Daily WHUFC News - 5th-11th December 2013

Season Ticket Holders attend Q&A event
WHUFC.com
David Gold, Sam Allardyce and Kevin Nolan answered fans' questions on
Tuesday night
10.12.2013

Joint-Chairman David Gold, first team manager Sam Allardyce and skipper
Kevin Nolan took part in an informative Q&A with Season Ticket Holders at
the Boleyn Ground on Tuesday night. Around 400 Season Ticket Holders were in
attendance as they had the chance to pose questions to key personnel at the
Club. The event was the first in a raft of benefits for Season Ticket
Holders as the Club looks to reward their most loyal supporters. The evening
started with autograph and photo opportunities with both Allardyce and Nolan
before the pair were introduced to the crowd. Questions were then invited
from the floor, with Big Sam and his captain answering queries for an hour,
ranging from how they kept confidence up in times of bad form, to the Club's
summer transfer dealings and the origins of Nolan's goal celebration.

After a brief interval, Mr Gold took to the stage to answer further
questions, on subjects such as rewarding supporter loyalty and the Olympic
Stadium.
Nolan said: "It was good to meet the fans and take on board their comments.
It is always good to do that and we know the fans back us no matter what.
"We hope that they could see that we are all working hard together to be in
a better position than we currently are, and that we were all speaking
honestly to each other. "I have always said, since I arrived at the club,
how important and how massive the support of our fans has been and that is
no different now. It is very much us all keeping together and I firmly
believe we will be where we want to be and deserve to be at the end of the
season. We will certainly be doing our best to make sure that happens for
the fans and our club."

Season Ticket Holder, Peter Hynes, said: "I thought it was a very good event
and there were really refreshing and honest words from Sam, Kevin and Mr
Gold. "Like all supporters, we read a lot of stuff in the media and you
never quite know what is true and what isn't. But here at this forum, the
manager and captain of our club spoke honestly and acknowledged that the
position at the moment is not what anyone wants, but they are working as
hard as they can to put this right. We heard this from them, not through an
interview or anything, but them speaking to us and that was good to hear."

Fellow Season Ticket Holder Chris Bozza added: "It was a really good event
and important to have. West Ham have always been a family club and have
taken on board the part the fans play. So to be able to hear from the
manager and the captain, plus the Joint-Chairman and to be able to ask them
up front about the things that we are concerned about and want to know, was
just great and I hope that there are many more of these to come."

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Bonds: We must stick together
WHUFC.com
Club legend Billy Bonds insists West Ham United will get things right this
season
10.12.2013

Billy Bonds MBE believes it will not be long before his beloved West Ham
United start climbing the Barclays Premier League table. The Hammers legend,
who was honoured with the Club's inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award in
May, says the Board, manager Sam Allardyce and his coaching staff will be
'burning the midnight oil' to put things right on and off the pitch.
Speaking exclusively to the Official Website, Bonds, who spent 28 years at
the Boleyn Ground as a player, coach and manager, backed West Ham to return
to winning ways when they host Sunderland on Saturday. "I came along and saw
the first game of the season and I thought we looked very good on the day,"
said Bonds. "I said before the start of the season that I couldn't see us
getting into a relegation battle. People were asking me where I thought we'd
finish and I said mid-table. I saw nothing in that Cardiff game which
suggested that it wasn't achievable this season.
"Since then results haven't gone as well but I'm not telling anybody,
certainly not Sam, his staff or the supporters, why because we know what's
gone wrong - it's a shortage up front, really. "Sam set his side out to be
tough to beat with a tough back four and they've kept a lot of clean sheets
this year. He sets his side up that way and has brought in two wide men in
Matt Jarvis and Stewart Downing. He's got Joe Cole playing in that area too
and it was all geared up to getting the ball wide and getting the ball in
the box."

Bonds pointed the absence of the injured Andy Carroll and the lack of goals
from the Club's other forwards as the major reason for the recent downturn
in results. "When Andy Carroll was in the side he was a real threat, people
didn't even like to mark him. He put himself about in the box and I think
Kevin Nolan is another one who is nullified a bit without a big man upfront
and certainly the two wingers are nullified a bit getting the ball in the
box as they probably lack options in there. "It's pretty obvious where
things are going wrong a little bit. I'm sure Sam and all his staff have
been burning the midnight oil and maybe when the transfer window opens
they've probably got a few names who they want to bring in and strengthen
that department because that is the obvious thing."

While he knows Carroll can play an influential role on his return from a
foot injury, Bonds has warned supporters not to expect too much, too soon,
from the No9. "I think, even when he's back fit, you've got to get someone
else in because he's a big lad and when you come back from a long injury
like that there is every chance he could get another injury. That can happen
when you've been out for a long time. Hopefully he'll come back in and stay
in there until the end of the season. "I'm not telling Sam anything he
doesn't already know. I'm sure he's been thinking about the January transfer
window coming round. I'm sure that will be Sam's priority. They've been
tough to beat, they've kept clean sheets, but obviously they're missing
Winston Reid who's had a terrific season for them. If you can get everybody
back fit, I don't see them having a problem. It's easy for me to say from
the outside because I don't have the job and I haven't got to worry about it
now. I don't see them having any problem staying up, I really don't."

Bonds, who twice led West Ham to promotion to the top-flight during his four
years in charge, also had personal words of support for Big Sam. As someone
with huge experience of the game as a player, captain and a manager, the
two-times FA Cup winner and four-times Hammer of the Year urged everyone
connected with the Club to stay patient and support the boss who brought
them back to the Barclays Premier League at the first attempt. "I think Sam
has done what he was asked to do," said the 67-year-old. "His brief was to
get the club out of the Championship into the Premier League and then to
cement that place. They more than cemented it last year, when they did
really well and finished half way up the table. "I think now is the time you
need to get behind the team because it is a difficult period at the moment.
We're not in a desperate position because if you're four or five points
adrift then you start to worry, but we're not in that situation and we're
one win away from being mid-table, it's that tight. "Even when you start the
season there are a dozen teams in that league thinking 'Stay in the league
this year' and there's maybe four or five thinking 'We might finish in a
Champions League place' then there's another two or three who aren't going
to get involved in it. "There's a long way to go yet, a lot of points to
play for and as I say if we can do something in January, get the big lad
back then I can see us pushing on."

That push can begin this Saturday, when Sunderland arrive at the Boleyn
Ground boasting the Barclays Premier League's leakiest defence and just two
wins in 15 matches. "Sunderland will be fighting for their lives as well and
it's obviously a big game for us it's one we certainly don't want to be
losing," Bonds concluded. "They will come and have a go because they've got
a new man in with new ideas and I saw a couple of their games recently and
they put up a show against Chelsea. It's a winnable game for us and we'd
like to be winning, especially with the way things stand at the moment."

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Bywater wants Cup run
WHUFC.com
Kieran Bywater is looking for the Under-18s to progress in the FA Youth Cup
against Accrington
10.12.2013

Kieran Bywater has urged his teammates to put in a professional performance
when they take on Accrington Stanley in the FA Youth Cup on Tuesday night.
The midfielder is the Under-18s' top scorer this season having netted 13
goals in 15 Barclays Under-18 Premier League matches this season and has
been instrumental in their current run of good form. Steve Potts' side are
currently enjoying a nine-match unbeaten run and Bywater has called on his
side to continue that streak when they take to the pitch at the Store First
Stadium. He told West Ham TV: "These sorts of games are historically what
cup ties are all about - going to a lower league side, and we can't take
anything for granted. "We've got to go there and do all the things well that
we know we can and hopefully get a performance with a victory at the end of
it. "You never know with a bit of luck and if we keep playing well we could
go far, but we'll just take every game as it comes."

The Third Round encounter will be the Hammers first match in just over two
weeks since they defeated league leaders Fulham 3-1, thanks to a brace from
Bywater. The 18-year-old believes morale in the squad is high ahead of their
cup clash and says that the squad fear no one at present. "We've had a break
as the Arsenal game got postponed due to their Youth Cup match. All the lads
have been playing a lot of games and there was a friendly game last week.
Everyone's fitness is good so hopefully we'll take that into the game. "I
think we've got a lot of confidence within the group at the minute and nine
unbeaten is very good in the league so we've just got to concentrate on that
and keep the performance levels up. "I don't think you can fear anyone. I
believe on our day we're as good as anyone so you can't really think about
the opposition you're playing. As I said before we just need to concentrate
on ourselves and hopefully get the win."

At this stage of the tournament last year the U18s overcame Aldershot Town
3-1 before losing out to Tottenham in the Fourth Round. Bywater is looking
forward to playing in a competition which he holds in high regard. "Quite a
few of the lads haven't played in the Youth Cup before and it's an enjoyable
time and a big game for us playing in the FA Youth Cup with the history
behind it so everyone's in a good mood. "We've been going well in the league
recently and we're in good form. Hopefully we can carry that on in the cup
and have a good run. "The FA Youth Cup and the history behind it is massive.
A lot of players have come through and good teams have come out of it so
hopefully we can have a good run, if not win it."

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New kick-off time for Swansea
WHUFC.com
The kick-off time for the Hammers' home fixture with Swansea City has
changed
10.12.2013

West Ham United's home Barclays Premier League fixture with Swansea City on
Saturday 1 February will now kick-off at 12.45pm and not 3pm as originally
scheduled.

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'It's time to roll our sleeves up'
WHUFC.com
Matt Jarvis says the West Ham United squad will not shirk the challenge
facing them at present
09.12.2013

Matt Jarvis says West Ham United cannot afford to lick their wounds ahead of
a vital Barclays Premier League meeting with Sunderland. The Hammers go into
Saturday's visit of the Black Cats having lost at Crystal Palace and
Liverpool in their previous two matches, but Jarvis insists he and his
team-mates will not be dwelling on those defeats. Instead, the No7 said the
players will take confidence from the 3-0 win over Fulham they achieved on
their last home engagement on 30 November. "We can't feel sorry for
ourselves," said Jarvis. "We need to stay positive and make sure we are
working extremely hard as we did at Liverpool and get that positive result
we need to kick-start our season. "It's definitely time to roll our sleeves
up and fight. That's exactly what we need to do. However we get the three
points, it doesn't matter what we do, we just have to get them and get
ourselves up the league. "We will try to do exactly what we did against
Fulham when we face Sunderland on Saturday. If we do, then we'll get three
much-needed points and hopefully we can do that on home turf."

Reflecting on Saturday's 4-1 defeat at Anfield, Jarvis felt West Ham
competed well before falling behind to a Guy Demel own-goal four minutes
before half-time. Mamadou Sakho's fortuitous finish made it 2-0 after
half-time, while Liverpool's fourth goal also came via a huge deflection off
substitute Joey O'Brien.
"We started the game well and created some good opportunities and could have
gone in front and given ourselves something to really hold on to," said
Jarvis. "To concede just before half-time shot ourselves in the foot. "Of
course it was very unlucky but it was disappointing to concede just before
half-time, because that always makes things hard."

Manager Sam Allardyce has urged Jarvis and his colleagues to start scoring
more goals. On Saturday, the winger played an integral part in West Ham's
sole strike when his 66th-minute header was put past his own goalkeeper by
Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel. The goal sparked a period of West Ham
pressure that could have culminated in an equaliser, but Jarvis and Modibo
Maiga could not convert the opportunities that fell to them. Luis Suarez
made the game safe by heading in Glen Johnson's cross with nine minutes
remaining before Kevin Nolan was sent-off and O'Brien's own-goal completed a
frustrating afternoon on Merseyside. "There was a build-up of play and then
Guy cut back and put the cross in and I had to try and get to it at the far
post," said Jarvis, when asked about the Hammers' goal. "As I couldn't put
the ball back on target, I put it back in the mixer and luckily it went in.
"At 2-1 they looked a little bit nervy and we tried to get back level. He
had a couple of chances to score and if you don't score in this league then
you get punished, and we did."

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Big Sam hopes for better fortune
WHUFC.com
Big Sam believes there were positives to take from Saturday's Liverpool
defeat, despite the scoreline
09.12.2013

West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce will hope for better fortune on Saturday
when his side welcome Sunderland to the Boleyn Ground for a crucial Barclays
Premier League clash. The Black Cats currently prop up the Barclays Premier
League table and the Hammers are in need of the points following a 4-1 loss
at Liverpool on Saturday. Man of the moment Luis Suarez scored two of those
goals, but for much of the contest, the visitors appeared to have a handle
on the Uruguayan. The Hammers held their own until Guy Demel's unfortunate
own goal just before the break and that early resilience gave the manager
encouragement ahead of an important week. "We were standing at 0-0 and the
longer it went on the more resilient we got," he explained. "More
importantly the second one going in meant we had to come out and attack,
which is going to give Suarez more room. We took that chance, weathered that
storm and got the goal back. We had our chances to get the second and then
he pops up with two to finish us off. His goals came at the right time to
kill us off. "You have to keep the main man of the opposition at bay.
Obviously you have to keep the main man at bay and it looked like we'd done
the job up until half time. We stopped him but they got an own goal and
another goal from a shot from Sakho and it's a disappointing day. We've
ended up losing 4-1 and we've lost three key players."

The Hammers will face this Saturday's Boleyn Ground clash against Sunderland
without skipper Kevin Nolan after he was sent off at Anfield, while Stewart
Downing and James Tomkins departed the action early with injuries. The
manager says the Hammers will have to adapt to cope with any absences. He
added: "We're in a difficult position, one because of the league position
and one because of the number of players we've got available. So to have two
more unavailable is a big problem for me. "I think Kevin's red card was
borne out of frustration. He's experienced enough and it's unlike him to do
that type of thing. Obviously he did and he got himself a red." Tickets for
Saturday's game are half-price for Academy Members and free for Youth
Academy Members. Click here for full information.

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Forest away in the FA Cup
WHUFC.com
FA Cup with Budweiser third round draw details
08.12.2013

West Ham United have been drawn away to face Championship side Nottingham
Forest in the third round of the FA Cup with Budweiser. Sunday's draw, which
was made by former Hammer Teddy Sheringham and his son Charlie, sends the
Hammers to the City Ground for the first time since a Championship clash in
August 2011, when West Ham ran out 4-1 winners. Forest have enjoyed a strong
start to their campaign and sit fifth in the table following Saturday's 1-0
win at Sheffield Wednesday. They are two-time FA Cup winners, having last
triumphed in 1959, and were defeated 3-2 by the Hammers in their last FA Cup
meeting - a fourth round tie in 2010/11. The game will be played over the
weekend of 4 & 5 January, and full fixture and ticketing details will appear
on whufc.com in due course.

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Olympic Stadium update
WHUFC.com
West Ham United have issued an update on the designs for the Olympic Stadium
conversion
08.12.2013

The multi-million pound conversion to turn the Olympic Stadium into a UEFA
Category 4 (the highest category available), all-seater football stadium
allows West Ham United and its fans an exciting opportunity to create a
stunning new home in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The Club's Supporter
Advisory Board are already assisting with key areas of supporter
consultation in terms of migration and ticketing but the detailed work on
look and feel of the stadium will begin next season once the designs are at
the necessary stage. The images shown in this morning's press are historic
technical cross-section drawings, the purpose of which are to show, simply,
the functionality of the retractable seating - a deliberate design to bring
the seats closer to the pitch. They are not designed to represent how the
stand will look on a matchday and how the innovative solution will close the
gap to ensure the atmosphere and viewing experience remains world class like
the rest of the stadium. The iconic new roof will cover all seats and help
lock in the famous atmosphere and the retractable seating on all four sides
of the ground will help bring fans closer to the pitch. The North and South
Stands will also provide fantastic opportunities for Club branding to make
sure the stadium feels like home. The Club have also worked with architects
to create a stunning 'Kop' style East Stand, with seats filling the area
between top and bottom tiers. The feedback from fans on the designs released
thus far has been overwhelmingly positive, as the 85% voting in favour of
the move in SMG YouGov's independent consultation testifies.

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'Everyone is in it together'
WHUFC.com
George McCartney insists the West Ham squad are still very much United,
despite recent disappointments
08.12.2013

George McCartney insists West Ham are still very much United, despite a
difficult week that has seen the Hammers lose at Crystal Palace and
Liverpool. The defender, who returned to the starting XI for Saturday's 4-1
Barclays Premier League defeat at Anfield after missing the midweek reverse
in south London, admitted the squad had not played to its true potential in
recent weeks. However, the No3 said next weekend's visit of bottom club
Sunderland to the Boleyn Ground will give the Hammers an opportunity to
return to winning ways. Reflecting first on Saturday's defeat on Merseyside,
McCartney felt West Ham's cause had not been helped by scoring two own-goals
and Simon Mignolet's outstanding save from Modibo Maiga when the game was
still goalless. "I think we knew what to expect from Liverpool," said the
Northern Irishman. "They had a few chances in the first half and we seemed
to hold out and had a couple of chances ourselves. "We conceded late on in
the first half and early in the second half, which was disappointing. We
then got ourselves back in the game and had a chance to make it two-each,
but in the end Suarez put two goals in and 4-1 looks like a bit of a hiding.
"It was disappointing. We tried to bounce back from the defeat and
performance against Crystal Palace, but it didn't happen. We now look
forward to Sunderland next week and we have to pick ourselves up and get
three points. "They had a few chances in the first half but they were
largely long-range shots. We got behind them a couple of times and put in
some really good crosses and their keeper made one or two good saves.
"Throughout the course of the game, we knew they would get one or two
clear-cut chances and all you can do is try to hold out and get a bit of
luck. We didn't have that luck and in the end it was a comfortable result
for them."

McCartney's first spell at West Ham coincided with the Hammers' amazing
escape from relegation in 2006/07, when they won seven of their final nine
matches to stay in the Barclays Premier League. Having experienced that, the
defender knows first-hand how a squad can turn its season around. That
turn-around can start next Saturday, when McCartney's former club Sunderland
visit the Boleyn Ground. The Black Cats have collected just eight points so
far, but the Belfast-born player is not taking anything for granted. That
said, he knows the game represents a great opportunity for West Ham to
return to winning ways. "I think we were tailed-off and nobody gave us a
chance before we won seven of our last nine games to save ourselves, but
we're not thinking about relegation. We know there are plenty of games left
and the squad we've got at this club and how we're capable of playing. "The
last couple of months, we have had some disappointing results but we'll pick
ourselves up. The spirit around the place is still great and everyone is in
it together. Like I said, we'll be looking to put in the sort of performance
we did against Fulham next weekend against Sunderland and get three points
at home again. "We all know there are no easy games in this league, even
though they are below us. It's going to be a difficult game, but it's about
how we apply ourselves on the day and we'll be looking to play some positive
football and get the win we need."

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Big Sam on Reds reverse
WHUFC.com
Manager Sam Allardyce reflected on Saturday's 4-1 Barclays Premier League
defeat at Liverpool
07.12.2013

Injury added to the insult of two own-goals as West Ham United crashed to a
4-1 Barclays Premier League defeat at Liverpool. The Hammers defended
resolutely for 40 minutes before falling behind in unfortunate circumstances
- Guy Demel putting the ball into his own net after Jussi Jaaskelainen had
parried Luis Suarez's shot. Liverpool went 2-0 ahead just after half-time
when Mamadou Sakho's mis-hit shot bounced high into the net via James
Collins' boot. West Ham rallied and halved their deficit when Martin Skrtel
put Matt Jarvis' header past Simon Mignolet, but a Suarez header made it 3-1
before the Uruguayan's late shot flew in off the unlucky Joey O'Brien. In
between Liverpool's third and fourth goals, Kevin Nolan's frustration boiled
over as he was sent-off for a challenge from behind on Jordan Henderson.
Speaking to West Ham TV, manager Sam Allardyce gave a typically honest
assessment of proceedings. "There was an element of luck that got Liverpool
on their way," he said. "They weren't looking like they were going to score
before half-time and, if anybody had the better chances before they scored,
it was probably us. "Unfortunately their keeper has made a couple of good
saves and there were a couple of good blocks, then there was a ball through
from Mo Diame to Modibo Maiga which just the slightest touch [may have put
it in the net] - he just cannot seem to pull it off at the moment, the lad.
"Then he had a chance off this head which was a great header across the
defender and their keeper has pulled off a wonderful save. To top it off,
they took the lead from an own-goal after Jussi had saved it when there was
no Liverpool player there to tap it in. "That was unlucky, but what was
really disappointing for me was conceding the second goal so soon after
half-time like we did. The lads came back with a goal when Liverpool were
dominant and we didn't look like we'd get it, and had we had a little more
composure with our final pass, we might have made it 2-2. "Then, the ball
flashed across their goal and Modibo needed to tap it in, but he didn't. We
needed to score at that time because, going into the last ten minutes, we
threw more men forward and then fell asleep in the box when it could have
been dealt with. Suarez put it in the back of the net and that's us dealt
with. "The fourth goal took a massive deflection off Joey O'Brien, so that
was unfortunate and it makes the scoreline a bit hard to take. The fact is,
though, that we're losing football matches and we've got to stop doing that.
That's the key element that the players have to focus on."

When asked about Nolan's red card, the manager did not dispute referee
Michael Oliver's decision, but claimed Liverpool full-back Jon Flanagan
should also have been sent-off for an early foul on Stewart Downing.
Flanagan's challenge caused a nasty cut to Downing's lower leg which
required the England winger to be treated in hospital. "I wouldn't disagree
with it, but I would say that there was a very similar if not worse
challenge from Flanagan in the first half on Stewart Downing. "Henderson has
not ended up in hospital but Stewart has and he needs 16 or 20 stitches in a
massive gash across his calf and Achilles tendon. "There is more danger in
Flanagan's challenge than there was in Kevin's but you couldn't argue that
he sent him off. What you do argue is that Kevin has been sent-off and he
hasn't."

Nolan's suspension and Downing's injury added to an already extensive list
of absentees that also includes Andy Carroll, Winston Reid, Ricardo Vaz Te,
Razvan Rat and James Tomkins, who was forced off with a hamstring injury
late on. "We had to take James off because he felt his groin. It's getting
massively concerning with the players losing their fitness. "There is
nothing we could do about Stewart's injury, but Kevin certainly could have
done something about keeping himself on the field. "It was a very
irresponsible action. No matter how frustrated you get, you shouldn't be
doing that sort of thing, especially when you're a man of his experience.
"We're all struggling at the minute, but what we can't afford to is lose our
confidence and our determination to do the right things. "It's not so long
ago - a week - that we a magnificent performance together to beat Fulham.
This time of year, the chances to put things right and win come thick and
fast because the games come around and points are won and lost very quickly.
"My problem now lies with the limited amount of players I have available to
me next weekend."

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Hammers defeated at Anfield
WHUFC.com
Luis Suarez continued his hot streak with a double strike against the
Hammers on Saturday
07.12.2013

Liverpool 4-1 West Ham United
Barclays Premier League

Luis Suarez took his goal tally for the week to six with a double which sent
the Hammers to a 4-1 defeat at Liverpool on Saturday. Sam Allardyce's men
held out until the 42nd minute, but had no answer once Guy Demel's
unfortunate own goal had given the home side the lead. Martin Skrtel scored
soon after half time to double the lead, and although he scored at the other
end to briefly give the Hammers hope, Suarez's late double, coupled with
Kevin Nolan's red card, took the game away from the Londoners. Suarez, fresh
from scoring four goals against Norwich in the week, showed an early sign of
his intent when he clipped a shot over the top from 20 yards with nine
minutes gone. The Hammers took the play to the other end immediately and
Mohamed Diame was so close to sliding Modibo Maiga in, but his pass was just
in front of the striker. With 21 minutes on the clock Maiga went even closer
when he climbed to meet a Matt Jarvis cross and headed towards goal, but
Simon Mignolet showed good reactions to tip the ball over the bar. Liverpool
gradually began to dominate possession as the half wore on and both Suarez
and Philippe Coutinho were off target with shots from range. The hosts may
have thought their best chance of the opening period had passed them by on
41 minutes when Raheem Sterling prodded wide when through on goal after out
sprinting James Tomkins.
However, they took the lead a minute later when the Hammers were guilty of
giving the ball away in their defensive third and Suarez pounced to force a
save from Jaaskelainen, with the ball bouncing off the unfortunate Demel and
into the net. It was to get worse for the visitors just two minutes after
the restart when Steven Gerrard delivered a free-kick from the right and
Mamadou Sakho headed across goal, with Skrtel just beating James Collins to
force the ball over the line.

Liverpool would go on to pin the Hammers back for much of the next 20
minutes as they searched for a third and Sterling twice went close around
the hour, first slipping as he shot following a Jordan Henderson pull back,
then forcing a wonderful save from Jaaskelainen after latching onto Joe
Allen's low cross.
The Hammers were in danger of sinking without trace, but but were handed a
lifeline midway through the half when Skrtel inexplicably diverted the ball
padt Mignolet after Matt Jarvis headed Guy Demel's deep cross back across
goal. It perhaps needed something dramatic to stem the tide and Liverpool
were rattled for a while, with Maiga poking wide at the far post after the
home side struggled to get a corner clear. But Brendan Rodgers' men gathered
themselves again and made the points safe ten minutes from time when Suarez
arrived at the far post with perfect timing to meet Glen Johnson's teasing
cross with an unstoppable header. There was still time for Nolan to be sent
for an early bath after catching Henderson on the calf before Suarez added
insult to injury by finding the net for a fourth, with the help of a wicked
deflection off Joey O'Brien.

Liverpool: Mignolet; Johnson, Skrtel, Sakho, Flanagan (Kelly 78); Gerrard
(Lucas 56), Allen; Henderson, Coutinho, Sterling (Moses 72); Suarez
Subs: Jones, Aspas, Cissokho, Luis Alberto
Goals: Demel og 42, Skrtel 47, Suarez 80, Suarez 84

West Ham United: Jaaskelainen; Demel, Collins, Tomkins (O'Brien 56),
McCartney; Diame, Noble, Nolan; Downing (J.Cole 46), Maiga, Jarvis (Taylor
84)
Subs: Adrian, Collison, Diarra, C.Cole
Goal; Skrtel og 66

Booked: Demel, Collins, J.Cole
Sent off: Nolan
Referee: Michael Oliver

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Downing named Player of the Month
WHUFC.com
Stewart Downing has won the fan vote to take November's Player of the Month
honours
06.12.2013

Stewart Downing has been named as the West Ham United Player of the Month
for November after winning the whufc.com fan poll. The winger took 35% of
the vote to edge Ravel Morrison into second place and take his first Player
of the Month award of the campaign. Downing joined the Club from Liverpool
in the summer and has overcome an early injury setback to establish himself
in Sam Allardyce's side. His influence has grown in the past month, and his
average of 2.5 accurate crosses per game ranks him third in the entire
Barclays Premier League - only Southampton's James Ward-Prowse and West
Brom's Morgan Amalfitano have delivered more. Downing laid on an
inch-perfect ball for Carlton Cole to net the game-clinching second in the
3-0 London derby win over Fulham on 30 November, and he started all four
Premier League games in the month.

whufc.com Player of the Month winners 2013/14
August James Collins
September Ravel Morrison
October Ravel Morrison
November Stewart Downing

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce 'will not rush Andy Carroll return'
BBC.co.uk

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce says he "won't panic" into playing
record-signing Andy Carroll following the striker's return to training.
Carroll, 24, has not featured this season after aggravating a heel injury he
sustained in May. "We're in a difficult position but I can't panic into
putting Andy in too quickly," said Allardyce, whose side are 17th in the
Premier League. "Andy will want to play quicker than he should and I'll have
to calm him down."

West Ham have won just once in five outings and struggled to score goals,
with Modibo Maiga and Carlton Cole their strike options in Carroll's
absence. "Basically, he'll be doing more and more with the ball now," added
Allardyce, who admitted it was "extremely tough" to resist playing the
striker at Liverpool on Saturday. "He'll keep doing the strength and
conditioning work he has been doing, but it'll be more about getting on the
field with the ball at more intense levels as he goes along. "My position is
to take a sensible view, it's my responsibility to make sure he is there to
stay when he comes back onto the field, and not just one or two games."

Carroll, England's most expensive footballer following his £35m move to
Liverpool from Newcastle in 2011, joined the Hammers on loan from the Reds
in August 2012 before making the move permanent at the end of the 2012-13
campaign. Since sustaining the injury in the final game of last season, he
has travelled between the UK and two rehab centres in Europe to undergo
treatment. "It has been a long, hard process but now I can see the light at
the end of the tunnel," Carroll told West Ham's official website upon his
return to training. "It's been really hard watching the games while I've
been out, we haven't picked up the results we have deserved, so I can't wait
to get out there again and start helping the team to win some games."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Former Hammer arrested in spot-fixing probe
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 9th December 2013
By: Staff Writer

Former Academy member Cristian Montano is one of six men arrested over the
weekend in connection with spot fixing. Montano, who left West Ham in July
2012 after rejecting a new contract offer was taken into custody this
weekend after a newspaper contacted Police with details of its investigation
into corruption in the game. It has been alleged that a number of players -
who represent both Football League and non-league clubs - have been involved
in spot-fixing, a practise which involves fixing a specific part of the
game. One of the players cited in the report - former Portsmouth defender
Sam Sodje - was caught on camera revealing how he could earn "tens of
thousands of pounds" for deliberately receiving a booking. And Montano
himself appears in one of the newspaper's video to explain how he could earn
a booking. "From minute one I was hacking people down," he said. ""People
running past me and I would go clip. I run against one player and barged
him."

22 this Wednesday, Montano signed a two-year contract with League One Oldham
Athletic last August. However the Club confirmed this morning that they have
now suspended the forward. "Oldham Athletic Football Club has announced that
with immediate effect Cristian Montano will be suspended without pay until
the conclusion of investigations into spot-fixing allegations," read a
statement. "Club Director Barry Owen said: 'We are currently assisting the
authorities and the future of the player cannot be established until we are
notified of what is to occur with these investigations.'"

In addition to Sam Sodje and Montano, Akpo Sodje, Steven Sodje, Ian Goodison
and DJ Campbell have also been arrested in connection with the
investigation.
Montano, who holds dual UK and Columbian nationality first joined West Ham
at the age of just 12. Reacting to claims that he was "greedy" upon leaving
the club last summer, he replied: "Why does everyone always think that money
is always the case in football? I love the game [and it's] nothing to do
with me being greedy."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Stewart Downing in hospital
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 7th December 2013
By: Staff Writer

Stewart Downing was taken to hospital during today's game with Liverpool
after sustaining a nasty gash in his leg. The right winger, who had provided
West Ham with a valuable outlet during the first half of today's clash
played the entire opening 45 minutes but failed to return for the second
period. It was later confirmed that the 29-year-old had been taken to
hospital where he received treatment for a deep gash on his Achilles. West
Ham, who were 1-0 down when Downing's enforced substitution occurred
eventually lost the game 4-1. "We've lost Stewart Downing through a horrible
tackle by [Jon] Flanagan in the first minute ," said Sam Allardyce, talking
after the game. "He's going to need 15 to 20 stitches in an Achilles/calf
gash and had to be rushed off to hospital."

Allardyce, who later saw his captain Kevin Nolan dismissed for an appalling
challenge felt aggrieved that Flanagan escaped censure for what he felt was
a similar tackle. "I don't disagree with the Kevin Nolan sending-off," he
said, "but if that's a sending-off then unfortunately young Flanagan should
have been red-carded as well. When you see the tackle I'm sure everybody
will agree, apart from Liverpool."

And with view a potential return for Downing, Allardyce was unable to give
an accurate indication of how long he expected to be without the winger -
although he admitted that the prognosis wasn't good. "I would have thought
[we'll be without him] for quite a while now," added Allardyce, "which we
can ill-afford."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Players dig deep for ill kids
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 7th December 2013
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United's first team squad have made a sizeable donation to local
hospice Richard House. Every Christmas a number of players from West Ham's
first team squad visit Richard House Hospice in Beckton, which provides care
and respite for terminally-ill children and young adults. This week the
contingent included Richard House patron Mark Noble plus fellow first team
squad players Ricardo Vaz Te, Joey O'Brien, Adrian and Mo Diame. After
spending the afternoon making Christmas decorations, signing autographs and
having their pictures taken with the kids, Joey O'Brien and Mark Noble
presented the hospice's Community Fundraising Manager Viv Talbot with a
personal cheque from all the players. Ricardo Vaz Te told whufc.com: "It was
a very good experience to go to Richard House and see the kids' faces. It
was for a great cause and I wish I could do more. It leaves me speechless
just to give something and for them to be so happy at us being there."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Matt Jarvis looking for West Ham to raise their game
Last Updated: 09/12/13 3:48pm
SSN

Matt Jarvis admits West Ham United need to 'roll our sleeves up and fight'
after failing to pull clear of relegation trouble. The Hammers have won just
one of their last eight Premier League fixtures, and only three of 15 so far
this season. Unsurprisingly, an inability to string positive results
together has left them languishing at the wrong end of the table and looking
anxiously over their shoulder. Only goal difference is keeping Sam
Allardyce's side out of the bottom three at present, with a 4-1 reverse away
at Liverpool on Saturday pushing them a little deeper into the mire. "We
need to stay positive and make sure we are working extremely hard, as we did
at Liverpool, and get that positive result we need to kick-start our
season."

Jarvis told the club's official website on the need to offer a positive
response: "We can't feel sorry for ourselves. "We need to stay positive and
make sure we are working extremely hard, as we did at Liverpool, and get
that positive result we need to kick-start our season ."It's definitely time
to roll our sleeves up and fight. That's exactly what we need to do. However
we get the three points, it doesn't matter what we do, we just have to get
them and get ourselves up the league. "We will try to do exactly what we did
against Fulham when we face Sunderland on Saturday. If we do, then we'll get
three much-needed points and hopefully we can do that on home turf."

On the defeat at Anfield, which saw the Hammers hold their own for long
periods but concede at important times, Jarvis said: "We started the game
well and created some good opportunities and could have gone in front and
given ourselves something to really hold on to. "To concede just before
half-time shot ourselves in the foot. "Of course it was very unlucky but it
was disappointing to concede just before half-time, because that always
makes thing hard. "At 2-1 they looked a little bit nervy and we tried to get
back level. We had a couple of chances to score and if you don't score in
this league then you get punished, and we did."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers explains decision to sell Andy Carroll
Last Updated: December 7, 2013 12:23pm
SSN

Liverpool allowed Andy Carroll to join West Ham to benefit star striker Luis
Suarez, according to manager Brendan Rodgers. Both were signed by Kenny
Dalglish in lucrative deadline-day deals in January 2011 after Fernando
Torres was sold to Chelsea for £50m. But former Newcastle forward Carroll
failed to justify his British record transfer fee of £35m, struggling with
form and fitness before being offloaded to West Ham on loan last season.
Carroll joined the Hammers on a permanent deal in the summer, and Rodgers
believes his departure has allowed the in-form Suarez to take up a free role
for the side. "I just felt it wouldn't benefit Luis because when you play
with a big target man, it is hard not to make him your focal point, so
everything has to be set around the big guy," said Rodgers. "What we try to
do here is create the environment for the elite player - and Luis is an
elite player." "Sometimes you get sucked into doing it more direct and
clearly. With my history as a coach, I don't work that way. "You look at the
goals that Luis has scored in my time, there has not been too many that have
been whipped-in-crosses, which to be fair, big Andy was brilliant at. "What
we try to do here is create the environment for the elite player - and Luis
is an elite player. "We have created an environment for all our players, but
obviously for him I had to make a call last year by letting Andy Carroll go
out on loan. "That created a situation where we could get the benefit of
Luis' talent, but he still had to perform, and he has done that tremendously
well."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
JEREMY NICHOLAS: I WANT TO RETURN AS STADIUM ANNOUNCER & I'LL DO IT FOR FREE
By Iain Dale 9 Dec 2013 at 14:24
West Ham Till I Die

Guest Post by JEREMY NICHOLAS

I'm offering to return as West Ham United announcer for no fee, because I'm
so worried about the situation in which we find ourselves. We need to make
the Boleyn Ground a fortress again. After sixteen years as the stadium
announcer I resigned after the Stoke game in August, as the club reduced
match day costs. My fee was cut by sixty percent and I decided to hang up my
microphone as a matter of pride.

Since I left, the club have taken just four points out of a possible fifteen
at home. The atmosphere in the ground has been awful. I stayed away at
first, as I couldn't get a ticket. But I've been back for the Chelsea,
Manchester City and Fulham games.

I sat in the West Upper for Chelsea and and was shocked. There was no
singing around me and from what I could see it was quiet in most parts of
the ground. It did pick up in the later stages of the game when the Sir
Trevor/Alpari corner started a chant that picked up around the ground. But
bearing in mind we were playing against one of our biggest local rivals, I
thought it was a very quiet game.

West Ham fans are not usually like that. Some of the quiet ones left early.
Once they'd gone the hardcore fans seemed to find their voice. Even though
we were losing, we ended the game loud and proud. It was like the Villa Park
semi-final against Forest in 1991 all over again. I'd like to galvanise that
core support.

We've always prided ourselves on being a noisy ground that inspires our
players and intimidates the opposition. We use to tease Arsenal about the
respectful silence at 'Highbury the Library', but if I'd taken a few
textbooks along to our last few games, I reckon I could have got a fair bit
of revision done, with little distraction.

Our away support is as magnificent as ever. The travelling West Ham fans at
Anfield were in great voice at the weekend, even though we haven't won at
Liverpool for fifty years.

Over the past sixteen years I've helped mastermind some terrific home
atmospheres, particularly that play off semi-final against Ipswich, when the
Boleyn Ground shook it was so noisy. Recently fans of the Seattle Seahawks
broke the Guinness world record for the loudest stadium, measuring like a
magnitude 1-2 earthquake. I would like us to be sending shockwaves from an
epicentre at Upton Park.

So I'm offering my services free of charge, to help raise the noise and
rebuild Fortress Boleyn. Lots of fans have contacted me and asked if I'd
consider a return. So after a lot of thought I've come to the following
conclusion: As a professional speaker I can't accept a sixty percent pay
cut, because it just doesn't seem right.

But as a fan of West Ham United since the age of six, I can't bear to sit in
the stand and watch as we throw away our home advantage. So I've come up
with the idea of doing it for free.

My business manager and my wife think I'm mad, which is no surprise because
they are the same person. My fellow professional speakers think I'm mad,
because as business models go, the free option isn't a great one. But my
West Ham supporting friends fully understand why I feel I can't just sit and
do nothing. If I'm going to be up in the stands shouting, I might as well
have a microphone in my hand and sit in my usual seat at the back of the
dugout.

I have sixteen years of experience to offer. I've not been around as long as
George Sephton at Anfield or David Hamilton at Craven Cottage, but I'm a
well-known voice in the Premier League and also as the stadium announcer on
all the FIFA video games from FIFA 06 up to FIFA 14.

I've worked under six West Ham managers so far. Seven if you count Avram
Grant! I've also worked with caretaker managers Sir Trevor Brooking and
Kevin Keen and now I'm offering my services for free to Big Sam.

Sam Allardyce has done great things at the club. He won us promotion at the
first attempt and consolidated our position in the first season back in the
Premier League. This season he's had awful luck with injuries to vital
players that have proved crucial. But there's lots of cause for optimism at
the club with the emergence of Ravel Morrison, holding onto quality players
like Mo Diame and signings like Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing. We've
shown we are no longer a selling club, but we need to hang on to our Premier
League status at all costs.

There's no need to panic. Once Andy Carroll is back and Winston Reid
returns, we'll be in great shape. But in the meantime we have to get the
home crowd rocking.
So the offer to return for no fee is on the table. If the club want to take
me up on it, I'll be delighted to help.

Come on you Irons!
Jeremy

Jeremy Nicholas – stadium announcer West Ham United 1998-2013

www.JeremyNicholas.co.uk

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham eye Diego Milito transfer from Inter Milan for a bargain fee
9 Dec 2013 22:30
The Mirror

Reports in Italy claim cut-price January deal could be on for 2010 European
Cup Final hero as his contract is about to expire

West Ham are poised to make a shock move for Inter Milan forward Diego
Milito when the transfer window opens next month. Milito, 34, is set to out
of contract at the end of the season - and reports in Italy suggest Inter
could be willing to let him leave in January for a reduced fee. The Hammers'
manager Sam Allardyce is desperate to strengthen his forward line and even
though club record signing Andy Carroll is close to making a first-team
return, he looks certain to bring more strikers into the club. Milito has a
wealth of experience and is best remembered for scoring twice in the 2010
European Cup Final, as Jose Mourinho-managed Inter beat Bayern Munich.
Allardyce has also been linked with moves for Tottenham's Emmanuel Adebayor
and ex-Hammer Demba Ba of Chelsea. But he could now switch his attentions to
the Argentine forward and make his move to sign him in the New Year.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce's West Ham future in doubt as owners fear repeating Avram
Grant mistake
8 Dec 2013 22:33
The
Mirror
The Hammers boss is up against it, and next week's game with Sunderland is
absolutely crucial for his future

Sam Allardyce is running out of time to turn things around at West Ham. The
West Ham hierarchy will not allow the club to become entrenched in a
relegation battle and want an improvement in results - or else. West Ham are
still haunted by hanging on too long before axing Avram Grant which led to
their relegation three years ago. They are likely to act unless
under-pressure Big Sam turns around results and shows improvement in
results. West Ham entertain fellow strugglers Sunderland next weekend but
also face Manchester United and Arsenal in the coming weeks. West Ham boss
Allardyce insists he can turn it around and has been defiant about their
current plight, even after being thrashed at Liverpool on Saturday. But, as
revealed in Mirror Sport last week, West Ham co-owner David Sullivan wants
to see an improvement and the Liverpool defeat only underlined the growing
crisis. Sullivan is friendly with former England boss Glenn Hoddle and that
could be one option they would look at.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Fans' forum round-up
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 11th December 2013
By: Staff Writer

West Ham's last day at the Boleyn Ground will be marked by a huge party on
the pitch, it was revealed tonight.

The Hammers bid farewell to the Boleyn Ground at the end of the 2015/16
season after 112 years on Green Street and tonight co-Chairman David Gold,
speaking to season ticket holders at a fans' forum, confirmed that the Club
would be staging a party for thousands to bid farewell to the ground that
has witnessed the vast majority of West Ham's triumphs.

A number of points were raised throughout the evening with Sam Allardyce,
Kevin Nolan and David Gold taking the supporters' questions, the key points
of which you may read below courtesy of KUMB member Espio who was in
attendance at the Boleyn Ground this evening...


Sam Allardyce
West Ham United FC manager

* Sam sums up the season so far. "A lack of goals, not good performances.
Need to get over injuries."

* We're definitely in for a striker this January.

* Six points from next four games is a minimum target. The end-of-season
target is still "better than last season". He notes we had a run nearly as
bad as this at the end of last season.

* Mo Diame played on the wing against Crystal Palace because Matt Jarvis -
who he added didn't cost 11million - had a knock and was on a dip in form.

* The £6million money spent on Stewart Downing's transfer was not enough for
a decent striker. He highlighted the difficulty in finding a proven, Premier
League forward, specifically highlighting Cisse who was once a prolific
goalscorer but now doesn't get a game. He believes Downing has improved the
side.

* On summer transfers, Allardyce claimed Demba Ba wouldn't leave Chelsea,
Loic Remy chose Newcastle and that Demba Ba decided to stay at Chelsea three
hours before the deadline causing Romalu Lukaku to go instead. His Belgium
teammate Mirralas persuaded him to go to Everton.

* Asked why he was "wasting his time trying to get Lukaku who is too good
for West Ham", Sam retorted that he was playing for West Brom last season
who are not better than us historically.

* Most injuries are not related to the training ground otherwise "the
current staff wouldn't be there". He admitted that we need to improve
facilities along with the stadium.

* He thanked everyone for coming and said he'll do his best to turn things
around.

Kevin Nolan
West Ham United FC midfielder and Club captain

* He criticised injuries and refereeing performances, specifically
mentioning Mark Noble's sending off and free kick against Everton. He said
the team feels they're "constantly getting hit in the nuts".

* Says positive team morale is a sign they're a good side. He has no doubt
we will stay up.

* He admitted his finishing has been poor recently and is very apologetic.
Says anyone would miss Andy Carroll, just like Liverpool would miss Suarez
or Everton Lukaku.

* Nolan apologised for the red card tackle at Liverpool, said he was ashamed
and won't be going on holiday - he is in training tomorrow practicing
finishing, whilst others are off.

David Gold
West Ham United FC co-owner

* Called our season so far "disappointing" and said he expected us to be
mid-table at this stage. He believed we put all our eggs in one basket with
Carroll and Downing but admits no one expected the injury/ies. Carroll
expected back for the New Year, at best.

* In Gold's opinion our "four best players" are currently injured. "That's
bad luck". The Board has adjusted expectations but don't rule our
back-to-back wins putting us on track for mid-table. He wants to see Ravel
played in Nolan's role.

* Told an anecdote about catching his wife with his best mate in his
swimming pool, which led to him eventually meeting the "love of my life" -
adding that similarly, Nolan's injury could lead to us "discovering" Ravel
in his place. Big applause for that.

* He admitted in hindsight that we should've purchased a forward, not
Downing. That said, Gold believes Downing is great player and says turning
him down in the hope of finding a last-minute striker would've been a risk.

* In response to Sullivan's quote upon buying the Club, Gold says he
believes our squad is still unbalanced - but only by "two players".

* Re: FFP and the forthcoming transfer window, he insisted "budgets change"
and pointed out that half-season loans are cheaper. New corporate deals and
shop sales have also added to our transfer budget.

* Whilst "we're not talking about getting a 10million player", Allardyce
would be eyeing a quality loan with a view to buy in the summer.

* The two co-chairmen will do everything to get the striker required in
January and confirmed that work had already begun. The hope is to have
someone in during the first week of the window.

* Gold says a bid for one of our fringe players would help funds in January.
"Fringe or French?" Asked a fan. "Yeah, French," he responded with a grin.

* Sullivan and Gold now own 87% of the Club between them.

* £15million from the sale of the Boleyn Ground will go to the LLDC and
approximately £20million will be left to split between debt and transfers.

* Fans can name two sides of the Olympic Stadium after Club legends. West
Ham United are currently trying to negotiate naming rights for the two
remaning sides but will also name other parts of the site after greats.
Billy Bonds was specifically mentioned as someone Gold believes was
mistreated by previous owners.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce promises experienced team for Spurs
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 10th December 2013
By: Staff Writer

Sam Allardyce has denied suggestions that he will send a weakened team to
White Hart Lane next week when the Hammers meet Tottenham in the quarter
finals of the Capital One Cup.

Big Sam, speaking at tonight's Season Ticket Holders Fans' Forum was asked
if he would be sending a competitive squad to North London - to which he
confirmed that he expected to field a team of "first team players", and not
"kids".

The manager, who was taken pre-selected questions from the audience was
joined by club captain Kevin Nolan who apologised for his dismissal at
Anfield last weekend.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham look to loan market
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 10th December 2013
By: Staff Writer

Co-chairman David Gold has told season ticket holders to expect new faces at
the Club this January - but only on short-term deals. Gold, speaking at a
Fans' Forum this evening admitted that the only players Sam Allardyce would
be able to add to his squad this forthcoming transfer window would be those
available on loan. With forwards a necessity, that presumably means the
likes of Demba Ba - who remains out of favour at Chelsea - will once again
be on Allardyce's radar, whilst Seattle Sounders striker Obafemi Martins has
also been linked with a short-term move to London.

The striker shortage could become even more acute if Carlton Cole, who
returned to West Ham in October leaves the Club in January at the end of his
three-month deal. Fellow striker Mladen Petric, whose contract runs until
the end of the season has featured just four times since moving to East
London.

Meanwhile Allardyce's remaining forwards, Ricardo Vaz Te and Andy Carroll,
are still recovering from the injuries that have kept them sidelined for so
long - much to the frustration of Club and supporters alike.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

http://vyperz.blogspot.com



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Daily WHUFC News - 3rd December 2013

George grateful to be back
WHUFC.com
George McCartney spoke of his relief after making his first league start in
more than a year
02.12.2013

When George McCartney's name was read out over the Boleyn Ground PA system
on Saturday, the left-back could have been forgiven for giving himself a
cheer. The West Ham United left-back made his first Barclays Premier League
start in more than a year, helping the Hammers to a comprehensive 3-0 win
over Fulham. After a year blighted by a recurring knee injury and a series
of other niggles, the No3 told whufc.com of his relief and happiness at
returning to top-flight duty. Read Mohamed Diame's reaction to Saturday's
victory over Fulham "It was a great feeling to see my name on the teamsheet
again," said McCartney. "It's been a long time and I've had some tough days
with injury, but thankfully I'm over it now and it was nice to get back out
on the pitch. "To win the game was the most important thing, but to last the
90 minutes was a boost as well. It was good to be back out there. "It was a
good team performance. Probably the first 15 or 20 minutes, we had a couple
of half-chances and Fulham tried to hit us on the break, but Jussi
Jaaskelainen didn't have a save to make all day. "It was a great performance
all-round. In the second half, we upped it a bit more and had lots of
chances and put them away, when in the past few games we didn't get the
results we deserved. It was nice to get the three points."

McCartney's injury issues began when he hurt his knee in training in
December 2012. Then, on his return to first-team duty against West Bromwich
Albion on 30 March this year, he broke down again. Two Capital One Cup
appearances and four for the Development Squad this term have helped the
32-year-old regain his fitness and he certainly did not look out of place
against the Cottagers. "To be honest, being out for such a long time, you do
have thoughts about whether you're ever going to come back," he admitted.
"As you get older, you wonder if your body is up to coping with the demands
of Premier League football again.
"I worked hard to get my sharpness and match-fitness back and I've always
had belief in my own ability. "It was a long road back and I had one or two
comebacks when little niggles set me back again, but I've now had two or
three really good weeks of training, a couple of friendly matches and to
play the full 90 minutes on Saturday was great."

Having made his first Barclays Premier League start since the 3-1 defeat at
Tottenham Hotspur on 25 November 2012, the Northern Irishman is targeting
his second London derby in four days. The Hammers travel to Crystal Palace
on Tuesday evening and he fully intends to be involved in that one, as well
as the next home game against his former club Sunderland on 14 December.
"I'm really happy to be back playing Premier League games again. I'm
hopefully going to be available for selection for the remainder of the
season. I don't want to be picking up any more niggles or injuries - I've
had enough of that over the past year! "Hopefully I can stay fit now and get
a good run of games and try to stay in the team. We've got a good squad now
and there's a lot of competition for places, so you need to perform in every
game. "Hopefully I can stay in the team now and play as many games as
possible. Since I left Sunderland I've not had the opportunity to play
against them, so I'd love to play against them and hopefully we can turn
them over and everything will go well."

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Crystal Palace match preview
All the key info ahead of Tuesday night's trip to Selhurst Park
WHUFC.com
02.12.2013

CRYSTAL PALACE v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2013
KICK-OFF: 8PM
REFEREE: LEE MASON
FULL AUDIO COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV

TWITTER I FACEBOOK I iPHONE APP I YOUTUBE I BIG SAM
Introduction
. West Ham United travel to Crystal Palace on Tuesday night for a third
London derby in succession, following the defeat by Chelsea and the victory
over Fulham, both by the same 3-0 scoreline.
. West Ham bounced back from that loss to the Blues in style on Saturday, as
Mohamed Diame, Carlton Cole and Joe Cole hit the target to see off Fulham
and manager Martin Jol, who left his post on Sunday.
. That victory gave the Hammers their first home win in the league since the
opening day triumph over Cardiff City and lifted them up to 15th in the
table, three points clear of the bottom three and six ahead of Crystal
Palace.
. The Eagles fell to defeat in Tony Pulis' first game in charge at the
weekend, as a Gary Hooper goal proved enough for Norwich City to take all
three points at Carrow Road.
. Palace did take all three points in their previous outing, however, as
Barry Bannan scored with nine minutes remaining to inflict defeat on Hull
City. That was the Selhurst Park side's second win of the campaign,
following their home success over Sunderland in August.
. The south Londoners dropped back to the foot of the table on Saturday, as
Sunderland's point at Aston Villa saw them move a point clear of the Eagles.

Team news
West Ham United
. Winston Reid (ankle), Andy Carroll (foot) and Ricardo Vaz Te (shoulder)
remain sidelined with long-term injuries.
. Mladen Petric (calf) and Razvan Rat (hamstring) could also be out, but the
Hammers picked up no further injuries at the weekend.
. George McCartney will be hoping to retain his place at left-back after
completing his first 90 minutes in the Barclays Premier League in just over
a year.
Crystal Palace
. Palace's long-term injury list includes striker Glenn Murray (knee)
full-back Jack Hunt (ankle), centre-back Paddy McCarthy (groin) and
midfielder Adlene Guedioura (rib).
. Winger Jerome Thomas remains doubtful with a groin problem, but midfielder
Jonny Williams could be in line for a start after coming on from the bench
at the weekend at Norwich.

Background
. The first meeting between West Ham United and Crystal Palace was a
Southern League First Division fixture played at The Crystal Palace on 29
September 1906. A 10,000-strong crowd turned out to see a 1-1 draw, with
Arthur Winterhalder on target for the Hammers.
. The two clubs met in the Division One Play-Off final at the Millennium
Stadium on 29 May 2004. Neil Shipperley's goal gave the Eagles a 1-0 victory
and secured their promotion to the Premier League.
. The largest crowd to watch a Crystal Palace versus West Ham United fixture
at Selhurst Park is the 41,540 who witnessed the Hammers' 3-0 victory in
south London on 30 October 1971. That result also marked West Ham's
largest-ever success at the home of the Eagles. However, West Ham also
recorded an 8-1 win at Palace during the First World War and a 6-1 win in
south London during the Second World War.
. West Ham's biggest home win over Crystal Palace since the two clubs joined
the Football League was a 4-0 Division One win here on 28 October 1972, when
Trevor Brooking (two), John McDowell and Bryan 'Pop' Robson scored in front
of 28,894 fans.
. West Ham United defeated Crystal Palace 11-0 in the war-time London
Combination on 6 April 1918. Syd Puddefoot netted seven times, with Burke
(two), Herbert Ashton and Andy Cunningham getting the other goals in front
of 4,000 spectators.
. Ten players have made their West Ham United debuts against Crystal Palace
- Thomas Lee (September 1907), David Waggott (September 1908), Albert Scanes
(March 1910), Thomas Lonsdale (October 1913), Alfred Tirrell (February
1914), William Henderson (March 1922), William Edwards (March 1923), Ade
Coker (October 1971), Papa Bouba Diop and Manuel Almunia (both October
2011).

Last time out
Saturday 30 November 2013
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United 3-0 CFulham
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Collins, Tomkins, McCartney; Diame,
Noble, Nolan (Morrison 77); Downing, Maiga (C.Cole 81), Jarvis (J.Cole 68)
Subs not used: Adrian, Collison, Taylor, O'Brien
Goals: Diame 47, C.Cole 82, J.Cole 89
Saturday 30 November
Barclays Premier League
Norwich City 1-0 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace: Speroni, Ward, Gabbidon, Moxey, Delaney, Dikgacoi, Puncheon
(Kebe 76), Jedinak, Bannan (Williams 73), Chamakh (Gayle 80), Jerome
Subs not used: Price, Mariappa, O'Keefe, Phillips

Previous meeting
The Hammers last met Crystal Palace in the Championship on 25 February 2012
when they played out their second draw of the season. Neither side could
find a way through at the Boleyn Ground, following a 2-2 draw at Selhurst
Park earlier in the campaign.
West Ham United: Green, Reid, McCartney, Tomkins, Faye, O'Brien, Faubert
(C.Cole 46), Collison, Noble, Maynard (Baldock 73), Vaz Te (O'Neil 58)
Subs (not used): Potts, Lansbury
Crystal Palace: Speroni, Parr, McCarthy, Gardner, McShane, Ambrose (Scannell
63), Dikgacoi, Jedinak, Zaha, Easter (Murray 74), Martin (Garvan 82)
Subs (not used): Price, O'Keefe

Last six meetings
25 February 2012 West Ham United 0-0 Crystal Palace (Championship)
1 October 2011 - Crystal Palace 2-2 West Ham United (Championship)
29 May 2004 - Crystal Palace 1-0 West Ham United (Championship Play-Off
final)
12 April 2004 - Crystal Palace 1-0 West Ham United (Championship)
1 October 2003 - West Ham United 3-0 Crystal Palace (Championship)
5 May 1998 - Crystal Palace 3-3 West Ham United (Premier League)
Overall record v Crystal Palace - W 30 D 22 L 19

Ten-year records
West Ham United
2012/13 Premier League 10th
2011/12 Championship 3rd (promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs
2010/11 Premier League 20th (relegated to Championship)
2009/10 Premier League 17th
2008/09 Premier League 9th
2007/08 Premier League 10th
2006/07 Premier League 15th
2005/06 Premier League 9th
2004/05 Championship 6th (promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th
Crystal Palace
2012/13 Championship 5th (promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)
2011/12 Championship 17th
2010/11 Championship 20th
2009/10 Championship 21st
2008/09 Championship 15th
2007/08 Championship 5th
2006/07 Championship 12th
2005/06 Championship 6th
2004/05 Premier League 18th (relegated to Championship)
2003/04 Championship 6th (promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)

Referee
. Tuesday's match referee will be Lee Mason.
. Mason started refereeing in 1988 and in 1992 he was added to the North
West Counties Football League assistant referees' list, and progressed to
full referee for that competition four years later.
. He was included on the Football League list of assistant referees in 1998,
and was then added to the Premier League list in 2000.
. In 2002, he was promoted to referee for the Football League and in 2003
became a 'Development Group' referee, before finally reaching the Premier
League list of Select Group referees in 2006.
. His first ever match in the top tier was on 4 February 2006, when
Middlesbrough lost 4-0 at home to Aston Villa.
. Mason was chosen to control the League One Play-Off final between Barnsley
and Swansea on 27 May 2006.
. He refereed the Hammers' 3-2 defeat by Everton earlier this season, in
which he awarded Sam Allardyce's men a second half penalty but also showed a
red card to Mark Noble.

General information
. West Ham United's allocation of tickets for this fixture have sold out.
. Thick cloud is forecast for south London on Tuesday night, with
temperatures dipping down to 3C (37F)
. No engineering works are planned on the routes to Selhurst Park on
Tuesday. Please check here for tube updates and here for National Rail.

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The Thames Ironworks lives on!
WHUFC.com
The Thames Ironworks Heritage Trust has launched after the return of the
first of its historic lifeboats
02.12.2013

West Ham United's original incarnation, the Thames Ironworks, is to be given
a new lease of life, with Saturday's long-awaited launch of the Thames
Ironworks Heritage Trust. The Trust, chaired by lifelong Hammers supporter
Gavin Redknap, is seeking to revive the shipbuilding and wider manufacturing
heritage of east London. The charity will do so primarily through the
restoration of Thames Ironworks-made lifeboats close to the place where they
were originally built over 100 years ago, creating employment and new skills
for apprentices in the process. Saturday's launch coincides with the return
of the first of its historic lifeboats to east London, which will be
received at a reception at the Trust's new temporary home at Cody Dock,
Canning Town.

Crucially, the lifeboats will subsequently be put to work in the Queen
Elizabeth Olympic Park and surrounding east London waterways, conducting
tours of the area. With West Ham set to move into the Olympic Stadium in
2016, the Ironworks' renewed presence in the vicinity is the most pertinent
of links to the Club's illustrious origins. Tours will focus on the area's
industrial heritage, bringing an educational aspect to the newly-restored
waterways, as well as offering further opportunities for employment and
training to young people. Paying tribute to the Club's involvement, Redknap
said: "The Trust is hugely appreciative of the efforts of West Ham United,
once known as Thames Ironworks FC, to help bring visibility to our campaign
among fans and the general public."

Elsewhere, Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, described the Trust's project as
"an intriguing and valuable endeavour to support London's unique
shipbuilding heritage." He added: "I also support the idea of creating new
career opportunities for young people in east London to develop these
valuable and lost skills."
The Thames Ironworks Heritage Trust has also received support from Stephen
Timms and Lyn Brown, MPs for East Ham and West Ham respectively, while Jim
Fitzpatrick, MP for Poplar and Limehouse, said: "We should treasure the
integral role the Ironworks played in our seafaring history for future
generations, which is why I'm backing the campaign to bring the historic
Ironworks back to the East End."

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Carlton keen to kick on
WHUFC.com
Carlton Cole is eyeing back-to-back victories after netting in Saturday's
home win over Fulham
02.12.2013

Carlton Cole spoke of his desire to kick on after bagging his first West Ham
United goal since returning to the Club in October. The popular frontman
doubled the Hammers' lead in Saturday's 3-0 Barclays Premier League win over
Fulham, applying the telling touch to Stewart Downing's sweet centre. Having
now opened his account for the campaign, Cole is determined to score plenty
more key goals, starting with Tuesday's trip to Crystal Palace. "That's my
first goal since coming back and it was obviously an important victory for
us," he told West Ham TV. "You always like to score important goals as well,
so I'm really happy about Saturday's game. "Once you get a goal you can get
into a rhythm and score some more. And hopefully they'll be important goals
as well, like Saturday's was. I just want to keep the momentum and keep on
doing the right things."

The 30-year-old joined the fray after 81 minutes on Saturday and was
wheeling away to celebrate little more than a minute later. Despite his
dramatic introduction, Cole is prepared to bide his time, insisting that
Modibo Maiga more than justified his selection against the Cottagers. He
continued: "I've done myself a favour on Saturday and hopefully I can get a
start soon. I just wait for the manager to make the decision and the way the
game went against Fulham, he made the right decision, because I thought
Modibo Maiga played brilliantly, holding up the ball and bringing others
into play. "The manager knows what he's doing. I can only put my case
forward by performances on the field. I can talk all I want, but I've got to
perform on the field and get the results to make an impact."

Next up for Croydon-born Cole is Tuesday's trip to Selhurst Park, to take on
a Palace side currently occupying bottom spot. Another six-pointer, says
Cole, and an opportunity to secure successive Premier League wins for the
first time since the Club's return to the top flight. "That's what we need,
two or three wins on the bounce," he added. "We saw these two games as six
pointers, definitely, and hopefully in the next one, against Crystal Palace,
we'll get our first back-to-back wins of the season. It's another big game
on Tuesday."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Big Sam on: Crystal Palace
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce has spoken to the media ahead of Tuesday's trip to Crystal
Palace
02.12.2013

Sam Allardyce has challenged his players to win back-to-back Barclays
Premier League games for the first time this season at Crystal Palace on
Tuesday.
West Ham United go to Selhurst Park having defeated Fulham 3-0 at the Boleyn
Ground on Saturday, while Palace go into Tony Pulis' first home game in
charge on the back of a 1-0 defeat at Norwich City. Big Sam has challenged
his players to take the Hammers further clear of the bottom three by scoring
successive league wins in south London.

Sam, reflecting on Saturday's win, how much of a relief was it?

SA: "I said after the game that it was always a great relief to win three
points and winning them in the style we did delighted everybody. We didn't
only win but we entertained and completely dominated the opposition in all
areas and all aspects of the game, which I was very pleased to see. "When
you see your goalkeeper come off the pitch with not one shot to save in the
entire 90 minutes, it always gives you a platform to go on and win a game of
football. "For us to have achieved more attempts on target than off target
shows that we have turned the corner in the accuracy of our shooting and
heading. Because of that, we won the game 3-0 and in actual fact could have
won it by a lot more."

You must have been delighted with the impact made by your three substitutes
Carlton Cole, Joe Cole and Ravel Morrison?

SA: "I'd have to say they are probably the best three subs I've ever put on
in terms of impact, together, in my career. I have put subs on in the past
who have had an impact in ones and twos, but never had such an impact as all
three of them. "Their impact was very important because even though we
should have been two or three-nil up when they arrived, they made us
comfortable and finished the job off as we deserved to do. "When the goals
come late in the day like they did, they send everybody home happy for a
good weekend."

Martin Jol has departed Fulham since Saturday's game. What is your reaction?

SA: "It's sacking season. It never changes this time of year, if you are not
doing particularly well. Somebody I know well at Wigan, Owen Coyle, has left
as well. It always happens around this time of year when people think 'Is it
time for a change?' because they haven't delivered what they are expected to
deliver. They make those decisions and we know those sorts of things happen.
"We're touching close to 20 changes already in all the professional leagues
this year. Generally around 50 per cent get changed each season and it's an
unfortunate industry to be in from that point of view. It's very volatile
and I feel for them.
"They will dust themselves down and get themselves up again and move on to
the next job if and when that arises, so I wish them well."

Therefore, how important was Saturday's result in lifting the pressure on
you?

SA: "There is still pressure on me because I put pressure on myself. It's
just a small contribution to help the situation we're in at the moment.
We've got to progress now. We can't sit back and not try to win at Crystal
Palace. If we can't win, we've certainly got to get a result. "They are
below us at this moment in time and Saturday will have been a waste if we
lose to Crystal Palace, because they'll gain three points on us. When we
come off, we have to make sure we haven't lost, so we'll have one more point
and they won't have gained any points on us and we'll move forward to
Liverpool from there. "If we can win, it makes a massive difference because
then we're a mid-table team and we're not in the bottom five or six in the
table. The distance between tenth and the bottom is not very big at the
moment, so to get a couple of wins back-to-back or a few results is very
important for us at this stage."

Will it be more difficult with the game being Tony Pulis' first home game as
Crystal Palace manager?

SA: "I think that every game at this level is tough. We will go to Crystal
Palace for another local derby and we experienced the atmosphere there when
we were in the Championship, when we got a well-deserved draw a couple of
weeks ago. "It'll be a full house and any newly-promoted team gets extra
drive from its fans in its first year back in the Premier League,
particularly as it's been a few years since they have been there. They have
the excitement of being in the top league in the world now. "I think Tony is
a very experienced manager and will try to organise his team to be difficult
to beat and to get a result if they can, which is what they tried to do at
Norwich. "We've got to be ready to match whatever they have got and to try
and better it. That's something we've got to try to handle and up until
Norwich away, if we play like we know we can away from home, we should be
there or thereabouts in terms of getting a result. Again, it will rely on
our finishing qualities as to whether we get anything out of the game or
not."

Do you have any team news to update ahead of Tuesday's game?

SA: "We have only a few niggles from Saturday's game. We don't consider they
will cause us any difficulties in terms of the selection process, but having
three games in a week, it may be about asking other squad players to step in
and do a job on Tuesday or on Saturday. "I have to do almost a
team-and-a-half's thinking. How well have the lads recovered from Saturday?
Will some of the squad lads do a better job on Tuesday because they are so
much fresher and ready to go? That's the debate we have to have as a staff
and see where we go from there. "I'll pick a team following those
discussions and see how we go from there."

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Dev Squad see off Robins
WHUFC.com
The Development Squad overcame Bristol City 2-1 to progress in the Premier
League Cup
02.12.2013

Goals from Elliot Lee and Danny Whitehead were enough to send the
Development Squad through to the last 16 of the Barclays Under-21 Premier
League Cup after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Bristol City. After a quiet
first half, Whitehead lit up the match as he burst through to score the
opening goal of the game after 65 minutes with a well-placed shot. Elliot
Lee doubled the lead nine minutes later, heading home a Matthias Fanimo
cross as the Hammers looked to be cruising through to the last 16. The
Robins had different ideas though and after Frazer Shaw bought down Wes
Burns, the striker picked himself up to score the spot-kick and set up a
nervy finale. West Ham had goalkeeper Sam Howes to thank in the final five
minutes as he twice denied Marley Bishop as they clung on for a cup victory.
The Hammers can now enjoy the prospect of a run in the inaugural year of
this competition but were made to work hard for it against the Robins. Nick
Haycock's team could have been ahead as early as the first minute when
Whitehead blazed a shot over the bar from inside the box. That would have
set the Hammers on their way in what turned out to be a physical first half
of few chances. The chances that were created fell the visitors' way as
Elliot Lee forced a fine save from Dave Richards after he worked a shooting
opportunity just outside the box after ten minutes. Lee came close again
midway through the half as he attempted an audacious volley from long-range
but saw his right-footed effort dip just over the bar. The home side rarely
threatened but were almost handed the lead when Howes mishandled a
regulation shot, but much to the keeper's relief saw it bounce up over the
crossbar.

Jordan Wynter and Pierce Mitchell both earned yellow cards after fouls on
Whitehead and Fanimo respectively as a quiet first period came to an end.
The match sprung into life after the break with the home side going on the
offensive. Mitch Brundle should have done better when he picked out Howes
from five yards after controlling nicely in the box. Next came a golden
opportunity for Kevin Krans who looked certain to score as the ball fell at
his feet six yards out after Brundle's knockdown, but the winger
inexplicably struck his effort high into the stands. He would be made to pay
for his miss as in the 65th minute Whitehead slotted home following a
lightning quick counter-attack. Just nine minutes later and West Ham looked
to be coasting as Fanimo's beautiful in-swinging cross located Lee at the
far post who had an easy task to nod home. No sooner had the visitors looked
to be running away with it than the home side hauled themselves back into
the match when Burns sent Howes the wrong way from the penalty spot after he
had been bought down by Shaw. Substitute Bishop had the chance to send the
game to extra-time when he was found unmarked in the penalty area but his
header was tame and Howes was able to hang on and secure the Hammers'
passage to the next round.

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McCallum back with a bang
WHUFC.com
Paul McCallum made a scoring return to Development Squad action against
Leicester City
30.11.2013

Paul McCallum returned to Development Squad action with a bang after he
netted in the side's 2-2 draw with Leicester City at Rush Green on Friday
night.
The frontman, who recently returned from a loan spell at Sky Bet League Two
side Torquay United, took just two minutes to make his mark as he bundled
the ball home to give the Hammers the lead. Elliot Lee doubled the advantage
when he stepped up to coolly convert a penalty kick on the stroke of
half-time as Nick Haycock's team looked comfortable at the break. The
visitors produced a strong comeback in the second half to deny the Hammers,
who stayed top of the Barclays Under-21 Premier League, and McCallum felt
his team had underperformed. He told West Ham TV: "I think it was a
disappointing performance on our behalf. We came out, we were sloppy and I
think we did well to hold out for a 2-2 draw. "It's always disappointing
when you don't win having been 2-0 up at half-time. We knew they were going
to bombard us, they had the wind behind them and that's exactly how it
turned out with them managing to get a draw."

McCallum returned to the Club recently following a successful loan spell
with Torquay, which saw him score three times in five league appearances for
the Gulls. The striker kept up his scoring form at Rush Green with his first
goal for the Development Squad this season, but he freely admits it wasn't
one of his finest "It wasn't one of my best goals, I don't really score good
goals and that was probably the worst goal I've ever scored. "I just swung
my leg at it and it's gone in but I'm happy. A goal's a goal and it's
another one on my record."

The big forward and his teammates have already turned their attentions to
Monday when they travel to Ashton Gate to play Bristol City in the Barclays
Under-21 Premier League Cup. The Hammers enter at the Round of 32 stage and
meet the Robins after they saw off Peterborough United to get this far.
McCallum found out who the Development Squad were playing whilst out on loan
and while stating he enjoyed his loan spell, he is looking forward to cup
action. He said: "It was a good place, Torquay, and I enjoyed my time there.
Obviously I was suffering a bit with back pains so I had to come back but
hopefully I can get myself right and then in January who knows where I'll
go. "I hate to admit it but I did miss a few of the lads. I was away at
Torquay when I found out about the fixture but I didn't think I'd be back
for it. "Now that I'm back, it's a big game that will help get us used to a
cup scenario but a game which we want to win."

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Crystal Palace v West Ham United
KO 20:00
2 December 2013
Last updated at 14:43
By Guy Mowbray

BBC Match of the Day commentator
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Selhurst Park Date: Tuesday, 3 December

New Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis must decide whether to make changes to
the side beaten 1-0 at Norwich for his first home game in charge. Marouane
Chamakh and Cameron Jerome were paired up front at Carrow Road and both may
be retained.

West Ham striker Carlton Cole is pushing for his first start of the season
after scoring at the weekend. Ravel Morrison is also in line for a recall,
but George McCartney has been left out of the squad.

MATCH PREVIEW

It hasn't taken long for Tony Pulis to decide he needs "to make one or two
changes" to his Crystal Palace squad in the upcoming transfer window. One
game watched from upstairs, and one from the touchline in tracksuit and cap
is all he has needed. "This is a big night for new Crystal Palace boss Tony
Pulis, and Selhurst Park will be revved up and will give him a big welcome
for his first home game in charge. He lost his match as Eagles manager at
Norwich on Saturday and, if he didn't already know beforehand, he will know
what he has got in his team and what is missing." More upheaval at Selhurst
Park is imminent then, despite the arrival of 14 entirely new players since
promotion was achieved via the play-offs. With a change of manager and
massive changes in playing personnel in such a short space of time, there
seems to me to be something of an echo of Queens Park Rangers' situation on
their way to relegation. That said, the win at Hull showed that all is far
from lost, and if Pulis can get a win in his first home game in charge -
against a team that falls firmly into the 'catchable' category - then there
could be the beginnings of a real change in momentum. That's exactly what
Sam Allardyce will be hoping Saturday's win against Fulham will mean for his
West Ham team. A first win in half a dozen games was achieved comfortably
against another struggling London rival, giving Allardyce just the perfect
start to a week he's labelled as "season-defining".
After his goal having come on as a substitute, I'll be interested to see if
Carlton Cole gets a start in this one. He's a great example of how things
can change for the better in a most unexpected way in football - released by
West Ham last summer, then re-signed due to Andy Carroll's ongoing injury
problems.
As the Hammers have struggled for goals, the former England striker has
almost become a better player in the fans eyes by NOT playing! Once a figure
of frustration to them, they were even singing his name on Saturday. His
short-term contract expires next month. A couple more goals before then
could see him stick around for a little while longer.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
Crystal Palace are unbeaten in their last four league matches with West Ham
at Selhurst Park but have only won two of 13 home meetings in total (W2, D6,
L5).
The last Premier League meeting ended 3-3 at Selhurst Park in May 1998, and
three of the last five league meetings between the sides have ended level.
Palace's 2-0 win at Upton Park in April 1992 was the last time the away team
triumphed in this fixture. There have been four home wins and four draws
since that game.
Crystal Palace
Palace have lost eight of their last 10 top-flight games.
However, they have earned four points from the last three matches - as many
as they managed in their first 10 fixtures.
They have the worst goalscoring record in the division, scoring only seven
times. The Eagles have failed to score in a league-high eight fixtures.
West Ham
The Hammers ended a five-match winless run by beating Fulham 3-0 at the
weekend. They started with a recognised striker in Modibo Maiga, having
opted for a strikerless 4-6-0 formation in recent weeks.
They are yet to earn a point after going behind this season.
Sam Allardyce's side have scored just three goals before half-time this
campaign.

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West Ham defender George McCartney is relieved to be back in action
Last Updated: December 2, 2013 4:57pm
SSN

West Ham defender George McCartney is relieved to be back in action
following his long-awaited return against Fulham on Saturday. The left-back
made his first Premier League start in more than a year as the Hammers beat
Fulham 3-0 at the Boleyn Ground. McCartney was initially sidelined as the
result of a knee problem and his absence was extended by a series of
strains. But the 32-year-old was delighted to come through the match with
Fulham unscathed, and now hopes he can cement his place in the team.
McCartney said: "It was a great feeling to see my name on the team sheet
again. It's been a long time and I've had some tough days with injury, but
thankfully I'm over it now and it was nice to get back out on the pitch. "To
win the game was the most important thing, but to last the 90 minutes was a
boost as well. It was good to be back out there. "To be honest, being out
for such a long time, you do have thoughts about whether you're ever going
to come back. "As you get older, you wonder if your body is up to coping
with the demands of Premier League football again. "I worked hard to get my
sharpness and match-fitness back and I've always had belief in my own
ability. "It was a long road back and I had one or two comebacks when little
niggles set me back again, but I've now had two or three really good weeks
of training, a couple of friendly matches and to play the full 90 minutes on
Saturday was great."

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West Ham manager Sam Allardyce says it's 'sacking season' after fellow
bosses axed
Last Updated: December 2, 2013 4:18pm
SSN

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce admits he has not been surprised by the amount
of managerial sackings in the past couple of weeks. The former Bolton and
Blackburn manager spoke out after Owen Coyle's dismissal at Wigan took the
number of coaches to lose their jobs since November 20 to eight. Brian Laws
was first to go at Scunthorpe and he was quickly followed by Portsmouth boss
Guy Whittingham, Richie Barker of Crawley and Bristol City's Sean
O'Driscoll.
And a trio of sackings over the weekend - Martin Jol (Fulham), David
Flitcroft (Barnsley) and Dave Jones (Sheffield Wednesday) - were joined this
morning by Coyle, who was shown the door after less than six months in the
job. And Allardyce believes there is no coincidence in the timing of the
dismissals as owners and chairman seek to breathe new life into their clubs'
ailing seasons. Speaking on Sky Sports News, he said: "It's sacking season
at the moment. "It never changes this time of year. If you're not doing so
well then there is always someone who will think it's time for a change.
"It's an unfortunate industry to be in from that point of view. It's very
ruthless and very volatile and obviously I feel for all of them. West Ham
manager Sam Allardyce says he 'admires' Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas
after he hit out at criticism of his management style. "But they will
probably brush themselves down, get themselves up again and try and move on
if and when the next job arrives, and I wish them well in that."

And Allardyce believes the pressure of the job was behind Spurs manager
Andre Villas-Boas' spat with two members of the press after his side's 2-2
draw with Manchester United on Sunday. The former Chelsea boss became
involved in a war of words with Daily Mail duo Neil Ashton and Martin Samuel
who he claimed 'insulted his integrity and professionalism'. "However
disappointed you may feel about what people say about you in media terms you
are still much better keeping your powder dry," said Allardyce. "I admire
him for having a go but I don't think it will do you any favours in the end.
"You have to admire him for sticking up for himself and in what he believes
in, and in all honesty, he's probably right, isn't he?"

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Sam Allardyce set to rotate his squad for West Ham's tie against Crystal
Palace
2 Dec 2013 16:21
The Mirror

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce will utilise the depth in his squad
for tomorrow night's Premier League clash against Crystal Palace. The trip
to Selhurst Park is the second of three matches in eight days for the
Hammers and comes on the back of an impressive 3-0 win over Fulham on
Saturday.
The much-needed win took West Ham three points away from the relegation zone
and they will hope for another win against the Eagles, ahead of a trip to
Anfield this weekend. Ravel Morrison and Joe and Carlton Cole came off the
bench to impress against the Cottagers, and could all start tomorrow night,
in what is Tony Pulis' first home game in charge of Palace. Razvan Rat,
Ricardo Vaz Te and Andy Carroll remain long term absentees.

Provisional squad : Jaaskelainen, Demel, Collins, Tomkins, O'Brien,
Collison, Noble, J Cole, Morrison, Downing, Nolan, Jarvis, Maiga, Adrian,
Taylor, Diame, C Cole, Chambers

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Victory over Crystal Palace is vital, says West Ham manager Sam Allardyce
2 Dec 2013 22:30
The Mirror

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce earned some breathing space thanks to Saturday's
3-0 home win over Fulham. But as he prepares his team for Tuesday's trip to
bottom-of-the-table Crystal Palace, he knows another win is vital. The
Hammers climbed to 15th in the table, three points above the drop zone,
after dispatching the Cottagers, but Allardyce stresses the victory means
nothing if they are unable to prevail at Selhurst Park. "The win is just a
small contribution to help the situation we're in, but we have to enlarge on
that," he said. "Saturday will have been a waste if we lose to Crystal
Palace because they're below us and will gain three points on us."

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