Not content with being award the Olympic Stadium as their new ground, West Ham have now taken over the London 2012 rowing lake.

The Hammers took to Dorney Lake for a team-building rowing session with Olympic silver medalist Mark Hunter. read more »

Hunting around the betting sites looking for the bookies’ choices to be the new Manchester United manager this week, we were reminded that perennial vacant job dark horse Alan Curbishley is still out of work and featuring surprisingly high in some lists of contenders to replace Sir Alex Ferguson.

Despite the fairly generous odds on offer – though not as generous as you might expect – we doubt even Curbs would have had a punt on that.

Which begs the question: will Alan Curbishley ever work again? read more »

Stoke City
The Premier League’s freefall team, and after victory for Sunderland last weekend, suddenly the most likely team to be dragged into the relegation battle. Manager Tony Pulis this week talked of five cup finals, but statements such as “the season starts now” rather questions his performance until now.

Stoke’s survival may well depend on their away form, and they face QPR, Sunderland and Southampton on the road. Even if the home game against Norwich ends in victory, that may not be enough without points on the road. read more »

Bologna playmaker Alessandro Diamanti is the most fouled player in Europe so far this season.

While you might assume that Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi would be on the receiving end of most rough treatment, it is actually the former West Ham player who’s taken a bit of a battering this season. read more »

Occasional England team-mates Andy Carroll and Wayne Rooney clashed during last night’s West Ham versus Manchester United match.

The pair tangled at the corner that led to Carroll’s head-first assault on David De Gea. After a bit of usual set-piece pushing and shoving, Rooney appeared to tread on Carroll’s foot, Sunday League style. read more »