Dev Squad earn West Brom draw
WHUFC.com
Rob Hall's equaliser saw the Development Squad draw 1-1 at West Bromwich
Albion
16.09.2012
West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Development Squad
The Development Squad earned an impressive 1-1 Barclays Under-21 Premier
League draw against an experienced West Bromwich Albion side at The
Hawthorns on Sunday afternoon. Despite the fact the Baggies had first-team
players Markus Rosenberg, Gabriel Tamas and Yassine El Ghanassy on show, the
Hammers matched their opponents and the game ended honours even, with both
goals coming in the opening ten minutes. The home side started brightly and
it was El Ghanassy who opened the scoring after just five minutes. Their
lead didn't last long, however, and Ian Hendon's side conjured the perfect
reaction, equalising just three minutes later through the ever-impressive
Rob Hall. Both sides made changes in the second half as they sought to find
a winning goal, but none was to be found as both sides had to settle for a
point. The Hammers have now picked up seven points from their opening four
fixtures, mirroring the records achieved by the first team and Under-18s.
Next up for the Development Squad is a home tie against Arsenal, who have a
100 per cent record in the Barclays Under-21 Premier League, at Rush Green
on Friday night - kick-off 7pm.
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U18s produce four-star display
WHUFC.com
West Ham United cruised to a 4-0 Barclays U18 Premier League victory over
West Bromwich Albion
16.09.2012
West Ham United continued their encouraging start to the Barclays U18
Premier League season with a convincing 4-0 victory over West Bromwich
Albion on Saturday.
Republic of Ireland age-group international Kieran Sadlier was on target
twice for the Hammers at Little Heath, while Nathan Mavila and Taylor Miles
completed the rout.
U18s coach Nick Haycock was naturally delighted with a victory that could
have easily been even more emphatic, despite the fact the team was missing
regular centre-forward Elliot Lee and England Under-18 defender Leo Chambers
due to their involvement in Sunday's Development Squad fixture.
"It was a deserved win," Haycock confirmed. "We had a young team out because
Elliot and Leo were unavailable, so we had four schoolboys involved on the
day. We always have faith in our youngsters and this result shows we are
doing things the right way.
"Manny Onnariase and Amos Nasha were superb at centre-back, Frazer Shaw was
outstanding at left-back, while Josh Cullen and Kieran Bywater controlled
the game in the middle of the park. Up front, Nathan, Kieran Sadlier and
Taylor Tombides supported Nana Boakye-Yiadom really well in what was a very
positive performance."
The opening goal was netted by Mavila following good interplay between
Tombides and Sadlier before Australia age-group international Tombides
combined with Cullen to cross for Sadlier to double the hosts' advantage
with a tap-in.
Shaw and Tombides linked-up well before Sadlier scored the third and the
icing on the cake was provided by substitute Miles, who created space for
himself before lashing in the fourth into the top corner.
"It could have been more than four-nil," said Haycock. "It was a good
all-round display from the boys. We have been doing a lot of work on variety
in our attacking play - playing in behind, playing up to the striker,
playing down the sides of the centre-backs - and that good attacking variety
paid off on Saturday.
"At the back we were very well organised and worked hard and our goalkeeper
Jake Larkins - an U19 who is allowed to play at this level - had very little
to do.
"We have raised the bar with this performance and set our standards for the
season ahead."
Like the first team, the U18s have now picked up seven points from their
opening four league matches. They travel to Arsenal for their next fixture
on Saturday 22 September.
West Ham United U18s: Larkins, Siafa (Girdlestone 65), Shaw, Onnariase,
Nasha, Cullen, Bywater, T.Tombides (Homans 70), Mavila, Sadlier (Miles 75),
Boakye-Yiadom
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Reid relishing lead role
WHUFC.com
Man of the match Winston Reid is loving life as an integral part of West Ham
United's starting XI
16.09.2012
Globetrotter Winston Reid is in arguably the finest form he has ever been in
a West Ham United shirt. Despite spending more than 24 hours in the air
travelling back from international duty with New Zealand last week, the
centre-back produced a man-of-the-match display in Saturday's goalless
Barclays Premier League draw at Norwich City. The 24-year-old was
everywhere, winning headers, making vital interceptions and looking
comfortable in possession - traits that have been typical of the defender
signed from Danish side FC Midtjylland in the summer of 2010. After a tough
first campaign in English football that ended with West Ham being relegated,
Reid made himself indispensable last season as the Hammers won promotion and
has arguably reached even greater highs in helping his side to keep three
clean sheets in their opening four league matches. "I thought it was good to
come away with a clean sheet as Norwich is a tough place to come," the No2
told West Ham TV. "We had some chances to score but so did they so I thought
we deserved a point. "I think the whole defensive unit and the guys in front
of them have been working hard this season. I think we've done well. "I put
my own form down to hard work and to the rest of the guys as well. I think
if you work hard you get your rewards at the end. "My first season at the
club was a difficult season for me and for the whole club. Fortunately
enough, things have turned around."
When asked if he now felt like an integral member of Sam Allardyce's
starting XI, Reid was typically understated but did concede that he had the
confidence and belief that his name should be on the teamsheet every week.
"I think you have to feel like you're an important member of the team
otherwise you wouldn't have any confidence as a player. It's not about being
cocky or anything, but you have to believe in yourself like the rest of the
players do and think you should play week-in, week-out. When you get the
chance, it's just up to you to take it."
Reid's all-action performance was all the more impressive when you consider
that he had boarded six flights in the previous week-and-a-half, jetting to
Australia and then on to New Zealand and New Caledonia for two important
FIFA World Cup qualifiers. "I got back on Thursday night after three
stopovers, so it was about a 26 or 27-hour journey. I actually slept a lot
on the plane so it wasn't too bad, but I'm pretty knackered right now! "I
trained on Friday for a little bit so it was OK. I've got a couple of days
off so I'll enjoy that. "Saturday was a pretty tough game and the last 15
minutes were very tough so I was just trying to get through it, keep it
simple and help us to keep a clean sheet at the back."
Reid was assisted by an unbeatable display from goalkeeper Jussi
Jaaskelainen, who showed all of his ability and experience in keeping the
Canaries at bay at Carrow Road. "Jussi has been good for us. He communicates
very well and has obviously played in the Premier League for a number of
seasons so it's good for us to have someone like him behind us." Having
picked up their first away point of the season, the Auckland-born player is
now aiming to maintain the Hammers' 100 per cent home record when Sunderland
visit the Boleyn Ground next weekend. Aston Villa and Fulham have both left
east London empty-handed and Reid is confident that West Ham have more than
enough to defeat the Black Cats, despite the possible absence of England
international striker Andy Carroll. "Home form is always important in the
Premier League. Last year we didn't do too well but this season we've
started strongly at home and we want to keep that going. "We've got a lot of
firepower up there and were scoring goals before Andy came so I'm sure we'll
be fine."
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Allardyce confirms Carroll 'recall' option
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 16th September 2012
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce has confirmed that Liverpool can recall Andy Carroll from his
loan spell at West Ham in January. Allardyce, speaking on satellite TV this
morning admitted that Carroll's loan contract does contain a clause allowing
the Merseysiders to take him back to Anfield in January should they so wish.
Speaking about the deal this morning, Big Sam said: "We couldn't agree on a
deal for Andy with Liverpool in the early stages, so it looked as if it
wasn't going to happen. Then, right at the very end, there was an
opportunity where he could leave and we struck that deal very quickly.
"There's an opportunity for Liverpool [to recall him] if they want to, but
whether they do or they don't will be in a matter of time. "If Andy's
playing for us on a regular basis by then and that's the case, he'll have
played a major part in keeping us in the league this year. In the end, the
deal was structured to get the player however you could get him, from my
point of view. "This player is that big, in my opinion, for us this season,
so you do whatever you can do to get the deal done."
Carroll - who missed yesterday's goalless draw at Norwich after sustaining a
hamstring injury on his debut against Fulham a fortnight ago was thought to
be looking at up to six weeks out. However there is thought to be a slim
chance that he could make his comeback as early as next weekend when West
Ham host Sunderland - who drew 1-1 with Carroll's parent club at the Stadium
of Light yesterday - even if Allardyce remained tight-lipped about his
chances of an early recovery. "The next international break comes on 6th
October 6," he said. "If he's fit before then we'll have done a magnificent
job. But I think it will be after that. "If the lads do the job they've
started to do then it won't be too desperate to rush him straight back.
We've got to be very careful that we don't rush it too much as the hamstring
might re-occur; that would be a disaster for us and for him."
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Carroll in slow lane
By MIKE McGRATH
Published: 16th September 2012
The SUn
SAM ALLARDYCE is refusing to rush Andy Carroll back from injury — fearing
the striker will break down again. The on-loan Liverpool star is expected to
be sidelined for another month after suffering a hamstring problem on his
West Ham debut. Hammers boss Allardyce said: "The next window of
internationals is October 6 and if we get him fit before that we'll do a
magnificent job — but I don't think he will make that. "He didn't get a lot
of football at Liverpool and obviously has only had 68 minutes with us and
is recovering from his hamstring injury. "So we have to be very careful we
don't rush it too much and the injury reoccurs — that would be a disaster
for him and us." Liverpool can recall Carroll, 23, in January but Allardyce
added: "He wants to play football and as often as possible."
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Sport Football News West Ham United FC
By Mirror Football Comments 16 Sep 2012 22:30
Plenty of Juss left: Big Sam backs Jaaskelainen to keep on keeping on
The Mirror
Jussi Jaaskelainen was heading for the soccer scrapheap – now he is playing
a starring role in the Premier League. And it is all down to the belief of
his old boss Sam Allardyce and the hard work of West Ham and Wales
goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson. Allardyce , who managed Jaaskelainen at
Bolton, rescued him from reserve-team football this summer and handed him
over to Margetson. Together they have rebuilt Jaaskelainen's career and now
the 37-year-old Finland international is back to his best and repaying their
faith in him. Allardyce said: "I wasn't worried about signing him because I
knew that Martyn Margetson would sort him out.
"I knew Marge would quickly get him back into a great frame of mind and
rekindle all his old enthusiasm. "Perhaps Jussi had just lost faith in
himself a bit because he wasn't playing regularly. "But Marge has now
rekindled all his old confidence and got him back into the right frame of
mind. "When you have the sort of experience Jussi has, even though your are
in your late thirties, you can still be a very good keeper if you want to
be. "Just look at Brad Friedel of Spurs, who is 41 now. So Jussi being in
his late thirties isn't a problem for me. "It's all about using that
experience and having the dedication to look after your body and that's what
Jussi does."
The big man was a human brick wall at the back for the Hammers, beating away
everything Norwich could throw at him. Jaaskelainen could easily have been
playing for the Canaries but for a twist of fate 15 years ago. Norwich were
all set to sign him after an impressive trial before Bolton nipped in and
offered him more money!
Jaaskelainen saved superbly from defenders Russell Martin and Sebastien
Bassong and striker Simeon Jackson. But his most important block came from
substitute Harry Kane in stoppage time, to ensure West Ham kept their clean
sheet and a vital point. Hammers defender James Collins said: "The basis of
our whole game is keeping a clean sheet. Do that and you have always got a
chance of winning. "So we are delighted to have done that, although we are a
bit disappointed we didn't nick a goal. "Jussi made some great saves but he
has been doing that for years now – he was probably doing that before Harry
Kane was even born! "All the experience he has really helps the boys at the
back, he's a good talker and he's great in the dressing room as well."
Norwich boss Chris Hughton consoled Kane, 19, who was making his debut after
being signed on loan from Spurs. Hughton said: "Harry is just a young player
and he had a wonderful opportunity to score so he will probably be going
over it in his mind again and again. "But he has to do what goalkeepers do
when they make a mistake, just put it right behind him straight away. He
will certainly learn from it. "We are looking more solid defensively now but
definitely need more of a cutting edge in front of goal. "The options are
there for me to change things and experiment. But we need something that is
going to get us wins."
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Sam Allardyce won't rush West Ham striker Andy Carroll back from injury
Last Updated: September 17, 2012 9:19am
SSN
Sam Allardyce is determined not to rush Andy Carroll back from his hamstring
injury and believes it will be after the next international break when the
West Ham United striker is ready to return. Carroll joined the Hammers on a
season-long loan from Liverpool before the transfer window closed and
enjoyed an impressive debut in the 3-0 win over Fulham. However, the England
international was forced off in the second half after hurting his hamstring
and Hammers boss Allardyce is taking a cautious approach with Carroll's
recovery. "The next window of international break comes on October 6, so if
he's fit before then we'll have done a magnificent job, but I probably don't
think so," Allardyce told Goals on Sunday. "I think it will be after that.
"If the lads do the job they've started to do then it won't be too desperate
to rush him straight back. "He's not had a lot of pre-season because of the
European Championships and he didn't have a lot of football at Liverpool.
"We've got to be very careful that we don't rush it too much and the
hamstring might reoccur because that would be a disaster for us and for
him."
Meanwhile, Allardyce hopes the arrival of Carroll can help inspire Carlton
Cole, who had an early shot cleared off the line during West Ham's 0-0 draw
at Norwich on Saturday. "Carlton has got stiff competition because all of a
sudden he has seen a centre-forward that has come from Liverpool, who Kenny
[Dalglish] paid £35million for," said Allardyce. "It is one where you have
to look at it and say 'what am I going to do? Am I going to shrivel up and
die or am I going to roll up my sleeves and flight?' "In this league when
you have got competition it has got to bring the best out of you, it is a
simple as that."
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Big Sam says...
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce was on the Goals on Sunday sofa this week and
chatted to Ben Shephard and Chris Kamara about West Ham's season, summer
signings and several of the big talking points in the game right now. Here's
a few highlights from an entertaining show...
Last Updated: September 16, 2012 2:39pm
SSN
We couldn't agree in the early stages with Liverpool on a deal for Andy, so
it looked as if it wasn't going to happen - and then right at the very end
there was an opportunity where he could leave and we struck that deal very
quickly. There's an opportunity for Liverpool [to get him back in January]
if they want to, but whether they do or they don't will be in a matter of
time. If Andy's playing for us on a regular basis by then and that's the
case, he'll have played a major part in keeping us in the league this year.
In the end, the deal was structured to get the player however you could get
him, from my point of view. This player is that big, in my opinion, for us
this season, so you do whatever you can do to get the deal done.
Big Sam on... Andy Carroll's return to fitness
The next window of international break comes on October 6, so if he's fit
before then we'll have done a magnificent job, but I probably don't think
so. I think it will be after that. If the lads do the job they've started to
do then it won't be too desperate to rush him straight back. He's not had a
lot of pre-season because of the European Championships and he didn't have a
lot of football at Liverpool. We've got to be very careful that we don't
rush it too much and the hamstring might reoccur because that would be a
disaster for us and for him.
Big Sam on... failing to sign Dimitar Berbatov for West Ham
We couldn't afford him. The problem was the transfer fee and the size of the
salary was out of our domain this season in terms of our budget. Fulham
created their own transfer funds. They knew Clint Dempsey was moving on, and
one or two others, and that gave them the opportunity to go big. They were
interested in Andy Carroll as well, I believe, and we were glad to get Andy
on a loan basis but they obviously clinched Dimitar Berbatov. I think he was
on his way to Italy, but it shows you how popular the Barclays Premier
League is that he turned down a move to Fiorentina because he wanted to move
down to London and play for Fulham.
Big Sam on... the Anton Ferdinand / John Terry handshake row
We shouldn't have had it. Don't do it. We can rid of the handshake
altogether; that's not a problem for every player in this division that I
speak to - or every manager. It was introduced on the back of a World Cup
and it was introduced in the Premier League. Now no player would bother
whether we do it or whether we don't do it. In this particular instance, if
you knew there was going to be a problem then don't do it in the first
place. Just go out, do the warm-up and play the game.
Big Sam on... Fernando Torres' reaction to being substituted against QPR
It's petty and childish. For me, it shows a lack of character by the player.
Chelsea's a big football club and it's got a big squad that needs to be used
all the way through. He's not scoring as many goals as he used to, but he's
getting better. If the manager makes a decision you don't show your dissent
by walking down the tunnel; you sit on the bench and go and see your manager
on a Monday or Tuesday and discuss the reasons why you've been brought off.
For me, that's unprofessional.
Big Sam on... West Ham's 0-0 draw with Norwich
We started very well and created a few chances in the first few minutes.
When you're playing away from home you want to capitalise on that and we
didn't. Then Norwich came back into the game and both sides missed a few
chances. In the end we got a 0-0 and we were very satisfied with that. The
disappointing thing was probably our final-third play and in the second half
when we got in good positions we didn't find the right sort of quality to
create a really good chance.
Big Sam on... sticking to his style
Big Sam won't sacrifice style
The players know what my beliefs are and how to play football in the right
way to win games. That incorporates a variation of football to win a game
which is put in front of you week in and week out. Our adaptability and my
desire for the players to be adaptable to different ways to play - and not
just one way - is the reason why, I think, I've moved into the 20th year of
managing and most of it at the top level. My beliefs are strong and nobody
will damage those beliefs because they've been successful for me for a long
time.
Big Sam on... his ambitions for this season
The least is fourth from bottom and the best is 10th, depending on keeping
the players fit and players reproducing the ability we know they've got in
the Premier League. We've got a lot of experienced players who've played in
the Premier League and they've got to re-establish that quality they've
shown before in a West Ham shirt. If they reproduce that quality it will
hopefully give us a good season and we'll not just think about survival.
Big Sam on... failing to sign Samuel Eto'o for Bolton
He was at Mallorca and I had to try and convince the chairman at the time
that the eight million euros would have been the best eight million euros
he'd ever spent and this player would be worth 20 to 25 million in the
future. The thing was, we could have got him to come to England and at that
particular time he would have been a bit of a capture.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Monday, September 17
Sunday, September 16
Daily WHUFC News - 16th September 2012
Big Sam content with 'hard-earned' point
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce accepted the draw and clean sheet West Ham United collected at
Norwich City on Saturday
15.09.2012
Sam Allardyce was left harbouring mixed emotions following West Ham United's
goalless Barclays Premier League draw at Norwich City. Big Sam was happy to
see his side achieve a third clean sheet in four league matches - four in
five in all competitions - this season, but lamented the lack of a clinical
cross or finish in the final-third that denied his team victory. Speaking to
West Ham TV, the manager saw his team start well at Carrow Road, only for
Kevin Nolan, Carlton Cole and Ricardo Vaz Te all to be denied an opening
goal. Norwich came back strongly, with one goalmouth melee seeing Jussi
Jaaskelainen make two fine saves before the break.
Into the second half and the end-to-end nature of the game continued as
Jaaskelainen thwarted Simeon Jackson and Robert Snodgrass, while substitute
Matt Jarvis saw one shot deflected narrowly wide and a succession of crosses
come agonisingly close to producing an opening. "It was unbelievable that it
finished goalless for both sides, really," said Big Sam. "In the early
stages were the dominant side in terms of chances created and the
disappointing thing for us was not getting our noses in front at that
particular stage in the first ten or 15 minutes. "I didn't expect us to miss
those chances, to be honest, with the way we were finishing against Fulham.
The chances that fell to us on Saturday were easier than the ones we scored
against Fulham. "Norwich came back into the game and we needed some
desperate defending at times to keep our clean sheet and keep them out. We
then got back in the game again but couldn't get the final ball right to
create more chances until Matt Jarvis came on. "Matt had a chance on the
edge of the boxes and put two great crosses in that we could have done
better with. The only disappointing thing was the fact Ricardo Vaz Te, Matt
Taylor, Joey O'Brien and Guy Demel didn't produce the sort of ball in the
final-third to punish Norwich. "Particularly going into the last
half-an-hour when they had lost their rhythm and shape, we were playing on
the break and exposing the space they were leaving. We were getting to the
final-third with no challenge from the opposition but fluffing the final
ball, be it the cross or the shot. That was the only frustrating thing for
me in the second half."
With Jaaskelainen and man of the match Winston Reid outstanding, West Ham
kept a third clean sheet in four Premier League matches played. That record
has seen the Hammers collect seven points from 12 and lose just once - an
error-strewn defeat at Swansea City. Big Sam believes that defensive
resilience will aid West Ham's hopes of enjoying a productive first season
back in the top-flight, labelling clean sheets the 'platform' on which
victories and valuable draws will be achieved. "Looking at the overall game,
I think it was a well-earned point because it could have gone either way
when you look at the 90 minutes. So, in saying that, a point away from when
you're just starting back in the Barclays Premier League is more than
acceptable. We started with a clean sheet and ended up with it and you have
to build a platform to be a successful side. Resilience is very important in
this league and we showed some really good resilience and determined
defending and showed some quality football apart from the final pass, cross
or shot. "The platform to build any successful side on is to concede fewer
goals than anyone else and if you do that then one goal wins you three
points. Generally, if you know you have a solid defence then you will end up
winning games two or three-nil because you are so confident about your
defending that the opposition open themselves up to try to break you down
and you punish them even more. "It builds the confidence of everybody to
know we're a solid unit and we're not going to have to score two or three
goals every time we play to win a game."
Norwich had started the second half in the ascendancy, but the Hammers were
able to turn the tide following the introduction of Jarvis and Modibo Maiga
just before the hour-mark. Jarvis helped lift the pressure with his running,
dribbling ability and pace, while Maiga offered a willing figure to trouble
the Canaries' centre-backs.
With Yossi Benayoun also appearing late on, Alou Diarra, James Tomkins and
George McCartney also on the bench and Andy Carroll and Jack Collison close
to returning from injury, the manager believes the strength in depth in his
squad can only be of benefit going forward. "I couldn't include Gary O'Neil
on my bench today - that's how strong my squad has got. He was very
disappointed that he didn't get his place on a seven-man bench but that
shows the depth and the talent in the squad now. Gary will get his chance at
some stage, I am sure about that. "Andy Carroll and Jack Collison are also
back at the training ground getting treatment, so there are another two
players. We have a 22-man squad with talent. The talent came on today and
tried to help us go up to that next level and win when the talent that was
already on the field was a little bit tired. "That's a massive thing to be
having on your substitutes' bench because if you haven't got it, then you're
bringing on a fresher player but reducing the talent. I don't think we're
doing that. We have players who can come on and make a difference from the
bench."
Finally, one player who has excelled so far this season - as he did last
term - is defender Reid. Despite travelling halfway around the world
following his midweek international duty with New Zealand, the 24-year-old
showed no signs of weariness to produce a truly outstanding performance. Big
Sam hailed the Kiwi's display, pointing to the development he has made as a
player over the past 12 months. "I don't want Reidy to get too big for his
boots but I think his growth in our team has been superb. When we had that
bad run of draws last season it's because he wasn't there. He was missing
because he got concussion playing in a friendly for New Zealand. "He missed
all those games and we conceded in most of those games. Winston Reid came
back and we went on to win, particularly at home, our games going into the
Play-Offs because he was there. "He has now carried that form into the
Premier League and shown that his all-round defending is exceptionally good
and I'm really pleased for him. His learning curve in one year has been
massive and he's looking excellent."
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McCallum making up for lost time
WHUFC.com
Paul McCallum has put an frustrating season behind him by starting the
season in fine form
15.09.2012
Paul McCallum is looking to continue his superb start to the 2012/13 season
when the Development Squad head to West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. The
19-year-old striker has bagged three goals in three Barclays Under-21
Premier League fixtures so far this term, helping to fire the Hammers to
comprehensive victories over Reading and Everton. For the former Dulwich
Hamlet forward, it has been a case of making up for lost time after he
missed the majority of last season after suffering a fractured tibia. With
his first professional contract expiring at the end of the present campaign,
McCallum has every incentive to maintain his form. "I'm happy about scoring
three goals in three games individually, but collectively I'm really happy
for the team because they've been brilliant as well," said McCallum. "We
made a couple of changes and lost to Bolton in our third game, but we've got
to move on to The Hawthorns on Sunday and hopefully we can get another win.
"Last year, I was injured for the majority of the season, so I've had
determination to get back into the squad and do well. It was very important
that I had a good year last year, but I couldn't because of my shin. It's
made me even more determined to prove this year that I am good enough to be
here. "Playing at big stadia like The Hawthorns is a great experience.
Whereas before I was playing in front of a few people, we're playing in
front of big crowds and it feels good."
McCallum is part of a group of players who work with Development Squad coach
Ian Hendon on a daily basis. The teenager believes that the understanding
and team spirit among the club's younger players has been key to their
encouraging start. "I think it's good that we've been put into a reserve
league because last year we didn't have a proper league and were playing
friendlies here and there. This year we have a proper team and everybody
knows their job and straight away it has felt right. "Having Rob Hall
playing behind me has also given me a lot of confidence as well because I
know he is always going to be there when I bring the ball down."
As he continues to work on his own game and hones his skills as a targetman,
McCallum said he is looking forward to working with England international
Andy Carroll on the training pitch. "Andy Carroll has the aerial game that I
am good at and I need to show the gaffer that I can do it as well as the
other players and get into the first-team squad. "When I signed, we were in
the Premier League so that gave me a big boost in confidence, but last year
my confidence went right down. I've got three goals in three games now and
my confidence is high and I want to keep on scoring."
Looking further forward, the striker was named on the substitutes' bench for
the Capital One Cup second-round win over Crewe Alexandra. He is hoping for
a repeat when the Hammers host Wigan Athletic in the third round on Tuesday
25 September. "Against Crewe I was disappointed that I didn't get on, but on
the other hand I was very happy that I was on the bench. Against Wigan,
hopefully if I can get a few goals against West Brom on Sunday, then who
knows?" Sunday's match will be at The Hawthorns, with kick-off at 2pm.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Norwich 0 West Ham 0
By Jimmy Smallwood
BBC Sport
Norwich are still searching for their first win of the season after a
goalless draw with West Ham. The hosts had appeals for a first-half penalty
rejected, with the referee correctly adjudging Andrew Surman to have been
fouled just outside the area. West Ham crafted several openings too, with
Canaries keeper John Ruddy forced into a number of point-blank saves. There
were enough chances today for this to finish 2-2. Norwich loanee Harry Kane
had two really good chances after coming off the bench, but couldn't find
the breakthrough goal. It's all a bit frustrating for the Canaries, and West
Ham will be the happier of the two teams with the outcome. But neither side
could break the deadlock, leaving Norwich winless and West Ham frustrated on
their travels. The visitors were having to manage without loan signing Andy
Carroll, a hamstring strain ruling the forward out of the Carrow Road
contest. Carlton Cole deputised in attack for the Hammers, who started the
stronger in an open, fluid game. The Canaries' England international
goalkeeper Ruddy was forced into a series of impressive close-range saves,
denying Ricardo Vaz Te, Cole and Kevin Nolan in the space of eight
first-half minutes.
In response, Norwich surged forward with Surman - brought into the starting
XI to replace the injured Anthony Pilkington - curling a dangerous effort
just wide of Jussi Jaaskelainen's right-hand post. When Hammers centre-back
James Collins then dived in recklessly on the same player on the edge of the
box, there were vociferous penalty appeals. However, referee Chris Foy - who
had already turned down one Canaries claim when Robert Snodgrass fell under
the challenge of West Ham captain Nolan - was adamant the foul was outside
the area. He awarded a free-kick and cautioned Collins, Norwich failing to
profit from the dead ball. Norwich continued to have the better of the game
in the second half, Simeon Jackson cracking a fierce 25-yard drive at
Jaaskelainen that the Finn could only palm over the bar. The Canaries
restricted West Ham to a series of corners and long-range efforts, with
substitute Matt Jarvis blazing over from distance, and they could, and
possibly should, have snatched a win at the end. On-loan Tottenham teenager
Harry Kane advanced on the West Ham goal having been played through by
Snodgrass, only to shoot tamely. Moments later Kane beat Guy Demel and tried
to return the favour by cutting the ball back to Snodgrass, but the Scotland
international's effort was blocked. A header from Steve Morison straight at
Jaaskelainen was the last action of the fixture, as Norwich recorded their
first 0-0 draw in the league since January and only their second clean sheet
in 18 games.
Norwich manager Chris Hughton: "We will look at the positives as it's a
clean sheet against a strong powerful West Ham side who will trouble a lot
of teams this season. "But we had better chances and, as long as we can
continue to play with that tempo and attitude, it will come. I'm
disappointed as I felt we could have won.
"It's about quality and a little bit of fortune. We got into some very good
positions and that final decision or pass could have been a little better.
"If we weren't creating chances I would be worried. Harry Kane will learn a
lot from this experience. I think he will be a super player."
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce: "For a goalless draw it was particularly
exciting considering the amount of chances there were. In the end, neither
of us had the quality to put the ball in the net. "From our point of view it
is a well-earned point. "It is our first point away from home this season
and another clean sheet is very satisfying. That's three clean sheets from
four since our return to the Premier League and that is a basis to build
from."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Norwich City 0 West Ham Utd 0
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 15th September 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham grabbed their first point on the road of the current campaign with
a third clean sheet from four Premier League outings this season.
A backs-to-the-wall second half performance was the backbone of today's
goalless draw at Carrow Road, in which Sam Allardyce's side were more than a
match for their opponents in the opening 45 minutes but distinctly second
best after the break.
And but for recent signing Jussi Jaaskelainen, who made several important
stops - none more so than deep into injury time when he denied substitute
Harry Kane - West Ham could have been returning to London empty handed.
Although they struggled to get into their rhythm in the second half, the
Hammers were full of enterprise and creativity before the break. Whilst
Norwich perhaps had the slight edge, West Ham could have scored at least
twice.
United's best chances came firstly on 13 minutes, when Ricardo Vaz Te forced
a good save out of John Ruddy after some good work on the right flank and
Carlton Cole's resulting header, from the loose ball, was cleared off the
line.
And just six minutes later Kevin Nolan, fed by left back Joey O'Brien who
had worked his way around three Norwich players saw his shot from just six
yards well saved by Ruddy.
There was also plenty of action at the other end - with the most notable
incident occurring just ahead of the half time whistle. A desperate lunge by
James Collins, as he challenged Andrew Surman on the edge of the box, looked
to be a penalty as the advancing Norwich player hit the ground inside the
area.
But as TV replays confirmed, referee Chris Foy called it absolutely right
when he awarded a free kick, with the point of contact being inches outside
the box.
That was the third time Norwich had asked for a spot kick following appeals
in the first and 17th minutes - the first for hand ball and the second for a
foul. As on the third occasion, Foy was correct to deny Norwich those
either.
With Ricardo Vaz Te firing blanks from the right wing, there was very little
suplpy for Carlton Cole or his replacement Modibo Maiga to work with after
the break - although Matt Jarvis, a 57th minute replacement for Matt Taylor
at least offered one or two glimpses as to why West Ham considered
£10.75million a worthy investment.
West Ham were restricted to a handful of half chances in the second half
with Momo Diame, Vaz Te and Jarvis and all having pop shots. Meanwhile
Norwich worked Jaaskelainen in the West Ham goal on several occasions and
none more notable than when he tipped Jackson's goalbound effort over the
bar just six minutes after the restart.
The flying Finn was also on hand to deny Kane in the final minute of added
on time when City threatened to snatch all three points as they countered a
West Ham free kick. Kane, released on the left attempted to slip the ball
under Jaaskelainen but the former Bolton man was alert enough to dny the
Tottenham loanee.
The point leaves West Ham with seven from a maximum twelve in their first
four games which is a fine return. Some will point to the fact that West Ham
are yet to face any of the division's top sides but as the old adage goes,
you can only beat what's in front of you.
With West Ham having done that on both occasions at the Boleyn, today's
useful point gives Sam Allardyce's side the perfect platform for when
Sunderland visit Upton Park next weekend.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Calling it right
Officials got it spot on, says Sky Sports pundit
Last Updated: September 15, 2012 3:32pm
SSN
Dean Ashton paid tribute to referee Chris Foy for correctly turning down two
Norwich penalty appeals against West Ham. "The second one was inches away
from the line and he made a great call. He can feel pleased with himself
that he's had a good game." The home players twice called for a spot kick
during the first half of Saturday's clash, which ended goalless, firstly
when Robert Snodgrass went down under a challenge by Kevin Nolan and then
when Andrew Surman was tripped by James Collins. The referee waved away the
first penalty claim and awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area
following the second incident. And Sky Sports expert Ashton said Foy
deserves credit for getting the key calls correct. He told Football Special:
"We get the luxury of getting to see it time and time again and slowing it
right down - and he doesn't - but I think he got both penalty incidents
right. "James Collins will look back and think he shouldn't challenge as he
has behind Grant Holt, but when you slow it right down you can see that
Surman's foot was still just outside the box as he planted it. "The
referee's got to make a split-second decision and go with what he thinks is
right. I'm sure he'll want to take the plaudits. "Fans always think they
should have penalties when perhaps they shouldn't, but I think any honest
fan would look at that and say it was just outside. "It is millimetres, but
you could see a little bit of grass between his foot and the white line.
It's such a big call for the referee and I'm sure he'll look back and be
glad he got it right. "On first thoughts I felt the first incident was a
penalty, but looking back on it you could see that Kevin Nolan just pulled
out at the last minute and didn't make contact. "Good referees get
themselves in good positions and he made a great decision there as well."
Speed
Ashton, who played for both Norwich and West Ham during his career, feels
it's tough for referees to keep up with the pace of the modern game. And he
says the officials should receive praise when they get the big decisions
correct. He added: "We slate referees enough and I think we should praise
them when they get decisions right. "He got two big decisions in West Ham's
favour and he got them right. I think we should praise him for that because
it's very difficult being a referee with the speed of the game. "The second
one was inches away from the line and he made a great call. He can feel
pleased with himself that he's had a good game."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Big Sam hails big decision
West Ham boss delighted with referee Chris Foy
By Graeme Bailey - Tweet me: @skygraemebailey. Last Updated:
September 15, 2012 5:43pm
SSN
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce was pleased with referee Chris Foy for
getting right a 'make-or-break' decision. The game at Carrow Road finished
goalless and was always a tight affair but just before the break the home
side appealed for a penalty when James Collins fouled Andrew Surman on the
edge of the box and the home fans were insistent a spot-kick should have
been given. However, replays showed Foy correctly ruled the challenge was
just outside the area. Allardyce was thankful that Foy got it right, and
when asked if the referee deserved credit, he told Sky Sports: "No doubt
about that. Those decisions can make or break you. "Chris has made a correct
decision today and by the looks of it, where the player finished, he could
easily have thought that was in the box. "Luckily for us it was a major
decision the referee got right and I'm really pleased about that."
Happy
Allardyce was happy with a 'hard earned point' and his team's third clean
sheet in four Premier League games since their promotion but felt his side
could have taken something from the match. "I think we should have scored in
the first stage of the game, that is when we were at our best but the
chances came and went," he continued. "Then as I expected Norwich came back
into the game as they did and in the end, it is away from home and a hard
earned point and another clean sheet, three clean sheets in four games is an
excellent record to start back in the Barclays Premier League when you have
just been promoted. "It was an entertaining game, it was not as if both
teams sat back, we both went attacking and there were chances at both ends.
"Overall I am pleased as we picked up a point away from home, clean sheet
and we move on. "We enjoyed coming here and playing and we have got a result
and now move onto Sunderland where we look for three points."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Canaries yet to take flight
West Ham take point from Carrow Road
By Graeme Bailey - Tweet me: @skygraemebailey. Last Updated:
September 15, 2012 3:57pm
SSN
Norwich City are still without a win in the Premier League after being held
to a goalless draw at home to West Ham United.
MATCH FACTS
Man of the Match : Robert Snodgrass - Comfortable on the ball, passed well
and always willing to get in the opposition box.
Moment of the Match : Late in the game young Norwich sub Harry Kane broke
free and could have won the game but needed more composure to put the ball
away
Attempt of the Match : A terrific passage of play saw Snodgrass have a low
parried before he and Holt had efforts blocked by a Wes ham defence who
threw their bodies in the way of everything
Save of the Match : Jussi Jaaskelainen made a superb tip-over save to deny
Simeon Jackson
Talking point : Norwich are still without a win this season, how worrying is
that?
On a day of few chances in Norfolk, the best actually came in the final
minutes when substitute Harry Kane was handed the chance for a dream debut.
But the on-loan Tottenham man fired straight at Jussi Jaaskelainen in the
West Ham goal who, like his counterpart John Ruddy, was almost a spectator
for most of the match - although he did make one excellent stop from Simeon
Jackson in the second half. Chris Hughton's men enjoyed the better of the
first half, and felt they should
have been awarded a penalty when James Collins upended Andrew Surman, but
referee Chris Foy correctly ruled the challenge was just outside the area.
West Ham also had their chances, with Carlton Cole's early chance blocked
and Ruddy saving from Kevin Nolan. Both sides, though, seemed to run out of
ideas as the match wore on - and it was Kane's chance which proved the best.
Early chance
There was an early opportunity for West Ham in the Norfolk sunshine when a
corner was only half-cleared and the ball flashed back across the Norwich
goal by Matt Taylor. At the other end, Surman, in for the injured Anthony
Pilkington, cut inside the West Ham box after a quick break down the left
and curled the ball just wide of the far post. Surman continued to press the
Irons back, with Guy Demel making a superb tackle to halt his charge into
the penalty area. However, on 13 minutes, it was West Ham who made the first
clear opening when Ricardo Vaz Te got away down the right and his cross was
headed goalwards by Cole, but Russell Martin knocked it off the line, with
Taylor lashing the loose rebound wide. Norwich felt they should have been
awarded a penalty when Robert Snodgrass weaved in from the right and was
blocked by Nolan as he cut back inside - but, in a sign of things to come,
referee Foy was having none of it. The Irons skipper then almost put his
side ahead when he got on the end of Joey O'Brien's cross after the
full-back's strong run down the Norwich left, but England keeper Ruddy made
a smart reaction save.
Norwich capitalised on some poor defending as Snodgrass dashed onto a loose
ball down the right, but his cutback towards Jackson in the six-yard box was
hacked behind by Collins. West Ham then produced a series of blocks and
saves by Jaaskelainen from the resulting corner to turn away successive
efforts from Snodgrass, Sebastien Bassong, Grant Holt and Surman. On 33
minutes, the home side went close again as Holt scuffed wide following a
knockdown from Snodgrass. Foy again incurred the wrath of the home crowd
four minutes before half-time.
Big decision
Surman was upended by Collins as he darted into the penalty box, but the
Merseyside official correctly ruled the clumsy challenge had taken place
just inches outside the line. Johnson crashed the free-kick into the wall,
before full-back Javier Garrido lashed the rebound wide. Norwich started the
second half brightly, with Jackson's 25-yard effort tipped over by
Jaaskelainen, who almost joined the Canaries before signing at Bolton.
Snodgrass was just off target with a low effort, and Johnson shot straight
at the keeper before West Ham made a double change on 57 minutes when Jarvis
and Modibo Maiga replaced Taylor and Cole. Norwich again tested Jaaskelainen
when Leon Barnett nodded a deep cross back into the six-yard box and
Bassong's looping header was picked out of the air. As the hour passed,
Canaries manager Hughton sent on Steve Morison for Jackson. The former
Millwall frontman tried his luck with a 20-yard effort after a smart
knockdown on his chest, but the shot looped over. England Under 21 forward
Kane replaced the ineffective Holt for the final 19 minutes. As the match
opened up again, Jarvis, signed from Wolves, saw his shot blocked after a
quick break into the Norwich half following a poor throw-in. Kane created
space for a shot on the edge of the area, but his effort was wide of the
mark. Then in stoppage time, the 19-year-old was played in on the overlap
after a quick break, but scuffed a tame effort straight at the keeper.
And there was still time for Kane to produce another chance, as he squared
the ball back for Snodgrass - but the Scot saw his goal-bound effort
deflected wide
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Norwich 0 West Ham 0
The Sun
By PAUL JIGGINS
Published: 15th September 2012
IT'S a good job Grant Holt signed a new contract in the summer — because he
is not earning any goal bonuses at the moment. The Norwich striker, who
scored 17 goals last season, is still waiting to get off the mark this time
around. And yesterday he looked a shadow of the frontman who bulldozed and
bamboozled Premier League defences last term. His lacklustre display against
the Hammers showed that England boss Roy Hodgson was right to ignore the
clamour to include Holt in his squad for Euro 2012. It also suggested that
maybe the Canaries were a bit hasty in buckling to their captain's demands
for a fat, new three-year deal in the close season. Boss Chris Hughton
denied that Holt's sluggish start to the season has anything to do with the
player enjoying life in the comfort zone after safeguarding his future. But
how else do you explain his disappointing display? In a game of plenty of
chances, Holt managed to register just one shot on target. Worse still, he
seemed sorely off the pace. But Hughton, who only took over at Carrow Road
in the summer, insisted: "I can only speak as I find and he has been very
focused in games and in training. I have not seen any lack of hunger "I have
seen the same desire in him that he's always shown."
You have to respect Hughton for backing his captain, but his comments will
not fool anybody watching this clash — especially the home fans who booed
when Simeon Jackson was subbed instead of Holt in the 64th minute. Nobody
was surprised when Holt was taken off seven minutes later. Hughton added:
"I'm sure that if somebody of Grant's quality keeps getting into the right
positions and we keep creating chances for him it won't be long before he
scores. "He will work even harder to make it right." Norwich created
numerous scoring opportunities. The Holt of last season would have gobbled
at least one up. As it is, Hughton's men had to settle for their third draw
in four matches, which is fine if your opposition included top-six teams but
worrying given they featured games against Fulham, QPR and West Ham.
Especially as Norwich's next four are Newcastle, Liverpool, Chelsea and
Arsenal. That means if results go to form, the Canaries could still be on
three points by the time we reach mid-October. Now Hughton is a widely
respected and popular coach, but if things do not improve, his hopes of
making Christmas will be as bleak as a Bernard Matthews turkey. But he said:
"I'd be sitting here a lot more concerned if we were not creating chances.
We need more guile and quality along with a bit more good fortune." But for
some poor finishing and superb keeping by Jussi Jaaskelainen, his team would
have won. His best effort was a double stop to deny Holt and Russell Martin
in a frantic goalmouth scramble. Norwich had two penalty claims turned away
by referee Chris Hoy — both right calls.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce agreed and said: "Major decisions have got to
be right. "It's a clean sheet and a very valuable point away from home and
I'm satisfied with that."
Norwich: Ruddy, Russell Martin, Barnett, Bassong, Garrido, Snodgrass,
Howson, Johnson, Surman, Holt (Kane 71), Jackson (Morison 63). Subs not
used: Rudd, Turner, Hoolahan, Fox, Tierney.
West Ham: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Reid, Collins, O'Brien, Diame, Noble, Vaz Te
(Benayoun 86), Nolan, Taylor (Jarvis 57), Cole (Maiga 57). Subs not used:
Henderson, McCartney, Tomkins, Diarra. Booked: Collins.
Att: 26,806
Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ref was spot on with penalty call, admits Norwich boss Hughton
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 19:25, 15 September 2012 | UPDATED: 19:25, 15 September 2012
Daily Mail
Chris Hughton could not fault the efforts of his Norwich players despite the
frustration of a goalless draw against West Ham which left them still
without a Barclays Premier League win. The Canaries enjoyed the better of
the first half and felt they should have been awarded a penalty when James
Collins upended Andrew Surman, but referee Chris Foy correctly ruled the
challenge was just outside the area. Jussi Jaaskelainen denied Simeon
Jackson with a fine save just after the restart, but both sides ran out of
ideas. On-loan Tottenham youngster Harry Kane could have won it for the
hosts in stoppage time, only to scuff his shot straight at Jaaskelainen.
'There is a bit of frustration because we have had three games where we
cannot fault the performance or the chances we have created,' said Hughton,
who took over from Paul Lambert after he left for Aston Villa in the summer.
'We coped with West Ham very well, but when we have our opportunities, we
have to be showing a bit more quality and guile, perhaps also a bit of
fortune in that final third. 'I felt we did enough today and on the balance
of play had enough to win the game. 'There can be a disappointment we have
not got the goals to win the game, but no-one can question the endeavour of
the players.'
The Norwich manager accepts Hoy's decision was spot on, but that perhaps the
hosts were out of luck. He said: 'The one on the line was very close. In
another game, with another referee, then that is given. 'I think the referee
got his calls right.' Norwich captain Grant Holt failed to test the West Ham
defence, scuffing wide his best chance in the first half when the ball fell
to him in the penalty area. Hughton maintains the 31-year-old has lost none
of his hunger, having agreed a new deal after handing in a shock transfer
request at the end of the season which saw him become a summer target for
West Ham. 'I have seen the same desire in him that he has always shown
here,' said Hughton. 'The fact he has not scored will be a disappointment
for him, because he is a striker, and will work even harder to make it
right.
'What we want from every player is to be showing their best. 'Strikers want
to score and that is what Grant has done here over the past few seasons. 'I
am sure that will be the case again.' Hughton added: 'He has been very
focused on the games and in training, and I am quite sure with somebody of
Grant's qualities, if he keeps getting in the right positions and we can
keep creating chances, then it wont be long until he scores.' West Ham also
had their chances, especially early on when Carlton Cole's effort was
blocked and John Ruddy saved from Kevin Nolan. Substitute Matt Jarvis, a
£7million signing from Wolves, also saw a late effort deflected wide.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce said: 'It could have been anybody's game with
the way it went and the chances created, which no-one took. 'In the end, we
got the clean sheet and a very valuable point away from home. 'We have to be
satisfied with that because our finishing was not as good as it should have
been, nor was our final ball. 'We defended well, so it was a good point and
clean sheets now in three games out of four is a great basis to build any
team on.' Allardyce praised Merseyside referee Foy for what could easily
have been a game-changing call. 'It is a good decision by Chris Foy,' he
said. 'I have looked at the replay and he has got it right by inches. He
could so easily have been persuaded to give the penalty by where the player
finished in the box. 'Major decisions have to be given correctly by the
referee, and in this case, it was.'
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce accepted the draw and clean sheet West Ham United collected at
Norwich City on Saturday
15.09.2012
Sam Allardyce was left harbouring mixed emotions following West Ham United's
goalless Barclays Premier League draw at Norwich City. Big Sam was happy to
see his side achieve a third clean sheet in four league matches - four in
five in all competitions - this season, but lamented the lack of a clinical
cross or finish in the final-third that denied his team victory. Speaking to
West Ham TV, the manager saw his team start well at Carrow Road, only for
Kevin Nolan, Carlton Cole and Ricardo Vaz Te all to be denied an opening
goal. Norwich came back strongly, with one goalmouth melee seeing Jussi
Jaaskelainen make two fine saves before the break.
Into the second half and the end-to-end nature of the game continued as
Jaaskelainen thwarted Simeon Jackson and Robert Snodgrass, while substitute
Matt Jarvis saw one shot deflected narrowly wide and a succession of crosses
come agonisingly close to producing an opening. "It was unbelievable that it
finished goalless for both sides, really," said Big Sam. "In the early
stages were the dominant side in terms of chances created and the
disappointing thing for us was not getting our noses in front at that
particular stage in the first ten or 15 minutes. "I didn't expect us to miss
those chances, to be honest, with the way we were finishing against Fulham.
The chances that fell to us on Saturday were easier than the ones we scored
against Fulham. "Norwich came back into the game and we needed some
desperate defending at times to keep our clean sheet and keep them out. We
then got back in the game again but couldn't get the final ball right to
create more chances until Matt Jarvis came on. "Matt had a chance on the
edge of the boxes and put two great crosses in that we could have done
better with. The only disappointing thing was the fact Ricardo Vaz Te, Matt
Taylor, Joey O'Brien and Guy Demel didn't produce the sort of ball in the
final-third to punish Norwich. "Particularly going into the last
half-an-hour when they had lost their rhythm and shape, we were playing on
the break and exposing the space they were leaving. We were getting to the
final-third with no challenge from the opposition but fluffing the final
ball, be it the cross or the shot. That was the only frustrating thing for
me in the second half."
With Jaaskelainen and man of the match Winston Reid outstanding, West Ham
kept a third clean sheet in four Premier League matches played. That record
has seen the Hammers collect seven points from 12 and lose just once - an
error-strewn defeat at Swansea City. Big Sam believes that defensive
resilience will aid West Ham's hopes of enjoying a productive first season
back in the top-flight, labelling clean sheets the 'platform' on which
victories and valuable draws will be achieved. "Looking at the overall game,
I think it was a well-earned point because it could have gone either way
when you look at the 90 minutes. So, in saying that, a point away from when
you're just starting back in the Barclays Premier League is more than
acceptable. We started with a clean sheet and ended up with it and you have
to build a platform to be a successful side. Resilience is very important in
this league and we showed some really good resilience and determined
defending and showed some quality football apart from the final pass, cross
or shot. "The platform to build any successful side on is to concede fewer
goals than anyone else and if you do that then one goal wins you three
points. Generally, if you know you have a solid defence then you will end up
winning games two or three-nil because you are so confident about your
defending that the opposition open themselves up to try to break you down
and you punish them even more. "It builds the confidence of everybody to
know we're a solid unit and we're not going to have to score two or three
goals every time we play to win a game."
Norwich had started the second half in the ascendancy, but the Hammers were
able to turn the tide following the introduction of Jarvis and Modibo Maiga
just before the hour-mark. Jarvis helped lift the pressure with his running,
dribbling ability and pace, while Maiga offered a willing figure to trouble
the Canaries' centre-backs.
With Yossi Benayoun also appearing late on, Alou Diarra, James Tomkins and
George McCartney also on the bench and Andy Carroll and Jack Collison close
to returning from injury, the manager believes the strength in depth in his
squad can only be of benefit going forward. "I couldn't include Gary O'Neil
on my bench today - that's how strong my squad has got. He was very
disappointed that he didn't get his place on a seven-man bench but that
shows the depth and the talent in the squad now. Gary will get his chance at
some stage, I am sure about that. "Andy Carroll and Jack Collison are also
back at the training ground getting treatment, so there are another two
players. We have a 22-man squad with talent. The talent came on today and
tried to help us go up to that next level and win when the talent that was
already on the field was a little bit tired. "That's a massive thing to be
having on your substitutes' bench because if you haven't got it, then you're
bringing on a fresher player but reducing the talent. I don't think we're
doing that. We have players who can come on and make a difference from the
bench."
Finally, one player who has excelled so far this season - as he did last
term - is defender Reid. Despite travelling halfway around the world
following his midweek international duty with New Zealand, the 24-year-old
showed no signs of weariness to produce a truly outstanding performance. Big
Sam hailed the Kiwi's display, pointing to the development he has made as a
player over the past 12 months. "I don't want Reidy to get too big for his
boots but I think his growth in our team has been superb. When we had that
bad run of draws last season it's because he wasn't there. He was missing
because he got concussion playing in a friendly for New Zealand. "He missed
all those games and we conceded in most of those games. Winston Reid came
back and we went on to win, particularly at home, our games going into the
Play-Offs because he was there. "He has now carried that form into the
Premier League and shown that his all-round defending is exceptionally good
and I'm really pleased for him. His learning curve in one year has been
massive and he's looking excellent."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
McCallum making up for lost time
WHUFC.com
Paul McCallum has put an frustrating season behind him by starting the
season in fine form
15.09.2012
Paul McCallum is looking to continue his superb start to the 2012/13 season
when the Development Squad head to West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. The
19-year-old striker has bagged three goals in three Barclays Under-21
Premier League fixtures so far this term, helping to fire the Hammers to
comprehensive victories over Reading and Everton. For the former Dulwich
Hamlet forward, it has been a case of making up for lost time after he
missed the majority of last season after suffering a fractured tibia. With
his first professional contract expiring at the end of the present campaign,
McCallum has every incentive to maintain his form. "I'm happy about scoring
three goals in three games individually, but collectively I'm really happy
for the team because they've been brilliant as well," said McCallum. "We
made a couple of changes and lost to Bolton in our third game, but we've got
to move on to The Hawthorns on Sunday and hopefully we can get another win.
"Last year, I was injured for the majority of the season, so I've had
determination to get back into the squad and do well. It was very important
that I had a good year last year, but I couldn't because of my shin. It's
made me even more determined to prove this year that I am good enough to be
here. "Playing at big stadia like The Hawthorns is a great experience.
Whereas before I was playing in front of a few people, we're playing in
front of big crowds and it feels good."
McCallum is part of a group of players who work with Development Squad coach
Ian Hendon on a daily basis. The teenager believes that the understanding
and team spirit among the club's younger players has been key to their
encouraging start. "I think it's good that we've been put into a reserve
league because last year we didn't have a proper league and were playing
friendlies here and there. This year we have a proper team and everybody
knows their job and straight away it has felt right. "Having Rob Hall
playing behind me has also given me a lot of confidence as well because I
know he is always going to be there when I bring the ball down."
As he continues to work on his own game and hones his skills as a targetman,
McCallum said he is looking forward to working with England international
Andy Carroll on the training pitch. "Andy Carroll has the aerial game that I
am good at and I need to show the gaffer that I can do it as well as the
other players and get into the first-team squad. "When I signed, we were in
the Premier League so that gave me a big boost in confidence, but last year
my confidence went right down. I've got three goals in three games now and
my confidence is high and I want to keep on scoring."
Looking further forward, the striker was named on the substitutes' bench for
the Capital One Cup second-round win over Crewe Alexandra. He is hoping for
a repeat when the Hammers host Wigan Athletic in the third round on Tuesday
25 September. "Against Crewe I was disappointed that I didn't get on, but on
the other hand I was very happy that I was on the bench. Against Wigan,
hopefully if I can get a few goals against West Brom on Sunday, then who
knows?" Sunday's match will be at The Hawthorns, with kick-off at 2pm.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Norwich 0 West Ham 0
By Jimmy Smallwood
BBC Sport
Norwich are still searching for their first win of the season after a
goalless draw with West Ham. The hosts had appeals for a first-half penalty
rejected, with the referee correctly adjudging Andrew Surman to have been
fouled just outside the area. West Ham crafted several openings too, with
Canaries keeper John Ruddy forced into a number of point-blank saves. There
were enough chances today for this to finish 2-2. Norwich loanee Harry Kane
had two really good chances after coming off the bench, but couldn't find
the breakthrough goal. It's all a bit frustrating for the Canaries, and West
Ham will be the happier of the two teams with the outcome. But neither side
could break the deadlock, leaving Norwich winless and West Ham frustrated on
their travels. The visitors were having to manage without loan signing Andy
Carroll, a hamstring strain ruling the forward out of the Carrow Road
contest. Carlton Cole deputised in attack for the Hammers, who started the
stronger in an open, fluid game. The Canaries' England international
goalkeeper Ruddy was forced into a series of impressive close-range saves,
denying Ricardo Vaz Te, Cole and Kevin Nolan in the space of eight
first-half minutes.
In response, Norwich surged forward with Surman - brought into the starting
XI to replace the injured Anthony Pilkington - curling a dangerous effort
just wide of Jussi Jaaskelainen's right-hand post. When Hammers centre-back
James Collins then dived in recklessly on the same player on the edge of the
box, there were vociferous penalty appeals. However, referee Chris Foy - who
had already turned down one Canaries claim when Robert Snodgrass fell under
the challenge of West Ham captain Nolan - was adamant the foul was outside
the area. He awarded a free-kick and cautioned Collins, Norwich failing to
profit from the dead ball. Norwich continued to have the better of the game
in the second half, Simeon Jackson cracking a fierce 25-yard drive at
Jaaskelainen that the Finn could only palm over the bar. The Canaries
restricted West Ham to a series of corners and long-range efforts, with
substitute Matt Jarvis blazing over from distance, and they could, and
possibly should, have snatched a win at the end. On-loan Tottenham teenager
Harry Kane advanced on the West Ham goal having been played through by
Snodgrass, only to shoot tamely. Moments later Kane beat Guy Demel and tried
to return the favour by cutting the ball back to Snodgrass, but the Scotland
international's effort was blocked. A header from Steve Morison straight at
Jaaskelainen was the last action of the fixture, as Norwich recorded their
first 0-0 draw in the league since January and only their second clean sheet
in 18 games.
Norwich manager Chris Hughton: "We will look at the positives as it's a
clean sheet against a strong powerful West Ham side who will trouble a lot
of teams this season. "But we had better chances and, as long as we can
continue to play with that tempo and attitude, it will come. I'm
disappointed as I felt we could have won.
"It's about quality and a little bit of fortune. We got into some very good
positions and that final decision or pass could have been a little better.
"If we weren't creating chances I would be worried. Harry Kane will learn a
lot from this experience. I think he will be a super player."
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce: "For a goalless draw it was particularly
exciting considering the amount of chances there were. In the end, neither
of us had the quality to put the ball in the net. "From our point of view it
is a well-earned point. "It is our first point away from home this season
and another clean sheet is very satisfying. That's three clean sheets from
four since our return to the Premier League and that is a basis to build
from."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Norwich City 0 West Ham Utd 0
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 15th September 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham grabbed their first point on the road of the current campaign with
a third clean sheet from four Premier League outings this season.
A backs-to-the-wall second half performance was the backbone of today's
goalless draw at Carrow Road, in which Sam Allardyce's side were more than a
match for their opponents in the opening 45 minutes but distinctly second
best after the break.
And but for recent signing Jussi Jaaskelainen, who made several important
stops - none more so than deep into injury time when he denied substitute
Harry Kane - West Ham could have been returning to London empty handed.
Although they struggled to get into their rhythm in the second half, the
Hammers were full of enterprise and creativity before the break. Whilst
Norwich perhaps had the slight edge, West Ham could have scored at least
twice.
United's best chances came firstly on 13 minutes, when Ricardo Vaz Te forced
a good save out of John Ruddy after some good work on the right flank and
Carlton Cole's resulting header, from the loose ball, was cleared off the
line.
And just six minutes later Kevin Nolan, fed by left back Joey O'Brien who
had worked his way around three Norwich players saw his shot from just six
yards well saved by Ruddy.
There was also plenty of action at the other end - with the most notable
incident occurring just ahead of the half time whistle. A desperate lunge by
James Collins, as he challenged Andrew Surman on the edge of the box, looked
to be a penalty as the advancing Norwich player hit the ground inside the
area.
But as TV replays confirmed, referee Chris Foy called it absolutely right
when he awarded a free kick, with the point of contact being inches outside
the box.
That was the third time Norwich had asked for a spot kick following appeals
in the first and 17th minutes - the first for hand ball and the second for a
foul. As on the third occasion, Foy was correct to deny Norwich those
either.
With Ricardo Vaz Te firing blanks from the right wing, there was very little
suplpy for Carlton Cole or his replacement Modibo Maiga to work with after
the break - although Matt Jarvis, a 57th minute replacement for Matt Taylor
at least offered one or two glimpses as to why West Ham considered
£10.75million a worthy investment.
West Ham were restricted to a handful of half chances in the second half
with Momo Diame, Vaz Te and Jarvis and all having pop shots. Meanwhile
Norwich worked Jaaskelainen in the West Ham goal on several occasions and
none more notable than when he tipped Jackson's goalbound effort over the
bar just six minutes after the restart.
The flying Finn was also on hand to deny Kane in the final minute of added
on time when City threatened to snatch all three points as they countered a
West Ham free kick. Kane, released on the left attempted to slip the ball
under Jaaskelainen but the former Bolton man was alert enough to dny the
Tottenham loanee.
The point leaves West Ham with seven from a maximum twelve in their first
four games which is a fine return. Some will point to the fact that West Ham
are yet to face any of the division's top sides but as the old adage goes,
you can only beat what's in front of you.
With West Ham having done that on both occasions at the Boleyn, today's
useful point gives Sam Allardyce's side the perfect platform for when
Sunderland visit Upton Park next weekend.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Calling it right
Officials got it spot on, says Sky Sports pundit
Last Updated: September 15, 2012 3:32pm
SSN
Dean Ashton paid tribute to referee Chris Foy for correctly turning down two
Norwich penalty appeals against West Ham. "The second one was inches away
from the line and he made a great call. He can feel pleased with himself
that he's had a good game." The home players twice called for a spot kick
during the first half of Saturday's clash, which ended goalless, firstly
when Robert Snodgrass went down under a challenge by Kevin Nolan and then
when Andrew Surman was tripped by James Collins. The referee waved away the
first penalty claim and awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area
following the second incident. And Sky Sports expert Ashton said Foy
deserves credit for getting the key calls correct. He told Football Special:
"We get the luxury of getting to see it time and time again and slowing it
right down - and he doesn't - but I think he got both penalty incidents
right. "James Collins will look back and think he shouldn't challenge as he
has behind Grant Holt, but when you slow it right down you can see that
Surman's foot was still just outside the box as he planted it. "The
referee's got to make a split-second decision and go with what he thinks is
right. I'm sure he'll want to take the plaudits. "Fans always think they
should have penalties when perhaps they shouldn't, but I think any honest
fan would look at that and say it was just outside. "It is millimetres, but
you could see a little bit of grass between his foot and the white line.
It's such a big call for the referee and I'm sure he'll look back and be
glad he got it right. "On first thoughts I felt the first incident was a
penalty, but looking back on it you could see that Kevin Nolan just pulled
out at the last minute and didn't make contact. "Good referees get
themselves in good positions and he made a great decision there as well."
Speed
Ashton, who played for both Norwich and West Ham during his career, feels
it's tough for referees to keep up with the pace of the modern game. And he
says the officials should receive praise when they get the big decisions
correct. He added: "We slate referees enough and I think we should praise
them when they get decisions right. "He got two big decisions in West Ham's
favour and he got them right. I think we should praise him for that because
it's very difficult being a referee with the speed of the game. "The second
one was inches away from the line and he made a great call. He can feel
pleased with himself that he's had a good game."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Big Sam hails big decision
West Ham boss delighted with referee Chris Foy
By Graeme Bailey - Tweet me: @skygraemebailey. Last Updated:
September 15, 2012 5:43pm
SSN
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce was pleased with referee Chris Foy for
getting right a 'make-or-break' decision. The game at Carrow Road finished
goalless and was always a tight affair but just before the break the home
side appealed for a penalty when James Collins fouled Andrew Surman on the
edge of the box and the home fans were insistent a spot-kick should have
been given. However, replays showed Foy correctly ruled the challenge was
just outside the area. Allardyce was thankful that Foy got it right, and
when asked if the referee deserved credit, he told Sky Sports: "No doubt
about that. Those decisions can make or break you. "Chris has made a correct
decision today and by the looks of it, where the player finished, he could
easily have thought that was in the box. "Luckily for us it was a major
decision the referee got right and I'm really pleased about that."
Happy
Allardyce was happy with a 'hard earned point' and his team's third clean
sheet in four Premier League games since their promotion but felt his side
could have taken something from the match. "I think we should have scored in
the first stage of the game, that is when we were at our best but the
chances came and went," he continued. "Then as I expected Norwich came back
into the game as they did and in the end, it is away from home and a hard
earned point and another clean sheet, three clean sheets in four games is an
excellent record to start back in the Barclays Premier League when you have
just been promoted. "It was an entertaining game, it was not as if both
teams sat back, we both went attacking and there were chances at both ends.
"Overall I am pleased as we picked up a point away from home, clean sheet
and we move on. "We enjoyed coming here and playing and we have got a result
and now move onto Sunderland where we look for three points."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Canaries yet to take flight
West Ham take point from Carrow Road
By Graeme Bailey - Tweet me: @skygraemebailey. Last Updated:
September 15, 2012 3:57pm
SSN
Norwich City are still without a win in the Premier League after being held
to a goalless draw at home to West Ham United.
MATCH FACTS
Man of the Match : Robert Snodgrass - Comfortable on the ball, passed well
and always willing to get in the opposition box.
Moment of the Match : Late in the game young Norwich sub Harry Kane broke
free and could have won the game but needed more composure to put the ball
away
Attempt of the Match : A terrific passage of play saw Snodgrass have a low
parried before he and Holt had efforts blocked by a Wes ham defence who
threw their bodies in the way of everything
Save of the Match : Jussi Jaaskelainen made a superb tip-over save to deny
Simeon Jackson
Talking point : Norwich are still without a win this season, how worrying is
that?
On a day of few chances in Norfolk, the best actually came in the final
minutes when substitute Harry Kane was handed the chance for a dream debut.
But the on-loan Tottenham man fired straight at Jussi Jaaskelainen in the
West Ham goal who, like his counterpart John Ruddy, was almost a spectator
for most of the match - although he did make one excellent stop from Simeon
Jackson in the second half. Chris Hughton's men enjoyed the better of the
first half, and felt they should
have been awarded a penalty when James Collins upended Andrew Surman, but
referee Chris Foy correctly ruled the challenge was just outside the area.
West Ham also had their chances, with Carlton Cole's early chance blocked
and Ruddy saving from Kevin Nolan. Both sides, though, seemed to run out of
ideas as the match wore on - and it was Kane's chance which proved the best.
Early chance
There was an early opportunity for West Ham in the Norfolk sunshine when a
corner was only half-cleared and the ball flashed back across the Norwich
goal by Matt Taylor. At the other end, Surman, in for the injured Anthony
Pilkington, cut inside the West Ham box after a quick break down the left
and curled the ball just wide of the far post. Surman continued to press the
Irons back, with Guy Demel making a superb tackle to halt his charge into
the penalty area. However, on 13 minutes, it was West Ham who made the first
clear opening when Ricardo Vaz Te got away down the right and his cross was
headed goalwards by Cole, but Russell Martin knocked it off the line, with
Taylor lashing the loose rebound wide. Norwich felt they should have been
awarded a penalty when Robert Snodgrass weaved in from the right and was
blocked by Nolan as he cut back inside - but, in a sign of things to come,
referee Foy was having none of it. The Irons skipper then almost put his
side ahead when he got on the end of Joey O'Brien's cross after the
full-back's strong run down the Norwich left, but England keeper Ruddy made
a smart reaction save.
Norwich capitalised on some poor defending as Snodgrass dashed onto a loose
ball down the right, but his cutback towards Jackson in the six-yard box was
hacked behind by Collins. West Ham then produced a series of blocks and
saves by Jaaskelainen from the resulting corner to turn away successive
efforts from Snodgrass, Sebastien Bassong, Grant Holt and Surman. On 33
minutes, the home side went close again as Holt scuffed wide following a
knockdown from Snodgrass. Foy again incurred the wrath of the home crowd
four minutes before half-time.
Big decision
Surman was upended by Collins as he darted into the penalty box, but the
Merseyside official correctly ruled the clumsy challenge had taken place
just inches outside the line. Johnson crashed the free-kick into the wall,
before full-back Javier Garrido lashed the rebound wide. Norwich started the
second half brightly, with Jackson's 25-yard effort tipped over by
Jaaskelainen, who almost joined the Canaries before signing at Bolton.
Snodgrass was just off target with a low effort, and Johnson shot straight
at the keeper before West Ham made a double change on 57 minutes when Jarvis
and Modibo Maiga replaced Taylor and Cole. Norwich again tested Jaaskelainen
when Leon Barnett nodded a deep cross back into the six-yard box and
Bassong's looping header was picked out of the air. As the hour passed,
Canaries manager Hughton sent on Steve Morison for Jackson. The former
Millwall frontman tried his luck with a 20-yard effort after a smart
knockdown on his chest, but the shot looped over. England Under 21 forward
Kane replaced the ineffective Holt for the final 19 minutes. As the match
opened up again, Jarvis, signed from Wolves, saw his shot blocked after a
quick break into the Norwich half following a poor throw-in. Kane created
space for a shot on the edge of the area, but his effort was wide of the
mark. Then in stoppage time, the 19-year-old was played in on the overlap
after a quick break, but scuffed a tame effort straight at the keeper.
And there was still time for Kane to produce another chance, as he squared
the ball back for Snodgrass - but the Scot saw his goal-bound effort
deflected wide
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Norwich 0 West Ham 0
The Sun
By PAUL JIGGINS
Published: 15th September 2012
IT'S a good job Grant Holt signed a new contract in the summer — because he
is not earning any goal bonuses at the moment. The Norwich striker, who
scored 17 goals last season, is still waiting to get off the mark this time
around. And yesterday he looked a shadow of the frontman who bulldozed and
bamboozled Premier League defences last term. His lacklustre display against
the Hammers showed that England boss Roy Hodgson was right to ignore the
clamour to include Holt in his squad for Euro 2012. It also suggested that
maybe the Canaries were a bit hasty in buckling to their captain's demands
for a fat, new three-year deal in the close season. Boss Chris Hughton
denied that Holt's sluggish start to the season has anything to do with the
player enjoying life in the comfort zone after safeguarding his future. But
how else do you explain his disappointing display? In a game of plenty of
chances, Holt managed to register just one shot on target. Worse still, he
seemed sorely off the pace. But Hughton, who only took over at Carrow Road
in the summer, insisted: "I can only speak as I find and he has been very
focused in games and in training. I have not seen any lack of hunger "I have
seen the same desire in him that he's always shown."
You have to respect Hughton for backing his captain, but his comments will
not fool anybody watching this clash — especially the home fans who booed
when Simeon Jackson was subbed instead of Holt in the 64th minute. Nobody
was surprised when Holt was taken off seven minutes later. Hughton added:
"I'm sure that if somebody of Grant's quality keeps getting into the right
positions and we keep creating chances for him it won't be long before he
scores. "He will work even harder to make it right." Norwich created
numerous scoring opportunities. The Holt of last season would have gobbled
at least one up. As it is, Hughton's men had to settle for their third draw
in four matches, which is fine if your opposition included top-six teams but
worrying given they featured games against Fulham, QPR and West Ham.
Especially as Norwich's next four are Newcastle, Liverpool, Chelsea and
Arsenal. That means if results go to form, the Canaries could still be on
three points by the time we reach mid-October. Now Hughton is a widely
respected and popular coach, but if things do not improve, his hopes of
making Christmas will be as bleak as a Bernard Matthews turkey. But he said:
"I'd be sitting here a lot more concerned if we were not creating chances.
We need more guile and quality along with a bit more good fortune." But for
some poor finishing and superb keeping by Jussi Jaaskelainen, his team would
have won. His best effort was a double stop to deny Holt and Russell Martin
in a frantic goalmouth scramble. Norwich had two penalty claims turned away
by referee Chris Hoy — both right calls.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce agreed and said: "Major decisions have got to
be right. "It's a clean sheet and a very valuable point away from home and
I'm satisfied with that."
Norwich: Ruddy, Russell Martin, Barnett, Bassong, Garrido, Snodgrass,
Howson, Johnson, Surman, Holt (Kane 71), Jackson (Morison 63). Subs not
used: Rudd, Turner, Hoolahan, Fox, Tierney.
West Ham: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Reid, Collins, O'Brien, Diame, Noble, Vaz Te
(Benayoun 86), Nolan, Taylor (Jarvis 57), Cole (Maiga 57). Subs not used:
Henderson, McCartney, Tomkins, Diarra. Booked: Collins.
Att: 26,806
Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ref was spot on with penalty call, admits Norwich boss Hughton
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 19:25, 15 September 2012 | UPDATED: 19:25, 15 September 2012
Daily Mail
Chris Hughton could not fault the efforts of his Norwich players despite the
frustration of a goalless draw against West Ham which left them still
without a Barclays Premier League win. The Canaries enjoyed the better of
the first half and felt they should have been awarded a penalty when James
Collins upended Andrew Surman, but referee Chris Foy correctly ruled the
challenge was just outside the area. Jussi Jaaskelainen denied Simeon
Jackson with a fine save just after the restart, but both sides ran out of
ideas. On-loan Tottenham youngster Harry Kane could have won it for the
hosts in stoppage time, only to scuff his shot straight at Jaaskelainen.
'There is a bit of frustration because we have had three games where we
cannot fault the performance or the chances we have created,' said Hughton,
who took over from Paul Lambert after he left for Aston Villa in the summer.
'We coped with West Ham very well, but when we have our opportunities, we
have to be showing a bit more quality and guile, perhaps also a bit of
fortune in that final third. 'I felt we did enough today and on the balance
of play had enough to win the game. 'There can be a disappointment we have
not got the goals to win the game, but no-one can question the endeavour of
the players.'
The Norwich manager accepts Hoy's decision was spot on, but that perhaps the
hosts were out of luck. He said: 'The one on the line was very close. In
another game, with another referee, then that is given. 'I think the referee
got his calls right.' Norwich captain Grant Holt failed to test the West Ham
defence, scuffing wide his best chance in the first half when the ball fell
to him in the penalty area. Hughton maintains the 31-year-old has lost none
of his hunger, having agreed a new deal after handing in a shock transfer
request at the end of the season which saw him become a summer target for
West Ham. 'I have seen the same desire in him that he has always shown
here,' said Hughton. 'The fact he has not scored will be a disappointment
for him, because he is a striker, and will work even harder to make it
right.
'What we want from every player is to be showing their best. 'Strikers want
to score and that is what Grant has done here over the past few seasons. 'I
am sure that will be the case again.' Hughton added: 'He has been very
focused on the games and in training, and I am quite sure with somebody of
Grant's qualities, if he keeps getting in the right positions and we can
keep creating chances, then it wont be long until he scores.' West Ham also
had their chances, especially early on when Carlton Cole's effort was
blocked and John Ruddy saved from Kevin Nolan. Substitute Matt Jarvis, a
£7million signing from Wolves, also saw a late effort deflected wide.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce said: 'It could have been anybody's game with
the way it went and the chances created, which no-one took. 'In the end, we
got the clean sheet and a very valuable point away from home. 'We have to be
satisfied with that because our finishing was not as good as it should have
been, nor was our final ball. 'We defended well, so it was a good point and
clean sheets now in three games out of four is a great basis to build any
team on.' Allardyce praised Merseyside referee Foy for what could easily
have been a game-changing call. 'It is a good decision by Chris Foy,' he
said. 'I have looked at the replay and he has got it right by inches. He
could so easily have been persuaded to give the penalty by where the player
finished in the box. 'Major decisions have to be given correctly by the
referee, and in this case, it was.'
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Saturday, September 15
Daily WHUFC News - 15th September 2012
Norwich City match preview
WHUFC.com
All the important background information and team news ahead of Saturday's trip to Carrow Road
14.09.2012
NORWICH CITY v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 2012
KICK-OFF: 12.45PM
REFEREE: ANTHONY TAYLOR
Introduction
• West Ham United travel to Carrow Road to face Norwich City tomorrow in their fourth Barclays Premier League game of the 2012/13 season.
• Saturday's clash at Norwich City is the Hammers' third consecutive 12.45pm kick-off, after facing Swansea City and Fulham at the same time in their previous two games.
• Yossi Benayoun could make his second Hammers 'debut' after joining on loan from Chelsea on deadline day.
• Winger Matt Jarvis could also start after recovering from a slight groin injury. If he does, he would emulate namesake Rossi Jarvis, who started for Norwich City in the most-recent meeting between the two clubs in the FA Cup third round in January 2006.
• The Hammers go into their third consecutive lunchtime league kick-off knowing victory would take them up to second in the table. An unlikely six-goal triumph would take Sam Allardyce's side above Chelsea to the top of the tree, but let's not get carried away.
• West Ham United have taken six points from a possible nine and start the weekend in seventh position. However, Big Sam's men were beaten in their only previous away fixture, 3-0 at Swansea City on 25 August. That defeat was the Hammers' first on the road since 31 January.
• Norwich City have taken two points from three matches to start the weekend in 15th. However, two of those games have been on the road at Fulham (0-5) and Tottenham Hotspur (1-1). The Canaries drew 1-1 at home with Queens Park Rangers in their only previous league game at Carrow Road this term.
• It is nearly seven years since West Ham United's last trip to Norfolk, when Hayden Mullins and Bobby Zamora netted in a 2-1 FA Cup third-round victory on 7 January 2006. League-wise, the Hammers drew 1-1 at Carrow Road in the Championship on 21 February 2004, with Marlon Harewood scoring and Matty Etherington being sent-off.
• West Ham United's clash with Norwich City is one of eight Barclays Premier League games on Saturday, the others are as follows: (Kick-off 3pm unless stated) Arsenal v Southampton, Aston Villa v Swansea City, Fulham v West Bromwich Albion, Manchester United v Wigan, Queens Park Rangers v Chelsea, Stoke City v Manchester City and Sunderland v Liverpool (5.30pm).
Last time out
Saturday 1 September 2012
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United 3-0 Fulham
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Reid, O'Brien, Collins (Tomkins 67), Demel (Hall 78), Nolan, Taylor, Noble, Diame, Carroll (Cole 68), Vaz Te
Subs not used: Henderson, Diarra, O'Neil, Maiga
Goals: Nolan 1, Reid 29, Taylor 41
Saturday 1 September 2012
Barclays Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Norwich City
Norwich City: Ruddy, Martin, Bassong, Garrido, Barnett, Johnson, Howson, Pilkington, Snodgrass, Holt, Jackson (Morison 73)
Subs not used: Rudd, Turner, Tierney, Surman, Hoolahan, Tettey
Goals: Snodgrass 85
Previous meeting
• Hayden Mullins and Bobby Zamora scored the goals that gave West Ham United a 2-1 win over Norwich City the last time the sides met in the FA Cup on 7 January 2006. Mullins opened the scoring after just six minutes when his shot deflected in off the post and the Hammers doubled their advantage after 57 minutes when Robert Green's mistake allowed Zamora to score. Paul McVeigh pulled one back from the penalty spot after James Collins handled the ball but the Hammers held on to end Norwich's FA Cup dreams for the second consecutive season. The lineups that day were:
Norwich City: Green (Ward 89), Jarrett (Spillane 87), Fleming (Cave-Brown, 90), Doherty, Drury, Henderson, Etuhu, Charlton, Jarvis, Thorne, McVeigh
West Ham United: Hislop, Repka, Gabbidon, Collins, Konchesky, Newton, Mullins (Fletcher 68), Reo-Coker, Etherington (Dailly 79), Harewood, Zamora (Katan 81)
Background
• West Ham United have officially faced Norwich City 46 times, winning 17, losing 15 and with 14 matches ending in draws.
• The first meeting between the two sides came on 6 October 1934, with John James Foreman and Hugh Mills scoring in a 2-1 West Ham United win at Carrow Road.
• Norwich City have yet to pick up a win in the Barclays Premier League under new boss Chris Hughton, having lost on the opening day and drawn their previous two games.
• Norwich City have not lost in any of their last 14 league games at home against West Ham United dating back to 10 February 1973, when Bryan 'Pop' Robson scored the only goal in a 1-0 Hammers victory.
Last six meetings
(Premier League unless stated)
7 January 2006 FA Cup third round Norwich City 1-2 West Ham United
8 January 2005 FA Cup third round West Ham United 1-0 Norwich City
21 February 2004 Division One Norwich City 1-1 West Ham United
15 October 2003 Division One West Ham United 1-1Norwich City
11 March 1995 West Ham United 2-2 Norwich City
27 August 1994 Norwich City 1-0 West Ham United
Overall record v Norwich City (all competitions) W 17 D 14 L 15
Ten-year record
West Ham United
2011/12 Championship 3rd (86 points - promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points)
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated)
2001/02 Premier League 7th (53 points)
Norwich City
2011/12 Premier League 12th (47 points)
2010/11 Championship 2nd (84 points - promoted to Premier League )
2009/10 League One 1st (95 points - promoted to Championship)
2008/09 Championship 22nd (46 points - relegated to League One)
2007/08 Championship 17th (55 points)
2006/07 Championship 16th (57 points)
2005/06 Championship 9th (62 points)
2004/05 Premier League 19th (33 points - relegated to Championship)
2003/04 Championship 1st (94 points - promoted to Premier League)
2002/03 Championship 8th (69 points)
2001/02 Championship 6th (75 points)
Referee
• Saturday afternoon's referee will be Chris Foy.
• Foy refereed West Ham United twice last season, in the Hammers' 2-0 npower Championship away win at Cardiff City at the beginning of March and the defeat at the Boleyn Ground to Reading at the end of March.
• Previous to that, Foy was referee when the Hammers lost 1-0 at home to Birmingham City in the Premier League on 6 February 2011. Prior to that, he had taken charge of the 2-1 loss at home to Newcastle United on 23 October 2010 and the 3-1 defeat by Chelsea at the Boleyn Ground on 11 September 2010.
• Foy has been a Barclays Premier League referee since 2001, having originally made the Select Group list of assistant referees in 1995.
• In 2007, Foy took charge of the FA Trophy final at Wembley, before returning to the Home of Football a year later to act as fourth official for Portsmouth's FA Cup final victory over Cardiff.
• In 2009, he was back at Wembley to take charge of the League Cup final and Community Shield, while Portsmouth were in action again as Foy refereed the 2010 FA Cup final, which Pompey lost to Chelsea.
• Foy will be assisted by Simon Bennett and Richard West. The fourth official will be Mick Russell.
Team news
• Jack Collison is unlikely to play after missing the start of the season as he continues to manage his long-term knee issues.
• Andy Carroll will also be missing after suffering a hamstring injury on his debut against Fulham on Saturday 1 September. In Carroll's absence both Carlton Cole and Modibo Maiga are vying for a starting spot, as is Alou Diarra who is yet to make Premier League start.
• George McCartney and Matt Jarvis are also pushing for a place after returning to training, as is Yossi Benayoun who could make his second Hammers debut.
• Elliott Bennett (knee) and new arrival Steven Whittaker (ankle) are both injured, while Elliott Ward, who won the Championship Play-Offs with West Ham in 2005, has been left out of the Canaries' 25-man Barclays Premier League squad.
Old boys
• Norwich City manager Chris Hughton played for West Ham United 43 times between 1990 and 1992, winning promotion from the old Division Two in 1990/91.
• Norwich City defender Elliot Ward came through the ranks at West Ham United, playing for the youth team before breaking into the first team in August 2003. He made 18 appearances for the first team and formed a terrific partnership with Anton Ferdinand during the 2004/05 season that saw the club win promotion to the Premier League via the Play-Offs. Ward joined Norwich in 2010 and has passed 50 appeared appearances for the Canaries.
General Information
• The weather forecast for Saturday is mainly dry with bright spells and broken cloud with temperatures reaching highs of 18C (65F).
• Greater Anglia rail services from London Liverpool Street to Norwich will be subject to engineering works that will extend journey times. Due to overhead line renewal work taking place between Witham and Shenfield, mainline services from Norwich/Ipswich/Clacton/Colchester/Braintree will terminate at Witham and will connect into a replacement bus service to Billericay. At Billericay buses will connect into Southend Victoria services to Liverpool Street. A shuttle bus service will operate between Ingatestone and Shenfield for Ingatestone passengers only. For full information and timetables, click here.
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Captain's blog
WHUFC.com
Kevin Nolan has goals on his mind ahead of the trip to Norwich City on Saturday
14.09.2012
We are very much looking forward to getting back into match action this weekend with our trip to Norwich City. The last week or so has still been good, those of us not on international duty have been back here at Chadwell Heath working hard as usual. It is always a bit different during these weeks and especially as we did have a few lads away. We have worked hard in sessions to make sure our fitness levels were kept up - we all have targets to keep and meet and these are checked, so no one gets away with anything and nor would we want to. We work to make sure we are in top condition for when the next match comes around.
Some people may think we get two weeks off if you don't go away, but it is not like that, We had a couple of days off but around that we have been focusing on keeping things ticking over and getting focused for Norwich. But the fact that many of the lads have been away playing for their countries speaks volumes in that we have a good squad full of quality players and it is good to report that all have returned fit and well. Winston [Reid] was the last to return as he had the longest to travel, but it was good to see everyone back.
We are all looking forward to the Norwich game. To say we were disappointed following our last away match at Swansea is an understatement. We know we let ourselves down with the mistakes we made and knew we could have hurt them if we had taken our chances. But we move on from that now and look to try and carry on from the terrific away record we set up last season and get our first set of points on the road for this campaign. We also have confidence from the two league home games against Aston Villa and Fulham - and the cup game against Crewe which we won to take into this match. Hopefully we can do the business at Carrow Road on Saturday and that is our aim.
It will be a tough one - I have worked under Chris Hughton and Colin Calderwood at Newcastle, so I know them very well. They will be looking to get their first win of the season and we have to go there like we haven't got any points yet and battle for them. Elsewhere, the new lads have been settling in well. You could all see the impact Andy [Carroll] had when he came on against Fulham, but not just on the pitch, all around the place. It is great to have the big man here. It was no secret we were chasing him all summer and so to finally get him as well as Jarvo {Matt Jarvis] before that and Yossi [Benayoun] right on the deadline was great.
Hats off to our owners, the Joint-Chairmen, who gave the licence to the gaffer to go after quality players and all of them together, the Joint-Chairmen and the gaffer have produced. Hopefully we can now get them all fit - Andy and Jarvo have had injuries - but we have a very good squad. Competition for places makes for a team that wants to do the best week in week out.
We have had that anyway, but it is really enjoyable going into training every day. The sessions are really good and we are all loving it. The new boys have added to what was a tight-knit bunch before. There are a few boys speaking different languages but it is everyone together and no one escapes the banter!
We have a good mixture and blend in the team - it helps winning games but we know we have this strength to get us through the low times, which there will be. We have to keep working hard, keep a happy medium and I think with the lads we have and the staff around us, we can do that.
One more thing I do want to mention is that Coley [Carlton Cole] was interviewed earlier in the week about us having a little bit of banter about who is going to be top goal scorer again this season and how many goals we are scoring. We do and it is fun. On a serious note though, I can't wait for Coley to get on the score-sheet. I am a midfielder and although a big part of my game is scoring goals, I won't be judged on that come the end of the season, but Carlton as a striker, will. Even though he does a lot more in the game than just scoring goals.
I want to chip in with goals and help make a difference for us in games like I have done against Aston Villa and Fulham, but will happily give the top scorer award at the end of the season again to Coley as it means he has been scoring goals… but I am looking to be just behind him on that front! I want to finish off this week by saying a big thank-you in advance to all our fans travelling to Norwich to cheer us on. Having been here a year now, I understand that we get support no matter what, and this is terrific. Come Saturday, we will be doing all we can to get the result we all want.
Come on you Irons!
Kevin Nolan
Captain
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Vice-Chairman outlines Stratford vision
WHUFC.com
Vice-Chairman Karren Brady is committed to creating a mutli-sports arena fit for all in Stratford
14.09.2012
Vice-Chairman Karren Brady has spoken about her vision for the West Ham United's proposed move to Stratford in a feature in the Guardian newspaper.
The article is featured in full below:
Karren Brady insists West Ham United the best option for Olympic Stadium
- Vice-chair says club would make legacy hopes a reality
- Boris Johnson has taken control of final negotiations
By Owen Gibson
As final negotiations over the future of the Olympic Stadium enter a crucial stage, the West Ham United vice-chair, Karren Brady, has insisted that the club's proposal will deliver a lasting legacy. Boris Johnson this week took personal control of the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), moving the chairman, Daniel Moylan, to a new role chairing an aviation review after less than four months in the job. One of the mayor's most pressing tasks will be to try to strike a deal with West Ham amid protracted negotiations over the terms of any tenancy deal. On top of the £95m in public money already pledged to convert the stadium into a permanent venue with a full roof and hospitality facilities, the east London club are believed to want the LLDC to contribute towards retractable seating and other costs.
Brady will make the argument that by handing the main tenancy to a Premier League football club, it will bring benefits to the Olympic Park and wider area above and beyond its rental contribution, including enhancing the value of naming rights and helping make it a popular destination. "I noted with interest Lord Coe's comments on Sunday about his desire to find a workable solution where athletics and other sports can operate together side-by-side," Brady said. "His comments instantly struck a chord with me, as I firmly believe that our proposal will ensure that his vision would become a reality should we be given the opportunity to do so."
It is understood that Johnson is keen to conclude a deal and anxious to avoid any potential delay in reopening the park from July next year onwards. But the LLDC's interim chief executive, Dennis Hone, will be keen to ensure that the figures add up and some on the board believe the success of the Olympics, which proved the stadium will work as an athletics and music venue, have strengthened their negotiating hand with West Ham.
"In addition to bringing the most exciting and most watched football league in the world to Stratford, we would ensure that the stadium retains the Olympic legacy that Lord Coe feels so passionately about," Brady argued. "The truly multi‑sport capabilities of the arena would mean our award-winning community sports trust, which already helps tens of thousands of children a year, can further extend its multi-sports coaching to the next generation of potential Olympic athletes."
The saga of the future of the £468m stadium has been long and drawn out, punctuated by missed opportunities, legal battles and expensive mistakes. The original deal with West Ham had to be scrapped amid legal challenges from Tottenham Hotspur and Leyton Orient. But Coe said at the close of the Games that it remained "perfectly within the wit and wisdom of all of us to make a multi-purpose sporting arena work for track and field". The LLDC hopes to reopen the south end of the park, including the stadium, by spring 2014. Brady said that West Ham's bid would also help further the legacy aims of the LLDC and the government. "Our bid revolves around creating a sporting hub that the community of east London and beyond can use to better themselves; whether that be through sport, education or simply living a healthier lifestyle," she said. "We have all watched in wonder at the historic scenes created in the Olympic Stadium and I believe it would now be unthinkable to not maintain this new global landmark as a stunning, world-class sporting venue that can inspire hundreds of thousands of people through the power of sport."
*Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those of West Ham United
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George targeting Norwich victory
WHUFC.com
George McCartney is preparing to take on a few familiar faces when the Hammers travel to Norwich City
14.09.2012
George McCartney believes West Ham United can continue their encouraging start to the season when they head to Norwich City on Saturday. The Hammers have won two of their opening three Barclays Premier League fixtures and will head to Carrow Road confident of achieving their first away victory of 2012/13. The reigning Players' Player of the Year will help West Ham's cause with insider knowledge on four Canaries players who he has previously played alongside - former Leeds United trio Robert Snodgrass, Jonny Howson and Bradley Johnson and ex-Sunderland centre-back Michael Turner. The left-back sat down with whufc.com to talk about his former team-mates and his hopes of success in Norfolk.
George, you and all the players must be encouraged by the good start we have made to the new Barclays Premier League season?
GM - "Yes, we have collected six points from nine. We sat down before the season and worked out what we were aiming for from the first few games so to get six points out of nine is a very good start and gives us a platform to build on. Hopefully we can be consistent throughout the season and have a really good year."
When you are out on the training pitch, do you look around and think to yourself 'We have got a really strong squad here' and believe we can have a successful 2012/13 campaign?
GM - "I pre-season, the squad wasn't that big. It was pretty much the same as last year. Although we all had really good seasons last year and promotion was the main aim, I think the manager knew he had to make the squad stronger. Over the last two or three weeks, you can see some of the quality that the manager and the Joint-Chairmen have brought into the club. Everyone has fitted in really well and it's going to be hard, not only to get into the team but to get a position on the bench because it's a big squad now. We have a lot of quality players, but you expect that of a Premier League club."
We have lost just one away game since January - last time out at Swansea City - so presumably we are targeting a positive result at Norwich City?
GM - "Last year, our away form was a lot better than our home form. We hadn't lost away from home for a few months prior to Swansea but I think you know that, when you move up to the Premier League, the main thing is to win home games. It's going to be a lot harder to play away from home and we found that at Swansea. We did gift them the first two goals but overall our performance wasn't good enough. We all sat down and looked through the game to see where we went wrong and
I'm sure the same mistakes won't be made against Norwich."
What is your assessment of Norwich City?
GM - "It's going to be a tough game. They have made a few signings over the summer and they got a draw at Tottenham in their last game, which is no easy place to go. They will be looking to get their first league win of the season but we've had a good start and hopefully we can continue to progress and stay in the top half of the season."
You played with three Norwich City midfielders during your loan spell at Leeds United in 2010/11. What can you tell us about Robert Snodgrass, Jonny Howson and
Bradley Johnson?
GM - "They are all obviously great lads and I had a few months with them at Leeds. I could tell then that they were all quality players and would end up getting the moves that they wanted to the Premier League. I didn't see many of Norwich's games last year but I'm sure they were playing most weeks and doing a good job. All three of them are very good players and come Saturday, they'll present a tough test for us. That said, I look around our team and we are more than capable of getting a good result. Howson is a very attack-minded midfielder.
Scotland winger Robert Snodgrass was very highly-rated at Leeds and has settled in quickly at Carrow Road. What is it that makes him so effective?
"Snodgrass's quality on the ball is probably up there with any winger I have come across. From free-kicks and corners and creating goals from open play, his delivery is really good. He might not have that much pace about him, but his quality on the ball is really good and I'm sure he'll be a danger-man for us to watch out for. In general, I think it'll be a tough game and Norwich have a lot of quality players. I do feel we can at least get a draw there."
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Times they are a'changing
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 14th September 2012
By: Paul Walker
The Olympics are gone, consigned to a vivid memory of a triumph, a London one and in particular an east London triumph, as we all knew they would be.
Now as a proud east London football club, we await the decision next month that will change us forever, whether we get the Olympic stadium or not.
Anybody who believes that we can just continue as we are is living in a dream world. Some of us may not want to move to Stratford, and I have swayed from one side to other over the years, now I am exhausted really with the debate.
We all know the arguments inside out by now. For and against. Nobody, surely is sitting on the fence and doesn't understand the issues any longer.
But our owners have their master plan. Everything, from moving out of the Boleyn to signing Andy Carroll is part of that great scheme.
We must progress. To stay as we are leaves us, in effect, slipping backwards with every passing season. The only way to compete at the highest level and to take and maintain West Ham into the top half of the Premier League, is increased revenues.
And the only way that is achieved is to have a bigger stadium. If it is not Stratford then Upton Park has to be enlarged, or we have to find a new home to build a stadium with a 60,000 capacity and all the commercial capacity that comes with it.
To be honest, rebuilding the East Stand and adding 10,000 more seats is not enough, even if we could overcome the difficult planning logistics--and get Newham Council's approval--that would be needed.
Our owners have a plan, clearly, and they have never hidden the fact that they would want to sell the club at one stage. Selling the Boleyn to pay off the club debts and to recoup their own outlay is their aim, whether we like it or not.
The smart money is already on us getting the Olympic stadium. Too many reports and expert observers in recent months have made reference to us winning the bid for it not to be nailed on, or so it seems.
If for some reason we don't get Stratford, there will be a major re-think of the owners' plans and a messy debriefing of what went wrong and where they go from here.
But the status quo is not an option. We will be left with the revenue only to mount a regular fight to avoid the drop. And that is not progress.
Nobody really wants to leave the Boleyn. Four generations of my family have lived their lives in our lovely old stadium. I know every step of the old Chicken Run and where they all watched the Irons from way back into the last century.
That does not mean that we cannot move home. And let's face it, so many clubs have done it. Manchester City moved to the now Etihad from Maine Road, to my mind a similar sort of ground and club to ourselves in the good old days. Nobody talks much of Maine Road now.
Sunderland, Derby, Leicester, Middlesbrough, Bolton, Southampton, Reading, Coventry, Swansea, Stoke, Cardiff, Hull, Brighton have all changed homes to give themselves a better future. Even ourselves from the Memorial ground to Upton Park. The list goes on. Nothing is forever, and we should realise we have to embrace that.
If you stand still, you die. And financing a refit for the Boleyn or building something bigger and better elsewhere - God knows where in such a crowded, over-populated part of Essex and east London - would be horrendously expensive.
The Davids probably could not afford to fund that level of transformation and would no doubt re-evaluate their commitment. And that leaves us wide open to dodgy bidders with ulterior motives. Yes, I mean you, Liverpool and Portsmouth. Better the devil you know!
So get used to it all of you, our club is going to change dramatically over the next few years, giving the Davids the chance to fatten it up and flog it off to some rich Arabs, no doubt. A West Ham club established in the top flight and using a re-designed, iconic stadium close to the City skyline would be an attractive proposition.
Do not forget, billions around the world have been watching the Olympics and seen the stunning backdrop and unique position close to the centre of the greatest city in the world. That is what will be it's selling point for the Davids.
They keep telling us they are dipping into their own pockets to ensure we do stay in the top flight, and we have all experienced a summer of transfer activity, Big Sam style, that has started to address the quality of our squad.
For some it has been an education. Seeing Sam and his agent mate Mark Curtis in full flow, and that has needed financing. Although anyone who believes we have spent over £20m on players is deluding themselves.
The deals never involve full outlay upfront. Only Manchester City can do that, and they've started trimming back on that front.
Punters tend to believe the hype, with Sky at the forefront. They love a big round figure, the bigger the better because it looks good on TV. But we have probably only paid half of that figure, maybe even less with the deals depending on add-ons, appearances and success.
The owners have put in money, and keep saying how hard it is for them and how many family conferences they have had.. And then there's £12m still to pay to Sheffield United.
But until we see the end of ridiculous red limos in the car park. Until the bottom drops out of the lingerie business(yes, I like that one too). Until mansions are sold, private golf courses shut down and oyster cards replacing private helicopters, I will not be crying too much about austerity in the Davids' households.
They know just what they are doing, how to get and maintain funding and how they will get their money back in the long run.
And yes, I do believe they are doing this because they are fans and they care about this club. But don't expect me to repeat such a thing again, the cynic that I am, people will think I've gone soft in my old age!
They have backed Sam and Curtis in the market, and it costs to buy players who can compete at the top level. What does annoy me a little is that every time a player comes onto our radar, the message boards are awash with people slagging them off, insulting them and branding them donkeys, traitors or turncoats. Come on everyone, grow up, this is a tough industry in which players want the very best for themselves.
I was not a bit surprised that Carroll left it so late. He had acquired a move to one of the world's great clubs(although two sets of daft American owners have done their best to destroy that legend.)
Carroll wanted to play for England and it Europe, and with a club who could afford £80,000 a week wages. If you worked in a bank, and someone offered you vast sums to move elsewhere, you would go and you would want to hang onto that new status, so why are footballers considered any different?
But Carroll has arrived, and I believe Liverpool's rookie new boss Brendan Rodgers is at best being disingenuous about the terms of his loan.
Nobody at Liverpool has gone on the record to confirm that Carroll can be recalled in January, and our own owners have been distinctly unhelpful with their own utterances on the subject.
But a mate of mine, a football league chief executive, suggested that the January thing is a red herring, with Liverpool--having accepted money for a season long loan--could only recall Carroll if they wanted to sell him.
Now as we have first refusal and a clause that we can buy him for £17m, Rodgers looks like he was desperately searching for some ammunition to get himself out of the shambolic transfer deadline day abuse he found himself facing when the Boston mob refused to spend £7m on Clint Dempsey.
Now I wouldn't spend that amount on him either, and Fulham--who had previously reported Liverpool for an illegal approach--were going to get their pound of flesh and to make things very tough for the Anfield boss.
Rodgers, facing such uncertainty, should have been the master of his own destiny and not allowed Carroll to go until his replacement was signed.
So Rodgers was done up like a kipper, as they say, and made to look foolish. It didn't help that his managing director Ian Ayre, I believe, went home two hours before the end of the transfer window when the Dempsey deal collapsed! So no Plan B then, Brendan?
It allowed Big Sam to emerge with a real coup. It's a long time since we signed a player of such magnitude and stature, a current England international, the best in the country by far at his specific job, and not a player on the way down, too old or injury prone. And still some of our fans were slagging off Carroll.
I believe the reaction at Chadwell Heath amongst our players was one of delight, the signing lifted their spirits, the club's and ours. His performance underlined that, he was playing and wanted. And I do not believe he will be out for six weeks.
No one from our club went on the record with a return date after his unfortunate hamstring injury. There was nothing on the club website, either. Hamstrings usually take three weeks to recover from, four if it's bad, so I expect to see Carroll on the bench against Sunderland, having a run-out against Wigan in the League Cup and playing at Loftus Road against QPR on October 1.
Which brings me back to the great master plan. New stadium, old one sold, debts gone and top players being attracted--as well as potential rich buyers. I'd like to think that Carroll will be the first of several more top level players to arrive as long as we stay in the top flight and get out hands on the vastly increased TV money from next season.
And yes, I want to believe the times they are a'changing whether the Mail on Sunday's Patrick Collins thinks our owners are despicable porn barons or not, and whether he likes Sam and Curtis' methods or not--which he outlined in a sneering, sarcastic piece a couple of weeks ago.
So stand-by everyone, it's going to be a rocky time ahead, with us moving somewhere, somehow. Otherwise we will just stagnate and die.
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Norwich City v West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 14th September 2012
By: Preview Percy
Next up we pay a visit to Norfolk where our hosts will be Norwich City. It's the third silly o'clock kick-off in a row, starting as it does at 12.45pm.
If you're the sort of person that likes to travel with the great unwashed on public transport you may care to note that there are engineering works between Billericay and Witham which will necessitate your transfer from railway carriage to omnibus for part of the journey, adding something like an hour to the journey time between London and Norwich. Which probably means that if you are reading this at home it's now too late to go.
For the third time in four matches we face a side that changed manager during the summer. Paul Lambert's departure for Villa saw Chris Hughton making a similar trip in reverse, leaving Birmingham City for Carrow Road.
It wasn't the brightest of starts to the season for the Canaries as Fulham went on the rampage at Craven Cottage with a 5-0 win. Things calmed down a bit in the 'five-nil derby' the following week as they were held to a 1-1 home draw by QPR while last week they arguably had the better of the match (certainly of the closing stages) against Spurs with whom they also drew 1-1.
So two points from three matches then, which leaves them in 15th place so far. This is one place below Spurs by virtue of goal difference – the opening day thrashing doing them no favours in that regard.
Hughton was pretty busy over the summer. One of his first bits of business was to sort out the future of Grant Holt. Holt seemed to be a wee bit put out at the departure of Lambert and seemed set to leave, with an apparent preference for following his old boss to Villa Park. Such love appeared to be unrequited and there doesn't seem to have been any official bid from Villa for the player's services.
We, on the other hand, did apparently make a bid though the amounts being bandied about seemed to be quite a lot of money for a player in his thirties. As subsequent events turned out we ended up with a better deal anyway. Holt, meanwhile, apparently chastened by the relative lack of interest ended up signing a new deal which will keep him at Carrow Road for another three years and he is their skipper this term.
Ex-Hammer Hughton wasn't shy in approaching his other former employers for players. They secured central defender Sebastien Bassong from Spurs as their clearout commenced – depending on which of the many sources of info you believe the fee was £2.6-4m. Bassong has been on his way out of White Hart Lane for some time now, and spent the latter part of last season as part of Wolves' unsuccessful attempt to stay up.
Another central defender to arrive was Michael Turner, who arrived from Sunderland. Turner has spells at Charlton, Brentford and Hull under his belt. At Hull he was thrice voted Player of the year and played in every minute of every game in the Tigers' 2008/09 league campaign. On top of that his principal claim to fame is that many years ago when I actually had hair he and I used to get our locks trimmed at the same establishment. Which was nice. For him.
The ex-Hammer on the books is Elliot Ward. Ward was part of the Irons team that won promotion via the playoffs at the end of 2004/05. Although his selection was a last resort due to everyone else who could play in the centre of defence being injured at the time, it soon transpired that his partnership with Anton Ferdinand was more than good enough for the rigours of second-tier football. The pairing, accidental or otherwise, is widely credited with being a major contribution to our promotion that year.
Promotion gained, the restructuring of the side saw the arrival of Danny Gabbidon and someone called James Collins (whatever happened to him?). With Ferdinand and "love of our lives" Christian Dailly also about at the time Ward ended up going out on loan to Plymouth before signing a permanent deal with Coventry. He arrived at Carrow Road in 2010 but injuries have precluded his making an appearance thus far this season.
The first of two loan players in the squad is Spaniard Javier Garrido. Garrido is on loan from Lazio and his arrival in the summer marks his second spell in the Premier League, having spent 2007-2010 on the books of Manchester City, making his debut in his side's opening day 2-0 win at the Boleyn in August 2007.
The following few years and the arrival of large amounts of petrodollars on the east side of Manchester saw him make few appearances and his road led to Rome. Although Alexander Kolarov had gone in the other direction a few days before, technically the deals weren't linked. He's come in on a one year loan deal with an option to extend.
The splendidly Dickensian-named Robert Snodgrass arrived from Leeds and was on the scoresheet last week against Spurs. Snodgrass was made captain by his former boss Neil Warnock at Leeds. Which is a little bit like having your musical ability praised by Simon Cowell. Warnock offered Snodgrass an improved contract but the lure of going anywhere just to not work with Colin proved too great and he made the trek down to less unpleasant climes in July.
Regular readers will be aware that we love a good Player/Crime story in this column and Snodgrass is this week's "Miscreant Of The Week". At one stage last year the beak in Glasgow had mobilised the full force of the law against the Scotland international after he'd failed to appear in court. Not for Snodgrass the standard footballer offence of drinking too many shandies and being too stingy to pay for a cab home out of his £25k a week salary. No this was a misunderstanding over stopping on a pelican crossing. Bastard. Hanging's too good for 'em I say.
Perhaps Hughton might have a few words to say on the discipline front, once he's paid off the fine he got himself a couple of weeks ago for failing to identify the driver of his speeding Audi on the M42. I'm willing to bet that it'll be the only time this season that he won't be pleased at picking up six points.
The second loan signing of what I shall laughingly refer to as "the summer" was up front, where their options have been augmented by the arrival of striker Harry Kane. Kane has come in from Spurs on loan and spent a lot of last season at Millwall. Since he also has a spell as an employee of Barry "stuff the community what's in it for me?" Hearn under his belt, Norwich will be like a pleasant breath of fresh air for the player, who has been capped at U19 level for England.
And now us. Remember the 2012/13 season? You must do. We played three games – the last of which saw us beating Fulham 3-0. It seems so long ago now doesn't it. The arrival of Andy Carroll dominated – and continues to dominate - the headlines, especially in view of Liverpool's hilarious failure to get around to replacing him. It was, indeed, a splendid debut which saw him so keen to immerse himself in the traditions of our club he promptly picked up the "new player injury" that seems statutory for us to have at the start of a season. Four to six weeks is the prognosis, which, given the international break should see him back in three to five weeks or so.
Whilst Carroll is obviously out, the position with Guy Demel is less clear. Demel is listed as a doubt with the now ubiquitous "knock" against his name with "no return date". The news is brighter regarding Matt Jarvis & George McCartney, both of whom should be available for selection. There have also been encouraging noises on the subject of Jack Collison – though this match will be too soon for him it's been suggested that a return to the squad is weeks, rather than months away.
We'll also be bolstered by the return of Yossi Benayoun from the various footballing backwaters he's been frequenting since his illegal signing by Liverpool a few years ago. It is to be hoped that spending time at such muppet-places as Anfield, Stamford Bridge and The Library hasn't dulled his undoubted skills any. It is also to be hoped that a cure has been found for the mysterious ailments that seemed to plague him without fail just before every international break during his previous spell with us. I'm sure Mr Allardyce, with all his faith in science and technology has a computer programme already working on the problem.
So it's a pretty strong squad that will be available for this one. There'll be a fair bit of confidence about arising from the manner of the victory against Fulham which, despite Martin Jol's rather sour grapey comments to the contrary, contained a lot of decent football. There is, of course, a temptation to look at the fact that Fulham (somehow) stuck five past this weekend's opponents and look at the way we demolished them in order to come to a conclusion. Football, of course, doesn't work like that.
Amongst other factors to consider is the fact that Fulham's record away from Craven Cottage is traditionally awful. In fact, I reckon that if our return fixture with them were moved to that park next door to their ground we'd be guaranteed three points. Not to mention a quicker walk from the place where the boat docks.
However, when I look at doing a prediction I always place great store on the relative confidence levels of the team. Which may be why I'm usually wrong. Though the Canaries have undoubtedly improved since the opening day, they would still have preferred to have gone into the break with a win under their belts – especially against the likes of QPR and that other side they played. It's been a stuttering start for them and, though our one voyage away from the Boleyn thus far didn't exactly raise the spirits, it's difficult to see quite so many players having quite so many nightmares all at once. And Swansea was abroad and foreign travel is always tricky.
So I am upbeat about our chances of registering a first away win of the season. Here at the Avram Grant Rest Home for The Bewildered there is an emergency legal fund which is used after every time the place is featured on a "Panorama" documentary. I have, with my usual skill and dexterity, located said fund and will therefore be off to the Honest Ray Winstone Turf Accountancy Emporium to place all £2.50 on a 2-1 win to us.
Enjoy the game!
When Last We Met: Won 2-1 (FA Cup 3rd Round January 2006). Mullins and Zamora saw us safely through to the next round as the home side omitted Dean Ashton due to injury, honest guv, and in no way as part of some plot to keep him from being cup-tied in advance of a move to the Boleyn.
Referee: Chris Foy. Had a bit of a nightmare in the 4-2 home defeat to Reading last season. Loves refereeing Spurs as he knows all the abusive messages will go to the wrong place.
Danger Man: Robert Snodgrass. Public Enemy No.1 (No Pelican Crossing is safe) picked up a nicely taken equaliser at White Hart Lane the other week and is probably the pick of their strikers.
Daft Fact Of The Week: It is claimed that the Norwich song "On The Ball City" is the world's oldest football song. Dating as it does from the 1890's, before the formation of the club itself, it is probably the only song in the world that contains the word "scrimmage", a word for which the lyricists wisely avoided trying to find a rhyme.
Stat man John: Northcutt's corner
Head to Head
Pld 46; West Ham Utd 17, Norwich 15, Draws 14.
Biggest Win
11th March 1939: Norwich 2-6 West Ham Utd (Carrow Road, Division Two)
Heaviest Defeat
1st January 1988: Norwich 4-1 West Ham Utd (Carrow Road, Division Two)
First Meeting
6th October 1934: Norwich 1-2 West Ham Utd (Newmarket Road, Division Two)
Last Five Meetings
7th January 2006: Norwich 1-2 West Ham Utd (Carrow Road, FA Cup)
8th January 2005: West Ham Utd 1-0 Norwich (Boleyn Ground, FA Cup)
21st February 2004: Norwich 1-1 West Ham Utd (Carrow Road, Division One)
15th October 2003: West Ham Utd 1-1 Norwich (Boleyn Ground, Division One)
11th Match 1995: West Ham Utd 2-2 Norwich (Boleyn Ground, Premier League)
Memorable Match
16th September 1972: West Ham Utd 4-0 Norwich (Boleyn Ground, Division One)
Unbelievably perhaps this was West Ham's ninth game in just 35 days at the beginning of the 1972/73 campaign - any they think they have it hard now! With both teams firmly ensconced in mid-table the game, watched by just over 27,000 people was most notable for Bobby Moore's appearance in midfield - and it was to be a match-winning performance that left the morning's papers asking whether Alf Ramsey should use an aging Mooro in that position for England.
The first two goals - from Brooking and 'Pop' Robson - came from Moore assists. Tommy Taylor put the game beyond any reasonable doubt on the stroke of half time before Robson's grabbed his second and West Ham's fourth with 12 minutes of normal time remaining. West Ham would go on to finsih the season in sixth spot - equalling the club's best ever top-flight finish at that time.
Friendlies
October 1958: Norwich 2-4 West Ham Utd (Keeble 2, Grice, Musgrove)
May 1975: Norwich 1-1 West Ham Utd (Lampard)
July 2002: Norwich 1-3 West Ham Utd (Sinclair, Defoe, J.Cole)
July 2007: Norwich 1-2 West Ham Utd (Ashton, Spector)
It's An Early Bath For You, Mr Cantona...
Mattthew Etherington is the only Hammer to have been sent off against Norwich - that being in the 2003/04 season at Carrow Road.
They Played For Both
Mark Bowen; Robert Green; Albert Foan; John McDowell; Jimmy Neighbour; Graham Paddon; Matthew Rush; Alan Taylor; Steve Walford; Martin Peters; John Gurkin; Fred Kearns; Ted MacDougall.
Bossing It
The former West Ham players who have managed Norwich are John Bond, Ken Brown, Archie Macaulay, and Chris Hughton. Our former manager Glenn Roeder was also (briefly) the Norwich manager and Alan Pardew's assistant manager Peter Grant has also been the boss at Carrow Road.
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Norwich v West Ham preview
Hammers aiming for improved away showing but are without Carroll
Last Updated: September 14, 2012 11:29am
SSN
Chris Hughton will be hoping to pick up his first Premier League win as Norwich boss when West Ham visit Carrow Road on Saturday. In a lunchtime kick-off, live on Sky Sports 2 HD, the Canaries will look to build on their encouraging draws against Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham by picking up all three points against the Hammers.
Live on Sky Sports
Norwich v West Ham
September 15, 2012 12:30pm
Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson said: "I was very impressed against QPR when they were the much better team. If they can play like that in all of their home games they won't go too far wrong." In contrast, although Sam Allardyce's West Ham have won both home games, they were on the receiving end of a thrashing from Swansea in their only Premier League away game of the season. Allardyce will be keen to be more difficult to beat than they were at the Liberty Stadium and he will at least have been encouraged by the response of his players as they beat Fulham 3-0 last time out.
Norwich
Last 6
1-1
2-1
1-1
5-0
0-2
0-0
Hughton will check on the fitness of defender Russell Martin who pulled out of the Scotland squad with an ankle injury sustained against Tottenham two weeks ago. He is back in training and should be available. The Canaries boss will also wait on the recovery of forward Simeon Jackson who had a punishing travel itinerary over the international break with Canada. Jackson played all but four minutes of Canada's two CONCACAF qualifiers home and away against Panama and could be replaced by Steve Morison in attack. Meanwhile, long-term injury victims, midfielder Elliott Bennett and full-back Stephen Whittaker also report good progress but are highly unlikely to feature in this one.
West Ham
Last 6
3-0
2-0
3-0
1-0
1-1
3-1
Allardyce must decide who he should bring in to replace hamstring victim Andy Carroll, with Carlton Cole the clear like-for-like replacement. The 28-year-old forward played a key role in West Ham's promotion back to the top flight, scoring 15 goals for the club and he will be anxious to seize his opportunity in Carroll's absence.
Allardyce: "He is an obvious replacement and we would like Carlton to do how he finished off last season." Record signing Matt Jarvis is also back to full fitness but Allardyce may be reluctant to make significant changes to the team that beat Fulham so impressively.
Opta Facts
Five of the last six league meetings between Norwich and West Ham have ended as draws
West Ham have won none of their last 14 league trips to Carrow Road (W0 D6 L8)
Norwich have kept just one clean sheet in their last 17 Premier League games
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Sam Allardyce is looking forward to seeing West Ham play against Norwich
Last Updated: September 14, 2012 10:42pm
SSN
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is looking forward to seeing his side return to Premier League action at Norwich City on Saturday. Due to injuries and the international break, Allardyce has seen most of his new-look squad come together for the first time this week and he believes it is a group of players strong enough to enjoy a good campaign. The Hammers have already picked up six points from their opening three games, and Allardyce is hoping to build on that tally at Carrow Road. He said: "I think we could have a relatively good season - it is far too early to tell what combinations will be what and who will perform better. "Everyone who has a place will have to fight very hard to keep their place now with the squad we have got and anyone who gets a place will have to perform very, very well to keep it if they get the chance. "That competition for places is a huge factor in getting the best out of the players on a consistent basis which is what you have to do to get the results you want in this division. "But, like every away game in this league, Norwich will provide a difficult test for us. "It will also be good to see Chris Hughton at his new club, but hopefully I will be the one smiling at the end of the game."
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Karren Brady's football diary – Wenger a shoe-in for fresh deal
By KARREN BRADY
Published: 14th September 2012
The Sun
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
WEST HAM'S Brescia saga continues. Having won hands down both at FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport to ensure we are paid the outstanding transfer fee for Alessandro Diamanti, they failed (again) to make payment within the 14-day deadline which expired last Friday. We have now notified FIFA — and copied in the FA, Premier League and Italian FA — and have requested the case is referred straight to their Disciplinary Committee, who can impose sanctions for non-compliance of a points deduction and/or relegation. The FA are in contact with the Italian FA and I am awaiting their feedback. All I really want is my money, which I've been waiting on for 14 MONTHS. Luckily I've got shareholders who are pumping money in to compensate but if I was a small club I'd probably be bankrupt now as a result of another club's poor financial management. This is why the football creditors rule is so vital.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
THERE is a common belief that footballers are as thick as planks. I remember over-hearing my team playing a name game on the coach and when asked to name an Opera, one said Winfrey! But listening to two of our remarkable West Ham old boys, the knights Geoff Hurst and Trevor Brooking, on the radio it's clearly an injustice.
Both of them speak as lucidly as any politician and had Sir Geoff had his way, the club would already have crossed the line for a move to the Olympic Stadium. I like his sentiment: "It's up the road (from Upton Park), it's better access and it's an absolutely magnificent stadium."
Here, here.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
URGENT club business precludes my attendance at a Premier League get-together that finishes with a visit to the Olympic Park. I finally get to the Park to meet up with some of the other delegates and see one PL attendee carrying an Olympic Park carrier bag. I ask him what souvenirs he has purchased but he seems reluctant to let me know. Finally, I force the bag out of his hand. So far as I am aware, Victoria's Secret underwear was not on sale in the Olympic megastore. Clearly a case of confusion between Wenlock and wedlock as, the last time I saw his wife, she wasn't a 36DD! Who's a naughty boy, then?
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
ACROSS the world, there are Games stadiums that stand as little more than monuments to great deeds. Lord Coe is only too aware of this and I'm currently writing a reminder to him of what West Ham offers to future sport, jobs and people in East London by an historic transfer to the stadium. We've never asked 'What can the stadium do for us?' but 'What can we do for the stadium?' and we don't want something for nothing. We'll pay our way, handsomely... unlike others I could mention!
I can't wait for the process to be over so we can reveal our exciting legacy plan alongside the multi-million pound package we've created.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
DIG into the topsoil of London football and you can be sure you'll discover Hammers roots. A few hours before Frank Lampard, ex-West Ham of course, scores the equaliser for England against Ukraine, no fewer than 1,000 people sign their 0-5 year-olds into the newly launched Junior Hammers membership. Bobby Moore's daughter Roberta and her husband brought their children and niece to become older members, too. Keep it in the family, it's said. We like to think we are the family.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
I'M happy to see Arsenal are confirming that Arsene Wenger is to be offered a new contract. But the Gunners' long-serving manager may not be applauding club chief executive Ivan Gazidis' rather puzzling comment that "he does not look too good in his brogues". It's true the Frenchman sometimes looks like a famished Bloodhound when he's under pressure. That doesn't, however, prove him incapable of leading the club to plenty more trophies and, moreover, by doing it his way. Wenger has made his name on these shores by coaching continental-style football and refusing to be held to ransom. Long may it continue to be so.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
MY club are under strict orders to be shipshape and in Bristol fashion for the 12.45pm kick-off at Norwich. I don't think it's at all funny that the Premier League have just fined us £5,000 for being late back from half-time for our opening match of the season against Aston Villa. I know many will think this is a trivial sum but I don't. It's not the 'keeping 'em waiting' rock star habit we adopted but it was 100 degrees and the players needed a proper cool down. Safety takes time.
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West Ham boss Allardyce keeps on-loan Benayoun guessing
By SAMI MOKBEL
PUBLISHED: 23:08, 14 September 2012 | UPDATED: 23:08, 14 September 2012
Daily Mail
Sam Allardyce will make a late decision on whether to give loan signing Yossi Benayoun his second West Ham debut at Norwich on Saturday. Benayoun, who joined from Chelsea on transfer deadline day last month, featured in both of Israel's World Cup qualifiers this week but Allardyce is still not sure whether the midfielder is ready to start. He said: 'Yossi has been away with his national side and only had a light training session, so we will assess the squad and make a decision on the starting line-up from there.'
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
All the important background information and team news ahead of Saturday's trip to Carrow Road
14.09.2012
NORWICH CITY v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 2012
KICK-OFF: 12.45PM
REFEREE: ANTHONY TAYLOR
Introduction
• West Ham United travel to Carrow Road to face Norwich City tomorrow in their fourth Barclays Premier League game of the 2012/13 season.
• Saturday's clash at Norwich City is the Hammers' third consecutive 12.45pm kick-off, after facing Swansea City and Fulham at the same time in their previous two games.
• Yossi Benayoun could make his second Hammers 'debut' after joining on loan from Chelsea on deadline day.
• Winger Matt Jarvis could also start after recovering from a slight groin injury. If he does, he would emulate namesake Rossi Jarvis, who started for Norwich City in the most-recent meeting between the two clubs in the FA Cup third round in January 2006.
• The Hammers go into their third consecutive lunchtime league kick-off knowing victory would take them up to second in the table. An unlikely six-goal triumph would take Sam Allardyce's side above Chelsea to the top of the tree, but let's not get carried away.
• West Ham United have taken six points from a possible nine and start the weekend in seventh position. However, Big Sam's men were beaten in their only previous away fixture, 3-0 at Swansea City on 25 August. That defeat was the Hammers' first on the road since 31 January.
• Norwich City have taken two points from three matches to start the weekend in 15th. However, two of those games have been on the road at Fulham (0-5) and Tottenham Hotspur (1-1). The Canaries drew 1-1 at home with Queens Park Rangers in their only previous league game at Carrow Road this term.
• It is nearly seven years since West Ham United's last trip to Norfolk, when Hayden Mullins and Bobby Zamora netted in a 2-1 FA Cup third-round victory on 7 January 2006. League-wise, the Hammers drew 1-1 at Carrow Road in the Championship on 21 February 2004, with Marlon Harewood scoring and Matty Etherington being sent-off.
• West Ham United's clash with Norwich City is one of eight Barclays Premier League games on Saturday, the others are as follows: (Kick-off 3pm unless stated) Arsenal v Southampton, Aston Villa v Swansea City, Fulham v West Bromwich Albion, Manchester United v Wigan, Queens Park Rangers v Chelsea, Stoke City v Manchester City and Sunderland v Liverpool (5.30pm).
Last time out
Saturday 1 September 2012
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United 3-0 Fulham
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Reid, O'Brien, Collins (Tomkins 67), Demel (Hall 78), Nolan, Taylor, Noble, Diame, Carroll (Cole 68), Vaz Te
Subs not used: Henderson, Diarra, O'Neil, Maiga
Goals: Nolan 1, Reid 29, Taylor 41
Saturday 1 September 2012
Barclays Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Norwich City
Norwich City: Ruddy, Martin, Bassong, Garrido, Barnett, Johnson, Howson, Pilkington, Snodgrass, Holt, Jackson (Morison 73)
Subs not used: Rudd, Turner, Tierney, Surman, Hoolahan, Tettey
Goals: Snodgrass 85
Previous meeting
• Hayden Mullins and Bobby Zamora scored the goals that gave West Ham United a 2-1 win over Norwich City the last time the sides met in the FA Cup on 7 January 2006. Mullins opened the scoring after just six minutes when his shot deflected in off the post and the Hammers doubled their advantage after 57 minutes when Robert Green's mistake allowed Zamora to score. Paul McVeigh pulled one back from the penalty spot after James Collins handled the ball but the Hammers held on to end Norwich's FA Cup dreams for the second consecutive season. The lineups that day were:
Norwich City: Green (Ward 89), Jarrett (Spillane 87), Fleming (Cave-Brown, 90), Doherty, Drury, Henderson, Etuhu, Charlton, Jarvis, Thorne, McVeigh
West Ham United: Hislop, Repka, Gabbidon, Collins, Konchesky, Newton, Mullins (Fletcher 68), Reo-Coker, Etherington (Dailly 79), Harewood, Zamora (Katan 81)
Background
• West Ham United have officially faced Norwich City 46 times, winning 17, losing 15 and with 14 matches ending in draws.
• The first meeting between the two sides came on 6 October 1934, with John James Foreman and Hugh Mills scoring in a 2-1 West Ham United win at Carrow Road.
• Norwich City have yet to pick up a win in the Barclays Premier League under new boss Chris Hughton, having lost on the opening day and drawn their previous two games.
• Norwich City have not lost in any of their last 14 league games at home against West Ham United dating back to 10 February 1973, when Bryan 'Pop' Robson scored the only goal in a 1-0 Hammers victory.
Last six meetings
(Premier League unless stated)
7 January 2006 FA Cup third round Norwich City 1-2 West Ham United
8 January 2005 FA Cup third round West Ham United 1-0 Norwich City
21 February 2004 Division One Norwich City 1-1 West Ham United
15 October 2003 Division One West Ham United 1-1Norwich City
11 March 1995 West Ham United 2-2 Norwich City
27 August 1994 Norwich City 1-0 West Ham United
Overall record v Norwich City (all competitions) W 17 D 14 L 15
Ten-year record
West Ham United
2011/12 Championship 3rd (86 points - promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points)
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated)
2001/02 Premier League 7th (53 points)
Norwich City
2011/12 Premier League 12th (47 points)
2010/11 Championship 2nd (84 points - promoted to Premier League )
2009/10 League One 1st (95 points - promoted to Championship)
2008/09 Championship 22nd (46 points - relegated to League One)
2007/08 Championship 17th (55 points)
2006/07 Championship 16th (57 points)
2005/06 Championship 9th (62 points)
2004/05 Premier League 19th (33 points - relegated to Championship)
2003/04 Championship 1st (94 points - promoted to Premier League)
2002/03 Championship 8th (69 points)
2001/02 Championship 6th (75 points)
Referee
• Saturday afternoon's referee will be Chris Foy.
• Foy refereed West Ham United twice last season, in the Hammers' 2-0 npower Championship away win at Cardiff City at the beginning of March and the defeat at the Boleyn Ground to Reading at the end of March.
• Previous to that, Foy was referee when the Hammers lost 1-0 at home to Birmingham City in the Premier League on 6 February 2011. Prior to that, he had taken charge of the 2-1 loss at home to Newcastle United on 23 October 2010 and the 3-1 defeat by Chelsea at the Boleyn Ground on 11 September 2010.
• Foy has been a Barclays Premier League referee since 2001, having originally made the Select Group list of assistant referees in 1995.
• In 2007, Foy took charge of the FA Trophy final at Wembley, before returning to the Home of Football a year later to act as fourth official for Portsmouth's FA Cup final victory over Cardiff.
• In 2009, he was back at Wembley to take charge of the League Cup final and Community Shield, while Portsmouth were in action again as Foy refereed the 2010 FA Cup final, which Pompey lost to Chelsea.
• Foy will be assisted by Simon Bennett and Richard West. The fourth official will be Mick Russell.
Team news
• Jack Collison is unlikely to play after missing the start of the season as he continues to manage his long-term knee issues.
• Andy Carroll will also be missing after suffering a hamstring injury on his debut against Fulham on Saturday 1 September. In Carroll's absence both Carlton Cole and Modibo Maiga are vying for a starting spot, as is Alou Diarra who is yet to make Premier League start.
• George McCartney and Matt Jarvis are also pushing for a place after returning to training, as is Yossi Benayoun who could make his second Hammers debut.
• Elliott Bennett (knee) and new arrival Steven Whittaker (ankle) are both injured, while Elliott Ward, who won the Championship Play-Offs with West Ham in 2005, has been left out of the Canaries' 25-man Barclays Premier League squad.
Old boys
• Norwich City manager Chris Hughton played for West Ham United 43 times between 1990 and 1992, winning promotion from the old Division Two in 1990/91.
• Norwich City defender Elliot Ward came through the ranks at West Ham United, playing for the youth team before breaking into the first team in August 2003. He made 18 appearances for the first team and formed a terrific partnership with Anton Ferdinand during the 2004/05 season that saw the club win promotion to the Premier League via the Play-Offs. Ward joined Norwich in 2010 and has passed 50 appeared appearances for the Canaries.
General Information
• The weather forecast for Saturday is mainly dry with bright spells and broken cloud with temperatures reaching highs of 18C (65F).
• Greater Anglia rail services from London Liverpool Street to Norwich will be subject to engineering works that will extend journey times. Due to overhead line renewal work taking place between Witham and Shenfield, mainline services from Norwich/Ipswich/Clacton/Colchester/Braintree will terminate at Witham and will connect into a replacement bus service to Billericay. At Billericay buses will connect into Southend Victoria services to Liverpool Street. A shuttle bus service will operate between Ingatestone and Shenfield for Ingatestone passengers only. For full information and timetables, click here.
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Captain's blog
WHUFC.com
Kevin Nolan has goals on his mind ahead of the trip to Norwich City on Saturday
14.09.2012
We are very much looking forward to getting back into match action this weekend with our trip to Norwich City. The last week or so has still been good, those of us not on international duty have been back here at Chadwell Heath working hard as usual. It is always a bit different during these weeks and especially as we did have a few lads away. We have worked hard in sessions to make sure our fitness levels were kept up - we all have targets to keep and meet and these are checked, so no one gets away with anything and nor would we want to. We work to make sure we are in top condition for when the next match comes around.
Some people may think we get two weeks off if you don't go away, but it is not like that, We had a couple of days off but around that we have been focusing on keeping things ticking over and getting focused for Norwich. But the fact that many of the lads have been away playing for their countries speaks volumes in that we have a good squad full of quality players and it is good to report that all have returned fit and well. Winston [Reid] was the last to return as he had the longest to travel, but it was good to see everyone back.
We are all looking forward to the Norwich game. To say we were disappointed following our last away match at Swansea is an understatement. We know we let ourselves down with the mistakes we made and knew we could have hurt them if we had taken our chances. But we move on from that now and look to try and carry on from the terrific away record we set up last season and get our first set of points on the road for this campaign. We also have confidence from the two league home games against Aston Villa and Fulham - and the cup game against Crewe which we won to take into this match. Hopefully we can do the business at Carrow Road on Saturday and that is our aim.
It will be a tough one - I have worked under Chris Hughton and Colin Calderwood at Newcastle, so I know them very well. They will be looking to get their first win of the season and we have to go there like we haven't got any points yet and battle for them. Elsewhere, the new lads have been settling in well. You could all see the impact Andy [Carroll] had when he came on against Fulham, but not just on the pitch, all around the place. It is great to have the big man here. It was no secret we were chasing him all summer and so to finally get him as well as Jarvo {Matt Jarvis] before that and Yossi [Benayoun] right on the deadline was great.
Hats off to our owners, the Joint-Chairmen, who gave the licence to the gaffer to go after quality players and all of them together, the Joint-Chairmen and the gaffer have produced. Hopefully we can now get them all fit - Andy and Jarvo have had injuries - but we have a very good squad. Competition for places makes for a team that wants to do the best week in week out.
We have had that anyway, but it is really enjoyable going into training every day. The sessions are really good and we are all loving it. The new boys have added to what was a tight-knit bunch before. There are a few boys speaking different languages but it is everyone together and no one escapes the banter!
We have a good mixture and blend in the team - it helps winning games but we know we have this strength to get us through the low times, which there will be. We have to keep working hard, keep a happy medium and I think with the lads we have and the staff around us, we can do that.
One more thing I do want to mention is that Coley [Carlton Cole] was interviewed earlier in the week about us having a little bit of banter about who is going to be top goal scorer again this season and how many goals we are scoring. We do and it is fun. On a serious note though, I can't wait for Coley to get on the score-sheet. I am a midfielder and although a big part of my game is scoring goals, I won't be judged on that come the end of the season, but Carlton as a striker, will. Even though he does a lot more in the game than just scoring goals.
I want to chip in with goals and help make a difference for us in games like I have done against Aston Villa and Fulham, but will happily give the top scorer award at the end of the season again to Coley as it means he has been scoring goals… but I am looking to be just behind him on that front! I want to finish off this week by saying a big thank-you in advance to all our fans travelling to Norwich to cheer us on. Having been here a year now, I understand that we get support no matter what, and this is terrific. Come Saturday, we will be doing all we can to get the result we all want.
Come on you Irons!
Kevin Nolan
Captain
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Vice-Chairman outlines Stratford vision
WHUFC.com
Vice-Chairman Karren Brady is committed to creating a mutli-sports arena fit for all in Stratford
14.09.2012
Vice-Chairman Karren Brady has spoken about her vision for the West Ham United's proposed move to Stratford in a feature in the Guardian newspaper.
The article is featured in full below:
Karren Brady insists West Ham United the best option for Olympic Stadium
- Vice-chair says club would make legacy hopes a reality
- Boris Johnson has taken control of final negotiations
By Owen Gibson
As final negotiations over the future of the Olympic Stadium enter a crucial stage, the West Ham United vice-chair, Karren Brady, has insisted that the club's proposal will deliver a lasting legacy. Boris Johnson this week took personal control of the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), moving the chairman, Daniel Moylan, to a new role chairing an aviation review after less than four months in the job. One of the mayor's most pressing tasks will be to try to strike a deal with West Ham amid protracted negotiations over the terms of any tenancy deal. On top of the £95m in public money already pledged to convert the stadium into a permanent venue with a full roof and hospitality facilities, the east London club are believed to want the LLDC to contribute towards retractable seating and other costs.
Brady will make the argument that by handing the main tenancy to a Premier League football club, it will bring benefits to the Olympic Park and wider area above and beyond its rental contribution, including enhancing the value of naming rights and helping make it a popular destination. "I noted with interest Lord Coe's comments on Sunday about his desire to find a workable solution where athletics and other sports can operate together side-by-side," Brady said. "His comments instantly struck a chord with me, as I firmly believe that our proposal will ensure that his vision would become a reality should we be given the opportunity to do so."
It is understood that Johnson is keen to conclude a deal and anxious to avoid any potential delay in reopening the park from July next year onwards. But the LLDC's interim chief executive, Dennis Hone, will be keen to ensure that the figures add up and some on the board believe the success of the Olympics, which proved the stadium will work as an athletics and music venue, have strengthened their negotiating hand with West Ham.
"In addition to bringing the most exciting and most watched football league in the world to Stratford, we would ensure that the stadium retains the Olympic legacy that Lord Coe feels so passionately about," Brady argued. "The truly multi‑sport capabilities of the arena would mean our award-winning community sports trust, which already helps tens of thousands of children a year, can further extend its multi-sports coaching to the next generation of potential Olympic athletes."
The saga of the future of the £468m stadium has been long and drawn out, punctuated by missed opportunities, legal battles and expensive mistakes. The original deal with West Ham had to be scrapped amid legal challenges from Tottenham Hotspur and Leyton Orient. But Coe said at the close of the Games that it remained "perfectly within the wit and wisdom of all of us to make a multi-purpose sporting arena work for track and field". The LLDC hopes to reopen the south end of the park, including the stadium, by spring 2014. Brady said that West Ham's bid would also help further the legacy aims of the LLDC and the government. "Our bid revolves around creating a sporting hub that the community of east London and beyond can use to better themselves; whether that be through sport, education or simply living a healthier lifestyle," she said. "We have all watched in wonder at the historic scenes created in the Olympic Stadium and I believe it would now be unthinkable to not maintain this new global landmark as a stunning, world-class sporting venue that can inspire hundreds of thousands of people through the power of sport."
*Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those of West Ham United
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George targeting Norwich victory
WHUFC.com
George McCartney is preparing to take on a few familiar faces when the Hammers travel to Norwich City
14.09.2012
George McCartney believes West Ham United can continue their encouraging start to the season when they head to Norwich City on Saturday. The Hammers have won two of their opening three Barclays Premier League fixtures and will head to Carrow Road confident of achieving their first away victory of 2012/13. The reigning Players' Player of the Year will help West Ham's cause with insider knowledge on four Canaries players who he has previously played alongside - former Leeds United trio Robert Snodgrass, Jonny Howson and Bradley Johnson and ex-Sunderland centre-back Michael Turner. The left-back sat down with whufc.com to talk about his former team-mates and his hopes of success in Norfolk.
George, you and all the players must be encouraged by the good start we have made to the new Barclays Premier League season?
GM - "Yes, we have collected six points from nine. We sat down before the season and worked out what we were aiming for from the first few games so to get six points out of nine is a very good start and gives us a platform to build on. Hopefully we can be consistent throughout the season and have a really good year."
When you are out on the training pitch, do you look around and think to yourself 'We have got a really strong squad here' and believe we can have a successful 2012/13 campaign?
GM - "I pre-season, the squad wasn't that big. It was pretty much the same as last year. Although we all had really good seasons last year and promotion was the main aim, I think the manager knew he had to make the squad stronger. Over the last two or three weeks, you can see some of the quality that the manager and the Joint-Chairmen have brought into the club. Everyone has fitted in really well and it's going to be hard, not only to get into the team but to get a position on the bench because it's a big squad now. We have a lot of quality players, but you expect that of a Premier League club."
We have lost just one away game since January - last time out at Swansea City - so presumably we are targeting a positive result at Norwich City?
GM - "Last year, our away form was a lot better than our home form. We hadn't lost away from home for a few months prior to Swansea but I think you know that, when you move up to the Premier League, the main thing is to win home games. It's going to be a lot harder to play away from home and we found that at Swansea. We did gift them the first two goals but overall our performance wasn't good enough. We all sat down and looked through the game to see where we went wrong and
I'm sure the same mistakes won't be made against Norwich."
What is your assessment of Norwich City?
GM - "It's going to be a tough game. They have made a few signings over the summer and they got a draw at Tottenham in their last game, which is no easy place to go. They will be looking to get their first league win of the season but we've had a good start and hopefully we can continue to progress and stay in the top half of the season."
You played with three Norwich City midfielders during your loan spell at Leeds United in 2010/11. What can you tell us about Robert Snodgrass, Jonny Howson and
Bradley Johnson?
GM - "They are all obviously great lads and I had a few months with them at Leeds. I could tell then that they were all quality players and would end up getting the moves that they wanted to the Premier League. I didn't see many of Norwich's games last year but I'm sure they were playing most weeks and doing a good job. All three of them are very good players and come Saturday, they'll present a tough test for us. That said, I look around our team and we are more than capable of getting a good result. Howson is a very attack-minded midfielder.
Scotland winger Robert Snodgrass was very highly-rated at Leeds and has settled in quickly at Carrow Road. What is it that makes him so effective?
"Snodgrass's quality on the ball is probably up there with any winger I have come across. From free-kicks and corners and creating goals from open play, his delivery is really good. He might not have that much pace about him, but his quality on the ball is really good and I'm sure he'll be a danger-man for us to watch out for. In general, I think it'll be a tough game and Norwich have a lot of quality players. I do feel we can at least get a draw there."
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Times they are a'changing
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 14th September 2012
By: Paul Walker
The Olympics are gone, consigned to a vivid memory of a triumph, a London one and in particular an east London triumph, as we all knew they would be.
Now as a proud east London football club, we await the decision next month that will change us forever, whether we get the Olympic stadium or not.
Anybody who believes that we can just continue as we are is living in a dream world. Some of us may not want to move to Stratford, and I have swayed from one side to other over the years, now I am exhausted really with the debate.
We all know the arguments inside out by now. For and against. Nobody, surely is sitting on the fence and doesn't understand the issues any longer.
But our owners have their master plan. Everything, from moving out of the Boleyn to signing Andy Carroll is part of that great scheme.
We must progress. To stay as we are leaves us, in effect, slipping backwards with every passing season. The only way to compete at the highest level and to take and maintain West Ham into the top half of the Premier League, is increased revenues.
And the only way that is achieved is to have a bigger stadium. If it is not Stratford then Upton Park has to be enlarged, or we have to find a new home to build a stadium with a 60,000 capacity and all the commercial capacity that comes with it.
To be honest, rebuilding the East Stand and adding 10,000 more seats is not enough, even if we could overcome the difficult planning logistics--and get Newham Council's approval--that would be needed.
Our owners have a plan, clearly, and they have never hidden the fact that they would want to sell the club at one stage. Selling the Boleyn to pay off the club debts and to recoup their own outlay is their aim, whether we like it or not.
The smart money is already on us getting the Olympic stadium. Too many reports and expert observers in recent months have made reference to us winning the bid for it not to be nailed on, or so it seems.
If for some reason we don't get Stratford, there will be a major re-think of the owners' plans and a messy debriefing of what went wrong and where they go from here.
But the status quo is not an option. We will be left with the revenue only to mount a regular fight to avoid the drop. And that is not progress.
Nobody really wants to leave the Boleyn. Four generations of my family have lived their lives in our lovely old stadium. I know every step of the old Chicken Run and where they all watched the Irons from way back into the last century.
That does not mean that we cannot move home. And let's face it, so many clubs have done it. Manchester City moved to the now Etihad from Maine Road, to my mind a similar sort of ground and club to ourselves in the good old days. Nobody talks much of Maine Road now.
Sunderland, Derby, Leicester, Middlesbrough, Bolton, Southampton, Reading, Coventry, Swansea, Stoke, Cardiff, Hull, Brighton have all changed homes to give themselves a better future. Even ourselves from the Memorial ground to Upton Park. The list goes on. Nothing is forever, and we should realise we have to embrace that.
If you stand still, you die. And financing a refit for the Boleyn or building something bigger and better elsewhere - God knows where in such a crowded, over-populated part of Essex and east London - would be horrendously expensive.
The Davids probably could not afford to fund that level of transformation and would no doubt re-evaluate their commitment. And that leaves us wide open to dodgy bidders with ulterior motives. Yes, I mean you, Liverpool and Portsmouth. Better the devil you know!
So get used to it all of you, our club is going to change dramatically over the next few years, giving the Davids the chance to fatten it up and flog it off to some rich Arabs, no doubt. A West Ham club established in the top flight and using a re-designed, iconic stadium close to the City skyline would be an attractive proposition.
Do not forget, billions around the world have been watching the Olympics and seen the stunning backdrop and unique position close to the centre of the greatest city in the world. That is what will be it's selling point for the Davids.
They keep telling us they are dipping into their own pockets to ensure we do stay in the top flight, and we have all experienced a summer of transfer activity, Big Sam style, that has started to address the quality of our squad.
For some it has been an education. Seeing Sam and his agent mate Mark Curtis in full flow, and that has needed financing. Although anyone who believes we have spent over £20m on players is deluding themselves.
The deals never involve full outlay upfront. Only Manchester City can do that, and they've started trimming back on that front.
Punters tend to believe the hype, with Sky at the forefront. They love a big round figure, the bigger the better because it looks good on TV. But we have probably only paid half of that figure, maybe even less with the deals depending on add-ons, appearances and success.
The owners have put in money, and keep saying how hard it is for them and how many family conferences they have had.. And then there's £12m still to pay to Sheffield United.
But until we see the end of ridiculous red limos in the car park. Until the bottom drops out of the lingerie business(yes, I like that one too). Until mansions are sold, private golf courses shut down and oyster cards replacing private helicopters, I will not be crying too much about austerity in the Davids' households.
They know just what they are doing, how to get and maintain funding and how they will get their money back in the long run.
And yes, I do believe they are doing this because they are fans and they care about this club. But don't expect me to repeat such a thing again, the cynic that I am, people will think I've gone soft in my old age!
They have backed Sam and Curtis in the market, and it costs to buy players who can compete at the top level. What does annoy me a little is that every time a player comes onto our radar, the message boards are awash with people slagging them off, insulting them and branding them donkeys, traitors or turncoats. Come on everyone, grow up, this is a tough industry in which players want the very best for themselves.
I was not a bit surprised that Carroll left it so late. He had acquired a move to one of the world's great clubs(although two sets of daft American owners have done their best to destroy that legend.)
Carroll wanted to play for England and it Europe, and with a club who could afford £80,000 a week wages. If you worked in a bank, and someone offered you vast sums to move elsewhere, you would go and you would want to hang onto that new status, so why are footballers considered any different?
But Carroll has arrived, and I believe Liverpool's rookie new boss Brendan Rodgers is at best being disingenuous about the terms of his loan.
Nobody at Liverpool has gone on the record to confirm that Carroll can be recalled in January, and our own owners have been distinctly unhelpful with their own utterances on the subject.
But a mate of mine, a football league chief executive, suggested that the January thing is a red herring, with Liverpool--having accepted money for a season long loan--could only recall Carroll if they wanted to sell him.
Now as we have first refusal and a clause that we can buy him for £17m, Rodgers looks like he was desperately searching for some ammunition to get himself out of the shambolic transfer deadline day abuse he found himself facing when the Boston mob refused to spend £7m on Clint Dempsey.
Now I wouldn't spend that amount on him either, and Fulham--who had previously reported Liverpool for an illegal approach--were going to get their pound of flesh and to make things very tough for the Anfield boss.
Rodgers, facing such uncertainty, should have been the master of his own destiny and not allowed Carroll to go until his replacement was signed.
So Rodgers was done up like a kipper, as they say, and made to look foolish. It didn't help that his managing director Ian Ayre, I believe, went home two hours before the end of the transfer window when the Dempsey deal collapsed! So no Plan B then, Brendan?
It allowed Big Sam to emerge with a real coup. It's a long time since we signed a player of such magnitude and stature, a current England international, the best in the country by far at his specific job, and not a player on the way down, too old or injury prone. And still some of our fans were slagging off Carroll.
I believe the reaction at Chadwell Heath amongst our players was one of delight, the signing lifted their spirits, the club's and ours. His performance underlined that, he was playing and wanted. And I do not believe he will be out for six weeks.
No one from our club went on the record with a return date after his unfortunate hamstring injury. There was nothing on the club website, either. Hamstrings usually take three weeks to recover from, four if it's bad, so I expect to see Carroll on the bench against Sunderland, having a run-out against Wigan in the League Cup and playing at Loftus Road against QPR on October 1.
Which brings me back to the great master plan. New stadium, old one sold, debts gone and top players being attracted--as well as potential rich buyers. I'd like to think that Carroll will be the first of several more top level players to arrive as long as we stay in the top flight and get out hands on the vastly increased TV money from next season.
And yes, I want to believe the times they are a'changing whether the Mail on Sunday's Patrick Collins thinks our owners are despicable porn barons or not, and whether he likes Sam and Curtis' methods or not--which he outlined in a sneering, sarcastic piece a couple of weeks ago.
So stand-by everyone, it's going to be a rocky time ahead, with us moving somewhere, somehow. Otherwise we will just stagnate and die.
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Norwich City v West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 14th September 2012
By: Preview Percy
Next up we pay a visit to Norfolk where our hosts will be Norwich City. It's the third silly o'clock kick-off in a row, starting as it does at 12.45pm.
If you're the sort of person that likes to travel with the great unwashed on public transport you may care to note that there are engineering works between Billericay and Witham which will necessitate your transfer from railway carriage to omnibus for part of the journey, adding something like an hour to the journey time between London and Norwich. Which probably means that if you are reading this at home it's now too late to go.
For the third time in four matches we face a side that changed manager during the summer. Paul Lambert's departure for Villa saw Chris Hughton making a similar trip in reverse, leaving Birmingham City for Carrow Road.
It wasn't the brightest of starts to the season for the Canaries as Fulham went on the rampage at Craven Cottage with a 5-0 win. Things calmed down a bit in the 'five-nil derby' the following week as they were held to a 1-1 home draw by QPR while last week they arguably had the better of the match (certainly of the closing stages) against Spurs with whom they also drew 1-1.
So two points from three matches then, which leaves them in 15th place so far. This is one place below Spurs by virtue of goal difference – the opening day thrashing doing them no favours in that regard.
Hughton was pretty busy over the summer. One of his first bits of business was to sort out the future of Grant Holt. Holt seemed to be a wee bit put out at the departure of Lambert and seemed set to leave, with an apparent preference for following his old boss to Villa Park. Such love appeared to be unrequited and there doesn't seem to have been any official bid from Villa for the player's services.
We, on the other hand, did apparently make a bid though the amounts being bandied about seemed to be quite a lot of money for a player in his thirties. As subsequent events turned out we ended up with a better deal anyway. Holt, meanwhile, apparently chastened by the relative lack of interest ended up signing a new deal which will keep him at Carrow Road for another three years and he is their skipper this term.
Ex-Hammer Hughton wasn't shy in approaching his other former employers for players. They secured central defender Sebastien Bassong from Spurs as their clearout commenced – depending on which of the many sources of info you believe the fee was £2.6-4m. Bassong has been on his way out of White Hart Lane for some time now, and spent the latter part of last season as part of Wolves' unsuccessful attempt to stay up.
Another central defender to arrive was Michael Turner, who arrived from Sunderland. Turner has spells at Charlton, Brentford and Hull under his belt. At Hull he was thrice voted Player of the year and played in every minute of every game in the Tigers' 2008/09 league campaign. On top of that his principal claim to fame is that many years ago when I actually had hair he and I used to get our locks trimmed at the same establishment. Which was nice. For him.
The ex-Hammer on the books is Elliot Ward. Ward was part of the Irons team that won promotion via the playoffs at the end of 2004/05. Although his selection was a last resort due to everyone else who could play in the centre of defence being injured at the time, it soon transpired that his partnership with Anton Ferdinand was more than good enough for the rigours of second-tier football. The pairing, accidental or otherwise, is widely credited with being a major contribution to our promotion that year.
Promotion gained, the restructuring of the side saw the arrival of Danny Gabbidon and someone called James Collins (whatever happened to him?). With Ferdinand and "love of our lives" Christian Dailly also about at the time Ward ended up going out on loan to Plymouth before signing a permanent deal with Coventry. He arrived at Carrow Road in 2010 but injuries have precluded his making an appearance thus far this season.
The first of two loan players in the squad is Spaniard Javier Garrido. Garrido is on loan from Lazio and his arrival in the summer marks his second spell in the Premier League, having spent 2007-2010 on the books of Manchester City, making his debut in his side's opening day 2-0 win at the Boleyn in August 2007.
The following few years and the arrival of large amounts of petrodollars on the east side of Manchester saw him make few appearances and his road led to Rome. Although Alexander Kolarov had gone in the other direction a few days before, technically the deals weren't linked. He's come in on a one year loan deal with an option to extend.
The splendidly Dickensian-named Robert Snodgrass arrived from Leeds and was on the scoresheet last week against Spurs. Snodgrass was made captain by his former boss Neil Warnock at Leeds. Which is a little bit like having your musical ability praised by Simon Cowell. Warnock offered Snodgrass an improved contract but the lure of going anywhere just to not work with Colin proved too great and he made the trek down to less unpleasant climes in July.
Regular readers will be aware that we love a good Player/Crime story in this column and Snodgrass is this week's "Miscreant Of The Week". At one stage last year the beak in Glasgow had mobilised the full force of the law against the Scotland international after he'd failed to appear in court. Not for Snodgrass the standard footballer offence of drinking too many shandies and being too stingy to pay for a cab home out of his £25k a week salary. No this was a misunderstanding over stopping on a pelican crossing. Bastard. Hanging's too good for 'em I say.
Perhaps Hughton might have a few words to say on the discipline front, once he's paid off the fine he got himself a couple of weeks ago for failing to identify the driver of his speeding Audi on the M42. I'm willing to bet that it'll be the only time this season that he won't be pleased at picking up six points.
The second loan signing of what I shall laughingly refer to as "the summer" was up front, where their options have been augmented by the arrival of striker Harry Kane. Kane has come in from Spurs on loan and spent a lot of last season at Millwall. Since he also has a spell as an employee of Barry "stuff the community what's in it for me?" Hearn under his belt, Norwich will be like a pleasant breath of fresh air for the player, who has been capped at U19 level for England.
And now us. Remember the 2012/13 season? You must do. We played three games – the last of which saw us beating Fulham 3-0. It seems so long ago now doesn't it. The arrival of Andy Carroll dominated – and continues to dominate - the headlines, especially in view of Liverpool's hilarious failure to get around to replacing him. It was, indeed, a splendid debut which saw him so keen to immerse himself in the traditions of our club he promptly picked up the "new player injury" that seems statutory for us to have at the start of a season. Four to six weeks is the prognosis, which, given the international break should see him back in three to five weeks or so.
Whilst Carroll is obviously out, the position with Guy Demel is less clear. Demel is listed as a doubt with the now ubiquitous "knock" against his name with "no return date". The news is brighter regarding Matt Jarvis & George McCartney, both of whom should be available for selection. There have also been encouraging noises on the subject of Jack Collison – though this match will be too soon for him it's been suggested that a return to the squad is weeks, rather than months away.
We'll also be bolstered by the return of Yossi Benayoun from the various footballing backwaters he's been frequenting since his illegal signing by Liverpool a few years ago. It is to be hoped that spending time at such muppet-places as Anfield, Stamford Bridge and The Library hasn't dulled his undoubted skills any. It is also to be hoped that a cure has been found for the mysterious ailments that seemed to plague him without fail just before every international break during his previous spell with us. I'm sure Mr Allardyce, with all his faith in science and technology has a computer programme already working on the problem.
So it's a pretty strong squad that will be available for this one. There'll be a fair bit of confidence about arising from the manner of the victory against Fulham which, despite Martin Jol's rather sour grapey comments to the contrary, contained a lot of decent football. There is, of course, a temptation to look at the fact that Fulham (somehow) stuck five past this weekend's opponents and look at the way we demolished them in order to come to a conclusion. Football, of course, doesn't work like that.
Amongst other factors to consider is the fact that Fulham's record away from Craven Cottage is traditionally awful. In fact, I reckon that if our return fixture with them were moved to that park next door to their ground we'd be guaranteed three points. Not to mention a quicker walk from the place where the boat docks.
However, when I look at doing a prediction I always place great store on the relative confidence levels of the team. Which may be why I'm usually wrong. Though the Canaries have undoubtedly improved since the opening day, they would still have preferred to have gone into the break with a win under their belts – especially against the likes of QPR and that other side they played. It's been a stuttering start for them and, though our one voyage away from the Boleyn thus far didn't exactly raise the spirits, it's difficult to see quite so many players having quite so many nightmares all at once. And Swansea was abroad and foreign travel is always tricky.
So I am upbeat about our chances of registering a first away win of the season. Here at the Avram Grant Rest Home for The Bewildered there is an emergency legal fund which is used after every time the place is featured on a "Panorama" documentary. I have, with my usual skill and dexterity, located said fund and will therefore be off to the Honest Ray Winstone Turf Accountancy Emporium to place all £2.50 on a 2-1 win to us.
Enjoy the game!
When Last We Met: Won 2-1 (FA Cup 3rd Round January 2006). Mullins and Zamora saw us safely through to the next round as the home side omitted Dean Ashton due to injury, honest guv, and in no way as part of some plot to keep him from being cup-tied in advance of a move to the Boleyn.
Referee: Chris Foy. Had a bit of a nightmare in the 4-2 home defeat to Reading last season. Loves refereeing Spurs as he knows all the abusive messages will go to the wrong place.
Danger Man: Robert Snodgrass. Public Enemy No.1 (No Pelican Crossing is safe) picked up a nicely taken equaliser at White Hart Lane the other week and is probably the pick of their strikers.
Daft Fact Of The Week: It is claimed that the Norwich song "On The Ball City" is the world's oldest football song. Dating as it does from the 1890's, before the formation of the club itself, it is probably the only song in the world that contains the word "scrimmage", a word for which the lyricists wisely avoided trying to find a rhyme.
Stat man John: Northcutt's corner
Head to Head
Pld 46; West Ham Utd 17, Norwich 15, Draws 14.
Biggest Win
11th March 1939: Norwich 2-6 West Ham Utd (Carrow Road, Division Two)
Heaviest Defeat
1st January 1988: Norwich 4-1 West Ham Utd (Carrow Road, Division Two)
First Meeting
6th October 1934: Norwich 1-2 West Ham Utd (Newmarket Road, Division Two)
Last Five Meetings
7th January 2006: Norwich 1-2 West Ham Utd (Carrow Road, FA Cup)
8th January 2005: West Ham Utd 1-0 Norwich (Boleyn Ground, FA Cup)
21st February 2004: Norwich 1-1 West Ham Utd (Carrow Road, Division One)
15th October 2003: West Ham Utd 1-1 Norwich (Boleyn Ground, Division One)
11th Match 1995: West Ham Utd 2-2 Norwich (Boleyn Ground, Premier League)
Memorable Match
16th September 1972: West Ham Utd 4-0 Norwich (Boleyn Ground, Division One)
Unbelievably perhaps this was West Ham's ninth game in just 35 days at the beginning of the 1972/73 campaign - any they think they have it hard now! With both teams firmly ensconced in mid-table the game, watched by just over 27,000 people was most notable for Bobby Moore's appearance in midfield - and it was to be a match-winning performance that left the morning's papers asking whether Alf Ramsey should use an aging Mooro in that position for England.
The first two goals - from Brooking and 'Pop' Robson - came from Moore assists. Tommy Taylor put the game beyond any reasonable doubt on the stroke of half time before Robson's grabbed his second and West Ham's fourth with 12 minutes of normal time remaining. West Ham would go on to finsih the season in sixth spot - equalling the club's best ever top-flight finish at that time.
Friendlies
October 1958: Norwich 2-4 West Ham Utd (Keeble 2, Grice, Musgrove)
May 1975: Norwich 1-1 West Ham Utd (Lampard)
July 2002: Norwich 1-3 West Ham Utd (Sinclair, Defoe, J.Cole)
July 2007: Norwich 1-2 West Ham Utd (Ashton, Spector)
It's An Early Bath For You, Mr Cantona...
Mattthew Etherington is the only Hammer to have been sent off against Norwich - that being in the 2003/04 season at Carrow Road.
They Played For Both
Mark Bowen; Robert Green; Albert Foan; John McDowell; Jimmy Neighbour; Graham Paddon; Matthew Rush; Alan Taylor; Steve Walford; Martin Peters; John Gurkin; Fred Kearns; Ted MacDougall.
Bossing It
The former West Ham players who have managed Norwich are John Bond, Ken Brown, Archie Macaulay, and Chris Hughton. Our former manager Glenn Roeder was also (briefly) the Norwich manager and Alan Pardew's assistant manager Peter Grant has also been the boss at Carrow Road.
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Norwich v West Ham preview
Hammers aiming for improved away showing but are without Carroll
Last Updated: September 14, 2012 11:29am
SSN
Chris Hughton will be hoping to pick up his first Premier League win as Norwich boss when West Ham visit Carrow Road on Saturday. In a lunchtime kick-off, live on Sky Sports 2 HD, the Canaries will look to build on their encouraging draws against Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham by picking up all three points against the Hammers.
Live on Sky Sports
Norwich v West Ham
September 15, 2012 12:30pm
Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson said: "I was very impressed against QPR when they were the much better team. If they can play like that in all of their home games they won't go too far wrong." In contrast, although Sam Allardyce's West Ham have won both home games, they were on the receiving end of a thrashing from Swansea in their only Premier League away game of the season. Allardyce will be keen to be more difficult to beat than they were at the Liberty Stadium and he will at least have been encouraged by the response of his players as they beat Fulham 3-0 last time out.
Norwich
Last 6
1-1
2-1
1-1
5-0
0-2
0-0
Hughton will check on the fitness of defender Russell Martin who pulled out of the Scotland squad with an ankle injury sustained against Tottenham two weeks ago. He is back in training and should be available. The Canaries boss will also wait on the recovery of forward Simeon Jackson who had a punishing travel itinerary over the international break with Canada. Jackson played all but four minutes of Canada's two CONCACAF qualifiers home and away against Panama and could be replaced by Steve Morison in attack. Meanwhile, long-term injury victims, midfielder Elliott Bennett and full-back Stephen Whittaker also report good progress but are highly unlikely to feature in this one.
West Ham
Last 6
3-0
2-0
3-0
1-0
1-1
3-1
Allardyce must decide who he should bring in to replace hamstring victim Andy Carroll, with Carlton Cole the clear like-for-like replacement. The 28-year-old forward played a key role in West Ham's promotion back to the top flight, scoring 15 goals for the club and he will be anxious to seize his opportunity in Carroll's absence.
Allardyce: "He is an obvious replacement and we would like Carlton to do how he finished off last season." Record signing Matt Jarvis is also back to full fitness but Allardyce may be reluctant to make significant changes to the team that beat Fulham so impressively.
Opta Facts
Five of the last six league meetings between Norwich and West Ham have ended as draws
West Ham have won none of their last 14 league trips to Carrow Road (W0 D6 L8)
Norwich have kept just one clean sheet in their last 17 Premier League games
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Sam Allardyce is looking forward to seeing West Ham play against Norwich
Last Updated: September 14, 2012 10:42pm
SSN
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is looking forward to seeing his side return to Premier League action at Norwich City on Saturday. Due to injuries and the international break, Allardyce has seen most of his new-look squad come together for the first time this week and he believes it is a group of players strong enough to enjoy a good campaign. The Hammers have already picked up six points from their opening three games, and Allardyce is hoping to build on that tally at Carrow Road. He said: "I think we could have a relatively good season - it is far too early to tell what combinations will be what and who will perform better. "Everyone who has a place will have to fight very hard to keep their place now with the squad we have got and anyone who gets a place will have to perform very, very well to keep it if they get the chance. "That competition for places is a huge factor in getting the best out of the players on a consistent basis which is what you have to do to get the results you want in this division. "But, like every away game in this league, Norwich will provide a difficult test for us. "It will also be good to see Chris Hughton at his new club, but hopefully I will be the one smiling at the end of the game."
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Karren Brady's football diary – Wenger a shoe-in for fresh deal
By KARREN BRADY
Published: 14th September 2012
The Sun
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
WEST HAM'S Brescia saga continues. Having won hands down both at FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport to ensure we are paid the outstanding transfer fee for Alessandro Diamanti, they failed (again) to make payment within the 14-day deadline which expired last Friday. We have now notified FIFA — and copied in the FA, Premier League and Italian FA — and have requested the case is referred straight to their Disciplinary Committee, who can impose sanctions for non-compliance of a points deduction and/or relegation. The FA are in contact with the Italian FA and I am awaiting their feedback. All I really want is my money, which I've been waiting on for 14 MONTHS. Luckily I've got shareholders who are pumping money in to compensate but if I was a small club I'd probably be bankrupt now as a result of another club's poor financial management. This is why the football creditors rule is so vital.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
THERE is a common belief that footballers are as thick as planks. I remember over-hearing my team playing a name game on the coach and when asked to name an Opera, one said Winfrey! But listening to two of our remarkable West Ham old boys, the knights Geoff Hurst and Trevor Brooking, on the radio it's clearly an injustice.
Both of them speak as lucidly as any politician and had Sir Geoff had his way, the club would already have crossed the line for a move to the Olympic Stadium. I like his sentiment: "It's up the road (from Upton Park), it's better access and it's an absolutely magnificent stadium."
Here, here.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
URGENT club business precludes my attendance at a Premier League get-together that finishes with a visit to the Olympic Park. I finally get to the Park to meet up with some of the other delegates and see one PL attendee carrying an Olympic Park carrier bag. I ask him what souvenirs he has purchased but he seems reluctant to let me know. Finally, I force the bag out of his hand. So far as I am aware, Victoria's Secret underwear was not on sale in the Olympic megastore. Clearly a case of confusion between Wenlock and wedlock as, the last time I saw his wife, she wasn't a 36DD! Who's a naughty boy, then?
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
ACROSS the world, there are Games stadiums that stand as little more than monuments to great deeds. Lord Coe is only too aware of this and I'm currently writing a reminder to him of what West Ham offers to future sport, jobs and people in East London by an historic transfer to the stadium. We've never asked 'What can the stadium do for us?' but 'What can we do for the stadium?' and we don't want something for nothing. We'll pay our way, handsomely... unlike others I could mention!
I can't wait for the process to be over so we can reveal our exciting legacy plan alongside the multi-million pound package we've created.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
DIG into the topsoil of London football and you can be sure you'll discover Hammers roots. A few hours before Frank Lampard, ex-West Ham of course, scores the equaliser for England against Ukraine, no fewer than 1,000 people sign their 0-5 year-olds into the newly launched Junior Hammers membership. Bobby Moore's daughter Roberta and her husband brought their children and niece to become older members, too. Keep it in the family, it's said. We like to think we are the family.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
I'M happy to see Arsenal are confirming that Arsene Wenger is to be offered a new contract. But the Gunners' long-serving manager may not be applauding club chief executive Ivan Gazidis' rather puzzling comment that "he does not look too good in his brogues". It's true the Frenchman sometimes looks like a famished Bloodhound when he's under pressure. That doesn't, however, prove him incapable of leading the club to plenty more trophies and, moreover, by doing it his way. Wenger has made his name on these shores by coaching continental-style football and refusing to be held to ransom. Long may it continue to be so.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
MY club are under strict orders to be shipshape and in Bristol fashion for the 12.45pm kick-off at Norwich. I don't think it's at all funny that the Premier League have just fined us £5,000 for being late back from half-time for our opening match of the season against Aston Villa. I know many will think this is a trivial sum but I don't. It's not the 'keeping 'em waiting' rock star habit we adopted but it was 100 degrees and the players needed a proper cool down. Safety takes time.
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West Ham boss Allardyce keeps on-loan Benayoun guessing
By SAMI MOKBEL
PUBLISHED: 23:08, 14 September 2012 | UPDATED: 23:08, 14 September 2012
Daily Mail
Sam Allardyce will make a late decision on whether to give loan signing Yossi Benayoun his second West Ham debut at Norwich on Saturday. Benayoun, who joined from Chelsea on transfer deadline day last month, featured in both of Israel's World Cup qualifiers this week but Allardyce is still not sure whether the midfielder is ready to start. He said: 'Yossi has been away with his national side and only had a light training session, so we will assess the squad and make a decision on the starting line-up from there.'
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