West Ham Utd 0-1 Stoke City (31/08/13)

[Ricardo]

Full name Stoke City Football Club
Nickname(s) The Potters
Founded 1863, as Stoke Ramblers F.C.
Ground Britannia Stadium - Capacity 27,740
Chairman Peter Coates
Manager Mark Hughes
2012–13 Premier League, 13th

Story So Far

Stoke's first pre-season match against Houston ended in a 2–0 defeat with goals from Andrew Driver and Giles Barnes. Stoke performed better in their next match against FC Dallas, and won the match 1–0 thanks to a well worked goal scored by Walters. However the match did end on a poor note as Cameron Jerome saw a penalty kick saved by Chris Seitz and then Andy Wilkinson was sent-off for a poor tackle.

Stoke's final match in the United States saw them beat the Philadelphia Union 2–0 thanks to early goals from Michael Kightly and Brek Shea. However the match was overshadowed due to an injury sustained by Shea. On their return to the UK, Stoke took on Mark Hughes' hometown club Wrexham and won 1–0 with Walters scoring the goal. Stoke ended their pre-season with a goalless draw against Italian side Genoa.


Transfers:

IN - Erik Pieters, Marc Muniesa, Juan Agudelo.

OUT - Michael Owen, Rory Delap, Matthew Lund, Carlo Nash, Matthew Upson, Dean Whitehead, Mamady Sidibe.

Premier League -

Liverpool 1 - 0 Stoke
Stoke 2 - 1 Crystal Palace


Latest Results:

Stoke play at home to Walsall in the League Cup on Wednesday night.

Hammers -

West Ham 2 - 1 Cheltenham Town

Ravel Morrison scored his first goal for West Ham on his full debut to help the club defeat Cheltenham to reach the Capital One Cup third round.



The League Two side made life difficult for the Hammers in the first half before Ricardo Vaz Te scored with a free-kick just before the interval.
Former Manchester United midfielder Morrison then scored from the edge of the area 41 seconds after the break.
Matt Richards made it 2-1 from the spot after Adrian had fouled Sam Deering.





Last Season:

West Ham 1 - 1 Stoke

Joey O'Brien scored his first Premier League goal as West Ham fought back from a limp first-half performance to earn a point against Stoke.



The Hammers were fortunate to only trail to Jonathan Walters' stinging drive at the break, with Steven Nzonzi rattling the bar for the visitors.
Kevin Nolan went close after the interval before O'Brien steered in Gary O'Neil's low cross from the right.
Modibo Maiga almost poked home before Stoke recovered to secure a point.
West Ham began the evening in the knowledge that victory would send them into fifth place and mark their best start to a league campaign since 1986.



Tickets:

This match has been designated as a Category B - Kids For A Quid match.

Academy Member Prices start from:
£37 Adults, £19 Over-65s/Young Adults and £14/(£1*) Youth Academy*
Disabled Ticket Prices start from:
£27 Adults, £19 Over-65s/Young Adults and £14/(£1*) Youth Academy* + complimentary carer

General Prices start from:
£42 Adults, £24 Over-65s and £24/(£1*) Junior Non-Members
Disabled Ticket Prices start from:
£32 Adults, £24 Over-65s and £24/(£1*) Under-16s + complimentary carer

* Kids For A Quid ONLY when purchased with a full paying adult (standard Category B ticket prices apply to junior bookings without an adult).

There are currently less than 2000 tickets remaining.

Stoke were given an initial allocation of 1,456 tickets.

Team News:

To Follow

Programme:

To Follow

Weather:

Sunny with a high of 20 degrees.

Travel:

There is severe disruption to the Northern Line this weekend. The District, Hammersmith and City and Jubilee lines are all running a good service with no station closures.

[HammerMan2004]

:lol: That picture of Vaz.

Gutted about missing this one. Got to work. 7 points from a possible 9 going into the break before the return of Carroll please West Ham!

Jussi, O'Brien, Reid, Collins, Demel, Noble, Nolan, Diame, Jarvis, Maiga all to return to the starting line up. Reckon Joe Cole will complete the 11.

[Philosophical Dan]

F*ck Stoke.

[the pink palermo]

Tickets:

This match has been designated as a Category B - Kids For A Quid match.


General Prices start from:
£42 Adults,

Far too much money to watch 90 minutes of football .

Once again the club choosing to desert it's traditional working class core support .

[MD_HM]

£44 quid for an adult and two kids don't seem that bad to me.

Don't get me wrong think football tickets in general should be a bit cheaper but these games are reasonable to take the kids.

Last night offering tickets that everyone can afford as well.

Pinky, don't worry lots of cheap seats available in the gods at the OS for working class soon

[bubbles1966]

We must turn this into a game of football that is played on the floor.

Pretty sure that this will be a disappointing outcome on the basis of our existing fit forward options v Huth and Shawcross if we play hoofball.

Diarra's twisted knee means that Collison or Taylor should come into the matchday 18.

Wide positions up for debate and maybe Vaz or Maiga. Rest of the team picks itself.

[XPat Hammer]

Far too much money to watch 90 minutes of football .

Once again the club choosing to desert it's traditional working class core support .

Isn't the point of attract the fathers and sons that they do this? I'm sure I read in the Sullivan Q&A him saying that they lose money on kids for a quid days but they fill the ground and attract the next generation of fans. Like when they put a barely covered woman on the Sunday Sport, you got a cheap eyeful going into the paper shop when you were a kid and promised yourself you'd go back and buy a copy when you were old enough.

[ironilunga]

We must turn this into a game of football that is played on the floor.

Whilst I am in favour of the gradual introduction of Morrison I conversely think that this type of game is very well suited to him starting. He would be somewhat of an unknown quantity and a different problem for their defenders. His inclusion could prevent the stalemate I fear may transpire. That said I think he will be starting from the bench.

[RyanWHUFC]

Pretty sure that this will be a disappointing outcome on the basis of our existing fit forward options v Huth and Shawcross if we play hoofball.

Come on mate Chamakh scored against them last weekend!

[ooh look who it is]

Can't argue with the price for me and 2 kids less than £50.

I do agree though the starting price is bit steep but for me and the kids it's fair.

Tough game Saturday. Won't be much in it. 2-1 or 1-0 even a bore draw. Would be fantastic to pick up maximum points.

[bruvva]

Flying in from Finland for my first game at the Boleyn so I'm going ahead and claiming ownership/blame of the result here.

West Ham - Stoke, should be classic tiki-taka .

[Coledinho]

Jussi
Demel Collins Reid O'Brien
Diame Noble
Morrison Nolan Downing
Maiga

Think we need more goal scoring players with Carroll out. Downing + Morrison have more goals in them then there alternatives. Need to give Vaz Te some minutes off the bench too if we arnt winning. Give him atleast 30 minutes in that situation

[HammerMan2004]

Downing + Morrison have more goals in them then there alternatives.

Cole - 1 goal
Downing - 0 goals.

You sure?

[kayahammer]

£44 quid for an adult and two kids don't seem that bad to me.

Don't get me wrong think football tickets in general should be a bit cheaper but these games are reasonable to take the kids.

Last night offering tickets that everyone can afford as well.

Pinky, don't worry lots of cheap seats available in the gods at the OS for working class soon

And they'll be able to afford them from the employment offered at the new OS. Those hamburgers won't sell themselves you know

[Yea Why Not]

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see another 0-0. One things for sure, it isn't going to be pretty

[Billy Hunt]

3-0 Stoke, Jon Walters hat-trick, all penalties

[STL Hammer]

Buzzing for this one, my first ever game at the Boleyn. Going with a 2-1 win. Where's the best place to drink before the match??

[Aceface]

We have a reasonable record over them recently. Only bad result was that FA Cup match in the relegation season with both sides getting goals that shouldn't have stood (and Avram resting Ba if I recall - one of his usual unfathomable decisions).

[LincolnshireHammer]

Buzzing for this one, my first ever game at the Boleyn. Going with a 2-1 win. Where's the best place to drink before the match??

The Black Lion in Plaistow mate.

[artlin]

3-0 Stoke, Jon Walters hat-trick, all penalties

Billy *unt.