WHUFC.com
All of the early team news and stats ahead of Saturday's big game in
Yorkshire
15.03.2012
LEEDS UNITED V WEST HAM UNITED
npower CHAMPIONSHIP
SATURDAY 17 MARCH 2012
KICK-OFF: 3pm
FULL AUDIO COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
Introduction
• West Ham United travel to Yorkshire looking for their third away victory
in succession, having beaten Blackpool and Cardiff City on the road in
recent weeks.
• West Ham sit in third place after a 1-1 home draw against Doncaster Rovers
last time out. Reading's Tuesday night 1-1 draw at Doncaster meant they
leapfrogged the Hammers into second place. Leeds are in tenth position but
are only four points off a Play-Off spot.
• Leeds United go into the game with new manager Neil Warnock taking charge
of only his fifth game as Leeds boss.
• West Ham United are just one win away from 11 away wins, which would equal
the club's best-ever return on the road.
• The Hammers have not visited Elland Road since February 2005, when Leeds
United snatched a 2-1 Championship win.
• Leeds have won 14 of the last 19 meetings between the clubs, with the
Hammers only tasting victory in two of 26 matches played over the last 29
years.
Team news
West Ham United
• Joey O'Brien is likely to be back in the squad for the trip to Yorkshire,
but injured quintet Ricardo Vaz Te, Winston Reid, Julien Faubert, Guy Demel
and Papa Bouba Diop will miss out.
• Vaz Te is expect to be out for around a week, meaning he will miss
Saturday's game and the home match with Middlesbrough on Tuesday.
• Ravel Morrison will be hoping to be involved once more after being on the
bench for the first time against Doncaster Rovers. The midfielder scored a
brace for the Development Squad in a 2-0 win at Brentford in midweek.
Leeds United
• The hosts could be boosted by the return of winger Robbie Rogers from the
head injury he suffered in mid-February. Leigh Bromby and Alex Bruce could
both be in contention after returning to light training.
• Andy O'Brien will miss out along with other long-term abstentees Mika
Vayrynen, Patrick Kisnorbo and Davide Somma.
Last time out
Saturday 10 March 2012
npower Championship
West Ham United 1-1 Doncaster Rovers
West Ham United: Green, McCartney, Faye, Tomkins, Taylor, Noble, Lansbury
(O'Neil 57), Nolan (Collins 80), Collison, Cole, Vaz Te (Baldock 25)
Subs not used: Maynard, Morrison
Goal: Nolan (9)
Sunday 11 March 2012
npower Champsionship
Middlesbrough 0-2 Leeds United
Leeds United: Lonergan, Connolly, Lees, White, Robinson, O'Dea, Brown,
Clayton (Pugh 90), Becchio (Forssell 90), Snodgrass, McCormack (Webber 87)
Subs not used: Nunez, Thompson
Goals: Snodgrass (18), Becchio (27)
Last six meetings
(Championship unless stated)
21 August 2011 - West Ham United 2-2 Leeds United
26 February 2005 - Leeds United 2-1 West Ham United
10 December 2004 - West Ham United 1-1 Leeds United
8 February 2003 - Leeds United 1-0 West Ham United (Premier League)
10 November 2002 - West Ham United 3-4 Leeds United (Premier League)
1 January 2002 - Leeds United 3-0 West Ham United (Premier League)
Overall record v Leeds United (all competitions) W 27 D 28 L 48
Ten-year records
West Ham United
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points, relegated to Championship)
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)
Leeds United
2010/11 Championship 14th (61 points)
2009/10 League One 2nd (86 points, promoted to Championship)
2008/09 League One 4th (84 points)
2007/08 League One 5th (76 points)
2006/07 Championship 24th (36 points, relegated to League One)
2005/06 Championship 5th (78 pointsf)
2004/05 Championship 14th (52 points)
2003/04 Premier League 19th (33 points, relegated to Championship)
2002/03 Premier League 15th (47 points)
2001/02 Premier League 5th (66 points)
Referee
• Saturday's referee will be Peter Walton.
• The 51-year-old began his refereeing career in 1986, was appointed to the
Football League List of assistant referees in 1993, and the Premier League
List of assistant referees the following year.
• After running the line during the 1996 FA Cup final between Manchester
United and Liverpool at Wembley, Walton joined the FIFA list of assistant
referees and ran the line during the 1996 UEFA European Championship
group-stage fixture between Germany and Czech Republic at Old Trafford.
• Walton, who lists golf and current affairs among his hobbies, joined the
Football League List of referees in 1998 and joined the Premier League
Select List in 2003.
• Walton's first West Ham United appointment came on 21 November 2004, when
the Hammers were defeated 1-0 at Millwall in the Championship.
• In 2007, he was part of a group of referees who travelled to Ecuador to
undertake an Advanced Course for Referees' Instructors on behalf of the FA
and CONMEBOL.
• Walton will be assisted this afternoon by Scott Ledger and Glenn Turner,
while the fourth official will be Geoff Eltringham.
• Walton's most-recent West Ham United game came in May 2011 when the
Hammers drew 1-1 with Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League. His previous
Leeds United appointment came in 1-0 home League One defeat by Southampton
on 13 March 2010.
Old Boys
• Players who have represented both clubs include Lee Bowyer, Sebastien
Carole, Lee Chapman, Mervyn Day, Brian Deane, Rio Ferdinand, Alf Harwood,
William Jackson, Matt Kilgallon, Dave Mangnall and George Speak.
Next up
• West Ham United welcome Middlesbrough to the Boleyn Ground on Tuesday 20
March for a 7.45pm kick-off, while Leeds United will play host to Nottingham
Forest on the same evening.
General Information
• West Ham United have sold all 5,000 standard tickets for Saturday's game.
• Saturday's forecast for Leeds is for sunny intervals with a chance of
showers. The maximum temperature for the day is expected to be around 10C
(50F).
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Loanee update
WHUFC.com
Freddie Sears, Cristian Montano and Rob Hall are all out on loan
16.03.2012
Freddie Sears, Cristian Montano and Rob Hall have all either extended or
started loan spells with npower Football League clubs. Sears has extended
his loan spell at npower League One club Colchester United until the end of
the season, while Montano and Hall have joined League Two side Oxford United
and League One promotion-chasers MK Dons. Montano has linked up with Oxford
for a month, while Hall joins MK Dons until the end of the season. For
Montano, the move is his fourth loan of the season following spells with
Notts County, Swindon Town and Dagenham and Redbridge. Hall enjoyed a
successful period with Oxford himself before Christmas.
Meanwhile, Sears has extended his stay with Colchester, having initially
joined the U's on 31 January and made four league appearances for the
Essex-based side.
With Colchester battling to get into the Play-Off picture, manager John Ward
has elected to keep the 22-year-old at the Weston Homes Community Stadium
until May.
Colchester sit ninth in the table at present, seven points behind Notts
County, who occupy the final Play-Off spot. The U's host Huddersfield Town
on Saturday, having held promotion-chasing Sheffield United to a 1-1 draw in
midweek.
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Taylor eyes club record win
WHUFC.com
Matt Taylor is aiming to equal the club record of eleven away league
victories
17.03.2012
Matt Taylor is eager to help West Ham United soar back into the npower
Championship promotion places at Leeds United on Saturday - equalling a club
record in the process. The No14 and his Hammers team-mates are seeking a
third consecutive away victory at Elland Road, with a win equalling the
club-record of eleven road successes in a season set in 1922/23 and 1957/58.
Both of those seasons ended with West Ham gaining promotion from Division
Two to the top-flight. Taylor insisted the league table, which shows West
Ham behind Southampton and Reading in third, bears no relevance until the
season's end on 28 April. That said, he knows the Hammers need to pick up a
positive result in Yorkshire to keep the pressure on their rivals. "I must
admit I've not looked at the league table so it hasn't had a huge bearing on
my thoughts and I wouldn't imagine being in third position has had a bearing
on anybody else's thoughts within the club," said the midfielder. "I said
after the Doncaster game that we have eleven games left and we just need to
win as many of those as possible. I still firmly believe that we're in good
shape to get promoted providing we get back to winning football matches and
I think we will. "It'll be a fantastic occasion and a great game. Neil
Warnock has said that he expects it to be sold out and I think we'll see a
good turnout from Leeds fans and I'm sure our supporters will do us proud as
they always do by travelling to support us.
"Hopefully we can give them something to shout about because it's going to
be a massive game."
An experienced professional, Taylor said he is enjoying the race for
promotion to the Premier League, having spent the majority of his career
enjoying mid-table security in the top flight. "We're getting to a position
in the season which is, for me, enjoyable. The pressure is on and we want to
win football matches and this is what being a footballer is all about. We
can deliver. "The club record is a big incentive. It shows what we've
achieved away from home this season and we just need to continue that. If we
do, then I believe we'll achieve a top-top position. "That's not being
disrespectful to Leeds because they are at home and are expecting a good
performance and a positive result. "We're under no illusions that if we put
in an away performance like we have done this season, then we should be
alright."
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Hammers catch Henderson
WHUFC.com
West Ham United have completed the loan signing of Portsmouth goalkeeper
Stephen Henderson
16.03.2012
West Ham United have completed the signing of highly-rated goalkeeper
Stephen Henderson on emergency loan from Portsmouth. The 23-year-old stopper
has linked up with the Hammers until the end of the season. The former
Republic of Ireland Under-21 international has been a regular for Pompey
this season, making 27 appearances, and is considered to be one of the best
young goalkeepers in English football. Henderson said he cannot wait to get
started and is aiming to challenge Robert Green for the No1 jersey. "As
everybody knows, Portsmouth have financial difficulties, so I was told that
West Ham put a bid in on Friday and that bid was accepted. I'm sad to leave
Portsmouth but very happy to join a successful club in West Ham," he said.
"I'm aware that I might have to wait for my chance because Robert Green is
one of the best goalkeepers in the Championship - everyone knows that. I
will just come here, work as hard as I can and hopefully be ready when I'm
given my chance. "I played against West Ham for Portsmouth at Fratton Park
and we lost 1-0 to a Mark Noble penalty, so I did OK there and the season
has gone pretty well personally. Obviously it's been pretty difficult with
everything that has been going on, but it's made me a stronger person and
I'm ready for a new challenge."
Understandably, Henderson had a message of support for Portsmouth fans as
the club continues to battle against financial issues and the threat of
relegation. "I had a special bond with the Portsmouth fans. They were
absolutely brilliant with me and it has been very difficult for them losing
players, but it had to be done to keep the club going. They know and we know
that they have to stay positive and if they do stay up, that'll be a massive
achievement. I hope they do and I'll be looking out for their scores every
week."
Born in Dublin, Henderson is the latest goalkeeping member of his family,
following grandfather Paddy, father Stephen and uncles Dave and Wayne. Paddy
appeared in the European Cup with Shamrock Rovers in the 1960s, while
Stephen senior kept goal for Shelborne, Dundalk, Limerick and Cobh Ramblers
and later managed Cork City. Dave won the League of Ireland title with St
Patrick's Athletic, while Wayne was capped six times by Republic of Ireland
before retiring in 2011. Henderson began his career with Belvedere FC in
Dublin - the same club that produced Norwich City midfielder Wes Hoolahan,
Fulham full-back Stephen Kelly and Burnley winger Keith Treacy - before
moving to English football with Aston Villa at the age of 17 in 2005. The
goalkeeper moved to Bristol City in 2007, making his debut against Queens
Park Rangers in August of the same year. However, facing competition from
Adriano Basso and Chris Weale for the No1 jersey, Henderson was loaned to
York City, Weymouth, Aldershot Town and Yeovil Town, making a total of 64
first-team appearances. The continued presence of David James at Ashton Gate
saw Henderson join Portsmouth on a permanent basis in summer 2011. At first,
he served as back-up to Jamie Ashdown before breaking into the side and
making his debut in a 1-0 npower Championship defeat at Leeds United on 1
October last year. "I'm from Ireland but I've been over in England for a
while - this is my eighth year now," he said. "I've played for a few clubs
but this is obviously a massive move for me and I'm just going to do my
best. "I'm only 23 but I want to be playing games, like any other player.
Robert Green is very respected but I'll keep working hard and we'll see what
happens."
Henderson has also been capped regularly by Republic of Ireland at age-group
level, appearing for the U16s, U17s and U19s before making his U21 debut in
a 3-2 win over Sweden in Uppsala in October 2007. He totalled eight caps at
U21 level.
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Leeds United v West Ham
KO 15:00
16 March 2012
Last updated at 12:52
BBC.co.uk
NPOWER CHAMPIONSHIP
Venue: Elland Road Date: Saturday 17 March Kick-off: 1500 GMT
TEAM NEWS
Leeds manager Neil Warnock is expected to name the same side that defeated
Middlesbrough for his first win.
Paul Robinson, on-loan from Bolton, will continue at left-back so Aidy White
will occupy the left wing again.
West Ham forward Ravel Morrison will make his first appearance for the club
having signed from Manchester United at the end of January.
Striker Ricardo Vaz Te is out, while Joey O'Brien, Winston Reid and Julien
Faubert will all be given late checks.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• This is the 104th competitive meeting. Leeds have won 48 of the
previous 103, West Ham 27, with 28 drawn.
• Leeds are looking to take their unbeaten run against the Hammers to
nine games (W5, D3).
• West Ham's only win in 13 league clashes was 1-0 at Elland Road in
the Premier League in November 2000, when Nigel Winterburn scored the
winner.
Leeds United
• Having gained their first win under Neil Warnock against
Middlesbrough last Sunday, Leeds now set about the task of gaining their
first back-to-back wins in over three months.
• The 10th placed West Yorkshire club, four points outside the
play-offs, have only managed to deny Millwall and Portsmouth from scoring in
a league game at Elland Road this season.
• Warnock, at 63, is the oldest current manager in the Championship.
West Ham United
• The Hammers are unbeaten in seven, but have failed to win four of
their last six, and have slipped out of the top two.
• They have picked up an unmatched 10 Championship wins on the road,
and boast the best away record in the division with 33 of their 66 points
coming on their travels.
• Sam Allardyce, at 57, is the second oldest manager in the
Championship.
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MK Dons sign Robert Hall from West Ham United
BBC.co.uk
MK Dons have signed West Ham United forward Robert Hall on loan until the
end of the season. The 18-year-old has had two loan spells with League Two
Oxford this season, scoring six goals in 14 games. The England Under-19
international, who has made four appearances for the Hammers this season,
has recovered from a torn cartilage that had threatened to end his season.
He could make his Dons debut at Chesterfield on Saturday.
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Oxford United sign West Ham forward Cristian Montano
BBC.co.uk
Oxford United have signed West Ham's 20-year-old forward Cristian Montano on
a one-month loan deal. Colombian Montano, who has been at West Ham since he
was 10, had been on loan at Notts County. Montano has also previously had
loan spells at Swindon and Dagenham & Redbridge this season and has scored
eight goals this term. United made their move after they failed to extend
the loan spell of Lee Holmes from Southampton.
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Striker seals temporary switch
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 16th March 2012
By: Staff Writer
Robert Hall has become the third young Hammer to seal a loan move to the
lower leagues today. Earlier in the day it was confirmed that Freddie Sears
would be remaining with Colchester United for the rest of the campaign
whilst Cristian Montano has joined Oxford on a month-long loan. And now Hall
- who made his first team debut for West Ham at Derby County on 31st
December before going on to make three further appearances from the bench -
has completed a move to League One outfit MK Dons. The 18-year-old England
youth international has joined the Buckinghamshire-based club on loan for
the remainder of the current season, including the play-offs if required.
Hall - who featured for Oxford in League Two earlier on in the season, where
he scored six times in 12 starts - could make his first appearance for his
new club at relegation-threatened Chesterfield tomorrow. The Dons - who have
played 35 of their 46 league games - are currently fifth in League One, some
seven points adrift of the automatic promotion slots and the same margin
ahead of seventh-place Carlisle who sit just outside the play-off zone.
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Wandering star
KUMb.com
Filed: Friday, 16th March 2012
By: Staff Writer
Christian Montano has joined Oxford United on a month's loan - just days
after returning from his latest loan at Notts County. The 20-year-old
forward has joined the League Two club until mid-April at the earliest - his
FIFTH loan spell of the 201//12 season. Speaking to oufc.co.uk, the
Columbian youngster said: "I'm very excited to be here. I spoke to Robbie
Hall who was here earlier in the season and he told me all abo ut the club.
He said the team, the coaches and the set-up were first class and that the
fans were great so I am really looking forward to it." Oxford manager Chris
Wilder added: "He is a player who has scored goals, had a couple of loan
deals to play League football and has plenty of ability, pace and ideas.
"He wants to do well for this club and we think he will add to our options
up front at a very important stage of the season." Montano, who began the
season hoping to break into Sam Allardyce's first team squad at West Ham has
enjoyed spells with Notts County (twice), Swindon and Dagenham & Redbridge
prior to making his latest move. He's here, he's there, he's everywhere:
Montano this season
Notts County: (August-October) Pld 4(8) Gls 4
Swindon Town: (October-November) Pld 3(1) Gls 1
Dagenham & Redbridge: (November-January) Pld 10 Gls 3
Notts County: (February-March) Pld 1(3) Gls 0
Total: Pld 18(12) Gls 8
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Henderson loan confirmed
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 16th March 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have confirmed the arrival of Portsmouth goalkeeper Stephen
Henderson on loan. KUMB.com revealed last Saturday that the highly-rated
Irishman had successfully completed a medical and that his move to east
London would be announced imminently. That has taken rather longer than
expected, but the club have finally confirmed his arrival on loan for the
remainder of the season with view to a permanenet deal at the end of the
campaign. Henderson - who was withdrawn from the Portsmouth squad that were
beaten 2-0 at Brighton last weekend - began his career with Aston Villa but
joined Burnley on a free transfer in May 2007 having failed to make a single
appearance for the Premier League club. Loan spells at York, Weymouth,
Wycombe, Aldershot and Yeovil followed before he was snapped up by Pompey
last summer - since when he has gone on to make 27 apeerances for the
financially-stricken club. West Ham were just one of a string of clubs who
had been running the rule over the promising goalkeeper, who had been
training with his new team mates at Chadwell Heath this week, with Newcastle
United also linked with him back in January. Last weekend it was announced
that Henderson's current club have been advanced a figure of around £800,000
by the Football League which should ensure they complete their league
programme this season. That was also good news for West Ham who faced losing
the six points they had taken from wins against Pompey home and away this
season, should the troubled club be liquidated before the end of the current
campaign.
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Leeds United v West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 16th March 2012
By: Preview Percy
Preview Percy has been a bit worried this week. After the latest report that
suggested red meat was, like, really, really bad for you, steak suddenly
appeared on the menu at the Avram Grant Rest Home for the Bewildered for the
first time in ages. Strangely, they didn't offer any to any of the other
residents though. While we wait for his demise here's his look at Leeds
United, in which you'll find the scandalous secret about their ownership
that even the BBC weren't able to uncover. John Northcutt brings us back to
reality with his stat round-up...
Next we have a hike up the M1 to Yorkshire where we visit Leeds United for a
3pm kick off on Saturday. Enjoy it while you can. Travel news and, whilst
the trains seem to be ok on the East Coast line, on the Underground the Met,
Circle and Hammersmith & City lines all have whole or partial closures which
may make getting to Kings Cross an interesting exercise so allow yourself
enough time to get there.
Our opponents this weekend currently lie in 10th place having amassed 53
points from their 36 games so far. That leaves them four points shy of Hull
in 6th place, though the Humberside outfit do have a game in hand. Current
form is mixed with 8 points coming from their last six, the record being won
two (2-0 at Boro' and 3-2 at home to Doncaster), drawn two (0-0 at Hull and
Portsmouth) and lost two (1-0 at home to Southampton and a surprising 2-1
away at Coventry).
Inconsistency would seem to be the order of the day then, though with just a
little more in the way of luck, they might have picked up something out of
the home match with Southampton whose winner came with just about their only
attack of the match. Still if you don't take your chances ... (as we are of
course all too aware).
I've probably mentioned in past previews that Leeds are not one of the more
admired clubs in the professional game. Already saddled with an image
problem following all the thuggery, gamesmanship and bribery issues of the
late 1960s-early to mid '70s period they found themselves in major financial
bother. Things were so desperate that even the arrival of Ken Bates looked
like a good idea.
In amongst some rather cynical attempts to manipulate the timing of points
deductions there were also some dubious goings on that enabled them to push
through a CVA to enable them to survive, despite the best efforts of HM
Revenue & Customs, though they eventually ended up in whatever Division
Three is called this week.
If Pompey and Rangers weren't proof enough that the football authorities see
the words 'fit and proper' in a completely different light to the rest of
us, the continued presence of Bates in the professional game is something of
a major giveaway.
You may recall from the preview earlier this year that Bates had a bit of a
falling out with the BBC when they asked exactly who it was that Bates had
brought the club from – not an unreasonable question one might have thought,
given that assurances had been given that no one individual owned more than
10 per cent of the club. Unfettered by the journalistic integrity rules that
the BBC applies I went off and did my own research into the issue.
This involved trips to several of the sunnier tax havens (the expense bill
for which I have charged directly to the editors so they may be a bit short
this week if you see them in the pub). I finally came up trumps when I got
to Monaco which is where Bates himself is based. After buying a few bankers
a few drinks I can now reveal exclusively that the secretive power behind
the throne at Leeds from whom Bates bought the club was none other than
Harry Redknapp's dog Rosie.
They've never been ones to court popularity. Apart from the fact that they
are owned by Bates they've also employed the likes of Dennis Wise as manager
in the past. The recent change at the top is a case in point. It's almost as
if someone inside the club has said, "what can we do to make ourselves just
that little bit less popular? I know let's get rid of a promising young
manager in the form of Simon Grayson and bring in Neil Warnock".
Known as Colin (with good reason) he almost qualifies as an honorary Scouser
given his predilection for blaming anyone else for anything that goes wrong
with his career. His team's failure to hold on to a 10-point safety cushion
in 2006/07 was, of course our fault. According to Colin his recent sacking
from QPR was down to players, players' agents, Mark Hughes, Mark Hughes'
agent, Twitter, QPR's owners, QPR's previous owners etc etc etc.
The fact that Colin's stewardship seemed to have placed QPR into some sort
of footballing tailspin (with Hughes pulling desperately on the joystick)
appears somewhere behind increased solar flare activity and the demise of
Amy Winehouse in his list of "reasons I got the sack".
The departure of Simon Grayson has proved the old adage about ill winds,
giving as it has a fresh chance to defender Andy O'Brien. O'Brien and
Grayson had a falling out of Mike and Bernie Winters proportions earlier
this season. A poor start to the season on O'Brien's part saw him dropped,
only returning to first team action in November when injuries and
suspensions necessitated his return to the fold. Then things got a bit
complicated.
O'Brien apparently approached Grayson and announced that he would never play
for Leeds again, a statement with which Grayson elected to agree. O'Brien
later stated that his comment had been made whilst suffering from depression
and that he had not been in the right frame of mind when he made it. It
appears that this was an explanation that Grayson had little time for and it
was only after the manager's departure that O'Brien was seen in Leeds'
colours again, taking part as he did in the 2-1 defeat to Coventry a few
weeks back. During his absence from the ranks, O'Brien was linked with a
move to the Boleyn during our own injury and suspension crisis that saw
Linda playing at centre back.
The skipper, midfielder Jonny Howson, was out for much of the season before
being flogged to Norwich meaning that the captain's armband is currently to
be found halfway up the sleeve of Robert Snodgrass. Prior to Colin's
appointment, 'keeper Andy Lonegran had been performing the coin toss and
smiling in photos with the mascot duties. However it would seem that Colin
prefers these tasks to be undertaken by an outfield player. Snodgrass is a
full international, albeit only for Scotland and can be handy from
free-kicks. He's netted 12 times this season, a stat that puts him second in
their top scorers list.
At the top of that list is Snodgrass's fellow sweaty Ross McCormack who has
16 goals (of which 15 have come in the league). McCormack missed their match
against Millwall before Christmas to attend the birth of his son. That's
fair enough but he can look forward to a law suit over his decision to call
the kid 'Layton', which is far too close to 'Leyton' for Barry Hearn's
liking. McCormack has been in and out of the Scotland squad with Craig
Leveine attracting no little criticism north of the border for his failure
to select the in-form front-man.
Of course the arrival of Colin means that he is re-united with midfielder
Michael Brown, a fellow veteran of the so-called Battle of Bramall Lane.
This you may recall was a match in which the spirit of the game took as big
a kicking as one or two West Bromwich players.
Warnock's explanation for the abandonment of the match was about as
convincing as Harry Redknapp's tax defence, though in the form of the
disciplinary panel Sheffield United had as gullible an audience as that that
sat on the jury at Southwark the other week. Brown has always had a
reputation for the lack of ball-winning quality of some of his challenges
and, as if to underline the fact, Barnsley skipper Jacob Butterfield is
currently sitting at home nursing a cruciate knee ligament injury described
by the victim as "intentional" and "malicious".
They have a couple of defenders in on loan at present. Darren O'Dea has been
there all season having come in from Celtic. Paul Robinson is a more recent
arrival having come in from Bolton on a one-month deal earlier this month.
Sam must be kicking himself.
And so to us. I'll admit that, when I heard that we'd signed Vaz Te I was
far from overwhelmed. In fact I was struggling to make 'whelmed'. However,
he is precisely the sort of player that we've been lacking this season.
Someone who can run at, take on and beat players. He may not be the greatest
player you've seen doing those things but he seems to be all we've got in
that department. The fact is that after he went off against Doncaster that
was it as far as we were concerned.
This makes the news that he's out for three weeks all the more galling as it
is worrying to note that we didn't look like breaking Doncaster down without
someone willing to do something just that little bit out of the ordinary. It
may be that young Ravel Morrison may be the player for that – I've not seen
him in action so haven't really got that much of a line on how he plays.
However, although he made the bench last weekend, all the comments coming
from the club suggest that we shouldn't be holding our collective breath,
though you never know.
Other injuries include Demel (retrograde widdershins) Diop (thigh), Reid
(bonce) and Faubert (unspecified but he was limping when the boss saw him
last week so let's call it 'leg'). Joey O'Brien should be available though,
which should mean a return to the more familiar left hand side for Linda.
We will of course be away from home for this one and the way the team is
likely to be set up, together with the available personnel, may be more
suited to matches where the onus is on our opponents to make the running.
There also seems to be a psychological thing about the Boleyn Ground at the
moment so maybe a weekend away from E13 will do them the power of good.
Prediction? Well they played well against the Southampton Diving Academy the
other week and the pressure to get their first goals and first win under
Colin will have been released. Irrespective of division this is always a
difficult place to go to so I'll go for a stalemate. 1-1 maybe?
Enjoy The Game!
When Last We Met: Drew 2-2 at the Boleyn. Cole put us 1-0 up. Gradel (now
with St Etienne) missed a penalty that shouldn't have been awarded.
McCormack levelled in the second half. A Kisnorbo own goal put us 2-1 up and
Clayton gave Leeds a deserved point with a late, late equaliser.
Referee: Peter Walton. Premier League referee who once famously sent
Piquionne off for celebrating a goal stating that the player had climbed
into the crowd. When he had done no such thing.
Danger Man: Robert Snodgrass – scored against Boro'. Good with free-kicks
and not averse to the odd assist either.
Daft fact of the week: The city of Leeds takes its name from the name a
forest that covered the 5th century Kingdom of Elmet. This is reflected in
the fact that, although citizens of Leeds like to refer to themselves as
'Loiners', the rest of the country think that they are all 'Elmets'.
Stat man John: Northcutt's corner
Head to Head
Pld 103; West Ham Utd 27, Leeds Utd 48, Draws 28.
Biggest Win
1st January 1967: West Ham Utd 7-0 Leeds Utd (Boleyn Ground, League Cup 4th
Round)
Heaviest Defeat
5th February 1966: Leeds Utd 5-0 West Ham Utd (Elland Road, Division One)
First Meeting
29th January 1921: Leeds Utd 1-2 West Ham Utd (Elland Road, Division Two)
Last Five Meetings
21st August 2011: 2-2 (Boleyn Ground, Championship)
26th February 2005: 1-2 (Elland Road, Championship)
10th December 2004: 1-1 (Boleyn Ground, Championship)
8th February 2003: 0-1 (Elland Road, Premiership)
10th November 2002: 3-4 (Boleyn Ground, Premiership)
Memorable Match
9th February 1929: West Ham Utd 8-2 Leeds Utd (Boleyn Ground, Division One)
West Ham, who were to narrowly avoid relegation (by just eight points) at
the end of the 1928/29 season recorded their biggest win of the campaign
when smashing eight past a hapless Leeds side at the BG in front of just
over 18,000 spectators. On target for the Irons were Tommy Yews, Viv Gibbins
and United's club-record goalscorer Vic Watson, who hit a double hat-trick -
a feat unrepeated until October 1968, some 39 years later when Geoff Hurst
hit six again Sunderland in an 8-0 win.
You're Off! Red Cards Received
Harry Redknapp (1968-69); Michael Hughes (1996-97); Neil Ruddock (1998-99);
Shaka Hislop (1998-99); Steve Lomas (1998-99); Ian Wright (1998-99); Marc
Vivien-Foe (1999-2000); Fredi Kanoute (2002-03).
They Played For Both
Robbie Keane; Lee Bowyer; Sebastien Carole; Matthew Kilgallon; Brian Deane;
Rio Ferdinand; Lee Chapman; Mervyn Day; Alf Harwood; William Jackson; Dave
Mangnall; George Speak
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English eyes no Istres ace
French stopper in-demand
By Graeme Bailey - Tweet me: @skygraemebailey. Last Updated: March
16, 2012 7:24pm
SSN
Sky Sports understand that Wolves, Wigan, West Ham and Stoke are all
tracking French defender Claude Dielna. The 24-year-old is currently with
Ligue 2 outfit Istres, who are pushing for promotion to the top-flight. But
Dielna looks like he could be on his way out of the club this summer, with a
string of English clubs monitoring his progress. Dielna is a defender like
his cousins, Wolves' Ronald Zubar and Bournemouth's Stephane Zubar, and he
is also of Guadaloupe extraction.
A number of Ligue 1 clubs, including champions Lille were also linked, but
it now appears he could be following the rest of his family across the
Channel. Dielna's current contract is due to expire in the summer, meaning
he will free to move at the end of the season.
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Leeds v West Ham preview
Last updated: 16th March 2012
SSN
Team news ahead of the Championship clash between Leeds and West Ham at
Elland Road on Saturday. Leeds manager Neil Warnock is expected to pick his
starting line-up from an unchanged squad. Warnock has no new injury or
suspension problems while defenders Alex Bruce (hamstring) and Leigh Bromby
(knock), who have both returned to light training, remain sidelined. Paul
Robinson, on loan from Bolton, made his debut in the win at Middlesbrough
and is likely to resume at left-back, with Aidy White pushed forward into
the left-wing position, but Danny Pugh, who started on the bench on Sunday,
provides an alternative option down the left side.
Winger Lloyd Sam has joined Notts County on loan until the end of the
season, so skipper Robert Snodgrass will continue on the right wing, with
Michael Brown and Adam Clayton expected to continue in central midfield.
Teenage defender Zac Thompson, Danny Webber and strikers Ramon Nunez, Mikael
Forssell and Billy Paynter are all hoping to be involved as Leeds bid to cut
the four-point gap between themselves and the play-offs.
Ravel Morrison is in line to make his West Ham debut at Leeds. The January
signing from Manchester United has so far been held back by manager Sam
Allardyce, but was an unused substitute against Doncaster last weekend and
then scored twice in an eye-catching display for the club's reserves in
midweek. Morrison could go straight into the starting line-up in place of
winger Ricardo Vaz Te, who suffered a hamstring injury in the 1-1 draw with
Rovers. Right-back Joey O'Brien should be fit but centre-half Winston Reid
and winger Julien Faubert, who were also sidelined last weekend with knocks,
are out along with defender Guy Demel (thigh) and midfielder Papa Bouba Diop
(hamstring). The Hammers have been in talks to sign Portsmouth goalkeeper
Stephen Henderson as cover for Rob Green.
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Championship previews: Allardyce tells West Ham fans - boo Warnock, not us!
Published 08:00 17/03/12 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce wants West Ham fans to boo Neil Warnock rather than their own
players at Elland Road, writes Neil McLeman. The Hammers are unbeaten in
seven matches, but have slipped out of the top two after four consecutive
home draws. And the Irons manager claims criticism from their own supporters
is damaging their promotion hopes. Warnock faces West Ham today for the
first time since he threatened to sue the club over the 2007 Carlos Tevez
affair. Allardyce joked: "It would be better if our fans boo Neil and not
our players! "There is great support all around, but there is a negative
element that can be destructive and that the players hear and remember.
"This is only a small pocket but with a small pocket they are the ones who
are always heard. "As frustrating as it is, just bite your lip, give the
lads that little extra to will them over the line and that will be great.
We're supposed to cope with it as professionals. But if you criticise your
own, you get a negative response. "We are not playing bad. What we are doing
is not winning. "You criticise your own child constantly, you get a severely
depressed child."
Allardyce, whose side would go joint-top with Southampton by winning their
game in hand, added: "We want to play sparkling football, but nobody is
playing sparkling football at the moment. "It's too near the end of a very
hard season and there is so much at stake that you have to grind it out.
"Manchester United are not playing brilliantly, Manchester City are not
playing brilliantly. "Other players without the pressure on them are coming
strong like Arsenal and others in the Championship might come from the pack,
like Leicester or Leeds."
Big Sam's Blackpool lost 4-1 to Warnock's Huddersfield in 1994 in his first
game as a manager in English football. "They smashed us," he recalled. "And
he's sorted out the problem Leeds had – conceding silly goals. That makes
Leeds more difficult to play." Warnock, hired by Leeds last month after
being sacked by Queens Park Rangers in January, holds no grudge against the
Hammers. He said: "I love West Ham as a club. They are a great club –
fabulous – and I have friends who are season ticket holders there. "I have
been in London for the last few years and nothing has changed my mind that
they are a fantastic club. "I am looking forward to pitting my wits against
a team of their stature. "With their fantastic away record, it's going to be
a massive test. But it's one that whets the appetite."
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EIL WARNOCK: NO HARD FEELINGS
Leeds boss Neil Warnock
17th March 2012 By Michael Morgan
The Star
NEIL WARNOCK says he is still West Ham's top fan – despite the infamous
Carlos Tevez episode. When Tevez scored his winner for West Ham at
Manchester United on the last day of the season five years ago it
controversially kept the Hammers up and dumped furious Warnock's Sheffield
United out of the top flight. Warnock's eight-year spell as boss of the
Blades quickly came to an end – even though it later transpired Tevez's
registration was against Premier League rules. Warnock went on to manage
Crystal Palace and QPR before landing at Leeds as successor to sacked boss
Simon Grayson last month. And, on the eve of the Hammers visit to Elland
Road today, he said: "I have met Tevez since then. He had a big smile on his
face. "I told him, 'You cost me £1m, thank you'. I think he understood. But
the matter was dealt with and Sheffield United came out of it very well
financially. "Unfortunately, I never got a penny – and that rankled with
me." Whatever grievance Warnock has with the Blades, he certainly holds no
grudge against the Hammers. He added: "I love West Ham. They are a great
club, fabulous, and I have got some friends who are season ticket holders
there. "I have been in London for the last few years and nothing has
happened to change my mind that they are a fantastic club. "I get on well
with their owners David Gold and David Sullivan and I have nothing but
praise for West Ham. "In their situation, with their fantastic away record,
it's going to be a massive test for us – but it's one that whets the
appetite. "They have drawn the last four at home and they will be glad to
get back on the road.
"They don't have to worry about how they play away from home, I think that
is why they have done so well on their travels."
Despite West Ham's fragile home form, Warnock is still backing Sam
Allardyce's side to hold off the Reading charge and go on to seal
automatic promotion to the Premier League. He said: "When you have got a
wage bill like they have and the money they've spent it is always going to
put more pressure on you, and Reading haven't helped them with the great
run that they are on. "But I still expect West Ham to go up in an automatic
place and I have nothing but praise for that club."
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