Big Sam signs new contract
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are delighted to announce that manager Sam Allardyce has
signed a new contract
12.05.2013
West Ham United are delighted to announce that manager Sam Allardyce has
pledged his future to the Club by signing a new contract. Big Sam put pen to
paper on the new deal on Saturday after overseeing a hugely impressive
season for the Hammers following their return to the Barclays Premier League
last summer. The Club go in to Sunday's game at Everton in tenth position,
having secured some superb results this term including a home win against
European champions Chelsea and a thrilling 2-2 home draw with champions
Manchester United. Joint-Chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold appointed
Allardyce in June 2011 and tasked him with leading the Hammers back to the
Premier League from the npower Championship. It was a task he completed at
the first attempt by successfully guiding the Club through the Play-Offs
and, in doing so, providing the Claret and Blue Army with one of their most
memorable afternoons in recent times by beating Blackpool 2-1 at Wembley
last May. The progress did not stop there, however, as Allardyce and the
Board quickly set about building a team to compete in the Premier League.
Experienced top-flight players Jussi Jaaskelainen, James Collins, Momo Diame
and Matt Jarvis were among those recruited alongside the season-long loan of
England international Andy Carroll. The hard work paid off as Big Sam's side
picked up 22 points from their first 15 games; a start that ensured they
were never drawn into the relegation picture during the 2012/13 season.
January saw further strengthening of the squad, including the return of
local hero Joe Cole, and the Club have ended the season strongly with just
two defeats in their last nine games. If they can maintain their top-half
position until the end of the season, they would be one of only 14
newly-promoted sides to do so since the formation of the Premier League.
West Ham were named anchor concessionaire at the iconic Olympic Stadium in
March and Allardyce will now be working with the Board to create a squad
that can rise to the challenge of playing in the magnificently-converted
54,000-seater stadium.
As the Board and their manager repeatedly stated during the season, no
agreement would be signed until West Ham United were mathematically safe and
now that feat has been achieved, both sides were keen to move quickly to
conclude negotiations. Joint-Chairman David Sullivan said: "I am delighted
that we have reached an agreement to extend Sam Allardyce's stay at West Ham
United. "Going into our final two Premier League games, we have a very real
possibility of achieving a top-ten finish this season, which would exceed
our expectations and be a fantastic achievement for any newly-promoted side.
"With Sam's future now secured and our Premier League position guaranteed
for next season, the hard work of bringing in new talent to take this Club
to the next level can progress. Sam will now have the exciting challenge of
building a squad that will befit a team playing in the Olympic Stadium.
"With a highly-rated manager, a stunning new home and two high-profile
sponsorship agreements announced in the past few months, these are extremely
exciting times for West Ham United."
Joint-Chairman David Gold said: "This is fantastic news for West Ham United.
Sam has made a hugely positive impact since joining the club nearly two
years ago. When you consider the difficult situation he faced when he
arrived at the club following our relegation, he quickly set about making
his mark and built a new team that ultimately got us promoted back to the
Premier League at the first attempt. "We chose to recruit Sam as we knew he
would bring discipline, determination, passion and respect to Chadwell Heath
and he has delivered on all fronts. "The relationships that exist throughout
the Club are some of the best I've seen during my 20 years in football. When
I visit the training ground, it is obvious to see Sam is respected by the
players and David Sullivan, Karren Brady and I all enjoy working with him.
"We can now all look forward to the next few years with optimism and I am
already excited about our plans for the 2013/14 season."
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Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce has signed his new contract and is already planning for next
season with West Ham United
13.05.2013
Sam Allardyce is already planning for an even brighter future at West Ham
United after signing a new contract with the Club. The manager was left
disappointed following Sunday's 2-0 Barclays Premier League defeat at
Everton, but he is not about to let one negative result ruin two hugely
positive years of work. Big Sam was rewarded for taking the Hammers back to
the top flight at the first attempt and securing their safety with a new
deal, which he happily signed at the weekend. With his and the Club's
top-flight future confirmed, the boss said he is now looking forward to
finishing the current campaign on a high and reaching even greater heights
next term. "I am very pleased about signing my new contract but I wasn't
expecting that it was ever going to be a problem," said Big Sam. "There was
a lot of speculation but it's over and done with now and we can concentrate
on building for a new season. "Really, trying to get better is our main
priority, of course. I hope there will be less business to be done as there
has been over my first two years. I hope there will be single figures in
terms of playing coming in, unlike the double figures or beyond it [who have
come in during the last two summers]. "It will bring us more stability but
I've got to choose the right player to make us better for next season and
not think about standing still, even though we have had a fantastic season
this season."
Big Sam agreed when it was put to him that, a few minor bumps along the way,
his first two years in charge in east London have pretty much gone to plan.
However, he is conscious that his side will have to rediscover the
outstanding away form they showed during his first season at the helm if
they are to improve in 2013/14. "It has gone to plan," he confirmed. "One
disappointing thing this season, for me, has been away from home. We've gone
back to the old West Ham syndrome where it's very difficult to go away and
play away from home and win. "We've not found that to be very easy at all
this season. We have managed to win three away from home and we have got
some very good draws at Liverpool and Southampton when we needed them. "At
the end of the day, our players played like they had the sun and the beach
in their minds. They played like they were on their holidays before they
really are. "The buoyant Everton were always going to come out all guns
blazing [with David Moyes managing his last home game at Goodison Park
before leaving for Manchester United] and we had to match that, but of
course we didn't find the tempo and time to contend with Everton's very good
play and they deserved to win.
"Improving the away results and away form will be the main priority next
season. Our home form has been outstanding with performances and results.
"We have lost this game and we're very disappointed but we have one game to
go and we want to win that and finish on a real high against Reading next
Sunday. If we do, we'll secure 46 points which will be a really outstanding
total. "If we don't we will still have had a great season, but we will still
have had a great season."
While the current season still has one match to run - a home win over
relegated Reading will secure a top-ten finish - Big Sam said he and his
staff are already putting plans in place for the next campaign. Pre-season
trips to the Republic of Ireland and Germany have already been confirmed,
while the player recruitment staff are finalising targets and the backroom
team are putting the finishing touches to summer fitness programmes for the
players. "The planning has started, but it's about affordability for us. On
the money side of it, there is some there but it's not fortunes. We've got
to improve the team that we've got, which has played to its maximum. "A lot
of the team that we've got were free transfers and we've got to go from that
to getting better players. We've got to go into the market for them and
increase the overall salary and wage budget and transfer fees because we've
got to try and get better. "As we all know, that is a very difficult job to
do today, to pick players to come in and be good enough to play in the
Premier League. "We've got to go all out and that's why I'm hoping that
pre-season, aside from just players in and players out, is all sorted by the
weekend of 26 and 27 May. That is where we're travelling to, what we're
doing, the kit, when we arrive back, when and who we're playing and what
type of training programmes we're setting up are all organised. "The players
are only going to get two weeks rest and then they're going have to start
doing some of the programmes themselves that they have been given. "All that
can be done and we can sit back and concentrate on new players and see when
and where we can get some."
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Big Sam bemoans Everton defeat
WHUFC.com
Big Sam was disappointed with his side's lacklustre showing in defeat at
Everton
12.05.2013
Sam Allardyce admitted West Ham United had been well beaten at Goodison
Park, as Everton ran out convincing 2-0 winners in the Hammers' final away
day of the 2012/13 Barclays Premier League season. With manager David Moyes
Old Trafford bound, his players certainly rose to the occasion on this, his
Goodison swansong. Belgian winger Kevin Mirallas was the star-turn on the
day, netting either side of the interval in the sixth and the 60th minute to
put the contest beyond the visitors. In truth, it was the least the Toffees
deserved and by Big Sam's own admission the margin of victory might have
been even greater but for the interventions of goalkeeper Jussi
Jaaskelainen. "By the way we played today I have to say we were lucky to get
away with the 2-0," he said. "There's only one player who has been
outstanding for us today and that was Jussi Jaaskelainen. He made some
absolutely outstanding saves."
Big Sam subsequently acknowledged that his opposite number's imminent
departure had hardly helped his charges, with Everton's bright, inventive
and high-tempo football proving tough to stifle. He added: "I warned the
players before the game what it was going to be like and it was exactly that
and we simply couldn't cope with it today. It's always difficult coming here
but this occasion made it even more difficult. And we saw that, not just by
the performances of Everton players in possession, but by their performance
without the ball. "They gave us no time on the ball whatsoever. As soon as
they lost it, they ran us down, they shut us down, they squeezed us and
pressed us and we couldn't get anything because of the energy they showed."
Sunday's disappointment aside, Allardyce is still thrilled with his side's
progress this term, in the knowledge that victory on the final day against
Reading will guarantee the Hammers a top-ten finish. "I've really enjoyed
this season. Because we had such a fantastic start, we've never been in a
relegation-threatened position. That's a massive relief for me as a manager
and your players and your football club. "That in itself has taken us to the
position that we're in at the moment, tenth, with one game to go. We've
never been lower than 14th, so it has been an outstanding season for us, in
our first back in the Barclays Premier League."
Though the season is not yet done and dusted, preparations are already
underway for the forthcoming campaign, with new recruits already on the
agenda.
"[The next challenge] is adding players. We've got to get better and find
more talent. We've got to make the squad bigger and better in terms of the
personnel and the talent of the players."
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'We got what we deserved'
WHUFC.com
Joey O'Brien was candid in his assessment of the Hammers' 2-0 defeat at
Goodison Park
12.05.2013
Joey O'Brien offered no excuses for West Ham United's performance in defeat
at Everton on Sunday afternoon, saying the Hammers got what they deserved
for an under-par showing. Two Kevin Mirallas goals were the difference,
although in truth Everton may have had more for their efforts from a bright
and inventive performance which yielded several chances. West Ham were
always up against it after falling behind with just six minutes played and
O'Brien admitted their display was not up to scratch. "It's really
disappointing," he said. "I'm not going to stand here and make excuses, we
were poor on Sunday and we didn't perform in the first half. "Second half we
changed the formation, but it didn't change how we played - we were still
poor. It's disappointing, especially for the fans who travelled up this far,
and we're gutted about how we played. "The atmosphere and how it was going
to be, with the whole situation [of the manager leaving for Manchester
United], we wanted to keep the fans quiet, but the early goal kept them
going, and the start made it very difficult for us. "It's a hard place to
come, they have a smashing team and are high up the league for a reason, but
the fact it was David Moyes' last home game added a bit more spice to it.
"But for them to score after five minutes, we were always going to be on the
back foot. Their spirits got up and it was hard for us to get in to the
game. We came in at half time 1-0 down, sat down and had a talk but we
didn't really perform in the second half either so we got what we deserved."
West Ham conclude their Barclays Premier League campaign on Saturday with a
home game against Reading, and with the possibility of a top ten finish on
the agenda, O'Brien is determined to finish on a high. He continued: "The
only good thing to come out of the game is that we're still in the top ten.
If we win next week we're guaranteed to stay there. "That's what we set out
to do at the start of the season, and against Reading - they've beaten us
the last three games we've played against them, so the lads will be up for
that one. "It's probably a good game to have on the back of this one.
Hopefully we get can the three points to make sure of the top ten."
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce penned a new contract with the club at the
weekend and O'Brien, who played under Big Sam at Bolton too, is delighted to
see the manager commit his future to the Club. He added: "He's done an
unbelievable job at this football club, that's why he's got the new
contract. That's why he deserves his contract too. He took over in the
Championship and had all the pressure there. You've seen the clubs this year
in that league, who had the expectations we had and how they've got on, so
he's done an unbelievable job. "You have to say we've had a successful two
years. "Two years ago I got released by Bolton, and no other club would go
near me with my injuries. My relationship with him was with the manager was
that I played with him as a kid [at Bolton] and he knew me. "He told me that
I could come down and train at West Ham. Without that phone call telling me
that I woudn't be standing here now. I owe him a lot."
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Mirallas double downs Hammers
WHUFC.com
Everton beat West Ham United 2-0 in the final away game of the 2012/13
season
12.05.2013
West Ham United fell to a 2-0 defeat at Everton in their final away Barclays
Premier League fixture of the season on Sunday. Kevin Mirallas did the
damage, notching either side of the break to cap an impressive display from
the home side in manager David Moyes' last game in charge at Goodison Park.
The Scot is moving on to Manchester United, but there was no lack of focus
from his team as Mirallas fired them into a sixth minute lead. The Toffees
remained in charge for the majority of the contest and Mirallas doubled his,
and his team's, tally on the hour. That was enough to defeat the Hammers,
who will hope for better when they close the campaign at home to Reading
next week Everton had already gone close through Sylvain Distin by the time
they took a seventh minute lead. It was a goal of real quality too, as they
worked possession across the face of the Hammers box through Leighton
Baines, Marouane Fellaini and Steven Pienaar before Mirallas spotted the
opening to guide the ball back across Jussi Jaaskelainen and into the bottom
left corner. Mirallas was bright and inventive, and another sideways run
through the West Ham danger area almost led to a second as his scuffed shot
dropped perfectly for Victor Anichebe, whose powerful close range shot was
blocked by a part of the body Jaaskelainen probably wished had not. Everton
were well on top, but West Ham still went close to levelling just after the
half hour when Joey O'Brien made a probing run forward and fed the ball
inside to Kevin Nolan with the outside of his foot. The visiting skipper
controlled and shot for goal, but Tim Howard sprung down to his left to get
a strong and decisive hand to his effort.
On 35 minutes Nolan hooked a volley hot far past the post, but that five
minute spell was about as good as it got for West Ham as Everton burst out
of the traps at the start of the second period to re-establish control. With
53 minutes played, Leighton Baines knocked over a deep cross from the left
towards Leon Osman, who sent the ball back across goal, but faced with an
almost impossibly tight angle, he could not place it betwen the posts. Then,
six minutes later, Mirallas ran strongly at James Collins and had a sight of
the top corner, but was not able to wrap his foot around the ball and it
flew wide. But the Hammers did not heed the warning, and Mirallas made them
pay just a minute later as Everton broke quickly from the back, Howard
throwing the ball into Darron Gibson, who in turn found Mirallas surging
forward. The Belgian then shifted onto his right foot before firing for
goal, and although Collins got a half-block in, all it did was knock the
ball into the ground and looping over Jaaskelainen's dive. As the game
entered its final quarter, the Finn had to make a superb stop to prevent
Leon Osman from inflicting further misery on the Hammers, flying to his left
to block after Pienaar ran into the box and squared across the area. Pienaar
continued to buzz around effectively and Collins had to make a similarly
last ditch block from the South African as Everton pressed for more. The
Hammers nearly grabbed a consolation three minutes from the end when Andy
Carroll planted a firm header against the post, but they would not be able
to find the goal which could have set up an interesting finale.
Everton: Howard; Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Gibson, Fellaini, Osman
(Hibbert 89), Mirallas (Oviedo 90), Pienaar; Anichebe (Jelavic 73)
Subs: Mucha (GK), Heitinga, Naismith, Barkley
Goals: Mirallas 6, Mirallas 60
Booked: Mirallas
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen; Demel, Collins, Reid, O'Brien; Nolan, O'Neil
(Noble 64), Diame (C;Cole 46); Collison (J.Cole 55), Carroll, Jarvis
Subs: Henderson (GK), Vaz Te, Taylor, Pogatetz
Booked: Demel, Collins
Referee: Phil Dowd
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Everton 2 West Ham 0
12 May 2013
Last updated at 17:23
By Ben Smith
BBC Sport
Everton gave their departing manager David Moyes the perfect send-off with a
convincing victory over West Ham in his final match at Goodison Park. The
result was secured by Kevin Mirallas's eighth and ninth league goals of the
season and guarantees Everton sixth place in the Premier League table. The
Belgian forward finished off a flowing team move to give Everton the perfect
start after six minutes, before a deflected second-half effort gave Moyes
the victory he was so desperate to secure in his penultimate game in charge.
At the final whistle, the 50-year-old Scot, who will become Manchester
United manager on 1 July, was serenaded by all corners of the stadium after
a final flourish that went very much to the script. Anything but a home win
would have felt inadequate on a day the blue half of Merseyside came to say
goodbye to their manager of 11 years. The rousing and emotional pre-match
send-off was acknowledged by Moyes with a simple wave to all four stands at
Goodison Park. But the only tribute the Everton manager really cared about
was the performance, and his team knew it. Everton, driven on by the
midfield leadership of Leon Osman, the tireless running of Steven Pienaar
and the ruthless finishing of Mirallas thoroughly deserved their victory.
There was exemplary work-rate and ambition throughout the team with their
manager barking instructions and celebrating goals with as much passion as
ever. Visitors West Ham offered little, save for two efforts by Kevin Nolan
and one from former Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole. Everton could have been
ahead as early as the fourth minute, only for Sylvain Distin to head
Marouane Fellaini's cushioned header narrowly wide. Focused and fluent, the
hosts immediately clicked into top gear, carving out clever openings and
bombarding the West Ham goal. Goodison could sense a goal and it arrived
just two minutes later. Leighton Baines raced into space down the left and
flicked the ball to a charging Fellaini. The Belgian midfielder found
Pienaar with a clever flick, who in turn found Mirallas and his piercing low
shot fizzed beyond Jussi Jaaskelainen and into the net. With Moyes standing
guard on the edge of his technical area, living through every moment just as
he had done for the past decade and more, Everton snapped into every
challenge and zipped every pass around the slick Goodison turf.
They might have doubled their lead midway through the first half when
Mirallas wiggled his way through the West Ham penalty box and steered a shot
goalwards. His effort ran to Victor Anichebe, but the Nigerian's point-blank
effort was saved by Jaaskelainen. Having been outplayed for much of the
opening 30 minutes, West Ham gradually began to warm to their task. "Everton
fans stayed behind after the final whistle to give David Moyes a rousing
send off. It was a fitting tribute. Former Everton player Tim Cahill
travelled 6,000 miles to be here while Moyes's dad was also in the crowd"
Nolan twice went close in the space of five minutes, Tim Howard making one
tremendous save low to his left, but that was to be as good as it got for
the visitors. The hosts, meanwhile, continued to threaten. Fellaini was
denied by James Collins's timely intervention and Mirallas sliced narrowly
wide as the game approached the hour mark. Goodison responded with a wall of
noise that lifted the players and delivered the second goal. Mirallas was a
constant danger to the West Ham defence and it was he again who drove for
goal before unleashing a shot from 25 yards that deflected off the excellent
Collins and bounced up and over the despairing dive of Jaaskelainen to
double the lead. Briefly Everton threatened to overrun the Hammers. Osman
twice went close, Jaaskelainen denying the England international with a
wonderful save low to his right before Pienaar fired another effort narrowly
wide. Anichebe should have done better with a near-post header but it
mattered not. This was Everton's - and Moyes' - day.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce: "I'm bitterly disappointed. It's always
difficult to play at Goodison Park and David Moyes's record speaks for
itself. "I warned the players but they chose to take no notice. It left us
with a bad performance. "There was only one man who did his job and that was
goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen."
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Sam Allardyce critical of his players following their 2-0 defeat at an
emotional Goodison
Last Updated: May 12, 2013 7:41pm
SSN
Sam Allardyce felt that his West Ham side failed to deal with the occasion
at Goodison in their 2-0 defeat to Everton. The Hammers manager insisted
that he had told his players to expect an emotional home crowd to get behind
Everton, and believed that his players had not performed to their ability.
Allardyce admitted that West Ham were lucky to lose by just two goals after
goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen made a string of fine saves to deny Everton
during a ninety minutes in which the away side failed to get a foothold.
"The way we played today we were lucky to get away with 2-0" "There was
only one player who has been outstanding for us and that was (goalkeeper)
Jussi Jaaskelainen who made some outstanding saves. "I warned the players
before the game what it was going to be like - it was exactly that and the
players couldn't cope." West Ham are yet to cement a top-half finish going
into the final game, and face relegated Reading on the final day.
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Leaving on a high note: David Moyes signs off at Goodison Park with 2-0 win
over West Ham
12 May 2013 17:48
The Mirror
He has those granite-hard Scottish genes, so there were no tears as David
Moyes said farewell to Goodison Park in typical winning style yesterday. Yet
even this tough footballing man had to visibly choke back the emotion during
an afternoon that spoke volumes about the work he has done at Everton, and
the immense quality he possesses as both a manager and a man. He is from the
same school of hard knocks as Sir Alex Ferguson of course, so his
over-riding feeling yesterday seemed to be one of slight embarrassment at
the wave of affection and respect that washed around Goodison Park. As he
entered the old stadium for his final game, he admitted he didn't quite know
how to react. "It has been so hard, so emotional. When I arrived at the
ground all the stewards clapped and I didn't know what to do," he confessed.
That feeling lasted right until the end as the players formed a guard of
honour to recognise both their manager and their skipper Phil Neville, who
will also be leaving Everton at the end of the season. "You know what I
liked most about today and what I will miss most? That moment in the second
half when the fans were so passionately cheering their football club and not
David Moyes," he said with a smile. "To me, that is the toughest thing to
leave behind, because it showed how big Everton are and it showed how great
their fans are. "I feel very humble at what people have shown me today.
Whoever is the next manager they will enjoy the incredible level of
professionalism these players here have. They played like a top, top team
even on a difficult day and that's great credit to them."
Moyes was right. Everton are on course for their best ever Premier League
points haul and they took West Ham apart. As visiting boss Sam Allardyce
said after, it was only the performance of his goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen
who stopped them running up a rugby score. He made fine saves from Victor
Anichebe, Marouane Fellaini, Darron Gibson, Steven Pienaar and Leon Osman
amongst others. It was fitting that Kevin Mirallas got the goals to win the
game, because his qualities typify the ability of the manager and chairman
to find footballing gems and secure them a rock bottom prices. His first was
a cool side-footed finish in the first half, the second (above) a sharp shot
that was deflected over the West Ham keeper off James Collins.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Monday, May 13
Sunday, May 12
Daily WHUFC News -
Jussi Jaaskelainen - The Big Interview
WHUFC.com
Save of the Season winner Jussi Jaaskelainen reflects on a fine first season
with West Ham United
12.05.2013
Jussi Jaaskelainen has become something of a terrace hero among the West Ham
United supporters during his first season in east London. The veteran former
Finland international was already well-known to his team-mates and Hammers
fans alike, having spent 15 seasons between the sticks at Bolton Wanderers.
Arriving at the age of 37 and after a difficult final campaign with Bolton,
some fans were concerned that Jaaskelainen's best days were behind him, but
the likeable stopper has proven that he is still among the best goalkeepers
in the Barclays Premier League. A campaign that has seen him make numerous
outstanding contributions and keep eleven clean sheets was climaxed with a
deserved Save of the Season trophy at the 2012/13 Player Awards, which he
received from sponsors Thomas Fredrick Willetts Foundation Board member and
Trustee Raphael Sukaj. Added to that, Jaaskelainen was also voted as
runner-up to Winston Reid for the prestigious Hammer of the Year award.
Jussi, you must have been shocked to win Save of the Season!
JJ - "I looked in the programme a couple of months ago and I saw there was a
Save of the Season award and I thought 'If I can't win that, it's going to
be a bit embarrassing'! "It's nice to make those saves at the right times in
games and that's what football is all about. It's up to me to make saves and
we have two games to go and if we can finish in the top then, that would be
brilliant."
Your winning save was your outstanding fingertip effort to push Gareth
Bale's curler onto the crossbar in the 3-2 home defeat by Tottenham Hotspur
in February. Was that your own personal save of the season?
JJ - "Erm, I don't know because we lost the game. At the end of the day, I
want to make saves when we're winning points and winning games, so that's
why I was a bit disappointed because he scored that wonde rgoal afterwards.
"It would have been great to have saved that too and the game would have
finished 2-2 and we would have felt a bit better! "I think that West Brom
one from the free-kick [was important], because when you see it back it
deflects and comes close enough to me to make the save. "It's hard to pick a
save because I look to keep a consistent level through the season. We have
two more games, so hopefully I'll be making some more saves."
You have kept eleven clean sheets and produced some superb performances
during your first season with the Hammers after a difficult final campaign
at Bolton, so have you been happy with your contribution?
JJ - "It's the way we set up as a team. That's what Big Sam wants us to do -
to go out and keep a clean sheet because it is easier to keep a clean sheet
than score a goal in the Premier League. You start from a base so obviously
if you keep a clean sheet you get one point. I don't think we've been too
negative defensively, but it's a good thing to build on. "I don't really
read or think about what anybody else is thinking. I just try to work as
hard as I can and, if I get a chance to play on Saturday, I want to do my
best. In my career, I've been lucky enough to play many years in the Premier
League as a No1. I missed six months last season, so it's great to be here
and back playing. "I want to thank Big Sam because I have worked with him in
the past and I know his backroom staff are great and he has given me the
best possible opportunity to make those saves because of the way he looks
after his players."
You look as if you have enjoyed life at West Ham this term?
JJ - "I try to keep myself calm and collected because I don't want to get
too high when we're winning or playing well or too low when things go
against you.
"After every game, I just make sure that I prepare properly for the next one
because, at the end of the day, everybody makes mistakes and it can cost
you. If I do my best during the week, whatever happens, happens - that's the
way I always think."
Finally, you have won over even the most sceptical of fans with your
performances. Presumably you want to be West Ham's No1 again in 2013/14?
JJ - "Of course I want to carry on, but now we all start again in
pre-season. We all start on the same line and I want to work my way into the
team again when the first Premier League game of next season starts. "Like I
said, if people doubted me then there's nothing I can do. That's why
football is great, because everybody has their opinions and sometimes they
are wrong and sometimes they are right. As a person, I just want to enjoy my
football and do my best."
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Martin wary of 'formidable' Toffees
WHUFC.com
Former Hammers defender Alvin Martin runs the rule over Sunday's trip to
Goodison Park
12.05.2013
Alvin Martin believes West Ham United are in as good shape as they have been
for some years and has high hopes for the club's prospects in the next
decade.
After some turbulent times, the Liverpudlian defender is thrilled to see
calm and success restored to the Boleyn Ground, with the Hammers sitting
tenth in the Barclays Premier League ahead of Sunday's trip to Everton. But
Martin, an Everton schoolboy in his formative years, reckons Big Sam's men
will have their work cut out against a miserly Toffees side who have lost
just six league games all season long. He exclusively told whufc.com:
"Everton are a team that don't give anything away. When you look at the
number of games they have lost this year, they're not far behind Manchester
United and Manchester City. They're resilient and formidable. Admittedly,
they've drawn a lot of games, perhaps that they feel they should have won.
"Under David Moyes, this is the best side they've had by a long way and it's
the most creative as well. So it's going to be a tough game because they are
a top six side. That's credit to the manager and the team."
The Hammers lost the reverse fixture 2-1 in December, after goalscorer
Carlton Cole was dismissed by referee Anthony Taylor, a decision
subsequently overturned. Rough justice though it was, Martin thinks the
prospect of a top-ten finish will figure much higher in the players'
thoughts come Sunday. He continued: "I don't think the players will be
looking at it as if they have a score to settle. They will see it as another
game, another three points to try and finish as high as you can. "If West
Ham had come into this season saying we're going to finish mid table, we'd
have absolutely bitten your hand off at the time. We did have a brilliant
start then a little wobble, but Sam has done ever so well to see them
through that. Sam's a solid manager and a solid personality. He just focuses
and gets the job done."
Martin insists the stewardship of Allardyce has brought much needed
stability back to the club, a position that he hopes will help the Hammers
make the transition to the Olympic Stadium three years down the line. "From
what I've seen this year, West Ham are probably as in a stable position as
they have been for eight or nine years, which is where I want us to be. "We
seem to have a steadiness about us now and obviously with the Olympic
Stadium on the horizon, it's vital that we have stability here. From what I
hear, this could be a magnificent next decade for us. I think it's a case of
saying let's stay solid, certainly for the next three years."
Meanwhile, a three-time Hammer of the Year himself, Martin was as pleased as
anyone to see his former colleague Billy Bonds MBE collect the club's very
first lifetime achievement prize at Wednesday's Player Awards. "Bill is
somebody I idolised as a kid before I got into the team. It was a privilege
to play with him and if there's one player I played with, in all the games I
played with at West Ham, that you'd want alongside you in a game that you
had to win, it was Billy Bonds. "He was that sort of character. Great
footballer, strong man and a fantastic role model. I always hold Bill up as
an example to my boys, when we talk about how things should be done and how
you approach the game and how to prepare yourself mentally and physically.
Bill had all of that. He was way ahead of his time. But more than anything,
a man with morals and integrity."
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Trio relish Toffees test
WHUFC.com
Joe Cole, Mark Noble and Matt Jarvis are all looking forward to Sunday's
trip to Everton
11.05.2013
West Ham United complete their slate of Barclays Premier League away
fixtures when they travel to Everton on Sunday. It promises to be a unique
day at Goodison Park, with Toffees manager David Moyes taking charge of
Everton for the final time on home turf before leaving for Manchester United
this summer.
Hammers trio Joe Cole, Mark Noble and Matt Jarvis are all looking forward to
the fixture, with the Hammers seeking three points that would keep them in
the top half of the table going into the final weekend of the season. "We
definitely want to finish tenth so we will give it our all and we wouldn't
have it any other way," Jarvis confirmed. "We will be fighting right to the
end to make sure we get tenth spot and really pushing us on. "At the start
of the season, first and foremost we were aiming to be safe, so to be safe
with a few games to go is brilliant. Now, we can go out and enjoy the final
few games and make sure we get a good result and stay where we are in the
league. "For our first season back in the Premier League, I think we have
shown what a great squad of players and staff and manager we have got. To
finish in the top ten in our first season back is great and hopefully we can
build in the summer and who knows where we can go? Hopefully we can really
push on next season and do even better."
For Noble, just being in and around the squad over the closing weeks of the
season has been a boost following surgery to release a trapped nerve in his
arm that threatened to prematurely end his campaign. The midfielder, who
turned 26 on Wednesday, has returned quicker than expected and could play
his part again at Goodison Park. However, Noble knows he may have to be
patient due to the fine form of Gary O'Neil in the defensive midfield
position. "I had a really risky operation on my arm but they didn't have to
take a rib out so I got back a bit quicker. It's just a case for me of
getting fit and being ready for next season. "Gary has come in and done a
fantastic job and the team have been playing really well and we're safe so
we can relax. My wife said to me 'It doesn't feel like the end of the
season' and I asked 'What do you mean?' and she replied 'Normally we're
fighting relegation or going for promotion and I've had it for the last
eight years!'
"It's nice to relax a little bit, but we have two games left and we'll try
to get as many points as we can and then we can go on our holiday and enjoy
ourselves.
"Next season, I can't see why we can't push on. We're moving to the Olympic
Stadium, so hopefully we can spend some money and buy some top players and
have a real go next year. For our first year back, we've done fantastic this
year with the squad we have had - most of whom have come up from the
Championship. "We have added the likes of Andy Carroll and Joe Cole and it's
been a credit to us. If we can add a little bit more quality next season,
then we can push on a bit further."
Cole has loved life back at the Boleyn Ground following his return to the
Club in January. Having experienced both the highs of finishing fifth in the
Premier League and playing in Europe and the lows of relegation during his
first spell with West Ham, the No26 is enjoying a stress-free end to the
current campaign.
"It is strange because everything is so tight, but we've fallen into the
category where we're not fighting for one or the other - a place in Europe
or against relegation. For me every game is one I want to win, but there is
less pressure on us. "You have seen my form is still there when I've played
for West Ham and Liverpool this year. There is no doubt about that. It's
just a question of keeping fit and staying fit, so I'll be working very hard
in the summer to strengthen my body and make sure I can play 30 or 40 games
next year. I think I can without a problem because I've been very unlucky
this year. "We have two games left and we want to go to Everton and get a
good result. At home against Reading, we want to put on a show for the fans
and finish in the top ten."
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On this day - 12 May
WHUFC.com
A memorable game from this date in the West Ham United calendar
12.05.2013
Classic match
West Ham United 1-2 Nottingham Forest
Division One
12 May 1984
12 May has been a fallow date in the character for the Hammers, with only
two games played and no points recorded. Indeed, the only goal they have
scored on this particular day came in a 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest in
the penultimate game of the 1983/84 campaign. Ray Stewart notched it from
the penalty spot - one of eight successful spot kick conversions for the
Scot that campaign. Despite closing the season with another defeat to
Everton two days later, West Ham ended up in ninth place.
Complete record - 12 May
1984 West Ham United 1-2 Nottingham Forest (Division One)
1980 Sunderland 2-0 West Ham United (Division Two)
Played 2, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 2, Scored 2, Conceded 4
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Cottee previews Everton trip
WHUFC.com
West Ham United and Everton hero Tony Cottee on Sunday's showdown at
Goodison Park
11.05.2013
Tony Cottee knows a thing or two about Hammer of the Year awards, Lifetime
Achievement Award winner Billy Bonds MBE and West Ham United versus Everton
fixtures. The 47-year-old was crowned Hammer of the Year in 1986 and voted
runner-up on three occasions, played alongside Bonds for five seasons and
represented both West Ham and Everton during an illustrious playing career.
Cottee spoke to West Ham TV about all three subjects, as well as revealing
his own personal Hammer of the Year, in an exclusive interview conducted at
the 2012/13 Player Awards.
You attended the Player Awards, where Winston Reid was crowned Hammer of the
Year. You of course won the accolade in 1985/86 at the end of West Ham's
finest-ever league season. What are your memories of that achievement?
TC - "I didn't expect to win it, to be honest. It was a wonderful season for
everyone at the Club and my great mate Frank McAvennie had arrived from
Scotland and beat me to be leading goalscorer. I honestly thought that Frank
would win it. "Mark Ward had a great season as well and I thought maybe I
might get third or second place. It was fantastic to win it because it was
so unexpected. I had been runner-up in 1984 and 1985 and I thought I'd be
runner-up again. "I had another good year that year, but personally I think
Frank should have won it because he had come down from Scotland and his
impact was incredible. It was a wonderful year for me and a wonderful award
and I'm so pleased that I won it. "I was also runner-up in 1995 to Steve
Potts, so I had three runners-up and one win in 1986. I've still got the
trophy pride of place at home and it was a great achievement for me. "You
always like to be appreciated by your team-mates and fellow professionals
and I also won the PFA Young Player of the Year in 1986, so that was great
for me personally for the other players to vote for me.
"When the fans vote for you, it's even more special because they are the
ones who turn up every week and I have always said the West Ham fans are
among the most knowledgeable fans in the country. They know their football
and to follow the likes of Billy Bonds, Trevor Brooking, Geoff Hurst and
Bobby Moore was wonderful for me."
Winston Reid was the fans' pick for Hammer of the Year this season. Who
would you have picked?
TC - "There are probably a few who deserve a mention. Andy Carroll has done
well in spells when he has been fit. I think Kevin Nolan has also been
banging the goals in and deserves a mention. Joey O'Brien has been nice and
steady wherever he has played. "I think Mo Diame has had a decent season,
perhaps not all the time, but there have been games where he has been
fantastic and scored a couple of memorable goals as well. I'd maybe give
James Collins a mention as well. "For me, it's got to be Winston Reid. I
think he has been absolutely outstanding. Consistently, week-in, week-out
you know what you are going to get. More often than not he is the man of the
match. I think he deserves it."
Why has Winston been so good this season?
TC - "People say to me 'I'm surprised with how well Winston has done' and I
reply 'Well, why are you surprised?' because I worked on the World Cup in
2010 and he was absolutely outstanding for New Zealand. "The Club have
signed him and it has taken a bit of time to settle in, but that can happen,
particularly when you come from abroad. You have got to find your feet and
get used to the pace of the Premier League and it's not that easy. "After an
indifferent first season, I think he has been fantastic for the Club. He has
been wonderfully consistent and deserves to be given the Hammer of the Year
award."
Our first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Billy Bonds made his
debut when you were just two years old, but you later played alongside him
for five seasons. To play for the Club for more than 20 years and win Hammer
of the Year four times were amazing accomplishments, weren't they?
TC - "To do all that and to play more than 700 games for West Ham was a
fantastic achievement. When I grew up as a West Ham fan as a kid and watch
them play, I used to admire Billy Bonds. All of a sudden, as a 17-year-old,
I got into the first team and was playing alongside Billy Bonds! "He went on
to play until he was 41 or 42 years of age and his achievements speak for
themselves. If anyone ever deserved an inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award,
I cannot think of anyone better. Of all the living Hammers, there is no-one
more deserving of this honour than Billy Bonds."
We go to your other old club Everton on Sunday. David Moyes will take charge
of the Blues for the last time at Goodison Park before going to Manchester
United in the summer. What are your thoughts on Moyes' move to Old Trafford?
TC - "I've got a lot of time for David Moyes. I have had the privilege of
spending time with him in his office and he always makes me feel very
welcome at my other old club Everton. I think he will be a great appointment
and a great choice for Manchester United. I wish him all the best."
What are your views on Sunday's game itself?
TC - "It's a difficult ground to go to and always has been for West Ham. I
remember we always felt playing at Goodison was going to be a tough game
and, as an Everton player, we always knew it was going to be a relatively
easy game. I've been on both sides of the fence! "It'll be interesting to
see what happens. A nice, gentle 1-1 draw will suit both teams. From West
Ham's point of view, we are playing to finish as high as we can and maybe we
can get the points to take us above Swansea, which would be nice. "All the
players are playing for their places for next season. If you go into the
game and think 'I might not give it my all' and then you are not in the team
for the first game of next season, you can only look at yourself. There is a
lot of personal pride to play for and two or three thousand West Ham fans
going up there expecting a performance."
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Six of the best - Everton
WHUFC.com
A look back at six classic victories at the home of Sunday's opponents,
Everton
11.05.2013
West Ham United have faced Everton on 125 occasions in their history and
will be hoping to record a 37th victory over the Toffees when the two sides
meet at Goodison Park on Sunday.Here, whufc.com takes a look back at six
memorable successes on Merseyside, starting with the Hammers' last
three-point haul at Everton, back in 2005.
Everton 1-2 West Ham United
Premier League
14 December 2005
The Hammers had already established themselves in the top half of the
Premier League table - just seven months after achieving promotion from the
Championship - when they were faced with a trip to Everton just before
Christmas. The game started badly for the visitors when James Beattie gave
Everton a ninth minute lead, but Alan Pardew's men did not let their heads
drop and were soon level thanks to a David Weir own goal. West Ham pushed on
after the interval and secured all three points in the 67th minute with a
Bobby Zamora goal. The three points lifted them up to seventh in the table,
and they would end the campaign in ninth place and as FA Cup runners-up.
Everton 0-1 West Ham United
Premier League
1 January 1994
West Ham made the perfect start to 1994 by travelling back from Merseyside
with all three points thanks to a solid away performance. Tim Breacker
notched one of his three goals of the campaign to break the deadlock with
what turned out to be the solitary strike. Billy Bonds' men would go on to
finish a comfortable 13th that season with 52 points, but the Toffees were
in grave relegation danger right until the very end and only survived by a
narrow two point margin thanks to a dramatic 3-2 final day victory over
Wimbledon.
Everton 0-1 West Ham United
Division One
29 August 1983
West Ham met Everton at the start of the 1983/84 season and took over top
spot in the Division One table with this 1-0 victory over the Toffees. The
Hammers were fresh from a 4-0 thumping of Birmingham City on the opening day
and maintained their perfect record thanks to a Steve Walford goal. Pole
position would remain West Ham's until October, and they were in third as
late as March, but an indifferent run of form at the end of the campaign saw
them slip down to ninth position.
Everton 1-2 West Ham United
Division One
25 November 1972
Trevor Brooking and Clyde Best were the men on target as the Hammers
registered a 2-1 victory at Goodison Park in the winter of 1972. Brooking
would notch 11 goals that season, while Best weighed in with nine as West
Ham enjoyed a fine campaign which saw them finish up in sixth place. It was
not quite as plain sailing for Everton, who were down at the other end of
the table, although they did end with a relatively healthy seven-point gap
over the relegation zone.
Clyde Best
Everton 1-2 West Ham United
Division Two
27 March 1954
The Hammers were still searching for a way back to the top flight when they
faced Everton in the 1953/54 season, but it was their opponents who would go
on to secure promotion that campaign, with West Ham down in mid-table.
However, the Londoners still managed to inflict defeat on the Toffees in
their away fixture by the odd goal in three. Jim Barrett and Tommy Dixon
scored the goals for the Hammers, although Everton's promotion ambitions
were not harmed as they ended in second.
Everton 0-4 West Ham United
Division One
10 April 1929
The Hammers biggest margin of victory at Goodison was the 4-0 triumph they
enjoyed towards the end of the 1928/29 campaign. What made the scoreline
more remarkable was the fact West Ham were defeated 7-0 up at Everton in the
previous season. They made up for that with a four-goal showing thanks to a
hat-trick from Vivian Gibbins, added to an Everton own goal.
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Sam Allardyce: West Ham boss signs new two-year contract
BBC.co.uk
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has signed a new two-year deal with the club. "I
am delighted to announce that our manager Sam Allardyce has signed a new
two-year contract," West Ham co-owner David Gold announced on Twitter.
Allardyce, 58, had always said he would only sign a new contract once the
club were certain of survival in the Premier League. West Ham are now eight
points above the relegation zone with only two games remaining.
Allardyce at the Hammers
Played: 91
Won: 39
Drawn: 25
Lost: 27
Allardyce's contract was due to expire at the end of the season. The former
Bolton and Newcastle manager said on Friday that he would be signing a new
contract "very shortly". "I never thought there would be any problem,"
Allardyce said. The Hammers recently learned they will be anchor tenants for
the Olympic Stadium, and Allardyce said he would be like to be in charge of
the team when they move into their new home in three seasons' time. "If I
can last that long, I'd like to be here," he said. "The sack is always
around the corner, that's how it is these days." The club go into their
penultimate game of the season away to Everton having won just one of their
last eight away matches - though they have lost only once in their last
eight at home.
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Junior on trial
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 11th May 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have taken Honduran youngster Lacayo Junior Rochez on a week's
trial. The 17-year-old striker currently plies his trade for local club
Victoria in the LNP - the top flight of the Honduran league system - but
will spend a week in England trying to secure a contract with the Hammers.
"I travel with great expectations and if the transfer was to materialise, I
would be happy because I could secure both my future and that of my family,"
he told the Honduran press before leaving for England. "Every player wants
to go abroad; hopefully they can get either a first or second division club.
The important thing is to get out [of Honduras]." Likened to legendary
Honduran international Tyson Nunez, who made 86 appearances for his country
between 1994 and 2008, Rochez made his pro debut as a 16-year-old and scored
eight times in his first full season. Victoria head coach Omar Galindo
revealed that West Ham contacted his recently with view to taking Rochez on
trial. Few Hondurans have proved to be a success in Europe although Maynor
Figueroa (Wigan) and Wilson Palacios (Stoke) have both enjoyed careers in
the Premier League. On the European mainland Julio Cesar de leon (Genoa),
former Roma star Edgar Alvarez and ex_Milan striker David Suazo have spent
several years playing at the very highest level.
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West Ham manager Sam Allardyce signs a new two-year contract
Last Updated: May 11, 2013 4:47pm
SSN
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has signed a new two-year contract with the
Premier League club. The news was announced by Hammers co-owner David Gold
via his Twitter account. "I am delighted to announce that our manager Sam
Allardyce has signed a new two year contract," Gold said. Allardyce's future
at Upton Park had been in question despite his insistence over the last
couple of months that he would be signing a new deal 'very soon' after
productive talks with Gold and David Sullivan. However, the 58-year-old
indicated at his press conference ahead of Sunday's game at Everton that he
was ready to sign and he has now put pen to paper. Allardyce said on Friday:
"There were processes we had to go through and put it together in the right
way, which it has now. I never thought there would be any problem - and
there hasn't. "There has been some issue with the legal jargon in the
contract which I couldn't understand so that has to go to both sides lawyers
to agree and then it gets signed. The size of a manager's contract is pretty
substantial in terms of responsibilities." Allardyce took charge of West Ham
on an initial two-year contract on June 1, 2011, guiding them to promotion
from the Championship via the play-offs last season and a comfortable 10th
place in the Premier League this term.
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West Sam
Published: 11th May 2013
The Sun
SAM ALLARDYCE has ended speculation about his future by signing a two-year
contract extension. Allardyce's previous deal was due to expire at the end
of the season. Co-owner David Gold said: "I am delighted to announce that
our manager Sam Allardyce has signed a new two year contract." Big Sam, 58,
last year led the Hammers back into the top flight and is on course for a
mid-table finish this term. Allardyce this week revealed that his deal had
been held up by legal "jargon". He said on Friday: "There were processes we
had to go through and put it together in the right way, which it has now. "I
never thought there would be any problem — and there hasn't. "There has been
some issue with the legal jargon in the contract which I couldn't understand
so that has to go to both sides' lawyers to agree and then it gets signed.
"The size of a manager's contract is pretty substantial in terms of
responsibilities."
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Fergie's retirement no surprise to me
The Sun
By KARREN BRADY
Published: 11th May 2013
SAT, MAY 4
MEN buy football clubs for an assortment of reasons — ego, popularity,
investment, loyalty. And a few do so because they believe football in
certain towns and cities gives people a sense of belonging. Hull chairman
Assem Allam is one of this rare set. He is an Egyptian who saved the club
from going down to League One by spending £27million to prevent
administration. And he did so because he was grateful to the Humber city for
providing him with the opportunity to create a giant manufacturing company.
That's called putting something back in and his reward today is promotion
back to the Premier League.
SUN, MAY 5
UNTIL today, Man U were the only club without a red card against them in
this Premier League. Sir Alex concluded long ago that you don't win trophies
with 10 men on the pitch or half-a-dozen serving time. So over the years he
has noticeably cracked down. His league record is destroyed today with a
retaliatory kick by Rafael on Chelsea's mickey-taking David Luiz. Ferguson
goes nearly as purple as he went when Nani was sent off against Real Madrid.
Watch the blood pressure, old chap.
MON, MAY 6
FUNNY old day. Someone in Hollywood wants to make a movie of my life.
Answers on a post card who should play me? My husband, recently deceased,
said Roseanne Barr, so be careful.
TUES, MAY 7
THE calls start to come in the early evening from across the world of
football informing me of the strong rumour that Sir Alex will announce he is
retiring tomorrow. This is not news to me, nor should it be to you as, in
this diary before Christmas, I told you he would be retiring at the end of
this season.
My thoughts turn to Lady Cathy. What will she do with husband Alex once he's
retired? It's a thought that crosses the minds of millions of women when
they hear their husband is going to be at home a lot more in future.
Famously, 11 years ago in persuading him not to retire she said: "When he's
under your feet, it's a nuisance." The mere idea of getting Ferguson to do
the washing up makes me laugh but she's a bonny lass is Cathy and she'll
find other things as well for the greatest manager of them all to do.
WED, MAY 8
AROUND Upton Park, no figure is more of a legend than Billy Bonds. Yes, here
he really does measure up to Bobby Moore, and the board are thrilled that at
West Ham's player of the year gala dinner in front of over 1,000 guests,
Billy received our first-ever lifetime achievement award. He played 663
times for us over 21 years and was a successful manager for four. From what
Sir Trevor Brooking and our joint-chairmen tell me, he'd have had a hatbox
full of England caps had he been playing today. More than that, they say
he's the most honest man alive. He had a tear in his eye and showed great
emotion when he collected his award, the club means so much to him. West Ham
over the years has produced some wonderful players and equally important,
some outstanding men.
THUR, MAY 9
THE fall-out from Sir Alex's departure has been dumped straight into the lap
of my pal, Everton chairman Bill Kenwright. He now has to find a successor
to David Moyes who is all but a clone of Ferguson even to the friendship and
mutual trust enjoyed between manager and the man who, on paper at least, is
his boss. Ferguson goes with his chief exec David Gill as Kenwright does
with Moyes, refreshing evidence that trust still exists in our game. All of
which only makes it harder for Kenwright to fill the Everton vacancy. But
Bill is a great judge of character and it won't surprise me if he already
has someone in mind.
FRI, MAY 10
A COUPLE of PL directors get together for a dinner tonight. These are
usually fun affairs and a chance to swap stories on our managers and our
chairmen, or other peoples. I recount a story told to me recently of a PL
chairman who saw one of his staff at the warehouse he owns with the sole
hanging from his shoe. He told him it was dangerous and asked him why it had
not been fixed. The poor chap explained he could not replace the shoe until
pay day. With that, the chairman pulls out a massive roll of £50 notes held
together by an elastic band. He unrolls the wad of cash, puts the notes back
in his pocket, hands over the elastic band and says: "Use this to secure it
until pay day."
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Go Figueroa ! West Ham boss set to sign bargain deal for Wigan defender
11 May 2013 23:00
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce is set to sign Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa on a
£40,000-a-week contract in a bargain deal for the Hammers, writes the Sunday
People.
Honduras international Figueroa is quitting the FA Cup winners at the end of
his deal to make a final pay-day move. Big Sam has been on his trail for
months – as Sunday People Sport revealed – and the wages offer will persuade
Figueroa to leave Latics whether they beat the drop or not. Figueroa can
play left back or centre half as Allardyce looks to improve his squad
without spending fortunes.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Save of the Season winner Jussi Jaaskelainen reflects on a fine first season
with West Ham United
12.05.2013
Jussi Jaaskelainen has become something of a terrace hero among the West Ham
United supporters during his first season in east London. The veteran former
Finland international was already well-known to his team-mates and Hammers
fans alike, having spent 15 seasons between the sticks at Bolton Wanderers.
Arriving at the age of 37 and after a difficult final campaign with Bolton,
some fans were concerned that Jaaskelainen's best days were behind him, but
the likeable stopper has proven that he is still among the best goalkeepers
in the Barclays Premier League. A campaign that has seen him make numerous
outstanding contributions and keep eleven clean sheets was climaxed with a
deserved Save of the Season trophy at the 2012/13 Player Awards, which he
received from sponsors Thomas Fredrick Willetts Foundation Board member and
Trustee Raphael Sukaj. Added to that, Jaaskelainen was also voted as
runner-up to Winston Reid for the prestigious Hammer of the Year award.
Jussi, you must have been shocked to win Save of the Season!
JJ - "I looked in the programme a couple of months ago and I saw there was a
Save of the Season award and I thought 'If I can't win that, it's going to
be a bit embarrassing'! "It's nice to make those saves at the right times in
games and that's what football is all about. It's up to me to make saves and
we have two games to go and if we can finish in the top then, that would be
brilliant."
Your winning save was your outstanding fingertip effort to push Gareth
Bale's curler onto the crossbar in the 3-2 home defeat by Tottenham Hotspur
in February. Was that your own personal save of the season?
JJ - "Erm, I don't know because we lost the game. At the end of the day, I
want to make saves when we're winning points and winning games, so that's
why I was a bit disappointed because he scored that wonde rgoal afterwards.
"It would have been great to have saved that too and the game would have
finished 2-2 and we would have felt a bit better! "I think that West Brom
one from the free-kick [was important], because when you see it back it
deflects and comes close enough to me to make the save. "It's hard to pick a
save because I look to keep a consistent level through the season. We have
two more games, so hopefully I'll be making some more saves."
You have kept eleven clean sheets and produced some superb performances
during your first season with the Hammers after a difficult final campaign
at Bolton, so have you been happy with your contribution?
JJ - "It's the way we set up as a team. That's what Big Sam wants us to do -
to go out and keep a clean sheet because it is easier to keep a clean sheet
than score a goal in the Premier League. You start from a base so obviously
if you keep a clean sheet you get one point. I don't think we've been too
negative defensively, but it's a good thing to build on. "I don't really
read or think about what anybody else is thinking. I just try to work as
hard as I can and, if I get a chance to play on Saturday, I want to do my
best. In my career, I've been lucky enough to play many years in the Premier
League as a No1. I missed six months last season, so it's great to be here
and back playing. "I want to thank Big Sam because I have worked with him in
the past and I know his backroom staff are great and he has given me the
best possible opportunity to make those saves because of the way he looks
after his players."
You look as if you have enjoyed life at West Ham this term?
JJ - "I try to keep myself calm and collected because I don't want to get
too high when we're winning or playing well or too low when things go
against you.
"After every game, I just make sure that I prepare properly for the next one
because, at the end of the day, everybody makes mistakes and it can cost
you. If I do my best during the week, whatever happens, happens - that's the
way I always think."
Finally, you have won over even the most sceptical of fans with your
performances. Presumably you want to be West Ham's No1 again in 2013/14?
JJ - "Of course I want to carry on, but now we all start again in
pre-season. We all start on the same line and I want to work my way into the
team again when the first Premier League game of next season starts. "Like I
said, if people doubted me then there's nothing I can do. That's why
football is great, because everybody has their opinions and sometimes they
are wrong and sometimes they are right. As a person, I just want to enjoy my
football and do my best."
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Martin wary of 'formidable' Toffees
WHUFC.com
Former Hammers defender Alvin Martin runs the rule over Sunday's trip to
Goodison Park
12.05.2013
Alvin Martin believes West Ham United are in as good shape as they have been
for some years and has high hopes for the club's prospects in the next
decade.
After some turbulent times, the Liverpudlian defender is thrilled to see
calm and success restored to the Boleyn Ground, with the Hammers sitting
tenth in the Barclays Premier League ahead of Sunday's trip to Everton. But
Martin, an Everton schoolboy in his formative years, reckons Big Sam's men
will have their work cut out against a miserly Toffees side who have lost
just six league games all season long. He exclusively told whufc.com:
"Everton are a team that don't give anything away. When you look at the
number of games they have lost this year, they're not far behind Manchester
United and Manchester City. They're resilient and formidable. Admittedly,
they've drawn a lot of games, perhaps that they feel they should have won.
"Under David Moyes, this is the best side they've had by a long way and it's
the most creative as well. So it's going to be a tough game because they are
a top six side. That's credit to the manager and the team."
The Hammers lost the reverse fixture 2-1 in December, after goalscorer
Carlton Cole was dismissed by referee Anthony Taylor, a decision
subsequently overturned. Rough justice though it was, Martin thinks the
prospect of a top-ten finish will figure much higher in the players'
thoughts come Sunday. He continued: "I don't think the players will be
looking at it as if they have a score to settle. They will see it as another
game, another three points to try and finish as high as you can. "If West
Ham had come into this season saying we're going to finish mid table, we'd
have absolutely bitten your hand off at the time. We did have a brilliant
start then a little wobble, but Sam has done ever so well to see them
through that. Sam's a solid manager and a solid personality. He just focuses
and gets the job done."
Martin insists the stewardship of Allardyce has brought much needed
stability back to the club, a position that he hopes will help the Hammers
make the transition to the Olympic Stadium three years down the line. "From
what I've seen this year, West Ham are probably as in a stable position as
they have been for eight or nine years, which is where I want us to be. "We
seem to have a steadiness about us now and obviously with the Olympic
Stadium on the horizon, it's vital that we have stability here. From what I
hear, this could be a magnificent next decade for us. I think it's a case of
saying let's stay solid, certainly for the next three years."
Meanwhile, a three-time Hammer of the Year himself, Martin was as pleased as
anyone to see his former colleague Billy Bonds MBE collect the club's very
first lifetime achievement prize at Wednesday's Player Awards. "Bill is
somebody I idolised as a kid before I got into the team. It was a privilege
to play with him and if there's one player I played with, in all the games I
played with at West Ham, that you'd want alongside you in a game that you
had to win, it was Billy Bonds. "He was that sort of character. Great
footballer, strong man and a fantastic role model. I always hold Bill up as
an example to my boys, when we talk about how things should be done and how
you approach the game and how to prepare yourself mentally and physically.
Bill had all of that. He was way ahead of his time. But more than anything,
a man with morals and integrity."
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Trio relish Toffees test
WHUFC.com
Joe Cole, Mark Noble and Matt Jarvis are all looking forward to Sunday's
trip to Everton
11.05.2013
West Ham United complete their slate of Barclays Premier League away
fixtures when they travel to Everton on Sunday. It promises to be a unique
day at Goodison Park, with Toffees manager David Moyes taking charge of
Everton for the final time on home turf before leaving for Manchester United
this summer.
Hammers trio Joe Cole, Mark Noble and Matt Jarvis are all looking forward to
the fixture, with the Hammers seeking three points that would keep them in
the top half of the table going into the final weekend of the season. "We
definitely want to finish tenth so we will give it our all and we wouldn't
have it any other way," Jarvis confirmed. "We will be fighting right to the
end to make sure we get tenth spot and really pushing us on. "At the start
of the season, first and foremost we were aiming to be safe, so to be safe
with a few games to go is brilliant. Now, we can go out and enjoy the final
few games and make sure we get a good result and stay where we are in the
league. "For our first season back in the Premier League, I think we have
shown what a great squad of players and staff and manager we have got. To
finish in the top ten in our first season back is great and hopefully we can
build in the summer and who knows where we can go? Hopefully we can really
push on next season and do even better."
For Noble, just being in and around the squad over the closing weeks of the
season has been a boost following surgery to release a trapped nerve in his
arm that threatened to prematurely end his campaign. The midfielder, who
turned 26 on Wednesday, has returned quicker than expected and could play
his part again at Goodison Park. However, Noble knows he may have to be
patient due to the fine form of Gary O'Neil in the defensive midfield
position. "I had a really risky operation on my arm but they didn't have to
take a rib out so I got back a bit quicker. It's just a case for me of
getting fit and being ready for next season. "Gary has come in and done a
fantastic job and the team have been playing really well and we're safe so
we can relax. My wife said to me 'It doesn't feel like the end of the
season' and I asked 'What do you mean?' and she replied 'Normally we're
fighting relegation or going for promotion and I've had it for the last
eight years!'
"It's nice to relax a little bit, but we have two games left and we'll try
to get as many points as we can and then we can go on our holiday and enjoy
ourselves.
"Next season, I can't see why we can't push on. We're moving to the Olympic
Stadium, so hopefully we can spend some money and buy some top players and
have a real go next year. For our first year back, we've done fantastic this
year with the squad we have had - most of whom have come up from the
Championship. "We have added the likes of Andy Carroll and Joe Cole and it's
been a credit to us. If we can add a little bit more quality next season,
then we can push on a bit further."
Cole has loved life back at the Boleyn Ground following his return to the
Club in January. Having experienced both the highs of finishing fifth in the
Premier League and playing in Europe and the lows of relegation during his
first spell with West Ham, the No26 is enjoying a stress-free end to the
current campaign.
"It is strange because everything is so tight, but we've fallen into the
category where we're not fighting for one or the other - a place in Europe
or against relegation. For me every game is one I want to win, but there is
less pressure on us. "You have seen my form is still there when I've played
for West Ham and Liverpool this year. There is no doubt about that. It's
just a question of keeping fit and staying fit, so I'll be working very hard
in the summer to strengthen my body and make sure I can play 30 or 40 games
next year. I think I can without a problem because I've been very unlucky
this year. "We have two games left and we want to go to Everton and get a
good result. At home against Reading, we want to put on a show for the fans
and finish in the top ten."
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On this day - 12 May
WHUFC.com
A memorable game from this date in the West Ham United calendar
12.05.2013
Classic match
West Ham United 1-2 Nottingham Forest
Division One
12 May 1984
12 May has been a fallow date in the character for the Hammers, with only
two games played and no points recorded. Indeed, the only goal they have
scored on this particular day came in a 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest in
the penultimate game of the 1983/84 campaign. Ray Stewart notched it from
the penalty spot - one of eight successful spot kick conversions for the
Scot that campaign. Despite closing the season with another defeat to
Everton two days later, West Ham ended up in ninth place.
Complete record - 12 May
1984 West Ham United 1-2 Nottingham Forest (Division One)
1980 Sunderland 2-0 West Ham United (Division Two)
Played 2, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 2, Scored 2, Conceded 4
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Cottee previews Everton trip
WHUFC.com
West Ham United and Everton hero Tony Cottee on Sunday's showdown at
Goodison Park
11.05.2013
Tony Cottee knows a thing or two about Hammer of the Year awards, Lifetime
Achievement Award winner Billy Bonds MBE and West Ham United versus Everton
fixtures. The 47-year-old was crowned Hammer of the Year in 1986 and voted
runner-up on three occasions, played alongside Bonds for five seasons and
represented both West Ham and Everton during an illustrious playing career.
Cottee spoke to West Ham TV about all three subjects, as well as revealing
his own personal Hammer of the Year, in an exclusive interview conducted at
the 2012/13 Player Awards.
You attended the Player Awards, where Winston Reid was crowned Hammer of the
Year. You of course won the accolade in 1985/86 at the end of West Ham's
finest-ever league season. What are your memories of that achievement?
TC - "I didn't expect to win it, to be honest. It was a wonderful season for
everyone at the Club and my great mate Frank McAvennie had arrived from
Scotland and beat me to be leading goalscorer. I honestly thought that Frank
would win it. "Mark Ward had a great season as well and I thought maybe I
might get third or second place. It was fantastic to win it because it was
so unexpected. I had been runner-up in 1984 and 1985 and I thought I'd be
runner-up again. "I had another good year that year, but personally I think
Frank should have won it because he had come down from Scotland and his
impact was incredible. It was a wonderful year for me and a wonderful award
and I'm so pleased that I won it. "I was also runner-up in 1995 to Steve
Potts, so I had three runners-up and one win in 1986. I've still got the
trophy pride of place at home and it was a great achievement for me. "You
always like to be appreciated by your team-mates and fellow professionals
and I also won the PFA Young Player of the Year in 1986, so that was great
for me personally for the other players to vote for me.
"When the fans vote for you, it's even more special because they are the
ones who turn up every week and I have always said the West Ham fans are
among the most knowledgeable fans in the country. They know their football
and to follow the likes of Billy Bonds, Trevor Brooking, Geoff Hurst and
Bobby Moore was wonderful for me."
Winston Reid was the fans' pick for Hammer of the Year this season. Who
would you have picked?
TC - "There are probably a few who deserve a mention. Andy Carroll has done
well in spells when he has been fit. I think Kevin Nolan has also been
banging the goals in and deserves a mention. Joey O'Brien has been nice and
steady wherever he has played. "I think Mo Diame has had a decent season,
perhaps not all the time, but there have been games where he has been
fantastic and scored a couple of memorable goals as well. I'd maybe give
James Collins a mention as well. "For me, it's got to be Winston Reid. I
think he has been absolutely outstanding. Consistently, week-in, week-out
you know what you are going to get. More often than not he is the man of the
match. I think he deserves it."
Why has Winston been so good this season?
TC - "People say to me 'I'm surprised with how well Winston has done' and I
reply 'Well, why are you surprised?' because I worked on the World Cup in
2010 and he was absolutely outstanding for New Zealand. "The Club have
signed him and it has taken a bit of time to settle in, but that can happen,
particularly when you come from abroad. You have got to find your feet and
get used to the pace of the Premier League and it's not that easy. "After an
indifferent first season, I think he has been fantastic for the Club. He has
been wonderfully consistent and deserves to be given the Hammer of the Year
award."
Our first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Billy Bonds made his
debut when you were just two years old, but you later played alongside him
for five seasons. To play for the Club for more than 20 years and win Hammer
of the Year four times were amazing accomplishments, weren't they?
TC - "To do all that and to play more than 700 games for West Ham was a
fantastic achievement. When I grew up as a West Ham fan as a kid and watch
them play, I used to admire Billy Bonds. All of a sudden, as a 17-year-old,
I got into the first team and was playing alongside Billy Bonds! "He went on
to play until he was 41 or 42 years of age and his achievements speak for
themselves. If anyone ever deserved an inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award,
I cannot think of anyone better. Of all the living Hammers, there is no-one
more deserving of this honour than Billy Bonds."
We go to your other old club Everton on Sunday. David Moyes will take charge
of the Blues for the last time at Goodison Park before going to Manchester
United in the summer. What are your thoughts on Moyes' move to Old Trafford?
TC - "I've got a lot of time for David Moyes. I have had the privilege of
spending time with him in his office and he always makes me feel very
welcome at my other old club Everton. I think he will be a great appointment
and a great choice for Manchester United. I wish him all the best."
What are your views on Sunday's game itself?
TC - "It's a difficult ground to go to and always has been for West Ham. I
remember we always felt playing at Goodison was going to be a tough game
and, as an Everton player, we always knew it was going to be a relatively
easy game. I've been on both sides of the fence! "It'll be interesting to
see what happens. A nice, gentle 1-1 draw will suit both teams. From West
Ham's point of view, we are playing to finish as high as we can and maybe we
can get the points to take us above Swansea, which would be nice. "All the
players are playing for their places for next season. If you go into the
game and think 'I might not give it my all' and then you are not in the team
for the first game of next season, you can only look at yourself. There is a
lot of personal pride to play for and two or three thousand West Ham fans
going up there expecting a performance."
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Six of the best - Everton
WHUFC.com
A look back at six classic victories at the home of Sunday's opponents,
Everton
11.05.2013
West Ham United have faced Everton on 125 occasions in their history and
will be hoping to record a 37th victory over the Toffees when the two sides
meet at Goodison Park on Sunday.Here, whufc.com takes a look back at six
memorable successes on Merseyside, starting with the Hammers' last
three-point haul at Everton, back in 2005.
Everton 1-2 West Ham United
Premier League
14 December 2005
The Hammers had already established themselves in the top half of the
Premier League table - just seven months after achieving promotion from the
Championship - when they were faced with a trip to Everton just before
Christmas. The game started badly for the visitors when James Beattie gave
Everton a ninth minute lead, but Alan Pardew's men did not let their heads
drop and were soon level thanks to a David Weir own goal. West Ham pushed on
after the interval and secured all three points in the 67th minute with a
Bobby Zamora goal. The three points lifted them up to seventh in the table,
and they would end the campaign in ninth place and as FA Cup runners-up.
Everton 0-1 West Ham United
Premier League
1 January 1994
West Ham made the perfect start to 1994 by travelling back from Merseyside
with all three points thanks to a solid away performance. Tim Breacker
notched one of his three goals of the campaign to break the deadlock with
what turned out to be the solitary strike. Billy Bonds' men would go on to
finish a comfortable 13th that season with 52 points, but the Toffees were
in grave relegation danger right until the very end and only survived by a
narrow two point margin thanks to a dramatic 3-2 final day victory over
Wimbledon.
Everton 0-1 West Ham United
Division One
29 August 1983
West Ham met Everton at the start of the 1983/84 season and took over top
spot in the Division One table with this 1-0 victory over the Toffees. The
Hammers were fresh from a 4-0 thumping of Birmingham City on the opening day
and maintained their perfect record thanks to a Steve Walford goal. Pole
position would remain West Ham's until October, and they were in third as
late as March, but an indifferent run of form at the end of the campaign saw
them slip down to ninth position.
Everton 1-2 West Ham United
Division One
25 November 1972
Trevor Brooking and Clyde Best were the men on target as the Hammers
registered a 2-1 victory at Goodison Park in the winter of 1972. Brooking
would notch 11 goals that season, while Best weighed in with nine as West
Ham enjoyed a fine campaign which saw them finish up in sixth place. It was
not quite as plain sailing for Everton, who were down at the other end of
the table, although they did end with a relatively healthy seven-point gap
over the relegation zone.
Clyde Best
Everton 1-2 West Ham United
Division Two
27 March 1954
The Hammers were still searching for a way back to the top flight when they
faced Everton in the 1953/54 season, but it was their opponents who would go
on to secure promotion that campaign, with West Ham down in mid-table.
However, the Londoners still managed to inflict defeat on the Toffees in
their away fixture by the odd goal in three. Jim Barrett and Tommy Dixon
scored the goals for the Hammers, although Everton's promotion ambitions
were not harmed as they ended in second.
Everton 0-4 West Ham United
Division One
10 April 1929
The Hammers biggest margin of victory at Goodison was the 4-0 triumph they
enjoyed towards the end of the 1928/29 campaign. What made the scoreline
more remarkable was the fact West Ham were defeated 7-0 up at Everton in the
previous season. They made up for that with a four-goal showing thanks to a
hat-trick from Vivian Gibbins, added to an Everton own goal.
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Sam Allardyce: West Ham boss signs new two-year contract
BBC.co.uk
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has signed a new two-year deal with the club. "I
am delighted to announce that our manager Sam Allardyce has signed a new
two-year contract," West Ham co-owner David Gold announced on Twitter.
Allardyce, 58, had always said he would only sign a new contract once the
club were certain of survival in the Premier League. West Ham are now eight
points above the relegation zone with only two games remaining.
Allardyce at the Hammers
Played: 91
Won: 39
Drawn: 25
Lost: 27
Allardyce's contract was due to expire at the end of the season. The former
Bolton and Newcastle manager said on Friday that he would be signing a new
contract "very shortly". "I never thought there would be any problem,"
Allardyce said. The Hammers recently learned they will be anchor tenants for
the Olympic Stadium, and Allardyce said he would be like to be in charge of
the team when they move into their new home in three seasons' time. "If I
can last that long, I'd like to be here," he said. "The sack is always
around the corner, that's how it is these days." The club go into their
penultimate game of the season away to Everton having won just one of their
last eight away matches - though they have lost only once in their last
eight at home.
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Junior on trial
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 11th May 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have taken Honduran youngster Lacayo Junior Rochez on a week's
trial. The 17-year-old striker currently plies his trade for local club
Victoria in the LNP - the top flight of the Honduran league system - but
will spend a week in England trying to secure a contract with the Hammers.
"I travel with great expectations and if the transfer was to materialise, I
would be happy because I could secure both my future and that of my family,"
he told the Honduran press before leaving for England. "Every player wants
to go abroad; hopefully they can get either a first or second division club.
The important thing is to get out [of Honduras]." Likened to legendary
Honduran international Tyson Nunez, who made 86 appearances for his country
between 1994 and 2008, Rochez made his pro debut as a 16-year-old and scored
eight times in his first full season. Victoria head coach Omar Galindo
revealed that West Ham contacted his recently with view to taking Rochez on
trial. Few Hondurans have proved to be a success in Europe although Maynor
Figueroa (Wigan) and Wilson Palacios (Stoke) have both enjoyed careers in
the Premier League. On the European mainland Julio Cesar de leon (Genoa),
former Roma star Edgar Alvarez and ex_Milan striker David Suazo have spent
several years playing at the very highest level.
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West Ham manager Sam Allardyce signs a new two-year contract
Last Updated: May 11, 2013 4:47pm
SSN
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has signed a new two-year contract with the
Premier League club. The news was announced by Hammers co-owner David Gold
via his Twitter account. "I am delighted to announce that our manager Sam
Allardyce has signed a new two year contract," Gold said. Allardyce's future
at Upton Park had been in question despite his insistence over the last
couple of months that he would be signing a new deal 'very soon' after
productive talks with Gold and David Sullivan. However, the 58-year-old
indicated at his press conference ahead of Sunday's game at Everton that he
was ready to sign and he has now put pen to paper. Allardyce said on Friday:
"There were processes we had to go through and put it together in the right
way, which it has now. I never thought there would be any problem - and
there hasn't. "There has been some issue with the legal jargon in the
contract which I couldn't understand so that has to go to both sides lawyers
to agree and then it gets signed. The size of a manager's contract is pretty
substantial in terms of responsibilities." Allardyce took charge of West Ham
on an initial two-year contract on June 1, 2011, guiding them to promotion
from the Championship via the play-offs last season and a comfortable 10th
place in the Premier League this term.
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West Sam
Published: 11th May 2013
The Sun
SAM ALLARDYCE has ended speculation about his future by signing a two-year
contract extension. Allardyce's previous deal was due to expire at the end
of the season. Co-owner David Gold said: "I am delighted to announce that
our manager Sam Allardyce has signed a new two year contract." Big Sam, 58,
last year led the Hammers back into the top flight and is on course for a
mid-table finish this term. Allardyce this week revealed that his deal had
been held up by legal "jargon". He said on Friday: "There were processes we
had to go through and put it together in the right way, which it has now. "I
never thought there would be any problem — and there hasn't. "There has been
some issue with the legal jargon in the contract which I couldn't understand
so that has to go to both sides' lawyers to agree and then it gets signed.
"The size of a manager's contract is pretty substantial in terms of
responsibilities."
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Fergie's retirement no surprise to me
The Sun
By KARREN BRADY
Published: 11th May 2013
SAT, MAY 4
MEN buy football clubs for an assortment of reasons — ego, popularity,
investment, loyalty. And a few do so because they believe football in
certain towns and cities gives people a sense of belonging. Hull chairman
Assem Allam is one of this rare set. He is an Egyptian who saved the club
from going down to League One by spending £27million to prevent
administration. And he did so because he was grateful to the Humber city for
providing him with the opportunity to create a giant manufacturing company.
That's called putting something back in and his reward today is promotion
back to the Premier League.
SUN, MAY 5
UNTIL today, Man U were the only club without a red card against them in
this Premier League. Sir Alex concluded long ago that you don't win trophies
with 10 men on the pitch or half-a-dozen serving time. So over the years he
has noticeably cracked down. His league record is destroyed today with a
retaliatory kick by Rafael on Chelsea's mickey-taking David Luiz. Ferguson
goes nearly as purple as he went when Nani was sent off against Real Madrid.
Watch the blood pressure, old chap.
MON, MAY 6
FUNNY old day. Someone in Hollywood wants to make a movie of my life.
Answers on a post card who should play me? My husband, recently deceased,
said Roseanne Barr, so be careful.
TUES, MAY 7
THE calls start to come in the early evening from across the world of
football informing me of the strong rumour that Sir Alex will announce he is
retiring tomorrow. This is not news to me, nor should it be to you as, in
this diary before Christmas, I told you he would be retiring at the end of
this season.
My thoughts turn to Lady Cathy. What will she do with husband Alex once he's
retired? It's a thought that crosses the minds of millions of women when
they hear their husband is going to be at home a lot more in future.
Famously, 11 years ago in persuading him not to retire she said: "When he's
under your feet, it's a nuisance." The mere idea of getting Ferguson to do
the washing up makes me laugh but she's a bonny lass is Cathy and she'll
find other things as well for the greatest manager of them all to do.
WED, MAY 8
AROUND Upton Park, no figure is more of a legend than Billy Bonds. Yes, here
he really does measure up to Bobby Moore, and the board are thrilled that at
West Ham's player of the year gala dinner in front of over 1,000 guests,
Billy received our first-ever lifetime achievement award. He played 663
times for us over 21 years and was a successful manager for four. From what
Sir Trevor Brooking and our joint-chairmen tell me, he'd have had a hatbox
full of England caps had he been playing today. More than that, they say
he's the most honest man alive. He had a tear in his eye and showed great
emotion when he collected his award, the club means so much to him. West Ham
over the years has produced some wonderful players and equally important,
some outstanding men.
THUR, MAY 9
THE fall-out from Sir Alex's departure has been dumped straight into the lap
of my pal, Everton chairman Bill Kenwright. He now has to find a successor
to David Moyes who is all but a clone of Ferguson even to the friendship and
mutual trust enjoyed between manager and the man who, on paper at least, is
his boss. Ferguson goes with his chief exec David Gill as Kenwright does
with Moyes, refreshing evidence that trust still exists in our game. All of
which only makes it harder for Kenwright to fill the Everton vacancy. But
Bill is a great judge of character and it won't surprise me if he already
has someone in mind.
FRI, MAY 10
A COUPLE of PL directors get together for a dinner tonight. These are
usually fun affairs and a chance to swap stories on our managers and our
chairmen, or other peoples. I recount a story told to me recently of a PL
chairman who saw one of his staff at the warehouse he owns with the sole
hanging from his shoe. He told him it was dangerous and asked him why it had
not been fixed. The poor chap explained he could not replace the shoe until
pay day. With that, the chairman pulls out a massive roll of £50 notes held
together by an elastic band. He unrolls the wad of cash, puts the notes back
in his pocket, hands over the elastic band and says: "Use this to secure it
until pay day."
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Go Figueroa ! West Ham boss set to sign bargain deal for Wigan defender
11 May 2013 23:00
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce is set to sign Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa on a
£40,000-a-week contract in a bargain deal for the Hammers, writes the Sunday
People.
Honduras international Figueroa is quitting the FA Cup winners at the end of
his deal to make a final pay-day move. Big Sam has been on his trail for
months – as Sunday People Sport revealed – and the wages offer will persuade
Figueroa to leave Latics whether they beat the drop or not. Figueroa can
play left back or centre half as Allardyce looks to improve his squad
without spending fortunes.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Saturday, May 11
Daily WHUFC News - 11th May 2013
Everton match preview
WHUFC.com
All the essential details ahead of West Ham United's final away game of the
season at Goodison Park
10.05.2013
EVERTON v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SUNDAY 12 MAY 2013
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: MIKE JONES
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
iPHONE APP I TWITTER I FACEBOOK I PODCAST
Introduction
• West Ham have lost just two of their previous nine Barclays Premier League
fixtures.
• David Moyes' Everton go into the weekend sixth in the Barclays Premier
League table, having collected 60 points from 36 matches played. Victory
this Saturday would mean the Toffees will definitely finish in the top six
and maintain their hopes of leapfrogging Tottenham Hotspur into fifth
position and a UEFA Europa League place.
• Moyes will take charge of Everton at Goodison Park for the final time
after eleven years in charge of the club. The Toffees confirmed on Thursday
that the Scot will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of
the season.
• Everton have been outstanding at home this season, winning eleven, drawing
six and losing just one of their 18 home Barclays Premier League fixtures.
Everton's sole home defeat of the season came at the hands of Chelsea (1-2)
on 30 December 2012.
• There have been just two goals scored in Everton's previous four Barclays
Premier League fixtures. Goalless draws at Arsenal and Liverpool have come
either side of a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland and 1-0 home win over Fulham.
• West Ham and Everton have met 125 previously in competitive fixtures. The
Hammers have had the worst of things over the years, winning 36 to Everton's
62, with 27 draws. In the league, Everton have recorded 56 victories to the
Hammers' 32.
• The Hammers have not won on any of their last five visits to Goodison
Park. West Ham's most-recent success at Everton came on 14 December 2005,
when Bobby Zamora and a David Weir own-goal secured a 2-1 Premier League
victory. However, the Hammers' two most-recent visits have both ended in 2-2
Premier League draws.
Team news
West Ham United
• Centre-back James Tomkins will hope to be in contention after missing the
last three games with a groin injury.
• Left-back George McCartney is ruled out through a knee injury that will
keep him sidelined for the remainder of the season.
• Rob Hall, Ravel Morrison and Paul McCallum are all back in training at
Chadwell Heath after completing their loan spells with Bolton Wanderers,
Birmingham City and Aldershot Town respectively.
Everton
• Captain Phil Neville could miss out on making a farewell appearance at
Goodison Park due to a knee injury.
Background
• West Ham United and Everton have met 105 times in league matches. Everton
have won 52 times, West Ham have won 32 and there have been 21 draws.
Overall, the two clubs have met 125 times, with Everton winning 62, West Ham
36 and there being 27 draws.
• The Toffees are unbeaten in ten matches against their hosts, including the
last eight Premier League meetings. Everton have won 17 of the 33 Premier
League meetings between the two, while West Ham United have won just six.
• The first-ever meeting between West Ham United and Everton was an FA Cup
second-round tie played on 2 February 1907. Harry Stapley scored for the
Hammers, who were then a Southern League side, but the Division One Toffees
ran out 2-1 winners through goals from Jimmy Settle and Jack Sharp. Everton
would go on to reach the final, losing 2-1 to The Wednesday at Crystal
Palace.
• West Ham United and Everton have met twice at the FA Cup semi-final stage,
with each club winning through once on their way to lifting the trophy at
Wembley. The Toffees scored a 2-1 victory at Molineux on 18 March 1933, when
Vic Watson's goal was cancelled out by Ted Critchley and James Dunn, before
beating Manchester City 3-0 at Wembley. The Division Two Hammers gained
their revenge on 16 April 1980, when Frank Lampard and Alan Devonshire
scored in a 2-1 replay victory at Elland Road. West Ham went on to beat
Arsenal 1-0 in the final.
• West Ham United have never scored more than four goals in a game against
Everton - achieving that feat on six occasions. The Hammers' biggest home
victor over the Toffees was a 4-0 Division One success on 11 February 1961,
when Harry Obeney scored twice and John Dick and Malcolm Musgrove once each.
• Vivian Gibbins scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 Division One win at Goodison
Park on 10 April 1929, while Jimmy Ruffell repeated the feat in a 4-2 home
Division One victory on 5 December 1931 - they remain the only two trebles
netted by West Ham United players against Everton.
• Everton's biggest home win over West Ham came on 22 October 1927, when
they romped to a 7-0 Division One victory at Goodison Park. Tommy White
(two), Ted Critchley, Dick Forshaw, Anthony Weldon, a Jack O'Donnell penalty
and a William Henderson own-goal were on the scoresheet.
• Winston Reid scored past Everton goalkeeper Jan Mucha at the 2010 FIFA
World Cup when his last-minute header secured New Zealand a 1-1 group-stage
draw with Slovakia at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.
• Mohamed Diame lined up alongside Everton winger Magaye Gueye, who is
currently on loan at French club Stade Brestois, at the London 2012 Olympic
Games, where the pair helped Senegal to reach the quarter-finals.
• John Campbell scored on his debut in the first-ever league meeting between
the West Ham and Everton on 15 March 1924 - a game which ended in a 2-1 home
Division One victory for the Hammers. Born in South Shields, Campbell scored
eleven goals in 29 appearances for the Hammers before joining Clapton Orient
in 1929.
• Academy graduate Mick Beesley was just 18 when he scored on his debut
against Everton on 24 September 1960, but could not prevent West Ham falling
to a 4-1 Division One defeat at Goodison Park. He would make just one more
first-team appearance before joining Southend United in summer 1962.
• David Unsworth made his West Ham debut against Everton just days after
completing a £1million move to the Hammers from the Merseyside club. The
centre-back ended on the losing side as the Toffees won 2-1 in a Premier
League fixture at Goodison Park on 23 August 1997.
• Trevor Sinclair scored twice on his West Ham debut in a 2-2 Premier League
draw with Everton at the Boleyn Ground on 31 January 1998.
• Charlton Athletic loanee goalkeeper Sasa Ilic endured a debut to forget as
West Ham suffered a 4-0 home Premier League defeat by Everton on 26 February
2000. Ilic would never play for the Hammers again.
• George Eastman (18 April 1925), Jimmy Andrews (24 November 1951), Johnny
Cartwright (17 October 1959), Ron Tindall (25 November 1961), Hayden Foxe
(31 March 2001) and James Tomkins (22 March 2008) also made their West Ham
debuts against Everton.
Last time out
Saturday 4 May 2013
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United 0-0 Newcastle United
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Reid, O'Brien, Collins, Demel (Taylor 80),
Nolan, Diame, O'Neil, Jarvis (J.Cole 84), Vaz Te (Collison 58), Carroll
Subs not used: Henderson, Pogatetz, Noble, C.Cole
Sunday 5 May 2013
Barclays Premier League
Liverpool 0-0 Everton
Everton: Howard, Baines, Jagielka, Distin, Coleman, Gibson, Osman, Pienaar,
Fellaini, Mirallas (Jelavic 75), Anichebe
Subs not used: Mucha, Hibbert, Heitinga, Duffy, Oviedo, Naismith
Previous meeting
Everton came from behind to secure a 2-1 Barclays Premier League victory at
West Ham United on 22 December 2012. Carlton Cole put the Hammers in front
with a smart touch and finish from outside the penalty area on 14 minutes.
The Toffees played some good football and levelled matters when Victor
Anichebe became the first opposition player to score a header against the
Hammers this season on 64 minutes. David Moyes' side then hit the front when
Steven Pienaar scrambled the ball home with 16 minutes remaining - just
seconds after Cole had been harshly sent-off after catching Leighton Baines.
Cole's red card was later rescinded, as was that of Everton's Darron Gibson,
who caught Mark Mark Noble with a high boot late on.
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Reid, O'Brien (Spence 81), Tomkins, Collins,
Nolan, Jarvis (Collison 88), Taylor, Noble, O'Neil (Maiga 58), C.Cole
Subs not used: Spiegel, Diarra, Moncur, Lletget
Everton: Howard, Baines, Heitinga, Jagielka, Distin, Neville (Naismith 85),
Gibson, Osman, Pienaar (Oviedo 88), Jelavic, Anichebe (Duffy 90)
Subs not used: Mucha, Hitzlsperger, Barkley, Vellios
Last six meetings (Premier League unless stated)
22 December 2012 - West Ham United 1-2 Everton
22 January 2011 - Everton 2-2 West Ham United
28 December 2010 - West Ham United 1-1 Everton
4 April 2010 - Everton 2-2 West Ham United
8 November 2009 - West Ham United 1-2 Everton
16 May 2009 - Everton 3-1 West Ham United
Overall record v Everton (all competitions) W 36 D 27 L 62
Ten-year records
West Ham United
2011/12 Championship 3rd (86 points - promoted via Play-Offs)
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points - relegated to Championship)
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted via play-offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated to Championship)
Everton
2011/12 Premier League 7th (56 points)
2010/11 Premier League 7th (54 points)
2009/10 Premier League 8th (61 points)
2008/09 Premier League 5th (63 points)
2007/08 Premier League 5th (65 points)
2006/07 Premier League 6th (58 points)
2005/06 Premier League 11th (50 points)
2004/05 Premier League 4th (61 points)
2003/04 Premier League 17th (39 points)
2002/03 Premier League 7th (59 points)
Referee
• Sunday's referee will be Mike Jones.
• An experienced official, Jones was promoted to the Football League list of
referees in 1997, with his first match in charge being Mansfield Town versus
Hull City on 9 August of that year.
• Jones has refereed more than 30 matches every season since the 1997/98
campaign, totalling more than 500 senior matches over the last 14 years.
• The official has also taken charge of his fair share of big matches, being
selected to referee the 2007 League Two Play-Off final between Bristol
Rovers and Shrewsbury Town, and the 2007 FA Trophy final between Stevenage
Borough and York City.
• Jones became a Select Group Referee in 2008 and his first match in the
top-flight was Hull City versus Wigan Athletic on 30 August 2008.
• Jones has taken charge of 12 West Ham United matches, the most-recent
being the 1-0 Barclays Premier League defeat at Manchester United on 28
November 2012.
Old boys
• Everton midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger spent the 2010/11 season at the
Boleyn Ground joining the club in June 2010. Injury hampered his spell at
the club and he did not make his debut until February 2011 when he played in
the FA Cup fifth round against Burnley. He made his league debut in a 3-1
win over Liverpool and he scored his first goal in a 3-0 win over Stoke City
on 5 March 2011.
• Among the players who have represented both clubs are Niclas
Alexandersson, Ray Atteveld, Slaven Bilic, Ian Bishop, Joe Blythe, David
Burrows, Tony Cottee, Charlie Crossley, George Eccles, William Kelly, George
Kitchen, Alex McCartney, Lucas Neill, John Russell, David Unsworth, Mark
Ward, William Wildman, Danny Williamson and Richard Wright.
General information
• All Standard tickets for Sunday's trip to Goodison Park are now SOLD OUT.
Nine pairs of Wheelchair/Carer tickets are still available for this fixture.
Click here for details.
• Saturday's weather forecast at the Goodison Park is for light rain with
maximum temperatures reaching 11C (52F).
• West Ham United travel to Everton for their final Barclays Premier League
away match of 2012/13 on Sunday looking to secure a victory that will keep
them inside the top ten.
• The Hammers have collected 43 points from 36 matches, chalking up three
victories on their travels at Queens Park Rangers (2-1), Newcastle United
(1-0) and Stoke City (1-0). Sam Allardyce's side have also picked up draws
at Norwich City, West Bromwich Albion, Liverpool (all 0-0) and Southampton
(1-1).
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Big Sam on: Everton
WHUFC.com
Big Sam spoke to the press ahead of the Hammers' Barclays Premier League
visit to Everton
10.05.2013
Sam Allardyce insists it will be business as usual for his side, as West Ham
United travel to Goodison Park in what will be David Moyes' final home game
in charge of Everton. While Big Sam fully expects it to be a momentous
occasion for his opposite number, he doesn't foresee any let-up from the
high-flying Toffees. As for Moyes' appointment as Manchester United manager,
the Hammers boss reckons he is the ideal man to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson,
even if it takes time to acclimatise.
It's going to be a strange atmosphere on Sunday. What do you think it will
be like?
SA: "I don't know quite how it's going to be to be honest with you. I
suppose that it's a difficult situation, albeit not for us. We'll go into
the game as professional as ever wanting to try and, if we can, claim three
points at Everton. "In terms of the last home game of David's reign as
Everton manager, it will be an emotional affair for him. But I'm sure,
knowing David as well as I do, that he'll be professional enough and calm
enough to control his emotions and do his very best to prepare the team to
go and win. So I don't expect any favours whatsoever. "I would have thought
and hoped from his point of view that the crowd appreciate what he has done
and show their appreciation. At the end of the day, it's an enormous move
for him and his career has gone to the next level. For what he has done at
Everton over the last eleven years, I don't think anyone can do anything
other than applaud him."
Were you surprised that Sir Alex Ferguson himself recommended David Moyes to
the Manchester United board?
SA: "I'm not surprised. Apart from his talent as a manager, I think it's his
stability that he's shown at Everton. Manchester United need to move on and
try to establish the same sort of stability Sir Alex has given them over the
last 27 years. I think David Moyes is a perfect candidate to try and emulate
what Sir Alex has done, which will be the hardest job he has ever faced.
Having known David for many years, how do you think he will approach it?
SA: "Head on. He'll try to establish his personality and his ideas. I'm sure
he'll adjust but not too quickly. I think it's something he'll do relatively
slowly and he'll try to move the club forward on the same level that it has
been before. It's a huge task for him and the staff that he takes with him.
It is one of the biggest jobs in the world of club football, so it's a
fantastic opportunity for him."
Were you surprised by the timing of Sir Alex's announcement?
SA: "Having had a few days to look at it, probably not, because it's all
timed for the last home game on Sunday, that he's appreciated by the
thousands of supporters that turn out at Old Trafford. Not just picking up
the Barclays Premier League trophy, but also Sir Alex's last home game. So I
suppose from that point of view, that's why it has come out when it as.
"David Moyes has done eleven years at Everton under very difficult
circumstances and managed to secure his position there in this volatile
industry of ours. I'm sure David will see this as the final move of his
career, he hasn't had many. In longevity terms, as long as he wins trophies
at Manchester United David Moyes will stay there."
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Bow's not ready for retirement
WHUFC.com
West Ham United fan and former midfielder Lee Bowyer reveals his plans for
the future
10.05.2013
Lee Bowyer has been keeping a low profile of late - at least since scoring
the winner at the Boleyn Ground for Ipswich Town last season. As it turns
out, the midfielder, who hails from Canning Town, declined a coaching role
or two in the summer, if only because he's not quite ready to call time on
his playing career.
The 36-year-old had long aspired to play for his boyhood club come his West
Ham United debut against last weekend's visitors Newcastle United in January
2003. Much to his anguish, it was to prove a turbulent few months as injury
and the Hammers' relegation left a decidedly bitter taste. "I think West Ham
were bottom when I arrived and things obviously weren't going well," he
recalled. "I could have stayed at Leeds or joined Newcastle but I followed
my heart. "I tried to come and help them get out of the relegation fight but
I wasn't fully fit. I came with a dodgy ankle and had to have an operation
before the end of the season, so it wasn't a particularly nice ending."
With unfinished business at the Boleyn Ground, Bowyer returned in the summer
of 2006, determined to make amends for that first painful six-month stint.
"The second spell was a much better time," he continued. "They were two
completely different scenarios. I felt like I didn't really show everyone
what I was capable of first time round. I wanted an opportunity to put
things right and hopefully I did that to some extent. "As a kid all I wanted
was to play for West Ham and I was fortunate enough to do that. I would
never change it. There aren't many players out there who get to play for the
club they supported."
Bowyer rightly predicted that last Saturday's clash with the Magpies -
another of his former clubs - would end in a draw, and the midfielder
believes West Ham can now relax and enjoy their remaining two fixtures at
Everton and at home to relegated Reading. "West Ham are safe anyway, they've
had a great season and can start planning for the next. Sam Allardyce knows
how to keep sides in the Premier League. For as long as he's there, West Ham
will be in the Premier League every year, I guarantee that."
Bowyer's own whereabouts have been something of a mystery since departing
Portman Road at the end of last term. But far from falling off the face of
football, he is still keen on getting a club for next season. "I'm doing my
coaching badges at the moment and spending time with my family. I might try
to nick another year as a player next season. I could have played this year
but it wasn't really right. Paul Jewell wanted to keep me on as a coach at
Ipswich but I wasn't quite was ready for that. "I got offered a
player-coaching role at Gillingham with Martin Allen but didn't really fancy
it either. I don't think you can be a player and a coach because when you
walk into the dressing room the players will think 'He's going to be the
teacher's pet.' I didn't want to be put in that position. "With the people
that I've worked with and played under it would be criminal not to go into
coaching. I've worked under five former England managers and learned a hell
of a lot in the game. I'm not interested in being a manager, but I'd like to
coach youngsters, perhaps U16s or U18s and guide them with my experience."
*This interview with Lee Bowyer originally appeared in Saturday's Official
Programme for the visit of Newcastle United.
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Diame scoops awards treble
WHUFC.com
West Ham United midfielder Mohamed Diame enjoyed a fruitful Awards Dinner
this week
10.05.2013
Hammer of the Year Winston Reid was not the only player to be honoured at
the Club's 2012/13 Awards Dinner this week. Mohamed Diame left the Grosvenor
House Hotel clutching a fistful of awards, having claimed three of the
supporter-voted prizes. The 25-year-old midfielder was named as Best
Signing, sponsored by Higgins Group, holding off competition from Andy
Carroll and Jussi Jaaskelainen to land that award. In addition, his
memorable strike in the 2-2 Barclays Premier League draw with Manchester
United was selected as Goal of the Season, sponsored by Carbon Neutral
Investments, but Hammers supporters. Diame's personal treble was completed
with the honour of Best Individual Performance, sponsored by Mulalley and Co
Limited, for his game-changing role in the famous 3-1 home win over Chelsea
in December. The No21 was delighted to receive such recognition for a fine
campaign. Talking to West Ham TV about his Goal of the Season, he said: "It
was very special. There was a good combination between Guy [Demel] and
Ricardo [Vaz Te] down the right and I just tried to find the right power
with the shot and it was great to see it go in. "You are always happy when
you do well in a game against a big team like Manchester United. You want to
do well every time and it was a good match for me."
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Everton v West Ham
KO 15:00
10 May 2013
Last updated at 13:38
By Alistair Mann
BBC Match of the Day commentator
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Goodison Park Date: Sunday, 12 May
TEAM NEWS
Everton defender Phil Neville is denied a Goodison Park swansong due to
injury as he prepares to leave the club in a playing capacity. Departing
manager David Moyes has no other injury concerns to contend with in what is
also his last home match in charge of the Toffees.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the
trip to Merseyside. Defensive duo James Tomkins and George McCartney are the
only players missing.
MATCH PREVIEW
There's unlikely to be a greater indication that Manchester United have
chosen wisely in their new appointment than the send off David Moyes is sure
to receive from the Everton fans this weekend. Fully aware of their outgoing
manager's credentials, his last appearance in the home dug out will
doubtlessly provoke feelings of gratitude and an understanding of his
decision, rather than any bitterness. Most will feel that if he did have to
end his long association with the club, then at least it has been for the
biggest job in the country. "This game could end up being a media side-show
with all eyes on Everton manager David Moyes after it was announced he will
succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United this summer. It is his last
game in charge at Goodison Park and I think Moyes' players will want to put
on a performance for him. This is his team and a win would be a way of
saying 'thank-you and good luck in your new job'"
While a flotilla of flash bulbs will accompany his every move on Sunday,
Moyes will again demonstrate one of his most admirable qualities and remain
totally focused on events on the pitch. After all, a win against West Ham
will ensure Everton a second successive top-flight finish above Liverpool -
something they've not achieved since 1937! That would certainly be a
significant addition to Moyes' CV. In reality the match itself will feel
like a sideshow to both supporters and media alike, as questions about the
future will be much more pressing. Everton's European hopes are all but
beyond them, while the Hammers' Premier League status is guaranteed. The
main topic of debate among those occupying the Gwladys Street End therefore
will surely be about Moyes' successor, as names such as Michael Laudrup,
Roberto Martinez and even Philip Neville have been prevalent on Merseyside.
Despite the many distractions, what is for certain is that Moyes won't want
his final home game to simply fizzle out. Like each of his previous 425
Premier League games at Everton's helm, he'll demand a fully committed
performance - and the three points. Already guaranteed to end the campaign
with his fewest defeats, two more victories would also earn him his
biggest-ever points total as Everton boss. It would be a fitting way to
conclude his reign.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
West Ham are without a win in nine league matches against Everton.
The Hammers have won only six of their 33 Premier League matches against the
Toffees.
And they have won just twice at Goodison Park in that time.
No side has conceded more goals in the opening 15 minutes of games than
Everton and West Ham United (both 11) this season.
This is the 126th meeting between the sides. Everton have won 62, West Ham
36 and there have been 27 draws.
Everton
Everton have drawn 15 matches this season - the most in the Premier League,
but only the two Manchester clubs have lost less than their six matches.
The Toffees have kept clean sheets in four of their last five league games.
Leighton Baines is the only outfield player to play every minute (3150) of
every league game this season.
Marouane Fellaini committed his 77th and 78th fouls of the season against
Liverpool last weekend, which is the most in the top flight.
Leon Osman has completed more dribbles (58) than any other player in the
Premier League this campaign.
West Ham
West Ham have drawn four of their last six Premier League games.
The Hammers have lost just one of their last eight Premier League home games
(W4 D3 L1), but won just one of their last eight away from Upton Park.
Andy Carroll won the same number of aerial duels (nine) as the whole
Newcastle team put together last Saturday, but the striker has hit the
target with just four of his last 19 shots on target.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Everton v West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 10th May 2013
By: Preview Percy
And as the season draws slowly to a close we find ourselves heading for our
final away match where Everton will be our hosts for a 3pm kick off on
Saturday, er Sunday, probably. Excellent.
There are various engineering works on the tube, particularly on the Central
and Met lines so if they form part of your usual trip to Euston you may want
to bear that in mind when planning your trip. Or perhaps go by car.
Our hosts look likely to miss out on a European slot this term, lying as
they do in 6th spot with 60 points from 36 matches. That leaves them 6
points behind Gareth Bale with just the two matches left to play. They've
stuttered a bit during the run in with two wins, three draws and the one
defeat in the last six. The wins both came at home to QPR (2-0) and against
Fulham (1-0). They'll be ruing not having been able to convert one of the
away draws at Bale (2-2), Arsenal (0-0) and at Liverpool (0-0) where they
were on the receiving end of the traditional generosity to the home side at
that ground when Distin had a perfectly good goal disallowed. The single
defeat came up at Sunderland (1-0).
The big news of course is that thug, bully and all-round nasty excuse of a
human being Alex Ferguson has announced his retirement from moaning. For
many years Everton boss David Moyes has been fairly high up in the frame to
replace the obnoxious one come the glorious day, and, with Moyes being
conveniently out of contract at the end of the season, the Salford mob won't
even have to go to the bother of paying compensation or even going behind
Everton's back, a tactic they use all the time with player signings. Either
way it'll be interesting to see whether Moyes is allowed to take anyone with
him along the M62 during the summer. In the meantime you can't help feeling
that Moyes is leaving a club with a bit of soul for a corporation that never
had any. It's no coincidence that the bully's departure was announced first
to the New York Stock Exchange.
Moyes' impending departure will bring focus on the more interesting question
of who will be replacing him in the summer. Swansea's Laudrup has been
mooted but a more likely punt might be Martinez at Wigan. Whelan spent all
last summer with pound signs in his eyes as first the Liverpool job then the
Spurs job became vacant. Wigan's precarious state might push things along a
bit. The down side of a Wigan relegation is that the bill for incontinence
pants here at the Avram Grant Olympic Rest Home For The Bewildered will go
through the roof. Reading, QPR and Wigan all down? Let's face it it's not
just us old 'uns who will be wetting themselves laughing.
Meanwhile at Everton they have no injury worries ahead of Moyes' penultimate
swansong. Phil Neville, inexplicably a former England international, has
effectively gone, having announced that he'll be leaving at the end of the
season. His knee injury will keep him out past the expiry of his contract.
At the back they will feature Leighton Baines, who, over the past 12 months
or so, has established himself as a credible alternative to Ashley "Nokia"
Cole. Arguably, given that Cole has been one of the most overrated players
of his time, Baines is the better option at international level.
His fellow England teammate in the back four is Phil Jagielka. The role
played by Jagielka in the disgraceful Wigan v Sheffield United match during
our Great Escape season has never been satisfactorily been examined. You
might recall that, in the event of us losing at Old Trafford, a win for
Wigan would have sent us down. At 1-1 up popped Jagielka to give away an
inexplicable penalty by sticking his hand up to palm a non dangerous cross
away. Thankfully we did our bit by getting all three points in Salford – a
draw would have done in the circumstances but the whole thing stunk to high
heaven.
Up front they've been preferring Scouse-Nigerian Victor Anichebe to one-time
Hammers target Nikica Jelavic. Anichebe it was who was supposed to have
committed the foul that resulted in what would have been the winner against
Liverpool being disallowed last weekend.
We're unlikely to be seeing ex-Hammer Thomas Hitzlsperger at the weekend,
He's made only 9 appearances in all competitions this season – and all but
four of those came from the bench. "Der Hammer" spent one injury hit season
with us before legging it so fast that he was caught speeding on the A14.
His speed would normally have been enough to have earned him a driving ban
but his brief managed to keep him on the road with the hilarious argument
that his client needed his car to look for work what with him being
unemployed and all. I'm sure that that argument works all the time for
jobseekers.
As for us, there was a distinct end of season-ness about the whole
proceedings last weekend. Hopefully Newcastle's lack of ambition up front
won't count against them in the long run – if they went down and Wigan
stayed up it'd be a pain.
Other news during the week is that Winston Reid got both the Hammer Of The
Year and the Players' version – deservedly in my opinion. He's also likely
to get the not quite as coveted Avram Grant Olympic Rest Home award once
I've remembered who I voted for. JJ getting save of the season was the most
bizarre award – you'd have thought that they'd have thrown in something
gathered by Henderson in the League Cup, if only to introduce a bit of
tension to the proceedings.
Team news is that the same lot are available for this as were about for the
Newcastle match, meaning Tomkins and Linda will both miss out. I suspect
we'll see some changes from last week's starting XI – one or two out there
looked a bit jaded to be honest. Joe Cole and Mark Noble are both looking
for starts for example.
This will be Moyes' last home match – funny how that sort of thing occurs to
us so often. It will be a difficult place to go to and win. However, I can
see us grabbing a point – especially if the emotion of the whole thing gets
too much for them. So for my penultimate prediction of the season I'll be
putting the Avram Grant Olympic Rest Home For The Bewildered's emergency
incontinence pants fund (£2.50) on us to pick up a 1-1 draw.
Enjoy the game!
When Last We Met At Goodison Park: Drew 2-2 Spector put us one up.
Bilyaletdinov equalised but then Piquionne put us 2-1 up with moments to go.
Ref Walton considered Piquionne's celebration worth a second yellow – a
disgraceful decision from a ref unaware of the laws of the game – Piquionne
did nothing wrong. The decision cost us and Fellaini equalised in stoppage
time. To cost us two points.
Referee:Mike Jones Dishonest referee who likes to influence matches by
making "correcting" decisions. See Stoke FA Cup QF a few seasons ago for an
example – a match that should have seen him arrested and jailed for fraud.
Instead Grant got fined £20,000 for suggesting that a performance like that
wasn't up to scratch. Shoot the messenger.
Danger Man:Marouane Fellaini – strangely-coiffeured but handy player also
useful at the so-called "dark arts". Some fun to be had then.
Daft Fact Of The Week: Everton used to play at Anfield but moved after an
argument with the landlord who then formed his own team, based on the
principles of match fixing, diving, biting, cheating and illegal transfer
deals. These principles have been held dear by his followers ever since. He
also invented the black armband and the condolence book, inventions that
nets his descendants millions each year from the red side of Liverpool, who
hold a minute's silence every time a bus is late.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Everton face West Ham in final home game under David Moyes
Last Updated: May 10, 2013 12:32pm
SSN
David Moyes will take in his final home game as Everton boss on Sunday when
West Ham United travel to Goodison Park. It was announced on Thursday that
Moyes has agreed to fill the void created by Sir Alex Ferguson's imminent
retirement at Manchester United. He will, however, see out the season in his
current post, with a six-year contract at Old Trafford due to start on 1st
July. Moyes will be hoping to bow out on a high, and will be determined to
bid a fond farewell to the Goodison faithful this weekend. After 11 years on
Merseyside he has cemented legend status in the eyes of Everton supporters
and they will likely applaud him to the rafters on Sunday - win, lose or
draw. West Ham will make the journey north hoping to spoil the party, with
the capital outfit looking to wrap up a top-half finish. A run which has
brought just one defeat in seven has lifted Sam Allardyce's side into 10th
place. They may be playing for little more than pride at this late stage,
but that does not mean that they will roll over and allow Moyes to enjoy his
moment in the spotlight. The Hammers' record against the Toffees does not
bode well, though, as they have gone 10 games without a win in all
competitions and have won just twice at Goodison Park in the Premier League
era.
Everton
Last 6
0-0
1-0
1-0
0-0
2-0
2-2
As Moyes bids farewell to Everton, Phil Neville will be denied the
opportunity to make a final appearance at Goodison Park on Sunday through
injury. The Toffees' club captain, who will see his contract expire in the
summer, is nursing a knee complaint. Moyes has no other injury or suspension
concerns to contend with, so may decide to stick with the starting XI which
played out a goalless draw with arch-rivals Liverpool last time out.
West Ham
Last 6
0-0
2-1
2-0
2-2
1-1
0-0
James Tomkins is hoping to come back into contention for West Ham after
sitting out their last three games with a groin problem. Left-back George
McCartney will spend the remainder of the season on the sidelines with a
knee injury. Rob Hall, Ravel Morrison and Paul McCallum have returned to
Upton Park from their loan spells at Bolton Wanderers, Birmingham City and
Aldershot Town respectively, so may be drafted into Allardyce's plans.
Opta stats
The Toffees have been involved in more draws this season than any other
Premier League side (15).
Everton have failed to score in their last three penultimate games of the
season (2010-2012).
West Ham have lost their last Premier League away game of the season ever
since winning at Man Utd in 2007 to stay up (four successive defeats).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce to sign new contract 'early next week'
Last Updated: May 10, 2013 11:11pm
SSN
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce expects to sign a new contract with the club
early next week. Allardyce's future at Upton Park has been in question
despite his insistence over the last couple of months that he would be
signing a new deal 'very soon' after productive talks with owners David Gold
and David Sullivan.
Although that contract offer remains unsigned, Allardyce says it will
finally be completed next week after the club's final away game of the
season, at Everton on Sunday. Allardyce said: "I will be signing my contract
very shortly. Early next week will be the right time. "It's Friday today -
we are getting ready to travel on Saturday and we are concentrating on
Everton. But by early or next midweek I will be looking to put pen to paper.
"There were processes we had to go through and put it together in the right
way, which it has now. I never thought there would be any problem - and
there hasn't. "There has been some issue with the legal jargon in the
contract which I couldn't understand so that has to go to both sides lawyers
to agree and then it gets signed. The size of a manager's contract is pretty
substantial in terms of responsibilities."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce backs David Moyes to cope during Everton's game with West Ham
Last Updated: May 10, 2013 3:57pm
SSN
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce thinks David Moyes will have no trouble
keeping the lid on his emotions when the Hammers visit Goodison Park on
Sunday.
The match will be the Scot's last home game in charge of Everton ahead of
his summer switch to Manchester United to replace Sir Alex Ferguson as boss.
Allardyce, who used to coach Moyes at Preston, said: "It will be the last
game at home for David as manager so it will be an emotional affair for him,
but I'm sure, knowing David as I do, that he will be able to control and
calm his emotions and do his very best to get the team to win. "I don't
expect any favours whatsoever and I hope the crowd appreciate what he has
done and that they show their appreciation. "I think David Moyes is the
perfect candidate for Manchester United. "He will bring the same sort of
stability and he will try and emulate what Sir Alex Ferguson has done. It
will be the hardest job he has ever faced. "It's an enormous move for him
and his career then has gone to the next level, but I don't think anyone can
do anything other than applaud him for what he has done for Everton over the
last 11 years."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Nailed on: West Ham's Sam Allardyce says he will sign his new contract
within days
10 May 2013 22:30
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce says he will finally sort out his West Ham future next week.
Allardyce's reign at Upton Park has been up in the air all season, with his
current deal expiring this summer. But, after guiding the Hammers to
mid-table safety on their first season back in the Premier League, Big Sam
will be rewarded with a three-year contract. He said: "We will be putting
pen to paper next week and I am looking forward to it. "I never thought
there would be a problem and there hasn't been. It's been about this
get-safe scenario." Allardyce wants to celebrate his new deal by playing
party-pooper at David Moyes' Goodison Park farewell on Sunday. He added: "If
there's a bit of easing off then we'll want to take advantage of that. It's
a difficult situation but not for us because we are there to try to win some
points." Allardyce first met Moyes in 1993 when he was a coach at Preston
and the Scot was nearing the end of his playing career. He said: "It will be
an emotional affair for him, but I'm sure, knowing David as I do, that he
will be able to control and calm his emotions and do his very best to get
the team to win."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
All the essential details ahead of West Ham United's final away game of the
season at Goodison Park
10.05.2013
EVERTON v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SUNDAY 12 MAY 2013
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: MIKE JONES
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
iPHONE APP I TWITTER I FACEBOOK I PODCAST
Introduction
• West Ham have lost just two of their previous nine Barclays Premier League
fixtures.
• David Moyes' Everton go into the weekend sixth in the Barclays Premier
League table, having collected 60 points from 36 matches played. Victory
this Saturday would mean the Toffees will definitely finish in the top six
and maintain their hopes of leapfrogging Tottenham Hotspur into fifth
position and a UEFA Europa League place.
• Moyes will take charge of Everton at Goodison Park for the final time
after eleven years in charge of the club. The Toffees confirmed on Thursday
that the Scot will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of
the season.
• Everton have been outstanding at home this season, winning eleven, drawing
six and losing just one of their 18 home Barclays Premier League fixtures.
Everton's sole home defeat of the season came at the hands of Chelsea (1-2)
on 30 December 2012.
• There have been just two goals scored in Everton's previous four Barclays
Premier League fixtures. Goalless draws at Arsenal and Liverpool have come
either side of a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland and 1-0 home win over Fulham.
• West Ham and Everton have met 125 previously in competitive fixtures. The
Hammers have had the worst of things over the years, winning 36 to Everton's
62, with 27 draws. In the league, Everton have recorded 56 victories to the
Hammers' 32.
• The Hammers have not won on any of their last five visits to Goodison
Park. West Ham's most-recent success at Everton came on 14 December 2005,
when Bobby Zamora and a David Weir own-goal secured a 2-1 Premier League
victory. However, the Hammers' two most-recent visits have both ended in 2-2
Premier League draws.
Team news
West Ham United
• Centre-back James Tomkins will hope to be in contention after missing the
last three games with a groin injury.
• Left-back George McCartney is ruled out through a knee injury that will
keep him sidelined for the remainder of the season.
• Rob Hall, Ravel Morrison and Paul McCallum are all back in training at
Chadwell Heath after completing their loan spells with Bolton Wanderers,
Birmingham City and Aldershot Town respectively.
Everton
• Captain Phil Neville could miss out on making a farewell appearance at
Goodison Park due to a knee injury.
Background
• West Ham United and Everton have met 105 times in league matches. Everton
have won 52 times, West Ham have won 32 and there have been 21 draws.
Overall, the two clubs have met 125 times, with Everton winning 62, West Ham
36 and there being 27 draws.
• The Toffees are unbeaten in ten matches against their hosts, including the
last eight Premier League meetings. Everton have won 17 of the 33 Premier
League meetings between the two, while West Ham United have won just six.
• The first-ever meeting between West Ham United and Everton was an FA Cup
second-round tie played on 2 February 1907. Harry Stapley scored for the
Hammers, who were then a Southern League side, but the Division One Toffees
ran out 2-1 winners through goals from Jimmy Settle and Jack Sharp. Everton
would go on to reach the final, losing 2-1 to The Wednesday at Crystal
Palace.
• West Ham United and Everton have met twice at the FA Cup semi-final stage,
with each club winning through once on their way to lifting the trophy at
Wembley. The Toffees scored a 2-1 victory at Molineux on 18 March 1933, when
Vic Watson's goal was cancelled out by Ted Critchley and James Dunn, before
beating Manchester City 3-0 at Wembley. The Division Two Hammers gained
their revenge on 16 April 1980, when Frank Lampard and Alan Devonshire
scored in a 2-1 replay victory at Elland Road. West Ham went on to beat
Arsenal 1-0 in the final.
• West Ham United have never scored more than four goals in a game against
Everton - achieving that feat on six occasions. The Hammers' biggest home
victor over the Toffees was a 4-0 Division One success on 11 February 1961,
when Harry Obeney scored twice and John Dick and Malcolm Musgrove once each.
• Vivian Gibbins scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 Division One win at Goodison
Park on 10 April 1929, while Jimmy Ruffell repeated the feat in a 4-2 home
Division One victory on 5 December 1931 - they remain the only two trebles
netted by West Ham United players against Everton.
• Everton's biggest home win over West Ham came on 22 October 1927, when
they romped to a 7-0 Division One victory at Goodison Park. Tommy White
(two), Ted Critchley, Dick Forshaw, Anthony Weldon, a Jack O'Donnell penalty
and a William Henderson own-goal were on the scoresheet.
• Winston Reid scored past Everton goalkeeper Jan Mucha at the 2010 FIFA
World Cup when his last-minute header secured New Zealand a 1-1 group-stage
draw with Slovakia at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.
• Mohamed Diame lined up alongside Everton winger Magaye Gueye, who is
currently on loan at French club Stade Brestois, at the London 2012 Olympic
Games, where the pair helped Senegal to reach the quarter-finals.
• John Campbell scored on his debut in the first-ever league meeting between
the West Ham and Everton on 15 March 1924 - a game which ended in a 2-1 home
Division One victory for the Hammers. Born in South Shields, Campbell scored
eleven goals in 29 appearances for the Hammers before joining Clapton Orient
in 1929.
• Academy graduate Mick Beesley was just 18 when he scored on his debut
against Everton on 24 September 1960, but could not prevent West Ham falling
to a 4-1 Division One defeat at Goodison Park. He would make just one more
first-team appearance before joining Southend United in summer 1962.
• David Unsworth made his West Ham debut against Everton just days after
completing a £1million move to the Hammers from the Merseyside club. The
centre-back ended on the losing side as the Toffees won 2-1 in a Premier
League fixture at Goodison Park on 23 August 1997.
• Trevor Sinclair scored twice on his West Ham debut in a 2-2 Premier League
draw with Everton at the Boleyn Ground on 31 January 1998.
• Charlton Athletic loanee goalkeeper Sasa Ilic endured a debut to forget as
West Ham suffered a 4-0 home Premier League defeat by Everton on 26 February
2000. Ilic would never play for the Hammers again.
• George Eastman (18 April 1925), Jimmy Andrews (24 November 1951), Johnny
Cartwright (17 October 1959), Ron Tindall (25 November 1961), Hayden Foxe
(31 March 2001) and James Tomkins (22 March 2008) also made their West Ham
debuts against Everton.
Last time out
Saturday 4 May 2013
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United 0-0 Newcastle United
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Reid, O'Brien, Collins, Demel (Taylor 80),
Nolan, Diame, O'Neil, Jarvis (J.Cole 84), Vaz Te (Collison 58), Carroll
Subs not used: Henderson, Pogatetz, Noble, C.Cole
Sunday 5 May 2013
Barclays Premier League
Liverpool 0-0 Everton
Everton: Howard, Baines, Jagielka, Distin, Coleman, Gibson, Osman, Pienaar,
Fellaini, Mirallas (Jelavic 75), Anichebe
Subs not used: Mucha, Hibbert, Heitinga, Duffy, Oviedo, Naismith
Previous meeting
Everton came from behind to secure a 2-1 Barclays Premier League victory at
West Ham United on 22 December 2012. Carlton Cole put the Hammers in front
with a smart touch and finish from outside the penalty area on 14 minutes.
The Toffees played some good football and levelled matters when Victor
Anichebe became the first opposition player to score a header against the
Hammers this season on 64 minutes. David Moyes' side then hit the front when
Steven Pienaar scrambled the ball home with 16 minutes remaining - just
seconds after Cole had been harshly sent-off after catching Leighton Baines.
Cole's red card was later rescinded, as was that of Everton's Darron Gibson,
who caught Mark Mark Noble with a high boot late on.
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Reid, O'Brien (Spence 81), Tomkins, Collins,
Nolan, Jarvis (Collison 88), Taylor, Noble, O'Neil (Maiga 58), C.Cole
Subs not used: Spiegel, Diarra, Moncur, Lletget
Everton: Howard, Baines, Heitinga, Jagielka, Distin, Neville (Naismith 85),
Gibson, Osman, Pienaar (Oviedo 88), Jelavic, Anichebe (Duffy 90)
Subs not used: Mucha, Hitzlsperger, Barkley, Vellios
Last six meetings (Premier League unless stated)
22 December 2012 - West Ham United 1-2 Everton
22 January 2011 - Everton 2-2 West Ham United
28 December 2010 - West Ham United 1-1 Everton
4 April 2010 - Everton 2-2 West Ham United
8 November 2009 - West Ham United 1-2 Everton
16 May 2009 - Everton 3-1 West Ham United
Overall record v Everton (all competitions) W 36 D 27 L 62
Ten-year records
West Ham United
2011/12 Championship 3rd (86 points - promoted via Play-Offs)
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points - relegated to Championship)
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted via play-offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated to Championship)
Everton
2011/12 Premier League 7th (56 points)
2010/11 Premier League 7th (54 points)
2009/10 Premier League 8th (61 points)
2008/09 Premier League 5th (63 points)
2007/08 Premier League 5th (65 points)
2006/07 Premier League 6th (58 points)
2005/06 Premier League 11th (50 points)
2004/05 Premier League 4th (61 points)
2003/04 Premier League 17th (39 points)
2002/03 Premier League 7th (59 points)
Referee
• Sunday's referee will be Mike Jones.
• An experienced official, Jones was promoted to the Football League list of
referees in 1997, with his first match in charge being Mansfield Town versus
Hull City on 9 August of that year.
• Jones has refereed more than 30 matches every season since the 1997/98
campaign, totalling more than 500 senior matches over the last 14 years.
• The official has also taken charge of his fair share of big matches, being
selected to referee the 2007 League Two Play-Off final between Bristol
Rovers and Shrewsbury Town, and the 2007 FA Trophy final between Stevenage
Borough and York City.
• Jones became a Select Group Referee in 2008 and his first match in the
top-flight was Hull City versus Wigan Athletic on 30 August 2008.
• Jones has taken charge of 12 West Ham United matches, the most-recent
being the 1-0 Barclays Premier League defeat at Manchester United on 28
November 2012.
Old boys
• Everton midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger spent the 2010/11 season at the
Boleyn Ground joining the club in June 2010. Injury hampered his spell at
the club and he did not make his debut until February 2011 when he played in
the FA Cup fifth round against Burnley. He made his league debut in a 3-1
win over Liverpool and he scored his first goal in a 3-0 win over Stoke City
on 5 March 2011.
• Among the players who have represented both clubs are Niclas
Alexandersson, Ray Atteveld, Slaven Bilic, Ian Bishop, Joe Blythe, David
Burrows, Tony Cottee, Charlie Crossley, George Eccles, William Kelly, George
Kitchen, Alex McCartney, Lucas Neill, John Russell, David Unsworth, Mark
Ward, William Wildman, Danny Williamson and Richard Wright.
General information
• All Standard tickets for Sunday's trip to Goodison Park are now SOLD OUT.
Nine pairs of Wheelchair/Carer tickets are still available for this fixture.
Click here for details.
• Saturday's weather forecast at the Goodison Park is for light rain with
maximum temperatures reaching 11C (52F).
• West Ham United travel to Everton for their final Barclays Premier League
away match of 2012/13 on Sunday looking to secure a victory that will keep
them inside the top ten.
• The Hammers have collected 43 points from 36 matches, chalking up three
victories on their travels at Queens Park Rangers (2-1), Newcastle United
(1-0) and Stoke City (1-0). Sam Allardyce's side have also picked up draws
at Norwich City, West Bromwich Albion, Liverpool (all 0-0) and Southampton
(1-1).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Big Sam on: Everton
WHUFC.com
Big Sam spoke to the press ahead of the Hammers' Barclays Premier League
visit to Everton
10.05.2013
Sam Allardyce insists it will be business as usual for his side, as West Ham
United travel to Goodison Park in what will be David Moyes' final home game
in charge of Everton. While Big Sam fully expects it to be a momentous
occasion for his opposite number, he doesn't foresee any let-up from the
high-flying Toffees. As for Moyes' appointment as Manchester United manager,
the Hammers boss reckons he is the ideal man to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson,
even if it takes time to acclimatise.
It's going to be a strange atmosphere on Sunday. What do you think it will
be like?
SA: "I don't know quite how it's going to be to be honest with you. I
suppose that it's a difficult situation, albeit not for us. We'll go into
the game as professional as ever wanting to try and, if we can, claim three
points at Everton. "In terms of the last home game of David's reign as
Everton manager, it will be an emotional affair for him. But I'm sure,
knowing David as well as I do, that he'll be professional enough and calm
enough to control his emotions and do his very best to prepare the team to
go and win. So I don't expect any favours whatsoever. "I would have thought
and hoped from his point of view that the crowd appreciate what he has done
and show their appreciation. At the end of the day, it's an enormous move
for him and his career has gone to the next level. For what he has done at
Everton over the last eleven years, I don't think anyone can do anything
other than applaud him."
Were you surprised that Sir Alex Ferguson himself recommended David Moyes to
the Manchester United board?
SA: "I'm not surprised. Apart from his talent as a manager, I think it's his
stability that he's shown at Everton. Manchester United need to move on and
try to establish the same sort of stability Sir Alex has given them over the
last 27 years. I think David Moyes is a perfect candidate to try and emulate
what Sir Alex has done, which will be the hardest job he has ever faced.
Having known David for many years, how do you think he will approach it?
SA: "Head on. He'll try to establish his personality and his ideas. I'm sure
he'll adjust but not too quickly. I think it's something he'll do relatively
slowly and he'll try to move the club forward on the same level that it has
been before. It's a huge task for him and the staff that he takes with him.
It is one of the biggest jobs in the world of club football, so it's a
fantastic opportunity for him."
Were you surprised by the timing of Sir Alex's announcement?
SA: "Having had a few days to look at it, probably not, because it's all
timed for the last home game on Sunday, that he's appreciated by the
thousands of supporters that turn out at Old Trafford. Not just picking up
the Barclays Premier League trophy, but also Sir Alex's last home game. So I
suppose from that point of view, that's why it has come out when it as.
"David Moyes has done eleven years at Everton under very difficult
circumstances and managed to secure his position there in this volatile
industry of ours. I'm sure David will see this as the final move of his
career, he hasn't had many. In longevity terms, as long as he wins trophies
at Manchester United David Moyes will stay there."
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Bow's not ready for retirement
WHUFC.com
West Ham United fan and former midfielder Lee Bowyer reveals his plans for
the future
10.05.2013
Lee Bowyer has been keeping a low profile of late - at least since scoring
the winner at the Boleyn Ground for Ipswich Town last season. As it turns
out, the midfielder, who hails from Canning Town, declined a coaching role
or two in the summer, if only because he's not quite ready to call time on
his playing career.
The 36-year-old had long aspired to play for his boyhood club come his West
Ham United debut against last weekend's visitors Newcastle United in January
2003. Much to his anguish, it was to prove a turbulent few months as injury
and the Hammers' relegation left a decidedly bitter taste. "I think West Ham
were bottom when I arrived and things obviously weren't going well," he
recalled. "I could have stayed at Leeds or joined Newcastle but I followed
my heart. "I tried to come and help them get out of the relegation fight but
I wasn't fully fit. I came with a dodgy ankle and had to have an operation
before the end of the season, so it wasn't a particularly nice ending."
With unfinished business at the Boleyn Ground, Bowyer returned in the summer
of 2006, determined to make amends for that first painful six-month stint.
"The second spell was a much better time," he continued. "They were two
completely different scenarios. I felt like I didn't really show everyone
what I was capable of first time round. I wanted an opportunity to put
things right and hopefully I did that to some extent. "As a kid all I wanted
was to play for West Ham and I was fortunate enough to do that. I would
never change it. There aren't many players out there who get to play for the
club they supported."
Bowyer rightly predicted that last Saturday's clash with the Magpies -
another of his former clubs - would end in a draw, and the midfielder
believes West Ham can now relax and enjoy their remaining two fixtures at
Everton and at home to relegated Reading. "West Ham are safe anyway, they've
had a great season and can start planning for the next. Sam Allardyce knows
how to keep sides in the Premier League. For as long as he's there, West Ham
will be in the Premier League every year, I guarantee that."
Bowyer's own whereabouts have been something of a mystery since departing
Portman Road at the end of last term. But far from falling off the face of
football, he is still keen on getting a club for next season. "I'm doing my
coaching badges at the moment and spending time with my family. I might try
to nick another year as a player next season. I could have played this year
but it wasn't really right. Paul Jewell wanted to keep me on as a coach at
Ipswich but I wasn't quite was ready for that. "I got offered a
player-coaching role at Gillingham with Martin Allen but didn't really fancy
it either. I don't think you can be a player and a coach because when you
walk into the dressing room the players will think 'He's going to be the
teacher's pet.' I didn't want to be put in that position. "With the people
that I've worked with and played under it would be criminal not to go into
coaching. I've worked under five former England managers and learned a hell
of a lot in the game. I'm not interested in being a manager, but I'd like to
coach youngsters, perhaps U16s or U18s and guide them with my experience."
*This interview with Lee Bowyer originally appeared in Saturday's Official
Programme for the visit of Newcastle United.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Diame scoops awards treble
WHUFC.com
West Ham United midfielder Mohamed Diame enjoyed a fruitful Awards Dinner
this week
10.05.2013
Hammer of the Year Winston Reid was not the only player to be honoured at
the Club's 2012/13 Awards Dinner this week. Mohamed Diame left the Grosvenor
House Hotel clutching a fistful of awards, having claimed three of the
supporter-voted prizes. The 25-year-old midfielder was named as Best
Signing, sponsored by Higgins Group, holding off competition from Andy
Carroll and Jussi Jaaskelainen to land that award. In addition, his
memorable strike in the 2-2 Barclays Premier League draw with Manchester
United was selected as Goal of the Season, sponsored by Carbon Neutral
Investments, but Hammers supporters. Diame's personal treble was completed
with the honour of Best Individual Performance, sponsored by Mulalley and Co
Limited, for his game-changing role in the famous 3-1 home win over Chelsea
in December. The No21 was delighted to receive such recognition for a fine
campaign. Talking to West Ham TV about his Goal of the Season, he said: "It
was very special. There was a good combination between Guy [Demel] and
Ricardo [Vaz Te] down the right and I just tried to find the right power
with the shot and it was great to see it go in. "You are always happy when
you do well in a game against a big team like Manchester United. You want to
do well every time and it was a good match for me."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Everton v West Ham
KO 15:00
10 May 2013
Last updated at 13:38
By Alistair Mann
BBC Match of the Day commentator
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Goodison Park Date: Sunday, 12 May
TEAM NEWS
Everton defender Phil Neville is denied a Goodison Park swansong due to
injury as he prepares to leave the club in a playing capacity. Departing
manager David Moyes has no other injury concerns to contend with in what is
also his last home match in charge of the Toffees.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the
trip to Merseyside. Defensive duo James Tomkins and George McCartney are the
only players missing.
MATCH PREVIEW
There's unlikely to be a greater indication that Manchester United have
chosen wisely in their new appointment than the send off David Moyes is sure
to receive from the Everton fans this weekend. Fully aware of their outgoing
manager's credentials, his last appearance in the home dug out will
doubtlessly provoke feelings of gratitude and an understanding of his
decision, rather than any bitterness. Most will feel that if he did have to
end his long association with the club, then at least it has been for the
biggest job in the country. "This game could end up being a media side-show
with all eyes on Everton manager David Moyes after it was announced he will
succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United this summer. It is his last
game in charge at Goodison Park and I think Moyes' players will want to put
on a performance for him. This is his team and a win would be a way of
saying 'thank-you and good luck in your new job'"
While a flotilla of flash bulbs will accompany his every move on Sunday,
Moyes will again demonstrate one of his most admirable qualities and remain
totally focused on events on the pitch. After all, a win against West Ham
will ensure Everton a second successive top-flight finish above Liverpool -
something they've not achieved since 1937! That would certainly be a
significant addition to Moyes' CV. In reality the match itself will feel
like a sideshow to both supporters and media alike, as questions about the
future will be much more pressing. Everton's European hopes are all but
beyond them, while the Hammers' Premier League status is guaranteed. The
main topic of debate among those occupying the Gwladys Street End therefore
will surely be about Moyes' successor, as names such as Michael Laudrup,
Roberto Martinez and even Philip Neville have been prevalent on Merseyside.
Despite the many distractions, what is for certain is that Moyes won't want
his final home game to simply fizzle out. Like each of his previous 425
Premier League games at Everton's helm, he'll demand a fully committed
performance - and the three points. Already guaranteed to end the campaign
with his fewest defeats, two more victories would also earn him his
biggest-ever points total as Everton boss. It would be a fitting way to
conclude his reign.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
West Ham are without a win in nine league matches against Everton.
The Hammers have won only six of their 33 Premier League matches against the
Toffees.
And they have won just twice at Goodison Park in that time.
No side has conceded more goals in the opening 15 minutes of games than
Everton and West Ham United (both 11) this season.
This is the 126th meeting between the sides. Everton have won 62, West Ham
36 and there have been 27 draws.
Everton
Everton have drawn 15 matches this season - the most in the Premier League,
but only the two Manchester clubs have lost less than their six matches.
The Toffees have kept clean sheets in four of their last five league games.
Leighton Baines is the only outfield player to play every minute (3150) of
every league game this season.
Marouane Fellaini committed his 77th and 78th fouls of the season against
Liverpool last weekend, which is the most in the top flight.
Leon Osman has completed more dribbles (58) than any other player in the
Premier League this campaign.
West Ham
West Ham have drawn four of their last six Premier League games.
The Hammers have lost just one of their last eight Premier League home games
(W4 D3 L1), but won just one of their last eight away from Upton Park.
Andy Carroll won the same number of aerial duels (nine) as the whole
Newcastle team put together last Saturday, but the striker has hit the
target with just four of his last 19 shots on target.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Everton v West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 10th May 2013
By: Preview Percy
And as the season draws slowly to a close we find ourselves heading for our
final away match where Everton will be our hosts for a 3pm kick off on
Saturday, er Sunday, probably. Excellent.
There are various engineering works on the tube, particularly on the Central
and Met lines so if they form part of your usual trip to Euston you may want
to bear that in mind when planning your trip. Or perhaps go by car.
Our hosts look likely to miss out on a European slot this term, lying as
they do in 6th spot with 60 points from 36 matches. That leaves them 6
points behind Gareth Bale with just the two matches left to play. They've
stuttered a bit during the run in with two wins, three draws and the one
defeat in the last six. The wins both came at home to QPR (2-0) and against
Fulham (1-0). They'll be ruing not having been able to convert one of the
away draws at Bale (2-2), Arsenal (0-0) and at Liverpool (0-0) where they
were on the receiving end of the traditional generosity to the home side at
that ground when Distin had a perfectly good goal disallowed. The single
defeat came up at Sunderland (1-0).
The big news of course is that thug, bully and all-round nasty excuse of a
human being Alex Ferguson has announced his retirement from moaning. For
many years Everton boss David Moyes has been fairly high up in the frame to
replace the obnoxious one come the glorious day, and, with Moyes being
conveniently out of contract at the end of the season, the Salford mob won't
even have to go to the bother of paying compensation or even going behind
Everton's back, a tactic they use all the time with player signings. Either
way it'll be interesting to see whether Moyes is allowed to take anyone with
him along the M62 during the summer. In the meantime you can't help feeling
that Moyes is leaving a club with a bit of soul for a corporation that never
had any. It's no coincidence that the bully's departure was announced first
to the New York Stock Exchange.
Moyes' impending departure will bring focus on the more interesting question
of who will be replacing him in the summer. Swansea's Laudrup has been
mooted but a more likely punt might be Martinez at Wigan. Whelan spent all
last summer with pound signs in his eyes as first the Liverpool job then the
Spurs job became vacant. Wigan's precarious state might push things along a
bit. The down side of a Wigan relegation is that the bill for incontinence
pants here at the Avram Grant Olympic Rest Home For The Bewildered will go
through the roof. Reading, QPR and Wigan all down? Let's face it it's not
just us old 'uns who will be wetting themselves laughing.
Meanwhile at Everton they have no injury worries ahead of Moyes' penultimate
swansong. Phil Neville, inexplicably a former England international, has
effectively gone, having announced that he'll be leaving at the end of the
season. His knee injury will keep him out past the expiry of his contract.
At the back they will feature Leighton Baines, who, over the past 12 months
or so, has established himself as a credible alternative to Ashley "Nokia"
Cole. Arguably, given that Cole has been one of the most overrated players
of his time, Baines is the better option at international level.
His fellow England teammate in the back four is Phil Jagielka. The role
played by Jagielka in the disgraceful Wigan v Sheffield United match during
our Great Escape season has never been satisfactorily been examined. You
might recall that, in the event of us losing at Old Trafford, a win for
Wigan would have sent us down. At 1-1 up popped Jagielka to give away an
inexplicable penalty by sticking his hand up to palm a non dangerous cross
away. Thankfully we did our bit by getting all three points in Salford – a
draw would have done in the circumstances but the whole thing stunk to high
heaven.
Up front they've been preferring Scouse-Nigerian Victor Anichebe to one-time
Hammers target Nikica Jelavic. Anichebe it was who was supposed to have
committed the foul that resulted in what would have been the winner against
Liverpool being disallowed last weekend.
We're unlikely to be seeing ex-Hammer Thomas Hitzlsperger at the weekend,
He's made only 9 appearances in all competitions this season – and all but
four of those came from the bench. "Der Hammer" spent one injury hit season
with us before legging it so fast that he was caught speeding on the A14.
His speed would normally have been enough to have earned him a driving ban
but his brief managed to keep him on the road with the hilarious argument
that his client needed his car to look for work what with him being
unemployed and all. I'm sure that that argument works all the time for
jobseekers.
As for us, there was a distinct end of season-ness about the whole
proceedings last weekend. Hopefully Newcastle's lack of ambition up front
won't count against them in the long run – if they went down and Wigan
stayed up it'd be a pain.
Other news during the week is that Winston Reid got both the Hammer Of The
Year and the Players' version – deservedly in my opinion. He's also likely
to get the not quite as coveted Avram Grant Olympic Rest Home award once
I've remembered who I voted for. JJ getting save of the season was the most
bizarre award – you'd have thought that they'd have thrown in something
gathered by Henderson in the League Cup, if only to introduce a bit of
tension to the proceedings.
Team news is that the same lot are available for this as were about for the
Newcastle match, meaning Tomkins and Linda will both miss out. I suspect
we'll see some changes from last week's starting XI – one or two out there
looked a bit jaded to be honest. Joe Cole and Mark Noble are both looking
for starts for example.
This will be Moyes' last home match – funny how that sort of thing occurs to
us so often. It will be a difficult place to go to and win. However, I can
see us grabbing a point – especially if the emotion of the whole thing gets
too much for them. So for my penultimate prediction of the season I'll be
putting the Avram Grant Olympic Rest Home For The Bewildered's emergency
incontinence pants fund (£2.50) on us to pick up a 1-1 draw.
Enjoy the game!
When Last We Met At Goodison Park: Drew 2-2 Spector put us one up.
Bilyaletdinov equalised but then Piquionne put us 2-1 up with moments to go.
Ref Walton considered Piquionne's celebration worth a second yellow – a
disgraceful decision from a ref unaware of the laws of the game – Piquionne
did nothing wrong. The decision cost us and Fellaini equalised in stoppage
time. To cost us two points.
Referee:Mike Jones Dishonest referee who likes to influence matches by
making "correcting" decisions. See Stoke FA Cup QF a few seasons ago for an
example – a match that should have seen him arrested and jailed for fraud.
Instead Grant got fined £20,000 for suggesting that a performance like that
wasn't up to scratch. Shoot the messenger.
Danger Man:Marouane Fellaini – strangely-coiffeured but handy player also
useful at the so-called "dark arts". Some fun to be had then.
Daft Fact Of The Week: Everton used to play at Anfield but moved after an
argument with the landlord who then formed his own team, based on the
principles of match fixing, diving, biting, cheating and illegal transfer
deals. These principles have been held dear by his followers ever since. He
also invented the black armband and the condolence book, inventions that
nets his descendants millions each year from the red side of Liverpool, who
hold a minute's silence every time a bus is late.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Everton face West Ham in final home game under David Moyes
Last Updated: May 10, 2013 12:32pm
SSN
David Moyes will take in his final home game as Everton boss on Sunday when
West Ham United travel to Goodison Park. It was announced on Thursday that
Moyes has agreed to fill the void created by Sir Alex Ferguson's imminent
retirement at Manchester United. He will, however, see out the season in his
current post, with a six-year contract at Old Trafford due to start on 1st
July. Moyes will be hoping to bow out on a high, and will be determined to
bid a fond farewell to the Goodison faithful this weekend. After 11 years on
Merseyside he has cemented legend status in the eyes of Everton supporters
and they will likely applaud him to the rafters on Sunday - win, lose or
draw. West Ham will make the journey north hoping to spoil the party, with
the capital outfit looking to wrap up a top-half finish. A run which has
brought just one defeat in seven has lifted Sam Allardyce's side into 10th
place. They may be playing for little more than pride at this late stage,
but that does not mean that they will roll over and allow Moyes to enjoy his
moment in the spotlight. The Hammers' record against the Toffees does not
bode well, though, as they have gone 10 games without a win in all
competitions and have won just twice at Goodison Park in the Premier League
era.
Everton
Last 6
0-0
1-0
1-0
0-0
2-0
2-2
As Moyes bids farewell to Everton, Phil Neville will be denied the
opportunity to make a final appearance at Goodison Park on Sunday through
injury. The Toffees' club captain, who will see his contract expire in the
summer, is nursing a knee complaint. Moyes has no other injury or suspension
concerns to contend with, so may decide to stick with the starting XI which
played out a goalless draw with arch-rivals Liverpool last time out.
West Ham
Last 6
0-0
2-1
2-0
2-2
1-1
0-0
James Tomkins is hoping to come back into contention for West Ham after
sitting out their last three games with a groin problem. Left-back George
McCartney will spend the remainder of the season on the sidelines with a
knee injury. Rob Hall, Ravel Morrison and Paul McCallum have returned to
Upton Park from their loan spells at Bolton Wanderers, Birmingham City and
Aldershot Town respectively, so may be drafted into Allardyce's plans.
Opta stats
The Toffees have been involved in more draws this season than any other
Premier League side (15).
Everton have failed to score in their last three penultimate games of the
season (2010-2012).
West Ham have lost their last Premier League away game of the season ever
since winning at Man Utd in 2007 to stay up (four successive defeats).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce to sign new contract 'early next week'
Last Updated: May 10, 2013 11:11pm
SSN
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce expects to sign a new contract with the club
early next week. Allardyce's future at Upton Park has been in question
despite his insistence over the last couple of months that he would be
signing a new deal 'very soon' after productive talks with owners David Gold
and David Sullivan.
Although that contract offer remains unsigned, Allardyce says it will
finally be completed next week after the club's final away game of the
season, at Everton on Sunday. Allardyce said: "I will be signing my contract
very shortly. Early next week will be the right time. "It's Friday today -
we are getting ready to travel on Saturday and we are concentrating on
Everton. But by early or next midweek I will be looking to put pen to paper.
"There were processes we had to go through and put it together in the right
way, which it has now. I never thought there would be any problem - and
there hasn't. "There has been some issue with the legal jargon in the
contract which I couldn't understand so that has to go to both sides lawyers
to agree and then it gets signed. The size of a manager's contract is pretty
substantial in terms of responsibilities."
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Sam Allardyce backs David Moyes to cope during Everton's game with West Ham
Last Updated: May 10, 2013 3:57pm
SSN
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce thinks David Moyes will have no trouble
keeping the lid on his emotions when the Hammers visit Goodison Park on
Sunday.
The match will be the Scot's last home game in charge of Everton ahead of
his summer switch to Manchester United to replace Sir Alex Ferguson as boss.
Allardyce, who used to coach Moyes at Preston, said: "It will be the last
game at home for David as manager so it will be an emotional affair for him,
but I'm sure, knowing David as I do, that he will be able to control and
calm his emotions and do his very best to get the team to win. "I don't
expect any favours whatsoever and I hope the crowd appreciate what he has
done and that they show their appreciation. "I think David Moyes is the
perfect candidate for Manchester United. "He will bring the same sort of
stability and he will try and emulate what Sir Alex Ferguson has done. It
will be the hardest job he has ever faced. "It's an enormous move for him
and his career then has gone to the next level, but I don't think anyone can
do anything other than applaud him for what he has done for Everton over the
last 11 years."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Nailed on: West Ham's Sam Allardyce says he will sign his new contract
within days
10 May 2013 22:30
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce says he will finally sort out his West Ham future next week.
Allardyce's reign at Upton Park has been up in the air all season, with his
current deal expiring this summer. But, after guiding the Hammers to
mid-table safety on their first season back in the Premier League, Big Sam
will be rewarded with a three-year contract. He said: "We will be putting
pen to paper next week and I am looking forward to it. "I never thought
there would be a problem and there hasn't been. It's been about this
get-safe scenario." Allardyce wants to celebrate his new deal by playing
party-pooper at David Moyes' Goodison Park farewell on Sunday. He added: "If
there's a bit of easing off then we'll want to take advantage of that. It's
a difficult situation but not for us because we are there to try to win some
points." Allardyce first met Moyes in 1993 when he was a coach at Preston
and the Scot was nearing the end of his playing career. He said: "It will be
an emotional affair for him, but I'm sure, knowing David as I do, that he
will be able to control and calm his emotions and do his very best to get
the team to win."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Friday, May 10
Daily WHUFC News - 10th May 2013
Carroll delighted to be Chairmen's pick
WHUFC.com
Andy Carroll was happy to cap an enjoyable season by being named Chairmen's
Player of the Year
09.05.2013
Andy Carroll has capped a fine season with West Ham United by being named
Chairmen's Player of the Year. David Sullivan and David Gold picked the
England centre forward as their standout performer of 2012/13, with the big
man receiving his award from sponsors S.14 (2012) Limited director Michael
Pryke. Carroll was naturally happy to receive the accolade and told West Ham
TV how much has has enjoyed his first campaign with the Hammers. "I've
certainly never been Chairmen's Player of the Year before," admitted the
No8, who celebrated a successful season at the Player Awards at London's
Grosvenor House Hotel on Wednesday. "It's a new award here and I didn't know
it was going to come along, but obviously I'm over the moon with it.
"Coming down here to London, it's a long way from home but I've enjoyed
every minute of it. I knew a few of the lads down here already and all the
others have welcomed me into the squad, so it's been great. "My Mum and Dad
also love coming down and staying at mine and coming to the games. I enjoy
seeing them too and they're made very welcome. West Ham is a great club."
Carroll has been superb in claret and blue this season, scoring seven goals
and creating many more for his team-mates as the Hammers have made a strong
start to life back in the Barclays Premier League. Central to the striker's
success has been the faith shown in him by manager Sam Allardyce, who has
made it clear that the 24-year-old is his first-choice centre forward.
"Obviously I need to stay fit and show what I can do in training, because it
is not in my head that I will start every week if I am fit. If I don't train
and play well then I'm not going to be first-choice any more, so I've still
got to work my hardest and put myself about in training and see where it
takes me."
In recent weeks, Carroll has played some of the best football of his career,
scoring regularly and causing untold problems to some of the best defences
in English football. At the defensive end, he is also more than willing to
help out, whether it be clearing corners and free-kicks or tracking back to
assist his team-mates. "I think I have done well since I came back to
fitness in February, not just with the goals that I've scored but I've also
created quite a bit as well. I've put myself about as much as I can and
that's really what I'm about. As long as I'm in and around the box, I can do
things. "It doesn't really matter what happens, I will work hard for the
team I am playing for. This season has been great for me. When I'm fit, I
try my hardest and I run about and put myself about and I feel that's what
I'm about - if I didn't have that then I would have lost half of my game."
Carroll is approaching the end of a season-long loan spell from Liverpool.
Looking back on his nine months in east London, the Gateshead-born player
says he has thoroughly enjoyed his time down south. "It's been unbelievable.
The lads in the dressing room and at the training ground and the banter have
been unbelievable, as have the fans. With the football, it's been a great
season for me. "There is a lot of talk about me from people who don't know
me, who say things about me but have never met me. People have heard stories
and I came here and maybe a lot of the lads thought that as well, but I feel
now that most, if not all, of them are close friends. I spend every day with
them and it's been great. "I've enjoyed every minute of it."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Winston Reid Crowned Hammer of the Year!
By S J Chandos
West Ham TillI Die
So the inevitable has come to pass and the impressive displays of Winston
Reid have been rewarded with the Hammer of the Year title for 2012-13. Reid
has been the stand out performer this season, achieving a consistently high
standard throughout the current season. The transformation of Reid from
hapless new signing to defensive rock has been remarkable. He had the
misfortune to debut in the disastrous relegation season, under Avram Grant,
and to many supporters seemed a poor signing. Yet, he dug in and really
proved his mettle in last season's promotion campaign, alongside the equally
impressive James Tomkins. That season turned the tide and he followed it up
this season with a fantastic return to the top flight. Reid deserves the
award and lets hope that he improves even further on it next season.
There were numerous sponsored awards at this evening's bash. But the other
stand out award was Billy Bonds being awarded the club's first ever 'Life
Time Achievement Award.' Billy Bonds is an absolute legend at the club, who
was an inspiration and an idol to generations of Hammers fans. It is an
incredible fact that Billy Bonds joined the club in 1967 (in the era of
Moore, Hurst and Peters) and played his last match for the club in 1988. In
that time, players came and players left, but Bonds was a constant in the
West Ham first team. This was a player who started at right-back, excelled
in midfield and later thrived at centre-back. That illustrated the
adaptability of Billy Bonds in a career that covered three decades. He was
also an inspirational captain and combative player, who put his heart and
soul in to each and every match he played; as well as the best exponent of
the art of tackling that I have ever seen. It should also be added that he
was a very good footballer who was confident in possession and, like all
Hammers players of that era, could pass the ball. I know that it has often
been said, but he was definitely one of the best players never to win a full
England cap, in an era when the national team badly needed a player and
leader like him.
Latterly, Billy Bonds joined the coaching staff under John Lyall and Lou
Macari and was eventually appointed to the Manager's position. Under his
management, we suffered a disappointing relegation, sandwiched between two
excellent 2nd Division promotion campaigns. He left the club in difficult
circumstances and one feels that this resulted in a breach with the club.
However, hopefully this award will finally heal any old wounds and reconcile
the club with one of its all time greatest players. It is hugely deserved
and a fitting honour to bestow on a man who was the heart beat of successive
West Ham teams in the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
So, it seems that we will be signing four or five players this summer,
according to some media reports. But the key issue is not so much quantity,
as quality. We need to sign players that markedly improve the quality of the
squad and take us to the next level. I reckon we probably need a keeper, a
left-back, a midfielder, a wide player and a striker. Of course this may
change, depending on who actually leaves the club this summer. High on the
list to exit is likely to be Henderson, Diarra, Vaz Te and Taylor.
Personally, I would resist the temptation to cash-in on Maiga and give him a
further season to prove himself. Another player with a question mark over
his future is Carlton Cole, who I feel will still be at the club come
pre-season. He is a good squad player and can still do a good for a season
or two. Finally, I would like to see a couple of youngsters make the break
through next season. The mostly likely candidates are Leo Chambers, Robert
Hall, George Moncur and Elliott Lee. Although there are others in the frame.
Finally, we are now mathematically save from relegation. Although only the
most pessimistic fan seriously thought that there was any real danger once
we had amassed 42 points. Still its nice to have it confirmed. Now the
planning has to start for next season. There must be no 'second season
syndrome' for West Ham. We must make the signings to ensure that we
positively build upon this successful first season back in the PL.
SJ. Chandos.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Carroll's a mover
The Sun
Exclusive
By SHAUN CUSTIS
Published: 09th May 2013
ANDY CARROLL is making plans for a return to Liverpool. SunSport can reveal
the striker's advisors are looking to rent a property for him on a one-year
lease back in the north-west. Carroll gave up his previous place when the
Reds shipped him off on loan to West Ham last summer. But there is no deal
agreed for the Hammers to sign him permanently. Liverpool boss Brendan
Rodgers does not see the England man as part of his long-term plans. But
with Luis Suarez banned for the first six games of next season, Carroll may
have a role to play in the short-term.
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Could be Andy! Liverpool and West Ham set for Carroll talks - but Spurs and
Newcastle fancy hitman too
9 May 2013 22:30
The Mirror
West Ham are set to open talks with Liverpool over a permanent move for loan
striker Andy Carroll - and hope to clinch a deal in the next few weeks.
But Sam Allardyce's men could face a battle to bag the 24-year-old
centre-forward from the Anfield giants, as he also interests Tottenham and
his first club, Newcastle. Hammers co-owner David Sullivan said: "We would
love to keep him beyond this season and we will soon be sitting down with
Andy and -Liverpool to make some progress on that front. "Andy has battled
back from injury twice to put in a series of tireless shifts for the team.
His game is about so much more than just scoring goals. "He is so often the
focal point of -everything good we do going forward." Despite facing lengthy
periods on the sidelines with knee and hamstring -problems, the England
international has still managed to score seven goals and played his part in
helping West Ham -challenge for a top-half finish.
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Sir Alex Ferguson's call fooled Paolo Di Canio
The Express
SUNDERLAND boss Paolo Di Canio still cannot quite believe he turned down Sir
Alex Ferguson - not just once, but twice.
By: Niall HickmanPublished: Fri, May 10, 2013
Di Canio, who will lead his side out against Southampton at the Stadium of
Light on Sunday knowing that a win over the Saints will secure their Premier
League status, was a player at West Ham when Ferguson called him out of the
blue, offering him a move to Old Trafford. Ferguson has recently admitted
not signing Di Canio was one of his biggest regrets in football, but the
Italian initially thought it was a crank call. "At first I thought it was a
friend of mine pretending to be him," said Di Canio. "I thought it was a
joke call. Then I realised it was him. He rang me over the Christmas period
two years in a row. I thought he must have been mad, or drunk. "I never
regretted it because it was a life decision. I said I cannot trade West Ham,
but it made me feel very good. Sir Alex Ferguson tried to sign Di Canio back
in the early 2000s At first I thought it was a friend of mine pretending to
be him, "We didn't negotiate anything because I said I was captain at West
Ham and they brought me in when I left Sheffield Wednesday. We left each
other in a good way." Di Canio was working as a TV commentator at the 2008
Champions League final and bumped into Ferguson just minutes after United
had won their second title. "I went down to the car park and he was on the
team coach," said Di Canio. "He saw me, came out of the coach and said,
'Paolo, how are you?' and came over to talk to me. It was an incredible
moment and it made me realise why he was the best."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Andy Carroll was happy to cap an enjoyable season by being named Chairmen's
Player of the Year
09.05.2013
Andy Carroll has capped a fine season with West Ham United by being named
Chairmen's Player of the Year. David Sullivan and David Gold picked the
England centre forward as their standout performer of 2012/13, with the big
man receiving his award from sponsors S.14 (2012) Limited director Michael
Pryke. Carroll was naturally happy to receive the accolade and told West Ham
TV how much has has enjoyed his first campaign with the Hammers. "I've
certainly never been Chairmen's Player of the Year before," admitted the
No8, who celebrated a successful season at the Player Awards at London's
Grosvenor House Hotel on Wednesday. "It's a new award here and I didn't know
it was going to come along, but obviously I'm over the moon with it.
"Coming down here to London, it's a long way from home but I've enjoyed
every minute of it. I knew a few of the lads down here already and all the
others have welcomed me into the squad, so it's been great. "My Mum and Dad
also love coming down and staying at mine and coming to the games. I enjoy
seeing them too and they're made very welcome. West Ham is a great club."
Carroll has been superb in claret and blue this season, scoring seven goals
and creating many more for his team-mates as the Hammers have made a strong
start to life back in the Barclays Premier League. Central to the striker's
success has been the faith shown in him by manager Sam Allardyce, who has
made it clear that the 24-year-old is his first-choice centre forward.
"Obviously I need to stay fit and show what I can do in training, because it
is not in my head that I will start every week if I am fit. If I don't train
and play well then I'm not going to be first-choice any more, so I've still
got to work my hardest and put myself about in training and see where it
takes me."
In recent weeks, Carroll has played some of the best football of his career,
scoring regularly and causing untold problems to some of the best defences
in English football. At the defensive end, he is also more than willing to
help out, whether it be clearing corners and free-kicks or tracking back to
assist his team-mates. "I think I have done well since I came back to
fitness in February, not just with the goals that I've scored but I've also
created quite a bit as well. I've put myself about as much as I can and
that's really what I'm about. As long as I'm in and around the box, I can do
things. "It doesn't really matter what happens, I will work hard for the
team I am playing for. This season has been great for me. When I'm fit, I
try my hardest and I run about and put myself about and I feel that's what
I'm about - if I didn't have that then I would have lost half of my game."
Carroll is approaching the end of a season-long loan spell from Liverpool.
Looking back on his nine months in east London, the Gateshead-born player
says he has thoroughly enjoyed his time down south. "It's been unbelievable.
The lads in the dressing room and at the training ground and the banter have
been unbelievable, as have the fans. With the football, it's been a great
season for me. "There is a lot of talk about me from people who don't know
me, who say things about me but have never met me. People have heard stories
and I came here and maybe a lot of the lads thought that as well, but I feel
now that most, if not all, of them are close friends. I spend every day with
them and it's been great. "I've enjoyed every minute of it."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Winston Reid Crowned Hammer of the Year!
By S J Chandos
West Ham TillI Die
So the inevitable has come to pass and the impressive displays of Winston
Reid have been rewarded with the Hammer of the Year title for 2012-13. Reid
has been the stand out performer this season, achieving a consistently high
standard throughout the current season. The transformation of Reid from
hapless new signing to defensive rock has been remarkable. He had the
misfortune to debut in the disastrous relegation season, under Avram Grant,
and to many supporters seemed a poor signing. Yet, he dug in and really
proved his mettle in last season's promotion campaign, alongside the equally
impressive James Tomkins. That season turned the tide and he followed it up
this season with a fantastic return to the top flight. Reid deserves the
award and lets hope that he improves even further on it next season.
There were numerous sponsored awards at this evening's bash. But the other
stand out award was Billy Bonds being awarded the club's first ever 'Life
Time Achievement Award.' Billy Bonds is an absolute legend at the club, who
was an inspiration and an idol to generations of Hammers fans. It is an
incredible fact that Billy Bonds joined the club in 1967 (in the era of
Moore, Hurst and Peters) and played his last match for the club in 1988. In
that time, players came and players left, but Bonds was a constant in the
West Ham first team. This was a player who started at right-back, excelled
in midfield and later thrived at centre-back. That illustrated the
adaptability of Billy Bonds in a career that covered three decades. He was
also an inspirational captain and combative player, who put his heart and
soul in to each and every match he played; as well as the best exponent of
the art of tackling that I have ever seen. It should also be added that he
was a very good footballer who was confident in possession and, like all
Hammers players of that era, could pass the ball. I know that it has often
been said, but he was definitely one of the best players never to win a full
England cap, in an era when the national team badly needed a player and
leader like him.
Latterly, Billy Bonds joined the coaching staff under John Lyall and Lou
Macari and was eventually appointed to the Manager's position. Under his
management, we suffered a disappointing relegation, sandwiched between two
excellent 2nd Division promotion campaigns. He left the club in difficult
circumstances and one feels that this resulted in a breach with the club.
However, hopefully this award will finally heal any old wounds and reconcile
the club with one of its all time greatest players. It is hugely deserved
and a fitting honour to bestow on a man who was the heart beat of successive
West Ham teams in the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
So, it seems that we will be signing four or five players this summer,
according to some media reports. But the key issue is not so much quantity,
as quality. We need to sign players that markedly improve the quality of the
squad and take us to the next level. I reckon we probably need a keeper, a
left-back, a midfielder, a wide player and a striker. Of course this may
change, depending on who actually leaves the club this summer. High on the
list to exit is likely to be Henderson, Diarra, Vaz Te and Taylor.
Personally, I would resist the temptation to cash-in on Maiga and give him a
further season to prove himself. Another player with a question mark over
his future is Carlton Cole, who I feel will still be at the club come
pre-season. He is a good squad player and can still do a good for a season
or two. Finally, I would like to see a couple of youngsters make the break
through next season. The mostly likely candidates are Leo Chambers, Robert
Hall, George Moncur and Elliott Lee. Although there are others in the frame.
Finally, we are now mathematically save from relegation. Although only the
most pessimistic fan seriously thought that there was any real danger once
we had amassed 42 points. Still its nice to have it confirmed. Now the
planning has to start for next season. There must be no 'second season
syndrome' for West Ham. We must make the signings to ensure that we
positively build upon this successful first season back in the PL.
SJ. Chandos.
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Carroll's a mover
The Sun
Exclusive
By SHAUN CUSTIS
Published: 09th May 2013
ANDY CARROLL is making plans for a return to Liverpool. SunSport can reveal
the striker's advisors are looking to rent a property for him on a one-year
lease back in the north-west. Carroll gave up his previous place when the
Reds shipped him off on loan to West Ham last summer. But there is no deal
agreed for the Hammers to sign him permanently. Liverpool boss Brendan
Rodgers does not see the England man as part of his long-term plans. But
with Luis Suarez banned for the first six games of next season, Carroll may
have a role to play in the short-term.
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Could be Andy! Liverpool and West Ham set for Carroll talks - but Spurs and
Newcastle fancy hitman too
9 May 2013 22:30
The Mirror
West Ham are set to open talks with Liverpool over a permanent move for loan
striker Andy Carroll - and hope to clinch a deal in the next few weeks.
But Sam Allardyce's men could face a battle to bag the 24-year-old
centre-forward from the Anfield giants, as he also interests Tottenham and
his first club, Newcastle. Hammers co-owner David Sullivan said: "We would
love to keep him beyond this season and we will soon be sitting down with
Andy and -Liverpool to make some progress on that front. "Andy has battled
back from injury twice to put in a series of tireless shifts for the team.
His game is about so much more than just scoring goals. "He is so often the
focal point of -everything good we do going forward." Despite facing lengthy
periods on the sidelines with knee and hamstring -problems, the England
international has still managed to score seven goals and played his part in
helping West Ham -challenge for a top-half finish.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sir Alex Ferguson's call fooled Paolo Di Canio
The Express
SUNDERLAND boss Paolo Di Canio still cannot quite believe he turned down Sir
Alex Ferguson - not just once, but twice.
By: Niall HickmanPublished: Fri, May 10, 2013
Di Canio, who will lead his side out against Southampton at the Stadium of
Light on Sunday knowing that a win over the Saints will secure their Premier
League status, was a player at West Ham when Ferguson called him out of the
blue, offering him a move to Old Trafford. Ferguson has recently admitted
not signing Di Canio was one of his biggest regrets in football, but the
Italian initially thought it was a crank call. "At first I thought it was a
friend of mine pretending to be him," said Di Canio. "I thought it was a
joke call. Then I realised it was him. He rang me over the Christmas period
two years in a row. I thought he must have been mad, or drunk. "I never
regretted it because it was a life decision. I said I cannot trade West Ham,
but it made me feel very good. Sir Alex Ferguson tried to sign Di Canio back
in the early 2000s At first I thought it was a friend of mine pretending to
be him, "We didn't negotiate anything because I said I was captain at West
Ham and they brought me in when I left Sheffield Wednesday. We left each
other in a good way." Di Canio was working as a TV commentator at the 2008
Champions League final and bumped into Ferguson just minutes after United
had won their second title. "I went down to the car park and he was on the
team coach," said Di Canio. "He saw me, came out of the coach and said,
'Paolo, how are you?' and came over to talk to me. It was an incredible
moment and it made me realise why he was the best."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
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