Daily WHUFC News - 6th December 2011

Manager on Monday.
WHUFC.com
Well on track in the push for promotion, Big Sam will focus on the bigger
picture this week
05.12.2011

Standing pitchside after the 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace on a scorching early
October day, Sam Allardyce was asked to assess the first ten games of the
Hammers season. "We have 18 points from the first phase, the first ten
matches. It is two points behind what we wanted but I expect we will make
that up if we continue to grow as we showed today."

Ten games on, and the team have done exactly that to make it 22 from the
second phase of ten games. That leaves the Hammers with 40 overall - just
two points behind leaders Southampton and three ahead of third-place Cardiff
City - and firmly on the 'two points a game' target that almost certainly
means promotion. Naturally Big Sam was therefore striking a positive tone as
he considered again the surprising setback against Burnley on Saturday and a
2-1 defeat that was harsh on the Hammers. Kevin Nolan's superb lofted effort
- his sixth in 20 matches - was cancelled out by Chris McCann and Sam Vokes'
headers against the run of play.
It was a true 'smash and grab' raid that saw the team lose from a winning
position for the first time of what has largely been a superb npower
Championship campaign. "Looking back on the last ten games we have got more
points than we hoped for," Big Sam said. "Everyone has gone home
disappointed of course and frustrated but the overall situation is we are
well on target - 22 points from ten games guarantees you automatic promotion
if you can maintain that form. "The big thing was we could have made it 25,
that then gives you a massive cushion in the next ten-game phase if you
don't quite maintain that form. You don't lose your position in the league
if you have a couple of disappointing results. "But 22 points out of ten
games is a really great achievement considering what we have had to cope
with - all the injuries we have had throughout this period. We have never
been able to select the same team twice."

Matt Taylor limped out with a calf problem that casts doubt over his
inclusion against Reading next Saturday, with Henri Lansbury still not quite
ready to return despite having stepped up his training in recent days.
Winston Reid and Sam Baldock are further away but hopefully back before
Christmas. The manager has four big games before the transfer window opens
and he is expecting to be in the hunt for at least two new faces to bolster
his squad. "It is not too early to be looking," he said. "We hope to get a
couple of players in January. We need them at this time of year. It is not
just injuries, it is suspensions and it is the flu season and we could lose
more players. "We have to hope we don't get too affected but we will get in
the market for a couple of players in January."

Until then the manager will not fret too much about righting the few wrongs
there were at the weekend. "We have to take it on the chin and take what
positives there were out of it. "It was a great effort to try and get the
nine points we wanted out of this week. It is something we can put right. We
know we should have done better. "We have dominated and the opposition have
pinched it. That is what happens in football. "When we wake up on Monday we
will still be disappointed, but it is a fantastic set of results over ten
games and we have to pick ourselves up for game one of the next ten-game
phase at Reading next week."

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Pelly signs
WHUFC.com
The Hammers have signed 17-year-old Pelly Ruddock after a successful trial
with the club
05.12.2011

West Ham United can confirm the signing of 17-year-old midfielder Pelly
Ruddock. The teenager was registered with the Football League on Monday and
will go straight into the development squad as he is ineligible for the FA
Youth Cup tie at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday. Ruddock had attracted
a lot of attention during his rise through the ranks at Boreham Wood. He
said the club's reputation for giving youth a chance was key to his putting
pen to paper. "I am really excited to be here," he told West Ham TV. "I feel
happy inside and I am just hoping for the best for the future. "The club's
commitment to young players did attract me. It is good at West Ham because a
lot of young players have come through and gone on to do good things."

Describing himself as a box to box midfielder, who likes to attack and score
goals, Ruddock said he was keen to work hard and prove himself. He had done
just that in a successful trial period before his move. "I just want to
train and give 100 per cent every time I play." The teenager said he was
determined to keep his feet on the ground despite having been watched by
scouts from several clubs before West Ham's move. "I enjoyed the pressure. I
just carried on playing my game and working hard on the training ground. It
was a good standard I was playing at and I was coming up against some big
men. I just had to put myself about on the pitch."

Ruddock, who hails from west London but will be moving into digs close to
Chadwell Heath, paid tribute to those who have helped him get to this stage
in his career.
"My family have supported me and continued to support me. They have shown me
love and support for the future. My ambition is to get to the first team but
I know I have to work hard."

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O'Brien ready for Reading
WHUFC.com
Joey O'Brien said the team had to focus on making amends as quickly as
possible after the weekend loss
05.12.2011

Joey O'Brien is looking forward to Saturday's trip around the M25 to Reading
as the chance for the Hammers to get back on track. The Hammers have been
superb on the road this term, winning seven of their ten away league matches
- including the previous four. "We're going to Reading definitely trying to
win, but it'll be a tough game because they have some good players going
forward," he told West Ham TV. "Hopefully we can play like we did at
Middlesbrough and take all three points."

He admitted he and his West Ham United team-mates were snot happy with the
manner of Saturday's 2-1 npower Championship defeat by Burnley at the Boleyn
Ground. The Hammers uncharacteristically conceded two goals from set pieces
to allow the Clarets to battle back from a goal down to steal all three
points in east London. The loss was all the more galling when you consider
Sam Allardyce's side out-shot Burnley 15 to six and had ten corners to the
visitors' one. To compound the hosts' frustration, they learned at the final
whistle that a victory would have carried them above leaders Southampton,
who went down to a 1-0 defeat at struggling Doncaster Rovers. "It was
disappointing in the end. I thought we played well in the first half and
they didn't really offer much going forward," said O'Brien.
"The second half we scored and I thought we would keep pushing forward and
get the second goal, but from their first real ball into the box they
scored. Then, their first corner, they got another goal and it was one of
their few chances in the game, so it was disappointing to lose. "I think the
first goal Matty [Taylor] had come off injured and if he wasn't injured the
manager wouldn't have made that decision there and then to replace him when
we were defending a set piece, but he had to come off there and then. That
probably just threw a curve ball at how we set up and the ball came into the
box and their lad got up well and headed it in. "The second goal from the
corner was another good header, but obviously somebody was meant to be
marking him. "The lads were disappointed because the news [about
Southampton's defeat] was broken to us after the game and we'd have been
right up there with them if we'd won. They haven't made any ground on us, so
we have a chance to catch up with them next week. "We played well and we've
played well in the last few games, which is a positive thing. It's three
points dropped and we dropped another couple against Bristol City which are
disappointing because we should have won those games. "I think we should
have won the game against Burnley or, as a minimum come back with a point.
Maybe in trying to go for the win we got a bit anxious and let them in the
back door."

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Big Sam eyes additions
Hammers chief keen to bolster squad
By Pete O'Rourke - Follow me: @skysportspeteo. Last Updated:
December 5, 2011 12:43pm
SSN

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce admits he plans to make a couple of signings in
the January transfer window. Allardyce is scouring the transfer market
looking for reinforcements as he seeks to bolster his squad in the New Year.
The Hammers chief is keen to ensure his squad options are not limited as he
looks to keep their promotion bid on track. "It's not too early to be
looking. We hope to get a couple of players in January," noted Allardyce.
"We need them at this time of year. It's not just injuries, it's suspensions
and it's the flu season and we could lose more players. "We have to hope we
don't get too affected, but we will get in the market for a couple of
players in January."

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Sam-ba Allardyce signs Pelly!
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today
The Sun

WEST HAM have pulled off one of the most surprising transfers of the season
by signing Pelly. Not the one from Brazil but the boy from non-League
Boreham Wood in a £25,000 deal — and only after a three-day trial.
Midfielder Pelly Ruddock has joined in the hope of making it big under boss
Sam-ba Allardyce. He is only 17 — the same age as Brazil legend Pele when he
scored two goals in the 1958 World Cup final. Ruddock said: "I am really
excited to be here. I feel happy inside and I am just hoping for the best
for the future. "The club's commitment to young players did attract me. It
is good at West Ham because a lot of young players have come through and
gone on to do good things." West Ham beat off competition from Arsenal,
Tottenham and QPR to land the highly-rated prodigy in a deal which could
rise to around £200,000.

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Tomkins pledges future to West Ham
By talkSPORT
Monday, December 5

West Ham defender James Tomkins insists he is happy to stay at Upton Park
and is determined to help the club gain promotion back into the Premier
League next season. Tomkins has been strongly linked with a £3m move to QPR
when the transfer window re-opens in January. The former England Under-21
defender has been outstanding for the east London club and has played a
major role in helping them cement their place at the top of the
Championship. West Ham co-owner David Gold has stated that Tomkins is not
for sale at any price and the young defender is hoping to agree a new
long-term deal to stay at West Ham. Tomkins said: "Talks are on-going. They
have been for a while now. Hopefully I can get that sorted as soon as
possible. "Coming up to January, you are going to get speculation. I am
happy here and I want to get West Ham promoted and that is the main thing
that I have got on my mind and that is all I want to do, really."

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The FIVE Things West Ham Have Learnt From Last Season's Debacle
Date: 5th December 2011 at 2:35 pm
Written by Brad Pinard
FootballFancast.com

West Ham were by far the worst team in the Premier League last season,
winning just seven games throughout the whole campaign. Avram Grant could
not have done any more in helping the Hammers to relegation and should have
been sacked in January when Martin O'Neill was lined up as his replacement
before it was leaked to the press.

The football was terrible to watch each week and a lack of passion and
commitment was obvious throughout the majority of the squad. Relegation
however has been a positive learning curve for the remaining squad players,
owners and fans. Lessons have thankfully been learnt at Upton Park and the
club will only benefit from the changes that have been made.

Goals win games

The first lesson that has been rectified to a degree was the lack of goals.
Carlton Cole has never been and will never be a prolific striker and Freddie
Piquionne and Victor Obinna failed to make much of an impact at all. Robbie
Keane seemed to forget what a goal looked like which left Demba Ba to be the
only player that could put the ball away after his January arrival, but that
was too little too late.

33 goals in 38 games is unacceptable and narrow defeats were a regular
occurrence for the Irons who made sufficient chances throughout the season.
Over the summer the owners and new manager, Sam Allardyce realised the
obvious problem and signed John Carew and Sam Baldock to add fire power, as
well as attacking midfielder Kevin Nolan. Astonishingly the Hammers have
already scored more goals in the first third of this season than the whole
of the last campaign and that has been the catalyst to their good form.

A lack of loyalty from some players

Another lesson learnt was probably more for the supporters than it was for
the club and that was the lack of player loyalty. The East End club gave
chances to players when other teams wouldn't and perhaps assumed that the
players would repay the faith shown in them. But that wasn't the case;
Thomas Hitzlsperger was out injured for the majority of the season and then
jumped ship in the summer after relegation. Demba Ba was asked to stay on at
Upton Park after the Hammers were the only club willing to give him a chance
in January, but he turned it down. Other out of contract players such as
Mathew Upson did not sign new deals and left the squad very thin on numbers
when pre-season arrived.

Perhaps I was naive when I felt that maybe Ba and Hitzlsperger would stay
until January at least to give something back to the club that gave them a
chance, perhaps, but only in football would that lack of loyalty be
accepted.

The fans will always stick with the team

One thing that the rest of the Premier League learnt about the Hammers was
that no matter how bad it got, the fans would always follow them wherever
they went. Home attendances were consistently competitive and the away
following would sell out 90% of the time. The trip to the DW Stadium on the
penultimate week of the season sums it up perfectly. Anything less than two
wins from two games would see them relegated and for a club that had only
won twice away from home in 18 months, not likely. But 5,000 travelling fans
sold out the away end in the North West and sang and cheered throughout the
whole 90 minutes and the following three hour train journey home, even after
relegation was confirmed.

Yes Blackpool fans may have done the same, but it was a first for them, they
hadn't been to Old Trafford, the Emirates and Anfield all in the same season
in the top flight, they hadn't expected anything more than relegation back
in August. West Ham did.

A cup run did not help the league form

Another aspect that the Hammers will have learnt from last season is that a
cup run does not always help your confidence and form in the league.
Birmingham City were a prime example of that but they played just one extra
game than West Ham last year and they won that at Wembley

The London club were one game away from Wembley twice last season after
losing in the Carling Cup semi final and the FA Cup quarter final, both to
late goals. That heartache of last gasp cup defeat, twice heavily dented the
confidence of the West Ham squad that failed to recover from either result.
A chance for a club like West Ham to get to Wembley is a huge achievement
and would have brought the players and fans together for a joyous occasion,
but it was cruelly snatched away.

The owners have shown their colours

The final lesson learnt is one definitely, solely for Hammers fans and it is
that the clubs owners David Gold and David Sullivan are definitely putting
their money where their mouths are. The two David's are often seen in the
press, speaking their minds on all things West Ham, and at first it took a
while for the supporters to get behind them. But this summer and the
realisation of relegation has brought the fans and owners together to get
behind the manager and the team at all times.

For a club that was in unbelievable amounts of debt when bought by the
former Birmingham City chairmen, to now spending money freely as a
Championship club with the signings of Kevin Nolan, Sam Baldock, Matty
Taylor etc, is a real achievement. They are pumping their own money into the
club and they are very unlikely to see a return on that, making it a very
selfless act and one that should definitely be praised.

Currently sitting in the top two of the Championship, West Ham have a great
chance at returning to the top flight at the first attempt and will be
bigger and stronger for the year away.

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Tomkins: I'm happy at West Ham and I want to get the club promoted
London 24
Nathaniel John, West Ham correspondent
Monday, December 5, 2011
1:41 PM

West Ham defender James Tomkins has pledged his future to the Hammers, and
insists that his main focus is on getting the club promoted back to the
Premier League. The centre-back was linked with a January move to Queens
Park Rangers, but the 22-year-old believes it was pure speculation. "Coming
up to January, you are going to get speculation," he said. "It is just
speculation. I am happy here and I want to get West Ham promoted and that is
the main thing that I have got on my mind and that is all I want to do,
really."
Tomkins also revealed that talks are on-going with the club about an
improved and extended contract, something the Hammers Academy graduate is
keen to get sorted. "Talks are on-going," he said. "They have been for a
while now. "Hopefully I can get that sorted as soon as possible."

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 5th December 2011

Cole the SBOBET winner
WHUFC.com
The club's in-form striker has been rewarded for his tremendous recent
contributions to the team
04.12.2011

Carlton Cole's terrific November form earned him the SBOBET Player of the
Month prize. The England striker returned from injury to make a huge impact,
although it was a month of several strong candidates. Most notable was
Julien Faubert, who scored 26.1 per cent of the vote behind Cole's 28.9 per
cent. Having sat out the Bristol City draw on the first of the month, Cole
came off the bench at Hull City four days later to provide both assists in a
2-0 victory. It was a similar feat at Coventry City on 19 November, with
Cole the substitute equalising and paving the way for a 2-1 away win. A week
later, he did the same again as he levelled against Derby before the Hammers
won 3-1. His superb month was rounded out by a superb goal to clinch a
tremendous 2-0 win at promotion rivals Middlesbrough on 29 November. The
previous winners this season were James Tomkins (August), Henri Lansbury
(September) and James Tomkins (October).

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Hammers to face Wednesday
WHUFC.com
whufc.com can confirm the club's opponents in this season's FA Cup third
round
04.12.2011

West Ham United will travel to Sheffield Wednesday after the FA Cup
third-round draw on Sunday afternoon. The Hammers learned their fate in the
draw conducted at The Football Association's Wembley headquarters by special
guests including former manager Gianfranco Zola. The tie of the round for
neutrals sees holders Manchester City at home to Manchester United. West
Ham, who won the competition in 1964, 1975 and 1980, will be hoping to avoid
an upset against their League One hosts. The two clubs have met four times
before in the country's premier cup competition, with one draw and three
wins in Wednesday's favour over three ties.
The last meeting of the two teams was in the League Cup on 20 September
2005, when the Hammers won 4-2 at Hillsborough thanks to Bobby Zamora's
double, Christian Dailly and David Bellion. The tie will be played on the
weekend of 7/8 January 2012, with Wednesday's city rivals Sheffield United
also at home in the draw against Salisbury Town or Grimsby Town.

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FA Cup third round: Wednesday await
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 4th December 2011
By: Staff Writer

West Ham will face Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough in the third round of
the FA Cup. Former Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola picked the League One side
out of the bag first before former Sheffield United star Li Tie drew West
Ham's number 42 ball - the 18th ball picked. Hillsborough - awash with mud
and rain - was previously the venue for West Ham's famous 1964 FA Cup
semi-final win against the mighty Manchester United. Goals from Ronnie Boyce
(2) and Geoff Hurst secured a memorable 3-1 win for the Irons that day.

It was also where John Lyall's side were bundled out of the 1985/86
competition at the quarter final stage; Tony Cottee's goal not enough to
prevent West Ham slipping to a 2-1 defeat. In all, West Ham have played
Wednesday four times in the FA Cup, drawing once and losing on the remaining
three occasions. The draw also threw up one or two other tantalising ties,
including both Manchester and West Midlands derbies - plus a potential
Dagenham v Millwall clash, should the Daggers beat Walsall in their
forthcoming second round replay.

Full draw as follows; all ties to take place on the weekend of 7 and 8
January 2012.

FA Cup Third Round Draw

Middlesbrough (CH) v Shrewsbury Town
Nottingham Forest (CH) v Leicester City (CH)
Manchester City (PL) v Manchester United (PL)
Dagenham & Redbridge (L2) or Walsall (L1) v Millwall (CH)
Crawley Town (L2) v Bristol City (CH)
Doncaster Rovers (CH) v Sutton United or Notts County (L1)
Bristol Rovers (L2) v Aston Villa (PL)
Tottenham Hotspur (PL) v Cheltenham Town (L2)
Sheffield Wednesday (L1) v West Ham Utd (CH)
MK Dons (L1) v Queens Park Rangers (PL)
Hull City (CH) v Ipswich Town (CH)
Coventry City (CH) v Southampton (CH)
Brighton & Hove Albion (CH) v Wrexham
Fulham (PL) v Charlton Athletic (L1)
Birmingham City (CH) v Wolverhampton Wanderers (PL)
Norwich City (PL) v Burnley (CH)
Arsenal (PL) v Leeds United (CH)
Derby County (CH) v Crystal Palace (CH)
Fleetwood or Yeovil Town (L1) v Blackpool (CH)
Swindon Town (L2) v Wigan Athletic (PL)
Barnsley (CH) v Swansea City (PL)
Chelmsford or Macclesfield (L2) v Bolton Wanderers (PL)
Newcastle United (PL) v Blackburn Rovers (PL)
Everton (PL) v Tamworth
Sheffield United (L1) v Salisbury City or Grimsby Town
Liverpool (PL) v Southend United (L2) or Oldham Athletic
Gillingham (L2) v Stoke City (PL)
Chelsea (PL) v Portsmouth (CH)
Watford (CH) v Bradford City (L2)
Peterborough United (CH) v Sunderland (PL)
West Bromwich Albion (PL) v Cardiff City (CH)
Reading (CH) v Stevenage

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Allardyce on... Burnley
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 4th December 2011
By: Staff Writer

It was a a brief post-match presser from Big Sam this week as he tried to
come to terms with just exactly how his team were beaten by Burnley...

Sam: What happened? You talked about complacency in your programme notes...

I don't think it was complacency personally, I think that we should have
defended one throw-in and one corner better than we did and unfortunately we
didn't. It's not really complcency when you see a performance like that.
Complacency is about the players not dominating the opposition and that
wasn't the case today. It was just a case of one of those days today for us
where we've worked so hard to get in front and then unfortunately we've
just...

We created more chances to score more goals of course, yes we did. We hit
the woodwork a few times and squirmed a few chances wide of the post when we
perhaps should have done a bit better. The sickening thing for us is [it]
looked like we'd got what we wanted - an early goal - in the second and like
I said, just one throw-in and one corner has been very costly today.

You just have to accept that it's one of those days. It didn't seem to be
our day, [the ball] didn't seem to drop in the right areas. We found the
finish but hit the woodwork and apart from the outstanding goal that Kevin
Nolan scored - which was the hardest chance we had today to score a goal -
it's disappointing, but 10 games and 22 points isn't too bad.

Is it the most frustrating thing for a manager when you get done off two set
pieces like that?

It is for me, yeah! It is for me because it's a massive part of the game
today and I think a big percentage of goals today are scored from set plays
and the opposition have scored two. But that happens sometimes no matter how
you defend.

We've got good strong defenders, I think we've probably got the best
defensive record in the league at the moment. Sometimes balls in the box
drop on an opposition head whether you've got good defnders or not. Today I
think that happened and it was two very, very good headers to finish them
off. The big disappointment of course is losing here at home again and
losing the way we did, because we didn't deserve it.

With Carlton Cole up front, you ended up with Piquionne and Carew chasing
the game. Do you think on second thoughts you might have played a second
striker right from the start?

No... Don't talk rubbish. [laughs]

I think that's rubbish. You look at the chances created and the shots on
target we've had compared to the opposition...

But you didn't score, did you?

No but we hit the post three or four times. 433 has produced all the results
that we've created. 442 has hardly ever produced them. So, it's your job to
ask the question but it's my job to say, "I think that's... not right".

I know what's right for the team but you are obviously entitled to ask the
question - but I can shoot you down by the fact that our performances at 433
are 50 times better than they are at 442.

[long silence] You've scared them all away!

I didn't mean to!

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Howe on... West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 4th December 2011
By: Staff Writer

Eddie Howe was naturally delighted at seeing his team clinch a third
successive nPower Championship win...

Eddie: pleased with that?

Yeah, I thought we defended magnificently today. It was always going to be
the case where we had to to get anything from the game. We had to play a
certain way to make things difficult for West Ham, try and frustrate them
and try and keep the crowd quiet first half, I think that was key. We knew
that if we needed a goal we had players on the bench who could change the
game. I thought both our substitutes did really well today.

Is that the best performance you've had since taking over?

I think it's the best result yeah, without a doubt. I don't think perhaps
it's the best performance. In terms of spirit, attitude and character yes,
but we can play better than that.

Defensively - which we haven't always been this season - we were terrific
today. Michael Duff and David Edgar were excellent. Duffo's made a real
difference in the back four and the two full backs as well were excellent
defensively. That pleases me more than anything because we've taken a lot of
criticism - probably justified as well - for our defensive play this year,
but it was different today.

Kieran Trippier showed it all didn't he, when he took that one in the face
from Piquionne from point blank range; that showed the determination of your
side?

Absolutely, we've got a good spirit developing. The lads, the majority are
the same age and they're breginning to find that spirit you need when you
come to tough places like this. If you don't have a good character and good
attitude about you you've got no chance.

And we did; we threw our bodies in the way and defended crosses excellently,
defended set plays excellently which is always important when you play a
team managed by Sam Allardyce, you've got to be organised. We did all those
nasty things and we popped up with two good goals as well.

Can I ask about Sam [Vokes]? It's not been an easy week for anybody but how
has he reacted to the news [of Gary Speed's passing]?

Well initially when he heard he was understandably upset and he found it
difficult for a couple of days, like the whole world of football did I
think. Sam obviously had a relationship with Gary Speed; he's a great, great
lad Sam, he's got a great character. A very quiet lad but really wants to do
well and I thought he was outstanding when he came on, great header for the
goal. Buy yeah, it's been a tough time for him so the goal will give him a
big lift.

If you look at Sam's career, he played very well for Bournemouth when he
first broke into the side at (I think) 16, 17. I was at Bournemouth at the
time. Then he had a dramatic rise and got a good move to Wolves but then
perhaps didn't get the football that he needed, being so young. Hopefully we
can give him that platform to show what he's about and he's doing himself no
harm.

Because he scored twice in Gary Speed's last game for Wales and scored last
week as well; is it just a case of him getting some games under his belt?

Yes, I think so. Confidence with any footballer is massive and Sam's in good
form at the moment. He a confident individual and I'm just delighted he's
with us because I know what he can bring on the pitch, but also off it as
well. In terms of leaving him out today, no problem - he just got on with it
and I knew when he came on he'd make a big difference for us.

And Chris McCann too?

Yes, good to see. We need goals from everywhere and Chris is a talented lad.
He'll be pleased with his goal today. It was a good ball in by Junior and a
fantastic header. I though both our goals were well worked and well
finished.

And both from set plays as well?

We work hard on our set pieces, I think you have to because they can decide
games. West Ham work extremely hard on what they do and i think that was one
of the things that pleased me most today, in terms of our defending.

Sam had an awful lot of room for his goal, didn't he?

Yeah, a good bit of movement in the box and a great delivery from Ross
Wallace who has a magical left foot when he gets it right. I thought it was
an outstanding header from that range.

That's what makes football so special, the game what it is and the league
what it is. Very unpredictable. We've come back from Hull and got a great
win, it's given us a huge boost. We took that on to Tuesday where I thought
we were excellent and played some good football and today we showed a
different side again where we dug in and played ugly but got a great result.
So things are looking up.

We know we're not thie finished article, we've got as lot of work to do.
We'll keep our feet on the ground but we're definitely more pleased this
time this week than we were this time last week.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Dicks rejects Town role
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 4th December 2011
By: Staff Writer

Julian Dicks has rejected the opportunity to return to management with Blue
Square Bet South outfit Dorchester Town. Speaking to KUMB.com following West
Ham's 2-1 defeat against Burnley, Dicks - who was named as Dorchester's
'preferred candidate' following the recent departure of Ashley Vickers -
revealed that he had met with representatives of the non-league club last
week. However the former West Ham captain pulled out of contention for the
vacancy after failing to agree personal terms - and the job was eventually
given to ex-Portsmouth goalkeeper Alan Knight. Dicks, who spent two spells
at West Ham in the 1990s has been out of full-time work since parting
company with Isthmian League Division One North side Grays Athletic in May
of this year. He was at the Boleyn to co-commentate on West Ham's game for
BBC London.

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Sam - Speed a true leader
Allardyce pays tribute to former Bolton player
Last Updated: December 4, 2011 12:02pm
SSN

Sam Allardyce has paid tribute to Gary Speed following the death of the
Wales manager, saying he had an 'aura' and inspired others with his
professionalism at Bolton. Speed was found dead at his home last week at the
age of 42 and tributes have since been pouring in from across the sporting
and political world. A minute's applause was observed at grounds around the
country on Saturday in memory of Speed, and West Ham boss Allardycefound it
an emotional occasion ahead of his side's 2-1 defeat at home by Burnley.
Allardyce, who worked with Speed at Bolton, has found the news difficult to
come to terms with but does not believe people should delve too deeply into
why he took his own life. Allardyce instead prefers to recall how successful
Speed was at Bolton and how his hard-working attitude rubbed off on the
other players. "It's terribly distressing. I feel like I have lost a close
family friend," Allardyce told the Sunday Mirror. "Coming to terms with what
happened is another matter entirely. "My thoughts and deepest sympathies are
with his wife Louise and the boys, his parents, family and close friends.
They are the ones left behind. "It just goes to show a side and pressure of
life that doesn't legislate for who you are and what you have in life.
"While I accept there is a great deal of mystery surrounding his death, I
think it's private and should be left alone. "The outpouring of emotion from
football has been unprecedented because he was held in such high regard.

Outstanding

"Gary Speed, the footballer, was someone held in the highest regard because
of his outstanding career over many, many years. "For me to talk about him
is as a man and a human being. That is the most important thing." Speed
signed for Bolton in 2004 at the age of 34 and stayed for four years as
Bolton established themselves as a Premier league force to be reckoned with.
Allardyce said: "He joined me at Bolton in what some would say was the
twilight of his career, but he gave the club so much in what was a hugely
successful period. "Often when you sign an older professional, they might
question new methods such as taking on fluids, nutrition, ice baths,
cryotherapy, recovery periods and yoga. "Gary would have a go and take it
all on board. "He became the icon for all the other players at the club for
new techniques. "They saw if it was good enough for Gary, it was good enough
for them. "As a leader on and off the pitch, he would always want to learn
and question. He had an aura that when he came into a room people always
instantly wanted to listen to what he might have to say."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Vinny's Burnley Report
Vinny 12:37 Sun Dec 4
West Ham Online

West Ham United 1 Burnley 2

West Ham suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Burnley who fought back
from a goal down to take all three points. I am a little bemused to how we
did not actually win this game given the chances we created and how poor
Burnley were for the majority of the game. I think I would have been annoyed
at a draw never mind a defeat which really did come a surprise. Earlier in
the week we had beaten Middlesbrough at the Riverside in what was surely our
best away performance of the season given that we controlled the game from
start to finish, so going into this game I was in a confident mood and
couldn't see any other result but a West Ham win.

But it was one of those game which turned very quickly and when the
equaliser went in we struggled to compose ourselves and seemed to go off
track very easily.
With Southampton losing at Doncaster in another shock result it doesn't
change things at the top of the league but we will need to bounce back at
Reading next week if we are to continue to push for top spot which should be
our aim.

I'm not sure that there was anything fundamentally wrong with our
performance as we approached the game in the right way and controlled the
first half completely with Burnley having none of the game. We should have
got ourselves in front with a couple of good chances squandered but I was
confident like against Derby that the goal would come. To get the goal early
in the second period and then go on to lose the game was very disappointing
and whilst I believe booing the side at the end of the game is nonsense, I
can understand the frustration.

The Team

Sam Allardyce made three changes to the side who won 2-0 at Boro on Tuesday
night. At right back, Guy Demel was back on the bench and replaced by Joey
O'Brien. In midfield Jack Collison was in for Papa Bouba Diop and up front
Carlton Cole replaced Frederique Piquionne who dropped to the bench.
Starting for Burnley was former Hammer and youth team product Junior
Stanislas who made 26 starts for the club between 2008 and 2011 scoring 9
goals with one of the more memorable coming at home to Millwall in the
League Cup in 2009. On the bench for Burnley was another former Hammer and
Youth Team product Zavon Hines who left in the summer. He started 12 games
from 2008 to 2011 scoring 1 goal which came in 2009 against Aston Villa.

First Half

As previously mentioned, we controlled the first half entirely. Whilst it
may not have been an exciting spectacle I was pleased at our dominance. What
we do need to do is create more chances and this could be my only criticism
of the first period. With quarter of the half gone Burnley had barely had a
kick and a goal I was expecting to come but only half chances were created
with Tomkins heading wide from a Taylor corner. We had been forcing a number
of corners but the delivery from Taylor and Noble was often poor and far too
many times they failed to beat the first man.

Nolan saw a half volley go well wide when Cole had knocked the ball down
from a long ball forward. On the 28 minute mark we had a glorious chance to
score and I am still even now struggling to fathom how we didn't manage to
score. It was a really good move as Collison picked up a lose ball and gave
it to Carlton Cole who was on the right and he played a delightful low cross
into the area for Kevin Nolan who was unmarked and around eight yards from
goal but somehow he managed to poke the ball wide.

With half time approaching a break forward saw Jack Collison fire a shot
wide when he may have done better with the direction of the shot. A bursting
run into the area from Joey O'Brien saw a corner forced with the half time
whistle just about to blow but the corner from Taylor was easily cleared. I
was a little frustrated that Abdoulaye Faye did not even go forward for the
corner considering he is our best header of the ball.

Second Half

The second half started pretty much the same as the first had ended with us
doing all the passing and Burnley simply chasing shadows. I'm sure that
their supporters could not have envisaged a victory as they looked on from
the Trevor Brooking Stand. They had brought the least amount of away
supporters by any other club this season. We forced a corner early on after
a Taylor free kick was whipped into the area and out by a defender. The
resulting corner was eventually cleared in a bit of a pinball scenario in
the area. But we wouldn't have to wait much longer to open the scoring.

A long kick forward by Robert Green saw Carlton Cole flick the ball on for
Kevin Nolan to run in between the Burnley defenders and flick the ball first
time over the Burnley keeper to make it 1-0. It was a class finish from a
player who has divided opinion this season but this was his 6th goal from
midfield this season and that is not a bad return. Burnley now had it all to
do and I don't think there was anyone in the ground who could see them
getting back into the game, let alone winning it.

Matthew Taylor was forced to come off on 56 minutes with what I could only
presume was an injury. He was replaced by Frederique Piquionne. But just
five minutes after scoring, Burnley equalised out of the blue. A throw in
was taken on the right hand side and Piquionne had not closed his man down
quick enough as the ball came to Junior Stanislas who whipped in a fantastic
cross which was met by the head of Chris McCann who connected with the ball
well as it flew past Robert Green to make it 1-1. This seemed to deflate
everyone given how unlikely it seemed that they would score but we needed to
pick ourselves up and go again.

Just a minute later we should have got ourselves back in front when Faubert
put his cross into the area and this was flicked into the path of Piquionne
but his shot his the defender Tripper and went over for a corner. Some good
work down the left saw Collison get in behind and cross for Cole but by the
time he had controlled, turned and got his shot away he was crowded out. A
ball over the top saw Piquionne go clear down the left but his cross was
very poor when we had players waiting in the area for what would have been a
certain goal. Piquionne had another chance just moments later when a cross
was met by his head but the effort was weak and straight at the keeper.

Again we got in behind the Burnley defence with Nolan on the ball this time
and his cross found Collison whose low shot hit the post and went wide. It
was at this point I was beginning to think that it could be one of those
days. What I mean is that I felt we were only going to take a point from
this game. Never had it entered my mind that we could actually lose. A long
range effort from Rodriquez saw Robert Green having to make a flying save in
a rare moment of action for the West Ham keeper. But from the resulting
corner it was all about to go very wrong as striker Sam Vokes lost his
marker and sent his bullet head past Green to somehow put Burnley 2-1 up.

With ten minutes to play, John Carew was brought on to give us more up front
and he replaced Joey O'Brien. Three minutes later we so nearly found the
equaliser when Cole received the ball midway inside the half and he burst
forward and curled a left foot effort which clipped the post and went wide.
There was to be no dramatic finale or late rally as we really struggled to
get anything going at all in those final stages. We had brought Carew on
presumably to play the ball to him but none of the balls forward from Green
went anywhere near him which gifted possession back to Burnley who were
happy to see the game out. Despite four minutes of injury time we conjured
up nothing and our seven match unbeaten run had come to abrupt end.

Player Reviews

Robert Green
Nothing he could do about the goals given that they were free headers in the
area. His kicking was poor and lacked direction, especially in the latter
stages of the second half when we really needed the ball to go towards
Carew.

Joey O'Brien
A decent performance from O'Brien who worked hard and got forward well,
especially in the first half when he was playing more as an attacking right
winger with Faubert drifting infield.

James Tomkins
Although we conceded two headed goals I still thought Tomkins had a good
game and although there will be the odd loose pass he was solid throughout.

Abdoulaye Faye
I thought he was excellent once again and is really becoming one of our star
performers of the season. He read everything, was firm with his headers and
the only disappointment is that he does not go up for every corner.

George McCartney
Struggled to get going in this one and there a lack of communication between
him and Taylor on a few occasions. His distribution of the ball let him down
on a number of occasions.

Jack Collison
Looking much more effective in the centre and this is the second home game
in a row he has played well. He had a few efforts on goal and was very
unlucky not to have scored when his shot hit the post.

Mark Noble
Very quiet game from Noble who may have been knackered from his great
display at Middlebrough where despite a few poor passes he was the engine
room all night long. In this one he wasn't on the ball enough for my liking
and struggled to make those passes as frequently as other games.

Kevin Nolan
Not a poor performance but I'm sure that will be debated by many. A very
poor miss in the first half was made up for a little by an excellent goal
and of course it is great to have a goal scoring midfielder. But Still, I
would like to see a bit more from his all round performance. I suspect we
won't.

Julien Faubert
Hard working as ever but his passing let him down although is crosses were
not all that bad in this one and there were fewer over hit crosses from the
right. I felt in the first half he was not out wide enough with O'Brien
doing most of the wing play. This changed in the second half and a couple of
his crosses should have led to goals.

Matthew Taylor
His corners were poor and he was pretty anonymous in his time on the pitch.

Carlton Cole
Not the best display from Cole but he was involved in a number of key
attacking moments such as his cross for Nolan's miss, his flick on for the
goal and his effort which hit the post.

Subs Used

Frederique Piquionne (on for Taylor 56 mins)
I thought he was unlucky not to start given his excellent display at Boro'
but he still got most of the second half in which he had a few chances to
score and nearly opened his account after being on the pitch for just a few
minutes but for the face of the Burnley defender Trippier.

John Carew (on for O'Brien 80 mins)
The ball was not given to him enough which is what I had presumed was the
point of bringing him on.

Subs Not Used: Stech, Demel, Diop

Bookings: None

Man Of The Match: Abdoulaye Faye

Burnley: Grant, Trippier, Edgar, Duff, Mee, Treacy, McCann, Marney, Bartley,
Stanislas, Rodriguez
Subs: Stewart, Easton, Wallace, Hines, Vokes

Attendance: 26, 274

Overall

I am taking the positive outlook with this result and simply putting it down
to a minor blip. We have been excellent in recent weeks and I do not think
this is indicative of the way we have been playing and the progress we have
made.

We created enough chances and really should have score more than one goal. I
am aware though that this is not the first time we have had this issue this
season with a recent game against Bristol City displaying similar issues.

Burnley had two chances and took them both and for any side to concede two
set piece goals is always going to be a disappointment.

Next Game - Reading (a) Saturday 10th December 3pm Kick Off

This is another away game that we have sold out and hopefully it will be
another great away day.

This I had identified as one of the more tricky games although they have not
had the best of seasons so far. Given how good we are away from home I
expect us to get something from the game and with his defeat against Burnley
there is a little more pressure on us to get all three points.

Sam's View

"It is a disappointing result for us after a fantastic performance,
Unfortunately we haven't got the win we wanted and instead of taking the
point as we always talk about, we have thrown it away.

"It is not because we haven't played well, it is not that we haven't
dominated, it is about the fact we have switched off on two occasions - the
only two dangerous situations they had in the whole game. It was one of
those days.

"We have hit the post a couple of times and balls are flashing in front of
goal and dropping down and just not dropping to us. It was a shame after
such a wonderful goal from Kevin Nolan. His quality was outstanding to get
us on our way."

"Really we have no excuses. We shouldn't have lost. We have and we just have
to accept it. It was tremendous commitment from the players, just not the
right result today unfortunately.

"Sometimes these things happen. It is the first time we have lost a game of
football from in front. If they had created lots of chances I could say they
deserved the win but they have pinched one. That happens in a long old
season, sometimes you don't get what you deserve."

Season 2011/12 Scorers and Bookings

Carlton Cole - 7 (7 League)
Kevin Nolan - 6 (6 League)
Sam Baldock - 5 (5 League)
Mark Noble - 3 (3 League)
John Carew - 2 (2 League)
Frederique Piquionne - 2 (2 League)
Jack Collison - 2 (2 League)
Own Goal - 2 (2 League)
James Tomkins - 1 (1 League)
Joey O'Brien - 1 (1 League)
Scott Parker - 1 (1 League)
Winston Reid - 1 (1 League)
Matthew Taylor - 1 (1 League)
Henri Lansbury - 1 (1 League)
Julien Faubert - 1 (1 League)
Junior Stanislas - 1 (1 Cup)

Yellow Cards

Kevin Nolan - 4
Julien Faubert - 4
Mark Noble - 4
Henri Lansbury - 2
Joey O'Brien - 2
James Tomkins - 2
George McCartney - 2
Abdoulaye Faye - 2
Carlton Cole - 1
Matthew Taylor - 1
Sam Baldock -1
Winston Reid - 1
John Carew - 1
Papa Bouba Diop - 1

Red Cards

Callum McNaughton - 1 (vs Aldershot home)
Frederique Piquionne - 1 (vs Portsmouth home)

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 4th December 2011

Big Sam laments Burnley loss
WHUFC.com
The manager could not fault his players' for their commitment as they
suffered a rare defeat
03.12.2011

Sam Allardyce was left to rue "one of those days" as his Hammers dominated
against Burnley but ultimately lost 2-1 after a smash and grab raid. After a
first half totally dominated by the home team, Kevin Nolan's opportunist
strike finally broke the deadlock on 52 minutes. Nolan had missed an open
goal in the first 45 and the Hammers looked the likeliest to score again
until Burnley's Chris McCann headed in an equaliser against the run of play
just before the hour. Substitute Sam Vokes then broke Hammers' hearts with a
75th-minute header, and when Jack Collison and Carlton Cole hit the post
with good efforts it always looked like being a frustrating afternoon. Big
Sam struck a positive tone when reflecting on a day when leaders Southampton
also lost, at least keeping the gap on first place to just two points. "It
is a disappointing result for us after a fantastic performance," said the
manager. "Unfortunately we haven't got the win we wanted and instead of
taking the point as we always talk about, we have thrown it away. "It is not
because we haven't played well, it is not that we haven't dominated, it is
about the fact we have switched off on two occasions - the only two
dangerous situations they had in the whole game. It was one of those days.
"We have hit the post a couple of times and balls are flashing in front of
goal and dropping down and just not dropping to us. It was a shame after
such a wonderful goal from Kevin Nolan. His quality was outstanding to get
us on our way."

Another low note was Matt Taylor limping off with a calf problem, although
it remains to be seen how serious it will prove. The fact that a sixth
straight victory was not forthcoming has just left everyone determined to
bounce back at Reading next Saturday. "Really we have no excuses. We
shouldn't have lost. We have and we just have to accept it. It was
tremendous commitment from the players, just not the right result today
unfortunately. "Sometimes these things happen. It is the first time we have
lost a game of football from in front. If they had created lots of chances I
could say they deserved the win but they have pinched one. That happens in a
long old season, sometimes you don't get what you deserve."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 1 - 2 Burnley
BBC.co.uk
Page last updated at 17:12 GMT, Saturday, 3 December 2011

West Ham missed the chance to go top of the Championship table as Burnley
came from behind to win at Upton Park. The Hammers went ahead through Kevin
Nolan's effort from the edge of the area but the lead lasted just five
minutes when Chris McCann headed home from close range. The visitors then
wrapped up the win when Sam Vokes, on loan from Wolves, headed in Ross
Wallace's corner. The Clarets have now won three in a row and have climbed
to 10th spot. The Hammers remain in second place, with a trip to Reading up
next for Sam Allardyce's men. West Ham dominated the opening period with
Matt Taylor heading Julien Faubert's cross over the top before Nolan missed
another chance from eight yards out. After the break, Frederic Piquionne
headed Faubert's cross straight at Lee Grant before a shot from Jack
Collison was blocked in front of goal. Meanwhile, Wallace went close to
adding another for Burnley with an effort that rolled fractionally wide.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United 1
Burnley 2
by East Stand Martin
KUMB.com

Whenever I see Burnley, I'm always reminded of the time the last down in the
Championship, when the reasons best known to myself I decided to go up to
the Lancashire khazi for a midweek game.
My abiding memory is of walking down some godforsaken cobbled street when I
spied a Range Rover with tinted windows advancing on a steward. The electric
window came down and who should be inside but Rio Ferdinand, no doubt coming
to watch Anton. The brainless northern monkey official decided that he did
not believe that this was indeed Rio, and he refused passage to the
expensive vehicle.

Grade 1 cretin

This only serves to underline my long-held view that intelligence tends not
to extend beyond the M25. Perhaps this might be seen as a Jeremy Clarkson
type comment, but I will refute that as I happen to think that he is a grade
one cretin who should have been strangled at birth. There you go Jeremy; I
think I may have trumped your pathetic little comment about low paid public
sector workers deserving to be shot for trying to defend their pensions.

We went into this game with great confidence, but despite that, there's
always this niggling feeling as a West Ham fan that something might not
quite go right at home. This is in fact the converse of the way that we use
to feel in the good old days. Then it was "Fortress Upton Park", where many
a team feared to visit as they knew they would be faced with a raucous and
partisan East End crowd.

For some reason, this just hasn't been the way it has been at the Boleyn
Ground for some time now. Maybe I'm just guilty of nostalgia, but something
is definitely not right.

Make the Sam shape

The team was pretty much as expected, although the manager had reverted
back, maybe as a result of the injury to Sam Baldock, to the 451 shape which
he instinctively favours. No doubt this will lead to various commentators
trying to tell me that it was 433.

5 min in there was great play by Jack Collison with a flurry of passes which
nearly resulted in a goal. The Burnley goalkeeper was nearly beaten to a
ball that got whipped in.

On 10 min a quick free kick very nearly caught the Burnley defence asleep
but the goalkeeper was again alert to deny Carlton Cole. A minute later Faye
blasted a shot over from 30 yards.

Mark Noble was passing the ball around very accurately and a ball out wide
right to Joey O'Brien led to a cross but the header in the box was weak by
Matty Taylor. Noble was at it again a minute later with a menacing run
forward that led to a disguised chip to the left of the box which just went
over Kevin Nolan's head.

On 14 min Carlton Cole showed great determination in the box by weaving
between defenders. This led to a corner down the right and James Tomkins
just looped a header wide of the right upright.

Too good for Real Madrid

Another lovely layoff by Mark Noble created a chance on 16 min which
resulted in Julien Faubert attempting a diving header in which deflected for
a corner. Faubert was having an effective opening to the game and made a
great cross over to the left of the box which led to Matty Taylor winning a
corner.

James Tomkins had another half chance on 20 min when the ball was looped
into the box to find at the far post but he headed into the arms of the
Burnley goalkeeper. A minute later Faubert did well to win the ball on the
edge of the box with his back to goal. He laid off a pass to Kevin Nolan who
half volleyed wide.

Burnley were posing a few threats but when they did get forward, Faye was
usually on hand to snuff out the threat.

A lovely jink back by Kevin Nolan from the dead ball line on 25 min would
have created a great opportunity for a goal had there been a single player
around the penalty spot to take advantage. This was followed by great play
by Faubert cutting in from the right and mesmerising defenders on the edge
of the box. He chipped ball over but Matty Taylor could not get a good
header on it.

No go Nolan

A mistake by the Burnley defence on 28 min set Carlton Cole free down the
right. Entering into the box he sent a perfect ball across the 6 yard line
only to see Kevin Nolan spurn a fantastic chance in front of goal. It
appeared that he was trying to place the ball rather than just get a good
solid connection on it.

Carlton Cole looks to be playing with confidence at the moment and he showed
some sublime ball control on the halfway line to bring down a clearance.

34 min saw the 1st shot of note by burning as a break saw the ball fired
into the right-hand side netting. Shortly after this the ball broke out from
Burnley attack but, Cole was caught just offside on the wrong side of the
halfway line.

Matty Taylor won a ball on 38 min to allow space for Jack Collison on the
edge of the box to strike at goal. He hit a fizzing grass cutter which just
went wide of the left hand post.

With 4 min left of the half, Joey O'Brien made a brilliant run forward from
the halfway line right through to the dead ball line, winning a corner.

The last real action of the half saw Faye make a last ditch tackle to
prevent a break on goal. This was the 2nd time that he had to tidy up around
the halfway line. He doesn't look that mobile but seems to have the ability
to just about make the right timing in his interventions.

Prophet of doom

The TV monitor downstairs in the bath indicated that West Ham had enjoyed
58% of the possession in the 1st half, and it certainly felt like the home
team had dominated proceedings. Kevin Nolan should have put the Irons ahead,
and a nearby East stand commentator had uttered the fateful words "I hope we
don't regret that miss later".

West Ham began the 2nd half in similarly dominant form. A corner on 47 min
saw the ball drop to the feet of Faye, but there was a sea of bodies in the
way the goal and the shot was blocked. Faye had another chance from a corner
3 min later, but he headed way over.

The goal that should have been scored much earlier in this game then came on
52 min as classic Sam Allardyce route one football saw a clearance leading
to a flick on from Carlton Cole. There was Kevin Nolan waiting to latch on
to the ball and guide it over the head of the keeper into the empty net.

Classic mistake

Although the goal was expected what happened next was nothing more than
complacency by West Ham. It's an old adage in football that you need to
concentrate even harder when you have scored a goal and so it proved, as
some unnecessary dallying in the West Ham defence allowed Burnley an
opportunity. Fortunately, the resulting shot was floated over the crossbar
from a tight angle.

Piquionne was introduced on 55 min and Matty Taylor was taken off.
Immediately after the substitution, Burnley scored as more slack discipline
at the back gave away a throw in and allowed an excellent cross in from the
West Ham left and an unstoppable header by McCann past Robert Green.

Wallace was introduced for Treacey on 57 min and just after the change of
very good break by West Ham down the right wing led to the ball being sent
over to the back post but Piquionne's half volley was blocked for a corner.
Faye was offered a free header from a corner but nodded weakly over.

Faubert had not looked as effective in the 2nd half but on 59 min he did
well to win a ball in the centre of the pitch and advance forward, but he
hit a poor final ball with Piquionne free in a good position. Immediately
after, Mark Noble made a superb pass out left to Piquionne, but he failed to
make his cross count from the edge of the box.

Great linkup play down the left on 62 min saw a goalmouth scramble in the
Burnley box but Carlton Cole could not create the space to shoot on the
turn. Just after this Cole was cynically taken out on the halfway line and
Duff received a rightful yellow card.

I will account for my errors

Faubert made a poor pass on the edge of the Burnley box with West Ham in a
promising position, but to give him credit he ran virtually all the way back
to the edge of the West Ham box to retrieve the situation. That showed great
commitment from the Frenchman.

Great play by Carlton Cole and Piquionne on 67 min led to yet another West
Ham break, but as the ball broke out right the cross that came in was headed
weakly by Piquionne.

Former West Ham player Junior Stanislas was substituted for Sam Vokes on 68
min to polite applause.

It looked like Jack Collison had got West Ham back on track on 71 min as
another break saw the ball cut back to the Welsh international who looked to
have hit a pretty perfect shot. It looked like this hit the base of the
right-hand post.

Rob Green was not having one of his best kicking days, and on 73 min he
scuffed the ball to Wallace near the halfway line who tried a speculative
first-time shot which to Green's immense relief floated wide of the
right-hand post.

Undone

As time went on, Burnley were growing in confidence, and a great strike from
Rodriguez as the ball broke loose in the centre on 74 min required Rob Green
to carry over a stinging shot from 30 yards. The resulting corner led to
West Ham's undoing, as a very good ball in from the left saw a powerful
header by the recently arrived Vokes into the goal with Green helpless.

West Ham tried to respond immediately, and Faubert should have really done
better with a free header after a fine cross in from the West Ham left. The
cavalry was summoned in the shape of big John Carew, substituting for Joey
O'Brien on 79 min. An Eaststander near me made a disparaging comment to the
effect that the manager had decided to bring on some pace. I replied "he's
quicker than you think, a bit like Bigfoot wading through a swamp".

Carlton Cole certainly hadn't given up the ghost and some great strength by
him fashioned a run in on goal but his low shot was just glanced off the
right-hand post.

With 4 min of ordinary time left, Faubert did well down the right-hand side
to create some space and sending a raking cross/shot which the Burnley
keeper held down low.

Frustration

The final few minutes were pure frustration for West Ham, but a lot of
possession did not create the goal opportunity. The best chance came with
another break down the left and a good ball in which just fizzed across the
face of the goal with no one there to dispatch it goalwards.

This was undoubtedly one of those games that West Ham did not deserve to
lose. The team enjoyed a great deal of possession, passed the ball around
pretty effectively and created numerous opportunities. Burnley won the game
as a result of some sloppy defending after the West Ham goal and because
they took advantage of a set piece – their only corner of the game - late in
the game. It was classic daylight robbery really.

It was a great shame, especially as news filtered through that Southampton
had lost away at Doncaster. However, during the course of the season there
will always be a game or two that you do not deserve to lose. This was one
of those days, when the team played quite well and did not get its just
deserts.

Never mind, the week had not been too bad with the win at home the previous
weekend and the excellent away win at Middlesbrough. Given the nadir of the
team's fortunes at the end of last season, I think just about any West Ham
fan would have taken a five point cushion with third place at the beginning
of December. Let's hope that the team can return to winning ways at Reading
next Saturday, although this is a ground that does not have too many fond
memories for West Ham.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Taylor set for scan
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 3rd December 2011
By: Staff Writer

Matthew Taylor could be sidelined once again after limping out of today's
2-1 home defeat aganst Burnley. The left winger - making his first start
since returning from a month's lay-off - was substituted 11 minutes into the
second half after appearing to aggrevate his leg injury. After being
replaced by Freddie Piquionne, Taylor's leg was immediately placed in an ice
pack with further tests to determine the extent of the injury to follow over
the weekend. West Ham lost today's game 2-1 despite having led 1-0 through
Kevin Nolan at one stage. Chris McCann and Keith Treacey scored the goals
that saw Burnley take all three points. Taylor - who has made 13 appearances
for the Hammers since moving from Bolton in a £2million summer switch - left
the field whilst West Ham were leading 1-0.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Defeat sickens Big Sam
Hammers boss disappointed after loss, Howe hails best result
Last Updated: December 3, 2011 7:12pm
SSN

Sam Allardyce was left sickened as West Ham missed a hatful of chances in
the 2-1 defeat to Burnley, whose boss Eddie Howe hailed it as his best
result. Kevin Nolan broke the deadlock for the hosts on 52 minutes but Chris
McCann equalised before Sam Vokes bagged the winner. The Hammers then
spurned a number of chances as they failed to capitalise on Southampton's
defeat at Doncaster to go top. Allardyce said: "It wasn't complacency. We
should have defended better than we did, but we were undone from two crosses
into our box. "It's hard to criticise, though, after a performance like
that. If we weren't dominating the opposition it would be different, but
that wasn't the case as we were in control. "It was just one of those days.
We've worked so hard to get in front and then that happens. If you look at
it we hit the woodwork a few times and squandered a few chances. "The
sickening thing for us is a team that frustrated us look like they got what
they wanted.
"But one throw-in and a corner cost us. It just wasn't our day, apart from
an outstanding goal from Kevin Nolan which was our hardest chance we had,
nothing fell for us. "It's disappointing as set-pieces are a massive part of
the game and something we work on. But sometimes balls in the box drop on
the opposition heads. "They were two very good headers, but the big
disappointment was losing at home again, and the way we did."

Howe delighted

Burnley manager Howe hailed the result as the best of his tenure and was
quick to praise match-winner Vokes, who was personally affected by the death
of Gary Speed. The on-loan Wolves striker is a Wales international and
recently scored twice under Speed against Norway. "We defended
magnificently," Howe said. "But we kept the crowd quiet in the first half
and knew if we needed a goal we had the players to change the game. "It's
the best result we've had since I've been here, even if not the best
performance as we can play better than that But it was about spirit and
character. "David Edgar and Michael Duff were magnificent and the full-backs
the same. The defenders have taken a lot of criticism, and sometimes for
good reason, but they were terrific here. We defended set pieces did the
nasty things you need to do. "Sam (Vokes) was initially very upset when he
found out about Gary Speed and found it difficult like the whole world of
football. But he had a relationship with Gary. He is finding his confidence
again, which is massive for any striker. "He broke through early at
Bournemouth and has made a dramatic rise by joining Wolves, but he didn't
get the football he needed. We are giving him a platform. He has made a
difference to us."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Vokes smokes shocked Hammers
Last updated: 3rd December 2011
SSN

Substitute Sam Vokes secured a shock 2-1 win for Burnley at West Ham on
Saturday as the hosts blew their chance to go top of the Championship. The
Wales striker scored with virtually his first touch as Burnley came from
behind to end the Hammers' seven-game unbeaten run. All appeared to be going
to plan for Sam Allardyce's promotion favourites when Kevin Nolan fired them
ahead just after half-time, especially with leaders Southampton losing at
lowly Doncaster. But things are never simple at Upton Park and Chris McCann
grabbed a leveller against the run of play before Vokes popped up with the
winner. The Hammers had dominated the first half but could not make the
breakthrough. The first real chance fell to Matt Taylor in the 27th minute,
the midfielder heading Julien Faubert's cross over the top. Moments later
Nolan fluffed the best chance of the first half. Jack Collison took
advantage of a slip in the Burnley defence to play in Carlton Cole and the
striker squared for Nolan, right in front of goal, eight yards out. The
midfielder got his left foot to the ball but his effort rolled just the
wrong side of the post. Burnley's first shot came 10 minutes before the
interval, Keith Treacy's long-range effort not troubling Robert Green as it
fizzed wide. West Ham's pressure finally told seven minutes after the
interval, and came from a long clearance from keeper Green. Cole flicked the
ball on and Nolan coolly lifted his finish over the advancing Lee Grant and
into an empty net. But far from the goal signalling the opening of the
floodgates, Upton Park was stunned five minutes later when Burnley grabbed
an equaliser. Former Hammers winger Junior Stanislas, sold by Allardyce in
the summer, swung in a cross from the right and McCann was on hand to bury
his header past Green. Shell-shocked West Ham went straight back on the
attack and Frederic Piquionneheaded Faubert's cross straight at Grant before
a shot from Collison was blocked in front of goal.
But Burnley remained dangerous on the break and Ross Wallace had Green
scrambling across his goal with an effort which rolled just wide. The
warning was not heeded by the West Ham defence and in the 74th minute
Burnley took a surprise lead, Wallace swinging in a corner and Vokes, who
had only been on the pitch a couple of minutes, climbing highest to nod past
Green. Cole shaved a post as West Ham attempted to haul themselves level but
the Clarets held on for a third straight win.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Positive and Negative Thread - Burnley
Mr Polite 8:56 Sat Dec 3
Other articles by Mr Polite...
West Ham Online

On the back of some excellent results and some good performances confidence
was high for West Ham as they welcomed the Championships other Claret n
Blues Burnley and there up and coming manager Eddie Howe. Here are how I saw
the good and bad points of the game.

Positives:

I think the way we started the game and the first half hour was some of the
best pass and move football I have seen for a while. The way the midfield
and Cole were moving had Burnley all over the place. If it wasn't for some
poor finishing we could have been 2 or 3 up at half time.

Having Taylor back in the starting line up really makes us look a balanced
team and having Nolan, Noble and Collison in the middle makes it look a
really attacking 451. When long balls did go up to Cole and it wasn't too
often then he had support from one or two of our midfielders. I think Sam
got the formation spot on.

Take the two set piece goals out of the game and I think we looked solid in
defence once again. Faye has been a revelation and proved a number of
people, myself included, wrong and Tomkins alongside him looks better and
better each game.

Cole I thought had a pretty poor game but on a positive note I think that
having players up supporting him like today is the way to play him with
support so rather than flicking it on to nobody he can bring it down and lay
it off. His first touch today was excellent... It was his second and third
that was the problem :)

Nolan scoring yet another goal from midfield and another excellent finish to
boot.

Negatives:

The result! Losing from a winning position against a team that offered very
little was hard to take. Especially as the goals came from two set pieces
which we usually are so good at defending.

The Nolan debate continues! Is him scoring a goal enough if the rest of the
game he is poor or goes missing? Today wasn't his worst game but goal aside
he didn't do much apart from a poor miss... But still good to have a
midfeilder scoring regularly.

Cole, Piquionne and Carew were pretty poor to say the least. Piq nearly
scored but apart from that all three made me realise we need a goal scorer
in Jan and how much we miss Baldock. Although to be fair to Piq he was
played out of position.

I'd like to see Matt Fry given a chance at left back. I like McCartney but
he really is very limited. He is solid enough at the back but out of all the
players he is very quick to just hoof it aimlessly forward. I think a left
back who is stronger going forward and more intelligent on the ball would
really improve the team.

Summary: I don't think we did much wrong today. I thought the tactics and
formation were spot on and really should have been two up by half time.
Personally I wouldn't have started with Cole but totally understand why Sam
did. At the end of the day we aren't going to win every game but if we play
that sort of football we will win more than we lose. Eddie Howe the young
manager with a good reputation didn't out think us, he came and got very
very lucky. Reading up next and I have no doubt we'll be back to winning
ways.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Burnley: How on Earth Did THAT Happen?
December 3rd, 2011 - 7:46 pm by Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die

Oh dear. How on earth did that happen? We dominate the first half, should be
three up, we have 20 odd shots, they have two, and they win 2-1. I still can
hardly believe that result. OK, Burnley certainly improved in the second
half, especially after their number 7 came on, but no way did they deserve
to get anything out of that match. But sometimes justice doesn't prevail.
And it's such a shame because if we'd won we'd have gone top as Southampton
rather improbably lost at Doncaster. I'm told Ilunga played centre half, so
Southampton must have been pretty poor!

At 1-0 up I reckoned our defence had played really well, but you can' ignore
the fact that we then proceeded to let in two soft headers. Both should have
been stopped. Apart from that, I think we just have to put it down to a bad
day at the office and move on. We're still in the automatic promotion places
and there's a five point gap between us and Middlesbrough in third.

At times we played some lovely passing football and we created zillions of
chances. And if Sam Baldock had been playing, we'd have put a couple of them
away. I thought Kevin Nolan had his best game for us and his goal was
sublime. That's 6 goals so far – not bad for a player who's not been in form
and the season isn't even half over yet. Faubert played well in the first
half but lost his way in the second. Collison and Noble both had good games,
although Taylor was disappointing. Let's hope his injury isn't too serious.
Cole looked too isolated at times and played too deep. It looked sometimes
that we had a midfield six. Piquionne flattered to deceive when he came on.
He could have had a hattrick but fluffed each chance. And Carew never really
had time to get into the game.

Let's not get too downhearted. It's a minor setback, not a disaster, so
let's get some perspective and not go over the top in our criticism.

By the way, Stanislas wasn't at the races, was he? And Zavon Hines didn't
even play. Says it all.

Green 6
McCartney 5
O'Brien 6
Tomkins 6
Faye 7
Noble 7
Nolan 7
Faubert 6
Taylor 5
Collison 6
Cole 6
Piquionne 5
Carew 5

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 1-2 Burnley: Sunday Mirror match report
Published 19:30 03/12/11 By Colin Malam
The Mirror

On the day football honoured Gary Speed, it was Wales star Sam Vokes who
scored the goal that burst West Ham's bubble. On for former Hammer Junior
Stanislas, Vokes headed the winner for Burnley that ended West Ham's long
unbeaten run and stopped them going top of the Championship. Nobody could
say Burnley didn't deserve it. After Kevin Nolan had put West Ham ahead, the
visitors hit back through Chris McCann. Although the home side struck a post
twice in the closing stages, Burnley held on and gave as good as they got
for most of the game. I thought we defended magnificently," said Burnley
manager Eddie Howe. "That's what pleased me most. "I knew that if we needed
a goal, we had players on the bench to change the game. I thought both our
substitutes [Ross Wallace and Sam Vokes] did really well. "Sam was
understandably upset when he heard about Gary Speed's death. He found it
difficult. He's a great lad, Sam. He really wants to do well and I thought
he was outstanding when he came on. "It's been tough for him, but his goal
was great and it will give him a big lift."

West Ham went into this game full of confidence and aiming to extend their
unbeaten run to eight games, four of them straight wins. But Burnley, who
were looking for their own third win on the trot, quickly made it clear they
were not going to be a pushover. Fielding five in midfield and one striker,
they tried to stifle West Ham, as the Hammers' manager, Sam Allardyce, had
feared. The home side pressed hard enough in the first 20 minutes, but all
they achieved was a succession of corners that came to nothing. West Ham's
formation was almost a mirror image of Burnley's. They relied on midfielders
to get up in support of Carlton Cole, but nothing would go right for them.
That was underlined after 28 minutes, when Kevin Nolan was guilty of one of
those misses they love to play on TV bloopers programmes.
It started when Dean Marney lost to ball to Jack Collison. He put Cole away
on the right, and the striker's low centre left Nolan with only keeper Lee
Grant to beat.
A simple tap-in seemed ­certain, but the player who had thrilled Upton Park
with his strike against Derby a week earlier put the ball wide from little
more than six yards. Less embarrassing was the far post header a minute
earlier that Matt Taylor sent over the bar from a Julien Faubert centre. Not
until early in the second half did West Ham get any joy from their repeated
attacks. Seven minutes after the restart, Robert Green cleared the ball
upfield. Cole nodded it on and Nolan hooked the ball smartly over the
stranded Grant. Shortly after Nolan redeemed himself for his miss, Burnley
equalised. Skipper Chris McCann jumped higher than anyone else to nod home
Stanislas' cross. Just as Burnley had responded strongly to Nolan's opener,
West Ham came back at them with a vengeance in search of a winner.

Collison nearly got it when Nolan cut the ball back to him from the left,
but the Welsh international's shot hit a post – as did Cole's later. Burnley
were not out of it, though. A quarter of an hour from the end, they took a
shock lead through two of their substitutes. A left-wing corner by Ross
Wallace was headed home cleanly by striker Vokes as he stole into space in
the penalty area. West Ham manager ­Allardyce was subdued about a result
decided by two Burnley set-pieces – his own speciality. "One throw-in and
one ­corner has been very costly for us," he admitted. "We know we should
have ­defended them better. "We just have to accept that it was one of those
days when things didn't seem to drop in the right area for us."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Bankrupt agent football agent Peter Harrison speaks out
Dec 4 2011 by Coreena Ford, Sunday Sun

BANKRUPT sports agent Peter Harrison has spoken out after a bitter wrangle
with former Newcastle United boss Sam Allardyce was finally resolved. The
agent – who was at the centre of Panorama's controversial "bungs probe"
programme – had relied upon a cut of Andy Carroll's £35m move to Liverpool
to help him pay off a long-standing debt to Allardyce and avoid going broke.
Yet after walking away from the mega-money deal without a penny, Mr Harrison
decided not to contest a bankruptcy order made at Newcastle's combined
court, despite it now placing all his assets in the hands of the official
receiver and banning him from operating as a sports agent.

After the £782,000 bankruptcy order was made last week, Mr Harrison spoke
exclusively to the Sunday Sun to reveal how he is now turning his back on
sports agency work once and for all.

Mr Harrison also claims he:
:: will shake up the sports world with a warts-and-all autobiography,
uncovering the real story of transfer dealings
:: has been shunned by sections of the football world since his appearance
on the Panorama programme in 2006
:: will appear in a new TV show which will lift the lid on football's
secrets

The saga first began in 2005 when then-Bolton boss Mr Allardyce loaned Mr
Harrison and former Everton and Blackburn Rovers defender Lucas Neill – one
of Harrison's clients – £300,000 to fund a property development. The plan
was to develop Laverick Hall Farm in Gateshead into 14 homes and the
agreement was to repay Mr Allardyce £600,000 plus interest – what he
expected to be a decent return on his investment. However, the land today
still lies derelict.

Allardyce took legal action against Harrison and Neill to recoup his money
through the High Court in 2007, claiming some £650,000 plus interest and
costs and the pair conceded and agreed to repay it. In 2009, however, it is
understood Allardyce petitioned Harrison's bankruptcy believing it to be the
only way he'd get his money back from the agent. At the bankruptcy hearing
on Thursday however – where Recorder Philip Kramer made the order for
£782,000 – it emerged Mr Harrison has already paid back around £650,000.
That means the agent has only gone bankrupt over the interest and costs,
which took it up to the final order amount. After the three-minute hearing,
which he didn't attend, Mr Harrison boldly declared: "This won't affect me
much. I'm a fighter. "I'll be back in less than a year – hopefully in just a
few weeks."

At an earlier court hearing it was revealed how Mr Harrison – former agent
to Andy Carroll – believed he could repay his creditors money he felt he was
owed from the Magpie striker's record-breaking move to Merseyside. However,
he was left without the substantial commission payment after an FA
arbitration hearing, despite claiming rival agent Mark Curtis "tapped up"
Carroll, a practise banned by the association. Curtis always denied the
claims, and an FA arbitration hearing found in his favour earlier this year.

Mr Harrison, who has also represented Brazilian player Rivaldo and Bolton
keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, was secretly filmed by Panorama for their
programme Football's Dirty Secrets, broadcast in 2005, causing a storm
following claims of managers taking cash inducements during lucrative
transfer deals. He said: "Following the Panorama programme, I have been
treated almost as persona non grata by those I organised transfer deals
with. "People should be aware that another TV programme is going to air soon
which will give my side of the story but I can't say too much about it yet.
"What I can say is that I certainly haven't not got £1.8m of debts that has
previously reported – I'm just going bankrupt over the interests and legal
costs. He added: "I will have my say over Sam in my book too – there will be
a whole chapter on it. "I'm still working by the way – I've still got
projects on the go and I am busy, I'm off to Canada soon for one business
project – but I am leaving sports agency now I have had offers to stay in
the game but I've got sick of it. He added: "I can't say much about the book
deal but I have dealt with the Premier League and its forerunner for 20
years, dealing at the top, and my book will have a bit about how deals are
done and what my life has been about, but first of all I'm working on the TV
programme."

Mark Curtis, Allardyce's agent, told the Sunday Sun he was unaware the
bankruptcy order had gone through and declined to comment.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 3rd December 2011

Burnley match preview
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
iPHONE APP I TWITTER I FACEBOOK I PODCAST

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).

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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".

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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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