WHUFC.com
Although disappointed with the goal he conceded, Robert Green has pledged to
bounce back
12.06.2010
Robert Green has pledged to keep working hard after the honour of being
named England's starting goalkeeper at the FIFA World Cup was soured by an
uncharacteristic mistake. The West Ham United No1 was named in Fabio
Capello's first eleven to face the United States and saw his side get off to
a perfect start with Steven Gerrard's sweetly-taken opener on four minutes.
However, Green was at fault just before half-time when he allowed Clint
Dempsey's speculative effort to slip through his grasp and over the line. It
finished 1-1, placing extra emphasis on the second Group C game against
Algeria next Friday night. Green said: "Clint has hit one and it is one that
I should have saved, full stop. It was thoroughly disappointing. It is
something that has happened. I have to not let it affect me. The most
important thing is that I had 50 odd minutes to play in the game and
represent my country and make sure it didn't happen again. "Thankfully I did
that and didn't let it affect my performance. It was about mental strength.
Worse things have happened to people. It is about carrying on and working
for the team and doing as well as you can from then on."
Despite several decent opportunities, England were unable to regain the lead
and a scrappy end to the game at altitude in Rustenburg saw both sides
struggle to maintain the intensity of the first half. Green recovered well
from the Dempsey goal and indeed saved England a point with his superb
one-handed save from Jozy Altidore in the second half.
"It was one of those games where we have created enough chances to win it,"
he added when speaking to the BBC. "It is immensely disappointing not to win
the game but we take comfort from the chances we have created. "Another day
we could have won it a few to nil. Football is decided at both ends of the
pitch. That is something we can learn from today. Steve scored a great goal.
It was a good team goal. It looked good on the eye."
With backing from his manager Capello, who restated his faith in his keeper
in his own press briefings, Green is looking to put the Dempsey goal behind
him as quickly as possible. "It is done. It happens. It is not something to
let affect yourself. In the next 50 minutes I showed that. I felt confident,
I felt fine. It is about being steady and taking the rough with the smooth
that is life as a goalkeeper. "I am 30 years old, I have been in sticky
situations before. It is about holding your head up high. Coming out and
taking the flak that is going to come and so be it. That is life and i
wouldn't swap it for the world. "I will come back, work hard in training and
prepare as though I am playing in the next game. I want to carry on playing,
stand up and represent my country."
Matthew Upson was an unused substitute, although central defender Ledley
King is likely to miss the Algeria contest after coming off at half-time.
Jamie Carragher was the man chosen to replace King alongside John Terry.
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Blue day for Green
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 12th June 2010
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United's Robert Green can look forward to being savaged by tomorrow
morning's national press after an horrendous error cost England two points
in their opening World Cup fixture. With England leading 1-0 at the time
through a fourth minute Steven Gerrard goal, Green allowed a 40th minute
long range effort by Clint Dempsey to slip through his hands before rolling
agonisingly over the goal line, gifting the USA an equaliser that was
ultimately worth a point. The West Ham stopper did however redeem himself
later in the match with a superb point-blank stop from Josi Altidore that he
managed to tip on to the bar. But England's failure to add to Gerrard's
early striker will ensure the emphasis - and no doubt the core of blame for
failing to beat a supposedly inferior side - will rest with Green tomorrow
morning.
Meanwhile, Matthew Upson's chances of taking part in the competition look
slim tonight after he was initially left out of the starting XI, and then
left on the bench as Jamie Carragher replaced the injured Ledley King.
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Green shrugs off error
Keeper looking to bounce back from USA nightmare
Last updated: 12th June 2010
SSN
Robert Green claims he has already put his costly mistake in a 1-1 draw with
the USA behind him. The West Ham goalkeeper endured a nightmare moment
shortly before the interval in England's opening game of the 2010 World Cup.
Unable to hold a speculative effort from Clint Dempsey, he saw the ball
squirm through his grasp and over the line.
Green's mistake ultimately cost England the full three points, with the
Three Lions unable to add to Steven Gerrard's early opener. He is refusing
to get too downhearted, though, and insists he will not be dwelling on the
error as England turn their attention to a meeting with Algeria on Friday.
"It's done, it happened," said Green. "It's not something you can allow to
affect yourself. "In the next 50 minutes, I felt confident, I felt fine.
"It's about being steady and taking the rough with the smooth, but that's
life as a goalkeeper.
"I've been in this situation before and it's about holding your head up
high, facing you guys (the media), taking the flak which is going to come.
That's life."
Green did go some way to making amends for his costly mistake during the
second half on Saturday, with a fantastic fingertip save preventing Jozy
Altidore from firing the Americans in front.
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Green vows to silence critics
The Sun
ROBERT GREEN insists he has already forgotten about his mistake against the
USA. West Ham keeper Green handed the Americans a point when he failed to
keep out Clint Dempsey's tame 40th-minute effort. The goal cancelled out
Steven Gerrard's opener and the Three Lions failed to find a second-half
winner as they kicked off their Group C campaign in Rustenburg. But Green,
30, was quick to claim the mistake would not affect his confidence ahead of
the crucial games with Algeria and Slovenia. He said: "It's done, it
happened. It's not something you can allow to affect yourself. "In the next
50 minutes, I felt confident, I felt fine. "It's about being steady and
taking the rough with the smooth, but that's life as a goalkeeper. "I've
been in this situation before and it's about holding your head up high,
facing the media, taking the flak which is going to come. That's life."
Green added: "Dempsey hit one and it's one I should have saved. Full stop.
"It's very disappointing, but it's happened. I had 50-odd minutes to play in
the game and represent my country and I did that. I didn't let if affect me
mentally. "I didn't let it affect my performance. It's about mental strength
and worse things have happened to people."
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Stevie gives Green a boost
The Sun
SKIPPER Steven Gerrard refused to condemn Robert Green after the keeper's
gaffe cost England three points in Rustenburg. Gerrard fired the Three Lions
into the lead after just four minutes as Fabio Capello's men made the
perfect start in their Group C opener. And the United States never looked
like grabbing an equaliser until Green failed to hold Clint Dempsey's tame
40th-minute drive. But Gerrard insisted the mistake would not destroy the
West Ham stopper's confidence. He said: "It was one of those freak things, I
don't think you can criticise the keeper. "People have been talking about
the match ball and it is tricky. "Rob will learn from this and he might make
an important save that wins us a match. "We're all behind him. It was a bit
of shock and it took us a while to get over it."
England threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Americans after the
break, only to be let down a lack of composure in front of goal. But Gerrard
refused to be downbeat about the performance with matches against Algeria
and Slovenia still to come. He added: "It was a difficult game. The most
important thing in the opening game is not to lose.
"The idea was to win but unfortunately we let a poor goal in and we couldn't
go and get the winner. "The target now has to be seven points."
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West Ham target Portsmouth coaching duo - Exclusive
Published 23:00 12/06/10 By Paul Smith
The Mirror
West Ham have made a formal approach to Portsmouth about recruiting
first-team coach Paul Groves and goalkeeping coach David Coles. Avram Grant,
the new Upton Park manager, targeted the duo immediately after his
appointment. Groves, who worked as Grant's assistant manager at Fratton
Park, attempted to play down speculation he could follow him to the Premier
League club. But Pompey sources claim Groves and Coles will leave shortly.
Former Grimsby boss Groves rejected the opportunity to succeed Grant when he
was invited to apply for the manager's post. "From a timing point of view, I
don't think it is right for me," he said. "I have been on a learning curve
and I am still learning, so I will continue to do that. "I am sure at some
point in the future, I will feel differently. But at the moment, I still
feel it's good to learn under people and gain experience. "It's a good
position to learn from. I am learning from different people and I just don't
think the timing is right for me to be a manager."
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Green: I have mental strength to respond from England error
Published 22:28 12/06/10 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
England goalkeeper Robert Green believes he has the mental strength to
respond from his howler which gifted the United States an equaliser in the
1-1 Group C opener in Rustenburg. Steven Gerrard had given England a flying
start with a fourth-minute opener before Green committed the kind of howler
David Seaman, Paul Robinson and Scott Carson have all done down the years
and allowed Clint Dempsey's harmless shot to slip through his fingers. But
the 30-year-old West Ham goalkeeper insists he has put the error behind him
already. "It's done, it happened," he told BBC Radio Five Live. "It's not
something you can allow to affect yourself. "In the next 50 minutes, I felt
confident, I felt fine. "It's about being steady and taking the rough with
the smooth, but that's life as a goalkeeper. "I've been in this situation
before and it's about holding your head up high, facing you guys (the
media), taking the flak which is going to come. "That's life."
Green had no excuses for failing to stop Dempsey's tame 40th-minute effort
from 25 yards. He added: "Dempsey hit one and it's one I should have saved.
Full stop. "It's very disappointing, but it's happened. "The most important
thing is not to let it affect myself. "I had 50-odd minutes to play in the
game and represent my country and I did that I didn't let if affect me
mentally. "I didn't let it affect my performance. It's about mental strength
and worse things have happened to people."
Green found out he would be starting the World Cup opener after winning
selection ahead of David James and Joe Hart when Fabio Capello announced the
team to the squad two hours before kick-off. "I found out before we left for
the game when they announced the team, with everyone else," said Green. "It
wasn't a factor. I prepared the same as if I was going to play. "I prepared
the same as if I was at West Ham, as I have done all my career. "You go
through mental preparation the night before the game and prepare for moments
of trauma in a game when it happens. "It happened today and for me the
important thing was to bounce back from it."
Green recognised he will be the subject of the nation's angst after the 1-1
draw - but still wants to play against Algeria next week. "I'm sure there's
50-odd million people disappointed with me this evening," he added. "But
I'll come back tomorrow, work hard in training, work hard the next day,
prepare the same, prepare as if I'm playing in the next game and it won't
affect me. "I want to carry on playing and I want to stand up and represent
my country."
United States goalkeeper Tim Howard backed Green to respond. The Everton
goalkeeper told BBC Radio Five Live: "He has broad shoulders, he will bounce
back. "Robert Green is a fantastic goalkeeper. Absolutely."
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Capello: I don't regret picking Green
Published 22:58 12/06/10 By Michael Calvin
The Mirror
Fabio Capello last night refused to give gaffe-prone goalkeeper Robert Green
a vote of confidence. The England manager praised his response to the error
which gave the USA a draw, but stopped short of guaranteeing him a place
against Algeria in Cape Town on Friday. Ledley King will miss that match,
after suffering an adductor muscle injury that resulted in his substitution
at half-time. "I will speak with Green, and after that I will decide," said
Capello. "He made one mistake, but in the second half he made some good
saves. "We have to accept that goalkeepers make mistakes. That is football.
The ball moves a lot. But the mistake was a mistake. "I do not regret making
a late decision on my goalkeeper. Green played well in our last match at
Wembley. I saw the fighting spirit of England tonight, the spirit of the
team." Tim Howard maintained the convention of the goalkeepers' union when
he leapt to Green's defence. "The balls here do some silly things, and we
are the ones who will suffer," he said. "I feel sympathy for him, but to be
a goalkeeper you need to have broad shoulders." Capello also revealed he
substituted James Milner after half an hour because he was worried the Aston
Villa midfield players would pick up a second booking.
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West Ham set to offer ex-Arsenal ace a Premier League return
Published 23:00 12/06/10 By Steve Stammers
The Mirror
Robert Pires wants to return to the Premier League – and West Ham are set to
swoop for the French World Cup winner. Pires is now a free agent after his
contract expired at Spanish club Villarreal. And he said last night: "I
would like the chance to play in England again." The 36-year-old midfield
player spent six years at Arsenal during which time he won two championships
and three FA Cups. He was also part of The Invincibles team that went
unbeaten in the Premier League in 2004. Under Gianfranco Zola's management,
West Ham last season sounded out Pires about coming back to England. Zola
has now left but West Ham could still be keen on the midfield star. At 36,
Pires feels he can still play an active role in first team football. "There
is no problem with my fitness," he said. He now plays a more withdrawn role
behind the strikers and West Ham may feel he can replicate the service given
to them by Teddy Sheringham when he joined the club at the same age.
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Capello praises 'good performance' and refuses to criticise keeper Green
Published 22:15 12/06/10 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
Coach Capello was pleased with his team's showing, if not the result, after
England drew their opening World Cup Group C game against USA 1-1. "We
created a lot of chances," he told ITV1. "We played a good game but one
mistake and they scored one goal. It was a good performance from the team.
We hope next time we will be more lucky." Capello did not criticise Green
but refused to confirm whether he will stick with the West Ham number one
for Friday's meeting with Algeria. The Italian continued: "Sometimes a
forward misses a goal and sometimes the keeper makes a mistake, this is
football. The second half he played very well." Capello, though, is hopeful
Ledley King will be fit for Friday after the defender picked up an injury
during the first half and had to be replaced by Jamie Carragher. "Probably
he can play," added Capello. "It's only a little problem."
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Sunderland to bid for England and West Ham defender Matthew Upson - report
13 Jun 2010 00:24:00
Goal.com
Sunderland are preparing a £7 million bid for West Ham and England defender
Matthew Upson according to the News of the World. Black Cats manager Steve
Bruce has identified a commanding centre- back as his main signing target
this summer and believes the 31-year-old can help push Suderland in to the
top ten next season. Upson is also believed to be ready to leave Upton Park
after owners David Gold and David Sullivan admitted everyone bar Scott
Parker was available for transfer this summer. Sunderland have already
proved with the signing of Darren Bent last year that they can attract the
big players to the Stadium of Light, and the club could also be seen as a
new, fresh challenge for Upson. Bruce gave Upson his first chance in the
Premier League when he was in charge at Birmingham City in 2003, before he
was sold to West Ham in 2007.
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