Daily WHUFC News - 14th April 2015

Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com

Sam Allardyce said he believes the disappointment he and his players felt
after a 1-1 draw with Stoke City demonstrated how far the Hammers have come
this season. Reflecting on a tough encounter with the Potters, which saw
Marko Arnautovic's 95th minute equaliser cancel out Aaron Cresswell's superb
free-kick, Allardyce said: "We're on 43 points, but we're not happy with
that because we know it should be 50, we're in the top half of the table but
we could be higher up. "Aaron Cresswell scored a superb goal which was great
to see but we didn't hold on. It's up to the players to find it within
themselves to keep concentration levels up until the final whistle."
"Arnautovic's goal was a fantastic piece of skill, particularly his first
touch, but we should have dealt with it better." The visitors' late
equaliser has been a recent feature for Allardyce's men after conceding
other late goals against Manchester United, Tottenham hotspur and Leicester
City. The West Ham United manager continued to say that these were the
fine margins between gaining one and three points in the Premier League. "We
should have 50 points by now, we've thrown away seven points in the last few
minutes. Had we not conceded those late goals against Manchester United,
Tottenham and Leicester we would have our record number of points since
being back in the Premier League. "We're struggling to find the key element
that will help us to close out games, at the moment we're panicking towards
the end of games and not keeping possession. I think their goal was a very
good one, we should have dealt with it better than we did. We are very
nervous because we've conceded late goals before."

Up next for the Hammers is a tough away fixture to current champions
Manchester City on Sunday 19 April. Having beaten Manuel Pellegrini's men
2-1 at the Boleyn Ground in the reverse fixture, Allardyce is hoping the
players will recreate the impressive form demonstrated that day. "I think
Stoke deserve a lot of credit, from our point of view we didn't play as well
we know we can. We know we can improve and we have to improve quickly
because it is costing us. "A lot of our players are still new to the Premier
League, Aaron Cresswell. Diafra Sakho, Enner Valencia and Cheikhou Kouyate
have all done brilliantly but they are now feeling the pace."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
'We were left with a bitter taste'
WHUFC.com

Enner Valencia admitted to feeling a 'bitter taste' in his mouth after
Saturday's agonising 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw with Stoke City. The
Ecuador star returned to the starting XI after missing three matches after
suffering a lacerated toe in a freak accident at his home involving a
broken toothpaste holder. However, any joy the No31 felt at returning to the
team disappeared when the Potters snatched a late equaliser at the Boleyn
Ground. "I am happy to be back in the team, but we were left with a bitter
taste because I think it is the third or fourth time we have conceded right
at the end of a game," he said of Marko Arnautovic's 95th-minute goal. "To
be honest, I think we were playing against a very good Stoke side, as they
showed with their ball possession. It's true that after the result we can
say that after we scored we went back a bit too far, but they are a good
side and looked after the ball well."

Earlier, Valencia had joined in the celebrations after Aaron Cresswell
netted an unstoppable free-kick the South American himself would have been
proud of. "I was going into the box when Stewart Downing called me and asked
if I wanted to take it, but I didn't need to because Aaron took it
magnificently!" he smiled. Unfortunately for Valencia, he suffered another
painful foot injury during Saturday's game when a Stoke player accidentally
trod on his foot. He will undergo a scan to uncover the exact nature of the
injury on Monday. "I don't know yet how serious it is, as they are going to
run a scan on Monday," he confirmed. "It was not done on purpose – a Stoke
player stepped backwards and onto my foot. I think I have a little bit of an
injury on my foot, but we have to run a scan on Monday to be sure."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Borg seals U18s success
WHUFC.com

West Ham United picked up their first Barclays U18 Premier League Final
Stage Group victory by beating Wolverhampton Wanderers. After opening their
end of season campaign with a goalless home draw with Brighton & Hove Albion
and a 2-0 away defeat to Derby County, a second-half goal from winger Oscar
Borg was enough to confirm a 1-0 success for the Hammers in the Black
Country. During the recent break in league fixtures, Academy Assistant
Manager James Rowe took a squad to an international U17 tournament in Abu
Dhabi, where the Hammers picked up one win, one draw and one defeat from
their three group-stage fixtures. Upon returning to domestic duty, U18s
coach Mark Phillips made five changes from the side that lost away at Derby
three weeks ago. England U18 international goalkeeper Sam Howes returned to
the starting line-up, while centre-back Emmanuel Onariase celebrated signing
his first professional deal with the Club by joining Alex Pike, Josh Pask
and Vashon Neufville in the defence.

The visitors started the game well and set about causing problems to the
Wolves back line. Idris Kanu, who has recently stepped up from the U16
squad, looked sharp in attack alongside Joe Powell and Borg as the Hammers
looked for the opening goal. Wolves had their fair share of efforts in the
first half too, but nothing that caused too much trouble for Howes in the
West Ham goal. The only goal of the game came seven minutes in the second
half when skilful midfielder Grady Diangana's clever pass through the Wolves
defence allowed Borg to tap past Harry Burgoyne. The win lifts the Hammers
to sixth, with four points from their three games. With four league matches
to go, West Ham's next league fixture is the visit of Liverpool to Little
Heath on Saturday 18th April 2015, with kick off scheduled for 11am. Parking
and admission for that game are completely FREE as usual.

U18s: Howes, Pike, Onariase, Pask, Neufville, Diangana, Carter, Sylvestre,
Borg, Powell, Kanu

Subs: Eggleton, Forde, Hector-Ingram, Elsom.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Loan round up
WHUFC.com

Sean Maguire played the full game as Accrington Stanley scored a last minute
equaliser away at Cambridge United.

Tom Elliott opened the scoring for Cambridge after just 8 minutes before
Piero Mingoia's strike six minutes before the break. Ryan Bird's late
deflected shot looked to have secured all three points for hosts however
Seamus Conneely scored his second goal in as many games to rescue a valuable
point for Stanley.

Elliot Lee played 61 minutes in Luton Town's 1-0 defeat at home to Burton
Albion. The young striker was replaced by Mark Cullen before Matty Palmer's
79th minute goal kept Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's side top of League Two.

Jaanai Gordon was an unused substitute in Nuneaton Town's 3-1 defeat away at
Dartford. Despite taking the lead through Andy Brown, a second half recovery
saw the hosts score three goals – two for Elliot Bradbrook and one for harry
Crawford. Nuneaton are 23rd in the Conference, needing to win the final two
games to have any chance of avoiding relegation.

Tim Brown played the full game in Canvey Island's 4-0 home defeat to Hampton
& Richmond Borough. Two goals from Moussa Diarra and one apiece for Charlie
Moone and Jerome Federico completed the rout.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
From the Treatment Room
WHUFC.com

We can issue the following update regarding injuries suffered by Diafra
Sakho and Enner Valencia in Saturday's 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw with
Stoke City. After undergoing a scan on Monday, Sakho has been diagnosed with
a thigh strain and will now commence rehabilitation with a view to returning
to action before the end of the season. Valencia sustained a foot injury
when he was accidentally trodden on by a Stoke player. He also underwent a
scan on Monday and will continue to be assessed ahead of Sunday's trip to
Manchester City.

Stijn Vandenbroucke
Head of Medical and Sports Science

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Carlton Cole says he would like to stay at West Ham
Last Updated: 13/04/15 2:39pm
SSN

West Ham striker Carlton Cole says he would like to stay at the club next
season but remains open minded about his next move. Cole's current contract
with the Hammers ends in the summer and the 31-year-old has yet to be
offered a new deal. The striker missed out on a January deadline-day move to
West Brom when West Ham's bid to bring in Tottenham's Emmanuel Adebayor fell
through at the last minute.

I love the place, I love the fans, I love everything about West Ham.
Carlton Cole

Albion boss Tony Pulis is an admirer of Cole's talents and may make a summer
bid to revive the move but in the meantime Cole is simply concentrating on
his football. Speaking at a 'Football Fighting Ebola' event, Cole told Sky
Sports News HQ: "I love the place, I love the fans, I love everything about
West Ham. "But I know all good things do come to an end sometimes and you
have got to just crack on. I'm trying my best to put myself in the best
position to have a new contract, if not at West Ham then somewhere else."

Cole, who is the co-founder of Football Fighting Ebola, says if he is not
offered another deal at West ham then he would consider a move abroad to
America or China. "I'm quite open, I am an adventurous guy," he added. "I
wouldn't mind a bit of China or even the MLS, you never know. I'm really
open and I just want to see what offers are on the table and take it from
there."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
MAKE NO MISTAKE, CHANGES ARE AFOOT
By Iain Dale 13 Apr 2015 at 14:13
West Ham till I Die

Guest Post by DC

However and whenever they occur, changes are afoot. Make no mistake about
that.

As the saying goes, time waits for no man. A quick glance to the end of last
season and we can reel off names like George McCartney, Matt Taylor, Joe
Cole, Jack Collison and this season Vaz Te. They all seem from quite a
distant past already.

Without wishing two seasons of football away, look towards the short-term
future and we'll soon be adding new names to that list, Cole, Demel and
Jaaskelainen (2015), Collins, O'Brien and Nolan (2016) and Amalfitano,
Downing and Jarvis (2017). Within a year the squad 'should' be totally
devoid of the 'ex-Bolton Factor' that is Jasskelainen, O'Brien, Taylor,
Nolan and Vaz Te.

Of that whole list mentioned, perhaps Matt Jarvis is currently the only
player that the club could and would want to trade-in to get some sort of
return on.

We then have the issue of certain loan players to resolve e.g. Jenkinson,
Song (and Diarra). If we're serious about planning for the long-term it
seems a good argument to make Jenkinson the priority.

And so we turn to our main assets: Adrian (2016+2), Kouyate and Sakho
(2018), Carroll, Cresswell and Valencia (2019), Noble and Tomkins (2020) and
Reid (2021). Maybe we'll be fortunate to add a few young guns to that list
in the shape of Potts, Burke, Oxford, Poyet and Lee, but let's be brutally
honest, old Harry would say we're not too far away from being "down to the
bare bones".

So as the cries for change intensify over the next 10 weeks or so – and they
almost certainly will do – we can be confident of one thing. Whatever
happens, changes are a coming. They have to.

Ladies and Gentleman – welcome to the calm (or not so calm) before the
storm!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Moyes moves closer - but Real hold the key
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 9th April 2015
By: Staff Writer

David Moyes is likely to become West Ham's manager next season - but only if
current club Real Sociedad grant him permission to leave.

As widely predicted, current boss Sam Allardyce is almost certainly coming
to the end of an eventful four-year tenure at the club, in which he has
taken West Ham from the Championship to the top ten of the Premier League.

Although he was saved from the sack last summer when the Board were split
over a change, that barrier is understood to have been removed now with all
three key parties - David Sullivan, David Gold and Karren Brady - in
agreement that a new appointment is necessary.

Much has been written in recent weeks regarding Allardyce's potential
replacement, with Moyes, Rafa Benitiez, Slaven Bilic and Marcelo Bielsa
highly touted as likely candidates. However David Sullivan is thought to
favour signing a manager with Premier League experience.

That would essentially rule out both Croatian Bilic and Argentine Bielsa -
neither of whom have managed in England before. And although he may be
making waves in Ligue 1 at Marseille this season 59-year-old Bielsa's
inability to speak English would also rule him out of contention, with the
owners considering that a priority.

Benitez, as reported on KUMB in May 2014 was, like Moyes, sounded out by
West Ham last summer. Yet the Spaniard is reluctant to join a club outside
of England's established top four - especially with the Manchester City
position likely to become available at the end of the season.

Whilst that essentially leaves Moyes as the default 'top drawer' choice, the
former Everton man is highly-regarded by the Hammers board and, just as
importantly, Tony Henry who is leading the hunt for Allardyce's successor.

Henry, who was placed in charge of player and staff recruitment by the Board
last autumn previously worked with Scot Moyes at Goodison Park and the two
developed a close working relationship which could yet be renewed at the
Boleyn Ground.

However that rests upon West Ham being able to reach agreement with Moyes'
current club Real Sociedad, to whom the 51-year-old is contracted until the
end of the 2015/16 seasons after signing an 18-month contract last November.

Moyes has guided the Basque club to ninth place in this season's La Liga
following a disappointing start to the campaign under Jagoba Arrasate.

He is understood to be keen on a return to England to resurrect a domestic
career that faltered at Manchester United, from where he was fired after
just 10 months in the post (a blow softened by a £5million golden
handshake).

West Ham's Board are also keen on making at least two marquee signings this
summer to supplement the new manager's planned arrival and mark the club's
final season at the Boleyn Ground before moving to Stratford.

One player on the club's wish list is Carlos Tevez, who has just one more
year of a three-year contract left to run at Juventus. The 31-year-old has
previously signalled his intention to return to childhood club Boca, but
West Ham hope they can persuade the 31-year-old crowd favourite to return to
east London for a swansong

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Big Sam and the glass ceiling
KUMb.com
Filed: Monday, 13th April 2015
By: Anjado

Sam Allardyce for me is a good manager who could have been a great manager.

It is a malaise which effects English/British managers they hit the glass
ceiling. If Moyes and Allardyce were Spanish or Italian they would have been
given the opportunity to manage at top clubs ten years ago.

In England, because of a general mistrust of British talent and Ferguson and
Wenger being in their jobs for decades. English managers look purely for
results rather than trying to build teams and providing entertainment for
the fans.

Allardyce for West Ham has been at his best when he has been forced to
abandon the pragmatic style of football which he loves. His two best spells
as West Ham manager were the last two-to-three months of the Championship
season when we needed to win every game to stand a possibility of automatic
promotion.

His other good spell was at the start of this season when his job was on the
line after a terribly tedious season and a not so great start to this
season. Both of these spells coincided with us playing a midfield diamond
system with two strikers up front which could also be adapted into a 4-3-3
also. We play our best football using a diamond system going all the way
back to when Zola was manager.

Unfortunately both times he decided to abandon this system for a more
defensive one and results and performances got increasingly worse. It is no
surprise that the tactics he used which failed to break down Doncaster
Rovers at home in the Championship also fail more times than not in the
Premier League.

I think his main problem is that he is too stubborn to change his ways and
abandon his principles. The way he likes to play the game doesn't work as
effectively now as it did at Bolton. People will say this is down to having
the likes of Djorkaeff and Okocha, but i don't think it is solely down to
that.

Football has changed a lot since the heyday of his Bolton side. When Bolton
were at their best, Allardyce was ahead of the game. Greece won the European
Championships playing similar football and Porto were also a defensive team
when they won the Champions League. He was ahead in sports science and even
tactically for the time.

The problem is, it was Allardyce being ahead of the game and not his actual
system which was why he was successful. When he changes it up for us and
move away from his Bolton system, we look so much better and ahead of the
game.

Modern football is all about attacking with pace and we did that at the
beginning of the season. Yes, the board deserves blame for not spending
money and I said at the time that the club lacks ambition.

But the malaise we currently find ourselves in is more the manager's fault
than the boardroom. I think most people would have understood our results
slipping a bit but to be performing worse than nearly every other team since
the start of the year is both poor and unacceptable.

Some of his team selections have been frankly bizarre since the Chelsea
game. Kevin Nolan gets a lot of stick even though he has done well for the
club. But he has been finished as a starting player for a top flight club
for nearly two years now and I'm not sure if he offers enough from the bench
either to justify his position on the pitch.

Mark Noble was playing his best football screening the back four and now he
has been moved forward, for some reason. Downing was brilliant in behind the
strikers but he was moved out to the wing to accommodate Nolan.

Song has one weakness as a player which is that he dallies on the ball, so
playing him in front of the defence makes little sense. If we had blooded
Burke, Henry or Oxford we could have kept Kouyate in midfield rather than
making our team worse by having him fill in at centre half.

Amalfitano doesn't get to start because apparently he doesn't play as well.
(That didn't seem to be the case against Manchester City though.) Meanwhile
Sakho and Valencia were broken up as soon as Carroll was about 75 per cent
fit - instead of using Nene and Zarate, both of whom have provided a spark
for us.

If it wasn't for Zarate's performance against Palace, Allardyce might well
have been sacked by the third game of this season. He played well for us
when he was used and I would argue his worst game was against Southampton,
when everyone was equally poor. He was arguably our best player in two
matches this season.

Nene has only played for 52 minutes in total; he has hit the post, forced
the opposition goalkeeper into a couple of good saves and had a hand in
Sakho's winner against Sunderland.

Matt Jarvis, a player he spent a club record fee on two seasons previously
has only started twice this season. Diego Poyet, a player who could have
been brought on when defending a lead to give the likes of Downing, Noble,
Song a rest has only been used twice all season. He looks a capable player,
but hasn't been used at all.

Recently we have had both Guy Demel and Joey O'Brien on the bench, both of
whom are right backs, instead of having a central defender on there.

He rushed Andy Carroll back against Southampton and brought him on to the
right wing rather than resting him for the West Brom game, which was the
biggest of the season. He could have also brought Elliot Lee on for 30
minutes.

On Saturday we had our strongest starting XI, with the exception of Tomkins.
The same team that played at our best points during the season.

Instead of picking the obvious side and formation, we picked the same
bizarre formation we did against Leicester and then changed it after we
scored to a 4-6-0 until half time (and then back to the Leicester formation
after half time). We didn't play with two up front for any period of the
game yesterday despite having the personnel - and it led to a poor
performance.

Allardyce bought himself a lot of good will with the way we started the
season and we played well against Spurs, Manchester United and Chelsea this
year. But his negativity and favourtism to certain styles and players makes
it difficult to back him. Perhaps if he was ten years younger he would be
worth persevering with.

The only reason I would keep him now is due to a lack of trust in the
Board's ambition. It's basically the same situation as last season; if we
could get someone better or with potential, I would think about changing it.

If we kept Allardyce I really couldn't see him lasting the duration of his
next contract. He has provided a few great moments and has done well
generally, but his main problems has been Kevin Nolan - who he has been far
too loyal too - and a system he should have pretty much abandoned three
years ago.

For all the good he has done for the club - and he has done a lot - minor
complaints have built and built and when results don't go our way, then
people aren't going to be happy.

It's a shame he will probably be leaving at the end of the season, but I
feel it is less of a missed opportunity for us and more a missed opportunity
for him. He definitely had the chance to lead us to the new stadium and
become the manager he always says he is. Unfortunately, his negativity and
stubbornness has held him back from his goals.

It's a shame because Allardyce does come up with some brilliant ideas, but
he lets himself down with a lack of ambition. Since he is now in his 60s he
isn't going to learn or change his ways. His style of play does work, but
only to a point - and since we are going to be trying to move to the next
level, I'm not sure he can take us any further anymore.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Frozen in time
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 12th April 2015
By: Paul Walker

West Ham are suffering from football inertia of the very worst kind… frozen
in time just waiting, begging almost, for something to happen.

Two wins in 15 league matches, plus a shocking exit from the FA Cup is the
sort of form that gets any manager the sack, sometimes much less.

But we all know that is not going to happen. Our beloved board just want
this season to end, quickly, so they can put into practice what we all know
is going to happen, Sam Allardyce's departure from these parts.

Nobody in their right mind now believes anything different, whatever we are
told by the people that make the decisions - eventally - about the future of
our club.

Us fans are being taken for something of a ride now because what we are
watching isn't worth the money we have paid for our season tickets, but of
course the Davids are not bothered as long as it doesn't cost them or the
club any more money than absolutely necessary.

Nobody expects the board to axe Sam on the strength of this current dreadful
run because he goes for nothing, as does his coaching staff I believe, on
June 30 when his contract ends. Sack him now, or last summer and there's all
sorts of cash to be paid out.

So we are all frozen in time. Us, the players, the people employed by Sam
and the club at Chadwell Heath, and it is those people I actually feel most
sorry for. They are on ordinary money doing ordinary jobs and have wives,
families and mortgages to worry about.

Those things don't bother our players, who are ever-increasingly going
through the motions. They don't bother millionaire owners. And it doesn't
bother Sam. He knows he could retire now and never work again, or he knows
he will get another job somewhere regardless. It wouldn't surprise me if it
was already lined up.

The owners know we are going to finish ninth, tenth or 11th. And the Europa
League via the Fair Play league is just a red-herring. They wouldn't want to
start matches again in the first week of July, just days after Sam has gone,
surely. David Sullivan will be hell-bent on too much wheeler-dealing to be
bothered by matches to play.

A new man will not be in place, unless David Moyes has already got his eyes
on Sam's docklands apartment, that is.

Sam is doing the rounds of his usual media haunts, the latest saw him doing
his cuddly uncle bit on Clare Balding's new chat show. Must admit, I
expected more, but it was very superficial, all the old stuff about clubs he
leaves being relegated, and the fact that he has achieved everything he was
asked to do.

Sam was his usual snug self, all jokes and arrogance. I'm a professional,
doing my job, And that's the bit every football professional understands.

Sam's media friends have done their bit too, with a string of articles
asking just why we want him long gone. But they are hardly going to write
that he should be chopped; they wouldn't want to upset him, now, would they?

The real piece of TV that said it all came when Sam was informed at his
press conference last week that David Sullivan had suggested he was
extremely disappointed with our current form. Sam' s "Did he" was worth more
than a thousand interviews.

The two just don't click any more, underlined by Sullivan's remark that "the
manager picks the team, ask him" when commenting on Nene's very rare
appearances on the pitch. Another player the co-owner had bought that Sam
didn't want.

I Don't know about you, but I am getting fed-up with being asked by fans of
other clubs just what we expected, and what more we want from BFS.

Outside the West Ham world, fans cannot understand. Surely we are safe from
the drop, there has been four seasons of first promotion and now steady
progress. It looks that way from the outside.

I have had this conversation from a barman in San Francisco to a taxi driver
in Cheshire these past weeks. (Had to get that bit in, sorry!) And the Yanks
are the worst. None of their sports are really based on flair, the NFL for
example is throwing, catching, running, stop. Basketball is end-to-end in
the blink of an eye and used as non-stop wallpaper on US television.

And nobody can see the puck when ice hockey is televised anyway! Maybe I am
being a bit harsh there, because the giants of basketball are amazingly
skilled. But I am sure you get my point, the Yanks only really understand
results and winning.

So isn't Sam producing that? Well, no, not at the moment anyway. We score,
defend and lose. Every time the fourth official holds up the 'Fergie time'
board, we seem to panic and throw away points.

It was the same at the weekend when Stoke came to town. Somehow we had hung
on after Aaron Cresswell's wonder free-kick, conceding 60 per cent plus of
possession. Thanks to the heroics of James Collins - on a weekend when West
Brom were remembering the brain damage that killed Jeff Astle, maybe Ginge
could consider how much his head must have hurt against Stoke!

And yes, we ended up drawing in the 95th minute. We used to chant ' It's
happening again' to Spurs fans, now the rest of the Premier League are
singing that to us!

We brought young Maddie with us on Saturday, she is soon to become my son's
sister-in-law, about a month away now. (The wedding is on the last weekend
of the season in Portugal. I ask you, who planned that?) She's a Stoke fan,
which probably explains a lot, and behaved impeccably. Not a flinch when we
scored, likewise when two Stoke efforts were disallowed. And still not a
reaction when the equaliser went in.

Well done, you can come again. Certainly if you buy your rounds like you
did. But to be fair, it would have been an insult to everyone's intelligence
if Stoke had left without a point, at least.

We were plain awful, and it's not going to get any better with Manchester
City next. But Sam will just amble on to the end of the season when he, and
us, will be put out of our misery. Hopefully there will be an end to the
vile bickering on fans' websites, the split in our support and the insidious
campaigns to get the manager out.

I had actually stopped recently trying to write constructive, balanced stuff
which put both sides of the case for Sam. Anything you say even slightly in
his favour is met with a barrage of abuse, a lot of it sneering, patronising
and from a self-established high moral ground. Anyone who does not share the
anti-Sam rhetoric is considered anti-football and defiling the soul of the
game.

Just look at the forums and social media after Saturday. Disdainful stuff.
And the pro-Sam lot are no better, preaching on about stability and a job
well done. The word pragmatic gets used a lot and detractors don't know what
they are talking about. I took a few weeks rest from it all.

So who do we get next? Forget Glenn Hoddle, his name only comes up when
Sullivan cannot find anyone else, and he's his mate. And I don't really
believe Rafa Benitez will come, we will have to pay him twice what Sam is
getting, and our board won't stomach that.

Mind you, Benitez still wants Liverpool and fancies Manchester City. He is
deluding himself, I feel. His family still live in Wirral and the kids go to
posh schools in Chester, I recall. But does anyone think that Liverpool will
go back to him, however well he did in winning the Champions League for
them?

And City can have anyone they want. Pep Guardiola would do nicely. Surely
they wouldn't want someone axed by Liverpool. Rafa for us, I doubt it. He
doesn't get out of bed for a transfer kitty under £100million these days,
much like Louis van Gaal, another from the big league.

So it's Moyes, you would think. Tony Henry must be bending his ear daily by
now. And I don't go along with the stuff that Moyes is just a cheap version
of Allardyce, although that would impress the Davids.

Back in my former life, I spent a decade working with Moyes, and he has
plenty of impressive qualities. A very good, organised coach and a man who
is capable of building a club slowly and soundly without vast sums of money.
What we must have is someone who does not cast out all the good progress we
have made,that is key for me.

We have put up with Sam because the progress has been there, if not very
pretty. After the bumbling nonsense of Avram Grant (well done you Davids for
that one) and the indecent haste that saw Lady Brady sacking Gianfranco
Zola, longevity is needed.

All that meant a huge turnover of very average players and absolutely no
progress. My lad pointed out at the weekend on our slow train back north
that he has had enough of us not being able to compete, to give him
something worth watching instead of constant dismantling of the club at
every level.

So Moyes would be trusted with that. Just ask Bill Kenwright, someone our
owners think highly of. Bill did not have bottomless pockets and Everton had
to work and struggle to build what they have now. They were once a financial
basket case like us, but not now.

And Moyes is credited with much of the good stuff that came to Goodison
Park. Yes, he can be as long-ball as anyone, even Sam, but there is variety
and the ability to adapt. He certainly isn't long ball in Spain, and if
given the sort of money Van Gaal has been allowed at Manchester United may
well have made a better fist of things there.

The other name that keeps coming up is the Argentinean looney tunes, Marcelo
Bielsa, currently at Marseille. He has won praise from the very best, Carlos
Tevez and Pep for a start.

There was an interesting, if highly pretentious piece in the Guardian about
Bielsa by Barney Roney last week. When I had managed to batter my way
through the arty stuff about Braque, Picasso and obscure American artists
(believe me, you couldn't make it up) Ronay was suggesting Bielsa and West
Ham were made for each other.

The problem, for me, is that he doesn't speak a word of English - so how on
earth would Mark Noble make himself understood?

Seriously, though. Bielsa has plenty going for him. He is a total advocate
of attacking football, is prone to great success (at Athletic Bilbao) and
spells of sheer nonsense. He can also rant with the best of them.

But if we wanted a Latin hero, who loves attacking and has no idea about
defence, and can rage away with sheer nonsense at the drop of a hat (plus
ruin the knees of a few expensive suits) why not give it to Paolo Di Canio?
Now there's a thought.

But our owners do not want a gamble like that, so maybe Bielsa is a step too
far with the very delicate matter of the Olympic Stadium just around the
corner.

No, for me, Moyes is the best bet. Young, safe hands, capable of decent
signings--that's where Henry comes in again--and capable of working with
what he finds and bringing on the youth. And he won't want Sullivan buying
players for him that are unfit, too old, or already in retirement in Qatar.

Now that's not such a bad thing, is it?

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Jenkinson, Cresswell, Valencia and Allardyce: Monday's news
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 13th April 2015
By: Staff Writer #2

Get the very latest West Ham news in one place, with our new daily media
round-up!

West Ham plot £10m offer to beat Liverpool to Arsenal star Carl Jenkinson
According to reports, the Hammers are mobilising a sizeable offer to ward
off interest from Liverpool.
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/436168/Carl-Jenkinson-West-Ham-Liv
erpool-Arsenal-Transfer-News-Update-Gossip-Latest

Aaron Cresswell criticises West Ham for switching off as Stoke grab
equaliser
Aaron Cresswell accepts West Ham must learn to stay "switched on" until the
final whistle to avoid seeing their fruitful season drift away.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/apr/12/west-ham-stoke-city-premier-
league-match-report

Late show secures Ladies victory
West Ham United Ladies ended an unbeaten week by picking up a late 1-0
victory at home to Cardiff City Ladies on Sunday.
http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2015/April/12-April/Late-show-secures-Lad
ies-victory

Borg seals U18s success
West Ham United picked up their first Barclays U18 Premier League Final
Stage Group victory by beating Wolverhampton Wanderers.
http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2015/April/12-April/Borg-seals-U18s-succe
ss

'We were left with a bitter taste'
Enner Valencia admitted to feeling a 'bitter taste' in his mouth after
Saturday's agonising 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw with Stoke City.
http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2015/April/13-April/We-were-left-with-a-b
itter-taste


West Ham are reportedly looking to win the race for Carl Jenkinson
By offering Arsenal £10million for his services.
http://metro.co.uk/2015/04/13/west-ham-making-10m-offer-to-sign-arsenals-car
l-jenkinson-5147239/?

West Ham could offer Manchester City perfect tonic after derby humbling
Under-fire West Ham United could offer Manchester City the perfect
pick-me-up after their 4-2 defeat in the Manchester derby on Sunday.
http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2015/04/12/dl-west-ham-offer-man-city-perfect
-tonic-after-derby-humbling/?

Enner Valencia confirms yet another injury setback, will have scan today
West Ham striker Enner Valencia has admitted that he will have a scan on his
latest foot injury.
http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2015/04/13/enner-valencia-confirms-yet-anothe
r-injury-setback-will-have-sca/?

West Ham left "crushed" by another late defensive lapse grumbles Sam
Allardyce
Big Sam calls for calm after his Hammers yet again fail to cling on to three
points, this time against Stoke, but remain in the top half of the table
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/west-ham-left-crushed-another-55
07356

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce hopes for time to develop squad struggling to
keep pace in long Premier League season after conceding late again in draw
with Stoke City
West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce believes his squad are unable to deal
with the rigours of a full Barclays Premier League season after they dropped
points by conceding late against Stoke City.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3036047/West-Ham-manager-S
am-Allardyce-hopes-time-develop-squad-struggling-pace-Premier-League.html

I wouldn't turn it down: Redknapp U-turn over West Ham comeback?
Harry Redknapp has again been tipped to replace Sam Allardyce at West Ham
United after an apparent change of heart over a return to the Boleyn.
http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2015/04/12/dl-i-wouldnt-turn-it-down-redknapp
-u-turn-over-west-ham-comeback/

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham left "crushed" by another late defensive lapse grumbles Sam
Allardyce
22:30, 12 April 2015 By Ann Gripper
Big Sam calls for calm after his Hammers yet again fail to cling on to three
points, this time against Stoke, but remain in the top half of the table
The Mirror

Sam Allardyce admits he and his side are "crushed" by West Ham's repeated
late collapses. Marko Arnautovic's ­stoppage-time equaliser was the fourth
time in recent games the Hammers have dropped points in the dying moments.
That inability to see games out has brought just one win and seven points
from their last 10 league matches – and intensified the spotlight on Big
Sam's future, with his contract up in the summer. Allardyce points to the
50-point tally his side could have had and a season catching up with
signings new to the Premier League. But he insists it is down to the players
to end their worrying trend of conceding late goals.

Allardyce said: "We are all very down about how many points we have thrown
away and how many games we should have won. "We are crushed about how we
have let leads slip in the final seconds. Only they can find a ­solution. "I
can't tell them what the opposition are going to do on the day, other than
what I can to guide them. Late in the game, the ­opposition will put four or
five up there, take a chance and play direct football against you. "They'll
get the ball forward to the edge of your box as quick as they can, they'll
all run up and forget about defending and try to put that pressure on you.
"We've got to calm ourselves and make sure our nerve ends don't jangle the
next time we're in this position."

Aaron Cresswell's majestic free-kick gave West Ham the perfect start. But
Stoke's leveller hardly came as a surprise. A Mame Biram Diouf header had
cannoned off an upright and Arnautovic had seen two offside efforts
disallowed – the second provoking furious protest from the Austrian.
Fired-up by his frustration, Arnautovic surged forward moments later and
slotted the goal which turned a laboured win into a draw which left Hammers
fans booing at the final whistle. City are far more satisfied with the
43-point tally the clubs share, and a club record mark in the Premier League
remains a possibility for the Potters. That progress in Mark Hughes' second
year means the departure of Bosnia keeper Asmir Begovic, who has a year left
on his contract, is not a foregone conclusion – and it would need a major
step up to tempt him away. Begovic said: "The club is doing some good things
and moving in the right direction. Let's see if we can sort ­something out.
I wouldn't leave for just anything."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce, Moyes, Bielsa – career win stats!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 13, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Marrying up style and Premier League survival is a dilemma that's been
exercising many minds inside Upton Park over the past couple of years..

The major argument of those who support Sam Allardce and want him to stay is
that he will keep the Hammers safe – they will never be relegated under his
regime – he's "a safe pair of hands".

The main criticism of course is that his football lacks style and is not in
the West Ham tradition but given the extent to which the game has changed
and the finances involved it's hard to disagree with his assessment that
survival may be the name of the game.

It would seem that David Moyes is the figure most fancied to take his place
should the two Davids decide to replace him at the end of the season with
Marseilles boss Marcelo Bielsa still in the frame.

So how do the three measure up in terms of survival.

The style comparison is impossible to make but here is the record in terms
of results of the three men over their managerial careers.

We leave it with you:

Big Sam stats (win %):
Preston North End = 25%
Blackpool = 43.14%
Notts County = 38.62%
Bolton = 41.24%
Newcastle = 33.33%
Blackburn = 34.88%
West Ham = 38.29%

David Moyes stats (win%):

Preston North End = 48.29%
Everton = 42.08%
Man Utd = 52.94%
Real Sociedad = 40.91%

Marcelo Bielsa

Argentina = 61.76%
Chile = 51.2 %
Athletico Bilbao = 38.39%
Marseilles = 49.08%

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Valencia scan!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 13, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Enner Valencia will undergo a scan on his new foot injury later today (Mon).
The striker was injured when an opposition player accidentally trod on his
foot during the match at the weekend. He told the official site: "I don't
know yet how serious it is, as they are going to run a scan on Monday. It
was not done on purpose – a Stoke player stepped backwards and onto my foot.
I think I have a little bit of an injury on my foot, but we have to run a
scan on Monday to be sure."

On the game he said: " I think we were playing against a very good Stoke
side, as they showed with their ball possession. After we scored we went
back a bit too far, but they are a good side and looked after the ball
well."

Earlier, Valencia had joined in the celebrations after Aaron Cresswell
netted an unstoppable free-kick the South American himself would have been
proud of. "I was going into the box when Stewart Downing called me and asked
if I wanted to take it, but I didn't need to because Aaron took it
magnificently!" he smiled.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam: "We are all very down"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 13, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Sam Allardyce has claimed that it's time for everybody associated with the
team to "calm themselves" as they approach the dying embers of the season.
But he admits: ""We are all very down at the minute about how many points we
have thrown away and how many games we should have won." The manager,
however, believes there are good reasons why we haven't finished on a flier
saying: "The early part of the season was about the players achieving great
heights and the squad having little or no injuries "I think that, as a
squad, they are finding out at this stage about the nitty-gritty of the
Premier League, the physical and mental fatigue. "Some of them have not
experienced it before and are in their first seasons in the Premier League,
so for them, all of a sudden, it is week after week, pressure after
pressure, performance after performance. "Then looking at our new players
from abroad, they have all done brilliantly, but they are feeling the pace a
little bit now." He added: "While we haven't performed as well as we did in
the early part of the season, we have still been in a position where we
could have been on 50 points and we are only talking about the best part of
three minutes in four games (when points have been dropped). "Stoke are
happy and they are on 43 points. We are not as happy because we are on 43
and we know it should be 50, but we are (still) in the top half of the
table. "So we have all got to calm ourselves and make sure our nerve ends
don't jangle the next time we are in this position."

Allardyce, however, is confident the squad will emerge stronger from such a
disappointing spell. "Next season they will be better, they will be more
experienced, they will be more able to cope than they have this season. "We
should have been celebrating getting to 50 points, cruising at the top end,
making sure that we are going to finish at least eighth and beating our
previous points total, so we are crushed about how we have let leads slip in
the final seconds."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Why Sam Allardyce deserves better than he is getting at West Ham
12:24 13 April 2015
London 24
Brad Pinard

The pressure is mounting on Sam Allardyce after West Ham's 1-1 draw with
Stoke City - but London24 Sport reporter Brad Pinard believes the Hammers
boss deserves better...

Last summer a large percentage of West Ham fans, myself included, would have
been pleased to see the back of Sam Allardyce after a dreadful season.
However, impressive summer recruitment with the backing of owners David Gold
and David Sullivan saw the Hammers surge towards the top four in the opening
few months of the 2014/15 campaign, proving plenty of people wrong. The
style of football improved, the goals were flowing and even the stubborn Roy
Hodgson found a place in his squad for an actual West Ham player! The busy
Christmas period was the beginning of the end, though. Resting key players
away at Chelsea will never go down well with the West Ham faithful,
accepting a defeat to a bitter rival like that, and following it up with a
home loss to another London side in Arsenal saw fans raise their first
questions of the season. Since then, West Ham have picked up 12 points from
a possible 39. Even Big Sam admits that is not good enough. But the start of
the season has been forgotten so quickly, it almost baffles the brain. The
performances in those famous wins over Liverpool and Manchester City were
stunning, that is what the squad Allardyce has built is capable of. Gold
and Sullivan gave Big Sam a set of aims for the season, and as the manager
said in his press conference on Thursday, he is set to meet them all. "Have
I delivered what I have been asked to deliver? Yes. Would I do anything
different, yes, but have we grown the club? Yes. Have we got a better team
going towards the new stadium? Yes. Is it a younger team? Yes. Do we create
more entertainment? Yes," he said, and he is right.

So why would Allardyce not be given a new contract and publicly backed by
the club? The owners openly criticising the team and speaking out in the
media is never helpful but it seems to have become the norm. Allardyce has
the dressing room behind him, but the players should be criticised too! Yes,
Kevin Nolan should be nowhere near the team and Carlton Cole is more of a
hindrance than a help on the pitch, but the lack of options on the bench
every single week is evident. The quality is there in the starting line-up
but Allardyce can't physically kick the ball in the goal, he needs his
players who are paid a fortune to do that. Gold and Sullivan should either
back or sack Allardyce, that is the least he deserves, rather than be put
through another month of abuse and speculation. We all know the story,
promoted in the first season in the Championship with a broken squad, an
impressive first season in the Premier League and now arguably the best side
West Ham have had in the Premier League era. Many would not be upset to see
Sam shown the door this summer, but the constant speculation is a major
cause for concern and the rest of this season will almost certainly follow
suit to Saturday's latest disappointment.

Big Sam is not the only boss who can keep West Ham up, which appears to be
one theory, but a change of manager with a year to go until the Olympic
Stadium move - which will offer billionaire investors the chance to take the
club to the next level - could be a dangerous game to play. The fans are
entitled to their opinions as they pay far too much to go down to Upton Park
every other week, but the owners are the ones who make the decisions and
they should have already made theirs on the manager instead of allowing
another season to go down the drain in uncertain circumstances. If Allardyce
was handed a new contract back in January, I believe West Ham would still be
battling for Europe. He deserves better from his bosses and his players.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham prepare for tug-of-war with Liverpool over £10m Arsenal man Carl
Jenkinson
Evening Standard
KEN DYER
Published: 13 April 2015 Updated: 11:21, 13 April 2015

West Ham will go head to head with Liverpool this summer to sign Carl
Jenkinson on a permanent deal from Arsenal. The full-back has impressed
since he arrived on loan at the beginning of this season and the Hammers
will have to fork out at least £10million to have a chance of signing him.
Liverpool are also reported to be interested in the 23-year-old England
international, who said today he would not allow himself to be distracted by
speculation on his future. "I am just concentrating on doing my very best
for the team and getting the results we need. I am not worried about
anything else," added Jenkinson. With Guy Demel also likely to leave West
Ham in the summer, a right-back is a priority for Sam Allardyce. The Hammers
are also being linked with a move for Liverpool's Glen Johnson, who began
his career at Upton Park before joining Chelsea in 2003. Jenkinson admitted
his frustration as West Ham dropped more points following a late goal — the
fourth time it has happened this season — as they drew 1-1 against Stoke on
Saturday. "It is bizarre why it keeps happening," he said. "It is
frustrating. We have been in similar positions before this season and we
haven't managed to hold on, so it is time we started. "What was frustrating
was that we didn't really build on that early goal from Aaron Cresswell, we
sat back and let them play. We started really well but we needed to
capitalise on that. Instead we invited the pressure on ourselves and in the
end it took its toll. "It is not really happening for us at the moment but
we have six games left and we want to finish as high as we can. We would
love to get eighth spot."

West Ham could be reduced to one fit striker — Carlton Cole — for next
Sunday's trip to Manchester City. With Andy Carroll out for the rest of the
season following knee surgery, Allardyce has also lost Diafra Sakho for
several weeks with a thigh injury, while Enner Valencia was due to have a
scan today on a foot injury.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gold and Sullivan target two 'big name' signings – The ExWHUemployee Column
Ironviews.com
By Liam Spencer on April 13, 2015 in ExWHUemployee column

Those of you who read my blogs regularly will know that I have backed Sam
constantly and taken a lot of slack for it in the process. I have supported
him and the team throughout the season and felt that much of the criticism
that has been levelled towards him had been unfair. Whilst I am still not
convinced that getting rid of him is necessarily the right move (cue abuse)
I found Saturday very hard to excuse and I am much more open to change now.

I was delighted when I heard the team Friday evening and thought it would be
very well received amongst the fans. Valencia was straight back in and it
looked on paper that we had resorted to the diamond with Downing at the tip
allowing room for the full backs to overlap. In reality this was not the
case as again; Downing and Valencia played more out on the wing and the
early season diamond was not very evident.

We got the perfect start with Cresswell's excellent goal and then we
proceeded to sit back as we have done so many times this season. We
allowed Stoke to attack us and in reality they should have won the game as a
result. The phrase "the best form of defence is attack is one that seems to
have slipped past our radars".

Another very disappointing thing was the substitutions. I know Sakho was
injured so it was forced upon Sam in that respect but I would have brought
Nene on instead of Cole. Stoke are such a physical team and their centre
backs are huge. Thus, if you are putting on a more physical player, he must
be able to match their physical ability. Unfortunately Cole could not and so
every ball that went to him was won by their centre backs. You need to
attack those centre backs not in the air but on the ground through quick
passing and direct running, and with Nene you would be much more likely to
get that than Cole. I wrote an article when Nene first joined suggesting he
will not play much because Sam wasn't that keen and disappointingly it has
been proven to be correct so far. Both Sakho and Valencia will have scans on
injuries today and it is a real worry that we will play the rest of the
season if they are out with Cole as a sole target man.

Alex Song was not having his best game and didn't appear to be 100% fit, and
whilst I wouldn't have taken him off I certainly wouldn't have brought Nolan
on. Morgan Amalfitano should have come on and kept the energy levels up. I
think Morgan is probably the most unlucky person at the club because no
matter how well he plays and how poorly the team plays he cannot get a
starting spot. Too regularly in 2015 have the wrong substitutions cost us.

Of course the players cannot be exempt from any criticism either ands too
many of them went missing on Saturday and have been for a while now. It
appears a few have started their holidays early but again, how much of this
is down to the unknown managerial situation and to the wrong tactics? It is
getting to the point now where it will be very hard for Sam to stay on next
year due to the growing resentment amongst the fans, along with this
dreadful 2015 form. Everyone needs to be pulling in the same direction going
into what will be an emotional last year at Upton Park and an extremely
important first at the Olympic Stadium and with him at the helm I am not
sure they will be. The latest name to be thrown into the hat is Di Matteo
who again is an interesting name and one who has won the Champions League
like Benitez (to go alongside the other names that I have reported in my
previous columns) but it is all speculation at this point.

If there was any doubt about who should win Hammer of the Year I think it is
now been concluded after Saturday. Cresswell was again a bright spark and
played with constant energy topped off by a brilliant goal. He has made the
transition from the Championship to the Premier League superbly and at his
age he will continue to grow and grow as a player. My order of Hammer of the
Year would be: Cresswell, Kouyate, Sakho, Adrian and then Collins. If we had
voted at Christmas I would have gone for Downing but he and Song appear to
be the players who have lost form the most in 2015. However, in Downing's
case how much of this is due to not being at the tip of the diamond anymore?

I think Jenkinson and Cresswell have the potential give us brilliant full
backs for many years to come. I really would love to hang onto Carl and I
have heard he wants to stay. The problem is that other clubs are looking at
him now, notably Liverpool. I am still confident we can persuade him to stay
in London where his family and friends all live. I have reported this many
times in the past and it appears to be being recycled by a number of other
sources this weekend; if we do not sign Jenkinson we will go for Glenn
Johnson on a free. We will sign another forward (we are still very keen on
Hernandez of Manchester United and Konate of Sion), a new centre midfield
(Obiang of Sampdoria likely to be a target and a few players in Europe who
we have watched) and a centre back (Schar of Bazel is another target) with
the right back at a minimum. The board are likely to provide the cash for at
least two big signings and a few less known players with potential. There
are also reports that we have looked at Cleverley who will be available on a
free from Manchester United but I do not have any confirmation on that.

I intend to write another article during the week of a more positive note,
believe it or not, but I felt the performance on Saturday could not be
avoided. I can't make up my mind whether we play Manchester City at a good
time or not and that is one beauty of supporting West Ham, anything is
possible.

ExWHUemployee

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham consider appointing Roberto Di Matteo as shock Allardyce
replacement
HITC
Olly Dawes

West Ham are reportedly interested in offering Roberto Di Matteo a return to
the Premier League.According to Tutto Mercato Web, West Ham are considering
a move to bring Roberto Di Matteo back to the Premier League. The Hammers
have won just twice in 2015, and after Saturday's 1-1 draw with Stoke City,
the pressure continues to mount on manager Sam Allardyce. With Allardyce's
contract set to expire this summer, West Ham are expected to let 'Big Sam'
leave Upton Park and then find someone to replace him. Now, Tutto Mercato
Web believe that the Hammers could offer ex-Chelsea boss Di Matteo a
surprise return to English football. The Italian, 44, managed Milton Keynes
Dons and West Bromwich Albion before replacing Andre Villas-Boas as Chelsea
manager in 2012, guiding them to the Champions League crown just months
later. However, Di Matteo lasted just over eight months in the Chelsea hot
seat before meeting Roman Abramovich's axe, and after two years out of
football, he returned in October 2014 to manage German side Schalke.

So far, Di Matteo has won 12 of his 27 games in charge, but two goalless
draws in a row mean they are now unlikely to qualify for the Champions
League - which could leave Di Matteo out of a job, according to TMW. They
also report that if he does leave Gelsenkirchen this summer, West Ham would
be interested in making him Allardyce's replacement in a surprise move which
may make fans recall the last time West Ham appointed a former Chelsea
player in Gianfranco Zola - which didn't go too well.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham striker Diafra Sakho ruled out for the rest of the season with
suspected torn thigh muscle
18:31, 13 April 2015 By Darren Lewis
The 25-year-old marksman, who has scored 12 goals this season, is understood
to have sustained the injury in Saturday's draw at home to Stoke
The Mirror

West Ham have been rocked by the news that striker Diafra Sakho is out for
the rest of the season. The 25-year-old marksman, who has scored 12 goals
this season, is understood to have torn a muscle in his thigh. The injury is
understood to have occurred in Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Stoke. It is a
huge blow to the club's ambitions of finishing in the top half. Also to boss
Sam Allardyce's hopes of renewing his contract when his current deal expires
at the end of the season.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Vile Stoke chants aimed at Mooro
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 13, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Stoke City fans made vile chants at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday which
bought the memory of Hammers Legend Bobby Moore into disrepute on the eve of
what would of been his 74th birthday. Several West Ham fans in Sir Trevor
Brooking lower and East stand close to the away fans heard a small section
of the crowd singing "Jimmy Saville, he sh…ged Bobby Moore"

They also chanted "There`s only five of you English" which seemed to bemuse
some West Ham fans, although presumably it is a reference to the amount of
foreign players we fielded on Saturday. One Stoke fan took to Iain Dale's
West Ham Till Die.com this morning saying "As a Stoke City fan I am ashamed
at the behaviour and totally unacceptable chanting from a few of the away
supporters on Saturday.

"I shook my head in disbelief at some of the comments. All football clubs
have a small minority of "fans" who seem intent on embarrassing the good
name of their club and each and everyone of the true football supporters
that follow it. "Most of the comments on our own fanzine, agree that such
behaviour has no place in society I believe that Stoke City are
investigating the incident and as difficult as it can be, hopefully can
identify those involved. A big concern is the number of supporters who then
decide to sing along without even realising how offensive the words are.Your
club and fans were very welcoming"

Many fans on the Stoke City Fanzine "The Oatcake" message board also called
their own fans "embarrassing."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Mixed news on Sakho/Valencia injuries
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 13, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Strikers Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia had mixed results from their scans
following injury setbacks against Stoke at the weekend.
Boss Sam Allardyce had struck a gloomy note ahead of the medical claiming
that Sakho could be ruled out for the season. But Head of Medical sports
science Stijn Vandenbroucke reported to the official website: "After
undergoing a scan on Monday, Sakho has been diagnosed with a thigh strain
and will now commence rehabilitation with a view to returning to action
before the end of the season." The news on Valencia, who picked up a foot
injury when accidentally trodden on by a Stoke player, seems more
optimistic. Vandenbroucke said he will continue to be assessed ahead of
Sunday's trip to Manchester City.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Pay up or lose season ticket!
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 13, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

West Ham have confirmed that Season Ticket Holders who do not pay the
minimum deposit of £75 before the 5pm deadline this Friday 17th April will
see their ticket released and offered to someone else.

Priority in the seat selection for the new stadium is assigned to the Season
Ticket and not the individual holder so anyone not renewing for the final
season at the Boleyn Ground will need to join the back of the new Stadium
priority list to purchase a Season Ticket for 2016/17

The club have confirmed there will be no extension to the renewal deadline
as they have a seat change / bring new fans weekend starting at 9am the
following day so if your seat is not secured there is a real chance it will
be instantly sold.

They have stressed that this is why it is so important that everyone is
aware they must renew before Friday 5pm as they fully expect Season Tickets
to sell out before the start of the season.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

http://vyperz.blogspot.com



---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
http://www.avast.com