact his development since they were promoted from the
Championship has been hugely impressive. The DR Congo international is now
one of the most exciting players in the Premier League. His turn of pace and
trickery is something the Hammers will have to contain if they are to get
all three points on Saturday.

Tickets
Tickets for this match have all SOLD OUT. The last remaining tickets for
West Ham's next home game against Chelsea on Wednesday 4 March are available
here.

Travel
With planned part closures on the Circle and western portion of the District
lines and London Overground, please visit the TFL website here to plan your
journey.

Weather
The weather for Saturday lunchtime is forecast to be a cloudy day with
chances of rain before kick off. Temperature will be 9C (48c).

Last home meeting
West Ham fell victim to a brace of 1-0 defeats at Crystal Palace's hands
last season, with the most recent home meeting being settled by a Mile
Jedinak penalty following Pablo Armero's foul on Cameron Jerome.

West Ham United 0-1 Crystal Palace
Barclays Premier League
19 April 2014

West Ham United: Adrian, McCartney, Tomkins, Reid, Armero, Noble, Diame,
Jarvis (C.Cole 70), Nolan (Nocerino 85), Downing (J.Cole 78), Carroll
Subs: Taylor, O'Brien, Jaaskelainen, Johnson

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Mariappa, Ward, Dikgacoi, Dann, Delaney, Puncheon
(Gabbidon 87), Jedinak, Jerome (Murray 82), Ledley, Bolasie (Parr 90)
Subs: Ince, Gayle, Murray, Hennessey, Guedioura

Goal: Jedinak pen 59

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Howes targets strong response
WHUFC.com

West Ham United U18 goalkeeper Sam Howes is looking forward to the Hammers'
match with Reading on Saturday morning. Howes and his teammates are looking
for to bounce back and win after losing to Norwich City 2-1 last weekend,
their last game of the league season before the Play-Offs begin. Speaking
ahead of the match with the Royals, the shot stopper said: "It'll be a
difficult game, every team is at this level. They're all good solid teams.
"It'll be tough but I'm sure all the lads will be up to the task. There's
three valuable points on offer, three that we definitely need." Last time
the Hammers played Reading, the U18s triumphed 4-0. In an impressive
display, the Hammers won convincingly courtesy of goals from Josh Pask,
Grady Diangana, Jordan Brown and Oscar Borg. Howes, who wasn't involved that
day, has played a total of 17 games for the U18s this season, as well as a
handful of matches for the U21s. "I didn't play in that game, but
obviously everyone put in a good performance that day and were rewarded for
it. Saturday is going to be a different game. "We can take confidence from
that game but we need to put it to the back of our minds, we can't go in
there thinking we are going to turn them over."

Looking back at the season as a whole, Howes continued to give his
assessment of an overall successful year which has seen several youth
prospects make the first team bench as well as several schoolboys play for
the U18s and U21s. "We had a very good first half of the season, the
second half was slightly harder. Last weekend was a disappointing result and
it didn't reflect what we're capable of which is frustrating. Winning on
Saturday would be a very good way to end the season and go into the play
offs with. "Everyone has done well this season. The forwards have scored a
lot of goals and played well together. But also at the back, the likes of
Tunji Akinola has done very well at such a young age, to be fair everyone
has pulled their weight at different times in the season."

West Ham United U18s play Reading on Saturday 28 February, at Rush Green,
kick off is 11am. Parking and admission is FREE.
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Chadwell Chatter
WHUFC.com

Hello,

I would like to start off by saying a massive thank you to all the fans who
have made my time at West Ham United so exciting so far, I hope, as I'm sure
you do to, that this is just the start of something special. Growing up in
south Senegal, I wanted to be a carpenter, I never thought I could play
football for a living, never mind in the Premier League! Last Sunday was
obviously disappointing for everyone, despite the fact that we played very
well and we deserved to win. Of course, it was nice to score, its felt like
a long time since my last goal against Bristol City.

I am really looking forward to our game on Saturday against Crystal Palace,
I look forward to every game but particularly at home, playing in front of
our fans. The game against Crystal Palace away at the start of the season
was my first game for the club so it was special for me, we won as well
which makes it better. Every derby is special for the fans, and for the
players also. I'm quickly learning how important London derbies are, and
after Palace we've got two more against Chelsea and Arsenal. They are all
big matches, but honestly, I never get fazed by any match. I am relaxed
before a match, I have a bath before every game, and it's just a habit I
started a while ago. Some of the lads were a bit surprised at first but
they've got used to it now.

The Chelsea game next week is huge for everyone. A Wednesday evening game
under the lights at the Boleyn Ground is something to look forward to. But,
we will only focus on the Chelsea after Crystal Palace. Away from the pitch,
everything has changed since moving to West Ham, my life is completely
different. It's a new country and new culture, driving on the other side of
the road, everything is different, but I am really enjoying it. Finally,
I'd like to finish by mentioning the Metz Academy in Dakar, which is very
special to me. It's where I was spotted by European scouts when I played
there for about six to eight months before joining Metz in France. The
current players there were asked which player they wanted to rename a
dormitory after and they chose me, so it was a big honour for me.

See you on Saturday!
Diafra

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Kouyate's up for derby duel
WHUFC.com

West Ham United midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate is relishing a second London
derby in successive weekends when the Hammers take on Crystal Palace. The
25-year-old central midfielder has been in superb form of late, scoring
crucial goals against Manchester United and more recently against Tottenham
Hotspur last Sunday. Speaking ahead of the Hammers' game with the Eagles,
Kouyate said: "It's a very important match, it's a derby so it's very
special. We have to win, for the club and for the fans. We are going to do
our best to win the match. "I like playing in derbies, they are very special
games, especially for fans. After Crystal Palace, we have Chelsea and
Arsenal all coming up and we cannot lose those games. We will do our best
and we will fight to win for ourselves and the fans." In an impressive
debut season in a claret and blue shirt, the Senegalese international has
made 20 appearances in total. Kouyate's second game for the club came in the
3-1 win over the Eagles at Selhurst Park through goals from Stewart Downing,
Mauro Zarate and Carlton Cole and the midfielder hopes the Hammers can
complete the double over their London rivals. "Before a match we think
about the fans, once we're on the pitch we think about the game. While we're
playing of course we feel the fans' support. I believe the fans are more
enthusiastic when it's a derby so there is a great atmosphere. "Everyone is
telling me that I will score again this weekend because I have scored
against some of the big teams. But I am focused on every game equally and
helping the team to do well. "If I can score than that's great but it's not
the priority. The people who know me, know I can play better. Whenever I
play I always think I can play better."

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On this day - 27 February
Classic match
WHUFC.com

West Ham United 3-1 Liverpool
Premier League
27 February 2011

The Hammers made a storming start, overwhelming their visitors before the
break and taking a crucial 2-0 lead inside the opening 45 minutes. Scott
Parker opened the scoring with 22 minutes on the clock, playing intricate
one-twos with both Thomas Hitzlsperger and Lars Jacobsen before poking an
inch-perfect shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

It got better the for Hammers before half-time when Demba Ba flicked Robert
Green's long kick out wide to Gary O'Neill before bursting into the box and
heading his cross beyond Pepe Reina.

Former Hammer Glen Johnson pulled one back for the away side six minutes
from time, knocking home after Luis Suarez's low cross deflected off James
Tomkins and into his path. But West Ham did not crumble and secured the
points in stoppage time through Carlton Cole, who outmuscled Martin Skrtel
and beat Jamie Carragher before finishing emphatically.

Complete record - 27 February

1926 Sheffield United 1-1 West Ham United (Division One)
1937 West Ham United 4-0 Coventry City (Division Two)
1954 Brentford 3-1 West Ham United (Division Two)
1960 Nottingham Forest 3-1 West Ham United (Division One)
1965 West Ham United 2-1 Liverpool (Division One)
1971 Blackpool 1-1 West Ham United (Division One)
1982 Everton 0-0 West Ham United (Division One)
1988 Derby County 1-0 West Ham United (Division One)
1993 Sunderland 0-0 West Ham United (Division One)
1999 West Ham United 2-0 Blackburn Rovers (Premier League)
2011 West Ham United 3-1 Liverpool (Premier League)

Played 11, Won 4, Drawn 4, Lost 3, Scored 15, Conceded 11

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To offend or not to offend, that Is the question
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 26th February 2015
By: Raedwulf

"Man offended on behalf of someone else reports incident he didn't see or
hear", wrote Staff. It sets up the expectation that the article is going to
be wholly dismissive of the current kerfuffle about some idiotic chanting at
White Hart Lane last Sunday.

Since the article, actually well-written, did nothing of the sort, it
invites people to mis-read it. KUMB, 99 times out of a hundred (at least),
is better than that. If it was in the habit of sneering and mocking, I
wouldn't hang around here (which, I daresay, might please some of you!).

For what little my opinion is worth: As far as this sort of thing goes, I
have lived my life by the dictum "If you are not trying to cause offence,
there is nothing for me to be offended at; if you are trying to cause
offence, I'm not going to give you the satisfaction." In fact, in the latter
case, I'll probably just laugh in your face because that'll annoy you, so I
win twice over. I'm nasty like that.

I was bullied, mostly verbally, a fair bit in my teens because I was a bit
different from most people. I still am a bit different, I suppose. I grew
up, as a consequence, with a loathing of bullying, a sharp tongue, and a
thick skin!

There is a big difference between those who accidentally offend, and those
who try deliberately to do so. They SHOULD, in my opinion, be challenged.
Unless that happens, nothing ever improves.

On an individual level, back then anybody that tried verbals with me came
off worst. Usually with other kids laughing at them, not me, so it tended
not to go on for very long, and most kids learned not to try it at all.

It perhaps wasn't the best defence in all situations, but it worked reliably
enough to become a habit I've sometimes regretted since. Nevertheless, the
point is that they were trying to offend and they were challenged. I wasn't
offended, but neither did I give in to them, thereby allowing them to think
it was OK or, worse, encouraging them to do it more.

The interesting thing about the discussion that's ensued on the article is
that, up to the time I write this (around 6PM the same day), no-one has said
it's alright to use that particular word and, most especially, no-one has
suggested that it would be alright to use it to someone who has Down's
Syndrome.

Let me back up slightly. The offensive word in question was "mong", directed
at Harry Kane because he has a speech impediment (apparently; I've never
listened to an interview). You're probably well aware of that.

According to my Oxford English dikker, mong is an Australian informal
abbreviation of mongrel - which is complete nonsense to anyone who grew up
in the East End up until the 1980s at least. "Mong" meant not just "thick"
but "thick and you can't help it". It's an abbreviation of mongoloid, which
is the term used to describe Down's Syndrome up until at least the 1970s.

It was the term that the eponymous Dr Down himself used back in the 19th
century. In my day, I never knew anyone who had it; they were, for better or
worse, separated from us in special needs schools. As an insult, it was
fairly mild, not much worse than calling someone "thick".

Nowadays, we speak of Down's Syndrome. No-one uses, or thinks it is
acceptable to use, "mongoloid" to describe those affected by Down's
Syndrome, any more than anyone thinks "spastic" is appropriate for that
group (and, yes, Joey Deacon cropped up in the discussion on the article).
Or "flid", if it comes to that. I'm slightly surprised to find mong is still
sufficiently current to have been used.

You'll notice I don't say "sufferers", by the way. I still don't know any,
but most everything I've ever seen or read suggests that Down's don't suffer
very much - it seems they tend to be much happier, friendlier, and more
positive than so-called "normal" folk.

Which brings me back to the discussion on the article. There's a bit of "Man
up! Grow a pair!" been going on. But the discussion has mostly been about
the nature of offence, whose fault it is if someone gets offended, and so
on.

As you may gather from my earlier remarks, I'd not argue that everyone needs
to learn to deal with the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Also, the
brickbats and unfriendly "compliments" that will come from your fellows.

However, I'd also point out that part of manning up and growing a pair isn't
just developing rhinoceros hide and aggression to match. Part of it is also
recognising that alongside your "right" of free speech (which has also been
cited) is your duty to think about what you are saying and how you are
saying it.

Part of it is recognising that how you act impacts the world around you.
That it is your responsibility, and it matters. If you really think you can
swan along how you please, screw everyone else, don't complain when the
world, or someone in it, comes along and screws you. It probably will
happen.

So, on the one hand, yes there are those who react at very slight
provocations; those deservedly, I think, labelled the "PC brigade". If a
bloke calls a lass "love" or "dear", he almost certainly isn't being sexist
(and some would no doubt try to tell me that "lass" is sexist). It's just
the way he talks.

On the other hand, there are an awful lot of words that I could list. You
can think of many yourselves. Someone using those words is setting out to
offend, especially when it's dozens of someones in a football crowd yelling
it. This isn't just a matter of some people being over-sensitive. There are
two sides to every coin; the flip side of this one is "insensitive". And if
it's done deliberately? That's beyond insensitive...

The irony of all this, of course, is that "mong" in the informal, insulting
sense was a perfectly good word for Sunday. Not for Harry Kane, however he
sounds. Certainly not for anyone with Down's, if they were unfortunate
enough to hear the chant and connect it with themselves.

"Harry Kane talks like a mong and plays like one too." For crying out loud!
The average school playground could do better than that. I'm not, in any
case, a fan of trying to wind up the opposition. I can't recall seeing a
sportsman play worse because of anything shouted at him by the crowd.

But that? No, "mong" applies perfectly to all the "thick and you can't help
it" fans who thought it was a good word to use. As a chant, that was so
pathetic, it'd need a stepladder to reach "feeble". You can laugh with your
equally thick mates down the pub about all the attention you've garnered,
and massage each other's egos all you want.

But all you've done is attract a bucketload of negative publicity to West
Ham. The sort of publicity that no club needs, let alone wants. It wasn't
clever, it wasn't even funny. On Sunday, the "mongs" at White Hart Lane were
those chanting the word. I wonder, any of you bright, brave lads want to
publicly explain why you were doing it?

So was Kilbane right to complain about it? Despite KUMB's headline, yes I
think so. Unless behaviour like this is challenged, it will not change.

In this particular instance, there's little practical that can be done.
Whatever Kilbane thinks, it's a relatively minor offence. Half the idiots
chanting on Sunday probably don't even know why the word "mong" means
"thick", or that some would find it particularly offensive.

Frankly, a lot probably wouldn't care, they'd just sneer, and cry "Man up!
Grow a pair! It was only a bit of fun!" Well, it was neither funny nor fun
for a lot of people. Maybe whoever it is that makes up these chants should
have a little think about that?

Nevertheless, there's not a lot the FA can realistically do. You can't
realistically expect a club to control its fans to this extent, nor can you
fairly punish the vast majority for the actions of a minority that few fans
welcome, or recognise as their own.

But, hopefully, by continuing to challenge such behaviour, as it should be,
it can continue to be reduced. Football stadia were far more intimidating
places in past decades. If "mong" is now the cause of column inches in the
national media, how far we have advanced.

May we continue to.

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Do you know the way to shame Jose?
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 26th February 2015
By: Paul Walker

That master manipulator Jose Mourinho is at our place next week, hope
everyone gives him a rousing welcome!

That, surely is the only way to approach a situation that sees us and Spurs
first up for matches with Chelsea after Mourinho's remarkable assault on the
entire refereeing community, despite being fined heavily by the FA for
recent similar comments, on Sky's Goals on Sunday tirade.

Frankly I am amazed that the FA have not thrown the book at him already.
Jose sat there, with Chris (yes Jose, no Jose, three bags full Jose) Kamara
nodding like a demented toy dog in a car window, and got away with murder.

He is trying to get into the heads of referees, mind games on an industrial
level to influence their decisions; let's hope it doesn't work when Chelsea
arrive in East London.

Spurs face Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday in the League Cup Final and then the
Blues are at the Boleyn on Wednesday, where they are always made very
welcome.

What surely must worry everyone is that Mourinho was given a near two-hour
private TV slot to cast his cynical, manipulative web over every referee,
lino and fourth official in the land.

Constantly doubting their competence, listing incident after incident that
have gone, supposedly, against Chelsea this season, and again alluding to
his theme that there is a conspiracy against his club, Mourinho was doing
his level best to influence referees' decisions in the final games of the
season.

It was an outrage. Would Sky give every other manager in the Premier League
the chance to try to influence referees in this way? They must have been
wetting themselves when Jose contacted them and asked to come on the
programme.

And just to make sure any referee around missed it first time, they put the
whole sorry, cynical programme out again on Monday. And of course you can
catch it on demand, too.

It is outrageous to suggest referees are involved in a conspiracy against
his team. They may make mistakes, but to suggest it is deliberate is
shocking. The FA have done him once for that approach, they should go
through every word of the Sky stuff and count the amount of times he tried
to undermine Premier League officials.

It has even been suggested that Mike Riley, the refs' boss, has been to
Chelsea's training ground this week to discuss the situation. Why? The FA
have made their position clear once, they should do so again, if they have
the balls to take Jose on again.

My fear is that Jose will achieve his aim. The referees will start softening
their approach, even subconsciously thinking twice about making decisions
against Chelsea. Now I don't care much whether Spurs suffer after Harry
Kane's dodgy penalty last weekend, but I fear for us next Wednesday when
Andre Marriner is in charge.

Mourinho went through the whole 'always the victim' hand-wringing speech. It
was cynical and hypocritical, you would think he doesn't send out players to
kick opponents, that he never employed the likes of John Obi Mikel or
Michael Essien. Or he never used the world's worst cheat, Arjen Robben in
his side.

Chelsea have never been slow in the dark arts. The Mirror have highlighted a
Mikel late tackle on Mikel Arteta, a carbon copy of Ashley Barnes' assault
on Nemanja Matic, a while back that had Mourinho defending him with a
"football is for men," quote. The word hypocrite comes to mind, and Mourinho
has been getting away with this stuff for years.

He started it on Saturday with his "minute 30, minute 33, minute 43, minute
69" stuff. Just to highlight it all and lay the foundations for the Sky
show. Funny that the referees' match delegate seems to have agreed with all
of Martin Atkinson's decisions.

We can all list grievances. So in true Mourinho fashion, these are mine off
the top of my head; I am sure Big Sam has a much longer list:

Match one: Kevin Nolan's debatable disallowed goal at Manchester United.

Match two: Romelu Lukaku's blatant offside goal for Everton.

Match three: Alex Song's disallowed goal against Arsenal when Diafra Sakho,
in an offside position, stepped over the ball(Notice that Manchester United
were allowed an identical goal at Preston in the Cup when Wayne Rooney got
out of the way of Ander Herrera's shot).

Match four: (A lot here.) James Tomkins has his nose broken by Marouane
Fellaini and then was deliberately smacked in the face by Robin Van Persie.
No action. Man U's equaliser came after Fellaini had pushed Carl Jenkinson
in the back as he tried to head a cross away, the ball dropped for Daley
Blind to equalise.

Match five: WBA's first goal in our Cup horror show was offside.

Match six: Adrian was wrongly sent-off at Southampton, shocking piece of
refereeing that was over-ruled.

(And just for fun) Match seven: Harry Kane should not have been allowed to
follow up his penalty miss with the added time of five minutes somehow
stretched to seven.

Get the point Jose? We all have our complaints, but we don't attack the
integrity of the entire referees' list.

We have twice been done by the FA this season for not controlling our
players. The first time when we were upset that Everton were kicking lumps
out of Mark Noble and Morgan Amalfitano and the second when were rightly
upset about Adrian's red card.

Have you noticed, though, the amount of times Chelsea surround a referee or
spent the game questioning every decision?

I could go on. But Mourinho is getting away with it because he is a big name
at a big club, and every referee now will be under closer scrutiny in every
Chelsea game because of it. And we are right in the firing line.

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Sam Allardyce praises Sakho after his goal against Tottenham
By Oliver Young-Myles | Last Updated: 27/02/15 5:27pm
SSN

Sam Allardyce has singled out Diafra Sakho for praise after the Senegalese
international returned to goal-scoring form at White Hart Lane last Sunday.
The summer signing from Metz is the club's top scorer with nine Premier
League goals, but prior to his strike last weekend had not scored in the
league since New Year's Day against West Brom. Though Allardyce was
frustrated with the manner in which Tottenham secured a late point, he was
heartened by Sakho's goal, particularly given Andy Carroll and Carlton
Cole's recent injuries. "I was happy with everyone's performance (at
Tottenham)," he said. "But of course it was nice to see Sakho score, I think
he's been working hard it just hasn't fallen for him. He deserved his goal
because of his work rate and to get in that position from where he scored in
the first place."

After missing out on Emannuel Adebayor on deadline day, Allardyce moved
quickly to bolster his forward line by securing the services of 33 year-old
Nene until the end of the season. When asked if the former PSG forward would
feature against Crystal Palace, Allardyce said: Yes, most likely on the
bench. "Especially with the injury to Carlton Cole, he can play a big part
for us and he needs to stake a claim to play for us."

Sakho's debut for the Hammers came against Crystal Palace back in August and
a goal on Saturday would see him reach double figures in his first season in
England. "I am really looking forward to our game on Saturday against
Crystal Palace, I look forward to every game but particularly at home,
playing in front of our fans," he said. "Every derby is special for the
fans, and for the players also. I'm quickly learning how important London
derbies are, and after Palace we've got two more against Chelsea and
Arsenal. "They are all big matches, but honestly, I never get fazed by any
match. The Chelsea game next week is huge for everyone. A Wednesday evening
game under the lights at the Boleyn Ground is something to look forward to.
But, we will only focus on the Chelsea after Crystal Palace."

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West Ham host Crystal Palace on Saturday lunchtime at Upton Park
Last Updated: 27/02/15 6:48pm
SSN

West Ham and Crystal Palace kick-off an action-packed weekend of football at
Upton Park in Saturday's early game as both sides look to return to winning
ways in the Premier League. The Hammers have hit the rocks in recent weeks
and have only managed to win once in their last nine top-flight games. They
were humbled by West Brom in the FA Cup and the pressure is beginning to
mount on manager Sam Allardyce as the club's season appears to be fizzling
out prematurely.

A much-needed victory would see the East Londoners move to within a point of
seventh-placed rivals Tottenham, who are playing in the Capital One Cup
final on Sunday. Alan Pardew got his tenure as Crystal Palace manager off to
the perfect start with four consecutive victories following his departure
from Newcastle. However, similarly to Saturday's opponents, the Eagles have
struggled for consistency and head across London with just one win in their
last five and on the back of consecutive defeats in league and cup
competitions.
Aaron Cresswell's solitary effort handed the Hammers a 1-0 win when Pardew
took Newcastle to his former employers and he will be looking for a positive
result as Palace look to guarantee their Premier League status.

Team news

Nene is in line to make his West Ham debut. The 33-year-old forward has yet
to feature since joining the Hammers but, with Andy Carroll (knee) and
Carlton Cole (hamstring) reducing options in attack, the former PSG forward
will be involved. With the exception of the suspended Morgan Amalfitano,
West Ham have a fully-fit squad to choose from.

Crystal Palace will be without three strikers for the trip to the Boleyn
Ground. Fraizer Campbell, Yaya Sanogo and Marouane Chamakh will all miss the
clash with hamstring injuries while Jonny Williams (groin) and Jerome Thomas
(knock) are also out. Eagles captain Mile Jedinak could make his first start
under Pardew, having returned from a sore ankle, while James McArthur has
recovered from a thigh problem.

Jamie Redknapp previews West Ham's Premier League game against Crystal
Palace
Opta facts

Crystal Palace have won four of their last seven matches in all competitions
against West Ham.

West Ham have picked up 199 points in Premier League London derbies.

Allardyce and Pardew have both managed Newcastle United and West Ham United
in the Premier League. Head to head, Allardyce has won five and lost one of
their nine meetings as opposition coaches.

Merson's prediction

I am just about going for a home win here. I know West Ham have hit a bit of
a rocky patch recently, but I still think that they will just have a little
bit too much for Palace at home.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1

Betting

West Ham are Sky Bet's even-money (1/1) favourites, with Alan Pardew rated
14/5 to get one over his old club with Crystal Palace. A draw is on offer at
23/10 and a 1-1 final score is thought to be the most likely outcome at 9/2.
West Ham's hopes of a top-six finish are fading fast, with the Hammers'
price drifting out to 10/1 in recent weeks. As for Palace, they're now
firmly expected to avoid relegation at 8/1 to go down.

Watch West Ham v Crystal Palce live on Saturday. Coverage starts at 12pm,
Sky Sports 1 HD.

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DON'T TALK YOURSELF OUT OF A JOB, SAM
By Iain Dale 27 Feb 2015 at 10:00
West Ham till I Die
Guest post by Neil Clack

Twenty-five years to the day since the St.Valentines Day Massacre (Oldham 6
West Ham 0, League Cup semi-final). Was it an omen? It certainly was!

To be honest, I thought things had looked a bit ominous the day before, when
I read Sam's column in the Standard on the Friday – he was moaning already
about the kick off time, that it was too many games in too few days etc,
seemingly oblivious to the fact that West Brom had also played the same
number of games in the same number of days. That negativity no doubt filters
through to the players. We were already defeated before the match began, in
my opinion.

Sam's post-match excuses on Match of the Day on the Saturday night were
virtually word for word what he had written in the Standard the day before,
and, going by those words, and the way that you could clearly see the West
Ham players were not giving their all against West Brom, it really did look
like that, as at Forest last year, the FA Cup is just seen as a big
inconvenience for Big Sam.

Sam's a whinger, and that's one of the main reasons he made himself
unpopular at other clubs he managed, and within football, in general.

And if he's not careful he could whinge himself out of his job at West Ham.

Don't get me wrong here, I am not one of the so-called 'Allardyce-haters',
nor indeed do I subscribe to the view that he should go at the end of the
season – I think Sam's done well at West Ham overall, and for the sake of
stability and continuity, something the club has sadly lacked over the last
decade or so, I think Sam should stay. If it was down to me, I'd give him a
new 2-year contract right now.

But he loses me at times, harping on about fatigue, and constantly,
nauseatingly, moaning about referees after every single match, often when
the referee's got the decisions right (Nolan was offside against Man U
earlier in the season – the whole world and his wife could see that on the
replays. Song's goal v Arsenal was correctly disallowed because Carroll was
standing in an offside position in front of the goalkeeper's sightline, as
MOTD corectly explained at the time.

Against Tottenham on Sunday, it was a clear penalty as Song pushed Kane over
in the area, and Noble was rightly booked for shirt-tugging (since when has
shirt-tugging been deemed a minor incident that doesn't merit a booking,
Sam? – shirt-pulling is a dirty, cowardly, sneaky act that needs to be
eradicated from the game). Sam's post-match whingeing about the referee made
no sense at all. As one of the Tottenham players said the day after, Sam
really should just shut up sometimes. He's beginning to sound like a broken
record after every game, and it has no effect now – apart from making him
look like an even bigger whinger than his reputation already says he is.

Considering WBA had also played 3 games in 6 days, and had also had injuries
leading upto the match against us, and that Tottenham have played more games
than any other club this season, including a tough game against Fiorentina
on the Thursday before they met us, Sam's words are beginning to fall upon
deaf ears for many of the West Ham faithful now.

Besides, I thought it was pretty much accepted in football now, that Diego
Simeone at Atletico Madrid had proved the 'rest' theories wrong? Last
season, his high-pressing, high-tempo team played two games nearly every
week throughout their triumphant campaign, winning the Spanish league, and
coming within a minute of winning the Champions League final, as well as
reaching the semi-final of Spanish Cup, but Simeone never rested any of his
players once, claiming that much of the science about player tiredness is
mumbo-jumbo nonsence.

Simeone, like Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, is a protege of current
Marseille manager Marcelo Bielsa, whom they both played under when Bielsa
was manager of Argentina. It was Bielsa who introduced Pep Guardiola to the
concept of all-out attack and high-pressing when Guardiola spent 6 weeks
with Bielsa, studying his methods, before taking over as manager of
Barcelona.

Central to Bielsa's high-tempo, high-pressing strategy is that every
training session is intense; players have to go flat-out and give 100% in
every training session, to reach a higher level of fitness. For Bielsa, the
concept of tiredness and players needing resting simply does not exist –
that's something that sports scientists have invented and hoodwinked a lot
of managers into believing, blinding them with stats and over-analysis.

There's a great clip of Bielsa putting his Olympic Marseille players though
their paces last summer here – just look at their faces at the end. Click
HERE

Bielsa's Marseille are currently top of the French league, but from a West
Ham point of view, it's interesting that one of the players who didn't make
it through the rigourous pre-season when he first tookover last summer was
Morgan Amalfitano. Bielsa felt that Amalfitano lacked the fitness and
attitude to play in one of his teams, and the rather unedifying episode that
lasted most of last summer, ended with Bielsa banning the player from the
training ground. We perhaps saw a flash of that indiscipline during the West
Brom match, perhaps proving Bielsa may have had a point about Amalfitano?

All the current speculation over Sam Allardyce's future at West Ham is
completely of the board's making. They have brought it on the club
themselves by not giving Sam a new contract. It's an extremely unusual
situation in football (and naturally the the media are loving it!).

If Sam had had his contract extended by now, we wouldn't be having a
discussion over whether he should go or not, or whom his replacement should
be if he does go. Instead, everybody would be looking to the future – the
future under Sam – but under the current circumstances, it's only natural
that fans, and the media, are having arguments, and speculating over who the
new manager will be.

But poor old Sam really does himself no favours sometimes, even taking on
his owners in tit for tat arguments through the pages of the tabloids. He
calls his paymaster David Sullivan 'a gambler', and how can he seriously
defend the signing of Andy Carroll over the owner's choice of Wilfred Bony?
Sam's digging a grave for himself on that one, surely? He claimed he looked
at Carroll's record before signing him and saw he had a proven record in the
Premier League – proven injury record more like!

But the irony of all this is that I once saw Sam Allardyce in the flesh. At
a Supporter's Advisory Board Meeting in 2012, and do you know something, he
was completely different from the way he comes across on the TV and
newspaper columns. He was funny, charming, up-beat – dare, I say it,
likeable even. How is it that we never get that side of him in the media,
where he just moans and grumbles about offsides, tiredness, and imagined
prejudices against him and his team.

The problem for Sam is that Eastenders and Essex Man and Woman don't like
whingers. They didn't get through the blitz by moaning about it! They like
humour, having a bit of a laugh, and can be a bit flash at times.

It reminds me a little of Harry Redknapp's last season at West Ham. He too
hadn't signed a new contract (although everyone, including Harry and the
Board thought it would be a formality he'd sign at the end of the season),
but after the gutting FA Cup quarter final defeat to Tottenham (2-3), the
season just petered out into nothing, and Redknapp's demeanour seemed to
change. Gone was the chirpy funny man, replaced by a hangdog expression who
moaned a lot about bare bones, not having enough money etc.

I recently read Trevor Brooking's latest autobiography that mentioned once
again that Redknapp's talk with the Over Land and Sea fanzine contributed to
him losing his job (and Brooking should know, considering how close to Terry
Brown he was, becoming technical director after Redknapp left). In a
nutshell, Redknapp literally talked himself out of the job!

Please Sam, please don't do the same

And one more thing, my mum says please stop chewing gum with your mouth
open. It's disgusting.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham's Mark Noble urged to become Hammers legend by Allardyce after
penning new deal until 2020
22:30, 26 February 2015 By Adrian Kajumba
Local boy who is the club's leader in Premier League appearances now
qualifies for a testimonial that has been pencilled in as the Irons'
farewell to Upton Park
The Mirror

Sam Allardyce has challenged Mark Noble to make himself a West Ham legend at
the Olympic Stadium. Noble, 27, signed a new five-and-a-half-year,
£50,000-a-week deal that will take him up to the age of 33. One-club-man
Noble is also set to be rewarded with a testimonial at the end of next
season, which has been pencilled in to be the last game at Upton Park. The
Hammers will then move to their new Olympic Stadium and, assessing Noble's
chances of joining the club's list of legends, Allardyce said: "It depends
what the club achieves in the Olympic Stadium. "It is a great platform to
make the club greater than it has ever been as long as the players grace
that venue. "There is an opportunity to develop the club further than is has
been until now, as long as we bring in more younger, better players in than
we have already got - with Mark Noble in the middle of that. "There will be
a greater challenge for Mark to stay with the development of the club if
they move that way forward, which is hopefully the case. "Mark is West Ham
born and bred. He loves West Ham, he loves the area and his contract is good
news for everybody."

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Sakho: Why Palace game is special for me!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 27, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Diafra Sakho has quickly learned the excitement of London derbies but
tomorrow's game against Palace is especially important to him.
He said: ""I am really looking forward to our game on Saturday against
Crystal Palace, I look forward to every game but particularly at home,
playing in front of our fans. "The game against Crystal Palace away at the
start of the season was my first game for the club so it was special for me,
we won as well which makes it better. "Every derby is special for the fans,
and for the players also. I'm quickly learning how important London derbies
are, and after Palace we've got two more against Chelsea and Arsenal. "They
are all big matches, but honestly, I never get fazed by any match. The
Chelsea game next week is huge for everyone. A Wednesday evening game under
the lights at the Boleyn Ground is something to look forward to. But, we
will only focus on the Chelsea after Crystal Palace."

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24 years on Hackett says: "I'm so sorry West Ham"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 27, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Keith Hackett has given every West Ham an apology for the worst refereeing
decision in our club's history – the sending off of Tony Gale in the 1991 FA
Cup semi final at Villa Park against Nottingham Forest! Put the mere words
"Tony Gale sent off" into Google 24 YEARS ON and that awful decision by ref
Keith Hackett appears in all it's ghastly 'glory' after what we know today
as a professional foul on Gary Crosby But last night Hackett – speaking
exclusively to ClaretandHugh associate editor Sean Whetstone and blogger
Nigel Kahn (pictured right with the former ref) spoke of "my worst decision
in 34 years as a referee"saying: "There are many ( who were there on the
day) who still support West Ham and I ruined their day. I apologise for
that."

However, Hackett insisted that he had no alternative as he and other refs
had been instructed to introduce a new ruling which we know today as a
'professional foul' only days earlier and had no alternative after it had
been accepted by the officials present. But he added: "We were all sat in
the room. We should have said: "Get lost." We will do it next season – not
in this one. "Had this match been played on the previous Wednesday night
this would not have happened – Tony Gale would have received a yellow card."

Hackett declared: "I was made a sacrificial cow. All the West Ham fans came
up to Birmingham for that day, paid good ,money and I cocked it up."
"Players may only get one opportunity of going to Wembley in their careers
and my decision affected that for Tony and if you look at it now Crosby was
going away from goal." Hugh Southon writes: The game was played out in an
astonishing atmosphere following the incident as every successive goal in
the 4-0 defeat was followed by louder and louder chants of "Billy Bonds
Claret and Blue Army." It was hairs standing up on the back of your neck
stuff. It was a momentous day for the utterly amazing Hammers fans who truly
showed what supporting your team is all about. It was entirely unforgettable
and will live forever in the memories of all those who were there. It was
one of the most amazing reminders then – and now – of why we support West
Ham United Football Club. It's about the fans.

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Gold hails double signing
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 27, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

David Gold has paid his own personal tribute to Mark Noble following the
midfielder signing a new five and half year deal. And his decision was
immediately hailed by the co chairman as valuing quality of life and love of
your home area is clearly more important than money. Speaking exclusively to
ClaretandHugh he said: "There was never any doubt that Mark would sign – he
is Mr West Ham – and it's an absolute joy that he is now here for what looks
like life. "He is our stalwart, loves the area and although money is
important it's clearly not the all consuminng issue in Mark's life – his
passion for the club is the No 1 thing. He's been around since he was about
13. The place wouldn't be the same without him. It's great. Having signed
both him and James Tomkins shows there are players left who truly love their
clubs. "It's brilliant that we have tied them down. We're all delighted."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
CandH Exclusive: Sam does a double-quick runner
Posted by Sean Whetstone on February 27, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Sam Allardyce – a member of panel at the 'You Are the Ref' event last night
– did a runner at the end of a discussion on modern day refereeing. He was
joined by former ref Keith Hackett, Guillem Balague, Mark Halsey plus a
burly 'minder' at Riley's Sports Bar in London and made a rapid departure at
the end. Sam had called for a 10 minute sin bin experiment for 'soft' yellow
cards and a possible tennis type challenge system where manager could
contest up to two referee decisions per match during the discussion itself.
The event's audience were largely Hammers fans kitted out in claret and blue
shirts although Sam was protected at the half time interval by a security
guard to prevent any fans questions or annoyance. And he was away on his
heels the very second the recording ended giving no chance for the audience
or fans to speak to him prompting one to Hammer fan to comment "Is there a
fire drill?"

In one humorous moment of the Allardyce attempted to lead the audience in a
chorus of Bubbles when drinking a cup of tea while the event was suffering
from a series sound system failure. Let's hope that rendition makes the
final cut on the You Are the Ref video when published at
https://you-are-the-ref.com/

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Leroy reckons Irons can prove Pardew wrong
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 27, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Alan Pardew has told Sam Allardyce he has a real problem breaking through
the glass ceiling between West Ham and the top five or six clubs.But
ClaretandHugh pundit Leroy Rosenior reckons its Sam's job to breed the self
belief necessary into the team to do just that.
Pards and Allardyce have both Newcastle and the Irons pressure in common as
they head into tomorrow's lunchtime clash at the Boleyn.
Pardew said: "Sometimes it's difficult when you've got a glass ceiling above
you to try to break through to the top four or five clubs.
That period underneath becomes a bit frustrating for fans, particularly if
you are out of the cups. "Fans want to win something as well and I think
this is probably an important game for West Ham to try to stay with that
little pack." LeroyLeroy believes, however, that the Hammers are already a
top six club but that they simply aren't believing it which is why they are
drawing matches they should win. He said: "It's up to Sam to convince them
of that and more than capable of competing among the top six. They have
enough to upset any of them. "Tomorrow'game won't be easy, none are but the
Hammers need to start winning and gaining that self belief. What they musn't
do is to back off when they are leading…we have seen that can be fatal."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tony Gale responds to Hackett apology
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 27, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Tony Gale has responded to Keith Hackett's apology to the West Ham fans for
his horrendous FA Cup gaffe 24 years ago by declaring: "That stuff kills
your dreams." ClaretandHugh revealed today Hackett had issued his apology in
an exclusive interview with ClaretandHugh's Sean Whetstone and Nigel Kahn
last night.
And responding, Gale explained his love affair with the Irons fans
declaring: "I sat in with them at the West Brom FA Cup three weeks back and
it came back to me how those occasions can kill your dreams."
In an interview to be heard on "MooreThanJustAPodcast " next Monday evening
he said: "I am a fan and the West Ham supporters are different class. "Last
season when we won in the Capital One Cup against Spurs, the fans were kept
in for an hour after the game and as I walked across the pitch they were
chanting my name. Brilliant, you just want to jump in there with them." But
he remains unforgiving over Hackett who claimed his decision to send him off
in the 91 FA Cup Final was the worst of his career, following it with an
apology for the first time in 24 years. Gale said' "Even today, when as a TV
analyst I have to make decisions in a split second on incidents I still
can't see it as a sending off – I wouldn't if it was anywhere else."

Gale believes Hackett was keen to make a name for himself as being the first
ref to send a player off under the rule – now known as the professional foul
– declaring: "I appreciate his apology but he made an egotistical decision –
he wanted to be the first." But his heart remains with the fans and said:
"What came out of the day was that incredible crowd reactrion which brought
the management, players and fans together like never before. "It was an
incredible response from the supporters and I sat in the dug out despite an
official trying to usher me away and got goose bumps with everybody else. It
was astounding."

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com



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Daily WHUFC News - 27th February 2015

Noble signs new contract
WHUFC.com
Mark Noble has signed a new long-term contract with West Ham United

West Ham United are delighted to announce that Mark Noble has signed a new long-term contract. The two-time Hammer of the Year put pen to paper on a deal until the summer of 2021, underlining his commitment to the Club that he joined as a 13-year-old schoolboy. The Canning Town-born midfielder, who is the Hammers' all-time Premier League appearance record holder, said that signing a new contract with his boyhood Club was an easy decision to make. "I'm obviously over the moon because it takes me until I'm 33!" said Noble, who passed 300 first-team games for the Club in November 2014. "I'm very happy with the contract and very grateful to the Chairmen for giving me it and I'm looking forward to the next five years. "I love playing football and I love playing for the Club so to be rewarded with a new five-and-a-half year contract is fantastic. "In football you don't get any younger, but I keep myself fit and this is great for me and my family, because it gives us security for the rest of our lives. "It's not about the money, though. I always give 100 per cent in every game I play, even if it's not enough. As a West Ham fan, I know we'll lose games like everyone does, but I'm settled, I'm happy and that's when I play my best football."

While he has seemingly been around for decades – Noble actually joined the Hammers at 13 in 2000 and made his first-team debut in September 2004 – the new deal will, in theory, see the midfielder through the prime of his career. With teammate, fellow Academy graduate and close friend James Tomkins also signing a new contract, the Club bringing in a host of top players in recent months and the 2016 move to Stratford to look forward to, the No16 has much to look forward to. "I'm 27, 28 in May, and coming into the pinnacle of my career, really, and I've still got a few miles left in me yet, I'm sure, and I'm really hopeful it's going to be here at West Ham," he continued. "Myself and Tonks have been here for a long time and we know what the Club is about and know everyone who is here. For all the new players who come in, we're there for them if they need to know anything, because we've been here all of our lives. It's nice that we'll be together for the next five years. "The move to the Stadium is a major part in the Club's history, and what a place in London to have a football stadium! Things are only going to get better for the Club, as the Chairmen are looking to bring in top, top players and also look after those who have been there over the years, through the promotions and the tough times. "When we move to that Stadium, it's going to be a massive plus for the whole Club."

In a modern football world where players move from club to club regularly, Noble is a throwback to the old days of loyal 'one-club men' like West Ham's own Trevor Brooking. The No16 became the Hammers' youngest-ever reserve-team player when he turned out in February 2003 – three months before his 16th birthday – and signed his first full-time contract later the same year. Noble's first-team debut arrived under Alan Pardew aged 17 years and three months in the 2-0 home League Cup second-round win over Southend United. He has not looked back since, helping the Hammers gain promotion in 2005, enjoying loan spells with Hull City and Ipswich Town and establishing himself as a West Ham regular under Alan Curbishley during the unforgettable 'Great Escape' run in spring 2007. After signing a new contract in summer 2007, Noble has continued to impress with his consistency, tenacity and technical ability, scoring on his 100th appearance for the Club against Blackburn Rovers in 2009. The midfielder stayed loyal to the Hammers following relegation in 2011, scoring eight goals to help them bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt and earning his first Hammer of the Year award in the process. A rare shoulder condition kept Noble on the side-lines during the 2012/13 season, but the fans' favourite still managed four goals as West Ham returned to the top flight with a tenth-place finish.

Last term, with the Hammers battling to avoid the drop, the east London native again stood up to be counted, starting all 38 Premier League games and being voted Hammer of the Year for a second time. At international level, Noble was capped at every age-group level, captaining the U21s at the 2009 UEFA European Championship finals, and has been tipped for senior honours on numerous occasions. Having penned a new five-and-a-half year contract with the Club he has represented with honour for 15 season, the 27-year-old now has the impending move to the Hammers' new home in Stratford to look forward to.

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The Big Interview
WHUFC.com
Cheikhou Kouyate has scored three goals in his last six appearances

West Ham United midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate has been in superb form recently, scoring crucial goals against Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. The 25-year-old midfielder has been a hit with the West Ham fans since his summer move Anderlecht, making 20 appearances in an impressive debut season. Ahead of Saturday's London derby with Crystal Palace, whufc.com caught up with the versatile, enthusiastic Senegalese international.

Sunday's performance shows that we can compete with the likes of Spurs, Southampton and Manchester United. That must give us great confidence ahead of facing Crystal Palace?

CK: "While it remains mathematically possible, we're going to fight right until the end to try to grab hold of a European place for next season. For that to happen we have to try to control the end of games, not like Sunday, but it was still a good performance from the whole team.

The goals continue to come for you recently, a third for you in total now?

CK: "It's my third goal and on top of that it was against Tottenham away. It was a special game for all the fans. I really wanted to score and then go on to win the game, so that the goal would become even more special."

Diaf would have been proud of a header like that!

CK: "For sure! Even was disgusted by the result last Sunday but it's done now and we've got prepare ourselves for the game against Crystal Palace. This time try to take all three points."

It goes without saying that conceding in the last minute is disappointing, but football can be cruel sometimes...

CK: "We were all really disappointed. It's a game that you can't lose and a game for the supporters. We lost two points again on Sunday and that's the disappointing thing, especially as we did enough to win the game.

"It was painful, with, I don't know, perhaps ten seconds left to play and a penalty which came from nowhere. But what's done is done. We've got concentrate on the next game, Crystal Palace at home."

Another positive from Sunday's game was our fans, they really got behind the team…

CK: "We're sorry because we knew that had we won the game they would really have been proud of us. And we want to say thank you as well, because it was truly fantastic, they supported us right until the end, so thank you to all the fans."

Despite the result, there were still plenty of positives to take into Saturday's game?

CK: "For sure, the team played very well. We scored goals and that's what the manager wanted. It obviously wasn't good at the end, but
what we've got to take from the match is the team's good performance."

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Backroom Blog - Tony Carr MBE
WHUFC.com
Tony Carr has known Mark Noble for nearly 15 years

Hello everyone,

It's great news for West Ham United that Mark Noble has signed a new long-term contract. Mark came to the Club as a 12 or 13-year-old after he had trained at various clubs but chosen West Ham. He has come through the ranks, like many others have in the past and is now our longest-serving player and has captained the side on many occasions. Mark signing a new contract is fantastic for everybody – the Academy, the fans and the first-team squad. Hopefully the days are over when we sell our best home-grown talent and we will benefit ourselves, rather than watching them play in other clubs' shirts. Mark was always a great talent as a youngster. He played for England all through the age-groups and captained the Under-21s, while he is also a prominent Premier League player. The new contract suggests that the Club has faith in Mark as a player for the next four or five years or more. He is a great lad, too. He is a local boy who has made good and done well and he can relate with the fans, so I think it's great news for everybody connected with the Club. Mark has never got carried away and has always remembered where he came from and, at the end of the day, he has reaped the rewards. He is still hungry and still wants to improve. I think in every game he wants to prove he is the best player on the pitch and I don't think I can remember him ever having a serious dip in form. He's been a model professional all the way through his career.

Alongside Mark, James Tomkins also signed a new contract recently and I can remember taking James as a 14-year-old to play against all the big clubs in Italy. One particular match was against Juventus and he was outstanding and their people were asking if we would sell him, and he was only a schoolboy. We always thought he had the potential and, a little bit like Mark, he has fulfilled his potential and I think it's great for the Club and great for the future of the Club. Certainly, when we have talented young players we want to keep them, but it is getting harder and harder for youngsters to make it to the Premier League. We would prefer every young player to come through and play in a West Ham shirt, but it's a lot tougher than it was – there is no question about that, because the Premier League has grown and the standards have got higher.

Take Freddie Sears, for example. He was a goalscorer in the youth and reserve teams here with a bit of pace and an eye for goal. He scored on his debut, but he found it hard to establish himself in the first team, so he had to move down the divisions to Colchester United and now to Ipswich Town. Ipswich are chasing promotion from the Championship and so Freddie might emerge once again as a Premier League player. We can take pride from both – I'd prefer them in a West Ham shirt like Mark and James, but sometimes it is not always possible and they make careers elsewhere.

Tony Carr MBE
Club Ambassador

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Foot in Both Camps - Jobi McAnuff
WHUFC.com
Jobi McAnuff in action for the Hammers

His West Ham United career may have only been 14 games long, but Jobi McAnuff still draws on the invaluable experience he gleaned from his time at the Boleyn Ground. The 33-year-old Leyton Orient midfielder suffered Play-Off heartache with the Hammers before going close to winning promotion to the Premier League again with Crystal Palace. He finally made it to the top table with Reading and as two of his former clubs prepare to go head-to-head this weekend, whufc.com caught up with the Jamaica international for the first of our Foot in Both Camps series. "I've kept an eye out for all my former clubs over the years" he explained. "All the teams you play for you have an affinity with and I always look to see how they're getting on. "I had a good spell, although it was a short one at West Ham, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. I had a bit longer at Palace and likewise, I enjoyed my time there too."

McAnuff joined the Hammers from Wimbledon in February 2004 as Alan Pardew's men looked to bounce back to the Premier League at the first time of asking. The north Londoner had to largely make do with substitute outings during his six months in E13 before moving on to Cardiff City, but he still credits his time at West Ham as being pivotal to his later success as a stalwart in the top two divisions. "For me at the time, being a fairly young lad it was a real eye-opener and an experience to play for such a big club as West Ham," he explained. "It's definitely stood me in good stead for the rest of my career. "The support was incredible, not just the numbers, but the passion of the fans too. Obviously we went pretty close to promotion that year and to experience a Play-Off final at Cardiff with that many fans was a massive learning curve. "It's a shame I couldn't stay a bit longer. I just wanted to play football and the manager at the time couldn't promise me that. An opportunity came up for me to play at Cardiff and I took it, but yes, West Ham is a fantastic club. "Being at West Ham gave me a taste of a Club that wants to be successful and that helped with being at teams who wanted to be promoted from the Championship after. We went close with Palace, and they are all experiences that you draw on as you get older and fortunately enough we managed to get there with Reading."

A year at Cardiff followed before McAnuff moved back to London with Crystal Palace. With the Eagies now under the charge of his former Hammers boss, Pardew, the midfielder is expecting their recent revival to continue. He continued: "He's obviously a real top manager with a good pedigree at the highest level. When I was at West Ham the aim was to get up and although we didn't manage it that year, they made it the following year then had a little success in the cups. "It was unfortunate for myself that I didn't quite play as much as I would have liked under him, but managers have tough jobs and they've got to make decisions that they feel are best for the club. "Overall, he had a fairly good spell at West Ham and is now at Palace, where he's started fairly well. He's had that impact, so fair play to him – it's a big decision for him to leave Newcastle, but the support at Palace is massive and I'm sure from the experience of playing there he knew all about that. Good luck to him. "It should be a good game on Saturday. Pardew always wanted his teams to go out and play good attacking football and he seems to have been doing that with Crystal Palace lately. They've got some really good players.

"As for West Ham they've had a fantastic season this year and credit goes to Sam Allardyce as well, He was under a bit of pressure, but they've had a good season and it should be a cracking game. London derbies are always feisty and that always adds to the game."Since moving down the road to Orient last summer, McAnuff has endured a difficult first season at Brisbane Road to date, with a recent injury preventing him from playing his part in their battle to dodge the drop to League Two. However, having returned to the team in last weekend's 3-0 win over Oldham Athletic, he is confident in their ability to climb to safety just a year on from being denied promotion to the Championship by a penalty shoot-out defeat in the Play-Off final. "I feel we can end the season strongly but we've still got some work to do," he admitted. "I feel we can do that – it's about doing it on the pitch. We had a good win last Saturday and we've got to back that up. "We've had a few false dawns this season, so that's something we're wary of and we've got to try to put that right to get on a run to get away from the bottom four as quickly as we can. "Hopefully we can have a good end to the season and start building for next year once we're safe and everything's fine."

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From the Boardroom
WHUFC.com

I am delighted to welcome you to our new website. It has a host of new features and functionality that we hope will make following West Ham easier wherever you are.

One of the most exciting elements is the introduction of a free TV service. This was highlighted as a key priority by our SAB focus group so we have moved to offer free West Ham TV to all fans. All you have to do is register to My West Ham. I hope you enjoy using it; hopefully to watch free highlights from some great victories between now and the end of the season!

One of the other key elements of the new site will be the inclusion of more opinion and analysis and, as part of that, David Gold and I will be writing to you more frequently in our 'From the Boardroom' column. For our first one, I thought it would be appropriate to tackle a topic that has been at the very front of the news agenda over the past few weeks.

I should make clear from the outset that I absolutely reject and condemn discrimination in whatever form it takes. Prior to Sunday's game at Spurs, David Gold and I emailed every supporter who had bought a ticket to remind them of our stance, so we were naturally disappointed to see the reports of unacceptable behaviour from a small group of individuals earlier this week.

But while the unsavoury videos and reports of inappropriate chanting from a mindless few following the game have rightly been condemned, I think it is also important to highlight the good work that football and more specifically West Ham United do to help educate and eradicate such issues, which are not just confined to our sport but society as a whole.

I strongly believe that football can be a force for good as it offers an unrivalled opportunity to reach out and engage with a huge audience. I think many of the issues we see are as a result of a lack of awareness and understanding of different issues so wherever possible we try to use football to educate and inform.

When David and I arrived at West Ham United more than five years ago, one of our first priorities was to expand the Club's work with organisations that promote inclusion and reject discrimination.

We are now proud advocates of Kick It Out, Show Racism the Red Card, Football v Homophobia and Holocaust Memorial Day, to name but a few leading campaigns, and we make it our business to promote tolerance and education wherever and however we can.

Our West Ham United Foundation does an excellent job in that regard too. Providing equal opportunities and educating people about discrimination is at the very heart of what it stands for, with very many disability and awareness charities working by their side.

Football does do a tremendous amount of work for good, which I think is often overlooked in light of the kind of incidents we have seen in Paris and north London. It is clear such occurrences are completely unacceptable, but we must not let the actions of small minority tarnish the name of our beautiful game and the hundreds of thousands of fans that support their team in exactly the right way every single weekend.

David Sullivan

The views in this article are that of the author and not necessarily those of West Ham United

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On this day - February 26
WHUFC.com
Classic match
West Ham United 2-2 Manchester United
FA Carling Premiership
26 February 1994

West Ham United came within three minutes of scoring a shock home victory over FA Carling Premiership champions-elect Manchester United on this day in 1994. The Hammers were sat safely in mid-table and had snuck past non-league Kidderminster Harriers in to reach the FA Cup sixth round prior to the Red Devils' visit to the Boleyn Ground. With redevelopment work underway to replace the North Bank with what became the all-seater Centenary Stand the following year, a crowd of 28,832 filled a sold-out stadium for the mouth-watering clash with Alex Ferguson's side. It took just six minutes for Mark Hughes to put the high-flying visitors ahead, but Billy Bonds' team rallied and went ahead through two goals in three second-half minutes from Lee Chapman and Trevor Morley. Just when it looked like the Hammers would pull off a surprising win, Academy of Football graduate Paul Ince netted an equaliser with just three minutes remaining. West Ham would end the season in 13th, while the visitors would retain their title, finishing eight points ahead of runners-up Blackburn Rovers.

Classic match
Luton Town 1-4 West Ham United
Division Two
26 February 1979

The Hammers travelled to Luton Town on this day in 1979 looking to extend their unbeaten run to a fourth game and maintain their promotion push from the second tier. They had beaten Oldham Athletic 3-0 at the Boleyn Ground just two days previously so were in good spirits for their journey to Kenilworth Road and that was reflected in the scoreline. The majority of the 14,205 in attendance were to be left disappointed as a David Cross brace provided the cornerstone for the Hammers' victory. Alan Devonshire and Bryan Robson were also on target as the visitors smashed in four goals with just one coming in reply for Luton. The victory lifted West Ham up to third in the table, but a run of one win in the next seven saw their promotion bid stall and they ended up in fifth place with 50 points, six behind Sunderland in that vital third spot.

Complete record - 26 February
1921 Bristol City 1-0 West Ham United (Division One)
1927 Bury 1-2 West Ham United (Division One)
1938 Barnsley 1-0 West Ham United (Division Two)
1968 Stoke City 2-0 West Ham United (Division One)
1969 Mansfield Town 3-0 West Ham United (FA Cup)
1972 Huddersfield Town 4-2 West Ham United (FA Cup)
1977 West Ham United 2-0 Bristol City (Division One)
1979 Luton Town 1-4 West Ham United (Division Two)
1983 West Ham United 1-1 Southampton (Division One)
1992 West Ham United 2-3 Sunderland (FA Cup)
1994 West Ham United 2-2 Manchester United (Premier League)
2000 West Ham United 0-4 Everton (Premier League)
2005 Leeds United 2-1 West Ham United (Championship)

Played 13, Won 3, Drawn 2, Lost 8, Scored 16, Conceded 25

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Mediawatch - 26 February
WHUFC.com

The Daily Star look at Cheikhou Kouyate's nomination for the PFA Fans' Player of the Month award. The Senegal midfielder is up against the likes of Harry Kane, Olivier Giroud and Philippe Coutinho but would certainly be a worthy winner after his outstanding February.

Amid the fallout from the weekend's fan incidents, there is a positive voice from the BBC's Scottish football correspondent Tom English for the swift and strong way West Ham dealt with the issue.

ESPN report that Mark Noble is to be offered a new long-term deal with the Club. We can report that he has signed that deal as you can read here!

On London 24, Tony Cottee writes in his weekly column that the Hammers need to stop throwing away points from winning positions.

Transfer speculation is also surfacing in today's press, so the end of the season must be growing ever closer!

In the Mail, Simon Jones reports that Swedish youngster Robert Lipovac is flattered to have been offered the opportunity to train with our Development Squad.

The Mirror's John Cross reports that West Ham are on the trail of Ghanaian midfielder Bernard Mensah, who is with Portuguese side Vitoria.

According to talkSPORT, AC Milan have joined the race for 20-year-old Montpelier midfielder Morgan Sanson.

Click here for your full, bite-size round-up of today's West Ham news.

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Mark Noble signs West Ham contract extension to 2020
BBC.co.uk

West Ham midfielder Mark Noble has signed a contract extension to 2020, with a further one-year option. The 27-year-old former England under-21 international has twice been named the club's player of the year. Noble joined West Ham as a 13-year-old in 2000 and made his first-team debut four years later. He has since made more than 300 appearances for the club. "I'm over the moon because it takes me until I'm 33," the vice-captain told the club's official website. "I love playing football and I love playing for the club so to be rewarded with a new five-and-a-half-year contract is fantastic," he added.

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West Ham v Crystal Palace
KO 12:45
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce and Palace manager Alan Pardew
26 February 2015
By Steve Bower
BBC Match of the Day commentator

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Upton Park Date: Saturday, 28 February

TEAM NEWS

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce says Brazilian striker Nene will make his debut against Crystal Palace because Carlton Cole has a damaged hamstring. Andy Carroll's knee injury has prematurely ended his season.

Crystal Palace are bolstered by the return to fitness of captain Mile Jedinak and James McArthur. Fraizer Campbell, Marouane Chamakh and fellow striker Yaya Sanogo all miss out with hamstring injuries, with Campbell likely to be out for up to six weeks.

MATCH PREVIEW

When Alan Pardew visited Upton Park in November with his then-Newcastle side I bet he didn't envisage that he'd be back at his old stomping ground before the season was out. During three years as West Ham boss, Pardew came within a whisker of winning the FA Cup , and like current incumbent Sam Allardyce he established the club as a Premier League side after winning promotion, despite not being universally loved by the supporters.
SAM ALLARDYCE v ALAN PARDEW
Pld 9: Allardyce wins 5, Pardew wins 1, draws 3
West Ham (Pardew) 1-2 Bolton (Allardyce) - 2005
Bolton (Allardyce) 4-1 West Ham (Pardew) - 2006
Bolton (Allardyce) 4-0 West Ham (Pardew) - 2006
Charlton (Pardew) 1-1 Bolton (Allardyce) - 2007
Newcastle (Pardew) 0-1 West Ham (Allardyce) - 2012
West Ham (Allardyce) 0-0 Newcastle (Pardew) - 2013
Newcastle (Pardew) 0-0 West Ham (Allardyce) - 2013
West Ham (Allardyce) 1-3 Newcastle (Pardew) - 2014
West Ham (Allardyce) 1-0 Newcastle (Pardew) - 2014
Very much wanted by Palace, Pardew is now nearing the end of his second month in charge and has set about a mini-evolution. His Eagles side already have a new look to them and were unlucky in defeat to Arsenal last weekend. One element of Palace's play that Pardew will not want to change is their ability to hit teams on the break, especially in this type of fixture. The pace of Yannick Bolasie is key, while the combative skills of fit-again captain Mile Jedinak are the team's very foundations.

I saw West Ham's 2-2 draw with Tottenham last Sunday and, although it's now just one win in nine league games, I was impressed by the way they responded after their FA Cup capitulation at West Brom. Whatever the fans feel about Big Sam, he got his tactics spot on and any other week they would have been rewarded with three points.

Impressive duo Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia may hold the key to the remainder of West Ham's season. Andy Carroll's season-ending injury and Carlton Cole's absence means there is little in the way of back-up, hence the addition of 33-year-old Brazilian Nene. Both Sakho and Valencia are used to winter breaks so I can't help but wonder what they each have left in the tank?

This game is the second of four successive London derbies for the Hammers and this run of fixtures could help refocus the club and its supporters' minds and kill off talk of their season fading away. West Ham were fifth when they beat Pardew's Newcastle at the end of November; another win over their former manager could just re-ignite their season.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
Palace have won only two of 15 visits to Upton Park in all competitions. One of those victories was by 1-0 last season, courtesy of a Mile Jedinak penalty.
West Ham beat the Eagles 3-1 at Selhurst Park earlier this season. Victory would complete a first league double over them since 1972-73.
West Ham
The Hammers have won only one of their last nine league games (D5, L3), taking eight points from a possible 27.
However, they have suffered just one defeat in their last 11 home league matches (W7, D3).
They have scored in all but one of their last 12 league games at Upton Park.
West Ham have scored 14 headed goals this season, five more than any other top-flight club.
Crystal Palace
The Eagles are sixth in the Premier League form table based on the last six games (W3, D1, L2).
Palace are unbeaten in their last six away league and cup matches (W4, D2), keeping clean sheets in four of them - this includes two games under the caretaker management of Keith Millen.
They can set a new Premier League club record of five away games unbeaten.
Palace have scored the equal-fewest first-half goals this season (nine), yet only Southampton have conceded fewer than Palace's six goals in the opening 45 minutes.
Twenty-seven points is the equal-most Palace have ever had after 26 games of a Premier League season. They also had 27 at this stage of 1994-95.

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Three down, 11 to go
KUMb.com
Filed: Thursday, 26th February 2015
By: Staff Writer

The third of 14 floodlight towers to be erected at the Olympic Stadium has been set in place. As you can see from our images below, the tower - which has a span of around 18 metres and weighs circa 45 tons - was carefully hoisted into position on the arena's new roof by site engineers earlier this week. With each floodlight structure taking up to 12 hours to affix, the process is a slow and arduous - yet ultimately rewarding - one. West Ham are due to move into the stadium in time for the start of the 2016/17 season.

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Mark Noble signs five-year deal
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 26th February 2015
By: Staff Writer

Mark Noble has committed his long-term future to West Ham United by signing a new five-year contract. The 27-year-old midfielder, who has spent his entire career at West Ham put pen to paper on a new, long-term deal earlier this week. Canning Town-born Noble's new contract, which followed prolonged negotiations ties him to the Boleyn - and subsequently, the Olympic Stadium - until 2020. Although his existing contract, which was due to end this summer, included an option for the club to extend it until the end of the 2016/17 season both parties agreed to a new deal - one that should ensure Noble remains at West Ham until his early thirties.

A hugely popular figure with the club's supporters 'Nobes' has made 310 competitive appearances for the Hammers, having made his first team debut in a 2-0 Carling Cup win over Southend United in August 2004. Last season readers of KUMB.com named Noble their Player of the Year, having previously made him runner up in 2011/12. Previously he was also voted KUMB's Young Player of the Year, in 2004/05, 2006/07 and 2007/08.

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Noble hails 'fantastic' new contract
KUMb.com
Filed: Thursday, 26th February 2015
By: Staff Writer

Mark Noble says he is looking forward to seeing out the remainder of his career at West Ham. Noble, a rare breed these days having featured for only one club during his career admitted that he was delighted at penning the new contract that ties him to West Ham until his mid-thirties. "I'm very happy with the contract, very grateful to the Chairmen for giving it to me and I'm looking forward to the next five years." he told whufc.com. "I love playing football and I love playing for the club, so to be rewarded with a new five-and-a-half year contract is fantastic. "In football you don't get any younger, but I keep myself fit and this is great for me and my family, because it gives us security for the rest of our lives. It's not about the money, though. "I always give 100 per cent in every game I play, even if it's not enough. As a West Ham fan, I know we'll lose games like everyone does, but I'm settled, I'm happy and that's when I play my best football. "I'm 27, 28 in May, and coming into the pinnacle of my career, really, and I've still got a few miles left in me yet, I'm sure, and I'm really hopeful it's going to be here at West Ham. "Myself and Tonks have been here for a long time; we know what the club is about and know everyone who is here. For all the new players who come in, we're there for them if they need to know anything, because we've been here all of our lives. "It's nice that we'll be together for the next five years."

Jack collison ✔ @Jcollison31
Well done Nobes on the new contract... One hell of a player and an absolute gent... 👴 great news for all you west ham fans... #WHUFC

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One year on: Tombides foundation launches
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 26th February 2015
By: Staff Writer

A Foundation created in memory of former Hammer Dylan Tombides is being launched at this weekend's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace. The DT38 Foundation has been set up to raise awareness and provide support for those suffering from testicular cancer, the disease which cost the young striker his life in 2014. Dylan had barely celebrated his 20th birthday when, in April of last year, he died having failed to respond to specialist treatement. Prior to his passing he had bravely fought the disease for three years, having first found a lump in his testicle in April 2011. Mum Tracy, writing on the Foundation's website, recalls the devastating loss of her eldest son. "On 18 April 2014, Dylan's organs failed and we said goodbye to our beloved son and brother," she said. "If we had known about testicular cancer and what we needed to do to catch it early, we would have insisted on an ultra sound when we went to the GP. It breaks our heart to think that this could have been prevented. "Dylan was robbed of a future that he dreamed of as a young boy. It robbed Taylor of a brother and it robbed my husband and I of watching our beautiful son grow and fulfil his dreams. "Please do not let this happen to your son, brother, friend or father. If you have a concern with your testicles please see a doctor straight away and insist on an ultrasound – it may just save your life."

The Foundation is being launched this Saturday at the Boleyn Ground when West Ham take on Palace. It was at last season's corresponding fixture that Dylan's father Jim and brother Taylor laid his cherished #38 shirt in the centre circle ahead of the game. In addition, West Ham fans are being invited to remember Dylan with a minute's applause in the 38th minute of the match. The club will be screening a picture of Dylan on the big screens as a reminder to supporters.

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Allardyce admits Academy drought
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 26th February 2015
By: Staff Writer

Sam Allardyce believes it is becoming increasingly difficult for young players to graduate from West Ham's Academy to the first team squad. One of the charges often levelled at Allardyce is the lack of young players he has promoted from Chadwell Heath for inclusion in his first team squads - bar the one disastrous attempt at Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup last season, for which he was heavily criticised. However the stark truth of the matter is that few players - if any - have proved capable of stepping up to the ever-increasingly competitive Premier League standard in recent seasons. And the problem, according to Allardyce, is likely to be exacerbated by the new £5billion TV deal that will grant English top-flight clubs even greater muscle in the international transfer market. "It's something that is becoming harder and harder to achieve," said the boss, speaking to the media at this morning's pre-match press conference. "You only have to look at when I played the youngsters in the FA Cup and got slaughtered for it. "I think the system is broken. At the moment we have to get them in the first team on loan somewhere else, before we bring them into our first team."

That managers rarely last long enough in their jobs to make development of youth players worthwhile is, according to Sam, another major issue. "I think we live in a world of less patience, especially football," he continued. "It's almost a week by week, month by month mentality. Long term policies don't seem to be so attractive any more due to the need of instant success. On the basis of that, It's harder to feed a youngster into the first team."

However the 60-year-old, who leads his team out against Crystal Palace this weekend for the 170th time is delighted that he can count on two former Chadwell Heath youth prospects, James Tomkins and Mark Noble, to boost West Ham's fight for a European spot. And he was especially pleased that the club had managed to tie the latter down to a new five-year contract earlier this week - which, says the manager, will prove to be a popular move. "Mark Noble is West Ham born and bred," he said. "Somebody who commits to one club like he's done is pretty rare these days. I think its good news for everybody. He's one of their own, there's no doubt about that."

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West Ham Ladies seeking Senior Secretary
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 26th February 2015
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United Ladies are looking for a volunteer to take on the role of Senior club Secretary. The role will include the general week-to-week running of the Ladies' senior section; tasks include dealing with organisation of games, making travel arrangements for away fixtures and being a point of contact for communication with the FA. These duties will be carried out whilst working alongside first team manager Julian Dicks and Development Squad manager Andy Hill. Previous experience in a similar role would be an advantage, but not necessary. If you would to like to be considered for the position - which is an unpaid role, as are all at West Ham United Ladies, please send a short CV to Lea Hodges, the club's Junior Secretary at westhamunitedladiesjuniors@hotmail.co.uk.

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Mark Noble secures West Ham future with new contract
Last Updated: 26/02/15 3:24pm
SSN

West Ham midfielder Mark Noble has signed a new contract which keeps him at the Premier League club until the summer of 2020. The 27-year-old vice-captain, who hails from nearby Canning Town, joined as a 13-year-old and has played over 300 games for the club. West Ham co-owner David Gold tweeted: "I am absolutely delighted to announce that two-time Hammer of the Year Mark Noble has signed a new contract."
Noble, who made his first-team debut in August 2004, said: "I'm obviously over the moon because it takes me until I'm 33. "I'm very happy with the contract and very grateful to the chairmen for giving me it and I'm looking forward to the next five years. "I love playing football and I love playing for the club so to be rewarded with a new five-and-a-half-year contract is fantastic. "In football you don't get any younger but I keep myself fit and this is great for me and my family, because it gives us security for the rest of our lives. It's not about the money, though. I always give 100 per cent in every game." Manager Sam Allardyce hailed Noble as one of a dying breed of one-club men. "He is West Ham born and bred. Somebody who commits to one club like he's done is pretty rare these days. I think it's good news for everybody. "We've got James Tomkins as well, another West Ham boy. They've both come through the academy which is what we're all striving for these days. "It's something that is becoming harder and harder to achieve. As academy boys it's great to see them still here and doing well."

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NOBLE SIGNS £14.3M DEAL
By Sean Whetstone 26 Feb 2015 at 13:35
West Ham Till I Die

West Ham have signed up Mark Noble with a new £50,000-a-week, five-and-a-half year contract to become a Hammer for life. His wages add up to £14.3m over five and a half years. He is also expected to have a testimonial, which will be the final ever game at the Boleyn Ground, at the end of next season before the Olympic Stadium move

Noble's current deal was due to expire this summer but West Ham had a further two year option on the reigning Hammer of the year. Noble's fresh deal runs until 2020 and will take him up to the age of 33.

Noble told the new look WHUFC.com launched today

"I'm obviously over the moon because it takes me until I'm 33!" said Noble, who passed 300 first-team games for the Club in November 2014. "I'm very happy with the contract and very grateful to the Chairmen for giving me it and I'm looking forward to the next five years. I love playing football and I love playing for the Club so to be rewarded with a new five-and-a-half year contract is fantastic. In football you don't get any younger, but I keep myself fit and this is great for me and my family, because it gives us security for the rest of our lives. It's not about the money, though. I always give 100 per cent in every game I play, even if it's not enough. As a West Ham fan, I know we'll lose games like everyone does, but I'm settled, I'm happy and that's when I play my best football."
Nobes went on to say

"I'm 27, 28 in May, and coming into the pinnacle of my career, really, and I've still got a few miles left in me yet, I'm sure, and I'm really hopeful it's going to be here at West Ham, myself and Tonks have been here for a long time and we know what the Club is about and know everyone who is here. For all the new players who come in, we're there for them if they need to know anything, because we've been here all of our lives. It's nice that we'll be together for the next five years.The move to the Stadium is a major part in the Club's history, and what a place in London to have a football stadium! Things are only going to get better for the Club, as the Chairmen are looking to bring in top, top players and also look after those who have been there over the years, through the promotions and the tough times.When we move to that Stadium, it's going to be a massive plus for the whole Club."

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STICKS AND STONES
By Bianca Westwood 26 Feb 2015 at 08:07
West Ham Till I Die

Not the best week for West Ham. Again. It was disappointing on several fronts. Unfortunately I didn't get to see the Tottenham game live I was at a yoga workshop. So while I was stretching into downward facing dog it seemed we were running riot at White Hart Lane. I couldn't believe it when I came out of the studio and we were two up. I've been pretty confident going into most games this season but I had an uneasy trepidation about this one. Surely even we can see the game out with ten minutes left on the clock. Nope. Never underestimate the power of a West Ham team's ability to snatch defeat (or certainly what felt like one) from the jaws of victory! So near…and yet so far.

Despite not having seen the action I must admit I was somewhat mystified by the first substitution. Not that Big Sam had taken Noble off as, by all accounts, he was lucky to still be on the pitch by that stage, more so because of his inclusion of Carlton Cole. Why bring him on at such a crucial time? No offence to the club cult hero, I'm a big fan of CC but I couldn't understand why Allardyce went for a forward rather than a defender, or Nolan. Carlton is not necessarily known for his ability to keep possession so it baffled me. Were we going for a third? And if so, pushing Sakho and Valencia out wide, how? Now, Allardyce is often slated for not being positive enough, but he doesn't ever appear to be swayed by public opinion so it seemed to be a strange decision from him. It was, on the outside I guess, a positive tactical switch but it didn't work. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm no master tactician and hindsight is a wonderful thing, I'm not criticising him it just confused me. We'll never know what would have happened if he'd brought on the much-maligned Nolan in Noble's stead. Then again, imagine if he had and we'd still conceded two? Or worse, lost?! The furore would have been phenomenal. The anti-Sam brigade would have been burning effigies in the streets! It's a no win situation…literally.

And yet, despite bringing on another striker, we sat back anyway. Deeper and deeper, inviting them on, a team that loves a the high press at the best of times. It was inevitable that, even in that short space of time, our negativity would prove to be our undoing, and Tottenham's superior energy levels made all the difference. The questions have to be asked now because we did look tired towards the end and Spurs had another gear to go to. Why have we conceded late goals recently? Manchester United, both cup games against Everton. Why are we finding it difficult to hold onto a lead full stop? Swansea away, WBA at home. If, as Sam mentioned post-Hawthorns disaster, we are feeling the effects of a heavy fixture list and are suffering from fatigue, how on earth would we manage to deal with the rigours of a European competition, going into one of the most important seasons in our club's history? I'm all for not running before we can walk. Our pre-season priority was survival at all costs. Short of an unmitigated footballing disaster we've pretty much taken care of that. So it's a catch 22 for me…I want to win all of the games this season…but I'm worried about the final cost!
These are all issues I will bring to the attention of Mark Noble later today in our interview for Soccer Saturday…we'll see what he says.

Whatever happened at White Hart Lane, it was such a shame that the game was overshadowed by crowd (mis)behaviour. I spoke about pride last week. For me there wasn't much there to be proud of.

Yes it was a small minority on that train, and, it hasn't even been proven that they were indeed Hammers fans. Highlighting a lack of foreskin maybe isn't offensive. I wouldn't know. They obviously value that precious piece of flesh covering their tiny penises. Good for them. However, shouting "f**king Jew" and making hissing noises or using the Y word in the stands is totally unacceptable. I've heard the whole…"well they sing it about themselves" argument. Sorry that doesn't sit right with me. We're not in the playground…"well he was doing it first Miss!" Give me strength. "It's just banter!" Banter. A word now appropriated by numbskulls looking to excuse all sorts of vile behaviour and abusiveness. Please.

The right way to behave starts with us.

David Baddiel tweeted me and said that the origins are irrelevant. It should stop across the board. He's right. He also sent me a link to something that I hope you will take a look at… Click on THIS

Real people's lives were, and still are, affected by the holocaust. It was an atrocity that should never be forgotten or made fun of. Over a million Jews went to their deaths at Auschwitz. I recently read Man's Search For Meaning by Viktor E Frankl and it was so powerful and poignant it really affected me.

Would they sing a song making light of 9/11? Why not? Does that not fit their football "banter" agenda? Would they enjoy a song sung by opposing fans about bowel cancer and our favourite son Bobby Moore? No? It would be a disgrace. Some things you can make light of, laugh at even. But there's a limit.

Then there's the Harry Kane chant. I saw the video a few weeks ago and I didn't like it then. I was really disappointed to hear our fans had sung it again at Spurs. It's playground stuff. It's infantile. It's hurtful to people with disabilities and their families. I don't wish to sanitise football terrace humour. I'd never advocate that. Some of our songs are hilarious and I'd hate to see that disappear.

But do we have to abuse? Do we have to use sexually derogatory, racist, anti-Semitic or homophobic language? Do we really still have to sink to those levels?

Now I hold my hands up I'm no fan of the "East London is full of t***, f*** and West Ham" song. It makes me feel uncomfortable. It's archaic. It's 70s & 80s humour at best and one that objectifies women in a way I don't approve. In this day and age I'd hate to take my niece over to Upton Park or the Olympic stadium and have her hear it. It's best left behind where it belongs. Having said that I'm no PC pc plod. I don't trawl the internet for things to get offended about and report to the necessary authorities forthwith. I wouldn't make an official complaint. I just suffer it. But I certainly wouldn't abuse someone who doesn't just sit there and take it. The use of the word mong is another step too far in my book. It is one that's used to mock people with disabilities. Just because it doesn't offend you personally it doesn't make it right. Or even ok.

I'll probably get pelters for this…so be it. I'm not just paying lip service here. It's something I believe in. I'm not being a wuss, over-sensitive, nor a big girl's blouse in a man's game. None of those things.

Yes it's an outrage culture. We are a social media world all so quick to be offended. Believe me some of the misogynistic sexist crap I've heard over the years would offend Jim Davidson. Listen I can take a joke. I know what's funny. I've got five brothers I've heard it all and I've given as good as I've got. But call me slag, or bitch or whore…or gash? To my face? At a football match or even in a public place among non football fans who just want to use public transport in peace? That would separate the "men" from the boys believe me. You'd find out who really has balls.

When I first started match reporting for Soccer Saturday the abuse I received on Twitter was horrific. Think of the worst things you could call a woman, or even a fellow human being and you'll come close. It affected me. It affected my work to a certain extent. It knocked my confidence and I truly began to question my ability.

Initially there were a lot of malicious tweets attacking me. There was an I HATE BIANCA WESTWOOD Twitter page questioning my credentials and attempting to gain others' support. I had never been spoken to like that before. I HADN'T just appeared. I wasn't sleeping with my boss or anyone else at Sky for that matter. I had never even been in the kitchen let alone left it! It took me over ten years to get to that stage in my professional career I wasn't ticking a politically correct box. It took me a long time, a lot of hard work, of knocking on doors, doing interviews and editing features, trying to convince my boss I was good enough and knew enough.

I still never thought in a million years I'd end up in-vision reporting. No other female had. I was gobsmacked when they asked me to do it. A woman! Least of all me. From a single parent family and a council estate in Chingford, the girl with the estuary accent! Fortunately for me my producer believed in me and his bosses took the gamble.

Of course I made mistakes, stumbled over words, got a name or two wrong. It wasn't because of a lack of football knowledge. I'd never done any live TV before and I don't mind admitting I was petrified. At times, especially with all the online abuse, which I did my best to ignore, my nerves got the better of me. You try verbally recreating a goal in 10 seconds with no replay, sometimes without even a monitor or knowing all the players in a team from the lower leagues. Remembering who passed it to who, how, where from, did he cross it, head it, curl it, place it, pass it.

It's a lot harder than it looks and my minor mistakes really angered some people and wow did they let me know about it. Now you can question my morals or call me old (& that's just Jeff ha kidding!) or a lady of the night, or an idiot, call me ugly I don't care that's just an opinion. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder anyway. But question my knowledge of the game?? That cut me more than any sexist slur. I know my football!

Now, thankfully, fans are used to seeing a female face and hearing a female voice and they aren't so threatened anymore. The trolling has stopped. I can sleep the night before a game and I've had a bit of practice so I'm not frightened anymore. No I'm not perfect but who is??

I'm not tub-thumping here. I'm not on my soapbox, I'm not trying to "make a change". I'm no socio-political activist. I didn't come into this game to make any demands I'm just a female reporter in a male dominated industry trying to make my own way. I have gone quietly about my business and I was determined to make it. Along with all the other female producers and directors that Sky Sports now have in the ranks. Clare Tomlinson was the only female reporter at Sky when I started. I know she had a tough ride at times. Being in a man's world isn't for the faint of hearts but she made me believe I could do it too. I just wanted to work in a job that I love in a sport that I adore and have been watching since I was 6 years old. Oh and get paid the same as my male counterparts please. It's not asking too much. Just a bit of equality. Thanks!

This is only my opinion but it is my message. The world is not a lads dressing room I'm afraid. The culture doesn't apply in real life. Not anymore. Sorry guys!

As I said before I'm not calling for an end to terrace comedy. I am not the fun police. I would just like to see fans (especially ours) use a bit of sensitivity. Some sense and sensibility. Imagine if it was your kid. How would you feel? It's not really about Kane per se. I'm sure he's big enough to get over it, it's probably water off a duck's back to him. But for my cousin Charlotte who was severely disabled, for my dad who had MS and spent the last ten years of his life in a wheelchair. I feel I have to speak for them. My dad always tried to see the humour in his situation and would jokingly use some terrible names for his disability to make us laugh. That was his prerogative. We would laugh with him but if anyone else had referred to him in those terms, especially in an abusive way I would have fought them and fought them hard.

Do we really NEED to use the word mong? It's not important. Let's drop it. I know there was no maliciousness involved. It's just ill-judged & misinformed that's all.

West Ham has got some of the funniest fans I've ever encountered. The brilliant reenactment of the train situation in Paris was a case in point. I loved it. When my mate Claire-Louise was in the Upton Park away end against Everton in the cup she was in stitches at some of the Hammers' comedians in the crowd. East End humour is sarcastic and dark and usually utterly genius. We must never lose that about ourselves. But some jokes aren't really that funny. I know we're better than that.

COYI

B x

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Alan Pardew writes open letter urging Crystal Palace fans to attend Saturday's game at West Ham
17:23, 26 February 2015 By Neil McLeman
The Eagles boss admits tickets are expensive at £44 but wants supporters to "leave the sofa for this one"
The Mirror

Alan Pardew has written an open letter to Crystal Palace fans urging them to attend Saturday's match at West Ham. But the Eagles boss has admitted the £44 cost of tickets at Upton Park is "expensive". With Palace struggling to sell their allocation, the Selhurst Park club have lifted restrictions on the number of tickets each fan can buy. In his letter, Pardew said he wanted supporters to "leave the sofa for this one" - a 12.45pm kickoff to be shown live on BT Sport. The Eagles boss said: "I wrote the letter because I wanted to highlight the fact we hadn't sold all the tickets, the fact they're expensive and that I understand that. I wish they were cheaper and I was asking them if they can possibly afford it to try to come along because it's a big afternoon for us. "It's an agenda that we as a club are focusing on - that away fans should get a better rate to make it easier. With all the finance coming into the game, its something that has to be looked at by the Premier League and by the chairmen in the premier league. "I'm just echoing my personal opinion with what I think our fans want and what fans up and down the country want. They want to follow their team, in a place where they have a good view of the game and at a decent price that makes it viable to be able to travel. "I think it will resonate with clubs up an down the country, with the new TV contract there seems to be no reason why that can't be addressed."

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West Ham reward Mark Noble with new £50,000-a-week, five-and-a-half year contract at Upton Park
09:43, 26 February 2015 By Adrian Kajumba
The Hammers stalwart is also set to have a testimonial, which will be the final ever game at Upton Park, at the end of next season before the Olympic Stadium move
The Mirror

Mark Noble has signed a new five-and-a-half year, £50,000-a-week West Ham deal. And the Hammers stalwart is set to be rewarded for his service next season with a testimonial which has been pencilled in to be the final game at Upton Park. Midfielder Noble's current deal was due to expire this summer. West Ham had an option to extend it by a further two years. But Noble has instead signed a fresh deal which runs until 2020 and will take him up to the age of 33. The new deal will see Noble bank a £10,000-a-week pay increase. Noble marked 10 years in the West Ham first team last August. And the Hammers are planning to honour their longest serving player by making his testimonial their Upton Park send off before they move to the Olympic Stadium. Sam Allardyce was quick to play tribute to his vice-captain. "Mark is West Ham born and bred and when somebody commits to one club for all his career up to now and then extends that, that is a rare thing today," the Hammers boss told the club's official website. "He loves West Ham and the area and it's good news for everybody.
"The supporters can relate to Mark Noble as one of their own and there is more affection as he is one of their own. "It's the same with James Tomkins. It seems to be a more difficult task these days to develop an academy player into the first team and those two are both academy boys and it's great to see them both here playing for West Ham regularly in the first team."

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Reid: "Not a whisper he's signed elsewhere"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 26, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

West Ham haven't heard the remotest whisper that Winston Reid has agreed a pre-contract deal with another club despite talks at Upton Park having seemingly stalled. The Irons believe that had a deal been done elsewhere it's certain news would have leaked back to them but not a single agent or outside source anywhere has been in touch with them. A well placed Irons insider told ClaretandHugh: "It's impossible to keep those things a secret. Something always spills out if a deal has been done but there's been nothing – not a word.
"There has been an absolute silence which suggests the lad is still making up his mind and playing a very cagey game indeed. "Everybody is hopeful that he and his agents will come back to the negotiating table. After seeing Mark Noble and James Tomkins agree deals it would be great to make it a hat-trick

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DG: Ref must tell skippers: "Pen is the last kick"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 26, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

David Gold wants refs to make it 100 per cent clear to captains, penalty takers and keepers that a last second penalty will LITERALLY be the final kick of the match! The co chairman is still barely over the Spurs equaliser which was converted by Harry Keane off a rebound following a great save by Adrian last Sunday. And speaking exclusively to ClaretandHugh he said: "Whilst we can't appeal the goal, lessons have to be learned and I believe there is one big thing to be done. "Referees get all sorts of training and I think that if ever such a situation arises again the official should go to all the parties involved – keeper, penalty taker and captain – making it clear that the kick is the very last thing that will happen in the game. If the ball hits the back of the net then ok it's a goal but nothing other than that should be allowable. "It was a dreadful situation for us. I'm barely over it. Six and a half minutes had been played at the time and you have to think there was just the time for the spot kick and nothing else. "It mis something that needs to be addressed and I believe my suggestion can help."

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It really isn't about money with Nobes!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 26, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

When a footballer says: "It's not about money" a sceptical collective sigh usually goes passes through the listeners. When Mark Noble used the same words this morning after signing a new five and half year deal not only did you believe it emotionally but it was impossible to disbelieve him factually. For Mark, despite his years of loyal service, is some way down the pecking order in the Hammers wage League headed by Andy Carroll on an eye-watering £80k a week. He is followed by the likes of Alex Song on around £70k, Stewart Downing (£57k) and Kevin Nolan £50k plus. Nobes, you see, is a throwback – a man who will end his days, or at least the best of them, -a Hammer and in the 21st century when it's usually about money and nothing but money we cherish him. Many tributes have been paid to the man today but Sam Allardyce put it as well – if not better than anybody – when he said: "He is West Ham born and bred. Somebody who commits to one club like he's done is pretty rare these days." In signing a new long term deal Nobes has shown that he's not one to sit trying to screw the last few bob out of the club. West Ham is his world and he's just thrilled the club are ready to do the right thing by him in days when for most it's all about the dough. Mark Noble is a breath of fresh air – we value and respect him!

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It won't all come falling down without Sam
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 26, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
By Rich Sprent

At the end of the 2014/15 season West Ham will have several positions vacant. Not only the expected management team but also on the pitch.. Ten players could be out of contract including the current loan players. This total can rise taking in account club options on several players. Link that to the u-21 team purge which is well under way and that the backroom staff has TWO heads of recruitment, in newly appointed Tony Henry and Martyn Glover, change is a coming.

Concerns have been expressed by those looking at the fortunes of Bolton and Blackburn should Allardyce leave the Hammers. But he was at Bolton for many years and it was a club infrastructure built by him. Blackburn was a team in decline and their new non-football understanding owners made a real hash of things. There's no real comparison with West Ham here. The Irons have been rebuilt by the owners and the move to the OS signifies more progressive change rather than anything else.

Allardyce has steadied the ship, built foundations, reorganised. Whatever the descriptive term used, he has brought on West Ham from a Championship mess to a team currently sitting in eighth in the Premier League. That's sound footing. If the right appointment is made in his place then his going should not mean that it all comes falling down without Sam at the helm.

Back to the team. Winston Reid is the high profile name on the list of probable outgoings. He is still 'considering his options' but is unlikely to stay and continues to be being strongly linked to a move to N17.

Alex Song and Carl Jenkinson appear to be surplus to requirements at Barca and Arsenal. The estimated combined £23m fee to sign both of them permanently would be a huge dent in the West Ham budget just to enable the club to try and stand still.

Squad players, Guy Demel, Carlton Cole, Danny Potts and Jussi Jaaskelainen are also out of contract. None of these have pushed for permanent places in the starting XI this season.

Young keeper, Raphael Spiegel, has a club option on a year's extension to his contract. Whether he is deemed good enough remains to be seen. He has just been given another loan opportunity. That he hasn't been paid off yet suggests that he has made the initial cut of the young players.

Morgan Amalfitano appears to have hampered his chances of an automatic two year contract with his sending off. He now cannot start enough games this season to trigger the clause. He can be exciting but doesn't play narrow when required to do so by the current manager. Whether he will still be of interest in the summer is an interesting side story.

Mark Noble is now nailed down to a new five and a half year deal and the following season, big contracts for Kevin Nolan and Modibo Maiga come to an end as do those for Joey O'Brien and James Collins.

Rumours in the media are that Ginge will be offered a new contract soon. An interesting one is that Adrian has a 2 year club option starting at the end of 2016. These options give the club good control over players who may or may not succeed. It also allows them to be released if they fail.

The one constant is change. This is no more so true than at a football club. If the management team is to change then any new appointment has an immediate and excellent opportunity to freshen things up from top to bottom.

They will have the chance to put their own stamp on things without necessarily having to worry about selling players first. A possible swing of 10+ players could really change the dynamic of West Ham United for 2015/16.

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Hammers on midfielder link
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 26, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

West Ham have this morning rubbished stories they are tracking Ghanian midfielder Bernard Mensah. The 20-year-old midfielder is currently at Portuguese club Vitoria De Guimaraes who have also had interest from Juventus in a part-ownership deal. Stories that Upton Park scouts have been watching the player regularly in the past couple of months and a summer move was in the offing were received with astonished scepticism. Mensah has played 20 games in the Primeira Liga so far this season and our source said: "This is a new one and there is no interest."

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DT38 Foundation will be launched at West Ham v Crystal Palace Premier League clash
FOX SPORTS February 27, 2015 8:00AM SHARE

WEST Ham manager Sam Allardyce says Dylan Tombides should be an inspiration for those who played with him, as the club prepares to host the launch of the DT38 Foundation this weekend when they play Crystal Palace in the Premier League. Allardyce, who gave Tombides his senior debut, will be part of the lauch on Sunday of a foundation set up in the 20-year-old striker's memory, with a mission to raise awareness of testicular cancer and early prevention. Speaking to Fox Sports ahead of the weekend, Allardyce said it's a wonderful example of the football world coming together. "There's far too much publicity on the not so nice side of football and not enough publicity about the outstanding work that goes on behind the scenes, particularly in the community, the foundation, things that have gone on from Dylan's legacy," he said."From Dylan's family's point of view, it's nice to see he won't be forgotten at West Ham." Allardyce reflected on his memory of a brave, gutsy and inspirational Tombides, and says his tenacity should spur on others. "The bravery of the lad impressed me the most; he was fighting back to play football more than anything else. He added: "He should be an inspiration for all the young players who played with him, or were younger with him, to fight and make a career."

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West Ham to try and sign PSG youngster Fode Toure Ballo
By Greg Evans
Posted on February 26, 2015
www.squawka.com

The Hammers are looking at recruiting 18-year-old Fode Toure Ballo, after the midfielder has impressed for the French team's reserve side, report The Daily Mail. West Ham are hoping to sign Paris Saint-Germain's promising young winger Fode Toure Ballo in the summer after the teenager has shown signs of real potential in a string of impressive matches for the Ligue 1 side's reserve team. Ballo has also featured in the Under-19 UEFA Youth League for PSG, and scouts have been said to have recommended him to West Ham. Apparently West Ham tried to sign the player last month along with his teammate and centre-forward, Jean Kevin Agustin but no deal could be reached, according to the Daily Mail. Arsenal and a number of other clubs are said to be interested in Fode Toure Ballo, hence why West Ham are stepping up their game and making their intents known early. The Frenchman can play either on the left-wing or at left-back which would strengthen Sam Allardyce's options on that side of the pitch. The Hammers currently only have Matt Jarvis as a recognised left-winger as Stewart Downing has made a successful transition into the centre of the pitch. Downing is the Premier League team's top assister with six already to his name this season. Regular left-back Aaron Cresswell has had an impressive debut season in the Premier League so Ballo would have difficulty replacing him. Stewart Downing has been one of the best players at West Ham this season but the left side of the pitch is short of options. Ballo is yet to feature for the PSG's first XI but with his ex-teammate, Nene recently joining the London based team, as per the BBC, it might not be too long before the French youngster travels across the channel and puts pen to paper.

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