Lucas Neill is expecting the side to go all out for victory this evening
12.12.2007
Lucas Neill has issued a final rallying call to his West Ham United
team-mates with the visit tonight of Everton.
"It is a cup game so there is no point holding back," the club captain said.
"We will try and give it our all. There is a semi-final at stake and it
would be unbelievable if we could get there. It is going to be a tough game
and we are going to have to work very hard."
The Hammers skipper was at Blackburn Rovers when they won the competition
back in 2002 but missed out because he was cup-tied. The chance to move a
step closer to a Wembley showpiece has captured the imagination and Neill
hopes the morale boost of Sunday's 1-0 win at his former club will help the
cause in a busy week.
"We have got one leg out of the way," he said. "A fantastic win away. Now we
have got to try and do a different style of football at home and take the
game to Everton. Then we can focus back on a hard game against Everton in
the league.
"The Blackburn was a massive win for so many reasons. It put us in the top
ten and means we have got the confidence going to Everton. If we defend the
way we did, we will create chances and we just need to take them." With the
fans expected to be in full voice under the lights tonight, the stage is set
for another cup classic at the Boleyn. For a full match preview, click here
and check out a special Lucas Neill-Tim Cahill feature in the match
programme.
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West Ham Utd v Everton - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 12th December 2007
By: Matthew Coker
This week at the Boleyn sees us welcome Everton, then Everton as we face
them in quick succession. Wednesday night has seen the two sides drawn out
the hat together for a Carling Cup quarter final and we meet again just
three days later in a Premier League fixture.
Can we play you twice a week?
Our opponents are the Premier League side that most remind me of a charming
but lazy drug addict, in that they have had lots of different people score
for them. So for this season, they have seen twelve of their players
register at least one goal, suggesting that the squad has strength in depth
up front and enough confidence running through the rest of the team to not
be afraid to shoot on sight.
This diversity of goal getters has seen them enjoy a good start to the
season where they currently lie in seventh place in the league table. This
has been achieved with five wins from eight at home, the outstanding
scoreline being the 7-1 thumping of Roy Keane's Sunderland at the end of
last month. More relevant to our fixtures, on the road, the pattern this
season has been to beat the weaker sides (Derby, Bolton and relegation
strugglers, Sp*rs), though games at The Majedski, Old Trafford and St James
Park have seen them come a cropper. The last two trips have resulted in
draws, a 1-1 at Chelsea, through resolute defending and an outstanding
performance from Tim Howard and a goalless affair at Fratton Park.
Their cup runs have also been successful, they deserve credit for reaching
the knock out stage of the UEFA cup with a game to go and they have earned
the right to face us in the Carling Cup with successive away wins, though I
hope that we provide a sterner test than the previous lower league
opposition of Sheffield Wednesday and Luton Town.
"We are doing ok in the UEFA and Carling Cups, but it is the league that is
more important. We have always wanted cup runs, but I would not sacrifice a
place in the top six for winning a cup."
David Moyes gives hope to all Hammers wishing to visit the Bobby Moore
statue at Wembley.
The defence has been one area of strength for the side this season. Tim
Howard has had little chance to curse his mistakes as they have been few and
far between, due to a combination of his good form and that of his defence.
Phil Neville predominantly plays at right back and has done a fairly solid
job there, though Tony Hibbert may be back to claim his place following
recovery from injury. Joleon Lescott has been in outstanding form for club
in his left side of the central defence role and his normal partner is
Joseph Yobo, though Phil Jaglieka gets an occasional run out. They do have
some injury concerns on the left as first choice, Leighton Baines, limped
out of the weekend's game and cover, Nuno Valente is also struggling at
present. They finished the game against Fulham on Saturday with Jaglielka in
the middle and Lescott at left back, and I would guess that is how they
would start against us on Wednesday night.
David Moyes has experimented with four and five man midfields this season.
When he goes with a sole striker, his side arguably plays a 4-1-3-1-1 with a
holding midfielder in front of the defence, three creative midfielders
feeding into the striker and with a player in the hole. This seems to be a
strategy that suits the likes of Tim Cahill, though Moyes often chucks the
second striker on towards the end, which gives them options to change the
pattern of the game if needs be.
The holding midfield role goes to Lee Carsley, who provides no nonsense
cover to the back four. The three players in front of him tend to be the
Spaniard, Mikel Arteta and the South African international, Steven Pienaar
in the wide roles and with Leon Osman in the middle. This trio is not one
that Snow White would feel out of place cleaning up for, with Osman and
Pienaar in particular being both small and slightly built.
Nevertheless, they all possess footballing ability in abundance, Osman has
got back to the good form that he was enjoying a couple of seasons back and
seems to relish playing in the centre, Pienaar demonstrates the results that
progression through the Ajax academy yield and Arteta has long been
recognised as being a talented playmaker and dead ball specialist. The key
to getting the edge on Everton is to look firmly in this area as this is
very much the supply line to them scoring in the two games against us.
Tim Cahill has returned to the side after a lengthy injury lay off but has
quickly established himself in the first team and back in the headlines.
There are many limitations to what he is capable of, in respect of ability
on the ball, especially in comparison to some of the other midfielders.
However, what he is excellent at doing is scoring important goals and he has
a nasty habit of being in the right place at the right time to influence the
scoreline, something that we need to watch out for, particularly in the cup
game.
Feed the Yak and he will score
The words to this Everton chant is pretty much all we need to know about
their main striker and top scorer this season, Aiyegbeni Yakubu. Much like
Benny McCarthy last week, the £11m Nigerian forward is very much a work to
rule striker. He is not going to be seen chasing lost causes around the
pitch, nor to drop deep and create chances for others. His job is scoring
goals and his tally of nine strikes so far this campaign, including the hat
trick at the weekend are testament to his ability in and around the box.
However, because of the type of player that he is his general pattern of
performance is that he tends to play well if the rest of the team play well
and he is reliant on the supply line from the midfield to be able to do his
job.
Strength in depth up front comes from former Palace man, Andrew Johnson who
shares in common with his fellow England strikers Defoe and Crouch, an
inability to get a regular start for his club side. He has seen his place in
the first eleven be undermined by the change in team formation of late and
has only managed two goals this season. He is obviously pacy, which makes
him a threat from the bench and past history suggests he may have a part to
play if it came to a penalty shoot out, though having missed his last two
spot kicks, that part may not be to punish West Ham. Other options are the
Scottish hero in Paris, James McFadden (four goals this season) or one of
the youthful duo of Victor Anichebe (two goals so far) and James Vaughn (one
goal to date).
Carling Cup Conjecture
You would imagine that at this stage of the competition, both West Ham and
Everton, with the number of times we've both had to open up our trophy
cabinets in the last twenty years, will be taking this particular game
seriously. The carrot of a two legged semi final with two of the big four
having been eliminated (and with Arsenal sending the kids to a tough tie at
Blackburn) should be sufficient for this game to be considered important and
certainly both sets of supporters seem to be taking it as such.
The margin between the two teams will be tighter than the Old Bill's pay
rise with the superiority that they could claim from our respective league
positions being cancelled out by our home advantage.
Moyes has fielded strong sides in the previous rounds, only choosing to rest
a couple of players, so I would think, against Premier League opposition, he
will play his best available eleven. Curbs has also rested a few in previous
rounds, though I hope that he goes full strength, particularly by playing
our first choice keeper and defence, as anything else would represent a
gamble.
The wide positions are going to be slightly problematic for us on Wednesday,
with Matty suffering with a groin strain and Solano being cup tied. It will
be interesting to see if he drafts Kyle Reid on the left hand side to keep
the five man midfield or whether we go two up front. I suspect much of that
depends on Ashton's fitness, though he looked sharp enough at Ewood Park on
Sunday.
I really am unsure how the Cup tie will go, so much depends on what line up
we put out and where the Carling Cup lies in both club's priorities. I think
the safest thing is to predict from the heart and go 2-1 Irons, though it
may take more than 90 minutes for us to get in that position.
Premier League Prediction
The weekend's result will no doubt be affected by what happens on Wednesday
night. However, I can see the effect of three games in six days for us and a
day off fighting through the crowds to buy up lots of Christmas bling in New
Bond Street for them, taking its toll.
Therefore, I'll go third successive away league draw for Everton, third
successive home league draw for West Ham and an all square 1-1 on Saturday.
Enjoy the games.
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Faubert: a fortnight away - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 12th December 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
French winger Julien Faubert could be back in full training by the end of
the month. The 24-year-old former Bordeaux player has been out of action
since rupturing an achilles tendon during pre-season. But the good news is
that the once-capped wide-man is expected to be training with the rest of
the first team by the end of December, and possibly ready to play just a few
weeks later. Alan Curbishley, talking on whufc.com earlier today said: "It
is great to see him out there running. "Hopefully if he continues the way
he has done in the last week he will be a couple of weeks away from joining
in with us which is a big boost."
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Can Alan Curbishley inspire West Ham back into Europe? - Sportigo
Wed, Dec 12, 07 14:42
Neil Patterson
Alan Curbishley: He's brought back the passion (Gettyimages.com)The Hammers
boss has pulled the doomed east London club back from the precipice of
Championship oblivion to Premier League respectability and a Carling Cup
run. Result? Happiness.
'We have begun to play some good, sensible football and most of the fans are
pleased with Curbs' The year of living dangerously. It is almost one year to
the day since Alan Curbishley returned to manage the club where he began his
football career, coming through West Ham's famous academy, but never
achieving his potential as a player. It has now been one year since his
return to 'my club' as he affectionately refers to West Ham, so where has he
taken the club to, and where to from here?
Facing almost certain relegation 12 months ago, the Hammers had accumulated
14 points from 17 games when Curbs took the helm. His first match, at home
to the mighty Manchester United, ended in a victory that broke the longest
losing streak in the club's history. But the troubles at Upton Park were far
from over and the 6-0 defeat at Reading on New Year's day highlighted the
problematic issues.
In the transfer window, Curbishley spent a fair chunk of the new regime's
money. The defence needed major repairs and Matthew Upson joined the club
for a record fee. He was injured in his first appearance and did not play
again that season. Lucas Neill proved to be a good acquisition at right
full-back and Luis Boa Morte came in from Fulham along with Callum Davenport
and Nigel Quashie (a man who has been relegated four times with four
different clubs, in successive seasons).
January saw a continuation of poor form. A Cup exit and a league defeat to
fellow strugglers Watford accentuated the fact that the Hammers appeared
doomed. Then it happened. Losing 4-3 at home to arch-rivals Spurs produced a
glimmer of hope as Curbishley's men played their best football of the
season. Young Mark Noble began to earn his stripes, Neill added steel to the
defence, Matty Etherington seemed to regain his confidence and Bobby Zamora
began to combine well with the controversial Argentinian Carlos Tevez.
We then won away at Arsenal with a gutsy performance from keeper Rob Green
and then again at Blackburn through a goal that actually never was. The
Upton Park faithful dared to believe. The furore surrounding the
illegalities of playing the two Argentinians raged as the Hammers kept
winning. Curbishley's style was playing teams than can grind out results and
that's just what West Ham did.
It came down to the last game of the season, we beat Manchester United away,
Wigan drew with Sheffield United and the rest is history, much to the
disapproval of almost everyone except West Ham fans.
So we stayed up, but still Curbs was treated with suspicion by certain
sections of the demanding Upton Park faithful. He was not doing it the West
Ham way, a way that has been gloriously unsuccessful since England won the
World Cup in 1966. Others saw Curbs was building a sustainable team,
blending youth and experience and truly building a squad that could
consolidate a mid-table position.
In the summer, Craig Bellamy, Scott Parker, Kieron Dyer, Julien Faubert,
Freddie Ljungberg and Norberto Solano arrived with Nigel Reo-Coker, Marlon
Harewood and Yossi Benayoun going and a net spend of almost zero. With Dean
Ashton and Matt Upson coming back from long-term injury, a sense of quiet
optimism reverberated around the Boleyn.
Then the injuries began, with Faubert and Parker breaking down pre-season
and Dyer breaking a leg on his second outing. But we continued winning.
There have been 12 players in the physio's room but still we are getting
results. Not only that, we have begun to play some good, sensible football
and most of the fans are pleased with Curbs. We are in tenth place and about
to play in the quarter-final of the League Cup.
So, one year on, thank you for all you have done, Mr Curbishley. You pulled
us back from the precipice of Championship oblivion. You have instilled
discipline, courage, desire and passion in your players.
I am a believer and look forward to continuing our recent moderate success
and improving upon it. Who knows? European nights at Upton Park again?
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West Ham man bound for Celtic - Sportigo
Wed, Dec 12, 07 14:17
Mark Apostolou
West Ham's Scottish international defender Christian Dailly, recently on
loan at Southampton, has become the subject of interest of a move back
across the border to Celtic (various). The veteran has found chances under
Alan Curbishley hard to come by, and the former Dundee United man has not
been picked since the Hammers were embarrassed 4-0 by Charlton in February.
Clearly Dailly is nearing the end of his career but he could prove to be a
wise squad signing for Gordon Strachan and clearly he would cost next to
nothing. He may be keen to end his career on a high and could find himself
tasting Champions League football for the first time in his 17-year career.
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Hammers defender Gabbidon picks his three Everton players to watch - Daily
Mail
Last updated at 12:57pm on 12th December 2007
West Ham defender Danny Gabbidon has urged his team-mates to be wary of
Everton trio Mikel Arteta, Tim Cahill and Yakubu tonight. Alan Curbishley's
side approach the Carling Cup tie in confident mood but defender Gabbidon
warned: "Those three are in great form and are the ones to watch." West Ham
manager Curbishley is determined to celebrate a year in charge at Upton Park
with victory over Everton in tonight's Carling Cup quarter-final. When
Curbishley arrived at West Ham last December the club were already on a
steep downward spiral which carried them to the brink of relegation. But
having pulled off a remarkable escape act, West Ham now sit in the top half
of the Premier League and are within 90 minutes of a cup semi-final. And
for a man who keeps his emotions in check, Curbishley was in particularly
bullish mood as he looked forward to the clash with Everton. "We got a
great start to the week (with a 1-0 win) at Blackburn," he said. "We feel
the Carling Cup is a competition we should attack. A Premier League side
will win the Carling Cup and we thought 'Why not us?'"
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Is Dean Ashton the Man To Spearhead a New Look England Attack? - Football
Fancast
Posted by Rob Facey on December 12, 2007 - 12:13
FanCast columnist Rob Facey looks at the abilities of an injury free Dean
Ashton and believes he has all the attribute to be a top international
striker.
Regardless of who is appointed as the England manager, it is important they
do not ignore West Ham's Dean Ashton as the teams brightest hope for the
future. In an age where players like Gareth Barry and Owen Hargreaves have
struggled to earn the respect they deserve, it is important Ashton is not
another who is overlooked.
His virtuoso second-half performance against Blackburn on Sunday has now
moved him into the 'Big Four' of English strikers along with Owen, Rooney
and Crouch. He personifies the attitude that is needed for the future of
the England team; modest and hard working, utilising rather than squandering
his talent. His style of play has been compared to that of Alan Shearer and
it is a player of this mould that has been missing from England since ever
since he retired. Ashton's winner at the weekend is a goal that has not been
seen in an England international for some time - a poacher's goal that
Shearer made a living out of, and this is exactly what the country has been
crying out for.
Ashton's injuries have hindered his progression both domestically and
internationally over recent years so the comparison with Shearer may yet be
premature, but there is room for scope. With no 2008 Championships to
contest with, Ashton can focus on the qualification campaign for South
Africa 2010 as the tournament to cement his place as an England striker for
the remainder of his career.
To date, Peter Crouch has been the most consistent performer as a target man
for England, but a lack of strength or aerial technique lets him down as the
focal point of the team. Michael Owen's long term fitness is no longer
guaranteed which makes his status as first choice striker very risky. His
team mates still regard him as the speed demon that set the world alight in
1998 but the truth is playing long balls to Owen is no longer a real option.
England also lack the attacking flair of Manchester United, so Rooney finds
himself coming deep to collect the ball when he is played up front - a trait
that would be welcome if there was a target man for him to play off. The
truth is that it Ashton is the player England have been missing.
It was not as if McClaren, or even Eriksson before him, was ever short of
attacking options. It was more a case of lacking the necessary quality in
attack.
Heskey's valiant resurgence as an international forward was a step in the
right direction and cannot be faulted for effort, but it is time for new
blood. Defoe and Bent at Tottenham have been tried and are still some way
off the standard required for international football. The same goes for
Alan Smith at Newcastle, who has been played in midfield for most of this
season.
There is little doubt that Ashton would have at least been in the squad
during the 2008 qualifiers if fit, but it would still be unlikely that
McClaren would pick him ahead of the usual suspects. For the class of 2010 -
the likes of Ashley Young, Theo Walcott and Gabriel Agbonlahor - Dean Ashton
is the outstanding candidate to spearhead the England attack of the future.
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Bellamy set for second op - Newham Recorder
12 December 2007
INJURED West Ham players Julien Faubert and Bobby Zamora are back in
training this week, but the news regarding striker Craig Bellamy is not so
good, writes DAVE EVANS. Talking prior to Wednesday's Carling Cup quarter
final clash with Everton at Upton Park, manager Alan Curbishley explained
that this is make or break week for the Welsh international striker. "We
have to decide this week where we are going with Craig," revealed the
Hammers boss. "If it doesn't work out then we may have to go to the surgery
route and if that is the case I can't put a timeframe on it, so we'll see,
it is a big week in that respect." He continued: "His injury is more his
stomach than anything else and we have just got to make a decision on
whether we feel the route we are going down will be successful and therefore
a shorter route to fitness, or if he has to have another operation." It is
another blow for the 28-year-old former Liverpool and Newcastle United
striker, who has grabbed four goals this season, and transformed West Ham as
an attacking unit. He hasn't played since coming off at half time in the 0-0
draw at Portsmouth in October, and despite some good performances from the
likes of Carlton Cole, he has been sorely missed. However, there was better
news regarding Zamora, who has been out since the Bristol Rovers Carling Cup
tie back in August, and Frenchman Faubert, who injured his Achilles on the
pre-season tour of Austria and is yet to play a competitive game in claret
and blue. "Bobby is running at the moment," confirmed Curbishley. "We have
to get him through that before we can bring him back. "The problem with
Bobby has been that every time we have pushed him a little bit, his knee has
started to swell up again."
Faubert, a £6.7million signing from Bordeaux in the summer, is also slowly
beginning to recover. "He is back," insisted the manager. "He is out there
running which is great to see and hopefully if he continues in that way,
then in a couple of weeks he will be joining in with the rest of the
players, which is a big boost."
Slowly but surely, players are returing to the squad and though that is a
huge welcome to the manager, it also brings a fresh set of problems. On the
right wing for instance, Curbishley may have to pick one from Faubert, Nobby
Solano, Freddie Ljungberg and eventually Kieron Dyer as well - all quality
players.
The manager thinks he can cope though: "I think all the injuries have made
us stronger," he said. "When they do all come back, I will have a lot more
competition at the cluib and that is what we wanted in the first place.
"That is why we kept a big squad in the summer.
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Ashton's happy to take things slowly- Newham Recorder
12 December 2007
IT TOOK just seven minutes for Dean Ashton to show his class with a typical
goal poacher's strike at Ewood Park, writes DAVE EVANS. And it begged the
question as to why he wasn't on the pitch from the start of Saturday's clash
with Blackburn Rovers. For manager Alan Curbishley though, perhaps wary of
the players who have come back into the team only to fall foul of a
recurrence of their injuries, he is determined to take things nice and
slowly. "I don't think we have handled it too badly," said the manager about
the £7.25million signing. "When 'Deano' came back in the summer we
introduced him slowly and unfortunately that all ended at Aston Villa." That
day saw Ashton suffer a knee ligament injury that ruled him out for five
games before he returned as a substitute in the home game with Spurs.
Curbishley continued: "This time he has come back and I think we have done
it right. "We have intoduced him slowly again and hopefully when he gets in
there, and gets a full game that is the point where he can stay in the
team."
Ashton has scored four goals this term, and the manager hopes there is
plenty more to come, but he realises that he has to be careful with a player
who missed the whole of last season with a broken ankle. "Dean needs
football," he said. "The biggest problem is getting players fit in the first
team, that's tough.
"Scott Parker has just been through it, but how many players can you have at
the same time going through that?" Curbishley is not the only one who knows
just how important Ashton is to a team. Former England boss Steve McClaren
may have ignored the claims of West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green, but he was
always keen on selecting Ashton, and who knows, if the striker had not
broken his ankle to deny him making his debut in August 2006, he may well
have scored the goals to fire England to the European Championships. That is
mere conjecture, but Green believes that West Ham's defence benefits from
the inclusion of Ashton, just as much as the attack does. "He's a big
player, the focal point of the side," confirmed Green. "If I'm taking goal
kicks I know that if I hit him he's going to bring it down and deal with the
physical challenge of the players around him. "He's a massive player and
he's always going to make a big impact."
So what of the player himself? Stories of a rift between the manager and his
24-year-old striker were rubbished by Curbishley, and Ashton does not seem
to be put out on the face of things. "It's great to get 45 minutes and I
feel I'm back to where I was before the injury, so it's really nice," he
said. "The first half at Blackburn was very tight with two evenly matched
sides, but the second half does tend to open up and that was good for me. I
managed to get some good touches."
With Craig Bellamy likely to remain on the injured list for some time to
come, it is only a matter of time before Ashton returns to his rightful
place in the starting line-up. When he does, it is likely to be alongside
Carlton Cole, and that is something that is an exciting prospect for the
former Norwich City man.
"Carlton Cole has been playing really well for us," said Ashton, who is
sorry that his fellow striker will miss the game up at Middlesbrough next
week, after picking up a fifth booking for the season. "His suspension is a
shame because he has hit good form," insisted Ashton. "However, I'm sure
he'll come back raring to go in the game after that."
Perhaps more important is that Ashton is back and raring to go. The Hammers
seem to have sorted out their defensive frailities this season, now if they
can get the forward line to match, West Ham will not be far away from
rubbing shoulders with the big boys of the Premier League.
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Hammers still in the Hunt as Ben strikes - Newham Recorder
12 December 2007
Fulham 1 West Ham 1
A LAST-MINUTE strike from Ben Hunt earned the West Ham under-18s a deserved
point at Fulham on Friday. The visitors had gone behind after only 20
minutes to a deflected shot that gave goalkeeper Marek Stech no chance,
before Fulham opted to protect their slightly fortuitous lead. The Hammers
refused to give in though and young striker Hunt was the eventual hero,
pouncing on a loose ball in the box, to fire home from 12 yards. Another
positive note for West Ham was that England youth international Freddie
Sears returned from his ankle injury and played the entire match. The
striker showed some impressive signs too as he had a shot cleared off the
line, while Josh Payne also saw two headers saved. It was the Hammers who
were doing all the attacking against a side who had won 1-0 at Little Heath
earlier in the season, and the corner count was 20-2 in the visitors'
favour. Academy director Tony Carr was pleased with the effort and work-rate
from his charges. "It was a good game and we played very well. We dominated
from start to finish but just couldn't score," he said. "We should have won
arguably on the chances we had. They are a good side but we played them off
the park at times. "We had balls flashing across the box and there were two
or three occasions where their goalkeeper has pulled of saves or defenders
have put themselves on the line to block. "The performance is everything at
our level and we looked very good."
Carr also had some words of praise for the returning Sears, who he hopes can
now enjoy an injury-free season. "It was his first game back after two and a
half months," he added. "He came close to scoring and is definitely on his
way back. "We were keeping an eye on him but he wanted to stay on and did
well for his first game back. "He is going to be a key player for us this
year."
West Ham: Stech, Brookes, Miller, Payne, Spence (Blackwell 85), Harvey
(O'Neill 75), Edgar (N'Gala 86), Lee, Hunt, Sears, Stanislas.
* The draw has been made for the FA Youth Cup fourth round.
Should the Hammers beat Bolton Wanderers in the third round tie at Upton
Park on Wednesday, December 19, then they will face another home game
against either Port Vale or Swansea City.
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Curbs' case for the best defence - Newham Recorder
12 December 2007
THINGS are changing for West Ham United, writes DAVE EVANS. The happy
Hammers were always known as the entertainers; the side who were more likely
to win 5-4 than 1-0; the team who kept attacking whatever the position of
the game. However, the statistics this season are showing something
completely different as manager Alan Curbishley continues his campaign to
turn West Ham into one of the top teams in the country. While his midfield
and forward line have been decimated by injury this term, the defence has
remained solid and consistent and it has paid huge dividends. Having
conceded just 12 goals so far this campaign they are at last rubbing
shoulders with the cream of the Premier League. That is fewer than leaders
Arsenal, with only Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool more watertight
at the back so far this term. And it is away from Upton Park where the
change has been the most dramatic. At this stage last season, West Ham's
away record was appalling. They had lost seven of eight games, drawing the
other 1-1 with Watford, while they had only scored two goals against 16 this
time! That one away point illustrates why Alan Pardew was destined for the
chop at this point of the campaign and just one year on the difference is
immense. West Ham (alongside Liverpool) have conceded the least away goals
this season. Just five have slipped into Rob Green's net and that is a huge
testament to the performances of the goalkeeper as well as Matty Upson,
George McCartney, Danny Gabbidon, skipper Lucas Neill and back-up men James
Collins and Anton Ferdinand. Only one of the Hammers six clean sheets have
come at Upton Park and the manager knows that if he can work the same magic
on Green Street then West Ham will be up among the front runners. "Most of
our points have been won away from home so now the trick is to get some
results at home," he said. "When you're at home the visitors set you
different problems." Those problems could be overcome by some fit strikers
able to unlock stubborn defences, and that must be the next part of
Curbishley's long term plan for success.
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Bonds set for signing - Newham Recorder
12 December 2007
WEST HAM'S shop at Lakeside will be the place to be on Monday when Hammers'
legend Billy Bonds will sign copies of the latest book on the club. Tony
McDonald's book 'West Ham - The Managers' and his previous tome 'West Ham -
In My Day' will be on sale for 'Bonzo' to sign between noon and 2.30pm on
December 17, so get down there to avoid disappointment. Although the book's
cover price is £20, you can order a copy direct from publishers Football
World for £17.99 (including postage and packing) by phoning their credit
card hotline on 01708 744333, or by logging on to their website at
www.exhammers.com.
If you want it signed by Billy though, you will have to get down to the
shops, just as Amanda Dennison from Dagenham did last Friday at the Sussex
Stationers Book Shop in Romford.
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Good news for kids - Newham Recorder
12 December 2007
NEXT YEAR'S George Parris Youth tournament at Upton Park has added events
for the under-sevens and under-eights to their already impressive programme.
At that age, the youngsters are not allowed to play competitive football,
but organiser Jeff Garner has organised what he calls 'Experiences' for both
age groups which will enable them to play on the hallowed turf at Upton
Park. Both events will take place on Saturday, May 31, with the under-sevens
between 9.30am and 1.30pm and the under-eights from 2pm to 6pm. There will
be no medals for these age groups, but there will be autographed
certificates for all those who take part. For more details on this or the
competitions for under-nines, under-10s, under-11s and under-12s, contact
Garner on 07941 877570, or by e-mail at jeff@footballforfans.co.uk
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Curbishley insists Zamora stays put - Newham Recorder
12 December 2007
WEST HAM boss Alan Curbishley has insisted that forgotten striker Bobby
Zamora will be going nowhere during the January transfer window. The
26-year-old forward has been linked with a £5million move to either Fulham
or Reading, but Curbishley was quick to pour cold water on the rumours.
"Bobby was one of the players that finished last season so strongly and at
the start of this season he was in the team with Craig Bellamy," explained
the manager. "He got injured up at Bristol Rovers and we haven't seen him
since, but he is in my plans and we have to wait for him to get fit."
Zamora hasn't played since the end of August, when he underwent knee
surgery, and it has been a long and slow recovery process, which Curbishley
thinks may have triggered the stories of his departure. "I think people are
forgetting that he is injured," said the boss, "He has been linked with
Fulham, but I had dinner with Lawrie Sanches the other day and he never
mentioned anything to me at all."
With Dean Ashton returning from injury and Bellamy still out, Curbishley has
been forced to field Luis Boa Morte as an emergency striker in recent weeks
so it simply doesn't make sense for the boss to let the experienced Zamora
go next month, unless of course, he has someone lined-up as a replacement.
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It's going to be a big night - Newham Recorder
12 December 2007
WEST HAM boss Alan Curbishley has confessed his admiration for David Moyes
and his Everton side, but he will certainly not be in awe of the Toffees
when their Carling Cup quarter final clash kicks off at Upton Park tonight,
writes DAVE EVANS. The Hammers manager is really excited about the prospect
of grabbing a place in the semi-final. "The crowd are up for it and we are
certainly up for it," he insisted on Tuesday morning. "Everton are playing
well, so something has got to give and if it goes in our favour, it keeps us
bubbling along nicely."
Everton have been regulars in the top half of the table under David Moyes
and it is that sort of consistency that Curbishley is looking for as he
continues to build his West Ham team. "Breaking into the top four is always
going to be difficult, but it doesn't stop you trying," insisted Curbishley.
"I think Everton have demonstrated that. David Moyes had a bit of a
topsy-turvy start, but now you always expect them to be in that top half. "I
think that is what we are aiming to do. We are trying to lay down some
foundations here and that is the way to go about it."
The manager has taken the Carling Cup very seriously so far, and though that
means they have been rewarded with a place in the quarter finals, there have
also been drawbacks in that. "We have demonstrated this year that we have
attacked the Carling Cup but it has cost us," explained the manager. "I
don't think Bobby Zamora has played since Bristol Rovers, obviously Kieron
Dyer got his injury there and Craig Bellamy started feeling his problems
there, so it has cost us in some respects. "But we felt it was a competition
we should attack, a Premier League side is going to win the Carling Cup so
why not us?"
Why not indeed, though it won't be easy with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea,
Liverpool, Spurs, Blackburn and Manchester City still in the competition at
the last eight stage. "I think if you look at who wins the Carling Cup every
year, it is a Premier League side, just like in the FA Cup," said
Curbishley. "Invariably the bigger clubs are there and if you look at the
remaining clubs in the competition, it is mostly the top half of the table.
"All the ties will be difficult and we kick it off, so it will be nice if we
get the result. Cup runs keep everything else bubbling along and though I'm
sure Everton will have something to say about it, it is going to be an
interesting night."
It certainly is. Dean Ashton is likely to start, with Luis Boa Morte
switching to the left hand side if Matty Etherington fails to recover from a
sore groin. It won't be easy, it might be a thriller, but home advantage may
well be the telling factor.
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Time to decide the Wright thing to do - Newham Recorder
12 December 2007
RICHARD WRIGHT may have played in all three Carling Cup ties so far, but
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley may opt to play Robert Green in the
intensity of tonight's quarter final tie. The 30-year-old former Everton and
Arsenal keeper has let in two goals in the three rounds West Ham have
negotiated, but the manager is yet to decide on who will be between the
sticks tonight. "I've got to make a decision on whether Richard Wright
plays," confessed Curbishley. "We really rate Richard, we think he is a top
keeper and we are delighted to have him here, and I have used him in the cup
games. "But Rob Green has been playing ever so well obviously, though we
still need to keep Richard involved, so we will have to see."
That is the long and the short of it. Green has been inspirational in the
Premier League for West Ham this season, and at this stage of the
competition, the manager may see it as vital to keep the former Norwich City
man in goal against the Toffees. Green has conceded just 12 goals this
season, with only Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea faring better,
and with the back four showing a great understanding in front of him, that
seems the likely way for the manager to go tonight. Curbishley though, was
quick to praise his back-up goalkeeper, who has two England international
caps to his name. "I don't think it is a risk to play Richard, no way," he
insisted. "I have no hesitation in putting him in the team if we have to,
for whatever reason. He has come into the club and really been a success in
the way he has attacked it. "I've got a couple of things to think about for
Wednesday and that is one of them."
It would be a pity for Wright if he misses out on a starting place for
tonight's match, but there is little sentiment in football and if Green is
more likely to see them through, then West Ham must go with him.
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