A strong squad and the visit of a former club will motivate Mathew
Etherington this weekend
20.11.2007
Matthew Etherington is expecting manager Alan Curbishley to have a "little
bit of a headache" over team selection when his former club Tottenham
Hotspur visit on Sunday.
The likes of Scott Parker, Freddie Ljungberg and Dean Ashton are among the
fit-again players hoping to be involved this weekend, but Curbishley will
also be well aware of the commitment and contribution of those that have
taken the club to five games unbeaten. Etherington is among that number,
having already scored three times in eleven league games and excelled in a
left-sided partnership with George McCartney.
Speaking on WHUTV, the winger said: "The players that have come in have done
well and we have got some quality to come back, some very good players. It
will give the manager a little bit of a headache about what to do but it is
a good headache for him to have. I am sure we will all be geared up for
Tottenham."
The 26-year-old will have extra motivation for wanting to be at his best,
having played 45 times for Tottenham between January 2000 and August 2003
prior to his move to east London. "It is a game that has some meaning," he
said. "I always look forward to the games against Tottenham. I am sure the
fans do and the players do as well. We know what it means to the fans."
Etherington added that the 5-0 victory at Derby County before the
international break had only helped the positive mood in the camp. "We will
be going into the game full of confidence and knowing we are more than
capable of getting the three points," he said. Spurring him on as well will
be that realisation that more and more players are going to be competing for
starting spots.
"Obviously I know I need to play well week in, week out and I like to think
I have started the season quite well," he added. "It is good for me
personally but if I don't do well then I know I am going to get pushed out
of the team. I have got Kyel Reid behind me and Luis Boa Morte can play
there as well. There is good competition for places and that is what you
want at a Premier League club. It just shows that we are pushing on in the
right direction."
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Spence set for Tuesday date - WHUFC
Jordan Spence is on England duty again, much to Tony Carr's delight
14.11.2007
Jordan Spence's year to remember will continue when he figures for England
Under-18s on Tuesday in a home friendly against Ghana.
The 17-year-old centre-back has already represented England U19s, helping
them last month to qualify for next year's elite qualifying round for the
2008 European Championship but has reverted to the younger age group for the
20 November fixture.
Spence, who captained his country to the U17 World Cup quarter-finals in
late summer, will follow defensive partner James Tomkins and midfielder
Junior Stanislas on Young Lions duty this month, with his team-mates playing
in last week's 1-0 U19 friendly defeat in Germany. After his satisfaction
over Stanislas and Tomkins, West Ham United academy director Tony Carr was
delighted Spence had also been called.
"Jordan also deserves his call-up," Carr said. "He's been in excellent form,
he was terrific alongside James in the reserve match [against Arsenal last
week] and has already got some good international experience under his belt.
This is another step in the right direction for him."
The Ghana game promises to be a tough test, with the African nation
including 14 of the players that got to the semi-finals of the U17 World
Cup, one step further than Spence's England. The match, to be played at
Gillingham's Priestfield Stadium, kicks off at 7pm. Check out WHUTV for
regular youth and reseve-team highlights and interviews.
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Footballer assault jury goes out - BBC
The jury trying Premier League footballer Anton Ferdinand over an alleged
attack outside a nightclub has retired to consider its verdict. The West Ham
defender admits punching Emile Walker but told Snaresbrook Crown Court it
was in self-defence, fearing a friend was about to be attacked. The incident
took place outside the Faces nightclub in Ilford, east London on 2 October
last year. Ferdinand, 22, denies a charge of assault occasioning actual
bodily harm. The player, from Mottingham, south-east London, has also
pleaded not guilty to a charge of affray. On trial with him is Edward
Dawkins, 28, of Beckton, east London, who also denies the same two charges.
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Collison impresses - KUMB
Filed: Tuesday, 20th November 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
Jack Collison has been praised by Welsh under-21 boss Brian Flynn following
his international debut at the weekend.
Collison made his first appearance in a Welsh shirt when he represented the
under-21s in their 4-0 win over Bosnia at the weekend - a performance he
capped with a goal. And Flynn heaped praised upon his latest recruit, adding
that should he continue to impress a full international debut wouldn't be
too far away. "Jack was outstanding on his debut and scored a great goal,"
he said. "He is already in John Toshack's thoughts for a move up to the
seniors but has been told he has to get himself into West Ham's first team
first. "There is stiff competition for him there but he has to have
targets. He has been in their squad a couple of times recently, and we are
hearing good things from West Ham about how soon he might make the
breakthrough."
Collison struck four minutes from time in Saturday's win over Bosnia to help
keep the Welsh under-21s European Under-21 Championship qualification hopes
alive. Watford-born Collison qualifies to play for the Welsh though his
gradfather.
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Collins reveals frustration - KUMB
Filed: Tuesday, 20th November 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
James Collins has admitted that he is growing increasingly frustrated by his
injury situation. The Welsh centre-half - who recently rejected the
opportunity to return to former club Cardiff on loan - has been restricted
to just four appearances this season due to a succession of niggles. However
after returning to action at the weekend for Wales' 2-2 draw with Ireland he
is looking forward to getting back to full fitness and fighting for a first
team spot at Upton Park. "This season has been a nightmare for me," he
admitted. " At the end of last season I was playing the best football of my
career. Now I keep getting niggly injuries that have constantly kept me out
for weeks at a time.
"I can't get myself into a run of games but hopefully this spell with Wales
will be the start of a good spell for me."
Wales face Germany in their final European Championship qualifier tomorrow
night. Collins is set to be joined in the side by Danny Gabbidon and former
Hammer Freddie Eastwood, who now plays for Wolves in the Football League
Championship. Meanwhile, Geroge McCartney has been ruled out of Ireland's
make or break clash with Spain. Irish boss Nigel Worthington had hoped to
include the United full-back in his squad but has been told by club doctors
that he is not fit enough to be considered for selection.
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Ephraim on his way? - KUMB
Filed: Tuesday, 20th November 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
Reports this morning claim that West Ham have agreed to sell England youth
international Hogan Ephraim to Colchester United. Islington-born Ephraim -
who is yet to make a first team appearance for the Hammers - is understood
to be on his way to the North Essex club for a fee in the region of
£500,000. The highly-rated young striker spent six months on loan at Layer
Road last season where he made 21 appearances for the Us. This season he was
farmed out to QPR (13 appearances, 2 goals) before returning to West Ham
last week after spending three months at Loftus Road. Meanwhile, another
former Hammer confirmed a switch to Colchester earlier this week - former
liaison officer Sue Page. The popular Sue, who worked for the Hammers for
over 25 years has been named Colchester's new Head of Commercial Operations.
I felt that I needed a new challenge," she told cu-fc.com. "My time at West
Ham was a happy one but this is a new beginning for me and I'm really
looking forward to the challenge."
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Ferdinand cleared of assault - Setanta.com
by Joseph Caron Dawe, 20 November 2007
Anton Ferdinand has been cleared of assault and affray following a court
trial. The West Ham defender had been charged with assault occasioning
actual bodily harm, which he denied. The 22-year-old appeared in Snaresbrook
Crown Court in relation to an incident outside a nightclub in Ilford on
October 2 last year, when he was accused of punching Emile Walker. Ferdinand
admitted hitting the 23-year-old, but said he did so in self defence as he
feared Walker was about to attack his friend Edward Dawkins. Dawkins
appeared alongside Ferdinand in the dock and was also cleared.
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Lee Bowyer Boost For West Ham - premiership latest
Tue, 2007-11-20 15:15.
West Ham United midfielder Lee Bowyer has returned to training following his
hernia operation he had after playing a starring role against Derby County.
The international break provided the right opportunity for the Hammers to go
ahead with the surgery as Bowyer had admitted he had been playing through
the pain barrier as there were host of other injured team-mates. Hammers
physio George Cooper said: "It's a good sign that things went well. He will
build up to speed throughout this week and begin full training next week."
The 30-year-old England international will miss Sunday's derby clash with
Tottenham but could be back in the Saturday week's derby at Chelsea.
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West Ham approach Atalanta for Carrozzieri
tribalfootball.com - November 20, 2007
West Ham United are interested in Atalanta defender Morris Carrozzieri.
Gazzetta dello Sport says the Hammers have registered their interest with
Atalanta for the 27 year-old with a view to discussing a deal for the
January market.
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Good signs for Bowyer - Daily Mail
Last updated at 11:35am on 20th November 2007
West Ham midfielder Lee Bowyer has resumed light training following the
midfielder's hernia operation. Hammers physio George Cooper said: "It's a
good sign that things went well." He will build up to speed throughout this
week and begin full training next week," Cooper added. Meanwhile Joe Cole is
expecting no favours from his former club-mate Slaven Bilic as England look
to ensure qualification for Euro 2008 against Croatia at Wembley tomorrow.
Cole was just breaking into the West Ham side when Bilic was a star
performer and the Croatian coach has been tipped to eventually return to
Upton Park as manager. Croatia have already qualified for the finals in
Austria and Switzerland but Cole knows Bilic will want to finish the
campaign with a flourish. Cole said: "Slaven was a big player for West Ham
when I was very young and he'll get his team going on Wednesday. He's a
professional and there'll certainly be no favours from him. "He'll put a
side out there to win the game. Frank (Lampard) knew him more than me and
played with him for a few years at West Ham. "Slaven was well liked and well
appreciated at West Ham. He was a really top player and he's proving himself
as a manager as well."
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Inter insist they won't sell Adriano - foxsports
RivalsDM, Updated 1 hour ago
West Ham, Manchester City and Arsenal have been told by Inter Milan
president Massimo Moratti that they cannot sign Adriano in January. Inter
have dismissed speculation linking the Brazil striker with a move away from
the San Siro in the transfer window. The 25-year-old has struggled to make
an impact at Inter over the past two seasons and has fallen down the pecking
order at the Nerazzurri. But even though he has hardly figured under Roberto
Mancini this term, Moratti is not interested in selling a player once
considered one of the world's best. "Adriano will remain at Inter in
January," said Moratti. "I can rule out now any talk of his departure."
Adriano has been linked with a number of clubs in England as well as Sao
Paulo, Flamengo and Santos in his homeland.
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Hammers young gun set for fast track - Daily Mail
Last updated at 11:50am on 20th November 2007
Brian Flynn says Collison needs to force himself into the Hammers first team
to boost his chances of a senior Welsh call-up. West Ham midfielder Jack
Collison is already on the fast-track to a full international cap after his
starring performance in Wales Under-21s' impressive 4-0 win over Bosnia on
Saturday. The victory puts the Welsh in with a chance of qualifying for the
UEFA Championship finals, and they will boost those hopes further tonight if
they can beat group favourites France at Cardiff's Ninian Park. Collison,
19, is boss Brian Flynn's latest Welsh discovery, the Watford-born youngster
having a grandfather from the Rhondda. Flynn said: "Jack was outstanding on
his debut and scored a great goal. He is already in John Toshack's thoughts
for a move up to the seniors. "But he has been told he has to get himself
into West Ham's first team. There is stiff competition there for him, but he
has to have targets. "He has been in their squad a couple of times recently,
and we are hearing good things from West Ham about how soon he might make
the breakthrough there. We are confident."
But with Scott Parker, Hayden Mullins, Mark Noble and Lee Bowyer in front of
him, the competition is fierce for Collison. Wales, though, will monitor his
progress and he will certainly come into the reckoning for their senior home
friendly with Norway at Wrexham in February. Flynn's new breed have made
quite an impact this season, with 15 goals in five games and only three
defeats in 13 matches. But he warned: "The trouble is that people are making
us favourites to beat France, and that is unrealistic. They are one of the
best sides at this level in Europe. "But the lads know that to have any
chance of qualifying, these are the games they must win and against teams
better than us."
Flynn, who has called up Wrexham's Marc Williams in place of the injured
Rhys Williams, will not be resorting to using the half-dozen lads in the
senior squad still qualified for the under-21s. He said: "Yes, we have
several lads like Wayne Hennessey, Chris Gunter and Joe Ledley who could
still play for us. But I will always stick with the young players I have now
in my squad, if they get a chance of qualifying for a finals then it is up
to them to achieve it. "Let's face it, England haven't used Wayne Rooney in
their under-21s, although he has been qualified. You must have confidence in
your own lads and stick by them."
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Solano aiming for top six finish
By Guardian-series
NOBBY Solano has insisted that a top six Premier League finish is within
West Ham's reach this season. The Peruvian (pictured) has played a key role
in recent weeks - including a fabulous individual display and goal in the
rout of Derby - to ease the pressure on the Hammers well-documented injury
crisis. Up to 13 first team players at a time have been sidelined on the
treatment table, but Solano reckons there is still enough in the locker room
to be able to compete for a European place. "I know we're missing some
important players but we need to believe and trust in the team," he said.
"Unfortunately everybody is not fit but every member of the squad is
important. We have a lot of experience and quality."
Solano, a deadline day transfer from Newcastle, added: "We are thinking
about trying to finish this season well, and with the squad we have
hopefully finish in the top six or eight."
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COLLINS LINKED TO FULHAM SWITCH IN "WINDOW" - South Wales News
09:00 - 20 November 2007
Wales defender James Collins concedes this season has been a "nightmare" for
him at West Ham.Collins played his first full 90 minutes in a month in
Saturday's 2-2 draw with the Republic of Ireland. Now the 24 year-old will
be plunged into a demanding showdown in Frankfurt to complete Wales's
roller-coaster Group D qualifying campaign.
But as Wales have failed to reach next summer's finals Collins will turn to
his own future, with speculation suggesting he will be a transfer target for
Fulham in January. "This season has been a nightmare for me. At the end of
last season I was playing the best football of my career and now I have kept
getting niggly injuries that have constantly kept me out for weeks at a
time," said Collins, whose appearance against Ireland was his first for a
month after a calf injury.
"I can't get myself into a run of games but hopefully this spell with Wales
will be the start of a good spell for me. "We know it will be tough in
Germany, we expect that, so we must stand up to them and do our very best.
"It is a good game to be involved in. We can't go there thinking we are
going to get a real beating, there would be no point in even travelling if
that was the case. "We aim to get as much experience from this game in
Germany as we can.''
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Croatia boss Bilic on West Ham radar
tribalfootball.com - November 20, 2007
Croatia coach Slaven Bilic is being linked with a return to West Ham United.
The Mirror says Bilic's former club West Ham have got the 39-year-old on
their radar as a potential managerial target for the future. Bilic has
impressed as Croatia boss as he has already secured Euro 2008 qualification.
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley's future is still shaky as the club's
owners want at least a European place this season. If Curbishley cannot
deliver European football then he could be on his way out - and Bilic would
be among the front runners to replace him.
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Collison on verge of West Ham breakthrough
tribalfootball.com - November 20, 2007
Wales U21 boss Bryan Flynn has revealed new cap Jack Collison is on the
verge of a first team breakthrough at West Ham United. The 19 year-old
midfielder is West Ham's reserve-team captain and Flynn said: "Jack was
outstanding on his debut and scored a great goal. He is already in John
Toshack's thoughts for a move up to the seniors. "But he has been told he
has to get himself into West Ham's first team. There is stiff competition
there for him, but he has to have targets. "He has been in their squad a
couple of times recently, and we are hearing good things from West Ham about
how soon he might make the breakthrough there. We are confident."
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Paddon tragedy - The Mirror
20/11/2007
Graham Paddon, who won the FA Cup with West Ham in 1975 and also played for
Norwich, Coventry and Millwall, has died suddenly at the age of 57. The
midfield player is best remembered for his time with the Canaries, for whom
he played 340 games in two spells between 1969 and 1981, scoring 37 goals
Paddon also spent time in the United States with the Tampa Bay Rowdies and
had spells as assistant manager at Portsmouth and Stoke. Former Norwich
teammate Dave Stringer said: "He was a terrific player and scored some
fantastic goals."
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Canaries eye Hammers ace - ESS
Last Updated: Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:41
Norwich are being linked with a swoop for West Ham midfielder Nigel Quashie,
who is also wanted by Stoke. Despite an injury crisis at Upton Park where
Hammers boss Alan Curbishley has a number of first team players currently
sidelined, Quashie still does not get a look in and could welcome a move
away. Canaries boss Glenn Roeder is still looking to draft in a number of
new faces, despite landing Matty Pattison from Newcastle last week, and
Quashie is said to be a target. Stoke are also in the running to sign the
player and Potters boss Tony Pulis has recently spoken about his interest in
the former Scotland international.
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