Big Sam hails second-half show
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce was delighted with his side's four-goal second half output in
their victory over Southampton
20.10.2012
Sam Allardyce was happy to see his West Ham United side recover from a poor
first-half display to score a sensational 4-1 Barclays Premier League
victory over Southampton. The Hammers were second-best to the Saints for
much of the opening 45 minutes at the Boleyn Ground, but two goals in the
opening three minutes of the second period completely changed the complexion
of the game. Mark Noble's free-kick squirmed in before Kevin Nolan converted
Yossi Benayoun's low cross to put West Ham in charge. Although Adam Lallana
pulled a goal back for Nigel Adkins' men with a rasping half-volley, Big
Sam's men regained the composure and control of proceedings through Noble's
penalty and a sensational individual effort from substitute Modibo Maiga.
Speaking to West Ham TV, Big Sam admitted his players had been far from
their best before half-time, but praised their collective ability and
determination to turn things in their favour after the interval. "Like
everybody else, I was dumbfounded by the first half and our lacklustre
performance," said the manager. "The only good thing we did was to not allow
Southampton any real chances even though we weren't playing to our best. We
didn't score a goal that would have made things easier for us and it was
hugely difficult for us before half-time. "At half-time, without me telling
them, the lads knew they were under par and I just said 'You've got to do
the right things better and your work-rate, energy and tempo have got to be
lifted by 15 or 20 per cent - not just five per cent. I told them that once
that tempo was lifted and we put pressure on the opposition, they are a
struggling side near bottom of the league with not a lot of confidence and
they will make mistakes, which they did. "The second goal, in particular,
their left-back has been caught in possession by Yossi and he has made a
brilliant ball for Kevin to score. That was the thing we were looking for
and we got that right from the start of the second half. In the space of
just a few minutes we were two-nil up because our attitude and desire to get
forward and on the front foot and stop the opposition from doing what they
wanted to do. "They made a lot of mistakes and we went on to win comfortably
four-one in the second half and, for me, it was great to see that fourth
goal - not only for the quality of it but for Modibo, who has been patiently
sat in the wings since he arrived in this country from Sochaux. That goal
will do him the absolute world of good because it was his first goal in the
Premier League. He has scored in the Capital One Cup and he has scored while
he has been away on international duty and scored again today, so he's made
a big impact and that's a great for us, especially with the injury list we
have got at the moment."
The opening goal saw Noble's free-kick bounce past James Collins and a host
of other bodies before bouncing into the top corner past a wrong-footed
Artur Boruc. While some untrained eyes may claim the strike was fortunate,
the manager said it was down to good planning. "We always play those
free-kicks and tell them that what we want them to do is to hit the target.
If you deliver the ball with enough quality, the goalkeeper has to stay
static until there is a touch. If there is not a touch, then he has to try
to dive and save it, but by that time it is often too late. The attacking
and defending players are running in and normally by the time the ball gets
to them then they are only six yards out. "If we get a touch we might score,
they might get a touch and score or if nobody gets a touch then the 'keeper
has to try to save it. He cannot make the move until it has gone over all
the players and by that time it has bounced past him. It's a little bit
lucky, but the accuracy of the ball is what creates the goal. To score
almost immediately after that was brilliant. "We got a really good
performance in the last 45 minutes and any win is fabulous, but to score
four goals in the second half after the way we played in the first was a
brilliant response from all of the players."
Big Sam was impressed by the impact made by his fringe players, with the
likes of Benayoun, James Tomkins and Maiga showing that they can contribute
positively when called upon. "They did well. James has been chomping at the
bit and has been really frustrated and, because of his lack of matches, has
had cramp catch up with him at the end. It's not that serious. We're on our
bare bones defensively with no Guy Demel, Matt Taylor or Joey O'Brien. The
back four had to stay solid with James playing out of position and they've
done it and produced a brilliant result. "The football in the second half
was what we wanted to see, coupled with the result, so hopefully everyone
will wake up tomorrow and forget about the first half and just remember the
second half and the win."
The result served as a perfect birthday present for the manager, who turned
58 on Friday - although he jokingly admitted the number is no longer
important!
"I like them to fly under the radar at my age! I actually had a great night
with my very good friend Mike Garstang at the solicitors charity do at the
Grosvenor House Hotel, so I celebrated it there with him. This was a bigger
present for me - the lads winning and getting a four-one victory.
"Fourteen points from eight games is top-drawer."
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West Ham 4 Southampton 1
20 October 2012
Last updated at 18:24
By Nabil Hassan
BBC Sport at Upton Park
West Ham earned their fourth victory of the season after a Mark Noble brace
and goals for Modibo Maiga and Kevin Nolan sealed all three points.
Southampton hit a consolation strike through Adam Lallana but West Ham's
powerful second-half display proved too much for Nigel Adkins' side. Noble
opened the scoring with a fortuitous free kick while Nolan tapped home at
the back post before Lallana made it 2-1 with a delightful turn and shot.
But Noble sealed victory from the penalty spot before Maiga scored a
wonderful solo goal to compound Southampton's misery. Victory consolidated
West Ham's position in the top half of the table while Saints remain a point
outside the bottom three on four points. The game was evenly poised at 0-0
at the break but Southampton's early season demons continue to haunt them
with yet more poor defending denying them any chance of getting something
from this game. Adkins cut a forlorn figure in the post match press
conference, bemoaning his side's defending, and he will know that something
will need to change at the back or his side will quickly turn into
relegation fodder. They have now conceded 24 goals this season - a return
that is quite simply not good enough. The corresponding fixture last season
saw Saints earn a valuable draw that helped kick start their stuttering
promotion challenge.
Slow starters
Southampton have trailed in all eight Premier League games at some point,
the only team to be behind in all of their league games. The Hammers had to
rely on the lottery of the play-offs to go up but despite missing out to
Saints and Reading on those automatic places, it is Sam Allardyce's
experienced West Ham side who have made the better start to the new Premier
league campaign. With 14 points already, the Hammers have a healthy return
from their opening eight games. And while it is too early to judge,
Saturday's game was further evidence that Southampton are yet to settle into
Premier League life. Saints took the decision to drop star striker Rickie
Lambert prior to the game but the visiting side made a bright start without
creating a clear opening. The first real chance fell the Hammers way with
Jos Hooiveld heading James Tomkins' looping header from 12 yards off the
line. Collins later went close with a header but by in large this was a poor
first half played in front of a turgid atmosphere with the moans and groans
of the Upton Park faithful growing louder as the half wore on.
Sam Allardyce also cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines chewing gum with
more urgency and intensity then his lack-lustre side, while for Adkins it
was a case of job done as the teams went into the half-time break level. But
it took just 58 seconds for the Hammers to buck up their ideas and typically
it came from poor Southampton defending with no-one dealing with Noble's
inswinging 35-yard free kick that eventually bounced in at the back post. It
was the 21st goal Saints had conceded this season, a symptom of their
early-season troubles and just a minute later there was worse to come for
Adkins side.
Benayoun showed more desire to get to the ball than Maya Yoshida and his
cross to the back post was tapped into the empty net by Nolan. With Upton
Park lifted and the supporters buoyed, Southampton's confidence evaporated
as the away fans called for their talisman to be introduced - Lambert. But
it was the man that was playing up front in his place - Jay Rodriguez - who
helped get Saints back in the game, showing quick feet to turn inside
Collins before releasing Lallana. With his back to goal the midfielder
swivelled delightfully before powering a shot into the roof of the net.
Lambert was then introduced and he went desperately close with a free kick
from 20 yards. But the Hammers soon restored their two-goal advantage with
another Noble free kick causing Saints problems and Fonte was penalised for
handball after coming under pressure from Andy Carroll. Noble powered in the
spot kick to a collective sigh of relief and Carroll continued to cause
Hooiveld problems at the back before he was replaced to a standing ovation.
The on-loan Liverpool striker is quickly on his way to becoming a cult hero
at Upton Park. West Ham pressed for a fourth and it came late on through
Maiga who sealed the rout with a wonderful solo goal that embarrassed three
Southampton defenders.
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West Ham Utd 4 Southampton 1
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 20th October 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham recorded their biggest win of the season against a lacklustre
Southampton at the Boleyn this afternoon - despite producing one of their
least impressive performances of the campaign thus far. Having looked mostly
inept in the opening 45 minutes, Sam Allardyce's side swept aside their
opponents with a four-goal, second half blitz. And key to the turnaround
was two-goal hero Mark Noble, who scored from a free kick and from the
penalty spot as the Hammers rose to joint fourth in the table courtesy of
their fourth Premier League win of the season. The travelling Southampton
contingent sang "we're Southampton, we play on the floor" as the away side
spent most of the first half passing the ball to each other inside their own
half. But for as poor as West Ham were ahead of the break, the Saints were
equally ineffective where it mattered and produced very little to threaten
Jussi Jaaskelainen's goal. However the second half was a completely
different story as United blitzed their opponents - with the first of their
four goals coming just 57 seconds after the restart. Although referee Neil
Swarbrick had a disappointing afternoon on the whole, he should be given
credit for pulling back play for a free kick after Andy Carroll had been
fouled 30 yards from goal and the advantage came to nothing. Mark Noble's
free kick towards the far post somehow evaded everyone inside the penalty
box and, as so often happens, found its way into the corner of the net after
Saints 'keeper Artur Boruc left it too late to attempt to push the ball
wide.
The Hammers had barely finished celebrating that goal before they found
thmselves two goals ahead. Yossi Benayoun, who was making his first start
since returning to the club made his way into the penalty box before
delivering an inch-perfect pass to Kevin Nolan at the far post, leaving the
captain the easiest of chances to make it 2-0.
The next quarter-of-an-hour saw West Ham revert to the containing style that
had so frustrated the home fans in the opening 45 minutes - and it was
therefore no surprise when the visitors pulled one back on 63 minutes with
an emphatic finish from Adam Lallana from close range.
But the two-goal advantage was restored just nine minutes later when West
Ham were awarded a spot kick following a Jose Fonte hand ball - and Noble
converted from 12 yards with some aplomb.
Ironically perhaps the last penalty West Ham were awarded at the Boleyn was
in the corresponding fixture last year when Matt Taylor - who was watching
from the stands today having been ruled out late on - was sent off just
yards from where Fonte hand-balled today; some justice, some might say.
Thethree points were finally sealed with just three minutes of normal time
remaining with the pick of the five second-half goals. Modibo Maiga, on as
an 82nd minute replacement for Andy Carroll weaved his way into the penalty
area before picking his spot with a wonderful curling effort.
The win leaves West Ham level on points with fourth-placed Everton and ten
points clear of today's opponents and the relegation zone - and looking
forward to a trip to Wigan next weekend, where they will face a Latics side
yet to win at home during the current campaign.
West Ham Utd 4 Southampton 1: match facts
West Ham Utd: Jaaskelainen, Tomkins (Spence 88), Reid, Collins, McCartney,
Noble, Nolan, Diame (O'Neil 68), Benayoun, Jarvis, Carroll (Maiga 82).
Subs not used: Spiegel, Chambers, Cole, Hall.
Goals: Noble (46, 72-pen), Nolan (48), Maiga (87).
Booked: None.
Shots on/off target: 9 - 8/1.
Possession: 47%.
Southampton: Boruc, Clyne, Yoshida, Hooiveld, Fonte, Schneiderlin, Davis,
Lallana, Puncheon, Do Prado, Rodriguez.
Subs not used: Davis, Seaborne, Mayuka, Reeves, Ward-Prowse, Chaplow,
Lambert.
Goals: Lallana (63).
Booked: Hooiveld (77), Schneiderlin (81).
Shots on/off target: 11 - 4/7.
Possession: 53%.
Referee: Neil Swarbrick (6).
Attendance: 34,925.
KUMB.com Man of the Match: Yossi Benayoun.
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West Ham score four second half goals to win 4-1 against struggling
Southampton
Last Updated: October 20, 2012 8:10pm
SSN
Southampton's fragile defence was exposed again as Mark Noble scored two
second-half goals in a comfortable 4-1 victory for West Ham. Saints remain
out of the drop zone but pointless on their travels and after conceding
their 24th goal of the season at Upton Park - the worst defensive record in
the Premier League - these are worrying times for the South Coast club.
Meanwhile, Sam Allardyce's men from east London continue to impress in the
top-flight as their fourth win in the current campaign hoisted them up to
seventh. The opening period was a turgid affair, lit up only occasionally by
the lively Matt Jarvis and Andy Carroll for the hosts, but two goals in as
many minutes immediately after the break changed everything. It all started
with a slice of luck for the Hammers when Noble's free-kick deceived
Southampton's static defence with the ball bouncing straight in for the
opener.
Best of the match
Man of the Match: Mark Noble. At the heart of everything good about West
Ham's play and punished Southampton's frailties with two set-piece goals.
Moment of the match: Fonte's clumsy handball gave West Ham a penalty chance
that relaxed all the pressure that Southampton had built up after Lallana's
goal.
Goal of the match: Maiga's first league goal was one to remember, showing a
touch of artistry after muscling his way through three yellow shirted
defenders.
Talking point: Nigel Adkins' side continue to ship goals despite changing
the back four and the goalkeeper. They looked comfortable before the break,
but all the hard work was undone in a flash after the break when the defence
went to sleep on two occasions. Within 93 seconds the lead was doubled and
it was thanks to the influential Yossi Benayoun, whose shot was parried by
keeper Artur Boruc, leaving Kevin Nolan to tap in.
Adam Lallana's sizzling half-volley lifted the hopes for the visitors, but
an act of madness by Jose Fonte handed West Ham a reprieve to restore their
two-goal advantage. The defender tugged at Carroll's pony tail when the ball
was floated into the box and Noble stepped up to slam in the penalty and
settle any West Ham nerves.
There was still time for Southampton's beleaguered defenders to fold again
as they allowed Modiba Maiga to stroll through and curl in a fabulous
fourth.
West Ham looked the brighter side early on but Southampton earned the game's
first corner with Jay Rodriguez inches away from directing home Jason
Puncheon's loss cross. It was one of several threatening moments by the
visitors for whom goalkeeper Boruc was looking shaky. The former Celtic man
became the third different goalkeeper to start for Saints this season and
had Carroll to thank for not making the most of an awful clearance early on.
The home side were struggling to create any clear-cut chances, though, as
Southampton went into half-time without conceding for the first time since
their return to the Premier League. However, the Saints defence was breached
less than a minute into the second half. Collins could not quite get a toe
on Noble's floated 40-yard free-kick, but it bounced in the six-yard box and
flew past Boruc. The opener was followed moments later by West Ham's second
after a poor Do Prado pass was not dealt with by Yoshida. Benayoun won the
ball from the Japan international and his low cross was met at the back post
by Nolan, who tapped home from close range. Only the fine reactions of Boruc
prevented the Hammers captain making it three in the 61st minute as he
ghosted in and directed a quickly-taken free-kick goalwards. The save proved
invaluable as Saints reduced the deficit two minutes later when Lallana
turned beautifully to strike past Jaaskelainen from close range.
The goal came thanks to the hard work - and wayward shot - of Rodriguez, who
was replaced by Rickie Lambert immediately afterwards. Saints' top scorer
was surprisingly left out of the starting line-up and came on at the same
time as Emmanuel Mayuka, although it was the former that made an immediate
impact. First the 30-year-old saw a 20-yard free-kick just go over, before
heading a Nathaniel Clyne cross wide. Southampton were threatening to
quieten the home support but undid all their good work when Fonte handled as
he challenged Carroll. Noble fired home the resulting spot-kick, allowing
the Hammers to coast from the 72nd minute onwards.
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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce praises West Ham's win over Southampton
Last Updated: October 20, 2012 7:47pm
SSN
Sam Allardyce was full of praise for the second-half display that saw West
Ham sweep to a 4-1 win over Southampton. A below-par display in the first
half was quickly forgotten when Mark Noble and Kevin Nolan scored with a
couple of minutes of the restart. Adam Lallana narrowed the gap with a fine
goal after 63 minutes, but a second for Noble from the penalty spot and the
goal of the game from substitute Modibo Maiga late on eased the home side to
all three points.
"We were a little lacklustre in the first half," said the West Ham boss. "We
could not find the right tempo, we could not pass well enough or create
enough chances. "Southampton did not have any real chances, and we had to
point out to the players just how important this game was and what they
needed to do to get to the form we know they are capable of. "The first goal
settled us down, then we were off and running, and I thought the second half
was a tremendous performance with some tremendous goals. "A 4-1 win at home
never looked on at half-time, but credit to the players and the way they
picked themselves up. There was some fantastic finishing and a 4-1 win for a
team like ours that has just been promoted is a brilliant three points for
us. "We are 10 points ahead of Southampton at that bottom end, and we are
always looking at that because we have just been promoted."
Andy Carroll is still seeking his first goal for West Ham since his loan
move from Liverpool, but Allardyce was keen to praise the striker's
all-round contribution.
He said: "He is a nuisance to defenders, to try to win the ball, to try to
play the ball out. While he did not get a real chance today, his hold-up
play allowed us to start to spring off and get into the game more. "It was
great for Yossi Benayoun to get out onto the pitch as well, and at the
crucial time he has shown top quality with a beautiful ball to the far post
for Nolan to touch in. A lot of our players would have tried to shoot, but
he picked out Kevin brilliantly."
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Match Report: West Ham 4 Southampton 1
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die
You won't believe this, but I nearly left at half time. I wasn't feeling
great. The second half rather cheered me up, needless to say. Let's face it,
although there were virtually no chances on either side, Southampton had
much the better of the first half, both in possession and creativity. I have
to admit I feared the worst. But it's a funny old game and the second half
saw a bit of a change around. Perhaps Allardyce put something in their
caffeine at half time. If he did change anything around I'm not sure what it
was. But it worked.
Again, the key to this game was the midfield. As the game went on, Noble,
Nolan and Benayoun started to rule. Diame had a rare off day. He didn't do
anything particularly bad, but apart from a couple of rampaging runs, he
didn't achieve much positively. But Benayoun was a revelation. He didn't
just look dangerous on the right, he was tackling like a dervish and had
Noble not scored a brace, Benayoun would have been my man of the match.
Noble's tackling and passing were great today and for once, his corners
looked dangerous.
Defensively we rarely looked in any great danger. James Tomkins slotted in
very well at right back and Winston Reid was immense again, despite having
travelled 26,000 with a bad back. James Collins, apart from one misplaced
back pass looked solid and McCartney scored his usual 6 out of 10. There was
a moment at the end when Jussi and Winston Reid had a misunderstanding,
which might have resulted in disaster, but apart from the goal, Southampton
rarely threatened. Quite why they didn't start with Rickie Lambert, Lord
alone knows.
Once again, Andy Carroll put in a fantastic effort. Southampton didn't know
how to play him. I really hoped he would grab a goal, and he did have a
couple of half chances, but his contribution to this performance should not
be underestimated.
To have 14 points on the board after 8 games is a real achievement and bodes
well for the rest of the season. We are 7th in the table - or equal 4th, as
I like to put it. Would any of us seriously predicted that at the beginning
of the season? I doubt it.
Jaaskelainen 7
Reid 8
Collins 7
Tomkins 7
McCartney 6
Benayoun 8
Jarvis 7
Carroll 8
Diame 6
Noble 8
Nolan 7
Maiga 7
O'Neil 5
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West Ham 4 Southampton 1
By ANDREW DILLON
Last Updated: 21st October 2012
The Sun
SOUTHAMPTON watched Only Fools And Horses on the coach to Upton Park but
West Ham went home feeling Luvvly Bubbly. A bizarre goal from Mark Noble, a
calamitous handball by Jose Fonte and disastrous defending condemned Saints'
plonkers to more road misery. Not even a heavy dose of Del Boy could have
cheered boss Nigel Adkins after his team collapsed in the second half. West
Ham were fired up by a half-time coating from boss Sam Allardyce. It was
their biggest win since returning to the Premier League and the perfect
insurance for a tough run of games through to mid-December. Manchester City,
Tottenham, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool lie in wait after Wigan
away next Saturday and Big Sam is relieved to have the points on board.
He said: "I'm surprised we won 4-1 if you look at what we did in the first
half. The players took a bit of criticism at half-time because we were
struggling.
"I told them Southampton score goals but they also concede plenty and if we
put them under sustained pressure they would crack." The lucky break came
West Ham's way just after the restart.Andy Carroll won a free-kick 20 yards
out. Noble lifted the ball into the area and everyone missed it, including
Hammers' advancing defender James Collins. But Collins' arrival did enough
to distract keeper Artur Boruc who watched the ball in dismay as it bounced
in. Boruc's debut took another downward turn straight away when Yossi
Benayoun robbed left-back Maya Yoshida.
Hammers skipper Kevin Nolan, not the fastest thing on two legs, jigged into
the Saints area and was allowed to drift unseen to the back post where he
waited to turn in Benayoun's low cross. Good luck does not tend to accompany
Adkins at the moment - his team pipped West Ham to automatic promotion last
season but the two clubs are enjoying contrasting form. Adam Lallana's
clinical goal on 63 minutes was thanks to Jay Rodriguez holding off Collins
before laying off a great pass. It handed the visitors the initiative and
West Ham started to look wobbly. But Carroll's battering-ram qualities
forced Fonte into a handball from which Noble slammed home a penalty.
Allardyce claimed Southampton were reduced to "fighting and fouling" the big
man. With three minutes left sub Modibo Maiga scored his first Premier
League goal when he took on three Saints defenders and curled a shot round
Boruc. Adkins admitted: "We conceded some poor goals but the killer blow was
the penalty. We have a vision to play passing football but I'm not naive
enough to realise football is a results driven industry."
a.dillon@the-sun.co.uk
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Hammer time! Noble bags a brace as West Ham slaughter sorry Southampton
The Mirror
20 Oct 2012 17:28
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Sam Allardyce's half-time rocket fired West Ham to hit the heights and pull
off a devastating victory. Allardyce read the riot act during the interval -
and his players duly answered with a four-goal blitz that handed Southampton
another mauling on their travels. The Hammers boss said: "I'm surprised we
won 4-1 after that first-half performance. We had to take a long, hard look
at ourselves at the interval and I was delighted with the response." West
Ham have adapted to life in the top tier much quicker than Saints, who
admittedly have had the tougher start. The Hammers were quickly out of the
blocks yesterday and though Andy Carroll failed to take advantage of a lazy
pass out by Saints keeper Artur Boruc, the England striker went on to cause
the visitors' back line all sorts of problems. While Saints were mainly
concentrated on Carroll, the Hammers almost took the lead, but James
Tomkins' header was cleared off the line by Jos Hooiveld. Jay Rodriguez's
attempted lob went past a post as Saints showed they were a threat on the
counter, even without the benched Rickie Lambert. Allardyce's words at the
break certainly reignited the fire in the Hammers' belly. Less than two
minutes after the restart Mark Noble's teasing free-kick eluded everyone and
fooled Boruc. Moments later Yossi Benayoun worked his magic down the right,
and Kevin Nolan sneaked in at the far post for a poacher's finish.
But with West Ham threatening to turn the screw, Saints hit back through
Adam Lallana, who spun on Rodriguez's pass and fired into the roof of the
net. Suddenly the game had a different complexion but Carroll and Noble -
the two most impressive players on the pitch - had something to say about
that. Carroll's presence forced Jose Fonte into handling and Noble took full
advantage with a clinical spot-kick. Carroll went off to a standing ovation
after 81 minutes - another valuable contribution under his belt - and was
replaced by Modibo Maiga who wasted no time in dancing through a now dazed
defence to claim number four. Saints have the worst defensive record in the
division, and it's starting to niggle manager Nigel Adkins. He said: "We
defend as a team, just as we attack as a team, and I'm not going to
criticise individuals. It is my responsibility."
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WEST HAM UNITED 4 - SOUTHAMPTON 1: SAINTS ARE LEFT DEFENCELESS BY MARK NOBLE
ARTS
Daily Express
Sunday October 21,2012
By Colin Mafham
SAD Southampton last night stood accused of Premier League suicide - and
they literally had no case for their defence. The 'prosecution' proved
without doubt that woeful neglect at the back killed off any hopes
Southampton might have harboured of stemming a tide of goals. Guilty as
charged was the only verdict - and a better side than West Ham would have
been up for footballing murder. After one of the poorest first halves of the
season, West Ham had three points handed to them on a plate by defenders who
more than justified their label as the worst in the Premier League. They
have leaked 24 goals - three per game - and even manager Nigel Adkins had
difficulty defending them after yesterday's debacle. "We have conceded some
poor goals and there have been far too many Premier League games where we
have not been able to keep the ball out of the net," he conceded.
"Going two down so early in the second half changed the pattern of the
game. When we got back into it we conceded the penalty, but this is a
results-driven business and we have to win games." The sorry Saints
defenders stood like scarecrows as the grateful Hammers plundered two goals
in as many minutes.
All that after 45 minutes of tedium which left Hammers boss Sam Allardyce to
admit: "I'm surprised we won 4-1 after what we did in that first half, but
credit to the professionalism of the players for the way they responded to
the bit of criticism I gave them at half-time. "I told them that if they put
pressure on Southampton's back four they would make mistakes, and they did.
Fourteen points from the first eight games is a massive start for a
newly-promoted club."
It needed that farcical defending to gift West Ham their first two goals.
What the hapless Saints thought they were doing when Mark Noble floated over
a free-kick only they know. It sailed straight past them and into the net.
Same story little more than 60 seconds later, when Maya Yoshida tamely
surrendered a 50-50 ball to Yossi Benayoun, then watched his team-mates
allow the Israeli space to deliver a cross they should have cleared. Somehow
it reached Kevin Nolan at the far post and the rest was easy. Everyone saw
precisely why Southampton have conceded more goals than anyone else in the
Premier League. Nolan should have made it three soon afterwards, when those
dozy defenders went awol again to give him a clear sight of goal, but he
passed that one up. Then that boring first half became an even more distant
memory as West Ham started handing out presents as well. Jay Rodriguez was
granted time and space to find the unmarked Adam Lallana, whose finish was
stunning. But poor Jose Fonte made sure the Hammers didn't have to pay a
price for their generosity with more kamikaze defending. The Portuguese, who
could be accused of having a neglectful hand in West Ham's first two goals,
completed a miserable afternoon when he appeared to punch away a free-kick
by Noble (above), who duly punished him from the penalty spot. But West Ham
saved the best until last - or, to be precise, Modibo Maiga did. Once again
Saints' sinners ran scared and allowed substitute Maiga the space to wrap it
all up by scoring a superb solo goal within five minutes of replacing Andy
Carroll. Where Southampton go after this, goodness only knows. West Ham?
Well, they're sitting quite pretty. As Allardyce said: "Now we can go to
Wigan with some confidence to try to get our first back-to-back wins in the
Premier League."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce hails second-half performance as Hammers come good to rout sorry
Saints
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 18:44, 20 October 2012 | UPDATED: 18:44, 20 October 2012
Daily Mail
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce praised his side for recovering from a poor
first-half performance to secure a 'brilliant' 4-1 victory against fellow
Premier League new boys Southampton. After a dour opening 45 minutes that
Saints dominated, it took less than a minute of the second half for Mark
Noble to break the deadlock. Kevin Nolan doubled the Hammers' advantage
moments later and although Adam Lallana halved the deficit, Noble's penalty
and a superb strike by substitute Modibo Maiga sealed an emphatic victory
for the hosts. 'It was a surprise we won 4-1 when you look at what we did in
the first half,' Allardyce said after the match. 'The good thing for us is
the professionalism of players that took a little bit of criticism at
half-time for what was a bit of a lacklustre performance. 'The only good
thing we did was not to allow Southampton any real chances in the first
half. 'We were just not playing well enough and, if we were to overcome
them, we had to play better than that and we had to do that by upping the
tempo and showing the sort of desire we showed against Arsenal, Fulham,
Sunderland and Aston Villa this year. 'Of course, doing that in the second
half and giving that sort of performance and scoring the goals - obviously
the timing was brilliant because we went out, got right at them and scored
two very quick ones - gave us a fantastic 4-1 victory. 'We can forget the
first half now and just enjoy the victory and really focus on the positives
of how we turned the game around when we looked like we were struggling. In
fact, we didn't look like we were struggling, we were. 'To come out and put
it right, not just in terms of winning the game but winning the game
comfortably is great. 'Scoring four goals against any side in the Premier
League is no mean feat and 4-1 is a brilliant result for us.' The win was
the Hammers' fourth since their return to the top flight, while Saints have
only four points to show from their opening fixtures - something Allardyce
highlighted during the half-time break. 'We had to look at ourselves and say
"we're just not doing our job properly" apart from we defended okay,' the
former Bolton and Newcastle boss said. 'We weren't passing it well enough,
mixing our play well enough, we weren't putting the right quality to the
front lads, we weren't sustaining any pressure on the opposition.
'I said "we need to sustain pressure on this opposition as this team is
struggling confidence-wise. They've only picked up four points and they
score plenty of goals, but conceded 20. If we put pressure on the back four
they will make mistakes". 'And certainly they did that and we capitalised on
that.' The result means Southampton have now conceded 24 goals in just eight
matches back in the Premier League. It is a record that has cost the south
coast side this campaign and will no doubt see the position of manager Nigel
Adkins come under scrutiny.
Asked how long he thinks he will have to turn things around, the Saints
manager said: 'Honest answer? I don't know. That is football, I am being
brutally honest with you. 'There is a vision at the football club to play a
certain brand of football by passing the ball. 'There needs to be stability
at any football club, which is important. But I am not naive as it's
football and football is a results-driven industry. 'We've got a process in
place that we're doing our best to adhere to, but you've got to win games of
football. 'You've got to keep it out at one end and stick it in at the other
end. 'On too many occasions this year in the Barclays Premier League, we've
not kept it out of our net and I am being up front and honest with you.'
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Sunday, October 21
Saturday, October 20
Daily WHUFC News - 20th October 2012
Big Sam on Southampton
WHUFC.com
The manager has spoken to the press ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier
League fixture
19.10.2012
Sam Allardyce has held his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's
Barclays Premier League fixture with Southampton at the Boleyn Ground. The
West Ham United manager was quizzed about everything from international
breaks to racism in football to his thoughts on Saturday's opponents. Big
Sam's press conference ahead of Saturday's sold out showdown with the Saints
can be watched in full on West Ham TV now!
Sam, the international break has come to a close. How is your squad looking
ahead of the clash with Southampton?
SA: "We are OK other than the shock of Senegal versus the Ivory Coast in
which we had two players involved in a horrific situation. One (Guy Demel)
was injured so he didn't play but they have both come back OK. Andy Carroll
has got back and he is OK. Winston Reid did not get back until late on
Thursday but he was called up despite being injured and had to fly 26,000
miles to not play. Everybody else is doing well. Our main problem is that
Winston had a back problem before he left and we do not know how he has
responded to treatment over in New Zealand. Guy has a thigh problem and will
probably not be ready for Saturday and we have a few other injuries but
internationals-wise they have come back OK."
Do you think that going away with the England squad has benefitted Andy
Carroll and his return to full fitness?
SA: "I think it has, yes, but I know Andy and I know he would have probably
liked to have played a lot more than he did. But he has had two weeks in a
very competitive environment and he got 17 minutes against San Marino.
Playing with some very good players will have brought him up to speed and
hopefully he will stay fit for us in the future."
Looking at the state of the pitch in Poland, Andy may have been the ideal
man to go on and get a goal. Did it surprise you that he wasn't brought on?
SA: "I am not here to criticise Roy Hodgson's decision-making process but I
would have liked Andy to play because he is my player. Roy is obviously the
man in charge and he has his view on who he wants to play and who he wants
to bring on and I have absolutely no problem with that."
Southampton were promoted with you last season and received a lot of
plaudits for the way in which they played. Does it satisfy you that they
were unable to
match you in the transfer market and points wise so far this season?
SA: "Well they have matched us because they signed a £12million player in
[Uruguay midfielder] Gaston Ramirez during the transfer window. We only have
Andy on loan and we paid a lot less than that so I think that they have gone
out into the market and spent big like we all have to. What I do think is
that we have coped with the Barclays Premier League very well at the start
of this season and I also think we had a group of fixtures that were less
challenging than Southampton's. From a Premier League point of view our
experience is probably better than theirs so hopefully that will be a
telling factor on Saturday. Our confidence is also very high because we have
been very good at home. I am hoping to see the same kind of performance that
I saw against Aston Villa, Fulham and Sunderland. If we play like that we
will create opportunities and have a very good chance of winning the game."
Would you agree that Southampton have a Barclays Premier League attack with
the likes of Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert, but a Championship-standard
defence?
SA: "I don't know and I do not think Nigel Adkins will look at in that way.
Perhaps you in the media look at it that way because they have scored and
conceded a lot of goals. There are two ways of playing the game and that is
in possession and out of it. If you do not get both right you do not win.
What you do out of possession in the Barclays Premier League is just as
important as what you do with it, especially during your first season. If
you can get both of those on an equal par you will do well. It is usually
more difficult to score goals than it is to concede. Southampton have found
it easier to score but in doing so they have left a lot of gaps. We suffered
the same problem against Arsenal. As we got better in possession they hit us
on the break twice and we found ourselves 3-1 down."
As a man at the forefront of footballing science, have you been surprised by
the news that England players have had to use caffeine and sleeping tablets?
SA: "In football we all use caffeine in one shape or form in our build-up to
the games, depending on the individual, the game and how you want to monitor
it. Because they have had that extra dose of caffeine they find it harder to
sleep so to overcome that they have been given a sleeping tablet or two. I
do not see too much of a problem with it. Because they have had to play 24
hours after hoping to do so it will have had an affect and has meant they
probably could not give the performance they would have liked."
In the light of the recent racist incidents in football, have you ever had
to give your players advice on how to handle abusive atmospheres?
SA: "No, because we do not get them and that is the bottom line. It is
talked about an awful lot but from our point of view we all know where we
stand. At the start of the season we all have the keep racism out of
football cards, badges and t-shirts and we are well aware of our
responsibilities. From within football I do not see any, there have been a
couple of incidents in exchanges of words on the field so everyone has
brought it up again but I personally have not seen it.
From my point of view, in terms of discrimination, I do not see any
internally and I have not seen any for many years at Bolton, Blackburn,
Newcastle and West Ham United. I think that if I have to say anything I
would say that this country is one of the best in the world. We will never
be perfect but we are one of
the best at trying to get it right."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Cole exclusive on West Ham TV!
WHUFC.com
Carlton Cole has spoken exclusively to West Ham TV ahead of Saturday's visit
of Southampton
20.10.2012
Carlton Cole is aiming to celebrate his birthday by netting his first goal
of the season in Saturday's Barclays Premier League fixture with
Southampton. The West Ham United and England striker has not found the net
since his unforgettable npower Championship Play-Off final strike against
Blackpool at Wembley.
In the same week he turned 29, Cole told West Ham TV he would love to get
off the mark by notching in this weekend's sold out meeting with the
newly-promoted Saints at the Boleyn Ground. "I would love a birthday goal
but to be honest I just want any kind of goal whether it is off my knee, my
chest, my back or wherever my head - I don't mind!" he laughed. "Any goal
would be welcome but as long as we are winning anyway and everyone else is
scoring we will be fine. "Southampton got four points off us last year and
we were not happy with that. We played them at Upton Park with ten men for
most of the game and that was a big game for us but we survived and drew
one-all. "They have not started as well as us this season in the Premier
League, which is a completely different ball game. I have always said that
we have a strong side for the Premier League and while we lost the last game
[at home to Arsenal], we are looking to bounce back straight away. "Our home
form has been very good so hopefully we can bounce back against Southampton.
I think they will be coming here thinking that we are the same team as last
season and that they can grab a few points. "Southampton think they know us
but I think we will surprise them because we are not the same team as last
season. We have added a few good players to our team as well so it will be
an interesting game for them to see if they can handle us. We are very sound
defensively and we are very good going forward at the moment so we have
everything going for us."
While Cole might not have hit the net himself in 2012/13, his all-round
contribution to the team has been appreciated by his coaching staff and
team-mates alike. "I have got a different part. If you want to read into
stats, read into stats, but what I do on the field sometimes doesn't get
mirrored with my goal ratio. Once you are a striker you are a striker and
people will look into different parts of your game to try and criticise you,
but I know what I am picked for and the manager knows why I get in the team
and why I have to be around to help the team out."
One person who always appreciates Cole's efforts - on and off the pitch - is
his mother. Last weekend, the No9 joined his mum Selina and guests at the
launch of CARLAKKA, a foundation founded by the striker dedicated to making
a difference for children in Sierra Leone. The event, held in Chiswick,
raised thousands of pounds towards the cost of building a new school in the
African nation of his mother's birth. "It is close to my Mum's heart and she
wanted me to be the face of the Carlakka Foundation, which is building a
school in Sierra Leone. Calakka has teamed up with the Ndoro Children's
Charity that is going to be building a school in Zimbabwe, so we are trying
to make as much money as possible because they are both good causes. "We see
how the African children live and I have to try and help as much as I can
over there and over here. I will do anything to make my Mum happy. At then
end of the day it is a great cause and I have people there to support me and
I know West Ham will too."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham v Southampton
KO 15:00
19 October 2012
Last updated at 12:32
BBC.co.uk
By Martin Fisher
Match of the Day commentator
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Upton Park Date: Saturday, 20 October
West Ham defenders Winston Reid and Guy Demel face fitness tests on back and
thigh injuries respectively. Ricardo Vaz Te has had surgery on a dislocated
shoulder and been ruled out for three months.
Southampton are without Gaston Ramirez for at least a month due to problems
relating to a dead leg he suffered before the international break. Danny
Butterfield, Jack Cork, Tadanari Lee and Frazer Richardson are out, but
Nathaniel Clyne could return.
MATCH PREVIEW
Side-by-side for most of last season in the Championship, it was Southampton
who stayed the distance to clinch automatic promotion while West Ham had to
take the harder, if more glamorous, route via the play-off final at Wembley.
And yet it's the Hammers that have adapted to life in the top-flight more
impressively. They sit eighth in the table with three wins under their belt
already, while the Saints are just one place and a point above the
relegation zone.
Southampton look like they'll always score goals; his concern is that they
seem even more prone to letting them in. Twenty goals conceded so far means
they have the worst defensive record in the Premier League - 12 of those
have come in their three away games. Trips to Manchester City, Arsenal and
Everton were always going to be challenging but on their day, in their own
way, West Ham can be just as destructive. Ask Fulham. Andy Carroll terrified
their defence at Upton Park on his debut and, now fully-fit again, the
England striker will test Southampton's rickety backline. It's a shame for
the Saints that club-record signing Gaston Ramirez will be missing for the
next month with a thigh injury, meaning much of the creative responsibility
will fall on the shoulders of Adam Lallana. If he's up to the task, and if
Rickie Lambert can get a few sights of goal, Southampton could finally pick
up their first away point or points of the season.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
In their meetings in the Championship last season, the Saints won 1-0 at St
Mary's and drew 1-1 at Upton Park.
Southampton won on their last visit to West Ham in the Premier League, but
it was only their second victory in 10 visits to Upton Park in the division.
This is the 96th meeting between the sides. West Ham have won 36 times,
Southampton 32, and there have been 27 draws.
West Ham
West Ham have scored 88% of their goals in the first half of matches this
season.
The Hammers have committed the most fouls (109) and earned the most cards
(18) so far this season.
Carlton Cole has the lowest pass completion rate (42%) in an opponent's half
of any Premier League player this season.
Southampton
Southampton have dropped 11 points from winning positions this season, the
most in the Premier League. If they had won those points, the Saints would
be second in the table.
They have four points from their first seven Premier League matches, the
same as they had when they were last in the division in 2004-05. They went
on to finish bottom and were relegated.
The Saints have attempted fewer long passes (268) than any other team in the
Premier League this season.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Jarvis: I'll set 'em up...
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 19th October 2012
By: Staff Writer
Matt Jarvis says that he can't wait to get his partnership with Andy Carroll
up and running. The two recent arrivals in east London have thus far started
just one game together - the 3-1 defeat against Arsenal a fortnight ago -
but West Ham fans have high hopes that the two can form a formidable
partnership on the field. It is a sentiment that Jarvis shares. Talking to a
daily newspaper, he said: "We all know that whatever kind of ball you put
into the box, Andy's going to be bursting to get on it. That's good to know
as a winger. There's 6ft plus of him, so he certainly makes his presence
felt. He's showing what he can do on the pitch and I'm going to be providing
the ammunition for him to go and get on the end of. Hopefully we can strike
up a good understanding."
Jarvis, West Ham's record-signing at £10.75million - who began his career at
Millwall before being released as a 16-year-old - also admitted that he was
keen to add to his sole international cap won in a 2011 friendly against
Ghana. "It does motivate me to keep playing well week-in, week-out," he
added, "and if I do put in the performances, you never know."
Both Jarvis and Carroll are expected to feature in Sam Allardyce's starting
XI when the Hammers take on Premier League strugglers Southampton at the
Boleyn Ground tomorrow afternoon.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce on... West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 19th October 2012
By: Staff Writer
Ahead of this weekend's Premier League clash with Southampton - a match he
himself described as a 'six-pointer' earlier in the week - Sam Allardyce
spoke to Yahoo about all things West Ham...
How do you assess the start West Ham have made to the season?
Well, up to now I think it's been exceptionally good. I think that while we
were disappointed by losing to Arsenal in our last game you can expect that
with Arsenal being such a good side and with us just promoted back into the
Premier League. Our only real disappointment was the Swansea away game where
we got beat comfortably in the end, but every other performance and every
other result has been very, very good. 11 points in seven games is a good
start for us.
Which of your players have impressed you most in rising to the challenge
this season?
I think one of the most impressive has been Winston Reid, who hasn't really
been in this country that long. The improvement of Winston and the
consistency of performances he gives us as a central defender have been key
to some of our results, because our defensive unit as a team and as
individuals have been very good.
From the players I inherited when I first joined West Ham, Mark Noble has
come good in the Premier League. Plus my captain, Kevin Nolan, who's been
there before and leads the team on and off the field; he's made a good
start. Most of the players, to be perfectly honest, have done their job and
hopefully they can continue to and continue to get the results that we're
looking for.
Andy Carroll: how significant a transfer do you think that was for West Ham
and, in a more general sense, how important is it for a promoted team to get
players like that on loan?
Andy was a big, big signing for us. Even though it's only a loan deal for a
season I think the size of the player - not just in stature but in terms of
his ability - was one where every player who was already at West Ham thought
"wow". I think Andy, with Matt Jarvis and then Yossi Benayoun made the squad
a real secure squad in terms of strength and depth.
While Yossi hasn't been able to break in on a regular basis just yet, Matt
Jarvis and Andy Carroll have made a major impact - not just individually but
to the rest of the team, making them feel like we can do something this
season in terms of where we finish in the Premier League.
What do you think about the prospect of West Ham maybe moving into the
Olympic Stadium?
I've said since arriving at West Ham that I understand the history and
tradition of the Boleyn Ground, but to really become one of the top clubs in
London, if not in this country, then a new stadium is of the utmost
importance.
We've seen Chelsea grow into a major European side over the last decade
because of Roman Abramovich's money. We've seen Arsenal move into a brand
new 60,000 stadium at the Emirates and we've seen Man United grow their
stadium to 75,000. Moving to the Olympic Stadium is a must for the growth
and the development of the club.
60,000 seats are planned and that will satisfy everybody who wants to come
to West Ham - and a fantastic venue it could be too. We experienced what the
atmosphere was like at the Olympics; that same atmosphere could be recreated
with a West Ham football team playing there.
Does it make it even more exciting when we saw the likes of Mo Farrah and
Jess Ennis win Gold there? It's got some memories, hasn't it?
It's got some fantastic memories, the Paralympics as well; the turnout for
the Paralympics and the athletes' success there was absolutely magnificent.
For the area itself it's very important that we do move there and make sure
that we keep the standards up. It's a superb venue, the Olympic Park is a
superb park and I can't see anybody else using it to the maximum as we
could. The big problem to be overcome is the running track around the pitch
which must be maintained, so the engineers would have to plan particularly
well to cope with that situation.
I was going to ask you about that. There's a widely-held perception in this
country that having a running track impacts on the atmosphere. Do you think
that is an issue?
Yes, most definitely. Bayern Munich, for instance, got themselves their own
stadium where the fans come much closer to the touchline and that creates a
much, much better atmosphere. If you go to Spain with the old stadiums, that
creates an even better atmosphere. Because their health and safety rules
aren't as strict as ours their terracing is much steeper, so the fans are
even closer to the pitch than they are in England - and that does create the
electric atmosphere that you're looking for.
In the wake of the Olympics we heard a lot about how footballers contrasted
with athletes. Do you think there are things footballers can learn from
Olympians and Paralympians, or do you think some of the criticism
footballers got was overblown?
The game is a volatile contest so people will lose their temper - but nobody
seems to highlight the fact that rugby players stamp on each others heads or
gauge each others eyes out; that seems to be acceptable. Or ice hockey
[where] players beat themselves up with sticks. But when a footballer kicks
somebody, or does something that's slightly untoward it's "lock them away,
ban them for life".
I think there's a lot of jealousy around football in this country. More and
more people complain about the price and so on and so forth, whereas with
the other sports it's not quite the same. So it's something we have to live
with.
The Olympics is not as fierce a competition because there's not that
day-to-day, week-to-week competitive edge. It's a build-up of four years - a
very dedicated four years of course - and the delight of winning must be one
of the biggest highs anybody's ever experienced.
Do you have a code of conduct at West Ham and what do you think of England's
attempts to implement one?
Yes, we do. I've always had a code of conduct which is signed up to by the
players, the club itself and me as the manager. Any sporting industry has to
be run with discipline; if it's not, then it will fail miserably.
It is adhered to by everybody concerned and if anybody has any complaints,
then I can revert to the code of conduct and say "I'm sorry, but it says in
the code of conduct that you're not supposed to do that; you have, so the
consequences are this" - and there can be no argument. Of course, there's
always the right of appeal on anything that may result in a fine, but
discipline for everything is imperative if you want to succeed today.
There's been a lot of attention paid to diving recently. Why do you think it
creates so much controversy in this country and do you agree with the view
that divers should be banned retrospectively?
As a professional I have a view that diving - or simulation, as it's called
- is not what we want. Over the years, simulation has crept in more and
more; it started with some of the foreign imports who came into the game.
But there is another side to it that says honest players who stay on their
feet don't get fouls given to them by referees today.
From our point of view nobody needs to feign anything if there's no contact.
But I feel that on some occasions, if contact is made, if you don't go down
you don't get [awarded anything]. If there is contact - and the contact is
severe enough - more often than not the referee chooses not to give anything
and that creates a greater frustration and anger than diving does.
If you want to cut diving - blatant dives - out, suspending players would be
a good thing. But you have got to get the other side right as well and
balance that up by giving free kicks that are free kicks when honest players
stay on their feet.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Big Sam blasts FA
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 18th October 2012
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce has hit out at New Zealand Football after they insisted
Winston Reid make the trip home for the All Whites' World Cup 2014
qualifying match against Tahiti. Reid, who was nursing an injury sustained
during West Ham's 3-1 defeat at home to Arsenal a fortnight ago was ordered
back to New Zealand by the NZF - the country's equivalent of the English FA
- for the match, which the Kiwis won 3-0. That result gave them an aggregate
win of 5-0 and edged them closer to another appearance in the Finals.
However Allardyce was critical of the decision to call Reid - who was an
unused substitute - back for the game. "I don't see any sense in calling
them over and particularly that far, because they are injured," he said. "I
don't see any sense it in at all. I also think there was an underlining
factor that they didn't trust him or us that he was injured. "There's
another underlining factor that tells me that the players are brought there
and then they're put under enormous pressure to play, because of the
loyalties to the country by the coaches and certain political elements which
they have to resist. "On one hand I'm all for international football - but
it doesn't make any sense to take them because they can't play. I don't
understand that at all."
Reid, who has been suffering with a back spasm could make his return to West
Ham's first team against Southampton at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday -
despite having undertaken a mammoth 48-hour flight this week. Should the
in-form centre half not be considered fit to play, James Tomkins is on
standby to deputise.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham v Southampton preview
Last Updated: October 19, 2012 3:46pm
SSN
It may only be October, but Sam Allardyce has already billed West Ham
United's home date with Southampton on Saturday as a 'six-pointer'. The
Hammers have made a bright start to life back in the Premier League, and
occupy a top-half standing at present, but they are taking nothing for
granted. Allardyce has been around long enough to know that fortunes can
change in an instant, making it all the more important to life live in the
present. That means taking as many points as possible off those sides in and
around you, and those who were promoted alongside you if you are new to the
top-flight.
Southampton will feel exactly the same as they prepare to head for the East
End, with Nigel Adkins' side yet to accumulate the points tally their
performances have deserved. A leaky defence has been the root cause of their
troubles so far, with a division-high 20 goals conceded in just seven
fixtures. The Saints will be aware that they need to plug those gaps if they
are to stop undermining all of the good work they continue to carry out at
the opposite end of the field - with there only seven sides to have scored
more goals than Adkins' men so far this term.
West Ham
Last 6
1-3
1-2
1-4
1-1
0-0
3-0
Defenders Winston Reid and Guy Demel are West Ham's main injury concerns
heading into the weekend. Reid (back) and Demel (thigh) will have to prove
their fitness ahead of the match, while the Hammers will also be without
Ricardo Vaz Te who has had surgery on his dislocated shoulder. Andy Carroll
came through England duty unscathed and is expected to start up front, while
Raphael Spiegel will back up Jussi Jaaskelainen in goal, with Stephen
Henderson beginning his three-month loan with Ipswich.
Southamptn
Last 6
2-2
3-1
2-0
4-1
6-1
2-3
Southampton will be missing record signing Gaston Ramirez on Saturday, and
for the foreseeable future. The 21-year-old faces another four weeks out
after problems related to a dead leg picked up before the international
break and will be joined on the sidelines by Frazer Richardson (thigh). Jack
Cork, Danny Butterfield (both knee) and Tadanari Lee (elbow) are also out,
but Nathaniel Clyne is set to return. Artur Boruc could be involved with
Southampton for the first time.
Opta stats
Southampton have trailed in all seven Premier League games at some point,
the only team to be behind in all of their league games.
Saints have dropped the most points from winning positions in the Premier
League (11). With those points, Southampton would be second in the table.
West Ham have scored a divisional high 88% of their goals in the first half
this season.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce backs West Ham to return to winning ways against Southampton
Last Updated: October 19, 2012 2:10pm
SSN
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce believes his side will benefit from an easier
start to the season when they meet Southampton this weekend The Hammers
entertain fellow promoted side Saints at Upton Park on Saturday having lost
only once in front of their own fans in the Premier League. Allardyce's side
enjoyed home wins over Aston Villa and Fulhamand a draw with Sunderland
before they finally came unstuck against Arsenal last time out. In contrast,
Saints have already had tough fixtures against Manchester City and United,
Arsenal and high-flying Everton. "We've coped with the Premier League very
well over the start of our season, also I think we had a group of fixtures
that were less challenging than Southampton's," said Allardyce. "We were
disappointed by Arsenal, but our confidence, particularly here at home is
very high. "I hope we can see the same level of performance that I've seen,
particularly against Sunderland, Fulham, and Aston Villa at the start of the
season. If we can hit that level of form, I think we'll get opportunities to
win the game. "Clearly one of (Southampton's) strengths is set plays and I
don't want to jump the gun, but one of our strengths this year is not
conceding from set plays as well as scoring from them. "We'll have to try
and maintain that level and if we cut that side of it out for Southampton
then we obviously limit their percentages of chances of scoring a goal,
because they've been good at it."
The Hammers boss admits that they key to success will likely lay with him
finding the right balance between attack and defence. He said: "There's two
ways of playing the game. You play the game when you're in possession and
you play the game when out of it. If you don't get both right, you don't
win. "Certainly your first year in the Premier League, what you do out of
possession is just as important as what you do in. You've got to get those
two critical points on an equal par if you can. "If you can do that,
particularly defensively, even though Southampton haven't found it that
difficult, they've scored 12 goals in seven games, but they've gone out to
score those 12 goals and left gaps that have been exploited. "We suffered
the same problem against Arsenal two weeks ago, because when we got better
in possession in the game, in the second half particularly, they hit us on
the break and smashed us a couple of times and they ended up winning 3-1.
"Whereas in the balance as it was looking with only 10 minutes to go at 1-1,
we might have got something out of it then all of a sudden..."
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Carlton Cole has West Ham fight club goal
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: 19th October 2012
The Sun
CARLTON COLE has a new W.H.U.F.C to inspire him on the pitch this season.
The Hammers striker wants to be West Ham's Ultimate Fight Champ as he gets
ready to rumble against Southampton today. Cole, 29, teamed up with pal and
UFC fighter Jimi Manuwa for a gruelling workout to make him meaner on the
pitch. He said: "I love UFC. I watch all the DVDs and to get a lesson from
Jimmy is a privilege. "I love all that gladiator stuff. This is the closest
we get to it these days." West Ham fan Manuwa, a mixed martial arts expert,
joked (kind of): "I train six days a week for five or six hours. He chases a
ball about. But Carlton is a quick learner." Cole admits it is time to start
throwing his weight around and toughen up in the search for his first goal
this season. Boss Sam Allardyce has ordered the 6ft 3in powerhouse into the
gym and to drop the perma-grin and become more aggressive in the box. Cole
confessed: "I've not been a softie but I've been a bit nice. "This season
the boss has got a different attitude and wants me to be more aggressive, so
I'm doing extra strength work.
"It's not in my nature to be mean and aggressive, that's why I struggled a
while back to be like that. "I've started doing special training to make me
sturdier on the pitch. "I've been strengthening my core and it's been a main
factor in me trying to be stronger on the pitch. "I've got a big frame and
I'm trying to be meaner. "It's difficult because I get a lot of fouls given
against me. "The manager has picked up on it. It's nothing malicious, I'm
just trying to be strong. "You can be more aggressive but you have to
control it. "It's not about shoving someone to the floor, it's about knowing
how to move someone when they are pushing you in the back, or in the box
attacking the ball and if someone pushes me I won't move. It's not about
throwing your arms about sulking and fouling."
Having said that, if Manuwa wants to sulk, throw tantrums or foul it is fine
by me. The West Ham supporter from Croydon won his first UFC contest last
month and as an expert in boxing, thai boxing, kick boxing, jujitsu and
wrestling, he can do pretty much as he pleases. Cole reckons a workout with
mean machine Manuwa is a valuable lesson in being a bit more of a bruiser.
He said: "I'm privileged to get a little lesson. it's not everyday you go
toe-to-toe with a UFC fighter. "I respect him to the highest order. I've
always had team-mates to fall back on. Having to fend and fight for yourself
is nerve-wracking. "If it goes wrong for him, he only has himself to blame.
"I like all that ancient Roman stuff in the Colosseum. "I like blood and
gore stuff. I love Gladiator. I like those sort of movies where the emperors
decide if you live or die. "UFC is the modern equivalent. Everyone likes
blood and gore if they can. "UFC is the 21st century version. It's all well
run and supervised but it still pits great fighters against each other."
Manuwa, 32, has won all his 12 fights inside the distance since taking up
Mixed Martial Arts four years ago. The worst injury to a competitor in the
past 12 years has been a fractured leg. Manuwa said: "UFC is well
controlled. "It feels like sport rather than anything else because of all
the disciplines I need to constantly practise." West Ham take on Southampton
today — in a rematch between the two teams which led the Championship for
much of last season. It is also their annual anti-racism 'Kick it Out' game.
The Hammers are relatively flourishing in eighth place in the Premier League
while Saints are struggling in 17th with just one win from their seven
games. Cole, who scored 15 goals last season, said: "It's hurting massively
that I haven't scored yet. "Some of the other players are pulling my leg
that I haven't. "Kevin Nolan keeps reminding me that he has three already.
"But it's not just about me. I could score as many as I want but we could
still lose the game. You must know what you are good at. "First and foremost
it's not about me. Sometimes you have to sacrifice yourself for the team.
"At the moment my goals don't matter because we are doing well and are where
we want to be. "Southampton had a tough start with hard games back-to-back
at the start of the season. "That has knocked their confidence a bit. Our
style of football is really direct at the moment. "Not many teams can cope
with us. I would hope we can get maximum points out of this." The next
UFC®154 live event is taking place in Montreal, Quebec on Sunday November 18
and will be aired at 3am on ESPN.
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It's Dr Big Sam! Allardyce plays shrink with West Ham's globe-trotters
The Mirror
19 Oct 2012 21:59
Sam Allardyce has turned to mind games to get his jet-setting Hammers ready
for Saturday's game with Southampton. West Ham have a number of weary
players returning from international duty, including England striker Andy
Carroll - and Big Sam will turn psychologist to get the best out of them.
"International duty has only recently been changed to Friday-Tuesday so
arriving back on Thursday is the norm, but it's about your mental attitude,"
Allardyce said. "Winston Reid [of New Zealand] came back from international
duty last time and had an outstanding game. "So if you're mentally prepared
and looking forward to the game then you play well. But if you wake up and
say, 'Oh, that journey has taken it out of me', then you won't play very
well. "It's the mind that makes you play right. If your mind isn't right, it
doesn't matter about all the skills, you won't play well, you will play
poorly "If you don't talk about good psychological values and being
mentally prepared then you can't perform for the highest level. "Everyone
has a different way to be motivated and, if you understand that, they
deliver better performances."
Allardyce's message comes days after he urged his men to deepen the woes of
a Southampton side that's conceded a league-worst 20 goals so far this
season.
Saints told: Give 'em hell!
By Alex Crook
Southampton chief Nigel Adkins is refusing to sacrifice entertaining
football – despite winning only one of their opening seven games on their
return to the Premier League. As Saints travel to West Ham, Adkins has
insisted: "We want to play 4-3-3 and we want to create chances and score
goals – but we know we need to keep them out at the other end. "We believe
it is the right thing to do, and I will make sure we stick by that." Adkins
will be without Gaston Ramirez because of a leg injury, but defender
Nathaniel Clyne returns. Simon Bird's Premier League predictions: Will
cutting Carroll down to size prove a tall order for Southampton?
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
The manager has spoken to the press ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier
League fixture
19.10.2012
Sam Allardyce has held his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's
Barclays Premier League fixture with Southampton at the Boleyn Ground. The
West Ham United manager was quizzed about everything from international
breaks to racism in football to his thoughts on Saturday's opponents. Big
Sam's press conference ahead of Saturday's sold out showdown with the Saints
can be watched in full on West Ham TV now!
Sam, the international break has come to a close. How is your squad looking
ahead of the clash with Southampton?
SA: "We are OK other than the shock of Senegal versus the Ivory Coast in
which we had two players involved in a horrific situation. One (Guy Demel)
was injured so he didn't play but they have both come back OK. Andy Carroll
has got back and he is OK. Winston Reid did not get back until late on
Thursday but he was called up despite being injured and had to fly 26,000
miles to not play. Everybody else is doing well. Our main problem is that
Winston had a back problem before he left and we do not know how he has
responded to treatment over in New Zealand. Guy has a thigh problem and will
probably not be ready for Saturday and we have a few other injuries but
internationals-wise they have come back OK."
Do you think that going away with the England squad has benefitted Andy
Carroll and his return to full fitness?
SA: "I think it has, yes, but I know Andy and I know he would have probably
liked to have played a lot more than he did. But he has had two weeks in a
very competitive environment and he got 17 minutes against San Marino.
Playing with some very good players will have brought him up to speed and
hopefully he will stay fit for us in the future."
Looking at the state of the pitch in Poland, Andy may have been the ideal
man to go on and get a goal. Did it surprise you that he wasn't brought on?
SA: "I am not here to criticise Roy Hodgson's decision-making process but I
would have liked Andy to play because he is my player. Roy is obviously the
man in charge and he has his view on who he wants to play and who he wants
to bring on and I have absolutely no problem with that."
Southampton were promoted with you last season and received a lot of
plaudits for the way in which they played. Does it satisfy you that they
were unable to
match you in the transfer market and points wise so far this season?
SA: "Well they have matched us because they signed a £12million player in
[Uruguay midfielder] Gaston Ramirez during the transfer window. We only have
Andy on loan and we paid a lot less than that so I think that they have gone
out into the market and spent big like we all have to. What I do think is
that we have coped with the Barclays Premier League very well at the start
of this season and I also think we had a group of fixtures that were less
challenging than Southampton's. From a Premier League point of view our
experience is probably better than theirs so hopefully that will be a
telling factor on Saturday. Our confidence is also very high because we have
been very good at home. I am hoping to see the same kind of performance that
I saw against Aston Villa, Fulham and Sunderland. If we play like that we
will create opportunities and have a very good chance of winning the game."
Would you agree that Southampton have a Barclays Premier League attack with
the likes of Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert, but a Championship-standard
defence?
SA: "I don't know and I do not think Nigel Adkins will look at in that way.
Perhaps you in the media look at it that way because they have scored and
conceded a lot of goals. There are two ways of playing the game and that is
in possession and out of it. If you do not get both right you do not win.
What you do out of possession in the Barclays Premier League is just as
important as what you do with it, especially during your first season. If
you can get both of those on an equal par you will do well. It is usually
more difficult to score goals than it is to concede. Southampton have found
it easier to score but in doing so they have left a lot of gaps. We suffered
the same problem against Arsenal. As we got better in possession they hit us
on the break twice and we found ourselves 3-1 down."
As a man at the forefront of footballing science, have you been surprised by
the news that England players have had to use caffeine and sleeping tablets?
SA: "In football we all use caffeine in one shape or form in our build-up to
the games, depending on the individual, the game and how you want to monitor
it. Because they have had that extra dose of caffeine they find it harder to
sleep so to overcome that they have been given a sleeping tablet or two. I
do not see too much of a problem with it. Because they have had to play 24
hours after hoping to do so it will have had an affect and has meant they
probably could not give the performance they would have liked."
In the light of the recent racist incidents in football, have you ever had
to give your players advice on how to handle abusive atmospheres?
SA: "No, because we do not get them and that is the bottom line. It is
talked about an awful lot but from our point of view we all know where we
stand. At the start of the season we all have the keep racism out of
football cards, badges and t-shirts and we are well aware of our
responsibilities. From within football I do not see any, there have been a
couple of incidents in exchanges of words on the field so everyone has
brought it up again but I personally have not seen it.
From my point of view, in terms of discrimination, I do not see any
internally and I have not seen any for many years at Bolton, Blackburn,
Newcastle and West Ham United. I think that if I have to say anything I
would say that this country is one of the best in the world. We will never
be perfect but we are one of
the best at trying to get it right."
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Cole exclusive on West Ham TV!
WHUFC.com
Carlton Cole has spoken exclusively to West Ham TV ahead of Saturday's visit
of Southampton
20.10.2012
Carlton Cole is aiming to celebrate his birthday by netting his first goal
of the season in Saturday's Barclays Premier League fixture with
Southampton. The West Ham United and England striker has not found the net
since his unforgettable npower Championship Play-Off final strike against
Blackpool at Wembley.
In the same week he turned 29, Cole told West Ham TV he would love to get
off the mark by notching in this weekend's sold out meeting with the
newly-promoted Saints at the Boleyn Ground. "I would love a birthday goal
but to be honest I just want any kind of goal whether it is off my knee, my
chest, my back or wherever my head - I don't mind!" he laughed. "Any goal
would be welcome but as long as we are winning anyway and everyone else is
scoring we will be fine. "Southampton got four points off us last year and
we were not happy with that. We played them at Upton Park with ten men for
most of the game and that was a big game for us but we survived and drew
one-all. "They have not started as well as us this season in the Premier
League, which is a completely different ball game. I have always said that
we have a strong side for the Premier League and while we lost the last game
[at home to Arsenal], we are looking to bounce back straight away. "Our home
form has been very good so hopefully we can bounce back against Southampton.
I think they will be coming here thinking that we are the same team as last
season and that they can grab a few points. "Southampton think they know us
but I think we will surprise them because we are not the same team as last
season. We have added a few good players to our team as well so it will be
an interesting game for them to see if they can handle us. We are very sound
defensively and we are very good going forward at the moment so we have
everything going for us."
While Cole might not have hit the net himself in 2012/13, his all-round
contribution to the team has been appreciated by his coaching staff and
team-mates alike. "I have got a different part. If you want to read into
stats, read into stats, but what I do on the field sometimes doesn't get
mirrored with my goal ratio. Once you are a striker you are a striker and
people will look into different parts of your game to try and criticise you,
but I know what I am picked for and the manager knows why I get in the team
and why I have to be around to help the team out."
One person who always appreciates Cole's efforts - on and off the pitch - is
his mother. Last weekend, the No9 joined his mum Selina and guests at the
launch of CARLAKKA, a foundation founded by the striker dedicated to making
a difference for children in Sierra Leone. The event, held in Chiswick,
raised thousands of pounds towards the cost of building a new school in the
African nation of his mother's birth. "It is close to my Mum's heart and she
wanted me to be the face of the Carlakka Foundation, which is building a
school in Sierra Leone. Calakka has teamed up with the Ndoro Children's
Charity that is going to be building a school in Zimbabwe, so we are trying
to make as much money as possible because they are both good causes. "We see
how the African children live and I have to try and help as much as I can
over there and over here. I will do anything to make my Mum happy. At then
end of the day it is a great cause and I have people there to support me and
I know West Ham will too."
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West Ham v Southampton
KO 15:00
19 October 2012
Last updated at 12:32
BBC.co.uk
By Martin Fisher
Match of the Day commentator
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Upton Park Date: Saturday, 20 October
West Ham defenders Winston Reid and Guy Demel face fitness tests on back and
thigh injuries respectively. Ricardo Vaz Te has had surgery on a dislocated
shoulder and been ruled out for three months.
Southampton are without Gaston Ramirez for at least a month due to problems
relating to a dead leg he suffered before the international break. Danny
Butterfield, Jack Cork, Tadanari Lee and Frazer Richardson are out, but
Nathaniel Clyne could return.
MATCH PREVIEW
Side-by-side for most of last season in the Championship, it was Southampton
who stayed the distance to clinch automatic promotion while West Ham had to
take the harder, if more glamorous, route via the play-off final at Wembley.
And yet it's the Hammers that have adapted to life in the top-flight more
impressively. They sit eighth in the table with three wins under their belt
already, while the Saints are just one place and a point above the
relegation zone.
Southampton look like they'll always score goals; his concern is that they
seem even more prone to letting them in. Twenty goals conceded so far means
they have the worst defensive record in the Premier League - 12 of those
have come in their three away games. Trips to Manchester City, Arsenal and
Everton were always going to be challenging but on their day, in their own
way, West Ham can be just as destructive. Ask Fulham. Andy Carroll terrified
their defence at Upton Park on his debut and, now fully-fit again, the
England striker will test Southampton's rickety backline. It's a shame for
the Saints that club-record signing Gaston Ramirez will be missing for the
next month with a thigh injury, meaning much of the creative responsibility
will fall on the shoulders of Adam Lallana. If he's up to the task, and if
Rickie Lambert can get a few sights of goal, Southampton could finally pick
up their first away point or points of the season.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
In their meetings in the Championship last season, the Saints won 1-0 at St
Mary's and drew 1-1 at Upton Park.
Southampton won on their last visit to West Ham in the Premier League, but
it was only their second victory in 10 visits to Upton Park in the division.
This is the 96th meeting between the sides. West Ham have won 36 times,
Southampton 32, and there have been 27 draws.
West Ham
West Ham have scored 88% of their goals in the first half of matches this
season.
The Hammers have committed the most fouls (109) and earned the most cards
(18) so far this season.
Carlton Cole has the lowest pass completion rate (42%) in an opponent's half
of any Premier League player this season.
Southampton
Southampton have dropped 11 points from winning positions this season, the
most in the Premier League. If they had won those points, the Saints would
be second in the table.
They have four points from their first seven Premier League matches, the
same as they had when they were last in the division in 2004-05. They went
on to finish bottom and were relegated.
The Saints have attempted fewer long passes (268) than any other team in the
Premier League this season.
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Jarvis: I'll set 'em up...
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 19th October 2012
By: Staff Writer
Matt Jarvis says that he can't wait to get his partnership with Andy Carroll
up and running. The two recent arrivals in east London have thus far started
just one game together - the 3-1 defeat against Arsenal a fortnight ago -
but West Ham fans have high hopes that the two can form a formidable
partnership on the field. It is a sentiment that Jarvis shares. Talking to a
daily newspaper, he said: "We all know that whatever kind of ball you put
into the box, Andy's going to be bursting to get on it. That's good to know
as a winger. There's 6ft plus of him, so he certainly makes his presence
felt. He's showing what he can do on the pitch and I'm going to be providing
the ammunition for him to go and get on the end of. Hopefully we can strike
up a good understanding."
Jarvis, West Ham's record-signing at £10.75million - who began his career at
Millwall before being released as a 16-year-old - also admitted that he was
keen to add to his sole international cap won in a 2011 friendly against
Ghana. "It does motivate me to keep playing well week-in, week-out," he
added, "and if I do put in the performances, you never know."
Both Jarvis and Carroll are expected to feature in Sam Allardyce's starting
XI when the Hammers take on Premier League strugglers Southampton at the
Boleyn Ground tomorrow afternoon.
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Allardyce on... West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 19th October 2012
By: Staff Writer
Ahead of this weekend's Premier League clash with Southampton - a match he
himself described as a 'six-pointer' earlier in the week - Sam Allardyce
spoke to Yahoo about all things West Ham...
How do you assess the start West Ham have made to the season?
Well, up to now I think it's been exceptionally good. I think that while we
were disappointed by losing to Arsenal in our last game you can expect that
with Arsenal being such a good side and with us just promoted back into the
Premier League. Our only real disappointment was the Swansea away game where
we got beat comfortably in the end, but every other performance and every
other result has been very, very good. 11 points in seven games is a good
start for us.
Which of your players have impressed you most in rising to the challenge
this season?
I think one of the most impressive has been Winston Reid, who hasn't really
been in this country that long. The improvement of Winston and the
consistency of performances he gives us as a central defender have been key
to some of our results, because our defensive unit as a team and as
individuals have been very good.
From the players I inherited when I first joined West Ham, Mark Noble has
come good in the Premier League. Plus my captain, Kevin Nolan, who's been
there before and leads the team on and off the field; he's made a good
start. Most of the players, to be perfectly honest, have done their job and
hopefully they can continue to and continue to get the results that we're
looking for.
Andy Carroll: how significant a transfer do you think that was for West Ham
and, in a more general sense, how important is it for a promoted team to get
players like that on loan?
Andy was a big, big signing for us. Even though it's only a loan deal for a
season I think the size of the player - not just in stature but in terms of
his ability - was one where every player who was already at West Ham thought
"wow". I think Andy, with Matt Jarvis and then Yossi Benayoun made the squad
a real secure squad in terms of strength and depth.
While Yossi hasn't been able to break in on a regular basis just yet, Matt
Jarvis and Andy Carroll have made a major impact - not just individually but
to the rest of the team, making them feel like we can do something this
season in terms of where we finish in the Premier League.
What do you think about the prospect of West Ham maybe moving into the
Olympic Stadium?
I've said since arriving at West Ham that I understand the history and
tradition of the Boleyn Ground, but to really become one of the top clubs in
London, if not in this country, then a new stadium is of the utmost
importance.
We've seen Chelsea grow into a major European side over the last decade
because of Roman Abramovich's money. We've seen Arsenal move into a brand
new 60,000 stadium at the Emirates and we've seen Man United grow their
stadium to 75,000. Moving to the Olympic Stadium is a must for the growth
and the development of the club.
60,000 seats are planned and that will satisfy everybody who wants to come
to West Ham - and a fantastic venue it could be too. We experienced what the
atmosphere was like at the Olympics; that same atmosphere could be recreated
with a West Ham football team playing there.
Does it make it even more exciting when we saw the likes of Mo Farrah and
Jess Ennis win Gold there? It's got some memories, hasn't it?
It's got some fantastic memories, the Paralympics as well; the turnout for
the Paralympics and the athletes' success there was absolutely magnificent.
For the area itself it's very important that we do move there and make sure
that we keep the standards up. It's a superb venue, the Olympic Park is a
superb park and I can't see anybody else using it to the maximum as we
could. The big problem to be overcome is the running track around the pitch
which must be maintained, so the engineers would have to plan particularly
well to cope with that situation.
I was going to ask you about that. There's a widely-held perception in this
country that having a running track impacts on the atmosphere. Do you think
that is an issue?
Yes, most definitely. Bayern Munich, for instance, got themselves their own
stadium where the fans come much closer to the touchline and that creates a
much, much better atmosphere. If you go to Spain with the old stadiums, that
creates an even better atmosphere. Because their health and safety rules
aren't as strict as ours their terracing is much steeper, so the fans are
even closer to the pitch than they are in England - and that does create the
electric atmosphere that you're looking for.
In the wake of the Olympics we heard a lot about how footballers contrasted
with athletes. Do you think there are things footballers can learn from
Olympians and Paralympians, or do you think some of the criticism
footballers got was overblown?
The game is a volatile contest so people will lose their temper - but nobody
seems to highlight the fact that rugby players stamp on each others heads or
gauge each others eyes out; that seems to be acceptable. Or ice hockey
[where] players beat themselves up with sticks. But when a footballer kicks
somebody, or does something that's slightly untoward it's "lock them away,
ban them for life".
I think there's a lot of jealousy around football in this country. More and
more people complain about the price and so on and so forth, whereas with
the other sports it's not quite the same. So it's something we have to live
with.
The Olympics is not as fierce a competition because there's not that
day-to-day, week-to-week competitive edge. It's a build-up of four years - a
very dedicated four years of course - and the delight of winning must be one
of the biggest highs anybody's ever experienced.
Do you have a code of conduct at West Ham and what do you think of England's
attempts to implement one?
Yes, we do. I've always had a code of conduct which is signed up to by the
players, the club itself and me as the manager. Any sporting industry has to
be run with discipline; if it's not, then it will fail miserably.
It is adhered to by everybody concerned and if anybody has any complaints,
then I can revert to the code of conduct and say "I'm sorry, but it says in
the code of conduct that you're not supposed to do that; you have, so the
consequences are this" - and there can be no argument. Of course, there's
always the right of appeal on anything that may result in a fine, but
discipline for everything is imperative if you want to succeed today.
There's been a lot of attention paid to diving recently. Why do you think it
creates so much controversy in this country and do you agree with the view
that divers should be banned retrospectively?
As a professional I have a view that diving - or simulation, as it's called
- is not what we want. Over the years, simulation has crept in more and
more; it started with some of the foreign imports who came into the game.
But there is another side to it that says honest players who stay on their
feet don't get fouls given to them by referees today.
From our point of view nobody needs to feign anything if there's no contact.
But I feel that on some occasions, if contact is made, if you don't go down
you don't get [awarded anything]. If there is contact - and the contact is
severe enough - more often than not the referee chooses not to give anything
and that creates a greater frustration and anger than diving does.
If you want to cut diving - blatant dives - out, suspending players would be
a good thing. But you have got to get the other side right as well and
balance that up by giving free kicks that are free kicks when honest players
stay on their feet.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Big Sam blasts FA
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 18th October 2012
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce has hit out at New Zealand Football after they insisted
Winston Reid make the trip home for the All Whites' World Cup 2014
qualifying match against Tahiti. Reid, who was nursing an injury sustained
during West Ham's 3-1 defeat at home to Arsenal a fortnight ago was ordered
back to New Zealand by the NZF - the country's equivalent of the English FA
- for the match, which the Kiwis won 3-0. That result gave them an aggregate
win of 5-0 and edged them closer to another appearance in the Finals.
However Allardyce was critical of the decision to call Reid - who was an
unused substitute - back for the game. "I don't see any sense in calling
them over and particularly that far, because they are injured," he said. "I
don't see any sense it in at all. I also think there was an underlining
factor that they didn't trust him or us that he was injured. "There's
another underlining factor that tells me that the players are brought there
and then they're put under enormous pressure to play, because of the
loyalties to the country by the coaches and certain political elements which
they have to resist. "On one hand I'm all for international football - but
it doesn't make any sense to take them because they can't play. I don't
understand that at all."
Reid, who has been suffering with a back spasm could make his return to West
Ham's first team against Southampton at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday -
despite having undertaken a mammoth 48-hour flight this week. Should the
in-form centre half not be considered fit to play, James Tomkins is on
standby to deputise.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham v Southampton preview
Last Updated: October 19, 2012 3:46pm
SSN
It may only be October, but Sam Allardyce has already billed West Ham
United's home date with Southampton on Saturday as a 'six-pointer'. The
Hammers have made a bright start to life back in the Premier League, and
occupy a top-half standing at present, but they are taking nothing for
granted. Allardyce has been around long enough to know that fortunes can
change in an instant, making it all the more important to life live in the
present. That means taking as many points as possible off those sides in and
around you, and those who were promoted alongside you if you are new to the
top-flight.
Southampton will feel exactly the same as they prepare to head for the East
End, with Nigel Adkins' side yet to accumulate the points tally their
performances have deserved. A leaky defence has been the root cause of their
troubles so far, with a division-high 20 goals conceded in just seven
fixtures. The Saints will be aware that they need to plug those gaps if they
are to stop undermining all of the good work they continue to carry out at
the opposite end of the field - with there only seven sides to have scored
more goals than Adkins' men so far this term.
West Ham
Last 6
1-3
1-2
1-4
1-1
0-0
3-0
Defenders Winston Reid and Guy Demel are West Ham's main injury concerns
heading into the weekend. Reid (back) and Demel (thigh) will have to prove
their fitness ahead of the match, while the Hammers will also be without
Ricardo Vaz Te who has had surgery on his dislocated shoulder. Andy Carroll
came through England duty unscathed and is expected to start up front, while
Raphael Spiegel will back up Jussi Jaaskelainen in goal, with Stephen
Henderson beginning his three-month loan with Ipswich.
Southamptn
Last 6
2-2
3-1
2-0
4-1
6-1
2-3
Southampton will be missing record signing Gaston Ramirez on Saturday, and
for the foreseeable future. The 21-year-old faces another four weeks out
after problems related to a dead leg picked up before the international
break and will be joined on the sidelines by Frazer Richardson (thigh). Jack
Cork, Danny Butterfield (both knee) and Tadanari Lee (elbow) are also out,
but Nathaniel Clyne is set to return. Artur Boruc could be involved with
Southampton for the first time.
Opta stats
Southampton have trailed in all seven Premier League games at some point,
the only team to be behind in all of their league games.
Saints have dropped the most points from winning positions in the Premier
League (11). With those points, Southampton would be second in the table.
West Ham have scored a divisional high 88% of their goals in the first half
this season.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce backs West Ham to return to winning ways against Southampton
Last Updated: October 19, 2012 2:10pm
SSN
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce believes his side will benefit from an easier
start to the season when they meet Southampton this weekend The Hammers
entertain fellow promoted side Saints at Upton Park on Saturday having lost
only once in front of their own fans in the Premier League. Allardyce's side
enjoyed home wins over Aston Villa and Fulhamand a draw with Sunderland
before they finally came unstuck against Arsenal last time out. In contrast,
Saints have already had tough fixtures against Manchester City and United,
Arsenal and high-flying Everton. "We've coped with the Premier League very
well over the start of our season, also I think we had a group of fixtures
that were less challenging than Southampton's," said Allardyce. "We were
disappointed by Arsenal, but our confidence, particularly here at home is
very high. "I hope we can see the same level of performance that I've seen,
particularly against Sunderland, Fulham, and Aston Villa at the start of the
season. If we can hit that level of form, I think we'll get opportunities to
win the game. "Clearly one of (Southampton's) strengths is set plays and I
don't want to jump the gun, but one of our strengths this year is not
conceding from set plays as well as scoring from them. "We'll have to try
and maintain that level and if we cut that side of it out for Southampton
then we obviously limit their percentages of chances of scoring a goal,
because they've been good at it."
The Hammers boss admits that they key to success will likely lay with him
finding the right balance between attack and defence. He said: "There's two
ways of playing the game. You play the game when you're in possession and
you play the game when out of it. If you don't get both right, you don't
win. "Certainly your first year in the Premier League, what you do out of
possession is just as important as what you do in. You've got to get those
two critical points on an equal par if you can. "If you can do that,
particularly defensively, even though Southampton haven't found it that
difficult, they've scored 12 goals in seven games, but they've gone out to
score those 12 goals and left gaps that have been exploited. "We suffered
the same problem against Arsenal two weeks ago, because when we got better
in possession in the game, in the second half particularly, they hit us on
the break and smashed us a couple of times and they ended up winning 3-1.
"Whereas in the balance as it was looking with only 10 minutes to go at 1-1,
we might have got something out of it then all of a sudden..."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Carlton Cole has West Ham fight club goal
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: 19th October 2012
The Sun
CARLTON COLE has a new W.H.U.F.C to inspire him on the pitch this season.
The Hammers striker wants to be West Ham's Ultimate Fight Champ as he gets
ready to rumble against Southampton today. Cole, 29, teamed up with pal and
UFC fighter Jimi Manuwa for a gruelling workout to make him meaner on the
pitch. He said: "I love UFC. I watch all the DVDs and to get a lesson from
Jimmy is a privilege. "I love all that gladiator stuff. This is the closest
we get to it these days." West Ham fan Manuwa, a mixed martial arts expert,
joked (kind of): "I train six days a week for five or six hours. He chases a
ball about. But Carlton is a quick learner." Cole admits it is time to start
throwing his weight around and toughen up in the search for his first goal
this season. Boss Sam Allardyce has ordered the 6ft 3in powerhouse into the
gym and to drop the perma-grin and become more aggressive in the box. Cole
confessed: "I've not been a softie but I've been a bit nice. "This season
the boss has got a different attitude and wants me to be more aggressive, so
I'm doing extra strength work.
"It's not in my nature to be mean and aggressive, that's why I struggled a
while back to be like that. "I've started doing special training to make me
sturdier on the pitch. "I've been strengthening my core and it's been a main
factor in me trying to be stronger on the pitch. "I've got a big frame and
I'm trying to be meaner. "It's difficult because I get a lot of fouls given
against me. "The manager has picked up on it. It's nothing malicious, I'm
just trying to be strong. "You can be more aggressive but you have to
control it. "It's not about shoving someone to the floor, it's about knowing
how to move someone when they are pushing you in the back, or in the box
attacking the ball and if someone pushes me I won't move. It's not about
throwing your arms about sulking and fouling."
Having said that, if Manuwa wants to sulk, throw tantrums or foul it is fine
by me. The West Ham supporter from Croydon won his first UFC contest last
month and as an expert in boxing, thai boxing, kick boxing, jujitsu and
wrestling, he can do pretty much as he pleases. Cole reckons a workout with
mean machine Manuwa is a valuable lesson in being a bit more of a bruiser.
He said: "I'm privileged to get a little lesson. it's not everyday you go
toe-to-toe with a UFC fighter. "I respect him to the highest order. I've
always had team-mates to fall back on. Having to fend and fight for yourself
is nerve-wracking. "If it goes wrong for him, he only has himself to blame.
"I like all that ancient Roman stuff in the Colosseum. "I like blood and
gore stuff. I love Gladiator. I like those sort of movies where the emperors
decide if you live or die. "UFC is the modern equivalent. Everyone likes
blood and gore if they can. "UFC is the 21st century version. It's all well
run and supervised but it still pits great fighters against each other."
Manuwa, 32, has won all his 12 fights inside the distance since taking up
Mixed Martial Arts four years ago. The worst injury to a competitor in the
past 12 years has been a fractured leg. Manuwa said: "UFC is well
controlled. "It feels like sport rather than anything else because of all
the disciplines I need to constantly practise." West Ham take on Southampton
today — in a rematch between the two teams which led the Championship for
much of last season. It is also their annual anti-racism 'Kick it Out' game.
The Hammers are relatively flourishing in eighth place in the Premier League
while Saints are struggling in 17th with just one win from their seven
games. Cole, who scored 15 goals last season, said: "It's hurting massively
that I haven't scored yet. "Some of the other players are pulling my leg
that I haven't. "Kevin Nolan keeps reminding me that he has three already.
"But it's not just about me. I could score as many as I want but we could
still lose the game. You must know what you are good at. "First and foremost
it's not about me. Sometimes you have to sacrifice yourself for the team.
"At the moment my goals don't matter because we are doing well and are where
we want to be. "Southampton had a tough start with hard games back-to-back
at the start of the season. "That has knocked their confidence a bit. Our
style of football is really direct at the moment. "Not many teams can cope
with us. I would hope we can get maximum points out of this." The next
UFC®154 live event is taking place in Montreal, Quebec on Sunday November 18
and will be aired at 3am on ESPN.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
It's Dr Big Sam! Allardyce plays shrink with West Ham's globe-trotters
The Mirror
19 Oct 2012 21:59
Sam Allardyce has turned to mind games to get his jet-setting Hammers ready
for Saturday's game with Southampton. West Ham have a number of weary
players returning from international duty, including England striker Andy
Carroll - and Big Sam will turn psychologist to get the best out of them.
"International duty has only recently been changed to Friday-Tuesday so
arriving back on Thursday is the norm, but it's about your mental attitude,"
Allardyce said. "Winston Reid [of New Zealand] came back from international
duty last time and had an outstanding game. "So if you're mentally prepared
and looking forward to the game then you play well. But if you wake up and
say, 'Oh, that journey has taken it out of me', then you won't play very
well. "It's the mind that makes you play right. If your mind isn't right, it
doesn't matter about all the skills, you won't play well, you will play
poorly "If you don't talk about good psychological values and being
mentally prepared then you can't perform for the highest level. "Everyone
has a different way to be motivated and, if you understand that, they
deliver better performances."
Allardyce's message comes days after he urged his men to deepen the woes of
a Southampton side that's conceded a league-worst 20 goals so far this
season.
Saints told: Give 'em hell!
By Alex Crook
Southampton chief Nigel Adkins is refusing to sacrifice entertaining
football – despite winning only one of their opening seven games on their
return to the Premier League. As Saints travel to West Ham, Adkins has
insisted: "We want to play 4-3-3 and we want to create chances and score
goals – but we know we need to keep them out at the other end. "We believe
it is the right thing to do, and I will make sure we stick by that." Adkins
will be without Gaston Ramirez because of a leg injury, but defender
Nathaniel Clyne returns. Simon Bird's Premier League predictions: Will
cutting Carroll down to size prove a tall order for Southampton?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Friday, October 19
Daily WHUFC News - 19th October 2012
Southampton match preview
WHUFC.com
All the big-match build-up ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League visit
of the Saints
18.10.2012
WEST HAM UNITED V SOUTHAMPTON
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 20 OCTOBER 2012
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: NEIL SWARBRICK
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
iPHONE APP I TWITTER I FACEBOOK I PODCAST
Introduction
• West Ham United face Southampton at the Boleyn Ground looking to bounce
back to winning ways following their first home Barclays Premier League
defeat last time out against Arsenal on 6 October.
• Going into the weekend, West Ham United sit in eighth on eleven points,
while Southampton sit 17th on four points.
• Southampton managed a 2-2 draw last time out against Fulham pn 7 October,
with central defender Jose Fonte scoring both goals, including a last-minute
equaliser.
• Andy Carroll is likely to start after returning to full fitness against
QPR and Arsenal for West Ham United before featuring for England in their
2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiying win over San Marino on 12 October.
• Southampton are yet to pick up any points on the road this season, having
lost at Manchester City (2-3), Arsenal (1-6) and Everton (1-3). The Saints
have let in more goals on their travels (12) than any other club in the
Barclays Premier League.
• West Ham United's top scorer this season is currently Kevin Nolan with
three. Southampton's leading marksman is Rickie Lambert, who has scored four
times.
• The clubs met twice last season in the npower Championship. Southampton
won the first meeting at St Mary's 1-0 in October 2011, with the reverse
fixture at the Boleyn Ground in February this year ending 1-1. Both games
were played on a Tuesday night and Jos Hooiveld scored in both fixtures for
the Saints. Mark Noble's penalty was West Ham's sole strike against
Southampton last term.
• West Ham United's clash with Southampton is one of eight Barclays Premier
League fixtures being played on Saturday. The others are as follows
(kick-off 3pm unless stated): Fulham v Aston Villa, Liverpool v Reading,
Manchester United v Stoke City, Norwich City v Arsenal (5.30pm), Swansea
City v Wigan Athletic, Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea (12.45pm) and West
Bromwich Albion v Manchester City.
Last Time Out
Saturday 6 October 2012
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United 1-3 Arsenal
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Reid, McCartney, Collins, Demel (Tomkins 73),
Nolan, Jarvis, Noble, Diame (Cole 82), Carroll, Vaz Te (Taylor 64).
Subs not used: Henderson, Benayoun, O'Neil, Maiga.
Goal: Diame 21
Sunday 7 October 2012
Barclays Premier League
Southampton 2-2 Fulham
Southampton: Gazzaniga, Yoshida, Fonte, Fox, Richardson (Hooiveld 8),
Scneiderlin, S Davis, Lallana, Puncheon (Chaplow 61), Lambert (Guly 67),
Rodriguez.
Subs not used: K Davis, Reeves, Ward-Prowse, Mayuka.
Goals: Fonte 4, 90
Previous meeting
• The most-recent meeting between the two sides came on 14 February 2012 and
ended in a 1-1 draw at the Boleyn Ground. West Ham United sat top of the
npower Championship table, with the Saints just one point behind in second
place. Eventual champions Reading were six points behind in sixth. Mark
Noble opened the scoring from the penalty spot after 21 minutes, but not
before Matt Taylor had been sent-off following an altercation with Billy
Sharp in the lead-up to Noble's penalty. Despite West Ham being reduced to
ten men, it took until 15 minutes from time before the Saints drew level
when Jos Hooiveld poked home from close range to snatch a point.
West Ham United: Green, Reid, Tomkins, Faye, O'Brien, Faubert, Collison
(McCartney 21), Taylor, Noble, Cole (Maynard 65), Vaz Te (O'Neil 71).
Subs not used: Lansbury, Baldock
Southampton: Davis, Richardson (Connolly 80), Fonte, Fox, Hooiveld,
Schneiderlin, Cork, Guly (Puncheon 55), Lallana, Lambert, Sharp (Hammond
83).
Subs not used: Martin, Lee
Background
• Saints goalkeeper Kelvin Davis had a trial at West Ham United in summer
2010 but a move could not be agreed and he re-joined Southampton.
• Southampton full-back Frazer Richardson scored the only goal when Stoke
City won 1-0 against West Ham United on 9 December 2003. He was on loan from
Leeds United at the time.
• West Ham United have been drawn to meet Southampton three times in the FA
Cup - and have gone on to reach the final twice. The Hammers overcame the
Saints after two replays in 1922/23, when they were beaten by Bolton
Wanderers in the first-ever final at Wembley. In 1974/75, West Ham defeated
Southampton 2-1 at The Dell in the third round.
• The first-ever meeting between the two clubs at the Boleyn Ground was a
Southern League Division One fixture at The Dell on 16 December 1899. Then
known as Thames Ironworks FC, Ken McKay scored the visitors' goal in a 3-1
defeat.
• The Hammers' most-recent league victory over Southampton took place
exactly eleven years ago on 20 October 2001 when Frederic Kanoute scored
both goals in a 2-0 Premier League win at the Boleyn Ground.
• West Ham United and Southampton met 20 times in the Premier League between
1993 and 2003. The Hammers won eight times, Southampton six and there were
six draws.
• Southampton's best result at the Boleyn Ground was the 4-2 Premier League
victory achieved over West Ham United on 25 April 1998.
• The largest crowd to attend a West Ham United versus Southampton fixture
was the 35,000 who were at the Division Two fixture at the Boleyn Ground on
13 November 1948. The match finished in a 1-1 draw.
• West Ham United have beaten Southampton 4-0 at home on three occasions -
their biggest victories over the Saints at the Boleyn Ground. All three were
in the old Division Two. The first occasion was on 27 March 1937, with Len
Goulden scoring twice. The second was on 12 April 1947, with Frank Neary
netting a brace, while the third was on 19 April 1952, with Terry Woodgate
getting two goals.
Last six meetings
(Barclays Premier League unless stated)
14 February 2012 - West Ham United 1-1 Southampton (Championship)
18 October 2011 - Southampton 1-0 West Ham United (Championship)
5 April 2003 - Southampton 1-1 West Ham United
2 December 2002 - West Ham United 0-1 Southampton
30 January 2002 - Southampton 2-0 West Ham United
20 October 2001 - West Ham United 2-0 Southampton
Overall record v Southampton (all competitions) W 36 D 27 L 30
Ten-year records
West Ham United
2011/12 Championship 3rd (promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)
2010/11 Premier League 20th (relegated to Championship)
2009/10 Premier League 17th
2008/09 Premier League 9th
2007/08 Premier League 10th
2006/07 Premier League 15th
2005/06 Premier League 9th
2004/05 Championship 6th (promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th
2002/03 Premier League 18th (relegated to Championship)
Southampton
2011/12 Championship 2nd (promoted to Premier League)
2010/11 League One 2nd (promoted to Championship)
2009/10 League One 7th
2008/09 Championship 23rd (relegated to League One)
2007/08 Championship 20th
2006/07 Championship 6th
2005/06 Championship 12th
2004/05 Premier League 20th (relegated to Championship)
2003/04 Premier League 12th
2002/03 Premier League 8th
Referee
• The referee will be Neil Swarbrick.
• Swarbrick began refereeing at the age of 29 and within six years he had
been promoted to the National List of assistant referees in 2005.
• Now 42, Swarbrick made his way up the leagues via the Football Conference
and the npower Football League before receiving his first Barclays Premier
League appointment on 11 December 2010. He was officially promoted to the
Select Group of top-flight referees in June 2011.
• So far this season Swarbrick has taken charge of six matches in all
competitions, including two Barclays Premier League fixtures.
• He has taken charge of three West Ham United fixtures in the past, the
most recent being the 2-0 npower Championship Play-Off semi-final first-leg
win at Cardiff City on 3 May 2012.
• Swarbrick has been the man in the middle for five Southampton matches, the
most recent being the 2-2 south coast npower Championship derby with
Portsmouth at St Mary's on 7 April 2012.
Team News
• Ricardo Vaz Te is definitely out after undergoing surgery on a dislocated
shoulder suffered in the 3-1 home Barclays Premier League defeat by Arsenal
on 6 October. Yossi Benayoun, Matt Taylor or Gary O'Neil will deputise.
• Guy Demel (leg) and Winston Reid (back) are both facing races to be fit
after being forced to miss out on international duty for Ivory Coast and New
Zealand respectively. Joey O'Brien and James Tomkins are fit and standing by
to come in, if required.
• France midfielder Alou Diarra continues to be sidelined by a thigh injury.
• Goalkeeper Stephen Henderson has joined npower Championship club Ipswich
Town on a three-month loan, meaning Raphael Spiegel will serve as Jussi
Jaaskelainen's No2. Ravel Morrison is on a season-long loan at npower
Championship club Birmingham City.
• For Southampton, record signing Gaston Ramirez is sidelined with a thigh
injury the Uruguay midfielder suffered in training. England Under-21 and
Team GB midfielder Jack Cork is also out with a leg injury. Right-back
Nathaniel Clyne is expected to be fit after recovering from a leg injury
that ruled him out of England Under-21's UEFA European Championship
qualifier in Serbia in midweek.
Old Boys
• West Ham United's all-time leading goalscorer Vic Watson moved to
Southampton after 15 seasons as a Hammer in 1935. Watson would spend the
1935/36 season at The Dell, scoring 14 goals in 36 appearances to finish as
the Saints' leading goalscorer in Division Two before retiring in summer
1936 at the age of 38.
• Among the other players to have played for both clubs are William Adams,
Eyal Berkovic, Wayne Bridge, Henri Camara, Alistair Campbell, Frank
Costello, Christian Dailly, Calum Davenport, Iain Dowie, Bob Fairman, Jack
Foster, Horace Glover, Richard Hall, Jimmy Harris, Fred Harrison, Joe
Kirkup, George Kitchen, Alex McDonald, Walter Pollard, Nigel Quashie, Albert
Roles, Robbie Slater, David Speedie, Vic Watson, Arthur Wilson, Richard
Wright.
General Information
• Standard tickets for the game against Southampton are now completely sold
out.
• There is significant disruption to public transport on Saturday. Please
click here to see if these changes affect you.
• The weather forecast for Saturday is partly cloudy with temperatures
reaching a maximum of 16C (61F).
Welcome to our Sponsors
• Saturday's Match Sponsors will be Channel Commercials PLC and Matchball
Sponsors will be S.H.E Maritime Serivces Ltd.
• Channel Commercials is an established commercial vehicle and LCV dealer in
Kent, providing sales, parts and servicing for DAF Trucks and Nissan vans.
Alongside new and used trucks, vans and buses, Channel Commercials provides
an impressive portfolio of additional products and services, including a
fully-equipped paint and body shop where accident repair, shot blasting and
signwriting are carried out, as well as a specialist engineering and
fabrication department which specialises in commercial vehicle modification,
welding and rail wagon maintenance. As a leading commercial vehicle dealer
in Kent, Channel Commercials also has factory-trained technicians at four
locations (Ashford, Strood, Sevenoaks and Canterbury) who are able to offer
24-hour servicing for commercial vehicles. For full details, click here.
• S.H.E Maritime Serivces Ltd is a non-vessel operating carrier (NVOCC) with
partners throughout the world. S.H.E Maritime Serivces Ltd's core business
is the handling of less than container load (LCL) and full container load
(FCL) cargo to and from numerous worldwide locations. A complete summary of
the import and export services we operate can be found online here.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
U18s to return to action
WHUFC.com
Nick Haycock's young Hammers will host Bolton Wanderers at Little Heath on
Saturday morning
18.10.2012
West Ham United's promising youngsters return to action when Nick Haycock's
side host Bolton Wanderers in the Barclays U18 Premier League at Little
Heath on Saturday, with kick-off at 11am. Due to the recent international
break, the Hammers have not played since being defeated 1-0 by Blackburn
Rovers at home on 6 October, and Haycock said he and his players could not
wait to get back on the pitch after a well-earned rest. "The international
break came round at a nice time because the first-year scholars had had a
hard pre-season and needed a weekend without a game to re-charge their
batteries," confirmed the U18s coach.
"We had a couple of boys away on international duty - Kieran Sadlier did
very well with Republic of Ireland U19s again - and had some of the younger
ones on stand-by for England. "During the last couple of weeks, I've had the
chance to get the squad together and do a seven-game review and look at what
we have and haven't done well and what we can improve on both individually
and collectively. "We'll try to put what we've learnt out on to the pitch
and hopefully the result will be a good performance against Bolton at the
weekend."
While wins and points are always welcomed, Haycock pointed out that player
development and producing future first-team squad members are the primary
goals of the Academy. With a number of scholars already impressing for the
club's table-topping Development Squad, the U18s coach pointed to a system
that is working. The club was delighted to receive the highest Category One
status as part of the new Elite Player Performance Plan, which is aimed at
giving clubs more time on the training pitch with young players, while also
providing for their educational, social, medical and - if required,
residential needs. Last week, more than 400 Academy players and family
members attended an evening at which the Academy's ambitions and
philosophies were explained. "The whole mantra is about developing players
and the whole idea is that the Under-21s (Development Squad) looks like the
next first team. That might be made up of teenagers and young professionals,
but whoever they are must look like a first-team player of the future. "All
the way down the system, that is how we work. We want to promote young
players up to the next level whenever we can. As an example, Manny Onnariase
has played every game for the Under-18s this season and he is still a
schoolboy. "Our performances and team shape have been good in our games so
far and the games we have lost have been down to mistakes, lack of
concentration at set pieces or loose passes out from the back. Those are
understandable in young players. "We've been in every game and even the ones
we have lost, on another day with a little bit more sharper play in the
final third, we could have got something out of them as well. "Obviously it
is about winning as well, but after overcoming the disappointment, we then
sit down every week and analyse what every boy has done well and what he
needs to work on - technically, tactically, physically and mentally. "There
are programmes in place for every boy and every week it is about further
developing each individual player. The pleasing thing for us as an Academy
is that the Under-21s look like a good side full of promise and their
performances have resulted in them getting time on the pitch for the first
team in the Capital One Cup."
Assistant manager Neil McDonald has also taken a keen interest in the
Academy, holding two in-service training sessions for Academy coaches to
learn new approaches and drills to help to develop their own skills. "Macca
has showed that close link and has said to all the staff that the youth
teams are about trying to learn the game. We should try to win, but the
result isn't important. It becomes more so at the Development Squad level,
where you cannot make as many mistakes, then in the first team you can't
make any mistakes because you will get punished. "That is where we are at as
an Academy and I am delighted to be playing the part in it that I am at the
moment."
Saturday's match at Little Heath, Hainault Road, Romford, RM6 5SS, will
kick-off at 11am, with admission and parking both free.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Macca's Dev Squad delight
WHUFC.com
Neil McDonald is delighted with the progress of the Development Squad this
season
18.10.2012
Neil McDonald has praised the Development Squad for their performances and
progress during the first part of the 2012/13 season. 'Macca' regularly
attends the Barclays Under-21 Premier League fixtures to check in on Ian
Hendon's rising stars and he has been encouraged by what he has seen.
Speaking to whufc.com, Macca hailed their 2-0 win against Blackburn Rovers
ten days ago - their fifth win in seven games this season. "Their
performances have been absolutely fantastic this season," he said. "I
watched them against Blackburn Rovers and they thoroughly deserved their
victory. "They outplayed Blackburn from start to finish and it was a
fantastic result. They are all full of confidence, which is great."
Paul McCallum and Matthias Fanimo got the goals that night in a tough
contest and Macca was impressed by the maturity of their play. "It was a
hard-fought win and games like that are a massive part of their development.
They worked hard for each and it was tough to create chances but when they
did they took them. Blackburn hardly got over the half way line in the
second half."
Macca is also a firm believer that confidence is key to a player's form and
both he and Sam Allardyce are content in the knowledge that the Hammers'
youngsters will be in fine fettle should they be needed. "Winning and
playing well within the Development Squad will only breed confidence and
help them to integrate into the first team. It is great to see the younger
players coming through and playing well and that is why I always attend the
games because they are good to watch."
Fanimo, Rob Hall, Dylan Tombides, Danny Potts and Jordan Spence have all
featured for Allardyce's side this season and Macca backed more youngsters
to do the same before too long. "We have a couple of players who have
already made cameo appearances and they have to play on a consistent basis
to get into the team. "At the moment they are doing just that, which is
fantastic because you very rarely get that off young players. "They work
very hard to close the opposition down and keep their shape and they take
their chances when they come along. They are also top of the league now and
playing very well so long may it continue."
The Development Squad are next in action on Monday night away at Bolton
Wanderers. The match will be held at the Lancashire FA, with kick-off at
7pm. whufc.com will have further pre-match build-up over the weekend.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Big Sam blasts FA
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 18th October 2012
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce has hit out at New Zealand Football after they insisted
Winston Reid make the trip home for the All Whites' World Cup 2014
qualifying match against Tahiti.
Reid, who was nursing an injury sustained during West Ham's 3-1 defeat at
home to Arsenal a fortnight ago was ordered back to New Zealand by the NZF -
the country's equivalent of the English FA - for the match, which the Kiwis
won 3-0.
That result gave them an aggregate win of 5-0 and edged them closer to
another appearance in the Finals. However Allardyce was critical of the
decision to call Reid - who was an unused substitute - back for the game.
"I don't see any sense in calling them over and particularly that far,
because they are injured," he said. "I don't see any sense it in at all. I
also think there was an underlining factor that they didn't trust him or us
that he was injured.
"There's another underlining factor that tells me that the players are
brought there and then they're put under enormous pressure to play, because
of the loyalties to the country by the coaches and certain political
elements which they have to resist.
"On one hand I'm all for international football - but it doesn't make any
sense to take them because they can't play. I don't understand that at all."
Reid, who has been suffering with a back spasm could make his return to West
Ham's first team against Southampton at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday -
despite having undertaken a mammoth 48-hour flight this week.
Should the in-form centre half not be considered fit to play, James Tomkins
is on standby to deputise.
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Rodgers: no Carroll recall
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 18th October 2012
By: Staff Writer
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says he has no intention of recalling Andy
Carroll from his loan at West Ham in January. The under-fire Rodgers, who
only took over at Anfield in the summer has the option of recalling the
England international should he so choose when the transfer window re-opens
in January of next year. However taking Carroll back to Merseyside is not an
option he is currently comtemplating, according to comments he made earlier
today - despite his squad having just one fit striker at present. "Andy has
obviously gone out to get games," said Rodgers. "We have people watching
when he plays and they report back on how he is doing. [But recalling him]
isn't something I have considered, to be honest."
Carroll moved to Liverpool in January 2011 for a British record transfer fee
of £35million - but when Rodgers moved from Swansea to Liverpool earlier
this year he made it clear that the 23-year-old Geordie wasn't part of his
immediate plans. West Ham signed Carroll on a season-long loan on the
penultimate day of the summer transfer window.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce unhappy with Winston Reid's New Zealand call
Last Updated: October 18, 2012 8:13pm
SSN
Sam Allardyce has expressed his unhappiness after West Ham United defender
Winston Reid was called up by New Zealand despite carrying an injury.
Reid travelled halfway round the world for New Zealand's games against
Tahiti, but was unable to play due to a back injury sustained earlier this
month.
He is now doubtful for the Hammers' game against Southamptonon Saturday and
Allardyce questioned the wisdom of the call-up. "I don't see any sense in
calling them over and particularly that far, because they are injured. I
don't see any sense it in at all," said the West Ham manager. "I also think
there was an underlining factor that they didn't trust him or us that he was
injured. "There's another underlining factor that tells me that the players
are brought there and then they're put under enormous pressure to play,
because of the loyalties to the country by the coaches and certain political
elements which they have to resist.
"On one hand I'm all for international football but it doesn't make any
sense to take them because they can't play. I don't understand that at all,"
he said.
Allardyce is also relieved to have Mohamed Diame and Guy Demel back at Upton
Park unscathed after riots forced the Senegal v Ivory Coast Africa Cup of
Nations qualifier to be abandoned on Sunday. Diame was shielded by police as
he fled to the dressing room late in the second half when crowd violence in
the stadium erupted on to the pitch. He added: "We had two very important
players away in that horrific situation ... they've come back okay."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Carroll stinger
By PHIL THOMAS
Last Updated: 19th October 2012
The Sun
BRENDAN RODGERS has no plans to recall Andy Carroll to Anfield in January
despite Liverpool's striker crisis. The giant Geordie is on a season-long
loan at West Ham but the Reds have the option of bringing him back to
Merseyside in the next transfer window. Luis Suarez is Rodgers' only fit
senior striker after Fabio Borini was ruled out for three months with a
broken metatarsal. Yet when asked if a Carroll return was on the cards,
Rodgers insisted: "It's not something I am considering, to be honest.
"Andy's gone there to get games and obviously we have people watching him
and how he's doing. "The Fabio situation has just come up but, although it's
not ideal, they're the cards we've been dealt." A lack of funds forced
Rodgers to fast-track rookies such as Raheem Sterling, Suso and Andre
Wisdom. But the manager said: "Not every young player can play." Kop keeper
Pepe Reina is struggling to make tomorrow's home game against Reading after
hurting a hamstring on international duty with Spain. Brad Jones is on
standby.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Reid the riot act: West Ham livid star had to fly to New Zealand with a bad
back
The Mirror
Richard Heathcote
Sam Allardyce has questioned the sense of Winston Reid's call-up by New
Zealand for their internationals with Tahiti over the past week. The
defender did little more than cheer on his All Whites team-mates after
making the 24-hour journey with a back injury he sustained earlier this
month. Reid remains a doubt for West Ham's match with Southampton this
weekend, much to manager Big Sam's frustration. "I don't see any sense in
calling them over – particularly that far – because they are injured. I
don't see any sense it in at all," he said. "I also think there was an
underlying factor that they didn't trust him, or us, that he was really
injured. "I think the players are brought there and then put under enormous
pressure to play, because of the loyalties to the country by the coaches and
certain political elements which they have to resist. "I'm all for
international football, but it doesn't make any sense to take them because
they can't play."
Allardyce is also relieved to have Mohamed Diame and Guy Demel back
unscathed after riots forced the Senegal v Ivory Coast Africa Cup of Nations
match to be abandoned. Diame was shielded by police as he fled to the
dressing room when crowd violence in the stadium erupted on to the pitch.
"We had two very important players away in that horrific situation, but
they've come back OK," Allardyce added
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce claims rugby players behave much worse than
footballers on the pitch
By John Percy10:00PM BST 18 Oct 2012
The Telegraph
Allardyce, the West Ham manager, is convinced that criticism of footballers
is motivated by jealousy and severe offences in other sports are overlooked.
The success of British athletes at the Olympics this year increased the
focus on the behaviour of Premier League footballers, with recent scrutiny
surrounding John Terry's Football Association charge for racially abusing
Anton Ferdinand and Ashley Cole's Twitter attack on the governing body. Luis
Suárez has also been accused of diving after a string of recent high-profile
incidents to further damage the reputation of the national game but
Allardyce insists football does not deserve such negative coverage in
comparison to other sports. He said: "I think that the game is a volatile
contest so people will lose their temper, but nobody seems to highlight the
fact that rugby players stamp on each others heads, gouge each others eyes,
and that seems to be acceptable. "Or fans go to watch ice hockey players
beat themselves up with the sticks and that also seems acceptable, but a
footballer kicks somebody, or does something that's slightly untoward to the
rules and it's 'lock them away, ban them for life'.
"There's a lot of jealousy around the way football is in this country, I
think, and as it's known as the peoples' game, then I think more and more
people complain about the price, whereas all the other sports it's not quite
the same. "So, it's something we have to live with. In comparing it to the
Olympics, it's not as fierce a competition, because there's not that
day-to-day, week-to-week, competitive edge. It's a build-up of four years –
a very dedicated four years of course – and the delight of winning and the
end of it must be one of the biggest highs anybody's ever experienced."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Carroll stays at West Ham
FRIDAY 19 OCTOBER 2012
by Gareth Purnell
19 October 2012 01:01 AM
Brendan Rodgers says he will not recall the £35m striker Andy Carroll from
loan in January, despite Liverpool's shortage of players up front. Fabio
Borini could be out for up to three months after requiring surgery on a
broken foot, leaving Rodgers with Luis Suarez as his only recognised
first-team striker. But the Liverpool manager said he has not even thought
about recalling Carroll from his season-long loan at West Ham. "It isn't
something I have considered," Rodgers said. "Andy has obviously gone out to
get games. We have people watching and they report back on how he is doing.
But with Fabio's injury just coming up we will assess it from there."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
All the big-match build-up ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League visit
of the Saints
18.10.2012
WEST HAM UNITED V SOUTHAMPTON
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 20 OCTOBER 2012
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: NEIL SWARBRICK
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
iPHONE APP I TWITTER I FACEBOOK I PODCAST
Introduction
• West Ham United face Southampton at the Boleyn Ground looking to bounce
back to winning ways following their first home Barclays Premier League
defeat last time out against Arsenal on 6 October.
• Going into the weekend, West Ham United sit in eighth on eleven points,
while Southampton sit 17th on four points.
• Southampton managed a 2-2 draw last time out against Fulham pn 7 October,
with central defender Jose Fonte scoring both goals, including a last-minute
equaliser.
• Andy Carroll is likely to start after returning to full fitness against
QPR and Arsenal for West Ham United before featuring for England in their
2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiying win over San Marino on 12 October.
• Southampton are yet to pick up any points on the road this season, having
lost at Manchester City (2-3), Arsenal (1-6) and Everton (1-3). The Saints
have let in more goals on their travels (12) than any other club in the
Barclays Premier League.
• West Ham United's top scorer this season is currently Kevin Nolan with
three. Southampton's leading marksman is Rickie Lambert, who has scored four
times.
• The clubs met twice last season in the npower Championship. Southampton
won the first meeting at St Mary's 1-0 in October 2011, with the reverse
fixture at the Boleyn Ground in February this year ending 1-1. Both games
were played on a Tuesday night and Jos Hooiveld scored in both fixtures for
the Saints. Mark Noble's penalty was West Ham's sole strike against
Southampton last term.
• West Ham United's clash with Southampton is one of eight Barclays Premier
League fixtures being played on Saturday. The others are as follows
(kick-off 3pm unless stated): Fulham v Aston Villa, Liverpool v Reading,
Manchester United v Stoke City, Norwich City v Arsenal (5.30pm), Swansea
City v Wigan Athletic, Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea (12.45pm) and West
Bromwich Albion v Manchester City.
Last Time Out
Saturday 6 October 2012
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United 1-3 Arsenal
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Reid, McCartney, Collins, Demel (Tomkins 73),
Nolan, Jarvis, Noble, Diame (Cole 82), Carroll, Vaz Te (Taylor 64).
Subs not used: Henderson, Benayoun, O'Neil, Maiga.
Goal: Diame 21
Sunday 7 October 2012
Barclays Premier League
Southampton 2-2 Fulham
Southampton: Gazzaniga, Yoshida, Fonte, Fox, Richardson (Hooiveld 8),
Scneiderlin, S Davis, Lallana, Puncheon (Chaplow 61), Lambert (Guly 67),
Rodriguez.
Subs not used: K Davis, Reeves, Ward-Prowse, Mayuka.
Goals: Fonte 4, 90
Previous meeting
• The most-recent meeting between the two sides came on 14 February 2012 and
ended in a 1-1 draw at the Boleyn Ground. West Ham United sat top of the
npower Championship table, with the Saints just one point behind in second
place. Eventual champions Reading were six points behind in sixth. Mark
Noble opened the scoring from the penalty spot after 21 minutes, but not
before Matt Taylor had been sent-off following an altercation with Billy
Sharp in the lead-up to Noble's penalty. Despite West Ham being reduced to
ten men, it took until 15 minutes from time before the Saints drew level
when Jos Hooiveld poked home from close range to snatch a point.
West Ham United: Green, Reid, Tomkins, Faye, O'Brien, Faubert, Collison
(McCartney 21), Taylor, Noble, Cole (Maynard 65), Vaz Te (O'Neil 71).
Subs not used: Lansbury, Baldock
Southampton: Davis, Richardson (Connolly 80), Fonte, Fox, Hooiveld,
Schneiderlin, Cork, Guly (Puncheon 55), Lallana, Lambert, Sharp (Hammond
83).
Subs not used: Martin, Lee
Background
• Saints goalkeeper Kelvin Davis had a trial at West Ham United in summer
2010 but a move could not be agreed and he re-joined Southampton.
• Southampton full-back Frazer Richardson scored the only goal when Stoke
City won 1-0 against West Ham United on 9 December 2003. He was on loan from
Leeds United at the time.
• West Ham United have been drawn to meet Southampton three times in the FA
Cup - and have gone on to reach the final twice. The Hammers overcame the
Saints after two replays in 1922/23, when they were beaten by Bolton
Wanderers in the first-ever final at Wembley. In 1974/75, West Ham defeated
Southampton 2-1 at The Dell in the third round.
• The first-ever meeting between the two clubs at the Boleyn Ground was a
Southern League Division One fixture at The Dell on 16 December 1899. Then
known as Thames Ironworks FC, Ken McKay scored the visitors' goal in a 3-1
defeat.
• The Hammers' most-recent league victory over Southampton took place
exactly eleven years ago on 20 October 2001 when Frederic Kanoute scored
both goals in a 2-0 Premier League win at the Boleyn Ground.
• West Ham United and Southampton met 20 times in the Premier League between
1993 and 2003. The Hammers won eight times, Southampton six and there were
six draws.
• Southampton's best result at the Boleyn Ground was the 4-2 Premier League
victory achieved over West Ham United on 25 April 1998.
• The largest crowd to attend a West Ham United versus Southampton fixture
was the 35,000 who were at the Division Two fixture at the Boleyn Ground on
13 November 1948. The match finished in a 1-1 draw.
• West Ham United have beaten Southampton 4-0 at home on three occasions -
their biggest victories over the Saints at the Boleyn Ground. All three were
in the old Division Two. The first occasion was on 27 March 1937, with Len
Goulden scoring twice. The second was on 12 April 1947, with Frank Neary
netting a brace, while the third was on 19 April 1952, with Terry Woodgate
getting two goals.
Last six meetings
(Barclays Premier League unless stated)
14 February 2012 - West Ham United 1-1 Southampton (Championship)
18 October 2011 - Southampton 1-0 West Ham United (Championship)
5 April 2003 - Southampton 1-1 West Ham United
2 December 2002 - West Ham United 0-1 Southampton
30 January 2002 - Southampton 2-0 West Ham United
20 October 2001 - West Ham United 2-0 Southampton
Overall record v Southampton (all competitions) W 36 D 27 L 30
Ten-year records
West Ham United
2011/12 Championship 3rd (promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)
2010/11 Premier League 20th (relegated to Championship)
2009/10 Premier League 17th
2008/09 Premier League 9th
2007/08 Premier League 10th
2006/07 Premier League 15th
2005/06 Premier League 9th
2004/05 Championship 6th (promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th
2002/03 Premier League 18th (relegated to Championship)
Southampton
2011/12 Championship 2nd (promoted to Premier League)
2010/11 League One 2nd (promoted to Championship)
2009/10 League One 7th
2008/09 Championship 23rd (relegated to League One)
2007/08 Championship 20th
2006/07 Championship 6th
2005/06 Championship 12th
2004/05 Premier League 20th (relegated to Championship)
2003/04 Premier League 12th
2002/03 Premier League 8th
Referee
• The referee will be Neil Swarbrick.
• Swarbrick began refereeing at the age of 29 and within six years he had
been promoted to the National List of assistant referees in 2005.
• Now 42, Swarbrick made his way up the leagues via the Football Conference
and the npower Football League before receiving his first Barclays Premier
League appointment on 11 December 2010. He was officially promoted to the
Select Group of top-flight referees in June 2011.
• So far this season Swarbrick has taken charge of six matches in all
competitions, including two Barclays Premier League fixtures.
• He has taken charge of three West Ham United fixtures in the past, the
most recent being the 2-0 npower Championship Play-Off semi-final first-leg
win at Cardiff City on 3 May 2012.
• Swarbrick has been the man in the middle for five Southampton matches, the
most recent being the 2-2 south coast npower Championship derby with
Portsmouth at St Mary's on 7 April 2012.
Team News
• Ricardo Vaz Te is definitely out after undergoing surgery on a dislocated
shoulder suffered in the 3-1 home Barclays Premier League defeat by Arsenal
on 6 October. Yossi Benayoun, Matt Taylor or Gary O'Neil will deputise.
• Guy Demel (leg) and Winston Reid (back) are both facing races to be fit
after being forced to miss out on international duty for Ivory Coast and New
Zealand respectively. Joey O'Brien and James Tomkins are fit and standing by
to come in, if required.
• France midfielder Alou Diarra continues to be sidelined by a thigh injury.
• Goalkeeper Stephen Henderson has joined npower Championship club Ipswich
Town on a three-month loan, meaning Raphael Spiegel will serve as Jussi
Jaaskelainen's No2. Ravel Morrison is on a season-long loan at npower
Championship club Birmingham City.
• For Southampton, record signing Gaston Ramirez is sidelined with a thigh
injury the Uruguay midfielder suffered in training. England Under-21 and
Team GB midfielder Jack Cork is also out with a leg injury. Right-back
Nathaniel Clyne is expected to be fit after recovering from a leg injury
that ruled him out of England Under-21's UEFA European Championship
qualifier in Serbia in midweek.
Old Boys
• West Ham United's all-time leading goalscorer Vic Watson moved to
Southampton after 15 seasons as a Hammer in 1935. Watson would spend the
1935/36 season at The Dell, scoring 14 goals in 36 appearances to finish as
the Saints' leading goalscorer in Division Two before retiring in summer
1936 at the age of 38.
• Among the other players to have played for both clubs are William Adams,
Eyal Berkovic, Wayne Bridge, Henri Camara, Alistair Campbell, Frank
Costello, Christian Dailly, Calum Davenport, Iain Dowie, Bob Fairman, Jack
Foster, Horace Glover, Richard Hall, Jimmy Harris, Fred Harrison, Joe
Kirkup, George Kitchen, Alex McDonald, Walter Pollard, Nigel Quashie, Albert
Roles, Robbie Slater, David Speedie, Vic Watson, Arthur Wilson, Richard
Wright.
General Information
• Standard tickets for the game against Southampton are now completely sold
out.
• There is significant disruption to public transport on Saturday. Please
click here to see if these changes affect you.
• The weather forecast for Saturday is partly cloudy with temperatures
reaching a maximum of 16C (61F).
Welcome to our Sponsors
• Saturday's Match Sponsors will be Channel Commercials PLC and Matchball
Sponsors will be S.H.E Maritime Serivces Ltd.
• Channel Commercials is an established commercial vehicle and LCV dealer in
Kent, providing sales, parts and servicing for DAF Trucks and Nissan vans.
Alongside new and used trucks, vans and buses, Channel Commercials provides
an impressive portfolio of additional products and services, including a
fully-equipped paint and body shop where accident repair, shot blasting and
signwriting are carried out, as well as a specialist engineering and
fabrication department which specialises in commercial vehicle modification,
welding and rail wagon maintenance. As a leading commercial vehicle dealer
in Kent, Channel Commercials also has factory-trained technicians at four
locations (Ashford, Strood, Sevenoaks and Canterbury) who are able to offer
24-hour servicing for commercial vehicles. For full details, click here.
• S.H.E Maritime Serivces Ltd is a non-vessel operating carrier (NVOCC) with
partners throughout the world. S.H.E Maritime Serivces Ltd's core business
is the handling of less than container load (LCL) and full container load
(FCL) cargo to and from numerous worldwide locations. A complete summary of
the import and export services we operate can be found online here.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
U18s to return to action
WHUFC.com
Nick Haycock's young Hammers will host Bolton Wanderers at Little Heath on
Saturday morning
18.10.2012
West Ham United's promising youngsters return to action when Nick Haycock's
side host Bolton Wanderers in the Barclays U18 Premier League at Little
Heath on Saturday, with kick-off at 11am. Due to the recent international
break, the Hammers have not played since being defeated 1-0 by Blackburn
Rovers at home on 6 October, and Haycock said he and his players could not
wait to get back on the pitch after a well-earned rest. "The international
break came round at a nice time because the first-year scholars had had a
hard pre-season and needed a weekend without a game to re-charge their
batteries," confirmed the U18s coach.
"We had a couple of boys away on international duty - Kieran Sadlier did
very well with Republic of Ireland U19s again - and had some of the younger
ones on stand-by for England. "During the last couple of weeks, I've had the
chance to get the squad together and do a seven-game review and look at what
we have and haven't done well and what we can improve on both individually
and collectively. "We'll try to put what we've learnt out on to the pitch
and hopefully the result will be a good performance against Bolton at the
weekend."
While wins and points are always welcomed, Haycock pointed out that player
development and producing future first-team squad members are the primary
goals of the Academy. With a number of scholars already impressing for the
club's table-topping Development Squad, the U18s coach pointed to a system
that is working. The club was delighted to receive the highest Category One
status as part of the new Elite Player Performance Plan, which is aimed at
giving clubs more time on the training pitch with young players, while also
providing for their educational, social, medical and - if required,
residential needs. Last week, more than 400 Academy players and family
members attended an evening at which the Academy's ambitions and
philosophies were explained. "The whole mantra is about developing players
and the whole idea is that the Under-21s (Development Squad) looks like the
next first team. That might be made up of teenagers and young professionals,
but whoever they are must look like a first-team player of the future. "All
the way down the system, that is how we work. We want to promote young
players up to the next level whenever we can. As an example, Manny Onnariase
has played every game for the Under-18s this season and he is still a
schoolboy. "Our performances and team shape have been good in our games so
far and the games we have lost have been down to mistakes, lack of
concentration at set pieces or loose passes out from the back. Those are
understandable in young players. "We've been in every game and even the ones
we have lost, on another day with a little bit more sharper play in the
final third, we could have got something out of them as well. "Obviously it
is about winning as well, but after overcoming the disappointment, we then
sit down every week and analyse what every boy has done well and what he
needs to work on - technically, tactically, physically and mentally. "There
are programmes in place for every boy and every week it is about further
developing each individual player. The pleasing thing for us as an Academy
is that the Under-21s look like a good side full of promise and their
performances have resulted in them getting time on the pitch for the first
team in the Capital One Cup."
Assistant manager Neil McDonald has also taken a keen interest in the
Academy, holding two in-service training sessions for Academy coaches to
learn new approaches and drills to help to develop their own skills. "Macca
has showed that close link and has said to all the staff that the youth
teams are about trying to learn the game. We should try to win, but the
result isn't important. It becomes more so at the Development Squad level,
where you cannot make as many mistakes, then in the first team you can't
make any mistakes because you will get punished. "That is where we are at as
an Academy and I am delighted to be playing the part in it that I am at the
moment."
Saturday's match at Little Heath, Hainault Road, Romford, RM6 5SS, will
kick-off at 11am, with admission and parking both free.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Macca's Dev Squad delight
WHUFC.com
Neil McDonald is delighted with the progress of the Development Squad this
season
18.10.2012
Neil McDonald has praised the Development Squad for their performances and
progress during the first part of the 2012/13 season. 'Macca' regularly
attends the Barclays Under-21 Premier League fixtures to check in on Ian
Hendon's rising stars and he has been encouraged by what he has seen.
Speaking to whufc.com, Macca hailed their 2-0 win against Blackburn Rovers
ten days ago - their fifth win in seven games this season. "Their
performances have been absolutely fantastic this season," he said. "I
watched them against Blackburn Rovers and they thoroughly deserved their
victory. "They outplayed Blackburn from start to finish and it was a
fantastic result. They are all full of confidence, which is great."
Paul McCallum and Matthias Fanimo got the goals that night in a tough
contest and Macca was impressed by the maturity of their play. "It was a
hard-fought win and games like that are a massive part of their development.
They worked hard for each and it was tough to create chances but when they
did they took them. Blackburn hardly got over the half way line in the
second half."
Macca is also a firm believer that confidence is key to a player's form and
both he and Sam Allardyce are content in the knowledge that the Hammers'
youngsters will be in fine fettle should they be needed. "Winning and
playing well within the Development Squad will only breed confidence and
help them to integrate into the first team. It is great to see the younger
players coming through and playing well and that is why I always attend the
games because they are good to watch."
Fanimo, Rob Hall, Dylan Tombides, Danny Potts and Jordan Spence have all
featured for Allardyce's side this season and Macca backed more youngsters
to do the same before too long. "We have a couple of players who have
already made cameo appearances and they have to play on a consistent basis
to get into the team. "At the moment they are doing just that, which is
fantastic because you very rarely get that off young players. "They work
very hard to close the opposition down and keep their shape and they take
their chances when they come along. They are also top of the league now and
playing very well so long may it continue."
The Development Squad are next in action on Monday night away at Bolton
Wanderers. The match will be held at the Lancashire FA, with kick-off at
7pm. whufc.com will have further pre-match build-up over the weekend.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Big Sam blasts FA
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 18th October 2012
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce has hit out at New Zealand Football after they insisted
Winston Reid make the trip home for the All Whites' World Cup 2014
qualifying match against Tahiti.
Reid, who was nursing an injury sustained during West Ham's 3-1 defeat at
home to Arsenal a fortnight ago was ordered back to New Zealand by the NZF -
the country's equivalent of the English FA - for the match, which the Kiwis
won 3-0.
That result gave them an aggregate win of 5-0 and edged them closer to
another appearance in the Finals. However Allardyce was critical of the
decision to call Reid - who was an unused substitute - back for the game.
"I don't see any sense in calling them over and particularly that far,
because they are injured," he said. "I don't see any sense it in at all. I
also think there was an underlining factor that they didn't trust him or us
that he was injured.
"There's another underlining factor that tells me that the players are
brought there and then they're put under enormous pressure to play, because
of the loyalties to the country by the coaches and certain political
elements which they have to resist.
"On one hand I'm all for international football - but it doesn't make any
sense to take them because they can't play. I don't understand that at all."
Reid, who has been suffering with a back spasm could make his return to West
Ham's first team against Southampton at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday -
despite having undertaken a mammoth 48-hour flight this week.
Should the in-form centre half not be considered fit to play, James Tomkins
is on standby to deputise.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Rodgers: no Carroll recall
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 18th October 2012
By: Staff Writer
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says he has no intention of recalling Andy
Carroll from his loan at West Ham in January. The under-fire Rodgers, who
only took over at Anfield in the summer has the option of recalling the
England international should he so choose when the transfer window re-opens
in January of next year. However taking Carroll back to Merseyside is not an
option he is currently comtemplating, according to comments he made earlier
today - despite his squad having just one fit striker at present. "Andy has
obviously gone out to get games," said Rodgers. "We have people watching
when he plays and they report back on how he is doing. [But recalling him]
isn't something I have considered, to be honest."
Carroll moved to Liverpool in January 2011 for a British record transfer fee
of £35million - but when Rodgers moved from Swansea to Liverpool earlier
this year he made it clear that the 23-year-old Geordie wasn't part of his
immediate plans. West Ham signed Carroll on a season-long loan on the
penultimate day of the summer transfer window.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce unhappy with Winston Reid's New Zealand call
Last Updated: October 18, 2012 8:13pm
SSN
Sam Allardyce has expressed his unhappiness after West Ham United defender
Winston Reid was called up by New Zealand despite carrying an injury.
Reid travelled halfway round the world for New Zealand's games against
Tahiti, but was unable to play due to a back injury sustained earlier this
month.
He is now doubtful for the Hammers' game against Southamptonon Saturday and
Allardyce questioned the wisdom of the call-up. "I don't see any sense in
calling them over and particularly that far, because they are injured. I
don't see any sense it in at all," said the West Ham manager. "I also think
there was an underlining factor that they didn't trust him or us that he was
injured. "There's another underlining factor that tells me that the players
are brought there and then they're put under enormous pressure to play,
because of the loyalties to the country by the coaches and certain political
elements which they have to resist.
"On one hand I'm all for international football but it doesn't make any
sense to take them because they can't play. I don't understand that at all,"
he said.
Allardyce is also relieved to have Mohamed Diame and Guy Demel back at Upton
Park unscathed after riots forced the Senegal v Ivory Coast Africa Cup of
Nations qualifier to be abandoned on Sunday. Diame was shielded by police as
he fled to the dressing room late in the second half when crowd violence in
the stadium erupted on to the pitch. He added: "We had two very important
players away in that horrific situation ... they've come back okay."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Carroll stinger
By PHIL THOMAS
Last Updated: 19th October 2012
The Sun
BRENDAN RODGERS has no plans to recall Andy Carroll to Anfield in January
despite Liverpool's striker crisis. The giant Geordie is on a season-long
loan at West Ham but the Reds have the option of bringing him back to
Merseyside in the next transfer window. Luis Suarez is Rodgers' only fit
senior striker after Fabio Borini was ruled out for three months with a
broken metatarsal. Yet when asked if a Carroll return was on the cards,
Rodgers insisted: "It's not something I am considering, to be honest.
"Andy's gone there to get games and obviously we have people watching him
and how he's doing. "The Fabio situation has just come up but, although it's
not ideal, they're the cards we've been dealt." A lack of funds forced
Rodgers to fast-track rookies such as Raheem Sterling, Suso and Andre
Wisdom. But the manager said: "Not every young player can play." Kop keeper
Pepe Reina is struggling to make tomorrow's home game against Reading after
hurting a hamstring on international duty with Spain. Brad Jones is on
standby.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Reid the riot act: West Ham livid star had to fly to New Zealand with a bad
back
The Mirror
Richard Heathcote
Sam Allardyce has questioned the sense of Winston Reid's call-up by New
Zealand for their internationals with Tahiti over the past week. The
defender did little more than cheer on his All Whites team-mates after
making the 24-hour journey with a back injury he sustained earlier this
month. Reid remains a doubt for West Ham's match with Southampton this
weekend, much to manager Big Sam's frustration. "I don't see any sense in
calling them over – particularly that far – because they are injured. I
don't see any sense it in at all," he said. "I also think there was an
underlying factor that they didn't trust him, or us, that he was really
injured. "I think the players are brought there and then put under enormous
pressure to play, because of the loyalties to the country by the coaches and
certain political elements which they have to resist. "I'm all for
international football, but it doesn't make any sense to take them because
they can't play."
Allardyce is also relieved to have Mohamed Diame and Guy Demel back
unscathed after riots forced the Senegal v Ivory Coast Africa Cup of Nations
match to be abandoned. Diame was shielded by police as he fled to the
dressing room when crowd violence in the stadium erupted on to the pitch.
"We had two very important players away in that horrific situation, but
they've come back OK," Allardyce added
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce claims rugby players behave much worse than
footballers on the pitch
By John Percy10:00PM BST 18 Oct 2012
The Telegraph
Allardyce, the West Ham manager, is convinced that criticism of footballers
is motivated by jealousy and severe offences in other sports are overlooked.
The success of British athletes at the Olympics this year increased the
focus on the behaviour of Premier League footballers, with recent scrutiny
surrounding John Terry's Football Association charge for racially abusing
Anton Ferdinand and Ashley Cole's Twitter attack on the governing body. Luis
Suárez has also been accused of diving after a string of recent high-profile
incidents to further damage the reputation of the national game but
Allardyce insists football does not deserve such negative coverage in
comparison to other sports. He said: "I think that the game is a volatile
contest so people will lose their temper, but nobody seems to highlight the
fact that rugby players stamp on each others heads, gouge each others eyes,
and that seems to be acceptable. "Or fans go to watch ice hockey players
beat themselves up with the sticks and that also seems acceptable, but a
footballer kicks somebody, or does something that's slightly untoward to the
rules and it's 'lock them away, ban them for life'.
"There's a lot of jealousy around the way football is in this country, I
think, and as it's known as the peoples' game, then I think more and more
people complain about the price, whereas all the other sports it's not quite
the same. "So, it's something we have to live with. In comparing it to the
Olympics, it's not as fierce a competition, because there's not that
day-to-day, week-to-week, competitive edge. It's a build-up of four years –
a very dedicated four years of course – and the delight of winning and the
end of it must be one of the biggest highs anybody's ever experienced."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Carroll stays at West Ham
FRIDAY 19 OCTOBER 2012
by Gareth Purnell
19 October 2012 01:01 AM
Brendan Rodgers says he will not recall the £35m striker Andy Carroll from
loan in January, despite Liverpool's shortage of players up front. Fabio
Borini could be out for up to three months after requiring surgery on a
broken foot, leaving Rodgers with Luis Suarez as his only recognised
first-team striker. But the Liverpool manager said he has not even thought
about recalling Carroll from his season-long loan at West Ham. "It isn't
something I have considered," Rodgers said. "Andy has obviously gone out to
get games. We have people watching and they report back on how he is doing.
But with Fabio's injury just coming up we will assess it from there."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Thursday, October 18
Daily WHUFC News - 18th October 2012
Jussi plays host to young fans
WHUFC.com
Jussi Jaaskelainen gave a group of young supporters a VIP tour of the Boleyn
Ground this week
17.10.2012
Jussi Jaaskelainen welcomed a young group of visitors to the Boleyn Ground
this week and ensured they had a great time visiting the home of West Ham
United. The Hammers goalkeeper was on hand to welcome Anna Kennedy, who runs
a national charity Anna Kennedy online dedicated to promoting the inclusion
and equality of children and adults with autism and Asperger's Syndrome.
Anna and her fellow guests went pitchside and sat in the home dugout before
being given a personal guided tour of the home dressing room by
Jaaskelainen. There was also a chance to take a look in the away dressing
room, the television media room where pre and post-match interviews are
filmed and the tunnel area. Ms Kennedy said of the visit: "Thank you to West
Ham for a wonderful afternoon at the stadium. Our children and adults met
with Jussi, who was a real gentleman and made the visit very special. We are
looking forward to a continuing link with West Ham. "By inviting us into the
heart of the club, West Ham will be helping us to bring autism further into
mainstream society."
The charity aims to give people with autism and Asperger's Syndrome a better
chance to live and build a structure for themselves, so they can look to
lead independent lives. Ms Kennedy, who is the mother of two sons with
autism, founded Hillingdon Manor School in west London, which is now a
centre of excellence for children and young adults with autism. The school
and the work of the charity have received national recognition and Ms
Kennedy was made an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List earlier this
year, together with being shortlisted for Tesco Mum of the Year award.
Joint-Chairman David Sullivan donated a five-figure sum to the charity
earlier this year - a pledge he made if Hammers won promotion. That money
has helped the charity expand the work that it does. Jaaskelainen said: "It
was good to meet everyone and to hear of the work Anna is doing and everyone
involved in the charity is fantastic. I wish them well and we look forward
to them being here at West Ham again soon."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Important travel information
WHUFC.com
Information for supporters using public transport to get to Saturday's home
fixture with Southampton
17.10.2012
Supporters travelling to Saturday's Barclays Premier League fixture between
West Ham United and Southampton by public transport should take note of the
following important information. Engineering works mean c2c and Greater
Anglia rail, London Underground and Docklands Light Railway services will
all be disrupted on 20 October. Fans should make arrangements as journey
times to the Boleyn Gruond are likely to be extended.
c2c
All c2c rail services between Barking and Upminster are subject to
alteration due to route improvement works.
Network Rail will be undertaking track renewals between Barking and
Upminster on Saturday, meaning a revised service will operate on all c2c
routes.
Pre-match, two trains per hour will also run between Grays and Pitsea via
Upminster. Passengers for Chafford Hundred, Ockendon, Upminster, West
Horndon, Laindon and Basildon should use a shuttle service and change at
Grays for services to Barking and Fenchurch Street or Pitsea for services to
Southend and Shoeburyness.
Post-match, two trains per hour will run between Fenchurch Street and
Shoeburyness, running fast from Barking to Pitsea. Two trains per hour will
also run between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness, calling at all stations
via Rainham and Tilbury.
Additional shuttle services will run between Fenchurch Street and Barking
for much of the day.
Greater Anglia
Greater Anglia rail services will be suspended between Shenfield and Witham
due to overhead line renewal work taking place.
Mainline services from Norwich/Ipswich/Clacton/Colchester/Braintree will
terminate at Witham and will connect into a replacement bus service to
Billericay. At Billericay buses will connect into Southend Victoria services
to Liverpool Street.
A shuttle bus service will operate between Ingatestone and Shenfield for
Ingatestone passengers only.
Southend Victoria to Liverpool Street services will operate to an increased
frequency of four trains per hour, with trains strengthened to eight or 12
coaches.
The Southminster branch line will operate to an hourly service.
London Underground
The London Underground District line will be closed between Barking and
Upminster for engineering works. Rail replacement buses will operate.
Service C will call at Barking, Upney, Becontree, Dagenham Heathway and
Dagenham East. Service D will call at Dagenham East, Elm Park, Hornchurch,
Upminster Bridge and Upminster.
The London Underground Circle line will be completely closed.
Docklands Light Railway
There will be no service between Canning Town and Beckton due to engineering
works. A bus replacement service will operate from Canning Town to Beckton,
stopping at all stations except Royal Victoria.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"Nolan, Allardyce and Carroll have got a great relationship"
Lifesapitch.co.uk
Sam Allardyce has once again proved his Premier League managerial acumen by
taking newly promoted West Ham to eighth place after the first seven matches
of the season. And, as the Life's a Pitch team discuss, with Allardyce's
attacking style and a team boasting the combined threat of Andy Carroll and
Kevin Nolan, it should come as no surprise that the Hammers look set to
avoid relegation trouble this season.
"It's what you would expect," says the People's Janine Self. "When West Ham
went down they kept a lot of their players, Sam spent big last season and I
think they've added [new players] very, very wisely. Jussi Jaaskelainen has
got Premier League experience, you've got James Collins and, of course, Andy
Carroll. Build a team around Andy Carroll."
The Sunday Mirror's David Walker agrees that Carroll suits Allardyce's
tactics perfectly, and feels Nolan is already benefitting from the on-loan
Liverpool striker's presence at the Boleyn Ground. "In Kevin Nolan,
Allardyce probably has the best attacking midfielder in England for playing
off a big fella. Nolan is absolutley briliant at arriving in the penalty
area [to feed off knock downs] and scoring with one- and two-touch finishes.
So, Nolan, Allardyce and Carroll have got a great relationship there."
Next up for the Hammers is the visit of fellow promoted side Southampton.
Given that the Saints have already shipped 20 goals in seven games, three of
them own goals, the Mail on Sunday's Ian Ridley expects them to be in for a
tough afternoon with Carroll and friends on the prowl.
"[Southampton have been] very open and easy to score against," says Ian.
"People like young Nat Clyne are finding it tough to take that step up to
the Premier League. Their defence has looked vulnerable, always capable of
an own goal and, particularly when pressured by Andy Carroll, you would
think there might be another one in the offing."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Price of Football - Premier League
BBC.co.uk
Newcastle United offer the cheapest day out for adult fans in the Premier
League, with tickets starting at £15. BBC Sport's Price of Football study
shows that Newcastle, Aston Villa, Fulham and Wigan all offer a ticket,
programme, pie and cup of tea for less than £30, with Newcastle the cheapest
at £23. Liverpool's cheapest day out is the most expensive in the top flight
at £47.30, while champions Manchester City have the second-cheapest season
tickets in the league at £275.
The most expensive matchday ticket in the division is at Arsenal, with some
seats for the club's top category games costing £126. All clubs offer a host
of special offers on certain fixtures, but they were asked for the cheapest
and most expensive matchday tickets which were not part of any promotion.
Arsenal's most expensive seat has gone up from £100 last year, but they have
also reduced prices. Last year's cheapest matchday seat was £35, and this
year it has come down to £26.
Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis says clubs in the top flight must be
careful not to take their supporters for granted. He told BBC Sport: "During
the last year we spent a lot of time working with our fan groups to develop
our ticketing strategy and create a wider and broader range of prices.
"That's been a collaborative effort between us and our fans which has been
welcomed by our fans as a positive development.
Bundesliga bargain
Prices at German champions Borussia Dortmund:
Adult ticket (purchased on day): Cheapest: £12.30 Most expensive: £40.18
Season ticket (adult) - cheapest:£150.27; most expensive: £819.67 (includes
three Champions League group games)
Bratwurst: £2.01
Beer: £3.62
Programme: £1.61
*all prices converted from euros
"It's something that all of us in football need to keep an eye on and keep
responsive to because what we don't want to do is price out particularly
younger fans from the live experience of football. "That is such a
fundamental part of the bond young people form with football. It isn't just
an issue for Arsenal but across the game." Arsenal's cheapest season ticket
at the Emirates is £985 and the most expensive £1,955, although that
includes seven FA Cup or European games in addition to the standard 19
Premier League matches. Wigan have the cheapest season tickets on offer in
the top flight - they start at £255 - with the most expensive seat at the DW
Stadium costing £310 for 19 Premier League games. A programme in the Premier
League will cost fans £3 or £3.50, while the cheapest pie can be found at
Wigan, who charge £2.30. Fulham's is the most expensive at £3.90.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
'In Jussi We Trust' - and Raphael Too!
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
I think most fans were surprised by the decision, seemingly, out of left
field to loan Stephen Henderson to Ipswich Town. The signing of the
promising Republic of Ireland keeper was viewed in many quarters as a
potential coup. Henderson was highly rated at, his former club, Portsmouth,
and there were high expectations that he might step up as first choice
keeper, in the aftermath of Rob Green's Bosman move. That this has not
happened is partly due to the subsequent signing of Jussi, but it also to
the fact that Henderson has not exactly graped his opportunities (and indeed
some would say the ball!) with both hands when he has featured for the first
team.
However, Henderson is still a young goal keeper and it would not be
unreasonable to argue that he is still learning his trade and could very
well develop in to a top keeper over a slightly longer time frame. This
would have meant working hard with the specialist keeping coach, and the
experienced Jussi, to improve and realise his potential. Now, there is two
ways to look at the news that Henderson has gone out on loan to a
Championship side. The first is that it is purely a short-term arrangement
to give him more immediate first team exposure and sharpen his game. After
all, there is allegedly a clause in the loan deal that West Ham can recall
him at 24 hours notice if he is needed. The second, and alternative, view is
that Henderson has been unsettled at not being first choice and that he has
made this known to the Manager. Who remembers Sam Allardyce's comments after
the Wigan cup defeat, in stating that players could hardly knock on his
door, demanding to play, after performing so poorly when they eventually get
their chance. In retrospect, does it now make sense who Allardyce was
referring to? Could a permanent outward transfer now be on the cards for
Henderson in January, with a new keeper also arriving at the club?
Personally, I am unsure on the issue. Although Henderson's reported
comments, about not being 'a bench warmer,' could quite reasonably be
interpreted as substantiating the latter point of view. Even more
interesting was his reported statement that Pompey had not made him aware of
Ipswich Town's interest last season and, had he known, he might have thought
twice about moving to the Hammers. Now we all know that when players sign
for a new club they invariably make statements to try to get the fans 'on
side,' but does it sound like the comment of a player that is keen to keep
his options open with regard to recommencing his career with the Hammers?
Perhaps, perhaps not? Some times, amazingly in the current mass
media/information age, players still make comments for the local press,
without giving apparent due consideration to the way that they may be
reported elsewhere. Is this such a case?
Anyway, whatever, Henderson's loan means that we are reliant upon Jussi as
first choice and Spiegel as cover. Maybe his performances at Development
Squad level, and in training, has encouraged Allardyce to believe that the
youngster can step up, immediately, if called upon to do so? And, as stated,
there is also the option to recall Henderson at very short notice. So, lets
see what happens? Jussi has done well since arriving at the club and there
is no denying his PL experience. However, I still have certain simmering
anxiety about the goal keeping situation. Maybe it is just that I have grown
accustomed to Rob Green's presence as our last line of defence, maybe it is
because I prefer reaction keepers like Green and Hislop? Alternatively,
perhaps it is because I suspect that Jussi is past his best and that may
become more self-evident at some juncture? I have to say that I am still
processing these issues, as I try to publicly adopt, in the interim, a 'in
Jussi we trust' type position. And by extension, if circumstance dictate,
that might have to apply to Raphael too!
Finally, away from goalkeeping deliberations, it would appear that the Mayor
of London, and the powers to be, are finally militating towards accepting
the reality of the issues relating to the long term sustainability of the
OS. This will, inevitably, mean pursuing the option of 'retro-fitting' a
retractable seating system in the Stadium, as part of a £160-200m
restructuring to make it a viable multi-purpose venue. Approximately £90m is
in the pot to fund the OS redevelopment, Newham Council wish to invest £40m
for the benefit of the local economy/ community and negotiations are ongoing
with West Ham about their possible contribution as the anchor
tenant/stakeholders. No doubt the alleged £2m a year rental will be included
in any financial calculation, the % cut of PL revenues going in to the
public purse and anticipated revenue streams from other sporting and concert
events. In addition, there is £500m sitting in a post-games budget to help
redevelop the wider Olympic Park. It is not beyond the realms of possibility
that the OS redevelopment will receive a further cash injection from that
budget, if it is necessary to seal a deal.
Ironically, any planned retro-fit of the retractable seating, is likely to
result in a wholesale development of the permanent 20,000 seats in the lower
tier. While the temporary seats in the upper tiers might stay in place?
Although it is unclear how the extension of the roof and inclusion of
hospitality facilities will impact upon that? Of course, all of this is made
necessary by the extreme folly of the poor decision-making in determining
the design of the stadium. Whereas Jowell, Livingstone and Coe deserve huge
credit for winning the 2012 games, many are now questioning the poor
strategic planning, that has directly led so many 'chickens come home to
roost' with regard to the inbuilt limitations of the OS design.
At least the success of the OS during the games has clearly shown the Spurs
sponsored 'bulldoze and rebuild' proposal to be both philistine and
politically impossible to deliver (Something that some of us suspected all
along). Still at least their game playing, allied to the 2011 summer
disturbances, got the Mayor of London to invest in the the supporting
infrastrucure of their proposed Northumberland Park redevelopment. Least
ways, if some of the reports are to be believed? So, if true, they cannot be
too unhappy at the outcome. Anyway, what it could mean is that, if selected
as the anchor tenant, the scale of the works will mean that West Ham may not
occupy the OS until the start of the 2015-16 season. It means an additional
season at Upton Park, but the down side is that it may also delay our
assault upon Champions League glory!!!!
You have to laugh at the scale of the OS debacle. If not, one is equally
likely to lament its absurdity. Whatever the emotion solicited by the
circumstances, all we can hope is that it is eventually a case of 'alls well
that ends well.' And when all the chips fall, West Ham emerge as clean
'winners' from the solution(s) put in place.
SJ. Chandos.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Guy dealt in by Hammers
Published: 6 hrs ago
The Sun
WEST HAM are ready to offer full-back Guy Demel a new contract. The French
defender, 31, has impressed since arriving on a one-year deal from Hamburg
and the Hammers want to talk about a new two-year contract. But midfielder
Gary O'Neil, 29, will be allowed to go in January.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Jussi Jaaskelainen gave a group of young supporters a VIP tour of the Boleyn
Ground this week
17.10.2012
Jussi Jaaskelainen welcomed a young group of visitors to the Boleyn Ground
this week and ensured they had a great time visiting the home of West Ham
United. The Hammers goalkeeper was on hand to welcome Anna Kennedy, who runs
a national charity Anna Kennedy online dedicated to promoting the inclusion
and equality of children and adults with autism and Asperger's Syndrome.
Anna and her fellow guests went pitchside and sat in the home dugout before
being given a personal guided tour of the home dressing room by
Jaaskelainen. There was also a chance to take a look in the away dressing
room, the television media room where pre and post-match interviews are
filmed and the tunnel area. Ms Kennedy said of the visit: "Thank you to West
Ham for a wonderful afternoon at the stadium. Our children and adults met
with Jussi, who was a real gentleman and made the visit very special. We are
looking forward to a continuing link with West Ham. "By inviting us into the
heart of the club, West Ham will be helping us to bring autism further into
mainstream society."
The charity aims to give people with autism and Asperger's Syndrome a better
chance to live and build a structure for themselves, so they can look to
lead independent lives. Ms Kennedy, who is the mother of two sons with
autism, founded Hillingdon Manor School in west London, which is now a
centre of excellence for children and young adults with autism. The school
and the work of the charity have received national recognition and Ms
Kennedy was made an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List earlier this
year, together with being shortlisted for Tesco Mum of the Year award.
Joint-Chairman David Sullivan donated a five-figure sum to the charity
earlier this year - a pledge he made if Hammers won promotion. That money
has helped the charity expand the work that it does. Jaaskelainen said: "It
was good to meet everyone and to hear of the work Anna is doing and everyone
involved in the charity is fantastic. I wish them well and we look forward
to them being here at West Ham again soon."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Important travel information
WHUFC.com
Information for supporters using public transport to get to Saturday's home
fixture with Southampton
17.10.2012
Supporters travelling to Saturday's Barclays Premier League fixture between
West Ham United and Southampton by public transport should take note of the
following important information. Engineering works mean c2c and Greater
Anglia rail, London Underground and Docklands Light Railway services will
all be disrupted on 20 October. Fans should make arrangements as journey
times to the Boleyn Gruond are likely to be extended.
c2c
All c2c rail services between Barking and Upminster are subject to
alteration due to route improvement works.
Network Rail will be undertaking track renewals between Barking and
Upminster on Saturday, meaning a revised service will operate on all c2c
routes.
Pre-match, two trains per hour will also run between Grays and Pitsea via
Upminster. Passengers for Chafford Hundred, Ockendon, Upminster, West
Horndon, Laindon and Basildon should use a shuttle service and change at
Grays for services to Barking and Fenchurch Street or Pitsea for services to
Southend and Shoeburyness.
Post-match, two trains per hour will run between Fenchurch Street and
Shoeburyness, running fast from Barking to Pitsea. Two trains per hour will
also run between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness, calling at all stations
via Rainham and Tilbury.
Additional shuttle services will run between Fenchurch Street and Barking
for much of the day.
Greater Anglia
Greater Anglia rail services will be suspended between Shenfield and Witham
due to overhead line renewal work taking place.
Mainline services from Norwich/Ipswich/Clacton/Colchester/Braintree will
terminate at Witham and will connect into a replacement bus service to
Billericay. At Billericay buses will connect into Southend Victoria services
to Liverpool Street.
A shuttle bus service will operate between Ingatestone and Shenfield for
Ingatestone passengers only.
Southend Victoria to Liverpool Street services will operate to an increased
frequency of four trains per hour, with trains strengthened to eight or 12
coaches.
The Southminster branch line will operate to an hourly service.
London Underground
The London Underground District line will be closed between Barking and
Upminster for engineering works. Rail replacement buses will operate.
Service C will call at Barking, Upney, Becontree, Dagenham Heathway and
Dagenham East. Service D will call at Dagenham East, Elm Park, Hornchurch,
Upminster Bridge and Upminster.
The London Underground Circle line will be completely closed.
Docklands Light Railway
There will be no service between Canning Town and Beckton due to engineering
works. A bus replacement service will operate from Canning Town to Beckton,
stopping at all stations except Royal Victoria.
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"Nolan, Allardyce and Carroll have got a great relationship"
Lifesapitch.co.uk
Sam Allardyce has once again proved his Premier League managerial acumen by
taking newly promoted West Ham to eighth place after the first seven matches
of the season. And, as the Life's a Pitch team discuss, with Allardyce's
attacking style and a team boasting the combined threat of Andy Carroll and
Kevin Nolan, it should come as no surprise that the Hammers look set to
avoid relegation trouble this season.
"It's what you would expect," says the People's Janine Self. "When West Ham
went down they kept a lot of their players, Sam spent big last season and I
think they've added [new players] very, very wisely. Jussi Jaaskelainen has
got Premier League experience, you've got James Collins and, of course, Andy
Carroll. Build a team around Andy Carroll."
The Sunday Mirror's David Walker agrees that Carroll suits Allardyce's
tactics perfectly, and feels Nolan is already benefitting from the on-loan
Liverpool striker's presence at the Boleyn Ground. "In Kevin Nolan,
Allardyce probably has the best attacking midfielder in England for playing
off a big fella. Nolan is absolutley briliant at arriving in the penalty
area [to feed off knock downs] and scoring with one- and two-touch finishes.
So, Nolan, Allardyce and Carroll have got a great relationship there."
Next up for the Hammers is the visit of fellow promoted side Southampton.
Given that the Saints have already shipped 20 goals in seven games, three of
them own goals, the Mail on Sunday's Ian Ridley expects them to be in for a
tough afternoon with Carroll and friends on the prowl.
"[Southampton have been] very open and easy to score against," says Ian.
"People like young Nat Clyne are finding it tough to take that step up to
the Premier League. Their defence has looked vulnerable, always capable of
an own goal and, particularly when pressured by Andy Carroll, you would
think there might be another one in the offing."
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Price of Football - Premier League
BBC.co.uk
Newcastle United offer the cheapest day out for adult fans in the Premier
League, with tickets starting at £15. BBC Sport's Price of Football study
shows that Newcastle, Aston Villa, Fulham and Wigan all offer a ticket,
programme, pie and cup of tea for less than £30, with Newcastle the cheapest
at £23. Liverpool's cheapest day out is the most expensive in the top flight
at £47.30, while champions Manchester City have the second-cheapest season
tickets in the league at £275.
The most expensive matchday ticket in the division is at Arsenal, with some
seats for the club's top category games costing £126. All clubs offer a host
of special offers on certain fixtures, but they were asked for the cheapest
and most expensive matchday tickets which were not part of any promotion.
Arsenal's most expensive seat has gone up from £100 last year, but they have
also reduced prices. Last year's cheapest matchday seat was £35, and this
year it has come down to £26.
Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis says clubs in the top flight must be
careful not to take their supporters for granted. He told BBC Sport: "During
the last year we spent a lot of time working with our fan groups to develop
our ticketing strategy and create a wider and broader range of prices.
"That's been a collaborative effort between us and our fans which has been
welcomed by our fans as a positive development.
Bundesliga bargain
Prices at German champions Borussia Dortmund:
Adult ticket (purchased on day): Cheapest: £12.30 Most expensive: £40.18
Season ticket (adult) - cheapest:£150.27; most expensive: £819.67 (includes
three Champions League group games)
Bratwurst: £2.01
Beer: £3.62
Programme: £1.61
*all prices converted from euros
"It's something that all of us in football need to keep an eye on and keep
responsive to because what we don't want to do is price out particularly
younger fans from the live experience of football. "That is such a
fundamental part of the bond young people form with football. It isn't just
an issue for Arsenal but across the game." Arsenal's cheapest season ticket
at the Emirates is £985 and the most expensive £1,955, although that
includes seven FA Cup or European games in addition to the standard 19
Premier League matches. Wigan have the cheapest season tickets on offer in
the top flight - they start at £255 - with the most expensive seat at the DW
Stadium costing £310 for 19 Premier League games. A programme in the Premier
League will cost fans £3 or £3.50, while the cheapest pie can be found at
Wigan, who charge £2.30. Fulham's is the most expensive at £3.90.
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'In Jussi We Trust' - and Raphael Too!
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
I think most fans were surprised by the decision, seemingly, out of left
field to loan Stephen Henderson to Ipswich Town. The signing of the
promising Republic of Ireland keeper was viewed in many quarters as a
potential coup. Henderson was highly rated at, his former club, Portsmouth,
and there were high expectations that he might step up as first choice
keeper, in the aftermath of Rob Green's Bosman move. That this has not
happened is partly due to the subsequent signing of Jussi, but it also to
the fact that Henderson has not exactly graped his opportunities (and indeed
some would say the ball!) with both hands when he has featured for the first
team.
However, Henderson is still a young goal keeper and it would not be
unreasonable to argue that he is still learning his trade and could very
well develop in to a top keeper over a slightly longer time frame. This
would have meant working hard with the specialist keeping coach, and the
experienced Jussi, to improve and realise his potential. Now, there is two
ways to look at the news that Henderson has gone out on loan to a
Championship side. The first is that it is purely a short-term arrangement
to give him more immediate first team exposure and sharpen his game. After
all, there is allegedly a clause in the loan deal that West Ham can recall
him at 24 hours notice if he is needed. The second, and alternative, view is
that Henderson has been unsettled at not being first choice and that he has
made this known to the Manager. Who remembers Sam Allardyce's comments after
the Wigan cup defeat, in stating that players could hardly knock on his
door, demanding to play, after performing so poorly when they eventually get
their chance. In retrospect, does it now make sense who Allardyce was
referring to? Could a permanent outward transfer now be on the cards for
Henderson in January, with a new keeper also arriving at the club?
Personally, I am unsure on the issue. Although Henderson's reported
comments, about not being 'a bench warmer,' could quite reasonably be
interpreted as substantiating the latter point of view. Even more
interesting was his reported statement that Pompey had not made him aware of
Ipswich Town's interest last season and, had he known, he might have thought
twice about moving to the Hammers. Now we all know that when players sign
for a new club they invariably make statements to try to get the fans 'on
side,' but does it sound like the comment of a player that is keen to keep
his options open with regard to recommencing his career with the Hammers?
Perhaps, perhaps not? Some times, amazingly in the current mass
media/information age, players still make comments for the local press,
without giving apparent due consideration to the way that they may be
reported elsewhere. Is this such a case?
Anyway, whatever, Henderson's loan means that we are reliant upon Jussi as
first choice and Spiegel as cover. Maybe his performances at Development
Squad level, and in training, has encouraged Allardyce to believe that the
youngster can step up, immediately, if called upon to do so? And, as stated,
there is also the option to recall Henderson at very short notice. So, lets
see what happens? Jussi has done well since arriving at the club and there
is no denying his PL experience. However, I still have certain simmering
anxiety about the goal keeping situation. Maybe it is just that I have grown
accustomed to Rob Green's presence as our last line of defence, maybe it is
because I prefer reaction keepers like Green and Hislop? Alternatively,
perhaps it is because I suspect that Jussi is past his best and that may
become more self-evident at some juncture? I have to say that I am still
processing these issues, as I try to publicly adopt, in the interim, a 'in
Jussi we trust' type position. And by extension, if circumstance dictate,
that might have to apply to Raphael too!
Finally, away from goalkeeping deliberations, it would appear that the Mayor
of London, and the powers to be, are finally militating towards accepting
the reality of the issues relating to the long term sustainability of the
OS. This will, inevitably, mean pursuing the option of 'retro-fitting' a
retractable seating system in the Stadium, as part of a £160-200m
restructuring to make it a viable multi-purpose venue. Approximately £90m is
in the pot to fund the OS redevelopment, Newham Council wish to invest £40m
for the benefit of the local economy/ community and negotiations are ongoing
with West Ham about their possible contribution as the anchor
tenant/stakeholders. No doubt the alleged £2m a year rental will be included
in any financial calculation, the % cut of PL revenues going in to the
public purse and anticipated revenue streams from other sporting and concert
events. In addition, there is £500m sitting in a post-games budget to help
redevelop the wider Olympic Park. It is not beyond the realms of possibility
that the OS redevelopment will receive a further cash injection from that
budget, if it is necessary to seal a deal.
Ironically, any planned retro-fit of the retractable seating, is likely to
result in a wholesale development of the permanent 20,000 seats in the lower
tier. While the temporary seats in the upper tiers might stay in place?
Although it is unclear how the extension of the roof and inclusion of
hospitality facilities will impact upon that? Of course, all of this is made
necessary by the extreme folly of the poor decision-making in determining
the design of the stadium. Whereas Jowell, Livingstone and Coe deserve huge
credit for winning the 2012 games, many are now questioning the poor
strategic planning, that has directly led so many 'chickens come home to
roost' with regard to the inbuilt limitations of the OS design.
At least the success of the OS during the games has clearly shown the Spurs
sponsored 'bulldoze and rebuild' proposal to be both philistine and
politically impossible to deliver (Something that some of us suspected all
along). Still at least their game playing, allied to the 2011 summer
disturbances, got the Mayor of London to invest in the the supporting
infrastrucure of their proposed Northumberland Park redevelopment. Least
ways, if some of the reports are to be believed? So, if true, they cannot be
too unhappy at the outcome. Anyway, what it could mean is that, if selected
as the anchor tenant, the scale of the works will mean that West Ham may not
occupy the OS until the start of the 2015-16 season. It means an additional
season at Upton Park, but the down side is that it may also delay our
assault upon Champions League glory!!!!
You have to laugh at the scale of the OS debacle. If not, one is equally
likely to lament its absurdity. Whatever the emotion solicited by the
circumstances, all we can hope is that it is eventually a case of 'alls well
that ends well.' And when all the chips fall, West Ham emerge as clean
'winners' from the solution(s) put in place.
SJ. Chandos.
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Guy dealt in by Hammers
Published: 6 hrs ago
The Sun
WEST HAM are ready to offer full-back Guy Demel a new contract. The French
defender, 31, has impressed since arriving on a one-year deal from Hamburg
and the Hammers want to talk about a new two-year contract. But midfielder
Gary O'Neil, 29, will be allowed to go in January.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
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