Daily WHUFC News - 14th December 2014

Downing strike earns away point
WHUFC.com
West Ham United come from behind to secure a 1-1 stalemate at the Stadium of
Light
13.12.2014

Barclays Premier League
Sunderland 1-1 West Ham United

West Ham United battled back from a goal behind against Sunderland to secure
a 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
After James Tomkins was harshly adjudged to have felled Adam Johnson in the
box, Jordi Gomez set the hosts on their way with a 21st-minute penalty. But
Sam Allardyce's men trailed for just eight minutes, as Stewart Downing's
deflected drive nestled in the far corner of Costel Pantilimon's goal. The
stalemate extends the Hammers' unbeaten sequence to four, while they have
now suffered just one defeat in their last ten. On the back of his
destructive second-half display against Swansea City, Diafra Sakho was
restored to the starting XI, with Enner Valencia the man to make way. And
looking to pick up where they left off on Sunday, the Hammers thrice created
presentable openings in the first ten minutes here.

Sakho firstly hared down the right and brilliantly picked out Andy Carroll,
who sought to find the opposite corner, but headed into the arms of
Pantilimon. Then Carl Jenkinson tested the former Manchester City stopper.
Pouncing on Anthony Reveillere's poor header, the full-back's side-footed
effort was palmed away. And arguably the best of the bunch followed, when
Carroll met Downing's left-wing cross squarely on the forehead, but powered
it over the top. Not that West Ham were having it all their own way, with
Johnson's right-wing cross hanging invitingly in the air for Connor Wickham,
who glanced a header wide of Adrian's right-hand upright. Johnson was in the
thick of it again after 21 minutes, twisting and turning in the Hammers box,
before tumbling under the faintest of Tomkins challenges. Referee Phil Dowd
obliged and Gomez promptly sent Adrian the wrong way from 12 yards. The
Mackems' lead, however, lasted just eight minutes, with Downing taking
matters into his own hands. Once a Sunderland player himself, the
30-year-old cut inside onto his left foot and let fly, with a telling
deflection off Gomez's boot taking it beyond the dive of Pantilimon.

An open game to this point and so it continued, with a long ball over the
top setting Sakho away, only for the Senegalese to blast wide from the
right-hand side of the box. At the other end, Gomez flashed one across the
face, though there was no-one in a red and white shirt to turn it home. And
with the final action of the half, Seb Larsson skipped to the byline and
squared for Jozy Altidore, who looked certain to score, but somehow failed
to make any meaningful contact whatsoever.

The second half began in strange fashion, with Winston Reid coming off worse
in an awkward tangle with Wes Brown, as the duo prepared to contest a
Hammers corner. After lengthy treatment, the New Zealander was eventually
given the all clear to continue.

Larsson, meanwhile, tried his luck from 20 yards, but crashed his shot into
a West Ham wall. Moments later and Song was adjudged to have handled on the
edge of the box, gifting Johnson a good-looking opportunity to the right of
centre. Thankfully, his free-kick was straight at Adrian, who punched it
clear of danger.

For their part, West Ham had a gilt-edged chance on the hour, when Aaron
Cresswell found himself closing in on the six-yard box, but his attempted
cut-back was blocked and the chance gone.

In the 64th minute the visitors went closer still. This time Carroll picked
up the pieces in the box and dinked a measured effort over Pantilimon, only
to narrowly clear the crossbar too. Having weathered an early second-half
storm, the Hammers were well on top by now and some excellent build-up play
culminated in a deflected Carroll header drifting wide.

Sunderland were soon appealing for a second spot-kick of the afternoon when
Santiago Vergini's right-wing cross inadvertently struck the arm of Reid,
but on this occasion Dowd was unmoved.

Big Sam introduced Valencia for the final ten minutes, but it was Sunderland
who came desperately close to snatching it. Wickham collected the second
ball 20 yards from goal and only a stunning Adrian stop prevented his rocket
from flying in.

Carroll subsequently saw a side-footer from the edge of the box drift inches
past the upright of Pantilimon's goal, but the Hammers would ultimately have
to settle for a share of the spoils.

Sunderland: Pantilimon, Cattermole, Larsson, Wickham, Johnson (Alvarez 70),
Gomez, Reveillere, O'Shea, Altidore (Fletcher 62), Vergini
Subs: Mannone, Bridcutt, Rodwell, Coates, Buckley

Goal: Gomez 21

Booked: Gomez, Wickham

West Ham United: Adrian, Jenkinson, Tomkins, Reid, Cresswell, Song, Kouyate,
Nolan (c) (Valencia 81), Downing, Sakho, Carroll
Subs: Jaaskelainen, Zarate, O'Brien, Collins, Amalfitano, Cole

Goal: Downing 29

Booked: Reid, Downing

Referee: Phil Dowd

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Song - 'We showed character'
WHUFC.com
West Ham United midfielder Alex Song was pleased to earn a point after
falling behind at Sunderland
13.12.2014

Alex Song was satisfied with the point after West Ham United extended their
unbeaten run to a fourth game with a 1-1 draw at Sunderland on Saturday. For
the third match in succession, the Hammers had to come from behind to earn
the result, as Stewart Downing cancelled out Jordi Gomez's opener from the
spot. The point kept West Ham in the top four and Song says there were
plenty of positives to take back home. "We are happy to come away with a
point," he said. "I think it is a good point - it is never easy when you go
to play Sunderland
"We conceded the first goal, but then scored ourselves and managed the game
well. We had opportunities to score more, but it didn't come.
"It's good to not lose, you can see the good spirit and we have to focus on
the way we are playing."

The penalty award, for a James Tomkins foul on Adam Johnson, looked harsh on
the Hammers' No5 and Song felt on another day that decision could have gone
the visitors' way, "For me, I don't think it was a penalty. I will have to
see it again, but it was a difficult one," he added. "We showed good
character to come back into the game and it's always good to know that if
we're losing we can come back. "The team has character and everyone is happy
to come away on Saturday having not lost. We want to stay in the top four,
so it's very important to not lose."

Downing's equaliser was his third goal of the season and a further example
of his worth to the team, according to Song. He explained: "I think Stewart
is a very good player. He's shown a lot of things and I'm very happy for him
because he is a good guy as well. "In football sometimes you might try to do
something, and if it doesn't work you have to keep focused on what you're
doing and improve yourself in training, and then you see it on the pitch.
"I'm very happy for him and when he plays like this, good things can happen
for him. He's been back in the national team, and we have to help him do his
job very well. "We've seen what's happened for him and it's a pleasure to
play with him because he is a very good player."

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Big Sam applauds Hammers' spirit
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce took heart from his side's spirit as West Ham United again
came from behind
13.12.2014

Sam Allardyce was yet again able to hail the spirit within his West Ham
United team after they Hammers came from behind to draw 1-1 at Sunderland.
Big Sam's side fell a goal down for the third Barclays Premier League match
in succession, but for the third time in a row took a positive result as
Stewart Downing cancelled out Jordi Gomez's controversial penalty. Speaking
to West Ham TV, the manager was not impressed with the decision to award
Sunderland a spot-kick on 21 minutes, when Adam Johnson fell under minimal
contact from James Tomkins. To their credit, the visitors regrouped at the
Stadium of Light, levelling eight minutes later when Downing's shot
deflected off Gomez's boot and past Costel Pantilimon. Both teams passed up
chances to take all three points during an entertaining, if goalless, second
half, but Big Sam was content to see his side extend their run to one defeat
in ten matches. "I am delighted in the performance of the team and I'm
really pleased with the way that they played," he began. "Right from the
very start, unlike how we started at West Brom, we took a grip on the game,
created several chances but couldn't put the ball in the net. "We then had
to overcome a massive setback when they were awarded a penalty which wasn't
a penalty, of course. "We got a quick response and another Stewart Downing
goal - I thought he was terrific. I thought the whole of the team played to
their best, apart from the final bit where we couldn't find the clinical
finish we needed to end up winning the game. "Coming back from a goal down
again, albeit against the run of play and from a penalty that wasn't a
penalty, showed the spirit in the team."

When asked about the incident which saw Sunderland awarded their penalty,
Big Sam suggested Johnson had been hugely fortunate to get the decision from
the match officials. "I can sum up the situation just like this as to why
the Sunderland player went down - he was running towards the touchline, he
has overhit the ball, he's not going to get a cross in and there is no
danger, so he had a little dive and made the referee or the assistant
referee make a decision. "There was no danger, there was no need for us to
go tackling him because he wasn't going to anywhere or create any danger.
All those assessments have to be made very quickly by players and by
officials on what they do and unfortunately the assistant referee has made a
horribly wrong decision by giving the penalty. "Phil Dowd, in his position
that we've had a look at on the analysis, could not have seen it because
there were three players in front of him."

Having fallen behind in such circumstances, Big Sam was thrilled that his
players did not sulk, but rather regrouped immediately and hit back through
Downing's equaliser. "Our overall performance was one where we would get to
the last ten or 15 minutes and sit back in and protect the point, but this
time we didn't. "We wanted to win it and you could see all the players went
and tried to win it. I'm delighted that all the defenders did their jobs
correctly and didn't let themselves get caught out by the odd breakout
Sunderland did have. "Like I said, away from home a point is always
acceptable, but overall we're disappointed we didn't win."

Perhaps the mark of how well West Ham have been playing is that the staff,
players and supporters are going into every game expecting a positive
result. For Big Sam, the challenge is to ensure that confidence does not
turn into complacence. "Well, we can't get too greedy, can we! We had three
wins on the trot and have one defeat in ten. "Under normal circumstances,
the chances we created and who they fell to, apart from the one golden
chance that fell to Aaron Cresswell who is not a natural finisher, fell to
our natural finishers. Unfortunately they didn't convert them. "In the end,
one defeat in ten off the back of a week with three victories, picking up a
point away from home, has us ready for Leicester at home next week and
trying to get three more before we go into the Christmas mayhem."

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U18s suffer Chelsea defeat
WHUFC.com
West Ham United U18s ended 2014 with a 5-2 home league defeat by rivals
Chelsea
13.12.2014

West Ham United ended a disappointing week with a 5-2 Barclays U18 Premier
League defeat by Chelsea at Little Heath. The young Hammers, who were
knocked out of the FA Youth Cup at Southampton in midweek, were on the back
foot for the majority of their meeting with the Blues. West Ham goalkeeper
Sam Howes saved an early penalty from Isaac Christie-Davies, but it was not
long before Ike Ugbo put Chelsea in front in a goalmouth scramble following
a corner. Grady Diangana saw a shot deflected narrowly wide as West Ham
looked to hit back immediately, only for the Hammers to concede a second
penalty just before the half-hour mark, which was despatched by Kyle Scott.
Steve Potts' side did pull a goal back just before half-time, when Joe
Powell's free-kick was spilled by Bradley Collins and Fatai Adebayo was on
hand to poke the loose ball into the net. Into the second half and Howes
denied Chelsea a third with a fantastic save from Kasey Palmer, but the
stopper was beaten again moments later when Faiq Bolkiah converted Fikayo
Tomori's cross. Palmer added a fourth from long range before Ugbo made it
5-1 after Howes had saved Palmer's initial shot. There was still time for
Howes to deny Bolkiah a sixth before substitute Decarrey Sheriff made the
final scoreline a little more respectable by finishing low into the corner
in the closing stages. West Ham's youngsters now take a break from
competitive action over the festive season before returning to the pitch
against Reading on Saturday 10 January.

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Sunderland 1 West Ham 1
13 December 2014
Last updated at 17:28
By Luke Reddy
BBC Sport

West Ham maintained their place in the Premier League's top four by coming
from behind to draw at Sunderland. They trailed to Jordi Gomez's penalty,
given when Sunderland's Adam Johnson fell under James Tomkins' challenge.
That decision angered Hammers boss Sam Allardyce but Stewart Downing
levelled from 18 yards via a deflection. Jozy Altidore's glaring close-range
miss proved crucial for Sunderland, who drop to 15th, and the visitors'
Aaron Creswell had a one-on-one chance saved. Sunderland have now drawn 10
games from 16 but may take some comfort from the fact their latest point
comes against a side enjoying their best start in 31 years. The West Ham
side of 1973-74, boasting players such as Trevor Brooking and Frank Lampard
Snr, imploded after the turn of the year, but Downing's equaliser at the
Stadium of Light perhaps shows their current team are made of stern stuff.
Goalkeeper Adrian made a stunning late save to deny Connor Wickham, while
Winston Reid and Tomkins completed twice the number of clearances made by
their opposing central defenders. Tomkins was furious when his challenge on
Johnson was penalised, resulting in Gomez's coolly-taken spot-kick, and
Allardyce berated referee Phil Dowd when the official walked to the
touchline to calm the West Ham boss. Stewart Downing created five chances
and, of all the midfielders and forwards on the pitch, he was most accurate
with his passing in the opponents' half, completing 87.9%. He settled,
briefly, but punched the air jubilantly moments later when Downing cut in
from the right to drive in from 18 yards via a deflection.
Downing, recalled to the England squad after a two-year absence last month,
has now scored twice and created three goals in his last six West Ham
outings. Fresh from fixtures with Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool,
Sunderland boss Gus Poyet said his side must start winning ahead of kick-off
and they will look at Altidore's miss with the final kick of the opening
half as key. The American striker is yet to score in 10 league outings this
season for a Sunderland side who have failed to score in seven of their last
12 games. Their shortcomings in front of goal are not for lack of willing
and indeed both sides, each operating a 4-4-2 system, pressed for a winner,
with Adrian's tipped save from Wickham pivotal. And at the other end Andy
Carroll, who had seven attempts on goal, also fired wide with minutes
remaining as West Ham's three-game winning run ended. They now go into a
Christmas fixture list, which includes meetings with Arsenal and Chelsea, in
their highest league position at this stage of the season during the Premier
League era.

Sunderland manager Gus Poyet: "We cannot ask the players for more, we cannot
be more organised, but there is something missing and we need to find it.
"Luck helps, but we need to hit the target. When you have a break you need
to put in a good cross. "To play the football I want, at the moment we are
quite far away. We are doing as much as we can at the moment."

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce: "It was not a penalty and it is as simple as
that. It was given by the assistant referee and he got it horribly wrong. "I
wanted three points. I think the performances and chances created deserve
that but we respect a point away from home in the Premier League. "The
overall performance from the players was excellent and you have to be
satisfied when you come back from a goal down."

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Sunderland 1-1 West Ham Utd
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 13th December 2014
By: Staff Writer

Sam Allardyce was far from happy at the decision to award Sunderland a first
half penalty - but could have been rueing a second had referee Phil Dowd not
blundered again.

The Hammers boss was left seething on the touchline when Dowd awarded the
home side a first half penalty after Adam Johnson took a tumble in the box
following the slightest of nudges from James Tomkins.

However he was equally relieved that Dowd failed to award a second spot kick
to the home side when Winston Reid clearly handled the ball in the area 18
minutes from time.

In the end a point each was probably a fair result from a game that ebbed
and flowed, with both sides having a series of chances to win the game.

Whilst West Ham created the better opportunities and could lay reasonable
claim to being stronger on the day, they still had Adrian to thank for
preserving a point with a stunning save late on.

Both goals arrived in a busy first half; Gomez sent Adrian the wrong way
from the spot on 21 minutes after the hosts had been awarded an incredibly
soft spot kick following James Tomkins' intervention as Johnson drove into
the penalty box.

The Sunderland winger had no hesitation in throwing himself to the ground
upon feeling a nudge from Tomkins, whose challenge was clumsy but not worthy
of a penalty. The angry protestations of both Tomkins and Allardyce were
ignored.

But their joy was to be shortlived - eight minutes, to be precise - before a
former Black Cat levelled for the Hammers. A trademark strike from Stewart
Downing, who spent a short spell on loan at Sunderland several years ago
restored parity for West Ham moments ahead of the half hour mark.

Drifting in from the right flank, Downing beat 6'8" 'keeper Costel
Pantilimon, albeit with the aid of a slight deflection, low to the 'keeper's
right to make it 1-1 - just as he had at Crystal Palace earlier in the
season.

That's how it stayed until the final whistle - somehow - although both teams
had their goalkeepers to thank for that being the case.

Pantilimon was called into action as early as the sixth minute when he
denied Carl Jenkinson from close range after the marauding full back had
squeezed his way into the penalty box.

Meanwhile Adrian had to be at his very best to deny substitute Steven
Fletcher five minutes from time with a superb fingertip save. The striker's
fierce drive was heading for the roof of the net before the Spanish's
stopper's intervention almost certainly saved a point for the Hammers.



West Ham could have had the game won by then - Andy Carroll being most
guilty of missing a gilt-edged chance on 64 minutes, when the ball broke to
him from a corner but he could only chip an effort onto the roof of the net.

It was a frustrating day for the England striker, who has been outstanding
against Swansea at the Boleyn last weekend. He was left just as annoyed in
the final minute of normal time when he drilled a shot narrowly wide of the
post, with the goal at his mercy.

Yet had 'dozy' Jozy Altidore - without a goal in his last 28 Premier League
appearances stretching back to last December - tucked away the game's best
chance on the stroke of half time, the points may have already have been won
by then.

Fortunately for West Ham, Gomez's low centre got caught under Altidore's
feet and he failed to convert, despite having the goal at his mercy.

The draw ensures West Ham once again end the weekend in the Champions League
spots, level on points with Manchester United (who face Liverpool tomorrow).

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Alex Song open to extended stay
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 13th December 2014
By: Staff Writer

On-loan midfielder Alex Song says he would consider extending his stay at
West Ham beyond the end of the current season. The 27-year-old midfielder is
at the Boleyn for the duration of the 2014/15 campaign and speaking in an
interview with the BBC's Football Focus this lunchtime, admitted he would
consider signing a permanent deal. "The most important thing for me is to be
playing every single game and for my fitness to be 100 per cent," he said.
"We will see at the end of the season and see what's happening. "At the
moment I'm very happy here with the fans and the club. I'm back in London
and I have my house here, so I'm very happy at West Ham. So why not? We will
see!"
Despite the obvious financial riches that a player of such quality could
command, the Caeroon international - who is living in London with his young
family - insisted that personal contentment was of more importance than
fiscal reward. "I hadn't played for a long time and I wanted to come back -
that's what I needed," he added. "West Ham is a massive club and it was a
big opportunity. I can make make my mark here it'll be very good. "I didn't
play for a long time at Barcelona. That was very difficult for me as I
wanted to show the people [what I can do]. When you're not playing people
start to say it's because you're not good enough. "That why I chose West
Ham, to show them - and at the moment I'm every happy. When you're somewhere
you're happy, that's the most important thing. I was very happy at Barcelona
but I wasn't playing - and when you're not playing, it's very difficult to
be 100 per cent happy."

And in terms of what West Ham - currently fourth in the Premier League - can
achieve this season, Song remains optimistic - yet pragmatic at the same
time. When asked to predict where United would end this season, he replied:
"Don't set the target very high. For me [to qualify for the] Europa League
would be fantastic."

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West Ham miss out on third place after draw at Sunderland
Last Updated: 13/12/14 7:03pm
SSN

West Ham United missed the chance to climb to third in the Premier League
after being held 1-1 by Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
The hosts took the lead through a controversially awarded penalty despatched
by Jordi Gomez after 22 minutes, but Stewart Downing earned Sam Allardyce's
in-form side a point with a deflected left-footed strike seven minutes
later. Gus Poyet was left frustrated with Sunderland's inability to find a
winner in their 1-1 draw with West Ham. Jozy Altidore missed a superb chance
for Sunderland just before half-time and Andy Carroll fired centimetres wide
in the 90th minute for West Ham as both teams spurned fine opportunities to
claim victory. The result sees West Ham remain fourth in the table, level on
points with third-placed Manchester United, while Sunderland stay 15th after
their fifth draw in six games.

Sluggish Sunderland

West Ham made the more potent start and could have been out of sight inside
10 minutes. Carl Jenkinson and Diafra Sakho both had point-blank shots saved
by Costel Pantilimon from promising positions inside the area, and then
Carroll should have done better than head over from 15 yards after a superb
cross from Downing.

The hosts looked toothless in attack and equally susceptible to the counter,
with Downing on the left, Sakho on the right and Carroll through the middle
all threatening to overwhelm the Sunderland back line.

However, down the other end, Adam Johnson was proving just as a dangerous
and when he ran at an exposed James Tomkins in the right channel, the
slightest of contact was enough for him to go down and referee Phil Dowd
gave a penalty, much to the disgust of an irate Allardyce.

Gomez converted comfortably, but it was only a brief lead for Sunderland,
whose defenders inexplicably allowed Downing to shoot left-footed from the
edge of the area eight minutes later. The strike needed a deflection to
defeat Pantilimon and find the bottom corner, but it was nevertheless a
well-deserved equaliser.

Sakho had a fine chance to give West Ham the lead after another direct ball
down the right cut hapless Sunderland left-back Anthony Reveillere out of
the game, but once again the Senegal striker couldn't capitalise and pulled
his shot wide.

Fluffed lines

Sakho's miss was made to look forgivable on the stroke of half-time when
Altidore – six yards out and unmarked - inexplicably failed to make contact
with a low Sebastian Larsson cross.

Sunderland improved markedly after the break, but it was still West Ham who
enjoyed the better chances and Aaron Cresswell saw a low shot stopped by
Pantilimon after a deft pass from Downing.

The visitors' shot tally continued to rise, with Carroll chipping narrowly
over after a latching on to a loose ball 10 yards out, before Winston Reid
found the roof of the net with a looping header.

Sunderland manager Gus Poyet responded by sending on Steven Fletcher for the
ineffective Altidore, and the Scot almost repaid him with a rasping
left-foot shot that Adrian in the West Ham goal did well to save.

The game was now wide open and Connor Wickham thought he had stolen victory
for the hosts with a shot that was tipped narrowly over, but the best chance
fell to Carroll, whose low right-footer on the cusp of injury time flew just
the wrong side of the post.

Soccer Saturday verdict – Charlie Nicholas

Charlie Nicholas believes Gus Poyet will be the happier of the two managers
after Sunderland's 1-1 draw with West Ham. "Gus Poyet might be the happier
manager. I think Sam Allardyce will be pretty agitated to have the penalty
given against him. As the game wore on he ended up having a little bit of a
chuckle with the referee and by the time it was level it was obviously
easier for him. West Ham didn't get too many decisions given to them, but it
was a half-decent game. It lacked a bit of quality and a bit of drive at
times, but West Ham were more ambitious. It's 10 draws for Sunderland and
that tells you the type of team they are."

PLAYER RATINGS

Sunderland: Pantilimon (8), Vergini (6), Reveillere (4), O'Shea (5), Brown
(5), Cattermole (6), Larsson (6), Gomez (7), Johnson (7), Wickham (6),
Altidore (4).

Used subs: Fletcher (6), Alvarez (6).

Leicester City: Adrian (7), Jenkinson (7), Cresswell (7), Reid (6), Tomkins
(5), Kouyate (6), Song (7), Nolan (6), Downing (8), Carroll (7), Sakho (6).

Used subs: Valencia (6).

Man of the match: Stewart Downing.

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Sam Allardyce angry at penalty decision after West Ham draw 1-1 at
Sunderland
Last Updated: 14/12/14 7:20am
SSN

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce criticised referee Phil Dowd and his
assistants for awarding the penalty that denied his side victory in a 1-1
draw against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. The hosts took the lead
after 22 minutes through a Jordi Gomez spot-kick after Adam Johnson had gone
to ground under a light challenge from James Tomkins. West Ham equalised
through Stewart Downing's deflected shot, but couldn't force a winner and
consequently missed the chance to climb to third in the Premier League. "No,
I'm not [happy]," Allardyce told Sky Sports. "We might have been celebrating
three points here, with the fact that the penalty decision is the wrong one.


'Took a dive'

Charlie Nicholas believes Gus Poyet will be the happier of the two managers
after Sunderland's 1-1 draw with West Ham "I don't think there's any doubt
about the fact that he [Johnson] took a dive. It has not been given by Phil
Dowd because he can't see it - there are three players in front of him - so
it had to be the assistant referee, who, unfortunately for us, has got a
decision horribly wrong.
Would we have won the game 1-0 if that hadn't have happened? Who knows?"

Sunderland had a second claim for a penalty in the second half, when Winston
Reid handled a cross that bounced up on to his arm. This time Dowd waved
play on, and Allardyce thought it was the right decision. "Handballs have to
be intentional," he added. "It says in the rules that if you are going to
handle the ball, it has to be hand to ball, not ball to hand. "When a ball
comes through and bounces and hits you on the arm, it's not a handball in
the interpretation of the rules."

'Attacked constantly'

West Ham are now unbeaten in four matches and, despite his disappointment at
the result at the Stadium of Light, Allardyce was happy to see his team's
high level of performance continue. "Our overall performance was excellent,"
he said. "We came here to attack and we attacked constantly. We made enough
chances in the first 20-25 minutes to win two games but never converted
them. "We left the back door open occasionally because we were attacking so
much and trying to get the winner, which gave Sunderland a couple of
chances, but our goalkeeper has had little to do. "Performance-wise it was
very good, but result-wise we are slightly disappointed because of the
circumstances it has ended up being a draw."

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SUNDERLAND 1, WEST HAM 1. SHOULD HAVE WON, COULD HAVE LOST.
By David Hautzig 13 Dec 2014 at 18:55
West Ham Till I Die

The buildup to a match is often amplified by whatever rational or irrational
dislike I have for the opposition. Which made today's game a little
different. I don't really have anything against Sunderland. I remember going
to my local pub in Manhattan at something like 6am to watch Freddie Kanoute
score in a 1-0 win in the FA Cup, and the Sunderland supporters there were
fantastic to be around even in defeat. Barry Glendenning of the Football
Weekly podcast, my favorite guest on the pod, is a Sunderland supporter. And
even though his reign was short by any measure, Di Canio's time there made
every West Ham supporter look out for Sunderland results. I have no issues
with them.

That isn't to say there wasn't anything of intrigue about today's match.
When Sam was supposedly a dead man walking last year many bookies had Gus
Poyet as the favorite to take over at Upton Park. As for the guys on the
pitch, last week we got to see Andy Carroll take the stand and tell the jury
why the debate about him or Bony ain't quite over. This week Diafra Sakho
had the opportunity to show Connor Wickham why West Ham bought the right
guy. I'm pretty sure he has already convinced Sam that he's lucky he can't
always get what he wants, and that instead he got what he needed.

Keith Richards would do well in the transfer market.

With basically a fully fit squad to choose from, the anticipation for the
2pm announcement of the starting eleven wasn't that exciting. There was
speculation that Mark Noble could return and Kouyate could start on the
bench. The fact that such a suggestion about a key signing didn't send
shockwaves through the supporter community spoke volumes about how different
the club is now and how we all feel about it. As it turned out, Noble wasn't
quite fit enough to be selected.

Sunderland looked more comfortable on the ball in the opening five minutes,
with West Ham comfortable to deal with the pressure and settle themselves
down. For the first time in many years, we have the kind of attacking
options and prowess that can erupt at any moment. Which is what happened in
the 6th minute when the ball broke to Jenkinson near the back post, but his
shot was saved by Pantilimon. A few minutes later Sakho sent a cross into
the box that had nobody there to meet it, and then Carroll had a shot on
target that was easily handled by Pantilimon.

West Ham continued to apply the pressure when Aaron Cresswell made his way
down the left hand side before passing to Downing. Carroll made a run in the
box, and Downing found the most expensive skull in history but the attempt
went over the bar.

The Christmas season has many predictable features. Shops are dressed up in
lights and holiday decorations, the same Christmas music is played over and
over again in virtually every public space, and Kevin Nolan gets a three
match vacation. In the 12th minute, Santiago Vergini was brought down by
Captain Kev and while I knew it wouldn't be a red card, I thoroughly
expected a yellow. However, Phil Dowd decided to have a word with him
instead and he escaped a booking. Maybe that's an ancillary benefit of being
higher up the table?

The words "Song passes to Jenkinson down the right side" are becoming so
commonplace I wonder why defenders more often than not look utterly
unprepared for it. I mean, if we know its gonna happen shouldn't they? This
time, instead of a ball into the box, Jenkinson cut back and attempted a
shot. With good players in and around the area, our fullbacks have options.
And those options will create chances. Nothing came from this mini chance,
but it made the moment stick out.

When he is on his game, Adam Johnson can be a handful for defenders. He's
quick with the ball, able to turn defenders around and create just enough
space to either shoot or make an accurate pass. In the 21st minute, he did
that to James Tomkins on the right side of the penalty area and got behind
our central defender. Tomkins then tried to recover, put his forearm on
Johnson's back, and the striker went down. I may take some stick
here…actually I will certainly take some because every one of my Twitter
friends were furious at the call. But I immediately expected Dowd to award
the penalty. It was a matter of positioning in my opinion, and once Johnson
got behind Tomkins we were in trouble. Maybe if JT had not touched Johnson
and let him continue his run, the resulting cross would have been dealt
with. I, for one, had no problem with the call other than being upset we
would likely go down 1-0. Which we did.

Sunderland 1, West Ham 0.

For the third consecutive match, West Ham had conceded the opening goal. We
all know how the last two ended up, so unlike previous years the depression
that settled in was replaced by resolve. Fine, we'll just make you feel that
much more disappointed when you don't win the game.

When Stuart Downing scored his goal at Crystal Palace, the jokes about him
being fined by Sam for shooting from outside the box were plentiful. So when
the television screen showed our rejuvenated playmaker collect the ball from
Kevin Nolan outside the box in the 29th minute and cut to his left before
firing, you could have superimposed the goal at Selhurst Park over the
action today and it would have been hard to tell the difference. Yeah, the
ball took a deflection. Yeah, that needed a bit of luck. But players make
their own luck with hard work and skill, and Downing has done that all
season.

Sunderland 1, West Ham 1.

The Hammers were certainly energized by the equalizer. In the 38th minute
Kouyate put a ball downfield that at first glance looked like a clearance.
Until, that is, Sakho came into the picture to chase it down and have a
crack at goal. It was easily handled, but Sakho is making it clear that when
there is even a sniff of nylon in the air he will go for goal. It's how he
is wired.

The first name to be written down by Phil Dowd was Winston Reid when he took
Jozy Altidore down right after my fellow American flicked the ball forward
to Larsson. Dowd played the advantage, and Sunderland had the ball in a
dangerous area for more time than I was comfortable with. Thankfully for us,
all that time amounted to nothing.

Two minutes of injury time were added to the end of the half, and both teams
tried to sneak into halftime with a second goal. First Jordi Gomez collected
a quick free kick that caught West Ham by surprise. It also, however, caught
most of the Sunderland players by surprise as well so nobody attacked his
ball in the box that was there to be slotted in. Carroll then earned a free
kick after receiving a pass from Downing but couldn't create a real chance
from it. The pendulum swung back to Sunderland when Larsson found Altidore
all alone in front of Adrian. The ball was a shade behind him, and he
couldn't control it. West Ham escaped that one, and Altidore's woes in the
Premier League continued.

Halftime.

West Ham started the second forty five minutes the better side. Early on,
Jenkinson made a very tasty pass to Sakho down the right side and his cross
was deflected out for a corner. Downing took it, and the ball floated across
the penalty area, which included Winston Reid laying on the ground clutching
his head. Replays showed Wes Brown giving him a little tug which sent him to
ground, and then Brown's boot caught the side of Reid's head as the
Sunderland defender fell over our defender. No autopsy, no foul I guess. A
second corner went to Carroll, but his header went right to Pantilimon.

In the 53rd minute Sunderland took their turn on attack. A nice one-two for
Larsson led to a shot that was deflected out for what would be the first of
three quick corners for the home side. Carroll cleared the first one with
his head, reminding us that he can use that part of his body on both ends of
the pitch. The second presented itself to Connor Wickham who couldn't finish
the job, and the third was cleared out of danger. If anything, it got the
home crowd to make some noise.

Some things in life happen so infrequently that if you miss it, you may
never see it again. A comet streaking through the sky comes to mind. Return
trips for them are measured in the thousands of years. So too are absolute
foul ups by Alex Song. That happened in the 54th minute when he misjudged a
looping ball to him so badly it bounced off his upper arm inches outside the
penalty area, resulting in a Sunderland free kick. Adrian punched the ball
away, and moments later West Ham were on the counter with Downing running
the ball up with a full head of steam. Jordi Gomez would have none of that,
and tripped Downing from behind to earn himself a place in Phil Down's book.

Connor Wickham had a half chance in the 58th minute when he was played into
the box, but Jenkinson took the half a chance and turned it into no chance
by getting between Wickham and the ball as it rolled out for a goal kick.
West Ham then had a full blown chance in the 60th minute. Song fed Downing
on the left side of the box. Downing found Cresswell making an overlapping
run, but Pantilimon came out to meet the left back's attempt and made the
save. It was the best chance of the second half for either side up to that
point.

I have a soft spot for Jozy Altidore, so I was disappointed when he was
subbed for Steven Fletcher in the 62nd minute. I'd like Altidore to show the
side of him we here in America have seen many times, although not against
West Ham. I also hated to see Fletcher come on because he is a goal scorer,
and him nicking one would not have shocked me at all.

Carroll came close to giving West Ham the lead in the 64th minute when
Downing got on the end of a ball on the right side just before it went out
for a goal kick. He crossed to Sakho, who went down from a Wes Brown
challenge but not before flicking the ball to Carroll whose chip over
Pantilimon was so close you could hear the gasps throughout our community. A
minute later, Reid tried a back header from a corner that also went over the
bar. Then Song and Nolan played a one-two that ended up on Cresswell's boot.
His cross was intended for you know who, but O'Shea steered it out for a
corner. Nothing came from it, but we were far better than the hosts.

The football gods love to play jokes. Just when we think they are against
us, they show that while we play our little games they play theirs. Larsson
curled a cross into the box that looked to hit Reid right on the arm. The
Stadium Of Light illuminated with cries for a second spot kick, but Dowd
ignored them. Maybe he remembered Sam's protests on the penalty in the first
half and decided our manager would burst a blood vessel in his huge neck at
another one and such a scene would best be avoided.

The minute Andy Carroll was fit and returned to the side, I have wanted to
see him on the pitch with both Sakho and Valencia. That is not to say I have
any tactical nous to explain why I think it would be a good idea. I just
think that if it worked, then we could be so deadly on attack it would defy
our wildest dreams. In the 81st minute I got my wish when Valencia replaced
Nolan. There was no way ANYONE could accuse Allardyce of doing anything but
going for the win.

Larsson showed his worth on the defensive end of the pitch in the 84th
minute when he tracked back to chase down a dangerous run from Downing.
After winning the ball and getting it to Fletcher, the Scottish
international laid the ball off for Connor Wickham. Would this be his moment
like Carroll had his last week against Bony? No, but it was close as Adrian
pushed it out for a corner. A few minutes later West Ham were back on the
front foot when Carroll collected a deflection inside the penalty area. His
low shot was just a few inches wide of the bottom right hand corner. Both
sides wanted it, but would either get it?

Five minutes of added time saw Sakho win a header from a free kick, and Reid
break up a last ditch effort by Wickham. Those same joking gods wanted a
draw, and they got one.

Final score. Sunderland 1, West Ham 1.

In sales, sometimes slow and steady growth is better than explosive growth.
The same can be said for football. In that vain, a draw today should not be
looked as two points dropped. Either team could have won, and either team
could have lost. Overall, West Ham were the slightly better team with more
meaningful possession and intent with the ball. But Sunderland had their
chances as well and showed why they don't fall over when the likes of
Chelsea come for a visit.

My weekend mood is dictated by our club. Not easy on the family, I know. But
it's how I'm wired. I wanted to win. But I'm still feeling ok.

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West Ham's Ravel Morrison has door slammed shut on possible return to Upton
Park
Dec 13, 2014 22:30 By Tom Hopkinson
Former Man United starlet's loan at Cardiff hasn't worked out and if the
Hammers cannot find a taker for him in January they may try to cancel his
contract
The Mirror

West Ham have told Ravel Morrison there is no way back for him at Upton Park
and that they will look to move him on in the January transfer window,
reports Tom Hopkinson in the Sunday People. Former Manchester United starlet
Morrison has been sent back to West Ham from Championship club Cardiff,
where he was on loan. And that has proved the last straw for the Hammers,
who have finally run out of patience with the gifted midfielder. If a buyer
cannot be found for the 21-year-old, then the club could even explore the
option of cancelling his contract.
Morrison joined West Ham in 2012 after his Old Trafford manager Sir Alex
Ferguson tired of the youngster's wayward ways. Irons boss Sam Allardyce
decided to take a chance on the player. However, he has never managed to get
a consistent run of games at Upton Park, with the Mancunian's behavioural
issues continuing to prove a problem. His deal – which contained an
£18million release clause – expires at the end of the season. If there are
no takers in January, and the club cannot cancel his contract, then they
will let him go for nothing in the summer.

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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce slams referee Phil Dowd over Adam Johnson 'dive'
in Sunderland draw
Dec 13, 2014 19:51 By Colin Young
The hosts were awarded a first-half spot-kick at the Stadium of Light for a
foul on the winger but Allardyce believes he conned official Dowd
The Mirror

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce accused England winger Adam Johnson of diving as
his side squandered a chance to stay third at the Stadium of Light. Jordi
Gomez stroked home from the penalty spot after referee Phil Dowd, under
guidance from his assistant David Bryan, awarded a first half spot-kick
against James Tomkins for a foul on Johnson. But Allardyce, who led furious
protests by the touchline, claimed Johnson had cheated to win the penalty.
The Hammers boss said: "It's a dive. I have seen four angles on the laptop
and the assistant referee has made the wrong decision, in my opinion. "It
was not the referee's decision because he couldn't see from where he was
because he was obscured by three players. "You can only ask him why he has
made the decision. After all the years experience he has gained how if he
doesn't see that is a dive it is concerning I have to say. "To recover from
a poor decision on the penalty shows good character. A good point in the end
and we went all out to get three."

Sunderland boss Gus Poyet rubbished Allardyce's attack on Johnson, who was
substituted before the end. Poyet said: "It is a little bit harsh to say he
dived, but I don't think it was a penalty. "I didn't think he dived. The
defender was in front of him and stronger and bigger. If the referee gives a
penalty, you are not going to say no. "He probably didn't talk about the
second half penalty but I bet if it had been the other way round I bet it
would not be a dive and it would be a blatant handball.' Gomez's second
Sunderland goal was cancelled out by former Middlesbrough winger Stewart
Downing, who spent a seven-game spell on loan at the Stadium of Light. Both
sides had chances to win three points but Jozy Altidore fluffed an open goal
and former Newcastle striker Andy Carroll twice narrowly missed the target.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Song's "I may stay" interviews raise worries
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 13, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

West Ham reckon Alex Song will take the best deal available to him at the
end of the season despite the player's constant reminders he could stay with
the Irons. Song has given numerous interviews in which he has made
essentially the same point – "that there's a chance he could stay." Regular
interviews in the written press were followed today by a BBC Football Focus
interview in which he declared: "The most important thing for me is to be
playing every single game and for my fitness to be 100 per cent,. We will
see at the end of the season and see what's happening. "At the moment I'm
very happy here with the fans and the club. I'm back in London and I have my
house here, so I'm very happy at West Ham. So why not? We will see!" There's
a danger in such circumstances that the board will go overboard in trying to
convince him NOW or over the next few weeks and making rushed offers. A top
source told ClaretandHugh: "It hasn't escaped our attention that Alex is
saying the same thing publicly to different media outlets very regularly and
it doesn't help things. "What is does do is remind clubs that he is still
very much available and thus there's an obvious danger we are a shop window
.
"Yes, we want to keep him, yes we will make a strong offer but in the end
the player is likely to take the best offer he receives. It's the way of the
world. We're interested in his actions not words"

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Downing earns battling Irons share of spoils
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 13, 2014 in Whispers
Sunderland 1 Irons 1

Claret & Hugh

Stewart Downing earned the Irons a hard won point in a dour affair. The home
side had taken the lead via a Jordi Gomez penalty after a very dodgy
decision by Phil Dowd against James Tomkins with Johnson gaining a very soft
decision.r. We had looked the better side in the early exchanges with Alex
Song protecting a well organised back four whilst looking dangerous on the
break. We were pressing high with Nolan pushing forward to join Carroll and
Sakho and although the home side battled they carried little threat. However
Johnson managed to gain his penalty running at Tomkins to draw the foul in
the 23rd minute. Gomez sent Adrian the wrong way from the spot. It made
little difference to the thrust of the game which saw the Irons pushing
forward and always looking likely to score. Downing got us back on terms
with a left-foot shot from the right-hand edge of the box which took a
deflection past keeper Pantilimon. Sakho dragged a shot wide in the 38th
minute and saw the Sunderland keeper save on the break as the two sides went
blow for blow without the home side ever look seriously potent. Song had a
fine game in midfield for West Ham, stifling almost all of Sunderland's play
through the middle although the home team were finding more tempo as the
second half progressed. And we were lucky to escape a second penalty in the
72nd minute when replays showed Reid had handled and later. Immediately
afterwards Fletcher tested Adrian who saved well. Sunderland were looking
the more likely at this stage and Adrian was in fine touch when finger
tipping over a Wickham thunderbolt. Carroll and Sakho had half chances but
with the hosts attacking towards the final whistle a draw was probably a
fair result.

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Daily WHUFC News - 13th December 2014

Preview - Sunderland
WHUFC.com
All you need to know about the Hammers' trip to the Stadium of Light on Saturday
12.12.2014

SUNDERLAND v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
STADIUM OF LIGHT
SATURDAY 13 DECEMBER 2014
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: PHIL DOWD

In brief

West Ham United travel to Wearside to face Sunderland on Saturday as the Hammers look to extend their winning run to four games. The Black Cats currently sit in 14th place with 15 points from 15 games.

Gus Poyet's men are looking for their first win in five games, however they have drawn four of those matches, including meetings with Liverpool, Chelsea and Everton.

Sam Allardyce's men are ten places higher, lying in fourth with 27 points. The 3-1 victory over Swansea City was their eighth of the season and the Hammers are now joint third top scorers with Manchester United on 26 goals scored.

Who are they?

Sunderland were founded in 1879 as Sunderland and District Teachers, by James Allan, who taught at Hendon Board School. They won their first league title back in the 1891/92 season and have been crowned champions six times in total, most recently in 1935/36. Further honours include winning the two FA Cups, in 1937 and 1973. More recently, they came close to winning the League Cup last season, however they lost to 3-1 to Champions Manchester City in the final. Historically a yo-yo team between the top two divisions, they have now established themselves as a Premier League club, having played in the top flight for the last seven years.

Team news
West Ham United

Mark Noble is doubtful through injury as he battles a problem with his Achilles tendon, picked up against Newcastle United. Otherwise, Sam Allardyce has a full squad to choose from.

Sunderland
The Black Cats will be without Patrick van Aanholt who is to undergo surgery for a dislocated shoulder.

They will also be without Billy Jones (Hamstring) and Emanuele Giaccherini (Ankle), both of whom could return to face Newcastle on Sunday 21 December.

Referee
Saturday's referee is Phil Dowd. This is Dowd's first West Ham assignment of the season, but last year he was in charge of the Hammers' 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur, 0-0 draw away with Swansea City and 3-1 defeat by Arsenal.

The Assistant Referees are David Bryan and Peter Kirkup, while Darren Bond is the Fourth Official.

Statistics
(2014/15 season - Barclays Premier League only)
Matches refereed: 10
Yellow cards shown: 48
Red cards shown: 2
Penalties awarded: 1
One to watch

West Ham United
In form midfielder Stewart Downing has been in excellent form all season, earning a recall to the England squad. While at Middlesbrough, Downing had a brief loan spell at the Black Cats, scoring three goals in seven games back in 2003.

So far this season Downing has scored twice as well as contributing six assists, most recently he set up James Tomkins' winner against West Bromwich Albion and Andy Carroll's second goal against Newcastle United, both from corners.

Sunderland

Having just signed a four-and-a-half year contract Connor Wickham will be looking to repay Gus Poyet's faith in him. The 21-year-old striker is a real talent and has scored 12 goals in a Red and White shirt. The Hammers' defence will need to keep him quiet if they are to get the victory.

Tickets
Tickets are available on the day of the game. Adult and Concession tickets will be available for cash sales only from the Black Cat House and Ticket Office from 11am.
Adults can gain entry through away turnstile 74 at the Stadium of Light from 1.30pm onwards.
Any Duplicate tickets, requested via the Club, will be available to collect from the Main Reception area of Black Cat House, from 11am.

Travel
For all travel information of how to get to the Stadium of Light, click here.

Weather
Saturday afternoon is set to be sunny day but cold as temperature at kick off is forecast to be a chilly 2C (36F) with temperatures dropping throughout the match.

Last meeting

Sunderland 1-2 West Ham United
Barclays Premier League
Monday 31 March 2014
Andy Carroll powered the Hammers into an early lead and midfielder Mohamed Diame doubled it five minutes into the second half.

Substitute Adam Johnson gave Sunderland, who had earlier seen strong penalty appeals turned down, hope when he pulled a goal back with 25 minutes remaining. Adrian had to pull off a double save to deny Ki Sung-yueng and Connor Wickham to secure the three points.
Sunderland: Mannone, Bardsley, Brown, O'Shea (Gardner 60), Vergini, Alonso, Ki Sung-Yong (Scocco 79), Bridcutt, Cattermole (A. Johnson 53), Wickham, Borini
Subs not used: Ustari, Cuellar, Colback, Altidore

West Ham United: Adrian, Reid, McCartney (Armero 45), Tomkins, Demel, Nolan (Nocerino 84), Taylor, Noble, Diame (R.Johnson 79), Downing, Carroll
Subs not used: Jaaskelainen, Jarvis, J Cole, C Cole

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Date set for Everton FA Cup tie
WHUFc.com
West Ham United will travel to Everton on Tuesday 6 January
12.12.2014

West Ham United's FA Cup third round tie at Everton will be played on Tuesday 6 January with a 7.45pm kick-off. The Hammers were paired with the Toffees for an all-Barclays Premier League clash in Monday's draw, giving the Hammers a second trip to Goodison Park in as many months. Everton came out on top in that recent meeting, but West Ham have a fine FA Cup record against the Merseysiders, winning on each of the last four occasions they have been drawn together. Roberto Martinez's men are five-time FA Cup winners, with their last success coming in 1995, while the Hammers have lifted the trophy on three occasions - 1964, 1975 and 1980.

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Chadwell Chatter
WHUFC.com
Adrian on the Hammers' form, Sunderland, Christmas time and more!
11.12.2014

Hello everybody,

We are all looking forward to Saturday's game at Sunderland because the last week was excellent for us. We got nine points in three hard
games and now we have another chance to get another three points. The team deserves to be in this position because we are showing every week that we can play well. Every game in the Premier League is tough and Sunderland will be no exception. I'm happy with how we're defending, but I would be more happy with clean sheets! Sometimes it is impossible to save shots, but we need the mentality to keep the clean sheets because if you do you only need to score one goal to win the game. We have come back from losing positions in the last two games and it's good for us because we've been playing well and keeping control of the games.

We kept going with hard work and managed to turn it around. We hope for another good match on Saturday to keep our run going. The West Ham fans are great and it's going to be fantastic to be cheered on by close to 2,000 fans on Saturday. They travel long distances and we need to win the three points for them and for us. Finally we had our Christmas lunch at the training ground on Thursday. It was great and everybody's happy and we need to enjoy this moment,.

Players, staff and all the people here - it's a happy place!
See you at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
Adrian

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West Ham's Winston Reid going nowhere - Sam Allardyce
BBC.co.uk

West Ham United defender Winston Reid is "not going anywhere" in January, according to manager Sam Allardyce. The 26-year-old's contract expires at the end of the season, when he could leave for free, but the Hammers won't accept a cut-price offer next month. With the Hammers chasing a European place, Allardyce believes it is vital to keep the New Zealand international. "He isn't going anywhere," the West Ham boss said. "Unless someone bids £20million or something like that."

West Ham are fourth in the Premier League after winning eight of their opening 15 games, with Reid featuring in 14 of those matches.
Allardyce added: "If somebody flirts around with a measly offer because he is in the last year of his contract, we would make more money by keeping him and finishing where we are in the league than selling him and putting our good season in jeopardy."

Reid is currently in negotiations over new contract with West Ham and Allardyce hopes the club's good form persuades the centre-back, who is a reported target for Liverpool and Arsenal, to stay at Upton Park. The 60-year-old said: "In the end, I just hope he decides what is happening this season here and what is happening with us now has a telling factor on the decision that he makes in the end and it is not just money."

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Sunderland v West Ham
KO 15:00
12 December 2014
Last updated at 12:27
By Simon Brotherton

Match of the Day commentator
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Stadium of Light Date: Saturday, 13 December

TEAM NEWS

Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher is expected to start after overcoming the back injury which restricted him to a place on the bench against Liverpool. Sebastian Coates is available after being ineligible to face his parent club but Emanuele Giaccherini and Billy Jones are not yet fit to return.

West Ham will once again be without midfielder Mark Noble, who remains sidelined with an Achilles problem. Leading scorer Diafra Sakho could return to the starting line-up.

MATCH PREVIEW

Andy Carroll might have been getting carried away the other day when he said of West Ham: "I think there's no limit, we can go all the way to the top," but it will be interesting to see if they can remain genuine top-four contenders as the season unfolds. Confidence is sky high at the moment and will have been reinforced by the nature of last week's 3-1 victory over Swansea, in which they came from behind with Carroll scoring his first two goals of the season. Those goals were actually Carroll's first since being on target last March in a 2-1 win over this weekend's opponents at the Stadium of Light."West Ham have been outstanding of late, and their manager Sam Allardyce deserves the plaudits he has been getting. They have got so many attacking options, and on current form you would expect them to go to Stadium of Light and win."
Things are looking up for West Ham and the tally of 27 points from 15 games is their best return in the top division for 31 years.
The Hammers have only lost one of the last nine league games and travel to the North East aiming for a fourth win in a row. Sunderland's record in winning only two games so far doesn't look quite so bad when you realise they have also only been beaten four times. But nine draws from 15 games leaves them just a couple of points above the relegation zone, with Gus Poyet acknowledging "it's about winning now".
Sunderland have just taken a creditable two points from a run of three games against Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool but this encounter won't be any less tricky.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
West Ham won 2-1 at the Stadium of Light last season with goals from Mohamed Diame and Andy Carroll.
The Hammers have failed to score in four of their last six Premier League games against Sunderland.

Sunderland
Sunderland are without a win in five matches, although they have drawn four of those games.
Gus Poyet's side have already drawn more matches this season (nine) than in the whole of 2013-14 (eight).
They have been involved in five goalless draws this season in the Premier League - more than any other side.
Sunderland have failed to score in seven of their last 11 Premier League games, and three of their last four.

West Ham
West Ham are looking for their fourth consecutive league victory - a feat they last achieved in February last season.
The Hammers' tally of 27 points is their best return from 15 matches in the top division since 1983-84 (30 points).
They have scored in all of their away matches this season, but have only won two of their last six (D2, L2).
West Ham have scored 12 headed goals this season, twice as many as any other Premier League side. Eight of Andy Carroll's last 12 Premier League goals have been headers.

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Ex-Hammer hopes to land Albion deal
KUMb.com
Filed: Friday, 12th December 2014
By: Staff Writer

Former Hammer Alou Diarra is hoping to land a contract with Brighton & Hove Albion. The 33-year-old former French international has been without a permanent club since leaving West Ham on a free transfer back in May. And for the past week, Diarra has been training with the Championship club so that they may assess his fitness ahead of a possible deal until the end of the season. Diarra spent two years at West Ham during which he made just two Premier League starts. He agreed to terminate his three-year deal a year early having been told he had no future at the club. Reaction to Diarra's impending arrival has met with mixed views from Brighton fans. "On paper he's just what we need but he fell out with Allardyce at West Ham and was accused of a lack of effort at Rennes a couple of years ago," wrote spring hall convert. "I really hope we've done due diligence on this one, I have a bad feeling about this guy's intentions." However the right footed denilson was less than enthused by Diarra's potential arrival. "Totally pointless. 33, not match fit. Dubious past regards ability and commitment," he said. "If he was an English and had his kind of history we'd not be excited at all."

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Stewart Downing delighted with West Ham form
Last Updated: 12/12/14 12:15pm
SSN

Stewart Downing says West Ham are loving being one of this season's surprise packages after gatecrashing the Premier League top four.
The Hammers are fourth in the table and Downing reckons breaking the 'big four' stranglehold on the Champions League places is important for the good of football. West Ham boss Sam Allardyce spent a reported £31m in the summer on the likes of Diafra Sahko, Cheikhou Kouyate and Aaron Cresswell but that was dwarfed by the spending of Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool. "It's good, teams have spent a lot of money and people expected them to be in the top four because of what they've spent but it doesn't always work that way," Downing said.
"We have bought very well, the players coming in have settled well. Sometimes you see players coming to the Premier League struggle to adapt. It's a big plus for us." Southampton and the Hammers have shocked the big clubs with their form during the first half of the season and Downing says that is a good thing. "I think it would be good for the league," he added. "We've beaten Liverpool and Manchester City and ground out a win against Newcastle, which we would have lost last season. We have shown good qualities." "If you looked at the league at the minute you'd say it was false but we're there on merit, we've done well and we've played some big teams and played them off the park on the day. "We've beaten Liverpool and Manchester City and ground out a win against Newcastle, which we would have lost last season. We have shown good qualities."

The Hammers head to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland on Saturday and the ex-Liverpool winger thinks they can maintain their challenge for a European spot. "We have to look at each game as it comes. It's a big thing for us, Christmas, hopefully we can get lucky with injuries and suspensions," said the 30-year-old. "We had a difficult year last year, found it hard and were sucked in (to the relegation scrap) so this year we're playing with confidence. "Selection gets hard and it's one the manager would like because he's never really had it. Everyone is fighting for their place and the step up in quality has been good this year."

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West Ham travel to Sunderland aiming to continue fine run
Last Updated: 12/12/14 3:43pm
SSN

​West Ham are flying high but the 300-mile trip north to Sunderland will again test their European credentials as they enter the busy Christmas period. Three wins on the trot against Newcastle, West Brom and Swansea have placed the Hammers in the Champions League places while their opponents Sunderland are dropping fast with no win in five games. The Black Cats are the Premier League's draw specialists having totted up nine in 15 games and manager Gus Poyet would prefer to approach Sunday week's Tyne-Wear derby at St James' Park with a victory under his belt. But with Andy Carroll back to his best having scored twice against Swansea, Sunderland's defence will have a job on their hands stifling the giant striker. And West Ham boss Sam Allardyce will want more points in the bag before Christmas, when they face Chelsea and Arsenal in the space of three days following next week's visit of Leicester.

Team news

Steven Fletcher could return to the Sunderland starting line-up after being an unused substitute in last week's goalless draw at Liverpool on his return from a back injury. Sebastian Coates is available after being ineligible for the trip to Anfield, but Emanuele Giaccherini (ankle) and Billy Jones (hamstring) are still ruled out.

Midfielder Mark Noble is West Ham's only injury concern for the trip to the Stadium of Light. The 27-year-old recently broke the club's record for Premier League appearances but will not add to his tally due to a problem with his Achilles tendon. Allardyce has a selection headache in attack with Carroll, Enner Valencia, Diafra Sakho, Carlton Cole and Mauro Zarate all fully fit. Midfielder Diego Poyet is back from his loan spell at Huddersfield and could be in the squad to tackle his father's side.

Opta Stats


Diafra Sakho has scored four headed goals from just five headers on target this season
Adam Johnson has netted in two of his three Premier League appearances for Sunderland against West Ham.

Kevin Nolan has scored six Premier League goals against Sunderland.

Diafra Sakho has scored four headed goals from just five headers on target in the Premier League this season.

Stewart Downing has more Premier League assists this season (6 in 14 appearances) than he managed in 65 games during his Liverpool career (5).

West Ham's 27 points after 15 games is their best return in Premier League history.

Sunderland have been involved in five 0-0 draws this season in the Premier League; more than any other side.

Merson's prediction

"The Premier League is that good that it's so hard to predict these scores. West Ham are flying at the top and Sunderland are not doing great but, again, I just can't separate these teams. West Ham have done great but I don't see them winning here. The Stadium of Light is a hard place to go and I think Big Sam will be silently thinking 'I'll settle for a point here'. "Obviously they want to win but you've got to make sure you don't lose as this is where the points mount up across the season. Suddenly, going to Sunderland and getting a draw is a good result. I think this is a hard game and I think Sunderland are alright. I know they got beat by City but they went to Liverpool and were very comfortable."

PAUL PREDICTS 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 5/1)

Betting

Sky Bet have found this match a tough one to call, going 13/8 both teams and it's easy to see why. The Hammers have won their last three en route to a place in the top four, while Sunderland have proved hard to break down, drawing four of their last five. The Black Cats have recorded three goalless draws during that period and another goalless stalemate is a 9/1 shot this time around. Taking that into account, under 2.5 goals in the match is sure to have appeal at 8/11. Andy Carroll (11/2) is behind Diafra Sakho (5/1) in the first goalscorer market despite scoring twice last week.

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West Ham sharpshooter Diafra Sakho reminds Big Sam of Michael Owen
Dec 12, 2014 22:30 By Neil McLeman
The Senegalese striker has netted eight goals in just ten appearances for the Hammers, including a comeback goal against Swansea last weekend
The Mirror

Sam Allardyce has claimed Diafra Sakho will become as deadly as Michael Owen. Andy Carroll stole the headlines in last weekend's win over Swansea with his first goals of the season. But the Senegal striker came off the bench to score his eighth goal in 10 games despite suffering his own injury problems since signing for a summer bargain £3.5m. Allardyce named Nicolas Anelka, Mark Viduka and Owen as the three most clinical strikers he has ever worked with. And the Irons boss said: "He will be as good eventually. I think the way he is going at the moment he will get there. He is learning all the time. "He is a terrific lad with a great attitude and he has the desire to be successful as a footballer and a goalscorer. "All we are doing is getting him to play to his strengths and tell the other players to play to his strengths. "It is using the spaces in behind the opposition defences where he can really hurt them. It is our players having the capability to play the balls into those areas to get him in where he can hurt the opposition and they fear him the most."

After struggling for goals last season, the Hammers are now joint third top scorers in the Premier League with Enner Valencia also offering an option up front. Before the visit to Sunderland, Allardyce added: "There will be some miserable faces no doubt about that because they won't be playing as often as they think they should and that's always a problem when you've got the strength and depth of squad."

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Southampton lining up January swoop for West Ham striker Mauro Zarate
Dec 12, 2014 22:30 By Darren Lewis
The 27-year-old is third choice at Upton Park behind Diafra Sakho and Andy Carroll, and Ronald Koeman wants to add firepower to his forward line
The Mirror

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman wants West Ham striker Mauro Zarate. The Dutchman is looking to add more firepower to his frontline to take the pressure off Graziano Pelle and Shane Long. Pelle netted in Monday's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United. But that strike was his first in six games after nine goals in his first 12 matches. Long, who missed two sitters against United, has scored just three times for the Saints this season. Koeman is keen on a loan deal for Zarate, 27, who is third choice at Upton Park behind Diafra Sakho and Andy Carroll. But the Hammers want to hold on to Zarate as Sakho leaves for the Africa Cup of Nations next month. West Ham are confident that Winston Reid will not leave the club during the January transfer window. The defender, 26, has been linked with Chelsea and Arsenal, but an insider said: "There's never been a bid for him from a top-five club. "That is unlikely to change, despite his contract expiring in the summer."

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Sunderland boss Gus Poyet: 'It's not nice' preparing to come up against son Diego
Dec 12, 2014 22:30 By Neil McLeman
Poyet junior will be part of the West Ham travelling party to the Stadium of Light this weekend, with the Black Cats boss urging his side to start finding the net
The Mirror

Gus Poyet has admitted Sunderland have got to stop being 0-0 draw specialists. The Wearsiders have failed to score in eight of their 15 league games including five goalless draws this season. Poyet conceded yesterday that his side are not even playing 50% like he wants them too, saying: "I don't think we have an identity yet." Sunderland are hard to beat, have drawn nine times, but have only won twice in the league. They face West Ham, where Poyet's son Diego plays, looking for an upturn. Asked about the dour statistics his side are collecting, the Sunderland boss responded: "The challenge for us is to win as many games as possible. Not in a million years would I be happy going out in each game to earn a point."We need to win. We need to score, we need to play better and we need to be more clinical.
"We're not playing even 50 per cent of the way I want to play. One of the words I tried to use a lot last year was that I don't think we have an identity yet. That's the future, that's my challenge. "That's in the next year, in two years' time that we'll have something unique, something where people look at Sunderland in a different way. We're still a long way from that because of the personnel. "We started from the back, with making sure about the basics then slowly you progress from that. "The more players we bring in to certain positions, the better and easier it will be for me. We're not playing even 50 per cent of the way I want."

January will bring another chance to reshape the squad but Poyet is insisting on high standards. He added: "It's quality or nothing, not quantity. Quantity in this club is finished. We're not signing quantity any more."I don't want any more, 'maybe if in three months time' no. There were too many of those in the last three years and in the end the team suffers. You can't progress with too many changes. "We're looking for quality and that's money of course. How much? That's something we're working on." Diego Poyet has played three times for the Hammers this season and just returned from a month on loan with Huddersfield. Poyet snr added: "I'm trying to stay away from him, so there's no misunderstandings or any kind of doubts. It's not nice but it's only for a few days, it's not like I'm not going to talk to him any more. "I think it's better not to call him or for him to call me. People might think we've been on the phone but no. This is the first time we'll have come up against each other. "I hope he doesn't play, because it will be a strange feeling. Normally I'll look for his result after our game is finished because I want him to do well. "On Saturday I don't care how he does, I don't care. We say in Spanish there are no friends on the pitch - and it's no family as well. I don't care. After the game, we're find, but during it, no,"

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Must be nearly time for a Nolan red card!
Posted on December 12, 2014 by Headmaster — 4 Comments ↓
Claret & Blues.com

Will this be the first December since 2008 that Kevin Nolan avoids a December suspension? Looking forward to today. Saturday afternoon at 3pm is always a favourite of mine. It just feels right that football is played then. It's an age thing, I guess. I really can't see many goals this afternoon. Under 2.5 seems nailed on to me. Poyet has them much more disciplined and together of late and it should be an interesting encounter. I certainly don't expect an easy ride, if such a thing even exists in this league. Sakho to start alongside Carroll up top, perchance?

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Poyet: There is nobody else like Andy Carroll playing football
HITC
John Verrall

Sunderland manager Gus Poyet has sung the praises of West Ham United centre forward Andy Carroll. Sunderland manager Gus Poyet is wary of the threat that Andy Carroll could pose to his side when they take on West Ham United this weekend. The Black Cats face Carroll's team tomorrow looking to pick up only their third win of the season, but Poyet is under no illusions as to how tough it could be. Carroll has been a revelation since coming back into the team after injury and Poyet believes he is a unique player in modern day football. "Andy is special and different and I don't think you can find another one of him in the game right now," he said to the Daily Mail. "The adrenaline of being out for a while has brought him back at the highest level you can have and you need to be able to deal with that.
"It's a difficult game and we haven't had that kind of challenge yet of a player like Carroll, so the goalkeeper and the centre-halves and everyone else are going to have a difficult afternoon."

The damage that Carroll can cause to opposition teams was particularly evident in the Hammers' last fixture. A battering ram centre forward, Carroll bludgeoned his way through the Swansea City defence to score twice in the side's 3-1 win and he was a constant threat throughout the match. His partnership with Diafra Sakho already looks as if it could be a deadly one, despite the fact that the pair were only united up front for a brief period. The duo are likely to be paired up from the start against Sunderland and if they can be similarly as effective, West Ham should come out of the fixture at the Stadium of Light victorious.

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Sam weighs the Noble/Song balance
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 12, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Sam Allardyce may be facing a tricky selection issues tomorrow with news arriving into ClaretandHugh's offices that Mark Noble is fit for action. We were told earlier today that Mark has let it be known that he is almost certain to be available for selection and is feeling fine. The manager claimed the midfielder was suffering an Achilles problem but with everybody else fit he may be looking for a way of solving the Noble/Song dilemma which both he and assistant boss Neil McDonald have mentioned in the past. The other alternative maybe to relegate Cheik Kouyate to the bench after a middling performance against Swansea last weekend and play them both. We were told: "To all intents and purposes we have a fully fit squad. There will always be the odd niggle here and there but as far as we can see the manager has a fully fit squad to select from. "There seems little question of course that he will go with Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho up top with Enner Valencia filling a spot on the bench."

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DG's belief is on the rise big time
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 12, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Co chairman David Gold admits is slowly accepting that the West Ham United of 2014-15 is "a very good side." The co-chairman is the most careful of men and in an exclusive interview with ClaretandHugh said: "When you reach the stage we are at and keep winning games you start to believe this is as good a team as we thought earlier. "I found myself wondering last Sunday when we went behind 'Uh ha has the bubble burst' but then we bounced back and won convincingly. "It spreads from the players. These are confident young men sure of their own ability and they are performing in a way which is spreading confidence into us all. "Everybody has had a difficult time processing what's been going on at the club this season but we should now start believing that we are as good as we think we are. "Every team has its good little run but when it reaches this number of games I think we can be confident – I don't want to tempt fate but you have to start believing don't you?" Gold is off to Sunderland tomorrow (Sun) knowing that the players, fans and club employees are in great heart and expecting a win. He said: "We have to believe that we will come away with something. It's the biggest cliche in the world but the league table doesn't lie. We disrespcet no team but it's fair to say it will be a big disappointment if we don't come back with something."

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CandH Exclusive: DG unveils PL/Euro success plan
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 12, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

David Gold has pledged that the Hammers policy of reinvesting funds into the team season on season will go on and that will could secure a golden European future. Many have questioned the prospect of European football at the club and how it will affect the team's bid to improve or maintain a healthy League position. Gold is aware that clubs such as Fulham and Ipswich have hit the Euro scene and that it may have been a contributing factor in their eventual decline and fall. But he told ClaretandHugh in an exclusive interview: "Unlike many clubs we re-invest all our cash in the squad which is improving all the time. "Should we reach Europe nothing will change. The funds will continue to go into creating a good squad and adding to it, strengthening it year on year. "During my 20 years in the game I have never seen a stronger squad under our charge than this one and it will be stronger again next season. "We need to be pushing towards the top of the Premier League whilst ensuring that European football doesn't harm that. Not many clubs reinvest in the squad to this extent but it's our policy to strengthen year on year and become a top Premier League club."

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Daily WHUFC News - 12th December 2014

Big Sam on: Sunderland
WHUFC.com
The manager talks to the press ahead of Saturday's game at Sunderland
11.12.2014

Sam Allardyce held his pre-match press conference on Thursday ahead of
Saturday's trip to Sunderland. The manager faced questions on team news, his
side's league position, the test awaiting the Hammers at the Stadium of
Light and more.

A lot of West Ham fans are getting nose bleeds at the moment, at the start
of the season did you think this was achievable?

SA: "I wouldn't have thought it was achievable before we started playing
because we had so many new players. But like I've said many times the new
players have done a particularly fantastic job. The other players have done
a job to welcome them in and make them feel comfortable. Our team spirit and
family feel has played a part and everyone is on top of their game. "I think
the Swansea performance typified that, we're a very good team character wise
as we came back from a goal down again. Our determination shone through as
did our ability and quality. We don't just play one way, we're flexible and
can adapt to the style we need to at that particular time. I think the lads
have picked up on that really well and opposition defences don't know what's
coming next. That causes unrest and I think our performance on Sunday was
the best of the season."

Fifteen games into the season, have you adjusted your expectations or
targets?

SA: "If we're still here towards the end of January then we'll reassess our
aims. By that point we'll have played 20 games, we'll have played everybody
once so we should have a good indicator of where we are. So we'll see what
everybody has got in their locker, everybody would've seen what we have in
ours so it'll be a question of whether we can carry it on. "We might have a
little worrying spell during the Africa Cup of Nations in January, that's
why I'm not prepared to do any more predictions until they come back.

It would nice to say goodbye to the Boleyn Ground with some Champions League
football?

SA: "I'm not sure about that, we don't want to get carried away. We just
want to keep on playing the football we're playing at the moment. Everyone
is enjoying themselves, there's a good buzz around the training ground which
is always a good sign. I think competition for places keeps everyone hungry,
there's quite a few disappointed players because they haven't played as much
as they wanted and that is very healthy from my point of view. It keeps them
on their toes and gets the best performances out of them."

Is Andy Carroll playing his best football in a West Ham shirt? Arguably his
career?

SA: "I think he's still getting back to full fitness and he can get better
once he's 100% ready. He's had a long layoff and only a handful of games
played. His confidence will get better the more he plays, his goals will
help that too. Certainly in the games he's played so far have been good and
I think there's more to come. "We're the third highest scorers in the
League, with nine different scorers before the Swansea game. So we're
getting goals from all over the team. With our options up front with
Valencia and Sakho back as well as Carlton Cole and Mauro Zarate it is a
very strong frontline that we can change if and when we need to."

Any injury news ahead of Sunderland?

SA: "Mark Noble is still injured with a problem with his Achilles tendon.
Other than that we don't seem to have many problems."

With an almost full squad, is it unlikely Diego Poyet will feature?

SA: "He's in the squad so he has a chance. He's had some first team football
up in Huddersfield, now's he back here, and we're happy he's back. At any
point we could pick up injuries, we played Aston Villa and picked up five
injuries that couldn't play against Everton. So having Diego back is
important."

Has he been knocking on your door asking to play this weekend against his
Dad's side?

SA: "No we haven't talked about that, he's in the squad so he's got a chance
but we haven't discussed it."

In terms of scoring more goals and playing more attacking football was that
a conscious decision?

SA: "Not really, you play the best way you can with the team you've got. We
were never short of creating chances in my time here. I wouldn't say we're
attacking more we're just scoring more goals then we did before and
converting more chances.
"We're slightly down on our clean sheet ratio so that's the only bit of
negativity. If we continue to score the goals then it won't matter as much."

A quick word on Sunderland, how do you rate them as opponents?

SA: "There hugely difficult at home, playing them away has been tough for
us. They've been struggling for goals recently, I think Connor Wickham and
Steven Fletcher would've wanted a few more goals than they've got and if
they had they would have converted their draws to wins. Hopefully we can
keep those guys quiet on Saturday and deliver another good away
performance."

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Six of the best - Sunderland
WHUFC.com
A look back at six West Ham United wins over Sunderland
11.12.2014

The Hammers travel to Sunderland on Saturday looking to record a fourth
straight victory. Here whufc.com takes a look back at six memorable wins
over the Mackems.

Sunderland 0-1 West Ham United
Premier League
23 November 2008
The Hammers won at the Stadium of Light in November 2008 as the first part
of a double over the Black Cats. Valon Behrami notched the only goal of the
game as the Londoners kept a second successive clean sheet. They went on to
finish ninth in the Premier League, while Sunderland were down in 16th, just
two points clear of relegation.

Sunderland 0-2 West Ham United
Championship
4 December 2004
West Ham were en route to promotion when they made the long journey to
Sunderland in December 2004. It was a successful trip as Alan Pardew's side
notched twice without reply to take all three points. A red card to the
hosts' Steven Caldwell helped West Ham on their way, and they took the lead
on 59 minutes through Marlon Harewood. Teddy Sheringham's final minute goal
sealed the victory.

West Ham United 2-0 Sunderland
Premier League
22 March 2003
West Ham moved out of the bottom three for the first time in four months
with a much needed victory at home to Sunderland. The attacking trio of
Jermain Defoe, Frederic Kanoute and Les Ferdinand gave the Mackems defence
the run around as the Hammers took all three points.
Defoe got the first midway through the opening period when he swivelled and
placed a shot past Thomas Sorensen. Kanoute replaced the injured Ferdinand
at half-time and put the game to bed with a cool finish.

West Ham United 6-0 Sunderland
First Division
11 October 1992
A brace from Mark Robson inspired West Ham to a thumping win over Sunderland
in 1992. There were also goals for Alvin Martin, Martin Allen, Trevor Morley
and Kevin Keen as the Wearsiders left east London empty handed. The emphatic
win sent the Hammers up to fifth in the table in a season which they went
onto finish second in the league, gaining promotion to the Premier League.

West Ham United 5-0 Sunderland
Second Division
18 October 1989
Eamonn Dolan was the catalyst for a big home win over the Mackems as the
Hammers continued their good early season form. A crowd of just over 20,000
turned up to see Dolan net twice, half of his tally for the season, with
three of his teammates also getting in on the act.
Kevin Keen, Martin Allen and Stuart Slater scored a goal apiece to round off
a miserable day for their visitors from the North East.
Eamon Dolan

West Ham United 8-0 Sunderland
First Division
19 October 1968
Geoff Hurst ran riot against The Black Cats, netting an incredible double
hat-trick as the Hammers recorded a huge win. Hurst stole the show with six
goals of his own but Trevor Brooking and Bobby Moore also managed to get
their names on the scoresheet. The striker's haul helped to take him to an
impressive 31 goals by the end of the season as he helped fire West Ham to
an eighth place finish whilst Sunderland were well below them finishing
17th.

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Burke - 'We were better than them'
WHUFC.com
U18's captain Reece Burke believes he side should have beaten Southampton
10.12.2014

West Ham United U18's captain Reece Burke said he believes his side were
good enough to beat Southampton in the FA Youth Cup Third Round on Tuesday
evening. The Hammers took an early lead when Josh Pask diverted Djair
Parfitt-Williams' corner past Harry Isted. However the Saints rallied as Dan
Demkiv equalised as he ran onto to Josh Sims sublime through ball. Into the
second half and the Hammers' task was made much harder when Manny Onariase
was sent off for fouling the on rushing striker. The Saints took the lead
through Callum Slattery's blistering effort as he beat Sam Howes from 25
yards out. Speaking after the game, Burke said: "I thought we started the
game really well. The first 20 minutes we had opportunities to go at least
2-0 and maybe 3-0 ahead. We conceded a sloppy goal to let them back into the
game. Going down to ten men didn't help either. Once they scored the second
goal it was very hard to get back into the game. "Credit to Southampton,
they're a good team. But the team we brought today was much better than
them. Going out today I thought we would win. "I thought I did well today. I
tried to get the boys going. Obviously you need some leaders out there, I
tried to do my bit but you need everyone to be a leader particularly when
you go down to ten men."

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Mediawatch - 11 December
WHUFC.com
Our daily look at West Ham United in the news
11.12.2014

The Evening Standard carries an article asking Hammers fans to share
memories of their favourite kits in readiness for the final season at the
Boleyn Ground.

In the Daily Mirror, former Hammers man Slaven Bilic says his old team could
go on to claim a Champions League place.

The Mail Online says West Ham are keeping tabs on Valencia midfielder Javi
Fuego.

In the Daily Star, Modibo Maiga's future at Metz is discussed.

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Sam Allardyce considers setting West Ham new target for season
BBc.co.uk

West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce says he is prepared to reassess his
side's target of a top-10 Premier League finish, provided the club are still
going strong at the end of January. The Hammers sit fourth having taken 27
points from 15 league games and beat Swansea 3-1 last time out. Allardyce
told West Ham's website: "If we're still here towards the end of January
we'll reassess our aims. "We'll have played 20 games, we'll have played
everybody once. "So we should have a good indicator of where we are. "We'll
see what everybody has in their locker, everybody would've seen what we have
so it'll be a question of whether we can carry it on."

Allardyce said the setting of a loftier target would depend on how those
players due to feature in the Africa Cup of Nations coped.
West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce "I think Andy Carroll's still getting
back to full fitness and he can get better once he's 100% ready.
"His confidence will get better the more he plays, his goals will help too."
Senegal pair Diafra Sakho and Cheikhou Kouyate, along with Cameroon
midfielder Alex Song could all be missing next month. "We might have a
little worrying spell during the Africa Cup of Nations in January, that's
why I'm not prepared to do any more predictions until they come back,"
Allardyce said. Striker Andy Carroll, 25, scored two goals in the 3-1 win at
home to Swansea and appears to have put his injury problems behind him.
Allardyce added: "I think Andy's still getting back to full fitness and he
can get better once he's 100% ready. "He's had a long layoff and only a
handful of games played.
"His confidence will get better the more he plays, his goals will help too.
"Certainly the games he's played so far have been good and I think there's
more to come."

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Allardyce fears Song and Sakho departure
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 11th December 2014
By: Staff Writer

Sam Allardyce says he is delighted with his team's current form - but
slightly concerned about the effect the African Cup of Nations will have on
his team. Chiek Kouyate, Diafra Sakho (both Senegal) and Alex Song
(Cameroon) will almost certainly be involved in the tournament, which begins
in Equatorial Guinea on 17 January with the Final taking place in Bata on 8
February. And that is bad news for Big Sam and West Ham, for whom the trio
of new signings have been a major part of this season's success. "We might
have a little worrying spell during the Africa Cup of Nations in January,"
he told the media this morning. "That's why I'm not prepared to do any
predictions until they come back. "The new players have done a particularly
fantastic job. The other players have done a job to welcome them in and make
them feel comfortable. Our team spirit and family feel has played a part and
everyone is on top of their game. "I think the Swansea performance typified
that, we're a very good team character-wise as we came back from a goal down
again. Our determination shone through as did our ability and quality."

Despite the team's sterling start to the season, Allardyce was in no mood to
entertain talk of Champions League qualification either - as hinted at by
one journalist at this morning's pre-match press conference. "We don't want
to get carried away," he added. We just want to keep on playing the football
we're playing at the moment. Everyone is enjoying themselves, there's a good
buzz around the training ground which is always a good sign. I think
competition for places keeps everyone hungry. "If we're still here towards
the end of January then we'll reassess our aims. By that point we'll have
played 20 games, we'll have played everybody once so we should have a good
indicator of where we are. "So we'll see what everybody has got in their
locker, everybody would've seen what we have in ours so it'll be a question
of whether we can carry it on."

West Ham face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon.

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Diego Poyet hoping West Ham win at Sunderland, managed by father Gus
Last Updated: 10/12/14 12:47pm

Diego Poyet will be at Sunderland cheering against his dad Gus on Saturday,
even if he fails to make the West Ham squad. The 19-year-old is back at the
Boleyn after a short loan spell at Huddersfield and is available for
selection this weekend's game against the side managed by Poyet Snr. West
Ham go to Wearside on the back of three straight Premier League wins and
Poyet, who has started just once since joining from Charlton in the summer,
will have his work cut out to earn a place in Saturday's 18-man squad. But
family loyalty will come second to club commitments anyway, and the
midfielder told West Ham's website: "Even if I'm not involved, I'll still
try and make the journey to support the boys. Hopefully we'll get another
three points. "I'd love to be play in the game against Sunderland. The squad
is pretty much all fit at the moment so it will be difficult but I'd love to
be part of it. "I've never played against a team my dad's managed, he'd left
Brighton by the time I was playing for Charlton so we haven't crossed paths
just yet. "We're both looking forward to it happening one day, we've been
joking about it recently. We won't talk about it this week, after the game
I'm sure whoever wins will have something to say."

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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce warns Sunderland there's more to come from Andy
Carroll
Last Updated: 11/12/14 3:42pm
SSN

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce says he is happy with Andy Carroll's return
from injury which leaves him with an array of talented striking options.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has warned Sunderland there is more to come
from Andy Carroll after the England forward's man-of-the-match display last
time out. The former Newcastle and Liverpool striker scored twice in the 3-1
home win over Swansea to lift the Hammers to fourth in the Premier League
table. The goals were the first of the campaign for Carroll who had been
sidelined for four months after suffering an ankle injury in pre-season.
Allardyce said: "I don't think he is as good as he can be, on the back of a
long lay-off and a handful of games back in the team. "The overall
performance first and foremost and, more importantly, the goals will give
him a massive boost in confidence. "I think we're the third highest
goalscorers in the league at the minute. Let's keep doing that. Whoever
scores them, let's keep scoring them. "I said, before Andy scored, the last
nine goals had nine different goalscorers, prior to the Swansea game, so
there are a lot of goals being shared all over. "There is also Enner
Valencia, with the likes of Andy and Diafra Sakho, Carlton Cole and Mauro
Zarate. It's a very, very good strong front line."

Allardyce admitted a spot in the top-four was beyond his wildest
expectations at the start of the season and added: "I wouldn't have thought
it was achievable before we started playing because we had so many new
players. "But like I've said many times the new players have done a
particularly fantastic job. The other players have done a job to welcome
them in and make them feel comfortable. Our team spirit and family feel has
played a part and everyone is on top of their game."

The Englishman revealed, however, that he had not begun to envisage leaving
the Boleyn Ground for the Olympic Stadium next season with Champions League
qualification secured. He said: "If we're still here towards the end of
January then we'll reassess our aims. By that point we'll have played 20
games, we'll have played everybody once so we should have a good indicator
of where we are. "We'll see what everybody has got in their locker,
everybody would've seen what we have in ours so it'll be a question of
whether we can carry it on.
"We might have a little worrying spell during the Africa Cup of Nations in
January, that's why I'm not prepared to do any more predictions until they
come back."

Sunderland are next up for West Ham on Saturday afternoon, with only
midfielder Mark Noble still struggling to be fit due an ongoing Achilles
tendon injury. Allardyce said: "They're hugely difficult at home, playing
them away has been tough for us. They've been struggling for goals recently,
I think Connor Wickham and Steven Fletcher would've wanted a few more goals
than they've got and if they had they would have converted their draws to
wins. "Hopefully we can keep those guys quiet on Saturday and deliver
another good away performance."

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STEWART DOWNING IS A DIAMOND
By Iain Dale 11 Dec 2014 at 08:00
West Ham Till I Die
Guest Post by Neil Clack

UPDATE: I owe Neil an apology. I forgot to put his name to this article when
it was put up. More haste, less speed, as my mother used to day. I'm very
sorry.

Be honest. Who thought at the time Stewart Downing was not a good signing
for West Ham? Many of us felt we desperately needed another striker with the
last of that summer's transfer budget, rather than spend the 5 million on a
29-year-old underperforming winger. David Sullivan even went public, wishing
to make it perfectly clear that the signing of Downing was Sam's decisión,
and not the board's – it looked like the beginning of some tension between
the two men (one that manifested itself last May when the owners deliberated
over whether to sack Sam or not – personally, I reckon the reports that they
were divided, with Sullivan wanting him out, and Gold and Brady sticking up
for the manger are not far from the truth).


It was a gamble by Sam, putting all the eggs in one Andy Carroll-laden
basket, and it nearly cost us relegation, but we survived, and are now
reaping the benefits of the multi-functional Downing, and finally having a
big squad – we've gone from one extreme to the other as far as striking
options are concerned!

And what a revelation Downing is proving to be, in his new position at the
point of the diamond in a 4-3-1-2 formation. It makes you wonder if perhaps
he's been held back all his career, stuck out wide by Steve McClaren, Martin
O'Neill, and Kenny Dalglish in rigid 4-4-2 systems. Brendan Rodgers even had
him playing at left back! (Downing had 0 goals and 0 assists in the season
before we signed him!)

Downing's delivery of corners and free kicks has been superb lately too. How
is it that by playing in a new position, a player even manages to deliver
better set pieces? – it can only be confidence and momentum, I guess?

The diamond formation, as it's dubbed in England, requires a 'number 10' at
the point of the diamond, with the other three midfielders tucked in more
central. Downing has thrived in this role. The width is provided by the two
forwards, and, of course, the number 10, who pull out wide whenever they
feel it's required, and that calls for a good understanding between the
three of them, aswell as a good reading of the game. Downing, Sakho, and
Valencia pulled it off to a tee in the home victories over Liverpool and Man
City.

When Sakho went wide, either to the left or the right, Valencia moved into
the centre more, and vice-versa. At times, it can look as if you're playing
without a centre forward, and then suddenly you have 3 in the centre forward
position – a nightmare for central defenders, especially for some British
defenders, who haven't been brought up to face such mobility.

In the diamond formation, the full backs, with no wide midfielders/wingers
in front of them, also have a lot more room to push forward and link up with
the forwards or the number 10 down the wing, and that's why the formation
can be a very attacking one – full backs playing almost like wing backs.

Some of us wondered whether And Carroll would fit into 4-3-1-2; whether he
had enough tactical nous or mobility to pull out into those wide areas and
open up the space in the middle for the number 10 to move into, and it was
noticable that when Carroll first returned, against Newcastle, Sam changed
the system. playing Jarvis and Downing on the wings.

And it was very much 4-4-2 first half at West Brom – the Carroll/Zarate
partnership clearly needs a bit of working on – and then we went 3-5-2 in
the second half (or 5-3-2 more like) to stem the flow as West Brom began to
over-run our Song & Noble-less central midfield.

The great thing about the win over Swansea last Sunday though, is that even
with Carroll in the team, we successfully played the diamond formation and
continued to get the best out of Downing, while also playing to Carroll's
strengths.


Carroll's never looked that great on the floor, but in the air, he's
probably one of the best in the world at the moment? As long as we don't
become dependent on the long ball upto Carroll then having that option is
fine. Geoff Hurst, David Cross and John Hartson were also great in the air,
but played in good West Ham passing teams – the ball in the air was just one
option. Carroll can also take heart that both Hurst and Cross improved
immensely as all-round players during their time at West Ham.

Jacob Steinberg, the Guardian's West Ham correspondent, described the way
the team played, and Allardici's tactics, as thoroughly modern after the win
v Man City. He s right in terms of British football, although 4-3-2-1 has
been the main formation used in Argentina, and also often in Italy, Spain,
and Germany too, for the last 30 years. As Steinburg pointed out, at times,
it looks like the team is playing without strikers, such is the
interchanging, roaming, and pulling out wide of the front free. That's the
beauty of the system.

With three central midefielders behind him, the player at the point of the
diamond is not required to track back as much as midfielders in 4-4-2,
something which British fans have had problems understanding, or adjusting
too – the number 10 is the thinking player, the one who should be postioning
himself as an outlet when his team are not in possession, ready to receive
the ball when they regain it, in any space he sees opening up, rather than
thinking about defensive duties.

The problem with the defintion of the 'Number 10' position in England is
that, unlike other countries, British football vernacular has never had a
proper name for the role, mainly because the position never really existed
here until recently. Some pundits, wrongly in my opinión, refer to 2nd
strikers like Rooney or Sheringham as playing in the number 10 position, but
that's not what we're talking about here.

Abroad, it's a clearly defined role, the attacking midfielder, at the point
of the diamond, who playes in a free role. It got dubbed 'number 10' in
other countries because invariably those players, like Riquelme, Baggio,
Totti, Socrates, Zico, Zidane tended to wear that shirt, but there are
proper terms for the position abroad eg, 'Enganche' in Spanish,
'Trequartista' in Italian, which are as much part of their football parlance
as full back or centre forward.

One wonders how much English players like John Barnes and Chris Waddle were
held back, especially at international level, where they were pigeon-holed
as wingers, and instructed to stick to the flanks?

In 1991, England manager Graham Taylor said he had sat down with Barnes, and
was fascinated by his knowledge of international football. Barnes had
pointed out that all the most skillful and creative players at international
level operated from more central positions, so, as a result, Taylor tried
Barnes in the number 10 role for a friendly v USSR in May 91, but he
reverted back to 4-4-2 at half time, and never varied from it again,
claiming the rest of the team didn't understand what was required.

Waddle, as a radio pundit, has always been scathing in his criticisms of
English football, especially the national team. He found a new lease of
life, playing in the number 10 role at Marseille, and has been ranting away
about the inflexibility of British football, and British managers, ever
since.

No one could deny that Joe Cole's career hasn't been a success (Premier
league titles, Fa Cup and Carling Cup winners medals, 56 England caps), but
personally I think he was unlucky in that his main managers, at the peak of
his career, at both club and international level (Mourinho, Eriksson,
Hodgson, were all defensive-minded, who saw him as a left midfielder,
requiring him to change his natural game and track back. If Joe Cole had
been in Argentinian, he would have been give the number 10 shirt, and told
to dribble and roam wherever he sees fit. I still can't help feeling that
Joe Cole could have been an even greater player than he was.

(There's an article on Joe Cole by Sam Wallace in the Independent here, in
which Cole himself says he always felt his best position was in the centre).

Who wouldn't have liked to have been a fly on the wall, during those
discussions between Sam and the board back in May. I would have loved to
have heard the tactical debate; how they proposed to provide the fans with
more attacking and entertaining football this season, but I doubt there are
any of us who envisaged the result would be 4-3-1-2, with Downing at the
point of the diamond?

Whether it happened by plan or accident – I think the late signing of Song
on the last day of the transfer window, to add to Kayoute & Noble in central
midfield, providing a platform for the number 10 to perform, has facilitated
the system enormously – credit must be given to Sam Allardidi, that most
thoroughly sophisticated of modern managers.

And what a great signing Downing has turned out to be. A bargain for 5
million!

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Arsenal and Liverpool transfers: Winston Reid stays at West Ham unless I'm
offered £20m warns Allardyce
Dec 11, 2014 22:30 By Neil McLeman
Premier League heavyweights are being linked with defender set to be a free
agent next summer but Hammers boss insists they won't sell him cheap in
January
The Mirror

Sam Allardyce has claimed it will take a bid of £20million for West Ham to
sell Winston Reid in January. And Allardyce, the Hammers' manager, insisted
they would rather keep the Kiwi defender to help their unexpected bid for a
Champions League place than sell him on the cheap next month. Reid, 26,
joined the Upton Park club in 2010 and signed a two-year contract extension
in 2013 after winning their Hammer of the Year award. However, the New
Zealand captain is set to be out of contract next summer after declining to
sign a new deal and he has been linked with Arsenal, Manchester United and
Liverpool this season. But Allardyce, whose side sit fourth in the Premier
League after three consecutive wins, stated bluntly: "He ain't going
anywhere. "He is not going anywhere unless someone bids £20m or something
like that. There is obviously not a lot I can do about that. "If somebody
flirts around with a measly offer because he is in the last year of his
contract, we would make more money by keeping him and finishing where we are
in the league than selling him and putting our good season in jeopardy.
"Because replacing him in January - replacing anybody in January - is a very
difficult job indeed."

Reid, who has bizarrely finished runner-up to world champion woodchopper
Jason Wynyard in the Maori Sportsman of the Year Award voting, is a
first-team regular at Upton Park - and if he was to move to a club above
West Ham in the Premier League table then, as things stand, he'd only have
three options. "In the end, I just hope what is happening this season here
and what is happening with us now has a telling factor on the decision that
he makes and it is not just [about making more] money," Allardyce added. "I
just hope that the phone call is a yes when the chairman rings me up at some
stage. At the moment, it is neither a positive nor a negative. It is neither
a yes or a no from Reidie at the moment. "But it is today's football. It has
been on the news today that Raheem Sterling has been refusing to sign a new
contract with Liverpool. So, that happens in the world of football because
everybody want the big bucks, don't they? "If they don't think the big bucks
[they are already on] is good enough, they think they can get it somewhere
else, they will just wait now, they will just ride it out. That's life."

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Sam Allardyce urges West Ham to keep feet on the ground despite stunning
start to the season
Dec 11, 2014 11:59 By Neil McLeman
After Sunday's win over Swansea the Hammers are sitting fourth in the league
table but Allardyce isn't getting ahead of himself
The Mirror

Sam Allardyce has insisted West Ham's season should not be judged until
January. The Hammers sit fourth in the Premier League - above Arsenal and
Tottenam - after three consecutive wins. But the Irons boss, who aimed for a
top 10 finish at the start of the season. said he will not reassess the
club's targets for the season until after the busy Christmas period and the
African Nations' Cup. "We will change our aims at the end of January if we
are still in this position," he said. "That will be 20 games in and more
than half the games played.
"We we would have played everyone by Christmas and the New Year and we will
see what everyone has got in their locker and everyone will see how much we
have got in our locker. And a little worrying factor is the African Nations
Cup in January. That is why I won't be making any predictions until
January."

Alex Song, Diafra Sakho and Cheikh Kouyate could all be missing next month
on international duty. But before Saturday's visit to Sunderland, Allardyce
insisted Andy Carroll will only get better as he regains form and fitness
following his ankle ligament injury sustained in pre-season. The England
striker scored his first two goals of the season against Swansea on Sunday.
"I don't think he is as good as he can be yet," said the West Ham manager.
"He is coming back after a long layoff and he has just had a handful of
games back in the team. His performance and his goals will give him a
massive boost. "We are the joint third highest scorers in the Premier League
- let's keep that going."

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£4m West Ham summer target available for free; should Allardyce try again?
HITC
Olly Dawes

West Ham's summer target Ivan Strinic will soon be available on a free
transfer. Virtually all of West Ham's summer signings have impressed this
season, with great displays from the likes of Carl Jenkinson, Alex Song,
Cheikhou Kouyate, Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia.
Yet some fans may argue that Aaron Cresswell has been their best signing,
with the left back adjusting to the Premier League seamlessly since his move
from Ipswich Town. The 24-year-old should be West Ham's first choice left
back for years to come, but West Ham need to add depth and support behind
him - something that manager Sam Allardyce tried to do in the summer.
Reports just months ago suggested that the Hammers were close to securing a
£4m deal to sign Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk left back Ivan Strinic, but the move
fell apart late in July.
Now though, we're approaching the January transfer window, and with the
Hammers eyeing up a Champions League place, more spending could be granted
next month, and adding another left back could be something for Allardyce to
consider once again. However, West Ham could now land Strinic for nothing -
and here's why. The Croatian international will be out of contract at the
end of this season, meaning that the 27-year-old can sign a pre-contract
agreement when the transfer window opens again. If Allardyce was willing to
fork out £4m to land him less than six months ago, then the prospect of
adding him for free should be something that 'Big Sam' is interested in.
Napoli are also reportedly interested in adding Strinic for a knockdown
price, but the instability of manager Rafael Benitez means that a switch to
Italy could be risky - and West Ham are a club moving in the right
direction. Factor in that his former Croatia boss Slaven Bilic was a West
Ham hero, and maybe the former Hammer could help persuade Strinic to make
the move to Upton Park, keeping Cresswell on his toes in the process.

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No apologies…Afcon is a problem!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 11, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Earlier today ClaretandHugh nailed its colours to the mast and took plenty
of stick for doing so! Twas ever thus. We have always believed the African
Nations Cup is played at the wrong time of the year and some may argue that
given the ebola outbreak it may have been better to cancel or postpone it.
We are told it is now being played in a safe environment and all is well.
Let's pray so! West Ham face four games in nine days between the end of
December and early January after which Alex Song, Cheik Kouyate and Diafra
Sakho could be missing until February.

Sam Allardyce and the rest of the club believe our season could be derailed
by the event. It would be a super optimist who would disagree.
In our earlier piece on the subject we suggested that fans made their
feelings known whenever they met the players, wrote to them at the club or
even let them know from the terraces – via a chant – they would prefer them
to remain at Upton Park. This brought an "outraged" and "disgusted" reaction
from one kind soul who suggested I was either drunk when I wrote it or had
the mentality of a six year old who forgotten to hit the delete button. I
remain unapologetic despite arguments that the club knew what it was doing
when buying the Africans in a year when the tournament was being held. Err,
did anyone expect Sakho to be doing so ….!? I'm not a great lover of
international football at the best of times. Indeed I can't remember the
last time I watched England over 90 minutes. I do, however, love West Ham
United with a passion and care very much indeed how we perform for the rest
of the season in league and FA Cup. Sorry Senegal and Cameroon but I feel no
allegiance to you whatsoever.

Maybe I'm digging an even bigger hole for myself here but you know what – I
really don't care because even though my truth may be unpalatable to some,
it remains my truth. The injury suffered by Diafra on a Senegal treatment
table during his last trip on international duty was quite shocking and will
almost certainly mean our own medics will travel to the tournament with him
and Kouyate. Should the duo and Alex Song wish to represent their countries
they will and that's an end to the matter but please, let nobody start
claiming the moral high ground because some of us put our club before
countries with which we have no connection whatsoever. If the fans choose to
see the boys off in silence, no problem, but I for one believe this
tournament is ill timed and as a result tend to put my club first.

No apologies …no retractions!

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Hammers still paying huge Maiga price
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 11, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

West Ham are still paying a massive price for their Modibo Maiga nightmare!
The super-flop striker – who went AWOL from Metz when named as a sub for the
match against Marseilles at the weekend – is facing a disciplinary hearing
at the French club as a result. But as we reported this morning Hammers
officials claim there is no chance of him returning to Upton Park on the
basis of him having broken his contract. And we have discovered that Maiga's
move to Metz was of little help in offloading much of his £38k a week wages.
We were told that we are continuing to pay him £33k a week as Metz were only
prepared to put up £5k of the centre forward's weekly wage. He has managed
only four goals this season and has hardly made much of the shop window
offered to him after he was offered a pay off deal in the summer. However,
we were told the player wanted 100 per cent of the £38k a week for two years
– a total of around £3.6 million.

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