Daily WHUFC News - 23rd November 2014

Big Sam baffled by Everton reverse
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce cut a frustrated figure after Saturday's 2-1 defeat at
Goodison Park
22.11.2014

Sam Allardyce cut a frustrated figure after his injury-hit West Ham United
side were edged out 2-1 at Everton in the Barclays Premier League. The
Hammers lost five important players in the build-up to their trip to
Goodison Park, before insult was added to injury when a clearly offside
Romelu Lukaku fired the Toffees in front on 26 minutes. To their credit,
West Ham recovered to equalise through substitute Mauro Zarate's deflected
effort eleven minutes after half-time and looked by far the more likely team
to go on and win what was, at times, a feistily contested game. However, the
visitors were struck by a sucker punch with 17 minutes to go. From defending
their own corner, Everton broke the length of the pitch through Lukaku
before Samuel Eto'o crossed low for Leon Osman to score on his 400th Toffees
appearance. Even then, James Collins came within a whisker of equalising for
a second time, only for Tim Howard to save his close-range shot with his
legs. Rather than blame the match officials for his side's defeat, the
manager bemoaned his players' inability to convert chances - Andy Carroll,
Matt Jarvis and Collins all went close - and the nature of Everton's winner.
"I think we've got two major things that have not allowed us to get anything
out of the game today," Big Sam began. "The first is that we missed too many
chances when in very good possession and in control of the game, and allowed
the opposition to break out on a punt down the middle and score their
winner."We discussed it before and there was one person we couldn't afford
to get the ball at his feet and run at us and that was Lukaku. If they had
managed to score through their passing game, then that's difficult to stop,
but to allow them to do it the way we did was extremely disappointing. "The
most frustrating thing was how many chances we had and didn't convert, apart
from the one we scored, of course."

West Ham started the game in a 3-5-2 formation but it was after the manager
introduced Zarate and Jarvis and switched to a 4-2-3-1 system that West Ham
took seemingly full control of the game. "We were in the ascendancy just
before half-time and Andy and Morgan had good opportunities. We were taking
control of the game better, getting our wing-backs down the sides and
getting our crosses in better. "That got even better when we changed to
4-2-3-1. We ended up with James Tomkins in midfield with Kevin and Mauro in
the hole. We also brought Matt Jarvis on, who has been waiting patiently,
and he had some really decent ball. Being super-critical, he should have
scored or at least made the 'keeper make a save. "Those are the things I'm
frustrated about. When we got to 1-1 that's enough. Let's be patient and
wait for the second, but I think we were really pushing that hard that we
lost concentration."

When asked about Lukaku's controversial opener, the manager almost shrugged
his shoulders, admitting that his frustration would not change referee Mark
Clattenburg's decision. Ross Barkley's shot hit Winston Reid and looped to
Lukaku, who was standing at least a yard beyond the last man, and the
Belgian fired past Adrian. "I can't control that," he said. "Only the PGMOL
and its chairman Mike Riley and the people who work under him can work to
get those decisions better. "It's a baffling decision. I'm totally and
utterly baffled by the decision so I'll ask for an explanation but sadly the
one I will get will not be enough to satisfy me, but there we go."

The frustration of conceding that goal may or may not have played a part in
two altercations between players from both sides following tackles on Morgan
Amalfitano. Winston Reid and James Tomkins were both booked for their
involvement in the handbags, with the former picking up his fifth yellow
card. Reid is now suspended for next Saturday's visit of Newcastle United to
the Boleyn Ground. Big Sam refused to criticise his players for showing
'passion' when their teammates had been 'unfairly treated'. "I can
understand why, particularly as Morgan got two and the third one on Mark
Noble from Steven Naismith was as bad as any challenge in the game," he
observed.

Finally, the manager was asked about the five absent players - Diafra Sakho,
Alex Song, Enner Valencia, Cheikhou Kouyate and Stewart Downing - and
whether any or all would be fit to return against Newcastle. Senegal pair
Sakho and Kouyate and England midfielder Downing all returned from
international duty with knocks, while Song and Valencia are nursing injuries
suffered in training. "We hope they are not too long or too serious," he
said. "It's the worst international break I've had in my time at West Ham
United."

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Tomkins disappointed with Everton loss
WHUFC.com
James Tomkins felt three points were there for the taking at Everton on
Saturday
22.11.2014

James Tomkins was disappointed that a valiant West Ham United effort did not
gain tangible reward at Everton on Saturday. The Hammers were shorn of five
of their star performers of the season to date for the Goodison Park trip
due to injury, yet they still departed Merseyside with the sense that they
should have taken something from the game. It looked for a while that they
would after Mauro Zarate cancelled out Romelu Lukaku's opener, but a
breakaway goal from Leon Osman 17 minutes from time settled it and left
Tomkins - and the rest of his team - cursing their luck. He said: "When we
got back into the game and made it 1-1, we looked the stronger team so we're
disappointed to lose it in the end. "The lads gave it all they had and
towards the end we tried to play off Andy. We showed a good effort and on
most days we would have gone on from making it 1-1 to winning the game. "It
wasn't to be and it's a hard one to take."

WIth Enner Valencia, Diafra Sakho, Stewart Downing, Alex Song and Cheikhou
Kouyate all missing with injury, the Hammers may have been up against it at
Everton, but Tomkins said the level of their performance was an indicator of
the strength in the squad. "We had a lot of players out and it shows the
squad depth we have now," he continued. "It was a good effort from us but
[the result was] not quite there."

Tomkins had to play the last 40 or so minutes in midfield when Mark Noble
hobbled off and he was happy to do his bit in the engine room of the team.
He continued: "I've played there a few times, mainly in the Championship,
but also in the Premier League, and I just want to do a job for the team
wherever I play. "When Nobes got injured I had to go in there and do a job
and I'm just disappointed we didn't get a result."

Next up for the Hammers is a home game with Newcastle and the No5 is looking
forward to putting the wrongs of Saturday right. "There were positives to
take as we go into Newcastle next week," he said. "We had a lot of crosses
and we're still looking good for the next game.
"If we can get a couple of the players fit who are out too we'll be in good
shape."

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Everton 2 West Ham 1
22 November 2014
Last updated at 17:58
By James McMath
BBC Sport

Leon Osman marked his 400th Everton appearance with the winning goal in the
Toffees' victory over West Ham United. The 33-year-old midfielder slid in to
convert Samuel Eto'o's low cross as Everton made it six matches unbeaten.
Romelu Lukaku's fifth goal of the season gave Everton the lead after Ross
Barkley's blocked shot fell into his path. Substitute Mauro Zarate had
levelled for West Ham after his shot struck Phil Jagielka and looped over
Tim Howard. Osman's goal - his 55th for his club - proved decisive in a
heated encounter as Everton made it 13 Premier League matches against the
Hammers without defeat.

Sam Allardyce could point to the absence of five key players through injury,
with top scorer Diafra Sakho joined on the sidelines by Enner Valencia,
Stewart Downing, Alex Song and Cheikhou Kouyate. Andy Carroll came in, and
started brightly, releasing Carl Jenkinson with a crossfield pass and
looping a header over from a Aaron Cresswell delivery. However, it was
Everton who opened the scoring midway through the first half after a slice
of good fortune. West Ham's last Premier League victory over Everton came in
April 2007, when Bobby Zamora scored the only goal in a 1-0 win at Upton
Park. Barkley's shot deflected off Winston Reid and James Collins before the
ball broke for Lukaku. The Belgian appeared to be offside but the flag
stayed down as he fired his fifth goal of the season beyond goalkeeper
Adrian.
James McCarthy was in the Everton XI, despite controversially pulling out of
the Ireland squad for the Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland. And the
midfielder was at the centre of a heated exchange in the latter stages of
the first half when his foul on Morgan Amalfitano prompted an angry reaction
from several West Ham players. McCarthy was booked, as was Reid for
confronting the Everton man.
Allardyce, whose side were looking to make it six league matches unbeaten
for the first time since 2009, brought on Matt Jarvis and Zarate in place of
Carlton Cole and Mark Noble six minutes into the second half and it paid off
within five minutes as the visitors levelled.
Zarate's shot from 25 yards took a big deflection off Jagielka and looped
beyond Tim Howard in the Everton goal. The tactical switch had given West
Ham greater attacking threat but it also left them more vulnerable at the
back. And Everton took advantage, creating the winning goal with a swift
counter attack. Referee Mark Clattenburg allowed play on after Collins
brought down Lukaku and it proved a good decision as Eto'o broke and
delivered a low cross to pick out Osman sliding in at the back post. Eto
should have made it 3-1 in time added on but side-footed wide from Osman's
low cross from the right.

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Everton 2-1 West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 22nd November 2014
By: Staff Writer

West Ham's five match unbeaten run came to a predictable end at Goodison
Park this afternoon - courtesy of another baffling decision by the match
officials. Mark Clattenburg has a long history of making game-changing
decisions and so it was the case once again when he allowed Romelu Lukaku's
clearly offside goal to stand. And although the Hammers corrected that
particular wrong shortly after the restart, Leon Osman's 76th minute strike
was enough to earn the home side all three points and condemn Sam
Allardyce's side to a first defeat since the end of September.

Sam Allardyce already had his hands tied before the interference of
Clattenburg, having lost an incredible FIVE players during the international
break - Alex Song, Cheik Kouyate, Enner Valencia, Diafra Sakho and Stewart
Downing all being ruled out of contention.

That meant a first start of the season for Andy Carroll, who was to end the
game deeply frustrated at the lack of service he was provided with during
the afternoon - much the same as the rest of his team mates who were unable
to grab a second equaliser, having initially restored parity 11 minutes
after the half time break courtesy of a Jagielka own goal.

Everton started the game strongly and Mirallas, Lukaku and Naismith all
squandered early chances to break the deadlock. When they finally did it was
through Lukaku's 26th-minute offside effort; Ross Barkley's shot was blocked
by James Collins before falling to the offside Belgian who slammed the ball
into an empty net, with Adrian wrong-footed.

Just 11 minutes later the striker was disappointed to find the net again
only to see his effort ruled out - correctly this time - for offside.
Moments later Clattenburg again angered the travelling contingent when a
dreadful challenge from behind on Morgan Amalfitano by Naismith resulted in
a yellow card, not red. Annoyingly, Winston Reid was also booked in the
melee for his reaction to Naismith's challenge - a caution that will see him
miss next week's match against Newcastle having reached the five-game limit.

Just five minutes into the second half Sam Allardyce decided to throw
caution to the wind and introduced Matt Jarvis and Mauro Zarate. Just five
minutes later the Argentinian levelled the scores when his shot took a
wicked deflection off Jagielka, looping over Howard into an empty net.

At that stage of the game it seemed as if only one side would win the game -
that being the Hammers, who began to pile on the pressure as Everton visibly
creaked. However a classic counter attack by the visitors was to cost West
Ham a share of the spoils.

Having broken from a United attack, a long ball found Lukaku who laid the
ball out wide before James Collins cynically attempted to prevent him from
progressing any further. Eto'o made for the byeline before crossing for
Osman, who steered the ball home at the far post.

Although West Ham huffed and puffed in search of what would have been a
second equaliser, there was to be no repeat of the 2-2 draw at Stoke
recently.

And whilst the Hammers will feel aggrieved at losing the game due to
a(nother) dreadful call by a so-called top-class referee, Allardyce will at
least be able to take comfort from another decent performance - even if it
was one that ultimately ended in failure.

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Lukaku and Osman goals help Everton to 2-1 win over West Ham
Last Updated: 22/11/14 7:54pm
SSN

Leon Osman's second goal of the season sealed a 2-1 victory for Everton over
high-flying West Ham at Goodison Park. Romelu Lukaku opened the scoring for
Everton in the first half with Osman's 73rd-minute strike sandwiching a West
Ham reply by Mauro Zarate.

Best of the game

Man of the match: Leon Osman, rounding off his 400th appearance for the
Toffees with the winning goal in the second half.
Attempt of the match: James McCarthy's long-range shot in the second half
fizzed just over the bar.
Save of the match: Adrian made a smart stop with his legs when it looked
easier for James Collins to score from around five yards out.
Talking point: Never nice to highlight an embarrassing dive, but Ross
Barkley throwing himself to the ground when not even touched by Kevin Nolan
should be addressed.
Goal of the match: With the other two goals rather scrappy, Osman's winner
takes the honour and it was great work from the vastly-experienced Samuel
Eto'o to set him up, not to mentioned some excellent refereeing by Mark
Clattenburg to wave 'play on' in the build-up.

The win takes Everton up to 17 points in the Premier League, one behind West
Ham, who started the day in fourth place. In the 26th minute, Ross Barkley
cleverly controlled a headed pass from Naismith to wrongfoot a defender but,
as he shaped to strike the ball, it was blocked.
The wild deflection fell kindly to Lukaku, in space on the left of the
six-yard box, and the Belgium international calmly gave West Ham's Spanish
keeper Adrian little chance as he swept it in for the opening goal. Eleven
minutes later Lukaku put the ball in the back of the net for a second time
but was ruled off-side.

In the second half, Argentine striker Zarate, who had only just come on for
West Ham as a substitute, picked the ball up on the right in the 56th
minute, ran across the top of the Everton box and fired through several
defenders. The ball hit Jagielka's out-stretched leg and took a big
deflection over the advancing Tim Howard, who could do nothing to prevent
the ball looping high over his head and into the net for the equaliser.

James McCarthy went close for Everton three minutes later after running at
James Tomkins, cutting inside and curling a beautiful shot just past the far
corner of the goal.

Close

The decisive goal came in the 73rd minute after Lukaku broke quickly over
the half-way line and James Collins took him out. Ref Mark Clattenburg
played an excellent advantage and Samuel Eto'o, on as a substitute for Kevin
Mirallas, collected the ball to thread a perfect ball across the box to
Osman racing in on the far side. And midfielder Osman made no mistake to put
Everton back in front with his second goal of the season. Moments later
Howard kept Everton in front with a point-blank save with his legs from
Collins. In the dying minutes Osman and Eto'o again combined with a
wonderful one-two on the edge of the West Ham box, Osman pulling it back in
front of the goal only for the Cameroon international to hit it hard - but
wide.

Paul Merson

Paul Merson said Sam Allardyce will feel disappointed with the result,
despite West Ham having a lot injuries. I was quite impressed with West Ham.
With the amount of injuries they had, they did alright. You take five
players out for a team like West Ham and send them to Everton and you think
they'd get done, but they were really good. Lukaku might have been offside
for Everton's first goal, the equaliser. I think he got lucky. But then West
Ham were very good, moved the ball quickly and put crosses in and put
Everton under pressure. Then, against the run of play, Everton went down the
other end of the park and Osman scored.

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Allardyce 'baffled' by referee's opening goal decision
Last Updated: 22/11/14 7:08pm
SSN

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce was annoyed with the officials for not ruling
out Everton's first goal in their 2-1 defeat at Goodison Park.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce says he was "baffled" by the decision which
handed Everton their opening goal in the 2-1 win at Goodison Park. Even a
post-match explanation from referee Mark Clattenburg as to why Romelu
Lukaku's strike was allowed to stand - despite him being offside immediately
before Ross Barkley's shot rebounded to him - failed to appease the Hammers
boss.Allardyce said he will be taking up the matter with officials' chief
Mike Riley next week. "A little bit of it was our fault but that decision
baffled me so we have to be frustrated," said Allardyce. "The first shot was
blocked by Winston Reid and it falls to Lukaku who is two yards offside.
"For me there will be some way forward next week for an explanation. "I have
had an explanation from the referee but I won't discuss that publicly, I'll
discuss it privately with the PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials
Limited) next week."

After a couple of meaty challenges from Everton's James McCarthy - who
provoked an all-out melee after going over the top on Morgan Amalfitano -
and Steven Naismith, Allardyce, whose sides down the years have been accused
of being over-physical, claimed they asked Clattenburg for greater
protection."I think they were yellow cards. Naismith's challenge on Mark
Noble was probably the worst of all and because there wasn't a furore it
went unnoticed," he added. "Noble ended up coming off injured because of
that. "They showed a certain degree of physicality and we had to ask the
referee to protect us and I don't think he did that too well."It is a part
of the game we accept but the most frustrating thing is our controllables.
"We have been very good this year at converting chances with very good
delivery in the final third but our finishing was not good enough and
because of that we have ended up losing and a referee's decision has
contributed to it."

Allardyce was also unhappy about the way his side conceded the winner. It
came from a quick counter-attack and saw Clattenburg make the right choice
in playing advantage when Lukaku was fouled. Clattenburg's decision allowed
Leon Osman to score on his 400th appearance after Mauro Zarate had equalised
four minutes after coming off the bench. "One punt up the middle was a
hugely disappointing way to concede," said the West Ham boss. "There are
opportunities when Everton try to get Lukaku in to get running at players
but to allow him to get in from a clearance, defensively that was the only
disappointing thing today and unfortunately it has cost us a goal."

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West Ham Kevin Nolan unhappy with Romelu Lukaku's goal for Everton
Last Updated: 22/11/14 10:28pm
SSN

West Ham captain Kevin Nolan is unhappy referee Mark Clattenburg allowed
Romelu Lukaku's opener stand in the 2-1 defeat at Everton.
Lukaku appeared to collect the ball while in an off-side position after Ross
Barkley's shot was cleared off the line by a combination of Winston Reid and
James Collins. Several West Ham players remonstrated with Clattenburg after
he awarded the goal and Nolan was far from amused with the explanation that
he was offered by the referee. "It was quite strange what he said," Nolan
told Sky Sports News HQ. "He said our defender passed the ball to him which
I don't really get. "It's a block and it's a cop-out if the referee and the
linesman are saying that because at the end of the day it was a block. The
lad's shooting at goal and the defenders on the line are throwing themselves
at the ball and Lukaku was in an off-side position. "That's the be all and
end all and you can never ever defend it. You've just got to hold your hands
up and say 'I got it wrong'. Then we've got to take it on the chin and he's
got to take it on the chin.
"It's just disappointing when they come up with silly things like that."

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EVERTON 2, WEST HAM 1. RE-ENTERING THE ATMOSPHERE.
By David Hautzig 22 Nov 2014 at 19:08
West Ham Till I Die

If I'm exaggerating here, it's only by a little bit. We could win 150 games
on the trot, and Everton could be winless for month's…. and we would all
expect to lose at Goodison. Hell, we wouldn't expect much better at Upton
Park. We don't beat Everton. The last time we did was 2007. Before that, I
think you have to go back to the parting of the Red Sea. And to add insult
to injury, or in this case injury to possible insult, after being relatively
knock free of late we come into today's game missing some key players;

•Stuart Downing hurt his knee playing for England. Well done, Roy. You play
him out of the position that got him the call up in the first place, making
it an utter waste of his time. I hate International Breaks.

•Diafra Sakho, after looking like he could be a Superhero flying around
London saving damsels in distress when he's not playing football, has a back
injury.

•Enner Valencia is hurt. I don't know where it happened. I don't care. I'm
just pissed off about it.

•Cheikhou Kouyaté injured his knee. He played in the ACN on Wednesday and
only trained with us yesterday. Have I told you I hate International Breaks?

•Alex Song. Huh? Where the hell did that come from? First cup of coffee,
kids are still asleep, and I see that. Great. Bet you I open the door now to
find my car stolen.

The starting lineup caused a stir on Twitter (as if that's any surprise).
For the longest time we called for Sam to play two up front. Today, with so
many of the players we have depended on to do just that unavailable, nobody
would have been shocked to see us revert back to a lone striker and a
prayer. So the fact that both Carroll and Cole started at least cemented the
two up top plan. I would have much rather seen Zarate, but Cole has played
fairly well so far this year. Sam got the benefit of the doubt from me, but
not many others. As for his decision to go with five at the back, that
seemed very risky. Why play all three center backs when you only have three
in the squad?

The game began in the way many West Ham supporters expected. Everton had the
lion's share of the ball, and we tried to play crosses into our returning
Big Man. In the third minute Jenkinson played what would be the first of
many balls into the box, only to have Tim Howard grab it before AC could get
there. A few minutes later Carlton Cole won the ball from James McCarthy,
although he didn't actually do anything other than chase McCarthy so closely
that the ball popped out. That led to Andy Carroll feeding Jenkinson down
the right side, who slid a low cross across the goalmouth. Jagielka
deflected it away, but to be honest the only West Ham player trying to
attack the ball was Carroll and he wasn't that close.

The ninth minute gave a glimpse of what Sam's plan seemed to be. Tomkins
launched a ball into the box that Carroll won. To be fair, regardless of
what anybody might say about him, Andy wins most of the balls launched at
him. Maybe if somebody else had been on the end of his knock down the
results would have been different. But it was Carlton Cole, and he couldn't
handle it. Then a cross from Cresswell found Carroll, but it lacked the pace
needed for any header off the end of it to be effective, and it sailed high.
Even with a second striker out there, Carroll looked isolated. Kind of like
when you are asked to move a sofa and the guy on the other end can barely
lift it off the ground.

Despite the home side having close to 80% possession in the opening ten
minutes, it didn't look all that bad for West Ham. Any time an Everton
player touched the ball, he was hounded. Harassed. Bothered. They didn't
have any time to turn with the ball and plan their next move. That was
encouraging, and I'm guessing Sam was happy about that.

In the 14th minute, Steven Naismith should have made it 1-0. The reason he
didn't was because after he passed to Lukaku in what he expected to be a
give and go, Lukaku decided it was just a give. No go. Adrian handled
Lukaku's shot easily.

A few minutes later the home side had another opportunity that should have
opened the scoring, but didn't. Osman laid a terrific through ball for
Coleman, who cut the ball back to a wide open Naismith. But his shot went so
far over the bar that Adrian barely moved.

Fans of the English Premier League often chide the fans and players in Serie
A and La Liga for their propensity to simulate. OK, I'll just call it what
it is. Diving. But today, we saw some pretty shameful play acting from both
sides. The first was from Ross Barkley, who dove through the air without
even being touched by Kevin Nolan's breath, to win a free kick. Thankfully
nothing came of it. Then Naismith worked himself into another dangerous
position when he took advantage of a deflected ball off his chest, but his
shot was from an extreme angle.

The pressure from Everton was mounting, and you could feel a goal coming. It
did, when Diving Barkley's shot deflected off of Winston Reid's heel, right
to Lukaku. Adrian was moving to his left, the direction Barkley's shot was
going. So when it fell Lukaku, the net was wide open. Not going to miss
that. Replays showed that Lukaku was definitely in an offside position when
Barkley took his shot. I asked my Twitter mate @RockyWHU to clarify the rule
there. We may both be wrong, but since the ball deflected off a West Ham
player was Lukaku still offside? I'm just putting it out there.

Everton 1, West Ham 0.

The pre-game fears about our formation, with only three in the midfield,
were playing themselves out to be more like premonitions. Without Song or
Kouyate available to get the ball from the back line, we couldn't play the
ball through the midfield. Nolan was….uhhhhh…..ineffective. So the full
backs were left to try and push the ball upfield, which was probably part of
Sam's plan. Most of those attacks came down the right side, with Jenkinson
trying to find Carroll. That happened again in the 30th minute, but despite
showing good athleticism Carroll's header sailed wide. Another one minutes
later was from too far out. Then a low cross from Jenkinson, followed by a
dummy from Cole was just behind Carroll. The ideas were there, but the
execution wasn't. Oh, to have Valencia or Sakho.

The 32nd minute presented the first real opportunity for West Ham when a
sloppy pass from Distin was intercepted by Nolan and laid off for
Amalfitano. His shot was off target, but to be fair that was his only bad
moment of the game. In fact, Morgan was our best player in the first half.
Running at the Everton defense, showing glimpses of the creativity that made
him so effective against Liverpool and Unreal City. The Everton players knew
it, too, and they decided to do something about it.

Minutes after Noble was roughed up by a cynical challenge from Naismith,
McCarthy went after Amalfitano. He came a long way to get to his target, and
with studs right on top of Amalfitano's foot he got it. The proverbial ice
hockey game broke out, with pushing and shoving on all ends. McCarthy saw a
yellow card, as did Winston Reid. The latter means Reid won't be available
for next week's game against Newcastle. Clattenburg is usually a pretty good
ref for us. Not so today.

West Ham had one final mini opportunity right before halftime when Carroll
used his strength to win the ball in midfield. He ran with it towards the
box and fired, but his shot was wide.

Halftime.

Most West Ham fans took to Twitter to demand that Cole be taken of for
Zarate. It didn't happen at first, but in the 50th minute the clubs official
Twitter account not only acknowledged the fans demands, but announced that
Zarate was indeed getting ready to enter the game. Seconds later, he did
just that along with Matt Jarvis. Cole and a limping Noble came off,
possibly still feeling the effects of the Naismith challenge. Tomkins was
moved out of the five man defense and into midfield. Sam did that a lot in
the Championship, with mixed results. OK, mostly bad. But today the options
were limited.

The new formation paid dividends immediately. Zarate won West Ham their
first corner of the game by doing nothing more than running at a defender.
See, Sam? It worked. The corner came to Carroll, who fired a ball right into
Barkley's chest. After his first half dive I was sort of hoping it broke one
of his ribs. No such luck.

Then, instead of waiting for some luck, West Ham made some. Zarate and
Amalfitano worked a nice one-two. When Zarate got the ball back, his shot
deflected off of Jagielka and over Howard. Zarate wants to run. He wants to
get into the area. Does he do everything Sam wants of him all the time?
Probably not. But you need players like that, and when you have them you can
make your own good fortunes when they were otherwise hiding.

Everton 1, West Ham 1.

West Ham looked energized by their equalizer. Carroll made a great pass to
Jenkinson, who then played a cross into the box that Howard had to punch out
of danger. Everton looked like they wanted to prevent West Ham from feeling
too optimistic when McCarthy got the ball on the left, cut inside, and fired
a long range shot wide.

Amalfitano was still West Ham's best player, so Everton decided one nasty
challenge in the first half wasn't enough to take him down. Mirallas decided
to take his best shot and received a yellow card for his troubles. That's
when West Ham got into the acting game. Tomkins reacted to the Mirallas
tackle with a silly push. Mirallas pushed back, touching Tomkins chest.
Obviously the chest pain shot up to his cheeks, and JT grabbed his face.
Maybe he was angling for a move to Sampdoria? Embarrassing.

In the 63rd minute Naismith skillfully controlled a long pass from Osman
with his chest and sent Lukaku through on goal. His pass was just a bit too
far to the left, forcing the hefty Belgian into a bad angle. Then came the
kind of substitution you simply know will have an effect on a game. Mirallas
off, Eto'o on. I bet each and every one of us had some vision of him hurting
us at some point.

From the West Ham point of view, everything was going through Zarate. Both
good, and a little bad. In the 67th minute he tracked back to win the ball
right outside of our box…only to lose it seconds later. I wonder which
moment Sam will remember? Zarate then won a free kick down the left side.
The ball eventually found its way to Amalfitano whose shot was deflected
wide for a corner.

This is not Nolan bashing, but he had a lousy game. His only decent moment
came in the 71st minute when his long pass fell perfectly into the path of
Matt Jarvis. But instead of putting his shot across the goal, he went for
the near post….and it was nowhere near the goal. Moments later Jenkinson won
another corner, but nothing came of that either.

The visions of Eto'o hurting us turned into reality a minute later when
Everton launched a counter attack. Collins brought down Lukaku a few yards
past the center circle, but Clattenburg rightfully played the advantage. The
ball fell to Eto'o. A younger player may have rushed it, passed too early,
or shot it wildly. But class is class, and Eto'o has oodles of it. He slid a
ball perfectly to Osman who tapped it in.

Everton 2, West Ham 1.

West Ham came very close to a second equalizer when Matt Jarvis's low shot
found James Collins directly in front of Howard. Ginge tried to redirect the
ball into the net, but Howard made a fine save.

Ross Barkley came off in the 79th minute for Muhamed Besic. Not particularly
noteworthy, but figured since I made a note of it I'd include it.

The next substitution was beyond baffling to me. In the 82nd minute, Vaz Te
climbed out of whatever hole Sam had been keeping him in and entered the
game. OK, fine. But when every single West Ham fan likely expected Nolan to
come off, Amalfitano got the hook.

Our best player overall on the day. Off.

Our worst player overall on the day. Stayed.

Zarate won another corner in the 84th minute, and Carroll once again got to
it. His header was off target, and he tried to claim it deflected off
Naismith. Replays showed no such thing.

Five minutes of added time gave West Ham a bit of hope that at least there
was time to salvage a draw. Problem was, Everton controlled the majority of
those five minutes. It should have been 3-1 when Eto'o couldn't convert a
pass from Coleman right in front of Adrian.

West Ham had one chance. A deflection off of Jenkinson landed right in front
of Vaz Te, with space on the right side. Here was his chance to show who he
was. Which he did, with a useless ball that flew over the bar for a goal
kick. A final cross by Jenkinson, his 732nd of the game, was grabbed by my
fellow American and Everton ran out the clock.

I guess it's time to release the parachute, fire the retro rockets, and
prepare to come back down to earth. I can't say I didn't expect the result.
I did. I actually put a 2-1 loss down in my pool. But with so many of our
best players out, a bus parking attempt at a 0-0 draw like we tried last
year wouldn't have shocked me. Instead, we played. And at times played well
enough to have gotten a result. Would things have been different had Zarate
started instead of Cole? Who knows. I won't get in to those "what ifs". We
were in it. It could have ended differently. Most trips to Goodison don't
even let us think that.

I'm looking forward to seeing them at our place later this year.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham fans react to Zarate's display against Everton
HITC
Olly Dawes

West Ham slipped to a 2-1 loss at Everton, but fans were full of praise for
striker Mauro Zarate. West Ham striker Mauro Zarate has been out of picture
lately, which has led to speculation that he could head back to Italy and
sign for Torino In January. That led to manager Sam Allardyce demanding that
the Argentine fought for his place rather than leave the club, and with his
Hammers side 1-0 down at Everton this afternoon, he turned to the former
Inter Milan forward for help. Just six minutes into the second half, Zarate
was brought on in place of Carlton Cole, and he made an almost instant
impact, cutting inside from the right and hitting a deflected shot over Tim
Howard to bring West Ham level. Zarate continued to cause problems for the
Everton defence throughout, but could do nothing as Leon Osman slid in to
convert Samuel Eto'o cross into the net to give the Toffees the win. It was
a blow for West Ham to lose the game having fought back to equalise, but
Zarate's display was a welcome boost given his recent absence. West Ham fans
took to Twitter after the game to praise Zarate for his performance, with
some fans comparing him to his compatriot Lionel Messi and West Ham legend
Paolo Di Canio. That's high praise for Zarate, but some were still concerned
over his lack of defensive ability.

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Two more Irons injury worries
Posted by Sean Whetstone on November 22, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

There are concerns for two more Hammers tonight following this afternoon's
physical game with Everton at Goodison Park. Mark Noble hobbled off in the
51st minute to be replaced Matt Jarvis. Earlier in the match Noble was
fouled an flattened by Naismith who himself was stretchered off later in
the game. Morgan Amalfitano seemed also to take a battering especially from
a bad foul from McCartney which could easily have seen the Everton player
sent off. Amalfitano was also limping during the game and was subbed on 82
minutes to be replaced by Ricardo Vaz Te, hopefully as a precaution. The
latest injury scares come on the back of injuries to Valencia, Sakho,
Downing, Song and Kouyate all of which were declared unfit to play today.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Injured five may be out for a while!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 22, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

West Ham's injury crisis looks set to stretch into the next two or three
weeks! ClaretandHugh has learned over the last few minutes that the five who
missed today's game are struggling with knocks and problems which could see
them miss the games against Newcastle or WBA.
We understand that Chiekhou Kouyate is the most likely to be available and
he was absent today after returning from his international duties exhausted.
We were told by a source: "There's a variety of reasons for the injuries –
knocks from the Stoke and Aston Villa games from which recovery has been
slower than expected whilst the Senegal boys had problems while on
international duty. "Given the circumstances we thought the team produced a
highly spirited performance in very difficult circumstances today and we
deserved better than a 2-1 defeat."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
LEROY: Unlucky Hammers show great spirit
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 22, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

West Ham can consider themselves very unlucky to have lost a game from which
they definitely deserved a point! For starters Everton's opener from Lukaku
was at least two yards offside and that's the kind of break you can do
without when stripped of five of your best players. But despite that, the
Hammers battled well, particularly in the second half, and were worth at
least a point against a very average Everton side. It was a little
surprising to see Cole and Carroll line up together and to be honest I
didn't see much link up work going on between them. And not surprisingly –
shorn of so many good players – we lacked quality where it mattered. Having
said that nobody could fault their attitude in a game which was nasty and
niggly at time. Mauro Zarate was nice and bright and scored soon after he
arrived and showed he really should have a first team future at the club.
However, what this game did show was how absolutely excellent Sakho and
Valencia are as a strike force and the other missing players were obviously
badly missed. However, to see the team show so much fight and spirit and
come within a tiny margin of getting the result they deserved really does
demonstrate how far we have come this season.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com



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Daily WHUFC News - 22nd November 2014

Preview - Everton
WHUFC.com
All the key information ahead of Saturday's game against Everton
21.11.2014

EVERTON v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
GOODISON PARK
SATURDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2014
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: MARK CLATTENBURG

In brief
West Ham United travel to Merseyside to play Everton as the Hammers look to
extend their unbeaten run to six games. The Toffees are currently tenth
having taken 14 points from their eleven league games. Roberto Martinez's
team have struggled for consistency as playing in the Europa League has
taken its toll. However they have won their last two league games and are
unbeaten in three games in all competitions. Sam Allardyce's men are six
places ahead, sitting in fourth position after drawing 0-0 with Aston Villa
at home. The draw saw the Hammers record their second clean sheet of the
season as well as extend their unbeaten run of five games. A further
positive for West Ham fans was Andy Carroll's return to action with his
first appearance of the season as he came on in the second half. West Ham
are looking for revenge after last season's results saw the Toffees do the
double over the Hammers with 3-2 and 1-0 wins.

Formed from St Domingo's FC, they played their first game on 1 January 1878
in Stanley Park. They changed their name to Everton Football Club in 1879,
winning their first game under the new name 6-0 against St Peter's. Five
years later, Everton won the Liverpool Cup, their first ever cup with a 1-0
win over Earlestown. Everton were one of the 12 founder members of the
Football League in 1888, winning their first league title at the third
attempt. The Toffees moved to Goodison Park in 1892, winning their first
game 4-2 over Bolton Wanderers. Since then, Everton have established
themselves as one of the more successful teams in Britain, winning the first
division nine times as well as an impressive five FA Cups. More recently,
trophies have been harder to come by - their last success came in the FA Cup
in the 1994/95 season. However ex-manager David Moyes established them as
one of the best teams in the Premier League, regularly finishing in the top
half and challenging for a European spot.

Team news

West Ham United
In form Stewart Downing (knee) and top goal scorer Diafra Sakho (back) both
picked up injuries while away on international duty. The severity of both
injuries is being monitored to determine whether they are fit to face the
Toffees. If Sakho doesn't make it Big Sam has several options to choose from
with Carlton Cole and Andy Carroll vying for a start. Carroll has made good
progress on his fitness during the international break as well as scoring
against Fulham in a behind-closed-doors friendly. Mauro Zarate is back in
training after a slight knock and could be included as a substitute

Everton
Saturday's hosts also have injuries concerns of their own. England
international Leighton Baines faces a race to be fit after picking up a
slight hamstring injury during the international break. Midfielder's James
McCarthy, Darron Gibson (knee) and Gareth Barry (ankle) are all unlikely to
feature will key player Kevin Mirallas could return after recovering from a
hamstring injury. Long term absentees are Antolin Alcaraz (shoulder), John
Stones (ankle) and Bryan Oviedo (leg)

Referee

Saturday's referee is Mark Clattenburg, who hails from Durham. This season
marks the 39-year-old's tenth season as a Premier League referee. The former
electrician took up officiating as a 25-year-old and quickly rose through
the ranks to become a FIFA appointed referee in 2006. In 2008, Clattenburg
proceeded to referee his first Champions League in August 2008 before
progressing to the FIFA Elite list acting as Howard Webb's assistant referee
in the Euro 2012 championships. Clattenburg was in charge of the Hammers'
3-1 win over Crystal Palace earlier in the season. Saturday's assistant
referees are Simon Beck and Mark Scholes, while Phil Dowd will be the Fourth
Official.

Statistics

(2014/15 season - Barclays Premier League only)
Matches refereed: 9
Yellow cards shown: 38
Red cards shown: 1
Penalties awarded: 3
One to watch

West Ham United

West Ham's shot-stopper Adrian has been in fine form this season as he
collected his second clean sheet last time out against Aston Villa.
The Spanish 'keeper has put in a string of eye-catching performances,
including a string of impressive saves to keep the likes of Sergio Aguero
and Mario Ballotelli at bay. He'll need to put in another good performance
come Saturday afternoon if the Hammers are to come away from Goodison Park
with a win.

Everton
Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku is a force to be reckoned with after
completing a £28 million move from Chelsea in the summer. The 6'3 forward
has a prolific goals to games ratio scoring 20 goals in 43 starts and is
sure to be a handful on Saturday. While Lukaku is yet to find his best form
this season, his blossoming strike partnership with Samuel Eto'o looks to be
a deadly combination.

Tickets
Tickets are now off sale for this all-ticket fixture. The last remaining
tickets for the Hammers next home game with Newcastle United are available
here.

Travel
Heading to Everton on Saturday? Then download the Premier League's Away Days
App to help plan your day!
From the M6, exit at junction 26 onto the M58 and continue until the end
(Switch Island). Follow directions for A59 (Ormskirk Road) and Aintree
Racecourse. Continue along A59 passing Aintree racecourse on the left.
Continue on A59 until reaching a roundabout and flyover. Take the second
exit onto County Road. Pass Black Horse Public House on the left.
Three-quarters of a mile along County Road, turn left at junction of Royal
Oak Public House into Spellow Lane. Goodison Park is a short distance ahead.
For up to date traffic news please visit www.merseytravel.gov.uk
Train information can be found at www.nationalrail.co.uk

Weather

Saturday is set to be an overcast day in Liverpool. Temperature at kick off
is forecast to be 11C (52F)
Last meeting

Everton 1-0 West Ham United
Barclays Premier League
1 March 2014
The Hammers lost to Everton in the same fixture last season through a goal
from substitute Romelu Lukaku, his first goal since the end of December. The
major talking point was referee Jon Moss' assessment that Gareth Barry had
not fouled Kevin Nolan just as the West Ham captain looked to be clean
through on goal in the first half. A red card at that point may have changed
the outcome, especially with West Ham having won their last four and with
four clean sheets in their last five games, manager Sam Allardyce was
visibly aggrieved at the decision.

Everton: Howard, Baines, Coleman, Distin, Stones, Barry, McCarthy, Pienaar,
Osman, Deulofeu (McGeady 73), Naismith (Barkley 85)
Subs not used: Robles, Browning, Hibbert, Mirallas
West Ham United: Adrian, Demel (Reid 80), Tomkins, McCartney, Collins,
Downing, Noble, Jarvis (Diame 66), Taylor, Cole (Carroll 29), Nolan
Subs not used: Jaaskelainen, Armero, Cole, Nocerino

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
On this day - 22 November
WHUFC.com
Former Hammers striker Frank McAvennie turns 55 today
22.11.2014

Anniversary
Name: Frank McAvennie
Born: Glasgow, Scotland, 22 November 1959
Frank McAvennie is today celebrating his 55th birthday. The Scottish striker
started the first of two spells at the Boleyn Ground in style after signing
from St Mirren in the summer of 1985, helping the Boys of 86 secure the
Club's highest ever finish of third in the top flight. Originally signed as
an attacking midfielder, an injury to Paul Goddard in the opening game
pushed him up front and McAvennie formed a strong partnership with Tony
Cottee. He notched 26 league goals - a tally only bettered by Everton's Gary
Lineker in Division One that season - but following a less successful second
season, he moved back north of the border to join Celtic in October 1987.
Less than two years later he was back with the Hammers, and although he
suffered a broken leg at the start of the 1989/90 campaign, he helped the
Club win promotion back to the top flight the following year. In all he
scored 60 goals for the Hammers in 190 games, and later turned out for Aston
Villa, Cliftonville, South China, Swindon Town, Airdrieonians and Falkirk
before ending his career where it all began - at St Mirren.

Classic match
Derby County 0-2 West Ham United
Premier League
22 November 1998
The Hammers were en route to a fifth place finish in the Premier League when
they defeated Derby County 2-0 on this day 16 years ago.
Goals from Marc Keller and John Hartson ensured their good form would
continue as the Hammers left Pride Park with all three points.
They moved up to second a week later with victory over Tottenham Hotspur
and although that would prove to be the season's high point, Harry
Redknapp's men never dropped below ninth for the rest of the campaign.
Complete record - 22 November

1919 Fulham 1-2 West Ham United (Division Two)
1924 West Ham United 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Division One)
1930 Derby County 1-1 West Ham United (Division One)
1947 Brentford 1-1 West Ham United (Division Two)
1952 Huddersfield Town 0-1 West Ham United (Division Two)
1958 West Ham United 0-3 Leicester CIty (Division One)
1969 West Ham United 3-0 Derby County (Division One)
1975 West Ham United 2-1 Middlesbrough (Division One)
1980 West Ham United 2-0 Swansea City (Division Two)
1986 West Ham United 1-1 Aston Villa (Division One)
1989 West Ham United 1-0 Wimbledon (League Cup Round Four)
1995 West Ham United 0-0 Liverpool (Premier League)
1998 Derby County 0-2 West Ham United (Premier League)
2003 Watford 0-0 West Ham United (Division One)

Played 14, Won 7, Drawn 6, Lost 1, Scored 17, Conceded 9

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Chadwell Chatter
WHUFC.com
Liverpool-born Aaron Cresswell on unbeaten runs, Everton and emulating
Leighton Baines
20.11.2014

Hello everyone,

We are playing Everton on Saturday, Of course, growing up on Merseyside you
are either a Red or a Blue or come from over the water and support Tranmere
Rovers, where I started. It would be nice to go back home and get the three
points at Goodison Park, where I last played when I was 13 or 14 for
Liverpool. I've never played there in a competitive first-team game, so I'm
looking forward to going back. I've got about 50 mates who I grew up with
who are all Everton fans and they'll be in the stands giving me stick, I
think! Hopefully I'll enjoy it and we'll bring the three points back. I was
a Red growing up and it would be nice to go to Goodison Park and win there,
obviously.
On Merseyside, there is only one sport and that is football. No-one plays
rugby and people play golf now and then, but the main sport is football, so
when Liverpool or Everton are playing it's a massive day for the whole of
Merseyside.

For me, going back to Liverpool, there will be plenty of my family and mates
in the stands at Everton and it's one I am looking forward to. I can't wait
to get out there. Things are going well for us at the minute. We are fourth
in the table after eleven games and we are five unbeaten. Really, we should
have won against Aston Villa two weeks ago but it was one of those things
that we couldn't put the ball in the back of the net. We'll be going to
Everton looking to get all three points. Of course we will respect them, but
we will be going out there to win. Everton are a great team and I can't see
them being in the bottom half of the table come the under of the season.
Roberto Martinez has done a good job there and we're aware of the threats
they have got, but we will go there full of confidence. Leighton Baines is
my opposite number at Everton and, like me, he is from Liverpool. He is a
fantastic player with a great left foot. He has been around for quite a
while now and has played for England numerous times. There are a few
left-backs around at the minute with Luke Shaw behind Baines and also Kieran
Gibbs. England have got quite a few options at the moment, so I'll take this
season as it comes. If you look at Leighton, I think you would put him in
the top four or five left-backs in the world. I couldn't name five better
than him over the last five years. He started at Wigan Athletic and it shows
that there is no reason why a player cannot start in the lower leagues and
prove their worth in the Premier League and go on to represent England. That
is something Leighton has done and he has been fantastic ever since.
Personally, coming from the Championship I had never played any higher than
that level and I knew it was going to fast, it was going to be tough and
everything was going to be at a quicker tempo. As I have said from day one,
I will take every game as it comes and see how many I can play.

On a personal note, I am enjoying it at the minute, but the main thing is
the team and picking up as many points as we can and seeing where that
leaves us at the end of the season.

Safe trip to everyone heading to Goodison Park this Saturday.
Come on you Irons!
Cressy

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Host Meyers talks up Hammers
WHUFC.com
US talk-show host Seth Meyers shared his love for West Ham United with
actress Keira Knightley
21.11.2014

New York City met east London when West Ham United-mad actress Keira
Knightley sat down with US talk-show host Seth Meyers. Knightley, who is
promoting the film The Imitation Game, discussed their shared love for the
Hammers when appeared on NBC's Late Night with Seth Meyers at the show's New
York studio earlier this week. After discussing Knightley's performance in
the film about World War Two code-breaker Alan Turing, the showbiz pair
discussed West Ham's outstanding recent form and the Club's anthem Bubbles.
"We share something which I didn't realise which is that we both support the
football team West Ham, I say football team because you are British but I of
course mean a soccer team for my audience!" Meyers began. "I love the team
and you love the team!" "That's good and I appreciate that," Knightley
responded, before posing the obvious question: "Sorry, but why do you love
the team?" It turns out that Emmy Award winner Meyers became a Hammer almost
by accident during a holiday in London. "I was in London one time and I had
always wanted to see a Premier League game, so I went to a ticket agent and
said 'Who is playing in London?' and they gave me a choice of Arsenal,
Charlton Athletic and West Ham. "I thought 'This will be the only time in my
life I ever go to east London', which I kind of wanted to do, so I went and
I fell for it. It was great."
Knightley naturally endorsed Meyers' new-found support of her favourite
football club. "That's great. Not a lot of people [in the United States]
will know West Ham and I should just say we are not the sort of team who win
very often. I'm really glad you picked West Ham."
The highlight of Meyers' visit to an as yet unspecified match was hearing
Bubbles being sung loud and proud by the Claret and Blue Army.
Knowledgeable Hammer that she is, Knightley was able to fill in the host and
his audience about the history of West Ham's famous terrace chant.
"It's great. At the beginning of the game, there is this song and all of you
sing the song and you also blow bubbles because the song is called I'm
Forever Blowing Bubbles, so you have all these bubbles blowing across the
pitch. "The problem with the song is that the song is really sad. The song
is about not winning and is, in fact, about your dreams fading and dying the
whole time, so it's not really a surprise that we lose all the time, when we
have this song!" "Bubbles are really exciting at first, but as soon as you
blow them, they're about to die," Meyers agreed, before turning the
conversation to a more positive subject - West Ham's outstanding start to
the 2014/15 season. "Let's be honest, they're having a great start to the
season," he enthused, before showing the typical gallows humour of a true
West Ham fan. "It's likely very temporary, but it's been lovely watching!"
"They're having an amazing time this season," Knightley added. "I'm almost
watching with my hands over my eyes because I fear it's not going to last,
but maybe it will last?!"

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Jenkinson up for Goodison battle
WHUFC.com
Carl Jenkinson is relishing the prospect of taking on Everton on Saturday
21.11.2014

Carl Jenkinson is relishing the test of a trip to Everton on Saturday
following a productive international break with the England U21 squad. The
on-loan Arsenal man scored in the Young Lions' 3-1 win over Portgual at
Burnley, before coming on as a substitute as Gareth Southgate's men were
edged out 3-2 by France. Now, with a date at Goodison Park on the agenda,
Jenkinson is determined to nullify the threat of Leighton Baines and Ross
Barkley down the Toffees' left and help West Ham to another positive result.
"They [Barkley and Baines] are good players but so are we and it will be a
good battle - we're looking forward to it. "We're flying at the minute and
Everton is a tough place to go to, but fingers crossed we get a good
result."

Jenkinson's goal during the international break - his second for the U21s -
helped England defeat one of their group stage opponents in next summer's
European Championship and he believes a successful tournament could lie
ahead. Weve got Portugal in the European Championship in the summer -
they're a good side so it gives us a nice psychological edge to have beaten
them. We played really well.
"It was good to get some minutes during the international break and really
nice to get on the scoresheet. "That is somnething I'm trying to add to my
game and it's always good to get a goal because full backs don't score many!
"We more than deserved to beat Portugal so it's good to go into the
tournament in the summer knowing we can beat them. "I just need minutes at
the moment and I'm not far away from full fitness now. Minutes are all I
want and I got one-and-a-half games with England so that can only stand me
in good stead."

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Parfitt-Williams ready for Foxes
WHUFC.com
West Ham United U18's Djair Parfitt-Williams is targeting another win
against Leicester City
21.11.2014

West Ham United U18s striker Djair Parfitt-Williams is looking to continue
to his good run of form against Leicester City this Saturday.
The Bermudan born forward has been in fine fettle, scoring three goals so
far this season and helping the U18s to third in the Barclays U18 Premier
League South Group in the process. The Hammers, who travel to Leicester City
on Saturday 22 November, have also had a fantastic start to the season and
sit a point above West Ham with 20 points from ten games. Speaking ahead of
the match, Parfitt-Williams is confident his team can triumph at the
weekend: "My form has been decent recently. I think I can still keep going,
I mean, you can always get better. I've scored some good goals and gave some
assists, so I'm happy. "We started realyl well. We were unbeaten for eight
or nine games at the start of the season. We then lost two games but overall
we've done very well so far. "I think we've done well defensively this
season, we haven't conceded many goals while we have some good players up
front."

Parfitt-Williams' strike partner Jordan Brown has also been in fantastic
form, scoring six goals in eight games before picking up an injury. The
prolific striker is still out but should return to training in the coming
days. Out of Parfitt-Williams' three goals this season, the 18-year-old
chose his effort against Brighton and Hove Albion as the pick of the bunch.
"I think my goal against Brighton is the stand out goal so far. I went past
a couple of players and put it in the top corner."

Looking ahead to the match with the Foxes, Parfitt-Williams is anticipating
a tough game. "Last time we played Leicester they were really aggressive.
They liked tackling a lot. It's going to be a hard game and we need to do
well to win. "As for my aims for the rest of the season I want to carry on
scoring as many goals as I can. Another goal is to start for U21s this
season and then become a regular player. Hopefully soon I'll catch the first
team. "I just want to keep on getting better, keep improving personally and
see how far I can go."
West Ham United U18s play away at Leicester City on Saturday 22 November,
kick off is at 12pm.

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Everton v West Ham
KO 15:00
21 November 2014
Last updated at 11:07
By Steve Wilson
BBC Match of the Day commentator

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Goodison Park Date: Saturday, 22 November

TEAM NEWS

Everton's Leighton Baines is doubtful with a hamstring injury, while
midfielder Gareth Barry appears likely to miss out with an ankle problem.
The Toffees will also monitor the fitness of James McCarthy, Seamus Coleman,
Darron Gibson, Steven Pienaar and Kevin Mirallas.
West Ham will assess Diafra Sakho, who did not play during the international
break because of a back injury.

Stewart Downing is also a doubt after hurting his knee representing England.
Andy Carroll, who made his comeback from an ankle injury in the Hammers'
last league game, played and scored in a behind-closed-doors friendly
against Fulham last week, boosting his chances of starting on Saturday.

MATCH PREVIEW

Southampton might be getting the bulk of the votes for this season's
surprise package, but West Ham's resurgence is arguably just as big a shock.
There were times when it seemed almost inconceivable that Sam Allardyce
would end 2014 as the Hammers' boss. The year began with a 5-0 FA Cup defeat
at Nottingham Forest, closely followed by a 6-0 League Cup loss at
Manchester City. Allardyce was getting pasted by the fans even more than the
team were getting pasted by the opposition. It was January before West Ham
got to 18 points last season, a total they reached in early November this
term to equal their best start to a Premier League season. What a difference
a couple of goalscorers make. Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia's partnership
has given West Ham a threat they certainly never possessed when Andy Carroll
was injured, and arguably not often when he was fit. What a difference too
in Stewart Downing, who has been reinvented as a number 10, and returns to
Merseyside looking something like the player Liverpool thought they were
getting when they paid £20m for him. Recalled to the England team for the
first time in two and a half years for Tuesday's game in Glasgow, he was
unfortunate to go off at half-time after injuring his knee. The Hammers will
be desperately hoping both Downing and Sakho are fit enough to play on
Saturday. Everton are a little adrift of where they would expect to be in
the league, but injuries have been a plague almost from week one. Lawro's
prediction
"I went to watch Everton draw at Sunderland before the international break
and the Toffees were the only team trying to play - they will definitely
have the same approach at home, where their form has not been great this
season."

John Stones, Sylvain Distin, Steven Pienaar, Kevin Mirallas, Seamus Coleman
and Ross Barkley have all suffered lay-offs, and over the last fortnight
Gareth Barry, Leighton Baines, Darron Gibson and James McCarthy have also
suffered injury to varying degrees. Despite that, they have improved
defensively in the last month and have taken the extra Europa League
workload in their stride, quietly putting together a six-game unbeaten run
in league and cup. West Ham will have to be at their very best at Goodison
to stop that continuing.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
Everton are unbeaten in their last 13 games against West Ham in all
competitions (W9, D4), winning the last four.
Victory would see the Toffees record five consecutive Premier League wins
against the same opponent for the first time.
West Ham's last victory against Everton came at Upton Park in April 2007,
when Bobby Zamora got the only goal. It was the first of four successive
wins which saw the Hammers narrowly avoid relegation.
There have been four red cards in the last five Premier League games between
these clubs, with three of those for the Hammers.

Everton
After leaking 16 goals in their first seven league games, Everton have
conceded just two in their last four top-flight matches.
The Toffees have conceded 11 goals at home - the highest tally in the
Premier League - despite back-to-back clean sheets in their two most recent
league games at Goodison Park.
Sylvain Distin is set to make his 450th Premier League appearance, while
Leon Osman could play his 400th game for Everton (in all competitions).

West Ham United
Only West Ham (eight) have scored more headed goals than Everton (six) in
the Premier League this season.
The Hammers' tally of 18 points from 11 games means they have equalled their
best start to a Premier League season.
Their goalless draw with Aston Villa two weeks ago was the first time they
had failed to score in 10 Premier League games.
They have scored in all five of their Premier League away matches this
season, and have netted more goals on the road (11) than at Upton Park
(eight).
Stewart Downing already has twice as many goals (two) and twice as many
assists (four) this season as he managed in 32 Premier League games for West
Ham in 2013-14.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
DG: Whelan comments 'unfortunate'
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 21st November 2014
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United co-Chairman David Gold has called Wigan owner Dave Whelan's
controversial statement regarding Jewish people as "a most unfortunate
comment". Whelan, responding to criticism of his decision to hire the
disgraced Malky Mackay as replacement for Uwe Rosler - who was sacked
earlier in the week - declared that "Jewish people chase money more than
everybody else", when questioned about some of Mackay's recent unpalatable
statements.

Whelan, who was part of the cabal that fought for West Ham to be relegated
from the Premiership due to the Carlos Tevez affair was forced to retract
his statement yesterday - and another about people of Chinese origin, who he
referred to as 'Chinkys'. However that didn't prevent Gold from hitting out
at the 77-year-old. Speaking via Twitter, DG, himself of Jewish origin
remarked: "I'm pleased to hear that Dave Whelan has apologised, it was a
most unfortunate comment".

Septuagenarian Whelan is of course no stranger to controversy; after leading
the witch-hunt to have West Ham demoted from the Premiership back in 2007,
KUMB revealed how he had previously been fined £8million for illegal price
fixing by the Office of Fair Trading. In May 2013, Whelan's Wigan became the
fourth club linked to the case against West Ham to be relegated from the top
flight, following the demise of Middlesbrough, Charlton and Sheffield United
- none of whom have managed to regain membership of the Premier League
since. Sheffield United have also featured regularly in the press recently
following their decision to allow convicted rapist Ched Evans to train with
the club - a decision that has led to the likes of Jessica Ennis-Hill and
Paul Heaton retracting their support for the League One club.

Meanwhile the Hammers - currently fourth in the Premier League - continue to
flourish.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Roberto Martinez says West Ham boss Sam Allardyce 'guarantees results'
Last Updated: 21/11/14 3:37pm
SSN

Everton manager Roberto Martinez says West Ham counterpart Sam Allardyce may
have had his critics but fans have to accept he 'guarantees results'.
Martinez is backing Allardyce to have a successful season with the Hammers
ahead of Saturday's clash at Goodison Park. The former Bolton, Newcastle and
Blackburn boss has long been associated with a more direct brand of football
which brought criticism from his own fans last season, when they finished
14th. However, that appears to have been forgotten as wins against defending
champions Manchester City and runners-up Liverpool have helped the side into
the Champions League places. "Sam is a very experienced manager who has been
in this league for a long time," said Martinez. "He has been building clubs,
coping with big expectations, but he always guarantees results.
"In football you make your own choices and decisions. There are many styles
you can play and it is up to fans to like or dislike that."
Roberto Martinez

Threaten

"What he has done with West Ham this season is find a good balance of a side
who can be difficult to play against but still really threaten in dead-ball
situations but now they have brought in flair and players who can score
goals out of nothing from open play and that is a really strong combination.
"In football you make your own choices and decisions and there are many
styles you can play and it is up to fans to like or dislike that. "Winning
is important, for certain people in the game the only thing that matters is
the result, for others who are a bit more romantic they appreciate more the
way you win or the way you want to play than just the short-term result. "I
think it can be a really successful year for West Ham."

Former academy graduate Leon Osman is set to make his 400th appearance for
the club this weekend, joining just a dozen players, including Neville
Southall, Brian Labone and Dave Watson, who have reached the landmark. "It
is so difficult to find such a loyal footballer who can also cope with the
demands of the modern game," added Martinez. "You need to swim against the
current because there are so many forces taking you away from spending 10
years at one football club. "I think Leon Osman and Tony Hibbert are two big
pillars for us in the way they have come through the academy, devoted their
careers to the club and they are true Evertonians."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce not looking to go long as Andy Carroll returns
Last Updated: 22/11/14 8:17am
SSN

Sam Allardyce is not planning any major changes to West Ham's style of play
as Andy Carroll prepares for a possible first start of the season. Carroll
looked lively when coming on as a late substitute in the goalless draw
against Aston Villa before the international break, his first appearance
since recovering from pre-season ankle surgery, when he almost scored a
winner with a late header. "I don't want them to knock it up to Andy's head,
I want them to be talented enough to knock it into Andy's feet or chest." He
could feature alongside Enner Valencia against Everton with the in-form
Diafra Sakho a doubt for Saturday's Merseyside trip with a back injury
suffered while playing for Senegal. Carroll provides a very different focal
point for the Hammers attack but Allardyce is keen to avoid lumping the ball
high for the towering forward, who he would prefer to be getting on the end
of crosses from his wide men. "We play slightly differently, in that we play
more into Andy's feet than we do into (Enner) Valencia or Sakho," Allardyce
said. "Valencia and Sakho are so pacy that we are a massive threat in behind
the opposition when the midfield players like (Mark) Noble, (Alex) Song or
(Stewart) Downing start sliding balls down the side of defenders, that has
been a really big threat for us and on the back of that we have scored
goals. "Whereas Andy is not such a big a threat in that area, he is a much
bigger threat in terms of setting up attacks to get into the final third by
playing into his feet or chest and not playing into his head. "No way do I
tell a player to just knock it up to Andy's head. I don't want them to knock
it up to Andy's head, I want them to be talented enough to knock it into
Andy's feet or chest. "We want it on Andy's head when it is getting crossed
into the box because that is where he is at his best and where he can score
a lot of goals, as Sakho has proved this season. "I think we have scored
more headed goals than anybody else, even without Andy Carroll."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Injury-hit Everton welcome West Ham to Goodison Park
Last Updated: 21/11/14 5:24pm
SSN

Everton will be looking to make it five wins in a row against West Ham when
they welcome the high-flying Hammers to Goodison Park on Saturday. The
Toffees are unbeaten in their last 13 encounters with West Ham, with their
last defeat coming in 2007. However, if the Hammers are to end their barren
run against Everton then now looks the time to do it. Sam Allardyce's side
have enjoyed their joint-best start to a Premier League season, taking 18
points from their opening 11 matches to leave them sitting pretty in fourth
place ahead of the weekend. Everton, on the other hand, are halfway down the
Premier League table after only managing to win three games so far. Just one
of those victories has been at home, but they have at least tightened up at
the back in recent weeks.

Opta facts

Only West Ham (8) have scored more headed goals than Everton (6) in the
Premier League this season.
Everton and West Ham have scored the joint-most goals from outside the
penalty area in open play this season (4).
There have been four red cards in the last five Premier League games between
West Ham and Everton with three of those for the Hammers.
After conceding 16 goals in their opening seven matches, the Toffees have
let in just two in their last four Premier League outings. But they could be
forced into several changes at the back on Saturday as key players have
returned from international duty carrying injuries.

Team news

Leighton Baines looks as though he maybe missing for the first time this
season after picking up a hamstring injury in training with England. Manager
Roberto Martinez says it is "touch and go" whether the left-back will
feature as he has "seen him recover from a grade one hamstring problem in
eight days". "We're checking Leighton on a daily basis," said Martinez.
"He's someone that heals really quickly. He had a grade one injury on
Friday, that was with England. At the moment, it's difficult to know whether
he's going to be involved on Saturday or not." James McCarthy is also
recovering from a hamstring problem sustained against Sunderland a fortnight
ago, while Darron Gibson picked up a knee injury playing for Republic of
Ireland against Scotland. Both players will be assessed along with Seamus
Coleman, Steven Pienaar and Kevin Mirallas, but Gareth Barry is set to miss
the fixture after being carried off with an ankle injury against Sunderland.
"I'm not too sure if Gareth will make the game, I'd be very, very surprised
if he did," said Martinez. Bryan Oviedo, Arouna Kone, Antolin Alcaraz and
John Stones all remain sidelined and will not feature for the Toffees.

West Ham have also been hit by injuries to key players on international
duty, with Stewart Downing picking up a knee injury in Scotland and top
scorer Diafra Sakho aggravating a back problem while on duty with Senegal.
"These two players are one of the main reasons we are joint-fourth in the
table," said Allardyce. "Now it looks like we might be missing them both."
Andy Carroll could be the man to replace Sakho as Allardyce says the striker
is ready to start his first game this season. "I wouldn't say he's 100 per
cent match fit but he is ready to start," said the West Ham boss. "He is
eager and ready to go, as is Carlton Cole, and we have Enner Valencia too,
so we have good options now."

PAUL MERSON'S PREDICTION: 1-1

"This is another big game - and one for West Ham to see where they really
are after a good start to the season. Everton need to start winning football
matches, though, because they haven't been up to the levels they were at
last season. It is a hard one to predict, given the form of both sides, but
I am going to go for a 1-1 draw as there is not much between them. That
shows just how far West Ham have come."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Allardyce blames players' pay demands for them getting injured
Nov 20, 2014 22:30 By Dave Kidd
Big Sam reckons current knocks are a result of gruelling pre-season tours
clubs take stars on to make the money for their wages
The Mirror

Sam Allardyce has lashed out at greedy players for causing a 'vicious
circle' of wage demands fuelling an increased workload, leading to lengthy
injury lists. West Ham manager Allardyce has had his early-season optimism
punctured by injuries to key players Stewart Downing and Diafra Sakho while
on international duty – leaving both doubtful for Saturday's visit to
Everton. Allardyce, who has renewed his call for a winter break in English
football, insists players are partly to blame for the problems – because
rampant wage inflation leads to gruelling pre-season tours, such as the
Hammers' trip to New Zealand last summer. "As hard as we try to prevent
injuries, it is an impossibility because of the demand on the players – and
that demand comes because the player wants ever more money to play for you,
so it's a vicious circle," he said. "If the players' demands came down then
perhaps the demands to find more and more money wouldn't be as great.
"Managing that situation is extremely difficult. If you look at the injury
list across the Premier League this season and you look at our pre-seasons,
when you travel away for money, it has a toll and we suffer more injuries
now. Eventually they are going to break down. "Not only do they travel at
international level across the world but the Premier League is forever
getting faster and more demanding physically and mentally. "The time they
have to rest is fewer and further between, and that ultimately ends up with
players never really recovering fully enough. Hence they go into a game with
a knock or a bruise and it ends up in an injury. "Then there's pre-season
tours in America and elsewhere because the money is great and it's a
constant vicious circle that is putting them under risk of injury. The money
they demand means that is the way it is."

Allardyce insists players in England need a two-week break after the
frenetic Christmas and New Year period. He said: "We still don't look after
our players as well as other countries because we don't put a couple of
weeks in January to re-charge the batteries. "Our Christmas period, for
tradition, is something we always have to keep. "But the players don't half
get some stick, when they've played their fourth game in eight days, with
people saying they don't look sharp, they don't like they are trying. When
everyone else is getting popped up and enjoying themselves and having their
presents, these lads are having to go and perform for four games in eight
days.
"If you can't get a rest then [after the festive period], that is going to
promote even more injuries. The injury list for most clubs in December and
January is horrific."

Allardyce revealed Downing had to be withdrawn at half-time in England's
victory over Scotland on Tuesday because of a knee problem – despite
suggestions he had been hauled off because a disappointing display. And
Senegalese striker Sakho, who has netted seven times in nine games for the
Hammers, could not play for his nation against Botswana because of a back
spasm he picked up while travelling. Allardyce said: "Because of
international games we might not have two players who have been on top form
[for the Everton game].
"One of the reasons we are in fourth spot is the quality of Sakho's goals
and the performances of Downing and sadly we may miss those two against
Everton. "Stewart came off with a knee problem in the England game. We hope
it's going to be okay, but we need to be very careful. If we risk a player
on Saturday and it aggravates the injury further, we may lose him for four
or five games. He had that knee injury in the Scotland game and that
restricted his movement. "Sakho is being assessed. If it's as serious as it
was to miss the Senegal game completely, we haven't got a lot of time to
cure the problem. "But we will wait until Saturday morning to see, if needs
be."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham's Mark Noble still dreaming of England as he nets club Premier
League appearance record
Nov 21, 2014 22:30 By Mike Walters
Our Mike Walters meets the long-serving midfielder and keen angler and
wonders, like many fans, why he hasn't won a single cap
The Mirror

Mark Noble landed a 39lb carp when he was given four days off to go fishing
during the international break. And West Ham fans think it's a load of carp
that their reliable midfielder is still waiting for an England call-up. It
remains one of science's great mysteries that a rocket can send us holiday
snaps from a comet 300million miles away, yet Noble is ignored by his
country. The Three Lions' manager Roy Hodgson is making a rod for his own
back every time Noble is left to cast his line, while average players reel
in 50 caps. West Ham are fourth in the Premier League and Stewart Downing's
contribution has earned him a deserved recall to Three Lions duty. But at
the heart of the Hammers' boss Sam Allardyce's transformation from long-ball
ugly duckling to Swan Lake ballerina has been a familiar linchpin at the
base of his diamond formation. Noble, born in Canning Town and as much a
part of the East End as pie, mash and jellied eels, will break a club record
when West Ham visit Goodison Park on Saturday. His 204th Premier League
appearance for the Hammers (and 299th in all) will take him past Steve
Potts' high-water mark, his second fine achievement in a fortnight after
hauling in a freshwater Jaws on his angling expedition in Essex. "What did I
do in the international break? I went fishing. Spent four nights camped on a
private lake near Hatfield Peverel," said Noble. "[QPR and ex-Hammers
striker] Bobby Zamora is also a member there, so he's good company, and I
can't get enough of my fishing. "A 39lb carp takes some landing, but it's
exciting when the alarm screams off and you jump out of your skin, hoping
it's a big one. As it turned out, that was my biggest catch yet – it's
probably the nearest thrill you get to scoring or winning a big game.
"If I've gone fishing when the next international break comes round, I'll
keep working hard and you never know. It may happen for me one day. "I've
been watching Jimmy Bullard in the jungle on TV – he won his first England
cap at 29, so I'm not giving up yet."

Noble, a family man with two children and a seemingly unbreakable bond with
his roots, could turn out to be a rarer species than any creepy-crawlies
around Bullard's campfire – a one-club man. "In football, you never take
anything for granted. In the first team I've played under five different
managers here and there's always the chance someone could come in who
doesn't like the way I play. "But West Ham is my club, I love playing here
and in a couple of seasons we'll be moving into one of the best stadiums in
the world – I'd love to be a part of that. "Fourth in the table speaks for
itself. We're up there for a reason and it ain't down to luck. We work hard,
we score goals and it's a happy squad at the minute."

At Upton Park, the biggest revelation has been Big Sam's commitment to verve
when, at the back end of last season, fans were voting to ditch his joyless
approach. Eight months ago, West Ham were booed off after grinding out a
pragmatic 2-1 win against Hull's 10 men. Noble remained the umbilical cord
between a public reared on artistic merit. A fisherman's tale: Mark Noble
with our Mike Walters (left)
Noble, 27, said: "People talk about the 'West Ham way', but that came about
because of the talent we've brought into the first team over the years.
"It's not just about the way we play football, it's about a connection with
the fans. "It's nice that myself and 'Tonks' (James Tomkins) are playing at
the highest level here now after coming through the system and we need to
keep the tradition going in future, 100 per cent. For me, that's the West
Ham way. "Don't get me wrong, last season a win was a win. We had to take
them, however they came about. And if we go to Everton, play rubbish but
grind out a win, we'll be happy as Larry. "But this year, we have picked up
points with a bit of style. As an experienced professional, you have to
embrace different ways of winning football matches, but you have to enjoy
the moments when you are getting patted on the back."

More often than not, Noble has been captain. He does not take the
responsibility lightly. "Sometimes my dad says to me, 'You've got to realise
what that means'," said Noble. "To captain the club you grew up with is a
massive feeling, it's very special." Bobby Moore captained West Ham when
they won the European Cup-Winners' Cup 50 years ago. At this rate, Noble
might be getting his passport stamped next season, England recognition or
not. The Irons in Europe? There are plenty of big fish on the continent.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham To Return For Sampdoria Starlet
Forzaitalianfootball.com

Obiang - SampdoriaEnglish Premier League side West Ham will make another
approach for Sampdoria's midfield star Pedro Obiang when the transfer window
re-opens in January. The 22-year-old Spanish youth international has been in
superb form for the high-flying Blucerchiati this campaign, and could
already be on the move in January. SportItalia report that Sampdoria will
allow Obiang to leave the club, provided a suitable offer arrives from
abroad that satisfies the club's valuation. West Ham made an unsuccessful
move for the midfielder this past summer, but are now confident of reaching
a deal with the club to bring Obiang to the Premier League this winter.
Obiang's central midfield partner Roberto Soriano has also been linked with
a move away, with Inter the latest side interested in the newly-capped Italy
international.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"Carroll is unfairly labelled"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 21, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Andy Carroll looks certain to lead the irons attack at Everton tomorrow and
insists: "I have enough quality on the floor as well as in the air." And
ClaretaandHugh's chief analyst Leroy Rosenior agrees declaring: "He is
unfairly labelled as a long ball target man when in fact he can bring
players into the game and link play. "People love to think ion stereotypes
but they have got it all wrong as far as Andy is concerned. He really is a
terrific centre forward and he's going to be one hungry player at Goodison.
"I expect him to play and I expect him to have a big game. Whether Mauro
Zarate or Kevin Nolan plays alongside him they could have a big day."
Carroll is clearly fed up with being stereotyped and said in a recent
interview: "The style doesn't really matter. It doesn't really affect me.
People have got that image of me, just on the end of long balls. "They have
got the image of Sam Allardyce and long balls. It just does not work like
that. The gaffer knows he can play both ways and he has shown that this
season. "I think I am capable of doing that as well. I think it is a tag
that we have both got that is not justified."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Zarate's moment may have arrived (…or not)
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 21, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

With the Irons seemingly suffering an injury crisis, the line up against
Everton ill tell us something more than whether this is a squad of real
depth. For if everything we are hearing is correct and the two main strikers
have problems, then there's a clear chance to play Mauro Zarate alongside
Andy Carroll which on the face of it sounds a really exciting prospect. Sam
Allardyce claimed earlier this week that after the Palace match Zarate's
form had become a bit iffy and that the pressure was on him as much as
anyone else to perform but of course to do so he needs to get the chance.
Tomorrow may be his moment! If it's a choice, for example, of playing
Carroll and one other - assuming that nether Sakho or Valencia are
available – the choice is presumably between the Argentinian and Kevin
Nolan. At the risk of over assuming, I would suggest that most fans would
opt to see the big fella with MZ alongside him. I wonder if it will happen
should that opportunity present itself.

Way back in the summer when Zarate arrived, the plan was to play him with
the record signing – that opportunity never arrived given Carroll's injury
plus the fabulous form of Sakho and Valencia. Clearly, there's a chance that
neither may make it at Goodison but if they both miss out the Zarate option
is going to become an interesting sub plot. Should he play, we could
discover whether the Irons have two pairs of strikers who can do the
business and cover all angles. On the other hand Zarate could find himself
on the bench, not so much playing third or fourth fiddle but fifth!

Over to you Sam!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Leroy: Injuries galore but we can get result
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 21, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Tomorrow's game at Goodison is something of a mystery because it seems that
both squad have been hit by a mass of injuries thus making mugs of
forecasters. From what I've heard the Irons could have as many as five
missing from their usual team whilst word from Everton is that up to 10 are
under treatment. Both Diafra Sakho (back spasms) and Stewart Downing are
likely to be missing and I've also read that Valencia could be missing
though the club is playing its cards close to its chest. Andy Carroll looks
a certain starter and I'd love to see Zarate play although I think we may be
more likely to see Kevin Nolan. Both will have a big point to prove and with
the confidence the team have gained over the start of the season this is no
time to write the Irons off, injuries or not. Traditionally down the years
we get little from this fixture and given everything I make Everton marginal
favourites on their own manor But with Carroll back and the defence looking
solid and untouched by injury I reckon we have a chance although I think a
point would be a result.

Leroy's prediction: 1-1

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