Friday, 21 March 2014

Premier League Preview: West Ham vs Man United

14:45

By: TBMU Admin On: 14:45   In:   No comments

Premier League Preview: West Ham vs Man United

Premier League Preview: West Ham vs Man United

Posted: 20 Mar 2014 11:32 AM PDT

Robin van Persie lifted the gloom at Old Trafford by scoring a hat-trick as United overcame a two-goal first-leg deficit by beating Olympiacos 3-0 in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday to progress to the quarter-finals. A 3-0 home defeat in the top flight against fierce rivals Liverpool on Sunday had raised more questions over the future of manager David Moyes, so the fightback against the Greek champions was a much-needed tonic for the Scotsman. Seventh-placed United now turn their attention back to a disappointing Premier League campaign as they attempt to make up ground on the teams above them, and Jones is eager to build momentum for the remainder of the campaign - starting with Saturday's trip to Upton Park. The England defender said: "I think the Olympiacos game has got to be a springboard for us. "It was a huge night. We have to use this as an impetus to go and prove that we can win game after game. "We let ourselves down on Sunday (against Liverpool) so it was good to get the win for us and the fans. "They have something to smile about now and hopefully we can kick on." United have won their last two league games on their travels and not conceded in three on the road, but they will have to do without captain Nemanja Vidic as he starts a two-match ban following his red card against Liverpool. Van Persie's fitness will be assessed after he was carried off late on against Olympiacos with a knee injury. Defenders Chris Smalling (hamstring) and Jonny Evans (groin) are expected to miss out once again. West Ham are due a win against United in the top flight at Upton Park as you have to go back to 2007 for the last time they secured a home win over the champions. Moyes' men consigned the London club to a 3-1 defeat when the two sides met at Old Trafford back in December and Sam Allardyce's charges go into the game on the back of defeats at Everton and Stoke City. West Ham have won their last three home games though, and Allardyce believes they need at least another seven points to be guaranteed safety as they sit six points ahead of third-bottom Sunderland but Gus Poyet's side have two games in hand. When asked how many points will be needed to avoid the drop, the former Newcastle United manager said: "I think probably about 38. Then again, with nine games to go, some have 10, it's swings and roundabouts more than ever before." Defender Joey O'Brien (dislocated shoulder) and striker Marco Borriello (calf) will play no part for the home side.

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Blanc keen to face Man United in quarters

Posted: 20 Mar 2014 09:16 AM PDT

Blanc's side secured a place in the quarter-finals with a 6-1 aggregate success over Bayer Leverkusen, while United made it through after turning around a 2-0 first-leg deficit with a 3-0 win at Old Trafford on Wednesday. The former France coach ended his playing career with United, winning the Premier League title in his final season in professional football in 2003. And the 48-year-old would be delighted to be paired against David Moyes' side when the draw for the last eight takes place on Friday. "It would be nice to face Manchester," Blanc said. "Their qualification I am sincerely pleased for because they live in difficult moments, they were able to re-group and there should certainly be an amazing atmosphere. "It would make me happy to visit Old Trafford as it would make me happy to visit other stadia." However, PSG's immediate focus is on Friday's Ligue 1 trip to Lorient and the chance to further exert their dominance at the summit of the French top flight. A win for the defending champions would move them 11 points clear of second-placed Monaco ahead of their clash with Lille on Sunday. PSG will have a full squad to choose from aside from the injured Gregory van der Wiel, and Blanc insists his side will not be distracted by the Champions League draw. "Gregory van der Wiel is still in a recovery phase and will not be fit to play against Lorient. He will be available next week I think," Blanc added. "There are some problems with other players, but none that affect their participation in the game. "It is not a problem that the draw is taking place on the same day as our match against Lorient. "Of course the players have to know who they will play, but remember that we are not preparing for a quarter-final but a championship match where we have to take three points."

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Freiburg chief hopeful that Ginter will stay put

Posted: 20 Mar 2014 04:57 AM PDT

The highly rated 20-year-old has been a regular for Freiburg, making 25 appearances this season. His form has seen him linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium and Signal Iduna Park and Freiburg will be powerless to keep him if they are relegated to the second tier. Despite a 4-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, Freiburg occupy the relegation play-off place in the Bundesliga table. However, Keller feels Ginter would be better suited by staying at Freiburg and getting first-team football instead of warming the bench at another club. "He has a long-term contract and for a player his age, it may be interesting to stay another year for stability," Keller told Badische Zeitung. "This is in my opinion better than to sit on the bench for one of the big clubs." Despite wanting to keep Ginter, Keller admits that players leaving the club is something that cannot be avoided, given Freiburg's lack of financial clout. A new stadium will help Freiburg keep hold of their best players though, he believes. "We must always expect players to leave us," Keller added. "Turnover is normal for us, as we have seen recently, but we do our homework. Sure we can continue to do this, but it is important that we get a new stadium. Then we can keep players maybe a year longer. "A stadium is not a luxury, but important in the struggle for survival."

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Olympiacos bemoan second Man United goal

Posted: 20 Mar 2014 04:11 AM PDT

Olympiacos – who were crowned Greek champions the weekend prior to Wednesday's last 16 second leg tie against Manchester United – failed to capitalise on their momentum. They threw away a 2-0 lead gained from the first leg, losing the second 3-0 at Old Trafford to bow out on aggregate. Robin van Persie scored a hat-trick for United, but it was his second goal – that came just before half-time – that Fuster and Dominguez said was the turning point. Fuster said: "The team are really disappointed. We had high hopes of going through to the next round, but it wasn't to be. "We started well, we were closing down space, they were struggling to find their front men and we had a few chances which might have changed the game if we'd scored. "They got the penalty and that made it harder for us, and getting the second goal on the stroke of half-time and then the third made it an uphill battle. "We still only needed one goal and had to keep trying – we kept fighting till the end but got no reward." Dominguez added: "The difference was United were better when it came to taking their chances. We had our changes too and didn't convert them. "It was a game where the narrowest of margins made a big difference. De Gea's save was a key moment but so too was when they got the second goal with 30 seconds left (of the first half). "I am not satisfied with what we did – we wanted to get through and carry on in the competition. "We had our supporters behind us, a lot of people followed us here. We did all we could but could not give them something to celebrate."

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Allardyce wary of Man United squad depth

Posted: 20 Mar 2014 03:53 AM PDT

It will be a second game in four days for David Moyes' men following their stirring comeback to see off Olympiacos in the UEFA Champions League last 16 on Wednesday. But Allardyce says his counterpart Moyes can call on greater reserves to cope with the challenge, and is not expecting the champions to suffer from any European hangover. "David's got so many players to choose from that fatigue won't come in to it for them," he said. "We'll have to be at the top of our form." Allardyce also showed his support for Moyes, who has come under fire after a disappointing first season at Old Trafford. "Transition is a big thing," he added. "When one of the greatest managers in the world leaves, transition is a big thing. "When someone else comes in they have to be given time to make the changes they need to do." Allardyce saw a return to the scoresheet for Andy Carroll last week, but ultimately the striker's goal counted for little as Stoke City came back to win 3-1 at the Britannia Stadium. The former Bolton Wanderers manager hoped it would be the first of many for Carroll between now and the end of the season, with West Ham still not safe from relegation. "Andy scored last week which was good but unfortunately it meant nothing, apart from meaning a lot to him," he said. "It gets him on the way and we're hoping he can continue that. "We don't put any great value in the table because our aim is always to obtain more points than games played. "We know full well that we've got a little bit more to do. I think probably about 38 points will keep you up but there's still 10 teams in it."

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Martinez rubbishes Coleman transfer talk

Posted: 20 Mar 2014 03:00 AM PDT

Republic of Ireland international Coleman has impressed many with his barnstorming displays from right-back this season, chipping in with a number of crucial goals. The latest of those came in dramatic fashion on Saturday as his last-minute winner saw Everton to a 2-1 win over Cardiff City at Goodison Park to keep them firmly in the hunt for European football next season. There had been speculation that former Everton boss David Moyes would bring Coleman to Old Trafford in the close-season, but Martinez brushed aside any reports of contact between the two clubs. "It must be a different Seamus Coleman because we've never had any talks with anyone," he said. "Seamus has had a very good season, we want that to continue and in the next 10 games we want him to carry on with the same levels. "He's a very, very important player at Everton and we want him to stay here for a long, long time." Coleman has scored a total of six goals in 26 Premier League outings this season, and has racked up 133 appearances in all competitions since arriving on Merseyside from Sligo Rovers for a reported £60,000 in January 2009.

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Moyes dreaming of Champions League glory

Posted: 20 Mar 2014 01:46 AM PDT

After a disastrous performance in the first leg in Greece, where United lost 2-0, the reigning Premier League champions were under pressure to turn in a much-improved showing at Old Trafford on Wednesday. They did just that, Robin van Persie scoring a hat-trick in a 3-0 win which saw Moyes and his men through to the last eight of the competition. United are the lowest-ranked side in their respective league in Friday's draw, but Moyes sees no reason why his side can't go on to win the trophy for a fourth time. "I hope so," he said. "We will probably go into the quarter-final tie as underdogs but I don't see why not. "This football club is capable of it. If we play to our capabilities, which we've not shown that often this season, I think we can be a match for any team. "This club has history in the competition. It knows what to do at this stage. "We're not shocked to be in the quarter-finals - it's something we do regularly. We will try to get into the last four now." On several occasions this season United have produced a result which many believed would turn their faltering season around, but too often a positive performance was followed up by a disappointing one, and Moyes hopes that they can buck that trend this time. "I don't want to say this is the moment but in the same breath I really hope it is," he said. "It was a really good result in Europe as we came from 2-0 behind. We hadn't played well in the first game but we put it right. "The result means we've got ourselves another two games in the Champions League. That's something we'll really look forward to. All I can say is that we'll try to use this result as best we can. "I have a lot of things I need to do. It's going to take time to happen. Most importantly, tonight the players gave the crowd something after Sunday's defeat to Liverpool and I thought the crowd responded brilliantly."

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