Internationals take centre stage - WHUFC
Nolberto Solano could face Brazil while Freddie Ljungberg is hoping to
celebrate against Spain
15.11.2007
Several West Ham United players are gearing up for a busy weekend of
international action.
Chief among them will be fit-again Freddie Ljungberg who will hope to lead
out Sweden against Spain in Madrid on Saturday. The Scandinavian nation
conclude their campaign at home to Latvia on Wednesday and need just a point
from either game to make certain of one of their group's two qualifying
places for next summer's finals.
Also hoping to make it to Austria and Switzerland is Christian Dailly, with
the defender named in the Scotland squad for Saturday's decider against
Italy at Hampden Park. Victory in their final qualifying fixture would take
them through to the finals but a defeat would hand the initiative to
Azzurri, who would then have a game to play against the Faroe Islands.
Dailly is due to return from a loan spell at Southampton on 24 November.
While Robert Green and Dean Ashton are both not involved for England in
their crunch EURO 2008 qualifier against Croatia next Wednesday, they will
be hoping Steve McClaren's men are able to qualify in the hope of ultimately
claiming a squad place at the finals. Meanwhile, Mark Noble's hernia
operation has ruled him out of the Under-21 side's two qualifying fixtures
for the 2009 European Championship.
The EURO 2008 dream is probably beyond George McCartney's Northern Ireland
as they lie five and six points adrift of Spain and Sweden respectively
before facing Denmark and the Spanish on Saturday and Wednesday. Wales, who
definitely cannot qualify, are without Craig Bellamy for their home match
against the Republic of Ireland on Saturday and the trip to Germany four
days later. However, Danny Gabbidon and James Collins are involved while
young midfielder Jack Collison was selected for the Under-21 side in their
two matches against Bosnia-Herzegovina and France.
Lucas Neill will not have too far to travel for Australia when he lines up
against Nigeria in a friendly staged by Fulham on Saturday. The fixture is
being seen by the Socceroos as a warm-up for their 2010 World Cup qualifying
campaign, which gets under way in February. Nolberto Solano has already
started on the road to the finals in South Africa, playing twice last month
for his country. He now has the small matter of Brazil's visit to Lima on
Sunday - before the trip to Ecuador three days later.
John Pantsil has been called up by Ghana, the hosts of next January and
February's African Cup of Nations, for a four-team friendly tournament
involving Togo, Benin and the United Arab Emirates while Henri Camara's
Senegal will take on Mali and Morocco in France on Saturday and Wednesday
respectively.
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Ferdinand was 'protecting friend' - BBC
Footballer Anton Ferdinand has told a court he punched a man outside a
nightclub "to protect" a friend. He said he hit Emile Walker when he saw him
running aggressively towards Edward Dawkins, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.
Mr Walker, 23, claims Mr Ferdinand, 22, struck him before he was kicked and
punched by up to 10 people outside Faces in Ilford, east London, in 2006. Mr
Ferdinand and Mr Dawkins of Beckton, east London, deny assault occasioning
actual bodily harm and affray.
The West Ham player said he was unaware that a friend, who has not been
identified, had hit Mr Walker outside the club before he became involved. He
said: "I saw Emile Walker aggressively running towards my friend and I'm
fearing the worst. "My purpose was to go and protect my friend." He said he
tried to restrain Mr Walker but the pair ended up wrestling on the ground.
Mr Ferdinand said he suffered a "bust lip" and a moved tooth during the
scuffle, and received treatment the following day. He said: "After feeling
the pain that I felt from that blow, which shook me up and scared me, I
wanted to protect myself - I tried to hit him back."
Mr Ferdinand said he was not an aggressive man and often worked with
children from Peckham, south-east London, to advise them against using
violence. The trial continues.
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Anton: day three - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 15th November 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
Anton Ferdinand has claimed that he only became involved in a fight outside
Faces nightclub in order to protect a friend. Ferdinand - who was in court
for the third successive day to defend charges of affray - admitted that he
struck the defedent, a Mr Emile Walker, although claimed that it was in
self-defence. "I looked to my right and I saw Emile Walker aggressively
running towards my friend," said Ferdinand. "My purpose was to go and
protect my friend. "When he [Mr Walker] turned around I felt frightened
because he did turn around aggressively and I knew it was time to defend
myself. I tried to swing at him, to contain him, to grab him, to keep him
close to me so he couldn't do anything to me. "He was trying to come across
to hit me and I'm trying to get to him to try and contain him."
Ferdinand denied that he was drunk at the time of the incident - and claimed
that as he was leaving the club he felt a kick from behind. He also rejected
a suggestion that he was an aggressive person - citing the fact that he has
never been sent off whilst playing for West Ham United and his charitable
work with youngsters. The case - being heard at Snaresbrook Crown Court by
Judge William Kennedy - is due to continue tomorrow.
The case so far
Day One: the court hears the case for both the prosecution and the defence.
Day Two: Ferdinand gives evidence, claiming that he felt threatened by
Walker and his friends outside the club. He admitted to having thrown the
first punch, although claimed that this was because he thought Walker may be
hiding a weapon.
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Bellamy chuffed - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 15th November 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
Craig Bellamy says that being named Welsh footballer of the year is 'a great
honour'. The 28-year-old Hammer, who joined the club from Liverpool last
summer was crowned 2007's Player of the Year at an awards ceremony in
Cardiff on Monday night. And he revealed to whufc.com that he was 'really
grateful' to those who voted him ahead of Tottenham's exciting young
full-back Gareth Bale and Machester United's weteran winger Ryan Giggs. "I
would like to thank the media and others who voted for me," he told the
club's website. "To be honest, it was a bit weird when I found out I had
won. In my opinion I have had better years and not won it, and I feel like I
had an average year this time. "But that's the way it works sometimes."
Bellamy signed for the Hammers in a £7.5m deal back in July. Due to a number
of injury problems he has managed just eight appearances for the club since,
scoring four goals.
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Taffy Jack - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 15th November 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
Jack Collison says that he is looking forward to making his Welsh
international debut. The 19-year-old Hammer received his first call-up for
the Welsh under-21s last week and is set to make his debut in the
forthcoming fixtures against Bosnia (Saturday) and France (Next Tuesday).
Talking to whufc.com, Collison revealed that the call from Wales boss Brian
Flynn came as something of a surprise. "I spoke to Bryan Flynn a week before
the squad was named and he said there was an opportunity," said the
19-year-old . "To be honest I didn't expect it - but playing international
football can only help my game more."] Collison qualifies for Wales as his
grandfather was born in the principality.
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Duo set for Hammers switch? - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 15th November 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
The Hammers are being linked with a fresh move for Derby's Giles Barnes,
according to reports. The Newham Recorder has claimed that a £5m deal
between the two clubs has already been agreed, with Barnes set to complete
the switch when the winter transfer window re-opens on 1st January 2008.
19-year-old winger Barnes - who can play on either flank - has looked like
securing a move to East London in the summer but the deal fell through after
Derby refused to sell their hottest young prospect. But with the Rams in
desperate trouble at the foot of the Premier League, they appear to have
conceded that the right time to sell is now. Manager Billy Davies is
desperate to bring new players in during January, but knows he has to sell
before being able to do so. Barking-born Barnes played for Derby in their
5-0 thrashing by the Hammers last weekend.
Meanwhile, United are understood to be weighing up a bid for Swedish starlet
Marcus Bergholtz. Bergholtz - a Swedish under-18 central midfielder - is
currently employed by Helsingborg but spent a week on trial with the Hammers
recently. Helsingborg manager Bo Nilsson said: "If it's a serious offer, and
if the player concerned really wants it, then we will always listen."
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League act to prevent Carlos Tevez repeat - Telegraph
By David Bond
Last Updated: 12:08am GMT 15/11/2007
The Premier League will next week introduce a new directive effectively
outlawing the third-party ownership of players. Having ridden out the storm
over the Carlos Tevez affair in the summer, the League's chief executive,
Richard Scudamore, wants to ensure there is no repeat of the fiasco. But
instead of introducing a new regulation outlawing the practice, clubs will
be told that the existing rules will be more harshly applied. Rule U18, the
regulation West Ham admitted breaking when they signed Tevez from Brazilian
club Corinthians in August 2006, states that no club may enter into a
contract which enables any third party "to acquire the ability materially to
influence its policies or the performance of its teams".
At the time of the West Ham case in April, there was concern among some
clubs that the rule was too loose to enforce a blanket ban on third-party
ownership of players.
However, the rule will now be interpreted more severely. Any ownership of a
player by a third party such as an agent will be considered to be a
"material" influence upon the policies of the club.
The League's new edict, which is due to be circulated in a letter to
chairmen this week, follows talks between clubs at two regional meetings
last month.
And while there is some opposition to the move, notably from Manchester
United, who now hold Tevez's registration, and Bolton, it is understood the
directive will be signed off by the clubs at a shareholders' meeting at
London's Cafe Royal next Thursday.
The changes will not impact upon United striker Tevez or Liverpool
midfielder Javier Mascherano as they cannot be applied retrospectively. And
it is understood caveats will be introduced allowing clubs to continue to
use bank loans and financing to sign players and cover their contracts. In
deals of this type banks often lend clubs money on the back of the security
of the player.
But the League believe that the tougher enforcement of their current rule
book will put a stop to clubs being loaned players owned by agents.
West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson, who inherited the Tevez controversy when
he and Icelandic billionaire Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson bought the club last
year, said: "I am in favour of any moves the Premier League take in this
regard. It's what I believe in and it looks like Uefa and Fifa are moving in
the right direction on this too. People are realising that it is good for
the game to have some clarity and not to have any grey areas."
The move is a victory for Scudamore, whose handling of the Tevez affair came
under intense scrutiny following relegated Sheffield United's legal
challenge to the League's decision in the close season.
Although several players in the Premier League are thought to be owned by
third parties, Tevez and Mascherano are the only two to be confirmed.
Although Mascherano's move to Liverpool was signed off by the League in
February, he is still owned by two offshore companies, Global Soccer
Agencies and Mystere, who loan him to Liverpool. It is believed Liverpool
have an option to buy Mascherano outright in the future.
And in what the League hope will be the last deal of its kind, Manchester
United agreed in August to pay Kia Joorabchian £10 million over the next two
years in a complicated 'loan' arrangement for Tevez.
After a bitter legal battle, Tevez's owners, Media Sports Investments and
Just Sports Incorporated, also agreed to pay £2 million compensation to West
Ham to buy him out of his contract.
The League's move comes after Fifa finally acknowledged the issue by
amending their rules at a meeting of their executive board in Zurich last
month.
Despite reservations from South American countries, where the practice is
commonplace, Fifa agreed to adopt the League's rules outlawing any third
party from owning players if it is proved they can use the arrangement to
influence the club.
It remains to be seen whether they will now also follow the League's latest
attempt to draw a line under the Tevez affair.
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Ferdinand joined fight 'to protect' friend
'He was trying to come across to hit me and I'm trying to get to him to try
and contain him'
Staff and agencies
Thursday November 15, 2007
Guardian Unlimited
The West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand became involved in a fight outside a
nightclub after running "to protect" his friend, he told a court today. The
22-year-old has pleaded not guilty to causing actual bodily harm on October
2 last year and affray outside Faces nightclub in Ilford.
He told Snaresbrook crown court he was trying to defend himself after the
man turned on him "aggressively". Also in the dock is his friend Edwards
Dawkins, 28, of Henry Adlington Close, Beckton, east London, who also denies
the charges. Their alleged victim, Emile Walker, 23, has told jurors that
after Ferdinand struck him he was punched and kicked to the ground by up to
10 men.
Giving evidence, Ferdinand said he was unaware that a friend in a white
shirt, who has not been identified, struck Mr Walker to the side of the head
outside the club. "I looked to my right and I saw Emile Walker aggressively
running towards my friend and I'm fearing the worst," said Ferdinand. "My
purpose was to go and protect my friend."
He said he put his left hand up to act as a "protection shield" and he was
shouting but could not remember his words. "When he [Mr Walker] turned
around I felt frightened because he did turn around aggressively and I knew
it was time to defend myself. I tried to swing at him, to contain him, to
grab him, to keep him close to me so he couldn't do anything to me. He was
trying to come across to hit me and I'm trying to get to him to try and
contain him."
Ferdinand's barrister Antony Chinn QC led him through CCTV footage taken of
the events outside the club. Ferdinand said he was trying to restrain Mr
Walker but as the pair were wrestling, "Emile Walker was getting the better
of me, getting on top of me and pulling my head down."
Ferdinand said he suffered a "bust lip" and a moved tooth during the
scuffle, which required treatment from the dentist the next day. "After
feeling the pain that I felt from that blow, which shook me up and scared
me, I wanted to protect myself," he said. "I tried to hit him back."
He said he tried to punch Mr Walker but he did not think it was a "full on
blow". Ferdinand said he was relieved when the pair were parted as he was
not an aggressive man and often did work with children from Peckham, south
London, to advise them against using violent means. He said that on the way
home he was shaken up and in a daze and his lips were throbbing with pain.
Ferdinand told the court he had been in a "bubbly and happy" mood but had
drunk no more than four or five whisky and cokes. He said that as he was
leaving the club a man kicked him from behind, aggravating a slight
hamstring injury from which he was already suffering. He said the kick was
"hard enough to make me realise that someone had done something to hurt me".
The bouncer ushered the man outside and a short time later Ferdinand himself
went out of the club to wait for Mr Dawkins, who was bringing the car. At
this point he saw Mr Walker, who was with a couple of other men and was
staring at him. "He was looking at my watch, looking me up and down," said
Ferdinand. "I felt uncomfortable with him looking at me like that."
He said he had been mugged the previous year near a nightclub in Croydon and
one of the attackers had tried to stab his friend because he wouldn't hand
over his belongings. He said that he himself was more co-operative, and
handed over his phone, and his chain was ripped from his neck.
Of events outside the club, Ferdinand continued: "Another one of my friends
comes up to me and he says to Mr Walker: 'What are you looking at?' and Mr
Walker turned to his friend and said: 'Is he for real, I will kill you'." He
said Mr Walker's manner was "very serious" but he put his arm around his
friend and told him to leave it.
The court heard that Ferdinand had been at West Ham since the age of nine
and turned professional at 17. He left school at 16 with three GCSEs,
including for PE and music. He told the court that he had received "the odd
yellow card" but had never received a red, "touch wood," he said.
He said he had been racially taunted during football games both by another
player and by the crowd, but he had never reacted to this and was not an
aggressive man. "A lot of people say that that is one of my downfalls as a
defender, that I am not as aggressive as I should be," he explained.
The court heard Ferdinand was at the club with about 10 friends after
driving there with his cousin and arriving at about 10.30pm. Alex Agbamu,
prosecuting, said to him: "It is suggested that this incident was sparked
off by a man who Mr Walker believes may be your cousin." Ferdinand, who
would not give his cousin's name in court, said that the man who could be
seen hitting Mr Walker in the CCTV footage was not his cousin.
Judge William Kennedy adjourned the trial until tomorrow when Ferdinand is
expected to continue giving his evidence.
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Top 5 players so far this season - westhamblog.co.uk
Interesting post on the KUMB forum about the top 5 players so far this
season. It will be interesting to post on this now and review a couple of
time throughout the season. So here are my top 5, be good to see what you
think.
1. Robert Green - a real rock in the goal for us and could easily have been
England's saviour had Steve McClown not kept his Paul Robinson tinted
spectacles on. Also seems like a down to earth bloke, which is becoming
increasingly rare in the Premiership these days.
2. George McCartney - a real revelation this season with some great
performances, solid at the back and an excellent crosser of the ball going
forward. We will certainly miss him while he is injured.
3. Matthew Etherington - some great performances this season, looking
fitter and hungrier than ever. Adding goals to his box of tricks has been
important too.
4. Lee Bowyer - a player it can be hard to warm to sometimes but some
excellent performances, the kind of which we hoped for when he first joined
us under the Roeder era. Promised to come back and show what the fuss is
about and is finally doing so.
5. Carlton Cole - yes, I am being serious. For his attitude, application
and goals over the past few weeks. It's not been easy for the lad after the
boo-boys really unsettled him but his past few performances have been
crucial for us, setting up assists and making a real nuiscance of himself.
Those who came close were Matthew Upson and Craig Bellamy but right now on
form, these are my top 5 Hammers.
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West Ham's Collision happy with Wales commitment
tribalfooball.com - November 15, 2007
West Ham reserve-team skipper Jack Collison says the club's Welsh contingent
had no say in his decision to accept a call-up to the Wales U21 squad this
week.
When asked about the influence of Craig Bellamy, Danny Gabbidon and James
Collins in electing to play for Wales, for whom he qualifies because his
grandfather was born in Bedwellty, south Wales - Collison said he "hadn't
really spoken to them properly" about it before making his decision. He is
eager to take the chance though, sensing it as a "great opportunity" to show
more of what he can do.
He told whufc.com: "I spoke to [U21 manager] Bryan Flynn a week before the
squad was named and he said there was an opportunity. To be honest, I didn't
expect it but playing international football can only help my game more."
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Reading plan bid for West Ham's Mullins
tribalfooball.com - November 15, 2007
Reading are chasing West Ham United midfielder Hayden Mullins. Royals boss
Steve Coppell wants to bring Mullins back to the club in January, but may
struggle to convince the Hammers to sell given the midfielder's form this
season.
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How High Can West Ham's Bubbles Fly? - fancastfootball.com
Posted by Lewis Doe on November 15, 2007 - 13:53
FanCast columnist Lewis Doe looks at the quiet progress West Ham have been
making this season and looking at the current squad and the return to
fitness of key players; what could West Ham realistically achieve this
season?
The Premiership is packed full of teams with endless potential, none more so
than West Ham United; a club with one of the greatest football histories in
the English game. Wherever you go someone will have heard of the Hammers,
whether that knowledge is based on such greats as Bobby Moore or through the
medium of Hollywood and 'Green Street'.
The current team under the highly rated and talented, Alan Curbishley,
remind me of the Vialli Chelsea years, the very definition of a side that's
either sizzling or freezing; totally unpredictable with no one knowing which
West Ham side that will turn up -will it be the side that smashed Derby 5-0
away from home or the lacklustre side that crumbled at home to Man City on
the opening day?
West Ham are on paper a very complete club. The squad is very deep and
thorough with arguably the best keeper in the country right now alongside
the likes of Dean Ashton and Craig Bellamy up front, Freddie Ljungberg in
midfield, prove that the club is a lot stronger than many would commonly
think.
West Ham can only go in one direction and that has to be forward, however
this does not detract from the negative publicity the club draws from some
quite stupid incidents instigated by some of its professional players. The
recent fiasco involving Anton Ferdinand creates ammunition for the haters of
Upton Park to get on the back of the player and the boss, wishing their
downfall.
West Ham have been on very good form. Losing Carlos Tevez was a blow but it
has not affected the club who continue to improve upon their narrow escape
from relegation last season. The Hammers have always been associated as a
top flight side and will continue to stay there for a number of seasons yet.
Much of this has to be put down to Curbishley and Mr. Eggert Magnusson.
There were many who must have thought that when he walked through the door
at West Ham, that it was just another part of the foreign revolution,
another club with a price tag had been sold. However Magnusson has delivered
on every single promise he has made.
Money has been pumped into the club, debts look to be stabilised and a top
manager in Curbs has been bought in and a very good squad assembled. There
is no reason why West Ham can't finish in the European places this season,
once the side finds consistency and with a whole host of good solid players
returning the club can only get better.
West Ham is a very good place to be right now.
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ANTON `TRYING TO PROTECT FRIEND` - Football 365
Posted 15/11/07 14:02EmailPrintSave
West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand became involved in a fight outside a
nightclub after running "to protect" his friend, he told a court today.
Ferdinand, 22, of Grove Park Road, Mottingham, has pleaded not guilty to
causing actual bodily harm on October 2 last year and affray outside Faces
nightclub in Ilford. He told Snaresbrook Crown Court he was trying to defend
himself after the man turned on him "aggressively". Also in the dock is his
friend Edwards Dawkins, 28, of Henry Adlington Close, Beckton, east London,
who also denies the charges. Their alleged victim, Emile Walker, 23, has
told jurors that after Ferdinand struck him he was punched and kicked to the
ground by up to 10 men.
Giving evidence, Ferdinand said he was unaware that a friend in a white
shirt, who has not been identified, struck Mr Walker to the side of the head
outside the club. He said: "I looked to my right and I saw Emile Walker
aggressively running towards my friend and I'm fearing the worst. My purpose
was to go and protect my friend."
He said he put his left hand up to act as a "protection shield" and he was
shouting but could not remember his words.
"When he (Mr Walker) turned around I felt frightened because he did turn
around aggressively and I knew it was time to defend myself. "I tried to
swing at him, to contain him, to grab him, to keep him close to me so he
couldn't do anything to me. He was trying to come across to hit me and I'm
trying to get to him to try and contain him."
Ferdinand's barrister Antony Chinn QC led him through CCTV footage taken of
the events outside the club. Ferdinand said he was trying to restrain Mr
Walker but as the pair were wrestling, "Emile Walker was getting the better
of me, getting on top of me and pulling my head down."
Ferdinand said he suffered a "bust lip" and a moved tooth during the
scuffle, which required treatment from the dentist the next day. He said:
"After feeling the pain that I felt from that blow, which shook me up and
scared me, I wanted to protect myself - I tried to hit him back." He said he
tried to punch Mr Walker but he did not think it was a "full on blow".
Ferdinand said he was relieved when the pair were parted as he was not an
aggressive man and often did work with children from Peckham, south London,
to advise them against using violent means. He said that on the way home he
was shaken up and in a daze and his lips were throbbing with pain.
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Bowyer on quest to prove fans wrong - Harlow Citizen
By Daniel Barden
ACCEPTING that an England recall is out of reach can never be easy for a
footballer of Lee Bowyer's quality. But the midfielder (pictured) admits he
is achieving his main target of finally showing the West Hams what he is all
about.
The boyhood Hammers fan has been rolling back the years to deliver the kind
of all-action, goal scoring displays that won him his one and only senior
international cap - against Portugal in 2002 - while playing for Leeds. His
performances are also going some way to erasing the memories of his
ill-fated move to Upton Park in 2003 in which the Hammers were relegated and
he failed to score in ten starts. "I want to prove to everyone that I'm a
better player than they saw the first time I was here," Bowyer said. "That's
why I came back to West Ham and hopefully I'm starting to do that."
The 30-year-old added: "I don't think I'll ever get called up (for England)
again. I scored 17 goals in one season and I didn't get called up so
whywould I get called up now? I have accepted it. Bowyer's main strength has
always been his determination to burst into the box to grab important goals.
And he has clearly rediscovered his eye for goal this season - his brace in
Saturday's romp at Derby puts him at the top of the Hammers goal scoring
chart with four. "I'm getting chances to score and I'm managing to take
them." he said. "Last year I think you could count the number of chances I
had on one hand, but now I'm getting one or two every game. "Carlton Cole
has set up three of my goals and it was a bit like big Carl Leaburn when I
was at Charlton. He wasn't even first choice at the start of the season -
Mark Noble and Hayden Mullins were given the central midfield positions -
but Bowyer has thrived playing through the middle in the absence of boss
Alan Curbishley's big name summer signings. It is a position where he knows
he can be in the thick of the action. He said: "I prefer to play in the
middle because you're more involved and you get more chances you can get on
the end of crosses from both sides. "But I just want to play for the club I
love and hopefully it carries on."
Curbishley has also seen a transformation in his midfield dynamo, and picked
him out for praise. "Since Lee has been at West Ham it hasn't clicked for
him," Curbishley said. "He missed three or four chances in pre season and
you do start to wonder. Perhaps he's been trying too hard and I told him he
needed to settle down a bit in the summer. "But that performance (against
Derby) was how I remember him at Charlton. When you remember Lee at his best
you think of him for getting in the box and as a good finisher. "He needed a
little bit of a lift and he has got it."
Bowyer is out for about a fortnight after undergoing surgery for a groin
problem on Tuesday. He is suspended for the match with Tottenham on November
25 anyway, and Curbishley revealed he had been playing with the injury for a
while. "We've been delaying the surgery for one or two others to come back,"
the Hammers boss said. "Hopefully Lee will be back in time for when he is
needed again."
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West Ham – Robert Green: England, England's number one? - SquareFootball
Colin Illingworth
15/11/2007 10:00:00.
You have to wonder what Steve McClaren is doing as England manager. He flies
halfway around the world to watch an ageing David Beckham play in a friendly
match yet refuses to cast an eye over the in-form Robert Green at West Ham
United despite Paul Robinson's recent poor form.
The former Norwich City shot stopper has been immense since joining the
Hammers in 2006 and football fans across the country, regardless of their
team's allegiance, are baffled by McClaren's decision not to call Green into
his recent squads. Calm, assured and error-free, the 27-year-old has played
a huge part in the Hammers' injury ravaged season. He's kept five clean
sheets in the Premiership, which included an injury time penalty save at
Portsmouth to secure a share of the spoils. Confident with crosses, great in
one-on-one situations and with amazing reactions, Green has all the
attributes of a top goalkeeper, but obviously not in Steve McClaren's eyes.
McClaren has made a number of mistakes as England coach, like dumping
Beckham from the squad after the World Cup in 2006 only to end up begging
him to come back almost a year later, and only stumbled across a winning
formula in September when injuries to a number of key players forced his
hand in to playing Emile Heskey and Gareth Barry. McClaren has a number of
top class internationals at his disposal but as he's found out, maybe a bit
too late though, you need to pick the best team, not necessarily the best
players. His determination to play players based on their reputation and not
on current form has had a detrimental effect on the squad and the fans, but
even Stevie Wonder could see that Paul Robinson has been suffering in recent
months.
The Spurs keeper has made more clangers that Frank Spencer recently yet he
is still England's number one according to McClaren. When he's on form
Robinson is a formidable figure in goal. Big and strong the former Leeds
United keeper is very agile and has sharp reactions. However, he has been
out of sorts for a number of months now and I'm sure even he'd appreciate
the opportunity to get out of the firing line to work on his game.
But it's not just Robinson who is keeping Green out of the England squad.
Portsmouth's David James and Aston Villa's on loan keeper Scott Carson are
also preferred to the West Ham ace. David James has been a revelation at
Fratton Park since joining from Manchester City in 2006 but, like Robinson,
has been responsible for a number of high profile blunders in his career. He
can go from the sublime to the ridiculous inside minutes and has admitted
finding it hard to keep his concentration in games. And although goalkeepers
tend to get better with age, at 37 David James is not exactly the future of
goalkeeping.
Scott Carson on the other hand could turn out to be the England goalkeeper
for the next decade or so. The 22-year-old has defied his years to put in a
string of top class displays over the past 18 months or so in the
Premiership. Despite being able to save Charlton Athletic from the drop last
season it is widely recognised that if it wasn't for him they would have
been consigned to the drop a lot sooner. Now I think Carson is a decent
keeper and I have nothing against him, nor against James or Robinson, but
just what does Robert Green have to do to be recognised by England?
It's not as if his form has been ignored by everyone. Arsene Wenger has
apparently been keeping tabs on him and with Jens Lehmann seemingly on the
way out of the Emirates the Frenchman will be looking for an experienced
keeper to challenge Manuel Almunia for the number one jersey. But surely
Green doesn't have to move to one of the big four in order to clinch an
England place?
West Ham fans will be mystified by Green's international snub but will be
breathing a sigh of relief at the same time as they haven't had a lucky time
with England internationals being called up to the squad - most notably Dean
Ashton – but what does he have to do to get in the England squad?
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Hogan hoping to break through at Upton Park - Daily Mail
Last updated at 11:21am on 15th November 2007
Rookie Hammers striker Hogan Ephraim claims he is ready to break into West
Ham's first team after successful loan stints at Colchester and QPR. The
19-year-old said: "I am at the age now where I am desperate to play
first-team football. Hopefully, that will be at West Ham."
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Race on for Juve star - Clubcall
20071115 10:52
West Ham are among a clutch of Premiership clubs who are taking a look at
out-of-favour Juventus defender Jonathan Zebina. The versatile French
international started out as a striker but has now been moved to right-back
although he can also fill in as a central defender if needed. Zebina fell
out with Juventus boss Claudio Ranieri earlier in the season and has been
frozen out by the former Chelsea chief who does not appear to fancy him.
The 29-year-old was signed from Roma in 2004 and remains under contract for
another four years but it seems a move could be on the cards during the
January transfer window. Spurs, Liverpool and Aston Villa are all believed
to be showing an interest in the player as well.
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French defender linked with Hammers switch - ESS
Last Updated: Thu, 15 Nov 2007 10:49
West Ham are among a clutch of Premiership clubs who are taking a look at
out-of-favour Juventus defender Jonathan Zebina. The versatile French
international started out as a striker but has now been moved to right-back
although he can also fill in as a central defender if needed. Zebina fell
out with Juventus boss Claudio Ranieri earlier in the season and has been
frozen out by the former Chelsea chief who does not appear to fancy him. The
29-year-old was signed from Roma in 2004 and remains under contract for
another four years but it seems a move could be on the cards during the
January transfer window. Spurs, Liverpool and Aston Villa are all believed
to be showing an interest in the player as well.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Curbs hoping for Noble return against Spurs - Daily Mail
Last updated at 13:09pm on 15th November 2007
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley hopes to have Mark Noble available for the
London derby with Tottenham at Upton Park on 25 November after the
20-year-old midfielder had a hernia operation last week.
NEXT FIVE GAMES: 25 Nov: Tottenham (h); 1 Dec: Chelsea (a); 9 Dec: Blackburn
(a); 12 Dec: Everton (h) (Carling Cup QF); 15 Dec: Everton (h).
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