Adrian calls for final push
WHUFC.com
Goalkeeper Adrian wants to end his first season in England on a high
02.05.2014
As his first season in English football comes to a close, Adrian has cause
to look back on the year with fondness. The team may have found it tough to
hit form on a consistent basis, but the No13 has battled his way into Sam
Allardyce's eleven and stayed there with a string of strong performances.
Adrian played as the Hammers defeated Tottenham in the Capital One Cup and
now he wants another derby victory on Saturday. "I'm happy with how it's
gone," the 27-year-old explained. "I had a good season last year with Betis
and here game-by-game I've started to improve and help the team. "I knew I
wouldn't come here and walk into the team because there is a lot of
competition with the other players. "I managed to get a place in the
starting eleven and I gained confidence from the supporters, management,
staff and my teammates. "As a team we didn't start very well, but then we
got some wins and improved our position. It's true that we haven't been able
to get any points in the last few games, but it's been quite a steady season
and we have to finish strongly now."
Adrian may come up against a familiar face on Saturday in fellow Spaniard
Roberto Soldado, and despite his struggles at White Hart Lane, the Hammers
man is sure the striker will come good - but only after this weekend! He
added: "I played against Soldado back in Spain. He was was at Valencia when
I was playing for Betis, and I've always been lucky against him, even though
he's a great striker. "He's had a rough season but I'm sure he'll get over
it because he's a great professional."
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Important message from West Ham Utd
WHUFC.com
A message from the Club ahead of Saturday's game against Tottenham Hotspur
02.05.2014
West Ham United would like to thank all supporters who have purchased a
ticket for Saturday's crucial London derby with Tottenham Hotspur. The
Hammers have already enjoyed two memorable wins against Spurs this season,
with the resultant press coverage of each game rightly focusing on the
action on the pitch following two outstanding away performances. Saturday's
game is likely to be an immensely passionate affair and, as ever, we know
both sets of fans will be providing plenty of vocal support for their team.
However, West Ham United seeks to remind all home fans attending the match
at the Boleyn Ground that they will be acting as ambassadors for West Ham
United and their behaviour should reflect the values and standards of our
Club. We are proud to support causes that promote tolerance and inclusion
and tackle discrimination in whatever form it takes. Therefore, any
inappropriate behaviour is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated
by the Club. Working with the Metropolitan Police, the Club will continue to
adopt a zero tolerance policy towards any form of discriminatory behaviour
and any fan found to be acting inappropriately - including racist,
anti-Semitic and homophobic behaviour - will be punished to the full extent
of the law and banned from attending matches. In the rare case that you do
see or hear anything you think in unacceptable, there are a number of ways
you can report the matter. Two of the easiest ways are to speak to your
nearest steward or police officer at the stadium or use the Boleyn Ground's
anonymous fan phone number - 07860 404 069 - where all calls will be treated
in the strictest of confidence.
Everyone at West Ham United is looking forward to the final game of the
season at the Boleyn Ground, where the famous Claret and Blue Army can show
the world what being a Hammers fan is all about - supporting with pride,
passion and respect.
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U18s book Play-Off spot
WHUFC.com
The Academy sealed their place in the end of season Play-Offs with a 1-1
draw against Arsenal
02.05.2014
The Academy booked their place in the Barclays Under-18 Premier League
Play-Offs after a 1-1 draw against Arsenal on Friday afternoon. Former
Arsenal youth striker Jordan Brown earned the Hammers a sixth minute penalty
after being fouled by Stefan O'Connor, which was converted by captain Kieran
Bywater. The hosts were denied the full three points in the second half
however when Ainsley Maitland-Niles pounced onto a slip in the Hammers
defence to finish into the top corner. The Hammers needed a single point
going into this fixture to ensure that London rivals Fulham could not catch
them and U18 boss Steve Potts had an extended group of players to choose
from. Reece Burke returned to the centre of defence to partner Manny
Onariase, whilst Josh Cullen shrugged off a recent injury to take a place on
the bench. Ben Marlow's injury problems meant he had to sit out of another
fixture, whilst U16s defender Josh Pask took up a holding role in the middle
of the midfield. With the pressure on the Hammers to get a result, the hosts
couldn't have asked for a better start when Brown burst into the penalty
box, only to be dragged to the ground by O'Connor. It was down to Hammers
captain Kieran Bywater to step up and bury his 18th goal of the season. The
Hammers continued to dominate and should have been awarded another penalty
straight away when Brown again got goal side of O'Connor, forcing the
towering defender to apply heavy pressure on the Hammers forward, although
the referee did not agree.
Into the second half and the Hammers kept their foot on the accelerator as
they searched for a second goal, which they almost got when Brown again
found a route into the penalty box, although he slipped when trying to find
a team mate in the middle to finish. It was a fiery game that both sides
desperately wanted to win, which led to a heated moment between captain
Bywater and Arsenal skipper Glenn Kamara when the former reacted badly to a
needless challenge off the pitch, although both players shook hands after
receiving yellow cards. West Ham had a golden opportunity to wrap the game
up in the 71st minute when substitute Jaanai Gordon used his pace and power
to run through on goal, but Gunners keeper Josh Vickers pulled off a
brilliant save. Just a minute later and the visitors were level when a
crossfield ball towards Maitland-Niles caught the Hammers unaware and he
held his nerve to smash the ball into the top left hand corner of the net.
The goal gave Arsenal confidence as the Hammers started to tire, but the
hosts continued to push for a winner and almost got it when Gordon again
found a way through the Arsenal defence, although his shot only made it into
the side netting. Speaking after the game, U18 boss Steve Potts and
assistant manager Mark Phillips were both delighted to see the Hammers earn
their place in the Barclays U18 Premier League Play-Offs, where they will
travel to Manchester City. "We said before the game that if we got through
this game against Arsenal with a result then we would be there against
Manchester City next week, which will be a tough test for the lads," said
Potts. "That's what we want from the boys though, we want them to be tested
and come through games getting results. "Today was a hard test for us but I
said after the game that Arsenal today would be a good test for us ahead of
Manchester City next week," added Phillips." That will be another tough game
next week and if we play well enough and make the final, it will be a third
tough match that we will have to be up for."
The match details for the semi-final match against Manchester City are yet
to be confirmed, but will be announced on whufc.com in due course.
Should the Hammers make the final, they will be up against either Southern
group winners Tottenham Hotspur or Northern group runners-up Everton.
West Ham United U18: Howes, Knoyle, Burke, Onariase, Mavila, Pask, Nasha
(Cullen), Makasi, Bywater, J Brown (Amoo), Parfitt-Williams (Gordon).
Subs not used: T Brown, Martins, Pike.
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On this day - 3 May
WHUFC.com
Jack Collison comes to the fore with a crucial double in 2012's Play-Off
semi-final victory
04.05.2013
Classic match
Cardiff City 0-2 West Ham United
Championship Play-Off semi-final
3 May 2012
West Ham United took a giant stride back towards the top table of English
football with this Jack Collison-inspired 2-0 win at Cardiff City. Unbeaten
in six headed into the first leg, they were in front inside just nine
minutes courtesy of the Wales international. Ricardo Vaz Te chased a
seemingly lost cause and was suitably rewarded as his cross picked out
Collison, who headed home after his volley had been kept out by David
Marshall. It was that man Collison who doubled the Hammers' advantage four
minutes before the interval. Ben Turner was only able to clear a corner as
far as the Watford-born midfielder, who controlled on his chest before
blasting goalward. With Marshall already committed to his right, Collison's
strike took a wicked deflection off Liam Lawrence before nestling in the
opposite corner. Though Cardiff rallied after the break, Kenny Miller was
unable to convert a series of half chances, as the Hammers took a commanding
lead back to the Boleyn Ground. In the end it proved plenty, with a 3-0 win
in the second leg propelling Sam Allardyce's men to an ultimately triumphant
Wembley date.
Complete record - 3 May
2012 Cardiff City 0-2 West Ham United (Championship Play-Off semi-final)
2008 Manchester United 4-1 West Ham United (Premier League)
2003 West Ham United 1-0 Chelsea (Premier League)
1997 West Ham United 5-1 Sheffield Wednesday (Premier League)
1995 West Ham United 0-0 Queens Park Rangers (Premier League)
1994 Queens Park Rangers 0-0 West Ham United (Premier League)
1989 Newcastle United 1-2 West Ham United (Division One)
1986 West Bromwich Albion 2-3 West Ham United (Division One)
1983 Ipswich Town 1-2 West Ham United (Division One)
1980 Bristol Rovers 0-2 West Ham United (Division Two)
1947 West Ham United 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday (Division Two)
1930 Newcastle United 1-0 West Ham United (Division One)
1924 Manchester City 2-1 West Ham United (Division One)
Played 13, Won 8, Drawn 2, Lost 3, Scored 21, Conceded 13
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Tonks targets Spurs hat-trick
WHUFC.com
James Tomkins knows how important Saturday's game is to West Ham United
supporters
02.05.2014
James Tomkins knows how important Saturday's game with Tottenham Hotspur is
to West Ham United supporters. The Hammers welcome Spurs knowing victory
would complete a single-season hat-trick of victories over their north
London rivals for the first time in the Club's history. Tomkins, who played
in the 3-0 Barclays Premier League success at White Hart Lane in October, is
relishing the opportunity to end the 2013/14 campaign on a high at the
Boleyn Ground - putting smiles on the faces of fans in the process. "It's a
big game for all of us, really," said the No5. "We need to win to get
ourselves out of trouble and, with it being Tottenham, we know what it means
to the fans and everyone. It's a massive game. "The game in October is one I
certainly won't forget. We set up well and kept them quiet in the first
half, which is always important, and we got our goals. To win there 3-0 in
front of the thousands of our fans who turned up on the day, and the
celebrations after, were really good. It was an important win with the
situation we were in, as well."
While Tomkins and Winston Reid had to shackle Jermain Defoe, the diminutive
striker has now departed for the MLS, with the larger and more physical
Emmanuel Adebayor and Harry Kane now leading the line for Spurs. With a new
manager also in the dugout in Tim Sherwood, Tomkins knows Tottenham will
present a different proposition this time around - one Sam Allardyce will
ensure the Hammers are ready for. "They will both pose a big threat and we
know about the qualities they have got, but we're not going to worry too
much about them. "The young lad Kane has obviously come in and done well and
Adebayor is an experienced player, so we'll have to play well to keep them
quiet. Hopefully we can get a win in front of a good crowd. "The Gaffer's
attention to detail has always been good and he always makes sure we're on
it leading up to games. There will be no change here and we'll be aware of
what they do well and where we can pose a threat to them. "We'll be
well-prepared going in and we know we need to win because we haven't won
many games lately."
Basildon-born Tomkins has been with West Ham since the age of seven and
knows just how passionate the Club's supporters are. With that in mind, the
25-year-old is determined to give them all a performance and result to be
proud of on Saturday. "I know what the fans here demand because it's a big
Club and we all expect more of ourselves. This season, we expected more than
we have produced on the pitch. When you go four games without winning, fans
are going to be annoyed, like we all are. "As players and staff, we want to
win games, so we understand that it hasn't been good for us of late. We want
to turn that around and there is no better team to do that against than
Spurs. "It's important that the fans can see what position we were in before
Christmas, when we were near rock-bottom, and we got out of it with a great
run of games and four or five wins. "It's important that everyone gets
behind us and shows their support because we're playing Spurs and it's a big
game."
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Chadwell Chatter
WHUFC.com
Winston Reid blogs for whufc.com on success against Tottenham this season
and a return to home shores
01.05.2014
Hello everyone,
We've got Tottenham on Saturday and we'd all love to end at home with our
third win over them of the season. It's a local derby and I'm sure the fans
will be up for it. We have to go out and make things right after we lost our
last couple of home games, so we'll be looking to improve on that. I've
scored a couple of goals against the Club's close rivals. Maybe that's more
coincidence than skill, but I've been fortunate enough to score a couple of
goals in derbies, so hopefully I can get another on Saturday. The two wins
over them have been two of the highlights of the season. We know it'll be
another tough game on Saturday, but we'll relish the challenge.
Adebayor is doing well since he's come into the side under the new manager
and he's a very good player so that will be an interesting battle. We'll
expect him to be on his game and we'll have to be at our best to stop him,
We haven't been winning lately, but but we've got two games left and we'll
do our best to pick up as many points as possible. Personally, I thought I
started off the year well to continue where I left off. I then got injured
and missed the majority of the season. It takes a bit of time to come back
from those sort of things, and hopefully next year I'll be improved and
raring to go again. We've also announced that we'll be off to my home
country in pre-season and the plane will be a little more crowded that it
usually is! First and foremost it'll be good for the public down there to
see a couple of good quality teams
It'll be good for the team as well to get out of the normal environment. The
lads will see a country that maybe they'd never have gone to. It's a long
way on the plane, but I'm sue the players will enjoy themselves when they
get there. It's a sporting nation - they love their sport down there - and
I'm sure we'll get a good crowd. Hopefully we'll put on a show, and we know
we'll be working hard down there to get fit for the new season. If you're
travelling that far you'll see some different things. The nature is very
nice and there are a lot of outdoor activities. The public are very
friendly, so if you're going out there, bring a smile I guess!
Come on you Irons
Reidy
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Allardyce: fans' support is vital
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 2nd May 2014
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce admits that West Ham have underperformed this season - but is
determined to right the wrongs of the 2013/14 campaign next year.
Speaking to the Evening Standard, Allardyce revealed that he had some
sympathy for those disappointed by the quality of football this season - but
that he hopes to get the fans back onside with the kind of football that
resulted in a play-off final in 2011/12 and a top half Premier League finish
last season.
"I saw the banner at West Brom last weekend and I understand the fans'
frustrations," he said. "My first responsibility has to be to the people who
employ me but I also have a commitment to the supporters of West Ham United.
"I don't take on the fans; there is no future in picking an argument with
them. I understand their frustration, I really do. There is no hiding the
fact that we expected to do better this season.
"But it's not what some of them say about me which really matters - it's
that it can affect the players. If we're not doing as well as they would
like - and we're not at the moment - their response can help turn that
around, or it can make it worse.
"I know how difficult it is because they want to come to the Boleyn Ground,
see their team do well and be excited by the football. This season we
haven't done that enough and when that happens you can't expect your fans
just to go home satisfied."
Tomorrow afternoon West Ham take on Tottenham in their final home league
game of the season. "It would be absolutely fantastic to beat them at home,
having beaten them in the Capital One Cup and in the league," mused
Allardyce in his pre-match press conference.
However the 59-year-old is already looking beyond this season to a busy
summer of activity and recruitment as he enters the final year of his latest
contract, which he signed last May having steered the Hammers to a tenth
place finish in the club's first season back in the Premier League.
"You've got to remember that we're all in this together," he said. "I
wouldn't see it any other way, until either David Sullivan, David Gold or
Karren Brady ring me and tell me otherwise. We're trying to progress the
football club so I'm delivering what the owners want - and at the moment
we've nearly got what we want.
"We're very, very close to being in the Premier League for a third season
and trying to become a club that has the capability of sustaining its
Premier League status, growing slowly but surely and making sure it stays in
the Premier League for a long period of time."
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West Ham's Sam Allardyce says Tottenham counterpart Tim Sherwood has proved
himself
Last Updated: 02/05/14 2:51pm
SSN
Sam Allardyce says Tim Sherwood has proved he can handle managing a big club
but admitted no one could be sure of their positions in the high-pressure
environment of the Premier League. Sherwood takes his Tottenham side to face
Allardyce's West Ham at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday looking to avoid a
third defeat of the season at the hands of the Hammers. The 45-year-old
replaced Andre Villas-Boas at White Hart Lane in December but has constantly
had his position undermined as other names are linked with the job.
Allardyce has also come under pressure recently as a number of West Ham fans
have started calling for his head after a run of four straight defeats. "In
our field you never know what's going to happen," he said. "You're never
comfortable, wherever you are, and in Tim's position I think he's proven
that he can handle the job and he's proven that he's learned as he's gone
on. You're bound to slip up when you're doing it for the first time, I still
slip up after 20-odd years. We all make mistakes, but you learn from them
and I think he's learned very quickly. "I think Tottenham have done very,
very well under him and what they decide at the end of the day is up to the
owners and board at Tottenham."
Having already beaten Spurs twice at White Hart Lane this season, once in
the league and then in a Capital One Cup quarter-final, West Ham defender
Winston Reid is keen to complete a memorable hat-trick against their local
rivals. "We've got Tottenham on Saturday and we'd all love to end at home
with our third win over them of the season," he told the club's official
website. "It's a local derby and I'm sure the fans will be up for it. We
have to go out and make things right after we lost our last couple of home
games, so we'll be looking to improve on that. "The two wins over them have
been two of the highlights of the season. We know it'll be another tough
game on Saturday, but we'll relish the challenge. "We haven't been winning
lately, but but we've got two games left and we'll do our best to pick up as
many points as possible."
Allardyce is aware of the threat that will be posed by sixth-placed
Tottenham but is hopeful his side can pick up a result and begin to turn the
tide of fan discomfort. "They come and play and try and open up because of
the quality of players that they have," he said. "They will think their
eleven is better than yours, but on the day if your players hit top form
we're more than capable of beating them. "We have to be very wary of what
their strengths are and make sure their strengths are nullified. Then we
have to make sure we use our strengths to try and break their defensive unit
down and take our chances when we get them."
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West Ham under pressure as Tottenham visit Upton Park
Last Updated: 02/05/14 10:52am
SSN
West Ham United will be looking to end any lingering fears about relegation
when they welcome London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to Upton Park for their
final home game of the season. The Hammers currently occupy 14th place and,
with a five-point cushion over the bottom three, safety is nearly assured
already.
If Norwich City and Fuham fail to win this weekend, they will definitely
stay up regardless of what happens against Spurs, but West Ham will be
desperate to get the job done without help from elsewhere and avoid a nervy
trip to title contenders Manchester City on the final day. Sam Allardyce
will also hope that a good performance at home will earn a positive
reception from fans, having admitted it is frustrating to be criticised when
he is setting the team up to get the best result possible. Negative tactics
have been cited as the primary reason for supporters' unrest and a four-game
losing run has added to the pressure on Allardyce, but the Hammers will take
confidence from the fact they have beaten Spurs twice already this season.
Having been defeated at White Hart Lane in both the Premier League and
Capital One Cup, Tottenham will hope to gain some revenge and stay on course
for European qualification. Arsenal's victory over Newcastle United
extinguished Spurs' faint chances of finishing in the top four but they are
just three points behind fifth-placed Everton and six clear of Manchester
United in seventh, albeit having played a game more than United. Tim
Sherwood is another manager whose position continues to come under scrutiny
and he has admitted to being annoyed by the speculation, following fresh
reports this week that Frank de Boer has been contacted about taking charge
in the summer. Spurs are in decent form, though, having won 1-0 at Stoke
City last weekend to extend their unbeaten run to four matches, and will be
aiming to finish the season with a flourish.
Paul Merson's prediction
Big Sam seems to be under pressure at West Ham. The crowd have been on his
back and had the banners out the other day, so this is a big game for him.
Tim Sherwood, who hasn't done anything wrong in his time in charge of
Tottenham, will also want to win and I think he's been a bit unlucky. I'm
going to go for a 1-1 draw, which won't exactly send the West Ham fans home
happy, but it's better than losing to a team they don't like.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1
West Ham
Last 6
West Brom (a)1-0
C Palace (h)0-1
Arsenal (a)3-1
Liverpool (h)1-2
Sunderland (a)1-2
2-1
Marco Borriello is the only absentee for West Ham as they lock horns with
Tottenham. The on-loan striker is struggling with a calf injury which has
limited the 31-year-old to just two appearances for the Hammers since he
joined in January. With the rest of his squad fit and in contention,
Allardyce will be tasked with picking the right team to end a run of four
straight defeats.
Tottenham
Last 6
Stoke City (a)0-1
3-1
West Brom (a)3-3
Sunderland (h)5-1
Liverpool (a)4-0
Southampton (h)3-2
Andros Townsend is out for Tottenham after suffering an ankle injury against
Stoke which means that he will miss the World Cup. Kyle Walker (pelvis) also
remains sidelined, along with fellow long-term absentee Erik Lamela (back),
who has not played in 2014. Mousa Dembele, Jan Vertonghen and Etienne Capoue
will be assessed ahead of kick-off following recent lay-offs, while Sandro
will also hope to feature after returning to the substitutes' bench last
week.
Opta stats
Andy Carroll has scored in both previous meetings with Tottenham as a West
Ham player, but has ended up on the losing side both times.
Roberto Soldado has not scored a Premier League away goal since October 20.
If West Ham lose this match it will be the first time since May 2011 that
they've lost five top-flight games in a row.
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IS SAM ALLARDYCE MISUNDERSTOOD?
By Sean Whetstone 2 May 2014 at 17:20
West Ham Till I Die
There are some who claim Sam Allardyce should be cherished as one of the
most progressive, inspirational figures that English football has ever
produced. Instead, he is seen as a Luddite, a dinosaur, an embodiment of
everything that is wrong with the game these shores. He is nothing more than
a self-promoting reactionary. He is an unpleasant reminder of a
less-aesthetic age.
But there is more to Allardyce than he is given credit for, that much is
certain. He is not the one-dimensional anachronism he is often cast as.
Indeed, though he does his best to hide it, it is possible to describe
Allardyce as one of the most fascinating dichotomies in football.
He was one of the first to see that football's truth might be held in its
numbers. He assembled an army of analysts and technologists and whiz-kids to
help him establish what they might say. That was more than a decade ago. Now
every club has its own division, wielding statistics as weapons, each
seeking an advantage in the arms race.
He was an early adopter of conditioning and diet and nutrition, a pioneering
advocate of sports science and psychology. He bestowed upon English football
the chance to see some of the game's great mavericks, coaxing order and
orthodoxy from the wild men and the bad boys, and dredging the dried-out
husks of the old for the last few vestiges of youthful exuberance.
He is the man, after all, who found a way to incorporate and indulge the
likes of Jay-Jay Okocha and Youri Djorkaeff at Bolton, and yet managed to
render all of that good work irrelevant by simultaneously shoe-horning them
into a quite devastatingly unattractive long-ball side.
If it hadn't been Allardyce, or if he had been French, you would have been
half-tempted to think it was some sort of existential opus, a monument to
irony or clever subversion of the idea of beauty. But he is Allardyce, and
he is about as un-French as it is possible to be, so all you could do was
assume that he had decided Okocha might be good for winning second balls.
That is the primary reason Allardyce has been so scorned, of course: because
the upshot of all of his innovation, all of his originality, seems to be to
how best to launch long balls at a striker.
He is an intelligent, pioneering presence right up to the moment when his
teams take to the pitch, like a doctor who has spent two decades with the
most modern equipment available and then prescribes leeches to his patients,
or an army investing a fortune into weapons technology but going into battle
armed with massive clubs.
There are other causes for his, well, unpopularity. His demeanour — best
described as "recently neutered bulldog" — counts against him, as does his
over-eagerness to blame everything that goes against his sides on some sort
of cosmic conspiracy of referees.
Most damaging of all, of course, is his rampant self-promotion. His
declaration that he should be managing Real Madrid or Barcelona is the best
example, but do not forget his sincerely held belief that if he was called
Allardici, he would be worshipped in all four corners of the globe.
That, Sam, is called hubris; it means you will forever find your
shortcomings highlighted far more readily than your successes.
Allardyce, with his characteristic lack of self-awareness, will no doubt
mention this at some point. He will ask for praise, rather than waiting to
be given it. That is part of the problem, too, but it is not the primary
reason.
That is something far more subtle. Allardyce is frowned upon because is us.
He is English. He is English football's core values made flesh. He is
everything we are and because of that he is everything we hate. Forget the
numbers and the identities of the players and the pioneering off-pitch
approach. On the pitch, he reminds us not just of what we once were, but of
what we will always be.
Jose Mourinho — another manager not exactly afraid of a direct pass said "If
you try to play like another team, you are very stupid. You will only ever
be a pale imitation of your inspiration if you are not true to yourself "
Allardyce is pathologically true to what he is, to what we are. He makes no
attempt to be anything other than himself. There is no pretension, no talk
of philosophy, no high-faluting values. He is long balls and fight and
passion and hard-running. He is industry in a world of art and
intellectualism.
And because of that, he is something of a throwback. He is us, reflected
back on ourselves. He is a pioneer and an innovator and an imagineer, but
none of that matters, because he is also everything we do not want to be.
*This is an abridged version of an article which appeared an EPSN blog by
Rory Smith last year
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MAJORITY OR MINORITY? - REGARDLESS, FOREWARNED IS FOREARMED!
By S J Chandos 2 May 2014 at 08:30
West Ham Till I Die
Sam Allardyce has been quoted, in today's Daily Star, as continuing to
assert that only a minority of West Ham fans want him replaced. This is in
the face of a unpreccedented recent poll of over 12,000 fans, which
indicated that just under 78% of those surveyed felt that it was time for
change! Mr Allardyce has been quoted as stating that:
"Majority? Minority. Let me put it right – a minority. Because the majority
who are satisfied do not ring up, write in or come on the radio. They go
home and they wait and hopefully next week they find it better. You do
change the perception (of people) by winning football matches – no problem".
"That's what makes everything rosey and everyone happy. If you can't win
then don't lose. We can play extremely well at West Ham and if you get a
draw, especially against a team at the top end, then everyone is satisfied.
If you don't play so well against a team you're expected to beat then they
show their dissatisfaction – that's no different to any football club in the
country."
Belief in playing philosophy/traditions can almost be a material force
amongst supporters. Generations of West Ham fans have been taught key
principles and been entertained by a certain brand of football. The 'West
Ham Way' is built in to the collective consciousness and belief systems of
the club's supporters. For a newly appointed manager to come out and dismiss
that legacy is to create an instant schism with the fans and, unfortunately,
that is what occurred in the summer of 2011. That division was created, but
was largely suppressed during the promotion campaign of 2011-12 and the
initial return to the PL in 2012-13. There was some evidence that
Allardyce's West Ham could mix it up and entertain in both of those seasons.
But fan dissatisfaction remained, brewing away under the surface. It was the
largely poor football in the current season that has brought it to the fore
and gave it a new impetus/expression. Was it inevitable? Probably, but maybe
not if past lessons had been learnt and new approaches adopted. For me, an
ability to develop a new approach and confound the 'long ball merchant'
label, was always a pre-requisite of Mr Allardyce's longer term managerial
tenure at the club.
Mr Allardyce is correct on one indisputable level, football is a results
driven business. If you lose too many football matches then you struggle and
will be relegated. No Hammers fan is happy with that situation. However,
that is not the whole story. Down Upton Park way, it is not just about
winning, but also the quality and entertainment value of the performance.
Yes, the away draw with Chelsea was warmly appreciated by the fans. But that
is linked to the romanticism that has always been another enduring aspect of
the club's traditions. Usually expressed as pride at facing large odds and
overturning them, with a whole hearted and committed performance. That is
why brave and committed player performances are valued almost as highly as
skill and attacking innovation by the club's fans.The Chelsea result fell in
to that former category.
In comparison, it was also interesting to observe the fan discontent after
the Hull City victory and the sense of greater satissfaction after the
Liverpool defeat. Walking away from the ground after the match, it was
interesting to hear groups of Hammers fans openly expressing the view that –
at one important level – they gained greater enjoyment at the nature of the
West Ham performance, in the defeat to Liverpool, than the dour victory over
Hull City. Not all fans and clubs are the same. And arguably, the mistake
(in the above quotation) is to assume that universal principles apply; while
the factors of long established pride in club traditions/playing style are
apparently deemed irrelevant. Winning may be the ultimate 'bottom line' in
football, especially in the PL era, but there are still other crucial
factors at play.
Of course, the problem with a narrow 'results are everything' and 'ends
justify the means' position is that those principles will ultimately become
the success criteria by which you are assessed. Playing to win and saying
that you set up to achieve that one objective, divorced from other pertinent
factors (in what is after all still an entertainment industry), means that
you can fend off critics as long as you succeed by your own standards. But
what happens if you lose 7 out of the the last 9 matches? You then fail by
your own standards. That conclusion is unavoidable. A case of being hoisted
by your own petard I think. And, ultimately, it leaves you wide open to the
ultimate attack by your critics..
Regardless, a very significant percentage of fans have made their position
clear. And many have already stated that they will not renew their season
tickets unless they get greater entertainment for their hard earned money.
Whether they 'vote with their feet,' in the absence of change, remains to be
seen. But ultimately the managerial position will be addressed at the end of
the season, with the board's end of season review. And presumably a position
will be taken, one way or another, before the 2 June 2014 renewal deadline.
In the meantime, we need to beat Spurs at home to absolutely guarantee PL
safety and establish a unique triple victory over our north London rivals.
That should be enough to secure unity amongst club and supporters, at least
at kick off. But woe betide if the result goes the wrong way and there is
any element of relegation danger (no matter how remote) going in to the Man
City away match.
We should be safe this season, but that is just as much a product of the
limitations of other clubs as our own performance levels. There was always
the guarantee that there were three or more clubs poorer than us this
campaign, which would contrive to underwrite our safety. Next season that
may not necessarily be the case! Forewarned is forearmed as they say!
SJ. Chandos.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Andy Carroll backs Sam Allardyce to bring European football to West Ham
despite supporter discontent
May 02, 2014 22:30 By Marc Isaacs
The Mirror
Andy Carroll wants the West Ham board to stick with Sam Allardyce because he
can deliver European football to the club when they move into the Olympic
Stadium. Allardyce is under intense pressure following a run of four
defeats, which has seen sections of the West Ham support calling for him to
be sacked.
Fans unfurled a banner at West Brom last week that read "Fat Sam Out -
Killing WHU" and would like a new boss brought in this summer. Carroll is
well aware of the unrest, but the club's £15million record signing is
adamant that Allardyce can take the club on to the next level when they move
into their new home in two years. The striker said: "There is no better man
for the job. I don't know any other manager who could come in and do the job
he has done here. "What he has done for West Ham has been great. You also
see his record at Bolton, Newcastle and Blackburn and he is a great manager.
That is why he has got the record he has. "He has faced pressure at other
clubs and he has been fine with it. He is a great person as well as a
manager. That is why we have such a good attitude around the camp. Sam will
push the players on and, moving into the new stadium, there is no doubt
European football is a possibility. "I think West Ham will become a massive
club – even bigger than it is now. We are moving into a great stadium and it
is going to be even better once it is developed. I don't see why we cannot
push for Europe." Carroll is angry when people talk about Allardyce being a
long-ball coach and feels it is unfair on his team as well. He added: "When
we need to play that way, we use it. But a number of teams play that way. We
watched the Chelsea game and they played long balls. Arsenal have done the
same, but they don't get tarnished with it. It's unfair on Sam." Carroll is
hoping to finish the season with a bang and prove to England manager Roy
Hodgson that he should be on the plane for Brazil in June . The 25-year-old
missed the first half of the season with a heel injury, but he has now made
a full recovery and hopes to earn a call-up. He said: "Playing at the World
Cup in Brazil is possibly the best thing you can do as a footballer and it
will be a shame if I miss out. "But I have done everything that I can. I
have been injured and I have worked hard to get back. Fingers crossed, I can
get into the squad." Carroll wants to put a smile back on the faces of the
West Ham fans when they face arch-rivals Tottenham at Upton Park. Having
beaten Spurs twice this season, Carroll knows what it would mean if they
could make it a hat-trick and take the pressure off their boss. "It will be
like a cup final. Hopefully, the fans will be behind us," he added.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham goalkeeper Adrian says beers are on him if losing streak ends
against Spurs
By CRAIG HOPE
PUBLISHED: 07:52, 3 May 2014 | UPDATED: 07:52, 3 May 2014
Daily Mail
Adrian San Miguel del Castillo says the drinks are on him if West Ham break
their four-match losing streak with victory against Spurs. And there are no
prizes for guessing the taste of the tipple which he'll be serving up. In
fact, the Spanish goalkeeper believes he may even be a descendent of the San
Miguel family who first brewed the nation's flagship beer. 'Some people in
my family might have owned San Miguel in the old days,' he laughs.
'Obviously, the players make jokes about it. But I promise that if we beat
Spurs then I will buy a round of San Miguel for the lads!' Amid the gloom of
a season which had seen the Hammers dice dangerously with relegation until a
late-winter revival, Adrian has been a welcome ray of light. The 27-year-old
– a free-transfer signing from Betis last summer - did not win a regular
starting jersey until Christmas but has remained between the posts since,
even emerging as a contender for Player of the Season. And he added: 'Of
course I am very pleased with my season (on a personal note). 'I came here
after I had a very good season with Betis in Spain but have improved and
helped the team and that is what I am here for. 'I knew it was going to be
difficult and I wasn't going to walk straight into the team, there is a lot
of competition and great players in the squad. 'I managed to get a place in
the starting XI and now I have got the confidence from all the supporters,
the management, staff and my team-mates which, for a goalkeeper, is
massive.' While Adrian has every confidence in his ability on the pitch –
and that has certainly showed – he is not so assured when it comes to his
English off it and uses an interpreter for interviews. Breaking from
Spanish, however, he reveals that phrases such as 'well done' and 'good
decision' have been learned in a bid to encourage the defenders in front of
him. The likes of Winston Reid and James Tomkins, then, are safe from an
ear-bashing, at least for now. 'My English is going well and I get help from
the club,' he explains. 'I always try in short interviews to manage myself
(to speak English). But if it is more extensive and I need more vocabulary
then I'm not quite confident. I will get there though.'
If Adrian is getting the beers in come Saturday afternoon then the language
barrier certainly won't be an issue.
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Saturday, May 3
Friday, May 2
Daily WHUFC News - 2nd May 2014
Big Sam on: Tottenham Hotspur
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce has spoken to the press ahead of Saturday's game against
Tottenham Hotspur
01.05.2014
West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has spoken to the media ahead of
Saturday's game against Tottenham Hotspur. Big Sam is eyeing a third victory
of the season over the north Londoners, and he fielded questions on his
team's form, supporter opinion and Saturday's game itself.
Sam, what do you make of the criticism the team has faced after recent
results?
SA: "We haven't kept ourselves up again just yet. Just to get a result in
our last home game is very important to us all. We want to finish the season
without leaving a dampener on it because of our recent results. I said after
the game at West Brom that nobody wants to be criticised, but the game is
the game, and it is what it is at the moment. Hostility in terms of
disapproval of what you're doing or not doing is part of the job. All
together, everybody keeps telling me about how we need to play and what
performances we need to give, but in our last four games all of our
performances have been very good. But without a result, then comes
criticism, so the perception of how you play the game or how you should play
the game comes down to only one thing, and that's results, not what you've
done for the 90 minutes.
"It's about have you won at the end of it. We've lost all of our last four,
but the performances have been as good as the opposition, and in lots of
cases better. I can't remember us playing as well as we did against
Liverpool this season, but we lost to two penalties and it's a defeat,
rather than getting something out of the game against one of the favourites
to win the league.
"Against Arsenal the overall performance was there, then Crystal Palace and
West Brom, everyone talks about possession and we out-possessed both Crystal
Palace and West Brom, but because we haven't won everyone perceives that
they were poor performances. I know what is right, and I know it's a
results-driven business. We're not getting results and without results you
get criticised, and we all accept that."
Does the criticism bother you?
SA: "Since the end of the transfer window, we're in the top half of the
table for points gained, we're 14th in the league, six teams are below us
who'd like to be where we are, and that's the reality. Disappointment is
always expressed in many different ways and the only way to stop the
disappointment is to go and win a football match.
"Of course it bothers you, but you don't let it affect your clear thinking.
You concentrate on the players and make sure they continue to strive to get
better and better."
You obviously want to continue the job you've started here...
SA: "I wouldn't see it any other way, until either David Sullivan, David
Gold or Karren Brady ring me and tell me otherwise. You've got to remember
that we're all in this together and that's why we are where we are. We're
trying to progress the football club, so I'm delivering what the owners
want, and at the moment we've got what we want - not as much as we wanted,
but we've got what we want nearly. We're very, very close to being in the
Premier League for a third season and trying to make the Club better and
stabilising its position, particularly going forward to become a club that
has the capability of sustaining it's Premier League status, growing slowly
but surely and making sure it stays in the Premier League for a long period
of time."
Can you talk a bit about the job Tim Sherwood has done at Tottenham?
SA: "Like I said in our field you never know what's going to happen. You're
never comfortable, wherever you are, and in Tim's position I think he's
proven that he can handle the job and he's proven that he's learned as he's
gone on. You're bound to slip up when you're doing it for the first time, I
still slip up after 20-odd years. We all make mistakes, but you learn from
them and I think he's learned very quickly. I think Tottenham have done
very, very well under him and what they decide at the end of the day is up
to the owners and board at Tottenham."
Two of your best results this season have come against Tottenham Hotspur...
SA: "Yes, and it would be absolutely fantastic to beat them at home, having
beaten them in the Capital One Cup and in the league. At this moment in
time, our concerns are, one, we were one of the best clean sheets in the
league eight or nine games ago and we haven't kept one since then. That's
been our demise that has caused us a few problems. Two, and it's been the
case all season, that the chances created have always been there, but our
conversion rate when you look at the stats hasn't been good enough.
"If we are to beat Tottenham it's no good to continue to play well if we
carry on making basic errors. West Brom's goal was down to our poor
defending, not their ability and we have to eradicate that. We have to put
the ball in the net when the chances come because otherwise the pressure
heaps on you more than it should."
You talk about teams who allow you to play an expansive game and Tottenham
are one of them aren't they?
SA: "They come and play and try and open up because of the quality of
players that they have. They will think their eleven is better than yours,
but on the day if your players hit top form we're more than capable of
beating them. We have to be very wary of what their strengths are and make
sure their strengths are nullified. Then we have to make sure we use our
strengths to try and break their defensive unit down and take our chances
when we get them."
What's your team news for Saturday, Sam?
SA: "We've got a virtually fully-fit squad. Only Marco Borriello is still
injured and the rest of the team are available, which gives me a selection
process which is for me to decide which is the best eleven to go out and try
and win our last home game. Winning the last home game [is important]
because you want to send everyone home happy."
You have four or five players out of contract at the moment, what's the
situation with them?
SA: "None of the players are going to be decided on individually, we will
decide at the same time. If we secure a point or more on Saturday, then we
can start that process. If we know we're safe, we'll move in that area as
quickly as we possibly can."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Carr backs U18s for strong finish
WHUFC.com
Academy Director Tony Carr MBE says the Hammers U18s can seal their play-off
spot
01.05.2014
The West Ham United Academy side head into their final game of the regular
Barclays U18 Premier League season on Friday knowing a point will be enough
to guarantee their presence in the Play-Offs. West Ham currently sit second
in the table and a draw against Arsenal would mean third-place Fulham no
longer have a chance of catching the Hammers, thus earning Steve Potts' men
a crack at Manchester City in the semi-finals of the four-team shootout.
Academy Director Tony Carr MBE believes a top-two finish would be a just
reward for his charges, who have recovered from a recent blip to register
four points from their last two games. With the Development Squad's season
now over, the U18s should be able to call upon more of their second year
scholars and Carr says the team's winning mentality can see them through. He
said: "In some respects we've capitalised on the success of Fulham, because
we were on a great run after Christmas, six or seven wins on the trot and we
were bound for the play-offs. "Then some of our players got promoted to the
U21s and weakened our team, which is the natural thing to do at this time of
year, so result-wise we suffered even though performances were still good.
"Fulham have now had to do that because of their run to the FA Youth Cup
final and we've capitalised on their slip-up in results. "When you get to
U18 level, winning is an important part of their development. It's not win
at all costs at that level, but you have to create a winning mentality. Now
we're at the business end of the season as the old cliche goes, and we need
a point on Friday and we'll be in the play-offs against Manchester City."
The last couple of weeks have proven difficult for the Academy, with Dylan
Tombides' passing affecting the players and staff deeply. Carr had high
praise for Dylan's ability, saying it was cruel that such a talent had been
taken too early. He added: "We all believed that Dylan had all the
credentials to go on and do good things for us. The year he was named Young
Hammer of the Year, he went off to the U17 World Cup with Australia. Little
did we know that was going to be the beginning of his illness and
unfortunately his untimely death three years later. "It's a lesson to every
young player and young person really to live life to the full, give your
maximum every day, because you just don't know what's round the corner for
any of us."
Kick-off at Little Heath on Friday is at 1pm, with admission and parking
both free of charge
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce determined to carry on
BBC.co.uk
West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce says he is determined to carry on at
Upton Park despite unrest among fans. The Hammers have lost their last four
Premier League games and are not yet mathematically safe from relegation.
Some fans vented their displeasure at Allardyce during last Saturday's 1-0
defeat by West Brom. "We're trying to progress the club, so I'm delivering
what the owners want. We're close to being in the Premier League for a third
season," he said. The 59-year-old former Bolton, Newcastle and Blackburn
boss took charge at Upton Park in June 2011 after the Hammers had been
relegated from the Premier League under Avram Grant. He led the Hammers to
promotion via the Championship play-offs in his first season before securing
a 10th place finish in the top-flight last season. But after a four-match
winning run in February, West Ham have faltered, losing seven of the last
nine games. They start the penultimate weekend of the Premier League season
14th in the table, five points above the relegation zone. A win on Saturday
at home to Tottenham, who they have beaten twice this season, will secure a
third straight campaign in the top flight. Despite the criticism from fans,
Allardyce plans to carry on as manager until he is told otherwise by West
Ham's owners David Sullivan and David Gold, or vice-chairman Karren Brady.
"I wouldn't see it any other way until they ring me and tell me otherwise,"
he said. "Without results you get criticised. Hostility in terms of
disapproval of what you're doing or not doing is part of the job."
Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood's position is also under scrutiny, with Ajax
manager Frank de Boer linked with a move to White Hart Lane. "Tim's proven
that he can handle the job and he's proven that he's learned as he's gone
on," added Allardyce. "Tottenham have done very well under him and what they
decide at the end of the day is up to the owners and board at Tottenham."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham v ottenham
KO 12:45
Danny Rose, Aaron Lennon
1 May 2014
Last updated at 16:40
By John Motson
BBC Match of the Day commentator
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Upton Park Date: Saturday, 3 May
TEAM NEWS
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has a near fully-fit squad to choose from to
face Tottenham. Long-term injury victim Marco Borriello is the only
absentee.
Tottenham winger Andros Townsend will miss Saturday's trip to West Ham, and
this summer's World Cup with an ankle injury. There are similar concerns
about Kyle Walker due to his pelvic injury.
MATCH PREVIEW
This is a meeting of two managers with uncertain futures. As with most
things in sport, and life, there are two ways of looking at the situation
surrounding Tim Sherwood and Sam Allardyce. In some ways Allardyce could be
celebrated for bringing West Ham to within a point of a third-consecutive
season in the top flight. To his critics - who have been particularly vocal
of late, even in victory - the end doesn't justify the means in terms of the
style of play Big Sam favours.
As a result the back end of this season on the field is being overshadowed
by talk of his future beyond this summer. That chit-chat is something
Sherwood knows all too well, and has made his feelings known on this week
after yet more speculation about his future. Like Allardyce, Sherwood would
be well within his rights to point to his record since taking over at the
club, which stands at 12 wins from 20 league matches. On the field, West Ham
have been struggling of late. Their defence, which was so reliable, is
letting them down and they have struggled to score goals. I saw them in the
defeat against Crystal Palace two weeks ago and the method was very much to
play everything through Andy Carroll. That may not be the worst plan given
his recent record against Spurs, but on current form this has the look of an
away victory. I was also at the corresponding match last season when Gareth
Bale scored twice to earn Spurs a 3-2 win and it is one of the game's
imponderables as to how they would have fared this season with him in their
squad. What we can be certain of is the importance of this game to both
managers. Their futures might be up in the air but there would surely be no
better way to catch the eye of the club's owners than by ending the season
on a high. That fact, plus the usual spice of a London derby, means there's
little chance of an end-of-season feel to this game.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Tottenham have lost just one of the last six meetings at Upton Park (W4, L1,
D1), including a 3-2 win last season which featured a last-minute winner
from Gareth Bale.
West Ham have beaten Tottenham at White Hart Lane twice this season. A first
league victory, 3-0, on Spurs soil since 1999 in October and a 2-1 League
Cup quarter-final win in December.
West Ham United
West Ham have not kept a clean sheet in their last 10 league matches and
have lost seven of their last nine league games (W2).
The Hammers had just three shots on target against West Brom last time out.
Only Norwich (4) and Newcastle (3) have earned fewer points than West Ham
(6) from their last eight matches.
West Ham have lost the most points from winning positions this season (20);
Tottenham the fewest (6).
Only Hull and Fulham have a worse record against top-half opposition this
season than the Hammers (W2, D3, L13).
Andy Carroll has scored in both previous meetings with Tottenham as a West
Ham player. However, he has not scored a league goal at Upton Park since
March 2013.
Tottenham
Tottenham are two wins shy of equalling their best-ever Premier League
points tally of 72 (set last season).
Spurs ended a run of seven games without a clean sheet by beating Stoke 1-0
last time out.
That win was also a first in five attempts away from White Hart Lane (L3,
D1).
Only Liverpool (34) have earned more points than Tottenham (33) on their
travels this season.
Spurs have scored 12 goals in their last four league games, West Ham have
managed two.
Roberto Soldado has not scored a Premier League away goal since 20 October.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ex-Milan boss lined up as Big Sam replacement?
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 1st May 2014
By: Staff Writer
Former Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri has claimed to have spoken to West
Ham with regards to Sam Allardyce's managerial position. The 46-year-old,
who has also been linked with Tottenham and Manchester United is reported to
have held preliminary talks with West Ham over a possible move to England
this summer. Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla, who works for Italian TV
sports channel RAI Sport claimed via his website tonight that the Hammers
had expressed an interest in luring the former midfielder to London. And
Allegri, who has been out of work since being sacked by the Italian giants
back in January is said to have been "intrigued" by the possibility. A
journeyman during his playing career, Allegri featured for 12 clubs between
1984 and 2003 when he retired in order to concentrate on management. A year
at Serie D Aglianese was followed by a season with Real SPAL before
Grosseto, then of Serie C came calling. Further spells with Sassuolo and
Cagliari followed before he was appointed manager of Milan in June 2010.
Allegri spent three-and-a-half years at the San Siro, leading i Rossoneri to
a Championship win during his first season and Supercoppa Italiana success
the following year. Last month Corriere dello Sport claimed that Allegri had
already agreed to join West Ham's neighbours Tottenham this summer, with an
announcement to follow at the end of the current season.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Redknapp seeking permanent Ravel deal
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 1st May 2014
By: Staff Writer
Harry Redknapp has revealed that he'd likje to sign Ravel Morrison on a
permanent basis - but only if QPR make an instant return to the Premier
League.
West Ham's on-loan youngster has scored six goals for Rangers since moving
to Loftus Road back in January on a 93-day loan spell. And Redknapp, who
like Morrison once plied his trade at the Boleyn Ground admitted today that
he'd like to acquire the services of the England Under 21 on a more
permanent basis.
"We'll just have to wait and see," he told the Star. "It depends what
happens at the end of the season. If we get up, surely there would be a
chance of keeping him and doing something with him. "I don't know what his
plans are really. He's just here playing well and we're enjoying having him
around. Talent-wise he's got as much talent as almost anyone I've worked
with in all my career. He's got great skill and fantastic ability. "Whether
he can produce it like the top players week in, week out, over a long period
still remains to be seen, but it would be a waste of his career and a waste
for English football if he doesn't become a top player really because he's
got the ability."
Despite having been contracted to West Ham since January 2012, Morrison has
made a total of just 22 appearances for the Hammers. Since January he has
played 15 times for QPR, whilst he appeared 30 times for Birmingham during
his season-long loan spell at St Andrew's between August 2012 and May 2013.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gold: We're in safe hands with Big Sam
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 1st May 2014
By: Staff Writer
David Gold has defended Sam Allardyce's record at the club less than 48
hours ahead of West Ham's final home game of the season. The Hammers face
Spurs at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday knowing that a win would give them an
unprecedented third victory against our nearest Premier League rivals in the
same season, following the two successes at White Hart Lane during the
opening half of the campaign.
And Gold, who remains fully supportive of the man he and co-owner David
Sullivan appointed in the summer of 2011 as replacement for the sacked Avram
Grant insisted that the under-pressure Allardyce has met every target set of
him in the last three years.
"We got relegated under Avram Grant and I confess that was a mistake,
although Avram was a very nice man," Gold said in an interview with Ridge
Radio last night. "He was a round peg in a square hole and it didn't work
for us.
"Relegation was devastating. This wasn't part of the plan. We needed a
complete change of character, a change of focus and after much deliberation
we brought in Sam Allardyce. We said to him: "Sam, we want you to get us
promoted". That's what we asked Sam to do, and he did it.
"Then we said "Sam, we want you to keep us up" because this isn't about one
season, it isn't about a couple of years - this is about a plan that takes
us from joining the football club four years ago to the Olympic Stadium,
which is a six-year venture.
"Then of course we asked Sam to keep us up again and he's about to do that,
barring a miracle. For all of these things to come together the most
important thing is to stay in the Premier League. Getting relegated again is
just unthinkable, it would be devastating."
Gold also dismissed claims that Allardyce's teams have only one way of
playing football - a perceived direct style, that the 77-year-old believes
simply isn't the case.
"We're now being associated as a long ball team, implying that we hit more
long balls than any other club in the Premier League - but that is
absolutely not true," he argued. " There is this perception but we have to
be very careful.
"If we were in the bottom three then I'd say ok, we've really got to face up
to this fact that we're a long ball football club. However let me tell you
this; Real Madrid, 2-0 down with ten minutes to go will launch the ball into
the box. It's human nature and it's what happens.
"It's just what you do when you're running out of time, the ball starts
getting launched. But equally, we must balance that by saying what a
fantastic goal we scored against Tottenham where the ball never left the
ground from the defence to hitting the back of the net."
And coming back to this weekend's match - West Ham's final home game of what
has been a difficult 2013/14 campaign - Gold believes that the players are
desperate to sign off with a third successive victory against Spurs.
"Speaking to a number of players, they're really up for this last home game
because they feel they've let the fans down a bit," he said. "They've not
played up to their normal standard at times so they would love to go out on
a high.
"I was speaking to Sam on Monday and that's his plan. He's desperate to face
Tottenham on Saturday and win the game convincingly and break that record."
Looking beyond the season's end and into the summer, Gold - in cahoots with
Allardyce - is hoping to make a number of key signings to both replace
departing players and enhance the quality of the first team squad, which has
been severely stretched at times this year.
And he hopes that the relegation worries of this season - something that has
led to calls for Allardyce to be fired - will be a thing of the past.
"I'm optimistic but not unrealistic; I believe that we will be stronger," he
insisted. "There's no doubt that the squad that will turn out at the
beginning of next season will be a stronger squad than the squad that turned
out at the beginning of this season.
"Therefore I would like to think that we won't have this battle against
relegation next year - and that will enable us to be more aggressive during
our cup ventures. In that past we've had to protect our players because of
injuries. You're always fearful that if you play your top players and they
get injured in a Cup match, the fans would never forgive you.
"That's not me, that's Sam - he's the one making decisions. He's the one
saying I daren't go to Nottingham Forest and play one of my top players as
he could get injured; I can't risk it. But you wouldn't have that pressure
if you weren't fighting relegation, or doing well and winning games.
"You have to remember the injuries we've sustained throughout the season. We
were expecting Andy Carroll to be fit and raring to go two matches into the
season - and it ended up being nearly 20 matches before we saw him.
"Next year, all things being equal he will start the season. It'll make a
big, big difference - as will some new faces coming in to strengthen the
squad."
* Malky Mackay remains the bookies' current favourite to replace Sam
Allardyce. The former Cardiff manager is priced at 7/4 by Bet Victor and
Stan James, with Harry Redknapp (7/2, Paddypower) and Michael Laudrup (8/1,
Stan James) close behind. If you're looking to place a bet, here's where you
will find the top five gambling sites.
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Ravel Morrison dismisses reports he's fallen out with Sam Allardyce
Last Updated: 01/05/14 3:01pm
SSN
QPR loanee Ravel Morrison has rubbished reports of a feud with West Ham
manager Sam Allardyce. Controversial midfielder Morrison was loaned to
Rangers by Allardyce in February after dropping out of favour despite some
impressive early-season displays for the Hammers. Reports this week claimed
the 21-year-old does not want to return to Upton Park if Allardyce is still
in charge next season. But Morrison took to Twitter to scotch the rumours,
saying: "Papers talk a lot of rubbish I don't care what manager I play under
all I want to do is play football #WHU." Morrison has scored six goals in 15
appearances for Rangers and was named Championship Player of the Month for
March. Under the terms of his loan deal he is available for the forthcoming
play-offs as Harry Redknapp's men attempt to secure promotion back to the
Premier League.
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Sam Allardyce labels criticism by West Ham fans as 'nonsense'
Last Updated: 01/05/14 1:57pm
SSN
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has branded fans' criticism of him as
"nonsense" as he targets a third win of the season over rivals Tottenham. A
banner unfurled during last weekend's 1-0 defeat to West Brom - the Hammers'
fourth straight loss - called for Allardyce to be sacked, with negative
tactics cited as the primary reason for supporters' unrest. But Allardyce,
whose side hosts Spurs in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off having already
beaten them at White Hart Lane twice this season, says he sets his teams up
to get the best result possible. "It is a nonsense," he said. "Their
perception is because we haven't won (in four games). "When we went to
Chelsea and they were all very, very happy that was based purely on a
well-structured defensive ploy with little or no football at all. But it was
still hailed as a great performance. "We play to win when we play a game and
if we don't play to win we play not to lose."
"You can't expand and open up against Chelsea because you lose five or 6-0.
"We play to win when we play a game and if we don't play to win we play not
to lose. Our biggest problem is that we haven't drawn enough in between the
wins." Allardyce accepts that constant speculation and pressure on managers
is part of the modern game. "No one wants to see things like that (the
banner at West Brom) and wants to be criticised," he added. "It is what it
is at the moment. It is part of the job today and altogether people keep
telling me how to play and the performances we need to give. "In our last
four games our performances have been good, but without a result comes the
criticism. It is about results, not what you have done for the 90 minutes,
it is what has come out of the end of it. "Of course it (criticism) bothers
you but you don't let it affect your clear thinking. You concentrate on the
players and make sure they continue to strive to get better and better.
"This year, while the league has been extremely entertaining, we have had
ups and downs. It has been a pretty hectic season, a pretty demanding season
for us all, and I think that is shown in the fact that 10 managers have
changed in one season."
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TO TIPPY TAP OR NOT TO TIPPY TAP?
By Tony Hanna 1 May 2014 at 09:28
West Ham Till I Die
There has been enough said already about our current playing style under Sam
Allardyce. There has also been a lot of talk about the old "West Ham way".
What is the West Ham way? For me, I have seen the teams of the sixties and
early seventies where the teams played a pass and move game, but the real
excitement was the use of wingers who would take their man on and either
cross mainly to the near post or they would cut inside and pose other
problems. Bobby Moore would also play the long pass from defence to the ever
reliable Geoff Hurst in the centre circle who would hold the ball up and the
attack would be constructed from this ploy. I have also seen the teams of
the late seventies and early eighties where the guile of Devonshire and
Brooking would often cut the opposition to ribbons. Again, neat passing and
one two's would be a feature. Both were different styles with different
players, but both were enjoyable to watch. Attractive passing football with
an emphasis on pass and move and making space, but always with the emphasis
on scoring goals. I am sure if either of these two teams were playing now at
Upton Park the atmosphere would be fantastic, despite the ground being all
seater nowadays.
The "West Ham way" teams did have their faults and weaknesses. The sixties
team had three World Cup winners in it with Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and
Martin Peters. They played together as a trio in the West Ham team for some
seven seasons in which time we only finished in the top half of the table
twice with a best placed eighth. The late seventies team with Brooking,
Bonds and Devonshire played three seasons in Division two. Apart from some
fantastically entertaining football at times, the upside that both these
teams brought the fans was some brilliant Wembley successes and of course
the one time we nearly won the League in 1986. Other West Ham teams over the
past fifty odd years have tried to emulate the style with varying degrees of
success and failure. I am sure if the club had been in different
circumstances and not offloaded Ferdinand, Cole, Carrick and Lampard we may
have seen a more recent era in which we could be proud of, but that is just
speculation. Of course one of the ingredients of the "West Ham way" was also
the success of the clubs Academy which supplied so many players to the first
team that we were proud to call "home grown."
However, in none of my time watching West Ham have I seen them play a game
where the tactic was to keep possession for the sake of it. That for me
would never have been the "West Ham way" which has always been an attacking
brand or style. The "West Ham way" has never been about possession at all
costs or "tippy tappy" football. Down here in Australia we get every PL game
live on Pay TV. I would say I watch about six Premier League games on
average per week but there are teams I avoid, depending on who they are
playing, because of the "bore factor." Our own team has been in that bore
category recently but like most of you, I just can't look away from that
particular car crash! The only game this past weekend where I did switch off
after just 30 minutes was the Arsenal v Newcastle game. Arsenal can be very
easy on the eye at times but more often it is, for me, just plain boring.
Swansea can be the same, electric at their best but if you had to watch them
every week this season it hardly gets the pulse racing. Thirty or more
passes between centre backs, full backs and a holding midfielder hardly gets
the ground rocking. I might get slaughtered here for picking on two of the
supposedly "attractive" teams but to be honest I don't like tippy tappy as
much as I don't like hoof football. I am not saying tippy tappy is not
skilful, or indeed worse than hoof ball. In both cases highlighted it has
been relatively successful to date. My view is that it is not entertaining.
Now, if anyone saw the Southampton v Everton game recently - that was what
fans want to see. Great passing, intricate moves and attack minded football.
We currently have two wingers which if at their best can be entertaining.
The downside with this tactic nowadays is to be successful you have to get
several players in the box quickly and if the delivery is poor you can get
hit on the break. The Premier League is an unforgiving place. To emulate the
likes of Manchester City or Liverpool you need serious money which we have
not got. For me, I would like West Ham to use either Everton or Southampton
as their blueprint. Both have enjoyed success on the back of good quality
possession football with limited resources compared to the big clubs. Both
have enjoyed the fruits of their respective Academy's and have also been
shrewd in the transfer and loan market. Both clubs have installed like
minded managers and a footballing philosophy that is being mirrored on the
pitch. That all sounds a bit similar to the West Ham way doesn't it, albeit
with a higher emphasis on possession? When Big Sam's days at West Ham are
finally over I am sure the emphasis will swing back to providing a more
attractive style of football. I just hope it is not tippy tappy for the sake
of tippy tappy. However, the question has to be asked. What style of
football, with West Ham's current resources, would not only be appealing to
the fans but also sustainable to retain our Premier League status?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce shrugs off supporter abuse and insists he
doesn't fear the sack
May 01, 2014 13:16 By Darren Lewis
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce has dismissed the banner-waving vitriol from angry West Ham
fans as "nonsense". The under-fire Upton Park boss was vilified by
supporters at The Hawthorns last weekend as his side were beaten by West
Brom. One banner at the stadium read: "Fat Sam Out. Killing WHU." Hundreds
of fans also chanted: "F*** off Sam Allardyce!". But 59-year-old Big Sam hit
back: "The banners are a nonsense. "It is not about the way we play - fans
get upset because they haven't won." West Ham have lost their last four
matches, scoring just two goals, sparking concern among the club's top
brass. Allardyce, however, insists he is continuing to plan for next year
and has no fears about the sack. "I would not see any other way than me
continuing next season," he said. "Until either [owners] David Sullivan,
David Gold or Karren ring me to say otherwise. "You have got to remember, we
are all in this together. I am delivering what the owners want. At the
moment we are very, very close to being in the Premier League for another
season and we are trying to stabilise its position to be a club that has the
capabilities to sustain its Premier League status. "The most important thing
is to grow slowly and surely and make sure this club remains in the Premier
League for a long period of time. "When we went to Chelsea and the fans were
very happy because we didn't lose, that was based purely on a very
well-structured defensive ploy with little or no football in possession. "It
was still hailed as a great performance. Again, that points to the fact it
is a results-based business. "Nobody wants to see things like that and
nobody wants to be criticised. But the game is the game and it is what it
is. "Hostility in terms of what you are doing or what you are not doing is
part of the job. "I know what is right and at the end of the day it is a
results-driven business. If we don't get results, we get criticised and we
accept that."
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WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce has spoken to the press ahead of Saturday's game against
Tottenham Hotspur
01.05.2014
West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has spoken to the media ahead of
Saturday's game against Tottenham Hotspur. Big Sam is eyeing a third victory
of the season over the north Londoners, and he fielded questions on his
team's form, supporter opinion and Saturday's game itself.
Sam, what do you make of the criticism the team has faced after recent
results?
SA: "We haven't kept ourselves up again just yet. Just to get a result in
our last home game is very important to us all. We want to finish the season
without leaving a dampener on it because of our recent results. I said after
the game at West Brom that nobody wants to be criticised, but the game is
the game, and it is what it is at the moment. Hostility in terms of
disapproval of what you're doing or not doing is part of the job. All
together, everybody keeps telling me about how we need to play and what
performances we need to give, but in our last four games all of our
performances have been very good. But without a result, then comes
criticism, so the perception of how you play the game or how you should play
the game comes down to only one thing, and that's results, not what you've
done for the 90 minutes.
"It's about have you won at the end of it. We've lost all of our last four,
but the performances have been as good as the opposition, and in lots of
cases better. I can't remember us playing as well as we did against
Liverpool this season, but we lost to two penalties and it's a defeat,
rather than getting something out of the game against one of the favourites
to win the league.
"Against Arsenal the overall performance was there, then Crystal Palace and
West Brom, everyone talks about possession and we out-possessed both Crystal
Palace and West Brom, but because we haven't won everyone perceives that
they were poor performances. I know what is right, and I know it's a
results-driven business. We're not getting results and without results you
get criticised, and we all accept that."
Does the criticism bother you?
SA: "Since the end of the transfer window, we're in the top half of the
table for points gained, we're 14th in the league, six teams are below us
who'd like to be where we are, and that's the reality. Disappointment is
always expressed in many different ways and the only way to stop the
disappointment is to go and win a football match.
"Of course it bothers you, but you don't let it affect your clear thinking.
You concentrate on the players and make sure they continue to strive to get
better and better."
You obviously want to continue the job you've started here...
SA: "I wouldn't see it any other way, until either David Sullivan, David
Gold or Karren Brady ring me and tell me otherwise. You've got to remember
that we're all in this together and that's why we are where we are. We're
trying to progress the football club, so I'm delivering what the owners
want, and at the moment we've got what we want - not as much as we wanted,
but we've got what we want nearly. We're very, very close to being in the
Premier League for a third season and trying to make the Club better and
stabilising its position, particularly going forward to become a club that
has the capability of sustaining it's Premier League status, growing slowly
but surely and making sure it stays in the Premier League for a long period
of time."
Can you talk a bit about the job Tim Sherwood has done at Tottenham?
SA: "Like I said in our field you never know what's going to happen. You're
never comfortable, wherever you are, and in Tim's position I think he's
proven that he can handle the job and he's proven that he's learned as he's
gone on. You're bound to slip up when you're doing it for the first time, I
still slip up after 20-odd years. We all make mistakes, but you learn from
them and I think he's learned very quickly. I think Tottenham have done
very, very well under him and what they decide at the end of the day is up
to the owners and board at Tottenham."
Two of your best results this season have come against Tottenham Hotspur...
SA: "Yes, and it would be absolutely fantastic to beat them at home, having
beaten them in the Capital One Cup and in the league. At this moment in
time, our concerns are, one, we were one of the best clean sheets in the
league eight or nine games ago and we haven't kept one since then. That's
been our demise that has caused us a few problems. Two, and it's been the
case all season, that the chances created have always been there, but our
conversion rate when you look at the stats hasn't been good enough.
"If we are to beat Tottenham it's no good to continue to play well if we
carry on making basic errors. West Brom's goal was down to our poor
defending, not their ability and we have to eradicate that. We have to put
the ball in the net when the chances come because otherwise the pressure
heaps on you more than it should."
You talk about teams who allow you to play an expansive game and Tottenham
are one of them aren't they?
SA: "They come and play and try and open up because of the quality of
players that they have. They will think their eleven is better than yours,
but on the day if your players hit top form we're more than capable of
beating them. We have to be very wary of what their strengths are and make
sure their strengths are nullified. Then we have to make sure we use our
strengths to try and break their defensive unit down and take our chances
when we get them."
What's your team news for Saturday, Sam?
SA: "We've got a virtually fully-fit squad. Only Marco Borriello is still
injured and the rest of the team are available, which gives me a selection
process which is for me to decide which is the best eleven to go out and try
and win our last home game. Winning the last home game [is important]
because you want to send everyone home happy."
You have four or five players out of contract at the moment, what's the
situation with them?
SA: "None of the players are going to be decided on individually, we will
decide at the same time. If we secure a point or more on Saturday, then we
can start that process. If we know we're safe, we'll move in that area as
quickly as we possibly can."
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Carr backs U18s for strong finish
WHUFC.com
Academy Director Tony Carr MBE says the Hammers U18s can seal their play-off
spot
01.05.2014
The West Ham United Academy side head into their final game of the regular
Barclays U18 Premier League season on Friday knowing a point will be enough
to guarantee their presence in the Play-Offs. West Ham currently sit second
in the table and a draw against Arsenal would mean third-place Fulham no
longer have a chance of catching the Hammers, thus earning Steve Potts' men
a crack at Manchester City in the semi-finals of the four-team shootout.
Academy Director Tony Carr MBE believes a top-two finish would be a just
reward for his charges, who have recovered from a recent blip to register
four points from their last two games. With the Development Squad's season
now over, the U18s should be able to call upon more of their second year
scholars and Carr says the team's winning mentality can see them through. He
said: "In some respects we've capitalised on the success of Fulham, because
we were on a great run after Christmas, six or seven wins on the trot and we
were bound for the play-offs. "Then some of our players got promoted to the
U21s and weakened our team, which is the natural thing to do at this time of
year, so result-wise we suffered even though performances were still good.
"Fulham have now had to do that because of their run to the FA Youth Cup
final and we've capitalised on their slip-up in results. "When you get to
U18 level, winning is an important part of their development. It's not win
at all costs at that level, but you have to create a winning mentality. Now
we're at the business end of the season as the old cliche goes, and we need
a point on Friday and we'll be in the play-offs against Manchester City."
The last couple of weeks have proven difficult for the Academy, with Dylan
Tombides' passing affecting the players and staff deeply. Carr had high
praise for Dylan's ability, saying it was cruel that such a talent had been
taken too early. He added: "We all believed that Dylan had all the
credentials to go on and do good things for us. The year he was named Young
Hammer of the Year, he went off to the U17 World Cup with Australia. Little
did we know that was going to be the beginning of his illness and
unfortunately his untimely death three years later. "It's a lesson to every
young player and young person really to live life to the full, give your
maximum every day, because you just don't know what's round the corner for
any of us."
Kick-off at Little Heath on Friday is at 1pm, with admission and parking
both free of charge
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce determined to carry on
BBC.co.uk
West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce says he is determined to carry on at
Upton Park despite unrest among fans. The Hammers have lost their last four
Premier League games and are not yet mathematically safe from relegation.
Some fans vented their displeasure at Allardyce during last Saturday's 1-0
defeat by West Brom. "We're trying to progress the club, so I'm delivering
what the owners want. We're close to being in the Premier League for a third
season," he said. The 59-year-old former Bolton, Newcastle and Blackburn
boss took charge at Upton Park in June 2011 after the Hammers had been
relegated from the Premier League under Avram Grant. He led the Hammers to
promotion via the Championship play-offs in his first season before securing
a 10th place finish in the top-flight last season. But after a four-match
winning run in February, West Ham have faltered, losing seven of the last
nine games. They start the penultimate weekend of the Premier League season
14th in the table, five points above the relegation zone. A win on Saturday
at home to Tottenham, who they have beaten twice this season, will secure a
third straight campaign in the top flight. Despite the criticism from fans,
Allardyce plans to carry on as manager until he is told otherwise by West
Ham's owners David Sullivan and David Gold, or vice-chairman Karren Brady.
"I wouldn't see it any other way until they ring me and tell me otherwise,"
he said. "Without results you get criticised. Hostility in terms of
disapproval of what you're doing or not doing is part of the job."
Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood's position is also under scrutiny, with Ajax
manager Frank de Boer linked with a move to White Hart Lane. "Tim's proven
that he can handle the job and he's proven that he's learned as he's gone
on," added Allardyce. "Tottenham have done very well under him and what they
decide at the end of the day is up to the owners and board at Tottenham."
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West Ham v ottenham
KO 12:45
Danny Rose, Aaron Lennon
1 May 2014
Last updated at 16:40
By John Motson
BBC Match of the Day commentator
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Upton Park Date: Saturday, 3 May
TEAM NEWS
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has a near fully-fit squad to choose from to
face Tottenham. Long-term injury victim Marco Borriello is the only
absentee.
Tottenham winger Andros Townsend will miss Saturday's trip to West Ham, and
this summer's World Cup with an ankle injury. There are similar concerns
about Kyle Walker due to his pelvic injury.
MATCH PREVIEW
This is a meeting of two managers with uncertain futures. As with most
things in sport, and life, there are two ways of looking at the situation
surrounding Tim Sherwood and Sam Allardyce. In some ways Allardyce could be
celebrated for bringing West Ham to within a point of a third-consecutive
season in the top flight. To his critics - who have been particularly vocal
of late, even in victory - the end doesn't justify the means in terms of the
style of play Big Sam favours.
As a result the back end of this season on the field is being overshadowed
by talk of his future beyond this summer. That chit-chat is something
Sherwood knows all too well, and has made his feelings known on this week
after yet more speculation about his future. Like Allardyce, Sherwood would
be well within his rights to point to his record since taking over at the
club, which stands at 12 wins from 20 league matches. On the field, West Ham
have been struggling of late. Their defence, which was so reliable, is
letting them down and they have struggled to score goals. I saw them in the
defeat against Crystal Palace two weeks ago and the method was very much to
play everything through Andy Carroll. That may not be the worst plan given
his recent record against Spurs, but on current form this has the look of an
away victory. I was also at the corresponding match last season when Gareth
Bale scored twice to earn Spurs a 3-2 win and it is one of the game's
imponderables as to how they would have fared this season with him in their
squad. What we can be certain of is the importance of this game to both
managers. Their futures might be up in the air but there would surely be no
better way to catch the eye of the club's owners than by ending the season
on a high. That fact, plus the usual spice of a London derby, means there's
little chance of an end-of-season feel to this game.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Tottenham have lost just one of the last six meetings at Upton Park (W4, L1,
D1), including a 3-2 win last season which featured a last-minute winner
from Gareth Bale.
West Ham have beaten Tottenham at White Hart Lane twice this season. A first
league victory, 3-0, on Spurs soil since 1999 in October and a 2-1 League
Cup quarter-final win in December.
West Ham United
West Ham have not kept a clean sheet in their last 10 league matches and
have lost seven of their last nine league games (W2).
The Hammers had just three shots on target against West Brom last time out.
Only Norwich (4) and Newcastle (3) have earned fewer points than West Ham
(6) from their last eight matches.
West Ham have lost the most points from winning positions this season (20);
Tottenham the fewest (6).
Only Hull and Fulham have a worse record against top-half opposition this
season than the Hammers (W2, D3, L13).
Andy Carroll has scored in both previous meetings with Tottenham as a West
Ham player. However, he has not scored a league goal at Upton Park since
March 2013.
Tottenham
Tottenham are two wins shy of equalling their best-ever Premier League
points tally of 72 (set last season).
Spurs ended a run of seven games without a clean sheet by beating Stoke 1-0
last time out.
That win was also a first in five attempts away from White Hart Lane (L3,
D1).
Only Liverpool (34) have earned more points than Tottenham (33) on their
travels this season.
Spurs have scored 12 goals in their last four league games, West Ham have
managed two.
Roberto Soldado has not scored a Premier League away goal since 20 October.
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Ex-Milan boss lined up as Big Sam replacement?
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 1st May 2014
By: Staff Writer
Former Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri has claimed to have spoken to West
Ham with regards to Sam Allardyce's managerial position. The 46-year-old,
who has also been linked with Tottenham and Manchester United is reported to
have held preliminary talks with West Ham over a possible move to England
this summer. Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla, who works for Italian TV
sports channel RAI Sport claimed via his website tonight that the Hammers
had expressed an interest in luring the former midfielder to London. And
Allegri, who has been out of work since being sacked by the Italian giants
back in January is said to have been "intrigued" by the possibility. A
journeyman during his playing career, Allegri featured for 12 clubs between
1984 and 2003 when he retired in order to concentrate on management. A year
at Serie D Aglianese was followed by a season with Real SPAL before
Grosseto, then of Serie C came calling. Further spells with Sassuolo and
Cagliari followed before he was appointed manager of Milan in June 2010.
Allegri spent three-and-a-half years at the San Siro, leading i Rossoneri to
a Championship win during his first season and Supercoppa Italiana success
the following year. Last month Corriere dello Sport claimed that Allegri had
already agreed to join West Ham's neighbours Tottenham this summer, with an
announcement to follow at the end of the current season.
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Redknapp seeking permanent Ravel deal
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 1st May 2014
By: Staff Writer
Harry Redknapp has revealed that he'd likje to sign Ravel Morrison on a
permanent basis - but only if QPR make an instant return to the Premier
League.
West Ham's on-loan youngster has scored six goals for Rangers since moving
to Loftus Road back in January on a 93-day loan spell. And Redknapp, who
like Morrison once plied his trade at the Boleyn Ground admitted today that
he'd like to acquire the services of the England Under 21 on a more
permanent basis.
"We'll just have to wait and see," he told the Star. "It depends what
happens at the end of the season. If we get up, surely there would be a
chance of keeping him and doing something with him. "I don't know what his
plans are really. He's just here playing well and we're enjoying having him
around. Talent-wise he's got as much talent as almost anyone I've worked
with in all my career. He's got great skill and fantastic ability. "Whether
he can produce it like the top players week in, week out, over a long period
still remains to be seen, but it would be a waste of his career and a waste
for English football if he doesn't become a top player really because he's
got the ability."
Despite having been contracted to West Ham since January 2012, Morrison has
made a total of just 22 appearances for the Hammers. Since January he has
played 15 times for QPR, whilst he appeared 30 times for Birmingham during
his season-long loan spell at St Andrew's between August 2012 and May 2013.
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Gold: We're in safe hands with Big Sam
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 1st May 2014
By: Staff Writer
David Gold has defended Sam Allardyce's record at the club less than 48
hours ahead of West Ham's final home game of the season. The Hammers face
Spurs at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday knowing that a win would give them an
unprecedented third victory against our nearest Premier League rivals in the
same season, following the two successes at White Hart Lane during the
opening half of the campaign.
And Gold, who remains fully supportive of the man he and co-owner David
Sullivan appointed in the summer of 2011 as replacement for the sacked Avram
Grant insisted that the under-pressure Allardyce has met every target set of
him in the last three years.
"We got relegated under Avram Grant and I confess that was a mistake,
although Avram was a very nice man," Gold said in an interview with Ridge
Radio last night. "He was a round peg in a square hole and it didn't work
for us.
"Relegation was devastating. This wasn't part of the plan. We needed a
complete change of character, a change of focus and after much deliberation
we brought in Sam Allardyce. We said to him: "Sam, we want you to get us
promoted". That's what we asked Sam to do, and he did it.
"Then we said "Sam, we want you to keep us up" because this isn't about one
season, it isn't about a couple of years - this is about a plan that takes
us from joining the football club four years ago to the Olympic Stadium,
which is a six-year venture.
"Then of course we asked Sam to keep us up again and he's about to do that,
barring a miracle. For all of these things to come together the most
important thing is to stay in the Premier League. Getting relegated again is
just unthinkable, it would be devastating."
Gold also dismissed claims that Allardyce's teams have only one way of
playing football - a perceived direct style, that the 77-year-old believes
simply isn't the case.
"We're now being associated as a long ball team, implying that we hit more
long balls than any other club in the Premier League - but that is
absolutely not true," he argued. " There is this perception but we have to
be very careful.
"If we were in the bottom three then I'd say ok, we've really got to face up
to this fact that we're a long ball football club. However let me tell you
this; Real Madrid, 2-0 down with ten minutes to go will launch the ball into
the box. It's human nature and it's what happens.
"It's just what you do when you're running out of time, the ball starts
getting launched. But equally, we must balance that by saying what a
fantastic goal we scored against Tottenham where the ball never left the
ground from the defence to hitting the back of the net."
And coming back to this weekend's match - West Ham's final home game of what
has been a difficult 2013/14 campaign - Gold believes that the players are
desperate to sign off with a third successive victory against Spurs.
"Speaking to a number of players, they're really up for this last home game
because they feel they've let the fans down a bit," he said. "They've not
played up to their normal standard at times so they would love to go out on
a high.
"I was speaking to Sam on Monday and that's his plan. He's desperate to face
Tottenham on Saturday and win the game convincingly and break that record."
Looking beyond the season's end and into the summer, Gold - in cahoots with
Allardyce - is hoping to make a number of key signings to both replace
departing players and enhance the quality of the first team squad, which has
been severely stretched at times this year.
And he hopes that the relegation worries of this season - something that has
led to calls for Allardyce to be fired - will be a thing of the past.
"I'm optimistic but not unrealistic; I believe that we will be stronger," he
insisted. "There's no doubt that the squad that will turn out at the
beginning of next season will be a stronger squad than the squad that turned
out at the beginning of this season.
"Therefore I would like to think that we won't have this battle against
relegation next year - and that will enable us to be more aggressive during
our cup ventures. In that past we've had to protect our players because of
injuries. You're always fearful that if you play your top players and they
get injured in a Cup match, the fans would never forgive you.
"That's not me, that's Sam - he's the one making decisions. He's the one
saying I daren't go to Nottingham Forest and play one of my top players as
he could get injured; I can't risk it. But you wouldn't have that pressure
if you weren't fighting relegation, or doing well and winning games.
"You have to remember the injuries we've sustained throughout the season. We
were expecting Andy Carroll to be fit and raring to go two matches into the
season - and it ended up being nearly 20 matches before we saw him.
"Next year, all things being equal he will start the season. It'll make a
big, big difference - as will some new faces coming in to strengthen the
squad."
* Malky Mackay remains the bookies' current favourite to replace Sam
Allardyce. The former Cardiff manager is priced at 7/4 by Bet Victor and
Stan James, with Harry Redknapp (7/2, Paddypower) and Michael Laudrup (8/1,
Stan James) close behind. If you're looking to place a bet, here's where you
will find the top five gambling sites.
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Ravel Morrison dismisses reports he's fallen out with Sam Allardyce
Last Updated: 01/05/14 3:01pm
SSN
QPR loanee Ravel Morrison has rubbished reports of a feud with West Ham
manager Sam Allardyce. Controversial midfielder Morrison was loaned to
Rangers by Allardyce in February after dropping out of favour despite some
impressive early-season displays for the Hammers. Reports this week claimed
the 21-year-old does not want to return to Upton Park if Allardyce is still
in charge next season. But Morrison took to Twitter to scotch the rumours,
saying: "Papers talk a lot of rubbish I don't care what manager I play under
all I want to do is play football #WHU." Morrison has scored six goals in 15
appearances for Rangers and was named Championship Player of the Month for
March. Under the terms of his loan deal he is available for the forthcoming
play-offs as Harry Redknapp's men attempt to secure promotion back to the
Premier League.
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Sam Allardyce labels criticism by West Ham fans as 'nonsense'
Last Updated: 01/05/14 1:57pm
SSN
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has branded fans' criticism of him as
"nonsense" as he targets a third win of the season over rivals Tottenham. A
banner unfurled during last weekend's 1-0 defeat to West Brom - the Hammers'
fourth straight loss - called for Allardyce to be sacked, with negative
tactics cited as the primary reason for supporters' unrest. But Allardyce,
whose side hosts Spurs in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off having already
beaten them at White Hart Lane twice this season, says he sets his teams up
to get the best result possible. "It is a nonsense," he said. "Their
perception is because we haven't won (in four games). "When we went to
Chelsea and they were all very, very happy that was based purely on a
well-structured defensive ploy with little or no football at all. But it was
still hailed as a great performance. "We play to win when we play a game and
if we don't play to win we play not to lose."
"You can't expand and open up against Chelsea because you lose five or 6-0.
"We play to win when we play a game and if we don't play to win we play not
to lose. Our biggest problem is that we haven't drawn enough in between the
wins." Allardyce accepts that constant speculation and pressure on managers
is part of the modern game. "No one wants to see things like that (the
banner at West Brom) and wants to be criticised," he added. "It is what it
is at the moment. It is part of the job today and altogether people keep
telling me how to play and the performances we need to give. "In our last
four games our performances have been good, but without a result comes the
criticism. It is about results, not what you have done for the 90 minutes,
it is what has come out of the end of it. "Of course it (criticism) bothers
you but you don't let it affect your clear thinking. You concentrate on the
players and make sure they continue to strive to get better and better.
"This year, while the league has been extremely entertaining, we have had
ups and downs. It has been a pretty hectic season, a pretty demanding season
for us all, and I think that is shown in the fact that 10 managers have
changed in one season."
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TO TIPPY TAP OR NOT TO TIPPY TAP?
By Tony Hanna 1 May 2014 at 09:28
West Ham Till I Die
There has been enough said already about our current playing style under Sam
Allardyce. There has also been a lot of talk about the old "West Ham way".
What is the West Ham way? For me, I have seen the teams of the sixties and
early seventies where the teams played a pass and move game, but the real
excitement was the use of wingers who would take their man on and either
cross mainly to the near post or they would cut inside and pose other
problems. Bobby Moore would also play the long pass from defence to the ever
reliable Geoff Hurst in the centre circle who would hold the ball up and the
attack would be constructed from this ploy. I have also seen the teams of
the late seventies and early eighties where the guile of Devonshire and
Brooking would often cut the opposition to ribbons. Again, neat passing and
one two's would be a feature. Both were different styles with different
players, but both were enjoyable to watch. Attractive passing football with
an emphasis on pass and move and making space, but always with the emphasis
on scoring goals. I am sure if either of these two teams were playing now at
Upton Park the atmosphere would be fantastic, despite the ground being all
seater nowadays.
The "West Ham way" teams did have their faults and weaknesses. The sixties
team had three World Cup winners in it with Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and
Martin Peters. They played together as a trio in the West Ham team for some
seven seasons in which time we only finished in the top half of the table
twice with a best placed eighth. The late seventies team with Brooking,
Bonds and Devonshire played three seasons in Division two. Apart from some
fantastically entertaining football at times, the upside that both these
teams brought the fans was some brilliant Wembley successes and of course
the one time we nearly won the League in 1986. Other West Ham teams over the
past fifty odd years have tried to emulate the style with varying degrees of
success and failure. I am sure if the club had been in different
circumstances and not offloaded Ferdinand, Cole, Carrick and Lampard we may
have seen a more recent era in which we could be proud of, but that is just
speculation. Of course one of the ingredients of the "West Ham way" was also
the success of the clubs Academy which supplied so many players to the first
team that we were proud to call "home grown."
However, in none of my time watching West Ham have I seen them play a game
where the tactic was to keep possession for the sake of it. That for me
would never have been the "West Ham way" which has always been an attacking
brand or style. The "West Ham way" has never been about possession at all
costs or "tippy tappy" football. Down here in Australia we get every PL game
live on Pay TV. I would say I watch about six Premier League games on
average per week but there are teams I avoid, depending on who they are
playing, because of the "bore factor." Our own team has been in that bore
category recently but like most of you, I just can't look away from that
particular car crash! The only game this past weekend where I did switch off
after just 30 minutes was the Arsenal v Newcastle game. Arsenal can be very
easy on the eye at times but more often it is, for me, just plain boring.
Swansea can be the same, electric at their best but if you had to watch them
every week this season it hardly gets the pulse racing. Thirty or more
passes between centre backs, full backs and a holding midfielder hardly gets
the ground rocking. I might get slaughtered here for picking on two of the
supposedly "attractive" teams but to be honest I don't like tippy tappy as
much as I don't like hoof football. I am not saying tippy tappy is not
skilful, or indeed worse than hoof ball. In both cases highlighted it has
been relatively successful to date. My view is that it is not entertaining.
Now, if anyone saw the Southampton v Everton game recently - that was what
fans want to see. Great passing, intricate moves and attack minded football.
We currently have two wingers which if at their best can be entertaining.
The downside with this tactic nowadays is to be successful you have to get
several players in the box quickly and if the delivery is poor you can get
hit on the break. The Premier League is an unforgiving place. To emulate the
likes of Manchester City or Liverpool you need serious money which we have
not got. For me, I would like West Ham to use either Everton or Southampton
as their blueprint. Both have enjoyed success on the back of good quality
possession football with limited resources compared to the big clubs. Both
have enjoyed the fruits of their respective Academy's and have also been
shrewd in the transfer and loan market. Both clubs have installed like
minded managers and a footballing philosophy that is being mirrored on the
pitch. That all sounds a bit similar to the West Ham way doesn't it, albeit
with a higher emphasis on possession? When Big Sam's days at West Ham are
finally over I am sure the emphasis will swing back to providing a more
attractive style of football. I just hope it is not tippy tappy for the sake
of tippy tappy. However, the question has to be asked. What style of
football, with West Ham's current resources, would not only be appealing to
the fans but also sustainable to retain our Premier League status?
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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce shrugs off supporter abuse and insists he
doesn't fear the sack
May 01, 2014 13:16 By Darren Lewis
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce has dismissed the banner-waving vitriol from angry West Ham
fans as "nonsense". The under-fire Upton Park boss was vilified by
supporters at The Hawthorns last weekend as his side were beaten by West
Brom. One banner at the stadium read: "Fat Sam Out. Killing WHU." Hundreds
of fans also chanted: "F*** off Sam Allardyce!". But 59-year-old Big Sam hit
back: "The banners are a nonsense. "It is not about the way we play - fans
get upset because they haven't won." West Ham have lost their last four
matches, scoring just two goals, sparking concern among the club's top
brass. Allardyce, however, insists he is continuing to plan for next year
and has no fears about the sack. "I would not see any other way than me
continuing next season," he said. "Until either [owners] David Sullivan,
David Gold or Karren ring me to say otherwise. "You have got to remember, we
are all in this together. I am delivering what the owners want. At the
moment we are very, very close to being in the Premier League for another
season and we are trying to stabilise its position to be a club that has the
capabilities to sustain its Premier League status. "The most important thing
is to grow slowly and surely and make sure this club remains in the Premier
League for a long period of time. "When we went to Chelsea and the fans were
very happy because we didn't lose, that was based purely on a very
well-structured defensive ploy with little or no football in possession. "It
was still hailed as a great performance. Again, that points to the fact it
is a results-based business. "Nobody wants to see things like that and
nobody wants to be criticised. But the game is the game and it is what it
is. "Hostility in terms of what you are doing or what you are not doing is
part of the job. "I know what is right and at the end of the day it is a
results-driven business. If we don't get results, we get criticised and we
accept that."
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Thursday, May 1
Daily WHUFC News - 1st May 2014
The Big Interview - Kevin Nolan
WHUFC.com
West Ham United skipper Kevin Nolan says the team is united in their aim to end on a high
30.04.2014
West Ham United skipper Kevin Nolan is desperate to overcome a frustrating period for his side when they take on Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. The Hammers will be going for a third victory of the season over the north Londoners after memorable White Hart Lane wins in league and cup. To complete the hat-trick would represent the perfect home send-off for the Hammers, at the same time as securing a position of mathematical safety in the Barclays Premier League. Nolan spoke to whufc.com on the team's recent difficulties and their determination to put things right.
Kevin, looking back at West Brom, we didn't deserve to lose the game on Saturday...
KN: "It's most frustrating for all of us. I think anyone who was at the game knows that. At West Brom, they were scrapping for their lives, got their goal and then scrapped away for the rest of the game and we just couldn't put the ball in the back of the net. "We huffed and puffed a bit in the second half, but I felt we had enough chances to get something out of the game and deserved something."
The first half-an-hour, if you took their goal out of the game, there was only one team in it at that stage.
KN: "It was the same the week before against Crystal Palace and that is our Achilles heel - we just can't put the ball in the back of the net. The lads are disappointed that we're not doing it and it's something we're working on. "I just hope we can get an easy chance from a couple of yards and it will set us off and running. "I think everyone, both inside and outside the Club, is disappointed and frustrated because we are limping over the line and that's not what we wanted to do. We wanted to get some momentum going into next season. "We've got a fantastic game to look forward to on Saturday and we need to draw on the positives of what we've done this season against Tottenham. Hopefully, come the end of the game, we will be celebrating another win over them and another year in the Barclays Premier League. "It's been a difficult year and, with what we've been put through, I think we've done well to be where we are. Don't get me wrong, I think if we'd had fewer injuries I think we'd have been much higher in the table, but that wasn't to be. "We're going to make sure we get over the line and come back next season raring to go and ready to put West Ham back in that top ten, where we firmly believe we belong."
Can you understand the nervousness from some of the supporters?
KN: "Of course, because we're nervous as well. We need them to be as much behind us as we are behind them. We understand that they have their own opinions and they are entitled to them - they pay to come and watch us. You have to take that as a footballer."
Looking ahead, you don't need any incentive to complete a hat-trick of wins against Tottenham...
KN: "We know we can finish off the season at home in a nice way by putting Tottenham to bed for the third time this season. We know we willl have to work hard for it, and something the lads will have to look forward this week is making sure we get over the line ourselves and not wait for someone else to do it for us."
Having got to tenth or eleventh place, did we take our eyes off the ball a little?
KN: "No, it's just been a difficult time. Three of the last four games we definitely didn't deserve to lose, but that's just the way the cookie crumbles.
"Last year, sometimes we won games we didn't deserve to win, but this season it hasn't happened like that. We haven't had those lucky escapes. We've lost games we have deserved to win, but we've not really scrapped out those results and got them when we haven't played to our best."
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Gold to make amends for Boys of '64 mix-up
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 30th April 2014
By: Staff Writer
David Gold has revealed that he plans to make amends for the problems that beset the recent visit of four members of the 1964 FA Cup Final team to the Boleyn Ground. The four ex-Hammers - Ronnie Boyce, Eddie Bovington, Ken Brown and Peter Brabrook - were invited to the Crystal Palace match in order to be presented to the crowd ahead of kick off, some 50 years after they won the FA Cup for West Ham for the first time by beating Preston North End 3-2 at Wembley.
However 24 hours before the game the sad death of Dylan Tombides threw the club's plans into chaos, which resulted in the four men - all now in their 70s and 80s - having to fend for themselves (which including queueing for a meal, purchasing their own drinks and having to sit at the back of the West Stand's upper tier instead of in the Directors' Box).
As a result, the players subsequently informed West Ham that they would not be accepting an invitation to the club's end of season awards ceremony, to which they were only offered one free ticket each.
However David Gold, who has been at the forefront of plans to recognise West Ham's heroes of the past revealed tonight that he would be looking to make amends in the near future. Speaking on Ridge Radio this evening, Gold said: "On that Saturday, West Ham Ladies had won the Essex trophy and we also had the team of '64 at Upton Park. But sadly everything got overshadowed by that sad event [the death of Dylan Tombides]. "We'll have to pick up the pieces and see what we can do."
West Ham United won the FA Cup for the first time ever on 2nd May 1964 when they beat second division Preston North End 3-2 at Wembley. The goalscorers on the day were Johnny Sissons, Geoff Hurst and the aforementioned 'Ticker' Boyce.
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Tour dates confirmed
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 30th April 2014
By: Staff Writer
The dates for West Ham United's summer tour to New Zealand have finally been announced. As revealed here on KUMB.com back in February, the Hammers will be visiting the Australasian nation for the first time in their history this summer in order to play two fixtures against Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC in what is being billed as 'the Football United Tour'. And also involved in what will be a four-team tournament are fellow Premier League side Newcastle United, currently managed by former Hammers boss Alan Pardew. West Ham will face Phoenix at Eden Park on Wednesday, 23rd July before taking on Australian's Sydney at the Westpac Stadium three days later (Saturday, 26th July). Meanwhile, for those travelling fans wishing to maximise their football intake during the tour, Newcastle will face Sydney at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Tuesday, 22nd July and Wellington at the Westpac Stadium in the capital on Saturday, 26th July.
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce told whufc.com: "We've been busy putting together the best pre-season preparation that I've had and it's great that we're able to go to New Zealand as a key part of that. "It'll be great for our fans in the region to see us play. I went over to Australia with Blackburn Rovers and I was quite surprised how many Blackburn fans there were that lived there. I'd expect ten times more fans to be looking forward to us playing in New Zealand this summer!"
And Alan Pardew, speaking to nufc.co.uk added: "We are very much looking forward to being part of the Football United Tour and to training and playing at first class facilities in Dunedin and Wellington. "Football has grown impressively in both New Zealand and Australia in recent years, with some excellent players and teams coming to the fore, so the Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC fixtures will provide a good test for our players as we prepare them for next season."
The Mayor of Wellington, Celia Wade-Brown was also delighted by the news and the opportunity to welcome two Premier League teams to her City. "The Wellington City Council is delighted to work with the Phoenix on bringing this great sporting contest to the capital," she said. "Our stadium's location is ideally suited to a big match, and the beautiful game will be fully celebrated in a football festival for everybody. This spectacular event will draw football fans from around the country and across the Tasman."
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West Ham and Newcastle United to take part in New Zealand summer tournament
Last Updated: 30/04/14 10:54am
SSN
West Ham and Newcastle United will take part in a four-team tournament in New Zealand with A-League sides Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC this summer.
Newcastle will play Sydney in Dunedin on July 22, with Wellington taking on West Ham in Auckland the following day. The tournament finishes with a double header in Wellington on July 26 when Sydney play West Ham and Wellington take on Newcastle. Hammers defender Winston Reid, captain of the New Zealand national team, said he was looking forward to touring his homeland. "Football is really on the up in both New Zealand and Australia and we are all looking forward to meeting all the fans and playing exciting matches against two leading A-League clubs," he said. West Ham manager Sam Allardyce said: "The tournament in New Zealand is particularly interesting as it allows us to promote West Ham United and the Premier League over there. "It'll be great for our fans in the region to see us play."
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RAVEL OR SAM - THAT'S THE CHOICE
By Iain Dale 30 Apr 2014 at 13:10
West Ham Till I Die
This is what The Sun's Carl Long has written this morning.
RAVEL MORRISON'S West Ham future may hang on whether under-fire boss Sam Allardyce keeps his job this summer. The England Under-21 star is currently on loan at QPR after some well-publicised differences of opinion with Allardyce. West Ham are keen to sort out the situation and SunSport has learned the £8million-rated midfielder, 21, could be tempted to stay were Allardyce to leave or be sacked.
A source close to the player revealed: "There's no way anyone can see Rav playing again under the current manager. "The position may change if a new man is brought in."
But an Upton Park insider insisted: "Ravel will return and play a full part in pre-season. "Our hope is he will settle down, sign a long-term deal and become a part of things — that's our preference. It's all in his hands."
SunSport reported on Monday that a West Ham fans' poll showed 77 per cent wanted Big Sam sacked. I can't say I am surprised. To my mind Ravel Morrison is the player we should be building a team around, assuming his talents can be harnessed properly. There's no way back for him if Sam Allardyce remains in post, I'm afraid.
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CATCHING UP WITH A WEST HAM WINNING CAPTAIN!
By ExWHUemployee 30 Apr 2014 at 09:00
West Ham Till I Die
The last couple of months haven't seen a huge amount of positivity connected with the club and we haven't had much to cheer about. There has been one shinning light and that has been the recent cup success of the West Ham ladies team. I managed to catch up with West Ham ladies captain, Stacey Little, and ask her about the cup success!
Firstly could I say congratulations to you and the team for your impressive cup final win, can you tell us about the match?
Thank you. Well we scored very early on and I think that's what you need in a cup final. It settled everyone's nerves. It wasn't pretty. The ground was incredibly hard which made our game very hard to play. We like to get the ball down but the conditions made it a lot harder to be able to do this. We scored a second before half time and went in 2-0 up. Second half we knew Barking would come at us but if we played our game and made the ball do the work they would start to tire. We went out with the mentality that it was still 0-0. Barking had their chances but I think in the end our quality in defence, on the ball and in front of goal was the difference as we scored a third, fourth and then the fifth. Barking played well and they deserved their goal. You saw how much it meant to them as well to get the goal.This was an important match for us as a team and as a club. To win silverware in such a turbulent season is a great achievement for all involved.
What were the after match celebrations like?
They were very lively. A lot of dancing, happy juice and chanting of Championes championes ole ole ole!
Other than the cup final, do you have any other career highlights?
I can't say that I have any that spring to mind straight away to be honest. I think a highlight for some of the girls at our level is to be able to get the chance to play at the men's grounds. I've had the chance to play at Loftus Road and The Kingpower Stadium. It's always nice to play on those pitches.
How did the rest of the season go for the ladies?
The rest of the season has been incredibly tough and very frustrating at times. We had key players leave us at the start of the season, training days had to be changed and then our manager and a number of players left mid-way through the season. All this has added up to find us second from bottom in the league. A position that I personally feel we should be nowhere near.
Can you describe how it feels to captain West Ham ladies?
It's an amazing and very proud feeling to captain the side that I've grown up supporting. Just pulling on that shirt every week was special enough but pulling on that armband now as well makes it even more special.
Do you have any future career aspirations?
As cheesy as it sounds I can't see myself pulling on another shirt now. I would have loved to of played in the Women's Super League with West Ham but unfortunately that isn't going to be possible for me personally. So I'll settle for winning the league with West Ham Ladies.
How did you first get into football and have you played for any other teams?
I always joined in with the boys at school or down the local football club. I would also go to Football Schemes that would run during half terms. It was my local team Hatfield Youth I started out at before then being able to move in to Women's football for Colney Heath. Apart from playing for my local teams when I was younger, I played for QPR for a short period of time before moving to Charlton for 3 seasons and now I'll be going into my 5th season with West Ham.
Do you have any advice for any girls looking to get into the West Ham ladies squad?
Work hard during training and outside of training in your own time, be committed and passionate and want to be involved in that First Team squad.
Are you a West Ham fan?
Yes I am, through the good times and the bad.
Do you have any other particular interests or passions away from playing football?
Football dominates a lot of my time as I'm also a West Ham Season Ticket Holder. So when I'm not around football, spending time with my family and friends is important to me.
If you could make any changes to the ladies game what would they be?
If I could make a change to the ladies game I would structure the leagues the same as the men's game. Although the introduction of the Women's Super-League's 1 and 2 has promoted the ladies game massively I fear that the gap between our league and the super league will just be too big to ever compete against them in cup games for example. It also becomes a challenge to attract new players to the club as we don't have the same funding and set up these Super League Clubs have.
It would also be nice to see the male teams support their female counterparts more.
How would you assess the men's team performance this season?
It's been a very disappointing season. Some of the performances as well have been painful to watch. In my opinion, I think we're very one dimensional and very predictable. Teams know what we're going to do. Hit that long ball up to Andy Carroll and hope someone gets on the end of it. We lack creativity.
I think Stacey echoes the sentiments of many West Ham fans! At least the ladies gave us something to cheer this season!
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Everton plot transfer of West Ham's Mohamed Diame and a reunion with Roberto Martinez
Apr 30, 2014 19:36 By Neil Rowlands
The Mirror
Troubled West Ham look set to lose powerhouse midfielder Mohamed Diame in the summer. Manager Sam Allardyce's future hangs in the balance after fans turned against him following the Hammers' slide down the table, and now Everton boss Roberto Martinez wants to whisk Diame away for a Goodison reunion.
Martinez signed the Senegal international for previous club Wigan in 2009 and managed him for three seasons. He still rates the 26-year-old highly and has made discreet enquiries. He sees Diame as the perfect replacement for Gareth Barry, whose season-long loan from Manchester City to the Toffees expires this summer. Diame is ready to quit Upton Park and still has a £3.5m buy-out clause in his contract, even though West Ham have tried to remove it by offering him better terms. Arsenal and Liverpool have been keen on the player in the past, but did not pursue their interest and now Everton could be ready to take him.
Diame recently admitted a desire to play for a top six club and would jump at the chance of going to Everton, especially as it represents a chance to work with Martinez again. The Toffees are unsure what the future holds with former England midfielder Barry, who could command a lucrative contract because he will be a free agent. Martinez is also not certain they could convince on-loan Romelu Lukaku to sign permanently without Champions League football, or afford him - especially with other clubs interested in the Chelsea striker. However, the Spaniard will try to sign forward Gerard Deulofeu on another season-long loan from Barcelona.
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West Ham's Allardyce faces sack in the summer if they lose to Tottenham on Saturday
Apr 29, 2014 22:30 By Darren Lewis, Neil McLeman
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce risks being axed next month if his West Ham side get beaten this weekend by Tottenham. Hammers chiefs are aware of a fan poll revealing 77 per cent of their supporters want Big Sam out. And with the odds against the Upton Park club winning their final match of the season away to title-chasing Manchester City, Saturday lunchtime's visit from bitter London rivals Spurs is being seen as Allardyce's last stand. A final decision on his future will be taken at the end of the season, with the 59-year-old understood to be adamant that he will not walk away from a contract which still has a year to run. While West Ham accept their best chance of remaining in the Premier League is with him, many within the club share the fans' demand for more entertaining football. Meanwhile, Hammers centre-back Winston Reid has admitted they have two big problems: They can't defend and they can't score goals. A fourth consecutive defeat, at West Brom on Saturday, leaves the east Londoners still in danger of the drop and centre-back Winston Reid said: "We just can't really score goals at the moment and we are conceding so it is not really the best. We have to start putting away our chances. "That is two games where we haven't scored now, while we also should have done better with West Brom's goal, so all in all we are not really hitting our best form. "At least we are creating our chances, but we are not finishing them off. "We haven't really been talking about relegation to be honest, we have just be concentrating on trying to get more points and pushing ourselves up the table, but we have lost four games in a row and it has not come at a good time."
Reid also gave an insight into the pre-match tactics for the trip to The Hawthorns, where Saido Berahino scored the game's only goal. "There wasn't really a gameplan, because we didn't know who was going to be playing for them," said the New Zealand international. "You just have to deal with it whoever it is."
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The end of Sam Allardyce?
Curtains for Big Sam
Moore Than Just A Club
The days of West Ham being renowned across the country as a team that plays free-flowing and attractive football seem nothing but a distant memory. Nowadays, Allardyce has earned The Hammers the unwanted reputation as a one dimensional team playing nothing more than what can be described as 'hoofball'. After the fourth successive loss suffered on Saturday against a fairly average West Bromwich Albion, West Ham are still fairly safe as far as staying up is concerned. However, after years of experience, one thing that I am sure about is that West Ham will not make easy work of it. Saturday saw more than just a fourth consecutive loss for Allardyce. There appeared to be a real contrast in the emotions shown by the supporters at The Hawthorns. Pepe Mel and his club appear to be on the up, albeit after eight attempts, he has finally picked up a home win. However, more importantly he has the backing of the fans, something hard to come by in this day and age, and something that Sam Allardyce can only dream of. The 59-year-old was welcomed by the away fans to fairly regular chants such as 'We want our West Ham back' amongst others which are all too explicit to put into writing. This combined with a rather to the point banner which read 'Fat Sam out – you're killing WHU'.
The tension amongst the fans has been evident throughout the season, particularly in the last month or so. And it has finally reared its ugly head not only after a run of defeats, but to some, in particular the football purists, after they are now seeing an ugly, monotonous style of play. This style of play could be accounted for if it was providing the club with results; however it is neither here nor there. The results have been poor as have the performances.
The remaining two fixtures look bleak. The crowd favourite visit of Tottenham next Saturday should fill Upton Park with hostility towards the Spurs players, however if the atmosphere at The Hawthorns is anything to go by, then the home side will be the team under pressure. This penultimate fixture, in comparison with the final day of the season seems rather easy. An away trip to Manchester City awaits on May 11th. Who themselves have everything to play for now that they have one hand on the Premier League trophy following Liverpool's home defeat to Chelsea.
The West Ham chairmen have a very difficult decision to think about this summer, or indeed in the next few days if they wish to terminate Big Sam's' contract at Upton Park. The prospect of moving into the Olympic Stadium looms over the club and with the move scheduled for the 2016-2017 season; the owners need to ensure that they will be playing in the Premier League. Something which Allardyce has proven he can do on a number of occasions.
It's undoubtable that the club's main concern is to be playing in the best league in the world. However, the fans expect more from their club and they have every reason to do so. I feel that the time has come for a change; the club needs to get the players and the fans back together, united as one.
The fans are experienced and wise enough to know that West Ham are not going to challenge for the title, but is something a bit more than recurring relegation battle really too much to ask?
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Why Sam Allardyce is more important to West Ham than Ravel Morrison
A few years in the company of a star is a pipe dream that should be trumped by a more reliable reality.
Bwinbetting.com
West Ham have been posed an ultimatum of sorts by their on-loan midfielder Ravel Morrison, according to The Sun. According to the red-top periodical, Morrison has suggested he will not represent the eastenders again while Sam Allardyce is manager of the club. Once thought of as the long-term successor to Paul Scholes when on the books of Manchester United, the youngster showed flashes of his immense potential earlier this term, such as when bagging a delightful solo effort against Tottenham in the Irons' 3-0 White Hart Lane win. Losing a player of such effervescent promise will be a bitter pill for bubble-blowing diehards to take after a season of often less than inspiring fare. Morrison won't be available to help the Irons and their manager attempt to justify odds of 3/1 about their third victory over Spurs of the campaign next time out. Defeat in the clash could spell Allardyce's demise come the end of the season if reports from The Mirror are to be believed. If 'Big Sam' slips the noose, the prospect of losing Morrison is sure to merely concentrate the ire of the 12,392 Hammers who registered a no confidence vote in their gaffer in a recent poll conducted by 16 independent fanzines and blogs. However, while the 21-year-old may have dazzled on occasions this term, his past record of misdemeanours means he is unlikely ever be to regarded as God's gift to team spirit. He may be excelling in a creative role for QPR in the Championship, but so did Adel Taraabt. At West Ham, where Allardyce has worked diligently to paper over the cracks in a less than brilliant squad by creating a cohesive collective, his occasional caprices could be more damaging than elsewhere. The Dudley native has never been relegated after a full season in charge across a managerial career of more than 20 years and removing him from office in order to pander to a tyro yet to truly justify the hype would smack of the kind of short-term, reactionary decision making that the club's support have frowned upon in the past. In all probability, removing Allardyce would only enhance the likelihood that West Ham would endure relegation next season, making it improbable a player of Morrison's quality would hang around anyhow.
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West Ham target will join Arsenal says Matthaus
By matt_harris | Posted: April 30, 2014
BrentwoodGazette.co.uk
A STRIKER Sam Allardyce watched will move to Arsenal instead claims German football legend Lothar Matthaus. The West Ham manager personally scouted Swiss forward Josip Drmic, who plays for Nuremburg, earlier this month. The 21-year-old has 16 goals in 32 appearances in the Bundesliga this season, and Matthaus, a pundit of German TV, is adamant he will move to the Gunners in the summer. The 53-year-old told Blick: "Although now Dortmund, Gladbach and Leverkusen also have interest in him. I'm saying: Josip Drmic will move to Arsenal. "I made a mistake. I said his wife was already looking at apartments. The fact is that this is his girlfriend. Drmic has a girlfriend of nine months. She lived five or six months with him in Nuremberg. "Look, if a journalist hears something, he researches and writes about it. I'm kind of a journalist at Sky and have heard the rumour of a move to Arsenal. "I then found out that this is true and he's going there. So the research is clear."
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Bilic would cost Hammers £3m in compensation
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 30, 2014 in Whispers
Claret&hugh.com
West Ham fans' favourite Slaven Bilic will cost the club £3 million if they try to make him the next Hammers boss! 200px-Slaven_BilićBilic is currently managing currently managing Turkish outfit Beşiktaş and has two years left on his deal at £1.5 million a year. The former Hammer who spent the 1996-97 season at the club before moving onto Everton, came second in a recent fans poll to take over at The Boleyn should Sam Allardyce leave. It is understood from sources close to the club that the 45 year old has been interviewed in the past for the jobn but that a deal could not be hammered out. A source told ClaretandHugh exclusively earlier in the day that the Hammers would not be commenting on Allardyce's position or any potential candidates "because at the moment no job exists."
However, he added – with smallest of smiles – "We are very aware of the fans' favourites and that Slaven Bilic would be among them." Bilic has managed Hajduk Split, the Croatain under 21s and full national sides and Lokomotiv Moscow before taking over at Besiktas.
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West Ham News: Sam protest worst since 90s
Footballdirectnews/com
by Hugh Southon30th April 2014 2:30pm BST
Tony Cottee believes the demonstrations against West Ham manager Sam Allardyce are louder than any he has heard since his playing days at Upton Park.
Indeed he believes the current protests are the worst he can remember since the 1990s when the club's fans rebelled over the ill-fated Bond scheme. That was one of the darkest periods in the club's history and saw pitch invasions as the fan's protested against the scheme which would have forced fans into the purchase of a bond before they could buy a season ticket. Eventually, the idea was binned with only 1,000 of the 19,301 Bonds sold. Today's problems solely involve the manager and Cottee believes he has fallen foul of fans whom he believes are particularly wise on footballing matters. Cottee speaking to [football] direct news believes Allardyce's football is probably less acceptable than that of even relegated Avram Grant and Glenn Roeder. He said: "The protests are growing louder and louder. The results under Avram and Glenn were pretty horrendous but although there was murmuring and moaning I don't remember it being anything like this. "I've said this before and it bears repeating. The fans are the judge and jury on a manager. Sam could finish on a high and be able to look with more confidence to the future. "But if he doesn't he can expect the fans to be getting noisier and noisier and that is bad news for him."
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Everton linked with Diame - again
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 1st May 2014
By: Staff Writer
Everton boss Roberto Martinez is being linked with a summer swoop for West Ham's Mo Diame, according to this morning's papers. The Toffees' Spanish manager is said to be a keen admirer of the midfield powerhouse, having worked alongside him at Wigan prior to the Latics' relegation from the Premier League. Diame, one of several first team players to have suffered from inconsistency this season is rumoured to have a £3.5million release clause in his contract which led to heavy speculation that he would leave the Boleyn Ground last summer. Martinez and Everton were reported to be interested in the Senegal international then, but a bid failed to materialise - something which calls into question the veracity of the last link. The midfielder was first linked with a summer switch earlier this month when he told L'Equipe that he hoped to secure a move to a "top six" club, such as Liverpool who had previously expressed an interest in signing him. Sam Allardyce was typically forthright when asked about the possibility of that happening following the recent 3-1 defeat at Arsenal. "Well he'll have to perform better, won't he," was Big Sam's reply.
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Ravel blasts newspaper 'rubbish', Gold wants Ravel return
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 30th April 2014
By: Staff Writer
David Gold is looking forward to Ravel Morrison's return from his loan spell at Queens Park Rangers - whilst insisting that the youngster could become 'a special player'. West Ham United's co-owner, speaking in an interview with Ridge Radio revealed that he had high hopes for the 21-year-old who has been on loan with Championship club Queens Park Rangers since January. Morrison's short spell at Loftus Road has thus far resulted in six goals from 15 games and a permanent spot in Harry Redknapp's starting XI. He will remain with the Rs until their play-off campaign is over. And tonight Gold insisted that the England Under 21 international was still wanted by the Hammers - with whom he started the 2013/14 season so well before being sent out on loan - and that if he applies himself in the right fashion, could become one of the very best. "He did fantastic when he went to Birmingham in the Championship last year and he did fantastic when he came back to West Ham for several months - and he played a big part in the victory over Tottenham," said Gold. "He's plying his trade and he's a young man that wants to play every week - and we know that's difficult in the Premier League. "But by going out to Birmingham and now to QPR he's playing week in, week out. Hopefully he'll come back at the end of the season, take a break and come back for a pre-season. "He'll be a year older, a year more mature and more experienced. It's within his power to be a special player - even a great player - because he's got that natural ability, the way in which he just glides past players. It's up to him. That's what every fan would love to see - and let me tell you, that's what Sam would love to see."
Morrison's departure from West Ham is said to have arisen as the result of a rift between the midfielder and manager Sam Allardyce. Shortly after his move to QPR, Morrison's agent Nick Rubery posted a message on Twitter indirectly criticising West Ham's style of play under Allardyce. Since moving to Upton Park on the final day of the 2012 winter transfer window, the former Manchester United youngster has made just 22 appearances for West Ham (including six substitute appearances). As well as scoring that memorable strike at Tottenham back in October, Morrison also hit the target against Cheltenham, Everton, Cardiff and Norwich prior to Christmas. His last appearance in a West Ham shirt came in the 3-0 Capital One Cup semi final, second leg defeat at home to Manchester City on January 21st.
* Morrison spoke out tonight to dismiss a tabloid newspaper's claim that he would only consider a return to West Ham if Sam Allardyce was no longer the manager. "Papers talk a lot of rubbish," wrote Ravel on his Twitter timeline. "I don't care what manager I play under, all I want to do is play football," he added - before signing off with a West Ham hashtag.
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WHUFC.com
West Ham United skipper Kevin Nolan says the team is united in their aim to end on a high
30.04.2014
West Ham United skipper Kevin Nolan is desperate to overcome a frustrating period for his side when they take on Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. The Hammers will be going for a third victory of the season over the north Londoners after memorable White Hart Lane wins in league and cup. To complete the hat-trick would represent the perfect home send-off for the Hammers, at the same time as securing a position of mathematical safety in the Barclays Premier League. Nolan spoke to whufc.com on the team's recent difficulties and their determination to put things right.
Kevin, looking back at West Brom, we didn't deserve to lose the game on Saturday...
KN: "It's most frustrating for all of us. I think anyone who was at the game knows that. At West Brom, they were scrapping for their lives, got their goal and then scrapped away for the rest of the game and we just couldn't put the ball in the back of the net. "We huffed and puffed a bit in the second half, but I felt we had enough chances to get something out of the game and deserved something."
The first half-an-hour, if you took their goal out of the game, there was only one team in it at that stage.
KN: "It was the same the week before against Crystal Palace and that is our Achilles heel - we just can't put the ball in the back of the net. The lads are disappointed that we're not doing it and it's something we're working on. "I just hope we can get an easy chance from a couple of yards and it will set us off and running. "I think everyone, both inside and outside the Club, is disappointed and frustrated because we are limping over the line and that's not what we wanted to do. We wanted to get some momentum going into next season. "We've got a fantastic game to look forward to on Saturday and we need to draw on the positives of what we've done this season against Tottenham. Hopefully, come the end of the game, we will be celebrating another win over them and another year in the Barclays Premier League. "It's been a difficult year and, with what we've been put through, I think we've done well to be where we are. Don't get me wrong, I think if we'd had fewer injuries I think we'd have been much higher in the table, but that wasn't to be. "We're going to make sure we get over the line and come back next season raring to go and ready to put West Ham back in that top ten, where we firmly believe we belong."
Can you understand the nervousness from some of the supporters?
KN: "Of course, because we're nervous as well. We need them to be as much behind us as we are behind them. We understand that they have their own opinions and they are entitled to them - they pay to come and watch us. You have to take that as a footballer."
Looking ahead, you don't need any incentive to complete a hat-trick of wins against Tottenham...
KN: "We know we can finish off the season at home in a nice way by putting Tottenham to bed for the third time this season. We know we willl have to work hard for it, and something the lads will have to look forward this week is making sure we get over the line ourselves and not wait for someone else to do it for us."
Having got to tenth or eleventh place, did we take our eyes off the ball a little?
KN: "No, it's just been a difficult time. Three of the last four games we definitely didn't deserve to lose, but that's just the way the cookie crumbles.
"Last year, sometimes we won games we didn't deserve to win, but this season it hasn't happened like that. We haven't had those lucky escapes. We've lost games we have deserved to win, but we've not really scrapped out those results and got them when we haven't played to our best."
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Gold to make amends for Boys of '64 mix-up
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 30th April 2014
By: Staff Writer
David Gold has revealed that he plans to make amends for the problems that beset the recent visit of four members of the 1964 FA Cup Final team to the Boleyn Ground. The four ex-Hammers - Ronnie Boyce, Eddie Bovington, Ken Brown and Peter Brabrook - were invited to the Crystal Palace match in order to be presented to the crowd ahead of kick off, some 50 years after they won the FA Cup for West Ham for the first time by beating Preston North End 3-2 at Wembley.
However 24 hours before the game the sad death of Dylan Tombides threw the club's plans into chaos, which resulted in the four men - all now in their 70s and 80s - having to fend for themselves (which including queueing for a meal, purchasing their own drinks and having to sit at the back of the West Stand's upper tier instead of in the Directors' Box).
As a result, the players subsequently informed West Ham that they would not be accepting an invitation to the club's end of season awards ceremony, to which they were only offered one free ticket each.
However David Gold, who has been at the forefront of plans to recognise West Ham's heroes of the past revealed tonight that he would be looking to make amends in the near future. Speaking on Ridge Radio this evening, Gold said: "On that Saturday, West Ham Ladies had won the Essex trophy and we also had the team of '64 at Upton Park. But sadly everything got overshadowed by that sad event [the death of Dylan Tombides]. "We'll have to pick up the pieces and see what we can do."
West Ham United won the FA Cup for the first time ever on 2nd May 1964 when they beat second division Preston North End 3-2 at Wembley. The goalscorers on the day were Johnny Sissons, Geoff Hurst and the aforementioned 'Ticker' Boyce.
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Tour dates confirmed
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 30th April 2014
By: Staff Writer
The dates for West Ham United's summer tour to New Zealand have finally been announced. As revealed here on KUMB.com back in February, the Hammers will be visiting the Australasian nation for the first time in their history this summer in order to play two fixtures against Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC in what is being billed as 'the Football United Tour'. And also involved in what will be a four-team tournament are fellow Premier League side Newcastle United, currently managed by former Hammers boss Alan Pardew. West Ham will face Phoenix at Eden Park on Wednesday, 23rd July before taking on Australian's Sydney at the Westpac Stadium three days later (Saturday, 26th July). Meanwhile, for those travelling fans wishing to maximise their football intake during the tour, Newcastle will face Sydney at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Tuesday, 22nd July and Wellington at the Westpac Stadium in the capital on Saturday, 26th July.
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce told whufc.com: "We've been busy putting together the best pre-season preparation that I've had and it's great that we're able to go to New Zealand as a key part of that. "It'll be great for our fans in the region to see us play. I went over to Australia with Blackburn Rovers and I was quite surprised how many Blackburn fans there were that lived there. I'd expect ten times more fans to be looking forward to us playing in New Zealand this summer!"
And Alan Pardew, speaking to nufc.co.uk added: "We are very much looking forward to being part of the Football United Tour and to training and playing at first class facilities in Dunedin and Wellington. "Football has grown impressively in both New Zealand and Australia in recent years, with some excellent players and teams coming to the fore, so the Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC fixtures will provide a good test for our players as we prepare them for next season."
The Mayor of Wellington, Celia Wade-Brown was also delighted by the news and the opportunity to welcome two Premier League teams to her City. "The Wellington City Council is delighted to work with the Phoenix on bringing this great sporting contest to the capital," she said. "Our stadium's location is ideally suited to a big match, and the beautiful game will be fully celebrated in a football festival for everybody. This spectacular event will draw football fans from around the country and across the Tasman."
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West Ham and Newcastle United to take part in New Zealand summer tournament
Last Updated: 30/04/14 10:54am
SSN
West Ham and Newcastle United will take part in a four-team tournament in New Zealand with A-League sides Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC this summer.
Newcastle will play Sydney in Dunedin on July 22, with Wellington taking on West Ham in Auckland the following day. The tournament finishes with a double header in Wellington on July 26 when Sydney play West Ham and Wellington take on Newcastle. Hammers defender Winston Reid, captain of the New Zealand national team, said he was looking forward to touring his homeland. "Football is really on the up in both New Zealand and Australia and we are all looking forward to meeting all the fans and playing exciting matches against two leading A-League clubs," he said. West Ham manager Sam Allardyce said: "The tournament in New Zealand is particularly interesting as it allows us to promote West Ham United and the Premier League over there. "It'll be great for our fans in the region to see us play."
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RAVEL OR SAM - THAT'S THE CHOICE
By Iain Dale 30 Apr 2014 at 13:10
West Ham Till I Die
This is what The Sun's Carl Long has written this morning.
RAVEL MORRISON'S West Ham future may hang on whether under-fire boss Sam Allardyce keeps his job this summer. The England Under-21 star is currently on loan at QPR after some well-publicised differences of opinion with Allardyce. West Ham are keen to sort out the situation and SunSport has learned the £8million-rated midfielder, 21, could be tempted to stay were Allardyce to leave or be sacked.
A source close to the player revealed: "There's no way anyone can see Rav playing again under the current manager. "The position may change if a new man is brought in."
But an Upton Park insider insisted: "Ravel will return and play a full part in pre-season. "Our hope is he will settle down, sign a long-term deal and become a part of things — that's our preference. It's all in his hands."
SunSport reported on Monday that a West Ham fans' poll showed 77 per cent wanted Big Sam sacked. I can't say I am surprised. To my mind Ravel Morrison is the player we should be building a team around, assuming his talents can be harnessed properly. There's no way back for him if Sam Allardyce remains in post, I'm afraid.
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CATCHING UP WITH A WEST HAM WINNING CAPTAIN!
By ExWHUemployee 30 Apr 2014 at 09:00
West Ham Till I Die
The last couple of months haven't seen a huge amount of positivity connected with the club and we haven't had much to cheer about. There has been one shinning light and that has been the recent cup success of the West Ham ladies team. I managed to catch up with West Ham ladies captain, Stacey Little, and ask her about the cup success!
Firstly could I say congratulations to you and the team for your impressive cup final win, can you tell us about the match?
Thank you. Well we scored very early on and I think that's what you need in a cup final. It settled everyone's nerves. It wasn't pretty. The ground was incredibly hard which made our game very hard to play. We like to get the ball down but the conditions made it a lot harder to be able to do this. We scored a second before half time and went in 2-0 up. Second half we knew Barking would come at us but if we played our game and made the ball do the work they would start to tire. We went out with the mentality that it was still 0-0. Barking had their chances but I think in the end our quality in defence, on the ball and in front of goal was the difference as we scored a third, fourth and then the fifth. Barking played well and they deserved their goal. You saw how much it meant to them as well to get the goal.This was an important match for us as a team and as a club. To win silverware in such a turbulent season is a great achievement for all involved.
What were the after match celebrations like?
They were very lively. A lot of dancing, happy juice and chanting of Championes championes ole ole ole!
Other than the cup final, do you have any other career highlights?
I can't say that I have any that spring to mind straight away to be honest. I think a highlight for some of the girls at our level is to be able to get the chance to play at the men's grounds. I've had the chance to play at Loftus Road and The Kingpower Stadium. It's always nice to play on those pitches.
How did the rest of the season go for the ladies?
The rest of the season has been incredibly tough and very frustrating at times. We had key players leave us at the start of the season, training days had to be changed and then our manager and a number of players left mid-way through the season. All this has added up to find us second from bottom in the league. A position that I personally feel we should be nowhere near.
Can you describe how it feels to captain West Ham ladies?
It's an amazing and very proud feeling to captain the side that I've grown up supporting. Just pulling on that shirt every week was special enough but pulling on that armband now as well makes it even more special.
Do you have any future career aspirations?
As cheesy as it sounds I can't see myself pulling on another shirt now. I would have loved to of played in the Women's Super League with West Ham but unfortunately that isn't going to be possible for me personally. So I'll settle for winning the league with West Ham Ladies.
How did you first get into football and have you played for any other teams?
I always joined in with the boys at school or down the local football club. I would also go to Football Schemes that would run during half terms. It was my local team Hatfield Youth I started out at before then being able to move in to Women's football for Colney Heath. Apart from playing for my local teams when I was younger, I played for QPR for a short period of time before moving to Charlton for 3 seasons and now I'll be going into my 5th season with West Ham.
Do you have any advice for any girls looking to get into the West Ham ladies squad?
Work hard during training and outside of training in your own time, be committed and passionate and want to be involved in that First Team squad.
Are you a West Ham fan?
Yes I am, through the good times and the bad.
Do you have any other particular interests or passions away from playing football?
Football dominates a lot of my time as I'm also a West Ham Season Ticket Holder. So when I'm not around football, spending time with my family and friends is important to me.
If you could make any changes to the ladies game what would they be?
If I could make a change to the ladies game I would structure the leagues the same as the men's game. Although the introduction of the Women's Super-League's 1 and 2 has promoted the ladies game massively I fear that the gap between our league and the super league will just be too big to ever compete against them in cup games for example. It also becomes a challenge to attract new players to the club as we don't have the same funding and set up these Super League Clubs have.
It would also be nice to see the male teams support their female counterparts more.
How would you assess the men's team performance this season?
It's been a very disappointing season. Some of the performances as well have been painful to watch. In my opinion, I think we're very one dimensional and very predictable. Teams know what we're going to do. Hit that long ball up to Andy Carroll and hope someone gets on the end of it. We lack creativity.
I think Stacey echoes the sentiments of many West Ham fans! At least the ladies gave us something to cheer this season!
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Everton plot transfer of West Ham's Mohamed Diame and a reunion with Roberto Martinez
Apr 30, 2014 19:36 By Neil Rowlands
The Mirror
Troubled West Ham look set to lose powerhouse midfielder Mohamed Diame in the summer. Manager Sam Allardyce's future hangs in the balance after fans turned against him following the Hammers' slide down the table, and now Everton boss Roberto Martinez wants to whisk Diame away for a Goodison reunion.
Martinez signed the Senegal international for previous club Wigan in 2009 and managed him for three seasons. He still rates the 26-year-old highly and has made discreet enquiries. He sees Diame as the perfect replacement for Gareth Barry, whose season-long loan from Manchester City to the Toffees expires this summer. Diame is ready to quit Upton Park and still has a £3.5m buy-out clause in his contract, even though West Ham have tried to remove it by offering him better terms. Arsenal and Liverpool have been keen on the player in the past, but did not pursue their interest and now Everton could be ready to take him.
Diame recently admitted a desire to play for a top six club and would jump at the chance of going to Everton, especially as it represents a chance to work with Martinez again. The Toffees are unsure what the future holds with former England midfielder Barry, who could command a lucrative contract because he will be a free agent. Martinez is also not certain they could convince on-loan Romelu Lukaku to sign permanently without Champions League football, or afford him - especially with other clubs interested in the Chelsea striker. However, the Spaniard will try to sign forward Gerard Deulofeu on another season-long loan from Barcelona.
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West Ham's Allardyce faces sack in the summer if they lose to Tottenham on Saturday
Apr 29, 2014 22:30 By Darren Lewis, Neil McLeman
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce risks being axed next month if his West Ham side get beaten this weekend by Tottenham. Hammers chiefs are aware of a fan poll revealing 77 per cent of their supporters want Big Sam out. And with the odds against the Upton Park club winning their final match of the season away to title-chasing Manchester City, Saturday lunchtime's visit from bitter London rivals Spurs is being seen as Allardyce's last stand. A final decision on his future will be taken at the end of the season, with the 59-year-old understood to be adamant that he will not walk away from a contract which still has a year to run. While West Ham accept their best chance of remaining in the Premier League is with him, many within the club share the fans' demand for more entertaining football. Meanwhile, Hammers centre-back Winston Reid has admitted they have two big problems: They can't defend and they can't score goals. A fourth consecutive defeat, at West Brom on Saturday, leaves the east Londoners still in danger of the drop and centre-back Winston Reid said: "We just can't really score goals at the moment and we are conceding so it is not really the best. We have to start putting away our chances. "That is two games where we haven't scored now, while we also should have done better with West Brom's goal, so all in all we are not really hitting our best form. "At least we are creating our chances, but we are not finishing them off. "We haven't really been talking about relegation to be honest, we have just be concentrating on trying to get more points and pushing ourselves up the table, but we have lost four games in a row and it has not come at a good time."
Reid also gave an insight into the pre-match tactics for the trip to The Hawthorns, where Saido Berahino scored the game's only goal. "There wasn't really a gameplan, because we didn't know who was going to be playing for them," said the New Zealand international. "You just have to deal with it whoever it is."
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The end of Sam Allardyce?
Curtains for Big Sam
Moore Than Just A Club
The days of West Ham being renowned across the country as a team that plays free-flowing and attractive football seem nothing but a distant memory. Nowadays, Allardyce has earned The Hammers the unwanted reputation as a one dimensional team playing nothing more than what can be described as 'hoofball'. After the fourth successive loss suffered on Saturday against a fairly average West Bromwich Albion, West Ham are still fairly safe as far as staying up is concerned. However, after years of experience, one thing that I am sure about is that West Ham will not make easy work of it. Saturday saw more than just a fourth consecutive loss for Allardyce. There appeared to be a real contrast in the emotions shown by the supporters at The Hawthorns. Pepe Mel and his club appear to be on the up, albeit after eight attempts, he has finally picked up a home win. However, more importantly he has the backing of the fans, something hard to come by in this day and age, and something that Sam Allardyce can only dream of. The 59-year-old was welcomed by the away fans to fairly regular chants such as 'We want our West Ham back' amongst others which are all too explicit to put into writing. This combined with a rather to the point banner which read 'Fat Sam out – you're killing WHU'.
The tension amongst the fans has been evident throughout the season, particularly in the last month or so. And it has finally reared its ugly head not only after a run of defeats, but to some, in particular the football purists, after they are now seeing an ugly, monotonous style of play. This style of play could be accounted for if it was providing the club with results; however it is neither here nor there. The results have been poor as have the performances.
The remaining two fixtures look bleak. The crowd favourite visit of Tottenham next Saturday should fill Upton Park with hostility towards the Spurs players, however if the atmosphere at The Hawthorns is anything to go by, then the home side will be the team under pressure. This penultimate fixture, in comparison with the final day of the season seems rather easy. An away trip to Manchester City awaits on May 11th. Who themselves have everything to play for now that they have one hand on the Premier League trophy following Liverpool's home defeat to Chelsea.
The West Ham chairmen have a very difficult decision to think about this summer, or indeed in the next few days if they wish to terminate Big Sam's' contract at Upton Park. The prospect of moving into the Olympic Stadium looms over the club and with the move scheduled for the 2016-2017 season; the owners need to ensure that they will be playing in the Premier League. Something which Allardyce has proven he can do on a number of occasions.
It's undoubtable that the club's main concern is to be playing in the best league in the world. However, the fans expect more from their club and they have every reason to do so. I feel that the time has come for a change; the club needs to get the players and the fans back together, united as one.
The fans are experienced and wise enough to know that West Ham are not going to challenge for the title, but is something a bit more than recurring relegation battle really too much to ask?
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Why Sam Allardyce is more important to West Ham than Ravel Morrison
A few years in the company of a star is a pipe dream that should be trumped by a more reliable reality.
Bwinbetting.com
West Ham have been posed an ultimatum of sorts by their on-loan midfielder Ravel Morrison, according to The Sun. According to the red-top periodical, Morrison has suggested he will not represent the eastenders again while Sam Allardyce is manager of the club. Once thought of as the long-term successor to Paul Scholes when on the books of Manchester United, the youngster showed flashes of his immense potential earlier this term, such as when bagging a delightful solo effort against Tottenham in the Irons' 3-0 White Hart Lane win. Losing a player of such effervescent promise will be a bitter pill for bubble-blowing diehards to take after a season of often less than inspiring fare. Morrison won't be available to help the Irons and their manager attempt to justify odds of 3/1 about their third victory over Spurs of the campaign next time out. Defeat in the clash could spell Allardyce's demise come the end of the season if reports from The Mirror are to be believed. If 'Big Sam' slips the noose, the prospect of losing Morrison is sure to merely concentrate the ire of the 12,392 Hammers who registered a no confidence vote in their gaffer in a recent poll conducted by 16 independent fanzines and blogs. However, while the 21-year-old may have dazzled on occasions this term, his past record of misdemeanours means he is unlikely ever be to regarded as God's gift to team spirit. He may be excelling in a creative role for QPR in the Championship, but so did Adel Taraabt. At West Ham, where Allardyce has worked diligently to paper over the cracks in a less than brilliant squad by creating a cohesive collective, his occasional caprices could be more damaging than elsewhere. The Dudley native has never been relegated after a full season in charge across a managerial career of more than 20 years and removing him from office in order to pander to a tyro yet to truly justify the hype would smack of the kind of short-term, reactionary decision making that the club's support have frowned upon in the past. In all probability, removing Allardyce would only enhance the likelihood that West Ham would endure relegation next season, making it improbable a player of Morrison's quality would hang around anyhow.
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West Ham target will join Arsenal says Matthaus
By matt_harris | Posted: April 30, 2014
BrentwoodGazette.co.uk
A STRIKER Sam Allardyce watched will move to Arsenal instead claims German football legend Lothar Matthaus. The West Ham manager personally scouted Swiss forward Josip Drmic, who plays for Nuremburg, earlier this month. The 21-year-old has 16 goals in 32 appearances in the Bundesliga this season, and Matthaus, a pundit of German TV, is adamant he will move to the Gunners in the summer. The 53-year-old told Blick: "Although now Dortmund, Gladbach and Leverkusen also have interest in him. I'm saying: Josip Drmic will move to Arsenal. "I made a mistake. I said his wife was already looking at apartments. The fact is that this is his girlfriend. Drmic has a girlfriend of nine months. She lived five or six months with him in Nuremberg. "Look, if a journalist hears something, he researches and writes about it. I'm kind of a journalist at Sky and have heard the rumour of a move to Arsenal. "I then found out that this is true and he's going there. So the research is clear."
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Bilic would cost Hammers £3m in compensation
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 30, 2014 in Whispers
Claret&hugh.com
West Ham fans' favourite Slaven Bilic will cost the club £3 million if they try to make him the next Hammers boss! 200px-Slaven_BilićBilic is currently managing currently managing Turkish outfit Beşiktaş and has two years left on his deal at £1.5 million a year. The former Hammer who spent the 1996-97 season at the club before moving onto Everton, came second in a recent fans poll to take over at The Boleyn should Sam Allardyce leave. It is understood from sources close to the club that the 45 year old has been interviewed in the past for the jobn but that a deal could not be hammered out. A source told ClaretandHugh exclusively earlier in the day that the Hammers would not be commenting on Allardyce's position or any potential candidates "because at the moment no job exists."
However, he added – with smallest of smiles – "We are very aware of the fans' favourites and that Slaven Bilic would be among them." Bilic has managed Hajduk Split, the Croatain under 21s and full national sides and Lokomotiv Moscow before taking over at Besiktas.
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West Ham News: Sam protest worst since 90s
Footballdirectnews/com
by Hugh Southon30th April 2014 2:30pm BST
Tony Cottee believes the demonstrations against West Ham manager Sam Allardyce are louder than any he has heard since his playing days at Upton Park.
Indeed he believes the current protests are the worst he can remember since the 1990s when the club's fans rebelled over the ill-fated Bond scheme. That was one of the darkest periods in the club's history and saw pitch invasions as the fan's protested against the scheme which would have forced fans into the purchase of a bond before they could buy a season ticket. Eventually, the idea was binned with only 1,000 of the 19,301 Bonds sold. Today's problems solely involve the manager and Cottee believes he has fallen foul of fans whom he believes are particularly wise on footballing matters. Cottee speaking to [football] direct news believes Allardyce's football is probably less acceptable than that of even relegated Avram Grant and Glenn Roeder. He said: "The protests are growing louder and louder. The results under Avram and Glenn were pretty horrendous but although there was murmuring and moaning I don't remember it being anything like this. "I've said this before and it bears repeating. The fans are the judge and jury on a manager. Sam could finish on a high and be able to look with more confidence to the future. "But if he doesn't he can expect the fans to be getting noisier and noisier and that is bad news for him."
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Everton linked with Diame - again
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 1st May 2014
By: Staff Writer
Everton boss Roberto Martinez is being linked with a summer swoop for West Ham's Mo Diame, according to this morning's papers. The Toffees' Spanish manager is said to be a keen admirer of the midfield powerhouse, having worked alongside him at Wigan prior to the Latics' relegation from the Premier League. Diame, one of several first team players to have suffered from inconsistency this season is rumoured to have a £3.5million release clause in his contract which led to heavy speculation that he would leave the Boleyn Ground last summer. Martinez and Everton were reported to be interested in the Senegal international then, but a bid failed to materialise - something which calls into question the veracity of the last link. The midfielder was first linked with a summer switch earlier this month when he told L'Equipe that he hoped to secure a move to a "top six" club, such as Liverpool who had previously expressed an interest in signing him. Sam Allardyce was typically forthright when asked about the possibility of that happening following the recent 3-1 defeat at Arsenal. "Well he'll have to perform better, won't he," was Big Sam's reply.
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Ravel blasts newspaper 'rubbish', Gold wants Ravel return
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 30th April 2014
By: Staff Writer
David Gold is looking forward to Ravel Morrison's return from his loan spell at Queens Park Rangers - whilst insisting that the youngster could become 'a special player'. West Ham United's co-owner, speaking in an interview with Ridge Radio revealed that he had high hopes for the 21-year-old who has been on loan with Championship club Queens Park Rangers since January. Morrison's short spell at Loftus Road has thus far resulted in six goals from 15 games and a permanent spot in Harry Redknapp's starting XI. He will remain with the Rs until their play-off campaign is over. And tonight Gold insisted that the England Under 21 international was still wanted by the Hammers - with whom he started the 2013/14 season so well before being sent out on loan - and that if he applies himself in the right fashion, could become one of the very best. "He did fantastic when he went to Birmingham in the Championship last year and he did fantastic when he came back to West Ham for several months - and he played a big part in the victory over Tottenham," said Gold. "He's plying his trade and he's a young man that wants to play every week - and we know that's difficult in the Premier League. "But by going out to Birmingham and now to QPR he's playing week in, week out. Hopefully he'll come back at the end of the season, take a break and come back for a pre-season. "He'll be a year older, a year more mature and more experienced. It's within his power to be a special player - even a great player - because he's got that natural ability, the way in which he just glides past players. It's up to him. That's what every fan would love to see - and let me tell you, that's what Sam would love to see."
Morrison's departure from West Ham is said to have arisen as the result of a rift between the midfielder and manager Sam Allardyce. Shortly after his move to QPR, Morrison's agent Nick Rubery posted a message on Twitter indirectly criticising West Ham's style of play under Allardyce. Since moving to Upton Park on the final day of the 2012 winter transfer window, the former Manchester United youngster has made just 22 appearances for West Ham (including six substitute appearances). As well as scoring that memorable strike at Tottenham back in October, Morrison also hit the target against Cheltenham, Everton, Cardiff and Norwich prior to Christmas. His last appearance in a West Ham shirt came in the 3-0 Capital One Cup semi final, second leg defeat at home to Manchester City on January 21st.
* Morrison spoke out tonight to dismiss a tabloid newspaper's claim that he would only consider a return to West Ham if Sam Allardyce was no longer the manager. "Papers talk a lot of rubbish," wrote Ravel on his Twitter timeline. "I don't care what manager I play under, all I want to do is play football," he added - before signing off with a West Ham hashtag.
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