WHUFC.com
All the early team news and background for Saturday's big Barclays Premier
League encounter
10.12.2010
West Ham United v Manchester City
Barclays Premier League
Boleyn Ground
Saturday 11 December 2010
3pm
Referee: Phil Dowd
Introduction
• West Ham United welcome Manchester City looking for a third straight home
win and a sixth game unbeaten at the Boleyn Ground. The visitors are riding
high in the Barclays Premier League, and sit just three points behind
leaders Arsenal.
• West Ham, still in last place, won 3-1 at home to Wigan Athletic in
Barclays Premier League action a fortnight ago and then thrashed Manchester
United 4-0 at home on the following Tuesday night in the Carling Cup
quarter-finals.
• City have 14 points from eight away games, the second best showing in the
top-flight this campaign.
• Manchester City have enjoyed a good run of results at the Boleyn Ground in
recent years, winning on two of their last five visits to east London - 1-0
in December 2006 and 2-0 on the opening day of the 2007/08 season in
Sven-Goran Eriksson's first match in charge.
• West Ham United's biggest victories over Manchester City both came in the
same season - 1962/63. A 6-1 home Division One success on 18 May 1963 was
preceded by victory by the same margin in the away fixture on 8 September
1962.
• This is the 90th meeting between the two sides. West Ham have come out on
top on 35 occasions with 15 draws.
• Victor Obinna and Mario Balotelli are former team-mates at Internazionale,
before both headed to England last summer. Obinna scored twice on a 31 July
friendly win for Inter against City in Baltimore, Maryland. The first goal
came against Joe Hart, the second after the interval went in past substitute
keeper Shay Given.
Last time out
Sunday 5 December 2010
Barclays Premier League
Sunderland 1-0 West Ham United
West Ham United: Green, Gabbidon, Ben Haim (Faubert 83), Upson, Spector,
Tomkins, Parker, Dyer (Piquionne 69), Boa Morte (Hines 69), Cole, Obinna
Subs not used: Stech, Kovac, Reid, Barrera
Goals: Spector 22, 37, Cole 55, 66
Saturday 4 December 2010
Barclays Premier League
Manchester City 1-0 Bolton Wanderers
Manchester City: Hart, Kolo Toure (Lescott 32), Kompany, Zabaleta, Kolarov
(sent off 78), Yaya Toure, De Jong, Barry, Silva (Richards 84), Tevez
(Milner 89), Balotelli
Subs not used: Given, Vieira, A.Johnson, Jo
Goal: Tevez 4
Last meeting
The sides met on the last day of the 2009/10 season, with City confirming a
fifth-placed finish with the 1-1 draw and the Hammers having already made
certain of top-flight survival. Luis Boa Morte's first goal at the Boleyn
Ground came on 17 minutes before Shaun Wright-Phillips cancelled that strike
out with a far-post header just four minutes later.
West Ham United: Green, Upson, Da Costa, Daprela, Parker, Kovac, Boa Morte
(Franco 64), Faubert, Cole (Stanislas 64), Ilan, Diamanti (Spence 88)
Subs not used: Kurucz, Gabbidon, Spector, McCarthy
Manchester City: Fulop, Kolo Toure, Sylvinho (Tevez 73), Zabaleta,
Wright-Phillips, De Jong, Vieira, Kompany, Johnson (Cunningham 89),
Adebayor, Santa Cruz (Richards 73)
Subs not used: Nielsen, Garrido, Boyata, Ibrahim
Last six meetings
Head to head (last six meetings, league unless stated)
9 May 2010 - West Ham United 1-1 Manchester City
29 Sept 2009 - Manchester City 3-1 West Ham United
1 March 2009 - West Ham United 1-0 Manchester City
24 August 2008 - Manchester City 3-0 West Ham United
20 January 2008 - Manchester City 1-1 West Ham United
16 January 2008 - Manchester City 1-0 West Ham United (FA Cup third-round
replay)
Overall record v Manchester City (all competitions) W 35 D 15 L 40
Ten-year records
West Ham United
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted to Premier League via
play-offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated to Championship)
2001/02 Premier League 7th (53 points)
2000/01 Premier League 15th (42 points)
Manchester City
2009/10 Premier League 5th (67 points)
2008/09 Premier League 10th (50 points)
2007/08 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2006/07 Premier League 14th (42 points)
2005/06 Premier League 15th (43 points)
2004/05 Premier League 8th (52 points)
2003/04 Premier League 16th (41 points)
2002/03 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2001/02 Championship 1st (99 points - promoted to Premier League)
2000/01 Premier League 18th (34 points - relegated to Championship)
Referee
• The match referee will be Phil Dowd, who began refereeing in 1984. He was
promoted to the Barclays Premier League list of referees in 2001. This is
his tenth season as a top-flight referee.
• He was the fourth official at the 2006 FA Cup final between West Ham
United and Liverpool at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
He has not taken charge of a Hammers match this season, having been the man
in the middle for City's 3-0 home defeat of Liverpool on 23 August and the
3-2 win at Blackpool on 17 October.
Team news
West Ham United
• Manager Avram Grant is definitely without Thomas Hitzlsperger (thigh) and
Jack Collison (knee). Collison is hoping to return early in the New Year,
Hitzlsperger has a provisional February comeback date, having had surgery on
his torn muscle.
• Manuel da Costa has had surgery a month ago on an ankle injury and is
likely to be missing for up to another two months as a result of the
problem, which followed a late Cesc Fabregas tackle away to Arsenal.
• Mark Noble has been ruled out for the rest of the year with a hip injury
suffered in the last minute at Anfield. Valon Behrami may also be missing
with a hip injury.
• All other members of the squad have been in training, including fit-again
winger Anthony Edgar, although Lars Jacobsen has been struggling with a heel
problem that saw him miss out at Sunderland.
• Freddie Sears's loan spell at Championship side Scunthorpe United until 3
January 2011 while Matthew Fry remains at League One high-fliers Charlton
Athletic on a temporary basis.
Manchester City
• City are without the suspended captain Carlos Tevez and left-back
Aleksandar Kolarov. Tevez has received five yellow cards, while Kolarov was
sent-off in last weekend's 1-0 home win over Bolton Wanderers
• Emmanuel Adebayor may return after a groin injury.
• Michael Johnson remains a long-term absentee with a knee problem.
Background
West Ham United
• Robert Green is the only Hammers player to have started every one of the
16 league games this season, although Frederic Piquionne has featured in all
of those matches either as a starter or off the bench.
• West Ham have yet to score in the first ten minutes of a Barclays Premier
League game this season - the quickest strike being Carlton Cole's
12th-minute goal against Newcastle United.
• Danny Gabbidon has the quickest card in the division this season, earning
a caution just 85 seconds into the Fulham home game.
• Scott Parker made his 100th start for the Hammers at Sunderland. Danny
Gabbidon also made it a century of appearances in claret and blue at the
Stadium of Light.
• No goalkeeper in the top-flight has made more saves than Robert Green
(98).
• West Ham have been caught offside 55 times this campaign, more than any
other Barclays Premier League outfit.
• Scott Parker, Mark Noble and Luis Boa Morte are all one caution away from
a fifth yellow card and an automatic one-match ban. They will avoid this if
they are not booked in either the match against City, the trip to Fulham on
Boxing Day or the Everton visit on 28 December, with the threshold pushed
back to ten cautions leading to a two-game suspension in the New Year.
Manchester City
• Joe Hart and Vincent Kompany have both started everyone of City's 16
matches this season, although Gareth Barry has featured in all of them as
well.
• Man City keeper Joe Hart has kept eight clean sheets in the Barclays
Premier League this season, only Petr Cech of Chelsea can match him. Carlos
Tevez, suspended on Saturday, has ten goals - one behind league leader
Didier Drogba.
• Nigel de Jong is one yellow card away from an automatic one-match ban for
five cautions.
Old boys
• Former Hammer of the Year Carlos Tevez, who left the Boleyn Ground to join
City's great cross-town rivals Manchester United at the end of the 2006/07
season, is suspended. He joined the blue half of the city for an undisclosed
fee in June 2009.
• Tal Ben Haim played nine times for City in the 2008/09 season after a £5m
move from Chelsea.
• Other famous faces to have played for both clubs are Craig Bellamy - on
loan at Cardiff City - Ian Bishop, James Cumming, Justin Fashanu, Kevin
Horlock, David James, Patrick Leonard, Steve Lomas, Trevor Morley, John
Payne, Stuart Pearce, Trevor Sinclair, Paulo Wanchope and Mark Ward.
Next up
• The Hammers head to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday 18 December while
Manchester City head to Turin to take on Juventus in their final UEFA Europa
League Group A fixture on Thursday 16 December.
General information
• For ticket information, click here.
• Saturday afternoon's forecast in east London is for a chilly day, with
temperatures peaking around the 8C mark.
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Avram on Friday
WHUFC.com
Avram Grant has spoken to the media ahead of Saturday's visit of Manchester
City
10.12.2010
Avram Grant has held his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's
Barclays Premier League visit of Manchester City. The West Ham United
manager discussed a wide range of topics, including City's title
aspirations, the January transfer window and the importance of picking up
points over the busy festive season.
Avram on preparing to face Manchester City…
We will prepare, more or less, like we would for any other game. They have
very good team, a lot of good players and have invested a lot of money to be
at the top. I think they are doing a good job most of the time so tactically
we will prepare like any other game - we'll try to stop their strongest side
and expose their weaknesses.
Avram on Manchester City's title aspirations…
I think they will challenge until the end of the season because they have a
big, very good squad with many good players. They will fight for the
championship until the end. I think they can win the league, especially this
season. I don't know the statistics but normally the champions only lose two
or three games a season, but I think a lot has happened this season. The top
teams are not so consistent in terms of quality and picking up points. Any
of the first six teams can take the title. I would not be surprised if
Tottenham take it because they are playing very good football. I would be
surprised if Manchester City take it and of course there are the other top
four.
Avram on the need to get off the bottom of the table…
This is only psychology but the most important thing for us is not to be in
the relegation zone at the end of the season. We are not even halfway
through the season and are two wins from mid-table. We want to think
positively and that we can do it. We have shown good football in most of our
games so we are thinking that we can get out of this.
Avram on needing more points to stay up that usual this season…
I am not sure about this. It's more or less always the same number of points
you need to stay up. Last year, I think you needed less points to stay in
the Premier League, but I don't think it will change from the normal level
needed.
Avram on turning positive performances into points…
I'm waiting for the day when I can say that! What can I say? Other than the
game against Liverpool, we could have taken points from every game we have
played in the last two months, but we didn't pick them up. I give you my
honest opinion and I will continue to do it. I think I see positive things,
but I want the correlation between positive things and wins to be like it
was against Wigan and against Manchester United.
Avram on the importance of the Christmas and New Year fixtures…
It is a big target for us because all our games are against teams who are
around us. These are games to take points from. We have less points than the
other teams, so it will be very important for us, of course.
Avram on where the team needs to improve…
In football, I said to the players that we need to make sure we don't make
the same mistake twice. Our problems were two things - we didn't score
enough goals and we conceded too many. In the last few matches we have
averaged one goal a game conceded and last week we scored three against
Wigan and four against United. That's progress for us.
Avram on coping with pressure…
It is nothing new. In my job, there is always pressure. Roberto Mancini will
come tomorrow and there was massive pressure on him in the weeks before.
Now there is massive pressure on [Carlo] Ancelotti and one month ago we
spoke about Arsene Wenger - all top coaches. I think, except for Sir Alex
Ferguson, we have spoken about every other manager. This is our job. We knew
it from the beginning but it will not change the way we are working. We are
working to bring results and succeed in the project we call West Ham. I
believe in this.
Avram on Scott Parker…
I am confident we will keep him here. He is a good player and I think this
is also a good club for him. He developed this season. Before this season
everybody said that it was not good for him to stay in West Ham, but he has
had his best season so far. It has been good for him and good for the club.
Avram on the January transfer window…
It is not a secret that we could be stronger. In one area we don't have any
players and in other areas we have only one player. We had a lot of injuries
this season, so we need to be stronger in a few areas. We will try to do it
in January - not massively, maybe two or three players depending on how much
money we can spend. Basically, when everybody is fit, we have a good squad.
There are always stories before the transfer window and I believe that every
week you will ask me about one player or the other. We will have a lot of
stories in the next few weeks not just about West Ham, but about other clubs
too. We are discussing about everything. You know that the owners took over
a lot of debt and this season are working on the financial situation, so I
don't think we will have much money but we are dealing with it now. I think
if we bring two or three players in we will be stronger than we are now,
especially when we have players with a history of injuries. It can make us
stronger, but anyway I think we will compete until the end. It is not a good
time to buy players because the market is not so open. When a team has a
good player, they want to keep them unless you offer them big money and I
understand that. We are not a top team who will offer top money for players.
It is not a good market and I don't like it, but sometimes you can use it to
get better. Any good players who can help us, we will take, but they have to
be better than what we have now.
Avram on specialist coaches…
My vision about the method of training didn't change in the last few years.
I spoke about this and I believe that in every area you need a specialist
coach to do the job. Wally Downes has been here only two weeks and has had a
good impact on the team. If we find the right one [offensive coach] we will
do it. We are trying to build the club step-by-step. We do not have a vision
only for one month or two months. We said in the beginning of the season we
are looking for a new way of coaching which will be good for our players and
good for our club. We will do it step-by-step.
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Carlsberg commit to club
WHUFC.com
The club is pleased to confirm that Carlsberg will continue as the club's
official beer sponsor
10.12.2010
Carlsberg has signed a two-year deal to continue to be the official beer
sponsor of West Ham United until 2012. Barry Webber, West Ham United
Commercial Director said: "Carlsberg has been a major sponsor of West Ham
United for nearly ten years now and we are delighted to announce this new
deal. "As the club enters an exciting new era, we welcome brands to join us
on the proposed journey to our new home - the Olympic Stadium. We look
forward to what will continue to be a long and successful partnership for
both parties."
Paul Matthews, Carlsberg UK Sales Director, said: "This deal is fantastic
news for Carlsberg UK. We are extremely pleased to continue our long
association with the club and its supporters and proud to continue in our
role as the Official Beer of West Ham United."
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West Ham v Man City
BBC.co.uk
Barclays Premier League
Venue: Upton Park Date: Saturday, 11 December Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: Watch highlights on Match of the Day; listen on BBC Radio 5 live
and local radio; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles
TEAM NEWS
West Ham midfielder Valon Behrami could return from the hip injury that
caused him to miss the defeat at Sunderland. Jack Collison is back in
training a month ahead of schedule, but is a few weeks off a first-team
return.
Manchester City are without top scorer Carlos Tevez and Aleksandar Kolorov,
who are both serving one-match bans. Kolo Toure is included despite injuring
his calf in the first half of City's win over Bolton, and Emmanuel Adebayor
is fit again after a calf problem.
West Ham
Doubtful: Behrami (hip)
Injured: Da Costa (ankle), Collison, Edgar & Kurucz (all knee), Hitzlsperger
(thigh), Noble (appendicitis)
Man City
Suspended: Kolarov & Tevez (both one match)
Injured: M Johnson (knee), Nimely (ankle)
MATCH PREVIEW
The last time West Ham were in a Premier League relegation dogfight they had
a certain Carlos Tevez to call upon to fire the goals that eventually led
them to safety. The talismanic Argentinean is Manchester City property these
days but misses out on a return to the club where he's still hailed as a
hero; he is serving a one-match ban after picking up a fifth booking of the
season last week.
There may have been signs of City disharmony ahead of and during their
victory over Bolton last weekend, yet Roberto Mancini's men are unbeaten in
the league since October. They have quietly put together a run of results
that has seen them close to within three points of top spot. Just six weeks
ago, talk of a first league title since 1968 appeared fanciful having
slipped eight points off the pace.
City have enjoyed their trips to London this season. They held Tottenham to
a goalless draw at White Hart Lane on the opening day of the season, and
thumped Fulham 4-1 at Craven Cottage last month, where they scored all four
goals in a dominant first-half display. In total, they are unbeaten in six
trips to the capital under Mancini.
West Ham will be glad to be back to familiar surroundings after last week's
defeat at Sunderland. Despite propping up the Premier League table, Avram
Grant's side are unbeaten in their last three league fixtures at Upton Park,
five in all competitions. Victory over City would give them back-to-back
home wins against the two Manchester clubs, following their 4-0 win over
United in the League Cup last month.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• West Ham have a fine home league record against Manchester City, winning
24 of 42 all-time meetings at Upton Park. City have left with all three
points on only 10 occasions.
• City's last victory at Upton Park was a 2-0 success on the opening day of
the 2007/08 season. One-season wonders Rolando Bianchi and Geovanni supplied
the goals that day.
• The Hammers have recorded only win in eight league matches against
Manchester City, a 1-0 win at Upton Park in March 2009. Jack Collison scored
the only goal of that game.
• West Ham have only ever picked up as few as 12 points from their opening
16 Premier League games once before. That was during the 2002/03 season,
when they were ultimately relegated.
• The Hammers have secured just six league wins during the calendar year of
2010, and claimed a combined total of just 29 points.
• Robert Green (98) has made more saves than any other keeper in the Premier
League this season.
Man City
• Only leaders Arsenal have scored more than City's 13 away goals, and
picked up more than City's 14 away points this season.
• Joe Hart has kept eight clean sheets this term, the equal best in the
Premier League along with Chelsea's Petr Cech.
• City have ended the last eight rounds of Premier League fixtures in fourth
place.
• If selected, Joleon Lescott will be making his 350th career league
appearance.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
West Ham
Parker: 6 goals (4 league); Piquionne: 5 goals (4 league)
Man City
Tevez: 10 goals (10 league); Balotelli: 5 goals (2 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Phil Dowd
Assistant referees: Mike Mullarkey & Paul Thompson
Fourth official: Lee Probert
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
West Ham (L0-1 v Sunderland, a): Green, Gabbidon, Tomkins, Upson, Ben-Haim
(Faubert 83), Dyer (Piquionne 69), Parker, Spector, Boa Morte (Hines 69),
Obinna, Cole. Subs Not Used: Stech, Reid, Barrera, Kovac.
Man City (W1-0 v Bolton, h): Hart, Zabaleta, Toure K (Lescott 31), Kompany,
Kolarov, Toure Y, De Jong, Barry, Silva (Richards 84), Tevez (Milner 90),
Balotelli. Subs Not Used: Given, A Johnson, Vieira, Jo.
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Barton approach rejected
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 10th December 2010
By: Staff Writer
An agent has claimed that West Ham United have made enquiries as to the
availability of Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton. Bad boy Barton,
whose list of misdemeanours include assaulting a 15-year-old minor, exposing
his backside to supporters of Everton and being arrested (although later
cleared) on assault charges - not to mention a string of on-field offences -
was apparently the subject of a tentative enquiry from the Hammers,
according to agent Willie Mackay who told SkySports:
"I believe West Ham made an enquiry for Joey and that was rejected by
Newcastle. He is enjoying his football again and he is committed to
Newcastle unless he is told otherwise. "There are other sides interested in
Joey as I have had five or six phone calls from teams asking about his
availability. If these interested clubs make an offer then it is up to the
two clubs to agree a deal and once that happens then we can sit down and
discuss a possible move."
Vice chairman Karren Brady recently revealed that the club's owners are
ready to open their chequebook in the forthcoming January window in order to
propel the Hammers away from the relegation zone, in which they have been
firmly entrenched since the beginning of the season. Barton's current club
confirmed yesterday that their new manager will be former Hammers boss Alan
Pardew, who has signed a five and-a-half year deal.
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West Ham United v Manchester City - Match Preview
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 10th December 2010
By: Preview Percy
Preview Percy so dull that even Wikileaks doesn't mention him..........
Next we entertain Manchester City for a Saturday kick-off at 3pm PFT (proper
football time). The District line is shut between Barking and Upminster so
you'll have to find an alternative route if that's your usual matchday trip.
This week's visitors currently lie in fourth place having amassed 29 points
thus far from their 15 games. My perception of their season so far is that
it's been a bit, well, bitty. This idea has been shaped by the fact that
every time one sees a mention of them in the paper it seems to be in
relation to players having a pop at each other or the management. These
things are, we are told, symptomatic of a buying policy that seems to target
top players in each position without having much thought as to how they
might gel together as a team. However, for all that, they are still in the
top four only four points off the top and they are unbeaten since
October,when they somehow contrived to lose 2-1 at Wolves. In their last six
they have won three (2-0 at West Brom, 4-1 at Fulham and 1-0 at home to
Bolton) and drawn three (1-1 at Stoke and 0-0 at home to both Man Utd and
Birmingham).
The nature of the 0-0 draw against their Salford rivals drew some raised
eyebrows coming as it did with an apparent lack of ambition to take anything
other than a point out of the match. Which is a shame as they're not that
hard to beat are they?!
When last they appeared on these shores at the back end of last season, they
had a bit of a goalkeeping crisis on their hands. Shay Given had dislocated
his shoulder and Joe Hart was down at Birmingham. Hart returned from the
Midlands in the summer and, now that both are fit, he has become first
choice for the onion-bag custodian role. Given doesn't strike me as the sort
who will be over happy warming the bench and there have been murmurings
about a possible loan move when the January window opens. The rub is that
the Citizens would be less than happy to allow a move, however temporary, to
a Premier League rival club, which leaves Given with the possible option of
a spell at Celtic until the end of the year. Which is a dispiriting prospect
for a decent 'keeper.
Since we last met in May, midfielder Nigel de Jong managed to earn a World
Cup runner's up medal. That he didn't also earn a red card and a possible
conviction for assault is one of the wonders of the modern world – Howard
Webb certainly wouldn't have let him off so lightly had he been wearing his
other uniform from his police job. It might be an interesting battle between
him and Boa Morte if their paths cross. LBM is seemingly going through a
spell of getting his retaliation in first at the moment. Although the usual
dreadful Sky analysis of last weekend's match at Sunderland chose to ignore
both Richardson's own studs up role in their rush to moan about LBM (not to
mention Richardson's subsequent stamp on the back of LBM's leg), referees
often have a habit of applying retrospective justice a week later so if De
Jong starts leaving his foot in LBM will have to stay calm – perhaps he
should be the one player Wally Downes shouldn't talk to this weekend.
The visitors will be missing a certain striker by the name of Tevez. Now
nobody is suggesting that there was any touch of the "Real Madrids" about
the yellow card he picked up against Bolton last week but the fact remains
that it was the little Argentinian striker's fifth of the season and at
least we'll be spared the goal that he traditionally scores against us. Of
course there ought to mandatory cards for anyone who wears what I believe to
be called a "Snood" - he'd never have worn one when playing for us. However,
Carlos, should you be reading this, the return fixture is on April 30, just
in case you need to time your next suspension.
Further back the pitch they'll be without Aleksander Kolarov, who, despite
sounding like the sort of renegade KGB general who crops up in post cold-war
spy stories, found that his diplomatic immunity did not extend to yellow
cards, picking up two in short order in the Bolton match which means that he
will be joining Tevez on the naughty step.
Interestingly, if that's the word, there is a big disparity in their
goalscorers list. Tevez is, thankfully for my Fantasy League team way ahead
as top scorer having notched 10, all in the league. The next highest scorers
are Adebayor and Balotelli both of whom have five. However, here's a funny
thing, Adebayor has only netted once in the league whilst Balotelli only has
two, their goals coming in something called the Europa League. So, of the 21
goals they've got in the league, Tevez has scored ten of them. This probably
means something deep and meaningful – once you've worked out what it is let
us know.
Ok our turn. Hopefully last Saturday's defeat on Wearside will turn out to
have been a blip. Indeed the defence looked, by and large, quite solid with
Tomkins walking away with my personal MOTM award. Just one lapse cost us the
match, though, as ever, we weren't helped by an official who stared straight
at Ferdinand's shove on Spector without awarding a penalty. Not that you'd
have noticed from Sky's coverage of course.
Spector was another who had a decent game – out Parkering Parker who,
possibly for the first time this season, looked a little leg-weary. Spector
has earned another start in my opinion, though I'm not sure that the same
applies to Carlton Cole. Admittedly I'd probably have been annoyed had a ref
awarded a free kick against me for having my shirt pulled by one opponent
whilst another shoved me from the side. However Cole allowed the officials
to get to him far too easily and what confidence he may have got from his
efforts against Man Utd the previous week was wasted as he spent too much
time moaning and not enough getting on with things. If it were me I'd revert
to the Piquionne and Obinna partnership up front.
Not sure who'se available in midfield to be honest – Behrami faces a late
test on his hip but it appears Dyer's bits and pieces may have survived the
cold weather . Best news of all is the fact that Jack Collison has started
proper training after a long spell in sick bay. It's way too early for a
proper return just yet but warming news all the same.
We need to get Sunday out of our system and remember that we're looking at a
possible three wins in a row at the Boleyn. The spirit of that night in the
snow is what we need. The omens point to a hard match but it shouldn't be
beyond a team that showed so much in its last home game to at least give it
a go. Having said that, for some reason I've had "draw" in my head for ages
on this one so I think I'll go with the gut and plump for 2-2. Why? Why not!
Enjoy the game!
Last season: Drew 1-1 Boa-Morte gave us the lead in a match that ended up so
tame it looked like a continuation of the Tony Carr testimonial that had
taken place earlier in the week.
Danger Man: Emanuel Adebayor – one time Hammers' target has that habit when
we play him.
Referee: Phil Dowd - First time at the Boleyn this season for the rotund one
who is still probably trying to catch up with the play from last season's
disastrous 3-1 home defeat against Wolves.
Daft fact of the week: The late Malcolm Allison once signed Tony Book for
Plymouth Argyle by getting the player to falsify his birth certificate lest
the Plymouth board found out that Book was a lot older than he claimed.
Sheffield United are looking at the legal implications even as we speak.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham v Man City preview
Intriguing clash of sides at opposite ends of PL table
By Steve Pass Last updated: 10th December 2010
SSN
PREDICTIONS:
Skysports.com prediction: 1-1
SKY BET odds: West Ham 10/3 Draw 5/2 Man City 5/6
One to Watch: Mario Balotelli
MATCH FACTS
City are unbeaten in their last six Premier League games and have kept four
clean sheets, conceding just two goals - Man City to keep a clean sheet 11/8
- BET NOW
The Hammers have won just one of their last 10 matches against Manchester
City in all competitions - West Ham to win 1-0 11/2 - BET NOW
City have only lost two of their last 15 Premier League away matches - City
to score in both halves 2/1 - BET NOW
West Ham host Manchester City on Saturday in a clash of sides needing the
points at opposite ends of the table. The rock bottom Hammers go into the
game three points off safety, while fourth-placed City are just a win off
top spot. The Hammers lost 1-0 at Sunderland last time but, prior to that
reverse, Avram Grant's side looked to have turned a corner after beating
Wigan and then inflicting a first defeat of the season on Manchester United
in the Carling Cup. Grant's side will also take heart from a five-game
unbeaten run at home as they look to get back on track. But it will be tough
against the Light Blues who go into the game on the back of a seven-match
unbeaten run. The big spenders saw off high-flying Bolton last time thanks
to a goal from talismanic striker Carlos Tevez, his tenth of the season. But
the Argentine misses out on a return to his former club as he is suspended
as City seek to end a three-game winless run at Upton Park.
Team news
West Ham will give a fitness test to Valon Behrami before deciding whether
the midfielder will play any part in the clash with City. The Swiss missed
last week's defeat at Sunderland with a hip injury and is a doubt for the
game while Mark Noble is out until the New Year with a similar injury.
Long-term absentees Thomas Hitzlsperger (thigh), Manuel da Costa (foot),
Anthony Edgar, Peter Kurucz and Jack Collison (all knee) also miss out. For
City, boss Mancini could bring in Jo and Micah Richards for the suspended
Tevez and Aleksandar Kolarov, who is out following his late dismissal in the
victory over Bolton. Kolo Toure had to be taken off early in the victory
over the Trotters after feeling tightness in his calf but the problem is not
as bad as first feared and he could feature.
Possible starting XIs
West Ham: Green, Upson, Gabbidon, Spector, Tomkins, Ben-Haim, Dyer, Boa
Morte, Parker, Piquionne, Obinna.
Man City: Hart, K Toure, Zabaleta, Richards, Kompany, Barry, Y Toure, Silva,
De Jong, Balotelli, Jo.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Grant - Stay away nosy Parkers
Boss insists captain is going nowhere as he seeks to bolster squad
Last updated: 10th December 2010
SSN
Avram Grant has warned potential suitors off West Ham skipper Scott Parker
in January. The hard-working midfielder has been consistently linked to
Spurs, who had a £7million bid for the 30-year-old rejected this summer. But
Grant is confident Parker will stay at Upton Park, while he has set his
sights on signing up to three new players in January, although he knows
funds are limited at the heavily indebted club. The West Ham boss said: "I
am confident Scott will stay. "He is a good player for us. West Ham is a
good club for him too. "He has developed this season. Before everyone was
saying 'it's not good that he's at West Ham', but this season has been his
best so far so it's good for him to stay and he is good for the club."
Tottenham's Robbie Keane, Aston Villa striker John Carew and Newcastle
midfielder Joey Barton have all being linked with the club in January but
Grant would not be drawn on specific targets. "It's not a secret that we
need to be stronger," said the former Portsmouth and Chelsea boss. "In one
area we don't have any players and in other areas we have one. "We have had
a lot of injuries this season so we need a few areas to be stronger. We will
do it in January, not massively - maybe two or three players."
Grant has begun negotiations with owners David Gold and David Sullivan about
potential transfer targets but concedes that his budget will be limited by
West Ham's financial situation, with the club currently more than £90million
in debt. "How many we sign depends on how much money we can spend," said the
55-year-old. "We are discussing transfers with the owners but you must
remember that they bought the club with a lot of debt so they are trying to
solve the financial situation. "I don't think we will have a lot of money
but we will deal with it."
City test
Grant next faces title contenders Manchester City at Upton Park on Saturday
as he seeks to guide the Hammers from the foot of the table. He believes the
club can stay up and insists he can handle the pressure of the job. He
added: "In my job there is always pressure. Roberto Mancini had pressure on
him in the last few weeks, now there is massive pressure on Carlo Ancelotti
and one month ago we spoke about Arsene Wenger. They are all top coaches.
Except Alex Ferguson, we have spoken about every other manager and this is
our job. "We are not even halfway through the season and we are only two
wins away from the mid-table so we want to think positive and want to think
that we can do it."
But Grant admits that West Ham's following fixtures against Blackburn,
Fulham, Everton, Wolves and Newcastle - all of whom are in the bottom half
of the table - could define their season. He added: "We want to win these
games because they are all against teams that are around us and every game
that we take points that's less points to the other team so they will be
very important."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Piquionne unfazed by problems
Hammers striker confident relegation will be avoided
By Patrick Haond Last updated: 10th December 2010
SSN
Frederic Piquionne remains confident that West Ham can steer a route to
Premier League safety. The Hammers continue to prop up the Premier League
table at present, a position they have now held for an alarming amount of
time. They are, however, only three points adrift of safety, with the
top-flight as keenly contested this season as it has been for some years.
Having managed to avoid being cast adrift, there is a still a confidence
around Upton Park that the determination within their ranks will see them
beat the drop. "No-one is really worried to be bottom," French striker
Piquionne told France Football.
"We have a team that is capable of finishing in the top 10. We have a group
with a lot of international players and the training sessions remain very
intense. "When I arrived at West Ham the fans told me: 'It doesn't mater how
many goals you score, we want players who give their best on the pitch. We
will always support those players'. They want warriors and I am one of
them."
Atmosphere
This is the second successive season in which Piquionne has found himself at
the centre of a basement battle, having suffered relegation with Portsmouth
in 2009/10. He believes West Ham's situation is markedly different to that
of Pompey, though, with financial upheaval and off-field distractions having
held the 2010 FA Cup finalists back. "Last season at Portsmouth? The problem
was the atmosphere around the team," added Piquionne. "There were good
players there but there were financial troubles and the seven defeats at the
start of the season put them in big trouble. "In a way we sacrificed the
Premier League for the cup. Unfortunately things did not turn out as we had
hoped (as Pompey lost the cup final to Chelsea)."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Toon reject Barton approach
West Ham make offer for in-form midfielder
By Peter O'Rourke Last updated: 10th December 2010
SSN
Skysports.com understands Newcastle have rejected an offer from West Ham for
Joey Barton. The Hammers have targeted a move for Bartonas they see the
all-action performer forming a midfield partnership with Scott Parker which
they hope will fire them to safety in the Premier League. The Upton Park
outfit are hoping to capitalise on the uncertainty surrounding the Magpies
following the departure of Chris Hughton to try and lure Barton away from St
James' Park with a lucrative offer. Barton has been in sparkling form this
season, leading to calls for a possible return to the England fold following
a string of impressive performances. A number of other clubs are thought to
be interested in Barton with the 28-year-old having just 18 months to run on
his current contract.
Rejected
Barton's agent, Willie McKay, has confirmed West Ham's initial offer was
rejected by Newcastle and that the midfielder remains committed to the
Magpies unless they decide to listen to offers for his services. "I believe
West Ham made an enquiry for Joey and that was rejected by Newcastle," McKay
told skysports.com. "Joey is enjoying his football again and he is committed
to Newcastle unless he is told otherwise. "There are other sides interested
in Joey as I have had five or six phone calls from teams asking about Joey's
availability. "If these interested clubs make an offer for Joey then it is
up to the two clubs to agree a deal and once that happens then we can sit
down and discuss a possible move."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Wally has ironed out his future
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today
WALLY DOWNES has ended speculation he could join Alan Pardew at Newcastle by
signing a deal with West Ham. The Hammers' new defence coach has committed
himself until the end of the season and is determined to keep the Irons in
the top flight. Pardew took over at Newcastle on Thursday and has worked
with Downes at Reading and Southampton. But Downes said: "I'm delighted to
have signed at West Ham. "They came in for me before Newcastle and if there
was any speculation about me going, this will kill it off. "We have to keep
up the momentum. We beat Wigan and Manchester United in my first two
matches."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Don't judge us bosses on how many points we have
The Sun
By JAMES CLARKE
Published: Today
AVRAM GRANT desperately pleaded last night not to be judged on how many
points West Ham have. The Hammers boss is under pressure with his
rock-bottom team picking up just 12 points from 16 games. And they head into
today's Upton Park showdown with Manchester City having won only two league
matches so far this season. But, despite this sorry record, Grant reckons
the jury should remain out until the end of the campaign - when he believes
he will have kept the East Enders in the top flight. Newcastle boss Chris
Hughton was sacked this week, despite sitting nine places above the hapless
Hammers. But Grant says he has no such worries. He insisted: "I don't think
you can compare managers and teams by points. "You cannot compare if Chris
Hughton has done a better job than me at West Ham - or Roberto Di Matteo up
at West Brom. "Ian Holloway is doing a great job with Blackpool - better
than the managers of those teams in front of him. "If you think that the
manager of the club one place above Blackpool is doing a better job than
Holloway, then I don't think you have the right idea. "When I was at
Chelsea, I had the possibility to be at the top - that doesn't mean I did a
better job than the manager of the team in 10th. "You need a philosophy and
a target. At West Ham, we know what we want from ourselves. "First, we want
to stay in the Premier League and we can do it. But I want to do it our way
and with our style of football."
Yet Grant insists he is not worried about possibly losing talismanic
midfielder Scott Parker in January. Parker, 30, has again been linked with a
move to bitter London rivals Tottenham. Grant said: "The owners David Gold
and David Sullivan did not sell Scott Parker at the beginning of the season.
"I'm confident of keeping him, and it's good for him that he stays with us.
"Scott has developed this season. Before everyone was saying, 'It's not good
that he's at West Ham', but this season has been his best so far."
Grant believes rather than selling star names next month, the Hammers will
be focused on bringing in fresh faces. The Israeli has already begun
discussions with the owners about potential transfer targets. Tottenham
striker Robbie Keane, Aston Villa hitman John Carew and Newcastle midfielder
Joey Barton have all been linked with the Hammers. And Grant said: "It's not
a secret we need to be stronger. "In one area we don't have players and in
others we do. "We've had a lot of injuries, so we need a few areas to be
stronger. We'll do it in January, not massively - maybe two or three
players."
But it remains to be seen how much wheeling and dealing Grant will be able
to do with the club £90million in debt. He admitted: "How many we sign
depends on how much money we can spend. "We're discussing transfers but you
must remember the owners bought the club with big debts. I don't think we'll
have much money but we'll deal with it."
After Manchester City, West Ham face Blackburn, Fulham, Everton, Wolves and
Newcastle - all teams in the bottom half of the table. And Grant insisted:
"We need to win these games because they are against clubs that are around
us. And every game that we take points from, that's less to other teams.
It's important."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Karren Brady's Football Diary
The Sun
KARREN BRADY - First lady of football
Published: Today
Saturday, December 4
WITH their draw against Everton, it seems Chelsea's stutter is becoming more
than that - a slump. Surely Sir Alex cannot believe his luck. Carlo
Ancelotti's side at Stamford Bridge exuded power and character on the team
sheet and came over as an episode of Friends. Theories about the sacking of
Ray Wilkins are all very well but from my experience footballers seldom
dwell too long on misfortune or injustice to other people. I remember when
one of my managers left Birmingham City. As he was leaving the training
ground for the last time, the players did the conga around the car park.
Anyway, Chelsea have three tricky Premier League matches ahead and will need
at least five points from them or the title I was so convinced they would
retain will be vanishing faster than washing-up suds.
Sunday, December 5
THERE is so much amateurism surviving in the FA that it could be a local
gardening club. Every other country with a FIFA delegate values his
permanence because vital decisions are made through old friendships and
loyalties just as often as by good judgment. Not England, though. Our man in
Zurich, Geoff Thompson, was a busted flush in the poker game for the World
Cup 2018, his bargaining power cut because he was due to be replaced soon
afterwards by a Northern Ireland delegate as agreed by the UK's four FA's.
Just what we need now - Buggins' Turn. I have a good chat with David Dein
and I've no doubt he would make a huge difference to the FA if he were
chairman. David is clever, direct and knows the politics of football. The FA
are a mess of five parts and the right hand often doesn't even know where
the left hand is.
Monday, December 6
IT is wise to be ready for anything in football and there have been tales of
the unexpected from St James' Park for weeks. Still, when I hear Chris
Hughton has been sacked as Newcastle manager I reach for the Vick sniffer.
Winning promotion as champions and a satisfactory start to the season - how
I wish we were 11th on 19 points - is not enough for owner Mike Ashley, who
must have a very useful alternative to Hughton or an excuse closely related
to his mental condition. Mike is not saying why, though I hear Hughton was
holding out against the appointment of Peter Beardsley as his assistant.
Chief executive Derek Llambias was also a strong critic of anything he could
use from whispers. Bad luck, Chris, and next time you visit your dad - he
lives a few doors away from The Boleyn - drop in for a cuppa. As long as it
does not start any rumours.
Tuesday, December 7
THERE'S dirty talk at Arsenal-fanatic Piers Morgan's celebration party of
his new CNN job which is, naturally enough, about Spurs. I'm not friends
with the White Hart Lane bosses because they are trying to hijack our
Olympic Stadium bid. Now I'm doing as Deep Throat advised in All the
President's Men and I'm following the money. The results are fascinating but
I'm not about to do a WikiLeak to Spurs chairman Daniel Levy so I'm keeping
them close to my chest. Anyway, he'd have trouble with both sets of fans if
his club moved into what Harry Redknapp describes as "West Ham territory."
Wednesday, December 8
THE day it was ruled linesmen should be called 'assistant referees',
football began to use two words when one says it all. Then up jumped UEFA
president Michel Platini with his plan for two more linesmen - sorry,
assistant referees' assistants - to see whether the ball had crossed the
line and to spot obscured misdeeds. It was obvious to anyone other than the
blind, blinkered or Platini's yes-men that a bit of technology would do the
job at much less expense. Chelsea pay the penalty in Marseille tonight or,
rather, don't get a penalty after the ref awards it then changes his mind at
the behest of one of those assistants. Platini claimed his idea would lead
to 99 per cent correct decisions. Evidently, he's one of those people who
doesn't understand my rule that a one-man cock-up is multiplied by the
number of c**ks who assist him. I'm told the West Ham players who take note
of such things appreciate the training-ground clean-up I ordered but we need
a new HQ. The money is tied up with other priorities right now - and that
makes me feel like George Osborne.
Thursday, December 9
WHETHER it was on the advice of the angel host or a planned appointment,
Mike Ashley gives the Newcastle job to Alan Pardew - one of the few former
West Ham managers who is not still on the payroll. Initially, Pardew did an
excellent job with us and perhaps the players will buckle down immediately
and the Toon Army will grow to love him. At dinner with some old school
friends, the waiter tells me I will be delighted with who I am sitting next
to - Jamie and Louise Redknapp. I really like Jamie. I love the relationship
he has with his father and think he is a manager in the making. Educated,
articulate, sensible. He promises to send a message to his dad to stay away
from Scott Parker. So he is genuine too. 'Thank you,' I say to the waiter,
'I am pleased'. 'No' he says, 'it's the other side I was talking about'. I
cannot work out who they are, until I am told. A glum-looking Gwyneth
Paltrow and her musician husband. She is not a patch on the beautiful
Louise.
Friday, December 10
MY threat to rip off any snood warming a West Ham player's neck unsettled
one or two. A text comes from our dressing room: "We'll try to be brave but
it's tough out there. We have frozen bits we didn't know we had." Glad to
see they are in the party spirit. So is a Premier League director pal who I
text to ask how things are going. 'No news on the Russian blonde or Latvian
redhead. But the wife's away for Christmas, so plenty to tell you in the New
Year'.
Promises, promises. The only ones I want to believe are Avram Grant's,
starting with the points against Manchester City on Saturday.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Grant: Parker stays - and we'll buy too
Published 15:27 10/12/10 By Neil McLeman
The Mirror
Avram Grant has insisted he will be buying in the January transfer window -
and won't be selling inspirational star Scott Parker. West Ham's England
midfielder has been continually linked with a move away from the Premier
League's bottom club, with Tottenham again said to be interested in his
signature. But the Hammers' Israeli boss said he was already in talks with
the club board about bolstering his squad next month. "We won't have much
money, but we are dealing with it now," said Grant. "If we bring in two or
three more players, we will be stronger than we are now - especially with
our history of injured players. "There are always stories about Scott. It is
not true (about us selling him). He is a good player for us. And I think we
are a good club for him. He is playing his best season for us."
West Ham host Manchester City tomorrow, and Roberto Mancini's team have a
chance to go level on points at the top of the table with a victory. "I
think they can compete for the league," added Grant. "Normally the English
champions only lose two or three matches in a season. This season that will
not happen. The top teams are not so consistent. "Now the top six teams can
be champions. It would be no surprise if Tottenham won it, because they are
playing good football. And it is the same for Manchester City and the other
teams in the top four."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers join the race for Barnsley ace
Published 22:30 10/12/10 By John Cross
The Mirror
West Ham boss Avram Grant has joined the battle to sign Barnsley winger Adam
Hammill in January. Hammill, 22, has a £500,000 buy-out clause and a host of
scouts will be at today's derby with Sheffield United. Everton, Bolton,
Wigan, Wolves and Blackpool are also interested.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham's Behrami facing a fitness test
Published 14:54 10/12/10 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
West Ham will give a fitness test to Valon Behrami before deciding whether
he will play any part in their Barclays Premier League match against
Manchester City. The Swiss midfielder missed last week's defeat at
Sunderland with a hip injury and is a doubt for the game while Mark Noble is
out until the new year with a similar injury. Long-term absentees Thomas
Hitzlsperger (thigh), Manuel da Costa (foot), Anthony Edgar, Peter Kurucz,
and Jack Collison (all knee) also miss out.
Team (from): Green, Gabbidon, Reid, Upson, Tomkins, Kovac, Behrami, Barrera,
Jacobsen, Stanislas, Piquionne, Cole, Obinna, Stech, Spector, Boa Morte,
Hines, McCarthy, Ben Haim, Faubert, Ilunga, Dyer, Parker.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Collison making speedy recovery
Author: Ben Moss
Posted on:10 December 2010 - 03:20 PM
Sport.co.uk
Jack Collison could return to the West Ham squad a month earlier than
expected, after making a quick recovery from knee surgery. The Welsh
international midfielder went under the surgeon's knife back in May and it
was originally thought he wouldn't be back in action until February. But
Collison's rehabilitation has gone better than expected and there is the
chance that the 22-year-old could be back on the pitch next month - a month
ahead of schedule. There are some suggestions that Collison has been
pencilled in for a return against Arsenal, when the Gunners visit Upton Park
on January 15, although the Hammers will be wary of rushing him back too
soon. Avram Grant may feel it is worth taking a gamble on the player's
fitness, especially with Thomas Hitzlsperger and Mark Noble currently on the
sidelines.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Avram Grant confident Scott Parker will stay... and be joined by others at
West Ham
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 5:59 PM on 10th December 2010
Daily Mail
Avram Grant is adamant Scott Parker will remain at West Ham for the rest of
the season and has set his sights on signing up to three new players in the
January transfer window. Parker has been an outstanding performer in what
has otherwise been a drab year for the East London outfit, who are rooted to
the bottom of the Barclays Premier League as the season approaches the
halfway point. The midfielder's tireless performances caught the eye of
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp, who had a £7million bid for the 30-year-old
rejected this summer. With the January transfer window drawing closer,
suggestions that Redknapp is ready to re-ignite his interest in Parker have
gathered momentum but Grant insists the England international is going
nowhere. 'I am confident Scott will stay,' said Grant. 'He is a good player
for us. West Ham is a good club for him too. He has developed this season.
Before everyone was saying "it's not good that he's at West Ham", but this
season has been his best so far so it's good for him to stay and he is good
for the club.'
Grant has begun negotiations with owners David Gold and David Sullivan about
potential transfer targets as he looks to solve the problems that have
plagued his team at both ends of the pitch. Tottenham's Robbie Keane, Aston
Villa striker John Carew and Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton have all being
linked with the club. Grant would not be drawn on specific targets but
admitted that he is keen to strengthen his squad. 'It's not a secret that we
need to be stronger,' the former Chelsea boss said. 'In one area we don't
have any players and in other areas we have one. 'We have had a lot of
injuries this season so we need a few areas to be stronger. We will do it in
January, not massively - maybe two or three players.' Grant also conceded
that his budget would be limited by West Ham's financial situation, with the
club currently over £90million in debt. 'How many we sign depends on how
much money we can spend,' said the 55-year-old, who welcomes title
contenders Manchester City to Upton Park tomorrow. 'We are discussing
transfers with the owners but you must remember that they bought the club
with a lot of debt so they are trying to solve the financial situation.
'I don't think we will have a lot of money but we will deal with it.'
Grant's team temporarily moved up to 19th on Saturday after Wolves' defeat
to Blackburn, only to return to the bottom of the pile after a 1-0 loss at
Sunderland the following day. The Israeli, who took Portsmouth down to the
npower Championship last season, is not worried about his position and is
confident that the Hammers will stay up. He continued: 'In my job there is
always pressure. Roberto Mancini had pressure on him in the last few weeks,
now there is massive pressure on Carlo Ancelotti and one month ago we spoke
about Arsene Wenger. 'They are all top coaches. Except Alex Ferguson, we
have spoken about every other manager and this is our job. 'We are not even
halfway through the season and we are only two wins away from the mid-table
so we want to think positive and want to think that we can do it.' Grant
admits that West Ham's following fixtures against Blackburn, Fulham,
Everton, Wolves and Newcastle - all of whom are in the bottom half of the
table - could define their season. He added: 'We want to win these games
because they are all against teams that are around us and every game that we
take points that's less points to other team so they will be very
important.'
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Grant will not block Downes if call comes from St James'
By Mike McGrath
Saturday, 11 December 2010
Independent.co.uk
Avram Grant, the West Ham United manager, has insisted he would not stand in
the way of Wally Downes departing for Newcastle United, despite the
defensive coach being credited with a key role in recent positive results.
Downes has a close relationship with Alan Pardew and worked with the newly
appointed Newcastle manager at Southampton before their dismissals in
August.
Since Downes' arrival at Upton Park, the Premier League's bottom club have
recorded victories over Wigan and Manchester United. The 49-year-old is
understood to be happy with his current post, although Pardew is yet to
select his backroom staff at St James' Park. "I've never stopped anyone in
my life – not a player, not anyone," Grant said. "I like Wally Downes and
have a very good relationship in a short time but I cannot answer for him.It
is a contract between him and the club but I must say we are happy with him
and he is happy from us. As far as I know he has signed but the contract is
not important."
Grant, ahead of today's game against Manchester City, spoke of his
confidence that Scott Parker, the midfielder, will stay at the club when the
January transfer window opens. "I don't think they [the owners] will do it,"
he said. "They didn't sell Scott Parker at the beginning of the season.
Scott Parker is important for us and I will say it again: I think it is also
good for him that he stays."
Grant sees Parker as part of the future, adding: "We want to create here –
this is the reason I came for long-term. First year to stay here in the
league, then bring in young players, bring players that can develop with the
team, like Victor Obinna. We want to develop players."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Match Preview: West Ham v Man City
West Ham Till I Die
What a shame we won't be able to give Carlos Tevez our normal warm welcome.
He's suspended. Each time he comes back and makes the Irons sign, I cry.
Pathetic I know. I dream of him coming back here. Well, why not? I have high
hopes that we can win this and I hope we go out with the intention of doing
so.
My predicted team is Green, Faubert, Upson, Tomkins, Ben Haim, Behrami,
Spector, Parker, Barrera, Obinna, Piquionne. I hear rumours that Barrera
will play further forward in a 4-3-3 formation, but we'll see.
Now, if you have a minute before the game, pop along to Ken's Cafe. I'm
having lunch there with David Cross. Really!
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Will Wally Downes Join Alan Pardew at Newcastle Utd?
West Ham Till I Die
Alan Pardew's appointment to the Newcastle Utd managerial hot seat could
have possible consequences for us. It is not beyond the realms of
possibility that Pardew will approach Downes to join his new coaching set
up. Should we be concerned at losing a coach who has made such a dramatic
and immediate impact upon our defensive organisation and cohesion? Surely
the club need Wally Downes to honour his contract? The alternative
argument, I suppose, is that there is no point trying to retain people who
want away! Avram Grant has been quoted on Virgin media putting this latter
point of view: that the coach is under contract, he appears happy, but he
would not stand in Downes' way if he wants to join Newcastle Utd.
I understand Grant's point of view, but it also has to be acknowledged that
the club needs Downes' continued contribution. Not only is he making us a
tighter unit at back, but he has obviously helped lift the mood on the
training ground and in the dressing room. Continuing a previous theme, he
has added a dash of colour to a largely grey coaching set up. As such, the
club need to 'grab the bull by the horns' and tackle the issue. Grant needs
to proactively anticipate a approach by Pardew and persuade Downes to stay,
at least for the remainder of the season. It will be very disappointing,
and deflating, if Downes left the club so soon. We shall see what
transpires?
I see that Grant is predicting that we will not only retain Parker, in
January, but will add three players to the squad. Obviously, this is
qualified with the usual there is not a lot of money available argument and
the reoccurring mantra that we should remember that the owners purchsed an
heavily indebted club. The fact is that the incoming transfers since the
Sullivan-Gold takeover have been largely underwhelming, so I do not have
great expectations of our prospects in the January window. Lets see if the
skepticism is justified or not?
It is undoubtedly a positive that Carlito Tevez is suspended for tomorrow's
match. Manchester City rely heavily on Tevez's goals, he is their top
scorer with 10 PL goals. Yes, City still have plenty of attacking threat,
but they are not unbeatable. A lot depends on the West Ham that turn up
tomorrow. If we are organised, committed and, most importantly, make the
correct selection then we have a chance at Upton Park. On paper, City are
clearly stronger than us, but football is not played on paper! Psychology,
motivation and will to win are also important factors that can level and
prove decisive in securing unlikely victories. Our squad is probably strong
enough, even as it presently stands, to get out of trouble. What we really
need is the psycho-motivational factors to kick-in to help us raise our
game.
In terms of selection, it will be interesting to see if Grant continues to
favour Dyer over Barrera and whether Cole retains his place, given his
general ineffectiveness against Sunderland? Hopefully Jacobsen is fit to
return to right-back and Tal Ben Haim will move across to play left-back.
While the Upson-Tomkins duo should continue in central defence. If Behrami
continues to be absent through injury, then Spector will get the nod to
partner Parker once again in midfield. Similarly, will Boa Morte be
including in the starting line up, or will Grant go for Junior Stanislas?
Optimistically, here's to a 2-1 Hammers victory! COYI!
SJ. Chandos.
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