Henri Camara knows a win in Senegal's final Africa Cup of Nations group game
may not be enough
27.01.2008
Henri Camara is facing the prospect of early elimination from the 2008
Africa Cup of Nations even if Senegal beat South Africa in their final group
game on Thursday.
A 3-1 defeat by Angola this evening, in which striker Camara played the last
20 minutes as substitute, has left Senegalese hopes in Group D hanging by a
thread. Senegal had drawn 2-2 against Tunisia in their opening fixture. Only
the top two nations from each of the four groups at the 16-team finals in
Ghana will progress to the quarter-finals.
In the night's second Group D game, South Africa lost 3-1 against Tunisia,
meaning both beaten teams have just a point - compared to the four apiece
for the two victorious sides. Consequently, a draw between Tunisia and
Angola on Thursday would render the result between Senegal and South Africa
academic - and mean Camara's third finals' campaign was over at the earliest
opportunity.
While Camara may be heading back to London before the end of the week, John
Pantsil could find himself in the last eight if all goes to plan for the
host nation on Monday. Ghana, with two wins from two matches, will qualify
unless they lose to Morocco and are beaten by more than one goal or they
fail to score at least twice, and Guinea beat Namibia. If Ghana do go
through, Pantsil will be involved in a quarter-final next Sunday. The
semi-finals are on Thursday 7 February with the final three days later.
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Bellamy and Solano step it up - WHUFC
Liverpool are in sight for Craig Bellamy and Nolberto Solano, while Scott
Parker is back at Chadwell Heath
27.01.2008
Craig Bellamy and Nolberto Solano are both "training well" as the visit of
Liverpool draws ever nearer for West Ham United.
Assistant manager Mervyn Day revealed the duo could be in contention for
Wednesday night's encounter at the Boleyn Ground but said caution would be
required, particularly with Bellamy whose reserve-team action this week was
his first since 27 October. "Players always target the earliest game
possible so we have got to look at it seriously and see whether they are
actually fit enough to have any part of the game," he told WHUTV.
"Certainly they are training well but Nobby's not had a reserve game or any
sort of competitive football since he did his hamstring [a month ago]
against Man United. Craig has been out even longer [with an abdominal
problem] and has only literally played 87 minutes in a reserve match - so
realistically it is going to be a big ask for them to be involved but who
knows what the situation might be in a few days' time."
Day said the mood in the squad was upbeat with Scott Parker returning to the
training ground after a period of rest following the knee injury he suffered
against Manchester United on 29 December. The lack of a first-team fixture
this weekend has also helped freshen up the Chadwell Heath routine.
"It has been nice to have a week to get together and get ready for
Liverpool. We have mixed it up a little bit. We have had a couple of days'
work, then given them a day off, then another couple of days. Sometimes it
is a bit hard work to keep it serious, but they have had a good few days so
far and as we get closer to Wednesday we will start building up more
specifically for Liverpool."
One player who will be particularly targeting the visit of the Reds is
France winger Julien Faubert, who has now made three substitute appearances.
As with Bellamy and Solano though, Day said it was important not to rush
things. "He has got really tight calves at the moment. He had 45 minutes in
a reserve game, he said he felt was ready to be on the bench and he has come
on two or three times now and had a bit of a start at it.
"You are always going to get little niggles when you have been out for a
period of time, that is the thing we will be worried about with Craig
Bellamy - it is not necessarily the injury, it is the other muscles that
haven't been used in competitive games for such a period. The stress they
are under is enormous, so we have got to take everything nice and steady -
certainly with Julien, with Craig and eventually when Scotty comes back -
because they can put other parts of their body under massive stress."
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Sears continues scoring run - WHUFC
Yet another goal from Freddie Sears helped West Ham United Under-18s to earn
a point on Saturday
26.01.2008
West Ham United Under-18s 3-3 Charlton Athletic Under-18s
Freddie Sears underlined his burgeoning potential with yet another crucial
goal for Tony Carr's youth side on Saturday.
The 18-year-old striker has had quite a week. He travelled with the first
team to Manchester City last Sunday, started in attack alongside Craig
Bellamy in the reserves on Wednesday and then struck a deserved equaliser to
earn a 3-3 draw for the Academy side at home against Charlton Athletic. The
Hammers had led 2-0 at one point but were pegged back by a spirited
performance by their London rivals.
Youth academy director Tony Carr said: "I am pleased we came back and showed
a bit of character to get something but a little bit concerned that we made
basic errors to let a team we had there for the beating back into the game.
We will do analysis and work on the training ground to make sure that it
doesn't happen again. It was a lack of communication and lack of people
taking responsibility."
Of Sears, Carr added: "He had a quiet game today but he notched a goal. That
is goalscorers, you can never keep them quiet. They will have quiet spells
in a game but they are always likely to score. He played in midweek and we
have asked a lot of him to play two games in four days but that is going to
happen occasionally. It doesn't happen every week."
On a fresh morning at Little Heath, it was an even contest for the first 15
minutes before West Ham United struck twice inside 20 minutes to take a
commanding lead. First, Oliver Lee - son of former Hammers midfielder Robert
- headed in from a Daniel Kearns' cross before an outstanding passing move
saw Tom Harvey finish it off with a curling shot into the far corner. "It
was a great goal, in terms of the movement and passing," said Carr.
However, just as it looked the home side would build on their lead, Charlton
pulled one back after poor marking at a free-kick allowed a headed goal.
Then, a mistake by Junior Stanislas - playing his first game since suffering
a bruised foot in December - allowed them to break down the flank. A decent
cross into the box, led to good control and a fine finish to ensure it was
honours even at the break.
After the interval, "the worst possible thing happened" as Charlton again
capitalised on poor decision-making to go 3-2 up. However, Carr was pleased
by the conviction his team showed at that point. "It was one of those where
you think we are going to go one of two ways here - we either going to get
beat 4-2, 5-2 or we are going to roll our sleeves up and fight our way back
into the game and we did just that fortunately. We got back into the game
and started to create chances."
From one of those opportunites, Sears - who had scored both goals in the 2-0
victory against Millwall on the U18s' last outing on 12 January - pounced to
score with his left foot after Robbie Blackwell fed Kearns, who then crossed
low for the predatory Sears. Having levelled matters, Ben Hunt then looked
to have sealed victory when he struck five minutes from time, only for the
assistant referee to raise his flag for a questionable offside.
West Ham United: Street, O'Neill, Ashman, Spence, Blackwell (Brown 78),
Stanislas (Edgar 60), Harvey (Okus 46), Lee, Kearns, Sears, Hunt,
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Day updates on Collins absence - WHUFC
James Collins may be out for some time after suffering suspected knee
ligament damage, says Mervyn Day
26.01.2008
Mervyn Day has paid tribute to the strength in depth at West Ham United
after the misfortune of losing James Collins to a knee injury.
The Wales defender was hurt just after the half-hour mark in Wednesday's
reserve-team fixture against Portsmouth, which was played at the home of FA
Cup giant-killers Havant and Waterlooville. Assistant manager Day, who was
watching from the sidelines in midweek, told WHUTV that Collins had suffered
suspected ligament damage to his right knee.
He said: "It wasn't the best pitch in the world but that had nothing to do
with James's injury." When he went down, Collins was instantly aware of the
seriousness and motioned to the sidelines for assistance, before eventually
being carried off on a stretcher. "Having seen it again on the video, it
looks such an innocuous challenge," Day added. "He has fallen awkwardly, the
opponent has fallen on top of him and all of a sudden you are looking at
some considerable time out of the picture."
Collins had been back in the first-team reckoning of late, appearing as an
unused substitute in the last three league outings. His route to the
starting eleven had been blocked by the form of Matthew Upson and Anton
Ferdinand, while Jonathan Spector has also impressed. With Danny Gabbidon
coming through the midweek match unscathed after his own groin troubles -
plus the experience of Christian Dailly and the youthful progress of James
Tomkins - Day knows the squad will again hold firm.
"We have been blessed by the fact we have had six senior centre-backs," he
said. "People have looked at it and thought why are you carrying that amount
but invariably we have never had those players all fit at the same time and
as one or two can double up and play full-back as well, it is important we
have had the bodies available. For the squad, essentially we probably are a
bit top heavy with players but with the injury problems we have sustained
this year, we have needed it."
Day also had a word for Calum Davenport, who because of the many options
open to Alan Curbishley, went on loan to Watford last week - only to
fracture a bone in his neck within 43 minutes of his debut. "We have covered
just about everything that could happen this year," he said, before adding
that such adversity has simply served to demonstrate how West Ham United
have been blessed by players willing to make the most of their
opportunities. "It has been proved time and time again."
Log on or register with WHUTV now to hear more from Day on the progress
within the squad before the visit of Liverpool on Wednesday night - as well
as exclusive training ground footage and action from the midweek match.
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Arsenal overpower Ladies in cup - WHUFC
As expected, Arsenal's all-conquering Ladies dominated from start to finish
against West Ham United
27.01.2008
Arsenal 8-1 West Ham United
Arsenal Ladies proved too strong for West Ham United Ladies on Sunday
afternoon to cruise through comfortably in the FA Cup fifth round.
The European champions won four major honours last season and fielded a
full-strength side for the derby at Boreham Wood this afternoon. It meant
the Hammers, who play in a division below their hosts, were up against a
team dominated by England internationals. Arsenal's victory was never in
doubt - they were ahead inside two minutes - and a Sam Pittuck goal for the
visitors proved simply a consolation.
Manager Tony Marshall said: "I am proud of all those who played today, they
gave everything, obviously Arsenal deserved their victory and I wish them
well, but I don't feel the score truly reflects our teams performance
today." The teams will do battle again on Thursday evening in the London
County Cup, with a 7.30pm kick-off at Harlow Town.
West Ham United: Paris Smith, Carly Roache, Jess Barling, Chelsea Fowler
(Hannah Gilmour 75), Grace Coombs, Julia Setford (Tracy Duxbury 55). Lindsey
Morgan, Sam Pittuck, Natalie Gafton, Sophie Walker (Dani Hoy 82) , Katie
Ling.
Subs not used: Clare Rogers, Toni Monroe.
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Dev speaks of 'absolute honour' - WHUFC
John Lyall's lasting impact on Alan Devonshire cannot be underestimated as
he makes his way in coaching
25.01.2008
Former midfield maestro Alan Devonshire is the latest big name to pay
tribute to the late John Lyall - and claimed he will forever be in the
former manager's debt.
Devonshire said Lyall, who has been honoured this week with a Heritage
Foundation blue plaque at the Boleyn Ground, allowed him to "blossom" and
enjoy his football. "John helped me in my career and to enjoy my football,
he said. "I loved playing for him, his favourite saying to me was, 'when you
get the ball, just do you what you do naturally'. I blossomed under him
being able to do that."
Devonshire - who made 446 league and cup appearances for West Ham United,
scoring 32 goals, between 1976 and 1990 - said Lyall should have gone on to
become part of the England set-up. "John could have done a great job for
England, it was a shame there was never an opportunity for him to become
involved in the backroom, but he never got the chance. They say football is
much faster now, but I am convinced John could still have an imprint, that
was how good a coach and manager he was."
Paying tribute to his former boss is simply something Devonshire said he had
to do. "I am just so pleased to be able to show what he done for me and my
career. It's just very sad that he is no longer here, he was taken too soon
from us. West Ham will always be his club, not because of what he achieved
here, but it was simply just part of him and always will be. I was lucky to
know him for 14 years and it was an absolute honour."
Devonshire is now a manager himself at non-league Hampton and Richmond, who
are looking for promotion to the Conference, and recently took young Academy
striker Jack Jeffery, who featured for the reserves on Wednesday night, on
loan. "I had seen Jack play a few times, including against Arsenal in the
reserves and was impressed. I had a word with Kevin [Keen] and we decided
that the experience would be good for him.
"Jack has got goals in him and that's what we want to bring out of him more.
He's young, only 18, but he did well for us while he was here and I would
like to think he learnt a bit while he was with us and he can go on from
here."
Devonshire still looks out for his former team and said playing in midfield
has changed a bit from his day. "Matty Etherington is probably the closest
to the position I used to play, although he is now classed as a winger,
where I wasn't. We have some good players in the squad and hopefully we can
keep pushing on for the rest of the season and finish well."
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Pantsil close to quarter-finals - WHUFC
John Pantsil was fit enough to play for Ghana as a second victory took them
close to the last eight
25.01.2008
John Pantsil has moved to within touching distance of a quarter-final place
with Ghana at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations.
The West Ham United right-back played the full 90 minutes in the Black
Stars' 1-0 victory against Namibia last night, to leave the hosts with six
points from their first two Group A games. A point against Morocco on Monday
will confirm their progress. Pantsil was back in the Ghana starting lineup
despite having a dizzy spell after his involvement in the tournament opener
last Sunday. Henri Camara's Senegal are next in action in Group D on Sunday
night.
2008 Africa Cup of Nations (selected fixtures)
Sunday 27 January
Group D - Senegal v Angola (5pm)
Monday 28 January
Group A - Ghana v Morocco (5pm)
Wednesday 31 January
Group D - Senegal v South Africa (5pm)
The quarter-finals will be played on 3/4 February although Ghana and Senegal
cannot meet until the semi-finals at the earliest. These will be held on 7
February, with the final set for 10 February.
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Barack is a Hammer - KUMB
Filed: Monday, 28th January 2008
By: Matthew O'Greel
United States presidential candidate Barack Obama is a closet Hammer, says
today's Sun newspaper. The Democrats leading contender, who is aiming to
become America's first black president has relatives in Kent who are all
avid West Ham United followers, according to the paper. A 'campaign source'
is quoted in the story as saying: "Obama is a big sports nut and loves his
soccer. He never really followed it, though, until he was told all about the
passion of West Ham fans by some of his English relatives. "He is always
keen to find out how his adopted club are getting on."
Barack, who is said to have been a keen footballer in his youth has written
two books called 'Dreams From My Father' and 'The Audacity Of Hope' - the
latter clearly a reference to West Ham's topsy-turvy fotunes over the years
...
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'Greedy' Yossi set for hostile reception - KUMB
Filed: Sunday, 27th January 2008
By: Matthew O'Greel
Yossi Benayoun is set to face a hostile reception when returning to the
Boleyn Ground for the first time since joining Liverpool in the summer. The
Israeli midfielder turned his back on the Hammers last summer to join the
Merseysiders despite having agreed to sign a new five year deal with the
Irons. And Irons fans are set to give the diminutive midfielder a far
different reception to the hero's welcome extended to Manchester United's
Carlos Tevez last month.
Benayoun - signed by Alan Pardew from Racing Santander for £2.5m - spent two
seasons with the Hammers and became an instant crowd favourite after some
superb early season performances. However his form was often patchy and he
made just ninth place in KUMB's Player of the Season poll for 2005/06.
Despite this inconsistent form Benayoun's first season culminated with a man
of the match performance against current club Liverpool in the 2006 FA Cup
Final - a game which the Hammers led twice in before losing on penalties.
But his second season at the club was a far different story; two months
after the Cup Final he demanded improved terms, just a year after moving to
East London. Then, having been offered a new deal he refused to sign a new
contract.
The situation worsened when Benayoun began to miss vital matches for his
club in order to feature for his national side. After Israel's 1-1 draw with
Russia in October 2006 he said that "I was very weak today, but I didn't
want to miss this important game. All I want to do now is to take a few
weeks' rest, as this injury has significantly affected my performance."
Having returned to the squad at the end of December he referred to his team
mates as an 'utter disgrace' who 'played like drunks' following the 6-0
thrashing at Reading on New years' Day 2007. Later that month he was forced
to deny speculation (which he referred to as 'made-up fairytales')
suggesting that he had undermined Alan Pardew who was sacked two months
earlier. Despite all of the problems Benayoun insisted in March 2007 that 'I
am still happy at West Ham and hope to have a long future here'. Two months
later, after West Ham United's Premier League status had been secured he
confirmed that he had finally agreed to sign a new deal, stating that 'I'm
very pleased to have agreed this new deal ... I want to stay at this club
because it is the best place for me'. But with the new contract remaining
unsigned a month later West Ham finally lost patience with the 27-year-old
playmaker and withdrew their contract offer. In early July the Hammers
accepted a £5m bid for the player from Liverpool, with Benayoun's agent
confirming that 'West Ham will always be in his heart but he is looking to
move up a level'.
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Reds blow for duo - KUMB
Filed: Sunday, 27th January 2008
By: Matthew O'Greel
Craig Bellamy and Nobby Solano are unlikely to be included in the squad to
face Liverpool in midweek. The duo are now back in full training but
unlikely to be risked - which will be a blow to former Liverpool striker
Bellamy who will no doubt have been aiming to feature against his former
side. "They are training well but Nobby's not had a reserve game or any sort
of competitive football since he did his hamstring against Man United and
Craig has been out even longer and has only literally played 87 minutes in a
reserve match," assistant manager Mervyn Day told whufc.com. "Realistically
it is going to be a big ask for them to be involved - but who knows what the
situation might be in a few days' time." Julien Faubert - who has featured
in West Ham United's last three games - could also miss out as he, according
to Day, is suffering from 'tight calves'. However the Hammers are set to
welcome Dean Ashton - who missed the 1-1 draw at Manchester City after
suffering a knock in the FA Cup third round replay three days earlier - back
into the side. He is likely to partner Carlton Cole in a two-pronged attack.
Liverpool go into the game have been somewhat embarrassed by non-league side
Havant & Waterlooville in the FA Cup yesterday. The Conference South side
led twice at Anfield in yesterday's fourth round tie before finally
succumbing to a 5-2 defeat. Former Hammer Yossi Benayoun scored a hat-trick
for the Merseysiders, his second since moving to Anfield at the start of the
season.
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Collins: season over - KUMB
Filed: Saturday, 26th January 2008
By: Matthew O'Greel
James Collins is out for the rest of the season - and possibly the rest of
the year - after it was confirmed that he has sustained cruciate knee
ligament damage. Collins suffered the injury during the 1-0 win over
Portsmouth reserves earlier in the week. Hammers assistant manager Mervyn
Day confirmed yesterday that the damage was almost certainly to the cruciate
ligaments. The news will be a crushing blow to Collins, who has only just
regained full fitness after suffering a string of minor injuries already
this season. The Welsh international is the fourth Hammer to suffer the
potentially career-threatening injury in the last few years. Don Hutchison
was out for a year after tearing his cruciate ligaments back in 2001, whilst
Richard Garcia suffered the same injury a year earlier. Defender Ian Pearce
was out for 15 months after suffering the same injury back in 1999 in the
opening game of the season against Tottenham.
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Aldridge returns - KUMB
Filed: Saturday, 26th January 2008
By: Matthew O'Greel
Former West Ham United managing director Paul Aldridge has been appointed as
Leicester City's new chief executive. Aldridge - who was dismissed by the
club's new Icelandic owners just weeks after they purchased the club at the
end of 2006 - makes his return to football 14 months after his time at West
Ham came to an end. City Chairman Milan Mandaric confirmed the news tonight:
"I am extremely pleased to have secured Paul's services," he told the club's
website. "I have known him since my time at Portsmouth and have always been
impressed with his professional approach whenever I have dealt with him.
"He has a great understanding of the industry and I am sure he will play a
vital part in my plans for Leicester City."
Aldridge added: "I had ten great years at West Ham United including
promotion, relegation, two playoff finals, European campaigns and the great
FA Cup Final in my last full season with the club. "All these experiences
have made me stronger and certainly more competent and passionate about the
job I love. "I was extremely honoured to be offered the chance to join
Leicester City. Milan has great plans for the club and I had no hesitation
in accepting the challenge. "I am very excited about the challenges that lie
ahead, and I am determined to play my part in helping return Leicester City
back to the Premiership."
The circumstances regarding Aldridge's departure from West Ham remain
sketchy, although his close links with Kia Joorabchian have been cited as
one possible reason for his dismissal. He was a popular figure with many
supporters and responsible for the regular fans forums which gave season
ticket holders the opportunity to meet and quiz both club officals and
players.
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Green wants Capello call
Keeper yearns for England opportunity
Last updated: 27th January 2008
West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green is hoping to be given a fresh chance under
Fabio Capello to establish himself as an England regular. Green was
overlooked by former England boss Steve McClaren despite his goalkeeping
problems during England's ill-fated Euro 2008 qualifying campaign. Hammers
custodian Green has enjoyed a fine season to date between the sticks and he
hopes Capello will give him the chance to stake his claim to be England's
new No.1. "I wouldn't say Fabio Capello becoming the new England manager has
given me a kick up the backside because there is motivation enough for me
playing in the Premier League with West Ham," Green told The People. "But on
a personal level it is an added excitement. It's the unknown element about
getting in a squad or not. "Whereas with the previous manager I knew that,
regardless of my performance, I wasn't getting in. "With Capello taking over
it is like a ball of excitement because no one knows what he is going to do.
Thursday will be the first look into his ideas, but even then it is an
initial squad. "It's almost a feeling like being a little kid on Xmas day -
the type of feeling of being sat there wondering what is coming." "I feel
like right now I have done everything that I can do. I believe that I can
play well in every game. I'd love to be in the squad and be there and do it,
but I won't let it ruin my life. I'll go home and not a lot will have
changed."
Green admits he is still mystified why he was never included in McClaren's
plans. "McClaren never explained anything to me or spoke to me about how I
could break into the team, so I was left none the wiser," added Green. "I
was called up for England and the next thing I was dropped. It was
mystifying."
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Hi Fidelity - West Ham Online
ice cream seller - Fri Jan 25 2008
When I was a youngster, winter seemed to be an endlessly gloomy affair. The
arrival of darkness at 4pm put paid to playing in the streets after school
(thus losing the opportunity of finding a couple of badly crumpled pages
ripped from the belly of Razzle ensconced in a hedge in the local park).
Playtimes at school were often curtailed by rain. All the fun to be had in
life was reduced to taping the top ten off of the radio, and even this
frequently ended in dissatifaction as a result of the DJ butting in before
the end of the song.
Just when I was at my melancholic peak, along came Christmas to lift my
spirits. A perennial present in my stocking (for stocking read pillowcase)
would be photographs of the West Ham squad of the time. 7x5 inch glossy
pictures that I used to adorn the walls of my bedroom. Frequently, I would
arrange them in the formation of the team that had played the previous
Saturday (yes, games did actually used to be played on Saturday afternoons),
a system that was only marred by the inclusion of the moustachioed Neil Orr
and David Swindlehurst.
But come the summer, there was a small chance that at least one of my
photographs would end up in the bin as that particular player left the club
to seek bigger and better things. For children these days, it would be an
expensive pastime as they struggled to cope with the constant movement of
players out of their beloved club.
Out of all the transfers that have taken place in this January window, 2
leap out as being perfect examples of the fickleness of players. Nicolas
Anelka announced once again that it was a dream come true to play for his
new club, a line I'm sure we have heard at least twice before. Lassana Diara
went one better and publicly declared that his devotion to Portsmouth would
last at least as long as it would take somebody slightly better to show an
interest.
Do fans have the right to expect any loyalty from their players anymore? Is
it a 2 way street with clubs equally at fault for not showing loyalty to
players? Or is the lack of loyalty in the game today, evidenced by an almost
total lack of testimonials in the top flight, a result of shifty agents
always searching for the next big payday?
I once asked the great George Best why he thought there was so little
loyalty shown by players towards to their clubs in the modern age. After
pondering the question for several moments, he looked me straight in the
eye, hiccupped and was sick into his own lap. The encounter left me none the
wiser.
There are several players still plying their trade in the Premiership who
may end their careers as one club men,and it is these players that must be
studied to try and find out what keeps a player at a club for a sustained
period of time in this day and age.
Winning trophies is obviously a hugely important part of any players career.
It stands to reason that if you are at a club that regularly competes for
trophies, you are more likely to enjoy job satisfaction. The polarisation of
the profesional game in England means that we can discount almost 80% of
Premiership clubs from being able to supply this. That adds up to a lot of
professionally unhappy footballers. There will always be a Matt Le Tissier
or 2, but they tend to be the exception rather than the rule.
A high degree of adaptibility is also required. If a player is at a club for
a substantial length of time, there is every chance that they will play
numerous systems and styles under numerous managers. If they manage to adapt
to a new manager's philosophies and styles, there is less chance of them
being jettisoned or being dropped and left seeking a move themselves.
There is also a certain requirement to ingratiate themselves with the boss.
Gary Neville is an excellent example. He is a decent right back, but by no
means a star. But, through his ability to behave himself and keep himself in
Alex Ferguson's good books, he has outlasted arguably far superior talents
at Old Trafford such as Beckham, Stam and his brother Philip (OK, maybe
not).
A childhood attachment to a club is also important. Whether this is
supporting the club as a child or being signed to a club as a 13 year old
and working through the various levels to become a first team regular, an
emotional attachment can help the heart to overrule the head. Look at
Scholes and Giggs. Both at Old Trafford their entire lives despite interest
from the big European clubs. There is also a case for arguing that an
emotional attachment can be formed in later life, but it is less likely.
Lastly, having inner peace is probably the most important factor. Chelsea
skipper John Terry ticks all of the previous 4 boxes. But he still manages
to get his head turned by materialism and his belief that he needs £130,000
a week to live on, as opposed to £110,000, has led to tantrums and threats
to quit the club. Any player that recognises that there is really little
difference between the two sums (how much can you spend on 4x4's and leather
jackets for God's sake?!), is less likely to engineer a move in order to
earn a smidgen more money that will, in fact, make no difference to their
lives whatsoever.
That is quite a formidable list of traits that are required for players to
retain any sense of loyalty to a club. Undoubtedly, the Machiavellian
manouvering of agents in the modern game plays a part, as does the indecent
haste with which clubs dispose of players (Rolando Bianchi anyone?).
But the reality is that we are asking a lot of players when we ask them to
show loyalty. When they are at the club, we should expect them to perform to
the best of their ability and to put in as much effort and work as they can.
But we should not expect them to declare underlying love for the shirt that
they wear. So the next time a player kisses the badge after scoring, just
remember that this is not a marriage proposal, but merely a torrid affair
which is bound to end in tears.
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Verbeek had no choice but to send for European cavalry, says Neill
Dave Lewis, London
January 27, 2008
SOCCEROOS skipper Lucas Neill has backed boss Pim Verbeek's decision to
employ a flying squadron of overseas stars to get Australia's World Cup
campaign off the ground against Qatar. Neill and his fellow long-haul
travellers will not arrive until 48 hours before kick-off for Australia's
crucial opening qualification gambit at the Telstra Dome on Wednesday week.
But he believes Verbeek had no choice but to send for the swat team. "Pim is
new in the job and he knows he has to get off to a good start," said Neill,
29, after learning Verbeek had named 19 European-based players in a 39-man
squad. "His theory is that if we win the first couple of games [the second
of which is away to China on March 26], we are almost through to the next
phase. He doesn't want to jeopardise our chances. He's a very proud guy and
he will use the best tools available to get the job done."
Verbeek has was less than flattering in a frank assessment of the merits of
A-League players last week. Neill, who won't buy into that debate, added:
"We don't want to have to rely on going to Iraq and Qatar in June in
40-degree heat and having to get results when there is no way you can play
your best football … playing your strongest team gives you the best chance."
Neill, who also captains West Ham, is expecting opposition from his club
boss, Alan Curbishley, who will not have his skipper back in London until 24
hours before their Premier League clash with Birmingham City on February 9.
"It's the old club versus country thing again," Neill said. "It's a tough
one but it's out of my hands … This is a chance to go to the World Cup - and
I don't want there to be any regrets."
Neill made a few people's day yesterday when he strolled into the Walkabout
pub in London's West End - one of a chain of Aussie-owned hotels - and
bought a drink for every punter in the place to celebrate Australia Day.
"I'm a proud Australian and I wanted to do something for all the backpackers
over here," he said. "It's an emotional day for me and I know some of them
don't arrive here with a lot of cash, just like I did when I was starting
out, so it was my way of giving them a bit of a lift."
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ASHTON IN LINE TO LIFT HAMMERS EURO BID
17:30 - 26 January 2008
Dean Ashton is ready to return to lead the West Ham attack and continue
their push for a European place. The England hopeful, said to have emerged
as a transfer target for Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan, missed the 1-1 draw at
Manchester City because of a back problem. However, Ashton, 24, has reported
no more ill effects following treatment at the east London club and is
confident he will be available for Liverpool on Wednesday. "I got a dead leg
off the keeper in the FA Cup game against City, and from the collision with
him I ended up having a slight back problem as well," revealed Ashton,
signed from Norwich for £7.25m during January 2006. "The muscles were still
in spasm on Friday so I wasn't able to travel to Manchester for the league
game, but after having worked with our back specialist here over the weekend
I feel fine."
Ashton, who has battled back from a broken ankle suffered on the eve of his
full England debut 18 months ago, added: "I have returned to full training
and felt good over the last two days, so I will definitely be available for
contention against Liverpool."
Ashton's imminent return will be a welcome boost for manager Alan
Curbishley. The Hammers boss has been cautious with Ashton, who was forced
to miss six weeks earlier in the season with a knee injury. The former Crewe
trainee remains the club's leading scorer this season, with half a dozen
goals from his 20 appearances, and looks set to link up again with
rejuvenated Carlton Cole against the Reds. Former Liverpool striker Craig
Bellamy may also be in contention to face his old club having been out since
the end of October with an abdominal strain. Frenchman Julien Faubert has
finally got some match action under his belt, while Danny Gabbidon, Nolberto
Solano, Scott Parker and Bobby Zamora are also on the recovery trail, which
would clearly bolster Curbishley's options as the season enters a crucial
phase. Despite often having a depleted squad, West Ham continue to make
progress and are in the top half of the table on the back of only three
defeats in 14 Premier League games. Midfielder Lee Bowyer has just returned
to action after a hernia operation and sees no reason why the Hammers should
not maintain their momentum. He said: "We have got to be pushing for Europe
now - that is the top seven and we are seven points off that. "There is a
long way to go and if we keep pushing, we might just nick a place."
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Is Morrissey talking the language of West Ham? - The Guardian
Stop me if you've heard this one before, but could Morrissey be using West
Ham to speak to me?
Russell BrandJanuary 26, 2008 12:05 AM
Is it insanely narcissistic for me to contemplate that Morrissey is trying
to communicate with me through the wearing of replica West Ham tops? The
answer is, of course, "Yes". "Yes it is. Why would you even need to ask?"
Well, because I've been courting Morrissey, of whom I'm a lifelong fan (if
that life is about 18 years), for several months with the intention of
persuading him to commit to a documentary where I interview him, follow him
about and analyse his legacy.
He is aware of my devotion to the Hammers and seems rather fond of me;
recently on stage at a handful of gigs that I was unfortunately unable to
attend he introduced the members of his band before saying "and I'm Russell
Brand". When I heard tell of this I became all queasy and loopy and reckoned
it to be the start of a beautiful friendship with a beloved icon. The
knowledge of this name-check dramatically impaired my enjoyment of the
performance I attended at the Camden Roundhouse this week ("I don't perform,
seals perform ... unfortunately") as between each song I became rigid with
dashed expectation as I awaited the utterance of my name like it was the
sixth Lotto Thunderball number. The trepidation was so torturously
unbearable that I nearly leapt to my feet and screeched: "I'm Russell and I
need you to love me."
Thankfully I just sat there all spurned, listening to the hardcore chant, to
the tune of "'Ere We Go", "Morrissey, Morrissey, Morrissey". I once did a
gig with Noel Gallagher and the similarity between the crowd there and at
football was startling but I suppose somehow natural because of the obvious
corollary of those two demographics, but would you expect to find a large
terrace fraternity at a Morrissey gig?
I suppose I'm an unlikely member of both groups, alas on that occasion,
unlike at Upton Park I was unwilling to subjugate my identity into the
throng but instead perched on my seat's edge wringing my clammy fists like a
meekly loyal housekeeper waiting to be listed in the Oscar acceptance speech
of an oblivious employer.
At the point in his set where he introduced his band I became so agitated
with futile hope that I kicked over my neighbour's drink and locked hands
with my companion so tightly that to escape she had to chew through her own
wrist like a trapped fox. The fantastic set concluded, quite rightly,
without any mention of my name, which has helped me to re-evaluate my
expectations of live entertainment. I won't on Wednesday, for Liverpool's
visit to West Ham, expect Dean Ashton and Mark Noble to come out at
half-time and sing "To All The Girls I've Loved Before" without once
breaking eye contact with me, and I think that alone will make it a more
enjoyable evening.
So, with my unrealistic, egocentric dementia happily acknowledged we can
return to the question posed at this article's genesis. On the cover of his
new single That's How People Grow Up Morrissey is wearing a West Ham Boy's
Club T-shirt - now he did once wear the same shirt nine years ago, before we
met, before he would've had any awareness of my existence, unless he was a
secret attendant of Grays School's production of Bugsy Malone in which I
dazzled as Fat Sam, but is there even the remotest possibility that his
renewed interest in the garment could've been sparked by my own allegiance
to the club? "No, let it go." Well, after the show I asked him. Not outright
like Paxman, more opaque and obtuse, like Columbo.
I had him cornered but not isolated; also present were the former QPR
striker, now with MK Dons, Kevin Gallen and a bloke called Liam, who I think
was a Millwall fan. I cagily asked Morrissey why he had taken to wearing the
claret and blue, fingers crossed in pockets that the response would come
"Because of you, darling boy" but before Morrissey spoke Kevin said, "You're
a QPR fan ain't ya?" and Liam said, "I thought you liked Millwall?"
I saw this as a brilliant opportunity to recount an intriguing anecdote I
once heard on the History Channel, told by an old German man who had once
been a member of the Hitler Youth (I know this is the second consecutive
week that I've mentioned Hitler, I'm not secretly Nazi, I don't know why it
keeps happening, I think he was a wicked, wicked man. Wicked as in bad, not
hip and edgy.)
It was along the lines of: "We the assembled ranks of the Hitler Youth were
watching the Führer give a speech, and at the point he said 'You young men
are the future of the Fatherland' he looked right into my eyes and I knew he
was speaking specifically to me. When I told the other members of my
experience each of them said 'No, when he said that he looked into my eyes'"
Now I related this to demonstrate amusingly that all three of us had keenly
believed that Morrissey was a follower of our chosen team but midway through
I remembered NME coating him off and calling him racist.
To be clear Morrissey is not racist, and only a twit could make such an
accusation. Nonetheless I thought "Oh no, he's gonna think I'm comparing him
to Hitler" - I mean he's a vegetarian, artistic and very charismatic but
it's not a comparison I imagine he'd welcome. I began to flounder and
back-pedal, trying to distance myself from my words even as they tumbled
from my mouth, clarifying and mitigating like a drowning Hugh Grant. When I
finished blathering Morrissey gave a world-weary sigh and turned to the
other two gents - "Of course... this is what Russell does for a living" he
said.
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It's not black and white for former West Ham chairman Brown - Daily Mail
By CHARLES SALE - More by this author »
Last updated at 12:51pm on 10th January 2008
West Ham's disgraced former chairman and major shareholder Terry Brown, who
became the fans' scapegoat for the Carlos Tevez controversy, has taken the
first steps in an attempt to reconcile himself with the club. Brown,
chairman for 15 years until selling his 40 per cent stake to an Icelandic
consortium last year, is credited in the acknowledgements as helping to
write the biography Brown Out (£16.99, Pennant Books), published next week
and written by club historian Brian Belton. Despite publicity blurb calling
him 'disgraced', the book puts property magnate Brown in the best possible
light on almost every West Ham matter. It claims he was not directly
involved in the negotiations for the transfer of Tevez and Javier
Mascherano, signings which relegated Sheffield United claim should have
resulted in West Ham losing their top-flight status. It adds that the
Icelanders could have been more diligent in their own research into the
third party ownership difficulties surrounding the two Argentinians before
buying West Ham. The book asserts that Brown should be given back his
lifetime seats in the directors' box that were taken away by Eggert
Magnusson in the wake of the Premier League fining West Ham a record
£5.5million. There is no chance of a rapprochement with Brown while so many
legal issues have still to be resolved, including an FA hearing into
Sheffield United's allegations. But with Magnusson no longer running West
Ham, it helps Brown's chances of eventually getting his seats back.
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West Ham's Dyer splashes £200,000 on new Ferrari
tribalfootball.com - January 27, 2008
Crocked West Ham United midfielder Kieron Dyer has splashed out on a new
motor. The People says Dyer has cheered himself up during his injury lay-off
with the purchase of a new Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, complete with the number
plate '1 KCD'. Dyer, whose middle name is Charles, won't have got much
change out of £200,000 for the wheels. Let's hope the 29-year-old has more
luck with this motor than a previous Ferrari which he crashed into the Swing
Bridge over the River Tyne in December 2002.
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West Ham's Green: I never received any feedback from McClaren
tribalfooball.com - January 27, 2008
West Ham United goalkeeper Robert Green admits he received no feedback from
sacked England manager Steve McClaren as to why he was never considered for
his squads. Green said: "McClaren never explained anything to me or spoke to
me about how I could break into the team, so I was left none the wiser. I
was called up for England and the next thing I was dropped. It was
mystifying. "Throughout my career whoever I have played for I have just
asked for a chance. When I was at Norwich I asked Nigel Worthington for a
chance and I did the same at West Ham. Neither times did I let anyone down.
"All I'm looking for is to keep climbing up the ladder. "To get into the
squad will show that the hard work has paid off, but to get into the team
might take twice the effort. But fine, I'll get my head down and do it. I
love to learn and work on my game to improve."
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West Ham's Green sweating on England call
tribalfooball.com - January 27, 2008
West Ham United goalkeeper Robert Green says he won't throw a strop if he is
ignored by new England coach Fabio Capello this week. He said: "Come
Thursday there will be an element of me thinking: will I, won't I. "But I
won't be throwing my dummy out of the pram if I'm not involved because there
are other games. You have disappointments in football. "I feel like right
now I have done everything that I can do. I believe that I can play well in
every game. I'd love to be in the squad and be there and do it, but I won't
let it ruin my life. I'll go home and not a lot will have changed."
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West Ham careful with fit-again Faubert
tribalfootball.com - January 27, 2008
West Ham United are treating fit-again midfielder Julien Faubert with
kid-gloves. Hammers assistant manager Mervyn Day explained to WHUTV: "He has
got really tight calves at the moment. He had 45 minutes in a reserve game,
he said he felt was ready to be on the bench and he has come on two or three
times now and had a bit of a start at it. "You are always going to get
little niggles when you have been out for a period of time, that is the
thing we will be worried about with Craig Bellamy - it is not necessarily
the injury, it is the other muscles that haven't been used in competitive
games for such a period. The stress they are under is enormous, so we have
got to take everything nice and steady - certainly with Julien, with Craig
and eventually when Scotty (Parker) comes back - because they can put other
parts of their body under massive stress."
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Son of a gun Lee impressing at West Ham
tribalfooball.com - January 26, 2008
Oliver Lee continues to catch the eye for West Ham United U18s. Lee is the
son of former West Ham and Newcastle United star Rob Lee and headed home in
the Hammers' 3-3 draw with Charlton last week. "It was a great goal, in
terms of the movement and passing," West Ham academy chief Tony Carr told
the club's website.
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