Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce will be hoping to get a few more players back from the
treatment table ahead of Reading
24.12.2012
Sam Allardyce is hoping his depleted squad will once more deliver a defiant
performance when they visit Reading on Saturday. The Hammers lost by the odd
goal in three to Everton last Saturday after being reduced to ten men
following Carlton Cole's controversial red card. While the outcome of the
appeal is yet to be heard, the West Ham United manager will be planning for
a trip to Berkshire without last season's top scorer. "We couldn't afford to
lose Carlton Cole, not just the fact that we went on to lose the game
because of that but because he may now miss at Reading. That is a massive
blow to us. "We will appeal Carlton Cole's sending off because we need
Carlton for Reading. Losing him for three games will be a severe blow that
we can't cope with Andy Carroll being out as well. "Modibo has made an
impact from the sub's bench but we don't think he's ready to start a game in
the Premier League as it's a big jump from the French league to the Barclays
Premier League."
Alou Diarra and Jack Collison did provide some festive cheer on a damp
afternoon in east London by taking their places among the substitutes.
Diarra has been missing since he played in the Capital One cup match against
Crewe Alexandra on 28 August, while Play-Off semi-final hero Collison, who
entered the fray for a brief cameo on Saturday, had not played since May's
Wembley final against Blackpool. "I don't think we'll have many more back
for Reading, the best we can hope to have back is Yossi Benayoun," Allardyce
said. "I give the lads full credit for their efforts but we need variation
and options. Without those it becomes difficult, but it was a brilliant
effort by the players."
Although there will be a West Ham-sized hole in the lives of many in east
London and beyond on Boxing Day, Big Sam plans to use the gap to get a few
more players back fighting fit. "I haven't got a team to play Arsenal so
it's work out OK. Gary O'Neil started at about 80% fit and Guy Demel had the
virus that was floating around so we just came in on Monday to count up the
bodies. We won't do any training and see how packed the medical room is."
Although Cole's dismissal seemed to be a turning point in the game, Big Sam
was also left to rue the goalscoring chances that were spurned by the home
side. Kevin Nolan - who has been so prolific - this season shot wide, while
Modibo Maiga's deflected drive spun narrowly wide. "With our position at
this moment in time the red card was difficult to take but having said that
we did have a massive chance to equalise at the death when Kevin Nolan had
the best chance of the game to make sure it isn't hurting us as much as it
did after the game. We could have picked up another valuable point."
While the result might not have gone the Hammers' way, another sell-out
crowd once again offered some fantastic backing for the team. Tickets for
the next three home games are in high demand and with Norwich City and
Manchester United set to sell out by the end of the week, seats for the
following home game with Queens Park Rangers are also now selling fast. For
more information, click here.
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O'Brien's honest assessment
WHUFC.com
Joey O'Brien refused to blame Carlton Cole's dismissal for West Ham United's
2-1 defeat by Everton
24.12.2012
Joey O'Brien refused to blame Carlton Cole's controversial dismissal for
West Ham United's 2-1 Barclays Premier League defeat at home to Everton.
Cole was sent-off for a high challenge on Leighton Baines, but the forward
appeared to have both eyes on the ball before making contact with his fellow
England international. O'Brien conceded that the red card did not help the
hosts' cause but admitted the Hammers could have done more throughout the
course of the 90 minutes to avoid defeat. "I do not think we were playing
well and I do not think that we played well, so maybe Carlton Cole getting
sent-off gives us an excuse," said the No17. "After he went off it obviously
changed the game but after they scored one they looked like they would go on
and win it anyway. It may have made it a little easier but we are obviously
very disappointed."
There was an element of fortune in Steven Pienaar's winner, with the ball
bouncing off Kevin Nolan and then the South African midfielder before
rolling into the net. "It has hit Kevin, bounced off Pienaar and ended up in
the net so it is very unfortunate but it is one of those things. "I think
that summed up the day for us to be honest. We did not get going, we did not
play very well, Coley got sent off and the winner was very scrappy."
O'Brien admitted Everton had been the better side, as the likes of Leon
Osman and Pienaar put in very good performances. Indeed, the Republic of
Ireland international even tipped the Toffees for a top-four finish.
"Everton have some very good players who played well and they are a team in
the top half of the table who are pushing towards the top four. That said,
after going 1-0 up at home we should not have lost the game. It was not good
enough from us, so like I said we are very disappointed."
The Hammers game at Arsenal on Boxing Day has been called off, so a trip to
Reading is next on the fixture list. O'Brien said West Ham would be going to
the Madejski Stadium targeting a return to winning ways against a Royals
team which has won just once in 18 league games. "The important thing now is
to bounce back with a positive result. We lost to Liverpool here but then
went to West Bromwich Albion, which is a hard place to go, and put in a
positive performance [and drew 0-0]. "We are disappointed we are not playing
Boxing Day, but we are looking forward to taking on Reading and we need to
use the extra days off of rest to our advantage."
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The (ex) Rev's Christmas message
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 24th December 2012
By: Elwin Cockett
Elwin Cockett is the former Chaplain of West Ham United FC and the current
Archdeacon of West Ham. Every year he pens a Christmas message for the
readers of KUMB, which this year looks back at a wonderful year for east
London - and the prospect of an equally exciting future...
Just like my dreams..?
Whoever decided to include "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" in the opening
ceremony of the London Olympics was a genius. I'd guess that for West Ham
fans around the world that was one of the great 'tingle factor' moments in a
year full of such moments. It was if the organisers were acknowledging that
just as the Olympics were London's games, the UK's games and, in another
sense, the world's games, they were also our games – West Ham's games.
That's not only because the Olympic stadium stands in the old borough of
West Ham, although we can be proud of that, or because the games were based
in East London, in contrast to the 1908 and 1948 Olympics. It was also
because as the world-wide TV audience of billions heard "Bubbles" ring out
from that stadium for the first time we realised that, politics and jealous
rivals notwithstanding, that remarkable place was always destined to be our
home.
It's not a done deal yet, of course. Like anyone who has ever moved house,
we won't quite believe it until we're there. But we're starting to believe
in the vision of those who first imagined that our club could thrive there.
Of course, if we do move we're going to miss Upton Park. A midweek game
under the lights at the Boleyn Ground is still a special experience. But we
have to acknowledge that it is actually in East Ham, and that, in truth, it
lacks the atmosphere it had in the past, when fans stood in packed terraces
within feet of the touchline and banter with the players was part of the
experience. The game has changed and, while we will miss the best of the
past, we can make sure that the future is as good as it can be if we return
to our roots in West Ham.
I say 'we' because we are all part of our club, and therefore all part of
the future of our club.
If you were lucky enough, as I was, to spend time in the Olympic Park, you
will have been impressed by the buildings, the organisation and the events,
and probably thrilled by the athletes' performances. But what impressed me
most was the attitude of the crowds.
It was as if everyone was determined to have the best possible experience
together, but without the need to denigrate anyone else. There were no
negative chants, no racism, no abuse of the opposition, and no boos, apart
from well-deserved ones for politicians (Why anyone responsible for cutting
benefits for disabled people would expect a welcome at the Paralympics I
don't know). The atmosphere was still electric, and the celebration every
time our athletes won was as loud as anything I've ever heard, so we didn't
lose anything. And, for a little while, many of us wondered whether football
could be like that one day.
I'd like to think that the volunteers and the armed forces helped in that.
We were all grateful to the young squaddies who took on the unfamiliar task
of dealing cheerfully with thousands of visitors while carrying out the
serious task keeping us safe. They, along with the 70,000 Gamesmakers were
the ones who made London 2012 go with a smile.
I met a lot of them in my role as a Chaplain to the games. Quite a few of
them were West Ham fans. Remarkably, however tired they got and however
menial their tasks, they all seem to have had an amazing time. They felt
that they were part of a community doing something that mattered. They were
positive in their attitudes and optimistic about the future, and that
positivity and optimism spilled over into the people they met and the crowds
in their venues. They made me proud of East London.
"Come on you Irons..."
So what has all that got to do with Christmas? Well, Christmas is a time
when we appreciate things like community, friendship and family. That
applies to believers and non-believers alike. We have a chance to stop and
appreciate others, to show our gratitude, and to show goodwill to all,
including those less fortunate than ourselves. To seek, in the words of the
angels, 'peace on Earth and good will to men'.
As we look to 2013 and whatever lies beyond, is it possible that those
thoughts – along with the best of all that we have experienced in 2013 -
could inspire us to a better future?
I'm really proud of much of what goes on behind the scenes among West Ham
fans. I know of so many who give time and money to worthwhile causes, so
many who are contributing in different ways to their communities, or who are
simply good neighbours. Our club's fans can be the salt of the earth.
Maybe preparing to move to a new home gives us a chance to think about how
we can do things even better? Maybe seeing how the 2012 games succeeded
gives us an opportunity to see how the West Ham experience can be improved
for everyone? Maybe understanding that we're all part of a greater
community, whether we're part of the West Ham family or not, could inspire
us all to greater things on behalf of our fellow men and women? The only
limit to that is our imagination, it seems to me.
And maybe, just maybe, if we get it right, if together we can live up to our
dreams, we can start to look forward to many more tingle-factor moments in
years to come, with "Bubbles" sung with pride from every corner of our new
home, back in West Ham once more.
Meanwhile, Happy Christmas, everyone!
Elwin - Archdeacon of West Ham and one-time chaplain to West Ham United FC
* You may find Elwin on Twitter at twitter.com/elwincockett.
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The Julian Dicks column: Christmas Eve
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 24th December 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 KUMB column, the latest of which
begins with JD's thoughts on football during the festive period...
Merry Christmas everybody!
I used to love Christmas as a player and never had a Christmas off when I
was playing. I liked going in Christmas Day and playing on Boxing Day
because everybody was happy!
Saying that, I remember going in one Christmas Day - I think during Billy
Bonds' reign - and Ronnie Boyce was there. Ronnie wished me "Merry
Christmas" and I replied, "What's f*cking merry about it?" - and he went
"you're a miserable b*stard, you are!" But it was good; everybody was happy
and I loved it.
They liked to take us away to stay in a hotel, even for home games because
they didn't want you to have a drink - even though I could drink any time!
For home games you usually had a choice whether to come in on Christmas Day
afternoon and then go straight from training to the hotel, or come in early
in the morning, go home, then meet everyone later at the hotel. Usually for
away games you'd train in the morning or, if it was a long journey, you'd
get the coach up and train there.
This year I'm spending Christmas with my daughters, which will be good. I
was only 20 when they were born so they're grown up now and out of my hair -
but I'm looking forward to it, even though they're in their twenties!
Make them pay
Some referees, like Anthony Taylor in the West Ham v Everton game last
weekend, are making massive, massive mistakes. As soon as you look at
Carlton Cole's red card you go "hang on, that's not a sending off".
I don't even think the challenge should have been a yellow card; he wasn't
looking where the ball was going and he didn't do it on purpose. We all make
mistakes and it's the same for referees, but when you've got 35,000 people
knowing it wasn't a sending off but the man in the middle decides it is,
something's got to be wrong.
At the end of the day he's getting paid to do a job, but the flipside of
that is say for instance West Ham hadn't won for seven or eight games - it
could have been Sam Allardyce's last game in charge. This referee could be
costing people their livelihoods and the manager could have got the sack,
because of the man in the middle making horrendous decisions.
When Darron Gibson followed Cole up the tunnel, it was the first time I've
ever seen the West Ham fans boo an opposition player's sending off - which
proves what a bad decision Taylor made. Now the referee might get punished
and not take charge of a game for a week or two but the punishment has to be
more severe - especially with decisions like that.
I know they've got a hard job now with FIFA constantly changing the rules
but there's got to be some common sense in their decisions rather than going
bang, yellow card or bang, red card. It can cost people their livelihoods
and it's ridiculous.
The problem is that these referees have never played competitive football -
although I don't think any professional footballer would want to be a
referee, if I'm honest. I do think it would help as they've played the game
and know what warrants a card, but would I like to do it? Not a chance. I
got enough stick when I was a player, let alone being a referee!
Deal or no deal?
There's been lots of speculation about Sam Allardyce's future this week. I
don't think managers should be given long-term contracts unless they're
people like Alex Ferguson who've won trophy after trophy. Sam has done a
great job but if they give him a long-term contract - say five or six years
- and things go wrong and they want to get rid of him, they still have to
pay him up - and it's not as if he's on £100-per-week. The club would have
to pay him a fortune.
So I think a two-year deal is good enough for any manager and, if they're
good enough and do well at the club, the Chairman will want to give you
another year or two.
Coming up
The Arsenal match being cancelled could be a blessing in disguise due to the
sheer number of injuries - although it's a shame as I was supposed to be
doing the commentary for the game and I've never been to the Emirates! But
I'm doing the commentary for the Reading game and I'll be at the Norwich
game as well.
Norwich are doing well at the moment under Chrissy Hughton, he's turned
their fortunes around - but Reading are not doing so well and I would expect
West Ham to go there and get three points. There's a few teams - especially
the two that came up with West Ham - that can't defend. When Southampton
came to West Ham for example, they were awful.
Every team is going to go through a spell when they lose a few games but
it's how you react to the next game that counts - and West Ham can put it
all right with wins against Reading and Norwich which could yield six
points. But as we all know it's never as easy as that - they have to go out
there, perform and everyone has to be on their game.
West Ham brought Chrissy Hughton in to take my place when I was injured
around 1992 so I know him well. He's one of the nicest blokes you could wish
to meet and not the sort of person you'd think would become a manager.
He's a good coach and a lot of people rave about him, but at the end of the
day as a manger you don't have to be ruthless. Don't get me wrong, Chrissy
can lose his rag if he wants to but as a manager it's about getting the best
out of your players, about your man management and treating people how you
want to be treated.
He's done well at Carrow Road. They started off pretty poorly but I like
Chrissy's style of football, they get the ball on the floor and play and
he's turned it around so it'll be a tricky game, especially at Upton Park.
But I would expect West Ham to beat them and get six points from the two
games.
JD's Festive Favourites
Film: Miracle on 34th Street.
Song: The Pogues - Fairytale of New York.
Best Present: Box of cigars.
Drink: Any! But specifically whiskey.
TV or pub? Pub.
Best Moment of 2012: The play-off Final. To go there, win and get promotion
was absolutely fantastic for the players, the manager and especially the
supporters.
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Everton and West Ham challenge Darron Gibson and Carlton Cole red cards
Last Updated: December 24, 2012 2:09pm
SSN
West Ham and Everton have appealed against the red cards shown to Carlton
Cole and Darron Gibson in Saturday's clash at Upton Park. Cole and Gibson
were dismissed by referee Anthony Taylor for similar high challenges in the
match that Everton went on to win 2-1. The West Ham striker was the first to
see red for his challenge on Leighton Baines - he had earlier given them the
lead in the 14th minute. Republic of Ireland international Gibson was
dismissed in stoppage-time after Victor Anichebe and Steven Pienaar had
scored to send Everton on their way to three vital points. David Moyes was
quick to bemoan the performance of the match officials in the aftermath of
an important win for his side, with an appeal against Gibson's red card
broadly hinted at. "The Blues will submit the paperwork on Christmas Eve and
due to the FA protocol it does mean that Gibson will be able to participate
in the Boxing Day clash with Wigan Athletic," read a statement released on
the club's official website. "Everton's case will be heard on Thursday 27
December and expect to hear the outcome of the appeal later this week."
Cole's appeal will be heard on the same day, but West Ham are not in action
on Boxing Day after their derby clash with Arsenal was called off because of
industrial action on the tube.
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Allow technology - Allardyce
Last Updated: December 24, 2012 8:41am
SSN
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has hit out at football's governing bodies
for failing to introduce video technology to the sport. The Hammers had
Carlton Cole sent off during Saturday's 2-1 home defeat against Everton for
a high tackle on Leighton Baines, although referee Anthony Taylor's decision
to dismiss the striker seemed to be a harsh one. Everton's Darron Gibson
also saw red in the closing stages of their win for a similar offence, but
Allardyce beleives it is time for football's governing bodies to implement
the use of technology to help officials make the correct decisions. The only
way to make it better for us all is to bring technology into it," he said.
"I always said that two and three challenges a game should be in our favour.
We should be allowed it, should allow technology into the game. "Forget
about your old (Michel) Platinis, who are antiquated. "The only way to make
it better for us all is to bring technology into it."
Sam Allardyce
Quotes of the week
"I know they're in strong positions and they affect the game but they're not
doing us any favours by not allowing technology to come into play. "The
technology today means it's done in less than two minutes, isn't it - at the
absolute most. "I had two TVs in the dugout and it used to be a bigger help
for me on the fact that I thought what decision the referee had or hadn't
given. "The fourth official could see that it wasn't an offside, or it was
or it wasn't a goal - at least you knew it was or it wasn't."
Allardyce also revealed he had the televisions installed in his dugouts
whilst manager of Bolton and the 58-year-old criticised the FA for removing
them. "We put TVs in the dugouts in 2005 and had them ripped out by the
Premier League in 2006, that shows you just how backwards they are doesn't
it?," he said.
"In fact we had two TVs in the dugout - one had a 10-second delay and the
other showed replays of incidents."
Appeal
Allardyce insisted the club would look to appeal against Cole's red card
but, if the ban is upheld, West Ham will be without a main striker for the
next three games with Andy Carroll also ruled out through injury. The
Hammers were due to travel across London to face Arsenal on Boxing Day but
the match was postponed following the news London Underground staff will
strike. Allardyce said it was a blessing as he could not name a fully-fit
side if he was forced to face the Gunners. "I haven't got a team to play
Arsenal," he said. "I haven't got a team so it's worked out all right -
we'll just come in on Monday and count up the bodies. "We won't do any
training and we'll just go and see how packed the medical room is."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Tuesday, December 25
Monday, December 24
Daily WHUFC News - Thames Ironworks
A bit of history pointed out by Michelle Gabriel :) Thanks Michelle
Happy Xmas and New Year to everyone who reads this digest
PeterR
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Crossrail dig uncovers historic Limmo Peninsula shipyard remains
Archaeologists working at an east London Crossrail site have uncovered
remains of the historic Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company. Work is under
way at Limmo Peninsula, by Canning Town, to record the remains of the
shipyard, which shut in 1912. The firm employed thousands of people to
build ships for navies worldwide. Crossrail said details of the shipyard
were documented before digging began so it had incorporated the excavation
work into its construction programme. It said tunnelling in the area where
the shipyard is being excavated would begin later this year. The shipyard
played a significant part in Britain's industrial history until its closure
in 1912. It was the first in the world to produce iron ships - some of the
most famous warships in the world were built and launched from Limmo
Peninsula.
Crossed hammers
The HMS Warrior, the world's first all-iron warship was completed at the
site in October 1861 and was the largest, fastest, most heavily-armed and
most heavily-armoured warship in the world. The company also set up a
football club for their employees using the emblem of crossed hammers, which
is now West Ham United. Jay Carver, Crossrail's principal archaeologist,
said: "The excavations so far have uncovered evidence for the site railway,
forges and a furnace and machine bases with bolts that would have secured
the heavy ironworks plant to the floor. "There are no longer any detailed
plans of the final layout of the works and these results will help piece
together how the site operated." Excavation work on the site is set to
continue until May.
The £16bn Crossrail project is to due to be completed by 2018. It will pass
through 37 stations on a 73-mile (118km) route, from Maidenhead and Heathrow
in the west, to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Happy Xmas and New Year to everyone who reads this digest
PeterR
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:::::::::::::::::
Crossrail dig uncovers historic Limmo Peninsula shipyard remains
Archaeologists working at an east London Crossrail site have uncovered
remains of the historic Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company. Work is under
way at Limmo Peninsula, by Canning Town, to record the remains of the
shipyard, which shut in 1912. The firm employed thousands of people to
build ships for navies worldwide. Crossrail said details of the shipyard
were documented before digging began so it had incorporated the excavation
work into its construction programme. It said tunnelling in the area where
the shipyard is being excavated would begin later this year. The shipyard
played a significant part in Britain's industrial history until its closure
in 1912. It was the first in the world to produce iron ships - some of the
most famous warships in the world were built and launched from Limmo
Peninsula.
Crossed hammers
The HMS Warrior, the world's first all-iron warship was completed at the
site in October 1861 and was the largest, fastest, most heavily-armed and
most heavily-armoured warship in the world. The company also set up a
football club for their employees using the emblem of crossed hammers, which
is now West Ham United. Jay Carver, Crossrail's principal archaeologist,
said: "The excavations so far have uncovered evidence for the site railway,
forges and a furnace and machine bases with bolts that would have secured
the heavy ironworks plant to the floor. "There are no longer any detailed
plans of the final layout of the works and these results will help piece
together how the site operated." Excavation work on the site is set to
continue until May.
The £16bn Crossrail project is to due to be completed by 2018. It will pass
through 37 stations on a 73-mile (118km) route, from Maidenhead and Heathrow
in the west, to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Daily WHUFC News - 24th December 2012
JC happy to be back
WHUFC.com
Jack Collison made his first appearance of the season in Saturday's 2-1 home
defeat by Everton
23.12.2012
Jack Collison was left with mixed emotions after making his return to action
after six months on the sidelines in Saturday's 2-1 Barclays Premier League
defeat by Everton. The midfielder was introduced as a late substitute at the
Boleyn Ground, but was unable to help the Hammers fashion a late equaliser.
However, after so long out nursing a knee condition, Collison was naturally
delighted to pull on a claret and blue shirt again for the first time since
last season's npower Championship Play-Off final. West Ham TV caught up
with the No10 after the game. "I feel good. After playing 45 minutes with
the reserves the other day and getting some time on Saturday makes me know
that if I'm needed, I've got some time under my belt. It's great to be out
there. I really enjoyed my football last year, I was in the team most weeks
and it's been a bit of a blow to miss the start of the season, but the boys
have been fantastic so far and it's great to come back into a squad that's
playing well."
Collison has been out for seven months and he spoke of the difficulty of
sitting on the sidelines as West Ham returned to the Barclays Premier
League. "It's been very frustrating but I've had my fair share of injuries
to deal with in the past, so you could say I've used my experience a little
bit to help me through it. Now I'm trying to get myself fit and raring to
go."
Collison's desire to return to first-team action is clear and he said that
his knee is feeling stronger every day, adding: "It feels great at the
moment so hopefully it will continue to improve and I can get some more
minutes and continue training so that hopefully in a few weeks they can
throw me in [from the start]."
Concentrating on Saturday's defeat, the Wales international felt West Ham
were unforunate to finish empty-handed. The Hammers lost, despite going
ahead through Carlton Cole's first-half goal, with the striker's
controversial red card not helping matters. Looking forward, Collison is
determined to pick up a positive result at Reading next Saturday, having
been sent-off in the 3-0 defeat by the Royals at the Madejski Stadium last
season. "I think we were a bit unlucky to not come away with anything on
Saturday. I thought it was a fairly even game and little moments settled it.
The second goal was a little bit unfortunate but we've come away with
nothing and we will pick ourselves up. We haven't got a game at Arsenal on
Boxing Day now so we can recharge and get ready for Reading.
"We're going to Reading ready to prove a point because they turned us over
twice last year. The away match was probably my least favourite game last
year, so for me personally I'd love to get any time on pitch. I know, as a
squad, we are looking to go there and really give it to them this year."
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Cole hopes common sense prevails in red card row
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 23rd December 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham striker Carlton Cole insists that referee Anthony Taylor was wrong
to send him off during yesterday's 2-1 home defeat against Everton. The
United number nine was as shocked as everyone else in the 35,000 crowd to be
sent off by card-happy referee Taylor in the second half of yesterday's
Premier League clash with the Toffees after catching Leighton Baines with a
high boot. And Cole - who faces a two-match suspension as a result of the
dismissal - has urged the FA too see sense and reverse Taylor's decision.
Speaking via his Twitter account tonight, Cole said: "Hopefully something
can be done to rescind it. For me it wasn't even a challenge because I
didn't see Bainsey behind me. I was honestly trying to bring the ball down
from the air, so hopefully the FA can see that."
Sam Allardyce, who confirmed last night that the club would seek to overturn
the decision was absolutely furious at the decision which, he insisted, cost
his team not just the services of Cole for the rest of the match but also
all three points. "You're looking for consistency from a referee and we
didn't get that today, which had a massive effect on the result," he said.
"It's how quickly the referee got the red card out, he couldn't wait. He
never deliberated over the decision, he never did anything."
Everton boss David Moyes, who later saw Darron Gibson dismissed for a
similar offence in equally dubious circumstances also plans to appeal
against the red card. "I think you'd say there's a genuine reason why you
could appeal that," he said. "You don't want to appeal and then find you've
got an extra game added to it, but i don't think you can put the word
frivolous next to that appeal."
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Allardyce on... Everton
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 23rd December 2012
By: Staff Writer
Unsurprisingly perhaps given the circumstances a furious Sam Allardyce laid
into hapless referee Anthony Taylor in his post-match press conference,
which we once again bring you exclusively in full...
Sam: There were over 35,000 spectators today and I think only one person
thought that [Carlton Cole's dismissal] was a red card?
Yes; it's difficult to take, isn't it. The comparison I would make is the
challenge by [Victor] Anichebe on James Collins after 32 minutes. There was
very little difference between that challenge and Carlton Cole's challenge,
which is at a slightly different angle but they're the same types of
challenges. One goes without a booking or talking to and the other is a
straight red when there is little or no difference between the two
incidents.
You're looking for consistency from a referee in the same game and we didn't
get that today, which had a massive effect on the result. We have to take
that on the chin whilst the punishment is twofold for us. We'll probably
appeal [against the decision] - and hopefully we'll get off - but if we
don't then we lose Carlton for the next game and that's bitterly
disappointing.
The result is bitterly disappointing because it's been affected. We don't
know what would have happened after that - we might have gone and won it, it
might have ended in a draw of Everton might have won it - but the fact of
the matter is that if you've lost you want to lose by your own faults, not
by the referees. I felt we lost the game today by the referee's decision to
send Carlton off. It's a difficult pill for us to swallow based on our
circumstances at the moment.
David Moyes suggested he would speak to you after the game and see if you
would appeal?
Well I am. I just said I am. I didn't think [Darron] Gibson's was a red card
either but there you go. We've suffered at the hands of those decisions
today and after [scoring] a really good goal to get us in front. The
position, the circumstances we're in at the moment any positive result for
us would have been great.
We're suffering badly at the moment with injuries and illnesses without
having those decisions go against us. We'll just have to battle on and,
hopefully, get the players back as quickly as we can to strengthen the squad
and the team. We'll look forward to Reading next week, try and go there and
get a positive result and move on.
What David Moyes was suggesting was that a joined appeal would in some sense
have even more strength if you're in total agreement?
Well, I'm not so sure they'll take any notice of that; the panel takes each
incident as they see it and I'm not so sure you can make any comparisons.
For me, when you're looking at a player who puts a foot up you ask "has he
done it on purpose? Has he meant to do it?" If you look at Carlton's
incident from the start, his eyes are completely focused on the ball. As the
ball travels over his head he follows the ball with his eyes, then he turns
and puts his foot up. Baines comes from what we call the blind side and
heads the ball after Carlton's touched it with his foot.
But it's how quickly the referee got the red card out, he couldn't wait. He
never deliberated over the decision, he never did anything. Like I said,
when, after 32 minutes, Anichebe done an overhead side volley straight into
James Collins' neck (or head) and he's heading the ball like Baines did -
and nothing's given - it's those inconsistencies that are a real problem for
us. We've suffered at the hands of the referee.
There's nothing much we can do about the result but we can appeal and
hopefully we can get Carlton down to a yellow card, or off [completely].
And if the FA hears similar remarks from you and Moyes then..?
Well maybe, I don't know; it goes to an independent panel, the decision's
made relatively quickly and we can wait and see. We'll just have to see what
the outcome is.
Our disappointment today is that we haven't got anything from the game. It
would have been nice for us had Kevin Nolan, our inspirational captain at
the moment, just knocked that one in at the end. Our best chance of the game
fell to Kev and I thought "go on Kev, stick it in and make us all feel a
little bit better" - but unfortunately it just went the wrong side of the
post.
We could have come off with a 2-2 [draw], picked up another point and still
be concerned about what's happened with the ref but not ended up without any
points today.
As the manager how do you control your emotions when you see something like
that happen when you feel a sense of injustice?
I have to say that's it's very difficult to control your emotions at the
time it happens - and it's difficult to control your emotions after. All I
can do is follow the right channels, so I'll be asking the referee's bosses
what they think of these decisions. I need to be satisfied that I get the
answers or the discussion that I'm looking for, and debate it.
I'd be very disappointed if I thought that, at the end of that, we weren't
trying to make sure that we're helping to make the referees better. Unlike
perhaps a lot of managers, I would want to know the total discussion from
the delegate to the referees and from the referees to Mike Riley - or
whoever his coach is. I want to know what he's saying, what he's thinking
about what happened today and what the way forward would be for Anthony
Taylor.
Did you try and talk to the referee at all after?
I spoke to the referee but that's between me and him. Like I said, we'll go
through the channels of reporting in terms of the system that we have in
place. I 'll take that up, pursue it quite vigorously and see what answers
they give me.
The referee has a split decision to make and it's very difficult for him
because he doesn't have a replay and he doesn't have slow motion. He's in
the position he's in so he has a very difficult job. But if he's not getting
the right feedback or the right coaching and is told, "alright son, you've
done okay, carry on" - then they've got a big problem.
Do you think there should be a system where the fourth official, for
instance, is watching the game on television so he can communicate to the
referee?
We put TVs in the dugouts in 2005 and had them ripped out by the Premier
League in 2006. It shows you just how backward they are. In fact we had two
TVs in the dugout; one was on a ten-second delay and one showed a replay of
the incident.
What did you think of the performance other than the referee?
I thought that our first half performance was good, as was the goal we
scored that got us in front against a very good Everton team. Based on the
circumstances with the players I thought everybody gave everything they had
today. Carlton, with how well he's playing at the moment always kept us in
the game. Territorially you might say that Everton had an advantage - as you
would expect with where they are, the players they've got and the time
they've been in the Premier League - but in [terms of] chances created we
created as much as them.
Modibo Maiga came on and Carlton gave him a cross that he hit and it just
clipped an Everton player. It went wide of the post but instead of getting a
corner a goal kick was given. Then, like I said, Kevin got the one at the
end that was the best chance of the game. Our defending was very good again
and we probed and tried to get forward whenever we could and, in the end,
the game was in the balance [until Cole's sending off].
Gary O'Neil played injured today; he had a groin injury from the start. We
had nobody else when Guy Demel went down with sickness this morning on top
of all the other injuries. What we had [available] was on the pitch - ten
players fit and one who about 80 per cent fit. We also had Jack Collison,
who hasn't kicked a ball since the play-off Final and Alou Diarra who hasn't
kicked a ball for over three months, that's how 'bare bones' we are at the
minute.
The medical staff are busier than us coaches and managers at the moment. We
can't coach the players because we can't afford any more injuries, so we
can't do any training at the minute. We can only keep the players fit and
ready to go for Reading. If we try to do any training, shape or build-up
we'll get contact beetween players - and if contact between players happen
you risk injuries so we can't do that.
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West Ham's injury crisis has forced Sam Allardyce to ban full-contact
training
Last Updated: December 23, 2012 1:38pm
SSN
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has banned full-contact training in a
desperate bid to stop the club's injury crisis from worsening. Guy Demel sat
out Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Everton due to illness and he was joined on the
sidelines by Andy Carroll, Mohamed Diame, Yossi Benayoun and Ricardo Vaz Te.
Long-term injury victims Alou Diarra and Jack Collison were rushed back onto
the bench, while Carlton Cole will now be absent for three matches after
being controversially sent-off at Upton Park. The postponement of the Boxing
Day match at Arsenal has given West Ham a chance to patch up their players
and Allardyce admits the club cannot cope if there are any more absentees.
"We had 10 players who were fit and one was about 80% fit and that was all
we had," Allardyce said. "We had Jack Collison, who hasn't kicked a ball
since the play-off final and Alou Diarra, who hasn't kicked a ball in three
months, that is how bare bones we are at the moment. "Medical staff are
busier than us as coaches at the moment. We can't afford any more contact or
any more injuries, so we can't even do any training. "If we try to do any
training and try to do any shape or build-up for Reading, we will get
contact between players and, if you get contact between players, you risk
injury and we can't do that. "We can't even get out on the field and do a
bit of coaching at the moment."
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West Ham and Everton unite in disappointment at abject performance by ref
Taylor
By GRAHAM POLL
PUBLISHED: 23:34, 23 December 2012 | UPDATED: 23:34, 23 December 2012
Daily Mail
The season of goodwill to all men started this weekend and referees tested
that sentiment with a number of baffling decisions. Red cards and penalties
were the main bones of contention but one assistant referee standing up to
be counted in the battle against the holding and blocking at set pieces
looked at odds with the rest of his colleagues.
Referees know that they will seldom drive home with praise ringing in their
ears but it is unusual to incur the wrath of both managers and all 35,000
fans in attendance. However, Anthony Taylor managed exactly that after a
poor display of officiating at Upton Park. The red cards shown to Carlton
Cole and Darron Gibson were, at very best, extremely harsh, particularly
that of the West Ham striker who watched the ball through the air. Whilst
his foot was high I could not see any reason to dismiss him. I think Taylor
reacted too quickly to what he thought he saw rather than wait and reflect;
the best referees, rather like the best players, appear to have more time
than others.
Taylor is a good referee who had a bad day and should look at his more
experienced colleagues and learn from them – in particular Howard Webb, who
is excellent at taking his time to give himself the best possibility of
getting decisions correct - as he did at St Mary's when waving away the home
team's penalty appeals.
Mike Dean is another excellent referee enjoying a good season but he angered
Reading boss Brian McDermott at the Etihad on Saturday. I had a little
sympathy for McDermott who's team had battled well at the home of the
Champions and deserved a penalty. McDermott wanted the kick for a block on
Jay Tabb but I felt the penalty should have been awarded for handball by a
City defender before contact was made with Tabb.
Of course, McDermott's mood was not helped by conceding the only goal of the
game to a Gareth Barry header. There was nothing wrong with Dean's judgement
with that goal despite McDermott's insistence that Barry had climbed on
Nicky Shorey's shoulders. Barry was merely more determined to win the ball,
which disappointingly Shorey made no attempt to play.
As usual the claim was made that the referee was favouring the 'big team', a
view which was unfounded at the Etihad but did hold water up the road at
Wigan. Roberto Martinez has often complained about rough justice and after
having a soft, but correct, penalty awarded against him he was denied two,
clearer penalties for handball by referee Jon Moss.
Martinez is an intelligent manager who knows the laws and perceptively
stated that neither Kieran Gibbs nor Thomas Vermaelen had their arms in
natural positions when they blocked Wigan shots – exactly the phrase
referees are asked to consider at possible hand ball situations. Finally, we
return to Upton Park, where the first decision of the game probably set the
tone for the match when after just four minutes Everton had a goal
disallowed for a block on the West Ham keeper. The offence by Victor
Anichebe was a minor infringement and apparently given by assistant Gary
Beswick, who was almost 50 yards away and looking through players and a goal
post. Worse holding offences happened all over the country and went
unpunished and Beswick must realise that a consistent approach is required.
Let's hope that our beleaguered match officials get what they are hoping for
tomorrow before returning to action on Boxing Day.
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Allardyce seeks instant justice by laptop after seeing red over referee
West Ham United 1 Everton 2
KEVIN GARSIDE SUNDAY 23 DECEMBER 2012
The Independent
The time for interactive decision-making is upon us, says Sam Allardyce.
Goal-line technology does not go far enough for the West Ham manager who,
seething after a red card for Carlton Cole with his team's match against
Everton poised at 1-1, called for the introduction of real-time challenges
to refereeing decisions, as in tennis.
Big Sam would press a button, the ruling would go to the video referee in
the stands, who would then proceed via slow-motion replays towards the
truth.
Allardyce pointed to the discrepancy in Anthony Taylor's decision-making
which resulted in red cards for West Ham's Carlton Cole and Everton's Darron
Gibson yet nothing for Victor Anichebe, who appeared to commit the same
offence by challenging James Collins with a raised foot.
"Not many will remember the Anichebe incident because it comes and goes
without punishment," Allardyce said.
"I go straight to my laptop – we record the game so we can look at any
incident immediately – and Anichebe has volleyed James Collins in the neck.
Nothing happened, so nobody remembers it. The other two get straight reds.
This is the problem. The difference is far too great.
"The only way to make things better for us all is to bring technology into
it. We should be allowed two or three challenges a game. Forget about your
old Platinis, who are antiquated. I know they are in strong positions and
they affect the game but they are not doing us any favours by not allowing
technology to come into play. The technology today, like they have in
tennis, means it is all done in two minutes at the most."
Allardyce makes a reasonable point. If technology is available, aids
officials and contributes positively to outcomes, then there is no sane
argument against its introduction. Whether it would ease the pain of a
manager in defeat is another question.
Allardyce focused on the decisions of the referee to explain the result when
a more profitable route might be to examine how Everton play the game. Video
recordings of Leon Osman and Steven Pienaar would show how they controlled
the tempo of this match through intelligent movement and the playing of ball
to feet before the loss of Cole for a high challenge on Leighton Baines in
the 67th minute.
Too often the default option for West Ham was to seek the right foot of Mark
Noble to launch a long, diagonal punt in search of quick rewards. It rarely
came off. Everton's slick approach work did not always bear fruit either,
but on balance they created more chances and looked far easier on the eye
doing so. Indeed, West Ham went ahead in the 14th minute using that very
template, Matthew Taylor finding Cole, who cut inside John Heitinga to
score.
Anichebe had already headed Everton level before Cole departed. Yes, Pienaar
and Osman combined beautifully to edge Everton in front with 17 minutes
remaining, but twice in the last 10 minutes Kevin Nolan fashioned chances to
score. In the second of those, in added time, Nolan had only the goalkeeper
to beat and missed the target completely. No laptop review was required to
identify that error, yet there was no mention of it from Allardyce.
Naturally, the Everton manager, David Moyes, thought the worst decision of
the afternoon went against his team when Osman's header was ruled out for an
infringement on the goalkeeper by Anichebe. The video replay showed the
linesman to be right about an arm holding on to Jussi Jaaskelainen. Perhaps
referees should join in the call for a laptop law to prove to managers that
they get the majority of decisions spot on.
Match facts
West Ham: JAASKELAINEN 7/10, TOMKINS 6, COLLINS 7, REID 7, O'BRIEN 7, O'NEIL
6, TAYLOR 7, NOBLE 7, JARVIS 8, NOLAN 6, COLE 8
Everton: HOWARD 7, BAINES 7, DISTIN 7, JAGIELKA 6, HEITINGA 5, OSMAN 8,
PIENAAR 9, NEVILLE 7, GIBSON 6, ANICHEBE 6, JELAVIC 7
Goals: West Ham United Cole 18 Everton Anichebe 64, Pienaar 73. Subs: West
Ham Maiga 6 (O'Neil, 58), Spence (O'Brien, 80), Collison (Jarvis, 88).
Everton Naismith (Neville, 84), Oviedo (Pienaar, 88), Duffy (Anichebe, 90).
Booked: West Ham Maiga. Sent off: West Ham Cole (67). Everton Gibson (90).
Man of the match Pienaar. Match rating 8/10. Possession: West Ham 38%
Everton 62%. Attempts on target: West Ham 5 Everton 8. Referee A Taylor
(Greater Manchester). Att 35,005.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham and Everton supporters unite to scorn referee Andrew Taylor
• Taylor's two red cards spark Upton Park controversy
• Home and away fans chant: 'You're not fit to referee'
Mark Tallentire at Upton Park
The Guardian, Sunday 23 December 2012 22.58 GMT
It is a rare day when both sets of fans chant "You don't know what you're
doing" in the referee's direction at the final whistle, but that was the
situation facing Andrew Taylor when he and his assistants headed for the
dressing room after their afternoon's work on Saturday.
His dismissal of West Ham's Carlton Cole for a high challenge on Leighton
Baines after 67 minutes raised eyebrows and a red card for the visitors'
Darron Gibson after something similar on Mark Noble in injury time drew boos
from the home supporters and saw the Everton fans applaud the derision as
the Irishman departed, with both sets uniting in a burst of "You're not fit
to referee."
All in a day's work for some, and despite coming from behind for the ninth
time in 18 league games this season, it left David Moyes annoyed that his
Everton team's slick performance would be overshadowed by the controversy
and his opposite number Sam Allardyce suggesting changes to the way football
is officiated.
"I said to Sam on the touchline it wasn't a sending-off for Cole in my eyes
and he said the same about Gibson," said Moyes, who is minded to appeal
jointly with the West Ham manager. "It will have affected them more than us
obviously, because Cole was sent off a bit earlier in the game."
Allardyce stirred the pot, throwing in a barb at the Uefa president for good
measure: "The only way to make it better for us all is to bring technology
into it. I've always said two or three [video] challenges would be in our
favour if we were allowed it. Forget about your [Michel] Platinis, who are
antiquated. They are not doing us any favours. [Decisions] affect results
and there's £65m [in TV money] coming [for Premier League clubs] next year.
Like cricket, the technology means it's done in less than two minutes at the
absolute most. We used to have two TVs in the dugout in 2005 and had them
ripped out by the Premier League in 2006. It used to be a big help with
refereeing decisions."
Though the two dismissals may have adversely affected the flow of the game
and will hinder both managers' preparations for the remaining Christmas
games, Everton would have welcomed a video challenge of the decision to
disallow Leon Osman's thumping header from a Baines corner which was chalked
off by a linesman for a block on the goalkeeper by Victor Anichebe. "It's
something Kevin Nolan probably does every week but the one time we do it …"
Osman said later. "The ref just passed the buck and said the linesman gave
it. The little decisions in the box seem to go against us."
Two minutes later Everton fell behind to a low 20-yarder from Cole,who
turned Johnny Heitinga inside and out, but with Nikica Jelavic low on
confidence and horribly out of form, Moyes's side could not fashion an
equaliser until Anichebe met Steven Pienaar's cross with a flicked header 20
minutes into the second half.
Moyes has had to make do and mend more times than he would care to remember
and having deservedly taken the three points thanks to a run to the byline
by Osman and a cut-back which was eventually bundled in by Pienaar, he now
faces the need to tweak what was already an improvised 4-4-2 to cover for
the suspended Marouane Fellaini and the hamstrung right-back Seamus Coleman.
"We decided to go with the two boys up front and altered what we have done
and won in another fashion," said Moyes, who now must prepare for Wigan's
visit on Boxing Day. "I have learnt you can't just have one way of playing
in the Premier League. As the season goes on, injuries and suspensions take
their toll. I think it was a good lift for us, to win without Marouane in
the team."
That made it 10 games since a West Ham side last defeated Everton, and
Allardyce took it badly. "It's difficult to take," said the home manager,
lamenting Nolan's missed opportunity when clean through in injury time.
"Anichebe's [high-ish] challenge on James Collins after 30 minutes and 20
seconds went without a booking or a talking-to. There's little or no
difference between the two incidents. If you've lost it you want to do so by
your own default, not the referee's, and I think we lost today by the
referee's decision."
Allardyce, who has failed to fill his bench in recent games but who finally
gave Jack Collison a first airing since the play-off final in May, also
cited a lack of options and how it is affecting preparations. "We can't
train the players or coach the players at the moment because we can't afford
any more contact and we can't afford any more injuries," he said. "We can
only keep the players fit and ready to go because if we try to do any shape
or try to do any build-up for Reading [on Saturday] we get contact between
players and risk injuries." January cannot come too soon for him.
Man of the match Leon Osman (Everton)
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Jack Collison made his first appearance of the season in Saturday's 2-1 home
defeat by Everton
23.12.2012
Jack Collison was left with mixed emotions after making his return to action
after six months on the sidelines in Saturday's 2-1 Barclays Premier League
defeat by Everton. The midfielder was introduced as a late substitute at the
Boleyn Ground, but was unable to help the Hammers fashion a late equaliser.
However, after so long out nursing a knee condition, Collison was naturally
delighted to pull on a claret and blue shirt again for the first time since
last season's npower Championship Play-Off final. West Ham TV caught up
with the No10 after the game. "I feel good. After playing 45 minutes with
the reserves the other day and getting some time on Saturday makes me know
that if I'm needed, I've got some time under my belt. It's great to be out
there. I really enjoyed my football last year, I was in the team most weeks
and it's been a bit of a blow to miss the start of the season, but the boys
have been fantastic so far and it's great to come back into a squad that's
playing well."
Collison has been out for seven months and he spoke of the difficulty of
sitting on the sidelines as West Ham returned to the Barclays Premier
League. "It's been very frustrating but I've had my fair share of injuries
to deal with in the past, so you could say I've used my experience a little
bit to help me through it. Now I'm trying to get myself fit and raring to
go."
Collison's desire to return to first-team action is clear and he said that
his knee is feeling stronger every day, adding: "It feels great at the
moment so hopefully it will continue to improve and I can get some more
minutes and continue training so that hopefully in a few weeks they can
throw me in [from the start]."
Concentrating on Saturday's defeat, the Wales international felt West Ham
were unforunate to finish empty-handed. The Hammers lost, despite going
ahead through Carlton Cole's first-half goal, with the striker's
controversial red card not helping matters. Looking forward, Collison is
determined to pick up a positive result at Reading next Saturday, having
been sent-off in the 3-0 defeat by the Royals at the Madejski Stadium last
season. "I think we were a bit unlucky to not come away with anything on
Saturday. I thought it was a fairly even game and little moments settled it.
The second goal was a little bit unfortunate but we've come away with
nothing and we will pick ourselves up. We haven't got a game at Arsenal on
Boxing Day now so we can recharge and get ready for Reading.
"We're going to Reading ready to prove a point because they turned us over
twice last year. The away match was probably my least favourite game last
year, so for me personally I'd love to get any time on pitch. I know, as a
squad, we are looking to go there and really give it to them this year."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Cole hopes common sense prevails in red card row
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 23rd December 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham striker Carlton Cole insists that referee Anthony Taylor was wrong
to send him off during yesterday's 2-1 home defeat against Everton. The
United number nine was as shocked as everyone else in the 35,000 crowd to be
sent off by card-happy referee Taylor in the second half of yesterday's
Premier League clash with the Toffees after catching Leighton Baines with a
high boot. And Cole - who faces a two-match suspension as a result of the
dismissal - has urged the FA too see sense and reverse Taylor's decision.
Speaking via his Twitter account tonight, Cole said: "Hopefully something
can be done to rescind it. For me it wasn't even a challenge because I
didn't see Bainsey behind me. I was honestly trying to bring the ball down
from the air, so hopefully the FA can see that."
Sam Allardyce, who confirmed last night that the club would seek to overturn
the decision was absolutely furious at the decision which, he insisted, cost
his team not just the services of Cole for the rest of the match but also
all three points. "You're looking for consistency from a referee and we
didn't get that today, which had a massive effect on the result," he said.
"It's how quickly the referee got the red card out, he couldn't wait. He
never deliberated over the decision, he never did anything."
Everton boss David Moyes, who later saw Darron Gibson dismissed for a
similar offence in equally dubious circumstances also plans to appeal
against the red card. "I think you'd say there's a genuine reason why you
could appeal that," he said. "You don't want to appeal and then find you've
got an extra game added to it, but i don't think you can put the word
frivolous next to that appeal."
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Allardyce on... Everton
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 23rd December 2012
By: Staff Writer
Unsurprisingly perhaps given the circumstances a furious Sam Allardyce laid
into hapless referee Anthony Taylor in his post-match press conference,
which we once again bring you exclusively in full...
Sam: There were over 35,000 spectators today and I think only one person
thought that [Carlton Cole's dismissal] was a red card?
Yes; it's difficult to take, isn't it. The comparison I would make is the
challenge by [Victor] Anichebe on James Collins after 32 minutes. There was
very little difference between that challenge and Carlton Cole's challenge,
which is at a slightly different angle but they're the same types of
challenges. One goes without a booking or talking to and the other is a
straight red when there is little or no difference between the two
incidents.
You're looking for consistency from a referee in the same game and we didn't
get that today, which had a massive effect on the result. We have to take
that on the chin whilst the punishment is twofold for us. We'll probably
appeal [against the decision] - and hopefully we'll get off - but if we
don't then we lose Carlton for the next game and that's bitterly
disappointing.
The result is bitterly disappointing because it's been affected. We don't
know what would have happened after that - we might have gone and won it, it
might have ended in a draw of Everton might have won it - but the fact of
the matter is that if you've lost you want to lose by your own faults, not
by the referees. I felt we lost the game today by the referee's decision to
send Carlton off. It's a difficult pill for us to swallow based on our
circumstances at the moment.
David Moyes suggested he would speak to you after the game and see if you
would appeal?
Well I am. I just said I am. I didn't think [Darron] Gibson's was a red card
either but there you go. We've suffered at the hands of those decisions
today and after [scoring] a really good goal to get us in front. The
position, the circumstances we're in at the moment any positive result for
us would have been great.
We're suffering badly at the moment with injuries and illnesses without
having those decisions go against us. We'll just have to battle on and,
hopefully, get the players back as quickly as we can to strengthen the squad
and the team. We'll look forward to Reading next week, try and go there and
get a positive result and move on.
What David Moyes was suggesting was that a joined appeal would in some sense
have even more strength if you're in total agreement?
Well, I'm not so sure they'll take any notice of that; the panel takes each
incident as they see it and I'm not so sure you can make any comparisons.
For me, when you're looking at a player who puts a foot up you ask "has he
done it on purpose? Has he meant to do it?" If you look at Carlton's
incident from the start, his eyes are completely focused on the ball. As the
ball travels over his head he follows the ball with his eyes, then he turns
and puts his foot up. Baines comes from what we call the blind side and
heads the ball after Carlton's touched it with his foot.
But it's how quickly the referee got the red card out, he couldn't wait. He
never deliberated over the decision, he never did anything. Like I said,
when, after 32 minutes, Anichebe done an overhead side volley straight into
James Collins' neck (or head) and he's heading the ball like Baines did -
and nothing's given - it's those inconsistencies that are a real problem for
us. We've suffered at the hands of the referee.
There's nothing much we can do about the result but we can appeal and
hopefully we can get Carlton down to a yellow card, or off [completely].
And if the FA hears similar remarks from you and Moyes then..?
Well maybe, I don't know; it goes to an independent panel, the decision's
made relatively quickly and we can wait and see. We'll just have to see what
the outcome is.
Our disappointment today is that we haven't got anything from the game. It
would have been nice for us had Kevin Nolan, our inspirational captain at
the moment, just knocked that one in at the end. Our best chance of the game
fell to Kev and I thought "go on Kev, stick it in and make us all feel a
little bit better" - but unfortunately it just went the wrong side of the
post.
We could have come off with a 2-2 [draw], picked up another point and still
be concerned about what's happened with the ref but not ended up without any
points today.
As the manager how do you control your emotions when you see something like
that happen when you feel a sense of injustice?
I have to say that's it's very difficult to control your emotions at the
time it happens - and it's difficult to control your emotions after. All I
can do is follow the right channels, so I'll be asking the referee's bosses
what they think of these decisions. I need to be satisfied that I get the
answers or the discussion that I'm looking for, and debate it.
I'd be very disappointed if I thought that, at the end of that, we weren't
trying to make sure that we're helping to make the referees better. Unlike
perhaps a lot of managers, I would want to know the total discussion from
the delegate to the referees and from the referees to Mike Riley - or
whoever his coach is. I want to know what he's saying, what he's thinking
about what happened today and what the way forward would be for Anthony
Taylor.
Did you try and talk to the referee at all after?
I spoke to the referee but that's between me and him. Like I said, we'll go
through the channels of reporting in terms of the system that we have in
place. I 'll take that up, pursue it quite vigorously and see what answers
they give me.
The referee has a split decision to make and it's very difficult for him
because he doesn't have a replay and he doesn't have slow motion. He's in
the position he's in so he has a very difficult job. But if he's not getting
the right feedback or the right coaching and is told, "alright son, you've
done okay, carry on" - then they've got a big problem.
Do you think there should be a system where the fourth official, for
instance, is watching the game on television so he can communicate to the
referee?
We put TVs in the dugouts in 2005 and had them ripped out by the Premier
League in 2006. It shows you just how backward they are. In fact we had two
TVs in the dugout; one was on a ten-second delay and one showed a replay of
the incident.
What did you think of the performance other than the referee?
I thought that our first half performance was good, as was the goal we
scored that got us in front against a very good Everton team. Based on the
circumstances with the players I thought everybody gave everything they had
today. Carlton, with how well he's playing at the moment always kept us in
the game. Territorially you might say that Everton had an advantage - as you
would expect with where they are, the players they've got and the time
they've been in the Premier League - but in [terms of] chances created we
created as much as them.
Modibo Maiga came on and Carlton gave him a cross that he hit and it just
clipped an Everton player. It went wide of the post but instead of getting a
corner a goal kick was given. Then, like I said, Kevin got the one at the
end that was the best chance of the game. Our defending was very good again
and we probed and tried to get forward whenever we could and, in the end,
the game was in the balance [until Cole's sending off].
Gary O'Neil played injured today; he had a groin injury from the start. We
had nobody else when Guy Demel went down with sickness this morning on top
of all the other injuries. What we had [available] was on the pitch - ten
players fit and one who about 80 per cent fit. We also had Jack Collison,
who hasn't kicked a ball since the play-off Final and Alou Diarra who hasn't
kicked a ball for over three months, that's how 'bare bones' we are at the
minute.
The medical staff are busier than us coaches and managers at the moment. We
can't coach the players because we can't afford any more injuries, so we
can't do any training at the minute. We can only keep the players fit and
ready to go for Reading. If we try to do any training, shape or build-up
we'll get contact beetween players - and if contact between players happen
you risk injuries so we can't do that.
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West Ham's injury crisis has forced Sam Allardyce to ban full-contact
training
Last Updated: December 23, 2012 1:38pm
SSN
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has banned full-contact training in a
desperate bid to stop the club's injury crisis from worsening. Guy Demel sat
out Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Everton due to illness and he was joined on the
sidelines by Andy Carroll, Mohamed Diame, Yossi Benayoun and Ricardo Vaz Te.
Long-term injury victims Alou Diarra and Jack Collison were rushed back onto
the bench, while Carlton Cole will now be absent for three matches after
being controversially sent-off at Upton Park. The postponement of the Boxing
Day match at Arsenal has given West Ham a chance to patch up their players
and Allardyce admits the club cannot cope if there are any more absentees.
"We had 10 players who were fit and one was about 80% fit and that was all
we had," Allardyce said. "We had Jack Collison, who hasn't kicked a ball
since the play-off final and Alou Diarra, who hasn't kicked a ball in three
months, that is how bare bones we are at the moment. "Medical staff are
busier than us as coaches at the moment. We can't afford any more contact or
any more injuries, so we can't even do any training. "If we try to do any
training and try to do any shape or build-up for Reading, we will get
contact between players and, if you get contact between players, you risk
injury and we can't do that. "We can't even get out on the field and do a
bit of coaching at the moment."
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West Ham and Everton unite in disappointment at abject performance by ref
Taylor
By GRAHAM POLL
PUBLISHED: 23:34, 23 December 2012 | UPDATED: 23:34, 23 December 2012
Daily Mail
The season of goodwill to all men started this weekend and referees tested
that sentiment with a number of baffling decisions. Red cards and penalties
were the main bones of contention but one assistant referee standing up to
be counted in the battle against the holding and blocking at set pieces
looked at odds with the rest of his colleagues.
Referees know that they will seldom drive home with praise ringing in their
ears but it is unusual to incur the wrath of both managers and all 35,000
fans in attendance. However, Anthony Taylor managed exactly that after a
poor display of officiating at Upton Park. The red cards shown to Carlton
Cole and Darron Gibson were, at very best, extremely harsh, particularly
that of the West Ham striker who watched the ball through the air. Whilst
his foot was high I could not see any reason to dismiss him. I think Taylor
reacted too quickly to what he thought he saw rather than wait and reflect;
the best referees, rather like the best players, appear to have more time
than others.
Taylor is a good referee who had a bad day and should look at his more
experienced colleagues and learn from them – in particular Howard Webb, who
is excellent at taking his time to give himself the best possibility of
getting decisions correct - as he did at St Mary's when waving away the home
team's penalty appeals.
Mike Dean is another excellent referee enjoying a good season but he angered
Reading boss Brian McDermott at the Etihad on Saturday. I had a little
sympathy for McDermott who's team had battled well at the home of the
Champions and deserved a penalty. McDermott wanted the kick for a block on
Jay Tabb but I felt the penalty should have been awarded for handball by a
City defender before contact was made with Tabb.
Of course, McDermott's mood was not helped by conceding the only goal of the
game to a Gareth Barry header. There was nothing wrong with Dean's judgement
with that goal despite McDermott's insistence that Barry had climbed on
Nicky Shorey's shoulders. Barry was merely more determined to win the ball,
which disappointingly Shorey made no attempt to play.
As usual the claim was made that the referee was favouring the 'big team', a
view which was unfounded at the Etihad but did hold water up the road at
Wigan. Roberto Martinez has often complained about rough justice and after
having a soft, but correct, penalty awarded against him he was denied two,
clearer penalties for handball by referee Jon Moss.
Martinez is an intelligent manager who knows the laws and perceptively
stated that neither Kieran Gibbs nor Thomas Vermaelen had their arms in
natural positions when they blocked Wigan shots – exactly the phrase
referees are asked to consider at possible hand ball situations. Finally, we
return to Upton Park, where the first decision of the game probably set the
tone for the match when after just four minutes Everton had a goal
disallowed for a block on the West Ham keeper. The offence by Victor
Anichebe was a minor infringement and apparently given by assistant Gary
Beswick, who was almost 50 yards away and looking through players and a goal
post. Worse holding offences happened all over the country and went
unpunished and Beswick must realise that a consistent approach is required.
Let's hope that our beleaguered match officials get what they are hoping for
tomorrow before returning to action on Boxing Day.
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Allardyce seeks instant justice by laptop after seeing red over referee
West Ham United 1 Everton 2
KEVIN GARSIDE SUNDAY 23 DECEMBER 2012
The Independent
The time for interactive decision-making is upon us, says Sam Allardyce.
Goal-line technology does not go far enough for the West Ham manager who,
seething after a red card for Carlton Cole with his team's match against
Everton poised at 1-1, called for the introduction of real-time challenges
to refereeing decisions, as in tennis.
Big Sam would press a button, the ruling would go to the video referee in
the stands, who would then proceed via slow-motion replays towards the
truth.
Allardyce pointed to the discrepancy in Anthony Taylor's decision-making
which resulted in red cards for West Ham's Carlton Cole and Everton's Darron
Gibson yet nothing for Victor Anichebe, who appeared to commit the same
offence by challenging James Collins with a raised foot.
"Not many will remember the Anichebe incident because it comes and goes
without punishment," Allardyce said.
"I go straight to my laptop – we record the game so we can look at any
incident immediately – and Anichebe has volleyed James Collins in the neck.
Nothing happened, so nobody remembers it. The other two get straight reds.
This is the problem. The difference is far too great.
"The only way to make things better for us all is to bring technology into
it. We should be allowed two or three challenges a game. Forget about your
old Platinis, who are antiquated. I know they are in strong positions and
they affect the game but they are not doing us any favours by not allowing
technology to come into play. The technology today, like they have in
tennis, means it is all done in two minutes at the most."
Allardyce makes a reasonable point. If technology is available, aids
officials and contributes positively to outcomes, then there is no sane
argument against its introduction. Whether it would ease the pain of a
manager in defeat is another question.
Allardyce focused on the decisions of the referee to explain the result when
a more profitable route might be to examine how Everton play the game. Video
recordings of Leon Osman and Steven Pienaar would show how they controlled
the tempo of this match through intelligent movement and the playing of ball
to feet before the loss of Cole for a high challenge on Leighton Baines in
the 67th minute.
Too often the default option for West Ham was to seek the right foot of Mark
Noble to launch a long, diagonal punt in search of quick rewards. It rarely
came off. Everton's slick approach work did not always bear fruit either,
but on balance they created more chances and looked far easier on the eye
doing so. Indeed, West Ham went ahead in the 14th minute using that very
template, Matthew Taylor finding Cole, who cut inside John Heitinga to
score.
Anichebe had already headed Everton level before Cole departed. Yes, Pienaar
and Osman combined beautifully to edge Everton in front with 17 minutes
remaining, but twice in the last 10 minutes Kevin Nolan fashioned chances to
score. In the second of those, in added time, Nolan had only the goalkeeper
to beat and missed the target completely. No laptop review was required to
identify that error, yet there was no mention of it from Allardyce.
Naturally, the Everton manager, David Moyes, thought the worst decision of
the afternoon went against his team when Osman's header was ruled out for an
infringement on the goalkeeper by Anichebe. The video replay showed the
linesman to be right about an arm holding on to Jussi Jaaskelainen. Perhaps
referees should join in the call for a laptop law to prove to managers that
they get the majority of decisions spot on.
Match facts
West Ham: JAASKELAINEN 7/10, TOMKINS 6, COLLINS 7, REID 7, O'BRIEN 7, O'NEIL
6, TAYLOR 7, NOBLE 7, JARVIS 8, NOLAN 6, COLE 8
Everton: HOWARD 7, BAINES 7, DISTIN 7, JAGIELKA 6, HEITINGA 5, OSMAN 8,
PIENAAR 9, NEVILLE 7, GIBSON 6, ANICHEBE 6, JELAVIC 7
Goals: West Ham United Cole 18 Everton Anichebe 64, Pienaar 73. Subs: West
Ham Maiga 6 (O'Neil, 58), Spence (O'Brien, 80), Collison (Jarvis, 88).
Everton Naismith (Neville, 84), Oviedo (Pienaar, 88), Duffy (Anichebe, 90).
Booked: West Ham Maiga. Sent off: West Ham Cole (67). Everton Gibson (90).
Man of the match Pienaar. Match rating 8/10. Possession: West Ham 38%
Everton 62%. Attempts on target: West Ham 5 Everton 8. Referee A Taylor
(Greater Manchester). Att 35,005.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham and Everton supporters unite to scorn referee Andrew Taylor
• Taylor's two red cards spark Upton Park controversy
• Home and away fans chant: 'You're not fit to referee'
Mark Tallentire at Upton Park
The Guardian, Sunday 23 December 2012 22.58 GMT
It is a rare day when both sets of fans chant "You don't know what you're
doing" in the referee's direction at the final whistle, but that was the
situation facing Andrew Taylor when he and his assistants headed for the
dressing room after their afternoon's work on Saturday.
His dismissal of West Ham's Carlton Cole for a high challenge on Leighton
Baines after 67 minutes raised eyebrows and a red card for the visitors'
Darron Gibson after something similar on Mark Noble in injury time drew boos
from the home supporters and saw the Everton fans applaud the derision as
the Irishman departed, with both sets uniting in a burst of "You're not fit
to referee."
All in a day's work for some, and despite coming from behind for the ninth
time in 18 league games this season, it left David Moyes annoyed that his
Everton team's slick performance would be overshadowed by the controversy
and his opposite number Sam Allardyce suggesting changes to the way football
is officiated.
"I said to Sam on the touchline it wasn't a sending-off for Cole in my eyes
and he said the same about Gibson," said Moyes, who is minded to appeal
jointly with the West Ham manager. "It will have affected them more than us
obviously, because Cole was sent off a bit earlier in the game."
Allardyce stirred the pot, throwing in a barb at the Uefa president for good
measure: "The only way to make it better for us all is to bring technology
into it. I've always said two or three [video] challenges would be in our
favour if we were allowed it. Forget about your [Michel] Platinis, who are
antiquated. They are not doing us any favours. [Decisions] affect results
and there's £65m [in TV money] coming [for Premier League clubs] next year.
Like cricket, the technology means it's done in less than two minutes at the
absolute most. We used to have two TVs in the dugout in 2005 and had them
ripped out by the Premier League in 2006. It used to be a big help with
refereeing decisions."
Though the two dismissals may have adversely affected the flow of the game
and will hinder both managers' preparations for the remaining Christmas
games, Everton would have welcomed a video challenge of the decision to
disallow Leon Osman's thumping header from a Baines corner which was chalked
off by a linesman for a block on the goalkeeper by Victor Anichebe. "It's
something Kevin Nolan probably does every week but the one time we do it …"
Osman said later. "The ref just passed the buck and said the linesman gave
it. The little decisions in the box seem to go against us."
Two minutes later Everton fell behind to a low 20-yarder from Cole,who
turned Johnny Heitinga inside and out, but with Nikica Jelavic low on
confidence and horribly out of form, Moyes's side could not fashion an
equaliser until Anichebe met Steven Pienaar's cross with a flicked header 20
minutes into the second half.
Moyes has had to make do and mend more times than he would care to remember
and having deservedly taken the three points thanks to a run to the byline
by Osman and a cut-back which was eventually bundled in by Pienaar, he now
faces the need to tweak what was already an improvised 4-4-2 to cover for
the suspended Marouane Fellaini and the hamstrung right-back Seamus Coleman.
"We decided to go with the two boys up front and altered what we have done
and won in another fashion," said Moyes, who now must prepare for Wigan's
visit on Boxing Day. "I have learnt you can't just have one way of playing
in the Premier League. As the season goes on, injuries and suspensions take
their toll. I think it was a good lift for us, to win without Marouane in
the team."
That made it 10 games since a West Ham side last defeated Everton, and
Allardyce took it badly. "It's difficult to take," said the home manager,
lamenting Nolan's missed opportunity when clean through in injury time.
"Anichebe's [high-ish] challenge on James Collins after 30 minutes and 20
seconds went without a booking or a talking-to. There's little or no
difference between the two incidents. If you've lost it you want to do so by
your own default, not the referee's, and I think we lost today by the
referee's decision."
Allardyce, who has failed to fill his bench in recent games but who finally
gave Jack Collison a first airing since the play-off final in May, also
cited a lack of options and how it is affecting preparations. "We can't
train the players or coach the players at the moment because we can't afford
any more contact and we can't afford any more injuries," he said. "We can
only keep the players fit and ready to go because if we try to do any shape
or try to do any build-up for Reading [on Saturday] we get contact between
players and risk injuries." January cannot come too soon for him.
Man of the match Leon Osman (Everton)
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Sunday, December 23
Daily WHUFC News - 23rd December 2012
Big Sam rues 'bizarre' second half
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce was left frustrated after seeing his side lose to Everton and
Carlton Cole controversially sent-off
22.12.2012
Sam Allardyce cut a frustrated figure after watching his West Ham United
side lose 2-1 to Everton in their final home Barclays Premier League fixture
of 2012.
The Hammers looked set to end the year at the Boleyn Ground on a high when
Carlton Cole's superb finish sent them in a goal to the good at half-time.
However, Victor Anichebe's equaliser was quickly followed by the
controversial sending-off of Cole and a fortuitous winning goal scored by
Steven Pienaar.
There was still time for Kevin Nolan to miss a late opportunity to equalise
and for Everton's Darron Gibson to see red for catching Mark Noble, leading
Big Sam to label the second half 'bizarre' and lament what might have been.
The manager also confirmed that he intends to appeal against Cole's
dismissal.
"We could say it is our fault that we lost the game because of the one Kevin
missed at the end, unfortunately, because that would have been a massive
bonus for us. We fought and battled to the end, with ten men, so to get a
golden chance like that and have it fall to our leading goalscorer, I
thought 'Go on Kev make it a pleasant day for us in the end' but
unfortunately the shot just went wide of the post instead of going into the
net. "It would have been too late for Everton to have come back [and score a
winner] even with eleven men against ten. Then we had the referee sending
one of their players off after he had sent Carlton Cole off, so it ended up
being a bizarre second half after what was a fantastic first half. We scored
a goal and defended as well as we did, but in the end it has all gone
pear-shaped. "We could look at ourselves and say it's all our fault, and
that's fair enough, but unfortunately the majority of it isn't because at
one-one the referee sent Carlton Cole off. We were all aghast and the whole
stadium was shocked by the fact that it was a red card. "We're all shocked
because of the incident after 32 minutes when Anichebe has done almost
exactly the same thing Carlton has done on James Collins and nothing has
happened. When you see that sort of thing happening in the same game by the
referee, it's very disappointing indeed. "We have to take it on the chin and
move on because there is nothing we can do about the result. The most
disappointing thing is that if our appeal doesn't work then we will miss
Carlton for the Reading match and he's playing very, very well at the minute
and he scored a fantastic goal."
Concentrating on the football, Big Sam praised his players for their
work-rate and effort against a very good Everton side. With just 16 fit
senior players - two of whom have recently returned to training after long
periods out injured in Jack Collison and Alou Diarra - available, the
manager said it was always going to be a challenge to halt the Toffees.
"Kevin could have got us a point with that chance at the end and that would
have ended it as being a good day for us under the circumstances. Even
Modibo Maiga could have scored just after he came on when Carlton Cole
passed him the ball but unfortunately the deflection went wide of the post -
and even then the referee gave a goal kick and not a corner. "It was a
strange second half and if you look at how their second goal was stumbled
and bumbled in rather than created by the opposition was again
disappointing. I can't blame the lads because they are giving their all.
"Gary O'Neil had to play even though he was not 100 per cent. He came off in
training on Friday but then we lost Guy Demel with the vomiting virus on
Saturday so he had to go out on the field. He couldn't hold out so we had to
change him and we didn't have any other option but to go 4-4-2 and, in the
end, that wasn't the main cause of why we lost. "People should not forget
that, even though they were on the bench, they [Collison and Diarra] are not
fit to play football. They are not there because they are fit enough to play
in our first team - they are there because of the desperate measures we have
to resort to. Jack has not kicked a ball apart from 45 minutes in a
Development Squad game last week and Alou DIarra has not played a
competitive game since injuring his thigh three months ago.
"These players are not able or ready to start in our first team, so we have
to get them fit as quick as we can, as well as all the others because if we
continue with the injury list we have, we will pay a heavy price. We paid a
heavy price on Saturday because, had we had a full squad, we might not have
got 2-0 up or maybe taken advantage of having a full squad. "I give the lad
full credit for their efforts but we need variation and options. Without
those it becomes difficult, but it was a brilliant effort by the players."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 1 Everton 2
22 December 2012
Last updated at 17:24
By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer, BBC Sport at Upton Park
Everton came from behind to beat West Ham United and move back into fourth
place as both sides ended with 10 men at Upton Park. Carlton Cole gave West
Ham an early lead but was then shown a hotly-contested red card for a high
challenge on Leighton Baines after the interval. Victor Anichebe had already
headed Everton level after 64 minutes and they cashed in on West Ham's
numerical disadvantage when Steven Pienaar scrambled in what proved to be
the winner shortly after Cole was sent off. Everton came from behind to win
for the fourth time in the Premier League this season. Only Manchester
United, who have done it seven times, have achieved this more. Everton had
opportunities to increase their lead but Kevin Nolan squandered a late
opportunity to equalise for West Ham as they attempted to overcome the
handicap of Cole's dismissal to earn a point. Darron Gibson was also sent
off in stoppage time by referee Anthony Taylor after a collision with Mark
Noble that had to be met with similar punishment to Cole - leaving both
managers unhappy at the final whistle. West Ham manager Sam Allardyce will
feel his side suffered an injustice, but Everton counterpart David Moyes
will view this as a vital three points as they continue to battle at the top
end of the table. Everton were missing Marouane Fellaini, who started a
three-game suspension after headbutting Stoke's Ryan Shawcross, but still
started brightly.
Sylvain Distin should have done better than head down and over the top from
Baines's free-kick - then Everton saw a goal ruled out in contentious
circumstances. The diminutive figure of Leon Osman rose to head in a corner
from Baines but, much to Everton's obvious fury, the celebrations were
halted by a linesman's flag. It looked like Anichebe had been penalised for
impeding goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen but Anichebe would counter but saying
he was simply standing his ground. Everton's frustration deepened as Cole
gave West Ham the lead soon after, escaping John Heitinga far too easily and
shooting low past Tim Howard. The Merseysiders emerged with far more intent
after the break and Nikica Jelavic should have equalised when the ball broke
to him eight yards out after a penalty area scramble but the Croat could
only shoot straight at Jaaskelainen. Everton's pressure was mounting,
however, and they restored parity when Anichebe got a glancing touch on to
Pienaar's cross to leave Jaaskelainen helpless.
If Everton thought they had been harshly treated by Osman's disallowed goal,
West Ham were left nursing an equal sense of injustice when Cole was sent
off in the 66th minute. The striker's foot was raised in a challenge with
Baines and he caught the England defender, but there was still surprise when
referee Taylor produced the red card. And to make matters worse for West
Ham, Everton were soon in front as Pienaar scrambled in a finish at the near
post after Osman had made inroads into the penalty area. Jelavic's assured
finishing took had deserted him in a poor personal performance and he could
only find the sidenetting when presented with a chance to wrap up Everton's
victory. Nolan was West Ham's main danger in the closing stages and twice
had opportunities to equalise, once with a shot that was deflected inches
wide then when he uncharacteristically off target when clean through.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham and Everton to appeal against Cole and Gibson red cards
By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer, BBC Sport
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce and Everton counterpart David Moyes will both
appeal against red cards given to Carlton Cole and Darron Gibson. Cole and
Gibson were shown straight red cards for respective high challenges on
Leighton Baines and Mark Noble in Everton's 2-1 victory at Upton Park. Moyes
said: "I didn't think either were red cards and we'll appeal. I'll have a
word with Sam about appealing as well." And Allardyce added: "It had a
massive effect but we will appeal immediately."
Cole and Gibson are both facing three-match suspensions - leaving both
managers angry and ready to contest the decisions by referee Anthony Taylor.
After Cole had given West Ham an early lead, Everton came from behind to win
with second-half goals from Victor Anichebe and Steven Pienaar and move into
fourth place in the Premier League. Taylor sent Cole off three minutes after
Anichebe's second-half equaliser and Gibson's dismissal came in injury time
when he tackled Noble. Allardyce felt Cole's red card cost his team the
match and demanded greater consistency from officials. He said: "If you
compare Carlton's tackle on Leighton Baines to the one Victor Anichebe did
on James Collins in the 32nd minute, it was slightly different but exactly
the same type of challenge and yet one went without a booking or a talking
to and the other was a straight red. "I didn't think Gibson's was a red card
either. In Carlton's case you are looking at a player who has put his foot
up and you say 'has he meant to do it? Has he done it on purpose?' "His eyes
are completely focused on the ball when Leighton has come in from the blind
side. "It was how quick the referee got the red card out. He couldn't wait.
He didn't deliberate over it."
Moyes believes both players have a good case for their bans to be overturned
and said: "I don't think you can put the word 'frivolous' next to this. It's
worth the appeal and it's not a stupid appeal. "I thought it was a case of
two players honestly going for the ball." Everton's victory moved them up
into fourth place and Moyes believes his team can sustain their challenge
for a Champions League spot. He added: "We've started well but we're bobbing
in and out. We've got some big teams around us and if we can finish in a
European spot it would be great. "If we don't we'll keep going but the
players have been excellent. "We just about deserved the win. It's a really
tough place to come and Sam's got his team playing well but some of our play
was great."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham Utd 1-2 Everton
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 22nd December 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham slipped to a second successive home Premier League defeat - before
placing the blame for it squarely at the feet of calamity referee Anthony
Taylor.
The inexperienced match official incurred the wrath of the Boleyn Ground
crowd when he inexplicably dismissed Carlton Cole midway through the second
half of the game, which was evenly poised at 1-1 at the time, for raising a
foot that accidentally caught stooping Everton defender Leighton Baines. The
visitors took advantage of the extra man by grabbing a second goal shortly
after Cole's departure - a goal that won them all three points - but they
too finished the match with only ten men after Taylor compounded his earlier
gaff by making an equally poor decision when dismissing Everton's Darron
Gibson for an almost identical offence. That decision gave rise to what must
have been the first ever example of an opponent's dismissal being booed by
the home fans - with Gibson himself given a sympathetic round of applause by
United supporters who made no secret of their anger by universally chanting
"you're not fit to referee" at Taylor.
The 34-year-old Manchester-born referee - who also oversaw West Ham's 3-0
win against Fulham earlier in the season, a match that passed with no
controversy - had a diabolical game, making a series of poor calls. But it
was the two sending offs that he will be most remembered for - neither of
which warranted a booking, let alone a red card.
Taylor had already upset Everton boss David Moyes early on in the first half
when he ruled out what appeared to be a perfectly good goal by the
outstanding Leon Osman on the advice of his linesman, who spotted an
infringement that few others - if any - saw.
And Moyes had even more reason to be annoyed when he saw his team fall a
goal behind just two minutes later when Carlton Cole created an opening for
himself inside the box before firing home from some 15 yards out.
Everton, who had looked the stronger side in the opening exchanges of the
second half grabbed an equaliser on 64 minutes when Victor Anichebe rose to
head home Steven Pienaar's probing delivery. It was the first time West Ham
had conceded a header all season.
From that moment on the game descended into farce once Cole had been given
his marching orders two minutes after Everton had levelled the scores.
Climbing to reach a ball in Everton's penalty box, Cole's raised foot -
which was above waist height but hardly dangerous - came into contact with
Baines, who was stopping to reach the ball. With no hesitation, referee
Taylor reached for his pocket and, to the shock of everyone else inside the
ground, pulled out a red card.
Shellshocked by that decision, West Ham panicked - and paid for it by
conceding what proved to be the winning goal. Osman, who had tormented West
Ham all afternoon weaved his way into the box before the ball eventually
sprang to Pienaar, who poked it over the line.
Despite an unimpressive second half showing the Hammers still had the chance
to redeem themselves when Kevin Nolan found himself with just goalkeeper Tim
Howard to beat - but under pressure, the captain could only find the side
netting.
But there was still time for referee Taylor to make more headlines when he
dismissed Everton's Gibson for a similar challenge to that which saw Cole
sent off. It was the mark of a weak official that he felt he had to even
scores - and yet another appalling decision as Gibson's challenge was
perhaps a foul at worst.
No doubt both managers will appeal against the red cards that ruined the
match as a spectacle - and if both fail to be rescinded there is something
seriously wrong at the FA. However that will be little consolation for Sam
Allardyce who has now seen his side throw away a winning position in
successive matches at home.
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Moyes on... West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 22nd December 2012
By: Staff Writer No.2
Everton boss David Moyes is as bemused as the rest of us as a woefully
sub-standard refereeing performance is the main topic of conversation in the
post-match press conference, which, as ever, we bring you in full....
David is that confusing for you this afternoon? Because you've probably got
your views on the referee, you came away with three points. It's hard to
know where to start!...
I don't know what order you want to put it in but if you talk about the play
I thought we played well. Really well. I found it difficult to say anything
at half time I thought we played that well in the first half. The only thing
we didn't have was maybe that cutting edge at the end of it. Creating more
opportunities or shots on target.I would put it that way. I thought our play
was terrific, the players were magic and I thought it was the same in the
second half. Were we gonna win the game? I wasn't sure it wasn't going to be
one of those days when it doesn't work.
Er, I think that's the football isn't it! (laughter).
Did you have an interesting chat with the referee on the way down to the
tunnel there?
Yeah. I thought none of them were sending-offs. I think that after the first
one he's probably thought that if there's another foot raised high he was
gonna have to do the same. I said that I thought that wasn't the way he
should referee. That if you get one it doesn't mean that you do the other
one.
I've got to say that I was really annoyed by the goal in the first half. I
think we scored a pretty good goal. Osman scores a great header and I think
it's stopped. Kevin Nolan blocks a goalkeeper better than anybody does so
for us to get given a foul [against us] by a linesman who is 60 yards away
that was tough to take in the first half.
We had a situation in the last match with Fellaini and Shawcross, all the
grappling in the box. It's almost as if we need new guidance as to what is a
red card and what's not now?
I think "grappling" and the challenges today are not connected. I thought
the two challenges today were players relatively honestly going for the
ball. Yeah may be a bit dangerously high with the boot up. But I think of
anybody who plays football, I don't think many would see them as red cards
here in England.
How about Anichebe, he's been given for a block on Jaaskaleinen?
The other two were wrong but I can't see how a linesman can give a decision
along there when the referee is 15 yards away and the linesman's, what 50
yards from it? I thought that was harsh on us.
David that's the 9th time this season you've come from behind to win or
draw. What does that say about the character of the players?
I think the players have bags of character. If you're gonnae play at West
Ham at ANY tine I've known - certainly one of Big Sam's teams - you're going
to have to show it. I think for most of the game we did do. I was actually
stunned when we went a goal behind. It came a bit out of the blue.
Was the second goal Pienaar's?
I think so. I've asked Ossie [Leon Osman] and he says that when he cut it
back it rattles off Pienaar and Pienaar get's it in. I've not asked Pienaar
yet.
I've got to say this whether you ask it or not. I thought that ever if there
was an England player today it was Osman. I thought he was top notch today.
Every time he got it he turned on the ball, he dribbled past people. Osman
was exceptional and if he plays like that he'll have more than one cap I'm
telling you. Pienaar? - yes the two of them were excellent but Ossie was on
a level today with most things that he's done. He should have had a goal and
he made the second with his little bit down the side of the box. I thought
he deserved an extra mention for how good he's been.
I think that we know the answer David but why did you think that neither
[sending off] were red cards?
I just thought it was two players going honestly for the ball. Leighton
Baines' reaction. Never flinched just got up and moved on. I think it's a
free kick. Darron Gibson gave a free-kick away - I don't know if it's Noble
that he catches. I think everyone would agree. The ball bounced up a bit
high. I just think that they both weren't red cards.
Will you appeal?
I will appeal it. I'll have a word with Sam as well. I don't think you can
put the word "frivolous" next to that appeal. I think you'd say there's a
genuine reason why you could appeal that. You don't want to go and appeal
and find you've got an extra game on it but i don't think you can put the
word frivolous next to that appeal. I don't know what you think but I don't
think so.
Overall? You're back in the top 4 now...
We're bobbing in and out at the moment. The most important thing is to get
the points on the board. We've been playing like that most of the season and
maybe just not seen our good play turned into goals. We got two in the end
today thankfully. It was tough but we got there in the end.
Heitinga was having a hard time. were you tempted to maybe put Jagielka in
there?
I was yeah. Johnny had quite a tough day. But Seamus Coleman had a hamstring
in training. I thoughy I night have needed Jagielka's pace against Jarvis.
In the main that proved to be right. I thought I'd take that chance and move
Jagielka - who I think has been outstanding at centre half this season.
Thanks - happy Christmas!
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Everton come from behind to beat West Ham 2-1
Last Updated: December 22, 2012 9:01pm
SSN
Second-half goals from Victor Anichebe and Steven Pienaar saw Everton beat
West Ham 2-1 at the Boleyn Ground to go fourth in the Premier League. But
referee Anthony Taylor was the pantomime villain in this match before
Christmas as two needless red cards spoilt the game. Taylor all but handed
the Toffees three points after controversially deciding Carlton Cole had
left his foot in on Leighton Baines midway through the second half. The
official evened up the red-card count in stoppage-time, finding Darron
Gibson guilty of a similar offence on Mark Noble.
Best of the match
Man of the match: Steven Pienaar. The South African scored the winner and
provided the goal assist for the equaliser.
Goal of the match: Carlton Cole. The West Ham striker cut inside Johnny
Heitinga before cracking in a low drive from the edge of the box.
Moment of the match: Cole's controversial sending-off - it swung the
momentum to Everton and they capitalised.
Talking point: Referee Anthony Taylor. He brandished two needless red cards
which spoilt his game at Upton Park.
Earlier, Sylvain Distin missed a sitter to put the Toffees ahead from a
free-kick from Baines, but the unmarked defender nodded it into the ground
and over the crossbar. Baines produced another special three minutes later
for Leon Osman's disallowed goal, his corner headed home by one of the
smallest players on the pitch but ruled out seemingly for Anichebe's block
on Jussi Jaaskelainen. The Everton players were furious and their ire only
increased when Cole fired West Ham in front soon afterwards, the striker
cutting inside the recalled Johnny Heitinga far too easily before cracking
in a low drive from the edge of the box on 14 minutes.
At the other end, Everton continued to probe, prompting West Ham boss Sam
Allardyce to replace Gary O'Neil with Modibo Maiga just before the hour
mark, a move that almost paid off immediately when the Malian scuffed
Cole's cross wide. And that was when it all went horribly wrong for the
hosts. Maiga got himself booked for pushing Pienaar over in the 64th minute
and, from the resultant free-kick, the ball was worked left to the South
African, whose cross was glanced home brilliantly by Anichebe. Three minutes
later, Taylor made the call that swung the game. Cole hung his leg out in a
bid to control a dropping ball and definitely made contact with Baines but
it looked anything but a reckless lunge. To Cole's horror, Taylor thought
otherwise, brandishing a straight red card.
The momentum was all with Everton and they completed their comeback six
minutes later, Osman's cross inadvertently played against Pienaar by Kevin
Nolan before trickling into the net. There were chances at either end before
Gibson then saw red in stoppage time for an almost identical challenge to
Cole's on Noble, although this one was slightly less debatable.
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West Ham defender Winston Reid in talks over a new deal
Last Updated: December 22, 2012 11:40am
SSN
Winston Reid has insisted that he has never considered leaving West Ham
United as talks begin over a contract extension for the defender. Reid has
turned in a number of impressive performances to help the Hammers establish
themselves in mid-table in their first season back in the Premier League. A
number of clubs are understood to be tracking the New Zealand international,
leading to speculation that he could move on from Upton Park. However, the
24-year-old has made it clear that he has no plans to go anywhere and is
hoping to sign a new deal with West Ham. "We are talking," he said in the
Daily Star. "There's an option in there for both parties to take another two
years at the end of the season. "I've always wanted to stay here. I enjoy
being here."
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Furious Sam Allardyce lays into referee Anthony Taylor for sending off
Carlton Cole in West Ham's loss to Everton
Last Updated: December 22, 2012 8:50pm
SSN
Sam Allardyce accused referee Anthony Taylor of being trigger-happy after
West Ham's Carlton Cole was sent off in the 2-1 home defeat by Everton. The
visitors also saw Darron Gibson get his marching orders late on in
Saturday's Premier League clash at Upton Park, with both decisions looking
soft. Cole, who scored the opening goal, was sent off for a foul on Leighton
Baines, with Allardyce moaning: "It is how quickly the referee got the red
card out. He couldn't wait, he didn't deliberate over the decision or
anything. "There is nothing much we can do about the result but we can
appeal the decision and hopefully we can get Carlton down to a yellow card
and get him off."
Allardyce revealed he had a chat with Taylor afterwards, saying: "I spoke to
the ref but that is between me and him. "We will go through the channels of
'reporting' that the system has in place and I will take that up and pursue
it quite vigorously. "If he is not getting the right feedback or coaching
and is told it was OK and 'carry on', then we have got a big problem. "When
you are looking for consistency from referees, you look for consistency in
the same game he is reffing and we didn't get that today and that had a
massive effect on the result. "We have to, unfortunately, take that on the
chin and the punishment is twofold for us."
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Christmas cards
West Ham 1 Everton 2
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: 22nd December 2012
SAM ALLARDYCE and David Moyes have joined forces against controversial ref
Anthony Taylor. Both bosses will appeal the sendings-off which overshadowed
Everton's first away win since September. Hammers striker Carlton Cole and
Toffees midfielder Darron Gibson received straight red cards for dangerous
play. And furious West Ham chief Allardyce rapped: "It's difficult to take.
"We suffer at the hands of these decisions. It's how quick he got his cards
out, he couldn't wait. "I'd like to know what the referees' coaches or
whoever think about what happened today and what is the right way forward
for Taylor. "I'll pursue that quite vigorously to see what answers they give
me. "He has a difficult job but if he's not getting the right feedback and
is just told 'well done, carry on', then we've got a real problem."
Everton boss Moyes was also angry at Gibson's injury-time red card. The Scot
met with Allardyce in his office after the game to formulate a plan of
action with the FA. Moyes said: "The ref probably thought because he had
given one red card for a tackle like that he had to give another one.
"Neither of them were sendings-off." The FA will be expected to deal with
the appeals tomorrow. Everton play Wigan on Boxing Day and hope to have
Gibson available. West Ham do not play until Saturday at Reading.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 1 Everton 2
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: 22nd December 2012
SAM ALLARDYCE can moan about the ref all he likes. But the long and the
short of it is that West Ham's big 'uns giants were duffed up by two little
'uns. Steven Pienaar and Leon Osman are 5ft 7in and 5ft 8in respectively.
Yet they scared the life out of physically the Premier League's biggest
squad. Everton are back in the top four thanks to their pint-sized pair —
and the fact that West Ham had their heads in the clouds and failed to see
off the danger under their feet. David Moyes was left cooing over his tiny
terrors. He said: "Leon Osman — if ever there was an England player, that
was him out there today. He was top notch. He turned on the ball and
dribbled past people. He and Steven were excellent but Osman was on a
different level. "Our football was magic today. Even in the first half. So
much so that at half-time I couldn't really think of much to change. "All we
were lacking were shots on target and goals scored. My players showed great
character to come back the way they did because you need it to do so against
one of Big Sam's teams."
The inconsistencies of a referee play a big part in the outcome of matches.
But the Hammers had been warned Everton's mighty midgets were in ruthless
mood. Just 12 minutes into the game, Osman was able to out-jump West Ham's
strapping defence and head home from full-back Leighton Baines' corner.
Yet the goal was disallowed in the first moment of controversy as Victor
Anichebe was spotted grabbing Hammers keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen on the line.
It was a let-off for Allardyce and an early warning which his players did
little to heed. And all thoughts of the trouble to come was dispelled when
Carlton Cole put West Ham ahead just two minutes later. Even Big Sam
admitted it was a big plus and a break he did not quite expect. But it was a
class finish and a shame that West Ham's wholehearted centre forward would
later leave the action early through a straight red card. Mark Noble
dribbled through the centre circle and picked out Matt Taylor with a short
pass.
Taylor turned and fed Cole and the big man rounded Johnny Heitinga and shot
low into the net from the edge of the box. But it only served to inspire
Everton's diminutive double act. Pienaar had a 20-yarder well saved on the
stroke of half-time with Osman's technical skills a constant threat.
Everton's set-pieces were dangerous and after the break they returned
resurgent as West Ham wobbled. Anichebe equalised 20 minutes into the second
half. Pienaar floated in a delicate cross from the left and the big man
flicked it on with his head from six yards with Jaaskelainen stranded.
Cole's harsh sending off in the 67th minute was the big talking point and it
was unfair. But it also gave Allardyce an easy get-out by blaming ref
Anthony Taylor for everything that went on afterwards. Cole's foot was
coming down when it made contact with left-back Baines' arm. Both managers
described the incident as two players "honestly" going for the ball. And
they had a point. But seven minutes later Everton hit the winner and the red
card was nothing to do with it. Osman was allowed to dance to the byline in
West Ham's area, dragging three opposition players with him. Cleverly, he
spotted Pienaar advancing and cut the ball back for his team-mate to tap it
in from six yards. That was poor defending and Cole would not have been
involved had he been on the pitch — he would have been waiting for the
breakaway so it was irrelevant. West Ham also had chances to get an
equaliser — but fluffed them.
Sub Modibo Maiga dithered over a golden opportunity and Kevin Nolan poorly
placed a shot with the goal gaping in the closing seconds. Darron Gibson's
injury-time sending off for a high foot on Hammers Mark Noble made sure
everyone could have a pop at Mr Taylor as he left. Merry Christmas.
West Ham: Jaaskelainen, Tomkins, Collins, Reid, O'Brien (Spence 81), Noble,
O'Neil (Maiga 58), Taylor, Nolan, Jarvis (Collison 88), Cole Subs Not Used:
Spiegel, Diarra, Moncur, Lletget.
Sent Off: Cole (66).
Booked: Maiga.
Goals: Cole 14.
Everton: Howard, Heitinga, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Osman, Gibson, Neville
(Naismith 85), Pienaar (Oviedo 88), Jelavic, Anichebe (Duffy 90) Subs Not
Used: Mucha, Hitzlsperger, Barkley, Vellios.
Sent Off: Gibson (90).
Goals: Anichebe 64, Pienaar 73.
Att: 35,005
Ref: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Momo's great escape: Harry Redknapp plans to use escape clause to seal Diame
signing
The Mirror
23 Dec 2012 00:57
QPR boss Harry Redknapp is ready to move for West Ham's Momo Diame and
exploit a £3.5m 'escape clause' in his deal, The People can exclusively
reveal.
Redknapp is a big admirer of the Senegalese midfielder who has been a huge
hit for Sam Allardyce's side since joining from Wigan on a free last summer.
Diame can move from the Hammers if a club meets the trigger figure in his
deal – and West Ham's money men have yet to sort out a new contract with
him.
Diame was snapped up by West Ham in the summer when his Latics contract
expired and his agents insisted on a £3.5m buy-out clause in his deal.
Redknapp is keen to step in and take Diame, but is waiting for news about
his fitness after he suffered a hamstring injury. The tough-tackling player
was initially ruled out until March after tearing his hamstring in the home
defeat to Liverpool earlier this month. However, his camp now say the
injury could be healed within three weeks. Redknapp is unlikely to commit
until the picture becomes clearer but Diame is on his wish list – and owner
Tony Fernandes is set to back him with cash. Diame is happy at West Ham but
the contract situation could leave him leave for a knockdown fee.
If Diame leaves, Allardyce will step up his interest in midfielder Liam
Trotter from the Hammers' bitter rivals Millwall. Hammers' boss Sam
Allardyce has been impressed with the £2m-rated powerhouse who has been
instrumental as the Lions challenge for a play-off place in the
Championship. Allardyce would face stiff competition for Trotter who has
also been tracked by Everton and Southampton. Saints boss Nigel Adkins knows
Trotter well after signing him on loan from Ipswich for previous club
Scunthorpe.
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Allardicey: West Ham could let Big Sam go despite lofty league position
The Mirror
22 Dec 2012 22:30
Laurence Griffiths
Doubts have emerged over the future of West Ham boss Sam Allardyce. Despite
leading the club to promotion to the Premier League and enjoying an
impressive first half of the season, Allardyce will enter the New Year
uncertain of his long-term position. Allardyce has just six months remaining
on his West Ham contract and is yet to start formal talks about a new deal.
West Ham co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan have told Allardyce that no
decisions are likely to be made until the club have secured their Premier
League status for next season. But a Hammers source told Sunday Mirror
Sport: "There are certainly no guarantees that Sam will be offered a new
contract at the moment. "It is already clear that the club are going to
assess their options and there is a real fear Sam's contract situation
could be allowed to drag on." Even though he has done a wonderful job at
Upton Park, Allardyce has not been fully embraced by the club's fans. If his
contract is not renewed, Gold and Sullivan would most likely look for a more
popular replacement. Former players Paolo Di Canio, who is manager at
Swindon, and Charlton boss Chris Powell would both be in the frame.
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Reffing hell! West Ham bemoan controversial dismissal as Everton seal
comeback win at Upton Park
The Mirror
22 Dec 2012 17:37
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
West Ham United
1-2
Everton
A match of high controversy at Upton Park ended with two red cards, further
proof of Everton's potential to push for a Champions League place and a
reality check for West Ham. Hammers manager Sam Allardyce could point to the
somewhat baffling dismissal of Carlton Cole in the 66th minute as a major
turning point in the game. But in truth, Everton looked a transformed outfit
in the second half, had equalised and looked the more likely to go on and
win. True, the red card shown by referee Anthony Taylor to the West Ham
goalscorer helped their cause, but the momentum of Everton's game looked
more threatening leading up to the dismissal and they made the numerical
advantage count after Cole left the pitch. And although they trailed at
half-time, Everton were aggrieved that they were not at least on level
terms. Referee Taylor and his officials made their initial impact of any
importance in the 12th minute. A corner from Leighton Baines found the head
of the influential Leon Osman and Jussi Jaaskelainen was comprehensively
beaten. But up went a flag and Taylor ruled out the effort for a foul on
the Finnish goalkeeper. Everton were non-plussed. "How the linesman can give
that from his position and the referee not see anything wrong fifteen yards
away, I don't know," said Everton manager David Moyes. Within two minutes,
Everton paid for that decision. Matt Taylor found Cole at the edge of the
area and he shrugged off John Heitinga – not for the first time, by the way
– and drove the ball past Tim Howard into the net. A Darron Gibson free-kick
was tipped over by Jaaskelainen five minutes from the break and Moyes
admitted: "Some of our football was magic today, but at times we lacked the
cutting edge." Not in the second half they didn't. Inspired by Osman and the
foraging runs of Baines, Everton took a vice-like grip on the game. If
Nikicia Jelavic had been in any kind of form in front of goal, Everton would
have been level before they did score through Victor Anichebe in the 64th
minute. Steven Pienaar was the architect with a cross that was delicately
glided home by the Nigerian. Allardyce had already responded to Everton's
superiority by replacing Gary O'Neil with Modibo Maiga to provide another
outlet. But the partnership survived only seven minutes as Cole went in
high, but not maliciously on Baines. Referee Taylor showed a straight red
and Allardyce was furious. "Anichebe made a similar challenge on James
Collins in the 32nd minute and yet nothing for him, not even a talking to
never mind a yellow card," he said. "What you want is consistency from a
referee and we didn't get that." The winning goal was a scrappy one, after
what was an intricate build-up. Osman – who else – squared the ball, and
though Pienaar got an involuntary touch, the ball went in off a combination
of Kevin Nolan and keeper Jaaskelainen. But the South African will claim
it. Jelavic could have made the game safe but found the side-netting and it
was ref Taylor who provided West Ham with an equaliser – although not the
one they wanted. In added time, Gibson went in high on Mark Noble and out
came the red card. "I don't think either was a red card," said Moyes, but he
at least had the consolation of three points to soften the blow. No such
luck for Allardyce.
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Tug of war: Inter Milan battle West Ham for Arsenal striker Chamakh
The Mirror
22 Dec 2012 12:42
Inter Milan will challenge West Ham for the signature of unwanted Arsenal
striker Marouane Chamakh, according to the Metro. The Morocco international
is surplus to requirements at the Emirates and has been told he can leave in
the January transfer window. The 28-year-old started his Arsenal career
brightly before fading and is now considered a figure of fun by many Gunners
fans. Chamakh has held talks with West Ham over a potential loan move to
Upton Park - in a deal that would see Arsenal pay a cut of the striker's
£65,000-a-week wages , according to the Daily Mail. However, Serie A side
Inter have now entered the chase after being recommended the player by his
agent. Chamakh is understood to prefer a return to France with his former
club Bordeaux interested - although they are refusing to pay Arsenal's
£3million valuation of a player who left them for free and would struggle to
play his wages. The striker has made just two appearances for Arsenal this
season, both in the Capital One Cup, and he has two goals to his name.
Meanwhile, West Ham boss Sam Allardyce also wants ex-Chelsea star Salomon
Kalou on loan, although he faces competition from QPR for the Ivory Coast
forward.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce was left frustrated after seeing his side lose to Everton and
Carlton Cole controversially sent-off
22.12.2012
Sam Allardyce cut a frustrated figure after watching his West Ham United
side lose 2-1 to Everton in their final home Barclays Premier League fixture
of 2012.
The Hammers looked set to end the year at the Boleyn Ground on a high when
Carlton Cole's superb finish sent them in a goal to the good at half-time.
However, Victor Anichebe's equaliser was quickly followed by the
controversial sending-off of Cole and a fortuitous winning goal scored by
Steven Pienaar.
There was still time for Kevin Nolan to miss a late opportunity to equalise
and for Everton's Darron Gibson to see red for catching Mark Noble, leading
Big Sam to label the second half 'bizarre' and lament what might have been.
The manager also confirmed that he intends to appeal against Cole's
dismissal.
"We could say it is our fault that we lost the game because of the one Kevin
missed at the end, unfortunately, because that would have been a massive
bonus for us. We fought and battled to the end, with ten men, so to get a
golden chance like that and have it fall to our leading goalscorer, I
thought 'Go on Kev make it a pleasant day for us in the end' but
unfortunately the shot just went wide of the post instead of going into the
net. "It would have been too late for Everton to have come back [and score a
winner] even with eleven men against ten. Then we had the referee sending
one of their players off after he had sent Carlton Cole off, so it ended up
being a bizarre second half after what was a fantastic first half. We scored
a goal and defended as well as we did, but in the end it has all gone
pear-shaped. "We could look at ourselves and say it's all our fault, and
that's fair enough, but unfortunately the majority of it isn't because at
one-one the referee sent Carlton Cole off. We were all aghast and the whole
stadium was shocked by the fact that it was a red card. "We're all shocked
because of the incident after 32 minutes when Anichebe has done almost
exactly the same thing Carlton has done on James Collins and nothing has
happened. When you see that sort of thing happening in the same game by the
referee, it's very disappointing indeed. "We have to take it on the chin and
move on because there is nothing we can do about the result. The most
disappointing thing is that if our appeal doesn't work then we will miss
Carlton for the Reading match and he's playing very, very well at the minute
and he scored a fantastic goal."
Concentrating on the football, Big Sam praised his players for their
work-rate and effort against a very good Everton side. With just 16 fit
senior players - two of whom have recently returned to training after long
periods out injured in Jack Collison and Alou Diarra - available, the
manager said it was always going to be a challenge to halt the Toffees.
"Kevin could have got us a point with that chance at the end and that would
have ended it as being a good day for us under the circumstances. Even
Modibo Maiga could have scored just after he came on when Carlton Cole
passed him the ball but unfortunately the deflection went wide of the post -
and even then the referee gave a goal kick and not a corner. "It was a
strange second half and if you look at how their second goal was stumbled
and bumbled in rather than created by the opposition was again
disappointing. I can't blame the lads because they are giving their all.
"Gary O'Neil had to play even though he was not 100 per cent. He came off in
training on Friday but then we lost Guy Demel with the vomiting virus on
Saturday so he had to go out on the field. He couldn't hold out so we had to
change him and we didn't have any other option but to go 4-4-2 and, in the
end, that wasn't the main cause of why we lost. "People should not forget
that, even though they were on the bench, they [Collison and Diarra] are not
fit to play football. They are not there because they are fit enough to play
in our first team - they are there because of the desperate measures we have
to resort to. Jack has not kicked a ball apart from 45 minutes in a
Development Squad game last week and Alou DIarra has not played a
competitive game since injuring his thigh three months ago.
"These players are not able or ready to start in our first team, so we have
to get them fit as quick as we can, as well as all the others because if we
continue with the injury list we have, we will pay a heavy price. We paid a
heavy price on Saturday because, had we had a full squad, we might not have
got 2-0 up or maybe taken advantage of having a full squad. "I give the lad
full credit for their efforts but we need variation and options. Without
those it becomes difficult, but it was a brilliant effort by the players."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 1 Everton 2
22 December 2012
Last updated at 17:24
By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer, BBC Sport at Upton Park
Everton came from behind to beat West Ham United and move back into fourth
place as both sides ended with 10 men at Upton Park. Carlton Cole gave West
Ham an early lead but was then shown a hotly-contested red card for a high
challenge on Leighton Baines after the interval. Victor Anichebe had already
headed Everton level after 64 minutes and they cashed in on West Ham's
numerical disadvantage when Steven Pienaar scrambled in what proved to be
the winner shortly after Cole was sent off. Everton came from behind to win
for the fourth time in the Premier League this season. Only Manchester
United, who have done it seven times, have achieved this more. Everton had
opportunities to increase their lead but Kevin Nolan squandered a late
opportunity to equalise for West Ham as they attempted to overcome the
handicap of Cole's dismissal to earn a point. Darron Gibson was also sent
off in stoppage time by referee Anthony Taylor after a collision with Mark
Noble that had to be met with similar punishment to Cole - leaving both
managers unhappy at the final whistle. West Ham manager Sam Allardyce will
feel his side suffered an injustice, but Everton counterpart David Moyes
will view this as a vital three points as they continue to battle at the top
end of the table. Everton were missing Marouane Fellaini, who started a
three-game suspension after headbutting Stoke's Ryan Shawcross, but still
started brightly.
Sylvain Distin should have done better than head down and over the top from
Baines's free-kick - then Everton saw a goal ruled out in contentious
circumstances. The diminutive figure of Leon Osman rose to head in a corner
from Baines but, much to Everton's obvious fury, the celebrations were
halted by a linesman's flag. It looked like Anichebe had been penalised for
impeding goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen but Anichebe would counter but saying
he was simply standing his ground. Everton's frustration deepened as Cole
gave West Ham the lead soon after, escaping John Heitinga far too easily and
shooting low past Tim Howard. The Merseysiders emerged with far more intent
after the break and Nikica Jelavic should have equalised when the ball broke
to him eight yards out after a penalty area scramble but the Croat could
only shoot straight at Jaaskelainen. Everton's pressure was mounting,
however, and they restored parity when Anichebe got a glancing touch on to
Pienaar's cross to leave Jaaskelainen helpless.
If Everton thought they had been harshly treated by Osman's disallowed goal,
West Ham were left nursing an equal sense of injustice when Cole was sent
off in the 66th minute. The striker's foot was raised in a challenge with
Baines and he caught the England defender, but there was still surprise when
referee Taylor produced the red card. And to make matters worse for West
Ham, Everton were soon in front as Pienaar scrambled in a finish at the near
post after Osman had made inroads into the penalty area. Jelavic's assured
finishing took had deserted him in a poor personal performance and he could
only find the sidenetting when presented with a chance to wrap up Everton's
victory. Nolan was West Ham's main danger in the closing stages and twice
had opportunities to equalise, once with a shot that was deflected inches
wide then when he uncharacteristically off target when clean through.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham and Everton to appeal against Cole and Gibson red cards
By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer, BBC Sport
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce and Everton counterpart David Moyes will both
appeal against red cards given to Carlton Cole and Darron Gibson. Cole and
Gibson were shown straight red cards for respective high challenges on
Leighton Baines and Mark Noble in Everton's 2-1 victory at Upton Park. Moyes
said: "I didn't think either were red cards and we'll appeal. I'll have a
word with Sam about appealing as well." And Allardyce added: "It had a
massive effect but we will appeal immediately."
Cole and Gibson are both facing three-match suspensions - leaving both
managers angry and ready to contest the decisions by referee Anthony Taylor.
After Cole had given West Ham an early lead, Everton came from behind to win
with second-half goals from Victor Anichebe and Steven Pienaar and move into
fourth place in the Premier League. Taylor sent Cole off three minutes after
Anichebe's second-half equaliser and Gibson's dismissal came in injury time
when he tackled Noble. Allardyce felt Cole's red card cost his team the
match and demanded greater consistency from officials. He said: "If you
compare Carlton's tackle on Leighton Baines to the one Victor Anichebe did
on James Collins in the 32nd minute, it was slightly different but exactly
the same type of challenge and yet one went without a booking or a talking
to and the other was a straight red. "I didn't think Gibson's was a red card
either. In Carlton's case you are looking at a player who has put his foot
up and you say 'has he meant to do it? Has he done it on purpose?' "His eyes
are completely focused on the ball when Leighton has come in from the blind
side. "It was how quick the referee got the red card out. He couldn't wait.
He didn't deliberate over it."
Moyes believes both players have a good case for their bans to be overturned
and said: "I don't think you can put the word 'frivolous' next to this. It's
worth the appeal and it's not a stupid appeal. "I thought it was a case of
two players honestly going for the ball." Everton's victory moved them up
into fourth place and Moyes believes his team can sustain their challenge
for a Champions League spot. He added: "We've started well but we're bobbing
in and out. We've got some big teams around us and if we can finish in a
European spot it would be great. "If we don't we'll keep going but the
players have been excellent. "We just about deserved the win. It's a really
tough place to come and Sam's got his team playing well but some of our play
was great."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham Utd 1-2 Everton
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 22nd December 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham slipped to a second successive home Premier League defeat - before
placing the blame for it squarely at the feet of calamity referee Anthony
Taylor.
The inexperienced match official incurred the wrath of the Boleyn Ground
crowd when he inexplicably dismissed Carlton Cole midway through the second
half of the game, which was evenly poised at 1-1 at the time, for raising a
foot that accidentally caught stooping Everton defender Leighton Baines. The
visitors took advantage of the extra man by grabbing a second goal shortly
after Cole's departure - a goal that won them all three points - but they
too finished the match with only ten men after Taylor compounded his earlier
gaff by making an equally poor decision when dismissing Everton's Darron
Gibson for an almost identical offence. That decision gave rise to what must
have been the first ever example of an opponent's dismissal being booed by
the home fans - with Gibson himself given a sympathetic round of applause by
United supporters who made no secret of their anger by universally chanting
"you're not fit to referee" at Taylor.
The 34-year-old Manchester-born referee - who also oversaw West Ham's 3-0
win against Fulham earlier in the season, a match that passed with no
controversy - had a diabolical game, making a series of poor calls. But it
was the two sending offs that he will be most remembered for - neither of
which warranted a booking, let alone a red card.
Taylor had already upset Everton boss David Moyes early on in the first half
when he ruled out what appeared to be a perfectly good goal by the
outstanding Leon Osman on the advice of his linesman, who spotted an
infringement that few others - if any - saw.
And Moyes had even more reason to be annoyed when he saw his team fall a
goal behind just two minutes later when Carlton Cole created an opening for
himself inside the box before firing home from some 15 yards out.
Everton, who had looked the stronger side in the opening exchanges of the
second half grabbed an equaliser on 64 minutes when Victor Anichebe rose to
head home Steven Pienaar's probing delivery. It was the first time West Ham
had conceded a header all season.
From that moment on the game descended into farce once Cole had been given
his marching orders two minutes after Everton had levelled the scores.
Climbing to reach a ball in Everton's penalty box, Cole's raised foot -
which was above waist height but hardly dangerous - came into contact with
Baines, who was stopping to reach the ball. With no hesitation, referee
Taylor reached for his pocket and, to the shock of everyone else inside the
ground, pulled out a red card.
Shellshocked by that decision, West Ham panicked - and paid for it by
conceding what proved to be the winning goal. Osman, who had tormented West
Ham all afternoon weaved his way into the box before the ball eventually
sprang to Pienaar, who poked it over the line.
Despite an unimpressive second half showing the Hammers still had the chance
to redeem themselves when Kevin Nolan found himself with just goalkeeper Tim
Howard to beat - but under pressure, the captain could only find the side
netting.
But there was still time for referee Taylor to make more headlines when he
dismissed Everton's Gibson for a similar challenge to that which saw Cole
sent off. It was the mark of a weak official that he felt he had to even
scores - and yet another appalling decision as Gibson's challenge was
perhaps a foul at worst.
No doubt both managers will appeal against the red cards that ruined the
match as a spectacle - and if both fail to be rescinded there is something
seriously wrong at the FA. However that will be little consolation for Sam
Allardyce who has now seen his side throw away a winning position in
successive matches at home.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Moyes on... West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 22nd December 2012
By: Staff Writer No.2
Everton boss David Moyes is as bemused as the rest of us as a woefully
sub-standard refereeing performance is the main topic of conversation in the
post-match press conference, which, as ever, we bring you in full....
David is that confusing for you this afternoon? Because you've probably got
your views on the referee, you came away with three points. It's hard to
know where to start!...
I don't know what order you want to put it in but if you talk about the play
I thought we played well. Really well. I found it difficult to say anything
at half time I thought we played that well in the first half. The only thing
we didn't have was maybe that cutting edge at the end of it. Creating more
opportunities or shots on target.I would put it that way. I thought our play
was terrific, the players were magic and I thought it was the same in the
second half. Were we gonna win the game? I wasn't sure it wasn't going to be
one of those days when it doesn't work.
Er, I think that's the football isn't it! (laughter).
Did you have an interesting chat with the referee on the way down to the
tunnel there?
Yeah. I thought none of them were sending-offs. I think that after the first
one he's probably thought that if there's another foot raised high he was
gonna have to do the same. I said that I thought that wasn't the way he
should referee. That if you get one it doesn't mean that you do the other
one.
I've got to say that I was really annoyed by the goal in the first half. I
think we scored a pretty good goal. Osman scores a great header and I think
it's stopped. Kevin Nolan blocks a goalkeeper better than anybody does so
for us to get given a foul [against us] by a linesman who is 60 yards away
that was tough to take in the first half.
We had a situation in the last match with Fellaini and Shawcross, all the
grappling in the box. It's almost as if we need new guidance as to what is a
red card and what's not now?
I think "grappling" and the challenges today are not connected. I thought
the two challenges today were players relatively honestly going for the
ball. Yeah may be a bit dangerously high with the boot up. But I think of
anybody who plays football, I don't think many would see them as red cards
here in England.
How about Anichebe, he's been given for a block on Jaaskaleinen?
The other two were wrong but I can't see how a linesman can give a decision
along there when the referee is 15 yards away and the linesman's, what 50
yards from it? I thought that was harsh on us.
David that's the 9th time this season you've come from behind to win or
draw. What does that say about the character of the players?
I think the players have bags of character. If you're gonnae play at West
Ham at ANY tine I've known - certainly one of Big Sam's teams - you're going
to have to show it. I think for most of the game we did do. I was actually
stunned when we went a goal behind. It came a bit out of the blue.
Was the second goal Pienaar's?
I think so. I've asked Ossie [Leon Osman] and he says that when he cut it
back it rattles off Pienaar and Pienaar get's it in. I've not asked Pienaar
yet.
I've got to say this whether you ask it or not. I thought that ever if there
was an England player today it was Osman. I thought he was top notch today.
Every time he got it he turned on the ball, he dribbled past people. Osman
was exceptional and if he plays like that he'll have more than one cap I'm
telling you. Pienaar? - yes the two of them were excellent but Ossie was on
a level today with most things that he's done. He should have had a goal and
he made the second with his little bit down the side of the box. I thought
he deserved an extra mention for how good he's been.
I think that we know the answer David but why did you think that neither
[sending off] were red cards?
I just thought it was two players going honestly for the ball. Leighton
Baines' reaction. Never flinched just got up and moved on. I think it's a
free kick. Darron Gibson gave a free-kick away - I don't know if it's Noble
that he catches. I think everyone would agree. The ball bounced up a bit
high. I just think that they both weren't red cards.
Will you appeal?
I will appeal it. I'll have a word with Sam as well. I don't think you can
put the word "frivolous" next to that appeal. I think you'd say there's a
genuine reason why you could appeal that. You don't want to go and appeal
and find you've got an extra game on it but i don't think you can put the
word frivolous next to that appeal. I don't know what you think but I don't
think so.
Overall? You're back in the top 4 now...
We're bobbing in and out at the moment. The most important thing is to get
the points on the board. We've been playing like that most of the season and
maybe just not seen our good play turned into goals. We got two in the end
today thankfully. It was tough but we got there in the end.
Heitinga was having a hard time. were you tempted to maybe put Jagielka in
there?
I was yeah. Johnny had quite a tough day. But Seamus Coleman had a hamstring
in training. I thoughy I night have needed Jagielka's pace against Jarvis.
In the main that proved to be right. I thought I'd take that chance and move
Jagielka - who I think has been outstanding at centre half this season.
Thanks - happy Christmas!
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Everton come from behind to beat West Ham 2-1
Last Updated: December 22, 2012 9:01pm
SSN
Second-half goals from Victor Anichebe and Steven Pienaar saw Everton beat
West Ham 2-1 at the Boleyn Ground to go fourth in the Premier League. But
referee Anthony Taylor was the pantomime villain in this match before
Christmas as two needless red cards spoilt the game. Taylor all but handed
the Toffees three points after controversially deciding Carlton Cole had
left his foot in on Leighton Baines midway through the second half. The
official evened up the red-card count in stoppage-time, finding Darron
Gibson guilty of a similar offence on Mark Noble.
Best of the match
Man of the match: Steven Pienaar. The South African scored the winner and
provided the goal assist for the equaliser.
Goal of the match: Carlton Cole. The West Ham striker cut inside Johnny
Heitinga before cracking in a low drive from the edge of the box.
Moment of the match: Cole's controversial sending-off - it swung the
momentum to Everton and they capitalised.
Talking point: Referee Anthony Taylor. He brandished two needless red cards
which spoilt his game at Upton Park.
Earlier, Sylvain Distin missed a sitter to put the Toffees ahead from a
free-kick from Baines, but the unmarked defender nodded it into the ground
and over the crossbar. Baines produced another special three minutes later
for Leon Osman's disallowed goal, his corner headed home by one of the
smallest players on the pitch but ruled out seemingly for Anichebe's block
on Jussi Jaaskelainen. The Everton players were furious and their ire only
increased when Cole fired West Ham in front soon afterwards, the striker
cutting inside the recalled Johnny Heitinga far too easily before cracking
in a low drive from the edge of the box on 14 minutes.
At the other end, Everton continued to probe, prompting West Ham boss Sam
Allardyce to replace Gary O'Neil with Modibo Maiga just before the hour
mark, a move that almost paid off immediately when the Malian scuffed
Cole's cross wide. And that was when it all went horribly wrong for the
hosts. Maiga got himself booked for pushing Pienaar over in the 64th minute
and, from the resultant free-kick, the ball was worked left to the South
African, whose cross was glanced home brilliantly by Anichebe. Three minutes
later, Taylor made the call that swung the game. Cole hung his leg out in a
bid to control a dropping ball and definitely made contact with Baines but
it looked anything but a reckless lunge. To Cole's horror, Taylor thought
otherwise, brandishing a straight red card.
The momentum was all with Everton and they completed their comeback six
minutes later, Osman's cross inadvertently played against Pienaar by Kevin
Nolan before trickling into the net. There were chances at either end before
Gibson then saw red in stoppage time for an almost identical challenge to
Cole's on Noble, although this one was slightly less debatable.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham defender Winston Reid in talks over a new deal
Last Updated: December 22, 2012 11:40am
SSN
Winston Reid has insisted that he has never considered leaving West Ham
United as talks begin over a contract extension for the defender. Reid has
turned in a number of impressive performances to help the Hammers establish
themselves in mid-table in their first season back in the Premier League. A
number of clubs are understood to be tracking the New Zealand international,
leading to speculation that he could move on from Upton Park. However, the
24-year-old has made it clear that he has no plans to go anywhere and is
hoping to sign a new deal with West Ham. "We are talking," he said in the
Daily Star. "There's an option in there for both parties to take another two
years at the end of the season. "I've always wanted to stay here. I enjoy
being here."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Furious Sam Allardyce lays into referee Anthony Taylor for sending off
Carlton Cole in West Ham's loss to Everton
Last Updated: December 22, 2012 8:50pm
SSN
Sam Allardyce accused referee Anthony Taylor of being trigger-happy after
West Ham's Carlton Cole was sent off in the 2-1 home defeat by Everton. The
visitors also saw Darron Gibson get his marching orders late on in
Saturday's Premier League clash at Upton Park, with both decisions looking
soft. Cole, who scored the opening goal, was sent off for a foul on Leighton
Baines, with Allardyce moaning: "It is how quickly the referee got the red
card out. He couldn't wait, he didn't deliberate over the decision or
anything. "There is nothing much we can do about the result but we can
appeal the decision and hopefully we can get Carlton down to a yellow card
and get him off."
Allardyce revealed he had a chat with Taylor afterwards, saying: "I spoke to
the ref but that is between me and him. "We will go through the channels of
'reporting' that the system has in place and I will take that up and pursue
it quite vigorously. "If he is not getting the right feedback or coaching
and is told it was OK and 'carry on', then we have got a big problem. "When
you are looking for consistency from referees, you look for consistency in
the same game he is reffing and we didn't get that today and that had a
massive effect on the result. "We have to, unfortunately, take that on the
chin and the punishment is twofold for us."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Christmas cards
West Ham 1 Everton 2
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: 22nd December 2012
SAM ALLARDYCE and David Moyes have joined forces against controversial ref
Anthony Taylor. Both bosses will appeal the sendings-off which overshadowed
Everton's first away win since September. Hammers striker Carlton Cole and
Toffees midfielder Darron Gibson received straight red cards for dangerous
play. And furious West Ham chief Allardyce rapped: "It's difficult to take.
"We suffer at the hands of these decisions. It's how quick he got his cards
out, he couldn't wait. "I'd like to know what the referees' coaches or
whoever think about what happened today and what is the right way forward
for Taylor. "I'll pursue that quite vigorously to see what answers they give
me. "He has a difficult job but if he's not getting the right feedback and
is just told 'well done, carry on', then we've got a real problem."
Everton boss Moyes was also angry at Gibson's injury-time red card. The Scot
met with Allardyce in his office after the game to formulate a plan of
action with the FA. Moyes said: "The ref probably thought because he had
given one red card for a tackle like that he had to give another one.
"Neither of them were sendings-off." The FA will be expected to deal with
the appeals tomorrow. Everton play Wigan on Boxing Day and hope to have
Gibson available. West Ham do not play until Saturday at Reading.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 1 Everton 2
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: 22nd December 2012
SAM ALLARDYCE can moan about the ref all he likes. But the long and the
short of it is that West Ham's big 'uns giants were duffed up by two little
'uns. Steven Pienaar and Leon Osman are 5ft 7in and 5ft 8in respectively.
Yet they scared the life out of physically the Premier League's biggest
squad. Everton are back in the top four thanks to their pint-sized pair —
and the fact that West Ham had their heads in the clouds and failed to see
off the danger under their feet. David Moyes was left cooing over his tiny
terrors. He said: "Leon Osman — if ever there was an England player, that
was him out there today. He was top notch. He turned on the ball and
dribbled past people. He and Steven were excellent but Osman was on a
different level. "Our football was magic today. Even in the first half. So
much so that at half-time I couldn't really think of much to change. "All we
were lacking were shots on target and goals scored. My players showed great
character to come back the way they did because you need it to do so against
one of Big Sam's teams."
The inconsistencies of a referee play a big part in the outcome of matches.
But the Hammers had been warned Everton's mighty midgets were in ruthless
mood. Just 12 minutes into the game, Osman was able to out-jump West Ham's
strapping defence and head home from full-back Leighton Baines' corner.
Yet the goal was disallowed in the first moment of controversy as Victor
Anichebe was spotted grabbing Hammers keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen on the line.
It was a let-off for Allardyce and an early warning which his players did
little to heed. And all thoughts of the trouble to come was dispelled when
Carlton Cole put West Ham ahead just two minutes later. Even Big Sam
admitted it was a big plus and a break he did not quite expect. But it was a
class finish and a shame that West Ham's wholehearted centre forward would
later leave the action early through a straight red card. Mark Noble
dribbled through the centre circle and picked out Matt Taylor with a short
pass.
Taylor turned and fed Cole and the big man rounded Johnny Heitinga and shot
low into the net from the edge of the box. But it only served to inspire
Everton's diminutive double act. Pienaar had a 20-yarder well saved on the
stroke of half-time with Osman's technical skills a constant threat.
Everton's set-pieces were dangerous and after the break they returned
resurgent as West Ham wobbled. Anichebe equalised 20 minutes into the second
half. Pienaar floated in a delicate cross from the left and the big man
flicked it on with his head from six yards with Jaaskelainen stranded.
Cole's harsh sending off in the 67th minute was the big talking point and it
was unfair. But it also gave Allardyce an easy get-out by blaming ref
Anthony Taylor for everything that went on afterwards. Cole's foot was
coming down when it made contact with left-back Baines' arm. Both managers
described the incident as two players "honestly" going for the ball. And
they had a point. But seven minutes later Everton hit the winner and the red
card was nothing to do with it. Osman was allowed to dance to the byline in
West Ham's area, dragging three opposition players with him. Cleverly, he
spotted Pienaar advancing and cut the ball back for his team-mate to tap it
in from six yards. That was poor defending and Cole would not have been
involved had he been on the pitch — he would have been waiting for the
breakaway so it was irrelevant. West Ham also had chances to get an
equaliser — but fluffed them.
Sub Modibo Maiga dithered over a golden opportunity and Kevin Nolan poorly
placed a shot with the goal gaping in the closing seconds. Darron Gibson's
injury-time sending off for a high foot on Hammers Mark Noble made sure
everyone could have a pop at Mr Taylor as he left. Merry Christmas.
West Ham: Jaaskelainen, Tomkins, Collins, Reid, O'Brien (Spence 81), Noble,
O'Neil (Maiga 58), Taylor, Nolan, Jarvis (Collison 88), Cole Subs Not Used:
Spiegel, Diarra, Moncur, Lletget.
Sent Off: Cole (66).
Booked: Maiga.
Goals: Cole 14.
Everton: Howard, Heitinga, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Osman, Gibson, Neville
(Naismith 85), Pienaar (Oviedo 88), Jelavic, Anichebe (Duffy 90) Subs Not
Used: Mucha, Hitzlsperger, Barkley, Vellios.
Sent Off: Gibson (90).
Goals: Anichebe 64, Pienaar 73.
Att: 35,005
Ref: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).
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Momo's great escape: Harry Redknapp plans to use escape clause to seal Diame
signing
The Mirror
23 Dec 2012 00:57
QPR boss Harry Redknapp is ready to move for West Ham's Momo Diame and
exploit a £3.5m 'escape clause' in his deal, The People can exclusively
reveal.
Redknapp is a big admirer of the Senegalese midfielder who has been a huge
hit for Sam Allardyce's side since joining from Wigan on a free last summer.
Diame can move from the Hammers if a club meets the trigger figure in his
deal – and West Ham's money men have yet to sort out a new contract with
him.
Diame was snapped up by West Ham in the summer when his Latics contract
expired and his agents insisted on a £3.5m buy-out clause in his deal.
Redknapp is keen to step in and take Diame, but is waiting for news about
his fitness after he suffered a hamstring injury. The tough-tackling player
was initially ruled out until March after tearing his hamstring in the home
defeat to Liverpool earlier this month. However, his camp now say the
injury could be healed within three weeks. Redknapp is unlikely to commit
until the picture becomes clearer but Diame is on his wish list – and owner
Tony Fernandes is set to back him with cash. Diame is happy at West Ham but
the contract situation could leave him leave for a knockdown fee.
If Diame leaves, Allardyce will step up his interest in midfielder Liam
Trotter from the Hammers' bitter rivals Millwall. Hammers' boss Sam
Allardyce has been impressed with the £2m-rated powerhouse who has been
instrumental as the Lions challenge for a play-off place in the
Championship. Allardyce would face stiff competition for Trotter who has
also been tracked by Everton and Southampton. Saints boss Nigel Adkins knows
Trotter well after signing him on loan from Ipswich for previous club
Scunthorpe.
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Allardicey: West Ham could let Big Sam go despite lofty league position
The Mirror
22 Dec 2012 22:30
Laurence Griffiths
Doubts have emerged over the future of West Ham boss Sam Allardyce. Despite
leading the club to promotion to the Premier League and enjoying an
impressive first half of the season, Allardyce will enter the New Year
uncertain of his long-term position. Allardyce has just six months remaining
on his West Ham contract and is yet to start formal talks about a new deal.
West Ham co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan have told Allardyce that no
decisions are likely to be made until the club have secured their Premier
League status for next season. But a Hammers source told Sunday Mirror
Sport: "There are certainly no guarantees that Sam will be offered a new
contract at the moment. "It is already clear that the club are going to
assess their options and there is a real fear Sam's contract situation
could be allowed to drag on." Even though he has done a wonderful job at
Upton Park, Allardyce has not been fully embraced by the club's fans. If his
contract is not renewed, Gold and Sullivan would most likely look for a more
popular replacement. Former players Paolo Di Canio, who is manager at
Swindon, and Charlton boss Chris Powell would both be in the frame.
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Reffing hell! West Ham bemoan controversial dismissal as Everton seal
comeback win at Upton Park
The Mirror
22 Dec 2012 17:37
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
West Ham United
1-2
Everton
A match of high controversy at Upton Park ended with two red cards, further
proof of Everton's potential to push for a Champions League place and a
reality check for West Ham. Hammers manager Sam Allardyce could point to the
somewhat baffling dismissal of Carlton Cole in the 66th minute as a major
turning point in the game. But in truth, Everton looked a transformed outfit
in the second half, had equalised and looked the more likely to go on and
win. True, the red card shown by referee Anthony Taylor to the West Ham
goalscorer helped their cause, but the momentum of Everton's game looked
more threatening leading up to the dismissal and they made the numerical
advantage count after Cole left the pitch. And although they trailed at
half-time, Everton were aggrieved that they were not at least on level
terms. Referee Taylor and his officials made their initial impact of any
importance in the 12th minute. A corner from Leighton Baines found the head
of the influential Leon Osman and Jussi Jaaskelainen was comprehensively
beaten. But up went a flag and Taylor ruled out the effort for a foul on
the Finnish goalkeeper. Everton were non-plussed. "How the linesman can give
that from his position and the referee not see anything wrong fifteen yards
away, I don't know," said Everton manager David Moyes. Within two minutes,
Everton paid for that decision. Matt Taylor found Cole at the edge of the
area and he shrugged off John Heitinga – not for the first time, by the way
– and drove the ball past Tim Howard into the net. A Darron Gibson free-kick
was tipped over by Jaaskelainen five minutes from the break and Moyes
admitted: "Some of our football was magic today, but at times we lacked the
cutting edge." Not in the second half they didn't. Inspired by Osman and the
foraging runs of Baines, Everton took a vice-like grip on the game. If
Nikicia Jelavic had been in any kind of form in front of goal, Everton would
have been level before they did score through Victor Anichebe in the 64th
minute. Steven Pienaar was the architect with a cross that was delicately
glided home by the Nigerian. Allardyce had already responded to Everton's
superiority by replacing Gary O'Neil with Modibo Maiga to provide another
outlet. But the partnership survived only seven minutes as Cole went in
high, but not maliciously on Baines. Referee Taylor showed a straight red
and Allardyce was furious. "Anichebe made a similar challenge on James
Collins in the 32nd minute and yet nothing for him, not even a talking to
never mind a yellow card," he said. "What you want is consistency from a
referee and we didn't get that." The winning goal was a scrappy one, after
what was an intricate build-up. Osman – who else – squared the ball, and
though Pienaar got an involuntary touch, the ball went in off a combination
of Kevin Nolan and keeper Jaaskelainen. But the South African will claim
it. Jelavic could have made the game safe but found the side-netting and it
was ref Taylor who provided West Ham with an equaliser – although not the
one they wanted. In added time, Gibson went in high on Mark Noble and out
came the red card. "I don't think either was a red card," said Moyes, but he
at least had the consolation of three points to soften the blow. No such
luck for Allardyce.
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Tug of war: Inter Milan battle West Ham for Arsenal striker Chamakh
The Mirror
22 Dec 2012 12:42
Inter Milan will challenge West Ham for the signature of unwanted Arsenal
striker Marouane Chamakh, according to the Metro. The Morocco international
is surplus to requirements at the Emirates and has been told he can leave in
the January transfer window. The 28-year-old started his Arsenal career
brightly before fading and is now considered a figure of fun by many Gunners
fans. Chamakh has held talks with West Ham over a potential loan move to
Upton Park - in a deal that would see Arsenal pay a cut of the striker's
£65,000-a-week wages , according to the Daily Mail. However, Serie A side
Inter have now entered the chase after being recommended the player by his
agent. Chamakh is understood to prefer a return to France with his former
club Bordeaux interested - although they are refusing to pay Arsenal's
£3million valuation of a player who left them for free and would struggle to
play his wages. The striker has made just two appearances for Arsenal this
season, both in the Capital One Cup, and he has two goals to his name.
Meanwhile, West Ham boss Sam Allardyce also wants ex-Chelsea star Salomon
Kalou on loan, although he faces competition from QPR for the Ivory Coast
forward.
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