Daily WHUFC News - 24th October 2015

Preview - Chelsea
WHUFC.com

The background

West Ham United take on reigning Barclays Premier League champions Chelsea this Saturday as they look to protect a six-game unbeaten league run. The Hammers have risen to fourth in the table after a run of four wins and two draws since they last tasted defeat.
That means they currently sit six points above Saturday's visitors – a scenario that few would have predicted on the opening day of the campaign.
Chelsea's difficulties at the start of the season have been well documented, and they arrive in E13 with the fourth leakiest defence in the division. With three wins, two draws and four defeats from the first nine games, they have already tasted defeat on more occasions than last season, and currently sit in 12th position. However, they did win last time out – 2-0 against Aston Villa, and followed that up with a 0-0 UEFA Champions League draw at Dynamo Kiev in midweek.

The history

The Hammers and Chelsea have a long-standing rivalry, stretching over 103 games and 92 years. Since that first Football League meeting – a 0-0 draw in October 1923, the Blues have held the advantage with 47 wins to the Hammers' 37. Much of that Chelsea dominance comes from the last decade, with Chelsea winning 15 times in the period the Hammers have registered just one victory. That was a 3-1 success at the Boleyn Ground in 2012/13, when Carlton Cole, Mohamed Diame and Modibo Maiga were all on target. Last term, Chelsea triumphed 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day, following that with a 1-0 victory at the Boleyn Ground a little over two months later.

The match

Team news

West Ham United

Slaven Bilic will be without Victor Moses, who is ineligible to face his parent club, and Winston Reid, who is sidelined with a minor back injury. This game comes around too quickly for Alex Song, but Enner Valencia, Angelo Ogbonna and Andy Carroll all returned for last week's victory at Crystal Palace.

Chelsea

Pedro, Branislav Ivanovic and Loic Remy are all injured and will miss Saturday's game at the Boleyn Ground. Blues boss Jose Mourinho has a decision to make over whether to recall PFA Player of the Year Eden Hazard to his team.

Match info

Saturday's referee is Jonathan Moss. The Yorkshire official has already taken charge of one Hammers game this term – the 4-3 defeat to AFC Bournemouth – and he will be assisted by Andy Halliday and Harry Lennard. The fourth official is Andy Woolmer.
West Ham have won just one of their last 18 Premier League meetings with Chelsea (D3, L14).
Their last victory came at Upton Park in December 2012, when they won 3-1.
West Ham have made their best start to a Premier League season with 17 points after nine games.
They are unbeaten in their last six league games, with four wins and two draws.
Only Manchester City (24) have scored more goals than West Ham (20) in the Premier League this season.
Chelsea have only won one of their last five away games in the league (D1, L3).
The Blues have made their second worst start to a Premier League campaign with 11 points after nine games.
Ticketing, travel, coverage and other info

Tickets for Saturday's game have SOLD OUT.
The theme for Saturday's match is Greatest Moments – as voted for by you – and several Hammers legends will be returning to be presented to the crowd at half-time.
A day of cloud, with light rain at times, is predicted for Saturday. Temperature at kick-off is set to be around 14C (57F)
No closures are planned on the District and Hammersmith & City lines serving Upton Park. Click here for full information of TfL services. Click here for details on National Rail services.
If you're not heading to the game, make sure you stay tuned to our digital channels for all the very latest updates, pictures, stats and audio commentary. Get involved in the conversation on social using the hashtag #WHUCHE

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Chelsea betting preview with Betway
WHUFC.com

West Ham United are looking for their second home win of the Premier League season and in the process trying to extend their unbeaten league run to seven matches. That form has taken Slaven Bilić's side into the Champions League spots at this early stage of the season, but history tells us that a game against Chelsea is the ultimate test. The Hammers have just one win in 18 matches against their west London rivals, but have a great chance of making that two in 19. Jose Mourinho's side arrive at the Boleyn Ground in 12th place in the table with just three wins since the start of the season.

The prices reflect Chelsea's dominance of the fixture in recent years, with an away win listed as favourite at 19/20. But even co-chairman David Sullivan has hinted that us bookies might have got this one wrong. Speaking to the Evening Standard in midweek, Sullivan said "Chelsea are odds-on, but the odds on us are generous with Chelsea travelling to Ukraine to play in the Champions League." Those "generous" odds are currently 11/4 with Betway, and the draw is listed at 13/5.

West Ham United's last win in this fixture came in December 2012 when the Blues were sent back to the other side of London with a 3-1 beating. A repeat of that scoreline is priced at a huge 25/1. A 1-0 home win is offered at a more realistic 11/1. The favourite on the 'Correct Score' market is 1-1 draw at 13/2. Both of last season's games resulted in a Chelsea win and clean-sheet – which is offered at 23/10.

The Hammers were on song in their most recent London derby last week and goalscorers from that game feature heavily in a few popular markets. The 'First Goalscorer' list has Manuel Lanzini and Dimitri Payet at 11/1 and 9/1 respectively to break the deadlock. Let's not also forget the goalscoring form of full-back Carl Jenkinson – he is offered at a generous 11/1 to score at any time in the game.

At Betway we have over 100 markets on Saturday's game and those throughout the Barclays Premier League.

Remember you can access a whole host of Hammers exclusive Betway seasonal bets by clicking here. Our enhanced sign-up bonus for West Ham United fans is right here.

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Tactically Speaking - Chelsea
WHUFC.com

Weakness is not a term that has been associated with Chelsea, or any team managed by Jose Mourinho, too often.

However, this season the Blues have struggled in a number of areas, which is why they find themselves sitting in the bottom half of the table, rather than their usual position in the top four and challenging for the title.

For whatever reason – perhaps the 'lack of confidence and self-esteem' alluded to by Mourinho last weekend, or fatigue following three long seasons of domestic, European and international competition –Chelsea have had problems preventing their opponents from creating chances and regularly opening up their back four.

Last season, Mourinho's side conceded just 32 goals in 38 league matches on their way to winning the Barclays Premier League title, but this term they have already let in 17 goals in just nine games.
Statistics do not normally lie, and it goes without saying that Chelsea are an easier proposition to get at than they were this time a year ago.

When they do get it right, Chelsea still have an outstanding squad of players, with top-class internationals all over the pitch.

Mourinho wants his team to play a short passing, possession-based, aggressive, attacking football in the opposition half, controlling the game and not allowing their opponents the opportunity to dominate.

With averages of 55 per cent possession and 82 per cent pass completion, the suggestion is that Chelsea are not in complete disarray, while their average of 14.9 shots per game is actually marginally up on the 2014/15 campaign.

The problems the Blues are experiencing are clearly at the defensive end, where they are allowing a barely believable 13.3 shots on their own goal per game. Last season, that figure was just 10.9.

After selecting a consistent back four of Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill and Azpilicueta ahead of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois last season, Mourinho has chopped and changed his defence regularly this season in search of a winning formula.

Courtois' injury problems have seen Asmir Begovic replace him between the sticks, while Terry, Cahill and Ivanovic have all struggled to show their very best form on a consistent basis.

A week ago, Ivanovic too was injured and Azpilicueta moved to right-back, with untested Ghanaian Baba Rahman brought in for his Premier League debut at left-back. Kurt Zouma partnered Terry in the centre of defence, with recent England captain Cahill dropped to the bench.

With Nemanja Matic restored from the bench at half-time in place of youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Chelsea finally found some semblance of rhythm in the second half of their win over Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge.

Central to that improved showing was the return of striker Diego Costa, who led the line with aggression and fight – characteristics valued highly by his manager.

In between is arguably Chelsea's strongest suit – their midfield. Spaniards Cesc Fabregas and Pedro, Belgian Eden Hazard and Brazilians Oscar, Ramires and Willian are all supremely talented players, so it is somewhat puzzling that they have not clicked more regularly this term.

However, when you consider that many of those mentioned have been playing non-stop for club and country for years on end, maybe the demands of being some of the best on the planet have, for the moment, caught up with them?

Formation-wise, Chelsea WILL line up in the 4-2-3-1 shape that Mourinho has favoured with Chelsea and previous club Real Madrid for many seasons. Which players will be picked to fill it is less certain.

Possible team: (4-2-3-1) Begovic, Azpilicueta, Zouma, Terry, Rahman, Matic, Fabregas, Ramires, Willian, Pedro, Costa

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Kanu relishing sparkling form
WHUFC.com

Young striker Idris Kanu is relishing the U18's journey to south Wales to play Swansea City U18 on Saturday 24 October.

The Hammers have been in fantastic form of late, winning their last five consecutive games.

The sixteen year-old's goals have directly contributed to this run, his strike against Chelsea – unbeaten at the time – helped secure the three points.

The youngster found himself through on goal with just one Chelsea defender to beat. He expertly cut inside on his stronger right foot and curled his shot into the top right-hand corner of the net.

His second goal proved was arguably more important as it proved to be the winner over then league leaders Reading.

Reflecting on the victory, Kanu said: "I think the 1-0 against Reading is our best win so far. They were top of the table and they're a good side, it was a real battle with two sides playing similar styles of football. To come through that and win was really good."

Now, the young Hammers find themselves on a six game winning streak. Reflecting on their magnificent run of form, he continued: "We've been on a great run recently; everyone's been playing well together and working hard. It's all going well for us at the moment.

"We've all gelled well together, and we're very strong defensively now. Because we don't let in many goals, that's a good platform for us to go on attack from. We've won a lot of games 1-0 and 2-0, which is largely down to the defence allowing us to play the way we want to.

"The aim is to finish in the play offs so we can play the best teams in the Northern Division. I really like working with Steve Potts and Mark Phillips, they want the best for you and they allow you to perform and demonstrate your ability."

The U18s play Swansea City U18 on Saturday 24 October, kick off 11am at Fairwood Training Ground.

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From the Boardroom - David Gold
WHUFC.com

After nine games we are fourth in the Premier League and are virtually a quarter of the way through the season. We have shown that we are a decent side. The fans are excited by the way we are playing and the results we have achieved this season. We go into a big game against Chelsea feeling very optimistic but I have to stress they are a wounded animal and we are still facing the Premier League champions. There is very little change in the squad from last season and I see them challenging again this year. I am aware of the great talent they have got and there is still a long way to go. I have great admiration for the job Jose Mourinho has done at Chelsea and I know the criticism he has received this season will be hurting him and everyone at the Club.

It can all change for them so quickly but we obviously hope that will not happen on Saturday. I am looking forward immensely to the game and feel fairly relaxed. It is nice to know we are not struggling at the foot of the table and we are competing at the right end.
Slaven's contribution has been fantastic and he has helped put together the strongest squad of players since we took ownership of the Club. Each of the nine games we have played this season, the bench has only got stronger and I am sure it will be the same again when we play Chelsea. I mentioned it last week but I thought James Collins was outstanding during the 3-1 win over Crystal Palace. That was his first Premier League start but it shows the strength in depth that we have got in the squad. There is no certainty for anyone to keep their place and they have to keep performing to the best of their ability every week to stay in the team. If James is picked to play against Chelsea on Saturday, I am sure he will not let anyone down once again and will relish the chance to come up against a talented player like Diego Costa. We will certainly need James to be at his best. These are the last occasions we are going to see big Clubs like Chelsea coming to the Boleyn Ground and I know it is going to be another special atmosphere inside the stadium. I am sure all eyes will once again be on Dimitri Payet but I don't think it matters who we play against. Payet plays his game and shines whoever the opposition is.

But he also has other players who help him perform so well. He is relishing the chance to play with the likes of Sakho, Lanzini and Carroll. I know we are celebrating the Club's greatest moments at the Boleyn Ground when we face Chelsea. One of my greatest moments was seeing Sir Stanley Matthews play for Blackpool at Upton Park and he was someone who was so iconic at that time – probably how David Beckham is now. But he was upstaged by a small winger called Jimmy Andrews who managed to get the winner in a 2-1 victory back in 1952.
I am sure our supporters have so many magical memories throughout the years and let's hope we can provide another one with three points against the champions on Saturday.

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Collins - I want to stay in the team
WHUFC.com

James Collins enjoyed one of the best moments of his career last week after he was part of the Wales squad that famously reached the Euro Finals next summer.

Wales have not been part of a major international tournament since 1958, but Collins and his team-mates have defied all the odds during the qualifying campaign and finished above Belgium and Bosnia and Herzegovina to reach the showpiece event in France.

The 32-year-old has become a fans favourite at the Boleyn Ground during his ten-year spell in east London and capped off a fine week when he was handed his first Premier League start against Crystal Palace.

Collins showed once again why he is rated so highly as he produced a superb display at the heart of the Hammers defence and played a major role in the 3-1 victory.

With Winston Reid ruled out of the big London derby against Chelsea on Saturday, Collins hopes he will get the chance to cement his place in the side and show Slaven Bilic why he should be a first-team regular.

Collins said: "I have been waiting a while and I knew when the chance came along I would have to perform well. I don't think I made too many mistakes and we came away with a victory.

"It is down to me now and I have got the shirt. That is the good thing being at West Ham at the moment in that we have got to perform well every week to stay in the team.

"We have got world class players waiting to step in if we don't perform well. That is the beauty of having a big squad and you need the competition behind you to keep you on your toes.

"If I get the chance to play against Chelsea on Saturday I know I will have to perform just as well or even better.

"No disrespect to anyone I have played with at West Ham but this is the best squad I have been part of. We can probably put out two teams at the moment and competition for places has helped.

"There is a good atmosphere around the training ground and everyone gets on. Confidence is high and if we can defend well, we know we have players upfront who create chances and score goals. It is a great place to be at the moment."

With the Hammers already recording big away wins over Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City, Collins sees no reason why they cannot extend that impressive run and beat the Premier League Champions this weekend.

Collins added: "There is every chance we can beat them. Chelsea are struggling more than when they came to Upton Park last season.

"We have had a good week's training and we are all looking forward to a good game. I remember when we beat them 3-1 at home a couple of seasons ago and we have had some great games against them."

Collins will be joining up with the Wales squad once again next month when they play Holland in a friendly at the Cardiff City Stadium and is already counting down the days to the big tournament in France next summer.

Hammers skipper Mark Noble recently joked that Collins is always pictured alongside Gareth Bale in the celebrations, but the 'Ginger Pele' says he is only jealous and would love to be following in his footsteps!

He joked: "I try and get in the photos! I have always been close with Gaz and he is probably the longest I have been playing with in the squad. I think Nobes is a bit jealous and I like to send him a few photos!

"When we qualified in Bosnia it was an amazing feeling and something I never thought I would experience. To be part of the team that has qualified for the first team is something special.

"It is a special moment for my whole family who have been following me all around Wales and watching me play since I was 15 all the way through to the senior squad.

"With the squad we have got there is no reason why we cannot go and compete against the bigger teams and do well. We have got world class players all over the pitch."

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West Ham v Chelsea
KO 15:00
23 October 2015
Last updated at 11:30
Barclays Premier League
Venue: Upton Park Date: Saturday 24 October

TEAM NEWS

West Ham are without defender Winston Reid again because of a minor back injury, and Victor Moses is ineligible to face his parent club.
Enner Valencia could make his first start of the season, while Alex Song will return to full training next week.

Visitors Chelsea remain without the injured trio of Pedro, Loic Remy and Branislav Ivanovic. Manager Jose Mourinho would not comment on whether Eden Hazard will be recalled to the side.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

Jonathan Pearce: "I love this fixture. It's always been a growler of a London derby with snap, crackle and pop - more often than not there goes another Chelsea winner. But that might not happen this time if Slaven Bilic gambles on Andy Carroll from the start.
"Whisper it quietly but John Terry and Chelsea are slowly regaining their mojo. They ground out a result against Villa and were resolute in Kiev. They now have two clean sheets in a row. "But they'd hate to face Carroll. He made all the difference to West Ham at Palace last week. "Chelsea have a brilliant record at the Hammers but, unless Hazard sparkles, this could be a home win."

Twitter: @jpearcefootball

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic: "We have played some really good stuff, but we have to be more patient when we play at home. "We have that patience away, and we scored goals at Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool at the right times. We are trying to approach the game in the same way, regardless of where we play."

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho: "The players were man enough to assume responsibility and to say even publicly some of them that they were feeling responsibilities in their individual poor start. "But the team was always together. We've got two important results - three points in the Premier League and, against a direct rival for qualification in the Champions League [Dynamo Kiev], we got a point away.
"The mood improves with results and people are happy."

LAWRO'S PREDICTION

Chelsea beat Aston Villa last week, albeit without playing particularly well, and I see a similar outcome this time after what could be a horrible, scrappy game. West Ham have only won one out of four games at home and I don't think they will get much joy out of trying to hit Chelsea on the break. Only Chelsea have stopped West Ham from scoring in their last 21 matches at home.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
West Ham have won just one of their last 18 Premier League meetings with Chelsea (D3, L14).
Their last victory came at Upton Park in December 2012, when they won 3-1.
Since that defeat, Chelsea haven't conceded a goal against the Hammers in five meetings.
West Ham
West Ham have made their best start to a Premier League season with 17 points after nine games.
They are unbeaten in their last six league games, with four wins and two draws.
Only Manchester City (24) have scored more goals than West Ham (20) in the Premier League this season.
The Hammers have won their two London derbies so far this season, against Arsenal and Crystal Palace, but have lost their last three at home.
Dimitri Payet has scored five goals and provided three assists in nine Premier League appearances for West Ham.
Chelsea
Chelsea have only won one of their last five away games in the league (D1, L3).
The Blues have made their second worst start to a Premier League campaign with 11 points after nine games.
Jose Mourinho has lost just five of his 52 London derbies in the Premier League (W36, D11).
Chelsea have conceded a league-high five headed goals this season.

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West Ham United v Chelsea
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 22nd October 2015
By: Preview Percy

They appear to have discovered a star in the depths of space that is surrounded by some sort of hyperstructure that may, or may not have been constructed by an intelligence far in advance of anything the human brain can comprehend. If you're reading this up there, have you got anyone who can write match previews? Until they get back to us, here's Preview Percy....

Next up we play host to the money laundering operation that is Chelsea. Kick-off is 3pm Saturday which, for any Chelsea fans reading this, is the traditional time and day on which matches kick off in England. Tradition? Dictionaries are available both online and from all good bookshops.

Trains throughout the east of this wonderful city of ours appear to be engineering work-free (with the exception of the quarantine works in the Tottenham area). Rain is forecast at the time of writing so don't say you weren't warned.

Well it's all a bit messy over there isn't it . After picking up the title last season they've got off to the sort of start that one might describe as "indifferent". Or "bloody awful" when you take into account the fact that they are the defending champions. They're currently sitting in 12th place with 11 points from 9 games, the win against a poor Villa side covering over the cracks to a certain extent. The fact is they have lost four times already, which is hardly the stuff of champions.

There have been rumours-a-plenty of what is euphemistically referred to as dressing-room "unrest" and the so-called "special (needs) one" has been going into conspiracy theory overload. Mourinho went into print recently to describe some of the fines dished out to him and his club as "a disgrace". Well that's one thing on which we can agree Jose. Chelsea were fined £40,000 for their players part in the fracas in the Arsenal match following incidents in which their player was found guilty of unpunished violent conduct. Consider that against the £50k we got hit with for an incident in which it was proven that we had been the victims of genuine refereeing injustice up at Liverpool. Yup Mourinho, I make you right there – "disgrace" is definitely the word.

It wouldn't be so bad if he had any sort of genuine point, but over the years his players have gotten away with so much murder over the years – Andre Marriner was their MOTM at the Boleyn last season - you'd think he'd learn to bite his lip on those rare occasions that the den of mediocrity that is our refereeing gene pool actually get something right and punish the one in twenty blatant dives they manage to spot. Of course Mourinho, like Ferguson before him, is a past master of building up pressure on referees as a combination of reverse psychology and distraction tactic. However, unlike the red-nosed Scottish git, his methods lack subtlety and, for the reverse psychology bit anyway, they appear to be proving counterproductive at the moment.

So – apart from the fact that even our stupid match officials may have rumbled what the rest of us have known for years - why the poor start? Well they didn't have much of a pre-season to start with. Whilst some of us were slumming it, knocking back cocktails at the Dom Mintoff Retirement Complex and Workhouse in clocking up meaningful competition time in Malta in the Europa League, Chelsea players were probably on a beach somewhere having been given extra time off. Now there will have been genuine reasons for this – some will have been on Copa America duty for example and, to be fair it felt like we were playing Europa League matches six months before we'd even qualified for the bloody thing. However, when it came around to the (Care In The) Community Shield they did look for all the world like a side only a week or so into its pre-season preparation which seems to have consisted of a holiday in the States. This left Arsenal to carry home the not-very-coveted-unless-you-win-the-thing Shield, and the fact that they'd beaten the reigning champions ended up giving them a false sense of security which almost certainly contributed to their 2-0 defeat to us the following weekend. So the shortened pre-season then. A genuine attempt at giving some players rest time of a spot of arrogance? Probably an element of both.

Then there was "medigate" when the team's doctor was castigated – and eventually (constructively) dismissed for not being able to tell when a Chelsea player is feigning injury and when he was actually injured. Now ok with Chelsea obviously nine times out of ten it will be the former but, given all that Hippocratic oath stuff that doctors tend to take rather seriously, Crippen/Shipman/Fox (possibly not a real doctor) notwithstanding, the medic's treatment by the club was pretty bad darts all round and it certainly didn't help any with club harmony.

Of course they splashed the cash over the summer – yacht-boy's expenditure since taking over has, according to the work experience kid with the Harry Potter spectacles, topped the one BILLION mark. Even if you accept the new-fangled definition of a billion that's still £1,000,000,000 of Her Majesty's pounds. To put that into context, if you laid out that amount in five pound notes placed end to end, the line of banknotes would stretch half way around Neil Ruddock. I expect.

This summer something like £64 and a half million went in player acquisitions, though when netted out with funds received from sales the total net spend was "only" something like £29.25m.

The biggest fee shelled out was the £19m (rising to about £24.5m with add-ons and depending on how many Euros to the pound the nearest Post Office to Stamford Bridge is giving) for the Canary Islands-born winger Pedro.

The next biggest fee was the £14m (potentially £22m with add-ons) for Augsburg left-back Abdul Rahman. Rahman, whose "Baba" nickname as seen on the back of his shirt comes from his Dad is a Ghanaian international whose youth career started in his homeland with the improbably-named Dreams FC, which, thankfully, has no connection with the dreadful and not in any way missed Sky football-soap Dream Team. There are rumours that the same youth setup has a team called Nightmare FC who play in Spurs kit. Or at least there will be once I start spreading them.

"Baba" had been used sparingly thus far this season – until his league debut against Villa last weekend the League Cup had been his territory. £14m (never mind £22m) does rather seem a lot but frankly, like the rest of the world I've long since given up on trying to make sense of Chelseanomics.

An injury to the no.1 no.1 (if you see what I mean) Thibault Courtois (actually no.13), has led to more game time than might otherwise have been anticipated for the no.2 no.1 Asmir Begovic (actually no.1). Begovic came in for £8m plus a player on loan from Stoke during the summer.

He's lived in a few places in his life having legged it out of Bosnia with his family when the civil war that followed the disintegration of what we used to call Yugoslavia made things rather unpleasant in that part of the world. They ended up in Germany then Edmonton, Canada before Begovic got a trial at Pompey. Pompey were impressed enough to sign the player before he had a chance to attend a subsequent trial that had been arranged for him at Spurs, presumably pointing out that Edmonton N9 had more in common with Bosnia than it did with its Alberta namesake. His arrival at Fratton Park at the age of 18 means that he actually qualifies as a "home grown" player when they are counting these things up, even though his lack of an EU passport while at Portsmouth meant his early years there were covered by a student visa meaning he couldn't play in any matches that people paid to watch.

Ironically, considering the fact that they have a squad and a half's worth of players out on loan, one of the bigger names to arrive, Falcao, came in on the borrow. Falcao had a largely uninspiring season at Old Trafford last term, something that may have put off even a club with as deep pockets as Chelsea from considering an immediate permanent deal. The deal with Monaco includes an option to purchase but he's not pulled up any trees with the Pensioners having scored just the once this season. Current reports suggest that his agent is trying to negotiate a curtailment of the season-long loan in order to find the player gainful employment somewhere on the continent more suited to his game.

Falcao might have hoped for more involvement given the recent suspension to Diego Costa. Costa's antics in the Arsenal match which were the subject of retrospective punishment from the authorities and gave him a three match lay-off for violent conduct. I'd wager a few bob with Winstones The Turf Accountants that that suspension might not be the last the player sees this season, given his confusion over the terms "channelled aggression" and "mindless thuggery". He's one of those players of whom it is often claimed that if you took that side of his game away he wouldn't be half the player. That's an argument that holds as much water as an ocean-going colander made of plutonium-enhanced lead strapped to a 20 tonne concrete block tied to Neil Ruddock. That sort of argument always strikes me as a lazy excuse for a player not to work on an aspect of his game that is letting him down and I reckon if the player erred on the "channelled aggression" of the equation Chelsea would end up with a much more potent threat. If nothing else they'd get more games out of him.

Enough of them. What of us? Good win last week I thought even if we did leave it late. The performance of Lanzini overall fair made the mouth water and it was good to see innovative substitutions from Mr Bilic made in what was eventually a successful attempt to grab all three points.

Elsewhere in the world of football, Man City are being hauled up before UEFA because their fans booed the pretentious so-called Champions League "anthem", a piece of music that should be rolled up and shoved up the firmament of whoever had the bright idea that what an overblown competition already up its own backside really needed was its own bloody anthem. Assuming that UEFA find something to charge Man City with and fine them, it will be interesting to see whether the resulting fine is larger or smaller than the €15,000 slap on the wrist given to Dinamo Kiev last March for racial abuse. Meanwhile EVERY supporter attending a so called Champions League match in the future should make sure they boo every time the damn thing is played.

Back to this weekend's events and injury news is that Reid is still out whilst Song needs a few more weeks yet. We will also be without Victor Moses who is one of the millions of players over the world who are on loan from Chelsea, thus rendering him ineligible. Enner Valencia was given a runout for the Development Squad in midweek, picking up a goal in the process so he may be in the frame to replace Moses.

Prediction? Hmm. Well they aren't always going to be as bad as they have been so far this season– though frankly they'd really have had something to worry about had they not beaten Villa last week. So the main question is when are they going to start to improve? Our reputation as sequence-busters would usually suggest that they'd start getting better at the Boleyn, and our home form thus far this season hasn't really suggested that the trend would be bucked. On the other hand, a number of sources have suggested that there is still much disharmony in the ranks. They will also have had a tough round trip to Kiev in midweek which won't help in their preparation. Throw into the fact that this season the more (supposedly) exalted the opposition has been the better we've performed and you know what? I think that I'll think that I'll put the 1p fines collected here at the Avram Grant Olympic Rest Home For The Bewildered from everyone who mentioned Back To The Bloody Future this week (£2.50) down to Winstones and stick it on a 2-2 draw.

Enjoy the game!

When Last We Met At The Boleyn: Lost 0-1 (March 2015). An offside goal and a string of disgraceful refereeing decisions in favour of the visitors strangely eluded the attention of the special needs one, whose team had Andre Marriner to thank for all three points.

Danger Man: Diego Costa –dangerous from a medical point of view as well as a playing one. Our centre halves will need to be at their most disciplined to avoid retaliation against some of the stuff that they are likely to face.

Referee: Jonathon Moss Regarded even by his fellow officials as a bit lucky to be in a job. We need a strong ref for this one. We haven't got one.

Irritating Celebrity Supporter Of The Week: Well we'll ignore the ignoramus who turns up to their home games with the 1905 London's First & Finest banner (They aren't even the oldest club with an SW postcode and I make it at least 8 professional clubs in the capital are older. Finest? I've wiped finer stuff off the soles of my shoes). No this week it has to be David Mellor. In some ways he's the archetypal Chelsea supporter in that until they started winning stuff – something that "coincidentally" started to occur just after the dodgy Russian took over- he used to support someone else. In Mellor's case it was Fulham for whose programme he used to chip in the odd note bemoaning how difficult it was to get down to Craven Cottage what with being an MP and all. In the interest of balance, it should be said that the story about him having sex in a Chelsea shirt was a load of made-up hokum. As the woman pointed out – it must have been unbearable enough without adding the horror of a Chelsea shirt into the equation.

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West Ham v Chelsea preview: Blues eye first back-to-back victories
Last Updated: 23/10/15 10:58pm
SSN

Chelsea are looking for back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time this season when they travel to West Ham. Jose Mourinho's men lie 12th in the table heading into Saturday's match, but they returned from the international break in much better form, beating Aston Villa last Saturday before producing an improved display in the 0-0 draw with Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday. The Blues have yet to win two league games in succession this season, and it will be tough to do so as they travel to one of the division's form teams.

West Ham are unbeaten in their past six Premier League outings, with Slaven Bilic's men lifting themselves to fourth in the table.
But with a poor record against Chelsea and only one win at home the season, Mourinho may go into Saturday's clash with renewed confidence.

Team news

West Ham will be without Victor Moses, who is ineligible to face his parent club, while Winston Reid has not quite shaken off the knock which kept him out of the 3-1 win at Crystal Palace last weekend. Midfielder Alex Song, meanwhile, is still a couple of weeks away from returning after a long-term ankle injury.

Mourinho has confirmed that there is no change to the injury situation at Stamford Bridge, which means Loic Remy and Pedro (both knocks), Branislav Ivanovic (hamstring) and Thibaut Courtois (knee) remain out.

Opta stats

West Ham have won just one of their past 18 Premier League clashes with Chelsea (won one, drawn three, lost 14).

Chelsea have not conceded a single goal in any of their past five Premier League matches against the Hammers, last conceding in a 3-1 defeat in Dec 2012.

West Ham have scored with a league-high 22 per cent of their shots this season in the Premier League, while only Manchester City (24) have scored more goals than the Hammers (20).

Dimitri Payet has created more goal-scoring chances than any other Premier League player so far this season (39).

West Ham have won their two Premier League London derbies so far this season (against Arsenal and Crystal Palace) - they only won two Premier League London derbies in the whole of 2014-15.

The Hammers have lost their past three Premier League London derbies at home, however.

Merson's prediction

If I were Chelsea, I'd be happy this game is at Upton Park, considering West Ham's recent away form. This is still a hard game for Chelsea, though, and they're in a position where they must win as many games as possible. Each week they just have to tick each game off as it comes.

West Ham have been very impressive this season, but if Eden Hazard finally turns up in a game - he needs to turn up sooner or later - I see Chelsea winning, although I'm not 100 percent sure.

Premier League questions
We take a look at 10 questions that could be answered by the end of the weekend.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds 7/1)

Betting

Fourth-placed West Ham are underdogs with Sky Bet ahead of the visit of Chelsea (10/11) to Upton Park. The Hammers have a poor record against the Blues and have failed to score in their five league matches and Chelsea are 2/1 to keep another clean sheet. They lost this fixture 1-0 last season and Sky Bet offer 15/2 for a repeat of that scoreline. Dimitri Payet has scored in successive matches for the Hammers and is 11/4 to net anytime with Eden Hazard, who scored the winner in this match last season, 3/1 to score in a Chelsea win.

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West Ham's on-song Dimitri Payet delighted to hear Hammers fans chant he's "better than Zidane"
22:30, 23 OCT 2015
BY NEIL MCLEMAN
Frenchman has five goals and three assists already in his debut season and credits manager Slaven Bilic for his smooth transition to the Prem
The Mirror

Dimitri Payet's first sight of Slaven Bilic was the Croatia defender getting Laurent Blanc sent off at the 1998 World Cup. Now, West Ham manager Bilic is helping the French midfielder to dismiss the Premier League's best defenders in more thrilling style. At £10.7million from Marseille, 28-year-old Payet has been arguably the buy of the season with his five goals and three assists adding Gallic flair to the Hammers attack. And he claimed his rapid ­assimilation into English football is down to Bilic. "We speak a lot – he is quite close to me," said Payet. "I wouldn't say father and son, but a bit in that style. I like to have a good relationship with my manager. I am someone who responds better to praise. "I like to be given ­responsibility. When it goes badly, he can tell me, when it goes well, he can say as well. I like this relationship. It is going well and he has given me a lot of trust and I have tried to give it back on the pitch. "I knew from Joe Cole [a team-mate at Lille] that this was a special club and had a way of playing. From the first match, I quickly understood that the fans really like that and I was going to like it here."

Payet's popularity with the West Ham faithful has already been rewarded with his own song claiming he is "better than Zidane".
"I heard it after the Crystal Palace match – it was posted a lot on my Twitter feed," he smiled. "It is the first time I have a song with my name – it never happens in France. It really touched me. I would like to thank the fans. "Even to be compared with him is a really good thing for me."

But Payet is hardly an overnight success at the age of 28. He left Reunion – a French-ruled island in the Indian Ocean – at the age of 11 to go to Le Havre, before returning home four years later. "I think what happened in my formation, especially not to be been kept, to have gone home, to come back again with a real determination, has forged my ­character," he said. Payet then went back to France to play for Nantes, St Etienne, Lille and Marseille before finally crossing the Channel in June.

Payet, who once had an on-field ­altercation with a St Etienne team-mate, believes he has mellowed. "I am calmer nowadays," said the France international. "An enfant terrible? Yes, I was difficult to control. But the passing years and the fact I now have children have calmed me." So, like Bilic, he has a colourful past. "I remember him from the 1998 World Cup," Payet added. "He deprived Laurent Blanc of the World Cup final, but Blanc was still a world champion. We have never discussed it. I remember thinking at the time what he had done wasn't good – but he did a good simulation (circle)!"

Payet has been left out of the France squad since June. And with Didier Deschamps captaining Les Bleus in 1998, asking Bilic to call the current France coach to plead his case might not be the best idea "I don't know about that," he laughed. "But it makes me happy that he is willing to defend me. Playing for France at Euro 2016 is one of my personal aims. I have to play well for my club and that is what I try to do."

* DIMITRI PAYET reckons champions Chelsea have lost their fear factor – but his former team-mate Eden Hazard is still scary.
Jose Mourinho's side visit Upton Park this Saturday down in 12th place – eight spots behind West Ham – after only one win their last five games. And Payet said: "As Chelsea have lost one or two matches at the start of the season, everyone says: 'It is now possible to beat Chelsea'. There is maybe less fear than before. Other teams are a bit more relaxed when they play Chelsea. "But they remain a top team. They have not lost their quality in two months."

Payet played for a season with Hazard at Lille before the Belgian joined Chelsea in 2012. "It was a pleasure to play with such a player - it was easy to play with Eden," he recalled. "I think in the years to come he is going to be the best along with Messi and Ronaldo."
Hazard has struggled so far in this campaign, but the Frenchman explained: "There is a lot of pressure. Chelsea's game goes a lot through him. Last season he created nearly all their chances and goals. So the team relies on him. "I watched the match against Newcastle and two or three other matches. As soon as he touches the ball, there are two or three players on him trying to stop him playing. "It is going less well at the moment but I am not worried for him. Eden is someone very strong mentally. I have no worries that he will get through this and return to his usual level and he will help Chelsea reach their goals. "If I said I was not scared of him, I would be a liar! He is still their top player going forward."

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laven Bilic compares Manuel Lanzini to Luka Modric and declares "he makes our other players play better"
18:45, 23 OCT 2015 UPDATED 18:46, 23 OCT 2015
BY ALEX RICHARDS
The Argentine is spending the season on loan from Al Jazira with the Hammers and West Ham hold an option to make his move permanent if he impresses
The Mirror

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has hailed on-loan Argentine starlet Manuel Lanzini, comparing him to Real Madrid's Luka Modric. Lanzini, 22, has wasted little time in impressing at Upton Park as part of Bilic's East End revolution, having joined on a season-long loan from UAE side AL Jazira in the summer. The former River Plate youngster already has two Premier League goals to his name - in the win at Liverpool and last week's 3-1 victory against Crystal Palace - and the Hammers sit fourth in the table. Now former Croatia boss Bilic has acclaimed the young schemer, likening him to the man around whom he built his national side, ex-Spurs midfielder Modric . "I have never seen a player who reminds me of Luka Modric as much as Manuel Lanzini," the 47-year-old wrote in The Evening Standard. "Luka is my favourite player. He is my prototype of a great midfielder. I put Luka in the Croatia Under-21s and then in the senior team and we have a special kind of bond. But Lanzini has the same kind of qualities." The Hammers face Chelsea at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday afternoon, looking to further cement their place among the league's elite. Lanzini, who has taken a more central role in Bilic's attacking lineup recently, is once more expected to start, with his manager believing that the Argentine makes those around him lift themselves. "What I do know is he is making our other players better," continued the Irons chief. "He always wants the ball. That's why we put him in midfield. "He always makes himself available. If the players are in trouble, he comes and gets it. He does not look strong but some players can defy that physicality to impose themselves. Modric is the same and, like him, Lanzini is not afraid either. I am delighted with him."

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Carlton Cole hails West Ham fans as he vows to become a hit with Celtic supporters
12:29, 23 OCT 2015 UPDATED 12:29, 23 OCT 2015
BY JOHN CROSS
Cole turned down several offers, including one to join up with Sam Allardyce at Sunderland, to sign at Celtic Park
The Mirror

Carlton Cole has paid a glowing tribute to West Ham's fans - and is confident of becoming a big hit with Celtic supporters. Former England striker Cole, 32, who was a free agent, has signed a two-year deal at Celtic following his departure from Upton Park in the summer. That followed a disappointing end to his West Ham career after Sam Allardyce blocked him from joining West Brom in January only for him to barely get a look-in at Upton Park for the rest of the campaign. Cole has always enjoyed a close affinity with West Ham fans and was left upset at the way it finished after spending nine years in two spells at Upton Park. But Cole is hoping he can have the same relationship with the supporters at Celtic after turning down offers from abroad and the Premier League, including one from Sunderland boss Allardyce. Cole said: "At this stage of my career I want a challenge, an opportunity to win things and have a great rapport with the fans like I did at West Ham. "People talk to me about what happened in January but that's way behind me now, I've got great memories with the West Ham fans and I will always appreciate the support they gave me. "I genuinely could have earned a lot more money from other offers I had in England and around the world but once you see what Celtic is all about then it's a no-brainer." Cole has been talking to Celtic boss Ronny Deila for the past few weeks as he looked to secure his long term future for his family and the rest of his career. He says a taxi journey during negotiations was a reminder of just how big Celtic is and he hopes to become a big hit like some big name strikers before him. Cole added: "I'm already beginning to feel part of the family here, yes it's a big family but everyone makes you feel wanted and part of something. "I'm really happy to have finally signed for Celtic, now I'm excited about the prospect of playing in front of 60,000 amazing fans. "I've spent a few weeks up here getting a feel for the club and passion of the fans. Because of that I feel ready for the challenge. "Celtic is a huge club, one of the biggest in the World, everyone in the city love football and want to talk about it. "I got in a taxi yesterday and the driver started talking to me about how much the club means to him and explaining the deep passion and connection the fans have. "That's why I'm here, I want to give everything for this club, I want to wear the shirt with pride and put all I've got on the line. "It has also been good to have some chats with Ronny Deila, he's told me what he wants from me and how he wants to play, we are developing a good relationship. "The lads have been brilliant, there's been plenty of banter in the changing room and they have been keen for me to join. "I feel rejuvenated, enthusiastic and exciting about pulling on the shirt and running out with the lads. "People have asked me about Lee Griffiths but he is a different player to me and hopefully we can play together and form a decent partnership. "We have a decent squad with players that can score goals from many positions, everyone knows that this club has to win things and I am happy to be part of it. I will give everything for this club and the fans."

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Leroy names Chelsea 'weakest link' and result!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on October 23, 2015 in Leroy's Blogs, News, Whispers
C and H

John Terry arrives at the Boleyn tomorrow as the weak link in the Chelsea team for me.

Should he play it will be his 450th match for Jose Mourinho's side and it could become a nightmae because he's lost a lot of pace and we have that everywhere in this brilliant West Ham eam.

We find out tomorrow whether we are dreaming of a top four West Ham team or whether the results so far have been a flash in the pan so far. I don't think that's the case at all but I'd be even more confident of my predicted 2- 1 result were Winston Reid to be playing.

Chelsea have real problem and I was interested to read Hugh's report of Mourinho's prress conference today when the Chelsea boss looked as if e had the troubles of the world on his shoulders. That's all very good news.

I love too the way Slav has been so humble refusing to play on the current problems and talking him up as the great manager. It's non confrontational and clever before we go and give em a hiding!

In the privacy of the dressing room Slav will be telling the lads they will never have a better chance of beating Chelsea.

I'd love Victor Moses to be playing but in his absence the way is clear for Enner Valencia to return. He has plenty to prove and will be well up for this game.

If, as I expect, we come out of this game with three points we will have 20 before the end of October which is an amazing achievement.

I do think what we have been seeing is the real deal and that we are going to b atop four/six club this season but tomorrow will tell us an awful lot.

The home form is still a bit of a worry and this is the perfect game to get it right. We will see Chelsea having a lot of possession but they have plenty of problems at the back for me.

Quite apart from Terry's lack of pace, Zouma is quick but lacks anticipation and the keeper doesn't have the presence of several before him.

We will go out entirely relaxed and I am confident.

I expect a 2-1 and here's how I see the Irons lining up: Adrian, Jenkinson, Tomkins, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Noble, Kouyate, Payt, Valencia, Lanzini, Sakho

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Lawrenson at it again
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on October 23, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

This really needs no comment from me other than to say that Mark Lawrenson's animosity towards West Ham is now beyond a joke. Having predicted our demise in virtually – if not every game this season – he is at it again ahead of the match against Chelsea tomorrow afternoon. Here's what TV's most miserable pundit has to say: Chelsea still beat Aston Villa last week, albeit without playing particularly well, and I see a similar outcome this time after what could be a horrible scrappy game. West Ham have only won one out of four games at home, compared to four out of five away, and I don't think they will get much joy out of trying to hit Chelsea on the break at Upton Park. Horrible scrappy game – "NURSE!!!"

Lawro's predicton 0-1

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CandH exclusive: DS speaks on takeover rumours
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on October 23, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

David Sullivan has responded angrily to rumours that the Hammers could be taken over and that secret talks are underway. The chairman – speaking exclusively to ClaretandHugh – has quickly denied the stories following after his son Jack had tweeted there was a zero chance of it happening. An old story – recycled perhaps in the light of the club's present run of success – that the Qatari Royal Family are set to invest in the club – has been brushed off by Sullivan. We approached the chairman a few minutes ago and he was keen to explain the position and denied emphatically there was any truth in the speculation. He said: "It's 100 per cent NOT TRUE. We are in discussions with nobody and beyond that we have absolutely no desire to sell this club to anybody. " I can only assume the rumours are being spread by people who are jealous of our success and want to unsettle us. It's just not true."

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Costa could regret coming to Upton Park
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on October 23, 2015 in News, Whispers
By Scott Alsweiler
C and H

CostaWe've proved that we're no slouches, and last weekend was a great example of that. But we do look a bit fragile at home. This Saturday is our chance to show we've grown. The key to this one will be remaining calm.

Leroy has rightly pointed out that Terry looks vulnerable – and he'll look even more so under the probably withering chants from the stands – and our pace and maneuverability should rattle him very quickly. Once we've done that, and put one or even two into the net, I expect Chelsea's mental strength (which I believe to be already shaky) to collapse.

That isn't to say that they'll be a pushover. If they get in early, and look dominant, then the reverse could easily happen. Chelsea seem to be at something of a crossroads in their season. They could either recover and be a commanding force (albeit probably not title contenders), or collapse into the lower mid table for the season.

They may also be tired after their travels this week. All of this can play into our hands, if we go out confident and exploit any weaknesses. Mourinho's press conference suggests those weaknesses are there. A manager who fails to exude confidence will not impart it to his team.

We know Reid is out, and that our Ginger Pele is likely to start. You can't ever fault Collins on his heart. He plays with his entire being. But he does make mistakes, and those can be costly. Having said that I rather l look forward to watching Costa run into the big Welsh wall. If Collins is on his game, Costa might well regret coming to the Boleyn.

Our other missing man is Victor Moses. We're not exactly short of options here. I think Antonio deserves to play at least a sub role tomorrow, but would probably start Valencia. Let's see him back out there and try and re-ignite his partnership with Sakho.

While it would be his first run out since his injury it would be a great chance to have him prove his place in the squad. We know he has impressive talent, and his pace would fit well into Slav's setup.

So here's to it. Let the game flow naturally and don't feel pressured. That has probably been our biggest fault at home so far. We can, and should, win this one. A loss wouldn't wreck our season, but wouldn't be indicative of our quality either.

A draw wouldn't surprise me, but I think our expectations have grown beyond that. I'm going for a 2-1 win. 3-1 if we shock them early (and don't fade at the end of either half – a bad habit of ours in injury time). We are West Ham. And we're going to add another scalp to wall.

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Bilic keeps tabs on young defender
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on October 23, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Slaven Bilic has sent scouts to regularly watch Croatian Under-21 centre-back Antonio Milic.

The youngster is well known to Hammers boss Slaven Bilic and his staff, having played for all of Croatia's junior sides up to Under-21 level.

And the Irons made it clear to ClaretandHugh that another central defender is very much on their shopping list a Jaes Collins reaches the veteran stage and is out of contract in the summer.

The Hammers boss sent spies to watch him against Club Brugge last weekend whom Milic only joined n January and has impressed since.

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Morrison's clumsy 'January' hint
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on October 23, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Ravel Morrison last night dropped a clumsy hint that he's back on his travels (aren't you glad we have Manu Lanzini!) After being an unused sub in Lazio's the Europa League clash he posted a one word tweet – "January" in the usual enigmatic style. He had been expected to play in the match against Rosenberg – from which Lazio emerged as 3-1 winners – but had apparently felt an injury the day before. Frustrated Morrison heard Lazio director Igli Tare explain how good he when he said: "We hadn't predicted so many changes to the line-up, but are forced to rotate the squad again today. "Morrison has undoubted quality and is world class, as well as being talked about and a little 'mad.' We really like him, but yesterday he had a fitness problem. "He was in the running to start in place of Stefano Mauri, but didn't train and as a precaution will be on the bench. Maybe he'll come on during the game."

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Farewell Boleyn: Mooro's final appearance
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on October 23, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

March 9, 1974! The last time Bobby Moore would wore the shirt of the club he joined as a schoolboy nearly 20 years before. The opposition that day was Plymouth Argyle in a reserve fixture played in front of a smattering of a crowd, while the first team were drawing away at Derby County. Perhaps an undignified way to end a career, having not appeared for the first team since a draw with Hereford United in the Cup at the Boleyn in the January. Hee would sign for Fulham six days after this picture was taken, returning just once – the next day – though to walk up the tunnel one more time and wave farewell to the fans before the first team lost 3-2 to Coventry. The empty North bank is the back drop for the picture. Underneath the refreshments sign was the entrance to the terracing from the concourse. I migrated from the Upper West to the North Bank in 1983 (still there to this day) and used to get my first sight of the pitch walking in under that sign. Bobby would finally bow out for good in 1977 away at Blackburn Rovers with a Fulham team including George Best in the side going down 1-0.

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