WHUFC.com
All the early team news and background for Saturday's awayday at the
Madejski Stadium
09.12.2011
READING v WEST HAM UNITED
npower CHAMPIONSHIP
SATURDAY 10 DECEMBER 2011
KICK-OFF: 3PM
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
iPHONE APP I TWITTER I FACEBOOK I PODCAST
Introduction
• West Ham United travel to Reading for their 21st npower Championship
fixture of 2011/12 having seen their seven-match unbeaten run ended with
last weekend's 2-1 defeat by Burnley. They are the division's form team on
the road with seven wins and two draws in their ten matches.
• Sam Allardyce's side sit second in the npower Championship table, two
points behind leaders Southampton and three points ahead of third-place
Cardiff City. Big Sam was nominated for the npower Championship manager of
the month but lost out to Cardiff City's Malky Mackay.
• The Hammers have the best defensive record in the npower Championship,
having conceded just 17 goals in 20 league matches.
• West Ham United's 36 league goals have been shared between 14 different
players. Carlton Cole leads the way with seven, Kevin Nolan has six while
Sam Baldock has five.
• The Hammers have only lost once on their travels this season, a 1-0 defeat
at leaders Southampton on 18 October.
• Reading are looking for a fourth win in half-a-dozen matches as they mark
Brian McDermott's first year in charge.
• Freddie Piquionne celebrated his 33rd birthday on Friday.
• Carlton Cole was shortlisted for the npower Championship player of the
month, which was won by Billy Sharp of Doncaster Rovers.
• West Ham are looking for a fifth away victory in a row for the first time
since December 1985.
Team news
West Ham United
• West Ham United are without Matt Taylor (calf) but the midfielder could be
back in contention for next week's visit of Barnsley on 17 December.
• Henri Lansbury is in the matchday 18 after playing an hour in a midweek
development squad game against Brentford. Lansbury has not played since 18
October. Gary O'Neil (ankle) played 45 minutes but is at least six weeks
away from a playing return after eight months out.
• Dan Potts, fresh from helping the Academy to an FA Youth Cup third-round
win at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday, is also set to travel with the
first team again.
• Sam Baldock (hamstring), Winston Reid (dislocated shoulder), Ruud Boffin
(finger) and David Bentley (knee) are definitely out. Baldock and Reid are
hopeful of returning before Christmas.
• Pablo Barrera and Jordan Spence are on season-long loans at Real Zaragoza
and Bristol City respectively. Ahmed Abdulla (Swindon Town), Cristian
Montano (Dagenham & Redbridge), Rob Hall (Oxford United), Herita Ilunga
(Doncaster Rovers), Callum McNaughton (AFC Wimbledon) and Frank Nouble
(Gillingham) are all out on temporary loans.
Reading
• Former Hammers winger Jobi McAnuff is eligible again after suspension.
• Brian McDermott will choose between fit-again Joseph Mills and Ian Harte
for the left-back.
• Noel Hunt could be back in the attack after overcoming a thigh injury.
Last time out
Saturday 3 December 2011
npower Championship
West Ham United 1-2 Burnley
West Ham United: Green, O'Brien (Carew 80), Faye, Tomkins, McCartney, Noble,
Nolan, Collison, Faubert, Cole, Taylor (Piquionne 56)
Subs not used: Stech, Demel, Diop
Goal: Nolan 52
Saturday 3 December 2011
npower Championship
Blackpool 1-0 Reading
Reading: Federici, Pearce, Gorkss, Harte, Cummings, Karacan, Leigertwood,
Kebe (Antonio 70), Robson-Kanu, Le Fondre, Church (Manset 70)
Subs not used: Andersen, Griffin, Tabb
Last six meetings
26 December 2007 - West Ham United 1-1 Reading
1 September 2007 - Reading 0-3 West Ham United
1 January 2007: Reading 6-0 West Ham United
1 October 2006: West Ham United 0-1 Reading
12 March 2005: Reading 3-1 West Ham United
10 August 2004: West Ham United 1-0 Reading
All-time record v Reading: W3 D2 L4
Ten-year records
West Ham United
2010/11 Premier League 20th (relegated to Championship)
2009/10 Premier League 17th
2008/09 Premier League 9th
2007/08 Premier League 10th
2006/07 Premier League 15th
2005/06 Premier League 9th
2004/05 Championship 6th (promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)
2003/04 Division One 4th
2002/03 Premier League 18th (relegated to Championship)
2001/02 Premier League 7th
Reading
2010/11 Championship 5th
2009/10 Championship 9th
2008/09 Championship 4th
2007/08 Premier League 18th (relegated to Championship)
2006/07 Premier League 8th
2005/06 Championship 1st (promoted to Premier League)
2004/05 Championship 7th
2003/04 Division One 9th
2002/03 Division One 4th
2001/02 Division Two 3rd (promoted to Division 1)
Referee
• Saturday's referee will be Lancashire-born Neil Swarbrick, who took charge
of the Hammers' 2-0 home win against Barnsley in the FA Cup third round last
season.
• Swarbrick usually takes charge of matches in the Football League as a
member of the National List, as he has yet to make the step up to the Select
Group who control Barclays Premier League matches.
Us and them
• The following players have worn the colours of both West Ham United and
Reading during their careers - Tommy Allison, Ken Bainbridge, John
Blackwood, Charles Cotton, William Davidson, Steve Death, Tommy Dixon, Jack
Fletcher, Jack Flynn, Harry Gunning, Jim Holmes, Sam Jennings, Thomas
Kinsell, Herbert Lyon, Jobi McAnuff, Steve Mautone, Trevor Morley, Hayden
Mullins, Geordie Reid, James Reid, Horace Ricketts, William Robson, Peter
Simpson, Ron Tindall, Ernest Watts, Rod Williams, Alan Wooler and Len Young.
• Jobi McAnuff, the Reading captain, played 14 games for the Hammers in the
second half of the 2003/04 season.
• Wally Downes spent five years as a coach at Reading between 2004 and 2009,
working under Steve Coppell.
• Reading Academy manager Eamonn Dolan is a former Hammers youth striker,
who rose through the ranks to play 15 league games for the first team and
scored three goals between 1985 and 1990.
• Alan Pardew has been in charge at both clubs, taking the helm at the
Royals in his first managerial role in 1999 and staying there until 2003
when he moved to West Ham.
• The first-ever meeting between West Ham United and Reading took place on
Tuesday 11 September 2001 at the Madejski Stadium. The League Cup tie
finished goalless after extra time before Reading won 6-5 on penalties.
• The teams have met four times in the league at the Madejski Stadium, with
15 goals scored at an average of 3.75 a match.
• While the last Hammers trip was their best success in Berkshire, a 3-0
victory, they suffered their heaviest loss in the game before that - going
down 6-0 on 1 January 2007.
• Last time the Hammers went to the Madejski Stadium they were 3-0 winners
on 1 September 2007. The goals were scored by Craig Bellamy in the sixth
minute, before Matthew Etherington scored twice in the 49th and 90th
minutes.
The lineups were:
Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Ingimarsson, Duberry, Shorey, Fae (Kitson 61 ),
Harper, Gunnarsson (Cisse 69 ), Hunt, Lita (Convey 75 ), Doyle
Subs not used: Federici, Bikey,
West Ham United: Green, Neill, Ferdinand, Upson, McCartney, Bowyer (Spector
81), Noble, Mullins, Etherington, Ashton (Cole 65), Bellamy (Boa Morte 89)
Subs not used: Wright, Gabbidon,
Up next
• West Ham United welcome Barnsley for a 3pm kick-off on Saturday 17
December, with tickets priced at just £15 for Adults and £5 for Under-16s.
Reading will travel to Leeds United on the same day.
General information
• Saturday's weather forecast is for a bright but chilly day, with
temperatures peaking around the 5C mark.
• The match is sold out.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Big Sam on Friday
WHUFC.com
The manager has sat down with West Ham TV ahead of Saturday's trip to
Reading
09.12.2011
Manager Sam Allardyce sat down in front of the West Ham TV camera to discuss
matters ahead of Saturday's npower Championship trip to Reading. Big Sam was
asked about a range of issues, including Tuesday's Supporters' Advisory
Board meeting, being prepared for the January transfer window, injuries and
the Academy's midweek FA Youth Cup victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Here
is what the manager had to say -
Sam, if we could start with the Supporters' Advisory Board meeting you
attended on Tuesday. How did you enjoy your evening?
"It is nice to see the club actually allowing a group of people to get their
viewpoint across on what they think in all areas. Mostly you would think
they'd be asking about what is happening on the pitch, but actually it was
about all areas of the club from what happens on the field all the way to
the possible move to the Olympic Stadium. "It was a pleasant evening and
informal for me, rather than standing up talking. I wandered around each
group and had a chat with them and got some very positive feedback. "The
owners must take a lot of credit because I have not heard of this type of
thing before at other clubs I have been at. It was very, very good to
attend."
One thing I'm sure you were asked about a lot was possible transfers. The
January transfer window is not far away and speculation will start to ramp
up over the coming few weeks. What are your thoughts on possible additions
to the squad?
"The difficulty is that the madness will be kicking off into next week and
it will be heightened as the weeks go on, right the way through until the
end of January in the middle of a very important period of games of football
that you've got to try to win under difficult circumstances - suspensions
come into play, injuries, cold weather and Christmas spirit for everybody
else apart from yourself. "All the speculation around transfers in and out
creates a difficult time for managers to cope with. "We have targets, yes,
but whether they are achievable we'll have to wait and see. If we can
achieve them, we want to achieve them between 1 January and 7 January rather
then 24 January to 31 January because another four or five games will have
elapsed within that time. "If we've got to do it and if we can do it, let's
try to do it as early as possible. In saying all that, it's a hugely
difficult time to acquire players. Like everything else, we're all in the
same position but we'd prefer to have a different system."
So you want to be prepared to make signings as soon as the window opens?
"There is being prepared and then there is the reality of what is
achievable. The hard part for me has always been recruitment. I think it's
more difficult now than it's ever been in the history of football to find
players to bring to your club and make it better. There are fewer players of
the highest quality that you would like available in the world of football
today and that makes them ever more expensive and ever more difficult to get
hold of. "It's almost a case of spending more on scouting to spend less, but
when you find that right quality, it can make that much quality to your side
that you can be very successul very quickly."
Talking of new faces, you must have been pleased to see Gary O'Neil and
Henri Lansbury back in action after injury on Tuesday?
"We knew Henri would be back in about eight weeks from his injury and we had
a bit of a lucky break because he was millimetres away from an anterior
cruciate ligament injury which would have been the end of the season for
Henri. "We've already suffered one severe blow with David Bentley, which
everyone seems to have forgotten about. He was a big loss to our squad. So
Henri coming back and having 60 minutes was very important with regards to
getting him back really quick.
"Gary is ahead of schedule. It's a number of games and it might be as many
as six or eight before he gets the confidence mentally for us to think about
him coming back into the squad. Even then, you have to do it tentatively
from the bench and look at his mental side as well as the physical side.
He's always been a very fit player anyway. "Of course we also have Matt
Taylor and Winston Reid who I am particularly concerned about getting back
as quickly as possible. Matt is not as bad as first thought and Winston is
progressing and getting closer and closer to being fit again. "The run we've
had with those injuries, even though we were disappointed last weekend, has
been an outstanding piece of work over the last ten games - 22 points and
everything we have had thrown at us, we have coped with and got more points
than we did from the first ten games. "It shows you we are improving all the
time as a unit on and off the field."
Finally, talking of players who hope they will be good enough for West Ham
United in the future, you must have taken heart from the FA Youth Cup
victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday evening?
"The Academy boys have played against the first team a lot on Fridays. They
actually come and watch a video of the opposition that we're playing and
their responsibility is to play like the team we're going to play against.
"That then is a challenge to them because they obviously play a certain way
in the youth team. We're challenging them in terms of their mentality and
helping them to understand the game of football by asking them to watch a
video and putting them out and telling them 'You've got to play like they
do'. That's a great challenge to them in the first place. "They then find
out which first-team player they are up against and how difficult that is.
They then know what level they have to get to and better to dislodge that
first-team player. It gives them a goal to aim for because they've
experienced it in a training session - of course, in a training session
we're not a full tilt either. "You get to see the ones who can handle it and
the ones who struggle a little bit, so it's a good learning curve and
hopefully you get lads who move up - We've had Dan Potts and George Moncur
up with the first-team squad and we recalled Rob Hall from his loan at
Oxford to be on the bench a couple of times. They are along with Jack
Collison and James Tomkins who are massive parts of the team now. "It would
be great if we could bring more through and hopefully we can produce more
and more because, at a club like this, if it wants to move forward in
today's level of expenditure then you've got to get 30 or 40 per cent of
your players through your own system - that saves you millions and millions
of pounds at the other end if and when you get into the Premier League.
"That makes life a whole lot better for a club like West Ham."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
FA Cup date set
WHUFC.com
West Ham United will travel to face Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday 8 January
09.12.2011
West Ham United can confirm that the FA Cup with Budweiser third-round tie
at Sheffield Wednesday will take place on Sunday 8 January 2012, kick-off
3pm. The fixture has been moved back 24 hours on police advice to avoid a
clash with the third-round match between Sheffield United and either
Salisbury Town or Grimsby Town. Following discussions between the two clubs,
the Hammers are pleased to confirm that all Adult tickets will be priced at
£20, while all concessions will be priced at £10. Manager Sam Allardyce is
looking forward to leading West Ham into the world's most-famous knockout
competition for the first time. With the Owls flying high in the npower
League One table, Big Sam is relishing the prospect of a good, old-fashioned
cup tie. "Sheffield Wednesday are near the top in their division and we've
all seen that there is little difference between the top of League One and
the Championship by the achievements of Southampton, Brighton, Leeds,
Norwich and Swansea," the manager told West Ham TV. "Those teams at the top
are generally very well-equipped to play in the Championship when they get
up and I don't see any difference with Sheffield Wednesday. The experience
that Gary Megson has got and the players he has put together and moulded
into a successful winning team will present us with a hugely difficult
task."
While Big Sam chose to blood the likes of Callum McNaughton, Pablo Barrera,
Junior Stanislas and Frank Nouble in the Carling Cup defeat by Aldershot
Town in August, the boss is eager to achieve a better performance and result
in the Steel City. "At that stage of the season, coming off the Christmas
period, we have to see what the availability of the players is going to be
like. The FA Cup is always a huge competition but it's not the major factor
for us in terms of what we want to do, at the end of the day. "Saying that,
it's a competition we want to progress in after the disappointment of being
knocked out in the early rounds of the Carling Cup. The good thing about
that was that it taught me about players who actually, in the end, didn't
prove themselves to be good enough for West Ham United. We moved a few of
those on, which was very important. "This time, when it comes to the FA Cup,
we will know about everybody we're going to select in that game and we'd
expect them to go out and play to their best and get us through to the next
stage."
West Ham and Sheffield Wednesday have met three times previously in the FA
Cup - the first occasion being a 1-0 first-round defeat at Hillsborough in
January 1921.
The other two meetings both took place in the 1980s - a 2-1 sixth-round
defeat at Hillsborough and a 2-0 fifth-round replay defeat at the Boleyn
Ground following a 1-1 draw in Yorkshire. The Hammers also visited
Hillsborough for their FA Cup semi-final in March 1964, when a 65,000-strong
crowd cheered them on to a 3-1 victory over Manchester United en route to
lifting the trophy for the first time in the club's history. West Ham have
won the FA Cup three times - in 1964, 1975 and 1980 - and finished as
runners-up in 1923 and 2006. Sheffield Wednesday lifted the trophy in 1896,
1907 and 1935 and were runners-up in 1890, 1966 and 2003. In the event that
a replay is required, it will be played at the Boleyn Ground on Tuesday 17
January 2012, kick-off 7.45pm.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Elliot eager for league boost
WHUFC.com
Elliot Lee is hoping the U18s' FA Youth Cup exploits can boost their league
form
09.12.2011
Elliot Lee is hoping West Ham United Under-18's midweek FA Youth Cup victory
at Wolverhampton Wanderers can spur them on to greater heights in the FA
Premier Academy League. The Hammers youngsters scored a magnificent 3-2 win
at Molineux, defeating a Wolves side which had won its previous seven
matches. Lee scored twice, while namesake Kenzer netted a dramatic late
winner. Now, the striker is hoping the team can take their form into
Saturday's league trip to Charlton Athletic. The Hammers have lost five of
their previous six league matches to drop from top to fifth in the Group A
table. "Considering we've had a few dodgy results in the league, this will
give us great confidence and hopefully we can push in both the league and
the FA Youth Cup," Lee told whufc.com Casting his mind back to Wednesday's
big win at Wolves, the forward was delighted to net two goals at a Premier
League stadium and is now targeting a long run in the FA Youth Cup. The
fourth-round draw will take place on Friday 16 December and Lee is hoping to
be given the opportunity to show his talents off at the Boleyn Ground. "It
was a brilliant feeling, both scoring and winning, and I'm so pleased we're
through to the next round," he added. "The first goal came from a great
cross from Rob, who got to the byline and crossed it to me. I just took one
touch and swivelled and hit it really. I just hoped for the best. "I think
the goal settled the whole team down. We wanted to go out and get an early
lead and that's what we did. Unfortunately we conceded and it put everything
back to normal. "The second one came from another great cross, this time
from Matthias. I got a bit lucky when it hit a defender and came back off
the crossbar and left me an open goal. "I hit the post instead of getting a
hat-trick but it didn't matter because we scored the winner from the
resulting corner. I'm very happy for the team."
"I can't say there was ever a time when I thought we weren't going to win.
We scored twice and then let two goals in, but when we got the third one I
thought it would be our night. "Kenzer was an unlikely match-winner, but I'm
very happy for him! I'd love a home draw in the next round, if possible, but
I don't really mind who we get." *Kick-off at Sparrows Lane on Saturday is
at 11am. The full address is Charlton Athletic Training Ground, Sparrows
Lane, New Eltham SE9 2JR.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Reading v West Ham
BBC.co.uk
Page last updated at 11:45 GMT, Friday, 9 December 2011
Npower Championship
Venue: Madejski Stadium Date: Saturday 10 August Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: Watch highlights on The Football League Show; listen on BBC Radio
5 live extra and BBC local radio; text commentary on the BBC Sport website
TEAM NEWS
Reading welcome back skipper Jobi McAnuff after he was suspended for picking
up five bookings this season. Full-back Joseph Mills is fit once more and
will challenge Ian Harte for the left-back slot, and striker Noel Hunt has
recovered from a head injury.
West Ham could be without Matt Taylor at Reading after he limped off against
Burnley last week. Defender Winston Reid (hamstring) and striker Sam Baldock
(shoulder) are missing because of injuries.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Reading have won half of their eight league meetings with West Ham.
• Only one of West Ham's three league victories over the Royals was
away from home; 3-0 in their most recent visit in September 2007 (Premier
League).
• There has never been a draw between these clubs in a league match on
Reading soil.
Reading
• Mid-table Reading are vying for a fourth win in six games, as Brian
McDermott completes his first year since taking the reins at the Madejski.
• The Royals have picked up an unrivalled 11 Championship points from
matches in which they have conceded two or more goals.
• A share of the spoils would take their all-time total of home draws
in second tier football to 100, while defeat would be their fourth in a
league game at the Madejski and equal the total suffered there in the
Championship last term.
West Ham United
• 2nd placed West Ham, two points off the pace, saw their seven-game
unbeaten sequence ended by Burnley at Upton Park last Saturday. Now they
must avoid their first back-to-back defeats of the season.
• The Hammers, who have the strongest away record in the Championship,
are endeavouring to complete five away league victories for the first time
since December 1985 in the top-flight.
• Sam Allardyce's side need to score one goal to total 800 away from
home in second level league football.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
A Sunday in Sheffield
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 9th December 2011
By: Staff Writer
The date for West Ham's third round FA Cup clash with Sheffield Wednesday
has finally been confirmed. We reported earlier in the week that Wednesday
and local rivals Sheffield United were planning to meet Police for
discussions having both been drawn at home in the third round of the
competition. That meeting is understood to have taken place this morning,
with the result being that West Ham will face Wednesday on Sunday, 8th
January at 3:00pm. Meanwhile Sheffield United will play at home to either
Grimsby Town or Salisbury (their second round replay is due to take place
this coming Tuesday evening) 24 hours earlier. The major concern of West
Yorkshire Police is the ill-feeling generated between West Ham United and
Sheffield United supporters in the wake of the Lord Griffiths fiasco, in
which West Ham were ordered to pay the Blades a sum in the region of
£25million. That decision - plus the hypocritical behaviour of SUFC and its
fans during the long, drawn-out affair - has never sat well with the vast
majority of West Ham supporters. The two clubs are yet to meet on the field
of play since Griffiths' landmark decision was made some three years ago.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Reading v West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 9th December 2011
By: Preview Percy
Preview Percy has spent much of this week taking the mick out of all those
people people who recently discovered that their roots were in Manchester
all along, though his written request to the football authorities that a
minutes' uncontrollable laughter be observed before all matches this weekend
was, for some reason, ignored. Here are his usual warped thoughts on this
weekend's trip to Reading. If you hang around for a bit John Northcutt will
be along with some real facts....
Next we make the relatively short hop down the M4 where we face Reading for
a nicely traditional 3pm Saturday kick off. The match is being played at
London Irish's rugby ground which, as is the trend for modern stadia, is
plonked out on the edge of town in the middle of nowhere. There is a railway
line nearby but plans to do something useful like building a station there
seem to have been quietly ditched. So if you're going by train you'll need a
cab or shuttle bus from the main station – and don't bank on being able to
get a particular train home after the match.
There is, of course, a bit of history between the clubs, largely arising
from the faux-indignation stirred up by club owner John Madejski over the
departure of Alan Pardew to better things. The spottier element of their
support took it on themselves to get all upset about it. Of course whilst
all eyes were on West Ham, few outside Brighton noticed the unauthorised
talks with Steve Coppell that Madejski was holding all the time. Meanwhile,
inbetween bouts of spot-squeezing and keyboard warriorship, the one who
owned a printer thought it would be a great idea to print out loads of A4
sheets bearing the word "Judus" – either none of his mates had the heart to
tell him the correct spelling or, more likely, they didn't know either.
Somewhat more serious was the attitude of the club's staff who took it upon
themselves to deny entry the stadium to Hammers at one match for such
"crimes" as 'wearing a hat'. One teetotal supporter was even told that he
would not be allowed in as it was an offence to be drunk at a football
match. Prompted by this very website a few quiet words were had in the
club's shell like by the Football League, resulting in refunds all round. It
is to be hoped that the pettier element have grown up a bit in the years
that have passed. Or, at least, learned how to spell.
Our opponents currently lie in 12th spot having gleaned 27 points from their
20 matches so far this season. This leaves them five shy of a play-off place
and seven away from a slot in the bottom three. They've won three and drawn
three of their last six. The wins have come at home to Birmingham (1-0) and
Peterborough (3-2) and away at Ipswich (3-2), whilst the defeats have come
away at Forest and Blackpool (both 1-0) and at home to Cardiff (1-2). Their
overall home record has seen them win three draw four and lose three from
the 10 matches staged on home turf giving them 13 points from a possible 30
in Berkshire.
The manager is Brian McDermott. He took over from the Swansea-bound Brendan
Rogers in December 2009 having done time in the scouting, youth and reserve
team sections before his elevation to the manager's chair. He guided them to
the play-off final last season where his former boss Rogers got the better
of him in a 4-2 win.
Whilst on the subject of managerial matters, though not strictly relevant to
this match, it should be noted that Eamonn Dolan is currently at the helm on
the Academy side of things. Dolan made a few appearances up front for us in
the late 1980's without ever (and I'm sure he'd be the first to agree)
really looking like a top flight player. His career came to a shuddering
halt in 1993 when, whilst at Exeter, he was diagnosed with cancer. Happily
he beat that particular opponent and performed a number of roles for the
Grecians, including a spell as manager before moving up to Reading in 2004
where he has been running the youth set-up ever since.
About this time of the review I normally take a look at the opposition
squad. This usually takes the form of my looking for the strange, the
unusual and, often downright criminal elements that we might be
encountering. However, this week I am going to combine this with one of my
rants against muppet things that ought to have no place in football. This
may, in time, become a regular feature which, after a long spell sucking on
a thoughtful Werthers Original I have decided to call "Rants Against Muppet
Things That Ought To Have No Place In Football". In assembling my research
material for this match I got Nurse Rita (I say "nurse" – she has a uniform
of sorts) to connect me to the Reading squad list on the electric computer
thing. I instantly saw something that qualified for this section. You see
(and Reading are not the only guilty ones in this respect) they list "their
fans" as having the no.13 squad number. This is on a cringe-making par with
playing music after goals. However, given that their average gates are about
5-6k down on those that used to turn up when they were in the Premiership
one can only assume that the no.13 has returned to Chelsea (their parent
club) and is currently out on loan at QPR where, at least, they won't need a
change of shirt. Anyway, "fans" listed in the squad list, definitely a
Muppet Thing That Has No Place In Football.
Getting back to the part of the squad that is still there, keeping goal will
be Aussie 'keeper Adam Federici. Although he has been with the Biscuitmen
since 2005, it is only in relative recent years that he has become the first
choice, with Septic Marcus Hahnemann usually being the club's default
option. Hahnemann's departure before the start of 2009/10 finally gave
Federici the chance to claim the spot and he has been their principal no.1
ever since. At international level it's been a similar story for Federici,
for whom international caps have been hard to come by with Mark Schwarzer in
the squad. Although he went to the 2010 World Cup he never got off the
bench, though he did start a recent "Socceroo" (ghastly name) World Cup
qualifier against Oman.
Veteran defender Ian Harte is still plying his trade in defence. I will
admit to raising a surprised eyebrow when I discovered that he is in fact
only 34 years old – he seems to have been around for so long that I had him
down for a good 3 or four years older than that. Harte came to prominence in
the Ridsdale era at Leeds when he was part of the team that made it all the
way to the so-called Champions League semi finals. He has always been noted
for having a decent shot at set pieces and has been known to take the odd
spot-kick as well.
The skipper is ex-Hammer Jobi McAnuff. McAnuff was part of the job lot of
players signed from what was then called Wimbledon during their spell of
playing-in-but-not-being called Milton Keynes. His fellow team mates
arriving in the same cab in January 2004 were Nigel Reo-Coker and Adam
Nowland. Always something of a fringe player during his short spell at the
Boleyn, he left during the following summer window for Cardiff as players
were transferred out to raise money for new signings. Spells at Palace and
Watford then followed before he followed his old Watford boss Brendan Rogers
to Reading in 2009. Somewhere in the McAnuff attic gathering dust is a
solitary cap for Jamaica gained all the way back in 2002 during his
Wimbledon days. He missed Reading's last match, the 1-0 defeat up at
Blackpool, his 5 bookings in his 19 league and cup appearances earning him
the week off from competitive football.
Also in midfield they boast Mikele Leigertwood. Leigertwood arrived from QPR
in November 2010 on loan with the deal finally becoming permanent in the
last summer window. Along with his QPR boss, Leigertwood was part of the
Sheffield United set up who managed to blow a ten point advantage to get
themselves relegated in 2006/07, a statistic that one will never tire of
repeating. I see his old boss has this week been mouthing off about
Liverpool's role in Sheffield United's relegation that season. Never your
fault is it Warnock.
Up front, the departure of alleged Hammers target Shane Long, has seen a
fair bit of responsibility for keeping the scoreboard ticking over land on
the shoulders of Simon "Charlotte" Church. Church joined Reading back in
2003 at the age of 14, his registration being handed over by Wycombe
Wanderers as part of the deal that took Nathan Tyson to Bucks. As he
progressed he spent spells on loan at a number of clubs, including Leyton
Orient, finally getting first team experience as the likes of Dave Kitson
and Kevin Doyle were transferred out. He's found the back of the net three
times this season. Capped by Wales at full level, there is a senior FIFA
committee investigating whether or not his first goal for his country should
actually count as it only came against Scotland.
Also up front is Adam Le Fondre who came in from Rotherham in August for a
reported fee of £350,000. Despite the exotic (well French anyway) surname Le
Fondre is a Stockport-born Englishman who rejoices in the splendid real
first name of Glenville. As with Brighton's Mackail-Smith, Le Fondre is one
of those players who seemed to score every week whenever I happened across
those highlights programmes in recent years. Whether or not this impression
was partly influenced by his unusual surname – not to many of those in
Rotherham I'd wager – is a valid question. Maybe he wouldn't have registered
on my radar with the name Smith. However, he did notch up slightly better
than a goal every other game for the Millers during his spell there and he
is the Biscuitmen's top scorer with five (all in the league so far this
season).
And so a few words about us. Injury news is that Matt Taylor's going to be
sidelined for a few weeks having retired hurt during the Burnley match.
However, they think they've found the cause of the calf problems he's been
having which may result in a speedier than hoped for return. Baldock has a
couple of weeks to go, as does Reid.
On the brighter side, the return to action in midweek of Gary O'Neil was a
most welcome sight, given the seriousness of the injury that kept him out
for so long. He's still a long way from first team action of course but his
Development Squad run out will have done him a power of good
psychologically. Also back in the 3-0 win over Brentford was Henri Lansbury,
who is more likely to feature over the festive period.
Last week's setback was, one hopes, a minor one. The defeat of Southampton
at Doncaster meant that there was no harm done to the Championship-winning
aspirations, though as the grumpiest resident of the Avram Grant Rest Home
for the Bewildered (a title for which competition is intense) I will admit
that my own main focus on the league table is firmly fixed on the gap
between us and third, which is three points and some goal difference at
present. I will be slightly happier with a few more wins – another 9 points
should see us clear from relegation I reckon.
Of course we did have our chances against Burnley – we probably need a new
set of goalposts for a start - and I'm still wondering how Nolan missed that
sitter in the first half. For all the chances I would say that we looked a
bit flat – especially towards the end of the match. Understandably so I
suppose, given that it was the third game in a week that had seen them
travel up to Boro' and back. The return to just having Saturday fixture will
hopefully have given the players a spot of recovery time using whatever the
latest technology is in vogue at the moment. I believe Mr Allardyce is a fan
of freezing the bits off the players using some sort of reverse microwave
thing at the moment. The staff at this rest home achieve much the same
effect by not turning the heating on.
Prediction? I dunno why you bother asking quite frankly. Unless it's simply
to avoid betting on anything I've forecast which, I suppose, is a pretty
sensible way of doing things. The rest will have done us good – a few days
ago I was thinking about the draw but on reflection I think I'll chance my
arm at a 2-1 away win with Blackpool sneaking a surprise point at whatever
the Dell is called these days.
When last we met: : Our last visit to Berkshire in September 2007 saw us run
out 3-0 winners with goals from Etherington (2) and Bellamy. A miss from
Etherington prompted chants of "he's got a bet on 2-0" before he messed that
theory up by adding the third. The return fixture at the Boleyn on Boxing
Day 2007 saw us draw 1-1 with a goal from Nobby Solano.
Danger man: Adam Le Fondre Despite the third-rate actor-style name,
Glenville is their top scorer and has a decent career track record over the
years. Keep an eye out.
Referee: Neil Swarbrick Last seen at the Boleyn doing what seemed to be our
traditional 3rd round of the cup match against Barnsley back in January. Has
been easing his way into the Premiership over the past 12 months or so – he
handled the 0-0 draw between Swansea & Villa last weekend.
Daft fact of the week: I sent Nurse Rita over to the electric computer with
the instruction to "find something interesting about Reading". She came back
with the information that the average American has a reading speed of 200
words a minute, though she didn't say whether that was with or without their
lips moving.
I sent her away again and she returned with the fact that former Reading
striker Dave Kitson once claimed to be able to recite the whole of Macbeth,
which just goes to show he wasn't completely useless. Unlike Nurse Rita.
Nice uniform though.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Reading v West Ham preview
Last updated: 9th December 2011
SSN
Team news ahead of Saturday's Championship clash between Reading and West
Ham at the Madejski Stadium. Jobi McAnuff returns for Reading after missing
last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Blackpool through suspension. He is likely to
return to the starting line-up in place of Hal Robson-Kanu. Brynjar
Gunnarsson continues to miss out with the calf strain he picked up in a
reserve-team fixture, but full-back Joseph Mills is fit once more and will
challenge Ian Harte for the left-back slot. Striker Noel Hunt has recovered
from a head injury to be available for selection. Otherwise, manager Brian
McDermott has no new injury or suspension worries ahead of the clash with
Hammers. Young forward Nicholas Bignall does remain sidelined, however, as
he continues his recovery from the knee surgery which curtailed his loan
spell at Wycombe.
West Ham, meanwhile, look set to be without Matt Taylor. The midfielder,
only recently back after a month out with torn muscles in both calves,
limped off against Burnley last week with another calf problem. Defender
Winston Reid remains on the sidelines with a shoulder injury and striker Sam
Baldock is missing due to a hamstring problem. But the Hammers have been
boosted by the news Henri Lansbury and Gary O'Neil are on the mend. On-loan
Arsenal midfielder Lansbury has been out since August with a knee problem
while winger O'Neil has yet to feature this season due to a serious ankle
injury but both stepped up their fitness bids by playing for the reserves
this week.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Nolan holds no grudges
Former Magpie looking forward to life with new club
Last Updated: December 9, 2011 5:31pm
SSN
West Ham skipper Kevin Nolan insists he does not hold any grudges about his
Newcastle exit but admits at the time he was sad to leave the club. The
midfielder surprisingly joined the relegated Hammers this summer after
failing to agree the long-term contract extension that he wanted at St
James' Park. But he now insists the matter is 'water under the bridge' and
he is instead focusing on helping the Hammers push for promotion under boss
Sam Allardyce. He told Sky Sports News: "At that time, emotion's running
high because everything what you feel that you've done, you have put all
your effort to make sure that you get what you deserve really.
Betrayed
"And when you speak to people and they tell you one thing and then do the
complete opposite, you are going to feel betrayed. "But look, that's water
under the bridge. I'm absolutely delighted that they're doing well. "I've
got a lot of good friends up there and I'm delighted that Newcastle are up
where they belong and the fans are where they belong. "It's water under the
bridge for me now, I'm quite happy where I am now. I've got a great manager,
a great bunch of lads and then the owners have been fantastic with me so
life moves on and I'm not one of those men who holds grudges for too long
anyway."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Big Sam admits Anelka interest
But Hammers boss will wait until summer for veteran striker
By Pete O'Rourke - Follow me: @skysportspeteo. Last Updated:
December 9, 2011 3:48pm
SSN
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has confirmed his interest in signing wantaway
Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka. Anelka is set to leave Stamford Bridge after
having a transfer request accepted by Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas. The
Frenchman is thought to have agreed a move to Chinese outfit Shanghai
Shenhua and will quit West London when the transfer window reopens in
January. However, Allardyce, who worked with Anelka at Bolton, admits he is
keeping tabs on the striker's situation, although he concedes he would only
move for the 32-year-old on a free transfer in the summer rather than next
month.
Quality
"If Nicolas is available, I'd be massively interested," Allardyce told The
Sun. "I've not contacted Chelsea and am just looking at the situation with
January looming.
"It would be an end-of-season pursuit rather than next month. "We need to
get into the Premier League - and then we'd have a better chance of signing
someone of Nicolas' quality."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Karren Brady's football diary
The Sun
KARREN BRADY - First lady of football
Published: Today
Saturday, December 3
ALMOST from the day he walked out on Aston Villa, Martin O'Neill has been
itching to return as a manager. He's impressive, no doubt about that, and by
the way his eyes peer unblinkingly behind his disciplinarian's specs there's
clearly a boss in there, efficient as a million-dollar timepiece. If
Sunderland, his boyhood favourites, could appoint a man as a guarantee
against relegation, they've found him. But there's no way he'll come cheap,
not only as the gaffer but, as Villa discovered, a buyer of high-class
players. At 59, he is desperate to create a legend in England. And I think
he will.
Sunday, December 4
SEB LARSSON is one of the most decent and honest footballers I have met. So
what on earth was he doing acting out an acrobatic leap at Wolves? The
penalty was missed, Sunderland were beaten and you might say justice was
done. But that misses the point. In his case, the loss was more than three
points, it was a chunk of his integrity, too.
Monday, December 5
THE awards season is upon us with no Briton in the global contest for the
best players. I don't think there's one who would make the top 10 at the
moment, maybe Wayne Rooney on the fringe. That the three in line for FIFA's
Ballon d'Or — Xavi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi — all play in La Liga
puts the claim that our Premier League is the best under close scrutiny. I
suspect the most attractive football is played in Spain but the most
competitive here. My award for the funniest fans, though, goes to Bulgaria's
who voted their Prime Minister as Footballer of the Year. He's 52 and plays
occasionally for a third division club. Ed Balls for England, I say.
Tuesday, December 6
SENSATIONAL news that Darren Bent has touched the ball an average of 24.6
times a match this season. Have Villa sent Bent to Coventry? Has he been
auditioning for the Invisible Man? Playing striker for Villa at the moment
must be a bit like the percussionist in an orchestra who waits impatiently
for his single bong on the big bass drum. I don't want to add to Alex
McLeish's current burdens but the statistic must be a worry to him, and his
midfield as well.
Wednesday, December 7
WATCHING both halves of Manchester sink, it struck me how sensible it is of
David Beckham to decide he never wishes to be a manager. So much easier,
after all, to remain a poster boy for half-a-dozen years, then go into
something easier like becoming king or even making Victoria smile. I noticed
something about Becks the other day. Whereas previously he has used the word
"different" as in "I think different," this time it was "I think
differently" which suggests he's been having English lessons as well as
vocal coaching. Perhaps his ultimate aim then is to be a kind of ambassador
for everything from tight underpants to leading a World Cup bid — to out-Coe
the great Lord Coe.
Thursday, December 8
OWNERSHIP of footballers as in the case of Carlos Tevez was outlawed by the
Premier League but is still allowed in many nations in UEFA. The Tevez
affair cost West Ham around £30million, so I would be expected to hate the
system — and I do. Now it seems UEFA will allow clubs to discount what is
called 'third party' ownership when their new Financial Fair Play rules come
into force the season after next. Under these, clubs must break even or face
a ban from the Champions League. If we're not careful the day will come when
bits of a player will be owned by all sorts of people, rather as racehorses
can be. The Premier League must fight it.
Friday, December 9
MAYBE I am going a bit dopey here but I believe Spurs are going to be Man
City's chief challenger for the title. There can be no better news for
English football than two clubs emerging to contest the championship of a
competition that was far too predictable at the top. Spurs often play more
like Man U than Man U are at the moment and I really do feel they have a
chance. When you remember how well Spurs did in the Champions League last
season compared with City this, then you can guess that Harry Redknapp's
team will stay the full course — oh, yes, injuries permitting.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
It's a rum do for Allardyce
By JUSTIN ALLEN
Published: Today
The Sun
THEY drank rum before kick-off, played 'floodlit' games using household
light-bulbs and charged fourpence for entry. zeet the 1898 Thames Ironworks
team — now known as West Ham. That was the last time the EastEnders won
seven of their first 10 away league games. Today, at Reading, Sam
Allardyce's men can make it eight out of 11 on the road. And Big Sam — who
would not look out of place in an Ironworks team photo — admits he may not
have frowned upon a Victorian player having a drop of rum before games. He
said: "If you look at it scientifically, alcohol is a stimulant and even
when I played I drank a shot of whisky before kick-off. It was encouraged
and a lot of players did. "Luckily, there are plenty of more suitable
stimulating drinks now — so I wouldn't recommend my players necking rum, not
on an empty stomach anyway!" But the thought of swapping trips to Doncaster
and Peterborough with awaydays at Old Trafford and Anfield next season is
stimulating enough. Yet the Hammers' away form — just one defeat — contrasts
starkly to three loses and two draws at Upton Park. Allardyce said:
"Normally the away stats are not the most productive for a successful team.
But our form away has been superb — overcoming not only the opposition but
the intimidation of the home fans.
"Generally there's not as great a pressure or expectation to win as there is
at home and the emphasis is on our opponents to attack. "Our team has been
superb at exploiting space and opportunities, and punishing the opposition.
We've become a good footballing team, tactically astute and been clinical
with our finishing."
Big Sam, who has settled into a plush Canary Wharf apartment with his wife
Lynn, is loving life in East London. He said: "West Ham is exactly what I
thought. There is great demand from the fans, especially at home. We get
great support but they'll tell you when they're not happy. "The one thing
that has surprised me is the huge following we get - home and away - despite
being in the Championship." Allardyce says he is never grumpy after a defeat
— thanks to his missus. He said: "In my younger years, it was tough. But
Lynn would say, 'Don't be daft, you lost a game of football. If you carry on
like that you're only going to pass that on to the team and they'll play
worse.' "So, after a defeat, like against Burnley last week, a game we
dominated, I first got over it. "Then I analysed the situation so I could
feed that to the players for the next game."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Giant striker is a big hit at West Ham
Published 21:30 09/12/11 By Alan Nixon
The Mirror
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is set to snap up giant striker Habib Habibou –
after a stunning display on trial. Habibou, a powerful 6ft 4in hitman, comes
from the Central African Republic and plays for Belgian club Waregem. He
banged in a couple of goals invv a reserve game against Brentford. Allardyce
has always had an eye for a bargain and could snap up the 24-year-old in a
bargain deal to boost his promotion push. Habibou has a Belgian passport and
would jump at a move. Allardyce takes his Hammers side to Reading on
Saturday, with fit-again midfielder Henri Lansbury hoping for an instant
recall. The on-loan Arsenal man was crocked in the 1-0 defeat at Southampton
in October 18 but came through the second-string game against the Bees on
Tuesday and declared he was ready to reclaim a first-team berth.
Lansbury said: "I had no problems. It's always good to see the team doing
well and it's good to fight for positions."
Reading manager Brian McDermott has virtually a fully-fit squad to choose
from. Brynjar Gunnarsson is the only injured player but was unlikely to be
in the starting 11 even if available. A crowd of around 24,000 is expected
to watch mid-table Royals try to peg back second-placed Hammers. The game
marks a return to the Madejski Stadium for former defensive coach Wally
Downes. He played a key role in helping Steve Coppell guide Reading into the
top flight and is now hoping to do the same for Allardyce. Skipper Jobi
McAnuff is set to return for the Royals after completing a one-match
suspension following five bookings. Defenders Alex Pearce and Kaspars
Gorkss are in danger of suffering the same fate as they are both on four
yellow cards. "I don't need to warn them about that," said McDermott. "They
know the situation. "Some of their bookings have been soft but I can't
criticise them if the bookings are for tackles, only for something like
dissent. "If they do have to miss a match that's why we have a squad."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Posts
