Alan Curbishley is confident his West Ham United team will extend their good
run on Saturday
10.11.2007
Alan Curbishley is focusing on the positives as West Ham United travel to
Derby County looking for a fifth game unbeaten on Saturday.
The club are comfortably in mid-table and through to the last eight of the
Carling Cup, and the manager is keen to put the emphasis on those that have
given their all in recent weeks - rather than worry about who may not be
available for selection. "To flag that up is disrespectful to the players
who've been playing," he said. "We've been digging in and picking up
results. I just want the competition back, that strength in depth. I've been
playing people out of position, like against Bolton and that's a big ask in
the Premier League."
One player certain to miss out is midfielder Mark Noble, who has spent the
week in a specialist clinic in Germany having a double hernia operation.
"He's had this problem for a couple of months but he's not let on,"
Curbishley explained. "He's been going full pelt for over five or six months
and only had two weeks off over the summer.
"You're dealing with a young lad and all he wants to do is play. It was only
after the Coventry game that he declared how sore he was. It was probably a
bit of naivety but he's a young player who wants to play every week. All
going well, he has a chance of being fit for the Spurs game.
Looking ahead to Saturday, Curbishley revealed some encouraging team news
and admitted being keen for his side to get back to winning ways on the
road. "Craig Bellamy has rested this week," he said. "We're hoping he'll be
back over the international break. We've had Freddie Ljungberg, Dean Ashton
and James Collins back in training this week and they may have a chance of
being in the squad.
"We beat Birmingham City and Reading then perhaps we were a little
over-confident against Newcastle. After that we went to Aston Villa and gave
ourselves a chance, as we did against Portsmouth. We'll go to Derby and give
them every respect, even though they're down at the bottom of the table.
We'll set our stall out and if we do that, we'll give ourselves a chance of
getting the result."
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CURBS IS A STAYER - The Mirror
10/11/2007
Alan Curbishley celebrated his 50th birthday on Thursday - but he already
has an eye on further milestones. The West Ham boss is full of admiration
for the staying power of oldtimers like Sir Alex Ferguson, 65, and Harry
Redknapp, 60. Curbs said: "When I started I didn't imagine I'd still be a
manager at 50. But now I'd like to push on and see how far I can get.
There's a lot of experienced managers abroad and quite a few in the Premier
League as well - so we'll see."
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BY WATER PACKING A PUNCH - The Mirror
Derby v West Ham today, KO 3pm
10/11/2007
Steve Bywater wants Derby to land another knockout blow on West Ham - to
save him from punching his own mates. The former Hammer is a martial arts
expert and has revealed he escapes from the pressures of being rock bottom
by scrapping with his pals. Derby keeper Bywater insists that taking out his
pent-up frustrations in judo, boxing and jujitsu helps him to switch off as
the Rams grapple to adapt to the Premier League. "I do a lot of mixed
martial arts and it is like a release, especially if you have lost on a
Saturday," said Bywater. "I train with some of my mates, I've given them
some punches and I take some myself. "I have told my agent that if we keep
getting beaten, I am going to take it up. I look after myself but it is just
a good way of switching off.
"But if we beat West Ham we can get out of the bottom three and that gives
us a massive boost."
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Hammers playing with fire again by creating new role - The Mirror
Lawro 10/11/2007
Alan Curbishley (below) should probably fear the worst as a new director of
football is promised at West Ham. There is no reason why it should not work.
It worked a treat at Sevilla for Juande Ramos. But has never caught on here
and, let's face it, if West Ham were really happy they wouldn't be changing
things.
But it was David Pleat who said recently that the dynamics have to be right
- and Pleat should know after his experiences on both sides of the fence at
Tottenham. The director of football has to be the man playing a part in
appointing the manager. Then it's his manager and no excuses. A new director
of football coming in can undermine the manager, but not if he's appointing
the guy. There are no excuses for Damien Comolli at Tottenham. He brought in
Ramos and that is the way it must be. So, once again, West Ham are playing
with fire.
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West Ham keeper Green shrugs off England snub
tribalfooball.com - November 09, 2007
West Ham United goalkeeper Robert Green was again snubbed by England manager
Steve McClaren as he named his squad yesterday. Green remained philosophical
about the England situation. He said: "It's not something I worry about any
more. "They're going to pick whoever they want but if I keep playing well
for West Ham, then one day it might come. It's beyond my control. I'm not
going to gain anything by worrying about it. "I was in one squad and then
not in the next, although I hadn't played. I've not been told why I'm not
included, but the reality is that I'm not in it and that is the bottom line.
"I'm in the team at West Ham, though, and I'm enjoying that." Green will
play for the Hammers at Derby tomorrow, and manager Alan Curbishley said:
"Robert can't do any more. "He's been the outstanding player for us so far
this season and I know he's been watched regularly by England. "What more
has he got to do? Just be picked, it's as simple as that."
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Norwich move for West Ham striker Zamora
tribalfootball.com - November 09, 2007
Norwich City are chasing West Ham United striker Bobby Zamora. The Mirror
says new Canaries boss Glenn Roeder is going back to Upton Park to sign
Zamora on-loan.
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CURBS: I WILL DO A FERGIE - The Daily Star
10th November 2007 By TOM COLLOMOSSE
Curbs, a boss since 1991, took plenty of stick from West Ham fans when he
took over almost a year ago despite keeping them in the Premier League.
But Curbishley is ready to copy Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Robson by
going on and on. The former Charlton boss insisted: "Seventeen years ago,
when I started, I probably wouldn't have imagined being a manager at 50.
"But now I am, let's push on and see how far I can get. You look at Bobby
Robson, Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. "It's quite interesting if you look
at the managers in foreign countries, because nearly all of them are
experienced. We have fewer experienced ones." Curbs, whose side visit Derby
today, is convinced West Ham can be a real force. But he added: "It is
difficult because there is so much pressure on the result. "At some stages
last year I was accused of not being passionate enough. "But then when I
throw a water bottle when we lose a goal in stoppage time against Bolton,
people say I have lost it. I don't know where I go from there."
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