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West Ham vs. Everton Preview West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has been around the game long enough to not get too high when things are going well and not get too low when they arent. However, after his side beat Cardiff 2-0 on the opening day of the season, even he couldnt help himself as he looked ahead to a new season with great anticipation. "This has been the best pre-season weve had, no disruptions, no injuries. If you look at our team today we had players like Jack Collison and Matty Taylor who couldnt even make the bench. They have to overcome that disappointment, work hard, weve got a strong squad now," he said with a smile. Already that strong squad is being tested. A month is a long time in football and Big Sam has certainly been challenged since that warm day at Upton Park. On the field, West Ham have played three Premier League games since and scored no goals. Two scoreless draws, at Newcastle and Southampton, have certainly prevented it from being a poor run but concerns are growing at their lack of a goalscoring threat with the Hammers managing just two shots on goal in their last three games, which included a 1-0 loss at home to Stoke. (photo: fourfourtwo.com - Click For Larger Image) Off the field, Allardyce has had to deal with an injury to key man Andy Carroll, a bizarre late transfer request handed in by Ricardo Vaz Te and a mad late rush to find another front man. Despite reports suggesting England international Carroll would be out for up to four months, it appears that wont happen, but it also appears the 24-year-old isnt close to playing a game anytime soon after unsuccessful visits to Holland and Belgium recently to attempt to cure his foot problem. In the meantime, Vaz Te has stayed, but unquestionably annoyed his manager, while Allardyce has recruited former Fulham striker Mladen Petric on a free transfer to bolster his options. The Croatian, however, is still not match fit, much like former Hammer Carlton Cole, who is currently training with the squad, leaving Mobido Maiga as the only choice for West Ham at the moment. Much like his team, Maigas form has dipped dramatically since the win at Cardiff. "Really happy for Mobido, he came with a big reputation last year, it didnt work out, but he led the line really well today," said Allardyce after the Cardiff win. Three starts later and the Malian has looked more like the version Hammer fans grew frustrated with last year, drifting out of games, being far too timid on the ball and not bringing his teammates into the game. And that, more than anything, is where they miss Carroll. Plenty of negative things have been written about the former Newcastle and Liverpool striker, but, without doubt, Carroll is very good at linking an attack, holding the ball up well, and in a system with one man up front that is essential for a team like West Ham. "We can definitely create more off him," reflected Allardyce this week. He continued: "No disrespect to the other strikers but Andy holds it up better and creates more problems for the oppositions defence." Carroll is yet to play a minute this season but of the four matches West Ham have played, Carroll was involved in two of them last year and the difference in his ability to lay a ball to a teammate is much different to Maiga. At Newcastle... (photo: fourfourtwo.com - Click For Larger Image) At Southampton... (photo: fourfourtwo.com - Click For Larger Image) For Maiga this is his chance. Scorer of 24 goals in Frances Ligue 1 the two previous seasons before his move to London, he has a proven track record that he can make a difference at a decent level but so far he has been a major disappointment. Thankfully for West Ham, with worries in attack, there have been no concerns at the back. Importantly, the same four players have started all four games in defence, and they have combined to concede just one goal this season, and that came from a set piece when Stokes Jermaine Pennant curled a free kick around the wall to win the last league game at Upton Park. Last weeks point at Southampton, though, was gained thanks to a man of the match performance from goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen who showed, even at 38 years old, that he can still be counted on when his defence doesnt have the best of games. Collectively the entire team will have to defend better this Saturday when an unbeaten Everton are their guests at Upton Park. Last Sunday against Southampton, West Ham allowed the Saints defenders to have time on the ball, before pressing them in the middle of the park. Roberto Martinezs team have already shown signs that they like to play the ball out from the back, more than they did under David Moyes, and it will be interesting to see just how aggressive West Ham are at pressing in their final third. The Toffees have also got three clean sheets out of their first four games and combined with their defensive solidity they have still managed to get their full backs, Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines, forward a lot to contribute to their attack. Playing against a West Ham team that like to play with wingers, Saturdays game should be an open, stretched game with plenty of scoring opportunities. One man likely on the end of the ones for Everton will be loan man Romelu Lukaku, who can finally make his debut after being ineligible against Chelsea last week. Lukakus appearance at Upton Park will be a fitting reminder to Allardyce that he is short in attack without Carroll as the manager made it known this week that he hoped the Belgian might have joined the Irons. "We chased him all summer to be honest. When it came the final day of the deadline we missed out and Everton managed to secure his position for a loan deal. We were more or less told he was going back to West Brom but in the midst that changed for whatever reason I dont know. We didnt manage to clinch it." The capture was a victory for Everton on deadline day. Allardyce will be hoping it doesnt lead to a victory on Saturday. Join Alastair Connolly and myself on TSN following the conclusion of Norwich vs Aston Villa as we get you set for West Ham vs Everton, kicking off at 10am et. Jordan 1 China . PAUL, Minn. Off White Jordan 1 Wholesale . Petersburg of the KHL. Belov was a free agent last summer when he signed a one-year contract with the Oilers. In 57 games this season he had one goal and six assists with 34 penalty minutes in Edmonton. http://www.bestfakejordan1.com/best-fake...white-mens.html. Villarreals victory in Valencia kept it in fourth place and in control of Spains last Champions League spot. Uche broke free in the area in the 10th minute and was brought down by goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who was shown a direct red card. Discount Jordan 1 .J. -- The NHL reduced its penalty against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday for signing Ilya Kovalchuk in 2010. Fake Air Jordan 1 Low .com) - Scott Parel carded a 5-under 65 on Thursday and he grabbed a 1-stroke lead after one round of the season-opening Panama Claro Championship.NEW YORK -- NHL players are just a slap shot away from returning to the Olympics next year. While a deal hasnt been reached yet between the NHL, the union and the International Ice Hockey Federation, to send the leagues players to Sochi, a long meeting Monday pushed the sides much closer to an agreement. "Things are moving along," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. Bettman, union leader Donald Fehr and IIHF President Rene Fasel met for more than five hours Monday at league headquarters to work on a deal that would allow NHL players to compete at the 2014 games in Russia. This would be the fifth Olympics for the NHL. Not everything has been agreed to and the various sides need to meet internally to sign off on any pact. Still, Bettman called Mondays session a "constructive meeting," adding there are still "some Is to dot and Ts to cross." "I think its fair to say that were not quite ready to announce its done," Bettman said. Fasel headed to the airport following the meeting and planned to get together with various international groups beginning on Tuesday. Fehr will brief the players during multiday union executive board meetings next week. "We had a very constructive meeting," Fasel said. "I am very happy and pleased. I have to go back also to my federation and to other national federations, especially back to the IOC, to make a report. I am confident that we will have a solution at the end." When pressed for a timeline to get a deal done, Bettman responded with an emphatic, "Soon. Very soon." "Were on a compact schhedule," Bettman added.dddddddddddd "Everybody is working very hard and we seem to be pulling the oars in the same direction." The biggest challenge the NHL faces every time the Olympics come is the need to stop the hockey season for several weeks in order for its players to go. That is even more of a factor this time because the Olympics are taking place one year after a lengthy lockout wiped out nearly half of the hockey regular season. While the Olympic exposure is good for the NHL, breaking up another season in February is hardly ideal. Bettman declined to get into specifics of what still needs to be worked out. But it was certainly a positive to see all three men standing side by side outside the NHL offices -- a far cry from last year during the lockout when Bettman and Fehr were on opposite sides and held separate news conferences on the street. Fehr agreed with Bettman this time that only smaller details have to be ironed out before a final deal can be reached. "From my end, while weve made a lot of progress on a lot of issues, there are a few I dots and T crosses to do yet," Fehr said. "We have to turn it into final written documents, and I do have to go back to my executive board. Things are moving along." Fasel, from Switzerland, joked that an agreement could already have been in place if the talks werent held in English. "There are still some language problems to understand. Its not so easy for me," he said. "I would prefer to speak French with my two colleagues. It would be much easier to negotiate with them." ' ' '