All the team news and background for Saturday's game
20.12.2007
Barclays Premier League
Middlesbrough v West Ham United
Riverside Stadium
3pm
Referee: Martin Atkinson (Yorkshire)
Team news
Alan Curbishley will leave it as late as possible to decide on the fitness
of James Collins (groin) and Luis Boa Morte (thigh) but is definitely
without the suspended Carlton Cole. Collins figured in last Saturday's 2-0
home defeat by Everton as a replacement for the injured Danny Gabbidon.
Anton Ferdinand (hamstring) is making progress but it is thought to be too
soon for him to return alongside Matthew Upson at centre-back.
Curbishley has positive news on Julien Faubert and Kieron Dyer, with the
former due to resume full training next week while the latter has been given
the all-clear to start jogging again. Lee Bowyer (hernia), Matthew
Etherington (groin), Bobby Zamora (knee) and Craig Bellamy (stomach) are all
still absent but the latter is not due to have an operation. He is working
with a specialist physio and fitness coach as part of his rehabilitation.
Freddie Ljungberg, Scott Parker and Dean Ashton will all hope to move a step
closer to full fitness after all had 90 minutes last time out.
Middlesbrough have concerns about Stewart Downing, with the left winger
having treatment on his injured hip this week, while Julio Arca is back in
contention after taking a knock in training over a week ago. Defenders
Andrew Taylor (foot) and Chris Riggott (calf) are both definitely out as is
forward Mido (groin). Manager Gareth Southgate has though been able to field
a largely settled side of late, most recently in the 1-0 win at Derby County
with Tuncay Sanli scoring his third goal in as many games.
Background
West Ham United have not won on Teeside since a 1-0 success on 3 March 1990.
The club were 3-0 winners in the reverse fixture this season on 15
September at the Boleyn Ground. Goals from Bowyer (46), a Luke Young own
goal (51) and Ashton (62) settled matters meaning the Hammers are bidding to
do their first double of the season. The lineups that day were:
West Ham United: Green, Neill, Collins, Upson, McCartney, Bowyer, Mullins,
Noble, Etherington (Boa Morte 78), Bellamy (Cole 26), Ashton (Ljungberg 81)
Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Young, Woodgate, Wheater, Taylor (Davies 83),
Boateng, Rochemback (O'Neill 68), Arca, Downing, Aliadiere (Tuncay 30), Mido
West Ham United have still not lost in all eight Premier League matches this
season where they have scored first and will return to the top half of the
table, for a day at least, should they maintain their outstanding away form.
Robert Green has conceded just five goals in eight away games this season, a
record only matched by Liverpool.
George McCartney is bidding to make his 21th appearance this season in all
competitions - and is the only West Ham United player who has featured in
every game to date, starting in each one. In terms of the Premier League,
only Robert Green and Matthew Upson have played every minute of the 16
matches. Bellamy, Bowyer, Ashton and Cole are the club's top scorers with
four goals.
Middlesbrough, who have received more cautions than any other top-flight
club this campaign (38), are bidding to make it three wins in a row for the
first time in 31 outings. Downing, who is an injury doubt, is the only
Middlesbrough player to have started every one of their Premier League games
this season. He is the club's top scorer with four league goals.
Last six league meetings (before this season)
31 March 2007 - West Ham United 2-0 Middlesbrough
11 November 2006 - Middlesbrough 1-0 West Ham United
17 April 2006 - Middlesbrough 2-0 West Ham United
23 October 2005 - West Ham United 2-1 Middlesbrough
21 April 2003 - West Ham United 1-0 Middlesbrough
7 December 2002 - Middlesbrough 2-2 West Ham United
The sides also met in the FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park on 23 April 2006
when Marlon Harewood's winner took West Ham United into the final
All time league record v Middlesbrough: W 23, D 10, L 22
General information
For latest ticket news, including how to buy on the day of the game, click
here. For details on getting to the Riverside Stadium click here.
Weather: The forecast is for an overcast day with the potential for rain.
Temperatures are not expected to exceed 8C.
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Captain's Blog: Christmas cheer - WHUFC
The Hammers skipper shares his thoughts before the trip to Middlesbrough
21.12.2007
Lucas Neill begins this week's column with reflections on the defeat by
Everton before the morale-boost of the players' Christmas get-together.
There is special praise for Robert Green, Freddie Ljungberg and James
Collins for their fancy-dress efforts - with all concerned looking forward
to Saturday's trip to Middlesbrough
Last weekend's result was hard to take and, although the scoreline read 2-0,
it could have been very different had we taken the three good chances we
created for ourselves in the first half but that sums up the quality in the
Premier League - if you don't finish your chances you get punished.
Everton scored at a crucial time in the game and then made it very difficult
for us sitting back and protecting their lead. It was the kind of
performance we are used to executing away from home. We are all disappointed
with the style we played in the second half and have worked hard this week
to not take the easy option and go long.
This week sees us in familiar territory with the bare bones of the squad to
pick from. As a result the game against Middlesbrough this weekend will be a
massive scalp if we come away with the three points considering our
circumstances, not that those of us playing will not be giving our all as we
always do.
To counteract a disappointing week for results and to lift spirits for those
hurting from injury and defeats we organised a day out for the whole squad
with the emphasis on light-hearted fun and teamwork. The boys went the whole
way with their sport-themed costumes and the turnout was at a maximum.
Greenie, Freddie and Ginge just shaded everyone for best dressed but every
time you caught a glimpse of somebody it brought a smile to your face!
The day started as normal with training before everyone headed down to
Canary Wharf for some paintballing, we them moved on to the appropriately
named Sports Café Bar where we fitted right in and sat round sharing laughs
and stories. The whole day was a huge success and now we look to take our
good spirits and unity into the rest of the Christmas period.
Thank you in advance to everybody making the long trip to Middlesbrough to
support us this weekend. We appreciate the huge sacrifice, not only because
of the distance but also because of the time of the year.
From all the players and staff here at the training ground, we would like to
wish everyone associated with West Ham and in particular the supporters a
very safe and merry Christmas!
Lucas Neill
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Curbishley fear over club parties - BBC
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley believes clubs should ban Christmas parties
for their players. His comments come following the rape allegations that
surfaced after the Manchester United party last Tuesday. "I'm not happy
about the Christmas parties," Curbishley told the Daily Star on Friday.
"They want to go to them, but it's a no-win situation. If anything happens
they will be criticised. I don't know how you solve it but by banning them."
Christmas parties and controversy have gone hand-in-hand for some Premier
League clubs over the last few years. But former Aston Villa and Manchester
United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich insists that most footballers behave
responsibly. "Footballers in general get a lot of bad publicity, some of it
warranted but the majority is unwarranted," Bosnich told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"In general they are good boys. "They come from working-class backgrounds.
There's a lot of jealousy about. People should also bear in mind that there
are also organisations of people who send these people in to get the players
into trouble. "I'm not making any judgments but this does go on. The bottom
line is every situation is different. "There are instances when footballers
have done things wrong and they deserve to be punished. "But there are
extenuating circumstances and you have to look at the whole picture where
people are sent in to get players into trouble."
Assistant chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association,
Bobby Barnes, said it was "unfortunate" that the media preferred to report
the salacious side of football rather than the good work done by players.
"Footballers are in the public eye - they've moved from the back pages to
the front pages," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. "It's unfortunate but papers
like to report stories that give players bad publicity. "There is an awful
lot of good stuff they do that don't make the pages."
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Middlesbrough v West Ham - BBC
Riverside Stadium
Saturday, 22 December
Kick-off: 1500 GMT
BBC coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on Match
of the Day.
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate could be without injured midfielders
Stewart Downing and Gary O'Neil. Julio Arca could return, but Fabio
Rochemback is suspended and Andrew Taylor (foot), Chris Riggott (calf) and
Mido (groin) are still out.
West Ham will give late fitness tests to James Collins and Luis Boa Morte,
who are both rated 50-50. Striker Carlton Cole is suspended, while Fredrik
Ljungberg and Danny Gabbidon are also doubtful.
Middlesbrough (from): Schwarzer, Turnbull, Young, Woodgate, Wheater,
Pogatetz, Huth, Cattermole, O'Neil, Boateng, Arca, Johnson, Shawky,
Aliadiere, Downing, Tuncay, Lee, Hutchinson.
West Ham (from): Green, Neill, McCartney, Gabbidon, Upson, Ljungberg,
Parker, Ashton, Pantsil, Solano, Noble, Mullins, Spector, Collins, Wright,
Walker, Camara.
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate: "We spoke before we went to Old
Trafford in October about having seven or eight games before Christmas.
"There was a group of teams up to 12th place and we wanted to be top of that
group at Christmas. "We are a point off it and if we can win on Saturday,
we might finish top of that group."
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley bemoans the club's injury problems, and
ponders a change of training pitch: A lot of the injuries the players have
got are old injuries which have returned. We don't know whether it is
because of the firmness of the pitches, so we are going to train on our
pitch but also the youth team's pitch which is softer. "They close for
Christmas so we will flip between the two training grounds."
BIG-MATCH FACTS
Middlesbrough are hoping to replicate in December what they last achieved in
January, by winning three Premier League matches on the bounce.
West Ham have conceded half as many Premier League goals as Middlesbrough
(14 to 28), and have won twice as many league matches away from home, as the
Teessiders have managed at home; four on the road for the Hammers, to two at
the Riverside for Middlesbrough.
Middlesbrough have dropped only two points from a possible 27 in home
Premier League matches against the Hammers, winning the last two with clean
sheets in both.
CLUB FORM
MIDDLESBROUGH
Club stats
Fixtures
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 12th
Lowest could fall: 16th
1. Won the last two; 2-1, home to Arsenal, and 0-1, away to Derby.
2. Not achieved three successive Premier League victories in 31 outings
since Sheffield United (h), Charlton (a) and Bolton (h) were defeated
between 1 and 20 January.
3. Averaging a point a game (17 in 17), which is a repeat of last season's
return to this same stage.
4. Opened the scoring in four Premier League matches; only Derby have taken
the lead in fewer (three).
5. Conceded the opening goal in 12 matches in the highest league this term,
losing seven of them. Only Derby have allowed the opposition to take the
lead more often, in 13 Premier League matches.
6. Scored 16 goals, at one every 96 minutes (one hour 36 minutes) of Premier
League football played; only Derby's attack is inferior to that, with a
paltry six goals netted.
7. Picked up more yellow cards in Premier League competition this season
than any other club (38).
8. Fielded 25 players in Premier League competition; only Fulham have used
more (26).
9. Own the third weakest home form in the highest league with nine points
from two wins and three draws in eight games; beaten Birmingham and Arsenal,
and lost to Blackburn, Chelsea and Aston Villa at the Riverside.
10. Visit Birmingham on Boxing Day, and Portsmouth three days later, before
the New Year's Day fixture home to Everton.
WEST HAM UNITED
Club stats
Fixtures
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 10th
Lowest could fall: 11th
1. Lost the last two in all competitions; both home to Everton.
2. Need a draw to total 50 Premier League points under Alan Curbishley.
3. Four goals short of scoring 3,000 in top-flight football.
4. Their 16 Premier League matches have produced just 34 goals (20 for, 14
against); at 2.13 goals per game, it's only slightly better than the lowest
return in this league of Chelsea's two per game.
5. A stronger second half side, with 14 of their 20 league goals scored
after the break (70%).
6. Won six of their first 16 Premier League matches this season; it took 30
games to notch six victories last term.
7. Not won in seven Premier League visits to the north-east, since defeating
Sunderland 0-1 at the Stadium of Light on 19 October 2002.
8. Boasting the joint tightest defence away from home in the Premier League,
along with Liverpool; both clubs have shipped just five goals in eight
matches.
9. Do not move out of London for the holiday programme with a home clash
against Reading on Boxing Day, and another against Manchester United three
days later, before the New Year's Day fixture at Arsenal.
KEY PLAYER NOTES
MIDDLESBROUGH
Stewart DOWNING is Middlesbrough's top scorer, with four Premier League
goals.
DOWNING is the only remaining player to have started every one of
Middlesbrough's Premier League matches this season.
If selected:-
Jeremie ALIADIERE will be making his 50th Premier League appearance
(Arsenal, West Ham and Middlesbrough).
If on the field from the outset:-
DOWNING will be making his 100th Premier League start in a Middlesbrough
shirt.
George BOATENG will be making his 200th start in Middlesbrough colours.
Suspended:-
Fabio ROCHEMBACK (one match)
WEST HAM UNITED
Dean ASHTON, Craig BELLAMY, Lee BOWYER and Carlton COLE are West Ham's joint
top scorers with four goals each.
BOWYER is the Hammers' top Premier League marksmen as all four of his goals
were in the league.
Robert GREEN has saved all three penalties awarded against the Hammers in
the Premier League this season.
Matthew UPSON and GREEN are the only remaining players to have been on the
field for every minute of every one of West Ham's Premier League matches
this season.
BOWYER is a double shy of 50 career Premier League goals (Leeds, Newcastle
and West Ham).
If selected:-
James COLLINS will be making his 100th career league appearance (Cardiff and
West Ham).
If on the field from the outset:-
George McCARTNEY will be making his 150th club career league start
(Sunderland and West Ham).
Carlton COLE will be making his 50th club career league start (Chelsea,
Wolves, Charlton, Aston Villa and West Ham).
HEAD TO HEAD
A 0-1 victory in the old Second Division on 3 March 1990 is West Ham's only
maximum in 12 League games on Teesside. Their most recent top-flight triumph
there was 2-3, at Ayresome Park on 20 March 1982.
Both victories also marked the last occasions West Ham completed the double
over Middlesbrough.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Middlesbro 22 wins, West Ham 21, Draws 10
Prem: Middlesbro 9 wins, West Ham 8, Draws 2
at Middlesbrough only
League (inc PL): Middlesbro 15 wins, West Ham 5, Draws 6
Prem: Middlesbro 8 wins, West Ham 0, Draws 1
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Middlesbrough 1-0 West Ham United
11 November 2006 - Ref: Mark Halsey
Middlesbrough scorer: Maccarone 74
THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
West Ham United 3-0 Middlesbrough
15 September 2007 - Ref: Steve Bennett
West Ham scorers: Bowyer 46, Young 51 og, Ashton 62
REFEREE
Martin Atkinson (Yorkshire)
Premier League referees' table
Martin Atkinson's 2007-08 Premier League card count
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Boateng: West Ham tougher than Arse - KUMB
Filed: Friday, 21st December 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
Middlesbrough's George Boateng has warned his team-mates that West Ham are
likely to prove a tougher proposition than Arsenal when the two sides meet
at The Riverside tomorrow. The experienced midfielder - speaking in his
column for icons.com - revealed that he expects the Hammers to be tougher to
break down than Arsene Wenger's side, who were beaten 2-0 by 'Boro on their
recent trip to the North East. "West Ham will be even tougher than Arsenal
or Derby because they're a very good team on the road," said Boateng. "At
home if they don't get an early goal the home crowd gets on their back and
they start getting nervous. "But they don't have that problem away from
home, so they can sit back a bit more."
* Alan Curbishley could call teenage defender James Tomkins into the squad
for tomorrow's game due to crippling defensive injury problems. Danny
Gabbidon and Antoin Ferdinand are both ruled out, whilst James Collins is
still rated only 50/50 after taking a knock during last week's 2-0 home
defeat to Everton. 18-year-old Tomkins is yet to feature in the Premier
League despite making a number of pre-season appearances for the first team.
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Middlesbrough v West Ham Utd - KUMB
Filed: Friday, 21st December 2007
By: Matthew Coker
I guess we are now into the official Christmas period as we look to churn
through four league fixtures in ten days, the first of which is the only one
that takes us out of London. It does take us quite a way out of London
though, as we venture to the North East to take on Middlesbrough in a
traditional, 3pm, Saturday kick off.
Our opponents are the Premier League side that most remind me of Patricia
Amos, the mother from Crewe, who was jailed for letting her daughter play
truant from school. Patricia and Amos have both had their problems with
non-attendance, though in Boro's case it has been the struggle to get fans
to attend games this season, with only the Sunderland game breaking the 30k
mark, in a stadium that can hold 35,000.
"You, sitting here in the ground week after week, can make all the
difference, the noise, the passion and the atmosphere. I know you want it."
David Wheater rallies the Boro faithless.
Boro fans often moan that the empty seats is all that anyone ever mentions
in relation to their team, but their cause wasn't helped by the e mailed
plea for fans to get to the Riverside by academy product, David Wheater in
an official club initiative. The situation is unlikely to change for our
visit either, as this week, the one before Christmas is traditionally the
worse attended match of the season throughout English football.
Our opponent's league position is a fairly precarious fourteenth place, just
four points off the bottom three and five points behind us. However, they
have picked up seven of those points in the last three games, so most
Middlesbrough fans are fairly happy with their very recent form as it
represents something of a zenith in the context of the season so far.
They have managed to notch up two victories on the road (at Fulham early on
in the season and at Derby last weekend) as well as drawing at Reading and
Bolton, so their points have tended to come against fellow strugglers. At
home, they have managed just two victories, an early season win over another
set of relegation possibles, Birmingham and the standout (but deserved)
victory over Arsenal in their last home fixture.
However, the Riverside has hardly proven to be a fortress, T*tenham,
Newcastle and Sunderland have all gone home with a point and Chelsea, Villa
(3-0) and Blackburn have all won there this season. We can also take heart
from the 3-0 win that we had over them at our place back in September,
although the scoreline did flatter our superiority.
Boro Bodies
In goal will be the long serving Mark Swartzer and in front of him a likely
line up of Harlow born, Luke Young, who kindly scored for us at the Boleyn,
on the right and Emanuel Pogatetz on the left. The central defensive duo is
likely to feature one of several local lads in the squad, David Wheater
alongside Jonathan Woodgate. Wheater's good form has managed to keep £6m
German international, Robert Huth, from forcing his way back from the
physio's table to the starting line up.
Boro usually play a conventional 4-4-2, with Gary O'Neil out on the right
hand side. He has impressed since his arrival from Portsmouth with his work
rate up and down the line and has arguably been the club's most consistent
performer. The left side is the domain of Stuart Downing, who is currently
the side's top scorer with four Premier League finishes to his name to date.
The central midfield pairing is usually the duo of the resolute, George
Boateng and chubby playmaker, Fabio Rochemback, but the latter will be
serving a suspension on Saturday having picked up five yellow cards. The
most likely replacement is in the form of Julio Arca, which will give the
team a greater degree of artifice in the middle of the park, though the
inclusion of Lee Cattermole from the start is also a possibility.
Another to watch out for, although possibly not from the start is Adam
Johnson, who has recently been recalled from his loan spell at Watford. He
is another local lad and academy product who, if nothing else, has seemed to
spur Downing back into good form since he has returned from the
Championship, to provide some competition for places.
"But after scoring two in two coming into this game he has now settled and
he has a rapport with the fans who can see the effort he is putting in."
– Southgate on Tungay.
The side has been struggling upfront, having not adequately replaced last
season's duo of Mark Viduka and Yakubu (who, after last week, is a player
that I don't want to see for a while). The big money replacement was former
Sp*rs striker, Mido, but injury has seen him ruled out for much of the
campaign, a situation that will continue into the new year.
The in form striker at the moment is the Turk, Tuncay, who has registered
all three of his Middlesbrough goals in the last three games, including a
sweetly struck volley against Derby last week. He is a decent footballer
with clever vision and neat touch and the fans feel that, given time, he has
the potential to live up to the excitement surrounding his arrival, when it
was felt he had the right qualities to achieve a kind of Juninhoesque
legendary status.
Former Hammer loanee, Jeremy Aliadiere, should also start. The former Gooner
possesses pace in abundance and this combined with a good work ethic has
contributed to him assisting in unlocking defences. However, his tally of
just one goal to date is a demonstration of his shortcomings and a new
striker is very much on the supporter's wish list for January.
The duo are backed up by Lee-Dong Gook, a South Korean International. Prior
to Tuncay's goal against Reading, Gook had a spell as a starter, but the
general consensus is that he is does not possess sufficient quality to make
an impact at this level and he is yet to register a goal this season.
Result at the Riverside
This has certainly not been a happy hunting ground for us so far as we are
yet to register an away victory over Middlesbrough in the Premier League.
The best result that we have achieved in the top flight in recent years was
a 2-2 draw back in December 2002.
When you compare our away form so far with their overall form so far, this
is set up to be a classic Curbs smash and grab. Our five man midfield should
stifle their line up, our defence should cope with a side that has struggled
to take its chances and you would fancy us to sneak one as we usually do on
the road.
However, confidence is sure to be a factor. Middlesbrough are going to this
on the back of two wins and a draw and are convinced that the bad luck that
they have been dogged by this year is starting to abate. They will also look
forward to history repeating itself in respect of the festive period, as
Christmas was the highlight of last season, when they amassed enough points
to keep any relegation worries well on the back burner.
When you throw their confidence up against our good away form, it resembles
my latest MFI purchase in having draw(er) written all over it. I'll guess at
1-1, which pretty much guarantees one of the sides going home with three
points.
Enjoy the game.
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Curbs in Bent deal? - KUMB
Filed: Friday, 21st December 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
West Ham are once again being linked with a move for former Charlton striker
Darren Bent. The 23-year-old twice-capped England international joined
Tottenham in a £16.5m deal in the summer but it said to be frustrated at his
infrequent inclusion in the first team. And today's tabloids report that
Alan Curbishley is poised to launch a £10m bid for the striker who rejected
a move to East London in order to sign for Spurs. According to the story
Bent is keen to leave White Hart Lane, with Tottenham said to be willing
part company with their record signing in order to generate much-needed
funds. West Ham are on the hunt for a striker due to a string of injury
problems. The Hammers are without Bobby Zamora and Craig Bellamy for
tomorrow trip to Middlesbrough, whilst Carlton Cole will also miss out due
to suspension.
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Adriano-no - KUMB
Filed: Friday, 21st December 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
Inter striker Adriano is set to return to Brazil, finally ending any
interest from West Ham. The Hammers had sought to sign the Brazilian
international during the summer transfer window but were rejected by the
25-year-old forward, who opted at the time to remain in Italy. However it
was confirmed last night that Adriano - who has barely played for the
Italian giants in the last two years after a series of off-field problems -
had agreed a six month loan deal with Brazilian champions Sao Paulo. "I'm
very happy with this deal," he said. "Since my first day at the club
everyone has treated me very well. It will be an honour to win titles for
Sao Paulo. I'm going to work very hard for this and to return to the Brazil
team." Another South American formerly linked with the Hammers, Juan Roman
Riquelme also recently returned to his home continent.
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No op for Bellars - KUMB
Filed: Friday, 21st December 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
Craig Bellamy will not require a second operation to cure a troublesome
groin, it has been revealed. whufc.com have confirmed that the Welsh
international striker will instead undergo a course of 'intensive personal
treatment' in order to cure the long-running problem which has blighted his
season. Alan Curbishley, talking on the club's website, said: "To operate
was the last resort really and the surgeons have agreed that it is not what
we need to do. "It has got to be a lot of hard work, which he is doing now.
We have locked him away one on one with a physio and fitness coach to work
as hard as he can and to try and recover that way." There is also good news
regarding Julien Faubert and Kieron Dyer, with both expected to return to
full training shortly.
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Middlesbrough v West Ham Preview
Boro bidding for three in a row
By Carla Hilton Last updated: 21st December 2007
Middlesbrough will be looking for their third victory in succession when
West Ham travel to The Riverside Stadium. Off the back of wins against
league leaders Arsenal and a struggling Derby County side, Boro boss Gareth
Southgate will be confident his side can make it three in a row for the
first time in January.
Injury worries
It won't be plain sailing with so many injuries hitting Southgate's squad as
Stewart Downing and Gary O'Neil both look doubtful to start on Saturday.
Southgate will also be without Fabio Rochemback (suspended), while Andrew
Taylor (foot), Chris Riggott (calf) and Mido (groin) are also still out.
Despite those absentees, Southgate will welcome the return of Julio Arca and
will go into the game in confident mood knowing his side's home record
against West Ham is one to be proud of.
Good record
Middlesbrough have dropped only two points from a possible 27 in home
Premier League matches against the Hammers and have won the last two with
clean sheets on both occasions. Saying that, their home form this season
leaves much to be desired. They have won only two of eight games at home to
date, drawn three and lost three. As for West Ham - they tend to travel
well. Four wins in eight away matches this term puts them in fairly good
stead for Saturday's encounter.
Though those wins did come against struggling sides such as Birmingham and
Derby County, and the Hammers will no doubt be deflated after a double
defeat to Everton in the Carling Cup and the league in their most recent
outings. The Hammers sit five points above Boro in the table and could go
into 10th place with a win at the Riverside Stadium.
Middlesbrough v West Ham Correct Score: Draw 1-1 11/2
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Middlesbrough v West Ham: Preview - Soccernet
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has admitted every player has his price
as the transfer merry-go-round gears up to swing into action once again.
The 37-year-old will attempt to strengthen his squad once again next month
having seen his club issue a hands-off warning to Everton and Tottenham, who
have been linked with moves for Stewart Downing and Adam Johnson
respectively. However, as he prepared his players for the Barclays Premier
League clash with West Ham at the Riverside Stadium, Southgate admitted that
there is a point at which every player, even at the biggest club, becomes
available. He said: ``Historically over the last five years or so, we have
hardly sold a player. I do not necessarily think that is healthy. ``We have
sold a couple of players in the last 18 months and that has been important
because any club has to generate its own income to a degree. ``If you look
at the top clubs, yes, they are seen as buying clubs, but they keep the
coffers swelled by selling at the right time and selling people they feel
are the right ones to move on for the right sort of money. ``We certainly
don't have to sell and as with all these things, there are some players of
whom internally you would say you would be loath to sell at any price.
``Certainly Stewart and Adam would be pretty close to falling into that
category. `It would be folly to say a player is not for sale at any price
because at any club in the world, any player has a price at a certain time.
``But we are certainly not looking to move either of those two on, that's
for sure.''
Boro will look to continue their recent revival by clinching a third
successive victory as the Hammers head north. They will have to do so
without the suspended Fabio Rochemback and possibly fellow midfielder Gary
O'Neil, who has a hamstring problem, but Julio Arca could finally return.
Anton Ferdinand (hamstring) could make the Hammers squad but Craig Bellamy
(stomach) and Bobby Zamora (knee) are still out.
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Irons using Academy's pitches - ITV
December 21 2007
Alan Curbishley has decided to switch West Ham's training to a different
pitch in a bid to cure the club's lengthy injury list. The Hammers squad has
been decimated this season, though Curbishley was able to report some good
news on Thursday when he revealed striker Craig Bellamy would not need an
operation to cure his stomach strain. The Irons boss also confirmed summer
signing Julien Faubert is just weeks away from making his competitive debut
for the club. But that has not stopped Curbishley taking preventative steps
to avoid a repeat of his side's early-season injury misery. The first team
will now use the Academy's pitches because the manager believes the senior
training surface could be too hard. He said: "A lot of the injuries the
players have got are old injuries which have returned. "We don't know
whether it is because of the firmness of the pitches here (at the training
ground) or in the Premier League. "We are going to train on our pitch but
also the youth team's pitch. They close down for Christmas so we will flip
between the two training grounds to see if that makes any difference because
their pitches are softer."
Bellamy's stomach injury could hardly be blamed on poor pitches but he has
still been sorely missed. The Wales captain has been out of action since
October and the club had feared he would need surgery to fix the problem.
However, Curbishley confirmed the 28-year-old has instead been put on a
strict training regime to get back to fitness. "It has now been decided that
the op was a last resort," said Curbs. "The surgeons have agreed it's not
what was needed and that just a lot of hard work was required, which is what
he is doing now. "We've locked him away with the physiotherapist and the
fitness coach to work as hard as he can and to try to recover. "He has got
to do this for a couple of weeks as well as all the core fitness work to
build up his groin and stomach muscles."
French midfielder Faubert, meanwhile, ruptured an Achilles tendon during a
pre-season friendly on July 17 against Czech side Sigma Olomouc and has not
played since. Curbishley said: "Faubert has been given the all-clear to
start (training) next week and Kieron Dyer has been given the go-ahead to
step up and do some light jogging. "Obviously, they were both long-term
injuries but Faubert is not far away."
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MIDDLESBROUGH v West Ham: Midfield duo doubtful - Daily Mail
Last updated at 11:25am on 21st December 2007
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate faces an anxious wait over midfielders
Stewart Downing and Gary O'Neil ahead of tomorrow's Barclays Premier League
clash with West Ham. Downing picked up a hip injury during last Saturday's
1-0 win at Derby and has been ill this week and, although he is hopeful of
making the game, O'Neil is a major doubt after being sent for a scan on a
hamstring problem he sustained in training yesterday.
Julio Arca could return after missing out at Pride Park as he returns from
his knee ligament injury, but Fabio Rochemback is suspended and Andrew
Taylor (foot), Chris Riggott (calf) and Mido (groin) are still out.
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Tomkins gets call as injuries mount up for Hammers boss Curbishley - Daily
Mail
Last updated at 13:54pm on 21st December 2007
Teenage defender James Tomkins is a surprise addition to West Ham's
injury-ravaged squad for tomorrow's trip to Middlesbrough. Already without
centre-halves Anton Ferdinand (hamstring) and Danny Gabbidon (groin) and
with James Collins (groin) doubtful, Alan Curbishley has called up the
England Under-19 defender into his senior squad for the first time.
Basildon-born Tomkins, a product of West Ham's youth academy and rated
highly by the Premier League club, could even make his debut at the
Riverside if Collins is ruled out but is more likely to be a substitute,
with Jonathan Spector coming in to play alongside Matthew Upson. Tomkins,
18, did feature in pre-season friendlies but struggled for much of the last
campaign with a serious shoulder injury. Defence is not the only area in
which Curbishley has problems, with injuries ruling out Lee Bowyer, Craig
Bellamy (both abdominal), Matthew Etherington (groin) and Luis Boa Morte
(thigh) while Carlton Cole is suspended. Bellamy, though, will not undergo a
second operation to try and cure his injury. "The surgeon has had a look at
him and agrees that an operation is not necessary," said Curbishley. "What
Craig needs now is two weeks of hard work, building up his stomach muscles
and we've locked him away with the physiotherapist and fitness coach for
some intensive training."
The Wales striker, who has been out since October, was recently spotted at
the Ricky Hatton fight in Las Vegas but Curbishley maintained today: "I knew
about that. Craig couldn't do anything at the time so it wasn't a problem."
Curbishley has decided to look into the reasons for the large number of
hernia-related injuries which are affecting his players this season. "Maybe
it is a coincidence but there could be other factors," he said. "A number of
the players had been suffering from hernia and groin problems before I came
to the club and it is still happening. "The firmness of the training pitch
could have some bearing on things and we're looking at it. In fact, pitches
at Premier League are generally more firm these days. We can't quite figure
it out yet but we're looking into everything, boots, pitches, the lot.
"There could be a reason for it but then again perhaps we're just unlucky.
All I know is that my overwhelming feeling this season is one of
frustration. "My first year has been difficult, fantastic, euphoric and now
frustrating. I have more than enough material to write another book."
Curbishley is expecting a tough challenge tomorrow against a Middlesbrough
side who, after a poor start, are beginning to improve. "They've had a
decent run, having beaten Arsenal, drawn with Reading and then defeated
Derby," he said. "Gareth Southgate is acquitting himself well there. It's
always difficult in your first year when you go from being a player at a
club to manager. "The second season can be even more difficult but by the
third, most of those players who were once Gareth's teammates may have moved
on and it will be his team. "The chairman there, Steve Gibson, has backed
him as he has done all his managers at Middlesbrough and, unlike us, they
have had a settled side in recent games which helps a lot." Southgate may
have to make at least one change for the match with England midfielder
Stewart Downing struggling to shake off a hip injury. Definitely out are
defenders Andrew Taylor and Chris Riggott, as is former Tottenham striker
Mido.
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West Ham's record buy from Spurs - Sportigo
Fri, Dec 21, 07 13:59
Mark Apostolou
'A move to West Ham could just re-launch Bent's career and he could form a
good partnership with Ashton' Even Mark Hughes was shocked that Blackburn
managed to snare star striker Roque Santa Cruz from Bayern Munich in the
summer for £3.5m. "I'm amazed no one had signed him,'' admitted the Rovers
boss. ''Everyone is seeing what he can offer. A lot of clubs wanted him.
Maybe we were fortunate in that he'd had a bad run of injuries, when people
lost faith in him." (various)
Now it has been reported that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is considering
making a £12m bid for the 26-year- old Paraguayan, whose five goals in two
games over the past few days were scant consolation for two Blackburn
defeats.
Santa Cruz performed at the highest level at Bayern for a number of years
and such an offer from Arsenal would surely be hard for Rovers to resist.
That is, of course, if the rumour is to be believed. Rovers need his goals
badly, especially as rent-a-sulk Benni McCarthy hasn't scored in eight.
I am sure, however, that Roque wouldn't leave Ewood Park in a hurry,
especially as he has had a career re-birth in the north of England. But his
form could at least give Hughes the excuse to sell off McCarthy, especially
with young striker Matt Derbyshire on the verge of becoming a top-quality
player.
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley is closing in on Tottenham striker Darren Bent
(The Sun). Having managed the England international at Charlton, it appears
that Curbs is keen to end Bent's stuttering White Hart Lane career. However,
new boss Juande Ramos is not looking to offload the £16.5m striker lightly
and it will take a bid of around £10m to get him - shattering the previous
record signing at Upton Park.
Bent was always going to find life tough in north London. First off, he had
that massive fee to live up to as well as going head to head with three
other international strikers. All in all, he has been average, with five
goals from ten starts (plus another ten appearances from the bench).
With Dean Ashton still easing back to life, Craig Bellamy out for the past
two months, on-loan Henri Camara failing to impress and a decidedly average
Carlton Cole up front, you can see why the Hammers boss is considering a
move for 23-year-old Bent. He scored 31 goals in 53 Premier League starts in
his final two Charlton seasons, which shows he has a proven track record.
This move could just re-launch his career and he could form a good
partnership with Ashton. It's a deal that might suit all parties.
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Middlesbrough v WEST HAM: Collins and Boa Morte face late fitness tests -
Daily Mail
Last updated at 14:46pm on 21st December 2007
West Ham will give a late fitness tests to James Collins and Luis Boa Morte
who are both rated 50-50 for their trip to Middlesbrough. Striker Carlton
Cole is suspended while Fredrik Ljungberg and Danny Gabbidon are also
doubtful. Long-term absentees Calum Davenport (groin), Matthew Etherington
(groin), Craig Bellamy (stomach strain), Anton Ferdinand (hamstring), Lee
Bowyer (groin), Bobby Zamora (knee), Kieron Dyer (broken leg) and Julien
Faubert (Achilles) are all out.
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