Daily WHUFC News - 20th April 2013

Wigan Athletic match preview
WHUFC.com
Key information on Saturday's Barclays Premier League fixture between West Ham United and Wigan Athletic
19.04.2013

WEST HAM UNITED v WIGAN ATHLETIC
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 20 APRIL 2013
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: NEIL SWARBRICK
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV

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Introduction
• West Ham United return to the Boleyn Ground on Saturday for their second home game of the week. Wednesday night saw them battle out a pulsating 2-2 draw with Manchester United and they will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to five games with a positive result against the Latics.
• The two sides have already met twice this season. West Ham United's Capital One Cup campaign came to an end at the Boleyn Ground when the Latics earned a 4-1 third-round win on 25 September, while Roberto Martinez's men triumphed 2-1 in the league fixture at the DW Stadium on 27 October.
• The Hammers moved up to eleventh in the Barclays Premier League table with their draw against Manchester United in midweek. The stalemate represented a third consecutive one-point haul for the east Londoners and means they have only lost once in their last six outings.
• Roberto Martinez's side reached the FA Cup final with a 2-0 win over Millwall in last weekend's Wembley semi-final, but suffered a 1-0 defeat on their return to league action at Manchester City on Wednesday. Wigan are currently 18th in the Premier League table with 31 points from 32 games.
• Mohamed Diame could face his former club for the second time after being selected for the league fixture between the sides on 27 October..
• West Ham United's clash with Wigan Athletic is one ofseven Barclays Premier League matches on Saturday. The others are all 3pm kick-offs and are as follows: Fulham v Arsenal, Norwich City v Reading, Queens Park Rangers v Stoke City, Sunderland v Everton, Swansea City v Southampton and West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United.

Last time out
Wednesday 17 April
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United 2-2 Manchester United
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Reid, Collins, O'Brien, O'Neil (Noble 68), Vaz Te, Diame (Collison 82), Nolan (Taylor 82), Jarvis, Carroll
Goals: Vaz Te 16, Diame 55
Wednesday 17 April
Barclays Premier League
Manchester City 1-0 Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic: Blazquez, Alcaraz, Boyce, Figueroa, McCarthy, Maloney (Espinoza 89), Gomez (McArthur 85), Beausejour, Scharner, Kone, Di Santo (McManaman 68)

Previous meeting
• West Ham United's last meeting with Wigan Athletic came on 27 October with the Latics claiming the spoils. Ivan Ramis gave the home side an early advantage, with James McArthur adding to that just two minutes after the break. James Tomkins pulled one back in stoppage time, but the Hammers were unable to find an equaliser as Wigan secured a second win of the season over the Hammers. The line-ups that day were:
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Reid, McCartney, Tomkins, Collins, Nolan, Jarvis, Benayoun (Maiga 46), Noble (C.Cole 64), Diame (O'Neil 73), Carroll
Wigan Athletic: Al Habsi, Caldwell, Boyce, Ramis, Figueroa, McCarthy, Maloney, McArthur, Beausejour, Kone, Di Santo (Watson 78)

Background
• West Ham United have faced Wigan Athletic just 20 times and they hold the edge, winning ten of the encounters. Wigan have won eight with two ending in draws.
• West Ham United's biggest win over Wigan Athletic came in the 2003/04 season, Kevin Horlock opened the scoring after four minutes and an own goal from Jason Jarrett made it 2-0 before half-time. Marlon Harewood added a brace in the second half, scoring his second from the spot, to give the Hammers a 4-0 Division One win at the Boleyn Ground on 29 November 2003.
• Wigan Athletic's biggest win in the fixture came at the Boleyn Ground earlier this season when they won 4-1 in the Capital One Cup third round. Prior to that result, their biggest win came in the 2004/05 season when the Latics secured a 3-1 Championship win on 15 August 2004. Nathan Ellington scored a brace with Jason Roberts scoring in-between. Bobby Zamora pulled one back for the Hammers but it was nothing more than a consolation.

Last six meetings (Premier League unless stated)
27 October 2012 - Wigan Athletic 2-1 West Ham United
25 September 2012 - West Ham United 1-4 Wigan Athletic (Capital One Cup third round)
15 May 2011- Wigan Athletic 3-2 West Ham United
27 November 2010 - West Ham United 3-1 Wigan Athletic
24 April 2010 - West Ham United 3-2 Wigan Athletic
Overall record v Wigan Athletic (all competitions) W 10 D 2 L 8

Ten-year record
West Ham United

2011/12 Championship 3rd (86 points - promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points - relegated to Championship)
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)
2003/04 Division One 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated to Division One)
2001/02 Premier League 7th (53 points)
Wigan Athletic
2011/12 Premier League 15th (43 points)
2010/11 Premier League 16th (42 points)
2009/10 Premier League 16th (36 points)
2008/09 Premier League 11th (45 points)
2007/08 Premier League 14th (40 points)
2006/07 Premier League 17th (38 points)
2005/06 Premier League 10th (51 points)
2004/05 Championship 2nd (87 points - promoted to the Premier League)
2003/04 Division One 7th (71 points)
2002/03 Division Two 1st (100 points - promoted to Division One)
2001/02 Division Two 10th (64 points)

Referee
• Saturday's referee will be Neil Swarbrick
• Swarbrick began refereeing at the age of 29 and within six years he had been promoted to the National List of assistant referees in 2005.
• Now 42, Swarbrick made his way up the leagues via the Football Conference and the npower Football League before receiving his first Barclays Premier League appointment on 11 December 2010. He was officially promoted to the Select Group of top-flight referees in June 2011.
• This will be his third West Ham United game this season, after being the man in the middle for the 4-1 win at home to Southampton on Saturday 20 October and the 3-0 defeat at Sunderland on Saturday 12 January.
• He had taken charge of three West Ham United fixtures before that, the most recent being the 2-0 npower Championship Play-Off semi-final first-leg win at Cardiff City on 3 May 2012.

Team news
• The Hammers were boosted by the return of Winston Reid from a thigh injury for the midweek draw against Manchester United, and he started alongside James Collins in central defence.
• Sam Allardyce is still without George McCartney and James Tomkins, although Mark Noble recovered from his arm injury more quickly than expected and was in the squad on Wednesday.
• Wigan have no fresh injury concerns, but Callum McManaman could come into the starting line-up while Roman Golobart is out with a twisted ankle.

Old boys
• Mohamed Diame is in line to face his former club. The Senegal international made 103 appearances for Wigan Athletic, scoring seven goals, over a period of three years between 2009 and 2012.
• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are Jimmy Bullard, Roy Carroll, Henri Camara, David Unsworth and Bill Wade.
General Information
• Tickets for this fixture have sold out.
• Supporters travelling by tube should be aware that there is no service on the Hammersmith & City line between King's Cross St Pancras and Barking, but the District line is fully operational.
• The weather forecast for Saturday is set fair, with sunny skies over east London and a predicted temperature of 12C at kick-off.

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A message from the Vice-Chairman
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Vice-Chairman Karren Brady presents the plans for the Olympic Stadium
19.04.2013

I have always wanted to share our vision and plans with you but until this point, because of the rules of the process it had not been possible. I had always hoped that I'd be able to present these plans personally to each of you but with 22,000 season ticket holders alone, not to mention those of you on the various different membership schemes and our corporate members, it isn't going to be possible to present to you all personally in the time we have available to gather everyone's opinion.

YouGov and their expert team of independent pollsters have advised us that they have taken meticulous care to ensure that the process is transparent and that views are taken from a representative cross-section of supporters. However, I took the decision to record a short video presentation to ensure you were given the opportunity to have the technical conversion plans, which have been viewed by smaller focus groups such as the Supporter Advisory Board, explained to you by me.

This has been personally emailed to you this morning, and is available to view further up this page. I do hope you'll find an explanation of the drawings useful. We want to give you every tool possible to enable you to make an informed decision when you come to complete the poll.

As requested by the many supporter groups we have been talking to, including the Supporter Advisory Board, our aim is to provide you with as much information as possible in relation to the move, so the first part of the survey will aim to help educate and inform you before you share your views with us.
I'm also pleased to confirm that we will be releasing a stunning new image of the converted East Stand 'Kop' at the Olympic Stadium as part of this process, so please take a look.

Karren Brady
Vice-Chairman

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Vaz starting to feel right
WHUFC.com
Hammers forward Ricardo Vaz Te is getting used to a position on the right wing
19.04.2013

Ricardo Vaz Te opened West Ham United's account in what was so nearly a famous victory over title-chasing Manchester United on Wednesday and admitted it felt terrific to find the back of the net for the first time since scoring the winner at QPR in October. "It's terrific really," he told West Ham TV. "I'm happy to score or to assist. I just want to be involved. Obviously I am not playing in my two main positions, which are forward or left-winger so all season I've had to adapt to the right. "I started the season well but the injury didn't help. After three months out I had to catch up and get back into the routine and then it's getting games again. I think just now I am starting to feel comfortable in that position and I am learning more about it. Hopefully I can kick on from now."
But after only managing a share of the spoils by full time despite twice taking the lead, Vaz Te felt the Hammer's were unlucky not to secure all three points.
He continued: "We're disappointed because we got ourselves in front twice. In the first half I think a draw was fair. In the second half we got ourselves in front again and it was a terrific strike from [Shinji] Kagawa but I think [Robin] van Persie was slightly offside, so looking at that we can be disappointed. "Overall it's a great result and we needed it, a point against Manchester United is always valuable."

Despite Mohamed Diame's second half effort being cancelled out by the Dutch Red Devil, Vaz Te has been impressed with the midfielder's contribution to the Hammers' Premier League campaign so far. He added: "Mo Diame seems to shine against big teams which is great and we need that. We need players who are not afraid to play against big teams. Mo is a terrific player, he's a runner who gets the ball and you can trust him on the ball, anytime, any place. He's been a great signing and hopefully he can keep it up."

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Nobes glad to be back
WHUFC.com
Mark Noble made his comeback from injury in Wednesday night's 2-2 draw with Manchester United
19.04.2013

Mark Noble expected to miss the remainder of the season when he underwent shoulder surgery last month, but recovered quickly to make a comeback in Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Manchester United. The Canning Town-born midfielder entered the fray in the second half to replace Gary O'Neil from the bench and he was thrilled to play his part. Now, with Wigan Athletic visiting the Boleyn Ground on Saturday, Noble is hoping the Hammers can extend their unbeaten run to a fifth game. He told West Ham TV: "To be honest, after the news I got about my arm I sort of wrote this season off because they said they may have had to take my rib out, which was worrying. "When the surgeon went inside he managed to clean all of the scar tissue around the nerve and I managed to get back a lot quicker, so I am over the moon. "It was brilliant to play against Manchester United. I've only trained for the last couple of days so it was nice to get back involved and get some game time under my belt again. As I said, I had written it off so it's lovely to be back and involved with the lads for the last push of the season. "We were disappointed to draw on Wednesday, especially because Robin van Persie's goal was offside at the end and you've worked so hard for a result, then one decision can change the state of a game. "Then again, we would have taken a point against Manchester United all day. I am sure if anyone had asked the manager he would say the same. United needed to win and again against Aston Villa to take the title so our result puts that on the back burner a little bit. But United are up there because they keep going and they've got the quality and they get that little bit of extra strength like they did at the end there.
"To play the four games that we have against United this year and play the way we have, it's a credit to the lads and how far we've come in the last two years."

Noble joined the many praising teammates Ricardo Vaz Te and Mohamed Diame this week for their contribution in the 2-2 draw. He added: "It was lovely from Vaz, it was a great turn and finish. We know Mo has got that in his locker. I thought Nobby had done well to get out of the way, he must have breathed in a little bit and it went straight in the bottom corner. It looked like we were going to hold on but we never. It puts us on 39 points and with four or five games to go it's a good tally to have."

As the countdown to the end of the season begins, Noble still has his sights set on a top-half finish. He explained: "If we can get seven points from the last six games then that would be a great outcome for us and would set us up for the start of next season. We'll obviously go away and have a break and start next season like we did this. "The lads are buzzing and looking forward to another home game on Saturday. "I only trained two or three days this week and came off the bench to play 25 minutes against United. The way the lads are playing at the minute it will be tough to play some part on Saturday. I really did think my season was over so it would be nice to be out there."

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Big Sam on: Wigan Athletic
WHUFC.com
West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce spoke to the press ahead of Saturday's game against Wigan
19.04.2013

Sam Allardyce views Saturday's Barclays Premier League game against Wigan Athletic as more important than Wednesday's visit of runaway league leaders Manchester United. The Hammers produced a magnificent performance to claim a 2-2 draw against the Red Devils and Allardyce wants the intensity displayed there to be replicated at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday.

Sam, could we start with your team news?

SA: "We'll have the same squad as on Wednesday night, there are no [new] injuries to the players, which is great news for us, particularly in the defensive area. We managed to squeeze Winston Reid back in, after the injury to James Tomkins, which was critical to our result on Wednesday. It's about me having a look at the physical condition of the players and whether I do make the odd change, or roll with the same starting eleven and introduce the subs as we go on.
"We've had a good run of results and are on a good run of form, particularly at home. It's home against Wigan and I see it as a bigger game than Manchester United. I hope the players see it the same as I do, because the emphasis on what happens if we can produce a performance that wins us the three points is massive in terms of where we want to be. While it still might not be mathematically impossible for other teams to catch us on 42 points, I don't think anyone will have any chance [of doing it]."

Were you surprised at Sir Alex's [Ferguson] criticism of the referee on Wednesday about Andy Carroll?

SA: "I think it was a clumsy challenge. As I said after the game Andy had committed to it and wasn't going to get there in the end but couldn't stop his momentum. I still consider that to be the case. He wants to go and score, and it was probably an over-committed challenge. At the worst for me he might have got a yellow card, but it shouldn't detract from what was a good performance."

You've mentioned about pulling away from the bottom three, but deep down are you eyeing up that top ten? The table suggests you're not that far away.
SA: "It's a possibility, but the most important thing is to get the three points on Saturday. Wigan are below us and that would stretch the gap. We're not as close to Wigan as some of the other teams but it's still the distance that three points would put between them and us, and at this late stage of the season it would make it very difficult for them to catch us.

You say this is a six-pointer but it's probably a bigger match for Wigan overall. Do you have a responsibility to play well against teams at the bottom? Do you believe in that?

SA: "What you do against the bottom eight determines where you finish in the league - whether you're in it or whether you're above it. They're the teams everyone expects you to get points from and they're the ones where if those teams are struggling at that particular time, you've got to fully focus and deliver your best performances. "In nature, when you're playing the big boys, everyone as a human being has that little bit of fear which makes you do a little bit more. You've got to make sure that's the case when you play the teams in and around you too - you've got to find your top form in those games, because when you play the top teams you can hit your best form and it might not get you a result."

What do you make of Wigan? They can play very well against the big sides and have reached the FA Cup final, but how long can they keep punching above
their weight?

SA: "I think Roberto [Martinez] has the best squad he's assembled in his time there, so I think he'll probably be really disappointed with the league position he's in. They have a new style which they introduced at the back end of last season, and have continued to grow with that style of three or five at the back, however you want to look at it, That developed into this season and they've produced some performances which have been really good, but the bottom line is that when performances have not produced results then you end up with a struggle.
"I think he'll be disappointed that they haven't consistently performed to their best, and if they had they would be in a more comfortable position. When they are at their best they are very, very good. I thought they were excellent against Manchester City [on Wednesday], but like all of us you suffer if you miss your chances, and they missed their chances. They paid the price, as we've done in many games this season in the Premier League."

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On this day - 20 April
WHUFC.com
West Ham United plunge Sunderland into further relegation trouble on this day in 2002
20.04.2013

Classic match
West Ham United 3-0 Sunderland
20 April 2002
Premier League
Glenn Roeder's Hammers consigned Sunderland to a fifth successive away defeat, as a 3-0 win on this day edged Peter Reid's men ever closer to the Premier League's drop zone. In West Ham's penultimate home fixture of the campaign, Trevor Sinclair volleyed the hosts into a 28th-minute lead, flicking it over George McCartney, of all people, before firing low into the corner past Thomas Sorensen. It remained that way until seven minutes after the interval, when Sinclair squared for Northern Ireland international Steve Lomas to side-foot home. And it was left to Jermain Defoe to round off a thoroughly satisfying afternoon for the men in claret and blue, as he poached a third with 77 minutes on the clock. Though the Mackems would draw each of their two remaining fixtures, it proved plenty to preserve their top-flight status, as they finished 17th, four clear of the drop zone. Glenn Roeder's Hammers, meanwhile, ended the campaign in seventh, albeit a colossal eleven points behind sixth-placed Chelsea.

Complete record - 20 April

2002 West Ham United 3-0 Sunderland (Premier League)
1992 West Ham United 0-2 Crystal Palace (Division One)
1991 West Ham United 2-0 Swindon Town (Division Two)
1988 Nottingham Forest 0-0 West Ham United (Division One)
1987 West Ham United 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Division One)
1985 Sunderland 0-1 West Ham United (Division One)
1977 Derby County 1-1 West Ham United (Division One)
1974 Manchester City 2-1 West Ham United (Division One)
1973 West Ham United 4-3 Southampton (Division One)
1968 West Ham United 1-0 Liverpool (Division One)
1963 West Bromwich Albion 1-0 West Ham United (Division One)
1962 West Ham United 4-1 Cardiff City (Division One)
1959 West Ham United 5-1 Manchester City (Division One)
1957 Notts County 4-1 West Ham United (Division Two)
1935 West Ham United 2-1 Southampton (Division Two)
1929 West Ham United 2-2 Derby County (Division One)

Played 16, Won 9, Drawn 3, Lost 4, Scored 29, Conceded 19

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West Ham v Wigan
KO 15:00
19 April 2013
Last updated at 12:11

By Jonathan Pearce
BBC Match of the Day commentator
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Upton Park Date: Saturday, 20 August

Wigan have no fresh injury concerns but manager Roberto Martinez could make changes for the club's third game in a week. Forward Callum McManaman is in line for a recall, but Roman Golobart remains sidelined with a twisted ankle.
West Ham will once more be without Joe Cole, who is struggling to get over a hamstring problem. Defenders James Tomkins and George McCartney are also out with respective calf and knee injuries.

MATCH PREVIEW

For all the rose-tinted romance of Wigan Athletic being in the FA Cup final and Dave Whelan leading them out at Wembley, his club are still trying to clamber up and away from the slimy sink-hole to relegation. They're one of eight clubs battling to stay clear of that final drop spot, including West Ham - who aren't safe yet. "I don't think Wigan will be able to replicate their performance against Manchester City at Upton Park, especially with home striker Andy Carroll in great form. "I'm just worried that if they slipped out of the league they'd struggle to get back."

If games were won on possession alone, Roberto Martinez would have deservedly seen his club safe by now. Wednesday's game at the Etihad Stadium was only the eighth Premier League match this season in which they haven't dominated possession and only the fourth time they haven't bossed the ball away from home. But the Latics have won only one of their last six games on their travels. That suggests a team that can weave admirably pretty, passing patterns but can't convert enough chances. In contrast, West Ham have only dominated the ball in four home games this season. They've had less than 40% of possession in 10 matches at Upton Park! That suggests a team that is content to let the opposition have the ball and then hit them at set-pieces, where the likes of Kevin Nolan are excellent at winning the 'second ball', or on the counter. Sam Allardyce hasn't dramatically changed his managerial style. But the Hammers aren't just a long-ball team and the manager deserves great credit for consolidating them this season. Another couple of wins on the back of their solid run of one defeat in six games will see them finish in mid-table.

Wigan have enough quality to worry West Ham, if they can forget the cup final. But the Irons have extra steel. Mohamed Diame against his old club, if he's fit, could be immense. Kevin Nolan is long overdue a goal. Andy Carroll will be a bludgeoning threat in the air. The Hammers need the win to stop looking over their shoulders. They'll nick it. Wigan's Jekyll and Hyde season will continue.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
Only one of the 13 Premier League clashes between these sides has ended all-square - a 1-1 draw at Upton Park in August 2007.
Wigan have won the last two league meetings, both on home soil, but West Ham are unbeaten in the last four meetings at Upton Park (W3, D1).
Wigan's 2-1 win in the corresponding fixture on 27 October was their first home win of the season.

West Ham
Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Manchester United was West Ham's third in a row.
The Hammers have lost just one of their last six home clashes (W3, D2, L1).
They have scored 28 of their 38 league goals this season at Upton Park.
Kevin Nolan needs one more goal to total 100 club goals. However, he has only scored once in his last 21 outings.
Andy Carroll has scored four goals in his last six games, including the equaliser in last weekend's 1-1 draw at Southampton.

Wigan
Wigan's away record (W4, D3, L9) is the 13th best in the Premier League this year.
Despite their reputation as relegation escapologists, the Latics have only won seven of the 33 Premier League games they have played in April.
Wigan have won all five games in which they have kept a clean sheet. Only Manchester United (12 clean sheets, 12 wins) have a better record.
Their 1-0 defeat at Manchester City in midweek was the first time they had failed to score in their last nine Premier League away games.
The Latics have only won one game this season after conceding the opening goal (D3, L16).

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West Ham United v Wigan Athletic
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 19th April 2013
By: Preview Percy

Blimey they're keeping me busy this week. It's two games in four days as we entertain Wigan Athletic in a traditional 3pm kick off at the Boleyn. Lovely.

There's engineering works on the Hammersmith & City/Circle lines which means that if you're one of the two men and a dog that tend to follow Wigan you'll have to select an alternative route from Euston. Note if you actually happen to be the dog it's an Underground rule that one of the two men will have to carry you on the escalators.

The visitors arrive at the Boleyn in a spot of bother in the league. They sit third from bottom with 31 points from their 32 games. That's three points behind Villa who occupy the safety spot, though Wigan do have a game in hand and a three goal advantage on the goal difference front. Current form isn't that bad with three wins, a draw and two defeats coming in their last 6. The victories came away at Reading (3-0), and at home to Newcastle (2-1) and to Norwich (1-0). The draw came courtesy of a last ditch equaliser at QPR (1-1) whilst the defeats came at home to Liverpool (0-4) and on Wednesday night at Man City where a late Tevez effort saw them traipse back up the road pointless.

They have, of course, already got through to the FA Cup final and, in one of those little coincidences that crop up in football from time to time, it was their Cup Final opponents Man City who provided the opposition for their first league match after winning the semi. Sorry Millwall supporters if you've only just noticed that you lost – perhaps you should have been watching the match.

Manager Roberto Martinez seems a decent cove. However, continued close proximity to his chairman seems to have rubbed off on him a bit. Witness his recent comments that qualification for the Cup Final had vindicated his decision not to take over the manager's role at Liverpool last summer. Except that according to Liverpool the only person ever offered the job was Brendan Rodgers. Official sources from Liverpool branded Whelan as a "comedian" over the whole affair, a word which, as I've pointed out, has the exact opposite meaning in Liverpool as it does in the rest of the world (not that they realise it up there). There's a nice bit of what the journos like to refer (incorrectly) as irony over Whelan's continued crowing as to how great his manager is given that he spent half the summer trying to offload him for large amounts of cash. Once Liverpool got fed up with Whelan's arsing about the child slave labourer set about trying to tout him out to Spurs. His "I wouldn't stand in his way if he wanted to manage Tottenham" speech was as subtle as a house brick. Spurs of course had their own ideas but it must be a sobering thought to the two men and a dog who follow Wigan that, had Whelan got his own way Martinez would have been long gone by now.

The other big Wigan news of late was the "McManaman affair". Midfielder Callum McManaman made his first Premier League start against Newcastle and his "tackle" on Massaido Haidara was so bad that, had it occurred in the stands or on the streets he'd be in the dock on GBH charges. The FA – in their usual marvellous manner – decided that they couldn't do anything about it though they rushed to fine a couple of Newcastle and Wigan backroom staff for rowing about it on the touchline. Nice sense of priorities there. Of course there is no subject on which Whelan doesn't have a completely ignorant opinion and his defence of the tackle was breathtakingly disgusting, even by his low standards. You see managers getting fined stupid amounts for questioning poor referees yet Whelan continually eludes punishment for bringing the game into disrepute just about every time he opens his ignorant gob. Go, as our American cousins like to say, figure. In the meantime McManaman scored the second in their defeat of Millwall, a match that, had the FA done its job, would have been the third match of his three match ban. Ker-ching.

There's been a shift in the preferred option in goal where Spaniard Joel Robles has taken over in recent matches from the Omani Ali Al Habsi. Spanish U21 international Robles is currently on the books of Athletico Madrid and arrived on loan in January. With a Cup Final in the offing the goalkeeping training sessions will be interesting over the next few weeks if nothing else. Al Habsi played in the semi-final whilst Robles (otherwise known as Blazquez) returned to the team for the league match at Man City.


Top scorer is Ivorian Arouna Kone. with ten goals from his 28 league appearances this season plus another couple in the Cup. Kone came in during the summer from Spanish side Levante where he was the subject of a bizarre transfer clause. He joined Levante on a loan deal from Seville that was to be made permanent at the end of the 2011/2012 season. Unless he scored "too many goals". Seriously! Seville had a clause inserted in the loan deal that stated the player would have to return to them automatically should he score 18 or more. As the season came to its conclusion he was on 15, whereupon Levante found a convenient minor injury that kept him out of the side for the last three matches. The season ended and Kone became a Levante player. So they cashed in on him and sold him to Wigan for €3.5m. There are rumours that Liverpool put a similar clause in Fernando Torres' transfer documents so that he has to return to Anfield when he's scored a certain number of goals. He is expected back on Merseyside sometime during the 2022/23 season at his current rate of scoring.

Jordi Gomez is the second top scorer this season with 8 in all competitions. Now where Wigan are concerned, given the highly dubious nature of their chairman I look at their dealings with a fair degree of cynicism. So it's with some suspicion that I look at the circumstances of Gomez's transfer from Espanyol to the North West. Gomez had a highly successful spell on loan at Swansea when Martinez was manager. However, Martinez bemoaned the fact that he wouldn't be able to afford to sign the player on a permanent deal. Martinez then left for Wigan where Gomez promptly became one of his first signings. Which prompts me to muse that, had Whelan already been in, cough, "unofficial" contact with Martinez, Martinez might not have tried too hard to sign the player for Swansea. Just a theory mind, but like much that Whelan is involved in it's a bit suspicious.

And now to us. I'm not one to blow my own trumpet – at my age the consequences of some sort of strain don't bear thinking about. However, I do think I ought to point out that my prediction for Wednesday night's match not only went for a 2-2 draw, but also suggested that if we were winning 2-1 their equaliser would come courtesy of a dubious refereeing decision. I was feeling quite smug at my own perspicacity until some of the other inmates here at the Avram Grant Rest Home For The Bewildered pointed out that it's hardly much of a prediction to suggest that Man Utd might benefit from rubbish refereeing. More a nailed on certainty.

It was a cracking match mind – in spite of the officials – and there were some awesome performances from us. Collins and Carroll were particularly impressive as was Diame, whose goal is likely to get my vote for Goal of the Season (unless anyone can improve on it in the next few weeks).

Team news is that there should be no further injury worries – Cole (J), Tomkins and McCartney will all be absent but that seems to be about it. The return to fitness of Mark Noble will give Mr Allardyce an interesting selection poser in midfield. In Nobes' absence Gary O'Neil has performed admirably and it'd be a little bit harsh to see him benched.

Predictions for this one aren't quite as easy as the league table would suggest. They have a historic habit of scraping themselves out of trouble at the death and, from what I saw of the highlights anyway, can consider themselves unlucky to have not got at least a point out of their visit to Manchester City in midweek. They have also been a bit of a bogey team in recent years. Having said that Carroll is in such form at the moment that he's about as scary as Matron here at the Rest Home when she's on the warpath – and trust me that's a terrifying sight. Confidence will be high following the run of good results so I'll look at us to carry on that form. Let's put the Avram Rest Home Fund To Buy The Dog That Attends Wigan Matches With The Two Men A Tin Of Pedigree Chum (£2.50) on a 2-1 home win.

Enjoy the game!

When Last We Met At The Boleyn: Lost 1-4 (League Cup 3rd Round January 2013). Modibo Maiga's early strike put a team mainly made up of kids and reserves (ok "Development Squad Players" if you must) 1-0 up. However, some awful defending let them in four times. "We couldn't defend a fish supper" was Mr Allardyce's memorable summary of the proceedings.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg. Last seen actually having a decent game for once in the New Year's Day defeat of Norwich.

Danger Man:Arouna Kone. Top scorer, though if Levante put a similar mad clause in his transfer papers to the one they had from Seville he might have to miss a few!

Daft Fact Of The Week: This season's FA Cup Final will be the first final since 1963 in which both managers will have the same first name (Roberto). 50 years ago it was Matt (Gilles of Leicester and Busby of Man Utd). NB despite popular myth, the 2007 Cup Final did not count as neither Mourinho nor Ferguson are actually officially called "Twat".

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England coach Roy Hodgson 'scared' to recall Andy Carroll
Last Updated: April 19, 2013 12:53pm
SSN

Sam Allardyce has suggested England coach Roy Hodgson would be 'scared' to recall on-loan West Ham United striker Andy Carroll as 'people would be on his case'. Carroll, who is nearing the end of a season-long loan at West Ham, has not played for England since a substitute appearance in the 5-0 World Cup qualifying win over San Marino at Wembley in October. An impressive performance in Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Manchester United has prompted calls for Carroll to be drafted back into the England fold, but Allardyce believes Hodgson is mindful of the repercussions of such a decision. "Roy would be scared to do it because of the reaction he'd get," said Allardyce. "He would be accused of a direct approach and people would be on his case. "Roy would be scared to do it because of the reaction he'd get. He would be accused of a direct approach and people would be on his case."
Sam Allardyce
"But playing Andy does not make you a long-ball team, it just gives you extra options. He is good on the floor and others can play off him. "Andy and Wayne Rooney together would work very well and it would benefit Wayne, who is often carrying England's hopes all on his own. "It would take the pressure off Wayne, who is still so important to England. "I'm not going for any of that stuff about Rooney being on the way down. Against us I thought he was really good and some of his passing was excellent. He can play anywhere as far as I'm concerned but I do think he works well off a dominant striker. "Michael Owen always used to say he had his most productive spell when he was up front with Emile Heskey. "Heskey did not score many goals but Owen got plenty because of him. And the bonus with Andy Carroll is he is a better goalscorer than Heskey."

Meanwhile, Ricardo Vaz Te has praised Carroll, saying: "I call him a beast. He is great in the air. His accuracy is perfect. On the floor as well he can play and hold the ball. "We need players who are not afraid to play against big teams."

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Mark Noble delighted with early return to action with West Ham
By Alex Hinds. Last Updated: April 19, 2013 5:24pm
SSN

Mark Noble was delighted to make an early comeback from injury to help West Ham United claim a 2-2 draw with Manchester United. The 25 year old, who has been influential for the Hammers this season, underwent shoulder surgery in March to repair a trapped nerve and was not expected to return this season.
However, the midfielder responded well to treatment and was able to play 25 minutes against United on Wednesday, entering the game as a substitute in the second half to replace Gary O'Neil . "To be honest, after the news I got about my arm, I sort of wrote the season off because they said they may have to take my rib out, which was worrying," said Noble. "When the surgeon went inside he managed to clean all of the scar tissue around the nerve and I was able to come back a lot quicker, I am over the moon."

Noble is now preparing for Saturday's clash with Wigan Athletic, as his side look to push for a top-half finish. West Ham sit in 11th place in the Premier League, with 39 points and five games remaining. He added: "If we can get seven points from the last six games then that would be a great outcome for us, setting us up for the start of next season. "The way the lads are playing at the minute, it will be tough for me to play a part on Saturday, but I really thought my season was over so it would be nice to be out there."

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Sam Allardyce claims his reputation for being a long-ball merchant is 'utterly wrong'
Last Updated: April 19, 2013 5:13pm
SSN

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce claims his reputation for being a long-ball merchant is unfair but admits he accepted the label "many years ago". The Hammers remain on target for a mid-table finish as they head into Saturday's home game with Wigan, while the Latics are three points from safety with just six games left. And the accusation that Allardyce's teams play too direct, with a reliance on long-ball tactics, is one that has developed since he took up his first full management role with Blackpool nearly two decades ago. "I don't fight against it (the reputation he has gained), I accepted it many years ago," the West Ham boss said. "I wouldn't encourage anyone to get tagged with that label because once you have got it, it doesn't leave you. "The perception is totally and utterly wrong because we are where we are because we have many different tactical plans. "I have been in management for many years now and I have been able to tactically set up against the opposition whichever way it might be. "At some stage it might be direct. That causes the opposition problems. Manchester United played direct against us on Wednesday night, but everyone chose to ignore it. "But they played direct better than we can because they have better passers so that's plain and simple for everyone to understand. "Our form has been exceptional this season."

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West Ham v Wigan Premier League preview: Latics anxious for points
Last Updated: April 19, 2013 11:36am
SSN

Wigan have the chance to claw their way out of the relegation zone when they visit West Ham on Saturday. With Aston Villa not travelling to play Manchester United until Monday, the Latics know that three points will lift them out of the bottom three. Of course, Roberto Martinez's team are used to producing late charges to get away from trouble, having won seven of their final nine games last season to ease to safety in style. The Spaniard has been encouraged by his side's form this spring too, with his players securing their place at Wembley for next month's FA Cup final, but he knows league points are needed fast.
Martinez said: "We have been in this position before and know what to expect but that doesn't make it easier. For me, it is the hardest battle we have had for a few years but we are ready for it." They can certainly expect a battle when they visit Upton Park, as Sir Alex Ferguson can attest after his United side were on the receiving end of a robust performance from Andy Carroll in midweek. The Hammers have competed well on their return to the top flight and have no relegation concerns of their own having already moved to 39 points with five games remaining. Indeed, Sam Allardyce's side could move above Swansea and Fulham into the top half of the table if results go their way at the weekend and they secure an eighth home win of the campaign. If they achieve that feat on Saturday, Wigan fans will be left wondering whether the focus on their forthcoming FA Cup final could end up distracting them from their very real relegation fears.

West Ham
Last 6
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0-0
3-1
2-0
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Sam Allardyce could restore midfielder Mark Noble to the starting line-up after he made his first appearance since February in the 2-2 draw at home to Manchester United on Wednesday. But Allardyce is still without Joe Cole for the Hammers as the midfielder continues his recovery from a hamstring injury. James Tomkins is also out with the calf problem that saw him substituted in the draw at Southampton earlier this month.

Wigan
Last 6
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0-2
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1-0
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Latics boss Roberto Martinez has no new injury worries for his side's third match in a week but may choose to freshen things up again at Upton Park. The Spaniard made just two changes for Wednesday's defeat at Manchester City, bringing back goalkeeper Joel Robles and striker Franco di Santo. Forward Callum McManaman could be set for a recall but Roman Golobart remains out of the picture after twisting an ankle in training.

Opta Facts:

Wigan's last three Premier League goals have come in the closing 10 minutes of games.
Jussi Jaaskelainen has made more saves than any other goalkeeper in the Premier League this season (141).
Andy Carroll has been involved in four goals (three goals, one assist) in his last three Premier League appearances.

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One-man scream
Martinez warns Wigan Hammers are more than just Carroll
The Sun
ROB'S ON THE JOB ... Wigan boss Martinez is trying to keep Wigan up yet again
By LIAM WALSH
Published: 8 hrs ago

ROBERTO MARTINEZ has warned Wigan's relegation battlers not to focus solely on Andy Carroll today. The burly West Ham striker — nicknamed The Beast by his team-mates — gave Manchester United a battering in the 2-2 draw at Upton Park on Wednesday. But Latics boss Martinez insists his side must keep an eye on the Hammers' other stars, who also have the ability to plunge them further into trouble. He said: "Andy has always been a threat. We saw at his two previous clubs his power and his strength — and he showed that for England at the Euros. "I don't think he has surprised anyone with what he is doing now.
"But if we focus too much on one player, then we will leave space and room for others. "West Ham have a lot of players who can hurt you and create opportunities — Matt Jarvis, Momo Diame, Kevin Nolan, they are all playing well. "West Ham are more than being a one-man team and we will be very aware of that."

Martinez is seen as having a cultured approach to the game but he still appreciates Carroll's virtues as an old-fashioned No 9. He said: "I would have him in my team, why not? "We have all seen the power he brings and the way he attacks the ball in the final third. He's one of the best in the business. "He's doing that for West Ham and he looks in full flow."

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Hammers hunt Carroll for just £10m
Exclusive
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: 8 hrs ago
The SUn

WEST HAM have told Liverpool to take a £10million offer for Andy Carroll or risk blowing the deal. The Hammers are desperate to sign the on-loan striker permanently but cannot afford the £17m asking price because of tough incoming financial rules. Carroll, who cost the Reds £35m in 2011, is also paid more than £80,000 a week. And that has put a huge strain on the debt-ridden club's bank balance as the Premier League prepare to impose spending controls from next season. An Upton Park insider said: "Under the new rules the wage bill will be capped at just over £45m. Andy's on £4m a year. If you break the rules there are points deductions. "The only way West Ham could do a deal with Liverpool is by juggling the fee because he shouldn't have to take a wage cut. That means very few clubs can afford him. "Everyone has to live within their means from next season onwards. "He's doing well here now after injury problems and the people upstairs are desperate to try to work something out by juggling the figures. "Whether it is Andy or not, we need two top-class strikers and four or five new players in the summer." Hammers' joint-chairman David Sullivan has halved West Ham's debt from around £100m when he took over three years ago. And he is now working flat out to build a strong squad ahead of the proposed move to the Olympic Stadium in 2016.

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Big deal! Andy Carroll's next move is a crucial one, and hopefully it's to West Ham says Allardyce
19 Apr 2013 22:29
The <Mirror
Ian Walton

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has warned Andy Carroll that his next move will be the biggest of his career - and remains confident he can win the race to clinch the striker's signature, writes Marc Isaacs. Liverpool hitman Carroll seems to be regaining his best form following injury problems that have plagued his season-long loan at Upton Park. The England forward has been troubled by hamstring and knee problems which have forced him to spend a big chunk of the Hammers' campaign on the sidelines. But he has finally put that behind him and, with five goals in his last eight games, is starting to produce the form which saw Liverpool fork out £35million to bring him in from Newcastle two years ago. Newcastle and Tottenham have both been linked with a move for him at the end of the season, but despite the financial constraints surrounding the deal, Allardyce hopes Carroll has already found his new home. Allardyce said of the 24-year-old: "The next move is a critical one for him. It's about playing, improving and scoring goals. That next move has to implement all of that for the team he plays for and him. He, for me, and that team will be successful. "He is still developing and is not in his prime. He is still two or so years from his prime. "Considering what he can grow into with those talents - and something nobody has got which is size; physical presence, with talent - if you marry those together, his threat is a very big talent indeed, and a very difficult one to stop. "We would love it to work out as a long-term prospect. But things need to be done and identified at the end of the season. "I don't see any problem with him being in London. They are good in terms of bonding as a team - he has slipped in really well with Kevin Nolan and others. He is also big buddies with Joey O'Brien."

Allardyce has no doubts that Carroll has put behind him his troubled past and has matured both on and off the field. Since moving down to the capital, the big Geordie has avoided the sort negative headlines away from football which marred his early career - and the West Ham boss has no doubts he has matured as a person. Allardyce added: "You have to live and learn by your experiences in life. In his younger days he was picked out on several occasions. "He has to be careful about portraying himself in the open public domain." Allardyce will make a late decision on whether fit-again Mark Noble replaces Gary O'Neil in midfield for Saturday's home game against Wigan.

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