Daily WHUFC News - 22nd September 2012

Sunderland match preview
WHUFC.com
Your guide to this weekend's Barclays Premier League home fixture with the
Black Cats
21.09.2012

WEST HAM UNITED v SUNDERLAND
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2012
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: LEE MASON
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
iPHONE APP I TWITTER I FACEBOOK I PODCAST

West Ham United's home match with Sunderland will be promoting awareness and
raising funds for the Richard House Children's Hospice. The Beckton-based
hospice, which has midfielder Mark Noble as a patron, will have bucket
collectors around the stadium and there will be promotion of the work it
does on the big screens as well as the first-team players wearing special
Hospice T-shirts in the pre-match warm-up. Captain Kevin Nolan, Mark Noble,
Matt Taylor and James Collins all recorded messages on behalf of the team
this week to help raise awareness and the club supports the hospice
throughout the year. Noble said: "It is a great little place that helps a
lot of families and without this support, it can't carry on the fantastic
work it does day in day out. We know from visiting the hospice what it
provides and I can only urge everyone to get behind Richard House, they
truly appreciate the support."

The hospice provides care and support for life-limited children and young
adults with complex health conditions. Last season, West Ham supporters
helped Richard House raise around £2,000 at a match day and they are hoping
that Hammers fans will dig deep for them again. Viv Talbot, Richard House's
fundraising manager said: "We really appreciate the support we get from West
Ham United and their supporters. Every penny makes a huge difference to the
lives of all those who use our services."

Richard House volunteers will be around the Boleyn Ground with collection
buckets or you can donate £5 simply by texting RHCH02 £5 to 70070.
For more information on Richard House Children's Hospice, go to
http://www.richardhouse.org.uk/

Introduction
• West Ham United face Sunderland in the Barclays Premier League at the
Boleyn Ground hoping to maintain their 100 per cent home record in all
competitions.
• Both sides' previous matches ended in draws. The Hammers gained their
first away point at Norwich City in a goalless encounter and Sunderland drew
1-1 at home to winless Liverpool.
• Yossi Benayoun made his second West Ham United 'debut' last weekend and
Matt Jarvis also returned after injury at Carrow Road. Both are pushing for
a place in the starting XI, but Andy Carroll and Jack Collison miss out.
• This fixture is the Hammers first 3pm kick-off since the opening day of
the Barclays Premier League season, when they recorded a 1-0 home victory
over Aston Villa.
• Sunderland are one of five teams currently unbeaten in the Barclays
Premier League, having begun the season with three draws from three games.
The Black Cats' fourth scheduled fixture at home to Reading was postponed
due to a waterlogged pitch.
• The Hammers have only lost once, going down 3-0 to Swansea City at the
Liberty Stadium on 25 August. They have recorded home wins over Aston Villa
(1-0) and Fulham (3-0) and a goalless draw at Norwich City in their three
other league games, while also defeating Crewe Alexandra 2-0 at the Boleyn
Ground in the Capital One Cup second round.
• West Ham United's clash with Norwich City is one of six Barclays Premier
League games on Saturday, the others are as follows: (Kick-off 3pm unless
stated) Chelsea v Stoke City, Southampton v Aston Villa, Swansea City v
Everton (12.45pm), West Bromwich Albion v Reading and Wigan Athletic v
Fulham.

Last time out

Saturday 1 September 2012
Barclays Premier League
Norwich City 0-0 West Ham United
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Reid, Collins, O'Brien, Diame, Noble,
Vaz Te (Benayoun 86), Nolan, Taylor (Jarvis 57), Cole (Maiga 57)
Subs not used: Henderson, McCartney, Tomkins, Diarra

Saturday 1 September 2012
Barclays Premier League
Sunderland 1-1 Liverpool
Sunderland: Mignolet, Gardner, O'Shea, Cuellar (Bramble 46), Rose (Campbell
72), Larsson, Cattermole, Colback, McClean, Sessegnon, Fletcher (Saha 86)
Subs not used: Westwood, Kilgallon, Meyler, Ji
Goal: Fletcher 29

Previous meeting

• The Hammers last meeting with Sunderland on 22 May 2011 wasn't a happy one
for many reasons. The first was that relegation to the Championship had been
confirmed and the second was that it ended in a dismal 3-0 defeat. Bolo
Zenden headed the Black Cats into the lead early on and Stephane Sessegnon
doubled their advantage six minutes into the second half. Cristian Riveros
completed the scoring in the 93rd minute, controlling Jordan Henderson's
cross before smashing the ball into the net from 12 yards. The line ups that
day were:
West Ham United: Green, Gabbidon, Bridge, Tomkins (Obinna 55), Spence, Boa
Morte (Parker 61), Collison, Hitzlsperger, Piquionne, Sears, Hines (Jacobsen
55).
Subs not used: Boffin, Tombides, Stanislas, Kovac
Sunderland: Mignolet, Ferdinand, Bardsley (Riveros 68), Onuoha, Sessegnon,
Elmohamady, Zenden, Henderson, Colback, Malbranque, Gyan (Cook 73).
Subs not used: Knott, Noble, Adams, Lynch, Carson

Background
• West Ham United have faced Sunderland 82 times in official competitions,
winning 32, drawing 20 and losing 30.
• The first meeting between the two sides came on Saturday 25 August 1923 in
the old Division One and ended in a goalless draw.
• Sunderland are still searching for their first win of the 2012/13 Barclays
Premier League season, having drawn against Arsenal, Swansea and Liverpool.
Their meeting with Reading on 25 August was postponed due to waterlogged
pitch.
• West Ham United's biggest win over Sunderland came in the shape of an 8-0
Division One success at the Boleyn Ground on 19 October 1968. Geoff Hurst
scored six goals - including a hat-trick in each half - while Bobby Moore
and a young Trevor Brooking added one apiece. No other Hammers player has
scored a hat-trick against the Black Cats.
• Sunderland's biggest win over West Ham United came on 5 March 1977, when
the Black Cats romped to a 6-0 Division One victory over the Londoners at
Roker Park. Their best performance in east London was a 3-0 Division One
triumph on 25 April 1931.
• West Ham United travelled to Sunderland on 21 September 2010 - almost
exactly two years ago - and scored a 2-1 League Cup third-round victory.
Frederic Piquionne and Victor Obinna scored either side of Asamoah Gyan's
equaliser to score the Hammers' first away victory of the 2010/11 season.
• West Ham United have won six out of the previous ten meetings with
Sunderland, but the Black Cats have won the most-recent two, scoring a
Premier League 'double' in 2010/11.
• The last time West Ham United met Sunderland, on 22 May 2011, Kevin Keen
was in caretaker charge following the departure of Avram Grant the previous
weekend.
• The biggest Boleyn Ground crowd to witness at West Ham United versus
Sunderland fixture was the 35,033 who witnessed the Hammers' 2-0 Premier
League victory on 22 March 2003.
• Kevin Nolan scored a hat-trick for Newcastle United in a 5-1 Tyne-Wear
derby Premier League win over Sunderland at St James' Park on 31 October
2010. Andy Carroll also started the match for the Magpies.
• West Ham United forward Modibo Maiga was a team-mate of Sunderland
midfielder Stephane Sessegnon at French side Le Mans UC72 during the 2007/08
season.
• A number of West Ham United and Sunderland players have appeared together
for other clubs, including James Collins, Carlos Cuellar and Craig Gardner
(Aston Villa), Andy Carroll and Titus Bramble (Newcastle United), Matt
Jarvis and Steven Fletcher (Wolverhampton Wanderers) and George Moncur and
Billy Knott (AFC Wimbledon).
• Hammers midfielder Mohamed Diame was signed by Wigan Athletic from Spanish
club Rayo Vallecano as a replacement for Sunderland-bound Lee Cattermole in
August 2009.
• Future Hammers manager Harry Redknapp made his West Ham United debut in a
1-1 Division One draw with Sunderland at the Boleyn Ground on 23 August
1965.
• Ray Atteveld made his Hammers debut in a 1-1 FA Cup fifth-round draw at
Sunderland on 15 February 1992. The Dutchman, on loan from Everton, would
make two of his three West Ham United appearances against the Black Cats,
the final one being a 3-2 FA Cup fifth-round replay defeat at the Boleyn
Ground.
• George Andrew (February 1967), Jimmy Neighbour (September 1979), Chris
Cohen (December 2003), Lionel Scaloni (February 2006) and Nolberto Solano
(October 2007) also made their West Ham United debuts against Sunderland.


Last six meetings
(Premier League unless stated)
22 May 2011- West Ham United 0-3 Sunderland
5 December 2010 - Sunderland 1-0 West Ham United
21 September 2010 - Sunderland 1-2 West Ham United (Carling Cup third round)
10 April 2010 - West Ham United 1-0 Sunderland
31 October 2009 - Sunderland 2-2 West Ham United
4 April 2009 - West Ham United 2-0 Sunderland
Overall record v Sunderland (all competitions) W 32 D 20 L 30

Ten-year record

West Ham United

2011/12 Championship 3rd (86 points - promoted to Premier League via
Play-Offs)
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)

Sunderland
2011/12 Premier League 13th (45 points)
2010/11 Premier League 10th (47 points)
2009/10 Premier League 13th (44 points)
2008/09 Premier League 16th (36 points)
2007/08 Premier League 15th (39 points)
2006/07 Championship 1st (88 points - promoted to Premier League)
2005/06 Premier League 20th (15 points - relegated to Championship)
2004/05 Championship 1st (94 points - promoted to Premier League)
2003/04 Championship 3rd (79 points)
2002/03 Premier League 20th (19 points)
2001/02 Premier League 17th (40 points)

Referee
• Saturday's referee will be Lee Mason.
• Mason started refereeing in 1988 and in 1992 he was added to the North
West Counties Football League assistant referees' list, and progressed to
full referee for that competition four years later.
• He was included on the Football League list of assistant referees in 1998,
and was then added to the Premier League list in 2000.
• In 2002, he was promoted to referee for the Football League and in 2003
became a 'Development Group' referee, before finally reaching the Premier
League list of Select Group referees in 2006.
• His first ever match in the top tier was on 4 February 2006, when
Middlesbrough lost 4-0 at home to Aston Villa.
• Mason was chosen to control the League One Play-Off final between Barnsley
and Swansea on 27 May 2006.
• The 40-year-old took charge of last season's 0-0 away draw with Millwall.


Team news
• Jack Collison is unlikely to play after missing the start of the season as
he continues to manage his long-term knee issues.
• Andy Carroll will also be missing after suffering a hamstring injury on
his debut that is likely to keep him side lined for around six weeks.
• In Carroll's absence both Carlton Cole and Modibo Maiga are vying for a
starting spot, as is Alou Diarra who is yet to make Premier League start.
• Matt Jarvis is also pushing for a starting place after returning to action
against Norwich, as is Yossi Benayoun who made his second debut against the
Canaries. If Jarvis does feature, it will be his first appearance for the
Hammers at the Boleyn Ground.
• Sunderland could hand England winger Adam Johnson his debut after he
missed last weekend's 1-1 draw with Liverpool through injury.

Old boys
• George McCartney has enjoyed two spells with Sunderland. The Northern
Irishman initially moved to the north east as a 17-year-old in 1998, quickly
establishing himself in the first team and captaining the Black Cats to
promotion to the Premier League and being voted Player of the Year in 2005.
In all, he made 157 appearances for Sunderland before joining West Ham
United in 2006. After two seasons, the left-back returned to the Stadium of
Light to make a further 46 appearances before re-joining the Hammers,
initially on loan, in August 2011.
• Sunderland defender Matt Kilgallon made four appearances for West Ham
United on loan from Leeds United between August and November 2003.
• Bryan 'Pop' Robson spent two spells with West Ham United and three with
hometown club Sunderland. Robson, who started his career with Newcastle
United, netted 104 goals in 254 appearances for the Hammers and 67 in 174
games for Sunderland - scoring in a 2-0 win over Leicester City in his final
Black Cats appearance in May 1984 that kept the club in the old Division
One.
• Don Hutchison enjoyed two spells with West Ham United, netting 17 times in
110 matches. The Scotland midfielder also represented Sunderland during the
2000/01 season, scoring an impressing ten goals in 39 games.
• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are Dick Bell,
Gary Breen, Clive Clarke, Keith Coleman, Ernest England, Anton Ferdinand,
John Foreman, Harry Forster, Jack Foster, Harry Hooper, Mick McGiven, Andy
Melville, Billy Moore and Dave Swindlehurst.

General Information
• Limited tickets remain for tomorrow's clash with Sunderland. Click here to
secure your seat now.
• The weather forecast for Saturday is for a sunny day with maximum
temperatures reaching 19C (67F).

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Dev Squad down Gunners
WHUFC.com
Ian Hendon's side recorded a fine 4-1 Barclays U21 Premier League victory
over Arsenal on Friday
21.09.2012

A 704-strong crowd watched West Ham United's Development Squad produce a
dominant display to secure a 4-1 win over Arsenal at Rush Green on Friday
evening. The Gunners were previously unbeaten in the Barclays Under-21
Premier League but were second best for much of the contest as the Hammers
recovered from a goal down to score a fine victory. Goals from Rob Hall,
Matthias Fanimo, Dan Potts and Blair Turgott secured the points that take
West Ham level with Arsenal on ten points at the top of the Group 1 table.
Arsenal opened the scoring after just five minutes when Serge Gnabry drove
at the Hammers defence before finding Kris Olsson. The attacking midfielder
weaved in and out before cutting back and sending a sumptuous ball into
Elton Monteiro, who headed past Raphael Spiegel. The Gunners were not in
lead for long, though, as Ian Hendon's side rallied and equalised just eight
minutes later. The ever-impressive Hall did well to hold off his man before
breaking into the box and firing in at the near post.

The Hammers continued to press and after 18 minutes they took the lead
through Fanimo. Turgott showed terrific work ethic by winning the ball back
and driving to the byline before smashing the ball across goal. Paul
McCallum missed with an attempted overhead kick, but the ball fell to
Fanimo, who stayed composed to slot the ball past James Shea. The Hammers
would have to wait just under an hour before grabbing a third goal which
effectively ended the contest. Arsenal failed to deal with Hall's inswinging
corner and the ball fell to Potts, who was only too happy to smash the ball
in from five yards. With two minutes to go, Turgott completed the rout,
latching on to McCallum's superb through ball and finishing coolly past Shea
to the delight of the majority of the large crowd. Hendon's youngsters have
now recorded three wins and a draw from their opening five league fixtures.
Next up for the Development Squad is another home fixture on Friday 28
September against Norwich City, who snatched a late draw against the Gunners
during the last round of fixtures.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham v Sunderland
BBC/.co.uk
KO 15:00
21 September 2012
By Alistair Mann
BBC Match of the Day commentator

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Upton Park Date: Saturday, 22 September

TEAM NEWS

West Ham striker Andy Carroll is back in light training but is not ready to
return from a hamstring injury. Boss Sam Allardyce will use Carlton Cole and
Modibo Maiga in his absence, while midfielder Jack Collison remains
sidelined by an ongoing knee problem.
Sunderland winger Adam Johnson is likely to miss out as he is making a slow
recovery from a thigh injury. Carlos Cuellar is absent with a hamstring
strain, and Phil Bardsley and Wes Brown are still short of fitness.

MATCH PREVIEW

This fixture proves how quickly football clubs evolve. In the 16 months
since they last met, both have changed their managers and their playing
personnel has altered so dramatically that only three of the 22 players who
started in May 2011 are also likely to start this time - and all three are
Sunderland employees.

LAWRO'S PREDICTION
Mark Lawrenson
Football Analyst
"Even without Andy Carroll, West Ham will be a handful but Martin O'Neill's
teams always have fighting qualities - Liverpool seriously outplayed his
Sunderland side last week but, even with all the chances they created, they
could not get that decisive goal."

The Hammers have even faced a season in the Championship in the meantime
and, stung by their demotion, have invested in experience to ensure they
don't suffer that fate again. In Sam Allardyce, they not only hired a
manager who fulfilled their first target of an immediate return to the
Premier League but who also knows what it takes to keep them there. Having
guided Bolton to four top-eight finishes in his last four years in charge
there, it was perhaps unsurprising that he has hired a number of
ex-Wanderers at Upton Park. Jussi Jaaskelainen has already kept three clean
sheets, Kevin Nolan has followed last season's 13 goals with two more,
Ricardo Vaz Te hit the winning goal in the play-off final among the 12 he's
scored in 2012, and defender Joey O'Brien has clocked up almost 40
appearances and forced his way back into the Republic of Ireland squad.
Victory against Sunderland will take them into double figures after five
games, something it took them 15 games to achieve two years ago. The
visitors arrive seeking their first win since March; their 11-game winless
run represents Martin O'Neill's worst as a top-flight boss. Eight draws in
that time at least proves their solidity.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
Sunderland have won once in five attempts at Upton Park in the Premier
League. That came in the last meeting between the two clubs, a 3-0 win in
May 2011.
In 82 matches between the two clubs across all competitions, West Ham have
the edge with 32 wins to Sunderland's 30.

West Ham
They have lost just twice in their past 25 games.
The Hammers have kept three clean sheets from four Premier League matches so
far this season.
Sam Allardyce's team have only lost once at Upton Park this year, a 4-2
defeat by Reading in March.
James Collins will be playing in the 150th Premier League game of his
career.

Sunderland
Sunderland are winless in their last 11 league matches, equalling Martin
O'Neill's longest run without a victory as manager in the division.
They have drawn eight of those 11 matches.
Steven Fletcher has scored three goals in his first two league games for
Sunderland - no other player has scored for the club this season in the
Premier League.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Games over, disruption returns
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 21st September 2012
By: Staff Writer

Supporters travelling to West Ham's Premier League fixture against
Sunderland this weekend should take note of the following disruptions to
rail services.
With the Olympic Games and Paralympics now over, supporters travelling in
and around London can expect a return to regular breaks in sevice. That
begins this weekend with no service on the District Line between Upminster
and Dagenham East. For those travelling from the West, there will be no
service on the Jubilee Line between Wembley Park and Willesden Green
throughout the weekend. That also applies to the Metropolitan Line between
Harrow-on-the-Hill and Aldgate and the Northern Line from Harrow-on-the-Hill
and Aldgate. Rail replacement buses will operate on all three lines. For
those travelling from slightly further afield, engineering works on the
Greater Anglia Line means that the only service between WItham and Shenfield
will also be via a replacement bus shuttle.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United v Sunderland
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 21st September 2012
By: Preview Percy

Preview Percy wishes it to be known that he had nothing to do with certain
photographs being circulated about the web at the moment. His photographs
are much less blurry and for his private enjoyment only. In between getting
the long lens out he found time to have a quick shufti at this weekend's
visit of Sunderland. Stats, as usual, from John Northcutt will be along in a
mo....

Our next outing sees us return to football at a proper time as we play host
to Sunderland in the traditional 3pm kick off at the Boleyn.

When looking up the travel information I was most perturbed to note that
there were all sorts of warning notices about the District Line for the
weekend, as if TfL had just been waiting for us to return before digging up
the track once more. Once I'd found my bi-focals (no matron I have no idea
how they got into that nurse's room) and was able to actually read the
website details I noted that most of the problems will take place at the far
eastern end of the line 'twixt Dagenham East & Upminster. So you may have to
leave the pub early enough to mix the taste of your pint of Old Wally
Downes' Assistant Ale (10% ABV) with that of toothpaste to get to the ground
on time if that's your part of the world.

The Rokerites (Stadium of Light-ites doesn't sound right to me and The Black
Cats remind me of a third-rate cabaret act that once trod the boards at the
Swan & Superinjunction a few years back) currently stand in 15th place in
the table having taken a point from all three of the matches they've been
able to play thus far. They got a 0-0 draw on the opening day of the season
at the Library, a 2-2 draw away at Swansea and last weekend they drew 1-1
with Liverpool. They're a game behind most clubs having had their match at
home to Reading postponed due to the pitch being underwater. A shame for
Reading really as they'd have had something nice and soft to dive into had
the game gone ahead.

The boss is Martin O'Neill who took over after the sacking of Steve Bruce in
November 2011. My how I enjoyed writing those last seven words. O'Neill is
believed to have been approached by ourselves to take over from Avram Grant
(in whose honour the rest home for the bewildered where I currently reside
is named) in the middle of our relegation season a couple of years back. The
stories of that approach are numerous and the way the whole thing was
handled appears to have been a low point for our current ownership, with
leak and counterleak bouncing around like matron on a trampoline.

At the time of O'Neill's arrival, Sunderland were themselves on the verge of
a potential relegation battle. However 13 out of a possible 18 points
following O'Neill's appointment saw them finish comfortably. O'Neill brought
in four players over the summer with double that number (including,
technically, George McCartney) leaving during the same period. In defence
they acquired the services of former Villa defender Carlos Cuellar. With
Rangers, Cuellar, who can operate either in the centre of defence or at full
back, won the Scottish Premier League Player Of The Year award in 2007/08,
an award which is slightly behind the awarding of a Blue Peter badge or
finding a toy in a Kinder egg in terms of prestige. It is Cuellar's second
spell under O'Neill having worked with the manager during his spell at Villa
Park. The Spaniard came in on a free at the expiration of his contract in
Brummieland.

Also in on a free came Louis Saha. Saha started 2011/12 at Everton. However,
the latter spell of his career on Merseyside was notable for a goal drought
that lasted over 900 minutes following which he signed for Spurs in January
2012. He hit moderate success at White Hart Lane netting four times in
eleven matches. However, his judgement was seen to be faulty when praising
the insight and knowledge of Harry Redknapp as he tried to negotiate a long
term deal to add to the six-month contract that he'd signed in January. The
not entirely surprising departure of Redknapp in the summer put paid to that
idea and, after a few weeks on the books of Unattached FC Saha pitched up on
Wearside.

It wasn't all free transfers mind. Adam Johnson was signed from Man City for
a reported £10m (or "loose change" as their owners called it) and Wolves
were rewarded to the tune of £12-14m (reports vary) for the services of
Steven Fletcher. For Johnson, the move represents something of a return to
home territory with the player having been born on Wearside and brought up
in Co. Durham. Johnson came up through the Middlesbrough academy system and
survived the embarrassment of being second choice behind Steward Downing for
a while. He joined Man City at the close of the 2010 winter transfer window
and, whilst he wasn't exactly a forgotten man for the Citizens – he managed
26 appearances in their title winning side last year – it was clear that he
wasn't exactly no.1 in the pecking order in the international brigade. A
transfer to his home town club was therefore gratefully accepted with as
near a guarantee of first XI football as you can get in these
multi-substitute days probably clinching the deal for the player.

Fletcher, on the other hand, was probably pretty much guaranteed first XI
football at Wolves, his former club. The problem being that that football
would have been playable at Championship level following the Molineux club's
relegation last season. Wolves rejected a number of bids from an "unnamed
club" (which everyone knew to be Sunderland) before the player himself
submitted a transfer request to speed up the deal. Fletcher has featured in
two of the three league matches played so far and has netted in both,
picking up a brace at Swansea and scoring the opener against Liverpool last
weekend. One to watch then.

Talanted midfielder James McClean is no stranger to controversy. Born in
Londonderry he had an early spell with Derry City a club which, despite its
location, famously, for political reasons plies its trade in the
(Republic's) League of Ireland rather than the (Northern Irish) Irish
League. (All resemblance to the Judean Popular Front/Popular Front of Judea
is only slightly coincidental). Having played at various age levels for the
Northern Ireland international side, when the inevitable call up to the full
squad came he dug his heels in and waited for Trappatoni to come calling,
which of course he did. Northern Ireland football fans are less than chuffed
with this state of affairs, the "poaching" of players from their junior
ranks by the higher-ranked neighbours across the border causing them major
problems. Many boycotted the ill-fated Nations Cup (amazingly it's still
slated to take place again in 2013) as a result.

Not that it's all been sweetness and light for McClean in the Republic camp.
On being left on the bench for the recent World Cup qualifier against
Kazakhstan McClean joined the ever-increasing band of players to make a tit
of themselves by the medium of twitter, having a bit of a rant at
Trappatoni's expense. This went down well with neither his international nor
his club boss and ended up with the player being hauled over the coals by
O'Neill, who is not one to tolerate indiscipline. McClean also failed his
driving theory test last week so it'll be a few weeks before he can indulge
in the traditional footballer pastime of making the breathalyser light up.

Talking of players in bother, McClean's relatively speedy rise to prominence
means that he has a long way to go to catch up with Titus Bramble. Bramble
was arrested with his brother Tetsfaye in August 2010 on suspicion of rape.
He was released without charge with his brother being convicted and
receiving a four and a half year sentence. Now with that incident behind him
you'd have thought the player might have been a bit more careful about
putting himself in a position where it might look as if he were misbehaving.
Not Titus. Less than a month after his brother was sent down he was arrested
for alleged sexual assault and possession of a Class A drug. He was cleared
of any wrongdoing last May, though if there was a punishment for stupidity
he might have had a case to answer.

Ex-Hammers? Well Matthew Kilgallon, who spent a spell on loan at the Boleyn
in the second-tier in 2003/04, is in the squad whilst Steve Walford, who
made over 100 Irons appearances in the 80's, is O'Neill's assistant, a
position that he has held just about wherever O'Neill has managed. However,
the ex-Hammer on the club's payroll for whom fondest esteem is held in these
parts is Bryan Robson. Pop was a hellova goalscorer in his day and was
exceedingly unlucky not to win full international recognition back in the
70's. He is currently the club's chief scout. If he makes the journey to the
Boleyn a doff of the cap in his general direction would be called for.

And so to us. Well that was a well-earned point last week wasn't it? It
wasn't quite the "backs to the wall" performance some have suggested mind –
yes Jussi had a busy afternoon but we always looked capable of nicking one
on the break. There were two disappointing features of the afternoon for me.
Firstly, our crossing. We got into a number of promising positions on the
flanks but either the quality of the cross was lacking or, when the delivery
was decent in nature (usually from Matt Jarvis) we found that nobody was
willing to take the gamble in the box.

Secondly, and this may seem a bit churlish in view of his overall
performance, Jussi's kicking left a lot to be desired. Too many clearances
failed to get height or distance and when that happened we were instantly
under pressure once more.

On the injury front you had to laugh at the media's treatment of the Andy
Carroll position. Asked about the "six weeks out" prognosis Mr Allardyce
appears to have responded that Carroll was making good progress and might
not be out for quite as long as originally suggested. In the hands of some
of our press this comment translated into "Carroll for shock return"
headlines suggesting that the player's amazing powers of recovery would
enable him to be fit for Sunderland.

Now whilst the treatment of injuries has come on light years since the days
of the magic sponge, the human body hasn't yet evolved to the state where a
hamstring will improve without rest and if Carroll is fit for this one he is
either a) not as injured as was first thought; or b) being rushed back ahead
of what would normally be considered a prudent period of rest. We've been
guilty of going for option b) far too often in the past (see Jack Collison
for an example) so I'd be very surprised, nay concerned if the player were
about this week. (Unless of course Liverpool have already told us they want
him back in January in which case we should run him into the ground while we
can!).

Both of Carroll's natural replacements, Cole and Maiga, suffered from a lack
of service last weekend and as we defended deeper and deeper they became
more isolated up front. However, as we have seen, we set ourselves up
differently at home and one would expect the likes of Nolan to provide more
support this time round. Cole is a slight injury doubt – something wrong
with a toe apparently so Maiga may start if Carlton isn't 100%.

Other than Cole, Carroll and Collison it's pretty much a full squad to
choose from and I wouldn't expect too many changes from the side we put out
against Norwich. This would mean another afternoon on the racing car seats
for Tomkins. The form of Reid has been a revelation thus far – a world apart
from the dodgy form shown in his previous appearances at this level, which
had me stood, on several occasions, at the side of the canal with a sack
full of the kittens he'd caused me to give birth to whilst watching him.
(The Avram Grant Rest Home for the Bewildered doesn't allow pets – though
there does seem to be an exemption applied to cockroaches).

Ok prediction time. We have thus far at home benefited from an admirable air
of self-belief. Scoring a goal inside a minute helps, obviously, but there's
also been the underlying thought that the opposition come to the Boleyn with
the initial thought that they fancy their chances. Sunderland, as they
proved at Swansea, won't necessarily be starting out to "respect the point"
– something that could play into our hands.

Sunderland will certainly provide more of a test than Villa, who were awful,
and Fulham, who were shell-shocked by the early goal which reminded them
just how terrible they are away from home. I think this could be a thriller
so I'll put the Rest Home's Cockroach Control fund (£2.50) on a 3-2 win for
us as the phrase "Fortress Boleyn" starts to take on a less ironic air.

Enjoy the game!


When Last We Met: Lost 3-0 (h) (May 2011) – a surreal match overseen by
Kevin Keen, who had taken temporary charge following the sacking of Avram
Grant the previous week once relegation had been confirmed. The team was
full of people who palpably didn't want to be there. Most of the smaller
than usual crowd didn't want to be there. To be fair, whilst both sides were
going through the motions, the 3-0 rather flattered the visitors – but
frankly, nobody cared.

Referee: Lee Mason – Last seen handling the 0-0 draw at Millwall. Prior to
that, in April 2011 he handed Man Utd a 4-2 win at the Boleyn with a
performance so inept it beggared belief and had us checking that it wasn't
Mike Jones or Dean that had turned up instead.

Danger Man: James McClean – the talented Irishman will be fired up for this
one following his rollocking from the boss last week and he plays with a
youthful lack of fear which means we'll have to keep an eye on him.

Daft Fact Of The Week: Believe it or not there is actually a website called
visitsunderland.com. No really there is.


Stat man John: Northcutt's corner

Head to Head
Pld 82; West Ham Utd 32, Sunderland 30, Draws 20.

Biggest Win
19th October 1968: West Ham Utd 8-0 Sunderland (Boleyn Ground, Division One)

Heaviest Defeat
5th March 1977: Sunderland 6-0 West Ham Utd (Roker Park, Division One)

First Meeting
25th August 1923: Sunderland 0-0 West Ham Utd (Roker Park, Division One)

Last Five Meetings
22nd May 2011: West Ham Utd 0-3 Sunderland (Boleyn Ground, Premier League)
5th December 2010: Sunderland 1-0 West Ham Utd (Stadium of Light, Premier
League)
21st September 2010: Sunderland 1-2 West Ham Utd (Stadium of Light, Carling
Cup)
10th April 2010: West Ham Utd 1-0 Sunderland (Boleyn Ground, Premier League)
31st October 2009: Sunderland 2-2 West Ham Utd (Stadium of Light, Premier
League)

Memorable Match
19th October 1968: West Ham Utd 8-0 Sunderland (Boleyn Ground, Division One)

West Ham United's smallest crowd of the season - just 24,718 - gathered
inside the Boleyn Ground to witness what became a record-breaking First
Division match for a number of reasons. Firstly, West Ham's 8-0 win equalled
the club's record win which had been set ten years earlier against Rotherham
(albeit in Division Two). Secondly goalscorer Geoff Hurst achieved a feat
that hasn't been matched in the ensuing 43 years by scoring six of them -
and thirdly, he also achieved the rare feat of scoring a hat-trick in each
half (which is also unlikely to have been repeated).

Hurst - who has since said he was aiming for double figures in the game -
admitted post-match that the first of his record haul (on 18 minutes) was
deliberate handball - he clearly pushed the ball into the Sunderland net
(which is said to have caused a post-match problem or two between the two
clubs). However there was nothing dubious about any of the remaining five,
which arrived in the 34th, 44th, 48th, 61st and 71st minute. For the record
West Ham's other goalscorers on the day were Bobby Moore and Trevor
Brooking; the latter was part of the team that usurped the record 15 years
later when West Ham destroyed Bury 10-0 in the Milk Cup - although this
victory over Sunderland remains the club's biggest in the top flight.

Friendlies
October 1953: West Ham Utd 2-0 Sunderland (Sexton, Dixon)

It's An Early Bath For You, Mr Cantona...
Radoslav Kovak is the only Hammer to have been sent off against Sunderland -
that being in the 2009/10 season at the SoL.

They Played For Both
Dick Bell; Gary Breen; Clive Clarke; Keith Coleman; Ernest England; Anton
Ferdinand; John Foreman; Harry Forster; Jack Foster; Harry Hooper; Don
Hutchison; George McCartney; Mick McGiven; Andy Melville; Billy Moore; Bryan
'Pop' Robson; Dave Swindlehurst; Matt Kilgallon.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sullivan funded Carroll deal
Hammers co-chairman reveals state of club's finances
Last Updated: September 21, 2012 10:10am
SSN

David Sullivan has revealed he and fellow West Ham co-chairman David Gold
funded the summer signing of Andy Carroll out of their own pockets as the
club continues to tackle significant debts. The England striker completed a
loan move to Upton Park from Liverpool towards the end of the summer
transfer window with a view to a permanent deal next summer. He made an
instant impact on his debut against Fulham earlier this month, setting up
two of West Ham's three goals before limping off with a hamstring injury in
the second half. It was a significant investment by the London club, who
were playing Championship football last season and are still paying off
debts accrued under their previous ownership. Sullivan revealed that because
of those debts he and Gold are funding the deal for the 23-year-old out of
their own pockets. He also admits that boss Sam Allardyce would have been
unable to strengthen the squad at all this summer without their backing. "We
are financing everything out of our own money,' he told the Daily Mail. "Had
we not put money in this year we could not have bought a player. Because
there is not sufficient money to pay the debt. I cannot give confidential
details of contracts but for the period of time Andy will be with us it's as
expensive a player as we have ever signed. "But our manager thought he was
the most important player we could sign this summer and that is why we
pursued him. Unfortunately he got this hamstring injury. But that's just bad
luck."

Financially stable

Sullivan and Gold took control of the club from Icelandic firm CB Holdings
in January 2010 and he concedes the club's finances would have put off most
potential owners. However, he is determined to ensure the club becomes a
Premier League force in the short-term, with the long-term aim of becoming
financially stable once more. "As a business venture it made no sense at
all," he added. "Not the deal we did. "The club was £120m in debt with very
few assets. It was a mess. I knew, when the Icelandics were signing the
players they were for the money they were paying, it made no financial sense
"But David and I are not in it for the money. We don't want to go bust
either. The aim is to make the club self-sufficient. But we want to put the
best possible team on the pitch for the supporters of West Ham because we
are supporters too. "Because of the mess we inherited we have to service a
£100m debt. There are commitments that have to be paid and we have to pay
interest on the debt. But we also had to put the money in to put together a
team that would get us promoted. "So we are spending capital. Spending our
life savings. There is no point kidding ourselves. "Now, if the king of
Saudi Arabia wants to buy West Ham we would happily step aside for the good
of the club. But we wouldn't step aside for a mystery foreign buyer whose
financial resources we have no knowledge of."

Stadium

Sullivan feels one way out of West Ham's financial predicament could be a
move to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford. The Hammers were originally
awarded the right to take over the ownership of the stadium last year, but
the deal collapsed following legal challenges by Tottenham and Leyton
Orient. They are now one of four formal bidders to become tenants of stadium
in a revised bidding process, with Sullivan convinced West Ham have the best
bid both for the club and the Olympic legacy. "Now we obviously want to move
to the Olympic Stadium," he added. "For three years we've been trying to
secure it. We believe we have the best bid. We will make football affordable
to all because we will have the seats to do deals, and we will make the
whole stadium economically viable. "We will embrace the athletics legacy and
make it a brilliant, multi-purpose facility."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce expects Sunderland to be a tough test for West Ham
Last Updated: September 21, 2012 10:15pm
SSN

Sam Allardyce knows West Ham United will not be in for an easy game when
they take on Sunderland at Upton Park on Saturday. The Hammers have won two
of their opening four league games, with last weekend's goalless draw at
Norwich a fourth clean sheet in all competitions. Sunderland, meanwhile,
have yet to record a league victory, drawing all three of their matches,
with the home fixture against Reading having been called off because of a
waterlogged pitch.
West Ham may have rolled Fulham over 3-0 in their last outing at the Upton
Park, but Allardyce knows the Hammers will have to fight for any positive
result again on Saturday. "Everybody is buzzing about the free-scoring
nature of Arsenal yet Sunderland managed to get a 0-0 draw there on the
opening day," said Allardyce. "Then, against Swansea they took the lead
twice and knowing [Sunderland manager] Martin O'Neill as I do, he will have
felt disappointed not to win the game. "I know what to expect from
Sunderland having studied those two games and also from knowing Martin and
the way he structures his teams.

Pressure

"We have to make sure we are capable of breaking them down and ensure that
when we create opportunities, we take them." Despite Allardyce playing down
West Ham's positive start, it has been in marked contrast to the other two
sides who were both promoted ahead of the East London club. Indeed,
Southampton, runners-up to Reading in May, currently sit rock bottom with
four successive defeats - the last of which was a 6-1 mauling at Arsenal.
Allardyce, though, accepts it may not always be such a smooth ride for the
Irons as they look to establish themselves among England's elite clubs once
again.
"We are very pleased with the start we have made. Unfortunately for
Southampton and Reading, they haven't been able to do the same but
admittedly the fixture list was much kinder to us," he said. "Pressure will
be on every team at some point in the season, their tough time happens to be
right now because they haven't picked up many points, but based on the games
they have played that is understandable. "It is a marathon not a sprint, but
as we all know pressure is heaped on you, especially in this league, if you
don't start well."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham v Sunderland preview
Hammers still without Carroll, Johnson facing late fitness test
By Pete O'Rourke - Follow me: @skysportspeteo. Last Updated:
September 21, 2012 11:11am
SSN

West Ham will be hoping to maintain their 100 per cent home record when they
welcome Sunderland to Upton Park. The Black Cats make the trip to east
London still searching for their first Premier League victory of the season
after drawing their opening three games. Despite being unbeaten so far this
season, manager Martin O'Neill is keen to get his side off to winning ways,
but they have will to improve their creativity having averaged five shots
per game this season, fewer than any other team in the top flight. West Ham
sit in eighth spot in the table and victory on Saturday could lift them into
the top four for 24 hours at least. Sam Allardyce has a record of three wins
and just one defeat in five Premier League matches as a coach against
O'Neill.

West Ham
Last 6
0-0
3-0
2-0
3-0
1-0
1-1

West Ham's on-loan striker Andy Carroll has returned to light training after
a hamstring injury, but will not be in contention for the clash. Carlton
Cole and Mali forward Modibo Maiga will be looking to lead the attack for
the Hammers, who have no fresh injury concerns. Matt Jarvis could make his
home debut after finding himself on the bench for last week's goalless draw
at Norwich. Fellow midfielder Jack Collison remains sidelined for with a
knee injury.

Sunderland
Last 6
1-1
2-2
2-0
0-0
1-0
1-1

Sunderland will make a late decision on the fitness of winger Adam Johnson
as he struggles to shake off a thigh problem. Johnson sat out England's
World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine with the problem and was
also absent for last Saturday's 1-1 draw against Liverpool. Defender Carlos
Cuellar (hamstring) is out while Phil Bardsley (ankle) and Wes Brown (knee)
are making good progress but are still short of match fitness. In the
absence of Cuellar, Titus Bramble will start his first Premier League game
of the season after replacing his team-mate against Liverpool. Craig Gardner
will again continue to deputise as a makeshift right-back, while Danny Rose
is also set to start at left-back after recovering from a leg injury picked
up last weekend.

Opta Facts

Sunderland have won none of their last nine Premier League away games (W0 D5
L4).
All seven of the goals netted by Sunderland and West Ham in the Premier
League this season have been scored in the first half of games
West Ham have conceded more fouls than any other team in the top flight this
season (62).
Steven Fletcher has scored three goals from three shots on target for the
Black Cats.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Premier League clubs to meet next week to discuss spending controls
Last Updated: September 21, 2012 6:48pm
SSN

Proposed spending controls in the Premier League will be discussed at a
meeting next week. The 20 clubs have been split into two groups of 10 on a
geographical basis, with the southern group to meet on Monday and the
northern group on Wednesday. The majority of clubs are in favour of some
kind of cost control measure - the sticking points are likely to be which
measure is adopted and what the sanctions will be for breaking the rules.
Ideas include adopting UEFA's Financial Fair Play system where clubs must
break even, or clubs only being allowed to spend a maximum percentage of
their annual income on player costs - for example 70%, the system operated
by the European elite club grouping G14 a decade ago. Another proposal is
limiting increases in spending on player wages to 10% a year, as suggested
by Sunderland owner Ellis Short. Perhaps the option most likely to win
universal approval is clubs having to be able to guarantee they can operate
for several years in the future rather than just one.

Salaries

Under the guaranteed liability plan, if clubs have players on five-year
contracts, as most do, they would have to be able to prove they can
guarantee those funds for the length of those contracts. In the case of
Portsmouth, the club twice went into administration when some of their
biggest costs included paying the salaries of high-earning players who were
under long-term contracts but whom the club could not afford. The clubs most
opposed to cost control measures are Manchester City, Chelsea and Fulham but
even they might be inclined to accept a system to guarantee financial
liabilities. The sanctions for breaking the rules are unlikely to be as
drastic as UEFA's system which threatens to exclude clubs from European
competition if they do not come close to breaking even. In the Premier
League, a transfer ban or fine is much more likely to be agreed to punish
transgressions.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Match Preview: West Ham v Sunderland
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die

Great, a 3pm kick off!

There's only really two selection headaches for Sam Allardyce. Who to play
at left back and who to play on the right wing? The three contenders for
left back, Joey O'Brien, George McCartney and Matt Taylor all have something
to be said for themselves. O'Brien has played in the last couple of matches
and hasn't done much wrong, McCartney is the first choice and has recovered
from injury, while Taylor faces being dropped altogether if Matt Jarvis
plays on the left of midfield. Taylor is valuable for his set plays and
corners and would be my choice to play behind Jarvis, but my inclination is
that McCartney will get the nod.

On the right wing it's between Vaz Te and Benayoun. Vaz Te has flattered to
deceive this season and played very poorly at Norwich. Benayoun only had
five minutes but looked very bright and probably deserves to make his second
home debut. I hope he gets a good reception despite the manor of his leaving
last time.

Otherwise, it's probably as you were, although I suppose it's possible
Madiba might get the nod over Carlton Cole.

As SJ said yesterday, if we win this, we're on ten points, firmly in the top
half and a quarter of the way to safety. I know it's wrong to look at it
that way, but it's inevitable. Even if we don't get three points I still
think we have had a very reasonable start to the season.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Karren Brady's football diary
The Sun
By KARREN BRADY
Last Updated: 22nd September 2012

SATURDAY, SEPT 15
A GET-TOGETHER of current and ex-PL and FL executives ends up with one of
the guys spending the evening in A&E. I cannot reveal the details but it
involved a crispy duck, a drunken comment and hot air. The chap who ended up
superficially wounded looked dejected as the ambulance was called. It all
started over a women and not an offside decision, which is the usual
provoker on nights like this. The comment that erupted night? 'When a man
steals your wife, there is no better revenge than to let him keep her'.
Bash!

SUNDAY, SEPT 16

HAVING a chat with West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan and the name of
Richard Kingson comes up. The Ghanaian keeper's wife Adelaide says she put
evil spells on him and they certainly worked at Birmingham where he was very
ill and later played one Prem game after which David called him "a waste of
space."
Avram Grant's wife believed in external powers, too. I watched spellbound at
an Upton Park game as Tzofit Grant chanted over the Torah, flicking pages
and rubbing beads.

MONDAY, SEPT 17

IT does not need a sneaky paparazzi camera over the wall to catch the pair
of, er, goals missing from Everton's scoresheet in the drawn game against
Newcastle. One is ruled out for offside, the other, a header by Victor
Anichebe, so plainly crosses the line you have to wonder what else the
linesman does with his flag. It happens, we know. But there are now two
approved systems that can accurately tell everybody when a goal is scored —
or isn't. So why are we waiting? Why have we been waiting years and years?
Are the powers-that-be on FIFA so busy shuffling their millions of dollars
that it hasn't occurred to them that ultimately only goals count?

TUESDAY, SEPT 18

JOSE MOURINHO is there on TV celebrating Real Madrid's late winner against
Manchester City with a knee surf on the pitch. I wince. A grown man (some
might say) sliding on his best-suit trousers and ending up with grass stains
all down them. I sympathise with you having to do his wash, Mrs M, I really
do.
The worst I remember was one of my managers, on getting promoted got sprayed
with champagne in the dressing room. He put in an expense slip for the dry
cleaning!

WEDNESDAY, SEPT 19

THE true test of a big club, I've always thought, is how popular they are on
TV. I'd have said this even if West Ham had not joined the elite top five
clubs who have been most televised in the Premier League. It might be a
result of us having a ground full of great atmosphere and our plan to make
football affordable for all. On Tuesday we play PL rivals Wigan and its only
£5 for kids and £10 for adults for those buying tickets in advance.

THURSDAY, SEPT 20

MARK NOBLE is a proper Hammer, practically born and certainly bred by the
club and I'm really pleased he's about to sign a new contract. He's 25 and
already played 190 games for us so there has to be a chance of him hitting
as many as 500 one day. Mark's a fine midfielder but much more because he's
a giver as well as a taker, always prepared to put himself out, happy to
help with anything that connects to the club and our fans. Old-fashioned, I
suppose, and I can think of no greater praise.

FRIDAY, SEPT 21

CLUBS are defined by numbers of fans they take with them. Sunderland will
have a full section at Upton Park, in contrast to Wigan who tell us they
have sold 69 seats for the admittedly less attractive Capital One Cup match
on Tuesday. I'm told Wimbledon once brought 13 to West Ham, so few we closed
the kiosks and offered a waitress service! With their recent buys,
Sunderland strike me as top 10 material at least and Martin O'Neill,
carrying the aura of a man who is planning for much better than that, will
expect no less.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Jack has to take it kneesy
By JAKE RYAN
Published: 9 hrs ago
The Sun

JACK COLLISON will never fully recover from a knee injury he suffered over
three years ago, according to Sam Allardyce. The West Ham midfielder limped
off with a dislocated kneecap in March 2009 and has had extended periods on
the sidelines. But Hammers boss Allardyce says the 23-year-old's injury is
similar to the one that blighted Ledley King's career. He said: "It is a
concern to us because Jack has not kicked a ball since last season.
"Unfortunately that knee is never going to be 100 per cent so he has to
manage it. It is not as drastic as with Paul McGrath or Ledley King but it
is similar. "There are times when he gets a lot of fluid in there and he
cannot join in training."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gym fixed it for me
Exclusive
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: 9 hrs ago
The Sun

MATT JARVIS has 10.75million reasons to say thank you to Millwall. The
ambitious winger is embracing life as West Ham's record signing having been
dumped by their arch-rivals as a teenage hopeful. Jarvis, 26, has channelled
that hurt into working harder, running faster and being stronger than the
rest to prove a point that little guys can make it big. Before we met, he
was put through a gruelling double training session by boss Sam Allardyce.
The 5ft 6in star spent the afternoon lifting 85kg — more than his own
bodyweight — in the gym having trained with a ball all morning. He said: "I
always work hard to make sure I am improving. Even though I've come here I
need to work hard to prove I was worth the money. "Football has changed.
Look at everyone these days, they are good athletes and extremely strong.
I've had to change and I really enjoy going in the gym now. "I used to run
long distance, 800 metres, 1500m and cross-country. I did the 800m in 2min
12sec as a boy. "Now I don't think my legs are built for it. They've changed
shape a lot because I do a lot of weights to increase the power and make
them better for sprinting. "I was at Millwall for about six years and then
released before getting a youth-team contract. "Being told I was too small
to make it did not hurt nearly as much as being told simply that I wasn't
good enough. "But I have used it to my advantage, you thrive on trying to
prove a point that people were wrong. "I was Surrey county champion at
breaststroke for four years from 12 to 16. Football was always my main sport
though, right from the age of four. "Luckily, after being released by
Millwall I was given a chance by Gillingham. Even though my trial was a
disaster I got taken on and after a year as a youth-team kid there I was in
with the first-team squad." Jarvis was called up for England's friendly
against Ghana last year by Fabio Capello. It has gone quiet since and he
regards the national team as 'unfinished business' — particularly if he can
strike up a partnership with fellow new-boy Andy Carroll.

SAM ALLARDYCE wants Jack Collison and Andy Carroll back in action as soon as
possible Jarvis, who signed for £10.75m from Wolves, said: "We're both
desperate to get things going. He's injured and I have been so we've not had
much chance to work together. "When you play with someone week in, week out,
you know them inside out. That can only be a benefit to us both in England
terms."

There is more to Jarvis than meets the eye — he has 10 GCSEs, two AS Levels
and is a qualified gym instructor. But DIY is NOT a strength. He added: "I
love DIY SOS on TV, mainly because I'm so useless at it. I put quite a bit
of the furniture together at our old house, including a bedside table. I put
the front on the back and vice versa, so there were visible screw holes all
down the front."

MATT JARVIS was appearing at West Ham United Community Sports Trust's Men's
Health project — www.whufc.com/community.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

http://vyperz.blogspot.com