Allardyce praise for "commanding" Burke

Allardyce praise for “commanding” Burke

Sam Allardyce explained after today’s game that QPR’s desire and anxiety was a key issue in today’s clash.

He told West Ham TV “I think we had to match the fact that when a team is at the bottom of the league and the games remaining are in single figures, the desire and anxiety of the opposition is so much greater than it is at the start of the season,” the manager told West Ham TV.

“When there are only three, four or five games left and a team is in the bottom three and three or four points adrift, the opposition get more and more desperate.

“Of course we had many positions to have scored but failed to do so. The best in the first half came before the penalty when Enner Valencia should have rolled the ball to an unmarked Kevin Nolan in the middle of the goal.

“I understand his frustration because he wanted to score and we want him to score more, but not when there is someone else in a better position, because you must give them the ball.”Of the missed CharlAustin spot kick he said: “It was obviously a penalty, but there was a clear foul just before on Cheikhou Kouyate, who was just cleaned out by Karl Henry as he headed the ball, which meant the ball went to a QPR player instead of one of ours. I don’t think you could blame the referee because Ginge’s hand was in the air above his head.

“Then, though, we had the master of penalty saves there for us again – that’s his third one on the trot and it was the major reason we got a point. It was not fortunate, but fantastic goalkeeping because he has proved it in the past.

“There was also no doubt about the foul on Adrian for the goal they have had disallowed, so we got the defensive side right.”

He was pleased with the assured performance of 18-year-old Reece Burke on his Barclays Premier League debut – and just his third first-team appearance.

He said: “We had a young man in Reece Burke making his debut and he stood up to Austin and Bobby Zamora and came away with a clean sheet

“It was a magnificent feeling for him and his family. I could imagine the nerves and excitement they felt about him playing, and he played so well and looked calm and commanding at times.“There is a future for him if he works harder than he has ever worked. If you never stop working and practising then you will forge yourself a career in the game.

“He has given us an insight into the fact he can cope with this level on a one-off basis, so now he has to prove he can play regularly at this level.”

About Hugh5outhon1895

Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!" Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon

7 comments on “Allardyce praise for “commanding” Burke”

rugbyirons April 25, 2015 at 8:31 pm Reply

There is only a future if Allardyce leaves
Hugh5outhon1895 April 25, 2015 at 9:36 pm Reply

Yep
johnham1 April 25, 2015 at 10:04 pm Reply

Burke performance today and Oxford’s undoubted ability tells me that we should never pay 7-8m for Jenks, he is not good enough for arsenal so he should not be good enough for west ham. Spend the money on a playmaker behind Sakho and Valencia – and btw the next person I hear saying that Downing is that player then I will go insane…!!! After a good start his performances have fell away…
- Roman April 25, 2015 at 11:33 pm Reply
  
  I agree John.Downing is slow when you compare him to similar players in the top teams.Unfortunately I suspect Jenks will be signed.It’s high time we raised the bar at WHU and didn’t settle for second best or championship standard players.All this talk of Europe at present is “bulls..t”.Hippo head has to go otherwise the misery will continue and any money spent by the owners will be wasted.
Rads has faith in Sams youth development policy!! April 25, 2015 at 10:27 pm Reply

Oh no,Johnham,your back on the Jenks rant,lol,since when has a player who aint good enough for Arsenal not been good enough for us.Youre delusional if you think we are on a par with them & shouldnt buy players because there not good enough for Arsenal.With that logic we shouldnt buy anyone from Chelsea,Utd or City either 😀
bubs April 25, 2015 at 10:29 pm Reply

Yep twice I hope so
Well done Burke let’s hope Hungry Hippo gives you your hard earn the place until you deserve to loose it,
Rads has faith in Sams youth development policy!! April 25, 2015 at 11:47 pm Reply

Lol,bubs,thats harsh.I dont get this shouldnt buy Jenks.I was there today & though he didnt have his best game neither did many.But if we can spunk 17m on Carroll then 6m on Jenks is nothing.People are thinking we can afford to buy champions league quality players.Well atm we cant,we dont have the funds.So if we have to buy top teams cast offs we have to live with it for a few years.Its ok saying spend 50m on players in the summer but who the hell is going to fund it? These people who want world beaters? Ofc they aint.

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