|
Jermain Defoe has looked a more than adequate replacement for our Italian Maestro, whilst Vladimir Labant has looked good on the left flank, with his set-pieces looking a much more effective weapon than anything the Hammers have had for a while. Although not the same player as Sinclair, Vlad has done well in the short period of time he has had to adjust to the English game, and he could prove a bargain in the future.
Sebastien Schemmel has been brilliant at right back. He works tirelessly, without trying the spectacular. He perseveres all game, and his application has not gone unnoticed by the Hammers fans, who have taken to the Frenchman very well.
The Irons could also be without Don Hutchison, who missed the Bolton game a couple of weeks ago, and looks doubtful for Saturday's clash too. His absence would presumably allow John Moncur to return to the side, having been unwell for the Bolton game too. Richard Garcia, who replaced Don at Bolton may be relegated to the bench, although with Michael Carrick still unavailable, he could be in line for his second start in two games.
The big news though is the eventual return of Hammers centre-back Ian Pearce. A towering defender at over six foot, Ian has been sorely missed this season, although Dailly and Repka have formed an impressive partnership at home. Ian can play as a centre-back, right-back and wing-back, and has even had the odd stint as a striker in his career. Scroll down the page for a look at his stats.
At the peak of his game with the Hammers Ian looked International quality, and if he works hard over the next 12 months, he could get a look in for England for the 2004 European Championships.
He recently played 70 minutes of reserve football, and depending on other players availablity he may start on the bench, but his return certainly seems like good news to Glenn:
He told the official site: "We are all looking forward to Ian Pearce being involved again; I feel in many ways we are being a little bit unfair to him asking him to be available after 70 minutes of reserve team football, but he has been training for a good month and we have had a number of practice matches at Chadwell Heath in that time.
"But he has only had those 70 minutes against the Arsenal the week before and in reality it is very hard for us to expect him to be up to speed; but he is prepared and wants to be involved.
"Ian deserves a change in fortunes for the better because it is horrible when you are a professional footballer and out week after week seeing everyone else play when you can't.
"It is soul destroying, but he has stuck at it and deserves to be fit now for the remaining 12 games of the season, go away and have a nice summer break then a full preseason.
"He is certainly that 6'3" defender that all sides are looking for and want in their squad, and he can play central defender, wing back, or full back.
"What people must realise is that in my own mind I expected Ian Pearce to be a major player for us this year; he was very much in my plans and still is, so fingers crossed for him on Saturday, because he will play some part in the game.
"Hopefully he can pick up the threads of what has been a very good career at West Ham; he is one of those players that the fans enjoy seeing play. All Ian needs is to stay fit and if he can stay physically fit we will get him to the levels he needs in the next few weeks.
"He mustn't expect miracles of himself but I am sure come Saturday the adrenaline will be flowing through his body and whatever he has to do he will do as well as he can, and he will be so happy just to be out there on that pitch."
As far as the match will go, Paul "Judas" Ince will return to Upton Park again, and will be looking for victory after last season's defeat - which has the final nail in the coffin for then manager Bryan Robson.
Over the past few years, Middlesbrough have the upper hand in terms of results, as you can see from the Head-2-Head analysis at the bottom of this page. But West Ham's home form this season has been impressive, with only 7 Premiership goals conceded - the least in the league.
It remains to be seen how long this will continue.
| Players > Ian Pearce |
|
| Team | From | To | Terms / From | Fee |
| West Ham | 18 Sep 1997 | £ 2300000 | ||
| Blackburn | 4 Oct 1993 | 18 Sep 1997 | £ 300000 | |
| Chelsea | 1 Aug 1991 | 4 Oct 1993 | Junior |
| Career History | League | FA Cup | Lg Cup | Other | ||||||||
| Team | AP | SB | GL | AP | SB | GL | AP | SB | GL | AP | SB | GL |
| West Ham | 77 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Blackburn | 43 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Chelsea | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Performance | Goals | Booking | Team Results | Strike | |||||
| Season | Apps | Home | Away | Home | Away | Wins | Losses | Draws | Rate |
| 2000/2001 | 0.06 | ||||||||
| 1999/2000 | 0.00 | ||||||||
| 1998/1999 | 0.06 | ||||||||
| 1997/1998 | 0.05 | ||||||||
| 1996/1997 | 0.00 | ||||||||
| 1995/1996 | 0.08 | ||||||||
| 1993/1994 | 0.20 | ||||||||
| 1992/1993 | 0.00 | ||||||||
| At West Ham (22) | At Middlesbrough (23) | Overall (45 matches) | ||||||||
| Results | Total | % | Results | Total | % | Results | Total | % | ||
| West Ham | 11 | 50 | Middlesbrough | 13 | 56.52 | West Ham | 16 | 35.56 | ||
| Middlesbrough | 7 | 31.82 | West Ham | 5 | 21.74 | Middlesbrough | 20 | 44.44 | ||
| Draws | 4 | 18.18 | Draws | 5 | 21.74 | Draws | 9 | 20 | ||
| Goals | Total | Av.pg | Goals | Total | Av.pg | Goals | Total | Av.pg | ||
| West Ham | 34 | 1.55 | Middlesbrough | 44 | 1.91 | West Ham | 56 | 1.24 | ||
| Middlesbrough | 26 | 1.18 | West Ham | 22 | 0.96 | Middlesbrough | 70 | 1.56 | ||
| Records | |||||
| Highest Aggregate | 9 | West Ham | 4 - 5 | Middlesbrough | 1927/1928 |
| Highest West Ham score: | 5 | West Ham | 5 - 3 | Middlesbrough | 1929/1930 |
| Highest Middlesbrough score: | 6 | Middlesbrough | 6 - 0 | West Ham | 1954/1955 |
| Season | Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition |
| 2001/2002 | Sat 15 Sep | Middlesbrough | 2 - 0 | West Ham | Premiership |
| 2000/2001 | Sat 19 May | Middlesbrough | 2 - 1 | West Ham | Premiership |
| Sat 02 Dec | West Ham | 1 - 0 | Middlesbrough | Premiership | |
| 1999/2000 | Sat 29 Apr | West Ham | 0 - 1 | Middlesbrough | Premiership |
| Sun 17 Oct | Middlesbrough | 2 - 0 | West Ham | Premiership | |
| 1998/1999 | Sun 16 May | West Ham | 4 - 0 | Middlesbrough | Premiership |
| Sat 12 Dec | Middlesbrough | 1 - 0 | West Ham | Premiership | |
| 1996/1997 | Wed 09 Apr | West Ham | 0 - 0 | Middlesbrough | Premiership |
| Wed 04 Sep | Middlesbrough | 4 - 1 | West Ham | Premiership | |
| 1995/1996 | Sat 09 Mar | West Ham | 2 - 0 | Middlesbrough | Premiership |
| Sat 23 Dec | Middlesbrough | 4 - 2 | West Ham | Premiership | |
| 1990/1991 | Sat 15 Dec | West Ham | 0 - 0 | Middlesbrough | Second Division |
| Sat 25 Aug | Middlesbrough | 0 - 0 | West Ham | Second Division | |
| 1989/1990 | Sat 03 Mar | Middlesbrough | 0 - 1 | West Ham | Second Division |
| Sat 18 Nov | West Ham | 2 - 0 | Middlesbrough | Second Division | |
| 1988/1989 | Tue 11 Apr | West Ham | 1 - 2 | Middlesbrough | First Division |
| Sat 08 Oct | Middlesbrough | 1 - 0 | West Ham | First Division | |
| 1981/1982 | Sat 20 Mar | Middlesbrough | 2 - 3 | West Ham | First Division |
| Sat 31 Oct | West Ham | 3 - 2 | Middlesbrough | First Division | |
| 1977/1978 | Tue 25 Apr | Middlesbrough | 1 - 2 | West Ham | First Division |
| Mon 03 Oct | West Ham | 0 - 2 | Middlesbrough | First Division | |
| 1976/1977 | Fri 29 Apr | Middlesbrough | 1 - 1 | West Ham | First Division |
| Sat 04 Dec | West Ham | 0 - 1 | Middlesbrough | First Division | |
| 1975/1976 | Sat 22 Nov | West Ham | 2 - 1 | Middlesbrough | First Division |
| Sat 18 Oct | Middlesbrough | 3 - 0 | West Ham | First Division | |
| 1974/1975 | Sat 08 Feb | Middlesbrough | 0 - 0 | West Ham | First Division |
| Sat 02 Nov | West Ham | 3 - 0 | Middlesbrough | First Division | |
| 1957/1958 | Sat 26 Apr | Middlesbrough | 1 - 3 | West Ham | Second Division |
| Sat 14 Dec | West Ham | 2 - 1 | Middlesbrough | Second Division | |
| 1956/1957 | Sat 30 Mar | West Ham | 1 - 1 | Middlesbrough | Second Division |
| Sat 17 Nov | Middlesbrough | 3 - 1 | West Ham | Second Division | |
| 1955/1956 | Tue 27 Dec | West Ham | 1 - 0 | Middlesbrough | Second Division |
| Mon 26 Dec | Middlesbrough | 2 - 0 | West Ham | Second Division | |
| 1954/1955 | Sat 19 Mar | West Ham | 2 - 1 | Middlesbrough | Second Division |
| Sat 30 Oct | Middlesbrough | 6 - 0 | West Ham | Second Division | |
| 1931/1932 | Sat 16 Jan | Middlesbrough | 3 - 2 | West Ham | First Division |
| Sat 05 Sep | West Ham | 0 - 2 | Middlesbrough | First Division | |
| 1930/1931 | Wed 17 Sep | Middlesbrough | 2 - 2 | West Ham | First Division |
| Mon 08 Sep | West Ham | 0 - 3 | Middlesbrough | First Division | |
| 1929/1930 | Sat 04 Jan | Middlesbrough | 2 - 0 | West Ham | First Division |
| Sat 07 Sep | West Ham | 5 - 3 | Middlesbrough | First Division | |
| 1927/1928 | Sat 07 Apr | Middlesbrough | 2 - 2 | West Ham | First Division |
| Sat 26 Nov | West Ham | 4 - 5 | Middlesbrough | First Division | |
| 1923/1924 | Sat 29 Sep | Middlesbrough | 0 - 1 | West Ham | First Division |
| Sat 22 Sep | West Ham | 1 - 1 | Middlesbrough | First Division | |