WHUFC.com
Background information and team news ahead of Saturday's visit of the Eagles
24.02.2012
WEST HAM UNITED v CRYSTAL PALACE
npower CHAMPIONSHIP
SATURDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2012
KICK-OFF: 12.45PM
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
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Introduction
• West Ham United welcome Crystal Palace knowing a victory would take them
four points clear at the top of the npower Championship table. The Hammers
go into Saturday's lunchtime kick-off on 60 points, one ahead of
Southampton, who travel to Watford for a 3pm engagement. Third-place
Birmingham City and fourth-placed Reading, who both begin the day on 54
points, host Nottingham Forest and travel to Middlesbrough respectively.
• The Hammers go into Saturday's game on a fine run of form at home, having
won four and drawn one of their previous five league matches at the Boleyn
Ground. Barnsley, Coventry City, Nottingham Forest and Millwall have all
been beaten, while Southampton earned a 1-1 draw last time out on
Valentine's Day. West Ham United are unbeaten at home since 17 December,
when they were defeated 2-1 by Burnley.
• West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has never lost to Crystal Palace in
seven previous meetings during his time in charge at Bolton Wanderers and
the Hammers.
• Crystal Palace go into the game 13th in the standings on 43 points from 31
matches played, ten points adrift of the Play-Off positions. The Eagles are
unbeaten in their previous four league matches, having drawn with Brighton
and Hove Albion, Middlesbrough and Bristol City before beating Watford 4-0
at Selhurst Park last time out on 18 February.
Us and Them
• The first meeting between West Ham United and Crystal Palace was a
Southern League First Division fixture played at The Crystal Palace on 29
September 1906. A 10,000-strong crowd turned out to see a 1-1 draw, with
Arthur Winterhalder on target for the Hammers.
• The two clubs met in the Division One Play-Off final at the Millennium
Stadium on 29 May 2004. Neil Shipperley's goal gave the Eagles a 1-0 victory
and secured their promotion to the Premier League. Crystal Palace manager
Dougie Freedman was an unused substitute.
• West Ham United's biggest home win over Crystal Palace since the two clubs
joined the Football League was a 4-0 Division One win here on 28 October
1972, when Trevor Brooking (two), John McDowell and Bryan 'Pop' Robson
scored in front of 28,894 fans.
• West Ham United hosted Crystal Palace at the Boleyn Ground in the FA Cup
second round on 31 January 1914. Both clubs were still in the Southern
League, but 18,000 fans turned out to see Dan Bailey score both goals in a
2-0 Hammers victory.
• The largest crowd to watch a West Ham United versus Crystal Palace fixture
at the Boleyn Ground is the 31,861 who witnessed the Hammers' 3-0 Premier
League victory on 1 October 2003. Neil Mellor scored twice and Jermain Defoe
once.
• Crystal Palace have only won once in eleven visits to the Boleyn Ground in
the Football League - a 2-0 Division One victory on 20 April 1992.
• West Ham United defeated Crystal Palace 11-0 in the war-time London
Combination on 6 April 1918. Sydney Puddefoot netted seven times, with Burke
(two), Herbert Ashton and Andy Cunningham getting the other goals in front
of 4,000 spectators.
• Ten players have made their West Ham United debuts against Crystal Palace
- Thomas Lee (September 1907), David Waggott (September 1908), Albert Scanes
(March 1910), Thomas Lonsdale (October 1913), Alfred Tirrell (February
1914), William Henderson (March 1922), William Edwards (March 1923), Ade
Coker (October 1971), Papa Bouba Diop and Manuel Almunia (both October
2011).
• Ade Coker scored on his debut in a 3-0 Division One victory at Crystal
Palace on 30 October 1971.
• Kevin Nolan scored Newcastle United's opening goal in a 2-0 Championship
win at Crystal Palace on 22 August 2009.
Team news
West Ham United
• Manager Sam Allardyce has England goalkeeper Robert Green available after
the red card he was shown in Tuesday's npower Championship win at Blackpool
was overturned by the Football Association on appeal.
• Skipper Kevin Nolan serves the final match of his three-game ban for being
sent-off against Millwall on 4 February, while Matt Taylor serves the second
game of his three-match ban for being red carded against Southampton on
Valentine's Day.
• Midfielder Papa Bouba Diop and right-back Guy Demel are West Ham United's
only major injury doubts. However, the fitness of James Tomkins and
Abdoulaye Faye will be assessed on Saturday.
• Pablo Barrera and Jordan Spence are on season-long loans at Real Zaragoza
and Bristol City respectively. Freddie Sears (Colchester United), Olly Lee
(Gillingham), Cristian Montano (Notts County), Peter Kurucz and Paul
McCallum (both Rochdale), Callum Driver (Burton Albion) and George Moncur
(AFC Wimbledon) are all out on temporary loans.
Crystal Palace
• Full-back Dean Moxey hopes to return from three months out with a knee
injury.
• Midfielders Jonathan Williams and David Wright are the only definite
absentees. Williams is continuing his recovery from a broken leg and Wright
has a calf injury.
Last time out
Tuesday 21 February 2012
npower Championship
Blackpool 1-4 West Ham United
West Ham United: Green, O'Brien, McCartney, Faye (O'Neil 66), Reid, Tomkins,
Collison, Noble, Faubert (Lansbury 54), Vaz Te, Maynard (Cole 82)
Subs not used: Potts, Baldock
Goals: Tomkins 28, Maynard 32, O'Neil 74, Vaz Te 90
Sent-off: Green 54
Saturday 18 February 2012
npower Championship
Crystal Palace 4-0 Watford
Crystal Palace: Speroni, Clyne, McCarthy, Gardner, Parr, Ambrose, Dikgacoi,
Jedinak (Garvan 84), Zaha (Scannell 72), Easter, Martin (Murray 71)
Subs not used: Price, McShane
Goals: Zaha 22, Martin 38, 50, Dikgacoi 64
Previous meetings
• The most recent competitive meeting between the two clubs came in the
Division One Play-Off final at the Millennium Stadium on 29 May 2004. Neil
Shipperley's goal gave the Eagles a 1-0 victory and secured their promotion
to the Premier League.
The lineups were:
West Ham: Bywater, Repka, Dailly, Melville, Mullins, Harewood (Reo-Coker
68), Carrick, Lomas, Etherington, Zamora (Deane 68), Connolly (Hutchison 74)
Subs not used: Srnicek, Brevett.
Crystal Palace: Vaesen, Butterfield (Powell 69), Popovic, Leigertwood,
Granville, Routledge, Riihilahti, Derry, Hughes, Shipperley, Johnson
Subs not used: Freedman, Berthelin, Black, Watson
Last six meetings
1 October 2011 - Crystal Palace 2-2 West Ham United (Championship)
29 May 2004 - Crystal Palace 1-0 West Ham United (Championship Play-Off
final)
12 April 2004 - Crystal Palace 1-0 West Ham United (Championship)
1 October 2003 - West Ham United 3-0 Crystal Palace (Championship)
5 May 1998 - Crystal Palace 3-3 West Ham United (Premier League)
3 December 1997 - West Ham United 4-1 Crystal Palace (Premier League)
Overall record v Crystal Palace - W 30 D 21 L 19
Ten-year records
West Ham United
2010/11 Premier League 20th (relegated to Championship)
2009/10 Premier League 17th
2008/09 Premier League 9th
2007/08 Premier League 10th
2006/07 Premier League 15th
2005/06 Premier League 9th
2004/05 Championship 6th (promoted to Premier League via play-offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th
2002/03 Premier League 18th (relegated to Championship)
2001/02 Premier League 7th
Crystal Palace
2010/11 Championship 20th
2009/10 Championship 21st
2008/09 Championship 15th
2007/08 Championship 5th
2006/07 Championship 12th
2005/06 Championship 6th
2004/05 Premier League 18th (relegated to Championship)
2003/04 Championship 6th (promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)
2002/03 Championship 14th
2001/02 Championship 10th
Referee
• Saturday's referee is Graham Salisbury.
• The 49-year-old started refereeing in 1985, and progressed through the
West Lancashire and Northern Premier Leagues to reach National List
assistant referee status in 1998.
• Salisbury was promoted to the referees` National List in 2001. He also
officiated on the FA Vase Final the same year between Taunton Town and
Berkhamsted Town at Villa Park.
• The best game Salisbury said he has ever taken charge of was the 2001
Conference decider between
Yeovil Town and Rushden & Diamonds.
• In his spare time, he enjoys reading, running and keeping fit.
• Earlier this season, Salisbury took charge of West Ham United's 4-1 npower
Championship win at Nottingham Forest on 28 August 2011 - the only Hammers
fixture he has refereed in his career.
• He was also the referee for Crystal Palace's 1-0 league win at Hull City
on 20 August 2011 and the 2-0 Boxing Day defeat at Southampton.
• In 29 matches in all competitions in 2011/12, Salisbury has issued 84
yellow cards and three red cards. He has also awarded one penalty.
• Salisbury will be assisted by Michael Bull and Adam Nunn, while the fourth
official will be Simon Hooper.
Old boys
• Freddie Sears spent the opening half of the 2009/10 season on loan at
Crystal Palace, making 19 first-team appearances.
• The following players are among those to have worn the colours of both
West Ham United and Crystal Palace during their careers - George Andrew,
Dave Bickles, Syd Bishop, Vic Blore, Jeroen Boere, Ron Brett, Paul Brush,
Johnny Byrne, John Cartwright, Trevor Dawkins, Iain Dowie, Carl Fletcher,
Howard Girling, Harry Gunning, Michael Hughes, Derek Jackman, Jobi McAnuff,
Hayden Mullins, Fred Norris, Anton Otulakowski, George Petchey, Chris
Powell, Darren Powell, Eddie Presland, Malcolm Pyke, Bill Roberts, Neil
Ruddock, Freddie Sears, Peter Simpson, Andy Smillie, Alan Stephenson, Perry
Suckling and Jimmy Wood.
Up next
• West Ham United travel to south Wales to face Cardiff City on Sunday 4
March 2012 at 12.45pm.
• Crystal Palace host Peterborough United on Saturday 3 March 2012 at 3pm
Travel information
• The London Underground Central line will be suspended between Liverpool
Street and Woodford/Newbury Park. Replacement buses operate.
General information
• Click here for up-to-date details regarding the limited number of tickets
remaining for Saturday's game.
• Saturday's weather forecast is for a sunny intervals with a maximum
daytime temperature of 13C (56F).
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Go for Green
WHUFC.com
Robert Green is available for the Hammers after having his ban overturned
23.02.2012
Sam Allardyce was delighted that his England international goalkeeper Robert
Green will be available for selection at Crystal Palace on Saturday. West
Ham United successfully appealed to have Green's red card overturned on
Thursday afternoon, meaning the former Hammer of the Year can take his place
between the posts in the npower Championship London derby. Green capped a
successful day when he was named in Stuart Pearce's England squad for the
friendly with Netherlands at Wembley on Wednesday, much to his manager's
pleasure.
"I don't think there is a better understudy [to Joe Hart]. I've got a lot of
respect for Paul Robinson at Blackburn but he has retired," said Big Sam.
"John Ruddy at Norwich has had a really good season so he could come into
contention but he's got nowhere near the experience Robert has got. He's
right up there and he should be the second choice to Joe Hart."
Big Sam feels that Green's call-up to the England squad was just reward for
his efforts this season, not just on the pitch but in overcoming a knee
operation in September. "I don't think Robert ever got to a stage where he
stopped thinking about England. He was bitterly disappointed and upset that
he was left out the squad last time and what he has done is keep working
harder at his overall game more than ever in his career. "There's started to
be elements [of his body] that require a bit more care and attention. There
was the problem with his finger that was talked about a few years ago and
then there was the knee. The knee was acted on very quickly and his
self-discipline and self-determination meant he came back from that surgery
properly and two weeks in advance of where he thought it would.
"It's like everything else. When you start enjoying football matches then
you grow as a person and not just as a footballer. Your confidence comes
back and you start to perform on a consistent level and make the sort of
saves we've seen recently."
Green's season has been somewhat different to his last campaign, when the
Hammers were desperately battling relegation from the Premier League. This
year West Ham find themselves at the right end of the table, which Allardyce
believes brings out different qualities in a goalkeeper. "Often this year
he's had long spells where he's not been needed. The sign of a good
goalkeeper is when we've needed him he's been there and that shown the
concentration levels and that the mental agility of a goalkeeper. They have
to be able to focus for long periods of time to be able to make the saves
when needed. "It was the opposite of last season as when on average he was
facing 19 shots a game and that must be pretty soul destroying. You can
understand why a keeper loses his confidence as he's not being protected
enough by his team-mates."
Caretaker England manager Stuart Pearce echoed Green's club manager's
comments when he spoke about the West Ham No1 during his squad announcement
press conference on Thursday. "His form at West Ham has been outstanding. I
make it my business to speak to players and managers and see something in
excess of 200 matches. His form is outstanding at the moment. He's playing
well in a side that is playing well."
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Maynard eyes Eagles victory
WHUFC.com
Nicky Maynard is aiming to maintain his fine start to life as a Hammer on
Saturday
24.02.2012
Nicky Maynard has enjoyed an eventful start to his West Ham United career.
The January transfer deadline day capture from Bristol City was an unused
substitute for the npower Championship visit of Millwall on 4 February
before making his debut as a replacement in the eventful 1-1 draw with
Southampton at the Boleyn Ground ten days later. The 25-year-old then netted
his first West Ham goal in the amazing 4-1 victory at Blackpool on Tuesday -
a success achieved despite the Hammers going down to ten men for the third
game in succession and playing the final 36 minutes with midfielder Henri
Lansbury in goal. Maynard spoke to West Ham TV about his memorable full
debut and his hopes of continuing his fine start to life as a Hammer when
Crystal Palace visit on Saturday.
That was some way to make your full debut! What a game!
"Yes, it was a great team effort. Unfortunately we went down to ten men
again but Henri's come on and done a great job between the posts. The team
spirit is very high at the moment so we don't feel like we can be beaten. We
are confident enough going into games.We feel we can beat anyone and we
proved that again on Tuesday."
Even though you've only been here a few weeks, you've settled straight in
and look like you've been here for ages?
"The lads have helped me to settle in really quickly. They told me what
they're looking for from me and vice versa. We all want to win together as a
team and I think Tuesday night showed that. I was disappointed to miss two
early chances but it was fantastic the team managed to score four goals and
I was fortunate enough to score one of them. Hopefully we can push on now
until the end of the season."
Talk us through your goal - it was a real striker's finish?
"I had one chance before the goal that I didn't convert but I kept plugging
away and Jack Collision's done some great work on the right wing, pulled one
back which I've managed to slot in. I was delighted to score on my first
start and long may it continue!"
Playing up front on your own is hard enough but with only ten men you must
never stop running?
"You've got to do your bit for the team, keep running as much as you can,
closing down as much as you can to try and stop the opposition playing. The
main thing is we got the three points and we want to do everything we can to
gain automatic promotion as soon as possible and if we continue to put the
same work-rate in that we have tonight, then we wont be far off achieving
our aim."
Going into the Crystal Palace game, a Saturday lunchtime kick-off, we play
before our promotion rivals so it would be massive to stretch our lead at
the top to four points?
"Definitely, games in-hand are not what you want. You want the points on the
board and to be leading instead of a point or two behind with games in-hand.
Its up to us to continue working hard, as after Saturday it we will be back
level on games played with Southampton so it's vital we take our opportunity
to cement our place at the top."
One last thing, talk us through your goal celebration, sucking your thumb?
"Yes, that's for my little boy, he's six-months-old now and all my goals are
dedicated to him. It's a blessing that he's here, it's the best feeling I've
ever had and hopefully the fans will be seeing a lot more of the
celebration!"
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Stech off to the Orient
WHUFC.com
Allardyce allows promising youngster to join League 1 side on loan
24.02.2012
Marek Stech is set to gain valuable first team experience having joined
Leyton Orient on a month-long loan. The Czech under-21 international has
been recruited by Russell Slade's side after first-choice keeper Lee Butcher
was ruled out for the rest of the season. 22-year-old Stech could his make
his debut for the O's on Saturday afternoon away at Bury where the visitors
will be looking to move further away from the relegation zone. With seven
games in the month of March, Marek could play a decisive role in shaping the
end of Orient's season.
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Leyton Orient sign West Ham keeper Marek Stech on loan
BBC.co.uk
West Ham United goalkeeper Marek Stech has joined Leyton Orient on an
emergency loan until March 24. The Czech 22-year-old has been brought in to
cover for injuries to Orient's senior goalkeepers Lee Butcher and Jamie
Jones. Butcher ruptured a cruciate ligament in last weekend's defeat by
Scunthorpe and Jones has a wrist problem. Stech has been at West Ham since
2006 and has had previous loan spells at Wycombe, Bournemouth and Yeovil.
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West Ham v Crystal Palace
KO 12:45
24 February 2012
BBC.co.uk
NPOWER CHAMPIONSHIP
Venue: Upton Park Date: Saturday 25 February Kick-off: 1245 GMT
TEAM NEWS
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce will be able to pick Robert Green after the
goalkeeper's midweek red card was rescinded and he avoided suspension.
Defender Abdoulaye Faye should be fit and winger Julien Faubert is expected
to shake off a tight hamstring. Crystal Palace hope to have left-back Dean
Moxey back for the trip to West Ham after nearly three months out.
Midfielders Jonathan Williams (leg) and David Wright (calf) are the only
other absentees for manager Dougie Freedman.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• West Ham have won 13 of 27 competitive matches against Crystal
Palace, who have prevailed in only four.
• The Hammers are chasing a fourth successive home league victory over
Palace.
• The Eagles have only won one London league derby at Upton Park, by
virtue of a 2-0 top-flight triumph in April 1992.
West Ham United
• The midweek 4-1 win at Blackpool saw West Ham return to the top of
the table. Now they are looking to retain their one point advantage at the
summit, with an unrivalled 19th Championship win this season, and a sixth in
eight games.
• The Hammers have won four and drawn one of their last five home
league games. The third and most recent of their three home league defeats
was against Burnley on 3 December.
• West Ham have scored in each of their last 10 league outings, and in
15 of the last 16.
Crystal Palace
• The mid-table Eagles are unbeaten in four league games (W1, D3).
• But the 4-0 home win over Watford last Saturday was their first
maximum in seven league games, and second in nine. They are yet to win on
the road in 2012.
• Crystal Palace and West Ham have each won one of drawn two of their
three London derbies in the Championship this term.
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West Ham United v Crystal Palace
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 24th February 2012
By: Preview Percy
The population of Croydon is 330,587 or thereabouts. In his even more than
usually warped look at this weekend's visit of Crystal Palace to the Boleyn,
Preview Percy does his best to upset each and every one of them. Please
direct all complaints direct to Percy c/o the Avram Grant Rest Home For The
Bewildered. Sensible stuff on the stat front as ever from John Northcutt
Next we entertain Crystal Palace at the brain-numbing hour of 12.45pm this
Saturday, the early kick-off being due once more to the fact that we are to
appear on the televisual box apparatus thing. Travel news is that, whilst
the usual direct links to Upton Park on the District & Hammersmith & City
lines will be operating normally, the Central Line will be closed twixt
Liverpool Street & Woodford/Newbury Park so if your journey involves
Stratford you may need to have a rethink. As ever check before you leave –
which, with the early kick-off, should probably be about now to be on the
safe side.
At present our opponents this weekend lie in 13th spot with 43 points from
31 matches. That's well safe from the danger zone – even more so since
Pompey's points deduction, the sole effect of which will probably be to save
Millwall from relegation. It's an ill wind as they say. Looking upwards
they're 17 points behind us and, perhaps slightly more realistically, 10
points behind Middlesbrough who currently sit in the last of the play-off
places.
The highlight of their season was a win up at Old Trafford in the League Cup
en route to a semi-final against Cardiff City. Palace won the first leg of
the semi 1-0 at Selhurst Park, a ground that makes this rest home look well
appointed. However, the win slightly flattered the home side with the
Welshmen having a perfectly good goal ruled out in the second half for no
obviously good reason. Palace's goalscorer in the first leg was Anthony
Gardner. Gardner was also the difference between the sides in the second
leg, though this was due to his own goal giving Cardiff a 1-0 win after
extra time, which led to a penalty shoot out in which the Taffies prevailed.
Their current form is not overly inspiring, though they are unbeaten in
their last four in the league. If you do the pools you could do worse than
pick the Glaziers with them having won one, drawn four and lost one of their
last six. The victory came last weekend courtesy of a 4-0 trouncing of
Watford. The four draws came away at Bristol City where they led 2-0 with 13
minutes left, away at Boro' (0-0), and at home to Brighton & Leeds (both
1-1). The defeat came up at Blackpool where they went down 2-1 – despite
being 1-0 up with five minutes to play. It seems they may share the
vulnerability to late goals that we've displayed from time to time this
season.
It was a quietish transfer window for them this time round. Their main focus
was more on retention than recruitment (a concept with which we have been
all too familiar ourselves in the not too distant past). Principal target
was teenage winger Willfried (great old fashioned name for a footballer
that) Zaha, for whom Bolton Wanderers offered a reported £7m just before the
deadline. The response from Croydon was that the respective clubs' valuation
was "miles apart", especially with the player having signed a new contract
just before Christmas.
Zaha scored the opener in the recent 4-0 trouncing of Watford – the BBC put
it "the teenager opened the scoring after Easter" which, given that we're
still in February, must have meant a hell of a lot of stoppage time. Sadly
for my warped sense of humour, when the matron reloaded the page for me on
my laptop (for once not a euphemism) the sentence was completed with the
words "did well down the right" thus ruining the Pythonesque idea of a
referee giving up blowing the final whistle for lent that was going through
my head.
Whilst Bolton failed to pick open the lock on the "Out" door, Palace
scarcely bothered the rust on the "In" door either. A couple of youngsters
were enticed away from the bright lights of Dulwich Hamlet (Michael
Chambers) and Margate (Kwesi Appiah) but presumably these signings are
looked on as future investments. More significantly there were extensions to
the loan of Paul McShane from Hull and of Chris Martin from Norwich. Both
loans will now expire at the end of the season, with Martin presumably
taking time out from knocking out albums of increasingly variable quality
with Coldplay and offspring of increasingly strange names with Gwyneth
Paltrow. Since arriving from the land of Alan Partridge and mustard back in
November, Martin has picked up five goals, two of which came in the
aforementioned Watford match. The most impressive statistic I can find
though is the fact that he is banned from a total of 68 Suffolk pubs
following a scrap back in 2008. No wonder he was so happy to leave East
Anglia on loan – after all what else is there to do in Suffolk?
The aforementioned Easter is just one of an ever-increasing number of
players called "Jermaine/Jermain" in professional football these days.
Clearly many parents have a statement to make along the lines of "we really
like the Jacksons but not the really nutty one". We didn't have this problem
when Victor Sylvester ruled the airwaves on the Light Programme. Meanwhile,
Easter has overcome the handicap of not having a proper footballer name to
net five times in 29 appearances this season, though it should be noted that
Chris (good old fashioned name there) Martin has as many goals from roughly
half the appearances since his arrival on loan. Easter was one of three
Palace players to miss in the penalty shoot-out at Cardiff in the League Cup
semi-final last month. As a Cardiff lad he might have at least been slightly
pleased at their qualification for the final. However, he did play for
Swansea at one stage of his career, something that might induce confusion in
the most hardy of souls, let alone a Welshman.
The other goal at Watford the other night was scored by Kagisho Dikgachoi.
The South African midfielder has one of those superb middle names that we
like to highlight in these columns from time to time. In an almost
"Inspector Morse" style his parents have ensured that the name Kagisho
Evidence Dikgachoi will for evermore stare up from underneath his passport
photo. Presumably the lad is "Evidence" of the fact that his parents ever
met, though if there is a more accurate explanation for the name I'd love to
hear it just out of curiosity. Dikgachoi once received a red card at the
Boleyn for slapping Scott Parker in the face in a match that we drew 2-2
against Fulham. We totally failed to capitalise on the extra man that day,
something that seems a little bit more understandable in the light of recent
matches (even if our extra man that day was Jiminez). Intriguingly,
Dikgachoi started his pro career at a club called Bloemfontein Young Tigers,
which seems a daft name for a South African club given that tigers are
indigenous to Asia rather than Africa. (I'll get round to investigating
Leeds Rhinos another day).
Alongside Zaha, the other young prospect for whom great things are hoped (ie
a bumper transfer fee one day) is Sean Scannell. He's blagged a few caps for
the Republic of Ireland at various age groups and at the increasingly rare
"B" level. He's a bit raw from time to time – his inexperience sometimes
lets him down when deciding whether to keep the ball or lay it off. However,
there's enough about him to suggest that he may be a threat – probably more
so from the bench than as part of the starting XI maybe.
They may be boosted in defence by the return of Auf Wiedersehen Pet's Dean
Moxey who could be back after three months out with a knee injury and in no
way a conviction for arson. He was said to be close to a return against
Watford but in the end didn't actually make the sixteen.
And so to us. Well I've kind of gotten used in recent weeks to the unusual
tactic of us playing with ten men but whilst, despite my advancing years,
I'm not adverse to tactical innovation, I'm old fashioned enough to prefer
one of those ten to be a goalkeeper. Yeah I know I'm just a stick in the
mud. There were a number of pleasing factors about the win on Tuesday – even
allowing for the rather bonkers second half. In the realm of team selection
I was pleasantly surprised to see young Maynard given a start. The
temptation to use Cole as a lone striker in a more defensive line-up must
have been there but sticking Maynard on from the start was a pleasing sign
of attacking intent. The fact that we went to a club unbeaten in the league
this year with such positive intent was a most welcome change from some of
our away fixtures this season which have all been about "respecting the
point". The fact that such intent was so well-rewarded will hopefully not be
lost on the team in future weeks.
Team news is that we will be bolstered by the news that Rob Green will be
available for this one, his red card having been rescinded by the powers
that be during the week. He's also notably back in the England squad just as
Capello disappears over the hill with his tapir. Funny that. Back to the
bench with you then Henri – and would you mind awfully putting this claret &
blue shirt on rather than that grey thing you've been dressing up in all
week.
A slight worry is the news that both Faye & Tomkins face fitness tests.
Nolan enters the third match of his three match ban whilst Taylor is in the
second of his three. Otherwise we have a full embarrassment of riches from
which to select. Minus Demel (obviously) and plus Piquionne and Carew.
Confidence must be sky high at the moment, the manner of Tuesday's
demolition of Blackpool being one that will stick in the mind for quite some
time. Palace will be a trickier nut to crack I suspect – Blackpool didn't
have any idea how to cope with our current unusual tactical ploy of playing
one of our players back in the changing rooms. However, we may just surprise
them by keeping all eleven on the pitch. Well it's bound to happen sooner or
later.
So for the prediction I shall elect for a 3-1 home win, a result that would
put us four clear at the top for a few hours or so (at least) thanks to the
middle of the night kick-off time.
Enjoy the game!
When Last We Met: Drew 2-2 Goals from Nolan and Carew cancelled out efforts
from Ambrose and Murray. Carlos Tevez had a "he wants to come home chant"
sung by the away support amidst rumours of a return to the Boleyn following
his dispute with his employers. And it was hot – over 80 degrees which, for
1 October wasn't half bad.
Referee: Graham Salisbury Last seen in control of our 4-1 victory up at
Nottingham Forest. Can't remember much about that one so I presume he was
ok.
Danger Man: Wilfried Zaha a bit of a tricky cove who, like his team mate
Sean Scannell can have good and bad days.
Daft fact of the week: Ok it's well documented that I cannot stand Croydon
and its environs mainly due to the fact that it is the hole of origin from
which the former Mrs Preview Percy crawled. My campaign to have the whole
borough razed to the ground and replaced by something nicer like a rubbish
tip or nuclear waste facility (a campaign which got off to such a good start
last August) has therefore been dismissed by the planning people as the
deranged ramblings of a madman (though to be fair to them they never met the
ex-missus).
However, it's only fair to say that Croydon does seem to have played host to
more than its fair share of really irritating people and things.
The next time you hear "Streets of bloody London" played and sung tunelessly
by a busker as you make your way home by tube, remember that Ralph McTell
who wrote the bloody thing came from Croydon.
Terry & June – the terminally unfunny 1970's tv sitcom (oh crikey it's the
vicar – again) was set there.
The Brit School, that churns out lots of very irritating so-called "pop"
so-called "stars" is there.
Nigel Reo-Coker was from there.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge had to take so much opium to get through living
there that he became addicted, something that led to constipation requiring
frequent "humiliating enemas" (as opposed to those ones you have that enable
you to retain your full dignity I suppose).
Finally, if Carlton Cole misses a sitter at any stage between now and the
end of the season just remember where his home town is.
Stat man John: Northcutt's corner
Away Friendlies
Aug 1964 1-4 Sissons
Aug 1965 2-1 Hurst 2
July 1968 4-2 Hurst 2 Redknapp Dear
Jan 1985 2-1 Dickens, Cottee
Aug 1985 1-2 Campbell
July 2005 1-0 Etherington
Home Testimonials
Alan Devonshire
Aug 1989 3-1 Ward, McAvennie, Devonshire
Paul Hilton
May 1991 3-2 McAvennie, Kula, Hilton
They Played For Both
Clive Allen, George Andrew, Dave Bickles, Johnny Byrne, Ron Brett, Paul
Brush, John Cartwright, Trevor Dawkins, Iain Dowie, Harry Gunning
Michael Hughes, Derek Jackman, Jobi McAnuff, Hayden Mullins, Fred Norris,
Anton Otulakowski, Chris Powell, Darren Powell, Eddie Presland, Malcolm
Pyke, Bill Roberts, Neil Ruddock, Freddie Sears, Dave Sexton, Peter Simpson,
Andy Smillie, Alan Stephenson, Perry Suckling, Dave Swindlehurst, Jimmy
Wood.
Our club skipper Malcolm Allison was the Palace manager for two spells, 1972
to 1976 and 1980-81.
Iain Dowie managed them for the period 2003 to 2006.
Jack Tresader who played for the Hammers in the 1923 F A Cup Final was also
the Palace manager from 1930 until 1935.
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Stech joins Os
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 24th February 2012
By: Staff Writer
Reserve goalkeeper Marek Stech has joined League One outfit Orient on a
month-long emergency loan. The Czech under-21 goalkeeper has moved to
Brisbane Road as emergency cover for regular Os stopper Lee Butcher, who
sustained a a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament at Scunthorpe last
weekend. With reserve 'keeper Jamie Jones yet to make an appearance for
Orient's first team this season having undergone surgery last summer on an
injured goalkeeper, Os boss Russell Slade has turned to Stech - who will
wear the number 27 shirt - in order to fill the void. Stech's move across
east London will come as something of a surprise to some Hammers fans given
that interference from Leyton Orient - and owner Barry Hearn in particular -
was one of the primary reasons for the Olympic Stadium being snatched back
from West Ham. The original decision to award use of the £500million stadium
to the Hammers was reversed after Orient and Tottenham Hotspur took legal
action in 2011, arguing that the bidding process had been unfairly tilted in
West Ham's favour. Stech will remain at Orient until 24th March, before when
he could make six appearances. His new club are scheduled to play Bury (a),
Walsall (h), Wycombe (a), Tranmere (a), Brentford (h) and MK Dons (a) prior
to his return to West Ham.
Steched up: Marek on tour
Orient are the fourth club to whom Stech has been loaned since moving from
Sparta Prague to West Ham in August 2006. The others are:
Wycombe Wanderers
(March to June 2009): 2 appearances
Bournemouth
(November to December 2009): 1 appearance
Yeovil
(October to November 2011): 5 appearances
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Olympic Stadium poll: the last chance to have your say
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 24th February 2012
By: Staff Writer
Vote now in KUMB.com's latest Olympic Stadium poll: it may be the last
opportunity to have your voice heard!
With the Board having thus far refused to ballot more than a select group of
supporters over the club's proposed move to Stratford in two years' time,
KUMB.com's latest poll on the OS - our fourth since January 2010 (see
previous poll results) could represent your final chance to have a say in
the matter.
Whilst the club revealed some details of their proposal for Stratford to a
select group of around 60 fans who attended last night's Supporters'
Advisory Board meeting, the views of the vast majority of supporters remain
unheard - and, according to co-owner David Sullivan recently, that is how it
shall remain.
Despite the Board being unable to conduct an official poll of supporters'
views, fans can still vote in our fourth (and final) poll, which is being
monitored by the club, on West Ham's proposed move to Stratford. To do so,
simply visit our Olympic Stadium thread here on the KUMB forums.
Please note that in order to vote, you must be a registered member of
KUMB.com; if you are not already a member, you may obtain free membership
here*.
Potential tenants of the £500million stadium have until 23rd March to submit
their proposals, with the Goverment having started a new tender process back
in December following the collapse of the original process.
The original decision to award use of the stadium to West Ham United was
reversed following a series of legal challenges by Tottenham Hotspur and
Leyton Orient, who argued that United's joint bid with Newham Council had
been given preferential treatment.
According to the Olympic Park Legacy Company earlier this month, at least 16
parties have registered their interest in using the stadium following this
summer's Olympic Games - one of whom is West Ham United FC.
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19 years
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 24th February 2012
By: Staff Writer
Today marks the 19th anniversary of the passing of West Ham's greatest
player of all time - Bobby Moore. The Barking-born former West Ham and
England captain died in February 1993 from bowel cancer, news of which was
greeted by incredible scenes at the Boleyn Ground as football supporters
from all around the world converged upon east London to pay their respects.
Memories of the only Englishman to lift the World Cup are scattered around
Upton Park. From the statue at the junction of Green Street and Barking
Road to the site of the old South Bank stand that carries his name today,
Moore's memory lives on at the club where he spent the vast majority of his
playing career. In 1993 Bobby's wife Stephanie established the Bobby Moore
Fund in partnership with Cancer Research UK to help raise money for research
into bowel cancer and for public awareness of the disease. If you'd like to
make a contribution to the fund, you may do so by visiting their website at
www.cancerresearchuk.org/bobbymoorefund.
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West Ham v C Palace preview
Last updated: 24th February 2012
SSN
Team news ahead of West Ham's Championship clash with Crystal Palace at
Upton Park on Saturday lunchtime (12.45pm). Robert Green will be in goal for
West Ham after his midweek red card was rescinded. Green, recalled to the
England squad for next week's friendly against Holland, was due to serve a
one-match ban after he was sent off at Blackpool on Tuesday night but the
decision has since been overturned. West Ham's other two recent red card
villains, skipper Kevin Nolan and fellow midfielder Matt Taylor, are still
suspended. Defender Abdoulaye Faye should be fit despite picking up a knock
at Blackpool and winger Julien Faubert is expected to shake off a tight
hamstring. Papa Bouba Diop remains on the sidelines with a hamstring injury
so centre-half James Tomkins is set to continue in midfield.
Dean Moxey could finally return to the Crystal Palace squad. The left-back
was due to be involved against Watford last weekend after nearly three
months out with a knee injury but he pulled out on Friday night due to an
illness. If he is passed fit, Moxey is likely to be on the bench with boss
Dougie Freedmanconsidering naming the same starting line-up for a fourth
straight game. Palace previously picked up draws at Middlesbrough and
Bristol City before thumping the Hornets 4-0 at Selhurst on Saturday.
Midfielders Jonathan Williams and David Wright are the only absentees.
Williams is continuing his recovery from a broken leg and Wright has a calf
injury.
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Match Preview: West Ham v Crystal Palace
February 24th, 2012 - 1:40 pm by Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die
I guess we ae all pumped up after the Blackpool match and expecting a shed
load of goals against Palce. There's no doubt that the overturning of Rob
Green's sending off has given is a boost ahead of this game, although it is
worrying that both Faye and Tomkins are major doubts. Tomkins has been a
revelatio this season and I was delighted to see him score a goal at
Blackpool. If both of those are out, expect McCartney to move into the
centre again to partner Winston Reid, with Danny Potts coming in at left
back. Nolan and Taylor are both still suspended so it is likely that Jack
Collison will continue in central midfield alongsode Mark Noble. I really do
think this pairing should be persevered with, but I imagine Nolan will
return at the first opportunity. Team captains are rarely dropped. It is
difficult to predict a front two because Sam rarely plays the same attacking
formation in two consective games. But you'd have to say that Maynard ought
to start, preferably alongside Cole. This means Vaz Te would play out on the
left, with Faubert continuing down the right. I do feel a bit sorry for Sam
Baldock. He doesn't seem to be getting a look in at the moment, yet whenever
he has played he has looked really sharp.
So how about this for a lineup…
Green, O'Brien, Tomkins, Reid, McCartney, Faubert, Vaz Te, Noble, Collison,
Cole, Maynard.
Do drop in and say hi in Ken's Cafe, where I'll be from 11.45ish. ALways
nice to meet peope who enjy reading the site. I might look a bit smarter
than usual as I'll be doing the Sky News paper review at 10.20am from their
Osterley studios. Hopefully there won't be any traffic holdups!
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Green is our mean machine
The Sun
By JIM MUNRO
Published: 24 Feb 2012
WEST HAM boss Sam Allardyce has applauded Stuart Pearce's decision to call
up keeper Robert Green into his first senior England squad. The Hammers
stopper last pulled on an England jersey for the World Cup clash against the
United States in South Africa, when he let a Clint Demspey shot from
distance squirm through his grasp in a 1-1 draw. As West Ham battled
relegation last season, Green asked not to be considered for international
duty. But his form this term has helped his club hold top spot in the
Championship and prompted praise from his manager. Allardyce said: "The fact
he's the earned the right to be called back up ino the England squad is
there for all to see. "We're top of the league at the moment and he's
consistently performed very, very well for us. "He's made major
contributions throughout the season on a regular basis to help us win games
of football. "He's an experienced goalkeeper and England will need him as
the back up. "We've obviously got a very good young goalkeper in Joe Hart
who is looking world class but Robert deserves his place to be his
understudy. "If you're picking players to play for England then they have to
be in good form. "We as a team are in top form and Robert as a goalkeeper is
in top form so it's right to make that selection.
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Karren Brady's football diary
The Sun
KARREN BRADY - First lady of football
Published: 24 Feb 2012
Saturday, February 18
FROM the East End of London, let me doff my Pearly Queen tit-fer-tat to my
old team, Birmingham City, for the way they played at Stamford Bridge. I bet
manager Chris Hughton laughed when he heard that, according to his
doom-faced counterpart Andre Villas-Boas, Chelsea were a little bit tired!
So far, Blues have played 43 matches. Tired? They should be on their knees.
But, no, today they're fifth (now third) in the Championship and still in
the FA Cup. AVB will get more in compensation than most Championship clubs
pay in wages in a season, so I think there should be a massive amount of
respect shown for the (non-London) Blues and their manager for the job done
so far this season.
Sunday, February 19
A DAFT day for football. Three Brighton own goals at Anfield, two of them by
midfielder Liam Bridcutt who must have felt as though a car had run over
him. One actually did run over Valencia's brilliant Argentine playmaker Ever
Banega, whose ankle was broken after he forgot to use his handbrake before
filling up at a petrol station. Strangely I've heard of worse: A Norwegian
international was injured when he ran into a moose, a Croatian was forced to
miss the start of the season after he stuck an aircraft boarding pass in his
eye and one West Brom striker broke his leg playing football in the living
room with his toddler!
Monday, February 20
AT West Ham, we are trying to continue to think like a Premier League club.
That's why we appointed a premier manager in Sam Allardyce and why already
this season we've made serious loan bids for Carlos Tevez and Fernando
Torres. No point in aiming low is there? The team are going well at the top
of the table in a very competitive league. Parachute payments are now at a
level that cautious owners are being tempted to live in a comfort zone —
floating between the Prem and the Championship. However, we have no
intention of settling in limbo land.
Tuesday, February 21
TONIGHT in Naples, Andre Villas-Boas is wearing that coat. Semi-military,
its relations appeared regularly in French movies of the 60s and I seem to
remember Peter Sellers wearing something similar as Inspector Clouseau in
the Pink Panther. I'm not the only one that thinks so. I receive a text from
another football director who agrees there is something Clouseau-ish about
the way AVB has gone about refurbishing Chelsea. 'There's no doubt his was
always going to be a tricky job but I'm afraid someone in Roman Abramovich's
pay is shortly going to leap from behind a door screaming 'kill' and deliver
a karate chop on his future.' Who said being a football boss was easy?
Wednesday, February 22
WEST HAM have lost their third player in three matches to a red card last
night — goalkeeper Rob Green — and we brilliantly won 4-1 at Blackpool. We
scored another unwanted hat-trick with a third fine for one of our players
for posting comments on Twitter. Ravel Morrison's remarks were completely
out of order, but the FA fine of £7,000 was excessive for a young player's
first offence. I am concerned about the FA's recent chest-thumping methods
of showing they are in charge.
This may win them political points, but it isn't by punishment overload that
racism has largely been kicked out of our football. It's by education and
action among fans and players.
Thursday, February 23
NOT quite a love-in, this meeting of Carlos Tevez and his Man City manager
Roberto Mancini. It was more an admission by the player that at a cost of
£9million, his was proving the most expensive strop of an Argentinian since
Galtieri invaded the Falklands. Mancini didn't have much choice but to
quietly climb down from his threat that Tevez would never again play for
City. Yet I can easily understand any unease he might feel. I just wonder
what the knight a few miles across Manchester would have done! A good day
for Robert Green and West Ham — his red card has been rescinded and he has
been selected in the England squad.
Friday, February 24
OUR bank rings. Apparently West Ham opened a safety deposit box in 1958 and
now the bank are no longer retaining this service can we come and collect
it? I cannot tell you what's inside it yet because there are still some
formalities to go through as we have no record of it. But 1958 was an
historic year for the Hammers. They were promoted to the top division under
Ted Fenton, Noel Cantwell was captain and Bobby Moore made his debut — so
the contents could be very interesting. On the other hand, they could be the
accounts. I'll let you know next week. My dream is that I can rub the box
and the genie will grant my greatest wishes for the club: Promotion and
prosperity.
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Sears Set For Home Bow
Posted on: Fri 24 Feb 2012
www.cu-fc.com
The U's face Rochdale on Saturday, looking to improve their position in
League One. Despite still being in the bottom four, Rochdale travel to north
Essex in good spirits having won and drawn their last two fixtures. An
important home win against Bournemouth was followed by a valuable point
gained at runaway leaders Charlton Athletic. John Ward will be looking to
end Dale's good fortunes though, with his side aiming for a second home win
in succession. Loanee Freddie Sears is set to make his home debut, after
linking up well with fellow striker Steven Gillespie last weekend at Yeovil.
Brian Wilson has recovered from his midweek illness, while Andy Bond will be
pushing for a start following his hat-trick in the Essex Senior Cup on
Wednesday.
U's: Williams, Cousins, Rose, Coker, White, Wilson, Okuonghae, Heath,
Eastman, Bond, Izzet, James, Rowlands, Wordsworth, Henderson, Duguid,
Gillepsie, Sears, Odejayi.
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