WHUFC.com
All the early team news and background for Tuesday's bid to make it eight
games unbeaten
26.09.2011
WEST HAM UNITED v IPSWICH TOWN
npower CHAMPIONSHIP
TUESDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2011
KICK-OFF: 7.45PM
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
Introduction
• West Ham United welcome Ipswich Town knowing a victory would take them
into the promotion places in the npower Championship for at least 24 hours
with the top two - Southampton and Middlesbrough - not playing until
Wednesday.
• The Hammers have collected 17 points from their opening eight league
matches to sit in fourth place - it is the club's best start to a league
season for 28 years. Ipswich are 13th with ten points from their eight games
to date.
• The Hammers, unbeaten in five matches against Ipswich, are seeking a third
straight home win for the first time since defeating Stoke City, Fulham and
Hull City in January 2009.
• A home win, combined with a draw or defeat for third-placed Derby County
at home to Barnsley, would actually take West Ham United top of the table.
• Sam Allardyce's men are also seeking a third consecutive league clean
sheet - a feat not achieved since the Hammers defeated Manchester City and
Wigan Athletic 1-0 and drew 0-0 with West Bromwich Albion in March 2009.
• In the 2003/04 season, the Hammers had 16 points from eight games -
meaning they are one point ahead of where they were eight seasons ago in the
Championship, their previous best start to a campaign.
• The Hammers have been the most watched team at home in the Championship
this season.
• Sam Allardyce's men are seeking an eighth match unbeaten in the npower
Championship this season.
• Ipswich were unchanged on Saturday for their goalless draw at
Middlesbrough.
• West Ham United and Ipswich last met in a pre-season friendly on 31 July
2010, when Carlton Cole's 31st-minute goal separated the teams.
• The most recent competitive meetings between the two clubs came in the
Division One play-offs at the climax of the 2004/05 season. A 2-2 draw at
the Boleyn Ground was followed by an unforgettable 2-0 win at Portman Road
in the second leg, when Bobby Zamora struck two great goals to send the
Hammers to Cardiff.
• Mark Noble, who has scored penalties in the last two home games, could
make his 150th league appearance for the Hammers. Skipper Kevin Nolan is in
line for his 350th regular league game.
• Henri Lansbury and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas were team-mates in the Arsenal
youth system before Emmanuel-Thomas signed for Ipswich on a permanent deal
last summer.
• Ipswich midfielder Keith Andrews scored for Blackburn Rovers under Sam
Allardyce on 21 March 2009 in a 1-1 draw with West Ham United at Ewood Park.
• Robert Green made his senior debut for Norwich City in a goalless Division
One draw with Ipswich Town at Carrow Road on 11 April 1999.
• Paul Jewell was Wigan Athletic manager when Brian Deane scored a
last-minute goal for West Ham United at the JJB Stadium to secure the
Hammers' place in the Division One Play-Offs in 2003/04 at the Latics'
expense. After guiding Wigan to promotion alongside West Ham in 2004/05,
Jewell was still in charge when West Ham secured a vital 3-0 win at the JJB
in April 2007 on their way to escaping relegation from the Premier League.
• Jewell turns 47 on Wednesday.
• The largest crowd to watch a West Ham United versus Ipswich Town fixture
was the estimated 58,000 who turned out for the FA Cup semi-final between
the two sides at Villa Park on 5 April 1975. Unfortunately for everyone at
the stadium, the match finished goalless!
• West Ham United's biggest-ever home victory over Ipswich Town occurred in
the first meeting between the two clubs. The Hammers recorded a 5-1 FA Cup
third round victory on 7 January 1950. West Ham also enjoyed a 4-0 Division
Two win on the Tractor Boys second visit to the Boleyn Ground on 2 April
1955.
• Five players have made their West Ham United debuts against Ipswich Town -
Keith Miller (November 1968), Mervyn Day (August 1973), George Cowie (August
1982) and Tony Gale (August 1984) all started their Hammers careers against
the Tractor Boys. Matthew Kilgallon began his loan spell from Leeds United
against Ipswich in August 2003.
• Bryan 'Pop' Robson made his second 'debut' for West Ham United in a 2-0
home Division One defeat by Ipswich Town on 16 October 1976.
Team news
West Ham United
• The manager could hand a home start to David Bentley after the England
midfielder appeared as a second-half substitute against Peterborough United,
Millwall and Portsmouth in the last three outings.
• Fellow new recruit Sam Baldock made his debut against The Lions ten days
ago and is also pushing for a first start, and Boleyn bow.
• Papa Bouba Diop could also be involved. Freddie Sears impressed in a
development squad game at Charlton Athletic last week and is also eager to
stake a claim, as is Jack Collison after being rested in the last three
matches.
• Guy Demel is making good progress from a hamstring injury that has delayed
his debut and could join in full training this week.
• Frederic Piquionne serves the final game of a three-match suspension after
being sent-off in the 4-3 npower Championship victory over Portsmouth a
fortnight ago.
• Gary O'Neil (ankle) is out with long-term ankle injury. Peter Kurucz is
fit again after 14 months out with a knee injury.
• Pablo Barrera and Jordan Spence are on season-long loans at Real Zaragoza
and Bristol City respectively. Ahmed Abdulla (Swindon Town), Jordan Brown
(Aldershot Town), Robert Hall (Oxford United), Olly Lee (Dagenham &
Redbridge), Cristian Montano (Notts County) and Callum McNaughton (AFC
Wimbledon) are all out on temporary loans.
Ipswich Town
• Ibrahima Sonko has been battling a knee problem but played the full 90
minutes at Middlesbrough on Saturday.
• Paul Jewell is still without calf injury victim Mark Kennedy.
• Wide man Lee Martin is back in contention after tonsilitis.
Last time out
Saturday 24 September 2011
npower Championship
West Ham United 1-0 Peterborough United
West Ham: Green, O'Brien, McCartney, Faye, Reid, Lansbury, Noble, Nolan,
Faubert (Bentley 67), Taylor (Tomkins 90) Cole (Carew 56)
Subs not used: Boffin, Baldock
Goal: Noble 11 pen
Saturday 24 September 2011
npower Championship
Middlesbrough 0-0 Ipswich Town
Ipswich: Stockdale, Edwards, Collins, Sonko, Cresswell, Bullard, Andrews,
Bowyer, Leadbitter, Scotland (Murphy 85), Chopra
Subs not used: Lee-Barrett, Delaney, Emmanuel-Thomas, Ainsley
Previous meetings
• The teams last met at the Boleyn Ground on 14 May 2005 in the first leg of
their play-off semi-final. Marlon Harewood and Bobby Zamora gave the Hammers
a dream start inside 13 minutes before Ipswich scored twice through a Jimmy
Walker own goal and Shefki Kuqi.
The lineups were:
West Ham: Walker, Repka, Ferdinand, Ward, Powell, Reo-Coker, Newton (Rebrov
86), Mullins, Etherington, Zamora (Noble 76), Harewood
Subs not used: Bywater, Dailly, Fletcher
Ipswich: Davis, Wilnis, De Vos, Diallo (Richards 46), Naylor, Magilton,
Miller, Horlock (Currie 46), Westlake, Bent, Kuqi
Subs not used: Bowditch, Price, Counago
Last six meetings (all league unless stated)
18 May 2005 - Ipswich 0-2 West Ham (Play-Off semi-final, second leg)
14 May 2005 - West Ham 2-2 Ipswich (Play-Off semi-final, first leg)
1 Jan 2005 - Ipswich 0-2 West Ham
18 September 2004 - West Ham 1-1 Ipswich
18 May 2004 - West Ham 2-0 Ipswich (Play-Off semi-final, second leg)
15 May 2004 - Ipswich1-0 West Ham (Play-Off semi-final, first leg)
Overall record v Ipswich Town - W 27 D 20 L 19
Ten-year records
West Ham United
2010/11 Premier League 20th
2009/10 Premier League 17th
2008/09 Premier League 9th
2007/08 Premier League 10th
2006/07 Premier League 15th
2005/06 Premier League 9th
2004/05 Championship 6th (promoted to Premier League via play-offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th
2002/03 Premier League 18th (relegated to Championship)
2001/02 Premier League 7th
Ipswich Town
2010/11 Championship 13th
2009/10 Championship 15th
2008/09 Championship 9th
2007/08 Championship 8th
2006/07 Championship 14th
2005/06 Championship 15th
2004/05 Championship 3rd
2003/04 Championship 5th
2002/03 Championship 7th
2001/02
Referee
• Tuesday's referee will be Keith Stroud. He was the fourth official in the
Carling Cup fourth-round win against Stoke City at the Boleyn last October.
• He was also the man in the middle for the friendly match against SSC
Napoli on 8 August 2009 at the Boleyn Ground, which the Italian side won
1-0.
Old boys
• Mark Noble played 13 Championship matches on loan for Ipswich in the
2006/07 season, with his first senior goal coming on 12 September 2006 in a
2-1 home win against Coventry City.
• Lee Bowyer made 60 appearances for West Ham United in two spells. The
first saw him play eleven games in a six-month spell before a move to
Newcastle United in 2003. The midfielder returned to the Boleyn Ground in
2006 for a three-year stay, which saw him play 49 times, scoring five goals.
• East Ham native Jimmy Bullard never played a first-team game for his
boyhood team between 1999 and 2001.
• The late, great John Lyall managed Ipswich Town between May 1990 and
December 1994. The man who won the 1980 FA Cup with West Ham United enjoyed
more success at Portman Road, guiding the Tractor Boys to the Division Two
title in 1991/92, ensuring the club would be members of the inaugural
Premier League. He later took the role of Director of Football.
• Former West Ham United forward Paul Goddard was appointed as
joint-caretaker manager of Ipswich Town alongside John Wark for three games
in December 1994 - replacing his former Hammers and Ipswich boss John Lyall.
• The following players are among those to have worn the colours of both
West Ham United and Ipswich Town during their careers - Lee Chapman, Kieron
Dyer, Justin Fashanu, Craig Forrest, Matt Holland, Kevin Horlock, Robert
Johnstone, John Lyall, Andy Nelson, Phil Parkes, Stuart Slater, Gavin
Williams and Richard Wright.
Up next
• West Ham United travel to Crystal Palace on Saturday 1 October, the same
day as Ipswich welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to Portman Road.
General information
• The club will be offering pay on the day for the visit of Ipswich. A large
walk-up is expected so fans should get to the ground in good time. Click
here for all the information.
• The weather forecast is for a clear evening with temperatures peaking
around the 16C mark.
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Turnstiles open this evening
WHUFC.com
West Ham United will bid for another home victory against Ipswich Town on
Tuesday
27.09.2011
Supporters should move quickly to make sure of their seat for the big npower
Championship showdown with Ipswich Town tonight. The Ticket Office is braced
for more late demand for those prime positions still remaining around the
Boleyn Ground before the pay on the night operation begins at cash
turnstiles around the ground. The Hammers are on a roll and looking to stake
a claim for the top two places in the npower Championship. Big Sam could
give first league starts to the likes of David Bentley, Sam Baldock and John
Carew - while Papa Bouba Diop may also make his Boleyn bow after proving his
fitness. Ipswich should prove stern oppposition, having drawn at
pace-setters Middlesbrough on Saturday. It all gets under way at 7.45pm and
a thriling night under the lights is expected. Tickets start from just £32
for adults and there is availability in all four stands. Although tickets
will be available from the Alpari Stand Ticket Officethrough to kick-off,
the cash turnstiles will be open from 6.15pm. It will be quicker for
supporters to head direct to the nearest turnstile and not queue at the
Ticket Office in order to gain entry.
Please note that Over-65's can only purchase concessionary tickets direct
from either Ticket Office. For more information on pricing at the different
turnstiles, click here
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Joey lauds clean sheets
WHUFC.com
Right-back Joey O'Brien has been happy with West Ham United's recent
defensive record
26.09.2011
Joey O'Brien believes in-form West Ham United are only just heating up ahead
of Tuesday's npower Championship visit of Ipswich Town. The Hammers are
unbeaten in seven league matches, have won each of their previous two home
games and have kept two clean sheets in succession - but O'Brien believes
the team will continue to improve as the season progresses. One of 12 summer
signings, the Republic of Ireland international is still learning to play
alongside his new team-mates, but the signs are that he - and they - are
learning fast. "This is just a new team, really, if you look at the players
who have come into the team since the start of the season," he told West Ham
TV. "The manager added a lot more players towards the end of the transfer
window. "Some of the players who have come in have only played a couple of
games - Abdoulaye Faye has only made a couple of starts and has been
fantastic in the last couple of games, while the likes of David Bentley and
John Carew are still trying to get into the team. "When they get cooking,
things will go well for us."
O'Brien has been an omniscient presence in a defence that has kept four
clean sheets in eight league matches this season - just one fewer than the
Hammers kept in 38 league games last season. On Saturday, the No17 made a
fine last-gasp clearance to preserve his side's 1-0 lead over Peterborough
United - a victory that lifted West Ham to fourth in the table and within a
win over the summit. "It was another hard win, really. It was 1-0 but I
think we had plenty of chances. We put a lot of crosses into the box and if
we had got that second goal it would have been more comfortable and we would
have probably gone on to get three or four. "As long as the game stayed at
1-0, they always had a chance of getting back in it, but in the end it was a
clean sheet at home and a second clean sheet in a row. "At the end of the
day, if we get a clean sheet, with the players we have we're going to create
chances and one way or the other we're going to get goals. If we keep clean
sheets in most games, we're going to win them."
Another clean sheet against an Ipswich Town squad featuring no fewer than
seven of his fellow Irish countrymen would be welcomed by O'Brien. The
right-back will show no favours to his compatriots, of course. "Home games
are the ones we need to win. It'll obviously be a hard game because Ipswich
are a good team and playing Saturday and Tuesday is always hard going, but
if we are going to win the league then these are the games we have to win -
back-to-back wins are always good. "The home record is important. The fans
are fantastic so we want to keep winning, keep them happy and make other
teams not want to come here. If we can win on Tuesday, then we'll have a
good little home record going."
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Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Big Sam said his players continued to show encouraging signs as they get
used to each other
26.09.2011
Sam Allardyce is preparing for Tuesday night's visit of Ipswich Town knowing
that his team will arguably face their toughest test of the campaign to
date. The Tractor Boys head down the A12 on a high after a point at
pace-setters Middlesbrough on Saturday and with their new experienced
Premier League-quality signings beginning to click. It is a similar story
for the fourth-placed Hammers, with Big Sam finding out more about his
players with every passing match. Indeed, Saturday's 1-0 win at home to
Peterborough United was striking in that the starting lineup featured just
five players from last season - Robert Green, Winston Reid, Julien Faubert,
Mark Noble and Carlton Cole - while the bench had three summer recruits in
the outfield positions. It is a revamped Hammers squad and certainly a new
approach, with seven games unbeaten and four clean sheets in a row. "Results
breed confidence such as going away to Doncaster and then drawing with Leeds
and beating Forest with four goals and beating Watford by four," explained
the manager. "The players have built a very good dressing room very quickly,
down to firstly the captain and then the rest of the players joining in and
building a unity between them that's a good bond, so that they can
communicate with each other on a day to day basis and enjoy their own
company. "And also enjoy criticising each other for the benefit of the team
because it's no good seeing somebody doing wrong and saying nothing. That's
not a good dressing room. If somebody's doing something wrong, you tell then
and that's a good dressing room. "I think that's what we're building and
that's helped us get good results on the field."
Allardyce knows an average of two points a game will get any team promoted
and getting nine points from nine this week, with the first three in the
bag, would certainly keep the Hammers on course. "That is the target and you
only have to look at what gets you promoted automatically and two points or
better does that.
"There can be a freak season where you need more but generally if you're
hitting those targets - and we're one point ahead of that ratio - that's a
massive boost. If we can produce a top performance on Tuesday [against
Ipswich] and then we're two points ahead of our target. "That will make life
so much easier when, somewhere down the line, we don't get the result we're
looking for. If we've got that cushion, then you can pick up from there
without a disappointing result costing you too much."
Already the Hammers are four points ahead of their nearest rival outside of
the play-off positions, and a win on Tuesday would propel them to at least
second place, with Southampton and Middlesbrough not playing until
Wednesday. The manager has hinted that changes could be likely against
Ipswich, with David Bentley, Papa Bouba Diop, Jack Collison, Sam Baldock and
John Carew among those desperate to find their names on the team-sheet.
Ivory Coast star Guy Demel is getting nearer to fitness as well after his
hamstring troubles and the manager knows his players will have to take their
chance when they get it. Opportunities might come with concerns over Matt
Taylor (calf) and Joey O'Brien (tight hamstring). "At the moment, it is
difficult to change a winning side ... A three-game week is obviously an
opportunity to look at [other players]. My anxiety is that I'm still
learning about all the players I have. Sometimes when you're two or three
years into a job it takes not a lot of thinking about because you know your
players inside out . "At the moment I'm not quite au fait with everybody's
physical condition but I'm learning every week. The players are getting to
know each other more and more and getting better and better. "It was a
thoroughly well deserved three points against Peterborough United. We would
have liked it to be more comfortable but it does not matter when we see the
three points and that we are fourth in the table."
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West Ham v Ipswich
BBC.co.uk
Page last updated at 15:31 GMT, Monday, 26 September 2011 16:31 UK
Npower Championship
Venue: Upton Park Date: Tuesday, 27 September Kick-off: 1945 BST Coverage:
Listen on BBC Radio 5 live and BBC local radio; text commentary on the BBC
Sport website
TEAM NEWS
West Ham have doubts over Joey O'Brien, Guy Demel (both hamstring) and Matt
Taylor (calf). Gary O'Neil is still missing with an ankle injury and striker
Frederic Piquionne is suspended.
Ipswich striker Jason Scotland is expected to shrug off a knock in time to
play at Upton Park. But midfielder Mark Kennedy is likely to miss out again
after suffering a setback in his recovery from a troublesome calf problem.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• West Ham have won 27 and lost 19 of 66 competitive meetings with
Ipswich.
• They have not met since West Ham won 4-2 on aggregate in the
semi-finals of the Championship play-offs in May 2005. It took the Hammers'
unbeaten run over Ipswich to five games.
• The London club have lost only two of their last 14 home league
meetings with the Tractor Boys, and need to score twice to total 100
competitive goals against Ipswich.
West Ham United
• Fourth-placed West Ham are unbeaten in seven league games (W5, D2),
and have made their best start to a league season in 28 years.
• They are the second highest scorers in the Championship, with 16
goals. Southampton have netted 20.
• Mark Noble, who got the winner from the spot against Peterborough on
Saturday, is in line to make his 150th league appearance for the Hammers.
Kevin Nolan could start his 350th regular league game.
Ipswich Town
• Ipswich are hunting a fourth league win of the season, and a third
in five outings.
• The club with the worst defensive record in the Championship has
kept back-to-back clean sheets, and is targeting three in a row for the
first time in the league since March 2005.
• Three points would provide an early birthday present for manager
Paul Jewell, who turns 47 on Wednesday.
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Allardyce: changes afoot
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 26th September 2011
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce could be set to ring the changes for tomorrow night's visit of
Ipswich Town. The Hammers boss, who watched his side beat Peterborough 1-0
at the Boleyn on Saturday - albeit in rather disappointing fashion - could
be without both Matt Taylor and Joey O'Brien who sustained slight knocks
during Saturday's game.
Meanwhile Carlton Cole, who spent last week with a cold hence his early
substitution on Saturday could be left out in order to make a full recovery
in time for this weekend's trip south of the river to Crystal Palace.
Speaking after Saturday's narrow win, Allardyce said: "We've got a big
three-game week now and we've got three points to boost the confidence for
another difficult game on Tuesday, which will be Ipswich. "For me, it's to
assess what team to play. There's Matt Taylor with a slight calf problem
today [and] Joey O'Brien with a bit of a tight hamstring. Other than that I
don't see any problems. "Other members of the squad that weren't even on the
bench today are even more desperate and eager to get into the fray, so we'll
have a look at that situation and see whether we should be using the squad
and make one or two changes for Tuesday night."
That could mean a first start for Sam Baldock, John Carew and/or Papa Boupa
Diop - all of whom are yet to begin a game since moving to east London (Diop
is yet to play at all). Meanwhile James Tomkins could return to the starting
XI - although that would be harsh on Abdoulaye Faye, were he to be dropped,
following his man of the match performance against Peterborough.
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West Ham United v Ipswich Town - Match Preview
KUMb.com
Filed: Monday, 26th September 2011
By: Preview Percy
Preview Percy is back and, since Mavis The Tea lady discovered that the
overtime she put in over last week's preview was unpaid, we're lumbered with
his ramblings once more. As usual there's more sensible stuff from the much
better informed John Northcutt at the end so you might want to skip through
to that. We did....
Next we entertain Ipswich Town at the Boleyn in a Tuesday 7.45pm kick-off.
There's no planned engineering work so TFL will have to come up with some
other excuse for messing up your journey to and from E13.
It's been something of a mixed bag for the Tractor Boys thus far this
season. An opening day win away at Bristol City was promptly followed by a
home defeat (1-2) to Northampton in the League Cup and another home defeat
(0-1) to 'Ull. If that opening spell worried the Suffolk faithful that was
nothing to what was to follow over the next couple of weeks. At home against
Southampton they found themselves 3-0 down at half time. By the hour they'd
pulled two back but another two in the last 15 minutes saw them go down 5-2.
Still they could console themselves with the fact that Southampton had/have
been in decent form and that surely things would be much much better at
Peterborough in the nearest thing they have to an East Anglian derby since
Norwich's promotion last season. It didn't quite work out that way though.
Enjoying one of those days when everything that could go wrong did go wrong
in the most spectacular way possible, they had two sent off and went home on
the wrong end of a 7-1 drubbing. The ship (or tractor?) has been steadied a
bit since then and they've picked up seven out of the last twelve, with them
picking up a creditable and, reportedly, well deserved point up at Boro'
last weekend in a 0-0 draw. All of this has left them in 13th spot with 9
points from their 8 matches though that two match aberration left them with
a – 5 goal difference.
The boss is Paul Jewell. The Southampton and Peterborough matches weren't
the first times that the former Wigan & Derby boss has been on the end of a
spanking. In fact, if the tabloids were to believed a few years back, Jewell
was in the habit of keeping personal video recordings of such events on a
regular basis. Jewell took over from Roy Keane in January of this year
having been out of work since 2008 when Derby sacked him for taking them
headlong into a relegation battle.
They have Fulham 'keeper David Stockdale in goal at the moment. Stockdale
first came to prominence at the start of the 2010/11 season when he was
preferred to Mark Schwarzer who was either injured or distracted by Arsenal
tapping him up at the time. Despite a transfer request Schwarzer stayed put
and took over from Stockdale once more when "fit" again once the window had
shut. Nevertheless Stockdale's form has seen him gain international
recognition, if not actual caps, from Fabio Capello who has named him in a
few squads in recent months.
There's a couple of ex-Hammers (to varying degrees) in the midfield. Lee
Bowyer had two spells at the Bolwyn, neither of which were particularly
distinguished. Bowyer's list of indiscretions, both on and off the pitch
would require a hard drive so large the power drain would probably dim the
lights permanently here at the home for the bewildered – which actually
might not be a bad thing at meal times. Last season he upset Arsene Wenger
by stamping on Bachary Sagna. The three match ban that Bowyer received once
the tv footage had been reviewed somehow gained more publicity than the
miracle cure that the incident brought about to Wenger's eyesight. Despite
talk of a new contract from Birmingham, Bowyer left them on relegation and
turned up at Portman Road as a free agent in the summer.
The other ex-Hammer, Jimmy Bullard, also arrived in Summer, having had his
contract terminated by Hull City after alleged goings on following a
pre-season trip to Slovenia. Whatever it was that Bullard did it was clear
that Hull wanted shot of him anyway, having signed the player on a long term
deal based on Premiership status. So when the player gave them the excuse to
tear up his contract with no comebacks, it was an chance the Hull management
gleefully accepted with both hands, getting rid of an out of favour player
and, more importantly, reducing the wage bill by a hugely significant
amount. Bullard spent three months on loan at Ipswich last season, doing
well enough to earn "Player of the Season" plaudits from Supporters' groups.
So it was no surprise that, unemcumbered by transfer fee requirements,
Jewell re-signed the midfielder as a free agent once Hull had wielded the
axe.
Up front they have been starting with Michael Chopra, who came in for a
reported £1.5m after two fairly decent years with Cardiff. Chopra started
his career with Newcastle where he never quite made it. Over the past 11
years he's had 7 different clubs (including loan spells). Newcastle-born,
Chopra was the first player of Indian parentage to play in the Premier
League. Despite representing England at all age levels up to U21 level,
talks were held regarding the player representing India at full level.
Although qualified to do so in football terms, Indian citizenship rules
prohibit the holding of dual nationality and so an Indian passport, which
would apparently be required for him to play, is not going to be forthcoming
any day soon.
From India we fly, naturally enough, to Scotland by way of Trinidad &
Tobago. Chopra's strike partner of late has been Jason Scotland (see it does
make some sort of sense). Scotland started his career in T&T with San Juan
Jaboleth. I have no idea what a Jaboleth is either before you ask. Scotland
is said to have picked up a knock but is thought to be fit enough to start
this one.
What of us? Well since I've spent the last couple of matches on my Saga tour
of rich widows I'm not exactly au fait with the way the team has been
performing of late. I understand that Carlton Cold had a Cole or something
(this hearing aid isn't what it used to be) and that Joey O'Brien and Matt
Taylor both have injury problems. Guy Demel has slotted right into the West
Ham way by picking up a hamstring injury before his first win bonus. James
Tomkins has recovered from the strain picked up at Dale Farm, sorry the New
Den and is therefore backing contention to start, though the boss here
reckons Faye had a decent ninety in the otherwise forgettable win against
Peterborough last weekend. Given that there are a number of players busting
to make the squad (a situation not helped by the daft 5 man bench
restriction) it's possible that we might see more of those who are champing
at the bit. It would certainly be interesting to see Baldrick alongside Cole
(or Carew if the Lemsip doesn't work) but that sort of line-up doesn't seem
to be uppermost in Mr Allardyce's list of things to do at the moment.
Prediction? Well as you know I'm usually wrong so I don't really know why
you keep asking. But since you did, we seem to have developed the knack of
picking up points despite not convincing. I'm sure for all our sakes all
concerned would like to start making things a bit easier for ourselves
though. We've had some cracking nights against this lot over the years –
some memorable play-off semi finals spring to mind – so with a new boy or
two bursting to impress I'll take us to win this one. They're not exactly
prolific up front so let's go 2-0 this time.
Enjoy the game!
When Last We Met: A marvellous night under the lights in May 2005 at Portman
Road as Zamora, assisted by Harewood sent us home 2-0 winners, (4-2 on
aggregate) aided by brilliant away support buoyed by the Ipswich announcer
getting us all rocking with a half-time airing for "A Town Called Malice".
Danger Man: Lee Bowyer – should he score it wouldn't be the first time.
Referee: Keith Stroud – must have upset someone at PGMO HQ as they went out
of their way to break their own rules to demote him from the Select Group a
few years back. Despite his reinstatement once someone pointed out that
Hackett's knowledge of his own organisations regulations was on a par with
his grasp of the laws of the game, it appears that Stroud's face didn't fit
and he's barely appeared at the top level in three years.
Daft Fact Of The Week: For many years the Portman Road groundstaff used to
regularly win awards for "Best Pitch In The League" or some such. Of course
they had a head start up there since the world's first commercially marketed
petrol-powered lawnmower was made by Ransomes of Ipswich in 1902. The first
recorded excuse for not doing the back garden was noted in the town
chronicles in the summer of that year as Mr A.J.W. Orford-Ness remarked to
his good lady wife that, despite her concerns at the height of the grass,
and the disappearance of their son Nigel somewhere therein, he was somewhat
concerned as to the effect on the local environment of such machines and
that he would definitely get round to it as soon as Mr Ransome had invented
an electric one.
Stat man John: Northcutt's corner
Sending Off
Keith Robson in the match on 27th December 1975 at Upton Park
They Played For Both
Lee Chapman, Mark Noble, Craig Forrest, Kieran Dyer Phil Parkes, Andy
Nelson, Stuart Slater, Steve Bywater Paul Goddard, Steve Whitton, Lee Bowyer
Richard Wright Marlon Harewood, Matt Holland, Kevin Horlock
John Lyall had spells at both clubs as manager with the Hammers from 1974
until 1989 and at Ipswich from 1990 until 1994
Friendlies Away
Aug 1986 0-2
Aug 1992 1-1 Dicks
Aug 1998 2-2 Hudson Garcia
Aug 2008 5-3 Ashton 3 Bellamy Noble
Jul 2010 1-1 Cole
Home Testimonials
Aug 1990 Phil Parkes 1-1 Quinn
May 1992 Ray Stewart 1-2
Apr 1995 George Parris 2-3 McAvennie Parris
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West Ham v Ipswich preview
Last updated: 26th September 2011
SSN
Team news ahead of Tuesday evening's Championship clash between West Ham and
Ipswich at Upton Park. West Ham have injury worries over Joey O'Brien and
Matt Taylor ahead of the clash. O'Brien is struggling with a tight hamstring
and Taylor came off during Saturday's 1-0 win over Peterborough with a calf
problem.
With Ivory Coast defender Guy Demel still doubtful with a hamstring injury,
winger Julien Faubert could fill in for O'Brien at right-back. That would
give Tottenham loanee David Bentley a chance to make his full debut on the
right wing, while Jack Collison is an option on the left if Taylor is ruled
out. Defender James Tomkins shrugged off a groin problem to appear as a late
sub on Saturday, but winger Gary O'Neil is still missing with an ankle
injury and striker Frederic Piquionne is suspended.
Jason Scotland is expected to shrug off a knock to be fit for Ipswich. The
striker was accidentally stamped on in what was an innocuous clash towards
the end of Saturday's goalless draw at Middlesbrough, leading to his
85th-minute withdrawal. Having received treatment on Saturday evening and
Sunday, Scotland is set to be in contention at Upton Park. Ibrahima Sonko
started at the Riverside having made a speedy recovery from his knee
ligament strain and the Senegalese centre-back should again feature.
Midfielder Mark Kennedy is likely to miss out once more, though, due to the
setback in his recovery from a calf problem. In any case, it is unlikely
manager Paul Jewell will make any changes having seen his side pick up four
points from their last two games, with the same XI set to start for the
third match in succession.
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Bentley's promotion goal
Loan star out to secure return to Premier League
By Pete O'Rourke - Follow me: @skysportspeteo. Last Updated:
September 26, 2011 3:50pm
SSN
David Bentley admits it is his goal this season to help West Ham win
promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking. England
international Bentley joined the Hammers on loan from Tottenham on transfer
deadline day after finding himself out of favour at White Hart Lane. Bentley
has made three substitute appearances since his arrival in East London and
he is determined to help fire the Upton Park club back to the top flight
this term. "We have got to be confident, we are the big team in the league,"
Bentley told Sky Sports News.
Good players
"We have got good players with a lot of ability and we are looking to get
promoted and automatic promotion is our goal. "As long as we stay
professional, fit and ready, I think we will be alright. "I have set myself
a goal and this is going to be hard work and it will be an achievement if we
can get West Ham back up in the Premier League and that's what my goal this
season is to do. "Everyone's goal is to play in the Premier League, at the
highest level, the Champions League and for England as well, and I have come
here and this is my goal this season and that's what I will be looking to
do."
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Big Sam eyes England chance
Hammers boss aware he needs to win promotion to the Premier League
Last Updated: September 26, 2011 8:47am
SSN
Sam Allardyce is hoping to be in the frame to be England coach by leading
West Ham United back into the Premier League. Current England boss Fabio
Capello is standing down after next summer's European Championship and
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is the red-hot favourite to replace the
Italian. However, Allardyce is also keen to be considered for the position
after being in contention for the job in 2006 when Sven Goran Eriksson left
to eventually be replaced by Steve McClaren. Allardyce took charge at West
Ham in the summer following the club's relegation from the top flight and
has guided his team into fourth spot in the table after Saturday's 1-0 win
over Peterborough United. He accepts he must take the Hammers back into the
Premier League to have a chance of landing the England post after again
outlining his determination to manage his country.
Opportunity
"I'd walk over burning coals to get the England job," said Allardyce. "I am
an Englishman and I want to have an opportunity like I did last time to be
in the frame. The only way I can get there is by making this club great or
as good as I can make it. "And if the England job comes around and I am on
top of my game as a manager because West Ham are on top of their results
then my name might be put in the frame. "Last time around I was probably
enjoying the best time of my life as a manager with Bolton. "That's why I
was in the frame then. If West Ham are flying high in the Premier League,
hopefully I'll be considered again. It would take West Ham being promoted."
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Big Sam ponders rotation ahead of three-game week
Published 22:00 26/09/11 By Ann Gripper and Dave Allard
The Mirror
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce fears he does not yet know his players well
enough to judge if he should change his winning team. The fourth-placed
Irons saw off Peterborough on Saturday and host Ipswich on Tuesday night.
The Hammers will then have a third game in eight days when they travel to
Crystal Palace on Saturday.
But with his side unbeaten since the opening day of the season, Big Sam is
reluctant to shake things up too much. He said: "At the moment it is
difficult to change a winning side. Using your squad in a three-game week
might be the way forward. "My anxiety is that I am still learning about all
the players I have. "Sometimes when you are two or three years in, it
doesn't take a lot of thinking because you know your players inside out.
"You know that a certain player is not good at two games in a three-game
week because you know from ProZone his recovery time isn't as quick. "At the
moment I am not quite au fait with everybody's physical condition, but I am
learning every week."
Matt Taylor and Joey O'Brien emerged from Saturday's games with a calf and
hamstring issue respectively. And one player hoping Allardyce rotates his
squad a little is striker Sam Baldock, who has so far made one substitute
appearance since signing from MK Dons in August. The 22-year-old likes
playing with a big man - and with Carlton Cole, Carew and the suspended
Frederic Piquionne as potential strike partners, Baldock is hungry to take
his chance. He said: "It's exciting times ahead. I think they complement my
game and I complement their game. We've all got stuff to offer each other.
"I'm looking to get in the team a little more regularly. I feel ready.
"I'm always looking to start. I've come from playing games regularly so I'm
hoping to continue that trend. "The team's doing well in the formation it is
playing and as long as they get the win I'll be happy. But I've not really
come here to warm the bench. "I've backed my own confidence and my own
ability to get into what I consider a Premier League club."
Meanwhile Paul Jewell has fired an attacking warning to his good pal Sam
Allardyce. The Ipswich boss takes his improving side to Allardyce's West Ham
on Tuesday night and says: "We're better on the front foot. We're a better
team going forward." He added: "We're not so good at soaking up pressure.
We are better getting onto that front foot and upfield." Ipswich showed
their "front foot" style in getting a 0-0 draw at high riding Middlesbrough
on Saturday. Jewell continued: "We want to make oppositions as edgy as
possible. At Middlesbrough we did well, very well, and had the better
chances to win the game."
Tonight at Upton Park, Jewell comes up against another seasoned and much
travelled boss in Allardyce. "We go back a long way. When I was at Bradford
and he at Notts County we were two young managers who used to be on the
phone every other day almost." He went on: "We've always been good friends
and there is no doubt that West Ham are a big, big club with a big, big
manager." The Portman Road chief went on: "Arguably they are the best team
in the Championship." Most manager's in the division are envious of the big
backroom staff that Allardyce has built around him. Jewell quipped: "Sam
needs a grandstand for his staff, never mind a dug-out."
Ipswich star Carlos Edwards is facing a possible prison sentence after being
charged with driving while disqualified.
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David Bentley's in the running to show his starting value
Ken Dyer
26 Sep 2011
Evening Standard
David Bentley could make his first start for West Ham tomorrow as Sam
Allardyce tinkers with his team for the visit of Ipswich. The on loan
Tottenham midfielder impressed when coming on as a substitute at Millwall
and again in Saturday's 1-0 win over Peterborough and could replace Matt
Taylor, who has a calf problem.
Midfielder Papa Bouba Diop could also feature for West Ham, who have lost
just once in the Championship. Boss Allardyce said: "A three-game week is
obviously an opportunity to look at other players."
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