West Ham captain Kevin Nolan presented with cake to celebrate 100th goal

Posted on April 26, 2013 by adminsports

Icing on the cake! Nolan celebrates 100th goal with treat baked by kit man's sister

By
John Drayton

PUBLISHED:

10:22 GMT, 26 April 2013

UPDATED:

11:10 GMT, 26 April 2013

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Kevin Nolan notched up his 100th career goal last Saturday – and what better way for the West Ham captain to celebrate than tucking into some cake.

The 30-year-old midfielder scored in the hammers' 2-0 victory over Wigan at Upton Park to hit the century mark.

Landmark: Nolan was presented with a cake to celebrate scoring his 100th career goal

And yesterday he was presented with a cake baked by the sister of kit man James Saban to mark his achievement.

Nolan's 100th goal came almost 12 and a half years after his first for Bolton Wanderers in a 4-1 win over Crewe Alexandra in December 2000.

Let's celebrate: Nolan hit the century mark with his goal in West Ham's 2-0 win over Wigan last Saturday

Kevin Nolan broken foot: West Ham captain faces to months out

Posted on February 28, 2013 by adminsports

Hammer blow! Crocked skipper Nolan faces eight weeks out with broken toe

By
Andy James

PUBLISHED:

08:40 GMT, 28 February 2013

UPDATED:

16:14 GMT, 28 February 2013

West Ham have been dealt a huge blow with the news that captain Kevin Nolan faces two months on the sidelines after suffering a broken toe.

The midfielder, 30, limped off after just 35 minutes during Monday night's 3-2 London derby defeat by Tottenham at Upton Park following a clash with Mousa Dembele.

Nolan now faces an agonising wait to discover his fate after Hammers assistant boss Neil McDonald confirmed this morning that the club have not yet learned the results of his scan.

Tough luck: Kevin Nolan (left) tackles Emmanuel Adebayor of Tottenham before going off injured

The former Bolton and Newcastle star will definitely miss this
weekend's Barclays Premier League trip to Stoke and it is reported, by
The Sun, that he may have to wait for two weeks to find out if he can
make it through the rest of the campaign with
pain-killing injections.

McDonald said: 'We're still waiting for the results to come back, his toe is very, very sore.

'He's had problems in the past with it, all season really. And he got a real good kick on it.

'So I'd imagine he won't be available for Saturday and then we'll see how the results come back and see where he's at.

'As I said, he has had problems with his foot all season, and he has been playing through the pain barrier. It's probably worse than it has been with him having the kick right on it.'

Despite a fine start to the season,
the east London club's form has suffered an alarming slump with just one
win in their last seven league games.

Sam Allardyce's side, who promotion
from the Championship at the first time of asking last season, have
slipped to 14th in the table and are just six points clear from the drop
zone.

But defender James Collins insists relegation has not been mentioned.

We are looking up and onwards,' the Wales centre half told the club's official website.

'There are more tough matches coming
up, but we have a great squad and great team spirit. We have to go to
Stoke and give it a good go and I feel we have more than enough in the
team to do that.

'The way we started the season showed
what we are capable of. We are training hard, we want to win every game
and that is no different against Stoke, who we know will be tough on
their own ground.

'But I strongly believe if we keep playing the way we are playing, the results will come.'

Getting involved: Nolan is an important player for the Hammers and now faces missing many of their remaining fixtures

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce slams suspended players Kevin Nolan and James Collins

Posted on December 31, 2012 by adminsports

Allardyce slams 'unprofessional' Nolan and Collins after they pick up fifth yellow cards in Reading defeat

UPDATED:

22:38 GMT, 30 December 2012

Sam Allardyce blasted two of his key players who picked up yellow cards against Reading that will force them to miss their New Year's Day match with Norwich.

Captain Kevin Nolan and defender James Collins have been at the heart of West Ham's season but will miss their match against Norwich on Tuesday as they serve a one-match suspension for picking up five yellow cards.

If they had not been booked on Saturday the suspension threshold would been have extended to 10 yellow cards.

Head-to-head: West Ham captain Kevin Nolan squares up to Reading's Alex Pearce during the Premier League match on Saturday

The Hammers have struggled with injuries this season and only two weeks ago they could not name a full list of substitutes against West Brom.

Nolan was booked with 10 minutes to play for a late challenge on Hal Robson-Kanu who was breaking away inside his own half and Collins's yellow was for a late challenge on Pavel Pogrebnyak – both needless tackles.

And manager Allardyce branded the two players 'unprofessional' for picking up a fifth booking this season so close to the deadline.

The 58-year-old said: 'Suddenly Norwich becomes a test of nerve – we are now in our worst run of results this season, and the unprofessionalism of players, due to frustration, means we are now without our captain and James Collins on New Year's Day through suspension.

Suspension: James Collins, as well as Nolan, picked up their fifth bookings of the season against Reading, meaning they will miss the New Year's Day game with Norwich

'Losing the game was hard enough, but to lose two key players in the last game of the suspension period makes it even worse.

'If they had got booked on Tuesday, there's no suspension, but they go and get booked at Reading and now we have to make do without them.'

The yellow card compounded a particularly bad afternoon for Collins.

The centre back was one of West Ham's best players in reducing Reading to a single shot on target – but it was his glaring mistake that handed them that chance that resulted in the winner.

On five minutes Collins played a woefully short pass back to Jussi Jaaskelainen and Pogrebnyak ran on to the ball and finished one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

Bad day at the office: Collins also underhit a backpass to gift Pavel Pogrebnyak what turned out to be the decisive goal on five minutes

The result was only Reading's second win in the league this season against a team they came up with from the Championship.

West Ham are now only six points clear of the relegation zone following a run of one win in eight matches.

They have lost five of their last seven games and Allardyce admitted they are starting to worry about Premier League survival.

But his captain Nolan insisted that during the previous four seasons no-one outside of the top four are safe in the Barclays Premier League until close to the end of the campaign.

The 30-year-old said: 'In the Premier League no matter where you are unless it's two games to go and you're in the top 10 you don't not look behind you.

Not impressed: West Ham manager Sam Allardyce branded Nolan and Collins 'unprofessional' after picking up the suspensions

'I think if you can include Everton [and Arsenal] with the top four all the rest of the teams could be around [the relegation place], a few losses and you're all dragged back into it.

'It's just the way it is, the way the league has been the last three or four years.'

He added: 'We're on 23 points, it's been a decent start, if you'd offered us that at the beginning of the season we would've taken it. That's how we've got to look at it.

'We've got to go for another 23 points and plus that for the next half of the season which is going to be tough but we're more than capable of doing it.'

West Ham 1 Stoke 1 – match report

Posted on November 20, 2012 by adminsports

West Ham 1 Stoke 1: O'Brien strike earns Allardyce a point against resilient Potters

Press Association

PUBLISHED:

21:51 GMT, 19 November 2012

UPDATED:

21:58 GMT, 19 November 2012

Joey O'Brien struck early in the second half to earn a point for West Ham against a tough-to-beat Stoke City.

The Potters had led after a well-worked corner routine saw Jon Walters smash home.

After the equaliser West Ham pushed to win the game but could not breach Tony Pulis' mean defence for a second time.

Andy Carroll was substituted with five minutes remaining and was clearly annoyed at the decision by Sam Allardyce.

More to follow.

Back on track: Joey O'Brien (right) is congratulated by Kevin Nolan after scoring the equaliser

Match facts

West Ham: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien (Demel 77), Reid, Tomkins, McCartney, Noble, Nolan, Diame, O'Neil, Carroll (Cole 85), Maiga (Taylor 85).

Subs not used: Spiegel, Collins, Spence, Hall.

Booked: Noble.

Goal: O'Brien 48.

Stoke: Begovic, Cameron, Huth, Shawcross, Wilkinson (Shotton 32), Whelan (Palacios 62), Adam, Nzonzi, Walters, Crouch, Etherington (Kightly 74).

Subs not used: Sorensen, Jones, Upson, Jerome.

Goal: Walters 13.

Att: 35,005

Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside)

Click here for the live Premier league table, stats and more

Opener: Jonathan Walters struck from a cleverly worked corner

Good job: Peter Crouch celebrates the strike which put Tony Pulis' side ahead

Shocking: West Ham had a less than impressive first half

That'll do: O'Brien struck just after the interval

Scrappy: Glenn Whelan and Mohamed Diame get tangled up

Come on: Pulis' side faded as the match went on

No impact: Crouch could not help his side as the game petered out

Off form: Andy Carroll was not at his best and was substituted late on

Thump: Matthew Etherington and O'Brien fight for the ball

Chelsea v Liverpool LIVE Newcastle v West Ham Manchester City v Tottenham

Posted on November 11, 2012 by adminsports

PREMIER LEAGUE LIVE: Follow Sunday's action from around the grounds as it happens

UPDATED:

16:02 GMT, 11 November 2012

Follow Sportsmail's coverage of the Barclays Premier League as Sunday's action kicks off at 1.30pm with Manchester City hosting Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium. Newcastle welcome West Ham to St James' Park 90 minutes later, while Chelsea host Liverpool at 4pm to conclude the weekend's drama.

LATEST SCORES

Manchester City 2-1 Tottenham FT

Newcastle 0-1 West Ham

Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool

1 mins: Off and running at Stamford Bridge

HALF TIME: NEWCASTLE 0 WEST HAM 1

3.48pm: Ben Afra comes close in the dying stages of the half but his shot is deflected narrowly wide.

3.44pm: The home side have hit back and young Shane Ferguson is unlucky to see his shot blocked by George McCartney.

3.42pm: Nolan comes close again but this time he fires wide. Diame has been the architect this half, very impressive from the midfielder.

3.41pm: GOAL NEWCASTLE 0 WEST HAM 1

Kevin Nolan turns the ball home for the visitors but refuses to dance like a chicken. Or celebrate.

3.40pm: Joey O'Brien is having trouble with his nose, it seems to be bleeding rather copiously.

3.35pm: Andy Carroll hasn't been treated too badly on his return to the north. Nolan was given a good reception but Sam Allardyce, well, wasn't…

3.32pm: West Ham are enjoying the better of the opening exchanges at St James' Park but there has been little to get excited about.

Anita has come on to replace the injured Gutierrez for the home side.

3.30pm: More from Stamford Bridge:

John Terry finally made his return from his racism ban in Chelsea's Barclays Premier League clash with Liverpool today.

Blues boss Roberto Di Matteo recalled his captain for this afternoon's clash, partnering him with Branislav Ivanovic in central defence, as Cesar Azpilicueta returned at right-back.

David Luiz later tweeted he had missed today's game because of tonsillitis.

Jose Reina failed a late fitness test for Liverpool, who recalled virtually all of their big guns after Thursday's Europa League defeat at Anzhi Makhachkala, although Jamie Carragher kept his place, while Glen Johnson returned from injury.

FULL TIME: MAN CITY 2 TOTTENHAM 1

3.23pm: Nothing much happening in Newcastle. Kevin Nolan has had an effort blocked for the visitors.

3.20pm: Teams from Chelsea:

Chelsea: Cech, Azpilicueta, Terry, Ivanovic, Bertrand, Mikel, Ramires, Hazard, Oscar, Mata, Torres. Subs: Turnbull, Romeu, Moses, Ferreira, Marin, Sturridge, Cahill.

Liverpool: Jones, Wisdom, Carragher, Agger, Johnson, Allen, Gerrard, Sterling, Sahin, Jose Enrique, Suarez. Subs: Gulacsi, Cole, Assaidi, Henderson, Coates, Downing, Fernandez Saez.

89 mins: Deserved goal for the home side there. They've had the better chances and looked hungrier for the three points.

Winner: Edin Dzeko slams home to earn all three points for Manchester City

Final change sees Aguero replaced by Javi Garcia.

We'll have five minutes of added time.

88mins: GOAL! MAN CITY 2-1 TOTTENHAM

It's the super sub Edin Dzeko again as he controls a brilliant pass from Silva, swivels and crashes the ball home from close range.

87 mins: Tottenham replace Lennon with Kyle Naughton.

86 mins: City continue to push forward, it seems thee will be only one winner, if there is one of course.

83 mins: Close! Friedel, who has been pretty quiet all afternoon, is called into action to make a double save from Aguero.

Tottenham then break through Bale but his final ball can't find a team-mate.

BREAKING NEWS: JOHN TERRY STARTS FOR CHELSEA

82 mins: City win another corner but Kolarov's ball in is cleared before Silva curls a shot wide of the far post.

82 mins: Meanwhile, we're off and running at Newcastle

81 mins: Does anyone actually like Emmanuel Adebayor He's replaced by Jermain Defoe.

79 mins: City are looking the likelier to win this and Dzeko heads over from Silva's corner.

78 mins: Kyle Walker is replaced by Michael Dawson and the right back appears to be injured.

76 mins: Adebayor is finally booked after his 12th altercation with Zabaleta who is left with a bloody nose.

74 mins: Bale manages to swagger into the box via a couple of ricochets but he can't quite get a shot in and City scramble the ball clear.

73 mins: And Tevez is taken off in place of Edin Dzeko, who is City's top scorer this season.

72 mins: Oliver misses another foul when Zabaleta is hauled back by Adebayor. City manage to get forward and Tevez pulls his shot wide of the post.

70 mins: Sandro has piled into Yaya Toure who lies stricken on the ground. Spurs have somehow got the free kick from the resultant melee. Referee Michael Oliver has been poor today.

68 mins: City have their tails up now and Maicon races down the right before driving a cross just wide of the far post.

Game on: Manchester City's Sergio Aguero (right) celebrates scoring

66 mins: GOAL!

MAN CITY 1 TOTTENHAM 1

The build up was a little fortunate but when the ball broke to Aguero, he kept his composure to slot the ball past Fridel.

64 mins: Bale has been very quiet so far and his left foot shot which drifts wide rather epitomises his afternoon.

62 mins: Tottenham will fancy their chances with City having gone to three at the back. They could do with getting the ball though – only 37 per cent of possession.

58 mins: Tevez wins another corner for City but Bale heads clear. This really does not look like being the champions' day.

56 mins: The first change of the game sees Nastasic replaced by Maicon. Gareth Bale must be rubbing his hands with glee.

55 mins: Chance! A long ball forward finds Aguero who is onside but the Argentine uncharacteristically fails to bring it under control and the chance is gone.

54 mins: The home side do manage to win a couple of corners in quick succession but the closest they come is a Vincent Kompany header which fails to find the target.

50 mins: City have started brightly but their play in the final third has let them down.

47 mins: Zabaleta wins a corner fro City after another run down the right wing. Kolarov's ball in is poor and doesn't beat the first man.

46 mins: No changes from either side as the action gets back underway.

Eyes on the ball: Sergio Aguero competes with Kyle Walker

2.35pm: All set for the second half…

2.30pm: More on the teams from Newcastle:

Old boys Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan were handed starts as they returned to Newcastle with West Ham.

They were included in a team which featured only one change to the side which lined up against Manchester City last weekend as James Tomkins replaced James Collins at the heart of the back four.

/11/11/article-2230495-15F89148000005DC-762_634x345.jpg” width=”634″ height=”345″ alt=”In front: Steven Caulker heads Tottenham into the lead against Manchester City” class=”blkBorder” />

In front: Steven Caulker heads Tottenham into the lead against Manchester City

42 mins: City
should score but Tevez has fluffed his lines. Aguero breaks forward and
squares the ball to his countryman on the edge of the box but his shot
lacks power and Friedel makes an easy save,

38 mins: Nastasic has fallen awkwardly and is being treated. I'm sure he'll be fine as he heads off the pitch.

35 mins: Well,
it's a shot… Kolarov takes a swipe with his left foot on the edge of
the box but the ball is always curling away from Friedel.

33 mins: City
have struggled to create anything of note and if anyone is going to
score at the moment, it's the visitors. The champions claim for another
penalty when Zabaleta takes a tumble after a barge from Huddlestone.
Again the referee says no but that was a foul.

29 mins: Adebayor takes a dive in front of Zabaleta but gets the free kick and a booking for the Argentinian. The free kick is floated in and Bale heads wide of the post.

27 mins: Kyle Walker is booked for a late challenge on Kolarov but the free kick comes to nothing and then Zabaleta steams in on Adebayor and the pair exchange angry words in the aftermath.

25 mins: Chance! Adebayor
goes on a marauding run down the left, cuts in before laying the ball
off for Huddlestone whose shot whistles millimetres past the post. Spurs
now on top after City's strong start.

24 mins: City
denied a penalty after Aguero claims Gallas handled inside the area.
The French defender was very close to the ball but his arm is sticking
out. I've seen them given. Referee Michael Oliver couldn't see it due to
Huddlestone being in the way.

21 mins: Aaron
Lennon does win a free kick on the right wing however when Aguero
slides in. Huddlestone sends the ball in and Caulker heads home through
the hands of Hart. The England keeper must do better but that's another
goal conceded from a set piece by City.

GOAL! MAN CITY 0 TOTTENHAM 1
Dropped: Mario Balotelli is in the stands as his team-mates take on Tottenham

Dropped: Mario Balotelli is in the stands as his team-mates take on Tottenham

19 mins: Vertonghen does love getting up that left wing and he wins a corner. Spurs have claims for a penalty when Adebayor takes a tumble but nothing doing from the referee.

17 mins: Caulker's header is deflected over for another set piece but this time the ball is cleared and City win a free kick of their own.

15 mins: Gareth Bale has been quiet so far but will be hoping to have success against Pablo Zabaleta. He wins a free kick on the left and Spurs win a corner from the ball in.

13 mins: Tom Huddlestone gives away a free kick 30 yards from goal. Kolarov drives the ball in but Brad Friedel was barely troubled. Wasteful from the Serbian.

11 mins: City win the first corner of the match but Nastasic can't quite get his head to Kolarov's ball in.

10 mins: Aguero breaks clear but can't quite get on the end of Clichy's ball in. Had he done so, he was in on goal.

Back again: Emmanuel Adebayor (centre) started for Tottenham against his old side

9 mins: Having said that, the visitors are yet to get a foothold in the game. David Silva on the otherhand looks lively but his through ball is just too heavy.

7 mins: Tottenham are of course looking to complete the Manchester double after beating United at Old Trafford earlier in the season. And Spurs have been better on the road than at White Hart Lane this season.

5 mins: Yaya Toure is playing more defensively this afternoon which is a disappointment. There are few better sights in football than the Ivorian galloping forward.

3 mins: City are on the front foot with Gareth Barry controlling play from the midfield. The home side haven't quite been able to find the penetrating pass yet though.

1 min: Adebayor has been asked to change/remove the tape from his socks it's a different colour. Heaven help us…

1 min: Here we go…

1.30pm: A minute's silence is impeccably held, as you would expect and kick off is imminent

1.25pm: Kick off is just five minutes away. I'm going to plump for a 2-2 draw in this one. There must be goals, mustn't there

1.20pm: In other news, we friendly people at Sportsmail would like to wish City midfielder Abdul Razak a happy birthday.

He is 20 today and is on the bench this afternoon.

What odds he can crack open the champagne as the matchwinner Long, I would have thought.

1.15pm: The official line on Balotelli is that he has not been selected, or on bench, purely for football reasons – no injury.

Is he heading out in January

1.10pm: Andre Villas-Boas has been talking about his decision to go with Adebayor up front:

'It's for the strategy of the game,' he said. 'Jermain's performances hve been immense but we are going for another strategy.

'We want to have more possession and control the game. i spoke to Jermain but it's for the benefit of the team today.'

1pm: One player hoping to find the net this afternoon is Carlos Tevez who has been mouthing off about everything and anything today. Read his views on Gary Neville and Graeme Souness here.

12.55pm: City and Spurs get underway in just over half an hour while at 3pm, Newcastle host West Ham and an hour after that, Liverpool travel to Chelsea.

12.50pm: For City, David Silva returns after a five-match absence with a hamstring injury.

His introduction for Samir Nasri, plus Aleksandar Kolarov for Javi Garcia were the two changes to the side that failed to overcome Ajax on Tuesday.

Mario Balotelli is not even on the bench

12.45pm: The headline news from Manchester is that Jermain Defoe has been dropped despite scoring a hat-trick in midweek against Maribor in the Europa League. Emmanuel Adebayor starts up front on his own against his former side.

12.40pm: The teams are in from the Etihad:

Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Nastasic, Clichy, Y Toure, Barry, Kolarov, Silva, Tevez, Aguero

Subs: Pantilimon, Maicon, Dzeko, Sinclair, Javi Garcia, Toure, Razak.

Tottenham: Friedel, Walker, Caulker, Gallas, Vertonghen, Sandro, Huddlestone, Lennon, Dempsey, Bale, Adebayor

Subs: Lloris, Naughton, Defoe, Dawson, Sigurdsson, Livermore, Carroll.

12.30pm: Welcome to Sportsmail's coverage of today's mouthwatering Premier League triple header.

City v Spurs

Kevin Nolan: How I rescued Andy Carroll

Posted on November 11, 2012 by adminsports

Nolan: How I rescued Carroll and put him on the right path

UPDATED:

23:51 GMT, 10 November 2012

Andy Carroll's chief concern is to score his first goal for West Ham but his team-mate, Kevin Nolan, remembers a time when such on-field problems were mere trivialities.

A time when, as a star in the making with Sunday's opponents Newcastle, he needed saving from himself and from the paradox that is Geordie adulation.

Old boys: Former Newcastle duo Andrew Carroll (right) and Kevin Nolan set to return with West Ham

The 21-year-old home-town hero was self-destructing and it was at then Newcastle skipper Nolan's door – literally – that the problem was dumped in October 2010.

Carroll was charged with assaulting an ex-girlfriend and to secure bail he needed a place of residence instead of living in a hotel awaiting a house purchase. Nolan answered the SOS.

A combination of Carroll's cooking, Nolan's guidance and the unlikeliest of calming figures – Joey Barton – got the tyro back on the right path.

While happy to laugh off his saviour status, Nolan knows only too well the deadly serious role he played in the rescue mission.

'You can write that if you want, “Nolan saves him!” ' he said. 'I just said to him, and he knew himself, that he had got to keep out of them situations.

'At Newcastle when something goes on, it gets exploded 10 times over and with Andy up there it was magnified a thousand times. It was just because it was him, he's a 6ft 5in lad who's got long hair and stands out.

'He'd been brilliant for Newcastle for 15 months, he was the local boy, everything he did was magnified. You'd have to ask Andy if I'd had an influence on it. Of course I'm going to say yes. As a group we had a committee-type of experienced pros with myself, Joey, Alan Smith, Steve Harper, all different backgrounds, voices and opinions.

Hard going: Carroll is still searching for his first West Ham goal

'The togetherness of the squad and what we were all like at that time helped Andy dramatically. He bought into it massively and he excelled and he's gone on since and I think he'll just even get better and do better things.'

The recipe for turning a boy into a man was all cooked up in Nolan's kitchen.

'I said he could stay, I cleared it with the missus, of course, first,' added Nolan. 'She was down in Liverpool a lot of the time so we were like room-mates. He was a pretty good cook. Pasta with tomatoes, chicken, things like that.

'Since then he has learned so much. There is a different lad standing in that dressing room now. There is a man who can look after himself and does the right things on a daily basis.'

Carroll, 23, will need the thickest of skins to emerge unscathed from what is a fixture laced with potential animosity. West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has always felt harshly done to regarding his rapid dismissal after eight months in charge of Newcastle.

Carroll is yet to score for West Ham but his last trip back to St James' Park, with parent club Liverpool, ended with the frontman being booked for diving before storming off after being substituted.

Nolan said: 'I am hoping I'll get quite a good reception, I'm sure Andy will get the worst one. I've got a lot of good friends there and I'm looking forward to going back and saying goodbyes to people I didn't have the chance to.

'Once one goes in for Andy, hopefully on Sunday, I am sure they will come. It would be a great time to score in front of the club he has loved since he was a kid.'

Carroll's goal-shy start to life in east London is in stark contrast to Nolan, who has picked up where he left off in the Premier League by scoring four times in 10 games.

And the West Ham midfielder, 30, admits he is angered about never having secured an England cap, especially in a week which saw 31-year-old Leon Osman get a call-up.

'Obviously, when you see Leon Osman, who I'm delighted for, getting a call-up it does tell you not to give up hope but I don't know how much more I could do,' he said. 'It does hurt that I haven't got one. I think I have deserved at least a call-up and a chance to prove myself at that level whether it be at Bolton, Newcastle and even now.

'A former England manager said if he knew everything I was about before he was England manager, he definitely would have called me up, which was nice to hear. But then I sort of wanted to strangle him!'

Davide Santon says Newcastle worried about Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan on returns

Posted on November 10, 2012 by adminsports

Santon admits Newcastle are worried about threat of returning stars Carroll and Nolan

UPDATED:

18:29 GMT, 10 November 2012

Davide Santon and his defensive colleagues have been put on red alert as Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan head back to Newcastle.

The pair, who proved so destructive in black and white shirts as the Magpies fought their way back into the Barclays Premier League, are now back in harness at West Ham, who visit St James' Park tomorrow.

They will need no introduction to the current crop of Newcastle players, and full-back Santon knows stopping them could prove the key to the home side's chances of extending their five-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

Clucky return Kevin Nolan might unleash his celebration on Sunday

The 21-year-old Italian said: 'West Ham will be a difficult game. They have some good players.

'They have Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan, so we have to be careful.

'It is very important for us to win the game. We are only playing for a win.

'We have to stop them. We know they are coming here to score. However, we know we have a great defence here. We have a great team and we can stop them.'

Carroll and Nolan both left the club in controversial circumstances, the former in exchange for a staggering 35million from Liverpool and the latter after his hopes of securing a new long-term deal were dashed.

But while midfielder Nolan has gone from strength to strength at Upton Park, where he arrived in June last year, Carroll has joined him by a circuitous route.

The 23-year-old found himself surplus to requirements at Anfield in the wake of new manager Brendan Rodgers' appointment and, having been linked with a move back to Newcastle, eventually joined the Hammers on loan for the season in August.

But while both played key roles during their time on Tyneside, Alan Pardew's men have gone from strength to strength since their respective departures and finished fifth in the league last season to earn a return to European football.

Way back when: Nolan and Andy Carroll playing for Newcastle

Indeed, they very nearly gatecrashed the top four and the race for Champions League qualification, and that remains an ambition.

Santon said: 'Last year, we had a really big chance to get there.

'We finished fifth in the end, but we have a very good team and have a good chance of getting there.

'We just have to get back into the winning mentality every game. We are in a great position to move forward.'

Newcastle are yet to produce their best form on a consistent basis so far this season, but are unbeaten since they lost 3-0 at home to Manchester United on October 7.

They extended that run in Belgium on Thursday evening when, after carelessly conceding twice to Club Brugge within the opening 19 minutes, they fought back to claim a draw which edged them closer to the knockout stage of the Europa League.

Careful now: Davide Santon (left) knows Newcastle have to watch out for their former stars

Santon said: 'I think it was better that neither ourselves nor Brugge won the other night. It is better for our mentality.

'We can still get through in Europe, but we are now ready to win tomorrow.

'This game is very important. We have a lot of confidence and we can win. Now we have to focus on the Premier League again.'

However, Pardew will be without key men Fabricio Coloccini and Cheick Tiote through suspension, while full-back Danny Simpson remains a doubt with a shoulder problem.

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.

Sam Allardyce says he almost quit management after being sacked at Newcastle

Posted on November 10, 2012 by adminsports

Allardyce says he almost quit management after Toon sacking

UPDATED:

01:09 GMT, 10 November 2012

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce admits he nearly called time on his managerial career when he was sacked by Newcastle owner Mike Ashley, but reckons football is a 'drug' he needs in his life.

The 58-year-old takes his Hammers side to St James' Park on Sunday looking for a fifth Barclays Premier League win of the season.

But Allardyce revealed he was at a low point in his career when Ashley made the decision to remove him from his role on Tyneside and replace him with returning hero Kevin Keegan.

Returning: Both Sam Allardyce and Andy Carroll will go back to Newcastle with West Ham

'It is the hardest (sacking) to take because I thought it was the right job – I thought it was the next step, a big club, big fanbase, big budget but unfortunately I never saw any of that.

'(I felt) terribly low but the one thing you do know is that it is not as bad as the first one (sacking),' he said.

'The first one can be so damaging to your career you might never be seen again.

'My wife said I should (give up) but I didn't want to because if I can help it, and it will be a big ask in this game, I want to decide when I want to stop, not let someone else decide.'

Allardyce said his wife, Lynn, has seen him at his worst during his 18-year managerial career.

When asked what she said to him after he was given the boot at Newcastle he said: 'She told me “You've had enough of this pressure, why don't you get out of it now for God's sake”.

Me too: Kevin Nolan returns to Tyneside after leaving the club to join the Hammers

Last time out: West Ham drew 0-0 with Manchester City at Upton Park

'The thing is they (your family) go through more stress and pressure than you because they sit and watch you go through those stressful times and they are your support system if you like, when the job gets lonely they are there for you, especially your wife.

'They see what you go through so that is why she said what she did but she understands what I am, I'm a football man and I need to do the job, it is a drug.'

Allardyce reckons it was the takeover of the club by Ashley that led to his departure from St James' Park and was nothing to do with results on the pitch.

He has been back to the north east since he left the club in January 2008, masterminding a 2-1 win for Blackburn.

But the manner of his dismissal from Newcastle still plays on his mind.

He said: 'I think a short tenure at any football club, and not results-based when you lose your job, is something you are very upset about at the time, you are always upset when you lose a job.

Full-time return Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has said he would love to re-sign former striker Andy Carroll

'The reason that was cited to me was that they wanted to move in their own direction because I wasn't the man who was selected by them, I was already there so at the end of the day you have to accept that and move on.

'That settlement, I have to say, was extremely well conducted by both parties – within five or six days it was all finished and I couldn't ask for any more than that.

'It is a very distressing time for you and your family because no matter how many people start saying “he will be all right, he has got that much money” that is not the issue.

'The issue is your professionalism has been questioned, your ability to do a particular job has been questioned.

'It is damaging to a career you have spent years and years and years putting together and accumulating and proving that you are a quality manager and even though the reasons are not that valid it is still pretty damaging.'

Allardyce has no doubt earned a comfortable amount of money from his years in the sport but he does not do such a stressful job purely for financial reward as the pain he suffered when he left Newcastle suggests.

'It (money) is not the issue; I don't manage for money, I manage for glory,' he said.

'Money follows because there is big money at this level but you manage for glory, you don't manage for money.'

Andy Carroll: Newcastle want to sign striker from Liverpool after West Ham loan spell

Posted on November 9, 2012 by adminsports

Come home, Andy! Pardew reveals he wants to re-sign striker after Hammers loan spell

UPDATED:

17:17 GMT, 9 November 2012

Alan Pardew wants to bring Andy Carroll back to Newcastle when his West Ham loan expires.

Carroll, 23, is on loan with the Hammers – who visit St James' Park on Sunday – until the end of the season.

But Magpies manager Pardew is keen to re-sign him having sold the striker to Liverpool for 35m in January 2011.

'He's a Liverpool player and not wanted so at some point he's going to move permanently,' said Pardew.

'I'd like to think we'll be in the mix for that.'

Scroll down for video

Going back: Carroll and Kevin Nolan will return to St James' Park with West Ham on Sunday

They used to love him: Newcastle fans with a not-so-friendly 'welcome' to Carroll last season

England striker Carroll scored 31 goals in 80 league appearances for Newcastle before moving to Anfield.

Tottenham are also monitoring developments with Carroll, who Carroll returns to Newcastle on Sunday in the mood to break his goal duck and defending West Ham's style of play.

Following their 0-0 draw with
Manchester City last weekend, West ham are one place above Newcastle and
the loan striker wants to return home and collect three points – and
his first West Ham goal.

'I am looking forward to going home. I went back with Liverpool and I got a few boos and a bit of stick but it was all good.

'I want to go back now and hopefully win this time because last time I went we got beaten.'

In happier times: Carroll celebrates scoring against Liverpool at St James' Park in 2010

Carroll also told West Ham TV how he is enjoying playing for Sam Allardyce.

He said: 'Everyone talks about Big Sam's style being “just launching it up” but you can see that it's not like that.

'We pass it into feet and pass it around and I have the ball at my feet enough to show what I'm all about.'

Carroll is enjoying playing alongside another former Newcastle player – his great friend Kevin Nolan.

In good Kompany now: West Ham fans have taken to Carroll

In good Kompany now: Carroll tackles Manchester City's Vincent Kompany

'I obviously have Kev around to help us with a couple of one-twos and holding the ball up so I think that's what we're all about – it's not just about throwing the ball up and getting around what I am going to do.

'We're passing and moving and I think we're playing great at the minute.'
Carroll was jeered and substituted when he last returned to Newcastle, as a Liverpool player.

And, even though he was dropped by England on Thursday and has yet to score for West Ham, he seems happier as a player. Hammers fans have taken him to their heart and legendary former striker Tony Cottee is backing Carroll to score on Tyneside.

In his column in the Dockland's and East London Advertiser (click here to read the full column), Cottee writes: 'Another week has passed with Andy Carroll not scoring, but I’m not at all concerned.'Is he pulling his weight outside the box Is he holding the ball up Is he bringing others into play Is he creating chances and getting into the right positions I think the answer is yes on all fronts.

'I did enjoy playing against my old clubs. You want to prove you’re still a good player.

Carroll and Nolan celebrate scoring for Newcastle - against West Ham - in 2010

Carroll and Nolan celebrate scoring for Newcastle – against West Ham – in 2010

'When I left West Ham the first time and came back with Everton I got a mixed reception. But I think any boos or jeering you get tend to be from people who are disappointed you left in the first place.

'Nolan and Carroll will be really fired up and I think one of them will score.'

Nolan, another former Newcastle favourite, said: “Andy might not get the best reception because I know he has been back there and got a bit of stick.

'I am hoping that Andy gets respect, as they know what effort he put in when playing for Newcastle and helping them to be where they are today.

'I won't speak to him specifically about it before the game – he is a big character.

'We both had some fantastic times up there. Now 50,000 people are going to want to boo us.'

On his last visit, Carroll was booked for diving and Newcastle beat Liverpool 2-0. Now Nolan and Carroll will be hoping to do something about that.

Hammer it: Cottee scores against Southampton in 1986 and scored 92 league goals for West Ham

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To watch the full interview, log on to West Ham TV by clicking here…

Andy Carroll: Newcastle fans will boo but I hope to score for West Ham

Posted on November 9, 2012 by adminsports

Carroll: I know Newcastle fans will boo me, but I hope to score against them this time

UPDATED:

11:42 GMT, 9 November 2012

Andy Carroll returns to Newcastle in the mood to break his goal duck and defending West Ham's style of play.

Following their 0-0 draw with Manchester City last weekend, West ham are one place above Newcastle and the loan striker wants to return home and collect three points – and his first West Ham goal.

'I am looking forward to going home. I went back with Liverpool and I got a few boos and a bit of stick but it was all good. I want to go back now and hopefully win this time because last time I went we got beaten.'