WHUFC.com
Carlton Cole has revealed that England head coach Fabio Capello has told him
to be more aggressive
23.05.2009
Carlton Cole has revealed that England head coach Fabio Capello has told him
to get nasty.
Capello, who handed Cole his first full England caps in the recent friendly
internationals against Spain and Slovakia, telephoned Hammers manager
Gianfranco Zola to pass on advice to the West Ham United striker.
The message to Cole was simple - to shrug off his 'Nice Guy' image and show
more aggression inside the opposition penalty area.
The 25-year-old said he intends to take his new-found ruthless streak into
Sunday's Barclays Premier League finale against Middlesbrough.
"I have been told that I am too nice," said Cole. "I would say as a person I
am too nice a guy, I am not selfish guy. That is the way I was seen on the
pitch as well. But now I have got to be a bit more selfish on the pitch and
more of a nutter.
"To do that, you just train yourself to be aggressive at the right times and
channel your aggression in the right places."
Should he turn that aggression into goals against relegation-threatened
Boro, Cole hopes to be included in Capello's squad when it is named on
Sunday for next month's 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan
and Andorra.
"Those games are a massive opportunity for me and if I keep progressing and
learning the game, Fabio has told me and Gianfranco Zola that he wants me to
work on a few things as he can see me as a great threat in the box,
outmuscling defenders, using my physical presence and being a bit clever
with it. There is a lot to go on there. I need to get on the right track and
I know what I need to do to improve.
"Fabio has given a phone call to the manager and if you ask him, he knows
what I need to do. We will keep working on that in training and that will
make me a better player.
"I was chuffed that he had called as it shows that he has shown an interest
in me and it shows that he thinks I can improve. When you get to that level
you are supposed to be the finished article but I am far away, well not far
away, but I am trying to progress to that and be as good as I can be.
"If he doesn't think I can progress, then he would not be telling Franco I
need to work on certain stuff. That is encouraging for a player to think I
can be a big hit if he wants me to do what he wants me to do."
When asked exactly what Capello has instructed him to work on, Cole was
keeping his cards close to his chest. However, the striker did reveal that
he would be looking to pull the trigger earlier when he found himself in
shooting positions.
"I am not going to tell you that! That is for you to see on the field! I am
doing certain things. I nearly did it on Saturday at Everton if you want a
little inkling. I turned in the box and tried to get a shot in quickly but
my second touch let me down a little bit.
"Those are the things that he wants me to do to, use my muscle, have quick
feet in the box and strike at goal quicker and not dwell on it."
Turning to Sunday's opponents, who will be relegated unless they win at the
Boleyn Ground and results go their way elsewhere, Cole admitted his focus
had to be on the Hammers cause.
"We need to think about us. We almost got relegated two years ago and it was
daunting and I have been in that position. I am feel sorry that they are in
that position but we need to get on as professionals and get the job done.
Obviously we want to win this game.
"They need the points but we need to finish on a high. What has happened to
them doesn't really concern me. I want to get a couple of goals and to end
the season on a high. It might sound selfish but it's not really my
problem."
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Clarke forecasts Boro scrap
WHUFC.com
Steve Clarke believes Middlesbrough will be fighting for their Premier
League lives on Sunday afternoon
22.05.2009
Steve Clarke is expecting Middlesbrough to scrap for their Barclays Premier
League lives at the Boleyn Ground on Sunday.
Boro arrive in east London knowing only a win over West Ham United will be
good enough to extend their eleven-year stay in the top-flight. Even then,
Gareth Southgate's side need both Hull City and Newcastle United to lose -
the former with a five-goal swing in Boro's favour - to hand them a
lifeline.
Middlesbrough's task will be made even harder by the absence of England
winger Stewart Downing, who has been ruled out with a foot injury suffered
in the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa last Saturday.
Despite the odds being stacked against them, Hammers first-team coach Clarke
insists the Teessiders will be desperate to win at the Boleyn Ground for the
first time since April 2000.
At the same time, West Ham need to win themselves to ensure they finish
ninth in the table, while an emphatic victory combined with a heavy
Tottenham Hotspur defeat at Liverpool could see them climb above Spurs into
eighth.
"They have to come here believing that they can stay up so for them it's a
massive game," said Clarke. "We have lost our last two [against Liverpool
and at Everton] so we want to finish on a high.
"We've had a reasonable season and we want to finish it well. To finish it
with a victory in front of our home fans would be good. We have an outside
opportunity of catching the team above us, which we want to try and do.
Also, if we lose the match then Manchester City below us can catch us, so we
have to try and at least consolidate ninth position and try to get eighth."
"I'm not sure Downing's injury will make it a lot easier but he's a very
good player, he's injured and he's out and that's a very big blow for them.
They have other good players who can come in and replace him and I'm sure
whoever they put out will be fighting for their football club because
they're fighting for survival."
While Boro will be missing one England international, West Ham could welcome
one of their own back into the starting lineup.
Carlton Cole returned from six weeks out with a groin injury as a half-time
substitute in last Saturday's 3-1 reverse at Everton, and Clarke revealed
that the striker could be included from the kick-off this weekend.
"I'm sure he will feature. He will definitely feature, but whether he starts
or he comes from the bench we will decide on Saturday."
Cole has emerged as one of the Hammers' most important players this season,
leading the line with pace and power and scoring eleven goals in all
competitions.
Clarke believes a number of factors have contributed to the 25-year-old's
all-round improvement this term.
"I think it's a combination of the change of manager and fresh impetus from
the player. I think he is maturing as a player and as a person. Some people
mature early and some people a little bit later and I think Carlton is a
late maturer.
"His performances this season have been excellent and certainly, when he
went out of the side, we missed his presence in the team."
"He has always had the potential. When he was at Chelsea I was his coach in
the youth team. I knew his potential but unfortunately for Carlton, it's
taken him a little bit longer for him to realise his potential than maybe it
should have done, but hopefully he's started the road towards that this
season and he'll continue down it next season."
Cole won his first two full England caps earlier this year and Clarke put
the striker's case forward to add to that tally when Fabio Capello's side
take on Kazakhstan and Andorra in 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in early
June.
"He's fully fit. He was out for six weeks with an injury he sustained on
international duty. I don't pick the England squad, it's up to Mister
Capello to do that. But if he's concerned about his fitness then there is no
reason to be concerned because he's fully fit."
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Middlesbrough match preview
WHUFC.com
All the early team news and background for Sunday afternoon's Barclays
Premier League finale
22.05.2009
West Ham United v Middlesbrough
Barclays Premier League
Boleyn Ground
Sunday 24 May
4pm
Referee: Howard Webb
• West Ham United welcome Gareth Southgate's Middlesbrough for the club's
19th and final home fixture of the 2008/09 Barclays Premier League season.
• Gianfranco Zola's side go into the match in ninth place in the Barclays
Premier League table. West Ham have 48 points from their 37 matches and sit
three points behind eighth-placed Tottenham Hotspur. The Hammers need to win
this afternoon, for Spurs to lose at second-placed Liverpool, and hope for a
seven-goal swing in their favour to finish eighth. West Ham also need to
secure victory to ensure they finish above tenth-placed Manchester City, who
go into their final match at home to Bolton Wanderers a point behind Zola's
team.
• Middlesbrough go into the game knowing only a victory will be good enough
to give them a chance of extending their eleven-year stay in the Barclays
Premier League. Boro are three points adrift of 17th-placed Hull City, who
host champions Manchester United. Southgate's side need to win, hope Hull
and and Newcastle United - who travel to Aston Villa - both lose, and hope
for a five-goal swing in their favour to stay up. Defeat, combined with a
victory for West Bromwich Albion, or a four goal defeat combined with a West
Bromwich Albion draw, would see Boro finish bottom of the table.
• West Ham have won eight home league matches (Wigan Athletic, Blackburn
Rovers, Newcastle United, Stoke City, Fulham, Hull City, Manchester City and
Sunderland), drawn two (Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion) and lost eight
(Bolton Wanderers, Arsenal, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa,
Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool).
• This will be the fourth meeting between West Ham and Middlesbrough this
season. The two sides played out a 1-1 draw at the Riverside on Saturday 1
November. Both goalscorers that day, Hayden Mullins and Mido, have since
moved on to pastures new. Mullins joined Portsmouth permanently in January,
while Mido moved to Wigan on loan. The Hammers and Boro also met in the FA
Cup fifth round, drawing 1-1 at the Boleyn Ground on Valentine's Day, with
Herita Ilunga equalising Stewart Downing's opener. Middlesbrough won the
replay 2-0 at the Riverside on Wednesday 25 February through goals from
Downing and Tuncay Sanli.
• In ten Barclays Premier League matches between the two sides at the Boleyn
Ground, West Ham have won eight, Middlesbrough one and there has been one
draw. Boro have scored just twice in those ten matches, while the Hammers
have hit the net 16 times.
• This is the 56th league meeting between the two sides. Both teams have
tasted victory 22 times, while there have been eleven draws.
• The match will be screened live by Setanta Sports. It is the 18th time the
Hammers have been selected for live television coverage this season.
• The new Hammer of the Year will be announced on the pitch after the final
whistle, before the team do a lap of the pitch to say thanks to fans. More
than 10,000 supporters have had their say via whufc.com and those votes will
be added to others received by the club to confirm the 2009/10 winner.
Voting is thought to be very close between three main candidates. The Young
Hammer of the Year and the most improved player will also be honoured.
• The Barclays Premier League will confirm the fixtures for the 2009/10
season at 10am on 17 June with matches beginning from Saturday 15 August.
West Ham United will stage the Bobby Moore Cup against yet to be confirmed
opposition on Saturday 8 August.
Referee
• The referee will be Howard Webb.
• Considered to be one of the Barclays Premier League's top referees, Howard
Webb began officiating in Yorkshire in 1989, moving on to the Northern
Counties East League four years later.
• Webb was appointed as a Football League assistant referee in 1996,
fulfilling the same role in the Barclays Premier League in 1998.
• The 37-year-old took charge of his first Barclays Premier League match as
a referee in October 2003, and has since been the man-in-the-middle for a
host of high-profile fixtures.
• Webb refereed the 2005 FA Community Shield, 2006 FA Trophy final and 2006
UEFA European Under-21 Championship, as well as taking charge of his first
UEFA Champions League match in 2006.
• The former police officer was referee for the 2007 Carling Cup final and
was selected as England's representative at Euro 2008, taking charge of the
first match of the tournament between Austria and Poland and the Group D
fixture between Greece and eventual champions Spain.
• This season, Webb has taken charge of two West Ham United matches, the 3-0
loss at Manchester City in August and the 2-0 home win over Hull City in
late January.
• Webb will take charge of this season's FA Cup final at Wembley next
Saturday and is on the provisional list of referees for the 2010 FIFA World
Cup in South Africa.
• Webb has issued 117 yellow cards and six red cards in 34 Premier League
fixtures this season.
Last time out
Saturday 16 May 2009
Barclays Premier League
Everton 3-1 West Ham United
West Ham United: Green, Neill, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Noble, Kovac
(Stanislas 67), Collison, Di Michele (Spector 46), Boa Morte, Tristan (Cole
46)
Subs not used: Lastuvka, Lopez, Payne, Savio
Booked: Spector, Boa Morte
Sent-off: Tomkins
Goal: Kovac 24
Saturday 16 May 2009
Barclays Premier League
Middlesbrough 1-1 Aston Villa
Middlesbrough: Jones, Bates, Wheater, Huth, Hoyte, O'Neil (Walker 72), Adam
Johnson, Arca, Downing (King 23), Sanli, Emnes
Subs not used: Turnbull, Taylor, Shawky, McMahon, Grounds
Goal: Tuncay 14
West Ham United
• West Ham go into the match seeking their second consecutive top-half
Barclays Premier League finish after ending the 2007/08 season in tenth
position with 49 points. Victory today would see the Hammers finish at least
ninth on 51 points, the same position they achieved in 2005/06. A win,
combined with a Tottenham defeat and a seven-goal swing in the Hammers'
favour, would see West Ham finish eighth.
• The Hammers have never lost at home on the final day of a Barclays Premier
League season. In nine final day matches at the Boleyn Ground, West Ham have
won four and drawn five:
1993/94 - Southampton (H) 3-3, finished 13th
1994/95 - Manchester United (H) 1-1, 14th
1995/96 - Sheffield Wednesday (H) 1-1, 10th
1996/97 - Manchester United (A) 0-2, 14th
1997/98 - Leicester City (H) 4-3, 8th
1998/99 - Middlesbrough (H) 4-0, 5th
1999/00 - Leeds United (H) 0-0, 9th
2000/01 - Middlesbrough (A) 1-2, 15th
2001/02 - Bolton Wanderers (H) 2-1, 7th
2002/03 - Birmingham City (A) 2-2, 18th
2005/06 - Tottenham Hotspur (H) 2-1, 9th
2006/07 - Manchester United (A) 1-0, 15th
2007/08 - Aston Villa (H) 2-2, 10th
• On the final day of the 1997/98 season, West Ham beat Leicester City 4-3
at the Boleyn Ground to climb from ninth to eighth in the Barclays Premier
League table.
• West Ham's biggest home win over Middlesbrough came on the final day of
the 1998/99 season. The Hammers beat Boro 4-0 on 16 May 1999, with the goals
being scored by Frank Lampard, Marc Keller and a late brace from Trevor
Sinclair.
• The Hammers have not lost a final day fixture in the Barclays Premier
League since Middlesbrough beat them 2-1 at the Riverside on 19 May 2001.
• West Ham are unbeaten in seven home fixtures against Middlesbrough, a run
stretching back to 29 April 2000, when Boro won 1-0 at the Boleyn Ground.
The Hammers have won the last six league meetings between the two in east
London.
• 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 37 Premier League matches so far this season. Matthew
Upson has started 36 games, Herita Ilunga 34 and Lucas Neill 33.
• West Ham United statistics leaders:
Total shots - Carlton Cole 74
Shots on target - Carlton Cole 45
Shots off target - Carlton Cole 29
Assists - Carlton Cole/Mark Noble 5
Crosses - Mark Noble 35
Offsides - Carlton Cole 28
Fouls - Carlton Cole 64
Free-kicks won - Valon Behrami 70
Defensive clearances - Matthew Upson 60
Defensive blocks - Matthew Upson 30
Middlesbrough
• Middlesbrough are on the worst run of away form in their 133-year history.
Boro have lost their last eleven Barclays Premier League away matches. The
last time Gareth Southgate's team avoided defeat on their travels in the
top-flight was on 16 November, when they drew 1-1 at Everton.
• The last time Middlesbrough avoided defeat away from home in any
competition was the 1-1 draw they gained in the FA Cup fifth round at West
Ham on Valentine's Day.
• Middlesbrough's biggest ever win at the Boleyn Ground came on 8 September
1930, when Boro left with a 3-0 victory.
• Middlesbrough have gone a Barclays Premier League-high 36 matches without
winning consecutive games.
• As a team, Middlesbrough average 15.22 shots per goal, the highest in the
Barclays Premier League.
• Middlesbrough's leading scorer is Tuncay Sanli, who has hit the net seven
times in the Barclays Premier League and eight in all competitions.
• Should he start, Julio Arca will be making his 200th start in English
league football.
• Marlon King has been caught offside 66 times this season, more than any
other player in the Barclays Premier League.
• Stewart Downing has taken 70 shots in the Barclays Premier League without
scoring, more than any other player. However, Downing did score in both the
FA Cup fifth round tie and replay against West Ham in February.
• Middlesbrough statistics leaders:
Total shots - Afonso Alves 89
Shots on target - Afonso Alves 54
Shots off target - Stewart Downing 37
Assists - Stewart Downing 4
Crosses - Stewart Downing 148
Offsides - Afonso Alves 29
Fouls - Tuncay Sanli 38
Free-kicks won - Tuncay Sanli 57
Defensive clearances - Robert Huth 39
Defensive blocks - Robert Huth 29
Team news
• Zola could welcome back England attacker Kieron Dyer after the 30-year-old
returned to full training this week following a minor muscle injury.
• Wales defender Danny Gabbidon has provided Zola with a huge boost as he
returned to full training. He has not played a senior game since the Carling
Cup quarter-final defeat by Everton in December 2007.
• England striker Carlton Cole could return to Zola's starting lineup after
returning from a groin injury as a half-time substitute in last Saturday's
3-1 Barclays Premier League defeat at Everton. Cole had originally been hurt
in England's 4-0 friendly victory over Slovakia at Wembley on 28 March.
• England striker Dean Ashton is making good progress as he continues his
rehabilitation following a long-term ankle injury. The 25-year-old is
expected to be fit to start pre-season training with his team-mates in early
July.
• Switzerland midfielder Valon Behrami has been working hard at Chadwell
Heath as he continues his recovery from the cruciate knee ligament injury he
suffered against Manchester City on 1 March. He hopes to return to full
training in August.
• Scott Parker will not be available this weekend. The England midfielder
has been sidelined with a groin problem since the goalless draw with West
Bromwich Albion at the Boleyn Ground on 16 March.
• Wales defender James Collins is out of action with a calf strain suffered
in the 1-1 draw at Aston Villa on 18 April.
• Zola will definitely be without central defender James Tomkins. The
20-year-old is suspended for one match after being sent-off at Everton last
weekend. Tomkins will hope to play again this season if selected alongside
club-mate Mark Noble for this summer's UEFA European Under-21 Championship
in Sweden. Tomkins has been capped at U20 level this season.
• Middlesbrough will be without England winger Stewart Downing, who suffered
a right foot injury in last Saturday's 1-1 draw with Aston Villa at the
Riverside. Downing will need to undergo surgery to have a pin inserted in
his injured foot.
• Boro are expected to have midfielder Gary O'Neil available after the
former England Under-21 shook off a hip injury. O'Neil limped off against
Villa but scans have shown no serious damage was done.
• England Under-21 defender David Wheater will play his final game before
undergoing a knee operation to repair damaged cartilage. Wheater's injury
will rule him out of next month's UEFA European Under-21 Championship in
Sweden.
• Record signing Afonso Alves, the Brazilian striker, will miss the game
with a broken foot.
• Central defender Chris Riggott is also a long-term absentee due to a knee
injury suffered in the 1-0 defeat by Manchester City in February.
Last meeting
• The teams met in an FA Cup fifth-round replay at the Riverside on
Wednesday 25 February. Boro secured a 2-0 victory thanks to first half goals
from Stewart Downing and Tuncay Sanli.
• The lineups were:
Middlesbrough: Jones, Hoyte, Wheater, Huth, Pogatetz, O'Neil, Bates, Arca
(Walker 88), Downing, Sanli (A.Johnson 81), Aliadiere (Emnes 67)
Subs not used: Turnbull, Taylor, Alves, McMahon
Booked: O'Neil
West Ham United: Green, Neill, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Parker,
Noble (Collison 56), Kovac (Tristan 69), Cole, Sears (Di Michele 57)
Subs not used Lastuvka, Spector, Lopez, Savio
Booked: Behrami
Attendance: 15,602
Old boys
• Middlesbrough striker Jeremie Aliadiere spent four months on loan at West
Ham United from Arsenal between August and December 2005. The Frenchman
failed to score in eight appearances for the Hammers, making his solitary
start in the 2-0 defeat at Charlton Athletic on 31 December 2005. Aliadiere
joined Middlesbrough in June 2007 and has since made 65 appearances for
Boro, scoring eight goals.
• Among the players who have represented both clubs are Brian Deane and
Robbie Stockdale.
Head to head
Last six meetings (Premier League unless stated)
FA Cup fifth-round replay, 25 February 2009 - Middlesbrough 2-0 West Ham
United
FA Cup fifth round, 14 February 2009 - West Ham United 1-1 Middlesbrough
1 November 2008 - Middlesbrough 1-1 West Ham United
22 December 2007 - Middlesbrough 1-2 West Ham United
15 September 2007 - West Ham United 3-0 Middlesbrough
31 March 2007 - West Ham United 2-0 Middlesbrough
Overall record v Middlesbrough (all competitions) W 24 D 13 L 24
Travel information
• The London Underground Jubilee line will be suspended between North
Greenwich and Stratford. A rail replacement bus service will operate between
the two stations, calling at Canning Town and West Ham.
• The Docklands Light Railway will be suspended between East India and
Prince Regent and between East India and London City Airport. Four rail
replacement buses will operate. For full details, visit tfl.gov.uk
• Due to the Southend Airshow, c2c services via Laindon and Ockendon will
run to different times all day. For full timetable details, visit
c2c-online.co.uk
• Engineering works will take place on National Express East Anglia services
between London Liverpool Street and Ilford. As a result, a bus service will
run between Romford and Newbury Park London Underground station on the
Central line. For full details visit nationalexpressanglia.com
General information
• Tickets for the match are on general sale. For more information, click
here
• Saturday's weather forecast is for a sunny day with a maximum daytime
temperature of 21C.
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Specs expects tough finale
WHUFC.com
Jonathan Spector believes Sunday's game with Middlesbrough could be a tricky
encounter
22.05.2009
Jonathan Spector knows Middlesbrough will be fighting for their lives when
they visit the Boleyn Ground on Sunday.
The Teesiders find themselves in a perilous position towards the foot of the
Barclays Premier League table, knowing they must beat the Hammers by a
convincing margin to stand any chance of avoiding relegation to the
Championship.
Spector knows all too well how resolute teams battling to stay up can be at
the tail end of the season, after playing a vital role in West Ham United's
famous 1-0 win at Old Trafford at the end of the 2006/07 campaign. With
James Tomkins suspended after his red card at Everton last weekend,
Gianfranco Zola could hand the defender his fourth start of the season.
"They are going to be fighting for their lives and we know it is going to be
a difficult game," Spector said. "It's the last home game of the season and
we know it is going to be a tough game because they are certainly not going
to want to get relegated."
If statistics are anything to go by, Gareth Southgate's side could face an
uphill struggle against the Hammers as they have only scored two goals in
ten Boleyn Ground games since the Premier League began in 1993.
What is more, West Ham United have only lost their last league game of the
season once since the Premier League's inception, although that single
defeat was away at Sunday's visitors back in 2001. Spector, though, is
certainly taking nothing for granted.
"It has been such a tight season this season this year with the teams in
terms of points and there's a lot going on all over with teams fighting for
survival and European qualification. We can only concentrate on ourselves,
finish on a high and give the supporters a show."
Following the game's conclusion, the Hammer of the Year 2008/09 will be
awarded, with the US international finding it impossible to pick out a
potential winner among a strong field of candidates this year.
"It's going to be difficult. There have been some great performances from
the new players that have come in. It is hard to single anyone out because I
think everyone has had a really good season. I feel sorry for the players
that have done well and probably deserve it and don't get it as there were
quite a few."
Once the awards have been handed out, the players and coaching staff will
undertake a lap of appreciation around the Boleyn Ground pitch, which will
give Spector and his team-mates the chance to thank the claret and blue
faithful for their unwavering support this season.
"The fans have been great this year as they have been every year I've been
here so we want to show them our appreciation for everything they do for
us."
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Middlesbrough match schedule
WHUFC.com
The Hammer of the Year will be presented with his trophy after Sunday's game
with Middlesbrough
22.05.2009
The 2008/09 Hammer of the Year, sponsored by Vantis, will be unveiled after
Sunday's game against Middlesbrough.
Supporters are asked to remain in their seats following the final whistle,
while the players spend a short time in the dressing room before returning
to the pitch for the awards ceremony.
The Doris Bell Award will then be presented to the club's most improved
young player before Academy director Tony Carr will give the Young Hammer of
the Year his trophy.
The whufc.com Goal of the Season will be the third gong presented before the
runner-up and finally the winner of this season's Hammer of the Year award
are presented with their trophies.
Following the ceremony, the first-team squad and management will conduct a
lap of the Boleyn Ground pitch to thank the club's fans for their unrivalled
support throughout the season.
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Gabbidon boost for Zola
WHUFC.com
This week has seen the encouraging sight of Danny Gabbidon back in full
training with the first team
22.05.2009
Gianfranco Zola has spoken of his delight at having Danny Gabbidon back in
action on the Chadwell Heath training pitches this week.
The Wales defender has trained fully with his team-mates and felt no
after-effects, although he knows there is still a way to go having spent
months working hour after hour on his rehabilitation from an abdominal
injury that was anything but straightforward.
Gabbidon's last competitive action came in a January 2008 reserve-team match
at Portsmouth and he has not played since. Should all go well, it is hoped
that he will be involved from the start of pre-season training in early
July.
The manager, who could have Kieron Dyer back for Sunday's final-day visit of
Middlesbrough, said: "We have Danny Gabbidon back in training. This is great
news for us and I am very pleased because it is something that everyone
should be happy about. He has worked so hard to get to this point."
Zola also said there was positive news on Dean Ashton, who could also take
his place alongside Gabbidon in pre-season after recovering from his ankle
problem while Valon Behrami is targeting mid-August for his return from a
cruciate knee injury.
"Dean Ashton is also doing well," the manager added. "He will be a big asset
for us next season and we will have others coming back. The young players
will have more experience. It will be a different team next season. We will
start from the beginning and build them up in the way we want. It is going
to be really good for everyone and I am looking forward.
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West Ham v Middlesbrough
PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Upton Park Date: Sunday, 24 May Kick-off: 1600 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
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate says he is determined to keep his job,
even if the club is relegated after Sunday's match at West Ham. Even a win
for Boro at Upton Park may not be enough to save them, dependent as they are
on results elsewhere. "As the manager, inevitably when you have difficult
times, you are the one who carries the blame," said Southgate. "But you
then are galvanised to try to put things right, and you have a better idea
of why we are where we are. "I have got a very clear picture, whichever
division we are in - and there are obviously two very different scenarios
there in terms of how you would have to play and who would be needed to play
and who could take you to where you want to be - I have got a very clear
picture in my mind for both of those scenarios."
Middlesbrough, who could stay up on goal difference if they beat the Hammers
and Hull lose their game against Manchester United, should be boosted in
their quest to avoid the drop by being able to field David Wheater and
Jeremie Aliadiere (both knee) and Gary O'Neil (hip) following injury. But
Stewart Downing is out with a broken foot, joining Emanuel Pogatetz, Didier
Digard, Afonso Alves and Chris Riggott on the sidelines. Southgate confirmed
Downing is unlikely to be fit before the start of pre-season training after
undergoing surgery today to pin a broken bone in his right foot.
West Ham will be looking to secure a ninth-place finish in what has been an
impressive first season in charge for Gianfranco Zola. The Italian could
welcome back Carlton Cole to make his first start for the club since
returning from a six-week lay-off with a groin injury. Danny Gabbidon (back)
returned to full training this week but fellow defender James Tomkins is
suspended.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
West Ham (from) Green, Neill, Upson, Ilunga, Collison, Noble, Kovac,
Stanislas, Boa Morte, Tristan, Cole, Di Michele, Spector, Kurucz, Lopez,
Nsereko, Payne.
Middlesbrough (from): Jones, Turnbull, Hoyte, McMahon, Taylor, Grounds,
Wheater, Huth, Hines, Aliadiere, Tuncay, Bates, O'Neil, Walker, Shawky,
Johnson, King.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
West Ham assistant coach Steve Clarke: "We have lost the last two and want
to finish on a high. "We have had a reasonable season and want to finish it
well with a victory in front of the home fans. We have an outside
possibility of catching the team above us and if we lose Manchester City can
catch us. We will try and get eighth."
BIG-MATCH FACTS
Middlesbrough go to West Ham needing a minor miracle to extend their current
stay in the Premier League into a 12th season; a repeat of last season's
final day 8-1 victory over Manchester City would help, but that was in front
of their home fans.
Gareth Southgate's Teessiders travel on a club record 11 successive away
league losses.
West Ham look set to finish one place higher than last season and the lowest
placed London club in ninth, but if they could catch Spurs in eighth they'd
gain another £760,000 in merit payments.
The Hammers have not lost a last day fixture in the Premier League since
Middlesbrough beat them 1-2 at the Riverside on 19 May 2001.
West Ham and Middlesbrough lock horns for the fourth time this season. The
reverse league fixture was drawn 1-1, as was the FA Cup fifth round tie at
Upton Park, but the Teessiders won 2-0 in the replay. Stewart Downing scored
in both ties.
The Hammers are vying for a seventh consecutive home Premier League victory
over Middlesbrough, yet the overall league standings between the clubs is
level. They have played 55 games against each other since 1923, and each
club has won 22 with 11 drawn.
Distance between the clubs: 250 miles (402 kilometres)
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Boro' Preview
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 22nd May 2009
By: Preview Percy
And so another season closes and this time round it's home to Boro for a
Sunday 4pm kick-off in a match to be covered by the ailing Setanta channel.
Boro's problems are well-documented and sitting in second from bottom place
their situation looks a bit on the grim side to say the least. Their chances
of survival will depend not only on the weekend's events at the Boleyn but
also upon events at other grounds. This is doubly true with reference to the
KC Stadium, where Boro' will be relying not only on a Man Utd win, but also
on the margin of any Salford victory being convincing enough to reduce their
own ask.
We've been there ourselves of course but the advent of mobile internet has
made keeping tracks on things a little easier these days. Who can forget
that day that Man City went down at Anfield when rumours went about the
ground that the other results had gone their way, giving rise to a fatal
spell of keep-ball. By the time they found out what was really going on it
was too late. I also remember popping over to Palace (I lived in the area,
there was a woman involved and I was at a loose end) a few years back on a
Saturday when we didn't have a game and when they needed results elsewhere
to go their way for promotion. The person stood next to me had a radio
walkman and, unbelievably, kept making up goals at the other matches which
had the home support going wild. I too had a radio which confirmed the true
situation – the fact that the woman I was with preferred to believe some
random nutter rather than me told me that going out with a Palace supporter
would not be a great idea. This was something that was later confirmed in
the bar when a Palace supporter tried to tell me with a straight face that
they had been the first English club to win the European Cup.
The Boro supporters who make the trip (of which more comment later) will
have an eye/ear on mobile phones and radios throughout the match and the
networks will be stretched to breaking point as news flitters between Villa
Park, the KC, the Stadium of Light and the Boleyn. Boro's task on the pitch
will be made more difficult in their eyes by the absence of Stuart Downing.
Overrated though he may be, what little attacking threat Boro' have posed in
recent times has come from the England midfielder and his absence through
injury will have a major psychological effect on the visitors as they give
the dice the last throw. Of course when talking of psychological issues,
supporters and players will cling to any straws going and Gareth Southgate
will no doubt be referring his players back to the two Cup matches back in
February where we were firstly held to a 1-1 draw at the Boleyn and the
subsequent replay won 2-0 by Boro'. Southgate would perhaps do well not to
dwell too closely on those matches – Downing's influence was paramount
against an Irons side strangely out of sorts. Carlton Cole played in both
matches but for all but the first 20 of the first match he was a virtual
passenger having picked up a knock. 3,500 Hammers made the trip to the
Riverside. This will be nearly 3,000 more than Boro' have sold for this
match at the time of writing, which, even without the free coach travel that
bolstered the travelling support for the replay, is a pretty poor showing
for a match with such vital repercussions.
Boro's last win came back on 11th April when they overturned
relegation-rivals Hull 3-1 at the Riverside. Since that win they have picked
up only two points from a 0-0 draw at Fulham and a 1-1 in last week's home
fixture against Villa – the match in which Downing picked up the foot injury
that curtailed his season – and possibly his Boro' career. The most
devastating result for them in recent weeks was surely the 3-1 reverse on
Tyneside which for Boro' had the double-whammy effect giving three points to
a relegation rival as well as hitting the goal-difference where it hurts.
Boro's problems can be traced back to the players. Yes this is a pretty
obvious thing to say but there are certain positions that seem to have been
a problem throughout the season. On the way back to the hotel after the 1-1
league draw on Teesside all the talk on local radio was of how 'keeper Ross
Turnbull was the answer to England's problems, such talk being bolstered by
his excellent double save at the death from Bowyer & Collison. Since then
his form appears to have dipped and Aussie Brad Jones is current first
choice 'twixt the sticks. Up front there have been problems. Alves will be
missing but, such has been the Brazilian's form since his big-money arrival
most Smoggies will see his absence as a bonus. Mido, who scored against us
in the return league fixture, has gone on an exchange trip to Wigan with
Marlon King coming in the other direction. The main threat up front is
likely to come from Tuncay whose overhead kick against Villa gave them a bit
of hope for a while. Former loan-hammer Jeremie Alliadiere (of "he's here
he's there" fame) is likely to be available though there are doubts over
O'Neill, Wheater and Riggott.
It's been an interesting season for us. The departure of Alan Curbishley
seems a lifetime ago. It's been down and up for Zola, an initial run of poor
– and often unlucky – results saw us flirting with the relegation zone until
our post-Christmas run saw us getting the result some of the play deserved.
Sadly the sale of Bellamy coincided with a return to the spate of injuries
that have cost us in the past and the forward line of DiMichele and Tristan
has fooled nobody really. On occasion last week, Carlton Cole showed what
we'd been missing all these weeks, though there was an understandable
element of ring-rustiness about his game. The return will have done him good
and, if he hasn't suffered any ill-effects from the Everton match, Cole must
be a favourite to start ahead of either DiMichele or Tristan.
At the back James Tomkins will be missing and it's difficult to work out
what is more disgraceful, Dowd's stupid decision or the club's failure to
appeal against the ridiculous red card issued following Cahill's dive. The
club has previous in this regard – Carlton Cole missed some matches earlier
in the season following his sending off against Arsenal and his second red
card at Wigan similarly beggared belief. How anyone expects refereeing
standards to improve if such moronic behaviour is allowed to go unchallenged
escapes me. James Collins is a doubt and if Ginge is unavailable expect a
start for Spector at right back with the skipper moving inside to partner
Upson. Danny Gabbidon has resumed full training but will need a decent
pre-season before he can seriously be considered for a return to action. In
the middle Dyer may make what may be a record umpteenth comeback from injury
though the season is coming to a close a week too early for Parker.
I think we'll win this one. The probable return of Cole will give a boost to
the side and, given our opponents' predicament, an early goal is likely to
see the heads drop. If the passing game clicks it might be a pleasant
afternoon in the sun. I'll go for a 3-1, misery for Boro' and a quick look
at the mobile interweb on our own behalf to see if the Scousers have stuffed
Spurs by enough to top the afternoon off nicely.
Enjoy the match – and the summer!
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham v Boro preview
Boro have lost eight of their 10 games in East London
Last updated: 22nd May 2009
SSN
PREDICTIONS:
Skysports.com prediction: West Ham 2 Boro 2
Sky Bet odds: West Ham 6/5, Draw 5/2, Boro 21/10
One to Watch: Tuncay Sanli
Middlesbrough head to West Ham United in a make-or-break Premier League
fixture for the Teesside club. Relegation to the Championship gravely
threatens Boro, who currently lie second from bottom in the table and three
points adrift of safety. Not only will Gareth Southgate's men have to win at
Upton Park, but they will also need Newcastle United and Hull City to lose
their respective matches, while goal difference will also play a part.
Should results go their way, it would prove to be a dramatic escape for the
North East club, who have managed just two wins in their last 25 league
games, with Southgate desperate to repay chairman Steve Gibson's faith in
his management. Boro are the lowest scorers in the top-flight this season
although they can draw heart from having scored a total of 11 goals in their
last two final day games.
Furthermore, the ninth-placed Hammers cannot achieve European qualification
and are only playing to finish the season on a positive note.
Team news
Zola could have Kieron Dyer at his disposal with the injury-plagued
midfielder having shrugged off hamstring trouble. But youngster James
Tomkins misses out through suspension following the red card he received
against Everton.
Boro will be without captain Stewart Downing after it was confirmed the
winger will undergo surgery on a foot injury sustained in last weekend's 1-1
draw with Aston Villa.
Midfielder Didier Digard is also unavailable while French forward Jeremie
Aliadiere is struggling for fitness.
Possible starting XIs
West Ham: Green, Neill, Upson, Spector, Ilunga, Kovac, Noble, Stanislas,
Collison, Cole, Savio.
Middlesbrough: Jones, Hoyte, Huth, Bates, Wheater, Aliadiere, O'Neil,
Johnson, Tuncay, Emnes, King.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Neill to Hammer out talks
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today
WEST HAM captain Lucas Neill will hold last-ditch contract talks tomorrow.
The Aussie, 31, had looked set to play his final match for the Hammers
against Middlesbrough.
But Neill wants to stay - providing it is a two-year deal on the same
£60,000-a-week terms he is currently paid. The club want to pay less over a
longer period and this is the big sticking point. Neill is also planning for
his retirement and is part of a consortium bidding to buy the rights to the
Australian A- League and that means moving back to his native Sydney.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
MATT LAWTON TALKS TO ROBERT GREEN: West Ham's self-deprecating keeper on
being England's No 6 - and Almunia
By Matt Lawton
Last updated at 12:21 AM on 23rd May 2009
Daily Mail
Robert Green, West Ham's goalkeeper and now favourite to start for England
in next month's World Cup qualifiers in the absence of the injured David
James, regards his climb to the summit of Kilimanjaro last summer as his
finest achievement. He completed it half a step at a time while trying, in
vain, to control his bodily functions, and found it so tough it took him
longer than the petite Cheryl Cole or the rather tubby
Chris Moyles when they followed him up Africa's highest peak in March.
'You set off at midnight in the hope of reaching the summit by sunrise,'
says Green. 'I got there at about lunchtime, in a real mess. Some people
suffer from altitude sickness, some don't. I live by the Thames and I train
at sea level. I guess I'm used to sucking in lots of oxygen. It hit me hard.
I was delirious, and by the time I made my way back down I was the best part
of two stone lighter.'
Green is a bit deeper than your average professional footballer. He writes
poetry, had his own newspaper column and claims to have dozens of different
ideas for a novel. He describes the whole Kilimanjaro experience — the
climb, and the time he spent beforehand with the African Medical and
Research Foundation in Kenya — as
life-changing. It gave him a new perspective, and what he considers a much
healthier one. Playing for England? 'At the end of the day it's a game of
football,' he says.
But even Green winces at the thought of someone playing for England who was
born in Pamplona. 'I think the pressure of being England's goalkeeper would
be heightened if you were Spanish,' he says.
We are talking, of course, about Manuel Almunia, Arsenal's goalkeeper and
someone who might yet apply for British citizenship in the hope of playing
for England. Almunia has said he is interested, and although there is
opposition to such a move inside the FA it has not been ruled out by Fabio
Capello, the England manager.
If Almunia did one day represent England, Green would be among the number of
goalkeepers currently performing every week in the Barclays Premier League
who
would have something of an axe to grind.
'If he wants to do it, good luck to him,' says Green. 'But it's difficult,
and whether the FA would allow it to happen, I don't know. It has obviously
happened for a while in cricket and rugby. You can play rugby league for one
country and rugby union for another, which I think is probably wrong.
Bone of contention: Almunia in action for Arsenal
'Football would attract a lot more attention, and I think the FA would have
to think long and hard about it because it would obviously set a precedent.
'I'm not sure how I really feel about it. It's a difficult one for me to
answer. But right now there is a dividing line between the best countries in
the world and the best club sides in the world. If something like this
happened and others followed, countries would start taking on the identities
of clubs.'
But does he not feel insulted? Is it not disrespectful to even entertain the
idea, not just to him but to goalkeepers such as Ben Foster, Chris Kirkland,
Scott Carson and Paul Robinson. Not to mention James, who has started all 13
of Capello's England games.
'It's narrow-minded to dismiss it because it could happen,' Green says. 'I
don't think it would even be an issue if we had a Peter Shilton or a David
Seaman.
England's future in safe hands: When David James eventually retires, Foster
and Green will likely do battle for the green jersey
'But the English goalkeepers aren't getting the chance to prove themselves
at the very highest level. They are not playing at one of the top five
clubs. Almunia is playing well and he is playing well at Arsenal, and that
is why there is a debate.
'If Ben Foster is given the chance to become Manchester United's No 1, and
we find out he's good enough, things could change. Likewise if Almunia was
playing at a less fashionable club I don't think we would be talking about
him.'
After another excellent season at Upton Park and a second cap in the
friendly against Spain in February, Green believes he is good enough. He has
developed under the guidance of West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola and grown
in confidence in a league now boasting some of the finest sides in Europe.
'There has been some upheaval here this season with a change in manager,'
says Green. 'But after what looked like a real baptism of fire for him, the
new manager has
done tremendously well.
'He's introduced a new brand of football. Changed the way we play. I think
everyone has benefited, including me when it comes to distribution.
'Now that we are being encouraged to play football, and the guys have the
confidence to play the ball, I have been able to release the ball from the
hand a lot more.
'I remember there were times at Norwich when we were struggling and I'd get
slaughtered by the fans for kicking it long all the time. But if people
don't want the ball you don't have a lot of choice. 'The guys have taken on
board what the manager says and been given a self-belief to be able to play
the kind of football we are trying to play. I always believed I could do it
but I needed to be in a team where the guys wanted to do it as well.'
So what about England then? 'I feel like I'm ready,' he says. 'I've not
played in Europe but the Premier League now has four teams who are
dominating the Champions League and at West Ham you get to play them at
least eight times a season.
'I've also had the experience of training with the England boys, so again I
think I understand what it's all about. International football is another
step up but I feel I'm
ready to take that step. I remember Geoffrey Boycott saying in his book that
you should never stop yourself taking the next step because you'll only find
out if you can cope with it by taking that step. Hopefully the chance will
come along for me.
'Coming on against Spain was good. In some ways it was a tough game to come
into but in others it was a blinding game to come into. They are one of the
best teams in the world and to get a chance to show what I can do and show I
could hold my own was a great thing. It was a great experience, something I
thoroughly enjoyed. And it was good to get off the one-cap mark. I'd been
stuck there for four or five years.
'It is a funny position because I've been in a lot of squads, dating back to
2004, and I've sat and watched a lot of England games. I missed out for a
year or so while Steve
McClaren was manager but it must be getting close to 40 games I've sat and
watched from the bench.'
Enlarge Kazakhstan and Andorra come next for England and Green is not the
least bit daunted by the challenge.
'It's not terrifying at all,' he says. 'It's a pressure position, but Jamo
has performed consistently well for Portsmouth over the last few seasons and
he has transferred that
form to England. It's just a case of doing the work and having the
confidence to do the work.'
Green has actually never doubted himself. Even when he wore those gloves
that suggested he was in fact 'England's No 6'.
'That was just a bit of a joke,' he says. 'A bit of self-deprecation. It
came up in a game at a time when I wasn't in the squad. I made a save and
the fans started chanting 'England's No 1'. I then turned to them and
signalled, using my fingers, that I was more like six.
'Then my glove manufacturer called me about it and I said, "You'll be
putting it on my gloves next". A lot of the goalkeepers have their name
embroidered on their gloves but I don't like it. I would rather just have
the brand. But the next thing I know he's sent me a whole batch of them, and
I wore a pair just for a gag. I think people realise that.'
The final part of the climb from No 6 to No 1 is not going to be a problem.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham keeper Green: Players enjoy playing for Zola
23.05.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United goalkeeper Robert Green says the players enjoy working for
manager Gianfranco Zola. "There has been some upheaval here this season with
a change in manager," Green told the Daily Mail. "But after what looked like
a real baptism of fire for him, the new manager has done tremendously well.
"He's introduced a new brand of football. Changed the way we play. I think
everyone has benefited, including me when it comes to distribution. "Now
that we are being encouraged to play football, and the guys have the
confidence to play the ball, I have been able to release the ball from the
hand a lot more. "I remember there were times at Norwich when we were
struggling and I'd get slaughtered by the fans for kicking it long all the
time. But if people don't want the ball you don't have a lot of choice. "The
guys have taken on board what the manager says and been given a self-belief
to be able to play the kind of football we are trying to play. I always
believed I could do it but I needed to be in a team where the guys wanted to
do it as well."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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