WHUFC.com
28.12.2008
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United v Stoke City
Sunday 28 December
2pm
Referee: Michael Jones
West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Collins, Upson, Ilunga, Boa Morte, Parker,
Collison, Behrami, Di Michele, Cole
Subs: Lastuvka, Spector, N'Gala, Mullins, Bowyer, Tristan, Sears
Stoke City: Sorensen, Griffin, Abdoulaye Faye, Olofinjana, Shawcross,
Higginbotham, Delap, Whelan, Pugh, Cresswell, Fuller
Subs: Simonsen, Lawrence, Soares, Davies, Tonge, Sonko, Pericard
West Ham United 2-1 Stoke City
Diego Tristan's dramatic 88th-minute winner handed West Ham United a second
valuable Premier League win in the space of three days.
The Spaniard's goal clinched a 2-1 win over a Stoke City side reduced to ten
men following the sending off of striker Ricardo Fuller for appearing to
strike Potters' captain Andy Griffin.
The visitors had taken a fifth-minute lead through Abdoulaye Faye's bullet
header, only for Carlton Cole's 51st-minute equaliser and Fuller's red card
- which occurred as Stoke prepared to kick-off after conceding - to hand the
initiative to Gianfranco Zola's men. When Tristan deflected Cole's shot past
Thomas Sorensen, the Hammers were guaranteed a happy Christmas that has seen
them bag six points and rise into the top ten of the Premier League table.
Zola had made four changes to the side that won so impressively 4-1 at
Portsmouth on Boxing Day. Craig Bellamy, scorer of two goals in that game,
was suspended so David Di Michele came into attack. Julien Faubert started
in place of skipper Lucas Neill, who was ruled out through the twisted ankle
he sustained on the south coast. Luis Boa Morte replaced virus victim Mark
Noble and James Collins was named in the starting XI in place of Calum
Davenport.
Stoke nearly took the lead when Fuller's deflected shot went narrowly wide.
However, they did not have to wait long to get it right as from the
resulting corner they took an early lead. Danny Pugh floated it in and Faye
lost his marker to power a low header past Robert Green.
United had a chance to restore parity almost instantly as Jack Collison's
cross with the outside of the boot was prodded wide by Cole. The home side
continued to press and after several promising attacks won a corner when
Valon Behrami's cross was headed behind by Andy Griffin. Boa Morte took the
kick and his inswinging ball was headed agonisingly wide by the stand-in
captain Matthew Upson
Faubert then became the first of four Hammers players booked in the opening
period for a late tackle and was soon followed by Cole after a collision
with Seyi Olofinjana.
Boa Morte had begun the game as he had left off at Portsmouth, showing some
neat touches from centre midfield. The one small blot on his copy book was a
booking picked up for a tackle on Glenn Whelan just after the half-hour
mark.
Di Michele's trickery then set up Cole for a header that went just over,
before the Italian joined his team-mates in referee Michael Jones' notebook.
The home pressure was relentless and eight minutes before the break Boa
Morte fed Herita Ilunga. His fine cut back somehow eluded everyone in the
crowded area before Scott Parker's effort moments later was cleared off the
line by Danny Higginbotham. Olonfinjana then became the fifth player to be
carded for a foul on Boa Morte as the visitors went in a goal up at the
break.
West Ham equalised six minutes after the restart. Cole, who had led the line
tirelessly in the first half, collected the ball with his back to goal just
inside the Stoke penalty area. After holding off Andy Griffin, his quick
turn and shot flew into the far corner of the net to the audible relief of
the vociferous home crowd.
Stoke manager Tony Pulis responded by bringing on Vincent Pericard for Danny
Pugh, but unfortunately for him, one of his players reacted in an entirely
different fashion as Fuller was shown a straight red card for appearing to
strike Griffin. The Stoke captain was then taken off a short while later for
Andrew Davies, while Higginbotham was booked for time-wasting.
The Hammers thought they had taken the lead midway through the half. Cole
was tackled but the ball fell kindly to Boa Morte, whose goalbound effort
was thwarted only by a combination of a Thomas Sorensen save and a
Higginbotham goal-line clearance.
Zola sent on Tristan and Hayden Mullins for Parker and Collison in search of
the winner but it was his goalkeeper that had to be alert next to hold Rory
Delap's stinging 30-yard drive.
The substitution did pay off, though, and with just two minutes left on the
clock Di Michele fed Cole and his shot deflected in off Tristan for the
striker's first goal for the club. Jonathan Spector was then introduced for
the last few minutes as Zola shored up his defence, and the Hammers duly
held on to secure another vital victory and send the vast majority of the
34,477 crowd - the largest home attendance for a game against Stoke since
the 1971/72 League Cup semi-final second leg.
West Ham will now enter the New Year in confident mood ahead of Saturday's
FA Cup third-round visit of Barnsley.
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Zola thrilled with victory
WHUFC.com
Gianfranco Zola was delighted to see his players win at home against Stoke
City and move into tenth position
28.12.2008
Gianfranco Zola has hailed the last-gasp 2-1 win against Stoke City as a
"big turning point" for West Ham United with the club looking upwards from
tenth position.
Two victories in three days has moved the club up from 17th to the halfway
point in the Barclays Premier League - five points away from the relegation
zone and just three points off seventh spot. Zola was particularly delighted
that his men came from behind after conceding to Abdoulaye Faye's
fourth-minute header - as they did in the 4-1 triumph at Portsmouth on
Boxing Day.
"It tells you a lot about the attitude of the players and the willingness to
succeed," he said. "It is very important. It is a well-deserved victory."
The manager spoke before the game in his programme notes about the need to
start picking up points at home to match the five games unbeaten on the
road, so was delighted to see that happen.
"It has been difficult. Confidence here at home was low and we fell behind
after a few minutes against a team that especially when they are winning are
very difficult to break down. [To come back and win] is a big, big turning
point for us. I am pleased for the players, for everybody. We are very
committed to the cause of West Ham."
Without the injured Lucas Neill - who should be fit to face Barnsley if
selected on Saturday - the ill Mark Noble and the suspended Craig Bellamy,
Zola had to look to his squad but was not let down. Julien Faubert was
industrious at right-back, Luis Boa Morte had perhaps his best game in a
claret and blue shirt and David Di Michele was a menace - not least with his
part in Diego Tristan's late winner.
Zola said his team had done well to cope with the pressure imposed by a run
of six games without a win at home. "Even if you are a strong player when a
situation like this happens, it affects everybody. So I know that the crowd
was a little bit nervous and the players wanted to change that.
"After the goal, they reacted perfectly. We had at least seven chances to
score in the first half and I said to the players if we carry on playing
like this we are going to win. That is how it has been and no one can take
that away from us."
Carlton Cole hauled the Hammers level in the 51st minute and the odds swung
firmly in the home side's favour as Stoke's Ricardo Fuller was then sent off
for violent conduct after an altercation with his captain Andy Griffin. Zola
said his team knew that they still had to work hard to finally take the
points, which they managed when Tristan converted from Cole's chance late
on.
"It is difficult to play against ten men sometimes - it is more difficult
because it makes the other team more defensively aware. And so it has been.
Fair to them they defended very well. Today, I had the feeling that we were
going to win this game."
Of Cole's run of two goals in two games, to make it six for the season from
18 games, Zola refused to take the credit for the extra coaching at Chadwell
Heath. "This is not down to me. He has done well. I am not presumptious to
say it is down to me or anyone. It is down to him. He kept working. He kept
having faith in himself and is getting the rewards that he deserves.
"I hadn't thought about leaving him out. He is a player that I know even if
he doesn't score he gives something to the team. He has always been like
that. I just wanted him to keep working and scoring. I am pleased for him."
The manager was also pleased for Tristan, who got the 88th-minute winner
eleven minutes after coming on for his fourth substitute's appearance. "I
wouldn't say he is 100 per cent fit but he is better. Obviously we are going
to try and give him a little bit more time on the pitch to make him sharper.
He has got goals in his bag. Today he has produced one and hopefully he is
going to keep on producing them."
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West Ham 2-1 Stoke
By Julian Shea
BBC.co.uk
West Ham snatched a late win over a Stoke side that was reduced to 10 men
after striker Ricardo Fuller was sent off for fighting with a team-mate.
Abdoulaye Faye's free header which put Stoke ahead was the highlight of a
scrappy first half. Carlton Cole turned Andy Griffin to level for West Ham
and some fiery Stoke recriminations saw Fuller dismissed. Stoke looked to be
heading for a draw until Cole's shot was deflected off Diego Tristan into
the net late on. The first half was a disjointed affair, characterised by
Stoke defending in numbers, West Ham piling forward to little clear purpose
and over-officious refereeing. Stoke's hopes of a first away win of the
season received an early boost when they went ahead from the first corner of
the match with Faye left totally unmarked at the far post to head in Danny
Pugh's corner from the right-hand side. Most of West Ham's threats were
inspired by Julien Faubert on the right, with Cole usually his intended
target. But for all the problems Cole's physical presence caused the Stoke
defence, he rarely managed to create any serious chances. Having taken an
early lead, Stoke seemed happy to soak up the West Ham punches and they were
lucky to get away with it when Herita Ilunga found a way through on the left
wing and laid the ball back into a crowded box, somehow missing all his
team-mates. Stoke's main attacking threats came from Pugh, Fuller's
counter-attacks and inevitably Rory Delap's long throws, but neither keeper
was overly tested in the first half. Just after the restart, the game was
turned on its head in memorable fashion. Cole finally found a way through
the defence, controlling Scott Parker's long pass and turning an
unfit-looking Griffin to curl in an equaliser. And before Stoke could even
restart, they were reduced to 10 men as Fuller was shown a straight red card
for slapping his captain Griffin in the face.
West Ham made the most of their one-man advantage as they piled on the
pressure, and only a superbly timed goal-line clearance by Danny
Higginbotham prevented Luis Boa Morte putting the home side ahead with a
mishit shot. Delap's long-range shot tested Robert Green but it was a rare
second half attack for the visitors.
Their stout defensive display looked to have earned them a draw until Cole's
shot took a touch off substitute Tristan and was deflected past the helpless
Thomas Sorensen for the winner.
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola: "We played very well and deserved to win. But
it's difficult because they got an early goal and they're a team who are
very difficult to break. "We created six or seven chances in the first half
and I told them if they carry on like this, they will win - and they did. "I
was very confident, I had good feeling - they looked comfortable on the
pitch and I knew it was a matter of time. "I think we were in control of the
game when it was 11 v 11 so in my opinion it didn't change very much."
Stoke boss Tony Pulis: "Andy Griffin had hurt his knee, I played him because
Andy Wilkinson suspended but he was happy to play. Before half-time he felt
his calf but he wanted to give it five minutes to see how it was. "We're
desperately disappointed to lose as we were against Manchester United,
what's important is how we pick ourselves up. "We've got a good group of
players who care about things and Ricardo Fuller cared too much - we'll deal
with it in house, not through the media."
West Ham: Green, Faubert, Collins, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Parker (Mullins
77), Collison (Tristan 77), Boa Morte, Di Michele (Spector 89), Cole.
Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Bowyer, Sears, Ngala.
Booked: Cole, Boa Morte, Di Michele.
Goals: Cole 51, Tristan 88.
Stoke: Sorensen, Griffin (Davies 58), Abdoulaye Faye, Shawcross,
Higginbotham, Delap, Olofinjana, Whelan, Pugh (Pericard 53), Cresswell,
Fuller.
Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Lawrence, Soares, Tonge, Sonko.
Sent Off: Fuller (54).
Booked: Olofinjana, Higginbotham, Abdoulaye Faye.
Goals: Abdoulaye Faye 4.
Att: 34,477
Ref: M Jones (Mansfield).
BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Stoke's Abdoulaye Faye 7.29 (on 90
minutes).
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West Ham Utd 2 Stoke City 1
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 28th December 2008
By: Staff Writer
A late winner from substitute Diego Tristan ensured a maximum return of six
points out of six from the Christmas programme for Gianfranco Zola's West
Ham.
In what proved to be an extraordinary afternoon at the Boleyn, the Hammers
found themselves a goal down early on before playing almost the entire
second half against ten men after Stoke striker Ricardo Fuller was comically
sent off for slapping team mate Andy Griffin in the face following United's
equaliser.
The game was finally won just three minutes from time by Tristan who
wrong-footed Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen by deflecting Carlton Cole's shot
into the bottom corner, giving the Hammers their first six-point haul at
Christmas since back to back wins against Leicester and Derby in December
2000.
The visitors - who remain without a win away from home this season, and
whose last away win in the top flight was back in 1984 - threatened to break
their duck when they took an early lead through Abdoulaye Faye, who stunned
the home crowd after just five minutes.
James Collins - recalled to the side after a fortnight out with a calf
problem - lost his marker at what was Stoke's first corner of the game
allowing the unmarked Faye to nod home from close range. The goal marked the
first time that newly-promoted Stoke had led away from home this season.
Despite United's best efforts in a pulsating first half they were unable to
cancel out City's early lead - despite creating a number of chances to do
so.
Carlton Cole - back on the scoresheet at Portsmouth two days previously -
failed to capitalise on two good chances, whilst Scott Parker went close in
the closing stages of the half when his 15-yard shot took a deflection
before being well saved by City goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.
Meanwhile Matthew Upson should have done better with a free header from a
Luis Boa Morte corner that he could only nod wide. Plenty of chances at the
break for Zola's men, but nothing to show for it.
As in the first half, Stoke began the second the stronger and both
Olefinjana and Delap tested Rob Green early on. But just six minutes into
the half United were level thanks to a second goal in two games for Carlton
Cole.
Gianfranco Zola had told reporters recently that he was taking Cole under
his wing in order to practice his shooting. The big striker certainly looked
as if he had been working on his finishing when he turned on a sixpence
before curling a beauty into the far corner of Sorensen's net to level the
game.
As unusual as the sight of Carlton Cole scoring a pearler may be that was
nothing compared to what was to follow moments later. Stoke striker Ricardo
Fuller - obviously livid at the slack defending which allowed Cole to turn
and score - took his frustrations out on team mate Andy Griffin in the shape
of what can only be described as a 'bitch slap' across the surprised
centre-half's cheek.
As the stunned West Ham players looked on, referee M.Jones - who had an
absolutely shocking game - pulled Fuller to one side before raising his red
card to the surprise of all present. The errant Fuller was virtually chased
off the field by his apoplectic team mates, who had seen themselves go from
one up to parity in goals but one down in numbers in the space of just
sixty, crazy seconds.
The goal - and sending off - predictably perhaps hailed Stoke's retreat and
they set up camp inside their own half, playing at times without a single
forward. The question was, did the Hammers have the guile and vision to
break them down?
The answer, in the end, was yes - but it was a close call. Di Michele, Boa
Morte, Parker (twice) and Ilunga all recorded efforts on goal but it was to
be a lucky deflection that finally saw the Hammers take all three points.
Carlton Cole found himself with the ball at his feet in the box - although
facing away from goal - after some good approach play by the Irons. Once
again he turned and fired at Sorensen's net but the ball was deflected off
the ankle of second half substitute Diego Tristan - who TV replays proved
was onside, just - into the bottom left hand corner to put United ahead for
the first time in the game.
We were then treated to a few minutes of Stoke - who had been timewasting
since they had taken the lead some 82 minutes earlier - frantically
searching for an equaliser, much to the amusement of the home crowd who
ironically cheered every rushed goal kick or throw in. The closest the
Potters came to to finding one was in the third of four added minutes but
Rob Green was on hand to tip a close header over the bar.
Six points in the bag over Christmas sees Zola's side rise to tenth spot in
the Premier League - a home from home for the Hammers given that they spent
the entire second half of last season in the very same position. Just as
importantly however the team had, for the second time in two days, came from
behind to win a game - something that, until Boxing Day, they had failed to
do all season.
Next up for Zola's men is the welcome diversion of the FA Cup third round
tie with Barnsley before the league campaign recovenes a week later with
another clash against a relegation-threatened side - Newcastle Utd, who were
thrashed at home 5-1 by current league leaders Liverpool today.
West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Collins, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Parker
(Mullins 77), Collison (Tristan 77), Boa Morte, Di Michele (Spector 89),
Cole.
Subs not used: Lastuvka, N'Gala, Bowyer, Sears.
Booked: Cole (23), Boa Morte (32), Di Michele (36).
Goals: Cole (51), Tristan (88).
Stoke: Sorensen, Griffin (Davies 58), Abdoulaye Faye, Shawcross,
Higginbotham, Delap, Olofinjana, Whelan, Pugh (Pericard 53), Cresswell,
Fuller.
Subs not used: Simonsen, Lawrence, Soares, Tonge, Sonko.
Booked: Olofinjana (45), Higginbotham (65), Faye (73).
Sent Off: Fuller (54).
Goals: Faye (5).
Attendance: 34,477.
Referee: M Jones (3).
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Pul(is) the other one ...
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 28th December 2008
By: Staff Writer
Stoke boss Tony Pulis has refused to criticise Ricardo Fuller after the City
striker was sent off for slapping team mate Andy Griffin in this afternoon's
2-1 defeat by West Ham. Pulis, talking to the BBC after the game admitted
that he was 'disappointed' by Fuller's reaction - but insisted that the
matter would be dealt with behind closed doors. "They've had an altercation
as soon as West Ham scored their first goal," said Pulis. "They've got
involved and Ric has raised his hand and given Griff a little clip round the
ear. "I don't know [why he did it]; Ric came in, he's on the bus now so he
wasn't there when the players came back in the dressing room. But looking at
that, we'll have to deal with it in house. We won't be dealing with it
through the media. "We've shot ourselves in the foot today, without a
question of a doubt. We've a good group of players that care about things -
but Ric's cared too much today."
Pulis also claimed that West Ham too should have been reduced to ten men,
but blamed the referee - who made six bookings during the game - for
refusing to book Luis Boa Morte for a late challenge early on in the second
half. "I was disappointed with the two challenges by Boa Morte," he moaned.
"The first challenge, he tackles from behind, he's over the ball. I thought
that was a booking on the basis of what the referee has done previous. Then
the challenge later on when he gets booked. He should have been booked twice
in the space of 18 minutes and I think he should have been off the pitch.
"We just ask for parity. We're not asking for no more, we don't want anyone
to do us any favours but we want them to react and be fair. That's all we're
asking for."
A clearly upset Pulis then went on to claim Diego Tristan's winning goal
shouldn't have stood - despite TV replays confirming that he was onside when
deflecting Carlton Cole's shot. "He's offside, you know, you've seen it," he
raged. "It's just not going for us again. We've got another decision that's
gone against us."
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Zola on ... Stoke
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 28th December 2008
By: Staff Writer
Gianfranco Zola shares his thoughts on a second successful comeback inside
48 hours ...
On the game ...
I think we got what we deserved. I'm pleased; it makes a big, big difference
for us.
I think we played very well and deserved to win the game. It's been very
difficult because they got the early goal and it is a thing, especially when
they go in front, that is difficult to break.
But we played quite well in the first half, we created six or seven chances
but didn't score. I said to the players 'if you carry on playing like this i
think we're going to win the game'. So they did, and so we won, so I'm
pleased for that.
I was very confident, I had a good feeling. The team was playing well and it
looked comfortable on the pitch. I know they were defending very well but we
were there, close all the time. I knew it was just a matter of time.
On Tristan's winning goal - and Stoke claims of 'offside' ...
We saw it on the TV and it was just onside. It was very close, difficult to
call but he was just onside.
On Ricardo Fuller's dismissal ...
It's very difficult to comment. It was a bad thing obviously; I'm sorry for
them but it's something that doesn't concern me much. I'm sure my colleague
[Tony Pulis] knows what to do and he will do what is necessary.
I think we were playing quite well, we were in control of the game even when
it was 11 versus 11 so in my opinion it didn't change much because they were
defending very well anyway.
On transfer window sales ...
I know that in our team we have very good players so obviously there may be
teams interested in them but as far as I'm concerned - and as far as the
club is concerned - we want to improve this team, take this team to a
different level - so we are trying to keep our best players. It's as simple
as that.
I'm confident that we can keep them. The board, like me, want to improve
this team so we are are on the same wavelength. Hopefully it will be like
that.
* Gianfranco was talking to the BBC.
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Zola repeats no sale stance
Hammers boss keen to cling onto sought-after assests
By Elliot Ball Last updated: 28th December 2008
SSN
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola has played down speculation linking a trio
of his players with moves away from Upton Park. Speculation has been rife
over the future of Craig Bellamy this week, with Spurs failing in a bid to
land the Welsh striker. Manchester City have been mooted as potential
suitors for Bellamy too, while Matthew Upson has also been linked with a
move away from the Hammers. The latest player to be linked with a move away
is Julien Faubert, who had reportedly spoken of his desire to go back to
France. But Zola has played down the transfer rumours citing his has
ambitious plans for the London club and he aims to keep his star players.
"We have good players in our side, we have good players and obviously there
are teams that want good players," Zola said after his side's win over Stoke
on Sunday. "I'm not concerned (with the recent speculation), I think what we
want to do here to improve the team to do well. "As far as I'm concerned the
club is on the same line we want to keep our best players."
When quizzed on whether his side will hold onto their main assests in
January Zola added: "Yes we will try everything we can to keep them
obviously we have a project, an ambitious project and we need good players
to achieve that."
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Hammers edge past Stoke
Late Tristan winner esures West Ham end year on high
By Elliot Ball Last updated: 28th December 2008
SSN
Man of the match - Carlton Cole, Scored excellent equaliser and deflected
shot snatched three points.
Moment of the match - Undoubtedly the moment of madness from Stoke's Ricardo
Fuller, which saw him sent-off for slapping team-mate Andy Griffin.
Attempt of the match - Cole's determination was rewarded as they scored a
super curling effort when it looked as though the chance had gone.
Save of the match - Both keepers rarely tested but Robert Green gets the
gong for stopping Creswell's delfected shot from crossing the line.
Talking point - Has to be Fuller's rush of blood to the head, what on earth
was he thinking by slapping his team-mate? At a crucial moment the srtiker
cost his team dear.
Goal of the game - Cole's swivel shot curled beautifully into the
right-corner, a peach of a goal from the big centre-forward.
Stoke's Christmas blues continued with a late defeat at West Ham which saw
Ricardo Fuller sent off for fighting with team-mate Andy Griffin. Abdoulaye
Faye scored an early header to put the visitors ahead at Upton Park after
some slack West Ham defending. But Carlton Cole levelled the scores by
grabbing his second goal in three days in the 51st minute, before playing a
part in the winner, when his shot found the back of the net courtesy of a
deflection off substitute Diego Tristan.
It gave manager Gianfranco Zola his second win in three days and propels
West Ham into the top half, but in contrast Stoke have not won in six games
and have slipped worryingly close to the relegation zone just three points
from bottom. Shorn of the suspended Craig Bellamy, who scored twice in the
4-1 Boxing Day win at Portsmouth, West Ham's attack initially lacked
sharpness. Zola also had to make three other changes because of injury, with
Julien Faubert, David Di Michele and James Collins replacing Calum
Davenport, Mark Noble and Lucas Neill. Stoke made two changes to the team
which lost to Manchester United, with Griffin back after an ankle injury to
replace the suspended Andy Wilkinson and Seyi Olofinjana brought in for Amdy
Faye. West Ham have taken just one point from their last six home games, and
their poor run at the Upton Park looked set to continue when Stoke scored
after four minutes.
Fuller tested goalkeeper Robert Green after capitalising on a sloppy pass
from Luis Boa Morte, and from the resulting corner an unmarked Faye headed
home at the far post. Cole had a glorious chance to equalise immediately
after the restart but sidefooted Jack Collison's left-wing cross wide, and
Matthew Upson also headed wide in the opening exchanges. Green had to
stretch to catch Richard Cresswell's lobbed shot and at the other end Thomas
Sorensen made his first save when he got down to comfortably stop Collison's
low effort. West Ham spent long spells camped in and around Stoke's penalty
area but a combination of inaccuracy and Sorensen's athleticism kept them at
bay. He did well to claw Herita Ilunga's teasing left-wing cross away from
the lurking Cole, who minutes earlier had volleyed way over the bar from
just inside the box.
The striker then wasted the Hammers' best chance of the half when he headed
over following excellent work on the right from the diminutive Di Michele.
As half-time approached, Boa Morte and Ilunga combined brilliantly on the
left but the latter's cross blazed across goal, somehow evading a number of
team-mates. Olofinjana had the first chance of the second half when he
dragged a shot wide from distance, but West Ham resumed their domination
soon after and scored a deserved equaliser in the 51st minute. There was an
element of fortune as Cole controlled Scott Parker's chip into the box, the
ball bouncing off a defender, but there was nothing lucky about the finish.
Too often criticised for his profligacy in front of goal, Cole swivelled on
the loose ball to curl a shot past Sorensen into the far corner. A moment of
madness then followed as Stoke went back for the restart. Fuller and Griffin
became embroiled in a heated exchange which descended into pushing and
shoving and resulted in Fuller being sent off by referee Michael Jones for
throwing a punch at his team-mate. Galvanised by their goal and unexpected
numerical advantage, West Ham poured forward and could have gone ahead but
Cole volleyed wide and Parker and Di Michele both fired over. West Ham
continued to pressurise with Boa Morte's scuffed shot cleared off the line
by Danny Higginbotham and Parker screwing a shot wide from outside the box.
In a rare foray forward, Delap tested Green with a low shot, but a minute
later West Ham finally breached the defence-minded Stoke when substitute
Diego Tristan deflected in Cole's shot for the winner.
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Unhappy slapping
Fuller unlucky to see red for Griffin clash, says Walsh
Last updated: 28th December 2008
SSN
West Ham 2-1 Stoke City
Soccer Saturday analysis - Paul Walsh
It was only a slap...
Paul Walsh felt that Ricardo Fuller's red card for clashing with team-mate
Andy Griffin was harsh to say the least. The Stoke City striker was given
his marching orders by referee Mike Jones for raising his hand to the
right-back as the pair clashed immediately after West Ham had cancelled out
Abdoulaye Faye's early goal.
Technically Fuller was sent off for violent conduct, but the watching Walsh
felt he was more than unfortunate to end his day after only 54 minutes. "It
must have come from the Carlton Cole goal, because Andy Griffin was the
player concerned," Walsh told Soccer Saturday. "Cole got the ball into his
feet and he blocked the first one, I thought he did as much as he could - he
was just a little bit unlucky the way the ball fell. "I can only assume it
came from that but as the ball went back upfield, the two came together. But
it was only a slap! "Obviously they were annoyed with each other and things
have been said. He was getting heated about it Fuller, no doubt about that.
He had his angry face on but looking at it I thought the ref didn't have to
send him off."
Fuller's fury was in complete contrast to the mood of his opposite number
Cole. The Hammers striker has come in for some stick in recent weeks, but
silenced his critics with a battling display and the all-important equaliser
that led to the red card. Sub Diego Tristan poked home the winner two
minutes from time, but for Walsh, Cole was the stand-out performer as
Gianfranco Zola's men made it back-to-back wins over the festive period. "It
was a great finish from Cole, he turned and curled the ball in beautifully,"
he said. "He's such a frustrating player at times because he's got so many
assets. He's got power and pace, I just think he's a little weak in the head
at times. He lacks a little bit of mental strength in certain situations,
but he's got his goal and let's hope he can take that on to the next level.
"Every now and then he goes missing, but today he was there. West Ham were
the better side and for me, deserved the points."
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Zola feels the good vibes
West Ham boss hails performance
By Elliot Ball Last updated: 28th December 2008
SSN
Gianfranco Zola was delighted with his West Ham side after they beat Stoke
2-1 on Sunday. The Hammers sealed their second successive win in a fruitful
festive period thanks to a second-half comeback through goals by Carlton
Cole and Diego Tristan. And Zola was delighted that his side are coupling
the points with the performances. "It's just what we needed - finally the
points are coming," Zola said after the game. "I had a good feeling about
today, even when they scored, I had the feeling we would win the game. "In
the first half I think we played really well and created so many chances and
I said if we keep playing like this we are going to win the game." The
result moves the Hammers to 10th in the league but Zola issued a word of
caution to his players despite the rise up the table. "I said this even when
we were struggling - it is a very strange championship where you win two
games in a row and you find yourself in 10th position," the diminutive
Italian said.
"So that obviously makes us very happy, but at the same time you have to be
focussed all the time because it can happen to other people so you can be
dragged in again. "We need to keep this momentum going and keep performing
the way we are doing."
The match was a fiery encounter with each team picking up three yellow cards
apiece, but the major talking point was the dismissal of Stoke striker
Ricardo Fuller for slapping team-mate Andy Griffin. West Ham's boss admitted
he felt sorry for Stoke but added: "It's not my concern." "Maybe there has
been an advantage to be fair they defended really well and it was going to
be difficult anyway." Stoke boss Tony Pulis thought Tristan's winner was
offside but Zola on the other hand felt the assistant referee made the right
decision. "I think the linesman was spot on, I think he was just not offside
so I think it was right," Zola added. "It was difficult anyway because the
action was so quick and the linesman was on the other side, but I think it
wasn't offside. Sunday's home win is only Zola's second as manager and the
Italian believes the result can be the perfect platform for more future
success on home soil. "I think its going to be a big boost for us," he said.
"It wasn't just about how we were playing or whatever it was just a bit of
confidence missing and today a victory will help us a lot."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Faubert open to France return
Hammers midfielder wants to be playing
Last updated: 28th December 2008
SSN
West Ham United midfielder Julien Faubert admits he is open to a return to
France during the January transfer window. Faubert endured an injury-plagued
first season at Upton Park after joining the Hammers from Bordeaux in the
summer of 2007. He started this season as a regular in the team, but he has
not appeared in Gianfranco Zola's starting line-up for the club's last three
Premier League games. The 25-year-old has been linked with a move back to
French football, with champions Lyon and Paris St Germain both reportedly
interested. Though Faubert acknowledged he is happy at West Ham, he would
not rule out a transfer in the New Year. "I need to play, I am 25 years
old," Faubert told Le Parisien. "Even if I feel very well here, I would not
exclude the possibility of returning to France.
"Clubs like Lyon and PSG are very attractive. We'll see in January."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Vinny's Stoke Report
Vinny - Sun Dec 28 2008
West Ham Online
West Ham United 2 Stoke City 1
West Ham again came from behind to take all three points as goals from
Carlton Cole & Diego Tristan were enough to gain victory in a hard fought
game which was helped by the visitors self destructing in the second half.
We have played better at home this season and lost so this was a very
satisfying result and one we needed following the great result we had on
Boxing Day at Fratton Park. This win has now seen us move to 10th place
which is incredible considering the talk of relegation and complete West Ham
meltdown in the near future. There was a lot of pressure on the players
during this game. To go a goal down so early and come back considering the
volatile nature of our crowd showed a lot of character. With Stoke going
down to ten men also put the pressure on us as we simply had to attack and
as we have seen so far this season attacking has been a big problem. Stoke
were a predictably ugly team who may were all blood and guts but no quality.
I hate football teams like Stoke and most West Ham supporters would probably
feel the same. In a way football did come out the winner as we kept the ball
on the ground and worked our way forward. We did struggle when we got in and
around the area but a bit of persistence paid off and we got the win we
deserved.
Gianfranco Zola made a few changes to the side which destroyed Portsmouth
only two days ago. In defence Lucas Neill had not recovered from the injury
which forced him to come off at Pompey so he was replaced at right back by
Julien Faubert. At centre half Callum Davenport was missing and was replaced
by James Collins. In midfield, Mark Noble was out with a virus and replaced
by Luis Boa Morte. For some reason Boa Morte went into centre midfield with
Jack Collison remaining on the left wing. From start to finish this never
made any sense and Boa Morte did all his best work in the wide areas. Up
front Craig Bellamy was suspended and his replacement was David Di Michele
who was alongside Carlton Cole.
We could not have asked for a worse possible start as there were not even
five minutes on the clock before we found ourselves a goal down. Ricardo
Fuller had seen his shot deflected wide for a corner and from that corner
Stoke took the lead. The corner was taken by Danny Pugh and Abdoulaye Faye
pulled away from his mark James Collins (who missed his header) and it was a
easy header. The Stoke Fans understandably went wild and the West Ham fans
shuffled nervously in their seats.
We should have replied instantly but Carlton Cole inexplicably managed to
hit his shot wide. The move started down the left and it was Jack Collison
who put an excellent cross for Cole to meet it with an awful shot.
Frustrations were beginning to set in to the Upton Park faithful who were
looking at their team who had at least three players who were despised by
many sections of the support. Good work by Behrami saw his cross into the
area just headed away for a corner by Andy Griffin when it looked as though
Di Michele may pounce.
There could be no accusation that since the goal we had not looked to push
forward. It was simply a case of us not having the quality of player to
really break them down. Another chance came our way when a corner kick was
swung in to be met by Matthew Upson but the header went well wide when you
would have thought that he would have buried it.
The rest of the half descended into the referees playground as Stoke began
to play games and the ref continued to entertain them. Faubert found himself
in the book and not long after that Carlton Cole was also yellow carded as
he went up for a header. Boa Morte was also shown the yellow card for a foul
on Glenn Whelan as Stoke continued to break up the flow of the game. We
still were having the odd attack and some good play from Di Michele on the
right hand side set up Cole who should have done better with his header. Boa
Morte worked well with Ilunga for the left back to hit a cross across the
area which somehow missed everyone with Collison just unable to get to the
ball. Stoke continued to waste time and every long throw taken by Rory Delap
seemed to take at least a minute to produce. The West Ham fans would boo
every time he would take one of these throws. Boo's rang out at the half
time whistle for a few reasons no doubt.
The ref was subject to frustration from the crowd as well as the current
scoreline because despite us having the majority of the play we had not
really looked like scoring. It only took six minutes after the restart for
us to equalise as the game turned on its head completely. We had started
the half well and looking as though we had real intent on getting back into
the game. A long pass into the area by Parker was controlled by Cole with
his back to goal and the striker turned and curled a wonderful shot into the
corner of the net. If getting back into the game was good what happened next
only furthered our cause. As the ball was being brought back to the centre
circle for kick off the Stoke players seemed to be having an argument which
led to Ricardo Fuller raising his hand to fellow team mate Andy Griffin.
The Ref then proceeded to send off Fuller in a very embarrassing moment for
Stoke City football club. If that happened at West Ham I would never want
these players to play for the club again. Having just scored the equaliser
and with a man advantage the impetus was firmly with the home side and we
set about breaking Stoke down and looking to find that goal. It was no easy
task as many of our attacks broke down as the final ball was often lacking.
Some of our passing was also questionable with Scott Parker at fault
countless number of times. We seemed to have an inability to get the ball
out wide, especially to the left and went it did eventually come out to the
left hand side the pass was greeted by ironic cheers from the West Ham fans.
Midway through the second half we almost took the lead in a good move
involving Cole and Boa Morte. The latter pick up on a loose ball and knocked
the ball past the goal keeper only for it to be cleared off the line. With
just over ten minutes remaining the changes were made by Zola as he took off
Jack Collison and replaced him with Diego Tristan. Hayden Mullins was also
introduced in place of Scott Parker. Apart from a decent long range effort
from Rory Delap the last ten minutes were ours as we piled forward. It
seemed as though it was going to be a very frustrating afternoon. Di Michele
gave the ball to Cole who turned again and hit a shot which cannoned off
Tristan and past the Stoke keeper Sorenson to give us the win. It was a very
fortunate goal but we could do with some good luck. Today was all about the
result and the correct one is what we got.
Player Reviews
Robert Green
Apart from picking the ball out of the next early on he had nothing else to
do for the remainder of the game in a very quiet afternoon for Greeno.
Julien Faubert
Poor for the majority of the game because his role involved a lot more
attacking. Against Pompey he was simply there to defend which he did well
but with the man advantage and that fact he was troubled little by the Stoke
winger, Faubert had to do what he does worse and that was attack and cross
the ball.
Matthew Upson
It was a comfortable day for Upson as he saw little of the ball in his zone
especially in the second half where he was merely there to distribute the
ball out.
James Collins
Struggled in the first half and I felt he was at fault for the goal as he
lost his man and missed the header which gifted Faye the goal. Like Upson he
was there to mop up in the second period as he had a easy half. If OLAS is
anything to go by he will be joining Fulham soon.
Herita Ilunga
With the lack of a left winger for the majority of the game he needed to
push forward and he did this well. For a left back he is quite skilful and
not afraid to take on his man.
Valon Behrami
This boy does not stop working and this is one of his best attributes. In
both halves he was working hard and trying to push the ball forward. Some of
his passing choices were off but his effort is worth praising him for.
Scott Parker
His passing was very poor and for a central midfielder this is quite
important. Taken off in the second half and replaced with a player who
showed him how to do it.
Luis Boa Morte
A good display from Boa Morte and one which even the haters cannot fail to
recognize his efforts. He looked dangerous when on the ball and was unlucky
not to score in the second period. He looked better on the left wing and the
decision to play him in the centre was a little perplexing.
Jack Collison
It had been noted that he is a little wasted on the left wing but we have
needed to play him there to accommodate other players in the centre. With
Noble injured it seemed natural that he would go back to his favoured
position but Zola decided to keep him on the left. He drifted in and out of
the game looked good at times but in the centre is where he will cause his
real damage.
David Di Michele
I still think he is an appalling footballer.
Carlton Cole
Like I commented against Pompey his purpose is to score goals and once again
he did this. He missed a couple of excellent chances in the first half and
didn't look confident until he scored a good goal. He had a massive part to
play in the winner as it was his shot which hit Tristan. Cole is not a great
player and lacks quality but if he can score goals then he will do.
Subs Used
Diego Tristan (on for Collison 77 mins)
Came on, did nothing on the ball but Cole's shot hit him and went in and he
now has his first goal for the club.
Hayden Mullins (on for Parker 77 mins)
On for the ailing Parker and got stuck in and sprayed some nice passes
across field.
Jonathan Spector (on for Di Michele 89 mins)
On to waste some time.
Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Bowyer, Sears, Ngala.
Overall
We simply had to follow up the win at Portsmouth with a victory today and
despite struggling at times we dug in and won a game we deserved to win.
There is a lot of talk about players being sold and by the time we play our
next league game against Newcastle at St James Park things may look very
different.
To sell our best players and not replace them will be asking for trouble and
whilst I accept West Ham are and always have been a selling club I do not
accept that the owners want the club to be relegated which will happen if
they strip the club of its better assets.
Next up is Barnsley at Upton Park in the FA Cup. They had a great cup run
last year and will want it once again this time around. They must not be
underestimated.
Att: 34,477
Franco's Feelings
"We played very well and deserved to win. But it's difficult because they
got an early goal and they're a team who are very difficult to break.
"We created six or seven chances in the first half and I told them if they
carry on like this, they will win - and they did.
"I was very confident, I had good feeling - they looked comfortable on the
pitch and I knew it was a matter of time.
"I think we were in control of the game when it was 11 v 11 so in my opinion
it didn't change very much."
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Pulis: No excuses for Fuller
TeamTalk
Tony Pulis described Ricardo Fuller as "volatile" after the striker was sent
off for fighting with a Stoke team-mate in the defeat at West Ham. Fuller
became embroiled in a heated exchange with Andy Griffin seconds after West
Ham equalised early in the second half, and was red-carded for throwing a
punch at the defender. Carlton Cole had just cancelled out Abdoulaye Faye's
early header and the Hammers capitalised on the numerical advantage by
scoring a late winner through substitute Diego Tristan. "There's no
condoning what (Fuller's) done," said Pulis. "He's walked up to Griff and
clipped him on the chin and it's disappointing. I'll talk to them both and
deal with it on Monday. "Ric is a volatile player and a volatile person and
what he's done will be dealt with. The pair get on well together but I've
said to the lads we'll have a meeting on Monday to sort it out. "There are
always incidents on the pitch and in training. The game is passionate and
it's nothing I haven't seen before. "Ric was already on the bus when we came
in and he's very disappointed with what he did and his reaction."
Pulis criticised the fact West Ham's 86th-minute was allowed to stand,
claiming Diego Tristan was offside as he deflected in Cole's shot. "I've
seen it on TV and the lad's offside for the second goal so it's
disappointing," he added. "I don't think (Thomas) Sorensen had a save to
make in the second half. "We are also disappointed with the two challenges
from Luis Boa Morte in the first half. The second one particularly was very
poor and he didn't get booked. "There were challenges today that our players
have got booked for and their players haven't. I'm just asking for fairness,
nothing more."
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Fuller sees red for hitting team-mate
West Ham United 2 Stoke City 1
By Roy Collins
Monday, 29 December 2008
Independent.co.uk Web
Diego Tristan's first goal for West Ham, which gave manager Gianfranco Zola
only his second home victory since he began his reign against Newcastle in
September, should have been the subject of all the post-match conversations.
But even Hammers' fans went away laughing not at a fortunate three points
but at the most bizarre sending-off of the season.
Stoke striker Ricardo Fuller was preparing to kick off after Carlton Cole's
51st-minute equaliser when he suddenly turned and started berating full-back
Andy Griffin, whom he blamed for the goal. Despite the efforts of Glenn
Whelan to keep the pair apart, Fuller managed to land a lefthanded slap on
Griffin, more Audley Harrison than Lennox Lewis, but enough to see him sent
off.
Referee Michael Jones, 38, in charge of only his fifth Premier League game,
did not appear to see the incident but still showed Fuller a red card after
words with Griffin, presumably asking him if his team-mate had landed a
blow. Stoke manager Tony Pulis said: "I can't condone what Ricky's done but
I've seen it before between team-mates. He's a volatile player and a
volatile person but he was so disappointed with himself that when we came
off at the end, he was already on the bus. I'll deal with it on Monday."
Pulis, who described Fuller and Griffin as good friends, seemed more
concerned about some of the other incidents missed by the referee, including
two early tackles from Luis Boa Morte, either of which could have drawn a
yellow card. Pulis said: "The same thing happened against Manchester United.
The referee saw all our offences but none of United's. I'm not asking for
any favours. I just want us to be treated like every other team and it's
important for us that that happens in the second half of the season."
The win lifted West Ham to the giddy heights of 10th in the table, although
only five points clear of the relegation zone, leaving their fans wondering,
like many others, whether they are still in a fight to avoid the drop or
should start dreaming about a place in Europe. Certainly Zola can do with
the breathing space as the transfer window seems likely to see more
household names departing than coming in, given the club's financial plight.
Zola, who was without the suspended Craig Bellamy, his main goal threat,
described victory as "a big, big turning point for us because the players'
confidence here has been low." But even he could not resist giggling at the
Fuller sending-off, adding: "I have never seen anything like that before,
except on television. I felt sorry for my colleague [Pulis] because you
never want to see things like that." Stoke, who have not won away all
season, started to believe when Abdoulaye Faye stepped away from his marker
and headed the easiest of goals from Danny Pugh's corner.
Faye then settled back into the day job of marshalling his defence against a
West Ham onslaught, which produced half a dozen chances.
After going down to 10 men, however, Stoke looked safer than they had all
afternoon, except when Danny Higginbotham hacked one off the line after Boa
Morte had beaten Thomas Sorensen. Then three minutes from time, a shot from
Cole brushed off Spanish substitute Tristan, 32, who joined West Ham on a
free in October after his contract with Livorno expired. Pulis claimed he
was offside but replays suggested otherwise.
Goals: Faye (4) 0-1; Cole (51) 1-1; Tristan (88) 2-1. West Ham (4-1-3-2):
Green; Faubert, Collins, Upson, Ilunga; Parker (Mullins, 77); Behrami, Boa
Morte, Collison (Tristan, 77); Cole, Di Michele (Spector, 89). Substitutes
not used: Lastuvka (gk), Bowyer, Sears, NGala. Stoke (4-4-2): Sorensen;
Griffin (Davies, 58), Shawcross, Ab Faye, Higginbotham; Delap, Olofinjana,
Whelan, Pugh (Pericard, 52); Cresswell, Fuller. Substitutes not used:
Simonsen (gk), Lawrence, Soares, Tonge, Sonko. Referee: M Jones (Mansfield).
Booked: West Ham Cole, Boa Morte, Di Michele; Stoke Higginbotham,
Olofinjana, Ab Faye. Sent off: Fuller (54). Man of the match: Faye.
Attendance: 34,477.
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West Ham reject City's bold bid to sign Bellamy and Parker for £15m
Hammers determined to hold on to prize assets but their hand may still be
forced
By Jason Burt
Monday, 29 December 2008
Independent.co.uk Web
West Ham United have rejected a £15m bid from Manchester City to sign both
Craig Bellamy and Scott Parker. The Premier League club insist that neither
player is for sale and have also moved to hold talks with Matthew Upson's
representatives to spell out their intention to hold on to the England
international who is also attracting intense interest with the transfer
window set to open.
Clubs assume that West Ham are in a position where they need to sell their
most valuable assets but although a list of potential departures has been
drawn up, from one of the bigger squads in the league, it does not include
the likes of Parker, Bellamy, Upson, Robert Green, Valon Behrami or any
other first-team regular.
West Ham rejected a bid of £6m on Christmas Eve from Tottenham Hotspur for
Bellamy with the club's chief executive, Scott Duxbury, telling The
Independent that the Welsh international was not for sale. If, however, an
offer of £15m was made for the 29-year-old, who has scored three times in
his last three matches after a barren spell, then it would be put to the
manager, Gianfranco Zola.
The same would apply to Upson and Parker with the club, despite the
financial crisis facing its owner, Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, adamant that they
are self-sustaining, and can cover their costs, and that they do not need to
sell even if they could raise significant funds by cashing in now. However,
they admit that money will only be made available to Zola in January through
the departure of fringe players or those who have disappointed such as Luis
Boa Morte, Julien Faubert or Jonathan Spector.
City, who tried to sign Bellamy last summer and had an offer of £6m
rejected, have now tested West Ham's resolve again with the joint bid that
also includes an unexpected offer for Parker. The 28-year-old, like his
team-mate, was signed in the spending spree conducted by the club's former
chairman Eggert Magnusson. The bid from City has been dismissed by West Ham,
who signed Bellamy for £7.5m from Liverpoool last year, although it will be
interesting to see how the player himself reacts to attempts to sign him
being rejected. Bellamy has suggested it may be time to move on. A further
£7m was spent by West Ham to acquire Parker from Newcastle United.
The City manager, Mark Hughes, is a long-time admirer of Bellamy, having
managed him for Wales and Blackburn Rovers, while he is also keen to stiffen
a midfield with a more aggressive, ball-winning player such as Parker. The
bids also suggest that City, at least at present, are taking a more
realistic approach to the transfer market with targets that Hughes has
earmarked rather than those demanded by the wealthy owners from Abu Dhabi.
They had indicated they preferred a more ambitious, stellar wish-list of
players such as Kaka, Gianluigi Buffon and David Villa although offers for
that trio cannot be ruled out given the money available at Eastlands.
Upson, who was bought from Birmingham City in January 2007 for an initial
£6m, is also in demand having impressed for club as well as country after
cementing his place in Fabio Capello's England squad and overcoming his own
history of injury problems. Newcastle United are believed to have made an
initial inquiry of around £8m. While City are monitoring the situation Spurs
have denied interest in the former Arsenal player although his old club
might just be in the hunt, but not at the price likely to convince West Ham
to sell.
The bid for Bellamy and Parker suggests that some clubs may be keen to do
their transfer business earlier than expected in January, especially a club
such as City which has such great ambition. It will be interesting to see
whether they make an improved offer to test West Ham's determination to hold
on to the duo.
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Money-bags Manchester City launch £15m double raid on cash-strapped Hammers
By Simon Jones
Last updated at 1:19 AM on 29th December 2008
Daily Mail
Manchester City have made West Ham a combined offer of £15million to try to
prise Craig Bellamy and Scott Parker from Upton Park. The bids were rejected
out of hand on Sunday night as the Hammers moved to 10th in the Barclays
Premier League table with a 2-1 home win against Stoke. Although City, who
drew 2-2 at Blackburn, will be back with an improved offer, the West Ham
board hope the decision shows the supporters there is an ambition to
withstand pressure to sell.
They have not encouraged City to improve on the offers of £7.5m each for
Bellamy and Parker. City's interest in Bellamy, who was suspended for
Sunday's win, is widely known and while Parker is a surprise name on City's
wish list, he is considered better value for money than Villarreal's Marcos
Senna, who is 32. West Ham have rejected a £6m bid from Tottenham for
Bellamy, whom they value at around £12m, but insist they do not want to sell
despite their much-reported financial problems. City, backed by the vast
wealth of the Abu Dhabi royal family, will be back with an increased bid,
however. Another leading City transfer target, Kolo Toure, is believed to
have expressed his desire to leave Arsenal, although the Gunners last night
denied any knowledge of this. These are the first signs of City flexing
their financial muscle and West Ham are certain to come under more pressure
as manager Mark Hughes builds a team to climb the table when the transfer
window opens on Thursday.
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Hammer blow for Calum as Davenport is ditched by Zola
By Simon Jones Last updated at 1:40 AM on 29th December 2008
Daily Mail
Calum Davenport has played his last game for West Ham after reacting badly
to being relegated to the substitutes' bench against Stoke. Manager
Gianfranco Zola said he would not tolerate such petulance and will look to
offload the former Tottenham and Coventry central defender in the January
transfer window. Davenport, who will be 26 on New Year's Day, had been told
he was being dropped and replaced by James Collins despite having played his
part in the 4-1 win at Portsmouth on Boxing Day. The player thought he
deserved to keep his place but the manager thought otherwise. Davenport
joined West Ham for around £3million two years ago but his career has been
plagued by injuries. It shows another side to Zola, who has often been
considered too nice a personality to be a manager. Back-to-back Christmas
wins and his strong-arm tactics towards Davenport showed the rookie Italian
manager is no pushover as West Ham climbed from a perilous position to 10th
in the table.
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Fuming Fuller slaps his captain
Pulis to hold team meeting before punishing his striker
Fuller's red card is Stoke's second of the festive period
Paul Doyle at Upton Park guardian.co.uk, Sunday 28 December 2008 21.44 GMT
Stoke City's manager, Tony Pulis, will hold a team meeting tomorrow before
deciding how to punish Ricardo Fuller after the striker was sent off for
slapping his own captain during today's defeat by West Ham.
The bizarre attack occurred in the 53rd minute of the game, immediately
after Carlton Cole had held off Stoke's Andy Griffin en route to scoring an
equaliser for the home side. Fuller was initially poised to take the
re-start but then walked back 30 yards to berate Griffin. Despite attempts
by team-mates to keep the players apart, the pair stomped towards each other
and the Jamaican striker struck his captain in the face.
The referee Michael Jones, who at first seemed unsure as to what had
happened, had words with Griffin before showing Fuller a red card. West Ham
went on to win the match thanks to an 88th minute goal by Diego Tristan.
"The funny thing is Rick and Griff get on very well," said Pulis. "They even
had a party over Christmas at which they exchanged shirts. But Rick is a
very volatile person and I can't condone what he did. I've watch the
incident on TV and he walks up and clips him on the chin. I'll have a team
meeting on Monday and I'll deal with him then." Stoke eventually lost 2-1.
Fuller's dismissal was Stoke's second of the festive period following Andy
Wilkinson's red card against Manchester United on Boxing Day. Though he did
not suggest the referees were wrong on either occasion, Pulis did complain
that today's opponents, like United, should have suffered similar
depletions.
"Luis Boa Morte committed two very bad fouls in the first 15 minutes but was
only booked for one of them," said Pulis.
"There were incidents involving Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo the other
day that the referee didn't seem to see. But they always seem to see things
when it's us. I'm not asking for favours, just for parity. We have to be
treated the same as everyone else otherwise the Respect campaign goes out
the window."
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West Ham grab late winner against Stoke City
West Ham United (0) 2 Stoke City (1) 1
Telegraph
By Trevor Haylett at Upton Park
Last Updated: 6:15PM GMT 28 Dec 2008
West Ham scraped their way to three precious points with a winner three
minutes from time but only after they were given a shove in the right
direction by Stoke striker Ricardo Fuller who was shown the red card for
lashing out at team-mate Andy Griffin.
The extraordinary flashpoint followed West Ham's equaliser five minutes into
the second half which came after Griffin had failed to prevent Carlton Cole
getting his shot away. The pair clashed as the game waited to restart and
Fuller caught the Stoke captain with a slap around the head. He was pulled
away by colleagues but referee Michael Jones raced over to order him off.
"Ricky is very volatile both as a person and as a player but I can't condone
what he has done," said Stoke manager Tony Pulis. "He has clipped Griff on
the chin and I'll deal with it on Monday. We'll have a meeting and sort it
out. Nothing was said in the dressing room, when we got back Ricky was
already sitting on the bus. I think he was so disappointed with his
reaction.
"Believe it or not, Andy and Ricky get on very well. At the Christmas party
they swapped silly shirts together but we've shot ourselves in the foot
again. Having said that I was disappointed with one or two decisions,
particularly an early tackle by Luis Boa Morte that went unpunished."
Fuller's folly was a gift for the home team and further punishment arrived
for him and the ten he had shamefully left behind as the ball flew in off
Diego Tristan to give Gianfranco Zola's team their second win in three days
and their first at home since September.
They had to work mighty hard for it though and faced an uphill task from the
fifth minute when they were caught napping as Danny Pugh's corner floated
over, Abdoulaye Faye left unmarked at the back post as he headed home.
From that moment on the game settled into a pattern of Hammers' attacking
and Stoke defiance. Cole hardly endeared himself to the Upton Park faithful
by missing two acceptable chances but all was forgiven soon after the
restart as he turned to direct the ball into the far corner after Griffin
had been unable to clear.
The pressure intensified and Boa Morte saw a shot cleared off the line. It
seemed the ten men would hold out for an unlikely point. But at the death
came the slap in the face that really hurt as Cole controlled, turned, shot
and saw the ball deflect in off Tristan. "A big, big turning point for us,"
said a relieved Zola.
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West Ham's Faubert chasing Lyon, PSG move
29.12.08 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham midfielder Julien Faubert has made a 'come and get me' plea to PSG
and Olympique Lyon. "I need to play, I am 25 years old," Faubert told Le
Parisien. "Even if I feel very well here, I would not exclude the
possibility of returning to France. "Clubs like Lyon and PSG are very
attractive. We'll see in January."
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Tony Pulis left to fume after Ricardo Fuller's folly gifts West Ham United
victory
West Ham United 2 Stoke City 1
The Times
Nick Szczepanik
Someone at Stoke City needs to remind Ricardo Fuller that strikers are
supposed to strike the ball past goalkeepers, not strike their own players.
The Jamaica forward was sent off yesterday for slapping his own captain,
Andy Griffin, in an astonishing example of a self-inflicted wound.
Clearly distraught after Stoke had lost an early lead to Carlton Cole's
51st-minute equaliser for West Ham, Fuller remonstrated with Griffin, who
had been unable to clear the ball, then walked over to him and smacked him
in the face. Michael Jones, refereeing only his fifth Premier League match,
was looking directly at the incident and showed the Jamaica forward a red
card.
Stoke, without an away win all season, had dropped into the bottom three on
Boxing Day, and although their chances of escaping it yesterday did not
entirely disappear down the tunnel with Fuller - West Ham's freak winner
from Diego Tristán did not arrive until two minutes from time - Tony Pulis,
the Stoke manager, was understandably displeased with his top scorer.
"I'll deal with it in-house," Pulis said. "Andy and Ric actually get on very
well. They were exchanging shirts at a Christmas party. It's disappointing,
and we've shot ourselves in the foot again, but you can't condone what Ric
has done. The game is very passionate, and Ricardo is a very volatile
person, but he wasn't in the dressing-room when we came in. He was on the
bus, he was so disappointed with what he had done."
It had certainly helped West Ham's cause. They had won 4-1 away to
Portsmouth on Boxing Day but were finding life harder against the side with
the worst away record in the division. Gianfranco Zola, the manager, was
delighted to have taken six points from the two games, but this was,
perhaps, a warning of what life might be like at Upton Park if Craig Bellamy
is sold during the transfer window. Bellamy, who had made Portsmouth's life
such a misery on Friday, was suspended yesterday after receiving five yellow
cards and West Ham sorely missed his pace and inventiveness.
Zola, though, refuses to accept that Bellamy's departure is a foregone
conclusion. "The target is to improve the team, so we're going to try to
keep our best players," he said. "The club has told me that the financial
situation is not a problem."
Basic defending is, however, as was shown after only four minutes when
Abdoulaye Faye escaped James Collins at the far post to head home from Danny
Pugh's corner.
West Ham were exerting pressure on the Stoke defence and were at their most
incisive when they avoided playing to Faye's strength by hitting high balls
into the box. It took a pass of more cunning to work a breakthrough. It came
after 51 minutes when Scott Parker played the ball towards the left where
Cole was up against Griffin. The West Ham forward charged down Griffin's
attempted clearance, turned on the loose ball and curled it home.
That provoked Fuller's rush of blood, but if the incident suggested that
Stoke's morale was low, it was hardly evident as they mounted breakaways of
their own as well as continuing to repel West Ham's surges. Only two minutes
remained when David Di Michele, receiving the ball from Tristán, waited for
his moment before finding Cole 15 yards out with his back to goal. Cole
turned and shot and the ball hit Tristán, who had continued his run, and was
deflected past Thomas Sorensen to give the former Spain forward his first
goal in English football.
Zola was delighted that his players had come back from behind for the second
time in three days. "It tells you a lot about the willingness to succeed,"
he said. "It's a strange league - six points have put us up in tenth. But
other teams can do the same."
West Ham (4-1-3-2): R Green 6 J Faubert 4 M Upson 5 J Collins 5 H Ilunga 5 S
Parker 8 V Behrami 5 L Boa Morte 6 J Collison 5 D Di Michele 4 C Cole 5
Substitutes: H Mullins (for Parker, 77min), D Tristán (for Collison, 77), J
Spector (for Di Michele, 88). Not used: J Lastuvka, L Bowyer, F Sears, B
N'Gala. Next: Newcastle (a).
Stoke (4-4-2): T Sorensen 7 A Griffin 6 R Shawcross 6 Abdoulaye Faye 8 D
Higginbotham 5 R Delap 6 G Whelan 6 S Olofinjana 6 D Pugh 5 R Fuller 4 R
Cresswell 5 Substitutes: V Péricard 5 (for Pugh, 52min), A Davies 6 (for
Griffin, 58).
Not used: S Simonsen, L Lawrence, T Soares, M Tonge, I Sonko. Next:
Liverpool (h).
Referee M Jones Attendance 34,477
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West Ham 2 Stoke 1
The Sun
By ANTONY KASTRINAKIS at Upton Park
Published: Today
POTTY Ricardo Fuller's idea of a Christmas cracker may end up costing Stoke
£40million. Rarely does madness show itself in such a crass manner on the
football pitch — never mind change the face of a game or even a season. When
fiery Fuller slapped team-mate Andy Griffin and was sent off after 54
minutes, Stoke's chances of getting anything from this game went up in
flames. Worse, their Premier League survival — and with it millions of TV
money — may also have vanished in similar fashion. West Ham sub Diego
Tristan came up with a last-ditch winner that left Stoke cursing their luck
as they slipped deeper into relegation trouble. And Fuller's stupidity could
end up haunting Potters fans forever. One thinks of the Lee Bowyer-Kieron
Dyer punch-up in the middle of St James' Park in a game against Aston Villa
in April 2005. Another infamous row came in November 1995 when Greame Le
Saux and David Batty traded blows in a Champions League game for Blackburn.
Footballers are not robots and God knows there are enough punch-ups that go
unreported. But this was not behind closed doors, it happened in full view
of almost 35,000 souls and millions watched it on telly last night. How
stupid. Up to that point Stoke had frustrated wasteful West Ham. This was a
real chance for them to get their first ever Premier League away win. They
came to Upton Park with the worst away record in the whole League with six
losses and three draws. In contrast, Gianfranco Zola's men had not won at
home since beating Newcastle on September 20. So the question was, if they
could not beat the worst away side, when could they expect to end their
rotten run? It weighed heavily on their shoulders. Hammers chief Zola
admitted: "Even if you're a strong player, when a situation like this
happens it affects everybody. "But after the goal they reacted perfectly,
they went out and tried to score. In the first half we had at least seven
chances to score.
"I said to the players if we carry on playing like this we're going to win.
So it was and nobody can say anything."
The Hammers were rocked after just four minutes when Abdoulaye Faye rose
unmarked at the far post to head home Danny Pugh's corner. From then on it
was a story of wasted chances for the Hammers, with Carlton Cole the main
culprit. But Cole got the better of Griffin on 51 minutes and curled a
beautiful strike past Thomas Sorensen. As Stoke returned to the halfway
line, Fuller had a heated argument with Griffin and lashed out at his
teammate. Referee Michael Jones had a quick worth with Griffin and flashed a
red card at Fuller. Down to 10 men and with Zola's team pressing hard, it
seemed only a matter of time before Stoke capitulated. Yet Tony Pulis' side
stood strong. It was 68 minutes before West Ham had a sniff at goal again
but Danny Higginbotham cleared Luis Boa Morte's shot off the line. When
David Di Michele's tame effort went straight at Sorensen one wondered why
Zola was making no changes. Tristan made a belated entry on 77 minutes. And
two minutes from time the largely forgotten Spanish striker diverted Cole's
shot into the net to give the Hammers a priceless win. Zola added: "I think
it's a big turning point for us.
"Tristan is not 100 per cent fit but he's better. We'll try and give him
more time on the pitch to make him sharper. "But he's got the goal in his
bag so hopefully he's going to keep producing."
Upset Pulis claimed Tristan was offside. He said: "The TV replay shows that
the lad is offside for the goal which is desperately disappointing. "I don't
think Sorensen had a shot to save in the second half, apart from picking the
ball out of the net and the second one was offside." West Ham fans baited
Stoke with chants of "down with the Tottenham". If that turns out to be the
case, Fuller will rightly be fingered forever as one of the villains.
STAR MAN - DANNY HIGGINBOTHAM (Stoke)
WEST HAM: Green 6, Faubert 5, Collins 5, Upson 7, Ilunga 6, Behrami 6,
Parker 6 (Mullins 6), Collison 7 (Tristan 7), Boa Morte 5, Di Michele 5
(Spector 6), Cole 6. Subs not used: Lastuvka, Bowyer, Sears, Ngala. Booked:
Cole, Boa Morte, Di Michele.
STOKE: Sorensen 6, Griffin 6 (Davies 5), Abdoulaye Faye 7, Shawcross 6,
Higginbotham 8, Delap 6, Olofinjana 6, Whelan 6, Pugh 6 (Pericard 5),
Cresswell 6, Fuller 0. Subs not used: Simonsen, Lawrence, Soares, Tonge,
Sonko. Sent off: Fuller. Booked: Olofinjana, Higginbotham, Abdoulaye Faye.
REF: M Jones 6
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