WHUFC.com
West Ham United's trip to Middlesbrough for the FA Cup fifth-round replay
has been moved to 25 February
17.02.2009
West Ham United can confirm the FA Cup fifth-round replay at Middlesbrough
has been switched to Wednesday 25 February.
The match, which was originally set for Tuesday 24 February, will get under
way at 8.10pm and be broadcast live on ITV1. The club is laying on free
coach travel for all supporters and this remains unaffected by the change in
date. The winners of the tie will meet Everton away in the quarter-finals on
7/8 March.
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England fixture postponed
WHUFC.com
England's Under-16 friendly in Germany, featuring West Ham United's Robert
Hall, has been called-off
17.02.2009
England's Under-16 friendly international with Germany in Hoffenheim has
been postponed.
West Ham United striker Robert Hall was set to feature for Kenny Swain's
side at the Dietmar-Hopp Stadion on Tuesday evening, but the match has now
been called-off due to the inclement weather conditions affecting the town.
The Under-16s will return to action at the prestigious Montaigu Tournament
in France in April. England won the eight-team competition last season,
beating Japan and Germany to reach the final. There, they drew 0-0 with
hosts France before winning 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out to lift the trophy.
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Ilunga up for the cup
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's left-back has taken a special shine to the world's most
famous cup competition
17.02.2009
Herita Ilunga has clearly taken a special liking to the FA Cup.
West Ham United's DR Congo left-back scored West Ham United's 83rd-minute
equaliser to salvage a 1-1 fifth-round draw against Middlesbrough at the
Boleyn Ground on Saturday. The goal was Ilunga's second for the club - the
other coming in the 3-0 third-round victory over Barnsley last month.
Naturally, the defender was delighted to get his name on the scoresheet for
a second time but, true to his team-first ethic, Ilunga was even happier to
have ensured West Ham were in the sixth-round draw and contemplating a
possible tie away at Everton.
"The most important thing for me is to play well and help the team achieve
our targets and if I can score a goal then that's even better. The most
important thing is for us all to do well as a team, but of course I am happy
to have scored."
Ilunga's late header from substitute Savio's curling free-kick cancelled out
Stewart Downing's first-half opener and, at the same time, ended the home
side's frustrating search for a vital equaliser. Now, the two teams must
face each other again in a replay at the Riverside Stadium on Tuesday 24
February.
"Of course it is important that we are still in the FA Cup but it would have
been preferable for us to win the game instead of having to play an extra
game with the replay. But as we have to play them again, I am confident and
hope that we can go up there and get the win."
Before the replay, however, Ilunga and his team-mates have the little matter
of a Premier League trip to Bolton Wanderers to attend to. West Ham have
never tasted victory at the Reebok Stadium but the 25-year-old, who has
committed his long-term future to the club, is confident that unwanted
record can be laid to rest this coming weekend.
"We are still thinking positively as we have been over the last few weeks
and even though we drew against Middlesbrough, it will not take our
confidence away from us. Now we are looking forward to playing at Bolton in
the Premier League and then after that we will think about Middlesbrough and
the replay."
Ilunga also took time out to thank the two West Ham supporters - Dan Boden
and Dan Honey - who took a DR Congo flag to the Premier League fixture at
Middlesbrough on 1 November. "I was very grateful and happy when I saw my
country's flag at Middlesbrough. It was a great gesture and I want to thank
them for it."
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Zola - Lay off Boa Morte
Hammers manager hits out at boo-boys
Last updated: 17th February 2009
SSN
Gianfranco Zola has told West Ham supporters to show more respect to Luis
Boa Morte. Boa Morte was booed by a section of the Upton Park crowd when he
was substituted during West Ham's draw against Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Zola has been surprised by the treatment Boa Morte has received as he
regards the Portuguese forward as a fine player with an excellent attitude.
The Hammers manager feels Boa Morte has been unsettled by the criticism and
has urged the fans to stop. "I just don't understand the boos from the fans
for him. He has been fantastic for us and every time he has played he has
done a fantastic job for the team," Zola said in The Sun. "In the dressing
room he has been great, too. "Every manager wants a player like him in their
squad. "He does not deserve the treatment he is getting right now and, of
course, it affects him - it would affect anybody."
Hull City agreed a deal to sign Boa Morte last month but he rejected the
move and Zola was pleased to keep him. "Luis wanted to prove he can be
useful rather than leave. He has my utmost respect," said Zola.
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Hall ready for England
WHUFC.com
Robert Hall will hope to catch the eye again with England Under-16's in
Tuesday's friendly in Germany
17.02.2009
West Ham United striker Robert Hall is in the England Under-16 squad for
Tuesday's friendly international against Germany in Hoffenheim.
Hall, who is 15, has featured regularly for the Hammers Under-16 side this
season. The talented forward has also appeared for Tony Carr's Under-18s,
scoring a late winner in the 2-1 FA Premier Academy League win over Charlton
Athletic on 31 January.
The youngster will hope to find the scoresheet again at the
Dietmar-Hopp-Stadion. Academy director Carr is hoping his young charge will
do just that.
"Robert is playing for England on Tuesday night in Germany, which is why we
left him out of the Under-18 squad at Norwich City on Saturday. We wanted to
keep him fresh for the international game, so hopefully he can go there and
do himself justice and play well. That's all we can hope for. If he does get
a chance, I'm sure he'll tuck it away because he's a natural goalscorer."
Hall is joined in the England squad by four players from Manchester United,
three from Chelsea, two from Liverpool and one each from Arsenal, Birmingham
City, Charlton Athletic, Ipswich Town, Newcastle United and West Bromwich
Albion.
Kenny Swain's team will go into the game full of confidence after completing
a clean-sweep of victories in the Sky Sports Victory Shield tournament in
October and November. England beat Northern Ireland 6-0, Wales 1-0 and
Scotland 2-0 to lift the trophy. Hall appeared as a substitute against
Northern Ireland before starting the Wales match, while fellow Hammer
Matthias Fanimo was a replacement in the victory over the Scots.
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Ashton: UEFA Cup spot would ease my pain
Sport.co.uk
Author: Andrew Allen
Posted on: 17 February 2009 - 8:37 AM
Dean Ashton has urged West Ham to ease his Upton Park injury hell by
qualifying for next season's UEFA Cup. The Hammers striker, who has been out
of action since September, has already set his sights on returning for
pre-season after undergoing a successful operation on his troublesome left
ankle.West Ham sit eighth in the Premier League and are seven points behind
Everton, who currently occupy the final UEFA Cup spot. But a seventh-placed
finish could be enough to qualify for Europe should Tottenham fail to retain
the Carling Cup when they face Manchester United on March 1. Boss
Gianfranco Zola has seen his side lose just once in their past 10 games and
still harbours hopes of winning the FA Cup.
And the 25-year-old reckons the little Italian can lead the Hammers into
Europe and establish the club on the European stage. "With the position
we're in at the moment, I don't see why we can't strive for Europe," Ashton
said. "The team has been doing really well. Slowly but surely, the manager
and Steve Clarke have really put their mark on the side. "You can tell that
by the way the team are playing and passing the ball about. "It looks like a
really good team to be playing in and the boys are doing really well. "I'm
not sure what has changed. I think a few wins boosted our confidence, we've
had some good results and the defence has done really well. "At the moment
we've done well to get away from the relegation places and cement ourselves
in mid-table but now the players can strive to do even better."
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Carlton Cole could be back for West Ham within a fortnight
The Mirror
By John Cross 17/02/2009
Carlton Cole has given West Ham a huge boost after being told he could be
back within a fortnight. England striker Cole hobbled out of West Ham's FA
Cup draw with Middlesbrough on Saturday with an ankle injury, but scans have
revealed there was no fracture. It means Cole, 25, could be back within two
weeks, which is a huge boost for manager Gianfranco Zola.
Zola is already without striker Dean Ashton for the rest of the season,
while Luis Boa Morte is out for a month with a groin problem. That leaves
veteran Diego Tristan, 33, on-loan David Di Michele and youngster Freddie
Sears, 19, as Zola's only options up front.
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If West Ham lose their FA Cup replay Gianfranco Zola can forget about
managing Chelsea
By Dan Silver, Mirror.co.uk 17/02/2009
The recent praise for General Franco Zola's West Ham revolution has been as
deserved as it's been widespread, but the real test of his 'football
project' comes now. Zola wondered how his players would react to last
weekend's 1-0 defeat to Manchester United - the team's first of 2009 - and
now he knows: badly. On Saturday, they strolled around against a determined
Middlesbrough side, looking for all the world like a collection of players
who have started believing their own press.
Scott Parker in particular played like a man who had just signed a lucrative
new five-year contract, rather than the hungry midfield dynamo of the past
two months. The FA Cup represents West Ham's only realistic chance of
success this season, but the team now faces a tricky trip to the Riverside -
and an even tougher one to Goodison Park in the next round. All the
laughably premature talk of Zola and Clarke defecting west to Chelsea at the
end of the season will look even more ridiculous should West Ham's season
effectively end before the February frost has thawed.
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Zola's Core Values
Just Like My Dreams
West Ham United have been boosted by the news that Carlton Cole has not
broken his ankle, after it was originally feared the Hammers striker faced a
long spell on the sidelines. Cole hobbled out of United's fifth round FA Cup
draw with Middlesbrough on Saturday with an ankle injury, but an X-ray
showed no breaks and, subject to a scan, the striker is targeting a return
against Manchester City on March 1. A statement from the club read: 'A
positive X-ray on Sunday showed no fracture and, ahead of an MRI scan to
come, it is hoped the sprain could lead to only a two-week absence at
worst.'
That will be a huge boost Gianfranco Zola, who is momentarily left with
veteran Diego Tristan, 33, on-loan David Di Michele and youngster Freddie
Sears, 19, as his only options up front. Perhaps mindful of the lack of
depth, Zola has been keen to express his delight with Savio Nsereko's recent
contributions. The United boss insisted the new recruit is "learning quickly
and ahead of schedule" although reiterated the exciting forward still needs
time. "He has been playing in a second division team in Italy," Zola stated
on the club site. "I see he has good qualities but he needs time to settle.
The game here is such you can't even imagine the difference in speed to
Serie B in Italy. The best is to come from him. When he came on [against
middlesbrough], he made a difference so I am sure that is going to be a big
boost for him."
Carlton Cole's fitness has been brought into even sharper focus following
the revelation that Dean Ashton will not play again this season. West Ham's
injury-jinxed hitman is still recovering after undergoing a third operation
on his troublesome left ankle. The Hammers had hoped Ashton would play again
this term after he first suffered the injury in training back in September.
Yesterday, however, the England star admitted: "I'm looking to get myself
back for pre-season now. I don't want to come back unless I'm right."
In the meantime, Ashton has urged West Ham to ease his Upton Park injury
hell by qualifying for next season's UEFA Cup. West Ham sit eighth in the
Premier League and are currently seven points behind Everton, who currently
occupy the final assured UEFA spot. A seventh-placed finish could be enough
to qualify for Europe though, should Tottenham fail to retain the Carling
Cup when they face Manchester United on March 1. Ashton has watched in
admiration as United have lost just once in their past 10 games and still
harbours hopes of winning the FA Cup. "With the position we're in at the
moment, I don't see why we can't strive for Europe," Ashton said. "The team
has been doing really well. Slowly but surely, the manager and Steve Clarke
have really put their mark on the side. You can tell that by the way the
team are playing and passing the ball about. It looks like a really good
team to be playing in and the boys are doing really well. I'm not sure what
has changed. I think a few wins boosted our confidence, we've had some good
results and the defence has done really well. At the moment we've done well
to get away from the relegation places and cement ourselves in mid-table but
now the players can strive to do even better."
Elsewhere, Gianfranco Zola has hinted that England pair Robert Green and
Matthew Upson could soon be offered new, long-term contracts. Green and
Upson were two players who attracted interest during the January transfer
window. A third, Scott Parker, has just signed an improved deal and captain
Lucas Neill could soon follow. "There are players that have been very
important this season on and off the pitch," said Zola, whose team, provided
they beat Middlesbrough in next week's FA Cup replay, have been drawn away
to Everton in the quarter-finals. "They are the core of this team and I
believe they can be the core of this team for a long time. The club knows
this and they are offering them contracts and they deserve that. It is good
for stability. They are positive players and they will help us to build
something important."
Zola has already stated that captain Lucas Neill remains a much-needed
player at the club. Constant speculation has had the Socceroos captain
linked with a move away from Upton Park but he has confirmed that he wants
to stay at the club and now his manager has publicly revealed his desire to
retain Neill. "Hopefully soon Lucas Neill will be signing a contract," he
said. "Things are going well here we just need to understand that we want
this to be for a long time. The idea is to make a blend of experienced
players and young talented players to mix together and perform."
Posted by Trilby at 10:33
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Facing The Boo Boys
Just Like My Dreams
Gianfranco Zola has backed Luis Boa Morte to beat the West Ham hate mob
which is making the winger's life a misery. The Hammers boss has been
stunned at the stick Boa Morte has taken this season and he wants fans to
get off his back. The player was serenaded with a chorus of boos and ironic
cheers when he limped out of Saturday's FA Cup draw with Middlesbrough with
a groin injury that will keep him out for a month.
The injury is the latest in a series of niggles that have dogged the
Portuguese international's miserable stay in East London. In addition, a
series of erratic displays and a paucity of goals (One in 30 league starts
to be precise) has hardly endeared Boa Morte to the Upton Park faithful, who
have never really embraced him in the way Fulham fans did at his previous
club.
During those tumultuous six and a half years at Craven Cottage, Boa Morte
thrilled the home fans with his mixture of speed, skill and spite. The
latter quality has always been a distinguishing feature of his game, leading
to a relationship with referees which once prompted former Fulham manager
Chris Coleman to joke that his side would never have a chance of qualifying
for Europe through the fair play trophy while Boa Morte was in the side.
Balancing the indiscretions, however, was a sequence of performances which
yielded a regular if modest contribution of goals but always a major
contribution in terms of influence and dynamism. Boa Morte always had the
power to transform football matches.
It was a power which Arsène Wenger appreciated very early on, as, in one of
his first signings upon joining Arsenal, he paid Sporting Lisbon £1.75m for
their hugely promising 20-year-old winger in 1997. In the two years Boa
Morte spent at Highbury he picked up Premiership and FA Cup winners' medals
as part of the 1997-98 Double squad, although he missed out on the FA Cup
final itself. Let go by Arsenal after he failed to earn a regular first-team
place, he was signed for Southampton by Dave Jones in August 1999, but by
January of the following year Jones had been replaced by Hoddle. And Hoddle,
as Boa Morte recalls with a wry smile, was not a fan of his style of
football.
"I only played three times for him, and at the end of the season he told me
I wasn't part of his plans and I could go," recalls Boa Morte. "But it was
the end of July and I had difficulty getting another club. Even Huddersfield
said no, they had a full squad, they didn't need anyone. I was struggling to
get a club and I got a bit lost. I thought to myself, 'What am I going to
do?' And then it came to my mind to phone Mr Wenger to ask for his help. He
was always very clear with me when I was at Arsenal. He was very good."
Wenger contacted his fellow Frenchman Jean Tigana, then in charge of Fulham,
and arranged a trial, after which Boa Morte joined on a year's loan. That
move became permanent after a season in which Fulham won the First Division
with a record number of 101 points, with Boa Morte contributing 18 goals in
39 appearances. Thus was launched a Fulham career which ended only when Boa
Morte moved across London to Upton Park in the January transfer window two
years ago for a fee believed to be around £5million. He was plunged straight
into a relegation battle, but played a part in West Ham's unlikely recovery
as they remained unbeaten in their last nine games, contributing a crucial
first goal in a 3-0 win at fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic which seemed to
convince players and fans alike that Premier League status might yet be
retained.
Yet the boos never relented and Boa Morte's form has continued to be
sporadic, especially in front of goal. "It's been one of my most difficult
periods in football since I came to West Ham," he says. "But I'm always able
and ready and up for the fight, you know, I'm not going to turn my back
away. We are in a better position as a club, so of course I feel better.
Personally I just need to score one or two goals to get the thing going
because I have been putting in the hard work to get back from my injuries
but it is just the scoring bit that hasn't come along. It's been my fault
because I have had a few chances, so I'll keep working hard."
Zola says he just doesn't understand the boos from the fans for him. "He has
been fantastic for us and every time he has played he has done a proper job
for the team," he points out. "In the dressing room he has been great, too.
Every manager wants a player like him in their squad. He does not deserve
the treatment he is getting right now and, of course, it affects him — it
would affect anybody." Boa Morte turned down a move to Hull last month over
personal terms, the decision of a distinctly unambitious player on
ridiculous wages scoffed the Mail at the time. Not so, insisted Zola
yesterday. "Luis wanted to prove he can be useful rather than leave. He has
my utmost respect."
It is not a view shared by a vociferous section of the West Ham support. "I
will take the blame," says Boa Morte. "That's a side of football that
exists, and we are here to take that. My back is big enough to take the boos
for missing chances. But it is not big enough to take the boos for not
working hard. That I won't take from the West Ham supporters or any other
person. If someone says that, I won' t turn my face away."
As he speaks, his expression hardens, and you begin to see how this slight,
amiable character becomes someone else on the pitch. He is unapologetic
about the aggressive side of his game, which he believes stems from the
attitude he established as the second youngest of 10 boys being raised by
his mother in the Lisbon suburb of Quintela. Speaking to the Independent
last year, he said: "Whatever people think of me, my way to be on the pitch
is my way and I'm not going to change. My way to be in football is working
hard and fighting, because whatever I have got in life in these days, it's
because I did work hard and fight for it.
"My dad wasn't at home all the time, so my mum looked after us. I used to
lie to my mum about how I'd done in my exams and when I was going to school.
She couldn't keep up because she was so busy working. She would get up at
6.30am in the morning and be back home at 7.45pm to cook for all the kids
and get things ready for the next day. I gave up school when I was 15. It's
something I don't want my kids to do. I would like them to have a good time
at school and then good careers and university. I did some naughty stuff as
a kid. I told my mother recently what we used to do. She almost had a heart
attack!"
But the young Luis had a big talent – he was signed up by Sporting at the
age of 11 and was soon playing in one of their junior teams. He also had the
determination, or pig-headedness, observes Mike Rowbottom, not to let his
opportunity go to waste. "One thing that was hard in my life was to leave
school and start working. I worked in a supermarket, then I worked repairing
engines on fridge-freezers. Then I was working as an electrician. So one
thing that really hurt me was to get up at 5.30 in the morning and catch the
bus at quarter past six. That was hard because by the end of the day, when
I'd finished work, and when I'd finished training, I would get home about
10pm and I'd sit and try to watch TV and I would just go to sleep.
"My mum said to me 'It's hard, isn't it? Go back to school...' But because I
took the option to start working I was not going to give up. I never give
up. I always try to get a better job, better conditions. So that was the
same thing in football. To move to Arsenal was a big surprise, a big gamble
for me. I never had any regrets about going to Highbury because it was a big
help to my career to play with people like Marc Overmars and Dennis
Bergkamp. Then I move to Southampton, it was smaller than Arsenal. Then
things didn't end up well at Southampton and I ended up going lower to
Fulham because they were in the Championship. But then from Fulham I start
building up again, because we fought and we did all we could and we got
promoted. Then we were fighting for our lives in the Premiership every
single season, apart from when we had a great season and finished ninth.
"That's the way that things go. You find sometimes you have downs in life,
but you can never give up. You keep fighting to get back to the top. And
because I have achieved, I am not going to give up now. I'm expecting to
play until I am 35, 36 so I have to keep going." Boa Morte, who has a year
and a half remaining on his current contract, added that he has looked into
the possibility of returning to Portugal to end his career - but admits that
he has received no rock-solid offers as of yet. "At the moment nothing's for
sure," he added, "but whatever happens, West Ham United will need my
agreement if they want to make a deal."
And now Boa Morte, glancing at his watch, has to get going – back home to
Romford, where his wife, Sarah, is looking after their two lively young
daughters. With a nine-year-old son in Lisbon, Luigi Jnr, this most
committed of midfielders has plenty of motivation to maintain his career,
even with the Upton Park boos ringing in his ears.
Posted by Trilby at 10:24
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Frissons Garantis
Just Like My Dreams
The latest entry on Herita Ilunga's personal blog carries a brief video of
the Hammers faithful giving full voice to I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles. It is
chills guaranteed says the Irons left-back, who is clearly embracing the
fire and the fury of English football, and in particular, the FA Cup. The
Congolese defender scored United's 83rd-minute equaliser to salvage a 1-1
fifth-round draw against Middlesbrough at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday. The
goal was Ilunga's second for the club - the other coming in the 3-0
third-round victory over Barnsley last month.
Naturally, says the official site, the defender was delighted to get his
name on the score-sheet for a second time, but Ilunga was even happier to
have ensured the Hammers were in the sixth-round draw and contemplating a
possible tie away at Everton. "The most important thing for me is to play
well and help the team achieve our targets," he said. "If I can score a goal
then that's even better. The most important thing is for us all to do well
as a team, but of course I am happy to have scored."
Ilunga's late header from substitute Savio's curling free-kick cancelled out
Stewart Downing's first-half opener and, at the same time, ended the home
side's frustrating search for a vital equaliser. Now, the two teams must
face each other again in a televised replay at the Riverside Stadium on
Wednesday week. "Of course it is important that we are still in the FA Cup
but it would have been preferable for us to win the game instead of having
to play an extra game with the replay. But as we have to play them again, I
am confident and hope that we can go up there and get the win."
Before that replay, however, West Ham have the tricky prospect of a Premier
League trip to Bolton Wanderers to attend to. United have never tasted
victory at the Reebok Stadium but Ilunga, who has committed his long-term
future to the club, is confident that unwanted record can be laid to rest
this coming weekend. "We are still thinking positively as we have been over
the last few weeks and even though we drew against Middlesbrough, it will
not take our confidence away from us. Now we are looking forward to playing
at Bolton in the Premier League and then after that we will think about
Middlesbrough and the replay."
Gianfranco Zola was again full of praise for the popular defender yesterday,
reiterating that Ilunga "is going to stay with us for a long time".
Addressing the media, the Sardinian enthused: "He is playing well. I don't
think there are many left-backs playing as well as he is now. He is very
good defensively but also very good coming forward. He is a very good
player. His character is unbelievable. He has played all the games and he is
always manages to get something out of them. I am very pleased with him. He
is a very good signing for us. He doesn't speak much English but it is not
down to the language. It is just the way he is. He doesn't speak very much
but he is one of those people that acts more than he talks."
One man who not quite so pleased with Herita Ilunga's latest goal-scoring
contribution is comedian Phill Jupitus. Writing in his Times column, he
explains how the Congolese defender has ruined his next two weeks...
While I'm not a superstitious person, I have tempted fate in a fairly
massive way this week and I am starting to get a slightly uneasy feeling.
Every year the beautiful Irish town of Kilkenny becomes a focal point for
comedians from all over the world. Drawn by the promise of sold-out gigs and
free-flowing drink, it's less like a festival and more like a massive
three-day bender with punchlines. So it was with some delight that I took a
phone call from my agent saying that I'd been invited to perform there this
year as part of their improvised comedy show.
This was brilliant news; not only would I get to do some gigs, but I'd also
get the opportunity to see brilliant American stand-ups such as Lewis Black
and Dom Irrera.
I wasn't sure why he felt the need to ask me. Of course my answer was an
enthusiastic yes. "There is a catch though mate . . ."
Catch? What kind of catch could there possibly be? Was our venue going to be
a dry Catholic church hall? Were they paying us in flimsy sterling instead
of the ever-dependable euro? Would we have to learn Gaelic?
There was a pause before he said: "It's Cup Final day . . ." Vastly
conflicting thoughts go through your head almost immediately. Surely the
likelihood of us getting to Wembley is fairly slender.
There's still plenty of meaty opposition to get past, we've got injury
troubles, so being realistic we're not going to get to the final. I'll take
the gig. But then you start to think that actually we're playing really
well. The side is defending well and we can create problems for teams when
we're going forward, we've got a few England squad members, so being
realistic, we've got every chance of getting to the final.
These contrary ideas then bang back and forth like an interminable Bjorn
Borg-John McEnroe rally. I know that for many people there would be
absolutely no question and they would not take anything else if their team
was in with the slightest chance of a place in the FA Cup Final.
I am not one of these people, so I took the gig and for a while on Saturday
while Middlesbrough held the lead, shamefully thought that I had been
sensible in doing so. Then Hérita Ilunga scored his late equaliser and in
doing so, ruined my next two weeks.
Posted by Trilby at 08:08
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West Ham fullback Ilunga grateful to fans for DR Congo support
18.02.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United fullback Herita Ilunga is pleased they're still in the FA
Cup. He told whufc.com: "We are still thinking positively as we have been
over the last few weeks and even though we drew against Middlesbrough, it
will not take our confidence away from us. Now we are looking forward to
playing at Bolton in the Premier League and then after that we will think
about Middlesbrough and the replay." Ilunga also took time out to thank the
two West Ham supporters - Dan Boden and Dan Honey - who took a DR Congo flag
to the Premier League fixture at Middlesbrough on 1 November. "I was very
grateful and happy when I saw my country's flag at Middlesbrough. It was a
great gesture and I want to thank them for it."
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Herita Ilunga Targets West Ham FA Cup Glory
The Hammers Congolese left-back is pleased with his weekend goal, but would
have been happier if his side had won.
17 Feb 2009 20:13:02
Goal.com
Herita Ilunga netted West Ham United's equaliser against Middlesbrough on
Saturday, keeping the Irons in the FA Cup, and the Congolese international
would now like the club to take the positives from that result rather than
the negatives.
Although he was delighted to get his name on the scoresheet for the second
time in the Cup this season, having scored in the 3-0 victory over Barnsley
last month, Ilunga is more concerned with team displays than individual
plaudits.
"The most important thing for me is to play well and help the team achieve
our targets, and if I can score a goal then that's even better," he told the
club's official website.
"The most imprtant thing is for us all to do well as a team, but of course I
am happy to have scored."
Ilunga also feels that West Ham should not dwell on their failure to beat
Middlesbrough, but rather take with them to the Riverside for the replay the
positives from the fact that they are still in the competition.
"We are still thinking positively as we have over the last few weeks, and
even though we drew against Middlesbrough it will not take our confidence
away from us," he added.
"Now we are looking forward to playing at Bolton [Wanderers] in the Premier
League and then after that we will think about Middlesbrough and the
replay."
Meanwhile, Ilunga was also highly delighted to see the flag of his homeland,
the Democratic Republic of Congo, displayed by two West Ham fans when the
Hammers previously played at Middlesbrough, in the Premier League on
November 1, and thanked the fans concerned.
"I was very grateful and happy when I saw my country's flag at
Middlesbrough. It was a great gesture and I want to thank them for it," he
concluded.
Zack Wilson, Goal.com
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Ashton targets pre-season return
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 17th February 2009
By: Thomas Rooney
It was confirmed yesterday that West Ham's forgotten man Dean Ashton will
not play again this season. The striker is being cautious before returning
from ankle surgery to ensure that he is 100% fit when he does make his
comeback.
This means that the remaining 13 games of this season have been written off
and instead, Ashton will focus on getting himself ready for the first game
of the next campaign.
The former Norwich man hasn't played since the 19th minute of West Ham's
defeat to West Brom back in September, when he was replaced by David Di
Michele. Following this game, Ashton had an operation on his ankle almost
straight away.
Since then, he has had a second operation on his troublesome left ankle with
specialist Niek van Dijk flying to London to assist with the procedure. The
West Ham medical team knew how important this was for Ashton's career so
wouldn't have wanted any mistakes to take place.
Speaking after this second operation, Ashton has said that he doesn't want
to come back to action until he is completely 'ready'. With this in mind, he
has set his sights on pre-season, something he admits that he is 'looking
forward' to. (Anyone want to place a football bet on Ashton being the
Premier League's leading scorer at the end of August 2009?!)
All in all, this is probably a very sensible decision. Imagine if Ashton
tried to rush himself back this season and suffered another setback. Not
only would this hamper his chances of a pre-season, it would completely
destroy his confidence.
At 25-years-old, this is a very important time in Ashton's career and it is
vital that he makes all the right decisions regarding his comeback. So far,
by deciding to focus on next season, he is doing just that in my opinion.
What chance has he got of being as good a player as he was when he returns
though? Players like Michael Owen have never been the same after certain
operations, so what about the slightly less naturally fit Ashton?
Well, James Calder – who worked on the operation with Ashton – is extremely
confident of a full recovery for the player. He says that the operation has
'proved very successful' on top sportsmen in the past and he was sure that
Ashton would 'recover well'.
As much as it is thought that Ashton will physically recover though, the
mental factors of the injury are not often taken into account. He must be so
fed up of being on the sidelines and every time he goes onto the pitch he
could be worrying about what might happen to his ankle.
Hopefully though, it will have a positive affect on him. He should be more
determined than ever to achieve success as a professional footballer and
relish every second he has on the pitch. The Carlton Cole story is extra
incentive for him as well. He now knows that he is potentially a decent run
of form away from getting another England call-up.
Personally, I wish Ashton all the luck in the world. He is such a talented
footballer and can offer so much to West Ham when he is available. When he
is fit and playing, the football odds constantly back him to have some sort
of positive impact on the game.
To have his career constantly hampered by injuries would be a crying shame.
All he needs to go with his hard work in coming back is a little bit of
luck. Considering his injuries over the last three years, this is extremely
overdue.
We look forward to seeing you back Dean!
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Dicks wants Rushden manager's job
BBC.co.uk
Former England, Liverpool and West Ham defender Julian Dicks has declared
his interest in the vacant Rushden & Diamonds manager's job. The 40-year-old
is boss of Ridgeons Premier side Wivenhoe and is eyeing the job at Nene Park
following the resignation of Garry Hill. "Rushden's a big club in non-league
and I would look forward to a job like that," Dicks told BBC Northampton. "I
have seen the facilities at Nene Park and they are magnificent." Rushden
currently have former Tottenham defender Justin Edinburgh in caretaker
charge. "I've got a lot to offer football and I have enjoyed my time at
Wivenhoe," added Dicks. "I've played under a lot of managers and I take a
lot from them; people like Graeme Souness, Ron Saunders and Harry
(Redknapp). "Rushden would be the next step up for me."
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