St James' Park
Sunday, 23 September
Kick-off: 1330 BST
Coverage on the BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on
MotD2.
Michael Owen is included in Newcastle's squad after overcoming a groin
problem and could line up alongside Mark Viduka who is fit after a hamstring
strain.
Joey Barton, Emre and Jose Enrique are training but are not yet match fit.
West Ham are confident striker Craig Bellamy will be fit to play against his
former club after a slight foot injury. The Welshman will be in good company
as the Hammers travel north with fellow former Magpies Scott Parker,
Nolberto Solano and Lee Bowyer in their squad.
Newcastle (from): Harper, Given, N'Zogbia, Rozehnal, Taylor, Cacapa, Faye,
Edgar, Beye, Milner, Geremi, Butt, Smith, Pattison, Viduka, Martins, Ameobi,
Owen.
West Ham (from): Green, Neill, Ferdinand, Upson, McCartney, Bowyer, Mullins,
Noble, Etherington, Ashton, Bellamy, Wright, Pantsil, Gabbidon, Collins,
Spector, Solano, Ljungberg, Parker, Boa Morte, Zamora, Camara, Davenport,
Reid,
Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce on his full complement of strikers: "It's a
good option - Obafemi Martins is a good option as well, and it's a difficult
area for me as there is a lot of frustration in Oba at the moment. "The
difficulty is playing Oba and Michael together, does that disrupt the rest
of the team? "Maybe, and do I know them well enough yet? No."
West Ham's Nolberto Solano: "It's going to be strange. If I am in the squad
it will be my first game with the team and it will be against my old team.
"I have a fantastic relationship with the fans, a great relationship with
the people there. "I have to take it in a professional way and I have
nothing whatsoever against Newcastle."
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Ashton eyes England call - SSN
Hammers striker keen to replace Heskey
By Rob Parrish Last updated: 22nd September 2007
Dean Ashton has told Steve McClaren he is the man to fill Emile Heskey's
boots in England's forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers. Wigan striker Heskey
made an impressive return to the international scene in the 3-0 victories
over Israel and Russia but suffered a broken metatarsal nine minutes into
the Latics' 1-1 draw with Fulham last weekend. He is now expected to miss
the October clashes with Estonia and Russia and Ashton believes he is the
perfect candidate to fill the targetman role alongside Michael Owen.
Ability
Ashton told the Daily Mirror: "Emile was outstanding in the England games
last week. Being a big striker myself, I understand how much good work he
did that probably went unnoticed. "It's a shame he's injured but I feel I
can do that job as well as anybody in the country. I believe I've got the
ability to back up what I've said. It's a case of working hard for West Ham
and earning my chance. "I'm more than capable of performing at that level.
Given the chance I can prove I'm good enough to play for England. "At the
moment I've got to play well for West Ham and hopefully show Steve McClaren
I deserve to be back in the squad. To do that I've got to get ahead of some
fantastic players but I won't stop trying. "I find it hard when people say
there's not much striking talent behind (Michael) Owen and (Wayne) Rooney
because I know there is."
Positive
Ashton was on the brink of his first England cap in August last year but
suffered a badly broken ankle in training and missed all of last season. But
having finally returned to action with the Hammers, and found the net in
last weekend's victory over Middlesbrough, Ashton believes he is now fitter
and faster than ever. He added: "I used the injury as the biggest positive I
could. I found the man I think is the best physio in the country John Green
and I believe he's got me into the best shape of my life. "My body shape has
changed a lot. I've lost body fat and gained lean muscle. That's made a huge
difference to me athletically and I feel I can be quicker and stronger and
last the games a lot better. "I feel I'm quicker than I've ever been and
that I can cause a lot of defenders problems with my power and everything
I've worked on."
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Bellamy can follow Di Canio
Curbishley likens striker to enigmatic Italian
By Rob Parrish Last updated: 22nd September 2007
Craig Bellamy has been tipped to have the same impact at West Ham as Paolo
Di Canio. The charismatic Italian became a crowd favourite during his
four-year spell at Upton Park and is still remembered for some stunning
strikes and outstanding displays. And Alan Curbishley, who brought Di Canio
to Charlton from the Hammers in 2003, feels Wales skipper Bellamy can follow
in his footsteps. He said: "He reminds me an awful lot of Di Canio. "There
were a few things that upset Di Canio, but the one thing that really used to
rile him was unprofessional behaviour from his team-mates in training. "That
is the only time you hear Craig get angry in training. He trains like a
Trojan, and he expects everyone else to do the same."
Big fish
Bellamy has scored three times since joining West Ham from Liverpool and
Curbishley has challenged the striker to continue to lead from the front on
the field. He added: "Maybe Craig does better when he is a big fish. "When
Craig signed, I told him it was about time people started remembering him
for what he did on the pitch. "I said to Craig that if he came here and did
things right, the fans would lap it up."
Blind date
Meanwhile, Curbishley has been told the boardroom changes at Upton Park will
have no impact on his position. Eggert Magnusson stepped aside as executive
chairman, with the club's billionaire owner, Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson,
pledging to take a more active role. Curbishley added: "I have been assured
that nothing much has changed. "It was a bit like a blind date when I
started working with Eggert, but we worked hard and we have a good
relationship. "He will still be in the directors' box for our matches."
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Newcastle v West Ham: Preview - Soccernet
Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce is banking on Alan Smith's versatility to see
the club through its toughest moments. The 26-year-old Yorkshireman, a
£6million summer signing from Manchester United, has already lined up in
central and wide midfield and up front for the Magpies - and will continue
to do so as injuries and, later in the campaign, the African Nations Cup
reduce the manager's options. Smith is again a likely starter for the
Barclays Premier League clash with West Ham at St James' Park as the Magpies
attempt to bounce back from the disappointment of Monday's 1-0 defeat at
Derby. But asked how he sees the player's long-term role, Allardyce said:
'Versatile. There is nothing better than somebody who is capable of adapting
to a number of positions and playing with their heart on their sleeve like
Alan does, going out there and giving his all. 'There will be a number of
occasions when we are short on numbers like we are now. In the last two
games we have been short on squad numbers because of all the injuries. 'He
is able to fill in in midfield, up front and in the wide position for us, so
he is a crucial part of the make-up of a successful side.'
Newcastle welcome the Hammers having surrendered their unbeaten start to the
season in a poor display at Pride Park. The club's fans have since made
their feelings known with Ameobi, who started his first league game of the
season, coming in for particular criticism. Allardyce, however, was quick to
leap to the 25-year-old's defence. He said: 'I don't know why just him
because he was no worse than a lot of the others. I don't know why he was
singled out for it.
'It's a shame because he could have turned that into being the hero if he
had put in the chance he had. 'Like everybody else, it is down to the
service sometimes and your other team-mates clicking all together and
unfortunately, too many of us did not click on the night. 'It's a little
unfair to point all the criticism at him when there was a lot of players on
the pitch that night below their best.'
Owen has recovered from the groin injury which forced his premature
departure at Derby, while Viduka is also fit after a hamstring strain.
West Ham have told boss Alan Curbishley his position will not be affected by
the recent boardroom reshuffle. Eggert Magnusson stepped aside as executive
chairman this week as the club's billionaire owner, Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson,
pledged to take more of an active role in the running of the club.
Curbishley has built a close bond with Magnusson since taking over at Upton
Park in December last year, but he is unconcerned by the latest movements. I
have been assured that nothing much has changed,' said Curbishley. 'It was a
bit like a blind date when I started working with Eggert, but we worked
hard, and we have a good relationship. 'He will still be in the directors'
box for our matches. 'I went out to dinner on Thursday with Eggert, he is at
Upton Park every day, and we talk every day.'
Having been reassured about his future, Curbishley can concentrate on his
team's next game at Newcastle. As many as four players - Craig Bellamy,
Nolberto Solano, Scott Parker and Lee Bowyer - could face their former club
but a fifth ex-Magpie, Kieron Dyer, is absent with a serious knee injury.
Curbishley's team have won both their away games, at Birmingham and Reading,
in the league this term, and the former Charlton manager feels they are
sometimes more comfortable outside Upton Park. He added: 'We have gone to
the away grounds and probably set the tempo. 'We have not been able to do
that in the home games, where it has been more even. 'Newcastle is a tough
place to go, but we know there is an opportunity for us - if we do things
right. 'Whoever gets the points on Sunday will have had a decent start. If
we manage it, 13 points from six games will have been a good haul.
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Curbishley blasts pressure on bosses - TeamTalk
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley claims "short-termism" in football means the
likes of Sir Alex Ferguson and himself are now a dying breed. Before taking
over at West Ham in December 2006, Curbishley had been in charge at Charlton
for 15 years, with Ferguson at Manchester United for almost 21 years. Such
longevity contrasts starkly with recent events, which have seen Jose
Mourinho leave Chelsea despite winning six trophies in three years, and
Martin Jol under severe pressure at Tottenham. Curbishley - whose side
travel to Newcastle on Sunday - believes the arrival of a new breed of owner
in English football, such as Roman Abramovich at Chelsea, has seen levels of
patience with managers fall dramatically. "You will not see many managers
getting into double figures, in terms of years spent at the same club, these
days," said Curbishley. "What is happening is short-termism, brought on by
the fact that everything is so pressurised. "There are different expectation
levels, and people coming into football clubs who have not owned them
before, or been chairmen of them before. "Perhaps they do not understand the
history so much, and it is all about now. "Managers have grasped that, and
realised that we have to be successful straight away. "When I first came to
the club, I said I had two briefs. "The first was a short-term one, which
was to keep us in the Premier League last season, and the second was a
long-term one, which was to build something at the club. "We are working on
the second one at the moment."
Curbishley hopes to have former Newcastle forward Craig Bellamy available
for the trip to the north-east. The Wales captain missed training during the
early part of this week due to a foot injury, but is expected to shake it
off in time to face his old club. Three other former Newcastle men - Lee
Bowyer, Nolberto Solano and the fit-again Scott Parker - could also figure,
but Kieron Dyer, another summer signing from the Magpies, is absent with a
serious knee injury.
Curbishley is finally beginning to stamp his authority on the Upton Park
club after a difficult opening nine months in the position. They escaped
relegation on the final day of last season, and Curbishley - who was once
strongly linked with the England manager's job - admitted he had suffered
since taking over.
He continued: "Did I have doubts? Yes, for sure. "When Alan Pardew left, a
lot of people felt he should have been given a bit more time, because it
happened so suddenly. "When a new manager comes in, things normally change,
but it didn't happen here last season. "It took some time for things to
change and for us to get ourselves out of relegation trouble. "I can
understand people questioning what went on, but all you can do is get on
with it."
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Curbishley happy with new West Ham board
tribalfooball.com - September 22, 2007
West Ham have reassured boss Alan Curbishley his position will not be
affected by the recent boardroom reshuffle at the club. Eggert Magnusson
stepped aside as executive chairman this week as the club's billionaire
owner, Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, pledged to take more of an active role in the
running of the club. Curbishley has built a close bond with Magnusson since
taking over at Upton Park in December last year, but he is unconcerned by
the latest movements. "I have been assured that nothing much has changed,"
said Curbishley. "It was a bit like a blind date when I started working with
Eggert, but we worked hard, and we have a good relationship. "He will still
be in the directors' box for our matches. "I went out to dinner on Thursday
with Eggert, he is at Upton Park every day, and we talk every day."
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Curbishley's steady course - Daily mail
By PETER HIGGS - More by this author »
Last updated at 00:19am on 23rd September 2007
Alan Curbishley is refusing to take credit for West Ham's great escape last
season because he blames himself for putting them in trouble. And he will
only celebrate if he builds a Premier League club at Upton Park who stop
yo-yoing between drama and crisis. The Hammers travel to Newcastle today
having lost only once in the league this season to move into the top six and
Curbishley believes that a positive result will allow them to claim a good
start to the season.
He is, however, not about to get carried away. He said: 'We need a steady,
consolidating season. That might not sound like the sexiest thing,
especially with the expectations in football now, but that's what we need.
'People talk about the great escape but I never bought into that because my
fingerprints were all over us being in that position in the first place.
'When I arrived I said my first aim was to keep us up and the second to
build something in the long term. That's where I'm at.'
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Who The F**k Are… West Ham? - Newcastle-online.com
By GeordieDazzler On Sat 22 Sep 2007 |
This Sunday's early kick off sees Newcastle play their sixth game of the
season against East London outfit West Ham United. The Magpies will be
looking to bounce back from Mondays dismal showing against relegation
favourites Derby.
Forging A Team
In 1895 Arnold Hills, Managing Director of Thames Ironworks a large
Shipbuilding business in the east of London, set up a football club for his
employees with Foreman and good friend Dave Taylor. This team was rather
imaginatively named Thames Ironworks FC gained quick success at a local
level winning the West Ham Charity Cup in the first year of the existence
and the London League 2 years later.
Disputes over finances led to TIFC being wound up in 1900 and then almost
instantly re-launched as West Ham, retaining many of the Ironworks players
for the next season.
The Irons got their first taste of top-flight football in 1923 and retained
the status for the next ten years reaching two FA Cup finals along the way.
On their relegation to the Second Division in 1932 they parted company with
their manager of 30 years, Syd King who had managed them from since the club
was re-launched in 1900. Under the stewardship of long time understudy
Charlie Paynter and subsequently former player Ted Felton the Hammers spent
the next 30 years floating about in the second division before they again
managed, under Felton to achieve promotion to the highest tier of English
football.
Felton's successor, Ron Greenwood took the Irons to their first major
trophy, a victory over Preston North End in the 1964 FA cup final, which was
followed by the European Cup Winners Cup a year later. John Lyall took over
in 1974 and within a year had lead West Ham to another Cup triumph, a 2-0
victory over Fulham in the 1975 final. Five years later came West Ham's last
major silverware; despite being relegated in 1978 they defeated Arsenal 1-0
in the FA cup final at Wembley – no other team from outside the top flight
has managed to lift the trophy since.
They again secured promotion three seasons later and this time kept their
status for another eight years, achieving their highest ever finish of third
along the way. Spells under Lou Macari and then Billy Bonds saw the team,
promoted, relegated and then promoted again in 1993, where in controversial
circumstances Bonds quit the club.
Harry Redknapp took over the reigns at Upton Park in 1994, and his
shrewdness in the transfer market and managerial prowess helped the Hammers
to a handful of impressive finishes, peaking at 5th in the 98/99 season. He
was also responsible for bringing cult hero Paulo Di Canio to the
Premiership, the moody Italian dazzling with his silky skills and scoring
what is considered to be one of the greatest goals of the Premiership Era
against Wimbledon.
Disagreements with the Board saw Redknapp hastily replaced with Glenn Roeder
who had been promoted from his position as youth team coach. Roeders first
season saw a very respectful 7th place finish, but the wheels came off in
his second year and the club was relegated a time characterised by some very
public falling outs with some of his players including fans favourite Di
Canio. Roeder was sacked in 2003 after the run of very poor results and
serious ill health and after a stint with caretaker manager Trevor Brooking
they nabbed Alan Pardew from fellow First Division side Reading.
Pardew led them to the play off finals two seasons running, first time
loosing to Crystal Palace but at the second attempt they achieved promotion
to the Premiership. They enjoyed a very impressive return, finishing 9th in
the table and qualifying for the UEFA cup after loosing on penalties to
Liverpool after drawing 3-3 in the FA Cup Final it one of the most memorable
finales of recent times.
The 06-07 season was one of the most eventful in the clubs history, firstly
was the arrival of two of the worlds brightest young players, Argentines
Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano arriving in controversial circumstances,
though to have been part of a failed take of bid by Iranian business man Kia
Joorabchian.
The club were taken over, but by and Icelandic consortium fronted by biscuit
tycoon Eggert Magnússon (although the real financial clout in the deal is
thought to be from millionaire Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson).
All these factors put massive pressure on Pardew to deliver results, and as
his side stuttered and produced poor result after poor result he was given
the boot to be replaced by Alan Curbishley in November 2006. Curbishley also
struggled to produce results (despite spending big in the winter transfer
window) until the final run in during a relegation battle that went right to
the last day of the season, West Ham stayed up thanks to a goal from Carlos
Tevez which gave them a 0-1 victory at Old Trafford.
In April 2007 West Ham were found guilty of breaching transfer rules in the
signing of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano, they were fined a record
£5.5m but both players were cleared to play for thier clubs (Mascherano
having been sold/loaned to Liverpool). This was to cause a great amount of
debate in the football world as most other clubs that had been found
fielding uneligibe player recieved points penalties for every game that the
said player participated in. Such a penalty would surely have seen West Ham
relegated, ahead of fellow strugglers Sheffield United. Relations between
the two clubs has become increasingly hostile with Sheffield currently in
the process of suing the east London club.
The Irons started the 2007 on a low with an opening day defeat at home to
Man City but have since hit some form beating both Reading and
Middlesborough by 3 goals in their last two games. The Hammers should
provide a good test for Big Sam's men who will be looking for a backlash
after thier poor defeat to relegation favourates Derby.
The Dickie Dirt
West Ham's original strip was a shade of dark blue, a tribute to its founder
Arnold Hills who had been and Oxford University 'Blue'. This then changed
regularly of the next 14 years with the team wearing a variety of colours
from Sky Blue to Claret.
The Irons permanently adopted claret and blue for home colours in the summer
of 1899. Ironworks player Charlie Dove received the kit from his father
William Dove, who was a professional sprinter of national repute, as well as
being involved as a coach at Thames Ironworks. Bill Dove had been at a fair
in Birmingham, close to Villa Park and was challenged to a race against four
Aston Villa players, who bet money that one of them could outrun him.
Bill Dove defeated them and, when they were unable to pay the bet, one of
the Villa players who was in charge of washing the team's kit offered him a
complete side's 'uniforms' to Dove in payment. The Aston Villa player
subsequently reported to his club that the kit was 'missing'.
Ashton Forged his name at Dario Gradi's Crewe Alexandra after signing in
2000 at the age of 16, strong and good in the air he made an impact and was
snapped up by Norwich City in 2005 for a club record £3m on the Canaries
return to the top flight.
After a season at Norwich which ended in relegation from the top flight he
was snapped up by West Ham for £7.5m in January of 2006. He showed his
potential with some impressive performances including a goal in the FA Cup
final which West Ham lost against Liverpool. In the summer Dean was given
his first call up to the England squad as Steve Maclaren searched for
someone to fill in for long term crock Micheal Owen. In a creul twist of
fate Ashton broke his ankle in his first international training session and
was sidelined until June this year.
Ashton is hoping to relaunch his West Ham career with a bang this year and
show people why his previous managers have likened him to England and
Newcastle Hero Alan Shearer. Good with both feet and a undoubtable physical
presence he could cause problems for Big Sam's back four , it may be wise of
the the toon gaffer to give Steven Taylor the job of marshalling him with
the U-21 captains Newcastle's best match for Ashton's aereal threat.
– Toon old boy Craig Bellamy made his name at under Bobby Robson at
Newcastle united after being plucked from fist divison strugglers Coventry
City in 2001. On his move to Saint James he forged himself a bit of cult
hero status with the Geordie faithful, striking up a lively partnership with
Alan Shearer scoring one of the clubs most memorable goals of recent times
against Fyernood in the Champions League.
His relationship with Newcastle turned sour in early 2005 when he had a very
public falling out with then manager Grahame Souness which resulted in him
being loaned to Celtic for the remainder of the season then sold onto
Blackburn in the Summer.
Sparkling form for the Lancershire side earnt him a £6.5 move to Liverpool
the following season where despite glimpses of his undoubted talent he
failed to be prolific in front of and hold down a regular first team place
and was swifty moved on to his current destination, Upton Park.
Lightening pace and clever runs are Bellamy's forte and the potential big
man/little man partnership with Dean Ashton will have the Upton Park
faithful licking their lips, and having scored on his return to SJP playing
for Liverpool in their 2-1 defeat up here last February, Craig will be eager
to show us what we are missing.
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Carlton set for Hammer time -setanta.com
by Joseph Caron Dawe, 22 September 2007
Carlton Cole has declared he is determined to silence the West Ham fans who
have taken to booing him. The striker has become a target for a section of
Hammers followers after scoring just three times in 24 performances,
something that a portion of Upton Park regulars have taken exception to.
After turning in a man-of-the-match performance against Middlesbrough a week
ago, when he came on as a substitute and created two goals in the 3-0 win,
Cole has vowed to fight for a starting place against Newcastle on Sunday and
prove his worth. "I take a lot of stick," the 23-year-old was quoted saying
in The Sun. "I have always had to take the rough with the smooth and my
family are always behind me to help me through the ups and downs. "I now
realise why people get frustrated with me. They see so much potential in me
but I have not actually lived up to it at the top level. "I know fans think
I don't give 100 percent but I can promise them that I do give exactly that
every time I am on the pitch. "I know that in the past I was not really
focused and I think people could see that. "But now is the time for me to
start things and I am completely concentrating on my career. "I know what I
can do on the pitch. I can create problems for defenders. I should have
scored last weekend but I did create two goals. "But I don't want to be just
a creator — I want to be seen as a goalscorer.
"Once I get that first goal of the season I think they will start rolling in
for me. I'll get back on track."
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