WHUFC.com
Sam Baldock was delighted to take his chance and net his maiden goals for
West Ham United
16.10.2011
Sam Baldock has waited patiently for his chance to show West Ham United
supporters why the club splashed out to sign him from MK Dons. On Saturday,
the striker took that chance, capping an outstanding individual performance
by scoring his first goals in Hammers colours in Saturday's 4-0 npower
Championship victory over Blackpool. The 22-year-old produced a display full
of energy, commitment and sharpness that so impressed manager Sam Allardyce
during his Dons days, while also dove-tailing superbly with partner John
Carew. Speaking to West Ham TV, the No7 promised Hammers fans that there is
much more of the same to come. "I feel good. I think that's the way I
generally play. I like to be in and around the box, make runs and make
defenders make decisions over what they're going to do. I like to be there
or thereabouts when the goals are going in. "I felt I played my normal game
and, while you can't always be rewarded with goals, on Saturday I was. I
love the noise generated by the fans here and that inspired me to go on and
get my two goals in the second half and help us to get a comfortable
victory. "I suppose the fans who have not really followed my career might
not know that I like to sniff things out. Like I said, I like to be around
and try to feel out a goal."
Baldock netted his first goal by running on to Matt Taylor's header before
planting the ball confidently past Matt Gilks. Then, just moments later, he
showed his opportunistic streak to nip in front of two Tangerines defenders
to stab Carew's pass into the net. His partnership with the Norway
international may be in its infancy, but Baldock is clearly enjoying lining
up alongside such a talented and experienced forward. "Working with John is
just brilliant. I think it's the classic big man/little man combination, but
he's got great vision and a great touch and he seems to know where I am and
where I want the ball. "Like any position, we are working on our
partnership. I think we're both students of the game and like to think and
plan things out beforehand, because obviously we have not really played with
each other before. "If we get to know what each other's strengths are - for
example if he likes heading the ball one way rather than the other, I can
gamble and make my runs that way. I think it worked well on Saturday and
hopefully that will continue. "Playing alongside someone of John's quality
is something I've aspired to do so hopefully now my chance has come along,
the transition won't be too difficult for me. John has been there before, so
it's great to play with him. "We have got other great strikers who weren't
even involved on Saturday, so we've got a really strong squad."
Baldock knows the manager may make personnel or tactical changes for the
trip to leaders Southampton on Tuesday, but he is itching to be given
another opportunity to shine at St Mary's. "Southampton are a really good,
strong team and it's going to be a tough game on Tuesday. I think we've got
the squad to deal with them, no matter what the manager decides."
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'We have got to pick ourselves up'
WHUFC.com
Academy Director Tony Carr has backed his U18s to bounce back from their
first defeat of the season
16.10.2011
Academy Director Tony Carr admitted he and his players had been left gutted
after losing their unbeaten start to the FA Premier Academy League season.
West Ham United's Under-18s had won six and drawn two of their opening eight
matches, only to see their dreams of compiling a defeat-free campaign
scuppered by a 2-0 home defeat by Charlton Athletic. Carr admitted his team
had not done enough to warrant a win or a share of the spoils at Little
Heath. "We are all disappointed that our run has come to an end," he said.
"On the day, Charlton were the better team and, although we did have our
moments, we were just a little bit off the pace. "Charlton were bigger and
stronger than us and we didn't get going until we had fallen 2-0 down. In
the first half, Elliot Lee and Matthias Fanimo (pictured) both missed good
chances to score, then Blair Turgott had a really good opportunity in the
second half, but we couldn't get the first goal we needed to give us some
impetus. "We have now got to pick ourselves up and start another unbeaten
run."
Carr, who spent Saturday afternoon watching young Academy professional
Dominic Vose in action on loan for Blue Square Bet Premier side Braintree
Town, admitted the disappointment of losing had been compounded by the fact
his side do not have a fixture next weekend. "It was inevitable that we
would lose at some stage because we were not going to go through the whole
season undefeated, but it would have been nice to go into the break still
unbeaten. "Saying that, I have to give credit to Charlton because they took
their chances and worked very hard to protect their lead."
The U18s return to action at Fulham on Saturday 29 October.
West Ham United U18s: Larkins, Young, Potts, Chambers, K.Lee, Hurley,
Sadlier (Bywater), Miles (Powell), Turgott, Famino (Shaw), E.Lee
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Holloway on... West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 16th October 2011
By: Staff Writer
A slightly subdued Ian Holloway reflects on a game that his side were
distinctly second best in...
Ian: I think that took all of us a bit by surprise? How about you?
Just slightly, yeah. I never saw that coming to be fair, with the first half
performance. The only thing I was disappointed with in the first half was
the ease of Carew's goal. You have to give the big man some credit but I
think the defender got it wrong. We didn't stop the cross, that's coming in,
he was the wrong side of him, tried to get back [on the] right side of him
and the big man just held him off and glanced it in.
I didn't like the reaction of my back four after that; I think they were
looking at my goalie. I more than told them at half time; I asked them, "did
you try and blame [Matt] Gilks, you thought he should have come for that?"
Well, you do your job first and his job is to save it on the line. You've
got to get [on the] right side of your man, head it bloody out - excuse my
French.
I thought we then made excuse after excuse in the second half. We were
asking the linesman to help us out, we defended terribly and my two centre
halfs couldn't handle their movement with [Sam] Baldock and the big man. It
was quite shocking for the rest of my team, to be honest.
Second best defence in the division before today?
Yeah.
Is this just a bad day at the office? How do you react to this?
Well... we're trying to get used to having internationals who go away, to be
honest. We had it last year with a few and this year we've had [Craig]
Cathcart go away. He got injured, he missed a weeks' training and he said he
was fit on Friday. He couldn't train on Thursday and I don't like that, I'm
a bit old fashioned so I said, "you're not fit, son". I'm probably rueing
that at the moment.
I'm not blaming one person but the lack of cohesion; [Ian] Evatt normally
plays left side, Cathcart's right - so Evatt's had to go over. But on the
day, all I can say is West Ham's defensive set-up, their line that they had,
we didn't hurt enough even with the possession we had in the first half. We
moved them around but we didn't get in. So it's alright having possession
but you need to get through, be exciting and get some chances and that
wasn't quite how it went.
I think West Ham's fans were quite quiet at first because we had possession
and we kept the ball. The minute they scored; the last thing you want to
hear is to let them get an early goal, particularly with what's been
happening at home for them. They all settled down, their team settled down
and they were probably quite surprised how easily they beat us in the end, I
would imagine.
I'm certainly surprised. I thought we had more about us than than but
sometimes, these things happen at a place as big as this with a crowd as big
as this. Maybe it was a little bit much for some of my boys, but...
I know that there's been a big changeover of players...
Oh, just slightly.
But you've still been in the Premier League?
What's that got to do with it? That wasn't with these players, was it.
Blackpool has changed. The tower's still there... [laughs] The lights are
still there but the fame's gone, hasn't it? And if you want to be famous
again... We were famous for one year. You've got to fight, you've got to
come to places like this, you've got to believe in yourself and you've got
to hurt them.
To be fair, we danced around, fannied about and looked more like Sugar Ray
Leonard in a practise bout than David Haye, who's just retired. We didn't
have a big punch, we didn't knock anyone out, we didn't make their goalie
[work]. I don't think he's touched the ball and that's surprised me and it's
upset me.
But I will take it. Well done to Sam, I thought his team were much better
than mine today. The organisation of his boys was spot on, every time we
went inside they squeezed up. I knew they'd do it but I expected us to get
round the back in behind them. Ince looked like he might do at the start of
the game I thought, but we didn't then receive it and look forward.
I think we were stuck in the middle of passing and passing - and that's
fine, isn't it, if it's all about possession. It's not; it's all about how
many times you put the round thing in the onion bag.
You seemed to have an issue with the second goal. Did you feel it was
offside?
I thought it was, because my team looked like they thought it was. But to
me, they made a bad excuse and then in the second half they made excuse
after excuse. They were so weak. "Please help me, he must be offside!" My
lot don't normally do that - and they were right every time, the officials.
I've just gone in and told them.
So who am I not happy with? My whinging, moaning, back-line. The only saving
grace is he's quite new, he's quite fresh - and it looked it. That two have
played together before, against Derby County. We let a late goal in and we
lost the game, but we never looked like letting any in before. First half,
we didn't really look like letting that many in either did we, to be honest.
So it's a big shock for all of us but we've got to get back on the bus. I
shall let them have tomorrow off, I'm not one of these people who screams
and shouts. I'll do my work, I'll watch the game again and I'll make sure I
try and pick a team. I will also watch Doncaster Rovers because I
Sky-plussed that, if I'm allowed to say that in here. [laughs] I've got a
lot of work to do.
Our fans will be going home very disapointed, the West Ham ones won't. But
we fell well short of the level required to catch someone as good as they
were today I'm afraid. Not in every department, but in the imortant areas we
didn't get that right I'm afraid. So there you go.
That was the best West Ham have played at home this season by a country
mile.
Well they're evolving, they're developing. So all I can say is that if
that's the standard they play then they'll take some catching. But why they
don't play like that every week, who knows?
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Allardyce on... Blackpool
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 16th October 2011
By: Staff Writer
Four goals, a clean sheet and a brace for the young striker he recently
signed; Sam Allardyce had every reason to be happy in last night's
post-match press conference, which we bring you exclusively in full..
Sam: with the matches to come that was even more special, I guess - and
confidence boosting?
Absolutely. Especially at home, because it has been our Achilles Heel as
everybody knows results-wise. Today we got everything right. We were
defensively sound, [had] quality of play in possession, quality of finishing
when the opportunities arose. It's not often I can say I'm a little
disappointed we've only scored four, with the chances we created.
So there were a number of other chances that we had that could have been
converted, but I like the way we finished Blackpool off in the second half -
and I liked the way that we took the goals and created the chances that we
did.
I liked the way we defended today because obviously Blackpool, unusually
coming here, were a very attacking-minded side and left a lot of gaps and a
lot of spaces. It was one of the reasons why we played two up top, because
they like to push the full-backs on and it left them exposed.
Both centre-halfs were left on their own just facing John Carew and [Sam]
Baldock. Those two were our best players today and that's the main reason we
won four-nil. You have to give the rest of the lads credit for the defensive
work and also the supply they gave and the opportunities they gave to create
and score chances.
What exactly did you say at half-time?
Score the next goal as quickly as we can. If we can create the chances we
created in the first half, this half we must convert them because we've
missed too many. John [Carew] got us off to a great start with a very good
header then he had two one-on-ones. Sam Baldock had one he put over the bar,
so we had a number of other chances. There was a bit of a bad shout off John
Carew's header in the first half for Sam Baldock to go through; he was well
onside, rather than off.
If we see how he finishes in a one-on-one [situation] today I would have
probably expected him to have scored that. As a player, in terms of his
finishing it's something we haven't got [elsewhere in the squad]. We've got
good centre forwards; Freddie [Piquionne], John [Carew] and Carlton [Cole]
who will all score goals [but] Sam looks like he can score many types. For
instance, he was probably the only player on the field apart from Kevin
Phillips who could have scored the second [goal].
Can he fit in any system that you choose to play?
No. Not any system. He was unfortunate the last time we played two up top,
which was against Ipswich. We were dreadful so couldn't get any service to
him. We ended up pulling him out wide, just to stop the opposition being
better than us at that particular time; we never really got into the flow of
that game.
But today we got into the flow of the game and once he felt his way into it
- you'v got to bear in mind it's only his second full start at a higher
level with a higher competitive edge - to play as well as we did as a team
will always benefit Sam Baldock, because we'll give him the opportunities to
finish games in terms of goals scored with chances created. So, that's the
importance of him.
One or two systems; 4-4-1-1 but perhaps 4-4-2. You can try him on the right
in a 4-3-3 but you might lose the goalscoring knack there. But it does
depend who we're going to be playing against and how we're going to play.
We're not just going to stick to one particular system because we won't get
automatic promotion if we do that.
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Vinny's Blackpool Report
Vinny 12:47 Sun Oct 16
West Ham Online
West Ham United 4 Blackpool 0
West Ham got back to winning ways as they cruised to victory against
Blackpool with Sam Baldock scoring his first two goals for the club.
It was a much needed win considering the disappointment of the last two
results and to have scored yet another four goals made for a very positive
afternoon.
We were in control of the game throughout and our start to the second half
was devastating as we score three goals in just eight minutes.
I had expected Blackpool to be very organised and comfortable on the ball
but they were the total opposite and were constantly unsettled by our
excellent striker force of John Carew and Sam Baldock.
I had actually been concerned about this game as I really thought Blackpool
were one of the more decent sides in the division and maybe they are but on
this evidence we are streets ahead and this was a crushing victory.
Having missed our last two league games things seemed to have changed
throughout the team. The formation and personnel were different and it was a
much more positive performance when going forward.
I felt that every time we attacked we were going to score and the opposition
looked concerned when we broke forward in numbers. If there was any
criticism is that we did not score more goals because I do not exaggerated
when I say we could have had eight or nine goals given the chances that were
presented to us.
This win also sees us move to second in the table which is our highest
position of the season. We are two points behind league leaders Southampton
and we face them on Tuesday evening in what is surely our biggest game of
the season.
The Team
Sam Allardyce made a few changes to the side who drew 2-2 at Crystal Palace
a couple of weeks ago.
In defence Winstone Reid returned to the side at centre half replacing
Abdoulaye Faye who dropped to the bench.
In midfield, David Bentley has been ruled out with injury for six months and
has returned to parent club Tottenham Hotspur. With this he was replaced in
midfield by Matthew Taylor who was returning to the side following injury.
Henri Lansbury was missing from the squad altogether and replaced by Sam
Baldock who took his place up front alongside John Carew who was coming into
the side off the back of his late equaliser against Crystal Palace. He
replaced Carlton Cole who like Lansbury was not included in the match day
squad.
First Half
Blackpool saw more of the ball in the early stages of the half but as per
rest of the game they did very little with it. The game seemed to be waiting
for West Ham to get into their stride and when we did chances were created.
Our game plan seemed simple enough and that was to play it to Carew for him
to hold it up or flick the ball on. This was slowly starting to work and we
were committing plenty of players forward to support him.
Matthew Taylor was booked for a poor challenge on Thomas Ince (the son of
Paul). Many of the fans around me though this was the wrong decision from
the referee but from where I was it seemed a definite booking.
It only took us 12 minutes to break the deadlock and it was the simplest of
goals. Nolan spread the ball wide to Julien Faubert on the right and he put
in an excellent cross for John Carew to rise highest and plant his header
past the keeper to make it 1-0.
We now could kick on in and we nearly scored a second straight away when Sam
Baldock hit a shot from around 25 yards out which was saved by the keeper
Gilks although he couldn't hold it.
Blackpool were beginning to find Carew too much to deal with and only for
referee Andy D'Urso helping the visitors out as he continued to penalise
Carew things could have been made much worse for the travelling tangerines.
Faubert was next to see yellow as he picked up a booking for a poor
challenge on Taylor-Fletcher. Again it seemed the correct decision from
where I was sitting.
Good work from Baldock saw Blackpool get themselves in a mess in their area
and Carew was very close to nipping in before the keeper but Gilks just got
to the ball first.
Referee Andy D'Urso was not making much on an impression the West Ham crowd
and was continuing to incense us all with a number of poor decisions. The
worst being when the ball was played to Carew the big striker cleverly
flicked the ball past the Blackpool player only to be fouled but the ball
had broke to Jack Collison who was clean through on goal only for D'Urso to
bring the play back for a foul on Carew.
All he had to do was wait just a couple of second and with decisions like
this it is no surprise that he doesn't referee Premiership football any
more. That said, what makes him suitable for refereeing at this level
either?
Blackpool defender Evatt got himself into a mess when the ball was played
towards him and Carew and the striker easily brushed him off the ball and
was through on goal but his low shot was well saved by the keeper and a very
good chance went begging.
Some good play down the left saw Taylor put in a dangerous cross which
seemed to cause havoc in the area but Carew could not get a foot to it and
the ball was eventually cleared as Blackpool looked in panic every time the
ball came near their area.
The visitors best chance of the first half came from an effort from veteran
striker Kevin Phillips who hit a low powerful effort from outside the area
straight at Almunia which was well held by the keeper.
With half time approaching we were still looking dangerous and Carew should
have scored again when Taylor put the big man through on goal and he hit a
low right foot shot which was saved by the leg of keeper Gilks. The ball
came out to Nolan who was composed with his pass to Baldock but he couldn't
keep his volley down from close range and another chance went begging.
The only criticism of our first half performance was that we were only one
goal up. We had played the better football and looked the better team.
Second Half
We started the second half in devastating fashion. I cannot remember us
scoring three goals in such a short space of time and will welcome anyone
who can recall such a feat.
Only two minutes into the second period and we had that all important second
goal. It was dreadful defending from Blackpool. A long ball forward was
cleared only as far as Taylor who got his head to the ball and put Baldock
through on goal with Blackpool attempting to play the worst offside line I
have seen.
Sam Baldock raced onto the ball, was one on one with the keeper and coolly
placed the ball into the goal to score his first goal for the club since
signing from MK Dons.
He was certainly delighted with the goal as his celebrations indicated and
this was a perfect time to score a second goal as it clearly demoralised the
oppositions.
On 51 minutes we would score our third goal with basically our next attack.
It was Nolan who was involved as he played a chipped passed over the top of
the Blackpool defenders who were again trying to play offside and getting it
completely wrong.
The ball found Carew in space who looked as though he had fluffed the
chanced but he nicked the ball square only for the Blackpool defenders to
panic and Sam Baldock nipped in and turned the ball over the line. This was
a case of Baldock wanting the ball more and he picked up his second goal of
the game in what was becoming a rout.
Blackpool should have pulled a goal back a minute later in a breathless
start to the second half. Taylor-Fletcher got in behind McCartney and put in
a fantastic cross which flicked of Reid to the back post for Ince but he
couldn't direct his shot goal wards and it went wide.
We reacted to this by scoring a fourth with just 55 minutes on the clock.
It was all down to brilliant work from George McCartney down the left show
showed good skill to get past Baptise and into the area. His low cross
flicked off a defender towards the goal for Gilks to save well and palm out
but it was only as far as Jack Collison who took one chance and smashed his
shot towards goal which via a deflection went in to make it 4-0.
It's not often I can say it but West Ham were rampant and it really should
have been five a minute later Baldock got through yet again and hit a low
shot which was well saved. We would come at them again with Faubert crossing
low for Taylor to loop his shot over the bar when he should have done
better.
On 57 minutes we again should have scored in what was the most frustrating
moment of the entire game.
Carew showed great strength again to out muscle the defender and he was
clear down the left with Baldock in the middle poised for his Hat Trick. But
for some reason Carew decided to try a curling shot from an impossible angle
to the annoyance of just about everyone in the ground, especially Sam
Baldock who would have surely have scored his third.
On the hour mark we made our first change of the same with James Tomkins
coming off and being replaced by Abdoulaye Faye.
A minute later and Allardyce made another change with Matthew Taylor coming
off and Freddie Sears coming on.
A corner from Jack Collison was met by the head of Winston Reid whose
looping header seemed to take an age to drop and it was just past the post
as the Blackpool keeper and defender looked concerned.
Frustration was evidentially displayed from the Blackpool players as
McCartney snuffed out Baptise which saw him boot the corner flag in
frustration. It would then take some time for the flag to be replaced much
to the amusement of the Upton Park crowd.
Baldock came close to scoring his third on the 78 minute mark when Faubert
did well down the right and his low cross was cut back for Baldock who
connected with the ball well but Gilks saved well to his left and put the
ball away for a corner.
The last ten minutes were a dull affair with Blackpool doing most of the
attacking and us hanging on to preserve the clean sheet. We defended well
and battled hard with the impressive Papa Diop in midfield putting an
excellent shift in.
This victory was our biggest home win since beating Aston Villa 4-0 at Upton
Park way back in 2005. It just shows you how bad we have been at Upton Park
over the last few seasons when it used to always be a place you could rely
on to get us a result. Hopefully this season will us become a force at home
once again.
We were by far the better team in this one and fully deserved the win.
Player Reviews
Manuel Almunia
His first clean sheet for the club and he had very little to do other than
watch a number of shots go over this bar. Not too comfortable with crosses
and there was one punch which just looped into the air. But overall this was
a easy day for Almunia.
Julien Faubert
There was bloke a few seats from me who was abusing Faubert all game and I
get the feeling that most fans around me are not exactly his biggest fans.
But Faubert sadly for them did play well. He defended well, he attacked well
and he put in an all-round solid performance.
James Tomkins
This was a comfortable day at the office for Tomkins who was taken off by
Allardyce when the result was secured as a precaution as we have two more
games over the coming week. He was strong in the air yet again and Blackpool
offered nothing to trouble him.
Winston Reid
Much better from Reid who put in a really good performance. He was showing
more composure on the ball also and bringing the ball out from defence with
confidence.
George McCartney
I thought he was one of our best players. I felt that he always looked
comfortable and seemed to read just about every situation. Did brilliantly
for the fourth goal and overall he put in the type of display a left back
should. I don't feel panic when the ball comes near McCartney and whilst
maybe limited as a player he is a perfect fit for us.
Jack Collison
I have been concerned about his form since he has returned from injury and
cannot remember the last time I saw him play well. This was a better display
as he was more involved in the game and not hiding as he seems to have been
doing recently. He scored a goal and was better on the ball. Saying that, I
still don't think he get's involved enough and has no pace or skill to play
on the right wing. He also is reluctant to win any header. But this was
better from Collison and hopefully the goal will give him confidence to kick
on this season.
Papa Bouba Diop
A superb display from the imposing midfielder. He didn't look as slow as I
had feared he might and he was there to break up everything in midfield. He
covered a lot of ground and even with time nearly up I could seem him still
chasing after everything. Excellent.
Kevin Nolan
Like Collison it was good to see him much more involved in the game. He was
better on the ball and worked better as one of the two centre midfielders.
He didn't get forward as much but he was more effective in a battling
midfield role.
Matthew Taylor
Kept things simple and was in an out of the game. I felt we didn't really
see much of him in his time on the pitch but he does have an assist for the
second goal.
Sam Baldock
A striker who scores goals? Oh how I have missed them. Baldock looked every
bit the predatory attacker that we have been crying out for and hopefully
this will be the start of many goals this season. He took the goals well,
was hard working, quick and effective throughout.
John Carew
He was simply unplayable. Blackpool couldn't get near him and but a selfish
moment which denied Baldock his hat trick, this was perfect performance.
Subs Used
Abdoulaye Faye (on for Tomkins 60 mins)
For the first few minutes when he came on he played like a bit of a cunt. I
don't know what had happened to him but it was almost as if he had forgotton
how to play football. Got better as the game went on.
Freddie Sears (on for Taylor 61 mins)
Despite being on for a decent amount of time we saw very little of him.
Mark Noble (on for Carew 80 mins)
Came on to give us a bit more in midfield and knocked the ball about well.
Subs Not Used: Boffin, Piquionne
Bookings: Faubert, Taylor
Man Of The Match: John Carew
Blackpool: Gilks, Baptiste, Hill, Crainey, Evatt, Ferguson, Southern,
Taylor-Fletcher, Ince (Ormerod 74), Shelvey (LuaLua 74), Phillips
(Bogdanovic 74)
Subs not used: Howard, Eardley
Attendance: 31,448
Overall
This is the sort of performance and result we have been wanting to see all
season and given the strength of our squad it has been difficult not to
expect this every week.
To have not played brilliantly all season and find ourselves in second place
is a positive sign and this is the sort of result we need to give everyone
from players to supporters a bit of confidence.
Whilst I was of course delighted with the result I was very pleased at how
we played and it was a much better display than the last game I saw which
was at home to Peterborough. We did not look void of ideas and created a lot
of chances.
I am aware that Blackpool were awful and you wouldn't expect many sides to
defend as badly as they did but our two strikers were too much for them to
handle and I agree with Allardyce that Baldock and Carew won us this game.
Next Game - Southampton (a) Tuesday, 18th October
Southampton are top. We are second. A win will see us overtake them.
I cannot wait for this game and will be looking to get down to Southampton
early a number of drinks. It is all set to be an excellent game and this is
our moment to really state our intent and I for one am looking extremely
forward to this.
With Southampton, Brighton and then Leicester all coming up the next few
weeks will tell us a lot about how we are going to do this season.
The View From Sam
"It was confidence boosting. Especially at home because it has been our
achilles heel as everyone knows results wise. Today we got everything right.
We were defensively sound. We had quality of play in possession and quality
of finishing when the opportunities arose.
"It is not often I can say I am a little disappointed we only scored four
with the chances we created. There were a number of other chances we had
that could have been converted but I like the way we finished Blackpool off
in the second half and we took the chances we did."
"Because they like to push the full-backs on, it left them exposed. Both
centre-halves were left on their own facing John Carew and Sam Baldock and
those two were excellent.
"They were our best players today and that is the main reason we won 4-0 and
you have to give the rest of the lads credit for the defensive work and the
supply they gave them to create and score chances."
As a player, in terms of his finishing he is something we haven't got. We
have got John, Carlton and Freddie, but Sam looks like he can score many
types. He was probably the only player on the field apart from Kevin
Phillips that could have scored the second."
Season 2011/12 Scorers and Bookings
Carlton Cole - 4 (4 League)
Kevin Nolan - 3 (3 League)
John Carew - 2 (2 League)
Sam Baldock - 2 (2 League)
Mark Noble - 2 (2 League)
Own Goal - 2 (2 League)
James Tomkins - 1 (1 League)
Joey O'Brien - 1 (1 League)
Scott Parker - 1 (1 League)
Winston Reid - 1 (1 League)
Matthew Taylor - 1 (1 League)
Henri Lansbury - 1 (1 League)
Jack Collison - 1 (1 League)
Junior Stanislas - 1 (1 Cup)
Yellow Cards
Mark Noble - 3
Kevin Nolan - 2
Julien Faubert - 2
Henri Lansbury - 2
James Tomkins - 1
Carlton Cole - 1
Matthew Taylor - 1
Joey O'Brien - 1
George McCartney - 1
Red Cards
Callum McNaughton - 1 (vs Aldershot home)
Frederique Piquionne - 1 (vs Portsmouth home)
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Loanee round-up: Trio on target
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce will have been pleased to learn that his three young forwards
all scored
16.10.2011
Cristian Montano, Robert Hall and Frank Nouble all scored on Saturday to
make it a good day on the road in League Two for Sam Allardyce's young
strikers. Montano struck on his debut for Swindon Town as Paolo Di Canio's
men won away to Accrington Stanley. It was his second goal in as many games
after he signed off with a strike for previous club Notts County last week.
Hammers club-mate Ahmed Abdulla was missing for Swindon with injury.
Hall, 17, had the most emphatic afternoon, coming off the bench to rescue a
point for Oxford United away to Macclesfield. The youngster found the net in
the fourth minute of added time for his fourth goal in seven matches, having
earlier hit the bar in an impressive 45-minute run-out.
Nouble grabbed his third goal in just five outings for Gillingham as they
won 5-2 away to Torquay United. The 20-year-old has just extended his stay
with the Kent club for another month, having made a considerable impact to
help them rise up the standings.
Elsewhere, Callum McNaughton suffered a rare defeat at the back for AFC
Wimbledon as they went down 3-1 at home to Crewe Alexandra while Jordan
Brown was an unused substitute for Aldershot Town in their 2-1 loss at
Barnet.
Finally, in League Two, Olly Lee played 70 minutes for Dagenham & Redbridge
as they lost 3-2 at home to Plymouth Argyle. Down in the Conference, Dominic
Vose got the last 17 minutes for Braintree Town as they were held 3-3 at
home by Bath City.
Marek Stech made his bow for League One side Yeovil Town but could not stop
them going down 3-0 at home to Carlisle United. The Czech U21 keeper was
unable to do much about the goals and earned praise post-match for helping
to keep the scoreline respectable.
Up in the Championship, Jordan Spence played 83 minutes for manager-less
Bristol City as they went down 2-1 at home to Peterborough United. On Friday
night, Herita Ilunga had made his debut for Doncaster Rovers but could not
help them avoid losing 3-0 at home to Leeds United.
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Title favourites West Ham head to Southampton on a high
Two points split the Championship's frontrunners ahead of Tuesday clash
News.ladbrokes.com
It wasn't just in the Premier League that an upcoming top-of-the-table tie
was rendered even more tantalising by results this weekend, as West Ham
produced perhaps their best display of the season ahead of their trip to
Championship leaders Southampton.
The stutters of other clubs near the top such as Middlesbrough and Brighton
had prevented it from getting too much attention, but the Irons had been in
worrying form, winning only once in four and failing to net from open play
in three of those games.
However, the visit of a Blackpool team boasting one of the best defensive
records in the division surprisingly provided the opportunity for them to
return to prominence, with strikers John Carew and Sam Baldock among the
goals in a 4-0 rout.
It was their fourth four-goal show of the campaign and enabled them to climb
up to second prior to Tuesday's St Mary's showdown with the Saints, who
possess a perfect home record, while West Ham are still unbeaten away.
Nigel Adkins' high-flyers, who last dropped points in front of their fans
way back in February and haven't lost a league match there in 2011, failed
to triumph for just the fourth time since promotion on Saturday, held 1-1 by
strong starters Derby at Pride Park.
And though they are favoured at 6/5 to defeat Sam Allardyce's side in
midweek, they are rated considerably less likely to finish first, with odds
of 7/2 leaving them a fair way behind the east Londoners, who are 15/8
favourites.
Tuesday presents West Ham with the chance to go top of the table for the
first time since their pitiful relegation from the Premier League last May,
and 7/4 is a tempting price on the basis of their 100 per cent win rate
outside the capital thus far.
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Big Sam wants Tevez
Tevez would be welcomed back, says Allardyce
Last updated: 16th October 2011
SSN
Sam Allardyce told Goals on Sunday that while it is a long shot he would
love to have Carlos Tevez back at West Ham. Tevez began his Premier League
spell at Upton Park in the 2006-07 season, before moving on to Manchester
United and then onto Manchester to City. Tevez is back in training with City
after serving a two-week suspension, but his future at the club is still
very much in doubt. "I am not sure if we will get him, but I would love to
have him; absolutely," said Allardyce on Goals on Sunday. "If we play Carloz
Tevez every week then I don't think we would have a problem. He would be
great for the fans, great for us and great for everybody. It's a long shot
though. "I understand City have to take the firm stand and do what they have
to do because no one is bigger than any football club no matter how good
they are. It is detracting all the time for Manchester City - they are
having to ban questions on Carlos Tevez all the time. "The first question is
all about Tevez and not man City playing say Aston villa. They need to
resolve that problem and start talking about the football."
Starting to gel
Allardyce also shared his delight with West Ham's 4-0 victory over Blackpool
and said the hard work is starting to pay-off. Three goals in eight
second-half minutes ensured a comfortable 4-0 victory for West Ham as
Blackpool's defence endured a torrid afternoon. Allardyce had spoken during
the week of his bitterness at being dismissed by Blackpool after leading
them to the brink of promotion in 1996 and he gained some revenge with a
dominant display at Upton Park. "It is all good at the moment, we had a
fantastic win," grinned Allardyce. "Our problem has been home results and
that we keep on conceding in the final minutes of the game - we have done
that three times in five home games which has cost us four points. "We
overcame that yesterday and it is the fourth time this year where we have
scored four goals which just shows you we are attacking, creative and
opening the opposition up and punishing them when we have the opportunity.
"The players are really getting to know each other - nineteen out and twelve
in is a big turnaround. I was worried at the start of the season because you
don't really know what you have got. Will the gel? Will they be as good as
you think they are? "All the hard work the staff and the players have put in
is starting to come together."
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West Ham's hopes of signing Carlos Tevez likely to come to nothing
Manchester City unwilling to pay large part of Tevez salary
Sam Allardyce keen to sign Argentinian on loan deal
Jamie Jackson
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 16 October 2011 13.51 BST
Carlos Tevez is out of favour at Manchester City after apparently refusing
to come off the bench against Bayern Munich. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters
West Ham's hopes of signing Carlos Tevez on loan appear likely to be dashed
with Manchester City unwilling to pay the large proportion of his £250,000
a-week salary required for the deal to happen. The east London club have
been told as much by City.
Four years ago, Tevez became a hero at Upton Park when his winner for West
Ham against Manchester United on the final day of the 2006-07 season saved
the club from relegation.
When Sam Allardyce, the West Ham manager, was asked about bringing the
Argentinian back to east London on Thursday, he said: "The answer is I don't
know. I suppose the situation, from my point of view, is just if and when
the decision is finally made regarding what's happening with Carlos at
Manchester City, then perhaps my co-chairman, David Sullivan, might want to
pursue it. If we could get him back here, based on what he did here last
time, and if he did love the club as much as he did, and if it was a
possibility, then I think it's an outside chance."
But owing to Tevez's acrimonious dispute with City, following his apparent
refusal to come on as a substitute in a Champions League group game against
Bayern Munich, the club is in no mood to cushion the blow of his likely
exclusion from the first team by paying a large percentage of his salary to
aid any move away.
Another stumbling block is that with City's internal disciplinary procedure
plus appeals system potentially taking up to six weeks, Tevez would not be
available until early December at the earliest. However, it is a fluid
situation at Eastlands and no options are being definitively closed off by
City.
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