Alan Curbishley expects his team to maintain their fine away form when they
go to Middlesbrough
17.12.2007
Alan Curbishley will be in confident mood when he heads to Middlesbrough on
Saturday - believing his side can continue their fine away form this season.
West Ham United have won 13 of their 22 points this season on their travels,
and despite the double defeat by Everton in the space of four days,
Curbishley expects his side to bounce back at the Riverside Stadium. "We'll
now have to go and get a win up at Middlesbrough and we're certainly capable
of that," insisted the manager.
"Although I'll have to see who I've still got left for the game, I can
assure everyone that we're going there looking to pick things up again.
There are players who are chasing their fitness in the first team and some
who won't be fit for some time but at least Julien Faubert is not far off
full training while Anton Ferdinand will also start his comeback this week.
"We've got a good squad but we just haven't seen all the players yet. While
we know when some will begin training, there are others who have no comeback
date and we can only assess it as things go along." Among those missing at
Middlesbrough will be the suspended Carlton Cole, who also has a hip injury,
but it will simply mean the opportunity for players like Dean Ashton or
Henri Camara to shine.
"In the Premier League you get exposed when you throw in people who are not
100 per cent fit and it's difficult," continued Curbishley, who saw goals by
Yakubu and Andrew Johnson condemn his side to only their second defeat in
eight Premier League games on Saturday. "Everton have been all together and
have ploughed on and, while we won up at Blackburn Rovers at the start of a
big week for us, they'll be absolutely delighted with their two results
against us.
"I'm not sure whether David Moyes thinks that they deserved both victories
but they scored the goals and that's what makes all the difference. We had a
couple of glorious chances and, on another day, if we'd scored first, we
would've taken the points.
"Unfortunately, there was a lot of creativity sitting up in the stands,"
observed Curbishley. "Injury-wise, it's all about keeping people fit but
we've just been unable to do that. Within the space of a week, we've lost
[Danny] Gabbidon, [Matthew] Etherington, [Luis] Boa Morte and Cole and you
can't carry on losing players like that because it makes things very
difficult.
With the transfer window all set to be unlocked on New Year's Day, the
manager knows the solution does not, necessarily, lie that way. "The answer
isn't just to go out and buy more players," he said. "The right ones might
not even be available and I'm not even looking down that road at the moment.
"Meanwhile, I just hope that the fans will realise that the players who have
been playing have been fantastic and that they appreciate our injury
situation," concluded Curbishley. "They've equipped themselves well and gone
out and got us 22 points and, although, we would've liked to have won all
our home games in front of our own fans, so far that just it isn't to be -
so we need to get the points however we can."
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Green keen to 'put it right' - WHUFC
Robert Green knows West Ham United have the ability to pick up three vital
points next Saturday
17.12.2007
Robert Green is expecting West Ham United to get back to winning ways with
next Saturday's trip to Middlesbrough.
The club's away form has been terrific this season - not least in the 1-0
victory at Blackburn Rovers a week ago - but things have not been so
straightforward at the Boleyn Ground. Two losses to Everton in four days
have checked the elation of victory at Ewood Park, for all the quality of
the opposition and the commitment shown by Alan Curbishley's men in both the
2-1 midweek Carling Cup defeat and Saturday's 2-0 league loss.
"We have got to put it right," said Green. "It is two poor defeats. If the
game was over two legs, we lost it 4-1 and it is really disappointing." The
chance to make amends will come at Middlesbrough, another side who are in
good form after victories against Arsenal and Derby County. "The game next
Saturday is going to be pretty hard - they have had two great wins and they
will be coming all guns blazing against us.
"We are going to need to do a job and it is probably not going to be pretty
but it is a game where we have got to win and create a bit more daylight
between us and the teams below and hopefully catch up with the people
above." Indeed, victory at the Riverside would move the Hammers back into
the top half of the table, at least for a day, and be much-needed with the
likes of Manchester United and Arsenal on the horizon.
Everton are showing this season they are perhaps among the leading
contenders to challenge those elite clubs, and Green said there was much
that can be learned. "They make it hard for you and play to their strengths.
They have got four key players up front who are very creative and good on
the ball and once they get it to them, they play very well around that. The
back four are solid - once they go a goal up it is so hard to score, to
create chances."
There was little Green could do about either goal, with Yakubu's first just
before half-time coming from close range and the second at the death from
Andy Johnson arriving as the home side desperately pushed for an equaliser.
"The first goal was obviously disappointing. It was a killer blow. It was an
important time just to shut up shop and we didn't manage to do it and other
than that, they didn't really have too many chances."
The No1 felt it would "have been a different story" had luck favoured the
likes of Freddie Ljungberg and Dean Ashton in the first half after both went
close. Towards the end of the game, Green was doing his bit to help get the
ball forward as the hosts kept going - "trying to do a back four's job" -
but added "that is one of the frustrations of playing in goal. Tthen again I
wouldn't want to rely on my skills to get us back into the game."
From his vantage point, however, he could see the all-round effectiveness of
Everton's approach and saw similarities in his team-mates' attacking play on
the road this campaign. "It was a bit like watching us away from home, where
we have gone 1-0 up in a lot of games and gone on to win most of them," he
explained. Should the same tactics pay dividends this Saturday and the side
take the lead at Middlesbrough, Green will be ready to play his part at the
other end.
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Youths on the up before cup - WHUFC
Tony Carr's side fought back from going a goal down to maintain their fine
run of form
16.12.2007
West Ham United Under-18s 2-1 Portsmouth Under-18s
West Ham United's youngsters warmed up for Wednesday night's vital FA Youth
Cup tie with a comeback home win against Portsmouth.
The Hammers welcome Bolton Wanderers to the Boleyn Ground in midweek for the
third-round fixture and Tony Carr will have been delighted with Saturday's
league result at Little Heath - especially as the first half saw Zavon Hines
miss a penalty before Portsmouth took the lead.
Hines then made amends with the equaliser in the second half before the home
side, featuring several changes including the presence of reserve-team
captain Jack Collison, took the points with a wonder goal from Matt Fry. The
victory means it is three games unbeaten for Carr's side after a 1-1 draw at
Fulham followed a 2-0 win at Ipswich Town.
West Ham United: Stech, Payne, Ashman (Miller), Blackwell, Brooks,
Fitzgerald, Fry, Collison, Edgar, Kearns, Hines
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Vinny's Everton Report (goals included) - West Ham Online
Vinny - Sun Dec 16 2007
West Ham United 0 Everton 2
Everton recorded their second victory in three days at Upton Park as they
again beat a West Ham side lacking in quality.
Although I am bitterly disappointed at our showing, once again I feel
injuries have dictated the result and performance and we just cannot cope
with certain players missing. No one really has spoke about the amount of
players missing from the first team for this game, and the players who we
have to replace them are simply not good enough.
I thought we did well enough in the first half, and created a number of
chances which was a improvement on Wednesday night. But the goal before half
time seemed to suck the life out of an already fragile team, and the second
half showing was extremely poor.
The team was altered from Wednesday night with injuries again effecting how
we set out our stall. In defence, Danny Gabbidon was out with a groin injury
and replaced by James Collins. In midfield, there was no Luis Boa Morte, and
with Matthew Etherington still injured it saw Nolberto Solano come back from
being cup tied on the right wing and Freddie Ljungberg retained his place.
Carlton Cole remained up front alongside Ashton despite carrying an injury.
Having Solano back in the side was a big plus from a creative side, and it
only took a couple of minutes to be reminded of how good he can be crossing
the ball when he swung in a brilliant corner with was clawed away by Everton
keeper Tim Howard.
Solano was beginning to pull the strings in midfield and his wonderful
lofted pass over the defence set Scott Parker bursting through but his cross
was too long for Cole.
It was around the quarter hour mark where we had our best chance of the game
and of course Solano was again involved. It had come from an excellent
sequence of football which showed exactly what we can do when we apply
ourselves. This short passing move resulted in Solano threading a pass
through to Ljungberg, who from a few yards out had the goal at his mercy but
his shot was straight at Howard who saved well.
We had created more in fifteen minutes than we had the entire night on
Wednesday.
I suppose it is even more disappointing at how we ended up playing as we had
started well and were actually looking to play football on the floor. As the
game wore on, this became a distant memory with the long ball being
preferred every time.
Dean Ashton had a golden opportunity to score when Solano played a wonderful
ball over the top of the defence to find a totally unmarked Ashton, but his
attempt to knock the ball over the head of Howard was not executed well
enough and the ball went wide.
Everton from an attacking perspective had been as they were on Wednesday,
looking to counter attack at every opportunity and play a possession game in
our half without taking too many risks.
But one risk did pay off, and just moments before half time Everton stole a
lead to knock the wind out of the West Ham players and supporters.
Arteta played a cross into the area which found Cahill who headed back for
the unmarked Yakubu to head past Green for 1-0.
The half time whistle blew moments after the restart, and as usual a few
boo's rang out from the West Ham fans which I thought was a little unfair.
We needed to play better than Wednesday night and up until the Everton goal
(which was against the run of play) we had looked the better side.
I had confidence that if we came out in the second half and created as many
chances as we did in the first, then we would eventually make that break
through.
But I was very wrong, as the second half display turned out to be one of our
worst of the season and was not helped with the inclusion of some very poor
players, one of which came on straight away.
Henri Camera replaced the injured Carlton Cole for the second half and I
can't say that this exactly inspired me with confidence, given Camera being
useless and all that.
My hopes for a fast start to the second half were quickly diminished as
Everton looked to take further control of a game they had hardly been in.
They forced a few corners, with Lee Carsley hitting a good shot from outside
the area which looked destined for the net, but for a header away by Matthew
Upson.
Everton should have put the game beyond us when a defensive mess (with James
Collins to blame) led to Osman going one on one with Robert Green, but the
midfielders chip went over the bar in a real let off for us.
Alan Curbishley responded with a substitution. Mark Noble was brought on and
I don't think many would argue that he needed to come on to give us
something a little more creative. But to take off Nolberto Solano who had
been our only creative player in the entire game was total madness and if he
was not injured then Curbishley made a real error.
Time was slipping away and we had still not shown any signs of decent
football, as the long ball to Ashton continued to not work.
With our lack of width and pace, Everton found us an easy side to defend
against, and they just kept things simple, putting in a thoroughly
professional performance.
A little bit of pressure right at the end amounted to nothing, and I believe
we could have been there for another ten hours and not scored as we had
created nothing.
Everton then putting the icing on a very good week by scoring deep into
stoppage time, when Andy Johnson raced onto Phil Neville's pass to lob Green
and send the Everton fans home very happy yet again.
Player Reviews
Robert Green
Neither of the goals were his fault and he was left very exposed for the
first. Didn't actually have to make many saves just like on Wednesday but
did have to pick the ball out of his net twice.
Lucas Neill
Not happy with his performance. He again looked erratic and got embroiled in
too many niggily spats with opposition players. His passing was poor again,
and his overall performance was not good enough.
Matthew Upson
With no Gabbidon in the side, Upson's frailties are cruelly exposed. I
haven't seen the first goal again but I am pretty sure he was caught out of
position and should have been much tighter on Yakubu.
James Collins
People have pleaded for him to be put back in the side but this performance
only shows that you need to be careful what you wish for. Looked very poor
and this was never a premiership quality performance. Was made to look silly
at times and just goes to show how one injury can unsettle an entire
defence.
George McCartney
His worst performance this season.
Nolberto Solano
The creative spark, the one true technical footballer we have, the best
passer, the one who made all our chances in the first half – the one who was
taken off on the hour mark.
Scott Parker
As he was on the pitch for the whole game I would go as far as saying he was
probably our best player. His effort was more than a few of the players put
together and although he gave the ball away, he was always looking to burst
forward and make something happen.
Hayden Mullins
As poor a performance as you will see. He was all over the place, and this
type of showing will only make his haters question him once again.
Freddie Ljungberg
Come on now, lets be honest – he's a bit shit ain't he?
Carlton Cole
Obviously injured.
Dean Ashton
ConTinuing from Wednesday night he looked poor, slow, fat and even a little
disinterested. If he is not fit, then don't play him, because it is like
having 10 men.
Subs Used
Henri Camera (on for Cole 45 minutes)
A woeful footballer.
Kyle Reid ((on for Mullins 79 mins)
Not good enough for the premiership. Never will be.
Overall
Losing Danny Gabbidon and Luis Boa Morte was bad enough but to still not
have Matthew Etherington available, and playing an injured Carlton Cole and
then replacing him with Camera was the big problem today.
We cannot cope with any injuries at the moment, and the players we brought
in were not of the quality needed to beat teams like Everton.
Dean Ashton has started the last two games and all we have done is play the
long ball towards him which has to stop or we will lose games like this time
and time again.
Next week sees an away trip to Middlesbrough and with our away form being
quite good we need to make sure we make up for our failing at home and bring
back all three points.
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Everton find West Ham still out of tune - telegraph
By David Miller
Last Updated: 2:52am GMT 17/12/2007
West Ham United (0) 0 Everton (1) 2
Perhaps someone should compose new lyrics for West Ham's song: about banana
skins instead of bubbles. Stylish, as is their fragile custom, though
debilitated by injuries, they had a torrid week at the hands of resurgent
Everton.
If David Moyes' team maintain their present form, then the top four will
become the top five in the Premier League. They may not boast the flair of
Arsenal or Manchester United, yet they exhibit a streak of reliability
similar to Chelsea's.
Moyes's histrionic tendency to regard almost every referee as the
opposition's 12th man - evident from the first minute on Saturday - is
singularly unattractive but he has rigorously organised Merseyside's "second
club" to the point where they can possible upstage the team across Stanley
Park. That would be as good for the game as a sustained serious revival by
Manchester City.
West Ham, so fortunate to survive the drop last season, created sufficient
festive season bubbles in the first 40 minutes to give their followers
optimism for a prosperous New Year. Their inter-passing and movement off the
ball entertainingly reflected Alan Curbishley's inventive coaching, but in
the final 20 yards of the field neither Carlton Cole, less than fit, nor
Dean Ashton could break open Everton's solid defending.
Without Craig Bellamy and gritty Lee Bowyer - among a host of injuries -
West Ham are punch-shy, and though the first half was substantially
conducted in Everton's half of the field, West Ham none the less remained
fundamentally tepid. Freddie Ljungberg is a lamp burnt low, and the team's
status, it must be said is more upmarket Craven Cottage than down market
Emirates.
Everton played a calculated, patient game, consolidated by Lee Carsley
sweeping in front of the back four in a 4-1-4-1 formation. Fast and
intelligent on the counter attack - only Arsenal have scored more goals -
Mikel Arteta and Steven Pienaar always threatened on the flanks, Lucas Neill
was regularly caught on the turn at right back... and then there is always
Yakubu, now with nine Premier League goals this season.
So it came as no surprise when West Ham's sloppy marking was exposed in the
five minutes before half-time. But first, Leon Osman was allowed to sprint
through the middle and should have scored but struck his shot too high from
18 yards. Then Arteta, having drifted to the left, floated a pass square
across the penalty area, Tim Cahill headed back and an unmarked Yakubu
nodded gratefully past Robert Green.
This was an eminently recoverable situation for the home team, but not with
the display they now offered. Everton dominated throughout, more than had
West Ham earlier, and might have scored two or three more before Andy
Johnson, a late substitute, ran through opponents by now flinging themselves
forward in desperate search of a point.
With Carsley muscularly crushing many West Ham attacks at source, Henri
Camara, having replaced Cole at half-time, made little impact, and it had
become West Ham's turn to chase the ball as Everton had done previously.
Football fans' forum
Yakubu's wandering around the Premier League from club to club does not give
confidence in the permanence of his service, but while he is on song, the
Nigerian is as dangerous as almost any striker in the league. His absence,
during the African Nations Cup, will dent Everton's power.
Moyes is likely to lose the services of Yakubu, Nigeria defender Joseph Yobo
and South Africa midfielder Pienaar during the tournament, held in Ghana
between Jan 20 and Feb 10, and is considering signing one player - possibly
on loan - in the transfer window.
Man of the match
Yakubu (Everton) 8
• One goal from four attempts, three on target, one blocked
• Two key passes
• 70 per cent pass completion in attacking third
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West Ham United 0 Everton 2: Everton make Curbishley indulge in fantasy -
The Independent
By Mike Rowbottom
Published: 17 December 2007
The F word was everywhere again at Upton Park on Saturday after a second
defeat to Everton in four days: F for frustration.
After seeing his men miss a sequence of chances before offering the visitors
the opportunity to take charge of the match just before half-time, West
Ham's manager, Alan Curbishley, had a characteristically careworn expression
as he assessed the damage.
There were two West Ham teams in his mind. The first featured Kieron Dyer
and Craig Bellamy with their pace on the wing and up front, Julien Faubert
with his midfield nous, Anton Ferdinand dealing intelligently and powerfully
with Everton's forward thrusts, Matthew Etherington providing an outlet
wide, Lee Bowyer mixing aggression and the promise of goals, Bobby Zamora
ready to prove his worth up front once again.
This was the fantasy team, all of whose members are currently missing
through injury. The team which took to the pitch contained a number of
players still regaining full fitness, Dean Ashton, or carrying injuries,
Carlton Cole, or just back from injury, James Collins.
They did well enough, but were no match for an Everton side of formidable
purpose which has now gone 12 games unbeaten, with 10 of them won. A settled
Everton side – as Curbishley pointed out with more than a hint of envy.
"We have got a big squad," he said. "But I'm sure West Ham fans would agree,
they haven't seen all the players. Some of them we are having to get fully
fit while playing in the team.
"One of the biggest problems we've got is that in this Premier League people
are exposed if they are not 100 per cent. But we've got to get on with it."
Disruption at playing level has been mirrored off the field this week by
changes in the boardroom, where the chairman, Eggert Magnusson, has
departed, to be replaced by the club's majority shareholder, Bjorgolfur
Gudmundsson. The Icelandic banker has invested a further £30.5m in the club
as he envisages an eventual move to a new 60,000-seat stadium.
But before all those plans can come to pass, matters have to be set right on
the pitch. Whoever the personnel, certain basics need to be carried out.
Such as converting clear chances, as the labouring Freddie Ljungberg and
Ashton failed to do in the opening 25 minutes.
Such as disciplined marking, which the reorganised West Ham defence failed
to manage in the 45th minute as Mikel Arteta was given time to measure a
cross from the left. Tim Cahill rose above Matthew Upson to nod the ball
across goal and Aiyegbeni Yakubu, unchallenged, was allowed to head his
fifth goal in a week.
Despite the energetic and intelligent midfield prompting of Scott Parker,
the home side failed to regain the initiative against an increasingly
obdurate side for whom Joseph Yobo excelled in defence. And in the second
minute of time added on they were caught on the break for a second goal
after Upson had misjudged a header, allowing the substitute, Andy Johnson,
to lob the stranded and infuriated Robert Green. Once again the F-word
appeared to be coming into play.
Goals: Everton: Yakubu (45) 0-1; Johnson (90) 0-2.
West Ham United (4-4-2): Green; Neill, Collins, Upson, McCartney; Solano
(Noble, 59), Mullins (Reid, 79), Parker, Ljungberg; Ashton, Cole (Camara,
h-t). Substitutes not used: Wright (gk), Spector.
Everton (4-5-1): Howard; Neville, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott; Arteta, Cahill,
Carsley, Osman, Pienaar; Yakubu (Johnson, 87). Substitutes not used: Wessels
(gk), Hibbert, Gravesen, McFadden.
Referee: S Tanner (Somerset).
Booked: West Ham Ljungberg; Everton Yakubu, Johnson.
Man of the match: Yakubu.
Attendance: 34,430.
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Resolute and tireless, Everton continue their quiet climb - The Times
West Ham 0 Everton 2
Tim Meston at Upton Park
There were no trips to the Natural History Museum or National Portrait
Gallery for the Everton players during their stay in London. "We went
straight to our beds," David Moyes said. That is not to say his team's visit
was not educational; indeed, the Everton manager believed that his team
passed an important test in beating West Ham United twice in four days to
extend their unbeaten run to 12 matches.
Everton's next Barclays Premier League match is away to Manchester United
and a win there would be a fantastic result, but Moyes is content to set
more attainable targets.
"Possibly, the test [for us] was coming to West Ham," Moyes said. "To play
Man United or one of the top four is always going to be a difficult game.
The tests we've had are like coming here for two games and the players have
come through that magnificently well.
"What we had to do was get the players believing that they could win and,
after we won on Wednesday night [in the Carling Cup quarter-final], we
gained confidence from it and were determined to try and win this one as
well. I knew it would be difficult and that's what it proved."
Everton played a counter-attacking style built on resolute defending and
tireless midfield running, but Moyes admitted that his team had to survive a
furious rally in the second half.
Alan Curbishley, the West Ham manager, was quick to blame the result on his
extensive injury list after making three changes to his starting lineup,
with James Collins, Fredrik Ljungberg and Carlton Cole replacing LuÍs Boa
Morte, Matthew Etherington and Danny Gabbidon. "One of the biggest problems
is people are exposed, not 100 per cent match fit for this Premier League,
and we're throwing them in," he said. "And to get through it is very, very
difficult."
It would have been less arduous for the home side had Ljungberg converted a
glorious chance in the fifteenth minute, but Yakubu Ayegbeni scored his
fifth goal in three games just before half-time. Mikel Arteta picked out Tim
Cahill with an inswinging cross from the left and the Australia midfield
player's header across goal gave his strike partner an easy finish.
West Ham deserted their short-passing game for a more direct style in the
second period, but this ultimately proved costly with the defence exposed.
Yakubu will be missing for Everton when the African Cup of Nations starts
next month, but this is not of great concern for Moyes, who watched Andrew
Johnson, the Nigeria striker's replacement, show all his awareness, pace and
finishing acumen to nick Everton's second.
West Ham United (4-4-2): R Green 7 – L Neill 5, J Collins 5, M Upson 5, G
McCartney 5 – N Solano 6 (sub: M Noble, 59min 5), S Parker 7, H Mullins 5
(sub: K Reid, 79), F Ljungberg 6 – C Cole 6 (sub: H Camara, 46 4), D Ashton
5. Substitutes not used: R Wright, J Spector. Booked: Ljungberg. Next:
Middlesbrough (a).
Everton (4-4-1-1): T Howard 7 – P Neville 6, J Yobo 7, P Jagielka 7, J
Lescott 7 – M Arteta 6, L Carsley 6, L Osman 7, S Pienaar 7 – T Cahill 6 –
Yakubu Ayegbeni 7 (sub: A Johnson, 87).Substitutes not used:S Wessels, A
Hibbert, T Gravesen, J McFadden. Booked: Yakubu, Johnson. Next: Manchester
United (a).
Referee S Tanner
Attendance 34,430
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Everton in the comfort zone as hesitant Hammers crumble again - Daily Mail
West Ham 0 Everton 2
By ARINDAM REJ - More by this author »
Last updated at 00:44am on 17th December 2007
Everton captain Phil Neville thought West Ham made life easy for his side,
giving them a 'comfortable' afternoon once Yakubu had opened the scoring. It
was difficult to argue with that damning indictment. Injury-hit West Ham
were profligate going forward, lacked creativity in midfield and showed
hesitancy at the back. This was the second time in four days that Alan
Curbishley's team had lost to Everton at home. They also succumbed in the
Carling Cup on Wednesday night and the two clubs' seasons seem to be heading
in opposite directions. Everton took the lead shortly before half-time after
West Ham had squandered a series of chances and Curbishley's demoralised
side had no response. Right-back Neville said: "I don't think in the second
half they created one clear-cut chance. We were always very comfortable. The
back four defended well and we always looked dangerous on the
counter-attack." The game unfolded in that manner because of the way David
Moyes organised Everton. In his 4-4-1-1 formation, Tim Cahill was the link
man between midfield and Yakubu, the lone striker, while Mikel Arteta stayed
on the right wing rather than roaming into the central role he prefers. It
meant there was solidity to Everton's play, but a considerable threat when
they broke. West Ham helped them with two bad pieces of defending. James
Collins had an awkward afternoon against Yakubu and he allowed the
£11.5million marksman to head the opener. Matthew Upson was guilty for the
late second goal as he panicked before carelessly knocking the ball into the
path of substitute Andy Johnson. The England striker impressively lobbed
Robert Green, although only the keeper will know why he was standing in such
a vulnerable position outside his penalty area. Everton are on a 12-match
unbeaten run and Neville added: "Christmas will be a telling period . We
play Manchester United and Arsenal. If we come out of that still in fifth or
sixth, we can really attack the second half of the season."
But Moyes disagreed that facing the champions will be a pivotal game. "The
acid tests were coming to West Ham twice," he said. "Taking on Manchester
United or any of the big four will always be difficult but to come here
twice is the real test for the players. They've come through magnificently."
A key factor in whether Everton can keep grinding out results will be their
fitness, particularly as they will lose key men to the African Nations Cup.
Their squad lacks depth and West Ham showed here what a problem that can be.
Injuries partially explained their insipid display and why the likes of
Collins, returning to the side, were shaky. Carlton Cole also lacked fitness
and had to be brought off at half-time. In midfield, Scott Parker was
nowhere near his best and Freddie Ljungberg was also suffering. The Swede
said: "I've had a migraine and it takes me about 10 days to get over them."
Curbishley said: "We've got Julien Faubert back in full training. Anton
Ferdinand is training next week. The answer is not just to go out and buy
players."
FABIO'S FILE
JOLEON LESCOTT (Everton, age 25) This was another confident showing from a
player displaying admirable consistency and improvement. His versatility
makes him an asset and here he showed his promise at left-back, where
England are not spoiled for choice.
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Magnusson pushed out of West Ham over spiraling wages
tribalfootball.com - December 17, 2007
Eggert Magnusson was pushed out of West Ham United over the club's spiraling
wage bill, it has been revealed. The Sunday Mirror says Magnusson was forced
out of West Ham after majority shareholder Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson launched a
full-scale enquiry into the running of the club. And it was the
£110,000-aweek wages paid to Freddie Ljungberg - almost TREBLE his Arsenal
deal - that sparked Gudmundsson into action. Gudmundsson, an Icelandic
banking billionaire, decided to take personal control after becoming
concerned by Magnusson's increasingly high profile and some of his
decision-making. The owner had major concerns about the salaries Magnusson
authorised for incoming players such as Ljungberg, Lucas Neill, Matthew
Upson and Luis Boa Morte. Ljungberg was paid around £38,000 a week by
Arsenal and had been struggling with a series of injuries. At 30 his career
appeared to have reached a crossroads and the Gunners were prepared to let
him move on. And the Sweden international must have been laughing all the
way to the bank when the Hammers offered him a pay packet of around £110,000
a week. It has not helped Magnusson's justification of the deal to see
Ljungberg sidelined for long spells this season. So far he has made just
eight appearances. Lucas Neill was poised to leave Blackburn Rovers for
Liverpool in last January's transfer window - until Magnusson opened the
Hammers chequebook. With the end of his contract approaching Rovers were
ready to sell the tough-tackling defender for £1.5million. Liverpool offered
the Aussie £55,000 a week - only for West Ham to clinch his signature with
an offer of £90,000 a week.
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West Ham move for Tottenham fullback Carr ( funny , I thought he played for
Newcastle !? - PeterR )
tribalfootball.com - December 17, 2007
West Ham United are closing in on Tottenham fullback Stephen Carr. The
31-year-old's contract expires next summer and West Ham boss Alan Curbishley
is ready to offer the ex-Tottenham defender the chance to move back to
London.
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IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE - Football365
After that calamitous spell at West Ham, Javier Mascherano has established
himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League.
Unfortunately for Liverpool, they only have him on the borrow, and will have
to stump up £17million to get him permanently from the ever-mysterious MSI.
However, that may very well not happen, so The Daily Mirror reckons that
Rafa has got a perfect plan if Masch slips through his fingers; and that
plan is Sulley Muntari. 'You mean admittedly excellent but decidedly
left-winger Sulley Muntari?' I hear you cry. The very same. Replacing a
tough-tackling midfielder with a left-winger. Either the Mirror or Rafa have
gone a bit peculiar.
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