17/10/2007 11:17
Anton Ferdinand has lent his weight to the latest Kick It Out initiative
designed to raise awareness of anti-racism activities.
Speaking exclusively to WHUTV, the West Ham United defender backed the One
Game, One Community drive being used to promote an extended week of action
running from until 30 October. The club's Kick It Out ambassador, Ferdinand
spoke about the progress made over the years and his personal experiences of
racism in football. Click here to see the interview.
During the week of action, scores of grassroots sides, schools, community
groups and fans will be joining clubs like West Ham United in more than
1,000 symbolic activities promoting inclusion across the country. Last year,
more than 800 events took place during the week of action, including an
anti-racism match day at all 92 professional clubs in England and Wales.
West Ham United will be raising anti-racism awareness at Sunday's home game
with Sunderland. For more, return to whufc.com on Thursday or check out the
matchday programme this weekend. The club has a firm commitment to Kick It
Out's good work and is applying for the Racial Equality Standard, a
formalised commitment to creating an environment where spectators, players,
managers and administrative staff can participate without fear of any racial
discrimination.
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Bellamy plays again for Wales - WHUFC
17/10/2007 21:35
Craig Bellamy was at his creative best for Wales on Wednesday night on an
evening when Freddie Ljungberg's Sweden edged towards a place at Euro 2008.
Welsh captain Bellamy created two first-half goals for a 2-1 victory in San
Marino as John Toshack's men returned to winning ways in unspectacular
fashion after a 3-1 defeat in Cyprus at the weekend. The forward showed no
ill-effects from recent groin surgery as he first set up Robert Earnshaw
with an incisive pass in the 13th minute before supplying the cross for Joe
Ledley nine minutes from half-time that ended a free-flowing move.
If the overall team performance in the Group D contest did not catch the
eye, at least Bellamy, like club-mate Danny Gabbidon, got a full 90 minutes
under his belt for the second time in four days. The news will be a welcome
boost for Alan Curbishley, who had already lost James Collins to a calf
injury on Wales duty last Saturday, ahead of the visit of Sunderland when
West Ham United return to Premier League action on Sunday.
Having picked up a knock himself in Saturday's 3-0 win in Liechtenstein,
Ljungberg remained on the bench for Sweden's 1-1 draw against Northern
Ireland in Stockholm that took them closer to next summer's finals.
Club-mate George McCartney was in the Northern Irish lineup and played 87
minutes but could do nothing about Olof Mellberg's early strike. Kyle
Lafferty equalised late on to keep alive the visitors' slim hopes of
qualifying from Group F.
Elsewhere, Christian Dailly, on loan at Southampton until 22 October, was an
unused substitute as Scotland lost 2-0 at Group B rivals Georgia. Despite
the defeat, the Scots will still qualify for Austria and Switzerland should
they see off world champions Italy at home next month. England, who were
denied the services of Dean Ashton after injury, are also in a precarious
position after a 2-1 loss in Russia left qualification out of their hands
with just one home game against Croatia to come.
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Winter sportswear hits club shops - WHUFC
17/10/2007 18:29
Fans can get up close to their West Ham United heroes during half-term week
as the club's brand new range of winter sportswear is unveiled. A series of
special events will be staged at both the stadium and Lakeside shopping
centre stores, while there will also be the chance for customers to win
flight tickets with XL. The club sponsors are offering five pairs of tickets
via a prize draw in store on their new route from London Gatwick to Knock in
Ireland.
The player appearances will take place between 2pm and 4pm on the following
days, although please note the players and dates are subject to change:
Monday 22 October - Dean Ashton and Freddie Ljungberg (Stadium shop)
Wednesday 24 October - Anton Ferdinand and Mark Noble (Lakeside shop)
Thursday 25 October - Robert Green and Lucas Neill (Stadium shop).
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Dyer targets injury comeback - SSN
Midfielder confident of six-month recovery
By Peter Fraser Last updated: 17th October 2007
Kieron Dyer has targeted a return to the West Ham first-team before the end
of the season. The midfielder has been sidelined ever since he suffered a
double break of his leg in the Carling Cup tie with Bristol Rovers on 28th
August.
However, Dyer - who joined West Ham in the summer following a £6million
switch from Newcastle - is confident he will return to action within six
months. "I never doubted that I would be able to recover," Dyer told Sky
Sports News.
"There have been a couple of players who have had a double break of the leg
and they made a full recovery. "It's quite a simple operation and the
operation went well. I'm just playing it by ear now and taking it day by
day. "I'm starting to pick-up the rehab now and fingers crossed I will
feature before the season is up."
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Noble left to rue hat-trick miss - TeamTalk
West Ham midfielder Mark Noble was disappointed not to claim a hat-trick as
England Under-21s beat the Republic of Ireland 3-0. Noble returned after
suspension and scored twice - James Milner grabbed the other goal - for
Stuart Pearce's side in Cork. But the 20-year-old was not satisfied and told
Sky Sports: "I should have had a hat-trick but two is good enough for me."
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Noble aims for the top - Newham Recorder
17 October 2007
SINCE Mark Noble broke into the West Ham starting line-up with 10 games to
go last season, it has been almost entirely a magnificent success story,
WRITES DAVE EVANS. Aside from the game at Blackburn last term where he was
taken off at half time, Noble has been one of the leading lights in the team
and his goal against Spurs at Upton Park was one of the highlights of the
season.
Vital
Last summer he broke into the England under-21 squad and played a vital part
in their march to the semi-finals of the European Champion-ships, and now
this term he had looked assured and confident, even holding his nerve to
score the penalty that won the match at St Andrews against Birmingham in
August.
And so, it was a huge surprise to see him dropped from the starting line-up
against Aston Villa and perhaps one of the most surprised was Noble himself.
"Obviously I wanted to play and was gutted because I didn't," confessed the
20-year-old Canning Town-born West Ham fan.
"I didn't see it coming, but that's football and you've just got to get on
with it."
At the beginning of the season, manager Alan Curbishley had been critical of
Noble's performance against Manchester City on the opening day, but with
Scott Parker on the injured list, the boss persevered with Noble alongside
Hayden Mullins.
However, despite Parker being back on the treatment table, and on the back
of consecutive defeats, Curbishley opted to pair Lee Bowyer with Mullins in
the centre of the park, a decision that in the end perhaps proved to be the
wrong one.
"Obviously the gaffer made a few changes at Villa Park," explained Noble,
who eventually came on as a substitute with just nine minutes left.
"I was sub and I wasn't happy because I want to play, but obviously that's
his decision."
He continued: "I got 10 minutes and wanted to come on and get a goal, but it
wasn't to be."
Noble was suspended for the under-21s 1-0 win over Montenegro last Friday
night, but stormed back with a man of the match performance and two first
half goals in the 3-0 win over the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday.
With the generation headed by the likes of Nigel Reo-Coker and Anton
Ferdinand now too old for the under-21s, Noble has become one of the vital
members of the team.
He is hoping to make himself just as invaluable to the Hammers.
"Villa was the first game I've missed since I broke into the side," he
confirmed. "The boss just filled me in and said he was going a different way
and he's the manager so you have to accept it. You just have to get on with
it, there's always another time."
That time is likely to come on Sunday when Roy Keane's Sunderland come down
to Upton Park, and it is certainly a game that Noble is looking forward to.
"The Sunderland game is live on Sky so that's an extra incentive to do well
and crack on and get a result at home, because we need that," said Noble.
"We are not scoring enough goals at the moment and we're not keeping clean
sheets, and when that happens you get punished. I wouldn't say we're worried
because it's still early in the season, but for our confidence it is not
that good."
Whatever the motives behind Curbishley leaving his young midfielder out at
Villa Park, and it may have been something to do with the horror tackle on
Aleksandr Hleb against Arsenal, that earned him a slightly lenient booking,
Noble would have learned from the experience.
It will certainly not affect his brash confidence which is so much a part of
his game and played so vital a role in West Ham's Premier League survival
last season, but it may have rammed home the need for him to be on the top
of his game in every single match.
Noble was certainly unhappy about missing out at Villa Park, maybe it will
be Sunderland who bear the brunt of his anger.
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Big match preview - Newham Recorder
17 October 2007
WHAT DO you get when you cross Roy Keane with £32million? Answer, an average
Premier League football team.
For although Keane must be applauded for turning round a Sunderland team who
were heading for League One when he took over, let us not forget the money
he has been allowed to spend on them.
There were so many pundits harping about the amount of cash that the Hammers
were spending over the summer, but when you compare it to the money they
recouped from selling players, it was a mere drop in the ocean.
Sunderland however, have splashed out a whopping £9million on goalkeeper
Craig Gordon, and added £5.5m for Kieran Richardson, £5m for Michael Chopra,
£2.5m for both Paul McShane and Danny Higginbotham, another £1.5m for
Dickson Etuhu, and last but not least £6m for Southampton striker Kenwyne
Jones, who has grabbed two goals in five games since moving to the north
east.
That's £32million in outlay and not a penny in return, but despite that,
their return of eight points from the opening six games has been greeted as
a modicum of success.
Perhaps not by the stern, vitriolic Keane though. His mean demeanour as a
player has transferred admirably into his role as a manager and the team's
3-0 Carling Cup defeat at Luton last month saw him almost blow a gasket!
Aside from that result, the Black Cats have looked promising though, despite
failing to record an away league victory this term.
A battling 3-2 defeat at leaders Arsenal saw them at their best though they
have managed 2-2 draws at Middlesbrough and Birmingham as well as defeats at
Wigan (3-0) and Manchester United (1-0).
Last time they came to Upton Park, goals from Dean Ashton and Paul Konchesky
were enough for the Hammers.
The likes of Jones and Chopra may prove a handful this time round, while
Gordon is on a high from his Scotland performances recently, but West Ham
will be hungry to break their run of three consecutive Premier League
defeats and with Craig Bellamy likely to be back, they should do just that.
PROBABLE TEAM: Gordon, Halford, Nosworthy, Higginbotham, Collins,
Leadbitter, Yorke, Miller, Wallace, Chopra, Jones.
Prediction:
West Ham 2 Sunderland 0
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Who was the Hammers greatest ever left back? - Newham Recorder
17 October 2007
Nobody knows more about post-war West Ham and their players than former
Recorder Hammers correspondent Trevor Smith. We have asked him to pick his
favourite team of Boleyn Boys, and after selecting Phil Parkes as the top
goalkeeper he now continues with:
THE FULL BACKS
TO pull rank on such class West Ham full backs as Harry Kinsell, Noel
Cantwell and Julian Dicks requires a pretty good player.
Frank Lampard senior is that player in my book.
Maybe Harry's was the more fluent left stick, but then Frank always said he
himself was right-footed.
While no slouch, Frank might have trailed a bit to Noel, who was a noted 100
yards merchant in his native Ireland before joining the Hammers.
Julian probably hit both ball and opponents harder, though not much, even if
Frank never rivalled him on red cards.
Frank's talents however, were enough for him to get in over 650 games in an
18-year West Ham career.
It would have been more had Sheffield United's Willy Carlin not broken
Frank's leg in the teenage defender's 19th appearance.
The injury might have finished some, but getting over it, Frank showed the
determination and application that were later to characterise his game.
He had the good fortune to play for seasons alongside Bobby Moore. That
said, I recall Frank saying on one of the few occasions he talked football
to me.
"What do you reckon on some of those short passes 'Mooro' gives me?"
I also remember chatting one day to a dad whose son was among the hopefuls
training Tuesday and Thursday evenings at West Ham, hoping to get signed on.
Frank was one of the coaches and apparently astounded the youngsters with
his pace and control!
I declare that such qualities were honed dealing with those short balls of
Moore's!
The 21 goals Frank scored in that long, one-club career are testimony to his
focus on just where a defender's priorities are. No getting caught wildly
out of position messing about up front.
Luckily for the Hammers, Frank was doing just that when he netted the diving
header against Everton that put West Ham in the 1980 FA Cup Final.
His unexpected presence in their area certainly caught Everton on the hop
and afterwards Frank said wryly the only reason he was there when the chance
came was because he was still struggling to get back downfield from a West
Ham corner.
The consistent level of performance Frank kept up is indicated by the
eight-year gap between the two England caps he won, to go with under-23 and
youth honours. It happens at times in cricket, but not often in football.
Frank was a useful cricketer but not as good as Frank Junior, who earned
South of England Independent Schools' recognition.
The dilemma in the Lampard household over which sport young Frank should
concentrate on was resolved, his mum Pat once told me, when old Frank
declared: "I don't care what and who he plays for - as long as it's West Ham
United!"
Another instance of my best Hammers' left back getting his priorities bang
on!
3. FRANK LAMPARD
Born: East Ham, 1948
Appearances: 663 (Goals 22) England caps: 2
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Who is Hammers' greatest ever right back? - Newham Recorder
17 October 2007
Nobody knows more about post-war West Ham and their players than former
Recorder Hammers correspondent Trevor Smith. We have asked him to pick his
favourite team of Boleyn Boys, and after selecting Phil Parkes as the top
goalkeeper he now continues with:
THE FULL BACKS
BONDY - big John - is the only possible right back choice for me.
Not the callow teenager with the rural Essex accent whose mighty,
kick-it-up-their-end punts led the 'Chicken Run' to fondly dub him 'Muffin'.
The John Bond I mean is the one who posted a record league appearance tally
for a West Ham right back, the one whose diligent working at the game
enabled him to join Noel Cantwell in the best full back pairing of their
day.
He was, not just in my view, England's leading number two at his peak!
It was Bonds' ill-luck however, to play at a time when the England side was
named by a selection committee headed by Chelsea chairman Joe Mears and
which, in consequence, opted regularly for Stamford Bridge's Peter Sillett.
While no wing-back in today's parlance, big John was also Hammers' most free
scoring defender ever, discounting Ray Stewart, who scored most of his goals
from the penalty spot.
In the three seasons from 1957-58 to 1959-60, Bond bagged 22 league goals
and of the century-plus West Ham rifled in during that first season's
promotion campaign, he weighed in with eight.
None was more significant than the last of that haul. It came in the
season's penultimate game, at home to Liverpool, who were in the chasing
pack behind Hammers and Blackburn.
Inhibited
Needing a point to be sure of promotion, West Ham seemed inhibited, rarely
threatening to add to the campaign's 97-goal tally, and allowing Liverpool's
towering second string goalkeeper Rudkin a relatively quiet time.
A best of season Upton Park gate of close on 38,000 was dismayed when
Hammers went behind, and even when they won a direct free kick several yards
outside the box, right of centre, it offered scant prospect as Rudkin
carefully lined-up his wall.
But, advancing to take the kick, Bond pierced that wall with a thunderous
low drive which flew home, just inside the post.
The game stayed 1-1 and thanks to Bond's blast, West Ham were promoted,
finally ending a 26-year exile from Division One.
The following Saturday, pressure-free, they went up in a blaze of glory as
champions following a sparkling final game 3-1 win at Middlesbrough which
might have been harder to obtain had Liverpool become only the second
successful visitors to West Ham the previous week.
A founder member of the coterie of Hammers who spent numerous afternoons
arguing football tactics in Cassetari's Barking Road cafe, along from the
Boleyn, John also took the first steps to later managerial success by
coaching in East London schools.
He'll not thank me for telling a story about which I heard from an old
classmate who was doing teaching practice at the old school where John
worked.
Discipline
En route to the playing field one day, an apple core hit John's broad back.
When nobody would own up he gave a brief lecture on football's need for
discipline, then marched the lot of them back to school - coaching
cancelled.
Some of big John's West Ham goals were scored when Ted Fenton used him to
fill in up front where he gave opponents enough to get on with, but right
back is where he would be in my squad.
2. JOHN BOND
Born: Colchester, 1932
Appearances: 428 (Goals 35)
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More live dates for Hammers - Newham Recorder
17 October 2007
WITH live games against Sunderland, Portsmouth, Coventry City Bolton and
Spurs to come in the next few weeks, West Ham have also been chosen for
three games in December for coverage on Sky Television.
It all begins on Saturday, December 1, when West Ham's trip to west London
to take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge has been switched to an early 12.45pm
kick off.
That looks like a mouthwatering lunchtime clash, but perhaps not quite so
appetising is the match the following week when the Hammers have to make a
trip to the north west.
West Ham's scheduled clash with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park has been
switched from Saturday, December 8 to Sunday, December 9 with a 4pm kick off
against Mark Hughes' men.
Lastly, all those sporting hangovers after the excesses of Christmas Day
will be delighted to know that the Boxing Day clash with Reading will kick
off at 1pm for live coverage.
Mind you, at least it is at home!
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Andy could be handy in January - Newham Recorder
17 October 2007
JANUARY may be three months away, but already West Ham are being linked with
big-money buys in the transfer window, writes DAVE EVANS. Everton striker
Andy Johnson is said to be top of the West Ham shopping list as the Hammers
look to strengthen their injury-ravaged squad and push for a European place
in the second half of the season. The 26-year-old England international, has
struggled with the Toffees this season, scoring just one goal.
While his overall tally is none too impressive either, as the former Crystal
Palace marksman, who cost Everton £8.6million when he signed from the Eagles
in May 2006, has managed just 13 goals in 44 appearances. He would be
another speedy striker though to add to Alan Curbishley's squad as he
continues to look for a pacy line-up, in order to play a counter-attacking
game, particularly away. Johnson is said to be keen to return to London and
a bid of around £8million would be a tempting offer for Everton boss David
Moyes. Meanwhile, West Ham arranged a special behind closed doors friendly
against Dagenham & Redbridge yesterday (Wednesday) in order to test the
fitness of two players looking for a place in Sunday's line-up against
Sunderland. Anton Ferdinand and Henri Camara are both battling to overcome
hamstring injuries and if they come through unscathed would give a timely
boost for Curbishley as he copes with an ever-growing list of injuries. This
week already, James Collins and Freddie Ljungberg have suffered knocks that
are likely to rule them out of the clash with Roy Keane's team. Sunday's
match will be shown live on Sky television, and kicks off at 4pm.
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Dyer takes first step on long road to recovery - Newham Recorder
17 October 2007
IT HAS been over six weeks since that fateful night in Bristol when Kieron
Dyer suffered a double fracture of his left leg. But only now have doctors
said that he is allowed to put weight down on his foot - though he will
still have to use two crutches. Still, for the 28-year-old midfielder, it is
a tentative step in the right direction, as the Hammers' head physio George
Cooper was quick to point out. "Kieron met with his surgeon and it went
really well as he said that he was right on schedule with his
rehabilitation," he said. "He was given the all-clear to continue using two
crutches and to put his injured leg down, gradually introducing weight over
the next month." Dyer is still a long way off a return, but the former
Newcastle man has been heartened by the response of the West Ham fans. "I
have been passed so many messages that the fans have been sending in," he
said. "They have been saying how gutted they all are for me and that really
means a lot." Get well soon Kieron.
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Hammers star Keane to impress his idol - ShieldsGazette
WEST Ham midfielder Mark Noble is hoping to upset his role model Roy Keane
at the weekend. The England Under-21 international freely admits the
Sunderland manager is one of his heroes. He started out as a playmaker, but,
helped by former boss Alan Pardew, changed into a more combative player in
the Keane mould. "He was one of the best we've ever seen in that position,"
said Noble. "A lot of the players have looked up to him and learnt from his
game. "I always said he and Patrick Vieira were the best in the league
during their days - and if I can be half as good as him I'll be happy."
Ironically, Noble could have followed in Keane's footsteps by playing for
the Republic of Ireland, but turned down an approach from them earlier in
his career. "The club got a phone call because of my Irish connections. I
was thoroughly blown away by that - but I wanted to play for England. "That
was my dream from a young age, and I hope I can keep playing the way I am
and score a few goals and one day get that chance."
Noble is determined to help get one over on his idol when the Hammers take
on Keane's Sunderland side at Upton Park on Sunday. "We've got to kick on at
home," he said. We haven't had a win for three games now - and with the
squad we have, that shouldn't happen. "We need three points on the board and
get back up the table and give our fans something to cheer about. We haven't
done that lately."
Last Updated: 18 October 2007 7:25 AM
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Loan ace's uncertain R's future - ESS
Last Updated: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 18:03
Loan winger Hogan Ephraim has admitted that he does not know where he will
be playing once his QPR loan stint has expired next month. The 19-year-old
has agreed to a third and final month on loan at Loftus Road from
Premiership West Ham, where he will be out of contract next summer. As a
result Ephraim does not know if the Hammers will agree for him to move back
to the R's in the future or even join another club. "I've only got this
season left at West Ham and nothing has been talked about so far," he told
QPR's official website. "I go back to West Ham on November 6, and whether
West Ham and QPR come to an agreement, or West Ham and another club, I'm not
too sure yet."
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Noble: England all the way for me - TeamTalk
Mark Noble insists he never considered turning his back on England to play
for Republic of Ireland - and says Tuesday's brace was a "dream". Noble
turned down an approach from the Republic earlier in his career - and he
scored twice against them in a 3-0 win for Stuart Pearce's youngsters. "I've
been expecting the text messages saying 'why have you scored against our
team?' - but I play for England," said the West Ham midfielder. "The club
got a phone call because of my Irish connections. I was thoroughly blown
away by that - but I wanted to play for England. "That was my dream from a
young age, and I hope I can keep playing the way I am and score a few goals
and one day get that chance." Gabriel Agbonlahor qualifies for Nigeria, and
his England future looked in doubt when he could not be contacted in the
summer to confirm his call-up for the Under-21s European Championships. The
Aston Villa forward was brought back into Pearce's squad this season and has
stated his intention to continue playing for England rather than applying
for a swap. Nedum Onuoha can also play for Nigeria, but Pearce said: "I've
never had a conversation about him playing for anyone else. "I've known him
a long time and I don't envisage him playing for anyone else."
Onuoha was in the heart of Pearce's defence for the victory in Cork,
extending England's run of victories to four in their Euro 2009 qualifying
campaign. Noble made an instant return from suspension, after missing the
win over Montenegro last week. "The gaffer has had a word with me, and I
told him I regretted what I did and I don't want to sit out another game,"
he said. "I think I showed him that against Ireland."
Roy Keane was first noticed at nearby Cobh Ramblers, and the Sunderland boss
would have noted Noble's form as his team face West Ham on Sunday. Noble
started out as a playmaker in midfield but, helped by former boss Alan
Pardew, changed into a more combative player in the mould of Keane. "He was
one of the best we've ever seen in that position," said Noble. "A lot of the
players have looked up to him and learnt from his game. "I always said he
and Patrick Vieira were the best in the league during their days - and if I
can be half as good as him I'll be happy." Noble is determined to help his
club get back on track at Upton Park this weekend. "We've got to kick on at
home," he said.
"We haven't had a win for three games now - and with the squad we have, that
shouldn't happen. "We need three points on the board and get back up the
table and give our fans something to cheer about. We haven't done that
lately."
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Dyer confident of West Ham return
tribalfooball.com - October 17, 2007
Injury-plagued midfielder Kieron Dyer has targeted a return to the West Ham
first-team before the end of the season.
The former Newcastle man has been sidelined ever since he suffered a double
break of his leg in the Carling Cup tie with Bristol Rovers in August.
However Dyer is confident he will return to action within six months. "I
never doubted that I would be able to recover," Dyer told Sky Sports
News."There have been a couple of players who have had a double break of the
leg and they made a full recovery. "It's quite a simple operation and the
operation went well. I'm just playing it by ear now and taking it day by
day. "I'm starting to pick-up the rehab now and fingers crossed I will
feature before the season is up."
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Mullins happy with West Ham stay
tribalfooball.com - October 17, 2007
As the transfer rumour mill rumbled away in the summer, Hayden Mullins was
touted as 'certain' to be leaving West Ham. But Mullins, who joined the
Hammers from Crystal Palace in October 2003, proved his critics wrong. The
28-year-old has featured in all ten of West Ham's games this season and is
determined to keep fighting for his place. He told the Citizen,"The club's
going in the right direction. We're trying to become a top-half-of-the-table
club. We're pushing for Europe and obviously the signings prove that," he
said. "There's a lot of competition for places throughout the whole squad -
we've got a very big squad. I just felt that this is a very good club to be
at and I made my decision to stay."
A move to Charlton was on the cards as part of West Ham's attempt to sign
Darren Bent, but, said Mullins, when that fell through, he never had any
doubts about where he wanted to be, despite the departures from Upton Park
of close friends Nigel Reo-Coker and Marlon Harewood. "They made the
decision that was right for them and I made mine," he said. Rather than
complaining or worrying that he might not be first choice under manager Alan
Curbishley, he got his head down and worked hard. Mullins said: "It's about
getting on with it and being professional. "If you're not training right
after you've been dropped or you sulk about then you're never going to be
ready to take your chance. That's something that you learn over the years
and I kept myself fit and kept myself going and when called upon and asked
to perform, hopefully I've done it well."
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Latics eye Hammers keeper - Daily Mail
Last updated at 14:07pm on 17th October 2007
Oldham are set to make a move for West Ham goalkeeper Jimmy Walker. Boss
John Sheridan wants to sign the 34-year-old on-loan to ease a goalkeeper
crisis at Boundary Park. First choice Mark Crossley, 38, has been ruled out
for a month with a thigh tear, while deputy Les Pogliacomi will be out until
Christmas after undergoing surgery to repair knee damage.
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McCartney plans to shut up Hammers team-mate - Daily Mail
Last updated at 11:49am on 17th October 2007
Northern Ireland's George McCartney faces Swedish club-mate Freddie
Ljungberg in a Euro 2008 qualifier. The defender warned: "I think Freddie
normally plays on the left for Sweden but if he is on the right and I am
playing it will be a very interesting battle." "He is a top player for club
and country so I will just be keeping an eye on him and making sure he has
as quiet a game as possible."
Meanwhile Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington has expressed his
"shock" that a player might consider turning his back on international
football. Former World Cup finalist Worthington, who won 66 caps in a
13-year spell from 1984, was reacting to reports that squad members Gareth
McAuley and Ivan Sproule were considering their futures at this level. Both
players decided to go public on their frustration at their lack of 'game
time'. While Worthington stated he was unaware of their comments, he said:
"I would be shocked if that was the case. "To represent your country at any
level - be it as a player, coach or manager - is a wonderful thing. "I
always looked forward to representing my country and giving my best. What I
would say to whoever is to keep an open mind. The years go by very quickly.
"I would rather have a lot of caps on the table as opposed to one or two."
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