Allardyce on... Manchester United
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 23rd March 2014
By: Staff Writer
The supporters aren't the only ones beginning to look back over their
shoulders at the chasing pack following a third successive defeat. Sam
Allardyce explained why he's concerned too in his post-match press
conference, which we bring you in full below...
Sam: I think the goals knocked the stuffing out of the team to a certain
extent?
I think you're right, up until the end of the first half. We tried our best
at the start of the second half, especially the first 15 minutes, but when
Man United are 2-0 up they can sit back and defend what they've already got.
We found that really difficult to break down and couldn't really open up the
opportunity to score a goal, get back in the game and get something out of
it.
Such a wonderful goal from Wayne Rooney so early on was a bit of a sickener
- and I thought it was a blatant foul on James Tomkins who was easily going
to head the ball away. Rooney took him off his balance when he jumped so he
missed the header so technically the referee's made a big error, in the end,
as far as I'm concerned because the opposition have scored from that error.
Then we pushed on and tried to get back in the game. It changes in split
seconds; we could have had a penalty, the ball's come back in the box and
Kevin [Nolan's] looking to try and strike the ball at goal but Fletcher gets
across him. Then they go up the other end, Mark Noble mis-controls and
mis-kicks his clearance straight to Wayne Rooney and what might have been a
penalty with us getting back to 1-1 leaves us 2-0 down instead.
As hard as we tried in the second half we couldn't find a way through and in
the end we're obviously disappointed we've lost. Having won the last three
games at home here we felt confident today that we might get something if we
played our best, but it didn't happen.
I know you felt it was a foul but nobody expected Wayne Rooney to go and do
that?
Nobody expected Rooney to do that, not even David Moyes, but when he did it
was brilliant.
Are you disappointed that the team didn't show more in the second half?
No. We couldn't have shown much more because we had more possession than
them, put more crosses in the box than them, created more attempts at goal
that them. Unfortunately we didn't create any clear-cut chances though, so
our cutting edge wasn't quite good enough.
Are you disappointed that they had a make-shift defence but you didn't
really get on top of them?
We after you've got a 2-0 lead you can sit [deep] like they did, with two
banks of four and just protect what you've got. We took the game to them to
try and get the goal that would get us back to 1-1, but they defended well
and hit us on the counter attack for a second.
It's a shame, but the defining moments in the game went their way today with
the referee's help and by a hugely-talented player who scored one of the
best goals you'll see this season. We have to accept that Manchester United
were better than we were today, as is often the case when you play them.
How big does that result make the next two games against Hull and
Sunderland?
They're massive games because we've got 31 points after 30 games. My
instruction to the lads is to always make sure you keep your points total
ahead of your games total.
When we had that run of games where we won four on the trot we put a lot of
points between our games total. Now we've lost three on the trot and are
back to being just one point ahead of our games total, so we've got to try
and make sure we make it 31 games and 34 points on Wednesday night.
Thank you.
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Moyes on... West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 23rd March 2014
By: Staff Writer No.2
It appears that the massed ranks of the nations football press corps were
all looking the other way as Rooney shoved Tomkins in the back. Either that
or it just slipped their collective minds in the post-match press
conference....
David: that was some goal. You must be delighted?
Yeah, it was a great goal from a top, top player. His technical ability, his
awareness to know where the goalkeeper is during the build-up. You'd never
have thought he'd have known where the goalkeeper is. And then to execute it
and have the power to do that. My only worry was the bounce. Whether it
would go under the bar or not. It was a great goal.
Any though on whether it was better than Beckham's?
I was just saying I actually enjoyed his second goal today. I wouldn't
comment on whether it was better than Beckham's or not. He got into the box
- ok he got a bit fortunate but all the top centre forwards get a bit
fortunate. The [first] goal will take centre stage but I thought our
performance today was pretty good.
The disappointment was that we didn't score more. Sinjhi [Kagawa] had a good
chance. Mata had a good chance. Fellaini should have scored from a header
before that. So before we scored we had a chance to score other goals
You say that there was a suggestion that there was a bit of fortune about
that second goal?
Possibly. But if it was due it was overdue. I will say that our football had
merited the goals. We'd had opportunities and I was thinking "och you can't
have these opportunities without taking them". It was good to see us making
those opportunities because we've not been making them. We scored three at
West Brom. Three against Olympiakos and now a couple today. So we're now
showing signs of doing it better.
Was the pleasing thing that they might have been too confident after
Wednesday coming into today?
If anything they picked up on the performance from midweek. We stepped up
again. I think a lot of players given an opportunity earlier on in the
season and maybe didn't do so well played very well today. It makes the job
easier when you know that everybody is ready and we're going to need that
with the games we have coming up in the weeks to come.
Michael Carrick at centre half?
He made the job look very easy today. Him and Fellaini tag-teamed Andy
Carroll today and did a really good job in trying to limit him as best they
could.
You must be looking forward to the derby game?
You can see that we're playing better. There's more belief coming back. We
have to keep showing that if we can. It's a quick turnaround so we'll
recover and prepare for Tuesday night.
Do you think Rooney prospered from Robin Van Persie's absence?
I don't think anyone prospers from Van Persie's absence. He's a top player
and will be a massive miss for us in the coming month or so.
Thanks, guys.
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Monday, March 24
Sunday, March 23
Daily WHUFC News - 23rd March 2014
Hammers beaten by Rooney double
WHUFC.com
Wayne Rooney scored twice before half time to send West Ham United to defeat
on Saturday
22.03.2014
West Ham United 0-2 Manchester United
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United's three-match home winning streak came to an end on Saturday
when Wayne Rooney's first half double gave Manchester United a 2-0 victory
over the Hammers. Rooney's brace allowed the visitors to control a low tempo
second half in which the Hammers were unable to test goalkeeper David de
Gea. The England striker's opener was one which will be shown again and
again as he took aim from fully 45 yards to catch Adrian out in the Hammers'
goal. His second was rather more prosaic, profiting from a loose Mark Noble
clearance, yet just as effective as the Hammers missed out on the chance to
put more pressure on David Moyes' under-fire side. Manchester United pushed
from the off and went close in the third minute when Andy Carroll was in
place to clear Marauone Fellaini's effort off the line following a corner
for the Red Devils. It was not long before they moved in front in
spectacular fashion through Rooney. The situation appeared innocuous enough
when a high ball landed just inside the Hammers' path, but Rooney eased
James Tomkins out of the way and, spotting Adrian out of position, unleashed
a 45-yard effort on the volley which evaded the backpedalling goalkeeper and
bounced into the net. The Hammers looked to put the visitors' makeshift
backline under pressure, but were being hurt themselves on the
counter-attack and fell 2-0 down on 33 minutes.
Penalty appeals fell on deaf ears as Kevin Nolan went to ground under a
Darren Fletcher challenge, and David Moyes' side broke quickly, allowing
Ashley Young to cross low, and Mark Noble's attempted clearance to cannon
off Rooney and past a helpless Adrian. Rooney went looking for a first-half
hat-trick when he curled a free-kick over the top and the visitors looked
comfortable enough, despite West Ham winning a number of corners. The second
period began in a similar vein, with the away side's biggest danger coming
on the counter. West Ham's best moments were coming from set plays, but
United did well to defend them without conceding a clear chance. In truth,
the game meandered to a certain extent with the Red Devils having done the
damage before the break and 2-0 was how it ended.
West Ham United: Adrian; Demel, Collins, Tomkins, McCartney; Nolan (C.Cole
72), Noble, Taylor (Nocerino 83); Diame (Jarvis 58), Carroll, Downing
Subs: Jaaskelainen, Reid, Armero, J.Cole
Booked: Collins, Taylor
Manchester United: de Gea; Rafael, Carrick, Jones, Buttner; Fletcher,
Fellaini; Young, Mata Welbeck 77), Kagawa; Rooney (Hernandez 77)
Subs: Lindegaard, Evra, Nani, Cleverley, Januzaj
Goals: Rooney 8, Rooney 33
Booked: Rafael
Referee: Lee Mason
Attendance: 34,237
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tonka tells of disappointment
WHUFC.com
James Tomkins was left to rue West Ham United's rough luck against
Manchester United on Saturday
23.03.2014
James Tomkins felt West Ham United had passed up a golden opportunity to
take points off a much-changed Manchester United side in the Barclays
Premier League on Saturday. David Moyes retained just five of the starting
XI that brushed Olympiacos aside in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday
and yet Wayne Rooney's first-half double saw the visitors run out 2-0
victors. Centre-half Tomkins could hardly hide his frustration following the
final whistle, insisting very little had gone the Hammers' way on the day.
He told West Ham TV: "We're obviously disappointed, because the side that
Manchester United put out was a team that we could have made the most of on
Saturday. "Unfortunately, their qualities have obviously shown again with
the two goals. The second one's unfortunate and the first is a great goal.
We look at it ourselves as being a disappointing day."
It took just eight minutes for Manchester United to make their mark, with
Rooney levering Tomkins off the ball, before lashing a dipping effort over
Adrian in the Hammers goal. Spectacular though the finish was, West Ham's
No5 maintains that Rooney's initial challenge on the half-way line was an
unfair one. "I felt I got nudged," he confirmed. "It's one of those that
you've seen given. It could have gone either way I suppose, but having seen
it back, it could have been given. Adrian's not expecting it and it's a
one-in-a-million shot. With a player of his ability you can be punished in
this game."
Thereafter, Tomkins admits the task was a tough one, with Rooney's opener
having taken the wind of out of West Ham sails. And their luck got worse
still when Mark Noble's attempted clearance ricocheted off Rooney to double
the Red Devils' lead. "We started OK and they didn't look like scoring. Then
they popped up with a worldy goal and that can kill you. That [swing in]
momentum just killed us. Nobes [Noble] has gone to clear the ball and the
chances of it hitting Rooney and going in the back of the net was just our
luck on Saturday. "Coming in 2-0 down is always a hard thing to come back
from against a team like Manchester United. We had a mountain to climb in
the second and we tried to give it a go. "We were a bit unlucky with a few
decisions and nothing really fell to us in the box when it could have done.
We're disappointed but the bigger game is on Wednesday night now."
Despite defeat at the Boleyn Ground, it was far from all bad news for the
Hammers, with each of the division's bottom five clubs losing too. Equally,
Sam Allardyce's men need wait just four days for the chance to make amends,
with Hull City next to visit east London. "We can't dwell on it. A lot of
the results went our way on Saturday and that's the good thing. Wednesday
night's obviously a massive game and we need to get our form back on track.
"We didn't give the fans much to shout about on Saturday. We've disappointed
them and we're disappointed ourselves but we'll be back Wednesday night!"
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Big Sam rues Red Devils decisions
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce claimed decisions had cost his West Ham United dear against
Manchester United
22.03.2014
Sam Allardyce was again left to lament a questionable refereeing decision as
West Ham United were beaten 2-0 by Manchester United in the Barclays Premier
League at the Boleyn Ground. After an even start, the Red Devils went ahead
in a manner that was both controversial and spectacular on eight minutes.
Wayne Rooney appeared to nudge James Tomkins as the defender rose to head
clear on halfway, but official Lee Mason gave nothing and the England
striker took full advantage by volleying over Adrian from fully 45 yards.
West Ham gamely attempted to get back into the game and saw a penalty appeal
turned down for a Darren Fletcher challenge on Kevin Nolan on 33 minutes.
Seconds later, it was 2-0 as Mark Noble cleared Ashley Young's cross
straight to Rooney, who found the bottom corner. The Hammers had chances of
their own, only for their shots and headers to either be blocked or fly wide
or over the target. At the other end, Adrian was kept busy by efforts from
Juan Mata and Shinji Kagawa, while Rooney passed up a couple of chances to
complete his hat-trick.
After half-time, Big Sam threw on Carlton Cole and switched to a 4-4-2
formation, but it was to no avail as the Hammers dropped two places to 14th
in the table. "I think we've had another refereeing decision that has gone
against us, or maybe two because I'm not absolutely sure Kevin's was a
penalty, but Darren Fletcher did get across him and didn't play the ball,"
he told West Ham TV. "Certainly the foul on James Tomkins resulted in the
best goal of the weekend, but it shouldn't have stood because when the ball
bounced James would have won a free header. Wayne Rooney knew he wasn't
going to win it so he pushed James and James missed the header. The referee
and assistant referee didn't do their jobs properly and Wayne Rooney
produced the best bit of skill you'll see all weekend, if not all season,
because I don't think we'll see another goal as good as that. "It was
unbelievable technique and not one I can really blame the goalie for,
because the goalie always has to be out of his goal when the ball is on the
halfway line. Nobody expected Wayne to shoot from that position, but he took
the chance, struck it brilliantly and scored a goal. "It was a big blow and
it knocked the stuffing out of us, then the second one we thought might have
got a penalty and would have got us back in the game if the referee had
given it. Then they broke right up the other end, it looked like Mark Noble
was going to clear it but unfortunately he passed it straight to Wayne, who
scored again. "As hard as we fought in the second half to get a goal back,
we couldn't find one."
West Ham did more than match David Moyes' side before Rooney's second goal,
but Big Sam admitted his team's defensive resilience had not been there at
vital times for the second match in succession. "You have got to keep the
back door shut. We paid the price and did the same thing at Stoke City,
where we were in control of the game and looked like we were going to score
in the second half, then they got one ball in behind our midfield and they
got through our back four and scored. "Our defensive quality is there to
make sure we have a platform to enable us to wait for our goal and not to
have to fight back from goals down. If you go goals down against the likes
of Manchester United, it is hugely difficult to come back and get something
out of teams of that quality. "We produced some good play, but I was a
little bit disappointed that we didn't play better with Carlton up front
[with Andy Carroll]. We started all right with Carlton up front and had
started the second half very well, but instead of playing the ball through
the midfield into wide positions, we started playing too many balls from
back to front too quickly and ended up giving it away. "As a result, we
didn't exert as much pressure on Manchester United as we might have done."
West Ham now prepare for two proverbial six-pointers at home to Hull City on
Wednesday evening and away at Sunderland a week on Monday. The manager is
under no illusions about the importance of both matches. A win over Hull
would take West Ham above Steve Bruce's side and put them within two
victories of the magical 40-point mark. "It is a massive game against Hull.
We've played 30 games and only got 31 points now and I've always said that
is what counts. We have got to try to maintain our points total above our
games total. "It's very important that we try and get a victory on Wednesday
and feel a bit more secure."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 0 Manchester United 2
22 March 2014
Last updated at 19:59
By Neil Johnston
BBC Sport
Wayne Rooney scored two goals, including an exquisite lobbed finish, as
Manchester United overcame Robin van Persie's absence to win at West Ham.
Rooney, now third in United's all-time goalscorers list on 212, put his side
ahead with a stunning lob from just inside the Hammers' half. The England
striker doubled the lead after Mark Noble's attempted clearance fell
straight to Rooney to steer home. West Ham were poor, Andy Carroll's tame
header the closest they came to a goal. United manager David Moyes, without
Netherlands striker van Persie for up to six weeks due to a sprained knee,
has had little to smile about this season. But Rooney's spectacular eighth
minute finish had the Scot out of his seat in the dug-out applauding a truly
wonderful goal. There were shades of David Beckham's memorable finish from
the halfway line for United against Wimbledon in 1996 as Rooney, spotting
Adrian well off his line, outmuscled James Tomkins before unleashing a
brilliant lob which sailed over the goalkeeper and into the net. This was
United's ninth Premier League win away from Old Trafford, where the Red
Devils return on Tuesday for the Manchester derby. While United's domestic
home form - five defeats in 14 games - continues to frustrate Moyes, he is
at least finding some solace on the road. Former Manchester United player
David Beckham was at Upton Park with his sons Brooklyn and Romeo to watch
his old club win. Beckham was seen applauding Rooney's spectacular goal
which had shades of his famous finish from the halfway line against
Wimbledon in 1996. With Beckham and England manager Roy Hodgson in the Upton
Park main stand, United carried on where they left off after reviving their
Champions League campaign at Olympiakos' expense on Wednesday. Rooney's
spectacular finish set the tone for a comfortable victory to move back to
within three points of fifth spot in the table. The Hammers should have
equalised in the 15th minute. But Carroll, who was unmarked, spurned a
glorious chance to give Hodgson a reminder of his goalscoring prowess ahead
of the World Cup when he headed straight at David De Gea from close range.
United, who had Michael Carrick as a makeshift centre-back in the absence of
the injured Rio Ferdinand and suspended Nemanja Vidic, carried a threat each
time they went forward. Shinji Kagawa, on only his eighth league start of
the campaign, forced a fine save from Adrian before the Spaniard beat away a
goal-bound shot from countryman Juan Mata. But United, who also recalled
Alexander Buttner, Marouane Fellaini, Darren Fletcher and Ashley Young,
established a two-goal cushion in the 33rd minute. Moments after the Hammers
had claims for a penalty waved away when Noble went to ground under a
Fletcher challenge, Young powered deep into West Ham's half. His cross fell
to Noble who could only kick the ball into Rooney's path and the United man
made no mistake from close range.
West Ham still have to secure their Premier League survival and face
Liverpool (home), Arsenal (away) and Manchester City (away) before the end
of the season. Sam Allardyce can only hope his team can raise their game
after a limp performance. The damage had already been done when Fellaini
crashed to the ground inside the West Ham penalty area after Antonio
Nocerino's challenge in the closing stages. But there were few complaints
from the visitors when referee Lee Mason waved away their appeals. United
had the points safely in the bag.
West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce: "The first goal knocked the stuffing
out of us. "It's such a wonderful goal, you've got to admire the finish, but
to get off to a start like that when we were looking forward to this game,
having won the last three at home and trying to get more points on the
board. "Straight away you're 1-0 down against a side that have got an
abundance of talent. "I definitely thought there was a foul [leading up to
the first goal]. "When the ball comes forwards, James Tomkins is going to
try and win it. Wayne, not making an attempt for the ball, pushes him with
his left arm."
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Sunny side up
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 22nd March 2014
By: Staff Writer
West Ham look set to play Liverpool in a glamorous post-season fixture in
Mauritius, according to reports. The friendly fixture between the two
Premeir League clubs has provisionally been pencilled in for Sunday, May 18
- a week after the culmination of this season's Premier League campaign.
Liverpool representative Olly Dale, the club's Director of Sales, said: "I'm
very impressed with everything in Mauritius, it's a great country. We've had
a very warm welcome extended to us here. We look forward to any prospective
game with the knowledge that this is a fantastic country."
Meanwhile Mark Gibbon, who has been widely reported as representing West Ham
United's interests, added: "It's a fantastic country, it's a fantastic
welcome. The people are beautiful. I'm very surprised how professional the
facilities are, good enough to host any international event here. I'm very
impressed indeed."
The game is scheduled to take place in Mauritius' Anjalay Stadium, a
30,000-capacity arena situated in Belle Vue Maurel. Also used for racing
(cars and bikes), the stadium received a multi-million overhaul in 2003 and
is used for many of the country's major sporting events.
Neither club has yet confirmed the fixture.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Wayne Rooney wonder strike helps Man Utd win 2-0 at West Ham
Last Updated: 23/03/14 8:09am
SSN
Two goals from Wayne Rooney, including a wonder strike from just inside the
West Ham half, secured Manchester United a 2-0 victory at Upton Park.
Returning to league action after progressing to the Champions League
quarter-finals with a fine victory against Olympiakos, the England
international netted twice as David Moyes' men proved Wednesday's result was
no flash in the pan.
Best of the match
Goal of the match: Wayne Rooney's opener would have graced any ground in
world football.
Moment of the match: Rooney's first. To hit with such precision after the
ball had bounced really takes some doing.
Man of the match: Wayne Rooney led by example as well as scoring both goals.
Talking point: Can United beat Manchester City on Tuesday night?
Rooney's second saw him move onto 212 goals and usurp Jack Rowley as the
third highest goalscorer in United's history, but it was his first just
eight minutes into the win that will live long in the memory. The
28-year-old produced a moment of magic, sending the ball sailing over Adrian
in a goal similar in audacity and skill to David Beckham's wonder strike at
Wimbledon in 1996. Rather aptly, the former United midfielder was at Upton
Park to witness the effort first-hand and will have been impressed by the
way Moyes' side held on to condemn West Ham to a third successive defeat.
Rooney's display was certainly a timely shot in the arm for United, with
Robin van Persie facing up to six weeks out with a sprained knee. His
enforced absence was one of the six changes from the midweek win over
Olympiakos, with the visitors impressing from the outset in east London. One
of those brought in, Marouane Fellaini, came close to putting the visitors
ahead inside three minutes, powering a header goalwards only for Andy
Carroll to hack off the line. Moyes' side continued in the ascendancy and
were almost then gifted a goal as Shinji Kagawa collected a miscued James
Tomkins pass, allowing the Japan international to thread through Juan Mata.
Adrian did well to stop the midfielder's strike but could only watch
helplessly as Rooney netted his contender for goal of the season. Having
outmuscled Tomkins, Rooney turned and hit a half-volley which sailed over
Adrian and into the net from fully 58 yards. Beckham, watching on from the
Upton Park stands, smiled wryly at the goal so similar to his own famous
strike, which West Ham tried to chalk off immediately . Mohamed Diame saw a
drive blocked by Alexander Buttner, before Carroll powered a header straight
at David de Gea moments after glancing a Kevin Nolan free-kick wide. Diame
lost his footing just before getting a shot away as the home side continued
to press, although they were leaving themselves open at the back. Manchester
United manager David Moyes hailed Wayne Rooney's first goal against West
Ham, liking it to David Beckham's wonder strike at Wimbledon in 1996. When
United next attacked Adrian had to be alert to deny Kagawa directing in a
Mata through-ball, before the Spaniard stung the palms of the West Ham
goalkeeper after wriggling free.
The visitors did not have to wait long to double their advantage, though. As
Nolan fumed at having a penalty appeal rejected by referee Lee Mason, United
countered at speed with Rooney playing the ball right to Ashley Young. The
returning winger burst forward and sent in a low cross that Mark Noble could
only hack into the path of Rooney, who easily directed home in the 33rd
minute. The goal moved him third in United's all-time scorers list and he
attempted to add to that haul before the break, although failed with three
efforts at a hat-trick. The Hammers returned from the break impressively
and, after Young saw an effort saved at the other end, Diame had a strike
blocked as West Ham attempted to carve open United's defence, which was
holding firm despite Michael Carrick playing as a makeshift centre-back. The
England midfielder did well to head away as Tomkins lurked at the back post,
before left-back Buttner failed with an attempt at the other end. West Ham
brought on Carlton Cole with less than 20 minutes remaining as they
continued to pump balls into the box, while United made changes of their
own, including the withdrawal of Rooney.
Rooney's replacement Javier Hernandez would have added a third had Kagawa
not sent a cross over the unmarked forward's head.
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Sam Allardyce thought Wayne Rooney's first shouldn't have stood
Last Updated: 23/03/14 8:27am
SSN
West Ham's Sam Allardyce thought one or two decisions went against his side
in their 2-0 defeat at home to Manchester United. Wayne Rooney scored twice
for the visitors in the first half, the opener coming from at least 45 yards
out. Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Allardyce praised the goal but
thought there may have been a foul in the build-up. He said: "It's such a
wonderful goal you've got to admire the finish. "But to get off to a start
like that having won the last three at home didn't help. It was wonderful,
you have to admire the talent. He didn't even look up. "If you look again
though it's probably a foul by Rooney. Rooney pushes James Tomkins and it's
difficult for the referee to see it. "He stops Tomkins heading the ball. The
assistant referee should have seen it but there you go. We didn't get a
couple today." West Ham manager Sam Allardyce was left admiring Wayne
Rooney's first goal after his side were beaten 2-0 by Manchester United.
Despite the defeat, Allardyce maintains there were some positives to take
from the display. He added: "I think we attacked well and got into some good
territorial positions. "When Man United are 2-0 up they just have to sit
back then and defend and you have to produce real quality. "They can hit you
on the break and that knocked the stuffing out of us but there were some
positives. They made six international changes from Wednesday night and they
proved it tonight. "My analysis on where we are is getting the points
quickly so hopefully we can get three on the board in the next game. "Our
defining games are against the teams around us."
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WHUFC.com
Wayne Rooney scored twice before half time to send West Ham United to defeat
on Saturday
22.03.2014
West Ham United 0-2 Manchester United
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United's three-match home winning streak came to an end on Saturday
when Wayne Rooney's first half double gave Manchester United a 2-0 victory
over the Hammers. Rooney's brace allowed the visitors to control a low tempo
second half in which the Hammers were unable to test goalkeeper David de
Gea. The England striker's opener was one which will be shown again and
again as he took aim from fully 45 yards to catch Adrian out in the Hammers'
goal. His second was rather more prosaic, profiting from a loose Mark Noble
clearance, yet just as effective as the Hammers missed out on the chance to
put more pressure on David Moyes' under-fire side. Manchester United pushed
from the off and went close in the third minute when Andy Carroll was in
place to clear Marauone Fellaini's effort off the line following a corner
for the Red Devils. It was not long before they moved in front in
spectacular fashion through Rooney. The situation appeared innocuous enough
when a high ball landed just inside the Hammers' path, but Rooney eased
James Tomkins out of the way and, spotting Adrian out of position, unleashed
a 45-yard effort on the volley which evaded the backpedalling goalkeeper and
bounced into the net. The Hammers looked to put the visitors' makeshift
backline under pressure, but were being hurt themselves on the
counter-attack and fell 2-0 down on 33 minutes.
Penalty appeals fell on deaf ears as Kevin Nolan went to ground under a
Darren Fletcher challenge, and David Moyes' side broke quickly, allowing
Ashley Young to cross low, and Mark Noble's attempted clearance to cannon
off Rooney and past a helpless Adrian. Rooney went looking for a first-half
hat-trick when he curled a free-kick over the top and the visitors looked
comfortable enough, despite West Ham winning a number of corners. The second
period began in a similar vein, with the away side's biggest danger coming
on the counter. West Ham's best moments were coming from set plays, but
United did well to defend them without conceding a clear chance. In truth,
the game meandered to a certain extent with the Red Devils having done the
damage before the break and 2-0 was how it ended.
West Ham United: Adrian; Demel, Collins, Tomkins, McCartney; Nolan (C.Cole
72), Noble, Taylor (Nocerino 83); Diame (Jarvis 58), Carroll, Downing
Subs: Jaaskelainen, Reid, Armero, J.Cole
Booked: Collins, Taylor
Manchester United: de Gea; Rafael, Carrick, Jones, Buttner; Fletcher,
Fellaini; Young, Mata Welbeck 77), Kagawa; Rooney (Hernandez 77)
Subs: Lindegaard, Evra, Nani, Cleverley, Januzaj
Goals: Rooney 8, Rooney 33
Booked: Rafael
Referee: Lee Mason
Attendance: 34,237
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tonka tells of disappointment
WHUFC.com
James Tomkins was left to rue West Ham United's rough luck against
Manchester United on Saturday
23.03.2014
James Tomkins felt West Ham United had passed up a golden opportunity to
take points off a much-changed Manchester United side in the Barclays
Premier League on Saturday. David Moyes retained just five of the starting
XI that brushed Olympiacos aside in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday
and yet Wayne Rooney's first-half double saw the visitors run out 2-0
victors. Centre-half Tomkins could hardly hide his frustration following the
final whistle, insisting very little had gone the Hammers' way on the day.
He told West Ham TV: "We're obviously disappointed, because the side that
Manchester United put out was a team that we could have made the most of on
Saturday. "Unfortunately, their qualities have obviously shown again with
the two goals. The second one's unfortunate and the first is a great goal.
We look at it ourselves as being a disappointing day."
It took just eight minutes for Manchester United to make their mark, with
Rooney levering Tomkins off the ball, before lashing a dipping effort over
Adrian in the Hammers goal. Spectacular though the finish was, West Ham's
No5 maintains that Rooney's initial challenge on the half-way line was an
unfair one. "I felt I got nudged," he confirmed. "It's one of those that
you've seen given. It could have gone either way I suppose, but having seen
it back, it could have been given. Adrian's not expecting it and it's a
one-in-a-million shot. With a player of his ability you can be punished in
this game."
Thereafter, Tomkins admits the task was a tough one, with Rooney's opener
having taken the wind of out of West Ham sails. And their luck got worse
still when Mark Noble's attempted clearance ricocheted off Rooney to double
the Red Devils' lead. "We started OK and they didn't look like scoring. Then
they popped up with a worldy goal and that can kill you. That [swing in]
momentum just killed us. Nobes [Noble] has gone to clear the ball and the
chances of it hitting Rooney and going in the back of the net was just our
luck on Saturday. "Coming in 2-0 down is always a hard thing to come back
from against a team like Manchester United. We had a mountain to climb in
the second and we tried to give it a go. "We were a bit unlucky with a few
decisions and nothing really fell to us in the box when it could have done.
We're disappointed but the bigger game is on Wednesday night now."
Despite defeat at the Boleyn Ground, it was far from all bad news for the
Hammers, with each of the division's bottom five clubs losing too. Equally,
Sam Allardyce's men need wait just four days for the chance to make amends,
with Hull City next to visit east London. "We can't dwell on it. A lot of
the results went our way on Saturday and that's the good thing. Wednesday
night's obviously a massive game and we need to get our form back on track.
"We didn't give the fans much to shout about on Saturday. We've disappointed
them and we're disappointed ourselves but we'll be back Wednesday night!"
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Big Sam rues Red Devils decisions
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce claimed decisions had cost his West Ham United dear against
Manchester United
22.03.2014
Sam Allardyce was again left to lament a questionable refereeing decision as
West Ham United were beaten 2-0 by Manchester United in the Barclays Premier
League at the Boleyn Ground. After an even start, the Red Devils went ahead
in a manner that was both controversial and spectacular on eight minutes.
Wayne Rooney appeared to nudge James Tomkins as the defender rose to head
clear on halfway, but official Lee Mason gave nothing and the England
striker took full advantage by volleying over Adrian from fully 45 yards.
West Ham gamely attempted to get back into the game and saw a penalty appeal
turned down for a Darren Fletcher challenge on Kevin Nolan on 33 minutes.
Seconds later, it was 2-0 as Mark Noble cleared Ashley Young's cross
straight to Rooney, who found the bottom corner. The Hammers had chances of
their own, only for their shots and headers to either be blocked or fly wide
or over the target. At the other end, Adrian was kept busy by efforts from
Juan Mata and Shinji Kagawa, while Rooney passed up a couple of chances to
complete his hat-trick.
After half-time, Big Sam threw on Carlton Cole and switched to a 4-4-2
formation, but it was to no avail as the Hammers dropped two places to 14th
in the table. "I think we've had another refereeing decision that has gone
against us, or maybe two because I'm not absolutely sure Kevin's was a
penalty, but Darren Fletcher did get across him and didn't play the ball,"
he told West Ham TV. "Certainly the foul on James Tomkins resulted in the
best goal of the weekend, but it shouldn't have stood because when the ball
bounced James would have won a free header. Wayne Rooney knew he wasn't
going to win it so he pushed James and James missed the header. The referee
and assistant referee didn't do their jobs properly and Wayne Rooney
produced the best bit of skill you'll see all weekend, if not all season,
because I don't think we'll see another goal as good as that. "It was
unbelievable technique and not one I can really blame the goalie for,
because the goalie always has to be out of his goal when the ball is on the
halfway line. Nobody expected Wayne to shoot from that position, but he took
the chance, struck it brilliantly and scored a goal. "It was a big blow and
it knocked the stuffing out of us, then the second one we thought might have
got a penalty and would have got us back in the game if the referee had
given it. Then they broke right up the other end, it looked like Mark Noble
was going to clear it but unfortunately he passed it straight to Wayne, who
scored again. "As hard as we fought in the second half to get a goal back,
we couldn't find one."
West Ham did more than match David Moyes' side before Rooney's second goal,
but Big Sam admitted his team's defensive resilience had not been there at
vital times for the second match in succession. "You have got to keep the
back door shut. We paid the price and did the same thing at Stoke City,
where we were in control of the game and looked like we were going to score
in the second half, then they got one ball in behind our midfield and they
got through our back four and scored. "Our defensive quality is there to
make sure we have a platform to enable us to wait for our goal and not to
have to fight back from goals down. If you go goals down against the likes
of Manchester United, it is hugely difficult to come back and get something
out of teams of that quality. "We produced some good play, but I was a
little bit disappointed that we didn't play better with Carlton up front
[with Andy Carroll]. We started all right with Carlton up front and had
started the second half very well, but instead of playing the ball through
the midfield into wide positions, we started playing too many balls from
back to front too quickly and ended up giving it away. "As a result, we
didn't exert as much pressure on Manchester United as we might have done."
West Ham now prepare for two proverbial six-pointers at home to Hull City on
Wednesday evening and away at Sunderland a week on Monday. The manager is
under no illusions about the importance of both matches. A win over Hull
would take West Ham above Steve Bruce's side and put them within two
victories of the magical 40-point mark. "It is a massive game against Hull.
We've played 30 games and only got 31 points now and I've always said that
is what counts. We have got to try to maintain our points total above our
games total. "It's very important that we try and get a victory on Wednesday
and feel a bit more secure."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 0 Manchester United 2
22 March 2014
Last updated at 19:59
By Neil Johnston
BBC Sport
Wayne Rooney scored two goals, including an exquisite lobbed finish, as
Manchester United overcame Robin van Persie's absence to win at West Ham.
Rooney, now third in United's all-time goalscorers list on 212, put his side
ahead with a stunning lob from just inside the Hammers' half. The England
striker doubled the lead after Mark Noble's attempted clearance fell
straight to Rooney to steer home. West Ham were poor, Andy Carroll's tame
header the closest they came to a goal. United manager David Moyes, without
Netherlands striker van Persie for up to six weeks due to a sprained knee,
has had little to smile about this season. But Rooney's spectacular eighth
minute finish had the Scot out of his seat in the dug-out applauding a truly
wonderful goal. There were shades of David Beckham's memorable finish from
the halfway line for United against Wimbledon in 1996 as Rooney, spotting
Adrian well off his line, outmuscled James Tomkins before unleashing a
brilliant lob which sailed over the goalkeeper and into the net. This was
United's ninth Premier League win away from Old Trafford, where the Red
Devils return on Tuesday for the Manchester derby. While United's domestic
home form - five defeats in 14 games - continues to frustrate Moyes, he is
at least finding some solace on the road. Former Manchester United player
David Beckham was at Upton Park with his sons Brooklyn and Romeo to watch
his old club win. Beckham was seen applauding Rooney's spectacular goal
which had shades of his famous finish from the halfway line against
Wimbledon in 1996. With Beckham and England manager Roy Hodgson in the Upton
Park main stand, United carried on where they left off after reviving their
Champions League campaign at Olympiakos' expense on Wednesday. Rooney's
spectacular finish set the tone for a comfortable victory to move back to
within three points of fifth spot in the table. The Hammers should have
equalised in the 15th minute. But Carroll, who was unmarked, spurned a
glorious chance to give Hodgson a reminder of his goalscoring prowess ahead
of the World Cup when he headed straight at David De Gea from close range.
United, who had Michael Carrick as a makeshift centre-back in the absence of
the injured Rio Ferdinand and suspended Nemanja Vidic, carried a threat each
time they went forward. Shinji Kagawa, on only his eighth league start of
the campaign, forced a fine save from Adrian before the Spaniard beat away a
goal-bound shot from countryman Juan Mata. But United, who also recalled
Alexander Buttner, Marouane Fellaini, Darren Fletcher and Ashley Young,
established a two-goal cushion in the 33rd minute. Moments after the Hammers
had claims for a penalty waved away when Noble went to ground under a
Fletcher challenge, Young powered deep into West Ham's half. His cross fell
to Noble who could only kick the ball into Rooney's path and the United man
made no mistake from close range.
West Ham still have to secure their Premier League survival and face
Liverpool (home), Arsenal (away) and Manchester City (away) before the end
of the season. Sam Allardyce can only hope his team can raise their game
after a limp performance. The damage had already been done when Fellaini
crashed to the ground inside the West Ham penalty area after Antonio
Nocerino's challenge in the closing stages. But there were few complaints
from the visitors when referee Lee Mason waved away their appeals. United
had the points safely in the bag.
West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce: "The first goal knocked the stuffing
out of us. "It's such a wonderful goal, you've got to admire the finish, but
to get off to a start like that when we were looking forward to this game,
having won the last three at home and trying to get more points on the
board. "Straight away you're 1-0 down against a side that have got an
abundance of talent. "I definitely thought there was a foul [leading up to
the first goal]. "When the ball comes forwards, James Tomkins is going to
try and win it. Wayne, not making an attempt for the ball, pushes him with
his left arm."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sunny side up
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 22nd March 2014
By: Staff Writer
West Ham look set to play Liverpool in a glamorous post-season fixture in
Mauritius, according to reports. The friendly fixture between the two
Premeir League clubs has provisionally been pencilled in for Sunday, May 18
- a week after the culmination of this season's Premier League campaign.
Liverpool representative Olly Dale, the club's Director of Sales, said: "I'm
very impressed with everything in Mauritius, it's a great country. We've had
a very warm welcome extended to us here. We look forward to any prospective
game with the knowledge that this is a fantastic country."
Meanwhile Mark Gibbon, who has been widely reported as representing West Ham
United's interests, added: "It's a fantastic country, it's a fantastic
welcome. The people are beautiful. I'm very surprised how professional the
facilities are, good enough to host any international event here. I'm very
impressed indeed."
The game is scheduled to take place in Mauritius' Anjalay Stadium, a
30,000-capacity arena situated in Belle Vue Maurel. Also used for racing
(cars and bikes), the stadium received a multi-million overhaul in 2003 and
is used for many of the country's major sporting events.
Neither club has yet confirmed the fixture.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Wayne Rooney wonder strike helps Man Utd win 2-0 at West Ham
Last Updated: 23/03/14 8:09am
SSN
Two goals from Wayne Rooney, including a wonder strike from just inside the
West Ham half, secured Manchester United a 2-0 victory at Upton Park.
Returning to league action after progressing to the Champions League
quarter-finals with a fine victory against Olympiakos, the England
international netted twice as David Moyes' men proved Wednesday's result was
no flash in the pan.
Best of the match
Goal of the match: Wayne Rooney's opener would have graced any ground in
world football.
Moment of the match: Rooney's first. To hit with such precision after the
ball had bounced really takes some doing.
Man of the match: Wayne Rooney led by example as well as scoring both goals.
Talking point: Can United beat Manchester City on Tuesday night?
Rooney's second saw him move onto 212 goals and usurp Jack Rowley as the
third highest goalscorer in United's history, but it was his first just
eight minutes into the win that will live long in the memory. The
28-year-old produced a moment of magic, sending the ball sailing over Adrian
in a goal similar in audacity and skill to David Beckham's wonder strike at
Wimbledon in 1996. Rather aptly, the former United midfielder was at Upton
Park to witness the effort first-hand and will have been impressed by the
way Moyes' side held on to condemn West Ham to a third successive defeat.
Rooney's display was certainly a timely shot in the arm for United, with
Robin van Persie facing up to six weeks out with a sprained knee. His
enforced absence was one of the six changes from the midweek win over
Olympiakos, with the visitors impressing from the outset in east London. One
of those brought in, Marouane Fellaini, came close to putting the visitors
ahead inside three minutes, powering a header goalwards only for Andy
Carroll to hack off the line. Moyes' side continued in the ascendancy and
were almost then gifted a goal as Shinji Kagawa collected a miscued James
Tomkins pass, allowing the Japan international to thread through Juan Mata.
Adrian did well to stop the midfielder's strike but could only watch
helplessly as Rooney netted his contender for goal of the season. Having
outmuscled Tomkins, Rooney turned and hit a half-volley which sailed over
Adrian and into the net from fully 58 yards. Beckham, watching on from the
Upton Park stands, smiled wryly at the goal so similar to his own famous
strike, which West Ham tried to chalk off immediately . Mohamed Diame saw a
drive blocked by Alexander Buttner, before Carroll powered a header straight
at David de Gea moments after glancing a Kevin Nolan free-kick wide. Diame
lost his footing just before getting a shot away as the home side continued
to press, although they were leaving themselves open at the back. Manchester
United manager David Moyes hailed Wayne Rooney's first goal against West
Ham, liking it to David Beckham's wonder strike at Wimbledon in 1996. When
United next attacked Adrian had to be alert to deny Kagawa directing in a
Mata through-ball, before the Spaniard stung the palms of the West Ham
goalkeeper after wriggling free.
The visitors did not have to wait long to double their advantage, though. As
Nolan fumed at having a penalty appeal rejected by referee Lee Mason, United
countered at speed with Rooney playing the ball right to Ashley Young. The
returning winger burst forward and sent in a low cross that Mark Noble could
only hack into the path of Rooney, who easily directed home in the 33rd
minute. The goal moved him third in United's all-time scorers list and he
attempted to add to that haul before the break, although failed with three
efforts at a hat-trick. The Hammers returned from the break impressively
and, after Young saw an effort saved at the other end, Diame had a strike
blocked as West Ham attempted to carve open United's defence, which was
holding firm despite Michael Carrick playing as a makeshift centre-back. The
England midfielder did well to head away as Tomkins lurked at the back post,
before left-back Buttner failed with an attempt at the other end. West Ham
brought on Carlton Cole with less than 20 minutes remaining as they
continued to pump balls into the box, while United made changes of their
own, including the withdrawal of Rooney.
Rooney's replacement Javier Hernandez would have added a third had Kagawa
not sent a cross over the unmarked forward's head.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce thought Wayne Rooney's first shouldn't have stood
Last Updated: 23/03/14 8:27am
SSN
West Ham's Sam Allardyce thought one or two decisions went against his side
in their 2-0 defeat at home to Manchester United. Wayne Rooney scored twice
for the visitors in the first half, the opener coming from at least 45 yards
out. Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Allardyce praised the goal but
thought there may have been a foul in the build-up. He said: "It's such a
wonderful goal you've got to admire the finish. "But to get off to a start
like that having won the last three at home didn't help. It was wonderful,
you have to admire the talent. He didn't even look up. "If you look again
though it's probably a foul by Rooney. Rooney pushes James Tomkins and it's
difficult for the referee to see it. "He stops Tomkins heading the ball. The
assistant referee should have seen it but there you go. We didn't get a
couple today." West Ham manager Sam Allardyce was left admiring Wayne
Rooney's first goal after his side were beaten 2-0 by Manchester United.
Despite the defeat, Allardyce maintains there were some positives to take
from the display. He added: "I think we attacked well and got into some good
territorial positions. "When Man United are 2-0 up they just have to sit
back then and defend and you have to produce real quality. "They can hit you
on the break and that knocked the stuffing out of us but there were some
positives. They made six international changes from Wednesday night and they
proved it tonight. "My analysis on where we are is getting the points
quickly so hopefully we can get three on the board in the next game. "Our
defining games are against the teams around us."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
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Saturday, March 22
Daily WHUFC News - 22nd March 2014
Manchester United match preview
WHUFC.com
A look ahead to Saturday's evening kick-off against Manchester United at the
Boleyn Ground
21.03.2014
WEST HAM UNITED v MANCHESTER UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 22 MARCH 2014
KICK-OFF: 5.30PM
REFEREE: LEE MASON
FULL AUDIO COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
Introduction
• Manchester United are the visitors to the Boleyn Ground for Saturday's
televised evening kick-off in the Barclays Premier League.
• West Ham United will be aiming to end a run of two successive league
defeats against the Red Devils, after losses to Everton and Stoke City.
• Both those defeats came away from home with a 3-1 loss to the Potters last
Saturday leaving the Hammers in 12th position in the table.
• Sam Allardyce's side return to east London looking to earn a fourth
straight home win after victories against Swansea City, Norwich City and
Southampton in February.
• In the corresponding fixture last season, Mo Diame and Ricardo Vaz Te
scored for the Hammers in a 2-2 draw.
• Manchester United arrive at the Boleyn Ground having suffered a
demoralising defeat against Liverpool in their last league outing, going
down 3-0 at Old Trafford.
• They did however bounce back with a win against Olympiacos in the UEFA
Champions League on Wednesday night, a Robin van Persie hat-trick seeing the
Red Devils through to the quarter-finals.
• The champions' hopes of finishing in the top-four seem all but finished as
they lie 12 points behind fourth-placed Manchester City ahead of Saturday's
match.
• A stuttering first season in charge has left David Moyes' team in seventh
place in the table, with 48 points from 29 games.
Team news
West Ham United
• The Hammers will be without Joey O'Brien (shoulder) and Marco Borriello
(calf) for the visit of the champions.
• Jack Collison (Wigan Athletic), Ravel Morrison, Modibo Maiga (both QPR),
Paul McCallum (Heart of Midlothian) and George Moncur (Partick Thistle) are
all out on loan.
Manchester United
• Nemanja Vidic was red carded in the Red Devils' last Premier League outing
and is suspended for Saturday's clash.
• Robin van Persie was stretchered off against Olympiacos on Wednesday night
with a knee injury and will definitely miss the visit to the Hammers.
Last time out
Stoke City 3-1 West Ham United
Barclays Premier League
15 March 2014
West Ham United: Adrian, Demel, Tomkins, Reid, McCartney, Noble, Nolan,
Nocerino (C Cole 76), Diame, Downing (J Cole 62), Carroll (Armero 83)
Subs not used: Jaaskelainen, Collins, Taylor, Jarvis
Goal: Carroll 5
Manchester United 3-0 Olympiacos
UEFA Champions League
19 March 2014
Manchester United: De Gea, Rafael, Evra, Ferdinand, Jones, Giggs, Valencia
(Young 77), Carrick, van Persie (Fellaini 90), Rooney, Welbeck (Fletcher 81)
Subs not used: Lindegaard, Hernandez, Januzaj, Kagawa
Goals: van Persie 25 pen, 45, 51
Previous meeting
Carlton Cole struck a late consolation as the Hammers were comfortably
beaten at Old Trafford in December 2013. Danny Welbeck and Adnan Januzaj
struck before the break to put the hosts firmly in control, and their
position was strengthened further in the second period by Ashley Young's
curled shot. Cole came off the bench to pull one back for the Hammers but
there was not enough time left to inspire a fightback.
Manchester United 3-1 West Ham United
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 21 December 2013
Manchester United: De Gea, Rafael, Smalling, Evans, Evra (Buttner 80),
Jones, Cleverley, Valencia, Rooney, Januzaj (Young 69), Welbeck (Hernandez
54)
Subs not used: Johnstone, Fletcher, Giggs, Kagawa
Goals: Welbeck 26, Januzaj 36, Young 72
West Ham United: Adrian, Demel, Tomkins, Collins (Rat 75), McCartney, Noble,
Diame, Taylor (Collison 62), Morrison, Jarvis (C Cole 71), Maiga
Subs not used: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, Diarra, J Cole
Goal: C Cole 81
Last six meetings (Premier League unless stated)
21 December 2013 - Manchester United 3-1 West Ham United
17 April 2013 - West Ham United 2-2 Manchester United
16 January 2013 - Manchester United 1-0 West Ham United
5 January 2013 - West Ham United 2-2 Manchester United
28 November 2012 - Manchester United 1-0 West Ham United
2 April 2011 - West Ham United 2-4 Manchester United
Overall record v Manchester United (all competitions) W 43 D 26 L 59
Ten-year records
West Ham United
2012/13 Premier League 10th (46 points)
2011/12 Championship 3rd (86 points - promoted via Play-Offs)
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points - relegated to Championship)
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted via play-offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
Manchester United
2012/13 Premier League 1st (89 points)
2011/12 Premier League 2nd (89 points)
2010/11 Premier League 1st (80 points)
2009/10 Premier League 2nd (85 points)
2008/09 Premier League 1st (90 points)
2007/08 Premier League 1st (87 points)
2006/07 Premier League 1st (89 points)
2005/06 Premier League 2nd (83 points)
2004/05 Premier League 3rd (77 points)
2003/04 Premier League 3rd (75 points)
Old boys
• Manchester United have two former West Ham United players in their squad.
England defender Rio Ferdinand made 158 appearances for the club between May
1996 and November 2000, scoring two goals. Midfielder Michael Carrick scored
six goals in 159 appearances between July 1999 and May 2004.
• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are Jonathan
Spector, Roy Carroll, Noel Cantwell, Luke Chadwick, Billy Grassam, Paul
Ince, Ralph Milne, Frederick Milnes, Ravel Morrison, Frank O'Farrell, Stuart
Pearson, Les Sealey, Dave Sexton, Teddy Sheringham, Carlos Tevez and Raimond
van der Gouw.
Background
• The first meeting between West Ham United and Manchester United came on 25
February 1911 in the FA Cup third round. The Southern League First Division
Hammers upset the Division One Red Devils 2-1 at the Boleyn Ground, with
Thomas Caldwell and Danny Shea scoring the goals for the hosts and Sandy
Turnbull netting for the visitors.
• The first league meeting between West Ham United and Manchester United
took place at Old Trafford on Christmas Day 1922. Billy Brown and Billy
Moore ensured it would be a happy Christmas for the Hammers by scoring in a
2-1 Division Two victory, with Arthur Lochhead replying for the hosts.
Twenty-four hours later, on Boxing Day, Lochhead scored both goals as the
Red Devils won 2-0 at the Boleyn Ground. West Ham would go on to be promoted
as runners-up, while Manchester United would finish fourth.
• West Ham United's biggest-ever win over Manchester United came at the
Boleyn Ground on 11 October 1930. A Viv Gibbins hat-trick inspired the
Hammers to a 5-1 Division One victory, with Jim Barrett and Jimmy Ruffell
also on the score sheet. Tommy Reid scored for the visitors.
• The largest crowd to witness a West Ham United versus Manchester United
fixture at the Boleyn Ground was the 41,892 who saw Clyde Best, Bryan 'Pop'
Robson and Geoff Hurst net in a 3-0 Division One victory on New Year's Day
1972.
• Manchester United's biggest win over West Ham United came at Old Trafford
on 1 April 2000. Paul Scholes scored a treble in a 7-1 Premier League win.
Denis Irwin, Andrew Cole, David Beckham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored the
other goals, with Paulo Wanchope on target for the Hammers
Referee
• Lee Mason started refereeing in 1988 and in 1992 he was added to the North
West Counties Football League assistant referees' list, and progressed to
full referee for that competition four years later.
• He was included on the Football League list of assistant referees in 1998,
and was then added to the Premier League list in 2000.
• In 2002, he was promoted to referee for the Football League and in 2003
became a 'Development Group' referee, before finally reaching the Premier
League list of Select Group referees in 2006.
• His first ever match in the top tier was on 4 February 2006, when
Middlesbrough lost 4-0 at home to Aston Villa.
• Mason was chosen to control the League One Play-Off final between Barnsley
and Swansea on 27 May 2006.
• The official has refereed the Hammers three times in the Premier League
this season, in the 3-2 defeat to Everton, 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace, and
most recently the 2-0 win against Cardiff in January.
• Mason will be assisted by Steve Bennett and Jake Collin on Saturday, while
the fourth official will be Iain Williamson.
Walk for Dennis
Five West Ham United fans are holding a series of charity events to raise
money for the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK and St Nicholas
Hospice.
Kevin Driscoll, son Chas and friends Neil, Sean and Bill from Bury St
Edmunds in Suffolk will be walking to every London Premier League and
Football League ground between 3-5 April in memory of Kevin's father Dennis,
who passed away from cancer last year.
The group will also hold a charity auction at the Princess of Wales public
house in West Ham Lane, Stratford, at 8.30pm on Saturday 22 March following
the game.
Among the lots is a 1980 FA Cup final shirt signed by the winning West Ham
team and a retro England 1966 FIFA World Cup final shirt signed by hat-trick
hero Sir Geoff Hurst.
"We originally planned to hold the auction at the Liverpool game on Saturday
5 April, but the match has been moved for TV coverage," explained Kevin.
"For that reason, we have brought the auction forward to tonight as we hope
more fans will be able to come down and support a very worthy cause.
"During our walk, we will be stopping at every ground in London, having our
photo taken on the pitch and collecting a signed shirt.
"A second auction, where these signed shirts will be sold, will be held at
the LP Bar in Bury St Edmunds on Wednesday 30 April."
For more details about the Walk 4 Dennis, please visit
www.walk4dennis.co.uk.
General information
• The weather forecast for Saturday's evening clash is cloudy with showers
and temperatures around 7C (45F).
• There are planned closures across the London Underground network on the
Central, Jubilee, DLR, Northern and Overground lines this weekend. More
information can be found here.
• The Greater Anglia service will not run between Thorpe-le-Soken and
Clacton-on-Sea this weekend. More travel information from Greater Anglia can
be found here.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Big Sam meets James Corden
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce was interviewed by Hammers fan James Corden as he guest edited
The Sun
21.03.2014
West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce dropped in on The Sun's offices in
central London on Thursday to surprise TV personality and Hammers fan James
Corden as part of his guest editorship of the newspaper. Corden took over
the running of The Sun for a day in aid of Sport Relief as the charity gears
up for its weekend of events, which last from Friday through to Sunday. As
well as interviewing Prime Minister David Cameron, Corden conducted a chat
with the West Ham boss, which the Gavin and Stacey star initially thought
would be by telephone, but turned into an in-person meeting. Corden told
whufc.com: "It was great to see Big Sam, I loved it and having a chat with
him was the only thing I really insisted on for my guest editorship. "Before
I said I wanted to interview the Prime Minister I said I wanted to interview
Big Sam, so I'm thrilled it all came together. "It's all about finding
different ways to spread a message and try to raise money, so in that
respect I'm very honoured to be the first person to do such a thing. I
really have enjoyed it, it has been really good fun."
Corden is a huge fan of Big Sam and has been delighted with the team's
upturn in form since Christmas. He continued: "It's great and I hope any
West Ham fans that were calling for Sam's head [have taken notice]. I
listened to countless phone-ins saying he has to go and the board and all
things like that, but I genuinely have a core belief that we'll never get
relegated as long as he's our manager. "I hope a few of them come forward
and apologise for how they've been and how some of them have been for his
whole leadership. "I think we're in a great place, the atmosphere in the
team looks great. It seems we have a real team instead of disparate
individuals. Our fully-fit first eleven can compete in the top half of the
Premier League, when you think of the last few years and some of the
managers we've had that's not always been the case."
With Manchester United visiting the Boleyn Ground on Saturday, Corden
revealed that he hoped to be there to cheer the Hammers on. He added: "It's
an easy three points isn't it?! I was a bit worried when I watched them
against Olympiacos and I do hope Ryan Giggs isn't playing, but if we can get
away with a point that would be great. "I hope to be at the Boleyn Ground to
watch the game!"
Big Sam was delighted to play his part in the day and he explained how the
meeting came about. "It was set up by Sean Custis [Sun football writer], who
rang me a while ago and said James is going to be editor of The Sun for a
day and as he's a big West Ham fan, could I come in and play a little prank
on him. "I was round the corner doing an interview with James which he
thought was just going to be on the phone, the line got cut off, he was
getting pretty annoyed and I walked round and surprised him. "It's always
great to see him, he's doing a fantastic job for Sport Relief and hopefully
it'll raise as much money this weekend as it has done for the last few
years. "Certainly the effort he's put in, giving up his time is a fantastic
gesture so I was happy to be there to play a short part in it."
The Hammers have got behind Sport Relief this season by donning t-shirts to
promote the charity event at last weekend's match against Stoke City and
during their crossbar challenge for Sky Sports programme Soccer AM.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Djair keen to sink Spurs
WHUFC.com
Djair Parfitt-Williams is looking to extend the Under-18s' fine form by
beating Spurs on Saturday
21.03.2014
The hero against Leicester City last weekend, Djair Parfitt-Williams has now
set his sights on sinking London rivals Tottenham Hotspur when the Under-18s
go head-to-head with Spurs at Little Heath this Saturday. The Bermuda-born
winger scored one in each half to see off the Foxes in a 2-1 win and extend
his side's winning streak to seven matches. With nine goals to his name
already this season, Parfitt-Williams has played his part as Steve Potts'
team continue to lead the way in the Barclays Under-18 Premier League. The
wide man told West Ham TV he believes the team's fine form is down to their
commitment on the training pitch. "We're playing well as a team and scoring
a lot of goals at the moment," he explained. "Everybody on the team works
really hard in training and we've got good players on our team. Our fine run
is no surprise to me because I know how good this team is." "There's no
secret to it, it's just the work-rate from everybody in the team in every
position. Everybody in the squad works hard. It's no secret, every day we
work hard together."
The 17-year-old speed merchant netted the winner against Leicester with just
eight minutes to spare, a result which could prove to be crucial as fellow
front-runners Fulham suffered a 3-1 home defeat against Southampton. The
Hammers had been pegged back by the Foxes after Parfitt-Williams had opened
the scoring, and the winger was delighted that the team were able to take
all three points. "I think we controlled the game well, but we had one
defensive mistake which made it a tight game. "We had to concentrate and
keep doing what we were doing for the whole game up until the last ten
minutes when we got the goal. "It's a good feeling to be part of this team
and to be coming away from most matches with a win. I love scoring goals and
I was happy to do that against Leicester."
Saturday's game against local rivals Spurs is an opportunity for the U18s to
put further breathing space between themselves and the north London side who
currently occupy third in the table. The Lilywhites have two games in hand
on the Hammers and trail them by six points, meaning all is to play for when
the two sides do battle on the weekend. A 3-2 win against Spurs earlier in
the season was secured with a late Jordan Brown goal, and Parfitt-Williams
is expecting a similarly close game this time round. "I remember from the
last time that Tottenham are a good team. They pass the ball well but I
think we matched them and it was a good game last time round. "It was a
close game and we managed to get a goal in the last minute. It was a good
game, there was a lot of good football and we played well. "We've got
Tottenham, Everton and Manchester City coming up in the next few games and
they'll all be tough matches." Kick-off at Little Heath on Saturday is at
11am. Admission and parking are free of charge.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Carr confident on Academy future
WHUFC.com
Tony Carr MBE has stated his belief that the Academy will continue to play a
big part in the Club's future
21.03.2014
As West Ham United prepares to celebrate the achievements of its Academy on
Saturday against Manchester United, Tony Carr MBE has spoken of his belief
that youth academies will continue to play a vital role in the future of the
Premier League. The Academy Director has been instrumental in producing
countless home-grown players who have gone onto star in the famous Claret
and Blue during his 40 years with the Club. Saturday's evening kick-off at
the Boleyn Ground against reigning champions United will be a celebration of
the Academy, with interviews from past and present Academy graduates, and
Carr himself, being conducted before the match and at half-time.
Speaking to the Official Programme ahead of the clash the 63-year-old
revealed how things have changed since he first took up a coaching role with
the Club back in 1973. "When I first started we trained on the forecourt at
Upton Park with plastic footballs and if someone had left their car on the
forecourt overnight then we'd have to play round it. "We were playing in the
tunnel underneath the East Stand using beer crates as goals. It's changed
massively, facilities have improved, the role of the youth coach has been
enhanced and players are now starting to see the value of that. "Staffing
levels have improved and to be fair, at present, Mr Gold and Sullivan have
bought into our philosophy in terms of trying to develop future West Ham
players."
Producing young British players has become increasingly hard as the number
of British players plying their trade in the Premier League has plummeted to
around 33%. Despite this the Hammers have always given home grown players a
chance to make the grade and currently boast a squad peppered with British
players. Carr admits the task of producing players has got tougher over the
years, but insists it remains vital for clubs like West Ham. "We're not a
club like the top sides that can go and spend millions and millions of
pounds on players every season. "Manchester City are a one-off with a rich
sheikh owner, Chelsea started it with Roman Abramovich, Tottenham spent £105
million on players last year, we're not a club that can do that so there's a
big reliance on producing your own players. "As tough as it is, and it's
getting tougher, it remains a fact of life that we have to produce our own
players to compensate for the fact that we can't compete at the top end
financially."
During his time working in the Academy, Carr has helped produce a number of
players who've gone on to forge excellent careers in the Premier League and
even at international level, and he says there is an immense amount of pride
when a player makes the cut. "The boys come in at eight-years-old and for a
boy to come through at 18 or 20, or the average age of 23 now, it's a long,
long journey. It could be as long as 15 years from the time he signs to the
time he makes it in the Premier League. "There's been a lot of time, work
and effort that's gone into trying to produce that young player but if he
does make it, and crack it at that level, then there's an immense amount of
pride for everybody involved. "I think the fans can also identify with a
young boy that's been in the Academy since he was a youngster and will give
him the opportunity to prove his worth."
*You can read the full interview with Tony Carr MBE in Saturday's 84-page
Official Programme which features exclusive interviews with Sir Geoff Hurst,
Martin Peters MBE, Kevin Nolan, Guy Demel, and much, much more.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham v Man Utd
KO 17:30
21 March 2014
Last updated at 13:04
By Simon Brotherton
Match of the Day commentator
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Upton Park Date: Saturday, 22 March
TEAM NEWS
West Ham pair Joey O'Brien and Marco Boriello remain unavailable for the
visit of Manchester United. O'Brien has been sidelined since January with a
dislocated shoulder, while Boriello has a calf strain.
Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic serves the first of a two-game ban
after he was sent off in the defeat by Liverpool last weekend. Robin van
Persie is ruled out after he suffered a knee injury in midweek Champions
League duty.
MATCH PREVIEW
David Moyes hasn't had too many nights he'd care to remember at Old Trafford
in his tenure at Manchester United, but Wednesday must surely be the pick of
them up to now. Both he and the players rose to the challenge against
Olympiakos in overcoming the two-goal first leg deficit to ensure United's
progress into the last eight of the Champions League. Olympiakos are no
great shakes in European terms but United needed to respond in front of
their own fans after the debacle of their home defeat by Liverpool last
Sunday when they were outplayed from start to finish. They did so with good
team selection, a better tempo and more assertive display. "Everyone was
saying David Moyes's next three games - Olympiakos, West Ham and Manchester
City - might decide his future. Well, he'll have won two out of three if
they win, which is the exact answer he wants to give his critics. "With Sam
Allardyce, West Ham have shown how to run a football club. If you're
struggling, you back your manager. Fair play to the owners and they'll get
their reward, which is staying in the division."
The result will have been met by a mixture of relief as well as joy, but
Moyes will be hoping it has a galvanizing effect on his team as they head to
London just three days before hosting Manchester City in the derby next
Tuesday. Manchester United were held to 2-2 draws in both the league and FA
Cup at West Ham last season, but they haven't lost there for seven years and
have won nine of the last 10 league matches between the clubs. West Ham sit
12th in the table, six points above the relegation zone, mainly thanks to a
run of four wins in a row last month. It was a run they badly needed after
failing to win a single league game in December and only one in January.
They also go into this weekend on the back of two straight defeats on the
road, at Everton and Stoke, but on a brighter note have won each of the last
three at home. The Hammers haven't won four Premier League home games in a
row for 12 years and they finished that run in 2002 with a victory over
Bolton, who were managed at the time by Sam Allardyce.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
United are unbeaten in 10 games against West Ham home and away (W9, D1).
Manchester United's last defeat by the Hammers at Upton Park came in
December 2007. Anton Ferdinand and Matt Upson scored, while Cristiano
Ronaldo netted United's consolation.
West Ham
The Hammers have lost their last two league games, away to Everton and Stoke
City.
However, Sam Allardyce's side have won their last three home league matches.
Six of their eight victories in the top flight this season have come at
Upton Park.
West Ham have lost the most games (5) and points (17) from winning positions
in the Premier League this season.
Only Arsenal and Chelsea have kept as many clean sheets as West Ham - with
the trio level on 13 for the season.
Manchester United
Manchester United have not lost as many games away from home at this stage
of a season since 2009-10 when they had suffered five defeats.
Manchester United's tally of 48 points after 29 games is their lowest in a
Premier League season, six points fewer than their previous lowest in
1992-93.
The last time United lost this many games (nine) in a season was in 2003-04.
David Moyes' side have won their last two away games, and are unbeaten in
three.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham take on Manchester United at Upton Park
Last Updated: 21/03/14 5:58pm
SSN
Manchester United will be hoping the UEFA Champions League win over
Olympiakos does not prove to be another false dawn when David Moyes takes
his team to West Ham United for Saturday Night Football. The Red Devils
overturned a 2-0 first-leg deficit to beat Olympiakos 3-0 at home on
Wednesday as Robin van Persie's hat-trick secured a quarter-final spot.
Live on Sky Sports
West Ham v Man Utd
March 22, 2014 5:00pm
Sky Sports 1 HD
The turnaround against Olympiakos came on the back of a 3-0 home humbling by
old rivals Liverpool in the Premier League and left United languishing in
seventh position. United have consistently failed to follow up a positive
performance and result this season, but will finally hope a corner has been
turned ahead of the trip to Upton Park. However, the reigning champions will
be facing a West Ham team on a three-match winning streak at home which has
helped to ease the club's relegation fears. Successive away defeats by
Everton and Stoke, though, have ensured West Ham are not safe yet in 12th
position and six points ahead of the bottom three. Sam Allardyce's side lost
3-1 at Old Trafford just before Christmas, while the clubs met twice at
Upton Park last season, with both games finishing 2-2. Van Persie scored a
last-minute equaliser in the FA Cup third round before the Dutchman's 77th
minute effort earned United a point in the Premier League last April.
However, the striker will have to sit out Saturday's game after suffering a
knee injury in midweek. Van Persie could be sidelined for six weeks in
total.
Despite their win over Olympiakos, I think United are still papering over
the cracks. If David de Gea didn't have an absolute blinder on Wednesday and
Phil Jones didn't have a good game they would have been in trouble. People
can go on about Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney and how good they were but what
about the others? If De Gea doesn't make those saves and Olympiakos score a
goal they're through and all of a sudden there's absolute carnage at the
club. There'll be no Robin van Persie on Saturday but Danny Welbeck will
probably play anyway because he's doing alright.
I'm going to go for a draw here because West Ham is a hard place to go.
United have just had a hard game and even though Olympiakos weren't the best
team in the world there was a lot of nervous energy about the place when
they were 3-0 up because one goal meant that all of that hard work would
have gone out of the window. That is tiring in itself.
West Ham are in a decent spell and they are hard to beat. Sam Allardyce was
manager of the month for February. Man Utd aren't really going anywhere in
the league now - they're concentrating on the Champions League - but they
won't want to beat West Ham 3-0 and then get a good turning over by
Manchester City because that won't go down well. They are probably better
off struggling in this game and stopping Man City from winning the league.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1
West Ham
Last 6
Stoke City (a)3-1
Everton (a)1-0
Southampton (h)3-1
Norwich (h)2-0
A Villa (a)0-2
Swansea (h)2-0
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce will still be without defender Joey O'Brien
and forward Marco Borriello for Saturday's visit of United. O'Brien has not
featured since a 0-0 draw at Chelsea in January due to a dislocated
shoulder, and on-loan AC Milan striker Borriello remains sidelined with a
calf injury.
Midfielder Joe Cole came off the bench in last weekend's defeat at Stoke for
only his second league appearance of the year and will be pushing for a
start against the Red Devils.
Man Utd
Last 6
Olympiakos (h)3-0
Liverpool (h)0-3
West Brom (a)0-3
Olympiakos (a)2-0
C Palace (a)0-2
Arsenal (a)0-0
United are definitely without Van Persie after the striker was ruled out for
four to six weeks with a knee injury sustained during the win over
Olympiakos in midweek. Ryan Giggs could also sit the game out after the
40-year-old impressed in playing 90 minutes in midweek. Nemanja Vidic is
suspended after his red card against Liverpool, while Chris Smalling and
Jonny Evans have both been carrying injuries of late.
Opta Facts
Wayne Rooney has scored seven goals and assisted three more in his last
seven Premier League appearances against West Ham.
West Ham have averaged the fewest shots on target per game this season,
averaging just 3.2 per game.
The Hammers haven't won four Premier League home games in a row since May
2002, when they beat Bolton in the last game of that run who were managed at
that time by Sam Allardyce.
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Sam Allardyce looking forward to Manchester United test
Last Updated: 21/03/14 10:07am
SSN
Sam Allardyce will send his West Ham United side into action against
Manchester United on Saturday hoping to 'burst their bubble'. The Red Devils
have endured a testing campaign, but will head to Upton Park this weekend in
buoyant mood. A 3-0 victory over Olympiakos on Wednesday carried David
Moyes' men through to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
"We'll try to burst their bubble. Obviously it's a big challenge, but
normally we do well against United."
They also prevailed 3-0 in their last Premier League away game, at West
Bromwich Albion. Allardyce admits his Hammers could be running into the
reigning champions at a bad time, but is looking forward to taking on the
challenge of trying to put another bump in their road. He told The Sun:
"Will their midweek win work for or against us? "Will they be fatigued or
flying? We will have to see. But I have to be a little bit concerned about
how well they played against West Brom, winning 3-0 in their last away game.
"We'll try to burst their bubble. Obviously it's a big challenge, but
normally we do well against United. "After seeing their display on
Wednesday, I hope Ryan Giggs doesn't play."
West Ham head into the weekend sat 12th in the Premier League standings, six
points clear of the relegation zone. They have started to pull clear of
trouble after sticking with Allardyce through a testing spell towards the
end of 2013, with the patience of co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold
having been rewarded with a Manager of the Month award in February.
Allardyce added on a run of results which saw certain sections of the club's
support calling for his head: "The vast majority stuck with the team, and
with me. The pressure is always on as a manager to get results. "That
pressure reverts to the owners to get rid of their man at times. "But it
hasn't worked out well for some of the owners who changed bosses. We've done
well, but still have work to do."
Much of that work will take place at the end of the season, with Allardyce
hoping to bolster his ranks again when the transfer window re-opens and give
those who are set to be out of contract in the summer every opportunity to
earn fresh terms. He said: "People can change your mind, it just depends on
the player."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce wants Boleyn Ground to become fortress
Last Updated: 21/03/14 2:44pm
SSN
Sam Allardyce is hoping West Ham's return to home comforts will help them
back to winning ways against visiting Manchester United on Saturday evening.
United arrive at the Boleyn Ground buoyed after qualifying for the Champions
League quarter-finals in midweek. Allardyce's Hammers dragged themselves out
of the Premier League bottom three with four consecutive victories but have
lost their last two fixtures on the road at Everton and Stoke. A 3-1 reverse
against Allardyce's former club Newcastle in mid-January is the only home
league game the Irons have lost since the turn of the year and, with the Red
Devils 12 points off the top four, the 59-year-old wants to continue a
decent home run. "Our efforts at home are what I have been focusing on with
the players," he said.
"We have won the last three home games on the trot and we have to try to
continue that if we can to overcome the little blip we have suffered
following two away games we have taken nothing from. "The focus is to
maintain the home results and try our best to pull off a big win, but if we
can't, come away with at least a point."
David Moyes has struggled to follow on from the success of Sir Alex Ferguson
at Old Trafford, with United currently seventh in the table and on the back
of a 3-0 defeat to bitter rivals Liverpool last weekend. However, they will
go into the game on the back of their 3-0 win over Olympiakos and Allardyce
is not taking the challenge lightly. "Everyone is talking about Manchester
United this, Manchester United that," he added. "But in their last away game
they disposed of West Brom fairly easily with a 3-0 victory. David Moyes has
so many players to choose from that fatigue won't come into it because he
can change the side with top international players if he wants to."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham's AC Milan reject Antonio Nocerino playing for pride as Manchester
United visit
Mar 21, 2014 22:30 By Neil McLeman
The Mirror
Antonio Nocerino has left one fallen European giant – and now wants to send
Manchester United back into crisis. The West Ham midfielder arrived from AC
Milan in January and the crisis-hit San Siro club are now 11th in Serie A –
a massive FORTY points behind leaders Juventus. And unlike David Moyes' side
– who the Hammers face at Upton Park in Saturday's tea-time match – Milan
are also out of Europe. "The two clubs are sharing a particular moment,
although Milan has changed a lot and United changed only the coach," said
the Italy star. "We hope we can continue this negative time for Manchester
United and put their defence in difficulty. When you play for a big team,
you have to live with the pressure."
Nocerino, who revealed an admiration for United icon Roy Keane, scored 11
goals in his first Milan season playing off Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2011-12.
But the bearded 28-year-old, who made his first West Ham start in last
week's defeat at Stoke, admitted he was shocked by his sudden January exit.
"I was sent away and when someone doesn't want you, it hurts," he said.
"More at a human level than at a footballing level. I was not expecting to
be treated like this. I have a bit of pride. "The new coach, Clarence
Seedorf, did not want to keep me. I have two years left on my contract but
would like to stay in England - and stay here."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Chadwell Chatter
WHUFC.com
Stewart Downing blogs for whufc.com on facing Manchester United and the
return of Andy Carroll
21.03.2014
Hi everyone,
The whole team are looking forward to playing in front of our own fans at
home on Saturday, as it feels like we've not played at the Boleyn Ground for
months. It will be a difficult game against Manchester United, and they'll
be keen to bounce back after a poor result against Liverpool in the Premier
League last weekend. They'll be looking to get three points as we will.
We're not out of the water yet and we need points as quickly as we can,
starting against Manchester United. If we play to our strengths I think we
can beat them. The manager will approach this game the same as any other.
Like I've said before, when they're not at their best they've still got
players that can hurt you. We'll go through their strengths and weaknesses
as a team, as we would as if it were last season. We'd love to be able to
exploit their weaknesses and make sure they carry on struggling. On home
turf we've generally played quite well at home this season, despite the fact
we've lost a few games. The confidence is still there and getting those four
wins in February was massive for us. This is another big month for us. We
can pull ourselves clear and climb the table a bit in this next month, so
it's massive for us. Since I came to West Ham I've enjoyed playing
regularly, as that was the main thing for me when I arrived. It would be
nice if I could chip in and get a few goals before the end of the season,
but if the team keep playing well and we get positive results then
everyone's outlook will continue to look better. Andy Carroll made his
return to the starting XI against Stoke City and having the big man back and
a target to hit is nice. Unfortunately I've not played with him that much
since I came here, but he was a big part of why I wanted to come here and
play. We've got nine games to go and we'll be looking to get as many points
as we can. If we can get Andy scoring goals and the team playing well, then
we'll be looking to finish as high up as we can. It's a big month for us and
we're looking to pick up some big wins. I think that realistically tenth
place is a good place for us to aim for. We know that a couple of wins can
get us there and above the teams around us, and I believe we have one hell
of a chance to get there.
See you on Saturday. Come On You Irons!
Stew
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
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WHUFC.com
A look ahead to Saturday's evening kick-off against Manchester United at the
Boleyn Ground
21.03.2014
WEST HAM UNITED v MANCHESTER UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 22 MARCH 2014
KICK-OFF: 5.30PM
REFEREE: LEE MASON
FULL AUDIO COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
Introduction
• Manchester United are the visitors to the Boleyn Ground for Saturday's
televised evening kick-off in the Barclays Premier League.
• West Ham United will be aiming to end a run of two successive league
defeats against the Red Devils, after losses to Everton and Stoke City.
• Both those defeats came away from home with a 3-1 loss to the Potters last
Saturday leaving the Hammers in 12th position in the table.
• Sam Allardyce's side return to east London looking to earn a fourth
straight home win after victories against Swansea City, Norwich City and
Southampton in February.
• In the corresponding fixture last season, Mo Diame and Ricardo Vaz Te
scored for the Hammers in a 2-2 draw.
• Manchester United arrive at the Boleyn Ground having suffered a
demoralising defeat against Liverpool in their last league outing, going
down 3-0 at Old Trafford.
• They did however bounce back with a win against Olympiacos in the UEFA
Champions League on Wednesday night, a Robin van Persie hat-trick seeing the
Red Devils through to the quarter-finals.
• The champions' hopes of finishing in the top-four seem all but finished as
they lie 12 points behind fourth-placed Manchester City ahead of Saturday's
match.
• A stuttering first season in charge has left David Moyes' team in seventh
place in the table, with 48 points from 29 games.
Team news
West Ham United
• The Hammers will be without Joey O'Brien (shoulder) and Marco Borriello
(calf) for the visit of the champions.
• Jack Collison (Wigan Athletic), Ravel Morrison, Modibo Maiga (both QPR),
Paul McCallum (Heart of Midlothian) and George Moncur (Partick Thistle) are
all out on loan.
Manchester United
• Nemanja Vidic was red carded in the Red Devils' last Premier League outing
and is suspended for Saturday's clash.
• Robin van Persie was stretchered off against Olympiacos on Wednesday night
with a knee injury and will definitely miss the visit to the Hammers.
Last time out
Stoke City 3-1 West Ham United
Barclays Premier League
15 March 2014
West Ham United: Adrian, Demel, Tomkins, Reid, McCartney, Noble, Nolan,
Nocerino (C Cole 76), Diame, Downing (J Cole 62), Carroll (Armero 83)
Subs not used: Jaaskelainen, Collins, Taylor, Jarvis
Goal: Carroll 5
Manchester United 3-0 Olympiacos
UEFA Champions League
19 March 2014
Manchester United: De Gea, Rafael, Evra, Ferdinand, Jones, Giggs, Valencia
(Young 77), Carrick, van Persie (Fellaini 90), Rooney, Welbeck (Fletcher 81)
Subs not used: Lindegaard, Hernandez, Januzaj, Kagawa
Goals: van Persie 25 pen, 45, 51
Previous meeting
Carlton Cole struck a late consolation as the Hammers were comfortably
beaten at Old Trafford in December 2013. Danny Welbeck and Adnan Januzaj
struck before the break to put the hosts firmly in control, and their
position was strengthened further in the second period by Ashley Young's
curled shot. Cole came off the bench to pull one back for the Hammers but
there was not enough time left to inspire a fightback.
Manchester United 3-1 West Ham United
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 21 December 2013
Manchester United: De Gea, Rafael, Smalling, Evans, Evra (Buttner 80),
Jones, Cleverley, Valencia, Rooney, Januzaj (Young 69), Welbeck (Hernandez
54)
Subs not used: Johnstone, Fletcher, Giggs, Kagawa
Goals: Welbeck 26, Januzaj 36, Young 72
West Ham United: Adrian, Demel, Tomkins, Collins (Rat 75), McCartney, Noble,
Diame, Taylor (Collison 62), Morrison, Jarvis (C Cole 71), Maiga
Subs not used: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, Diarra, J Cole
Goal: C Cole 81
Last six meetings (Premier League unless stated)
21 December 2013 - Manchester United 3-1 West Ham United
17 April 2013 - West Ham United 2-2 Manchester United
16 January 2013 - Manchester United 1-0 West Ham United
5 January 2013 - West Ham United 2-2 Manchester United
28 November 2012 - Manchester United 1-0 West Ham United
2 April 2011 - West Ham United 2-4 Manchester United
Overall record v Manchester United (all competitions) W 43 D 26 L 59
Ten-year records
West Ham United
2012/13 Premier League 10th (46 points)
2011/12 Championship 3rd (86 points - promoted via Play-Offs)
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points - relegated to Championship)
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted via play-offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
Manchester United
2012/13 Premier League 1st (89 points)
2011/12 Premier League 2nd (89 points)
2010/11 Premier League 1st (80 points)
2009/10 Premier League 2nd (85 points)
2008/09 Premier League 1st (90 points)
2007/08 Premier League 1st (87 points)
2006/07 Premier League 1st (89 points)
2005/06 Premier League 2nd (83 points)
2004/05 Premier League 3rd (77 points)
2003/04 Premier League 3rd (75 points)
Old boys
• Manchester United have two former West Ham United players in their squad.
England defender Rio Ferdinand made 158 appearances for the club between May
1996 and November 2000, scoring two goals. Midfielder Michael Carrick scored
six goals in 159 appearances between July 1999 and May 2004.
• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are Jonathan
Spector, Roy Carroll, Noel Cantwell, Luke Chadwick, Billy Grassam, Paul
Ince, Ralph Milne, Frederick Milnes, Ravel Morrison, Frank O'Farrell, Stuart
Pearson, Les Sealey, Dave Sexton, Teddy Sheringham, Carlos Tevez and Raimond
van der Gouw.
Background
• The first meeting between West Ham United and Manchester United came on 25
February 1911 in the FA Cup third round. The Southern League First Division
Hammers upset the Division One Red Devils 2-1 at the Boleyn Ground, with
Thomas Caldwell and Danny Shea scoring the goals for the hosts and Sandy
Turnbull netting for the visitors.
• The first league meeting between West Ham United and Manchester United
took place at Old Trafford on Christmas Day 1922. Billy Brown and Billy
Moore ensured it would be a happy Christmas for the Hammers by scoring in a
2-1 Division Two victory, with Arthur Lochhead replying for the hosts.
Twenty-four hours later, on Boxing Day, Lochhead scored both goals as the
Red Devils won 2-0 at the Boleyn Ground. West Ham would go on to be promoted
as runners-up, while Manchester United would finish fourth.
• West Ham United's biggest-ever win over Manchester United came at the
Boleyn Ground on 11 October 1930. A Viv Gibbins hat-trick inspired the
Hammers to a 5-1 Division One victory, with Jim Barrett and Jimmy Ruffell
also on the score sheet. Tommy Reid scored for the visitors.
• The largest crowd to witness a West Ham United versus Manchester United
fixture at the Boleyn Ground was the 41,892 who saw Clyde Best, Bryan 'Pop'
Robson and Geoff Hurst net in a 3-0 Division One victory on New Year's Day
1972.
• Manchester United's biggest win over West Ham United came at Old Trafford
on 1 April 2000. Paul Scholes scored a treble in a 7-1 Premier League win.
Denis Irwin, Andrew Cole, David Beckham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored the
other goals, with Paulo Wanchope on target for the Hammers
Referee
• Lee Mason started refereeing in 1988 and in 1992 he was added to the North
West Counties Football League assistant referees' list, and progressed to
full referee for that competition four years later.
• He was included on the Football League list of assistant referees in 1998,
and was then added to the Premier League list in 2000.
• In 2002, he was promoted to referee for the Football League and in 2003
became a 'Development Group' referee, before finally reaching the Premier
League list of Select Group referees in 2006.
• His first ever match in the top tier was on 4 February 2006, when
Middlesbrough lost 4-0 at home to Aston Villa.
• Mason was chosen to control the League One Play-Off final between Barnsley
and Swansea on 27 May 2006.
• The official has refereed the Hammers three times in the Premier League
this season, in the 3-2 defeat to Everton, 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace, and
most recently the 2-0 win against Cardiff in January.
• Mason will be assisted by Steve Bennett and Jake Collin on Saturday, while
the fourth official will be Iain Williamson.
Walk for Dennis
Five West Ham United fans are holding a series of charity events to raise
money for the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK and St Nicholas
Hospice.
Kevin Driscoll, son Chas and friends Neil, Sean and Bill from Bury St
Edmunds in Suffolk will be walking to every London Premier League and
Football League ground between 3-5 April in memory of Kevin's father Dennis,
who passed away from cancer last year.
The group will also hold a charity auction at the Princess of Wales public
house in West Ham Lane, Stratford, at 8.30pm on Saturday 22 March following
the game.
Among the lots is a 1980 FA Cup final shirt signed by the winning West Ham
team and a retro England 1966 FIFA World Cup final shirt signed by hat-trick
hero Sir Geoff Hurst.
"We originally planned to hold the auction at the Liverpool game on Saturday
5 April, but the match has been moved for TV coverage," explained Kevin.
"For that reason, we have brought the auction forward to tonight as we hope
more fans will be able to come down and support a very worthy cause.
"During our walk, we will be stopping at every ground in London, having our
photo taken on the pitch and collecting a signed shirt.
"A second auction, where these signed shirts will be sold, will be held at
the LP Bar in Bury St Edmunds on Wednesday 30 April."
For more details about the Walk 4 Dennis, please visit
www.walk4dennis.co.uk.
General information
• The weather forecast for Saturday's evening clash is cloudy with showers
and temperatures around 7C (45F).
• There are planned closures across the London Underground network on the
Central, Jubilee, DLR, Northern and Overground lines this weekend. More
information can be found here.
• The Greater Anglia service will not run between Thorpe-le-Soken and
Clacton-on-Sea this weekend. More travel information from Greater Anglia can
be found here.
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Big Sam meets James Corden
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce was interviewed by Hammers fan James Corden as he guest edited
The Sun
21.03.2014
West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce dropped in on The Sun's offices in
central London on Thursday to surprise TV personality and Hammers fan James
Corden as part of his guest editorship of the newspaper. Corden took over
the running of The Sun for a day in aid of Sport Relief as the charity gears
up for its weekend of events, which last from Friday through to Sunday. As
well as interviewing Prime Minister David Cameron, Corden conducted a chat
with the West Ham boss, which the Gavin and Stacey star initially thought
would be by telephone, but turned into an in-person meeting. Corden told
whufc.com: "It was great to see Big Sam, I loved it and having a chat with
him was the only thing I really insisted on for my guest editorship. "Before
I said I wanted to interview the Prime Minister I said I wanted to interview
Big Sam, so I'm thrilled it all came together. "It's all about finding
different ways to spread a message and try to raise money, so in that
respect I'm very honoured to be the first person to do such a thing. I
really have enjoyed it, it has been really good fun."
Corden is a huge fan of Big Sam and has been delighted with the team's
upturn in form since Christmas. He continued: "It's great and I hope any
West Ham fans that were calling for Sam's head [have taken notice]. I
listened to countless phone-ins saying he has to go and the board and all
things like that, but I genuinely have a core belief that we'll never get
relegated as long as he's our manager. "I hope a few of them come forward
and apologise for how they've been and how some of them have been for his
whole leadership. "I think we're in a great place, the atmosphere in the
team looks great. It seems we have a real team instead of disparate
individuals. Our fully-fit first eleven can compete in the top half of the
Premier League, when you think of the last few years and some of the
managers we've had that's not always been the case."
With Manchester United visiting the Boleyn Ground on Saturday, Corden
revealed that he hoped to be there to cheer the Hammers on. He added: "It's
an easy three points isn't it?! I was a bit worried when I watched them
against Olympiacos and I do hope Ryan Giggs isn't playing, but if we can get
away with a point that would be great. "I hope to be at the Boleyn Ground to
watch the game!"
Big Sam was delighted to play his part in the day and he explained how the
meeting came about. "It was set up by Sean Custis [Sun football writer], who
rang me a while ago and said James is going to be editor of The Sun for a
day and as he's a big West Ham fan, could I come in and play a little prank
on him. "I was round the corner doing an interview with James which he
thought was just going to be on the phone, the line got cut off, he was
getting pretty annoyed and I walked round and surprised him. "It's always
great to see him, he's doing a fantastic job for Sport Relief and hopefully
it'll raise as much money this weekend as it has done for the last few
years. "Certainly the effort he's put in, giving up his time is a fantastic
gesture so I was happy to be there to play a short part in it."
The Hammers have got behind Sport Relief this season by donning t-shirts to
promote the charity event at last weekend's match against Stoke City and
during their crossbar challenge for Sky Sports programme Soccer AM.
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Djair keen to sink Spurs
WHUFC.com
Djair Parfitt-Williams is looking to extend the Under-18s' fine form by
beating Spurs on Saturday
21.03.2014
The hero against Leicester City last weekend, Djair Parfitt-Williams has now
set his sights on sinking London rivals Tottenham Hotspur when the Under-18s
go head-to-head with Spurs at Little Heath this Saturday. The Bermuda-born
winger scored one in each half to see off the Foxes in a 2-1 win and extend
his side's winning streak to seven matches. With nine goals to his name
already this season, Parfitt-Williams has played his part as Steve Potts'
team continue to lead the way in the Barclays Under-18 Premier League. The
wide man told West Ham TV he believes the team's fine form is down to their
commitment on the training pitch. "We're playing well as a team and scoring
a lot of goals at the moment," he explained. "Everybody on the team works
really hard in training and we've got good players on our team. Our fine run
is no surprise to me because I know how good this team is." "There's no
secret to it, it's just the work-rate from everybody in the team in every
position. Everybody in the squad works hard. It's no secret, every day we
work hard together."
The 17-year-old speed merchant netted the winner against Leicester with just
eight minutes to spare, a result which could prove to be crucial as fellow
front-runners Fulham suffered a 3-1 home defeat against Southampton. The
Hammers had been pegged back by the Foxes after Parfitt-Williams had opened
the scoring, and the winger was delighted that the team were able to take
all three points. "I think we controlled the game well, but we had one
defensive mistake which made it a tight game. "We had to concentrate and
keep doing what we were doing for the whole game up until the last ten
minutes when we got the goal. "It's a good feeling to be part of this team
and to be coming away from most matches with a win. I love scoring goals and
I was happy to do that against Leicester."
Saturday's game against local rivals Spurs is an opportunity for the U18s to
put further breathing space between themselves and the north London side who
currently occupy third in the table. The Lilywhites have two games in hand
on the Hammers and trail them by six points, meaning all is to play for when
the two sides do battle on the weekend. A 3-2 win against Spurs earlier in
the season was secured with a late Jordan Brown goal, and Parfitt-Williams
is expecting a similarly close game this time round. "I remember from the
last time that Tottenham are a good team. They pass the ball well but I
think we matched them and it was a good game last time round. "It was a
close game and we managed to get a goal in the last minute. It was a good
game, there was a lot of good football and we played well. "We've got
Tottenham, Everton and Manchester City coming up in the next few games and
they'll all be tough matches." Kick-off at Little Heath on Saturday is at
11am. Admission and parking are free of charge.
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Carr confident on Academy future
WHUFC.com
Tony Carr MBE has stated his belief that the Academy will continue to play a
big part in the Club's future
21.03.2014
As West Ham United prepares to celebrate the achievements of its Academy on
Saturday against Manchester United, Tony Carr MBE has spoken of his belief
that youth academies will continue to play a vital role in the future of the
Premier League. The Academy Director has been instrumental in producing
countless home-grown players who have gone onto star in the famous Claret
and Blue during his 40 years with the Club. Saturday's evening kick-off at
the Boleyn Ground against reigning champions United will be a celebration of
the Academy, with interviews from past and present Academy graduates, and
Carr himself, being conducted before the match and at half-time.
Speaking to the Official Programme ahead of the clash the 63-year-old
revealed how things have changed since he first took up a coaching role with
the Club back in 1973. "When I first started we trained on the forecourt at
Upton Park with plastic footballs and if someone had left their car on the
forecourt overnight then we'd have to play round it. "We were playing in the
tunnel underneath the East Stand using beer crates as goals. It's changed
massively, facilities have improved, the role of the youth coach has been
enhanced and players are now starting to see the value of that. "Staffing
levels have improved and to be fair, at present, Mr Gold and Sullivan have
bought into our philosophy in terms of trying to develop future West Ham
players."
Producing young British players has become increasingly hard as the number
of British players plying their trade in the Premier League has plummeted to
around 33%. Despite this the Hammers have always given home grown players a
chance to make the grade and currently boast a squad peppered with British
players. Carr admits the task of producing players has got tougher over the
years, but insists it remains vital for clubs like West Ham. "We're not a
club like the top sides that can go and spend millions and millions of
pounds on players every season. "Manchester City are a one-off with a rich
sheikh owner, Chelsea started it with Roman Abramovich, Tottenham spent £105
million on players last year, we're not a club that can do that so there's a
big reliance on producing your own players. "As tough as it is, and it's
getting tougher, it remains a fact of life that we have to produce our own
players to compensate for the fact that we can't compete at the top end
financially."
During his time working in the Academy, Carr has helped produce a number of
players who've gone on to forge excellent careers in the Premier League and
even at international level, and he says there is an immense amount of pride
when a player makes the cut. "The boys come in at eight-years-old and for a
boy to come through at 18 or 20, or the average age of 23 now, it's a long,
long journey. It could be as long as 15 years from the time he signs to the
time he makes it in the Premier League. "There's been a lot of time, work
and effort that's gone into trying to produce that young player but if he
does make it, and crack it at that level, then there's an immense amount of
pride for everybody involved. "I think the fans can also identify with a
young boy that's been in the Academy since he was a youngster and will give
him the opportunity to prove his worth."
*You can read the full interview with Tony Carr MBE in Saturday's 84-page
Official Programme which features exclusive interviews with Sir Geoff Hurst,
Martin Peters MBE, Kevin Nolan, Guy Demel, and much, much more.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham v Man Utd
KO 17:30
21 March 2014
Last updated at 13:04
By Simon Brotherton
Match of the Day commentator
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Upton Park Date: Saturday, 22 March
TEAM NEWS
West Ham pair Joey O'Brien and Marco Boriello remain unavailable for the
visit of Manchester United. O'Brien has been sidelined since January with a
dislocated shoulder, while Boriello has a calf strain.
Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic serves the first of a two-game ban
after he was sent off in the defeat by Liverpool last weekend. Robin van
Persie is ruled out after he suffered a knee injury in midweek Champions
League duty.
MATCH PREVIEW
David Moyes hasn't had too many nights he'd care to remember at Old Trafford
in his tenure at Manchester United, but Wednesday must surely be the pick of
them up to now. Both he and the players rose to the challenge against
Olympiakos in overcoming the two-goal first leg deficit to ensure United's
progress into the last eight of the Champions League. Olympiakos are no
great shakes in European terms but United needed to respond in front of
their own fans after the debacle of their home defeat by Liverpool last
Sunday when they were outplayed from start to finish. They did so with good
team selection, a better tempo and more assertive display. "Everyone was
saying David Moyes's next three games - Olympiakos, West Ham and Manchester
City - might decide his future. Well, he'll have won two out of three if
they win, which is the exact answer he wants to give his critics. "With Sam
Allardyce, West Ham have shown how to run a football club. If you're
struggling, you back your manager. Fair play to the owners and they'll get
their reward, which is staying in the division."
The result will have been met by a mixture of relief as well as joy, but
Moyes will be hoping it has a galvanizing effect on his team as they head to
London just three days before hosting Manchester City in the derby next
Tuesday. Manchester United were held to 2-2 draws in both the league and FA
Cup at West Ham last season, but they haven't lost there for seven years and
have won nine of the last 10 league matches between the clubs. West Ham sit
12th in the table, six points above the relegation zone, mainly thanks to a
run of four wins in a row last month. It was a run they badly needed after
failing to win a single league game in December and only one in January.
They also go into this weekend on the back of two straight defeats on the
road, at Everton and Stoke, but on a brighter note have won each of the last
three at home. The Hammers haven't won four Premier League home games in a
row for 12 years and they finished that run in 2002 with a victory over
Bolton, who were managed at the time by Sam Allardyce.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
United are unbeaten in 10 games against West Ham home and away (W9, D1).
Manchester United's last defeat by the Hammers at Upton Park came in
December 2007. Anton Ferdinand and Matt Upson scored, while Cristiano
Ronaldo netted United's consolation.
West Ham
The Hammers have lost their last two league games, away to Everton and Stoke
City.
However, Sam Allardyce's side have won their last three home league matches.
Six of their eight victories in the top flight this season have come at
Upton Park.
West Ham have lost the most games (5) and points (17) from winning positions
in the Premier League this season.
Only Arsenal and Chelsea have kept as many clean sheets as West Ham - with
the trio level on 13 for the season.
Manchester United
Manchester United have not lost as many games away from home at this stage
of a season since 2009-10 when they had suffered five defeats.
Manchester United's tally of 48 points after 29 games is their lowest in a
Premier League season, six points fewer than their previous lowest in
1992-93.
The last time United lost this many games (nine) in a season was in 2003-04.
David Moyes' side have won their last two away games, and are unbeaten in
three.
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West Ham take on Manchester United at Upton Park
Last Updated: 21/03/14 5:58pm
SSN
Manchester United will be hoping the UEFA Champions League win over
Olympiakos does not prove to be another false dawn when David Moyes takes
his team to West Ham United for Saturday Night Football. The Red Devils
overturned a 2-0 first-leg deficit to beat Olympiakos 3-0 at home on
Wednesday as Robin van Persie's hat-trick secured a quarter-final spot.
Live on Sky Sports
West Ham v Man Utd
March 22, 2014 5:00pm
Sky Sports 1 HD
The turnaround against Olympiakos came on the back of a 3-0 home humbling by
old rivals Liverpool in the Premier League and left United languishing in
seventh position. United have consistently failed to follow up a positive
performance and result this season, but will finally hope a corner has been
turned ahead of the trip to Upton Park. However, the reigning champions will
be facing a West Ham team on a three-match winning streak at home which has
helped to ease the club's relegation fears. Successive away defeats by
Everton and Stoke, though, have ensured West Ham are not safe yet in 12th
position and six points ahead of the bottom three. Sam Allardyce's side lost
3-1 at Old Trafford just before Christmas, while the clubs met twice at
Upton Park last season, with both games finishing 2-2. Van Persie scored a
last-minute equaliser in the FA Cup third round before the Dutchman's 77th
minute effort earned United a point in the Premier League last April.
However, the striker will have to sit out Saturday's game after suffering a
knee injury in midweek. Van Persie could be sidelined for six weeks in
total.
Despite their win over Olympiakos, I think United are still papering over
the cracks. If David de Gea didn't have an absolute blinder on Wednesday and
Phil Jones didn't have a good game they would have been in trouble. People
can go on about Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney and how good they were but what
about the others? If De Gea doesn't make those saves and Olympiakos score a
goal they're through and all of a sudden there's absolute carnage at the
club. There'll be no Robin van Persie on Saturday but Danny Welbeck will
probably play anyway because he's doing alright.
I'm going to go for a draw here because West Ham is a hard place to go.
United have just had a hard game and even though Olympiakos weren't the best
team in the world there was a lot of nervous energy about the place when
they were 3-0 up because one goal meant that all of that hard work would
have gone out of the window. That is tiring in itself.
West Ham are in a decent spell and they are hard to beat. Sam Allardyce was
manager of the month for February. Man Utd aren't really going anywhere in
the league now - they're concentrating on the Champions League - but they
won't want to beat West Ham 3-0 and then get a good turning over by
Manchester City because that won't go down well. They are probably better
off struggling in this game and stopping Man City from winning the league.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1
West Ham
Last 6
Stoke City (a)3-1
Everton (a)1-0
Southampton (h)3-1
Norwich (h)2-0
A Villa (a)0-2
Swansea (h)2-0
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce will still be without defender Joey O'Brien
and forward Marco Borriello for Saturday's visit of United. O'Brien has not
featured since a 0-0 draw at Chelsea in January due to a dislocated
shoulder, and on-loan AC Milan striker Borriello remains sidelined with a
calf injury.
Midfielder Joe Cole came off the bench in last weekend's defeat at Stoke for
only his second league appearance of the year and will be pushing for a
start against the Red Devils.
Man Utd
Last 6
Olympiakos (h)3-0
Liverpool (h)0-3
West Brom (a)0-3
Olympiakos (a)2-0
C Palace (a)0-2
Arsenal (a)0-0
United are definitely without Van Persie after the striker was ruled out for
four to six weeks with a knee injury sustained during the win over
Olympiakos in midweek. Ryan Giggs could also sit the game out after the
40-year-old impressed in playing 90 minutes in midweek. Nemanja Vidic is
suspended after his red card against Liverpool, while Chris Smalling and
Jonny Evans have both been carrying injuries of late.
Opta Facts
Wayne Rooney has scored seven goals and assisted three more in his last
seven Premier League appearances against West Ham.
West Ham have averaged the fewest shots on target per game this season,
averaging just 3.2 per game.
The Hammers haven't won four Premier League home games in a row since May
2002, when they beat Bolton in the last game of that run who were managed at
that time by Sam Allardyce.
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Sam Allardyce looking forward to Manchester United test
Last Updated: 21/03/14 10:07am
SSN
Sam Allardyce will send his West Ham United side into action against
Manchester United on Saturday hoping to 'burst their bubble'. The Red Devils
have endured a testing campaign, but will head to Upton Park this weekend in
buoyant mood. A 3-0 victory over Olympiakos on Wednesday carried David
Moyes' men through to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
"We'll try to burst their bubble. Obviously it's a big challenge, but
normally we do well against United."
They also prevailed 3-0 in their last Premier League away game, at West
Bromwich Albion. Allardyce admits his Hammers could be running into the
reigning champions at a bad time, but is looking forward to taking on the
challenge of trying to put another bump in their road. He told The Sun:
"Will their midweek win work for or against us? "Will they be fatigued or
flying? We will have to see. But I have to be a little bit concerned about
how well they played against West Brom, winning 3-0 in their last away game.
"We'll try to burst their bubble. Obviously it's a big challenge, but
normally we do well against United. "After seeing their display on
Wednesday, I hope Ryan Giggs doesn't play."
West Ham head into the weekend sat 12th in the Premier League standings, six
points clear of the relegation zone. They have started to pull clear of
trouble after sticking with Allardyce through a testing spell towards the
end of 2013, with the patience of co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold
having been rewarded with a Manager of the Month award in February.
Allardyce added on a run of results which saw certain sections of the club's
support calling for his head: "The vast majority stuck with the team, and
with me. The pressure is always on as a manager to get results. "That
pressure reverts to the owners to get rid of their man at times. "But it
hasn't worked out well for some of the owners who changed bosses. We've done
well, but still have work to do."
Much of that work will take place at the end of the season, with Allardyce
hoping to bolster his ranks again when the transfer window re-opens and give
those who are set to be out of contract in the summer every opportunity to
earn fresh terms. He said: "People can change your mind, it just depends on
the player."
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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce wants Boleyn Ground to become fortress
Last Updated: 21/03/14 2:44pm
SSN
Sam Allardyce is hoping West Ham's return to home comforts will help them
back to winning ways against visiting Manchester United on Saturday evening.
United arrive at the Boleyn Ground buoyed after qualifying for the Champions
League quarter-finals in midweek. Allardyce's Hammers dragged themselves out
of the Premier League bottom three with four consecutive victories but have
lost their last two fixtures on the road at Everton and Stoke. A 3-1 reverse
against Allardyce's former club Newcastle in mid-January is the only home
league game the Irons have lost since the turn of the year and, with the Red
Devils 12 points off the top four, the 59-year-old wants to continue a
decent home run. "Our efforts at home are what I have been focusing on with
the players," he said.
"We have won the last three home games on the trot and we have to try to
continue that if we can to overcome the little blip we have suffered
following two away games we have taken nothing from. "The focus is to
maintain the home results and try our best to pull off a big win, but if we
can't, come away with at least a point."
David Moyes has struggled to follow on from the success of Sir Alex Ferguson
at Old Trafford, with United currently seventh in the table and on the back
of a 3-0 defeat to bitter rivals Liverpool last weekend. However, they will
go into the game on the back of their 3-0 win over Olympiakos and Allardyce
is not taking the challenge lightly. "Everyone is talking about Manchester
United this, Manchester United that," he added. "But in their last away game
they disposed of West Brom fairly easily with a 3-0 victory. David Moyes has
so many players to choose from that fatigue won't come into it because he
can change the side with top international players if he wants to."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham's AC Milan reject Antonio Nocerino playing for pride as Manchester
United visit
Mar 21, 2014 22:30 By Neil McLeman
The Mirror
Antonio Nocerino has left one fallen European giant – and now wants to send
Manchester United back into crisis. The West Ham midfielder arrived from AC
Milan in January and the crisis-hit San Siro club are now 11th in Serie A –
a massive FORTY points behind leaders Juventus. And unlike David Moyes' side
– who the Hammers face at Upton Park in Saturday's tea-time match – Milan
are also out of Europe. "The two clubs are sharing a particular moment,
although Milan has changed a lot and United changed only the coach," said
the Italy star. "We hope we can continue this negative time for Manchester
United and put their defence in difficulty. When you play for a big team,
you have to live with the pressure."
Nocerino, who revealed an admiration for United icon Roy Keane, scored 11
goals in his first Milan season playing off Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2011-12.
But the bearded 28-year-old, who made his first West Ham start in last
week's defeat at Stoke, admitted he was shocked by his sudden January exit.
"I was sent away and when someone doesn't want you, it hurts," he said.
"More at a human level than at a footballing level. I was not expecting to
be treated like this. I have a bit of pride. "The new coach, Clarence
Seedorf, did not want to keep me. I have two years left on my contract but
would like to stay in England - and stay here."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Chadwell Chatter
WHUFC.com
Stewart Downing blogs for whufc.com on facing Manchester United and the
return of Andy Carroll
21.03.2014
Hi everyone,
The whole team are looking forward to playing in front of our own fans at
home on Saturday, as it feels like we've not played at the Boleyn Ground for
months. It will be a difficult game against Manchester United, and they'll
be keen to bounce back after a poor result against Liverpool in the Premier
League last weekend. They'll be looking to get three points as we will.
We're not out of the water yet and we need points as quickly as we can,
starting against Manchester United. If we play to our strengths I think we
can beat them. The manager will approach this game the same as any other.
Like I've said before, when they're not at their best they've still got
players that can hurt you. We'll go through their strengths and weaknesses
as a team, as we would as if it were last season. We'd love to be able to
exploit their weaknesses and make sure they carry on struggling. On home
turf we've generally played quite well at home this season, despite the fact
we've lost a few games. The confidence is still there and getting those four
wins in February was massive for us. This is another big month for us. We
can pull ourselves clear and climb the table a bit in this next month, so
it's massive for us. Since I came to West Ham I've enjoyed playing
regularly, as that was the main thing for me when I arrived. It would be
nice if I could chip in and get a few goals before the end of the season,
but if the team keep playing well and we get positive results then
everyone's outlook will continue to look better. Andy Carroll made his
return to the starting XI against Stoke City and having the big man back and
a target to hit is nice. Unfortunately I've not played with him that much
since I came here, but he was a big part of why I wanted to come here and
play. We've got nine games to go and we'll be looking to get as many points
as we can. If we can get Andy scoring goals and the team playing well, then
we'll be looking to finish as high up as we can. It's a big month for us and
we're looking to pick up some big wins. I think that realistically tenth
place is a good place for us to aim for. We know that a couple of wins can
get us there and above the teams around us, and I believe we have one hell
of a chance to get there.
See you on Saturday. Come On You Irons!
Stew
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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Friday, March 21
Daily WHUFC News - 21st March 2014
Big Sam on: Manchester United
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce met the media ahead of Saturday's game against Manchester
United
20.03.2014
Sam Allardyce spoke to the assembled media at Chadwell Heath on Thursday
morning ahead of Saturday's game against Manchester United in the Barclays
Premier League. Big Sam answered questions regarding the latest team news,
Manchester United's inconsistent season and Jack Collison's loan move to
Wigan Athletic.
Morning Sam, what's your team news ahead of the weekend?
SA: "We're in exactly the same place with the squad as we were last week.
There's only Joey O'Brien and Marco Borriello who aren't available for
selection so I've got a big strong squad to choose from for Saturday's game.
Our efforts at home are what I've been focusing on with the players, the
fact that we've won the last three home games on the trot and we have to try
and maintain that if we can to overcome this little blip. "We've had two
away games in which we haven't picked anything up in, so the focus is to
maintain our home results and try our best to pull off a big result. Try and
win, but if we don't then make sure we come away with at least a point.
Everybody's talking about Manchester United, but in their last away game
they disposed of West Brom, winning 3-0. David Moyes has got so many players
to choose from that fatigue won't come into it that much, because he can
change the side that played against Olympiacos with top international
players if he wants to. I think it's going to be a really tough game and
we'll have to be on top of our form to get anything out of it."
What did you make of United's performance against Olympiacos last night? Did
they rediscover some spirit?
SA: "I thought that they kept their nerve very, very well. In the end, the
opposition coach made a mistake by attacking them. He was 2-0 up and had he
sat back with a defensive blanket of two banks of four then I think
Manchester United would have found that much more difficult to break down.
In the end, opening himself up let Manchester United exploit those spaces
and there's nobody better to do that than Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie.
"They took full advantage of the fact that Olympiacos thought they could
come and attack United, instead of looking to protect their two-goal lead.
They didn't have to score a goal to get through to the quarter-finals, all
they had to do was not concede one but he never set his tactics out like
that. David and his players took full advantage of that fact."
They're coming here 18 points off the top of the table, why do you think
they've fallen so far behind this season?
SA: "Transition I would say. I think that transition is a big thing when one
of the greatest men ever to manage a football club in the world leaves after
27 years. He has to be given time to establish himself and make the changes
that need to be made. It's a massive, massive job for David and this season
has been a massive learning curve for him. In the end, they haven't had as
good a season as they would have liked. I don't think it surprises many of
us that when someone like Sir Alex Ferguson leaves, it becomes a struggle
for whoever takes over."
You go into this game 12th in the table with games against four of the top
five to come. Does the table give West Ham a false sense of security?
SA: "Not really. I think that table-wise we don't really put any great value
in it. Our aim is always to obtain more points than games played, that has
been the case since the start of the season. Forget where you are in the
league, just make sure you get more points than games played to first secure
your position in the Premier League and then see how far you can go. We know
full well that we've got a little bit more to do.
"We've exerted a huge effort in the recent results, apart from the last two,
to get ahead on points per games. We have to make sure that when we come off
the field on Saturday that we've got a point, if not more and try to keep
that advantage in terms of how many points we've got and how many games
we've played."
How many points do you think will keep you up?
SA: "I think probably about 38. Then again, with nine games to go, some have
ten, it's swings and roundabouts more than ever before. Normally at this
stage of the season it's usually down to five or six teams rather than ten.
There's still ten teams, maybe nine now because I think Stoke will be safe,
so it's gone to nine now, any of those nine need to pick up as many points
as they can."
Does Jack Collison still have a future at the Club?
SA: "His consistent level hasn't been quite as good as last season. You
build a bigger squad, greater demands come on the players that are already
here and he needs to play some football. What better place to send him than
to Uwe Rosler and on Wigan's crusade to get into the play-offs. Jack isn't
cup-tied, he's not played in the FA Cup, and they've got a semi-final he
could play in. There's a call back option on him for us if we need him.
"If we have any problems here then we'll get him back. Jack got himself in
the side when he came back from being at Bournemouth on loan and stayed in
the side for a few games before his form dipped a little bit. It worked well
at that specific time and like I said, he hasn't played any games for a
while. Games are what he wants to play and he can enjoy his football at
Wigan for the time being."
2007 is the last time West Ham beat United in the league, is this the best
chance you've had of taken all three points against them recently?
SA: "Well like I said before, you've got to look at the last away game they
played which was West Brom and they disposed of them quite comfortably.
There's a lot of people saying Manchester United are playing better football
away from home than they are at home, because there's not quite so much
pressure on them. The last away game they played against a Premier League
side they won 3-0 at West Brom so I think it's going to be a difficult game
with the talent they've got. They can always come out and deliver at any
specific time."
United will be on a bit of a high after last night, do you think that's a
good or a bad thing?
SA: "If Manchester United deal with these things year in, year out, and
Manchester United players know exactly what's expected of them. They've got
their own standards. I think they're always very dangerous when they're not
doing as well as they should. This is not the manager that I'm talking
about, this is the players saying 'I'm letting myself down, my team down, my
manager and the fans down. We're Manchester United let's go and do something
about it.'"
How much of a boost has it been to have Andy Carroll back after his
suspension?
SA: "He managed to score last week, which was very good, but unfortunately
it meant nothing at the end of the game. Scoring early away from home should
be a very good thing to do, but unfortunately our defensive qualities let us
down badly last week. Andy's goal meant nothing in the end, but it meant a
lot to Andy, it got him on the way. He made two goals for Kevin against
Swansea before he got sent-off. He managed to get on the scoresheet and may
have scored two. We hope he can continue that as well as all the other
players on the frontline. Players on the frontline are the key element when
we're in possession to try and score goals when they get the chances.
"We do want to rely on somebody that gets past ten every year, but we do
also have to rely on other people contributing more and that's been one of
the problems in our team that other players haven't contributed what they
did last season. That's made life that little bit more difficult for us.
Defensively, we've been brilliant, 13 clean sheets in 29 games is fantastic.
Our goal rates and conversion rates hasn't been what it should have, and if
it had then we would be comfortably in the top-half."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Cole eyes Man United repeat
WHUFC.com
Carlton Cole would love to repeat his 2010 two-goal show against Manchester
United on Saturday
19.03.2014
The snowy evening of 30 November 2010 was arguably Carlton Cole's finest
hour in a West Ham United shirt. Along with his goal and assist in the 2012
Championship Play-Off final win over Blackpool at Wembley, Cole's two-goal
League Cup quarter-final show in the 4-0 victory over Manchester United will
always bring a smile to the striker's face. As the No24 prepares to face the
Red Devils at the Boleyn Ground again on Saturday - the 15th time he will
take them on in a West Ham shirt - Cole's memory was cast back to that
famous cup success. "It's a massive fixture and I think all the lads are up
for it," said Cole, who also scored at Old Trafford in the reverse Barclays
Premier League fixture this season. "We always play well under the lights as
well, so we'll give them a good game. "Of course we can beat them. We had a
great win against them in the League Cup one time, which I think ended 4-0
and I notched two goals! "The big games are what you live for and all the
players live for that and the manager wants to get one over them and get an
upset."
With two home games in five days - Manchester United followed by the visit
of Hull City on Wednesday 26 March - the Hammers have the opportunity to
collect the points they need to secure Barclays Premier League safety as
soon as possible. "Obviously we need to get the points under out belts now
at home and, with the games we have coming up away from home, any sort of
results there would be good for us. "We can start steering our way to safety
and secure a top-ten finish." Should Cole and company do just that, they
will certainly be able to enjoy the 2013/14 Player Awards, which will be
held at the Grosvenor House Hotel on London's Park Lane on Tuesday 6 May.
There, the England international will hope to secure his fifth Top
Goalscorer award, but he knows he faces strong competition from last year's
winner Kevin Nolan. "Hopefully I'll add to my tally a few more before the
end of the season. I'd love to win it again but I've got a tough competitor
in Nobby, who pushed me right to wire the year before last. "I ended up
nicking it that year at the end and hopefully I can nick it again this
season. I'm looking to notch so he better be aware!"
Tables of ten for the Player Awards, which include a drinks reception and
three-course luxury meal with petit fours, are available priced from £2,750
+VAT.
Individual packages at a shared table, complete with a drinks reception and
three-course luxury meal with petit fours, are available priced at £300
+VAT.
To book your table or seat now, please call 0871 091 1811 (Calls cost 10p
per min plus network extras).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce sets West Ham 38-point target ahead of Manchester United game
Last Updated: 20/03/14 6:21pm
SSN
Sam Allardyce reckons seven more points should be enough to secure West
Ham's Premier League status for another year. West Ham go into this
weekend's Saturday Night Football clash against Manchester United on 31
points - six clear of third-bottom Sunderland, who have played two fewer
games. Allardyce believes almost half the division - including his own side
- are still under threat from relegation with an average of nine matches to
play. And ahead of the champions' visit on Saturday the West Ham manager has
set a 38-point target for survival. "I think probably about 38 points (will
be enough)," he said. "Then again, with nine games to go, some have 10, it's
swings and roundabouts more than ever before. "Normally at this stage of the
season it's usually down to five or six teams rather than 10. There's still
10 teams - maybe nine now because I think Stoke will be safe - any of those
nine need to pick up as many points as they can. "Our aim is always to
obtain more points than games played, that has been the case since the start
of the season. "Forget where you are in the league, just make sure you get
more points than games played to first secure your position in the Premier
League and then see how far you can go. We know full well that we've got a
little bit more to do."
West Ham have won three home games in succession, but Allardyce is wary of
opponents who have taken seven points from nine in their past three away
fixtures and who travel to London on a high following their UEFA Champions
League victory over Olympiakos. He said: "The focus is to maintain our home
results and try our best to pull off a big result. Try and win, but if we
don't then make sure we come away with at least a point. "Our aim is always
to obtain more points than games played, that has been the case since the
start of the season." "Everybody's talking about Manchester United, but in
their last away game they disposed of West Brom, winning 3-0. "David Moyes
has got so many players to choose from that fatigue won't come into it that
much, because he can change the side that played against Olympiakos with top
international players if he wants to."
Despite their decent away form United could be 21 points off the top of the
table by the time kick-off comes on Saturday, and Allardyce says United's
struggle to adapt to Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement is no surprise. "David
Moyes has to be given time to establish himself and make the changes that
need to be made," he said. "It's a massive, massive job for David and this
season has been a massive learning curve for him. "In the end, they haven't
had as good a season as they would have liked. I don't think it surprises
many of us that when someone like Sir Alex Ferguson leaves, it becomes a
struggle for whoever takes over."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Uwe Rosler tips Jack Collison to impress at Wigan
Last Updated: 20/03/14 11:36am
SSN
Wigan manager Uwe Rosler has backed Jack Collison to cope with the high
stakes which await Wigan in the season's final stages. The Wales midfielder,
25, was confirmed as a Latics player on Tuesday night after he had witnessed
the dramatic 3-3 draw with Yeovil at the DW Stadium, in which five goals
inside the last 12 minutes denied the hosts a ninth straight victory. Rosler
claimed that the fact the Glovers scored a treble in those closing throes
showed just how fatigued some of his squad are. Their fixture list, which
has included European trips to Russia, Slovenia and Belgium, will comprise
of at least 60 games while they have an FA Cup semi-final date with Arsenal
at Wembley next month as they look to defend the trophy they won last May.
That could be just one of a number of titanic games to come for Rosler's
side given that they remain in the play-off spots and will almost certainly
have to go down that avenue if they are to be promoted back to the top
flight. And Collison, who is not cup-tied for the semi-final, knows all
about achieving promotion through the play-offs, having scored twice in the
semi-final first leg against Cardiff in 2012 and then starting in the final
when parent club West Ham beat Blackpool. "The injuries we've had in
midfield have been well documented," said Rosler, who has lost Ben Watson,
Chris McCann and Roger Espinoza to long-term problems recently. "We need
bodies in there, we need players with energy. Until the end of the season
now there will be prizes and high tension and we have to have players who
can cope with it. "Getting Jack - he's coming from a Premier League club, he
has experience. This season he's played 19 games and to get him for the
run-in is great for our squad. It gives us another option and I'm very happy
with this."
Wigan's recent run of form has been even more remarkable considering the
plethora of injuries they have suffered and James Perch became the latest to
go down against Yeovil. He collided with team-mate Callum McManaman early on
and despite soldiering on, made way before half-time. "We are injuring
ourselves now," Rosler joked. "James said he was right but obviously he
wasn't. He was limping. "It was unfortunate for us that we had to make that
early substitution because it restricted us in the end from bringing more
fresh bodies on. I'm not sure he'll be ready for Saturday, I hope so, but
I'm not sure."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
NOSTALGIA SERIES; RAY STEWART
By Tony Hanna 20 Mar 2014 at 09:14
West Ham Till I Die
Ray Stewart's career at West Ham will be fondly remembered by fans of that
era not just for his resolute defending, but also his fantastic penalty
taking record. Ray joined the Hammers from Dundee United in 1979 for 430,000
pounds for what was then a record fee for a British teenager. The Scot was
to go on to make 432 appearances for West Ham and scored 84 goals from right
back. All but eight of his goals were from the penalty spot and at least
three of those eight were from the goalkeepers initial saves from the
penalties. There are differing views on how many penalties Ray actually
missed during his West Ham career and Ray himself, when asked, does not
include the ones where he followed up with these rebounds. Initial misses
are most likely to be around ten as most stats say he scored 76 from 86
attempts. From my personal view the two most important penalties he ever
took were in the quarter final of the FA Cup in 1980 against Aston Villa and
in the League Cup final the following year at Wembley against Liverpool.
Both were highly pressurised and important and Ray belted both of them home!
And belt them he did. His style was no nonsense and hit with such power that
both his feet ended up off the ground after striking the ball. The one
against Villa was in the dying moments of the game and was to earn the
Hammers a place in the FA Cup semi-final. It sent Upton Park into a literal
frenzy. The one against Liverpool was to earn a League Cup final replay and
was with the last kick of the match. Pressure indeed, but Ray just walked
back and crashed them home.
However, Ray Stewart was not just a very good penalty taker. He added steel
and tenacity at right back and was to play throughout the halcyon days of
the eighties. He actually top scored in our FA Cup winning run in 1980 and
played 39 games in the 1985/86 season where we achieved our highest ever top
flight placing in third place. When Ray Stewart signed for West Ham in 1979
there was no internet, Sky Sports or Talksport. It was the Evening Standard
back in those days who would normally break any transfer news if they could
get their hands on the story before the Fleet Street elite. It was all over
the Standard back page that West Ham had broken the British teenage player
transfer record, and one who had only played 44 games in the Scottish
League! What were West Ham doing? Time would tell that it would prove money
very well spent.
But Ray, nicknamed Tonka, never did let the Hammers down. In his first
season he was second top scorer with fourteen goals. His penalty taking
style made him a fan favourite and his tackling style was often fearsome.
Julian Dicks who was breaking into the West Ham side just as Ray's career
was finishing, went on to model his penalty style after Ray's and he himself
became a penalty legend in his own right. Ray Stewart actually scored in
double figures four times in his first seven seasons at West Ham. His career
highlights include the FA Cup win of 1980, the League Cup finals the
following year and the quarter finals of the ECWC. Then there was the record
breaking second division title performance in 1981 and a few seasons later
the "Boys of '86". He went on to play ten times for Scotland but says the
"only time I ever had tears in my eyes was when Dalglish scored on that
final day of the season in 1986 and Liverpool won the title instead of us".
Sadly, Ray was badly injured in a game at Derby County in January 1989 and
he was sidelined for fifteen months. He made a return in April 1991 and
played six games in 24 days in an attempt to get fit. However, hamstring
injuries had started to plague the fullback and he was released back to his
native Scotland to end his career playing at St Johnstone and he played
twice for Stirling Albion before bringing down the curtain on his playing
career. He went on to manage Scottish teams Livingston and Stirling Albion
before ending his football days at Forfar Athletic in 2004.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
NOSTALGIA SERIES; RAY STEWART
By Tony Hanna 20 Mar 2014 at 09:14 52 comments
Ray Stewart's career at West Ham will be fondly remembered by fans of that
era not just for his resolute defending, but also his fantastic penalty
taking record. Ray joined the Hammers from Dundee United in 1979 for 430,000
pounds for what was then a record fee for a British teenager. The Scot was
to go on to make 432 appearances for West Ham and scored 84 goals from right
back. All but eight of his goals were from the penalty spot and at least
three of those eight were from the goalkeepers initial saves from the
penalties. There are differing views on how many penalties Ray actually
missed during his West Ham career and Ray himself, when asked, does not
include the ones where he followed up with these rebounds. Initial misses
are most likely to be around ten as most stats say he scored 76 from 86
attempts. From my personal view the two most important penalties he ever
took were in the quarter final of the FA Cup in 1980 against Aston Villa and
in the League Cup final the following year at Wembley against Liverpool.
Both were highly pressurised and important and Ray belted both of them home!
And belt them he did. His style was no nonsense and hit with such power that
both his feet ended up off the ground after striking the ball. The one
against Villa was in the dying moments of the game and was to earn the
Hammers a place in the FA Cup semi-final. It sent Upton Park into a literal
frenzy. The one against Liverpool was to earn a League Cup final replay and
was with the last kick of the match. Pressure indeed, but Ray just walked
back and crashed them home.
However, Ray Stewart was not just a very good penalty taker. He added steel
and tenacity at right back and was to play throughout the halcyon days of
the eighties. He actually top scored in our FA Cup winning run in 1980 and
played 39 games in the 1985/86 season where we achieved our highest ever top
flight placing in third place. When Ray Stewart signed for West Ham in 1979
there was no internet, Sky Sports or Talksport. It was the Evening Standard
back in those days who would normally break any transfer news if they could
get their hands on the story before the Fleet Street elite. It was all over
the Standard back page that West Ham had broken the British teenage player
transfer record, and one who had only played 44 games in the Scottish
League! What were West Ham doing? Time would tell that it would prove money
very well spent.
But Ray, nicknamed Tonka, never did let the Hammers down. In his first
season he was second top scorer with fourteen goals. His penalty taking
style made him a fan favourite and his tackling style was often fearsome.
Julian Dicks who was breaking into the West Ham side just as Ray's career
was finishing, went on to model his penalty style after Ray's and he himself
became a penalty legend in his own right. Ray Stewart actually scored in
double figures four times in his first seven seasons at West Ham. His career
highlights include the FA Cup win of 1980, the League Cup finals the
following year and the quarter finals of the ECWC. Then there was the record
breaking second division title performance in 1981 and a few seasons later
the "Boys of '86". He went on to play ten times for Scotland but says the
"only time I ever had tears in my eyes was when Dalglish scored on that
final day of the season in 1986 and Liverpool won the title instead of us".
Sadly, Ray was badly injured in a game at Derby County in January 1989 and
he was sidelined for fifteen months. He made a return in April 1991 and
played six games in 24 days in an attempt to get fit. However, hamstring
injuries had started to plague the fullback and he was released back to his
native Scotland to end his career playing at St Johnstone and he played
twice for Stirling Albion before bringing down the curtain on his playing
career. He went on to manage Scottish teams Livingston and Stirling Albion
before ending his football days at Forfar Athletic in 2004.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce met the media ahead of Saturday's game against Manchester
United
20.03.2014
Sam Allardyce spoke to the assembled media at Chadwell Heath on Thursday
morning ahead of Saturday's game against Manchester United in the Barclays
Premier League. Big Sam answered questions regarding the latest team news,
Manchester United's inconsistent season and Jack Collison's loan move to
Wigan Athletic.
Morning Sam, what's your team news ahead of the weekend?
SA: "We're in exactly the same place with the squad as we were last week.
There's only Joey O'Brien and Marco Borriello who aren't available for
selection so I've got a big strong squad to choose from for Saturday's game.
Our efforts at home are what I've been focusing on with the players, the
fact that we've won the last three home games on the trot and we have to try
and maintain that if we can to overcome this little blip. "We've had two
away games in which we haven't picked anything up in, so the focus is to
maintain our home results and try our best to pull off a big result. Try and
win, but if we don't then make sure we come away with at least a point.
Everybody's talking about Manchester United, but in their last away game
they disposed of West Brom, winning 3-0. David Moyes has got so many players
to choose from that fatigue won't come into it that much, because he can
change the side that played against Olympiacos with top international
players if he wants to. I think it's going to be a really tough game and
we'll have to be on top of our form to get anything out of it."
What did you make of United's performance against Olympiacos last night? Did
they rediscover some spirit?
SA: "I thought that they kept their nerve very, very well. In the end, the
opposition coach made a mistake by attacking them. He was 2-0 up and had he
sat back with a defensive blanket of two banks of four then I think
Manchester United would have found that much more difficult to break down.
In the end, opening himself up let Manchester United exploit those spaces
and there's nobody better to do that than Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie.
"They took full advantage of the fact that Olympiacos thought they could
come and attack United, instead of looking to protect their two-goal lead.
They didn't have to score a goal to get through to the quarter-finals, all
they had to do was not concede one but he never set his tactics out like
that. David and his players took full advantage of that fact."
They're coming here 18 points off the top of the table, why do you think
they've fallen so far behind this season?
SA: "Transition I would say. I think that transition is a big thing when one
of the greatest men ever to manage a football club in the world leaves after
27 years. He has to be given time to establish himself and make the changes
that need to be made. It's a massive, massive job for David and this season
has been a massive learning curve for him. In the end, they haven't had as
good a season as they would have liked. I don't think it surprises many of
us that when someone like Sir Alex Ferguson leaves, it becomes a struggle
for whoever takes over."
You go into this game 12th in the table with games against four of the top
five to come. Does the table give West Ham a false sense of security?
SA: "Not really. I think that table-wise we don't really put any great value
in it. Our aim is always to obtain more points than games played, that has
been the case since the start of the season. Forget where you are in the
league, just make sure you get more points than games played to first secure
your position in the Premier League and then see how far you can go. We know
full well that we've got a little bit more to do.
"We've exerted a huge effort in the recent results, apart from the last two,
to get ahead on points per games. We have to make sure that when we come off
the field on Saturday that we've got a point, if not more and try to keep
that advantage in terms of how many points we've got and how many games
we've played."
How many points do you think will keep you up?
SA: "I think probably about 38. Then again, with nine games to go, some have
ten, it's swings and roundabouts more than ever before. Normally at this
stage of the season it's usually down to five or six teams rather than ten.
There's still ten teams, maybe nine now because I think Stoke will be safe,
so it's gone to nine now, any of those nine need to pick up as many points
as they can."
Does Jack Collison still have a future at the Club?
SA: "His consistent level hasn't been quite as good as last season. You
build a bigger squad, greater demands come on the players that are already
here and he needs to play some football. What better place to send him than
to Uwe Rosler and on Wigan's crusade to get into the play-offs. Jack isn't
cup-tied, he's not played in the FA Cup, and they've got a semi-final he
could play in. There's a call back option on him for us if we need him.
"If we have any problems here then we'll get him back. Jack got himself in
the side when he came back from being at Bournemouth on loan and stayed in
the side for a few games before his form dipped a little bit. It worked well
at that specific time and like I said, he hasn't played any games for a
while. Games are what he wants to play and he can enjoy his football at
Wigan for the time being."
2007 is the last time West Ham beat United in the league, is this the best
chance you've had of taken all three points against them recently?
SA: "Well like I said before, you've got to look at the last away game they
played which was West Brom and they disposed of them quite comfortably.
There's a lot of people saying Manchester United are playing better football
away from home than they are at home, because there's not quite so much
pressure on them. The last away game they played against a Premier League
side they won 3-0 at West Brom so I think it's going to be a difficult game
with the talent they've got. They can always come out and deliver at any
specific time."
United will be on a bit of a high after last night, do you think that's a
good or a bad thing?
SA: "If Manchester United deal with these things year in, year out, and
Manchester United players know exactly what's expected of them. They've got
their own standards. I think they're always very dangerous when they're not
doing as well as they should. This is not the manager that I'm talking
about, this is the players saying 'I'm letting myself down, my team down, my
manager and the fans down. We're Manchester United let's go and do something
about it.'"
How much of a boost has it been to have Andy Carroll back after his
suspension?
SA: "He managed to score last week, which was very good, but unfortunately
it meant nothing at the end of the game. Scoring early away from home should
be a very good thing to do, but unfortunately our defensive qualities let us
down badly last week. Andy's goal meant nothing in the end, but it meant a
lot to Andy, it got him on the way. He made two goals for Kevin against
Swansea before he got sent-off. He managed to get on the scoresheet and may
have scored two. We hope he can continue that as well as all the other
players on the frontline. Players on the frontline are the key element when
we're in possession to try and score goals when they get the chances.
"We do want to rely on somebody that gets past ten every year, but we do
also have to rely on other people contributing more and that's been one of
the problems in our team that other players haven't contributed what they
did last season. That's made life that little bit more difficult for us.
Defensively, we've been brilliant, 13 clean sheets in 29 games is fantastic.
Our goal rates and conversion rates hasn't been what it should have, and if
it had then we would be comfortably in the top-half."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Cole eyes Man United repeat
WHUFC.com
Carlton Cole would love to repeat his 2010 two-goal show against Manchester
United on Saturday
19.03.2014
The snowy evening of 30 November 2010 was arguably Carlton Cole's finest
hour in a West Ham United shirt. Along with his goal and assist in the 2012
Championship Play-Off final win over Blackpool at Wembley, Cole's two-goal
League Cup quarter-final show in the 4-0 victory over Manchester United will
always bring a smile to the striker's face. As the No24 prepares to face the
Red Devils at the Boleyn Ground again on Saturday - the 15th time he will
take them on in a West Ham shirt - Cole's memory was cast back to that
famous cup success. "It's a massive fixture and I think all the lads are up
for it," said Cole, who also scored at Old Trafford in the reverse Barclays
Premier League fixture this season. "We always play well under the lights as
well, so we'll give them a good game. "Of course we can beat them. We had a
great win against them in the League Cup one time, which I think ended 4-0
and I notched two goals! "The big games are what you live for and all the
players live for that and the manager wants to get one over them and get an
upset."
With two home games in five days - Manchester United followed by the visit
of Hull City on Wednesday 26 March - the Hammers have the opportunity to
collect the points they need to secure Barclays Premier League safety as
soon as possible. "Obviously we need to get the points under out belts now
at home and, with the games we have coming up away from home, any sort of
results there would be good for us. "We can start steering our way to safety
and secure a top-ten finish." Should Cole and company do just that, they
will certainly be able to enjoy the 2013/14 Player Awards, which will be
held at the Grosvenor House Hotel on London's Park Lane on Tuesday 6 May.
There, the England international will hope to secure his fifth Top
Goalscorer award, but he knows he faces strong competition from last year's
winner Kevin Nolan. "Hopefully I'll add to my tally a few more before the
end of the season. I'd love to win it again but I've got a tough competitor
in Nobby, who pushed me right to wire the year before last. "I ended up
nicking it that year at the end and hopefully I can nick it again this
season. I'm looking to notch so he better be aware!"
Tables of ten for the Player Awards, which include a drinks reception and
three-course luxury meal with petit fours, are available priced from £2,750
+VAT.
Individual packages at a shared table, complete with a drinks reception and
three-course luxury meal with petit fours, are available priced at £300
+VAT.
To book your table or seat now, please call 0871 091 1811 (Calls cost 10p
per min plus network extras).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce sets West Ham 38-point target ahead of Manchester United game
Last Updated: 20/03/14 6:21pm
SSN
Sam Allardyce reckons seven more points should be enough to secure West
Ham's Premier League status for another year. West Ham go into this
weekend's Saturday Night Football clash against Manchester United on 31
points - six clear of third-bottom Sunderland, who have played two fewer
games. Allardyce believes almost half the division - including his own side
- are still under threat from relegation with an average of nine matches to
play. And ahead of the champions' visit on Saturday the West Ham manager has
set a 38-point target for survival. "I think probably about 38 points (will
be enough)," he said. "Then again, with nine games to go, some have 10, it's
swings and roundabouts more than ever before. "Normally at this stage of the
season it's usually down to five or six teams rather than 10. There's still
10 teams - maybe nine now because I think Stoke will be safe - any of those
nine need to pick up as many points as they can. "Our aim is always to
obtain more points than games played, that has been the case since the start
of the season. "Forget where you are in the league, just make sure you get
more points than games played to first secure your position in the Premier
League and then see how far you can go. We know full well that we've got a
little bit more to do."
West Ham have won three home games in succession, but Allardyce is wary of
opponents who have taken seven points from nine in their past three away
fixtures and who travel to London on a high following their UEFA Champions
League victory over Olympiakos. He said: "The focus is to maintain our home
results and try our best to pull off a big result. Try and win, but if we
don't then make sure we come away with at least a point. "Our aim is always
to obtain more points than games played, that has been the case since the
start of the season." "Everybody's talking about Manchester United, but in
their last away game they disposed of West Brom, winning 3-0. "David Moyes
has got so many players to choose from that fatigue won't come into it that
much, because he can change the side that played against Olympiakos with top
international players if he wants to."
Despite their decent away form United could be 21 points off the top of the
table by the time kick-off comes on Saturday, and Allardyce says United's
struggle to adapt to Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement is no surprise. "David
Moyes has to be given time to establish himself and make the changes that
need to be made," he said. "It's a massive, massive job for David and this
season has been a massive learning curve for him. "In the end, they haven't
had as good a season as they would have liked. I don't think it surprises
many of us that when someone like Sir Alex Ferguson leaves, it becomes a
struggle for whoever takes over."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Uwe Rosler tips Jack Collison to impress at Wigan
Last Updated: 20/03/14 11:36am
SSN
Wigan manager Uwe Rosler has backed Jack Collison to cope with the high
stakes which await Wigan in the season's final stages. The Wales midfielder,
25, was confirmed as a Latics player on Tuesday night after he had witnessed
the dramatic 3-3 draw with Yeovil at the DW Stadium, in which five goals
inside the last 12 minutes denied the hosts a ninth straight victory. Rosler
claimed that the fact the Glovers scored a treble in those closing throes
showed just how fatigued some of his squad are. Their fixture list, which
has included European trips to Russia, Slovenia and Belgium, will comprise
of at least 60 games while they have an FA Cup semi-final date with Arsenal
at Wembley next month as they look to defend the trophy they won last May.
That could be just one of a number of titanic games to come for Rosler's
side given that they remain in the play-off spots and will almost certainly
have to go down that avenue if they are to be promoted back to the top
flight. And Collison, who is not cup-tied for the semi-final, knows all
about achieving promotion through the play-offs, having scored twice in the
semi-final first leg against Cardiff in 2012 and then starting in the final
when parent club West Ham beat Blackpool. "The injuries we've had in
midfield have been well documented," said Rosler, who has lost Ben Watson,
Chris McCann and Roger Espinoza to long-term problems recently. "We need
bodies in there, we need players with energy. Until the end of the season
now there will be prizes and high tension and we have to have players who
can cope with it. "Getting Jack - he's coming from a Premier League club, he
has experience. This season he's played 19 games and to get him for the
run-in is great for our squad. It gives us another option and I'm very happy
with this."
Wigan's recent run of form has been even more remarkable considering the
plethora of injuries they have suffered and James Perch became the latest to
go down against Yeovil. He collided with team-mate Callum McManaman early on
and despite soldiering on, made way before half-time. "We are injuring
ourselves now," Rosler joked. "James said he was right but obviously he
wasn't. He was limping. "It was unfortunate for us that we had to make that
early substitution because it restricted us in the end from bringing more
fresh bodies on. I'm not sure he'll be ready for Saturday, I hope so, but
I'm not sure."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
NOSTALGIA SERIES; RAY STEWART
By Tony Hanna 20 Mar 2014 at 09:14
West Ham Till I Die
Ray Stewart's career at West Ham will be fondly remembered by fans of that
era not just for his resolute defending, but also his fantastic penalty
taking record. Ray joined the Hammers from Dundee United in 1979 for 430,000
pounds for what was then a record fee for a British teenager. The Scot was
to go on to make 432 appearances for West Ham and scored 84 goals from right
back. All but eight of his goals were from the penalty spot and at least
three of those eight were from the goalkeepers initial saves from the
penalties. There are differing views on how many penalties Ray actually
missed during his West Ham career and Ray himself, when asked, does not
include the ones where he followed up with these rebounds. Initial misses
are most likely to be around ten as most stats say he scored 76 from 86
attempts. From my personal view the two most important penalties he ever
took were in the quarter final of the FA Cup in 1980 against Aston Villa and
in the League Cup final the following year at Wembley against Liverpool.
Both were highly pressurised and important and Ray belted both of them home!
And belt them he did. His style was no nonsense and hit with such power that
both his feet ended up off the ground after striking the ball. The one
against Villa was in the dying moments of the game and was to earn the
Hammers a place in the FA Cup semi-final. It sent Upton Park into a literal
frenzy. The one against Liverpool was to earn a League Cup final replay and
was with the last kick of the match. Pressure indeed, but Ray just walked
back and crashed them home.
However, Ray Stewart was not just a very good penalty taker. He added steel
and tenacity at right back and was to play throughout the halcyon days of
the eighties. He actually top scored in our FA Cup winning run in 1980 and
played 39 games in the 1985/86 season where we achieved our highest ever top
flight placing in third place. When Ray Stewart signed for West Ham in 1979
there was no internet, Sky Sports or Talksport. It was the Evening Standard
back in those days who would normally break any transfer news if they could
get their hands on the story before the Fleet Street elite. It was all over
the Standard back page that West Ham had broken the British teenage player
transfer record, and one who had only played 44 games in the Scottish
League! What were West Ham doing? Time would tell that it would prove money
very well spent.
But Ray, nicknamed Tonka, never did let the Hammers down. In his first
season he was second top scorer with fourteen goals. His penalty taking
style made him a fan favourite and his tackling style was often fearsome.
Julian Dicks who was breaking into the West Ham side just as Ray's career
was finishing, went on to model his penalty style after Ray's and he himself
became a penalty legend in his own right. Ray Stewart actually scored in
double figures four times in his first seven seasons at West Ham. His career
highlights include the FA Cup win of 1980, the League Cup finals the
following year and the quarter finals of the ECWC. Then there was the record
breaking second division title performance in 1981 and a few seasons later
the "Boys of '86". He went on to play ten times for Scotland but says the
"only time I ever had tears in my eyes was when Dalglish scored on that
final day of the season in 1986 and Liverpool won the title instead of us".
Sadly, Ray was badly injured in a game at Derby County in January 1989 and
he was sidelined for fifteen months. He made a return in April 1991 and
played six games in 24 days in an attempt to get fit. However, hamstring
injuries had started to plague the fullback and he was released back to his
native Scotland to end his career playing at St Johnstone and he played
twice for Stirling Albion before bringing down the curtain on his playing
career. He went on to manage Scottish teams Livingston and Stirling Albion
before ending his football days at Forfar Athletic in 2004.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
NOSTALGIA SERIES; RAY STEWART
By Tony Hanna 20 Mar 2014 at 09:14 52 comments
Ray Stewart's career at West Ham will be fondly remembered by fans of that
era not just for his resolute defending, but also his fantastic penalty
taking record. Ray joined the Hammers from Dundee United in 1979 for 430,000
pounds for what was then a record fee for a British teenager. The Scot was
to go on to make 432 appearances for West Ham and scored 84 goals from right
back. All but eight of his goals were from the penalty spot and at least
three of those eight were from the goalkeepers initial saves from the
penalties. There are differing views on how many penalties Ray actually
missed during his West Ham career and Ray himself, when asked, does not
include the ones where he followed up with these rebounds. Initial misses
are most likely to be around ten as most stats say he scored 76 from 86
attempts. From my personal view the two most important penalties he ever
took were in the quarter final of the FA Cup in 1980 against Aston Villa and
in the League Cup final the following year at Wembley against Liverpool.
Both were highly pressurised and important and Ray belted both of them home!
And belt them he did. His style was no nonsense and hit with such power that
both his feet ended up off the ground after striking the ball. The one
against Villa was in the dying moments of the game and was to earn the
Hammers a place in the FA Cup semi-final. It sent Upton Park into a literal
frenzy. The one against Liverpool was to earn a League Cup final replay and
was with the last kick of the match. Pressure indeed, but Ray just walked
back and crashed them home.
However, Ray Stewart was not just a very good penalty taker. He added steel
and tenacity at right back and was to play throughout the halcyon days of
the eighties. He actually top scored in our FA Cup winning run in 1980 and
played 39 games in the 1985/86 season where we achieved our highest ever top
flight placing in third place. When Ray Stewart signed for West Ham in 1979
there was no internet, Sky Sports or Talksport. It was the Evening Standard
back in those days who would normally break any transfer news if they could
get their hands on the story before the Fleet Street elite. It was all over
the Standard back page that West Ham had broken the British teenage player
transfer record, and one who had only played 44 games in the Scottish
League! What were West Ham doing? Time would tell that it would prove money
very well spent.
But Ray, nicknamed Tonka, never did let the Hammers down. In his first
season he was second top scorer with fourteen goals. His penalty taking
style made him a fan favourite and his tackling style was often fearsome.
Julian Dicks who was breaking into the West Ham side just as Ray's career
was finishing, went on to model his penalty style after Ray's and he himself
became a penalty legend in his own right. Ray Stewart actually scored in
double figures four times in his first seven seasons at West Ham. His career
highlights include the FA Cup win of 1980, the League Cup finals the
following year and the quarter finals of the ECWC. Then there was the record
breaking second division title performance in 1981 and a few seasons later
the "Boys of '86". He went on to play ten times for Scotland but says the
"only time I ever had tears in my eyes was when Dalglish scored on that
final day of the season in 1986 and Liverpool won the title instead of us".
Sadly, Ray was badly injured in a game at Derby County in January 1989 and
he was sidelined for fifteen months. He made a return in April 1991 and
played six games in 24 days in an attempt to get fit. However, hamstring
injuries had started to plague the fullback and he was released back to his
native Scotland to end his career playing at St Johnstone and he played
twice for Stirling Albion before bringing down the curtain on his playing
career. He went on to manage Scottish teams Livingston and Stirling Albion
before ending his football days at Forfar Athletic in 2004.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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