WHUFC.com
All the background information and team news ahead of Saturday's visit of
the Clarets
02.12.2011
WEST HAM UNITED v BURNLEY
npower CHAMPIONSHIP
SATURDAY 3 DECEMBER 2011
KICK-OFF: 3PM
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
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Introduction
• West Ham United entertain Burnley in their 20th npower Championship
fixture of 2011/12 seeking their sixth home league victory of the season in
ten attempts. The Hammers have previously beaten Portsmouth (4-3),
Peterborough United (1-0), Blackpool (4-0), Leicester City (3-2) and Derby
County (3-1), drawn with Leeds United (2-2) and Bristol City (0-0) and lost
to Cardiff City and Ipswich Town (both 0-1).
• Saturday's match sponsors are England Environmental Services and Southern
Asbestos Services.
• West Ham United are seeking to record a fifth straight league win for the
first time since doing so in January and February 2006. The Hammers are on
an unbeaten run of seven league matches, having won six and drawn one of
those games. Sam Allardyce's side sit second in the npower Championship
table, two points behind leaders Southampton and six points ahead of
third-place Cardiff City.
• The Hammers have the best defensive record in the npower Championship,
having conceded just 15 goals in 19 league matches.
• West Ham United's 35 league goals have been shared between 14 different
players. Carlton Cole leads the way with seven, while Sam Baldock and Kevin
Nolan have each netted five times.
• Both of West Ham United's home defeats have come by way of goals in the
89th minute or later. Kenny Miller netted for Cardiff City on the opening
weekend of the season, while Lee Bowyer scored for Ipswich Town last time
out. Ross McCormack also secured a point for Leeds United with a last-minute
strike on 21 August.
• Sam Allardyce has lost just one of ten meetings with Burnley as manager of
Blackpool (two wins), Notts County (three draws and one defeat), Bolton
Wanderers (one win and one draw) and Blackburn Rovers (two wins).
• West Ham United have scored five goals in each of their previous two home
matches against Burnley - a 5-1 FA Cup fifth-round win on 21 February this
year preceded by a 5-3 Premier League success on 28 November 2009.
• Burnley arrive at the Boleyn Ground having won their previous two npower
Championship fixtures. The Clarets came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Hull
City last Saturday before recording a 4-0 home victory over Ipswich Town on
Tuesday evening.
• Burnley's recent improvement sees them rise to 14th in the table on 24
points - five adrift of Leicester City in the final Play-Off place.
Team news
West Ham United
• West Ham United have no fresh injury concerns ahead of Saturday's game,
while striker John Carew will hope to return after missing Tuesday's win at
Middlesbrough. Jack Collison and Joey O'Brien will be pushing for a starting
place after being named on the substitutes' bench at the Riverside Stadium.
• Sam Baldock (hamstring), Winston Reid (dislocated shoulder), Gary O'Neil
(knee), Henri Lansbury (knee), Ruud Boffin (finger) and David Bentley (knee)
are definitely out.
• 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.
Burnley
• Strikers Charlie Austin, Martin Paterson and Danny Ings are all out
injured and will not feature in Saturday's game.
• Scotland winger Ross Wallace is available again after missing Tuesday's
4-0 home win over Ipswich Town through suspension.
• Winger Junior Stanislas and striker Zavon Hines will both hope to face
their former club. The Academy graduates joined Burnley from West Ham United
in August 2011.
• Defenders Clarke Carlisle (Preston North End), Richard Eckersley (Toronto
FC), Leon Cort (Charlton Athletic), Kevin Long (Accrington Stanley),
midfielders Joe McKee (St Mirren) and David Lynch (Droylsden) and forward
Wes Fletcher (Crewe Alexandra) are all out on loan.
Last time out
Tuesday 29 November 2011
npower Championship
Middlesbrough 0-2 West Ham United
West Ham United: Green, McCartney, Tomkins, Faye, Faubert, Demel (O'Brien
79), Nolan, Taylor, Noble, Diop, Piquionne (Cole 68)
Subs not used: Stech, Collison, Sears
Goals: Piquionne 9, Cole 90
Tuesday 29 November 2011
npower Championship
Burnley 4-0 Ipswich Town
Burnley: Grant, Trippier, Duff, Edgar, Mee, McCann, Stanislas, Bartley
(Marney 50), Treacy, Rodriguez (MacDonald 82), Vokes (Hines 80)
Subs not used: Stewart, Easton
Goals: Vokes 33, McCann 45, 66, Rodriguez 77
Last six meetings
21 February 2011 West Ham United 5-1 Burnley (FA Cup fifth round)
6 February 2010 Burnley 2-1 West Ham United (Premier League)
28 November 2009 West Ham United 5-3 Burnley (Premier League)
5 April 2005 Burnley 0-1 West Ham United (Championship)
28 August 2004 West Ham United 1-0 Burnley (Championship)
2 March 2004 Burnley 1-1 West Ham United (Division One)
Overall record v Burnley (all competitions) W 31 D 16 L 30
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
Burnley
2010/11 Championship 8th
2009/10 Premier League 18th (relegated to Championship)
2008/09 Championship 5th (promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)
2007/08 Championship 13th
2006/07 Championship 15th
2005/06 Championship 17th
2004/05 Championship 13th
2003/04 Division One 19th
2002/03 Division One 16th
2001/02 Division One 7th
Referee
• Saturday's referee will be Fred Graham.
• After his playing career was cut short by injury in 1988, Graham took up
refereeing.
• He made his debut as a Football League referee on the opening day of the
2004/05 season when he was the man in the middle for Notts County's 1-1
League Two draw with Chester City at Meadow Lane.
• The highlight of Graham's career was taking charge of the npower League
One Play-Off final between Millwall and Swindon Town at Wembley in May 2010.
• This season, Graham has been busy, refereeing matches in all three
divisions of the Football League, as well as the FA Cup and Carling Cup.
• In 15 matches in all competitions, Graham has shown a total of 43 yellow
cards and sent three players off. He has also awarded three penalties.
• However, throughout his seven-year career as a Football League referee, he
has never taken charge of a fixture involving either West Ham United or
Burnley.
• Graham will be assisted by Neil Hair and John Hopkins, while the fourth
official will be Ashley Slaughter.
Us and them
• The following players have worn the colours of both West Ham United and
Burnley during their careers - Reg Attwell, Frank Birchenough, Alan Brown,
Herman Conway, Joe Gallagher, Zavon Hines, William Jenkinson, F.Kippax,
Tyrone Mears, Walter Pollard, Junior Stanislas and Jack Tresadern.
• John Bond, who was part of the West Ham United side that won the FA Cup in
1964, was appointed as Burnley manager in July 1983 and spent 13 months in
charge at Turf Moor.
• The first-ever meeting between West Ham United and Burnley took place at
Turf Moor on 17 November 1923, when the Clarets ran out 5-1 winners in
Division One. That clash also saw the smallest-ever crowd to witness a match
between the two clubs - an estimated 5,000.
• West Ham United have enjoyed an excellent run of form against the Clarets,
with nine wins and two draws from their last 12 meetings.
• Burnley have not won at the Boleyn Ground on any of their previous nine
visits. The Clarets' most recent win in east London came in the shape of a
1-0 victory on 6 October 1973.
• West Ham United were 3-2 quarter-final winners against the Clarets on
route to winning the FA Cup in 1963/64. That fixture was also watched by the
largest-ever crowd to witness a match between the two clubs - 36,651.
• Goalkeeper Frank Birchenough made just one appearance for West Ham United
- a 2-1 Division Two defeat at Nottingham Forest in April 1920 - before
joining Burnley later the same year. Crewe-born Birchenough would make only
two first-team appearances for the Clarets.
• Chile attacker Luis Jimenez scored his only goal in West Ham United
colours from the penalty spot in the aforementioned 5-3 home victory in
November 2009.
• West Ham United's largest home victory over Burnley is the 5-0 Division
One success achieved on 26 August 1968. Future Knights Trevor Brooking and
Geoff Hurst each scored twice, while Martin Peters was also on target in a
game that saw the Hammers go top of the table in front of 28,430 supporters.
• Burnley's biggest win at the Boleyn Ground came on 31 May 1947, when the
Clarets triumphed 5-0 in Division Two in front of a 30,000-strong crowd.
Up next
• West Ham United travel to Reading for a 3pm kick-off on Saturday 10
December. Burnley host Portsmouth at the same time.
General information
• Saturday's weather forecast is for sunny intervals with a maximum daytime
temperature of 10C (50F).
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Family Guy
WHUFC.com
The Hammers newest debutant is right at home among his new friends at the
Boleyn Ground
02.12.2011
Guy Demel is relishing finally being a playing part of the West Ham United
squad. The 30-year-old is hoping to taste the Boleyn Ground atmosphere for
the first time as a West Ham United player when Burnley arrive on Saturday.
He was able to adapt quickly on his first Hammers outing in the 2-0 win at
Middlesbrough on Tuesday because of the way he has been welcomed into the
fold. He was one of five native French speakers in the starting lineup at
the Riverside but he said the squad was united beyond nationality. "I have a
lot of friends," the right-back told West Ham TV. "The captain is great, and
Mark Noble and Matty Taylor have been very supportive. "It is really
important to feel the whole team behind you. They have your back. It was a
good for me to feel the help of the team and I know I can do so much better.
The first game went well but I just want to play more and give something
back."
Having had a watching brief since his deadline-day arrival because of
hamstring problems, Demel said he was pleased with how he performed.
Naturally, he is hoping to keep his place for the big Boleyn date this
weekend "I am very pleased. My last game was six months ago so I am really
happy to get the chance to play. It was a lot of frustration before but I am
really happy and I am looking forward to playing at the weekend. I want to
get better and help the team in every game."
Demel has actually been waiting a lot longer since the summer for his first
taste of English football as he was a teenage prodigy at Arsenal before his
hugely successful decade in the Bundesliga. "This is a new challenge. That
is why I signed for West Ham to play in the Championship and I am looking
forward to being promoted. That would be something amazing. "I have never
played here even if I signed my first professional contract with Arsenal. I
am really happy to be here now and want to do good."
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Big Sam on Burnley
WHUFC.com
The chance to record a fifth straight victory is looming large for the
Hammers this weekend
02.12.2011
Sam Allardyce is determined his squad will give everything on Saturday in
order to keep their winning run going. Burnley are the visitors to the
Boleyn Ground and stand in the way of a fifth straight victory and eighth
match unbeaten. A fifth win would be the first time the club has achieved
such a feat since February 2006.
The manager was keen to emphasise in his pre-match briefing that his men
deserve recognition for coping with a constantly changing squad and the
demands of a division where teams aim to stifle the Hammers from kick-off to
final whistle.
How is the squad looking?
SA: It is pretty thin on the numbers but obviously in terms of the quality
we have been delivering it has been fantastic. We are expecting John Carew
to be back fit after missing the Middlesbrough trip. The quality of the
players involved in our recent matches has produced a satisfying period of
results. We have six wins out of seven and the challenge is now to carry
that forward. That is the big ask of the players. To come out of the
Southampton defeat [on 18 October] and go on this run is fabulous. Things
are moving very nicely. It has been very tough in terms of my position, not
once have I been able to pick the same eleven that started the previous game
due to niggly and long-term injuries. At this time of the year we face a
tougher task with a small squad because flu starts coming into the equation
and suspension on top of injuries could be something we have to manage
delicately and as best as we possibly can.
Is that the most pleasing thing? You have had to chop and change but are
still getting results.
SA: The subs and the eleven at Middlesbrough were all we had. We had young
Pottsy that travelled with us but that was it. That is the worry, and
because of that this period has been fantastic. We have been able to
overcome all the problems and each player has been able to go out and
produce a performance at a very high level.
Moving into December and the difficulties that brings is going to be a big
test as well. Confidence is very high and that always makes the players feel
that much better. They don't quite feel as tired as they actually are. They
look forward to coming in and to the next game. As tough a game as Burnley
will be, every player will be looking forward to coming in and trying to get
a big week where we can gather nine points in the space of seven days. That
would be a magnificent statement in terms of this Championship and of what
we are as a team and a squad.
The home form has been magnificent but those on the outside have not
recognised the achievement of beating teams like Blackpool, Leicester and
Derby who were all contenders at the start of the season?
SA: People are making conclusions that our home form is not too good because
they look at our away record and it is the best in the league. They revert
back and say we can't be as good at home. No, we are just as good at home
now. The unfortunate thing was the couple of shock results in the last
minute against Cardiff and Ipswich. Then of course still my best performance
of the season was Bristol City but because we didn't win people went home
with the illusion we were poor. That wasn't the case. We just didn't finish
the opposition off because we missed our changes. That is the problem, you
can be as creative as you want but if you don't put the ball in the net the
game is unforgiving. Since then and before even, we have managed to make
sure when chances have been created we had the quality to finish them off.
We are making a bigger statement every time we win a match. That is good for
the confidence of the team and makes the opposition wary. That is important
psychologically.
Burnley may come and want to play football judging by their recent form.
That bodes well for us?
SA: If you give us the space and time we will play better than anyone else
in this division, but teams are not daft enough to do that. Blackpool
thought they could attack us and we went and scored four and it could havve
been five or six. If we get the space, we exploit it. Most come here and
tighten it up and make life difficult. At the end of the day we have to make
sure that when teams defend well, that we are capable of breaking them down.
If they do attack, particularly here, generally we will be much better than
them in terms of creativity. It still doesn't mean you are going to win the
game because you have to have the quality to finish it off but we look
forward to anyone that wants to come here and attack us.
Are you thinking about club records? Three wins out of the next three would
surpass the 1990/91 season team's form after 22 matches.
SA: That is incentives for us and the staff, not the players. We talk about
it more ourselves than we talk to the players. The players need to focus on
the next game and only that. You often see below-par performances when
players have their mind on something other than the next game ahead. For us
it is all about how do we beat Burnley? How do we make sure we win and then
move on from there? If we do manage to achieve something then we will tell
them and use it to help them to go on from there and achieve something else.
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Arsenal edge Academy derby
WHUFC.com
The FA Youth Cup tie is looming large for the young Hammers after a narrow
defeat at London Colney
03.12.2011
West Ham United U18s 0-1 Arsenal U18s
A solitary strike ten minutes from time dashed the Hammers' hopes of
maintaining their winning run on Friday. Chuba Akpom scored the only goal
after coming off the bench with Tony Carr's team using the match as
preparation for Wednesday night's big FA Youth Cup tie away to Wolverhampton
Wanderers. Danny Potts returned to the Academy set-up and could feature
again in midweek, while Robert Hall is also an option for the Wolves date as
he can be temporary recalled for the cup tie from his loan at Oxford United.
West Ham United: Cowler, Young, Potts, Miles, K Lee, Chambers, Turgott,
Powell, E Lee, Sadlier, Fanimo
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West Ham v Burnley
BBC.co.uk
Page last updated at 12:24 GMT, Friday, 2 December 2011
Npower Championship
Venue: Upton Park Date: Saturday 3 December Kick-off: 1500 BST 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
John Carew should return for West Ham against Burnley, after missing the
midweek win at Middlesbrough to rest a knee injury. However Sam Baldock
faces three weeks out with a hamstring problem.
Marvin Bartley faces a late fitness test for the Clarets after he was
substituted against Ipswich on Tuesday, suffering from a tight calf. Ross
Wallace will return from a one-match suspension, but Charlie Austin and
Martin Paterson are still out.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• West Ham have won 31 and lost 30 of 77 competitive meetings with
Burnley, but in the league, the Clarets hold a 30 wins to 26 advantage, with
16 ending level.
• The Hammers have scored five goals in each of their last two home
meetings with Burnley; 5-1 in the fifth round of the FA Cup last February,
and 5-3 in the Premier League in November 2009.
• Burnley have won one of their last nine league clashes with the
Hammers, and their 1-0 top-flight triumph in October 1973 was their only
maximum in 21 visits to Upton Park (all comps).
West Ham United
• Second placed West Ham, two points off the pace, are top of the
Championship's "form" table and bidding for a fifth successive league win.
• Victory would not only give the Hammers their longest winning league
sequence since February 2006, it would also take their tally of points
accrued at Upton Park to 20 and equal the total gained at home in the whole
of last season.
• Sam Allardyce is managing the meanest defence in the Championship,
with 15 goals shipped in 19 games, which includes nine clean sheets.
Burnley
• Burnley have scored a total of seven goals in winning their last
two, and are endeavouring to complete three successive league victories for
the first time since April.
• They have only managed two clean sheets in this league campaign, but
went on to win both matches, including the 4-0 midweek crushing of Ipswich.
• At 34 years of age, Eddie Howe is the youngest manager in the
Championship. In 57 year old Sam Allardyce, Howe is facing the oldest in the
division.
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Hammers transfer conduct praised
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 2nd December 2011
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have signed Boreham Wood youngster Pelly Ruddock on a
two-and-a-half year contract. 17-year-old Ruddock, who had spent time on
trial at Chadwell Heath in recent weeks turned down interest from elsewhere
to put pen to paper on the deal. According to his former Chairman at
Boreham, Danny Hunter, Ruddock chose West Ham having been impressed by the
manner in which the club conducted their business. "They were impeccable to
deal with," Hunter told borehamwoodfootballclub.co.uk He was also
particularly impressed with Academy Director Tony Carr. "[He's] a sincere
football man and when you consider what he's achieved in the game, to then
spend a lot of time with me to ensure the detail worked for all parties in
terms of Pelly's lodgings, education, finances and other smaller details
meant a great deal to me," added Hunter.
Carr meanwhile declared himself delighted to have landed the promnsing
youngster. "We are pleased to have signed Pelly," he said. "We see a young
player with great potential and hope with further training and coaching, we
can produce a player ready to play for our first team in the not too distant
future."
Ruddock - who plays primarily in midfield - was also delighted at landing
his dream move. "I'm so happy to have signed for West Ham," he said. "When I
was told that West Ham were interested in signing me I asked the Chairman to
turn down any offers for me to trial with other clubs, because I knew where
I wanted to be.
"I'm really looking forward to training everyday and pushing myself to be
the best I can. Everyone at West Ham and Boreham Wood have been fantastic
and now I can't wait to put a Hammers shirt on".
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West Ham United v Burnley
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 2nd December 2011
By: Preview Percy
With three matches in a week it's not just the players who have been a bit
busy. Preview Percy has been slaving over a hot something or other to give
us his view on this weekend's match against Burnley. On the bright side, at
this time of year if we keep him occupied at least he won't be shouting at
carol singers. Meanwhile, John Northcutt takes a look at some of the history
between the clubs.....
And so homeward bound we trek where we next encounter Burnley for a 3pm
Saturday kick-off untouched by the greasy hand of television. The District
Line is open, but those coming from the North & West of town might have to
jiggle their routes a bit with the Met, Hammersmith & City & Circle lines
all having engineering works. The H&C won't be serving Upton Park this
weekend.
I was somewhat surprised when I looked at some of the recent stats for our
visitors this weekend. They've won their last two which seems to suggest
some kind of form. However, I was quite surprised to see them in 14th spot
with 24 points from their 19 matches thus far. That's five points behind
Leicester who currently occupy the last of the play-off positions. A quick
look at the current form guide gives the game away. Before the recent wins
at home to Ipswich (4-0) and away at Hull (3-2) they had lost their previous
four, going down 2-1 away at Birmingham and at home to Leeds, and 3-1 at
Bristol City and at home to Leicester. All of which proves that I ought to
pay more attention.
The boss is Eddie Howe for whom this is a second managerial role having
toughed it out for three years at Bournemouth where his budget consisted of
whatever he could find amongst the fluff and stuff down the back of the
sofa. At least it was until they had their sofa repossessed. Howe's been in
the Turf Moor hot seat since January and still looks young enough to play –
though the knee injury four years ago that did for his Bournemouth playing
career would probably have something to say on that matter. In fact as he
has himself wryly commented, he is in fact older than some of the players
under his charge.
One of those elder statesmen is Danish 'keeper Brian "Beast" Jensen who has
found that, despite his youthful appearance, Howe is not one to be easily
swayed by pressure from his senior pros. Jensen found himself out of favour
under Howe's predecessor Brian Laws and put in a transfer request last
Christmas. Any thoughts that he might be in pole position for the 'keeper's
role under the new boss soon evaporated and he has only a handful of starts
to his name this term.
The spot between the posts is usually occupied these days by Lee Grant, who
arrived to join his old Sheffield Wednesday boss Brian Laws at Turf Moor in
the 2010 close season. Grant was heavily tipped for full international
honours but a look at his career seems to suggest that he has been unlucky
with injuries, those usually happening just as a younger understudy comes
into his own. Also, although capped at the various age levels up to U21
level his international ambitions won't have been over-enhanced by the fact
that the bulk of his career has been spent outside the top flight. Still he
can console himself with the knowledge that no other 'keeper has ever won a
Best Supporting Actress Oscar for their role as Felicia Carp in the 1975
Warren Beatty vehicle "Shampoo".
In defence they have Man City kid Kieran Trippier. The young right back is
in on a season-long loan from the oil billionaires, having spent last season
at Barnsley for whom he proved a bit of a danger from dead ball situations,
though he has yet to open his Burnley account. Trippier has an FA Youth Cup
winner's medal from 2007/08 and is an England U21 cap, though he has yet to
make a first team appearance for the Citizens.
Also in defence is Canadian David Edgar. Though born in Kitchener, Ontario,
he is a product of the Newcastle youth system, having made the transatlantic
trip to Hebburn upon Tyne at the age of 14 to live with his Gran. He stayed
with Newcastle until the end of the 2008/09 season in which the Geordies got
relegated, capping a rotten time by getting sent off in the last minute of
the last game of the season. He rejected a contract offer of tuppence and
all the free plimsolls he could carry from the Magpies to join Burnley in
July 2009 for a tribunal-avoiding fee of £300,000. He's picked up his first
full international caps for Canada this season and his two goals in the 3-2
victory at Hull were instrumental in the Clarets' comeback from a 2-0
deficit.
The skipper is Dubliner Chris McCann. The midfielder blotted his
international copybook at a very early age by crying off from an ROI U21
squad on the grounds that he thought that there was "no point" to his being
there. This cheesed off U21 boss Don Givens, whose response to being asked
whether or not he would pick the player again was pretty scathing: "Would
You?" Relations between the player and the ROI authorities are said to have
thawed out a bit since then, possibly prompted by the player noting the
progress the senior side made in qualifying for Euro 2012. However, to date
a solitary U19 cap is the sum total of his international recognition to
date.
Former Bournemouth player Marvin Bartley has, in the past , divided opinion
– or so a casual gander at one or two of their forums would suggest. However
his form in recent months has been such that at least one supporters'
website gave him their player of the month award for both September and
October. When I last looked at Burnley there seemed to be some sort of
competition going on to come up with the most bizarre "urban myth" about
Bartley, some notable entries suggesting that he owed his Bournemouth career
to having discovered Harry Redknapp in a compromising position and that he
once knocked out Lennox Lewis. Prior to his joining Bournemouth (whatever
the circumstances) Bartley played for Hampton & Richmond Borough under the
managership of Alan Devonshire.
Talking of ex-Hammers, there are, of course, a couple in the visiting squad.
Zavon Hines was the first to go, leaving for a reported £250,000. Never the
most prolific of goalscorers at the Boleyn his progress was hampered by a
serious knee injury that saw him miss the better part of a year. Mind you he
picked a decent game to make his return in, coming back as he did in the 4-0
demolition of Man Utd. Come the summer and it was said that he was about as
impressed with the club's contract offer as the manager was with his showing
in training. He hasn't actually started for the Clarets in the league as
yet, his ten appearances thus far all coming from the bench.
The other ex-Hammer in the squad is Junior Stanislas. Felix (as his passport
says he should be known – bet he keeps that quiet up there) made his last
appearance in the real claret & blue scoring in the 2-1 defeat to Aldershot
Town in the League Cup. He is also (in)famous for having scored a brace in
the 3-1 win over Millwall, attracting criticism from some parts for the
nature of his goal celebrations which appeared enough to over-excite the
shared brain cell amongst the visiting support that evening. Stanislas has
featured more regularly in the starting line up than Hines, making 12
starts.
Up front they recently signed Wolves' Welsh international Sam Vokes on loan
until mid-January. Vokes was on target in the 4-0 win over Ipswich in
midweek. Vokes came in as a replacement for top (league) scorer Charlie
Austin who will miss this one having dislocated a shoulder in the defeat to
Leeds.
The other principal goalscorer this season has been Jay Rodriguez. His Dad
is a former Claret having played in the 80's after a spell with Deportivo La
Corunna. Rodriguez somehow preferred Lancashire to La Corunna, marrying a
good northern lass in the process. Rodriguez junior is currently the club's
top scorer taking both league and cups into account having netted eleven
times in total, of which six have come in the league. He netted the fourth
the other night against Ipswich.
Our turn now. Injury news is that, as suspected, Little Sam's hamstring will
keep him out until after the festive season. However, John Carew's knee
seems to be ok again and on the right we have a nice little trio available
in the form of O'Brien, Demel and Faubert. Although Demel was clearly
feeling his way into the subtleties (or otherwise) of English Championship
football up at the Riverside on Tuesday my spies inform me that there was
certainly the early signs of a potentially nice partnership with Faubert on
that side of the pitch.
Otherwise on the injury front it's largely a matter of rounding up the usual
suspects to go see matron.
Our form of late, though occasionally patchy in places seems to have been on
a steadily upward curve and the Boro' game apparently showed us at our most
clinical. Most observers commented that the game was effectively won in the
first 20 minutes. That's something that we need to continue doing (warning –
deliberately mixed metaphor follows) – once we have gone for the jugular we
need to keep our foot on the pedal and not let opponents off the hook.
The last two occasions we have met this opposition we have put five past
them. Their recent revival makes a third nap hand most unlikely. However, if
they come and try to play and we are not having one of those off days to
which a tired and stretched squad might be entitled during its third match
in five minutes, this should still be a winnable fixture.
As for a prediction, well after my Nostrodamus impersonation for the Derby
game I returned to usual form for Boro' so I can sleep safely in the
knowledge that I haven't suddenly gone all accurate. I think we'll win and I
think it may be close. 2-1 to us then as we maintain (or even increase) that
nice little gap opening up twixt us and third place.
Enjoy the game!
When last we met: Back in February we won 5-1 in the Cup under the lights at
the Boleyn. A 30-yarder from Hitzlsperger, two goals from Carlton Cole – one
screamer one comedy effort and a header from Winston Reid put us 4-0 up. Jay
Rodriguez netted for the visitors following a Wayne Bridge brainstorm.
Reid's goal-line clearance at 4-1 (which involved clever use of both
crossbar and post) reminded us of the previous year's 5-3 victory in which a
5-0 lead suddenly looked rather precarious. However Freddie Sears' late
effort was enough to settle the nerves and put us through to the next round,
much to the disappointment, no doubt, of ESPN who had picked the "Struggling
Premier League v Championship" tie for the telly in the hope of an upset.
Danger man: Jay Rodriguez Was on hand to poach a goal against us last time
out and, as top scorer, he'll need to have an eye kept on him. Honourable
mention for Junior Stanislas in view of the "law of the ex".
Referee: Fred Graham I am indebted to the good people at the Football League
who, for reasons unknown, replaced Tuesday night's original official with
the loathsome Mike Dean. Not for the replacement itself (any match Dean
takes charge of is one too many) but for having the good grace to keep the
switch quiet until quite late on thus preventing my blood pressure rising to
life-threatening levels. For Graham, who these days operates out of Stanford
Le Hope, this will be the first time he's taken charge of a match involving
us. I can't trace him having taken charge of any Burnley matches either.
This will be his 5th Championship match of the season, most of his other
outings have been in League Two this term.
Daft fact of the week: Burnley often claims to be home to Britain's shortest
river, The River Brun. This is despite it being twice as long as the other
two contenders for the title put together. Unless they measured it the last
time I was up there. Well we'd been in the pub for ages and I was never
going to make it to the ground before the inevitable happened. It is
estimated that a hydroelectric plant installed at the appropriate spot would
have produced enough power to keep both light bulbs in the town lit for
several minutes.
Stat man John: Northcutt's corner
Bad boys: sent off
Ted MacDougall (h) 1973-74
Chris Cohen (h) 2004-05
They Played For Both
Tyrone Mears, Zavon Hines, Junior Stanislas, Luke Chadwick, Reg Atwell,
Frank Birchenough, Herman Conway, Joe Gallagher, Walter Pollard, Ian Wright,
Jack Tresadern,Tommy Hampson, Alan Taylor.
John Bond was the Burnley manager between 1983 and 1984
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West Ham v Burnley preview
Last updated: 2nd December 2011
SSN
Team news ahead of Saturday's Championship clash between West Ham and
Burnley at Upton Park. Sam Baldock is ruled out but John Carewcould return
when the Hammers host Eddie Howe's Clarets. Baldock faces three weeks on the
sidelines with a hamstring problem but fellow striker Carew should be
available after resting a knee injury at Middlesbrough in midweek. Carew
will probably be on the bench with one or both of Frederic Piquionne and
Carlton Cole,the goalscorers in the 2-0 win on Tuesday night, starting up
front. Guy Demel could keep his place at right-back after an encouraging
debut at the Riverside and midfielder Jack Collison is pushing for a return
to the starting line-up. Defender Winston Reid (shoulder), winger Gary
O'Neil (ankle) and on-loan midfielder Henri Lansbury (knee) are still out.
Marvin Bartley faces a late fitness test for Burnley. The midfielder hobbled
off shortly after half-time in the Clarets' emphatic 4-0 win over Ipswich on
Tuesday night, suffering from a tight calf. Ross Wallace is available once
more having served a one-match suspension for that game, but superb wing
displays from Junior Stanislas and Keith Treacy mean the Scotland
international might have to be content with a place on the bench. Charlie
Austin (dislocated shoulder) and Martin Paterson (thigh) are back in
training, but next weekend's game with Portsmouth has been set as the
realistic target for the forward duo. And boss Eddie Howe appears more than
happy to continue with current strike pairing Jay Rodriguez and Sam Vokes at
Upton Park after both were on target against the Tractor Boys. "Sam and
J-Rod to have hit it off straight away, they've formed a good partnership,"
he said. "I thought Sam was excellent (against Ipswich) and I'm pleased he's
got his first goal."
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Karren Brady's football diary
KARREN BRADY - First lady of football
Published: Today
The Sun
Saturday, November 26
THERE'S a delicate balance between treating players as adults or schoolboys
and former England rugby coach Martin Johnson was nowhere near finding it.
Three dossiers were compiled over his team's embarrassing World Cup tour and
a number of comments in them were damaging. I still have some sympathy with
Jonno though. I bet that if all the moans of our footballers after the 2010
World Cup flop were published they'd add up to a paperback. In my
experience, the best managers are eagle-eyed but occasionally turn a blind
eye. I'm often asked if I would write a report on the doomed 2018 World Cup
bid. Now that would make interesting reading and grown men cry.
Sunday, November 27
WHAT a dark, dark day. My husband and I are in shock at the sad loss of Gary
Speed. I never met him but I am told no better man adorned football. The
truth is that being a footballer does not ring-fence you from life's
pressures, we are all vulnerable. Football has lost a true professional who
carried himself with dignity and will be sadly missed. My heart goes out to
his family.
Monday, November 28
FOR all Man City know of the whereabouts of Carlos Tevez, he could be on the
Russian space mission launched at Mars four days ago. I'm told he's actually
sent a sick note from Argentina but this boy moves at speed. AC Milan appear
to be interested in acquiring him, no doubt at a knockdown price, but only
after what they call a rigorous psychological test. I wonder what they would
find in there. I suspect there is more life on Mars. Football crazes works
so fast that by the time the spacecraft lands in 10 months' time, these mind
tests may be as common as knee scans.
Tuesday, November 29
OWNER Tony Fernandes is looking for a new home for QPR — a sensible move.
He's quite right when he says it makes no sense to move away from the club's
fan base. But other than the old BBC centre, it's hard to know exactly where
they could relocate to in their vicinity that has the scale and makes any
kind of financial sense. Chelsea are thinking of a move to Battersea Park.
I'm very interested to see how that develops as my husband owns a piece of
Chelsea's ground. Yes, Flat 1a of Chelsea Village.
Wednesday, November 30
I SUPPOSE I could look at the failure of a single woman to make the
shortlist of 10 for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year contest and say,
like Bob Marley, 'No woman, no cry' — but I do, I really do. I see the
problem. The contenders have to be regularly on television, women's sport is
not regularly on television and, therefore, no women are in the frame. But
hold on. The shortlist came from male-stacked sports staffs on the nation's
newspapers, as well as magazines such as Nuts and Zoo. To give you an idea
of how the latter group think, Nuts run a weekly quiz featuring a woman with
the invitation 'Would You?' I was in it recently and was mortified as 75 per
cent of replies said they would, which only makes me feel worse.
Thursday, December 1
IT takes guts or an acute amount of pig-headedness for an owner to stand by
a manager when the terraces turn against him. That's no criticism of
Sunderland's Ellis Short for sacking Steve Bruce nor of Venky's for sticking
with Steve Kean at Blackburn but rather a statement born of experience. At
Birmingham, we backed Bruce when we went down and at West Ham we chose to
let Avram Grant go. Those calls may have been right or wrong but I believe
they were for the right reasons made after careful consideration. We
believed Bruce was skilled enough to lead us back up, which he did, and
this, frankly, was not what we thought of Grant's abilities.
Friday, December 2
PROOF, if ever it was needed, that the knives are out for Chelsea is
splashed across the page of a newspaper today. A knife was found in the
youth-team dressing rooms. Perhaps it was found next to Ashley Cole's air
gun, I don't know. Honestly, is this 'newsworthy'? Dressing rooms are
nothing compared to the things you will find in a boardroom. The list would
read something like a cross between The Generation Game and an Ann Summers
catalogue. A condom was bad enough but I'm still trying to work out what a
dog lead was doing in the men's toilet?
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