WHUFC.com
Avram Grant is aiming to give the fans some Christmas cheer by scoring a
Boxing Day win at Fulham
24.12.2010
Avram Grant insists his West Ham United team can bring some festive cheer to
supporters by defeating Fulham on Boxing Day. The Hammers manager and his
players have overcome the inconveniences caused by the recent cold weather
to prepare fully for their short trip across London to Craven Cottage.
An encouraging 1-1 draw at snowbound Blackburn Rovers last weekend has
instilled confidence in the squad ahead of the match. With Fulham sitting
just three points above West Ham going into their Christmas date, Grant
knows three points could further kick-start his side's campaign. "I don't
know if it will happen quickly. We have spoken with the players and we have
analysed all of our games and if you look, in all of our games are against
the teams in the ten places above us in the table, we were better in 80 per
cent of those games. "For the players, it is very frustrating. At Blackburn,
we wanted the reward and wanted the three points. I think if we continue
like this we can close the gap. "It's very important and the players know
it. We are speaking with them about this and want to continue being on top
of the other teams and to take points."
Grant and his coaching staff staged their training sessions at the Boleyn
Ground on Wednesday and Christmas Eve, while young Academy graduates Jordan
Brown and Ahmed Abdulla were given the opportunity to work alongside the
first-team squad. "We moved to Upton Park for training because there was a
little bit of a problem at the training ground with the winter weather, but
the training is going well. "The players are giving everything. They are
trying and, in the games, I don't think one player is giving less than 100
per cent so they are giving everything. This is good because we need it now.
"It's part of our vision at the club to give young players opportunities. We
wanted to do it when everything is more settled and we were not in a tough
place in the league. We needed Ruud Boffin who is a young goalkeeper and is
part of our future at Blackburn. He did very, very well and we were very
happy with his performance. "Junior Stanislas, of course, scored the goal
and we have James Tomkins and others playing but the most important thing is
that everybody will be fit. We are working hard for this because when
everybody is fit, we are a good team."
While young players like the recalled Freddie Sears could play a big part in
the club's future, Grant insisted that it was also up to the experienced
professionals in his squad to lead from the front during the busy festive
season. "They have to do it. They have a responsibility and, more than this,
they have the desire to do it. The team wants to succeed and wants to come
off the bottom of the league. We are very close to doing it and I believe
that we can do it."
Concentrating on Fulham in particular, Grant is looking forward to
challenging Cottagers boss Mark Hughes who, like him, enjoyed a period in
international management before moving to the Barclays Premier League. "He
came to a team which was very good last year - they were in the final of the
UEFA Cup and had a very good season, so the players are more comfortable and
believe in themselves. "We are another team and we want to build ourselves
for the future and I think we are doing the right things. We know what we
want for ourselves and what the future of West Ham needs to look like and we
will do the right things."
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Ben Haim battling on
WHUFC.com
Versatile defender Tal Ben Haim is up for the fight at Fulham on Sunday
23.12.2010
Tal Ben Haim is looking forward to making an impact during the busy
Christmas period for West Ham United. The Israel defender has played in
every defensive position for the club this season but looks likely to retain
his right-back berth for the trip to Fulham on Boxing Day. He is on his best
run of matches for the Hammers, starting the last four fixtures. Ben Haim
was his usual uncompromising self away to Blackburn Rovers last weekend,
playing his part in a battling display. "We played some good football and
created some good chances," he said. "In the first half there were two good
chances, second half even more chances and I think we kept them on very low
chances. "All in all I think we could win the game, but a draw away from
home is not a bad result, though we expect more obviously."
Ben Haim experienced a relegation fight last season at Portsmouth, the club
he left in the summer to join the Hammers on loan until January. He believes
there is a real spirit in this squad to get out of trouble. "We are very
positive and we are looking forward to the games coming up. We are looking
forward to Fulham and want to get all three points. We are never happy with
just a point. Obviously every game that we come into, we want to win -
football is about winning."
Ben Haim will also not mind if he has to continue in a full-back role,
underlining his willingness to do his best for the cause. "My favourite
position is still in the centre, but if the team needs me to play on the
right, it is fine for me to do that."
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Scott speaks
WHUFC.com
Scott Parker was a Hammers hit when he went along to the busy Liberty
Romford store this week
23.12.2010
The Hammers hero signed for every single supporter who turned up this week,
spending more than two hours in the shop. Parker, on course to win a third
straight Hammer of the Year title, has been the club's inspiration in 2010 -
and is banking on better times for all in 2011. The midfielder will be in
training with his team-mates on Christmas Day ahead of the Sunday trip to
Fulham on Boxing Day, with an equally significant meeting with Everton at
the Boleyn next Tuesday evening. Parker will need to avoid a yellow card in
either match if he is to make it to the end of year deadline without a
one-match ban for five cautions. He said: "We are not in the best of
positions in the league but if we can pick up some points, it will help us
a lot. Let's hope we can win some games. Things can turn around quickly.
There are some important games coming up in London and they are winnable
games for us." Keep an eye on whufc.com for news of more Hammers instore and
check out WHUTV for all the best video exclusives - including Freddie Sears,
Lars Jacobsen, Frank McAvennie, James Corden and Robert Green, the Rev's
Christmas message, Avram Grant's pre-Fulham thoughts and much, much more.
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Fulham v West Ham
BBC.co.uk
Barclays Premier League
Venue: Craven Cottage Date: Sunday, 26 December Kick-off: 1200 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on Sky Sports 1 and highlights on Match of the Day;
listen on talkSPORT, BBC Radio 5 live and local radio; text commentary on
BBC
TEAM NEWS
Fulham's Moussa Dembele is back in full training but is unlikely to start
after spending the last five weeks sidelined with an ankle injury.
West Ham goalkeeper Rob Green should return following a minor hip operation,
while Victor Obinna is expected to recover in time from a bruised leg.
Valon Behrami is doubtful after aggravating a hip problem in the warm-up
against Blackburn. Ex-Fulham winger Luis Boa Morte serves a ban having
collected five bookings.
Fulham
Doubtful: Dembele (ankle)
Injured: Briggs (calf), Halliche (thigh), Senderos (Achilles), Stoor
(groin), Zamora (leg)
West Ham
Suspended: Boa Morte (one match)
Doubtful: Behrami & Green (hip), Jacobsen (heel), Obinna (bruised leg)
Injured: Da Costa (ankle/foot), Collison, Edgar & Kurucz (all knee),
Hitzlsperger (thigh), Noble (hip)
MATCH PREVIEW
One down, two to go; having reportedly been given three games to prove his
worth ahead of last weekend's draw at Blackburn, Avram Grant travels to
Fulham still needing a win before the end of 2010 in order to stay in a job.
West Ham's manager denies any such ultimatum exists and remains confident he
will defy the odds by keeping the Hammers in the top flight, but the outlook
is bleak: only one club in the 18-year history of the Premier League has
been bottom at Christmas and gone on to escape the drop. Embarrassingly for
Grant, this is the second consecutive Christmas he will spend peering up
from the bottom of the table and, worryingly for Hammers fans, the Upton
Park club have fewer points than Portsmouth had under the Israeli 12 months
ago. It is not difficult to work out where West Ham's problems lie: their
strikers have managed a grand total of six league goals between them, while
only Wigan have found it more difficult locating the back of the net. Expect
rampant speculation over the next few weeks linking the East End club with a
host of front men, with Robbie Keane, Emmanuel Adebayor and Monaco striker
Dieumerci Mbokani among the names touted in the last week. Goals have also
proved a headache for Fulham, who are only three points better off than the
Hammers. The Premier League's draw specialists have managed just two league
wins all season, and recent history suggests this fixture is unlikely to
produce three points for them either: the Cottagers have not celebrated a
Boxing Day victory since 2003. Unless that changes, Fulham's Mark Hughes
could be another manager under threat.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Fulham secured their first home league win over West Ham in 44 years when
they met in May (Fulham 3-2 West Ham).
• Fulham have only won two of their 15 Premier League meetings with West
Ham.
• There have been seven red cards in the last 13 Premier League meetings
between these clubs.
Fulham
• Fulham have won only one of their previous 13 league games.
• Mark Hughes has drawn 18 of his last 28 games as a Premier League manager.
• Fulham's last four Premier League wins have come against teams whose names
begin with the letter W.
West Ham
• West Ham have won only one of their last 12 Premier League matches. They
have secured just six league wins during the calendar year of 2010, and
claimed a combined total of just 30 points.
• They have not won away from home in the Premier League since beating
Wolves on the opening day of last season.
• The Hammers have spent all season in the relegation zone and have been
bottom since the beginning of October, when they drew 1-1 with Fulham.
• Only one club - West Brom in 2004/05 - in the 18-year history of the
Premier League has been bottom at Christmas and escaped the drop.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
Fulham
Dempsey: 6 goals (5 league)
West Ham
Parker: 6 goals (4 league); Piquionne: 5 goals (4 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Mark Halsey
Assistant referees: Darren Cann & Stephen Child
Fourth official: Lee Probert
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Fulham (D0-0 v Sunderland, h): Schwarzer; Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland,
Salcido (Eddie Johnson 72), Davies, Murphy, Etuhu (Baird 78), Dempsey, Gera,
Kamara (Andrew Johnson 46). Subs not used: Stockdale, Kelly, Duff, Greening.
West Ham (D1-1 v Blackburn, a): Boffin; Ben Haim, Tomkins, Upson, Gabbidon,
Barrera (Stanislas 56), Parker, Dyer (McCarthy 82), Spector (Cole 57),
Piquionne, Boa Morte. Subs not used: Larkins, Reid, Faubert.
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Boxing clever
Thommo previews the Boxing Day games
SSN
Phil Thompson Posted 23rd December 2010 view comments
Fulham v West Ham
11.30am, Boxing Day, Sky Sports HD1
This is a massive period for Fulham and West Ham and with both teams around
the drop zone, the two managers will expect something from this one.
I think Mark Hughes will be pleased his players had a respite last week when
their game at Liverpool was called off. They've drawn far too many matches
this year and despite going seven unbeaten in the Premier League at the
start of the season, they have been made to pay for failing to pick up three
points often enough.
They are lacking confidence and find themselves just outside the bottom
three at Christmas, so they need to take advantage of a home game against
the side at the bottom of the table. Teams still find it difficult to go and
win at Craven Cottage, but I don't think it's as strong a fortress for
Hughes as it was under Roy Hodgson.
A lot of that is down to the absence of Bobby Zamora. I know one player
doesn't make a team, but they lost far fewer games before the England
striker got injured. His absence has had a devastating effect on them and I
think Hughes will want to do something about that when the transfer window
opens.
LIVE ON SKY SPORTS
Fulham v West Ham
11.30am, Boxing Day, Sky Sports HD1
He was never a prolific goalscorer under Hodgson, but his build-up play was
exceptional - and that's what Hughes has struggled to replace. Their
supporters will be concerned that by the time he is fit again, they will be
deep in the mire. Mousa Dembele started well, but has struggled to pull up
any trees in the Premier League, while Andrew Johnson has struggled for
fitness. They need an injection up front in January or it could be a
difficult second half of the season for them. This is a game that Avram
Grant will be looking to win. I covered their game with Blackburn for Soccer
Saturday and I thought they played very well, particularly in the second
half. That was a game away from home against a team that could be dragged
into the relegation mix. They went and got a good draw- and I think they
could repeat the trick at Fulham.
PHIL'S PREDICTION
DRAW - I can see West Ham going to Fulham and getting a score draw, probably
1-1. Unfortunately, I can't see them escaping the bottom three in the New
Year; they are certainly one of the relegation favourites at this moment in
time.
THOMMO'S TOP MAN
CLINT DEMPSEY - For West Ham, the key man is Scott Parker, just as it is
every week! But from Fulham's point of view. I will be keeping an eye on
Dempsey, who I believe is a fine player. He's not a prolific goalscorer but
he needs to share that burden while Zamora is out. There has been talk of
him leaving the Cottage, but they can ill afford to let him go. He is vital
to their hopes.
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McCarthy reveals Sidwell bid
Last updated: 24th December 2010
SSN
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has revealed he thought he had agreed a deal to
sign Steve Sidwell from Aston Villa before West Ham moved in for the player.
Sidwell is expected to seal his switch to West Ham when the transfer window
reopens next month after undergoing a medical at Upton Park.
McCarthy admits he had hoped to land the former Reading and Chelsea man
after agreeing a fee with Villa for the midfielder's signature. However, the
chance to return to London has proved too good to turn down for Sidwell. "I
thought he was coming to us," McCarthy said. "We had a deal on the table.
"He has a house half an hour from West Ham. He spoke to the lads and wanted
to come but West Ham came in and kyboshed it. "He'd have been good for us,
but I can't fault his decision. "Maybe they will bring him in and sell Scott
Parker. It was the choice of the player."
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Can we Av SWP on loan please
The Sun
By NEIL CUSTIS
Published: Today
AVRAM GRANT wants Shaun Wright-Phillips to help save West Ham's season. Boss
Grant needs new faces with the Hammers bottom of the Premier League and has
asked Manchester City about taking winger SWP on loan next month. City are
yet to give them a reply and will leave the final decision to manager
Roberto Mancini. But Wright-Phillips, 29, has started only two league games
under the Italian this season - and he was hauled off in both of them.
The additions of James Milner, Adam Johnson and David Silva have knocked him
well down the pecking order in his second spell at the club. Wright-Phillips
left City for Chelsea for £21million in July 2005 before returning north
three years later for £8.5m. West Brom have also enquired about taking the
forward, capped 36 times by England, on loan. Hammer boss Grant could have
Victor Obinna available for the Boxing Day trip to Fulham after a leg
injury. The Nigerian striker says he is getting to grips with English
football following his loan switch from Inter Milan in the summer. Obinna
said: "The backroom staff and players have helped me a lot to adapt easily."
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Hammers defender in no mood for Christmas handouts against Fulham
Published 23:00 23/12/10 By Darren Lewis
The Mirror
West Ham defender Tal Ben Haim insists the players will not buckle under the
pressure of their relegation fight. The Hammers need to take at least six
points from their Christmas programme - starting at Fulham on Sunday - to
keep boss Avram Grant in a job. But while they could only salvage a draw
from their trip to Blackburn last Saturday, Ben Haim maintains they can take
all three points off their fellow strugglers at Craven Cottage. The Israeli
defender said: "We are very positive and we are looking forward to the games
coming up. "We are looking forward to Fulham and want to get all three
points. We are never happy with just a point. "Obviously every game that we
come into, we want to win - football is about winning. "We played some good
football and created some good chances (at Blackburn). "In the first half
there were two good chances, second half even more chances and I think we
kept them on very low chances. "All in all I think we could win the game,
but a draw away from home is not a bad result, though we expect more
obviously."
Ben Haim knows all about relegation having battled in vain against the drop
at Portsmouth last season. The Israeli, who has played at right-back in each
of his last four games with West Ham, is on loan with the Hammers until
January. He insists the players at the club are well up for the fight for
survival and that team-spirit is high. So much so that has no qualms about
remaining out of position. He went on: "My favourite position is still in
the centre, but if the team needs me to play on the right, it is fine for me
to do that."
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Hammers welcome back hat-trick of stars
Published 16:48 23/12/10 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
Robert Green, Victor Obinna and Valon Behrami are all expected to return to
the West Ham squad for their crunch Boxing Day game at Fulham. The trio
missed last weekend's 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw at Blackburn,
goalkeeper Green after minor hip surgery, Obinna with a bruised leg, and
Behrami after hurting his hip during the warm-up at Ewood Park. Striker
Freddie Sears could go straight into the squad after being recalled from his
loan spell at Scunthorpe, but Mark Noble (hip), Jack Collison and Anthony
Edgar (both knee) are still unavailable, as are Thomas Hitzlsperger (thigh)
and Manuel da Costa (foot).
Provisional squad: Green, Boffin, Ben Haim, Upson, Spector, Faubert,
Tomkins, Gabbidon, Parker, Barrera, Cole, Stanislas, Dyer, Piquionne, Hines,
Obinna, Kovac, Boa Morte, Stech, Reid, Jacobsen, Behrami, Sears.
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Exclusive – Cottee: 'West Ham must get rid of Grant now'
TalkSPort
By Alex Varney
Friday, December 24
Tony Cottee has told talkSPORT West Ham must act now and get rid of manager
Avram Grant. The Hammers are stranded at the foot of the table after a
woeful start to the season. And former Upton Park striker Cottee is urging
the club to bring in a new boss before the January transfer window. "It's
the time to do it. If you're going to do it you've got to do it in
conjunction with the January window," Cottee told the Sports Breakfast boys.
"They're bottom of the league, they haven't won away from home for 27 games
I think it is now, and all the West Ham fans just expect to go down at the
moment. "Something's got to happen, they've got to change something or other
and the only change they can make really is replacing the manager. " They've
got to change something or other and the only change they can make really is
replacing the manager
" "They've got some tough games, Fulham away, then they're home to a team in
form in Everton, then they're home to Wolves, which is a massive game,
followed by Newcastle away and Arsenal at home so the games don't get any
easier. "If you're going to change the manager change him now, at the start
of January, and get the new manager in place and give him some money."
Cottee believes the Hammers have a good enough squad to survive in the
Premier League, and insists a change of manager would solve their problems.
"They need a bit of inspiration the players," he added. "I think there's
some good players there but it's just been very disjointed since the start
of the season. "The manager might be a nice fella but he doesn't inspire me
and if you're a player and you're not getting inspired and motivated it rubs
off in the performances. "Martin O'Neill's out there, Sam Allardyce would
certainly keep the club up, so there's some decent managers available and if
there is a time to do it then the time would be now."
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Steve Sidwell could replace Scott Parker, says Wolves boss Mick McCarthy
after missing out on West Ham bound midfielder
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 10:29 AM on 24th December 2010
Daily Mail
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has suggested West Ham bound midfielder Steve
Sidwell could arrive at Upton Park as a replacement for Scott Parker after
missing out on the Aston Villa midfielder's services. McCarthy thought he
had agreed a deal to bring the former Reading and Chelsea star to Molineux
when the transfer window re-opens for business in the New Year. But the
29-year-old midfielder favoured a move to the capital where he lives,
turning his back on a move across the Midlands with McCarthy hinting
Tottenham target Parker could be heading for an exit in east London. He
said: 'He [Sidwell] has a house half an hour from West Ham. He spoke to the
lads and wanted to come but West Ham came in and kyboshed it. 'Maybe they
will bring him in and sell Scott Parker. It was the choice of the player.'
McCarthy revealed he had agreed a deal to sign Sidwell and was left
disappointed when he discovered the deal had fallen through. 'I thought he
was coming to us,' McCarthy added. 'We had a deal on the table. 'He'd have
been good for us, but I can't fault his decision.' After undergoing a
medical at Upton Park, Sidwell is expected to be unveiled by West Ham in the
next week and could make his debut on January 1 - against Wolves.
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West Ham vice chairman Karren Brady blasts rivals Tottenham over their
Olympic Stadium bid
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 10:24 AM on 24th December 2010
Daily Mail
West Ham vice chairman Karren Brady has accused Tottenham of attempting to
'muscle in where they are not wanted' as the battle to take over the Olympic
Stadium in Stratford after 2012 intensifies. The London rivals are locked in
a two-way battle to occupy the Games site although a final decision has been
delayed until later in 2011. Barclays Premier League basement boys West Ham
have received the formal backing of UK Athletics to become new tenants after
promising to retain the track around the pitch in order to uphold the
Olympic legacy. Up for grabs: West Ham and Tottenham are in the running to
take control of the Olympic Stadium in Stratford after the 2012 Games Spurs
are supported by O2 Arena owners AEG and want to demolish the Olympic
Stadium and replace it with a brand new stadium. The Hammers are angry with
Spurs over their bid to potentially set up home on their east London
territory, a move which has also prompted concern amongst the north London's
club's supporters. Brady described Tottenham's interest as a 'smash and
grab' attempt as she went public with her disapproval, writing in her column
for The Sun. She said: 'It is an understatement to say I'm unhappy with the
way Spurs have gone about trying to wrest the rights to the Olympic Stadium
from u s.'Our bid has been founded on goodwill to the community, to the
council, to athletics and sport overall. 'We have powerful support and the
funds.' Brady also took aim at Tottenham's shareholders, claiming they do
not live in the UK and neglect to pay UK tax. She added: ''Spurs' is an
attempted smash and grab in our manor, sneaky and of no known benefit to
anyone beyond their backers and major shareholders, who by the way are not
based in the UK and don't pay UK tax unlike our owners who have always
lived, worked, employed and paid tax here. 'Even their own fans hate the
idea of a multi-mile move. Spurs are trying to muscle in where they are not
wanted.'
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Happy Christmas :)
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