All the team news and background for Saturday lunchtime's derby duel
30.11.2007
Chelsea v West Ham United
Barclays Premier League
Stamford Bridge
Saturday 1 December
Kick-off: 12.45pm
Referee: Howard Webb (Yorkshire)
Live on Sky Sports
WHUTV - Live audio commentary along with behind the scenes footage in the
run-up to the game including Alan Curbishley's pre-match press conference
and a chance to hear from Dean Ashton, Mervyn Day and Ray Winstone. WHUTV
also has all the highlights and reaction from every game this season -
including the 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur last weekend. Click here for a
membership offer.
Team news
Scott Parker and Dean Ashton both came through a reserve match unscathed and
are in contention for a starting berth - having come on as substitutes
against Tottenham. Lee Bowyer could return after a ban and hernia operation
while Freddie Ljungberg has trained all week after a bad migraine last
weekend. Fit-again James Collins, Mark Noble and Hayden Mullins will all
expect to be involved in the 16.
Chelsea have Didier Drogba back after knee trouble and scoring goals after
two in a midweek Champions League fixture but look set to be without Petr
Cech, Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho and the suspended Michael Essien.
Michael Ballack has been in reserve action after an ankle injury but is not
thought to be in contention. John Terry and Ashley Cole are also fit after
recent knocks.
Background
Alan Curbishley has positive memories of his last two trips to Stamford
Bridge. In his final season at Charlton Athletic in the 2005/06 campaign,
his former club drew 1-1 in the league having already earned the same result
in the League Cup third round before knocking out the then champions 5-4 on
penalties.
West Ham United have not lost this season in any match where the club have
taken the lead and are looking to make it seven games unbeaten. Chelsea are
undefeated in 13 matches and are also looking to extend their unbeaten run
at home to 70 games, having not lost since the visit of Arsenal on 21
February 2004. West Ham United last won at Stamford Bridge on 28 September
2002, a victory inspired by Paolo Di Canio.
Victory would ensure tenth-placed West Ham United - who have 19 points from
13 games and a better goal difference than every club below - stay in the
top half of the table. Only Newcastle United, a point behind in eleventh,
could overtake Curbishley's men this weekend. Chelsea are fourth with 28
points from 14 games and could, temporarily at least, move into second spot
with victory.
George McCartney is bidding to make his 17th appearance for the club this
season in all competitions - and is the only player who has featured in
every game to date, starting in each one. In terms of the Barclays Premier
League, only Robert Green and Matthew Upson have played every minute of the
13 matches. Bowyer is the club's top league scorer with four goals, while
Matthew Etherington has three in the top-flight this campaign. Carlton Cole
has six assists to his name.
Chelsea have kept eight clean sheets in league matches this season and have
only conceded once in 630 minutes. Both clubs, who will play the return
fixture at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday 1 March, share the record for the
longest current run in the top flight (seven games) without conceding more
than once in a fixture. Drogba is Chelsea's leading scorer in the top-flight
with five goals.
Both teams will have two players in action against former clubs. Parker made
28 appearances for Chelsea, with one goal, between January 2004 and June
2005 while Carlton Cole came through the academy at Stamford Bridge before
heading east in July 2006 after 32 appearances and eight goals for the
Blues. Chelsea boast Lampard and Joe Cole, both Academy products, who headed
west in June 2001 and August 2003 respectively. Lampard made 187
appearances, scoring 37 goals, while Joe Cole played 149 times, with 13
goals.
After Saturday's meeting, West Ham United go to Blackburn Rovers on Sunday 9
December while Chelsea will receive Sunderland the day before.
Head to head (last six Barclays Premier League meetings)
18 April 2007 - West Ham United 1-4 Chelsea
18 November 2006 - Chelsea 1-0 West Ham United
9 April 2006 - Chelsea 4-1 West Ham United
2 January 2006 - West Ham United 1-3 Chelsea
3 May 2003 - West Ham United 1-0 Chelsea
28 September 2002 - Chelsea 2-3 West Ham United
The clubs also met on 27 October 2004 when Chelsea won 1-0 in a League Cup
third-round tie
General information
All away tickets are now SOLD OUT. For more information on ticketing, click
here. For more information on getting to Stamford Bridge, click here
Weather: The forecast for Sunday is for an overcast day with rain.
Temperatures are set to peak at around 13C.
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Cole looking for a 'big impact' - WHUFC
A return to his former club will motivate Carlton Cole on Saturday afternoon
30.11.2007
Carlton Cole is "really up for it" as he goes back to Chelsea this weekend
for the first time as an opposition player.
The 24-year-old striker is thriving after a run of games in the West Ham
United first team. As a result, he cannot wait to feature in attack against
the club he left to move east in summer 2006.
"There will always be that extra hunger for a player when they come up
against their former club, no player wants to play their old team and do
badly," he said. "This is actually the first time I am playing Chelsea as
the visiting team so it will be weird but I am really up for it.
"I will hopefully have a big impact on the game and to get on the
score-sheet as well would be the icing on the cake." Cole came through the
Academy ranks at Chelsea and was tipped to be an England star of the future,
with Claudio Ranieri particularly affording him high praise. However, he
found opportunities hard to come by and went on loan to Wolverhampton
Wanderers, Charlton Athletic - under Alan Curbishley - and Aston Villa.
Settled at the Boleyn Ground now, he is seeing the benefits of an extended
run.
"I expect a very tough game, it will be a lot to do with our performance
though rather than theirs," he said. "We will need to go and set up our
stall and show we mean business. I think we will be able to do quite well."
Cole was on target last weekend in the 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur,
finishing off a fine move with a tidy finish past Paul Robinson. He is not
just about scoring goals though, as he has managed to make six goals for
others this campaign.
"We are a team than can go to places and upset teams which we have shown
away from home so far this season. We will do the same at Stamford Bridge
and try to upset their game plan and get the result we need." Cole may well
find himself starting alongside Dean Ashton, a player he enjoyed a good
partnership with at England Under-21 level. Whether going it alone or with
Ashton in tow, Cole is determined to make his mark back at the Bridge.
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Captain's Blog - Derby day again - WHUFC
The skipper updates on the latest in the camp before another London derby
30.11.2007
In his latest exclusive column for whufc.com, Lucas Neill has plenty of
praise for Robert Green, is delighted to see Scott Parker and Dean Ashton
back and also has high hopes for Carlton Cole. He begins though with the
visit of Jermain Defoe and Tottenham Hotspur, and finishes up looking
forward to the trip to Chelsea.
As we all expected it was a fantastic atmosphere for the local derby, a game
which on chances I felt we could have won but at the death should have lost.
Yet again Greenie produced a last-minute penalty save that got us a point
that was well deserved after another good team performance.
As far as derbies go, I didn't think it was a physical encounter so to find
out after the game that we had committed 37 fouls to their eight has left
all the players a little bit shocked and disappointed. When the ref blew for
the penalty at the end of the match, I seriously thought he had blown for a
dive which would have meant Defoe would have been sent off for a second
yellow but I guess the West Ham fans had the last laugh when one of their
old boys was the victim of Greenie's heroics.
It was good to see Scotty and Deano getting some much needed game time for
both the Spurs match and a run-out for the reserves on Monday. Competition
for places is getting stronger and, with a few more experienced players
regaining fitness, December could see the gaffer picking from his strongest
possible squad so far.
The boys are all continuing to work hard to rectify mistakes and situations
that are happening in games. In a number of games now we have dominated
certain periods and failed to reward our good play. I think we have left
points out on the pitch because of our failure to kill teams off and it is
something we are concentrating hard on to rectify.
This week probably sees our toughest game yet. Before the game you would
take a point but we will be going there in decent form and hoping to cause
the upset of the weekend. Chelsea have been travelling midweek in difficult
conditions and as a result if we start fast we could catch them cold.
I am expecting another raucous atmosphere as it is another London derby.
Thank you in advance to all those that brave the cold weather to support the
team live when you could be at home in the warmth watching it on the box.
Coley comes up against his former club on Saturday and it happens to be the
first time he has played them at Stamford Bridge since he left. He has
worked ever so hard for the team of late and is getting goals to reward his
performances - so let's hope it is a day for him and us to remember.
Enjoy the game!
Lucas Neill
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Boxing Day at the Boleyn - WHUFC
Mark the festive season in style when Reading come to the Boleyn Ground
30.11.2007
Stuck for a Christmas gift idea with a difference? Why not treat a loved one
to a special experience for the 26 December home game against Reading?
Hospitality packages are available for anyone wanting to sample some
Christmas-themed east-end hospitality while Alan Curbishley's side look to
match the 3-0 victory achieved in the first meeting of the teams this
season. Packages are available for the Bobby Moore Suite and the Sir Trevor
Brooking Suite.
There is usually plenty of goals and excitement whenever West Ham United and
Reading go head to head so make a date to be part of it all when the game
kicks off at 1pm on Boxing Day. For more information, contact 020 8548 2777
or email corporatesales@westhamunited.co.uk
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Fans Forum date cancelled - WHUFC
The 3 December event at the stadium will now be staged at a later date
30.11.2007
Monday night's Fans Forum at the Boleyn Ground has been cancelled due to
unforeseen circumstances. A new date, for which season ticket holders and
club members can apply to attend, will be announced in the new year. Details
of the new time and date will appear on whufc.com when they are confirmed.
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Ray ready for Chelsea test - WHUFC
Famous fan Ray Winstone spoke to WHUTV about Saturday's derby game
30.11.2007
Like West Ham United fans the world over, Ray Winstone is particularly
looking forward to the derby match away to Chelsea on Saturday.
A lifelong supporter, Ray took time out from his busy schedule to share his
thoughts on the trip to Stamford Bridge with WHUTV. "That's anybody's game,"
he said. "It don't matter whether you are top of the league or bottom. We
ain't bottom we are middle at the minute and we have been playing with 12 of
our first team regulars out. Who knows what can happen?"
He said Alan Curbishley's side would certainly be up for the contest, not
least Mark Noble and Dean Ashton - "who know what a derby is" - before
adding "I don't think we should fear anyone at the minute". However, the
acclaimed actor acknowledged that, like West Ham United, Chelsea have
several players who know what is at stake.
"It is a derby and they have got a lot of London boys who actually come from
here," he said. "The Lampards, John Terry - who is out of this manor - and
Joey Cole - they know what a derby game is all about. It will mean a lot to
them."
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Chelsea v West Ham - BBC
Stamford Bridge
Saturday, 1 December
Kick-off: 1245 GMT
BBC coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on Match
of the Day.
Chelsea boss Avram Grant will be without the suspended Michael Essien for
the visit of West Ham. Petr Cech (calf), Michael Ballack (ankle), Florent
Malouda (knee), Ricardo Carvalho (back) and Paulo Ferreira (ankle) are all
absent.
Dean Ashton and Scott Parker are in contention to start for West Ham after
coming through a midweek reserve game. Freddie Ljungberg (migraine) is back
but Lee Bowyer (hernia) faces a test and Craig Bellamy (groin) is out.
Chelsea (from): Cudicini, Hilario, Belletti, Terry, Alex, Ben-Haim, Lampard,
A Cole, Bridge, J Cole, Sidwell, Kalou, Shevchenko, Drogba, Pizarro,
Wright-Phillips, Bridge, Makelele.
West Ham (from): Green, Neill, Gabbidon, Upson, McCartney, Solano, Mullins,
Noble, Etherington, Cole, Boa Morte, Wright, Ashton , Collins, Parker,
Spector, Bowyer, Ljungberg.
Chelsea manager Avram Grant: "We want to succeed in the Champions League, FA
Cup, and the Premier League. We are in a good position to fight for
everything. "You can't belong to big clubs and not want to succeed in every
competition. "We played very well on Wednesday, as we have for the past two
or three months, but there are always more things we can improve on the
tactical side and the style of the team. I am sure we will get there."
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley on Chelsea's revival: It's no big secret.
They've got their bigger players back, they're picking up results, which is
a major factor. Chelsea with the squad they've got, were always going to be
a force in the Premier League. "Managers move on and great credit to Avram
Grant, it seems to have been a smooth transition. He's not been too
aggressive, he's been reserved."
BIG-MATCH FACTS
Chelsea are the Premier League's "form" team, as they attempt to take their
club record unbeaten home run to an incredible 70 games.
It's back-to-back London derbies for West Ham, who drew 1-1 home to
Tottenham last time out. The Hammers have won one of their last 10 Premier
League capital clashes; 0-1 away to Arsenal on 7 April.
Chelsea have not lost in 10 London league derbies, since a 2-1 reverse at
Tottenham on 5 November 2006, their only defeat in 14 such fixtures.
Avram Grant's club have a 50% win rate against West Ham in the Premier
League (12 of 24).
CLUB FORM
CHELSEA
Club stats
Fixtures
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 2nd
Lowest could fall: 6th
1. Undefeated in 13 in all competitions; won 10 and drawn three.
2. Unbeaten in seven Premier League games; won five and drawn two since the
2-0 loss at Manchester United on 23 September.
3. Kept clean sheets in eight Premier League outings; no club can beat that.
Also conceded just one goal in 630 minutes (10 and a half hours) of Premier
League football.
4. Lost one of 14 league and cup games under Grant; won five, drawn two and
lost one of eight league games under the current manager.
5. Top of the Premier League "form" table with 16 points out of a possible
18.
6. The current tally of 28 points after 14 matches (two points per game), is
their lowest to this stage in five Premier League seasons.
7. Won 34 and drawn 13 of 47 at home in all competitions since the 1-2
defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League on 22 February 2006. Not lost a
league game at the Bridge since the 1-2 reverse to Arsenal on 21 February
2004 (won 51, drawn 18).
8. The three league fixtures before Christmas involve a home clash with
Sunderland, another London derby at Arsenal and a trip to Blackburn.
WEST HAM UNITED
Club stats
Fixtures
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 10th
Lowest could fall: 11th
1. Undefeated in six in all competitions; won three and draw three.
2. Unbeaten in five Premier League matches; won two and drawn three since
losing 1-0, away to Aston Villa on 6 October.
3. On the joint longest current run of seven games since conceding more than
a single goal in a Premier League game; the 3-1 away defeat to Newcastle on
23 September. Chelsea have also gone seven games since shipping more than a
single goal in a Premier League fixture.
4. Their Premier League matches have produced just 30 goals (19 for, 11
against); only Liverpool's have yielded less (28).
5. Yet to beat a top half club this season; drawn one and lost three of four
against clubs currently in the top 10.
6. Need to score five more goals to total 3,000 in top-flight football.
7. Three short of conceding 5,000 league goals in their history.
8. Already beaten Birmingham (0-1), Reading (0-3) and Derby (0-5) in league
games on the road; another victory here would equal the four managed in the
whole of last season.
9. Kept clean sheets in four of six league games on the road this season.
10. Their next fixture is away to Blackburn before a home Carling Cup
quarter-final against Everton, a home league clash also with Everton and a
pre-Christmas visit to Middlesbrough.
KEY PLAYER NOTES
CHELSEA
Didier DROGBA is Chelsea's top scorer with nine goals.
DROGBA is the clubs top marksman in the Premier League, with five.
DROGBA has scored three goals in four appearances against West Ham.
Frank LAMPARD is a hat-trick shy of 100 goals for Chelsea.
DROGBA is a hat-trick short of 50 Premier League goals in Chelsea colours.
If selected:-
Carlo CUDICINI will be making his 200th appearance in a Chelsea goalkeepers'
jersey.
LAMPARD will be facing a former club. The 29 year old England international
was a West Ham trainee, making 187 appearances (148 in the league) and
scoring 37 goals (23 league) for them before his £11m move to Stamford
Bridge in June 2001.
JOE COLE will also will be facing former team mates. The 26 year old England
international similarly started his career with the Hammers, making 149
appearances (126 in the league) and scoring 13 goals (10 league) before his
£6.6m move across the capital in August 2003.
Suspended:-
Michael ESSIEN (three matches)
WEST HAM UNITED
Craig BELLAMY and Lee BOWYER are West Ham's joint top scorers with four
goals each.
BOWYER is the Hammers' top Premier League marksmen as all four of his goals
were in the league.
Matthew UPSON and Robert GREEN are the only remaining players to have been
on the field for every minute of every one of West Ham's Premier League
matches this season.
BOWYER is a double shy of 50 career Premier League goals (Leeds, Newcastle
and West Ham).
If selected:-
Henri CAMARA will be making his 100th career Premier League appearance
(Wolves, Southampton, Wigan and West Ham).
CARLTON COLE will be facing the club where he started his professional
career. The 24 year old forward made 32 appearances (25 in the league) and
scored eight goals (four league) before signing for the Hammers in July
2006.
Scott PARKER will be playing against a former club. The 27 year old England
international made 28 appearances (15 in the league) and scored one league
goal for Chelsea between January 2004 and June 2005.
If on the field from the outset:-
James COLLINS will be making his 100th career club start (Cardiff and West
Ham).
HEAD TO HEAD
Chelsea have scored a total of 12 goals in their four meetings with West Ham
over the last two seasons. They're chasing a third successive victory over
the Eastenders at the Bridge.
The Hammers' only Premier League maximum in six trips across the capital was
on 28 September 2002 by the odd goal in five. Paulo Di Canio scored a double
and Jermain Defoe netted the other.
West Ham are one of eight clubs doubled by Chelsea last season, and Chelsea
were the last of six clubs to complete the double over West Ham last term.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Chelsea 29 wins, West Ham 34, Draws 15
Prem: Chelsea 12 wins, West Ham 9, Draws 3
at Chelsea only
League (inc PL): Chelsea 19 wins, West Ham 12, Draws 8
Prem: Chelsea 7 wins, West Ham 4, Draws 1
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Chelsea 1-0 West Ham United
18 November 2006 - Ref: Mike Dean
Chelsea scorer: Geremi 22
REFEREE
Howard Webb (Yorkshire)
Premier League referees' table
Howard Webb's 2007-08 Premier League card count
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Drogba too hot for Irons - SSN
Last updated: 30th November 2007
LAST SEASON'S HEAD-TO-HEAD
West Ham 1-4 Chelsea
Chelsea 1-0 West Ham
Chelsea v West Ham
12.30pm, Saturday, Sky Sports 1
Chelsea have been pretty good this season, but I still don't think they are
going to have enough to beat Manchester United and Arsenal in the title
race.
I didn't really expect them to collapse after Jose Mourinho left because
they've got too many good players for that. And under Avram Grant they've
been as solid as ever and they've given themselves a chance of winning the
Premier League after looking a little bit dodgy at the start of the season.
I'm sure that's what they are aiming for. They'll comfortably be in the top
four, but I think Arsenal and Man United are playing some fabulous stuff at
the moment and Chelsea no longer have that extra spark that they had under
Mourinho. They struggle in the centre-back position when John Terry and
Ricardo Carvalho are injured and while they are still a very good, solid
football team I haven't seen any of the "sexy football" that Avram Grant
promised. There hasn't been much of a difference in their style of play.
Grant had to come in and promise attacking football because that's what
Roman Abramovich wanted. But there has been no evidence of change and the
real test will come in January when we see what type of players he goes out
and buys. I think Abramovich would probably rather win the Champions League
than the title this season. He's won the Premier League a couple of times
and the Champions League has eluded them, so if you were to ask him if he
could win one title this season that's the one he'd go for.
Suspension
Michael Essien's suspension is a big miss for them this weekend. He is one
of the best midfielders in the Premier League, very solid, scores the
occasional goal and holds the midfield together very well. When they move
him to full-back, the midfield suffers and when he is out of the team it is
a real blow. But I think they might be strong enough without him against
West Ham, especially because Didier Drogba looks like he's getting back to
his best. He took Mourinho's departure very hard, but these guys are
professionals and have to go out and do their job. If he wants to move on to
pastures new, the only way he can do it is to perform well for Chelsea and
get himself a good move. It's good to see him firing again because last
season he was outstanding. It's the second London derby in a row for West
Ham after a very interesting match against Spurs last weekend. Robert Green
could have been sent off and later ended up saving a last-minute penalty.
It's amazing how many times in football that a villain who should have been
sent off goes on to have a massive impact on a game.
Strong
But saying that, I think Green is coming into some decent form. He was out
for a long time with an injury last season, but now he is looking pretty
strong.
I'm sure he's pushing for a place in the England squad given the problems
we've got in that department. I'm not quite sure why he wasn't involved in
the recent internationals. He looked very promising a couple of years ago
and was getting in the squad before he got injured on England duty. It seems
to have taken him a while to recover from that and he's made a habit of
saving penalties this season. I'm sure he'll be back in the squad pretty
soon. Another man who has stepped up this season is Carlton Cole and I'm
pleased for him. He had a very big reputation as a young boy and never
really seemed to get anywhere near the standard we thought he would. He's
got a lot of great attributes as a centre-forward, but he has never really
scored enough goals or got much of a run in a team until now. But he's had a
chance at West Ham this season and he needed that for his confidence and for
his career. He went out on loan to Villa and Charlton and didn't really do
much, but hopefully his career has had a bit of a kick-start now. Dean
Ashton's return is also a big boost for them. He's a good footballer and
while he's not blessed with blistering pace, he's got a very good touch,
knows where the goal is and is a good finisher. West Ham have missed him.
He's one of many injuries West Ham have had, so they've done okay to get to
mid-table. Nineteen points isn't a bad start given the problems they've had
early in the season.
Le Tiss predicts
HOME WIN - London teams sometimes suffer with the amount of derbies they
have to play because you can't win them all, but I think Chelsea will win
this one. However, it won't be comfortable for them and West Ham will give
them a bit of a game. I think the odd goal will settle it and I think it
will be 2-1.
Matt's Main Man
DIDIER DROGBA - He's back in form so he's got to be the key man. He scored a
couple of goals in midweek and looks like he's out of his sulking mode and
back into his I-want-to-play mode.
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Cole eyes memorable return - SSN
Striker returns to Stamford Bridge after move last summer
By James Dall Last updated: 30th November 2007
West Ham United striker Carlton Cole is hoping to make a 'big impact' when
he faces former club Chelsea on Saturday. The 24-year-old had loan spells at
Wolves, Charlton and Aston Villa before eventually leaving Stamford Bridge
for Upton Park in a permanent deal last summer. After his move Cole found
first-team appearances hard to come by, but a recent spate of injuries have
paved the way for a consistent run spearheading The Hammers attack. And the
former England Under 21 international has spoken of his 'extra hunger' to
perform against his old club, with his sights set on netting a memorable
goal. "There will always be that extra hunger for a player when they come up
against their former club - no player wants to play their old team and do
badly," he told West Ham's official website. "This is actually the first
time I am playing Chelsea as the visiting team, so it will be weird - but I
am really up for it. "I will hopefully have a big impact on the game and to
get on the scoresheet as well would be the icing on the cake." Chelsea are
currently on a run of 13 games unbeaten, and Cole is expecting a tough
afternoon. "I expect a very tough game, it will be a lot to do with our
performance though rather than theirs." he added. "We will need to go and
set up our stall and show we mean business. I think we will be able to do
quite well. "We are a team than can go to places and upset teams which we
have shown away from home so far this season. "We will do the same at
Stamford Bridge and try to upset their game plan and get the result we
need."
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Grant tells Curbs to drop mind games - Setanta
by Ben Blackmore, 30 November 2007
Avram Grant has hit back at Alan Curbishley's claims that Chelsea try to
bully referees, insisting the West Ham boss does not believe the words he
speaks.
Curbishley claimed Chelsea were one of four big clubs who think they have a
right to influence the referee's mind by means of intimidation. The West
Ham boss was speaking in relation to the recent incident at Derby that saw
seven Chelsea players surround the referee after Michael Essien was red
carded.
Grant believes Curbishley's comments are merely a poor attempt at mind
games, and he insists there is no doubt that The Blues find themselves on
the wrong end of refereeing decisions. "I don't think that he believes that.
Psychology war, it's ok - you can say anything. But you can see the facts,"
he said. "I don't want to speak about the other teams but there have been
three red cards against us in the last three months and none of them was a
red card. "If this equals privilege I don't want to think about other
situations."
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It's The Same Old Chelsea, Insists West Ham Boss Curbishley -
caughtoffside.com
November 30, 2007
What do you get if you sack a controversial Portuguese manager and replace
him with an introverted Israeli coach at Chelsea? According to Alan
Curbishley in The Guardian, exactly the same team who continue to pick up
wins on account of the foundations laid by their predecessor.
The West Ham coach has certainly stirred up a real hornet's nest ahead of
Saturday lunchtime's derby match between Chelsea and the Hammers, belittling
any effect that Avram Grant has had on the team, despite an impressive
string of victories since Jose Mourinho departed.
"They're talking it up but if you care to look at it, there's not much
difference," Curbishley said. "Drogba is a handful, the midfield three are
as strong as you get, John Terry plays when he's fit and the other players
are put around them. The side is well established and they play a certain
way, it's just carried on.
"When he [Grant] took the job on he must have thought, 'I'm gonna win more
than I lose with the squad I've got.' The foundations Mourinho left were
there for everyone to see and he's taken over nice and quietly and picked up
the results."
While it's certainly been a case of evolution rather than revolution at
Stamford Bridge, these comments have surely been designed to ruffle a few
feathers ahead of Saturday's game. While there's no doubt that Grant
presides over a group of talented players, Mourinho's final three matches as
Blues boss had seen the team lose 2-0 at Aston Villa, draw 0-0 at home to
Blackburn and then manage only a 1-1 draw with Rosenborg. The scoreline in
the corresponding fixture on Wednesday night? 4-0 to Chelsea.
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Humble Hammer Green is making his mark - Daily Mail
Last updated at 10:31am on 30th November 2007
Robert Green is nowhere near his peak as a goalkeeper yet but for tens of
thousands of West Ham supporters, he can already do no wrong. Green's
injury-time penalty save from Jermain Defoe last Sunday immediately assured
him a special place in the hearts of every true Hammers fan - and would have
done even if it hadn't salvaged a point from a feisty London derby. His
friends though, were not best pleased with him, not for his rare mistake
which led to Tottenham's earlier equaliser but for his comments afterwards,
about youngsters spending too much time on PlayStations. "I have friends who
work in the video game world absolutely slaughtering me this week over what
I said," he revealed. "They're far from happy. "I should come clean though.
I did once possess a video game myself a few years ago, played it quite a
lot in fact but it did my head in. It was easy to become addicted to it but
now I prefer a real life rather than one online or crammed inside a six inch
box." Green's pals may not be happy, but his manager is. Alan Curbishley is
not one to throw out compliments lightly but the West Ham manager couldn't
have been more fulsome in praise of his keeper. Curbishley's comments, plus
an unbeaten run of six matches, underline why Green is the London Evening
Standard's Footballer of the Month for October. "Robert is an old-fashioned
type of footballer," said Curbishley. "He's never late, he always prepares
properly, trains as hard as he can, does a bit more, has a shower, eats his
lunch, just gets on with it. "Football is the big thing in his life. He's
worked hard to get where he is. "Since last year, when he came back into the
side after Roy Carroll had been in for a few games, I would say he's been
easily the most consistent keeper in the League."
Despite what his boss says, Green is a bit different to your average player.
He'd rather watch cricket than football on TV and didn't even know England's
result against Croatia until he came in later from a night out with his
friends. "I have my fill of football every day, going in, working hard and
thinking about nothing else but football while I'm there," he explained.
"Too much of it though and I don't think it helps with the end product. I
like to relax, keep away from it as much as I can when I'm not working, it
helps keep me fresh. "If I could drop one thing it would be the whole
paraphernalia that goes with football. "If we could just concentrate on
playing the games I am sure we would be all the better for it. It's nice to
be recognised and praised for doing your job well but I don't really enjoy
the public side of it. Meeting the fans is great, the people who appreciate
what you do, but mainly I want to get on, do well and keep my head down."
The 27-year-old former Norwich goalkeeper though, does have some definite
views on sport in this country. His comments about video games and
youngsters may not have endeared him to his friends but it was a heartfelt
sentiment. During school time a lot of kids are doing one hour a week on
physical education," he said. "I have friends who teach PE in schools and
now, they say, half the time their job is reduced to crowd control. "Sport
has been put on the back burner for years yet governments are as quick as
anyone to jump on an election bandwagon after a sporting success. You can't
under-estimate the value of sport. Just look at the feel-good factor after a
sporting success, even the boost to the economy that brings."
There will be no chance of that next summer now that England failed to
qualify for the Finals of Euro 2008 but does Green believe he will have more
of chance of adding to his one senior cap, when the new coach takes over?
"West Ham is the one thing I can control. I love playing here and I'll carry
on doing that,î he said. "That's all I can do."
Green's spot-kick save against Defoe was his third in succession this season
and he will be ready should he be called upon to improve that record
tomorrow at Stamford Bridge. "Frank Lampard tends to hit his penalties quite
hard," recalled Green, "so I might be diving quite early just to give myself
a chance. "The thing is though, he's taken a few against me in training for
England and I haven't managed to save any yet!"
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I'd love to score for West Ham against Chelsea, says ex-Blues striker Cole -
Daily Mail
Last updated at 11:37am on 30th November 2007
Carlton Cole is determined to show Chelsea just what they missed out on when
the West Ham striker returns to his old club tomorrow. The 24-year-old has
found himself spearheading the Hammers attack following a run of injuries to
Alan Curbishley's strikers. Petit questions England commitment of Chelsea
duo Terry and Cole after they miss Croatia clash but play against Derby
Cole, a former England Under-21 international, intends to make the most of
his chance to prove he can cut it at the top level, having had spells at
Wolves, Charlton and Aston Villa before eventually leaving Stamford Bridge
for Upton Park in a permanent deal last summer. "There will always be that
extra hunger for a player when they come up against their former club - no
player wants to play their old team and do badly," said Cole, who had worked
his way up through the youth ranks at Stamford Bridge. "This is actually the
first time I am playing Chelsea as the visiting team, so it will be weird -
but I am really up for it."
Cole told the club's official website, www.whufc.com: "I will hopefully have
a big impact on the game and to get on the score-sheet as well would be the
icing on the cake." Chelsea have found their consistency again under Avram
Grant, and are unbeaten in 13 matches. The Hammers are in decent form
themselves, having not lost since the start of October. Cole netted in the
1-1 draw with Tottenham at Upton Park last weekend and knows his team are
set for another stern test tomorrow. "I expect a very tough game, it will be
a lot to do with our performance though rather than theirs," said Cole, who
could be paired with former England Under-21 team-mate Dean Ashton tomorrow.
"We will need to go and set up our stall and show we mean business. I think
we will be able to do quite well."
Cole insisted: "We are a team than can go to places and upset teams which we
have shown away from home so far this season. "We will do the same at
Stamford Bridge and try to upset their game plan and get the result we
need."
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West Ham boss Curbishley warns refs about Chelsea
tribalfootball.com - November 30, 2007
West Ham United boss Alan Curbishley has had a pop at tomorrow's opponents
Chelsea over their treatment of match officials. Curbishley criticised the
so-called big four's attempts to influence referees, days after Chelsea were
charged with failing to control their players during the 2-0 victory away to
Derby. The club has also only just paid a £30,000 fine for threatening
behaviour towards the referee Mike Dean during the defeat at Old Trafford.
"The big four teams definitely get after the ref a bit more than other
teams," Curbishley said. "All the top teams are that way inclined -
decisions are disputed, especially when they're at home."
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Duo back for Hammers - Evening Echo
30/11/2007 - 9:36:44 AM
Striker Dean Ashton and midfielder Scott Parker are in contention to start
for West Ham in tomorrow's Barclays Premier League clash with Chelsea at
Stamford Bridge. The pair came through a midweek reserve game unscathed,
while Freddie Ljungberg has shown no ill effects from the migraine which
ruled him out of the last match against Tottenham. However, the fitness of
Lee Bowyer (hernia) will be assessed ahead of the match and Craig Bellamy
(groin) is still out.
Team (from): Green, Neill, Gabbidon, Upson, McCartney, Solano, Mullins,
Noble, Etherington, Cole, Boa Morte, Wright, Ashton , Collins, Parker,
Spector, Bowyer, Ljungberg.
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Mullins: Irons can nick a Bridge win - TeamTalk
Hayden Mullins admits West Ham will have to try and hit Chelsea on the break
if they are to get a result at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Chelsea's 4-0
away demolition of Rosenborg in the Champions League on Wednesday night made
it 13 games unbeaten for Avram Grant's side and Mullins is under no
illusions about the size of the task facing the Hammers. However the
midfielder, who has returned from his recent injury lay-off, is confident
his side can achieve a positive result if they play the right way. "We won't
go there and fear them at all," he said. "We know they are a great side and
we know they are a hard team." Mullins added on the club's website: "It is a
good game for us to go there and hit them on the break. "We have done that
to a lot of teams away from home. We look quite good doing it and we know
what we can do. "Who knows? A couple of chances and a bit of luck on the day
and hopefully we can nick something."
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