Preview - West Bromwich Albion
WHUFC.com
Everything you need to know about Saturday's FA Cup game with West Bromwich
Albion
13.02.2015
WEST BROMWICH ALBION v WEST HAM UNITED
FA CUP FIFTH ROUND TIE
THE HAWTHORNS
SATURDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2015
KICK-OFF: 12.45PM
REFEREE: MARTIN ATKINSON
In brief
West Ham United travel to the Black Country to face West Bromwich Albion for
the second time this season as the Hammers look to continue their FA Cup run
against the Baggies. In previous rounds, the Hammers had to overcome Everton
thanks to Adrian's penalty shootout heroics before beating a determined
Bristol City 1-0 away.
The Baggies, who sit in 14th in the Premier League table on 26 points, are
enjoying a resurgence of form as Tony Pulis looks to have had an impressive
impact since joining in January. The Baggies dispatched non-league Gateshead
7-0 before beating fellow Midlands club Birmingham City 2-1 at St. Andrews.
Sam Allardyce's men enjoyed success at the Hawthorns earlier in the season,
coming from a goal down to win 2-1. The Baggies went ahead through Craig
Dawson before goals from Kevin Nolan and James Tomkins secured the three
points.
Who are they?
West Bromwich Albion were formed in 1878 out of workers from Salter's Spring
Works in West Bromwich. They recorded their biggest ever win over Coseley in
1882, by an impressive 26-0 margin, and went on to win the Staffordshire
Senior Cup, their first trophy, the next season.
West Brom were one of twelve founding members of the Football League in
1888. That same year they won the FA Cup for the first time.
The Baggies won their one and only Division One title in 1919/20. Other
honours include winning the FA Cup a total of five times, most recently in
1967/68, as well as a League Cup title in 1965/66. More recently, they have
established themselves as a Premier League club after being promoted back to
the top flight in 2010.
Team news
West Ham United
The Hammers will be without England striker Andy Carroll for a number of
months after he suffered a knee injury in the 0-0 draw away at Southampton.
Midfielder Mark Noble has recovered from illness while Kevin Nolan is back
in contention having overcome a foot injury sustained against Manchester
United. Cheikhou Kouyate looks set to continue at centre-back while Doneil
Henry and Guy Demel are available having recovered from injury.
West Bromwich Albion
The Baggies will have to wait on Victor Anichebe who is suffering from a
groin strain. Youssef Mulumbu is out with a hamstring injury while Jonas
Olsson is also out.
Referee
Saturday's referee is the experienced Martin Atkinson. Hammers fans will be
pleased to hear that in the three games Atkinson has officiated this season
involving their side, West Ham remain unbeaten. They include the impressive
2-1 win over Manchester City and the 3-0 home win over Hull City. In the FA
Cup, Atkinson has been involved in Southampton's 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town
and Stoke City's 4-1 win over Rochdale. The assistant referees are Gary
Beswick and Stephen Child, while Chris Foy is the Fourth Official.
One to watch
West Ham United
25-year-old central defender James Tomkins has been in excellent form
recently, which has been recognised in the form of a five-and-a-year
contract. The Academy graduate has made 20 appearances this season, scoring
the winner against West Brom at the Hawthorns in December.
West Bromwich Albion Livewire Saido Berahino could prove to be a real
handful after returning to form against Swansea City in midweek with a
powerful finish to secure a vital win for the Baggies. The 21-year-old
striker has scored 15 goals already this season, leading to speculation
about his long term future at the Hawthorns.
TV coverage
Saturday's game is live on BT Sport 1, kick off is 12.45pm and coverage
starts at midday.
Tickets
Tickets are now sold out. Tickets for the Hammers' next home game with
Crystal Palace on Saturday 28 February are available here.
Travel
For all the information on how to get to the Hawthorns, click here. Please
note that with replacement buses operating on the Chiltern Line out of
London Marylebone, engineering works which were due to affect the London
Euston-Birmingham New Street route have been postponed.
Weather
Saturday afternoon is due to be an overcast day with temperature at kick off
forecast to be 6C (43F).
Last away meeting
West Bromwich Albion 1-2 West Ham United
Barclays Premier League
2 December 2014
The Hammers recorded an important 2-1 win away at the Hawthorns to maintain
their good run of form. Craig Dawson headed then manager Alan Irvine's side
into a ten minute lead before Kevin Nolan pounced in the six yard box to
equalise. On the stroke of half-time James Tomkins rose highest at the back
post to head home Stewart Downing's floated corner.
West Bromwich Albion: Foster, Lescott, Baird (Ideye 83), Dawson, Wisdom,
Sessegnon, Gardner (Varela 65), Brunt (Mulumbu 45+3), Dorrans, Anichebe,
Berahino
Subs not used: Myhill, Gamboa, McAuley, Samaras
West Ham United: Adrian, Reid, Tomkins, Cresswell, Jenkinson, Downing,
Amalfitano (Collins 65), Nolan, Kouyate, Carroll (Valencia 65), Zarate (Cole
78)
Subs not used: Jaaskelainen, Jarvis, O'Brien, Demel
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Chadwell Chatter
WHUFC.com
Carlton Cole would love to make a Wembley return with West Ham United
12.02.2015
Hello everyone,
There was a time a couple of weeks ago where it looked like I might be with
Saturday's opponents West Bromwich Albion rather than still here at West Ham
United. As you know, I was up at West Brom on transfer deadline day but the
deal didn't go through. These things happen and you just have to get on with
it. A bit was written about what happened but they are things in the past
and I am looking to the future. Because I hadn't been playing much here, it
is normal when a team shows interest in you and offers you game-time that
you are going to react a certain way if it doesn't go through, but obviously
the manager here has talked to me since that and we have moved on from
there.
It was nothing personal, I just felt a little bit hard done by, but these
things happen in football. I just have to be a professional and get on with
it and wait for my chance to come, which came at Southampton and I am
thankful for that.
The gaffer here kept faith in me by playing me at Southampton on Wednesday
night. I didn't expect to start and he knows that I am going to put in a
solid performance out there and try and influence the game as much as I can.
He knows what he is getting from me and that is probably what Tony Pulis saw
in me too. I didn't really get a chance to score on Wednesday, but when it
comes, hopefully I can take it.
Mark Noble and Kevin Nolan have both said to me that scoring at West Brom
would be something else after what happened. These things do happen in
football and I want to have more influence and build on my performance at St
Mary's.
Concentrating on Wednesday's game for a moment, the boys played with a bit
of fatigue in the team. A few of them were tired, but they have put in a
good shift. I just tried to put myself about, I didn't really get any
chances to score, but we tried to do our best and we have to respect the
point. I knew when Jussi came on he would be solid. He has got vast
experience in the Premier League, so I would have had faith in him all the
time. It was like a win at the end. We needed to get some sort of result
coming away from home against a team so high in the league. It is a great
point and I thought we fought well and at the end I was watching from the
bench anxious that they didn't score. The boys had a massive influence with
their defending which shows what we have been doing. Cheikhou Kouyate was
not really known as a defender in the Premier League, but he is now. He has
done brilliantly and I am really happy for him. He was awesome on Wednesday,
he was all over the field and it just shows you that we have the heart and
the spirit and the solidarity to go forward as well. As I said earlier, we
are all looking forward now and we have an FA Cup fifth-round tie to prepare
for.
I've obviously played for West Ham at Wembley before and we are not that far
away from going back. We just need to stay solid as a unit. We got the
result up there before, so we need to do that again and put in a proper,
solid performance. We will have some players back from injury as well which
will boost us. I know we can get a result up there. Everybody dreams of
scoring at Wembley and I have done that. For West Ham it was one of my best
moments and it will be a privilege for me to get into that position again. I
know you would all love another day out at Wembley too, so let's keep
working together and see what we can achieve!
Coley
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Carroll injury update
WHUFC.com
Andy Carroll will have surgery on his injured knee on Tuesday
13.02.2015
Andy Carroll will have surgery on his injured knee on Tuesday following
assessment by a specialist on Friday afternoon. The England international
injured his left knee during the second half of Wednesday night's 0-0
Barclays Premier League draw at Southampton.
The recovery phase is expected to keep Carroll out for the remainder of the
2014/15 season.
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Hammers successful in Adrian appeal
WHUFC.com
Adrian available to play at West Bromwich Albion after successful appeal
13.02.2015
West Ham United are pleased to confirm that their appeal over Adrian's red
card at Southampton has been upheld. An Independent Regulatory Commission
heard the appeal on Friday and decided that the Club were correct in
challenging the dismissal for denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
His one-match suspension has, therefore, been withdrawn with immediate
effect and the 28-year-old goalkeeper is now clear to play in Saturday's FA
Cup fifth round tie at West Bromwich Albion.
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Cheik keen for FA Cup glory
WHUFC.com
Cheikhou Kouyate wants to add to his medal collection by winning the FA Cup
13.02.2015
Cheikhou Kouyate is dreaming of adding another winner's medal to his
impressive collection by lifting this season's FA Cup. The West Ham United
No8 won seven trophies during a triumphant five-year spell with Belgian
giants RSC Anderlecht, before moving to east London last summer. Now, the
Senegal star is preparing for an FA Cup fifth-round tie at West Bromwich
Albion, knowing the Hammers are just three victories from a Wembley final.
"In Senegal I was a little boy and I looked at the FA Cup all the time on
the TV," said the 25-year-old. "I remember some Senegalese players like
El-Hadji Diouf and Papa Bouba Diop playing in the FA Cup and I liked that a
lot. "My ambition is to go to the final. If we go to West Brom and fight for
90 minutes for the qualification, we can do it and it's very important. I am
very ambitious and it's my dream to go to the final. "This is football and
it's very possible that we can win it - you have to have that in your mind.
This a cup and one or two wins and you can go to the final. We'll all be
fighting for it."
With James Collins and Winston Reid struggling with injuries, Kouyate is
expected to fill a central defensive role again at The Hawthorns - a role
he has filled with aplomb in Barclays Premier League draws with Manchester
United and Southampton. After blunting the likes of Robin van Persie, Falcao
and Graziano Pelle, the Hammers favourite will join forces with James
Tomkins again this Saturday, when the pair will face rising star Saido
Berahino and Nigeria powerhouse Brown Ideye. "Brown Ideye is a very good
striker, he is strong and speedy," Kouyate observed. "It's the same for
Berahino, who has strength, speed and very good technique. They are very
good strikers, but will fight them and I am not worried. "We've had two very
big, very hard games. Against Manchester United, we were unlucky because
they scored in the last minute, which was very frustrating. This is
football. "On Wednesday at Southampton, I loved the fighting spirit of the
team because it wasn't easy to play with nine men for 20 to 25 minutes. It
was very hard but we got a good point. "We played with great spirit and
mentality with all the players fighting all the time and fighting together.
This is a very good mentality for the team."
While their partnership may be just two games old, Kouyate and Tomkins
already look like they have played together for years. The Dakar-born player
may prefer a more advanced position, but he has taken to his defensive role
with admirable commitment and no little ability.
"I am a little experienced at centre-back. I played there for one year for
Anderlecht, including six games in the Champions League, so it's not a new
position for me. "Centre-back is a crucial position because you need to
concentrate all the time. If you lose one ball, it is very dangerous for the
team. You have to concentrate, play simple and keep a clean sheet if you can
- that's the aim for a defender.
"Tomkins is a good player, he is a very good defender. He makes it very easy
for me to play with him because he is helping me and talking to me all the
time."
While Kouyate's primary role will be to stop West Brom, he will also be
looking to make his mark at the attacking end of the pitch, having scored
twice in his last four West Ham appearances. After netting a header against
Arsenal and a right-foot volley against Manchester United, can he complete a
perfect hat-trick against the Baggies? "Ha! My left foot is very average! I
scored one time with my left foot in Belgium, but all things are possible in
football, so wait and see!" Perhaps more likely is a goal from Kouyate's
compatriot and close friend Diafra Sakho, who has ten to his name in just 18
appearances this season. "Diafra Sakho is a score-boy! He is Diafra-goal!
This guy is crazy, he is very hungry and all the time he sees the goal. All
the time he comes to me and says 'Cheik, tomorrow I'm scoring a goal' and
this guy is unbelievable and this guy is fantastic."
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Phillips targeting Villa victory
WHUFC.com
West Ham United U18s coach Mark Phillips is looking to beat Aston Villa on
Saturday
13.02.2015
West Ham United U18 coach Mark Phillips is looking ahead to Saturday's game
away at Aston Villa as the Hammers look to bounce back from a 3-2 defeat
last weekend by Fulham. After a slow start, the Academy side found
themselves 2-0 down and despite a much improved second half, left themselves
too much to do. Speaking ahead of Saturday's game with the Villains,
Phillips said: "Aston Villa will be a tough game, unfortunately they beat us
3-1 earlier in the season. They came to Little Heath and played pretty well.
"They're currently second in the league so it will be a tough game. We want
to bounce back after losing to Fulham last weekend. It was disappointing to
lose but I thought overall we played well. We had a lot of school boys
playing for us and I thought they did well."
With just three league games left of the season until the play offs,
Phillips is targeting a top four finish for the U18s. Currently fourth in
the Barclays U18 Premier League South Division, with 28 points from 19
games, they are on course to do just that. "We want to finish in the top
four for the play offs. Finishing in the top four is much more prestigious
and would be a harder test for the players which is exactly what we want.
"If we do get into the top four we'll play the likes Manchester United,
Manchester City and Everton, so that would be great."
With the Development Squad not in action for a few weeks, Phillips suggested
a number of those who were involved in the impressive 2-1 win over Fulham
last Friday at Rush Green would feature for the U18s this weekend. "We will
be utilising all the players we have available, including the players who
were involved with the U21s successfully last week. "They really played
well, it was an excellent performance from start to finish, by everyone.
Fulham had two experienced professionals in their side, a 27 and 28-year-old
whereas our team was predominantly youth team players. "It undoubtedly helps
that they have grown together for a number of years. I think almost everyone
playing against Fulham last week played in the youth cup last year. There's
a good team spirit and camaraderie and I think it showed on the pitch.
"After the U21s won on Friday, Neil McDonald came into the dressing room and
said with the first team in a secure position they hope to give younger
players a go before the end of the season. That's a great incentive for all
of the players."
Some of the youth players have already made that step as Reece Oxford, Reece
Burke and Elliot Lee were al on the bench for the Hammers' draw away at
Southampton. "It's a very proud moment for everyone when you see youth
players involved with the first team. It was fantastic to see all three on
the bench. It's a shame they didn't get on but the circumstances of the game
didn't allow it really."
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West Brom v West Ham
KO 12:45
13 February 2015
Last updated at 15:32
FA CUP FIFTH ROUND
Venue: The Hawthorns Date: Saturday, 14 February Kick-off: 12:45 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC local radio, Final Score
and Match of the Day
West Brom will have Chris Brunt as captain for the FA Cup fifth-round tie
with West Ham as midfielder Darren Fletcher is cup tied. Striker Victor
Anichebe is a doubt with a groin strain, but goalkeeper Boaz Myhill may play
after a finger injury.
Midfielders Kevin Nolan and Mark Noble could return for West Ham after
missing the goalless draw with Southampton. Nolan had a foot injury while
Noble had a virus. Striker Andy Carroll is likely to miss the rest of the
season.
West Brom have beaten Gateshead and Birmingham City to reach the fifth
round.
Lawro's prediction : "I hope this is an open game where both sides go for
it. It will be close, though. They are both in decent form - West Brom have
only lost one of their last eight games, and for West Ham it is one defeat
in nine." The Baggies are four points above the relegation zone but manager
Tony Pulis is keen to steer the club to Wembley. "We are a couple of games
from Wembley with the semi-finals staged there," he said. "If we can get
through this challenge and get a favourable draw...who knows what might be
ahead? "It is the excitement of the cup and I know this club has a great
history in the competition."
West Ham, have overcome Everton and Bristol City in this season's FA Cup,
and boss Sam Allardyce is also targeting a run to Wembley.
"We're safe in the league so we can really concentrate on doing well in the
cup," he said.
MATCH FACTS
This is the sixth time these sides have been drawn together in the FA Cup,
with West Ham progressing four times and West Brom just once previously.
West Brom have won the trophy on five occasions, though not since 1968.
West Brom head coach Tony Pulis guided Stoke to the final in 2011, where
they were beaten by Manchester City.
West Ham won the FA Cup three times, though not since 1980. They were more
recently beaten on penalties by Liverpool in the 2006 FA Cup final in
Cardiff.
West Ham beat West Brom in the Third Round on their way to their last FA Cup
trophy in 1980.
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We need to replace Carroll, says Sullivan
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 14th February 2015
By: Staff Writer
David Sullivan revealed tonight that West Ham are in the hunt for another
striker following the news that Andy Carroll will miss the rest of the
season. The club confirmed on Friday that the injury sustained by the
26-year-old against Southampton in midweek would rule him out for the rest
of the campaign. And co-owner Sullivan told LBC's Iain Dale tonight that he
was exploring all avenues as he seeks to redress that imbalance. The
66-year-old also confirmed that West Ham had agreed to pay the London living
wage - following a request last year from the capital's mayor, Boris
Johnson. "We said to him at the time that if we survive in the Premier
League, we will pay it. We're now in a position where we're virtually
certain to survive - and hopefully do a lot better - so we've announced
today that we're going to do it.
"The problem with football is that all the money goes to the players and the
agents. But we think as a company we can afford to pay the living wage and
it's something I strongly support. "It's very difficult for people in London
and it's right that should earn more than the minimum wage. It might work if
you live in Accrington - it doesn't work if you live in London or Essex."
The Premier League's chief executive, Richard Scudamore, insisted 48 hours
earlier that it is not his organisation's responsibility to ensure member
clubs pay their staff a living wage. "At the end of the day there's a thing
called the living wage but there's also a minimum wage," he said.
"Politicians have the power to up that minimum wage. That's entirely for the
politicians to do; that's not for us to do." West Ham are the second Premier
League club to commit to paying the living wage, following on from Chelsea's
lead.
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#justiceforjeff
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 13th February 2015
By: Staff Writer
West Ham supporters travelling to the Midlands tomorrow are being asked to
join Albion fans in a round of applause in memory of Baggies legend Jeff
Astle. The former England striker died aged just 59 in 2002 as a result of
head injuries sustained by heading heavy footballs during his career, which
spanned nearly 20 years. Since then, Astle's family have been campaigning to
raise awareness of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, a brain condition
commonly seen in former boxers who suffered serial blows to the head.
Tomorrow, during West Ham's 5th Round FA Cup tie at the Hawthorns, West Brom
fans will play their part by staging a round of applause for ex-centre
froward Astle in the ninth minute. And KUMB have been asked to raise
awareness of the momentary applause by Claire Astle, Jeff's daughter who
runs the #justiceforjeff campaign.
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Boo! West Ham charged for Soton spat
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 13th February 2015
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have been charged for failing to control their players during
Wednesday night's goalless draw with Southampton. The FA - who also
confirmed that Adrian's red card had been overturned - announced that West
Ham have five days to respond to the charge, which appears to be the result
of a melee that occurred at the time of the goalkeeper's sending off. "West
Ham have been charged by The FA for failing to ensure that its players
conducted themselves in an orderly fashion in or around the 61st minute of
this game", read an FA statement.
"The club have until 6pm on 18 February 2015 to respond to the charge."
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West Brom and West Ham eyeing FA Cup glory at the Hawthorns
Last Updated: 14/02/15 6:22am
SSN
West Bromwich Albion entertain West Ham United in the FA Cup fifth round at
The Hawthorns on Saturday afternoon in a meeting of two clubs who have won
the competition eight times between them. However, with the home side's last
triumph coming way back in 1968, and the visitors' in 1980, this tie
represents a great opportunity for both to move a step closer to getting
their hands on the famous old trophy. West Brom will be confident of
advancing to what would be a first quarter-final appearance since 2008 after
losing just once in seven games in all competitions since Tony Pulis took
charge on January 1. Sam Allardyce's team won 2-1 at the Hawthorns when the
two met in the league in December, while West Ham also beat the Baggies on
the way to winning the cup 35 years ago.
Team news
West Brom striker Victor Anichebe will have a late fitness test after
missing Wednesday's win over Swansea with a groin problem, but both
midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu (hamstring) and defender Jonas Olsson (calf) are
absent through injury and captain Darren Fletcher is cup-tied.
Meanwhile, West Ham frontman Andy Carroll has been ruled out for between
four and six weeks after tearing a medial ligament in his knee at
Southampton in midweek, although goalkeeper Adrian features after having his
red card in that match overturned. But Allardyce will also be without
centre-backs Winston Reid and James Collins with hamstring problems, while
midfielders Kevin Nolan and Mark Noble (illness), as well as right-back Guy
Demel, all face late fitness tests.
Sky Bet make West Brom 7/5 favourites for the victory with West Ham 19/10 to
progress in 90 minutes. However, with the draw a 23/10 chance, the Hammers
are actually just 5/6 to book their place in the quarter-finals, be it on
Saturday or via a replay.
Saido Berahino is the 5/1 favourite to score first followed by Brown Ideye
(11/2), while Diafra Sakho and Andy Carroll are considered the visitors'
biggest threats at 6/1 apiece.
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West Brom boss Tony Pulis says no hard feelings with West Ham over Carlton
Cole
Last Updated: 13/02/15 11:31pm
SSN
West Brom head coach Tony Pulis has revealed clear-the-air talks were held
between West Ham chairman David Sullivan and Baggies counterpart Jeremy
Peace following the recent collapse of a deal for Carlton Cole. Cole was
poised to join Albion on transfer deadline day having agreed terms and
passed a medical, with the Hammers in turn ready to tie up a deal for
Tottenham's Emmanuel Adebayor. But as that deal fell through at the last
minute, so West Ham pulled the plug on Cole's move to the Hawthorns. Less
than two weeks later, Cole is now likely to figure for West Ham in
Saturday's FA Cup fifth-round tie. Pulis said: "That's the way it spins at
times. There was never a deal to be done unless West Ham agreed to it, which
was right through to the last minutes of the negotiations. "West Ham had
said right from the start - they were very up front and very honest - they
had to bring someone in before they would let Carlton go, and we understood
that. Both clubs thought it was going to be done at one stage, but it
wasn't, which is no fault of West Ham's whatsoever.
Player Profile
Carlton Cole
Appearances 5 (10)
Goals 3
Assists 0
Yellows 2
Reds 0
"David Sullivan even called our chairman (Peace) and spoke to him, and that
shows you how disappointed both parties were. "But there was never any
secret as to what the situation was. If they (West Ham) had brought someone
in Carlton would have been available. "If they didn't he was going back,
which was made clear, so that was fine. I've always thought he's a good
player who gives you different options. On his day he's a handful, whilst
his goalscoring record - when he plays - is decent. For us, he would have
been different to what we have."
Sam Allardyce may have been ready to sell Cole last month but now he is
backing the former Chelsea striker to make his mark in claret and blue -
particularly in light of Andy Carroll's injury setback. Cole is out of
contract in the summer but he started Wednesday night's 0-0 draw at
Southampton and is expected to be handed another start in this Cup tie.
"He's a very important player for us," said the West Ham manager. "Certainly
he comes more into focus now that Andy is out for a few weeks as well. "The
fact he is there for us, he has never let us down. If needed on Saturday,
hopefully he comes up with the goal. that would be very nice for us and him.
"His character is such that he loves training and he loves football. He is a
very pleasant, very bubbly character and he is one of those lads that
doesn't throw the toys out of the pram for too long. He comes in and enjoys
his life, enjoys training, enjoys playing football. He had a big
disappointment but he hasn't let that affect him too much, which I'm very
pleased about."
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West Ham admit Andy Carroll's season ending knee injury is "a huge blow" to
their ambitions
22:30, 13 February 2015 By Darren Lewis, Neil McLeman
Luckless England striker who missed the first half of last season and only
began this campaign in November following ankle surgery needs another op
The Mirror
David Sullivan has admitted West Ham have been left reeling by the news Andy
Carroll is out for the rest of the season. England striker Carroll will have
a knee operation on Tuesday after picking up an injury in Wednesday's 0-0
draw at Southampton. Chairman Sullivan said: "It's a huge blow for Andy and
a huge blow for us. He is a fantastic player who has proven to us just how
important he is since he has come back into the team. "We know that he will
come back stronger from this and we are continuing to support him." Carroll,
who will have the surgery in London, is understood to be "devastated" at the
news. The setback is the FIFTH major injury for the luckless frontman - West
Ham's record signing at £15.5million - in his two and a half years at the
east London club. Hammers boss Sam Allardyce said: "It is a big blow for him
and it is a big blow for us. It is traumatic when someone is going through a
period where you overcome one injury and another occurs. "It is very
depressing for Andy but he knows the process and he has to be very strong in
terms of overcoming this injury and coming back as quickly as possible. "He
just have to do what he has been doing far too often. He has to get his head
down and focus on recovery."
The Hammers are now even more annoyed that Spurs frustrated their bid to
take Emmanuel Adebayor on loan on transfer deadline night earlier this
month. To rub salt into the wound, Adebayor has been left out of the last
two Tottenham squads as the club look to freeze him out.
Carroll, 26, damaged his left knee on Wednesday in a clash with Saints
defender Maya Yoshida but had to play on because West Ham had used all their
substitutes. It is felt, however, that the damage had already been done by
them. It is particularly galling for West Ham - away to West Brom on
Saturday in the fifth round of the FA Cup - and the player, as Carroll only
started his season in November after being sidelined for four months
following ankle ligament surgery last July. This new blow means he will fail
to make 15 starts for the Hammers for the second season running, since being
bought from Liverpool. Carroll managed just 13 last year and his season been
cut short prematurely this term with just 14. Only once in his
injury-plagued nine seasons as a professional has Carroll managed more than
30 starts - in 2009-10, when he racked up 35 during Newcastle's
Championship-winning campaign.
* WEST HAM goalkeeper Adrian has had a one-match ban overturned following
his dismissal in the Southampton match.
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West Ham's Darren Fletcher transfer interest sparked pay-scale grumbling
among their players
22:30, 13 February 2015 By Darren Lewis
Midfielder who ended up joining West Brom from Man United would have become
the Hammers' second highest earner after Andy Carroll on £75k a week
The Mirror
West Ham players believe the club were right to pull the plug on their
£75,000-a-week move for Darren Fletcher. Midfielder Fletcher, 32, joined
West Brom on Deadline Day after the Hammers ended their interest two days
previously. Fletcher went on to help the Baggies come from 2-0 down to earn
a point at Burnley last Sunday. West Ham wanted to back boss Sam Allardyce
with the ex-Manchester United midfielder.
They felt the respected Fletcher - who lifted five titles at Old Trafford -
would have brought even more quality to the squad. But Mirror Sport has
learned some Hammers stars were shocked by the proposed package for the
Scotland international who made just five starts for United since Louis van
Gaal took over last summer. Talks between Fletcher - who has recovered from
ulcerative colitis - and West Ham broke down after the east Londoners
decided against a permanent deal and opted for a loan instead. The player's
Upton Park salary would have made him the club's second-highest earner
behind £100,000-a-week Andy Carroll. The Irons' star defender Winston Reid
is on just £25,000-a-week and has so far been unable to agree a new deal at
the club with less than six months of his contract left to run. Fletcher's
earnings would also have been more than vice-captain Mark Noble, who is on
£40,000-a-week.
Skipper Kevin Nolan is on £50,000-a-week, the same as in-form Stewart
Downing - among the most improved players in the Premier League this season.
While there is no animosity felt towards Fletcher whatsoever, some players
felt the expenditure was not justified when they have worked hard to keep
the club in contention for a shock European place. Before the West Ham move
fell through over the weekend, the impending deal - and the implications for
the other players - had been the talk of the squad as they travelled up to
Merseyside for their Premier League game at Liverpool. Meanwhile, Mirror
Sport understands West Ham failed in audacious deadline day moves for Paris
Saint-Germain forward Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marseille hitman Andre Pierre
Gignac as they searched for alternatives to Emmanuel Adebayor. As we
revealed on deadline day, Spurs blocked the Hammers' attempt to take
Adebayor on loan for the rest of the season as they did not want to
subsidise his wages.West Ham instead tried for 29-year-old Lavezzi,
disciplined and frozen out at PSG for missing a winter training camp. The
Argentinian, however, rejected the move. France international Gignac has
been in fine form this season with 14 goals in 23 appearances for Marseille.
He is out of contract in the summer, but he too decided to stay with his
club.
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West Brom's Pulis warns West Ham boss Allardyce: We're BOTH stuck with
long-ball merchant tag
22:30, 13 February 2015 By James Nursey
The Baggies' former Stoke boss hasn't shaken a reputation for route-one
football and feels his FA Cup fifth round opponent is in the same boat
The Mirror
Tony Pulis has warned Sam Allardyce he will NEVER shake off his reputation
form playing direct football. Dutchman Louis Van Gaal bristled at West Ham
boss Allardyce's description of his Manchester United side as "long-ball"
and produced a dossier in rsponse. And ahead of Saturday's FA Cup visit from
Big Sam's Hammers, West Brom manager Pulis - who hasn't been able to lose
the route-one merchant label he acquired in his days at Stoke - insisted:
"Perception is a big thing and the perception will always be there with Sam.
I don't think you lose that. "But I don't think Sam takes it personally now.
He can't at his age, or can he? You get on with it. It is my life and
football is Sam's life as well and Van Gaal's life. "I don't know what has
happened between the two of them, I will let them get on with it. "It is not
a long ball when Manchester United play it, it is a long pass. I watched a
bit of the game and the last 20 minutes Manchester United brought on
Marouane Fellaini and they looked as though they did hit some long balls
into him. "Whether it is long balls or long passes, both teams have
tremendous ability – West Ham and Manchester United. Football is a game of
which there are variations and there should be variations in systems and the
people play. "I have watched West Ham on tape this morning and they play
some fantastic football. They move the ball back through midfield and up to
their strikers and play some good football. "They have some outstanding
players. Stewart Downing is having an outstanding season and has really made
them tick."
The Hammers are eighth in the Premier League and West Brom 14th. Pulis
added: "We know how tough it will be. When the draw was made it was lovely
to play at home but we knew West Ham would be one of the toughest games."
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Sam Allardyce presented with Louis van Gaal's dossier - but insists he's
moved on from long-ball row
13:03, 13 February 2015 By James Whaling
The Hammers chief held his media briefing ahead of their clash with West
Brom tomorrow, but said there was 'no point' in going further into the
matter
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce was presented with Louis van Gaal's long-ball dossier at his
press conference this morning, but insists he has moved on from the row.
Allardyce accused the Red Devils of snatching a late point off his side by
using a direct style of play, a jibe which clearly hit a nerve with the
Dutchman, who compiled a four-page document for journalists at his press
conference earlier this week. A reporter handed Allardyce the sheets at his
media briefing today, but the 60-year-old Irons boss was reluctant to go
over old ground. "I shall have a look at that when I get the opportunity,"
said Allardyce. "Thank you very much. "I don't think there's any point in me
going into it again, it is what it is and he's made of it what he's made of
it. "I said what I saw on the day but we've moved on – we've played another
Premier League game since then and the focus for us now is on the FA Cup and
trying to progress to the next round."
Van Gaal had requested at his news conference before the Burnley game
earlier this week that the document be given to Allardyce today.
He said: "When a colleague of mine is saying this kind of thing, then you
have to see the data and you have to put the data in the right context, I
believe. "So I give you this, you can see this also. I give it to you and
maybe you can go Big Sam and show it to him." The Hammers take on West Brom
in the FA Cup tomorrow, while United travel to Preston on Monday evening.
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Sullivan: "We are looking for a striker"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 13, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
David Sullivan has admitted the club is hunting for an out of contract
striker to provide additional cover following Andy Carroll's season ending
knee injury. With only Diafra Sakho, Enner Valencia and Carlton Cole
available the Irons will be looking at what's available among the out of
contract players. He has not given any names but admitted in an interview
this evening on LBC that the club was now actively looking for a players.
Mauro Zarate is unable to return from Queens Park Rangers where he is on
loan until the end of the season and with Diafra Sakho suffering a recurring
back injury, the situation could get difficult. Sullivan – speaking of
Carroll's injury – said: "That's football. You have to cope with it. We are
looking for a striker as cover now."
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Gold: Irons have an edge on West Brom
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 13, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
David Gold believes the Irons will be in a totally different place mentally
to West Brom when the two sides clash at the Hawthorns in the fifth round FA
Cup clash. The co chairman believes the club's points total frees them
completely to concentrate on the job in hand rather than worry about league
position. But he believes the same is most certainly not true of Tony Pulis'
Baggies who may still be worrying about staying out of the relegation
places. Gold told ClaretandHugh: "We are really up for the Cup this year and
can give it 100 per cent concentration. The same may not be true of Tony
Pulis and who will surely be looking over his shoulder. "We have the luxury
of knowing we are safe and that should give us a big psychological
advantage. If we drop a couple of points it is no where near as big a deal
as West Brom doing the same. "This is a wonderful opportunity for us to
advance on Wembley. I want to finish the tie up there but if not we have no
worries about bringing them back under the Upton Park lights for a replay."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce confirms Diarra problem
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 13, 2015 in Whispers
Claret 7 Hugh
Sam Allardyce looks ready to move in on Lassana Diarra again at the end of
the season…and blames himself for wasting time trying to sign him over the
last three weeks. ClaretandHugh revealed exclusively earlier this week that
the player and his club Moscow Lokomoitiv had unresolved financial issues to
be solved before the player was free to move on. And with Fifa still
probing the situation it was never likely to be possible for the player to
move to Upton Park, Allardyce came close to confirming all of that in his
London Evening Standard column today saying: "The fact we couldn't get the
Lassana Diarra deal across the line was probably more my fault than his. "I
thought it was a simple contract cancellation – but it wasn't as
straightforward as that. Maybe I should have investigated the circumstances
more thoroughly before we negotiated for more than three weeks. "It turned
out it wasn't a mutual contract cancellation between Lassana and his
previous club, Lokomotiv Moscow, and didn't fulfil the Fifa criteria on
signing players outside the transfer window."
Now the player will clearly be a target in the summer for as again revealed
by this site he enters the last year of his contract with the Moscow club
and can walk away if he chooses under Fifa rules. However, the Irons boss
intimated that he could resurrect a deal for Diarra at the end of the
season, when he is expected to be available free of hassle. Allardyce said:
"We may well return to him in the summer. Lassana is a fine player who needs
to resurrect his career and re-establish himself as the player he used to
be.
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West Ham charged by the FA
Posted by Sean Whetstone on February 13, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham have been charged by The FA for failing to ensure that its players
conducted themselves in an orderly fashion in or around the 61st minute
against Southampton at St Marys on Wednesday 11th February. The standard
fine for this offence is £20,000 if the club admit breaching FA Rules in
relation to player conduct. West Ham and Everton were each fined £20,000
after the clubs admitted breaching FA Rules in relation to player conduct
back in November last year. The club have until 6pm on 18th February 2015 to
respond to the charge.
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Carroll saga – is this a problem too far?
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 13, 2015 in Whispers
Calret & Hugh
It's seriously hard to work out where the Andy Carroll/West Ham saga goes
next. The big striker's injury problems have taken on "Shakespearian
tragedy" proportions with the facts reading:
Transfer fee: £17.5 million appx
0 2014-15: 16 played – five goals
O 2013-14: 16 played – two goals
The club have just revealed he's out for the rest of the seas picking up an
entirely new injury to his knee with David Gold wondering in an interview on
this site just how unlucky can one guy be? I take absolutely no pleasure
from player injuries. However, this again represents an opportunity to team
up what many believe is our best partnership – Diafra Sakho and Enner
Valencia – but there is a big worry.
With Sakho's back a problem – and I understand there are some out there that
are cynical – what happens now in the event of an injury to one of the other
of them?
Sam Allardyce appeared to have the Carroll dilemma nailed early doors when
explaining that the player goes into too many risky challenges
Here's what he said only in December: "I have said I want him to be careful
with the way he goes in at times but ultimately it will be Andy who makes
that decision. You have to remember that although Andy has been around for a
few years, sadly too much of the time he's been on the treatment table.
You're not gaining the experience if you're injured."
Less than two months later the big fella is back on the same treatment table
and there are deep concerns within the club. With four months left on
Carlton Cole's contract there are big decisions to be made on the Carroll
cover position – does the club's long time servant get a new deal or do the
club invest decent money in a new long term target man?
The other two major questions in all of this is whether we will need such a
player should Sam Allardyce not be offered a new deal and whether the club
should cash in on Carroll should they be offered let's say £7 million or
above. The other alternatives are to stick with him or pay up his contract
and start again. I want to make it crystal clear that all my sympathies are
with Andy Carroll who has suffered more than enough but the imponderables
build relentlessly For me, it's too early to say but we have great respect
for our readers on this site and throw it open to every one of you such is
the importance of the issue.
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Saturday, February 14
Friday, February 13
Daily WHUFC News - Adrian
Hammers successful in Adrian appeal
Adrian available to play at West Bromwich Albion after successful appeal
WHUFC.com
13.02.2015
West Ham United are pleased to confirm that their appeal over Adrian's red
card at Southampton has been upheld. An Independent Regulatory Commission
heard the appeal on Friday and decided that the Club were correct in
challenging the dismissal for denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
His one-match suspension has, therefore, been withdrawn with immediate
effect and the 28-year-old goalkeeper is now clear to play in Saturday's FA
Cup fifth round tie at West Bromwich Albion.
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Adrian available to play at West Bromwich Albion after successful appeal
WHUFC.com
13.02.2015
West Ham United are pleased to confirm that their appeal over Adrian's red
card at Southampton has been upheld. An Independent Regulatory Commission
heard the appeal on Friday and decided that the Club were correct in
challenging the dismissal for denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
His one-match suspension has, therefore, been withdrawn with immediate
effect and the 28-year-old goalkeeper is now clear to play in Saturday's FA
Cup fifth round tie at West Bromwich Albion.
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Daily WHUFC News - Carroll
Andy Carroll: West Ham striker ruled out for rest of the season
BBC.co.uk
West Ham United striker Andy Carroll will have surgery on his injured left
knee next week and is expected to miss the rest of the season.
Carroll suffered medial ligament damage in Wednesday's 0-0 draw at
Southampton. The 26-year-old was forced to stay on the pitch with the
injury because West Ham were down to 10 men and had made all three of their
substitutions. Earlier on Friday, Hammers boss Sam Allardyce said the club
were hoping he would be out for four to six weeks. "The medial ligament on
the inside of his knee has a little tear from a fairly innocuous collision,"
Allardyce said, before a specialist confirmed Carroll would require surgery
on Tuesday. "It's a big blow for him and us but one we've got to cope with."
Andy Carroll's injury record at West Ham
September 2012: Picks up hamstring injury in his first game on loan - out
for a month
November 2012: Twists knee against Manchester United - sidelined for two
months
May 2013: Damages heel in the last game of the season - out for seven months
July 2014: Tears ankle ligaments in pre-season - out for four months
February 2015: Knee surgery - set to miss rest of the season
Speaking after the Southampton match, Allardyce said of his striker: "I just
hope that staying on hasn't done any more damage." Carroll, out for most of
last season with an Achilles problem, missed the first three months of this
campaign after injuring ankle ligaments in New Zealand in pre-season. He had
scored five goals in 14 games since returning in November. The former
Newcastle and Liverpool forward has nine England caps, and scored twice, but
has not played for the national team since a World Cup qualifier against San
Marino in October 2012.
West Ham face West Brom in the FA Cup fifth round at The Hawthorns in
Saturday's early kick-off (12:45 GMT).
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BBC.co.uk
West Ham United striker Andy Carroll will have surgery on his injured left
knee next week and is expected to miss the rest of the season.
Carroll suffered medial ligament damage in Wednesday's 0-0 draw at
Southampton. The 26-year-old was forced to stay on the pitch with the
injury because West Ham were down to 10 men and had made all three of their
substitutions. Earlier on Friday, Hammers boss Sam Allardyce said the club
were hoping he would be out for four to six weeks. "The medial ligament on
the inside of his knee has a little tear from a fairly innocuous collision,"
Allardyce said, before a specialist confirmed Carroll would require surgery
on Tuesday. "It's a big blow for him and us but one we've got to cope with."
Andy Carroll's injury record at West Ham
September 2012: Picks up hamstring injury in his first game on loan - out
for a month
November 2012: Twists knee against Manchester United - sidelined for two
months
May 2013: Damages heel in the last game of the season - out for seven months
July 2014: Tears ankle ligaments in pre-season - out for four months
February 2015: Knee surgery - set to miss rest of the season
Speaking after the Southampton match, Allardyce said of his striker: "I just
hope that staying on hasn't done any more damage." Carroll, out for most of
last season with an Achilles problem, missed the first three months of this
campaign after injuring ankle ligaments in New Zealand in pre-season. He had
scored five goals in 14 games since returning in November. The former
Newcastle and Liverpool forward has nine England caps, and scored twice, but
has not played for the national team since a World Cup qualifier against San
Marino in October 2012.
West Ham face West Brom in the FA Cup fifth round at The Hawthorns in
Saturday's early kick-off (12:45 GMT).
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Daily WHUFC News - 13th February 2015
Downing hails team effort
WHUFC.com
Stewart Downing felt Wednesday's 0-0 draw at Southampton was a true show of
strength
12.02.2015
Stewart Downing had praise for his teammates after West Ham United battled
to a 0-0 draw at Southampton on Wednesday night. The Hammers had to swim
against the tide to make their point, after Adrian was shown a red card in
the 61st minute for handling outside his area, then Andy Carroll became a
virtual passenger when he picked up a knee injury with all three substitutes
having been deployed. Despite those set-backs, the Hammers held out to earn
a scoreless draw at St Mary's for the second year in a row and Downing was
happy with that outcome. He explained: "With the red card and Andy getting
injured towards the end, we knew we would have to defend because they're a
good team who pass it around. "We did that very well and it was a big point
for us in the end. "Jussi came on and made some good saves - when he's
called upon he's always there, so well played to him. "The injury was
disappointing for Andy, but hopefully it's not too bad and we can get him
back as quickly as possible. "He felt it the other day when he got a knock
on it at Liverpool, so it's unfortunate that he came on and got another bang
on it."
The point represented a second successive draw for the Londoners, but one
which felt more rewarding than Sunday's against Manchester United. Downing
added: "We were disappointed to draw against Manchester United on Sunday,
because we thought we should have won the game and because of the way we
conceded. "But on Wednesday, overall we'll take the point. Coming into the
game we were confident we could get the win, but it wasn't to be."
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Hargreaves backs Hammers
WHUFC.com
BT Sport pundit Owen Hargreaves feels the Hammers will have the edge in
their FA Cup fifth round tie
12.02.2015
Prior to West Ham United's fifth round FA Cup tie with West Bromwich Albion
this Saturday, former Bayern Munich and England midfielder Owen Hargreaves
dropped by Chadwell Heath to interview the in-form Aaron Cresswell. The
two-time Champions League winner and current BT Sport pundit also gave us
his thoughts on Saturday's match, which is live on BT Sport 1 from 12pm.
Owen, welcome to West Ham United, looking ahead to Saturday's game away at
West Bromwich Albion in the fifth round tie of the FA Cup, what is your
assessment of the match?
OH: "I think it's an interesting game. West Ham have changed their style a
little bit. They've brought in some very athletic players, especially Diafra
Sakho and Cheikhou Kouyate. Also with Enner Valencia they have real
athleticism and pace up front.
"West Ham have also brought in Aaron Cresswell who is the only player to
have played every minute for the Hammers this season. The manager said they
want to play a more attacking style and I think they've been able to do
that.
"They are a very good side, Alex Song at the heart of midfield has been a
great addition. I think they've strengthened and it will be interesting to
see how they line up against a Tony Pulis side who defensively are very,
very sound."
Recently, West Ham haven't lost many games, but also haven't won many
either. Who are you expecting to prevail on Saturday?
OH: "It will be a close call, neither team will want to lose. At first it
will be quite cagey, but West Ham have the players who can change games, so
I would probably lean toward West Ham. You think the team at home has a
slight advantage, under Pulis they are going to drop off, they are going to
be very organised so it will be up to West Ham to break them down."
There have been a few shock results in the FA Cup this season and the magic
seems to be returning. Do you agree?
OH: "That whole weekend when Manchester United drew with Cambridge and
Middlesbrough beat Manchester City was magical. It was special for
everybody. If you think about any other professional sport or league, it's
very rare that third or fourth division teams can beat top level clubs.
"Bradford City beating Chelsea, who will be champions this season, is
exceptional. Fans love an underdog story and we've had a few of them this
season."
You're busy doing television work for BT Sport these days, are you enjoying
being on the other side of football?
OH: "I mean, I would have loved to be able to play for longer, but I got an
injury that changed my career. By the time I realised that, it was a little
bit too late, I kept trying to come back fit but it didn't happen.
"It was quite humbling, going from winning Champions Leagues and playing for
England to all of a sudden the priorities changing. No one ever says 'you'll
never play again' so the contrast was very humbling, you've got to enjoy it
while it lasts.
"It's a real privilege to play football. It's interesting working at BT
Sport, you see the game in a different way. On Wednesday we were covering
the Chelsea v Everton game, we were there three hours before kick-off
preparing. As a footballer you don't see all the work that goes on behind
the scenes.
"There's a lot of people who make a living out of the game, not just the
players. It's great to see it from the other side, obviously I'd love to
still be playing."
As a former England player, do you see any of the English players at West
Ham having a chance at being recognised by their country?
OH: "There are a lot of young players emerging. Harry Kane and Danny Ings
for example, Jordon Ibe recently too. It's good to see Stewart Downing doing
well, I think he needed to be in the right environment and he certainly is
now.
"Aaron Cresswell is certainly one for the future, he's a young talented
player. The first time I watched him play this season I thought he was a
good player and he's continued to do well. The most important thing is doing
well at club level. If you don't do well, then you won't have a chance."
Coming from a Canadian background, West Ham have just signed Doneil Henry
from Toronto FC, is this a sign that the standard of football over there is
improving?
OH: "I think some of the teams I played with and against from about 14 or 15
years old could have competed with anyone in Europe.
"I think we were missing that development phase, everyone in Canada is sort
of looking for the next big thing. I didn't cost anything when I went to
Bayern Munich, they got me for little more than a ham sandwich.
"There are a lot of athletes in Canada, I think they just need a bit more
coaching, hopefully Doneil can come in and do well. A lot of players try
hard and he's certainly one of them."
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Mediawatch - 12 February
WHUFC.com
Our daily look at West Ham United in the news
12.02.2015
Coverage of last night's 0-0 draw at Southampton centres around the Hammers'
valiant effort to cling on to their point with a man light, with The Times
(£) saying that the ten men did Sam Allardyce proud.
Big Sam did not like referee Craig Pawson's decision to send Adrian off for
handball, however, and he outlines his intention to appeal in the
Independent.
The other major talking point from the game was the injury to Andy Carroll,
who was seen leaving the stadium on crutches, according to this report in
The Sun (£).
Away from the pitch, there are reports on transfer news, with Sky Sports
covering Big Sam's confirmation that any move for midfielder Lassana Diarra
is off, owing to FIFA regulations.
The Daily Star claim West Ham are lining up a shock move for Manchester
United striker Javier Hernandez, who is currently on a season-long loan at
Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, this story in The Wharf details the Club's support for homeless
charity Spitalfields Crypt Trust, who are inviting people to don flip-flops
for their commute on Friday to raise funds for people sleeping rough.
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Andy Carroll: West Ham striker's knee injury update on Friday
BBC.co.uk
West Ham will reveal the extent of Andy Carroll's knee injury on Friday
after the striker had a scan. Carroll, playing for the first time since 31
January, picked up the problem in Wednesday's 0-0 draw at Southampton and
left St Mary's on crutches. The 26-year-old was forced to stay on the pitch
with the injury because West Ham were down to 10 men and had made all three
of their substitutions. Hammers boss Sam Allardyce will give an update at
his media briefing on Friday. Hammers goalkeeper Adrian was sent off on 61
minutes after handling the ball outside his box. "[Carroll] stayed up and
was a nuisance," Allardyce said."He got kicked in the back of the knee and
felt something wrong. "I just hope that staying on hasn't done any more
damage." Allardyce also said the club will not be able to sign former Real
Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra as a free agent because of "Fifa
regulations". "We have negotiated for weeks to get the right deal and, now
we've got it, we find we can't get the right paperwork and the right
clearance, so we have wasted his time and our time," he said.
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Sam Allardyce nominated as London Manager of the Year
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 12th February 2015
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce has been nominated for the 2015 London Manger of the Year
award. The Hammers boss, who has enjoyed a thoroughly successful season in
his fourth year at the club is one of three Hammers nominated for this
year's awards, which take place on 5 March in Battersea.
In Addition to Allardyce, goalkeeper Adrian has been selected as one of the
five nominees for London goalkeeper of the Year whilst Carl Jenkinson is in
the hat for the Young London Player of the Year (Under 23s).
Allardyce, one of only two Premier League managers on the shortlist finds
himself up against Jose Mourinho (Chelsea), Mark Warburton (Brentford), Neal
Ardley (AFC Wimbledon) and the 2014 KUMB Awards headliner Martin Allen, now
at Barnet.
In the goalkeeper category, Adrian is joined by Hugo Lloris (Tottenham),
Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea) and former Hammer Robert Green (QPR). Meanwhile
Jenkinson contests the Under 23 category alongside Alex Pritchard
(Brentford), Harry Kane and Ryan Mason (Tottenham).
Further categories to be decided on the night - which include no
representatives from West Ham - are the London Player of the Year, London
Women's Player of the Year, Outstanding Contribution to a London Club and
London Community Project of the Year.
The Hammers trio will be pleased to hear that the expert judging panel
includes lifelong Hammer Tony Cottee. Unfortunately for Messrs Allardyce,
del Castillo and Jenkinson there are 15 other judges on the panel!
The London Football Awards - which covers all 15 London clubs, Arsenal,
Barnet, Brentford, Charlton, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Dagenham & Redbridge,
Fulham, Leyton Orient, Millwall, QPR, Tottenham, Watford, West Ham and
Wimbledon - will raise much needed funds for Willow, a national charity that
provides unique and positive Special Days for seriously ill 16 to 40 year
olds.
Willow was founded by former Arsenal goalkeeper and sports presenter Bob
Wilson and his wife Megs and in memory of their daughter, Anna, who died of
cancer aged just 31.
To date Willow has fulfilled more than 11,000 Special Days for young people
living with life-threatening conditions such as cancer, cystic fibrosis,
motor neurone disease, muscular dystrophy, organ failure and Huntington's.
Standard tickets to the event, including pre-dinner drinks and a three
course meal, cost £185 per person. Tables of ten are available for £1,750,
Premium tables cost £2,500 and Legend Tables (for ten guests plus a legend)
cost £5,000.
For more information and booking visit www.londonfootballawards.org or
telephone Willow on 01707 259777. For more information about Willow visit
www.willowfoundation.org.uk.
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In brief - Thursday's news round-up
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 12th February 2015
By: Jack Hammer
Get the very latest West Ham news in one place, with our new daily media
round-up!
Hammers hold on for point despite Adrian dismissal
SOUTHAMPTON went into last night's match hoping that the right combination
of results would narrow the gap between themselves and second-placed
Manchester City to a single point.
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/557688/Match-report-Southampton-0-We
st-Ham-0-Adrian-sent-off
Ten man Hammers hold Saints
en-man West Ham earned a hard-fought point after holding Southampton to a
0-0 draw in their Premier League clash at St Mary's.
http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/313632/report
Southampton 0-0 West Ham
t may not have been very sophisticated, but Sam Allardyce will care little.
West Ham fought for a valuable point here in a game that will be forgotten
in a hurry, a dull goalless draw that only came to life once the Hammers'
goalkeeper, Adrián, was sent off in the second half for handling the ball
outside the area.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/11/southampton-west-ham-premier
-league-match-report
Allardyce confirms another injury for Andy Carroll
Andy Carroll suffered yet another injury setback in West Ham's clash with
Southampton.
http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2015/02/11/allardyce-confirms-another-injury-
for-andy-carroll-four-month-ab/
Allardyce: Draw was like a win
Sam Allardyce praised his West Ham players after their goalless stalemate at
Southampton in the Premier League on Wednesday night, declaring the draw to
be like a victory after they went down to 10 men
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11685/9710965/sam-allardyce-says-wes
t-hams-draw-at-southampton-was-like-a-victory-due-to-red-card
Carroll set for longer spell out
West Ham's Andy Carroll faces several weeks out after leaving Wednesday's
draw at Southampton on crutches.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31433187
West Ham must wait for Diarra
West Ham will have to wait until the end of the season to sign former Real
Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra.
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11685/9711057/premier-league-fifa-ru
ling-stops-lassana-diarra-from-joining-west-ham-until-end-of-season
West Ham considering shock move for Javier Hernandez
West Ham United are weighing up a shock summer move for Manchester United
striker Javier Hernandez
http://metro.co.uk/2015/02/11/west-ham-considering-summer-move-for-mancheste
r-united-striker-javier-hernandez-5058996/
West Ham still trying to persuade Tottenham transfer target Winston Reid to
sign a new contract
West Ham have not given up on persuading Winston Reid to stay at Upton Park
despite the fact the defender is yet to sign a new contract.
http://metro.co.uk/2015/02/11/west-ham-still-trying-to-persuade-tottenham-tr
ansfer-target-winston-reid-to-sign-a-new-contract-5058208/
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West Ham's Stewart Downing believes draw at Southampton was 'massive point'
By Luke Marino | Last Updated: 12/02/15 2:16pm
SSN
West Ham United forward Stewart Downing believes their 0-0 draw at
Southampton on Wednesday will prove to be a 'massive point'. The Londoners
currently sit eighth in the Premier League and Downing believes his side
have the quality to break into the European places at the end of the season.
The former Liverpool winger, who has excelled this season in his new role
behind the strikers, said: "I think it will come back at the end of the
season as being a massive point. "I mean, they'll be disappointed not to be
getting three given their home form, that's where they get their points.
"For the league games, we just need to keep chipping away, picking up points
away from home and carry on our home form. We've got a really good chance of
Europe." Sam Allardyce's side have lost just once in their last six outings,
a run of results which included a deserved point at home to Manchester
United last weekend.
'Attacking displays'
However, West Ham were forced to defend deep towards the end of the match
after goalkeeper Adrian was dismissed midway through the second half after
handling the ball outisde his area. Downing, who has scored five goals in
the Premier League this season, said: "I think we showed another side to us.
"Obviously we've been praised for our attacking displays this season, but at
times we had to defend and make it difficult for Southampton. "They had a
couple of chances towards the end but I think Jussi Jaaskelainen made some
good saves and there were some good blocks. "I think overall with the
circumstances during the last half an hour, we'd take a point all day long."
Kevin Nolan (bruised foot) and Mark Noble (virus) missed the trip to the
south coast, while Andy Carroll left the ground on crutches.
However, ahead of their FA Cup fifth round clash at West Brom this weekend,
Downing believes the squad now has enough quality to cope with injuries.
"We're struggling a bit and obviously it was the last minute as well so we
had to change late on," he said, referring to Nolan and Noble. "But it just
shows the squad depth and we didn't have that last season. We'd probably
have struggled to get a team out."
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West Ham striker Andy Carroll facing another spell on sidelines
Last Updated: 12/02/15 10:53am
SSN
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce expects Andy Carroll to be sidelined for around
three weeks after the striker limped off at the end of the 0-0 draw at
Southampton. Carroll, who came on as a second-half substitute at St Mary's
on Wednesday night, received a kick to the back of his knee and left the
stadium on crutches. He was due to have a scan on the problem on Thursday
but Allardyce said after the game: "The sad thing for us is the injury to
Andy Carroll which we can ill-afford to take with our injury problems. "It's
the same knee. He got kicked on the back of it and felt something was wrong.
He stayed up and was a nuisance but I just hope that staying on hasn't done
any damage.
"He got fit in two-and-a-half weeks but clearly it's going to take longer
this time because it's the same injury." Meanwhile, Allardyce says he
intends to appeal the red card shown to goalkeeper Adrian after he was
dismissed for handling the ball outside his penalty area.
"It was a foul on our goalkeeper before," he said. "There is no doubt Mane
had his hands on Adrian. "Adrian made a mistake in the beginning but the
linesman saw two hands on the ball but not the two hands on the back. "We
will be appealing it and I'll be very disappointed if he doesn't get off."
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SEVEN DAYS THAT SAY MORE ABOUT THE STATE OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE THAN WEST HAM
By Bobby Shovels 12 Feb 2015 at 08:00
West Ham till I Die
Manchester United on Sunday, Southampton on Wednesday, West Brom on
Saturday. Seven crucial days for the Hammers but also an insightful week of
fixtures regarding the state of the game.
Firstly, Manchester United. Ultimately, a gutting result we more than
deserved to take three points from. Yet my main take from it was how United
have now lost just once in 17 games in all competitions. That is astonishing
for a team so out of sorts and that scraps by in so many fixtures. There is
something of a dream-like quality to the Red Devils in the two years since
Sir Alex left: those shirts and stadium still invoke fear, yet essentially
they are still there for the taking and everyone knows it and thus many
sides think they can get some points out of them. Yet few have. Why?
Well, one cannot doubt that while their over-spending in the summer was
largely ill thought-out, it no doubt helps to have a large army of stars,
regardless of whether they gel together. At some point, as on Sunday, the
ball will fall to just one talented individual, and he will have the last
laugh. Such is the state of English football, as we have long known it: West
Ham can be applauded for not being a big club and consistently fielding
home-grown talent, as we did on Sunday. But you don't always win points by
sticking to principles. Hence, United, with money and an eye for a
foreigner, are sitting above us in the table.
Secondly, we play Southampton tonight. What does this reveal? Well, we are
yet to see the result but one thing I find about the rise of the Saints is
the level of surprise and slight disdain shown to the team. Even now, as
they continue to do so well, and put the money boys to shame, many pundits
will still write off their chances of claiming a top-four place.
Many still argue that Europe is beyond West Ham too. Essentially, tonight
you have two teams who many believe should not be where they are in the
table currently, and many, despite what they say on the surface, like having
the top four or five teams the same every season. Many may argue against
money's power, yet those same voices don't seem to like it when the natural
equilibrium of the game is disrupted. Liverpool should be above Southampton,
full stop, so goes the argument. Tonight sees two teams, with less money,
relying on young talent, battle it out for a decent place in England's
highest league. It's how it should be.
Finally, away to West Brom on Saturday. Again, many things can be read from
this but two things strike me: where the Cup ranks in importance for teams
and the TV scheduling. Firstly, as seen with Chelsea and Manchester City,
those teams' preference for other trophies (the bigger money prizes,
ultimately) means that this glorious, historic cup has lost its standing.
Secondly, the TV schedulers also stop us from being able to watch and
reinvigorate the romanticism of the Cup – and raising the profile of lower
league sides – by televising all the Premier League teams. I'd much rather
watch Bradford than Aston Villa v Leicester City. Or how about Blackburn
giving Stoke a run for their money? Furthermore, once again, we have become
beholden to the need to have games on Saturday start at 12:45 to please the
TV men, which means that many West Ham fans – due to train repairs – will
have to get up especially early to leave themselves time to get to the game.
TV trumps the fans – we know that. Ticket prices won't go down with the new
£5.14bn TV deal. But we're still expected to watch games at earlier and
later times and get trains and coaches at more unsociable hours. We'll still
live in a world where only five teams matter, or at push, the top 20 in all
four divisions. We'll still struggle to break into an ever-solidifying group
of elite clubs.
Yes, in seven days, the money, the inertia, and the depression of the game
are all too plain to see.
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NEARLY REACH THE SKY BY BRIAN WILLIAMS: A VALEDICTION TO THE BOLEYN
By Iron Liddy 12 Feb 2015 at 13:50
West Ham Till I Die
When Iain emailed me a few weeks ago to ask if I would like to review Brian
William's new book Nearly Reach the Sky: A Farewell to Upton Park I was both
flattered and nervous. I haven't been asked to write a book review since I
was in my Headmistress's Good Readers Club when I was 8. I said yes straight
away as I'm already a fan of Brian's writing and I anticipated a funny,
clever and interesting read. I wasn't disappointed, it was such a good read
that I finished it in a day; my only hope now is that I can do it justice.
I suppose the first thing that a prospective reader might want to know is
which literary genre this book falls under. To be honest it could easily be
categorised as a tragicomedy, a memoir or even a history of sport. The one
category I wasn't expecting was romance.
Nearly Reach the Sky is more than just a collection of one West Ham fan's
musings on his life as a football supporter; it is a billet doux, a letter
to his love of more than 50 years. It's an explanation of his feelings for
his club, which moves through the widest range of emotions – devotion,
disappointment, hope and ambition, joy and elation, grief and anger, humour,
impatience, self-reproach and resignation. They're all there.
It is also a valediction. A claret and blue thread has been a part of the
fabric of Brian's life since 1964 and as he weaves and embroiders his
personal love story of West Ham United it becomes apparent that a snag has
appeared in the cloth. Throughout the book there is the stark realisation
that the club is on the verge of leaving the ground that has been its
physical and spiritual home for more than 100 years. Very soon that small
tear will become a gaping hole and it's clear that a part of the author's
heart will be ripped away forever.
Ultimately this is a paean to West Ham United but the other love of Brian's
life, his wife Di, also appears regularly in the book, together with her
East End family. He has obviously enjoyed a harmonious, if polygamous,
relationship with his two amours. Even so, I can't pretend that I wasn't
shocked and a little horrified to read of Brian's first ménage à trois. In
fact it wasn't a ménage à trois at all but a foursome! West Ham may have
easily seen off other women in Brian's life, including the girl who
distracted him from Tonka's performance on the penalty spot in the 80s and
the lissome 17 year old Sharon and her hotpants; but the admission that I
read in chapter 19 is nothing short of scandalous. Brian is now full of
contrition and guilt for playing away and fortunately for him Di is
obviously a very forgiving woman. I'm not sure that fellow West Ham fans
will let him off quite so lightly and if I were Di I'd keep him on a very
short leash. Despite his repentance he's still singing love songs to other
'birds' to this day, and right under the nose of his true love too!
Not being born within the sound of Bow Bells has obviously caused our hero
some consternation in life and he makes no secret of his delight that
Cupid's arrow landed smack bang in the middle of Beverley Road in East Ham.
Here we meet Brian's future in-laws, including the inimitable Sid, who is
possibly the man originally responsible for the term 'the elephant in the
room.' Fortunately for Brian he'd already lost his heart many years before
to the aptly nicknamed 'Ticker' when he scored twice in the 1964 FA Cup
semi-final against Manchester United, so his claret and blue credentials
stood up to Sid's suspicious scrutiny. Having passed the test with flying
West Ham colours he was welcomed into the bosom of Di's family as an
honorary East Ender. He had found his dream woman who not only shared his
love for West Ham but also lived just streets away from his beloved Boleyn.
Love blossomed and it was clear that it was going to be a match made in
heaven when their marriage was given the personal blessing of John Lyall.
If you are beginning to worry that Brian has written some kind of Mills &
Boon novel or worse, Sixty-Four Shades of Claret and Blue, fear not! As a
member of the fairer sex I'm perhaps more inclined to focus on the more
human elements of this story but there are more than enough match reports
and reminiscences of seminal goals, games, fouls and finals to dissuade the
average woman from reading it. Equally, if you are one of our more youthful
West Ham fans and you think that this is a tome that would appeal only to
the more decrepit members of our fan base who like to bang on about how much
better it all was in their day, you would be wrong. Whilst this is a very
nostalgic collection of anecdotes the author has seamlessly woven stories of
past glories and defeats with accounts of recent players and games to create
a narrative that every West Ham fan will be able to place themselves in at
some point and say "I was there."
Brian is obviously not a fan of the linear approach, this is not one long
hoof from 1964 to the present day. Instead he weaves nimbly in and out of
the decades, moving from one story to another and back again with a clever
little one-two and some nifty back passes to yesteryear without ever losing
his reader along the way. His story is inevitably populated with all the
West Ham icons, heroes and villains that we all know and love … or hate; but
we are also introduced to some of the people who make up the true heart of
West Ham United ….. the fans. It's these people that elevate this tale from
being 'just another West Ham book.' Of course you'll be expecting to read of
Brian's adulation of Billy Bonds and even the emotional moment when a Wolves
fan broke ranks during the wreath laying ceremony for the late, great Bobby
Moore. But the real pleasure of this book is being able to identify with the
joy and pain of Brian's West Ham supporting family, friends, colleagues and
passing acquaintances. Their stories are as much a part of our club's
history as yours are and they all deserve to be recorded alongside the oft
told tales of the people on the pitch.
This is essentially a very funny book but, like all West Ham fans, Brian
also has a talent for pathos and there is an ever present poignancy between
the lines of humour. His anecdotes evoke the whole gamut of emotions and I
laughed out loud and shed some tears several times before I turned the final
page. As I wiped away the last tear and the final smile faded from my lips I
was left feeling proud and grateful. Proud because I was born a Hammer and
grateful that all the wonderful characters in Brian's book are my kith and
kin. I realised that I am also a part of the same story, we all are. That
sense of belonging is priceless and I can't help but feel that something
will be lost when the doors of The Boleyn are finally closed for the last
time. No matter how positive any West Ham fan feels about our impending
move, I challenge them to read this witty but poignant book without feeling
wistful and nostalgic for a time that will never come again.
For the benefit of any newcomers to the site Brian Williams has supported
West Ham United for the past 50 years and for the last 25 of those years he
has been a journalist for The Guardian newspaper. He also writes a regular
Tuesday column for West Ham Till I Die. This is his first book.
You can order a copy of Brian's book NEARLY REACH THE SKY from…
Biteback Publishing for £8.99 in paperback (Use promotional code WESTHAMBW)
Biteback Publishing for £9.99 as an eBook
Amazon for £12.99 in paperback
Amazon Kindle for £10 as an eBook
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Graham Poll says Hammers will win appeal
Posted by Sean Whetstone on February 12, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Former Premier League referee Graham Poll says West Ham will win Adrian red
card appeal if their case is based on it the fact that a goalscoring
opportunity wasn't involved. Speaking on Talksport radio earlier today Poll
suggested the play was going away from goal.
Explaining the rules when former Hammer Robert Green once handled the ball
outside the area in an England game, Poll previously explained:
"The law is very simple on this matter in that when a keeper leaves his
penalty area he is treated as an outfield player. Therefore he cannot handle
the ball so a direct free-kick should be given if he does, Regarding cards,
if the handball denies an opponent an obvious goalscoring opportunity then
the keeper should be sent off but if it is merely a handball with defenders
around around then a free-kick is sufficient."
Sam Allardyce confirmed yesterday West Ham would appeal against the red card
awarded against Adrian during the goalless draw at St Mary's last night. "It
was a foul on the goalkeeper before he handled the ball, Mane has his hands
all over Adrian," said Allardyce. "He should have kicked it out but Mane had
two hands on his back. We will appeal. I will be very disappointed if we
don't get it rescinded."
Adrian faces a one match ban for the FA Cup game this Saturday at the
Hawthorns.
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Hammers on Hernandez speculation
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 12, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham have made no moves in the direction of Manchester United's Javier
Hernandez. The striker will be available at the end of the season when his
Real Madrid loan spell expires and the Hammers have been linked with him
over the last couple of days via the national media. But ClaretandHugh was
told a few minutes ago that the club have made no moves in the direction of
the 26 year old Mexican who has seen his spell at Real fizzle out after a
promising start. A senior source at the Boleyn admitted he was surprised to
have read the news claiming: "We know nothing about this but anything is
possible in the summer."
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Diarra deal – what went wrong!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 12, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham's failure to sign Lassana Diarra is understood to have been as a
result of opposing claims by Lokomotiv Moscow and the player that each owed
the other money. The row between the two sides has been rumbling on for
months and there can be no conclusion until Fifa has ruled on the issue.
Both Inter Milan and Celtic's negotiations are believed to have faltered on
the same problem and it was always highly unlikely that the Irons could
succeed where they had failed. Diarra has been in dispute with Lokomotiv for
months but with no progress made over the issue it was always an unlikely
deal for the club.
ClaretandHugh was told: Neither Inter or Celtic could make the deal happen
so it's hardly surprising it's broken down. There's a Fifa rule that a
player can walk away in the last season of his contract but in Lass' case
that is from this summer."
Sam Allardyce remains upset however that he couldn't make the deal happen
declaring: ""I have to say we have waited and we have negotiated for weeks
to get the right deal and now we've got it, we find we can't get the right
paperwork and the right clearance, so we have wasted his time and our time.
"On the basis of the situation we're in right now, he would have been a very
crucial player for us between now and the end of the season."
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Andy Carroll Out for two weeks
Posted by Sean Whetstone on February 12, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Sam Allardyce has confirmed that Andy Carroll could be out for up to a
fortnight after injuring his knee in the goalless draw with Southampton last
night. Carroll came on from the bench as a 55th minute substitute but was in
discomfort as he took a knock then battled with a problem with his knee that
he has already injured this season. Carroll was immobile for the last twenty
minutes of the match meaning the Hammers were effectively down to nine men
after Adrian's sending off earlier. "The sad thing is the injury to Andy
Carroll", Allardyce told reporters at his press conference after the game.
"It was the same knee – took a kick onto it and we hope that staying on
hasn't done any more damage. It could be two weeks that he is out. We've got
three goal scorers there so I'm not too concerned." Carroll was forced to
leave the ground on crutches.
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West Ham striker Andy Carroll out for six to eight weeks with recurrence of
knee injury
The England international picked up the injury against Southampton and left
St. Mary's stadium on crutches
The telegraph
West Ham striker Andy Carroll out for six to eight weeks with recurrence of
knee injury
John Percy By John Percy7:05PM GMT 12 Feb 2015
Andy Carroll is set to miss at least six weeks in another shattering blow
for the West Ham United forward. Carroll has suffered a recurrence of a knee
injury and scans have revealed he will be sidelined until the end of March
at the earliest. The England international left Southampton's St. Mary's
stadium on crutches after he picked up the injury in the second half of the
0-0 draw. His appearance as a substitute marked his first appearance since
January 31 but he is now facing further frustration after a scan on
Thursday. Sam Allardyce, the West Ham manager, is expecting to be without
Carroll for between six to eight weeks. He said after the game: "It's the
same knee, he got kicked in the back of the knee and felt something wrong.
He stayed up and was a nuisance. I just hope that staying on hasn't done any
more damage. "He got fit in two and a half weeks after Liverpool but clearly
it's going to take longer this time because it's the same injury."
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Jaaskelainen: I was surprised this happened when I came on against Saints
HITC
John Verrall
West Ham United were forced to bring Jussi Jaaskelainen on in the latter
stages of their match against Southampton. West Ham United's Jussi
Jaaskelainen has told the club's official site that he was nervous when he
came off the substitutes' bench against Southampton on Wednesday night.
Jaaskelainen was required for the final period of the match after Adrian had
been sent off for handling outside the area.
It was a rare situation even for a goalkeeper of Jaaskelainen's experience,
and the Finnish stopper admits he was shocked that nerves affected him.
"That's just the second time in my career I've come on from the bench," he
said. "You just need to keep focused on the bench and it did come as a
surprise on Wednesday because you never expect that to happen. "I was
surprised with the experience I have that I was nervous for the first couple
of minutes. But that got better later in the game."
Despite Jaaskelainen saying that he was anxious, it certainly wasn't evident
in his performance as he looked a picture of calm. The 39-year-old managed
to pull off a couple of notable saves to preserve his side's clean sheet and
help them claim what was an impressive point at St. Mary's. It was a
performance that proved that he still has something to offer the side,
despite his advancing years, and he will be looking to ensure that his
standards do not dip in the coming weeks. Jaaskelainen has still not started
a Premier League match this season, but he should be in the team next time
out, with Adrian suspended, and will delighted if he can make it two clean
sheets out of two.
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Why West Ham already have Winston Reid's replacement in their squad
HITC
John Verrall
West Ham United's Cheikhou Kouyate has been in superb form over recent games
playing in the heart of their defence. West Ham United's injury crisis has
highlighted just how important Cheikhou Kouyate is at the Boleyn Ground.
Kouyate arrived at the London club last summer as a relatively unknown
prospect, but he has wasted no time in making an impression and his standing
continues to rise by the game.
Kouyate was signed as a midfield enforcer. Capable of being destructive, but
also gifted in offensive scenarios, Sam Allardyce had spotted him as the
perfect man to push the Hammers on to the next level. He has performed that
function brilliantly, too, strengthening their midfield to great effect, but
it has been at centre-back where he has really shone.
With a clutch of players on the treatment table, Allardyce has been forced
to field makeshift backlines against Manchester United and Southampton in
recent matches, but Kouyate's displays have proved that he is unquestionably
capable of performing a role in the heart of the defence. Kouyate was the
Hammers man of the match in their 1-1 draw with United at the weekend and
was pivotal in helping them secure a clean-sheet against Southampton on
Wednesday night. The Senegalese international made two tackles, completed
six interceptions, won three headers and managed to clear the ball 10 times
in a complete defensive performance. It means that West Ham's need to sign
a centre-back could be significantly reduced. Allardyce has been chasing a
defender throughout the past few transfer windows, with the side preparing
to cope without Winston Reid.
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WHUFC.com
Stewart Downing felt Wednesday's 0-0 draw at Southampton was a true show of
strength
12.02.2015
Stewart Downing had praise for his teammates after West Ham United battled
to a 0-0 draw at Southampton on Wednesday night. The Hammers had to swim
against the tide to make their point, after Adrian was shown a red card in
the 61st minute for handling outside his area, then Andy Carroll became a
virtual passenger when he picked up a knee injury with all three substitutes
having been deployed. Despite those set-backs, the Hammers held out to earn
a scoreless draw at St Mary's for the second year in a row and Downing was
happy with that outcome. He explained: "With the red card and Andy getting
injured towards the end, we knew we would have to defend because they're a
good team who pass it around. "We did that very well and it was a big point
for us in the end. "Jussi came on and made some good saves - when he's
called upon he's always there, so well played to him. "The injury was
disappointing for Andy, but hopefully it's not too bad and we can get him
back as quickly as possible. "He felt it the other day when he got a knock
on it at Liverpool, so it's unfortunate that he came on and got another bang
on it."
The point represented a second successive draw for the Londoners, but one
which felt more rewarding than Sunday's against Manchester United. Downing
added: "We were disappointed to draw against Manchester United on Sunday,
because we thought we should have won the game and because of the way we
conceded. "But on Wednesday, overall we'll take the point. Coming into the
game we were confident we could get the win, but it wasn't to be."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hargreaves backs Hammers
WHUFC.com
BT Sport pundit Owen Hargreaves feels the Hammers will have the edge in
their FA Cup fifth round tie
12.02.2015
Prior to West Ham United's fifth round FA Cup tie with West Bromwich Albion
this Saturday, former Bayern Munich and England midfielder Owen Hargreaves
dropped by Chadwell Heath to interview the in-form Aaron Cresswell. The
two-time Champions League winner and current BT Sport pundit also gave us
his thoughts on Saturday's match, which is live on BT Sport 1 from 12pm.
Owen, welcome to West Ham United, looking ahead to Saturday's game away at
West Bromwich Albion in the fifth round tie of the FA Cup, what is your
assessment of the match?
OH: "I think it's an interesting game. West Ham have changed their style a
little bit. They've brought in some very athletic players, especially Diafra
Sakho and Cheikhou Kouyate. Also with Enner Valencia they have real
athleticism and pace up front.
"West Ham have also brought in Aaron Cresswell who is the only player to
have played every minute for the Hammers this season. The manager said they
want to play a more attacking style and I think they've been able to do
that.
"They are a very good side, Alex Song at the heart of midfield has been a
great addition. I think they've strengthened and it will be interesting to
see how they line up against a Tony Pulis side who defensively are very,
very sound."
Recently, West Ham haven't lost many games, but also haven't won many
either. Who are you expecting to prevail on Saturday?
OH: "It will be a close call, neither team will want to lose. At first it
will be quite cagey, but West Ham have the players who can change games, so
I would probably lean toward West Ham. You think the team at home has a
slight advantage, under Pulis they are going to drop off, they are going to
be very organised so it will be up to West Ham to break them down."
There have been a few shock results in the FA Cup this season and the magic
seems to be returning. Do you agree?
OH: "That whole weekend when Manchester United drew with Cambridge and
Middlesbrough beat Manchester City was magical. It was special for
everybody. If you think about any other professional sport or league, it's
very rare that third or fourth division teams can beat top level clubs.
"Bradford City beating Chelsea, who will be champions this season, is
exceptional. Fans love an underdog story and we've had a few of them this
season."
You're busy doing television work for BT Sport these days, are you enjoying
being on the other side of football?
OH: "I mean, I would have loved to be able to play for longer, but I got an
injury that changed my career. By the time I realised that, it was a little
bit too late, I kept trying to come back fit but it didn't happen.
"It was quite humbling, going from winning Champions Leagues and playing for
England to all of a sudden the priorities changing. No one ever says 'you'll
never play again' so the contrast was very humbling, you've got to enjoy it
while it lasts.
"It's a real privilege to play football. It's interesting working at BT
Sport, you see the game in a different way. On Wednesday we were covering
the Chelsea v Everton game, we were there three hours before kick-off
preparing. As a footballer you don't see all the work that goes on behind
the scenes.
"There's a lot of people who make a living out of the game, not just the
players. It's great to see it from the other side, obviously I'd love to
still be playing."
As a former England player, do you see any of the English players at West
Ham having a chance at being recognised by their country?
OH: "There are a lot of young players emerging. Harry Kane and Danny Ings
for example, Jordon Ibe recently too. It's good to see Stewart Downing doing
well, I think he needed to be in the right environment and he certainly is
now.
"Aaron Cresswell is certainly one for the future, he's a young talented
player. The first time I watched him play this season I thought he was a
good player and he's continued to do well. The most important thing is doing
well at club level. If you don't do well, then you won't have a chance."
Coming from a Canadian background, West Ham have just signed Doneil Henry
from Toronto FC, is this a sign that the standard of football over there is
improving?
OH: "I think some of the teams I played with and against from about 14 or 15
years old could have competed with anyone in Europe.
"I think we were missing that development phase, everyone in Canada is sort
of looking for the next big thing. I didn't cost anything when I went to
Bayern Munich, they got me for little more than a ham sandwich.
"There are a lot of athletes in Canada, I think they just need a bit more
coaching, hopefully Doneil can come in and do well. A lot of players try
hard and he's certainly one of them."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Mediawatch - 12 February
WHUFC.com
Our daily look at West Ham United in the news
12.02.2015
Coverage of last night's 0-0 draw at Southampton centres around the Hammers'
valiant effort to cling on to their point with a man light, with The Times
(£) saying that the ten men did Sam Allardyce proud.
Big Sam did not like referee Craig Pawson's decision to send Adrian off for
handball, however, and he outlines his intention to appeal in the
Independent.
The other major talking point from the game was the injury to Andy Carroll,
who was seen leaving the stadium on crutches, according to this report in
The Sun (£).
Away from the pitch, there are reports on transfer news, with Sky Sports
covering Big Sam's confirmation that any move for midfielder Lassana Diarra
is off, owing to FIFA regulations.
The Daily Star claim West Ham are lining up a shock move for Manchester
United striker Javier Hernandez, who is currently on a season-long loan at
Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, this story in The Wharf details the Club's support for homeless
charity Spitalfields Crypt Trust, who are inviting people to don flip-flops
for their commute on Friday to raise funds for people sleeping rough.
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Andy Carroll: West Ham striker's knee injury update on Friday
BBC.co.uk
West Ham will reveal the extent of Andy Carroll's knee injury on Friday
after the striker had a scan. Carroll, playing for the first time since 31
January, picked up the problem in Wednesday's 0-0 draw at Southampton and
left St Mary's on crutches. The 26-year-old was forced to stay on the pitch
with the injury because West Ham were down to 10 men and had made all three
of their substitutions. Hammers boss Sam Allardyce will give an update at
his media briefing on Friday. Hammers goalkeeper Adrian was sent off on 61
minutes after handling the ball outside his box. "[Carroll] stayed up and
was a nuisance," Allardyce said."He got kicked in the back of the knee and
felt something wrong. "I just hope that staying on hasn't done any more
damage." Allardyce also said the club will not be able to sign former Real
Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra as a free agent because of "Fifa
regulations". "We have negotiated for weeks to get the right deal and, now
we've got it, we find we can't get the right paperwork and the right
clearance, so we have wasted his time and our time," he said.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce nominated as London Manager of the Year
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 12th February 2015
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce has been nominated for the 2015 London Manger of the Year
award. The Hammers boss, who has enjoyed a thoroughly successful season in
his fourth year at the club is one of three Hammers nominated for this
year's awards, which take place on 5 March in Battersea.
In Addition to Allardyce, goalkeeper Adrian has been selected as one of the
five nominees for London goalkeeper of the Year whilst Carl Jenkinson is in
the hat for the Young London Player of the Year (Under 23s).
Allardyce, one of only two Premier League managers on the shortlist finds
himself up against Jose Mourinho (Chelsea), Mark Warburton (Brentford), Neal
Ardley (AFC Wimbledon) and the 2014 KUMB Awards headliner Martin Allen, now
at Barnet.
In the goalkeeper category, Adrian is joined by Hugo Lloris (Tottenham),
Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea) and former Hammer Robert Green (QPR). Meanwhile
Jenkinson contests the Under 23 category alongside Alex Pritchard
(Brentford), Harry Kane and Ryan Mason (Tottenham).
Further categories to be decided on the night - which include no
representatives from West Ham - are the London Player of the Year, London
Women's Player of the Year, Outstanding Contribution to a London Club and
London Community Project of the Year.
The Hammers trio will be pleased to hear that the expert judging panel
includes lifelong Hammer Tony Cottee. Unfortunately for Messrs Allardyce,
del Castillo and Jenkinson there are 15 other judges on the panel!
The London Football Awards - which covers all 15 London clubs, Arsenal,
Barnet, Brentford, Charlton, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Dagenham & Redbridge,
Fulham, Leyton Orient, Millwall, QPR, Tottenham, Watford, West Ham and
Wimbledon - will raise much needed funds for Willow, a national charity that
provides unique and positive Special Days for seriously ill 16 to 40 year
olds.
Willow was founded by former Arsenal goalkeeper and sports presenter Bob
Wilson and his wife Megs and in memory of their daughter, Anna, who died of
cancer aged just 31.
To date Willow has fulfilled more than 11,000 Special Days for young people
living with life-threatening conditions such as cancer, cystic fibrosis,
motor neurone disease, muscular dystrophy, organ failure and Huntington's.
Standard tickets to the event, including pre-dinner drinks and a three
course meal, cost £185 per person. Tables of ten are available for £1,750,
Premium tables cost £2,500 and Legend Tables (for ten guests plus a legend)
cost £5,000.
For more information and booking visit www.londonfootballawards.org or
telephone Willow on 01707 259777. For more information about Willow visit
www.willowfoundation.org.uk.
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In brief - Thursday's news round-up
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 12th February 2015
By: Jack Hammer
Get the very latest West Ham news in one place, with our new daily media
round-up!
Hammers hold on for point despite Adrian dismissal
SOUTHAMPTON went into last night's match hoping that the right combination
of results would narrow the gap between themselves and second-placed
Manchester City to a single point.
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/557688/Match-report-Southampton-0-We
st-Ham-0-Adrian-sent-off
Ten man Hammers hold Saints
en-man West Ham earned a hard-fought point after holding Southampton to a
0-0 draw in their Premier League clash at St Mary's.
http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/313632/report
Southampton 0-0 West Ham
t may not have been very sophisticated, but Sam Allardyce will care little.
West Ham fought for a valuable point here in a game that will be forgotten
in a hurry, a dull goalless draw that only came to life once the Hammers'
goalkeeper, Adrián, was sent off in the second half for handling the ball
outside the area.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/11/southampton-west-ham-premier
-league-match-report
Allardyce confirms another injury for Andy Carroll
Andy Carroll suffered yet another injury setback in West Ham's clash with
Southampton.
http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2015/02/11/allardyce-confirms-another-injury-
for-andy-carroll-four-month-ab/
Allardyce: Draw was like a win
Sam Allardyce praised his West Ham players after their goalless stalemate at
Southampton in the Premier League on Wednesday night, declaring the draw to
be like a victory after they went down to 10 men
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11685/9710965/sam-allardyce-says-wes
t-hams-draw-at-southampton-was-like-a-victory-due-to-red-card
Carroll set for longer spell out
West Ham's Andy Carroll faces several weeks out after leaving Wednesday's
draw at Southampton on crutches.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31433187
West Ham must wait for Diarra
West Ham will have to wait until the end of the season to sign former Real
Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra.
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11685/9711057/premier-league-fifa-ru
ling-stops-lassana-diarra-from-joining-west-ham-until-end-of-season
West Ham considering shock move for Javier Hernandez
West Ham United are weighing up a shock summer move for Manchester United
striker Javier Hernandez
http://metro.co.uk/2015/02/11/west-ham-considering-summer-move-for-mancheste
r-united-striker-javier-hernandez-5058996/
West Ham still trying to persuade Tottenham transfer target Winston Reid to
sign a new contract
West Ham have not given up on persuading Winston Reid to stay at Upton Park
despite the fact the defender is yet to sign a new contract.
http://metro.co.uk/2015/02/11/west-ham-still-trying-to-persuade-tottenham-tr
ansfer-target-winston-reid-to-sign-a-new-contract-5058208/
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West Ham's Stewart Downing believes draw at Southampton was 'massive point'
By Luke Marino | Last Updated: 12/02/15 2:16pm
SSN
West Ham United forward Stewart Downing believes their 0-0 draw at
Southampton on Wednesday will prove to be a 'massive point'. The Londoners
currently sit eighth in the Premier League and Downing believes his side
have the quality to break into the European places at the end of the season.
The former Liverpool winger, who has excelled this season in his new role
behind the strikers, said: "I think it will come back at the end of the
season as being a massive point. "I mean, they'll be disappointed not to be
getting three given their home form, that's where they get their points.
"For the league games, we just need to keep chipping away, picking up points
away from home and carry on our home form. We've got a really good chance of
Europe." Sam Allardyce's side have lost just once in their last six outings,
a run of results which included a deserved point at home to Manchester
United last weekend.
'Attacking displays'
However, West Ham were forced to defend deep towards the end of the match
after goalkeeper Adrian was dismissed midway through the second half after
handling the ball outisde his area. Downing, who has scored five goals in
the Premier League this season, said: "I think we showed another side to us.
"Obviously we've been praised for our attacking displays this season, but at
times we had to defend and make it difficult for Southampton. "They had a
couple of chances towards the end but I think Jussi Jaaskelainen made some
good saves and there were some good blocks. "I think overall with the
circumstances during the last half an hour, we'd take a point all day long."
Kevin Nolan (bruised foot) and Mark Noble (virus) missed the trip to the
south coast, while Andy Carroll left the ground on crutches.
However, ahead of their FA Cup fifth round clash at West Brom this weekend,
Downing believes the squad now has enough quality to cope with injuries.
"We're struggling a bit and obviously it was the last minute as well so we
had to change late on," he said, referring to Nolan and Noble. "But it just
shows the squad depth and we didn't have that last season. We'd probably
have struggled to get a team out."
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West Ham striker Andy Carroll facing another spell on sidelines
Last Updated: 12/02/15 10:53am
SSN
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce expects Andy Carroll to be sidelined for around
three weeks after the striker limped off at the end of the 0-0 draw at
Southampton. Carroll, who came on as a second-half substitute at St Mary's
on Wednesday night, received a kick to the back of his knee and left the
stadium on crutches. He was due to have a scan on the problem on Thursday
but Allardyce said after the game: "The sad thing for us is the injury to
Andy Carroll which we can ill-afford to take with our injury problems. "It's
the same knee. He got kicked on the back of it and felt something was wrong.
He stayed up and was a nuisance but I just hope that staying on hasn't done
any damage.
"He got fit in two-and-a-half weeks but clearly it's going to take longer
this time because it's the same injury." Meanwhile, Allardyce says he
intends to appeal the red card shown to goalkeeper Adrian after he was
dismissed for handling the ball outside his penalty area.
"It was a foul on our goalkeeper before," he said. "There is no doubt Mane
had his hands on Adrian. "Adrian made a mistake in the beginning but the
linesman saw two hands on the ball but not the two hands on the back. "We
will be appealing it and I'll be very disappointed if he doesn't get off."
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SEVEN DAYS THAT SAY MORE ABOUT THE STATE OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE THAN WEST HAM
By Bobby Shovels 12 Feb 2015 at 08:00
West Ham till I Die
Manchester United on Sunday, Southampton on Wednesday, West Brom on
Saturday. Seven crucial days for the Hammers but also an insightful week of
fixtures regarding the state of the game.
Firstly, Manchester United. Ultimately, a gutting result we more than
deserved to take three points from. Yet my main take from it was how United
have now lost just once in 17 games in all competitions. That is astonishing
for a team so out of sorts and that scraps by in so many fixtures. There is
something of a dream-like quality to the Red Devils in the two years since
Sir Alex left: those shirts and stadium still invoke fear, yet essentially
they are still there for the taking and everyone knows it and thus many
sides think they can get some points out of them. Yet few have. Why?
Well, one cannot doubt that while their over-spending in the summer was
largely ill thought-out, it no doubt helps to have a large army of stars,
regardless of whether they gel together. At some point, as on Sunday, the
ball will fall to just one talented individual, and he will have the last
laugh. Such is the state of English football, as we have long known it: West
Ham can be applauded for not being a big club and consistently fielding
home-grown talent, as we did on Sunday. But you don't always win points by
sticking to principles. Hence, United, with money and an eye for a
foreigner, are sitting above us in the table.
Secondly, we play Southampton tonight. What does this reveal? Well, we are
yet to see the result but one thing I find about the rise of the Saints is
the level of surprise and slight disdain shown to the team. Even now, as
they continue to do so well, and put the money boys to shame, many pundits
will still write off their chances of claiming a top-four place.
Many still argue that Europe is beyond West Ham too. Essentially, tonight
you have two teams who many believe should not be where they are in the
table currently, and many, despite what they say on the surface, like having
the top four or five teams the same every season. Many may argue against
money's power, yet those same voices don't seem to like it when the natural
equilibrium of the game is disrupted. Liverpool should be above Southampton,
full stop, so goes the argument. Tonight sees two teams, with less money,
relying on young talent, battle it out for a decent place in England's
highest league. It's how it should be.
Finally, away to West Brom on Saturday. Again, many things can be read from
this but two things strike me: where the Cup ranks in importance for teams
and the TV scheduling. Firstly, as seen with Chelsea and Manchester City,
those teams' preference for other trophies (the bigger money prizes,
ultimately) means that this glorious, historic cup has lost its standing.
Secondly, the TV schedulers also stop us from being able to watch and
reinvigorate the romanticism of the Cup – and raising the profile of lower
league sides – by televising all the Premier League teams. I'd much rather
watch Bradford than Aston Villa v Leicester City. Or how about Blackburn
giving Stoke a run for their money? Furthermore, once again, we have become
beholden to the need to have games on Saturday start at 12:45 to please the
TV men, which means that many West Ham fans – due to train repairs – will
have to get up especially early to leave themselves time to get to the game.
TV trumps the fans – we know that. Ticket prices won't go down with the new
£5.14bn TV deal. But we're still expected to watch games at earlier and
later times and get trains and coaches at more unsociable hours. We'll still
live in a world where only five teams matter, or at push, the top 20 in all
four divisions. We'll still struggle to break into an ever-solidifying group
of elite clubs.
Yes, in seven days, the money, the inertia, and the depression of the game
are all too plain to see.
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NEARLY REACH THE SKY BY BRIAN WILLIAMS: A VALEDICTION TO THE BOLEYN
By Iron Liddy 12 Feb 2015 at 13:50
West Ham Till I Die
When Iain emailed me a few weeks ago to ask if I would like to review Brian
William's new book Nearly Reach the Sky: A Farewell to Upton Park I was both
flattered and nervous. I haven't been asked to write a book review since I
was in my Headmistress's Good Readers Club when I was 8. I said yes straight
away as I'm already a fan of Brian's writing and I anticipated a funny,
clever and interesting read. I wasn't disappointed, it was such a good read
that I finished it in a day; my only hope now is that I can do it justice.
I suppose the first thing that a prospective reader might want to know is
which literary genre this book falls under. To be honest it could easily be
categorised as a tragicomedy, a memoir or even a history of sport. The one
category I wasn't expecting was romance.
Nearly Reach the Sky is more than just a collection of one West Ham fan's
musings on his life as a football supporter; it is a billet doux, a letter
to his love of more than 50 years. It's an explanation of his feelings for
his club, which moves through the widest range of emotions – devotion,
disappointment, hope and ambition, joy and elation, grief and anger, humour,
impatience, self-reproach and resignation. They're all there.
It is also a valediction. A claret and blue thread has been a part of the
fabric of Brian's life since 1964 and as he weaves and embroiders his
personal love story of West Ham United it becomes apparent that a snag has
appeared in the cloth. Throughout the book there is the stark realisation
that the club is on the verge of leaving the ground that has been its
physical and spiritual home for more than 100 years. Very soon that small
tear will become a gaping hole and it's clear that a part of the author's
heart will be ripped away forever.
Ultimately this is a paean to West Ham United but the other love of Brian's
life, his wife Di, also appears regularly in the book, together with her
East End family. He has obviously enjoyed a harmonious, if polygamous,
relationship with his two amours. Even so, I can't pretend that I wasn't
shocked and a little horrified to read of Brian's first ménage à trois. In
fact it wasn't a ménage à trois at all but a foursome! West Ham may have
easily seen off other women in Brian's life, including the girl who
distracted him from Tonka's performance on the penalty spot in the 80s and
the lissome 17 year old Sharon and her hotpants; but the admission that I
read in chapter 19 is nothing short of scandalous. Brian is now full of
contrition and guilt for playing away and fortunately for him Di is
obviously a very forgiving woman. I'm not sure that fellow West Ham fans
will let him off quite so lightly and if I were Di I'd keep him on a very
short leash. Despite his repentance he's still singing love songs to other
'birds' to this day, and right under the nose of his true love too!
Not being born within the sound of Bow Bells has obviously caused our hero
some consternation in life and he makes no secret of his delight that
Cupid's arrow landed smack bang in the middle of Beverley Road in East Ham.
Here we meet Brian's future in-laws, including the inimitable Sid, who is
possibly the man originally responsible for the term 'the elephant in the
room.' Fortunately for Brian he'd already lost his heart many years before
to the aptly nicknamed 'Ticker' when he scored twice in the 1964 FA Cup
semi-final against Manchester United, so his claret and blue credentials
stood up to Sid's suspicious scrutiny. Having passed the test with flying
West Ham colours he was welcomed into the bosom of Di's family as an
honorary East Ender. He had found his dream woman who not only shared his
love for West Ham but also lived just streets away from his beloved Boleyn.
Love blossomed and it was clear that it was going to be a match made in
heaven when their marriage was given the personal blessing of John Lyall.
If you are beginning to worry that Brian has written some kind of Mills &
Boon novel or worse, Sixty-Four Shades of Claret and Blue, fear not! As a
member of the fairer sex I'm perhaps more inclined to focus on the more
human elements of this story but there are more than enough match reports
and reminiscences of seminal goals, games, fouls and finals to dissuade the
average woman from reading it. Equally, if you are one of our more youthful
West Ham fans and you think that this is a tome that would appeal only to
the more decrepit members of our fan base who like to bang on about how much
better it all was in their day, you would be wrong. Whilst this is a very
nostalgic collection of anecdotes the author has seamlessly woven stories of
past glories and defeats with accounts of recent players and games to create
a narrative that every West Ham fan will be able to place themselves in at
some point and say "I was there."
Brian is obviously not a fan of the linear approach, this is not one long
hoof from 1964 to the present day. Instead he weaves nimbly in and out of
the decades, moving from one story to another and back again with a clever
little one-two and some nifty back passes to yesteryear without ever losing
his reader along the way. His story is inevitably populated with all the
West Ham icons, heroes and villains that we all know and love … or hate; but
we are also introduced to some of the people who make up the true heart of
West Ham United ….. the fans. It's these people that elevate this tale from
being 'just another West Ham book.' Of course you'll be expecting to read of
Brian's adulation of Billy Bonds and even the emotional moment when a Wolves
fan broke ranks during the wreath laying ceremony for the late, great Bobby
Moore. But the real pleasure of this book is being able to identify with the
joy and pain of Brian's West Ham supporting family, friends, colleagues and
passing acquaintances. Their stories are as much a part of our club's
history as yours are and they all deserve to be recorded alongside the oft
told tales of the people on the pitch.
This is essentially a very funny book but, like all West Ham fans, Brian
also has a talent for pathos and there is an ever present poignancy between
the lines of humour. His anecdotes evoke the whole gamut of emotions and I
laughed out loud and shed some tears several times before I turned the final
page. As I wiped away the last tear and the final smile faded from my lips I
was left feeling proud and grateful. Proud because I was born a Hammer and
grateful that all the wonderful characters in Brian's book are my kith and
kin. I realised that I am also a part of the same story, we all are. That
sense of belonging is priceless and I can't help but feel that something
will be lost when the doors of The Boleyn are finally closed for the last
time. No matter how positive any West Ham fan feels about our impending
move, I challenge them to read this witty but poignant book without feeling
wistful and nostalgic for a time that will never come again.
For the benefit of any newcomers to the site Brian Williams has supported
West Ham United for the past 50 years and for the last 25 of those years he
has been a journalist for The Guardian newspaper. He also writes a regular
Tuesday column for West Ham Till I Die. This is his first book.
You can order a copy of Brian's book NEARLY REACH THE SKY from…
Biteback Publishing for £8.99 in paperback (Use promotional code WESTHAMBW)
Biteback Publishing for £9.99 as an eBook
Amazon for £12.99 in paperback
Amazon Kindle for £10 as an eBook
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Graham Poll says Hammers will win appeal
Posted by Sean Whetstone on February 12, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Former Premier League referee Graham Poll says West Ham will win Adrian red
card appeal if their case is based on it the fact that a goalscoring
opportunity wasn't involved. Speaking on Talksport radio earlier today Poll
suggested the play was going away from goal.
Explaining the rules when former Hammer Robert Green once handled the ball
outside the area in an England game, Poll previously explained:
"The law is very simple on this matter in that when a keeper leaves his
penalty area he is treated as an outfield player. Therefore he cannot handle
the ball so a direct free-kick should be given if he does, Regarding cards,
if the handball denies an opponent an obvious goalscoring opportunity then
the keeper should be sent off but if it is merely a handball with defenders
around around then a free-kick is sufficient."
Sam Allardyce confirmed yesterday West Ham would appeal against the red card
awarded against Adrian during the goalless draw at St Mary's last night. "It
was a foul on the goalkeeper before he handled the ball, Mane has his hands
all over Adrian," said Allardyce. "He should have kicked it out but Mane had
two hands on his back. We will appeal. I will be very disappointed if we
don't get it rescinded."
Adrian faces a one match ban for the FA Cup game this Saturday at the
Hawthorns.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers on Hernandez speculation
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 12, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham have made no moves in the direction of Manchester United's Javier
Hernandez. The striker will be available at the end of the season when his
Real Madrid loan spell expires and the Hammers have been linked with him
over the last couple of days via the national media. But ClaretandHugh was
told a few minutes ago that the club have made no moves in the direction of
the 26 year old Mexican who has seen his spell at Real fizzle out after a
promising start. A senior source at the Boleyn admitted he was surprised to
have read the news claiming: "We know nothing about this but anything is
possible in the summer."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Diarra deal – what went wrong!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 12, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham's failure to sign Lassana Diarra is understood to have been as a
result of opposing claims by Lokomotiv Moscow and the player that each owed
the other money. The row between the two sides has been rumbling on for
months and there can be no conclusion until Fifa has ruled on the issue.
Both Inter Milan and Celtic's negotiations are believed to have faltered on
the same problem and it was always highly unlikely that the Irons could
succeed where they had failed. Diarra has been in dispute with Lokomotiv for
months but with no progress made over the issue it was always an unlikely
deal for the club.
ClaretandHugh was told: Neither Inter or Celtic could make the deal happen
so it's hardly surprising it's broken down. There's a Fifa rule that a
player can walk away in the last season of his contract but in Lass' case
that is from this summer."
Sam Allardyce remains upset however that he couldn't make the deal happen
declaring: ""I have to say we have waited and we have negotiated for weeks
to get the right deal and now we've got it, we find we can't get the right
paperwork and the right clearance, so we have wasted his time and our time.
"On the basis of the situation we're in right now, he would have been a very
crucial player for us between now and the end of the season."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Andy Carroll Out for two weeks
Posted by Sean Whetstone on February 12, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Sam Allardyce has confirmed that Andy Carroll could be out for up to a
fortnight after injuring his knee in the goalless draw with Southampton last
night. Carroll came on from the bench as a 55th minute substitute but was in
discomfort as he took a knock then battled with a problem with his knee that
he has already injured this season. Carroll was immobile for the last twenty
minutes of the match meaning the Hammers were effectively down to nine men
after Adrian's sending off earlier. "The sad thing is the injury to Andy
Carroll", Allardyce told reporters at his press conference after the game.
"It was the same knee – took a kick onto it and we hope that staying on
hasn't done any more damage. It could be two weeks that he is out. We've got
three goal scorers there so I'm not too concerned." Carroll was forced to
leave the ground on crutches.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham striker Andy Carroll out for six to eight weeks with recurrence of
knee injury
The England international picked up the injury against Southampton and left
St. Mary's stadium on crutches
The telegraph
West Ham striker Andy Carroll out for six to eight weeks with recurrence of
knee injury
John Percy By John Percy7:05PM GMT 12 Feb 2015
Andy Carroll is set to miss at least six weeks in another shattering blow
for the West Ham United forward. Carroll has suffered a recurrence of a knee
injury and scans have revealed he will be sidelined until the end of March
at the earliest. The England international left Southampton's St. Mary's
stadium on crutches after he picked up the injury in the second half of the
0-0 draw. His appearance as a substitute marked his first appearance since
January 31 but he is now facing further frustration after a scan on
Thursday. Sam Allardyce, the West Ham manager, is expecting to be without
Carroll for between six to eight weeks. He said after the game: "It's the
same knee, he got kicked in the back of the knee and felt something wrong.
He stayed up and was a nuisance. I just hope that staying on hasn't done any
more damage. "He got fit in two and a half weeks after Liverpool but clearly
it's going to take longer this time because it's the same injury."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Jaaskelainen: I was surprised this happened when I came on against Saints
HITC
John Verrall
West Ham United were forced to bring Jussi Jaaskelainen on in the latter
stages of their match against Southampton. West Ham United's Jussi
Jaaskelainen has told the club's official site that he was nervous when he
came off the substitutes' bench against Southampton on Wednesday night.
Jaaskelainen was required for the final period of the match after Adrian had
been sent off for handling outside the area.
It was a rare situation even for a goalkeeper of Jaaskelainen's experience,
and the Finnish stopper admits he was shocked that nerves affected him.
"That's just the second time in my career I've come on from the bench," he
said. "You just need to keep focused on the bench and it did come as a
surprise on Wednesday because you never expect that to happen. "I was
surprised with the experience I have that I was nervous for the first couple
of minutes. But that got better later in the game."
Despite Jaaskelainen saying that he was anxious, it certainly wasn't evident
in his performance as he looked a picture of calm. The 39-year-old managed
to pull off a couple of notable saves to preserve his side's clean sheet and
help them claim what was an impressive point at St. Mary's. It was a
performance that proved that he still has something to offer the side,
despite his advancing years, and he will be looking to ensure that his
standards do not dip in the coming weeks. Jaaskelainen has still not started
a Premier League match this season, but he should be in the team next time
out, with Adrian suspended, and will delighted if he can make it two clean
sheets out of two.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Why West Ham already have Winston Reid's replacement in their squad
HITC
John Verrall
West Ham United's Cheikhou Kouyate has been in superb form over recent games
playing in the heart of their defence. West Ham United's injury crisis has
highlighted just how important Cheikhou Kouyate is at the Boleyn Ground.
Kouyate arrived at the London club last summer as a relatively unknown
prospect, but he has wasted no time in making an impression and his standing
continues to rise by the game.
Kouyate was signed as a midfield enforcer. Capable of being destructive, but
also gifted in offensive scenarios, Sam Allardyce had spotted him as the
perfect man to push the Hammers on to the next level. He has performed that
function brilliantly, too, strengthening their midfield to great effect, but
it has been at centre-back where he has really shone.
With a clutch of players on the treatment table, Allardyce has been forced
to field makeshift backlines against Manchester United and Southampton in
recent matches, but Kouyate's displays have proved that he is unquestionably
capable of performing a role in the heart of the defence. Kouyate was the
Hammers man of the match in their 1-1 draw with United at the weekend and
was pivotal in helping them secure a clean-sheet against Southampton on
Wednesday night. The Senegalese international made two tackles, completed
six interceptions, won three headers and managed to clear the ball 10 times
in a complete defensive performance. It means that West Ham's need to sign
a centre-back could be significantly reduced. Allardyce has been chasing a
defender throughout the past few transfer windows, with the side preparing
to cope without Winston Reid.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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Thursday, February 12
Daily WHUFC News II - 12th February 2015
Big Sam on Saints stalemate
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce felt pride and frustration after Wednesday's goalless draw at
Southampton
11.02.2015
Sam Allardyce felt a mixture of pride and frustration after seeing his
depleted West Ham United side earn a hard-fought 0-0 Barclays Premier League
draw at Southampton. The Hammers, who went into the game without
half-a-dozen first-teamers through injury, lost Adrian to a 61st-minute red
card for handling outside the box, then played out the final 20 minutes with
Andy Carroll rendered immobile by a knee problem. Big Sam claimed his
goalkeeper should not have been sent-off, but praised his replacement Jussi
Jaaskelainen and his outfield players for resiliently playing out time
against a Saints outfit who started the day in third place. "The game was
exactly what we didn't want in terms of how it panned out, but not in terms
of how we played or the football that we tried to play or the effort that we
gave," he began. "The decisions went against us, particularly the
sending-off which was not a sending-off. "From there, having used all our
substitutes, Andy Carroll re-injured the same knee, but I was absolutely
delighted for the players who stopped a Southampton side who have been very
good here this season and got us a very precious point. "It almost feels
like a win after the things we had to endure tonight, so against all the
odds we got a draw. This was a nine-man team that hasn't lost."
To start with the positives, Big Sam was rightly proud of his team's ability
to restrict Southampton to shots from the edge of the penalty area - both
before and after Adrian's dismissal. "It is a feather in our cap and we know
Southampton have been very good here, even though they haven't been as
free-scoring as they were at the start of the season - a bit like ourselves.
"We knew that to get anything out of this game we'd have to get a clean
sheet because Southampton would look at their record, which was eight clean
sheets before tonight and now nine. "We had to get our own defensive play
right and then we started to probe more and more. We knew we'd get some
tired legs late on, as we'd played 4pm on Sunday, so we made the substitutes
accordingly, and then unfortunately the big decision hit us with the goalie
being sent-off and Andy getting injured. "We've still managed to secure a
point, but my fear is unfortunately that the extra effort we have put in
with nine men will maybe take its toll when we play Saturday at 12.45pm in
the FA Cup at West Brom."
One man who will likely feature at The Hawthorns is veteran goalkeeper
Jaaskelainen, who impressed hugely on his first Premier League appearance
since New Year's Day 2014. "He is quality and this is the point of keeping a
man like Jussi, who keeps himself super-fit for his age. He is turning 40
soon, but trains every day and loves training. "He has been frustrated
because he loves to play if he can, but he understands the position and the
form of Adrian this year. This is why you don't throw a man like Jussi away.
You keep him, because he has used every ounce of his experience to make
sure, in the end, he was a key element in us winning a point. "His saves
near the end, his kicking, his handling and his composure were massive in
terms of helping us win a point."
In closing, the manager was asked if any of the injured or, in Mark Noble's
case ill, absentees would be available to play on Saturday at West Brom.
Meanwhile, Big Sam also confirmed that the Club will not be signing France
midfielder Lassana Diarra due to administrative issues. "We are going to
have to if we're going to try to get through to the next round. Andy is out
and there were some real tired legs out there and I saw Cheikhou limping off
at the end after another terrific performance. "I can only hope that Kevin
and Mark are fit. I think it will come just too soon for James Collins and
Reidy, so we'll just have to assess and hope that nothing untoward has
happened when they come in on Thursday. A little strain on a Wednesday night
will keep them out on Saturday. "I have to say [with regard to Diarra] we
have waited and we have negotiated for weeks to get the right deal and now
we've got it, we find we can't get the right paperwork and the right
clearance, so we have wasted his time and our time. "On the basis of the
situation we're in right now, he would have been a very crucial player for
us between now and the end of the season."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Jussi's patience rewarded at St Mary's
WHUFC.com
Jussi Jaaskelainen stepped into the breach to help the Hammers to a 0-0 draw
at Southampton
12.02.2015
When West Ham United visited Southampton last season, Jussi Jaaskelainen
gave a Man of the Match performance to help his side gain a 0-0 draw. That
St Mary's clash came back in September 2013, and after playing just 14
Barclays Premier League games in the intervening 17 months, he was called
upon again to shine on the South Coast on Wednesday. A red card for Adrian
29 minutes from time gave the 39-year-old his first top flight opportunity
this season and he was only too glad to take it. "It's a case of working
hard in training, keeping yourself fit as you can [and being ready]," he
said. "I played the League Cup game earlier in the season and then I was a
bit disappointed that the Gaffer didn't choose me in the FA Cup, but it was
one of those things. "I just wanted to keep going because you never know
what's going to happen, and on Wednesday it happened."
Jaaskelainen had to draw on all his experience to be ready to enter the fray
after Adrian saw red for handling outside his penalty area - especially as
it was just the second time in his lengthy career he had been pressed into
action in that manner. "That's just the second time in my career I've come
on from the bench!" he revealed. "You just need to keep focused on the bench
and it did come as a surprise on Wednesday because you never expect that to
happen. "I was surprised with the experience I have that I was nervous for
the first couple of minutes. But that got better later in the game. "As a
goalkeeper it's always better to start the game and do the warm ups and
preparation that way."
Jaaskelainen needed to make sharp saves to deny Jose Fonte and Dusan Tadic
in stoppage time and now he is keen to help the team again at West Bromwich
Albion on Saturday. "That's what you need to do when you play at this level,
to be ready at any time," he explained.
"It was a great performance. I don't think we had a clean sheet away from
home before Wednesday this season, so we did well. "There's a Cup game
coming up on Saturday so now we need to prepare for that game. I'm excited
for it."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Andy Carroll: West Ham striker injured against Southampton
BBC.co.uk
West Ham's Andy Carroll faces several weeks out after leaving Wednesday's
draw at Southampton on crutches. The 26-year-old striker was playing for the
first time since picking up a knee injury on 31 January, but suffered a
recurrence against the Saints. "He got kicked in the back of the knee and
felt something wrong," said Hammers boss Sam Allardyce. "It's going to take
longer (to get fit) this time because it's the same injury (he suffered
against Liverpool)." Carroll was forced to continue playing in the 0-0 draw
at St Mary's, with West Ham down to 10 men after goalkeeper Adrian was sent
off and with all three substitutions made - the former Newcastle and
Liverpool striker being one of those introduced. "He stayed up and was a
nuisance," added Allardyce. "I just hope that staying on hasn't done any
more damage." It completed a frustrating day f or Allardyce, who revealed he
is unable to sign former Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra as a free
agent because of "Fifa regulations".
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham to appeal Adrian red card, says Allardyce
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 12th February 2015
By: Staff Writer
Craig Pawson's decision to dismiss Adrian for hand ball against Southampton
last night will be contested, according to Sam Allardyce.
Speaking minutes after the final whistle had blown at St Mary's, Allardyce
confirmed that he would be appealing against the decision - one that, as it
stands, rules the Spanish goalkeeper out of Saturday lunchtime's FA Cup 5th
Round tie at the Hawthorns. "It was a foul on the goalkeeper before he
handled the ball," insisted Big Sam. "Mane has his hands all over Adrian.
"He should have kicked it out [first], but Mane had two hands on his back.
We will appeal. I will be very disappointed if we don't get it rescinded."
Despite Adrian's 61st minute dismissal, a ten-men Hammers held out for a
point against high-flying Southampton - albeit with considerable assistance
from his replacement Jussi Jaaskelainen, who made two excellent saves in the
closing moments to deny the Saints all three points.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce felt pride and frustration after Wednesday's goalless draw at
Southampton
11.02.2015
Sam Allardyce felt a mixture of pride and frustration after seeing his
depleted West Ham United side earn a hard-fought 0-0 Barclays Premier League
draw at Southampton. The Hammers, who went into the game without
half-a-dozen first-teamers through injury, lost Adrian to a 61st-minute red
card for handling outside the box, then played out the final 20 minutes with
Andy Carroll rendered immobile by a knee problem. Big Sam claimed his
goalkeeper should not have been sent-off, but praised his replacement Jussi
Jaaskelainen and his outfield players for resiliently playing out time
against a Saints outfit who started the day in third place. "The game was
exactly what we didn't want in terms of how it panned out, but not in terms
of how we played or the football that we tried to play or the effort that we
gave," he began. "The decisions went against us, particularly the
sending-off which was not a sending-off. "From there, having used all our
substitutes, Andy Carroll re-injured the same knee, but I was absolutely
delighted for the players who stopped a Southampton side who have been very
good here this season and got us a very precious point. "It almost feels
like a win after the things we had to endure tonight, so against all the
odds we got a draw. This was a nine-man team that hasn't lost."
To start with the positives, Big Sam was rightly proud of his team's ability
to restrict Southampton to shots from the edge of the penalty area - both
before and after Adrian's dismissal. "It is a feather in our cap and we know
Southampton have been very good here, even though they haven't been as
free-scoring as they were at the start of the season - a bit like ourselves.
"We knew that to get anything out of this game we'd have to get a clean
sheet because Southampton would look at their record, which was eight clean
sheets before tonight and now nine. "We had to get our own defensive play
right and then we started to probe more and more. We knew we'd get some
tired legs late on, as we'd played 4pm on Sunday, so we made the substitutes
accordingly, and then unfortunately the big decision hit us with the goalie
being sent-off and Andy getting injured. "We've still managed to secure a
point, but my fear is unfortunately that the extra effort we have put in
with nine men will maybe take its toll when we play Saturday at 12.45pm in
the FA Cup at West Brom."
One man who will likely feature at The Hawthorns is veteran goalkeeper
Jaaskelainen, who impressed hugely on his first Premier League appearance
since New Year's Day 2014. "He is quality and this is the point of keeping a
man like Jussi, who keeps himself super-fit for his age. He is turning 40
soon, but trains every day and loves training. "He has been frustrated
because he loves to play if he can, but he understands the position and the
form of Adrian this year. This is why you don't throw a man like Jussi away.
You keep him, because he has used every ounce of his experience to make
sure, in the end, he was a key element in us winning a point. "His saves
near the end, his kicking, his handling and his composure were massive in
terms of helping us win a point."
In closing, the manager was asked if any of the injured or, in Mark Noble's
case ill, absentees would be available to play on Saturday at West Brom.
Meanwhile, Big Sam also confirmed that the Club will not be signing France
midfielder Lassana Diarra due to administrative issues. "We are going to
have to if we're going to try to get through to the next round. Andy is out
and there were some real tired legs out there and I saw Cheikhou limping off
at the end after another terrific performance. "I can only hope that Kevin
and Mark are fit. I think it will come just too soon for James Collins and
Reidy, so we'll just have to assess and hope that nothing untoward has
happened when they come in on Thursday. A little strain on a Wednesday night
will keep them out on Saturday. "I have to say [with regard to Diarra] we
have waited and we have negotiated for weeks to get the right deal and now
we've got it, we find we can't get the right paperwork and the right
clearance, so we have wasted his time and our time. "On the basis of the
situation we're in right now, he would have been a very crucial player for
us between now and the end of the season."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Jussi's patience rewarded at St Mary's
WHUFC.com
Jussi Jaaskelainen stepped into the breach to help the Hammers to a 0-0 draw
at Southampton
12.02.2015
When West Ham United visited Southampton last season, Jussi Jaaskelainen
gave a Man of the Match performance to help his side gain a 0-0 draw. That
St Mary's clash came back in September 2013, and after playing just 14
Barclays Premier League games in the intervening 17 months, he was called
upon again to shine on the South Coast on Wednesday. A red card for Adrian
29 minutes from time gave the 39-year-old his first top flight opportunity
this season and he was only too glad to take it. "It's a case of working
hard in training, keeping yourself fit as you can [and being ready]," he
said. "I played the League Cup game earlier in the season and then I was a
bit disappointed that the Gaffer didn't choose me in the FA Cup, but it was
one of those things. "I just wanted to keep going because you never know
what's going to happen, and on Wednesday it happened."
Jaaskelainen had to draw on all his experience to be ready to enter the fray
after Adrian saw red for handling outside his penalty area - especially as
it was just the second time in his lengthy career he had been pressed into
action in that manner. "That's just the second time in my career I've come
on from the bench!" he revealed. "You just need to keep focused on the bench
and it did come as a surprise on Wednesday because you never expect that to
happen. "I was surprised with the experience I have that I was nervous for
the first couple of minutes. But that got better later in the game. "As a
goalkeeper it's always better to start the game and do the warm ups and
preparation that way."
Jaaskelainen needed to make sharp saves to deny Jose Fonte and Dusan Tadic
in stoppage time and now he is keen to help the team again at West Bromwich
Albion on Saturday. "That's what you need to do when you play at this level,
to be ready at any time," he explained.
"It was a great performance. I don't think we had a clean sheet away from
home before Wednesday this season, so we did well. "There's a Cup game
coming up on Saturday so now we need to prepare for that game. I'm excited
for it."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Andy Carroll: West Ham striker injured against Southampton
BBC.co.uk
West Ham's Andy Carroll faces several weeks out after leaving Wednesday's
draw at Southampton on crutches. The 26-year-old striker was playing for the
first time since picking up a knee injury on 31 January, but suffered a
recurrence against the Saints. "He got kicked in the back of the knee and
felt something wrong," said Hammers boss Sam Allardyce. "It's going to take
longer (to get fit) this time because it's the same injury (he suffered
against Liverpool)." Carroll was forced to continue playing in the 0-0 draw
at St Mary's, with West Ham down to 10 men after goalkeeper Adrian was sent
off and with all three substitutions made - the former Newcastle and
Liverpool striker being one of those introduced. "He stayed up and was a
nuisance," added Allardyce. "I just hope that staying on hasn't done any
more damage." It completed a frustrating day f or Allardyce, who revealed he
is unable to sign former Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra as a free
agent because of "Fifa regulations".
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham to appeal Adrian red card, says Allardyce
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 12th February 2015
By: Staff Writer
Craig Pawson's decision to dismiss Adrian for hand ball against Southampton
last night will be contested, according to Sam Allardyce.
Speaking minutes after the final whistle had blown at St Mary's, Allardyce
confirmed that he would be appealing against the decision - one that, as it
stands, rules the Spanish goalkeeper out of Saturday lunchtime's FA Cup 5th
Round tie at the Hawthorns. "It was a foul on the goalkeeper before he
handled the ball," insisted Big Sam. "Mane has his hands all over Adrian.
"He should have kicked it out [first], but Mane had two hands on his back.
We will appeal. I will be very disappointed if we don't get it rescinded."
Despite Adrian's 61st minute dismissal, a ten-men Hammers held out for a
point against high-flying Southampton - albeit with considerable assistance
from his replacement Jussi Jaaskelainen, who made two excellent saves in the
closing moments to deny the Saints all three points.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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