Best XIs from the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1, plus analysis of the Premier League’s top four Continue reading…
Posted on 09 December 2014.
Best XIs from the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1, plus analysis of the Premier League’s top four Continue reading…
Posted in Guardian.co.ukComments Off on Will West Ham or Southampton finish in the top four of the Premier League?
Posted on 08 December 2014.
• Striker scored two against Swansea after Bony’s opener • Allardyce had been watching Ivorian striker at Vitesse • Andy Carroll’s headed double powers West Ham to victory Andy Carroll believes he has vindicated Sam Allardyce’s decision to sign him rather than Wilfried Bony last summer after his contribution to West Ham’s victory against Swansea City on Sunday. The striker scored two towering headers to drive his side to their third win…
Posted in Guardian.co.ukComments Off on Andy Carroll tells Sam Allardyce there was no need for Wilfried Bony
Posted on 07 December 2014.
• Andy Carroll close to his best, Allardyce says • Manager hints at negotiations over new contract • Match report: West Ham 3-1 Swansea City Sam Allardyce was thrilled to witness a performance from Andy Carroll which he rated among the striker’s most accomplished in the colours of West Ham. Carroll scored two towering headers against Swansea City to propel his side towards their third win in eight days and up to third …
Posted in Guardian.co.ukComments Off on Sam Allardyce raves about his strikers after West Ham defeat Swansea
Posted on 07 December 2014.
Allardyce happily admits he’s a reactive manager and against Swansea crosses to Andy Carroll’s head made perfect sense • Match report: West Ham 3-1 Swansea City West Ham United have undergone a significant stylistic shift since last season. Whereas 2013-14 was about long balls and crosses, this season West Ham have retained the ball for longer periods in midfield and placated supporters who had complained about Sam Allardyce’s rudimentary tactics. Their approach for the 3-1 victory over Swansea was a …
Posted in Guardian.co.ukComments Off on West Ham’s aerial bombardment shows Sam Allardyce’s tactical savvy | Michael Cox
Posted on 05 December 2014.
In different times any manager who admitted signing Andy Carroll instead of Wilfried Bony could expect severe criticism, but West Ham are having too much fun to care Sam Allardyce said that it had been an either/or choice in the summer of 2013. Either he brought Andy Carroll to West Ham United on a permanent transfer from Liverpool or he signed Wilfried Bony from Vitesse Arnhem. He chose the former and Swansea City took Bony. As Allardyce prepares to welcome Bony…
Posted in Guardian.co.ukComments Off on Sam Allardyce’s revelations reveal confidence flowing at West Ham United
Posted on 05 December 2014.
• Sam Allardyce does not trust Senegal’s medical team • Player last returned from international duties injured • ‘I signed Andy Carroll instead of Wilfried Bony’ Sam Allardyce says he does not trust Senegal’s medical team to look after Diafra Sakho properly during the Africa Cup of Nations . The West Ham United manager remains furious at how Sakho returned from international duty in November with a back and neck injury, which Allardyce said was…
Posted in Guardian.co.ukComments Off on West Ham fearful over Diafra Sakho in Africa Cup of Nations
Posted on 05 December 2014.
Neither of these sides were considered likely contenders for the European places back in August but they kick off on Sunday in fifth and seventh places respectively and are showing few signs of strain. Both clubs acted shrewdly in the summer – there haven’t proved to be too many better bargains than Gylfi Sigurdsson and Alex Song – and will be looking to do so again next month. Paul Chronnell Kick-off Sunday 1.30pm Continue reading…
Posted in Guardian.co.ukComments Off on West Ham United v Swansea City: match preview
Posted on 05 December 2014.
• Allardyce was tracking Ivory Coast striker in 2013 • ‘It was one or the other. It couldn’t be both’ • Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend Sam Allardyce passed up the opportunity to sign Wilfried Bony for West Ham United, buying Andy Carroll instead. Allardyce revealed he had been scouting Bony when the Ivory Coast international was in prolific form at the Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem in 2013 but a move …
Posted in Guardian.co.ukComments Off on Sam Allardyce: I signed Andy Carroll for West Ham instead of Wilfried Bony
Posted on 02 December 2014.
The last time West Ham United were at the Hawthorns, their fans were baying for Sam Allardyce’s head; on Tuesday night they were chanting about winning the league. Such is the fickle nature of football but, after recovering from going behind to embellish their best start to a Premier League season with goals from Kevin Nolan and James Tomkins, the West Ham manager could bask in the relative glory of his team staying fifth in the table, a point outside the …
Posted in Guardian.co.ukComments Off on West Bromwich Albion 1-2 West Ham United | Premier League match report
Posted on 29 November 2014.
The Goodison faithful found the manager difficult to love even when he was winning trophies but he deserves to be remembered and held in higher regard Look closely and you will find the little blue and white plaque on the side of the Goodison Road stand. Nothing too fancy, but at least Everton have something small to mark Harry Catterick, even if they did take their time. The first set of 11 “Everton Greats” plaques was put…
Posted in Guardian.co.ukComments Off on Everton’s Harry Catterick is the forgotten great of British managers
Posted on 29 November 2014.
If you cannot be good, be lucky. For long spells, West Ham searched in vain for inspiration as they tried to find a way past Newcastle United’s defence and end a run of three matches without a win. There were crosses, runs and set pieces but nothing was working. So, instead, they settled for a fluke, their victory secured when Cheikhou Kouyaté’s scuffed shot somehow reached Aaron Cresswell, who scored his …
Posted in Guardian.co.ukComments Off on West Ham 1-0 Newcastle | Premier League match report
Posted on 28 November 2014.
Sam Allardyce and Alan Pardew have both had their detractors but now West Ham and Newcastle are sixth and fifth in the league respectively. Life has rarely been this good and Pardew’s Newcastle will arrive at Upton Park in a confident mood after winning their past five matches. Allardyce reckons that only Chelsea would provide a bigger test at the moment, so he will be pleased to have Stewart Downing available again after he missed West Ham’s defeat…
Posted in Guardian.co.ukComments Off on West Ham United v Newcastle United: match preview
Posted on 26 November 2014.
• Tackle by Everton’s James McCarthy sparked confrontation • Clubs have until 1 December to respond to charge • Everton manager Roberto Martínez defends Dave Whelan Everton and West Ham have been charged by the FA for “failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion” during Saturday’s game at Goodison Park . There was a melee after Everton’s James McCarthy tackled Morgan Amalfitano, with West Ham players confronting the Republic
Posted in Guardian.co.ukComments Off on Everton and West Ham charged by FA over Goodison Park melee
Posted on 23 November 2014.
• Everton manager defends his former boss at Wigan • Martínez’s forwards worth more than sum of their parts • Evergreen Osman secures victory on landmark occasion Roberto Martínez has a capacity to see the best in everyone and that certainly extends to the man who launched his career in English football and gave him the chance to manage in the Premier League. The Wigan owner, Dave Whelan, has vowed to resign as the Championship club’s chairman if the Football Association punishes…
Posted in Guardian.co.ukComments Off on Roberto Martínez living by his values as Everton see off West Ham United
Posted on 21 November 2014.
Everton are 10th in the Premier League after nearly a third of the season but their manager insists he is ‘happy with where we are’ Roberto Martínez, like any manager in his position, was never going to concede Roy Keane was right and that he had indeed “pressured” Everton’s Irish contingent to swerve the occasional flight to Dublin . But the thought must have occurred. The bar has been raised for Everton this season and James McCarthy plus Séamus Coleman are among…
Posted in Guardian.co.ukComments Off on Roberto Martínez happy despite Everton’s slow start to the season | Andy Hunter
Posted on 12 November 2014.
The England team should showcase the best that England has to offer, for better or for worse, and that includes the manager Sam Allardyce named manager of the month for October One of the more disagreeable aspects of these tiresome international breaks is the way the news void gets filled up with the same old stories. If it is November there must be a poppy angle, for instance, whether it is James McCleans reasonable disinclination to wear one or Fifas…
Posted in Guardian.co.ukComments Off on Sam Allardyce should have been offered the England managers job by now | Paul Wilson
Posted on 11 November 2014.
While big names grab the headlines, a host of players have escaped front-page attention but are key to their sides fortunes 10 talking points from last weekends action Congratulations Diego Costa, Nemanja Matic, Sergio Agüero, Graziano Pellè and all the other headline-making acts in the Premier League this season youre flying. Keep up the good work. But what of the unsung talents, those who have been over-shadowed by more prominent names…
Posted in Guardian.co.ukComments Off on From José Fonte to Mame Biram Diouf: 10 unsung Premier League heroes | Andy Hunter
Posted on 10 November 2014.
Teams like Southampton, Stoke, Swansea and West Ham have highlighted the value of building teams over signing stars Well, that went quickly. With the Premier League season 11 matches old and parked within the natural hiatus of a two-game international break, it is just about possible with all due caveats and boilerplate bandwagon-avoidance clauses to pick out some of the dominant rhythms so far. It is of course an indication of the feudal nature …
Posted in Guardian.co.ukComments Off on Good housekeeping benefits Premier Leagues unexpected high flyers | Barney Ronay
Posted on 10 November 2014.
Not guilty verdict recorded at Manchester crown court Morrison will stand trial at the same court on 26 January The West Ham midfielder Ravel Morrison has been cleared of threatening to throw acid in the face of his ex-girlfriend and have her killed. The 21-year-old, currently on loan at Cardiff, was said to have harassed Reah Mansoor over a four-year period but on Monday the Crown Prosecution Service formally withdrew the allegation. Continue reading…
Posted in Guardian.co.ukComments Off on Ravel Morrison cleared of threatening to throw acid at ex-girlfriend
Posted on 09 November 2014.
We must not think he is ready, which he will do. All players do Manager says bizarre Christmas period will test in-form team Aston Villa end six-game losing streak It can often be a source of head-scratching. What is the point of attacking substitutions in stoppage time? The West Ham United crowd were delighted to see Andy Carroll enter the fray at the very end for sentimental reasons; it was the centre-…
Posted in Guardian.co.ukComments Off on West Hams Sam Allardyce will not take risks after Andy Carroll return
Posted on 07 November 2014.
Of all the possible problems West Ham might have faced in early November, complacency was not one many fans foresaw. But with West Ham riding high and dreaming of Europe, and Aston Villa having lost six on the spin, Sam Allardyce has had to call for focus. Christian Benteke is suspended and Villa have scored only five goals all season. They are desperate for any sort of foothold. David Hytner Kick-off Saturday 3pm Continue reading…
Posted in Guardian.co.ukComments Off on West Ham United v Aston Villa: match preview
Posted on 07 November 2014.
Hammers Diafra Sakho also awarded player of the month Allardyce oversaw three wins and one draw in October West Ham Uniteds form under Sam Allardyce was recognised on Friday when he was named the Premier Leagues manager of the month after three straight league wins in October. There was a double celebration for the east London club as Diafra Sakho, one of a number of exciting new arrivals in the summer, was named player of …
Posted in Guardian.co.ukComments Off on West Hams Sam Allardyce named as Premier League manager of the month
Posted on 04 November 2014.
This weeks winner is Andrew Chappell who gets a copy of Ian Plenderleiths RocknRoll Soccer: the short life and fast times of the North American Soccer League . Get in touch to claim your prize. Next, wed like to see your takes on Chris Smalling. Send your efforts to gallery@theguardian.com by noon on Monday 10 November as a jpeg or gif, complete with a CAPTION. Anyone who forgets will have to play in
Posted in Guardian.co.ukComments Off on Alex Song | The Gallery
Posted on 02 November 2014.
Sam Allardyce says Downing ready for international recall Mark Hughes demands review of key refereeing decision Stewart Downing last played for England in Roy Hodgsons first game in charge at the end of a season in which he neither scored nor made a goal for Liverpool but he is back on the international radar. Sam Allardyce revealed after West Ham extended their equal best start to a Premier League season that Downing is being monitored …
Posted in Guardian.co.ukComments Off on Stewart Downing back in England form after rescuing West Ham at Stoke
Posted on 01 November 2014.
Enner Valencia inspired West Ham Uniteds superb comeback from 2-0 down against Stoke City to dampen Mark Hughess 51st birthday celebrations. The Ecuadaor forward, almost anonymous in the first half as a lone striker in the absence of the injured Diafra Sakho, scored one and made Stewart Downings equaliser after switching to the left flank after Carlton Coles half-time introduction. Continue reading…
Posted in Guardian.co.ukComments Off on Stoke City 2-2 West Ham United | Premier League match report
Posted on 30 October 2014.
Striker struggling with shoulder injury Summer signing has scored in first six starts for club We will wait until Friday and see what he is like – Allardyce Sam Allardyce will give West Hams goal-a-game striker Diafra Sakho every chance to be fit for Saturdays Premier League trip to Stoke City. The summer arrival from Metz has been in impressive form since arriving at Upton Park and has scored on his first …
Posted in Guardian.co.ukComments Off on West Hams Diafra Sakho touch and go to be fit for Stoke City