Julien Faubert is moving closer to his first start in claret and blue after
half-an-hour on Wednesday night
17.01.2008
Slowly but surely Julien Faubert is easing his way into contention for a
starting place at West Ham United.
The 24-year-old France winger was given just under half-an-hour to shine at
Manchester City last night after his cameo appearance in Saturday's 2-1 home
league win against Fulham. Faubert was unable to do anything about City's
winning goal that came ten minutes after his arrival as a substitute for
Freddie Ljungberg but showed flashes of the electric pace that first saw him
come to prominence at Bordeaux.
One such burst saw him race away from Dietmar Hamann only for the German
midfielder to pull him back, earning a caution in the process. Faubert
admitted it was difficult for him to adjust to the pace of the contest,
which picked up markedly after the hour mark. "The first five minutes it was
hard for me and hard for my body but after that I got used to it and it felt
good.
"I know that in English football, they play very quickly and I haven't
played a game for six months - but I am all right now. I feel good in my
health." Faubert added he was pleased to have been given the chance to make
an instant impact with the club since returning from his rehabilitation in
the south of France. "When I came back I didn't know when I would be playing
but now I am very confident. I have played more and I feel good. I just have
to work on my endurance fitness now."
The summer signing is relishing the chance to return to the City of
Manchester Stadium for another televised fixture this weekend - especially
as "we were the better team". He added: "It was a very hard game and we
tried our best to score. When we play again here in the Premier League, it
will be very important and we will try to win when we come back on Sunday.
"We have a better idea of how they play. I hope we win. The whole team is
very competitive, and we don't like to lose," he added, showing he has
already grasped the spirit within the squad as well his understanding of the
pace and power that characterises the English game. A few days rest and he
will be all set to go again, claiming simply. "If I start, I am ready. If I
am on the bench, I am ready."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Liverpool away date set - WHUFC
West Ham United will make the return trip to Anfield on 5 March
17.01.2008
West Ham United can confirm the away game against Liverpool will take place
at 8pm on Wednesday 5 March.
The Barclays Premier League fixture at Anfield was originally due to be
played back in August but was postponed because of Liverpool's Champions
League qualifying commitments. The new date became open because Liverpool
cannot play the second leg of their last-16 tie at Inter Milan that night
because AC Milan are also at home. The Reds will instead travel to Italy a
week later.
West Ham United's trip to Anfield is a fixture that will have particular
significance for Craig Bellamy, with the forward having left Liverpool to
move to east London back in the summer. The two teams are also due to meet
at the Boleyn Ground on Wednesday 30 January. Liverpool are fourth in the
top flight, six places and seven points ahead of Alan Curbishley's side.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
It was a definite penalty - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 17th January 2008
By: Matthew O'Greel
Alan Curbishley has claimed that the Hammers were robbed of a cast-iron
penalty in last night's 1-0 FA Cup 3rd round replay defeat at Manchester
City. During the second half Lee Bwoyer was sent tumbling by Manchester City
goalkeeper Joe Hart, however referee Mark Clattenburg ignored Bowyer's
subsequent penalty claim. "We think it was a definite penalty," Curbishley
told the BBC's Match of the Day. "Hart has come out as Lee has gone through
and clipped it over him and taken him out. "I think Clattenburg was
following the ball because it was goalbound, but he definitely cleaned him
out. I'm not saying he did it on purpose but he definitely hit him, so we're
disappointed with that."
The defeat effectively ends West Ham's chances of winning silverware for
another season, although Curbishley was happy that the game offered some of
his returning players the chance to continue their rehabilitation - despite
being naturally disappointed at going out of the Cup at such an early stage.
"We've come here and given it our best shot," he added. "We're really
disappointed that we haven't won the game because we felt we dominated for
long periods and created one or two chances. "But we didn't take them - and
we paid the price in the end. We're in there now thinking that we've let an
opportunity go tonight.
"I had the opporunity to give a couple of players a game. Lee Boyer's been
out for eight weeks, Luis Boa Morte for four or five and obviously we're
trying to get Julien Faubert back to full fitness. I had one or two things
in mind with our starting eleven and rested one or two people."
Meanwhile Curbishley and his side can look forward to an instant chance to
amend last night's defeat, as the two sides clash again this weekend - this
time in the Premier league. "We've demonstrated, even with the injuries
we've had all season, that we can compete - so we'll come here and give it a
go on Sunday," summised Curbs."Perhaps we weren't good enough in some
respects tonight but we came here, a tough place to come to, and we showed
we could stand up to it - so I'm looking forward to Sunday."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Blades - still missing the point(s)? - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 17th January 2008
By: Matthew O'Greel
Sheffield United fans have been quick to stick the knife in after West Ham
were knocked out of the FA Cup at Manchester City last night. The winners of
last night's tie were due to travel to Bramall Lane in the fourth round to
face Bryan Robson's Championship outfit. Unsurprisingly, this led to
renewed claims - completely wide of the mark, of course - that the Hammers
avoided relegation last season due solely to Argentinian striker Carlos
Tevez, whose transfer terms caused so much consternation in South Yorkshire.
So whilst West Ham United supporters are naturally disappointed at missing
out on the opportunity to travel to 'God's Own Country' in the next round of
the Cup, we at KUMB feel duly obliged to point Blades fans still spitting
blood toward the following graphic in order to demonstrate the real reason
why their club was relegated last year - and why when all is said and done,
they have nobody to blame but themselves ...
(it should also be noted that one of the games played subsequent to the
above table was Sheffield United's 3-0 home win against the Hammers, which
strangely failed to result in any condemnation of West Ham United, Carlos
Tevez or the Premier League whatsoever).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Feelin' good - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 17th January 2008
By: Matthew O'Greel
Julien Faubert has revealed that he is 'confident' of getting back to full
fitness soon. The 24-year-old Frenchman - signed from Bordeaux last summer -
made his second competitive appearance for the Hammers last night in the 1-0
FA Cup 3rd round replay defeat at Manchester City. Still far from fully fit,
he played for half an hour after replacing Freddie Ljungberg on the hour
mark. But the pacy winger says that he is feeling more like his old self
with each passsing day.
"I know that in English football, they play very quickly and I haven't
played a game for six months - but I feel good in my health," he told
whufc.com. "Now I am very confident; I have played and I feel good. I just
have to work on my endurance fitness now."
Alan Curbishley now has something of a selection headache on the right side;
notwithstanding Faubert and Ljungberg vying for the one spot, Peruvian
international Nobby Solano - already a big hit with the Boleyn faithful
since signing on a free transfer last August - is set to return to action
within the next fortnight.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Faubert glad to be back - SSN
Frenchman ready for starting role
By Lewis Rutledge Last updated: 17th January 2008
Julien Faubert has declared himself ready to start for West Ham after
returning from a serious Achilles injury. The Frenchman made a brief
appearance as a substitute in Saturday's 2-1 victory over Fulham and then
came on for the final 28 minutes of the FA Cup defeat to Manchester City on
Wednesday evening.
He admits he enjoyed his first taste of English football and is looking
forward to playing a full role for The Hammers over the coming months. "The
first five minutes it was hard for me and hard for my body but after that I
got used to it and it felt good," he said. "I know that in English football,
they play very quickly and I haven't played a game for six months - but I am
all right now. "I feel good in my health. If I start, I am ready. If I am on
the bench, I am ready. "When I came back I didn't know when I would be
playing, but now I am very confident. "I just have to work on my endurance
fitness now."
Faubert, who ruptured his Achilles tendon in pre-season prior to the 2006/07
campaign, is optimistic there will be a different outcome when West Ham face
City in the Premier League on Sunday. "It will be very important and we will
try to win," he said. "We have a better idea of how they play. The whole
team is very competitive, and we don't like to lose."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Rangers look to bring in Dailly - BBC
Rangers are in talks with West Ham United with a view to taking Scotland
defender Christian Dailly on loan until June, BBC Sport understands. With
Ugo Ehiogu appearing to favour a transfer to Sheffield United, Dailly would
provide a ready-made replacement. The 34-year-old joined the London club in
2001, but spent the first part of this season on loan after finding his
opportunities limited at West Ham. BBC Sport understands the player is
currently considering the offer.
Dailly, capped 66 times for his country, has returned to West Ham following
his loan spell at Southampton, where he went after failling to establish
himself at the Hammers since Alan Curbishly took over. The defender started
his career with Dundee United before switching to Derby County in 1996.
After two seasons with the Rams he moved to Blackburn Rovers in a £5.5m
deal.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Celtic want West Ham's Mark Noble - The Mirror
Exclusive by Alan Nixon 18/01/2008
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan is ready to make a shock move for West Ham
midfield dynamo Mark Noble - and may tempt Alan Curbishley with a £4m bid.
Strachan made a surprise spying mission to watch England Under-21 st ar
Noble on Wednesday as the Hammers slumped out of the FA Cup at Manchester
City in a replay. Hammers are in no rush to sell but Celtic can dangle the
carrot of Champions League football this season in front of 20-year-old
Noble. Strachan is keeping tabs on Wigan's out-of-favour Jason Koumas, who
is also a target for Blackburn.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hart not happy to meet Irons - TeamTalk
Manchester City keeper Joe Hart admits the team could do without another
visit from West Ham so soon after beating the Londoners in the FA Cup. The
Hammers will appear at Eastlands again on Sunday after going down 1-0 in the
third round replay on Wednesday night. Alan Curbishley's side have not
scored against City in three matches already this season but Hart does not
believe that is a good thing. Hart said: "That's just the way it works out,
we've got to face them again on Sunday, ideally you probably wouldn't want
to so soon but you just have to get on and do it again. "We still haven't
lost to them this season and we want to hopefully keep that run going."
Italian striker Rolando Bianchi came off the bench to play for almost an
hour on Wednesday but he may not be in the squad for Sunday if a loan move
back to Serie A comes off. Both Torino and Lazio are reported to be
interested in bringing the 24-year-old back to Italy before the transfer
window closes. The £8.8million summer signing has struggled to make an
impact but is highly regarded in his home country having finished fourth-top
scorer in Serie A last season with Reggina.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Rangers move for West Ham defender Dailly
tribalfooball.com - January 17, 2008
Rangers are moving for West Ham defender Christian Dailly. The Scotsman says
Gers were last night understood to be in talks with Scotland defender Dailly
over a possible loan move to Ibrox for the rest of the season. The
34-year-old former Dundee United player is back at West Ham United after
spending the first half of the campaign on loan at Southampton and would
provide experienced defensive cover for Rangers who yesterday released
former England centre half Ugo Ehiogu from his contract with the club.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Faubert ready for West Ham start
tribalfootball.com - January 17, 2008
Julien Faubert has declared himself ready to start for West Ham after
returning from a serious Achilles injury. The Frenchman made a brief
appearance as a substitute in Saturday's 2-1 victory over Fulham and then
came on for the final 28 minutes of the FA Cup defeat to Manchester City on
Wednesday evening.
"The first five minutes it was hard for me and hard for my body but after
that I got used to it and it felt good," he said. "I know that in English
football, they play very quickly and I haven't played a game for six months
- but I am all right now. "I feel good in my health. If I start, I am ready.
If I am on the bench, I am ready. When I came back I didn't know when I
would be playing, but now I am very confident. "I just have to work on my
endurance fitness now."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Bitter Curbs says West Ham were robbed as ref ignores spot-kick claims after
City keeper clatters midfielder - Daily Mail
Last updated at 12:47pm on 17th January 2008
Alan Curbishley, bitterly disappointed that his West Ham team are out of the
FA Cup, today maintained they should have been awarded a late penalty when
Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart clattered into Lee Bowyer off the ball.
It was no use asking the victim himself though because he was suffering from
concussion as a result and hardly knew what day it was, let alone whether
referee Mark Clattenburg should have pointed to the spot. On such decisions
are FA Cup ties often won and lost, particularly ones as close as this
third-round replay at Eastlands. Elano's stooped, headed goal from close
range in the 72nd minute ended up as the winner and now these two
evenlymatched sides must do battle all over again at the same venue on
Sunday, this time in a Premier League encounter. "I thought we had a good
shout for a penalty when Lee got in on goal," said Curbishley. "Hart didn't
get there and his momentum took Lee out but the referee had his eye on the
ball because Lee had already lifted it over the keeper."
Bowyer was still groggy afterwards but his midfield team-mate Mark Noble
said: "Lee's suffering from concussion after that tangle with Joe Hart.
Afterwards he couldn't remember what went on in a lot of the game. Hart came
up to him at the end and said 'sorry' but Lee didn't understand why he was
apologising because he couldn't recall anything about what happened.
"Obviously he took quite a blow to the head and from where I was, the
'keeper got nowhere near the ball because Lee had lobbed it back in."
In truth, the defeat was a little tough on West Ham, who more than matched
City in what was an attritional Cup tie with Hart by far the busier
goalkeeper.
Noble was honest enough afterwards though to admit that his side had failed
to take the chances which fell their way and until that changes West Ham
could continue losing matches they should win. The best opportunity of the
night, for example, fell to Dean Ashton. Watched by Fabio Capello's
right-hand man Franco Baldini and Stuart Pearce, West Ham's peroxide poacher
volleyed a 30th minute effort straight at Hart following a fluid passing
movement involving Bowyer and Luis Boa Morte.
Ashton, although still a threat with his close control and quick brain,
still looks some way short of full fitness and some way over his optimum
fighting weight.
The England coaching entourage would have been much more impressed, on the
night, with two central defenders, one from either side. Micah Richards was
once again a colossus at the heart of City's defence while his West Ham
counterpart, Matthew Upson, performed to a similar standard. It was tough on
Upson and the rest of the West Ham defence, to see so much good possession
wasted in front of them and Curbishley knows that, until he can improve the
creative part of his team's game, then they could be treading water.
Curbishley will be banking that Craig Bellamy, now just two weeks off a
return, suffers no further setbacks because The Hammers seriously miss his
pace. There were some positives for West Ham though, particularly the
appearance, after 61 minutes, of Julien Faubert.
The French midfield star looked still way short of full fitness after being
out since the start of the season but there were one or two explosive
sprints which bode well for the future. "We had a couple of other shouts for
handball," said Noble, "and it was really disappointing overall because we
had some really good chances and I thought we dominated the game for large
spells. "Obviously City were a threat on the break but I thought we knocked
it about well and kept the ball. The bottom line though is that you have to
take your chances and we didn't do that. "It's really disappointing but we
just want to get back to their place on Sunday and take the points in the
League. "We're just hoping that Craig Bellamy can come back soon. He's doing
his best to get over his injury problems and we could really do with him at
the moment."
City's goal came via their best player, the lightning-quick Martin Petrov.
The Bulgarian's first cross from the left was blocked by Lucas Neill and
when the ball rebounded to the City man, West Ham's captain slipped at the
crucial moment. Petrov saw his chance, chipped the ball to the far post
where substitute Rolando Bianchi headed the ball against an upright and
Elano followed up to head in the rebound. "I thought Lucas had dealt with
the danger of Petrov really well," said Noble, "but then he slipped and
Petrov was able to get his cross in. Even then the ball could have gone
anywhere when it dropped down from the post but it went straight to Elano."
If there is any consolation for West Ham, at least they will be spared an
emotive build-up to a fourth round clash with Sheffield United, and the old
wounds of the Tevez affair will be left well alone.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
DATE SET FOR WEST HAM ANFIELD CLASH - Liverpoolfc.tv
Paul Eaton 17 January 2008
Liverpool have announced the date for their outstanding home fixture against
West Ham United at Anfield. The game - postponed from earlier in the season
because of the Reds' participation in the qualifying round of the Champions
League - will take place on Wednesday March 5, 2008.
Kick-off will be 8pm.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Etherington happy to keep the faith at West Ham - Daily Mail
Last updated at 12:43pm on 17th January 2008
West Ham winger Matthew Etherington said he signed a new four-year deal with
the club to repay their faith in him. He said: "There have been a lot of ups
and downs for me personally but the club has stood by me. I'll always be
grateful for that. "It's why I've committed my future here."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham join chase for Hertha Berlin star - fansFC.com
13:46 January, 17, 2008
Striker Marko Pantelic is attracting interest from the Premiership. "I've
had contact from West Ham and Fulham- they have confirmed their interest"
said agent Marc Schermann of the Serbian star."Marko will be making a
decision about his long-term future in the next few months."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Smokers kicking up a big stink in the toilets - Daily Mail
Last updated at 15:12pm on 17th January 2008
One serious flaw in football's campaign to ban smoking inside grounds has
emerged. Fans at West Ham and Millwall have both reported incidents of
fellow supporters congregating in lavatories for secret cigarettes away from
the eyes of stewards. One Lions fan described the half-time scene in the
gents' to "an unbearable smoke den", adding: "Since the ban came in fans
smoking in the loos have made it worse than it was before." West Ham say
they are aware of the problem and are trying to identify offenders through
CCTV. The club have threatened to ban fans caught breaking the rule.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham, Portsmouth target Guiza on way to Premiership
tribalfooball.com - January 17, 2008
Real Mallorca are mulling over the sale of star striker Dani Guiza to a
Premiership club. Marca says Mallorca president Vicente Grande has an offer
from an unnamed Premiership club on the table for Guiza, who recently won
his first senior cap for Spain. Portsmouth, West Ham and Tottenham are among
English clubs to have been linked with Guiza in the last six months.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment