WHUFC.com
15.11.2008
West Ham United v Portsmouth
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 15 November
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Martin Atkinson
West Ham United: Green, Neill, Collins, Upson, Ilunga (Faubert 61), Behrami,
Parker (Mullins 75), Collison, Sears (Etherington 46), Cole, Bellamy
Subs not used: Lastuvka, Davenport, Bowyer, Di Michele.
Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Kaboul, Distin, Pamarot, Diop, Davis, Diarra
(Armand Traore 19), Belhadj, Crouch (Kanu 75), Defoe
Subs not used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Nugent, Mvuemba, Hughes
Booked: Pamarot
Attendance: 32,328
West Ham United picked up a hard-earned point against a lively Portsmouth
side on Saturday as they ended a 24-match run without a clean sheet - thanks
in no small part to Robert Green.
Green was inspirational with three superb second-half stops from England
colleague Jermain Defoe, while Craig Bellamy came the closest for the
Hammers with a second-half free-kick that smashed against the woodwork of
David James's goal.
Gianfranco Zola had made three changes from the side that impressed for long
against Everton last weekend. Jack Collison, the goalscorer from that game,
started in midfield and was joined by Valon Behrami who returned after
recovering from a calf injury. Carlton Cole was also back after completing a
three-match ban to partner Freddie Sears and Bellamy in attack.
The home side started brightly and six minutes in had a strong claim for a
penalty when a Sears cross from the right hit Sylvain Distin on the arm.
Four minutes later former West Ham United striker Defoe could have given the
visitors the lead as fired over from seven yards out.
Portsmouth, already without the injured Sol Campbell and Niko Kranjcar,
suffered a setback in the 19th minute when Lassana Diarra was forced to
leave the pitch after a knock and had to be replaced by Armand Traore. Green
then saved a long-distance drive from Glen Johnson.
With the Barclays Premier League table so tight and both teams knowing that
the game's result could lead to a big jump - or drop - it was no surprise
the opening period was proving to be a cagey affair on a dim and dingy day
in east London. There were a few shining lights though, notably the
energetic performance of Collison, who was contributing at both ends -
winning crucial tackles in midfield and adding some clever touches going
forward.
Six minutes before half-time Noe Pamarot caught Behrami - who had slotted
straight back into side- late and was shown a yellow card by referee Martin
Atkinson. At the interval, Zola changed things by bringing on Matthew
Etherington for Sears, reverting to a more traditional 4-4-2 formation.
Two minutes after the restart Green, under the watching gaze of Fabio
Capello, had to be at his best to tip a swerving drive from Defoe over. He
had to be on his toes once more a few moments after to keep the scores
level, as the Portsmouth No9 tried his luck with a lob.
West Ham United nearly took the lead when Behrami was felled illegally on
the edge of the area after a jinking run. Bellamy tried to curl his effort
into the far corner but saw it cannon back off the post. Collison volleyed
the rebound goalwards but David James smothered it.
The home side suffered a blow just after an hour when the whufc.com player
of the month Herita Ilunga had to leave the pitch after picking up a knock.
He was replaced by Julien Faubert who came on at right-back with Lucas Neill
moving to the left.
The Hammers were playing with more fluency and a slick passing move
involving Neill, Etherington, Collison and Parker saw the latter fire a shot
just wide. Both teams made late changes with the visitors sending on Nwankwo
Kanu on for Peter Crouch and Scott Parker replaced by Hayden Mullins.
Green then performed heroics again in the 83rd minute, coming out to deny
the onrushing Defoe yet again. Upson then had a chance at the other end but
could not direct his header on target. Zola's men piled on the pressure as
time ticked away but had to be content with a share of the spoils.
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Zola happy with clean sheet
WHUFC.com
A solid defensive display from West Ham United helped end their wait for a
clean sheet
15.11.2008
Gianfranco Zola was delighted with his side's defensive display as they
ended their 24-game wait for a clean sheet in the hard-fought draw with
Portsmouth on Saturday.
The home side largely had Robert Green to thank, as he made several crucial
stops to keep the visitors, and particularly Jermain Defoe, at bay. The
shut-out was the first since February and, after conceding costly late goals
in recent weeks, Zola says the draw will have given his side a boost.
"That is a very good for us," Zola said. "Apart from the point, it means a
lot for the players so I take this point in a very good way. I'm sure that
my players will get a lot of confidence from this result. It was a tough
match so I'm very pleased and the players gave everything and I couldn't ask
for any more."
The hosts did threaten at the other end and came closest to scoring when a
Craig Bellamy free-kick cracked against the post. The Welshman started
alongside Carlton Cole and Freddie Sears in a three-pronged front line as
Zola made his attacking intentions clear.
"Attacking is the kind of philosophy I have. Unfortunately they were very
good at the back, very solid and did not give us any space at all. So in the
second half I had to change a little bit. In all honesty I did not expect
Portsmouth to be that good and I am pleased and the result was a good result
for us in the end."
The manager said that he had never lost faith in his beliefs or his team
during recent weeks when they have not been picking up the points their
efforts have deserved. He said: "I like to think of the glass half full
rather than half empty and before this game we played six games and played
very well in five of them and got just one point.
"Today maybe we didn't play as well as those games but we got a point and
that is encouraging. I saw the players in the changing rooms and they are so
pleased to have kept a clean sheet after such long spell. It was really
really important."
The manager received further encouragement when it was revealed that Herita
Ilunga appeared to have only suffered a slight knock after he was forced to
leave the field with an injury to his right ankle in the second half, while
Matthew Upson and Valon Behrami also came through unscathed.
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Upson earns England call
WHUFC.com
Matthew Upson is in line for his 12th cap for his country having been named
in Fabio Capello's latest squad
15.11.2008
Matthew Upson has been selected by England for Wednesday night's friendly
away to Germany in Berlin.
The West Ham United defender has become a fixture for his country and could
be in line to start with Rio Ferdinand absent because of a back injury.
Upson has eleven caps and played the full 90 minutes in the previous two
fixtures last month - the 5-1 home win against Kazakhstan and 3-1 success
away to Belarus. There is no place for Robert Green, despite his heroics on
Saturday afternoon against Portsmouth.
England squad
Goalkeepers: Carson, Hart, James
Defenders: Bridge, Johnson, Davies, Lescott, Terry, Mancienne, Upson,
Richards
Midfielders: Lampard, Gerrard, Wright-Phillips, A Young, Downing, Barry,
Carrick, Walcott
Forwards: Agbonlahor, Bent, Defoe, Crouch
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Cheers for Sears
WHUFC.com
The manager had some kind words for Freddie Sears after a promising showing
against Portsmouth
16.11.2008
Freddie Sears received some warm words of encouragement from his manager
after his efforts in the 0-0 draw with Portsmouth on Saturday
Robert Green caught the eye with some fantastic saves but Zola also singled
out his England Under-19 striker for praise after the game. The 18-year-old
had a lively 45 minutes before being replaced at half-time as the manager
changed his formation around.
Talking about the way his young charge has responded to one on one work,
Zola said: "I'm really pleased with him. We try to give him some individual
work but he sees the opportunity and he's working very hard in training
sessions and his attitude is excellent. In the training sessions we are
working a lot with the ball and this is making him sharp and improving him.
"It's all down to him, he's seen the opportunity and he's taken it. He has
a future as long as he keeps the right attitude in that sometimes he won't
play. If he can keep positive then he will have a bright future. "
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Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
There were plenty of positives to take from the weekend point against
Portsmouth and much to ponder as well
17.11.2008
Gianfranco Zola is well aware that the Barclays Premier League is a
keenly-contested championship this season - a fact underlined by there being
only seven points between eighth and last place.
With surprise results every weekend and the promoted clubs all showing a
willingness to compete, the manager agreed with a post-Portsmouth question
that he expects those teams that push on behind the leading contenders to be
those willing to have a go. "It is going to be a close championship
especially if you leave out five or six teams - for the others it is going
to be very close," he said.
Of his approach in the 0-0 draw, he said: "I told the players at half-time
to go for it. We wanted to win. When you want to win sometimes you tend to
go forward and you concede something to the opposition, especially when you
have a striker like [Jermain] Defoe. He is very good at making runs behind
you and all the time playing within the lines of the defenders. It is
something that we knew. We took a risk."
Zola also knew that in Robert Green he had a goalkeeper who has been showing
the form in training and matches that won him the Hammer of the Year award
last year. "You have to be very careful. You want to win like we wanted to
do [against Portsmouth] but also we have to be aware we don't want to lose
games like this … Robert was outstanding. He was brilliant. He was aware and
he has made a couple of fantastic saves."
The confidence in his keeper and his back four was always apparent despite a
run of 24 league games without a clean sheet. Zola was particularly pleased
that they were able to stand firm and cope with a lively Portsmouth attack.
"I understand that especially for Robert and the defenders it has been a
frustrating time. Even if you win, it can be frustrating if you don't keep a
clean sheet. This is a big boost and they will get a lot of confidence from
this."
It is thought Herita Ilunga will be fit to take his place in the back four
at Sunderland next Sunday despite his substitution with a knock to his right
ankle, while Zola also has James Tomkins, Calum Davenport and Jonathan
Spector back in training. Indeed, only Danny Gabbidon and Dean Ashton are on
the long-term injury list while Mark Noble could be in contention within a
fortnight and Kieron Dyer will hope to get another week of full training
under his belt.
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West Ham 0-0 Portsmouth
By Julian Shea
BBC.co.uk
West Ham halted their losing streak with their first clean sheet of the
season and a point, but they could easily have had all three. Portsmouth's
three best first-half chances fell to Jermain Defoe but despite the visitors
dominating, keeper Robert Green was rarely tested. Craig Bellamy's
second-half free-kick that hit the bar for West Ham was the best chance for
either side. That chance inspired the hosts to go on the attack but
Portsmouth held on. West Ham entered the game with just one point from their
last six matches, and began full of intent, but for all their endeavour,
they struggled to trouble Portsmouth goalkeeper David James. The England
number one was one of three former West Ham players in the Pompey line-up
and it was the other two, Glen Johnson and Defoe, who combined to produce
the game's first two meaningful goal chances. Both came as a result of
Johnson cutting in from the right wing, highlighting his marker Herita
Ilunga as a potential chink in the West Ham armour. In the first instance
Johnson slipped the ball into the path of Defoe, who was put off his shot by
the advancing Green, and the second came as a result of Johnson trying a
shot himself. Green could only pat the ball down into the path of Defoe but
the keeper gathered the ball at the second attempt. Another Defoe effort was
deflected wide of the post by a touch off the inside of Ilunga's leg as the
former West Ham striker came closer to scoring against his former side,
while the Hammers were reduced to long-range efforts from Jack Collison.
Early in the second half, Green was forced into making two fine saves as
Defoe went closer to a seemingly inevitable goal before Bellamy, who had
been quiet for most of the game, smashed the crossbar with a free-kick after
a foul on Valon Behrami. This roused the home fans and inspired West Ham to
go on the offensive, but the absence of an effective target man up front was
glaringly obvious. With the home side stretched at the back, Defoe in
particular, was threatening to snatch a late winner, but neither team were
clinical enough to take all three points.
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola on their first clean sheet of the season:
"It's been a problem for a while, so today was important - we didn't create
a lot but a clean sheet is excellent for the players' morale. "Robert Green
was outstanding, I'm pleased for him as we concede a lot of goals and I'm
sure it's frustrating for him, but I think today made up for it. "Today was
a tough match - they gave everything, which is a good thing for me."
Portsmouth manager Tony Adams: "We had enough chances to have won it, but in
the current climate of everyone beating everyone else, I thought that West
Ham could go up and get what to me would be an unjust winner. "I'm very
proud of the guys, it feels like its a couple of points dropped but we
certainly played well enough to get all three. "Jermain Defoe had some great
chances, I told him that on another day he'd get a hat trick but I think he
was trying too hard today as it was his old club."
West Ham: Green, Neill, Collins, Upson, Ilunga (Faubert 61), Behrami, Parker
(Mullins 75), Collison, Sears (Etherington 46), Cole, Bellamy. Subs Not
Used: Lastuvka, Davenport, Bowyer, Di Michele.
Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Kaboul, Distin, Pamarot, Diop, Davis, Diarra
(Armand Traore 19), Belhadj, Crouch (Kanu 75), Defoe. Subs Not Used:
Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Nugent, Mvuemba, Hughes.
Booked: Pamarot.
Att: 32,328
Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: West Ham's Robert Green 7.82 (on 90
minutes).
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Hammers draw a blank
SSN
Green's super show denies Defoe to earn point for Zola
Last updated: 15th November 2008
MATCH FACTS
Man of the match - Robert Green pulled off some terrific saves in front of
Fabio Capello, denying Jermain Defoe on three occasions.
Moment of the match: Not too many to choose from in a tame encounter but
Craig Bellamy rattled David James' crossbar with a great free-kick.
Controversy: West Ham had shouts for a penalty when Freddie Sears appeared
to play the ball onto Sylvain Distin's arms but the referee waved play-on.
Talking point: West Ham at last kept a clean sheet, thanks to a great
display from Green. Should he be chosen by Fabio Capello for the Germany
game?
West Ham's winless run extended to seven games after they were held to a
goalless draw by Portsmouth. Clear-cut chances were at a premium throughout
but the home side were indebted to goalkeeper Robert Green who was in
sparkling form to deny ex-Hammer Jermain Defoe. Watching England manager
Fabio Capello must have been impressed by Green's display as he prepares to
name his squad for the friendly with Germany on Wednesday. Fellow England
keeper David James was called into action less frequently but was beaten by
a fine Craig Bellamy free-kick which cannoned off the bar. A draw was
probably a fair result with neither side dominating for long periods. At
least West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola will be pleased to see his side keep
a first clean sheet in 25 matches. The game began with Defoe's appearance
being greeted with a chorus of predictable boos. West Ham's early pressure
briefly pushed Pompey back and the visitors had a big escape when Freddie
Sears' cross struck Sylvain Distin on the arm, only for the well-placed
referee Martin Atkinson to wave play on. Within a minute West Ham's Herita
Ilunga picked up possession on the left and curled in a lovely cross which
the unmarked Cole just could not reach six yards out.
Pompey could have taken the lead in the 10th minute when Glen Johnson capped
a penetrating run on the right by slipping a ball into the box for Defoe,
who just got to it before Green but could only hook it over the bar. Pompey
pushed forward for a spell and Green was required to make a good save to
deny another impressive run and shot from Johnson. Defoe then challenged for
Diop's through ball which spun away into the path of Crouch, who looked
certain to score until Ilunga's challenge did just enough to put him off.
Zola brought on Matthew Etherington and Julien Faubert early in the second
half but they were lucky not to be out of the game after two sublime moments
by Defoe. In the 48th minute he took Traore's pass, left Lucas Neill
trailing and fired a shot which forced Green into a brilliant save. Two
minutes later he pulled a long clearance out of the sky with a fine first
touch, shrugged off Matthew Upson and almost lobbed Green only for the
goalkeeper to tip over the bar.
Pamarot gave away a soft free-kick on the edge of the area but Bellamy's
set-piece clattered back off the bar and James had to smother Jack
Collison's follow up for his first real save in the 53rd minute. James was
not troubled by tame efforts from Bellamy and Cole soon afterwards but
Hammers were seeing more and more of the ball and Pompey boss Adams brought
on Kanu for the ineffective Crouch to try to turn the tide. The Nigerian
nearly made all the difference, his clever ball setting up Defoe for another
chance but this time, though he side-stepped Upson, his angle was too tight
and Green again made the block.
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Zola hails brilliant Green
SSN
Hammers boss thrilled after clean sheet
By Chris Harvey Last updated: 15th November 2008
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola described keeper Robert Green as
"brilliant" following his man-of-the-match display to deny Portsmouth. Green
made several fine saves in the 0-0 draw at Upton Park, proving a particular
thorn in the side of Jermain Defoe who was denied on three occasions in
front of the watching England manager Fabio Capello. Zola was delighted with
a first clean sheet during his time as manager and realised he was indebted
to Green. "He was outstanding today. I told him he was brilliant," enthused
Zola. "A couple of his saves were incredible. I am pleased for him as we
have conceded a lot of goals and I am sure he was a little bit frustrated
but today he made up for it."
Without a win in seven games, the Italian was delighted his side managed to
take a point from a tight game. "It's vital not only for the result but also
we kept a clean sheet. It's been a big problem for us. "A clean sheet is
excellent for the morale of the players and we haven't done that for a long
time. It is going to be very important for the players' confidence."
Green was also thrilled to keep a clean sheet but admitted last week's
defeat to Everton - in which they conceded three late goals - preyed on the
Hammers' minds in the closing stages. "We were slightly nervous going into
the last 10 minutes after what happened last week but it was just a case of
having the belief." The keeper was happy with his own performance but played
down the presence of Capello who names his squad for England's friendly with
Germany on Saturday. "It's pleasing to make saves. The three opportunities
that came his (Defoe's) way were probably the three chances they had in the
game and that's testament to the defence that they kept their chances to a
minimum."
Asked if he was particularly pleased to perform so well in front of Capello,
Green said: "I try as hard as I can every time - sometimes it comes off,
sometimes it doesn't - whether anybody's watching or not doesn't make a
difference. "If I get called up then great but playing for West Ham is
motivation enough for me."
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Formation failings
Nicholas can still see problems at the back for Hammers
Last updated: 16th November 2008
SSN
West Ham 0-0 Portsmouth
Soccer Saturday analysis
Charlie Nicholas saw West Ham claim a point against Portsmouth, but says
there is still much work to do for Gianfranco Zola. The Hammers had lost
five of their previous six games, but earned a precious goalless draw thanks
to their first clean sheet of the season. But despite the result, Nicholas
still feels changes are needed to the way Zola is setting his team up if
they are to pick up any more points from a difficult run of fixtures. "They
played okay at times," he told Soccer Saturday. "He was trying to play a
4-3-3 formation today which was adventurous and leaves the midfield with a
little bit of extra work to do. " They had good periods in the game.
Bellamy had a free kick in the second half which smashed off the bar and
they had opportunities to win the game. "But so did Defoe on the
counter-attack. Both teams had a real good go at trying to win this football
match, it was a high-tempo game but they're just missing a little bit of
class and a little bit of coolness in and around the penalty box. "If they
can find that the breaks will come for them. Carlton Cole works his socks
off, Bellmay looked good at times when they pushed him further forward but
they're lacking in confidence. "Defensively they did okay, but for me the
formation is not quite right. They've not got the right balance yet and they
might have to tinker with it for another couple of games. "The next four
games for West Ham are away at Sunderland, away at Liverpool, home to Spurs
and away to Chelsea. That's a tall order. "There's a lot of panic in terms
of the fans, you could see them getting frustrated. They like what the
manager wants to try and produce in terms of attacking options and there's
good effort coming from the players. "It just lacks quality in the last
third and that's the most important ingredient that you need."
Despite their first clean sheet in 27 games, Nicholas feels West Ham's
defensive frailties were still in evidence - and they had goalkeeper Robert
Green to thank for keeping Portsmouth out. He continued: "Upson played okay,
Collins played okay, they're wholehearted players, but they don't seem a
unit. "Robert Green has had his critics with people like Thommo saying he
shouldn't be in the England squad and I think people are right to question
him. "But today he had a very, very good run in terms of saves - very
important saves mainly from Jermain Defoe. "Fabio Capello was there watching
seven or eight players and I'd mention Green."
Pompey have now taken four points from their last two away games and
Nicholas said Tony Adams can be pleased with the way his team played -
although they could have won the game if Jermain Defoe had been able to take
his chances. Nicholas added: "Tony Adams looked pleased. At times they were
clever enough in getting Defoe into good positions one-on-one with Green,
who had a decent day so I don't think Defoe can be upset with himself. "He
had a chance in the first 10 minutes on the turn and I was expecting him to
dink it over the keeper with a bit of composure - but he went for power and
it was a wild finish. "That was the only one you could be ultra-critical of
but it was a good game. I enjoyed the tempo of the game."
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Vinny's Portsmouth Report
Vinny - Sun Nov 16 2008
West Ham Online
West Ham United 0 Portsmouth 0
West Ham recorded their first clean sheet of the season as Gianfranco Zola's
men picked up only their second point from the last seven games.
Playing against difficult opposition we looked tense and never really got
going as an attacking force. There were a few moments but ultimately it was
Portsmouth who looked most threatening with the excellent Jermaine Defoe
being thwarted multiple times by Robert Green who was looking to impress in
front of England manager Fabio Capello.
This was by no means a terrible result but with our recent form and the
upcoming fixtures we really needed to win and failure to do so has just put
more pressure on the players and manager.
Zola had commented in midweek that he has spoken to the players and changes
would need to be made since the capitulation last weekend at home to
Everton.
In my opinion he made too many changes and the change of formation back to
4-3-3 puzzled me as despite the results in the last two games we had created
a number of chances but just could not take as many as we needed to. Our
problems in the last two games were in defence and midfield but Zola seemed
to panic and revert back to a formation which had clearly had its time as we
were losing consistently.
The changes made were in midfield and up front. Last weeks goal scorer Jack
Collison got a deserved start in the centre of midfield replacing Lee Bowyer
who dropped to the bench, Valon Behrami returned from injury and replaced
Julian Faubert.
We went to three up front with Carlton Cole returning from suspension and
replacing Luis Boa Morte who was absent from the squad entirely. Craig
Bellamy was on the left side and Freddie Sears on the right.
This was Zola's first mistake as with Cole returning there was no need to
start Freddie Sears. This is not a criticism against Sears as he has done
well in the last two games but he has done well because he has been playing
as part of a front two. Whenever I have seen him come and play as part of
this 4-3-3 he has looked lost and out of his depth. Up against such a
physical side like Pompey this sadly is what happened.
Portsmouth had three ex West Ham players starting with David James, Glen
Johnson and Jermaine Defoe all coming back to their old stomping ground.
The visitors started the brighter of the two sides having a lot of
possession and looking to show their pace when driving forward. Portsmouth
are a massive team and have a number of 6 foot+ players. From the beginning
we were always going to lose the physical battle.
When we settled down our first attack should have produced a cast iron
penalty as Sears did well to cross the ball and it seemed to hit the hand of
Distin. The Bobby Moore stand were up on their feet crying out for a penalty
and the players two were positive it was a penalty. Usually you can tell by
the reaction of the players but the ref turned it down.
Portsmouth were having a lot of freedom down the left hand side as our
formation saw no one mark their winger who was always an outlet for them.
Behrami was doing his best to get up and down the pitch but was given a
thankless task and a near impossible one.
The visitors were forced to make a change when centre midfielder Diarra was
injured and replaced by Armand Traore. Shortly after this change Glen
Johnson burst down the wing, cut inside and hit a shot at goal which was
saved by Robert Green.
Pompey should have taken the lead when Johnson again got the better of
Ilunga and slipped a ball into the area for Defoe to run onto after a clever
run. His shot went wide of the near post when you would have expected him to
score.
When were in possession we had no outlet in wide areas so we tried to play
through the middle but often just ran into Portsmouth players who easily
dealt with anything we had to offer. To play so narrow you need to have
quality players on the ball who can pick out a pass but we do not have that.
Defoe saw another effort deflect off Ilunga and go just wide of Green's goal
as the West Ham fans gasped. It was clear that we were second best and to
get to half time still level was the only positve to take out of the half.
We had been reduced to poor long range efforts as we looked clueless up
front with Bellamy poor in possession, Cole totally anonymous and Sears
being easily marked out of the game.
Half time last week had seen a lot of positives being taken as we had
created many chances and should have been in front. This week it was a lot
more negative with the reality of how good we are on display for everyone to
see. We needed to changes things and fair play to Zola he did just that and
tried to make up for the mistake of starting with this silly formation.
Matthew Etherington came on at half time and replaced Freddie Sears. This
saw us go to a 4-4-2 with Behrami on the right wing and Bellamy moving to a
central strikers role.
For me it wasn't about who we brought on just as long as we played 4-4-2,
had a winger on the pitch and were able to play some crosses into the area.
This is our best way of playing and until we buy some players who can do
something else this is the way we should play.
But as the game became a little more stretched, Portsmouth hit us on the
break. A ball to the left hand side was going towards Defoe but for some
reason our experienced Captain Lucas Neill decided to dive in and Defoe
flicked the ball past him. The striker ran towards goal with frightening
pace and hit an excellent shot which was magnificently saved by Robert
Green.
Another chance came Pompey's way when Defoe got into the area after more
poor defending and attempted to lob the onrushing Robert Green but the
keeper jumped and got a strong hand to the ball as we survived another
scare.
We nearly took the lead as Behrami burst forward and was chopped down just
outside the area. Stepping up to take the free kick was Craig Bellamy who
had fluffed every other set piece so far from corners and free kicks. This
time though he hit it well and the ball crashed off the cross bar and out to
Jack Collison who volleyed at goal but it was well held by James.
We entered our best spell of the game playing some nice football and using
the width we now had to our advantage. We still struggled to create many
great chances as Pompey dealt with set pieces far to easily.
Into the last ten minutes and there were many nervous supporters who had
witnesses our collapse last week. It nearly happened all over again as Defoe
was played through and played onside by Matthew Upson who was nowhere near
the other defenders. Defoe got into the area and hit shot was again saved by
Green who was no doubt our man of the match.
We looked better in the second half but still nowhere near the standard
needed to win a Premiership football match. If Pompey had been more clinical
in front of goal and if we did not have Robert Green we would be saying many
different things about this game.
As it is a point was decent enough and we have kept a clean sheet which is
something positive to take from the game.
Player Reviews
Robert Green
No doubting he was our man of the match. Made a string of wonderful saves
from Defoe and deserved a better reward than being dropped from the England
squad.
Herita Ilunga
Johnson had the better of him in the first period as October's Player of the
month struggled to keep up. Came off in the second half after taking a
knock.
Matthew Upson
Strong in the air and read the game well with him often being that player
who would make that vital last ditch tackle.
James Collins
Until Peter Crouch was taken off I had no noticed he was playing which is
testament to Collins who had kept him quiet all day long.
Lucas Neill
At times he can look every bit the player we thought we had signed but then
at other times he looks as amateur as we have come to expect from him. His
mistake in the second half as he dived in on Defoe and sold himself was
extremely poor. He didn't always look sure on the ball and I am perplexed by
some of the things he does.
Jack Collison
He deserved to start after his last two performance and acquitted himself
quite well again. Pompey were a difficult side to be up against and are very
physical but the Welsh youngster stood up to the test well enough and I
would expect him to start up at Sunderland next week.
Scott Parker
Ran around, got stuck in and gave his all. Still shows little quality on the
ball and for the amount of money we paid for him I am still expecting more.
Valon Behrami
Made a few poor decisions when on the ball but overall I was again impressed
by Behrami. He runs his heart out and has a knack for beating players with
sheer determination. What I like about him is that he is prepared to take on
an opposition player which is something most of our players cannot do.
Craig Bellamy
Another poor performance from Bellamy who fails to deliver yet again. Like
last week his is criminally wasteful in possession. The was a moment when he
got down the right hand side and got into the are but refused to cross the
ball which led to the ball being played out for a corner. He is selfish on
the ball and again for the money paid for him I am expecting more.
Carlton Cole
Poor. Never got into the game and could not control the ball despite not
being pressured at times. He is all that we have got so we cannot drop him
but he looked awful.
Freddie Sears
I have sympathy for Sears who has played well in the last two games and
should have grabbed himself a goal. Today he was practically a right winger
who was marked out of the game and could not stand up to the physical
battle. If we are going to play him he needs to play as a central striker.
Subs Used
Matthew Etherington (on for Sears 45 mins)
With him on the pitch we looked better going forward and although he looked
a but rusty when on the ball I believe we look a better side with him in it.
No doubt that will go down well.
Julian Faubert (on for Illunga 61 mins)
Thankfully he didn't see too much of the ball so no mistakes were made.
Hayden Mullins (on for Parker 75)
Ran around, got stuck in and gave his all. Still shows little quality on the
ball but that's what we expect from Hayden Mullins.
Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Davenport, Bowyer, Di Michele.
Overall
The positives are that we kept a clean sheet and we didn't lose the game.
That's about it from this one and although I hate to continue to be all doom
and gloom I am very concerned about how we are going to fair over the next
few weeks.
4-4-2 is the way to go in my opinion as 4-3-3 will only work with quality
attackers which we posses none.
Sunderland are up next at the Stadium of light. This is not a place we do
too well at usually and I just cannot see us coming away with anything.
Hopefully I will be proven wrong and I really hope we can start to find some
form because after next Sunday it is Liverpool (a), Spurs (h) and Chelsea
(a). Oddly we had these fixtures all in a row last season. I forget what
happened.
Franco's Feelings
"It's been a problem for a while, so today was important - we didn't create
a lot but a clean sheet is excellent for the players' morale.
"Robert Green was outstanding, I'm pleased for him as we concede a lot of
goals and I'm sure it's frustrating for him, but I think today made up for
it.
"Today was a tough match - they gave everything, which is a good thing for
me."
"Attacking is the kind of philosophy I have. Unfortunately they were very
good at the back, very solid and did not give us any space at all. So in the
second half I had to change a little bit. In all honesty I did not expect
Portsmouth to be that good and I am pleased and the result was a good result
for us in the end."
"Today maybe we didn't play as well as those games but we got a point and
that is encouraging. I saw the players in the changing rooms and they are so
pleased to have kept a clean sheet after such long spell. It was really
really important."
Att: 32,328
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Robert Green stops further Hammer horrors
Portsmouth 0 West Ham 0Andrew Longmore at Upton Park
The Times
THESE are edgy times down the East End. Nothing in the bank, a new manager
high on idylls trying to coax beautiful football from a team low on
confidence and a division tightening by the weekend. West Ham began the day
two points off the bottom two but still within touching distance of
respectability. They ended it all square with Portsmouth, a club also in the
grip of uncertainty and change.
A second point from the last seven games — and a first clean sheet in 25 —
was a small mercy as West Ham still had Robert Green to thank for a draw
against a Portsmouth side intent for large periods on survival. The West Ham
goalkeeper saved three times from Jermain Defoe, twice in three minutes just
after half-time, and blocked another good effort with his legs when
Portsmouth produced a rare flourish in the closing minutes. "On another day,
Jermain gets a hat-trick," said Tony Adams, the Portsmouth manager. "I think
he was trying too hard."
Predictably, the former West Ham striker was jeered at every turn — in
contrast to the warm welcome accorded another Upton Park old boy, David
James — and his missed chances were greeted with mirth, anything to disguise
the truth that West Ham could easily have lost.
With the financial future so bleak and a fire sale in the January transfer
window a real threat, the mid-table anonymity of last year might seem like
the promised land by the end of this season, which is part of the problem.
West Ham, a club with a proud history, have high expectations, too high on
present form.
Gianfranco Zola, the personable Italian in charge, had led a week of
introspection and, to use his own word, "confrontation" which, he said, had
been positive. After conceding three goals in five minutes to Everton last
week, a long look in the mirror was the least Zola would have demanded of
his team. Certainly, industry was not one of West Ham's faults yesterday.
They worked hard and harried Portsmouth at every turn but their passing was
woeful, particularly in the final third, and in the quest for greater
solidity they lost fluidity of movement.
Portsmouth have endured much the same profile in the past few weeks, with
the sudden departure of Harry Redknapp and rumours of the club being sold.
So it was no surprise that a strange lethargy dominated the first half on
the field and in the stands.
Zola changed the formation at half-time, pushing Craig Bellamy into attack
alongside Carlton Cole and replacing Freddie Sears with Matthew Etherington
for width.
A free kick by Bellamy that cracked off the Portsmouth bar was the sum of
West Ham's chances. Given that Lassana Diarra limped off after barely 20
minutes, Portsmouth will be happy with a point. "The clean sheet is really,
really important for confidence," said Zola. West Ham will be happy with any
glimpse of security.
Star man: Robert Green (West Ham)
Yellow cards: Portsmouth: Pamarot
Referee: M Atkinson
Attendance: 32,328
WEST HAM: Green 8, Neill 6, Collins 5, Upson 6, Ilunga 5 (Faubert 60min),
Behrami 5, Collison 6, Parker 5 (Mullins 75min), Bellamy 6, Cole 5, Sears 6
(Etherington 45min, 5)
PORTSMOUTH: James 6, Johnson 6, Kaboul 6, Distin 7, Pamarot 5, Diop 5,
Diarra (Traore 19min, 6), Davis 6, Belhadj 5, Crouch 5 (Kanu 75min), Defoe
6.
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Gianfranco Zola says Robert Green can get his England place back
West Ham United 0 Portsmouth 0
Gary Jacob at Upton Park
The Times
Some words sit comfortably together, such as Heurelho Gomes and clangers,
and Arsène Wenger and unsighted, but if football's lexicon were rewritten
today, it would be unlikely to include West Ham United and nil-nil. Even
Gianfranco Zola did his best to extend West Ham's record of 26 previous
matches without a clean sheet when, after a sterile first half, his defence
parted to allow Jermain Defoe three one-on-ones. "We took a risk," the
manager said. "When you do, sometimes you concede. We were lucky."
West Ham's fourth goalless draw in more than 2½ seasons owed much to Robert
Green's excellence in goal and Defoe's wastefulness, brought on, in the
opinion of Tony Adams, the Portsmouth manager, by an overeagerness to score
at Upton Park, where he handed in a transfer request hours after they were
relegated five years ago. Green denied Defoe by acrobatically tipping over
one shot, then clawing away a lob, and smothering another effort. While
Defoe's sharpness has been enough to restore him to the England squad
recently, Green found himself dropped on Saturday night by the watching
Fabio Capello, having been restored to the squad for the matches against
Kazakhstan and Belarus last month.
Consistency and developing his game beyond shot-stopping may be the key. "To
be in the national team you have to perform at high levels all the time,"
Zola said. "Today he did and was fantastic."
David James, Green's opposite number and England No 1, did his best to liven
up the match with a walk-about late on, but the only meaningful opportunity
for West Ham – who were too narrow and one-geared – came when Craig Bellamy
struck the bar from a curled free kick. "You get sick of letting goals in,"
Green said. "It's good to get that monkey off the back."
As an Arsenal defender, Adams staked his reputation on clean sheets but even
he took no pride from Portsmouth's second goalless draw in six league
matches. "We [Arsenal] were much more boring than that," Adams said.
West Ham United (4-3-2-1): R Green 8 – L Neill 7, J Collins 5, M Upson 5, H
Ilunga 6 (sub: J Faubert, 61min 5) – V Behrami 6, S Parker 6 (sub: H
Mullins, 75), J Collison 6 – F Sears 5 (sub: M Etherington, 46 5), C Bellamy
6 – C Cole 6. Substitutes not used: J Lastuvka, C Davenport, L Bowyer, D Di
Michele. Next: Sunderland (a).
Portsmouth (4-4-2): D James 6 – G Johnson 7, Y Kaboul 6, S Distin 6, N
Pamarot 6 – P Bouba Diop 5, S Davis 5, L Diarra 5 (sub: A Traoré, 19 6), N
Belhadj 7 – P Crouch 6 (sub: Kanu, 75), J Defoe 6. Substitutes not used: J
Ashdown, H Hreidarsson, D Nugent, A Mvuemba, R Hughes. Booked: Pamarot.
Next: Hull City (h).
Referee M Atkinson Attendance 32,328
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Zola happy for a point but way ahead full of pitfalls
Guardian report Observer report Match facts
Premier League
West Ham United 0 Portsmouth 0
David Lacey at Upton Park guardian.co.uk, Monday November 17 2008 00.01 GMT
The Guardian, Monday November 17 2008 Article historyWest Ham are clutching
at draws. While a scoreless, passably entertaining game on Saturday ended a
run of 26 matches without a clean sheet and denied Portsmouth a fourth
successive win at Upton Park there were few clues as to how Gianfranco
Zola's side will cope with a particularly awkward run-up to Christmas.
"That point means a lot to us," declared the West Ham manager, his glass
clearly half full. Yet it was only the second point Zola's players had taken
out of a possible 21, which did not augur well for their fortunes in the
sequence of fixtures awaiting them after the visit to Sunderland this
weekend, when they face Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Aston Villa.
Not that West Ham played badly against Portsmouth. It was just that they did
not play well enough when it came to turning some imaginative movements into
scoring chances. Even without the injured Sol Campbell Portsmouth defended
solidly with good discipline and Carlton Cole, for all his industry, did not
have the skill and nous which Dean Ashton, a long-term casualty once more,
would have brought to the job of holding the ball up and bringing those
around him into the game.
Zola attempted to solve his chronic goal shortage by playing three
attackers, flanking Cole with Freddie Sears and Craig Bellamy, but there was
no consistent width to West Ham's attacks. Portsmouth, in spite of losing
Lassana Diarra, their principal link between defence and attack, with a
sprained ankle after 19 minutes, created the greater number of chances.
Three times Jermain Defoe was through on goal and three times he was
thwarted by Robert Green. The watching Fabio Capello might have found
himself wondering how many opportunities Defoe needed. "Sometimes you can
try too hard,' said his manager, Tony Adams. Either way Defoe may now find
himself queueing behind Gabriel Agbonlahor and Darren Bent for a start in
Germany on Wednesday.
With uncertainties over the future ownership of Portsmouth and the
possibility of losing players through the January transfer window Adams is
treading warily in the wake of Harry Redknapp's departure. "I'm not rushing
new things in," he explained. "Harry was a master of man management but I'm
a bit different. Maybe I'll use the fact that I'm a bit younger than him but
I'm very protective of what I call my babies. If and when I get the sack it
will be my results and my team which does it."
That sounded a bit like a self-fulfilling prophecy waiting to happen.
Man of the match Robert Green (West Ham United)
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Jonathan Spector Signs 3-Year Extension At West Ham United
Despite recovering from a hip injury, American midfielder Jonathan Spector
has signed a three-year extension with West Ham United...
by Thomas (Senior Writer)
bleacherreport.com
Despite recovering from a hip injury, American midfielder Jonathan Spector
has signed a three-year extension with West Ham United. According to
Spector, West Ham had been renegotiating his contract since last season and
promised to get a deal done after he returned to training.
The American international told ESPNSoccernet:"I appreciate their confidence
in knowing I'm going to be making a full recovery and knowing I was doing
everything I could possibly do in the U.S. for my rehab to make it back.
I've certainly enjoyed playing for West Ham and it's somewhere I want to be.
I feel I have some things I want to accomplish at West Ham, and I was happy
that the club gave me the opportunity to do that.".
Spector has been struggling with a hip injury since the end of last season.
The injury has caused him to miss several international friendlies,
including the England match at Wembley. The 22-year old had a torn labrum
causing him to have surgery in June and miss out on the Beijing Olympics.
Although he was expected to be out for three to six months, Spector recently
started practicing again. However, he says that he doesn't want to rush any
comeback.
Injuries are nothing new at to the Hammers. Key players - including strikers
Dean Ashton and Craig Bellamy and midfielders Scott Parker and Kieron Dyer -
have missed chunks of time in recent seasons.
Spector is an ambitious player. Among his personal goals, he hopes to become
a first-team regular and help the Hammers qualify for Europe. West Ham
currently sits at fourteenth on the league table with one point above the
relegation zone. According to him, West Ham's fortunes could change with
former Chelsea star Gianfranco Zola. Since Zola's takeover, the Hammers have
a 2-5-1 record. In their last match on Saturday, West Ham lost to Everton
3-1.
Spector said: "He's had an impact on the club since he's returned to English
football, and I think it's a positive impact. I know the results as of late
haven't been what we want, but just in terms of the way the team is playing,
I think we're playing much better football, and I think that in the long run
it's going to pay off."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 0 Portsmouth 0: Zola keeps up Hammers traditions but gets no
rewards
By Ivan Speck
Last updated at 12:44 AM on 17th November 2008
Daily Mail
The spirit of adventure is back at Upton Park but the unpalatable truth for
the West Ham faithful is that it is in danger of leading them back to the
Championship.
At half-time of a technically proficient but less than gripping match, West
Ham manager Gianfranco Zola told his team to pour forward in search of their
first Barclays Premier League win since September. His players took him at
his word but, a brilliant Craig Bellamy free-kick which thudded against the
crossbar apart, they created little. And had it not been for the excellence
of keeper Robert Green — mysteriously overlooked by England coach Fabio
Capello once more — even one point would have proved beyond them. Zola said:
'When you want to win and you go forward, sometimes you concede something.
'We knew what might happen. 'We took a risk. We wanted to win the game but
we could have lost it.' Three times Green denied the returning Jermain Defoe
as he galloped away from West Ham's central defenders through agility,
anticipation and bravery. If the watching Capello will not pick him after
this display, Green's international future appears to be a mirage.
So, too, West Ham's renaissance under Zola. The passing and movement is
pleasing on the eye but where are the strong minds who will grind out
results?
Alan Curbishley's reign may not have adhered to West Ham's footballing
traditions of artistry and beauty, but it garnered points — six from the
opening three games of the season before he departed in early September.
They have collected just eight more since. Consider that West Ham's next six
games include visits to Sunderland, Liverpool, Chelsea and Portsmouth as
well as home games against Tottenham and Aston Villa and Christmas may be a
time of all-too-familiar foreboding in the East End. The uncertainty over
Portsmouth's future centres on January's transfer window. Boss Tony Adams
is not keen on contemplating the departure of Defoe.He said: 'There will be
big clubs trying to get him in January. 'But hands off because he's mine and
he's going to keep me in a job.'
WEST HAM (4-3-3): Green 8; Neill 6, Collins 5,Upson 6, Ilunga 6 (Faubert
61min, 5);Behrami 6, Parker 7(Mullins 75, 5), Collison7; Sears 6
(Etherington 46, 5), Cole 6, Bellamy 7.
PORTSMOUTH (4-4-2): James 7; Johnson 7,Kaboul 6, Distin 6, Pamarot 5; Bouba
Diop 6,Davis 6, Diarra 5 (Traore 19, 6), Belhadj 5;Defoe 7, Crouch 5 (Kanu
75, 5).
Booked: Pamarot.
Man of the match: Robert Green.
Referee: Martin Atkinson.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Spector signs Irons contract extension
10:27am Monday 17th November 2008
Echo
By Rob Pritchard »
AMERICAN utility man Jonathan Spector has signed a new three-year contract
with West Ham United, according to reports. The Illinois-born player, who
has been ruled out since April with a hip injury, has signed an extension to
his current deal and will now remain at Upton Park until June 2011.
Initially brought to England by Manchester United, Spector spent a season on
loan at Charlton Athletic before joining the Hammers in the summer of 2006.
Since then, he has made 55 appearances for the Irons, 22 of which have come
as a substitute. However, the 22-year-old's short career has been blighted
by injury, with a torn labrum keeping him out of the Olympic Games in
Beijing in August. But, despite that frustration, Spector is not rushing
back before he is completely confident of his fitness. "Obviously, it gets
tougher and tougher each week you're out," Spector told ESPN Soccernet. "It
gets more frustrating because all you want to be doing is playing. But when
you're out for that length of time, one week here or there you're not going
to take a big risk unless you're completely comfortable -- because in the
big picture, an extra week isn't make-or-break." Spector, who has filled in
at full-back, centre-half and in defensive midfield for the Londoners, is
now aiming to become a "maintstay" in Gianfranco Zola's side. And the
American, who has yet to feature under the Italian, believes the former
Chelsea star will arrest the East Enders' current struggles and lead them to
Premier League safety this season. "He's had an impact on the club since
he's returned to English football, and I think it's a positive impact,"
Spector added. "I know the results as of late haven't been what we want, but
just in terms of the way the team is playing, I think we're playing much
better football, and I think that in the long run it's going to pay off."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers slump to bottom of table
10:14am Monday 17th November 2008
Echo
By Rob Pritchard »
WEST Ham United's Under-18 side slumped back to the bottom of the Premier
Academy League South table following a 2-1 defeat at Charlton Athletic. The
Irons, who have won just one of their nine league matches so far, were
gifted an own goal by their hosts but it was not enough to prevent the
Addicks sending Tony Carr's side to a fourth defeat. Carr's youngsters
return to action at Fulham on Saturday morning (11am kick-off).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Robert Green keen on England
This Is London
Robert Green believes his first clean sheet of the season will be a huge
boost for West Ham and his own chances of playing in goal for England again.
Green did enough to help earn the Hammers a 0-0 draw against Portsmouth on
Saturday but not enough to win a recall for the friendly with Germany. He
said: "It's motivation enough to be playing for West Ham. I just have to
keep trying and plugging away, doing what I think is right, saying the same
old things, doing the same old stuff. It's the ugly side which hopefully
will get you a chance. "A 'keeper keeping clean sheets is just the same as a
striker scoring goals. If, with the rest of the defence, you can keep out
the opposition, you feel you've done half the job."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Alan Curbishley opts for tribunal over West Ham departure
By Simon Mullock, sundaymirror.co.uk 16/11/2008
Curbs Turns To Tribunal Alan Curbishley's bid to win £1million compensation
from West Ham over his departure from Upton Park will be heard by a Premier
League tribunal. Curbishley is claiming constructive dismissal after
quitting Upton Park in September over disagreements about the club's
transfer policy. Both Curbishley and West Ham have agreed that the dispute
should be settled outside the courtroom. And the former Charlton boss has
posted a £5,000 bond with the Premier League so that an independent tribunal
can be set up to hear his claim.
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Brooking lined up for West Ham return
17.11.08 | tribalfootball.com
Trevor Brooking could be on his way back to West Ham United. The People
says Brooking will be offered a shock return to the West Ham United board.
Brooking is likely to leave his post as the FA's director of football
development after an outspoken attack on the funding of youth football. And
Hammers chiefs want him back at Upton Park, where under-fire manager
Gianfranco Zola could benefit from his wealth of experience. A return could
put sporting director Gianluca Nani under pressure although there is no
suggestion his job is under threat yet.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Zola "really pleased" with Sears
17.11.08 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola insists he was happy with Freddie Sears,
despite hooking him at halftime of Saturday's 0-0 draw with Portsmouth. He
told whufc.com: "I'm really pleased with him. We try to give him some
individual work but he sees the opportunity and he's working very hard in
training sessions and his attitude is excellent. In the training sessions we
are working a lot with the ball and this is making him sharp and improving
him. "It's all down to him, he's seen the opportunity and he's taken it. He
has a future as long as he keeps the right attitude in that sometimes he
won't play. If he can keep positive then he will have a bright future. "
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham's Quashie wants Birmingham deal
17.11.08 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham midfielder Nigel Quashie wants to stay with Birmingham City.
Quashie marked his final game on-loan at Brum by being sent off, but said
after the 3-2 defeat of Charlton: "I've enjoyed being with the club and
cannot thank people enough. Most of all I have loved being back playing
after missing out last season with injury. I want to stay at Birmingham and
be a part of their promotion challenge. I think we have everything needed to
win this division. "It was frustrating to be sent off for a second offence
when I might have had my leg broken twice in first-half tackles so I was
delighted, and relieved, by the way my 10 team-mates responded to the
challenge."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Green: West Ham will avoid relegation scrap
17.11.08 | tribalfootball.com
After their 0-0 draw with Portsmouth, West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green
declared they would avoid the relegation scrap this season. Green, 28, said:
"I've been sick of people reminding us that we've not kept a clean sheet for
goodness knows how long. "It's good to get that monkey off our back. It's
the same as a striker with goals, if I keep clean sheets I know I've done
the job. "You get sick of letting goals in, even when there has not been a
lack of effort. This clean sheet was far too long in waiting. "I am
confident we will avoid a relegation fight. We have not had the best runs
but I am sure we can go forward."
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