George McCartney is confident of the club's chances ahead of two testing
league games
27.12.2007
George McCartney is looking on the bright side as West Ham United prepare to
welcome Manchester United from a lofty tenth position in the league table.
There was understandable disappointment after the 1-1 draw with ten-man
Reading on Saturday, especially after losing the lead given by Nolberto
Solano's fine goal. However, the result still made it four points from two
games, and was enough to elevate Alan Curbishley's side on to 26 from 18
fixtures - above Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United in the standings. The
club also have a game in hand on the latter.
"If you look at the players we have had out injured, we have picked up some
really good results this season and we are ninth in the table," McCartney
told WHUTV. "Comparing it to last year, it is a far better season. It is not
all bad."
That is not to say that the ever-present No3 is resting on his laurels, and
he sees no reason why the club cannot, like last season, get something from
the visit of the champions this Saturday and the New Year's Day trip to
their title rivals Arsenal. McCartney said: "When you are sitting ninth or
tenth in the league you want to keep pushing for as many points you can to
try to get into those European places.
"It is going to be very tough. They are first and second in the league and
they have got great players playing well for them but we have got to
believe. The lads in the dressing room and the team that goes out on the day
will give it their best shot . In football, in any given day, any team can
win and we will take hope from that. Taking Man Utd first, we will try and
give the supporters something to cheer about."
That last point was in reference to the fact West Ham United have performed
superbly on their travels this season but have yet to replicate that form at
the Boleyn Ground, with the Reading draw another case perhaps of two points
dropped in east London. "I wish I could put my finger on why we don't seem
to be able to do it at home," the Northern Irish international added.
"Away from home, we obviously counterattack teams, break them down and get
our goals that way. At home it is harder to do that because the away team
will sit in and it is tough to break them down. But we have had plenty of
chances to win the game and we haven't taken them.
"It was a real blow to concede in the second half and finish 1-1. Sometimes
it is harder to play against ten men. At the start of the second half they
were maybe the better team for the first ten or 15 minutes. Then they have
got their goal and sat back. We had plenty of chances to break them down. At
times we have chosen the wrong option, and we didn't get that second goal to
kill them off. But we have got a point and we have got to move on to Man
United now."
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Solano in the swing of things - WHUFC
Nolberto Solano is emerging as a reliable force in the West Ham United
attack
27.12.2007
Nolberto Solano is relishing the visit of Manchester United as he looks to
make it two goals in a week on Saturday.
The summer signing had the delight of his first Boleyn Ground goal against
Reading on Boxing Day. His neatly-taken effort was ultimately only worth a
point in the 1-1 draw - but for Solano his satisfaction at scoring was
outweighed by his delight at getting regular games. "I'm happy to be here in
the team, playing every week, that's more important," he said.
The 33-year-old was replaced in the second half on Wednesday as Alan
Curbishley looked to inject extra energy in the form of 20-year-old Mark
Noble - and you will not hear Solano complaining about team coming before
individual. "We're playing a lot of games in a row, we are playing Saturday
again and Wednesday. If the manager makes a decision I have to respect that.
We are players, we are professionals."
Solano, who has livened up the Hammers attack with his set-piece prowess as
well as his creativity on the right-side of midfield, will hope to be back
in the starting lineup against the champions on Saturday. "It's always a big
game and a difficult game," he said. "We know Man United are a very strong
team with a lot of quality players but we are playing at home. If we give
everything and don't give any chances away we have the opportunity to nick a
point or all three points."
Reiterating that he thinks West Ham United have got what it takes to finish
in the top eight, the Peruvian international knows the club need to match
their away form when they play at home - having now drawn 1-1 against Wigan
Athletic, Bolton Wanderers, Tottenham Hotspur and ten-man Reading in east
London this season.
"We're not looking too bad at the moment, especially away from home. We need
to make sure we are stronger at home, because if we're stronger at home we
will get good results." There would certainly be no better time to do just
that than against Manchester United. "It's always a special game to play
against Man United. I like to play against all the big teams. I hope we can
take the three points."
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African aces in finals frame - WHUFC
West Ham United duo John Pantsil and Henri Camara have international hopes
27.12.2007
John Pantsil and Henri Camara's recent run in the West Ham United first team
will do no harm to their chances of selection for the 2008 African Cup of
Nations.
Energetic right-back Pantsil particularly had an impact for his club last
weekend, playing his part in Scott Parker's winning goal in the 2-1 victory
at Middlesbrough. The 26-year-old is in a provisional 40-man squad for hosts
Ghana, who will gather in Dubai on 5 January for a training camp before
their group games against Guinea, Morocco and Namibia.
Similarly, the experienced 30-year-old striker Camara, on loan this season
from Wigan Athletic, has featured in each of West Ham United's last four
league games. He has been chosen in Senegal's provisional 38-man squad.
Senegal have been drawn in a group with Tunisia, Angola and South Africa.
The tournament in Ghana starts on 20 January but competing countries can
call up players two weeks before the kick-off, with the 23-man selections
having to be confirmed by 10 January. The tournament will conclude with the
final on 10 February in the Ghanaian capital Accra.
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Tevez set for hero's return - SSN
Upson ready to lock horns with former team-mate
By Chris Burton Last updated: 28th December 2007
Matthew Upson believes that Carlos Tevez will receive a good reception on
his return to Upton Park. The Manchester United striker returns to West Ham
for the first time since his summer move to Old Trafford on Saturday, and
after his exploits for the Hammers last season he should expect to be
welcomed back with open arms. The Argentinian almost single-handedly kept
West Ham in the Premier League last season when his seven goals in the last
10 games ensured their safety and made him an Upton Park legend. Upson says
that whilst Tevez will be warmly welcomed back by the supporters he does not
intend to go quite so easy on his former team-mate.
"He really did single-handedly turn things around last season," the England
defender told the Sun. "His performances made such an impact because he had
come from not performing at all. That is quite rare. "Carlos will get a
fantastic reception. All our fans respect him for what he did and he will be
welcomed back for the rest of his life, to be honest. "I don't intend to be
quite so generous as the fans and, after looking at him close up last
season, I know just how tough he will be to play against."
Upson also admits that he has been surprised at how quickly Tevez has
adapted to life in England since his arrival from Corinthians in August
2006. "It was difficult to tell how good Carlos would be in the Premier
League," he said. "You have to give it a year to 18 months to find out if
foreign players are really going to crack it. "It's such a different league
to anywhere else in the world. If you asked me when I first saw him whether
I thought he would go on to play for Manchester United and do so well, I
would have to be honest and say 'no'. "I think a lot of people would have
said that. But when you have given him a good 12 to 18 months to see if he
really can handle the Premier League, clearly he can. Carlos is a different
kind of proposition to what you normally play against. "He will be dropping
short, performing clever tricks on the ball, turning, running at people,
committing people. "You can learn things from playing alongside him and
against him in training. You get to see the way he plays. "You have just got
to be clever. Know when to get tight and when to drop off. You don't want to
give him too much space because, if you give players like him space, they
can win the game."
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McCartney focusing on positives - SSN
Tough times ahead for the Hammers
By Carla Hilton Last updated: 27th December 2007
George McCartney is urging his side to concentrate on the positives ahead of
a testing list of fixtures for West Ham. Alan Curbishley's side have picked
up four points in their last two games but will feel as though they should
have got more than a point against Reading on Boxing Day. Despite that, the
Hammers are currently ninth in the table which McCartney is keen to point
out is a much better position than the one they were in this time last
season. "If you look at the players we have had out injured, we have picked
up some really good results this season and we are ninth in the table,"
McCartney told WHUTV. "Comparing it to last year, it is a far better season.
It's not at all bad," he added.
West Ham's next fixture is a tough home tie against league leaders
Manchester United followed by an equally difficult trip to the Emirates
Stadium to face Arsenal on New Year's Day. But McCartney sees no reason why
his side should go into either match expecting defeat and fully believes
that West Ham have every chance of getting something from the title
contenders. "It is going to be very tough," said McCartney. "They are first
and second in the league and they have got great players playing well for
them but we have got to believe. "The lads in the dressing room and the team
that goes out on the day will give it their best shot. "In football, in any
given day, any team can win and we'll take hope from that."
Hoping their fortunes at Upton Park will eventually resemble their
impressive away record, McCartney concluded: "Taking Man Utd first, we will
try and give the supporters something to cheer about."
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Gunnarsson - I deserved to go - SSN
Midfielder won't appeal against sending off
By Carla Hilton Last updated: 27th December 2007
Reading midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson says he will not be appealing against
his red card in the match against West Ham saying "I deserved to go". The
Icelandic international was dismissed after a two-footed challenge on Hayden
Mullins inside half-an-hour at Upton Park. Picking up a three-match ban for
his efforts, Gunnarsson says that, despite winning the ball, the referee's
decision was justified. Keen to defend his actions though, the 32-year-old
told the Reading Evening Post: "I didn't go for the player or anything like
that and he came out of it standing up. "There was obviously no intent. I
was just trying to get the ball, but at the same time trying to get to my
feet. "But the timing of it was bad. In the last couple of weeks there have
been a few incidents that have been highlighted and the referees are trying
to be consistent. "But I do feel there are a lot of uglier incidents than
this one. "I don't think it's worth appealing. There is a quick turnaround
of games and I'll be back in a couple of weeks."
Gunnarsson says his decision to go into the challenge the way he did was
partly because of the injury he picked up just a couple of weeks ago against
Birmingham. The 32-year-old required eight stitches in his knee after a
clash in the 1-1 draw at St Andrews and claims he was trying to protect that
wound when he went in for the tackle on Mullins. "I didn't put one leg
underneath like I usually do because I got a gash the other week," said
Gunnarsson. "In a way I was trying to protect my knee but the referee
doesn't know that. "I have seen it (the incident) and I understand why the
referee gave it."
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The Season So Far... - West Ham Online
Alex V - Thu Dec 27 2007
I'm not a big fan of the weird mix of commercialism and pagan/Christian
nonsense we call 'Xmas' - the only ritual I practice is the yearly trudge to
watch West Ham put in a dismal boxing-day performance. It seems like a good
time to look at our progress over what is almost the first half of the
season - has Curbishley sown the seeds for future success?
Well the short answer is that he has. West Ham sit in relative safety in the
top half of the table with almost no chance of being relegated this season -
after last season that is an absolute triumph. Of course Curbs has spent a
lot of money to achieve that, but there are plenty of clubs in the past that
have spent big and got absolutely nowhere. Curbs has gone a long way towards
moulding a side that seems to fit the blueprint that brought him so much
success at Charlton, and for a side like West Ham who have bounced down to
the championship and back in recent seasons, we should be celebrating what
looks like a very solid squad very much at home in the Premiership...
huzzah!
It's not very inspiring though is it? Curbs has brought a resilience to West
Ham that almost betrays our great history - we look at the moment like a
side who are hard to beat and grind out results through hard work and
persistence. Those of us who cursed West Ham's inconsistency over the years,
and prayed for any sort of work ethic or obvious graft from the players have
got exactly what we asked for, and who can pretend that it is in any way
entertaining at the moment? It's enough to make even Facebook seem exciting.
But I don't mean to grumble, and I think Curbishley would suggest that this
period is an absolutely essential one if we are to progress - there is
absolutely no doubt that we are heading in the right direction. And I think
that if we can keep the important parts of this squad together, then by this
time next year we may be a pretty formidable outfit.
It's not difficult to see where we have struggled so far this season - the
first problem has been injuries, and even though we seem to be getting
players back they are then taking time to settle back into the side.
Ljungberg, Ashton and Parker are in that position at the moment - trying to
develop their sharpness and confidence after lay-offs.
The other problem is creativity - as expected we just cannot replace
Benayoun easily, and it's this problem that has basically dogged us,
especially in home games. If teams set up to stifle us we just can't break
them down - how many home games have we seen where we've struggled to create
enough to beat the opposition. Whereas away from home we have found space
and nicked enough goals to have a formidable record. Of all the problems to
have though this is not a bad one - the team will hopefully improve over
time, and develop enough of a pattern to break down teams. In a way it's
credit to West Ham that they have played so much in front of tight
opposition defences - we used to just heave the ball from back to front, and
we still do that too much to be honest, and that's no way to really improve
as a side.
It is our defensive players that have caught my eye most. West Ham's best
player so far this season has been Matthew Upson - an outstanding and
consistent no-nonsense defender. He doesn't seem to have a particular
weakness, and has a calm assurance about his play which I suppose comes from
experience. I must say that I don't remember West Ham having such a presence
in the heart of defence in recent years - he's a rock in the spine of the
team. A brilliant buy from Alan Curbishley, and a player who I hope graces
our ranks for many years to come. And I think Lucas Neill comes not far
behind Upson for me - as a captain he looks totally assured and has been
consistently rock solid as a right back. With Rob Green in goal those three
have given us a great base to build on.
The other positions in defence still need work in my opinion. Ferdinand and
Gabbidon seem to have carried over their injury records from last season,
and James Collins looks most likely to make the position his own if he could
only stay fit - he is so lethal in the opposition area that I would pick him
over the ultra-talented Ferdinand. Left back I am still not happy about -
despite a long run in the side McCartney has yet to convince me that he is
any more than a just-about-adequate Premiership defender. If Curbishley
could buy one player in the transfer window he should buy a quality
left-back.
In midfield, Parker's ability is there for all to see - he is an absolutely
top-quality midfielder, comfortable on the ball and a great runner off it.
Best of all he seems to have the intelligence to manipulate a game, rather
than going through the motions with blinkers on - it's a rare quality in an
English player I think. Another outstanding signing I think, and a player
who could really be potentially world-class.
Elsewhere in midfield I think we have shown promise, but I think it's our
weakest area of the team. It's great to see Mullins retain a place in the
squad, because he is such a consistent performer, but I would like to see
more from him - he works extremely hard but I just don't ever see him as a
matchwinner, and long-term I would like to see a more dynamic presence to
complement Parker in the midfield, with Noble and Mullins there as quality
backup. Solano has put in an excellent stint on the right, and adds
set-piece ability to the team - I hope we can get another 18 months out of
the veteran. Etherington has done okay - I think he's a good alternative to
have around - we don't have many out-and-out traditional wingers. The others
in the squad we just haven't seen enough of - Ljungberg looks promising,
Faubert is apparently a talent, and Dyer looked very good indeed in the
short time he played. A shame about Dyer in particular, because his pace and
creativity might have been crucial for us just now - let's hope that he's
ready for next season at the very least.
I think the position that Boa Morte has played so well for us recently may
be crucial to us long-term - particularly away from home and against better
opposition it really worked well for us to have a player floating around and
making a nuisance of themselves in that area behind the striker. There's no
escape from the fact that our best performances this season have basically
come by playing one up front. It's great to see Boa Morte do well and prove
a few people wrong - his quality was never in doubt, though his age may
eventually count against him. Maybe Dyer or Ljungberg could eventually do a
similar job in a similar position - I think Curbishley has stumbled upon a
very effective formation there.
The bad news up front is that Cole and Ashton don't seem to work that well
together as a pair - they need to either develop an understanding or else
Curbishley needs to play one or the other. To be honest Cole has only played
well on his own up front, and his form has been brilliant to see from a
player consistently rated one of the most talented English players of his
age. It's a great bonus for the squad. Obviously the squad would benefit
from getting Bellamy and Zamora fit, because I think either would provide a
much better foil for Ashton or Cole. There is talk of Zamora leaving in
January, but I think that would be a mistake unless Curbs has a replacement
to come in - Zamora is a good player coming off the front and would
definitely add to the current team. Ashton is still the main man - even
though he has been a little sluggish on his return he has weighed in with
enough goals to justify his selection, and he wins a lot of those aerial
balls even without getting off the ground. He still looks tentative about
his injury I think, and looks more like a boxer than a footballer at times -
I suspect he has overdone the weights at the expense of general agility, but
he will sort it out.
In terms of the transfer window, I can't really see a major case for any
major departures unless replacements come in. Curbishley's signings are
either injured or proving their worth in the side, and other than Paintsil
and the loanee Camara, I can't see anybody else in the squad who isn't worth
keeping. If everybody was fit then perhaps Curbs could consider letting a
fringe player or two go - Gabbidon has made too many mistakes now to be
considered top drawer, and maybe Etherington would struggle to get in ahead
of Ljungberg and Boa Morte now. But most probably Curbs doesn't have enough
fit players to make changes like that until the Summer.
If West Ham are going to start buying players in January, I would look for a
left-back and then a central midfielder. There's no point buying average
players though - signings either have to have top potential or be the
finished article. We already have adequate players to fill every position in
the side when fit - let's face it if anyone in midfield or defence is
unavailable we have super-Spector to fill in anyway! There were rumours
around that Curbs might have another try for Bent, and I suppose the best
method to make that step up to the next level would be to buy that 20-goal a
season striker. Easily done :)
I suspect that at the end of the season we will be positioned somewhere in
the table not far behind the likes of Portsmouth and Everton. If we could
get ourselves ahead of at least two of Villa, Blackburn, Spurs and Newcastle
then you would have to say that we had achieved all that we could this
season, though sadly nobody celebrates the achievements of finishing 8th or
9th. But I don't see how we could expect anymore of Curbishley and his
players, so that would be a great triumph as our club builds for a better
future...
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Michael Carrick eyes Man Utd return - Telegraph
By Rob Stewart
Last Updated: 11:58pm GMT 27/12/2007
Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick heads back to his first club,
West Ham, tomorrow hoping Sir Alex Ferguson's side can prosper at a venue
where they have struggled in the past. "We have a job to do at West Ham and
although it will be nice to see a few old friends we have to go there and
win the game," said Carrick. "It looks like we are getting better and better
and I hope that continues.We are in the position we want to be in at this
time of year. You want to be at the top and in contention. This is a busy
time for us and things can turn around very quickly with the amount of games
being played. "We said all along that around Christmas we need to be
thereabouts. We have got our noses in front but there is still half a season
to go."
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Reading's Hunt unhappy with West Ham keeper Green
tribalfootball.com - December 27, 2007
Reading winger Stephen Hunt believes he's being singled out by referees this
season. Hunt was booked in Reading's 1-1 draw with West Ham on Boxing Day
after an altercation with goalkeeper Robert Green - but insists he was the
innocent party. The Ireland international has the support of Reading manager
Steve Coppell, who fears Hunt is being judged on reputation. "I have to
speak up for Stephen Hunt. As far as I was concerned, he was totally
innocent when he was booked," said Coppell. "He didn't do anything but chase
a ball down. My fellow has done nothing wrong and was booked on past
history. "The referee back-tracked at half-time. He told one of my staff it
was to get him out of the way and when he didn't retreat he was booked. "But
the fourth official said it was dissent - if anyone can understand Stephen
Hunt in those circumstances they are doing an awful lot better than I can."
Hunt is a tenacious, hard-working midfielder but does not have a poor
disciplinary record, the Boxing Day booking only his third this season. He
felt hard done by at Upton Park. Green collided with the retreating Scott
Parker but appeared to exchange words with Hunt, and the pair then engaged
in a shoving match.
"It was an over-reaction from the goalkeeper. It was harsh on me, and I'm a
bit fed up with it," said Hunt. "It was nothing to do with me. Maybe the
referee booked me for complaining, but you can't blame me. The way the
goalkeeper reacted was not right really. "I think when I get into certain
situations the decision goes against me. "There's nothing you can do - I'm a
committed player. I'm making a run forward, and there's little if any
contact with Parker. It was the goalkeeper's fault."
( Hmm , nothing to do with you shoving Parker into Green then ? you little
dirty pikey ....PeterR )
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West Ham's Solano happy after strike
tribalfooball.com - December 27, 2007
West Ham midfielder Nobby Solano was delighted with his goal in this week's
draw with Reading. "I'm happy to be here in the team, playing every week,
that's more important," he told whufc.com. "We're not looking too bad at
the moment, especially away from home. We need to make sure we are stronger
at home, because if we're stronger at home we will get good results."
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Hunt: I'm targeted - The Mirror
By Neil Mcleman 28/12/2007
Stephen Hunt has launched a scathing attack on West Ham goalkeeper Robert
Green for getting him booked at Upton Park. The Reading midfielder, 26,
reckons he has become an easy target for referees because of his bad-boy
reputation. And he insisted he was the innocent party when Scott Parker
collided with Green during their 1-1 draw on Boxing Day. Green immediately
squared up to Hunt and referee Peter Walton booked both players. But Hunt
said: "It was harsh on me and I'm getting fed up with it. "If Green is
saying I said something behind his back, he's a liar. He shouldn't have come
off his line. My reputation goes against me, but there's nothing I can do."
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Hammers' turn to take close look at Gills youngster
GILLINGHAM'S teenage striker Luke Freeman heads to West Ham today for a
trial as a trio of Premiership sides battle for his signature. The
15-year-old has already been shown what Arsenal and Newcastle have to offer
and the three sides will this week begin putting in their bids to Gills
chairman Paul Scally.
Priestfield manager Mark Stimson has kept the youngster out of his first
team as Freeman assesses his next move and he is delighted to have played a
part in helping the player onto the big stage. Stimson said: "When I first
came here he was a sub for the youth team and the next thing he's getting
involved in the first team. It's something really positive to come out of my
short time here so far. "He's had a fantastic day at Newcastle, a fantastic
day at Arsenal and now he's going to West Ham to have a look around there.
After that I think he'll make a decision and the clubs will speak to the
chairman and something might come of that. I think he may be moving on but
only if it's right for this football club."
Gillingham will be expecting to make around £250,000 for the teenager's sale
and Stimson will be hoping some of that filters into his transfer budget.
The Gills boss is already gearing up for a busy January when the transfer
window opens and has been promised some money for new players. He said: "The
chairman has been great and he said there will be money made available. How
much of that (from Freeman's sale) I don't know."
Hammers Freeman became the youngest Gills player to appear for the club when
he made his debut against Barnet on November 10. He was just 15 years and
233 days and he also simultaneously became the youngest ever player to
appear in the FA Cup proper. He went onto make another two brief appearances
against Dagenham and Hartlepool.
Report from Medway Messenger
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