Alan Curbishley believes home advantage could be key against Manchester City
04.12.2007
Alan Curbishley has spoken of his satisfaction at landing a home tie in the
FA Cup third round but said it was important to focus first on more
immediate challenges.
"I am delighted it is a home draw, I know it is an all-Premiership tie but
with the home advantage I think we will have the edge," he said. The
fixture, to be played at 3pm on Saturday 5 January, provides the chance for
Curbishley's side to put right the memory of a 2-0 defeat at the Boleyn
Ground by the same opponents on the opening day of the 2007/08 campaign.
Curbishley, who is preparing his side for a Sunday trip to Blackburn Rovers,
added: "We were obviously disappointed with the way our season kicked off
with a loss to Man City but we have improved a lot since then and will be a
very different proposition. There is a lot of football to play before then
so although we are looking forward to the tie we will think about that game
nearer the time."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tickets reduced for City tie - WHUFC
The club has cut prices for the FA Cup home fixture on Saturday 5 January
04.12.2007
West Ham United are pleased to announce that reduced ticket prices will be
offered for the forthcoming FA Cup third-round fixture against Manchester
City.
The match at the Boleyn Ground will be played at 3pm on Saturday 5 January.
Chief Executive Scott Duxbury said: "We appreciate that this can be an
expensive time of year for our supporters and we have therefore taken the
decision to reduce prices for this fixture.
"The support our supporters, particularly our season ticket holders, provide
the team each week is vital to our success and we would hope that in
dropping the prices this will make following the team more affordable and
help provide a full house on the day."
Adult Adult S/Ticket S/YA Member S/YA S/Ticket U16s
Junior S/Ticket
Band 1 £25 £20 £12.50 £10 £5 £4
Band 2 £20 £16 £10 £8 £5 £4
Band 3 £20 £16 £10 £8 £5 £4
Band 4 £15 £12 £7.50 £6 £5 £4
These prices are greatly reduced from those charged for normal Barclays
Premier League opposition and, in addition to the standard ticket price,
season ticket holders are able to obtain a further 20 per cent reduction (as
shown above).
Selling dates
Season ticket holders - 9am Wednesday 5 December to 5pm Wednesday 12
December
Club members - 9am Thursday 13 December
General sale - 9am Tuesday 18 December
For more ticket information, click here
Key:
Adult S/Ticket - Adult Season Ticket
S/YA Member - Senior/Young Adult Member
S/YA S/Ticket - Senior/Young Adult Season Ticket
U16s - Under-16s
Junior S/Ticket - Junior Season Ticket
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tickets For Blackburn Away still available; further away tickets will be
available on the day - WHO
Ged - Tue Dec 4 2007
We've been contacted on behalf of Blackburn Rovers about ticket prices and
availability at the game at Ewood on Sunday. Whilst the contact details
provided list the WHUFC ticket office details, the details are as follows:
Using money from the new TV deal, Rovers have significantly reduced ticket
prices for both home and away supporters. Match prices for hammers fans are
just £20 for adult tickets, £10 for seniors and £7 for juniors.
For ticket enquiries for the game, West Ham fans should call the ticket
office hotline on 0870 112 2700 via option 3 or visit www.whufc.com. Tickets
will be available on the day of the game for away supporters.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Fulham lead £5m chase for forgotten forward Zamora - Telegraph
By Jason Burt
Published: 05 December 2007
West Ham are prepared to sell Bobby Zamora in the January transfer window
but only if their valuation of £5m is met. Fulham and West Bromwich Albion
have shown the keenest interest in the 26-year-old striker but, as yet, no
club has submitted a formal bid.
With a host of others, including Reading, Derby County and Sunderland
monitoring developments, it appears that a bidding war is likely for Zamora,
who was West Ham's top scorer last season but has struggled in this campaign
mainly because of injury.
West Ham are not necessarily looking to sell Zamora, who arrived in January
2004 from Tottenham Hotspur as part of the £7m deal to take Jermain Defoe to
White Hart Lane. But with Carlton Cole, in particular, Luis Boa Morte and
the on-loan Henri Camara providing cover for their first-choice strike
pairing of Dean Ashton and Craig Bellamy, they will not stand in Zamora's
way if terms can be agreed.
West Ham may, nevertheless, recruit another striker on loan although they
have already turned down the chance of signing Milan Baros, who is desperate
to leave Lyons and move back to England.
The 26-year-old Czech international, who was a previous West Ham target when
at Liverpool, has fallen out of favour at the French champions and, last
month, was stopped by French police after allegedly driving his Ferrari at
170mph which would be the highest speed ever recorded in France.
But West Ham are extremely pleased with the make-up of their squad with the
manager, Alan Curbishley, pointing out that through injuries, he has not
come anywhere close to being able to field what would be his first-choice XI
but has still managed to guide the club into a comfortable mid-table
position.
Consequently they are understood to have also ruled out moves for their
summer targets of Eidur Gudjohnsen and Adriano as they consolidate on what
was a frantic summer.
The latter's wages, of £110,000-a-week, were prohibitive last August plus
the fact that the Brazilian, although expressing interest in moving to West
Ham, ultimately wanted to remain in Italy. Interest in Reading's Nicky
Shorey, who was chased during the last transfer window, has also been
dropped by West Ham partly because of the impressive form of George
McCartney at left-back with Jonathan Spector providing cover.
It appears that West Ham are looking to trim rather than add to their squad
next month with Calum Davenport, Nigel Quashie and John Pantsil, all fringe
players, likely to be deemed surplus to requirements in the transfer window
if a buyer can be found. As for Zamora, he is unlikely to want to make the
drop down to West Brom even if the Championship side are one of the
favourites for promotion.
If Zamora says no, West Brom are likely to move for Reading's Leroy Lita,
who has been told he can leave after falling out of favour but is unlikely
to be sold until a replacement can be found. Both Shorey and Lita have
refused to sign new contracts at Reading.
Fulham have spent heavily under their manager, Lawrie Sanchez, and may balk
at the asking price for Zamora, who they value at closer to £3m – as do most
of the other clubs vying for his signature. However, Sanchez, despite
signing the strikers, David Healy, Diomansy Kamara and Shefki Kuqi, and with
Brian McBride set to return in the new year from a knee injury despite a
minor setback, is keen to improve his attacking options.
The Fulham owner, Mohamed Al Fayed, has already pledged that more funds will
be made available to Sanchez – but only as long as he starts to see
improvements in the team before Christmas.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Newcastle rival West Ham for Reading's Shorey
tribalfootball.com - December 04, 2007
Reading full-back Nicky Shorey is a summer transfer target for Premier
League sides Newcastle and West Ham, according to the Mirror. Shorey's
Reading contract runs out this summer and Shorey is reported to have said he
will reject a January move to either side in favour of receiving a bumper
pay day in the summer. Shorey was a key part of the Reading side that
surprised many people last season when they finished 8th. Shorey was linked
with a move to the Hammers last summer but for some reason or another that
never happened. Shorey also made his England debut last season when lining
up in England's 1-1 draw with Brazil at Wembley.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sunderland to bid for West Ham's Zamora
tribalfootball.com - December 04, 2007
Sunderland are planning a bid for West Ham United striker Bobby Zamora. The
Daily Express says Sunderland are set to make a January bid for
£2.5milion-rated Zamora.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gabbidon credits form to West Ham competition
tribalfootball.com - December 04, 2007
Danny Gabbidon says his form surge is down to the competition for places at
West Ham United. The Wales defender told whufc.com: "There's so much
competition in the squad that I have to keep playing well to be in the team.
That's the motivation for me because I know if I don't there are people
knocking on the door."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Southampton set to land West Ham's Dailly
tribalfootball.com - December 04, 2007
West Ham United defender Christian Daily is set to join Southampton
permanently. The 34-year-old Scot has just returned to the Hammers after a
two-month loan stint at St Mary's and will join permanently in January.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Howard's way with cards gives Hammers the Blues - Newham Recorder
04 December 2007
Chelsea 1 West Ham United 0
WHEN you go to places like Stamford Bridge and play against a top four side
like Chelsea, then you need to have the run of the ball and sometimes the
help of the referee, writes DAVE EVANS. Against Arsenal at the Emirates last
season the run of the ball was certainly with the Hammers; at Blackburn last
season, they certainly got the help of the referee. On Saturday in west
London they got neither. It was partly their own fault of course. As well as
Carlton Cole and Luis Boa Morte have been playing of late, when you leave
someone with the scoring prowess of Dean Ashton on the bench until you go a
goal behind, then it is little wonder that you struggle to create any
clear-cut chances. But West Ham were certainly not assisted by the
performance of referee Howard Webb. Last week Mike Riley showed his
ineptitude with a display that hindered both teams. On Saturday, Webb and
his assistants leant so firmly towards Chelsea that they almost qualified
for win bonuses. Mikel's first half challenge on Scott Parker should have
been a straight red card, while Frank Lampard's spiteful tackle on Boa Morte
could easily have gone the same way - both received just cautions. West Ham
manager Alan Curbishley certainly highlighted the two incidents, though
played their significance down at the same time. "I thought there were two
bad challenges," confirmed the boss. "Mikel on Parker while Frank Lampard's
on Luis Boa Morte's wasn't the best either, but Howard Webb was right there
and he probably took into account that it was a London derby. "There were a
few tackles flying around, but that's the way it is."
There certainly were and it wasn't only Chelsea who were dishing it out. The
fit at last Parker was determined to make his presence felt in the middle of
the field, while Matty Etherington and Nolberto Solano were both booked for
scything tackles, and Boa Morte, unluckily, after he had won the ball
cleanly. A rough, tough London derby needed a flash of inspiration to decide
it, and it came from former Hammers' hero Joe Cole, though even that was not
without some controversy. Didier Drogba outjumped Danny Gabbidon, something
he had hardly managed to do all afternoon, and when Kalou nodded the ball
into the path of Cole, he was able to hold off George McCartney, round
Robert Green and squeeze the ball in from a tight angle. "I think their goal
was just offside," said Curbishley. "We lost the first header against Drogba
and then Matty Upson got attracted towards Kalou for the second header.
"After the way we'd been defending, I couldn't quite see that coming, but it
needed someone like Joe Cole to pull out something like that to change the
game."
It was harsh to blame Gabbidon or Upson for the goal and not just because it
was a fraction offside. Both central defenders were immense all afternoon
with Upson in particular showing the sort of fearless, dominant display that
will surely attract him to whoever takes over as the new England boss. But
for all West Ham's endeavour at the back, they simply did not cause a
well-organised Chelsea defence enough problems at the other end. Cole was
tireless and so strong up front, while Boa Morte showed flashes of his
class, but Solano and Matty Etherington failed to provide them with enough
service, in slightly withdrawn roles, and that meant the strikers had to
feed off the tiniest of scraps. Curbishley accepted that his team had not
created enough chances, but also reacted to Chelsea boss Avram Grant's claim
that the Hammers had simply come to defend: "We came here to match up and to
stop them dictating the game," said the manager disdainfully. "Perhaps I
just didn't have enough going the other way and that's the fact of it
really. I could have put some fresh legs on a bit sooner, but as soon as we
went to a 4-4-2, Chelsea controlled the game. "You have to cause them
problems in order to get a foothold in the game and that's what we did."
The manager was partly right. Certainly West Ham did have to cause them
problems to get a foothold and they certainly managed that, but his point
that the Blues controlled the game once the Hammers went to a 4-4-2, is
perhaps more to do with the fact that they had the confidence of being a
goal up by then.
The nearest West Ham came to beating Carlo Cudicini was Solano's clever chip
in the first half that landed on the roof of the Chelsea net, while on 62
minutes Etherington's long ball forward saw Cole chest and then put Boa
Morte away, only for his shot to take a slight deflection and fly straight
at the Chelsea goalkeeper.
Mind you, the home side didn't create many more efforts themselves.
Drogba's curling shot wide was their only effort of note in the first half,
while after the break as Chelsea pushed forward, Lampard shot just wide,
Steve Sidwell had a shot bravely blocked by Upson, while Green made a double
save to deny Kalou and then John Terry. After the goal, Gabbidon superbly
denied Drogba with a brilliant clearing header from Shaun Wright-Phillips'
cross, but that one goal always looked like being enough to beat the
Hammers, much to Curbishley's disappointment. I think that we all felt that
we'd done enough to earn a point," insisted the manager. "I thought that we
looked strong throughout the game. There were a lot of positives and the
only disappointment is that we didn't fashion out that one decent chance
that would have tested Cudicini. "We didn't have enough in the final third
on a couple of occasions, but, saying that, I'm delighted with our
performance."
He was right. West Ham did do enough to earn a point, but only a point in a
goalless draw. The difference between the two teams was that Chelsea are
used to nicking victories in close matches like this one, and until West Ham
learn to do the same, they are going to find it difficult to breakthrough to
the next level.
West Ham: Green, Neill, Gabbidon, Upson, McCartney, Solano (Ljungberg 74),
Mullins, Parker (Spector 79), Etherington (Ashton 79), Cole, Boa Morte. Subs
not used: Wright, Collins.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Is Julien Faubert the key to West Ham making the top six? - Sportigo
Tue, Dec 4, 07 14:18
hamzah khan
Alan Curbishley's host of summer signings have been decimated by injuries.
However, the crocked Frenchman is the midfield maestro they've been missing
and the sooner he returns, the better. 'Most people have yet to see what
Faubert can offer. He is the creative player they have been lacking for so
long' After seemingly cheating relegation last season, West Ham have
improved drastically. Already resigned to the departure of Carlos Tevez,
they gave a signal of intent with the summer addition of players like
Nolberto Solano, Freddie Ljungberg, Scott Parker, Craig Bellamy, Kieron Dyer
and lastly, Julien Faubert.
The back four look settled with Lucas Neill and Matthew Upson leading the
way. However, long-term injuries to Faubert and Dyer have weakened a
potentially great midfield. Bellamy was off to a wonderous start before
injuring himself while Bobby Zamora was great and I feel it would be a
mistake to unload him in January. Dean Ashton is also a good player when he
is 100 per cent.
I don't think West Ham need too much strengthening in January; they have a
top-half quality team, perhaps making a push for Europe - but it's a long
stretch.
In the second half of the season, the Hammers should be free of major injury
woes and most people have yet to see what Faubert can offer. He is the
creative player they have been lacking for so long. He's not a goalscorer,
though nine in 96 appearances is an OK showing - and he also scored in his
one and only appearance for France.
I don't think West Ham will drastically improve with getting their injured
players back. I expect a seventh or eighth place finish if Bellamy,
Ljungberg, Solano, Zamora, Luis Boa Morte and Ashton can get clicking.
However, if they all play to their full potential, I expect nothing less
than top six.
I praise the West Ham defence, particularly goalkeeper Robert Green.
Overall, though, Neill, Upson and George McCartney have also been
consistent.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Dailly set to leave Hammers for permanent Saints switch - Daily Mail
Last updated at 14:36pm on 4th December 2007
West Ham defender Christian Dailly is set to rejoin Southampton on a
permanent basis when the transfer window reopens in January. The 34-year-old
Scot has just returned to the Hammers after a two-month loan stint at St
Mary's.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham fail in £5m chase - Sportigo
Tue, Dec 4, 07 13:54
Mark Apostolou
Rumours abound that long-term West Ham target Nicky Shorey will ignore
overtures from Upton Park and hold out until his contract expires in six
months, as Steve Sidwell did, and then attempt to secure a move to either
Man United or Newcastle (The Mirror). Apparently, the former O's left-back
would prefer Old Trafford over St James' Park – no disrespect to the Toon
faithful, but this is an exercise in stating the bleeding obvious if ever I
saw it.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Defence the key for West Ham, says Upson - Daily Mail
Last updated at 12:44pm on 4th December 2007
Matthew Upson says consistency at the back is the foundation for the West
Ham's improved form this season. The centre-back said: "The back five,
including the keeper Robert Green, have been really solid. "It's an
important foundation the team needs to be built on."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sunderland target £2.5m West Ham striker - SunderlandEcho.com
Transfer rumours
Sunderland are poised to bid £2.5m for West Ham's Bobby Zamora. - Star
Manchester United will make a bid for Reading's Nicky Shorey but they are
not prepared to meet the £5m valuation. - Times
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hughes not out for revenge against West Ham - LancashireTelegraph.co.uk
By Andy Neild
MARK Hughes says he is focused on building on the Newcastle win at the
weekend rather than exacting revenge on West Ham after the controversial
meeting between the sides last season. The Hammers left Ewood Park with all
three points after Bobby Zamora's "goal" that never crossed the line. The
game also saw West Ham cancel out Chris Samba's second half goal with a
contentious Carlos Tevez penalty, while eight players were booked as well as
Bentley's sending off.
"We had plenty of incidents in the game last year and it's on the horizon
again," said Hughes. "If we can back up this result (Newcastle) with another
three points then I'd be delighted with the return we've had."
9:09am today
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers set for Shorey snub - The Mirror
JAN 1 27 DAYS TO THE TRANSFER DEADLINE
04/12/2007
Nicky Shorey is set to turn down a move to West Ham next month and instead
land a bumper pay day when he comes out of contract in the summer. Newcastle
want the England full-back who only has six months left on his Reading deal.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Posts
