Newcastle United match preview
WHUFC.com
Statistics and team news ahead of West Ham United's penultimate Barclays
Premier League home fixture
03.05.2013
WEST HAM UNITED v NEWCASTLE UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 4 MAY 2013
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: CHRIS FOY
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
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Important Travel Information
• Engineering works on the London Underground mean there will be no service
on the District Line between Tower Hill and West Ham and no service on the
Hammersmith and City line between Moorgate and Barking. Replacement buses
operate on both lines.
• There will also be no service on the London Overground between Highbury &
Islington and Stratford due to Network Rail bridge work. Replacement buses
operate.
• For c2c rail travellers, owing to engineering works in the Shoeburyness
area, only one line is available for use between Southend Central and
Shoeburyness. As a consequence, a reduced train service will run between
these stations.
Introduction
• West Ham United welcome Newcastle United to the Boleyn Ground for their
penultimate Barclays Premier League home fixture of the season, seeking
their first and only 'double' of the campaign. The Hammers won 1-0 at St
James' Park in the reverse fixture on 11 November 2012, with former Magpie
Kevin Nolan scoring the only goal.
• West Ham start the weekend tenth in the table, having collected 42 points
from 35 matches played. A victory this Saturday could take the Hammers into
ninth, with ninth-place Swansea City hosting second-place Manchester City at
the Liberty Stadium.
• Newcastle have fallen to 17th in the standings following a humbling 6-0
home defeat by Liverpool last weekend. The Magpies sit five points above the
bottom three, although 18th-place Wigan Athletic do have a game in hand on
Alan Pardew's squad.
• West Ham have enjoyed fine home form all season. The Hammers have picked
up 29 points and eight victories at the Boleyn Ground, including impressive
wins over Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion and draws with Manchester City
and Manchester United. In all four home league defeats, by Arsenal,
Liverpool, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham have led.
• Both managers will be facing their former clubs on Saturday. West Ham
United boss Sam Allardyce took charge of Newcastle United between May 2007
and December 2008, Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew was in charge at
West Ham United between 2003 and 2006 - the tenth manager in the club's
history. Pardew led the Hammers to promotion to the Premier League via the
Play-Offs in 2005 and the 2006 FA Cup final.
• Hammers pair Kevin Nolan and Andy Carroll will also be facing the old club
after successful spells with the Magpies. Nolan captained the club to
promotion from the Championship in 2009/10, with local hero Carroll leading
the charge by scoring 17 goals.
• Andy Carroll scored his first Newcastle United goal on his first
competitive start for the club at St James' Park on 10 January 2009. Carroll
scored the final goal in a thrilling 2-2 draw. Earlier, former Magpies
striker Craig Bellamy cancelled out Michael Owen's opening goal before
Carlton Cole put the Hammers in front ten minutes after the break. The home
side earned a point when Carroll headed in Damien Duff's cross with 12
minutes to play.
• Saturday's game will be the 123rd meeting between the two clubs. Newcastle
United have recorded 49 victories, West Ham United 38 wins and there have
been 35 draws.
Team news
West Ham United
• West Ham United will definitely be without left-back George McCartney
(knee), while centre-back James Tomkins (calf) is facing a race to be fit to
face Newcastle.
• The Hammers welcome back Paul McCallum from a loan spell with League Two
club Aldershot Town, but Ravel Morrison (Birmingham City), Rob Hall (Bolton
Wanderers) and Alou Diarra (Stade Rennais) remain with their loan clubs.
Newcastle United
• Newcastle United are hoping captain and centre-back Fabricio Coloccini
will be fit to return to action after missing the club's last 12 matches
with a back injury.
• Alan Pardew has a number of players unavailable, including No1 goalkeeper
Tim Krul (dislocated shoulder), Italy left-back Davide Santon (hamstring),
winger Sylvain Marveaux (groin) and full-back Ryan Taylor and winger Haris
Vuckic (both knee).
Last time out
Saturday 27 April 2013
Barclays Premier League
Manchester City 2-1 West Ham United
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Demel, O'Brien (C.Cole 80), Reid, Collins,
O'Neil, Diame, Nolan (Taylor 80), Jarvis, Vaz Te (Collison 66), Carroll
Subs not used: Henderson, Pogatetz, Noble, J.Cole
Goal: Carroll (90)
Saturday 27 April 2013
Barclays Premier League
Newcastle United 0-6 Liverpool
Newcastle: Elliot, Yanga-M'Biwa, Perch (Ben Arfa 46), Haidara, Debuchy,
S.Taylor, Cabaye, Sissoko, Gutierrez (Gouffran 46), Tiote (Anita 65), Cisse
Subs not used: Harper, Williamson, Gosling, Sh.Ameobi
Last meeting
Kevin Nolan scored the only goal of the game against his old club as West
Ham United scored a 1-0 Barclays Premier League victory at Newcastle United
on 11 November 2012. The Hammers skipper struck on 37 minutes, diverting
Joey O'Brien's wayward shot past Tim Krul from ten yards. In the second
half, Jussi Jaaskelainen maintained West Ham's lead with an outstanding save
from former Hammer Demba Ba. The lineups that Sunday afternoon were:
Newcastle United: Krul, Santon, Simpson (Obertan 79), Williamson, S.Taylor,
Ferguson, Cabaye, Ben Arfa, Gutierrez (Anita 24), Cisse (Sh.Ameobi 46), Ba
Subs not used: Elliot, Amalfitano, Bigirimana, Marveaux
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Reid, McCartney (Demel 66), Tomkins, O'Brien,
Nolan, Jarvis (Maiga 34), Benayoun (O'Neil 52), Noble, Diame, Carroll
Subs not used: Spiegel, Collins, Hall, C.Cole
Head to head
Last six meetings (all Barclays Premier League)
11 November 2012 - Newcastle United 0-1 West Ham United
5 January 2011 - Newcastle United 5-0 West Ham United
23 October 2010 - West Ham United 1-2 Newcastle United
10 January 2009 - Newcastle United 2-2 West Ham United
20 September 2008 - West Ham United 3-1 Newcastle United
26 April 2008 - West Ham United 2-2 Newcastle United
Overall record v Newcastle United (all competitions): W 38, D 35, L 49
Ten-year records
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)
Newcastle United
2011/12 Premier League 5th (65 points)
2010/11 Premier League 12th (46 points)
2009/10 Championship 1st (102 points - promoted to Premier League)
2008/09 Premier League 18th (34 points - relegated to Championship)
2007/08 Premier League 12th (43 points)
2006/07 Premier League 13th (43 points)
2005/06 Premier League 7th (58 points)
2004/05 Premier League 14th (44 points)
2003/04 Premier League 5th (56 points)
2002/03 Premier League 3rd (69 points)
Referee
• Chris Foy referees West Ham United for the fourth time in the 2012/13
Barclays Premier League season, having taken charge of the 1-1 home draw
against Stoke City, goalless draw at Norwich City and the 3-1 defeat at
Fulham.
• Foy officiated twice at West Ham games last season, refereeing the
Hammers' 2-0 npower Championship away win at Cardiff City at the beginning
of March and the defeat at the Boleyn Ground to Reading at the end of the
same month.
• Foy has been a Barclays Premier League referee since 2001, having
originally made the Select Group list of assistant referees in 1995.
• In 2007, Foy took charge of the FA Trophy final at Wembley, before
returning to the Home of Football a year later to act as fourth official for
Portsmouth's FA Cup final victory over Cardiff. In 2009, he was back at
Wembley to take charge of the League Cup final and Community Shield, while
Portsmouth were in action again as Foy refereed the 2010 FA Cup final, which
Pompey lost to Chelsea.
• In all, the 50-year-old has taken charge of 28 West Ham fixtures - the
first coming as long ago as 23 February 2002, when Frederic Kanoute scored
the only goal in 1-0 home Premier League win over Middlesbrough.
• In 30 fixtures this season, Foy has shown 62 yellow cards, sent two
players off and awarded seven penalties.
• Foy will be assisted by Ron Ganfield and Matthew Wilkes, while the fourth
official will be Philip Gibbs.
Old boys
• West Ham United skipper Kevin Nolan scored 30 goals in 91 appearances for
Newcastle United between January 2009 and May 2011, captaining the Magpies
to the Championship title in 2009/10.
• Hammers striker Andy Carroll was born in Gateshead and came through the
Academy ranks at Newcastle United. The 23-year-old netted 33 goals in 91
games for the Magpies before joining Liverpool in a record £35m deal in
January 2011.
• Sam Allardyce took charge of Newcastle United 24 times between May 2007
and January 2008, winning eight matches, losing ten and drawing six.
• Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew spent a little more than three years
in charge at West Ham between October 2003 and December 2006. Pardew led the
Hammers to promotion via the play-offs in 2004/05 and the 2006 FA Cup final.
In total, he took charge of 163 matches, winning 67, losing 58 and drawing
38.
• Others who have played for both clubs include Demba Ba, Craig Bellamy, Lee
Bowyer, Franz Carr, John Dowsey, Kieron Dyer, Dave Gardner, Paul Goddard,
Shaka Hislop, James Jackson, Vic Keeble, Matthew Kingsley, Paul Kitson,
Robert Lee, Joe Loughlin, Scott Parker, Stuart Pearce, Wayne Quinn, Bryan
'Pop' Robson, George Robson, Keith Robson, Harold Smith, Nolberto Solano,
Hal Tate and David Terrier.
General information
• All Standard tickets for Saturday's fixture have SOLD OUT. A limited
number of wheelchair/carer bays remain available. For details, click here.
• Saturday's forecast in east London is for a cloudy day with a maximum
temperature of 15C (59F).
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Hammers to turn out for Mitchell
WHUFC.com
West Ham United players will feature in a Benefit Match for the late
Mitchell Cole on Tuesday
03.05.2013
A host of West Ham United players will take part in a Benefit Match for the
late Mitchell Cole at Stevenage FC on Tuesday evening. West Ham United
Academy graduate Cole passed away in December of the heart condition
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy at the age of 27. Cole's brother-in-law Joe
Cole, the Hammers midfielder, has been instrumental in the organisation of
the special match and will be one of a number of West Ham players to honour
the winger. Mark Noble, Kevin Nolan, Andy Carroll, Matt Jarvis and James
Collins and have all asked to take part and have been given permission to
play by manager Sam Allardyce and the Football Association. A host of other
recognisable names have also agreed to take part, including Celtic and
ex-Grays Athletic striker Gary Hooper and former Stevenage favourites Barry
Hayles and Steve Guppy. Cole played a key part in Stevenage's promotion to
the Football League in 2010 and totalled nearly 150 appearances for the
club. Cole also played for Grays Athletic, Southend, Northampton, Oxford,
Stotfold, Hitchin, Biggleswade and Arlesey Town during his career. The
Benefit Match, between a Stevenage XI and a Mitchell Cole XI, will take
place on Tuesday 7 May at The Lamex Stadium with a 7pm kick-off. Tickets are
available priced £10 for adults and £5 for U18s, with proceeds being split
between the Cole family and its chosen charity, The Cardiomyopathy
Association. To purchase your tickets, visit www.borotickets.co.uk
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Lee looking forward to Magpies visit
WHUFC.com
Former West Ham United and Newcastle United star Rob Lee on Saturday's big
match at the Boleyn
03.05.2013
Saturday's game at the Boleyn Ground pits West Ham United's Sam Allardyce,
Kevin Nolan and Andy Carroll against their former club Newcastle United.
Another who has played for both the Hammers and the Magpies is Rob Lee, a
West Ham fan, whose son Olly is now at Birmingham City and whose younger
boy Elliot is making his way through the Academy of Football. Earlier this
week whufc.com caught up with the former England midfielder, and began by
asking him to sum up his time at West Ham. "Brief! There was a lot going
on," Lee said, "I came in under Glenn Roeder, just after the team had been
relegated. We had some fantastic players at the time like Joe Cole, Glen
Johnson, Michael Carrick, Jermain Defoe, and we went to Bournemouth for a
pre-season friendly and won 5-0 and I thought 'We've got a good team here'.
"But, within two weeks, they'd all gone bar Michael and Jermain. But I still
had high hopes for the season, especially after we made a decent start. But
Glenn Roeder left, Trevor Brooking took over and did really well, but didn't
want the job full-time and Alan Pardew came in, and that was that for me at
West Ham. Pardew bought in younger players like Nigel Reo-Coker so that
meant I had to leave."
In all, Lee played 14 games for the team he had supported and could have
joined earlier in his career. "I was at Charlton under Alan Curbishley, and
Curbs was great friends with Billy Bonds. I had heard the rumours that West
Ham wanted to buy me and I waited for them to come in and get me. I spoke to
Lennie Lawrence at Middlesbrough, but when it became clear West Ham couldn't
afford me, I went up to Newcastle to speak to Kevin Keegan."
That was very special for Lee, who revealed to me that Keegan was his
all-time hero as a boy. "Kevin was my idol. As a kid I had pictures of him
on my wall, despite being a West Ham fan. He was the first footballing
superstar." Lee's chat with Kevin Keegan wasn't without trepidation. "I
remember Matthew Le Tissier once told me never meet your idols. His was
Glenn Hoddle, but with England the two never got on. But for me with Kevin
it was everything I thought it would be. He was extremely friendly and we
had a laugh. "Signing for Newcastle when I did was the best thing I ever
did. I had a great time and couldn't have picked a better time to go there
as the club was growing. It was the first time I'd played for a big city
club."
While at Newcastle, Lee made some great friends and as the names of great
players he played alongside rolled off the tongue. "Alan Shearer, Les
Ferdinand, David Ginola, Peter Beardsley and David Batty. I played with
Batts and Paul Ince with England and thought Batty was technically a
fantastic player. He was labelled a hard man, but he was better than that as
he suited my game down to ground. He'd get the ball and give it to me and
off I'd go." Lee's footballing ability has been passed down to his sons,
with both Olly and Elliot set to follow in Dad's footsteps. Elliott's a
second-year scholar here at West Ham, so we asked Rob what kind of season
he'd had. "I'd say he's done blooming well this year when you remember he's
only 18. He's been playing with the Under-21s all season and scored some
impressive goals against Spurs in the FA Youth Cup defeat, and more recently
against Liverpool. Elliot's a goalscorer."
Olly began the season at Barnet, but is now at Birmingham, with Rob's old
Newcastle team-mate and good friend Lee Clark. "Olly was unlucky at West Ham
where he wasn't really given a chance. That happens to a lot of kids. If
he'd been given a chance and failed, I'd have said 'Fair enough', but he
didn't and is now rebuilding his career. At the start of the season we were
sold the idea of going to Barnet, but it never really worked out and I ended
up having a bust-up with Edgar Davids. "Olly is at Birmingham now with Lee
Clark and I have high hopes for him. He can certainly play and reminds me of
Michael Carrick. If he has half the career Michael Carrick has had, he'll
have done well."
So who does Lee want to win today? "Well it'll be tough for Newcastle after
3-0 and 6-0 defeats. From the last two home games the obvious question to
ask is 'Where is the fight in the team?'. I think they'll stay up, even if
they don't get another point as I don't see Wigan getting enough points.
"Upton Park was always a tough place to come I found as a player, although I
always used to score here. With my allegiances I guess I'll have to go for a
draw today."
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Nolan targets Newcastle double
WHUFC.com
Hammers captain Kevin Nolan wants to complete a league double over Newcastle
United on Saturday
04.05.2013
West Ham United skipper Kevin Nolan will welcome his former club to the
Boleyn Ground on Saturday, but that is where the hospitality will end
because he is focused on securing a top-ten finish for the Hammers.
Following a 6-0 defeat to Liverpool last week, Newcastle United find
themselves locked in a relegation battle, a position which comes as
something of a surprise to Nolan, who played 91 games for the Magpies
between January 2009 and summer 2011. The 30-year-old hopes his old
employers find a way out of their sticky situation, but only after they have
left E13 on Saturday. He told West Ham TV: "It's my old club coming to my
new club and I'm looking forward to it. I wish the circumstances for them
were a little bit better, but that's not my concern. "It's been a surprise
to see where they are, but I think they have enough about them to stay up.
I'm just looking forward to hopefully beating them on Saturday."
The Hammers' outlook is far rosier, as they currently occupy a top-half
position in their first season back in the Barclays Premier League. Nolan
believes that standing is fully justified and says the Club need to continue
to look upwards. He added: "To be honest, where we are now is exactly where
I thought we'd be at this time of the season. When I looked at what we had
in the dressing room and what we did last year - it's not easy getting back
out of the Championship - I knew what we could do. "We've got a lot of good
lads in the dressing room and we've managed to turn the situation around
from when the Club was relegated two years ago. "When the chips are down
we've been winning games, and when we're at home we're playing our football
and doing well. Everyone that has come here this season, including all the
top teams, have known they've been in for a game. "In my eyes we're
definitely where we should be and with a couple of acquisitions in the
summer we will be continuing along the long road to where I feel this club
belongs. "You have a plan, year-in, year-out to get to where you need to be
and, for now, we have two home games left and we feel that we should get
maximum points."
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A message from the Vice-Chairman
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Vice-Chairman Karren Brady gives her weekly Olympic Stadium
update
03.05.2013
I would like to thank the many thousands of supporters who have taken the
time to complete the independent SMG YouGov poll and offer their feedback on
the potential move to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford. We ran the online
poll ran for a week [from Tuesday 23 April to Tuesday 30 April] and we
offered you, the fans, the chance to provide detailed feedback on a range of
topics from transport to ticketing and atmosphere to attendance, along with
a final say on whether you supported the move or not. We are now eagerly
awaiting the results from SMG YouGov and we will look forward to sharing the
key findings on our club channels before the end of the season.
The experts at SMG YouGov will now begin analysing the results before
sending a report to the Club that lists the poll's key findings. We will
share the results with you as soon as have we them so keep your eye on
whufc.com. It's important that I stress at this stage that although this is
the conclusion of the poll, it does not mean that our consultation with our
supporters is over, if anything it's just the beginning. If SMGYouGov find
that our supporters are behind the move then we can really get to work on
the detailed elements of move. There are so many areas that we will need to
work on together - from the look and feel of the stadium to the match day
experience and of course how to say a fitting farewell to the Boleyn Ground.
We have also released another weekly Q+A, which answers another set of the
most common queries we've been sent through
yourosquestions@westhamunited.co.uk. Please send in any more questions you
might have as we'll be answering more next week. These are truly historic
times for West Ham United and I'm pleased we can rely on the knowledge,
passion and dedication of our loyal supporters to help make this decision
the best possible step forward for the Club.
Karren Brady
Vice-Chairman
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Olympic Stadium Q&A - Part 5
WHUFC.com
Supporters' questions on the Club's move to the Olympic Stadium answered
03.05.2013
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Were all Bondholders, Season Ticket Holders and Corporate Members able to
take part in the Poll. I have heard not all of them received the email?
CATEGORICALLY yes. Every single supporter who has a high-level relationship
with the Club as a Season Ticket Holder, Corporate Member or Bondholder was
able to take part.
The notification email was sent to all those for whom the Club holds an
email address and, crucially, also has the required permission to contact
with messaging of this description. Some supporters have unsubscribed to
Club communications other than their renewal information for example or have
opted only to receive certain types of communication as part of their
preferences.
As was widely publicised, in all of these cases supporters could still take
part. They were simply required to log into the SMG-YouGov site via the
website link to verify their information with their name and postcode. This
link was in the top stories on whufc.com and visible on the website all
week.
Where supporters experienced difficulty logging in, every email was dealt
with on an individual basis and was resolved. In the majority of cases
supporters hadn't followed the process correctly. However, unique log-ins
were provided to anyone eligible who had logged an issue before the closing
date.
Was the poll promoted in the Official Programme?
IT was. Five pages were dedicated to the launch of the poll in the Wigan
Athletic programme. Promotion included a full page advert, a feature and Q
and A. The poll launch was also widely promoted across all of the Club's
media channels including the big screens and the PA system and was on the
top of the website every day. SMG-YouGov report a fantastic response rate,
which they have told us will enable a significant and robust sample base.
Why couldn't you vote postally in the poll?
SMG-YouGov advised that online surveys, which allow for visuals and long
questions to be considered more carefully, result in greater accuracy as
respondents will be more engaged than people who are telephoned or receive
postal surveys. Online was therefore deemed to be the preferable solution
for the West Ham United Supporter Consultation as the Club wished to achieve
the largest and most robust sample possible within the recommended
timeframe.
SMG-YouGov also considered it to be more immediate and reliable than the
postal service. Their view was that whilst 83% of the UK population have
internet access at home, many of those who don't can access it at work so
while it may not cater for every single individual it covers the largest
possible base and every fan has the ability to access the internet in public
resource centres.
Will Under-18s get the opportunity to be part of the ongoing consultation?
ABSOLUTELY. Our young Hammers are the Club's future and will form a core
part of the next stage of our consultation. We actively encourage their
views and participation. Any Season Ticket Holder, Corporate or Youth
Academy Member who is Under-18 and interested in assisting and advising the
Club going forward, please email younghammersOS@westhamunited.co.uk
When will the poll results be concluded?
SMG-YouGov will now go through the process of cleaning the data and
analysing and reporting top line findings. The Club hopes to receive these
by week commencing 13 May in order that they can be published before the
season comes to a close.
When will we find out more about the ballot?
SMG-YouGov will focus on getting the results and then those findings will
enable effective focus groups to be determined. For those who requested
further information, the blind ballot for specific focus groups will be
released at the end of the season.
Is it the Club's intention to invest in training facilities?
ABSOLUTELY. As we have always said, the move provides the opportunity for
the Club to generate the resources required to achieve our footballing
ambitions. West Ham United will need a squad, training facilities and youth
development to match its stunning new home and talks are already underway to
progress those plans.
What will happen to the seats sectioned off in the upper tiers?
Many of them will be removed to accommodate TV Broadcast platforms and
telecommunications equipment. Those that do remain will be professionally
sectioned off and not at all visible when the when the Stadium is in
football mode. These seats do not form part of the Stadium in football mode
and will not be visible. We are still finalising the best solution with LLDC
but they assure us these are not an issue for West Ham United when the
Stadium is in football mode.
Will the move affect the Club in a negative way commercially?
The full terms of the agreement cannot be disclosed at this stage. We can
only restate what we have openly said, that this opportunity provides us
with a platform to really drive our business forward commercially. As a
Board we have vast experience in this area and now we have the platform, you
can trust us to make this work. Although we have not confirmed the details,
West Ham will continue to take all of the revenue from all of its own assets
such as ticketing, corporate hospitality, retail and sponsorship (including
shirt sponsorship). We retain full commercial control of our business.
Catering and naming rights revenue is shared. The Club has no current naming
rights partner at the Boleyn Ground.
It appears there are only hospitality boxes/lounges on one side of the
stadium. Is this correct?
Yes, all hospitality boxes, suites and lounges are located in the West Stand
over three levels. The new Stadium will see the addition of first-class
corporate facilities which can comfortably compete on a global scale. The
offer ranges from superb top of the range boxes and exceeds in every way
those currently available at the Boleyn Ground, without losing the tradition
and charm associated with the current facilities. An additional 1,000
Corporate seats will enable the club to address the majority of the issues
that exist at the Boleyn Ground, which cannot be tackled due to
infrastructure. The new Stadium enables a range of new pricing options.
There will be the ability to create a 'Club Level offer' for supporters and
their families who still wish to enjoy a more traditional matchday
experience but would like the use of an accompanying lounge. At the other
end of the scale, the superboxes and lounges sought at the current Stadium
can now be added. Corporate guests and their clients will enjoy an exclusive
VIP entrance and parking. The increased capacity will provide a wider range
of choice and dining options and improved custom-built modern infrastructure
will enable a substantially improved F&B offer to clients. The accompanying
VIP seats used to accommodate Her Majesty the Queen and her family as well
as international VIPs during the Games, with spectacular views of the
action, will now be utilised for West Ham supporters. Boxes and lounges can
be customised to suit tastes, but all will be distinctively West Ham United.
The fact that all hospitality is located on one side of the Stadium enables
us to create the East Kop Stand which is so crucial to our general admission
supporters whose needs are just as paramount.
Will supporters be able to monitor the work in progress via live web cams?
Yes they will. We hope to be able to publish more details regarding this on
whufc.com in the coming weeks.
Would it be possible to organise some sort of sponsored walk/run between the
Boleyn Ground and the OS to help emphasise how close the new stadium is to
the old one?
The Club is already in discussions about this and more information will be
published on whufc.com shortly.
Will supporters get the chance to buy souvenirs (seats/turf etc) from Upton
Park?
We are absolutely committed to ensuring that the Boleyn Ground will have a
fitting farewell tribute and that a legacy which maintains the Club's
reputation will be left. This will be carried out in close consultation with
our supporters. This will certainly include the opportunity for supporters
to be able to buy souvenirs.
Why is this a good move for West Ham United Football Club?
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to move to a worldwide, iconic
stadium that will offer West Ham United the chance to compete with the very
best teams in the country and across Europe. The multi-million pound
conversion will ensure the Olympic Stadium is amongst the world's finest
football venues and will hold the prestigious UEFA Category 4 status,
without putting a financial burden on the club. It provides an opportunity
to improve the club's fortunes on every level, including opening doors to
new revenue opportunities, which will help enable further investment in the
team and training facilities so we can achieve our footballing ambitions.
West Ham will be moving to one of the best-connected stadiums in Europe. The
DLR station at Stratford International is transforming it into a key
transport hub for Newham and east London. In addition Stratford is served by
the Central and Jubilee lines on the London Underground as well as London
Overground and the high-speed rail service from the city. The stadium's
54,000-capacity could see us listed amongst the top five attended clubs in
the Barclays Premier League and offers a fantastic opportunity to further
grow our fan base on a global scale.
What can you tell supporters about the deal?
Together with the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) we have
agreed commercial terms that include:
• An upfront capital contribution of £15m which, along with a share of
naming rights income, will assist with the cost of the overall
transformation works.
• An annual rent that delivers an anchor tenant to ensure the stadium's
long-term viability.
• The deal has been structured in a way that secures affordable rent for the
duration of the 99-year tenancy.
The draft agreement we have signed is still subject to many things,
including planning permission, and for us, our supporter consultation. We
were happy to confirm that we would make a windfall payment to the LLDC
above an agreed base case in the event we sold the club in the next ten
years as we do not plan to do so. We have no intention of selling the club.
The Olympic Stadium will never cost the club more than we can afford and the
Chairmen have personally guaranteed payments to the stadium if the club
cannot.
How will ticket pricing be structured?
As a Board we have always been committed to offering affordable family
football and the increased capacity opens up many new opportunities to
support this initiative. There will be more affordable seats and more
entry-level pricing but we will also be able to offer the more premium
products that our current stadium cannot offer at present. We have already
gauged the thoughts of many of our Season Ticket Holders and, now the plans
are in the public domain, we can consult them further on the likes of a
migration policy, price, location and additional benefits. The move will
ensure the club is more accessible to our existing supporters, plus it will
be more attractive to key groups - families and female supporters in
particular - to name a few.
When do West Ham United envisage playing their first game at the Olympic
Stadium?
The club intend to kick-off their 2016/17 campaign from the Olympic Stadium.
It is envisaged that there will be a couple of pre-season test fixtures such
as a Bobby Moore Cup friendly ahead of the season start.
What will the capacity be?
54,000.
When will supporters be able to share their opinions?
Following feedback from supporters we appointed recognised independent
company YouGov to poll supporters' opinions in relation to the move and
conduct consultation. Supporters who meet the required criteria will be
invited to participate in the supporter poll via email and whufc.com from
Tuesday 23rd April.
Vice Chairman, Karren Brady has actively encouraged all supporters to take
part and make sure they do not waste the once in a lifetime opportunity to
have their say on what is set to be the biggest decision to be made by the
club in the last 100 years. The poll will enable the club to fully
understand supporters' feelings and opinions towards the move so we can
respond accordingly. We thank you again for your patience throughout this
process.
Will current Season Ticket Holders be given priority at the Olympic Stadium?
Absolutely. Ensuring we have a fair and transparent migration policy is of
paramount importance to everyone at the club. We are keen to work with our
supporters as part of our consultation process to make sure we carry this
out in the way you would want and expect. Season Ticket Holders, along with
Bond Holders, are our most loyal supporters and our first priority when it
comes to general admission seating. Likewise our existing seasonal Corporate
Members will have priority in respect of the new hospitality areas.
Will match tickets be more affordable and accessible?
We are offering up to 100,000 free tickets per season that will ensure some
of the most deprived children in the country will gain access to elite sport
and drive an increase in sports participation. As a Board we have always
been committed to offering affordable family football and the increased
capacity opens up so many new opportunities to support this initiative.
There will be more affordable seats and more entry-level pricing but we are
unable to determine more detailed pricing structures at this stage. The move
will ensure the club is more accessible to a wider section of supporters and
we are confident that our attendances will regularly be in the top five in
the country.
Did the club look at the possibility of redeveloping the East Stand?
Yes, and in great depth. First and foremost we could not have achieved a
capacity anything like on the scale of the Olympic Stadium by going with
this option. There are a variety of reasons why it wasn't deemed to be
feasible. It's not just a simple case of investment and growth in respect of
the Boleyn Ground, but the surrounding infrastructure simply does not
support stadium growth to the level we are seeking. Upon investigation it
was clear this was not a viable alternative.
Can we take the 'The Champions' sculpture with us?
Yes, if that's what our supporters want, we certainly have that option.
Talks are underway with the LLDC and Newham Council to decide the best
option to honour our West Ham and England legends in both locations. We are
committed to providing a fitting tribute to the men who played such an
important role in the club's history. Ultimately we want our supporters to
determine what we take with us and this will form a huge part of our ongoing
consultation.
Will the Olympic Stadium site feel like West Ham United's permanent home
with a full-time Ticket Office and Club Store etc?
Yes. The stadium will have the look and feel of West Ham's home ground all
year round. This includes a fully operating Ticket Office and Club Store
managed by West Ham United staff just as is the case at the Boleyn Ground
now.
When can we see more artist's impressions and designs?
Three artist's impressions are already available in the public domain. These
are the official architects' computer-generated images that have been
supplied to us by the LLDC. We also have a series of drawings that
demonstrate more fully some of the technical aspects, which can be found on
whufc.com. These are the drawings which have been shown to key groups such
as the squad, management staff, Supporter Advisory Board, Supporters' Club
and a number of former players to name a few. Up until this point only
physical copies have been available hence why they could not be distributed
more widely. We will now share all drawings and images with you as they are
generated.
What is the Desso pitch that the stadium will have? Does that mean it's
artificial?
Desso surfaces are recognised globally as the optimum in pitch technology
and will serve the proposed multi-use functionality perfectly. Desso is
currently used at most major sporting venues including Twickenham and the
Emirates and the majority of pitches used in the World Cup in South Africa
were also Desso. The pitch quality will be second to none with under soil
heating, drainage and the all-new Desso field of play. This is the pitch
that the Boleyn Ground has had since 1998 where it has on three occasions
been nominated pitch of year. A Desso pitch will ensure a consistent surface
for the full Premier League season. Head groundsman Dougie Robertson assures
us it is a 'phenomenal product'.
Will there be improved catering facilities at the Olympic Stadium?
Absolutely. The catering facilities on offer in and around the Olympic
Stadium will be world-class.
We have looked at many of the other top stadia both around the UK and
internationally including those you may be familiar with such as Wembley and
the Emirates. Our intended offer will at least match, if not exceed the best
in the market. Many of the frustrations our supporters experience at the
Boleyn Ground, such as the limited choices on offer, are as a direct result
of the infrastructure restrictions in a stadium of this age. This is not the
case with a modern state-of-the-art stadium that is being designed with all
the knowledge and experience required to understand and meet ever-expanding
modern day supporter needs.
The catering outlets and kiosks in the transformed UEFA Category 4 stadium
will be brought onto the podium to form part of the main stadium, as you
would expect from a world-class arena. The new stadium also enables a 'Club
Level offering' for supporters and their families who still wish to enjoy a
more traditional matchday experience but require access to a lounge, hot
food and drinks.
What will happen to the ashes at the Memorial Garden at the front of the
Boleyn Ground?
The club has been mindful of this consideration throughout this process and
can assure all supporters that we will treat this situation with the utmost
sensitivity and respect deserved by our departed supporters who are resting
or remembered in the Memorial Garden. We believe any action must be in line
with the wishes of the families involved. There is no comprehensive list
which details those who are rested, so we will be reaching out to the
families we are not yet already in dialogue with asking them to get in
touch. We are in full consultation with the club's chaplain Reverend Alan
Bolding regarding this matter.
What will happen to the commemorative bricks?
We will take supporters' personalised messages over to the Olympic Stadium
with us but because many of the existing bricks are showing signs of wear
and tear it's likely messages will be transcribed again. We appreciate their
sentiment and, for many fans, they've been given as gifts to friends and
family, and therefore we are keen to find a new home for them in Stratford.
Will international supporters be given the chance to participate in the
survey?
Supporters living abroad who are on the club's database and fit the criteria
of either holding a high level relationship with the club or match
attendance will also be offered the opportunity to have their say when the
survey is released.
Would the club consider opening a West Ham United museum at the Olympic
Stadium?
Although there are no plans as yet to open a West Ham United museum within
the stadium, all of the club's memorabilia and trophies will be coming with
us and will be displayed for all to enjoy with the pride and reverence they
deserve.
When does the lease begin?
West Ham will relocate to the Olympic Stadium in time for the start of the
2016/17 season, but we will not move until we are satisfied that the stadium
is ready for football and for us to host our first match. There are
extensive redevelopment works to be completed so that the stadium is able to
host major footballing events. We have worked hard to agree a specification
for the works and we will ensure they are implemented before we relocate.
Will the move create potential opportunities for local construction firms?
West Ham United will look to appoint a fit out contractor with strong
knowledge of the club to ensure that all areas suitably reflect its heritage
and history.
All major contracts will be led by the stadium SPV (Special Purpose
Vehicle). We advise companies to make direct contact with the SPV when
appropriate as the club will not be responsible for appointing construction
companies to carry out the main conversion work.
Will there be parking facilities for supporters on a match day?
There will be ample parking opportunities for those supporters who wish to
drive to the stadium on a match day and there are still potential
partnerships to be explored with the likes of Westfield. However one of the
core benefits of the move is that the venue is one of the most
well-connected stadiums in Europe so there will be plenty of easy
alternative ways to travel on public transport to the ground on a match day.
This was one of the key aspects that attracted the club to the stadium, as
it will ensure easy access - within minutes in many cases - from our core
catchment areas throughout Essex and east London. It is already served by
the second best-connected station in London and nine lines across London's
Overground and tube network, with Crossrail set to be added by 2017.
How will the move benefit the local community?
We are offering up to 100,000 free tickets per season that will ensure some
of the most deprived children in the country will gain access to elite sport
and drive an increase in sports participation. Our award-winning community
department will continue to operate multi- sport, educational and cultural
activities to deliver the legacy we have always promised and to encourage
youngsters to lead healthy active lifestyles.
What will happen to the Supporters' Club?
The E20 LLP (a joint venture between the LLDC and Newham Council) will be
tasked with the letting of other concessions in the Stadium and the LLDC
will also be tasked with the letting of units in and round the Queen
Elizabeth Olympic Park. It is our understanding that while some of these
units will be let by, for example, the catering partner, that consideration
is being given to ensuring that there are both small local business and
community uses. The Club has met with members of the Supporters' Club and
has championed their case to the relevant members of the E20 LLP. Club
officials have met with key officials from the committee and discussions
regarding how the Club can further support the Supporters' Club are ongoing.
Will the stadium naming rights be sold?
Yes, it is the intention that the stadium naming rights will be sold. This
is fast becoming the expectation of any big club with a stadium of the
stature that would attract a naming rights partner. It is apparent from
those Premier League elite clubs that already have a stadium with a naming
rights partner that it does not in any way adversely impact upon the Club's
ability to retain its sense of identity.
Are matchday travel discounts a possibility?
It has always been our vision that the Club will play its part in ensuring
that the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park becomes a day-out 'destination' to the
benefit of its visitors and most importantly for our supporters.
This was a key feature of West Ham United's bid. Discussions are underway
with the area's key stakeholders to fully explore the cross-marketing
possibilities with the Park's stakeholders to ensure it becomes a thriving
success and its regular visitors can benefit.
If the Club get relegated, will the Olympic Stadium tenancy agreement impact
on the Club financially?
The core focus of our Board strategy is to ensure West Ham United remains a
Premier League club. As a Board we acknowledge that the Stadium must have a
team that befits it. We have extensive business experience and are
absolutely astute when it comes to managing the Club's finances both as its
custodians and to create the revenue required to pay down the debt and
invest in the squad and its development. We take our responsibility very
seriously. The Club's turnover has grown year on year since 2010. By the
time we play our first match turnover is forecast to have doubled since
2010. The Club will ALWAYS be able to afford its annual rent. Whilst we do
not intend to focus on relegation, the deal is structured in such a way that
the annual usage fee is reduced should the Club be relegated.
Where will the away supporters sit?
While we have identified some options for the away supporters' area, this is
one of the key areas that we want to consult with our supporters about.
The areas identified will of course be as a result of operational
considerations, such as segregation and access. We have already received
some fantastic suggestions. Our priority must be our own home supporters and
their matchday experience. We are aware that the atmosphere at the stadium
will form a key part of their enjoyment of the matchday experience. We are
also keen to create a ground that visiting supporters want to travel to for
us to proudly host them and to enhance the overall atmosphere.
Will there be better facilities such as WCs etc than at present?
Categorically yes. Many of the issues experienced at the Boleyn Ground due
to the infrastructure and age of the stadium will be resolved by the stadium
move. The ability to offer a world-class modern football stadium with all
the associated amenities for our supporters was a key driver for the move
due to the restrictions in developing the current stadium. The Boleyn Ground
has 283 WCs while the Olympic Stadium will have 995. It will also have more
than double the number of food and catering units than at the Boleyn Ground.
Will there be an opportunity to honour legends such as Billy Bonds and Geoff
Hurst?
Absolutely, and this is an essential part of our plans to make the stadium
our home. We have already confirmed that we will once again be able to name
a stand after our legends Bobby Moore and Sir Trevor Brooking and there are
also other exciting tributes for former players that will be announced soon.
This again is the kind of consultation that we intend to have with
supporters once we have gauged their overall feelings towards the move - who
would they like to see honoured and how?
Will the Club offices be there?
Yes, the Club offices will of course need to move to the Stadium to offer a
year-round location from which to run the Club and service our supporters.
Does the Club lose out commercially by being a tenant?
No, one of the main benefits of the move is that that Club will have a
platform from which, with our sustained hard work and commitment, we are
able to grow our revenue. This will be without having to carry the burden of
further debt which would follow if we were to the make the initial
significant outlay for a new stadium. For West Ham United this opportunity
would simply have not been possible any other way. Not only do we have a
unique opportunity to continue paying down our debt but with attendances
which could regularly top 50,000 and a further 1,000 hospitality places, the
Club has a real opportunity to grow.
The Club also retains all commercial control and revenue from its own assets
such as shirt sponsorship, retail and ticketing. It will also take a share
of catering income and naming rights. The hard work we have put in to grow
our business year on year as we have since 2010 will need to continue, but
the move presents a real platform for us to move the Club to new levels.
This revenue would be re-invested in the squad, youth development and
facilities to achieve our footballing ambitions.
Will local businesses such as pie and mash shops be able to move?
This will be down to the individual businesses. They are all privately owned
so they will need to decide whether they want to relocate with the Club or
not.
There are numerous retail and catering opportunities available in and around
the park and the Club would encourage any local business that wants to move
with the Club to explore those options. As above the E20 LLP (a joint
venture between the LLDC and Newham Council) will be tasked with the letting
of other concessions in the Stadium and the LLDC will also be tasked with
the letting of units in and round the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It is
our understanding that while some of these units will be let by, for
example, the catering partner that consideration is being given to a
strategy that ensures there are both small local business and community
uses.
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West Ham v Newcastle
By Martin Fisher
Match of the Day commentator
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Upton Park Date: Saturday, 4 May
TEAM NEWS
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has no fresh injury concerns as he welcomes
former club Newcastle to Upton Park. Defenders James Tomkins (calf) and
George McCartney (knee) are again likely to miss out but Mark Noble and Joe
Cole are pushing to start.
Newcastle full-back Mathieu Debuchy misses out through suspension. Left-back
Massadio Haidara has a hamstring injury, although skipper Fabricio Coloccini
could return from a long-term back problem.
MATCH PREVIEW
It's been a traumatic week on Tyneside. That 6-0 drubbing by Liverpool,
hot-on-the-heels of the Sunderland surrender, has been difficult to digest.
Tempers have reached boiling point, fingers have been pointed, accusations
of divisive splits in the camp strongly denied by the club. "Newcastle have
absolutely fallen apart and their season cannot finish quickly enough. I
think they already have enough points to stay up because Wigan have left
themselves too much to do, but that does not hide the fact the last few
games have been embarrassing." What cannot be disputed is that the team has
been awful on the pitch. Four defeats in their last six games have seen
Newcastle sink like a stone and suddenly relegation has become a very
genuine possibility. A lead of five points over Wigan might sound huge, but
the Latics do have a game in hand. Unlike Newcastle, they are playing well
and of course Roberto Martinez's men have history where escaping the drop is
concerned. Newcastle want to be safe before Arsenal arrive at St. James'
Park on the last day of the season. Who knows what to expect away to already
relegated QPR next Sunday? So a point or all three would be most welcome
from West Ham. The Toon Army have enjoyed many of their recent trips to the
Boleyn Ground with three wins in their last five visits, most recently in
October 2010. Their scorers that day? Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan! Former
favourites now lying in wait wearing claret and blue. Carroll's form is so
impressive of late that an England recall is predicted, while Nolan is
always dangerous and scored the winner when these sides met on Tyneside in
November. Throw into the equation two managers facing former clubs who gave
them the sack and you have enough plot-lines to grace any Eastenders script.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Newcastle have won on three of their last five visits to Upton Park, losing
just once.
West Ham beat Newcastle 8-1 at Upton Park in April 1986 as centre-half Alvin
Martin scored a hat-trick - against three different goalkeepers, one of whom
was Peter Beardsley.
Overall, the clubs have met on 122 occasions. West Ham have won 38 of those
matches; Newcastle have won 49.
West Ham
The Hammers have only been beaten once in the Premier League at Upton Park
in 2013 - a 3-2 loss to Spurs in late February.
Andy Carroll has been involved in eight of West Ham's last 14 Premier League
goals (six goals, two assists).
West Ham goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen has made a league-high 155 saves this
season.
Newcastle
The Magpies have the second-worst away record in the Premier League. They
have only won one match on the road: at the same stage last season, they had
won seven away from home.
This time last year Newcastle were fifth in the Premier League. They go into
this match sitting 17th.
In losing 6-0 to Liverpool last weekend, Newcastle suffered their heaviest
home defeat since 1925.
They have only scored three goals in their last six Premier League matches.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United v Newcastle United
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 3rd May 2013
By: Preview Percy
Next we play host to Newcastle United in what will be a 3pm kick off on
Saturday. Praise the good lord or something.
Of course with decent weather in the offing and a home match on a Saturday
afternoon you can normally rely on Transport For London to stick a spanner
in the works. No District Line between Tower Hill and West Ham, meaning that
the usual meet for pre-match cocktails with Preview Alastair and my other
Geordie pals will need to find another venue.
The visitors arrive in a spot of bother sitting as they are one spot above
the relegation zone with 35 points from 37 games. Whilst they do have a five
point cushion over Whelan's mob who currently occupy the one remaining
relegation slot, Wigan do have a game in hand, a midweek fixture at home to
Swansea. All in all it's time to get a bit nervy on Tyneside.
Current form has been pretty dreadful to be honest. They've won just the
once in the last six, a 1-0 home win over Fulham. Their only other reward
over the last half dozen matches was a 1-1 draw with the Baggies at the
Hawthorns. Other than that it's been defeat all the way going down 2-1 at
Wigan, 4-0 at Man City, 3-0 at home to Sunderland (ouch) and 6-0 at home to
Liverpool. The latter defeat was likened to having had a "death in the
family" by defender Steven Taylor proving that a sense of perspective is at
a premium up there.
Manager Alan Pardew – that name rings a bell for some reason – was quick to
quash rumours of a rift within the squad this week and club officials have
banned a certain national paper from the club thanks to the so called
"revelations" that appeared this week. Pardew did concede that there had
been language difficulties though and mused that players tended to adapt to
English when forced to rather than when they had an interpreter on call all
day.
First chice 'keeper Tim Krull is out for this having dislocated his
shoulder. Rob Elliott has been deputising in his absence with the veteran
Steve Harper sitting – as he has for much of his career – on the bench.
Their defence has been missing defender Fabricio Coloccini of late. The
Argentinian has been absent with a back injury. This he sustained in landing
after a spectacular overhead clearance in the 4-2 win over Southampton,
resul;ting in two broken bones. Part of his rehabilitation seems to have
included a trip across the Atlantic to his home country to cheer on his
boyhood club San Lorenzo. The Buenos Aires club, who include the current
Pope amongst their supporters, made a bid for the player during the January
window and Newcastle fans are worried that he might go in the summer. "I'm
worried that he might go in the summer" Preview Alastair told me, only last
week. Reports suggest that he might have recovered enough in time for this
match and recent results would seem to indicate that he will play if there's
any likelihood of his being fit.
Top scorer at the moment is Pappise Cisse. I say top scorer, a more accurate
description would be "joint" top scorer as he is on 13 goals alongside
Dember Ba, who legged it off to Chelsea in January. Actually the BBC website
lists his 13 goals as being comprised of 8 in the league and 4 in Europe.
Which makes 12 by my abacus. Cisse has a penchant for the spectacular, which
probably means that he'll score off his backside or something equally daft
this weekend.
I'm always amazed whenever I look at Newcastle to discover that Shola Amobi
is still there. I was even more gobsmacked to discover that he is actually
32 years old. He supposedly showed a lot of promise as a kid, though I could
never see it myself. Either way he's never been the most prolific of
strikers over his career. A career total of 76 goals in over 370 appearances
doesn't suggest the words "Goal Machine" to me and that's the sort of form
that you'd expect to see getting a player transferred down the leagues.
Funny old world.
Us? Disappointed that the recent unbeaten run came to an end last weekend,
We had a lot of the ball in the second half but, as we've seen when teams
play against us, it's all very well having the ball but if you do nothing
with it… Mind you it took two splendid goals to beat us. Had to love the
comedy goal at the end as well.
We have no further injury worries which gives Mr Allardyce a nice selection
problem again in midfield where O'Neil and the fit again Noble will be
battling for the same berth. I'm sure mssrs Carroll and Nolan will be
looking forward to this one with some relish as well.
Predictions? Well they'll be needing the win. That need will come with a
certain nervousness. An early goal will heighten that worry and nervous
glances at the score from West Brom will no doubt be made, assuming anyone
can get a bloody signal within the Boleyn Ground. For that reason I'll be
sending the Avram Grant Olympic Rest Home For The Bewildered's Fund to hire
a private investigator to find out why they never repeat episodes of It's a
Knockout any more (£2.50) on a 3-1 win for us, in the hope that Wigan don't
get anything at West Brom – I'd much rather they went down to be honest.
Enjoy the game!
When Last We Met At The Boleyn: Lost 1-2 (October 2010). We looked good for
ten minutes or so. Then we made the mistake of taking the lead through
Carlton Cole. Which would have been ok had we not decided that was it and
sat back like we'd won the game. Some chap called Nolan equalised, scoring
from a header from some chap called Carroll. Who later got the winner.
Wonder what happened to those two.
Referee:Phil Dowd. I am grateful that he's still refereeing as it means that
there is someone less fit than me inside the ground.
Danger Man:Papisse Cisse. Spectacular goals a speciality. All 12 or 13 of
them..
Daft Fact Of The Week: Years ago when I was enjoying a winter break with the
now happily ex Mrs Percy, I happened across a copy of the local Majorcan
English language newspaper. Turning as one does to the back page I noted
that Newcastle had sold Andrew Cole to Manchester United. "Preview Alastair
will be stunned" I told the not so good lady wife showing her the headline.
I then read the rest of the article which contained the following sentence
'"I'm stunned" said Newcastle supporter Preview Alastair". Even all those
years ago I was right.
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West Ham assistant Neil McDonald says Ravel Morrison could return to
Birmingham
Last Updated: May 3, 2013 4:29pm
SSN
West Ham assistant manager Neil McDonald says Ravel Morrison could return to
Birmingham City on loan. The controversial 20-year-old, who has made just
one appearance for the Hammers, has had a superb season with the
Championship side this term. It has been suggested that he will now be ready
to return to east London this summer and fight for a place in Sam
Allardyce's Premier League side. But another year-long loan spell away from
Upton Park is not out the question either, according to McDonald. McDonald
said: "One of the reasons we sent him to Birmingham was to try and get that
consistent time on the field. He would have had a battle on to get into the
team here. "He has gone to Birmingham, got in the team and played well
consistently which is great. "I saw comments from Lee Clark that he might
possibly want to take him on loan again next year to give him some more
experience. That would be great and it is a decision that the manager has to
make. "Do we bring him back because he's had a good a year's football in him
or do we leave him there for another year to see if he will develop even
more? We'll decide that in the summer."
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Premier League: West Ham play host to Newcastle at Upton Park
By Pete O'Rourke - Follow me: @skysportspeteo. Last Updated: May
3, 2013 10:38am
SSN
Newcastle will be hoping to end any relegation fears when they travel to
West Ham this weekend. Newcastle are nervously looking over their shoulders
after failing to climb clear of the relegation battle. Alan Pardew's men are
still licking their wounds from the hammering by Liverpool and he will be
looking for a response from his players at Upton Park. The Magpies have won
just one of their last six league matches and are just five points above
18th-placed Wigan.
West Ham are safe in the Premier League after amassing 42 points in their
first season back in the top flight. Sam Allardyce will be keen to prove a
point against his former club as he aims to cement West Ham's place in the
top ten. Former Newcastle favourite Andy Carroll goes into the game in
red-hot form having scored four goals and assisted two more in his last five
Premier League appearances.
West Ham
Last 6
2-1
2-0
2-2
1-1
0-0
3-1
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has no fresh injury concerns as he welcomes
former club Newcastle to Upton Park on Saturday. Defensive duo James Tomkins
(calf) and George McCartney (knee) are again likely to miss out for the
Hammers, who could climb to ninth in the Premier League with a win. Mark
Noble and Joe Cole will be pushing for places in the starting XI after
improving their match fitness from the bench in recent weeks.
Newcastle
Last 6
0-6
1-1
0-3
1-1
1-0
3-1
Newcastle full-back Mathieu Debuchy will miss the trip to West Ham through
suspension. The France international was sent off for two bookable offences
during last weekend's 6-0 drubbing by Liverpool at St James' Park and will
sit out the game at Upton Park as a result. Left-back Massadio Haidara has
also been sidelined by a hamstring injury, while keeper Tim Krul (dislocated
shoulder), full-back Davide Santon (hamstring) and midfielder Sylvain
Marveaux (groin) are all still out, although skipper Fabricio Coloccini
could return from a long-term back problem.
Opta Stats
The Hammers have won just two of these 14 top-flight meetings with the
Magpies, drawing five and losing seven
Only Manchester United and Manchester City (both 17) have scored in more
consecutive home league games than West Ham (11).
Newcastle have used more players than any other Premier League side this
season (32).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Andy sings a happy Toon
Published: 03rd May 2013
The Sun
ANDY CARROLL is "licking his lips" at the prospect of taking on Newcastle's
dodgy defence. The West Ham striker tomorrow faces his former club, who last
week shipped SIX goals in a home humiliation by Liverpool. Carroll has hit
four goals in his last five games. And Hammers assistant boss Neil McDonald
said: "He is a forward and wants to score goals so I imagine he will be
licking his lips after their performance against Liverpool last week. "He is
bound to find it strange because this is the club where he grew up and came
through the ranks. "That won't stop him trying to do his best for the team
and he is fully committed to West Ham. "He will be desperate to score and
keep up his fine run of form." Carroll has been tipped for an England
call-up following his end-of-season goal push.
WEST HAM No2 Neil McDonald on match with Newcastle which sees £35m striker
head back to Magpies Roy Hodgson's men take on Ireland and Brazil in
friendlies at the end of the month. And McDonald added: "When you're in
form, you should be considered for England. "I think the perception with his
size is that he is just a big target man but he is much more than that. "He
has excellent control, inter-link play and is of course fantastic in the
air. "He's not just a flick-it-up-and-hoof-it man — he would give England
much more options than just a big ball up top. "People have that perception
— he's more than a big lump and he does work at his game and is still a
young man. "He has gone to the top very quickly, but he is young and still
learning."
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Double trouble
£35m Andy could now cost old club £70m
The Sun
By TONY LITTLE
Last Updated: 04th May 2013
ANDY CARROLL can push boyhood club Newcastle closer to relegation today. The
Toon trousered £35million when they sold the Geordie striker to Liverpool in
January 2011. But on-loan West Ham star Carroll could end up costing
Newcastle £70MILLION if he helps the Hammers win at Upton Park this
afternoon.
That is how much Alan Pardew's side will lose if they drop down to the
Championship. Newcastle are 17th, just five points above the final
relegation spot after last weekend's 6-0 thumping by Liverpool at St James'
Park. That defeat means Toon have taken just four league points from the
last 18. And with 18th-placed Wigan having a game in hand, Pards' side are
in real danger of being relegated. Carroll's West Ham team-mate and mentor
Kevin Nolan admitted the 24-year-old Geordie hero will feel bad if his old
club do go down. Skipper Nolan, 30, said: "He's a hometown boy and everyone
wanted a piece of him in Newcastle, it's amazing. "He was a massive player
in a small fish-bowl. "Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Newcastle is a
small fish bowl, but anyone who has been there knows everyone just loves
their football and the whole city is about football. "Andy couldn't get away
with doing anything. Even if he went to a restaurant for a meal everyone was
on him. "Now he is in London he can go out and have a cup of tea without 70
people moaning. "I'm not saying it's disrespectful but I just think he has
matured and learned from his mistakes. "London and Liverpool have been good
for him. "Hopefully, it will make him better — I think he is."
Nolan has been like an older brother to Carroll after the pair were Toon
team-mates. When Carroll was arrested and bailed over an alleged assault in
Tyneside in October 2009, pal Nolan put him after the striker was told he
could not live in a hotel and needed a permanent address. Nolan said: "He's
never going to be a man, he's always going to be a little boy to me. "We
have got that brotherly love and he's like that to me. "But we have respect
for each other and we get on so well off the pitch that it makes things so
much easier. "He has definitely grown up and is enjoying his time down here
in London."
England boss Roy Hodgson is sending his No 2 Ray Lewington to watch Carroll
today ahead of a possible recall for the summer friendlies. The 6ft 4in
hitman has 24 caps but not played for his country since coming on as a sub
in the World Cup qualifier against San Marino last October. But Nolan
believes Carroll should have never have been dropped from the Three Lions
set-up. The Liverpudlian added: "I don't know why Andy hasn't been in that
England team.
"He should be in every squad — there is no other England player quite like
Andy Carroll. "If he is fit, you should have him there. He can give you
something different. If you are 1-0 down, you can fly balls into him.
Carroll is an option no other English player can give you. "In my eyes he is
good enough to lead the line for England at World Cups and European
Championships. "He proved that with his performances in the Euros against
Sweden. "He should be in the squad every time, they shouldn't be keeping an
eye on him. "I hope his West Ham deal is extended to next season and the
club can do something to make sure he is.
"I think that will be good for Andy and will put him back in the frame for
England and he will get better playing every week. "We need him and want him
— hopefully we can sort the deal to get him."
Meanwhile, Hammers manager Sam Allardyce has been BRIBING his squad in a bid
to keep them focused until the end of the season. Big Sam has dangled the
carrot of days off in return for wins to keep their minds and bodies fresh.
Assistant boss Neil McDonald said: "Sam has done that this season and we've
had a fantastic response from a physical point. "They've been working hard
for nine months so to have a break, as long as they're not abusing their
bodies and they come back fresh, is a good thing. "It gets a fantastic
response from the players. It's good for them to go home and share some time
with the family."
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Nolan nous scares Pardew
By IAN GORDON
Last Updated: 04th May 2013
The SUn
ALAN PARDEW fears former Newcastle skipper Kevin Nolan's nous could plunge
the Toon deeper into relegation trouble. Pards returns to old club West Ham
today knowing he faces a side packed with Premier League experience. In
contrast, Pardew says his own club's problems are due to his foreign
contingent not yet being battle-hardened to the demands of the English top
flight. He admitted: "One of the problems I face with this group is not a
language problem or a cultural problem. "It's been one of inexperience on
the pitch. "What Kevin has is a real knowledge of how to win games in the
Premier League. "West Ham's manager, Sam Allardyce, has that too and that's
what we are up against. "Nous is a word I used a lot about Kevin as he used
to find positions on the pitch. Just through his own nous, he is sniffing
chances out and he is a worry for us. "They've also got the likes of James
Collins, Mark Noble and Matt Jarvis. These are also players who I know very
well and who are very experienced in the Prem." Hammers captain Nolan, 30,
has a reputation as a penalty box predator and returned to haunt his old
side by bagging the winner for Allardyce's men last November. Now Pardew
would love to get his own back at his former club, with Newcastle just five
points above the relegation zone after last week's 6-0 home hammering at the
hands of Liverpool. Pards added: "I would have liked to be going back under
different circumstances. "I certainly didn't expect to be in this position
at the start of the year, going there. But that's where we are and we have
to accept that. "We are where we are so the most important thing is the
performance — and a reaction to last Saturday's game."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
It's deja vu for Pardew
By KARREN BRADY
Last Updated: 04th May 2013
The Sun
SAT APRIL 27
ALAN PARDEW has been this way before — at West Ham where his team had a
great start, peaked and went into startling decline. That is so far
paralleled at Newcastle, especially after home defeats to Sunderland and
Liverpool and the sudden, very real, threat of relegation. Pardew is better
than that and has a chance to start proving it when Newcastle visit us on
Saturday. We lose at Manchester City today and it puzzles many, including I
suspect Sir Alex, as to why they have not chased United to the very line.
SUN APRIL 28
VIA Twitter I learn of Reginald D Hunter's "comedy" performance at the PFA
Awards dinner while it's still taking place. So I phone a Premier League
director who I know is there to find out precisely what's going on. A lady
football executive of my acquaintance answers and I ask to speak to my
friend. She says: "He's in the little boys' room." I ask: "Why have you got
his phone?" She replies: "I'm in here with him!" Sounds more fun than a
night of comedy with Reginald!
MON APRIL 29
SO, like me, you've been asked many times to name three famous Belgians.
Until a few years ago most of us knew of Eddie Merckx and were then stumped.
But there will soon be an obvious No 2 in Christian Benteke, scorer tonight
of a hat-trick for Aston Villa against Sunderland to make it 22 goals this
season in a struggling side. He's a 22-year-old Congo-born giant and his
going price must be upwards of £25million. Even at that price, chequebooks
are twitching across Europe. As befits his Christian name, he issued lengthy
prayers just before kick-off. God has better things to do than to help win a
football match. But he has certainly blessed Belgium with a mighty striker.
TUES APRIL 30
SO, like me, you've been asked many times to name three famous Belgians.
Until a few years ago most of us knew of Eddie Merckx and were then stumped.
But there will soon be an obvious No 2 in Christian Benteke, scorer tonight
of a hat-trick for Aston Villa against Sunderland to make it 22 goals this
season in a struggling side. He's a 22-year-old Congo-born giant and his
going price must be upwards of £25million. Even at that price, chequebooks
are twitching across Europe. As befits his Christian name, he issued lengthy
prayers just before kick-off. God has better things to do than to help win a
football match. But he has certainly blessed Belgium with a mighty striker.
WED MAY 1
PEP GUARDIOLA cannot know whether to laugh or cry. When he retired last year
Barcelona were unquestionably the finest footballing team in Europe. Tonight
they are vaporised 7-0 on aggregate in the Champions League semi-finals by
the club he has has chosen to recommence his career as coach — Bayern
Munich. Guardiola's foresight has again proved to be excellent. Who needed a
zillionaire's toy at Chelsea when he was offered complete control of the
playing side in Germany? Bayern showed again tonight that they are already a
long way towards stealing Barca's reputation as the top honchos. Caution
though — there is an outstanding team emerging at Old Trafford.
THURS MAY 2
WHEN I spotted a multi-bedroom villa for hire in Ibiza, I thought it would
be a great place for a Brady family holiday, so I inquired. "Sorry," comes
the reply today, "we don't let it to footballers, especially English
footballers. "The lot we had before had a lot of girls and a lot of parties.
"And they left a lot of mess.
"Then they left diamond watches and things behind and I had to dash to the
airport to return them." I tell her: "But I'm not a footballer, I'm
vice-chairman of a football club. "My husband is a former footballer, that's
all." "Oh, ex-footballers, they're the worst," she says and promptly rings
off.
FRI MAY 3
DOES Jose Mourinho need Chelsea more than Chelsea need Jose? Mourinho is no
longer the stop-over boy genius of management and has to build something
more permanent than theatrical scenery. There has been a strain of paranoia
about his stay in Spain with Real Madrid as well. Get this. He says: "I am
loved in England, I am loved by the fans, I am loved by the Press, I am
loved by the club, one club in particular." Most of all, I have to say, he
is loved by himself!
Roman Abramovich wants the Special One only because he cannot see anyone
else who is specially good, available and capable of winning more than just
the Europa League.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Lost in translation: West Ham skipper Kevin Nolan fears Newcastle foreign
legion is dividing the dressing room
3 May 2013 22:30
The Mirror
Kevin Nolan fears the Toon Army's foreign legion is splitting the Newcastle
dressing room. Newcastle's recent form has seen them spiralling towards the
relegation zone amid allegations of cliques and dressing room fall-outs.
Their problems could mount today when they come face-to-face with former
terrace favourites Nolan and striker Andy Carroll as well as one-time
manager Sam Allardyce. Newcastle have 10 French players in their squad and
although current boss Alan Pardew has furiously denied any dressing room
splits, Nolan says there is a real danger of players turning against each
other when there is a lack of strong characters in the camp. Nolan, who was
a member of the Newcastle team that was relegated in 2009, but bounced back
the following season with a squad made up mainly of British players,
believes cliques are the biggest threat to any team's prospects. "I've been
in relegation battles for a lot of my career and that's always the massive
worry because people start going: 'it's his fault, not mine. I've done
alright.' "You don't want that. You want to be able to look the other lads
in the eye and be able to say that no matter what happens today, this is us,
this is what we're about and we're going to give it a good go. "It's about
time now for them all to stand up and stick together and not point the
finger. When the chips are down, the lucks not going your way, it's going to
be tough. "But it's about them now sticking together. They have got to make
sure that when the little cliques come then they have to stick together as a
team, as a whole, as a group."
Nolan still has a deep affection for his former club but it is clear he
feels their current predicament is all about the balance of the dressing
room. Pardew has put his faith in French players - even being christened
Alain Pardieu - and raided that market again in January. Their recent slump
has set off the alarm bells and they come down to West Ham on the back of a
six goal hammering by Liverpool which has left them in serious danger.
Nolan, who played under Pardew before leaving for the Hammers two years ago,
insists that he wants his old club to get out of danger but says now is the
time for their characters to step forward. "You can't get away from the fact
they had a scouting system there (in France), it got praised so much last
year and now people are starting to (question it) because it's the other
side," said Nolan. "When we first came up (with Newcastle) we had 12 British
lads in our squad. You only have to look at our squad now at West Ham, we've
got a lot of British-based lads. "It certainly helps in that respect because
we know what it's all about. We've lived the Premier League all our lives
and those lads have always wanted to be in the Premier League. "
And Nolan believes that after all the praise heaped on Pardew and many of
his French players last season when they challenged for the Champions
League, this is now a different test of character. "We know how much it
means to the city. I'm not saying that foreigners don't, that's so far from
the truth, all I'm saying is that they've had all their good press, it's
about time they've got to stand up now and make sure they do right for
Newcastle. "I'm certainly hoping that they do that. I've got a lot of
friends, a good relationship with the club, I'm hoping they don't go down.
"It's about them standing up, being counted because they've had the praise
over the past year or so and now it's about stepping up to the mark and
making sure that they keep the club up. "The core group at any club have got
to be strong - with ethics. That's one thing Sam Allardyce does. He's very
good in that respect. He has his core group and when he brings people in if
they don't buy into it then they're not here for long. "You only have to
look at the best, and the best are Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson.
He has his characters and his main men in the squad, we know who they all
are and we don't have to say."
Nolan admits he will have no worries about piling even more pressure on
Newcastle: "It is my old club coming to my new club so I am looking forward
to it. I wish the circumstances for them could be a bit better but that is
not my concern any more. "My concern is this club. I love being here. I
enjoy it and I am looking forward, hopefully, to West Ham winning on
Saturday. And he says Geordie striker Carroll should be a must for the
England squad. Nolan added: "Andy Carroll should be in every England squad.
There is no other England player quite like Andy Carroll. If he is fit, you
should have him there. He can give you something different. If you are 1-0
down you can fly balls into him. "Carroll is an option that no other English
player can give you. In my eyes he is good enough to lead the line for
England at World Cups and European Championships and I think he proved that
with his performances in the Euros against Sweden."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
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