The West Ham United skipper has seen plenty of positives in the last week
09.11.2007
Birthday wishes for Alan Curbishley, training ground updates on the likes of
Bobby Zamora and Craig Bellamy, and building for the future at the Boleyn
Ground - Lucas Neill's exclusive whufc.com column has all this and more this
week before the trip to Derby County.
I'd like to begin this week's column by sending the team's best wishes to
the gaffer, who celebrated his 50th birthday yesterday, which came as shock
to me as I thought he was younger! Hopefully we can deliver him a belated
birthday present by taking all three points at Derby on Saturday.
On behalf of myself and the rest of the boys, I would like to thank the fans
for their continued support and loyalty. It means a great deal to us to have
such amazing fans behind us all the time, through thick and thin. We really
appreciate your patience through some recent inconsistent performances, like
last week which saw us involved with three very different results.
A last-minute certain loss turned into a draw at Portsmouth, a last-minute
draw turned into a win at Coventry and a last-minute win turned into a draw
against Bolton! It was a regrettable two points dropped against Bolton and
we showed a little bit of naivety by not finishing the game off but, on the
plus side, I thought we battled hard and kept them down to a couple of half
chances. The bottom line is, at home, we should be expecting to finish teams
off , so to drop the points in the manner we did was very hard to take.
This weekend sees the last game before the international break, away to
Derby. It is crucial that we win this game to put us in touching distance of
the league leaders which is where we aim to be. There seems to be a bit of a
gap opening up between the top and bottom half of the table and we want to
make sure we are in the top end. On paper it's a game we are favourites to
win, but as we all know, football is not played on paper and it's going to
be a difficult place to go but we are fully committed to coming away with
three points.
This week in training we have seen a few more faces out of the treatment
room and on to the training pitch which is great. James Collins is back,
Bellars is stepping up his outdoor training, so too are Dean Ashton, Scott
Parker and Freddie Ljungberg and it is especially nice to see Bobby's funny
face back out there with his inevitable banter that goes everywhere with
him! So I am confident by the time the Tottenham game comes around, which no
doubt everyone is looking forward to, the manager will have a different kind
of selection problem where he will be picking from close to a full-strength
squad.
He will be able to play the formation he wants to play, with players in the
correct position and with the first 11 he hasn't been able to play yet.
Having said that, it is a great effort by the lads who have been playing for
the past few games to try to adopt a system that we are not used to because
of injuries - particularly in the midfield. To go out and play to the best
of our abilities even though some are playing totally out of position says a
lot for the spirit in the camp.
On a personal note, I've found myself in a difficult period on the pitch
with what I feel have been inconsistent performances, although I am feeling
better and better every week physically and mentally, after no break in the
off-season. I am working hard to deliver the kinds of performances which
West Ham fans expect and deserve from their captain.
Looking forward, we got the home draw we were hoping for in the Carling Cup
and avoided the three main contenders. However, in Everton we have a very
tough game and it's always funny that when you draw teams in the cup you
always seem to play them in the league soon before or soon after, so it is
going to be a very interesting week.
Once again, thank you so much to our loyal fans for your continued support,
it means a lot to the boys and is never and should never be taken for
granted by anybody wearing a West Ham United shirt.
Regards
Lucas Neill
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Derby County match preview - WHUFC
All the background and team news for Saturday's Premier League fixture
09.11.2007
Derby County v West Ham United
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 10 November
Kick-off 3pm
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne and Wear)
WHUTV - Live audio coverage along with behind the scenes coverage in the
run-up to the game including Alan Curbishley's pre-match press conference.
WHUTV also has all the highlights from this season's action, including last
weekend's 1-1 draw with Bolton Wanderers. Check out the action as well from
the midweek reserve-team fixture as well to see who might be coming through.
Team news
Alan Curbishley's side are looking to make it five games unbeaten in all
competitions against the Premier League's bottom club. James Collins,
Freddie Ljungberg and Dean Ashton are all back in training this week but it
is thought they will not be ready to return. Mark Noble is ruled out after a
hernia operation but Nigel Quashie came through another reserve match in
midweek and could be in contention.
Hogan Ephraim's loan spell at Queen's Park Rangers has come to an end, while
youngsters like James Tomkins, Jack Collison and Kyel Reid have all made
great strides in recent weeks and could figure in the travelling party.
Craig Bellamy was rested this week and, along with fellow forward Ashton,
will have high hopes of returning for the visit of Tottenham Hotspur on
Sunday 25 November.
Derby, who lost 2-0 at Aston Villa last Saturday, are hopeful of having
Kenny Miller fit after his recovery from a hamstring injury. The Scotland
striker having trained again this week and manager Billy Davies has rated
him "touch and go". The Rams are without Andy Todd (back) while fellow
defender Claude Davis is doubtful with a muscle problem.
Derby goalkeeper Stephen Bywater served West Ham United for eight years
between 1998 and last summer, making a total of 59 appearances. Now 26, he
played 39 league and cup games in 2004/05, culminating in his substitute's
appearance at the Millennium Stadium as the club secured a top-flight
return. Bywater established himself as the No1 at Derby in his first season,
repeating the promotion trick. Full-back Tyrone Mears spent last season at
the Boleyn Ground, playing five league matches.
Background
West Ham United will know the advantage of scoring first as the club have
not lost in any of the seven matches, in all competitions, where they broken
the deadlock. Not one overseas player has scored in the club's 13 league
strikes this season. George McCartney, the Northern Ireland full-back who
scored in last week's 1-1 draw with Bolton Wanderers has, along with Robert
Green and Matthew Upson, featured in every one of the eleven Premier League
fixtures - although only Green and Upson have played every minute.
For the second time this season, West Ham United are involved in the only
3pm fixture on a Saturday. Victory would move the club into the top half of
the table and within striking distance of the top eight. The match is the
last one before the international break, with the club returning to action
at 1.30pm on Sunday 25 November against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur .
Derby have failed to beat West Ham United in the last six matches between
the teams at Pride Park, with the visitors only conceding twice in that run
of two wins and four draws. This season Derby, have not scored more than two
goals in a game since 11 August and have only one victory to their name.
Bywater and Stephen Pearson have played every minute for the Rams.
Last six league meetings
23 January 2005 - West Ham United 1-2 Derby County
29 September 2004 - Derby County 1-1 West Ham United
10 April 2004 - West Ham United 0-0 Derby Country
4 October 2003 - Derby County 0-1 West Ham United
26 December 2001 - West Ham United 4-0 Derby County
8 September 2001 - Derby County 0-0 West Ham United
Club information
Tickets: This match is now SOLD OUT. For more information on ticketing,
click here. For more information on how to get to Pride Park, click here
Weather: The forecast for Saturday is for an overcast day, with some rain
expected. Temperatures are expected to reach around 11C.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Anton and Coley on song - WHUFC
Check out WHUTV to see the musical double act in good voice for charity
09.11.2007
Anton Ferdinand and Carlton Cole showed their support for the Richard House
Children's Hospice this week when they attended the organisation's annual
ball in central London.
Richard House is one of the club's two official charities along with the
Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK. London's first children's hospice,
Richard House has helped hundreds of children and their families by
providing respite from the emotional and physical trauma living with a
terminal illness can bring.
Ferdinand saw at first hand just what an impact Richard House has on those
that need its help when he visited the hospice with team-mate Mark Noble
earlier this season. Therefore, not only was he more than happy to go along
to the ball, held at The Brewery, as a mark of his support - he went one
step further by offering himself up as an auction prize to the highest
bidder.
He said: "It all started as a joke really. I said in passing that if someone
bid £5,000 I would get up on stage and sing one verse of a song. Then Coley
added in that he would do a moonwalk! We obviously didn't think anyone in
the room would pay that sort of money to see us two jokers even if it was
for charity but we didn't realise there was another footballer and a good
friend of both of ours at the ball!"
The good friend the defender is referring to is former Hammers midfielder
Joe Cole who became an ambassador for Richard House during his time with the
club. He was more than willing to pledge the money to see two former
team-mates perform to a room of 500 distinguished guests and Anton and
Carlton were more than happy to oblige.
"When I saw Joe's hand go up to offer to pay the money I knew I would have
to go through with it but to be honest I was more than happy because I
believe so strongly in the charity and what they do," Ferdinand added. "When
I went to the hospice I was so touched by what a wonderful warm place it was
and how hard the staff work to make sure the children there are always
having fun but also being stimulated. I have also been told my voice isn't
that bad so I knew I wasn't going to embarrass myself which I think Joe was
hoping for!"
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Green left out - again - KUMB
Filed: Friday, 9th November 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
Robert Green has once again been left out of the full England squad by Steve
McClaren. McClaren - who is likely to face the sack should England fail to
qualify for the 2008 European Championships - chose Portsmouth's veteran
David James, Totenham's errant stopper Paul Robinson and Aston Villa's
on-loan keeper Scott Carson ahead of Green yet again - despite a host of
calls for the former Norwich man's inclusion. Green has been in excellent
form for his club this season, and has been rated England's most consistent
goalkeeper this term. Not enough for McClaren, it seems. England face
Austria in a friendly next week before taking on Croatia a few days later in
their final European Championship qualifier. Should Russia beat Israel in
Tel Aviv next week England will fail to qualify for next year's
Championships, which will almost certainly spell the end of McClaren's
urbulent reign. One suspects Rob Green won't be sending any sympathy cards
should that happen.
Full England squad: Robinson, Carson, James, P Neville, Campbell, Richards,
Brown, Lescott, Shorey, Bridge, A Cole, Beckham, Wright-Phillips, Bentley,
Gerrard, Lampard, Hargreaves, Barry, J Cole, Downing, Young, Smith, Crouch,
Defoe, Rooney, Owen.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Deutsch-Mark - KUMB
Filed: Friday, 9th November 2007
By: Mathew O'Greel
Mark Noble will undergo a second hernia operation today in an attempt to
cure a troublesome groin. Noble - who sustained his most recent injury in
the 1-1 draw with Bolton last weekend - travelled to Germany earlier this
week in order to prepare for an operation with Dr Ulrike Muschaweck, the
same surgeon who treated team mate Craig Bellamy recently.
Alan Curbishley said: "Mark has been having this problem for a couple of
months but he didn't let on. "You're dealing with a young boy thinking he
can get through it. We'll put it down to experience. "I left him out of the
team recently because I felt he was tired and perhaps needed a rest, as he
has been going full pelt for the last five or six months and not really had
any recovery time."
Noble has also been ruled out of the England Under 21s' forthcoming
qualifiers against Bulgaria and Portugal, although is expected to be fit in
time to face Tottenham later this month.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Derby v West Ham preview - SSN
Victory for Rams can lift them out of relegation zone
By James Dall Last updated: 9th November 2007
A victory prior to the international break would do much to inject hope into
lowly Derby County, who host West Ham United in Saturday's only 3pm
kick-off. The Rams' current concern lies in their distinct limpness in
attack, having scored just five goals in 12 Premier League matches. Their
defence has done little to fill Derby supporters with confidence either, as
they hold the joint poorest defensive record in the league with Reading -
conceding 26 goals in 12. However, it is not all doom and gloom for Billy
Davies' men; three points against West Ham would see them climb out of the
relegation zone for the first time since the opening week of the season. For
The Hammers, Alan Curbishley will be keen to improve on some steady form -
one win and two draws in their previous three games. Curbishley, though, is
without several players and his depleted squad may provide Derby with the
opportunity they so desperately require.
Davies is sweating on the fitness of Kenny Miller, who sat out the loss to
Aston Villa with a hamstring strain. Miller's goal against Bolton in
September was the last time The Rams hit the back of the net, and Davies
will be keeping his fingers crossed that the Scotland international will be
at his disposal. Furthermore, Claude Davis is struggling with an abductor
muscle problem and is rated as 50-50, while Andy Todd is doubtful after a
midweek visit to a spinal specialist.
West Ham woes
Curbishley's seemingly endless list of injuries includes Kieron Dyer, Scott
Parker, Julien Faubert, Craig Bellamy and Bobby Zamora. The Hammers coach
was dealt a further blow with the news that Mark Noble faces two weeks on
the sidelines following his hernia operation. However, the recovering trio
of Dean Ashton, Freddie Ljungberg and James Collins could feature after
returning to training.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Derby v West Ham - BBC
Pride Park
Saturday, 10 November
Kick-off: 1500 GMT
BBC coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on Match
of the Day.
Striker Kenny Miller could return for Derby after a hamstring injury.
But Derby have defensive problems with Claude Davis (adductor muscle) and
Andy Todd, who has seen a spine specialist regarding his back injury,
sidelined.
West Ham are again without midfielder Mark Noble, who is not expected to
return until 25 November.
Midfielder Freddie Ljungberg, striker Dean Ashton and defender James Collins
could return to ease the Upton Park club's injury troubles.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
Derby keeper Stephen Bywater: "We would take 1-0, 10-9, the lads are just
looking for any win.
"Then there's an international break and with teams around us playing each
other hopefully we can have a good week off next week, not in the bottom
three.
"It will be a big confidence boost. It is not nice to come to training when
you have been beaten."
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley:
"The injury situation is unprecedented. Julien Faubert and Kieron Dyer are
the long-term ones and they will be out for a while.
"Other players keep making comebacks, but as soon as many of them do, they
suffer another setback. It can be very frustrating."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
Derby (from): Bywater, Griffin, Moore, Leacock, McEveley, Fagan, Teale,
Oakley, Pearson, Barnes, Howard, Earnshaw, Price, Jones, Mears, Miller,
Lewis.
West Ham (from): Green, Wright, Neill, Gabbidon, Upson, McCartney,
Ferdinand, Collins, Solano, Bowyer, Mullins, Etherington, Boa Morte, Cole,
Pantsil, Spector, Camara, Reid, Ljungberg, Ashton.
BIG-MATCH FACTS
Three points against West Ham would not only give Derby their second victory
of this Premier League campaign, but also lift them out of the bottom three
for the first time since the first week of the season.
West Ham have won four times as many league matches as Derby, and lost half
as many. They need all three points here to recapture a place in the top
half.
Honours are even between these clubs in Premier League matches on Derby
turf, at two wins a piece and two draws - the stalemates being goalless
affairs in the most recent Pride Park clashes at this level.
CLUB FORM
DERBY COUNTY
Fixtures
Highest realistically achievable after Saturday's matches: 17th
Lowest could fall: 20th
1. Picked up two points from a possible 18 since their only victory of this
Premier League campaign; 1-0, home to Newcastle on 17 September.
2. One of three clubs with just one Premier League win. The others are
Bolton and Tottenham.
3. One of two clubs to have lost eight Premier League matches. The other is
Wigan.
4. Completed 431 minutes (seven hours 11 minutes) of league soccer since
Kenny Miller's goal in the 1-1 draw, home to Bolton on 29 September. It is
759 minutes (12 hours 39 minutes) since a Derby player other than Miller
scored in the Premier League; that being Matthew Oakley, against Birmingham
on 25 August.
5. Own the weakest attack in English league football with just five goals
scored in 12 outings, at one every 216 minutes (three hours 36 minutes) on
average.
6. Possess the joint poorest defence in the Premier League with Reading;
conceded 26 goals in 12, at one every 42 minutes on average. Failed to score
in eight of their 12 Premier League matches - more than any other club.
7. On the longest current run in the Premier League of 11 matches, since
scoring more than a single goal in a game; 2-2, home to Portsmouth on the
opening day, 11 August.
8. One of four clubs still chasing a second home victory in the Premier
League. The others are Bolton, Middlesbrough and Tottenham.
9. Picked up just five points at Pride Park (one win, two draws, two
defeats); only Tottenham have a weaker home record in the Premier League
(four points from one win, one draw and three defeats).
10. A home match with Chelsea follows the international break, then a vital
visit to Sunderland before meeting Manchester United at Old Trafford.
WEST HAM UNITED
Club stats
Fixtures
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 9th
Lowest could fall: 12th
1. Gained one win in six Premier League matches; 3-1, home to Sunderland on
21 October.
2. Undefeated in four in all competitions (two wins, two draws).
3. Own the joint lowest aggregate in the Premier League with Liverpool of 23
goals; their 11 matches have produced 13 goals for, and 10 against.
4. Four goals short of conceding 5,000 in league football.
5. Still the only club in the Premier League without an overseas goalscorer.
6. Not scored in the last two away league matches.
7. Two London derbies follow the international break; home to Spurs and away
to Chelsea.
KEY PLAYER NOTES
DERBY COUNTY
Own the shortest goal scorers list in the Premier League; just three
players.
Matthew OAKLEY and Kenny MILLER are Derby's joint top scorers with two each
of the Rams' five Premier League goals.
Goalkeeper Stephen BYWATER and defender Stephen PEARSON are the only
remaining players to have been on the field for every minute of every one of
Derby's Premier League matches this season.
If selected:-
OAKLEY will be making his 50th league appearance for Derby.
Tyrone MEARS will be facing a former club. The 24 year old defender made
just six appearances (five in the league) in a one-season stay with West Ham
before his move to Pride Park last season.
MEARS will also be making his 100th career league appearance (Manchester
City, Preston, West Ham and Derby).
Robert MALCOLM will be playing two days before turning 27.
WEST HAM UNITED
Craig BELLAMY is West Ham's top scorer with four goals.
The Hammers' joint top Premier League marksmen are Dean ASHTON, Lee BOWYER,
Matthew ETHERINGTON and BELLAMY, with two each.
Matthew UPSON and Robert GREEN are the only remaining players to have been
on the field for every minute of every one of West Ham's Premier League
matches this season.
If selected:-
Henri CAMARA will be making his 100th career Premier League appearance
(Wolves, Southampton, Wigan and West Ham).
Carlton COLE will be playing two days before his 24th birthday.
If on the field from the outset:-
James COLLINS will be making his 100th career club start (Cardiff and West
Ham).
HEAD TO HEAD
Derby's only victories over West Ham in the Premier League were their first
two at home; 1-0 on 15 February 1997 and 2-0 on 6 December 1997.
The Rams have failed to score in five of the last nine Premier League
meetings with the Hammers.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Derby 22 wins, West Ham 19, Draws 23
Prem: Derby 2 wins, West Ham 5, Draws 5
at Derby only
League (inc PL): Derby 16 wins, West Ham 8, Draws 8
Prem: Derby 2 wins, West Ham 2, Draws 2
REFEREE
Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
Premier League referees' table
Mark Clattenburg's 2007-08 Premier League card count
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Derby v West Ham: Preview - Soccernet
Derby goalkeeper Stephen Bywater is loving the Barclays Premier League
relegation battle and enjoys nothing better than a scrap to unwind away from
top-flight action. Bywater has been the busiest goalkeeper in the league
this season with the rock-bottom Rams having conceded 26 goals in their 12
games to date. While some players are consumed by what happens on the pitch,
however, the 26-year-old finds an escape from the spotlight in ultimate
fighting. Bywater finds sparring with his fellow devotees of the sport
perfect relaxation and his sporting heroes include Chuck Lidell and Randy
Couture. The intense training is something he has participated in since his
days at West Ham - Derby's opponents at Pride Park - and has kept his
fitness levels high, a broken toe incurred while on loan at Coventry aside.
``I train with my mates on a Wednesday, if we have a day off,'' said
Bywater. ``If you lose on a Saturday it's a great release from it all. ``You
take the odd blow but obviously it is with mates so it's all right. ``My
mind switches off, it is a way of getting away from things and I don't
really like watching football. ``I am into anything other than football
really. I never watch Match of the Day, even our games, because you always
find it is never as good as when it happens at the time. ``Especially in the
position we are in, you need something else to think about. Probably if you
were top of the league you would watch other teams, or the live Monday night
game, but the position we are in means you need to switch off.''
Defender Andy Todd saw a spine specialist this week and will undergo an MRI
scan in a bid to resolve a long-standing back problem while fellow
centre-back Claude Davis is also out with an injured adductor muscle. But
Derby could be boosted by the return of Scotland striker Kenny Miller after
a hamstring injury.
Meanwhile, West Ham manager Alan Curbishley has dismissed speculation that
former Liverpool coach Paco Ayesteran is to become the club's new technical
director. The Londoners have made no secret of their desire to create the
role, and Spaniard Ayesteran - who left Anfield earlier this season - was
strongly linked with the position this week. But Curbishley, 50 on Thursday,
insisted West Ham were only in the early stages of the selection process -
and denied that the new man would affect his control of the first-team
squad. Curbishley said: ``We've discussed the situation and we're coming up
with a brief for what the job entails. ``No-one has been in the frame, or
even talked about. We're hoping to push on with a new stadium and training
ground, and we need someone who can deal with it. ``We're talking about the
long-term development of the club. If we want to become bigger, we have to
plan it. ``We're not too far down the road yet but I will have a massive
input. I know I will have complete control of first-team matters.''
West Ham face Derby with an injury list which continues to hamper their
progress. Midfielder Mark Noble is the latest player to be ruled out, and he
is due to have a double hernia operation tomorrow at the Munich clinic of Dr
Ulrike Muschaweck, the surgeon who treated Michael Owen and Craig Bellamy.
Curbishley is desperately hoping that Dean Ashton, Fredrik Ljungberg and
James Collins will recover sufficiently to be included in his squad for the
game. He added: ``The injury situation is unprecedented. Julien Faubert and
Kieron Dyer are the long-term ones, and they'll be out for a while. ``Other
players keep making comebacks, but as soon as many of them do, they suffer
another setback. It can be very frustrating.''
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Curbs dismisses Pako link - SSN
Hammers on the lookout for new technical director
By James Dall Last updated: 9th November 2007
West Ham United manager Alan Curbishley has dismissed reports that the club
are set to appoint former Liverpool coach Pako Ayesteran as their new
technical director. The Spaniard - who left Anfield earlier this season -
was strongly linked with the position this week; however Curbishley is
adamant that they are yet to contact anyone about the role.
The Hammers boss explained that they are keen to fill the position, and
insists that whoever takes the job will have no influence on first-team
matters.
Bigger
"We've discussed the situation and we're coming up with a brief for what the
job entails," Curbishley said. "No-one has been in the frame, or even talked
about. We're hoping to push on with a new stadium and training ground, and
we need someone who can deal with it. "We're talking about the long-term
development of the club. If we want to become bigger, we have to plan it.
"We're not too far down the road yet but I will have a massive input. I know
I will have complete control of first-team matters."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Bywater targets Rams boost - SSN
Keeper looks for victory over Hammers
Last updated: 9th November 2007
Stephen Bywater is hoping Derby County can secure 'a big confidence boost'
with victory over his former club West Ham United. The Premier League's
bottom team have won just once this season, with Kenny Miller's goal seeing
off Newcastle United in September. And with the international break on the
horizon, Bywater wants The Rams to post a second win which could move the
club out of the relegation zone. "We would take 1-0, 10-9, the lads are just
looking for any win," said the keeper, who has conceded 26 goals in 12 games
this term. "Then there is an international break and with teams around us
playing each other hopefully we can have a good week off next week, not
being in the bottom three. It will be a big confidence boost. It is not nice
to come to training when you have been beaten and having two weeks off,
mentally, it is nice to have a good result."
Bywater also revealed that Derby boss Billy Davies has encouraged the
players to be critical with each other. "When you get in the changing rooms
you point fingers and have a bit of a row, tell it how it is, but you are
just being honest," Bywater added. "That is what the gaffer is telling us to
be, to try to make sure we don't make the same mistakes every week.
"Everyone has their say, you don't take offence by it and you move on.
Emotions can get to people, you might get wound up, but you have to take it
on the chin and accept responsibility for certain things."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Injured eleven woe for Curbs - Daily Mail
Last updated at 13:26pm on 9th November 2007
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley is without 11 senior players for tomorrow's
match at bottom-of-the-table Derby.
Midfielder Mark Noble is likely to be out for the next two weeks after being
sent to Germany for surgery to cure a hernia problem. Craig Bellamy and Lee
Bowyer have had similar injuries in recent weeks. Scott Parker, Julien
Faubert, Kieron Dyer, Hayden Mullins and Freddie Ljungberg are among their
other injured stars.
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DERBY v West Ham: Miller on the mend - Daily Mail
Last updated at 13:07pm on 9th November 2007
Scotland striker Kenny Miller could return for Derby against West Ham at
Pride Park. Miller returned to training this week after missing the 2-0
Premier League defeat at Aston Villa with a hamstring injury. But Derby
manager Billy Davies has restricted choice at the back with Claude Davis
(adductor muscle) and Andy Todd, who has seen a spine specialist regarding
his back injury, sidelined.
Derby v WEST HAM: Noble misses out
Last updated at 13:02pm on 9th November 2007
West Ham will once again be without Mark Noble for the Premier League match
at Derby on Saturday. The England Under-21 international midfielder was due
to undergo a double hernia operation in Munich after playing with pain in
recent weeks and he is unlikely to be back before the home match against
Tottenham on November 25. Manager Alan Curbishley continues to be hampered
by a lengthy injury list, but he hopes to include the recovering trio of
Fredrik Ljungberg, Dean Ashton and James Collins in his squad.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Green is snubbed as McClaren sticks with Robinson - Daily Mail
Last updated at 13:52pm on 9th November 2007
There was huge disappointment for West Ham's Robert Green today as the
Premier League's best English keeper was again overlooked by Steve McClaren.
The England manager selected three other goalkeepers in his squad for the
friendly against Austria next Friday, followed five days later by their
final Euro 2008 qualifying tie against Croatia.
McClaren has kept faith with Tottenham's Paul Robinson, who has been under
pressure since he conceded a soft goal in the first match against Croatia in
Zagreb. The other goalkeepers in the squad are Scott Carson, on loan at
Aston Villa from Liverpool, and David James, who was recalled earlier this
year by McClaren at the age of 35 after a series of outstanding performances
for Portsmouth. However, 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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Green's Omission is Staggering - West Ham Till I Die
Can anyone please explain to me Robert Green of this parish has again not
been included in the England squad? Even the stats show he should be in.
Goals conceded in the Premier League:
Robert Green 10
Scott Carson 13
David James 13
Paul Robinson (ahem) 24
Disgrace.
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Curbishley dismisses Spanish link to new Hammers post - Daily Mail
Last updated at 10:25am on 9th November 2007
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley has dismissed speculation that former
Liverpool coach Paco Ayesteran is to become the club's new technical
director. The Londoners have made no secret of their desire to create the
role, and Spaniard Ayesteran - who left Anfield earlier this season - was
strongly linked with the position this week. Former assistant to Rafa
Benitez Paco Ayesteran (right) had been linked with a future role as West
Ham technical director
But Curbishley, 50 yesterday, insisted West Ham were only in the early
stages of the selection process - and denied that the new man would affect
his control of the first-team squad. Curbishley said: "We've discussed the
situation and we're coming up with a brief for what the job entails. "No-one
has been in the frame, or even talked about. We're hoping to push on with a
new stadium and training ground, and we need someone who can deal with it.
"We're talking about the long-term development of the club. If we want to
become bigger, we have to plan it. "We're not too far down the road yet but
I will have a massive input. I know I will have complete control of
first-team matters."
West Ham face Derby at Pride Park in the Barclays Premier League tomorrow
with an injury list which continues to hamper their progress. Midfielder
Mark Noble is the latest player to be ruled out, and he is due to have a
double hernia operation tomorrow at the Munich clinic of Dr Ulrike
Muschaweck, the surgeon who treated Michael Owen and Craig Bellamy.
Curbishley is desperately hoping that Dean Ashton, Fredrik Ljungberg and
James Collins will recover sufficiently to be included in his squad for the
game. He added: "The injury situation is unprecedented. Julien Faubert and
Kieron Dyer are the long-term ones, and they'll be out for a while. "Other
players keep making comebacks, but as soon as many of them do, they suffer
another setback. It can be very frustrating."
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Noble won't take part in Ram raid - TeamTalk
West Ham will once again be without Mark Noble for Saturday's Premier League
match against Derby at Pride Park.
The England Under-21 international midfielder was due to undergo a double
hernia operation in Munich on Friday after playing with pain in recent
weeks, and he is unlikely to be back before the home match against Tottenham
on November 25. Hammers manager Alan Curbishley continues to be hampered by
a lengthy injury list, but he hopes to include the recovering trio of
Fredrik Ljungberg, Dean Ashton and James Collins in his squad.
West Ham (from): Green, Wright, Neill, Gabbidon, Upson, McCartney,
Ferdinand, Collins, Solano, Bowyer, Mullins, Etherington, Boa Morte, Cole,
Pantsil, Spector, Camara, Reid, Ljungberg, Ashton.
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Al Curbs talk of Paco rolling in - TeamTalk
Alan Curbishley has dismissed speculation that former Liverpool coach Paco
Ayesteran is to become West Ham's new technical director. The Londoners have
made no secret of their desire to create the role, and Spaniard Ayesteran -
who left Anfield earlier this season - was strongly linked with the position
this week. But Curbishley, 50 on Thursday, insisted West Ham were only in
the early stages of the selection process - and denied that the new man
would affect his control of the first-team squad. Curbishley said: "We've
discussed the situation and we're coming up with a brief for what the job
entails. "No-one has been in the frame, or even talked about. We're hoping
to push on with a new stadium and training ground, and we need someone who
can deal with it. "We're talking about the long-term development of the
club. If we want to become bigger, we have to plan it. "We're not too far
down the road yet but I will have a massive input. I know I will have
complete control of first-team matters."
West Ham face Derby at Pride Park on Saturday with an injury list which
continues to hamper their progress. Midfielder Mark Noble is the latest
player to be ruled out, and he is due to have a double hernia operation on
Saturday at the Munich clinic of Dr Ulrike Muschaweck, the surgeon who
treated Michael Owen and Craig Bellamy. Curbishley is desperately hoping
that Dean Ashton, Fredrik Ljungberg and James Collins will recover
sufficiently to be included in his squad for the game. He added: "The injury
situation is unprecedented. Julien Faubert and Kieron Dyer are the long-term
ones, and they'll be out for a while. "Other players keep making comebacks,
but as soon as many of them do, they suffer another setback. It can be very
frustrating."
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Miller time again in Hammers clash - TeamTalk
Scotland striker Kenny Miller could return for Derby in Saturday's Premier
League clash against West Ham at Pride Park. Miller returned to training
this week after missing the 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa last weekend with a
hamstring injury. But Rams manager Billy Davies has restricted choice at
the back with Claude Davis (adductor muscle) and Andy Todd, who has seen a
spine specialist regarding his back injury, both sidelined.
Derby (from): Bywater, Griffin, Moore, Leacock, McEveley, Fagan, Teale,
Oakley, Pearson, Barnes, Howard, Earnshaw, Price, Jones, Mears, Miller,
Lewis.
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West Ham boss Curbishley plays down Ayesteran link
tribalfootball.com - November 09, 2007
West Ham United boss Alan Curbishley has cooled talk that former Liverpool
coach Paco Ayesteran is to become his club's new technical director. The
Londoners have made no secret of their desire to create the role, and
Spaniard Ayesteran - who left Anfield earlier this season - was strongly
linked with the position this week. But Curbishley, 50 yesterday, insists
West Ham are only in the early stages of the selection process - and denies
that the new man will affect his control of the first-team squad. Curbishley
said: "We've discussed the situation and we're coming up with a brief for
what the job entails. "No one has been in the frame, or even talked about.
We're hoping to push on with a new stadium and training ground, and we need
someone who can deal with it."
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Rams can get big lift - rams.co.uk
By Steve Nicholson
Victory over West Ham United tomorrow will hand Derby County a psychological
boost ahead of the latest international break. Three points would take the
Rams to nine and see them muscle into the closely-knit pack of strugglers
just above them. Billy Davies' team would also climb out of the Premier
League's relegation zone, albeit briefly, for the first time in three
months. They would leapfrog Bolton, Wigan and Tottenham Hotspur who all play
on Sunday when the positions at the bottom will change again. Bolton
entertain Middlesbrough, who are 16th, and Tottenham are at home to Wigan.
"We can put ourselves among the pack and that will set us up nicely going
into the break and psychologically, could be very important," said Davies.
Derby's is the only top-flight match kicking off at 3pm on Saturday and to
take full advantage, they must end their goal drought and collect only their
second win of the season. They have gone 431 minutes without a goal since
Kenny Miller scored in the home draw with Bolton at the end of September.
The Rams have gone six matches without a win since beating Newcastle United
and they produced a dismal display in their last home fixture against
Everton. Putting the Everton game to one side, Davies has been pleased with
the performances at Pride Park. "Taking out the big boys like Liverpool and
Arsenal, I've also been pleased with the performances at Manchester City,
Reading, Fulham and Aston Villa," he added. "I feel we should have had
another six points by now but we will continue to grind away and we will get
there."
West Ham's home victory over Sunderland is their only win in the last six
League games. They suffered the blow of conceding a stoppage-time equaliser
against Bolton at the weekend and are reeling from a long list of injuries.
Dean Ashton, Craig Bellamy, Bobby Zamora, Scott Parker, Mark Noble, Kieron
Dyer and Freddie Ljungberg are all sidelined, and midfielder Hayden Mullins
is undergoing intensive treatment on a badly bruised ankle. There is a
growing feeling that this could be a good time for Derby to meet the Hammers
but Davies will not entertain the theory. "They have lots of players missing
but they've still got lots of good players in their team. Regardless of who
they have missing, they still have quality and are a dangerous animal," said
Davies. "When you see the injured players sat in the stand it tells you what
is required in the Premier League. That is the type of squad you have to
carry if you want to compete at this level."
West Ham sit mid-table with 15 points and their away record is the seventh
best in the division. They have won two and drawn one of their five League
games on the road. The wins came at Birmingham and Reading, and the draw at
Portsmouth two weeks ago.
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Kenny in line to face Hammers - rams.co.uk
Striker Kenny Miller is set to hand Derby County a boost tomorrow. Miller
has returned to training after his hamstring problem and is likely to face
West Ham United at Pride Park Stadium. He has also been named in the
Scotland squad for their crunch Euro 2008 qualifier against Italy at Hampden
Park a week tomorrow. Rams team-mates Stephen Pearson, Jay McEveley and Gary
Teale are also in the squad. "Kenny has looked OK in training and,
hopefully, there will be no reaction," said Rams manager Billy Davies. But
Jamaican defender Claude Davis is doubtful with a strained adductor muscle.
The centre-back limped out of the last two away games at Fulham and Aston
Villa with the problem.
Derby are still waiting for the full results of Andy Todd's visit to see a
spine specialist but the defender has already been pencilled in for an MRI
scan. The Rams are keen to solve the mystery of his back and hamstring
problems. "We've got to get Andy fit - a 100 per cent fit Andy Todd is a big
asset for us," said Davies. Todd, 33, has not played for the first team in
two months. Davies has dismissed reports linking Derby with moves for
Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone and Celtic defender Bodo Balde. "It's
remarkable where these stories come from," said Davies. "I've made no
inquiries or phone calls about either player."
Huddlestone started his career with Derby before moving to Tottenham in July
2005
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D Day For West Ham In More Ways Than One - West Ham Fans.org
Submitted by Neville Nixon on 9 November, 2007 - 08:12.
Hammers travel to Pride Park for their away fixture with Derby County
looking to consolidate a mid table position ahead of the International
break. Both main strikers, Dean Ashton and Craig Bellamy, are unable to
feature for England and Wales respectively, Freddie Ljungberg will be
included in the Sweden squad when it is announced but is unlikely to play.
Whisper it quietly but the pressure is on Alan Curbishley, not the sort of
"three games and you're out" type of pressure but more a gradual move to
modernising the club in such a way as may prove alien to an 'old school'
manager.
This is what he had to say about the possibility of bringing in a Sporting
Director: "We're talking about new stadiums and training grounds and one
person can't be running all that." "We want to push on and make the club
stronger, but it's myself and the board that decides where we are going to
go." He added: "We're looking at bringing someone in who can have a look at
the club from top to bottom and make suggestions."
The inference is clearly intended to slant away from the new person being a
director of football, the perceived role being that of a Sporting Director
who would handle the administration and future business development of the
club.
The Derby game represents a massive challenge, they desperately need a win
to get out of the bottom three and manager Billy Davies will be thinking
that Hammers are there for the taking, particularly when looking at the
ridiculous injury list of the visitors. There will be a few old faces
popping up, Stevie Bywater and Ty Mears will be longing to put one over on
their old club and for the home fans this game represents the first of 'many
cup finals'.
Most West Ham fans will be hoping that the team line up 4-4-2, in fact many
yearn for the old 'Sir Trev' line up of 4-3-3, sending out a team with
Carlton Cole as the lone striker will send out a signal of negative play
that will get seized on by a team that is fighting for it's Premiership
survival. The Hammers manager knows that this is a match that is expected to
yield three points, so he cannot shut up shop he has to go for a result, if
not he is going to have the world and his mate and their opinions ringing in
his ears.
This article is not meant to de-stabilise but to be realistic, in no way is
it meant to suggest that Curbs is going to be shown the door 'a la Pardew',
but having invested so heavily the board are going to be looking for a
return on their investment, if not sooner then definitely later! - Ed
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