21/08/2007 17:15
West Ham United's Jordan Spence played 90 minutes for the England U-17's as
they secured a place in the last 16 of the World Youth Cup Finals in South
Korea. Jordan, an integeral part of the Hammers Youth Academy team here at
Upton Park, played his part as the Under-17's racked up a 5-0 victory over
New Zealand. Despite the humid conditions, the England youngsters put in a
top class performance, dominating the game from start to finish.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers pair pen new deals - SSN
Defenders sign Upton Park contract extensions
Last updated: 21st August 2007
West Ham defenders Danny Gabbidon and James Collins have both signed new
contracts. The pair moved to Upton Park from Cardiff two years ago on
four-year deals and have now each signed two-year extensions. Gabbidon
missed much of last season due to groin injuries and has only been on the
bench for the Hammers this campaign. Collins, who was outstanding in West
Ham's relegation battle last term, is currently struggling with a groin
injury that has stopped him fighting for his position at Upton Park. West
Ham boss Alan Curbishley has preferred Matthew Upson and Anton Ferdinand as
his centre-backs this term, but has shown his faith in the Wales duo by
offering new contracts. Gabbidon said: "I am disappointed not to be in the
side, but at least the new contracts show that the club wants both me and
James around. We will both now work hard and fight to prove we are worthy of
a place in the side."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Danny happy with Wales role - TeamTalk
Danny Gabbidon will captain Wales in his first game of the season after
missing West Ham's first three matches of the campaign. The 28-year-old
defender has been disappointed to find himself left by manager Alan
Curbishley so far this term. But that has not stopped West Ham ensuring that
Gabbidon, and his Wales defensive partner James Collins - out with a groin
injury for the clash with Bulgaria - are tied to new long-term contracts.
The pair joined the Hammers together from Cardiff two seasons ago on
four-year deals, and have both now signed two-year extensions with a pay
rise. That has pleased Gabbidon and tempered his disappointment at being on
the bench while Matthew Upson and Anton Ferdinand have been preferred in the
Hammers' defence. Gabbidon said: "Both me and James have both signed new
contracts in the last week so that shows that the manager wants to keep us
and we are both happy at the club at the moment, and we will be trying to
prove we are good enough to be in the team. "The contracts were talked about
some while ago and it is nice that they have all been sorted out. "They have
shown that they want to keep us and it was good to get another couple of
years on the contract. It shows they want us around. "Now I am aiming to
train hard and prove to the manager I am worth a place in the side."
Gabbidon, who missed much of the end of West Ham's traumatic campaign last
season due to groin injuries, will captain Wales for the third time against
the Bulgarians in Wednesday's friendly. He said: "I'm pleased to be captain
again and it is a chance to redeem myself because the last time was in
Cyprus and we were poor and lost. "But it is always an honour to be asked to
captain my country so I intend to enjoy it more this time. "I have not been
put off by the previous experience, but with Craig (Bellamy) not here I am
delighted to do it. "It is my first proper game of the season, I played a
couple of pre-season friendlies, but since the season started I have been on
the bench at West Ham. "This is a good game for me, it is four weeks without
a match so it is needed.
"Nobody likes being on the bench, but maybe I expected it a little because I
missed so much of the end of last season through injury. "We have good
centre-backs at the club and we are all in the same boat wondering who would
play. But myself and James Collins have both missed out, so it is up to us
now to raise our game and prove to the manager we should be in the team. "It
is early in the season yet, I'm not thinking of going out on loan or
anything like that. I want to fight for my place."
Gabbidon will be the oldest Wales player against Bulgaria, with the
intention of guiding a very young side through what will be a difficult
match against a Bulgarian side who believe they will qualify for the Euro
2008 finals. It will be Wales' first game since Ryan Giggs retired and
Gabbidon said: "We now have to step up as far as Wales is concerned to prove
that there is life without Ryan Giggs, he is a world class player and a big
loss to us. "We must come together more as a team now, it is a very young
squad and I feel like an old man here now. I am trying to help the
youngsters along like the senior players used to do for me. "I hope we can
bring them on so that in years to come we have a very good team. This game
will be a big chance for them to show what they can do."
And Gabbidon believes that new striker Freddy Eastwood will be a positive
addition to the squad. He said: "Freddy has looked really sharp, I have been
impressed with him. It will be interesting to see how he performs, he has a
good touch and I hope he will get us some goals. "We have lost Ryan, and
that was a big part of our attack. Now Freddy has come into the squad and
maybe he can get goals in Ryan's place. But you do not want to put that sort
of pressure on the lad, let's just hope he settles and enjoys his debut."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Etherington reveals Curbs backlash - TeamTalk
Matthew Etherington has revealed how the backlash from Alan Curbishley
following their defeat by Manchester City helped them beat Birmingham.
Etherington was among the Hammers' best performers as a penalty from Mark
Noble secured a vital 1-0 win. But he says much of the work had been done on
the training ground after Curbishley made it clear he was more than a little
unhappy with the defeat by City. "We didn't get near to what we are about
against Man City," the midfielder admitted. "The manager had a few things to
say about it and we addressed it all in training during the week. You do get
weeks when it doesn't go right for you, but it's all about getting through
it. "The expectation is there of course but we got into Birmingham's faces
and knew that if we kept playing this way and piled on the pressure, we
could get through them. We kicked on and showed our spirit. "We harassed
them, worried them each time they got the ball, so they were under pressure
at every opportunity and it worked. We knew if we could get the ball down
more it would open up the play and we were able to hit them on the break. "I
thought we played some lovely stuff in the second half and while it was only
one goal in the end, the main thing was getting the win."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers in Heinze raid - The Sun
By NEIL CUSTIS
August 22, 2007
GABRIEL HEINZE will appeal after being told he CANNOT move from Manchester
United to Liverpool. And, last night, the door opened for a loan move to
West Ham following a cheeky bid by Hammers boss Alan Curbishley. United boss
Alex Ferguson would let him link up with close pal Curbs. Argentine defender
Heinze had claimed United had written a letter allowing him to leave if
another club offered £6.8million. But a Premier League panel yesterday
dismissed Heinze's case and backed United, who said they made it clear
verbally and in writing he was not permitted to join a title rival. A
Premier League statement read: "The nature and intention of the disputed
letter was unambiguous in that it envisages only an international transfer."
Heinze, 29, will now take his case to the Premier League appeals committee
to get the decision reversed. He returns to training with United today with
no chance of turning out for the club again. Heinze has two years left on
his contract and United are willing to let him rot in the stiffs rather than
sell him to one of their three main rivals. Old Trafford fans have already
started chanting anti-Heinze songs for his desire to go to their hated
neighbours. Another option for Heinze could be to move abroad and join
French champions Lyon, who have stated an interest. United were represented
by manager Alex Ferguson and chief executive David Gill at the London
hearing.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
More of today's football stories - The Sun
August 22, 2007
READING contract rebels Nicky Shorey and Leroy Lita will not be leaving
before the transfer deadline. West Ham are eyeing England left-back Shorey,
26, while Under-21 striker Lita, 22, is wanted by Portsmouth after the duo
rejected new deals at the Madejski Stadium. But Reading director of
football Nicky Hammond said: "We want to keep our best players and have
absolutely no interest in letting them go. "I do not expect either of them
to leave during the window and still want them to commit to Reading."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Man Utd ready to send Heinze to West Ham
tribalfooball.com - August 21, 2007
West Ham United are moving for Manchester United defender Gaby Heinze. The
Sun says United boss Alex Ferguson would let him link up with close pal Alan
Curbishley at West Ham. The Hammers have offered to take Heinze on-loan.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham, Portsmouth managers see Diouf impress for Senegal
tribalfooball.com - August 21, 2007
Bolton Wanderers striker El Hadji Diouf impressed in front of three
Premiership managers during last night's 1-1 draw between Ghana and Senegal
at the New Den. Diouf struck for Senegal and was watched by West Ham's Alan
Curbishley, Portsmouth's Harry Redknapp and Birmingham City's Steve Bruce.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham closing in on midfield ace - soccervoice.com
West Ham is still chasing the transfer market with just a few days laft of
the window. The player in mind at the moment is Fenerbahce midfielder
Stephen Appiah. Appiah is a 26 year old Ghana international with 51 caps for
his country. He has played most of his career in Italy with clubs such as
Udinese, Parma, Brescia and Juventus. West Ham will have to fight of
interest from Birmingham and Benfica, who are also reported to be chasing
the player.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment