Hammers survive Sakho suspension

In true reminiscent style of Carlos Tevez and his notoriously controversial stint at Upton Park, Diafra Sakho last week became the latest West Ham player to face an inquiry over their right to play in a Hammers shirt, which almost landed the club in a whole world of trouble.

Problems occurred initially when the Senegalese striker returned from international duty with a back injury that was thought to be induced by his own national team’s physio. Whether or not these stories hold any basis in the truth, West Ham have since given Senegal the cold shoulder and tried to keeps tabs on Diafra Sakho as best as possible. As the no. 15 came off injured against West Brom with a re-occurrence of this very same back injury, it was therefore believed that Sakho would be sidelined for a good while, ruling him out of any role within this season’s African Cup of Nations.

Since Sakho made an appearance and scored the winner against Bristol City in the FA Cup however, which just so happened to be midway through Senegal’s group stage campaign in the AFCON, African tempers weren’t too happy with West Ham and the way the club had dealt with the whole situation. Senegalese officials felt that the club’s advisories had misled them showed a distinct lack of respect regarding their cause.

Although the Hammers claimed no wrong doing throughout the whole affair, Sakho subsequently had to sit out of last week’s match with Liverpool, which saw his side simply fail to perform without his influence on proceedings.

West Ham have now escaped with a minimal 70k fine however, which looks particularly small considering how the club are said to receive 90k for simply making it to the next round in the FA Cup. It seems this was one of the lighter punishments the Premier League club could have been given. Being kicked out of the cup, or even having Sakho miss out on a large part of the remaining season would have been a great deal worse, but as it seems this situation has now blown over, perhaps it’s time for all parties to move on with their own fortunes.

Whoever is to blame in this whole debacle, it seems Diafra Sakho’s reputation has sadly taken a hit in his native Senegal. But as the in-form striker will seemingly stop for no one in his path, expect this to be no more than a minor bump in the Upton Park hero’s future international career. The Senegalese star is now thought to be in contention for a starting place against Manchester United tomorrow, in the absence of injured Andy Carroll.

Quiet Deadline Day for West Ham

To the widespread frustration of most Hammers’ fans, this season’s often over anticipated transfer deadline day was hardly an event to remember. Despite being linked with a whole host of players across Europe, most of which being central defenders considering Big’s Sam’s current injury problems at the back, no new faces were brought into Upton Park, with none departing respectively.

Tottenham’s Younes Kaboul was considered a big favourite to make the switch across London this January, as well as Marseille’s Doria, who was thought to be arriving at Upton Park on a loan basis initially on deadline day. The least promising transfer rumour had to be our apparent interest in 37-year-old Sylvain Distin, but as the young Senegalese international Kara Mbodj was also considered to be on his way to the east end, thoughts of signing the Everton veteran were largely put to the back of our collective minds as supporters.

Whilst none of these rumours actually came to fruition on deadline day, it is believed that West Ham are still keeping tabs on Mbodj, with a view to a summer deal thought to be still on the cards for the K.R.C. Genk man.

One of the most alarming stories of the day however was our apparent interest in Tottenham’s Emmanuel Adebayor, with plans to send Carlton Cole on his way to West Brom as a result of the switch. Carlton has been a good servant to the club and deserves more than an unceremonious last minute send off, so all-in-all, most are glad the lovable striker hasn’t packed his bags just yet.

The move was thought to be going through until Spurs chairman, Daniel Levy, blocked the transfer through fear of giving West Ham a suitable deal. The main man at the helm at White Hart Lane, whose transfer policies haven’t always been on point in recent seasons, didn’t want to be paying the wages of any player who would go on to represent one of Spurs’ rivals, but seeing as Adebayor is hardly a step up from our Carlts, West Ham likely dodged a bullet in missing out on the Togolese striker.

On a final note, a last minute deal to send Matt Jarvis on loan to QPR with a view to bring back Mauro Zarate was thought to be going through, until FIFA regulations saw and end to that one as well.

All in all it was a pretty lack-lustre day from a West Ham point of view. Time will just have to tell if our squad can stay strong throughout the rest of the season without any new major faces on board. Whilst 21-year-old Doneil Henry and 20-year-old Stephen Hendrie, who has returned back to Hamilton on loan for the rest of the season, mark a potentially bright future for West Ham in years to come, they remain the only names to have made their way to Upton Park over this season’s famed January transfer window.

Has Enner Valencia become a surprise Chelsea target this window?

Since first bursting onto the scene as the scorer of all three of Ecuador’s goals at last summer’s World Cup, Enner Valencia is fast becoming a solid fan favourite down at Upton Park, even if his performances still bare the hallmarks of someone adjusting to a new life in the Premier League.

The Ecuadorian is an unpredictable talent who has the ability to challenge even the very best defenders on his day. His goal-scoring exploits are what have got him noticed so far in his brief career, and seeing as the 25-year-old has notched a steady four goals already this season, things really do seem to be going well for Enner Valencia.

Whilst the World Cup star may well be finding his feet with West Ham this season, a somewhat surprising rumour linking the South American striker to Stamford Bridge has recently made an appearance. Chelsea are thought to be keen on landing the player, even if they are forced to meet his reported £20 million buy-out-clause.

In light of such news, could Enner Valencia become this winter’s shock mover, or will he remain at Upton Park at least for the foreseeable future?

The Ecuadorian forward, in his so far brief spell in the Premier League, has managed to win many fans over for his direct nature and ability to score goals. Whilst the same can’t really be said when he has been playing alongside Andy Carroll, when the tricky striker is paired up-top with fellow new boy Diafra Sakho, the attacking chemistry West Ham have going really is something to admire.

Valencia is capable at running at defenders, sending is dangerous balls from wide positions, and creating havoc in the box. His aerial ability to meet headers is also very impressive considering that Valencia isn’t the tallest of strikers. Both Stoke City and Burnley have been on the wrong end of the South American’s heading ability so far this season, with plenty more victims likely to come if the World Cup hero is played in the correct way.

Whilst Valencia has been in good form overall this campaign, playing him in the right way has not always been an easy task for Sam Allardyce. In recent outings, Big Sam has left the Ecuadorian to play out wide, leaving him isolated from the rest of the team, and away from the danger areas he has already proved he can be so deadly in. Unpredictability has so far been Enner Valencia’s best trait going for him, but because of Allardyce’s questionable tactics of late, the Ecuadorian’s performances have simply not been at the level the West Ham faithful know he is capable of.

The initial reaction to these reports would therefore be to unceremoniously dismiss them straight away. Valencia has hardly proved himself in the Premier League, as only last season the 25-year-old was plying his trade with Mexican outfit, Pachuca. It remains unbelievable that Jose Mourinho could seriously want the Ecuadorian, and even if the interest is serious, paying £20 million for a player likely to be behind Diego Costa, Eden Hazard, Oscar, and the potentially incoming Juan Cuadrado, would seem slightly silly at the very least.

No – such rumours simply seem no more than loose talk designed to get football fans excited as transfer deadline day approaches. Whilst suggestions of former West Ham target, Loic Remy, going the other way as part of any deal linking Valencia with a move to Chelsea will certainly excite some Hammers fans, the overall opinion of the Upton Park faithful will likely see fans forget they ever heard about this story. Enner Valencia remains a West Ham player, and if he can one day match his lofty valuation to a consistent level of performances in the league, perhaps he can become just as much of an east end legend as he is back home in Ecuador.

Liverpool 2 – 0 West Ham

Another unsuccessful trip to Anfield, another step in the wrong direction, another match in which Kevin Nolan played the full 90 minutes. Saturday’s game with Brendan Rodgers’ side was simply an event to forget for everyone involved with West Ham.

The inevitable Liverpool goals came in the second half, firstly through Raheem Sterling once again, and then from one Daniel Sturridge, who seemed like he decided to return from injury for just this very match. The only moments of note for the Hammers to take from the match were Diafra Sakho’s worrying absence from the squad through fears of a lengthy FIFA ban, as well as what seems to be yet another ankle injury to Andy Carroll.

West Ham only slip down to 8th place in the Premier League with this loss however, with Liverpool overtaking Big Sam’s side for the first time in several months.

Adrian – The Spaniard was fine whenever called upon, but this simply wasn’t a game in which a keeper’s performance stood out.

Joey O’Brien – Joey’s presence in the team likely made all West Ham fans wish Carl Jenkinson was available for selection. The Irish full-back simply isn’t Premier League class and made us look vulnerable at the back for the entire match. Guy Demel, depending on his injury status, would be a better option than O’Brien on any given occasion.

Winston Reid – Another shoddy performance from the New Zealander, whose head, regardless of what his recent statements have led us to believe, is certainly being turned by the prospect of moving on from Upton Park either this January or in the summer. That’s how today’s performance will make the majority of West Ham fans feel at least.

James Collins – Ginge done well when he was out on the pitch, but looked injured whenever he got the ball or had to run back into position. It remains undecided whether or not Collins will be fit enough to face Manchester United next week, with James Tomkins’ and Carl Jenkinson’s injuries also giving the Upton Park faithful something to worry about. Guy Demel came on to replace Collins towards the end of the match.

Aaron Cresswell – Not a good display from Cress on Saturday. He was suspect at the back and a complete non-event going forward, which has been very uncharacteristic of the Englishman so far this season.

Alex Song – Song was perhaps the best player of a bad bunch. He tried to get things moving whenever he had the ball, but you simply don’t get the best out of the Cameroonian when long balls keep flying over his head.

Morgan Amalfitano – This was perhaps Morgan’s quietest game in a West Ham shirt, but as the system didn’t favour someone of his qualities, perhaps that should come as no surprise. Amalfitano was replaced in the second half by Mark Noble, who if Big Sam was willing to bring him on so early, leaves the question of why he didn’t start ahead of Nolan to be raised.

Kevin Nolan – Big Sam has turned our club captain, someone who should be unanimously respected by all throughout the club, into an increasingly frustrating figure around Upton Park. It seems unfortunate that it has had to come to this – but the team’s drop in form, lack of pace within the side, dramatically decreasing entertainment value, and slide back down the Premier League table, have all coincided with Nolan’s reappearance in the team. When he plays, West Ham revert to their useless formation of last season, dropping the diamond that previously worked so well for the team, and sending the likes of Downing and Valencia to the wings just so Kevin Nolan can occupy the CAM role. He finished the match with less completed passes than Adrian throughout the whole entire 90 minutes, which amounted to no more than 10 in total. Nolan should now hang up his boots and take on a coaching role at West Ham, where the respect he deserves as a Hammers captain will start to reestablish itself.

Stewart Downing – West Ham’s no. 11 is simply ineffectual when played out too wide. Big Sam frustratingly doesn’t see this however, and it is costing the West Ham fans the chance to see one of their best performers do his thing this season.

Enner Valencia – Once again had no impact on the match. The Ecuadorian isn’t being allowed to play alongside Carroll, and is simply not playing well as a result. If Big Andy’s injury is another serious one however, at least the prospect of the playing Enner and Sakho up top together, with Downing just behind, can return some smiles back to the Upton Park faithful after Saturday’s shenanigans.

Andy Carroll – Despite a return to form in recent outings, the match-up with Liverpool was really one to forget for Andy Carroll. In a game where revenge would have been at the forefront of the big man’s mind, all Carroll seemed to want to do is bully Emre Can, who had so been so unsubtly and obviously targeted by the West Ham no. 9 before the match. Can eventually provided Carroll with the source of his injury however, when the centre-forward tried to foul him inside the opposition’s box and hurt his ankle again as a result. Bad day out all round. Carlton Cole came on to replace the former Liverpool man after his injury concern, but was absolutely ineffectual when he was out there.

Sam Allardyce – It really can be a pain having this man as your team’s manager. Allardyce claims he is not a footballing dinosaur, as the rest of the footballing community have seemingly labelled him, but he proved on Saturday that he doesn’t learn from mistakes, is too preoccupied with getting a draw, and simply plays Kevin Nolan as if he is un-droppable. If the Hammers’ had somehow managed to sign Lionel Messi in the summer, Big Sam would likely be playing him as a winger who would need to track back, just so Kevin Nolan can maintain his place in the heart of West Ham’s attack. Allardyce builds his team around around the former Bolton and Newcastle man, wasting the talents of Downing and Valencia in the process, and making Carroll seem more one dimensional than he really is. Will it ever stop?

Can West Ham hold onto their new-found hero?

When the Hammers announced the signing of Diafra Sakho, a relatively unknown striker from France’s Ligue 2, midway through the summer transfer window, there wasn’t exactly a great deal of hype surrounding his arrival at Upton Park.

Talk began to circulate suggesting that Sam Allardyce had not been the man to pick out Sakho, but rather West Ham’s co-chairman, David Sullivan, believed that the former Metz forward deserved a gamble for his goal-scoring exploits in France. West Ham’s new no. 15 scored 39 goals across two seasons in Ligue 2, yet if it wasn’t for Sunderland overvaluing Connor Wickham at around £8 million, West Ham’s new Senegalese star may never have made it to the East end.

Regardless if such stories are actually true, Big Sam has certainly been a big fan of Diafra Sakho so far this season, as with 10 goals scored in all competition for the man who cost the Hammers £3.5 million in the summer, West Ham have seemingly found themselves a new hero.

In light of such developments, can the East end club keep hold of their new found fan-favourite, or will Diafra Sakho soon be on his way out of Upton Park?

Whilst the Senegalese striker may be making huge strides in the Premier League so far this campaign, he still remains a player who hasn’t been tested at the top level for a consistent period of time. There are plenty of other star names out there who have led the front-line for their clubs at Champions League level, and on the international scene, who would likely prove a more sensible buy for the Europe’s top clubs.

For that reason, it seems highly unlikely that Diafra Sakho will be on his way out of Upton Park anytime soon. Even if a big offer does come in for the in-form 25-year-old, Sakho has already displayed a certain connection with the West Ham fans that has been somewhat missing among previous new signings at the club. ‘The Sak’ boldly presents the crossed-hammers arm gesture to the Upton Park faithful whenever he nets a goal, and as he has proved that goals are his specialty so far this campaign, the West Ham fans have had a great deal of time to soak in the celebratory atmosphere created by Diafra Sakho.

He may not be the most gifted player with the ball at his feet, and he may not even be 100% reliable in one-on-one situations with the keeper, but as has been present for the striker so far this season, Sakho has the uncanny knack of simply being in the right place at the right time. West Ham’s no. 15 has movement that causes havoc with defenders, and either alongside fellow new-boy Enner Valencia or the injury returning Andy Carroll, Sakho can produce results and put the ball in the back of the net pretty consistently.

The former Metz man is therefore likely to stay with West Ham at least for the foreseeable future. If he did make a shock move this season however, it seems Liverpool, with their current crisis in front of goal, have reportedly expressed an interest in landing the new Hammers star.

Mario Balotelli’s current lack of form is believed to be a major issue at Anfield right now, and if the enigmatic Italian doesn’t find his scoring boots sooner or later, the £16 million man could soon find himself on his way out of Liverpool almost as soon as he arrived. The likes of Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini have also seemingly been unable to make the grade with Brendan Rodgers’ side, but seeing as West Ham’s Diafra Sakho will likely cost a great deal for not much top-flight experience, do Liverpool really want to take another risk in their striking department?

The prospect of Sakho signing for the Reds this January just seems too unlikely. West Ham are still higher than Liverpool in the league, and as the Senegalese star has reportedly been in further talks with West Ham for an improvement on his current contract, perhaps Diafra Sakho will be a Hammers star for a long while to come.

Bristol City 0 – 1 West Ham – FA Cup 4th Round

Whilst it wasn’t the most straight forward cup win West Ham have ever had, Big Sam’s boys have eventually made it to the 5th round of the FA Cup after beating Bristol City 1-0 at Ashton Gate last Sunday. The match saw the Hammers get off to a slow start once more, in very similar fashion to the victory against Hull in the Premier League this month, but manage to scrape a win through a well taken Diafra Sakho header, after the likes of Matt Smith and Luke Freeman caused untold problems in the first half. The Hammers now go on to face Tony Pulis’ West Brom away in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

A quick shout out goes to Bristol City however, who put in a more than spirited performance and didn’t deserve to be on the losing end of this result.

Adrian – Whilst he faced a slight onslaught from the Bristol City attack for parts of the match, Adrian wasn’t actually tested too much in saving the opposition’s shots. The Spaniard did have to be helped out by his own teammates on a couple of occasions however, as both Mark Noble and Andy Carroll were forced into making goal-line saves with their heads.

Carl Jenkinson – Jenko had another strong match against Bristol, looking competent in every aspect of his game. His progress in a West Ham shirt has ultimately been very steady to say the least.

Winston Reid – Although the New Zealander came off second best to Matt Smith several times throughout the match, Winston Reid turned on the style in the second half and picked up, a perhaps questionable, man of the match award.

James Tomkins – As he wasn’t expected to be fit for today’s match after coming off with an injury concern against Hull, it was great to see Tomo back, even if he wasn’t at his very best.

Aaron Cresswell – Another strong display from Cresswell, both in defence and on the attack.

Alex Song – Perhaps this was Alex’s worst performance in a West Ham shirt to date, but even under such circumstances, the Cameroonian would have likely found his pace if he were left on the pitch for that little bit longer. Song was replaced by Morgan Amalfitano in the second half, who despite a few promising glimpses, didn’t really get into the game.

Mark Noble – As was the case with Song, Nobes was once again not in the greatest form against Bristol, but he eventually managed to up his standards as the game progressed.

Kevin Nolan – As is always the situation with our club captain, even on his better days such as this one, he just doesn’t contribute enough to the team. Unfortunately, it really is as simple as that. Nolan was replaced in the 88th minute by Guy Demel, whose appearances have been a big rarity so far this season.

Stewart Downing – When Big Sam started the match with Downing as a winger, things just weren’t happening for the recalled England international. As more freedom developed for him in the centre of the park however, Downing started to get into the match and somewhat boss proceedings for West Ham coming forward. West Ham should therefore no longer waste the opening stages of their matches with the wrong formation.

Enner Valencia – Enner was equally played out wide during his time on the pitch, and as has been the case for the Ecuadorian in similar situations this season, the tricky striker just couldn’t find his feet and looked somewhat lost. Big Sam should only play Valencia as a striker for the remainder of this season in light of such clear developments. Diafra Sakho eventually came on to replace Valencia, and thrived out there as a result. His goal was well taken, but moments before the Senegalese striker struck the bar from what would have been a very well worked individual finsih. The Senegalese national set up and fans alike have come down hard on Sakho for not being available to play in this season’s AFCON however. Whatever has gone on here behind the scenes does seem a bit suspicious, as Diaf was meant to be out of action for this particular fixture, but the 25-year-old still has plenty of time to make a name for himself on the international scene as well as with West Ham.

Andy Carroll – Another stand-out performance from the big man, despite the fact that Carroll hardly won anything in the air for once. His assist for Diafra Sakho in the second half has continued his strong nature in front of goal and ability to supply for his team mates. This kind of form just hadn’t been apparent in Andy Carroll for West Ham before this season, so it is great so see what a run of games has done for his confidence.

Sam Allardyce – If West Ham had not won this game, Big Sam would have had a lot of explaining to do. The Upton Park faithful are all too aware that the 4-5-1 formation doesn’t work for us, no matter how the management dress it up and disguise it. 4-3-1-2 is the clear way forward and it remains annoying to see the likes of Morgan Amalfitano, who has deserved a starting place from his recent performances, left on the bench time after time. This didn’t end well in regards to Mauro Zarate, so Allardyce has to make sure he doesn’t alienate anymore good players. All and all though ,a win is a win, and West Ham march on in the FA Cup.

Have West Ham found the perfect replacement for Winston Reid?

Although West Ham aren’t flying quite as high in the Premier League as they were just a few months ago, 2014/15 has nonetheless been a very successful season for Big Sam’s Hammers. The Upton Park faithful have seen their side become prolific in front of goal, try to introduce a more possession-based style of play, and despite recording only five clean sheets this season, Allardyce’s side have become rugged and resolute at the back.

The defensive side to West Ham’s success this season has largely been brought about by New Zealand international, Winston Reid. Alongside both James Tomkins and James Collins, West Ham’s no. 2 has been strong in the tackle and excellent at reading the game.

Such good form has therefore seen Reid draw attention from a whole manner of different admirers. As his contract is due to expire in the summer, Arsenal have reportedly become front runners to land the New Zealander’s signature, even though West Ham would be reluctant to let him leave in January.

In light of this news, Marseille’s Cameroonian centre-back, Nicolas N’Koulou, has emerged as a potential replacement for Winston Reid should the Hammers be forced into selling him. And while West Ham’s recent transfer policy has seemed spot-on recently, would N’Koulou serve as an adequate replacement for Reid, and how will Big Sam’s side adapt to life without their star defender?

While any deal linking Winston Reid to Arsenal is far from complete, the current feeling around Upton Park reveals an air of inevitability on him leaving the East End soon. Nicolas N’Koulou would represent a good deal for Sam Allardyce however, especially if the Hammers don’t have to break the bank to get him.

The 24-year-old Cameroonian, who is currently away on African Cup of Nations duty, has become known in Ligue 1 for his versatility. He can play anywhere across the back four, thriving in the heart of defence as well as at full-back. N’Koulou may not be the finished article, but if his proposed move to Upton Park manages to take place, the up-and-coming young centre-back would bring bags of experience with him, both domestically and on the international scene.

Although the Ligue 1 star would certainly offer a great deal for West Ham on the pitch, with his effective defensive style and aggressive tackling nature, the list of reasons to bring him to Upton Park doesn’t just end there. The Cameroonian international’s potential arrival in the East End could be also be part of the grand plan to get Alex Song tied down permanently at Upton Park

The two international teammates are thought to be friends off the pitch, and if Nicolas N’Koulou eventually signs for the Hammers and gets Song to follow suit, the disappointment of losing Winston Reid will be long forgotten.

If such a deal fails to take place however, and Nicolas N’Koulou shuns his potential new life in London, the West Ham board have apparently singled out a few other defensive names to sure up their side’s back-line. In the wake of Winston Reid’s likely departure, Palermo’s Ezequiel Munoz has reportedly been highlighted as another suitable replacement, joining 21-year-old Canadian defender Doneil Henry, who has already signed for West Ham this window.

Despite not wanting to lose one of their best players during such a good spell for the club, West Ham fans, for the most part, have now come to terms to losing Winston Reid due to his failure to sign a new contract.

While no team wants to see their best players leave just when things are going well, Marseille’s Nicolas N’Koulou could be the next best option for Big Sam in his quest to take the Hammers up the league table.

West Ham 3 – 0 Hull City

West Ham have returned to winning ways after resoundingly beating Hull City and Upton Park this Sunday. It was a match that saw the Hammers initially fall short of their usual standards at home in the first half, but Big Sam’s side came out after the interval with renewed energy and determination to take all three points. Andy Carroll, Morgan Amalfitano and Stewart Dwoning were responsible for the goals, which ultimately saw the Hammers cruise to victory over the Tigers.

Adrian – The Spaniard was solid whenever called upon, which considering the lack of striking options available to Steve Bruce, wasn’t very often.

Carl Jenkinson – Another fine performance from the Arsenal loanee. After display’s such as this one, it’s hard to imagine West Ham’s team without Jenkinson on board next season.

James Tomkins – Whilst he was run ragged by Sone Aluko in the first half, Tomkins rose up from his initial scares to help record only West Ham’s fifth clean sheet of the season. The Hammers’ no. 5 was taken off late on with an injury scare however, and replaced by Joey O’Brien for the remainder of the match.

James Collins – Before also being brought off with an injury concern, Collins was a strong contender for the man of the match award with another great display against Hull. He was replaced in the second half by an ever resilient Winston Reid, who also impressed.

Aaron Cresswell – Another great showing from Cresswell, at both aiding his team in attack and providing organised strength at the back.

Mark Noble – Nobes didn’t have the greatest game against Hull and was rightly taken off early in the second half. Morgan Amalfitano, who simply changed the way West Ham approached their football after the interval, came on and done well once again.

Kevin Nolan – Whilst this was definitely one of his better performances in a West Ham shirt this season, Nolan still shouldn’t be starting ahead of Amalfitano as his overall contribution remains too low.

Alex Song – Although Alex really couldn’t find his feet in the first half, as the game played out he became more and more formidable. Once Song started bossing the midfield – West Ham started winning the match.

Stewart Downing – As was also true with Alex Song, Downing just didn’t show up in the first half, yet came into his own in the second.

Enner Valencia – Whilst his performances still remain erratic, Valencia’s unpredictable nature nonetheless makes him an important asset for Big Sam this season. His link up play with Song and Amalfitano was on point, and he impressively finished the match with two nice assists, one albeit coming from a somewhat tame shot.

Andy Carroll – Great in the air, great on the deck – Andy Carroll is simply getting better and better with every passing game this season.

Sam Allardyce– Aside from dropping Morgan Amalfitano, who made a winning contribution in the second half, Big Sam went about his business against Hull City in pretty much flawless style.

West Ham release Ricardo Vaz Te

West Ham’s 2012 play-off winner, the ever-amusing Ricardo Vaz Te, has left the club after reaching an agreement to end his contract in East London. The Portuguese forward is reported to be joining up with the Turkish league, with Roberto Carlos’ Akhisar Belediyespor thought to be the front runners to land his signature.

For all his goal-scoring exploits in the Championship, Vaz Te just never really settled in the Premier League with West Ham. His fiery, yet unpredictable nature, made forming any kind of meaningful consistency a hard task for the former Bolton man, especially as several injuries kept him in and out of the team. With the new signings brought in in 2014/15 however, Vaz Te couldn’t get near the bench, let alone the first team – so perhaps this is a deal that suits all parties involved.

The no.12 took to social media to reflect on his time at Upton Park…

“It has been a pleasure to be at a Club like West Ham. It was a fantastic opportunity and I am so grateful for having played here. Everything I achieved here and all my game time and my life off the pitch has been amazing.”

Now that Vaz Te and Mauro Zarate (albeit temporarily in the South American’s case) have been moved on this January, with Ravel Morrison and Matt Jarvis also expected to do the same, perhaps a few cheeky loan deals wouldn’t be too much to ask this winter with the wage bill somewhat freeing up.

West Ham 2 – 2 Everton – Hammers win 9 – 8 on pens

Big Sam’s boys have made it to the fourth round of the FA Cup, after failing to beat the Toffees across two legs, but eventually proving superior than Roberto Martinez’ side in what turned out to be a stormer of a penalty shoot out. It was simply a cup match to remember for the Upton Park faithful.

After succumbing to a last minute Romelu Lukaku goal at Goodison Park, Enner Valencia put the Hammers up this time around in what was his first goal in front of the home crowd. Despite Aiden McGeady’s slightly harsh second yellow in the second half, a well struck late Kevin Mirallas free-kick was enough to break Hammers’ hearts and signal extra time.

From there, Lukaku stepped up once more to put his side ahead, only to be pegged back very late on as the result of a successful Carlton Cole cameo. Penalties were the only option left to separate the two teams, with Adrian’s final effort proving to be a dramatic winner for West Ham, who now await Bristol City away in the next round.

The now infamous penalty shoot was played out as follows…

Kevin Mirallas – Scored, Mark Noble – Scored, Kevin Naismith – Missed, Kevin Nolan – Scored, Romelu Lukaku – Scored, Andy Carroll – Scored, Leighton Baines – Scored, Aaron Cresswell – Scored, Bryan Oviedo – Scored, Stewart Downing – Missed, Gareth Barry – Scored, Carlton Cole – Scored, John Stones – Scored, Enner Valencia – Scored, Phil Jagielka – Scored, Morgan Amalfitano – Scored, Seamus Coleman – Scored, Carl Jenkinson – Scored, Joel Robles – Missed, Adrian – Scored

Adrian – Likely one of his most memorable games in a West Ham shirt, Adrian proved Manuel Neuer-esque in his approach to scoring the last penalty. Taking his gloves off during the run up was just the icing on the cake of his infamous display against the Toffees – hero status is fast approaching for the former Betis man.

Carl Jenkinson – The current Arsenal loanee just keeps getting better and better this season with Tuesday night acting as no exception.

James Tomkins – Aside from his seemingly near punch up with Mark Noble, Tomkins put is a good display at the back, making one amazing block in the second half.

James Collins – In place of the usually present Winston Reid, Collins put in no less than a stand out man of the match performance, and perhaps also deserved a goal from some of his efforts. Ginge was replaced late on by Carlton Cole, who came on and done the business up front just when it was needed most.

Aaron Cresswell – Another great showing from Cresswell, who is fast becoming one of Allardyce’s most consistent players this season.

Mark Noble – Again, whilst his very public row with James Tomkins was slightly concerning, that all seems to have been put to bed now with Mark Noble returning to form and scoring from the spot-kick. Hopefully the whoo-doo of missing against Spurs on the first game of the season is now well and truly  behind him.

Alex Song – Although we only saw 60 minutes of the now retired Cameroon international, it was great to see Song back on the pitch and performing well for West Ham. He was replace din the second half by Kevin Nolan, who has improved slightly in his recent outings.

Matt Jarvis – After several poor performances such as this one, Jarvis could be on his way out of the door at Upton Park sooner further than later. He has just made no improvement since signing for the club. Morgan Amalfitano came on to replace Jarvis, and proved a much better option in the process.

Stewart Downing – Despite his penalty miss nearly costing West Ham the game, Downing was still in good form against Everton, even if this wasn’t a vintage performance by any means.

Enner Valencia – Although he missed a couple of easy chances that should have been put away, this performance marked a stark improvement for Enner since his recent drop in form. His goal should do him the world of confidence, especially as it was set up by his current striker partner, Andy Carroll.

Andy Carroll – The big man was great on Tuesday night, proving to be exceptional on the floor and a beast in the air. Carroll is improving with every performance as his fitness and confidence grows.

Sam Allardyce – Big Sam, even if he saw his side not finish off a team with only ten men, was pretty much on point against Roberto Martinez’ side, even if he should have never started Matt Jarvis ahead of Morgan Amalfitano. A win against Hull City this weekend is now a must as some tricky Premier League fixtures approach the Hammers in the coming months