WHUFC.com
Gianfranco Zola is confident his team can continue their push for a
top-seven finish with victory over Sunderland
02.04.2009
Gianfranco Zola is in confident mood ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier
League visit of Sunderland to the Boleyn Ground.
The West Ham United manager is optimistic the Hammers can still finish
seventh in the table and secure a place in next season's inaugural UEFA
Europa League - with the help and backing of the club's supporters.
Zola, whose team will look to complete a league double over the Black Cats,
will welcome central defenders Matthew Upson and James Collins and forward
Savio back into his first-team squad after the trio recovered from calf,
hamstring and knee injuries respectively. England forward Kieron Dyer is
also eager for more first team action after making a late substitute
appearance in the 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers.
However, the manager will be without injured midfielders Valon Behrami and
Jack Collison, while striker Carlton Cole faces six weeks on the sidelines
with a groin injury. Midfielder Radoslav Kovac also faces a race to be fit
as he bids to shrug off a thigh problem.
With his team unbeaten in four Premier League matches - during which time
they have conceded just one goal - Zola firmly believes the Hammers have
what it takes to secure victory over Ricky Sbragia's side and push on for a
top-seven finish.
"That's what I hope. We have some young players who are growing up very well
and will have more chances. I'm confident. I'm very, very confident because
it's a good moment. There is a good atmosphere and sometimes these moments
can surprise you with things that were missing on the pitch. I'm always very
confident and positive. We need the help of our supporters. This is a moment
when they have to back us a lot and, with that, we can get through it."
With the three first-team players out injured, one could forgive Zola for
lowering his expectations this season. However, the optimistic Italian has
challenged the club's youngsters to take their chance and aid the Hammers'
push for a European place.
"We've always had something to deal with, but I like this because this
situation makes me think more and gives the others more responsibilities.
It's a problem that makes everybody better if we take it in the right way. I
am personally not going to sit and cry for those who are missing. Obviously
I do respect them as they are very important players for the team but we
need to react to this situation and make the most out of it. That's my
philosophy and I'm sure the team will react."
With Cole and fellow England striker Dean Ashton ruled out, Zola laughed off
suggestions that he may dust off his own boots and take to the field as a
player - four years after playing his last competitive game for Serie B side
Cagliari.
"Don't say that twice or I might listen to you! No, I'm sure we will cope
without that. It's a pity really because we have a good chance here and
obviously if we had everybody available it would be interesting to see where
this team could have got. But it's ok. It's more difficult but the idea is
still to try and push for seventh spot.
"We're going to try. Obviously the possibilities are less than they were
before.... but we're still going to have a go. Especially when we play our
games at home, it will be important that the crowd supports us. They have to
understand that the team needs a bit of support. I still believe it and
that's why I'm here and pushing everybody. This team is stronger than many
people may think."
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Cole out for six weeks
WHUFC.com
Carlton Cole will not require surgery to mend the groin he injured while on
England duty on Saturday
02.04.2009
Gianfranco Zola has confirmed that Carlton Cole will not need surgery to
repair the groin injury he suffered during England's 4-0 friendly win over
Slovakia at Wembley on Saturday.
The West Ham United manager said that he hopes to have the 25-year-old back
in six weeks time. Cole, who has two caps for his country and has scored
eleven goals for the Hammers this season, was hurt midway through the first
half after appearing as an early substitute for goalscorer Emile Heskey.
However, the good news is that the striker could be fit before the end of
the Premier League season, which ends with the visit of Middlesbrough to the
Boleyn Ground on Sunday 24 May.
"Fortunately he won't need an operation," said Zola. "It's just a problem in
between the muscle and the tendon in his groin so he doesn't need an
operation. He should be available in six weeks. That's what I have been
told."
Cole has been in superb form this season, winning his first England cap in
the 2-0 friendly defeat in Spain in February.
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Kids cheer Cottee
WHUFC.com
Tony Cottee has been impressed with the latest youngsters to make their
first-team bow
02.04.2009
Tony Cottee has challenged West Ham United's young debutants Junior
Stanislas and Josh Payne to take their big chance in the Hammers'
first-team.
Winger Stanislas, 19, made a lively Premier League bow in the goalless
Boleyn Ground stalemate with West Bromwich Albion, while versatile
midfielder Payne, 18, was handed his first taste of top-flight football late
in the 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers five days later.
The pair's presence in Gianfranco Zola's team brought the number of former
Academy graduates to appear for the Hammers this season to eight - the
others being Mark Noble, Jack Collison, James Tomkins, Freddie Sears, Kyel
Reid and Zavon Hines. Reserve team captain Bondz N'Gala and goalkeeper Marek
Stech have also been named in Zola's match-day squad.
As another notable Academy graduate, Cottee has been delighted by the
progress of the latest batch of promising youngsters to roll off the club's
production line - and there could be more to come.
"I'm just so pleased that the conveyor belt is still producing the
youngster," Cottee said. "Off the back of James, Freddie, Mark and Jack, who
has been fantastic this year, we have got another two-or-three guys coming
through.
"I spoke to [Academy director] Tony Carr a couple of weeks ago and he told
me there is another group of really good 15 and 16-year-old old youngsters
coming up too, so there's not a lot wrong with the youth system at West Ham.
We've always produced good players.
"Credit goes to Tony and everyone at the Academy that we are still producing
the youngsters."
Cottee believes that the work Carr and his team are doing at Little Heath
means that West Ham have an almost unrivalled record in the Premier League
when it comes to producing homegrown talent.
"We had a bit of a lean spell in the early 1990s but then we had the six
diamonds, as I call them, when Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Glen
Johnson, Michael Carrick and Jermain Defoe came through.
"It is pleasing now that we're in the 21st century that we're still
producing the youngsters. It is difficult these days to bring young players
through but it's great to think that we have at least six home-grown players
who are in the first-team squad on a match-day. There are not many Premier
League clubs who could say they can do that."
While Stanislas and Payne had to make do with climbing off the substitutes'
bench to make their respective debuts, Cottee himself marked his first
appearance in claret and blue by scoring the opening goal in a 3-0 win over
Tottenham Hotspur at the Boleyn Ground on New Year's Day 1983. He was just
17.
More than 25 years later, the striker who went on to score 146 goals in 336
appearances for West Ham, has urged the club's youngsters to follow in his
footsteps and grab their chances to shine at the highest level. Cottee also
found time to praise manager Gianfranco Zola for handing first-team
opportunities to no fewer than six teenagers this season - Stanislas, Payne,
Collison, Tomkins, Sears and Germany Under-20 international Savio.
"I was a West Ham supporter so my debut was special for me. I worked my
socks from the age of five just to get the chance to achieve what I did on
my debut. Football is about challenges and you have to respond to those
challenges.
"If you are lucky enough to get into the youth set-up, which I did when I
joined the club at the age of 15, then you play a year of youth football and
then you might be lucky enough to play for the reserves. If you do, then you
have to go to that different level and prove yourself. If you get a chance
in the first-team, you have to take your chance again.
"I took my chance and I went on to have a 20-year career, but I always say
that if I hadn't been given my chance, you never know what might have
happened. People ask about certain players 'Is he good enough?' and I always
say 'How do you know if you don't give them a chance?'.
"I'm delighted that Gianfranco has been as good as his word. He said he
would give the youngsters a chance and he has given them that chance. Now it
is up to them to take those opportunities. It is up to the likes of Josh and
Junior, who have just broken through, to do that.
"If they can, then they can progress. I was lucky enough to play for
England, which was a great thrill, and a lot of wonderful opportunities can
open up for young players. They have just got to take their chances when
they get them."
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Sunderland match preview
WHUFC.com
All the early team news and background for Saturday's return to action for
Gianfranco Zola's team
02.04.2009
Barclays Premier League
Boleyn Ground
Monday 4 March
3pm
Referee: Howard Webb
• West Ham United welcome Ricky Sbragia's Sunderland for the club's 16th
home match of the 2008/09 Barclays Premier League season.
• West Ham have won seven home league matches (Wigan Athletic, Blackburn
Rovers, Newcastle United, Stoke City, Fulham, Hull City and Manchester
City), drawn two (Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion) and lost six (Bolton
Wanderers, Arsenal, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Manchester
United).
• The Hammers go into Saturday's match unbeaten in their last four Premier
League matches. A Jack Collison volley saw Manchester City beaten 1-0 at the
Boleyn Ground on 1 March before Carlton Cole's fine finish earned victory by
the same scoreline at Wigan Athletic on 4 March. A goalless stalemate at
home to West Brom on 16 March was followed by a 1-1 draw at Blackburn on 21
March.
• West Ham are looking to complete their third Premier League double of the
season on Saturday, having previously tasted victory at home and away
against Fulham and Wigan.
• Zola's side go into the match in eighth place in the Premier League table.
West Ham are level on 41 points with seventh-placed Wigan but below the
Latics on goal difference. The Hammers are seven points behind sixth-placed
Everton and a point ahead of ninth-placed Fulham. A seventh-place finish
will be good enough to qualify for next season's UEFA Europa League.
• Sunderland go into the contest14th in the table with 32 points from 30
matches, a point behind 13th-placed Hull City but only three points ahead of
18th-placed Newcastle United and the relegation zone.
• This is the 68th league meeting between the two sides. West Ham have won
24, Sunderland have won 26 and there have been 17 draws.
Referee
• Saturday's referee is Howard Webb.
• The Yorkshire Police sergeant has been a referee since 1989, graduating to
the Northern Counties East League in 1993. In 1996, Webb moved up to become
an assistant referee in the Football League, fulfilling the same role in the
Premier League in 1999.
• In 2000, Webb became a Football League referee, stepping up to the Premier
League's Select list three years later. He took charge of his first game at
the highest level in October 2003 when he was the man in the middle for the
goalless draw between Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
• After taking charge of the 2005 FA Community Shield between Chelsea and
Arsenal, Webb refereed his first full international in November of that year
in the shape of the friendly between Northern Ireland and Poland in Belfast.
• Since then, Webb has been in charge of a host of important matches at
domestic and international level, including the 2007 Carling Cup final, a
host of UEFA Champions League fixtures and the 2008 North American Superliga
final between New England Revolution and Houston Dynamo.
• Webb also took charge of the EURO 2008 matches between Austria and Poland
and Greece and Spain and is on the provisional list of referees for the 2010
FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
• Webb has officiated in 36 matches this season in all competitions. He has
issued 116 yellow cards and sent-off five players.
Last time out
Saturday 21 March 2009
Barclays Premier League
Blackburn Rovers 1-1 West Ham United
West Ham United: Green, Neill, Tomkins, Spector, Ilunga, Noble, Parker,
Kovac, Boa Morte (Lopez 79), Tristan (Payne 90), Di Michele (Dyer 82)
Subs not used: Lastuvka, Sears, N'Gala, Stanislas
Booked: Parker
Goal: Noble 35
Sunday 22 March 2009
Barclays Premier League
Manchester City 1-0 Sunderland
Sunderland: Fulop, Bardsley, Collins, Ferdinand, McCartney, Edwards,
Whitehead, Leadbitter, Murphy (Davenport 16), Malbranque (Reid 72), Jones
(Cisse 72)
Subs not used Gordon, Yorke, Healy, McShane,
Booked: Bardsley, Davenport, Ferdinand, Leadbitter, Reid
Sent-off: McCartney
West Ham United
• West Ham go into Saturday's match seeking to extend their unbeaten home
run in all competitions to four matches. Since losing 1-0 to Manchester
United on 8 February, the Hammers have drawn 1-1 with Middlesbrough in the
FA Cup fifth round and beaten Manchester City 1-0 and drawn 0-0 with West
Brom in the Premier League.
• West Ham's biggest ever home win over Sunderland came in the shape of an
8-0 success at the Boleyn Ground on 19 October 1968. England striker Geoff
Hurst scored six goals - including a hat-trick in each half - while Bobby
Moore and a young Trevor Brooking added one apiece.
• West Ham's most recent home win over Sunderland came last season, on 21
October 2007, when goals from Craig Bellamy, Carlton Cole and an own-goal by
Black Cats goalkeeper Craig Gordon earned the Hammers a 3-1 victory. Kenwyne
Jones netted Sunderland's consolation.
• Carlton Cole is West Ham's top scorer in the Premier League this season
with nine goals. He has eleven in all competitions.
• Goalkeeper Robert Green is the only West Ham player to have played every
minute of the club's 30 Premier League matches so far this season. Matthew
Upson has started 28 games.
Sunderland
• Sunderland go into Saturday's match without a win in their last five
Premier League matches. Since tasting success in the shape of a 2-0 win over
Stoke City on 7 February, the Black Cats have drawn at Arsenal (0-0) and at
home with Tottenham (1-1) and lost at Liverpool (2-0), Manchester City (1-0)
and at home to Wigan (2-1).
• Sunderland's biggest ever win at the Boleyn Ground came on 25 August 1931,
when the Black Cats secured a 3-0 victory in east London.
• Sunderland's most recent win at West Ham came in Division One on 29 April
2005. Marlon Harewood gave the Hammers a first-half lead before second half
goals from Julio Arca and Stephen Elliott, with three minutes remaining, won
the game for the visitors.
• France striker Djibril Cisse is Sunderland's top scorer with ten goals in
all competitions. The on-loan Marseille man has netted nine times in the
Premier League. Trinidad and Tobago hitman Kenwyne Jones has seven league
goals to his name and nine in all competitions. Former Hammer Kieran
Richardson has three Premier League goals to his name.
• No Sunderland player has started all 30 of the club's Premier League games
this season. Steed Malbranque has started 29, while Danny Collins has
started 27 and Dean Whitehead and Kieran Richardson 25 each.
Team news
• West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola will have central defenders Matthew Upson
and James Collins fit for selection after both missed the club's two
previous Premier League matches against West Brom and Blackburn. Upson got
90 minutes for England in the 4-0 win against Slovakia last Saturday while
Collins played two full games for Wales as they lost 2-0 to Finland and
Germany on Saturday and Wednesday respectively.
• The pair's return means Zola is spoilt for choice at the centre-back
position, with James Tomkins performing superbly in the pair's absence
alongside Lucas Neill, who helped Australia move to the brink of the World
Cup finals with a 2-0 defeat of Uzbekistan in Sydney on Wednesday.
• England Under-20 defender Tomkins, who celebrated his 20th birthday last
Sunday, has been part of a defence that has conceded just one goal in their
last four Premier League matches. He played 45 minutes for the Young Lions
in their 2-0 midweek win against Italy, when Freddie Sears played the whole
game and Junior Stanislas had a late run-out off the bench.
• England forward Kieron Dyer is expected to feature on Saturday after
successfully coming through his first team comeback at Blackburn and an hour
of the 4-2 friendly victory over Chelsea on 27 March. The 30-year-old has
been in full training at Chadwell Heath this week and is eager to make his
mark between now and the end of the season.
• Zola has also been boosted by the return from injury of forward Savio, who
completed 87 minutes for Germany Under-20s last weekend after recovering
from a minor knee injury.
• Carlton Cole will be out for around six weeks with a groin injury suffered
on international duty with England in the 4-0 win against Slovakia last
Saturday. The striker will not require surgery.
• Zola will be without midfielders Valon Behrami and Jack Collison. Both are
making good progress after suffering knee injuries. Switzerland
international Behrami is undergoing rehabilitation work at Chadwell Heath as
he begins the road back from an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Wales
international Collison is closer to recovery after suffering a dislocated
kneecap in the 1-0 victory at Wigan.
• Radoslav Kovac is a slight injury doubt after picking up a knock to his
thigh while on international duty with the Czech Republic in their 2-1
midweek defeat by Slovakia. His midfield partner Scott Parker has been
troubled by a groin problem in recent weeks.
• Wales defender Danny Gabbidon is continuing his recovery from back and
stomach injuries by working with the club's medical staff at Chadwell Heath.
• Sunderland could be without striker Kenwyne Jones, who has had his
training time limited in recent weeks due to tiredness. The forward was used
as a second-half substitute by Trinidad and Tobago during their 3-0 CONCACAF
2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying defeat by the United States in Nashville on
Wednesday.
• Defender Nyron Nosworthy could be back in Sunderland's first-team squad
for the first time since tearing his hamstring against Aston Villa on 17
January. The former Gillingham player made his comeback in Thursday
evening's reserve team match at Liverpool.
• Finland midfielder Teemu Tainio is a doubt as he continues to battle a
persistent knee injury. The problem kept the 29-year-old out of his
country's squad for this week's internationals against Wales and Norway.
Tainio has not featured since 21 February.
• Scotland defender Russell Anderson is out of action for the rest of the
season with an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury.
• Former West Ham forward David Connolly is sidelined with a groin injury.
The Irishman has not played for Sunderland this season.
• Goalkeeper Nick Colgan is ruled out with a thigh strain. Like Connolly,
the shot-stopper has not played a single match for the Black Cats this term.
• Former Hammers left-back George McCartney is available for the game after
the red card he received in the 1-0 defeat at Manchester City was rescinded,
and played in his country's 1-0 win against Slovenia on Wednesday.
• On-loan West Ham defender Calum Davenport is not eligible to feature under
Premier League rules.
Last meeting
• The teams met at the Stadium of Light on Sunday 23 November 2008. West Ham
left Wearside with a 1-0 victory thanks to Valon Behrami's first goal for
the club.
• The lineups were:
Sunderland: Fulop, Bardsley, Nosworthy, Ferdinand, Collins, Malbranque
(Edwards 66), Whitehead, Reid (Murphy 66), Richardson, Jones (Diouf 81),
Cisse
Subs not used: Colgan, Tainio, Colback, Henderson
West Ham United: Green, Neill, Collins, Upson, Ilunga, Faubert (Boa Morte
76), Parker, Bowyer (Mullins 61), Behrami, Bellamy (Di Michele 87), Cole
Subs not used Lastuvka, Davenport, Collison, Sears
Goal: Behrami 20
Attendance: 35,222
Old boys
• Anton Ferdinand began his career at West Ham's famed Academy, making 163
appearances and scoring five goals for the Hammers before joining Sunderland
last August. The 24-year-old defender has made 28 league and cup appearances
for the Black Cats this term.
• Left-back George McCartney spent two seasons at the Boleyn Ground, making
71 appearances and scoring one goal for West Ham. The Northern Ireland
defender made 157 appearances during his first spell with Sunderland before
joining the Hammers in August 2006. After two years in east London,
McCartney headed back to Wearside and has made 18 appearances this season.
• England midfielder Kieran Richardson began his career at West Ham, but
failed to make a first team appearance before joining Manchester United in
2002. The 24-year-old joined Sunderland in July 2007 and has since made 46
appearances, scoring six goals.
• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are Dick Bell,
Gary Breen, Clive Clarke, Keith Coleman, Ernest England, John Foreman, Harry
Forster, Jack Foster, Harry Hooper, Don Hutchison, Mick McGiven, Andy
Melville, Billy Moore, Bryan 'Pop' Robson and Dave Swindlehurst.
Head to head
Last six meetings (Premier League unless stated)
23 November 2008 - Sunderland 0-1 West Ham United
29 March 2008 - Sunderland 2-1 West Ham United
21 October 2007 - West Ham United 3-1 Sunderland
4 February 2006 - West Ham United 2-0 Sunderland
1 October 2005 - Sunderland 1-1 West Ham United
29 April 2005 - (Championship) West Ham United 1-2 Sunderland
Overall record v Sunderland (all competitions) W 29 D 19 L 28
Next up
• West Ham will travel to Tottenham Hotspur for a Barclays Premier League
fixture on Saturday 11 April, with kick-off at 3pm
• Sunderland will play host to Manchester United in the Barclays Premier
League on Saturday 11 April, with kick-off at 3pm
General information
• For ticket information, click here
• Engineering works will take place on the c2c line this Saturday. A full
service will operate with some minor retimings to services between Barking
and Upminster. Only services from London are affected by these retimings.
Services via Ockendon will depart three minutes earlier from Fenchurch
Street, Limehouse, West Ham and Barking.
• The District line will be suspended between Embankment and Upminster on
Saturday. Two rail replacement bus services operate. Service A will operate
between Barking and Dagenham East, Upney, Becontree and Dagenham Heathway.
Service B will operate between Barking and Upminster, calling at Dagenham
East, Elm Park, Hornchurch and Upminster Bridge. The Circle line will also
be completely suspended on Saturday.
• Saturday's weather forecast is for light rain, with a maximum daytime
temperature of 12C.
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Win double for youths
WHUFC.com
Two West Ham United Academy sides secured victories over Japanese touring
teams on Thursday
02.04.2009
West Ham United's Academy secured a win double over two Japanese touring
teams at Little Heath on Thursday.
With the Hammers' youth teams without league fixtures this weekend, a select
College squad from the city of Osaka visited West Ham as part of a tour of
England that also saw them take on Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the week.
A mixed Under-15/16 team beat their Japanese opponents 6-1, while a mixed
Under-16/17 side overcame the visitors 7-1. Despite the one-sided appearance
of the scorelines, Academy director Tony Carr said both matches had been
competitive affairs.
"The scores suggest the matches were fairly easy but that was not the case
in either game," he said. "The fixtures gave us a chance to blood a few
younger players and also look at a few trialists. They were good workouts
for our boys, as we have not got any league games this weekend. The matches
were certainly preferable to training."
Thursday's matches came about through contacts Carr had made during the
Academy's successful trip to the Hong Kong Sevens tournament last summer.
"I knew the coach of the Japanese sides and he was delighted to have the
opportunity to bring his players to Little Heath. They had been on tour in
England and had already played matches at Tottenham and a couple of other
clubs.
"As you would expect from a Japanese side, their players were very fit but
they struggled a bit with the aggression and pace of the English game. We
caused them all sorts of problems from set-pieces, but the matches were
still a good exercise for our players."
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Good week for Grasser
WHUFC.com
West Ham United midfielder Georg Grasser played in Austria's Under-19 win in
Belgium on Wednesday
02.04.2009
West Ham United midfielder Georg Grasser has earned his second Austria
Under-19 cap in the 2-0 friendly victory over Belgium.
The 18-year-old, who has featured regularly in the Hammers' Under-18 and
reserve teams this season, was introduced as a 75th-minute substitute at the
Stadion KVK in Tienen. Grasser has impressed the club's Academy and reserve
team staff with his tenacity and passing ability since joining West Ham from
Grazer AK last summer.
After Wednesday's outing, the teenager will now hope to keep his place in
Andreas Heraf's squad for the upcoming UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Elite Round Group 1 qualifiers against Hungary, Serbia and Finland in May.
Should Austria top their group, they will win through to the eight-team
finals tournament, which will be held in Ukraine from 21 July to 2 August
2009.
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West Ham v Sunderland
PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Upton Park Date: Saturday, 4 April Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage: Score updates on Final Score, BBC Sport website and BBC Radio 5
Live; live text commentary on BBC Sport website; Highlights on Match of the
Day
BBC.co.uk
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Team news to follow later.
BIG-MATCH FACTS
This mid-table match-up in the East End pits a West Ham side, aiming to
extend their unbeaten league run to five games, against a Sunderland outfit,
who have not won in five.
West Ham are vying to beat Sunderland for the fifth successive time in a
home Premier League match. They've won the last four with an aggregate score
of 10-1.
Distance between the clubs: 276 miles (444 kilometres)
CLUB FORM
WEST HAM UNITED
Club stats
8th 41 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 7th
Lowest could fall: 11th
Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League
1. Won 11 and lost 11 of their 30 Premier League matches, scoring 35 goals
and conceding 35.
2. Conceded one goal in four top-flight outings.
3. Already beaten Wigan and Fulham home and away, and could still add
Sunderland and Stoke to the list of clubs they've done the double over.
4. Lost one of the 13 top-flight matches in which they've opened the
scoring; home to Everton.
5. Won four of the last six home league games.
6. Lost one of the last eight against North-East clubs.
7. Picked up 13 points out of 15 against clubs from the North-East at Upton
Park, since losing 0-2 to Newcastle on 17 September 2006.
8. Three of the top five clubs are still to be played in the seven-match
run-in after this. The full list is:- Tottenham (a), Aston Villa (a),
Chelsea (h), Stoke (a), Liverpool (h), Everton (a) and Middlesbrough (h).
Fixtures
SUNDERLAND
Club stats
14th 32 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 12th
Lowest could fall: 18th
Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League
1. On their longest winless run of this Premier League season, and the
longest since completing eight without victory between 22 September to 10
November 2007.
2. Lost the last two top-flight games, against Wigan (h) and Manchester City
(a); last lost three on the bounce between 23 November and 6 December 2008.
3. Drawn a third of their league games under Ricky Sbragia; five of 15.
4. Scored 3,669 post war league goals and conceded 3,669.
5. Won one and lost 10 of the 12 league games in which the opening goal has
been conceded; the victory being away to Blackburn on 15 November.
6. Already suffered home and away defeats to Liverpool, Aston Villa and
Manchester City. Manchester United, Chelsea, Everton, Bolton, Portsmouth and
West Ham could be added to the list of clubs to have done the double over
them.
7. Have the worst record against top-half clubs; won only one of 16 games
(home to Fulham), gaining seven points out of 48 and failing to score in 10
of them.
8. Not scored in three away league games, and not won in six, picking up
just three points out of 18 away from home since beating Hull 1-4 at the KC
Stadium on 20 December; their only victory in eight on the road. Also, kept
one clean sheet in 11 league matches away from the Stadium of Light; the
goalless draw at Arsenal on 21 February.
9. Not scored, nor won any of the last three Premier League trips to London,
since beating Tottenham 1-2 at White Hart Lane on 23 August.
10. Amongst the remaining fixtures are home matches against Manchester
United on 11 April and Chelsea, on the last day of the season, 24 May. The
full list is:- Manchester United (h), Hull (h), WBA (a), Everton (h), Bolton
(a), Portsmouth (a) and Chelsea (h).
Fixtures
KEY PLAYER NOTES
WEST HAM UNITED
Squad profiles
Robert GREEN is the only remaining player to have been on the field for
every minute of every one of West Ham's Premier League matches this season.
Carlton COLE is the club's top Premier League scorer with nine goals.
Kieron DYER needs a double to register 50 career club goals.
SUNDERLAND
Squad profiles
Djibril CISSE is the club's top Premier League scorer with nine goals.
Kenwyne JONES is a double shy of 50 career goals.
Veteran Dwight YORKE has scored eight Premier League goals against West Ham;
three for Aston Villa, four for Manchester United and one for Blackburn.
If selected:-
Anton FERDINAND will be facing a former club. The 24 year old defender made
163 appearances (138 in the league) and scored five league goals for West
Ham from the start of his professional career until his close season move to
the Stadium of Light.
George McCARTNEY will also be facing former colleagues. The 27 year old
Northern Ireland international defender made 71 appearances (61 in the
league) and scored one league goal in two years with the Hammers from August
2006.
Carlos EDWARDS will be making his 50th appearance in a Sunderland shirt.
Nick COLGAN will be keeping goal in his 250th English and Scottish league
game (Chelsea, Brentford, Reading, Hibernian, Stockport, Barnsley, Dundee
United and Wigan).
If on the field from the outset:-
YORKE will be making his 50th Premier League start for the Black Cats.
Calum DAVENPORT is on loan from West Ham and therefore ineligible to play.
HEAD TO HEAD
Sunderland's last win at Upton Park secured the Championship title; 1-2 on
29 April 2005. Their only Premier League victory there was 0-2 on 13 January
2001 when Stanislav Varga and Don Hutchison were on the scoresheet.
The Hammers are on course to register only their second double over the
Black Cats in the Premier League; the first was in 2002-03.
There has never been a goalless draw in any competition between West Ham and
Sunderland in East London; the Hammers once beat the Mackems 8-0 at Upton
Park in the top-flight on 19 October 1968.
Home and away
League (inc PL): West Ham 24 wins, Sunderland 26, Draws 17
Prem: West Ham 7 wins, Sunderland 4, Draws 4
at West Ham only
League (inc PL): West Ham 14 wins, Sunderland 8, Draws 11
Prem: West Ham 5 wins, Sunderland 1, Draws 1
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
West Ham United 3-1 Sunderland
21 December 2007 - Ref: Chris Foy
West Ham scorers: Cole 9, Gordon 78 og, Bellamy 90
Sunderland scorer: Jones 52
THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Sunderland 0-1 West Ham United
23 November 2008 - Ref: Mike Dean
West Ham scorer: Behrami 20
REFEREE
Howard Webb (Yorkshire)
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Cole injury blow rocks West Ham
BBC.co.uk
West Ham striker Carlton Cole has been ruled out for six weeks because of
the groin injury he aggravated in England's friendly win over Slovakia.
Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola says Cole was not fully fit for the game but he
did not want to deny him the chance to play for his country. "He will not
need surgery but there is a problem between the muscle and the tendon in his
groin," said Zola. Cole joins Dean Ashton, Valon Behrami and Jack Collison
on the injury list. His injury could hardly come at a worse time, as with
eight games to go, West Ham are eighth in the Premier League and still in
the hunt for a European place. Cole has recently broken into the England
side and is also his club's top scorer this season with 11 goals.
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Cole out for six weeks
Hammers striker to miss majority of season
Last updated: 2nd April 2009
SSN
West Ham striker Carlton Cole will be out for six weeks after suffering a
groin injury on international duty with England. The Hammers forward will
miss the vast majority of the Upton Park club's end-of-season run-in as he
recovers from the problem. Cole sustained the injury during Saturday's
friendly against Slovakia at Wembley with further examinations after the 4-0
victory revealing the extent of the damage. The former Chelsea player came
off the bench for Fabio Capello's men to replace Aston Villa's Emile Heskey
in only the 15th minute but was forced to leave the field himself just 19
minutes later. It had been reported that 11-goal Cole would miss the
remainder of the campaign, but there is a chance he could now feature in the
club's final two fixtures. Gianfranco Zola's men, who are in contention for
a European place, are at home to Middlesbrough on the final weekend of the
season with a trip to Everton coming the week before on 16th May. Zola said:
"He will not need an operation but there is a problem between the muscle and
the tendon in his groin. He will be out for six weeks."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sunderland Preview
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 2nd April 2009
By: Preview Percy
After a break for international stuff we next entertain Sunderland in one of
those Saturday 3pm kick-offs that we all know and love .The Mackems venture
on the long journey south a few places and a mere two points above the
trapdoor of doom.
It's probably fair to say that consistency has not been the so-called Black
Cats' strong point over the course of a season in which, as we ourselves
have proved, you only needed to have gone on one relatively stable run to
get yourself out of potential trouble. Sunderland's problem has been that,
for every half-decent result, there has been at least one setback. Still if
you haven't had a decent uninterrupted run for a while the end of the season
is probably the time to start on one.
They've lost their last two matches in the league and haven't won for five,
their last win coming back in February when they saw off Stoke in a 2-0 win
at home. Their last match before the break, and doesn't that seem a long
while ago, was the 1-0 defeat to Man City at Eastlands. The match was pretty
forgettable by all accounts save for a couple of incidents, one of which,
inevitably these days, centred upon a refereeing decision. Former Hammer
George McCartney saw the red one in Steve Tanner's card collection for being
the nearest player on hand when a sniper appeared to pick off Shaun
Wright-Phillips just before Madonna put in her bid. To be fair to the ref he
saw nothing wrong with the challenge from his viewpoint, the card only being
issued on the say so of the brilliantly-named lino, a Mr Mo Matador. The red
card was later rescinded following Sunderland's appeal on the not
unreasonable grounds that a) contact was minimal and b) it certainly didn't
deny a goalscoring opportunity. Robinho's later hilarious missed penalty
spared the visitors from further punishment.
Linda's reprieve is likely to see him start at the Boleyn for the first time
since he in no way submitted a written transfer request/ handed in a
transfer request in triplicate (delete according to which version you
believe) and he is likely to line-up in the back four alongside fellow
Boleyn alumnus Anton Ferdinand who will have some sort of point to prove
having had a bit of a 'mare in the reverse fixture earlier this season. The
rumour that the less than Einstein-like Ferdinand moved to Wearside to be
nearer to his unwell granny is surely untrue (though the possibility that he
misheard Stadium Of Light as "Isle Of Wight" cannot be discounted). Other
old boys currently plying their trade in red and white stripes include the
on-loan Calum Davenport, who made his debut against Man City coming on to
shore up the back four after Linda's dismissal. Linda's lack of a suspension
will probably see Davenport drop to the bench.
Up at Eastlands another old boy (albeit from the Academy) Kieran Richardson
was missing through suspension having picked up 10 yellows over the season.
He can be expected to return to the midfield which started the City match
five strong. Kenwyne Jones acted as the lone striker in that match, though
comments this week from boss Sbragia about the goalscoring prowess of
Djibril Cisse suggest that they might revert to two up top on Saturday as
they go for the points that will give them a bit of much-needed breathing
space. Cisse recently became another in an increasing list of footballers to
have got into trouble in a lap-dancing club, though why anyone would visit
such a venue in Newcastle when you see women wearing less on the street up
there is a bit of a mystery to me. Other attacking options includes David
Healey, who in the past has shown a Gerrard-like tendency to go down in
search of penalties. However, yet another ex-Hammer, David "Angry Ant"
Connolly will be missing with a long term groin injury. Another notable name
on the bench a couple of weeks ago was Dwight Yorke, who has played for both
Trinidad AND Tobago in the World Cup when most players these days have to
make do with one country.
Sunderland will come to the Boleyn having marked this one down as one they
must get something out of. With difficult games at title-chasing Man Utd,
and fellow scrappers Hull and West Brom coming up it's not inconceivable
that they could end up at the end of April in serious trouble so points from
the Boleyn would give them a bit of a cushion ahead of the six pointers to
come.
As for us, yet again the international break has been unkind to us. Cole's
absence due to yet more refereeing stupidity showed up the paucity of riches
in attack and it is that lack of depth that worries me most. Whilst
DiMichele does at least show the occasional glimpse of adequacy when paired
with Cole, alongside Diego "Schnorbitz" Tristan he looks less convincing.
Tristan himself has failed to impress so far – his one goal this season
being the somewhat fortunate deflection that gave us the three points
against Stoke. So with these two being the likely starting pair it's
difficult to see where the goals are going to come from.
More welcome will be the likely return of James Collins who managed a couple
of runouts for the Taffs during the break. I expect him to return to keep an
eye on Jones and he should line up alongside Upson, a move that will see
Lucas Neill move back to right back and Tomkins and Spector drop to the
racing car seats. This will be a little harsh on Tomkins, who has continued
to improve as the season has progressed and who, I thought, had a
particularly impressive 90 minutes up at Blackburn. However, with Jones a
particular threat in the corresponding match last season, I'd plump for
Ginge's experience this time round. Savio ought to be available as well
though I suspect he'll be more likely to start on the car seats too where
the nearly-but-not-quite-ready-for-a-start Dyer will continue his progress
towards a start.
Whilst I can see the defence coping with what the visitors have to offer up
front, up the other end Cole will be missed not only for his goalscoring
threat but also for his hold-up play and all-round awkwardness, something
that neither Tristan nor DiMichele really possess. We're therefore going to
have to lean heavily on the midfield for a goal threat. It's the lack of
goals up front that leads me into a mildly pessimistic outlook for this one.
If we manage an early goal from somewhere we might be able prey on their
lack of recent confidence but I think a draw is on the cards. Superstition
prevents me from going for a 0-0 so I'll say 1-1 this time around.
Enjoy the game!
Last Season: Won 3-1 A few nervy moments after Jones had levelled Cole's
opener. Gordon's unlucky own goal and a late Bellamy strike gave the score a
slightly flattering look.
Danger man: Kenwyne Jones Although Collins nullified his threat in the 1-0
win on Wearside he is still capable on his day of giving defenders
nightmares.
Look out for: Djibril Cisse He might just fancy a visit to the Greengate
which I believe prides the sort of entertainment he appears to enjoy.
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Cole out for six weeks
Hammers striker to miss majority of season
Last updated: 2nd April 2009
SSN
West Ham striker Carlton Cole will be out for six weeks after suffering a
groin injury on international duty with England. The Hammers forward will
miss the vast majority of the Upton Park club's end-of-season run-in as he
recovers from the problem. Cole sustained the injury during Saturday's
friendly against Slovakia at Wembley with further examinations after the 4-0
victory revealing the extent of the damage. The former Chelsea player came
off the bench for Fabio Capello's men to replace Aston Villa's Emile Heskey
in only the 15th minute but was forced to leave the field himself just 19
minutes later. It had been reported that 11-goal Cole would miss the
remainder of the campaign, but there is a chance he could now feature in the
club's final two fixtures. Gianfranco Zola's men, who are in contention for
a European place, are at home to Middlesbrough on the final weekend of the
season with a trip to Everton coming the week before on 16th May. Zola said:
"He will not need an operation but there is a problem between the muscle and
the tendon in his groin. He will be out for six weeks." Adding to the
Italian's problems ahead of this weekend's clash against Sunderland is
Radoslav Kovac picking up a knock and Scott Parker playing recently despite
a groin problem. "It's frustrating because they are important players for us
and it is a crucial point of the season for us. But these situation make me
think more and other players get more responsibility," Zola said. "It is a
problem that will make everyone better if we treat it in the right way."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
View from the Opposition - Sunderland AFC
One McAvennieeeeee - Thu Apr 2 2009
West Ham Online
The mighty Hammers welcome back some old faces this week as Sunderland make
the journey to Upton Park. After a decent draw at Blackburn last time out we
ended up losing 7th spot, so a home win will be a much needed confidence
boost after yet another first team injury has dampened spirits among
supporters.
This week, life long Mackem Tim Harrison has kindly agreed to take part in
our pre-match questions:
Q. What is your view of Sunderland's season so far?
A. Hit and Miss. Just as we get going we lose to a team we really should
beat (i.e. Wigan at home) The threat of relegation again hangs over us
Q. How has the change of manager affected your season
A. Not so much. Still hit and miss
Q. Keane – Bottler or Saint?
A. Left at the right time. Amazing achievement in getting us up in the first
year and then keeping us up. Raised the profile of the club. Attracted
players we never would have previously. Overall a Saint
Q. What is your view on West Ham so far this season?
A. Better than I expected. Thought you could be struggling with us
Q. How have our old boys Anton and McCartney settled?
A. Very well. Anton is a star. Probably quite easy for McCartney as he has
played for us before
Q. And Davenport?
A. One game as a substitute so hard to tell.
Q. What player doesn't deserve his place in your starting line up?
A. I think our starting line up is fairly good. I am disappointed with
Malbranque- thought he looked at better player at Spurs
Q. Niall Quinn made a comment a while back about West Ham spending immoral
amounts of money on players – then spend £9m on a keeper not good enough for
your first team. Is he always a hypocritical c*nt?
A. I would rather have Quinn that a bankrupt from Iceland - Keepers get
better with age- just watch Gordon when he hits 30 - Would you say Kieran
Dyer was value for money?
Q. Do you think being in such close proximity to a Big club has a
detrimental effect on attractive decent players?
A. We are actually a long way from Manchester so the effect is minimal
Q. What player should we look out for?
A. Kieran Richardson.
Q. I can't believe Wearside Jack is the only lover of Hammers from the
northeast - What is your view of west ham fans?
A. Arrogant and fickle summarised by the whole "we hate Pardew, we love
Pardew, oh no we hate Pardew. The whole Academy of football and West Ham way
is an irritant.
Q. If you could choose one player from our team who would it be?
A. Got the best ones thanks, however even for an ex barcode I do rate Scott
Parker
Q. What one rule change would you implement?
A. I may sound bitter and biased but we have more decisions go against us
than any other club. So no matter what changes we will still get done over
Q. Your favourite flavour potato based snack?
A. Steak McCoys
Q. Match prediction?
A. 2-1 to the mighty SAFC
Once again, thanks to Tim for taking the time out to answer these questions.
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Carlton Cole out for six weeks for West Ham
West Ham striker Carlton Cole has been ruled out for six weeks with his
groin injury.
By Telegraph staff and agencies
Last Updated: 11:44PM BST 02 Apr 2009
The 25-year-old faces an anxious wait to see what part he will play in the
club's push for European qualification this season. The forward was carrying
the problem before the international break but Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola,
who refused to push for his withdrawal, then saw him aggravate the complaint
during England's friendly win over Slovakia last weekend. The schedule for
Cole's return would see him play in the final three matches of the Barclays
Premier League season, with the club in the hunt for a place in the Europa
League, but the former Chelsea forward would be well short of match fitness.
"Fortunately he won't need an operation, it is a problem between the muscle
and tendon in the groin," Zola said. "He should be available in six weeks."
Adding to Zola's problems ahead of this weekend's clash against Sunderland
is Radoslav Kovac picking up a knock and Scott Parker playing recently
despite a groin problem. "It's frustrating because they are important
players for us and it is a crucial point of the season for us. But these
situation make me think more and other players get more responsibility,"
Zola said. "It is a problem that will make everyone better if we treat it in
the right way."
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Carlton Cole's lay-off
02.04.09
Evening Standard
West Ham striker Carlton Cole is expected to be out for six weeks with the
groin injury he aggravated on England duty. Cole was carrying the injury
before joining up with Fabio Capello's squad and had to be taken off at
Wembley during the friendly win over Slovakia on Saturday. Hammers boss
Gianfranco Zola said: "He will not need an operation but there is a problem
between the muscle and the tendon in his groin. He will be out for six
weeks." However, Rio Ferdinand looks likely to recover for Manchester
United's clash with Aston Villa despite an injury scare last night.
Ferdinand was taken off just before the end of England's victory over
Ukraine, sparking fears of a recurrence of the groin injury which kept him
out of the Slovakia game, but it is thought the centre-half will be okay for
Sunday.
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CISSE TO FACE HAMMERS
Daily Express
Friday April 3,2009
Djibril Cisse will be in the Sunderland squad travelling to West Ham
tomorrow despite being arrested this week outside a Newcastle lap-dancing
club. Manager Ricky Sbragia is prepared to play striker Cisse, who was
released on police bail after being questioned about an alleged assault on a
woman. But Sbragia has also launched an investigation into the incident and
spoke to Cisse after training yesterday. Sbragia said: "I don't want
meetings where I'm on one side of the desk and the player is on the other,
like a headmaster and a schoolboy. "I took him to one side for 10 minutes
and said this is the situation, and until we know the full facts we are in
limbo. "There are two sides to every story. We will deal with it when we
get all the relevant information."
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ZOLA'S COLE OWN-GOAL
Daily Express
Friday April 3,2009
By Nigel Clarke Have your say(0)
Carlton Cole faces missing the rest of the season – all because West Ham
boss Gianfranco Zola felt sorry for him. West Ham striker Cole took a slight
groin problem into the England training camp then aggravated it against
Slovakia on Saturday. He now faces being sidelined for six weeks. Zola could
have withdrawn 12-goal striker Cole to protect him for the Hammers'
end-of-season push for a European place , but said : "It never crossed my
mind to pull him out as a precaution. That would have been a very selfish
thing to do. The England call-up was very important to him ." Cole was
originally expected to be out for no more than three weeks but a scan
yesterday confirmed his absence until at least the middle of May.
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Craig Bellamy: An apology 3/04/2009
The Mirror
In online articles on 19, 20 and 28 January 2009 we wrongly reported that
Craig Bellamy had refused to train and play for West Ham against Fulham. We
alleged he had stormed out of West Ham's training ground and had effectively
gone on strike. We now accept that this was wrong and Craig Bellamy did not
refuse to play and nor did he go on strike. We apologise to Mr Bellamy for
any distress caused."
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West Ham boss Zola may pull on boots again!
03.04.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola is considering a playing comeback.
With Carlton Cole and fellow England striker Dean Ashton ruled out, Zola
laughed off suggestions that he may dust off his own boots and take to the
field as a player - four years after playing his last competitive game for
Serie B side Cagliari. Zola laughed: "Don't say that twice or I might listen
to you! No, I'm sure we will cope without that. It's a pity really because
we have a good chance here and obviously if we had everybody available it
would be interesting to see where this team could have got. But it's ok.
It's more difficult but the idea is still to try and push for seventh spot."
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West Ham United striker Carlton Cole out for six weeks
(Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Times Online
Carlton Cole, the West Ham United striker, is expected to be out for six
weeks with the groin injury he aggravated on England duty. Cole was carrying
the injury before he joined up with Fabio Capello's squad and had to be
taken off at Wembley during the friendly win over Slovakia on Saturday.
Gianfranco Zola, the West Ham United manager, said he didn't expect to have
his striker back until the end of the club's Premier League campaign. "He
will not need an operation but there is a problem between the muscle and the
tendon in his groin," Zola said. "He will be out for six weeks."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sunderland's Richardson grateful for West Ham background
02.04.09 | tribalfootball.com
Sunderland midfielder Kieran Richardson is grateful for his grounding at
West Ham United. Richardson left the Hammers for Manchester United as a
teenager before eventually signing for Sunderland. "I was there about five
years and a great time," recalled a player whose attacking impetus from
midfield has been missed. "The youth set-up was great but I left for United.
It will be nice to go back there and play. "They were great times, I knew
Anton (Ferdinand) back then too. But when a club like United want you, you
can't really say no. "I used to support Arsenal as a youngster but playing
for West Ham, I did love them. My dad is a West Ham fan so he might be upset
if I put one past them on Saturday. I can't wait. The (West Ham) fans won't
be bothered. I never played for the first team and I left when I was 15. I'm
just looking at getting the job done for Sunderland."
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No aches or pains for Dyer
Thursday 02 Apr 2009
4thGame.com
West Ham United midfielder Kieron Dyer insists he is finally back to full
fitness and is keen to play a key part in the club's final eight games of
the season. The 30-year-old former Ipswich Town and Newcastle United star
has endured an injury-ravaged spell with the Hammers since moving to Upton
Park almost two years ago with his last start for the club coming in August
2007.
KIERON DYER However, he came on as a late substitute in last month's 1-1
draw at Blackburn Rovers before coming through an hour of a friendly against
Chelsea unscathed. Dyer told the club's official website: "The friendly game
against Chelsea in particular was very pleasing, because I didn't feel any
problems afterwards. I had no aches or pains at all, which was a great sign
for me. "Before, after games, I'd be throwing ice on my shins because they'd
be throbbing but now, for the first time, that didn't happen and it feels
good. "When I came back earlier in the year I could hardly move for the next
couple of days, but I didn't get that this time around. "I feel so much
better now. In the Chelsea game I did a lot of running and it's the fittest
I've felt for a long time. It showed my legs are, finally after what's been
a very long lay-off, getting used to the workload again. "If I can get a few
more run-outs before the end of the season, then next season will hopefully
be the one were everyone will see the real me."
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Is Kieron Dyer the Answer?
West Ham Till I Die
With our strike force severely depleted, some people are looking to Kieron
Dyer to replace Carlton Cole up front. Maybe later in the month, but he must
not be rushed. As he points out in the article below from the club site, he
hasn't played a full 90 minutes for two years. Let him get some minutes
under his belt first before he is allowed to start a game.
Kieron Dyer has expressed his delight at getting through more action in the
past couple of weeks and is slowly and surely looking to step it up between
now and the end of the season.
The 30-year-old England midfielder came on as a late second-half substitute
in the 1-1 draw against Blackburn on 21 March and followed that up with an
hour in a friendly game against Chelsea last week. "It's been good for me,"
he said. "The friendly game against Chelsea in particular was very pleasing,
because I played 60 minutes and didn't feel any effects afterwards. I had no
aches or pains at all, which was a great sign for me.
"Before, after games, I would be throwing ice on my shins because they would
be throbbing, but now for the first time, that didn't happen and it feels
good. When I came back earlier in the year, [against Barnsley in the FA Cup
third round and then in a reserve game against Fulham] I could hardly move
for the next couple of days, but I didn't get that this time around.
"I feel so much better now. In the Chelsea game I did a lot of running and
it's the fittest I have felt for a long time, but I thought I might have to
get a crane to lift me out of bed the next day! But, when I woke up, it was
all good and it showed my legs are, finally after what has been a very long
lay-off, getting used to the workload again."
As well as working hard on his rehabilitation schedule and then throwing
himself back into full training, Dyer has also been putting in the
additional hours in his determination to get back in action. "Lately I have
been doing some extra work with Steve Clarke after training, getting my legs
accustomed again to that workload that is needed in football and it seems to
be doing the job."
Supporters up at Ewood Park were delighted to see Dyer take the game to
Blackburn when he came on and he is hoping that he can get more chances to
impress between now and the end of the season. "It is nice to hear that, for
me it has been frustrating because they haven't been able to see me play
much, if at all. They have certainly not seen me at my best yet.
"These things happen in football and I honestly believe I can bring some
more pace to the side. If I can get a few more run-outs before the end of
this season, then next season will hopefully be the one where everyone will
see the real me."
While he only had a few minutes against Blackburn, Dyer showed a little of
just what West Ham fans have missed and was involved pretty much straight
away.
"I am nowhere near match fit yet, I haven't played 90 minutes in nearly two
years but I spoke with the manager and said I would like to be on the bench
[against Blackburn] and if am needed, I am here, put me on and see what I
can get through. That was the case and it worked, I should have got a
penalty as well when I came on, so it could have worked out even better."
As well as getting back on the pitch, Dyer has been making sure he is back
among the banter that echoes around the training ground. He confessed he is
not good at watching games. "That is part and parcel of football," he said.
"One of the worst things, apart from missing games, is not being with the
rest of the team everyday and training, so you miss all the banter.
"So it is good to be out there and amongst that again with the lads - being
one of the jokers in the pack, which I like to be. It has been frustrating
so a lot of the time, I kept my distance. I'm not good at watching games
because I just want to be out there. The rest of the lads have helped, they
are a good lot and on the pitch I think it is testament to their spirit and
how good they all are as to where we are in the league. I think we have had
a great season and done really well.
"Hopefully I can get a few more minutes on the pitch maybe this weekend
against Sunderland and then matches here and there, perhaps doing a full 90
minutes in the last couple of games. That would really gear me up and then
if I can get a good pre-season under my belt and, touch wood - I think I am
due some luck - have a good run in the team next season."
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