'It's a massive three points for us'
WHUFc.com
Mark Noble has lauded West Ham United's stirring 1-0 victory at Newcastle
United
11.11.2012
Mark Noble has hailed West Ham United's team spirit after the Hammers scored
a superb 1-0 Barclays Premier League victory at Newcastle United. Noble was
at his tireless best at St James' Park, combating a home midfield that
included France internationals Yohan Cabaye and Hatem Ben Arfa and
Netherlands star Vurnon Anita. The Hammer of the Year also played his part
in Kevin Nolan's winner when his cross was cleared to Joey O'Brien, whose
shot was turned in by the captain. The No16 was naturally proud to play his
part in West Ham's first win on Tyneside since October 1998. "It's a great
result," a smiling Noble told West Ham TV. "Coming here is always hard but
the three points are massive for us. The lads have done incredible and some
of the defensive play was unbelievable. "Tonks [James Tomkins] has come in
and played at centre-half for the first time this year and he was fantastic,
as were Reidy [Winston Reid] and George [McCartney]. Joey [O'Brien] has had
to play in two different positions and he's a top footballer. "It's been a
great day for us and we're buzzing."
Noble was not surprised to see Nolan score the all-important match-winner,
despite all the pressure surrounding the skipper's return to the club where
he spent three seasons between 2008 and 2011. "He is clever. I used to watch
him on Sky Sports and I thought that he was lucky and I told him that! But
he isn't lucky, because he knows where the ball is going to drop. Joey
shanked his shot and it fell to Nobby, like it always does. "It was nice of
him to show Newcastle fans respect by not celebrating. It's obviously a
massive three points for us."
Having been part of the side that struggled to pick up points on the road on
their way to relegation in 2010/11, Noble has thoroughly enjoyed being part
of life under Sam Allardyce. The manager has guided West Ham to 17 away
league victories in 28 attempts - a truly outstanding record. "I don't think
there is a secret - it's just hard work, team shape and the will to win.
We've got a lot of players here now who know how to win games. "We've got
some top international players and some Premier League players and we know
how to shut games down and that's what we did on Sunday."
Noble's own performance was eye-catching for the sheer amount of ground he
covered during the 90 minutes - plus nine minutes of added time. A tireless
worker and fearless tackler, the midfielder worked his socks off in typical
style to subdue the home side and upset his one-time manager Pardew.
"Obviously it was a big pitch out there! I enjoyed it as I had loads of the
ball and created a lot of stuff so I'm over the moon. I was playing against
some top players in there like Cabaye so I enjoyed it."
West Ham's victory took them up to sixth in the Barclays Premier League
table after eleven matches and above the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur
and Liverpool - a position every fan would have been delighted with at the
start of the season. Now, Noble says the Hammers cannot afford to rest on
their laurels, but instead push on again to maintain their top-half placing.
"We just have to keep doing what we have been doing. We can't get carried
away because we will get punished. If we play like did on Sunday and at QPR
away and like we have been doing at home, we can have a top season." *Less
than 1,000 tickets remain for Monday's Barclays Premier League visit of
Stoke City to the Boleyn Ground.
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Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce has hailed his 'most satisfying' away win as West Ham United
manager
12.11.2012
Sam Allardyce was a proud man as West Ham United announced that they are
well and truly back in the Barclays Premier League with a stunning 1-0 away
win at Newcastle United. Kevin Nolan's first-half goal handed the Hammers a
deserved victory after a performance boasting composure, tenacity and belief
helped deliver their first win at St James' Park for 14 years. Big Sam and
his squad were back in at Chadwell Heath early on Monday for a light session
to aid their recovery after the huge exertions of Sunday's success. "I think
this was my most satisfying win," said Big Sam, who has now won 17 of his 28
away league matches as West Ham boss. "I thought the win at QPR was a good
performance but we have to look at where QPR are. They are struggling and
we've taken advantage of that. Newcastle were a fantastic force at home last
season and have started the season well with some good performances. "It was
a fantastic professional performance by all the players and a fantastic
three points. Winning a Premier League game away from home is a tough ask so
to beat Newcastle at Newcastle is obviously very pleasing. "It was a
fantastic result and a clean sheet - you couldn't ask for any more."
The Hammers were outstanding from back to front and Jussi Jaaskelainen was
another who arguably had his best game yet in a claret and blue shirt after
pulling off a number of stunning saves. The Finn has now kept five clean
sheets in eleven league matches - more than any other goalkeeper in the
division.
Momo Diame, Mark Noble and Kevin Nolan all won their individual battles
against the talented Magpies midfield on a fine afternoon for the 2,700
travelling Hammers fans. "It was good teamwork from the players using a
system of play that doesn't just nullify the opposition who were playing at
home, but also exposes the opposition's weaknesses. Our performance in and
out of possession was very good, the control of the ball was very good and
we got the goal at the right time. "We defended superbly when we needed to
and we broke out and exposed them in a counter-attacking way when we had the
chance. Every now and again the odd shots that they had on goal were saved
by our goalkeeper, who has a massive amount of experience. "He didn't panic
or put us under any pressure. He made the clean sort of saves that you'd
expect him to make. The foundation of a successful season is your goalkeeper
and your defenders keeping as many clean sheets as possible. "You can then
become a better attacking force and you entertain more and win more games
and that's what we all want."
Nolan was at the centre of most of his side's best attacking moves and once
again demonstrated his natural talent for putting the ball in the back of
the net - the fifth time he has done so this season. Once again his
excellent relationship with fellow former Newcastle star Andy Carroll proved
to be a constant thorn in the side of the opposition and only a fine save
from Tim Krul prevented the latter from opening his Hammers account. "The
only disappointing aspect was that Andy didn't stick the ball in the back of
the net for his first goal. That's not being critical of him as it was a
fantastic save by Krul but overall Kevin Nolan was man of the match and
showed the Newcastle fans what they were missing. His link-up play with
Carroll was superb. "Nobby's gaol was an instinct that you can't teach or
coach. You've either got it or you haven't and he's always had it from an
early age when he broke into the Bolton team. We knew we had to release him
and let him go and find his own way in the box and we couldn't coach that
and we just let him do it. "As the years have gone on he's continued to do
it successfully and that got even more successful at Newcastle as he and
Andy Carroll play very well together. Even though Andy is not scoring, they
work in tandem and know where each other are. For most of the game they were
together when they were needed and held the ball up."
The only downside to an otherwise memorable afternoon was the injuries that
forced Matt Jarvis, Yossi Benayoun and George McCartney to leave the field
early. Javis suffered a tight thigh, Benayoun eventually succumbed to the
knock he picked up during a fully committed tackle against Jonas Gutierrez,
while McCartney looks potentially the most worrying after injuring his
groin. All three will be assessed on their return to Chadwell Heath. In
their absences, Modibo Maiga, Gary O'Neil and Guy Demel produced fine
performances to aid the Hammers' cause. "The three injuries and three
changes we had to make never detracted from the performance, which was even
more pleasing. Obviously it's disappointing when we get the injuries but to
see three players come on and still perform was pleasing. "It's a good job
we've got Guy Demel, Gary O'Neil and Modibo Maiga back as the bench has been
lightweight recently. It shows how important substitutes are as you have to
have a strong bench in this league."
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The happiest Hammer
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 12th November 2012
By: Bud Hedges
I don't think there can be any West Ham fan who could be disappointed with
West Ham United at the moment. Sixth in the league, the second best side in
London according to the table and all this from a side who, only eight
months ago, were capitulating near the top of the Championship table,
leaving supporters questioning whether we could actually make it up this
year.
The spirit, heart, fight and gritty performance at one of the toughest away
trips you may have to make in Premier League football was made this weekend
and we held on for a brilliant win. Such a vital three points cannot be
measured. There are moments in the season, especially away from home where
the side will need to dig in and make sure that they hold on. Wins over QPR
and Newcastle were the hallmark of this challenge and both times we took all
the points away from the game.
The best part of the win this weekend was that we are apparently in our
'tough spell' of matches. I've heard one report call the ten game period
beginning with Manchester City at home the 'fixtures of doom'. If this is
our tough spell, I would like to see how we would cope with an easy spell.
I feel that calling West Ham's fixture list at the start of the season an
easy one is short-sighted and doesn't give some teams in the Premier League
any credit. We may have not faced some of the stronger teams but you have to
beat those that are in front of you and we did have done so by beating five
of the 11 teams we've played. Aston Villa, Fulham, Southampton, QPR and
Newcastle are all good teams; some are in good form, and some in less good
form, but we still had to beat them.
Having said this, what I admire the most about the West Ham side at the
moment is the tenacity and the effort that we are putting in to games. Kevin
Nolan said after the game with Newcastle: "It's only just a foundation, we
need to get to that elusive forty points and take it from there." Clearly
Allardyce isn't letting his side get ahead of them. Taking the Premier
League game by game, weekend-by-weekend is clearly the best strategy to take
and Allardyce seems to be keeping the side grounded.
West Ham has conceded just 11 goals so far, keeping five clean sheets. One
of those clean sheets came against the Champions of England, so the clean
sheets aren't just fluke. Allardyce and his coaches are evidently working
hard and the never-say-die attitude that West Ham is occupying is definitely
paying off. Jussi Jaaskelainen and Winston Reid have been the stand-out
performers in defence so far this season, not to take anything away from the
heroics of James Collins, James Tomkins, George McCartney, Guy Demel and
Joey O'Brien at the back to keep five clean sheets.
The work of the midfield three hasn't gone amiss either. Mark Noble and Mo
Diame are controlling games and are providing chances for the side. The
goals that Captain Fantastic has scored have obviously been vital and, once
again, Nolan is proving himself to be one of the best midfield goal scorers
in the history of the Premier League. I believe that Diame is proving a
vital player to have in the side; it seems that when he has a good game,
West Ham United seem to have a good game, but when he is slightly off his
game we don't play too well. He has become a lynchpin for our success
because Diame and Noble make up the main part of the engine room.
This weekend was capped off by the tremendous win at Newcastle and as I
pointed out earlier, I doubt there are many Hammers who are disappointed at
all with West Ham United. The only down side to our play at the moment is
the fact that Allardyce is ruining the clubs heritage of losing games from
winning positions. A heritage, that I'll be happy to see leave the club.
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Shanghai surprise?
KUMb.com
Filed: Monday, 12th November 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are once again being linked with a move for former Arsenal and
Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka. The ex-French international has been playing
for Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua but is now a free agent having terminated
his contract with the club following a disagreement over his salary.
Unsurprisingly perhaps some sections of the media have claimed that West Ham
are now keen to land a player with whom they have been linked with on at
least three occasions previously - in 2007, 2011 and then again earlier this
year. Anelka, who has spent 12 years of his career playing in the Premier
League previously worked with current West Ham manager Sam Allardyce when
the pair were at Bolton together. Allardyce pulled off a major coup to sign
the 33-year-old from Fenerbahce for around £8m. At least one source has
claimed this morning that Anelka has held preliminary discussions with
representatives of West Ham with view to a permanent contract. The player
formally known as 'Le Sulk' is thought to have been earning around
£50,000-per-week in China.
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Baffled
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 12th November 2012
By: Staff Writer
Olympique de Marseille midfielder Joey Barton admits that he is mystified by
West Ham United captain Kevin Nolan's exclusion from the latest England
squad.
Roy Hodgson's team face Sweden in a friendly in Gothenburg later this week
and despite several players named in the initial 23-man squad pulling out
over the weekend, West Ham's leading goalscorer continues to be overlooked.
Meanwhile players such as Crystal Palace's Wilfred Zaha - who is yet to play
a single game in the Premier League - plus Arsenal's Carl Jenkinson and
Tottenham's Tom Huddlestone have been included. And that has mystified
Barton, who moved to France in the summer having been let go by previous
club Queens Park Rangers. "It's good to see Leon Osman get a call up, about
time," he told his 1.8million followers on social network Twitter. "But my
brain is asking why no Kevin Nolan? Surely he warrants a call up more than
most? "On Premier League goals alone, consistently for the last eight years,
he deserves at least a call up. I'm not on about [Liverpool's Raheem]
Sterling, I'm on about Zaha. Not played in the Prem yet. Nolan scored more
Prem goals, yet don't get a look in? Baffles me. He should have had a call
up years ago."
Also overlooked yet again is Nolan's team mate and fellow midfielder Mark
Noble, another who has played a major part in leading West Ham to sixth
place in the Premier League above teams such as Arsenal, Tottenham and
Liverpool.
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West Ham's Kevin Nolan has thanked Newcastle's fans for their support
Last Updated: November 12, 2012 3:42pm
SSN
Kevin Nolan has thanked Newcastle's fans for the warm reception he received
when he returned to his old club with West Ham at the weekend. Nolan struck
six minutes before half-time in front of the Gallowgate End, where he was
once adored by the locals, to seal the Hammers' 1-0 victory at St James'
Park. As a mark of respect, he shelved his customary 'chicken dance'
celebration, but there was no hiding his delight. The 30-year-old, of
course, might still have been a Newcastle player had owner Mike Ashley
sanctioned the long-term contract for which he was looking during the summer
of last year, but he will continue to look back fondly on his time on
Tyneside. He said: "I loved everything about this club when I was here, and
I still do. "I have fond memories and many friends and my family enjoyed it
up here. My little boy is a Geordie. "I thought it was a fantastic
performance from us. I was delighted to get the goal and just delighted with
how the day went. "I would like to thank the Newcastle fans for the
fantastic support they gave me while I was here, and for the reception they
gave me on Sunday."
Commitment
Nolan added: "Obviously I could not have asked to have gone to a better club
than West Ham for the following we have got and the commitment they have
shown, so I'm delighted to be at another wonderful club. "Hopefully I can do
as well for them as I did up here." The visitors had to weather a sustained
assault in the second half as Newcastle, who had started poorly, attempted
to fight their way back into the game. However, manager Sam Allardyce's
traditional organisation and a commendable resilience saw them through.
Nolan said: "You have got to expect that because they are a team with
fantastic players. They had some fantastic players out [suspended] and we
knew we had to capitalise on that, and I think we did. "We hung on and
credit to the lads because we have got a lot of grit and determination. I'm
delighted to lead them every week."
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Kevin Nolan says West Ham are hoping to emulate the achievements of
Newcastle
Last Updated: November 12, 2012 10:26am
SSN
Kevin Nolan hopes West Ham United can emulate the achievements of Newcastle
United and push for European qualification in the near future. The Hammers
have returned to the Premier League for the 2012/13 campaign after taking in
an unwelcome one-season stay in the Championship. West Ham hope taking one
step back will allow them to take two forward, with an enforced period of
reconstruction having seen them overhaul their playing staff and repair
shaken confidence. The target now is to cement a top-flight standing before
pushing on towards a potential top-six finish. After netting the winning
goal in Sunday's meeting with his former employers Newcastle, with victory
on Tyneside taking the Hammers onto 18 points for the season, Nolan said:
"It was a fantastic performance by us. It moves us further up the table and
it keeps us in the mix. "You've got to expect to be up against it at
Newcastle. They have some fantastic players who were missing, and we knew we
had to capitalise on that. "What we're trying to do at West Ham is what we
tried to do at Newcastle. When we came up it was about getting them back to
where they belonged and then eventually into Europe. "That's what I feel
West Ham should do. With the support we've got and the backing from the
boardroom, hopefully we can emulate what Newcastle have done."
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Nolan hurting over England snub
The Sun
Published: 12th November 2012
KEVIN NOLAN admits his lack of an England cap is starting to hurt. The West
Ham midfielder, who netted the winner in yesterday's 1-0 win at Newcastle,
was overlooked by Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson for the friendly with Sweden
on Wednesday night. Withdrawals from his squad in midfield has seen boss
Hodgson draft in uncapped duo Leon Osman and Wilfried Zaha. And Nolan, 30,
is starting to think he will never represent his country despite two caps at
Under-21 level.
He said: "It does hurt I haven't got one, but it is something I have got to
live with and I'm a big boy. "I don't know what more I can do to be quite
honest. "I've scored goals consistently for a number of years."
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He's the 100-1 for us
Published: 12th November 2012
The Sun
SAM ALLARDYCE has a 'one in a 100' chance of a reunion with Nicolas Anelka.
West Ham's boss is hoping to boost his team's fine start to the season by
signing the former Chelsea and Bolton striker. Anelka, 33, has not settled
at Shanghai Shenua but his £250,000-a-week wages is a problem. An Upton Park
insider said: "Nicolas is talking to about 25 clubs. It would be great to
get him but it's a 100-1 shot."
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China crisis: West Ham worry Anelka's wage demands will be too high
The Mirror
12 Nov 2012 22:30
West Ham fear they will be priced out of an ambitious move for Nicolas
Anelka. The former Real Madrid, Arsenal and Liverpool striker is unhappy at
Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua and has opened talks with the Hammers about a
return to the Premier League. The high-flying east Londoners are keen to
pair the 33-year-old with Liverpool loanee Andy Carroll to maintain their
fine start to the season. But they worry that although the French striker is
ready to accept a cut in his stunning £250,000-a-week Shanghai wages, he
will still demand way more than they can afford. The Hammers believe they
will have a clearer idea of where they stand with Anelka within the next
week, as several other clubs are expressing an interest in the Frenchman.
They are hoping his relationship with boss Sam Allardyce, who worked with
him at Bolton, could help clinch a deal.
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Return of Le Sulk? West Ham plotting to bring back Nicolas Anelka
The Mirror
12 Nov 2012 12:01
West Ham are planning a surprise move to bring back Nicolas Anelka to the
Premier League from Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua, according to reports. It
has been less than a year since the French striker left Chelsea for a final
pay day in the Far East, although he is believed to be unhappy after failing
to settle - despite earning a reported £250,000 a week. The 33-year-old is
admired by Sam Allardyce after playing under the Hammers boss at Bolton
Wanderers. There are also reports that the former Arsenal, Manchester City,
Liverpool and Chelsea star is involved in an ongoing pay dispute with
Shenhua. Allardyce has an excellent track record in rejuvenating fallen
stars including Jay-Jay Okocha, Ivan Campo, Youri Djorkaeff and Fernando
Hierro. Anelka's Shenhua teammate Didier Drogba is expected to return to
Chelsea to train ahead of the Africa Nations Cup. Meanwhile, Frank Lampard
will sign for Chinese side Guizhou Renhe in January, according to reports
from China.
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Baffled! Joey Barton questions Zaha call up and Nolan absence from the
England squad
The Mirror
12 Nov 2012 16:34
Joey Barton has taken to Twitter to question Roy Hodgson's decision to call
up Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha to the senior England squad. A
succession of injuries have led to the Ivory Coast born forward to be
drafted into the team to face Sweden in Wednesday's international friendly.
However, Barton believes the call up is purely to prevent Zaha from being
capped by his country of birth. "Not a fan of the latest craze, giving caps
out so as players don't go and play for other countries. Doesn't sit well
with me that...," he tweeted. "I'm not on about Sterling, I'm on about Zaha.
Not played in the Prem yet. Nolan scored more Prem goals, yet don't get a
look in? Baffles me." The QPR loanee also expressed disappointment at former
Newcastle midfield partner Kevin Nolan's continued omission from the England
setup. "Good to see Leon Osman get a call up, about time. My brain is asking
why no Kevin Nolan? Surely, he warrants a call up more than most?" he added.
"On Premier League goals alone, consistently for the last 8 yrs, he deserves
at least a call up. "Osman [has been a] good player in the last few years.
But he's 32 and isn't gonna improve an average side. "If they're giving out
charity caps, all I am saying is, Nolan should have had a call up years ago.
"As for me, well that's something entirely different. Let's not go there."
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Hammers defender Reid poised to ink new contract
By SAMI MOKBEL
PUBLISHED: 22:30, 12 November 2012 | UPDATED: 22:30, 12 November 2012
Daily Mail
West Ham defender Winston Reid is set be rewarded for his impressive
displays this season with a new contract. The New Zealand international has
played a pivotal role in the Hammers' excellent return to the Premier
League. And the central-defender is in advanced negotiations with Upton
Park chiefs over a deal extension. Reid, 24, is out of contract at the end
of the season, but manager Sam Allardyce has made tying the defender down to
fresh terms a top priority.
Both parties are understood to be confident of reaching an agreement very
soon. Reid, who represented Denmark at junior level, has been an
ever-present for the Hammers this season - starting all their Premier League
games.
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West Ham to Offer Liverpool Flop Joe Cole Upton Park Escape Route
by The Newshound November 12th, 2012
caughtoffside.com
JOE COLE may be offered an escape route from his Liverpool hell – by boyhood
club West Ham. Hammers boss Sam Allardyce is said to be keen on exploring a
loan deal to bring Cole to Upton Park in the January transfer window.
Struggling Cole, 30, was hauled off by critical Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers
in the second half of the midweek Europa League defeat against Anzhi
Makhachkala. Rodgers has lost faith in Cole and even publicly blasted him
for a poor performance against Swansea in the Capital One Cup. This may be a
deal that suits all concerned though it's worth pointing out that the form
shown by the 30 year old midfielder may well negate West Ham's interest in
their former charge. The former England regular has had a miserable time of
it since his move to Liverpool, which began ominously enough with a red card
in his first Premier League game for the Anfield side. The Londoner clearly
has little or no future at Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers wouldn't demand a
king's ransom for the former Chelsea man, indeed they would probably only
ask for a fee of around £3m as the benefit of seeing the player's salary
wiped off the balance sheet is probably an issue the Anfield side would love
to resolve. Cole enjoyed a season long loan spell at the Stade Metropole
side last term, making 42 appearances in all competitions and helping Rudi
Garcia's side to secure a Champions League berth.
Joe Cole has played just 32 minutes of Premier League football this season
and it doesn't look likely he will play all that more often after his
shocking display against Swansea City in the Capital One Cup defeat last
month.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Tuesday, November 13
Monday, November 12
Daily WHUFC News - 12th November 2012
Nolan's perfect return
WHUFC.com
Kevin Nolan was West Ham United's match-winner on his return to Newcastle United
11.11.2012
Kevin Nolan capped a memorable return to Newcastle United by shooting West Ham United to a fantastic 1-0 Barclays Premier League win over the Magpies at St James' Park. The former Newcastle captain and present-day Hammers skipper was in the right place at the right time yet again to score the only goal of the game at the stadium he once called home. Nolan, who spent three seasons on Tyneside between 2008 and 2011, was afforded a hero's welcome by the home fans and responded in kind by not celebrating his 38th-minute winner. The No4 was just one of 14 West Ham heroes on Sunday, with goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, centre-back Winston Reid and midfielder Mohamed Diame catching the eye with superbly resilient displays. In truth, however, every Hammers layer earned their crust by keeping at bay a Newcastle team that finished fifth in the Barclays Premier League last season. Nolan and his team-mates are now up to sixth themselves and the skipper has admitted to having lofty ambitions in a claret and blue shirt. "It was the perfect scenario for me, of course," admitted Nolan. "You always wish to score goals. It was quite emotional when I did score a goal because I had a little moment just after it. I was never going to celebrate and I never will [celebrate against them] and I would never do that to West Ham if I ever move on because of the support I received when I was here. "I'm just delighted for us because we got the three points and it moves us further up the table and it keeps us in the mix. "You've got to expect that [Newcastle were going to put us under pressure in the second half] because they are a team with fantastic players. They had some fantastic players out [suspended] and we knew we had to capitalise on that and I think we did. "We hung on and credit to the lads because we've got a lot of grit and determination. I'm delighted to lead them every week. It was a fantastic away win - our second of the season - and we just need to keep building on this very solid start that we've made."
West Ham were stretched to the limit on Sunday, not just by Alan Pardew's side but by the loss of Matt Jarvis, Yossi Benayoun and George McCartney to injury during the game. Substitutes Modibo Maiga, Gary O'Neil and Guy Demel performed to such a high level, however, that nobody would have known the difference. The club's summer signings were also to the fore, with goalkeeper Jaaskelainen recording a Barclays Premier League-leading fifth clean sheet, Diame everywhere and Andy Carroll leading the line with typical power. "We knew that we had a big enough squad. What both Chairmen did in bringing in new players and backing the gaffer was fantastic. They were trying from day one that we got back in pre-season to get the players in and I think it's showing.
"Hopefully, if we can steer clear of too many injuries, we're aiming to stick around that top ten and have a comfortable season and hopefully build on that.
"When I came up with Newcastle I spoke about getting them back to where they belong and it's the same with West Ham - getting into Europe and then back to the top end of the table. With the support and plans we've got, that's where we should be aiming for - the same success that Newcastle have achieved."
For Nolan, it was a memorable day for so many reasons. The midfielder had also skippered Newcastle to the Championship title in 2010 before helping the Magpies to re-establish themselves as a Barclays Premier League club. The Toon Army showed their respect for Nolan's achievements in a black and white shirt by applauding him before, during and after the game. "It was a bit emotional when I first walked in," said the West Ham captain. "I was a bit emotional because the reception they gave me was unbelievable. I had a fantastic time here [at St James' Park]. "I loved everything everything about this club when I was here and I still do. I have fond memories and many friends and family enjoyed it up here. My little boy is a Geordie. "I thought it was a fantastic performance from us. I was delighted to get the goal and just delighted with how the day went. I would like to thank the Newcastle fans for the fantastic support they gave me while I was here and for the reception they gave me on Sunday. "Obviously I could not have asked to have gone to a better club than West Ham for the following we have got and the commitment they have shown, so I'm delighted to be at another wonderful club. Hopefully I can do as well for them as I did up here."
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Hendo's high praise
WHUFC.com
Ian Hendon was delighted to see his West Ham United Under-21 side secure a stunning 2-1 win at Arsenal
11.11.2012
Ian Hendon had nothing but praise for his young side after they clinched a superb 87th-minute win against Arsenal at London Colney on Friday afternoon. Rob Hall opened the scoring from the restart, running through the entire Arsenal team before firing past Wojciech Szczesny. Serge Gnabry looked to have salvaged a point for the Gunners but much to the delight of Hendon, Paul McCallum headed home with three minutes remaining. 'The Arsenal side we played are very much like the first team, they keep the ball well and if you get carried away going forward they will punish you on the counter. "They did it to our first team a few weeks ago but the lads stayed focused throughout the 90 minutes and despite conceding late on we stuck together and hit back to earn a fantastic win."
Last week ended in disappointment for the Development Squad as they lost 3-0 against Reading but Hendon praised his side's response. "We did not go overboard about the result last week because they had some senior players who performed very well. I was not disappointed and it was a little bit of a learning curve. 'This week we worked very hard on how we wanted to play against Arsenal, we needed to be compact, together and focused and we did just that."
At all levels Arsenal are renowned for their attacking prowess but Hendon's side absorbed the pressure well and limited their creativity. "They have only got in behind our defence once and Raphael Spiegel was equal to it and did his job. In the first-half they hit the post but apart from that and the goal we coped very well. 'They had a very good amount of possession but we stopped them from creating hardly any openings so it was a job well done from our team."
Hall scored a sensational opener straight from kick-off in the second half but such is Hendon's faith in the striker that he was not surprised by the quality of his strike. "We encourage the team to get at their opponents from the kick-off and Rob Hall has ran from the halfway line and scored, but that it what he has in his locker - he is a match winner. "Our defending was also very good. We defended from the front and all of our attacking players knew their defensive responsibilities and carried them out to a tee."
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Sam Allardyce: West Ham must maintain 'outstanding' start
BBC.co.uk
Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce hailed his team's "outstanding" start to the season but warned his players not to bask in the glory. Kevin Nolan's goal gave the Hammers a 1-0 victory at Newcastle that moves them up to sixth in the Premier League in their first season since promotion. Allardyce told BBC Sport: "A newly-promoted side picking up 18 points from 11 games is outstanding. "But we need to make sure we don't switch off and take life too easy now." Nolan's first-half strike against his former club gave West Ham their fifth league win of the season and followed an impressive 0-0 home draw with defending champions Manchester City. But Allardyce wants his side to stay focussed ahead of a run in which they play Tottenham, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool in successive games. "We've done a great job up to now, drawing with Manchester City and beating Newcastle," said Allardyce. "Let's hope we can keep picking up points against the big boys."
West Ham's margin of victory could have been even greater if Andy Carroll had converted a late chance to open his Hammers account against his former club.
After exchanging passes with Nolan, Carroll's side-footed shot was saved one-handed by Magpies keeper Tim Krul. "Andy Carroll is disappointed he didn't score but it was a really good save," added Allardyce. "He wants to get off the mark with that goal but he's our target man and that partnership with Nolan is outstanding. "That's five Nolan has in 11 games. He gets the attacks flowing and reads the situation brilliantly in the box - he always seems to be in the right place at the right time."
West Ham's latest victory came in spite of losing three players - Matt Jarvis, Yossi Benayoun and George McCartney - to injury during the match. Allardyce said McCartney's groin problem was the most serious of the three, but expects to have all three fit for their home fixture against Stoke on 19 November.
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Newcastle 0 West Ham 1
Nolan 37′
FT 90 +6
HT 0-1
11 November 2012
Last updated at 17:36
By Sam Sheringham
BBC Sport
Kevin Nolan's first-half goal against his former club proved enough to see off a lacklustre Newcastle and propel West Ham into the top six. Nolan ghosted in at the far post to turn in Joey O'Brien's mis-hit shot. Newcastle were denied an equaliser when the officials ruled that goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen had prevented Demba Ba's header from crossing the line. Former Magpie Andy Carroll could have given West Ham breathing space but Tim Krul pulled off a fine one-handed save. The home side's performance was so lacking in precision or passion that a 2-0 scoreline would hardly have flattered the upwardly mobile Hammers. And the result will bring immense satisfaction to West Ham boss Sam Allardyce, who last week described his sacking by the Magpies after 24 games in 2008 as one of the lowest points in his career.
In their first season back in the Premier League, the Hammers were comfortable victors - despite losing three players to injury - and, in the tireless Nolan, had comfortably the best player on the pitch. Indeed, Newcastle boss Alan Pardew's pre-match suggestion that he would welcome Nolan and Carroll back to St James' Park looked entirely justified in a blunt attacking display in which striker Papiss Cisse and his half-time replacement Shola Ameobi were particularly ineffective.
"It is West Ham's day, Sam Allardyce's day and Kevin Nolan's day. Big disappointment for Newcastle, but West Ham now have 18 points from 11 games back in the Premier League and that is a more than satisfactory return."
An opening 30 minutes low on quality and goalmouth action was characterised by misplaced passes and mistimed challenges. Both sides were forced into an early change. First, Newcastle captain Jonas Gutierrez came off worst in a 50-50 tackle with Yossi Benayoun, then West Ham winger Matt Jarvis made way for Mali forward Modibo Maiga. Carroll, whose every touch for Liverpool was booed when the sides met in April, received a noticeably less hostile reception from the fans who used to revere him.
In the context of a dire game, West Ham's opener was as unexpected as it was welcome for the neutral. A cross aimed at Carroll was headed as far as O'Brien on the right and the full-back's shot was turned in by Nolan. The Hammers midfielder, who declined to perform his trademark chicken dance celebration against his old club, could have doubled the lead moments later but he sliced his left-footed shot wide from the edge of the box. Newcastle's rally, which began before the break with half-chances for Hatem Ben Arfa and Yohan Cabaye, almost brought the equaliser within a minute of the restart.
Ba's powerful header bounced awkwardly in front of Jaaskelainen, who clawed the ball back from the goal-line. Newcastle's players were convinced the ball had crossed the line but inconclusive replays appeared to justify the officials' decision not to award a goal. The Magpies continued to press forward but their play lacked subtlety in the final third. Most of the home side's best chances came from corners, with half-time substitute Shola Ameobi wasting a free header from Cabaye's perfect delivery. Newcastle's commitment to attack was always likely to leave gaps at the back and when Carroll capitalised on a defensive mix-up to exchange passes with Nolan, the former Geordie favourite found himself clean through on goal. Carroll's slight hesitation, however, gave Krul time to set himself and pull off an excellent stop with his outstretched left hand.
The hosts' desperation for an equaliser saw Krul sent up for a late corner, but the Hammers held on for their first win at St James' Park since October 1998.
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew: "We are kicking ourselves. It was the West Ham performance we knew we were going to get but what we lacked was the verve and imagination to unlock them. "We had eight or nine shots but none with any purpose or quality. Newcastle at home must score one, two, three or maybe 4 and we got none today. "It's nothing to do with our European game - we made lots of changes and the team was fresh - but we didn't do ourselves justice in the first 30 minutes. We didn't come alive until they scored and that is not good enough. "We've got a home game [against Swansea] next week and we're under pressure to produce a performance and win."
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Newcastle Utd 0 West Ham Utd 1
KUMb.com
Filed: Sunday, 11th November 2012
By: Staff Writer
Captain fantastic Kevin Nolan was on hand once again to score the only goal of the game as West Ham secured their first win at St James' Park this century.
Over the years St James' Park has rarely been a happy hunting ground for West Ham; prior to today it had been 14 years since United recorded a victory in Newcastle - a day when goals from Ian Wright (2) and Trevor Sinclair gave the Hammers a 3-0 win. But Sam Allardyce's 2012 squad repeated that feat with a performance that whilst perhaps lacking in quality could not be criticised for a lack of commitment. Today's win - a victory that came as a result of Nolan's 38th-minute close-range effort - was the fifth time already this season that West Ham had kept a clean sheet. And this game - combined with the goalless draw against reigning champions Manchester City last weekend - made a mockery of the suggestion that United's frailties would be exposed by the division's stronger teams.
Whilst the team's confidence has clearly been given a major boost by early wins against teams perceived to be the weaker amongst the Premier League elite, there is no doubt that Sam Allardyce, pilloried unfairly by some sections of the media this season is getting the very best out of his players. Today's back four was the same as that which often lined up in the Championship last season - yet George McCartney, Joey O'Brien, James Tomkins and Winstofn Reid looked just as comfortable against Newcastle today as they had against the likes of Doncaster and Millwall last term. Today's win was especially sweet for manager Allardyce, who having masterminded West Ham's instant return to the top flight in his first year at the Boleyn Ground claimed all three points from a club who fired him after just seven months in charge back in 2008.
And former Geordie favourite Andy Carroll - who whilst still yet to score for the Hammers produced another effective performance - will no doubt be wearing a wry smile tonight after returning home to London victorious after being booed all afternoon. However it was left to another former Newcastle employee to score the goal that secured the win for West Ham, who now rise to sixth in the league as a result of today's win.
Having produced a solid first half performance in which they stymied Newcastle's attacking notions by defending high up the pitch a counter attack gave Joey O'Brien - who is yet to finish on the losing side in a West Ham shirt this season - the opportunity to fire at goal. The full-back dragged his effort wide of its intended target but Nolan, exhibiting that uncanny knack of accurately predicting where the ball would land stuck out a foot at the far post to divert the ball into an empty net.
Newcastle's protestations of offside were (correctly) ignored by official Mike Dean who, thankfully, had little impact on the game. After the break the home side were far more adventurous, but had the returning Carroll taken his chance when put through by his skipper with only goalkeeper Tim Krul to beat West Ham may have been able to face the last fifteen minutes with rather less anxiety than was eventually the case. But with Jussi Jaaskelainen rolling back the years with a string of important saves there was to be no way through for the home side - even if former Hammer Demba Ba may have had a case when his header appeared to be clawed back from behind the line by the Finnish stopper right at the start of the second half.
Just as every silver lining has a cloud, so it was the case again today when Allardyce saw three more players potentially added to his lengthening injury list. Matt Jarvis (hip), Yossi Benayoun (knee) and George McCartney (groin) all sustained injuries of varying degrees and were forced off the field. However that will be a concern for another day; today will be enjoyed equally by the players, the club's staff and especially the travelling supporters who faced a 300-mile return journey to London safe in the knowledge that today's win had seen them leapfrog Fulham, Arsenal and Tottenham in the Barclay's Premier League.
Match Facts: Newcastle United 0-1 West Ham United
West Ham United: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Joey O'Brien, Winston Reid, James Tomkins, George McCartney (Guy Demel 66), Yossi Benayoun (Gary O'Neil 52), Mohamed Diame, Mark Noble, Matthew Jarvis (Modibo Maiga 34), Kevin Nolan, Andy Carroll.
Subs not used: Raphael Spiegel, Carlton Cole, James Collins, Robert Hall.
Goals: Kevin Nolan (38).
Booked: Mark Noble (45), Joey O'Brien (61).
Possession: 48%.
Shots on/off target: 10 - 5/5.
Newcastle United: Tim Krul, Danny Simpson (Gabriel Obertan 79), Steven Taylor, Mike Williamson, Davide Santon, Hatem Ben Arfa, Yohan Cabaye, Jonas Gutierrez (Vurnon Anita 24), Shane Ferguson, Papiss Cisse (Shola Ameobi 46), Demba Ba.
Subs not used: Rob Elliot, Sylvain Marveaux, Romain Amalfitano, Gael Bigirimana.
Booked: Hatem Ben Arfa (76).
Possession: 52%.
Shots on/off target: 14 - 9/5.
Referee: Mike Dean .
Attendance: 51,855.
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West Ham manager Sam Allardyce delighted with away win at Newcastle
Last Updated: November 11, 2012 8:51pm
SSN
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce hailed his team's great performance after their 1-0 win at Newcastle on Sunday. Kevin Nolan scored the only goal of the game just before half-time and the Hammers held on to go sixth in the Premier League - much to the delight of their manager. "It's a fantastic victory for us and a second away win," Allardyce told Sky Sports. "With Newcastle being one of the top six boys these days after last season it put some pressure on us. "I said to the lads, it's a great time to come here as they played midweek on Thursday in Europe and I experienced it myself at Bolton that the hardest game to win is the next one. "That gave us an opportunity here today and we took the opportunity with both hands. "It was a great performance and a great three points from us away from home, especially after losing three players through injury. I couldn't ask any more from the players today." Allardyce reserved particular praise for Nolan who again showed his remarkable ability to pop up with crucial goals for the Hammers. "That's five he's got now and the enormity of Kevin's goal record for us means he's our top scorer," added Allardyce. "Our frontmen are not really scoring at the minute but we're sharing the goals out. "And the way he played off Andy is what I liked the most. He really does sustain the attacks by holding the possession up. "He read the situation well in the box. It's a tap-in but you've got to be there and Kevin always seems to get in the box at the right time."
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Kevin Nolan was the hero for West Ham as his goal sealed a 1-0 win over former club Newcastle
Last Updated: November 11, 2012 10:02pm
SSN
Kevin Nolan enjoyed a happy return to Newcastle as he sealed a 1-0 win for West Ham that sent the east Londoners into the Premier League top six. The former Magpies midfielder scored shortly before the break, but Sam Allardyce's side were grateful for some wasteful attacking play from Newcastle as they failed to find an equaliser at St James' Park. Jussi Jaaskelainen almost gifted the hosts an early goal when he dwelled too long on a backpass, but he was rescued by Papiss Cisse's mistimed challenge, while at the other end Nolan's acrobatic attempt was deflected wide. West Ham enjoyed plenty of possession as the subdued hosts struggled to settle, although the Londoners lacked attacking punch and Yossi Benayoun lashed well wide.
Best of the match
Man of the match: Kevin Nolan popped up with the crucial goal as he so often does.
Save of the match: Demba Ba's header looked to have produced the equaliser but Jussi Jaaskelainen saved brilliantly.
Talking point: Did Newcastle do enough to pressure West Ham in a limp display?
Newcastle offered little invention themselves and appealed hopefully for a penalty when Mike Williamson was knocked off balance by George McCartney in the box. But a scrappy encounter was ignited by Newcastle old boy Nolan in the 37th minute as he turned in Joey O'Brien's low shot at the back post with the home side appealing in vain for offside. Nolan almost struck again soon afterwards, curling just over the top corner, while the Magpies finally threatened as Shane Ferguson's shot was blocked before Hatem Ben Arfa's drive was deflected into the side-netting. Demba Ba thought he had scored shortly after the restart until Jaaskelainen somehow clawed the striker's towering header off the line. Ba again tried to beat the Finn and his low shot drifted wide, but West Ham remained a threat as Mohamed Diame scooped over and Gary O'Neil nodded at Tim Krul. There was little respite for either defence as substitute Shola Ameobi headed wide and Ben Arfa tested Jaaskelainen, while Krul then had to save superbly to deny a clean-through Carroll. The home faithful were becoming increasingly agitated and they endured further frustration when Yohan Cabaye lashed a late effort over the bar.
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Looking Down on Spurs & Arsenal - The Joy of Three Points At Newcastle
By Iain Dale
West ham Till I Die
Don't tell my LBC bosses but I listened to the game on BBC London and from the commentary it seems as though it was an epic West Ham performance with the players sticking to the Allardyce gameplan. It's hard to believe that we are in sixth place after 11 games, above both Arsenal and Spurs. And four points against Man City and Newcastle is a respectable haul by anyone's standards. It sounds as if Diame and Noble controlled the midfield, with Carroll and Nolan combining well up front. Five goals in eleven games is a fantastic performance by Nolan, and the thing is, no one is getting on Andy Carroll's back for not scoring because we can all see what his contribution is to some fantastic team performances. If we keep on getting points, and he keeps up this level of performances we should all be content.
So, on to the Stoke game next Monday evening. They are a difficult side to beat and will come to Upton Park expecting to return to the Potteries expecting to get at least a point. I suspect Sam Allardyce might play a different tactical game. If Matt Jarvis is injured, it's possibly the time to play Cole and Carroll up front together. That ought to be enough to frighten even Stoke!
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It's No joy
Kev refuses to celebrate winner against Toon
Published: 11th November 2012
The Sun
KEVIN NOLAN refused to celebrate his West Ham winner. The skipper capped a perfect return to Toon with his 37th-minute strike to fire Hammers team into sixth place. Nolan joined West Ham at the start of last season from Newcastle in a £5million deal. And he admitted: "It was a perfect scenario for me to score. It was emotional. "But I was never going to celebrate scoring here. I never will. "That was down to the support I got when I was at Newcastle. But this was a great result for us."
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Newcastle 0 West Ham 1
By IAN GORDON
Last Updated: 12th November 2012
The Sun
SO that is what it feels like to be hammered by the man with the killer touch. The Toon faithful had seen often enough just why Kevin Nolan can lay claim to being one of the most lethal penalty-box predators in the league. Nolan netted 30 times from midfield in his 2½ years at St James' Park before he was allowed to leave. So it was inevitable that, on his first return to Tyneside, his unerring instinct for goal would prove decisive in a hard-fought game. Joey O'Brien's scuffed shot on 38 minutes was heading well wide of Tim Krul's goal. But it fell to Nolan, who once again was in the right place at the right time. There was no celebration from Nolan, who was quite happy to remain a Magpie and had no desire to fly the nest with his family settled in the North East. But, when owner Mike Ashley and the board suddenly pulled out of a planned new deal, West Ham came calling and are reaping the benefits. Having played a crucial role in returning the Hammers to the Premier League, Nolan has continued his goalscoring exploits in the top flight. Any regrets on taking away that contract offer now, Mike? No wonder Hammers boss Sam Allardyce believes Nolan's goal record from midfield should have earned him an England call-up.
Big Sam had plenty to celebrate on his return to the club that sacked him almost four years ago as the Hammers triumphed on Tyneside for the first time in four decades. They just about deserved it, too, even if most of the chances fell to the home side. But they were half-chances at best and, when they were on target, Jussi Jaaskelainen dealt with them comfortably. Nolan struck after 38 minutes and soon after he nearly had another, firing just wide from Mohamad Diame's pass. Alan Pardew's men were finally stirred into action with Shane Ferguson's shot well blocked by George McCartney. Hatem Ben Arfa saw an effort deflect off Winston Reid with Jaaskelainen stranded, only for it to hit the side-netting. The Finnish stopper then saved from Yohan Cabaye after Andy Carroll's poor clearance had fallen to the Frenchman. Pardew had to react and he did at half-time, replacing the ineffective Papiss Cisse with Shola Ameobi. Demba Ba was a far more dangerous prospect with Ameobi alongside him and he came so close to bagging the equaliser two minutes after the break. Ferguson's cross looped into the air off James Tomkins to Ba, whose header was palmed off the line by the keeper. Ba then fired wide from 22 yards while another effort was pushed round the post by Jaaskelainen.
Ben Arfa was close to scoring direct from the resulting corner but the veteran stopper reacted just in time. But the Hammers should have scored a second with 15 minutes left when the the 'telepathic twins' that are Nolan and his great pal Carroll broke clear. The ball from Nolan was inch perfect but Carroll (right) could not break his duck for the season as Krul made a fine save. The Dutch stopper went up the other end of the pitch in the dying minutes — but even his presence could not help the hosts.
DREAM TEAM
STAR MAN — DIAME (WEST HAM)
NEWCASTLE: Krul 6, Simpson 7 (Obertan 5), S Taylor 6, Williamson 6, Santon 5, Ben Arfa 6, Cabaye 4, Gutierrez 5 (Anita 4), Ferguson 5, Cisse 4 (Shola Ameobi 5), Ba 7. Subs not used: Elliot, Amalfitano, Bigirimana, Marveaux. Booked: Ben Arfa.
WEST HAM: Jaaskelainen 8, O'Brien 8, Reid 8, Tomkins 8, McCartney 7 (Demel 5), Benayoun 6 (O'Neil 7), Diame 9, Noble 8, Jarvis 4 (Maiga 5), Nolan 9, Carroll 6. Subs not used: Spiegel, Cole, Collins, Hall. Booked: Noble, O'Brien.
REF: M Dean 6
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SI-HAM-ESE TWINS
Sam hails Andy and Kev
By ANDY BAKER
Published: 11th November 2012
The Sun
Head-to-head: Ba v Carroll
FORMER Newcastle hero Andy Carroll took on ex-Hammer Demba Ba — but who came out on top now they have switched clubs?
THREAT
BA: The Senegal striker was restricted to long-range efforts.
CARROLL: Missed great late chance but aerial presence played part in winner.
SAM ALLARDYCE hailed Kevin Nolan and Andy Carroll — his telepathic strike twins. Nolan came back to haunt Newcastle by bagging the winner at St James' Park yesterday — the Scouser's fifth of the season. West Ham's Captain Marvel caused Alan Pardew's men all sorts of problems in tandem with ex-Toon team-mate Carroll as the Hammers climbed to sixth. And Upton Park boss Allardyce is convinced that the pair — big pals off the field — take their understanding on to it to prove a constant nightmare for Premier League defences. After leading West Ham to a 1-0 triumph — their first win on Tyneside for 14 years — against his old club, Allardyce said: "Kevin's relationship with Andy is such a good one that I don't need to do a lot of coaching with the two of them. "If anything, they instinctively play off each other. "While Andy's struggling to get a goal — and we'd like him to get one — Kevin's scoring them, so we're reaping the benefits of that relationship. "The combination of the two of them is causing problems for other teams. "Kevin's our captain and leading goalscorer, he has got us the win with his goal and his instincts in the box are there for all to see. "It's five goals in 11 games for him and it should be six because he's also had one chalked off. "Andy's getting better and better as time goes on for us and that partnership with Kevin is brilliant. Long may it continue because it's getting us victories and points on the board."
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Wings clipped: Hammers hero Nolan keeps vow to never celebrate goal against Toon
The Mirror
11 Nov 2012 22:31
Chris Brunskill
Kevin Nolan fired West Ham into sixth spot - and vowed he could never celebrate condemning his former club to defeat. The former Newcastle striker bagged his fifth goal of the season on his first return to St James' Park since being sold 16 months ago, in West Ham's 1-0 victory. Nolan, who was given a warm reception before the game, said: "It was a perfect scenario for me to score the winner. It was quite emotional when I did score the goal. I did say I was never going to celebrate scoring against Newcastle and I never will. "If I move on from West Ham I would never do it against them either. That was down to the support I received when I was here. I can't thank the fans enough for the reception I got. It was absolutely unbelievable. I had an absolutely fantastic time here. I love Newcastle and love everything about it - I made so many friends here along with my family. My boy is a Geordie, he was born here.
"It was a fantastic performance by us and I was delighted with the goal. I couldn't have asked for a better club to go to than West Ham for the following they've got and the commitment and everything they show. I would love to think I can do the same for them that I did for Newcastle." Nolan is now targeting further progress for the Hammers. He added: ""I'm just delighted for us because it got us the result and it moves us further up the table and it keeps us in the mix really. "You've got to expect to be up against it at Newcastle. They've got some fantastic players here and had some fantastic players who were missing, and we knew had to capitalise on that here. I think we did and we hung on, which is a credit to the lads because we've got a lot of grit and determination.
"What we're trying to do at West Ham is what we tried to do at Newcastle. When we came up it was about getting them back to where they belonged and then eventually into Europe. That's what I feel that West Ham should do with the support we've got and the backing from the boardroom hopefully we can emulate what Newcastle have done.
"I left Newcastle on great terms, Alan (Pardew) was absolutely fantastic to me. We still share the odd text here and there. Just before the play-off final he gave me some great words and support and I'll always have that with him. He was fantastic with me when he was here. He was honest with me, I was honest with him and you can't really ask for any more than that. It was nice to hear that."
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce hailed his side's start as they now prepare for a tough run of games. He said: "We have the big boys coming up and we are still getting points. No one was overawed coming here.
"The team will grow in terms of the credit they get if they keep winning games. Our tactical approach was spot on. In possession we were good and we nullified what is a fantastic attacking force from Newcastle. "We are laden with experience. I have experience. Only Ferguson and Wenger, and me and David Moyes. I can guide the players and the players have been there and done it too. "Winning here doesn't give me extra satisfaction. Winning away from home and beating a team of this quality is satisfying."
Pards can't put his finger on it...
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is still searching for a magic formula, after an average start to the league season. He said: "I wish I could put my finger on it. We have a side who has played 17 games yet it is proving difficult to get some rhythm. Away from home we have been solid and dogged. At home we need to perform better than today, for sure. "We have only lost four games in 17 but it hurts today. We lacked a bit of power on the pitch. We misses Tiote.
"We wasted a period of the game at the start. We knew they would play a fragmented, stop-start game. We didn't get rhythm or pressure on them and we let them get a footing in the game. Once they got the goal they were more confident. After that we created good pressure without making a special moment.
"Defensively we should not have conceded that goal. The second half was much more like us. We had a good chance, was it or wasn't it over the line."
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Vinny's Newcastle Report
Vinny 2:18 Mon Nov 12
West Ham Online
Newcastle United 0 West Ham United 1
West Ham recorded their first win at St James' Park since 1998 after a first half goal from Kevin Nolan secured all three points.
Whilst this will never go down as a brilliant game or magnificent performance the fact remains that this was a superb result which sees West Ham rise to 6th in the league having taken 18 points from 11 games.
To go away from home and beat a side who finished in the top 5 last season is no mean feat and is further indication of how far we have come as a team over the last 12 months.
Newcastle were very poor and this is something that obviously helped but we do deserve some credit for the way we battled away and kept going to the very end.
Both sides struggled with their passing and the game would not be considered much of an advert for Premiership football although most of the games I watch seem to be very similar in a very overrated league.
There were moments in the second half where we had to ride our luck but when going away from home you know that the other side are going to have their moments and thankfully we dealt with them very well with Winston Reid playing a blinder at the back.
Before the game I was not exactly confident and had expect us to get beat on the basis that our last away display at Wigan did not fill me with much hope. But the gritty determination of this Sam Allardyce inspired side seems to at times give us that extra edge.
For a newly promoted side we are not looking out of place and there continues to be an absence of sound coming from those who questioned the quality of the side during pre-season.
The chances Newcastle created came mainly from long range and we had a fantastic chance to make the victory a little more comfortable but this chance was squandered by Andy Carroll on his return to the North East.
But it would be another player returning to his former club in Kevin Nolan who would pop up yet again to score the winner and take his tally for the season to five which is already an excellent return from a midfielder.
The tactics, the style of play, the type of players we have – it all means little when we are winning games and moving up the table and finding success such as we are doing.
The result against Manchester City alongside this win are extremely pleasing and at the moment everything at West Ham looks very promising.
The Team
Sam Allardyce made one change to the side who battled to secure a point against the Champions Manchester City last week with James Collins being replaced by James Tomkins.
There had been some doubt over the fitness of Collins so this is why I would think he was only on the bench although this is a change many of us had wanted to see for a while.
Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan lined up against the side they both used to turn out for.
Starting for Newcastle was former Hammer Demba Ba who played 12 games for West Ham during the 2010/11 season, scoring 7 goals.
Managing Newcastle was former West Ham Manager Alan Pardew who took over in 2003 and left in 2006 having won a Play Off Final and finished runners up in the 2006 FA Cup Final.
The referee was 44 year old Mike Dean from the Wirral who was in charge of our opening game of the season against Aston Villa.
First Half
It was not exactly an exciting first half with both sides struggling to pass to one another but ultimately we were the happier given that we got ourselves in front and also that as the away side the game was being played in a style which suited us.
There was half a chance for winger Matt Jarvis as the ball bounced in the penalty area but his shot was hit well wide.
With 8 minutes gone a free kick into the area by Mark Noble saw Winston Reid head the ball down to Kevin Nolan who attempted an overhead kick which deflected off Ryan Taylor and out for a corner.
For most of the first half we looked decent and were attempting to knock the ball about and find some width as well as knocking the ball long for Andy Carroll who was not finding much joy against his old team.
A free kick was won after a foul on Noble and the midfielder took the set piece himself as his ball into the area was headed out only as far as Yossi Benayoun who sliced his shot well wide.
Any chance Newcastle were able to create usually came from us surrendering possession in key areas but they were unable to get enough bodies in the area to really threaten.
The game became very stop start with a number of fouls being made especially by our players and we were lucky not to see yellow as Mike Dean let things go.
On 34 minutes Matt Jarvis was replaced by Modibo Maiga. I'm not sure why he came off but can only presume it was due to injury.
With 7 minutes of the first half remaining we took the lead.
It came after a throw in was given to Noble who crossed into the area only for the clearance to come out as far as Joey O'Brien who hit a shot which was going well wide but it went straight into the path of Kevin Nolan who diverted the ball into the goal to make it 1-0.
Nolan always seemed to have the knack of being in the right place at the right time and this was no exception as he scored yet another goal. His celebrations were muted due to the clear respect he has for his former club but no West Ham could hide their delight in his goal.
Not long after we had taken the lead we were close to scoring a second when a strong run forward from Diame saw him play the ball through to Nolan who took a touch but fired his shot wide when on another day he would have hit the target.
For the remainder of the half which included four minutes injury time we were very poor and played our worst football of the half and indeed the game.
I was disappointed that we had just stopped playing and allowed Newcastle to come at us and in all honestly they should have probably equalised.
Many Newcastle supporters thought they had scored when a shot from Ben Arfa deflected off both Reid and then McCartney and then into the side netting.
The relentless pressure from the hosts was ended by the half time whistle.
Second Half
Newcastle made one change at half time with the inept Papiss Cisse being replaced by Shola Ameobi.
It seemed as though the Geordies were intent on starting the second half as they had finished the first by coming at us in numbers and with just two minutes of the half gone many thought they had scored.
A cross into the area saw O'Brien head the ball into the area and Demba Ba got up well to powerful head at goal where Jaaskelainen clawed out of the goal and away. Many had thought it had gone over the line although I am sure it did not.
Nevertheless this was a wonderful stop from Jaaskelainen.
With the pressure building we made another change with Gary O'Neil coming on for Yossi Benayoun.
Diame was showing his strength and power in midfield as he burst into the area but couldn't keep his feet and scooped his shot over the bar.
Another striding run from Diame saw the ball played out to the left to Maiga whose cross to the back post was met by O'Neil but despite his effort being on target, it had no power to test Krul in the Newcastle goal.
Joey O'Brien went into the book following a poor challenge with 30 minutes remaining.
Jaaskelainen was again called into action when curling shot from Ameobi tested him but he was again equal to it as he turned it away. The corner again tested the Fin as Ben Arfa curled it towards goal but it was tipped over.
An injury to George McCartney saw the left back forced to come off with Guy Demel replacing him.
This saw Demel go to right back and O'Brien at left back.
On 72 minutes we created a glorious chance to kill the game. It came after some poor Newcastle defending saw Carroll nip in and win the ball which saw Nolan burst forward and play in Carroll who with just the keeper to beat saw his shot saved by Krul. It should have been his first goal.
Time was not ticking away fast enough for my liking and I did have a resigned feeling that a goal for Newcastle was inevitable even though we were defending well and they were not having what I would call 'great' chances.
Perhaps it is just years of seeing West Ham squander leads and fall apart away from home which have given me this complex and this new determination under Sam Allardyce takes me by surprise.
The home side just couldn't find any quality in the final third and we were able to hold onto the ball going forward well and with that bit of arrogance needed to get through.
We all knew that there were going to be excessive injury time and the referee did award five minutes.
These minutes seemed to last an age and Newcastle looked to put pressure on us and create that one last great chance. It (sort of)came when a Ben Arfa cross was cleared only as far as Cabaye on the edge of the area and as the West Ham fans winced the shot went high and wide and we knew at that point that we were leaving the North East with all three points.
It was 1998 when we last won at Newcastle with Ian Wright scoring two and Trevor Sinclair with the other.
Never did I think that day that it would be so long until we would beat them again and the last time we were at St James' in 2011 we were thumped 5-0 so this was one of those results which has been a long time coming.
Did we deserve to win the game some may ask.
Deserving is nice, doing is better.
Player Reviews
Jussi Jaaskelainen
Despite our reservations he has now kept five clean sheets this season and I have to say I thought he was excellent during this game and pulled off a number of excellent stops. 8
Joey O'Brien
When he plays with a bit of aggression he is a much better player and if there was one player who was really up for this game then it was Joey O'Brien. He was strong in the tackle, never bottled a challenge, got forward well and he does get an assist for the goal also. 8
Winston Reid
The Kiwi warrior strikes again. Strong, accomplished and classy throughout. Won everything in the air, rarely caught out of position, saved us time and time again and continues to shine. 9
James Tomkins
There are times when up against a skilful player that he will sell himself too easily and look wayward but whilst this happened a couple of times during the game it is difficult to complain about his overall display as he was (like Reid) always in the right place at the right time and I was pleased to see him back in the side. 7
George McCartney
Similar to O'Brien there was a little bit more about him in the tackle during this one and he was playing well enough until his injury which forced him to come off in the second half. 7
Mark Noble
Another pleasing display from Noble who was on the ball a lot and played some good simple passes about. Caught in possession a couple of times and needs to be a little more aware of who is around him as he was dwelling on the ball. But this was still a good display and I am more than happy with him in our midfield. 7
Mohamed Diame
Becoming our most frustrating player. When he gets the ball and moves forward with it he is absolute class. Players cannot get near him and he brushes everyone aside – it is a real quality he has. But when he gets into the final third he just doesn't know what to do with it and every time he is doing the wrong thing. Get this right and we have a player. 7
Kevin Nolan
Looked a bit 'leggy' in the second half but he had covered a lot of ground and yet again he popped up with the goal. We would be a far worse team without Kevin Nolan. This isn't even opinion, this is a fact. 7
Yossi Benayoun
Apart from a collision with Guttierrez he was barely involved and it was not a surprise to see him come off. 5
Matt Jarvis
Was never in the game and whether it was injury or just tactical his removal did not hinder us. 5
Andy Carroll
For most of the game he looked every bit the donkey we hope he is not. In the second half he should have scored and his lack of goals is a little concerning. Unless we are not basing a strikers performance on goals now that it isn't Cole playing? Regardless of this point I thought as the second half wore on Carroll was important to us keeping the ball and he held it up really well in those final fifteen minutes. 6
Subs Used
Modibo Maiga (on for Jarvis 34 mins)
I'm still not sure what to make of Maiga. His approach play when on the ball looks good but he like Diame finds it difficult to pick out a pass. More to come from him I suspect. 6
Gary O'Neil (on for Benayoun 52 mins)
His display was full of energy and this helped us through a sticky period at the beginning of the second half. I would start him away at Tottenham instead of Benayoun.
Guy Demel (on for McCartney 66 mins)
Beaten a few times in a bit of a rusty display but good to see him back. Any player who cannot take a throw in often raises concerns for me.
Subs Not Used: Spiegel, Hall, Cole, Collins
Goals: WHU: Nolan (37)
Bookings: NU: Ben Arfa WHU: Noble, O'Brien
Man Of The Match: Winston Reid
Newcastle United: Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Taylor, Santon, Ferguson, Cabaye, Ben Arfa, Jonas, Cisse, Ba
Subs: Elliott, Anita, Amalfitano, Bigirimana, Marveaux, Obertan, Shola Ameobi
Referee: Mike Dean, 9
Attendance: 51,855
Overall
It may be too early to suggest that we begin to look at our position currently as an attainable goal but although it is an odd feeling to have as a West Ham supporter perhaps we should all be feeling a bit more confident about our prospects.
We matched Newcastle all over the pitch and had a player in Kevin Nolan who has the ability to pop up and get you that goal which will win you games like this. This isn't luck – he just knows where to be.
This 'difficult' run of games have already produced four points and two clean sheets.
Next Game – Stoke City (h) Monday, 19th November 8pm Kick Off
Back to the Boleyn we go for a game against a side who are also accused of playing the long ball game.
Stoke have been distinctly average this season and this is a game which we will be looking to win and I hope to see us attack them.
The season is going very well and long may it continue.
The View From Allardyce
'Of course it's our captain, who is our leading goalscorer, who has got us the three points.
'His instincts in the box are there for all to see. It's five goals he has got in 11 games now in the Premier League - it should be six because he had one chalked off this week (against Manchester City) that he shouldn't have done - and for a midfield player to be totalling up that sort of goal tally is fantastic from our point of view.
'That being the winner today is obviously satisfying for us all.'
'It's a fantastic start to the season for us now, 11 games, 18 points.
'Anybody who looks at what we have done, we had some reasonably good fixtures at the start of the season - every game is difficult in the Premier League, but they were more winnable than some of the fixtures we have perhaps got now.
'But in saying that, in our last three games, we lost to Wigan away, which I didn't expect, we drew with Manchester City and now we have beaten Newcastle.
'The big boys are coming up and we are still getting points, and that's the pleasing thing for me because confidence grows and grows and grows, as you could see today.
'It was a very professional performance by the players and nobody was overawed coming here.'
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Kevin Nolan was West Ham United's match-winner on his return to Newcastle United
11.11.2012
Kevin Nolan capped a memorable return to Newcastle United by shooting West Ham United to a fantastic 1-0 Barclays Premier League win over the Magpies at St James' Park. The former Newcastle captain and present-day Hammers skipper was in the right place at the right time yet again to score the only goal of the game at the stadium he once called home. Nolan, who spent three seasons on Tyneside between 2008 and 2011, was afforded a hero's welcome by the home fans and responded in kind by not celebrating his 38th-minute winner. The No4 was just one of 14 West Ham heroes on Sunday, with goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, centre-back Winston Reid and midfielder Mohamed Diame catching the eye with superbly resilient displays. In truth, however, every Hammers layer earned their crust by keeping at bay a Newcastle team that finished fifth in the Barclays Premier League last season. Nolan and his team-mates are now up to sixth themselves and the skipper has admitted to having lofty ambitions in a claret and blue shirt. "It was the perfect scenario for me, of course," admitted Nolan. "You always wish to score goals. It was quite emotional when I did score a goal because I had a little moment just after it. I was never going to celebrate and I never will [celebrate against them] and I would never do that to West Ham if I ever move on because of the support I received when I was here. "I'm just delighted for us because we got the three points and it moves us further up the table and it keeps us in the mix. "You've got to expect that [Newcastle were going to put us under pressure in the second half] because they are a team with fantastic players. They had some fantastic players out [suspended] and we knew we had to capitalise on that and I think we did. "We hung on and credit to the lads because we've got a lot of grit and determination. I'm delighted to lead them every week. It was a fantastic away win - our second of the season - and we just need to keep building on this very solid start that we've made."
West Ham were stretched to the limit on Sunday, not just by Alan Pardew's side but by the loss of Matt Jarvis, Yossi Benayoun and George McCartney to injury during the game. Substitutes Modibo Maiga, Gary O'Neil and Guy Demel performed to such a high level, however, that nobody would have known the difference. The club's summer signings were also to the fore, with goalkeeper Jaaskelainen recording a Barclays Premier League-leading fifth clean sheet, Diame everywhere and Andy Carroll leading the line with typical power. "We knew that we had a big enough squad. What both Chairmen did in bringing in new players and backing the gaffer was fantastic. They were trying from day one that we got back in pre-season to get the players in and I think it's showing.
"Hopefully, if we can steer clear of too many injuries, we're aiming to stick around that top ten and have a comfortable season and hopefully build on that.
"When I came up with Newcastle I spoke about getting them back to where they belong and it's the same with West Ham - getting into Europe and then back to the top end of the table. With the support and plans we've got, that's where we should be aiming for - the same success that Newcastle have achieved."
For Nolan, it was a memorable day for so many reasons. The midfielder had also skippered Newcastle to the Championship title in 2010 before helping the Magpies to re-establish themselves as a Barclays Premier League club. The Toon Army showed their respect for Nolan's achievements in a black and white shirt by applauding him before, during and after the game. "It was a bit emotional when I first walked in," said the West Ham captain. "I was a bit emotional because the reception they gave me was unbelievable. I had a fantastic time here [at St James' Park]. "I loved everything everything about this club when I was here and I still do. I have fond memories and many friends and family enjoyed it up here. My little boy is a Geordie. "I thought it was a fantastic performance from us. I was delighted to get the goal and just delighted with how the day went. I would like to thank the Newcastle fans for the fantastic support they gave me while I was here and for the reception they gave me on Sunday. "Obviously I could not have asked to have gone to a better club than West Ham for the following we have got and the commitment they have shown, so I'm delighted to be at another wonderful club. Hopefully I can do as well for them as I did up here."
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Hendo's high praise
WHUFC.com
Ian Hendon was delighted to see his West Ham United Under-21 side secure a stunning 2-1 win at Arsenal
11.11.2012
Ian Hendon had nothing but praise for his young side after they clinched a superb 87th-minute win against Arsenal at London Colney on Friday afternoon. Rob Hall opened the scoring from the restart, running through the entire Arsenal team before firing past Wojciech Szczesny. Serge Gnabry looked to have salvaged a point for the Gunners but much to the delight of Hendon, Paul McCallum headed home with three minutes remaining. 'The Arsenal side we played are very much like the first team, they keep the ball well and if you get carried away going forward they will punish you on the counter. "They did it to our first team a few weeks ago but the lads stayed focused throughout the 90 minutes and despite conceding late on we stuck together and hit back to earn a fantastic win."
Last week ended in disappointment for the Development Squad as they lost 3-0 against Reading but Hendon praised his side's response. "We did not go overboard about the result last week because they had some senior players who performed very well. I was not disappointed and it was a little bit of a learning curve. 'This week we worked very hard on how we wanted to play against Arsenal, we needed to be compact, together and focused and we did just that."
At all levels Arsenal are renowned for their attacking prowess but Hendon's side absorbed the pressure well and limited their creativity. "They have only got in behind our defence once and Raphael Spiegel was equal to it and did his job. In the first-half they hit the post but apart from that and the goal we coped very well. 'They had a very good amount of possession but we stopped them from creating hardly any openings so it was a job well done from our team."
Hall scored a sensational opener straight from kick-off in the second half but such is Hendon's faith in the striker that he was not surprised by the quality of his strike. "We encourage the team to get at their opponents from the kick-off and Rob Hall has ran from the halfway line and scored, but that it what he has in his locker - he is a match winner. "Our defending was also very good. We defended from the front and all of our attacking players knew their defensive responsibilities and carried them out to a tee."
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Sam Allardyce: West Ham must maintain 'outstanding' start
BBC.co.uk
Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce hailed his team's "outstanding" start to the season but warned his players not to bask in the glory. Kevin Nolan's goal gave the Hammers a 1-0 victory at Newcastle that moves them up to sixth in the Premier League in their first season since promotion. Allardyce told BBC Sport: "A newly-promoted side picking up 18 points from 11 games is outstanding. "But we need to make sure we don't switch off and take life too easy now." Nolan's first-half strike against his former club gave West Ham their fifth league win of the season and followed an impressive 0-0 home draw with defending champions Manchester City. But Allardyce wants his side to stay focussed ahead of a run in which they play Tottenham, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool in successive games. "We've done a great job up to now, drawing with Manchester City and beating Newcastle," said Allardyce. "Let's hope we can keep picking up points against the big boys."
West Ham's margin of victory could have been even greater if Andy Carroll had converted a late chance to open his Hammers account against his former club.
After exchanging passes with Nolan, Carroll's side-footed shot was saved one-handed by Magpies keeper Tim Krul. "Andy Carroll is disappointed he didn't score but it was a really good save," added Allardyce. "He wants to get off the mark with that goal but he's our target man and that partnership with Nolan is outstanding. "That's five Nolan has in 11 games. He gets the attacks flowing and reads the situation brilliantly in the box - he always seems to be in the right place at the right time."
West Ham's latest victory came in spite of losing three players - Matt Jarvis, Yossi Benayoun and George McCartney - to injury during the match. Allardyce said McCartney's groin problem was the most serious of the three, but expects to have all three fit for their home fixture against Stoke on 19 November.
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Newcastle 0 West Ham 1
Nolan 37′
FT 90 +6
HT 0-1
11 November 2012
Last updated at 17:36
By Sam Sheringham
BBC Sport
Kevin Nolan's first-half goal against his former club proved enough to see off a lacklustre Newcastle and propel West Ham into the top six. Nolan ghosted in at the far post to turn in Joey O'Brien's mis-hit shot. Newcastle were denied an equaliser when the officials ruled that goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen had prevented Demba Ba's header from crossing the line. Former Magpie Andy Carroll could have given West Ham breathing space but Tim Krul pulled off a fine one-handed save. The home side's performance was so lacking in precision or passion that a 2-0 scoreline would hardly have flattered the upwardly mobile Hammers. And the result will bring immense satisfaction to West Ham boss Sam Allardyce, who last week described his sacking by the Magpies after 24 games in 2008 as one of the lowest points in his career.
In their first season back in the Premier League, the Hammers were comfortable victors - despite losing three players to injury - and, in the tireless Nolan, had comfortably the best player on the pitch. Indeed, Newcastle boss Alan Pardew's pre-match suggestion that he would welcome Nolan and Carroll back to St James' Park looked entirely justified in a blunt attacking display in which striker Papiss Cisse and his half-time replacement Shola Ameobi were particularly ineffective.
"It is West Ham's day, Sam Allardyce's day and Kevin Nolan's day. Big disappointment for Newcastle, but West Ham now have 18 points from 11 games back in the Premier League and that is a more than satisfactory return."
An opening 30 minutes low on quality and goalmouth action was characterised by misplaced passes and mistimed challenges. Both sides were forced into an early change. First, Newcastle captain Jonas Gutierrez came off worst in a 50-50 tackle with Yossi Benayoun, then West Ham winger Matt Jarvis made way for Mali forward Modibo Maiga. Carroll, whose every touch for Liverpool was booed when the sides met in April, received a noticeably less hostile reception from the fans who used to revere him.
In the context of a dire game, West Ham's opener was as unexpected as it was welcome for the neutral. A cross aimed at Carroll was headed as far as O'Brien on the right and the full-back's shot was turned in by Nolan. The Hammers midfielder, who declined to perform his trademark chicken dance celebration against his old club, could have doubled the lead moments later but he sliced his left-footed shot wide from the edge of the box. Newcastle's rally, which began before the break with half-chances for Hatem Ben Arfa and Yohan Cabaye, almost brought the equaliser within a minute of the restart.
Ba's powerful header bounced awkwardly in front of Jaaskelainen, who clawed the ball back from the goal-line. Newcastle's players were convinced the ball had crossed the line but inconclusive replays appeared to justify the officials' decision not to award a goal. The Magpies continued to press forward but their play lacked subtlety in the final third. Most of the home side's best chances came from corners, with half-time substitute Shola Ameobi wasting a free header from Cabaye's perfect delivery. Newcastle's commitment to attack was always likely to leave gaps at the back and when Carroll capitalised on a defensive mix-up to exchange passes with Nolan, the former Geordie favourite found himself clean through on goal. Carroll's slight hesitation, however, gave Krul time to set himself and pull off an excellent stop with his outstretched left hand.
The hosts' desperation for an equaliser saw Krul sent up for a late corner, but the Hammers held on for their first win at St James' Park since October 1998.
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew: "We are kicking ourselves. It was the West Ham performance we knew we were going to get but what we lacked was the verve and imagination to unlock them. "We had eight or nine shots but none with any purpose or quality. Newcastle at home must score one, two, three or maybe 4 and we got none today. "It's nothing to do with our European game - we made lots of changes and the team was fresh - but we didn't do ourselves justice in the first 30 minutes. We didn't come alive until they scored and that is not good enough. "We've got a home game [against Swansea] next week and we're under pressure to produce a performance and win."
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Newcastle Utd 0 West Ham Utd 1
KUMb.com
Filed: Sunday, 11th November 2012
By: Staff Writer
Captain fantastic Kevin Nolan was on hand once again to score the only goal of the game as West Ham secured their first win at St James' Park this century.
Over the years St James' Park has rarely been a happy hunting ground for West Ham; prior to today it had been 14 years since United recorded a victory in Newcastle - a day when goals from Ian Wright (2) and Trevor Sinclair gave the Hammers a 3-0 win. But Sam Allardyce's 2012 squad repeated that feat with a performance that whilst perhaps lacking in quality could not be criticised for a lack of commitment. Today's win - a victory that came as a result of Nolan's 38th-minute close-range effort - was the fifth time already this season that West Ham had kept a clean sheet. And this game - combined with the goalless draw against reigning champions Manchester City last weekend - made a mockery of the suggestion that United's frailties would be exposed by the division's stronger teams.
Whilst the team's confidence has clearly been given a major boost by early wins against teams perceived to be the weaker amongst the Premier League elite, there is no doubt that Sam Allardyce, pilloried unfairly by some sections of the media this season is getting the very best out of his players. Today's back four was the same as that which often lined up in the Championship last season - yet George McCartney, Joey O'Brien, James Tomkins and Winstofn Reid looked just as comfortable against Newcastle today as they had against the likes of Doncaster and Millwall last term. Today's win was especially sweet for manager Allardyce, who having masterminded West Ham's instant return to the top flight in his first year at the Boleyn Ground claimed all three points from a club who fired him after just seven months in charge back in 2008.
And former Geordie favourite Andy Carroll - who whilst still yet to score for the Hammers produced another effective performance - will no doubt be wearing a wry smile tonight after returning home to London victorious after being booed all afternoon. However it was left to another former Newcastle employee to score the goal that secured the win for West Ham, who now rise to sixth in the league as a result of today's win.
Having produced a solid first half performance in which they stymied Newcastle's attacking notions by defending high up the pitch a counter attack gave Joey O'Brien - who is yet to finish on the losing side in a West Ham shirt this season - the opportunity to fire at goal. The full-back dragged his effort wide of its intended target but Nolan, exhibiting that uncanny knack of accurately predicting where the ball would land stuck out a foot at the far post to divert the ball into an empty net.
Newcastle's protestations of offside were (correctly) ignored by official Mike Dean who, thankfully, had little impact on the game. After the break the home side were far more adventurous, but had the returning Carroll taken his chance when put through by his skipper with only goalkeeper Tim Krul to beat West Ham may have been able to face the last fifteen minutes with rather less anxiety than was eventually the case. But with Jussi Jaaskelainen rolling back the years with a string of important saves there was to be no way through for the home side - even if former Hammer Demba Ba may have had a case when his header appeared to be clawed back from behind the line by the Finnish stopper right at the start of the second half.
Just as every silver lining has a cloud, so it was the case again today when Allardyce saw three more players potentially added to his lengthening injury list. Matt Jarvis (hip), Yossi Benayoun (knee) and George McCartney (groin) all sustained injuries of varying degrees and were forced off the field. However that will be a concern for another day; today will be enjoyed equally by the players, the club's staff and especially the travelling supporters who faced a 300-mile return journey to London safe in the knowledge that today's win had seen them leapfrog Fulham, Arsenal and Tottenham in the Barclay's Premier League.
Match Facts: Newcastle United 0-1 West Ham United
West Ham United: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Joey O'Brien, Winston Reid, James Tomkins, George McCartney (Guy Demel 66), Yossi Benayoun (Gary O'Neil 52), Mohamed Diame, Mark Noble, Matthew Jarvis (Modibo Maiga 34), Kevin Nolan, Andy Carroll.
Subs not used: Raphael Spiegel, Carlton Cole, James Collins, Robert Hall.
Goals: Kevin Nolan (38).
Booked: Mark Noble (45), Joey O'Brien (61).
Possession: 48%.
Shots on/off target: 10 - 5/5.
Newcastle United: Tim Krul, Danny Simpson (Gabriel Obertan 79), Steven Taylor, Mike Williamson, Davide Santon, Hatem Ben Arfa, Yohan Cabaye, Jonas Gutierrez (Vurnon Anita 24), Shane Ferguson, Papiss Cisse (Shola Ameobi 46), Demba Ba.
Subs not used: Rob Elliot, Sylvain Marveaux, Romain Amalfitano, Gael Bigirimana.
Booked: Hatem Ben Arfa (76).
Possession: 52%.
Shots on/off target: 14 - 9/5.
Referee: Mike Dean .
Attendance: 51,855.
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West Ham manager Sam Allardyce delighted with away win at Newcastle
Last Updated: November 11, 2012 8:51pm
SSN
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce hailed his team's great performance after their 1-0 win at Newcastle on Sunday. Kevin Nolan scored the only goal of the game just before half-time and the Hammers held on to go sixth in the Premier League - much to the delight of their manager. "It's a fantastic victory for us and a second away win," Allardyce told Sky Sports. "With Newcastle being one of the top six boys these days after last season it put some pressure on us. "I said to the lads, it's a great time to come here as they played midweek on Thursday in Europe and I experienced it myself at Bolton that the hardest game to win is the next one. "That gave us an opportunity here today and we took the opportunity with both hands. "It was a great performance and a great three points from us away from home, especially after losing three players through injury. I couldn't ask any more from the players today." Allardyce reserved particular praise for Nolan who again showed his remarkable ability to pop up with crucial goals for the Hammers. "That's five he's got now and the enormity of Kevin's goal record for us means he's our top scorer," added Allardyce. "Our frontmen are not really scoring at the minute but we're sharing the goals out. "And the way he played off Andy is what I liked the most. He really does sustain the attacks by holding the possession up. "He read the situation well in the box. It's a tap-in but you've got to be there and Kevin always seems to get in the box at the right time."
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Kevin Nolan was the hero for West Ham as his goal sealed a 1-0 win over former club Newcastle
Last Updated: November 11, 2012 10:02pm
SSN
Kevin Nolan enjoyed a happy return to Newcastle as he sealed a 1-0 win for West Ham that sent the east Londoners into the Premier League top six. The former Magpies midfielder scored shortly before the break, but Sam Allardyce's side were grateful for some wasteful attacking play from Newcastle as they failed to find an equaliser at St James' Park. Jussi Jaaskelainen almost gifted the hosts an early goal when he dwelled too long on a backpass, but he was rescued by Papiss Cisse's mistimed challenge, while at the other end Nolan's acrobatic attempt was deflected wide. West Ham enjoyed plenty of possession as the subdued hosts struggled to settle, although the Londoners lacked attacking punch and Yossi Benayoun lashed well wide.
Best of the match
Man of the match: Kevin Nolan popped up with the crucial goal as he so often does.
Save of the match: Demba Ba's header looked to have produced the equaliser but Jussi Jaaskelainen saved brilliantly.
Talking point: Did Newcastle do enough to pressure West Ham in a limp display?
Newcastle offered little invention themselves and appealed hopefully for a penalty when Mike Williamson was knocked off balance by George McCartney in the box. But a scrappy encounter was ignited by Newcastle old boy Nolan in the 37th minute as he turned in Joey O'Brien's low shot at the back post with the home side appealing in vain for offside. Nolan almost struck again soon afterwards, curling just over the top corner, while the Magpies finally threatened as Shane Ferguson's shot was blocked before Hatem Ben Arfa's drive was deflected into the side-netting. Demba Ba thought he had scored shortly after the restart until Jaaskelainen somehow clawed the striker's towering header off the line. Ba again tried to beat the Finn and his low shot drifted wide, but West Ham remained a threat as Mohamed Diame scooped over and Gary O'Neil nodded at Tim Krul. There was little respite for either defence as substitute Shola Ameobi headed wide and Ben Arfa tested Jaaskelainen, while Krul then had to save superbly to deny a clean-through Carroll. The home faithful were becoming increasingly agitated and they endured further frustration when Yohan Cabaye lashed a late effort over the bar.
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Looking Down on Spurs & Arsenal - The Joy of Three Points At Newcastle
By Iain Dale
West ham Till I Die
Don't tell my LBC bosses but I listened to the game on BBC London and from the commentary it seems as though it was an epic West Ham performance with the players sticking to the Allardyce gameplan. It's hard to believe that we are in sixth place after 11 games, above both Arsenal and Spurs. And four points against Man City and Newcastle is a respectable haul by anyone's standards. It sounds as if Diame and Noble controlled the midfield, with Carroll and Nolan combining well up front. Five goals in eleven games is a fantastic performance by Nolan, and the thing is, no one is getting on Andy Carroll's back for not scoring because we can all see what his contribution is to some fantastic team performances. If we keep on getting points, and he keeps up this level of performances we should all be content.
So, on to the Stoke game next Monday evening. They are a difficult side to beat and will come to Upton Park expecting to return to the Potteries expecting to get at least a point. I suspect Sam Allardyce might play a different tactical game. If Matt Jarvis is injured, it's possibly the time to play Cole and Carroll up front together. That ought to be enough to frighten even Stoke!
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It's No joy
Kev refuses to celebrate winner against Toon
Published: 11th November 2012
The Sun
KEVIN NOLAN refused to celebrate his West Ham winner. The skipper capped a perfect return to Toon with his 37th-minute strike to fire Hammers team into sixth place. Nolan joined West Ham at the start of last season from Newcastle in a £5million deal. And he admitted: "It was a perfect scenario for me to score. It was emotional. "But I was never going to celebrate scoring here. I never will. "That was down to the support I got when I was at Newcastle. But this was a great result for us."
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Newcastle 0 West Ham 1
By IAN GORDON
Last Updated: 12th November 2012
The Sun
SO that is what it feels like to be hammered by the man with the killer touch. The Toon faithful had seen often enough just why Kevin Nolan can lay claim to being one of the most lethal penalty-box predators in the league. Nolan netted 30 times from midfield in his 2½ years at St James' Park before he was allowed to leave. So it was inevitable that, on his first return to Tyneside, his unerring instinct for goal would prove decisive in a hard-fought game. Joey O'Brien's scuffed shot on 38 minutes was heading well wide of Tim Krul's goal. But it fell to Nolan, who once again was in the right place at the right time. There was no celebration from Nolan, who was quite happy to remain a Magpie and had no desire to fly the nest with his family settled in the North East. But, when owner Mike Ashley and the board suddenly pulled out of a planned new deal, West Ham came calling and are reaping the benefits. Having played a crucial role in returning the Hammers to the Premier League, Nolan has continued his goalscoring exploits in the top flight. Any regrets on taking away that contract offer now, Mike? No wonder Hammers boss Sam Allardyce believes Nolan's goal record from midfield should have earned him an England call-up.
Big Sam had plenty to celebrate on his return to the club that sacked him almost four years ago as the Hammers triumphed on Tyneside for the first time in four decades. They just about deserved it, too, even if most of the chances fell to the home side. But they were half-chances at best and, when they were on target, Jussi Jaaskelainen dealt with them comfortably. Nolan struck after 38 minutes and soon after he nearly had another, firing just wide from Mohamad Diame's pass. Alan Pardew's men were finally stirred into action with Shane Ferguson's shot well blocked by George McCartney. Hatem Ben Arfa saw an effort deflect off Winston Reid with Jaaskelainen stranded, only for it to hit the side-netting. The Finnish stopper then saved from Yohan Cabaye after Andy Carroll's poor clearance had fallen to the Frenchman. Pardew had to react and he did at half-time, replacing the ineffective Papiss Cisse with Shola Ameobi. Demba Ba was a far more dangerous prospect with Ameobi alongside him and he came so close to bagging the equaliser two minutes after the break. Ferguson's cross looped into the air off James Tomkins to Ba, whose header was palmed off the line by the keeper. Ba then fired wide from 22 yards while another effort was pushed round the post by Jaaskelainen.
Ben Arfa was close to scoring direct from the resulting corner but the veteran stopper reacted just in time. But the Hammers should have scored a second with 15 minutes left when the the 'telepathic twins' that are Nolan and his great pal Carroll broke clear. The ball from Nolan was inch perfect but Carroll (right) could not break his duck for the season as Krul made a fine save. The Dutch stopper went up the other end of the pitch in the dying minutes — but even his presence could not help the hosts.
DREAM TEAM
STAR MAN — DIAME (WEST HAM)
NEWCASTLE: Krul 6, Simpson 7 (Obertan 5), S Taylor 6, Williamson 6, Santon 5, Ben Arfa 6, Cabaye 4, Gutierrez 5 (Anita 4), Ferguson 5, Cisse 4 (Shola Ameobi 5), Ba 7. Subs not used: Elliot, Amalfitano, Bigirimana, Marveaux. Booked: Ben Arfa.
WEST HAM: Jaaskelainen 8, O'Brien 8, Reid 8, Tomkins 8, McCartney 7 (Demel 5), Benayoun 6 (O'Neil 7), Diame 9, Noble 8, Jarvis 4 (Maiga 5), Nolan 9, Carroll 6. Subs not used: Spiegel, Cole, Collins, Hall. Booked: Noble, O'Brien.
REF: M Dean 6
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SI-HAM-ESE TWINS
Sam hails Andy and Kev
By ANDY BAKER
Published: 11th November 2012
The Sun
Head-to-head: Ba v Carroll
FORMER Newcastle hero Andy Carroll took on ex-Hammer Demba Ba — but who came out on top now they have switched clubs?
THREAT
BA: The Senegal striker was restricted to long-range efforts.
CARROLL: Missed great late chance but aerial presence played part in winner.
SAM ALLARDYCE hailed Kevin Nolan and Andy Carroll — his telepathic strike twins. Nolan came back to haunt Newcastle by bagging the winner at St James' Park yesterday — the Scouser's fifth of the season. West Ham's Captain Marvel caused Alan Pardew's men all sorts of problems in tandem with ex-Toon team-mate Carroll as the Hammers climbed to sixth. And Upton Park boss Allardyce is convinced that the pair — big pals off the field — take their understanding on to it to prove a constant nightmare for Premier League defences. After leading West Ham to a 1-0 triumph — their first win on Tyneside for 14 years — against his old club, Allardyce said: "Kevin's relationship with Andy is such a good one that I don't need to do a lot of coaching with the two of them. "If anything, they instinctively play off each other. "While Andy's struggling to get a goal — and we'd like him to get one — Kevin's scoring them, so we're reaping the benefits of that relationship. "The combination of the two of them is causing problems for other teams. "Kevin's our captain and leading goalscorer, he has got us the win with his goal and his instincts in the box are there for all to see. "It's five goals in 11 games for him and it should be six because he's also had one chalked off. "Andy's getting better and better as time goes on for us and that partnership with Kevin is brilliant. Long may it continue because it's getting us victories and points on the board."
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Wings clipped: Hammers hero Nolan keeps vow to never celebrate goal against Toon
The Mirror
11 Nov 2012 22:31
Chris Brunskill
Kevin Nolan fired West Ham into sixth spot - and vowed he could never celebrate condemning his former club to defeat. The former Newcastle striker bagged his fifth goal of the season on his first return to St James' Park since being sold 16 months ago, in West Ham's 1-0 victory. Nolan, who was given a warm reception before the game, said: "It was a perfect scenario for me to score the winner. It was quite emotional when I did score the goal. I did say I was never going to celebrate scoring against Newcastle and I never will. "If I move on from West Ham I would never do it against them either. That was down to the support I received when I was here. I can't thank the fans enough for the reception I got. It was absolutely unbelievable. I had an absolutely fantastic time here. I love Newcastle and love everything about it - I made so many friends here along with my family. My boy is a Geordie, he was born here.
"It was a fantastic performance by us and I was delighted with the goal. I couldn't have asked for a better club to go to than West Ham for the following they've got and the commitment and everything they show. I would love to think I can do the same for them that I did for Newcastle." Nolan is now targeting further progress for the Hammers. He added: ""I'm just delighted for us because it got us the result and it moves us further up the table and it keeps us in the mix really. "You've got to expect to be up against it at Newcastle. They've got some fantastic players here and had some fantastic players who were missing, and we knew had to capitalise on that here. I think we did and we hung on, which is a credit to the lads because we've got a lot of grit and determination.
"What we're trying to do at West Ham is what we tried to do at Newcastle. When we came up it was about getting them back to where they belonged and then eventually into Europe. That's what I feel that West Ham should do with the support we've got and the backing from the boardroom hopefully we can emulate what Newcastle have done.
"I left Newcastle on great terms, Alan (Pardew) was absolutely fantastic to me. We still share the odd text here and there. Just before the play-off final he gave me some great words and support and I'll always have that with him. He was fantastic with me when he was here. He was honest with me, I was honest with him and you can't really ask for any more than that. It was nice to hear that."
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce hailed his side's start as they now prepare for a tough run of games. He said: "We have the big boys coming up and we are still getting points. No one was overawed coming here.
"The team will grow in terms of the credit they get if they keep winning games. Our tactical approach was spot on. In possession we were good and we nullified what is a fantastic attacking force from Newcastle. "We are laden with experience. I have experience. Only Ferguson and Wenger, and me and David Moyes. I can guide the players and the players have been there and done it too. "Winning here doesn't give me extra satisfaction. Winning away from home and beating a team of this quality is satisfying."
Pards can't put his finger on it...
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is still searching for a magic formula, after an average start to the league season. He said: "I wish I could put my finger on it. We have a side who has played 17 games yet it is proving difficult to get some rhythm. Away from home we have been solid and dogged. At home we need to perform better than today, for sure. "We have only lost four games in 17 but it hurts today. We lacked a bit of power on the pitch. We misses Tiote.
"We wasted a period of the game at the start. We knew they would play a fragmented, stop-start game. We didn't get rhythm or pressure on them and we let them get a footing in the game. Once they got the goal they were more confident. After that we created good pressure without making a special moment.
"Defensively we should not have conceded that goal. The second half was much more like us. We had a good chance, was it or wasn't it over the line."
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Vinny's Newcastle Report
Vinny 2:18 Mon Nov 12
West Ham Online
Newcastle United 0 West Ham United 1
West Ham recorded their first win at St James' Park since 1998 after a first half goal from Kevin Nolan secured all three points.
Whilst this will never go down as a brilliant game or magnificent performance the fact remains that this was a superb result which sees West Ham rise to 6th in the league having taken 18 points from 11 games.
To go away from home and beat a side who finished in the top 5 last season is no mean feat and is further indication of how far we have come as a team over the last 12 months.
Newcastle were very poor and this is something that obviously helped but we do deserve some credit for the way we battled away and kept going to the very end.
Both sides struggled with their passing and the game would not be considered much of an advert for Premiership football although most of the games I watch seem to be very similar in a very overrated league.
There were moments in the second half where we had to ride our luck but when going away from home you know that the other side are going to have their moments and thankfully we dealt with them very well with Winston Reid playing a blinder at the back.
Before the game I was not exactly confident and had expect us to get beat on the basis that our last away display at Wigan did not fill me with much hope. But the gritty determination of this Sam Allardyce inspired side seems to at times give us that extra edge.
For a newly promoted side we are not looking out of place and there continues to be an absence of sound coming from those who questioned the quality of the side during pre-season.
The chances Newcastle created came mainly from long range and we had a fantastic chance to make the victory a little more comfortable but this chance was squandered by Andy Carroll on his return to the North East.
But it would be another player returning to his former club in Kevin Nolan who would pop up yet again to score the winner and take his tally for the season to five which is already an excellent return from a midfielder.
The tactics, the style of play, the type of players we have – it all means little when we are winning games and moving up the table and finding success such as we are doing.
The result against Manchester City alongside this win are extremely pleasing and at the moment everything at West Ham looks very promising.
The Team
Sam Allardyce made one change to the side who battled to secure a point against the Champions Manchester City last week with James Collins being replaced by James Tomkins.
There had been some doubt over the fitness of Collins so this is why I would think he was only on the bench although this is a change many of us had wanted to see for a while.
Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan lined up against the side they both used to turn out for.
Starting for Newcastle was former Hammer Demba Ba who played 12 games for West Ham during the 2010/11 season, scoring 7 goals.
Managing Newcastle was former West Ham Manager Alan Pardew who took over in 2003 and left in 2006 having won a Play Off Final and finished runners up in the 2006 FA Cup Final.
The referee was 44 year old Mike Dean from the Wirral who was in charge of our opening game of the season against Aston Villa.
First Half
It was not exactly an exciting first half with both sides struggling to pass to one another but ultimately we were the happier given that we got ourselves in front and also that as the away side the game was being played in a style which suited us.
There was half a chance for winger Matt Jarvis as the ball bounced in the penalty area but his shot was hit well wide.
With 8 minutes gone a free kick into the area by Mark Noble saw Winston Reid head the ball down to Kevin Nolan who attempted an overhead kick which deflected off Ryan Taylor and out for a corner.
For most of the first half we looked decent and were attempting to knock the ball about and find some width as well as knocking the ball long for Andy Carroll who was not finding much joy against his old team.
A free kick was won after a foul on Noble and the midfielder took the set piece himself as his ball into the area was headed out only as far as Yossi Benayoun who sliced his shot well wide.
Any chance Newcastle were able to create usually came from us surrendering possession in key areas but they were unable to get enough bodies in the area to really threaten.
The game became very stop start with a number of fouls being made especially by our players and we were lucky not to see yellow as Mike Dean let things go.
On 34 minutes Matt Jarvis was replaced by Modibo Maiga. I'm not sure why he came off but can only presume it was due to injury.
With 7 minutes of the first half remaining we took the lead.
It came after a throw in was given to Noble who crossed into the area only for the clearance to come out as far as Joey O'Brien who hit a shot which was going well wide but it went straight into the path of Kevin Nolan who diverted the ball into the goal to make it 1-0.
Nolan always seemed to have the knack of being in the right place at the right time and this was no exception as he scored yet another goal. His celebrations were muted due to the clear respect he has for his former club but no West Ham could hide their delight in his goal.
Not long after we had taken the lead we were close to scoring a second when a strong run forward from Diame saw him play the ball through to Nolan who took a touch but fired his shot wide when on another day he would have hit the target.
For the remainder of the half which included four minutes injury time we were very poor and played our worst football of the half and indeed the game.
I was disappointed that we had just stopped playing and allowed Newcastle to come at us and in all honestly they should have probably equalised.
Many Newcastle supporters thought they had scored when a shot from Ben Arfa deflected off both Reid and then McCartney and then into the side netting.
The relentless pressure from the hosts was ended by the half time whistle.
Second Half
Newcastle made one change at half time with the inept Papiss Cisse being replaced by Shola Ameobi.
It seemed as though the Geordies were intent on starting the second half as they had finished the first by coming at us in numbers and with just two minutes of the half gone many thought they had scored.
A cross into the area saw O'Brien head the ball into the area and Demba Ba got up well to powerful head at goal where Jaaskelainen clawed out of the goal and away. Many had thought it had gone over the line although I am sure it did not.
Nevertheless this was a wonderful stop from Jaaskelainen.
With the pressure building we made another change with Gary O'Neil coming on for Yossi Benayoun.
Diame was showing his strength and power in midfield as he burst into the area but couldn't keep his feet and scooped his shot over the bar.
Another striding run from Diame saw the ball played out to the left to Maiga whose cross to the back post was met by O'Neil but despite his effort being on target, it had no power to test Krul in the Newcastle goal.
Joey O'Brien went into the book following a poor challenge with 30 minutes remaining.
Jaaskelainen was again called into action when curling shot from Ameobi tested him but he was again equal to it as he turned it away. The corner again tested the Fin as Ben Arfa curled it towards goal but it was tipped over.
An injury to George McCartney saw the left back forced to come off with Guy Demel replacing him.
This saw Demel go to right back and O'Brien at left back.
On 72 minutes we created a glorious chance to kill the game. It came after some poor Newcastle defending saw Carroll nip in and win the ball which saw Nolan burst forward and play in Carroll who with just the keeper to beat saw his shot saved by Krul. It should have been his first goal.
Time was not ticking away fast enough for my liking and I did have a resigned feeling that a goal for Newcastle was inevitable even though we were defending well and they were not having what I would call 'great' chances.
Perhaps it is just years of seeing West Ham squander leads and fall apart away from home which have given me this complex and this new determination under Sam Allardyce takes me by surprise.
The home side just couldn't find any quality in the final third and we were able to hold onto the ball going forward well and with that bit of arrogance needed to get through.
We all knew that there were going to be excessive injury time and the referee did award five minutes.
These minutes seemed to last an age and Newcastle looked to put pressure on us and create that one last great chance. It (sort of)came when a Ben Arfa cross was cleared only as far as Cabaye on the edge of the area and as the West Ham fans winced the shot went high and wide and we knew at that point that we were leaving the North East with all three points.
It was 1998 when we last won at Newcastle with Ian Wright scoring two and Trevor Sinclair with the other.
Never did I think that day that it would be so long until we would beat them again and the last time we were at St James' in 2011 we were thumped 5-0 so this was one of those results which has been a long time coming.
Did we deserve to win the game some may ask.
Deserving is nice, doing is better.
Player Reviews
Jussi Jaaskelainen
Despite our reservations he has now kept five clean sheets this season and I have to say I thought he was excellent during this game and pulled off a number of excellent stops. 8
Joey O'Brien
When he plays with a bit of aggression he is a much better player and if there was one player who was really up for this game then it was Joey O'Brien. He was strong in the tackle, never bottled a challenge, got forward well and he does get an assist for the goal also. 8
Winston Reid
The Kiwi warrior strikes again. Strong, accomplished and classy throughout. Won everything in the air, rarely caught out of position, saved us time and time again and continues to shine. 9
James Tomkins
There are times when up against a skilful player that he will sell himself too easily and look wayward but whilst this happened a couple of times during the game it is difficult to complain about his overall display as he was (like Reid) always in the right place at the right time and I was pleased to see him back in the side. 7
George McCartney
Similar to O'Brien there was a little bit more about him in the tackle during this one and he was playing well enough until his injury which forced him to come off in the second half. 7
Mark Noble
Another pleasing display from Noble who was on the ball a lot and played some good simple passes about. Caught in possession a couple of times and needs to be a little more aware of who is around him as he was dwelling on the ball. But this was still a good display and I am more than happy with him in our midfield. 7
Mohamed Diame
Becoming our most frustrating player. When he gets the ball and moves forward with it he is absolute class. Players cannot get near him and he brushes everyone aside – it is a real quality he has. But when he gets into the final third he just doesn't know what to do with it and every time he is doing the wrong thing. Get this right and we have a player. 7
Kevin Nolan
Looked a bit 'leggy' in the second half but he had covered a lot of ground and yet again he popped up with the goal. We would be a far worse team without Kevin Nolan. This isn't even opinion, this is a fact. 7
Yossi Benayoun
Apart from a collision with Guttierrez he was barely involved and it was not a surprise to see him come off. 5
Matt Jarvis
Was never in the game and whether it was injury or just tactical his removal did not hinder us. 5
Andy Carroll
For most of the game he looked every bit the donkey we hope he is not. In the second half he should have scored and his lack of goals is a little concerning. Unless we are not basing a strikers performance on goals now that it isn't Cole playing? Regardless of this point I thought as the second half wore on Carroll was important to us keeping the ball and he held it up really well in those final fifteen minutes. 6
Subs Used
Modibo Maiga (on for Jarvis 34 mins)
I'm still not sure what to make of Maiga. His approach play when on the ball looks good but he like Diame finds it difficult to pick out a pass. More to come from him I suspect. 6
Gary O'Neil (on for Benayoun 52 mins)
His display was full of energy and this helped us through a sticky period at the beginning of the second half. I would start him away at Tottenham instead of Benayoun.
Guy Demel (on for McCartney 66 mins)
Beaten a few times in a bit of a rusty display but good to see him back. Any player who cannot take a throw in often raises concerns for me.
Subs Not Used: Spiegel, Hall, Cole, Collins
Goals: WHU: Nolan (37)
Bookings: NU: Ben Arfa WHU: Noble, O'Brien
Man Of The Match: Winston Reid
Newcastle United: Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Taylor, Santon, Ferguson, Cabaye, Ben Arfa, Jonas, Cisse, Ba
Subs: Elliott, Anita, Amalfitano, Bigirimana, Marveaux, Obertan, Shola Ameobi
Referee: Mike Dean, 9
Attendance: 51,855
Overall
It may be too early to suggest that we begin to look at our position currently as an attainable goal but although it is an odd feeling to have as a West Ham supporter perhaps we should all be feeling a bit more confident about our prospects.
We matched Newcastle all over the pitch and had a player in Kevin Nolan who has the ability to pop up and get you that goal which will win you games like this. This isn't luck – he just knows where to be.
This 'difficult' run of games have already produced four points and two clean sheets.
Next Game – Stoke City (h) Monday, 19th November 8pm Kick Off
Back to the Boleyn we go for a game against a side who are also accused of playing the long ball game.
Stoke have been distinctly average this season and this is a game which we will be looking to win and I hope to see us attack them.
The season is going very well and long may it continue.
The View From Allardyce
'Of course it's our captain, who is our leading goalscorer, who has got us the three points.
'His instincts in the box are there for all to see. It's five goals he has got in 11 games now in the Premier League - it should be six because he had one chalked off this week (against Manchester City) that he shouldn't have done - and for a midfield player to be totalling up that sort of goal tally is fantastic from our point of view.
'That being the winner today is obviously satisfying for us all.'
'It's a fantastic start to the season for us now, 11 games, 18 points.
'Anybody who looks at what we have done, we had some reasonably good fixtures at the start of the season - every game is difficult in the Premier League, but they were more winnable than some of the fixtures we have perhaps got now.
'But in saying that, in our last three games, we lost to Wigan away, which I didn't expect, we drew with Manchester City and now we have beaten Newcastle.
'The big boys are coming up and we are still getting points, and that's the pleasing thing for me because confidence grows and grows and grows, as you could see today.
'It was a very professional performance by the players and nobody was overawed coming here.'
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Sunday, November 11
Daily WHUFC News - 11th November 2012
Mo to use inside knowledge
WHUFC.com
West Ham United midfielder Mo Diame knows all about the Newcastle United
squad
10.11.2012
Mohamed Diame will be able to supply Sam Allardyce with plenty of inside
knowledge about Sunday's opponents Newcastle United. West Ham United's No21
regularly lines up alongside Magpies strikers Demba Ba and Papiss Ciss for
the Senegal national team, while he came through the ranks at the famous
Clairefontaine Academy in France with midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa. Diame is
looking forward to catching up with his friends at St James' Park, but is
also confident of ruining their Sunday afternoons by helping the Hammers to
build on last weekend's goalless home Barclays Premier League draw with
champions Manchester City. "After the game against Wigan, I think we needed
to have this reaction against Manchester City. We did it, so now we have to
maintain that and take the three points from Newcastle. "There are a lot of
fans there and it is a big stadium. I have some friends there, both
Senegalese and Frenchmen, so it's going to be a good game. "I know Demba and
Papiss very well and I also know that they have scored a lot of goals. We
have to make sure we don't give them a lot of chances to score. They are
different players, but they both work every day in front of the goal and are
strikers who know how to score, so we have to try to restrict their chances.
"I also know Hatem Ben Arfa very well. I was in Clairfontaine with him so I
know he is a very good player. He has had a lot of injuries, but he is a
very good player so we have to be careful about him as well."
The midfielder played at St James' Park twice during his three-year spell
with Wigan Athletic, but did not finish on the winning side on either
occasion. In October 2010, the Magpies and Latics drew 2-2, while in October
2011 France international Yohan Cabaye netted the only goal in a 1-0
Newcastle victory.
Diame's ability to speak French may come in useful when it comes to
attacking and defending set pieces, as he will be able to understand the
likes of Ba, Cisse, Ben Arfa and Cabaye should they choose to communicate in
their native language. However, the Senegal midfielder played down any
potential advantage his linguistic skills may give the Hammers on the pitch.
"Football is the same in any language, whether it is English or French. We
are just going to go there and try to replicate the game we played against
Manchester City. These are the games I enjoy and I am sure it will be the
same for Andy [Carroll] and Nobby (Kevin Nolan) as well. It is going to be a
good game and we are going to enjoy it and hopefully get the three points."
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Lee fires U18s to victory
WHUFC.com
West Ham United beat Arsenal 2-0 in the Barclays U18 Premier League on
Saturday
10.11.2012
West Ham United ended a four-match winless run by scoring an impressive 2-0
Barclays U18 Premier League Group 1 victory over Arsenal on Saturday. Having
taken the lead through an own-goal from a Gunners player, striker Elliot Lee
netted his fourth goal in five youth-team matches this season to complete a
fine win at Little Heath. Perhaps just as pleasing for the coaching staff
was the fact that the Hammers kept their second clean sheet in eleven league
matches this term. West Ham also gained revenge for the 3-0 defeat they
suffered in the reverse fixture at Arsenal in September. Academy Director
Tony Carr MBE was justifiably pleased with the team's efforts, saying: "It
was a good performance and I thought we just about edged it and deserved our
win. We created some good chances and got our goals at good times."
Lee was partnered in attack by Walter Figueira (pictured), a 17-year-old
forward on trial from Chelsea. The West Ham youngsters will return to action
next Saturday, when they travel to West Bromwich Albion.
U18s: Baxter, Alexander, Page, Nasha, Harney, Cullen (Onnariase), Bywater,
Miles (Sadiler), Mavila, E.Lee (Boakye-Yiadom), Figueira
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Newcastle United v West Ham United
KUMb.com
Filed: Sunday, 11th November 2012
By: Preview Percy
Next we make the looooong trek north to Newcastle Upon Tyne for a match
moved to Sunday due to the Magpies' involvement in the poisoned chalice that
is the Europa League. Kick-off is at 3pm and those of you who are staying up
there on the Saturday night (or arriving early enough on the Sunday) might
care to pay a visit to Eldon Square in the city centre where the people of
Newcastle will be gathering from 10.30am to commemorate Remembrance Sunday.
I suspect that the club will also be marking the day with an appropriate
ceremony at St James's Park. If I have one piece of advice to offer it is
that, if you are one of those who tends to arrive just before kick-off, have
a think before starting a chant just outside the ground or in the communal
areas outside the pitch viewing area at about 3pm.
Our hosts currently sit in 10th place, one point and one place behind our
good selves with 14 points from the 10 games played thus far. At home
they've won 3 (Spurs 2-1 (tee hee), Norwich 1-0 and West Brom 2-1), drawn 1
(1-1 with Villa) and lost just the one (3-0 to Man Utd). On the road they've
lost just the once (2-0 at Chelsea) picking up draws at Everton and Reading
(both 2-2) and Sunderland and Liverpool (both 1-1). So, overall, a pretty
solid start to the season, not to dissimilar to our own then.
The club is owned by Mike Ashley, a man who made – and continues to make –
his fortune by becoming the gentlemen's outfitter of choice to Millwall and
Spurs fans. Since buying the club in 2007 his popularity has gone up and
down like the lines on the graph produced by that machine they have me wired
up to here at the Avram Grant Home for The Bewildered. It is said that on
purchasing the club Ashley failed to complete a due diligence process
(accountant-speak for having a proper look at the books) and that, as a
result, was a bit shocked to find that he would have to pump in another
£100m just to keep the club from ruin.
One of his early moves that gained favour with the Geordies was to replace
the unpopular manager – some chap called Allardyce – with Kevin Keegan. This
was a move destined to end in tears, partly due to Keegan's limited tactical
nous, but mainly thanks to the ludicrous idea of appointing the thick as two
short planks Dennis Wise as "Director of Football". Players arrived and
departed with barely a passing nod in Keegan's direction and the former
England boss eventually quit, citing interference from Wise as the reason.
Wise, who seemed to spend more time watching Chelsea than he did on Tyneside
eventually left himself a few months later.
Another move that annoyed the locals was the sacking of Chris Hughton a
couple of years ago. Hughton – who gained a lot of respect over the
dignified way in which he'd carried himself both during and after his tenure
at SJP- was replaced in 2010 by Alan Pardew. The kumb.com legal team (a full
time organisation whose sole job is to edit this column each week) have been
through what I have written about Mr Pardew and, following extensive use of
the blue pencil, the following remains: Alan Pardew managed West Ham United
between 2003-2006.
On the pitch Pardew has plumped for Dutchman Tim Krul in goal. Krul now has
the Magpies' no.1 shirt with second choice custodian Steve Harper being
allotted the coveted no.37 top. Harper hasn't been the luckiest of chaps,
having had to play second fiddle for years to Shay Given for both club and
country and he's picked up injuries at crucial stages in his career, often
just at the point when an extended run in the first XI looks likely. Krul,
on the other hand, is now regarded as first choice for both Newcastle and
the Netherlands. In the Netherlands he's picked up the nickname "Bakkers
Handen" which translates as "Bakers' Hands". Those wacky Dutch eh?!
In front of Krul there will be absentees from the usual first choice
defence. My good Geordie friend, Preview Alastair, informs me from his cot
in the Joe Kinnear Centre For Tourettes Research that James Perch, who has
also been employed in midfield on occasion, is likely to miss out with the
knock he picked up against the mickeys last weekend. Nicknamed "Perchinhio"
by some – possibly more in irony than admiration – he holds the record for
being the first player to reach five cautions (and therefore an automatic
suspension) over the first five games of a Premier League season.
Another who will be missing is skipper Fabricio Coloccini, who will be
entering the first of a three match suspension having kicked out at Luis
Suarez. There must surely be some scope for a change in the laws of the game
to allow players to kick lumps out of the likes of Suarez, Kebe, Terry etc
without fear of reprisal from over-zealous referees (or in this case
linesmen). In fact there ought to be some sort of prize fund for doing so.
They have a song about Coloccini up there. It suggests that his reputation
on Tyneside is such that most male Geordies would allow him to engage in
sexual relations with their spouses and that, in his honour, they would also
like to have curly hair. A most amusing chant. If only we'd thought of it
all those years ago when Christian Dailly was on our books eh?!
Steven Taylor is likely to appear in central defence where he will come up
against Andy Carroll. This might be an interesting part of the ground to
keep an eye on both on and off the ball as there is what you might call a
spot of "history". This dates back to when the two were team, well mates
probably isn't quite the correct word to use. It seems that there was some
sort of "altercation" between the pair – Preview Alastair mentioned an
exchange of text messages regarding a mutually-admired member of the
opposite sex which led to fisticuffs. Taylor ended up with a broken jaw
whilst Carroll's hands also sustained some damage. It'll be interesting to
see if time and distance have mellowed the relationship between the two.
Midfielder Cheik Tiote is also out thanks to suspension following his
sending off at Sunderland, although Yohan Cabaye appears to have recovered
from a knock picked up at Anfield.
Hatem Ben Arfa seems to have settled down a bit. Whilst in France he had a
bit of a reputation for being "difficult" to work with and his history is
littered with mention of the word "bust-up". Many players will get involved
in the odd training ground incident at some stage in their careers. Howeve,
few can have required separating from a team-mate on the pitch during a
pre-match warm-up as happened a few years ago. He also once refused to
warm-up from the bench, an incident that predated the phrase "doing a Tevez"
by a couple of years. Ben Arfa is happily recovered from the shocking tackle
from Nigel De Jong that broke his leg a few seasons ago. The tackle was so
awful that the Dutch national team dropped De Jong for disciplinary reasons
as a result. Would that our own FA had acted in similar fashion with John
Terry.
Up front we'll be reunited with Dember Ba who spent a few months with us
during the relegation season. Unfortunately for us he wasn't 100% match fit
at the start of his spell with us and by the time he hit form it was
probably too late. The relegation clause in his contract, without which he
wouldn't have signed in the first place, meant that he was offski at the end
of the season, pitching up at Newcastle where he's been sticking them away
in spectacular style. He's their top scorer this season but, more amusingly,
he's also second top scorer for Sunderland having put away an OG of a
Dowie-like nature up there a few weeks ago.
Also available up front is one of the 462 players in the league with the
surname "Cisse". Papiss (make your own jokes up on that one) arrived last
term and, like his compatriot Ba, has a penchant for the spectacular goal,
his effort against Chelsea last season being a prime example. Mind you, even
that was put in the shade by his effort against West Brom in which a Shammy
Ameobi effort was diverted into the net by, and there's no nice way of
putting this, his arse. If only we'd thought of that tactic while Neil
Ruddock was on the books.
Described by Preview Alastair as a "dick" there can only be one player in
contention for Crimewatch corner this week. Serial idiot Nile Ranger is
currently on the thinnest of thin ice with the Magpies' management who must
now be questioning the wisdom of giving the player a contract extension that
doesn't expire until 2016.
As a 15 year-old he did time in a Young Offender's Institution for his part
in armed muggings in North London. It will therefore come as little surprise
that Ranger is part of the legacy left behind by his fellow criminal Dennis
Wise, who brought the player to the club in 2008. The player's current
rap-sheet includes an arrest for an assault in 2011, a conviction for drunk
and disorderly behaviour earlier this year, a fine from the FA for
publishing homophobic tweets, various assorted assault charges, arrests for
breaching bail conditions relating to those various assorted assault charges
and, most recently, an arrest on suspicion of causing criminal damage to a
house in Enfield.
Newcastle have given the player a final written warning over his persistent
lateness for training – though how much attention he pays to this sort of
thing can be gauged by the fact that he even turned up late for a meeting
between him, the club and a representative from the PFA to discuss his
lateness. He's currently in the middle of a probation period requiring him
to turn up on time for six solid weeks before he'll be allowed to train with
the first team squad again. Even if he manages that, the chances of the
player keeping his nose clean for long enough to see him through to 2016
appear to be remote in extremis.
Our turn now. I enjoyed the overall performance last week which saw us pick
up a well-earned point. There were a few elements that caused concern mind,
particularly the frequency with which we ceded possession at times in the
second half. However, the main worry has to be the burgeoning injury list
that we seem to be developing at the moment. There are doubts about both
Tomkins (groin) and Collins (hamstring). It is to be hoped that one of those
two will be fit to line up alongside Reid, who would seem to be the only fit
central defender at in the squad at the moment. Fitness tests are due on
Saturday so by the time you read this you may have more idea than I have as
to their availability.
On the brighter side Guy Demel may be back following a hernia problem,
though Matt Taylor is still out. Other than that the usual suspects are
still unavailable.
SJP has not been the happiest of hunting grounds in recent seasons. There
are, however, a few things in our favour this time round. The injuries and
suspensions they have are in key areas and they did of course play the other
night, though there will obviously be changes from the line-up that drew 2-2
in Belgium. Against that we need to add the Nolan/Carroll factor into the
equation. I can't imagine much affecting Nolan up there – indeed if he gets
stick from the crowd he'll probably thrive on it. However, by all accounts
Carroll had an awful day up there with Liverpool last season and he'll need
to concentrate on the task in hand.
With us having our own potential absentees in defence I reckon that this one
will end up with honours even. The contents of the collection we took up for
the Joe Kinnear Centre For Tourette's Research (£2.50) will therefore be
winging its way towards Mr Winstone with the instruction that it be wagered
in full on a 2-2 draw.
Enjoy the game!
When Last We Met: Lost 0-5, January 2011. An abject performance gifted the
opposition five goals as Best (3), Lovenkrands and Nolan enabled the home
side to stroll to all three points. Our performance was so poor that Mike
Dean didn't have to bother helping them.
Danger Man: Demba Ba. Likely to be fit not only does he have a habit of
scoring rather special goals, he will also have that unwritten rule about
players scoring against former clubs on his side. Over to you Mr Carroll and
Mr Nolan.
Referee: Mike Dean. Along with his fellow "Mike" Jones, Dean is the least
trustworthy of a group of officials who consider themselves to be bigger
than the game. Regarded as the best referee in the country. By Mike Dean.
Daft Fact Of the Week: Following his recent heroics, asked whether he'd be
attending this match as the guest of the Hammers away fans, space-diver
Felix Baumgartner replied: "The away section at Newcastle? No chance. You're
not getting me up there".
Stat man John: Northcutt's corner
Head to Head
Pld 121; West Ham Utd 37, Newcastle Utd 49, Draws 35.
First Meeting
1st February 1908: Newcastle Utd 2-0 West Ham Utd (St James' Park, FA Cup)
Last Meeting
5th January 2011: Newcastle Utd 5-0 West Ham Utd (St James' Park, Premier
League)
Biggest Win(s)
21st April 1986: West Ham Utd 8-1 Newcastle Utd (Boleyn Ground, Division
One)
Heaviest Defeat(s)
5th January 2011: Newcastle Utd 5-0 West Ham Utd (St James' Park, Premier
League)
Memorable Match
21st April 1986: West Ham Utd 8-1 Newcastle Utd (Boleyn Ground, Division
One)
With just six games of the 1985/86 season remaining, John Lyall's West Ham
were sitting third in the Canon League Division One. The Geordies were
having a fairly decent campaign themselves so there were few signs of the
annihilation that was to follow as West Ham equalled their record number of
goals scored in the top flight. What was even more notable was the fact that
centre half Alvin Martin scored not only a hat-trick, but a hat-trick
against three different goalkeepers.
Martin opened the scoring after just three minutes when he converted Alan
Devonshire's free kick from close range. Further goals were added ahead of
the break by Ray Stewart, Neil Orr and Newcastle's Glenn Roeder, who was
left red faced when scoring a peach of an own goal. Newcastle goalkeeper
Martin Thomas, who had carried an injury into the game, was replaced at half
time by midfielder Chris Hedworth as reserve 'keeper David McKellar was also
injured. There was little Hedworth could do to stop Martin's crashing header
hitting the back of the net on 64 minutes; minutes later he returned to play
on field with Peter Beardsley now having a go between the sticks. The
England striker fared little better than either of his predecessors and
after Paul Goddard and Frank McAvennie had added goals six (81 mins) and
seven (83 mins), Beardsley was left to face Martin from the penalty spot (84
mins). Martin stepped up confidently before sending his international team
mate the wrong way to complete yet another unique West Ham United
achievement.
Early Bath
1992-93: Julian Dicks (A); 1993-94: Jeroen Boere (A); 1995-96 Steve Potts
(A); 2005-06: Paul Konchesky (A, Rescinded)
They Played For Both
Demba Ba; Lee Bowyer; Franz Carr; Les Ferdinand; John Dowsey; Keiron Dyer;
Paul Goddard; Marlon Harewood; Shaka Hislop; James Jackson; Vic Keeble; Matt
Kingsley; Paul Kitson; Robert Lee; Joe Loughlin; Scott Parker; Stuart
Pearce; Abdoulaye Faye; Wayne Quinn; Bryan Robson; George Robson; Keith
Robson; Harold Smith; Nobby Solano; David Terrier; David Kelly; Andy
Carroll; Kevin Nolan.
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The Julian Dicks Column: 9th November
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 10th November 2012
By: Julian Dicks
It's with great pleasure that we welcome West Ham United FC legend Julian
Dicks to KUMB.com. Julian shares his thoughts with the readers of Knees up
Mother Brown on a regular basis via his weekly column, the latest of which
begins a review of last weekend's goalless draw against the reigning league
champions...
City
It was a good result for West Ham last weekend. If you'd have said before
the game that we'd get a point out of it, I think everyone would have been
happy.
Kevin Nolan's goal, as we now know, was onside. It was a split decision; you
can look upon replay after replay and it's still tight. The officials have
got a hard enough job as it is and we all make mistakes; unfortunately it
went against us.
But City had some good chances - Mario Balotelli had two or three and Gareth
Barry had one as well - so overall the point was a decent point for West
Ham.
Captain Kev
As captain Kevin Nolan has contributed well for his goals - even though I'd
like to see him work a bit harder. But Sam's brought him in to do a job
which is scoring goals, which he's done - some important goals as well. If
you take his goals away then you might have an argument, but he's scoring
goals and that's what you want from him.
He's always gambling beyond the strikers and he's always in the right place
at the right time. He scores his goals so if he keeps doing that, you
persevere with it.
In the games I've watched he's not been far behind Andy Carroll and it looks
like we're playing 4-4-1-1 when he sits in there. But the good thing for me
is that when the ball goes into Andy Carroll, Kevin gambles. He does it all
the time. I used to try and get my players to do that at Grays but they
couldn't grasp it - but he does it naturally.
You have to give and take with him. Kevin's an intelligent footballer and he
has an understanding where that ball is going to go. He doesn't get it right
all the time - he might only guess right 50 per cent of the time - but he's
popped up to scores some very important goals, both this and last season.
Big Andy
So Roy Hodgson has dropped Andy Carroll from the England squad. Friendlies
don't really matter but when it comes to the European Championship in the
qualifiers you would expect Andy to be in the squad. He hasn't long been
back from his injury so Roy's probably given him an extra week or two to get
over his injury, but I'm sure if you spoke to Andy Carroll he'd want to
play. Still, West Ham's more important than England.
I don't know Andy but to me he looks a character and I suspect it doesn't
bother him too much. He contributes so much to the game and was different
class against Manchester City. He didn't score but there's more to him than
scoring goals. As a striker you want to score goals, but you have to look at
everything he brings to the game.
Andy quite often takes two or three defenders with him. That didn't use to
happen with us at West Ham because we had belief in the centre backs we
played with. I played with Alvin [Martin] who was quality in the air and
Galey, who wasn't the best in the air, but he could read the game
brilliantly. Then there's Rio [Ferdinand], Slav[en Bilic] and Marc Rieper;
they could all do a job.
Square pegs in round holes
Sam Allardyce could be short at the back this weekend and may be forced to
play one of his full backs at centre half. When I played, it wasn't
difficult for me as I was very good in the air for my height - which you
have to be because when you're a centre back, most things come down the
middle!
As a centre back, you have to be comfortable on the ball but at the end of
the day if that's all he's got he'll have to play them there, they'll have
to go and do the best job they can. It's fairly easy to adapt, it's not as
if you've gone from centre forward to centre back or left wing to defence.
If you play at left back you should be able to play as a left-sided centre
half; it shouldn't be that much of a problem.
Carlitos
Carlos Tevez received a warm welcome last weekend. I think it's great that
he getsa good reception when he comes back to Upton Park. When he was here
he gave everything he had for West Ham, so it was nice when the fans
applauded him as he was substituted. But it's weird; I think he concentrates
more on the supporters than he does the game!
Often now you see ex-players refuse to celebrate if they score - but for me
that's all b*llocks. If you score for Man City, as a Man City player you
should celebrate. The players say that's not acceptable now but that's total
crap. When Tevez was substituted, he clapped the West Ham fans before the
Man City fans - and if I was a City supporter, that would have pissed me
off! It's nice and everything, but I think he needs to concentrate more on
playing for Man City than getting plaudits from West Ham fans.
Coming Home
I had a fantastic experience when I came back to West Ham with Liverpool,
although I didn't get taken off! Before the game the fans sang my name and
clapped, so I clapped them back which was fine. But I was a Liverpool player
and when we scored - we won 2-1 that day - I celebrated.
At the end of the day I did everything I could for the club and if you get
sold, you get sold - although perhaps it's different with people like Paul
Ince! I didn't slag the club off when I left; when people do that and come
back of course they're going to get abuse.
That's all any supporter at any club wants, to see their players giving
everything they have. Certain players, when they're playing for a different
club? Yeah, they're going to boo you. But as long as you do everything for
the club you're at you can hold your hands up and say "yeah, I gave my best
and that's it".
Julian Dicks was talking to Graeme Howlett.
* Julian is currently available to coach both junior and senior football
teams. For more details, follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JULIAN3DICKS.
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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce insists he has improved every club he has worked
for
Last Updated: November 10, 2012 12:58pm
SSN
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce insists he has improved every club he has worked
for as he prepares to take on former club Newcastle on Sunday. Allardyce was
fired from St James' Park in January 2008 - with the Magpies 11th in the
Premier League - after Mike Ashley had taken over the club the year before.
He subsequently went on to manage Blackburn, where he was also sacked in
December 2010 by new owners Venky's, before taking over at Upton Park and
leading them to promotion last term and a present ninth position in the
table, a point ahead of the Magpies. Defending his record, Allardyce told
the Daily Telegraph: "Ask the people who worked with me. I evolved the type
of football that they liked. The players who worked with me enjoyed the
journey that we took. "Every club of mine finished in a better position when
I left than when I took over. "The yardstick of a manager's success tends to
be, 'What have you won?' You can't measure mine like that. "Each club,
whether it was Limerick, Blackpool, Notts County, Bolton, Newcastle,
Blackburn or West Ham, I improved.
"It's not me blowing my trumpet, it's a fact. Look at it another way. Every
one of my former clubs has been relegated since. Is that a better
measurement?"
Harm career
Allardyce denied the sackings had affected his confidence but they had
harmed his career. "No (it didn't affect his confidence), because I didn't
deserve to be sacked from either of those positions," he said. "But it does
harm your career. Clearly West Ham are a bigger and better club than
Blackburn Rovers,but I had to take them while they were still in the
Championship." He added: "When I lost my job at Newcastle, I remember a few
press lads asking, 'Are you going to drop down to come back up again?' "I
said, 'Am I what? I'm one of the longest-serving Premier League managers
around and you're saying I should drop down to the Championship? Have you
seen my CV?' "It shows you how people forget in this game and how, over
time, they can lose the reality of what you have done."
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West Ham midfielder Mohamed Diame is aware of Newcastle's attacking threat
Last Updated: November 10, 2012 7:09pm
SSN
Mohamed Diame knows it will be difficult for West Ham to contain the likes
of Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba but is determined to pick up three points
against Newcastle. Diame, 25, has impressed for West Ham since moving to
Upton Park in the summer from Wigan as Sam Allardyce's side have defied the
odds to sit ninth in the table. Newcastle are one point and one place below
the Hammers in the standings and Diame wants to utilise his knowledge of his
Senegal team-mates to help towards a win on Sunday. "After the game against
Wigan, I think we needed to have this reaction against Manchester City. We
did it, so now we have to maintain that and take the three points from
Newcastle," he told the club's official website. "There are a lot of fans
there and it is a big stadium. I have some friends there, both Senegalese
and Frenchmen, so it's going to be a good game. "I know Demba and Papiss
very well and I also know that they have scored a lot of goals. We have to
make sure we don't give them a lot of chances to score. "They are different
players, but they both work every day in front of the goal and are strikers
who know how to score, so we have to try to restrict their chances."
Midfielder Diame has also spent time playing alongside Newcastle playmaker
Hatem Ben Arfa . "I was in Clairefontaine with him so I know he is a very
good player," he said. "He has had a lot of injuries, but he is a very good
player so we have to be careful about him as well." Diame pinpointed the
performance against Manchester City in the goalless draw at Upton Park last
weekend as a yard-stick for the challenge ahead on Tyneside. "We are just
going to go there and try to replicate the game we played against Manchester
City," he said. "These are the games I enjoy and I am sure it will be the
same for Andy (Carroll) and Kevin Nolan as well. It is going to be a good
game and we are going to enjoy it and hopefully get the three points."
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Nolan: I saved Andy's career
The Sun
By ROSS GREGORY
Published: 10th November 2012
KEVIN NOLAN believes that he played a major role in helping save Andy
Carroll's career. Now the West Ham ace hopes the talented striker — and chef
— can silence the Newcastle boo-boys on his return to St James' today.
Carroll, 23, was suffering a nightmare spell away from football two years
ago after being charged with assaulting his former girlfriend Laurie
Henderson. The charges were later dropped. This was just months after the
England forward pleaded guilty to a separate assault charge following an
incident at a Newcastle nightclub when he was fined £1,000. As part of the
initial bail condition Carroll was ordered to live with Nolan, who was then
Newcastle's club captain. Nolan jokes that he was the only one stupid enough
to take in Carroll but is glad he did after he emerged as superb cook and
made sure he was well fed while his missus was away in Liverpool. The
midfielder said: "At Newcastle, if something goes on, it gets exploded 10
times and with Andy, it was magnified 1,000 times. "He was on assault
charges but that sort of died quite quickly afterwards and all the charges
put up against him were suddenly dropped. "It was because he's 6ft 5in, he's
got long hair, he stands out in a crowd. I knew he just had to keep himself
out of those situations, and since then he's learnt so much. He's been to
Liverpool where he lived on his own with his girlfriend. "There is a
different lad standing there in that dressing room now. There's a man there
now who can look after himself. You'd have to ask Andy if I've had an
influence on that, of course I'm going to say 'yeah!' "Obviously, he was a
friend of ours and needed somewhere to stay. It wasn't for too long and my
missus was down in Liverpool for quite a lot of the time. We were just like
room-mates. "He's a good fella, he cooked a couple of times and he was quite
handy in the kitchen. He made pasta with tomato, chicken and all that type
of stuff. It was actually nice. "I think the club chose me because I was big
mates with Andy and I was captain. Plus I was probably the only one stupid
enough to let him stay!"
Nolan, 30, is also relishing the chance to make his first appearance back at
St James' Park since leaving the club in June 2011. The former Toon captain
became a fans' favourite after a superb run which saw him score 30 goals
from midfield in his 2½-year spell. He admits he never asked to leave but
the offer he was given by the Newcastle board was taken away from him. Nolan
added: "They told me 'we can sort all you want at the end of the season.'
Then two weeks before the end that offer went off the table. "I was on
holiday and must admit it ruined it. Me and my wife were going through a bad
time because she didn't want to move, she loved it in Newcastle. "We were
settled, had the kids in school, but that's just part of football. "I knew
that down here I could succeed. I knew Big Sam had come here and I thought
'yeah, let's make it happen'. I was only too pleased to answer the call. "It
was just the way everything went — how both chairmen really got behind the
move and how much they wanted me to join. I'm thankful I made that choice
because it's been a fantastic 17 months.
"But, as I say, no hard feelings. I'm delighted to be here now — and I had a
fantastic time there. "It was the best for both parties and I left shaking
hands with everyone. "I'm looking forward to going back and saying goodbye,
because I didn't get a chance to thank a lot of people who made my stay up
there really great."
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce believes Nolan is the best signing he has
ever made and cannot understand why he has not played for England. The West
Ham skipper revealed: "Obviously when you see 31-year-old Leon Osman getting
the call-up, it sort of does tell you to not give up hope, but I don't
really know much more I could do to be honest. "I've scored goals
consistently now for a number of years — and yeah I dropped out of the
division but I consistently scored goals down there too. "Jay Bothroyd got a
call-up from being in the Championship and scoring goals, so I don't really
know what more I can do. "All I'll say is that I was born in an era where
we've had probably the best midfielders England have ever had in terms of
goal scoring. "It does hurt I haven't got the call but it's something I've
got to live with — I'm a big boy. "I spoke to one of the managers after he
got the sack. He said if he'd known the type of impact and everything I was
about BEFORE he was England manager, he would have called me up. "That was
nice to hear but then I sort of wanted to strangle him as well!"
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Collison on track
Published: 10th November 2012
The Sun
JACK COLLISON has given West Ham a massive boost by targeting a return at
Christmas. The Wales midfielder has been out all season with a chronic knee
problem which was aggravated during the Hammers' play-off push last season.
But he said: "I'm back training so hopefully around Christmas I should be
back in the mix." Collison, 24, was instrumental in getting West Ham back in
the Prem. He added: "I could hardly move during the play-off final but it
was a great day and West Ham are back where they belong."
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Change of Toon: Andy Carroll has grown up from the boy I 'saved', says Kevin
Nolan
The Mirror
10 Nov 2012 22:30
Matthew Lewis
Kevin Nolan has described the major role he played in salvaging Andy
Carroll's career. The pair are together at West Ham but it is while they
were team-mates at Newcastle that Nolan had such an impact on Carroll's
life. The big striker courted trouble and two years ago was ordered to stay
with Nolan – then Newcastle captain – while he was on bail for assualt
charges. Charges were later dropped and Nolan described how he and the
Newcastle backroom staff helped Carroll turn his life around. He said: "Did
I help to save his career? You can write that. When something happens in
Newcastle, it gets exploded 10 times. With Andy it is blown up even more.
"He needed somewhere to stay. He was in a hotel so I cleared it with the
missus and it was OK. He was a good fella and not a bad cook... pasta and
things like that. Why me? Because I was captain at the time and probably the
only one stupid enough to let him stay. I spoke to him and so did manager
Chris Hughton and the assistant Colin Calderwood. "But he was in trouble
really because it was him. He is 6ft 5in tall with long hair and he stands
out in a crowd. "He was brilliant for Newcastle and everything he did was
magnified 1,000 times. He knew he had to stay out of situations and he went
to Liverpool to stay with his girlfriend."
While Carroll was staying with Nolan his Range Rover, parked in Nolan's
driveway, was set on fire to compound their problems. West Ham reunited the
duo by signing Carroll on loan from Liverpool and Nolan insisted: "There is
a different lad standing there now from what he was when I first went into
Newcastle.
"He was just 19 then but there is a different man in the dressing room now
who can look after himself and do the right things."
Both Nolan and Carroll left the Toon without asking for transfers. Nolan's
contract talks had failed and he resumed a partnership with Sam Allardyce
that had been so productive at Bolton. Carroll was moved on when Liverpool
made a £35 million offer that Newcastle couldn't refuse. So will they get
abuse this afternoon when they return? "I'm hoping for a good reception,"
said Nolan optimistically. "I have a lot of friends there. I didn't think I
would ever leave. My wife didn't want to move. But I wanted to take the
chance to work with the gaffer again. "He gave me my chance. It hurt him
when he had to leave Newcastle but I knew he would bounce back. When I got
the chance to work with him again, it was a no-brainer." If Carroll scores
his first goal for West Ham, it is unlikely he will celebrate. Nolan, for
sure, will show restraint saying: "No, I won't celebrate out of respect."
One honour still to elude Nolan is an England cap. "That hurts," said the
30-year-old. "Maybe it will still come. "My son thinks I am 'Daddy West
Ham'. It would be nice for him to say 'Daddy England'."
Meanwhile, Newcastle boss Alan Pardew maintains the Magpies haven't missed
Andy Carroll thanks to Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse.
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West Ham's Kevin Nolan: I deserve England call-up
Goal.com
11 Nov 2012 08:50:00
By Rhys Turrell
West Ham United captain Kevin Nolan believes he deserves the chance to
represent his country and show what he can do at international level.
Despite a long career in the top flight with Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle
United and the Hammers, Nolan is yet to receive any national team honours.
And after 31-year-old Everton midfielder Leon Osman received a surprise
call-up to Roy Hodgson's Three Lions set-up for the friendly against Sweden
on Wednesday, there remains a chance that the West Ham midfielder could be
considered in upcoming games, although Nolan remains philosophical about his
prospects. "It does hurt I haven't got one [England cap] I must admit, and
it does hurt a bit, but it is something I have got to live with and I'm a
big boy," the 30-year-old Liverpudlian told reporters. "I don't know what
more I can do to be quite honest. I've scored goals consistently for a
number of years, I dropped down a division but consistently scored goals
down there. "I think I have at least deserved a call-up and a chance to
prove myself at that level."
Nolan has been in impressive form for his club following their return to
England's top flight this season. Under the management of Sam Allardyce -
with whom Nolan enjoyed a lengthy and successful association at Bolton - the
Upton Park club have adapted to life in the Premier League far better than
fellow promoted sides Southampton and Reading. The Hammers currently sit
ninth in the table ahead of their visit to another of Nolan's former clubs,
Newcastle, on Sunday.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
West Ham United midfielder Mo Diame knows all about the Newcastle United
squad
10.11.2012
Mohamed Diame will be able to supply Sam Allardyce with plenty of inside
knowledge about Sunday's opponents Newcastle United. West Ham United's No21
regularly lines up alongside Magpies strikers Demba Ba and Papiss Ciss for
the Senegal national team, while he came through the ranks at the famous
Clairefontaine Academy in France with midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa. Diame is
looking forward to catching up with his friends at St James' Park, but is
also confident of ruining their Sunday afternoons by helping the Hammers to
build on last weekend's goalless home Barclays Premier League draw with
champions Manchester City. "After the game against Wigan, I think we needed
to have this reaction against Manchester City. We did it, so now we have to
maintain that and take the three points from Newcastle. "There are a lot of
fans there and it is a big stadium. I have some friends there, both
Senegalese and Frenchmen, so it's going to be a good game. "I know Demba and
Papiss very well and I also know that they have scored a lot of goals. We
have to make sure we don't give them a lot of chances to score. They are
different players, but they both work every day in front of the goal and are
strikers who know how to score, so we have to try to restrict their chances.
"I also know Hatem Ben Arfa very well. I was in Clairfontaine with him so I
know he is a very good player. He has had a lot of injuries, but he is a
very good player so we have to be careful about him as well."
The midfielder played at St James' Park twice during his three-year spell
with Wigan Athletic, but did not finish on the winning side on either
occasion. In October 2010, the Magpies and Latics drew 2-2, while in October
2011 France international Yohan Cabaye netted the only goal in a 1-0
Newcastle victory.
Diame's ability to speak French may come in useful when it comes to
attacking and defending set pieces, as he will be able to understand the
likes of Ba, Cisse, Ben Arfa and Cabaye should they choose to communicate in
their native language. However, the Senegal midfielder played down any
potential advantage his linguistic skills may give the Hammers on the pitch.
"Football is the same in any language, whether it is English or French. We
are just going to go there and try to replicate the game we played against
Manchester City. These are the games I enjoy and I am sure it will be the
same for Andy [Carroll] and Nobby (Kevin Nolan) as well. It is going to be a
good game and we are going to enjoy it and hopefully get the three points."
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Lee fires U18s to victory
WHUFC.com
West Ham United beat Arsenal 2-0 in the Barclays U18 Premier League on
Saturday
10.11.2012
West Ham United ended a four-match winless run by scoring an impressive 2-0
Barclays U18 Premier League Group 1 victory over Arsenal on Saturday. Having
taken the lead through an own-goal from a Gunners player, striker Elliot Lee
netted his fourth goal in five youth-team matches this season to complete a
fine win at Little Heath. Perhaps just as pleasing for the coaching staff
was the fact that the Hammers kept their second clean sheet in eleven league
matches this term. West Ham also gained revenge for the 3-0 defeat they
suffered in the reverse fixture at Arsenal in September. Academy Director
Tony Carr MBE was justifiably pleased with the team's efforts, saying: "It
was a good performance and I thought we just about edged it and deserved our
win. We created some good chances and got our goals at good times."
Lee was partnered in attack by Walter Figueira (pictured), a 17-year-old
forward on trial from Chelsea. The West Ham youngsters will return to action
next Saturday, when they travel to West Bromwich Albion.
U18s: Baxter, Alexander, Page, Nasha, Harney, Cullen (Onnariase), Bywater,
Miles (Sadiler), Mavila, E.Lee (Boakye-Yiadom), Figueira
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Newcastle United v West Ham United
KUMb.com
Filed: Sunday, 11th November 2012
By: Preview Percy
Next we make the looooong trek north to Newcastle Upon Tyne for a match
moved to Sunday due to the Magpies' involvement in the poisoned chalice that
is the Europa League. Kick-off is at 3pm and those of you who are staying up
there on the Saturday night (or arriving early enough on the Sunday) might
care to pay a visit to Eldon Square in the city centre where the people of
Newcastle will be gathering from 10.30am to commemorate Remembrance Sunday.
I suspect that the club will also be marking the day with an appropriate
ceremony at St James's Park. If I have one piece of advice to offer it is
that, if you are one of those who tends to arrive just before kick-off, have
a think before starting a chant just outside the ground or in the communal
areas outside the pitch viewing area at about 3pm.
Our hosts currently sit in 10th place, one point and one place behind our
good selves with 14 points from the 10 games played thus far. At home
they've won 3 (Spurs 2-1 (tee hee), Norwich 1-0 and West Brom 2-1), drawn 1
(1-1 with Villa) and lost just the one (3-0 to Man Utd). On the road they've
lost just the once (2-0 at Chelsea) picking up draws at Everton and Reading
(both 2-2) and Sunderland and Liverpool (both 1-1). So, overall, a pretty
solid start to the season, not to dissimilar to our own then.
The club is owned by Mike Ashley, a man who made – and continues to make –
his fortune by becoming the gentlemen's outfitter of choice to Millwall and
Spurs fans. Since buying the club in 2007 his popularity has gone up and
down like the lines on the graph produced by that machine they have me wired
up to here at the Avram Grant Home for The Bewildered. It is said that on
purchasing the club Ashley failed to complete a due diligence process
(accountant-speak for having a proper look at the books) and that, as a
result, was a bit shocked to find that he would have to pump in another
£100m just to keep the club from ruin.
One of his early moves that gained favour with the Geordies was to replace
the unpopular manager – some chap called Allardyce – with Kevin Keegan. This
was a move destined to end in tears, partly due to Keegan's limited tactical
nous, but mainly thanks to the ludicrous idea of appointing the thick as two
short planks Dennis Wise as "Director of Football". Players arrived and
departed with barely a passing nod in Keegan's direction and the former
England boss eventually quit, citing interference from Wise as the reason.
Wise, who seemed to spend more time watching Chelsea than he did on Tyneside
eventually left himself a few months later.
Another move that annoyed the locals was the sacking of Chris Hughton a
couple of years ago. Hughton – who gained a lot of respect over the
dignified way in which he'd carried himself both during and after his tenure
at SJP- was replaced in 2010 by Alan Pardew. The kumb.com legal team (a full
time organisation whose sole job is to edit this column each week) have been
through what I have written about Mr Pardew and, following extensive use of
the blue pencil, the following remains: Alan Pardew managed West Ham United
between 2003-2006.
On the pitch Pardew has plumped for Dutchman Tim Krul in goal. Krul now has
the Magpies' no.1 shirt with second choice custodian Steve Harper being
allotted the coveted no.37 top. Harper hasn't been the luckiest of chaps,
having had to play second fiddle for years to Shay Given for both club and
country and he's picked up injuries at crucial stages in his career, often
just at the point when an extended run in the first XI looks likely. Krul,
on the other hand, is now regarded as first choice for both Newcastle and
the Netherlands. In the Netherlands he's picked up the nickname "Bakkers
Handen" which translates as "Bakers' Hands". Those wacky Dutch eh?!
In front of Krul there will be absentees from the usual first choice
defence. My good Geordie friend, Preview Alastair, informs me from his cot
in the Joe Kinnear Centre For Tourettes Research that James Perch, who has
also been employed in midfield on occasion, is likely to miss out with the
knock he picked up against the mickeys last weekend. Nicknamed "Perchinhio"
by some – possibly more in irony than admiration – he holds the record for
being the first player to reach five cautions (and therefore an automatic
suspension) over the first five games of a Premier League season.
Another who will be missing is skipper Fabricio Coloccini, who will be
entering the first of a three match suspension having kicked out at Luis
Suarez. There must surely be some scope for a change in the laws of the game
to allow players to kick lumps out of the likes of Suarez, Kebe, Terry etc
without fear of reprisal from over-zealous referees (or in this case
linesmen). In fact there ought to be some sort of prize fund for doing so.
They have a song about Coloccini up there. It suggests that his reputation
on Tyneside is such that most male Geordies would allow him to engage in
sexual relations with their spouses and that, in his honour, they would also
like to have curly hair. A most amusing chant. If only we'd thought of it
all those years ago when Christian Dailly was on our books eh?!
Steven Taylor is likely to appear in central defence where he will come up
against Andy Carroll. This might be an interesting part of the ground to
keep an eye on both on and off the ball as there is what you might call a
spot of "history". This dates back to when the two were team, well mates
probably isn't quite the correct word to use. It seems that there was some
sort of "altercation" between the pair – Preview Alastair mentioned an
exchange of text messages regarding a mutually-admired member of the
opposite sex which led to fisticuffs. Taylor ended up with a broken jaw
whilst Carroll's hands also sustained some damage. It'll be interesting to
see if time and distance have mellowed the relationship between the two.
Midfielder Cheik Tiote is also out thanks to suspension following his
sending off at Sunderland, although Yohan Cabaye appears to have recovered
from a knock picked up at Anfield.
Hatem Ben Arfa seems to have settled down a bit. Whilst in France he had a
bit of a reputation for being "difficult" to work with and his history is
littered with mention of the word "bust-up". Many players will get involved
in the odd training ground incident at some stage in their careers. Howeve,
few can have required separating from a team-mate on the pitch during a
pre-match warm-up as happened a few years ago. He also once refused to
warm-up from the bench, an incident that predated the phrase "doing a Tevez"
by a couple of years. Ben Arfa is happily recovered from the shocking tackle
from Nigel De Jong that broke his leg a few seasons ago. The tackle was so
awful that the Dutch national team dropped De Jong for disciplinary reasons
as a result. Would that our own FA had acted in similar fashion with John
Terry.
Up front we'll be reunited with Dember Ba who spent a few months with us
during the relegation season. Unfortunately for us he wasn't 100% match fit
at the start of his spell with us and by the time he hit form it was
probably too late. The relegation clause in his contract, without which he
wouldn't have signed in the first place, meant that he was offski at the end
of the season, pitching up at Newcastle where he's been sticking them away
in spectacular style. He's their top scorer this season but, more amusingly,
he's also second top scorer for Sunderland having put away an OG of a
Dowie-like nature up there a few weeks ago.
Also available up front is one of the 462 players in the league with the
surname "Cisse". Papiss (make your own jokes up on that one) arrived last
term and, like his compatriot Ba, has a penchant for the spectacular goal,
his effort against Chelsea last season being a prime example. Mind you, even
that was put in the shade by his effort against West Brom in which a Shammy
Ameobi effort was diverted into the net by, and there's no nice way of
putting this, his arse. If only we'd thought of that tactic while Neil
Ruddock was on the books.
Described by Preview Alastair as a "dick" there can only be one player in
contention for Crimewatch corner this week. Serial idiot Nile Ranger is
currently on the thinnest of thin ice with the Magpies' management who must
now be questioning the wisdom of giving the player a contract extension that
doesn't expire until 2016.
As a 15 year-old he did time in a Young Offender's Institution for his part
in armed muggings in North London. It will therefore come as little surprise
that Ranger is part of the legacy left behind by his fellow criminal Dennis
Wise, who brought the player to the club in 2008. The player's current
rap-sheet includes an arrest for an assault in 2011, a conviction for drunk
and disorderly behaviour earlier this year, a fine from the FA for
publishing homophobic tweets, various assorted assault charges, arrests for
breaching bail conditions relating to those various assorted assault charges
and, most recently, an arrest on suspicion of causing criminal damage to a
house in Enfield.
Newcastle have given the player a final written warning over his persistent
lateness for training – though how much attention he pays to this sort of
thing can be gauged by the fact that he even turned up late for a meeting
between him, the club and a representative from the PFA to discuss his
lateness. He's currently in the middle of a probation period requiring him
to turn up on time for six solid weeks before he'll be allowed to train with
the first team squad again. Even if he manages that, the chances of the
player keeping his nose clean for long enough to see him through to 2016
appear to be remote in extremis.
Our turn now. I enjoyed the overall performance last week which saw us pick
up a well-earned point. There were a few elements that caused concern mind,
particularly the frequency with which we ceded possession at times in the
second half. However, the main worry has to be the burgeoning injury list
that we seem to be developing at the moment. There are doubts about both
Tomkins (groin) and Collins (hamstring). It is to be hoped that one of those
two will be fit to line up alongside Reid, who would seem to be the only fit
central defender at in the squad at the moment. Fitness tests are due on
Saturday so by the time you read this you may have more idea than I have as
to their availability.
On the brighter side Guy Demel may be back following a hernia problem,
though Matt Taylor is still out. Other than that the usual suspects are
still unavailable.
SJP has not been the happiest of hunting grounds in recent seasons. There
are, however, a few things in our favour this time round. The injuries and
suspensions they have are in key areas and they did of course play the other
night, though there will obviously be changes from the line-up that drew 2-2
in Belgium. Against that we need to add the Nolan/Carroll factor into the
equation. I can't imagine much affecting Nolan up there – indeed if he gets
stick from the crowd he'll probably thrive on it. However, by all accounts
Carroll had an awful day up there with Liverpool last season and he'll need
to concentrate on the task in hand.
With us having our own potential absentees in defence I reckon that this one
will end up with honours even. The contents of the collection we took up for
the Joe Kinnear Centre For Tourette's Research (£2.50) will therefore be
winging its way towards Mr Winstone with the instruction that it be wagered
in full on a 2-2 draw.
Enjoy the game!
When Last We Met: Lost 0-5, January 2011. An abject performance gifted the
opposition five goals as Best (3), Lovenkrands and Nolan enabled the home
side to stroll to all three points. Our performance was so poor that Mike
Dean didn't have to bother helping them.
Danger Man: Demba Ba. Likely to be fit not only does he have a habit of
scoring rather special goals, he will also have that unwritten rule about
players scoring against former clubs on his side. Over to you Mr Carroll and
Mr Nolan.
Referee: Mike Dean. Along with his fellow "Mike" Jones, Dean is the least
trustworthy of a group of officials who consider themselves to be bigger
than the game. Regarded as the best referee in the country. By Mike Dean.
Daft Fact Of the Week: Following his recent heroics, asked whether he'd be
attending this match as the guest of the Hammers away fans, space-diver
Felix Baumgartner replied: "The away section at Newcastle? No chance. You're
not getting me up there".
Stat man John: Northcutt's corner
Head to Head
Pld 121; West Ham Utd 37, Newcastle Utd 49, Draws 35.
First Meeting
1st February 1908: Newcastle Utd 2-0 West Ham Utd (St James' Park, FA Cup)
Last Meeting
5th January 2011: Newcastle Utd 5-0 West Ham Utd (St James' Park, Premier
League)
Biggest Win(s)
21st April 1986: West Ham Utd 8-1 Newcastle Utd (Boleyn Ground, Division
One)
Heaviest Defeat(s)
5th January 2011: Newcastle Utd 5-0 West Ham Utd (St James' Park, Premier
League)
Memorable Match
21st April 1986: West Ham Utd 8-1 Newcastle Utd (Boleyn Ground, Division
One)
With just six games of the 1985/86 season remaining, John Lyall's West Ham
were sitting third in the Canon League Division One. The Geordies were
having a fairly decent campaign themselves so there were few signs of the
annihilation that was to follow as West Ham equalled their record number of
goals scored in the top flight. What was even more notable was the fact that
centre half Alvin Martin scored not only a hat-trick, but a hat-trick
against three different goalkeepers.
Martin opened the scoring after just three minutes when he converted Alan
Devonshire's free kick from close range. Further goals were added ahead of
the break by Ray Stewart, Neil Orr and Newcastle's Glenn Roeder, who was
left red faced when scoring a peach of an own goal. Newcastle goalkeeper
Martin Thomas, who had carried an injury into the game, was replaced at half
time by midfielder Chris Hedworth as reserve 'keeper David McKellar was also
injured. There was little Hedworth could do to stop Martin's crashing header
hitting the back of the net on 64 minutes; minutes later he returned to play
on field with Peter Beardsley now having a go between the sticks. The
England striker fared little better than either of his predecessors and
after Paul Goddard and Frank McAvennie had added goals six (81 mins) and
seven (83 mins), Beardsley was left to face Martin from the penalty spot (84
mins). Martin stepped up confidently before sending his international team
mate the wrong way to complete yet another unique West Ham United
achievement.
Early Bath
1992-93: Julian Dicks (A); 1993-94: Jeroen Boere (A); 1995-96 Steve Potts
(A); 2005-06: Paul Konchesky (A, Rescinded)
They Played For Both
Demba Ba; Lee Bowyer; Franz Carr; Les Ferdinand; John Dowsey; Keiron Dyer;
Paul Goddard; Marlon Harewood; Shaka Hislop; James Jackson; Vic Keeble; Matt
Kingsley; Paul Kitson; Robert Lee; Joe Loughlin; Scott Parker; Stuart
Pearce; Abdoulaye Faye; Wayne Quinn; Bryan Robson; George Robson; Keith
Robson; Harold Smith; Nobby Solano; David Terrier; David Kelly; Andy
Carroll; Kevin Nolan.
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The Julian Dicks Column: 9th November
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 10th November 2012
By: Julian Dicks
It's with great pleasure that we welcome West Ham United FC legend Julian
Dicks to KUMB.com. Julian shares his thoughts with the readers of Knees up
Mother Brown on a regular basis via his weekly column, the latest of which
begins a review of last weekend's goalless draw against the reigning league
champions...
City
It was a good result for West Ham last weekend. If you'd have said before
the game that we'd get a point out of it, I think everyone would have been
happy.
Kevin Nolan's goal, as we now know, was onside. It was a split decision; you
can look upon replay after replay and it's still tight. The officials have
got a hard enough job as it is and we all make mistakes; unfortunately it
went against us.
But City had some good chances - Mario Balotelli had two or three and Gareth
Barry had one as well - so overall the point was a decent point for West
Ham.
Captain Kev
As captain Kevin Nolan has contributed well for his goals - even though I'd
like to see him work a bit harder. But Sam's brought him in to do a job
which is scoring goals, which he's done - some important goals as well. If
you take his goals away then you might have an argument, but he's scoring
goals and that's what you want from him.
He's always gambling beyond the strikers and he's always in the right place
at the right time. He scores his goals so if he keeps doing that, you
persevere with it.
In the games I've watched he's not been far behind Andy Carroll and it looks
like we're playing 4-4-1-1 when he sits in there. But the good thing for me
is that when the ball goes into Andy Carroll, Kevin gambles. He does it all
the time. I used to try and get my players to do that at Grays but they
couldn't grasp it - but he does it naturally.
You have to give and take with him. Kevin's an intelligent footballer and he
has an understanding where that ball is going to go. He doesn't get it right
all the time - he might only guess right 50 per cent of the time - but he's
popped up to scores some very important goals, both this and last season.
Big Andy
So Roy Hodgson has dropped Andy Carroll from the England squad. Friendlies
don't really matter but when it comes to the European Championship in the
qualifiers you would expect Andy to be in the squad. He hasn't long been
back from his injury so Roy's probably given him an extra week or two to get
over his injury, but I'm sure if you spoke to Andy Carroll he'd want to
play. Still, West Ham's more important than England.
I don't know Andy but to me he looks a character and I suspect it doesn't
bother him too much. He contributes so much to the game and was different
class against Manchester City. He didn't score but there's more to him than
scoring goals. As a striker you want to score goals, but you have to look at
everything he brings to the game.
Andy quite often takes two or three defenders with him. That didn't use to
happen with us at West Ham because we had belief in the centre backs we
played with. I played with Alvin [Martin] who was quality in the air and
Galey, who wasn't the best in the air, but he could read the game
brilliantly. Then there's Rio [Ferdinand], Slav[en Bilic] and Marc Rieper;
they could all do a job.
Square pegs in round holes
Sam Allardyce could be short at the back this weekend and may be forced to
play one of his full backs at centre half. When I played, it wasn't
difficult for me as I was very good in the air for my height - which you
have to be because when you're a centre back, most things come down the
middle!
As a centre back, you have to be comfortable on the ball but at the end of
the day if that's all he's got he'll have to play them there, they'll have
to go and do the best job they can. It's fairly easy to adapt, it's not as
if you've gone from centre forward to centre back or left wing to defence.
If you play at left back you should be able to play as a left-sided centre
half; it shouldn't be that much of a problem.
Carlitos
Carlos Tevez received a warm welcome last weekend. I think it's great that
he getsa good reception when he comes back to Upton Park. When he was here
he gave everything he had for West Ham, so it was nice when the fans
applauded him as he was substituted. But it's weird; I think he concentrates
more on the supporters than he does the game!
Often now you see ex-players refuse to celebrate if they score - but for me
that's all b*llocks. If you score for Man City, as a Man City player you
should celebrate. The players say that's not acceptable now but that's total
crap. When Tevez was substituted, he clapped the West Ham fans before the
Man City fans - and if I was a City supporter, that would have pissed me
off! It's nice and everything, but I think he needs to concentrate more on
playing for Man City than getting plaudits from West Ham fans.
Coming Home
I had a fantastic experience when I came back to West Ham with Liverpool,
although I didn't get taken off! Before the game the fans sang my name and
clapped, so I clapped them back which was fine. But I was a Liverpool player
and when we scored - we won 2-1 that day - I celebrated.
At the end of the day I did everything I could for the club and if you get
sold, you get sold - although perhaps it's different with people like Paul
Ince! I didn't slag the club off when I left; when people do that and come
back of course they're going to get abuse.
That's all any supporter at any club wants, to see their players giving
everything they have. Certain players, when they're playing for a different
club? Yeah, they're going to boo you. But as long as you do everything for
the club you're at you can hold your hands up and say "yeah, I gave my best
and that's it".
Julian Dicks was talking to Graeme Howlett.
* Julian is currently available to coach both junior and senior football
teams. For more details, follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JULIAN3DICKS.
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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce insists he has improved every club he has worked
for
Last Updated: November 10, 2012 12:58pm
SSN
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce insists he has improved every club he has worked
for as he prepares to take on former club Newcastle on Sunday. Allardyce was
fired from St James' Park in January 2008 - with the Magpies 11th in the
Premier League - after Mike Ashley had taken over the club the year before.
He subsequently went on to manage Blackburn, where he was also sacked in
December 2010 by new owners Venky's, before taking over at Upton Park and
leading them to promotion last term and a present ninth position in the
table, a point ahead of the Magpies. Defending his record, Allardyce told
the Daily Telegraph: "Ask the people who worked with me. I evolved the type
of football that they liked. The players who worked with me enjoyed the
journey that we took. "Every club of mine finished in a better position when
I left than when I took over. "The yardstick of a manager's success tends to
be, 'What have you won?' You can't measure mine like that. "Each club,
whether it was Limerick, Blackpool, Notts County, Bolton, Newcastle,
Blackburn or West Ham, I improved.
"It's not me blowing my trumpet, it's a fact. Look at it another way. Every
one of my former clubs has been relegated since. Is that a better
measurement?"
Harm career
Allardyce denied the sackings had affected his confidence but they had
harmed his career. "No (it didn't affect his confidence), because I didn't
deserve to be sacked from either of those positions," he said. "But it does
harm your career. Clearly West Ham are a bigger and better club than
Blackburn Rovers,but I had to take them while they were still in the
Championship." He added: "When I lost my job at Newcastle, I remember a few
press lads asking, 'Are you going to drop down to come back up again?' "I
said, 'Am I what? I'm one of the longest-serving Premier League managers
around and you're saying I should drop down to the Championship? Have you
seen my CV?' "It shows you how people forget in this game and how, over
time, they can lose the reality of what you have done."
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West Ham midfielder Mohamed Diame is aware of Newcastle's attacking threat
Last Updated: November 10, 2012 7:09pm
SSN
Mohamed Diame knows it will be difficult for West Ham to contain the likes
of Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba but is determined to pick up three points
against Newcastle. Diame, 25, has impressed for West Ham since moving to
Upton Park in the summer from Wigan as Sam Allardyce's side have defied the
odds to sit ninth in the table. Newcastle are one point and one place below
the Hammers in the standings and Diame wants to utilise his knowledge of his
Senegal team-mates to help towards a win on Sunday. "After the game against
Wigan, I think we needed to have this reaction against Manchester City. We
did it, so now we have to maintain that and take the three points from
Newcastle," he told the club's official website. "There are a lot of fans
there and it is a big stadium. I have some friends there, both Senegalese
and Frenchmen, so it's going to be a good game. "I know Demba and Papiss
very well and I also know that they have scored a lot of goals. We have to
make sure we don't give them a lot of chances to score. "They are different
players, but they both work every day in front of the goal and are strikers
who know how to score, so we have to try to restrict their chances."
Midfielder Diame has also spent time playing alongside Newcastle playmaker
Hatem Ben Arfa . "I was in Clairefontaine with him so I know he is a very
good player," he said. "He has had a lot of injuries, but he is a very good
player so we have to be careful about him as well." Diame pinpointed the
performance against Manchester City in the goalless draw at Upton Park last
weekend as a yard-stick for the challenge ahead on Tyneside. "We are just
going to go there and try to replicate the game we played against Manchester
City," he said. "These are the games I enjoy and I am sure it will be the
same for Andy (Carroll) and Kevin Nolan as well. It is going to be a good
game and we are going to enjoy it and hopefully get the three points."
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Nolan: I saved Andy's career
The Sun
By ROSS GREGORY
Published: 10th November 2012
KEVIN NOLAN believes that he played a major role in helping save Andy
Carroll's career. Now the West Ham ace hopes the talented striker — and chef
— can silence the Newcastle boo-boys on his return to St James' today.
Carroll, 23, was suffering a nightmare spell away from football two years
ago after being charged with assaulting his former girlfriend Laurie
Henderson. The charges were later dropped. This was just months after the
England forward pleaded guilty to a separate assault charge following an
incident at a Newcastle nightclub when he was fined £1,000. As part of the
initial bail condition Carroll was ordered to live with Nolan, who was then
Newcastle's club captain. Nolan jokes that he was the only one stupid enough
to take in Carroll but is glad he did after he emerged as superb cook and
made sure he was well fed while his missus was away in Liverpool. The
midfielder said: "At Newcastle, if something goes on, it gets exploded 10
times and with Andy, it was magnified 1,000 times. "He was on assault
charges but that sort of died quite quickly afterwards and all the charges
put up against him were suddenly dropped. "It was because he's 6ft 5in, he's
got long hair, he stands out in a crowd. I knew he just had to keep himself
out of those situations, and since then he's learnt so much. He's been to
Liverpool where he lived on his own with his girlfriend. "There is a
different lad standing there in that dressing room now. There's a man there
now who can look after himself. You'd have to ask Andy if I've had an
influence on that, of course I'm going to say 'yeah!' "Obviously, he was a
friend of ours and needed somewhere to stay. It wasn't for too long and my
missus was down in Liverpool for quite a lot of the time. We were just like
room-mates. "He's a good fella, he cooked a couple of times and he was quite
handy in the kitchen. He made pasta with tomato, chicken and all that type
of stuff. It was actually nice. "I think the club chose me because I was big
mates with Andy and I was captain. Plus I was probably the only one stupid
enough to let him stay!"
Nolan, 30, is also relishing the chance to make his first appearance back at
St James' Park since leaving the club in June 2011. The former Toon captain
became a fans' favourite after a superb run which saw him score 30 goals
from midfield in his 2½-year spell. He admits he never asked to leave but
the offer he was given by the Newcastle board was taken away from him. Nolan
added: "They told me 'we can sort all you want at the end of the season.'
Then two weeks before the end that offer went off the table. "I was on
holiday and must admit it ruined it. Me and my wife were going through a bad
time because she didn't want to move, she loved it in Newcastle. "We were
settled, had the kids in school, but that's just part of football. "I knew
that down here I could succeed. I knew Big Sam had come here and I thought
'yeah, let's make it happen'. I was only too pleased to answer the call. "It
was just the way everything went — how both chairmen really got behind the
move and how much they wanted me to join. I'm thankful I made that choice
because it's been a fantastic 17 months.
"But, as I say, no hard feelings. I'm delighted to be here now — and I had a
fantastic time there. "It was the best for both parties and I left shaking
hands with everyone. "I'm looking forward to going back and saying goodbye,
because I didn't get a chance to thank a lot of people who made my stay up
there really great."
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce believes Nolan is the best signing he has
ever made and cannot understand why he has not played for England. The West
Ham skipper revealed: "Obviously when you see 31-year-old Leon Osman getting
the call-up, it sort of does tell you to not give up hope, but I don't
really know much more I could do to be honest. "I've scored goals
consistently now for a number of years — and yeah I dropped out of the
division but I consistently scored goals down there too. "Jay Bothroyd got a
call-up from being in the Championship and scoring goals, so I don't really
know what more I can do. "All I'll say is that I was born in an era where
we've had probably the best midfielders England have ever had in terms of
goal scoring. "It does hurt I haven't got the call but it's something I've
got to live with — I'm a big boy. "I spoke to one of the managers after he
got the sack. He said if he'd known the type of impact and everything I was
about BEFORE he was England manager, he would have called me up. "That was
nice to hear but then I sort of wanted to strangle him as well!"
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Collison on track
Published: 10th November 2012
The Sun
JACK COLLISON has given West Ham a massive boost by targeting a return at
Christmas. The Wales midfielder has been out all season with a chronic knee
problem which was aggravated during the Hammers' play-off push last season.
But he said: "I'm back training so hopefully around Christmas I should be
back in the mix." Collison, 24, was instrumental in getting West Ham back in
the Prem. He added: "I could hardly move during the play-off final but it
was a great day and West Ham are back where they belong."
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Change of Toon: Andy Carroll has grown up from the boy I 'saved', says Kevin
Nolan
The Mirror
10 Nov 2012 22:30
Matthew Lewis
Kevin Nolan has described the major role he played in salvaging Andy
Carroll's career. The pair are together at West Ham but it is while they
were team-mates at Newcastle that Nolan had such an impact on Carroll's
life. The big striker courted trouble and two years ago was ordered to stay
with Nolan – then Newcastle captain – while he was on bail for assualt
charges. Charges were later dropped and Nolan described how he and the
Newcastle backroom staff helped Carroll turn his life around. He said: "Did
I help to save his career? You can write that. When something happens in
Newcastle, it gets exploded 10 times. With Andy it is blown up even more.
"He needed somewhere to stay. He was in a hotel so I cleared it with the
missus and it was OK. He was a good fella and not a bad cook... pasta and
things like that. Why me? Because I was captain at the time and probably the
only one stupid enough to let him stay. I spoke to him and so did manager
Chris Hughton and the assistant Colin Calderwood. "But he was in trouble
really because it was him. He is 6ft 5in tall with long hair and he stands
out in a crowd. "He was brilliant for Newcastle and everything he did was
magnified 1,000 times. He knew he had to stay out of situations and he went
to Liverpool to stay with his girlfriend."
While Carroll was staying with Nolan his Range Rover, parked in Nolan's
driveway, was set on fire to compound their problems. West Ham reunited the
duo by signing Carroll on loan from Liverpool and Nolan insisted: "There is
a different lad standing there now from what he was when I first went into
Newcastle.
"He was just 19 then but there is a different man in the dressing room now
who can look after himself and do the right things."
Both Nolan and Carroll left the Toon without asking for transfers. Nolan's
contract talks had failed and he resumed a partnership with Sam Allardyce
that had been so productive at Bolton. Carroll was moved on when Liverpool
made a £35 million offer that Newcastle couldn't refuse. So will they get
abuse this afternoon when they return? "I'm hoping for a good reception,"
said Nolan optimistically. "I have a lot of friends there. I didn't think I
would ever leave. My wife didn't want to move. But I wanted to take the
chance to work with the gaffer again. "He gave me my chance. It hurt him
when he had to leave Newcastle but I knew he would bounce back. When I got
the chance to work with him again, it was a no-brainer." If Carroll scores
his first goal for West Ham, it is unlikely he will celebrate. Nolan, for
sure, will show restraint saying: "No, I won't celebrate out of respect."
One honour still to elude Nolan is an England cap. "That hurts," said the
30-year-old. "Maybe it will still come. "My son thinks I am 'Daddy West
Ham'. It would be nice for him to say 'Daddy England'."
Meanwhile, Newcastle boss Alan Pardew maintains the Magpies haven't missed
Andy Carroll thanks to Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse.
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West Ham's Kevin Nolan: I deserve England call-up
Goal.com
11 Nov 2012 08:50:00
By Rhys Turrell
West Ham United captain Kevin Nolan believes he deserves the chance to
represent his country and show what he can do at international level.
Despite a long career in the top flight with Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle
United and the Hammers, Nolan is yet to receive any national team honours.
And after 31-year-old Everton midfielder Leon Osman received a surprise
call-up to Roy Hodgson's Three Lions set-up for the friendly against Sweden
on Wednesday, there remains a chance that the West Ham midfielder could be
considered in upcoming games, although Nolan remains philosophical about his
prospects. "It does hurt I haven't got one [England cap] I must admit, and
it does hurt a bit, but it is something I have got to live with and I'm a
big boy," the 30-year-old Liverpudlian told reporters. "I don't know what
more I can do to be quite honest. I've scored goals consistently for a
number of years, I dropped down a division but consistently scored goals
down there. "I think I have at least deserved a call-up and a chance to
prove myself at that level."
Nolan has been in impressive form for his club following their return to
England's top flight this season. Under the management of Sam Allardyce -
with whom Nolan enjoyed a lengthy and successful association at Bolton - the
Upton Park club have adapted to life in the Premier League far better than
fellow promoted sides Southampton and Reading. The Hammers currently sit
ninth in the table ahead of their visit to another of Nolan's former clubs,
Newcastle, on Sunday.
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