Barclays Premiership 11th August 2007 Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: Upton Park Attendance: 34,921 Referee:Peter Walton
West Ham United heralded a whole new beginning at Upton Park but it proved a
disappointing kick-off to the new season for Alan Curbishley as Rolando
Bianchi and Geovanni gave Sven-Goran Eriksson's mix 'n' match side victory.
A goal in each half from the Italian and Brazilian substitute gave City all
three points against a home team that saw Craig Bellamy and stand-in skipper
Freddie Ljungberg make promising, albeit disappointing Hammers debuts.
With new England boss Steve McClaren watching from the Directors' box, his
predecessor Eriksson had handed starts to half-a-dozen new players, who had
cost £30million-plus during a summer buying frenzy. Having bought some on
video evidence alone, the Swede must have been just as inquisitive as the
City fans packed into the Centenary Stand, to see how his costly collection
of foreign faces would fare. Certainly, the early indications looked
promising as £4.7million Bulgarian Martin Petrov sent a trio of long-rangers
wide, while £8million Brazilian, Elano, fired over from 20-yards. And on 18
minutes, City went one better and took the lead when Elano's low, right-wing
cross into the six-yard box was slid home by lone, £8.8million Italian
striker Rolando Bianchi, who had slipped his markers. Eriksson's five-man,
midfield blanket continued to stifle the frustrated Hammers and only a brave
double-stop by Robert Green prevented Bianchi from gobbling up the
left-overs after Elano let fly with another long ranger. Ten minutes before
the break, Ljungberg finally found himself with time on his hands to muster
Hammers' first meaningful effort of the first half but his 18-yard chip
looped wide of both debutant 'keeper Kasper Schmeichel and his left-hand
post, to leave City with their one-goal advantage at the break.
Both Matthew Etherington and Hayden Mullins were introduced for the restart
as Luis Boa Morte and Lee Bowyer retired and that double-substitution gave
Hammers fresh impetus as Bobby Zamora shot wide after Micah Richards
agonisingly nodded the ball off the leaping Bellamy's head underneath the
City crossbar. And on the hour mark, Etherington's unplayable volley across
goal eluded the studs of the sliding Ljungberg. With hope returning to the
sun-drenched Hammers' fans amongst an opening day, sell-out crowd of 34,921,
Curbs introduced the fit-again Dean Ashton following a year-long absence, to
turn up the heat yet further. At the other end, though, City's overseas
collection were still threatening on the break and both Bulgarian substitute
Valeri Bojinov and Petrov had excellent chances to double the visitors'
lead. But, with 10 minutes remaining, the best chance of the half fell to
Ashton, who met Etherington's inviting left-wing cross with a crisp 12-yard
volley that cleared Schmeichel's bar by inches. And City took full advantage
of that let-off, three minutes from time, when Nedum Onuoha weaved his way
into the Hammers box before cutting back to fellow substitute Geovanni, who
gave Green no chance with a low 10-yarder that sealed victory for Eriksson's
men.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Curbs: First day a massive disappointment - WHUFC
11/08/2007 19:16
This season may be a whole new beginning for West Ham United. But Alan
Curbishley could not disguise his dejection following our opening day defeat
against Manchester City. "We started off poorly and just got worse as the
game went on," conceded the Hammers' boss after goals by Rolando Bianchi and
Geovanni gave Sven-Goran Eriksson's foreign legion all three points at Upton
Park. "It's a massive disappointment to say the least. "From Manchester
City's viewpoint it was a classic away game. They scored after 15 minutes,
then we tried to break them down, and they hit us on the break at the end to
finish it all off comfortably. Sven can be pleased with his start back in
the Premier League. "We had to make some changes at half-time and, to be
fair, I felt that we looked like we were going to get something during the
first 15 minutes of the second half but in the end it just wasn't to be.
"The fans deserve better than that and we can't carry on like this. We've
got to play a lot better at Birmingham City next week."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 0-2 Man City - BBC
By Chris Bevan
Rolando Bianchi and Geovanni scored on their debuts as Sven-Goran Eriksson's
new-look Manchester City side got off to a winning start at West Ham.
The Hammers toiled unconvincingly early on and City were well on top by the
time Bianchi slid in to score at the far post after Elano's impressive run.
West Ham came back strongly but the closest they came to an equaliser was
when Dean Ashton's volley flashed wide. Geovanni's low shot sealed City's
win after good work by Nedum Onuoha. It was a display that was sure to have
pleased watching City owner Thaksin Shinawatra, who has bankrolled
Eriksson's spending spree. The Swede gave debuts to five of his foreign
summer signings - Vedran Corluka, Javier Garrido, Elano, Martin Petrov and
Bianchi - with three other recent arrivals on the bench. But there was
plenty of home-grown talent on display too with Kasper Schmeichel, making
his first start in goal, bringing the number of academy graduates in City's
side to four. And any fears that Eriksson's hastily-assembled team would
take time to settle were dispelled by a confident start by the visitors.
In fact it was West Ham who seemed like a team of strangers in the opening
20 minutes and Alan Curbishley's side soon found themselves behind. The
impressive Elano picked up the ball inside his own half and ghosted past
Matthew Upson into the area before turning in a low ball that Bianchi turned
home.
Inspired by Elano, City's passing and movement was causing the Hammers all
sorts of problems and the home side's own debutants, Freddie Ljungberg and
Craig Bellamy, were having little joy. Bobby Zamora's long-range shot was
the best effort Curbishley's side could muster until just before the break
when they at last began to threaten and Ljungberg's snapshot was well saved
by Schmeichel after Luis BoaMorte's mazy run. The tide was beginning to turn
and, after Matthew Etherington and Hayden Mullins came on at half-time, the
Hammers continued to improve. Micah Richards had to clear City's lines from
Ljungberg's dinked cross before Zamora dragged his shot wide from the edge
of the area. Etherington was unlucky that no-one could reach his drilled
cross which flew along the goal-line soon after and at times City were
defending for their lives. But an equaliser would not come for the Hammers
despite the best efforts of Ashton. The big striker almost celebrated his
return from a year out with injury with a goal when he smashed a volley just
wide after coming off the bench.
And City made sure of an opening day victory in the closing minutes when
Onuoha made good ground down the right and teed up Brazilian substitute
Geovanni, who fired low into the far corner.
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley: "I am massively disappointed. That was an
unbelievably flat performance considering it was the start of the season.
"City started well. They got their goal then sat back and we had no answers.
"Apart from Robert Green in goal I don't think too many of our players can
come out of the game and say to themselves 'we did alright'."
Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson : "I'm delighted. My first match
in the Premier League and three points away - that's really good. "We played
some really good football - not for 90 minutes because we suffered as well
but we started well and the last 15 minutes we did very well again. "If we
are talking about points then it was the perfect start but we won't get
carried away."
West Ham: Green, Spector, Ferdinand, Upson, McCartney (Ashton 63),
Ljungberg, Bowyer (Mullins 46), Noble, Boa Morte (Etherington 46), Zamora,
Bellamy.
Subs Not Used: Wright, Gabbidon.
Man City: Schmeichel, Richards, Corluka (Onuoha 62), Dunne, Garrido, Elano
(Geovanni 80), Hamann, Johnson, Petrov, Ireland, Bianchi (Bojinov 61).
Subs Not Used: Hart, Gelson.
Booked: Garrido, Ireland, Elano, Geovanni.
Goals: Bianchi 18, Geovanni 87.
Att: 34,921
Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The fans deserve better... - KUMB
Filed: Saturday, 11th August 2007
By: Gordon Thrower
Alan Curbishley gives his view on this afternoon's disappointing 2-0 home
defeat to Man City. As ever KUMB was there to take notes....
It was a massive disappointment. We started off poor and got worse as we
went on.
City have come here and they've got one or two we weren't sure about. Saying
that, they've played a shape and a system that we knew they were going to
play. They started better and their passing was miles ahead of ours.
The extra man in midfield began to tell and they were the most dangerous in
the first 15 - then they got their goal. From then on we were chasing the
game. We needed a bit of a lift but we didn't get one.
The substitutions? Well we looked laboured, tentative and City had started
well. Hamann was dictating - strolling round the pitch really - so we had to
make some changes. To be fair, for 15 minutes I thought we were going to get
our way back in but it wasn't to be.
The Ashton substitution - yes, Matty was terrorising their full back but
they brought him off and put Onuoha there. I've apologised to one or two of
them there for pulling them about and playing them out of position.
We were 1-0 down with 25 to go so what I was trying to do was leave the two
centre-backs to deal with the two up front pushing both full-backs in to get
on with it. If we got done 2-0 we got done 2-0. We had a decent chance to
get back in the game but we didn't take it.
It's a massive disappointment - the things we've been looking at pre-season,
we didn't show any of that. Were City fitter? Well all I know is that the
stats that came back from the Norwich game were the second best stats since
I came to the club.
I think you can read into that that they kept the ball better. We were
chasing. First 15 Elano was picking stuff up, Bianchi was bringing people
into the game. We never got to grips with it at all. It was a classic away
game for Man City. They got their goal in 15 minutes. We tried to break them
down but never looked like doing it. then they get a goal on the break at
the end.
It's a massive disappointment for both players and fans. It's come after the
first game so we've got to get on with it and look forward to next week.
Did I say anything to Sven? I just said well done for the first half. I
thought that the first half won them the game. When you think about the
start they got, they've come here and the crowd are in full throttle and
we've given them nothing.
We've not put them under pressure. It was everyone really. Every time we
tried to get a pass together we couldn't get two passes together.I've told
them Greenie is the only one who can come out of this with any credit.
It was just a dreadful performance and the fans deserve better. We can't
carry on like that. It's easy to say the season starts for the next game. We
don't play midweek which might be a blessing but we've got to play better
than that up at Birmingham.
First game of the season and we've left everyone flat.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Things, can only get better ... - KUMB
Filed: Saturday, 11th August 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
West Ham are bottom of the Premier League tonight thanks to a late Wigan
goal at Goodison Park. Antoine Sibierski's 80th minute tap-in meant the
Latics lost just 2-1 at Everton leaving West Ham bottom of the first Premier
League table of 07/08 thanks to today's 2-0 reversal against Man City.
Joining the Hammers with a -2 goal difference on the first weekend of the
season are Bolton who lost 3-1 at home to Newcastle (having been 3-0 behind
at one stage); Nikolas Anelka's goal was enough to lift the Trotters above
Alan Curbishley's side. However it wasn't all bad news as Michael Chopra's
90th minute winner at the Stadium of Light saw Tottenham slip to defeat
which leaves their Champions League aspirations in tatters, being as they
are in 18th place tonight ...
Bottom of the Premier League - week 1
16 Middlesbrough 0pts -1
17 Wigan 0 -1
18 Tottenham 0 -1
19 Bolton 0 -2
20 West Ham Utd 0 -2
* This time last season the Hammers topped the Premiership table after
beating Charlton 3-1 at home.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham Utd 0 Man City 2 - KUMB
Filed: Saturday, 11th August 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
The Hammers slipped to a disappointing defeat against Manchester City at The
Boleyn this afternoon. A goal in each half for a well-drilled City side
condemned United to defeat in front of a capacity crowd in East London. New
City signing Rolando Bianchi opened the scoring on 18 minutes when he
converted a low cross from former Hammers target Elano with a goal that bore
more than a passing resemblance to Palermo's goal at The Boleyn last year.
And Sven Goran Eriksson's new side wrapped the three points up three minutes
from time when substitute Deiberson Geovanni added a second with the United
defence at sixes and sevens. Sadly that had been the pattern for much of the
game, with Anton Ferdinand inparticular having one of those days he'll be
hoping to forget in a hurry. Up front the Hammers barely bothered the City
goal, which was especially disappointing given that City's keeper for the
day was the young and inexperienced Kasper Schmeichel - son of former Man
Utd keeper Peter - who had barely tasted first team action prior to today.
Of course, the Hammers weren't helped by injuries - new signings Scott
Parker and Julien Faubert were missing, as was defensive stalwart (and
newly-named club captain) Lucan Neill. Meanwhile the two new signings on
show - Freddie Ljungberg and Craig Bellamy - were worryingly ineffective,
and even the late introduction of the returning Dean Ashton - making his
first competitive start since the 2006 FA Cup Final - failed to stir the
Hammers into action. In fact Ashton's introduction proved to have a negative
effect as the Hammers - unbalanced having reverted to a three-man defence
following the departure of George McCartney - barely managed a shot in the
last half hour of the game. However the game was lost in the opening 20
minutes with a worrying lacklustre United side overrun by City's collection
of new foreign arrivals. Plenty of food for thought tonight for both Alan
Curbishley and Eggert Magnusson then, whose search for fresh blood ahead of
the August 31 transfer deadline will almost certainly intensify given
today's insipid display.
West Ham United: Green, McCartney (Ashton 62), Spector, Upson, Ferdinand,
Bowyer (Mullins 45), Noble, Ljungberg, Boa Morte (Etherington 45), Zamora,
Bellamy.
Subs not used: Wright, Gabbidon.
Manchester City: Schmeichel, Richards, Corlunka (Onuoha 61), Dunne, Garrido,
Hamann, Johnson, Petrov, Elano (Geovanni 79), Ireland, Bianchi (Bojinov 60).
Booked: Garrido (23, unsporting behaviour), Ireland (30, unsporting
behaviour), Elano (73, unsporting behaviour), Geovanni (88, unsporting
behaviour).
Goals: Bianchi (18), Geovanni (87).
Referee: Peter Walton.
Goals: 34,921.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Konchesky slams Curbs - Sky
Konchesky: Players don't like Curbishley
By Stephen Pass Last updated: 12th August 2007
Former West Ham ace Paul Konchesky has launched a scathing attack on Upton
Park boss Alan Curbishley. Konchesky, who left West Ham for Fulham earlier
this summer, claims a lot of the players at Upton Park are unhappy under
Curbishley's reign. The England international suggests Curbishley's
influence at the club prevented them from landing Darren Bent and keeping
Carlos Tevez. Konchesky, who played under Curbishley at Charlton and West
Ham, told The People: "There was, and still is, a lot of unhappy players at
the club who don't like him. "I am one of them and he knows that, and that
is why I left the club," he fumed. "I know there are a lot of players who
don't think he is any good. "I am sure that is one of the main reasons
Carlos Tevez didn't stay at the club, and also why Darren Bent refused to
sign for West Ham. It was because of the manager. "He is hard to get on
with. He doesn't have much banter; he is serious all the time, he keeps
himself to himself and doesn't get involved - very old school."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 0-2 Man City: New boys on target - Soccernet
Sven-Goran Eriksson enjoyed a glorious start to life at Manchester City as
new boys Rolando Bianchi and Geovanni condemned West Ham to that old
familiar losing feeling, this time by a 2-0 margin.
Rolando Bianchi celebrates scoring on his Man City debut.With a side
virtually thrown together in the space of a month, Eriksson found the potent
combination of an effective and winning performance, with the promise of
much more to come when his eight new boys eventually find their feet.
Bianchi's close-range effort before the break and Geovanni's angled drive
near the end sealed a win which was enough to shut the mouths of Eriksson's
many critics, for a while at least anyway. But opposite number Alan
Curbishley, a one-time candidate for the Swede's old job, must be anxious
about his side's pitiful display at the beginning of a campaign which
promised so much after the troubles of last term.
In fact, the high point of an otherwise horrible day for the Hammers was
Dean Ashton's return and even he could not wipe the smile off Eriksson's
face.
Given the largely negative manner in which his time in charge of the England
side is remembered, Eriksson might have expected a rather more frosty
reception than he actually received. The Swede took his place in the dug-out
relatively unnoticed as the home fans blew their pre-match bubbles and did
not emerge until City were ahead. Other than an isolated cat-call, the only
boos Eriksson heard were reserved for the West Ham players following a
bitterly disappointing contest as far as the home fans were concerned.
Despite dominating possession for long periods in the opening period,
Curbishley's side failed miserably to put any pressure on rookie keeper
Kasper Schmeichel. Eriksson must have feared for the 20-year-old, son of
great Dane Peter, when he named him in a starting line-up featuring six
Premier League debutants. Yet Schmeichel was a virtual spectator as City's
defence, protected superbly by Dietmar Hamann and Michael Johnson, kept them
at arm's length. All the threat came from the visitors, with Martin Petrov
particularly prolific in the shooting department. The Bulgarian midfielder
let fly from all angles without being able to beat Robert Green. It was
Elano who provided the touch of class, though.
One of Eriksson's eight summer signings, although presumably someone the
Swede did at least previously view on TV given his Champions League
experience with Shakhtar Donetsk and international background with Brazil,
most recently in their triumphant Copa America campaign, Elano enjoyed a
superb introduction to the English game.
Deployed just behind lone striker Bianchi, Elano found space intelligently,
never lost his composure and always threatened to cause problems. The
26-year-old had already fired one snap-shot over when he collected Stephen
Ireland's short pass after Luis Boa Morte had lost possession inside the
City half. Quickly sensing Matthew Upson might lack half a yard of pace,
Elano ran straight at the England defender, then skipped round him with the
minimum of fuss.
The low cross invited a far-post finish and Bianchi - fourth highest scorer
in Serie A last term - was on hand to tap home. Curbishley gave a clear
indication of what he thought about West Ham's attempts to level by hauling
off both Boa Morte and Lee Bowyer during the interval. For the moment
Ashton, the man most Hammers fans and watching England coach Steve McClaren
really wanted to see, remained on the bench. But the introduction of Matthew
Etherington instantly brought the home side more threat. Micah Richards
needed all his impressive strength to prevent Craig Bellamy getting his head
to Freddie Ljungberg's cross and with Schmeichel suddenly starting to
wobble, the Hammers went for it. Ljungberg was an inch away from turning
home Etherington's cross but, with just under half an hour remaining,
Curbishley called on Ashton, who had not played a game since breaking an
ankle on England duty 12 months ago.
Yet, with Richards matching Ashton stride for stride and jump for jump, the
move actually stopped West Ham's flow, allowing City to force themselves
back into the contest. Green was unconvincing as he fumbled Petrov's shot
and only Ireland's slack pass prevented the midfielder being offered another
sight of the Hammers goal. But the golden moment Ashton had been waiting for
arrived 11 minutes from time as Etherington picked him out with a deep
cross.
The striker took aim from 10 yards, only to see his first-time volley skim
the crossbar. It was the nearest West Ham came to spoiling Eriksson's day
before substitute Geovanni rammed home number two four minutes from time.
Smiling Sven-Goran Eriksson labelled his critics 'stupid' after he
masterminded a 2-0 Manchester City win at West Ham to kick off his Barclays
Premier League career after the troubled end to his England regime.
Eriksson had admitted that he had not seen some of the eight players he
signed in the summer in a £40million spree funded by controversial new City
owner, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, play many live games.
But two of them, £8.8million Italian striker Rolando Bianchi and free
transfer Brazilian Geovanni, scored the goals which demolished dismal
Hammers - and left the Upton Park fans applauding Eriksson. Eriksson said:
'It can only be stupid people who say I would sign players I did not know
anything about. 'Okay, I haven't seen all of them play nine or 10 times but
I have big scouting staff at the club and I have as many videos as I need to
watch. 'I've always signed good football players. And with these ones, some
are young and for the future and some, like (Martin) Petrov and Elano, are
more experienced.'
It was Elano, another Brazilian who cost £8million from Ukraine's Shakhtar
Donetsk, who starred in City's stylish performance as their new-look team -
with eight debut-makers - repeated the win they had at West Ham last
December and doubled the scoreline. He made a storming run and cross for
Bianchi's 18th-minute opener and often ran West Ham ragged in his support
striker role. But he had been substituted when compatriot Geovanni clinched
the three points with a rifling strike three minutes from time. Eriksson,
brushing off questions about whether he enjoyed club football more than his
ill-fated England reign, declared: 'England is history for me today. I don't
think I had a player like Elano with England. 'We are playing a different
way with Manchester City. It is a big club and the aim is to make it much
better. 'The owner has not asked me to win the Premier League - not this
season anyway - or get into Europe, but we will see where we are when the
squad is fully ready.'
Eriksson added: 'I don't think I have anything to prove in English football,
although at the start of a season everybody must prove they are the right
man in the right place. 'I am delighted, of course, with the way we have
started. I enjoy the club job more between matches than I did with England
between matches. I enjoy being on the training field and in the dressing
room. 'But Jose Mourinho can still have all the headlines as far as I'm
concerned. My job is to improve the club. 'We may sign one or two more
players before the end of August I hope. We have two goalkeepers, 20 and 21,
and another one (Andreas Isaksson) injured with a broken finger. 'We may
have to look at that situation.' Eriksson called up Kasper Schmeichel, son
of Danish legend Peter Schmeichel, to face the Hammers but the youngster was
barely tested on his Premier League debut.
Hammers manager Alan Curbishley admitted: 'It is a massive disappointment.
We started poor and got worse. 'City produced a classic away performance.
they got their goal, sat back a bit and then finished us off. But their
passing and control was miles in front of ours. We looked laboured,
tentative. Only Greenie (keeper Rob Green) came out of it with real credit.
The rest have to look at themselves. 'I've apologised to one or two players
for playing them out of position but we had to make changes. City dictated
for the first 15 minutes and we never really got back although we could have
taken a good chance (through Dean Ashton) before their second goal. 'City
came here probably not knowing what to expect and they will be delighted.
I've said to Sven, well done - your first half performance won it. 'I think
he will be pleased with his start back in English football and the Premier
League. We haven't got a game midweek and maybe that's a blessing with a
full week to put things right. We just have to get on with it.'
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Man City Match Report - West Ham Till I Die
August 11th, 2007
I guess most of us thought Manchester City would play like a team of
strangers. I hadn't heard of most of the players in their lineup, but by the
end of the game I was wishing that at least two of them were on our side -
Elano and Biannchi. This was a dire performance by West Ham and made you
think that this season may well be just as difficult as the last one. Not a
single player, bar Robert Green, had a decent game. They played as if there
had been no pre-season. They were devoid of passion, initiative and guile.
The English players must have known Steve McLaren was watching, yet none of
them did their causes any good at all. From the off, Anton Ferdinand played
with a lack of lustre that has become far too apparent in his game. Mark
Noble played the whole game as if he couldn't recognise another West Ham
player. He gave the ball away so often you almost itched to have Nigel Reo
Coker back in the side. Lee Bowyer was still on his summer holidays and was
deservedly subbed at half time. Boa Morte was as bad as I have seen him.
Indeed, I have never seen him have what you could call a good game.
At half time Curbishley subbed Bowyer and Boa Morte and brought on
Etherington and Mullins. The first twenty minutes of the second half showed
a little promise. Etherington constantly raced down the left and crossed the
ball, only to find no one there. Etherington did more in the first five
minutes of the second half than Boa Morte had done in the entire first half.
Boa Morte didn't seem to realise he was on the left and constantly went in
field. It was left to Bellamy to ply his trade down the left.
But when Dean Ashton came on, instead of subbing the hapless Zamora
Curbishley brought off McCartney (who headed straight down the tunnel) and
unbelievably moved Etherington to left back. After that he disappeared.
However, let's get some perspective. It's one game. The way some peopel are
reacting you'd think we'd just been relegated. What it demonstrated to me
was that we need a new left back - hopefully Nicky Shorey or Matthew Taylor.
We can't afford to sell Etherington because Boa Morte doesn't cut it.
Mullins was a huge improvement on Bowyer and I wonder about the wisdom of
flogging him to Reading or Charlton. He will always be half decent cover for
Noble and Parker.
But the greatest lesson is in defence. Upson showed some compsure and nice
touches but Ferdinand will have to do a great deal better than that to
retain his place. He has Collins, Gabbidon and Davenport breathing down his
neck. He's better watch out.
And so to the marks…
Robert Green - 7 Not to blame for either goal. Solid performance, which will
have impressed McLaren
Anton Ferdinand - 5 Poor performace with no redeeming factors
Matthew Upson - 7 Composed and solid
George McCartney - 6 Didn't get forward enough and was weak on the overlap
Jonathan Spector - 6 Was he playing?
Mark Noble - 5 His worst performance yet. Unrecognisable from last season
Lee Bowyer - 5 Not at the races
Luis Boa Morte - 4 Must be dropped for the next game
Craig Bellamy - 6 Good in flashes but couldn't work with Zamora
Bobby Zamora - 4 Terrible game. Won nothing in the air and barely had a shot
Freddie Ljungberg - 7 Probably the best outfield player in terms of
commitment but seemed to roam all over the place
Matty Etherington - 6 Excellent for the first 15 mins of the second half but
then disappeared because of move to left back
Dean Ashton - 5 Missed one good chance, but looked very heavy indeed
Hayden Mulling - 6 Competitive and busy
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
DYER'S DOC SHOCK - The Mirror
He fails West Ham medical
Exclusive by Paul Smith 12/08/2007
Kieron Dyer failed a West Ham medical in the countdown to his aborted
£6million transfer. While the clubs have been squabbling in the past week
over Newcastle's tactics in trying to hike the price by £2million, the
Sunday Mirror can reveal the incredible medical background to the deal. The
28-year-old midfielder's career has been littered with injuries. Dyer
underwent a stringent medical after agreeing a four-year contract with the
Hammers. The Sunday Mirror is aware of the specific problem that was spotted
but has chosen not to make this public. Dyer's case was referred by West Ham
to a consultant who analysed the player's medical history. The consultant
advised West Ham that in his opinion the Dyer deal could be completed and
the England star would be able to fulfil a four-year contract. Hammers
manager Alan Curbishley hopes a deal can still be agreed but there have been
no further talks.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham, Man City target Eidur told to leave Barca
tribalfooball.com - August 11, 2007
Premiership clubs are on red alert after Barcelona told Eidur Gudjohnsen he
should leave the Nou Camp this summer. "His transfer is an option. If he
stays he could find it difficult to play many minutes because there are
three new forwards in the first team," Barca sports chief Txiki Begiristain
said yesterday. "To stay wouldn't be the best decision." Newcastle, West
Ham and Manchester City have all been linked with the Iceland international.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham, Man City to watch Elmander
tribalfooball.com - August 11, 2007
Toulouse striker Johan Elmander intends to use their Champions League
qualifier against Liverpool to put him in the Premiership shop window.
Elmander is a former team-mate of Liverpool's Daniel Agger when the pair
were both at Brondby, and left Denmark last summer to sign a four-year deal.
His 11 goals in 32 games have won the attention of Marseille, West Ham and
Manchester City and many in France are surprised he has not been snapped up
by a bigger club.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gudjohnsen set for Barca exit
Jamie Jackson
Sunday August 12, 2007
The Observer
Eidur Gudjohnsen 'could still leave the Camp Nou,' for West Ham, according
to an executive at Barcelona, who believes the Iceland striker will return
to the Premier League to secure regular first-team football. Gudjohnsen
joined Barcelona from Chelsea in June 2006 and, while happy at the Spanish
club, is likely to be consigned to the bench after Barcelona signed Thierry
Henry from Arsenal. 'He has decided to stay here and fight it out,' the
Barca insider said. 'He loves the lifestyle - he has a young family and a
nice house, but when he realises his chances of playing regularly are
limited we believe he will leave for West Ham.'
The Iceland captain has known countryman Eggert Magnusson, the West Ham
chairman, for 10 years and it is understood prospective team-mates Craig
Bellamy, Freddie Ljungberg and Dean Ashton all support the Hammers' manager
Alan Curbishley's desire to sign the forward.
Magnusson is also hopeful that Kieron Dyer's on-off move from Newcastle
could still happen, but only for the original £6million fee. Newcastle
demanded an extra £2m after Dyer had completed his medical at West Ham,
leading to the deal collapsing two weeks ago. 'It was a total surprise when
it was called off,' Magnusson said. 'We had an agreement with the club, and
then we got a call saying sorry the price is increasing by two million. We
cannot do business in this way. But if they come back to the same price then
fine.'
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United 0 Manchester City 2: Eriksson purrs as City slickers click
instantly to nail Hammers - The Independent
New boys shine for Sven but early horror show leaves Curbishley with posers
to ponder
By Nick Townsend at Upton Park
Published: 12 August 2007
In those words we came to love, and expect, from Sven-Goran Eriksson in his
England days, it was a case of: first half good; second half not so good.
But no matter. It was a convincing enough victory on his debut as an England
club manager and will have swiftly assuaged doubts, both over the Swede's
appointment and over his wholesale import of foreign talent on judgement
apparently made largely on the basis of videos. At the end, having witnessed
an early goal from Rolando Bianchi and a late confirmation of triumph from
Geovanni, he applauded the visiting supporters, and congratulated his
players. Or perhaps, it could be mischeviously concluded, he was introducing
himself to them?
So, let's clear that one up. "It can only be stupid people who say I sign
players I don't know anything about," the Swede scoffed. "I may not have
seen them playing, but I have a whole scouting system at the club to help me
and as many videos as I need to watch." He added: "I always thought I had
signed good players. That's for sure."
City's inclusion of nine nationalities had been much-derided. Yet any lack
of communication between the players could not prevent City securing a
first-half lead through the impressive spearhead of City's attack, the
Italian Rolando Bianchi, and maintaining it with such comfort that it had
the home manager, Alan Curbishley, lambasting his men: "The crowd's in full
throttle and we gave them nothing. We started off poor and got worse."
For the Hammers faithful, it was déjà vu. The home side lacked guile and
their new acquisitions, Freddie Ljungberg and Craig Bellamy, offered scant
cause for optimism. The outpouring of emotion as their team had taken the
field contained a measure of relief, although they are acutely aware that
the rest of English football would like nothing more than relegation for the
club which should have been condemned to that fate last season over the
Carlos Tevez affair. A continuation of this kind of form will ensure that
those who desire that will get their wish. They desperately miss Tevez and
initially deprived of Dean Ashton, fit but on the bench again after breaking
an ankle with England, rarely troubled the 20-year-old Kasper Schmeichel as
the son of Manchester United's Great Dane made his debut by deputising for
the injured Andreas Isaksson.
Eriksson named five of his new outfield signings in the Manchester City
starting line-up – Rolando Bianchi, Elano, Martin Petrov, Vedran Corluka,
and Javier Garrido – at an aggregate cost of just over £30m. Much had been
anticipated from Bianchi, who had prospered with 18 goals in Serie A last
season. And that £8.8m investment quickly produced dividends. Elano, the £8m
Brazilian, signed from Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk, crossed and Bianchi to
slid the ball in at the far post.
After the interval, the Hammers seized the initiative and the introduction
of Matthew Etherington on the left appeared likely to produce reward, but
too many final balls were played on to the heads of Richard Dunne and the
England man Micah Richards, deployed here at centre-back. Bobby Zamora and
Etherington combined to give Ljungberg West Ham's best chance, but he failed
to connect.
Ashton made his entrance after 54 minutes. But his only chance, a vicious
volley from an Etherington cross, flew wide. Both he and the watching
England manager, Steve McClaren, were left disappointed. Indeed, it was City
who finished the stronger. Two substitutes combined to put the game beyond
West Ham, with Geovanni applying the coup de grace after a pass from Nedum
Onuoha. The Brazilian was only denied a late third by Green.
Eriksson confessed that he had been "positively surprised", though whether
by the win or the approval of at least part of the crowd is not certain. The
last occasion the Swede was at this ground in a coaching capacity, it was to
mastermind England's ignominious friendly defeat by Australia.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Blades could sue West Ham over Tevez row - The Star Sheffield
SHEFFIELD United are considering suing West Ham over the Carlos Tevez
affair. The Blades are determined to win compensation for being relegated
last season and their lawyers are investigating a possible High Court case
against the club. Sources close to Sheffield United say they want to target
the Premier League but have been told by legal advisers that they must first
sue West Ham because their former owners misled the Premier League about the
original Tevez deal. Blades plc chairman Kevin McCabe said: "I am having
meetings with our lawyers over the next couple of days and then we will make
a decision."
Hammers chairman Eggert Magnusson, however, is unconcerned about the
possible court threat. Magnusson commented: "That doesn't even enter my
mind. Our lawyers say there would be no legal grounds for that. "Everybody
has to take a commonsense approach to this matter now - it is about time it
was over."
Meanwhile the long-running Carlos Tevez saga is finally over. Manchester
United have confirmed Tevez has joined the Old Trafford club on a two-year
loan, ending a protracted period of negotiation which has lasted almost
throughout the summer. The 23-year-old's registration with West Ham was
cancelled by the Premier League but every item of paperwork within the new
deal has been scrutinised in an effort to avoid the kind of wrangle which
erupted over the 'third-party' ownership of Kia Joorabcian during Tevez's
time at West Ham. Although Sir Alex Ferguson had expected the deal to have
been completed long before now, the United boss felt it was "understandable"
it should have taken so long.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Posts
