West Ham United

West Ham United v Manchester City Betting Tip & Odds: Let’s make no mistake about this. City should win, and have to be backed. We’re going to look at something a little different for the betting tip on this one. The signs have to point to a Manchester City win, as this is basically a top v bottom match. But consider looking for a 2 goal winning margin for City, as it should be some prime betting property. City aren’t overly prolific themselves, yet they have not won 1-0 away from home this season. They have won 2-0 away from home twice, and for West Ham, two of their four home defeats have been by a two goal margin. This is a nice little trend to jump on and a Manchester City 2 Goal Winning Margin fetches a hefty 5/1 price at ExtraBet. Well worth looking at.

West Ham to win: 7/2 at BetFred
Draw: 13/5 at BetFred
Manchester City to win: Evens at Stan James

EPL Match Preview: Manchester City could find themselves joint leaders of the English Premier League by the end of Saturday afternoon. What a warm feeling of justification that would give manager Roberto Mancini after all of the criticism which he has received this year. The Italian has been under a lot of scrutiny because of his summer spending, which was high again, in an attempt to bring the league title to the club. However, his defensive approach to doing that, hasn’t really won him a lot of fans, and when City went on a run of just one win in five matches, it was almost certain that Mancini would be out of the door. However, the hierarchy at Eastlands seem to like the job he is doing, even when Mancini admitted that he would be satisfied with fourth place in the Premier (because of entry to the Champions League) and a cup. That doesn’t illuminate the club with great ambitions, but at least it is a start, and perhaps that is how this season should be summed up for City. It is perhaps the beginning of something better, and perhaps that hard task of pulling an expansive band of summer signings together as a team is finally happening for Mancini. There are still reports of bust ups coming from the training ground, reports that star players are unhappy, that Mancini has no control in the dressing room, and that players are falling out with the boss himself, but the cool and collected Mancini seems to be rising above it. Now he has a chance to put a big feather in his cap, and smirk smugly at his critics.

City take on West Ham who are bottom of the league, and you have to be looking for a big response from City here. Let’s be clear here also, that they would not be in this position to get their teeth into top spot, if Chelsea were not on such a poor run of form, if Manchester United could win away from home, and if Arsenal could win at home. The demise of the big three really has helped Mancini’s cause it has to said. They are still overly cautious to a fault, but at least they are keeping pace with the top pack, no matter the real reason behind it. Manchester City’s un-expansive, rather dull approach is keeping them afloat and it is serving them pretty well on the road. This is a perfect example of a time when it would into play, because these away matches to bottom of the league teams are potentially hazardous all the same. It is the defensive capabilities of the side which is at least giving them a platform to pick up points. City have the second best defensive record in the Premier League, with only Chelsea bettering them, and that is only by just one goal. So that should be more than enough to close out a West Ham side who have only scored two more goals than City have conceded all season. Not so long ago City were eight points off the lead, and now they can claim a share in alongside Arsenal, who play on Monday. There’s an extra little stat, that Roberto Mancini has not been defeated in London while he has been in charge of Manchester City. City will have enough to win this one, and it will be because of their defence, which will probably need applauding again. Two clean sheets in four now for City. Enough to beat the bottom side.

West Ham fans will know a thing or two about Carlos Tevez, as the Argentinean star served them so well. Will he be back to haunt his former club? No. Because he’s suspended. Will it change the outcome of this match? No. Well, West Ham are rooted to the bottom of the league, but at least there are some signs of positivity creeping in. They have not lost at home now in their last three matches, and manager Avram Grant believes that his squad is good enough to stay up. He is desperately trying to hold on to midfielder Scott Parker, who Tottenham and Liverpool are very keen on picking up in the January transfer window. But, back to business, West Ham have only failed to score in one of their home games this season, the trouble is that they cannot keep them from going in at the other end. It doesn’t help their fight against relegation, by playing against a team against who, the Hammers have only beaten once in the last ten meetings. If they are going to add a rare triumph to that stat on Saturday, then they need to keep find a way through a solid City back line. At least their own back line won’t have to worry about Tevez, but Emmanuel Adebayor (17/10 at Paddy Power Anytime Goalscorer) is fit and ready to go again for City, and with Mario Balotelli (6/4 at Bet365 Anytime Goalscorer) in there, there are still big threats. Avram Grant still has a longer list of injured players than he would like, but Valon Behrami could be back to settle things in midfield again. Not surprisingly, West Ham have one of the worst defensive records in the Premier League, but this is a team which thumped Manchester United 4-0 in the Carling Cup recently.

Can the Hammers score back to back home victories over the Manchester clubs? That seems like a very big stretch, and there is nothing to suggest the Hammers will upset City, simply because they lack the firepower against a strong back line. Incidentally, the Hammers hold a decent record at home against City, as they have only conceded 25% of the matches there to City. So that’s actually not bad. The overall head to head though, Cit pretty much dominate, and would stick with that for your betting. West Ham will probably scrap well, but at the end of the day, you have to look at the quality in the Manchester City squad and expect them to edge it. The Hammers are bottom for a reason, and that is because they find winning hard. Manchester City are potentially top because for a reason, they win the hard way.

West Ham United v Manchester City Betting Statistics

Last 5 Head to Head
West Ham United 1, Manchester City 1
Manchester City 3, West Ham United 1
West Ham United 1, Manchester City 0
Manchester City 3, West Ham United 0
Manchester City 1, West Ham United 1

West Ham United have a 25% win percentage at home in the league this season
Manchester City have a 50% win percentage away from home in the league this season

West Ham United are on a streak of three home matches with no defeat
Manchester City are on a streak of three away matches with no defeat

West Ham United have scored 10 goals, and conceded 12 at home
Manchester City have scored 13 and conceded 7 goals in their away matches

West Ham United average 1.25 goals per match at home this season
Manchester City average 1.62 goals per match away from home this season

West Ham United have opened the scoring in 31% of their matches
Manchester City have scored first in 62% of their matches

West Ham United 2010/11 top scorer: Varney, 5
Manchester City 2010/11 top scorer: Piquionne, Parker, 4

West Ham United 2010/11 Season Form: P16 W2 D6 L8 GF14 GA27 Pts 12 (20th)
Manchester City 2010/11 Season Form: P16 W8 D5 L3 GF21 GA12 Pts 29 (3rd)

Arsenal are outright favourites to win the Carling Cup in your football betting, after progressing through the semi finals with a midweek 2-0 victory over Wigan. The semi final draw has seen them paired up with Championship side Ipswich. Arsene Wenger will grab this opportunity with both hands now, as Manchester United crumbled out of the competition in a 4-0 defeat away at West Ham United. That was the real last threat to Arsenal and their hope of ending their silverware drought by winning the Carling Cup, a tournament which they have won twice before. They have landed a favourable draw against the lowest side left in the competition, Roy Keane’s Ipswich. Ipswich, who are struggling for a bit of form in the Championship, saw off Premier League opposition in the form of West Brom, to secure their place in the semi finals. Out of the four remaining combatants, Ipswich are the only team who have not tasted League Cup final action.

The other semi final will see Birmingham take on West Ham. The Hammers produced a fantastic, and completely unexpected result against tournament favourites Manchester United on Tuesday night. Granted, United did not have a full strength side out, but the Hammers really put them to the sword. United’s second string was completely invisible, and that will have been the brightest spark in West Ham’s season so far. Birmingham saw of Midlands rivals Aston Villa at St Andrews, by a 2-1 scoreline, and if Arsenal get past Ipswich, then they will fancy their chances against either of those in the Carling Cup final at Wembley. The semi finals of the Carling Cup are played over two legs, with the first legs being played during the week of January 10th. The second legs will played a fortnight later.

Carling Cup Outright Winner Betting Odds

Arsenal: 4/7 at Stan James
Birmingham: 9/2 at Paddy Power
West Ham United: 5/1 at Unibet
Ipswich Town: 16/1 at Bodog

Carling Cup Semi Final First Leg Ante Post Prices at Bwin

Ipswich: 5/1,  Draw: 58/19, Arsenal: 5/11

West Ham: 11/10, Draw: 11/5, Birmingham: 11/5

West Ham United v Manchester United Betting Tip & Odds: An away win banker here? There is a gulf in class between the two teams, even though United won’t bother sending their strongest side to Upton Park. There’s really not much need to. The Hammers will give a spirited display no doubt, but the extra quality level that United can produce will win them this game. It is just by a matter of how many really, as United have a good recent record against the Hammers. Manchester United/Manchester United Halftime/Fulltime bet 2/1 at Blue Square

West Ham United to win: 3/4 at Totesport
Draw: 57/20 at Bodog
Manchester United to win: 9/2 at SkyBet

Carling Cup Match Preview: Manchester United laid down a huge marker to their rivals in the Premier League on the weekend, firing seven goals past Blackburn. It’s unlikely that it will be the same team that takes to the field at West Ham for this Carling Cup quarter final match, as boss Alex Ferguson will no doubt ring the changes. With such a variety of attacking options available to him, this is the perfect opportunity to give starts to the likes of Javier Hernandez and Federico Macheda. The central defensive pairing of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic will probably also get the chance to have a rest, not that they had a lot to do on the weekend against Blackburn. United are the defending champions, and how much will it mean to them to defend their title? If they can do it with a second string team, then all the better for Alex Ferguson, who has a lot bigger fish to fry than this. So don’t expect a strong Manchester United side for this one, but nonetheless, it really should be strong enough. But, with Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City falling by the wayside early in the competition, the road has pretty much been left open for them. Realistically the only challenge to the Red Devils in their quest to defend the Carling Cup, will be Arsenal. So will a much changed team have a big influence on the football betting for this one?

Not a great deal really. But there are some considerations to be factored into all this. Manchester United have found wins on the road hard to come by in the Premier League this season, and that was with stronger teams than which will take to the field on Tuesday night. West Ham are also unbeaten in their last three matches at home as well. However, while the depth of the Manchester United squad really is not as good as one would expect it to be, it has still shown that old United magic of pulling through even when they have looked down and out. Fergie will field players who are fighting for starting places at the club, and that should be enough incentive for these fringe players likes Chris Smalling who will get the chance to start in defence again. The other big factor is looking at the level of opposition here. West Ham are not going to be able to cope with that extra touch of quality, and it may only take a flash of genius here and there from United to win this one, without breaking too much of a sweat. That is the difference between a top side and struggling one at this level. They are both Premier League teams, but divisions apart in truth. United won 3-0 against West Ham at the start of the season in the League, and have now hit 10 goals in their last three matches against the Hammers.

West Ham received a boost on the weekend, when they managed to pick up their second victory of the Premier League season, as they bottom side club took a vital three points off Wigan. Boss Avram Grant is a man under pressure though, and the Hammers look odds on favourites to be playing Championship football next season. The quality is not there, neither up front or at the back, but they do have pretty much a full squad to pick from, including Kieron Dyer, who is looking hopeful for a place in the team. Although they have been going badly in the Premier League, a loss against a side of Manchester United fringe players would be just as demoralising for the West Ham fans. West Ham need to be better than that, but neither form nor stats are really on their side. Even though the Hammers really do have a pretty good home record against Manchester United (West Ham have won 45% of home matches against Manchester United) recent form needs to be looked at primarily. They have lost in their last six matches against Manchester United, and not only that, the Hammers have failed to score against United in the last five games also. Manchester United are unbeaten this season in all competitions and it is likely to stay that way as well after Tuesday night’s game at Upton Park. United have a good recent history in the Carling Cup, and they should be well on their way to the final after this.

Last 5 Head to head
Manchester United 3, West Ham 0
Manchester United 3, West Ham 0
West Ham United 0, Manchester United 4
West Ham United 0, Manchester United 1
Manchester United 2, West Ham United 0

Saturday 30^th January

English Premier League

West Ham United v Blackburn Rovers

Both West Ham and Blackburn will be looking to move themselves further away from the relegation zone when they meet at Upton park tomorrow afternoon.

It will be the club’s first match at Upton Park since new owners, David Sullivan and David Gold, took over earlier this month. Manager Gianfranco Zola has been able to keep his star players because of this and has also started to bring in players to bolster his options, especially upfront. Benni McCarthy has joined from, ironically enough, tomorrow’s opponents but a work permit issue means he’ll be unable to go straight into the side. There are numerous rumours going around about another couple of signings but it’s unlikely anyone else will be brought in on time to feature tomorrow afternoon. The Hammers still sit perilously close to the bottom on 3 as they remain level on points with 18^th placed Burnley. They know that games against sides in the lower half at home are exactly the kind of games they need to win in order to survive. As hard as it is to believe, they have only won 4 games all season so it’s no wonder they are in the position they’re in. They have picked up two valuable points in their last two away games against Aston Villa and most recently, at Portsmouth last midweek. 3 of their 4 wins this season have come at home and two of them have been against sides close to them in the table. They have lost 4 matches at Upton Park in the league but none of these defeats have been inflicted by sides in the lower half of the Premier League.  

Rovers have improved their form of late and after sticking a couple of wins together find themselves in 11^th position, 7 points clear of the relegation zone. Wins against Wigan Fulham at Ewood Park has alleviated a lot of the pressure from manager Sam Allardyce and his players. The manager is actively seeking to improve his squad before the close of the transfer window on Monday but he’ll go with what is currently available tomorrow. In order to continue their recent good form, Rovers will have do something they’ve only managed once this season – win away from home. They have lost 8 of their 11 matches on the road already this season, conceding 28 goals in the process. The positives for Allardyce seem to be outweighing the negatives at the moment though, as his big players are beginning to perform to their best. Morten Gamst Pedersen is beginning to find the form of a couple of seasons ago, David Dunn is back fit and proving to be pivotal whilst £6m Niko Kalanic scored his first Premier League goal in the win over Wigan.

West Ham have Carlton Cole back fit and that is a massive bonus. Cole is easily the most improved player in the league over the last 18 months and is certainly Zola’s most important player. He is fundamental to West Ham’s success as he’s their main goalscorer and is a real leader on the park. He leads the line fantastically well so after getting a 20 minute run-out on Tuesday, it’s likely he’ll start tomorrow for the first time since November. Blackburn will be looking to end a massive hoodoo when they travel south tomorrow. They have not won at Upton Park in the league since 1994. They’ve not even picked up as much as a point in this fixture since 1995 so they know how hard it will be to leave East London with anything.

Blackburn’s two wins have given them breathing space so it’s probably fair to say that tomorrow’s match is more important for the home side. I honestly think this is a must win for Zola’s side as they have a tough set of fixtures coming up in the nest 6 weeks so these type of home games are the kind of games they will be targeting. The home crowd will be on a high after the takeover so the atmosphere will be even better than it normally as at the old stadium. Their main man is back from injury and they also have history on their side. I expect it to be an entertaining game and there will be a couple of goals as well. West Ham have only lost 1 of their last 5 and I believe they are good enough to win tomorrow afternoon.

My selection: West Ham to beat Blackburn at a best priced 6/5 with Totesport

English League 1

Norwich City v Hartlepool United

League leaders Norwich City entertain a Hartlepool side who are on a poor run of form so a visit to Carrow Road is probably not a match they are looking forward to.

Paul Lambert has done a terrific job since taken charge back in August. He has guided Norwich from the relegation zone right to the top of the table and with an excellent chance of going straight back into the Championship. The former Colchester and Wycombe boss has not done a lot to the playing staff but he has instilled a system and discipline which has reaped it’s won rewards. He’s played under some of the best managers in World football, including Omar Hitzfeld and Martin O’Neill so he’ll have picked up plenty from those two individuals. Both were proper man managers and Lambo seems to be exactly that type of coach as well. His side are on a superb run of form having won their last 7 games and unbeaten in their last 15. Their home form under Lambert is very strong, he’s not lost a game at Carrow road since taking the hot seat.

Hartlepool have had a wee stutter of late having lost 3 of their last 4 in the league and with just two win’s in their last 12 matches. Their away form is also something of a concern and they look weak defensively on their travels. They’ve lost their last 6 away games and have conceded 15 goals in the process. Pool will be boosted by the absence of Norwich captain Grant Holt. The striker is not only their top scorer, he’s also their best and most important player. He will miss tomorrow’s match due to suspension after being sent off last weekend. They’ll also welcome the return of Ritchie Humphrey’s who has been an important player for them this season.

Norwich are flying at the moment and their strikers are bang in form. There good end has to end at some point but I think it will take a better side than the current Hartlepool team to disrupt their promotion charge. The 1/3 generally on offer for a Norwich win may appeal to some of the big hitters but I think that the home side are more than capable of covering the handicap the form they are in at the moment. They’re not only scoring a lot of goals at home they’re not conceding many either, when you consider the fact that the visitors tomorrow are conceding goals and not scoring too many on their travels, the 10/11 on Norwich minus a goal is value for me.

My selection: Norwich (-1) to beat Hartlepool at a best priced 10/11 available with Bet365

When war was declared 4th August 1914 most sports stopped immediately but not football. The Football League carried on. Most players were on one-year rolling contracts so were unable to heed the pleas and urging of many people to join-up. The players only chance of going to war was for their clubs to cancel their contracts, which they weren’t inclined to do.

Many public figures tried to urge the footballers to join-up. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was one of the first to do so, followed by Fred Charrington, son of the brewer, who went to war on West Ham United for being cowards. Charles Fry, the well-known footballer and cricketer called for all football to be abandoned and contracts voided.
Whilst recruiing was going on at a fair pace more people were having a go at the footballers including the church. Mainly thru’ the Bishop of Chelmsford who rubbished those who didn’t put their country first.

Eventually a battalion of the Middlesex Regiment was formed  called the 17th Service ( Football) Regiment. The first person to join was Franklin Buckley. An England International who would become manager of Wolves. Buckleys lead was soon followed when the Football Association and Football League gave their blessing for unmarried players to join-up. The 17th Battalion soon filled all the available vacancies. Mainly with star-struck supporters who wanted to fight beside their heros. Frank(lin) Buckley, having seen service in the forces in the King’s Regiment between 1900 and 1903, was given the rank of Lieutenant. He finished up as a Major.

Scotland’s top-dogs at this time was Hearts of Midlothian.They had won eight successive leagues games when the whole team joined-up, in the Army. Seven of them never returned. However the signing of the team had a great impact on everybody. Recruitment really gathered pace.  By the following March over one hundred professional footballers were under arms. Led by Clapton (now Leyton) Orient, whose first eleven led the way.

Around this time ATHLETIC NEWS took the government and the "do gooders" to task, accusing them of trying to stop the man in the street from enjoying "the poor man’s sport". How hollow those last four words ring in regards to todays over paid "slaves".
Many of the footballers who went to war covered themselves in glory. None more than Lance Corporal  William Angus who played for Celtic. He managed to crawl thru’ "no Man’s land" to rescue an officer who was badly wounded, managing to reach him without being seen. The return journey was exactly the opposite and Angus was hit about forty times. He eventually returned to his trench with the officer. Angus lost an eye and part of his right foot. He was awarded the VICTORIA CROSS.The first professional footballer to receive the award.

Second Lieutenant Donald Bell of Bradford City,reputed to be the first professional footballer to enrol,  received a Posthumous Victoria Cross. He attacked an enemy machine gun post armed only with grenades, at the Somme. He was successful. Unfortunately he tried to repeat his act a few days later and was killed.

Another to be decorated was Leigh Roose, the Welsh goalkeeper. Despite being a "medic" he was thrust into the Battle of the Somme near Dainville. His citation included,….he threw bombs (grenades?) ,until his arms gave out, then used his rifle to great effect. He was awarded the Military Medal. He was killed attacking German trenches, two months later.

Jimmy Spiers also of Bradford City, another Military Medal winner was killed at Passchendale in August 1917.

A Momentous honour awaited Walter Tull of Northampton Town. One of the first to enlist, he fought at the Somme, earning praise from very senior officers but then  developed Trench Fever. He was repatriated to England and when he had recovered instead of returning to France was sent to the Officer Training school at Gailles in Scotland, despite Military regulations forbidding "any negro or person of colour" being an officer.He was commissioned in May 1917, in the rank of Leiutenant.

He was posted to the Italian Front to become the first ever Black Officer in the British Army. He was later mentioned in despatches for "gallantry and coolness under fire" during the battle of Piave.

This is just a few of the many, many incidents in which footballers were involved during that war. How sad that so many failed to return to their loved ones.I wonder how todays "over-paid" under-achievers would respond to a similar situation.