Sunday, November 20

Daily WHUFC News - 20th November 2011

Big Sam hails Coventry comeback
WHUFC.com
The manager said the huge West Ham United following was a big factor in
another away win
19.11.2011

Sam Allardyce had high praise for the "outstanding support" that contributed
fully to the Hammers coming from behind to win 2-1 at Coventry City. The
Hammers had around 6,500 fans cheering them on at the Ricoh Arena, but the
first half was one of disappointment as Clive Platt put the home side in
front. Big Sam changed things around at half-time, bringing on Carlton Cole
and he was to restore parity. Frederic Piquionne was the next to be
introduced and he forced the winner off his knee to seal a memorable
comeback. "It is a satisfying afternoon," the manager said. "It is a great
result to come back having gone a goal down at half-time. It is the first
time we have shown this type of character. "We were disappointed in our
performance in the first half but we did something about it. Me by changing
the system [from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2] and the players by performing better. They
exerted pressure on Coventry which ended up paying off for us."

That makes it four wins and a draw from the last five matches, and the
margin of victory could have been greater had Jack Collison not skied an
open goal in added time. "I don't know how Jack missed that," the manager
added with a smile. He was quick to praise the contribution of the
travelling fans at every turn in his post-match analysis. "The win gave the
outstanding supporters something to cheer. It was even better for us to
score both goals at their end. They made a real atmosphere for us today and
the lads knew they didn't want to let the fans down or themselves down.
"They have come storming through, shown their quality and demonstrated why
we are in the position we are in."

The manager admitted it looked a long way from being a day of celebration
after the first 45 minutes when Coventry held the advantage. "I thought
Coventry were very good in the first half particularly and the lads didn't
really perform as well as we know they can in that period in terms of
possession. "Defensively we were OK but Coventry were dominating the ball
most of the time. They scored a very good goal indeed. "We changed it around
at half-time. We changed the system and I think once we put Frederic
Piquionne and Carlton Cole on, the game changed in our favour. "We started
to create more and more and I thought it was only a matter of time before
scored. In the end we carried on creating chances. It was a satisfying 45
minutes and was because I have such a strong squad - not in numbers but in
terms of quality. We had talented players to come on and change the game in
our favour. "

While the manager jokily called himself a "master tactician" for introducing
Cole, he was serious when acknowledging the form of his No9, having also
seen him change the game at Hull City a fortnight ago. "Certainly with these
performances he is warranting the starting position again," he admitted. "It
was a really good and happy dressing room. It is another three points
towards our target. For only the second time we are where we want to be, 17
points from 34 games is two points a game. That gets you automatic
promotion. "We are right on the brink of our busiest period, no more
international breaks and the games will come thick and fast. Having the
squad fit again and having this result means that last two-week break came
at the right time. More of our injured players are getting fit and that
should hopefully stand us in good stead going into a more ferocious fixture
list."

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Fanimo double boosts U18s
WHUFC.com
The Academy side ended a run of four defeats with an excellent home win
against London rivals Palace
19.11.2011

West Ham United Under-18s 3-0 Crystal Palace Under-18s

A Matthias Fanimo double either side of another Elliot Lee goal ensured a
return to winning ways for the young Hammers on Saturday. The U18s had lost
their four previous fixtures but were always in control at Little Heath.The
team were lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with Fanimo fresh from England U18
duty. Fanimo broke the deadlock with a superb solo effort on 25 minutes. He
drove at the Palace defence before unleashing an unstoppable 25-yard shot
into the corner of the goal. It was to stay that way until the 55th minute
when Fanimo again got free. He played in the overlapping Frazer Shaw, who
did well to pick out Lee in the middle of the goal for a neat second. Fanimo
then wrapped up the win in the 80th minute by bursting into the penalty area
and shooting underneath the body of the Palace keeper. U18s coach Nick
Haycock was understandably delighted to see his young side pick up the
points, especially with Danny Potts again on first-team duty and Rob Hall
going out on loan against Oxford United. Speaking to whufc.com, Haycock
said: "It was a good all-round performance. We got the lead and at half-time
we said to the lads it was about concentration and digging in to keep on top
of the game. They had a good work ethic and the chances came. "Once we got
the second we went to two banks of four and asked Crystal Palace to break us
down. We stood firm and were looking to hit them on the break which we did
with the third goal to make sure of a good victory."

Haycock said he had challenged the team in the build-up to the game to put
another good run together to match the one that had lit up the first part of
the season.
"Starting with this one, we have games against top sides in the next five
matches with the FA Youth Cup against Wolves in the middle. We want them to
approach it in a positive way and let's see if one or two of them can catch
the eye. "We want them to raise their game individually so that it can
benefit the team as a whole."

The U18s are next in action on Saturday 3 December when they go to Arsenal,
just before the big date with Wolves at Molineux on Wednesday 7 December.

West Ham United: Larkins, Young, Chambers, K Lee, Turgott, Powell, Miles
(Nasha 70), Fanimo, T Tombides (Sadlier 70), E Lee
Sub not used: Hurley

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Coventry 1 - 2 West Ham
Page last updated at 17:43 GMT, Saturday, 19 November 2011
BBC.co.uk

West Ham staged a second-half fightback to beat Coventry and remain second
in the Championship. Coventry took the lead when Cyrus Christie fired in a
low cross from the right which Clive Platt controlled before scoring from
inside the area. Carlton Cole equalised for the Hammers when he tucked home
from 12 yards after collecting Robert Green's long punt. And 15 minutes from
time, Frederic Piquionne connected with Julien Faubert's cross to score the
winner. West Ham were backed by more than 6,300 travelling supporters -
their largest following since 2004. West Ham's victory kept the pressure up
on leaders Southampton, who won 3-0 at home to Brighton. Meanwhile, the
misery continues for the Sky Blues, who are second bottom of the table and
remain six points from safety. City went close to doubling their lead when
Platt missed with a header before Gary McSheffrey was denied by heroic
Hammers defending. Lukas Jutkiewicz then saw his fantastic long-range effort
parried away by Green, before the Hammers turned the game on its head. City
also had chances to equalise late in the game, with Platt heading wide
before Conor Thomas and Sammy Clingan both had efforts blocked by Hammers
midfielder Kevin Nolan. West Ham should have made certain of victory in
added time but Jack Collison fired over from six yards with the goal at his
mercy.

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Coventry City 1 West Ham Utd 2
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 19th November 2011
By: Staff Writer

Two goals in the space of seven second half minutes saw West Ham grab a
vital win in the race for promotion at the Rocoh Arena this afternoon. Half
time substitute Carlton Cole and fellow striker Freddie Piquionne - with a
strong contender for comedy goal of the season - saw Sam Allardyce's side
grab a sixth away win of the season, despite having been a goal behind at
the break. Although far from a vintage performance, West Ham had just about
enough in their tank to dispose of a gutsy, yet ultimately short-of-quality
Coventry side. However it was a far different affair at the half-way stage
when the hosts led courtesy of an opportunistic 33rd minute effort by Clive
Platt. The veteran striker was allowed to turn and shoot inside the box
after being fed from the right by full back Christie to score the only goal
of a fairly bitty half, in which neither side managed to take a stranglehold
on the game. In recent weeks Sam Allardyce has had to earn his money at half
time on more than one occasion - and so it proved again today. Having
failed to produce a single shot on target during the opening 45 minutes a
blast from the boss was the least his side deserved - and once again it
worked as his side turned a deficit into three highly valuable points.
Carlton Cole, on as a half time replacement for the disappointing John Carew
put West Ham back on level terms with 21 minutes of normal time remaining.
Rob Green's long ball over the top of Coventry's retreating defence found
Cole, who latched on to the through/long ball before firing past Murphy.
With West Ham's 6,000+ travelling support in full voice the Hammers pressed
on for the goal that would turn one point into three - and they had to wait
just seven minutes for it to arrive. Julien Faubert's deep cross was meant
for the advancing Piquionne, but it was a yard too quick for the aging
Frenchman who stumbled over in front of the far post as he leant forward in
an attempt to make contact with the delivery.

At that point the ball cannoned off the shin of Piquionne's marker, rolled
back towards the centre of goal before hitting the prone striker on the
shoulder and rolling over the line much to the surprise and delight of
Piquionne - and despair of 'keeper Joe Murphy, who had no chance of
preventing what amounted to a quite ridiculous goal. Ridiculous or
otherwise, Piquionne's goal was enough to secure the win for West Ham and
keep them in second place in the Championship, albeit still five points
behind the seemingly-unstoppable Southampton who kept up their 100 per cent
home record with a 3-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at St Mary's.

Next up for West Ham is the visit of Derby County for next Saturday's early
evening kick-off at the Boleyn.

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Hammers hit back to beat Cov
Last updated: 19th November 2011
SSN

West Ham staged a second-half comeback to beat struggling Coventry 2-1 in a
thrilling Championship clash at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday. The
promotion-chasing Hammers, backed by over 6,300 travelling supporters -
their largest following since 2004 - were seriously tested in an
entertaining, albeit occasionally niggly, encounter which was much closer
than the second-tier table would have suggested. City, second-bottom with
only two wins to their name all season, took a deserved lead into half-time
courtesy of Clive Platt's well-taken turn and finish. Carlton Cole stepped
off the bench at the break and, much to the relief of the packed away end,
duly pulled the Hammers level in the 69th minute having latched on to Robert
Green'slong kick. And Frederic Piquionne ensured West Ham kept up the
pressure on leaders Southamptonwhen he somehow converted Julien Faubert's
cross just six minutes later to cap an improved second-half display. Jack
Collison lodged his contender for miss of the season in injury time but it
mattered little as West Ham took all three points. Sam Allardyce named an
unchanged Hammers XI from the side who won 2-0 at Hull prior to the
international break.

Fit-again Coventry duo Martin Cranie and Chris Hussey returned to Coventry's
starting line-up along with rookie midfielder Gael Bigirimana, upon
completion of his three-match suspension, and the recalled Platt. The hosts
showed no signs of intimidation inside the opening exchanges, with both
sides contributing towards a free-flowing encounter played at pace. In fact,
it was Coventry who dominated possession in the first quarter and they went
on to deservedly break the deadlock in the 33rd minute, full-back Cyrus
Christie sending in a low cross from the right which Platt did well to
control, turn on and fire home from 12 yards.

City went close to doubling their lead through Platt's header before Gary
McSheffrey was denied by some last-ditch Hammers defending as he launched
himself at the ball, with the hosts given a standing ovation by their
supporters at the interval. Allardyce turned to Cole at half-time and the
substitute entered proceedings with the tempo of the encounter continuing
where it had left off. McSheffrey and Lukas Jutkiewicz tried their luck from
distance for the Sky Blues, the latter being denied by a super parried save
from Green. The outcome was anything but certain as the game continued to
flow from end to end, with the Hammers starting to take a hold.
And it was they who drew level in the 69th minute through Cole, who latched
on to Green's long kick upfield, shrugged off the attention of Richard Keogh
and fired past Joe Murphy. The turnaround was soon complete as Faubert sent
over a cross from the right and Piquionne, somehow, connected with the ball
at the back post and beat Murphy. Coventry rallied in search of an
equaliser, Platt heading wide before Conor Thomas and Sammy Clingan both saw
efforts blocked by Kevin Nolan.
Collison was then presented with the simplest of chances to wrap matters up
in added time but he could only fire over from six yards, although it proved
inconsequential.

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Allardyce - We're on course
Hammers boss happy; City chief credits players
Last Updated: November 19, 2011 7:12pm
SSN

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce believes the Hammers are on target for an
automatic promotion spot after their win at Coventry. Allardyce could point
to his double substitution as a turning point in the win, after City, the
better team in the first-half, took a deserved lead through a Clive Platt
strike. However, Allardyce sent on reinforcements in the shape of Carlton
Cole and Freddie Piquionne who scored a goal apiece. Allardyce said: "We
changed it round at half time and I told the players that they were
attacking the end where we had 6,500 fans who had travelled all the way to
support us and we'd not played well enough to get them behind us. "We
changed the system and once we got Freddie Piquionne and Carlton Cole on, it
was then that the game changed in our favour. For me, it was only a matter
of time before we started to score goals. "I can call myself the master
tactician! It's another valuable three points towards our target and for
only the second time we are exactly where we want to be which is 34 points
after 17 games. "Two points a game is going to get you automatic promotion
and we are right on the brink of our busiest period with no more
international breaks and we are getting the squad fit again."

Disappointed

Meanwhile Sky Blues boss Andy Thorn was disappointed with how they conceded
the two goals, particularly the second which was helped by a huge
deflection.
"I thought we acquitted ourselves really well, played some really good
stuff. I thought everybody was a credit," he said. "The first goal we felt
was a foul on Keogh but we didn't get much all afternoon so that I didn't
expect to get that. The second goal we should deal with but it came from a
ricochet and that's our luck at the moment. "When you are bringing Carlton
Cole and Piquionne off the bench, it gives you a good armoury but I can't
fault my players because I thought we stuck to our principles, mixed it up
and played some good stuff but it wasn't to be. "I am sure the neutral would
say we deserved something from the game. People who aren't here will see
another defeat but we are trying to play the right way and we have to keep
going and the big man upstairs has got to give me an ace some time soon."

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Coventry 1-2 West Ham: Sunday Mirror match report
Published 21:50 19/11/11 By Ian Edwards

Coldplay sold 40,000 tickets in five minutes for their concert at the Ricoh
Arena, and Sam Allardyce is taking West Ham back to the Premier League at
the speed of sound. The West Ham boss went through a bad dose of the shivers
and was in trouble with 20 minutes to go as Clive Platt's second goal in as
many games threatened to put a spanner in their promotion bid. But a rush of
blood to the head of Coventry defender Cyrus Christie capped off the
fortunate turnaround by Allardyce's away day specialists as they racked up
win number six on the road to keep within touching distance of leaders
Southampton. Christie's clanger was a real horror show as he headed Julian
Faubert's tame cross back inside his six-yard box at the far post and the
comedy of errors did not end there to push Coventry closer the Championship
trap door. His error was compounded by the worst goal Frederic Piquionne
will ever score to end his 10 months without scoring as the striker lost his
footing and fell headlong into the six-yard box for the loose ball to bounce
on his head and give West Ham a lead they barely deserved. That was the
Hammers' second goal in six minutes which turned the game on its head to the
relief of Allardyce – who had Carlton Cole to thank for getting a foothold
back in the game. Cole made his third sub appearance in as many games, as a
half-time replacement for the woeful John Carew and his fifth goal of the
campaign turned the tide and if playing poorly and winning is a sign of a
promotion side, West Ham are racing certs for the Premier League next
season. He was involved in a struggle with Richard Keogh before racing clear
down the left, before cutting into the box and firing a low shot which
deflected off Martin Cranie and wrong-footed Murphy.

Coventry boss Andy Thorn, has presided over Coventry's worst start to a
season for 11 years, but he had every right to feel hard done by. He took
the gamble to give Platt a starting place after his goal from the sub's
bench against Southampton in their previous outing and it paid off. Platt
pounced to drill a low shot past Rob Green, after Gary McSheffrey had
allowed Cyrus Christie's cross through his legs at the near post,but it was
not enough to prevent a sixth game without a win.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
llardyce purrs at tactical mastery
Coventry City 1 West Ham United 2
DAVID INSTONE RICOH ARENA SUNDAY 20 NOVEMBER 2011
The Independent

How ironic, considering the madcap suggestion about substitutions from
Coventry City's corridors of power this week, that Sam Allardyce should
demonstrate why such matters are best left to the professionals.

Leonard Brody, a Canadian businessman departed Coventry's board by proposing
that supporters be allowed to vote by text on who managers should withdraw.
West Ham will happily leave the decision-making to Allardyce after two of
the men he sent on, Carlton Cole and Frédéric Piquionne, brought this sixth
away win.

The goals gave the Hammers an even firmer grip on the Championship's second
place and left the manager smiling: "I can call myself a master tactician.
You earn your money by turning a game round through spotting what's wrong
and I changed the system by matching Coventry up in midfield. I reminded the
players we were attacking the end where we had 6,500 fans. Fortunately, I
had very talented players to send on."

Cole, still being eased back after injury, can expect a full recall after
this telling 45-minute contribution. Luck was on his side as he emerged
unpunished from a borderline tangle with Richard Keogh from Robert Green's
long kick and scored with a left-foot shot.

Six minutes after West Ham's 2,000th away League goal, Coventry's
susceptibility to implode was underlined. Julien Faubert's long diagonal
centre was comically headed against the falling Piquionne by Cyrus Christie
and the ball bounced in off the forward's thigh.

Coventry edged a dull first half, and seized a 38th minute lead when Clive
Platt exposed Abdoulaye Faye's poor marking.

Coventry (4-1-2-1-2): Murphy; Christie (Wood, 80), Keogh, Cranie, Hussey;
Clingan; Thomas, Bigirimana; McSheffrey (Baker, 75); Jutkiewicz, Platt.

West Ham (4-5-1): Green; Faubert, Faye, Tomkins, McCartney; Collison, Noble,
Diop (Piquionne, 62), Nolan, Baldock (O'Brien, 80); Carew (Cole, h-t).

Referee Keith Stroud.

Man of the match Noble (West Ham).

Match rating 6/10.

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Intoxicated Away Fans Being Processed
By Covsupport News Service
Updated Saturday, 19th November 2011
Coventry City RSS Feed

Police dealing with West Ham visit

Police have confirmed that a number of arrests were made before and after
Coventry City's 2-1 defeat to West Ham United. With West Ham selling out
their allocated 6,313 tickets and trouble the last time, The Hammers came to
the Ricoh Arena, West Midlands Police were out in numbers both on the
streets of Coventry and around the ground. Chief Inspecter Kerry Blakeman
tweeted "We dealt with a number of intoxicated away fans who are now in the
cells being processed." There are reports of one Coventry supporter being
assaulted after the game and one arrest arising from this

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WHY SHOULD WEST HAM 'SUDDENLY' SPARE LORD COE'S BLUSHES?
Date: 19th November 2011 at 7:28 pm | | Author: Christopher Dyer
Transfer Tavern

Over the last few weeks there have been a few barely noticeable, but
significant developments in the Olympic stadium saga.

Since the OPLC terminated their previous agreement with Newham Council and
West Ham, there has been a distinct shift in the language used by both
parties.

The government and the OPLC are obviously keeping tight lipped over the
nature of the tender documents, but haave released certain details so as to
ease the worries of the World Athletics Championships committee and smooth
the successful bid for the games in 2017.

The new fixed 99 year lease for athletics at the stadium has effectively
ruled out Tottenham and Leyton Orient as they never had any intention of
playing in a stadium with a running track, although don't be surprised if
the duplicitous Barry Herne pops up once the bidding process begins again.

This development that has given primacy to athletics is something that was
not in the original agreement and is a worrying glimpse into what West Ham
can expect from their possible future landlords.

Yet Karren Brady recently said in her Sun column that the club was looking
at temporary seats to bring the stands closer to the pitch and David
Sullivan tweeted a similar statement.

This would be similar to the arrangement Melbourne's Etihad Stadium has
developed. Someone had better tell Seb Coe, he's not going to be too happy
with that idea.

Boris Johnson stated that the intention now was for a 'multi-sport' stadium,
but aside from the occasional and sparsely supported athletics meeting,
which sports will want to take up this offer?

Essex County Cricket Club made tentative noises about playing some T20 games
at the Olympic Stadium and there could be the possibility the ground hosting
a double header of London rugby union teams that are sometimes held at
Wembley.

But no solid agreements have been made and none of this is in the best
interests of West Ham.

With this new emphasis the board should think long and hard about the
implications of what getting involved in such an arrangement would mean for
the future of the club.

Without their own ground they would be at the whim of the government of the
day, who is to say that a change of coalition or new London Mayor at some
point down the line would not result in the Hammers being out on their ear.

When the initial bid was in conjunction with Newham Council it felt a little
safer, but being under the government and the OPLC leaves an uneasy felling.

As it turns out Newham have their own plans for getting back in on the
action; the OPLC still expect them to contribute £40m to the cost of
re-structuring the stadium after the games, and as part of that deal they
want to have a say in how it's run with a place on the management board.

In an interview with talksport, David Sullivan hinted at a rethink on the
part of the West Ham board and he also raised the hopes of campaign group
WHU Views that a support vote on whether the club will continue their
interest in moving into the stadium could go ahead.

But he also stated that West Ham had to move at some point in the future,
ruling out many fans hopes of a redevelopment of the East stand, bringing
the capacity to a more realistic 45,000, but this could just be a move to
try and strengthen the club's position when and if negotiations begin.

His main reason for considering the Boleyn Ground an untenable option was
that it created a small-team mentality within the club.

Many fans would dispute this evaluation that the ground has held the club
back. If there has been a lack of ambition in the past it has come from the
board.

It could be argued that the old ground and the unique atmosphere created,
despite diminishing in intensity of late, has helped the team over the
years.

Coe's determination to continue his preening self-congratulatory world tour
has moved the goalposts but it is not West Ham's responsibility to save the
government's blushes by continuing the 'legacy' and prevent their project
from becoming a 'white elephant'.

But with the board determined to move grounds in the future, what are the
other options? The club cannot afford to finance the building of a
completely new stadium so they will probably continue full steam ahead with
their plans to bid for the Olympic Stadium once more.

With new details and revelations being made on an almost daily basis this
tedious saga is likely to rumble on and on.

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Coventry 1 West Ham 2: Hammers storm back to claim another victory and stay
in second place
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 6:28 PM on 19th November 2011
Daily Mail

West Ham staged a second-half comeback to avoid an upset at struggling
Coventry in a thrilling npower Championship clash at the Ricoh Arena. The
promotion-chasing Hammers, backed by over 6,300 travelling supporters -
their largest following since 2004 - were seriously tested in an
entertaining, albeit occasionally niggly, encounter which was much closer
than the second-tier table would have suggested. City, second-bottom with
only two wins to their name all season, took a deserved lead into half-time
courtesy of Clive Platt`s well-taken turn and finish. Carlton Cole stepped
off the bench at the break and, much to the relief of the packed away end,
duly pulled the Hammers level in the 69th minute having latched on to Robert
Green`s long kick. And Frederic Piquionne ensured West Ham kept up the
pressure on leaders Southampton when he somehow converted Julien Faubert`s
cross just six minutes later to cap an improved second-half display. Jack
Collison lodged his contender for miss of the season in injury time but it
mattered little as West Ham took all three points. Sam Allardyce named an
unchanged Hammers XI from the side who won 2-0 at Hull prior to the
international break. Fit-again Coventry duo Martin Cranie and Chris Hussey
returned to Coventry`s starting line-up along with rookie midfielder Gael
Bigirimana, upon completion of his three-match suspension, and the recalled
Platt. The hosts showed no signs of intimidation inside the opening
exchanges, with both sides contributing towards a free-flowing encounter
played at pace. In fact, it was Coventry who dominated possession in the
first quarter and they went on to deservedly break the deadlock in the 33rd
minute, full-back Cyrus Christie sending in a low cross from the right which
Platt did well to control, turn on and fire home from 12 yards. City went
close to doubling their lead through Platt`s header before Gary McSheffrey
was denied by some last-ditch Hammers defending as he launched himself at
the ball, with the hosts given a standing ovation by their supporters at the
interval.

Allardyce turned to Cole at half-time and the substitute entered proceedings
with the tempo of the encounter continuing where it had left off. McSheffrey
and Lukas Jutkiewicz tried their luck from distance for the Sky Blues, the
latter being denied by a super parried save from Green. The outcome was
anything but certain as the game continued to flow from end to end, with the
Hammers starting to take a hold. And it was they who drew level in the 69th
minute through Cole, who latched on to Green`s long kick upfield, shrugged
off the attention of Richard Keogh and fired past Joe Murphy. The turnaround
was soon complete as Faubert sent over a cross from the right and Piquionne,
somehow, connected with the ball at the back post and beat Murphy. Coventry
rallied in search of an equaliser, Platt heading wide before Conor Thomas
and Sammy Clingan both saw efforts blocked by Kevin Nolan. Collison was then
presented with the simplest of chances to wrap matters up in added time but
he could only fire over from six yards, although it proved inconsequential.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Saturday, November 19

Daily WHUFC News - 19th November 2011

Coventry City match preview
WHUFC.com
Team news and background information ahead of Saturday's trip to the Ricoh
Arena
18.11.2011

COVENTRY CITY v WEST HAM UNITED
npower CHAMPIONSHIP
SATURDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2011
KICK-OFF: 3PM
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV

Introduction
• West Ham United travel to Coventry City for their 17th npower Championship
fixture of 2011/12 seeking their sixth away league victory in nine attempts.
The Hammers have previously beaten Doncaster Rovers (1-0), Watford (4-0),
Nottingham Forest (4-1), Brighton & Hove Albion (1-0) and Hull City (2-0),
drawn with Millwall (0-0) and Crystal Palace (2-2) and lost at Southampton
(0-1).
• The Hammers know a victory over the Sky Blues would keep them second in
the table and could reduce the gap between themselves and leaders
Southampton to two points. The Saints host south coast rivals Brighton &
Hove Albion on the same day.
• Should the Hammers win at the Ricoh Stadium, they would surpass the number
of league wins (nine) achieved in the whole of the 2010/11 season and
surpass the eight recorded in 2009/10.
• West Ham United have a good recent record at Coventry City, having lost on
just two of their previous nine visits to take on the Sky Blues. The Hammers
have played just once previously at the Ricoh Arena, winning a League Cup
fourth-round tie 2-1 on 30 October 2007 through Carlton Cole's late goal.
• Coventry City go into the weekend 23rd in the npower Championship table
and four points adrift of safety. The Sky Blues have won just two of their
eight home matches played so far and were beaten 4-2 by Southampton at the
Ricoh Arena last time out.
• West Ham United have conceded just 13 league goals in 16 matches - the
second-best defensive record in the npower Championship behind Middlesbrough
(12). Coventry City have conceded 24 goals in 16 league games.

Team news
West Ham United
• West Ham United hope to welcome back Joey O'Brien after the Republic of
Ireland international missed the trip to Hull City with a tight hamstring.
• Midfielder Matt Taylor could also be available after missing the previous
four matches with an achilles problem.
• Guy Demel could be available to make his first-team debut after making his
second development squad appearance at Whyteleafe on Tuesday evening.
• Back-up goalkeeper Ruud Boffin is unlikely to be available due to a finger
injury, while Winston Reid is definitely sidelined with a dislocated
shoulder suffered in the visit of Bristol City on 1 November.
• On-loan Arsenal midfielder Henri Lansbury is continuing his rehabilitation
at Chadwell Heath as he recovers from a medial knee ligament injury.
• Gary O'Neil has stepped up his training this week as he edges closer to
returning to action following a long-term ankle injury.
• Development squad players Matt Fry, Sergio Sanchez and Paul McCallum were
all running again at Chadwell Heath this week. Seb Lletget has been with the
US U23 team.
• Pablo Barrera and Jordan Spence are on season-long loans at Real Zaragoza
and Bristol City respectively. Ahmed Abdulla (Swindon Town), Rob Hall
(Oxford United), Herita Ilunga (Doncaster Rovers), Callum McNaughton (AFC
Wimbledon), Cristian Montano (Dagenham & Redbridge) and Frank Nouble
(Gillingham) are all out on loan.
Coventry City
• Teenage Burundi-born midfielder Gael Bigirimana is set to return after
serving a three-match ban.
• Centre-back Martin Cranie is expected to return to the squad after
recovering from the rib injury that has ruled him out for six weeks.
• Sky Blues manager Andy Thorn is also hoping to have defenders Richard
Wood, James McPake and Chris Hussey available . Wood missed the home defeat
by Southampton on 5 November, while McPake was forced off with an injury in
the same fixture.

Last time out
Saturday 5 November 2011
npower Championship
Hull City 0-2 West Ham United
West Ham United: Green, McCartney, Tomkins, Faye, Faubert, Nolan, Collison,
Noble, Diop (Sears 83), Baldock (Piquionne 87), Carew (Cole 46)
Subs not used: Kurucz, Potts
Goals: Baldock 49, Collison 57
Saturday 5 November 2011
npower Championship
Coventry City 2-4 Southampton
Coventry City: Murphy, Keogh, McPake (Willis 64), Cameron, Christie,
Clingan, Deegan (Bell 46), Thomas, Jutkiewicz, McSheffrey, McDonald (Platt
67)
Subs not used: Dunn, Baker
Goals: Jutkiewicz 47, Platt 70

Last six meetings
30 October 2007 Coventry City 1-2 West Ham United (League Cup fourth round)
9 April 2005 West Ham United 3-0 Coventry City (Championship)
30 August 2004 Coventry City 2-1 West Ham United (Championship)
1 November 2003 West Ham United 2-0 Coventry City (Division One)
12 February 2003 Coventry City 1-1 West Ham United (Division One)
23 September 2000 Coventry City 3-0 West Ham United (Premier League)
Overall record v Coventry City (all competitions) W 42 D 24 L 26

Ten-year records
West Ham United
2010/11 Premier League 20th (relegated to Championship)
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
Coventry City
2010/11 Championship 18th
2009/10 Championship 19th
2008/09 Championship 17th
2007/08 Championship 21st
2006/07 Championship 17th
2005/06 Championship 8th
2004/05 Championship 19th
2003/04 Division One 12th
2002/03 Division One 20th
2001/02 Division One 11th

Referee
• Saturday's referee will be Keith Stroud.
• Stroud began his refereeing career in the Wessex League in 1988.
• In 2000, he was added to the Football League List of assistant referees,
running the line at the Division Three Play-Off final between Cheltenham
Town and Rushden & Diamonds at the Millennium Stadium two years later.
• Stroud returned to the Millennium Stadium in May 2003, when he ran the
line during Arsenal's FA Cup final victory over Southampton.
• Cheltenham were also involved when Stroud took charge of his first
Football League match as a referee in August 2004, when the Robins lost 2-0
at home to Scunthorpe United.
• In March 2007, the official was given his first Premier League appointment
for Manchester City's 2-0 win at Middlesbrough.
• The following season, 2007/08, Stroud was added to the Select Group of
referees on a full-time basis.
• Stroud will take charge of a West Ham United fixture for the second time
this season, having also been the man in the middle for the visit of Ipswich
Town on 27 September.

Us and them
• The following players have worn the colours of both West Ham United and
Coventry City during their careers - Jack Ball, Gary Breen, David Burrows,
Noel Cantwell (manager), Laurie Conwell, Calum Davenport, Alan Dickie, Alf
Fenwick, Bobby Gould, Tommy Green, Mike Grice, Robbie Keane, Tom Lee, Joe
Loughlin, Mike Marsh, Cyril Norrington, Graham Paddon, Stewart Robson, Les
Sealey, Danny Shone, Matthew Smailes, Elliott Ward and Steve Whitton.
• Coventry City and Wales striker Freddy Eastwood spent time with West Ham
United as a schoolboy and trainee before leaving and joining non-league
Grays Athletic in 2003.
• The first-ever meeting between West Ham United and Coventry City took
place at the Boleyn Ground on 21 November 1908. The Southern League First
Division fixture ended in a 2-0 win for the Hammers in front of 6,000 fans,
with the goals being scored by Jack Foster and Tom Randall.
• The first Football League meeting between West Ham United and Coventry
City took place in front of 15,000 supporters at Highfield Road on 6
December 1919. The match finished in a goalless draw.
• The largest crowd to witness a Coventry City versus West Ham United
fixture is the 34,568 who turned out for a League Cup semi-final first leg
at Highfield Road on 27 January 1981. The Sky Blues triumphed 3-2 on the
night, but the Hammers prevailed 4-3 on aggregate.
• West Ham United's biggest-ever win at Coventry City was the 3-0 Premier
League success achieved on 23 September 2000. Joe Cole, Paolo Di Canio and
Frank Lampard netted the Hammers' goals in front of a 21,020-strong crowd at
Highfield Road.
• Coventry City's biggest-ever home win over West Ham United was a 5-1
Division Two success at Highfield Road on 11 April 1950. Terry Woodgate
netted the Hammers' consolation goal in front of a crowd of 26,648.
• Fourteen players have made their West Ham United debuts against Coventry
City - Stephen Smith (December 1919), William Guest (October 1936), Rod
Williams (November 1937), Eddie Chapman (September 1948), Clive Charles
(March 1972), Everald La Ronde (April 1982), Joe Gallagher (December 1982),
Greg Chappell (September 1984), Stewart Robson (January 1987), Frank Lampard
(January 1996), Paulo Futre (August 1996), Javier Margas (August 1998), Adam
Newton (September 1999), Kaba Diawara (September 2000) and Brian Deane
(November 2003).

Up next
• West Ham United host Derby County at 5.20pm on Saturday 26 November.
Coventry City host Cardiff City on Tuesday 29 November, with kick-off at
7.45pm.

General information
• All standard tickets for this fixture are SOLD OUT. For details of how to
purchase disabled/ambulant tickets, click here.
• For directions to the Ricoh Arena, click here.
• Saturday's weather forecast is for light rain and a daytime high
temperature of 12C (54F).

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Downes backs old pal Thorn
WHUFC.com
Wally Downes is looking forward to seeing old Wimbledon team-mate Andy Thorn
on Saturday
18.11.2011

Wally Downes will come face-to-face with a familiar face when West Ham
United take on Coventry City on Saturday. The Hammers first-team coach
played alongside Sky Blues manager Andy Thorn for Wimbledon between 1984 and
1988, mentoring his young colleague and helping him to become an England
Under-21 international during his time at Plough Lane. Indeed, a broken leg
suffered by Downes allowed Thorn to make his Dons debut in the spring of
1985 and set him on the path to a career that saw him appear in two FA Cup
finals. "I played alongside Andy for a few seasons at Wimbledon," said
Downes. "He was a youngster coming through and he made his debut in my
position in the week after I broke my leg. "He was a centre-half who was not
blessed with pace, but he read the game very well. He was very astute and
always knew when to drop off or when to step up and play offside, which was
easier in those days. "He was a terrific fella in the dressing room, too."

While Downes moved into coaching with Crystal Palace immediately following
the end of his playing career in 1988, Thorn instead turned to scouting,
working as chief scout at Everton and Fulham before taking the same role at
Coventry in 2008. After three years in that role, the 45-year-old was
appointed as the club's caretaker manager in March 2011 before taking the
role permanently two months later. "I'm surprised it took him so long to
become a manager, because he was the chief scout at Everton and Fulham for a
few years and once he hadn't gone into management or coaching from the
get-go, I didn't think he'd ever want to do it," said Downes.
"He's gone into a difficult situation at Coventry where they have had to get
rid of their highest-earning players and he has had to work with a young
group of players.
"I'm sure that, with the inexperienced squad he has got, they are doing well
not to be detached at the bottom of the table."

Coventry have won just two of their opening 16 npower Championship fixtures
so far, but Downes believes his old pal can guide a young Sky Blues squad to
safety, providing he is given the time and resources to do so. "He has got
good knowledge of the game. What he needs is a little bit of backing to get
a couple more players in because, looking at the ages of the players who
featured in their last game, they are very inexperienced. "Having said that,
it is good to get the youngsters working for you and running for you. It's a
double-edged sword and a difficult first job for Andy, but he's making a
fist of it and the players are working for him." While Downes is naturally
keen for his former team-mate to do well, the first-team coach knows West
Ham need to secure all three points from places like the Ricoh Arena if they
are to harbour hopes of automatic promotion this term. "It's a must that we
continue our good away form at Coventry. We've got to win and keep on
winning. That's all we can do."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Guy glee at Coventry chance
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's matchday squad has been strengthened by the inclusion of
Guy Demel
18.11.2011

Guy Demel had the biggest smile at Chadwell Heath on Friday afternoon as he
left the training ground with the rest of the squad en route to Coventry
City. The Ivory Coast defender has endured a frustrating time since his
deadline-day move to the Hammers because of a troublesome hamstring injury.
He has used the time well, putting in the long hours in the gym and
treatment room as well as making sure his loved ones are settled in London.
"When you have such a hard time you need your family and friends," he said.
"It is never easy to be new somewhere and then to be injured, but I have
enough experience to handle the situation. "I try to take the positives. I
think my body is fit and the way I have worked with the medical staff has
made me stronger. "I want to play my part. It is not nice to stay outside
and watch the guys doing the job. I am here to play football. I enjoy myself
on the pitch so when I am not doing that I don't feel like a footballer. "

Demel's watching brief for the last ten weeks has meant he has sampled life
as a West Ham fan and he has relished the experience. "The atmosphere is
amazing and it is a stadium where the fans are pushing the team all the
time. It is nice to see as a defender how the fans react when you make a
good header or sliding tackle. I have never seen that anywhere else.
Normally it is the strikers who get that so it is nice to see the fans
behind the defenders. "Honestly, I think the team is playing much better
than the beginning of the season. It is normal because a lot of new players
came this summer. We have a lot of games and we have to keep working hard.
We can't forget our goal because the most important thing is to be at the
top at the end of the season. We need to stay cool and keep working."

Demel will add extra depth to the squad, with the former Borussia Dortmund
and Hamburger SV star able to play at centre-back or anywhere on the right
flank.
Used to playing regularly in the Bundesliga or at the highest level with his
country, he is determined to show what he can do. "The last couple of weeks
I have become really hungry to play. I hope I take my chance."

Although Demel will be travelling to the Midlands, having come through two
development squad games in the last fortnight, it remains to be seen if the
manager will change things after the 2-0 success at Hull City last time out.
Demel is expecting the good road run to continue. "The team are very good at
playing away so hopefully it will be a good result against Coventry, even if
is difficult to maintain momentum after an international break. We have a
lot of experience so we know how to deal with the situation and it is
important now to keep getting points. "We are moving into an important time
of the season and we need to get as many points as we can before then."

Off the pitch, Demel admitted he has not had time to sightsee around the
capital. "I am not here for that," he said. "I am here to play and I will
get time to do that in the future. I like living here in Essex, the people
are really nice to me. "We are really pleased to be here at West Ham and I
want to give that back. The only way is to give my best."

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Piq happy in the mix
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce has plenty of forward options but Frederic Piquionne is ready
when required
18.11.2011

Frederic Piquionne knows he has to bide his time but is ready and waiting to
do the business for the Hammers when called upon. The striker had to be
content with a place on the bench behind John Carew and Sam Baldock at Hull
City, while Carlton Cole came back with a bang with two assists in the 2-0
victory. Piquionne was also a late replacement at Hull and admitted he may
find himself out of the starting XI at Coventy City on Saturday. The
forward, speaking to West Ham TV while meeting schoolchildren at a community
event in Beckton, knows he has to be professional. "I try to do my best and
I prefer to play more but this is the manager's choice. That's why when I
come on I try to do my best. I have not scored yet [this season] but I need
to help the team win. "That is the most important thing. We have to keep
going and there are a lot of games. I hope when I get my chance i will take
it for the team. Coventry is a big game for us and we want to follow the win
against Hull."

Piquionne also added his praise to the 6,500 making the trip to the Ricoh
Arena this weekend. "The fans are coming with us everywhere we go. It is
very important. We have the help from them and it really helps us when
things are not so good in matches. After the game when we have won it is
great to thank them."

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Coventry v West Ham
Page last updated at 12:57 GMT, Friday, 18 November 2011
BBC.co.uk

Npower Championship
Venue: Ricoh Arena Date: Saturday, 19 November Kick-off: 1500 GMT Coverage:
Watch highlights on The Football League Show; listen on BBC Radio 5 live and
BBC local radio; text commentary on the BBC Sport website

TEAM NEWS
James McPake, Richard Wood, Chris Hussey and Martin Cranie could all return
for Coventry, while Gael Bigirimana has completed a ban. But striker Roy
O'Donovan (foot) is out and midfielder David Bell faces a fitness test.

West Ham duo Joey O'Brien and Guy Demel are available after recovering from
hamstring problem, while Matt Taylor (calf) also hopes to be passed fit. But
Winston Reid (shoulder) and winger Gary O'Neil (ankle) remain sidelined.

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head

• West Ham hold a 42-26 lead over Coventry from 92 competitive
meetings, but in league games on Coventry turf, they are all-square at 14
wins a piece, with 15 drawn.
• This is their first league meeting in seven seasons.
• Coventry have won only two of the last eight home league meetings
with the Hammers. During that time, they lost 3-0 in September 2000 when
this was a Premier League fixture.

Coventry City

• Derby and Nottingham Forest are the only clubs Coventry have beaten
in the Championship this season (both at home), and just goal difference is
keeping them off the foot of the table.
• Andy Thorn, who will have been at the helm 250 days when this game
is staged, has overseen the Sky Blues' worst start to a league season in 11
years.
• They are on the longest current winless sequence in the division of
five games (two points out of 15), and have the joint weakest attack in the
Football League, with 13 goals netted in 16 outings.

West Ham United

• West Ham are unbeaten in four, and have claimed 10 points of the
last 12 available.
• They head the Championship's "away" table, with five wins and 17
points, losing only to Southampton. (Coventry are bottom, with three
points.)
• They need to score once, to total 2,000 away league goals.

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Coventry City v West Ham United - Match Preview
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 18th November 2011
By: Preview Percy

The international break is over, which means Preview Percy is back. Sorry.
John Northcutt will be along later with some sensible stats...

After what seems like a lifetime, but is in fact only a couple of weeks we
are on the road for the second consecutive match as we make the slightly
easier journey up the M1/M6 to the Ricoh Arena where our hosts will be
Coventry City. 3pm on a Saturday two matches running. Excellent.

To those of us who can remember that far back, Coventry have always been the
ultimate in mid-table teams. They spent what seemed like a million years in
the top flight seemingly destined to spend the whole of their existence in
the middle third of the table with only the occasional flirtation with the
lower UEFA Cup places or relegation zone to enliven matters. Their 1987 FA
Cup win over some team based in N17 remains the high spot in their history,
notwithstanding honourable mention for the (in)famous Willie Carr/Ernie Hunt
"donkey" kick goal against Everton – I believe if you look hard enough on
that You Tube thing you should find it – but I can assume no responsibility
for whatever you find when you input the word "donkey".

They were finally relegated in 2001 after 34 years in the top division. The
match that sealed their fate was a 3-2 away defeat to Villa in a match that
they had been leading 2-0. Sound familiar?

Since relegation, in the second tier they have largely replicated their top
tier form, flirting with both the play-off and relegation places. It is in
the latter situation that they find themselves this season, sitting as they
are one off the bottom. They have 12 points from their 16 matches so far
this season, a record they share with bottom club Doncaster who they sit
above by virtue of a slightly better goal difference.

Of their last six they've won one (1-0 at home to Forest), drawn two (1-1 at
both Leeds and Doncaster) and lost 3 (2-1 at home to Burnley, 3-0 at
Millwall and 4-2 at home to Southampton). At home they have a 2-3-3 record
the other home win coming against Derby in September (2-0). The draws have
come against Watford (0-0), Reading (1-1) and Blackpool (2-2) whilst
Leicester (1-0), Burnley (2-1) and Southampton (4-2) have all gone back home
with three points.

The Sky Blues are currently managed by Andy Thorn, who won a Cup Winners
medal as part of the Wimbledon side that defeated a bleating Liverpool side
in 1988. His managerial CV isn't the lengthiest of documents, consisting as
it does of a spell as chief scout at Coventry, followed by a spell as
caretaker manager at Coventry followed by his being given the role proper at
Coventry the end of last season. Such is the nature of the game at the
moment it seems like managers are being dismissed for going in 1-0 down at
the interval and given that the odds on his dismissal have been shortening
with each defeat despite his having only been in the job for 6 months or so.

Some of the natives are less than happy with the current ownership and there
have been protests at the SISU group, who took over back in 2007. There have
been reports that the club has employed a "Rapid Response Team" to go in and
remove anti-SISU banners, some reports suggesting that the "snatch squad"
has used less than subtle tactics during protests.

Even as I write news reaches me that director Leonard Brody has just
resigned citing the time taken up by his other business interests as the
reason for his departure. However, with his resignation came the news that
he had put forward a proposal for City fans to be able to send in a (no
doubt premium rate) text message to vote for substitutions during the match,
an idea so bonkers one is amazed it didn't come from a Government Agency.
Meanwhile I suspect that Brody is currently dealing with his "other business
interests" in a nice, calm, padded room with a door that only opens from the
outside and I look forward to reports of opposition blunders being greeted
with chants of "he'll get a text in a minute" from the 6,000+ Hammers that
will be making the journey

The first choice glovesmith at present is Joe Murphy. Dubliner Murphy's
early career was spent a short ferry-hop from his home city over at Tranmere
where he gained a League Cup runners-up medal in the side that lost 2-1 to
Leicester in the 2000 final. In 2002, after 4 years in Birkenhead (which is
some punishment by any standards), Murphy went walkabout, firstly to West
Brom thence to Sunderland. Neither period was particularly successful for
the player, who ended up being farmed out by both clubs to Walsall. He then
signed for Scunthorpe in 2006 where he set roots, playing over 200 times for
the Iron, including the hilarious 2009 League 1 playoff final in which
Millwall were beaten 3-2. Murphy – another Crossbar Challenge winner – left
Glanford Park at the end of last season when Scunthorpe were relegated and
were unable to afford an improved contract and arrived at Coventry on a free
this summer.

In front of Murphy is fellow Irishman the Harlow-born Richard Keogh. Keogh
was ever-present in the league in 2010-11 following his move from Carlisle
in the summer of 2010 and picked up the players' player of the year award
from his teammates.

The skipper is Belfastman Sammy Clingan. Clingan's career includes spells at
Wolves, Forest, Norwich (where he was signed by a certain G Roeder) before
he arrived at Highfield Road (sorry old habits die hard) er, the Ricoh, in
the summer of 2009 for an undisclosed fee. As far as I am aware Clingan is
the first professional footballer to be named after an alien race in Star
Trek. I have, however, been unable to locate evidence of the player having a
walnut-shaped head, which in theory, would make headers a bit interesting.

Out on the left is Gary McSheffrey. McSheffrey has recently penned an
extension to his contract and is in his second spell with the club where he
started his professional career back in 1998. After a few loan spells he
left for Birmingham in 2006 but his later years there were plagued by a
persistent knee injury that also thwarted a loan spell at Forest. Out of
favour at Birmingham, McSheffrey spent the second half of 2009/10 on loan at
Leeds and was told that he could leave St Andrews on a free at the end of
the season. For some reason Leeds didn't take up their option to purchase –
something that appears to have irked the player - and he rejoined his
hometown club in the summer of 2010. Of the 90 or so goals that he has to
his name in the last 14 years or so over 60 of them have come while playing
for the Sky Blues which probably means something highly significant. His
current hobbies involve chauffeuring his brother about following a driving
ban for being twice over the limit and in possession of Class A substances
but I have no idea who his favourite X-Factor judge is.

Up front against Southampton they started with Southampton-born Lukas
Jutkiewicz. Look I only get a bag of Werthers Originals for writing this.
Pronunciation is therefore your own problem ok? LJ (as he is now known here)
actually started his career at St Marys in the youth side but failed to make
the transition to the professional ranks. For that he headed up to Swindon.
Five league goals in 38 league starts for the Wiltshire mob was enough to
persuade Everton that there might be a future for the player in the higher
leagues, though in his three years with the Toffeemen he was limited to just
the one senior appearance. Most of his time with Everton was spent on loan
with Huddersfield and Plymouth, scoring for neither. He had a slightly more
successful time of it up at Motherwell, scoring 12 in 33 up there including
a" Van Basten-like "effort in a 6-6 draw with Hibs. He joined Coventry on a
permanent deal in the summer of 2010 and has hit 12 in 58 league matches
since his move back from the third world. His goal against Boro' back in
August prompted the Teesiders to put in a cheeky bid for the player at the
end of the last window, a bid that was rejected out of hand. Internationally
he qualifies for Poland, Ireland (doesn't everyone?) and England though he
is uncapped by any of the three countries. My money would be on the Poles –
but only because they're the ones most likely to get his name right on the
call-up letter.

One player we are most unlikely to see this weekend is former Hammers
academy striker Freddy Eastwood. The forward has been followed by murmurings
of an "attitude problem" throughout his career going back even as far as his
days working under Tony Carr. This didn't stop him turning out in Carr's
testimonial last year though. He appears to be well out of favour at
Coventry at the moment and the Sky Blues have been trying to offload him on
loan, with the player recently turning down a move to Plymouth. He is the
only player I can think of with a conviction for fly-tipping, though I
expect that's just because John Terry hasn't been caught yet. (Legal note:
this is a light-hearted comment which is in no way meant to suggest that
John Terry is involved in fly-tipping. After all where would the drug dealer
and shoplifter's son find the time what with all the women, gambling and
alleged racism going on).

So we move on from an ex-Hammer on to the current crop. It's been so long
since we last took the field I can barely remember who is fit and who isn't.
Reid will be out for a little while yet but the International break has done
us a few favours for once. It was thought that Taylor – who has been
much-missed in my opinion – might have been available. However the work
experience kid who they employ about here to vacuum the cat tells me that
David Gold has tweeted to the contrary, whatever that means. I think it's
something to do with the wireless. There are however rumours that some chap
called Demel might be available for selection with him having come through
half a Development Squad friendly the other day with no obvious ill-effects.

Rob Hall won't be around – having returned from Oxford to see just how
comfortable Championship benches are he's gone back up the M40 to start
another loan spell. Christian Montano has also gone in and out through the
revolving door without pausing to pick up his mail having returned a week
early from Swindon having mysteriously managed to upset Paolo DiCanio.
Perhaps he didn't fancy a trip up North or something. Montano has been
placed a little closer to home where he will spend a month or so with
Dagenham & Redbridge.

The last outing saw us get a rather clinical three points at Hull what with
us making the best of the chances we created and our opponents limiting
themselves by and large to long-range efforts to give Rob Green tipping over
the bar practice. When they did actually create something from close
quarters they found Green in similarly miserly mood, his first half one-on
one save which allowed Faye to mop up probably being the opponents best
chance of the match.

This is one of those matches for which I think we should be looking at a
genuine 4-4-2. I realise that Mr Allardyce likes to keep a close rein on
things on the road as we did at Hull. However Hull are (or at least were)
challenging for a play-off spot having suffered just the one defeat since
August. Coventry are not in such a position. The crowd are restless with the
owners and one detects an atmosphere of worry about the place if interweb
chatter is anything to go by. Which, of course it might not be. Southampton
didn't go there thinking that they should shut up shop and neither should
we. An early goal would see heads go down so I'll plump for a 2-0 win.
Anyone off to the bookies should remember my predictions carry all the
accuracy of a Government inflation forecast and therefore are probably best
used as a guideline as to what should be ignored!

Enjoy the game!

When Last We Met: Our last visit to the Ricoh Arena was in 2007 for a League
Cup 4th round tie. An own goal from a deflected Boa-Morte shot cancelled out
Tabb's opener for the home side before Carlton Cole's 93rd minute effort
sent us through. Before that in the 2004/05 promotion year we went down 2-1
at their place winning the return 3-0.

Referee: Keith Stroud – ex-premiership ref whose face doesn't fit at PGMO
HQ. Recently the subject of controversy at Peterborough following their 3-2
home defeat to Leeds which saw the Posh chairman demand the return from the
FA of an earlier £2,000 fine for criticising officials. Last seen by us
handling the dreadful 1-0 home defeat to Ipswich – we managed to lose that
one all by ourselves.

Danger Man: Lukas Jutkiewicz – their top scorer with 6 this term. Nobody
else has more than 1. Also worth 35 points before bonuses at Scrabble.

Daft fact of the week: Coventry's badge contains a depiction of an elephant
which, despite Warwickshire not being noted as the natural habitat of such
pachyderms, forms part of the City coat of arms.

There are numerous theories for this, mostly involving the word "strength".
However, it is a little-known fact that the animal is in fact a reference to
Mickey Quinn whose somewhat portly figure was to be found straining into a
Coventry shirt back in the 1990's. These days he earns a living training
racehorses, the less successful of which he probably eats. Whole.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Coventry v West Ham preview
Last updated: 18th November 2011
SSN

Team news ahead of Coventry's Championship clash with West Ham at The Ricoh
Arena on Saturday. Coventry hope to welcome back as many as five players.
Defenders James McPake, Richard Wood,Chris Hussey and Martin Cranie all
stand a strong chance of being in contention while young midfielder Gael
Bigirimana is available once again having completed his three-match
suspension. McPake hobbled off in City's last match before the international
break, a 4-2 home defeat to Southampton, but was given the all-clear to
return to training while Wood (calf) was withdrawn on the morning on the
clash but appears to have recovered. Full-back Hussey (foot) has missed the
last two games while Cranie (ribs) hopes to return after seven weeks out,
although a place in manager Andy Thorn's starting XI so soon could be
unlikely for the former Portsmouth man. Coventry do have some injury
problems, however, with striker Roy O'Donovan nursing a broken foot while
midfielder David Bell will be assessed having sustained a knock in training.

Joey O'Brien and Guy Demel will boost West Ham's injury-hit squad. O'Brien
missed the 2-0 win at Hull a fortnight ago with a hamstring injury but was
able to resume training this week. Fellow full-back Demel is finally pushing
to make his debut having been struggling with a hamstring problem since
joining from Hamburg in August. The Ivory Coast international has played in
two reserve matches over the past couple of weeks to prove his fitness.
Midfielder Matt Taylor is also close to returning from a calf injury and
will be checked over. But the Hammers are still without defender Winston
Reid (shoulder), winger Gary O'Neil (ankle) and on-loan midfield duo Henri
Lansbury and David Bentley (both knee).

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ex-Madrid defender Pavon turns down short-term deal at West Ham
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 11:02 PM on 18th November 2011
Daily Mail

Former Real Madrid defender Francisco Pavon has rejected an offer from West
Ham. The 31-year-old centre back has been training with Sam Allardyce's
squad as they look to find a solution to their defensive crisis. The
Spaniard impressed, but lack of game time meant West Ham were reluctant to
offer him more than a deal up to January. Pavon is a free agent after
leaving French club Arles-Avignon in the summer. Allardyce said:
'Ability-wise, Franco would certainly be capable but physically, because he
hasn't had a club for a while, that fitness is way down.'

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Friday, November 18

Daily WHUFC News - 18th November 2011

Big Sam on Coventry City
WHUFC.com
The manager has spoken to the press ahead of Saturday's trip to the Ricoh
Arena
17.11.2011

Sam Allardyce has held his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's
npower Championship visit to Coventry City. West Ham United travel to the
Ricoh Arena knowing a victory over the Sky Blues would strengthen their grip
on second place in the table and potentially close the gap on leaders to
Southampton to two points.
The Hammers are aiming to extend their unbeaten run to five matches ahead of
a busy period that will see the team play six matches in the space of a
month leading up to Christmas.

What is your reaction to Sepp Blatter's comments about racism and football?

I haven't read the transcript yet, to be honest. I was listening to it on
the radio but they never actually expressed what he did actually say. By the
reaction, it was an outrageous statement and if that's what it is when I get
the chance to read it through myself, I would no doubt agree with what
everybody has been saying. Somebody in such a high profile position saying
this - if I am reading what everyone else's reaction is - is very
disapointing to say the very least. I haven't actually read the transcript
yet, so I'll maybe comment later when I've read it. According to everybody's
reaction, I would 100 per cent agree with them. Certainly in this country
and in football, we will always promote the fact we are a mult-national
sport and a multi-racial society. We all want to get on with each other as
best as we possibly can, no matter what nationality we are or what colour we
are. I do think he should resign, but it won't happen. I don't anybody
believes he will resign over this statement or situation. It would be nice
if he did, but I don't think it will happen. I wouldn't want to speculate
about the way forward without thinking about it further. Preparing my team
for Coventry has been my main aim. We've had a couple of trialists in this
week and my total focus has been on the team and the players, so I haven't
given it an awful lot of thought. Those in more powerful positions than me
will hopefully try to do the right thing and get the right decision in terms
of this situation.

How is the squad looking at present?

It's looking a little better than the last time we played at Hull. Matt
Taylor has joined back into training and Guy Demel is training with the
squad on a regular basis, having completed two behind-closed doors games in
the last couple of weeks. Joey O'Brien is also back from a hamstring injury.
Our key area of concern is still at centre-back, where we only have
Abdoulaye Faye and James Tomkins who are recognised central defenders. We
seem to be coping very well with the loss of Henri Lansbury and David
Bentley and the fact Matt Taylor has been out for a while. The squad has
done very, very well. My search for someone to come in has been long and
arduous but hasn't borne any fruit yet because the time of the year means
all of the good quality players who would have been available for loan are
already loaned out to other football clubs. It's been difficult to find
someone we could get on loan at this time where we are a little bit short at
central defender. Matt is probably the furthest away, Joey is ready to play
and Guy, even though he is short of match-fitness he has had a couple of
games and proved his fitness. At some stage we'll get him in. He comes in
and strengthens the squad. If you have a good, strong bench every week, it
makes it easier to make the changes that may need to be made. Even though
we're short on numbers, the introduction of Carlton Cole at Hull was the
major turning point in terms of getting the result that we got. He came on
and gave us that extra dimension and created both goals - one for Sam
Baldock and one for Jack Collison - so it's good to have a bigger squad to
choose from.

Is it true you tried to sign Sebastien Squillaci from Arsenal?

Yes it is true, but the technical difficulty was that another loan would
have meant that he couldn't go anywhere else this season. We couldn't go any
further with that, unfortunately.

What about Francisco Pavon?

We have had a look at him in training, but the problem is that he hasn't had
a club since the start of the season so it's a question of how long it would
take to get him up to speed. We might need somebody against Coventry - as
quickly as that. We have a three-game week coming up and we might need
someone for that. Ability-wise, Franco would be ca;pable, but physically
because he hasn't a club means that fitness is way down. We haven't written
it off yet.

And Andy O'Brien?

No. I think he has got a longer and more permanent deal than somebody else.

It must seem like ages since your team's last match at Hull City on 5
November?

No! It's been a great two weeks for two reasons. The biggest reason of all
is that it's allowed us to look at the options to get somebody else in. The
other is that it's given us a chance to recover some of the players who have
been injured. The players who have played game after game after game have a
lot of niggles and knocks and bumps and bruises which have now cleared up.
The same has happened to every club in those two weeks, but we hopefully
benefitted more than most. We'll see in our performance and result at
Coventry, but the two weeks have fallen at the right time for us.

Do you feel you have momentum?

We have a huge momentum moving forward at the moment and the wins have been
the most important thing. I think the performances have been equally as good
as our results - both are starting to come hand in hand. The demand is to
keep it up consistently on a regular basis, which is what is needed to
acquire the spot we're in now at the end of the season, or the one higher if
we can get there. The demand is huge and a lot of the players haven't worked
under that demand for some quite considerable time. Winning is always very
difficult, but you've obviously got to win a huge amount of games out of the
46 to gain promotion. You've got to get 90 points or better.

Is this the crunch time of the season?

It's a change of climate. The winter months are drawing in and the days are
getting shorter. The training ground becomes more uncomfortable to work at
so it's a different mentality. It's a difficult part of the season for that
reason and because of the number of games played at this time of year. We've
just had three international breaks and that has allowed us to get to know
each other and recover from injuries. Now we'll have to call upon them
week-in, week-out until the end of January. It'll be a big demand on
everybody but hopefully we can rise to the challenge consistently. The fewer
injuries we get, hopefully the better results we get.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Montano loaned to Daggers
WHUFC.com
Cristian Montano has joined Dagenham and Redbridge on loan until 17 December
17.11.2011

Cristian Montano is to spend the next month with Dagenham and Redbridge
after joining the League Two side on loan until 17 December 2011. The
Colombia-born forward will embark on his third loan spell of the 2011/12
campaign, having previously enjoyed a successful time at League One club
Notts County and a stay at League Two side Swindon Town. At Notts County,
the 19-year-old scored four goals in eleven appearances - just four of them
starts - earning rave reviews from manager Martin Allen and helping the club
to climb into the League One Play-Off places. The 19-year-old returned to
Chadwell Heath before going out on loan again to Swindon, where he made four
league appearances under Robins boss Paolo Di Canio. Montano, who turns 20
on 11 December, could make his Daggers debut in Saturday's home match
against League Two leaders Southend United at Victoria Road. In all, he
could make four league appearances for John Still's side, with a home game
against Port Vale and away matches at Accrington Stanley and Burton Albion
also to look forward to.

Daggers sit 22nd in League Two, having lost eleven of their previous 12
league matches.

Montano becomes the eighth West Ham United player out on loan, joining
temporary loanees Herita Ilunga (Doncaster Rovers), Frank Nouble
(Gillingham), Ahmed Abdulla (Swindon Town), Callum McNaughton (AFC
Wimbledon), Rob Hall (Oxford United), and season-loan loanees Jordan Spence
(Bristol City) and Pablo Barrera (Real Zaragoza).

Olly Lee (Dagenham and Redbridge), Jordan Brown (Aldershot Town) and Dominic
Vose (Braintree Town) have also recently returned from loan spells of their
own.

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West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady phone subterfuge claim
BBC.co.uk

The telephone records of West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady were
"unlawfully obtained by subterfuge", a High Court judge has said. Copies
found their way into the hands of accountants "engaged" by a rival club, Mr
Justice Coulson said. He said copies had found their way to a firm of
accountants - PKF - engaged by Tottenham Hotspur. He added the records were
obtained at the height of a dispute over the future use of the 2012 Olympic
Stadium. The judge outlined "basic facts" at a hearing in London after Ms
Brady began legal action in an attempt to "obtain information" and the
"wrongdoers responsible".

'Wrongfully obtained'

"At the height of the dispute about the use of the Olympic Stadium, Ms
Brady's telephone records were unlawfully obtained by subterfuge," said Mr
Justice Coulson.
"PKF was engaged by Tottenham Hotspur to carry out an investigation that was
in some way connected with the Olympic Stadium. "PKF have, in the last few
days, said they do have copies of the wrongfully obtained telephone
records." The judge was told that Tottenham had been given copies of the
records by PKF. But lawyers for Tottenham said no-one at the club had the
records prior to the start of legal proceedings. More evidence will be heard
in court on 23 November.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers weigh up Pavon deal
Former Madrid stopper could be handed a Championship lifeline
Last Updated: November 17, 2011 10:58pm
SSN

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is evaluating whether to offer former Real
Madrid defender Francisco Pavon a deal. Pavon, 31, is a free agent after he
left French side Arles-Avingon and has been training with the Hammers. The
Championship side have been hit by a spate of injuries and are looking for
cover in defensive positions, and are even pondering using Pavon on Saturday
against Coventry.

Training

"We have had a look at him in training," said Allardyce. "But the problem is
that he hasn't had a club since the start of the season so it's a question
of how long it would take him to get up to speed. "We might need someone
against Coventry, as quickly as that. "We have a three-game week coming up
and we might need someone for that. "Ability-wise, Franco would certainly be
capable but physically, because he hasn't had a club for a while, that
fitness is way down. We haven't written it of yet."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Subterfuge claim on Brady phone
Accountants 'engaged' by Spurs had copies of telephone records
Last Updated: November 17, 2011 7:28pm
SSN

The telephone records of West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady were
"unlawfully obtained by subterfuge" - and copies found their way into the
hands of accountants "engaged" by Tottenham, a High Court judge said on
Thursday. Mr Justice Coulson said telephone records belonging to Bradywere
obtained at the height of a dispute over the future use of the 2012 Olympic
Stadium. And he said copies had found their way to a firm of accountants -
PKF - engaged by Tottenham.

Allegations

The White Hart Lane club are facing allegations of spying on the Hammers
chief during the bidding process for the Stratford stadium. The judge
outlined "basic facts" at a hearing in London after Brady began legal action
in an attempt to "obtain information" and the "wrongdoers responsible". "At
the height of the dispute about the use of the Olympic Stadium, Ms Brady's
telephone records were unlawfully obtained by subterfuge," said Mr Justice
Coulson. "PKF was engaged by Tottenham Hotspur to carry out an investigation
that was in some way connected with the Olympic Stadium. "PKF have, in the
last few days, said they do have copies of the wrongfully obtained telephone
records."

The judge was told that Tottenham had been given copies of the records by
PKF. But lawyers for Tottenham said no one at the club had the records prior
to the start of legal proceedings. Tottenham also released a statement
earlier this month hitting back at allegations they ordered surveillance of
all 14 members of the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) board during their
unsuccessful battle for the stadium. Mr Justice Coulson is due to hear more
details about the Brady case at a further High Court hearing in London next
Wednesday. Lawyers for PKF argued that Thursday's hearing should have been
held in private to prevent the "risk of misreporting". But the judge said
the hearing would be in public. He said hearings could be held in private in
"wholly exceptional" circumstances and the arguments put forward by PKF came
"nowhere near" the necessary test.

Dispute

Premier League club Tottenham and Championship club West Ham had both wanted
to move to the £486 million Olympic Stadium in Stratford, East London, after
the 2012 London Olympics. They were embroiled in a legal dispute after the
the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) opted for a bid put forward by West
Ham. Tottenham said the decision was unfair and mounted a High Court
challenge against the OPLC's decision. But the legal action was halted in
October after the OPLC said it had decided to discontinue the process to
dispose of the stadium and instead allow it to remain in public ownership
and be rented out.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The 12th Man - A New Signing
Mr Polite 1:54 Tue Nov 8
West Ham Online

It is widely accepted across different sports all around the globe that the
more vocal and supportive fans are towards their team the better they
perform, or at least the likelihood of them performing better increases, the
more the fans get on the oppositions back or shout at the officials the more
likely their team will do well. This has been proven by a Harvard University
study that revealed that a home team acquired an additional 0.1 goal
advantage for every 10,000 fans in the stadium.

Some Clubs formally recognize the impact the fans have by giving the squad
number 12 to 'The 12th Man', but those that don't make it so formally all
still realise the importance and effect that a good vocal and supportive set
of fans can have.

At West Ham we have down through the years been known as a horrible place to
come for opposing players and one of the most vocal sets of fans around.
Modern football and modern football stadia has watered down somewhat the
effect that fans have. Pricing means the most vocal age group are less
likely to be able to go, the all seater stadium is not conducive to the
vocal fans all congregating in one place, the amount of women at football is
also thought to have a detrimental effect as well as the politically correct
world we now live in means people no longer feel comfortable singing some
songs.

Of course all of the above reasons have their plus points, more money in the
club can mean better player, all seater stadiums mean a safer environment
and the lack of racial abuse in this country - off the pitch at least - is
something to be proud of, but all these things have helped slowly kill
atmospheres at football.

However , It could be argued that the biggest factor in decline of the 12th
Man is the fast food, Big Brother generation that now watch football, the
generation that wants success and they want it now, they are not willing to
wait. In fact rather than get behind their team if they are under performing
they quickly get on their backs and demand change, perhaps call for a
managers head or boo a player or two. Things that any right minded person
would see as detrimental to a teams performance, but it's seen as their
right so they'll do it.

Thinking specifically of West Ham, as mentioned we had, and among those that
haven't been to The Boleyn in recent years still have, a great reputation
for being a very vocal and supportive set of fans. This reputation sadly is
not really grounded on anything but nostalgia. I think it is important at
this point to separate our home support from our away support, the away
support is up there with the best in the land and 6200+ going to Coventry
for a Championship match tells it's own story and is something very very few
clubs would be able to better.

At home our attendance are pretty good, however the general atmosphere
around the place has a negative vibe to it. There are a number of reasons in
addition to the generic ones mentioned above, for instance the turmoil the
club has been through in the last few years, the negative press we seem to
get now, the results and performances on the pitch the last few seasons and
some would say the style of football in recent years too is nothing to get
excited about.

Should any of this really matter though? We're all fans, we're fanatics!
Would a fanatic let anything stop him from doing all he can to help the
ideal he is fanatical about? We all want our team to have the best chance of
success, we all know that by showing real support we increase our chances of
success and we all want to watch games in the kind of atmospheres we once
enjoyed.

The answer? Well there is no one single thing that will make it perfect, but
if we all take responsibility for our own actions, for our own support and
realise that what we do as an individual can impact the success of the team
we love then West Ham Utd will have a new signing this season, a signing
that never has a bad game, a player that will win hammer of the year and
will have the Number 12 shirt! Stand up 12th Man and be counted!

Thank you for reading and feel free to add ideas of what we can do to help
support the team.

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The Return of Zamora?
November 17th, 2011 - 6:28 pm by S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die

There are current newspaper reports that allege that a worsening of
relations between Bobby Zamora and Martin Jol, at Fulham, could result in
the centre forward's depature in January. They then go on to speculate that
West Ham may be interested in re-signing their former striker, although
there could also be interest from Championshp rivals Crystal Palace. It may
be a case of sports writers putting 2 + 2 together and coming up with = 5,
but, nevertheless, it is an intriguing prospect. Bobby Zamora was always a
striker that gave 110% to the Hammers cause and he might very well welcome
a return to a club that he has always supported. I was told that Zamora
attended the recent Brighton Vs Hammers match and I remember at the time
wondering if there was any significance in that? So, I suppose the question
is, would it be a good move for both the player and the club, or should they
heed the old maxim, 'never go back.'

It looks that Sam Allardyce would like to reinforce central defence by
signng free agent, Fransciso Pavon. Pavon, a former Champions League winner
with Real Madrid, certainly has a good pedigree and at 31 years of age
should still have plenty to offer. Pavon certainly seems to be a very good
option, but apparently Sam Allardyce has stated that the player's lack of
recent competitive football, and corresponding match fitness, could be an
obstacle to a deal, as he needs a player that can go in and do a job
immediately. Allardyce and his coaching and fitness team are currently
running a rule over Pavon's fitness levels, before making a final decision.
Another option mooted in the press is 32 year old Leeds Utd defender, Andy
O'Brien. O'Brien is, of course, ex-Bolton and, moreover, played there there
under Allardyce's management. I should imagine that this is a back up deal,
just in case Allardyce fails to land any of his priority loan/free agent
targets, but we shall see?

All has gone quiet on the Mervan Celik front, although it is thought that
the player recently had a successful trial at the club. It could be that
the deal is more or less tied up for completion in the January window. The
club certainly should not delay in securing it, because there is apparently
some interest from other clubs. Celik would certainly be a good potential
signing, not only for the remainder of this season, but also for our much
anticipated return to the top tier. He is pacy, creative, can play on both
flanks and scores goals. We certainly need to make one or two eye catching
signings in the January, to give the club a boost, strengthen the squad and
send out a clear message of intent for the remainder of the season. It has
been indicated that West Ham have money to spend in January, lets just hope
that they actually spend it and spend it well!

The loanee 'revolving door' at Upton Park has continued apace this week with
the news that both Robert Hall and Christan Montano have been sent out on
loan once again. Hall will return to Oxford Utd, while Montano has joined
Dagenham and Redbridge in League 2. Hall onviously enjoyed it at Oxford Utd
and it is good that he is returning to get some further first team league
action. However, I do hope that Hall will return and make his West Ham
first team debut before the conclusion of the season. While Montano needs
to demonstrate at Dagenham and Redbridge that he has both the ability and
the attitude to succeed at Upton Park. He can only do that by training
hard, getting selected consistently and impressing in League Two. I know
that it must be fustrating for Montano to be loaned out again, but he must
repeat his approach at Notts County and treat it as a positive learning
experience and an opportunity to excel. Marek Stech has now returned from
his short loan spell at Yeovil and one can only guess what his position is
currently at the club? I hope that they persuade him to sign a new
contract, because I feel that he may well be a better goal keeping prospect
than either Boffin or Kuruz and a prospective, eventual successor to Rob
Green.

Finally, there was positive news this week on the injury front. Both Matt
Taylor and Guy Demel have returned to fitness and Taylor could make a first
team return against Coventry City, this weekend. Demel has now successfully
come through two Developmental Squad games , but may need to work on his
conditioning and match fitness, before pushing for inclusion in the first
team. Taylor is crucial to us on the left flank, he gives us balance and is
dangerous delivering the ball in to the box, both from open and set plays.
Taylor's return will be most welcome, while Demel is a big, powerful and
experienced defender, whose inclusion can only strengthen our rearguard. In
addition, Henri Lansbury is estimated to be within two weeks of a return to
full training, which will nicely increase the competition for places in
central midfield.

Finally, in terms of our promotion campaign, it is very much a case of 'so
far so good.' We finished the initial third of season, nicely positioned in
2nd place, with Southampton still within striking distance. So far, we have
been disciplined, efficient and secured results, without ever really hitting
the heights, playing wise. The good thing is that we have been able to
secure a confortable 2nd place whilst mostly still playing in' second gear.'
It will be interesting to see if we continue in this vein or whether the
side will now be able to 'move up a gear' in the final two-thirds of the
season? Sam Allardyce promised us that the side would be a lot better by
May than it started off in August and there is no good reason to disbelieve
him!

As for the forthcoming Coventry City match, I reckon that we will secure
another good three away points, with a comfortable 0-2 victory. COYI!

SJ. Chandos.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham braced for £3m Tomkins raid
Published 22:30 17/11/11 By Football Spy
The Mirror

QPR are lining up a £3million raid on West Ham for James Tomkins. The former
England Under-21 defender Tomkins has impressed in the Championship follows
Hammers' relegation, and Hoops boss Neil Warnock will test the East Enders'
resolve with a bid in the New Year. Warnock is keen to buy young British
defenders and has been promised substantial funds by chairman Tony Fernandes
when the transfer window opens. However, West Ham bos Sam Allardyce has
become a huge admirer of Tomkins since taking charge at Upton Park, and is
keen to offer him an improved contract.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce looking far and wide in search for new defender
London 24
Nathaniel John, West Ham correspondent
Thursday, November 17, 2011
9:00 AM

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has stepped up his search for a central defender
this week and has cast his eye outside of the Premier League. The Hammers
had their first two loan requests for top-flight defenders turned down by
Manchester City and Arsenal after asking to borrow Nedum Onuoha and
Sebastien Squillaci respectively, and Allardyce is now running the rule over
Francisco Pavon and Andy O'Brien. The Onuoha deal is thought to have
collapsed as neither the player or the club were keen on the move, while
Arsenal were reluctant to send Squillaci out on loan as it could prevent
them selling the Frenchman in the January transfer window. Former Real
Madrid defender Pavon is currently a free agent, having been released by
French side Arles-Avignon, following their relegation from Ligue 1.
The 31-year-old came through the youth ranks in Madrid, and made 106
appearances for the Spanish side and was part of the team that won the
Champions League in 2002. In 2007, Allardyce came close to signing Pavon
while he was in charge at Bolton, but the Spanish defender opted to remain
in his homeland, and joined Real Zaragoza. Following three more years in
Spain, Pavon joined Arles-Avignon in 2010, but could not prevent them
finishing bottom of Ligue 1, with just 20 points from their 38 games. Leeds
defender O'Brien is another player on the Hammers' radar, who also has an
Allardyce connection. The former Newcastle and Portsmouth man was signed by
Allardyce in 2007 for Bolton and spent three years in Lancashire, making 74
appearances before joining Leeds on loan in 2010. That loan deal was made
permanent last January, but this season the 32-year-old has found
opportunities hard to come by at Elland Road, featuring just five times this
season for Simon Grayson's side, with two of those appearances coming in the
Carling Cup. Meanwhile, there was some positive news on the injury front as
Matt Taylor was back in full training this week. It remains to be seen
whether the midfielder will be included in the squad for this Saturday's
trip to Coventry, though.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Irons Insight: It's an odd feeling seeing players linked with Upton Park
return
London 24
Matt Porter, London24's West Ham blogger
Thursday, November 17, 2011
12:19 PM

It's always an odd feeling to see a former player linked with making a
return to the Boleyn. 99 times out of 100 it's a piece of lazy guesswork
based on little more than a hunch, but that never gets in the way of Irons
fans letting their imagination run wild. News of Carlos Tevez's acrimonious
fall from grace at Manchester City left supporters dreaming of the Argentine
coming back to East London against all the odds. Of course a little matter
of his £250,000 a week wages was one of many stumbling blocks there, not to
mention the fact that it seems to be quite difficult to keep Carlos in the
country from one week to another.

Some returns are a little less exciting to be honest. I'm not sure the
returns of Calum Davenport and Lee Bowyer to the club for a second spell had
many of us singing from the rooftops in excitement. This summer heralded the
solid if unspectacular return of full-back George McCartney and today I was
flicking through the gossip pages to see the unlikely rumour that Bobby
Zamora, fresh from starting for England on Tuesday night, was eager to
return to Upton Park three years after leaving.

From a footballing point of view you'd think it was an absolute non-starter.
What player in their right mind would readily drop down a division and
potentially scupper their international career just as it was getting off
the ground? I always assume that there's little room for sentiment in the
mind of the modern-day footballer. Location might be a factor, I assume
Bobby is settled in London and doesn't want to move. It's the same reason
Carlton Cole rejected the advances of Premier League clubs such as Stoke
during the summer transfer window.

Of course the romantic in all of us wants it to be an impassioned desire for
a player to return to the club of his dreams. I always wondered what I'd do
in the parallel world where I was any good at football. However blinkered we
are as fans, I think we have to accept that the career of the football
player is a short one and that for most of them the ambition is to win
things – and rightly so.

I suppose there's a different way of thinking. Would you look back on your
career with more pride being a legend at one club but with an empty trophy
cabinet or as a highly decorated journeymen, loved by no set of fans in
particular? I'm not suggesting Zamora has the luxury of either of those
options, but every player must have some sort of long-term ambition.
Nowadays I don't think many of them would choose the first one.

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Spurs' accountants had illegal copy of Brady's phone records during stadium
dispute
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 9:19 PM on 17th November 2011
Daily Mail

The telephone records of the vice-chairman of a leading soccer club were
'unlawfully obtained by subterfuge' - and copies found their way into the
hands of accountants 'engaged' by a rival club, a High Court judge said. Mr
Justice Coulson said telephone records belonging to West Ham vice-chairman
Karren Brady were obtained at the height of a dispute over the future use of
the 2012 Olympic Stadium. And he said copies had found their way to a firm
of accountants - PKF - engaged by Tottenham. The judge outlined 'basic
facts' at a hearing in London after Ms Brady began legal action in an
attempt to 'obtain information' and the 'wrongdoers responsible'. 'At the
height of the dispute about the use of the Olympic Stadium, Ms Brady's
telephone records were unlawfully obtained by subterfuge,' said Mr Justice
Coulson. 'PKF was engaged by Tottenham Hotspur to carry out an investigation
that was in some way connected with the Olympic Stadium. 'PKF have, in the
last few days, said they do have copies of the wrongfully obtained telephone
records.'

The judge was told that Tottenham had been given copies of the records by
PKF. But lawyers for Tottenham said no one at the club had the records prior
to the start of legal proceedings. Mr Justice Coulson is due to hear more
details about the case at a further High Court hearing in London next
Wednesday. Lawyers for PKF argued that today's hearing should have been held
in private to prevent the 'risk of misreporting'. But the judge said the
hearing would be in public. He said hearings could be held in private in
'wholly exceptional' circumstances and the arguments put forward by PKF came
'nowhere near' the necessary test.

Premier League club Tottenham and Championship club West Ham had both wanted
to move to the £486 million Olympic Stadium in Stratford, east London, after
the 2012 London Olympics. They were embroiled in a legal dispute after the
the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) opted for a bid put forward by West
Ham.
Tottenham said the decision was unfair and mounted a High Court challenge
against the OPLC's decision. But the legal action was halted in October
after the OPLC said it had decided to discontinue the process to dispose of
the stadium and instead allow it to remain in public ownership and be rented
out. Meanwhile, Detectives have arrested a second man on suspicion of fraud
after allegations that Tottenham Hotspur spied on Olympic officials during
the stadium bid.

Scotland Yard confirmed they arrested the 39-year-old at an address in
Surrey today. He was later bailed. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'A
second man was arrested this morning in connection with the investigation at
an address in Surrey. 'He was arrested on suspicion of fraud offences. 'He
went to a south London police station and has been bailed pending further
inquiries, to come back in February.' The first suspect - a 29-year-old man
- was arrested earlier this month and also released on bail. News of that
arrest came as Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) chairwoman Baroness Ford
claimed the north London football club had all 14 members of her board
monitored by private investigators. Spurs denied putting officials under
surveillance.

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West Ham And Spurs Take To Battle Again
Sky News
Lia Hervey
November 17, 2011 8:13 PM

There are more twists and turns in the Olympic Stadium legacy story than Tom
Daley attempting an "inward four and half somersault tucked" in a diving
final.
Today was the first day of legal action at the High Court brought by West
Ham football club's boss Karren Brady. Ms Brady brought the case against
private investigators PKF and it's Partner Howard Hill. She alleges the
investigators spied on her by obtaining her phone records during the period
both clubs were bidding to take over the Olympic Stadium after the 2012
Olympics. Spurs have strenuously denied the claims and today said there was
no evidence to back them up. They also denied spying on all 14 members of
the Olympic Park Legacy Board, the ones who made the decision on who got the
stadium post 2012.

Their lawyer told the court that Karen Brady's claims were based on
"insinuation, supposition and inuendo" rather than evidence.
After Spurs unsuccessfully applied to ban the press and public from court, a
number of facts accepted by all parties were laid out by Justice Coulson.
1) At the height of the dispute around the Olympic Stadium, Ms Brady's
telephone records were unlawfully obtained by subterfuge.
2) PKF were authorised to carry out an investigation into West Ham although
the terms of that are not clear.
3) PKF have in the last few days accepted that they have copies of Karren
Brady's phone record.

The case was adjourned until 2pm on Wednesday next week.
Whether children and sport benefit from the legacy of the stadium is yet to
be decided. What is clear there are a lot of lawyers much wealthier from the
whole saga and it's not over yet.

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London 2012 Olympics: second man arrested on suspicion of fraud as
investigation into Olympic Stadium deepens
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt and Paul Kelso 11:32PM GMT 17 Nov 2011

The controversy over the battle to occupy the Olympic Stadium deepened on
Thursday night with the arrest of a second man on suspicion of fraud. It
follows allegations that investigators working for Tottenham Hotspur
illegally obtained private telephone and banking records during the
stadium-bidding process, a claim the club deny. The arrest came as it
emerged that accountants PKF, the company hired by Tottenham to carry out
investigations during the Olympic Stadium bid, admitted having passed copies
of Karren Brady's illegally obtained telephone records to The Sunday Times.
The newspaper used the records for an expose of the bidding process, which
alleged that investigators had accessed private records of West Ham and
Olympic Park Legacy Company directors. The Metropolitan Police confirmed to
Telegraph Sport that a 39 year-old man was arrested in the early hours of
Thursday morning. A 29-year-old man was arrested last week.
"A second man, [B] 39 years, has been arrested this morning in connection
with the investigation," a Scotland Yard spokesman said. "He was arrested at
an address in Surrey on suspicion of fraud offences and has been taken into
custody at a south London police station. As part of their inquiries
detectives have conducted searches at three residential addresses."

A spokesman for PKF said that it was not aware of the arrest of any
employee. The admission that PKF and a partner in the firm, Howard Hill, a
corporate investigator, had passed Brady's records to The Sunday Times came
at the High Court, where West Ham and Brady want to force PKF to disclose
all information it may have gathered about them. In court on Thursday West
Ham's lawyer Ben Jaffey revealed that Hill had admitted passing documents to
the newspaper. "Last night in correspondence from PKF it was finally
admitted that Howard Hill and two of his colleagues handed copies of Ms
Brady's telephone records to The Sunday Times, but he has not said where he
got them from." Mr Justice Coulson said it was accepted as fact that the
telephone records had been illegally obtained. "At the height of the dispute
over the Olympic Stadium Ms Brady's telephone records were unlawfully
obtained by subterfuge," he said. "PKF were engaged by Tottenham to carry
out investigation in some way relating to the Olympic Stadium, the precise
terms of the investigation have not been made clear. "PKF has in the last
few days accepted that they do have copies of the unlawfully obtained
telephone records," he added. Counsel for PKF, Ruth Den Besten, said the
company did not accept responsibility for accessing the records. "Neither
PKF or Howard Hill sought or obtained any bank or telephone records and have
not committed any offence or engaged sub-agents to carry out investigation
of Ms Brady," she said. Tottenham's lawyer said that they denied allegations
from Brady that they had "tapped" her phone and "blagged" private records.
They also denied an allegation made by Margaret Ford, chairman of the OPLC,
that they had ordered surveillance of all 14 OPLC board members. The case
was adjourned until next week. In a statement Tottenham's lawyers said: "For
the avoidance of any doubt, Tottenham Hotspur did not instruct PKF to engage
in any unlawful activity and PKF have confirmed that they did not."

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