WHUFC.com
Team news and background information ahead of Saturday's trip to the Ricoh
Arena
18.11.2011
COVENTRY CITY v WEST HAM UNITED
npower CHAMPIONSHIP
SATURDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2011
KICK-OFF: 3PM
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
Introduction
• West Ham United travel to Coventry City for their 17th npower Championship
fixture of 2011/12 seeking their sixth away league victory in nine attempts.
The Hammers have previously beaten Doncaster Rovers (1-0), Watford (4-0),
Nottingham Forest (4-1), Brighton & Hove Albion (1-0) and Hull City (2-0),
drawn with Millwall (0-0) and Crystal Palace (2-2) and lost at Southampton
(0-1).
• The Hammers know a victory over the Sky Blues would keep them second in
the table and could reduce the gap between themselves and leaders
Southampton to two points. The Saints host south coast rivals Brighton &
Hove Albion on the same day.
• Should the Hammers win at the Ricoh Stadium, they would surpass the number
of league wins (nine) achieved in the whole of the 2010/11 season and
surpass the eight recorded in 2009/10.
• West Ham United have a good recent record at Coventry City, having lost on
just two of their previous nine visits to take on the Sky Blues. The Hammers
have played just once previously at the Ricoh Arena, winning a League Cup
fourth-round tie 2-1 on 30 October 2007 through Carlton Cole's late goal.
• Coventry City go into the weekend 23rd in the npower Championship table
and four points adrift of safety. The Sky Blues have won just two of their
eight home matches played so far and were beaten 4-2 by Southampton at the
Ricoh Arena last time out.
• West Ham United have conceded just 13 league goals in 16 matches - the
second-best defensive record in the npower Championship behind Middlesbrough
(12). Coventry City have conceded 24 goals in 16 league games.
Team news
West Ham United
• West Ham United hope to welcome back Joey O'Brien after the Republic of
Ireland international missed the trip to Hull City with a tight hamstring.
• Midfielder Matt Taylor could also be available after missing the previous
four matches with an achilles problem.
• Guy Demel could be available to make his first-team debut after making his
second development squad appearance at Whyteleafe on Tuesday evening.
• Back-up goalkeeper Ruud Boffin is unlikely to be available due to a finger
injury, while Winston Reid is definitely sidelined with a dislocated
shoulder suffered in the visit of Bristol City on 1 November.
• On-loan Arsenal midfielder Henri Lansbury is continuing his rehabilitation
at Chadwell Heath as he recovers from a medial knee ligament injury.
• Gary O'Neil has stepped up his training this week as he edges closer to
returning to action following a long-term ankle injury.
• Development squad players Matt Fry, Sergio Sanchez and Paul McCallum were
all running again at Chadwell Heath this week. Seb Lletget has been with the
US U23 team.
• Pablo Barrera and Jordan Spence are on season-long loans at Real Zaragoza
and Bristol City respectively. Ahmed Abdulla (Swindon Town), Rob Hall
(Oxford United), Herita Ilunga (Doncaster Rovers), Callum McNaughton (AFC
Wimbledon), Cristian Montano (Dagenham & Redbridge) and Frank Nouble
(Gillingham) are all out on loan.
Coventry City
• Teenage Burundi-born midfielder Gael Bigirimana is set to return after
serving a three-match ban.
• Centre-back Martin Cranie is expected to return to the squad after
recovering from the rib injury that has ruled him out for six weeks.
• Sky Blues manager Andy Thorn is also hoping to have defenders Richard
Wood, James McPake and Chris Hussey available . Wood missed the home defeat
by Southampton on 5 November, while McPake was forced off with an injury in
the same fixture.
Last time out
Saturday 5 November 2011
npower Championship
Hull City 0-2 West Ham United
West Ham United: Green, McCartney, Tomkins, Faye, Faubert, Nolan, Collison,
Noble, Diop (Sears 83), Baldock (Piquionne 87), Carew (Cole 46)
Subs not used: Kurucz, Potts
Goals: Baldock 49, Collison 57
Saturday 5 November 2011
npower Championship
Coventry City 2-4 Southampton
Coventry City: Murphy, Keogh, McPake (Willis 64), Cameron, Christie,
Clingan, Deegan (Bell 46), Thomas, Jutkiewicz, McSheffrey, McDonald (Platt
67)
Subs not used: Dunn, Baker
Goals: Jutkiewicz 47, Platt 70
Last six meetings
30 October 2007 Coventry City 1-2 West Ham United (League Cup fourth round)
9 April 2005 West Ham United 3-0 Coventry City (Championship)
30 August 2004 Coventry City 2-1 West Ham United (Championship)
1 November 2003 West Ham United 2-0 Coventry City (Division One)
12 February 2003 Coventry City 1-1 West Ham United (Division One)
23 September 2000 Coventry City 3-0 West Ham United (Premier League)
Overall record v Coventry City (all competitions) W 42 D 24 L 26
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 Championship 4th
2002/03 Premier League 18th (relegated to Championship)
2001/02 Premier League 7th
Coventry City
2010/11 Championship 18th
2009/10 Championship 19th
2008/09 Championship 17th
2007/08 Championship 21st
2006/07 Championship 17th
2005/06 Championship 8th
2004/05 Championship 19th
2003/04 Division One 12th
2002/03 Division One 20th
2001/02 Division One 11th
Referee
• Saturday's referee will be Keith Stroud.
• Stroud began his refereeing career in the Wessex League in 1988.
• In 2000, he was added to the Football League List of assistant referees,
running the line at the Division Three Play-Off final between Cheltenham
Town and Rushden & Diamonds at the Millennium Stadium two years later.
• Stroud returned to the Millennium Stadium in May 2003, when he ran the
line during Arsenal's FA Cup final victory over Southampton.
• Cheltenham were also involved when Stroud took charge of his first
Football League match as a referee in August 2004, when the Robins lost 2-0
at home to Scunthorpe United.
• In March 2007, the official was given his first Premier League appointment
for Manchester City's 2-0 win at Middlesbrough.
• The following season, 2007/08, Stroud was added to the Select Group of
referees on a full-time basis.
• Stroud will take charge of a West Ham United fixture for the second time
this season, having also been the man in the middle for the visit of Ipswich
Town on 27 September.
Us and them
• The following players have worn the colours of both West Ham United and
Coventry City during their careers - Jack Ball, Gary Breen, David Burrows,
Noel Cantwell (manager), Laurie Conwell, Calum Davenport, Alan Dickie, Alf
Fenwick, Bobby Gould, Tommy Green, Mike Grice, Robbie Keane, Tom Lee, Joe
Loughlin, Mike Marsh, Cyril Norrington, Graham Paddon, Stewart Robson, Les
Sealey, Danny Shone, Matthew Smailes, Elliott Ward and Steve Whitton.
• Coventry City and Wales striker Freddy Eastwood spent time with West Ham
United as a schoolboy and trainee before leaving and joining non-league
Grays Athletic in 2003.
• The first-ever meeting between West Ham United and Coventry City took
place at the Boleyn Ground on 21 November 1908. The Southern League First
Division fixture ended in a 2-0 win for the Hammers in front of 6,000 fans,
with the goals being scored by Jack Foster and Tom Randall.
• The first Football League meeting between West Ham United and Coventry
City took place in front of 15,000 supporters at Highfield Road on 6
December 1919. The match finished in a goalless draw.
• The largest crowd to witness a Coventry City versus West Ham United
fixture is the 34,568 who turned out for a League Cup semi-final first leg
at Highfield Road on 27 January 1981. The Sky Blues triumphed 3-2 on the
night, but the Hammers prevailed 4-3 on aggregate.
• West Ham United's biggest-ever win at Coventry City was the 3-0 Premier
League success achieved on 23 September 2000. Joe Cole, Paolo Di Canio and
Frank Lampard netted the Hammers' goals in front of a 21,020-strong crowd at
Highfield Road.
• Coventry City's biggest-ever home win over West Ham United was a 5-1
Division Two success at Highfield Road on 11 April 1950. Terry Woodgate
netted the Hammers' consolation goal in front of a crowd of 26,648.
• Fourteen players have made their West Ham United debuts against Coventry
City - Stephen Smith (December 1919), William Guest (October 1936), Rod
Williams (November 1937), Eddie Chapman (September 1948), Clive Charles
(March 1972), Everald La Ronde (April 1982), Joe Gallagher (December 1982),
Greg Chappell (September 1984), Stewart Robson (January 1987), Frank Lampard
(January 1996), Paulo Futre (August 1996), Javier Margas (August 1998), Adam
Newton (September 1999), Kaba Diawara (September 2000) and Brian Deane
(November 2003).
Up next
• West Ham United host Derby County at 5.20pm on Saturday 26 November.
Coventry City host Cardiff City on Tuesday 29 November, with kick-off at
7.45pm.
General information
• All standard tickets for this fixture are SOLD OUT. For details of how to
purchase disabled/ambulant tickets, click here.
• For directions to the Ricoh Arena, click here.
• Saturday's weather forecast is for light rain and a daytime high
temperature of 12C (54F).
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Downes backs old pal Thorn
WHUFC.com
Wally Downes is looking forward to seeing old Wimbledon team-mate Andy Thorn
on Saturday
18.11.2011
Wally Downes will come face-to-face with a familiar face when West Ham
United take on Coventry City on Saturday. The Hammers first-team coach
played alongside Sky Blues manager Andy Thorn for Wimbledon between 1984 and
1988, mentoring his young colleague and helping him to become an England
Under-21 international during his time at Plough Lane. Indeed, a broken leg
suffered by Downes allowed Thorn to make his Dons debut in the spring of
1985 and set him on the path to a career that saw him appear in two FA Cup
finals. "I played alongside Andy for a few seasons at Wimbledon," said
Downes. "He was a youngster coming through and he made his debut in my
position in the week after I broke my leg. "He was a centre-half who was not
blessed with pace, but he read the game very well. He was very astute and
always knew when to drop off or when to step up and play offside, which was
easier in those days. "He was a terrific fella in the dressing room, too."
While Downes moved into coaching with Crystal Palace immediately following
the end of his playing career in 1988, Thorn instead turned to scouting,
working as chief scout at Everton and Fulham before taking the same role at
Coventry in 2008. After three years in that role, the 45-year-old was
appointed as the club's caretaker manager in March 2011 before taking the
role permanently two months later. "I'm surprised it took him so long to
become a manager, because he was the chief scout at Everton and Fulham for a
few years and once he hadn't gone into management or coaching from the
get-go, I didn't think he'd ever want to do it," said Downes.
"He's gone into a difficult situation at Coventry where they have had to get
rid of their highest-earning players and he has had to work with a young
group of players.
"I'm sure that, with the inexperienced squad he has got, they are doing well
not to be detached at the bottom of the table."
Coventry have won just two of their opening 16 npower Championship fixtures
so far, but Downes believes his old pal can guide a young Sky Blues squad to
safety, providing he is given the time and resources to do so. "He has got
good knowledge of the game. What he needs is a little bit of backing to get
a couple more players in because, looking at the ages of the players who
featured in their last game, they are very inexperienced. "Having said that,
it is good to get the youngsters working for you and running for you. It's a
double-edged sword and a difficult first job for Andy, but he's making a
fist of it and the players are working for him." While Downes is naturally
keen for his former team-mate to do well, the first-team coach knows West
Ham need to secure all three points from places like the Ricoh Arena if they
are to harbour hopes of automatic promotion this term. "It's a must that we
continue our good away form at Coventry. We've got to win and keep on
winning. That's all we can do."
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Guy glee at Coventry chance
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's matchday squad has been strengthened by the inclusion of
Guy Demel
18.11.2011
Guy Demel had the biggest smile at Chadwell Heath on Friday afternoon as he
left the training ground with the rest of the squad en route to Coventry
City. The Ivory Coast defender has endured a frustrating time since his
deadline-day move to the Hammers because of a troublesome hamstring injury.
He has used the time well, putting in the long hours in the gym and
treatment room as well as making sure his loved ones are settled in London.
"When you have such a hard time you need your family and friends," he said.
"It is never easy to be new somewhere and then to be injured, but I have
enough experience to handle the situation. "I try to take the positives. I
think my body is fit and the way I have worked with the medical staff has
made me stronger. "I want to play my part. It is not nice to stay outside
and watch the guys doing the job. I am here to play football. I enjoy myself
on the pitch so when I am not doing that I don't feel like a footballer. "
Demel's watching brief for the last ten weeks has meant he has sampled life
as a West Ham fan and he has relished the experience. "The atmosphere is
amazing and it is a stadium where the fans are pushing the team all the
time. It is nice to see as a defender how the fans react when you make a
good header or sliding tackle. I have never seen that anywhere else.
Normally it is the strikers who get that so it is nice to see the fans
behind the defenders. "Honestly, I think the team is playing much better
than the beginning of the season. It is normal because a lot of new players
came this summer. We have a lot of games and we have to keep working hard.
We can't forget our goal because the most important thing is to be at the
top at the end of the season. We need to stay cool and keep working."
Demel will add extra depth to the squad, with the former Borussia Dortmund
and Hamburger SV star able to play at centre-back or anywhere on the right
flank.
Used to playing regularly in the Bundesliga or at the highest level with his
country, he is determined to show what he can do. "The last couple of weeks
I have become really hungry to play. I hope I take my chance."
Although Demel will be travelling to the Midlands, having come through two
development squad games in the last fortnight, it remains to be seen if the
manager will change things after the 2-0 success at Hull City last time out.
Demel is expecting the good road run to continue. "The team are very good at
playing away so hopefully it will be a good result against Coventry, even if
is difficult to maintain momentum after an international break. We have a
lot of experience so we know how to deal with the situation and it is
important now to keep getting points. "We are moving into an important time
of the season and we need to get as many points as we can before then."
Off the pitch, Demel admitted he has not had time to sightsee around the
capital. "I am not here for that," he said. "I am here to play and I will
get time to do that in the future. I like living here in Essex, the people
are really nice to me. "We are really pleased to be here at West Ham and I
want to give that back. The only way is to give my best."
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Piq happy in the mix
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce has plenty of forward options but Frederic Piquionne is ready
when required
18.11.2011
Frederic Piquionne knows he has to bide his time but is ready and waiting to
do the business for the Hammers when called upon. The striker had to be
content with a place on the bench behind John Carew and Sam Baldock at Hull
City, while Carlton Cole came back with a bang with two assists in the 2-0
victory. Piquionne was also a late replacement at Hull and admitted he may
find himself out of the starting XI at Coventy City on Saturday. The
forward, speaking to West Ham TV while meeting schoolchildren at a community
event in Beckton, knows he has to be professional. "I try to do my best and
I prefer to play more but this is the manager's choice. That's why when I
come on I try to do my best. I have not scored yet [this season] but I need
to help the team win. "That is the most important thing. We have to keep
going and there are a lot of games. I hope when I get my chance i will take
it for the team. Coventry is a big game for us and we want to follow the win
against Hull."
Piquionne also added his praise to the 6,500 making the trip to the Ricoh
Arena this weekend. "The fans are coming with us everywhere we go. It is
very important. We have the help from them and it really helps us when
things are not so good in matches. After the game when we have won it is
great to thank them."
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Coventry v West Ham
Page last updated at 12:57 GMT, Friday, 18 November 2011
BBC.co.uk
Npower Championship
Venue: Ricoh Arena Date: Saturday, 19 November Kick-off: 1500 GMT Coverage:
Watch highlights on The Football League Show; listen on BBC Radio 5 live and
BBC local radio; text commentary on the BBC Sport website
TEAM NEWS
James McPake, Richard Wood, Chris Hussey and Martin Cranie could all return
for Coventry, while Gael Bigirimana has completed a ban. But striker Roy
O'Donovan (foot) is out and midfielder David Bell faces a fitness test.
West Ham duo Joey O'Brien and Guy Demel are available after recovering from
hamstring problem, while Matt Taylor (calf) also hopes to be passed fit. But
Winston Reid (shoulder) and winger Gary O'Neil (ankle) remain sidelined.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• West Ham hold a 42-26 lead over Coventry from 92 competitive
meetings, but in league games on Coventry turf, they are all-square at 14
wins a piece, with 15 drawn.
• This is their first league meeting in seven seasons.
• Coventry have won only two of the last eight home league meetings
with the Hammers. During that time, they lost 3-0 in September 2000 when
this was a Premier League fixture.
Coventry City
• Derby and Nottingham Forest are the only clubs Coventry have beaten
in the Championship this season (both at home), and just goal difference is
keeping them off the foot of the table.
• Andy Thorn, who will have been at the helm 250 days when this game
is staged, has overseen the Sky Blues' worst start to a league season in 11
years.
• They are on the longest current winless sequence in the division of
five games (two points out of 15), and have the joint weakest attack in the
Football League, with 13 goals netted in 16 outings.
West Ham United
• West Ham are unbeaten in four, and have claimed 10 points of the
last 12 available.
• They head the Championship's "away" table, with five wins and 17
points, losing only to Southampton. (Coventry are bottom, with three
points.)
• They need to score once, to total 2,000 away league goals.
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Coventry City v West Ham United - Match Preview
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 18th November 2011
By: Preview Percy
The international break is over, which means Preview Percy is back. Sorry.
John Northcutt will be along later with some sensible stats...
After what seems like a lifetime, but is in fact only a couple of weeks we
are on the road for the second consecutive match as we make the slightly
easier journey up the M1/M6 to the Ricoh Arena where our hosts will be
Coventry City. 3pm on a Saturday two matches running. Excellent.
To those of us who can remember that far back, Coventry have always been the
ultimate in mid-table teams. They spent what seemed like a million years in
the top flight seemingly destined to spend the whole of their existence in
the middle third of the table with only the occasional flirtation with the
lower UEFA Cup places or relegation zone to enliven matters. Their 1987 FA
Cup win over some team based in N17 remains the high spot in their history,
notwithstanding honourable mention for the (in)famous Willie Carr/Ernie Hunt
"donkey" kick goal against Everton – I believe if you look hard enough on
that You Tube thing you should find it – but I can assume no responsibility
for whatever you find when you input the word "donkey".
They were finally relegated in 2001 after 34 years in the top division. The
match that sealed their fate was a 3-2 away defeat to Villa in a match that
they had been leading 2-0. Sound familiar?
Since relegation, in the second tier they have largely replicated their top
tier form, flirting with both the play-off and relegation places. It is in
the latter situation that they find themselves this season, sitting as they
are one off the bottom. They have 12 points from their 16 matches so far
this season, a record they share with bottom club Doncaster who they sit
above by virtue of a slightly better goal difference.
Of their last six they've won one (1-0 at home to Forest), drawn two (1-1 at
both Leeds and Doncaster) and lost 3 (2-1 at home to Burnley, 3-0 at
Millwall and 4-2 at home to Southampton). At home they have a 2-3-3 record
the other home win coming against Derby in September (2-0). The draws have
come against Watford (0-0), Reading (1-1) and Blackpool (2-2) whilst
Leicester (1-0), Burnley (2-1) and Southampton (4-2) have all gone back home
with three points.
The Sky Blues are currently managed by Andy Thorn, who won a Cup Winners
medal as part of the Wimbledon side that defeated a bleating Liverpool side
in 1988. His managerial CV isn't the lengthiest of documents, consisting as
it does of a spell as chief scout at Coventry, followed by a spell as
caretaker manager at Coventry followed by his being given the role proper at
Coventry the end of last season. Such is the nature of the game at the
moment it seems like managers are being dismissed for going in 1-0 down at
the interval and given that the odds on his dismissal have been shortening
with each defeat despite his having only been in the job for 6 months or so.
Some of the natives are less than happy with the current ownership and there
have been protests at the SISU group, who took over back in 2007. There have
been reports that the club has employed a "Rapid Response Team" to go in and
remove anti-SISU banners, some reports suggesting that the "snatch squad"
has used less than subtle tactics during protests.
Even as I write news reaches me that director Leonard Brody has just
resigned citing the time taken up by his other business interests as the
reason for his departure. However, with his resignation came the news that
he had put forward a proposal for City fans to be able to send in a (no
doubt premium rate) text message to vote for substitutions during the match,
an idea so bonkers one is amazed it didn't come from a Government Agency.
Meanwhile I suspect that Brody is currently dealing with his "other business
interests" in a nice, calm, padded room with a door that only opens from the
outside and I look forward to reports of opposition blunders being greeted
with chants of "he'll get a text in a minute" from the 6,000+ Hammers that
will be making the journey
The first choice glovesmith at present is Joe Murphy. Dubliner Murphy's
early career was spent a short ferry-hop from his home city over at Tranmere
where he gained a League Cup runners-up medal in the side that lost 2-1 to
Leicester in the 2000 final. In 2002, after 4 years in Birkenhead (which is
some punishment by any standards), Murphy went walkabout, firstly to West
Brom thence to Sunderland. Neither period was particularly successful for
the player, who ended up being farmed out by both clubs to Walsall. He then
signed for Scunthorpe in 2006 where he set roots, playing over 200 times for
the Iron, including the hilarious 2009 League 1 playoff final in which
Millwall were beaten 3-2. Murphy – another Crossbar Challenge winner – left
Glanford Park at the end of last season when Scunthorpe were relegated and
were unable to afford an improved contract and arrived at Coventry on a free
this summer.
In front of Murphy is fellow Irishman the Harlow-born Richard Keogh. Keogh
was ever-present in the league in 2010-11 following his move from Carlisle
in the summer of 2010 and picked up the players' player of the year award
from his teammates.
The skipper is Belfastman Sammy Clingan. Clingan's career includes spells at
Wolves, Forest, Norwich (where he was signed by a certain G Roeder) before
he arrived at Highfield Road (sorry old habits die hard) er, the Ricoh, in
the summer of 2009 for an undisclosed fee. As far as I am aware Clingan is
the first professional footballer to be named after an alien race in Star
Trek. I have, however, been unable to locate evidence of the player having a
walnut-shaped head, which in theory, would make headers a bit interesting.
Out on the left is Gary McSheffrey. McSheffrey has recently penned an
extension to his contract and is in his second spell with the club where he
started his professional career back in 1998. After a few loan spells he
left for Birmingham in 2006 but his later years there were plagued by a
persistent knee injury that also thwarted a loan spell at Forest. Out of
favour at Birmingham, McSheffrey spent the second half of 2009/10 on loan at
Leeds and was told that he could leave St Andrews on a free at the end of
the season. For some reason Leeds didn't take up their option to purchase –
something that appears to have irked the player - and he rejoined his
hometown club in the summer of 2010. Of the 90 or so goals that he has to
his name in the last 14 years or so over 60 of them have come while playing
for the Sky Blues which probably means something highly significant. His
current hobbies involve chauffeuring his brother about following a driving
ban for being twice over the limit and in possession of Class A substances
but I have no idea who his favourite X-Factor judge is.
Up front against Southampton they started with Southampton-born Lukas
Jutkiewicz. Look I only get a bag of Werthers Originals for writing this.
Pronunciation is therefore your own problem ok? LJ (as he is now known here)
actually started his career at St Marys in the youth side but failed to make
the transition to the professional ranks. For that he headed up to Swindon.
Five league goals in 38 league starts for the Wiltshire mob was enough to
persuade Everton that there might be a future for the player in the higher
leagues, though in his three years with the Toffeemen he was limited to just
the one senior appearance. Most of his time with Everton was spent on loan
with Huddersfield and Plymouth, scoring for neither. He had a slightly more
successful time of it up at Motherwell, scoring 12 in 33 up there including
a" Van Basten-like "effort in a 6-6 draw with Hibs. He joined Coventry on a
permanent deal in the summer of 2010 and has hit 12 in 58 league matches
since his move back from the third world. His goal against Boro' back in
August prompted the Teesiders to put in a cheeky bid for the player at the
end of the last window, a bid that was rejected out of hand. Internationally
he qualifies for Poland, Ireland (doesn't everyone?) and England though he
is uncapped by any of the three countries. My money would be on the Poles –
but only because they're the ones most likely to get his name right on the
call-up letter.
One player we are most unlikely to see this weekend is former Hammers
academy striker Freddy Eastwood. The forward has been followed by murmurings
of an "attitude problem" throughout his career going back even as far as his
days working under Tony Carr. This didn't stop him turning out in Carr's
testimonial last year though. He appears to be well out of favour at
Coventry at the moment and the Sky Blues have been trying to offload him on
loan, with the player recently turning down a move to Plymouth. He is the
only player I can think of with a conviction for fly-tipping, though I
expect that's just because John Terry hasn't been caught yet. (Legal note:
this is a light-hearted comment which is in no way meant to suggest that
John Terry is involved in fly-tipping. After all where would the drug dealer
and shoplifter's son find the time what with all the women, gambling and
alleged racism going on).
So we move on from an ex-Hammer on to the current crop. It's been so long
since we last took the field I can barely remember who is fit and who isn't.
Reid will be out for a little while yet but the International break has done
us a few favours for once. It was thought that Taylor – who has been
much-missed in my opinion – might have been available. However the work
experience kid who they employ about here to vacuum the cat tells me that
David Gold has tweeted to the contrary, whatever that means. I think it's
something to do with the wireless. There are however rumours that some chap
called Demel might be available for selection with him having come through
half a Development Squad friendly the other day with no obvious ill-effects.
Rob Hall won't be around – having returned from Oxford to see just how
comfortable Championship benches are he's gone back up the M40 to start
another loan spell. Christian Montano has also gone in and out through the
revolving door without pausing to pick up his mail having returned a week
early from Swindon having mysteriously managed to upset Paolo DiCanio.
Perhaps he didn't fancy a trip up North or something. Montano has been
placed a little closer to home where he will spend a month or so with
Dagenham & Redbridge.
The last outing saw us get a rather clinical three points at Hull what with
us making the best of the chances we created and our opponents limiting
themselves by and large to long-range efforts to give Rob Green tipping over
the bar practice. When they did actually create something from close
quarters they found Green in similarly miserly mood, his first half one-on
one save which allowed Faye to mop up probably being the opponents best
chance of the match.
This is one of those matches for which I think we should be looking at a
genuine 4-4-2. I realise that Mr Allardyce likes to keep a close rein on
things on the road as we did at Hull. However Hull are (or at least were)
challenging for a play-off spot having suffered just the one defeat since
August. Coventry are not in such a position. The crowd are restless with the
owners and one detects an atmosphere of worry about the place if interweb
chatter is anything to go by. Which, of course it might not be. Southampton
didn't go there thinking that they should shut up shop and neither should
we. An early goal would see heads go down so I'll plump for a 2-0 win.
Anyone off to the bookies should remember my predictions carry all the
accuracy of a Government inflation forecast and therefore are probably best
used as a guideline as to what should be ignored!
Enjoy the game!
When Last We Met: Our last visit to the Ricoh Arena was in 2007 for a League
Cup 4th round tie. An own goal from a deflected Boa-Morte shot cancelled out
Tabb's opener for the home side before Carlton Cole's 93rd minute effort
sent us through. Before that in the 2004/05 promotion year we went down 2-1
at their place winning the return 3-0.
Referee: Keith Stroud – ex-premiership ref whose face doesn't fit at PGMO
HQ. Recently the subject of controversy at Peterborough following their 3-2
home defeat to Leeds which saw the Posh chairman demand the return from the
FA of an earlier £2,000 fine for criticising officials. Last seen by us
handling the dreadful 1-0 home defeat to Ipswich – we managed to lose that
one all by ourselves.
Danger Man: Lukas Jutkiewicz – their top scorer with 6 this term. Nobody
else has more than 1. Also worth 35 points before bonuses at Scrabble.
Daft fact of the week: Coventry's badge contains a depiction of an elephant
which, despite Warwickshire not being noted as the natural habitat of such
pachyderms, forms part of the City coat of arms.
There are numerous theories for this, mostly involving the word "strength".
However, it is a little-known fact that the animal is in fact a reference to
Mickey Quinn whose somewhat portly figure was to be found straining into a
Coventry shirt back in the 1990's. These days he earns a living training
racehorses, the less successful of which he probably eats. Whole.
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Coventry v West Ham preview
Last updated: 18th November 2011
SSN
Team news ahead of Coventry's Championship clash with West Ham at The Ricoh
Arena on Saturday. Coventry hope to welcome back as many as five players.
Defenders James McPake, Richard Wood,Chris Hussey and Martin Cranie all
stand a strong chance of being in contention while young midfielder Gael
Bigirimana is available once again having completed his three-match
suspension. McPake hobbled off in City's last match before the international
break, a 4-2 home defeat to Southampton, but was given the all-clear to
return to training while Wood (calf) was withdrawn on the morning on the
clash but appears to have recovered. Full-back Hussey (foot) has missed the
last two games while Cranie (ribs) hopes to return after seven weeks out,
although a place in manager Andy Thorn's starting XI so soon could be
unlikely for the former Portsmouth man. Coventry do have some injury
problems, however, with striker Roy O'Donovan nursing a broken foot while
midfielder David Bell will be assessed having sustained a knock in training.
Joey O'Brien and Guy Demel will boost West Ham's injury-hit squad. O'Brien
missed the 2-0 win at Hull a fortnight ago with a hamstring injury but was
able to resume training this week. Fellow full-back Demel is finally pushing
to make his debut having been struggling with a hamstring problem since
joining from Hamburg in August. The Ivory Coast international has played in
two reserve matches over the past couple of weeks to prove his fitness.
Midfielder Matt Taylor is also close to returning from a calf injury and
will be checked over. But the Hammers are still without defender Winston
Reid (shoulder), winger Gary O'Neil (ankle) and on-loan midfield duo Henri
Lansbury and David Bentley (both knee).
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Ex-Madrid defender Pavon turns down short-term deal at West Ham
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 11:02 PM on 18th November 2011
Daily Mail
Former Real Madrid defender Francisco Pavon has rejected an offer from West
Ham. The 31-year-old centre back has been training with Sam Allardyce's
squad as they look to find a solution to their defensive crisis. The
Spaniard impressed, but lack of game time meant West Ham were reluctant to
offer him more than a deal up to January. Pavon is a free agent after
leaving French club Arles-Avignon in the summer. Allardyce said:
'Ability-wise, Franco would certainly be capable but physically, because he
hasn't had a club for a while, that fitness is way down.'
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