27/09/2007 09:01
Following victories over both Bristol Rovers and Plymouth Argyle, Alan
Curbishley is desperately hoping that Saturday's fourth round draw can bring
yet more Carling Cup cheer to Upton Park. And while some of his Premier
League counterparts may not have the competition chalked down as 'Top
Priority', it is certainly a tournament that the Hammers' boss is
approaching with an air of deadly seriousness. "A Premiership side will win
the Carling Cup so we've got to give it our best shot," insisted Curbs after
seeing Dean Ashton's venomous 92nd-minute volley eliminate the plucky
Pilgrims at Upton Park. "Certainly, we've shown our intentions by putting
out strong sides against both Bristol Rovers and against Plymouth. "We had
five or six players who needed a game but, no matter how much you train,
it's still not the same as playing an actual match and it got tough out
there. "It was always going to be a difficult cup tie - just as Manchester
United and Aston Villa have found out against Coventry City and Leicester
City - and I was trying to tell everyone beforehand that Plymouth would make
it a very awkward match for us. "Scott Parker hasn't played for eight weeks
and he had to feel his way into the tie but that's three games under his
belt now and we need him back. I also wanted to give the likes of Richard
Wright, Freddie Ljungberg, Luis Boa Morte, Danny Gabbidon and James Collins
a game but, in all fairness, even though I made six changes, it was still a
strong side and a strong bench, too. "I had no doubts about the team that I
picked because I knew it was good enough to win the game but Plymouth came
here with other ideas! They made the first-half really difficult for us and
they showed that they're a very well organised and settled side."They'll be
going home feeling really upset that they lost it in the last minute but
that's cup football."
Although Curbs might have been spoilt for choice in most other areas of the
park, in hindsight it was fortunate that fate dictated he had little option
when it came to selecting his red-booted, match-winner, who netted his third
goal in three games. "After playing up at Newcastle United on Sunday, I
asked Dean Ashton about facing Plymouth and he said that he wanted to play,"
revealed the thankful Curbs. "Bobby Zamora has had an operation to wash out
his knee and it'll take about three or four weeks until he's ready, while
Henri Camara was cup-tied and I just couldn't risk Craig Bellamy ahead of
the Arsenal game even though he was itching to play. "I went with Deano and
Carlton Cole again. I think that we all talk too much about playing three
games in a week because I reckon that some of that's in the mind and,
anyway, if the game had gone to extra-time then we would've just got on with
that, too. "All along, though, I could see that Deano was getting stronger
and stronger as the tie wore on and I was hoping that, if we did get a
chance in normal time, it would fall to him, because I knew that there was a
good chance that he'd finish it. "I was also pleased for our substitute Kyel
Reid who came on and supplied the cross for Deano to produce such a great
volley. We haven't put any pressure on Dean Ashton and, although we've been
criticised in some quarters for the way we've taken our time in using him so
far, we just had to get it right. "The work that he put in before pre-season
has seen him get through the summer and thanks to that effort, he's now
being repaid in both games and goals. "I'm not even thinking about him going
off with England. I'm just happy that Dean Ashton's playing for West Ham
United and, hopefully, we can now get him and Craig Bellamy playing
together, starting against Arsenal at the weekend."
Certainly, Saturday is a key date for the Hammers as they discover their
Carling Cup fourth round opponents, ahead of that testing derby against the
Premier League pace-setters. "We're hoping for a decent draw and if we can
also get through the next round, then, who knows what could happen from
there?" concluded Curbs before heading off to plot how he can shoot down
Arsene Wenger's high-flying Gunners. "I've got a bit of thinking to do about
the side to face Arsenal because we were very disappointed with the result
at Newcastle. The defending up at St James's Park was poor and I let them
know all about that on Sunday and Monday. "Arsenal have got a fantastic
squad and they've made a great start to the season, too, so it's going to be
a 'proper' match. There will be a fantastic atmosphere at Upton Park and I'm
sure that everyone is looking forward to it. Arsene Wenger will come and
play their game, so let's just wait and see what happens."
By Steve Blowers
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Wright pleased with Plymouth win - WHUFC
27/09/2007 13:01
Hammers keeper Richard Wright made his home debut last night in the 1-0
Carling Cup win against Plymouth. The former Arsenal and Ipswich stopper
said: "It was nice to play at Upton Park. It's been a long time since the
start of the season and I'm glad that it's come around now. I kept a clean
sheet and we got a win in the Cup as well."
Richard admitted the game had been a closely-fought encounter before Dean
Ashton's 92nd minute winner. "You know it's always going to be difficult
when you're playing lower league teams," he said. "They came and shut up
shop, they put us under a bit of pressure as well. It was a bit of a relief
for everyone, once we scored the goal at the end, to make sure we went
through. "It was a great goal. Reidy (Kyel Reid) came off the bench and did
really well and put in a great cross. Deano finished it really well and
we're pleased we kept clean sheet as well. Hopefully we can build on that
and take that into the Premier League as well."
The 28-year-old is looking forward to Saturday's fourth round draw,
regardless of who the Hammers are paired against. "At this stage of the
competition all the better teams are still in there," he said. "If we want
to progress in this tournament it doesn't matter who we play we have to go
out with the same attitude and if we have to grind out a result against a
lower league team or get a result against a top team then that will
hopefully be the case."
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Kerlon aiming to emulate two Rons - BBC
By Tim Vickery
Ronaldo, Ronaldinho Gaucho and Adriano did not become overnight stars for
the Brazilian national team. All of them first represented their country at
Under-17 level, and the experience was invaluable as they made their way in
senior football. It would be wonderful if the current star of Brazil's
Under-17 side could go on to make a similar impact. Kerlon of Cruzeiro was
top scorer in the South American Under-17 Championship, which came to a
close in Venezuela on Sunday. He curled home some wonderful free-kicks,
outpaced the defence to lob past the keeper and scored with some typical
penalty area poachers' finishes.
But it is not just his eight goals in Venezuela which will be remembered.
The more lasting memories will surely come from his new invention - the seal
dribble.
Kerlon flicks the ball in the air and runs with it like it is tied to his
forehead. He does it quite systematically, a few times in every game, and
his close control with his head and overall co-ordination are so outstanding
that he can perform the feat at pace or while changing direction. It may
sound like a circus trick, but the seal dribble is no laughing matter for
the opposition. It is a move which is very difficult to stop by legal means.
On the evidence of the South American Under-17 Championship, on the majority
of occasions either Kerlon manages to get past the defender or he wins a
foul. If he chooses the right time to unleash the move then it is a highly
effective weapon.
It is truly inspirational to find a young player with the creative genius to
come up with such a move. The game is all the richer for improvised and
acrobatic inventions such as the backheel, the bicycle kick and the Cruyff
turn, and maybe Kerlon's seal dribble can take its place among them. As
football looks forward in the search for new ways to win, the game also
looks back to honour the heroes of the past - a point also made very clear
in the South American Under-17 Championships. Boosted by Kerlon's goals,
Brazil were the champions - but only just. With the last kick of the
championship Uruguay's Acosta blasted a free kick against the Brazilian bar.
Two inches lower and the title would have belonged to his country.
Uruguay's outstanding player was six-goal striker Elias Figueroa, who showed
strength, an excellent left foot and the rare gift of having time in the
penalty area. His name is already familiar to football fans. The first Elias
Figueroa was one of the game's truly great defenders - good enough to
represent Chile from the World Cups of 1966 to 1982. He remains an idol in
Brazil, where he starred for Internacional, and in Uruguay, where he played
for Peñarol. The father of Uruguay's current Under-17 striker is a Peñarol
fan who happens to share the same surname as 'Don' Elias. In tribute to the
great Chilean he gave his son the name of Elias Figueroa - and by the
ironies of football he is turning into a proficient scorer of goals rather
than a master of the arts of preventing them.
Kerlon's seal dribble and Elias Figueroa the second, stars of the future and
heroes of the past were all in evidence in Venezuela at the South American
Under-17 Championship.
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Curbs and Ollie united over Deano - SSN
Managers agree on Ashton's credentials
Last updated: 27th September 2007
Alan Curbishley and Ian Holloway were united in their praise for Dean Ashton
following the England hopeful's match-winning contribution for West Ham, as
they dumped Plymouth out of the Carling Cup. Holloway's Championship side
were impressive at Upton Park on Wednesday evening but eventually fell to
Ashton's stoppage-time winner. The two sides were evenly matched all evening
but in the end, it was the extra class of Ashton that proved pivotal in
deciding who progressed. Since returning from serious injury, Ashton has
scored three times in his last three appearances and is widely tipped to win
an England recall in light of injuries to Michael Owen and Emile Heskey,
with Holloway of the opinion international honours would be well deserved.
"From a personal point of view, given we haven't got what we wanted here -
which was to win - then it's great to see Ashton back," said Holloway. "I'm
an England supporter, and it's great to see him fit again. We all know what
a long, hard road it is to get fit after something like that - so it's great
to see your good players fit and scoring.
"We want our good players playing well - although I could have knocked him
out when he did that."
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley echoed Holloway's sentiments, adding his
view that the Carling Cup is a realistic avenue for silverware this season.
"Dean got stronger as the game went on - and I was thinking that if we do
get a chance, I hope it falls to him," he said. "I'm not thinking about
England at the moment; I'm just happy he's playing for West Ham again. "I
asked him about this game, and he said he wanted to play. It was a tough
game for everyone out there, but he came through it. "This is a competition
that a Premiership side will probably win, and a club like ours has to give
it our best shot. We just hope we'll get a decent draw."
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Bywater Gaff - Sky Sports Goals On Sunday ( thanks to Sarah Osborne )
"During a studio appearance on Sky Sports' Goals on Sunday, Stephen was
discussing the influence of the late Les Sealey on his career. Bywater
recalled: "The most important piece of advice Les ever gave me was 'Never
make a c*** of yourself'". Midway through the sentence, however, Bywater
realised his anecdote may not be suitable for family viewing. But instead of
replacing the offending c-word with an alternative, he chose to spell it out
letter by letter - in the manner of a parent trying to outwit a child. Those
viewers who can't read or write must have been grateful for the
intervention."
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Arsenal v West Ham...the players that played for both - www.arsenal.com
West Ham United v Arsenal
Barclays Premier League
Upton Park
Sat, Sep 29, 2007, 3pm
Arsenal visit West Ham on Saturday hoping to maintain their unbeaten start
to the season. The last time the Gunners won at Upton Park was in 2000 when
Robert Pires scored his first league goal for the club. Arsenal.com's Matt
Fortune kicks off our comprehensive build-up to the Premier League tie with
a look at the names who have graced the shirts of both clubs.
Freddie Ljungberg
Arsneal 1998-07 - Games 328, Goals 72
West Ham 2007-Present
During his time at Arsenal, Freddie won two Premiership titles, three FA
Cups and one Community Shield. Freddie also became the first player for 40
years to score in consecutive FA Cup Finals by netting against Liverpool in
2001 and then Chelsea the following year. Freddie was named Premiership
Player of the Season in 2002 — a campaign in which he scored 17 goals from
midfield, helping Arsenal to win the 'double'.
Luis Boa Morte
Arsenal 1997-1999 - Games 40, Goals 4
West Ham 2007- Present
During his two seasons at Arsenal, Luis played both upfront and out wide.
Signed by Arsène Wenger from Sporting Lisbon, the Portuguese international
moved to Southampton and then Fulham before joining West Ham in January
2007.
Matthew Upson
Arsenal 1997-03 - Games 56, Goals 0
West Ham 2007- Present
Matthew was signed in 1997 from Luton Town and in his time with Gunners won
a 2002 Premiership Champions medal. He joined Birmingham City before signing
for West Ham in January 2007, but was injured for a large part of that
season. He has recently enjoyed a good run in the side, and has helped the
East London outfit to seventh in the league.
Richard Wright
Arsenal 2001-02 - Games 22
West Ham 2007-Present
Richard was bought from Ipswich as a potential replacement for David Seaman.
The goalkeeper though failed to hold down a regular place in the starting
line-up and joined Everton in summer 2002. He was signed by Alan Curbishley
last summer but is yet to feature for West Ham.
[ Thursday, September 27, 2007]
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Mixed Injury News For Gunners -goal.com
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been assessing the fitness of his squad ahead
of the weekend fixture against West Ham, and once again there's mixed news.
Wenger immediately ruled out the return of captain William Gallas, who had
been hoping to make his comeback at Upton Park. Jens Lehmann will also miss
the game, apparently still recovering from his elbow problem. Alex Song
rounds up the list of absentees after sustaining a knock during the Carling
Cup tie midweek. There is still a question mark over the readiness of Alex
Hleb, with the Belarusian due to take a late fitness test. "We'll have to
assess the situation of Alex Hleb." Wenger told Arsenal TV Online on
Thursday. "We'll look at that on Friday morning. But we lost Alex Song with
a calf problem on Tuesday night.
"William Gallas is maybe a week or 10 days away," said Wenger. "But I would
not like to set a time on it really. As for Rosicky you can probably fix the
date for Sunderland [next Saturday]. Jens Lehmann will be another week."
Goal.comUK
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Songs of Praise for Deano! - newham Recorder
27 September 2007
CARLING CUP THIRD ROUND
West Ham United 1 Plymouth Argyle 0
(BY LUKE WILSON, AT UPTON PARK)
PRAISE the Lord for Dean Ashton. Just when it seemed that the congregation
at Upton Park would have to endure a further half hour of this unholy
affair, the Hammers hit man hammered home a stoppage time winner to dump
Plymouth unceremoniously out of the Carling Cup. Ashton always looked the
most likely to be his side's saviour and his volley from young West Ham
disciple Kyel Reid's cross meant that Alan Curbishley's men had been spared
being thrown to the lions. It was something of a travesty for Argyle, their
vocal flock and their genial boss Ian Holloway - whose post-match sermon was
probably the highlight of the night - to suffer such late heartbreak. For
large swathes of this tie, the visitors had looked the equal of their
Premier League opponents, and although they were unable to create many
clear-cut chances, will rightly feel a little aggrieved to have not at the
very least taken the Hammers to extra time.
Curbishley certainly sounded relieved to have seen off the Championship
outfit:" You know it was always going to be a difficult game. I tried to
tell everybody yesterday that it was going to be a difficult. "Plymouth are
well organised, with a very settled side and made it very difficult (for us)
and they'll be really upset that they've got done in the last minute but
that's cup football and we'll take that."
And understandably so, for Argyle hassled and harried the Hammers all over
the park, making life difficult for the hosts at every occasion - 'bad
rashing' them, as Holloway amusingly put it. Scott Parker was making his
first appearance in claret and blue and he was one of the prime recipients
of the said 'bad rashing' as veteran Belgian Lilian Nalis, workaholic David
Norris and the classy Akos Buzsaky at times dominated the midfield battle.
The Hammers looked a little uncertain in defence at times against the robust
Barry Hayles and the pacy Sylvain Ebanks-Blake, who both had decent
opportunities to open the scoring in a rather drab first half. At the other
end, Ashton was looking ever dangerous though and he nearly broke the
deadlock five minutes before the break when he forced Argyle stopper Luke
McCormick into a parried save from his curling first time effort from a
Freddie Ljungberg squared pass. The second half began with West Ham trying
to force the issue to a greater extent and Parker showed his first signs of
quality when he played Carlton Cole in with an incisive pass but the striker
failed to control and the chance was gone. Minutes later and Cole's
involvement in the game was prematurely curtailed when he was withdrawn by
Curbishley and it was difficult to tell whether the cheers were for the
introduction of Reid or the removal of the former Chelsea front man. His
replacement definitely livened up proceedings as he looked to make an
impression on his boss but it was Plymouth who had the next good opportunity
to find the breakthrough. As Hammers skipper Lucas Neill dawdled inside his
own box, Peter Halmosi charged down his attempted clearance and had it not
been for the brave intervention of Richard Wright, Hayles would surely have
scored an Argyle winner. It is doubtful that anyone could have begrudged the
Devonians their passage to the next round but it was Ashton who denied them
it in the end, soon after Lee Bowyer had seemingly missed his side's last
chance of the game when he missed with a free header.
If Hammers were looking for divine intervention, it arrived in the shape of
the ex-Norwich star, who pressed his claims for an England call-up with a
technically superb finish from Reid's floated centre. While the clamour from
the Hammers faithful reverberated around the Boleyn and the streets outside
for Ashton to return to Steve McClaren's squad, Curbishley was quick to pour
cold water on suggestions that his talismanic striker should wear the Three
Lions in his country's forthcoming crucial European Championship qualifiers.
"I saw Michael Owen play for England against Germany," said the Hammers
boss. "Then by the time the Russia and Israel games had come round he looked
a lot better. "That's how Deano has come along. I'm not talking about
England at the moment, I'm just happy to have him back for West Ham. "That's
the way we should be right now. He needs games and was desperate to play. He
has done well because of the work he has put in."
His rival boss meanwhile jokingly, you would hope anyway, threatened to
'knock (Ashton) out' when he saw him, and for crushing his side's cup dreams
then who could blame him?!!
West Ham: Wright, Neill, Gabbidon, Collins, McCartney, Ljungberg (Bowyer
74), Parker (Noble 87), Mullins, Boa Morte, Cole (Reid 62) Ashton. Subs not
used: Green, Spector.
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West Ham eyeing Kerlon
tribalfooball.com - September 27, 2007
West Ham United are eyeing Cruzeiro attacking midfielder Kerlon. The Mirror
says Torino, Real Betis and Espanyol are also keeping tabs on the £5mrated
striker, but the Hammers hope the South America connections that brought
Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano to Upton Park will put them in pole
position.
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That takes the biscuit - Hammers hero Ashton's crumbs of comfort - Daily
Mail
Last updated at 10:53am on 27th September 2007
Imagine how excited Dean Ashton must have been when Eggert Magnusson, the
former manufacturer of Iceland's favourite cookies, became chairman of West
Ham. Discussing his superstitions, the striker revealed: "I've got to eat
biscuits the night before a game. I don't know why. I don't have to eat any
particular type or a certain amount. As long as I eat some sort of biscuit
the night before a game then I'm fine."
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Dean Ashton stunner sinks Argyle - The Times
West Ham 1 Plymouth 0
Nick Szczepanik
Dean Ashton produced a spectacular volleyed goal in injury time at Upton
Park last night to send West Ham United into the fourth round of the League
Cup for the first time in seven seasons. So often the victims of clubs from
lower divisions in knockout competitions, the Barclays Premier League side
seemed to have run out of ideas as extra time loomed until Ashton met a
cross from the left by Kyel Reid.
"I was thinking that 'if we do get a chance, I hope it falls to him'," Alan
Curbishley, the West Ham manager, said. "It was always going to be a
difficult game against a settled side."
Ashton, who missed a year's action after breaking his ankle on England duty
in August 2006, has now scored three goals in as many matches and always
looked the most likely to break the deadlock in a match that Plymouth might
have won but for two goalline clearances by Lucas Neill.
"I'm an England supporter and it's great to see Ashton back, although I'd
like to knock him out at the moment," Ian Holloway, the Plymouth manager,
said. "My lads did their best. I was trying to get ready for extra time, so
that'll teach me, won't it?"
Related Links
Ashton ready to ease Owen blow for England
West Ham United (4-4-2): R Wright – L Neill, D Gabbidon, J Collins, G
McCartney – F Ljungberg (sub: L Bowyer, 74min), S Parker (sub: M Noble, 87),
H Mullins, L Boa Morte – C Cole (sub: K Reid, 63), D Ashton. Substitutes not
used: R Green, J Spector. Booked: Gabbidon, Boa Morte.
Plymouth Argyle (4-4-2): L McCormick – P Connolly, K Timar, M Seip, G Sawyer
(sub: N Chadwick, 90) – D Norris, L Nalis, A Buszsaky, P Halmosi – S
Ebanks-Blake (sub: R Fallon, 87), B Hayles. Substitutes not used: M Dunne, L
Hodges, D Gosling. Booked: Timar.
Referee: P Dowd.
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Operation keeps Zamora out - TeamTalk
West Ham striker Bobby Zamora will remain on the sidelines for around
another month after undergoing knee surgery. Hammers boss Alan Curbishley
confirmed after Wednesday's 1-0 Carling Cup home win over Plymouth Argyle
that Zamora had been forced to go under the knife. The 26-year-old, the
club's leading scorer last season, has not featured since the 2-1 victory at
Bristol Rovers in the previous round of the Carling Cup on 28 August.
"Bobby has had an operation to wash out his knee and it'll take about three
or four weeks until he's ready," Curbishley told the club's official
website. However, Craig Bellamy should be available to face Arsenal in
Saturday's Premier League clash at Upton Park after being rested for the
victory over the Pilgrims. Curbishley added: "I just couldn't risk Craig
ahead of the Arsenal game even though he was itching to play. "Hopefully,
we can now get Dean Ashton and Craig playing together."
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Premier League Rumour Mill: West Ham want Brazilian wonderkid - Daily Mail
Last updated at 10:47am on 27th September 2007
West Ham want to bring a touch of Samba soccer to Upton Park by signing a
Brazilian wonderkid. They are willing to pay up to £5million to seal the
capture of 19-year-old striker Kerlon Moura Souza who plays for Cruzeiro.
The Hammers believe they have beaten Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal
to the punch for the teen sensation and have not been put off South American
signings after the debacle surrounding the deals which bought Carlos Tevez
and Javier Mascherano to the east End at the start of last season. Aston
Villa defender Olof Mellberg is in no hurry to sign a new deal even though
his contract runs out next summer. The 30-year-old Sweden international
would like to stay with the Midlanders but is bidding his time and weighing
up his options.
Hull defender Sam Collins is poised to join Swindon on loan while Bristol
City striker Phil Jevons is set to join League One side Crewe for a month.
Blackpool boss Simon Grayson wants to sign Stoke's Andy Wilkinson after
losing Ian Evatt to injury until Christmas and former Manchester United
midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba has signed a money-spinning deal to join Qatar
Sport Club. Rumour of the day: Birmingham chairman David Gold may invest in
League One Brighton once he sells the rest of his Blues shares to Carson
Yeung. No chance: Steve Sidwell will not be allowed to return to Reading
when the transfer window reopnes in January even if it is on loan.
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West Ham want Kerlon - The Mirror
27/09/2007
West Ham are interested in Brazilian teenager Kerlon Moura Souza. The
19-year-old plays for Cruzeiro but wants to come to Europe. Torino, Real
Betis and Espanyol are also keeping tabs on the £5mrated striker, but the
Hammers hope the South America connections that brought Carlos Tevez and
Javier Mascherano to Upton Park will put them in pole position.
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