WHUFC.com
Carlton Cole, Craig Bellamy and Diego Tristan are all eager to make their
mark at Fratton Park
25.12.2008
Gianfranco Zola heads to Portsmouth with his team on Boxing Day backing his
strikers to fire the goals to extend the club's unbeaten run away from home
to five matches.
The squad trained on Christmas Day and all will travel to the south coast in
good spirits but with a determination to find the back of the net. As well
as the positive mood in the camp, there is the welcome news that Kieron Dyer
is pushing for a return. The manager said: "Kieron has been training very
hard and he's going to a different level. There might be a be possibility to
play in the FA Cup against Barnsley. We are trying everything to get him
fitter quickly."
Zola - who also has James Collins, Valon Behrami and Scott Parker in his
travelling party - has devoted extra time to his strikeforce this week but
has said they should not feel under any extra pressure - especially because
of the bright individual and team play of late that leads him to believe the
goals will come. "The important thing is to keep confident and keep working.
My strikers obviously feel like they want to do more. The only way they can
do that is to carry on working and believe in themselves. If they lose that
self-belief it makes it very difficult."
As well as Carlton Cole and Craig Bellamy who have led the line recently,
Zola has Diego Tristan itching to make an impact - especially after the
Spanish striker's two-goal show alongside fellow goalscorer Freddie Sears
for the reserves a fortnight ago. "Diego is one of the players that I've got
at my disposal," the manager said. "I was waiting for him to get a bit
fitter than he was but I knew it would be a bit of time. Now he is much
better and he will get his opportunity soon."
On the subject of awaydays, Zola is expecting the same approach the team had
in earning draws at Anfield and Stamford Bridge this month while he has
praised the players for their performance at home against Aston Villa, even
if the end result was not forthcoming. "We played against Liverpool away and
Chelsea away, games which weren't easy for us but we did it. Against
Portsmouth it depends on how we perform and if we can continue to perform as
we have done then we're likely to get a good result. It is down to us."
While Zola is focused on his squad, he has also updated on the progress of
Dean Ashton - "probably the best finisher in the team" who continues to work
on a personal programme as well as becoming more involved with the squad.
"He is very positive. He is progressing very well but we can't say when he
is back, it is too soon. These things are down to the subject, how he reacts
and improves. So far he is doing very well but I don't think it is a short
thing. I don't think we'll have him in January or February."
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Collison wants points return
WHUFC.com
Jack Collison is looking at the festive fixture programme as a chance to
move up the table
25.12.2008
Jack Collison was just one of the West Ham United players training at the
Boleyn Ground on Christmas Day in preparation for the Boxing Day trip to
Portsmouth.
Collison believes the mood in the camp is good and the squad are looking at
the busy schedule as an opportunity to get some points on the board. The
Welsh international said: "The boys were a bit down after the Aston Villa
game but the gaffer said that we've got two games in three days where we can
get four or maybe even six points so we can turn it around and push
ourselves up the table.
"We're going to go into those games looking to get as many points as we can.
We're performing really well away from home and we'll go to Portsmouth
looking to get all three points and then turn things around at home."
West Ham United are unbeaten in four on the road and the 20-year-old says
the team have been focused on extending that run at Fratton Park. "The boys
are trying and giving it their all. We just need a bit of luck and it will
turn around. We've got the capabilities to string some results together over
the Christmas period and move up the table," he said.
The midfielder has enjoyed a fruitful 2008 so far. After making his debut
against Arsenal on the first day of the year, Collison scored his first goal
in claret and blue on his home debut against Everton in November. "When I'm
out there I really enjoy it and that's what the manager tells me to do.
Playing in the Premier League is brilliant so whenever I'm out on the pitch
I try to enjoy it and do my best for my team."
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Merry Christmas!
WHUFC.com
Christmas wishes from all at the club
25.12.2008
The players, management and staff at West Ham United wish you all a very
merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
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Hammers dealt Ashton injury blow
BBC.co.uk
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola says he could be without Dean Ashton until
April as the striker continues to recover from a long-term ankle injury. The
25-year-old picked up the knock in training and has been out since September
after undergoing surgery. Zola said: "I don't think we will have him back in
January or February, but I hope soon. "I can't say whether he will be back
in March, April, February... it depends how he progresses." The Londoners
have scored only five goals in their past 12 matches and are 17th in the
Premier League table - one point above the relegation zone. Zola said he was
pleased with Ashton's progress but insisted he would not be rushed back into
the team. "This is the season so far," added Zola. "I've lost him, probably
the best finisher in the team. "He had an operation and will wait a couple
of months before we can assess him. He is progressing very well. "These
things are down to the subject, how he reacts and improves. "He had
something causing problems with the cartilage in his ankle but because of
his previous injuries it couldn't be a quick thing because they don't want
to do any more damage." "I've had problems at the club and so many things
going on. But we'll face it all and we'll come through because we are
strong." Since breaking his ankle in August 2006, Ashton has been plagued by
injuries. He signed a new five-year deal with West Ham in June shortly after
winning his first England cap in the friendly against Trinidad & Tobago.
Ashton, who scored 11 goals last season, joined West Ham from Norwich for
£7.25m in January 2006 and helped the club to the FA Cup final, where they
lost on penalties to Liverpool. His performances that season earned him an
England call-up for the friendly with Greece in August 2006. But he broke
his ankle in training for that game and missed the whole of the 2006-07
season, and also suffered injuries during the 2007-08 campaign.
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Portsmouth v West Ham
PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Fratton Park Date: Friday, 26 December
Kick-off: 1300 GMT
Coverage: BBC Radio Solent 96.1FM and Hants DAB, updates on BBC Radio 5
Live, BBC Sport website & highlights on Match of the Day
BBC.co.uk
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Portsmouth will again be without Glenn Johnson after the England defender
has suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee injury during training.
Midfielder John Utaka (hamstring) and defender Younes Kaboul (ankle) are
fit.
West Ham's Valon Behrami should be over a back problem and come into
contention while Scott Parker is expected to recover from a muscle problem.
Matthew Etherington (virus) and James Collins (calf) are also in line to
return to the squad.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Portsmouth (from): James, Pamarot, Distin, Campbell, Belhadj, Kranjcar,
Davis, Hughes, A Traore, Defoe, Crouch, Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Mvuemba, Kanu,
Nugent, Wilson, Utaka, D Traore.
West Ham (from): Green, Neill, Davenport, Upson, Ilunga, Collison, Noble,
Parker, Behrami, Etherington, Bellamy, Cole, Tristan, Mullins, Bowyer,
Lastuvka, Boa Morte, Faubert, Di Michele.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Portsmouth manager Tony Adams: We have to cut out the silly defensive
mistakes and get back to keeping clean sheets and making ourselves hard to
beat.
"I am not going to lie to anyone. To go 2-0 down in three minutes as we did
at Bolton on Saturday is unforgivable and we have been beating ourselves
with some of the goals we have conceded. "I would like nothing more than two
1-0 wins from our two Christmas games."
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Harry confirms Bellamy bid
Spurs move for Hammers star
Last updated: 26th December 2008
SSN
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has confirmed to Sky Sports that he wants
Craig Bellamy. Spurs are believed to have had an initial bid of £6million
turned down for the West Ham striker, who is being tracked by a host of
clubs. Tottenham are understood to be continuing talks with The Hammers,
although Redknapp admits he does not know where their bid currently stands.
"I like Craig Bellamy," Redknapp told Sky Sports News as his side trained in
preparation for their Boxing Day clash with Fulham. "It apparently came out
an offer was turned down so I don't know where we go from here. "We're
looking round a few players and he's certainly one of them." Redknapp looks
to have plenty of funds available to him - but he insists they will not pay
over the odds for anyone. "I think British clubs will loan players out, with
the current situation they will look to get players off their wage bill,"
Redknapp said. "If we can't get the players I think will improve the squad,
then I won't bring in anybody. I'm not going to load us up with players that
aren't better than we've got."
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Ashton misery continues
More time on sidelines for striker
Last updated: 26th December 2008
SSN
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola admits he does not know when Dean Ashton will
be ready to return to action. The England striker has been sidelined with an
ankle injury, but he was expected to be back in first-team reckoning early
in the New Year. However, Zola concedes that he may even miss the rest of
the season. "He had an operation and we'll wait a couple of months before we
can assess him," said the Hammers boss. "He is progressing very well.
"These things are down to the subject, how he reacts and improves. I don't
think we'll have him in January or February, but I hope soon. "He was due to
start running on the treadmill and doing rehab with personal physio. "I
spoke to him a couple of days ago and he's happy with the progress. "I can't
say whether he'll be back in March, April, February... it depends how he
progresses. I don't know honestly, it is impossible to say so soon. "He had
something causing problems with the cartilage in his ankle but because of
his previous injuries it couldn't be a quick thing because they don't want
to do any more damage."
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Former Chelsea midfielder Dalla Bona eyes West Ham switch By Sportsmail
Reporter
Last updated at 10:27 AM on 26th December 2008
Daily Mail
Sam Dalla Bona admits he would jump at the chance to link-up again with
Gianfranco Zola at West Ham. The former Chelsea midfielder has been told he
can leave Italian side Napoli in the January transfer window. And Dalla
Bona, aged 28, is targeting a cut-price return to the Premier League. He
told the Mirror: 'Chelsea is still in my heart and I am following my former
team-mates Frank Lampard and John Terry. 'But in that squad there was also
Gianfranco Zola and I would like to work again with him at West Ham. He is a
great man.'
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Tottenham fail in £6m attempt to lure Bellamy from cash-strapped Hammers
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 8:51 PM on 25th December 2008
Daily Mail
Tottenham have reportedly had a £6 million bid for striker Craig Bellamy
turned down by West Ham. The Hammers are rumored to be open to offers for
all their players because of the financial problems facing their Icelandic
owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, but they had dismissed Spurs' offer for
Bellamy. Tottenham need another striker to compete with Darren Bent, Roman
Pavlyuchenko and Fraizer Campbell. Pavlyuchenko cannot play for the club in
the UEFA Cup and Campbell is only on loan from Manchester United. Tottenham
would be Bellamy's eighth club in eight years following spells with
Liverpool, Blackburn, Celtic, Newcastle, Coventry and Norwich. The Wales
international, who is unpopular with many fans for his fiery temper, has
scored four goals in 22 Premier League matches for West Ham.
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Upson for sale: West Ham clear-out puts Zola on collision
course with the board
By Chris Wheeler
Last updated at 7:39 PM on 25th December 2008
Daily Mail
England defender Matthew Upson has been put up for sale by West Ham — news
that will anger manager Gianfranco Zola and place huge strain on the
relationship with his board. Upson's name has been circulated to Barclays
Premier League rivals and, with Craig Bellamy also expected to leave when
the transfer window opens on January 1, it leaves the relegation-haunted
Hammers facing an uncertain future. They have rejected a £6million offer
from Tottenham for Bellamy but will take around £10m for the Wales striker,
who is expected to join Manchester City. A similar bid would also be enough
to land Upson, although West Ham are hoping
for £12m for the 29-year-old. Zola said this week the club had given him
assurances his star players would not be sold and warned he would be very
unhappy if the board broke their word. But news of Upson's availability
underlines the financial crisis facing his employers.
Owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson's business empire has been crumbling since the
Icelandic bank he controlled collapsed in October. Gudmundsson is trying to
sell the club he bought for £85m two years ago but has been struggling to
find a buyer at his £250m valuation and is believed to be ready to accept a
knockdown figure of £150m. He knows potential buyers could be put off by the
threat of a compensation pay-out to Sheffield United of up to £50m over the
Carlos Tevez affair. In addition, Zola's predecessor Alan Curbishley is
claiming £3m for the two years he had left on his contract when he quit in
September. Robert Green, Scott Parker and Valon Behrami are also expected to
attract interest. Striker Dean Ashton has been ruled out until March, which
limits Zola's attacking options. He will hope to be given some funds from
the inevitable sales.
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Sam Dalla Bona keen on West Ham switch - Exclusive 26/12/2008
The Mirror
Former Chelsea midfielder Sam Dalla Bona is desperate to link up again with
Gianfranco Zola at West Ham. Dalla Bona, 28, will be allowed to leave Napoli
in January and is targeting a cut-price return to the Premier League and is
still a big admirer of former Chelsea team-mate Zola. Hammers boss Zola is
bracing himself for a fire sale at Upton Park, leaving him looking at
cut-price replacements. Dalla Bona said: "I would love to come back to the
Premier League - that can motivate any player.
"Chelsea is still in my heart and I am following my former team-mates Frank
Lampard and John Terry. "But in that squad there was also Gianfranco Zola
and I would like to work again with him at West Ham. He is a great man."
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Newcastle must up bid to land West Ham's Upson
26.12.08 | tribalfootball.com
Newcastle United will compete for West Ham defender Matthew Upson in
January. The Journal says with a host of other clubs also interested in
Upson, who has cemented his place in the England squad this season and is
now pushing for a regular starting berth, West Ham are asking a high price.
Newcastle are thought to have offered in the region of £5m-£6m for the
29-year-old but the Hammers are believed to be holding out for nearer double
that. The Londoners may eventually have to lower their price if all Upson's
suitors stand firm, but the early indications are that Kinnear may need his
executive director (football) Dennis Wise to explore other alternatives.
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West Ham striker Ashton off to USA
26.12.08 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United striker Dean Ashton is on his way to the USA. Ankle injury
victim Ashton has been out all season following a freak training ground
accident. But he has just started light running after surgery to give him
full movement in the joint. Ashton, 25, hopes an intensive spell of rehab in
the States can get him back in action by March.
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Man City to beat Spurs for West Ham's Bellamy
26.12.08 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United are ready to sell Craig Bellamy for £10 million. The Daily
Mail says they have rejected a £6million offer from Tottenham for Bellamy
but will take around £10m for the Wales striker, who is expected to join
Manchester City.
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