WHUFC.com
Alex Dyer was happy with his reserve side's effort in their final game of
the season with Portsmouth
22.04.2009
Alex Dyer was full of praise for the performance of his young reserve side
as they suffered the heartache of conceding a last-minute goal in the 1-0
defeat to Portsmouth.
West Ham United had plenty of chances of their own, with stand-in captain
Zavon Hines going close several times, but were made to pay when Theofanis
Gekas' deflected shot beat Peter Kurucz with just seconds remaining. Despite
the late setback, Dyer was keen to draw on the plusses and commended the
manner in which his side, which included just two players out of their
teens, approached the game.
"It was a great performance, to be fair. The lads worked hard, especially in
the second half. They came out and the tempo was good to their game.
"We said a couple of things to them at half-time and they produced in the
second half. We created three-or-four good chances. Zavon Hines has done
well this year but it just wasn't his night."
Portsmouth's goal was a cruel way for Dyer's side to finish their season,
but the reserve team manager said the manner of the defeat will just add to
the players' valuable experience.
"It was just the way the game was that they had one chance, and it wasn't
really a chance. They had a shot and it's got a deflection and gone in, but
that's the reality of life.
"Hopefully they will learn from it. They were disappointed, the boys,
because they wanted to win. It was the last game and they gave their all.
They ran and they worked hard and they passed the ball well. It was just not
their night at the end."
The reserves season started with several senior players lining up for Dyer's
side, but as some have moved on and injuries have taken their toll on the
first-team squad, Dyer has called upon the latest batch of Academy graduates
to represent the reserves. The youngsters have not disappointed and Dyer has
been delighted with their application while under his tutorship.
"The young lads who have come up during the second part of the season have
really worked hard and have shown the quality that they have got at times.
Sometimes they are a bit naïve because they are young but, overall, I've
been pleased with them."
"They have worked very hard and moved the ball and done the things that
we've asked them to do in the games and in training."
Dyer was appointed reserve team manager earlier this season after Kevin
Keen's promotion to first-team coach. The former Hull City, Crystal Palace
and Barnet defender says he has enjoyed the experience of taking charge of
West Ham's second string under the stewardship of the first team coaching
staff.
"I'm very grateful to have the opportunity to work at this level. The senior
lads who have come into the reserves at the start of the season worked hard
and played well for the club. It is difficult when you come and play reserve
football sometimes, but they are good professionals and they worked hard.
"For me, it's been very easy to do this job. The management team have looked
after us and I'd like to thank them for helping us - the gaffer, Steve
Clarke and Kevin Keen have been great. They've given me all the support I've
needed to do the job to the best of my abilities."
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Dyer prepared for Chelsea
WHUFC.com
Kieron Dyer is relishing the prospect of locking horns with Premier League
title-chasers Chelsea
23.04.2009
Kieron Dyer believes West Ham United will have to be at their best to upset
Chelsea's Premier League title ambitions.
The England midfielder, who enjoyed a successful run out in last Saturday's
1-1 draw at Aston Villa, has identified Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba
and international team-mate Frank Lampard as the men to stop if the Hammers
are to beat Guus Hiddink's side.
Dyer, who produced an encouraging display after appearing as a first-half
substitute at Villa Park, is also eager to gave revenge for the 4-0 drubbing
Chelsea dished out at the Boleyn Ground on 1 March last year.
With Liverpool also due to visit east London on 9 May, Dyer said the Hammers
can have their say in the Premier League title race.
"We could have a great part to play in where the title goes this season.
We've got Chelsea next and then Liverpool at home as well. Last season,
Chelsea came to our place and gave us the run-around and beat us 4-0 so we
have to redeem ourselves. With our injury situation it always seems to be
backs against the wall, but we seem to be thriving on that."
Drogba has been in fine form in recent weeks, netting five goals in his last
five matches including the winner in last weekend's FA Cup semi-final win
over Arsenal at Wembley. Former Hammer Lampard, who was sent-off in last
season's respective fixture, has plundered 20 goals for club and country
this season.
"They have got match-winners all over the park but obviously Frank Lampard
and Didier Drogba are the main two. Drogba has been like a new player and
Frank is a 25-goal-a-season man, but they're not the only two we've got to
worry about!
"We have to worry about their whole team and if we're going to get a result,
we're going to have to have our eleven players on the pitch digging in. We
can't carry anyone and can't have any passengers. Hopefully that will be
enough because if their players all produce it's going to be an extremely
hard game."
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Spirits high at Chadwell Heath
WHUFC.com
This weekend may be too soon for Jack Collison and Carlton Cole but they are
doing well at Chadwell Heath
22.04.2009
Gianfranco Zola and his staff have been hard at work this week ahead of a
major meeting with Chelsea this weekend.
While the manager and some players took part in the club's charity golf day
in glorious sunshine on Wednesday, the focus has still been very much on the
footballing matters at hand. Jack Collison and Carlton Cole were among those
working hard out on the training pitch and in the gym with the aim still for
both to make an impact before the end of the season.
Jonathan Spector is in contention to face the UEFA Champions League
semi-finalists on Saturday after sitting out the last two games because of
concussion but it remains to be seen whether James Collins will be available
after his calf problem against Aston Villa last weekend. There is also hope
that Radoslav Kovac (thigh) will figure against the UEFA Champions League
semi-finalists but Scott Parker (groin) could miss out again.
Also present at Chadwell Heath on Wednesday were Danny Gabbidon, Valon
Behrami, Terry Dixon and Dean Ashton who are all working on their intensive
rehabilitation programmes with next season the most likely aim for all four.
One player who is out of the treatment room, though, is Kieron Dyer and the
manager has been delighted with how he has performed in the last few games.
"Kieron has been absolutely excellent," Zola said looking back to his hour
off the bench in the 1-1 draw against Villa. "It took him ten minutes to get
into the game and after that he was brilliant. I am pleased for him as it
has been a long time. He has worked very hard. Seeing him fit now is good
for him and us."
With five games to go, the manager said everyone is "up for it" when it
comes to pushing for as many points as possible in a bid to secure seventh
spot and UEFA Europa League qualification. "We are going to be trying very
hard and we know we have a great chance."
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West Ham reputation for style set to lure quality to Upton Park
Gianfranco Zola believes West Ham are producing such a reputation for
exciting football that players will be persuaded to join the Upton Park
revolution.
Telegraph
By John Ley
Last Updated: 8:31AM BST 22 Apr 2009
West Ham are seventh going into the weekend's visit of Chelsea and ahead of
the clash with his former club, where Zola earned a reputation as one of the
most exciting players to feature in the Premier League, he believes such
standards are coming through in his side's playing style. "I believe we are
building up a reputation because we try to play good football and there is a
good atmosphere," said Zola. "That could be an attractive thing for good
players to come. I wouldn't be surprised to see a good player come to play
for West Ham in the summer.
Arsenal in line for Matthew Upson bid as West Ham look to Europe"West Ham
has a good platform to build up something important for the future. We want
to build it slowly and with attention. We are not big spenders but we spend
the money wisely and we work hard to make it happen." If West Ham remain
seventh they will qualify for the Europa League and Zola believes the club
is equipped to cope with the rigours of the new-look competition. "I think
so. Why not? This is a very ambitious club and I believe that myself, along
with Gianluca Nani (the club's technical director) and Scott Duxbury (chief
executive) are working well as a team. "I believe the relationship has
always been strong and we have good ideas and we are not scared to apply
them. With these conditions I believe the club is strong. It can go forward.
"If I had all my best players available (this season) maybe it could have
been better but I like to enjoy what I have got and not to think too much
about what I haven't got. It has been a good test for me. I have been forced
many times to take something out of a situation and it has been very good
for my improvement."
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West Ham eye Racing Santander's Lotam Zino
The Mirror
By Football Spy 22/04/2009
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola is giving a trial to Israeli Lotam Zino who is
at Racing Santander.
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West Ham v Chelsea preview
11:47am Wednesday 22nd April 2009
Guardian Series
West Ham v Chelsea
Premier League, Saturday, 3pm
LAST MEETING: Chelsea 1-1 West Ham (14-12-2008) Craig Bellamy's first half
volley gave the Hammers a shock lead, but Nicolas Anelka scored to make it
honours even.
LAST TIME AT UPTON PARK: West Ham 0-4 Chelsea (01-03-2008) A five-minute
blitz early on ensured it was a day to forget for the Irons, with ex-Hammers
Frank Lampard and Joe Cole both on the scoresheet.
HEAD TO HEAD: Chelsea 37 wins, West Ham 36 wins, 17 draws FORM: Interim boss
Guus Hiddink has transformed the Blues' fortunes after a torrid spell under
Luis Felipe Scolari, guiding them to the last four of the Champions League
and the FA Cup final.
DANGER MAN: One minute Didier Drogba seems destined for the exit door, the
next he is being hailed as a hero. Hiddink's arrival has signalled a new
dawn for the Ivorian, and the striker is red hot at the moment, with five
goals in his last four games.
FUN FACT: Chelsea owe their existence to a dog. Club founder Henry Augustus
Mears was about to sell his plot of land at Stamford Bridge, much to the
displeasure of his colleague, Frederick Parker. However, it was only when
Mears' pet dog bit Parker on the hand, that he decided to trust his friend's
judgement and pressed on with his plans to build a team and a stadium.
PREDICTION: West Ham 0 Chelsea 2
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West Ham reserves endure last day heartbreak
11:27am Wednesday 22nd April 2009
Guardian Series
WEST HAM'S reserves brought the curtain down on their Barclays Premier
League South campaign with a last-gasp defeat at Portsmouth. Greece
international striker Theofanis Gekas scored a stunning last-minute goal
from the edge of the box to win the game for Pompey. First team coach Steve
Clarke was in attendance to watch a young and inexperienced Hammers side,
that contained only two players above the age of 19 – captain Zavon Hines
and keeper Peter Kurucz. Hines came close to giving the Irons the lead, but
his fierce shot after a lofted through ball from Anthony Edgar arrowed just
wide. Pompey began to dominate, and while West Ham came close on several
occasions, the hosts managed to eke out the win. Manager Alex Dyer was
pleased with his side's efforts, despite the loss. "It was a great
performance, to be fair," he told the club's website. "The lads worked hard,
especially in the second half. They came out and the tempo was good to their
game."
Dyer has been impressed by his young squad's application this season. "The
young lads who have come up during the second part of the season have really
worked hard and have shown the quality that they have got at times. "They
have worked very hard and moved the ball and done the things that we've
asked them to do in the games and in training."
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Ashton could make shock West Ham return
East London Advertiser
22 April 2009
By JONATHAN CLEGG
Dean Ashton could receive a shock first-team recall before the end of the
season as Gianfranco Zola bids to solve the West Ham's struggles in front of
goal. Veteran striker Diego Tristan salvaged a point at Aston Villa last
weekend, but West Ham have netted just eight goals in 12 matches and have
managed to score twice in a single match on just one occasion in the past
three months. With in-form Spurs now just a point behind the Hammers, Zola
admits that the club's European hopes are in danger of unravelling unless he
can get his side firing. And the Hammers boss could roll the dice by
fast-tracking Ashton back into the Hammers line-up this season. England
hitman Ashton has been sidelined since August with an ankle injury sustained
during Zola's first training session as West Ham boss. But Zola is aware of
the forward's qualities, describing Ashton as "the perfect player" for his
Hammers side. He said: "We know that scoring goals has been the big problem
throughout the season, but we're going to try very hard to find a solution
now. "Dean is a player who would have made a big difference for us this
year. We know he can give us something extra, especially regarding goals and
we're looking forward to having him back soon. "It would be fantastic if he
could play maybe one game or two games before the end of the season, not
only for him but for the supporters and everyone at the club."
Ashton's future at West Ham had been placed in doubt during his eight-month
absence from the side, during which time Carlton Cole has emerged as the
club's No1 target man and taken Ashton's place in the full England squad.
But Zola insists that the former Norwich striker, who top-scored for West
Ham last season with 11 goals, is the ideal spearhead for his improving
side. "Of course he has got a future here," Zola said. "His finishing is
amazing and if you look at this team, the build-up is very good, but maybe
we lack a little bit of finishing, which Dean Ashton has got in his blood,
so he will be a perfect player for us.
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Irons downplay Parker fears
East London Advertiser
22 April 2009
West Ham have moved to downplay fears that Scott Parker will require an
operation on the groin injury that has kept him out of action for the past
three weeks. Midfielder Parker missed the club's 1-1 draw at Aston Villa
last weekend and his fitness remains in doubt ahead of Saturday's home clash
against former club Chelsea. The 28-year-old not been expected to miss
significant time after suffering the injury against Blackburn last month,
but now looks set to miss a fourth successive Premier League encounter. And
Hammers manager Gianfranco Zola has revealed there is no timeframe on a
possible return for the former England international, although he insists
Parker will not require an operation to resolve the problem. He said: "To be
honest I don't know how long [he will be out for]. Parker's situation is
strange - it's an inflammation, so it can go away in a few days or it could
be longer. "He is improving a lot but still he is not ready. I don't think
he needs an operation - as far as I know he doesn't need one."
Defender James Collins is also unlikely to be available for the match at
Upton Park, which is dedicated to raising money and awareness for the
Richard House Children's Hospice in Docklands.
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Freddie Sears Wants More Time To Shine At West Ham United
The talented teen has admitted to getting a bit restless on the Hammers
bench...
23 Apr 2009 07:14:00
Goal.com
West Ham United starlet Freddie Sears is positively pulling at the leash for
a chance to prove his potential. Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola has not been
shy to say how much he rates the 19-year-old striker, though so far he has
only used him sparingly as they look to bring European football to Upton
Park next season. Sears was given a brief cameo appearance during the 1-1
draw against Aston Villa on the weekend and, though he managed to catch the
eye even during this limited time, he was keen to let it be known that he is
hungry for more action. "On a personal note it was good to get on again at
Villa, even if it was only for 10 minutes," Sears told the club's official
website. "The manager told me to go on and make something happen and I think
I did okay. "We've got Chelsea next week and I'd love to play against them.
We'll see how it goes. "It's obviously been a bit frustrating not playing as
much football as I was used to in the reserves and youth team, and the
injuries we have means the youngsters haven't been able to go out on loan.
"I'm training well and enjoying it here but I obviously want to start
playing more and scoring some goals."
The England Under-19 striker is yet to find the back of the net in his 18
appearances in total this campaign, most of which have been as a substitute.
Derek Wanner, Goal.com
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West Ham's Sears targets more first team action
23.04.09 | Andrew Slevison
West Ham striker Freddie Sears has made his ambitions clear and is targeting
more first team action at Upton Park. The 19-year old was used as a
substitute against Aston Villa on the weekend to take his total of first
team appearances in the league to over 20 but is keen for more under
Gianfranco Zola. "On a personal note it was good to get on again at Villa,
even if it was only for ten minutes," he told the club's official website.
"The manager told me to go on and make something happen and I think I did
okay.
"We've got Chelsea next week and I'd love to play against them. We'll see
how it goes. "It's obviously been a bit frustrating not playing as much
football as I was used to in the reserves and youth team, and the injuries
we have means the youngsters haven't been able to go out on loan. "I'm
training well and enjoying it here but I obviously want to start playing
more and scoring some goals."
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West Ham boss Zola: Kieron Dyer absolutely excellent
23.04.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola is delighted with the return to full
fitness of Kieron Dyer. Zola told whufc.com: "Kieron has been absolutely
excellent. "It took him ten minutes to get into the game (against Aston
Villa) and after that he was brilliant. I am pleased for him as it has been
a long time. He has worked very hard. Seeing him fit now is good for him and
us."
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Dyer delighted with first season in charge of West Ham reserves
23.04.09 | tribalfootball.com
Alex Dyer is delighted with his first season in charge of West Ham United's
reserves. Dyer was appointed reserve team manager earlier this season after
Kevin Keen's promotion to first-team coach. The former Hull City, Crystal
Palace and Barnet defender says he has enjoyed the experience of taking
charge of West Ham's second string under the stewardship of the first team
coaching staff. Dyer told whufc.com: "I'm very grateful to have the
opportunity to work at this level. The senior lads who have come into the
reserves at the start of the season worked hard and played well for the
club. It is difficult when you come and play reserve football sometimes, but
they are good professionals and they worked hard. "For me, it's been very
easy to do this job. The management team have looked after us and I'd like
to thank them for helping us - the gaffer, Steve Clarke and Kevin Keen have
been great. They've given me all the support I've needed to do the job to
the best of my abilities."
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West Ham trials for Lotam Zino
22.04.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United have handed trials to Lotam Zino. The Mirror says West Ham
boss Gianfranco Zola is giving a trial to Israeli Lotam Zino who is at
Racing Santander.
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Spurs, West Ham join Man City interest for Perrotta
22.04.09 | tribalfootball.com
Manchester City face competition for Roma midfielder Simone Perrotta. Along
with City, Italian sources say Tottenham and West Ham United are also keen
on the Italy international. Perrotta's agent, Giuseppe Bozzo, said: "I can
only say that in the past, the player was followed by several teams.
However, we are not following the market at this time because we need only
look at the primary concern of Roma, which is the fourth place."
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