25/07/2007 16:04
Matthew Etherington admits that the hard work Hammers have put in during the
first three weeks of the pre-season build-up will benefit them when the new
Premier League campaign kicks off. The Hammers winger looked sharp during
Tuesday night's 1-1 friendly draw at Leyton Orient and, with just over two
weeks to go before the visit of Manchester City to Upton Park on August 11,
is in confident mood. "I felt good against Orient," he says. "The legs were
a bit heavy towards the end, but it was very tough in Austria last week and
I think the lads were feeling that a bit. "We worked very hard out there in
hot, humid conditions, but I think the lads will benefit from it in time. I
felt sharper at the start tonight and hopefully I'll be up to full speed in
a couple of weeks. "I think the worst of the hard work is behind us now,
we're on to the ball-work and short, sharp stuff, so I'm sure the
performances will start to improve as we get used to that. "I'm raring to go
now, ready to fight for my place and looking forward to the new season."
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Fred set for debut - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 25th July 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
Freddie Ljungberg is set to make his first appearance in a Hammers shirt at
Milton Keynes tonight. The 30-year-old former Arsenal winger, who signed a
four-year deal with the Hammers at the weekend is set to make his debut as
Alan Curbishley uses a completely different squad to that which drew 1-1
with Orient last night. Also set to start tonight are Craig Bellamy and
Bobby Zamora, as the Hammers seek their first pre-season win since the 2-0
success at Dagenham a fortnight ago. Dean Ashton notched United's only goal
in last night's draw at Brisbane Road. The 23-year-old striker gave the
Hammers a 15th minute lead with a crashing 20-yard piledriver before Adam
Boyd levelled the scores five minutes later with a 25-yard thunderbolt
equally as good as Ashton's.
West Ham United: Green; Paintsil, Ferdinand, Davenport, McCartney, Reid,
Bowyer, Mullins, Etherington, Cole, Ashton.
Orient: Morris (Nelson 28); Purches (Saah 45), Thelwell, Mkandawire, Palmer
(Kemp 83); Melligan (Demetriou 45), Terry (Thornton 45), Chambers (Grange
90), Corden (Page 81); W.Gray (B.Gray 77), Boyd (Echanomi 64).
Attendance: 8,231.
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Curbs backs Bellamy - Sky
By Lewis Rutledge - Created on 25 Jul 2007
Alan Curbishley is confident Craig Bellamy will let his football do the
talking for him this season. Bellamy joined his seventh club in the space of
seven years when he completed a move from Liverpool to West Ham earlier this
month. He has been no stranger to controversy and allegedly attacked John
Arne Riise with a golf club last season. However, Curbishley is not worried
by the Welshman's reputation and trusts that he will be a big success at
Upton Park. The Hammers boss has been impressed by what he has seen from
Bellamy and thinks he has all the qualities to lead his side's attack. "It's
about time that Craig Bellamy let his football do the talking because he's
an excellent talent," Curbishley explained in the Daily Telegraph. "We've
already seen that in the two weeks he has been at the club. "He has got
pace, aggression and is a good finisher. I'm sure the West Ham fans are
going to see him perform."
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Match Preview - MK Dons v West Ham United - WHO
Match Reporter - Wed Jul 25 2007
MK Dons v West Ham United
Wednesday 25 July
Kick Off 19:45
Pre-season friendly
Tickets News
Both home and aways are sold out
Alan Curbishley takes on arch West Ham pantomime villain Paul Ince on
Wednesday in the 2nd part of a two game double header, the part one saw the
Hammers draw 1-1 with Orient Tuesday night.
Alan Curbishley will use the game to give first team players Jon Spector,
Danny Gabbidon, James Collins, Matt Upson, Mark Noble, Luis Boa Morte, Craig
Bellamy and Bobby Zamora 90 miuntes.
New signing Freddie Ljunberg is set to make his West Ham debut and Richard
Wright will play in goal for the Irons and youngster Collison is set to
start alongside Mark Noble in the centre of midfield.
MK Dons boss Paul Ince will no doubt be expecting his normal treatment from
the traveling West Ham fans, as he faces the club that launched his career
for the first time as manager. Ince will pick a mixture of first team
players and trialists.
Pre-season so far
Dagenham & Redbridge 0 West Ham 2 Noble, OG
West Ham 0 Sigma Olmutz 1
SS Lazio 2 West Ham 0
Leyton Orient 1 West Ham 1 Dean Ashton
Crawley Town 0 MK Dons 0
MK Dons 4 Chelsea Reserves 3
Driving?
Leave the M1 at junction 13 and take the second exit A421 which runs
parallel with the M1 for a mile before bending left. After 3 miles as you
approach a roundabout on the edge of the city take the second exit, this is
called H9 Groveway, stay on this road going straight over 4 roundabouts, you
will now approach the roundabout over the A5, and the stadium is in front of
you slightly to the left, take the second exit. The entrance to the stadium
is first left at the traffic lights.
Parking?
>No designated parking has been approved yet, though it may well be possible
to park in the Stadium car park or one of the retail stores around the
ground.
Taking the train?
The nearest station is Bletchley which is around about two miles away from
the stadium. There are regular trains from London Euston. You can either
take a taxi from the rank outside the station or a bus from the bus station
in the town centre.
The alternative is the 25 minute walk to the stadium, which passes a couple
of pubs. On leaving the station entrance turn left and walk down to the main
road, turn left along this road and go under a railway bridge. At the
roundabout bear left carrying along Saxon Street, passing the Park pub on
your right. Keep straight along Saxon Street going across another roundabout
with the Enigma Tavern pub on your right and a burger king. You will reach a
double mini roundabout which you need to go straight on at, following the
signs for Central Milton Keynes and the A5. As you head up to the large
roundabout that is the junction with the A5, you will be able to see the
stadium on your left.
Lets hear it for the beer
There is much in the way of pubs around the stadium and the ground is miles
from the centre of Milton Keynes but beer is served inside the away end.
There is a pub called the Beacon which is around a five minute walk away.
Alternatively a 25 minute walk will take you into Bletchley and you will
find a handful of pubs here. The choice may well be the nearest, the Enigma
Tavern on Saxon Street. Just reverse the directions above.
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Appiah hoping for Schalke switch - TeamTalk
West Ham transfer target Steven Appiah has confirmed his intention to leave
Fenerbahce for Bundesliga side Schalke. The German club had given up hope of
signing the Ghana midfielder when he was priced out of the market by his
Turkish employers. However, the 26-year-old told local television stations
on Tuesday that he did indeed want to join the Royal Blues and was ready to
accept their contract offer, assuming the clubs could then agree on a price.
That still remains a source of contention, though, with Schalke reportedly
only willing to pay half the £6.7million fee Fenerbahce are demanding for
the Black Stars captain. "The highest hurdle is the transfer fee since
Fenerbahce are very tough negotiators," said Schalke general manager Andreas
Muller to Germany's Premiere television. "We had actually forgotten about
this transfer, but then we called Appiah again in the last few days and he
said he desperately wants to come to us. "He is prepared to make sacrifices
to do so and we are close to an agreement with the player." Without Appiah,
Schalke defeated Nurnberg 4-2 on Tuesday night to move into the final of the
German League Cup and maintain their excellent pre-season form.
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Ljungberg set to make West Ham debut - Daily Mail
Last updated at 12:59pm on 25th July 2007
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley will field a completely different team for
tonight's game against MK Dons after the Hammers drew against Orient at
Brisbane Road last night, where Dean Ashton scored their only goal with a
superb strike from 30 yards after 15 minutes. New £3m signing Freddie
Ljungberg will make his debut tonight alongside Craig Bellamy and Bobby
Zamora.
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West Ham, Bolton eyeing Chelle
tribalfooball.com - July 25, 2007
Several Premiership clubs are keeping tabs on Valenciennes defender Eric
Chelle. The Mali international has less than a year left on his existing
contract and is interesting Fulham, Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United,
according to French sources.
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Hammers ready for court row - Daily Mail
Last updated at 11:19am on 25th July 2007
West Ham will argue Carlos Tevez's contract is "unenforceable by law" if the
row over the Argentine's ownership rights ends up in the High Court.
Tevez's representatives, Media Sports Investments, served a writ on the club
alleging breach of contract following the termination of a third-party
agreement last April. The move is the latest twist in the bitter row that
has split English football and badly damaged Manchester United's chances of
signing the striker before the start of the season. West Ham look certain to
fight the case - which centres on Tevez's contract at Upton Park - and
believe they have strong grounds.
The 23-year-old is registered as a West Ham player, but MSI claims his
economic rights and entitlement to a £20million transfer fee from Old
Trafford. However, West Ham say the agreement they had with MSI - which
broke Premier League rules - was ripped up in April and believe any deal
with United should benefit them. The club's stance on Tevez's contract
emerged during the Premier League's inquiry last April, which ended with
West Ham fined £5.5million for breaking two regulations.
Defending the Hammers, James Sturman QC claimed the agreements reached
between the club and MSI - when Tevez and Javier Mascherano were signed in
August - were "unenforceable" by law. The barrister suggested a number of
clauses, some connected to the third party agreements they were fined over,
represented a restraint of trade and meant the contracts were not valid
under employment law.
These included:
* not allowing either the player or the club to terminate the contract, only
MSI and its partner company Just Sports Inc could end the agreement.
* clauses which effectively gave MSI the right to move Tevez to a club of
their choosing without any right of objection on the player's part.
The club will also take heart from the view of Simon Bourne-Arton QC, who
chaired the three-man commission, and appeared to be sympathetic.
Bourne-Arton said: "We see considerable force in Mr Sturman's arguments. On
the face of the documents, there are clauses that appear to us to be an
obvious restraint of trade."
MSI will, however, reject this view with sources close to the company
insisting the contract is "totally legal". Solicitor Graham Shear, who is
representing MSI and Just Sports Inc, said: "The companies seek the court's
intervention to compel West Ham to release the registration of Carlos Tevez
in accordance with contracts entered into between the parties."
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