CARROLL BRINGER ... Kevin Nolan salutes his opener with provider Andy Carroll
GIVE YOUR ALL ... West Ham boss Sam Allardyce urges his side on
TREBLE TOP ... Kevin Nolan rises to complete his hat-trick
West Ham 4 Reading 2
KEVIN NOLAN should definitely buy a Lottery ticket on May 19 next year.
Exactly 12 months ago he lifted the Championship play-off trophy at Wembley as the Hammers beat Blackpool.
Yesterday, he banged in a hat-trick to become the club’s top scorer this season as they wrapped up a 10th-place finish.
The chips were down, though, for Reading keeper Alex McCarthy, who had to cancel a holiday to Las Vegas after getting a shock call-up to the England squad last week.
His 23rd-minute clearance hit Andy Carroll and fell into the path of skipper Nolan, who gleefully took full advantage to score.
Hammers, who have lost only four at home and never been below 14th all season, looked to be heading for another victory.
McCarthy did try and redeem himself just after the half-hour, saving from Nolan after Carroll headed across the six-yard area.
But four minutes later England striker Carroll fed Ricardo Vaz Te, whose low shot fizzed by McCarthy into the corner.
The Royals came back firing after the break, though, with two goals in two minutes.
ROYALS manager feels his side has made improvements despite relegation from the Premier League
Jobi McAnuff set up Garath McCleary, with the ball deflecting off Mark Noble past Jussi Jaaskelainen in the 53rd minute.
Two minutes later supersub Adam Le Fondre did it again.
Winston Reid failed to clear, Nick Blackman had room to cross and ALF nabbed his 12th this term.
While West Ham clawed their way up from the Championship through the play-offs, Reading breezed up as champions. Fast forward 12 months and Royals have been relegated with the Hammers bubbling.
And as the minutes ticked away the difference in class was soon clear to see. Noble lofted the ball in and Nolan ran on to it to make it 3-2 in the 79th minute.
Then three minutes from time, Nolan headed in Modibo Maiga’s cross from six yards to bag a memorable hat-trick and make it 10 goals for the season.
Now Hammers boss Sam Allardyce is out to keep Nolan happy — by making signing his big pal Andy Carroll the priority this summer. The £35million striker, on a season-long loan from Liverpool, has forced his way back in to the England squad after a run of impressive performances.
While Hammers have already opened talks with Liverpool, the £17m price-tag remains a problem.
Allardyce said: “It is our main priority now to make the move permanent and hopefully we can do that as soon as possible.
“If we can start with signing Andy Carroll that will be a great achievement. Then we build on it.
“Not by making the squad bigger but by keeping it the same size with better quality.
“Andy looked like an England player today. He’s still young and can only get better and better.”
Reading chief Nigel Adkins insisted keeper McCarthy, 23, had not lost focus after his England call-up last week.
He said: “We gifted them two goals in the first half but we did give it a go in the second half.
“He hasn’t lost focus since the England announcement. He just needed to clear a football for the first goal. It was a poor execution but that’s life.”
DREAM TEAM STAR MAN - NOLAN (West Ham)
WEST HAM: Jaaskelainen 6, Demel 6, Collins 6, Reid 5, O’Brien 6 (Taylor 5), Diame 6, Noble 7, Nolan 9, Vaz Te 6 (Maiga 7), Carroll 6, J Cole 5 (Collison 6). Subs not used: Henderson, Tomkins, Paulista, O’Neil. Booked: Nolan, Collison.
READING: McCarthy 5, Gunter 6, Morrison 6, Gorkss 6, Kelly 6, McCleary 7, Karacan 6, Guthrie 6, McAnuff 6, Pogrebnyak 4 (Le Fondre 7), Robson-Kanu 4 (Blackman 7). Subs not used: Taylor, Pearce, Mariappa, Akpan, Carrico. Booked: McAnuff.
REF: M Dean 6
Nol limits: Kevin Nolan bags a hat-trick as the Hammers signed off in style
Captain fantastic: Nolan celebrates
West Ham United 4-2 Reading: Nolan hat-trick wins it for rampant Hammers
Kevin Nolan signed off his season with a hat-trick to seal West Ham’s place in the Premier League top 10.
The Hammers had built up a two-goal lead in the first half – with Andy Carroll causing havoc once again – only for Reading to level from nowhere within 10 minutes of the restart.
But West Ham skipper Nolan scored twice in eight minutes to send Reading back to the Championship without a last hurrah.
Sam Allardyce said: “In the opposition box Kevin’s always been top class. Finishing the season with a hat-trick has got to be thrilling for him.”
With the season over, Allardyce’s first priority is thrashing out a deal to bring Carroll back to Upton Park. Liverpool’s £35million man has been a big hit during his time in the East End, and chants of “Andy Carroll we want you to stay” echoed around the ground in both halves.
The price could prove a sticking point, but with negotiations already underway, this showing will only have increased West Ham’s desire to sign the big England forward on a permanent basis.
Allardyce said: “Hopefully we can get somewhere in the near future.
“Andy is our main priority at the moment and we have to pursue it to the end, one way or the other.
“If we can start with Andy Carroll that will be a great achievement for us.”
Carroll set up Nolan’s opener, although he would not have known much about it. Royals keeper Alex McCarthy’s attempted clearance cannoned into Carroll’s back and rebounded to Nolan, who coolly rounded McCarthy’s despairing dive and finished into the empty net.
McCarthy, called into Roy Hodgson’s England squad on Thursday, did not let his blunder destroy his afternoon, though, and redeemed himself somewhat soon afterwards with a reaction save to push another Nolan effort on to the bar.
That chance came from another Carroll assist, and the big man turned provider again for West Ham’s second, Ricardo Vaz Te taking full advantage to rifle the ball home.
Reading boss Nigel Adkins made a double substitution at half-time, but after such a dominant display from the home side he could barely have expected his team to be level within 10 minutes.
First a Garath McCleary shot took a heavy deflection to give Jussi Jaaskelainen no chance, then Adam Le Fondre added to his supersub credentials with a back-post equaliser.
It was the striker’s 12th goal of the season and his eighth from the bench, extending his own Premier League record.
But West Ham came again, Mark Noble’s lofted ball springing the offside trap for Nolan to score his second.
And the former Bolton and Newcastle man completed his hat-trick with a header three minutes from time.
All that was missing was a goal for Carroll, McCarthy having improvised a save with
his elbow to keep out a 25-yard effort just before Nolan’s third.
Adkins backs blundercat
Alex McCarthy followed his England call-up with a blunder to set Reading on the road to a 22nd defeat.
His attempted clearance hit the retreating Andy Carroll on the back to set up West Ham’s opener and end Reading’s bright start to the game.
But boss Nigel Adkins believes McCarthy will have learned from a testing afternoon.
He said: “He’s still a young goalkeeper, so it’s all good learning experience.
“One of the big things I’ve noticed with Alex is if he does make a mistake he can quickly forget it, which is important in a goalkeeper.
“He’s going to grow into a really good keeper and the more decisions he has to make, the more situations he’s placed in, it can only benefit him as a youngster.”
Adkins will now look to remodel his squad to suit his style of play as he plots an instant return to the top flight.
He said: “We look forward to next season with a positivity.”
Help the aged: Ambrosini has spent 18 years at Milan
Under the Hammer: West Ham show 'real interest' in signing AC Milan captain Massimo Ambrosini
Several clubs are expected to be in for the 35-year-old midfielder whose contract expires at the end of the season
West Ham are reported to be one of several clubs interested in signing AC Milan's veteran captain Massimo Ambrosini.
The 35-year-old's contract expires at the end of the season and, although it was widely expected that he would retire after 18 years with the club, it seems he could be open to a move to the Premier League.
The former Italy international's agent has confirmed that there is genuine interest from the Hammers.
"There is interest from West Ham and it's a real interest, like that of other English, German and American teams, although there have not been concrete contacts," Moreno Roggi told Sky Sports
"But, like every year, the first thing Massimo will do at the end of the season is speak with Adriano Galliani (AC Milan CEO)."
Having secured safety, West Ham chairman has confirmed that manager Sam Allardyce will be backed with funds to sign 'four or five' new players.
Ambrosini can offer experience, having won for league titles and two Champions League trophies.
The Italian would be available on a free transfer but there is expected to be competition should the player decide to further his career.
Treble top: Nolan scored three goals to secure the all the points for West Ham at Upton Park
Vaz the way to do it: The Hammers were two in front in the first half
Three and easy: West ham were comfortable victors in the end on a bright day in the East End of London
Out on a high: West Ham finished with a win and the players then thanked the fans for their support
West Ham 4 Reading 2: Royals flushed as Nolan hat-trick secures six-goal thriller
On a day of emotional farewells up and down the country, West Ham’s supporters made sure Andy Carroll felt the love with a heart-felt appeal for the Geordie giant to stay at Upton Park next year.
‘We want you to stay, we want you to stay... Andy Carroll, we want you to stay,’ they pleaded from the stands.
Indeed, such is the demand for Carroll to make his move from Liverpool permanent, it would not have been much of a surprise if the PR campaign had extended to naming him man of the match ahead of Hammers hat-trick hero Kevin Nolan.
Double your money: Nolan scored two goals to secure the three points for West Ham at Upton Park
Treble top: Nolan scored three goals to secure the all the points for West Ham at Upton Park
Match facts
West Ham: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Collins, Reid, O'Brien (Taylor 86) , Diame, Noble, Nolan, Vaz Te (Maiga 81), Carroll, Joe Cole (Collison 74).
Subs not used: Henderson, Tomkins, Paulista, O'Neil.
Scorers: Nolan 23, 79, 87; Vaz Te 34.
Booked: Nolan, Collison.
Reading: McCarthy, Gunter, Morrison, Gorkss, Kelly, McCleary, Karacan, Guthrie, McAnuff, Pogrebnyak (Le Fondre 46), Robson-Kanu (Blackman 46).
Subs not used: Taylor, Pearce, Mariappa, Akpan, Carrico.
Scorers: McCleary 53, Le Fondre 55
Booked: McAnuff.
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
Attendance: 34,973
Liverpool rate their striker at £17million, West Ham’s valuation is more like £10million.
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce said: ‘Andy’s disappointed he didn’t score but you see his all-round ability more and more with each game he plays.
‘He is our target and hopefully we can get something done in the near future. He is our main priority. He can only get better and better.’
If Carroll’s recall to England’s squad for the friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and Brazil looked justified, the addition of Reading keeper Alex McCarthy to Roy Hodgson’s squad did not.
A poor clearance by McCarthy rebounded straight off Carroll into Nolan’s path, the midfielder rounding the despairing keeper before finishing into an empty net for West Ham’s opener.
And the home side were soon two to the good when Carroll used his strength to tee up Ricardo Vaz Te.
But a half-time pep talk for McCarthy and the introduction of Nick Blackman and Adam Le Fondre at the break turned the tide for the visitors.
Two goals in two minutes from Garath McCleary and Le Fondre, taking his season tally to eight coming off the bench, stunned West Ham.
But Nolan ensured his side’s first season back in the top flight ended in the top half by first steering Mark Noble’s long ball past McCarthy and then heading in substitute Modibo Maiga’s cross.
Reading manager Nigel Adkins now has the summer to fashion a side capable of bouncing back at the first attempt and insisted McCarthy is an integral part of his plans.
‘If he does make a mistake he quickly forgets it,’ said Adkins. ‘He is going to grow into a really good goalkeeper.’
Coming up against a player of Carroll’s barnstorming qualities is certainly an education.
Negredo not keen on West Ham United move
Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo is understood to have rejected a possible transfer to West Ham United this summer.
The Spaniard is expected to be on the move at the end of the season as the La Liga club looks to balance its books.
However, the 27-year-old made it known that he does not want to join the Hammers after learning of their interest, according to Marca.
Negredo has scored 20 league goals for Sevilla during the current campaign.
Done deal: Razvan Rat will complete his move to West Ham
West Ham to complete signing of Shakhtar left back Rat and remain keen on Figueroa
Romania and Shakhtar Donetsk left back Razvan Rat will have a medical at West Ham today ahead of signing a three-year deal.
The 31-year-old’s agent said: ‘The trainer has put him on the top of the wish list and the owner has approved the move.’
West Ham are still keen on Maynor Figueroa, 30, of Wigan and Newcastle’s Danny Simpson, 26, as are Hull.
Juventus want to sign Carlos Tevez, 29, from Manchester City as well as his fellow Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain, 25, from Real Madrid.
Carlos Tevez
Daily Mirror
Tevez is interested in a move to Monaco but would also consider joining Paris St-Germain this summer.
Gazzetta dello Sport (Italian)
Bayer Leverkusen striker Andre Schurrle is confident of making a move to Chelsea this summer. The Germany striker, 22, claims Leverkusen's 1-0 win at Hamburg was his final game for the club.
Sky Sports
Sevilla's Spain forward Alvaro Negredo, 27, has rejected interest from West Ham as he wants to join a bigger club.
Marca
Fiorentina sporting director Daniele Prade says the club are set to decide on the future of Montenegro forward Stevan Jovetic, 23, who has been linked with Arsenal, Manchester City and Juventus.
Fiorentina striker Stevan Jovetic
Jovetic scored in Fiorentina's 5-1 win at Pescara on Sunday.
Tuttosport
Hull are prepared to pay £3m for Peter Odemwingie after the Nigerian striker, who failed to force through a January move to QPR, angered his West Brom team-mates once again by criticising them in the wake of the 4-0 defeat at Norwich.
Daily Mirror
Norwich and Swansea are both interested in Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter, 23.
Sky Sports
Aston Villa have started talks over a new deal for Belgium striker Christian Benteke, 22, who has scored 23 goals since joining from Genk last summer.
Birmingham Mail
Coach Walter Mazzarri has confirmed he will leave Napoli this summer.
Tuttosport (Italian)
Sir Alex Ferguson did not always enjoy the best relationships with referees but officials Michael Oliver, Chris Foy, Ceri Richards and Dave Bryan had their photographs taken with him and got autographs from the retiring Manchester United manager after the 5-5 draw at West Brom.
Full story: Daily Mail
Chelsea's players gave Guus Hiddink a £200,000 watch at the end of his spell at Stamford Bridge but outgoing boss Rafael Benitez did not even receive thanks from John Terry, W ank Lampard or Paulo Ferreira during on-pitch speeches following the 2-1 win over Everton.
Daily Mirror
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