Alan Curbishley is expecting more big things for his team at Middlesbrough
22.12.2007
Alan Curbishley fully expects West Ham United to continue their majestic
away form when they arrive at the Riverside Stadium this afternoon.
The club have taken 13 of their 22 points on the road this season. "You want
to win more points at home than you do away but at this moment in time I
have got to take the points where they come," the manager said, mindful the
club lost to Everton twice in the space of four days at the Boleyn Ground
last week.
However, Curbishley is not unduly worried - especially as the three home
reverses have come to league leaders Arsenal, who "had everybody playing",
the season's surprise package Manchester City and in-form Everton.
"I think at home you are set a different set of problems to try and deal
with and for us in them three games just mentioned - they have gone in the
lead - which gives you another situation to deal with. In a lot of games
away from home, we have gone in the lead."
Most recently, the Hammers soaked up the pressure at Ewood Park a fortnight
ago before defeating Blackburn Rovers 1-0. There have also been other
notable awaydays such as a 5-0 win at Derby County and a memorable 0-0 draw
at Portsmouth. "We have took more points away. I hope it continues at the
weekend that we get a result," he added.
When asked why the club were doing better away from home, Curbishley
admitted consistency of selection was key. "I would like a few more points -
the players that have been playing have done fantastically well. I can't ask
for much more in terms of effort, the commitment of the players but in the
home games you are asked one or two more questions. Perhaps that's what we
have to think about."
He is also thinking about the training set-up, with the players doing some
of their preparation away from Chadwell Heath at Little Heath where it is
thought the softer ground may have a part to play in protecting his squad
from injuries. "We are looking at every angle," he said. "It may just be
that we are unlucky."
More pressing for the manager is Middlesbrough, who are on a "decent run".
He added: "They have drawn at Reading, beat Arsenal and beat Derby. A month
ago, it was probably doom and gloom and they had injuries. I think a lot of
their forwards were out and that's why the Premier League is so tough. It is
going to be a difficult game for us."
He also offered praise for his opposite number Gareth Southgate. "He has
acquitted himself very well," Curbishley said. "He got on with it. They have
allowed him to get on with it and backed him and I always thought his second
season would perhaps be a little bit tougher than perhaps the first one."
The difficulty for Southgate was switching from player to manager. "That
first season you have perhaps still got that rapport and closeness with the
players and the second season is always a little bit more difficult. That
squad changes, you have to make decisions. You have to perhaps upset one or
two of the players that you played with."
Curbishley expects Middlesbrough to have "a settled side" - spearheaded by
the in-form Tuncay Sanli. The Turkish international was a lively presence in
the first meeting of the two teams at the Boleyn Ground when the Hammers won
3-0 earlier this campaign - although was guilty of a few missed chances.
The manager added with a smile that while the coaching staff at the
Riverside were enjoying a settled situation, Southgate "ain't got a clue
what we are going to turn up with". The young manager may not be able to
predict the visiting lineup this afternoon but he will know that, away from
home, West Ham United have every chance of success.
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England winger on the move? - lep.co.uk
Stewart Downing could be set to leave Middlesbrough in a row over his
contract. Downing - a target for Everton, West Ham and Tottenham - has two
years left on his contract at Middlesbrough and wants an extension. But
Downing was jeered by sections of the Riverside crowd and said: "Maybe it
would be better if I just go." Talks were held last week to extend his
contract but Downing told the Daily Mirror: "We have been inn negotiations
quite a long time so it has been dragging a bit. "I have asked the club to
move on and I want it out of the way." The 22-year-old could be prised away
from the Riverside for around £8m.
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West Ham boss Curbishley: BG backs me
tribalfooball.com - December 21, 2007
West Ham United boss Alan Curbishley is confident he has the full backing of
new chairman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson. He said: "The chairman has assured me
he is fully behind everything, like he always has been, and the only
difference is he has taken on a bigger role himself. "I have met the new
chairman a couple of times. Whereas Eggert was based in London, Bjorgolfur
is based in Iceland but we are on the phone all the time. "But Bjorgolfur
was always fully aware of everything that was happening at the club and I
don't see any problem with the change."
It was Gudmundsson who sanctioned the mammoth spending spree last January
that helped Hammers escape the drop with a sensational run-in. Curbishley
added: "BG was instrumental in buying the club in the first place and he's
been there from the outset."
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Tomkins wins West Ham chance
tribalfooball.com - December 21, 2007
West Ham teen James Tomkins is in Alan Curbishley's squad for their clash
with Middlesbrough. Already without centre-halves Anton Ferdinand
(hamstring) and Danny Gabbidon (groin) and with James Collins (groin)
doubtful, Alan Curbishley has called up the England Under-19 defender into
his senior squad for the first time. Basildon-born Tomkins, a product of
West Ham's youth academy and rated highly by the Premier League club, could
even make his debut at the Riverside if Collins is ruled out but is more
likely to be a substitute, with Jonathan Spector coming in to play alongside
Matthew Upson.
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Hammers Injury Panto May Compound Against Boro - West Ham Fans.org
Submitted by Neville Nixon on 21 December, 2007 - 23:59.
Alan Curbishely must be wondering what surprises santa's little demonic
helper has in store for him as he faces up to a congested fixture list,
beginning with a visit to a resurgent Middlesbrough side at the Riverside
Stadium, devoid of so many first team players through injury and suspension.
Carlton Cole, who has basically held the forward line on his own, is
unavailable because of picking up his latest yellow card , Craig Bellamy is
battling for fitness, Bobby Zamora is still out with a knee injury and all
in all Hammers are looking distinctly light weight up front. Not so in
midfield where the manager is almost spoiled for choice, here he will need
to take note of Boror's recent upsurge in form and go for a stifling
approach that allows his team to hit the home side on the break. It has been
a disappointing time for West Ham of late, both the senior and junior teams
have lost out in major cup competitions and the frustration for supporters
and owners alike has been reflected in the current climate, talk of extended
contracts on fat wages have been replaced by rumors of wide spread squad
trimming with wholesale changes being planned for many of the peripheral
players. New chairman BG is apparently unhappy with some of the money being
paid out to certain players, and why not?, after all it is his cash isn't
it? It is fairly safe to assume that a headache will not be good enough for
a 'not tonight darling' sicky to be envoked! - Ed PS: Sorry to have been
absent for the last week or so, have been trying to break the odd limb with
the family on a set of slopes that were more slippery than the slimy red
tops!
West Ham (from): Green, Neill, McCartney, Gabbidon, Upson, Ljungberg,
Parker, Ashton, Pantsil, Solano, Noble, Mullins, Spector, Collins, Wright,
Walker, Camara.
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Curbs happy with Hammers hierarchy - TeamTalk
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley claims the club have not been disrupted by
the departure of former executive chairman Eggert Magnusson. The one-time
president of the Football Association of Iceland stepped down from his post
in September before selling his shares to Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson last week.
Magnusson was a fans' favourite at Upton Park and has been replaced by
Gudmundsson, while CEO Scott Duxbury has been charged with the daily running
of the club. But despite the reshuffle Curbishley, whose side travel to
Middlesbrough in the Premier League on Saturday, says the club have managed
the transition smoothly. "I have met the new chairman a few times," said
Curbishley. "Where as Eggert was based here in London, he lives over in
Iceland, but we speak quite a lot on the phone. "Scott has taken on the
day-to-day situation so, between the three of us, that is the way we are
going to progress."
Curbishley's team have enjoyed a haul of 13 points from their away fixtures
this term and he is hoping they can extend that run against Middlesbrough.
He added: "We have taken more points from our away games and I hope that it
continues this weekend. "We lost at home to Arsenal, who had all their best
players playing, and we were beaten by Manchester City at the start of the
season. We then lost to Everton, who are on a good run. "Although I do want
to win more games at Upton Park, I have to take the points when they come."
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Curbishley: Three is the magic number at Upton Park - Daily Mail
Last updated at 16:09pm on 21st December 2007
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley claims the club have not been disrupted by
the departure of former executive chairman Eggert Magnusson. The one-time
president of the Football Association of Iceland stepped down from his post
in September before selling his shares to Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson last week.
Magnusson was a fans' favourite at Upton Park and has been replaced by
Gudmundsson, while CEO Scott Duxbury has been charged with the daily running
of the club. But despite the reshuffle Curbishley, whose side travel to
Middlesbrough in the Premier League on Saturday, says the club have managed
the transition smoothly. "I have met the new chairman a few times," said
Curbishley. "Where as Eggert was based here in London, he lives over in
Iceland, but we speak quite a lot on the phone. "Scott has taken on the
day-to-day situation so, between the three of us, that is the way we are
going to progress."
Curbishley's team have enjoyed a haul of 13 points from their away fixtures
this term and he is hoping they can extend that run against Middlesbrough.
He added: "We have taken more points from our away games and I hope that it
continues this weekend. "We lost at home to Arsenal, who had all their best
players playing, and we were beaten by Manchester City at the start of the
season. We then lost to Everton, who are on a good run. "Although I do want
to win more games at Upton Park, I have to take the points when they come."
It has been a frustrating start to the season for Curbishley, who has seen a
number of first-team players sidelined with lengthy injuries. Summer signing
Craig Bellamy has a stomach strain, while Kieron Dyer is ruled out for
months with a broken leg. As a result, Curbishley has been forced to patch
his squad together but says he is not too disappointed by their start to the
campaign. He said: "It has been a difficult and frustrating year because we
have been unable to keep the same side twice because of injuries. "I would
like to have had more points but when you are chopping and changing each
week and asking your players to play out of position, it is difficult. I
could not ask any more of my players with regard to their effort."
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