Apr 02

Squad sheets: Everton v West Ham United

Another brutal match report from David Sullivan might be preferable to a visit to Goodison Park for Gianfranco Zola, given that West Ham have won only once in their last 13 visits and face an Everton side that has triumphed on its last seven home league games – a club record in the Premier League. Injury to Mikel Arteta at least deprives Everton of their most creative outlet but with the pressure firmly on the Italian, and his side winning only once on their league travels this season, it will take more than spirit from the struggling Hammers to ease the sense of crisis this weekend. Andy Hunter

Venue Goodison Park, Sunday 4pm

Tickets £29-35 (0871 663 1878)

Last season Everton 3 West Ham 1

Referee H Webb

This season’s matches 23 Y87, R3, 3.91 cards per game

Odds Everton 5-11 West Ham 15-2 Draw 10-3

Everton

Subs from Nash, Senderos, Mustafi, Bilyaletdinov, Yakubu, Agard, Hibbert, Anichebe, Duffy, Baxter, Wallace, Yobo

Doubtful Anichebe (ribs), Yobo (back)

Injured Arteta (groin, 14 Apr), Fellaini (ankle, Aug), Gosling (knee, Jan)

Suspended None

Form guide DWWDWL

Disciplinary record Y52 R2

Leading scorer Saha 13

West Ham

Subs from Kurucz, Stech, Daprela, Gabbidon, Ilan, Diamanti, McCarthy, Ilunga, Dyer, Tomkins, Kovac, Stanislas

Doubtful Collison (knee), Dyer (hamstring), Ilunga (knee), Tomkins (ankle)

Injured Franco (achilles, May), Boa Morte (knee, Aug), Hines (knee, Aug)

Suspended None

Form guide LLLLLL

Disciplinary record Y56 R3

Leading scorer Cole 9

Match pointers

• If West Ham lose, they will become the 22nd team in Premier League history to lose seven or more consecutive games

• Everton have lost one of their last 15 home league matches while West Ham have failed to win in 15 away

• Louis Saha has scored five goals in his last three appearances against West Ham

• If the season had begun on 1 January, Everton would be in second place behind Manchester United

• West Ham have conceded 799 Premier League goals in their history

Premier LeagueEvertonWest Ham Unitedguardian.co.uk

No Comments | Tags: , , , , , ,
Mar 29

Gianfranco Zola pledges to stay on and steer West Ham to safety

• Italian grateful for West Ham owners’ backing
• ‘We will have to work harder than we have before’

The West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola returns to London tomorrow after a short break in Sardinia intent upon staving off relegation having reaffirmed his intention to see out the season at Upton Park.

The Italian had travelled home to clear his head and consider his immediate future after his side suffered a sixth successive league defeat to Stoke City on Saturday to leave them above the cut-off only on goal difference. The club’s co-owner, David Gold, visited the dressing room after that 1-0 loss and gave West Ham’s manager of 18 months his backing.

“I am determined to carry on,” said Zola. “Losing on Saturday was emotional for everyone, but I know we can turn it around and we have the ability to achieve our objectives. The owners have backed me and I am grateful for that. My only thought for now is to keep this club in the Premier League, and that remains my goal. I will give everything I can to make this happen between now and the end of the season.

“I have had time to think and reflect, and [we] will have to work harder than we have before. I know we can get the results we need and it is just a question of making it happen. The performance was better on Saturday, but it is still not the level we should be at. We can, and we will, do better as a team.”

There remains the understanding that there will be a parting of the ways in the summer, ideally with West Ham having retained their top-flight status. While the other co-owner, David Sullivan, indicated last week that he was “100% behind the manager”, the West Ham hierarchy are expected to pursue a new appointment at the end of the campaign. Yet the club’s ability to attract the likes of Mark Hughes hinge upon the retention of their place in the Premier League.

The manager will address his squad when they train at Chadwell Heath on Wednesday after the long-scheduled three-day break and attempt to revive spirits ahead of the daunting trip to Everton on Sunday. The players retain faith in the coaching staff. “We will work together to find the solutions,” said Zola. “We have a responsibility to turn things around and that is what we will do. I am here and I am ready to do what I need to do to get the results.

“We will go to Everton determined to get a result. People might not expect us to get something from the match but we will be positive. No one should write us off. Although we are in a serious position we have time to sort things out and be in control of our destiny at the end of the season. We said before Stoke that one game would not define the season, but we also know that each of the games we have left will be cup finals.”

Gianfranco ZolaWest Ham UnitedPremier LeagueDominic Fifieldguardian.co.uk

No Comments | Tags: , , ,
Mar 26

Squad sheets: West Ham United v Stoke City

This is West Ham’s biggest game of the season so far. Gianfranco Zola’s job is in serious jeopardy and so is the club’s Premier League survival – and one of the main reasons they find themselves in such a predicament is that they have proven very poor at coping with pressure. That is ominous. They are likely to have plenty of possession this afternoon – opponents of Stoke invariably do – but they need to summon enough confidence and composure to use it well, and cut out unforced errors at the back. Otherwise Stoke, physically and mentally stronger, will push them further into trouble. Paul Doyle

Venue Upton Park, Saturday 3pm Tickets £35-£51 (08712 222 700) Last season West Ham 2 Stoke 1 Referee A Marriner

This season’s matches 21 Y82, R8, 4.29 cards per game

Odds West Ham 6-5 Stoke 12-5 Draw 11-4

West Ham

Subs from Stech, Da Costa, Spector, Tomkins, Ilan, Kovac, Dyer, Diamanti, McCarthy

Doubtful Gabbidon (hamstring)

Injured Tomkins (ankle, 3 Apr), Franco (achilles, 3 Apr), Collison (knee, 3 Apr), Ilunga (calf, 3 Apr), Hines (knee, Aug), Boa Morte (knee, Aug)

Suspended None

Form guide LLLLLW Disciplinary record Y56 R3

Leading scorer Cole 9

Stoke

Subs from Begovic, Pugh, Collins, Sidibe, Tuncay, Davies, Wilkinson, Moult, Am Faye

Doubtful None

Injured Diao (calf, 3 Apr), Beattie (knee, May)

Suspended Whitehead (one match)

Form guide LDDLWD

Disciplinary record Y54 R5

Leading scorer Tuncay 6

Match pointers

• West Ham have won five of their last six meetings with Stoke in all competitions

• Stoke have scored two goals in their last five matches at Upton Park

• The Hammers are on a run of five straight defeats in the league. During this period they have conceded 14 goals, an average of 2.8 per game

• Ryan Shawcross has made more defensive blocks (32) than any other Premier League player this season

• Stoke have lost one of their seven games away at sides currently in the bottom 10 of the Premier League this term

West Ham UnitedStoke CityPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk

No Comments | Tags: , , , , , , ,
« Previous Page Next Page »