To the 6,300 fans who made it to the Ricoh Arena this afternoon – the 12th man! Well done!
Daily Archives: November 19, 2011
BIG SAM BANG ON TARGET
Sam Allardyce: Feels West Ham are on target
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce believes the Hammers are on target for an automatic promotion spot after their win at Coventry.
Allardyce could point to his double substitution as a turning point in the win, but his side had to rely on a huge slice of luck to pick up another three points on the road.
City were much the better team in the first half and held a deserved lead going into the break thanks to Clive Platt’s sweet shot on the turn after a good move.
But Allardyce sent on Carlton Cole and Freddie Piquionne and they scored a goal apiece to turn the result on its head after Abdoulaye Faye was lucky to escape a red card after kicking out at Lukas Jutkiewicz off the ball.
Cole’s goal in the 69th minute was deflected past Coventry keeper Joe Murphy and Piquionne knew very little, with the ball bouncing off him as he lay on the ground and into the net after it hit defender Cyrus Christie.
Allardyce said: “We changed it round at half time and I told the players that they were attacking the end where we had 6,500 fans who had travelled all the way to support us and we’d not played well enough to get them behind us.
“We changed the system and once we got Freddie Piquionne and Carlton Cole on, it was then that the game changed in our favour. For me, it was only a matter of time before we started to score goals.
“I can call myself the master tactician! It’s another valuable three points towards our target and for only the second time we are exactly where we want to be which is 34 points after 17 games.
“Two points a game is going to get you automatic promotion and we are right on the brink of our busiest period with no more international breaks and we are getting the squad fit again.”
Coventry manager Andy Thorn said: “I thought we acquitted ourselves really well, played some really good stuff. I thought everybody was a credit.
“The first goal we felt was a foul on Keogh but we didn’t get much all afternoon so that I didn’t expect to get that. The second goal we should deal with but it came from a ricochet and that’s our luck at the moment.
“When you are bringing Carlton Cole and Piquionne off the bench, it gives you a good armoury but I can’t fault my players because I thought we stuck to our principles, mixed it up and played some good stuff but it wasn’t to be.
“I am sure the neutral would say we deserved something from the game. People who aren’t here will see another defeat but we are trying to play the right way and we have to keep going and the big man upstairs has got to give me an ace some time soon.”
England pair Carlton Cole and Robert Green play key part in helping West Ham United to win at Coventry City
West Ham’s travelling army of more than 6,300 fans got the result they wanted as the Hammers came from behind to win 2-1 at Coventry City and open up a three-point gap over the play-off places.
Sam Allardyce’s men struggled to create chances in the opening period and fell behind in the 33rd minute when Clive Platt was allowed the space in the area to turn and fire a left-footed shot past the helpless Robert Green.
Although he didn’t score in the 2-0 victory at Hull City a fortnight ago, the introduction of Carlton Cole at half-time was key to the victory – and that was again the case at the Ricoh Arena.
The England striker, who replaced John Carew, levelled after 69 minutes, although much of the credit went to his keeper.
Having collected a cross, Green quickly saw Coventry were short of numbers at the back and his long pass was latched onto by Cole, who held off his man as he made his way into the area before firing home.
And six minutes later, West Ham were in front – although there was an element of good fortune about what turned out to be the winner.
Julien Faubert collected the ball on the right and struck a diagonal ball beyond the Sky Blues’ rearguard and Frederic Piquionne attacked the ball, but stumbled, but it seemed to strike him on the knee and went in.
Posted on Saturday, 19th November 2011 by FFC
There have been plenty of highs and lows at Upton Park over the past ten years or so, with managers and players coming in and out on a yearly basis have made it extremely difficult for consistency and stability for the Hammers fans. A second spell in the Championship in the space of 7 years for West Ham has made the supporters more passionate and loyal than ever.
Areas of the media and rival supporters brand Hammers fans hard to please and fickle, something that is an understandable opinion but they will find it hard to back the statement up. With the farce that has been the running of the club since the Icelandic group took over in 2006, it has been tough to watch at Upton Park, but the clubs’ fans have never turned their back on their side and turn up week in week out.
This season has been a prime example of the support that is one of the best in country. The East-End club do not have the biggest stadium in the Championship but do have the highest attendances in the league. For a club that has been relegated after a dismal show last season that takes loyalty to consistently turn up each week and get behind your team. Away from home it is a similar story that has been the real positive from relegation in my opinion.
West Ham will consistently sell out their away end at opposition’s stadiums but this season has seen the club take that to another level. Once the allocation is sold out, the co-chairman applies for more tickets and that is something that the poorly supported clubs with bigger grounds are more than happy to accept.
For example a record breaking 6,800 Hammers will be at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday for the league visit to Coventry after there were 5,000 at Hull a week ago. The club have confirmed that the 4,700 tickets available for Reading away in two weeks time have also been snapped up, emphasising the terrific support this season for the promotion favourites.
Newcastle United had a similar situation when they were in the Championship a few years ago, going on to become a strong Premier League force once again and that is the long term aim for West Ham. For a team in the Championship to be supported as well as the Hammers have been this season is remarkable and people questioning their loyalty should rethink that.
The majority of supporters I have spoken to are fully behind Sam Allardyce and the owners; despite what the press may tell you; and with the club sitting second in the Championship table, there are reasons for optimism for all Hammers fans and it is the start of something special at Upton Park with everyone singing from the same hymn sheet once again.
West Ham to be home AND away – Big Sam
Sam Allardyce has predicted travelling West Ham fans will take over Coventry’s Ricoh Arena today.
And the Hammers boss has called on his players to do the same on the pitch.
The Irons will take 6,263 fans up the M1 – their biggest away support since dropping into the Championship in May.
“We will no doubt be in charge of the atmosphere,” said Big Sam. “But we have got to give the fans something to shout about first.
“Many teams generate very good support when they are playing in the Premier League but don’t quite generate the same support in the Championship.
“We seem to be getting bigger and we are doing pretty well [away from home] – five wins, two draws and one defeat.”
Bron: Mirror Footbal
Hammers get double boost
Joey O’Brien and Guy Demel will boost West Ham’s injury-hit squad when they travel to Coventry.
O’Brien missed the 2-0 win at Hull a fortnight ago with a hamstring injury but was able to resume training this week.
Fellow full-back Demel is finally pushing to make his debut having been struggling with a hamstring problem since joining from Hamburg in August.
The Ivory Coast international has played in two reserve matches over the past couple of weeks to prove his fitness.
Midfielder Matt Taylor is also close to returning from a calf injury and will be checked over.
But the Hammers are still without defender Winston Reid (shoulder), winger Gary O’Neil (ankle) and on-loan midfield duo Henri Lansbury and David Bentley (both knee).
Pavon slaat korte termijn deal af
Francisco Pavon, De beoogde versterking van Big Sam, heeft nee gezegd tegen een korte verbintenis tot en met januari
West Ham wil hem nog geen langer contract aanbieden dan januari vanwege z’n fysieke gesteldheid. Francisco heeft echter nee gezegd.
Pavon traint al een x aantal dagen mee. En Big Sam is erg onder de indruk maar omdat hij nog geen 1 wedstrijd heeft gespeeld wil hij de gok op een langere verbintenis niet wagen.
Misschien dat dit nog verandert aangezien we dringend een centrale verdediger nodig hebben.
Francisco Pavon in betere tijden
The Dutch Hammers 