WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce reflects on a busy deadline day and looks ahead to Saturday's
derby with Millwall
02.02.2012
Sam Allardyce's spoke to the assembled press ahead on Thursday ahead of
Saturday's visit of Millwall. The West Ham United manager was asked to
summarise how he thought the transfer window had gone for the Hammers and
also how he plans to slot his three newest signings into his squad.
How pleased were you with the business you did on deadline day?
SA: I was really pleased. It was a difficult day made more difficult by our
result at the end of the evening. The last day was very fruitful and was a
product of the long hard work we did when the window opened and the
continued negotiations through most of the January window apart from Revel
Morrison who came up and was moved on pretty quickly when we thought he
might join us. We were pleased and glad to recruit three new talented
players.
Are you confident Nicky Maynard can continue his goalscoring form at the top
of the table?
SA: I know both he and Ricardo Vaz Te are very excited about their moves and
we want them to carry on where they left off with their former clubs and
that's scoring goals. With no disrespect to Bristol and Barnsley we feel
that they we can create them more goalscoring options and they should be in
the position to score more goals hopefully. We have been short of scoring
goals but we haven't been short of creating chances so hopefully these two
lads can help us in that department and get more points on this board.
Is Nicky Maynard Premier League quality?
SA: We won't know that until we all get there. He's never played there but
the indicators are good. Vaz has already played in the Premier League while
he was with me at Bolton so he knows what it's all about and then hopefully
Ravel can prove his talent at first-team level at some stage. The squad is
good and healthy now and there's plenty of selection options for me and
that'll be proven between now and the 28 April.
What has helped the dramatic improvement in Ricardo Vaz Te?
SA: Maturity. That talented player I managed in my time at Bolton has cast
off and gone through the ringer. He's been in the wilderness in Greece and
into Scotland and come back to where the best football is played- England.
It's been decided within himself that he must make the best of his talents.
He's at a good age and he's seen an awful lot of ups and downs in his
career. Keith Hill has mentored him very well at Barnsley and he scored a
lot of goals for them in all competitions and we got a really good price
because he is in the last months of his contracts as we have done with
Nicky.
I just think he's grown up and matured and he's in a position where it all
looked so easy for him in the early years because he was so talented. He
just thought it was going to arrive for him and unfortunately it didn't. The
real problem is that he was going to get there but then he had a knee injury
that lingered on and then he had a change of manager when I left and the
previous manager didn't fancy him as much as I did.
Ravel Morrison is a great talent. Is it going to be a challenge for you to
manage him?
SA: When I get to know him and the other players get to know him we'll find
out in the next few weeks or so. Ravel is a player for the near future. He
isn't for right now but at this stage he's got a lack of first-team football
on a regular basis. We will try to asses that and see if we can use that
ability and see if we can use it sooner rather than later. That's what we
want to try to do for him and him for us. That'll be an interesting job over
the coming weeks and months and bring out that talent on a regular basis.
You've managed lively characters - can you bring out the best out of them on
the pitch?
SA: It would appear he is from what Sir Alex has told me. He said the best
thing is for him to get away from Manchester and the places that have been
causing him one or two problems. That'll be the case and we can benefit from
that. Hopefully we can guide him to be a good human being as well as being a
good professional.
After the defeat at Ipswich why didn't you sign a defender?
SA: Because we've got the best defence in the league and I think Ipswich
Town was the first time that our defensive deficiencies have been exposed.
We had a really off day and they exploited it to the highest level they
possibly could. Other than that our defensive record has been the basis of
our success this season and it was a bad day for all concerned. Let's get
over it and let's show everybody why we're top at our big derby game on
Saturday morning at Upton Park.
Are you looking forward to the game?
SA: Casting our mind back to the last game it all went very well on and off
the field, apart from at the end when we didn't convert one of our chances
and it ended in a 0-0 draw. The game panned out as I thought it would.
Millwall were using the atmosphere and the players were giving 100 per cent
like ours were. When the game died down a bit we started to exploit some of
the spaces but we couldn't find the goal we were looking for. I think it
will be the same on Saturday.
Do you have any message to any supporters coming to the game on Saturday?
SA: Just do the same as last time. I wasn't told of any incident in the last
game and it was superbly planned and policed by everybody and everything
went according to plan. I just hope it goes the same on Saturday. People
have to be responsible for their actions including me as a manager, the
players on the pitch and the supporters who come to watch the game. It will
be live on TV and we'll be portraying our football to people around the
globe and we want to put on a good show and a good spectacle for the right
reasons.
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New signings welcomed
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce is pleased with West Ham United's January transfer window
business
02.02.2012
Big Sam was delighted to welcome his three latest recruits to the West Ham
United squad after a busy final day of the January transfer window. The
Hammers added a trio of attacking options to their ranks on deadline day to
add to the earlier singings of George John and Joe Dixon. Ravel Morrison
signed from Manchester United, Nicky Maynard made the switch from Bristol
City and Ricardo Vaz Te joined from fellow Championship side Barnsley. "We
have done well in the window and I am delighted to welcome Ricardo Vaz Te,
Ravel Morrison and Nicky Maynard to the club," Big Sam said. "I have been
backed by our owners in bringing people in to bolster the squad and we have
managed to do that and it has turned out very well for us."
The West Ham United manager met with all three before they penned their
deals and was pleased by what he saw. Vaz Te and Maynard are expected to
come straight into contention for a place in the squad for Saturday's match
with Millwall, while Morrison may have to wait a little longer for
first-team action. "I think Ricardo and Nicky are proven players who can
come into the frame straight away as they have been a force with their clubs
in this division before. We have been a bit short of taking our chances, so
hopefully they can add a little bit more to our frontline "We are also
pleased that Ravel has chosen us and we hope that we can develop him quickly
into the first-team as we have done this season with our other young
players. They have all got experience, started breaking through and by doing
so, have been putting a little bit of pressure - good pressure - on the
older players. "That is a good healthy thing at a football club. Hopefully
Ravel can match that and be as good as everyone says he can be."
Following the disappointment of Tuesday's result at Ipswich Town, Sam has
already started preparations for Saturday's derby with the full squad back
in at Chadwell Heath on Wednesday morning. Allardyce said: "I'm really
disappointed with Tuesday's result. I must admit that I didn't expect that -
a poor performance defensively - as it has been one of our ultimate
strengths, particularly away from home. "As a defensive unit, we
disintegrated in the first-half. We allowed Ipswich to come out of the
blocks quicker than we did and exploit gaps and holes we left in our
defence. When you do that, you get punished and Ipswich punished us and
deservedly so.
"The shock is that we are not normally like that but we were poor and that
is why we lost the game. It is not something we want to repeat and we
haven't done that this season, so we are looking to work out what went wrong
and put it right. "The fans deserve that at the very least. I apologise, but
they must know that we will put it right. We have had a blip before,
probably not as bad as this match, and we have bounced back, so that is what
we need to do."
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Stars turn out for Ernie
WHUFC.com
Dozens of West Ham United greats turned out to pay their respects to Hammers
hero Ernie Gregory
02.02.2012
Dozens of West Ham United greats turned out to give a perfect East End
send-off to long-time Hammers goalkeeper and coach Ernie Gregory. With
bright sunshine blazing over his native east London, Gregory, who passed
away on 21 January at the age of 90, was laid to rest at the City of London
Crematorium in Manor Park. There, a fitting service saw Brian Dear pay a
personal tribute before closing with Vera Lynn's version of 'Bubbles'.
Afterwards, Hammers heroes from the 1950s to the 1990s paid their respects
and shared stories from Gregory's amazing 51-year career with the club at a
wake held at the Boleyn Ground. Among the mourners were Gregory's team-mates
from the 1950s, Harry Hooper, Frank O'Farrell and Vic Keeble. Joining them
were scores of players who enjoyed his coaching from the 1960s through to
his retirement in 1987 - Peter Brabrook, Alan Dickie, Ronnie Boyce, Brian
Dear, Jim Barrett, Ken Brown, Martin Peters, Mick McGiven, Eddie Bovington,
Pat Holland, Billy Jennings, John Ayris, Frank Lampard, Billy Bonds, Alan
Devonshire, George Parris, Paul Goddard, Paul Allen, Alvin Martin, Phil
Parkes, Sir Trevor Brooking, Steve Potts, Kenny Brown, Tony Gale and Tony
Cottee. O'Farrell said his former team-mate was not just a great goalkeeper,
but a great man. "First of all, I was very sad to learn that Ernie had died
and I felt it right that I should travel up and come to the funeral," said
O'Farrell, who played 211 games for West Ham between 1950 and 1956. "He was
a first-class goalkeeper, a top goalkeeper, but a likeable person as well.
He had a lovely personality and you could have a laugh and a joke with him
at the right time. He gave the defence a lot of confidence.
"I suffered by him being a big, strong lad one day at Sheffield Wednesday.
Derek Dooley was playing centre forward for Sheffield Wednesday and I jumped
with him for a header and all of a sudden I was on the floor, flat on my
back and unable to breathe and I got carried off on a stretcher! It was
Ernie, who had come out for the ball and flattened me as well. "He didn't
take any prisoners when he came out for the ball and it was just unlucky
that I was in his way! He had a presence and authority about him that you
always wanted to see in a goalkeeper."
Hooper, who scored 44 goals in 131 games between 1951 and 1956, agreed that
Gregory had been a calming influence whenever he played for the Hammers.
"Having a goalkeeper behind you like Ernie gave you more confidence than
ever, especially the defenders. He was always there. He was a great man and
you wouldn't get a better goalkeeper. He gave more than 50 years of service
to the club. You won't see his like again. "It was a fitting tribute to
Ernie. A good turn-out from the lads, some of whom had travelled a long way
to be here."
After his retirement from playing in 1960, Gregory spent nearly 30 years
coaching, filling the roles of first-team coach, reserve-team manager and
goalkeeper coach at Chadwell Heath. One player who enjoyed Gregory's tuition
was Billy Jennings, who scored 41 goals in 127 games between 1974 and 1979
and was welcomed to the club by the great man. "When I arrived at the club,
it was a big thing for me because I was young and coming from a
lower-division club in Watford. He made me feel very comfortable early on
and had lots of stories to tell about the old days. "He was a really lovely
guy who made me and the other young lads who came in very welcome. He would
always preach about how good the club was and those are my memories of him.
Ernie was always around giving encouragement.
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Squad numbers confirmed
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's three deadline day signings have had their new squad
numbers confirmed
02.02.2012
West Ham United's three transfer deadline day signings have had their squad
numbers confirmed. Striker Nicky Maynard, who has joined the Hammers from
Bristol City, will wear the No8 shirt. Winger Ricardo Vaz Te, who has
arrived from Barnsley, will be the new No12, while the club's new capture
from Manchester United Ravel Morrison will wear No23. The trio are joined in
Sam Allardyce's first-team squad by a fourth January arrival, George John,
who joined the Hammers on an initial two-month loan from MLS club FC Dallas.
All four will hope to make their West Ham debuts in Saturday's npower
Championship visit of Millwall to the Boleyn Ground.
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Driver on the right road
WHUFC.com
Full-back Callum Driver is enjoying life on loan at npower League Two club
Burton Albion
02.02.2012
Callum Driver is relishing life as a first-team footballer after making a
fine start to his loan spell at npower League Two club Burton Albion. The
19-year-old full-back initially joined the Brewers on 5 January 2012, making
his Football League debut in a 2-0 home defeat by Accrington Stanley the
following day. Driver has since made a total of four league appearances for
Paul Peschisolido's side and extended his loan until 4 March after
impressing the former Fulham and Canada forward with his talent and
commitment. "It's going really well, I've got a few games under my belt and
I've extended my loan, which is what I wanted to do," said the teenager.
"Burton play good football and it's always easier to fit into a team when
they play a style that you are used to. "I've found League Two to be a good
challenge. It's not too much for me so it's been nice that I've been able to
fit in and handle the level."
Driver has already appeared in away matches at both Plymouth Argyle and
Bradford City - playing in front of a 9,744-strong crowd at Valley Parade -
and is relishing the opportunity to show what he can do in front of large
gates. "At Plymouth and Bradford there were both big atmospheres and big
crowds, which were good to be part of," added the Academy graduate and
first-year professional, who trains with West Ham on Mondays and Tuesdays
before heading up to Burton on Wednesday evenings. "Burton's squad are a
great bunch of lads and they have some really good banter. The manager is
very positive, too. He just wants us to play football and get the ball down
and keep it as much as we can. "The aim is to play regularly between now and
the end of the season, whether that be with Burton or with somebody else.
We're still in with a shout of making the Play-Offs at Burton, so it would
be great if we could get promoted."
While Driver will remain at the Pirelli Stadium for a further five weeks,
Paul McCallum has linked up with npower League One club Rochdale until 4
March, while goalkeeper Peter Kurucz has extended his own stay with the Dale
until 5 May. Eoin Wearen's loan spell at npower League Two club Dagenham and
Redbridge has ended, but forward Cristian Montano will remain with John
Still's side until 14 February.
Five players have also left the Boleyn Ground on a permanent basis, having
had their contracts with the club terminated. DR Congo left-back Herita
Ilunga is the only player with first-team experience to have departed. The
defender moved to the club on an initial season-long loan from French side
Toulouse in September 2008, before making the switch permanent in the summer
of 2009 for a fee of £3m. In all, Ilunga made 73 appearances, scoring three
goals. Defenders Matt Fry and Jordan Brown and midfielder Ahmed Abdulla, all
20, and Spanish defender Sergio Sanchez, 19, have also left the club. West
Ham United would like to thank all five players for their services and wish
them well for their future careers.
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On This Day - 2 February
WHUFc.COM
Two big away victories take centre-stage on this date in West Ham United
history
02.02.2012
Anniversary
Blackpool 1-3 West Ham United
Barclays Premier League
2 February 2011
Robbie Keane marked his West Ham United debut with a goal, while Victor
Obinna scored twice as the Hammers notched their second away Premier League
win of the 2011/12 season at Bloomfield Road. The large travelling
contingent were warmed up on a bitterly cold evening on the Lancashire coast
as Obinna opened the scoring when his low shot squirmed through the arms of
goalkeeper Richard Kingson on 24 minutes. Keane doubled the advantage eight
minutes before the break before Charlie Adam halved the deficit on 44
minutes. Obinna smashed in an unstoppable shot from 30 yards on the stroke
of half-time to complete the scoring.
The victory lifted West Ham level on points with 17th-placed Birmingham
City, but the season would end with both clubs - and Blackpool - being
relegated from the top-flight.
Classic Match
Cardiff City 1-5 West Ham United
(West Ham United win 10-3 on aggregate)
League Cup semi-final second leg
2 February 1966
West Ham United secured their place in their first League Cup final by
thumping Cardiff City 5-1 at Ninian Park on this date in 1966. Six months
ahead of England's FIFA World Cup final victory over West Germany at
Wembley, the Hammers were inspired by Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters, who
scored two goals apiece.
Full-back Dennis Burnett was the less likely scorer of West Ham's other goal
as Ron Greenwood's team turned on the style in south Wales. Having won the
first leg 5-2 at the Boleyn Ground, just 14,315 fans turned out to watch the
Bluebirds - then in Division Two - be taught another lesson by their
Division One opponents.
The Hammers would take on West Bromwich Albion in the final, winning the
first leg 2-1 at home before missing out on the trophy courtesy of a 4-1
defeat at The Hawthorns.
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Maynard's disappointment
Kumb.COM
Filed: Thursday, 2nd February 2012
By: Staff Writer
New West Ham striker Nicky Maynard has expressed his disappointment at the
reception he received from Bristol City fans during his final game for the
Robins.
Maynard, speaking to This Is Bristol revealed that he had been booed by City
fans both during and after their 1-0 defeat to Reading last weekend. "I'm
not going to spit my dummy out. I always had a good relationship with the
fans and I do regret how things ended," said West Ham's new striker. "The
fans were great to me during my time with the club – it's just a blow it
came to that at the end. "I enjoyed my time at Bristol City but the chance
to join a massive club like West Ham was too good to turn down. "I have
respect for everyone there and fully intend keeping in touch with the lads
and staff. I hope the team continues to progress and I'll be looking out for
their results."
Maynard, who was the subject of a rejected £4.75million bid from Leicester
City last August added that he can't wait to get started at the Boleyn
Ground - and he could make his debut against Millwall this weekend, a team
against whom he has already scored three times this season. "I'm delighted
to put pen to paper and can't wait to get going," he told whufc.com. "West
Ham are geared to get to the Premier League - and the Premier League is
where I want to be.
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Goodbye, Ernie
Kumb.COM
Filed: Thursday, 2nd February 2012
By: Staff Writer
The great and good of West Ham United congregated in Manor Park earlier
today to bid farewell to legendary goalkeeper Ernie Gregory. Gregory, who
spent 51 years at the club as a player and coach passed away ten days ago at
Romford's Queen's Hospital following a short illness. And earlier today,
luminary figures from the club's past and present gathered together at the
City of London cemetery to bid Gregory, who was 90, farewell. Former Hammers
striker Brian Dear, who was close to tears throughout delivered a touching
eulogy to Gregory in front of former team mates including Vic Keeble, Frank
O'Farrell and Ken Brown. Around 50 former West Ham United players were
present in all, including fellow club legends Billy Bonds, Trevor Brooking,
Frank Lampard, Alan Devonshire, Alvin Martin, Tony Gale, Tony Cottee and
Phil Parkes. Representing the current regime was Academy Director Tony Carr
and right-hand man Jimmy Hampson plus co-chairman David Gold and daughter
Jacqueline. Yvonne Lyall, wife of former manager John Lyall was also in
attendance. Gregory, who had no remaining family having lost his wife and
daughter in recent years, spent the final few months of his life in a rest
home in Basildon, Essex, having suffered a stroke in 2010. Former Hammer
Bobby Barnes had been responsible for the arrangements and taking care of
Gregory's estate; his coffin was adorned by a huge West Ham United crest
made from dried flowers.
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Recruits please Allardyce
Hammers manager delighted with transfer window action
Last Updated: February 2, 2012 12:39pm
SSN
West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce is delighted after bringing a trio of new
faces to Upton Park on transfer deadline day. The 57-year-old manager, who
signed a two-year deal with the club last summer, managed to secure the
signatures of strikers Ricardo Vaz Te and Nicky Maynard as well as
midfielder Ravel Morrison from Manchester United. The Championship leaders
are aiming to bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt
following their relegation last season. Former Barnsley frontman Vaz Te has
netting 10 times already this season while Maynard scored 45 goals during
his four-year stay at Bristol City, meaning Allardyce's men will be boosted
up front in their promotion campaign. "We have done well in the window and I
am delighted to welcome Ricardo Vaz Te, Ravel Morrison and Nicky Maynard to
the club," he said.
Bolster
"I have been backed by our owners in bringing people in to bolster the club.
We have managed to do that and it has turned out very well for us. "I think
Ricardo and Nicky are proven players who can come into the frame straight
away as they have been a force with their clubs in this division before. "We
have been a bit short of taking our chances, so hopefully they can add a
little bit more to our frontline." Morrison also arrived on Tuesday, making
the switch from Old Trafford after graduating from the Manchester United
academy and Allardyce is keen to get the talented but sometimes troubled
19-year-old in action. "We are also pleased that Ravel has chosen us and we
hope that we can develop him quickly into the first team as we have done
this season with our other young players," he added. "They have all got
experience, started breaking through, and in doing so they have been putting
a little bit of pressure, good pressure, on the older players."
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Nicky: I'm sorry City
Published: Today
The Sun
NICKY MAYNARD has said sorry to Bristol City fans for the way he quit the
Ashton Gate club. The striker, 25, joined West Ham on deadline day for a
cut-price £2million and admitted he had become unpopular among some City
supporters. He was out of contract in the summer and Bristol City faced the
prospect of losing him for nothing. But Maynard said: "I always had a good
relationship with the fans and I regret how things ended." Maynard was even
booed when he came on as a late substitute in his last match at Reading. He
added: "That was a blow but the chance to join a massive club like West Ham
was too good to turn down."
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