WHUFC.com
All of the background and early team news ahead of the trip to Stoke City on
Saturday
16.10.2009
Barclays Premier League
Stoke City v West Ham United
Britannia Stadium
Saturday 17 October
3pm
Referee: Martin Atkinson
• A strong West Ham United squad will travel to face Tony Pulis' Stoke City
in the club's sixth away match of the 2009/10 Barclays Premier League season
on Saturday afternoon. West Ham have won five and drawn one of their last
half-dozen trips to Stoke and have not lost there since 1 October 1983.
• Five of the club's six awaydays this campaign have been in the north-west
of England, with the opening-day trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers the only
exception.
• West Ham sit in 18th place in the fledgling Barclays Premier League
standings with five points from their first seven matches. Saturday's hosts
are just four points ahead but that is enough to keep them eight places in
front, having played a game more. A win for the away side could see them
climb as high as 13th place.
• None of the Hammers' home games so far have kicked-off at the customary
3pm time on Saturday. And with the Arsenal and Everton matches also being
moved to Sunday due to television and UEFA Europa League commitments
respectively, West Ham United's first 3pm Saturday kick-off of the season
will not come until Burnley visit the Boleyn Ground on 28 November.
• West Ham have not picked up three points since their opening day victory
at Wolverhampton Wanderers, but will take heart from their impressive win at
the Britannia Stadium in May this year.
• The 1-0 win that day completed West Ham's fourth and final league 'double'
of last season, having already won home and away against Fulham, Sunderland
and Wigan. The Hammers beat the Potters 2-1 at the Boleyn Ground on 28
December.
• This is the 65th league meeting between the two sides. West Ham have won
26, Stoke have won 23 and there have been 15 draws.
Last meeting
• The last meeting between the two sides was on 2 May 2009 at the Britannia
Stadium. Diego Tristan's spectacular free-kick 12 minutes before the break
was enough to win the game for the visitors.
The teams that day were:
West Ham United: Green, Neill, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Boa Morte (Collison
82), Noble (Lopez 87), Kovac, Stanislas, Di Michele (Sears 89), Tristan
Subs not used: Lastuvka, Spector, Payne. Hines
Goal: Tristan 33.
Stoke City: Sorensen, Wilkinson (Sonko 87), Faye, Shawcross, Pugh
(Olofinjana 72), Lawrence, Whelan, Delap, Etherington, Beattie (Camara 72),
Fuller
Subs not used: Simonsen, Cresswell, Kelly, Tonge
Last time out
Sunday 4 October 2009
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United 2-2 Fulham
West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Parker (Behrami
71), Noble, Jimenez, Diamanti, Hines (Stanislas 71), Cole
Subs not used: Kurucz, Spector, Da Costa, Payne, Nouble
Goals: Cole 16, Stanislas 90.
Sunday 4 October 2009
Barclays Premier League
Everton 1-1 Stoke City
Stoke City: Sorensen, Huth, Abdoulaye Faye, Collins, Shawcross, Delap,
Etherington, Whitehead, Diao (Whelan 77) , Fuller (Kitson 89), Beattie
Subs not used: Lawrence,Sanli,Wilkinson,Cort,Simonsen
Goal: Huth 50
Referee
• Saturday's referee is the 38-year-old Martin Atkinson.
• A referee since the age of 16, Atkinson was promoted to the Football
League list of assistant referees in 1998. In 2000, Atkinson was promoted to
the Select Group of assistant referees, allowing him to run the line in
Premier League matches.
• Atkinson joined the National List of referees for the Football League at
the start of the 2003/04 season before taking charge of his first Premier
League fixture on 20 April 2005 when Manchester City entertained Birmingham
City.
• Atkinson was the man in the middle at the 2006 FA Community Shield between
Chelsea and Liverpool at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. He also took
charge of the 2008 FA Trophy final between Ebbsfleet United and Torquay
United at Wembley Stadium.
• Atkinson refereed two West Ham games last season, the goalless draw with
Portsmouth at the Boleyn Ground on 15 November and the 1-0 defeat by
Tottenham Hotspur on 11 April. This will be his first West Ham United match
this season.
• Saturday's match will be Atkinson's seventh this season. He has an average
of four cards per game so far.
Old boys
• West Ham first-team coach Kevin Keen made 201 league and cup appearances
for Stoke between October 1994 and September 2000, scoring 12 goals. Keen, a
former West Ham apprentice, made 279 league and cup appearances for the
Hammers between March 1984 and July 1993, scoring 30 goals.
• Stoke winger Matthew Etherington made 195 appearances for West Ham between
August 2003 and January 2009, scoring 18 goals. He joined the Potters on 8
January, having moved to the Boleyn Ground from Tottenham Hotspur
five-and-a-half years previously.
• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are Clive Clarke,
Bob Dixon, Sir Geoff Hurst, Lawrie Leslie, Nicky Morgan, Henri Camara and
Frank Richardson.
Head to head
Last six meetings
2 May 2009 - Stoke City 0-1 West Ham United
28 December 2008 - West Ham United 2-1 Stoke City
19 April 2005 - Stoke City 0-1 West Ham United
19 October 2004 - West Ham United 2-0 Stoke City
24 April 2004 - Stoke City 0-2 West Ham United
9 December 2003 - West Ham United 0-1 Stoke City
Overall record v Stoke City (all competitions) W 31 D 18 L 27
West Ham United
Gianfranco Zola said: "It is important that the force perform for me all of
the time no matter what position. They have to perform. They are focused and
they know the position is not very good and is probably not the position
that we deserve. We are determined to fight and to improve it straight away.
Stoke is a difficult game with a difficult opposition but the focus is
there."
• Carlton Cole is in line to make his 100th appearance in a West Ham United
shirt if selected.
• Robert Green has played 95 consecutive Barclays Premier League games -
more than any other player in the top-flight currently. All being well, he
will reach his unbroken century when Everton visit the Boleyn Ground on
Sunday 8 November.
• Five players - Junior Stanislas, Mark Noble, Matthew Upson, Alessandro
Diamanti and Carlton Cole (four) have got on the league scoresheet for the
Hammers so far this season.
• Cole, who has eleven goals in his last 19 league appearances dating back
to last season, led the way in the scoring charts in the 2008/09 campaign
with ten Premier League goals, one in the FA Cup and one in the League Cup.
• Cole celebrated his 26th birthday last Monday.
• Guille Franco, Jonathan Spector and Valon Behrami were all celebrating
this week as Mexico, the United States and Switzerland all qualified for
next summer's 2010 FIFA World Cup finals. Luis Boa Morte and Manuel Da Costa
will hope Portugal progress from November's play-offs if they are to have a
chance of realising their own dreams of making it to South Africa. England
qualified last month.
• The Hammers finished last season in ninth in the Barclays Premier League
with 51 points, a place and two points higher than they managed in the
previous season.
• The Hammers have not lost on any of their last six visits to Stoke City.
West Ham have won five and drawn one of those matches, a run that stretches
back to a 4-2 First Division victory on 20 October 1984 - the pair's
previous meeting at Stoke in the top-flight before last season's enounter.
• West Ham's last defeat at Stoke came on 1 October 1983, when the hosts won
3-1 at the Victoria Ground. That game was 26 years ago when Culture Club
were No1 with 'Karma Chameleon' and Neil Kinnock was newly elected as leader
of the Labour Party.
• West Ham's biggest away win at Stoke came during the 1957/58 Second
Division title-winning season. A Vic Keeble brace and further strikes from
Mike Grice and John Dick saw the Hammers secure a 4-1 victory at the
Victoria Ground on 29 March 1958. West Ham's most emphatic top-flight
victory at Stoke came on 20 October 1984, when Paul Allen, Paul Goddard,
Tony Cottee and an own-goal from George Berry saw the Hammers triumph 4-2.
• West Ham are next in action eight days after Saturday's game when they
play host to Arsenal at the Boleyn Ground. Kick-off is at 4.15pm.
Stoke City
• Stoke City manager Tony Pulis said: "It's a similar situation to the
Tottenham scenario last season when they got off to a bad start. Like Spurs,
West Ham have too many good players to stay in the position they are
currently in and I am sure it won't be long before they are climbing the
table."
• Stoke's biggest-ever home league victory over West Ham came in the shape
of a 5-2 First Division victory at the Victoria Ground on 6 November 1982.
Hammers' boss John Lyall received his manager of the month award before the
game. The defeat was West Ham's heaviest defeat since losing 6-0 to
Sunderland in 1967. Stoke scored through Sammy McIlroy (two), Brendan
O'Callaghan, Peter Hampton and Mickey Thomas. West Ham's goals came through
a Ray Stewart penalty and Geoff Pike's late consolation.
• Stoke have not beaten West Ham at home since 1 October 1983. That day, the
Potters secured a 3-1 First Division victory at the Victoria Ground. Stoke's
goals came from Mark Chamberlain, Dave McAughtrie and Mickey Thomas. The
Hammers' goal came through a Ray Stewart penalty.
• Stoke have failed to score in three their eight league games this season.
Since the opening day 2-0 home win over Burnley, the Potters have failed to
score more than a single goal in any Premier League game.
• Danny Pugh will be 27 on Monday.
Team news
• Gianfranco Zola could welcome back two further key players to his squad
for Saturday's game. Danny Gabbidon and Jack Collison both played in a
practice game at the Boleyn Ground last week after recovering from calf and
knee injuries respectively.
• If the duo do return, Zola will be handed a selection headache of the good
kind with his defensive and midfield options already swelled by the return
of Matthew Upson and Valon Behrami in the last game against Fulham.
• Radoslav Kovac will be pushing hard to play and may have a chance with
Scott Parker suspended after his fifth caution of the season last time out
against Fulham
• Fresh from two goals on his England Under-21 debut, Zavon Hines could keep
his place in face of competition from Mexican international Guille Franco -
who has trained all week at Chadwell Heath. Frank Nouble also played in
three Under-19 international victories for England this past week.
• Terry Dixon made his first two appearances in a West Ham shirt in
friendlies over the last fortnight and with another week of full training
under his belt could feature for the reserves in their next game away at
Chelsea on Monday 19 October.
• Kieron Dyer has also been working hard at the training ground after a
hamstring problem.
• Luis Boa Morte (knee) is due back at the club next week to step up his
rehab, but Dean Ashton (ankle) remains a long-term absentee with no date set
for his return. Calum Davenport has begun to slowly build up his strength
work and has been a welcome sight at Chadwell Heath in recent days.
• Stoke have been sweating on the fitness of Glenn Whelan after picking up a
calf complaint on international duty with the Republic of Ireland, haviing
scored in a 2-2 draw with Italy.
• Mamady Sidibie is not thought to be in contention until the end of the
month at the earliest after a long-term knee ligament injury. The Potters
have plenty of options in attack with Ricardo Fuller, James Beattie, Dave
Kitson and Tuncay Sanli all fit.
• Salif Diao could play again after proving he was over his long-term back
problem in the 1-1 draw against Everton a fortnight ago.
General information
• For ticket information click here. For directions to the Britannia Stadium
click here.
• The weather forecast for Stoke this Saturday is for a sunny day, with
temperatures expected to be around the 12C mark.
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Looking strong for Stoke
WHUFC.com
West Ham United will travel to Stoke City with a squad boosted by the return
of two more key players
16.10.2009
Gianfranco Zola has a near full-strength squad to choose from when he picks
his team for Saturday's Barclays Premier League game at Stoke City. The
manager's options had given him plenty of food for thought as he put the
players through their paces on Friday - but one thing he was clear about was
that rumour and speculation off the field had no bearing on his day to day
work. "My focus is here and my future comes and goes through this club. "I
owe a lot to this club and I am determined to fulfil my promises and the
expectations that the players and supporters have got of me. I will do this
job as well as I can and I am totally focused on this."
Helping the manager in his aims is that Danny Gabbidon, Jack Collison,
Radoslav Kovac and Guille Franco are all in contention following their
returns to fitness. They will be joined by Valon Behrami, who will be
pushing for his second start of the season and his first since 19 September.
The only absentees will be the suspended Scott Parker and the injured Kieron
Dyer alongside long-term injury victims Luis Boa Morte and Dean Ashton.
"Everybody should be available apart form Kieron Dyer and Scott Parker, who
is suspended," Zola said. "The others are fit and well. Franco is available
as well and he is part of the force for Saturday."
The West Ham United manager has seen a real determination in his "force"
this week to help the club climb up the Premier League table. "It is
important that the force perform for me all of the time no matter what
position we are in. They have to perform. They are focused and they know the
position is not very good and is probably not the position that we deserve.
"We are determined to fight and to improve it straight away. Saturday is a
difficult game with a difficult opposition but the focus is there."
The extra bodies in the squad will be welcomed for the trip to a stadium
that Stoke made into something of a fortress last season. Just four teams,
of which West Ham were one, left the Britannia with maximum points in the
2008/09 campaign and Zola knows another thorough examination awaits his
squad. "I have a lot of respect for Stoke and for the manager - they are a
tough team. We know what is coming and we feel that we need to take out our
A game if we want to come out with something and the players are determined
to do that. "We are going to take some measures against them. Last year we
did very well with them and we will try and repeat them on Saturday."
The record books suggest Stoke will also need to be on their game because
they have not registered a home win against the Hammers since 1 October
1983. When asked about that coupled with Stoke's recent tendency to let in
late goals, Zola insisted he did not care for how the goals arrived as long
as his side get a result. "History can be something that can give you
confidence but we know that it will be a tough match and we will need to be
at our best if we want to get something out of that. "As long as there are
three points I don't mind if we score in the first minute or the last
minute. As the time goes the physical condition will improve as well so they
will be better. Stoke are a side that can be dangerous especially when they
have set-plays and when they can put the ball in box. But they also have
weaknesses and we will try to exploit those weaknesses."
Zola has had to contend with losing several players to national duty over
the past ten days. The inconvenience has not had a big disruption on
preparations, however, and all theplayers have had a chance to reflect on
the lessons learned from the previous game with Fulham. "It is always a
problem for teams like us who have international team players as you end up
losing the players for ten days and only see them just before the match. But
there are no complaints, I'm not the only one in that position so we have to
make the most of that. "Against Fulham we know that for some reason after
the first goal we lost it a little bit. We are determined to not repeat it
again and on Saturday we are determined to show that."
One of those players returning from national duty is Robert Green, who was
unfortunate to be dismissed in England's defeat by Ukraine on Saturday. The
resulting suspension allowed Green to return to Chadwell Heath early and
Zola has seen a real determination in his No1 ahead of the weekend. "He's
been brilliant. He was very difficult to beat in training form the edge of
the box on Thursday so he is very well focused. Unfortunately he was unlucky
in that episode [the red card] but he is determined to come back and do well
for us. He is a player that makes a lot of difference when he is on form for
us."
Another welcome sight for everyone at Chadwell Heath was the appearance of
Calum Davenport, who started some very light rehab work following his
release from hospital.
"Calum's doing well. I think he can start doing some cycle work and some
swimming. He has to be assessed again in about a month's time but it was
very pleasing for everyone to see him around. It is too early to say [about
his recovery] but the fact that he can do such sports is encouraging."
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Youths head to Portsmouth
WHUFC.com
Two West Ham United Academy sides will be heading to the south coast on
Saturday morning
16.10.2009
Tony Carr will travel to the south coast on Saturday morning with two
Academy teams set to take on Portsmouth. Both the Under-18s and the
Under-16s will face Pompey hoping for victories for slightly different
reasons. The U16s will be hoping to maintain their 100 per cent start to the
season, while the U18s will be looking to build on two consecutive draws to
help them pick up their first win since the opening day success at Everton.
"We've got two teams going to Portsmouth on Saturday, the Under-16s and the
Under-18s," Academy director Carr said. "The U16s have had a terrific start
to the season and have won every game in fact. "The U18s have been a little
bit indifferent although we've hit a bit of consistency recently and had a
credible draw last weekend against Crystal Palace."
With a reserve-team match on Monday, Carr will have to do without some of
his first-team regulars. But as one door shuts another one opens and the
gaps in the squad will lead to chances for others, most notably 15-year-old
forward Dylan Tombides. "We're going to blood a young schoolboy called Dylan
Tombides who has done very well for us. He'll make his full debut. "He's a
striker and is not 16 until next March. He's had a couple of sub appearances
so this will be his first start. We've had a few injuries so it's an
opportunity for Dylan to show us what he can do."
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Squad looking to Saturday
WHUFC.com
The numbers in training have been swelled by the imminent return to Barclays
Premier League action
16.10.2009
Gianfranco Zola, Steve Clarke and Kevin Keen have relished having extra
numbers to work with on the Chadwell Heath practice pitches after the
international break. The coaching trio had already been putting the likes of
Danny Gabbidon, Jack Collison, Radoslav Kovac, Valon Behrami and Guille
Franco through their paces in a bid to build up fitness before the club's
England contingent returned for two days of intensive training. There has
also been the sight of new-looks for Luis Jimenez and Alessandro Diamanti
although the focus has been firmly on football.
It remains to be seen who will be part of the travelling party for Stoke
City on Friday but it seems there will be a few selection decisions to make
as the Hammers look to make it seven trips to Stoke unbeaten - a run dating
back to October 1983. One man who cannot play a part this time around is
Scott Parker because of a one-match ban triggered by a fifth yellow card of
the season last time against Fulham.
A welcome sight at Chadwell Heath has been Calum Davenport, who has returned
to the club after a lengthy lay-off caused by stab wounds suffered in an
incident back in August. It is still very early days for the defender but he
has been given a light programme to build up his strength. Luis Boa Morte
(knee), due back in England next week, and Dean Ashton (ankle) are the other
long-term absentees.
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Stoke v West Ham
BBC.co.uk
Saturday, 17 October 2009
Barclays Premier League
Venue: Britannia Stadium Date: Saturday, 17 October 2009 Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, local radio, Final Score &
highlights on Match of the Day
TEAM NEWS
Glenn Whelan is the only fitness doubt for Stoke manager Tony Pulis after
the midfielder suffered a calf problem playing for the Republic of Ireland.
High-profile summer signing Tuncay is still waiting for his first Premier
League start for the club.
West Ham midfielder Jack Collison is available for the trip to the Britannia
after overcoming a knee injury. But Scott Parker is suspended after
accumulating five yellow cards already this season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
Stoke
Suspended: None Doubtful: Whelan (calf)
Injured: Amdy Faye (back), Sidibe (knee)
West Ham
Suspended: Parker (one match)
Doubtful: Dyer (hamstring), Gabbidon (calf)
Injured: Ashton (ankle), Boa Morte (knee)
MATCH PREVIEW
Stoke return after the international break desperate to reassert their home
dominance after consecutive defeats to Chelsea and Manchester United. Only
four sides have managed to breach the Britannia fortress in the Premier
League. West Ham's 1-0 victory there in May was their fourth consecutive win
at Stoke, but the London club head north in desperate need of points.
Gianfranco Zola's side have made their worst-ever start to a Premier League
campaign and have not won in the league since the opening day of the season.
The Hammers' need to improve on the pitch is all the more urgent as the
financially stricken club seeks to attract new investment. Former
Birmingham co-owner David Sullivan, linked with a takeover of his childhood
club, pulled no punches in his assessment of the Hammers' precarious
position: "I hope someone gets involved in the next week or next month or
two, otherwise they could be in the Championship, or bust."
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• The Hammers have won seven of the last eight meetings in all competitions
with Stoke, including the last five in a row.
Stoke
• Stoke are hoping for a first win in five Premier League outings.
• The Potters have lost their last two home games. The only other time they
lost two straight home matches in the Premier League, they went on to win
their next four.
• Half of the goals Stoke have conceded have come in the last 15 minutes of
games - the highest proportion in the Premier League.
• They have lost seven points from winning positions this season - more than
any other side in the English top flight.
West Ham
• West Ham are vying for a first win in seven league outings.
• Five points after the first seven games is the Hammers' worst-ever Premier
League return.
• The Hammers have lost their last three away games in all competitions.
• Carlton Cole has either scored or set-up five of West Ham's eight goals in
the league this season. Cole is hoping to make his 100th West Ham
appearance.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
Stoke
Kitson: 3 goals (2 league)
West Ham
Cole: 4 goals (4 league); Stanislas: 3 goals (1 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Assistant referees: Paul Thompson & David Richardson
Fourth official: Andy Woolmer
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Stoke (D1-1 v Everton, a): Sorensen, Huth, Abdoulaye Faye, Shawcross,
Collins, Delap, Diao (Whelan 77), Whitehead, Etherington, Beattie, Fuller
(Kitson 90). Subs not used: Simonsen, Cort, Lawrence, Wilkinson, Sanli.
West Ham (D2-2 v Fulham, h): Green; Faubert, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Noble,
Parker (Behrami 72), Jimenez, Diamanti, Cole, Hines (Stanislas 72). Subs not
used: Kurucz, Spector, Da Costa, Payne, Nouble.
MOST RECENT MEETING
Stoke 0-1 West Ham (2 May 2009)
West Ham scorer: Tristan 33
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Hammers need goals - Etherington
BBC.co.uk
Stoke City winger Matthew Etherington believes a lack of goals is to blame
for his former club West Ham being in the Premier League's relegation zone.
The Hammers are 19th, having scored just eight goals in seven games, and go
to the Britannia Stadium on Saturday. Etherington told BBC Radio Stoke:
"They've got a lot of good players but for some reason it's just not
clicking. "There doesn't seem to be much cutting edge there. You struggle to
see where the goals are going to come from." Gianfranco Zola's side have
taken five points from their opening seven matches, with their only victory
coming on the opening day of the season, a 2-0 success away at
newly-promoted Wolves. Etherington left Upton Park in January to join Stoke
in a £1.8m deal, after 10 years in the capital with Tottenham and West Ham.
He made almost 200 appearances for the Hammers, and he admitted that the
club is still a big part of his life. "Everyone was surprised when I came to
Stoke and saw it as a step down, but I didn't think that," added the
28-year-old.
"It's a club that I want to see do well. I had five great years there and
I'll always follow them. "They will always have a place in my heart because
they were great to me and so were the fans, but even so it will be nice to
get a win against them on Saturday."
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Green has Zola backing
Keeper will make World Cup squad despite red card fiasco, says boss
Last updated: 16th October 2009
SSN
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola has backed Robert Green to bounce back from
his England nightmare last week. The 29-year-old became the first ever
goalkeeper to be sent off in an England shirt as Fabio Capello's side lost
their perfect record in their penultimate World Cup qualifier against
Ukraine. Despite missing the resulting penalty from the incident, Ukraine
took full advantage of the extra man and ran out 1-0 winners in the end,
prompting many to question Green's credentials as first choice England
keeper. Green is back in club action this Saturday as West Ham face a
crucial trip to Stoke and Zola insists his keeper has not been affected by
the publicity. "He just came out to repair a mistake made (by Rio Ferdinand)
in front him - he has been unlucky," Zola said. "Why should his (World Cup)
position be compromised because of that? "He has been brilliant this week.
It's been very difficult for me to beat him from the edge of the box in
training. "He is determined to come back and do well for us tomorrow. It is
important for us that he's playing well."
The Hammers have just five points on the board as they travel to the
Britannia and, with two away defeats already to their name this season, Zola
will be hoping to end their miserable form against the Potters. "I have a
lot of respect for them and their manager," he added. "They are a tough
team. We know what is coming tomorrow and we need to take out our 'A' game
if we want to do something. "We are going to take some measures. Last year
we did very well against them and we hope to do it this year too."
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Stoke v West Ham preview
Zola looks to get back to winning ways
Last updated: 16th October 2009
SSN
Skysports.com prediction: Stoke 3 West Ham 1
One to watch: James Beattie
Sky Bet odds: Stoke 11/10 Draw 9/4 West Ham 13/5
West Ham United travel to Stoke City desperate for a win to kick-start their
season. The Hammers have won just once this season, and that came over two
months ago. Whilst West Ham languish second from bottom, Stoke are sitting
in 11th with a chance of moving back into the top half of the table. But
Stoke's form has been anything but good in recent times as they have gone
four games without a win. One positive aspect that Gianfranco Zola will look
to take into the game is that The Hammers have never lost at the Britannia
Stadium. Indeed West Ham have a 100 per cent record, having played there
three times in the league - although the pair have met just once in the
Premier League, and that was last season when the capital outfit claimed a
1-0 win. Stoke have not beaten West Ham since 2003, but Tony Pulis will be
looking to make amends on Saturday.
Pulis is also boosted by the fact that he has a near fully-fit squad to
choose from. The only injury doubt for the Potteries outfit is Irish
international Glenn Whelan, who sustained a calf injury playing against
Italy last week and he may struggle to make the match. However, as Whelan
was on the bench for the draw with Everton last time out - the chances are
Pulis could name an unchanged line-up. One change could see Tuncay Sanli
handed his first league start for the club. West Ham will make at least one
change to their starting line-up for the match with Scott Parker suspended
for the trip. Fit-again Jack Collison and Valon Behrami are competing to
fill that gap, although Zola could very well introduce both players to his
side. Junior Stanislas will be pushing for a starting role after he came on
and scored the equaliser last time out against Fulham.
Possible starting XIs:
Stoke: Sorensen, Huth, Faye, Collins, Shawcross, Delap, Etherington,
Whitehead, Diao, Fuller, Beattie
West Ham: Green, Faubert, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Collison, Noble,
Jimenez, Cole, Diamanti
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Stoke City v West Ham United
ESPN
Updated: October 16, 2009, 4:17 PM UK
Stoke midfielder Glenn Whelan is the only doubt for manager Tony Pulis as he
prepares for the Barclays Premier League visit of West Ham. The Republic of
Ireland international sustained a calf injury against Italy in a World Cup
qualifier last weekend. Summer signing Tuncay Sanli, who played for Turkey
on Wednesday, is edging closer to a first Barclays Premier League start
after three substitute appearances. Pulis revels in the club's underdog tag
and so is not entirely comfortable with being made favourites for the visit
of West Ham. In the Potters' maiden Barclays Premier League campaign Pulis'
team made a habit of being a thorn in the side of many clubs with greater
top-flight experience. However, he now finds the tables turned somewhat with
the Hammers, struggling in 19th place and without a win since the opening
day of the season, outsiders for victory at the Britannia Stadium. "That is
how far we have come. You have to live with expectations,'' said Pulis. "But
you have to keep your feet on the ground and recognise you are playing in
the greatest league in the world. "Every team you play against - apart from
a few - have been there a lot longer than you have and have players with
experience you haven't got. "West Ham have an English backbone with Carlton
Cole, Matthew Upson and Robert Green, and some terrific foreign players, so
I expect it to be a very difficult game. "We have to be prepared and if
anyone thinks because of their position it will be walk in the park they
will get a real shock.''
West Ham are without the suspended Scott Parker. The holding midfielder is
banned after accumulating five yellow cards while winger Kieron Dyer is
still out with a hamstring injury, but centre-half Danny Gabbidon is fit
after a calf problem. Dean Ashton (ankle) and Luis Boa Morte (knee) are
long-term absentees. West Ham's record against Stoke will be a source of
inspiration to Zola. The Hammers did the double over the Potters last season
and have not lost away to the midlands outfit since October 1983, a run that
takes in six matches. The Londoners coped well with Stoke's direct style and
aerial bombardment when picking up six points against them last campaign and
Zola is backing his team to stand firm. "I have a lot of respect for them
and their manager,'' he added. "They are a tough team. We know what is
coming and we need to take out our `A' game if we want to do something. "We
are going to take some measures. Last year we did very well against them and
we hope to do it this year too.''
West Ham have been the subject of takeover speculation this week, with
former Birmingham owner David Sullivan linked with an approach to buy the
Hammers. Sullivan has insisted the timing is not right but other buyers
could soon come in for the club. Zola maintains these board issues are not
his domain but recognises that an improvement in form on the pitch will make
West Ham a more attractive proposition for potential buyers. "It's the same
as last year,'' he said. "It is important we focus on the pitch, the rest is
a matter for the club to deal with. "The players need to make sure on the
pitch everything goes right. If we do that, we help the club to find the
best solution.''
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West Ham boss backs Robert Green to bounce back
Oct 16 2009
BirminghamMail.net
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola is confident goalkeeper Robert Green will
not be unduly affected by his England sending-off when his struggling side
take on Stoke in the Barclays Premier League tomorrow. Green was dismissed
15 minutes into England's 1-0 defeat against Ukraine last Saturday as Fabio
Capello's men lost their 100% record in World Cup qualifying. The former
Norwich star became the first goalkeeper to be sent off playing for England,
and some are now saying his spot in Capello's World Cup squad for next
summer is under threat. Zola believes Green does not deserve the criticism
that has come his way, and is backing his first-choice custodian to produce
the goods at the Britannia Stadium tomorrow as the Hammers look to kickstart
their faltering league campaign. "He just came out to repair a mistake made
(by Rio Ferdinand) in front him - he has been unlucky," Zola said. "Why
should his (World Cup) position be compromised because of that? "He has been
brilliant this week. It's been very difficult for me to beat him from the
edge of the box in training. "He is determined to come back and do well for
us tomorrow. It is important for us that he's playing well."
Zola welcomes back Green and striker Carlton Cole this weekend from England
duty, and they are set to be key figures in what could be a season of
struggle for West Ham.
Zola is arguably facing the toughest battle of his managerial career with
the Hammers second from bottom in the table on just five points from seven
games, equalling their worst ever start to a Premier League campaign. They
are winless in six games - their only league victory came on the opening
weekend at promoted Wolves - but the diminutive former Italy forward retains
faith in his players. "No matter what our position is, they have to
perform," he said. "They (the players) are focused. They know the position
is not very good but it's a position we don't deserve and we are willing to
fight. "Tomorrow is a difficult game against difficult opposition."
West Ham's record against Stoke will be a source of inspiration to Zola. The
Hammers did the double over the Potters last season and have not lost away
to the midlands outfit since October 1983, a run that takes in six matches.
The Londoners coped well with Stoke's direct style and aerial bombardment
when picking up six points against them last campaign and Zola is backing
his team to stand firm tomorrow. "I have a lot of respect for them and their
manager," he added. "They are a tough team. We know what is coming tomorrow
and we need to take out our 'A' game if we want to do something. "We are
going to take some measures. Last year we did very well against them and we
hope to do it this year too."
West Ham have been the subject of takeover speculation this week, with
former Birmingham owner David Sullivan linked with an approach to buy the
Hammers. Sullivan has insisted the timing is not right but other buyers
could soon come in for the club. Zola maintains these board issues are not
his domain but recognises that an improvement in form on the pitch will make
West Ham a more attractive proposition for potential buyers. "It's the same
as last year," he said. "It is important we focus on the pitch, the rest is
a matter for the club to deal with. "The players need to make sure on the
pitch everything goes right. If we do that, we help the club to find the
best solution."
Striker Guillermo Franco played for Mexico last week and he is in line to
make his West Ham debut tomorrow, most likely off the bench. Zola will have
to change his midfield with Scott Parker suspended.
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West Ham crisis makes me cringe, admits Stoke's Matthew Etherington
Published 21:14 16/10/09 By Mirror Football
The Mirror
Matthew Etherington admits watching West Ham flounder at the foot of the
table is painful viewing for him. The Stoke winger spent over five years
with the Hammers and is finding it hard to accept the mess his former club
is in. Etherington quit 18 months ago to move to the Potters in a £2m deal
and says he takes no pleasure out of seeing the misery engulfing Upton Park.
He said: "I still keep in contact with a few of the boys and it doesn't look
too healthy to be honest. "I saw the game against Manchester City and they
passed it around well, it was just a lack of a cutting edge. "If they don't
have Carlton Cole in the team you struggle to see where they are going to
get the goals from.
"Off the pitch there problems as well and it doesn't look too good. There is
talk of people coming in and buying the club and that is something they
need. "The people there at the minute are struggling to keep the debts down.
"The club is in a bit of turmoil and it pains me to see what is happening. I
had five great seasons there and the club was brilliant.
"They will always be a club close to my heart. It is painful to watch and
I'm really hoping they won't be involved in a relegation battle.'' West Ham
biggest problem is hitting the back of the net and Cole's four strikes this
term account for 50 per cent of their Premier League goals. Etherington
said: "Carlton is massive to them, absolutely massive. He is a real presence
in their team. "If they don't have him you struggle to see where the goals
are coming from.'' Whilst a continued slump in form at West Ham could call
Gianfranco Zola's job into question, Etherington believes the work the
Italian has done with Cole is evidence of his managerial ability He added:
"I have seen his qualities improve since Zola has taken over. The manager
has spent a lot of time on him. He saw what a good player Cole could be. "He
is getting his reward with Cole getting England recognition and now being a
massive presence for the team and someone that can chip in with goals. "He
needed an arm around him. If you watch him in training, he is such a handful
and on his day he is unplayable. "He is strong and quick and can put the
ball into the back of the net. He just needed someone to give him
confidence. "When I was there Colely was always there staying back after
training and working with the manager and the Zola was passing on tips. "It
looks like he will be going to the World Cup finals and you have to give
Zola credit for some of that because of the work he has put into him.''
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PARKER BANNED FOR WEST HAM
Daily Express
Friday October 16,2009
By Geoff Marsh for express.co.uk
WEST Ham are without the suspended Scott Parker for tomorrow's Barclays
Premier League match at Stoke. The holding midfielder is banned after
accumulating five yellow cards while winger Kieron Dyer is still out with a
hamstring injury, but centre-half Danny Gabbidon is fit after a calf
problem. Dean Ashton (ankle) and Luis Boa Morte (knee) are long-term
absentees.
Team (from): Green, Kurucz, Faubert, Da Costa, Gabbidon, Daprela, Tomkins,
Upson, Ilunga, Spector, Noble, Kovac, Behrami, Collison, Payne, Jimenez,
Diamanti, Cole, Hines, Stanislas, Franco, Nouble.
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SULLIVAN'S £80M MAY NOT BE ENOUGH
Daily Express
Sullivan prepared to pay for takeover
Saturday October 17,2009
By Tony Banks
DAVID SULLIVAN is prepared to pay only £80million to take over West Ham –
but the club's owners are holding out for a bigger deal. The former
Birmingham co-owner and long-time Hammers fan has opened negotiations with
West Ham's owners CB Holdings, who want nearer £140m despite being desperate
to get a takeover completed before Christmas. Sullivan, having studied the
stricken club's financial situation, is reluctant to increase his offer,
reasoning that the club are about £45m in debt. They also lost more than
£33.6m last year. If the stand-off remains and another buyer is not found,
Hammers manager Gianfranco Zola will be forced to sell players. West Ham
managed to fend off Tottenham's £7m bid for England centre-half Matthew
Upson in the summer, but Spurs manager Harry Redknapp is still keen and is
poised to return during the January transfer window with a similar offer.
Other key players may also have to be sold from within an already stretched
and struggling squad, who lie just one off the bottom of the Premier League.
West Ham fans fear they are most likely to lose England goalkeeper Robert
Green and main striker Carlton Cole, plus talented youngsters Jack Collison
or James Tomkins. Sullivan, who said this week he was concerned by West
Ham's situation and warned that, unless something was done soon, the club
could face relegation or even bankruptcy, is determined he will not be
forced to pay above the odds. Straumur, the Icelandic bank who are the
club's main creditors and whose collapse in March led to their financial
crisis, are due to provide answers to their own creditors by December. There
are real fears that those proposals may not be accepted, which could trigger
a fresh crisis.
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Jack's Tribute to tragic dad
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today
JACK COLLISON returns for West Ham today convinced football will help him
overcome the tragic death of his dad. The Hammers midfielder has spoken for
the first time about the huge loss of the man who 'taught me how to kick a
ball'. Collison's roofer father Ian, 46, was killed in a motorbike accident
in Essex en route to watching his son play against Tottenham at Upton Park
eight weeks ago. Brave Collison insisted on turning out for West Ham just
two days later in honour of his dad in the infamous Carling Cup tie against
Millwall. A knee injury has since hampered him from doing what he loves -
providing the best escape from his enormous grief - until now. Collison, who
was 21 a fortnight ago, said: "To be honest football has been a nice
release. "It has helped me get away from everything and when I am out there
playing, there is nothing else on my mind. It has been a tough time off the
pitch for me but I have had a lot of good people around me. "Hopefully, I am
coming out on the other side now and feeling stronger for it. "Dad was on
his way to the game. He was there most weeks watching me and shouting abuse
from the stands. "When I was younger, he taught me how to kick a ball. It
has been a massive loss and I don't think I am fully over it yet. "A lot of
people have said it becomes a lot easier with time but I am taking each day
as it comes. "And a lot of people have said it was brave to play against
Millwall but, knowing my dad, he would have wanted me playing and I didn't
want to let him down. "It was a massive game for the fans and I know he
would have wanted me out there playing."
Amid the chaos of pitch invasions and rioting outside Upton Park on an ugly
night, Collison took time at the end of the 3-1 win to put the thugs to
shame by lapping the pitch and applauding the fans who had swamped him with
warm sentiments and support. He said: "Dad did not always travel by
motorbike. Sometimes he would travel by train or in his van. "He'd had a
bike before and just thought it would be easier to get to the ground. "I did
not want to let him down and the fans were fantastic to me that night. It is
a feeling I'll never forget. Football fans are people too. For anyone of my
age to go through what I have gone through is not nice. "A lot of stuff went
on during the game that gave the club a bad press. "West Ham fans can be
passionate but, for me, it was something I will never forget and I wanted to
thank them at the end of the game. "I really appreciated the support. I feel
strong, I am a strong person and I just have to do my best to be there for
my family at this time. "This is not a nice thing to have to deal with. I
have got a younger brother and older sister and there is a massive hole in
my family. "But I am trying my best to be strong for them. It has just been
a massive shock for us all. "Dad wasn't that much of a player, he played a
bit at semi-pro level. "But he was really looking forward to this season.
That is why I can't wait to get back out there on the pitch because I know
that is what he would have wanted. "I am raring to go and football has been
a nice release from what has been going on off the pitch. "It has been
frustrating to pick up a little niggle because I just want to be out there.
"I have been training fully for 10 days and played in a practice game. "I
feel fit and am now looking to do my bit for the team and get us three
points at Stoke."
Collison goes back to work at the Britannia Stadium this afternoon with West
Ham stuck in the bottom three with just one Premier League win. He said: "We
haven't got off to the greatest of starts. It is very early days. If we
string a couple of results together we can really look to push on. "It's
just that luck hasn't gone our way. But we'll go to Stoke confident."
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Gianfranco Zola shuns Napoli talk to insist his focus is lifting West Ham
United up the table
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 5:42 PM on 16th October 2009
Daily Mail
Gianfranco Zola insists he is not thinking about walking out on West Ham
United to take over as Napoli boss. Zola, who played for the Italian club at
the same time as Diego Maradona, and West Ham technical director Gianluca
Nani are on the Serie A club's long-term wanted list. But the West Ham boss,
whose side are second-bottom in the Barclays Premier League, said: 'Since I
have been here there has been talk about many things but as far as I am
concerned my focus is at West Ham. 'I care about this team and I am
determined to do my best for them. If anything my focus is even greater
because this is a difficult moment for us but as far as I am concerned,
everything I need is here.'
Zola also revealed that defender Calum Davenport, injured in a stabbing
incident in August, has returned to light training. 'Calum is back and it
was very nice to see him,' he said. 'He's allowed to do some swimming and
work on the bike and it was marvellous to see him around after all the
trauma he has been through.'
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West Ham boss Zola rubbishes claims Green World Cup place in jeopardy
17.10.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola has rubbished claims Robert Green's
World Cup place is in jeopardy after he was sent-off against Ukraine last
week. He became the first goalkeeper to be sent off playing for England but
Hammers boss Zola believes the player does not deserve the criticism that
has come his way. Zola said: "He just came out to repair a mistake made by
Rio Ferdinand in front him — he has been unlucky. Why should his World Cup
position be compromised because of that? "He has been brilliant this week.
It's been very difficult for me to beat him from the edge of the box in
training. "He is determined to come back and do well for us tomorrow. It is
important for us that he's playing well."
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Cole: I owe success to West Ham boss Zola
17.10.09 | tribalfootball.com
Carlton Cole admits he owes his career resurgence to West Ham United boss
Gianfranco Zola. The pair were team-mates at Chelsea and Zola's influence
at Upton Park has helped make striker Cole a contender for England's World
Cup squad. Cole said: "I am going to try 100 per cent for Franco. He has
made a turnaround in my career so I will try tooth and nail to get him out
of the situation he is in. "Now it is up to the players to try to help him
out and do what is being asked of them. We did the double over Stoke last
year and we are looking to emulate that. "Franco is a really positive guy.
He knows what he wants from his players and the standard he wants to play.
All he can ask from the players is to give 100 per cent."
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