WHUFC.com
Tony Carr was happy with his Under-18 side's showing in the 1-1 draw with
Cardiff on Saturday
23.03.2009
Academy director Tony Carr was pleased with his young West Ham United side
after they gained a valuable 1-1 FA Premier Academy League draw with Cardiff
City at Little Heath on Saturday.
With a number of Under-18 regulars involved in last Tuesday's Barclays
Premier Reserve League South fixture with Aston Villa, Carr was again
required to call upon a number of Under-16 players in defenders Miles Smith,
Callum Driver and Sergio Sanchez as well as England Under-16 striker Robert
Hall, who was named among the substitutes.
The quartet all performed well as the Hammers took a first half lead through
Conor Okus - one of eight Under-18s to appear against Villa at Bishop's
Stortford - before a more experienced Cardiff team hit back to equalise
after the break. Despite losing their lead, however, Carr was proud of his
players.
"It was a good point for us. We led through a goal from Conor Okus after 30
minutes and looked in little danger of conceding but, with them being a
little bit older and stronger than us, as the game wore on they took control
and scored an equaliser. We had three schoolboys in the back-four and
another 15-year-old who came on as a substitute in Robert Hall. We were
definitely inexperienced compared to Cardiff and, taking that into
consideration, I was very pleased with the result.
"I think the younger players have come in with a bit of a spring in their
step and it has been a bit more of a challenge for them. With the older
lads, they have a lot more reserve team commitments now and for people like
Ollie Lee, Danny Kearns, Conor Okus and Georg Grasser, this was their third
game in a week after playing in the reserves against Aston Villa in midweek.
Certainly the young lads are equipping themselves very well and preparing
themselves well for next year."
West Ham United's youth team return to action with a trip to MK Dons this
Saturday, while many of Carr's young charges can also expect to receive the
call to represent Alex Dyer's reserve side in next Monday's trip to Stoke
City.
West Ham United Under-18: Loveday, Smith, McNaughton, Sanchez, Driver,
Kearns (Edgar 55), Lee, Grasser (Hall 65), Okus, Montano, Abdulla (Bajner
65).
Subs not used: Street, Craig
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Noble marks milestone
WHUFC.com
Mark Noble celebrated his 100th appearance for West Ham United with a goal
against Blackburn Rovers
23.03.2009
Mark Noble's superbly-taken goal at Ewood Park on Saturday came at a
particularly happy time both professionally and personally.
On the pitch, the midfielder marked his 100th appearance in claret and blue
with a goal against Blackburn and has again been named in Stuart Pearce's
England Under-21 squad. Off it, Noble is celebrating too after becoming a
father for the first time earlier this month. With so much going on, it is
easy to forget that Noble is still only 21-years-old.
"Someone told me that I was the longest-serving player at West Ham now and I
am only 21," Noble said. "It is quite a nice thing to get on the scoresheet
in my 100th game and I am very happy with that, although I am a little bit
disappointed that we didn't came away with the three points."
Noble scored his fifth goal of the season after starting and finishing a
sweeping West Ham United move that began inside their own half and also
involved Luis Boa Morte and Diego Tristan.
"I have not seen it yet but someone else said to me 'What a finish'. It was
without outside of my boot. I lost the ball down this end and I was so
desperate to get it back that I won it and it seemed like I was running
forward forever. It was a great move after Luis made a good run and I
managed to put him though. He cut the ball back for Diego and he could not
get a shot in so he laid it off to me and to be fair it was the only option
I had on to try and do that. It comes off once in 50 attempts and it did,"
Noble said.
It was a goal similar in style to that of Carlton Cole's winner at Wigan
Athletic earlier this month and Noble believes the two strikes are
indicative of the style of football Gianfranco Zola is trying to get his
team to play.
"I think that a lot of people are commenting on the way that we are playing
and scoring goals recently and our passing. In the second half we will say
that we got bombarded with throw ins and free-kicks, they threw everything
at us but we stood firm and Scotty [Scott Parker], Specs [Jonathan Spector],
and [James] Tomkins all made some unbelievable blocks. That will be needed
going into the end of the season."
Noble demonstrated his adaptability by slotting into a central midfield role
as Zola switched to a 4-3-2-1 formation for the game, after wide-man Savio
was ruled out with a knee injury.
"I was playing more central today and I really liked that. Obviously with
the injuries we have had and the other things I have had to play a few
different roles. I was playing out of position sometimes and I just stuck
with it and the hard work paid off. It is nice to get on the scoresheet and
it is nice to go away and get a point."
The Canning Town-born youngster has had a successful season thus far, with
the five goals scored nearly doubling his total goal haul for the Hammers,
which now at stands at eleven. Noble feels a lot of the credit for his
improvement must go to his Italian manager.
"When you have got respect for a manager like Zola, you will [play anywhere
for him]. He treats you the right way and that is why I am happy to do that.
I felt really comfortable and thought I was playing as I know I can play.
"The manager always says that he will keep faith in me. I started off so
well then I got a calf injury. Then I started playing well and hit a dip in
form, and I don't know what caused that. It happens to players. Hopefully I
am starting to pick up again for the rest of the season."
Noble played his part in resilient defensive display as the home side
repeatedly propelled long balls into the West Ham penalty area and, bar
Keith Andrews' strike seven minutes after half-time, the Hammers stood
strong. The West Ham No16 believes that kind of dogged performance
demonstrates how the team are evolving this season and it could help lay the
foundations for a UEFA Europa League place come the end of the campaign.
"Maybe six months ago we would have lost that game. So it shows that we are
determined and we can score goals and get points. If we play the way we are,
Coley [Carlton Cole] will be back next time which is important, and if we
can carry on I am sure that we will sit firmly in seventh at the end of the
season."
For now, though, Noble must meet up with his international team-mates again
as the Under-21s continue their preparations for the UEFA European Under-21
finals in Sweden this summer with two friendlies against Norway and France
over the coming ten days.
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Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Gianfranco Zola has called on his West Ham United players to make a final
push for a European place
23.03.2009
Gianfranco Zola may have a depleted squad to work with this week and next
because of international commitments but the focus remains one last big
effort to secure a spot in next season's UEFA Europa League.
West Ham Uited moved to within seven points of sixth-placed Everton with a
1-1 Premier League draw at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday and, with European
qualification set to go down to seventh in the table, Zola's Hammers have a
real chance of booking their passage to the continent.
The manager has set his team a target of reaching 52 points - a tally he
believes could be enough to finish in the top-seven - and with a home
fixture against Sunderland to follow the international break, West Ham can
move to within eight points of that number with a victory over the Black
Cats.
With defenders Matthew Upson and James Collins and forwards Savio, Kieron
Dyer and Carlton Cole - who has completed a two-match suspension - all set
to be available for the visit of Ricky Sbragia's side, Zola knows a win will
be well within the grasp on Saturday 4 April.
"It would be a massive achievement [to qualify for Europe]. All my pleasure
would be for the players. You see them on a Saturday but I see them every
day and the way they work is unbelievable and they deserve to get their
reward and reaching Europe would be a big achievement and a big result for
them."
Any success against Sunderland will be based on the defensive strength that
was so clearly evident at Ewood Park. There, captain Lucas Neill - who
performed superbly against his former club - and central defensive partner
James Tomkins produced admirably brave performances in repelling Blackburn's
aerial threat.
While Rovers dominated for long periods - particularly after half-time -
Neill and Tomkins threw themselves in front of a succession of long throws
from Morten Gamst Pedersen and shots on goal from strikers Benni McCarthy
and Jason Roberts. Zola was understandably delighted with his defenders'
resolve.
"I'm really happy, certainly happier than [Blackburn manager] Sam
[Allardyce] I suppose. But it was a tough match considering all the problems
that we have injury-wise with big players. I consider it a very good result.
"The players are strong. If you see some of the defending Scott Parker or
Lucas Neill did, you will see they have a passion for what they are doing.
They really care so it's making the difference.
"James has been excellent. He doesn't look like he's 19-years-old. He looks
like a veteran and I'm very, very pleased about him and he's improving. The
whole team, including Lucas Neill and Jonathan Spector, were massive. The
team is looking very well."
Fifa 09
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Kovac and Spector called up
WHUFC.com
Radoslav Kovac and Jonathan Spector will both be representing their
countries over the coming ten days
23.03.2009
West Ham United midfielder Radoslav Kovac has been named in the Czech
Republic squad for their forthcoming FIFA 2010 World Cup qualifier against
Slovenia on Saturday 28 March.
The on-loan Spartak Moscow man, who has made five appearances since his
temporary move from Russia at the end of January, will hope to add to his
tally of 29 caps and two goals for his country at the Petrol Arena in Celje.
The Czechs will also host Slovakia at the Sparta Stadium in Prague on
Wednesday 1 April, with Petr Rada's squad planning to improve their current
position of fourth in European Qualifying Group Three.
Meanwhile, defender Jonathan Spector is back in the United States squad for
their own World Cup qualifiers against El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago.
The 23-year-old, who has 12 caps, will be hoping to feature as Bob Bradley's
team continue their bid to reach South Africa by taking on El Salvador at
the Estadio Cuscatlan on Saturday before returning home to host Trinidad and
Tobago at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee next Wednesday.
The United States have played just one of their ten CONCACAF Final Round
qualifiers, beating Sven Goran Eriksson's Mexico 2-0 in Columbus, Ohio on 11
February.
Hammers captain Lucas Neill will lead Australia into their Asian Round Four
Group A qualifier against Uzbekistan at Stadium Australia in Sydney on 1
April. The Socceroos go into the fixture two points clear of Japan at the
top of their five-team group. Should they finish in the top two, Australia
will qualify for their second consecutive World Cup finals.
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Noble - I'll play anywhere
Hammers midfielder willing to play in any position for manager
By Richard Bailey Last updated: 23rd March 2009
SSN
Mark Noble has revealed that he has so much respect for his West Ham manager
Gianfranco Zola that he would be willing to play anywhere for him. The
England Under-21 international has been asked to play in a wider role on the
right-hand side at times this season but revelled in his favoured central
midfield berth against Blackburn on Saturday. The 21-year-old marked his
100th appearance for the club by scoring his fifth goal of the season as the
Hammers secured a 1-1 draw at Ewood Park. Noble admits that his admiration
for his manager comes after the Italian stood by him after his form dipped
shortly after returning from injury earlier in the season. "When you have
got respect for a manager like Zola, you will (play anywhere for him)," he
told the club's official website. "He treats you the right way and that is
why I am happy to do that. I felt really comfortable and thought I was
playing as I know I can play. "The manager always says that he will keep
faith in me. I started off so well then I got a calf injury. "Then I started
playing well and hit a dip in form, and I don't know what caused that. It
happens to players. "Hopefully I am starting to pick up again for the rest
of the season."
Ever since he took over at Upton Park back in September, former Chelsea star
Zola has tried to instil his football ethos on the team and now the Hammers
are reaping dividends. Their free-flowing football that has been so evident
in recent months has been praised by fans and critics alike but Noble
insists that it was their ability to do the dirty work which helped them
take a point at the weekend. "I think a lot of people are commenting on the
way that we are playing and scoring goals recently and our passing," he
added. "In the second half we will say we got bombarded with throw-ins and
free-kicks, they threw everything at us but we stood firm. "Scotty (Scott
Parker), Specs (Jonathan Spector) and (James) Tomkins all made some
unbelievable blocks. "That will be needed going into the end of the season."
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True grit can keep West Ham on course for Europe, says Mark Noble
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 11:51 AM on 23rd March 2009
Daily Mail
Mark Noble believes West Ham's doggedness is the reason behind their surge
up the table. The Hammers midfielder marked his 100th appearance for the
club with a fine goal to open the scoring against Blackburn at Ewood Park.
But after Keith Andrews equalised for the hosts, Gianfranco Zola's side had
to deal with a 40-minute barrage of high balls into their box. Even without
England man Matthew Upson, they repelled everything with Lucas Neill and
youngster James Tomkins both outstanding in the 1-1 draw. It was the kind of
stubborn display that is not normally associated with the Hammers and Noble
admits that they might have imploded under such pressure even earlier this
season. They have lost just five away matches but with Carlton Cole back
from suspension, Noble thinks Zola's men will be able to fight off Fulham
and Spurs to keep hold of seventh place and possible European football next
season. The 21-year-old said: 'We have a lot of problems with injuries. We
are battling hard and picking up points and maybe six months ago we would
have lost that game. So it shows that we are determined and we can score
goals and get points. 'If we play the way we are, Carlton Cole will be back
next time which is important, and if we can carry on I am sure that we will
sit firmly in seventh.'
Also famed for his flair, the increasingly mean attitude of his team has
also been noted by Zola. He said: 'Players like Scott Parker and Lucas
Neill, they really have passion for what they're doing and they really care.
'They gave everything and that's making the difference between this team and
the past.' Another bonus for Zola was an impressive 10-minute cameo from
Kieron Dyer at Ewood Park . The midfielder, 30, has been out since January
with a calf problem and has made just four Premier League appearances since
joining the Hammers from Newcastle in the summer of 2007. Zola is hoping to
be able to give Dyer longer against Sunderland and feels he can have a
considerable impact. He added: 'He was brilliant and I'm very pleased for
him because he's a player who can make a big difference. 'He played for 10
minutes but he will have two weeks to prepare properly and might play a
little bit more. It is important to have him back.'
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West Ham compete with Everton for Sporting Lisbon's Moutinho
23.03.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United are joining the race for unsettled Sporting Lisbon
midfielder Joao Moutinho. The People says Portugal international Moutinho,
21, likely to cost about £8million, is a long-term target for Everton.
Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola wants to improve the quality and quantity of
his squad, particularly if West Ham manage to secure in UEFA'S new Europa
League.
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West Ham boss Zola chasing Fulham skipper Murphy
23.03.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola is chasing Fulham captain Danny Murphy.
The People says sources close to the former England man claim he will move
in the summer - with the Hammers hot favourites. Zola fears Scott Parker
could be tempted away by a big money move in the next window, although West
Ham would be happy to have both in their squad. Murphy has an automatic
one-year extension at Craven Cottage after playing a certain number of
games, but at 32 is looking for long-term security.
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Green to win improved West Ham contract
23.03.09 | tribalfootball.com
Robert Green is set to win a new contract with West Ham United. The People
says Green, 29, will be offered improved terms on his £25,000-a-week Upton
Park deal to ward off any summer bids.
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Prove yourself Faubert, urges Mijatovic
by Laurent Picard , 23 March 2009
setanta.co.uk
Real Madrid sporting director Predrag Mijatovic has backed Julien Faubert to
prove himself. French midfielder Faubert, who was signed by the Spanish
champions on a loan deal from West Ham during the January transfer window,
is yet to establish himself at the Santiago Bernabeu. The versatile player
has only appeared for 55 minutes so far in the Primera Liga, but Mijatovic
has backed him to prove he is good enough to wear the prestigious Merengue
shirt. The sporting director has defended his decision and backed the
one-time France international to prove his detractors wrong. Mijatovic told
Marca: "We needed to strengthen our midfield. "We enquired about several
players and finally opted for Julien Faubert. "We thought he's the best one
on our list. "He still has a few weeks left to prove he is capable of
playing here."
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PREMIER LEAGUE - WEST HAM
NOBLE HAILS HAMMERS FIGHTING SPIRIT
ComeOnBoro.com; Mon 23 Mar 2009
Midfielder Mark Noble believes West Ham's battling spirit is keeping them in
the chase for Europe. Noble capped a century of appearances for the Hammers
by opening the scoring against Blackburn at Ewood Park on Saturday. But
after Keith Andrews levelled the scores, Gianfranco Zola's side managed to
hang on for a 1-1 draw despite being bombarded with high balls into their
box for almost all of the second half. Even without England defender Matthew
Upson, West Ham's stubborn rearguard withstood everything Rovers could throw
at them, with Lucas Neill and James Tomkins putting in first-class displays.
It was the not the kind of hard-fought performance usually associated with
the Hammers and Noble admits they would probably have collapsed under such
pressure earlier in the season. Zola's side have lost five away matches but
with Carlton Cole back from suspension, Noble insists West Ham can beat
Wigan, Manchester City, Fulham and Spurs to seventh and European football
next season. "We have a lot of problems with injuries," said the
21-year-old. "We are battling hard and picking up points and maybe six
months ago we would have lost that game. "So it shows that we are determined
and we can score goals and get points. "If we play the way we are - Carlton
Cole will be back next time which is important - and if we can carry on I am
sure that we will sit firmly in seventh."
Zola's flair as a player has not transferred to his management style and
even the softly spoken Italian has noted the mean streak in his team.
"Players like Scott Parker and Lucas Neill, they really have passion for
what they're doing and they really care," said Zola. "They gave everything
and that's making the difference between this team and the past."
Another plus for the West Ham coach was the return of Kieron Dyer for an
impressive 10 minutes. The 30-year-old midfielder has been sidelined for two
months with a calf injury and has made just four top-flight appearances
since he joined the club from Newcastle two years ago. Zola added: "He was
brilliant and I'm very pleased for him because he's a player who can make a
big difference. "He played for 10 minutes but he will have two weeks to
prepare properly and might play a little bit more. It is important to have
him back."
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Wolves add Harewood to strikeforce for promotion push
Former West Ham player joins until the end of the season
Striker has started only one league game this season
Howard Swains guardian.co.uk, Monday 23 March 2009 17.11 GMT
The Aston Villa striker Marlon Harewood has signed for Wolverhampton
Wanderers on loan until the end of the season. The 29-year-old has struggled
for first team opportunities at Villa since his move from West Ham United
for £4m in the summer of 2007, but will now join Wolves' late-season push
for promotion from the Championship. Harewood has made only one start for
Villa this season, but has scored 22 goals in 98 appearances in the top
flight. He has also previously played for Nottingham Forest and had a brief
loan spell at Ipswich Town. Wolves are five points clear at the top of the
Championship and have scored 71 times in the league this season. The loan
window for football league clubs expires on Thursday.
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Green urges West Ham pal Dyer not to overdo it
24.03.09 | tribalfootball.com
Robert Green is urging West Ham United teammate Kieron Dyer not to overdo
things in his latest comeback. Midfielder Dyer, 30, looked impressive during
a brief cameo appearance at Blackburn on Saturday. But Green insisted: "We
aren't going to be asking him to charge about."
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