Daily WHUFC News - 24th November 2012

Big Sam on Tottenham Hotspur
WHUFC.com
Big Sam reveals all ahead of Sunday's Barclays Premier League meeting with Tottenham Hotspur
23.11.2012

Sam Allardyce entertained the media on Friday morning to talk all things football ahead of Saturday's trip to White Hart Lane. The manager discussed the tough run of fixtures the Hammers face, Tottenham Hotspur's form under new manager Andre Villas Boas and the appointment of Rafael Benitez as the interim Chelsea boss. Big Sam also spoke about the Hammers' chances of achieving a first win at White Hart Lane in 13 years, so read on to find out his thoughts on what could be a memorable weekend.

Sam, you have had a tough run of fixtures lately but do the next three or four games take it to an even higher level?

SA: "I am not sure about that because we played Manchester City and Newcastle recently and Stoke was also a tough game. I think that the games coming up are of a similar stature, but they also come within just six days. The fixtures are hard enough on an individual basis but to have them in such a short space of time makes it more difficult. We will certainly see what the players and the squad are made of by the end of next week."

Will this be the toughest six days your squad has faced and are you hopeful that you can come away with positive results?

SA: "I think that the players at this Football Club worked very hard last year to play in fixtures like the ones coming up. It is always a massive challenge for a newly-promoted side to face the likes of Manchester United but I think it is a challenge that the players look forward too. It is all about accumulating the points and continuing to pick them up as often as possible. If we carry on to do this then we will move towards a points total that will ensure safety."

Is the aim for you this season still survival despite what has been a very encouraging start to the season?

SA: "We know we are in a very good position but this run of fixtures could cause us a few problems. I think we will play well and I do not think we will let ourselves down but we could play our best in the next four games and lose all four. If Tottenham, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are all at their best then it is going to be very difficult for us. They are all in good form at the moment so for us it is all about playing our best and hopefully that will allow us to get some points."

We know fans do, but do the players and staff look forward to these games more than most because it is a derby?

SA: "Yes I think that local derbies are always very special. They are games that the fans and the players always enjoy and our hope is that we can come away with a few positive results. I hope we can take our game to Tottenham and cause them a few problems. They played on Thursday night in the Europa League so there is bound to be a little fatigue and hopefully we can exploit that. The encouraging thing for us is that Wigan Athletic went there recently and came away with a win. It has not been the fortress that the fans maybe expected and hopefully that will count in our favor."

After winning at Newcastle United last time on the road, do you feel that another win away from home on Sunday would give the players the confidence they
need for the rest of the season?

SA: "I think we have got it now. We are a third of the way through the season and we have produced a high level of performance so we have the confidence and belief to keep that going. I have got to keep driving the players on and I have to strive to make the players even better. My aim is to ensure that the players continue to play well and improve. The squad was put together in the summer and a lot of new players came in so we will continue to grow as we get to know each other better."

How different a team do you feel Tottenham are under Andre Villa-Boas compared to Harry Redknapp?

SA: "I do not really know to be perfectly honest with you. I have read the scout reports and watched a few videos but I definitely think the system has changed. We very rarely saw Jermaine Defoe employed as a lone striker when Harry was in charge but we have seen it quite a lot under Andre. There has been a change in how they play and a little change in positions and selection. Some of that has been forced because top quality players like Luke Modric have left and they are very hard to replace. They have been going okay but only time will tell whether it will be enough."

Do you believe those changes will help or hinder West Ham United because it is over 13-years since you won at White Hart Lane?

SA: "I do not know because a lot of that depends on what kind of West Ham side went to Tottenham and how they would have been set up. If you want the team to go out and win you need to use tactics that allow them to do that but you also need them to perform to a very high level. If the team does not play well against a side like Tottenham then that will not happen because they are a very good team."

What have you made of the events at Stamford Bridge this week, with Roberto Di Matteo departing and Rafa Benitez coming in?

SA: "I think it will be difficult to take for Roberto because it is so early in the season. He will be very disappointed in what has happened, especially after last season, and I think he would have believed that, given time, he could have turned it around. Unfortunately, as we have seen at Chelsea for a number of years now, you do not get given a lot of time if results are not at a very high level."

Are you surprised that Rafa Benitez has agreed to a short-term contract after agreeing a deal until the end of the season?

SA: "Well, it is not unusual at Chelsea because it is not the first time they have opted to employ an interim manager. They have had Avram Grant, Gus Hiddink, Roberto Di Matteo and now Rafa Benitez, so it is the route they take when a manager departs. Looking back they have all done pretty well so it is just the way their football club works at the moment. Their owner is perfectly entitled to do what he wishes with the club, particularly seeing as he invests in it so heavily.
We as fans and managers may see it in a different way but he is entitled to his own opinion."

You face Chelsea on the Saturday 1 December, so how do you think Rafa Benitez will get on this season?

SA: "Yes, we do face them very soon. Rafa has been waiting for a big club for a long time and now he has got one. I think ultimately he will be looking for Fernando Torres to recapture the form he had under him at Liverpool. If he can get that and Torres begins playing to the level we know he can, then Chelsea will be a force to be reckoned with this season."

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Boxing Day travel update
WHUFC.com
West Ham United have updated fans on possible disruption to London Underground services
23.11.2012

West Ham United would like to make all supporters aware of possible industrial action on the London Underground on Wednesday 26 December, the day of the Barclays Premier League match against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

The club is in continual liaison with Arsenal and we are hopeful the match will go ahead as planned. However, we want supporters to be aware of the potential disruption as you make arrangements for this match.

If there is any change to this fixture, supporters will be notified immediately via whufc.com and the club's twitter and Facebook pages.

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Cullen ready for Canaries visit
WHUFC.com
Josh Cullen is wants to make his mark again when Norwich City U18s come to Little Heath on Saturday
22.11.2012

West Ham United have quite a reputation for producing top-class central midfield players - Martin Peters, Paul Ince, Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick and Mark Noble. Josh Cullen is hoping to be the next to come through the ranks of the Academy of Football and is already making his mark for the Hammers' Under-18 side, who host Norwich City at Little Heath on Saturday at 11am. Parking and admission are both free of charge. The first-year scholar, who turned 16 in April, has started ten of the youth team's eleven league matches so far, impressing with his sure touch and passing. "I started off playing for Rayleigh Boys when I was eight and I was scouted by West Ham when I was playing for their Under-10s," Cullen explained. "I was invited in for a six-week trial and it went well. I'm now in my eighth season at the club. "I have always played central midfield from when I came to the club. I like to get on the ball and influence the game by passing it around. I look up to people like Mark Noble in the first team here. I'm a West Ham fan and always have been, so I'd love to do what he has done. I also like Xavi from Barcelona - he's a real idol of mine."

Cullen, who thanked his parents and brother Jacob for the support they have given to his career, said the West Ham way of coaching had encouraged him to express himself on the pitch. "We're taught to not be afraid of making mistakes, so we go on to the pitch with no fear. If you are worried about making mistakes then you will never improve or try new things. "It is about how you bounce back and recover from the setbacks and your strength of character, because you need those things when you become a professional."

For now, Cullen is content to be making waves as a scholar. "I have been involved a lot considering I am a first-year and a young one at that. I have started ten games and it's been a decent season for me so far. Our results and performances have been a little bit up and down, but I think I've put in some good personal performances. "I've still got a lot to work on and I will continue to work on improving my weaknesses and see where it takes me. I want to break into the Development Squad before the end of the season."

Cullen, who attended St Thomas More High School in Westcliff-on-Sea, has every reason to be confident in his own ability. The 16-year-old has already been capped by his country, helping England's Under-16s to win the Sky Sports Victory Shield in autumn 2011. Cullen said he enjoys the experience of going away and joining up with the national squad. "When you are playing with the best players in the country, it's great. It's totally different to when you are at your club because you are with a group of players who you don't know as well as your team-mates at your club. But you all have football in common and you quickly start talking and settle in. "I know that my form for West Ham will decide whether I get more opportunities to play for England, so I just need to keep playing well. "We've all seen this season that the club will give you opportunities, regardless of how young you are. West Ham is my club and always has been and I want to represent the first team here."

*This story first appeared in Monday's Official Programme for the Barclays Premier League visit of Stoke City. For details of how to download your digital copy for just £1.99, click here.

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West Ham: Sam Allardyce keen to capitalise on Tottenham 'fatigue'
BBC.co.uk

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce says he hopes his side can take advantage of Tottenham's Europa League fatigue and believes they are vulnerable at home.
The London clubs meet on Sunday, with Spurs back in action soon after Thursday's 0-0 draw away to Lazio. "There is bound to be a little fatigue in there," the Hammers manager said. "We've had a great start. I think the target is not to get sloppy and think we've done enough already. "Look at the likes of Everton and clubs like that who are in about eighth, seventh, sixth every season. "We have got the foundations to be a top-eight team and I think that will be the main goal of me being at the club. To win a cup would be fantastic."

"The encouraging thing for us is that it is not long since Wigan won there. It is has not been the big fortress Tottenham fans might have expected." Andre Villas-Boas's Spurs side have won just two of their six league fixtures at White Hart Lane this season, and have been beaten there by Chelsea as well as Wigan. However, they have picked up nine points from 12 in the games immediately following their European matches. Despite this record, West Ham - who sit one place and two points ahead of them in seventh - will hope the fact their own players were last in action in Monday night's 1-1 draw with Stoke will boost their chances. "Local derbies are always very special, and fans and players closely associated with West Ham are really attracted to those type of fixtures," Allardyce said. "Our hope is to take our game to Tottenham and cause them a few problems."

David Beckham's announcement that he will end his six-year spell with Major League Soccer franchise Los Angeles Galaxy next month has seen the Hammers linked with a bid for the former England captain's services. Allardyce confirmed he would like to open negotiations with the midfielder - if Beckham stated he was open to a return to the Premier League nine years since he left Manchester United for Real Madrid. "David has always said to me when he has been available that he only wanted to play for Manchester United in this country and I haven't heard him say he wants to come back to England," he said. "It is speculation until David decides where he wants to go. I am not so sure about the situation at all. "If David said he wants to come back to London in the Premier League, we would talk about it. I don't want to say we will or we are. It is speculation."

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Champions!
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 23rd November 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United's development squad have been confirmed as Premier League Group 1 winners after closest rivals Arsenal were beaten 2-1 at home by West Bromwich Albion. Only the Gunners could have prevented West Ham's youngsters - who had already guaranteed their place in next year's Elite Group - from proceeding to the next phase as group winners. However they came unstuck at London Colney this afternoon after failing to claw back a two-goal deficit courtesy of first half strikes from Albion's Kemar Roofe and Liam O'Neil; Kris Olsson grabbing Arsenal's consolation effort on the hour mark. That result ensured that West Ham - who are five points of closest challengers Arsenal with a game in hand - were confirmed as champions having taken 28 points from their 12 fixtures so far. Ian Hendon's squad still have two further fixtures to play before the group stage is completed, with a trip to Norwich next Monday (26th November) followed by the visit of Blackburn Rovers to Rush Green next Friday (30th November). However they will be without the services of Rob Hall, Dan Potts, Blair Turgott and top goal scorer Paul McCallum who were all sent out on loan yesterday.

Premier League Group 1: Results so far

August
West Ham Utd 3-1 Reading
Everton 1-5 West Ham Utd

September
West Ham Utd 0-2 Bolton Wanderers
West Brom 1-1 West Ham Utd
West Ham Utd 4-1 Arsenal
West Ham Utd 2-0 Norwich City

October
Blackburn Rovers 0-2 West Ham Utd
Bolton Wanderers 0-1 West Ham Utd
West Ham Utd 1-0 Everton

November
Reading 3-0 West Ham Utd
Arsenal 1-2 West Ham Utd
West Ham Utd 1-0 West Brom

To play: Norwich City (a) 26th November; Blackburn Rovers (h) 30th November.

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Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 23rd November 2012
By: Preview Percy

Next we visit the less fortunate part of London where shellsuits and dandruff are still de rigeur amongst the home support as we pay a visit to White Hart Lane.

Due to their involvement in the Europa League kick-off against Tottenham Hotspur will be at 4.00pm on Sunday. The direct line between Stratford and Northumberland Park has engineering works but services from Liverpool Street should be up to their normal levels. Unfortunately.

Our hosts have supporters not unlike those of Liverpool in that they seem to be deficient in that area of their genetic development that results in the development of any thickness of the skin. Over the years the most light-hearted and obvious of humourous jokes at their expense have made a loud 'whooshing' noise as they have flown over the heads of the Tottenham support who, in the classic example of "missing the point" then bombard the comments section of the bottom of this page with ignorant tosh. These usually say something along the lines of "look how preoccupied you are with us" (or words to that effect – "preoccupied" is quite a long word after all).

So, since I'm eager to help, let me save you some time. If you're a Spurs supporter about to write something along those lines (and since you now have a clue as to how to spell the word "preoccupied" I expect there'll be a few more of you than usual) here's the deal: This is a Match Preview. I write one of these before every match. Tradition dictates that, in a match preview, you have a look at your opponents. At least that's how it works around here.
Supporters of most other clubs seem to grasp this concept. I mean I could try to write a couple of thousand words without mentioning our opponents each week but that would probably result in the editor stopping his weekly deliveries of Werthers Originals to me here at the Avram Grant Rest Home For The Bewildered. And believe me they're like currency in this institution. So if you can't deal with seeing your club mentioned and lightly taunted in a match preview skip to something else on the web. I believe there's some video of a cat playing the piano somewhere if you look hard enough.

Ok, those of you who are still with me, there endeth the rant and here beginneth the lesson. Spurs currently lie in 8th place in the league with 17 points from their 12 matches thus far. That's one place and two points behind us. Oh and they have a goal difference of -1. Bless 'em, they so want to be like us they've adopted our usual tactic of being the highest placed club with a minus in the "GD" column.

At home they have a 2-2-2 record, the wins coming against Villa (2-0) and QPR (2-1), the draws coming against West Brom & Norwich (both 1-1) and the defeats coming against Chelsea (2-4) and Wigan (0-1). Most recently in the league they did of course lose to Arsenal at the library. 'Twas a bizarre match that saw them look to be the better side, going 1-0 up before goalscorer Adebayor lost the plot in spectacular style. When you go down to ten men you can either roll up your sleeves and fight (as we did last season in that spell of three games in a row where we ended up with ten men) or you can collapse spectacularly (as we did at Reading). Spurs took the latter option, Gareth "Christian" Bale's effort raising spirits only slightly as Arsenal went nap.

That defeat left Spurs without a win since the end of October and they are "zero" and three (as I believe our cousins would say over the water) in their last three in the league. So not exactly in the primest of form then.

The manager is the former Chelsea boss (not the most exclusive of clubs that) Aston Villas Boas (or something like that (note to Ed: that's close enough and everyone calls him AVB anyway). AVB (see I told you) took over during the close season following some action from the Spurs ownership. ENIC is a sinister-sounding organisation which sounds like it ought to be alternating with SPECTRE and SMERSH on a three film cycle in the Bond movies. Redknapp was summoned to ENIC's HQ, ostensibly to discuss a new contract but found himself instead doing battle with a tank full of piranha, somehow escaping in time to stick his head through a car door to give an interview about it.

He's currently letting everybody know that he really is interested, honest, in taking over the manager's role for Ukraine, a statement that might possibly be translated as "Oi – QPR. Hurry up and sack Hughes".

The new boss arrived having gotten the sack at Chelsea last year for failing to win the Champions League and the FA Cup in time. Not that that would have made much of a difference as we have seen. We reckon that AVB is in fact a well-known Arsenal supporter who has been charged with bringing down their rivals from within. This would explain the rather unconvincing beard which looks like it's come out of a kid's disguise kit.

Although he won the Portuguese League with Porto, prompting calls of "the new Mourinho", it's his lesser-known foray into the world of International football that catches the eye. Under his stewardship the British Virgin Islands played and lost two matches. Their four year plan for world football domination is on hold for the time being then.

They've been shuffling between 'keepers a bit this season. Brad Friedel came in on a free from Villa last year. A Redknapp signing, he ran up an impressive spell of 310 consecutive matches in the Premier League, that run ending in October when he was replaced by French skipper Hugo Lloris who came in from Lyon during the last window. The fee was a reported €10m with a further €5m in add-ons with Lyon reported to be on a cut of any future transfer fee. I think that's about £56.75 in real money but this calculator is a bit fiddly and my eyesight isn't what it was so don't quote me on that.

Lloris has made two starts in the league, the most recent being the defeat at Arsenal. He had a much happier time of it in the Europa League match on Thursday night with his heroics keeping Spurs in the match.

The defence has seen the rise to prominence of Stephen Caulker, who marked his England debut with a goal in Stockholm last week. For some reason his goal didn't quite get the same coverage as the Swedish fourth. Caulker spent last season on loan at Swansea, where he picked up part of this week's Crimewatch award. A late night out saw the defender arrested and given a fixed penalty notice for swearing in the street. That sounds a bit harsh to me given that anyone who has had a surfeit of ale (Brains I believe in that part of the world) is surely bound to let forth an expletive or ten when they realise that they've woken up in Swansea. Especially when they realise that all they have to look forward to when they finally get back home is Harringey.

The Spurs 'talisman' is Gareth "Christian" Bale. Bale has the twin misfortunes of playing for Tottenham AND Wales and whilst at international level he is pretty much stuck with what he's got, there have been numerous murmurings linking the player with a move overseas. I wouldn't have thought that he would be off in the January window which, amazingly, is just over a month from now. However, next summer may see him going to ground under the slightest of contacts in slightly warmer climes.

The big departure in the summer was midfielder Luca Modric. A class act, Modric's absence has been sorely felt in the Spurs midfield. They did go some way to alleviating that sense of loss by picking up Moussa Dembele from Fulham. However, Dembele has missed several matches through injury and they don't look quite the same side without him. He seems to have recovered from his hip problem though and he was in the squad for the trip to Rome on Thursday, coming on for the last 15 or so of the 0-0 draw with Lazio.

Our former "not the captain" Scott Parker will be missing. Parker, who, of course was a three-time Hammer of the Year before bravely volunteering to join Spurs as part of a project to bring football to the more primitive parts of the world, has been suffering with an Achilles problem for a while now. "No return date" is the sad prognosis from the usual injury data sources. Parker got their Player if the Year award last season. Copying their betters again.

No such injury problems for the other ex-Hammer in the squad. I was quite gobsmacked the other day to discover that Jermain Defoe has recently turned 30. I mean it only seems like last week that he was turning out for us and scoring for fun. He's still a hellofa goalscorer but has suffered over the years from having managers never quite knowing how to fit him into a 'system'. As a result he must surely be looking back on his career with a wistful eye and wondering why he's never quite fulfilled the promise of all those years ago. His "24-hour" transfer request and penchant for getting himself sent off ("not right in the head" – T.Brown c2003) on an all too regular basis in his latter weeks with us will ensure that he will remain a pantomime villain at the Boleyn, though in retrospect his crimes were far from as heinous as those of some other players we could mention.

Defoe has been known to play on his own up front, though he's often been partnered by Adebayor. Of course this option won't be available to the home side this weekend thanks to the spot of "serious foul play" from the Togolese that did so much to turn last weekend's match. The statutory three match ban stats this weekend.

If they're looking to play two up front they may go for summer arrival Clint Dempsey, whose transfer from Fulham is the front runner for the 'Comedy Transfer Of The Season' award that I just made up. This, for once, has little to do with anything that Spurs have done per se, but is all the more amusing for the way it stitched Liverpool up. The Anfield club, to whom the words "honest transfer dealing" might as well be written in Klingon for all the meaning they carry up there, spent a large part of the summer illegally tapping up Dempsey. Fulham, whose owner should be able to spot a dubious practice when he sees one, were understandably miffed at the prospect of being presented with a virtual fait accomplis and refused to allow the Scousers permission to talk to the player on the grounds that they'd already done so anyway.

Dempsey went walkabout, allegedly refusing to turn out for Fulham, or not depending on who you believe. Liverpool bided their time and let a chap called Carroll go out on loan, safe in the knowledge that they would probably snap up Dempsey as the window closed. Only it didn't quite work out like that.

As the clock ticked down they called up Fulham to politely enquire whether they might take Dempsey off their hands what with the window coming to a close and all, they were told "oh him – sorry he's gone to Spurs now. Must rush – we've got Berbatov hold up a new scarf for the cameramen". Thus did Liverpool end up with only one recognised striker in the squad. Fulham did make some noises about reporting the Scousers to the authorities but I expect that it'll get forgotten. It usually does with them. In the meantime, as a striker/attacking midfielder/whatever, Dempsey's decision to go with the no.2 squad number is just plain wrong and is something that, alongside the playing of music after goals, would result in a points deduction and a hefty fine in an ideal world.

I mentioned Stephen Caulker earlier on for his having part of this week's Crimewatch award. The other joint recipients are of course the shadowy three individuals currently awaiting trial for various fraudulent activities in connection with the Olympic Stadium bid. For a while it appeared that ENIC wanted to use the Olympic site, using Spurs as a cover for their base from which to launch stolen Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles. However, it seems that the world's governments caved into their demands and gave them loads of money to improve the area surrounding White Hart Lane.

Meanwhile, as part of Operation Grand Slam, the shadowy three are alleged to have obtained personal information concerning officers and employees of West Ham United. Tottenham of course have gone to great lengths to distance themselves from those concerned ("they were working for SMERSH, Mr Bond") and the rules of sub judice prevent much in the way of further comment so we'll award them a partial Crimewatch for the time being, pending the outcome of the trial. If ENIC don't kill them by covering them in gold paint before they get the chance to spill the beans of course.

And so to us. Good point the other night. Slightly disappointed that it wasn't all three bearing in mind the dominance we had in the second half but, nevertheless it was a point worth respecting. There were some good performances out there and one was particularly inclined to be chuffed for Joey O'Brien, whose efforts have not gone unnoticed by the cognoscenti of this website.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis was his usual two-faced hypocritical self, mind. Next time you hear him have a rant about opposition players cheating, you may wish to recall the glee with which he cheerfully admitted the foul that contributed to the opening goal, the sort of tactic to which he has in the past admitted forms a part of their daily training routine. When he finally goes they'll probably put up a statue to him in one of the six towns they have cluttering up the place up there which will bear the inscription "Tony Pulis Manager and inventor of the 25-second goal kick".

Injury news is that there is a slim chance of a re-appearance for one or both of Benayoun or Jarvis. Although Jarvis has yet to really set the world alight in the manner one would expect of a £10m player, I reckon that he'd have had some fun on Monday night had he been available. Maiga, for all his efforts, isn't what you'd call a natural left winger, and, though he grew into the role as the night progressed, someone more used to operating on the flanks might have benefited from operating on what proved to be the weaker of the two Stoke flanks. It's as you were for the long term casualties, with Collison and Vaz Te pencilled in for a return in the new year and Diarra still being anyone's guess.

Prediction's a tough one for this. Though they're not in the greatest of form in the league, you can never underestimate the propensity for a lesser team to raise its game against its betters – look how well they battled to keep Arsenal down to five for example! We are proving hard to beat in the main and it's taken off-days on our part to see us get beaten on the road (Swansea & Wigan). As long as we can avoid a repetition of those two matches I reckon we'll end up with another hard-earned point. So this week's trip to see Mr Winstone at the Turf Accountant's office will see the Avram Grant Rest Home For The Bewildered Fund To Find Something On Betamax That Isn't A James Bond Film (£2.50) placed firmly on a 2-2 draw.

Enjoy the game!


When Last We Met: Drew 0-0 (a) March 2011. A Rob Green wonder save earned us a point in the ultimately fruitless battle against relegation. It was the 4th point that we'd taken off them that season mind. Referee Mike Dean got his knickers in a twist over Christian "Gareth" Bale's, er, knickers because the white undershorts didn't quite match the black shorts the player was wearing. Strangely Dean didn't seem too fussed that the replacement black undershorts didn't match the white trim on the black shorts the player was wearing.

Referee: Andre Marriner. Last time he took charge of us was in March 2011's 3-0 defeat of Stoke City, though more recently he was spare part, I mean 4th official, for the 3-0 home win over Fulham.

Danger Man: Jermain Defoe. In truth there are a number to choose from and, should he play, Dempsey has a history of netting against us. However, Defoe has that "law of the ex" running in his favour.

Daft Fact Of The Week: When we last went to White Hart Lane, at half time they trotted out Alan Mullery who informed the crowd that Spurs were going to win that season's Champions' League. I haven't had the chance to look it up yet but something tells me that he might just have been mistaken in that prediction.

Breaking News: Begovic has just taken his final goal kick from Monday night.


John Nortcutt's corner to follow shortly!

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Premier League: Tottenham and West Ham United look to return to winning ways
Last Updated: November 23, 2012 3:59pm
SSN

West Ham United will be keen to maintain their impressive start to the Premier League season with a win against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.
Sam Allardyce's side are currently one place and two points ahead of Spurs in seventh, just a point behind the Europa League spot. The Hammers' last away game ended in a 1-0 victory over Newcastle United two weeks ago, but that is also their only win in their last four league matches. Spurs, too, are struggling to bag maximum points in matches, as Andre Villas-Boas' side have not won in their last three competitive games. The north London club have also lost their last two league fixtures at White Hart Lane and went down 5-2 at Arsenal last weekend, before earning a goalless draw with Lazio in Rome in the Europa League on Thursday. However, heading into Sunday's clash, Spurs will have history behind them as they have won seven and lost just one of their last 10 Premier League games against the Hammers. Moreover, West Ham have failed to score in five of their last seven league fixtures against Tottenham.

Tottenham
Last 6
0-0
5-2
2-1
3-1
0-1
2-1

Emmanuel Adebayor will begin his three-match suspension this weekend after he was dismissed against Arsenal last time out. The Togolese striker is likely to be replaced by Jermain Defoe as Spurs' focal point in attack, with Hugo Lloris expected to retain his place in goal ahead of Brad Friedel. Midfielder Mousa Dembele is back to full fitness and is likely to start against the Hammers, while midfielder Scott Parker could feature after doing light training this week.

West Ham
Last 6
1-1
0-1
0-0
2-1
4-1
1-3

West Ham midfielder Yossi Benayoun is unlikely to start at White Hart Lane as he is still struggling with a knee injury. However, the Israel international could make the bench for the Hammers. Winger Matt Jarvis remains on the sidelines with a knee injury, while attacker Modibo Maiga could retain his place in the Sam Allardyce's lineup.

Opta Stats

Tottenham have won seven and lost one of their last 10 Premier League games against West Ham.
The Hammers have failed to score in five of their last seven Premier League matches against Tottenham.
Spurs have not lost three Premier League games in a row at White Hart Lane since September 2008.

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West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce: David Beckham won't come back to England
Last Updated: November 23, 2012 5:19pm
SSN

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce believes that David Beckham will not return to the Premier League when he leaves Los Angeles Galaxy in December.
The 37-year-old will leave the American club after the MLS Cup final next month and has already been linked with a host of clubs around the world. The name of West Ham too has been mentioned, but Allardyce says that at the moment it is "speculation". "David has always said to me when he has been available that he only wanted to play for Manchester United in this country, and I haven't heard him say he wants to come back to England," he said. "It is speculation until David decides where he wants to go. I am not so sure about the situation at all. "If David said he wants to come back to London in the Premier League, we would talk about it. I don't want to say we will or we are. It is speculation."

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West Ham manager Sam Allardyce realistic ahead of intimidating run of fixtures
Last Updated: November 23, 2012 4:39pm
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West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is realistic ahead of a tricky run of fixtures that begins at Tottenham on Sunday. The Hammers visit White Hart Lane sitting in seventh place in the Premier League and two points above their hosts, but Allardyce admits his side's best may still not be enough. After the trip to north London, Allardyce's men then face Chelsea,West Brom, Everton and Arsenal, all of whom are in the top six after 12 games. He said: "We know we are in a very good position but this run of fixtures could cause us a few problems. "I think we will play well and I do not think we will let ourselves down but we could play our best in the next four games and lose all four. If Tottenham, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are all at their best then it is going to be very difficult for us. "I think that the players at this football club worked very hard last year to play in fixtures like the ones coming up. "It is always a massive challenge for a newly-promoted side to face the likes of Manchester United but I think it is a challenge that the players look forward to. "It is all about accumulating the points and continuing to pick them up as often as possible. If we carry on to do this then we will move towards a points total that will ensure safety."

Very special

Allardyce is hoping the London derby ends with their current narrow advantage over Spurs widening by a further three points. "I think we will play well and I do not think we will let ourselves down but we could play our best in the next four games and lose all four. If Tottenham, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are all at their best then it is going to be very difficult for us." "I think that local derbies are always very special," he said. "They are games that the fans and the players always enjoy and our hope is that we can come away with a few positive results. I hope we can take our game to Tottenham and cause them a few problems."

According to Allardyce his squad is brimming with confidence ahead of the trip to White Hart Lane and believes it is his task to keep the momentum going.
When asked if a win over Spurs would give West Ham confidence for the remainder of the season Allardyce said: "I think we have got it now. "We are a third of the way through the season and we have produced a high level of performance so we have the confidence and belief to keep that going. "I have got to keep driving the players on and I have to strive to make the players even better. My aim is to ensure that the players continue to play well and improve. "The squad was put together in the summer and a lot of new players came in so we will continue to grow as we get to know each other better."

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Mod man out!
Sam's taunt to Luka-less Spurs
The Sun
By JAKE RYAN
Published: 5 hrs ago

SAM ALLARDYCE has revealed he is rubbing his hands at the thought of taking on a Tottenham side without Luka Modric. The Croatian talisman left White Hart Lane for Real Madrid in a £30million deal in the summer. And West Ham chief Allardyce reckons rivals Spurs were a bigger threat with Modric playing under old boss Harry Redknapp. When asked whether Tottenham are as dangerous as last season, Big Sam said: "They're without Luka Modric, who is a top-quality midfield player. And I used to listen to Harry talking about Luka Modric as one of the top midfield players in the world today. "So when you take a loss like that then that is then difficult to replace."

West Ham are currently riding high in seventh place, two points clear of Spurs in eighth, after a blistering start to the term. Tottenham have also been forced to cope without the influential Rafael van der Vaart, who also left in the summer for Hamburg, and defensive kingpin Ledley King after he was forced to retire.
Andre Villas-Boas' men have lost their last three Premier League matches. And while Big Sam is still wary of the attacking talent at AVB's disposal, he is convinced the Hammers can handle Spurs on the back of their Europa League goalless draw away to Lazio on Thursday night. Big Sam added: "At the moment we have the team to get a result wherever we go. "They've still got the flair there and we have to cope with that flair on Sunday. "But we can revert to what we're very good at — certainly against Manchester City we coped very well with Edin Dzeko, Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero and Mario Balotelli. "It is difficult to produce the same level that you did in Europe so that's always difficult for a manager. I will be telling the players 'look, Tottenham played on Thursday and that may leave some physical fatigue'. "If we are in the game going into the last quarter then we could come through in terms of how fit we are and get something out of the game."

After the London derby, West Ham go to Manchester United on Wednesday and host Chelsea on Saturday. For Allardyce it is a week in which his side will be tested to the limit and prove whether they really can continue their impressive start to the campaign. He said: "If we can sustain our form over the next period of games, we can show we really are a force in the division this season. "They all come together quickly. It's going to be a massive ask for the players to get the results in those games. "It is always a massive challenge for a newly-promoted side to face the likes of United but I think it is a challenge the players look forward to."

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Karren Brady's football diary – Twist of fate
The Sun
By KARREN BRADY
Published: 5 hrs ago

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17
ALEX FERGUSON says he would like to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford but Man U can't afford him. Who can? At a cost of about £100million, the answer can only lie in the oilfields of the Middle East or among Putin's pals. For some years then, Ronaldo is 'trapped' at Real Madrid, just as Messi is 'trapped' at Barcelona. The pair are locked in their gilded pala-ces.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18
A LITTLE stadium in Halesowen is an emotional place to be. It is there that thousands of Villa fans turn out to watch a charity match in honour of Stiliyan Petrov, who is fighting leukaemia. Black Country people don't go in for fancy nicknames, so the 33-year-old Bulgarian is simply 'Stan' to them, a pale but smiling foreigner whose struggles they have taken to heart. Gareth Barry says: "He's a great guy. When something like this happens, football comes together."

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19
NEARING 20 years in football and I have never experienced a team spirit like ours. You could practically pluck it out of the air tonight when we earn a draw with Stoke. Because he accepts an enormous workload, there is no resentment that Andy Carroll has not scored yet as his contribution is immeasurable.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20
BELIEVE it or not, I meet an agent with a sense of reality. He tells me he's been looking after a gifted teenager who was recently called up to the England squad but didn't play and now has an injury which may keep him out for a year. His club decide to show their faith by offering to extend his contract and doubling his salary to £30,000 a week. Egged on by his father, the lad does an Oliver Twist. "I want more," he demanded. His agent was so shocked he told him to "f*** off". But there is, indeed, a twist. The player is too young yet to benefit fully from Bosman terms. You might say he's in the soup.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21
SO I knock on a door at St James' Palace, having been invited to present Duke of Edinburgh awards. "You can't come in," says a person with a uniform. "It says 1pm in the letter and I'm right on time," I reply. "Well, you can't come in. Come back in 10 minutes." When I am let in, I'm greeted by Prince Philip. "I believe The Queen has a soft spot for West Ham," I say. "She once opened a stand there." "Ha, ha," the Duke replies. "She did that at Arsenal as well."

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22
"ROMAN ABRAMOVICH fires more people than me," texts Lord Sugar. One a year is the Chelsea chief's average after sacking Roberto Di Matteo. Some were a surprise but not this one. I think the deal has been done with former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola after his gap year.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23
IT'S true that Sam Allardyce is interested in signing David Beckham for West Ham but, typical of Sam, he points out "he'd have to prove his fitness like everyone else." I try to call Beckham's agent Simon Fuller and I'm promised he will ring me back. But he hasn't so far, so Becks may well be living up to his forecast that he will never play for another English club. My money is on Paris St Germain.

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Andreas under the Hammer
The Sun
Published: 5 hrs ago

WEST HAM have watched Danish strike whizz Andreas Cornelius in his last two games for FC Copenhagen and are ready to fight Arsenal for his signature in January. Inter Milan have also shown interest in the £3.5million-rated 19-year-old. Cornelius has 10 goals in 17 matches.

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Upton spark: Andre Ayew open to West Ham move in January
The Mirror
23 Nov 2012 14:48

Marseille winger Andre Ayew has admitted he would welcome interest from West Ham over a possible move to the Premier League. Although there has been no official contact, the 22-year-old (and his brother Jordan) have been linked with January move to Upton Park - despite both being set to represent Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations in January. "We are always interested playing one day abroad", Ayew told Sky Sports. "There is no official offer from West Ham but if such a possibility could arrive, we will talk about with our advisers. West Ham is an excellent team." West Ham have already recruited France midfielder Alou Diarra from Marseille this year.

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