Daily WHUFC News - 30th March 2013

West Brom match preview
WHUFC.com
Your guide to Saturday's Barclays Premier League match against West Bromwich Albion
29.03.2013

WEST HAM UNITED V WEST BROMWICH ALBION
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 30 MARCH
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: ANDRE MARRINER
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
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Introduction
• West Ham United return to the Boleyn Ground for the first time in five weeks for Saturday's Barclays Premier League meeting with West Bromwich Albion.
• The Hammers were last at home back on February 25 when Gareth Bale's last-minute stunner ended their four-game unbeaten home run in heartbreaking fashion.
• Sam Allardyce's men did bounce back to defeat Stoke City 1-0 in their next fixture, although Chelsea got the better of them at Stamford Bridge last time out.
• Saturday's 3pm kick-off is West Ham's third and final game of the month, with the FA Cup with Budweiser and an international break accounting for two weekends.
• West Bromwich Albion, meanwhile, have overcome a sticky period at the turn of the year to take ten points from their last five Barclays Premier League games.
• The Baggies' 0-0 draw at Stoke City two weeks ago came on the back of.recent victories over Liverpool, Sunderland and Swansea City, and leaves Steve Clarke's men eighth in the table.
• The Hammers are currently eleven points behind the Baggies in the Premier League, although West Ham have played a game less than Saturday's opponents. They remain, however, just three points off the top ten.
• West Brom's visit to the Boleyn Ground is one of eight Barclays Premier League matches taking place on Saturday. Manchester United travel to Sunderland for the 12.45pm kick-off, while the other 3pm games are: Arsenal v Reading, Manchester City v Newcastle United, Southampton v Chelsea, Swansea City v Tottenham Hotspur and Wigan Athletic v Norwich City. The late 5.30pm kick-off is Everton v Stoke City.

Team news
West Ham United
• Mark Noble is out for the Hammers after undergoing surgery on a trapped nerve in his arm.
• Joe Cole is back in the squad after shaking off the hamstring injury which kept him out of the trip to his former club Chelsea two weeks ago.
• Kevin Nolan could also be back in contention with his broken toe recovering sufficiently for him to return to training.
• George McCartney continued his comeback from a knee injury with a run out in the Development Squad's friendly against Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday 19 March.
• Young goalkeeper Raphael Spiegel fractured a finger whilst on international duty with the Swizerland U21 side, so the Hammers have recalled Stephen Henderson from his loan at Ipswich Town.

West Bromwich Albion
• To follow...

Background
• Today's fixture marks the 93rd competitive meeting between West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion. The Hammers have won 35, the Baggies have tasted victory on 37 occasions and there have been 20 draws. It will also be the tenth time the two clubs have met in the Premier League.
• The last four meetings between the sides have ended in draws, two of which ended goalless, while the other stalemates saw a total of ten goals.
• Neither club has won a Premier League fixture between the two clubs by more than one goal.
• The Hammers recorded their biggest-ever win over the Baggies on 16 April 1965. Striker Brian Dear had a day to remember as he netted five goals within the space of 20 minutes either side of half-time in a 6-1 home Division One victory. Martin Peters had earlier opened the scoring.
• West Brom recorded their biggest win over West Ham back on 24 October 1925, romping to a 7-1 Division One victory at The Hawthorns. Jimmy Ruffell netted West Ham's consolation goal.
• West Ham and West Brom met in the 1966 Football League Cup final. The sixth and last League Cup final to be played over two legs, the Hammers won the first game 2-1 at the Boleyn Ground, with Geoff Hurst and Johnny Byrne cancelling out Jeff Astle's opener. The second leg was a different story, however, as the Baggies clinched a 4-1 win to secure a 5-3 aggregate success.
Last time out
On the back of an impressive 1-0 win at Stoke City, West Ham came unstuck at Stamford Bridge, as Frank Lampard netted his 200th Chelsea goal in a comfortable 2-0 win. The West Ham United Academy graduate opened the scoring in the 19th minute, powering a header from Eden Hazard's dink past Jussi Jaaskelainen. Meanwhile, another former Hammers Demba Ba had a hatful of chances to extend the hosts' lead, before the sparkling Hazard made it 2-0 five minutes after the break, slamming an angled left-footed drive into the corner.

Sunday 17 March
Barclays Premier League
Chelsea 2-0 West Ham United
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Reid, O'Brien, Collins (Tomkins 61), Demel, Jarvis, Collison, Diame (Taylor 46), O'Neil, Carroll, Vaz Te (C.Cole 80)
Subs not used: Spiegel, McCartney, Pogatetz, Chamakh

Saturday 16 March
Barclays Premier League
Stoke City 0-0 West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion: Foster, Olsson, Ridgewell, McAuley, Jones, Yacob, Morrison, (Fortune 84), Brunt, Thomas (Odemwingie 67), Mulumbu, Lukaku (Long 76)
Subs not used: Myhill, Popov, Tamas, Rosenberg

Previous meeting
West Bromwich Albion 0-0 West Ham United
The sides last went head to head on Sunday 16 December, in a game that would end goalless, with West Ham no doubt the happier with a well-earned point on their travels. In a game of few chances, Winston Reid volleyed over the bar from close range, while Gary O'Neil saw his curler shave the outside of the post. At the other end, James Morrison flicked the top of the crossbar, but it was to end honours even as the Baggies ended a run of three successive defeats.
West Bromwich Albion: Myhill, Olsson, Popov, McAuley, Jones, Morrison, Brunt, Mulumbu, Gera (Lukaku 75), Long (Rosenberg 83), Odemwingie.
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Reid, O'Brien, Collins, Demel (Tomkins 81), Nolan, Jarvis (Maiga 76), Taylor, Noble, O'Neil, Cole.

Last six meetings (Premier League unless stated)
16 December 2012 West Bromwich Albion 0-0 West Ham United
12 February 2011 West Bromwich Albion 3-3 West Ham United
10 November 2010 West Ham 2-2 West Bromwich Albion
16 March 2009 West Ham United 0-0 West Bromwich Albion

13 September 2008 West Bromwich Albion 3-2 West Ham United

1 May 2006 West Bromwich Albion 0-1 West Ham United

Overall record v West Bromwich Albion
P92 W 35 D 20 L 37

Ten-year records
West Ham United
2011/12 Championship 3rd (86 points - promoted 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 via play-offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated to Championship)

West Bromwich Albion
2011/12 Premier League 10th (47 points)
2010/11 Premier League 11th (47 points)
2009/10 Championship 2nd (91 points, promoted to Premier League)

2008/09 Premier League 20th (32 points, relegated to Championship)

2007/08 Championship 1st (81 points, promoted to Premier League)

2006/07 Championship 4th (76 points)

2005/06 Premier League 19th (30 points, relegated to Championship)

2004/05 Premier League17th (34 points)

2003/04 Championship 2nd (86 points, promoted to Premier League)

2002/03 Premier League 19th (26 points, relegated to Championship)


Referee
• The man in the middle for Saturday's fixture is Andre Marriner.
• Marriner last took charge of a West Ham United game on January 23, as the Hammers fell to a 5-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium. He also officiated West Ham's trip to White Hart Lane, which saw Tottenham Hotspur run out 3-1 winners.
• Birmingham-born Marriner began refereeing in 1992, progressing through the Birmingham Amateur Football League and Southern League to become a Football League assistant referee in 2000.
• He was appointed to the Football League List of Referees in 2003 before joining the Select Group in 2005. Since then he has also been added to FIFA's International List in 2009.
• Marriner will be assisted by Steve Child and Jake Collin, while Michael Oliver will be the fourth official.
Old boys
• West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Clarke spent just under two-years at the Boleyn Ground as assistant manager to Gianfranco Zola. During his first season at the club the Hammers had a relatively successful year, finishing ninth in the Barclays Premier League. Clarke left the club by mutual consent in June 2010 before joining Liverpool as first-team coach in January 2011.
• Baggies assistant manager Kevin Keen enjoyed a long and illustrious career with West Ham United, serving the Hammers as a player, coach and caretaker manager. Keen played 279 times for West Ham between 1986 and 1993, scoring 32 goals and twice winning promotion to the top-flight. Keen re-joined West Ham in July 2002 as Under-17 coach, later being appointed reserve-team coach and then first-team coach in October 2006.
• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are David Cross, Gary Strodder, Tommy Green, Vincent Hayes, Geoff Hurst, Thomas Kinsell, Tudor Martin, Nigel Quashie and Chippy Simmons.

General information
• Tickets for Saturday's clash are now SOLD OUT. For all other tickets, access the Box Office here.
• The weather for Saturday is much in keeping with the recent cold snap, as temperatures struggle to creep much above 5ºC (41ºF). Thankfully, however, it is set to be predominantly dry
• Supporters travelling by road should note that the A12 Blackwall Tunnel Approach in Bow lane closed on entry slip road northbound at Bow Interchange, because of roadworks.

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On this day - 30 March
WHUFC.com
Significant moments from this day in West Ham United history
30.03.2013


Classic match
West Ham United 3-0 Leeds United
Premier League
30 March 1998
The Hammers eased past Leeds United on this day 15 years ago, maintaining a fine home record cultivated throughout the 1997/98 season. Harry Redknapp's side would only lose twice on home turf all campaign, and took maximum points from 13 of their 19 Boleyn Ground league fixtures. This result was never in doubt once John Hartson had given the hosts an eighth minute lead. West Ham soon doubled their advantage, with Samassi Abou netting one of his six goals for the season with 23 minutes on the clock, A dominant Monday night performance was sealed after the break when Ian Pearce notched to round off a pleasing 3-0 success. West Ham would go on to end the campaign eighth in the table with 56 points, just three behind fifth placed Leeds.

Complete record - 30 March
2002 West Ham United 3-1 Ipswich Town (Premier League)
1998 West Ham United 3-0 Leeds United (Premier League)
1985 Nottingham Forest 1-2 West Ham United (Division One)
1982 Swansea City 0-1 West Ham United (Division One)
1974 West Ham United 3-1 Leeds United (Division One)
1971 Everton 0-1 West Ham United (Division One)
1960 Manchester City 3-1 West Ham United (Division One)
1959 Newcastle United 3-1 West Ham United (Division One)
1957 West Ham United 1-1 Middlesbrough (Division Two)
1956 West Ham United 2-0 Stoke City (Division Two)
1935 Sheffield United 1-2 West Ham United (Division Two)
1934 Manchester United 0-1 West Ham United (Division Two)
1929 Portsmouth 3-0 West Ham United (Division One)
1923 West Ham United 0-0 Bury (Division Two)

Played 14, Won 9, Drawn 2, Lost 3, Scored 21, Conceded 14

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U18s keen to tame Wolves
WHUFC.com
Steve Potts wants his young Hammers to return to Barclays U18 Premier League winning ways on Saturday
29.03.2013

Supporters eager for a double-dose of West Ham United action and armed with a traffic-beating sat nav can catch the club's youngsters in Barclays U18 Premier League action against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. Steve Potts' youth team kick-off against Wolves at Little Heath at 12noon - three hours before Sam Allardyce's first team host West Bromwich Albion at the Boleyn Ground in the Barclays Premier League. Potts' youngsters are on a five-game winless run in their Tier One group and the West Ham legend is keen for his players to rediscover their winning touch this weekend. "It would be nice if they get back to winning ways," the U18s manager told West Ham TV. "It will be a tough game for us. We went up to Wolves and found them to be a very physical and tough side so it will be a good test from that point of view. "Hopefully our boys can match that side of things and our football can come out. It will be a test for them."

While he would obviously like his team to win and play outstanding football every weekend, Potts believes his young charges will learn from their recent difficult experiences. "I think it's character-building for them. If you look at the overall picture, we've had a very young side and I think it was only our away game at Tottenham in the league when they have been off their game. In every other game, they have been compeititve. "There has been quite a lot of good stuff that has come out of the other games."

West Ham have netted just two goals in their previous four matches, with regular centre forward Elliot Lee unavailable due to Development Squad commitments. Republic of Ireland U19 attacker Kieran Sadlier leads the way with eight goals to his name, but Potts wants his other players to get their names on the scoresheet over the closing weeks of the season. "You cannot just look at the forwards there - you attack as a team and defend as a team. Ideally you'd like to see a few more goals going in to take the pressure off everyone else at the back."

When asked if he has been impressed by his team overall, Potts was quick to throw his support behind his young squad. "I definitely have. A lot of good football has been played and there have been some good individual performances. Now they have to take them into the Development Squad and push on from there. "Last week we went up to Liverpool and had three schoolboys playing. They came out of it really well and it was a great experience for them to go up to a club like that. They performed well and it's down to them to carry that forward. "The youth team is young and the Development Squad is very young. I like to see players like [defensive midfielder] Amos Nasha and [attacking midfielder] Kieran Bywater in there doing well because it can only beneficial for them. Next year, they will be that much stronger."

Kick-off at Little Heath on Saturday is at 12noon, with admission and parking both free of charge.

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Big Sam calls for ruthlessness
WHUFC.com
West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce wants opportunities to be taken against West Brom
30.03.2013

Sam Allardyce has called for a clinical display from his side when they take on West Bromwich Albion at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday. The Hammers welcome the Baggies to east London as they look to notch a tenth Barclays Premier League win of the season. But having drawn a blank in their last fixture - a 2-0 defeat at Chelsea - the boss wants his side to display a more ruthless streak on this occasion. He said: "It's always worrying if you don't take your chances because you saw what happened to England in the week - they dominated the opposition [in the first half], created chance after chance after chance and only scored one goal. "They then had to be satisfied with a draw from a game in which they should have been out of sight by half time, because they haven't got that cutting edge at the moment. You can end up getting kicked where it hurts. "We've had many a game like what happened to England this season, particularly away from home, where we've been the dominant force for long periods and haven't taken advantage of it. "Putting the ball in the back of the net to show the dominant time you've had is critical in the Premier League. That we haven't done that is why we're not safe already."

Allardyce will be wary of the threat posed by West Brom's 13-goal leading scorer Romelu Lukaku, although he believes his team possess an equally big threat in the shape of Andy Carroll. He continued: "Lukaku has had a tremendous season for West Brom and I think it's a major bonus for Clarky that he's picked up a player who initially comes off the subs bench and scores, and then gets into the starting eleven and continues to score. "He's been a tremendous asset for them and their success this season - particularly in the early part of the season, that's where they established themselves. "It was a little bit like ourselves, but they did better than us. I think we got 14 points out of the first eight games, they got 18 or something like that. "They've had their ups and downs since then, like we have, but the fact that he's continued to score goals all season is why they've had such a good season. "Andy Carroll has proven [his goalscoring ability] at Newcastle. When he left there for Liverpool he'd already notched eleven goals that season. "This whole season has been a bit disrupted for him and hasn't allowed him to express his full potential. Hopefully that will grow and continue to grow if he stays fit for the rest of the season. "I thought he played well at Chelsea but didn't put one in the back of the net from the two or three chances he had. Hopefully he'll keep getting the chances and the goals will come."

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Olympic Stadium plans revealed
WHUFC.com
Architectural drawings of West Ham United's new home at the Olympic Stadium post-conversion
29.03.2013

West Ham United have released a further set of architectural drawings to show some of the new features of the Olympic Stadium post-conversion. The first set of drawings (images A and B) show how the state-of-the-art seating solution will ensure the stadium offers a world-class viewing experience for watching football. An automated system using drive motors will move all four sides of the lower bowl forward to bring the seats closer to the pitch, thus ensuring that the running track will not be visible when the stadium is in football mode. The designs are such that the seating distances will now compare favourably with the best in UK stadia such as the Emirates and Wembley and the top stadia around the world. By way of example they will be 10m closer to the goal line than the Stade De France in Paris, which boasts a similar system. The text behind the two goals offers a suggestion of which two stands will be named after club legends Bobby Moore OBE and Sir Trevor Brooking. The third image, image C, is a more detailed graphic showing the innovative gravity stressed design of the roof that enables it, at 84m, to become the largest spanning tensile roof in the world. It will also cover all the seats in the stadium and lock that world-renowned atmosphere in. The final image, image D, is a more technical drawing that demonstrates how the seating in the lower bowl will operate to bring fans closer to the pitch. The images were shown to Supporter Advisory Board members at December's emergency meeting at the Boleyn Ground. All available images will be released ahead of the independently-run supporter consultation. As part of the planning application process, LLDC have now put in the opening designs to obtain permission for the roof conversion. The club will also be releasing further artistic designs to show how they practically work ahead of consultation.


*Please note, the plans released by West Ham United today are designed to show the technical aspects of the stadium conversion and therefore do not include the vital additions that will ensure the stadium feel like West Ham's home on a matchday. The drawings have all been created by the independent architectural design company appointed by the LLDC and accurately reflect how the structure of the stadium will look post-conversion.

Image A - The post-conversion Olympic Stadium in athletics mode

Image B - The post-conversion Olympic Stadium in football mode

Image C - The post-conversion Olympic Stadium will boast the largest spanning tensile roof in the world

Image D - Technical drawings showing how the seating in the lower bowl will bring fans closer to the pitch

http://www.whufc.com/articles/20130329/olympic-stadium-plans-revealed_2236884_3125605

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West Ham v West Brom
KO 15:00
29 March 2013
Last updated at 12:17
By John Roder
Match of the Day commentator

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Upton Park Date: Saturday, 30 March, Kick-off: 15:00 GMT

West Ham captain Kevin Nolan has recovered from a toe injury and is available to face West Brom. Joe Cole and George McCartney have overcome respective hamstring and knee problems but Mark Noble (shoulder) is unavailable.

West Brom right-back Steven Reid has recovered from the groin problem that kept him out of the last two matches. But James Morrison is doubtful due to the hamstring problem that forced him out of Scotland's World Cup qualifiers.


MATCH PREVIEW

So the countdown has begun to West Ham's departure from Upton Park to the Olympic Stadium. This will be the first match The Hammers have played since last week's announcement that they are to move into their new home from August 2016 as tenants on a 99-year lease. The debate over the merits of the switch is sure to continue but it does mean the club will be leaving a ground that has provided so many memories over the years. "I think West Ham need two more wins to be absolutely sure of staying up and Big Sam will stress to his squad that this should be one of them."

From when I was a young radio reporter back in the 1980s, I've always looked forward to working at Upton Park, particularly for night matches when the atmosphere crackles. The aim is that West Ham will move to the Olympic Stadium as a Premier League club. They come into this weekend's match not yet assured of their place in the top division for next season after a poor run that leaves them just six points above the bottom three. There are no worries on that score for West Bromwich Albion, who are on course to eclipse their best-ever Premier League finish of 10th last May. West Brom have ended the last two seasons on 47 points; victory in east London on Saturday would take them to that total already for this campaign with another seven matches remaining.
One thing that I won't miss at Upton Park is the position that I'll be commentating from for Match of the Day this Saturday. If you're going, take a look high up into the roof of the main stand, where I'll be. It's a long, long way above the pitch - mustn't forget my glasses...

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
The last four matches between the sides have been draws.
West Brom's only win in their four Premier League visits to Upton Park was by 1-0 in September 2002. However, they also enjoyed a 4-3 win there in the Championship in November 2003.

West Ham
West Ham have lost three of their last four league matches.
They have taken only seven points from the last 27 available.
Among Premier League clubs, only Reading have a worse second-half record than West Ham.
Kevin Nolan is set to feature in his 450th league game, while James Tomkins could play for West Ham for the 150th time.
Hammers' manager Sam Allardyce was West Brom assistant manager under Brian Talbot from 1989 to 1991. He made one appearance for the club.

West Brom
West Brom have conceded just one goal in their last three away Premier League matches.
They have 44 points from 30 matches this season, eight more points than they have had at this stage in any other Premier League season.
The Baggies have been in the top half of the table all season.
West Brom are the only Premier League team yet to have an English goalscorer this season. The last Englishman to score for the club in the league was Liam Ridgewell, in the 3-0 home win over Blackburn in April 2012.
Baggies' manager Steve Clarke spent two seasons as West Ham assistant manager under Gianfranco Zola from 2008 to 2010.

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West Ham United v West Bromwich Albion
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 29th March 2013
By: Preview Percy

After what seems to have been an interminable length of time, at last we have another match. This weekend we will entertain the good people of West Bromwich Albion at the Boleyn in a match that will kick-off at 3.00pm on Saturday. Hurrah.

Transport for London are so surprised by the fact that we're still here they've completely forgotten to schedule any engineering works at our end of the District Line, though bits of the Docklands Light Railway will be shut. Check before you leave.

Our visitors will arrive in 8th place with 44 points from their 30 matches thus far. This puts them six places and 11 points above them, though we do have a game in hand for what it's worth. Current form has seen them won three (2-0 up at Liverpool and a pair of 2-1s at home to Sunderland and Swansea), drawn once (0-0 at Stoke before the break) and lose twice (1-0 at home to Gareth Bale and 1-0 at Chelsea).

They had one of the more amusing transfer windows of recent years. Not that they were particularly active – the departure of a few fringe players being the sum total of their action. However the antics of Peter Odimwinge raised eyebrows-a-plenty. It's a bit complicated but basically QPR, whose manager is in no way dodgy (it says here on this bit of paper handed to me by our lawyers), put in a bid to sign the Nigerian international. The bid was rejected.

Somehow, and who can tell how, Odemwinge became/was made aware of QPR's interest though of course it couldn't have been as a result of QPR contacting him of course, because that would have been wrong what with their not at all dodgy manager not having permission to talk to the player. Under the completely false impression that a deal was on the cards, Odemwinge drove to Loftus Road to speak (for what would obviously have been the first time) with QPR and, whilst his comments to the tv people at the time stopped short of actually saying he'd already been in discussions with Rangers, they certainly could have been construed that way.

The Baggies were a bit gobsmacked to see the player on the box giving the traditional "interview through the car window" and pointed out that no permission had been given to anyone to speak to the player. QPR's manager, possibly remembering his earlier denial of having spoken to Joe Cole which had been blatantly contradicted by his later admission that he had been in talks with Joe Cole, appears to have had second thoughts about the whole deal and, on trying to gain admission to the ground, Odemwinge was given the same sort of reception as I would reserve for people knocking on my door at 9am after a heavy night in the Swan and Superinjunction and asking me if I would like to talk to them about Jesus. (Tip – they don't seem to bother you again if you tell them you're ritually sacrificing a goat).

So back to the Midlands traipsed the player with his tail between his legs. The club sent him away from the training ground and he was eventually fined a couple of weeks' wages. He was slowly reintroduced to the first team squad and since his little trip has made four sub appearances. You'd think that, having made a bit of a fool of himself, he'd have kept his head down for a bit. However, as one continually points out in these pages, the average professional footballer is not exactly noted for his common sense. True to stereotype, Odemwinge recently went into the sort of twitter meltdown rant that one associates with someone who has had a heavy night in the Swan and Superinjunction. The result: another fine (that's over £150,000 this year so far) and, no doubt, a less than fraternal reception from his (soon to be ex?) team-mates.

First choice 'keeper is Ben Foster. Foster declared himself unavailable for England selection a couple of years ago. This, as regular readers will be aware, is not something that goes down too well here at the Avram Grant Rest Home for the Bewildered, where the day room is full of full of hopefuls such as myself who are still hopeful of a call from Mr Hodgson (though to be honest I think Ada may be on a hiding to nothing what with her hip and all). Foster has since changed his mind though and at least he has made himself generally available, unlike Jamie Carragher who generously brought himself out of retirement once all that tedious mucking about with qualifying was done with. Foster was on the bench for the trouncing of San Marino – Joe Hart might as well have been next to him.

Another international retiree is defender Stephen Reid who overcame the handicap of starting out amongst the medical experiment victims at Millwall to gain 20 caps for the Republic of Ireland. Although he is regarded as a defender these days he has played most of his career in midfield and had 7 years at basket case club Blackburn before arriving at the Hawthorns in 2010. Reid is a doubt for the weekend with a "groin/pelvis injury" which may or may not have been sustained during an alleged recent training ground altercation with the aforementioned Odemwinge.

Odemwinge isn't he only Baggie with a few disciplinary issues. Macedonian left-back Gregor Popov hasn't featured since getting sent off for spitting at Kyle Walker in the home match against Spurs. Ex-Hammer youth player Liam Ridgewell has been preferred even though Popov's now served his suspension. At the time of the incident former Hammers Assistant Boss Steve Clarke expressed his "disgust" at Popov's actions and it seems that Clarke's disgust has been enough to keep Popov out of the limelight, though he has been on the bench. Popov's problems have also extended to the international arena where he is currently coming to the end of a six-month ban for unspecified disciplinary reasons from representing Macedonia. On loan from Dinamo Kiev (and that's how I'm spelling it whatever they say) Albion have an option to buy at the end of the season but his "throat clearance" antics may have put paid to that.

A better loan deal this year was the pinching of Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea on a season-long deal. Still only 19, the Belgian looks to be a skilful prospect. He's their top scorer so far this season, something that contrasts strikingly with the form of Fernando Torres, whose presence would be keeping him out of the Chelsea team had he stayed in London. Of course Chelsea's "Manager Of The Month" policy hasn't helped in that regard but it would be a major surprise if Lukaku didn't return to the club as planned at the end of the season. I suppose the odd thing is that Clarke & Keen might have had a better chance of keeping hold of Lukaku had he not had such a good season.

And what of us? Well the last match we encountered was the trip to Chelsea – remember that? Although the home side ended up good value for their win in the end, we were left once more ruminating at the deficiencies of the officials, whose decisions at a crucial stage of the match potentially altered the whole course of the game. This wasn't the only decision that stank during the last round of matches in the Premier League and the authorities' laughable failure to deal with Callum McManaman should put paid to any thoughts that anyone in power has any interest in improving refereeing standards.

The other news since I was last here is, of course the news that we've been awarded the right to occupy the Olympic Stadium. Much has been made of the "fact" that we're supposedly being "given" a stadium for £15m. Which rather ignores the approximately £250m we'll be paying in rent for the place, a figure which will also increase with inflation. The plans are now available for inspection, though, like all architectural plans they don't make an awful lot of sense to those of us not dull enough to be architects. Meanwhile I look forward to the consultation we've been promised for all these years so we can finally make an informed decision.

Back on the football side of things. injury news is largely good. Since we last spoke Stephen Henderson has returned from his Ipswich loan spell to cover the sub 'keeper spot in the light of Raphael Spiegel's broken finger. Joe Cole's hamstring is all better now so he'll be in the squad and the relative lack of action for the team over the last few weeks has meant that Nolan's toe (a medical condition rather than an American Civil War battle) has also have healed up enough to see him return. Similarly Linda's back as well. The one major absentee will be Mark Noble, whose trapped nerve in the arm/elbow has apparently required surgery so he'll be out for a while.

Thankfully the international break was kind enough and we don't seem to have picked up any of the injuries that our players usually return with from foreign climes. The penalty given away by Pogatetz merely being embarrassing.

A prediction? Oh all right then if you insist. It's difficult to get any sense of form when you only get to play with the same regularity as Barry Hearn opening his gob and saying something sensible, so any prediction will have to be pure guesswork. So no change there then. I'll therefore be placing all the money that the Avran Grant Rest Home has been able to rescue from its offshore account in Cyprus (£2.50) on us to win. Let's go for a 3-2 goalfest for a change then shall we?!

Enjoy the game!

When Last We Met at the BoleynDrew 2-2 (November 2011) The 50th deliberately wrong decision against us by the disgraceful Mike Dean handed the visitors the lead through a penalty converted by Odemwinge. Scott Parker's 25 yard effort levelled the scores. Dean awarded another penalty, getting it right for once as Kieron Dyer was shoved to the floor. Piquionne put the spot kick away and we should have increased the lead before conceding a late equaliser to Ibanez to leave us rooted to the bottom. Dean, as ever, went unpunished.

Referee: Andre Marriner. Third time he'll have been in charge of us this term though this will be his first visit of the season to the Boleyn.

Danger Man:Romelu Lukaku. The on-loan striker has recovered from having his surname rejected as a catchphrase on "Shooting Stars" (they used "Uvavu" instead) and is their top scorer this season. They must be hoping that whoever Abrahamovic appoints as Chelsea's next "Interim" manager doesn't notice that the player is still there.

Daft Fact Of The Week: (NB I may have used this story before (damned if I can be bothered to check). However, if this is the case consider it a tribute to a recently departed Hammer). It is said that during one of their forays into Europe during the 1970's, the Throstles found themselves playing Dinamo Bucharest at home. Unable to locate a copy of the Romanian national anthem, the announcer went for "close enough" and thus it was that the Romanians trotted out to the sound of Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen's rendition of "Midnight In Moscow". RIP Kenny.

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West Ham's Sam Allardyce targeting three points against high flying West Brom
By Oliver Todd. Last Updated: March 29, 2013 10:54am
SSN

Sam Allardyce is looking to move West Ham closer to Premier League survival against West Brom. West Ham have been in the headlines this week after former Blackburn manager Allardyce confirmed that he will begin talks on a new contract once their top-flight status is secured. This game also comes on the back of the announcement that the Hammers will be leaving their East London home to move into the Olympic Stadium ahead of the 2016/17 season.

They come into this game in mixed form, having lost at Chelsea in their last game, and picking up two wins amongst the four defeats in their last six, but Allardyce believes that five points from their remaining nine games will guarantee top flight safety. They currently sit in 14th place in the league, six points clear of the relegation zone.

West Ham have a better home record than any of the sides below them and have also scored in 13 of their last 14 at home. They will be looking to put further breathing space between themselves and the bottom three as well as moving closer to their self-imposed 38-point target.

However, they come up against a West Brom side pushing for a Europa League spot with a respectable recent away record, having picked up a point at Stoke and a 2-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield either side of a narrow 1-0 defeat at Chelsea. Their record against London clubs is much less pleasing though, having won only four of their 38 Premier League trips to the capital.

The Baggies currently sit eighth in the table and could gain ground on Liverpool and Everton who this weekend face Aston Villa and Stoke City respectively.

Manager Steve Clarke has spoken out this week regarding Peter Odemwingie's recent Twitter outburst, and the controversial forward will probably find himself again on the bench at the Boleyn Ground.

Meanwhile, top scorer Romelu Lukaku, with four goals in his last five games, will most likely lead the line for the Baggies after spending the international break on the bench for Belgium.

These two sides played out an uninspiring 0-0 draw in the reverse fixture at The Hawthorns earlier this season, and the last four games between West Ham and West Brom have ended as a draw.

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

West Ham captain Kevin Nolan has recovered from a toe injury and is available for tomorrow's home game against West Brom. Midfielder Joe Cole returns following a month-long hamstring injury lay-off, but Mark Noble (shoulder) is unavailable. Defender George McCartney is also fit after nearly four months out with a knee problem, but back-up goalkeeper Raphael Spiegel (finger) is out so Stephen Henderson has been recalled from his loan at Ipswich.

West Brom
Last 6
0-0
2-1
1-0
2-1
0-2
0-1

Midfielder James Morrison is West Brom's major fresh injury concern ahead of tomorrow's Barclays Premier League clash with West Ham at Upton Park. Morrison suffered a hamstring injury during the goalless draw against Stoke a fortnight ago and was forced to withdraw from international duty with Scotland.
Head coach Steve Clarke confirmed striker Peter Odemwingie was part of the squad, despite his latest Twitter attacks against the Baggies which are being investigated internally.

OPTA FACTS

Should West Brom win this match, they'll equal their best-ever points tally in the Premier League (47 points; set in 2010-11 and 2011-12)
Andy Carroll has scored just nine goals in 60 Premier League appearances since leaving Newcastle United in January 2011
West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster has a save percentage of 74.8% in the Premier League this season; higher than any other English goalkeeper

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Joey O'Brien: West Ham will attract top talent in Olympic Stadium
Last Updated: March 29, 2013 1:57pm
SSN

Joey O'Brien reckons West Ham will be able to attract some of the best players in the world now they have the keys to the Olympic Stadium. After several years of legal wrangling, the London Legacy Development Corporation finally confirmed last week that it had chosen West Ham to become the main tenants of the London 2012 stadium in Stratford. The Hammers are expected to move in to the 60,000-seater venue at the start of the 2016-17 season but, while the move has divided opinion among supporters, O'Brien is sure it will herald an exciting new era for the club. "I think it can only mean good things for the club when you move into a stadium like that," O'Brien said. "You can attract players and supporters from all over the world to play and watch there. "If the club want to push on and to finish higher in the league, then we need a bigger stadium and to fill it to get the revenue into the football club. It's a great step forward. "Looking at the stadium when the Olympics were on and seeing what the club want to do with it by turning it into a football stadium, it looks unbelievable."

Premier League survival is a more pressing focus and, though Sam Allardyce's side are six points above the drop zone, forthcoming fixtures against Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United mean Saturday's home match with West Brom is viewed as a chance to climb to further comfort. "If we get the three points it would set us up for a nice end to the season," O'Brien added. "We're in a decent position but if we can get a couple of wins in our next couple of games we'd be in a really good position."

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Tony Cottee Interview Part 2: 'I would give up everything to go and work full time at West Ham'
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die

Do you like doing your after dinner speaking, or do you do it because it is quite a good earner?

It's a bit of both really. Would I do it if I was working in a permanent role for West Ham, in a role of responsibility? Probably not. You tell your stories, you do your questions and answers, which can be a little bit to the point sometimes, so I would have to be very careful, but in my current situation with the job I do at Sky, yes I enjoy doing them and yes it gives me a little bit of pocket money, which is the reason why I do it. If I was a director of West Ham United Football Club I wouldn't be in a position to do it.

Is that what you'd really like to do? It struck me from reading your book that would really like to be involved full time with West Ham in some capacity.

Absolutely, yes. I would give up everything to go and work full time at West Ham, provided it wasn't a pay cut compared to what I am getting now[ [laughs]. West Ham is a real passion for me. Probably to the detriment of my family life at times, it has been an obsession in my life. It's always been very prominent. Yes, I'd like to work for West Ham Football Club. I believe I have a lot to offer the club and I don't understand why football clubs don't employ football people. I just don't get it. The people that buy football clubs are very successful in their businesses. David Gold and David Sullivan both made their money in publishing. If I had gone up to them and said 'I'm a footballer, I want to get involved in publishing', they' say 'well what do you know about publishing?' But these guys, and I don't mean Gold and Sullivan really, but what do they know about football. The one criticism I do have of the current board is why did they appoint Avram Grant? Who in their right minds would have appointed Avram Grant? It was a ridiculous appointment and I think if there had been football people involved at the club, I don't think that would have happened. You only have to talk to anyone in football and the answer would have been there before you appointed him. I am not specifically criticising the board or my club, right across the Premier League, the Championship you've got people running football clubs who don't understand football. They don't want to take advice or help from football people. There are a lot of ex footballers out there – Terry Venables, for example. Why not employ Terry Venables? He has an incredible knowledge about football. People don't want to have him at a football club. It really does baffle me.

A question from one of my readers. How much crowd banter do you hear when you are on the pitch or do you just zone out?

It might be slightly different nowadays. When I played the Chicken Run was right on top of you. The crowd were very close to you – not just at West Ham. I think you had a bit more of a rapport with the fans. You could hear certain things. I used to enjoy the banter. As long as it's not too personal. You get people swearing an shouting about your mother's this or your girlfriend's that. That's not banter, it's being stupid. But it's fantastic when you hear something funny. I actually enjoyed John Terry's warm-up at Chelsea the other day. I thought it was funny. The fans were giving him a bit of stick. In return John bent over and did his stretches. That was brilliant! What I don't condone is people throwing coins, or if John Terry had turned round and stuck his fingers up at the crowd –which he didn't. Banter is part of football. You don't pick on players who are bad players so I always took it as a compliment if opposing fans were singing about me. They wouldn't bother if you were a bad player. I never shouted anything back but I remember when I left West Ham back in the late 80s, and my first game against West Ham at Goodison and we beat West Ham four nil, the fans were giving me a bit of stick. They were disappointed with me and I understood that. When I scored the goal I gave them a wave as if to say 'that's what I do', but you have got to be man enough to take it. It's the same for the fans. I don't believe that fans should be able to give a player tick and then when that player turns round and gives them a wave, you can't the moan at the player. You've got to expect it back. Take Frank Lampard, when he scores a goal against us. You can't take that banter out of football. It is part of why we go – to have a smile. I remember back in the 70s standing on the North Bank and the whole crowd was chanting "We all agree, Stanley Bowles is a wanker". He then turned round, looked at us and started conducting. It was fantastic! You've got to laugh along with it. In the end, as a player, you hear as much or as little as you want to.

Apart from the goal on your debut, what was the most important, or enjoyable, goal you scored at West Ham?

I think the overhead kick against Forest back in '87. Technically it was the best goal I ever scored. I only got two overhead goals in my career, so it's quite easy to remember all two of them. I used to practice it in training and in that game it all came together. The England manager, Bobby Robson, was there. The cub has just started to video all the games so it's on film. I also enjoyed to two goals at Chelsea when we beat them four nil in the 86 season.

Which players gave you the best service from midfield? Was there a player you have a telepathic understanding with – you just knew when the ball was going to come and where they would play it?

There are three players I'll mention. When I first got into the first team, there was a guy called Trevor Brooking, who was quite a decent player! But my first full season was also Trevor's last season. He was sensational that season. You made your run and the ball arrived where you wanted it. A lot of midfield players pass the ball to you but not every player can put it where you want it. With Trevor he would play the ball in front of you so you could hit the ball first time or take a touch, whatever you wanted to do. Other midfield players, you'd make the run and they'd play the ball and it would hit you up the arse, or you'd have to take a touch before you could do anything with it. The other guy I really enjoyed playing with was Alan Devonshire. He was fantastic. Dev played on the left side of midfield. I played slightly left as a forward. Our rapport was fantastic. I'm lunching with him and Galey this afternoon – he's doing brilliantly at Braintree, I might add. Unfortunately he got injured against Wigan and we lost him for 18 months, and when he came back he was still probably our best player. The third one, who I grew up with as a kid, and you talk about telepathy. Alan Dickens was the one I really had the understanding with. We played together right through schoolboys, youth team, reserves and ultimately the first team. He was such an underrated player. Dicko had everything. He was good in the air, a good finisher, creative, he could beat players. He wasn't blessed with an abundance of pace but he wasn't slow. He had everything, but the one thing he lacked was that belief in his own ability. I wouldn't say he was shy, but he was an unassuming lad. He never realised how good he was. He needed just that little bit more confidence, arrogance, and he would have been a fantastic player, not just for West Ham, but also for England.

That could be said for a lot of players. I think back to Matthew Rush. I always thought he was hugely talented, but just lacked that belief in himself.
Yes, Matt Rush. Footballers are very complex, Iain. You can be skilful, fast, a great finisher, but to become the overall package you have to have a bit of everything. You can't just be good at nine out ten, you have to be good at ten out of ten. One of the most important things is mental ability.

Did you ever have any self doubt? When you started or later in your career?

If I am told I can't do something I like to prove people wrong. It was very much the case with the takeover, which I know we'll come to later. It's the same with playing football. From a very early age – six or seven – I knew I could score goals. The easiest part of the game for me was scoring goals. The hard part was running around, controlling the ball, doing everything you have to do to become a footballer. I could score goals. The other kids couldn't do it, but I could. But the problem I had was that I was small. Whatever level I got to people would say 'yes, he's a really good player but he's too small'.

That's still the case isn't it?

Yes, I am too small! [laughs] Don't go down to Galey's level, Iain! I'm still small, I know I'm too small!
What I mean is, in this country I think it is now very difficult for strikers of a smaller stature to make the breathrough. If you're your size nowadays, it is very difficult. You don't get the same chances. Look at Sam Baldock. He didn't get a fair crack of the whip here, did he? But overall, there aren't that many small strikers around nowadays.
We're a dying breed. We've just heard that one of the greatest strikers of the last 20 years say he's going to hang his boots up – Michal Owen. There's Jermaine Defoe. There was Robbie Fowler, Gary Lineker, your out and out goalscorers, but we really are a dying breed.

Is that because there is now a tendency to play one up front?

Yes, it doesn't help. Your one up front is going to be a Drogba, Eile Heskey, or whoever you can think of – the big, string entre forward. I had to prove people wrong and the more people who said 'you're too small, you'll never make it', I had to prove them wrong. Going forward to the modern era, it shouldn't matter how tall you are, it should be about your ability and your skill. Once you get the opportunity you've got to have the mental strength to go and prove people wrong. People would have said to Messi that he's too small – Maradona would have been the same. I always point to the fact that most of the world's best players have been 5'10 or under including Pele, my hero Gerd Muller. Even Rooney is only 5'8 or 5'9. Ronaldo is one of the exceptions. Cruyff and Van Basten too. It's a lot easier to name the smaller players that the taller players – but then I would say that as a small man!

Looking back are you disappointed you only got seven England caps?

Yes. What's even more frustrating is that I have actually only got six caps because I played in the Rous Cap and the FA only gave one cap for playing against Scotland Chile. I wish I was joking. I played seven times for England and I got six caps. Only the FA could do that. The one regret in my career is that I didn't score for England. I did at youth and Under 21 level but not for the full side but my England career never got going. I had a couple of problems in front of me and they were called Gary Lineker and Peter Beardsley. I didn't help myself because I got sent off for the Under 21s and got banned for three games. That could have cost me three caps. I never got in the starting eleven to be given the five or six games to prove I could do it at international level. The one game I started was against Scotland and I didn't play particularly well. After that I never played another game for my country. I never scored, but being the statto I am I only played 171 minutes for England – less than two games. It's not like I played seven full games and didn't score. It is the one one real regret of my career, apart from playing for Millwall towards the end of my career.

Tony Cottee's new book WEST HAM: THE INSIDE STORY is available now in paperback at £14.99.

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Sam hot on model
By PAT SHEEHAN
Published: 9 hrs ago
The Sun

SAM ALLARDYCE will use a stunning model to land a couple of strikers in the summer. The West Ham manager wants to be the first boss to take charge at the Olympic Stadium when the club move there from Upton Park in 2016. And Allardyce admits he will show any transfer targets detailed models of what the stadium will look like in a bid to sign them. He revealed: "I think we could use the model. We have artistic impressions we can put up and say to any prospective player this is where we'll be in 2016." Top of Allardyce's wish list is Vitesse Arnhem striker Wilfried Bony. He added: "There is always a worry lack of goals could cost you. "West Ham have had many a game where we have dominated and have not taken our chances. "We are the lowest goal scorers away from home and that is why life has been a struggle away. "Putting the ball in the net is critical. We haven't done that which is why we are not safe already.
"Our top scorer is Kevin Nolan and he is on six from midfield. You want more from your strikers."

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Hammers will keep Olympic spirit alive
Exclusive
By VIKKI ORVICE
Published: 9 hrs ago
The Sun

DALEY THOMPSON has backed West Ham to keep the spirit of the Olympic Stadium alive. The Hammers yesterday revealed more plans about how the iconic venue will look after being finally being named as anchor tenants earlier this month. They will move from Upton Park to the Olympic Stadium from August 2016 and pay around £2m-a-year rent in addition to £15m for a 99-year lease on the £429m venue on which conversion costs could reach £190m. Under conversion plans, the roof will be extended and the seating capacity reduced from 80,000 to between 54,000 and 60,000, with a retractable system allowing the venue to be converted from a football stadium to an athletics arena within days.

Critics have questioned the deal, with the taxpayer picking up the tab for the conversion costs, and the presence of a football club at the Stadium. Leyton Orient owner Barry Hearn is also still fighting the Hammers move. But Olympic legend Thompson, who won decathlon gold at the 1980 and 1984 Games and was involved in the lighting of the flame at London 2012, said: "West Ham have got an unbelievable deal out of it but the Olympic Stadium needs an anchor tenant. No disrespect to Barry Hearn but I don't think Leyton Orient are it. "I don't have as strong a view as some people about whether there should be a track in there. I just think we have this awesome stadium and it should be used more than once or twice a year. I don't care who uses the stadium as long as it is used. "I've been back to the Olympic Stadium in Sydney since their Games. It was quiet, very quiet. Thompson, who is helping to launch the St. Lucia Triathlon on the Caribbean island in November, said: "We all remember the days when it was absolutely packed in Sydney and although the park gets used with the swimming pool there it's a place that could easily have a lot more events. That's why our Olympic stadium should be used as much as it can be."

His comments come with the news that USAIN BOLT is to return to the scene of his Olympic triple gold medal glory last summer after agreeing a deal to compete in two events when the stadium re-opens for the London Anniversary Games in July. The Jamaican sprinter is understood to have signed a £500,000 deal to compete on both days of the Diamond League grand prix on July 26 and 27 — the first anniversary of London 2012. It will be the first time Bolt has raced in Britain outside the Olympics since 2009. As SunSport first revealed in 2010 he stopped running at meetings here because UK tax rules hit him hard in the pocket. But the Government announced in last week's budget that a one-off tax exemption for overseas athletes would be granted for the London meeting to ensure an all-star cast could be assembled. A similar exemption was put in place when Wembley last hosted the Champions League final, allowing stars such as Lionel Messi not to lose out.

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Karren Brady's football diary – Boris more than a naughty boy
The Sun
By KARREN BRADY
SunSport columnist
Published: 9 hrs ago

Saturday, March 23
THE reception to the news the Olympic Stadium is to be our home is greeted today with a mixture of smiles and scepticism I can live with — particularly as I always believed there was no realistic alternative. The announcement came 50 years to the day after The Beatles released their first album, Please, Please Me and that is exactly what we intend to do for our supporters — please them. Let the consultation begin.

Sunday, March 24
THERE was never a doubt about offering Sam Allardyce a new West Ham contract. But it appears that our policy to wait until we are safe from relegation seemed to bother some supporters and so we decide today to talk to the manager about terms. The fact is we want Sam and he wants to stay. He won't be picking up his musket and we won't be wielding a hammer and I'm very confident he'll be at Upton Park next season.

Monday, March 25
THE Boris Johnson I see in a TV documentary this evening is Boris playing the naughty schoolboy. But that's a far different Boris to the one I dealt with for months during stadium negotiations. He was rather more a man in business mode, anxious to secure as good a deal with West Ham as he could for Londoners and the tax payers. The mayor of London is a ladies' man, no question about that. And the manager he reminds me of most is Jose Mourinho — although not the hair. Of me, he said: "With Karren, it's not so much that she moves the goalposts... it's also the seats and the roof that she moves as well." Not the earth then.

Tuesday, March 26
OH dear, here we go again. While Spain are showing in France that they are resilient as well as brilliant, England are messing up. The manager keeps a sense of proportion. "It's going to be quite interesting at the top now," says Roy. Quite interesting. It's going to be ruddy murder. Four more episodes of nail-chewing fear, wondering whether his team can keep their nerve as they clearly didn't against the giants of Montenegro.

Wednesday, March 27
A VERY worried friend tells me QPR have lost £93million this season and he has put in £31m. After losing at Villa Park, they could no longer hide from bitter truth that Harry Redknapp, with bundles of money, might not save them from relegation. Only players and managers get rich from football, he sighs. Not true. We did sell Birmingham for £82m and could have got out while the going was good. Instead, we're spending it at West Ham.

Thursday, March 28
HERE'S a single clue that spring must be in the air: Mario Balotelli has fallen in love again. Silly old Mario says his new girlfriend is the reason he cannot stop scoring goals. Two for Italy on Tuesday and seven in six games for AC Milan since he left Manchester City and all because of Fanny Neguesha. He said: "Thanks to Fanny I have rediscovered the balance that I need in my work." Hmmm. When I fell in love with a footballer, he scored a lot, too.

Friday, March 29
IT'S a fraught business being a woman in football. Alexandra Wrage does it with something rather like the pronunciation of her name — rage. In questioning corruption and vote-rigging within FIFA, the Canadian, a member of FIFA's governance committee, has a heck of a target to get furious at. Sepp Blatter's men tend to stick together. But she is chipping away and when the wall comes down it will be with an almighty crash.

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Car-lton Cole
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: 8 hrs ago
The Sun

CARLTON COLE has hailed his uncle Duncan as the driving force behind his quest for a new West Ham contract. The striker's poor time-keeping cost him so much in fines he has recruited one of his nearest and dearest as his personal chauffeur. Uncle Dunc is also his fiercest critic — and agent — and will be leading talks with co-owner David Sullivan when negotiations kick off over a deal for next season. Cole, 29, said: "I don't drive any more. "Duncan, my uncle, drives me about now. "I just find it easier. He drives me to training every day. That's his allocated job — to look after me. "He is still late picking me up, so I get fined — and I am taking it out of his wages! "My uncle has been there for me since I was young. Every match he will tell me what I'm doing wrong. "He is my worst critic — I don't care what my mum, Sam Allardyce or any papers say about me. "He is the most supportive because he is the one I am scared of. "My uncle should be the one to go in and see the chairman at the end of the season. "He was like a dad to me growing up and helped me through everything. He took me to training and when I was on loan to Wolves and Villa he lived up there with me. "He has been through thick and thin with me. He has been the backbone to my career so far and without him I'd be lost. "I'd love to stay at West Ham. I have been here seven years. Once we're safe, hopefully something will be sorted out — I don't want to go anywhere else. "It can't be West Ham or nothing, though, because I am still only 29."

Hammers can take a big step towards Premier League safety with a home win over West Brom today. Just two goals this season is not a huge selling point — but Cole reckons boss Allardyce has built the team around defence first. He added: "Sometimes the formation doesn't help the strikers get a load of goals. But I've accepted it from the start of the season. "The next game is massive against West Brom — but if we get the points we are on our way to securing our Premier League status."

Cole also believes the move to the Olympic Stadium in 2016 will be a huge boost to the club. He said: "Things have to change. You cannot stay the same. I know the history of the club — Bobby Moore, everybody who has been involved at the club. "But life changes. Man City left Maine Road and went to their new stadium, Arsenal left Highbury and Chelsea are trying to now. Every club has to develop."

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Happy Hammer Joe finds home
By GRAHAM HILL
Published: 9 hrs ago
The SUn

WEST BROM boss Steve Clarke reckons Joe Cole has bounced back from his Liverpool nightmare after 'coming home'. Clarke coached Cole at both Chelsea and Liverpool. And he admits the player did not have his 'best moment' at Anfield. Now the Baggies chief comes up against the midfielder again when he returns to West Ham, three years after leaving when Gianfranco Zola was sacked. Cole came back to Upton Park in January when he finally ended an unhappy stay on Merseyside. Clarke said: "We had a brief spell together at Liverpool when Joe wasn't in his best moment. "He's not the first player who's made a move that hasn't worked out. But he's bounced back. "From what I've seen he's playing well. "He'll be a difficult opponent, but he is just one of many that they can put out against us."

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