Up The Hammers – Latest West Ham United FC News

Last week’s loss to Leicester all but confirmed that we really don’t have anything to play for. You’d like to think the

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Although unhelpful, fresh doubts over the long-term future of the West Ham manager, Sam Allardyce, should not derail West Ham’s hopes of securing a top-half finish. The hosts have lost four of their past five matches and go into the game level on points with Stoke, who have lost their previous three. This hardly suggests a classic is in store but keep an eye on Peter Crouch, who…

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Speaking in the run-up to his team’s clash against Stoke City on Saturday, West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce concedes that the targets he set for the side in January are no longer within their reach. The team got off to a good start early in the season and were in the Premier League top four before Christmas, but have since dropped to ninth place. He also addresses West Ham’s chances of snagging a spot in the Europa …

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Only Chelsea can stop Chelsea, Manchester City dropping points at Crystal Palace would not be a shock, and what reception will Raheem Sterling get at Arsenal? West Brom and QPR lost their managers around a month apart, with the surreal Alan Irvine experiment being cut short just after Christmas, and Harry Redknapp’s seemingly inevitable resignation following an unsuccessful January transfer window. Obviously the circumstances were slightly different and Rangers were in a much more …

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Arsenal will need to be on Song, Swansea must not be so narrow-minded in midfield against Liverpool and time Rafael got his chance for Manchester United The injuries are starting to bite again for Arsenal. Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Debuchy , Mathieu Flamini and Abou Diaby are all long-term absentees; Aaron Ramsey has only just returned; Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s hamstring went against Manchester United ; the similarly hamstrung Gabriel Paulista is …

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Chelsea earned a narrow win over West Ham to keep their lead as Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs all won, while Everton’s troubles deepened as they lost 2-0 to Stoke 9.50pm GMT Liverpool stay fifth, Burnley stay 19th. 9.46pm GMT Ricky Lambert is coming on for Sterling. He has approximately 100 seconds to make a mark. 9.45pm GMT The only match still in progress is at Anfield, where Liverpool are 2-0 up against Burnley …

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Barney Ronay was online to discuss the midweek fixtures in the Premier League 1.51pm GMT Thanks for reading and commenting. Barney has signed off. In his absence, why not read this piece about Sam Allardyce’s revolutionary time at Bolton , which features various photos of Big Sam through the years, including this one: 1.32pm GMT WallyFister asks: Why are English clubs continuing to fail in Europe? Would it be beneficial to keep sacking managers? Or should the media take…

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Olivier Giroud is crucial to Arsenal’s push for third despite his Monaco misses, while Robin van Persie’s absence for United could be a blessing in disguise and surely it is time Mark Noble received an England call-up Nobody has ever claimed Olivier Giroud was a world-class striker. His is not a name one would mention alongside Sergio Agüero, Diego Costa or Luis Suárez. He is a rung below that – always has been, always will be…

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Sherwood might be the man for a quick fix, Swansea need to retrieve their mojo and a win over Arsenal would give substance to the Pardew revolution The cross came over. It seemed to hang in the air for an eternity. There, a chance, a brilliant opportunity to break a goalless cycle that had become crippling. The FA Cup was both an opportunity for Aston Villa to inject some life into a stagnant campaign and to achieve …

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Arsenal’s home form is comforting for fans, the all-Championship clash provided the greatest entertainment and Liverpool’s resurgence is well under way A sequence of nine consecutive wins, manufactured by scoring 23 goals and conceding three, have turned the Emirates into a source of home comfort for Arsenal. They continued their confident run by swatting aside the challenge from up-and-coming Middlesbrough in the FA Cup and Arsène Wenger sees that as an important foundation for…

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We round up our favourite pictures from this weekend’s FA Cup action Continue reading…

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Follow all the latest action from the night’s Premier League matches Live scoreboard! Keep up with all the latest goals and games right here And email alan.smith@theguardian.com or tweet @alansmith90 8.26pm GMT 8.25pm GMT Shock at Old Trafford – Ander Herrera is on the pitch. Yes, Herrera is on the pitch. Blind’s head injury has forced him off. Bizarrely, Wayne Rooney now appears to be playing a holding role and Herrera has moved onto the right…

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Live scoreboard! All today’s live scores and results Keep up with all of the day’s goals and games as they happen Email niall.mcveigh.casual@theguardian.com or tweet @niallmcveigh 3.28pm GMT It had been a quiet start for the hosts at Old Trafford, but no longer – Daley Blind steals the ball from Kramaric in midfield, before dinking the ball to compatriot Robin van Persie, who belts the ball home on the volley. The striker looks offside, but the goal stands. 3.26pm …

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Louis van Gaal struggles for fluidity, Muhamed Besic gives Everton hope, Alan Pardew praises fans and Leicester’s patience with Nigel Pearson is rewarded “The struggle for fluidity” may sound like a PhD thesis but is actually the quality that continues to elude Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United, as was again illustrated in the disjointed fashion they went down 1-0 to Southampton on Sunday. For this 21st outing of each team’s Premier …

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Latest updates from the 3pm kick-offs Email niall.mcveigh.casual@theguardian.com . Tweet @niallmcveigh Follow Southampton v Chelsea here Get all the latest live scores here 1.06pm GMT Niall will be here shortly with all the team news and build up before the 3pm matches in the Premier League. In the meantime, here’s the latest injury news. Continue reading…

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West Ham’s Alex Song is expected to return against former club Arsenal while Vincent Kompany may be available for Manchester City after injury Hugo Lloris is fit to start for Spurs despite being left bloodied in their win over Leicester. The keeper was caught in the face by Jamie Vardy at the end of the 2-1 Boxing Day win but is available to face United. Ryan Mason could return to the starting line-up following an …

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Today’s Mill is skimpier than QPR’s defence on a cold night on Merseyside It is almost Christmas and West Ham are sticking their hand deep into their stocking. Down at the bottom is always the best bit: the tangerine. But lo, what else is there? Yes, it is Alex Song saying West Ham are the club of his dreams and he wants to stay there. Sam Allardyce can do no wrong these days, it seems, and he …

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What team will Brendan Rodgers put out, Newcastle are in flux, Arsenal’s mental block and is this the end for Alan Irvine? There’s good news and bad news. The good news is that this section won’t be another thing about Steven Gerrard’s place in the Liverpool team. The bad news is that, well, it will be a little bit about Steven Gerrard’s place in the Liverpool team. Even with a squad laden…

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YouGov polled 200,000 people to find that Liverpool fans think they are funny, QPR supporters enjoy chess and Stoke City fans like Ann Summers. Do these character traits feel familiar? Arsenal fans follow Piers Morgan on Twitter, can be feckless and are “willing to sacrifice free time to get ahead with their careers”. Fun. Continue reading…

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While big names grab the headlines, a host of players have escaped front-page attention but are key to their sides fortunes 10 talking points from last weekends action Congratulations Diego Costa, Nemanja Matic, Sergio Agüero, Graziano Pellè and all the other headline-making acts in the Premier League this season youre flying. Keep up the good work. But what of the unsung talents, those who have been over-shadowed by more prominent names…

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Teams like Southampton, Stoke, Swansea and West Ham have highlighted the value of building teams over signing stars Well, that went quickly. With the Premier League season 11 matches old and parked within the natural hiatus of a two-game international break, it is just about possible with all due caveats and boilerplate bandwagon-avoidance clauses to pick out some of the dominant rhythms so far. It is of course an indication of the feudal nature …

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Sam Allardyce says Downing ready for international recall Mark Hughes demands review of key refereeing decision Stewart Downing last played for England in Roy Hodgsons first game in charge at the end of a season in which he neither scored nor made a goal for Liverpool but he is back on the international radar. Sam Allardyce revealed after West Ham extended their equal best start to a Premier League season that Downing is being monitored …

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Enner Valencia inspired West Ham Uniteds superb comeback from 2-0 down against Stoke City to dampen Mark Hughess 51st birthday celebrations. The Ecuadaor forward, almost anonymous in the first half as a lone striker in the absence of the injured Diafra Sakho, scored one and made Stewart Downings equaliser after switching to the left flank after Carlton Coles half-time introduction. Continue reading…

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Manager is not getting carried away after flying start and has warned his players to be on guard against Stoke Match report: West Ham United 2-1 Manchester City Some West Ham United supporters believe that the club should change their anthem if they are ever going to enjoy a period of sustained success. Their argument is that constantly singing about bubbles nearly reaching the sky and then fading and dying at the crucial moment is asking for trouble and it is true that…

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Striker struggling with shoulder injury Summer signing has scored in first six starts for club We will wait until Friday and see what he is like – Allardyce Sam Allardyce will give West Hams goal-a-game striker Diafra Sakho every chance to be fit for Saturdays Premier League trip to Stoke City. The summer arrival from Metz has been in impressive form since arriving at Upton Park and has scored on his first …

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We round up our favourite photographs from the top flight grounds Continue reading…

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