Scott Parker and Dean Ashton both played 90 minutes in a big victory at
Derby
26.11.2007
Derby County reserves 0-8 West Ham United reserves
Scott Parker and Dean Ashton both got a valuable 90 minutes under their belt
as Kevin Keen's men enjoyed a striking 8-0 win at Derby County on Monday
night.
Ashton and Junior Stanislas each scored twice, while Hogan Ephraim, Kyel
Reid and captain Jack Collison also got in on the act, along with a Derby
own goal, in a Premier League Reserve match played at Burton Albion FC.
While much of the focus was on Parker and Ashton, Ephraim scored in his
first game back in the claret and blue after a loan at Queen's Park Rangers,
Collison continued the goalscoring form seen recently with Wales U21s and
Stanislas shone as a late substitute.
It is now four games unbeaten for Kevin Keen's men and it was not only the
high score and quality of goals that pleased, but also the fantastic
attitude shown. "The players did West Ham United football club proud
tonight, said Keen. "We have come up to the Midlands on a cold Monday
evening against a young Derby side who battled all the way, so it wasn't
easy to start with. But the players really showed a great attitude and
produced some fantastic football out there."
Among the senior players on view at the home of Burton Albion were
goalkeeper Jimmy Walker, right-back John Pantsil and Christian Dailly, who
was himself back after a loan spell having had two successful months at
Southampton. Further forward, Nigel Quashie played alongside Parker in
midfield while Ashton led the line and showed that he has lost none of
hunger for goals - whatever the level of the opposition.
It was Derby who actually had the first serious attempt on goal, after their
captain Mitch Hansen tested Walker with a fiercely-taken free-kick on nine
minutes. Reid and Pantsil then combined to set up Ashton, but the striker
was just unable to get his shot on target. The deadlock was finally broken
on 20 minutes when Reid burst down the left, cut inside into the penalty
area and scored with a stunning effort.
A few minutes later, West Ham United increased their lead as Parker, who put
in a first-class display in the middle of the park, got the ball to Ashton
and he rounded home goalkeeper Ben Hinchcliffe before firing into an empty
net. Ashton then doubled his tally as he headed in a Collison cross. The
young midfielder then added the fourth just before half-time when he got on
the end of an Ephraim cross.
In the second half, the visitors carried on where they had left off, with
the lively Ephraim involved again with another assist. The young striker's
low cross was met by Derby's Kallum Keane, who turned it into his own net.
Ephraim finally got the goal his play deserved when he latched on to an
Ashton pass and scored from close range. With an hour played, Keen sent on
Stanislas and he was to have an immediate impact.
The youngster collected a Reid pass before driving in a shot which crashed
off the bar and into the back of the net. With some free-flowing football,
West Ham United were clearly not finished and number eight was not too far
away. Again it involved good build-up with Reid this time getting down the
right before sending in a deep cross that allowed Stanislas to head in his
second. The England youth international could have had a hat-trick at the
death but Hinchcliffe was equal to his late effort.
West Ham United: Walker, Pantsil, Dailly (N'gala 85), Tomkins, Widdowson,
Parker, Collison (Stanislas 60), Quashie, Reid, Ashton, Ephraim (Jeffery 80)
Subs not used: Stech, Miller.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Fans pay respect to Paddon - WHUFC
Supporters at the Boleyn Ground were eager to pay tribute to Graham Paddon
26.11.2007
The memory of Graham Paddon will live on in the hearts of West Ham United
supporters - that was the message from the Boleyn Ground on Sunday.
A proud member of the 1975 FA Cup-winning side, Paddon died on 19 November
at the age of 57. Tributes poured in from across the game with former
team-mates Alan Curbishley and Mervyn Day, responsible for the current
Hammers side, leading the words of remembrance and the heartfelt reaction
extended to supporters gathering for the visit of Tottenham Hotspur.
While Curbishley's charges wore black armbands as a mark of respect during
the 1-1 draw, fans like Alan Jacobs spoke of their personal memories of
watching the blond-haired left-footer grace the Boleyn Ground pitch between
1973 and 1976. "He was magnificent for us," Alan told WHUTV. "He was a
lovely guy, with a smashing left foot. He was a lovely player and a lovely
man. I was very privileged to meet him."
Andrew Clark was another supporter who wanted to pay his respects, telling
of watching the 1975 final on TV at home and seeing him play live alongside
Billy Bonds and Trevor Brooking. "What a player. I remember coming over here
as a young lad with my father. All I can say is respect to him and respect
to his family. He was a legend. He was one of the best left-footed players
we have had. Pads was a great player and it is another legend sadly gone."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Genius returns - KUMB
Filed: Monday, 26th November 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
Christian Dailly has returned to West Ham following a successful spell on
loan with Southampton. The 34-year-old defender - described by Saints boss
George Burley as a 'model pro' - made 11 appearances for the Championship
club over the course of his two month loan spell, which ended at the
weekend. The Saints manager also admitted that he was deeply disappointed at
having to part company with the former Scottish international, but added
that there is 'no way we can afford his £10,000 per week wages'. "The
player's going to go back," said Burley. "We can't afford to keep him. We
just move on and adjust accordingly. "But I can't speak highly enough of
Christian. He is a model pro who can play so many different positions. "It
has been great to have him here but he has gone back now. He has been
tremendous for us, a top class lad." Dailly signed off by helping
Southampton to a 1-0 win over Blackpool at the weekend - a result which
keeps the South coast side in touch with the play off positions.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Green - Mourinho for England - SSN
West Ham keeper tips former Chelsea boss
By Rob Parrish Last updated: 26th November 2007
West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green believes Jose Mourinho is the right man to
lead England out of their current malaise. Green found himself out of the
international frame under Steve McClaren despite his impressive form for
West Ham. But with McClaren having paid the price for failing to guide
England to Euro 2008, the hunt is on for a new national team boss. And,
having been handed his international debut by Sven-Goran Eriksson, Green has
no concerns over a foreigner leading England. He said: "I wouldn't look
further than Jose Mourinho. He has the character and know-how to deal with
the job as well as the passion. "For England, it should be the right man for
the job. A Swede gave me my debut so I'm not one to say it must be an
Englishman."
Green admits that the pace and style of play in the Premier League is far
removed from international football. He added: "We have the players and the
best league in the world. The way the game is played here is so different
though. "Watching the Premier League is like Formula One - it's that quick -
and then you go to an international game and it's like a game of chess."
And Green believes part of the current problem in English football is that
youngsters spend too much time on games consoles and do not have the drive
or desire evident in other countries. He said: "We would have the best team
if we could go into every household and throw away every PlayStation, Xbox
and video game. "Other countries seem to bring on world-class players,
countries like Argentina and Brazil where often it's football or nothing.
"In contrast we live in a country where we have choices, and perhaps the
will to do it, the need to escape your own situation, is not so clear."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Saints unable to keep Dailly - SSN
Lack of funds prompts defender's return to Upton Park
Last updated: 26th November 2007
George Burley has revealed a lack of finances has prevented Southampton from
extending the loan of Christian Dailly. The West Ham United defender has
spent the past two months at St Mary's, but has now returned to Upton Park
after making 11 appearances for Saints. Burley was hoping to extend the deal
for a third month, but the Southampton boss concedes the coffers are empty.
"The player is going back, we can't afford to keep him," Burley told the
club's official website. "We just move on and adjust accordingly. It's a
financial thing, so we won't be getting anyone to replace him. "I can't
influence financial things, but I have had full backing from the board and
that is all I can ask."
With first-team opportunities at West Ham scarce, Dailly admits he would be
willing to return to Southampton. Dailly said: "It would be nice to think I
will be back here. We can't do anything for a month now, but we will see
what happens in January. "I don't think it was really an option for me to
stay until then. I know money is tight and they had to push it to keep me
here a second month. "But we will see what happens. I have really enjoyed it
here, it is a great club and I have made some good friends and I'd like to
think I might be back here at some point." Meanwhile, Saints defender Claus
Lundekvam could return to training by the end of January as he continues his
recovery from ankle surgery.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Robert Green attacks 'video gaming' nation - Telegraph
By Marc Isaacs
Last Updated: 12:09am GMT 27/11/2007
West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green has blamed the demise of England's national
team on a generation of children playing video games on PlayStation and
Xbox, rather than honing their skills on the football pitch. Green, who was
bitterly disappointed to be left out of the squad to face Croatia last
Wednesday, said: "If you want to have the best national side on a
longer-term basis, you need to go into every household and throw away the
PlayStation, Xbox and video games. Maybe in 15 years' time you'd have the
best national side. "It's a society thing. Look at countries who always seem
to bring up world-class players, like Brazil and Argentina. If you look at
the situations that they live in, it's football or nothing. We live in one
of the leading countries in the world and we have choices."
The former Norwich goalkeeper refused to watch the Croatia game and does not
feel he can do any more to win a place in the England side. "I was out with
friends while the game was on," he said. "I only became aware of the result
when I got home and checked the final score. I can only affect the situation
by playing football. "The media can campaign to get one person in but I'm
just enjoying my football and it [selection] is something that I can't
control."
FA chief executive Brian Barwick has the difficult task of finding the next
England coach, but Green is adamant that former Chelsea manager Jose
Mourinho would be the right man for the job. "If you're going on who is
available, the arguments for having a foreign manager seem to massively
outweigh those who are English," Green said. "You can count on one hand the
number of English managers who can do it. "If you look at who is available,
I would look no further than Mourinho. He has got the character to deal with
it and has the know-how to do the tactics and be passionate about it."
Green believes Steve McClaren made a huge error in leaving Paul Robinson out
of the England side last week and feels it was the wrong time to make such a
key decision. Green, who faced Robinson's Tottenham on Sunday and pulled off
a last-minute penalty save from Jermain Defoe, said: "Paul has had his
critics but the time to drop him would have probably been another game. It
seemed strange to go into a game with such magnitude for everyone involved
in the country and leave him out after keeping nine clean sheets in 11
competitive games."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
ESPN to Showcase Greatest West Ham Victories - West Ham Till I Die
November 26, 2007
I have just spent a very enjoyable half an hour being interviewed by ESPN
for a programme they are making about West Ham's greatest victories of the
last three decades or so. I got to share my memories of the two Cup finals,
the 5-4 victory over Bradford, 3-2 against Arsenal, 4-0 against Villa and
last year's 1-0 victory at Old Trafford. The programme will go out sometime
during December. Not sure who else has taken part.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Dailly in dark over future - The Mirror
27/11/2007
Christian Dailly has no idea about his future at West Ham after almost
totally cutting himself off from the club during his loan spell at
Southampton. Despite the Hammers' long injury list, the Scotland
international was allowed to spend two months at Saints, but played his last
game for them on Saturday. Dailly, 34, said: "I haven't really spoken to the
manager while I've been away. I'll do that when I go back, see what my
situation is and take it from there."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Upson: Spurs pair Berbatov, Keane best in Premiership
tribalfootball.com - November 26, 2007
West Ham United defender Matthew Upson rates Tottenham pair Robbie Keane and
Dimitar Berbatov as the Premiership's top strikers. He said: "They look very
good going forward and the fact they have four strikers who can all score
goals will soon lift them up the table. In Robbie Keane and Dimitar
Berbatov, they have two of the best players in the Premier League."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West ham star hopes to pay back £7m fee! - TalkingBlog
Monday, November 26, 2007
West Ham United striker Dean Ashton has revealed that he doesn't feel as if
he has even started to repay the £7 million back to the club that they
invested in him. Ashton has been on the sidelines for the majority of the
time since he joined the club and the striker can not wait to get a proper
run of games under his belt. "Yeah, it does feel a bit strange," he told the
Independent on Sunday. "In one sense, I feel like I've been here a hell of a
long time. "Yet I haven't actually played that many games. So, I feel like
I'm still starting and I've yet to show perhaps the form I had when I was
with Crewe and Norwich. Obviously it's important to me that I start to get
regular games, play consistently, and really show why they paid all that
money for me."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham want Hutton - Sportigo
Mon, Nov 26, 07 13:47
Mark Apostolou
Another day and another team are after Rangers impressive full-back Alan
Hutton - and that's West Ham (various). They join an ever-growing list of
teams vying for the Scottish international's signature, which includes Man
United, Liverpool and Spurs. My money is on the young talent remaining at
Ibrox, where he will get first-team football and ever-expanding experience
of Champions League football. Why would he want to leave?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Posts
