Daily WHUFC News - 11th January 2013

Sunderland match preview
WHUFC.com
Your guide to this Saturday afternoon's Barclays Premier League fixture at the Stadium of Light
11.01.2013

SUNDERLAND v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 12 JANUARY 2013
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: NEIL SWARBRICK
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
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Introduction
• West Ham United travel to Sunderland for their third game of 2013 and their second in the Barclays Premier League. Sam Allardyce's side are unbeaten thus far this calendar year, having recorded a 2-1 Premier League win at home to Norwich City on New Year's Day and a thrilling 2-2 draw with Manchester United in the FA Cup with Budweiser third round last time out.
• Marouane Chamakh could be in line to make his Hammers' debut after signing on loan from Arsenal. The striker was registered too late to play against Manchester United, but fellow new boy Joe Cole did start and marked his second 'debut' with two assists. The Academy graduate is expected to now make his second Premier League 'debut' against the Black Cats.
• The two teams last met in the Premier League at the Boleyn Ground in September, when Kevin Nolan's late strike rewarded some strong second-half pressure from the home side. Steven Fletcher had put Martin O'Neill's side up in the first half.
• Headed goals may be a premium on Saturday as Sunderland have scored the lowest percentage of goals from headers in the Premier League this season (10%) and have also conceded the lowest percentage of headed goals (3%). West Ham, meanwhile, have conceded just three goals from set plays this season, fewer than any other team.

• Jussi Jaaskelainen has the second highest shots-to-saves ratio in the Premier League this season (77%). Only Swansea City's Gerhard Tremmel has better (81%), but he has made just eleven appearances compared to Jaaskelainen's 20.

• Sunderland have won just three of their last 14 Premier League games at the Stadium of Light, including only two out of eleven this season.

• Nolan has scored more goals against Sunderland than he has managed against any other opponent in his Premier League career (six). As well as the equaliser at the Boleyn Ground, he scored a hat-trick against the Black Cats while on duty for Newcastle United in a 5-1 win back in October 2010.

• West Ham United's clash with Sunderland is one of seven Barclays Premier League games on Saturday, the others are as follows: Queens Park Rangers v Tottenham Hotspur (12:45pm), Reading v West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City v Chelsea, Norwich City v Newcastle United, Fulham v Wigan Athletic, Everton v Swansea City, Aston Villa v Southampton

Last time out
Saturday 5 January 2013
FA Cup with Budweiser third round
West Ham United 2-2 Manchester United
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen; Demel, Collins, Tomkins, Potts, Vaz Te (Jarvis 60), Collison, Diarra (Noble 73), J Cole (Taylor 78), Nolan, C Cole
Booked: Collison
Goals: Collins 27, 59

Saturday 5 January 2013
FA Cup with Budweiser third round
Bolton Wanderers 2-2 Sunderland
Sunderland: Mignolet, Bardsley, Rose (Colback 19) Cuellar (Wickham 58), Bramble, Larsson, Gardner, Vaughan, Johnson, McClean, Fletcher~
Subs not used: Westwood, Campbell, McFadden, Kilgallon.
Goals: Wickham 60, Gardner 75


Previous meeting

• West Ham's last meeting with Sunderland was on 22 September 2012 at the Boleyn Ground. The Hammers were on top for much of the game, but it looked as though Sunderland would sneak an away victory though Steven Fletcher's ninth-minute opener. That was until the 93rd minute, though, when Kevin Nolan finished on the turn to spark wild celebrations. The line-ups that day were:
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Reid, Collins, O'Brien, Noble, Diame, Nolan, Taylor (Benayoun 57), Vaz Te (Jarvis 57), Cole
Subs: Henderson, Tomkins, Maiga, McCartney, O'Neil
Goal: Nolan 90
Sunderland: Mignolet, Gardner, Bramble, O'Shea, Rose, Cattermole, Larsson, Colback, McClean, Sessegnon, Fletcher
Subs: Westwood, Kilgallon, Vaughan, Meyler, Campbell, Wickham, Saha
Goal: Fletcher 9

Background
• West Ham United have faced Sunderland 83 times in official competitions, winning 32, drawing 21 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 at Roker Park.
• 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.
• West Ham's biggest ever win away at Sunderland came on 9 September 1967, when goals from Martin Peters, Geoff Hurst (two), Harry Redknapp and Bobby Moore helped them to a 5-1 victory.
• 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 have won five out of the previous ten league meetings and six out of eleven in all competitions with Sunderland, but the Black Cats scored a Premier League 'double' in 2010/11.
• 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, who is on African Cup of Nations Final duty, 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 September 2012 - West Ham United 1-1 Sunderland
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
Overall record v Sunderland (all competitions) W 32 D 21 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)

Referee
• Saturday's referee will be Neil Swarbrick
• Swarbrick began refereeing at the age of 29 and within six years he had been promoted to the National List of assistant referees in 2005.
• Now 42, Swarbrick made his way up the leagues via the Football Conference and the npower Football League before receiving his first Barclays Premier League appointment on 11 December 2010. He was officially promoted to the Select Group of top-flight referees in June 2011.
• This will be his second West Ham United game this season, after being the man in the middle for the 4-1 win at home to Southampton on Saturday 20 October.
• He had taken charge of three West Ham United fixtures before that, the most recent being the 2-0 npower Championship Play-Off semi-final first-leg win at Cardiff City on 3 May 2012.

Team news
West Ham United
• Marouane Chamakh could make his debut for the Hammers after signing on loan from Arsenal. Joe Cole is likely to make his second Premier League 'debut' after arriving from Liverpool after impressing against Manchester United.
• Sam Allardyce is expected to make a number of changes after a host of regular first-teamers missed the Manchester United game to help avoid fatigue. However, the likes of Dan Potts, James Tomkins and Alou Diarra will be hoping to keep their places for the Sunderland match after impressing against the Red Devils.
• Winston Reid, Mark Noble, Matt Taylor, Matt Jarvis and Gary O'Neil will all be hoping to earn a recall after missing out on a start last Saturday.
• Joey O'Brien is still struggling with his hamstring injury and if he fails to recover, Potts is the most likely to step in.
• Modibo Maiga will definitely be missing after he travelled away to Mali for the Africa Cup of Nations finals in South Africa.
• Mohamed Diame and Andy Carroll are both near to a return to light training, leaving only George McCartney as the only long-term absentee.
Sunderland
• Sunderland will be without defender Wes Brown and midfielder Lee Cattermole (both knee), while left-back Danny Rose and centre-backs John O'Shea and Carlos Cuellar (both hamstring) could also miss the game. O'Shea did return to training on Thursday, however.
• Attacking midfielder Stephane Sessegnon is hoping to be available after suffering an ankle problem.
• France Under-21 midfielder Alfred N'Diaye could make his Black Cats debut after joining from Turkish club Bursaspor in midweek if international clearance is received in time.

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
• Tickets will be available on the day at the Stadium of Light. For the latest ticket information, click here.
• The weather forecast for Saturday is for light rain with maximum temperatures reaching 4C (40F).

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Hammers snap up Wellington Paulista
WHUFC.com
Brazilian forward Wellington Paulista has become West Ham United's fourth January signing
11.01.2013

West Ham United are pleased to announce the signing of Brazilian striker Wellington Paulista. The 29-year-old has joined the Hammers on an initial six-month loan deal from Brazilian Serie A club Cruzeiro, with the option for a further three years. Paulista has enjoyed a prolific career since joining the Belo Horizonte-based side from Botafogo in 2009, netting 39 goals in 110 Serie A and Copa Libertadores matches, plus 36 in 50 State Championship, Brazilian Cup and other matches. The versatile forward, who holds an EU passport and will therefore not require a work permit, is aiming to make his mark in English football. "I am really happy to be here at West Ham United," he told West Ham TV. "Everyone has been very kind to me since I have been at the club this week. I think I can do my best here and I am coming to England to prove to everyone that I am one of the best strikers in Brazil and to get better and better. "I am strong, I am a fighter and I can score with both feet. I run a lot on the pitch and I can play as either as first or second striker."

Having played in the Brazilian Serie A, Copa Libertadores and scored against Barcelona in the Camp Nou, Paulista is used to performing in a high-pressure environment. For that reason, the Barclays Premier League holds no fears. "The pressure will not be a problem for me because I am used to it from my time in Brazil, where the fans were really addicted to the club. The manager also put pressure on the players too, so it will be the same playing here. "What I am interested in is the passion of the supporters for their team, the way they keep going with the club and the way they make the players perform better."

Joint-Chairman David Sullivan welcomed Paulista to the Boleyn Ground, suggesting the player could have the same impact as a number of the Board's previous striker signings. He said: "I'd like to welcome Wellington Paulista to east London and West Ham United. He is another exciting player to add to our squad and although he may not be that well known on these shores, he comes with an excellent track record in Brazil. His arrival is similar to some of the other 'wildcard' players we have signed before like in Demba Ba and Ilan. They both made significant contributions and if he can match their efforts he will be an excellent acquisition for West Ham United."

Born in Sao Paulo, Paulista joined Clube Atletico Juventus in his home city as a schoolboy before gaining first-team experience with Mirassol, Parana and Santos, scoring nine goals in 30 appearances for Pele's former club. The 6'0 tall forward's goalscoring form at Santos tempted Spanish side Deportivo Alaves to bring him to Europe in 2006, for whom he scored a fine goal in a Copa del Rey tie with Barcelona at the Camp Nou. Paulista returned to Brazil with Serie A side Botafogo in 2008, netting seven league goals in 28 appearances as the club won the Rio Cup. The skilful frontman enjoyed his most productive season on joining Cruzeiro in 2009. He bagged an impressive 21 times in 38 appearances in all competitions as the club finished fourth in Serie A and won the Mineiro State Championship. That haul included five in ten Copa Libertadores ties - South America's equivalent of the UEFA Champions League - as the Brazilians reached the final before being edged out by Argentinean club Estudiantes. The following year, 2010, Paulista's nine goals in 30 appearances helped Cruzeiro to finish second in Serie A and reach the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals. After a less productive 2011 campaign, during which he was loaned to Palmeiras, the forward returned to form last year, scoring 28 goals in 40 appearances in all matches.

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Vaz Te West Ham TV exclusive!
WHUFC.com
Ricardo Vaz Te sat down with West Ham TV for an exclusive and wide-ranging interview
11.01.2013

Ricardo Vaz Te enjoyed a fairytale first six months in a West Ham United shirt. The forward arrived at the Boleyn Ground in January before going on to score 12 goals in 18 appearances - climaxed with his unforgettable late winner in the npower Championship final victory over Blackpool at Wembley in May. The No12 continued his good form at the start of the current campaign, scoring his maiden Barclays Premier League goal for the club at Queens Park Rangers on 1 October as the Hammers settled into the top half of the table. Five days later, Vaz Te's dream start to life as a Hammer ended when he dislocated his shoulder in the 3-1 home league defeat by Arsenal, with the initial prognosis ruling him out for three months. The 26-year-old showed typical determination to return to first-team duty two weeks ahead of schedule. Now he is aiming to make up for lost time by helping West Ham to regain their place in the top ten - starting with victory at Sunderland on Saturday. The popular Portuguese sat down with West Ham TV for a wide-ranging interview ahead of this weekend's trip to the Stadium of Light.

"I'm delighted to be back. It has been a bit frustrating at times, but now I'm just working hard to get back to where I left off, really, and trying to push on," said Vaz Te."It's never easy to deal with any injury, especially at the stage I was at before I hurt my shoulder, picking up form in the Premier League. I had a long absence when I felt like I was growing with every game. "I had put in six good performances and I had just started scoring as well, so I thought I could just carry on and things were picking up. To get injured at that stage was not really ideal."

The versatile attacker returned to action at Reading on 29 December before starting the 2-1 Barclays Premier League win over Norwich City and 2-2 FA Cup with Budweiser third-round draw with Manchester United at the Boleyn Ground. Now, Vaz Te is looking forward to a busy period that could potentially see the Hammers play a further six fixtures before the end of January - and setting high standards for himself and for the team. "I was very disappointed against Reading because I felt I could give a bit more and I should have finished the chance that I had. Again, I was still a bit rusty and I had not had many training sessions before that game, but I still apologise for the fans.

"My main aim is to help the club get back into the top ten. I believe that is where the club belongs. With the size of West Ham, that is what we should aim and push for. I am delighted we are doing so well. We have drifted off a little bit but I am hoping I can help the club to get back to the top ten." During a revealing discussion, Vaz Te also discussed his flourishing on-pitch relationship with right-back Guy Demel and his recent interview with a national newspaper in which he talked about his unique upbringing and the determination it gave him to succeed. The popular Portuguese closed by answering a number of questions posed by supporters on the club's official twitter feed @whufc_official. To see if your question was one of those answered now, log in or subscribe now by clicking on the link below.

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Joint-Chairman on the mend
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Joint-Chairman David Gold is recovering in hospital after being taken ill on Tuesday
11.01.2013

Joint-Chairman David Gold has thanked his family, West Ham United supporters, players and staff for their support after being taken ill. Mr Gold was admitted to a central London hospital on Tuesday and was put on intravenous antibiotics and Tamiflu. The Joint-Chairman, who received hundreds of messages of support from Hammers fans via social networking site twitter and a large card signed by Sam Allardyce and his players and coaching staff, has been visited regularly by his two daughters Jacqueline and Vanessa and other members of his family. On Friday morning, Mr Gold had recovered sufficiently to tweet a thank-you message to all those who have wished him well: "Good morning. I'm over the worst. Still on intravenous antibiotics but feeling better. Thank you so much for your kind words of support. dg"

The previous evening, Jacqueline joked that her father would be desperate to be at the Stadium of Light this weekend, despite being poorly. She tweeted: "Thank you to everyone for your support. [Dad] knows life won't be worth living if he even thinks about going to football but I'm sure three points on Saturday will help his recovery."

Vanessa also tweeted her gratitude for the goodwill directed towards the Joint-Chairman from supporters and friends alike: "Thank you for all your get well wishes for Dad."

Everybody at West Ham United wishes Mr Gold a speedy recovery and looks forward to welcoming him back to the Boleyn Ground and Chadwell Heath soon

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Sunderland v West Ham
KO 15:00
11 January 2013
Last updated at 13:58
By Conor McNamara
BBC Match of the Day commentator

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Stadium of Light Date: Saturday, 12 January


TEAM NEWS

Sunderland duo Carlos Cuellar and Danny Rose are out with hamstring injuries. John O'Shea and Stephane Sessegnon are doubtful, while new signing Alfred N'Diaye will only play if he receives international clearance in time.
West Ham striker Modibo Maiga is away on international duty but Marouane Chamakh could make his debut after joining on loan from Arsenal. Andy Carroll and George McCartney remain injured and Joey O'Brien is doubtful with a knee problem.

MATCH PREVIEW

When Sunderland beat Manchester City on Boxing Day, many at the Stadium of Light were hoping it would prove to be a turning point in their season. Since then Martin O'Neill's side have lost at home to Tottenham, suffered a heavy defeat at Anfield, and been held to a draw by a side from a lower division in the FA Cup. Sunderland have a small buffer zone between themselves and the relegation zone, but that four-point gap is still too small for comfort. O'Neill has been particularly unfortunate with injuries to experienced players. For most of the campaign John O'Shea, Wes Brown and Lee Cattermole have all been unavailable at the same time. However, the acquisition of French under-21 international Alfred N'Diaye adds cover in both midfield and defence.

West Ham have also dipped their toes in the transfer market. Sam Allardyce had a fine record of regenerating the careers of players who were underperforming elsewhere during his time at Bolton . Joe Cole and Marouane Chamakh are hoping he can do the same to help them rediscover some form. And it is worth mentioning that the return of Jack Collison has also felt like a new signing. West Ham have only had two victories in their last 10 games, but the FA Cup draw against Manchester United last weekend was a decent follow-up to the win over Norwich on New Year's Day. Both those matches were at Upton Park, and now the challenge is to play to that standard away from home. Their last away win did come in the North East against Newcastle, but West Ham have only managed five goals on their league travels this season - fewer than any other club in the top flight. Captain Kevin Nolan certainly enjoys playing Sunderland. He has scored five goals in his last three games against them, including a 90th-minute equaliser in September to salvage a home draw for West Ham.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
The Hammers have won five of their last 11 games at the Stadium of Light in all competitions.
West Ham have won 32 of the previous 83 league and cup encounters, with Sunderland claiming victory on 30 occasions.

Sunderland
Defeat would mean the Black Cats lose three successive league games for the first time under Martin O'Neill. The last time they lost three in a row was in April 2011, when they suffered four successive defeats.
Sunderland drew six of their first eight Premier League matches this season, but have shared the points only once in 13 subsequent games.
Martin O'Neill's men have gained one point from losing positions this season, fewer than any other top-flight side.
Only 10% of the league goals Sunderland have scored this term have been headers, while only 3% of their goals against are headers. Both figures are the lowest in the Premier League this season.

West Ham
The Hammers are winless in their last four away games (D1, L3), failing to score in the last three matches.
Their last away victory was the 1-0 win at Newcastle on 11 November.
They have conceded three league goals from set-pieces this season, fewer than any other team.

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West Ham sign Brazilian Wellington Paulista on loan
BBC.co.uk
By Frank Keogh

West Ham have completed a six-month loan deal for striker Wellington Paulista from Brazilian club Cruzeiro. The Hammers have the option for a further three-year contract. Paulista has scored 75 goals in 160 games for Cruzeiro although some of those were in the state championships against inferior opposition.
He is Hammers boss Sam Allardyce's fourth January recruit after midfielder Joe Cole and strikers Marouane Chamakh and Sean Maguire. For some three-and-a-half years now, Premier League managers have had visits from agents carrying DVDs showing off the skills of Wellington Paulista. They were seeking to cash in on his successful campaign in the 2009 version of the Copa Libertadores, South America's Champions League, when with five goals he was top scorer for beaten finalists Cruzeiro. The fact that the tournament top marksman was Mauro Boselli (who flopped at Wigan) of winners Estudiantes shows that Premier League success is not guaranteed. "I think I can do my best here and I am coming to England to prove to everyone that I am one of the best strikers in Brazil and to get better and better," Paulista told West Ham's official website . David Sullivan, West Ham's joint-chairman, likened the striker to other players that have had an impact at the club in recent years. "His arrival is similar to some of the other 'wildcard' players we have signed before, like in Demba Ba and Ilan," he said. "They both made significant contributions and if he can match their efforts he will be an excellent acquisition for West Ham United."

Tim Vickery, the BBC's South American football expert, said Paulista has the speed to work the flanks and can play as a support striker as well as centre-forward. "A late developer by Brazilian standards, he was 23 before he made a mark on his country's first division, scoring nine goals for Santos in 2006," he said. "He then spent a few months in Spain with Alaves, returning home to join Botafogo in 2008 and Cruzeiro the following year - where he has been ever since, with the exception of an unsuccessful few months with Palmeiras in 2011. "He was Cruzeiro's top scorer (with 10 goals) in the recently completed Brazilian Championship. After two mediocre years the club need to rebuild, and at last, he has the chance to show the English public what he can do."

Wellington would be competing with Carlton Cole, Ricardo Vaz Te and fellow loanees Chamakh and Andy Carroll for a place in West Ham's attack. Carroll is expected to return from a knee injury within the next fortnight, but fellow striker Modibo Maiga is likely to miss several matches as he joins up with Mali for the Africa Cup of Nations. Maguire, who was signed from Irish side Waterford United, is likely to start off in the Hammers' development squad.

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Wellington Paulista signs six-month loan deal
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 11th January 2013
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United have completed the signing of Brazilian striker Wellington Paulista on a six-month loan. The 29-year-old, who is contracted to Brazilian Serie A club Cruzeiro will remain in East London for the rest of the 2012/13 campaign with the option of a three-year contract thereafter. Speaking to West Ham TV, Paulista said: "I am really happy to be here at West Ham United. Everyone has been very kind to me since I have been at the club this week. "I think I can do my best here and I am coming to England to prove to everyone that I am one of the best strikers in Brazil and to get better and better. I am strong, I am a fighter and I can score with both feet. "I run a lot on the pitch and I can play as either as first or second striker." KUMB.com revealed last week that West Ham had agreed a deal to take the player on loan after Cruzeiro director of football Alexandre Mattos confirmed that the player was on his way to England.
"Cruzeiro would like to thank Wellington a lot, he is a great professional," said Mattos. "He always honoured and liked Cruzeiro a lot, as Cruzeiro liked him also. The clubs doors are always open for him." News of Paulista's move to England met with mixed reports from fans of his parent club; whilst some wished him well, others were delighted to part company with a player whom one described as "a ridiculous player".

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Premier League: Sunderland looking to get back to winning ways against West Ham
Last Updated: January 11, 2013 11:50am
SSN

Sunderland will want to start pulling clear of trouble again when they welcome West Ham to the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats have suffered back-to-back defeats in the Premier League to sit just four points clear of the relegation zone. Now is the time for them to start stringing positive results together and push towards the mid-table standing they feel they are deserving of. West Ham currently occupy such a perch, with Sam Allardyce's side having fared admirably during their first season back in the big time.

The Hammers have not been at their best, though, on the road and will be looking to right a few wrongs on Wearside. There is, however, likely to be little between the two sides, with a 1-1 draw at Upton Park earlier in the campaign suggesting they are evenly matched.

Sunderland
Last 6
2-2
3-0
1-2
1-0
0-1
3-1

Stephane Sessegnon could return for Sunderland after being forced to sit out last weekend's FA Cup third round clash with Bolton with an ankle problem.
Carlos Cuellar, Wes Brown and Danny Rose will miss out, meaning Titus Bramble and Matt Kilgallon are likely to be paired together at the heart of the Black Cats' four as they attempt to negotiate a defensive injury crisis. John O'Shea returned to training on Thursday, but is not 100 per cent, while international clearance is yet to be received for new signing Alfred N'Diaye.

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

New West Ham striker Marouane Chamakh goes straight into the Hammers squad for Saturday. The 28-year-old Morocco international has been signed on loan from Arsenal and could make his debut at the Stadium of Light. Modibo Maiga is missing as he links up with Mali ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations while fellow forward Andy Carroll (knee) is also absent. Defender Joey O'Brien remains a doubt with a hamstring problem but George McCartney (knee) is definitely out.

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Sam Allardyce says Black Cats are better than their results have shown
Last Updated: January 11, 2013 1:44pm
SSN

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce believes his team will have to reproduce the sort of form they showed against Manchester United last weekend if they want to take any points from the Stadium of Light on Saturday. Allardyce travels to Wearside to face a team that is three places further down the league than the Hammers and also four points worse off. But Allardyce believes the Black Cats have performed better than their results have shown. He said: "It's not been about the performance but the results haven't come because they have not converted enough of the chances that they've created. "I don't think they've had too many goalscorers apart from the magnificent start (Steven) Fletcher made. "I think they have paid a price for that in result terms but performances, particularly at Sunderland,have always been very, very good - according to our reports. "It will be a tough game as always away from home. We want to be playing as well as we did against Manchester United to achieve a result at Sunderland. Anything less than that will make life difficult for us." In last week's FA Cup clash against the Reds at Upton Park, it needed a last-gasp equaliser from Robin van Persie to salvage a replay for United.

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Wellington pulls on Hammers boots
Published: 3 hrs ago
The Sun

BRAZILIAN striker Wellington Paulista has joined West Ham on loan until the end of the season. The 29-year-old hitman has signed from Cruzeiro for an initial six-month spell but the Hammers have an option to extend it to a three-year contract. He becomes Sam Allardyce's fourth signing of the January transfer window after Joe Cole, Sean Maguire and Marouane Chamakh. Wellington said: "I think I can do my best here and I am coming to England to prove to everyone that I am one of the best strikers in Brazil and to get better and better. "I am strong, I am a fighter and I can score with both feet. I run a lot on the pitch and I can play as either as first or second striker. "The pressure will not be a problem for me because I am used to it from my time in Brazil, where the fans were really addicted to the club. "The manager also put pressure on the players too, so it will be the same playing here."

West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan described Wellington as a 'wildcard' signing. He said: "He is another exciting player to add to our squad and although he may not be that well known on these shores, he comes with an excellent track record in Brazil. "His arrival is similar to some of the other 'wildcard' players we have signed before like in Demba Ba and Ilan. "They both made significant contributions and if he can match their efforts he will be an excellent acquisition for West Ham United."

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I'm one of the best strikers in Brazil and I will prove it, says West Ham new-boy Paulista
PUBLISHED: 19:55, 11 January 2013 | UPDATED: 19:57, 11 January 2013
Daily Mail

West Ham have completed the loan signing of Brazilian forward Wellington Paulista from Cruzeiro. The 29-year-old has signed for the Hammers on an initial six-month loan deal but the club have an option to extend that to a three-year contract. Wellington has been linked with a move to Upton Park for a number of weeks and becomes Sam Allardyce's fourth signing of the January transfer window following the acquisitions of Joe Cole, Sean Maguire and Marouane Chamakh. Wellington, who can play as a main striker or operate on either wing, will now be competing with Chamakh, Andy Carroll and Carlton Cole for a berth in West Ham's attack. The Hammers have struggled to find goals from their forwards for much of the season with midfielders Kevin Nolan and Mark Noble leading the scoring charts with nine goals between them. Allardyce will be hoping Wellington could be the answer to the lack of firepower, with the Brazilian having finished last season as Cruzeiro's top scorer with an impressive 27 goals. Wellington said he has moved to West Ham to showcase his talents outside his home country and is not worried by the pressure of playing in the Barclays Premier League. 'I think I can do my best here and I am coming to England to prove to everyone that I am one of the best strikers in Brazil and to get better and better,' he told West Ham TV. 'I am strong, I am a fighter and I can score with both feet. I run a lot on the pitch and I can play as either as first or second striker. 'The pressure will not be a problem for me because I am used to it from my time in Brazil, where the fans were really addicted to the club. The manager also put pressure on the players too, so it will be the same playing here.'

West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan labelled the signing of Wellington as a 'wildcard' but is sure he will be a hit at Upton Park. 'I'd like to welcome Wellington Paulista to east London and West Ham United,' Sullivan said. 'He is another exciting player to add to our squad and although he may not be that well known on these shores, he comes with an excellent track record in Brazil. 'His arrival is similar to some of the other 'wildcard' players we have signed before like in Demba Ba and Ilan. 'They both made significant contributions and if he can match their efforts he will be an excellent acquisition for West Ham United.'

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Carlton's not a happy bunny! Can you guess why Hammers striker will receive a 'massive fine'?
By RIK SHARMA
PUBLISHED: 10:49, 11 January 2013 | UPDATED: 13:28, 11 January 2013
Daily Mail

Carlton Cole has revealed he will be on the end of a 'massive fine' after being late to West Ham training. The striker complained on Twitter about the punishment he will receive, as the Hammers prepare to face Sunderland on Saturday afternoon. He wrote: 'I'm late this morning, FML (an acronym of 'f*** my life')! That's a massive fine for me. Not a happy bunny.' He later tweeted that he had been on the receiving end of some 'banter' from the 'lads' but was now back on track and up north with the squad. Saturday's clash at the Stadium of Light could see Marouane Chamakh introduced from the bench to make his West Ham debut. The Arsenal striker who has moved on loan to Upton Park has been backed by Hammers boss Sam Allardyce to make an impact. Allardyce said: 'He's itching and hungry to get back and show what he can do. We'll try and get him to be that goal threat that he was ultimately at Bordeaux. Obviously he's been very disappointed with his lack of involvement at Arsenal. 'I think Arsene Wenger must've thought he's good enough for Arsenal and we'll play to his strengths. With Emmanuel Adebayor they used to cross balls so I don' t know why they didn't for Chamakh. 'Now with Olivier Giroud, they will cross balls for him. Obviously it hasn't worked there but hopefully it will work for us.' 'We'll give him the platform by feeding him the right type of balls. You provide the service he needs in terms of how he plays. 'He's exceptionally good in the air and he's really good at getting between defenders from crosses. We can provide the ammunition for him to hopefully get a few goals.'


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Sunderland v West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 12th January 2013
By: Preview Percy

Next up it's the long trek up the various bits of road that constitute the A1 & A1 (M) to the daftly-named Stadium of Light where we will be hosted by Sunderland for a 3pm kick-off on Saturday. Hint: if it feels warm, sunny and just about everyone is wearing shorts and talking Portuguese, you may have programmed the wrong Stadium of Light into the satnav. Easily done.

Our hosts currently sit in 14th place with 22 points from 21 games. That's three places and four points behind us with us having played a game fewer. In the league current form is a nice easy won three lost three split. The wins came at home against Man City (1-0) and Reading (3-0) and away at Southampton (1-0). The defeats came away at Liverpool (3-0) and Man Utd (3-1) and at home to Spurs (1-2).

Last weekend they drew 2-2 in the cup at Bolton, having been 2-0 down well into the second half. Like us a few weeks back they were a bit short handed due to injuries and were only able to name six on the subs' bench. Something that boss Martin O'Neill denied was an exercise in making a point over squad depth to chairman Ellis Short. Of course not Martin.

Whether or not O'Neill was making a point, they've made their first signing of the January window. Midfielder/defender Alfred N'Diaye has arrived from Turkish side Bursaspor. This is a signing of which I wholeheartedly approve. Here at the Avram Grant Rest Home For The Bewildered we reckon that there are not nearly enough players with good old fashioned names like Alfred in the league. Ok his surname isn't Blenkinsop or something else suitably northern but every little helps.

N'Diyae (or Alf as I hope they'll call him) spent two years in Turkey having signed from French outfit Nancy (yes, yes you can say he was a Nancy boy if you must). The fee has been reported as €4.7m. I have no idea how much that is in real money. Just think yourself fortunate that Matron remembered how to get the "€" symbol, even if it was as a result of her sitting on the keyboard. Alf's appearance on Saturday (or otherwise) is dependent on the arrival of international clearance.

Common wisdom has it that they could do with further reinforcement in defence. Wes Brown is injured – knee ligaments are his problem. John O'Shea, who apparently hasn't had the best of seasons, has a hamstring problem as has Carlos Cuellar, who picked his up during the Bolton cup-tie. This leaves a potential centre-back pairing of Titus "Crimewatch" Bramble and ex-Hammer (albeit on loan) Matthew Kilgallon. Kilgallon made three appearances during a loan spell in 2003. Apparently. Can't say any of them stuck in the mind. With the biting wit and intelligence beloved of professional footballers, he is apparently known as "Killa".

Elsewhere in defence there were worries that the on-loan (from Spurs) Danny Rose might be recalled to White Hart Lane. A bit academic really since he too has caught "hamstring" and is another absentee.

Top scorer thus far is Steven Fletcher with eight. He got their goal in the 1-1 draw at the Boleyn in September. They started off the season rather dependant on Fletcher. In fact, from the start of the season they had to wait until the meeting with Newcastle on 21st October for anyone else to score for them – and even that was an o.g. prompting Tyneside wags to note that Dember Ba was the Mackems' second top scorer. They then had to wait until 10 November for anyone else to get a league goal for them when Adam Johnson scored in the 2-1 defeat at Everton.

Fletcher has tended to operate as a lone striker up front with Stephane Sessegnon operating in a sort of free role in and around Fletcher. Benin international Sessegnon is another doubt for this match having missed the Bolton cup match with an ankle injury, a problem with which he was struggling at the start of the season.

In Sessignon's absence they went with Craig Gardner in the free role against Bolton. Gardner has been a bit confused over the years. A graduate of the Villa academy he apparently claimed to have been a lifelong Villa fan until his transfer to Birmingham City, whereupon he suddenly remembered that it was Birmingham who he'd supported all along. This lifelong love for the Blues didn't stop him leaving for Sunderland in 2011 as soon as Birmingham had been relegated.

Gardner's early days on Wearside weren't the happiest period of his life amid rumours of a falling out with Steve Bruce which, given that Bruce is an ignorant twit of the lowest order, is hardly the hardest thing to do. Bruce's sacking (STILL funny after all this time) and the subsequent arrival of O'Neill saw an improvement in his mood, though there have still been rumours of homesickness for the West Midlands, as if such a thing were possible.

As an alternative to playing a lone striker plus a nomad it's possible that they might go for a more orthodox two up front. 19-year-old Conor Wickham came on in that role against Bolton and scored, prompting O'Neill to comment on how good the partnership with Fletcher had looked. There was a lot of hype coming out of Ipswich in Wickham's early days there, with some even suggesting that the then just turned 17 years old striker might be worth taking to the 2010 World Cup. If the intention was for all the hyperbole to push up the player's sale price for a transfer it certainly had the desired effect, with Ipswich managing to persuade Sunderland to part with £8m for the player's services – the fee possibly rising to £12m with add-ons. He's been in and out of the side and the goal against Bolton was only the second goal of his career on Wearside and the majority of the player's appearances have come from the bench.

So what of us? Good performance last week in the Cup wasn't it and I thought we were a tad unlucky not to be through to the next round to be honest. Although the lateness of the equaliser made the result feel like a defeat at the time, the passing of a week has added a dose of perspective to proceedings and there was a lot of that 90 minutes to feel good about.

On the injury front it's about a week early for both Diame and Carroll. Linda's ligaments will be a while yet. The problem left back slot may still be an issue and Joey O'Brien is a doubt with his hamstring problem. Some sources suggest that he may be available for selection but it's not something I'd like to invest any money on. Also on the injured list will be co-Chairman David Gold who is suffering from pneumonia. I guess a trip to somewhere as cold as Sunderland is the last thing you'd need as a pneumonia-sufferer.

At the time of writing we're still trying to agree a fee with Blackburn for Martin Olsson so, unless anything has changed between me writing this and the editors picking it up, we may see young Potts fill that position again. The lad had a decent game – admirably helped by the senior pros – against the Salford whingers and I wouldn't be too worried to see him start this one.

Elsewhere at the back I'd expect Mr Allardyce to revert to his preferred pairing of Collins and Reid in the middle of defence, with Tomkins reverting to the bench. Tomkins has been linked with a move away to Newcastle – something that I reckon would be a mistake, though if push came to shove one couldn't blame the player for wanting more regular starts. I guess it's all a matter of patience.

There are interesting selection issues in midfield. Assuming that the skipper is treated as the one behind in a 4-4-1-1, that leaves Noble, Collison, Cole (J), Diarra, Vaz Te, Taylor, O'Neil, Jarvis all looking for space, with Diame to throw into the mix in a week or two. Whether or not Joe Cole would have started last weekend had the match been a league match rather than a cup-tie is debatable. However, I'd say that he did enough in the time he was on the pitch to warrant another start, though traditionally Mr Allardyce tends to take a more cautious approach to life on the road, which may see the player start on the bench. Collison's return from his knee injury has been good enough to warrant a continued starting place (assuming that his knee is up to it) and with Noble on auto-select the selection in the other positions will say a lot about our attitude to this match.

Up front we can now add the on-loan Marouane Chamakh to proceedings. With Cole (C) in decent shape, Chamakh'll be occupying the spot on the bench vacated by Mo Maiga, who will be away on African Cup of Nations duty with Mali. Until earlier today, there'd been no news on the arrival of Wellington Paulista, who was on his way from Cruzeiro. The last I heard he was still in the Shaun Wright-Phillips Memorial Medical Centre with a plethora of people in white coats tapping his knee with those little rubber hammers. Before he signed, of course.

Prediction? I fancy a rare top flight away win for this one. Even with a full squad they've not been the most prolific of scorers, averaging a goal a game in the league. Ok, so we've not been over goal-happy on the road ourselves – the five we've got away from the Boleyn is the lowest figure in the league. However, with a severely depleted defence to play against we really ought to be targeting three points from this one. For that reason the Avram Grant Rest Home Fund to repair the keyboard that matron broke by sitting on (€2.50) will be placed on a 2-0 win to us.

Enjoy the game!


When Last We Met On Wearside: Lost 1-0 (December 2010). A Jordan Henderson strike on 34 minutes was enough to send us to the bottom of the league. This happened only three days after we'd stuck four past Moan Utd without response in the League Cup. Did I hear "typical West Ham"?

Referee: Neil Swarbrick. Last seen in the middle handling our 4-1 demolition of Southampton in October, though he also had the 4th official role at West Brom and Newcastle. NB did anyone else note how the idiot who did the Everton match was "punished" with a League Cup Semi Final? Way to go PGMO. Not.

Danger Man: Steven Fletcher. Top scorer and the player on whom they depend for their goals.

Daft Fact Of The Week: The first rectangular police box was installed in Sunderland in 1923. The unit contained a telephone with which the constabulary could contact the base police station. This phone was accessible from the outside enabling the general public to contact the police in case of emergency. The interior effectively acted as a mini-police station, containing an incident book, a first aid kit and a miniature black hole enabling the device to travel through both time and space. Sadly the advanced technology proved too much for the people of Sunderland, and the telephone remained unused for 40 years until the box suddenly disappeared with a horrible grinding noise.


Stat man John: Northcutt's corner

Head to Head
Pld 83; West Ham Utd 32, Sunderland 30, Draws 21.

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

Last Meeting
22nd September 2012 West Ham Utd 1-1 Sunderland (Boleyn Ground, Premier League)

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

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

Biggest Win(s)
19th October 1968: West Ham Utd 8-0 Sunderland (Boleyn Ground, Division One)
On 19th October 1968, West Ham United's smallest crowd of the season gathered at 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; secondly, goalscorer Geoff Hurst achieved a feat that hasn't been matched in the ensuing 44 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 admitted post-match that the first of his record haul (on 18 minutes) was deliberate handball. However there was nothing dubious about any of the remaining five, which arrived in the 34th, 44th, 48th, 61st and 71st minute.

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

Early baths
2011/12: Joey O'Brien (a); 2011/12: Jack Collison (a).

They Played For Both
Richard Bell; Gary Breen; Clive Clarke; Keith Coleman; Ernie England; John Foreman; Harry Forster; Jack Foster; Harry Hooper; Don Hutchison; Mattie Kilgallon; George McCartney; Billy Moore; Bryan 'Pop' Robson; Dave Swindlehurst; Tal Ben Haim; Wayne Bridge; Danny Collins; Anton Ferdinand; Andy Melville.

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Big Sam's window pain
The Sun
By PAT SHEEHAN
Last Updated: 12th January 2013

SAM ALLARDYCE has admitted he is facing the sack if he does not get his transfers right in the January window. The West Ham boss reckons the club will have been offered THOUSANDS of players during the window he regards as a nightmare. Allardyce, who takes his team to Sunderland today, revealed: "Mistakes cost you your job, don't they? "If I make mistakes in the transfer window and bring in players that fail, it costs me my job. It gets me the sack."

West Ham's joint chairmen David Gold and David Sullivan, chief executive Karren Brady, Allardyce, head of recruitment Martin Glover and club coaching staff started getting offered players once the clock hits midnight on December 31. Allardyce explained: "I will be able to tell you exactly how many players West Ham have been offered when the window closes at the end of the month because I keep a note of everything. "Right now I can tell you that it will run into the thousands but the window has always been out of control since it started 10 years ago. It has never been in control. "It has never been an ideal situation in any way, shape or form during the season. "It's obviously a very disruptive time of the year, the back end of December and the beginning of January. "I try very hard not to let the window use up all my time — I pass it all on to Martin — and he is panicking a bit at the moment because he can't get any sleep at all."

Most Premier League clubs now have a sophisticated scouting system so nothing is left to chance with players' off-field activities as crucial as those on it in a bid to make sure the 'right characters' are signed. Allardyce said: "It is not luck — you cannot rely on luck. "You have got to rely on the information you can gather and try to make a calculated choice that this is the right one for you. "In January you need to get in what you wanted at the beginning of the season. "In the summer I wanted six players but, apart from Mohamed Diame, I didn't get them for a variety of reasons. "When we didn't get any of those six targets we moved on to the next level and the next until we finally got what we got — which was still pretty good talent but they were not the targets we first had in mind.
"All clubs miss out because sometimes they do not know certain players are available to buy or they did not want to come. Then, as it goes on, people do become available and sometimes you take a player and then you get a player come back to you that you have been negotiating with and you kick yourself and think, 'If I had just waited a few days longer'."

So far this month, Allardyce has brought in Hammers old-boy Joe Cole from Liverpool and picked up Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh on loan. But the Hammers boss reckons his worst miss in the transfer market was Bolton's failure to sign Samuel Eto'o, who went on to become one of the game's biggest stars. He explained: "We could have got Eto'o for £6.5million from Mallorca but the chairman was too tight to pay at the time, even though I said there was a £20m player on a plate for him."

The Cameroon striker eventually joined Barcelona and spent five successful years at the Nou Camp before joining Inter Milan. He is now reputedly the world's highest-paid footballer on an alleged £350,000 a week at Russian team Anzhi Makhachkala The Hammers' main target in this window is a left-sided player and Allardyce confirmed the SunSport exclusive that he is chasing Blackburn's Martin Olson. Allardyce admitted: "We have made an enquiry... negotiations are ongoing at the moment. "In terms of what we're doing at the moment, we're as active as everybody else. "If there's a player out there that we think can improve our squad, we'll try and move on him."

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Crem de la Prem
By KARREN BRADY
Published: 11th January 2013
The Sun

Saturday, January 5

UPTON PARK is like an Oscars party today. We have movie stars, catwalk models, a world icon, dozens of millionaires and the odd billionaire. Our icon, David Beckham, missed Robin van Persie's replay-earning goal for Man U. Did he leave to catch an early bus? I thought the Hammers more than matched United and Joe Cole underlined how much a club loses when they are forced to sell a favourite son. Just like Arsenal and Van Persie, really.

Sunday, January 6

ON TV, I catch up with Joe Hart having his hair shampooed as if it were during a match. If I were him I'd wash the ad right out of my hair. I can tell him that by the time he has been called Dan Druff 1,000 times he's really going to have an itchy scalp. Perhaps he can take it. I hope so because the product is going to profit more than he does. Remember Diamond Lights, Hoddle and Waddle? I rest my case!

Monday, January 7

BUY early, buy smart is our philosophy for the transfer window. Having got Joe Cole and Marouane Chamakh, we try for a defender but our bid is rejected.
I remember at Birmingham we had to stand by, horrified, as we slid to the Championship after ruling out shopping in January 2006. David Sullivan and David Gold vowed then they would never again be caught with their shorts down.

Tuesday, January 8

LIONEL MESSI may only be 25 but his fourth consecutive award of the Ballon d'Or as World Player of the Year qualifies him as Old Goldenballs. Spanish football has such a grip on the FIFA panel that no other league is represented — not even in the world team of the year. This is not just a slap in the face for the Premier League, it's a school of wet kippers. Yet when it comes to watching on the telly, it's to the Prem that easily the most turn. Viewers love the sweeping competitiveness of games in England.

Wednesday, January 9

MICHU, at £2million, could yet be the deal of the decade. Finding bargain players in top-level football is often as unrewarding as panning for gold. So buying an attacking midfielder from a small club in Spain and moulding him into the scorer of 16 goals halfway through the season is an amazingly creative piece of business. Well done to the behind-the-scenes people at Swansea for that. Tonight, Michu's sole shot against Chelsea, a pinpoint winner, was the kind of goal Fernando Torres used to score when he was on a streak at Liverpool. It made him a £50million player. That's enough to turn Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins cross-eyed.

Thursday, January 10

A NEWLY single Premier League director is going out to dinner tonight with a friend of a friend of mine on what, I guess, you'd call a blind date. He calls me in a panic at lunchtime today saying he may have to cancel as a big sty has come up on his eye and it looks dreadful and he doesn't want to put her off. Don't worry, I say. Just cover it up with your wallet and all will be fine and dandy!

Friday, January 11

THE FA offer of an £18,000-a-year contract hasn't exactly caused our women's international players to chain themselves to Buckingham Palace gates — but they aren't happy. Players' union chief Gordon Taylor takes up rolling pins on their behalf, calling the offer "embarrassing". Some will doubt that in a year of domestic football their matches will see as many fans as tomorrow's two Prem games. I have a suggestion. Taylor should dig into his union's coffers and pay the top girls a few thousand more.

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Cole shovel: West Ham tell striker Carlton to find himself another club
The Mirror
11 Jan 2013 22:30

Carlton Cole is fuming after being told he can leave West Ham. With on-loan Liverpool striker Andy Carroll soon to be fit again and having borrowed Marouane Chamakh from Arsenal for the rest of the season, Upton Park chiefs are ready to listen to offers for Cole. The club are understood to have tried to convince his representatives that his future lies elsewhere. But Cole remains determined to stay and fight for his place. Hammers manager Sam Allardyce prefers both Chamakh and Carroll to Cole, who has scored twice in 19 games so far this season. But Carroll has scored just once in 14 appearances for the east London club. Chamakh scored two in four appearances for the Gunners this season - after managing one in 21 games in the previous campaign - and his departure was widely welcomed by Arsenal fans. Reading and Norwich are both keen on Cole. The former 29-year-old England striker moved to Upton Park from Chelsea after loan spells at Wolves, Charlton and Aston Villa. Meanwhile, Allardyce has blasted the transfer-window system.

* WEST HAM and Southampton have both made an enquiry to take Manchester City's John Guidetti on loan, writes John Cross. The 20-year-old striker is wanted by Italians Fiorentina too, but City want him to gain Premier League experience.

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