Daily WHUFC News - 1st January 2013

Norwich City match preview
WHUFC.com
All the stats, news and background information ahead of the New Year's Day
game with Norwich City
31.12.2012

WEST HAM UNITED v NORWICH CITY
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
TUESDAY 1 JANUARY 2013
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: MARK CLATTENBURG
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV

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Introduction
• West Ham United host Norwich City on New Year's Day with both clubs
looking to get back to winning ways following defeats against Reading and
Manchester City respectively.
• The clubs have already met once this season in a 0-0 draw, as Sam
Allardyce's side picked up their first away point of the 2012/13 season.
• Norwich sit two points clear of West Ham United after taking 25 points
from 20 games, the Hammers do, however, have a game in hand. West Ham are
12th in the table going in to the game and will go above their visitors if
they win.
• Norwich's ten game unbeaten run in the Barclays Premier League ended on
Boxing Day as Chelsea clinched a 1-0 win at Carrow Road.
• West Ham United verses Norwich City is one of seven games taking place in
the Barclays Premier League on New Year's Day, the others are as follows
(3pm unless stated): West Bromwich Albion v Fulham (12.45pm), Manchester
City v Stoke City, Swansea City v Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur v Reading,
Wigan Athletic v Manchester United, Southampton v Arsenal (5.30pm).

Team News

West Ham United

• Big Sam will be forced into at least two changes to kick-off the New Year
as James Collins and Kevin Nolan both picked up their fifth bookings of the
season at Reading on Saturday. The good news is Jack Collison and Ricardo
Vaz Te both impressed from the bench so either could step into Nolan's
shoes. Collins' absence means James Tomkins could move into central defence
with Guy Demel slotting in at right-back.
• Alou Diarra is also available after recovering from a thigh injury and
will be hoping for just his second taste of Barclays Premier League action
following four months out.
• Momo Diame (hamstring) and Andy Carroll (knee) are progressing well and
could be set for a return in the New Year, but it is likely this game will
come too soon.
• George McCartney will also be absent after picking up a knee injury in
training, with no date yet set for his return.

Norwich City

• Norwich will be without midfielder Bradley Johnson who serves a one-match
ban after collecting a fifth yellow card.
• Striker Steve Morison and captain Grant Holt are doubtful after limping
off in the defeat by Manchester City. On-loan Tottenham forward Harry Kane
could step-in if needed.

Background
• West Ham United have officially faced Norwich City 47 times, winning 17,
losing 15 and with 15 matches ending in draws.
• West Ham United have conceded just one headed goal this season, but it did
come in their last Barclays Premier League game at the Boleyn Ground against
Everton.
• The first meeting between the two sides came on 6 October 1934, with John
James Foreman and Hugh Mills scoring in a 2-1 West Ham United win at Carrow
Road.
• The Hammers are unbeaten in six games against Norwich in all competitions.
The last time they lost to the Canaries was a 1-0 defeat at Carrow Road back
in 1994.

Last time out
Saturday 29 December 2012
Barclays Premier League
Reading 1-0 West Ham United
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Reid, Tomkins, O'Brien, Collins, Nolan,
Jarvis, Taylor (Collison 54), Noble (Maiga 79), O'Neil (Vaz Te 67), Cole.
Subs not used: Spiegel, Demel, Spence, Diarra.

Saturday 29 December 2012
Barclays Premier League
Norwich City 3-4 Manchester City
Norwich City: Bunn, R Martin, Bassong, Turner, Garrido, Johnson, Snodgrass,
Pilkington, Hoolahan (Jackson 74), Tettey (Howson 57), Morison (Kane 45).
Subs not used: Rudd, Barnett, R Bennett, E Bennett.
Goals: Pilkington 15, R Martin 63 & 75.

Previous meeting
• West Ham United picked up their first away point of the season following a
goalless draw against Norwich at Carrow Road. The hosts had the better of
the first-half action with Andrew Surman almost winning a penalty. The
Hammers created a number of chances, forcing John Ruddy into a number of
saves despite Andy Carroll missing the game through injury. Afterwards Big
Sam was pleased with his side's performance and start to the season, saying:
"It is our first point away from home this season and another clean sheet is
very satisfying. That's three clean sheets from four since our return to the
Premier League and that is a basis to build from."
• The teams that day were:
Norwich City: Ruddy, R Martin, Bassong, Garrido, Barnett, Johnson, Howson,
Surman, Snodgrass, Holt (Kane 71), Jackson (Morison 63).
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Reid, O'Brien, Collins, Demel, Nolan, Taylor
(Jarvis 57), Noble, Diame, Cole (Maiga 57), Vaz Te (Benayoun 86).

Last six meetings
(Premier League unless stated)
15 September 2012 Barclays Premier League Norwich City 0-0 West Ham United
7 January 2006 Norwich City 1-2 West Ham United (FA Cup third round)
8 January 2005 West Ham United 1-0 Norwich City (FA Cup third round)
21 February 2004 Norwich City 1-1 West Ham United (Division One)
15 October 2003 West Ham United 1-1Norwich City (Division One)
11 March 1995 West Ham United 2-2 Norwich City

Overall record v Norwich City (all competitions) W 17 D 15 L 15

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)
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)
2001/02 Premier League 7th (53 points)

Norwich City
2011/12 Premier League 12th (47 points)
2010/11 Championship 2nd (84 points - promoted to Premier League )
2009/10 League One 1st (95 points - promoted to Championship)
2008/09 Championship 22nd (46 points - relegated to League One)
2007/08 Championship 17th (55 points)
2006/07 Championship 16th (57 points)
2005/06 Championship 9th (62 points)
2004/05 Premier League 19th (33 points - relegated to Championship)
2003/04 Championship 1st (94 points - promoted to Premier League)
2002/03 Championship 8th (69 points)
2001/02 Championship 6th (75 points)

Referee
• Tuesday's referee is Mark Clattenburg
• His last West Ham United game was the 2-1 win at Queen's Park Rangers on 1
October.
• Clattenburg was the man with the whistle for the stunning 4-0 win against
Manchester United in the League Cup back in November 2010
• The 37-year-old was the man in the middle for the Championship Play-Off
semi-final first leg in May 2004 when Ipswich Town won 1-0 against the
visiting West Ham.
• Clattenburg has already refereed a number of notable matches in 2012,
including the Football League Cup final in February 2012 and the 2012
Olympics men's tournament final in August 2012.
• Clattenburg has been on the Select List since 2004, the same year he took
charge of the Division Three play-off final between Mansfield Town and
Huddersfield Town at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
• After becoming a FIFA official in 2006 at the age of 31, Clattenburg has
taken control of a number of international and UEFA Champions League
matches.
Old boys
• Norwich City manager Chris Hughton played for West Ham United 43 times
between 1990 and 1992, winning promotion from the old Division Two in
1990/91.
• Norwich City defender Elliot Ward came through the ranks at West Ham
United, playing for the youth team before breaking into the first team in
August 2003. He made 18 appearances for the first team and formed a terrific
partnership with Anton Ferdinand during the 2004/05 season that saw the club
win promotion to the Premier League via the Play-Offs. Ward joined Norwich
in 2010 and has passed 50 appeared appearances for the Canaries.
General Information
• The weather forecast for Tuesday's game is mostly sunny with maximum
temperatures of 7C.

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'We want to put things right'
WHUFC.com
Jack Collison is determined to put Saturday's disappointment behind him on
New Year's Day
01.12.2012

Jack Collison is delighted to be back on the pitch as West Ham United look
to meet their targets in 2013. After playing a big role last season in
helping the Hammers clinch promotion through the Play-Offs at Wembley back
in May, Collison had to watch as his team-mates got to grips with life back
in the Premier League. The Wales international has now returned from the
knee injury that kept him out of action for the past six months and was in
lively form at Reading on Saturday. Despite sharing his colleagues'
disappointment at the 1-0 loss at the Madejski Stadium, Collison was happy
to have got more match action under his belt and has set his sights on
helping his team pick up the points on the pitch once again. "It has been a
long time coming," said the No10. "I have missed so much of this season
already but I am back and, touch wood, that can continue for me. It is all
about getting games under my belt now and just concentrating on getting
fitter and fitter as I play in more matches. "Yes, it was really frustrating
against Reading but we move on and look at putting that right against
Norwich. It will be another tough game, but one we feel we can and are
determined to get something from. "As a squad, we have a good base to work
from. Against Reading, Vaz [Ricardo Vaz Te] was frustrated not to score when
he got that chance, but he was outstanding for us last season and has been
until his injury this season. He scored the winner for us in the final and
we will no doubt see more of that from him in the Premier League this year.
"Ginge [James Collins] has been one of our best players this season. I
thought he was terrific in our last game the week before [against Everton]
and he will get over what happened at Reading and as I said, as a team, we
look to build on what what we have and to begin the New Year off in a
winning way."

Collison said 2012 was a good year for everyone connected with West Ham and
although he has not yet played as big a part for the team this season as he
would have liked, his goal is to make sure he is part of it all in 2013. "We
had a great season in the Championship and then to win promotion at Wembley
was the icing on the cake. "We all thoroughly enjoyed our day as did all our
supporters, I am sure. Obviously for me personally this season was not what
I wanted, with the injury, but full credit to the boys, who have been
fantastic. What we want to do now is kick on and enjoy an equally good
second half of the season.
"We can look at what Norwich did last season. They had got promoted the year
before and stayed up. As a promoted side ourselves this year, we want to do
that and more and finish in a good place. I am sure it will be a cracking
game to start the New Year off, but the most important thing for us is
getting the points. Myself and Vaz have returned and I know there are a few
of the other injured boys not too far away. Our medical staff have been
brilliant and have been working hard to get everyone back. That can only be
good as the games come thick and fast at this time of year. "Our form and
results since August mean we have given ourselves a chance to be around the
top half of the table and we want to make sure that stays that way. We have
targets and over the next three or four games we will be looking to meet
those targets so we can push on."

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Big Sam on: Norwich City
WHUFC.com
The West Ham United manager is hoping to start 2013 in the right way with a
win against Norwich City
01.01.2013

Sam Allardyce is expecting to see a reaction from his players after
Saturday's loss at Reading. The West Ham United manager will be forced in to
a couple of changes with Kevin Nolan and James Collins suspended after they
picked up their fifth bookings at the Madejski Stadium. The good news is
Ricardo Vaz Te and Jack Collison could make their first starts after long
absences, with former France captain Alou Diarra another option in
midfield.1 January not only marks the start of the New Year, but the opening
of the transfer window and Big Sam is keen to make a few quality additions
to his squad, while hanging on to his best talent.

Do you think Tuesday's match with Norwich City gives us a chance to start
the year off with a win?

SA: "It gives us the opportunity to get back to our better form. That's one
of the problems, we've had some really good spells but then we've ended up
losing two or three or on the trot. The last game we won was Chelsea at home
and you'd think we'd go on from there but with the injuries and a couple of
refereeing decisions we find ourselves on the back of a run where we haven't
picked up enough points. "West Brom away was a good point and we should have
got a point at Reading and at least a point last week against Everton. We're
looking down for the first time now and we're getting a little closer to
that pressure pot, which is not where we want to be. "It's a test for our
mentality that we don't lose confidence in our own ability and don't lose
confidence on what we know works. We need to create some chances to win some
games of football. We must maintain our confidence in the level and standard
we can hit and that will give us a chance to beat Norwich, which along with
every other game, will be very difficult.

What do you make of Norwich?

SA: "They've been very good defensively, particularly away from home and
make life very difficult for you to break them down. They play
counter-attacking football very well. We're going to have to find a better
quality of ball more often to give us a chance of beating them. I'm
determined that we don't leave too many spaces for them to exploit on the
counter attack. "They had a little disruption with the change of manager.
The brought in a new manager and it's taken a little while for him to get
his feet under the table. Once the players get to know him and he shows he
is a good manager they start playing as well as they are and produce
results. It's no mean feat to go nine games unbeaten - it's a great, great
run. But we'll do all we can to try and get the win we want."

How will you cope with the suspensions of Collins and Nolan?

SA: "The big problem I've got is that I've not got a selection problem.
We'll be down to about 12 again after losing Kevin Nolan and James Collins.
Vaz Te and Collison are not match fit yet and may need to step in from the
start. We've got to try and start the New Year with a victory."

With the transfer window about to open and the players we have missing, is
it a case of trying to do the business early if we can?

SA: "Well it's trying to get the right players first and that's the most
difficult thing of any transfer window. Once you've found one you've then
got to see whether he'll come or not. We've been looking at the short-team
prospects of a player coming in rather than the long-term.
"The most important thing for me is to try and take advantage of the window,
but also to make sure the players that have come back in the last few weeks,
along with Andy Carroll and Momo Diame, all stay fit for a long period of
time. We can ill-afford to have six, seen or eight injured at the same time
like we've had the last few games."

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Taylor targeting Norwich victory
WHUFC.com
Matt Taylor says the Hammers are determined to chalk up a home win on New
Year's Day
31.12.2012

Matt Taylor said the frustration from a disappointing day at Reading can be
used positively as West Ham United look to get back on track against Norwich
City on New Year's Day. The midfielder is looking forward, along with his
team-mates, to getting back out on the pitch again on Tuesday and said the
quick turnaround in fixtures is a good thing. "Straight after the match
[against Reading] the word frustrated probably won't have been the right
word I would have used, maybe something stronger," he said. "The next match
against Norwich was not on my mind, but then you start to focus again and
realise that you can't affect the match that has gone now. "It is all about
getting back out there to put things right and we are looking forward to
doing that against Norwich."
Taylor said that if chances had turned into goals for the Hammers at the
Madejski Stadium, it might have been a different story. "I think that is why
we were so disappointed. As a team, we dominated and restricted them to very
few shots and attempts on goal. Unfortunately for us, we could not put the
ball in the back of the net ourselves. We had chances but the goal seemed to
be elusive to us. "Had we converted any of them, then I do believe it would
have been a different story. But it wasn't to be and we have to take that
one for now and move on to playing Norwich."

The No14 was trying his best to make things happen against Reading but knows
that all he and the rest of the team can do now is step up a gear to get
more points in the bag and return to winning ways. "That is the bottom line
for us. We know what we can do, so we are concentrating on getting back to
winning ways and the sooner the better. We look forward to our next match,
where we can hopefully do just that and start off the New Year with a
victory."

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West Ham v Norwich
KO 15:00
31 December 2012
By Martin Fisher
Match of the Day commentator

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Upton Park Date: Tuesday, 1 January
LINEUP, BOOKINGS (0) & SUBSTITUTIONS (0)

TEAM NEWS

West Ham will be without skipper Kevin Nolan who is suspended after picking
up a fifth yellow card against Reading on Saturday. Defender James Collins
is also banned while Mohammed Diame and Andy Carroll remain injured. Another
player serving a one-match suspension is Norwich midfielder Bradley Johnson.
Strikers Steve Morison (thigh) and Grant Holt (hamstring) are both doubtful.

MATCH PREVIEW

Poor form from West Ham and Norwich City as the curtain came down on 2012
should not, and will not, spoil memories of a fantastic year for both clubs.
The Hammers began it lying third in the Championship. Bouncing back into the
big time at the first attempt was the goal and they achieved that on a
memorable day at Wembley with victory against Blackpool in the play-off
final. Sam Allardyce's team adapted to the Premier League swiftly, holding
champions Man City and beating European champions Chelsea as they happily
bobbed around in mid-table. Just before Christmas the club was named as
preferred bidders for the Olympic Stadium. So on and off the pitch, 2012 has
been a truly historic one for West Ham United. For Norwich City, 2012 was a
year in which they took huge steps to establish themselves as a Premier
League club, despite losing one of their most successful managers along the
way. Paul Lambert steered the Canaries to a 12th-placed finish in May after
back-to-back promotions, before quitting for Aston Villa. His shoes were big
ones to fill, but Chris Hughton has managed it brilliantly in his own
likable, unflappable way. Early season spankings were brushed off as they
went on to beat Arsenal and Manchester United. They end the year as they
began it, comfortably placed in mid-table, and never being mentioned amongst
the candidates for relegation. So 2013 arrives with Norwich 11th to West
Ham's 12th, two points above them, having played one game more. Neither has
had much to cheer about over the festive season - five games have brought
five defeats. In so many ways there is little to choose between them. That
was certainly the case in September when I commentated on an entertaining,
albeit goalless, draw. I expect it will be tight again, but throw in a few
goals this time chaps, eh?

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
Six of the last seven league meetings have been drawn, including the last
four. West Ham's last league victory over Norwich was at Upton Park in April
1992, although they have since won home and away in FA Cup ties in 2005 and
2006 respectively.

West Ham
The Hammers have lost six of their eight Premier League matches on New
Year's Day.
They have been beaten in five of their last eight league games, managing
only one win and five points in that time.
West Ham are winless in their last 11 Premier League matches on a Tuesday
since a 5-0 home win over Charlton Athletic on Boxing Day in 2000.

Norwich
Norwich have suffered three successive league defeats, having previously
been unbeaten in 10.
They have not lost four Premier League games in a row since promotion in
2011.
The Canaries have failed to win a top-flight match on a Tuesday in 14
attempts since beating West Ham in December 1988.

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West Ham v Norwich: Kevin Nolan suspended for game at Upton Park
Last Updated: December 31, 2012 11:50am
SSN

A return to unbeaten ways will be at the top of Norwich City's New Year's
resolution list when they meet West Ham United at Upton Park. Chris
Hughton's team travel to London having surrendered a previous 10-game run
without losing and have in contrast suffered three successive defeats. A
latest setback in the rollercoaster defeat against Manchester City at the
weekend has seen Norwich fall to 11th position in the table and they need to
address the slide. But West Ham have suffered their own problems over recent
weeks and Sam Allardyce's team have picked up just five points from their
last eight games. Three defeats in their last four outings, including the
painful weekend loss to relegation-threatened Reading, are undermining an
otherwise promising return to the Premier League. And Allardyce will
consequently be demanding last season's Championship play-off winners, West
Ham, pick up a win against Norwich to start 2013 on the right note.

West Ham
Last 6
1-0
1-2
0-0
2-3
3-1
1-0
West Ham will be without suspended captain Kevin Nolan for their Premier
League clash with Norwich on New Year's Day. The Hammers have won just one
of their last eight league games and top goalscorer Nolan will miss out
after picking up a fifth booking of the season at Reading on Saturday.
Defender James Collins is also missing through suspension with injured duo
Andy Carroll (knee) and Mohamed Diame (hamstring) also not in contention.

Norwich
Last 6
3-4
0-1
2-1
2-1
1-4
3-4
Norwich midfielder Bradley Johnson will serve a one-match ban for the trip
to Upton Park after collecting a fifth yellow card. Striker Steve Morison
(thigh) is doubtful after limping off in the 4-3 home defeat by Manchester
City, as is captain Grant Holt (hamstring), so on-loan Tottenham forward
Harry Kane could lead the attack. Defender Steven Whittaker (hip) and winger
Andrew Surman (hip) continue their rehabilitation, while England goalkeeper
John Ruddy (thigh) also remains sidelined.

Opta Facts

39% of Norwich's goals this season have come from direct or indirect
free-kicks
Mark Noble has been booked in six of his last 10 Premier League appearances
Three of Norwich's last seven Premier League goals have come from direct
free-kicks

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Kev's a top 10 hit
Published: 31st December 2012
The Sun

KEVIN NOLAN reckons West Ham can end their slump and finish in the top 10.
The Hammers have slipped to 12th after picking up just one point from their
last four games. But Nolan, who misses today's home clash with Norwich
through suspension, said: "If we can keep everyone fit, then we can get into
that top 10 and finish in there. "The joint chairmen did some fantastic
business in the last transfer window. "They supported boss Sam Allardyce
massively. There is nothing better than seeing a few new faces coming in, so
hopefully that might be the case."

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Holt out to jolt Hammers again
By BEN HUNT
Published: 31st December 2012
The Mirror

CHRIS HUGHTON is hoping Grant Holt can inflict more misery on West Ham
today. Canaries striker Holt came close to joining the Hammers in a
£6million deal in the summer after handing in a transfer request. But boss
Hughton was able to convince the 31-year-old to snub the Londoners and sign
new terms at Carrow Road. And he now hopes Holt, who fired 17 goals in the
Premier League last season, can rediscover that same strike rate. He said:
"I'm pleased to have kept hold of Grant. "He has been very good for this
football club which is why the endeavours in the summer were to keep hold of
him. "It is similar to last season where he was slow starting. He then got
into really good form and his goalscoring came in that period."
Holt missed the 4-3 home defeat to champions Manchester City on Saturday due
to a hamstring strain. But he is expected to feature today at Upton Park as
Norwich are looking to bounce back from three straight defeats. And defender
Russell Martin says they could do with the striker's goals and adds that he
was right to stay in Norfolk. He added: "Hopefully the big man will be back.
Even though he has not got the goals of late, everyone knows what he brings
to the team. "I live three doors up from Grant so I was never worried about
him going in the summer. "I didn't see a skip outside his house so I knew he
was always going to stay! "The rapport he has with the fans and the way he
is thought of around the whole city – he won't find that anywhere else. "He
is happy here, and his family is too, so there was never any danger of him
leaving."

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