WHUFC.com
All the early team news and background ahead of Saturday's trip to face Roy
Hodgson's Liverpool
19.11.2010
Liverpool v West Ham United
Barclays Premier League
Anfield
Saturday 20 November 2010
5.30pm
Referee: Lee Probert
Introduction
• West Ham United travel to Anfield looking to end a 47-year wait for a win
away to Liverpool. The Reds are without captain Steven Gerrard while the
Hammers have a major concern over Scott Parker, who has a chest infection.
• The Hammers have still not won away in the Barclays Premier League since
the opening day of last season on 15 August 2009 away to Wolverhampton
Wanderers.
• Liverpool are playing at 5.30pm on Saturday for the second successive
week, having lost 2-0 at Stoke City last weekend.
• The Hammers have lost their last three matches against Liverpool with the
Reds scoring three goals in each of those contests. Four fixtures ago, there
was a goalless draw at Anfield on 1 December 2008. Eight of the 12 Hammers
used in that contest are still at the club, including goalkeeper Robert
Green.
• This is the 106th league meeting between the two sides. Liverpool have won
56, West Ham have won 21 and there have been 29 draws.
• As it was last season at Anfield, Saturday's match will be screened live
by ESPN, as was the other meeting between the clubs in the 2009/10 season at
the Boleyn Ground. West Ham have never won a match shown live on ESPN.
• The visitors will be looking to record their first win on Merseyside since
14 September 1963, when a 2-1 victory came courtesy of goals from Martin
Peters and Geoff Hurst. Jim Standen also saved a penalty from Ronnie Moran
in the match.
• Liverpool's record home win against West Ham was a 6-0 success on 7 April
1984, a month before they became crowned champions of Europe in Rome.
Last time out
Saturday 13 November 2010
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United 0-0 Blackpool
West Ham United: Green, Jacobsen, Gabbidon, Upson, Ilunga, Parker, Noble,
Dyer (Barrera 18), Boa Morte (Cole 71), Piquionne (McCarthy 83), Obinna
Subs not used: Stech, Kovac, Spector, Tomkins
Saturday 13 November 2010
Barclays Premier League
Stoke City 2-0 Liverpool
Liverpool: Reina, Kyrgiakos, Konchesky, Carragher, Skrtel, Rodriguez (Babel
73), Gerrard, Raul Meireles (Ngog 66), Lucas (sent off 90), Kuyt, Torres
Subs not used: Jones, Jovanovic, Shelvey, Kelly, Poulsen
Last meeting
Last season's meeting at Anfield took place on 19 April 2010. Yossi Benayoun
opened the scoring on 19 minutes before Davd Ngog doubled the Reds'
advantage ten minutes later. A Robert Green own goal just before the hour
rounded out the scoring.
Liverpool: Reina, Kyrgiakos, Carragher, Agger, Johnson, Rodriguez, Benayoun
(Degen 78), Gerrard (Mascherano 72), Lucas, Ngog (Babel 81), Kuyt
Subs not used: Cavalieri, Aquilani, El Zhar, Ayala
West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Spector (Daprela 80), Da Costa, Upson,
Kovac, Noble, Behrami, Stanislas (Franco 45) , Cole (McCarthy 72), Ilan
Subs not used: Kurucz, Gabbidon, Diamanti, Mido
Last six meetings (Premier League unless stated)
19 April 2010 Liverpool 3-0 West Ham United
19 September 2010 West Ham United 2-3 Liverpool
9 May 2009 West Ham United 0-3 Liverpool
1 December 2008 Liverpool 0-0 West Ham United
5 March 2008 Liverpool 4-0 West Ham United
30 January 2008 West Ham United 1-0 Liverpool
Overall record v Liverpool (all competitions) W 23 D 34 L 63
Ten-year records
West Ham United
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted to Premier League via
play-offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated to Championship)
2001/02 Premier League 7th (53 points)
2000/01 Premier League 15th (42 points)
Liverpool
2009/10 Premier League 7th (63 points)
2008/09 Premier League 2nd (86 points)
2007/08 Premier League 4th (76 points)
2006/07 Premier League 3rd (68 points)
2005/06 Premier League 3rd (82 points)
2004/05 Premier League 5th (58 points)
2003/04 Premier League 4th (60 points)
2002/03 Premier League 5th (64 points)
2001/02 Premier League 2nd (80 points)
2000/01 Premier League 3rd (69 points)
Referee
• Saturday's referee will be Lee Probert.
• Aged 37, Probert has been a Premier League referee since summer 2007.
• Born in Gloucestershire, Probert made his way through the local leagues
before joining the Football Conference list, being promoted to the Football
League list of referees in 2003.
• Probert has yet to take charge of West Ham United this season. However,
the official was the man in the middle for Liverpool's 1-0 home win over
West Bromwich Albion on 29 August. Probert's last appointment for a Hammers'
fixture was the 2-1 home defeat by Bolton Wanderers on 6 March this year.
West Ham United
• Carlton Cole, with one goal so far this campaign, will make his 100th
start for West Ham United in all competitions should he be in Avram Grant's
XI at Anfield.
• No Barclays Premier League player has had more shots without scoring this
season than Victor Obinna (38).
• No team has been caught offside more than West Ham this season with the
Hammers falling foul of the referee's assistant on 47 occasions.
Liverpool
• Two Liverpool players, Jamie Carragher and Dirk Kuyt, made their debuts
against West Ham. Carragher's first appearance came at Anfield in January
1997, while Kuyt's came at Anfield in August 2006.
• Striker Fernando Torres scored a hat-trick against West Ham in Liverpool's
4-0 win at Anfield on 5 March 2008.. He has five goals in four appearances
against the Hammers.
Team news
West Ham United
• Manager Avram Grant is definitely without Thomas Hitzlsperger (thigh) and
Jack Collison (knee). Collison is hoping to return around the turn of the
year, Hitzlsperger has a February comeback date having had surgery on his
torn muscle.
• Junior Stanislas has been in training for a week after a groin problem
while Zavon Hines played 30 minutes for the reserves in the goalless draw at
Aston Villa on Monday. Hines could start for the reserves next Wednesday
night against Chelsea.
• Robert Green and Scott Parker will both hope to maintain their
ever-present records this season in the Barclays Premier League. Green is on
a run of 139 consecutive league starts for the club. Parker is a major
doubt, however, with a chest infection.
• Manuel da Costa has had surgery a week ago on an ankle injury that has
kept him out of the last three matches. He is likely to be missing for up to
three months as a result of the problem, which followed a late Cesc Fabregas
foul.
• Valon Behrami, meanwhile, has a hip injury but has been back on the
training pitch. Tal Ben Haim is also on the way back from a foot injury.
• Julien Faubert is available again after a three-game suspension for his
red card in the reserves at Arsenal last month. He played 90 minutes
alongside Winston Reid in Monday's reserves match.
• Freddie Sears has extended his loan spell at Championship side Scunthorpe
United until 3 January 2011.
Liverpool
• Captain Steven Gerrard has been ruled out for four weeks with a hamstring
injury suffered on international duty.
• Lucas Leiva is suspended for the Reds after his red card against Stoke
last weekend.
• Full-backs Glen Johnson and Fabio Aurelio could return after injury.
Old boys
• Glen Johnson, 25, came through the ranks at West Ham, making 15 league
appearances in the 2002/03 season. He was transferred to Chelsea for £6m in
summer 2003 and subsequently moved on to Portsmouth before Liverpool snapped
him up in June 2009.
• Left-back Paul Konchesky made 70 appearances for West Ham between July
2005 and July 2007, scoring one of only two goals for the club in the 2006
FA Cup final.
• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are Craig Bellamy,
Yossi Benayoun, Tom Bradshaw, David Burrows, Titi Camara, Charles Cotton,
Julian Dicks, Ray Houghton, Don Hutchison, Paul Ince, David James, Rob
Jones, George Kay, Mike Marsh, Neil Mellor, Neil Ruddock, Danny Shone,
Rigobert Song and Thomas Stanley.
General information
• For ticket information, click here. For details on getting to Anfield,
click here
• Saturday's weather forecast in Liverpool is for an overcast day with
temperatures peaking around the 8C mark.
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Avram on Friday
WHUFc.com
Avram Grant has spoken to the press ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier
League trip to Liverpool
19.11.2010
Avram Grant has held his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's
Barclays Premier League trip to Liverpool. The West Ham United manager
discussed a wide range of issues, including his optimism ahead of the
weekend visit to Anfield, receiving backing from the Board, the 'Club v
Country' issue and the future of international friendly matches. Grant also
pushed Scott Parker's England claims and welcomed news that he could have
funds to spend in January.
Avram on the challenge of going to Anfield…
"I enjoy it. It is the first club that I came to when I was 20 or 21 - it
was a long time ago! It was the first time I visited a team and I was at
Anfield with Bob Paisley. I enjoyed it very much. "Nobody can say more than
what people already know about the history of Anfield. It's one of the
temples of football and I enjoy going there, but I enjoy more taking points
there. "It's always not easy to play at Anfield, especially when they need
the points like now. They are a good team. They won three games in a row and
played good football. They lost at Stoke but they could also have not lost
there. "In any case, it's not easy to play in Anfield against Liverpool but
our target is like it was in the last games - to be hard to beat. We lost
only two games in eleven - one of them against Arsenal in the last moment.
We want to continue with this and also get a little bit more."
Avram on Pablo Barrera targeting a positive result at Anfield…
"I like that my players are optimistic rather than pessimistic because with
pessimism you cannot achieve anything. I think he has based this on the fact
we are playing good football. "In the last game, we created so many chances.
OK, I must also say that Blackpool created two or three big chances, but we
created eight or nine big chances. It means that we know how to create big
chances. "In the two games before we scored two goals in each so I like when
they are optimistic. I know the history books, but I don't like to read
these books."
Avram on being happy with a draw at Liverpool…
"It depends on how the game goes. Sometimes, like when we went to
Birmingham, we knew it was a very tough place to go because they had lost
only one game, but we were disappointed with one point. "I think in any game
of football, situations occur where you can make surprises. This is our
target, but we will see how the game goes. We want to win."
Avram on needing to register a victory…
"I think we played three games in a week, we didn't lose but we didn't win a
game but we were very close to winning the games. We were the better team in
all three games, I can say, and we feel it is very close. "We are desperate
for a win because we feel, when it comes, it won't come by coincidence but
by a matter of procedure of how we played. We want to make this win and if
it will be Saturday I will be happy.
"We hope that it will be, but I know that Liverpool are also desperate for
points."
Avram on closing out matches…
"It depends how you play. If the other team come on top of you, then you
need to close the game. If you play like we did against Birmingham when we
kept possession and continued to play very well, hitting the bar and having
two big chances to make it 3-0, it is no use to say after 60 minutes to
close the game. "We need to read the situation - sometimes you need to do it
and sometimes not. When you come to the last 15 minutes, the most important
thing is winning, but I don't think either Birmingham or West Bromwich
scored when they put the pressure on us - it was two free-kicks, not an open
goal."
Avram on receiving support from the Board…
"I think it's good to know and I know from inside that everybody shares the
visions of the club, even though we are having difficult times. We know that
we are doing the right things. Of course there are areas that we want to
improve, but everybody shares the same vision and everybody knows that, even
if we are bottom of the league, we are doing the right things and it will
come. "It's not easy. It's like a pregnancy of 20 months, but it will come.
Avram on January…
"It's always good that we have money to spend because football without money
is very difficult. I think we have a good squad. We are a little bit unlucky
with injuries to players who were in good shape, but there are some areas in
which we could do better."
Avram on Scott Parker's England claims…
"I don't like to give other coaches advice unless they ask me, but I don't
think there is another player who could do more than Scott Parker did this
year to be in the squad. He is the most modern player
Avram on Steven Gerrard being injured on international duty…
"Of course I have sympathy, yes, because if you lose a player in this
situation I understand. I have experience about this. If you remember,
Thomas Hitzlsperger played for Germany. He was in a very good condition,
then he played for Germany three days before the league started and played
65 minutes. This was at the beginning of the season, which I thought was not
so good. "I was a national coach for four years so I know the problem from
both sides. I think everybody needs to understand that the players belong to
the teams, with all respect to the national team. When they are friendly
games, like it was with Thomas and Germany, they need to think twice. "He
didn't play and of course I don't like it. Of course things like that happen
in football but I'd prefer if it had happened in the league and not in a
friendly international game. "He is a very good player, but Liverpool is a
very good team anyway, so we will have a difficult game tomorrow."
Avram on the 'Club v Country' issue…
"There is an issue about this and because I was on both sides as a manager
of clubs and a national team it's not so easy. I know that it isn't easy for
the national teams either because they have only one or two games to
prepare, but I think it's also good for them to take care of the players.
"The medical departments of the national teams and the clubs need to be very
close like we did last week with the national teams."
Avram on clubs making agreements with national teams…
"Don't take me to this area because I don't know what they agreed about. We
only read in the newspaper what they agreed about. Of course, if they agreed
something they need to do it, but I'm not sure they agreed about something.
I heard that Fabio Capello asked Gerrard in the first half.
"This is not the issue. The issue is that they need a very close
relationship between the medical departments of the teams and the national
team. This is for coaches also because in friendly games, and I was a coach
in friendly games, you want to win but this is not the most important thing.
"I prefer that if they agreed about one friendly game, they should not have
them between two league games, but now you take me to an area that is not my
area. I understand that they want one friendly between September and March
to test some things, but it's not so easy when you are playing and
concentrating on the league and some players have injuries."
Avram on the future of international friendly matches…
"It's an issue that everybody needs to think about very, very carefully
because friendly games, many years ago, were more than friendly games.
Everybody liked to be there and everybody was excited. Now you see that
players look for excuses not to be there because they know the most
important thing is the league. "On the other hand, sometimes you want a
friendly game to test something. There are plusses and there are minuses,
but I think today there are more minus than plus."
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Noble knows the score
WHUFC.com
Midfield marvel Mark Noble is looking to lead the Hammers up the table and
is remaining positive
19.11.2010
Mark Noble is in confident mood despite knowing history is against the
Hammers when they go to to Anfield on Saturday. The 23-year-old is well
aware of the 47-year wait for a win at Liverpool but said all that matters
is what Avram Grant's produce on the pitch come kick-off at 5.30pm. "At the
end of the day, it is eleven men v eleven men. Anyone can beat anyone.
Blackpool went to Liverpool and won so we know it can be done."
Noble's passion shines through as much off the pitch as it does when he
pulls on the claret and blue. Reflecting on the season so far, he knows what
goes through fans' minds when they look at the club's position in the
Barclays Premier League. "It hurts. If you have got enough pride in what you
do, in your job - it will hurt. It hurts you deeply when you don't get three
points. It ruins your weekend. That is what happens. I haven't had too many
good weeks this year because we ain't won that much. The only way is up. "I
have got belief in myself and the team. We know if we play to our
capabilities and get a bit of luck we will push up the table."
Noble has been involved in relegation battles for three of the past four
seasons at the Boleyn Ground and admitted he now knows what it takes to
ensure survival. "It helps to have the experience," he admitted. "We hate
being in this position. We don't like it and going into work is not
enjoyable. It is always in the back of your mind, you enjoy football but as
professionals and as players and staff we have to pull together and change
the outcome. "We just need to come together as a group and keep working
hard. I have got confidence that we will get out of it. I stil believe in
us. This is the team I play for and I still believe in us."
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Sir Geoff honoured
WHUFC.com
Sir Geoff Hurst has been presented with an honorary degree by the University
of East London
19.11.2010
West Ham United and England great Sir Geoff Hurst has been conferred with an
honorary degree by the University of East London. Hurst, who scored a
hat-trick in the 1966 FIFA World Cup final victory over West Germany,
received an honorary Master of the Arts degree. Now 68, the striker scored
249 goals in 502 appearances for the Hammers during a glittering 14-year
career at the Boleyn Ground, winning the FA Cup in 1964 and European Cup
Winners' Cup in 1965. Hurst was presented with his degree by UEL
Vice-Chancellor Patrick McGhee at a special ceremony in central London. It
is a great honour to be recognised in this way by the University of East
London, and I am tremendously proud to have had this award conferred upon
me. Many of you will be familiar with my long-standing connections to the
local area. "However, rather than looking back, I believe it's time to look
forward. I understand the University of East London is aiming to become
London's number one university for sport. A brand new £20m sports centre is
to open at the university's Docklands campus in 2012, a centre so advanced
that it will house the American Olympic team during the games. "Clearly the
long-term benefits will lie with the students and the local community. I am
well aware of the importance of sport to east London, and I am also aware
of the number of fantastic sportsmen and women the area has produced down
the years. "I therefore think it is a fitting that that the University of
East London is rising to meet the challenge of ensuring that sporting
excellence is kept firmly on the map. I sincerely hope today will mark the
first step in an ongoing relationship between myself and UEL. "
McGhee said the university was delighted to honour Hurst, who also played
for Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion and Seattle Sounders. "We are extremely
proud to be honouring one of England's greatest sporting heroes. Sir Geoff
is an iconic figure who will always have a unique place in football history.
"However, he is also someone who has selflessly dedicated much of time since
professional football to supporting children's charities. Sir Geoff is the
current President of children's charity Sparks, which was founded by sports
people and funds high quality medical research that is intended to have a
practical and positive effect on the lives of less fortunate children. He
has also been a leading light in the development of football at grass roots.
"As a global university committed to becoming the best in the capital for
sport within five years, sport in east London is a major aspect of work.
With our new state-of-the-art on campus sporting facilities, our work in
Olympic legacy, and through our international partners, we will have a key
role in bringing exceptional world class opportunities to all communities.
"UEL aims to offer all students the very best sporting environment possible
to develop their talents. Honouring Sir Geoff as one of the nation's
sporting greats, as a role model for our current and future students, is a
natural extension of that commitment."
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Liverpool v West Ham
BBC.co.uk
Barclays Premier League
Venue: Anfield Date: Saturday, 20 November Kick-off: 1730 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on ESPN, highlights on Match of the Day; listen live on
talkSPORT and coverage on BBC Radio 5 live and local radio; text commentary
on BBC Sport website and mobiles
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will be out of action for up to a month
after suffering a hamstring strain on England duty. Jay Spearing could be
out for six weeks with an ankle problem, while fellow midfielder Lucas is
suspended, but Glen Johnson and Fabio Aurelio are back.
West Ham manager Avram Grant has reported no new injury doubts following the
midweek internationals. Striker Carlton Cole will be hoping to make his
100th start for the Hammers.
Liverpool
Suspended: Lucas (one match)
Injured: Agger (calf), Cole & Gerrard (hamstring), Spearing (ankle)
West Ham
Injured: Ben Haim (foot), Collison, Hines & Kurucz (all knee), Hitzlsperger
(thigh)
MATCH PREVIEW
Both Roy Hodgson and Avram Grant received the dreaded vote of confidence
this week in a sure sign that pressure is mounting at both these clubs.
Liverpool's malaise was brought into sharp focus with defeat at Stoke last
time out, a result that left the Anfield club hovering just three points
above the relegation zone and renewed some fans' calls for the return of
legend Kenny Dalglish. John W Henry, the club's new American owner, was
quick to back his manager and warned there is no "quick fix" to Liverpool's
travails, but Hodgson will be well aware that patience is a virtue in short
supply in the world of football. His cause has not been helped by the loss
of talisman Steven Gerrard for up to a month with a hamstring strain.
West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady also made it clear this week that Avram
Grant has the full support of the club's board, despite the Hammers'
worst-ever start to a Premier League season. Grant's side are five points
from safety and without a victory since September. Their last win on the
road came at Wolves on the opening day of last season, an abysmal record
that is unlikely to change at Anfield on Saturday - the Hammers have gone 47
years without winning there.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• West Ham haven't won at Anfield since September 1963 and have scored just
four goals in 15 Premier League matches there.
• The Hammers have failed to score in 12 of their 15 Premier League visits
to Anfield.
• Fernando Torres has scored five goals in four Premier League appearances
against the London club.
Liverpool
• Torres has hit 44 goals in 47 Premier League appearances at Anfield.
• Twelve of Liverpool's 13 league goals this season have been scored or
set-up by either Torres or Steven Gerrard. The exception was David Ngog's
goal on the opening day against Arsenal.
• The Reds have lost all five league games this season in which they have
conceded the first goal.
• Liverpool have lost 49 Premier League matches at Anfield.
West Ham
• West Ham are without a win in their last seven Premier League matches.
• Their sole victory in the league this season was a 1-0 win at home to
Tottenham on 25 September.
• They have scored just five goals from open play, fewer than any other side
in the top flight.
• The Hammers are without a Premier League win on the road in 24 outings.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
Liverpool
Gerrard: 7 goals (3 league); Ngog: 7 goals (1 league);
Torres: 5 goals (5 league)
West Ham
Piquionne: 5 goals (4 league); Parker: 5 goals (3 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Lee Probert
Assistant referees: Stephen Child & Ceri Richards
Fourth official: Anthony Taylor
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Liverpool (L0-2 v Stoke, a): Reina; Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Konchesky,
Meireles (Ngog 66), Lucas, Gerrard, Maxi (Babel 73), Torres, Kuyt. Subs not
used: Jones, Jovanovic, Poulsen, Shelvey, Kelly.
West Ham (D0-0 v Blackpool, h): Green; Jacobsen, Upson, Gabbidon, Ilunga,
Boa Morte (Cole 71), Noble, Parker, Dyer (Barrera 18), Obinna, Piquionne
(McCarthy 82). Subs not used: Stech, Tomkins, Kovac, Spector.
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Boleyn Ground for sale
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 19th November 2010
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have placed an advertisement seeking potential developers
interested in purchasing the club's 106-year-old home. The Boleyn Ground -
where West Ham United have played their home games since 1904, more than a
century ago - is set to be redeveloped if and when the club move to the
Olympic Stadium at Stratford following the culmination of the 2012 London
Olympic Games. Property Week report that the club have requested
applications from potential bidders in order to begin 'informal discussions'
regarding the future of the club's current home - even though it remains to
be seen if United are successful in their bid for the Stratford stadium,
which lies some some two miles from Upton Park. Despite opposition from many
supporters the club are continuing to push ahead with preparations for the
move which, if successful, would see the Hammers in their new home in time
for the start of the 2014/15 season.
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Sears extends stay
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 19th November 2010
By: Staff Writer
Freddie Sears has extended his stay at Championship outfit Scunthorpe
United. The 20-year old striker had been set to return to West Ham after the
Iron's clash with Derby this weekend, but will now remain at Glanford Park
until the beginning of January (3rd). Despite having made six starts for
Scunthorpe since joining them on loan in mid-October the young striker is
yet to hit the target. His last goal in first-class competition came in
March 2008, two-and-a-half years ago when he scored the winner in a 2-1
victory over Blackburn on his first team debut for West Ham.
West Ham will retain a 24-hour recall option on Sears for the duration of
his loan spell.
Sears at Scunny: the story so far
Preston 2 Scunthorpe 3: played 90 minutes
Watford 0 Scunthorpe 2: substituted on 85 minutes
Scunthorpe 1 Leeds 4: played 90 minutes
Hull 0 Scunthorpe 1: substituted on 89 minutes
Scunthorpe 0 Middlesbrough 2: played 90 minutes
Scunthorpe 2 Cardiff 4: substituted on 82 minutes
What they say: Iron fans on Sears
"Bad news-the young lad is NOT good enough - should have been sent back to
West Ham."
- billpuntonsghost
"I honestly believe if this skinny lad starts scoring he will be a
revelation. He is doing everything right except the final touch."
- Brianiron
"He hasn't scored yet but he has brought so much more to the team. We should
appreciate having a player of this calibre at the club."
- crozzer_is_a_legend
"Christ, that's all we need - retaining another bottler."
- BadApple
"Give the lad a break, [he's] certainly better than some players we have.
[He's] been very unlucky; Loach made an out-of-this-world save at Watford
and with any luck he could have had a couple at Preston (one he hit the post
under pressure from the keeper and the other was deflected wide). I know he
missed that chance last week but better players have missed them as well."
- mistertonmick
"He is fast, direct and seems to have the confidence that we sadly lack up
front, but he has not scored. Plenty of opportunities and unlucky on
occasion, but he is not what we need up front."
- IronIronIron
All comments originally posted at iron-bru.net
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Iron extend Sears spell
Hammers forward staying with Iron until New Year
Last updated: 19th November 2010
SSN
Scunthorpe have agreed the extension of Freddie Sears' loan from West Ham
until 3rd January. Sears featured heavily for the Iron during his first
month with the Championship club and will continue to be utilised at
Glanford Park until the New Year. But any hopes of Scunthorpe landing the
London-born striker permanently look unlikely as the Hammers retained their
24-hour recall on the 20-year-old front man. "I know Freddie has not scored
but in the seven games he has played for us, he has been involved in half
our goals," said Scunthorpe manager Ian Barraclough. "It's not just about
putting the ball in the back of the net - and I am sure that will come for
him. "I know fans will look back at the chance he missed last week against
Cardiff - but that is not the Freddie I see every day. "You see him in
training day in, day out and he has got all the attributes to be a top
goalscorer."
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Noble keeps Hammers belief
Midfielder feels past experience will help to secure survival
Last updated: 19th November 2010
SSN
Mark Noble is confident West Ham United can climb out of trouble and
believes the team's previous experience will help the club stay in the
Premier League. The Hammers sit bottom of the table after just one win in
their opening 13 games this season and head to Liverpool on Saturday. The
club's plight has left Noble hurting, but the midfielder retains belief that
Avram Grant'sside can clamber to safety. "It helps to have the experience,"
Noble, who has been involved in relegation scraps in three of the past four
seasons, told the club's official website. "We hate being in this position.
We don't like it and going into work is not enjoyable. It is always in the
back of your mind, you enjoy football, but as professionals and as players
and staff we have to pull together and change the outcome.
Confidence
"We just need to come together as a group and keep working hard. I have got
confidence that we will get out of it. "I still believe in us. This is the
team I play for and I still believe in us." He added: "It hurts. If you have
got enough pride in what you do, in your job - it will hurt. It hurts you
deeply when you don't get three points. It ruins your weekend. That is what
happens. "I haven't had too many good weeks this year because we ain't won
that much. The only way is up. "I have got belief in myself and the team. We
know if we play to our capabilities and get a bit of luck we will push up
the table."
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Liverpool v West Ham preview
Hammers travel to Anfield looking to change woeful record
Last updated: 19th November 2010
SSN
PREDICTIONS:
Skysports.com prediction: Liverpool 1 West Ham 0
SKYBET odds: Liverpool 1/2, Draw 3/1, West Ham 6/1
One to watch: Dirk Kuyt
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will have to watch from the sidelines as
his side host West Ham in the Premier League. The Reds skipper faces four
weeks out after injuring his hamstring whilst playing for England in
midweek, sparking a furious reaction from the Anfield outfit. Gerrard played
25 more minutes than initially intended against France and his absence will
be a major blow for Liverpool, who have failed to build on their victory
over Chelsea earlier in the month. The impressive win over the Blues was
seen as a turning point in Roy Hodgson's reign at the club, after a
difficult start to his time on Merseyside. However, a draw against Wigan
followed by a lacklustre defeat at Stoke last weekend has seen Hodgson's men
take another step backwards.
Failure to pick up all three points at home to struggling West Ham would be
another blow for Liverpool, but there is no doubt that they will miss their
talismanic captain. All 12 of their goals since the opening day of the
season have been scored or assisted by Gerrard or Fernando Torres, and with
the Spaniard still not on top form, it will now be up to other players to
step up to the plate.
The Hammers, though, have a dreadful record at Anfield and have failed to
win on their last 38 visits - their last triumph coming back in September
1963.
Indeed, the East Londoners have won none of their last 24 away games in the
Premier League and currently sit rock bottom of the table after a dreadful
start. Avram Grant is a man under pressure at Upton Park and even at this
early stage of the campaign the Israeli boss will be concerned that they lie
five points adrift of safety. The stats do not lie and Grant has led West
Ham to their worst ever start in the Premier League - having only managed
one win so far this term.
Team news
While Liverpool will be without Gerrard, the likes of Torres, Dirk Kuyt,
Martin Skrtel, Fabio Aurelio and Glen Johnson have all been declared fit to
play.
Skrtel missed Slovakia's clash with Bosnia in midweek but could return,
while Johnson is back in training after missing the last three matches. But
the Reds may suffer in midfield as Lucas is suspended while Joe Cole is will
miss out and Daniel Agger is injured.
Scott Parker is a major doubt ahead of the trip as the in-form midfielder is
suffering with a chest infection and will need a late fitness check. West
Ham could be boosted by the return of Julien Faubert, though, who makes his
comeback after suspension. They will be without Anthony Edgar, Peter Kurucz,
Thomas Hitzlsperger, Jack Collison and Zavon Hines while Tal Ben Haim, Valon
Behrami and Manuel da Costa are doubts. Another poor result this weekend
could be the final nail in the coffin for Grant, although he has recently
claimed that he will never walk away from the job.
Possible starting XIs:
Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Konchesky, Kyrgiakos, Meireles, Maxi,
Poulsen, Jovanovic, Kuyt, Torres.
West Ham: Green, Upson, Jacobsen, Ilunga, Gabbidon, Noble, Kovac, Boa Morte,
Behrami, Piquionne, Obinna.
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Cesc sickener has Costa us
The Sun
By MIKE McGRATH
Published: Today
WEST HAM boss Avram Grant has blasted Cesc Fabregas for the tackle that left
Manuel da Costa out until next year. Portuguese centre-back Da Costa had an
operation this week on an ankle injury picked up at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal skipper Fabregas fouled Da Costa at the end of his team's 1-0 win
last month. But the incident was not picked up by pundits. And that has left
Grant furious as his team fight to drag themselves off the foot of the Prem.
He blasted: "It was a bad tackle. It was a bad injury and he will not play
for a 10 weeks. And he was very good this season. "The TV likes to pick up
things like Scott Parker with the referees. "If they were going to highlight
mistakes from referees against us they would need a whole programme."
Da Costa was the club's player of the month for September and seen as a key
man to get them out of relegation bother. Grant was hit with a fresh blow
yesterday when Parker, 30, was ruled out of today's crunch game at Liverpool
with a chest infection. Grant said: "I think he is the best midfield player
in England. "He gives everything and always tries to play." Grant also
reacted to the public backing he received this week from vice-chairman
Karren Brady.
Sunsport columnist Brady insisted Grant would not be sacked despite the club
being bottom of the table. The Hammers boss said: "I'm happy that everyone
is sticking to the vision. I give everything to the team."
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Parker loses fight to make Anfield trip
Published 23:00 19/11/10 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
West Ham talisman Scott Parker has been ruled out of today's trip to
Liverpool with a chest infection. Hammers boss Avram Grant wanted to give
the midfielder every chance to prove his fitness but the 30-year-old did not
travel to Anfield. "Firstly, he is a good player and, secondly, he is a good
influence," said Grant. "Not just for West Ham, I think he is the best
midfield player in England. "He gives everything and always tries to play –
he is one of the best."
The Hammers will also be without Manuel da Costa after a challenge from
Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas that left Grant fuming. "It was a bad, bad
tackle from Fabregas in the last moments of the game," Grant added. "The TV
likes to pick up things for other teams. If they were to highlight all the
mistakes from referees against us they would need a whole programme. "It's a
bad injury and he will not play for weeks."
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