Daily WHUFC News - 25th December 2014

Big Sam on: Chelsea
WHUFC.com
Big Sam wants to earn another compliment from Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho on
Boxing Day
24.12.2014

Sam Allardyce is hoping to earn another compliment from the 'world's best
club manager' when West Ham United head to Chelsea on Boxing Day. A
frustrated Jose Mourinho accused the Hammers of playing '19th century
football' following a goalless Barclays Premier League draw at Stamford
Bridge in January - a result that served as a catalyst for West Ham to begin
their climb from the relegation zone to mid-table safety by the season's
end. As he prepares his fourth-placed team to return to the home of the
current leaders, Big Sam paid tribute to Mourinho's achievements and said he
is looking forward to locking horns with the two-times UEFA Champions
League, Serie A, La Liga and Premier League title-winning manager.

Sam, can you please start with team news ahead of the trip to Chelsea?

SA: "James Tomkins is our only concern. Mark Noble is back in the squad, so
James came off with a hamstring in the last game against Leicester and we'll
know later on Christmas Day evening if he is available or not. The rest of
the squad are all together over this very strenuous period and are available
for selection."

Your last visit to Stamford Bridge was memorable for Jose Mourinho accusing
you of playing '19th century football'…

SA: "It was memorable for how well we played! I think it was a compliment by
the fact a frustrated manager vented his frustration about the fact that he
couldn't break down the team he was playing against. "That frustration
spilled over into his press conference, because he felt he should have
beaten us, obviously because of the position (19th) that we were in at the
time, and the position they were in (third). "It's always a compliment for
me when a manager has a little pop at you about the way you played or what
tactics you might have used, which means tactically you have been very good,
you've done your job well and made sure the opposition have found it very
difficult to break you down and beat you when all expected us to lose, and
we didn't. "It was part of our recovery at the time, when we'd had such a
bad Christmas and New Year. The confidence we gained from such a result was
part of us moving forward and getting out of the relegation zone. "This one
is totally different. We're fourth in the league this time and we've got
better, younger players and hopefully we will go and give a good account of
ourselves - and a good account of ourselves is getting a result, not playing
well and a loss."

This time around Jose has been praising you and your team...

SA: "I think our position speaks for itself that we have got better players
and that Chelsea have also got better players than last season - that's why
they have gone one step closer to the title, it looks like, than they did
last year. "We have obviously improved tremendously from where we were, but
that doesn;t make it any easier for us playing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge
because of the force that they are, and because of the manager that he is -
he is probably the best working club manager in the world at the minute on
his track record. I don't think there is any doubt about that. "There is
probably only Carlo Ancelotti that perhaps matches him, but certainly what
he has done in his time across many different countries has been outstanding
and that's why I was glad to have him back. I want to pit my wits against
the best and obviously he is proving that again here in England with Chelsea
this season."

You might not be here now had you not drawn at Chelsea last season?

SA: "Chelsea can beat you five or six-nil on their ground and I think, on
the back of our results before we went there it would have made life for the
owners even more difficult to get behind me - but that's not water under the
bridge, it's water in the sea, water in the Atlantic Ocean it is that far
gone. "We're a completely different unit, team and squad now and we're
enjoying out football this year and enjoying our Christmas a lot more than
we enjoyed Christmas last year. "We've got the two hardest games over 48
hours over Christmas - Chelsea away and Arsenal at home in the space of 48
hours is a big demand for us, even though we're on top of our game at the
moment. Getting through these two games is going to be a tremendous effort
for all the players selected, and hopefully they'll come through for us as
they have done for most of this season."

Alex Song has not been selected by Cameroon for the AFCON 2015 finals in
January, but you will likely lose Cheikhou Kouyate and Diafra Sakho to
Senegal. How does that affect your transfer dealings in January?

SA: "I remember Jose punching the air at Soccer Aid while we were training
before we played that game. I didn't know what it was until after, when he
told me he had just clinched it [the signing of Fabregas]. That's how
excited he was and what a big signing had finally come off. "Jose had
obviously met him before that and Cesc was pondering his decision as to
whether to join Chelsea, so I could see how delighted he was to clinch that
signing. They obviously had to do a lot of work, when you consider the
affection he said he had for Arsenal, and they managed to overcome that.
"It's paid off for both. There are only a few players of that high a quality
and calibre available on the market today and that was one they clinched, so
he has done very, very well in assists and scored a couple of vital goals."

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Downing targeting festive cheer
WHUFC.com
In form Stewart Downing says the Hammers can get a result at Stamford Bridge
24.12.2014

West Ham United's in form midfielder Stewart Downing is relishing the
prospect of playing Jose Mourinho's table topping Chelsea at Stamford Bridge
on Boxing Day. The 30-year-old midfielder has been in superb form for the
Hammers this season, netting four goals so far, most recently a sublime
curling effort from the edge of the box against Leicester City to double the
lead after Andy Carroll's calm finish had given the Hammers a deserved lead.
Talking through his fourth goal of the season, Downing said: "It was
certainly one of the best goals of my career. It was good timing in the game
as well to kill Leicester off. I was very pleased to get the goal, I got one
the week before at Sunderland so I was very happy. "As soon as I hit it I
thought it was in. Most players will tell you that once you get a connection
you know. I knew what I wanted to do before I got the ball, we practise
these situations in training, bending it round defenders so I was happy to
see it go in."

Given the Hammers' fantastic run of results, which has taken them to fourth
in Premier League with 31 points from 17 games, Downing said his side are
approaching the match with confidence. "Chelsea are in the in-form team, the
team to beat. I watched their game against Stoke and they've got a bit of
everything about them. It's a big test for us but we've proved we can beat
the big boys. We need to play our usual game and see where that takes us.
It's a good test for us. "Last season, I think Jose was just frustrated, the
league was in his sights and he probably had that game down as a three
pointer. He knows he's in for a tough day on Friday, he's aware of us and so
he should be."

Having scored against Leicester last weekend, as well as the equaliser away
at Sunderland, Downing is looking to score for the third successive game.
His form has been widely recognised across the media, as well as by England
manager Roy Hodgson who recalled him to the England side that beat Scotland
3-1 in November. When asked about his form, Downing said: "In terms of end
product I'd say I'm playing the best football of my career. "The goals are
coming, I've had a few assists and created some chances. My new role now
gives me freedom, I'm seeing more of the ball, I can be more expressive and
that's helped me massively."

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Adrian - The Big Interview
WHUFC.com
The Hammers goalkeeper talks clean sheets, Leicester and Chelsea
23.12.2014

Last season Adrian produced an heroic performance to help the Hammers gain a
point at Chelsea. Now, the No13 is preparing to head back to Stamford Bridge
with maintaining a top four position at the top of his agenda.
We caught up with the goalkeeper for our Big Interview...

A clean sheet on Saturday, you must have been really pleased?

ADRIAN: "It's my job, no? To help the team get the three points and the
clean sheet is really important for us."

At 2-0, going into the latter stages of the game they were still coming and
you had to make two really good saves. Talk us through them.

ADRIAN: "It was a good moment for us because it was important that they
didn't score in the last few minutes. If they had done, it would have made
it difficult for us. I try every game to help the team and this time I can
help."

Which save did you like the most?

ADRIAN: "The first in the second half, because I didn't have time, it was
just a reaction. I think that was the best for me, but all saves are
difficult and all saves are good."

Fourth place in the table. Can you believe it?

ADRIAN: "Yes, you can believe it, because in two games we would have played
half the season. We need to keep going like this and when we finish the
season we hope we stay in this position."

Chelsea next, a place where you played pretty well last year and made plenty
of saves....

ADRIAN: "I have good memories of Chelsea last year. It was a different game,
because last season we were in the relegation zone and now this season we're
at the top of the league. It will be a good game for us and the fans."

Do you think we can attack a bit more this time?

ADRIAN: "Of course. This season the team has a lot of options in attack and
we play different football to last season."

Do you think we can stay around the top five or six?

ADRIAN: "We take it game-by-game, but this is the level we need to stay at.
We have a good moment right now and we need to enjoy it."

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Nations Cup 2015: Alex Song misses out on Cameroon squad
BBC.co.uk

Cameroon coach Volke Finke has named a preliminary 24-man squad for
January's Africa Cup of Nations finals in Equatorial Guinea. The German has
stuck mainly to the players he used in the qualifiers, but there is no place
for Alex Song. The midfielder has not played for Cameroon since being sent
off in the 4-0 World Cup loss to Croatia. His impressive form this season at
West Ham on loan from Barcelona had lead to speculation he would earn a
recall. After losing all their matches at the World Cup in Brazil, Cameroon
will be hoping to build on an unbeaten qualifying campaign at the Cup of
Nations finals. Strikers Vincent Aboubakar and Clinton N'Jie scored seven of
the nine goals the Indomitable Lions netted in a qualifying campaign that
included a 4-1 win over Ivory Coast. The two will meet again in Group D at
the finals. Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting is also enjoying a good season with
German side Schalke 04, with nine Bundesliga goals to his name so far.
Cameroon will begin their preparation at home and will host
Congo-Brazzaville for a friendly on 7 January before travelling to Gabon the
next day for a training camp. While in Gabon, the Indomitable Lions will
play a friendly against South Africa on 11 January and another one against
an opponent to be decided three days later. They will fly to Malabo for the
Nations Cup finals on 16 January, a day before the tournament is due to
kick-off.

Provisional Cameroon squad:
Goalkeepers: Joseph Ondoua (Barcelona, Spain), Guy Ndy Assembe (Nancy,
France), Pierre Sylvain Abogo (Tonnerre Yaoundé)
Defenders: Cédric Djeugoue (Coton Sport), Jérôme Guihi Ata (Valenciennes,
France), Nicolas Nkoulou (Marseille, France), Ambroise Oyongo Bitolo (New
York Red Bulls, USA), Brice Nlate Ekongolo (Marseille, France), Franck
Bagnack (Barcelona, Spain), Henri Bedimo (Lyon, France),
Midfielders: Stéphane Mbia (Seville, Spain), Enoh Eyong (Standard Liège,
Belgium), Raoul Cedric Loe (CA Osasuna, Spain), Edgard Salli (Academica de
Coimbra. Portugal), Georges Mandjeck (Kayseri Erciyesspor, Turkey), Franck
Kom (Etoile du Sahel, Tunisia), Patrick Ekeng (FC Cordoba, Spain)
Forwards: Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting (Schalke 04, Germany), Benjamin Moukandjo
(Reims, France), Jacques Zoua (Kayseri Erciyesspor, Turkey), Vincent
Aboubakar (Porto, Portugal), Léonard Kwekeu (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey),
Clinton N'Jie (Lyon, France), Franck Etoundi (Zurich, Switzerland)

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Chelsea v West Ham
KO 12:45
24 December 2014
Last updated at 11:36
By Steve Wilson
BBC Match of the Day commentator

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Stamford Bridge Date: Friday, 26 December

TEAM NEWS

Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard is doubtful after injuring his ankle during
the victory at Stoke. Oscar could be recalled to the starting line-up after
only being named as an unused substitute on Monday.
West Ham midfielder Mark Noble returns to the squad after recovering from an
Achilles problem. Defender James Tomkins is the Hammers' only injury doubt
after he was substituted against Leicester with a hamstring problem.

MATCH PREVIEW

In fourth place at Christmas, Sam Allardyce says his team are breaking
barriers, and the timing couldn't be better - West Ham have begun the
process of offering corporate packages in the Olympic Stadium where they
will kick off the 2016-17 season. "Chelsea being top of the table at
Christmas does not mean they are going to win the league, but they are in
very good shape with tight bunch of players who are strong ability-wise and
mentally." Not so long ago, this would have required a leap of faith from
would-be purchasers wondering if they'd be watching Championship football in
their plush padded seats; now it's not such a ludicrous stretch of the
imagination to dream of Champions League games being digested along with the
prawn sandwiches.

No disrespect intended to the Hammers' London rivals, but I'm sure that
Karren Brady and her team are finding that selling the dream of matches
against Real Madrid and Barcelona is rather easier than flogging the
possibility of matches with Millwall and Brentford.
Breaking barriers is one thing - beating Chelsea, especially at the Bridge,
is something else completely. West Ham did manage to get a point at Chelsea
last season when, you may recall, Jose Mourinho accused them of playing
19th-century football and of parking the hackney carriage. That was the
first of 10 points earned by West Ham in a four-game run last season which
took them from the relegation zone to mid-table in a fortnight. Looking
back, Allardyce thinks it was the turning point for what has followed.
Chelsea's win at Stoke on Monday was the perfect riposte to Manchester
City's recent surge - it was a controlled, strong and disciplined
performance, typical of Chelsea under Mourinho. They must still be
considered strong title favourites and I don't see their run of 13-games
unbeaten at Stamford Bridge ending any time soon.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
West Ham have not won on any of their last eight league visits to Stamford
Bridge (D2, L6).
The Hammers' last win at Chelsea was in September 2002, when Paolo Di Canio
scored twice to propel West Ham to a 3-2 win.
Their only previous Boxing Day meeting came in 1973 when Ron Greenwood's
Hammers won 4-2 at Stamford Bridge despite being 2-0 down at half-time - the
scorers included Frank Lampard Sr.

Chelsea
Chelsea have won all eight of their Premier League home matches this season.
The Blues are unbeaten in their last nine Boxing Day games (W5, D4).
Diego Costa has scored eight goals in his seven Premier League appearances
at Stamford Bridge this season.
This is the eighth time that a club managed by Jose Mourinho has been top of
the league at Christmas. On the previous seven occasions (with Porto,
Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid), he has gone on to win the title.

West Ham
West Ham have won four of their last five Premier League matches.
The last time the Hammers were in the top four of the top-flight on
Christmas Day was back in 1985. They finished that season in third.
West Ham have already won nine matches this season - they only won 11 in
total in the whole of the 2013-14 campaign.
The Hammers have scored in their last eight Premier League away games. The
last time they scored in nine away games in a row was back in December
1999-May 2000 (nine matches).

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The (ex) Rev's Christmas message
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 24th December 2014
By: Elwin Cockett

'Happy Christmas' from our own Archdeacon of West Ham, Elwin Cockett...

The world-wide family of West Ham fans is celebrating in style this
Christmas. We're in the top four – until Boxing Day, at least – and we're
watching the best football we've seen in years, which isn't necessarily
something that many of us would have said at the start of the year.

That we are a world-wide family is obvious to anyone who has dipped into the
KUMB Forum, a melting-pot of miscellany that only Irons fans could create.
But I will never forget how the astonishing reach of Hammer-dom was brought
home to me a few years ago on a hot, dusty road in, of all places, Ghana.

I was there to visit friends in a town called Akosombo, where I lived for a
year as a child when my father was working as a doctor there. We were stuck
in a traffic jam, going nowhere, in the intense heat of an African Summer.
The only movement was of traders strolling up and down the queue, selling
everything from bread to umbrellas. Suddenly, one caught my eye, not because
of what she was selling or shouting out, but because of what she was
wearing: A West Ham shirt.

We had no language in common, but at the words 'West Ham' she beamed at me.
We were thousands of miles from Upton Park but for a fleeting moment we were
two people united by the claret-and-blue.

But there's a far more important story that can be told about Ghana and the
generosity of one particular West Ham fan. Last year, on another visit to
Akosombo, I watched an amazing Ghanaian teacher, Grace, using books that had
been sent to her from East London to teach local children to read. Those
children were flocking to her, and she had a book for every one of them, and
yet she had nowhere to keep her books except a lock-up shed.

In a rash moment, and remembering the girl in the West Ham shirt, I told
Grace that I thought I knew a few kind people in East London who might be
willing to contribute something if she ever decided to build a place for her
books – a place where children could come and read in safety and where the
books would be kept clean and dry. "We could call it 'Grace's Place'", I
said, getting a bit carried away.

To be honest, when I got home to England, I began to have second thoughts.
But as I shared the idea with a few people it started to take off. It was
then that a KUMB reader and fellow Irons fan, Gary Stewart – known to some
of us as 'Norf' because he lives 'up North'- sent me an astonishing gift
that changed everything. It was the sort of sum that, in Ghana, makes things
happen.

Now 'Grace's Place' could move from being a dream to becoming a reality.
Within months, Grace had acquired the land needed for 'Grace's Place' in
Akosombo. Local workers cleared it and made it ready and then, as further
donations came in, the foundations were laid. As other people in East London
and elsewhere caught the vision, the walls were built and the roof went on.

Now, incredibly, just 18 months or so since the idea was first raised,
'Grace's Place' is preparing to open its doors, thanks to the generosity of
people in East London and Essex, a good many of them West Ham fans, and
especially people like Gary Stewart and his colleagues at CMC Schoolfood, in
Manchester, who have just made a further donation of £500 as a Christmas
present to the children of Akosombo.

'Grace's Place' is not quite finished yet. There's some plastering and
wiring to be done, and a few doors and windows to be installed.
Nevertheless, for those children, as one person told me, 'it feels like
Christmas has come'. In fact, because 'Grace's Place' is going to be open
all year round, it feels like Christmas every day (to quote Roy Wood!).

This is all down to people like you. Whether you're celebrating Christmas,
or have been marking Hanukkah, or whatever else, this time of year is about
giving. It's about bringing light where there's darkness, and hope where
there's despair. And that's just what is happening at 'Grace's Place'.

West Ham fans are having a great season, and we have plenty to be thankful
for, so let's see how generous we can be. You don't have to look far to find
people who will be grateful for a bit of kindness, whether we're talking
about kids in Africa or the people we live among and call our friends. All
it takes from you is a decision to give something, whether it's your time or
your money or your skills. Your generosity can make a difference – and is
already doing so.

So, with a thank-you to generous Irons fans everywhere, it's 'Merry
Christmas' to every member of the world-wide West Ham family, whether you're
in Green Street or Ghana, and here's to the happiest of happy New Years in
2015.

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Happy Christmas! Song stays
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 24th December 2014
By: Staff Writer

West Ham will not lose Alex Song for the African Cup of Nations, after he
was omitted from Cameroon's squad for the tournament. It had been feared
that Song, who had previously fallen out with head coach Volker Finke, would
be part of the travelling party for the competition, which takes place in
Equatorial Guinea between January 17th and February 8th. However the
47-times capped midfielder was the most glaring omission from the squad when
it was named last night. West Ham are still likely to lose Diafra Sakho and
Cheik Kouyate (both Senegal, squad announced on Boxing Day) for the
tournament, but the news on Song's is a huge boost to the Hammers
nonetheless.

Cameroon AFCON Squad

Goalkeepers: Abogo, Ndy, Ondua; Defenders: Djeugoue, Nkoulou, Bedimo,
Bagnack, Oyongo, Ekongolo; Midfielders: Enoh, Mbia, Loe, SalIi, Mandjeck,
Kom, Ekeng; Attackers: Choupo -Moting, Moukandjo, Aboubakar, Kweuke, N'jie,
Etoundi, Zoua.

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David Sullivan rules out January sale of Winston Reid
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 24th December 2014
By: Staff Writer

David Sullivan has revealed that no first team players will be sold in the
forthcoming January transfer window. And that automatically rules out the
possibility of contract rebel Winston Reid leaving until the end of his
current contract next June. West Ham's co-owner told the Mirror: "There is
not any price we would sell any players for. First team players will not be
sold. "We are happy where we are, we don't want to unsettle the team, we are
short of numbers with the Africa Cup of Nations and I can't imagine any
circumstances where we would sell a player in January. "We'd sell a squad
player because we are looking at bringing players in in Janaury. But we've
got the luxury of buying for the future. Normally we are buying through
panic but not on this occasion."

Sam Allardyce revealed earlier in the week that he and Sullivan are looking
to sign at least one player of sufficient quality to slot straight in to the
first team, if required. The club are also set to confirm the arrival of
21-year-old central defender Doneil Henry - who is understood to have
received a work permit - from Candian side Toronto.

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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce hails Jose Mourinho as 'best in the world'
Last Updated: 24/12/14 8:15pm
SSN

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce says he is taking on "probably the best
manager in the world" in Jose Mourinho in Boxing Day's London derby. The
Hammers have climbed to fourth spot in the league after going undefeated in
December, winning three of their last four games.
And Allardyce, who masterminded a crucial 0-0 draw away to Chelsea in their
last meeting nearly a year ago, believes West Ham are a better team this
season and underlined the importance of winning points against Mourinho's
side. "This one is totally different," he said. "We are fourth in the league
this time we've got better players. We've got younger players and hopefully
we will come and give a good account of ourselves and a good account of
ourselves is a result not a good performance and a loss."

After the 0-0 at Stamford Bridge last season, the Chelsea manager was quick
to vent his anger over West Ham playing "football from the 19th century",
but Allardyce believes Mourinho's frustration proves the Hammers are a good
side. He said: "I think that it's a compliment that a frustrated manager
vents his frustration over the fact that he can't break the team he's
playing against down and I think that frustration spilled over into his
press conference. "He felt he should have beaten us [in their last meeting]
obviously because of the position we were in at the time and the position
they were in. "So it's always a compliment for me when a manager has a
little pop at you about the way you played or what tactics you might have
used because it means tactically you have been very good. "We will come and
give a good account of ourselves and a good account of ourselves is a result
not a good performance and a loss."

After surviving relegation by only seven points last season, Allardyce
singled out the draw against Chelsea last year as a pivotal point in their
survival from relegation and wants a repeat performance. The game – which
will be shown live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 12:30pm on Friday – could prove
vital in the race to secure a spot amongst Europe's elite for West Ham.
Allardyce remained wary of the threat Chelsea might pose in Friday's clash,
and was high in praise for their manager Mourinho, who has never lost to the
Hammers while in charge at Stamford Bridge. "We have obviously improved
tremendously from where we were," he said. "But that doesn't make it any
easier for us playing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge because of the force that
they are, and because of the manager that he is - he is probably the best
working club manager in the world at the minute on his track record. I don't
think there is any doubt about that."

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West Ham's Alex Song not included in Cameroon squad
Last Updated: 24/12/14 1:00pm
SSN

Alex Song has not been included in Cameroon's squad for the Africa Cup of
Nations. Alex Song is hoping he can help West Ham to more victories in their
festive games against Chelsea and his former club Arsenal The West Ham
midfielder, on loan from Barcelona, was not among the 22-man party named on
Wednesday for next month's event in Equatorial Guinea. Song, who had made it
clear he was available for the January 17 to February 8 showpiece, is now
free to play against Swansea, Hull, Liverpool and Manchester United.
However, West Ham will be without Senegalese duo Diafra Sakho and Cheikhou
Kouyate after they confirmed their participation in the tournament.

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Chelsea aiming to retain top spot against in-form West Ham
Last Updated: 24/12/14 12:14pm
SSN

Chelsea entertain high-flying West Ham United at Stamford Bridge on Boxing
Day looking to maintain their three-point advantage over Manchester City at
the top of the Premier League. However, the Blues will be well aware of the
tough challenge awaiting them in Friday's early kick-off given the form Sam
Allardyce's side have displayed so far this season, with the fourth-placed
Hammers having lost just once in the league since September. Chelsea manager
Jose Mourinho has never tasted defeat in six top-flight London derbies
against West Ham and, with his team also unbeaten at home in the league this
campaign, he will be expecting to maintain those impressive records.

Team news

The home side look like being without key playmaker Eden Hazard for this
London derby after the Belgium international picked up a foot injury in
Monday night's 2-0 win at Stoke City. However, other than that, Mourinho has
a fully-fit squad from which to pick from. Oscar will hope for a recall
after being left on the bench at the Britannia Stadium. West Ham, meanwhile,
hope to have midfielder Mark Noble available while centre-back James Tomkins
is a doubt due to a hamstring problem and will be assessed before the match.

Opta facts

Jose Mourinho credited his Chelsea side with a fantastic performance against
Stoke
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last nine Barclays Premier League games played
on Boxing Day (W5 D4).
Chelsea's last five Boxing Day matches have seen a total of just six goals
scored, since their famous 4-4 draw with Aston Villa in 2007.
Defeat to Arsenal last season ended a run of three consecutive Premier
League wins on Boxing Day for the Hammers.
Allardyce has managed just two wins in 21 Premier League games against
Chelsea (W2 D6 L13.
Allardyce has no wins against Mourinho in the competition (D3 L5), but his
three draws have all come in away games (in four visits to Stamford Bridge).
Chelsea have won 12 and lost just one of the last 16 Premier League games
against the Hammers (D3).

Merson's prediction

Speaking on Goals on Sunday, Allardyce claimed a top-four finish for West
Ham is unlikely "West Ham always seem to go to Chelsea and sit 10 men behind
the ball, but this time they are in form and if they go there to have a free
swing and have a go, you never know. But I think they'll set up the way they
normally do when they go the Stamford Bridge and there's no way Chelsea
won't break them down before the end."

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0

Betting

Chelsea are odds-on with Sky Bet to add another three points to their tally
with victory over West Ham. However, the Hammers have certainly made great
strides since holding their London rivals to a goalless draw in their last
meeting and their odds of 8/1 are certain to attract plenty of backers. The
Blues have won six of their last eight at home without conceding and another
clean sheet for Jose Mourinho's men is 10/11, with another win to nil 6/5.

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Ex-Chelsea star Gianfranco Zola named as new head coach of Serie A side
Cagliari
Dec 24, 2014 22:06 By Rob Burnett
The former West Ham and Watford manager was born in Sardinia and finished
his playing career at Cagliari after leaving Stamford Bridge in 2003
The Mirror

Former West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola has been appointed as the new head
coach of Serie A side Cagliari. The Sardinian side announced the appointment
of the former Chelsea striker, who finished his playing career at Cagliari
in 2005, in a statement on their official website.
Former boss Zdenek Zeman was sacked after a run of eight games without a win
saw them fall into the relegation zone. The club said the 48-year-old would
take his first training session when the team returned from the Christmas
break on Sunday. Zola was born in Sardinia and finished his playing career
at Cagliari after leaving Chelsea in 2003. Now 48, the former West Ham and
Watford manager has not worked as a coach since leaving Vicarage Road in
December last year. Zola started his coaching career as a coach for Italy
Under 21s at the 2008 Olympics but he has never worked in his homeland at
club level. Walter Zenga, Delio Rossi and former Cagliari coach David
Ballardini are also candidates for the job.

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Sam Allardyce reveals: I could have been SACKED had we lost to Chelsea in
January
Dec 24, 2014 15:36 By Darren Lewis
"I might not have been here had we lost... On the back of our recent results
it would have made life for the owners even more difficult to get behind
me," says Big Sam
The Mirror

Sam Allardyce returns to Chelsea on Boxing Day bidding to cement their
position in the top four - 11 months after saving his Upton Park bacon
against the Blues. Back in January the Hammers had been humiliated in both
the FA Cup and the Capital One Cup. They were also fighting for the Premier
League lives. They looked lambs to the slaughter when they travelled to
Stamford Bridge on January 29 - only for Big Sam to frustrate Jose Mourinho
by parking the bus for a goalless draw. Allardyce admits he would have been
staring down the barrel had Mourinho's side stuffed West Ham on that day.
Watch Jose Mourinho on West Ham's "19th century" football - and Sam
Allardyce's hilarious reaction: He said: "I might not have been here had we
lost. Chelsea can beat you five or six on their ground. On the back of our
recent results it would have made life for the owners even more difficult to
get behind me. "Everyone expected us to lose and we didn't. It was a part of
our recovery at at time when we had had such a bad Christmas and New Year
period. "The confidence we gained from that big result was part of us
getting out of the relegation zone. "This one is totally different. We are
fourth in the league, we've got better, younger players and hopefully we
will give a good account of ourselves - which is a result not a good
performance and a loss."
West Ham have received a massive boost with the news that star midfielder
Alex Song has been left out of the Cameroon squad for next month's Africa
Cup of Nations. It means the 27-year-old will be free to spearhead the
club's bid to maintain their shock Champions League bid. Allardyce
maintained he is unlikely to dip into the transfer market, despite the
potential loss of striker Diafra Sakho to the Nations Cup. "I don't think we
need to go into the transfer window because I'm not sure the players
available will be sufficiently good enough to get into the team." he said,
"And if there is a player good enough can we afford him? "The rest of the
squad are more than capable of coping for that short period of time."

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West Ham owner David Sullivan daring to dream with Hammers Champions League
charge - and his new Krays movie
Dec 23, 2014 22:30 By Darren Lewis
The Hammers' joint-chairman is targeting a top four finish with the club as
well as mainstream movie success with The Rise of the Krays
The Mirror

David Sullivan admits he is daring to dream. The West Ham supremo has
already struck gold with summer signings Diafra Sakho, Enner Valencia,
Cheikhou Kouyate and Alex Song – who have helped to lift the club into the
top four. Now Sullivan is moving into mainstream cinema and has targeted a
double reason to celebrate even further in May. Not only is he hopeful that
West Ham will cause a shock by finishing in the ­Champions League places, he
is also excited about the release of the film he is part-financing – The
Rise of the Krays – also due to be released that month. "I think we are all
daring to dream," he said. "Sam Allardyce has got the team playing superbly.
"We know – as the song goes – that dreams fade and die. But we hope that
will not be the case for us. "After 19 games you've completed half the
season, so we have two tough matches – against Chelsea on Boxing Day and
Arsenal two days later – to finish those 19 games. "We will maybe have a
clearer idea of our chances of finishing in the top four after that. As for
the film? Well, all my life I've loved gangster movies. "I can go back to
The Long Good Friday, Gangster No.1 and my favourite, Get Carter. Well this
movie is in that mould and I hope every bit as good. "Ronnie and Reggie are
East End legends, but we wanted to tell the real story. Not just the myths.
It's a challenge, but it's an exciting challenge. "It's a full-length
feature film. Eight-week shoot, £3million budget and comes out in May. It is
a lot of money, but we haven't spent a fortune on artists. "We've got two
young guys, Simon Cotton and Kevin Leslie, to play Ronnie and Reggie, and
they are just sensational. "My Dad, every lunchtime, used to drink with the
Krays' mum. I've got my own ­experience as well. When I started in business,
I was in the adult ­entertainment business and we used to sell mail order.
We used to get a percentage of cheques that bounced. So I used to write them
a letter saying: 'I'm very sorry, your cheque has bounced sir. I'm sure this
is a terrible mistake. We don't want any grief. Could you send us a new
cheque or a postal order?'"

"And I signed it – Sidney Kray. They were banged up at the time and I
thought it would just give me a little bit of an extra edge.
"Well surprise, surprise, Reggie writes to me from Leicester prison saying:
'How dare you use our family name! There is only one Kray family.'
"Fortunately, I went on to have a long ­correspondence with him. But I did
think at the time: 'I'd better be careful otherwise when he comes out he
might want half the business!'" Sullivan and co-chairman David Gold were
vilified during the summer for spelling out their blueprint for the way to
improve the poor football that had Hammers fans calling for Allardyce's head
last term.
The pair have been rewarded, however, and there is real ­optimism going into
the second half of the season. "This is the best side since we've been
here," Sullivan said. "We've only been here five years granted, but it's the
best by a million miles. "I think we have all been vindicated. It was Sam
who agreed to an attacking coach. It was Sam's idea to play Stewart Downing
centrally – where he has been a different player. "It was Sam who spoke to
Mr Song when he had reservations about coming after last season. Then I
spoke to him.
"On one occasion, it was Mr Song in Barcelona and me outside Smith's
restaurant in Ongar. I was in the street on my mobile telling him: 'No, no,
no... forget what you've heard. We're a different team now! "Then we played
­Southampton and it was our worst performance of the season. He must have
thought: 'I've been conned! How have I signed for this lot?' "But then Sam
changed everything and you've got to take your hat off to him. He went with
two forwards, he went with a diamond and we've never looked back." Defender
Winston Reid's contract remains an issue, but Sullivan is confident of
holding on to the centre-back. He added: "I know Arsenal and Chelsea have
not expressed an interest. I think he wants a ­Champions League club. But
you never know, he might just get it here with West Ham."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham star Andy Carroll warns Jose Mourinho: Sam Allardyce has ALREADY
worked out how to beat Chelsea
Dec 23, 2014 22:30 By Neil McLeman
"He knows how to beat managers, their tactics," Carroll said. "He knows what
they are going to do against us. It's just a game of chess, really, looking
a move ahead"
The Mirror

Andy Carroll has claimed West Ham's Boxing Day clash with Chelsea will be
like a game of chess - and Sam Allardyce has all the right moves to keep
Jose Mourinho in check. Back in January the Chelsea boss accused the Hammers
of playing "football from the 19th century" in a goalless draw at Upton
Park. But this season is a whole new ball game with the inspired Irons up to
fourth place in the Premier League. And the England striker has credited his
manager for the club's change in fortunes - and backed Allardyce to again
upset Mourinho with his tactics this time. "He knows how to beat managers,
their tactics," Carroll said. "He knows what they are going to do against
us. It's just a game of chess, really, looking a move ahead.

Matthew LewisGrand master: Sam Allardyce thinks about football "like a game
of chess" It is different tactics, different teams. He's not the same every
week. Different things. Obviously he wants a win, but you've got to watch
the teams, how they're playing, how we're going to break them down and win
the game. "He's got loads of different ways of attacking, we've got loads of
dimensions to go forward. We can do anything. That's what our qualities are
at the minute."

From fighting relegation last winter and getting booed after a home win
against Hull, West Ham have been transformed by a summer of transfer
activity, especially striker Diafra Sakho. The Hammers have reached 31
points after 17 games and netted 29 goals. Only the top three and Arsenal
have scored more. "All this great football coming from the manager," Carroll
insisted. "He's brought in some great players. He's changed the team around
a lot, and the players he's brought in have settled in nicely, and all the
lads are buzzing about at the minute, and it comes from that really: the
manager's choice of players and how he wants to play now."

West Ham have beaten Manchester City and Liverpool at home this season but
the next two games will give a true indication of their potential this
season when they travel to Chelsea and then host the Gunners. Carroll, who
scored his fourth goal of the season against Leicester, said: "They're tough
games coming up, but we have a good team as well, and I'm sure they're going
to be just as worried about us as we are about them.

"We're playing great football, and I think any team that we play against is
going to be worried about us. We've got more than one attacking option. Play
it on the floor, play it in the air, down the sides. Obviously we're in the
position that we are in the league, and that's well deserved."

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