Hammers Help Spread Festive Cheer

Festive cheer arrived today at Whipps Cross Hospital when players from West Ham United paid a visit to patients and staff.

Captain Kevin Nolan led the way along with Andy Carroll, Jussi Jaaskelainen, Winston Reid, James Tomkins, Joey O'Brien, Matt Jarvis and Modibo Maiga in dropping into the Acorn children's ward at the Leytonstone hospital.

The players, all wearing Santa hats, gave out goody bags which contained footballs, scarves and other items and happily chatted with the young patients and their families. They also posed for photographs and signed autographs for the hard-working staff.

Skipper Nolan said he and the players were only too pleased to put some smiles on the faces of those having to spend time in hospital over Christmas.

"It means a lot to see them just smile and that us visiting has given them a boost," said the captain. "I am a dad myself so I can understand what the mums and dads are going through when they are by their children's bedsides and the concerns you have, so if we can give them something positive about by being here, then that is a great thing."

Nolan also had words of praise for the hospital staff: "I think what they do, the doctors and nurses and all the staff, is just fantastic. My wife was a nurse when we lived back in Liverpool, so I understand the work they put in. They were really pleased to see us, which is really nice, but we were only too pleased to be here."

A personal donation from all the players was presented by Nolan to the ward's modern matron Eileen Elms. The money will be used to benefit the patients and staff of the Acorn ward in a variety of ways both now and in the future.

Winger Jarvis said the players were more than happy to help out, adding: "To come here and just spend a moment means a lot to everyone and we were just as glad to be here. To show appreciation for the work the staff put in is important too and if we can help make it a little brighter for those in hospital, then that is a good thing."

The visit is just one of several the players will take part in during the season and the visit to a local hospital at Christmas time is an annual fixture in the team diary.

West Ham 3 Chelsea 1

To tell the truth, I was planning for a month long hiatus for Hammer Time and return after Christmas for the start of the January transfer window. However, after a result like this, I just couldn't miss this opportunity to express my emotions. I am currently feeling more proud than I have ever felt. More than when I received my GCSE results, more than whenever I have received a massive applause from an audience at the end of one of my plays, even more than the Play-Off Final at the end of last season, when Ricardo Vaz Te fired West Ham back into the Premier League with a last minute winner against Blackpool. This tops them all!

Now, I have to admit something to you. During my car journey on the way home yesterday, the result came on the radio. After about 5 minutes of the result being announced, I did something that I haven't done in a very long time. I had a little weep. I'm sure it is very difficult for anybody who isn't a football fan (and most football fans to be honest) to believe that someone can get so emotional over a football team. 'It's only a game?' 'Teams win and lose every week!' 'Why should you care so much?' Maybe that's the special thing about West Ham. We've had our highs and lows, but this club and its fans are special and we will remain loyal and proud, no matter what.

In one of the hottest games of the season so far, the Hammers came from behind to beat Chelsea 3-1 at Upton Park, the first time that West Ham have beaten Chelsea since Paulo Di Canio scored the winning goals back in 2002 (http://domryder.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/matches-of-past-part-2.html). Juan Mata opened the scoring for Chelsea in the 13th minute, after a strong attack found a gap in the West Ham defence and gave Mata the chance to slide the ball into the bottom corner of the net. From then on it was all Chelsea in the first half. However, no matter how many chances they created, the Blues strike force of Moses, Torres, Mata and Hazard couldn't find the back of the net for a second time, helped along the way by some fantastic saves from Jussi Jaaskelainen. The only clear chance for West Ham came late on, when a cross in from Matt Jarvis found the head of James Collins who played it down for Kevin Nolan to bicycle kick it into the bottom corner, only for it to be disallowed after referee Martin Atkinson stated that a slight shove on Ivanovic from Collins was worthy enough of a foul, a decision that commentators and analysts alike disagreed with.

However, in the second half, West Ham turned the game on its head. After two half time substitutions of Mohamed Diame and Matt Taylor, the Hammers completely changed round, becoming much more attacking and creating many more chances. It wasn't long before a deflected Jarvis cross found the head of Carlton Cole who could neatly turn it in for the equaliser. Many said that Cole should have been penalised for climbing on Ivanovic in the build-up to the goal, but in the end it was dividends for the decision that went against Collins in the first half. From this point on, the game became very even, with both sides coming very close to scoring. Most notably a Winston Reid header being cleared off the line by Ashley Cole and a Mata free-kick hitting the post. However, in the 85th minute, Diame struck with a bullet shot on the edge of the box with the assist coming from Cole, and the Boleyn Ground erupted! Into stoppage time, a mistake by Ashley Cole after some fantastic pressure from Diame gave Modibo Maiga the ball who played it through to Taylor, only to have his shot saved by Cech and Maiga to put in the rebound and finish off a crushing defeat of Chelsea. 

In the end, it was our dominance in midfield that secured us the victory. After, Diame came on at half-time, he and Noble completely dominated the midfield not giving the main-man Mata any space to run with the ball or create any chances. Diame's fantastic tackling, passing, pressurising and prowess on the ball when going forward was the key to the win, as well as Matt Taylor's brilliant box-to-box play, strong in defence and incredibly dangerous in attack. This win was also helped by the return to form of Carlton Cole. The big man hardly put a foot wrong in this game, constantly winning aerial challenges, successfully completing headers to team mates and holding the ball up giving his midfielders the chance to press forward. He deserved his first Premier League goal of the season and was made man of the match by the sponsors which was announced just before the end. Our second-half rock solid defence was also vital in this victory, giving Chelsea no chances to run forward and get into the box. Jaaskelainen must also be praised for some outstanding saves.

This is probably the greatest victory I have ever witnessed in my days of watching West Ham, not just because of the result, but of what it symbolises. A team that last year was losing 1-0 to Bristol City is now beating the champions of Europe 3-1. A team that at times last year found it almost impossible to win at home has now made Upton Park a fortress and a rock solid one too that is incredibly difficult for any team to penetrate. A team that last year was worrying about Play-Off places in the Championship is now aiming for a strong top ten finish in the Premiership. And in the end, the praise has to go to Sam Allardyce. He has completely changed around this clubs fortunes and he deserves all the congratulations that he receives. Tonight, I can safely say, that I am one happy Hammer!

West Ham: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Collins, Reid, O'Brien, Tomkins (Diame 45), Noble, O'Neil (Taylor 45), Nolan, Jarvis, Cole (Maiga 85).

West Ham Express Interest in Beckham

I mentioned last week about Sam Allardyce's ability to get older players performing like they did at their peak, and some targets that Big Sam has singled out: Nicolas Anelka, Joe Cole, Rio Ferdinand. Well it seems that West Ham co-owners, David Gold and David Sullivan have found another.

After expressing his desire to leave LA Galaxy and the MLS for one last challenge in his career,   many possible suitors have come forward and shown an interest in signing the 37 year-old England legend, David Beckham. Although he rejected any possibility of signing for a club in Australia, Melbourne Hearts are apparently considering a bid, as well as teams from China, Paris Saint German from France and Queens Park Rangers. Amongst all these, West Ham could also be lining up an offer to the right-winger. 

So where is he most likely to go. 

Despite the fact that Melbourne Hearts have expressed an interest in him and Australian football has a track record of offering good money to over-the-hill superstars (such as Dwight York, Robbie Fowler, Emile Heskey and Alessandro Del Piero), sources close to Beckham have already stated that he has no interest of travelling down-under, although that doesn't necessarily mean that a move can be completely ruled out.

One offer that has been made from China stands to see the ex-Manchester United player earn more than £1 million-a-month, which would be hard for anybody to turn down. However, players such as Anelka and Didier Drogba who have had unpleasant experiences there and express desires to return to the Premier League may persuade Beckham not to go in for the cash.

At PSG, Beckham could have the chance to win league titles, European cups and play with some of the best players on the continent. However, with Beckham's age against him and an already prolific squad, he would definitely find it difficult to get a game, let alone play in the starting XI. Most likely it would mirror Owen Hargreaves' move to Manchester City in which he made little to no appearances and spent a season in the reserves, which I am certain Beckham does not want.

And then there's the Premier League. Beckham does have the opportunity to go to QPR, a team who are on the brink of relegation after making one of the worst starts in Premiership history, under a manager who could be sacked any day now. 

Or he could come back to East London, the place he grew up in and join the Hammers, a newly promoted side who are 7th in the league and in complete contrast to QPR, are making one of the best starts to a Premiership season that the club has ever seen.

I don't care if I'm the only West Ham fan on the planet who has this opinion, but I think it would be a fantastic move for the club. Not only can his connections with the Olympic committee help us in our bid for the Olympic stadium, but his profile as a crowd-pleaser may be enough to fill it as well. As I have mentioned he may be a perfect player for Allardyce's managerial style, and if we look at how we played against Stoke on Monday, a lack of quality on the wing's due to injury was a major problem, an issue that Beckham could put right. I believe he would be a great asset to the club and it would be a perfect way to finish his career, playing in claret-and-blue at Upton Park.

West Ham 1 Stoke City 1

It seems that my good friend Jamie Davies has once again made a perfect prediction ...wait, let me correct that ... has for the first time made a perfect prediction. In a game of two halves, the points were shared at the Boleyn Ground last night as a dangerous West Ham attack were halted by a resilient Stoke City defence. 

A well worked goal by Stoke's Jonathan Walters in the first 13 minutes from a corner (that of which I'm pretty sure made Gary Neville pee himself when he saw it by the way he kept going on and on about it) helped the Potters keep most of the momentum in the first half, and were unlucky not to score again from a fantastic Steven N'Zonzi strike that rattled the bar.

West Ham however came out into the second half a completely different team, and leveled the scores within 3 minutes of the restart through full-back Joey O'Brien. The Hammers threw everything they had at Stoke and had many chances to take the lead, most notably from a Gary O'Neil shot that flew across the face of goal, narrowly missing the post by literally centimetres. But thanks to a solid defence, lead by Shawcross and Huth, and some fantastic goalkeeping by Begovic, Stoke just managed to scrape a point.

So why didn't West Ham take all three points. There are mainly 5 reasons for this.

1) Injuries. In my opinion, we were at a disadvantage before the start of the game, when the line-ups were announced and Matt Jarvis and Yossi Benayoun were unable to play through injury, with Modibo Maiga and Gary O'Neil replacing them on the wing. This probably wasn't the best time for these two players to make their first Premier League starts for the club. Early on, Jarvis' absence became very obvious as neither player could really put in that dangerous cross into the box that he is renowned for. Both players also lacked the pace of Jarvis and Benayoun, and were constantly requiring the full-backs to make their runs and crosses for them or even to let one of the midfielders do it. 

2) The long ball. I am not a West Ham fan that is constantly complaining or moaning about the long ball style of play that Sam Allardyce is constantly being criticised for. In fact I am the exact opposite. I know that this tactic can be effective, and if we get the results then I don't really care how we get them. However, last night the quality of the long ball's into Andy Carroll were very poor, and seemed very easy for Shawcross or Huth to clear. They were constantly on a difficult line and length for our attackers to collect, and all our momentum seemed to simply disappear whenever one was attempted and failed. As well as this, our set plays were totally ineffective. A total of 12 corners led to absolutely nothing and although set plays are usually when we are at our strongest in attack, the Stoke defence didn't seemed troubled by them at all.

3) Substitutions. Throughout the whole of the second half, the name that I was constantly asking Allardyce to bring on was Matt Taylor. Maiga was struggling on the left wing, and a fresh set of legs could have helped put on the pressure to the Stoke full-backs. He did make this substitute eventually, however it was made only three minutes before the end and was therefore completely ineffective. I was also disappointed by his decision to replace Carroll with Carlton Cole at the same time. Big Andy looked determined throughout the whole game to score his first West Ham goal and gave a look of total despair to Allardyce when he was brought off for a player who has no great pace, is constantly pulled up for fouls from aerial duels (unlike Carroll) and is more inconsistent than the size of Katy Price's bra. 

4) Chris Foy. Soon, I'll be writing an article about referee's so make sure you check that out when it's done. But for now, I'd like to complain about referee Chris Foy. In the lead up to the Stoke goal, there was clearly an obstruction on George McCartney by Charlie Adam to make sure he was unable to follow his marker Walters. This was not spotted by the referee and meant that the goal stood, practically ruining are first half mentality. Also, it seems to me that referees do not call fouls for pulling on shirts or grabbing players around the waist in the penalty area. West Ham had three or four free-kick and penalty shouts that according to the laws of the game were legitimate and should have been awarded. However, referees these days are so weak willed that they are too scared to award these for fear of seeming biased for or against one team or many others reasons I'm sure.

5) Lack of clinical finishing. Unfortunately, we do not have a player like Hernandez or Torres or Van Persie, and last night that was clear. We lacked the clinical finish that was needed to secure the victory, and although we do have Kevin Nolan, he is ultimately a midfielder, not a striker. Begovic should be praised for his goalkeeping skills, but if we had been more clinical, we could have won by about three or four. It is vital that we buy a player in January that can help us with this issue and get Vaz Te back in the team as quickly as possible.

Ultimately a disappointing night for us, but credit has to be given to a solid Stoke defence that kept us out very well (it's well worth mentioning that Peter Crouch made more touches in his own penalty area than in ours!). A tough fixture list lies ahead for West Ham: Tottenham (a), Manchester United (a), Chelsea (h), Liverpool (h), West Brom (a), Everton (h). If an aim of five points from those six games is reached then I believe we should be very pleased with ourselves and the start to this Premier League season that we have made.

Transfer Rumours

Throughout his career, Sam Allardyce is known for signing ageing players and turning their careers around, to help them play with the form that they showed at their peak (Jay Jay Okocha,  Ivan Campo, Gary Speed, Fernando Hierro etc.). Well it looks like he may want to do exactly the same with French striker Nicolas Anelka. The veteran attacker, who has played for Arsenal, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea and Bolton (under Allardyce) in his successful career, is currently very unsettled at Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua despite being paid £250,000 per week. Maybe Big Sam will hope that his previous relationship with Anelka will smooth a deal for the striker in January, despite him obviously having to take a very large wage's cut.

Allardyce may also be giving a lifeline to Liverpool-flop Joe Cole by returning to his boyhood club of which he was captain for a short time. Reds Manager Brendan Rodgers has lost complete faith of the 30 year-old midfielder after publicly criticizing his performance against Swansea in the League Cup. Despite Cole enjoying a season long loan spell at Lille last year, making 42 appearances in all competitions and helping Rudi Garcia’s side to secure a Champions League place, he has failed to deliver for Liverpool, playing only 32 minutes of Premier League football so far this season. A loan deal would probably be the most likely option for Cole in January.

Allardyce has also presented ex-Hammer Rio Ferdinand with the chance to return to his old club after the Manchester United defender announced that he was unsure whether he wanted to renew his contract which expires at the end of the year or retire from professional football. A third option of a return to Upton Park, either as a free agent in the summer or a transfer in January, may be a big possibilty for the 34 year-old. 

In my opinion, I have no doubt that Allardyce could bring any of these talented men to East London and provide them with a renaissance of their previous best in the twilight of their careers. However I do have one pretty large concern. Wages! I strongly doubt West Ham could pay for any of these players wages and I really can't see Anelka taking a huge cut to the deal he currently has in China or Ferdinand, who could play for United and recieve the same amount of money and still most likely play most weeks, to come play for us. Joe Cole may be a possibility, but I sure as hell don't want to see any of our current midfielders like Noble, Nolan, Diame or Jarvis making way for a veteran Hammer who may or may not perform well.

In January, I would most like to see Allardyce concentrating on giving Yossi Benayoun a permanent contract at the club, possibly Andy Carroll too if that is possible. After that I would like to see him bring in another defender and striker. We only narrowly avoided a major defensive crisis against Newcastle, as it was unclear until the very last minute if Tomkins, Demel or Collins would be able to play. If neither of them had been available, we would have had to make do with an inexperienced youth team member such as Jordan Spence or Dan Potts, or play with only three at the back, which I know isn't an option for Big Sam. Also, it would be nice to have another reserve striker waiting in the wings just in case Andy Carroll gets injured or returns to Liverpool. For me, a move for the young Dutch striker Luc Caistagnos or maybe even Irish full-back Seamus Coleman from Everton could be positive signings for us in January to help us progress and try and solidify a top 10 finish.

Newcastle 0 West Ham 1

If his sacking as Newcastle manager still counts as the blackest stain on his CV, then Sam Allardyce has taken a substantial measure of well-chilled revenge. This was his second journey back to Tyneside since the day he made way for the brief and very unmessianic second coming of Kevin Keegan. On both occasions he has left with three points.

Former skipper Kevin Nolan returned to haunt his old club as West Ham United condemned Newcastle United to a first defeat in six games.

Nolan's 39th-minute strike, so typical of the goals he once scored for the Magpies, was enough to edge a tight encounter in which the Hammers enjoyed the better of the first half but had to survive a stern examination after the break.

Newcastle were once again far from their best, but did create more than enough chances to get something out of the game and would have done but for some poor finishing and the resilience of goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, who produced fine saves from Demba Ba and Hatem Ben Arfa.

Andy Carroll was prevented from opening his West Ham account with the visitors constantly threatening on the counter-attack. After exchanging passes with Nolan, Carroll's side-footed shot was saved one-handed by Magpies keeper Tim Krul.

"Andy Carroll is disappointed he didn't score but it was a really good save," said Allardyce. "He wants to get off the mark with that goal but he's our target man and that partnership with Nolan is outstanding.

"That's five Nolan has in 11 games. He gets the attacks flowing and reads the situation brilliantly in the box - he always seems to be in the right place at the right time."

West Ham's latest victory came in spite of losing three players - Matt Jarvis, Yossi Benayoun and George McCartney - to injury during the match. Allardyce said McCartney's groin problem was the most serious of the three, but expects to have all three fit for their home fixture against Stoke on 19 November.

With this win, West Ham are now 6th in the league, above teams such as Arsenal and Tottenham, and only two points away from the top four and a Champions league spot. Although it is slightly unlikely, for me and everyone else associated with the Hammers, it would be a dream-come-true return to the Premier League if we were able to stay there until the end of the season.

I believe that this victory will be looked on as one of the most important of the campaign for us. Not only is this a win against a side that are currently competing in Europe and had a Champions League spot in the palm of their hands at the end of last year, but this is also only our second win away from home (and arguably a much more difficult meeting than the 2-1 win over QPR). Not only can we be pleased with our rock solid defence and in-form goalkeeper keeping a second clean sheet in a row, but our attack is also constantly causing problems for some of the best teams in the league. 

I believe we have to put this down to the fantastic work that Big Sam has done since coming to the club. It all started when he made his intentions at the club clear by making his first signing for West Ham last year, Kevin Nolan from Newcastle. Ever since, this team has gone from strength to strength under his leadership and I am in no doubt that there is lots more to come.

West Ham: Jaaskelainen, O’Brien, Reid, Tomkins, McCartney (Demel 66), Noble, Diame, Benayoun (O'Neil 52), Nolan, Jarvis (Maiga 34), Carroll.

Newcastle vs West Ham Preview

It’ll be a case of friends reunited at St James’ Park as bosses Alan Pardew and Sam Allardyce both come up against their former employer. Pardew has further fuelled the fire ahead of what is an already fiesty-looking fixture by admitting that he’d love to bring West Ham loanee Andy Carroll back to the North East when his spell in East London is up.

Carroll is one of two players sold by Pardew – the other being former Toon skipper Kevin Nolan – who could return to haunt the London-born Newcastle boss but the Magpies have undoubtedly improved vastly since both have left under the former Hammer's manager. 

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce admits he nearly quit the game when he was sacked by Newcastle owner Mike Ashley, but reckons football is a “drug” he needs in his life.

Both sides are struggling defensively, which could mean plenty of goals at St James' Park. West Ham wait on fitness tests for James Collins and James Tomkins, while Newcastle are without the suspended duo of Fabricio Coloccini and Cheik Tioté, Newcastle's two key defensive players.

Their absence gives a boost to the visitors' physical approach, which has not been particularly successful away from home; a 2-1 victory at QPR is their only away success to date. 

And the fact Newcastle enter the match after a tough fixture on Thursday against Club Brugge, where they drew 2-2, only enhances the visitors' chances.

Also in the team news, Mike Williamson, who was withdrawn early from the 2-2 draw at the Jan Breydel Stadion, will start alongside Steven Taylor, who replaced him, in central defence, while Jonas Gutierrez, Hatem Ben Arfa and Demba Ba are likely to return. Full-back Danny Simpson remains a doubt with a shoulder problem.

If Tomkins and Collins are both deemed unfit to play for the Hammers, Winston Reid will be the only first-team centre-back available, however he could be joined by either of the two young reserve team defenders, Jordan Spence or Dan Potts. Matt Taylor may also be available after recovering from a calf injury. Fullback Guy Demel has returned to training following a hernia problem but Ricardo Vaz Te, Jack Collison and Alou Diarra remain sidelined.

Likely West Ham first 11: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, Reid, Collins, McCartney, Diame, Noble, Benayoun, Nolan, Jarvis, Carroll.

My Prediction: The return to St. James' Park will more than likely be a boost on the pitch for Carroll and Nolan (and the fact that Carroll still hasn't scored in claret and blue yet), as well as off the pitch for Big Sam. The recent good form of wingers Yossi Benayoun and Matt Jarvis will also prove vital for the West Ham attack, but if Collins and Tomkins do not pull through their tests, there could be some major defensive problems at the back for the Hammers. However, a depleted Newcastle side could struggle against a much more physical and powerful West Ham midfield.

Newcastle 1 West Ham 1