Pre-Season 28th July 2007 Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: Roots Hall
Goals from Bobby Zamora, Craig Bellamy and Freddie Ljungberg sealed an impressive 3-1 win for West Ham United in a pre-season friendly against Southend United on Saturday afternoon. In a Centenary celebration match for the Essex-based League One outfit, Alan Curbishley named a strong starting 11 and saw his players respond with a hard-working and professional display to see off their local rivals. After a fairly quiet start, Hammers almost opened the scoring on 13 minutes. New Club captain Lucas Neill - who only returned to pre-season training yesterday following his Asia Cup campaign with Australia - whipped in a quickly-taken free-kick from the right that was met by Zamora, whose firm header was kept out by Darryl Flahavan. Ten minutes later, the striker came even closer to finding the net, when he headed Bellamy's cross against the bar from just a few yards out after the Welsh striker had broken free on the right.
It was third time lucky on the half hour mark, though. A neat piece of play from the commanding Neill found Ljungberg, whose raking crossfield pass bounced over the Shrimpers' defence and, without time to let the ball drop, Zamora cleverly sent a looping header over Flahavan into the net. Six minutes before the break, it was 2-0, as Etherington's deep free-kick from the right was flicked on to the crossbar by Bowyer, and Bellamy was on hand to nod home his first goal for the Club.
Five minutes into the second half, another new signing also hit the net for the first time in a West Ham United shirt to make it 3-0. A weak back-pass from Southend's Steven Hammell let in Zamora, who skipped round Flahavan and then cut the ball back for Ljungberg, whose shot took a slight deflection on its way into the net. The hosts pulled one back six minutes later, when captain Maher struck a shot from the edge of the penalty area that seemed to deceive the unsighted Green and looped past him into the net. As the game drew to a close, Curbs withdrew the likes of Zamora, Ljungberg and Etherington ahead of Tuesday's trip to Norwich City and, with two weeks to go until the start of the new Premier League campaign, the Hammers boss will have been satisfied by his team's performance as well as their fitness levels today.
Southend United: Flahavan (Collis 72), Hunt, Clarke (Liptak 82), Barrett, Gower (Lokando 88), Maher (Moussa 72), Hooper (McDonald 45), Bailey (McCormack 61), Black (Foran , Hammell (Wilson 64), Harrold (Paynter 64). Subs unused: Ademeno.
West Ham United: Green; Neill, Ferdinand, Gabbidon, McCartney; Ljungberg (Reid 72), Noble, Bowyer (Mullins 64), Etherington (Pantsil 78); Zamora (Cole 59), Bellamy. Subs unused: Wright, Spector, Upson, Collins, Davenport.
Referee: G Hegley
Att: 9,522
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Tevez agent hints at end to saga - BBC
Carlos Tevez's representative Kia Joorabchian has hinted that the striker's proposed move to Manchester United may be settled out of court. Joorabchian's companies MSI and Just Sports Inc claim they own the economic rights to the 23-year-old. Tevez's current side West Ham dispute this and Joorabchian's companies have issued the club with a High Court writ. But Joorabchian told the Daily Star newspaper: "There is a possibility it may get resolved next week."
Tevez's transfer to the Premier League champions has stalled over who will be paid the £30m transfer fee - with Joorabchian's companies issued legal proceedings against the Hammers. "I can confirm the companies have begun High Court proceedings against West Ham," said Teacher Stern Selby solicitor Graham Shear, representing the law firm representing MSI and Just Sports Inc. The statement continued: "A High Court writ was served on the football club's solicitors. "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. "We are asking the court to intervene so that Tevez can be registered to play with Manchester United as soon as possible. "We will be making no further statement at this time."
West Ham said they would be consulting their lawyers over the writ. Third-party ownership of football players is common in South America but was almost unheard of in England until Tevez and fellow Argentine Javier Mascherano joined West Ham in August 2006. Mascherano has since moved to Liverpool. Earlier, Fifa had recommended the Tevez dispute should go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The Football Association and the Premier League had asked Fifa to rule on the matter. But a Fifa statement read: "Fifa has recommended that West Ham and Carlos Tevez seek arbitration at CAS. "Under the present circumstances this was deemed to be the best approach and in the interest of all parties. "What is more, we also believe this to be the fastest way to solve this impasse."
Manchester United chief executive David Gill says his club just wants the situation to be resolved as quickly as possible. "Clearly, this is a dispute between Tevez, the owners and West Ham," stated Gill. "Hopefully, that can be solved relatively quickly and he can come to join us. I would have thought they have taken this decision in the belief that he can join us."
Tevez is registered as a West Ham player but Joorabchian claims he still owns the striker's economic rights and is therefore entitled to the transfer fee.
However, West Ham ripped up an agreement they had with Joorabchian - which broke Premier League rules - and they now claim any deal with United can only go ahead with their say-so. The Premier League, which is also insisting that any fee must go to West Ham, met Fifa and the Football Association on Monday to discuss the issue. The Premier League welcomed Fifa's decision. "We are supportive of the recommendation that if all parties are in agreement the matter should be referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport," said a Premier League spokesman. West Ham also said they were happy for CAS to rule on the issue. "We're happy for the matter to go to CAS if it is with the agreement of all parties," a West Ham statement said. West Ham were fined £5.5m pounds in April for breaking Premier League rules over third-party ownership when they signed Tevez. They were allowed to continue playing him after satisfying the Premier League that the third-party agreement with Joorabchian had been torn up.
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Bowyer keen on Dyer signing - Sky
By Lewis Rutledge - Created on 29 Jul 2007
West Ham midfielder Lee Bowyer would be happy to be reunited with former Newcastle team-mate Kieron Dyer. The Hammers appear favourites to sign Dyer, who has been told he can leave St James' Park and wants to move south to be closer to his family. Bowyer insists he would relish the opportunity to play alongside Dyer again, despite their infamous bust-up at Newcastle. The two players were both sent off in the defeat to Aston Villa in April 2005 for fighting each other, but Bowyer is adamant they can be team-mates again. "We are fine. It was a crazy moment and I've spoken about it before," he told the Sunday Mirror. "Kieron is a good player - he is versatile and can play anywhere across the midfield or up front. "If he comes here he will be good for the squad."
Bowyer is confident he will enjoy one of his best seasons for years, but accepts there is little chance of him breaking back into the England setup. He explained: "I don't really look at the England situation any more and I feel my time has gone. "I'd rather concentrate on club football. "I like to think Lee Bowyer will be a player to watch out for this season."
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Tevez resolution imminent, says Joorabchian -Soccernet
Kia Joorabchian believes Carlos Tevez's future could be resolved as early as next week. The Argentina forward's protracted move to Manchester United from West Ham had seemed unlikely to be completed before the start of the Premier League season after Joorabchian issued High Court proceedings against the London club in a bid to resolve the thorny issue of the player's ownership. However, according to the Daily Star, an out-of-court settlement could be reached soon. 'There is a possibility it may get resolved next week,' Joorabchian told the newspaper.
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Lee Bowyer luring Kieron Dyer to West Ham - Telegraph
By Matt Lawless, Sunday Telegraph
Last Updated: 10:46pm BST 28/07/2007
Lee Bowyer has urged unsettled Newcastle midfielder Kieron Dyer to forget the lure of European football with Tottenham and join him at Upton Park instead.
More than a little surprising, perhaps, considering the pair infamously came to blows on the pitch two years ago when they were still team-mates on Tyneside.
The unforgettable fracas occurred during the second half of Newcastle's 3-0 home defeat to Aston Villa in April 2005. The duo had to be separated and were sent off in shame. But Bowyer, 30, claims he is now a reformed character and insists there is no lingering animosity between the two. "We're fine now,'' he said. ''Back then when it happened, it was just a crazy moment but I honestly don't have any worries about it at all now. ''Admittedly, when I was younger I made many mistakes but now I'm older, I just want to keep myself to myself."
Dyer is expected to make his exit from St James' Park within the next 48 hours, bringing an eight-year stay in the North East to a close. West Ham head the pursuit to secure the England international's services for a reported £5 million. Bowyer says he would relish the opportunity of a midfield reunion with Dyer, adding to the trio of former Newcastle players already at the east London club, the others being new arrivals Craig Bellamy and Scott Parker. Bowyer added: "He's a great player, another international, and I think that if he comes to West Ham the competition he would bring would be very good for the squad. He can play anywhere across the middle and as a striker, so why not go for him? Let's wait and see what happens."
Bowyer describes West Ham's showing last season, when they struggled to avoid relegation, as 'unacceptable'.But he believes chairman Eggert Magnusson has given a clear sign of intent by adopting a big-spending policy and that the club are ready to progress. "It's exciting because some exceptional players have come to join our club," he said. "I think that the chairman and the manager are now showing the right ambition and that can only be good for everyone.''
Despite the £3 million purchase of Freddie Ljungberg from Arsenal, who scored in yesterday's 3-1 win over Southend, West Ham manager Alan Curbishley has said he is determined to add another midfielder after the ankle injury sustained by new signing Julien Faubert, which could keep him out for up to six months.
Dyer sat on the sidelines during Newcastle's 4-1 win over Celtic on Thursday and he will not feature in today's match against Juventus. Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce said he had no choice but to "protect the club's asset" as a move now seems inevitable for Dyer.
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Southend1West Ham3(HT 0 - 2) - TeamTalk
Kickoff: 15:00
New West Ham signings Craig Bellamy and Freddie Ljungberg both found the net as the Hammers eased to a 3-1 friendly win at Southend. In a match marking the hosts' centenary, a strong Hammers XI were led out by new captain Lucas Neill, and they were unlucky not to score midway through the first half when Bobby Zamora's header hit the bar. The former Brighton striker opened the scoring soon afterwards, however, when he headed Ljungberg's crossfield ball over Darryl Flahavan in the 30th minute. West Ham made it two 10 minutes later when Lee Bowyer headed against the bar and Belamy was on hand to nod in his first for the east Londoners. A third came in the 50th minute when Zamora pounced on a poor backpass to round the goalkeeper and square for Ljungberg who fired home via a deflection. The Shrimpers' sole response came from Kevin Maher's shot from the edge of the area.
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Curbs defends captaincy decision - teamTalk
Alan Curbishley has appointed Lucas Neil as West Ham's new captain - and immediately defended his decision after it was widely criticised. Neill could have joined Liverpool's European glory-hunt when he walked out on Blackburn last January but chose relegation strugglers West Ham instead - where wages of £70,000 a week under the new Eggert Magnusson-led regime were, reportedly, on offer to him. The 28-year-old Australia defender, who is also captain of his national team, recovered from injury problems to help the Hammers clinch safety with a run of seven wins in their last 10 games. And Curbishley insisted: "He has all the qualities needed to captain a club of this stature."
Curbishley, who highlighted the money-driven "Baby Bentley" culture among top players soon after becoming West Ham manager in December, told the club's official website: "Lucas understands the role and has been used to it with Blackburn Rovers and Australia. "I'm sure it is an appointment that everybody at the club is happy with."
Neill admitted: "Things that were said when I joined West Ham hurt me a bit, but after I was injured I could have easily sat on the bench and just picked up my wages if I had come here just for the money. "I was told very clearly, though, I would be an important part of the side and that's why I chose West Ham. This is proof of their faith in me and I want to give something back. "I'm not going to be a ranter and raver as a captain. There are plenty of leaders in the dressing room but we will all be open to our own particular criticisms. "I'll do the best job I possibly can. Perhaps I'll just do it like an Aussie. We want to be winners with a winning habit and not get carried away with ourselves."
Neill revealed that mere survival will be the Hammers' first goal this term after the traumas of last season. "We'll look to get 40 points as quickly as possible and see where we go from there," he said. "Last season at the end was tough, but fun in the end because we appeared to have nothing to lose at one stage and were already down. "We just decided to go for it and it paid off. Now if we can start the season like we finished the last one we will be well set. "The guys who came in midway through last season and the ones we've acquired in the summer will hopefully make us a formidable squad, capable of finishing nearer the top six than the bottom six. "This is a club with so much great history and so many great players who have led the team out. "To see my name up alongside those people is a fantastic feeling and an opportunity I will relish."
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QUINN CLARIFIES COMMENTS - Sky
By Mark Buckingham - Created on 29 Jul 2007
Niall Quinn has apologised for causing offence to Portsmouth and West Ham United for his comments regarding the summer's transfer dealings. The Sunderland chairman picked out Pompey and The Hammers as two clubs who have forced transfer prices up in recent weeks. Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp was unhappy with Quinn's comments and feels Sunderland have been equally active in the transfer market. The former Republic of Ireland international has now apologised to Redknapp and believes his original comments have been misinterpreted. "I want to say fair play to West Ham and Portsmouth," Quinn told Sky Sports News. "They're having a go and it's very tough. We're having the same kind of a go and we're trying very hard. "It was in response to a question about why is it so dear. We're all trying to get into that top four - that's what everybody's dream is. Fair play to Portsmouth, fair play to West Ham. "The real people who are loving this are the agents and that's the point I was trying to make. "If I offended people in Portsmouth and West Ham I apologise, that was not my intention at all. "But it had to be pointed out that, while it's going on, this real quest and hunger to drive clubs up, with the prices going as high as they are, it's the agent and player, ultimately, who is benefiting. That's the point I was trying to make. I apologise to Harry, who I think got a bit upset. I will meet him some time and buy him a drink!"
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Curbishley calls for end to Lazy Journalism - westhammers.co.uk
Story by Barney French 29 July 2007
Hammers boss strikes out at lazy tabloid journalism which has seen West Ham publicly flogged for overspending Niall Quinn recently aimed a swipe at Premiership teams spending too much in the transfer market and hoiking up the going rate for players. Oh the irony Mr Quinn, when your own club, Sunderland, has spent £20mil this summer. And that is only a humble £2mil less than Alan Curbishley and Eggert Magnusson have used to attract new additions to the Hammers squad. Curbishley, fed up with being labelled as a potential 'New Leeds' has struck back a day after Harry Redknapp also had some choice words for Mr Quinn. AC spoke to the Sunday Express. "I don't quite understand the criticism that gets levelled at us from the likes of Niall Quinn and people. "It's always 'money-bags West Ham' but if you care to analyse it, (Craig) Bellamy at £7.5million isn't a bad deal. (Scott) Parker at £7m isn't bad. I don't think we've done too badly. "We've spent £22m but we've taken £21m in and everyone seems to forget that."
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CURBISHLEY TELLS CRITICS TO BUTTON IT - Sunday Express
Sunday July 29,2007
By Tony Paskin Have your say(0)
WEST HAM boss Alan Curbishley watched his side beat Southend 3-1 – then had an angry word for his critics. New signings Freddie Ljungberg and Craig Bellamy both grabbed their first goals for the Hammers as they eased to victory – but Curbishley said: "I don't quite understand the criticism that gets levelled at us from the likes of Niall Quinn and people. "It's always 'money-bags West Ham' but if you care to analyse it, (Craig) Bellamy at £7.5million isn't a bad deal. (Scott) Parker at £7m isn't bad. I don't think we've done too badly. "We've spent £22m but we've taken £21m in and everyone seems to forget that."
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Curbishley dismisses Dyer link - BViewlondon.co.uk
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley has dismissed speculation that he is about to launch a bid for Newcastle midfielder Kieron Dyer. Dyer wants to leave St James' Park and move closer to his family in Ipswich and is believed to favour a transfer to a London club. Curbishley says he will not reveal whether the Hammers have an interest in any players while they are under contract to another club. He told Sky Sports: "I do not think it is right to ask me about other club's players."
The Hammers boss has been thwarted in his attempts to bring Shaun Wright Phillips to the club and is believed to have switched his attentions to Dyer.
Tottenham manager Martin Jol has also been linked with a move for the £5 million-rated 28-year-old who seems certain to leave the north-east as Magpies manager Sam Allardyce looks to increase his transfer kitty. Curbishley feels that the increased speculation surrounding the club's transfer activities this summer is due to an increase in expectation levels ahead of the new season. He said: "The people I am trying to bring in are the right age, right experience, enthusiastic and want to do well, so perhaps players are seeing West Ham in a different light."
The current Hammers squad continued their pre-season preparations yesterday with a 3-1 victory over Southend. New signings Freddie Ljungberg and Craig Bellamy were on the scoresheet while striker Bobby Zamora also netted for the east London side.
© Adfero Ltd
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FREDDIE SET FOR HAMMERS REVIVAL - Sunday Express
Sunday July 29,2007
By Mike Carey
FREDDIE Ljungberg scored his first goal as a West Ham player before predicting his new club will set the Premier League alight this year. The Swedish striker helped West Ham to a 3-1 win over Southend. His surprise move from Arsenal came about, Ljungberg said, because he believes West Ham have the ability to be one of the top teams in Europe – if owner Eggert Magnusson lives up to his word. Ljungberg said: "There were a lot of offers in the summer and I had to think a lot but I wanted to come because Magnusson really wants to go for it. "He wants to take this club to a higher level and I was inspired by that. It is a big challenge for me and I am ready for it." Fellow new boy Craig Bellamy also scored, along with Bobby Zamora, while Southend got a consolation through Kevin Maher.
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Ljungberg and Bellamy give West Ham reason to believe
Southend 1 - 3 West Ham
Maher 55; Zamora 29, Bellamy 39, Ljungberg 50 (friendly)
Jamie Jackson
Sunday July 29, 2007
The Observer
After the clear summer he so wanted to acquire players and mould his team, Alan Curbishley will have been happy with this performance. It was easily the best of the six outings he has so far overseen in preparation for a campaign the West Ham fans and hierarchy will pray does not mirror last year's soap opera. The squad Curbishley has been allowed to assemble means it is now - having inherited Alan Pardew's team and problems - purely a test of his managerial abilities.
And following this comfortable win, he was keen to stress an ability to play the transfer market. 'The way in which we've been reported suggests we've spent loads of money. But if you examine it you'll see that £23million has gone out and £21m has come back. Five other clubs, including Portsmouth and Fulham, have spent more than us,' the manager said. 'And what I've done is replaced those players who have left rather than added. The chairman [Eggert Magnusson] has been quite bullish since he came in. And he accepts we're still a bit skinny in some areas.'
While Yossi Benayoun, Nigel Reo-Coker, Paul Konchesky and Marlon Harewood have left, the manager has spent a club record £7.5m on Craig Bellamy, £7m on Scott Parker, £6.1m for French midfielder Julien Faubert and landed Freddie Ljungberg on a bargain free transfer. He also has Dean Ashton - rested here - back after last year's season-long injury nightmare.
Expectations have now risen. Curbishley - who would not be pressed on whether another striker is on the list - will be under scrutiny once Premier League festivities are joined again on Saturday week. He did say: 'What we need is a good solid season. And not wake up each day to hear West Ham being talked about on the radio.' This was a reference to last year's travails and the final-day win at Manchester United, which saved the club from relegation. But following the ill will produced by the Carlos Tevez affair - 'I'm keeping an open mind about it all,' he deadpanned over a saga that may finally be decided this week - many neutrals might hope results in the opening month are unkind.
The first five matches of pre- season had suggested they might. Since the opening 2-0 victory over Dagenham and Redbridge on 14 July, Curbishley had not managed to beat Lazio, Sigma Olomouc. MK Dons or Leyton Orient. But this outing was different. Although Faubert is out for six months with an Achilles problem and Parker may also miss the opening of the season because of injury, Curbishley was heartened by the superior fitness, pace and slick passing presented to Southend. It was a contest effectively ended by two first-half goals. The opener came after 29 minutes. Ljungberg played a clever diagonal from the right. Darryl Flahavan thought he could claim it before Bobby Zamora, but, having advanced to the edge of the area, the West Ham No 9 beat the Southend keeper with a looping header that rolled in off a post.
Bellamy, the day's best player, then got his reward when Lee Bowyer headed Matthew Etherington's ball against the bar. From the rebound, the Wales captain finished. That was after 39 minutes.
At the interval, Curbishley will have requested more of the same and he received it. Zamora laid the ball back for Ljungberg and Sweden's captain showed his quality by coolly side-footing home. For a couple of minutes, last season's complacency made a reappearance. Robert Green had spent the afternoon watching. Now, on 55 minutes, he had to pick out a 25-yard zinger from home captain Kevin Maher.
Ljungberg left on 67 minutes, after showing that if he stays fit he could add the extra dimension to allow his new club to challenge at the better end of the division. It should prove good viewing come 11 August.
Roots Hall 9,522
SOUTHEND Flahavan (Collis 67); Hunt, Clarke (Liptak 81) Barrett, Hammell (Wilson 62); Black (Foran 60), Maher (Moussa 67), Bailey (McCormack 60), Gower (Lokando 87); Harrold (Paynter 62), Hooper (MacDonald, ht) Subs not used: Ademeno WEST HAM Green; Neill, Ferdinand, Gabbidon, McCartney; Ljungberg (Reid 67), Noble, Bowyer (Mullins 62), Etherington (Pantsil 77); Bellamy, Zamora (Cole, 58) Subs not used: Wright, Spector, Upson, Collins, Davenport
Referee G Hegley
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