Chadwell Chatter
WHUFC.com
James Collins on his return from injury, Norwich City, his Wales comeback
and culinary talents
08.11.2013
Hello everyone,
I'm delighted to say that I'm back in full training and hope to be involved
at Norwich on Saturday. I thought I would be out for about seven weeks, but
it's just about three weeks now and I'm happy to be back. After not playing
for West Ham the weekend before, I played two quick games for Wales. We had
a tough game on the Friday night against Macedonia and then a game in
Belgium on the Tuesday and unfortunately I pulled my hamstring. Maybe it was
too much work, or perhaps just old age! They thought it would be seven
weeks, but the staff here have done great and got me back in three.
Obviously it's disappointing circumstances for me to come back with Winston
Reid getting injured at a time when he is playing so well, but we had clean
sheets when I was playing earlier in the season and hopefully we can
continue our form. I am happy to get my place back, but it's tinged with a
bit of sadness on Reidy's side.
We do a lot of work on the defensive side of the game. The Gaffer works hard
on it on the training pitch and that's how we start every game - we know if
we don't concede we're not going to lose the game. Whoever fills in, in the
centre or in the full-back positions, we know have a solid base to keep a
clean sheet.
We've got a great record away from home at the minute - we've only conceded
one penalty away to Hull - so we'll be looking to keep a clean sheet again.
Hopefully we can pop up and score at the other end and I can chip in as
well.
Last season at Norwich we kept a clean sheet and nicked a nil-nil. I
conceded a free-kick that was VERY close to being a penalty, but thankfully
it wasn't and we defended well. We'll have to do that again on Saturday and
hopefully we can nick a couple of goals. I don't think it matters how
Norwich got on last week. I have been on the end of an 8-1 defeat at Chelsea
when I was at Aston Villa and we went out the next week and probably played
the best we had all year. On other occasions, we've been thrashed and played
twice as bad the following game. You can't really say how the match will pan
out. We've just got to go there, defend well and create chances and score
goals.
Our last victory at Norwich was in January 2006 in the FA Cup third round
and I remember it well. I played against my old Cardiff team-mate Peter
Thorne, who was playing up front for them, and it was a tough game. It's
always a hard one up at Norwich because their fans are passionate about
their club and about their local community. It's always a good atmosphere
there, too.
Talking of good atmospheres, I watched my old team Cardiff's win over
Swansea last Sunday and it was great. It was a tense game and the rivalry is
massive down there, but I think the best team won on the day. I hope to be
returning to Cardiff myself next weekend when Wales take on Finland in a
friendly. Me and the manager Chris Coleman sorted out our differences and I
played in the last two World Cup qualifiers and I hope to be in the squad
again and help my country. This will be our first international following
Craig Bellamy's retirement and it will be a bit strange. I was with him a
lot on our last trip to Belgium and he has been around the Welsh set-up for
as long as I've been playing. It will be strange, but Bellars said himself
that his retirement gives another youngster a chance to come in and do well.
He's got to look after his body as he becomes an old man, but it gives
someone else a chance.
Two of our younger players, Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, are doing great.
it speaks for itself, the way Gareth has gone to Real Madrid for a record
fee and he has done well, setting up and scoring goals. Aaron has been the
player of the season by far this year so far. They're both great lads and
have stayed grounded. They have family back in Wales and go back there,
which I think helps them off the pitch. If they can perform anywhere near
the way they have for their clubs for Wales, then we have a bright future.
Just before I go, I want to mention my proud record of identifying the
various types of fish served in the canteen! I do like my food so I tend to
get the chefs to quiz me now and then. I try to cook as much as I can at
home, even though the wife usually tries to dissuade me! I take an interest
in the kitchen and my signature dishes are usually fish, but I'll have a go
at whatever I can rustle up.
Myself and a few of the boys have opened a restaurant in Chelmsford called
59 New Street and I hope to do some cooking in there before Christmas, so
watch this space! Tim De'Ath, our old chef and current player liaison
officer and England team chef, has devised the menu there and we often go
there with our families to eat and the food is great. Hopefully a few West
Ham fans can come down and eat there, too!
Have a great weekend,
Ginge
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Hammers pair open sports centre
WHUFC.com
Sir Trevor Brooking and Jack Collison opened a new community sports centre
in Bedfordshire
08.11.2013
Two famous West Ham United No10s were on hand to open a new community sports
centre in Bedfordshire this week. Sir Trevor Brooking and Jack Collison both
attended the ceremony to mark the opening of the £1.3m Shefford Sports Club
facility, which will play host to a number of local football clubs. Among
them will be the junior club Collison played for as a schoolboy growing up,
Shefford Saints FC, as well as the town's Bedfordshire County Football
League side Shefford Town and Campton FC. Funded by the Football Foundation
- the nation's largest sports charity that is funded by the Premier League,
The FA, and the Government via Sport England - the Football Stadia
Improvement Fund and WREN, Landfill Communities Fund, the new facilities
include a full-size adult pitch, training area and five junior pitches, plus
a new clubhouse. Sir Trevor praised everyone involved in enabling the
development to take place, pointing to the importance of grassroots football
to the fortunes of English national team. "This is a really good example of
a variety of different groups working together to do the funding," he said.
"Obviously The FA had an involvement through the Football Foundation and you
have to admire the officials who have taken a long time going through the
process. "For a club with 21 junior teams to get a venue like this, with an
important clubhouse to pay for the ongoing costs of things like coaching
courses for the managers, improving the facilities, kits and everything else
that is needed to sustain a club. "As we celebrate England's qualification
for the World Cup in Brazil next year it is always heartening to attend an
event like this and see how we are benefiting our younger players, both boys
and girls. "All of the players who will be representing England at the World
Cup finals will have played for a grassroots club when they were starting
out and that is why facilities like this are so important for the future of
football in this country."
After Sir Trevor had cut the ribbon to officially open the new complex, both
he and Wales midfielder Collison spent time meeting young footballers,
posing for photographs, signing autographs and passing on advice on how to
follow in their illustrious footsteps. Collison has kept a close eye on the
development at his old club, attending a ground-breaking ceremony when work
got underway in June 2012. "The club still means a lot to me," revealed the
25-year-old. "I played here as child and my family are still local. I had a
great time playing here and so it is important that these clubs are given
the support in this way to try and improve and be able to offer the chance
for youngsters to play."
Collison won the Shefford Saints Player of the Year award as an Under-9 and
the club now has a special award named in his honour that is presented
annually to a player with the greatest potential.
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Potts expects tough test
WHUFC.com
Steve Potts believes his U18s will face their toughest test yet when they
play Aston Villa on Saturday
08.11.2013
West Ham United Under-18s manager Steve Potts is expecting a tough match on
Saturday when his team welcome Aston Villa to Little Heath (1pm kick-off).
The ex-Hammers defender believes the third place Villans will provide the
sternest test yet for his charges in their Barclays Under-18 Premier League
campaign. Potts' team are on a six match unbeaten run which has seen them
move into sixth place in the table but he believes their resilience will be
put to the test this weekend. He told West Ham TV: "I get clips of the
opposition the week before we play each team and from the clips I've seen so
far of Aston Villa, they look like the best team I've seen - I think it will
be a real test for us come Saturday. "Every game we're being tested in
different ways, on Saturday I do think Aston Villa are a very good all-round
team so that will be a real test for us whether we're playing home or away."
If Potts' team keep up their fine defensive work then all three points may
well be within their grasp against Villa. The Hammers boast the second best
defensive record in the league, a fact which is pleasing for a man who made
505 appearances at the back for West Ham United. "I often think that the
forwards get all the headlines but the defenders have to do the nitty gritty
side of the game. "You can enjoy your defending that's for sure. You can
enjoy getting a clean sheet or getting good tackles in but I think when you
talk about a defensive record it's a group thing not just the defenders.
"Everyone has to play a role now, even the forwards because gone are the
days when you could have luxury players who don't defend. You look at all
the top teams now and I think everyone puts a shift in and that's the way
the game's gone."
The 46-year-old has seen several of his squad make their bow for the
Development Squad in recent times with Reece Burke, Moses Makasi, Amos Nasha
and Josh Cullen all appearing in the Barclays Under-21 Premier League draw
against Chelsea. Burke played the full 90 minutes in that match, turning in
a strong performance alongside Pelly Ruddock at the heart of the defence and
Potts believes his performance was testament to his development. "He's
really come on over the last couple of years. With Reece he's got a
fantastic attitude, he wants to learn and I've never had a problem with him
training wise. "He's always on his game giving 100 per cent in training and
takes that into matches. He's the sort of kid that deserves to do well
because of that."
Potts also explained he is a happy man when any of his side make the step-up
to the Under-21s. "That's why we're here, to try and push the boys on as
much as we can. When you have an involvement with the boys on a day-to-day
basis and then they do get pushed up higher you're keen to see how they cope
with it and I think they've done ok with that so far."
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Six of the best - Norwich City
WHUFC.com
A look into the past at six memorable triumphs for West Ham United against
Norwich City
08.11.2013
West Ham United travel to Carrow Road on Saturday looking to extend their
unbeaten away run to four matches in all competitions when they take on
Norwich City in the Barclays Premier League. Sam Allardyce's side take a
brilliant record of six clean sheets to Norfolk and will feel confident of
extending that against Chris Hughton's goal-shy team Here whufc.com takes a
look at six memorable wins over the Canaries for Hammers fans to savour
ahead of the Saturday evening fixture.
Norwich City 1-2 West Ham United
FA Cup third tound
7 January 2006
Premier League West Ham overcame Championship side Norwich to get through to
the fourth round of the FA Cup. The Hammers were in front after just six
minutes when Bobby Zamora laid the ball to Hayden Mullins who lashed his
shot past Robert Green. Zamora himself then got on the score sheet when he
capitalised on Green's error to nod home from close-range. Paul McVeigh
pulled one back from the penalty spot after James Collins handled but the
Hammers held on to progress to the next round. Alan Pardew's team would make
it all the way to the final where they would eventually lose on penalties to
Liverpool at the Millennium Stadium.
West Ham United 1-0 Norwich City
FA Cup third round
8 January 2005
Just under a year previously, the sides would meet at this stage of the FA
Cup again, Championship side West Ham knocked out their Premier League
visitors.
An 81st minute header from striker Marlon Harewood put the Hammers into the
fourth round draw at the expense of their ailing opponents. West Ham didn't
make it any further in the competition however and after a home draw with
Sheffield United the Blades eliminated them in the replay.
West Ham 4-0 Norwich City
Division One
11 April 1992
Bottom of the table West Ham bought their ten match winless run to an abrupt
halt with a thumping win over the Canaries. Matthew Rush grabbed two goals
with Ian Bishop also scoring whilst Julian Dicks got in on the act with a
trademark penalty. The big win wasn't enough to save the Hammers who were
relegated after finishing bottom of the league.
West Ham United 4-2 Norwich City
Division One
1 January 1974
The Hammers begun the New Year in style after they put four goals past
Norwich at the Boleyn Ground. The win was vital for West Ham who started the
day in the relegation zone but climbed out of it with this big win. Graham
Paddon struck twice with Bobby Gould and Trevor Brooking also scoring to
ease their relegation fears.
Norwich City 0-1 West Ham United
Division One
10 February 1973
West Ham completed a fine double over the Canaries thanks to a goal from
Bryan Robson in front of over 32,000 fans at Carrow Road. Earlier in the
season the Hammers had beaten Norwich 4-0 at the Boleyn Ground and took all
three points once again. West Ham went on to record a fifth place finish in
the division whilst Norwich flirted with relegation before finishing a place
above the drop zone.
Norwich City 2-6 West Ham United
Division Two
11 March 1939
Charlie Paynter's West Ham side hit six past Norwich to continue the Norfolk
club's slide towards relegation. A hat-trick from centre-forward Sam Small,
two from Joseph Stanley Foxall and one from John Morton sent the visitors to
a thumping win. The Canaries were relegated on goal difference that season
whilst the Hammers finished in eleventh place.
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Olympic Stadium bid: Three admit spying on West Ham United
BBC.co.uk
Three men have admitted spying on West Ham United during the bidding process
for the Olympic Stadium. Richard Forrest, Lee Stewart and Howard Hill
admitted illegally obtaining confidential information from the football club
and Olympic Park Legacy Company at Inner London Crown Court. They were
arrested after claims that Tottenham Hotspur had spied on Olympic officials,
which the club denied. The three men will be sentenced on 20 December.
Forrest, 31, of Furzefield in Crawley, Stewart, 40, of More Lane in Esher,
and Hill, 59, of Shrigley Road South in Stockport, all admitted one charge
of obtaining personal data contrary to Section 55 Data Protection Act 1998.
A charge of fraud by false representation was left to lie on file for each
of the defendants. The men had previously denied the charge at Southwark
Crown Court. Tottenham Hotspur, Leyton Orient and West Ham all made bids to
use the stadium after the 2012 Olympic Games, with the Hammers eventually
being awarded sole use.
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Norwich v West Ham
KO 17:30
8 November 2013
By John Roder
Match of the Day commentator
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Carrow Road Date: Saturday, 9 November
Norwich midfielder Robert Snodgrass returns after concussion, but striker
Ricky van Wolfswinkel will again miss out with a continuing toe injury.
Nathan Redmond is still nursing a hip problem and is a doubt.
West Ham defender Winston Reid is out with an ankle injury but James Collins
has overcome a hamstring complaint. Striker Mladen Petric has a calf
problem, while Andy Carroll (foot) and Ricardo vaz Te (shoulder) are
long-term absentees.
MATCH PREVIEW
Norwich manager Chris Hughton has been the focus of considerable attention
ahead of this fixture, which is being billed by some as a match the Canaries
must win if the personable former Birmingham boss is to keep his job.
Norwich have played Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea in three of their
last four league matches, a difficult run for anyone, but the manner of
their 7-0 defeat by Manuel Pellegrini's Blues last weekend has raised
considerable questions about the direction the Canaries season is taking.
Both of these teams have the same problem, namely a lack of goals, with
Norwich scoring just six times in the Premier League so far and West Ham
eight. City's new signings up front - Ricky van Wolfswinkel, Gary Hooper,
Johan Elmander and Nathan Redmond - have between them contributed just two
league goals since arriving in Norfolk, while Andy Carroll's injury means
that Sam Allardyce is short of attacking options. "There are a few Norwich
players who are due a good performance. It would be great for their manager
Chris Hughton if they can produce one against West Ham because it would take
the pressure off him a bit. "Hughton needs more than one good result,
though. After West Ham is the international break, then Norwich are away at
Newcastle and at home to Crystal Palace. Those three games will be crucial
for him." At the back it's a tale of two very different defences. Norwich
have conceded an average of two goals per match, while the Hammers have six
clean sheets so far. With all the attention on Norwich it's easy to overlook
the fact that West Ham have only two more points than their opponents this
weekend. Nonetheless, the Hammers have a better away record than at home so
far, with just one goal conceded on their travels, and they've kept a clean
sheet in their last three on the road. The atmosphere at Carrow Road in the
past few seasons has generally been positive, with the club making huge
strides since the last time they conceded seven goals. That, you may
remember, was at home to Colchester in a League One fixture back in August
2009 and led to a change of manager. Whatever happens this Saturday, it is
going to be a rather tense evening for the home fans as they look for a
positive reaction to last week's events at the Etihad.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Norwich City are unbeaten in 15 home league games against West Ham United
(W8, D7) since a 1-0 top-flight defeat in February 1973.
West Ham did, however, win 1-0 at Carrow Road in the FA Cup in January 2006
on their way to reaching the final.
Last season's meeting at Norwich in September 2012 finished goalless.
Norwich City
Only Crystal Palace (21) have conceded more goals than Norwich (20), with
the 7-0 loss at Manchester City their heaviest since they were defeated by
the same scoreline at Sheffield Wednesday in November 1938.
The Canaries have conceded 18 goals in the last five games.
Chris Hughton's side have already played four of the current top five
(Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham) in the Premier League -
losing all four games.
No club has trailed more often at half-time in the Premier League than
Norwich (six), who have gone on to lose all of those games.
West Ham United
West Ham have failed to find the net in six league games - the joint highest
number in the Premier League along with Crystal Palace.
Only Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has kept more Premier League clean
sheets (seven) than West Ham's Jussi Jaaskelainen (six) this season.
All four of United draws this season have been goalless, the most in the top
flight.
Ravel Morrison has scored with both of his shots on target this season, with
his two goals also making him the club's top league scorer.
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Guilty
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 8th November 2013
By: Staff Writer
The three men accused of spying on Karren Brady and other individuals
employed by West Ham United have all pleaded guilty. 59-year-old Howard Hill
- a former partner at accountancy firm PKF, Richard Forrest, 31, and Lee
Stewart, 40 all pleaded guilty to charges of unlawfully obtaining phone
records and bank statements belonging to vice-Chairman Karren Brady and
other members of staff involved with the Club's Olympic Stadium bid. The
entire episode was exposed by a Sunday Times article in July 2011 in which
Tottenham Hotspur - who, at the time were also involved with the Olympic
Stadium bidding process - were accused of hiring PKF in order to unearth any
'conflicts of interest' which may have arisen from West Ham's bid for the
stadium. Hill, Forrest and Stewart will be sentenced on 20 December. Three
further individuals arrested in connection with the case have since been
released and will face no charges.
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Rio calling for Ravel
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 8th November 2013
By: Liam Newman
West Ham's Ravel Morrison has once again been included in Gareth Southgate's
England Under 21 side as the Young Lions prepare to for a double-header
against Finland and San Marino.
The Young Lions sit atop Group One of the European Qualifiers and will look
to extend their unbeaten start to the campaign as they bid to reach the 2015
tournament, which is being held in the Czech Republic.
Morrison's inclusion suggests that Southgate sees the West Ham midfielder as
a key part of his plans although the player himself might still harbour
hopes of forcing his way into the senior setup in time for next summer's
World Cup.
Morrison made an instant impact for the Young Lions, scoring two on his
first home appearance against Lithuania. He was instrumental in that 5-0
victory and only took three minutes to open the scoring before completing
his brace with England's fourth. That fine performance was preceded by his
Under 21 debut against San Marino, just five days earlier, but already the
20-year-old looks like a fundamental component of Southgate's setup.
As West Ham fans will tell you, the midfielder is blessed with a raw talent
that not too many English players seem to possess. His natural ability to
take a man on was demonstrated to perfection with that incredible solo goal
at White Hart Lane and that is gift that we rarely see from home-grown
talent.
However, for all the skill and dribbling technique that the West Ham man
possesses, you could never classify him as selfish. For many young players,
the inability to spot a pass or play the final ball is the primary weakness
that prevents them from progressing to the very highest level. Morrision on
the other hand has already shown that upon those naturally gifted shoulders
lies a genuine football brain and that arguably is what sets him aside from
some of the country's other emerging stars.
Despite all of the highly publicised problems that he encountered as a
'tearaway teen', it is impossible to overlook the significance of his time
at Old Trafford. At Manchester United he was encouraged to express an
unquestionable raw talent whilst also developing an understanding of the
game under the guidance of some of the world's greatest coaching staff.
Although it ultimately didn't work out there, he could have hardly asked for
a better foundation to grow as a player.
On leaving Old Trafford, West Ham is one of the very few places that could
allow the player to continue his growth. Nearly two years down the line it
is clear to see that Morrison has been nurtured by two of the best youth
systems in the country and the rewards are now showing for both club and
country.
Whilst it is still early days in Morrison's career at both domestic and
international level, the potential is clear for all to see and makes his
future a mouth-watering prospect for supporters of West Ham and indeed
England. The year-long loan spell at Birmingham City definitely helped the
player mature and adapt to the physical demands of first-team football
whilst simultaneously allowing him to grow in confidence and ability.
Since returning to West Ham, the youngster has been somewhat of a Ravelation
in the Hammers midfield and is proving to be one of the most exciting
talents in the entire Premier League. Whilst we've previously seen plenty of
cases where fans and pundits alike have overhyped a player based on a
promising few matches, there is a genuine feeling that Morrison will live up
to expectations and eventually become a main fixture of the senior England
setup as well as being a vital piece in Allardyce's jigsaw.
Although Morrison has burst onto the scene in recent weeks, it is an outcome
that has threatened to occur for a number of years and is only the
culmination of dedicated hard work from one of England's finest young
talents. With his troublesome past well behind him, it now seems that the
world is at Ravel's young feet and there is no reason that he can't go on to
fulfil his full potential.
The call-up to Southgate's side is another stepping stone as the young
Hammer continues his rapid development in what is already proving to be a
monumental year in the 20-year-old's career. It's another great opportunity
to force himself into Roy Hodgson's plans in this important World Cup year
and two strong performances, at the Stadium:MK and New Meadow, will
certainly do him no harm.
Elsewhere, Mohammed Diame is included in the Senegal squad and will be
expected to start in their second leg playoff match against Ivory Coast in
Dakar. However, the Lions are trailing 3-1 and qualification for the World
Cup looks unlikely.
Meanwhile, Martin O'Neill's first squad sees a recall for Joey O'Brien and
the West Ham defender could make his first international appearance in over
a year.
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Norwich City v West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 8th November 2013
By: Preview Percy
More from the man who failed the audition for the "Grumpy Old Men" TV show
because he was too miserable. Television's loss is, er, our loss as
well.....
Next we journey up the M11 to the land of the extra digit where we will be
entertained by Norwich City. Kick-off is at 5.30pm for the benefit of the
be-saucered amongst you. There doesn't seem to be anything in the way of
engineering works on the appropriate railway lines so an early start should
see you sampling the local ales for a decent session.
Our hosts are not in the rudest of health at present, sitting third from
bottom with 8 points from their 10 games thus far. They have a four point
and five point cushion over Sunderland & Palace respectively at the moment.
The 8 points have come courtesy of an opening day 2-2 home draw with
Everton, a 1-0 win over Southampton (also at home) later that month, a 1-0
win over Stoke at the Britannia in September and a 0-0 draw with Cardiff
last month. Other than that it's been defeats all the way, most notably last
weekend when they shipped 7 (seven) without response against Man City,
something that left them with a goal difference of -14, only one goal better
off than the bottom two.
The Cardiff game ended controversially as Leroy Fer put the ball into an
unguarded net whilst all around were expecting him to play the ball back to
the 'keeper, the ball having been played out by Cardiff to enable a Norwich
player to receive treatment. After a minute or two of pushing and shoving
the goal was chalked off, the "handbags" earning both clubs a fine – Norwich
coughing up £20k with Cardiff's share yet to be decided at the time of
writing. Fer later owned up that he'd "scored" deliberately, an admission
which, I suppose, contained honesty, if not sportsmanship. Of course one
should not ignore the role of the referee in all this. Mike Jones (for 'twas
he) claimed that he'd disallowed the goal because he hadn't blown the
whistle for the restart. Strangely, nobody asked Jones a) why he didn't blow
up in the several seconds that elapsed between the throw being taken and the
ball entering the net; b) why he hadn't felt it necessary to signal the
restart for any of the other throw-ins that afternoon; and c) whether he
would have signalled play on had the Cardiff 'keeper picked the ball up.
Actually, it's not that strange that nobody asked. Everyone knows the
answers anyway – unlike Fer, Jones has never given the impression of being
over-familiar with the concept of honesty.
Norwich are, famously, majority owned by Mr & Mrs Wynn-Jones. You may, of
course know Mrs Wynn-Jones better as Delia Smith, Norfolk's answer to Fanny
Craddock. This fact got us thinking here at the Avram Grant Olympic Rest
Home For The Bewildered. We reckon the tv companies may be missing a trick.
The other afternoon there were at least three of the tv channels available
in the day room that weren't showing some sort of cookery programme.
A few years ago the Wynn-Joneses looked as if they were about to sell up.
Minority shareholdings were purchased by interested parties, places on the
board were arranged and it seems that Delia was to ride off into the sunset
to concentrate on her spam fritters. However, the new investors came and
went and the only major new appearance on the board in recent years has been
Stephen Fry. Which is, I suppose, quite interesting.
There were a number of changes on the personnel front during the summer. The
aforementioned Fer, whose surname is French for "Iron", came in for a
reported £7m from Dutchmen FC Twente. Norwich represents Fer's second
attempt at forging (forging, geddit? Oh suit yourselves) a career in
England. He'd agreed a deal to join Everton back in January but a problem
with one of his knees (either the right or the left – it's really not that
important you know), led to Everton trying to negotiate the transfer fee on
a pay as you go basis. Twente weren't impressed and pulled out of the deal.
Which is how he ended up in Norfolk.
Grant Holt left for Wigan to be replaced by no fewer than three strikers (as
a well-known search engine might say "three strikers? Did you mean No
strikers?). You have to say that whatever his footballing pedigree, Ricky
Van Wolfswinkel is a damned fine name. Apparently he got the nickname
"Hat-ricky" as a kid but, lets face it, when you have a name that good any
attempt to jazz it up is, frankly, a waste of time. Sometimes less is more.
RVW came in from Sporting (Lisbon), having been contacted by Dutch legend
Johan Neeskens who told him he should join the Canaries. Robin Van Persie
also called him and said the same thing, but he joined anyway, £8.5m being
the alleged fee. Van Wolfswinkel missed the Man City drubbing and the spotty
work experience oik has just told me that he'll be absent this weekend as
well, which is a shame as it would have been interesting to hear the home
support trying to shoehorn that name into a popular terrace chant.
The second striker in is the less-spectacularly-named Gary Hooper, whose
transfer in from Celtic seemed to take forever to sort out. It probably
didn't, but it just seemed that every time I saw a newspaper it contained
the words "Gary Hooper is expected to compete his transfer to Norwich soon".
Hooper's journey through the football world has been a strange one. An Essex
boy, he didn't last too long in the Spurs youth system and elected to go up
in the world by joining Grays Athletic. A bit cheesed off with getting only
two or three minutes off the bench each week, he left Grays and ended up at
Southend. His two year spell at Roots Hall was punctuated with loan spells
at Hereford and Leyton Orient before he moved on permanently to Scunthorpe,
where he averaged a goal roughly every other game. Celtic, of all people,
won the inevitable bidding war and North of the border he went for a
reported £2.4m. Up there he improved his average to a goal every game and a
half and he spent his three years in the coveted no.88 shirt (the year he
was born if you're that interested) being linked with a move back to
civilisation (or, in one case, Hull), eventually ending up at Carrow Road
for £5m. His Norwich career has been a bit stop start due to injury and it
wasn't until the Cardiff match that he made his first start.
The third striker to arrive was former Bolton chappie Johan Elmander. The
much-capped Swede has come in on a season-long loan from Galatasary. During
his Bolton career he once went through a scoreless spell that lasted no less
than nine months. Have a guess which team he broke his duck against. Yup.
Winger Robert Snodgrass is thought to be ok for this match. He was knocked
cold during the 4-0 League Cup defeat at Old Trafford, an injury that meant
he was missing from the 7-0 at Man City – though I'm not sure anyone would
have noticed one more Norwich player walking about in a daze last weekend.
And what about us? Well we had the better of the match against Villa without
quite having the cutting edge that some of the approach play deserved. Who'd
have thought that would happen what with us playing without strikers and
all.
It's been a bit quiet on the disciplinary front - I've been waiting all week
for the FA to announce Villa full-back Matt Lowton's punishment for hi stamp
on Mark Noble. I've seen the un-broadcast footage (don't ask) and it's a
shocking piece of video – all the more so for the fact that ref Webb was
close enough to have seen had he actually been looking the right way. Any
time you'd like to announce that 3 match ban would be good guys.
There will be changes afoot for this one. The club had put Biggles on
standby to whisk the Kiwi away to represent his country. However, the plan
ran into a snag when nobody in Norfolk knew where the nearest airport
capable of taking a decent-sized jet was. Or indeed where the nearest
airport was. Or what an airport actually is. Whilst the club travel agent
was patiently explaining the principles behind powered flight to a baffled
Norwich City Council official, out came the news that Reid had injured a
foot in training, thus sparing the club official the tricky bit about the
Wright Brothers. James Collins is now fit enough to return to the side
alongside James Tomkins, who has been in good form of late.
The aforementioned Noble has also been in good form but, according to
Hodgson, he's no Tom Cleverley. From a club point of view we're all glad
about that I suppose but it must be galling for the lad to see players
getting international recognition on the basis of the fact that they're
playing poorly in the right colour shirt.
Up front Mr Allardyce's comments suggest that we'll go with the zero option
once more, which would mean another spot of benchwarming for Cole C (though
with all the mind games that bosses play these days it wouldn't be a total
surprise to see him start). I suppose that this is a good a game as any to
do the 4-6-0 thing in – as the match against Spurs showed it's a formation
you can get away with against weaker opposition.
Prediction? Well their defeat last week was against Mn City who, as we know
only too well, can be devastating when they're on form. However, most
observers came away shaking their heads muttering about how poor Norwich
actually were. It's one thing picking yourselves up from a tonking from a
superior team if you're not a bad side yourselves, but the psychological
damage that must come from the realisation that you're an average side that
is going to rely heavily on there being three sides in the league even worse
than you is something that will be more difficult to overcome.
Though they will undoubtedly try to come out of the traps fighting (to mix a
metaphor), I think an early goal would see heads go down. So, assuming that
instructions to get at the opposition early doors are issued and carried
out, I can see us having a bit too much for them. With that in mind, the
Avram Grant Olympic Rest Home Fund to buy Roy Hodgson a copy of the AtoZ
that actually contains the E13 postcode (£2.50) will be placed on an away
win this week. 2-1 shall we say? Lovely.
Enjoy the game!
When Last We Met At Carrow Road – Drew 0-0 (Sept 2012) They moaned like
anything that they should have had a penalty instead of a free kick. Had
they got television up there they'd have seen from the replay that the foul
was outside the box.
Jonathan Moss Cost us the match against Stoke at the Boleyn this season by
falling for a blatant dive then ignoring Shawcross's barge into the wall as
the resulting free-kick was taken. I mean it's not as if Stoke are known for
that sort of thing is it. Oh hang on....
Danger Man: Robert Snodgrass – main source of chances for them this season –
when he knows where he is.
Daft Fact Of The Week: In 2008 Norwich put itself forward to be "European
City Of Culture". A City councillor was supposed to have blamed their
failure to win on "The Partridge Effect" - an assumed sense of ridicule
deriving from Steve Coogan's comic creation. The councillor later claimed
his comments had been exaggerated, though, in a Partridge-esque aside, he
conceded: " At the back of my mind I'm honest enough to accept that Norwich
is a bit of a cultural backwater" No kidding!
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Norwich City face West Ham with both teams struggling at wrong end of table
Last Updated: November 8, 2013 11:23am
SSN
Norwich City and West Ham United are both desperate for points to ease their
relegation woes in the Premier League when they meet at Carrow Road on
Saturday. Heading into Saturday's evening kick-off, with the match live on
Sky Sports 1HD, Chris Hughton's Norwich find themselves third from bottom
with eight points from 10 matches, having scored just six goals and conceded
20. The Canaries must still be smarting from their humiliating 7-0 hammering
by Manchester City last weekend that extended their winless run to five
matches in all competitions. In fact, Norwich have not won since September
29 when they edged past Stoke City 1-0 away from home, and the pressure is
increasing on manager Hughton. Sam Allardyce's West Ham are also struggling
for points, having picked up just 10 from as many matches to languish in
15th position in the table. The Hammers, though, are unbeaten in their last
three competitive fixtures and got the better of London rivals Tottenham
Hotspur 3-0 at White Hart Lane a month ago. West Ham have struggled for
goals just like Norwich, but they have conceded only eight - fewer than
Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City, Everton and Manchester United and as many as
Chelsea.
Paul Merson's prediction
This is a massive game for Norwich. Whenever you get beat 7-0 it comes up as
S-E-V-E-N on the vidiprinter and that doesn't help any manager. The fans
will be on Chris Hughton's back a bit and you're always under pressure when
you're near the bottom of the league, especially when you've just been on
the wrong end of a big scoreline.
West Ham have kept a few clean sheets of late and have one of the best
defensive records in the division away from home. However, I am going to go
for Norwich to win 1-0 because I just feel they need it a little bit more
than West Ham. The first goal in this game will be as big as any we've seen
this season from these teams because it will probably settle the match.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-0
Norwich
Last 6
Man City (a)7-0
Man Utd (a)4-0
Cardiff (h)0-0
Arsenal (a)4-1
1-3
0-1
Hughton is hopeful of having Scotland winger Robert Snodgrass available for
Norwich following his recovery from concussion. However, midfielder Nathan
Redmond is doubtful because of a hip problem, while record-signing Ricky van
Wolfswinkel remains out with a foot injury. Midfielders Alexander Tettey
(ankle) and Elliott Bennett (knee) are both long-term absentees for the
hosts.
West Ham
Last 6
A Villa (h)0-0
0-2
Swansea (a)0-0
Man City (h)1-3
Tottenham (a)0-3
Hull City (a)1-0
West Ham will be without defender Winston Reid for their trip to Norwich, as
the New Zealand international is out with an ankle injury he suffered in
training.
However, fellow defender James Collins is available following a hamstring
problem. The Hammers' forward options remain limited with Andy Carroll
(heel) and Mladen Petric (thigh) both ruled out, while Matthew Taylor
(thigh), George McCartney and Alou Diarra (both knee) are also absent.
Opta Stats
Norwich have lost only one of their six Premier League games against West
Ham and are unbeaten in home meetings.
West Ham have conceded only one goal in five Premier League away games this
season.
The Hammers could become the first team to draw three Premier League games
in a row 0-0 since 2009.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham midfielder Kevin Nolan believes they should be higher up table
Last Updated: November 8, 2013 9:40pm
SSN
West Ham midfielder Kevin Nolan feels their current league position does not
accurately reflect how they have been playing as they prepare to face
Norwich in Saturday Night Football. Sam Allardyce's side lie 15th in the
Premier League table, just two points clear of the relegation zone ahead of
this weekend's fixtures.
The Londoners have conceded just eight league goals all season, with
Southampton and Tottenham the only teams with meaner defences. But they have
managed to score only eight goals themselves, a factor which Nolan concedes
has prevented them from climbing the table. "When you look at the
performances we've put out this year I think we should be a lot higher,"
Nolan told Weekend Warm-Up. "We've ended up being in and around the bottom
three for most of the season but to have six clean sheets at this stage of
the season, 10 games gone in the Premier League, you can't really ask for
more. "It's just down to us now to start putting the ball in the back of the
net, that's the be all and end all." Nolan scored 10 goals for West Ham last
season, including a hat-trick in their 4-2 victory over Reading on the final
day of the campaign. He has struggled for goals this season though, with his
only one to date coming in the opening day win over Cardiff, and with his
side usually going on to win matches he scores in, Nolan is keen to find his
goalscoring touch once more. "When I score, we win games!" he added.
"There's no doubt about that, when I score a goal I want to make sure it
means something and we go on to win a game. "I'm not about personal
accolades or trying to score just to get my numbers up. "I've got to score
goals, that's a major part of my armoury if you like. I'm feeling that I'm
starting to get the chances again." Nolan will go up against an old
team-mate from his Bolton days on Saturday, with Sweden striker Johan
Elmander now leading the line for Norwich. Elmander has fond memories of his
time at the Reebok Stadium and feels Nolan remains a major threat in front
of goal.
"He's been up on the top for so many years and he's always delivering, he
just keeps on going," he said. "He's always fighting and giving everything
in every game. He'll turn up in that hole where the ball is coming, and when
he gets the chance he puts in the goal. That's something you're born with."
Elmander admits he is looking forward to testing himself against a number of
former Bolton team-mates, but insists he will do them no favours on the
field. "I think there are four or five of them there now, Jussi
Jaaskelainen, Kevin Nolan, (Ricardo) Vaz Te, (Matthew) Taylor and Andy
O'Brien," he added. "It's good friends of mine, they were really nice to me
when I was up in Bolton so it's going to be something special to play
against West Ham. "But when you're on the pitch you don't think about that
much."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Olympic Stadium: Three plead guilty to illegally obtaining private data
Last Updated: November 8, 2013 9:12pm
SSN
Three men have pleaded guilty to illegally obtaining private information
regarding the future of London's Olympic Stadium, ahead of the decision to
award West Ham use of the venue from 2016. In a criminal case at Inner
London Crown Court, Howard Hill, Richard Michael Forrest and Lee Stewart
accepted their guilt and will be sentenced next month. Following the
Olympics and before West Ham were granted use of the stadium, football club
Tottenham was accused by the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) of ordering
surveillance by private investigators on board members tasked with deciding
the fate of the arena after the Games. Accountancy firm PKF was employed by
Tottenham who denied being involved in illegal activity. Hill, a former
partner at PKF, was accused of unlawfully obtaining personal data such as
phone bills and bank statements from West Ham and OPLC workers. At a
separate court case, PKF was accused of unlawfully obtaining telephone
records of West Ham's vice-chairman Karren Brady during the bidding process.
After much wrangling and many meetings, West Ham agreed on a 99-year deal to
move from Upton Park and rent the revamped £486m stadium. The 80,000-seat
venue will be downsized to 54,000 and reconfigured with a new roof and
retractable seats. As the anchor tenant, West Ham will have primary of use
of the stadium, although the venue will retain the running track and stage
other sporting events and concerts.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
SPURSGATE
By Sean Whetstone 9 Nov 2013 at 08:24
West Ham Till I Die
Forty one years ago Howard Hunt (HH) put together a team of private
investigators nicknamed the Plumbers to break into the Watergate hotel. An
act that would turn into a massive cover up which ended the reign & career
of President Richard Nixon.
A few days after the break-in, Nixon was recorded saying,, "This fellow
Hunt, he knows too damn much." Howard Hunt later put pressure on the White
House for cash payments to cover legal fees, family support, and expenses,
for himself and his fellow burglars. In 2011 another HH (Howard Hill) is
alleged to have put together a team of private investigators who went on to
obtain phone records belonging to West Ham Vice Chairman Karren Brady.
These phone records were passed to Tottenham Hotspur's lawyers in early
March 2011, although Spurs continue to claim that the club did not receive
copies itself.
At a high court hearing in 2011 lawyers for Karren Brady and West Ham won an
order requiring accountants PKF, hired by Spurs to conduct "due diligence"
on the first bidding process for the Olympic Stadium, to hand over
"unlawfully obtained" copies of Brady's itemised phone bills.
Spurs lawyers were gathering material for a possible judicial review, which
eventually reached court in October 2011 but was then halted in its tracks
when the government and the OPLC pulled the plug on their deal with West Ham
and Newham council in the face of delays caused by legal challenges from
Spurs. The records are believed to show details of phone calls between Brady
and OPLC board members, including the then chief executive Andrew Altman.
In his witness statement the Spurs finance director Matthew Collecott said:
"I understand [Howard] Hill produced Brady's phone records to the lawyers.
When asked he confirmed they had been received anonymously. The lawyers
claim they made it clear to Howard Hill it was imperative that all
investigations were carried out within the law."
Matthew Collecott confirmed that PKF was engaged in February 2011 to carry
out "due diligence" on the process. Spurs were concerned details of their
tender for the Olympic Stadium had been leaked. West Ham's legal counsel,
said his reading of Matthew Collecott's desciption of the sequence of the
events was that Howard Hill was being painted as a "rogue agent" who had
"exceeded his authority". Both PKF and Howard Hill claimed not to know where
the phone bills came from, saying they had been sent anonymously. "I did not
attach any significance to Howard Hill's reference to receiving telephone
records," claimed Matthew Collecott.
The 2011 court case brought by West Ham heard an individual calling
themselves "Thomas Brady" with a fictional West Ham email address had
managed to obtain Brady's itemised Vodafone mobile phone bills from its
customer services department. PKF claimed not to know where the documents
had come from and said that its partner Howard Hill had claimed the
telephone records arrived "in the proverbial brown envelope".
Howard Hill admitted passing the records to the Sunday Times, which used
them as part of the basis for an article. Hill later apologised to the Spurs
chairman, Daniel Levy, after the Sunday Times article appeared, the court
was told. The judge had described how West Ham and Brady were given the
"traditional run around" by Spurs and PKF as they attempted to establish
whether the phone bills existed and who had access to them.
This week Howard Hill pleaded guilty at Inner London crown court to
unlawfully obtaining personal data such as phone bills and bank records from
executives working for West Ham and the Olympic Park Legacy Company. Two
other men Richard Forrest and Lee Stewart also pleaded guilty to the same
offence and all three will be sentenced on 20th December. Three counts of
fraud by false representation were left to lie on file.
Spurs have repeatedly insisted that they knew nothing of Hill's illegal
behaviour and PKF, which has since merged with BDO, has also said it was
unaware of any illegal activity.
In the seventies the New York Times asked 'What did Nixon Know & When Did He
Know It?'
I would like to ask that same question to Spurs Chairman Daniel Levy and
finance director Matthew Collecott.
Will this turn out to be Spursgate?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce says the pressure will be on him if West Ham lose to Norwich
9 Nov 2013 01:24
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce could not care less about Chris Hughton's plight – because
defeat for West Ham will put his job on the line. Big Sam's Hammers travel
to Carrow Road today and victory for the visitors could spell the end for
under-fire Hughton, whose side have taken just eight points from 10 games in
the Premier League. But Allardyce said Norwich will go above his side if
they win, which would put the heat on him. "If they beat us on Saturday, he
(Chris Hughton) is in a much better position than I am and the pressure then
comes on me," said Allardyce. "I'm not foolish enough, I know the pressure
is on us all. "I'm two points off Chris Hughton, so it is a massive game for
us both. "I don't want to finish on Saturday and be below Norwich City
because then the pressure reverts on to me."
Allardyce has been rocked by the news that star defender Winston Reid is
unavailable for the trip after suffering an ankle injury. But fellow
centre-half James Collins is now back from his hamstring strain and will
partner James Tomkins in defence.
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Saturday, November 9
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