Daily WHUFC News - 6th April 2015

Adrian left to rue 'lucky' winner
WHUFC.com

Adrian was disappointed that his first half penalty save from David Nugent
did not act as the catalyst for West Ham United to go on and claim three
points at Leicester City on Saturday. Trailing 1-0 to Esteban Cambiasso's
early strike, the Hammers were staring a daunting 2-0 deficit in the face
with just 15 minutes played when Carl Jenkinson tripped Leonardo Ulloa in
the box. But Adrian denied Nugent to keep his side in the contest before
Cheikhou Kouyate gave them real hope of a turnaround by levelling up before
the break. West Ham could not make their second half chances count though,
leaving Adrian frustrated on the journey home to London. We're disappointed
with the result," he explained. "We thought we had a draw there for us at
least, and we had very good chances to score. "Their keeper made some very
good saves, but this is football - if you score, you win. "We need to be
more clinical in the finish, but as I said that's the way it goes sometimes.
You have opportunities and shoot, but don't score. That's how it was for us
at Leicester."

Whilst happy to help his team by denying Nugent from 12 yards, Adrian was
ultimately disappointed that his intervention went unrewarded.
He continued: "Saving the penalty changed the mentality of the team at that
point. With my save it kept it at 1-0 and then Cheikhou's goal got us level.
"In the second half we should have scored again and finished the game off,
but it didn't work out that way. "It was hard for me on Saturday, because I
saved a penalty but we didn't get anything from the game. It's my job - I
try every time to save and help my teammates, but this time I couldn't help.
"After the first 15 minutes we played well, we got control of the game and
had chances but we didn't score. If you don't score you don' t get anything.
"In the last minutes of games, everybody is more tired and mistakes can
happen but on Saturday it wasn't a mistake. It was a lucky goal, they shot
and a deflection one metre in front of me means it's a goal."

The No13's attentions now turn to Stoke City on Saturday, with the Potters'
proximity to West Ham in the table heightening the need to take maximum
points. He added: "Next week we have Stoke at home and we need to get the
three points there. They are a direct rival for the position we're in and we
need to win at home again."

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From the Boardroom - David Gold
WHUFC.com

Joint-Chairman David Gold reflects on Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Leicester
City... I'm no different to the travelling fans. We feel a bit disappointed
at getting beaten by a team that's deep in a relegation fight. I felt very
down after the game but this morning on reflection I feel a bit better when
I look at the chances we created and the opportunities that we missed.
Leicester fought for their lives and played like this was their cup final.
It's just extraordinary the way the home fans were as they knew that if they
had lost if would have made it likely they would been relegated. They
rallied their team and it was a big, big game for them, I also didn't think
the ball ran well for us. Somehow every loose ball seemed to end up in the
path of a Leicester player and not one of ours. It wasn't that Leicester
were a better side than we were. It just didn't happen for us. I think if we
had got our noses ahead we would have won the game comfortably but having
said that they could have gone 2-0 ahead had they converted the penalty. It
was a magnificent save by Adrian and I felt like that would give us the
boost to go and get back into the game. When we went in at half time at 1-1
instead of 2-0 down I was optimistic that we would win. Sadly that didn't
happen and that's how the ball runs for you sometimes. Let's hope next week
when we play Stoke City that with a fair wind we go on and win the game. I
would like to conclude by thanking our travelling fans, who I thought were
fantastic. Even when it looked like we were going to be 2-0 down for the
penalty they gave the team a lift. I'm disappointed for them that we were
unable to get the win but I know they will stay behind the team for another
big game against Stoke on Saturday.

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WATCHING KEVIN NOLAN
By Iain Dale 5 Apr 2015 at 17:52
West Ham Till I Die

Guest Post by Rugby Irons

It's obviously different watching the whole game for real as you see the
whole picture and not just where the ball is.Yesterday I watched the game in
a home part of the ground so obviously had to be smart.In the past I have
slated Kevin Nolan so I took it on myself to do a Nolan watch.Considering
opta thinks he runs more in a game than anyone else I had to challenge
this.So here goes.It looked early on as if he was supposed to be up behind
Sahko but he spent the first fifteen minutes sauntering around the middle
fifth of the pitch not really involved.They then scored and missed a
penalty.

As the Captain, he offerred nothing in encouraging the players to fight
back.I think he's a bottler and on fourteen minutes a ball was up in the air
to be challenged and he turned his back and chickened out.I've noticed this
previously with Nolan, he never now puts in any type of real tackle. He is
not prepared to get hurt for the team.£50k a week and wont even tackle!

Five minutes later he loses possession again from being non committed and
they get another shot off.Bynow Sakho was winning every header but Nolan was
no where for the flick ons.He seemed twenty yards behind the play and wasn't
getting any ball. He had virtually stopped running and then with his only
notable contribution in an hours play he missed a sitter of a header .A
peach of a cross and all he had to do was head it,but he tried to be clever
and a gilt edge chance went way wide, £50k a week for that! By now we were
well on top with a series of possessions that Nolan just wasn't involved in.
We had levelled by now and despite the usual hard graft from Noble with
decent support from Song and Koyoute we were bossing the half but Nolan
hardly got a touch. Even when he wanted the ball the others wouldn't risk
playing it into him.

After another inspirational halftime talk from Allardyce ,Leicester came out
and dominated for 20 minutes! Sakho was stopped from winning the flick ons
which gave us a real problem. Firstly Nolan was ten yards further up the
pitch for the flick ons around 25 yards out but by losing these headers he
was now stranded 40 yards from where the ball was. Ashe is so slow at half
heartedly trying to get back the Foxes kept pushing us back. On the hour he
gave the ball away again and created another chance for them. At this point
we were being overrun and even Allardyce had seen enough and took him
off.The impact was almost immediate as Almafitano picked up the ball ran at
their defence and the ball ended up being struck against their post.

So having seen it for myself it was pretty obvious why we have become a
middle not top team. The Lampard,Gerrards , Mata, Toures of the Premier add
work, presence and goals. Watching Nolan as a sixty minute passenger was
painful.I appreciate like Allardyce they have seen better days but at £50k a
week its just not on,for either of them. Yesterday you could see why
Leicester were bottom of the league.We should have had the game won by
halftime but Allardyces insistence on setting up so poorly asks huge
questions on his own ability to manage. Which brings us nicely to him
bringing on Cole.He lost the ball on his first involvement and then had the
ball bounce over him for the next before falling over a defender because
he's another one who won't put in a real tackle.Waiting for Cole to put in a
decent challenge is like waiting for a Nolan goal.For Cole,in his fifteen
minutes he made no contribution at all,nothing! Same as against Sunderland
its like he wasn't even on the field? Considering Nene was a better option,
and once again abused by Allardyce for another one minute appearance, you
have to ask why?

Be under no illusions yesterday was a very winnable game but picking Nolan
and then Cole shows that Allardyce is just going through the motions and has
no intention of really earning his £3m a year.With Gold saying he will not
put him on gardening leave which is another questinable decision, it's going
to be a very flat end of season,to which Mr Gold you have to be judged on
too.Every game Allardyce is in charge is costing you money and the team
credibility.Put the supporters first and give us hope.

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Hammer of Year Adrian would be a blow
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 5, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

I heard it suggested on here that Adrian had staked a big claim for the
Hammer of the Year award! No reflection on the great man but I really hope
that turns out not to be the case as it will tell you a great deal more
about our season than we want to know. He's had a great season - is
everybody's favourite Hammers - and saved us on seen yesterday. Yesterday
he was seen in all his glory when flying to his left to save David Nugent's
penalty attempt and then there was the shoot-out winner! But just as it
tells you that your team has been very much on the back foot when the keeper
is man of the match, for him to become Player of the Year wouldn't say much
for the efforts of the team to become an attacking force. So please not
Adrian! However, having given him plenty of stick for many of his signings a
vote of thanks to the manager for unearthing the guy. My mind for Hammer of
the Year was made up weeks ago and it goes to a man who has shown more
passion and desire for the club in his first season than many before him.
Diafra Sakho's goals, the way he conducted himself during the African
Nations cup nonsense and his clear love of the club makes him an outright
winner in my book. Aaron Cresswell is a worthy runner-up thus proving the
point that you don't need to spend millions and millions to find great
players even in 2015.

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Hammers on Hoddle speculation
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 5, 2015 in Whispers

Claret & Hugh

Glenn Hoddle will NOT be a runner in the race to become the next West Ham
boss. Stories emerged from the national press this morning suggesting that
the former Chelsea boss had been linked to the job although the published
story appeared to be the only one doing so.
Ot added that 57, would be a high-profile replacement and his teams play
with the kind of style and flair that would be welcomed by fans.
And of course it pointed out that the board have not explained whether it
is time for a change ahead of their last season at Upton Park and before
they move to the Olympic Stadium. However, ClaretandHugh was told: "Glenn
Hoddle is not one of those we are looking at. He would not be a runner
should the club decide to make the change. It is another guess. Glenn's name
has not been mentioned." Everything we are hearing at this site is that
Allardyce will not be offered a new deal but the board are still considering
such as Marcelo Bielsa and David Moyes.

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Irons blogger: "Sam needs divine intervention"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 5, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

London 24's West Ham blogger has coie to the conclusuin that Sam Allardyce
must probably go but that only a top class replacement should be considered.
Kwame Boakye has always given a balanced view on the divisive issue and
writes today: "In the increasingly fickle world of football his time is
running out as the fans demand a man who can take us to the proverbial 'next
level.' But he has warned the Irons board: that after the manager left
Bolton, Blackburn and Newcastle they all eventually slipped through the
trapdoor and only the Toon managed to make it back. A stark warning the
owners simply must heed. But he adds: "I'm not saying that the club must
stick with Sam as without him relegation is inevitable, what I am saying is
that if Sam' s services are dispensed with; the club simply cannot go with
the cheap/easy option." Nor, he argues can they give it to a relative rookie
like Bournemouth's Eddie Howe as such a gamble with what's at stake would be
too much of a risk? Names like David Moyes and Rafa Benitez who have managed
and excelled in the Premier League and would no doubt relish the opportunity
to return, should be the first names considered if Sam does leave in the
summer which with every passing ame is looking increasingly likely. With
seven games to go we've only registered a paltry two wins in the second half
of the season; it's simply not good enough. Sam couldn't afford this sort of
form in the final year of his contract and barring a biblical turnaround in
fortunes it will cost him his job.

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Reported West Ham striker target Ishak Belfodil admits he will make free
transfer move
hitc
Olly Dawes

Parma striker Ishak Belfodil has admitted that he will make a free transfer
move this summer. Parma striker Ishak Belfodil has told FC Inter News that
he will leave the club on a free transfer this summer amid reported interest
from West Ham United. Belfodil, 23, started his football career in France
with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Clermont and Lyon, before moving to
Italy with Bologna on loan and eventually Parma. Eight goals in his first
season led to a move to Inter Milan in 2013, but after no goals he was
farmed out on loan to Livorno, with Parma re-purchasing him last summer. The
Algerian international has yet to find the net in 21 appearances this
summer, but speculation from Tutto Mercato Web in January suggested that
West Ham wanted to bring him to the Premier League. Manager Sam Allardyce
allowed Mauro Zarate to join QPR on loan, and wanted to bring in a striker -
but failed to do so, despite Belfodil reportedly being a target. After
facing former club Inter on Saturday night, Belfodil told FC Inter News that
he will be leaving Parma on a free transfer at the end of the season, with
the Serie A side being declared bankrupt last month, which will enable
players to move on this summer. That could be good news for West Ham as they
look to bring in a striker this summer, but his recent lack of goals could
be a concern for Hammers fans.

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Ex West Ham winger Vaz Te scores brace for Roberto Carlos' side
Emre Sarigul April 5, 2015 Akhisar Belediye, News 0 Views
TURKISHFOOTBALL.COM

Akhisar winger Ricardo Vaz Te scored a brace for Akhisar in their 3-0 win
over Gaziantepspor. Vaz Te opened the scoring on 14 minutes making the most
out of a goalkeeping blunder to slot the ball into an empty net. The former
West Ham man bagged his brace on 71 minutes with a well timed header. Vaz Te
wrapped up an impressive performance by providing the assist for Bilal
Kısa's goal in the last minutes.
The 28-year-old was selected as the Man of the Match by Whoscored with a
rating of 9.53. Roberto Carlos takes charge of his first training session as
Akhisar manager The Portuguese winger now has five goals and three assists
for Akhisar since joining in January. Vaz Te joined Akhisar from West Ham on
a free transfer over the winter transfer window. Akhisar are coached by
former Real Madrid and Brazil national team legend Roberto Carlos. The
World Cup winner took over a side in crisis but has managed to guide Akhisar
into 10th place on 32 points - 12 points clear of the relegation zone.

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