The two homegrown Hammers are hoping to inspire the team to FA Cup success
this season
16.01.2008
Anton Ferdinand and Mark Noble have spoken of their FA Cup ambitions as the
in-form duo look to help West Ham United get past Manchester City this
evening.
The 22-year-old Ferdinand has plenty of memories of the 2006 showpiece in
Cardiff when he played a crucial role in getting the club to the final.
Unfortunately he was one of three Hammers players to miss in the shoot-out
that saw Liverpool win 3-1 on penalties after a 3-3 draw and he is eager for
another crack. "The FA Cup means a lot," he said. "It is a historic
competition. I have played in one final and I want to play in another."
Ferdinand is a player in form, as shown by his appearance in the Actim Index
team of the week. His points haul following the 2-1 win against Fulham was
the highest secured by any top-flight defender this week in the index, which
is the official Premier League player rating system. As with his winning
goal on Saturday, the Academy product has shown plenty of forward firepower
of late to match his defensive prowess.
Tonight though, he is hoping it is the club's forwards who will be able to
take the glory in the third-round replay at the City of Manchester Stadium.
In a competitive match, both sides drew a blank in the first meeting ten
days ago at the Boleyn Ground. "It is going to be a hard game, especially at
City where they are very good," he said. "We have got to try and do what we
did to them at home but hopefully finish our chances."
Noble, 20, was not involved in that final two years ago but is well aware of
what it would mean to all concerned should West Ham United win through to
another televised tie, a fourth-round fixture away to Sheffield United on
Sunday 27 January. "It is always nice for the fans and the club to have an
FA Cup run," he said. "If we beat Man City on Wednesday then we have a nice
one to look forward to with Sheffield United away. They will want to beat us
but obviously we have got to win first and we are just concentrating on
that."
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Etherington extends Hammers stay - WHUFC
'I have always been happy here,' said Matthew Etherington after extending
his commitment to the club
16.01.2008
Matthew Etherington has given West Ham United a boost before the FA Cup trip
to Manchester City by pledging his future to the club until summer 2012.
The left winger's existing terms had been due to expire in June 2009 but he
was pleased to put pen to paper on a new deal. The 26-year-old, who has
scored three goals in 17 league and cup appearances so far this season,
said: "I am delighted to have signed a new contract and commit my future to
West Ham. I have always been happy here since the day I arrived and I look
forward to the next four-and-a-half years."
Etherington made his Hammers debut alongside Anton Ferdinand in the 2-1 win
away at Preston North End on 9 August 2003, just after moving to east London
from Tottenham Hotspur, meaning only veteran defender Christian Dailly has
been a first-team regular for longer. An instant hit with the fans, he was
voted Hammer of the Year at the end of the 2003/04 season as the club just
missed out on an automatic return to the Premier League.
The Truro-born midfielder, who has particularly linked up well with George
McCartney on the left-hand side this season, added: "Behind Christian, I am
the longest-serving player which I am very proud of. There have been a lot
of ups and downs both personally and on the pitch but the club have stood by
me as have the fans and for that I will always be grateful. That is why I
have committed my future here."
Identified early in his career as a promising talent, Etherington first came
to national prominence in January 2001 when he joined Tottenham from
Peterborough United, the club where he progressed through the ranks before
his first-team debut at the age of 15 in May 1997. He made a total of 51
appearances for Peterborough, scoring six goals, before playing 45 times and
scoring once for Spurs.
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Cup success motivates Specs - WHUFC
Jonathan Spector is well aware of what the FA Cup means to supporters of
West Ham United
16.01.2008
Jonathan Spector is dreaming of lifting the FA Cup with West Ham United and
appreciates just what the competition means to supporters.
The versatile American international was a key man in the third-round
goalless draw with Manchester City on 5 January, coming on at half-time for
injured skipper Lucas Neill at right-back. He found himself up against one
of Europe's best left wingers Martin Petrov and coped particularly well
against the flying Bulgarian international to help the Hammers keep it tight
in defence.
Stopping the pacy Petrov again for the replay at the City of Manchester
Stadium tonight could be crucial to the club having success in a competition
that Spector quickly became aware of upon moving to England as a
17-year-old. "The cup is a big deal," he said. "Right away the players, the
manager, the fans instil in you how important the FA Cup is to them and to
the club.
"It is certainly something we want to progress in. We had a great run in the
cup a couple of years ago -making it to the final. I wasn't here at the time
but I remember seeing the game. We unfortunately lost to Liverpool at the
very end but we would love to be in that position again where we have the
chance to win the FA Cup."
Spector will hope to figure again - having kept his place at right-back for
Saturday's 2-1 win against Fulham, when he played a crucial role in the
opening goal by linking up well with Freddie Ljungberg. As well as the first
cup meeting against City, he also played there in Neill's absence on the
first day of the season when City won 2-0 at the Boleyn Ground. That said,
he would ultimately like to establish himself in an inside position.
"The centre is where I would eventually like to end up playing for the
majority of my career," he said. "I am still only 21 at the moment which is
young for a central defender so wherever opportunities arise I am happy to
play. I love playing so I am not going to turn down playing in a different
position."
Tim Howard, now the Everton No1, was the first American player to get an FA
Cup winners' medal when he played in goal for Manchester United in the 3-0
win against Millwall back in 2004. Former Hammers midfielder John Harkes
became the first US player to appear in the final when he figured in
Sheffield Wednesday's 2-1 replay loss to Arsenal in 1993.
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Ipswich reject Hammers bid report - BBC
Ipswich boss Jim Magilton has denied reports claiming that they have
rejected a £1.5m bid from West Ham for winger Danny Haynes. Haynes, who will
be 20 on Saturday, had reportedly been targeted by West Ham. But Magilton
told Ipswich's website: "There is nothing in it. We have not had any contact
from West Ham regarding Danny or any other player at the club."
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New West Ham deal for Etherington - BBC
West Ham winger Matthew Etherington has pledged his future to the club by
signing a new contract which will run until 2012. The 26-year-old began his
career at Peterborough before joining Tottenham in 2001, and moving to West
Ham two years later. "There have been a lot of ups and downs for me
personally and on the pitch but the club has stood by me," he said. "I'll
always be grateful for that. It's why I've committed my future here."
Etherington, who has scored three goals in 17 appearances this season, was
voted Hammer of the Year at the end of his first season at the club. He is
now the second longest-serving player at the club, after Christian Dailly.
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Manchester City v West Ham Utd - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 16th January 2008
By: Matthew Coker
Our next two fixtures are going to fuel the arguments about there being too
many repeats on telly, as we face off in front of the cameras at the City of
Manchester stadium, twice, in a space of five days.
The Wednesday night, FA Cup 3rd round replay is an 8.05pm kick off, live on
BBC and the Sunday afternoon Premier League clash is a 4pm kick off live on
Sky Sports, though I have no doubt that we'll put together a decent showing
in the away end for both games.
The first FA Cup game us both a chance to suss each other out, in what was a
contest between two sides playing as cagily as a circus tiger's abode. The
goalless scoring line did not reflect a decent game, though it was one that
looked as though a solitary flash of brilliance or a single fatal mistake
would have been enough to see one of the sides through.
Traditionally, a replay favours the side who have drawn away as they get to
take the game back to their place and the logic says that if your are good
enough to get a draw away, you'll be good enough to win at home. This makes
even more sense in City's case as their results this season show that they
are a much better side at home, where they are unbeaten in the league and
Sp*rs have been the only side to beat them, in a Carling Cup quarter final.
However, from the claret and blue perspective, we have become something of
away specialists this season, playing at our best when our opposition pushes
forward and it also appears that we'll have a much stronger pool of players
to choose from, as in addition to the returns of Julian Faubert and Luis Boa
Morte at the weekend, there is hope that Noberto Solano, Craig Bellamy and
Bobby Zamora may all be available to have some part in these games.
Certainly, there is plenty to be encouraged by, in both the cup and league,
though we had better put it in perspective by taking a closer look at just
who we are up against.
"We were kicking long balls, chasing second balls, we are not good at that.
If that is the way we are going to play our football we will have to sell
half our team and buy other players instead."
Sven contemplates wholesale changes after a poor showing at Goodison Park.
In goal will be the England U21 keeper, Joe Hart, who demonstrated his
ability at stopping shots in the game at the Boleyn. He is also fairly
decent in the air and it is his physical presence that seems to have given
him the edge over the reserve number one, Kaspar Schmeichel.
The back four has been in miserly form over the last few weeks, the game
against us was the third clean sheet that they had kept in the last five
games. They are led by the in form club captain and City's player of the
month for December, Richard Dunne, in the centre back role, alongside
England's Micah Richards.
Sven has recently mooted the club's left back, Michael Ball, as a candidate
for selection in the national team, such as been his rejuvenated form under
the Swede's stewardship and another England youngster and academy product,
Nedum Onuoha , is coping with the right back role, despite it not being his
natural position.
Sven tends to favour a five man midfield, particularly if he starts with the
Brazilian playmaker, Elano. His storming early season form had been followed
by a winter lull, in part attributable to injury, though sides had begun to
single him out for special attention. He has been used more sparingly in
recent weeks and he notably did not appear against us, when Sven went with
two strikers, but his recent performances have shown signs of that early
season form.
The other central midfielders include Dietmar Hamman and Vedran Corluka, who
both possess plenty of technical ability but lack a little pace and are
arguably as dynamic a duo as Jack and Vera Duckworth. This dynamism could be
provided if Michael Johnson has recovered from injury, he is very much an
all round player, arguably City's version of Mark Noble.
"Spaceman, I always wanted you to go
Into space, man"
Babylon Zoo, Spaceman.
Out wide left was City's biggest threat of the first game, Bulgarian, Martin
Petrov. He possesses pace in abundance and plenty of technical ability and
is often so far ahead of his marker that he finds time to look up before
delivering his cross. He gave an injured, Lucas Neill a torrid time at our
place and will be a danger if he is not contained in the next two games. The
side lack a natural right winger, though Stephen Ireland has made a good
contribution as a right midfielder.
Sven has switched things around slightly in the last two games, starting
with two strikers, Darius Vassell and Nery Castillo and against Everton at
the weekend, he played both strikers with Elano replacing Ireland on the
right. This may be a response to their lack of goals, both recently and
throughout the season. The league table shows that their goals for tally of
just 29 compares poorly with most of the sides around and above them, who
have generally hit 35-40 at this stage of the season.
The weakest area is clearly up front. Vassell, whilst hardworking, does lack
an end product and he has only managed two finishes so far this season. It
is too early to judge Castillo, so soon into his time in the Premiership,
but he was played in the hole against Everton, rather than as the most
advanced striker and his build suggests more of a pacy, quick footed,
creative type than a centre forward. Rolando Bianchi is the top scoring
striker with five to date, but has slipped down the pecking order, no doubt
wasteful finishing such as against Blackburn over Christmas have not helped
his prospects.
Double Deductions
We will, of course, need to respect City's home form. They won their opening
nine on the trot at Eastlands in the league, before drawing with Liverpool
and Blackburn over Christmas. This home form has kept them very much in the
mix for European qualification and while most people at the club are playing
down the likelihood of sneaking into the Champions League, current league
points total do not rule this out. However, there are several teams in that
position and the defeat to Everton at the weekend left them in 7th place,
which is represents a mini blip for a side who have spent time in the top
four this season.
However, league form goes out of the window for the FA Cup and I am going to
ignore all the usual factors such as form, available players and anything
scientific as it is obvious we are going to go through. The second we were
drawn away to Sheffield United in the fourth round was when anything but a
West Ham win was ruled out.
After all of the acrimony last season between us and the Blades, a re-match
was bound to happen and this is the ideal opportunity for us to remind them
which of the two sides is still in the top flight. I'll therefore have us
down to sneak it 1-0 and off to Brammall Lane.
I think the league encounter will be the one that they will prefer to win,
and indeed will win on Sunday. I'll have that down to a similarly tight,
1-0, this time to the home side.
Enjoy the games.
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New deal for Ethers - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 16th January 2008
By: Matthew O'Greel
Matthew Etherington has signed a new deal that keeps him tied to West Ham
until 2012. The 26-year-old winger has put pen to paper on a new contract
that extends his current deal by a further three years. Talking to
whufc.com, the former Peterborough player said: "I am delighted to have
signed a new contract and commit my future to West Ham. I have always been
happy here since the day I arrived and I look forward to the next
four-and-a-half years. "Behind Christian [Dailly] I am the longest-serving
player which I am very proud of. There have been a lot of ups and downs both
personally and on the pitch but the club have stood by me as have the fans
and for that I will always be grateful. "That is why I have committed my
future here."
Truro-born Etherington was signed by Glenn Roeder in August 2003 for a fee
in the region £500,000 following West Ham United's relegation from the
Premiership. Prior to ariving in East London he had spent two years at
Tottenham, for whom he made just 24 starts.
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Cheers, Curbs - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 16th January 2008
By: Matthew O'Greel
Carlton Cole has thanked Alan Curbishley for giving him an extended run in
the first team. The former Chelsea striker burst on to the scene as a
19-year-old at Chelsea, scoring an incredible 37 goals in one season for the
reserve side. However he has failed to replicate that kind of form since,
having barely had the opportunity to play. But as a result of long-term
injuries to Craig Bellamy and Bobby Zamora, Cole - who was signed by Alan
Pardew for £2m at the beginning of the 06/07 season - is finally getting the
chance to do so, with Curbishley preferring him to Senegalese international
Henri Camara. "This is the first time ever I've had 15 games back to back in
my whole career," said Cole. "Curbs has given me the opportunity to do so.
I'm so happy right now and I couldn't be in a better place. "Everyone needs
a manager who will stick by them through thick and thin, and Curbs is like
that. "He was saying to me after I missed a good chance against Fulham:
'Don't forget what you've done prior to this. I know you're disappointed you
didn't score but what you've done for the last three months has been good
for us'. "I took that with a bit of pride and I'm going to try and do more
for him now in the coming months."
Cole is likely to line up alongside Dean Ashton once again tonight as the
Hammers take on Manchester City at Eastlands in their FA Cup 3rd Round
replay. The match is being broadcast live on BBC1 in the UK; kick-off is
8.05pm GMT.
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Argentine denies West Ham trial - SSN
Argentine striker happy in South America
By Patricio Figueroa Last updated: 16th January 2008
Independiente striker Nicolas Mazzola has denied that he has undergone a
trial at West Ham. It had been rumoured that West Ham manager Alan
Curbishley had offered the 18-year-old forward the opportunity to impress at
Upton Park as he bids to bolster his squad. Mazzola - who has yet to play a
league game for Argentine outfit Independiente - insists he has not been to
West Ham, but has hinted that he would be interested in a transfer to the
Premier League in the future. "I have been told that in England the coach of
West Ham spoke about me but I haven't been there," Mazzola told Ole. "I know
that Independiente have received several proposals but they have all been
refused. It wasn't nice to know that something had been invented about me.
"I like English football, the way it is played. I also like Italian football
but now it is not the same as other years. "If I'm asked if I would like to
be transferred now I would say yes, but I still haven't played in the
Argentinian Premier Division. "My objective is to keep working with the
first team and make myself known in the country before playing abroad."
Meanwhile, Carlton Cole has thanked Curbishley for showing faith in him and
the striker believes he is now beginning to forge a good partnership with
fellow forward Dean Ashton. "This is the first time ever I've had 15 games
back-to-back in my whole career," said Cole. "Curbs has given me the
opportunity to do so. I'm so happy right now and I couldn't be in a better
place. "Everyone needs a manager who will stick by them through thick and
thin, and usually players do find that a manager like Curbs is like that.
"Deano linked up well against Fulham. It's not been like that in prior games
but we really were linking up."
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Curbs bides time with Faubert - SSN
Boss vows not to rush French winger
Last updated: 16th January 2008
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley will not rush French winger Julien Faubert
back into action too soon. The £6.1million summer signing from Bordeaux
could make only his second appearance of the campaign in Wednesday's FA Cup
third-round replay at Manchester City following a ruptured Achilles suffered
during pre-season. However, after seeing the highly-rated French
international slowly work his way back into first-team contention,
Curbishley does not want to take any risks after handing Faubert a brief
run-out as a substitute against Fulham. "He has joined in training the last
couple of weeks and some of the players hadn't seen him," said the West Ham
boss. "He's come into training and they have had a good look at him and they
have all been asking 'when's he going to be fit'?"
Curbishley added on the club's official website: "It was probably a little
bit too early on Saturday, but I decided to give it a go because I felt if
he got 20 minutes, he could change the game - but I have got to be a little
bit careful with him." Curbishley added: "We are playing City again on
Sunday, so I have got to shake it up a bit and see where we come out. "We
are going to have a go and we do feel that the cup is a competition we can
attack." The West Ham boss added: "The back five have played all the
football. I will have to look at that. Meanwhile, Ipswich Town boss Jim
Magilton has rubbished rumours linking the Hammers with a £1.5million bid
for England Under-19 forward Danny Haynes. "We have not had any contact
from West Ham regarding Danny or any other player at this football club.
There is nothing in it," he said.
Manchester City 5/6, Draw 9/4, West Ham 11/4
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Winger extends Hammers stay - SSN
Etherington pens three-year Hammers extension
By James Pearson Last updated: 16th January 2008
West Ham United winger Matthew Etherington has penned a three-year extension
with the Upton Park outfit. The 26-year-old's deal had been due to expire in
the summer of 2009, although he is now tied to the Premier League side until
2012. Etherington, who joined from Tottenham back in 2003, has made 141
league appearances for the club and has three league goals this season. Only
last October, Etherington admitted his surprise at still being at Upton Park
following a number of signings, but he is now looking forward after
committing his future to the Hammers. "I am delighted to have signed a new
contract and commit my future to West Ham," Etherington told the club's
official website. "I have always been happy here since the day I arrived and
I look forward to the next four-and-a-half years."
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McCartney can't get enough Hammer time - Daily Mail
Last updated at 13:27pm on 16th January 2008
George McCartney wants to be an ever-present for West Ham this season. The
defender has played in every one of the Hammers' 26 games and he said:
"There's no chance of me asking to be rested. I'll be happy if I play in
every game from now until the end of the season." Meanwhile Alan Curbishley
intends to "shake it up a bit" in the West Ham squad ahead of tomorrow
night's FA Cup replay at Manchester City. In a quirk of the fixture list,
the Hammers will play at Eastlands twice in the space of four days, with
their televised Premier League encounter coming up this weekend. Curbishley
knows some of his men, particularly in defence, have clocked up more than
their fare share of action this season. While in no way intending to
disrespect the competition which West Ham were minutes away from winning
against Liverpool in 2006, Curbishley - already hampered by a long injury
list - realises something has to give if his team are to avoid burnout. "I
have got a bit of thinking to do about the cup game. The back five have
played all the football. I will have to look at that," Curbishley said on
the club's official website, www.whufc.com "I keep going on week in, week
out and saying how well the defence have been doing - not many clubs could
have sustained the injury list we have had. We have been in double figures
on a lot of occasions and they have stood firm. "Robert Green, Lucas Neill,
Matthew Upson and George McCartney have stayed quite strong and the other
centre-halves have fitted in there."
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Hammers' Mazzola offer shunned - Setanta
by setantasports.com staff, 16 January 2008
West Ham have reportedly had an offer for target Nicolas Mazzola turned down
by Independiente after the 17-year-old denied ever being on trial at the
Premier League outfit, despite Alan Curbishley saying that the player had
trained with the East Londoners. The West Ham manager said last Thursday
that the Independiente striker was 'a young boy we have had training with
us'. However, Mazzola's agent Fernando Ortiz countered Curbishley's claims
by stating outright that 'Mazzola never travelled to England'.
Independiente secretary of sport Leandro Battafarano backed that up by
saying the club had never been told of any trip to the UK for the youngster.
Now Mazzola has spoken himself, and the highly rated forward said that his
preferred English team would be Manchester United. "I have not travelled to
London for a trial. This not is true," he said. "I recognise that The
Premier League is attractive. I am a fan of the English football style. My
preferred club is Manchester United of Carlos Tevez. Today they are the best
team in Europe for me."
Independiente are steadfast in their refusal to let Mazzola go, saying that
he 'does not have a price because he will be a star in little time'.
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West Ham eyeing Chievo star Obinna
tribalfootball.com - January 16, 2008
West Ham United are eyeing Chievo Verona star Victor Obinna. The Telegraph
says West Ham are interested in Nigerian forward Obinna, who plays for
Chievo Verona in Serie B.
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West Ham star Hayden says FA Cup is more important to him than the League -
Daily Mail
Last updated at 10:48am on 16th January 2008
The FA Cup may have lost its attraction for some players and fans but don't
tell West Ham's Hayden Mullins that. Reading striker Dave Kitson sparked the
debate this season when he said the Cup didn't matter to him. But Mullins
insists he would rather win tonight's third-round replay against Manchester
City than the Premier League clash against the same side on Sunday. "If I
had to make a choice I would take a win in the FA Cup," said Mullins.
"Knowing that if we beat City the fourth-round game is Sheffield United,
which realistically is a winnable game for us, it's the Cup for me. "We
could go on and lose to City in the league on Sunday but win the next two to
make up the ground whereas the FA Cup is a one-off - get beat and that's it
for another year."
Despite Kitson's claim, many players still dream of appearing in an FA Cup
Final, and Mullins has an extra incentive to make that a reality. Two years
ago, he was looking forward to a final against Liverpool. However, a
fortnight before the Millennium Stadium match, Mullins and Luis Garcia were
sent off in a Premier League game between the two finalists and both were
suspended for the big day. It was one of the most memorable finals for
years, which Liverpool eventually won on penalties. "It was a disappointing
end to a great run for me," said former Crystal Palace star Mullins. "It was
unbelievably hard to take at the time. It was a silly red card, my own fault
I remember, but perhaps I will get another chance. That's my dream. With a
bit of luck this year, why not?"
West Ham have had a horrendous run of injuries, but Mullins has been lucky
to avoid the treatment room. He has been an almost ever-present this season
and boss Alan Curbishley must decide whether to give the former Crystal
Palace man and other players such as Matthew Upson and George McCartney a
rest tonight. Mullins, however, wants to be in the thick of the action at
Eastlands. I always want to play,"he said. "I feel fine really, although the
final game over the Christmas period, at Arsenal, did catch up with me a
bit. We had put so much into the previous match against Manchester United
that we didn't have a lot left and we also had loads of injuries. "It's been
a demanding period for all the boys and it's now you want a fully fit squad
from which to choose. Unfortunately, we haven't had that all season.
"There's some bodies coming back at last, though, and the squad is coming
together again, which is great at this time of year."
Curbishley will resist the temptation to push midfielder Julien Faubert too
hard. The French international came on as a late substitute against Fulham
on Saturday for his first appearance of the season following a serious
Achilles tendon injury. He is in the squad for the replay but is likely to
start on the bench. "Julien is nowhere near full fitness yet," said
Curbishley ."We have to be very careful with him, especially because he's an
explosive type of player. "If he comes back too soon, other problems could
arise. We need to bring him back gradually to full fitness."
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