With memories of disappointment a year ago, Alan Curbishley expects much
better this evening
30.01.2008
On 30 January 2007, West Ham United lost 2-1 Liverpool at the Boleyn Ground
to leave themselves deep in relegation trouble with just 20 points from 25
games.
Fast forward exactly 12 months and the situation could not be more different
for Alan Curbishley's side as they prepare to welcome the Reds again. With
33 points from three fewer games played than at this time a year ago, the
team are looking upwards from a healthy tenth position and with every hope
of moving to within four points of their opponents.
Curbishley remembers that night under the lights as "such a poor
performance" - but is not expecting a repeat, despite the fact Liverpool are
again pushing for the Champions League places. He said: "We've got another
opportunity against a top-four side. I'm sure if we attack it right we'll
give ourselves a chance. We're really looking forward to it."
The Hammers have not won in their last eleven matches with Liverpool but
Curbishley simply sees that as an opportunity to set the record straight.
"We'll have to try and change it. We've competed so far this year in all the
games we've played against the 'top four'. They've been tight games. We've
got to give ourselves a chance and give the fans something to get behind
because that makes a big difference."
The manager has Dean Ashton available again after a slight back problem but
it remains to be seen whether he will again go with Carlton Cole as a lone
striker, as in previous matches against elite clubs. "Sometimes it depends
on who's available. We're looking at the game and we feel that we've got to
get on the front foot, try and make the atmosphere right and attack it as
much as we can."
Curbishley said the Reds' rotation policy makes it hard to predict their
lineup, but added: "They'll have the same problem with us though - ours has
changed most weeks. They have changed it a bit as they've gone along but the
nucleus of the side is there. They're in a situation where they're drawn too
many games.
"I don't know if they could have won some of them but they've drawn too many
to make a challenge for the top two," he added, before going on to cite the
impressive trophy haul achieved by Rafael Benitez that has included the 2005
Champions League. "I think for Rafa, who had only been there a few years, it
takes time. Whatever we say about the Premier League - they perhaps haven't
won it but they've won everything else. We shouldn't forget that."
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Upbeat duo in good spirits - WHUFC
Two of West Ham United's form players are understandably relishing a return
to league action
30.01.2008
Anton Ferdinand and Carlton Cole found the perfect way to warm up for the
visit of Liverpool with a special appearance in aid of a good cause at
London's Canary Wharf.
As they have done on several occasions this season, the duo, good friends
off the pitch, were helping to promote the club's charity partners - this
time the outstanding work done by the Richard House Children's Hospice.
After signing autographs and posing for pictures with fans, they took time
out to talk to WHUTV about their hopes for this evening's crunch encounter
against the Reds.
Ferdinand has scored in the last two league games at home and cannot wait
for the chance to get back out in front of the Boleyn Ground faithful -
especially as the club have not played for ten days. "We have been training,
preparing for the game and just looking forward to getting out there. I
haven't started in a night game at Upton Park for a long while and I am
looking forward to it."
Cole is also in fine form, not least because of his spectacular overhead
kick away to Manchester City last time out - although he has since taken
some stick for following up his left-foot goal with a celebration of his
right-foot! Such a mistake did not go unnoticed in the squad - see Lucas
Neill's Captain's Blog from yesterday - and if he does score again Ferdinand
is hoping that "when he does celebrate, he polishes the right boot".
Few fans will mind one bit if Cole gets it wrong again against the Reds,
because that will mean he has found the net once more - although he is
looking to sharpen up his predatory instincts in front of goal. "Hopefully I
can get an easy goal, a little tap-in will do like the Tottenham one - that
will be a nice way to score."
However, the man who former Hammers defender Slaven Bilic tipped last week
for a possible England call knows the challenge facing the team. "Liverpool
are going to play some really good football," he said. "But if we can live
with their passing, get in amongst them and rattle them a bit, we have a
good chance of getting a result."
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Dailly departs for Rangers - WHUFC
Christian Dailly - a 'fantastic servant' for West Ham United - has left the
Boleyn Ground after seven years
30.01.2008
Christian Dailly has been allowed to leave West Ham United after a
seven-year stay to sign for Scottish leaders Rangers.
The Scotland defender, and former club captain, was the longest-serving
first-team player at the Boleyn Ground - an honour now shared between Anton
Ferdinand and Matthew Etherington - and has been described by manager Alan
Curbishley as a "fantastic servant". In all, he made 191 appearances for the
club, scoring five goals. Earlier this campaign, he spent two months on loan
at Southampton, playing eleven times, before he returned in early December
The versatile Dailly signed for West Ham United on 18 January 2001 from
Blackburn Rovers and, after his debut four days later in 1-1 draw at
Charlton Athletic, went on to have an instant impact. The following campaign
he helped the club finish seventh in the top flight, playing every minute of
every game in that season. Having also appeared in the 2004/05 play-off
final triumph, Dailly also played in the 2006 FA Cup final against
Liverpool, coming on as a substitute.
The father-of-four, who has been capped 66 times by his country, was a firm
fans' favourite in east London and has only good words to say about his time
in claret and blue. "I will always feel fondly about it," he said in an
interview with the matchday programme. "It's a brilliant club. It's massive.
There are so many West Ham fans everywhere you go. They seem to pop up
everywhere. It's so big. People who aren't involved with West Ham don't
realise quite how big the club is."
Dailly's last first-team appearance for West Ham United came on 24 February
2007, although he was on the bench for the trip to Middlesbrough on 22
December and has been a regular in the reserves during this campaign.
According to Kevin Keen, the 34-year-old was invaluable in setting the right
example for the club's younger talents. "Christian has a real enthusiasm for
the game. He does everything right and he is really fit. He talks to the
players in the way they understand."
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Rangers snap up defender Dailly - BBC
Rangers have signed West Ham United defender Christian Dailly until the end
of the season. The 34-year-old has fallen out of favour at Upton Park and
spent two months on loan at Championship Southampton earlier this season.
Rangers have taken over the Scotland international's contract, in a similar
move to the deal done with Everton 12 months ago for David Weir. He will be
seen as a replacement for Tottenham-bound Alan Hutton.
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Dyer targets return - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 30th January 2008
By: Matthew O'Greel
Kieron Dyer has revealed that he hopes to be playing again before the end of
the season. The Hammers midfielder - who joined from Newcastle in the summer
for £7.5m - suffered a double fracture to his lower leg during the 2-1
Carling Cup win over Bristol Rovers last August. Initial fears were that he
would miss the whole of this season - however he has shown good progress and
is 'ready to push on again'. "I'm running very comfortably at three-quarter
pace. It's going ahead of schedule and really well," he told whufc.tv. "They
removed the screws last week and I had five days rest. Hopefully I'll be
ready to start sprinting soon. "When you first run you get the shin used to
the constant pounding again. I had a bit of discomfort in the early stages
but now I'm fine and feeling extremely comfortable. "If you set timescales I
think the physios have a nervous breakdown - but I'll definitely be back
before the end of the season."
29-year-old Dyer also praised his team mates for their solid performances so
far this season whilst adding that it may be 'a blessing in disguise' to be
out of the cups so that they may concentrate on the league programme - and
the chase for Europe. "It makes me laugh how everyone says Portsmouth and
Villa and everyone are having such great seasons when we're only five, six
points behind them when we haven't fielded our strongest team at any stage
of the season," he said. "It's testament to this club, the manager and all
the players involved that we're still in there with a great chance."
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If the kids are United - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 30th January 2008
By: Matthew O'Greel
Alan Curbishley has revealed that he would be happy to throw his emerging
stars in at the deep end. Jack Collison made his debut at Arsenal on New
Years' Day as a replacement for Freddie Ljungberg whilst striker Freddie
Sears and centre-half James Tomkins have also been invloved with the first
team squad this season. And Curbishley - who still has the likes of Kieron
Dyer, James Collins and Calum Davenport on the long-term injured list -
admits that he would be happy to give his youngsters the opportunity to
shine between now and the end of the season. "Why not?," he told whufc.com.
"If the opportunity arises, I'll give them a game. "Freddie Sears was with
us up at Man City - and we've got [Kyel] Reid. I've got four kids who have
been in and around the squad for the last month or two and if I have to,
I'll put them in. "Let's have a look at some of them."
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A signing - at last - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 30th January 2008
By: Matthew O'Greel
But don't get too excited - it's only a new member of the backroom staff.
West Ham United are set to announce the arrival of Nigel Dennis as their new
Deputy Safety Officer. Dennis joins the Hammers having spent the last 15
years at Lincoln City. Imps Chairman Steff Wright said this morning:
"On behalf of the Board I would like to thank Nigel for the excellent work
he has put into the Club over the last 15 years. "Although his position as
Stadium Manager covered many different aspects, his role as Safety Officer
has gained him an excellent profile within football and other sports. "That
has resulted in him being headhunted by West Ham and being offered a new
challenge on a Premiership package." Unfortunately there remains very little
movement in the transfer market with no fresh speculation this morning
regarding incoming players. The transfer window closes at midnight tomorrow.
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Dailly on the move? - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 30th January 2008
By: Matthew O'Greel
Christian Dailly is once again being linked with a transfer deadline move to
Rangers. 34-year-old Dailly, whose last game for West Ham was almost a year
ago had been linked with a move to the Scottish Premier League club earlier
in the transfer window before Gers boss Walter Smith dismissed the link last
week. But fresh rumours this morning suggest that the move could be back on
as a result of right-back Alan Hutton's proposed move to Tottenham.
Dailly joined West Ham in 2001 in a £2.5m switch from Blackburn. However he
has barely figured for the Hammers since Alan Curbishley succeeded Alan
Pardew (his last game coming in the 4-0 defeat at Charlton last February)
and recently spent time on loan with Championship outfit Southampton.
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Curbishley on Liverpool - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 30th January 2008
By: Matthew O'Greel
Alan Curbishley has told his side that they need to give the supporters
something to shout about tonight. West Ham host Liverpool tonight with the
visitors yet to record a victory in 2008. A United win would reduce the gap
between the two clubs to just four points but Curbishley has told his
players that they will need to hit the ground running. "If we attack it
right we'll give ourselves a chance," he told whufc.com. " We've competed so
far this year in all the games we've played against the 'top four'. "I've
said to them that we've turned the corner and we're on our way home now in
terms of the run-in. If we can put some results together we can start
attacking the teams above us. "We've got to give ourselves a chance and give
the fans something to get behind because that makes a big difference. We
feel that we've got to get on the front foot, try and make the atmosphere
right and attack it as much as we can."
With regard to personnel, Curbishley confirmed that Julien Faubert, Danny
Gabbidon and Craig Bellamy are all unlikely to feature. "[Faubert] has got a
slight calf strain, which is something we were hoping to guard against on
his way back," he confirmed. "It's nothing serious, we think he'll be okay
for Saturday. "We'll wait and see on Craig, but he's got through the games
and is doing very well. Gabbidon played in the reserves on Wednesday but
he's not 100 per cent either. He won't be risked."
Meahwile Curbishley has described how he was 'disappointed' at Yossi
Benayoun's decision to renege on his decision to sign a new contract with
West Ham last summer. "I thought Yossi was staying," he said. "He had agreed
a new long-term deal. I went on holiday for a week and when I came back I
was surprised to hear he was going to Liverpool. "It was disappointing as
he is a good player."
The game kicks-off at 8pm tonight. The Hammers will be seeking their first
win over Liverpool since November 1999 when a first-half Trevor Sinclair
strike was enough to secure victory.
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Benayoun on return - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 30th January 2008
By: Matthew O'Greel
Yossi Benayoun says he can't wait to return to the Boleyn Ground - but
admits he is unsure what kind of reception awaits him. The Israeli playmaker
walked out on the Hammers last summer despite having previously agreed to
sing a new five-year contract, angering many United supporters who stood by
him after a poor second season which was punctuated by injury and embroiled
in controversy. Now beginning to find his feet at his new club, Benayoun is
likely to start for Liverpool tonight. Despite the uncertainty over his
reception, he says he is looking forward to once again appearing in front of
the Boleyn faithful. "I'm really looking forward to going back because West
Ham will always be a special place for me," he said. "I had a really good
time there and the fans were always good to me. "I don't know what kind of
reception I will get from the fans but I am hoping that it will be a good
one. Even if it isn't it won't change the way I feel about West Ham; I will
always love them and the fans are among the best you could find anywhere in
the world."
Benayoun - whose new club will be just four points ahead of the Hammers
should they lose tonight - also claimed that the pressures of being at
Liverpool were greater than at West Ham due to the increased expectation
levels. "It is different at Liverpool because we are nearer to the top of
the table," he added. "When you play for a big club you are the favourites
to win every game and because you get more chances you get more goals. "It
was more difficult at West Ham because we were not near the top of the
league and last season we were fighting relegation."
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Positive news for Dyer - SSN
Midfielder recovering well from horrific injury
By Chris Burton Last updated: 30th January 2008
Kieron Dyer is still hoping to play again for West Ham this season as he
continues his recovery from a double leg fracture. The midfielder completed
a £6million move from Newcastle back in August but managed just three games
for the Hammers before picking up the horrific injury in a Carling Cup tie
at Bristol Rovers. Now, after undergoing surgery to help heal the break, he
is well on the road to recovery and has his sights set on forcing his way
into Alan Curbishley's plans before the end of the current campaign. "I have
progressed a lot," he told West Ham's official website. "I am running very
comfortably. I am at three-quarter pace and I am ready to push on again. It
is ahead of schedule and going really well. "My leg got pinned and so I had
a very simple operation where they removed the screws because they cause you
a bit of discomfort. I had that last week, five days rest and I can crack on
again. "I feel fine, obviously when you run you are getting the shin used to
the constant pounding. I had a bit of discomfort in the early stages but now
I am fine and feeling extremely comfortable. I am ready to push in to
sprinting soon. "If you set timescales, I think the physios have a nervous
breakdown, but I definitely believe that I will figure before the end of the
season."
Dyer feels that the Hammers have not been receiving the recognition their
performances have deserved as they chase a place in Europe. "It makes me
laugh how everyone says Portsmouth, Villa and everyone are having such great
seasons," he said. "But we are only five or six points behind them and we
haven't fielded our strongest team at any stage of this season. "That is
testament to this club, to the manager and all the players involved that we
are still in there with a great chance. "Hopefully being out of the cup
competitions can be a blessing in disguise because we can concentrate on the
league and give it a good push."
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Rangers take on Christian Dailly - Daily Mail
Last updated at 14:58pm on 30th January 2008
Rangers have signed Scotland international Christian Dailly from West Ham
until the end of the season. The 34-year-old leaves West Ham after falling
out of favour with the Barclays Premier League club. Rangers have taken over
his contract, in a similar move to their capture of David Weir 12 months
ago.
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Curbishley was left 'stunned' by Yossi's Hammers exit - Daily Mail
Last updated at 11:01am on 30th January 2008
Alan Curbishley was "surprised and disappointed" when Yossi Benayoun went to
Liverpool in a £5million deal last summer. Benayoun returns to Upton Park
tonight for the first time since his move to Anfield. The Israeli, who
scored eight goals in 63 appearances for the Upton Park club, had agreed a
new five-year deal last May but hadn't signed the new contract by the time
Liverpool showed an interest. Curbishley said: "I thought Yossi was staying.
He had agreed a new long-term deal. I went on holiday for a week and when I
came back I was surprised to hear he was going to Liverpool. It was
disappointing as he is a good player."
Hayden Mullins believes the speculation about the futures of Liverpool and
manager Rafa Benitez will have taken their toll on Steven Gerrard and his
team-mates. A fallout between the club's American owners and Benitez have
left the Reds in a state of turmoil. "We've been there with West Ham last
season when we were in the news all the time for various reasons," said
Mullins. "It can't be unsettling for the players."
Craig Bellamy is back in full training but unlikely to face his former club.
Julien Faubert (calf) is unlikely to be risked but Matthew Etherington and
Dean Ashton are both fit again.
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West Ham return has Yossi Benayoun buzzing
Jan 30 2008
by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo
YOSSI BENAYOUN returns to Upton Park tonight – confessing he hopes Liverpool
can land a crucial victory at a place he still loves. The Israeli
international spent two seasons at West Ham where he became a firm fans'
favourite and tonight's Premier League clash will be the first time he has
returned there since making a £5m move to Liverpool last summer. He said:
"I'm really looking forward to going back because West Ham will always be a
special place for me. "I had a really good time there and I made lots of
friends and the fans were always good to me so it will be good to go back
there. "I don't know what kind of reception I will get from the fans but,
obviously, I am hoping that it will be a good one. "But even if it isn't it
won't change the way I feel about West Ham. I will always love them and the
fans are among the best you could find anywhere in the world."
Benayoun scored eight goals in 72 appearances for the Hammers. Just 28 games
into his Liverpool career, he has already netted 10 times, including
hat-tricks against Besiktas and Havant & Waterlooville. And he puts his
improved scoring rate down to the fact he is now playing for a team which
sits at the top table of English football. "It is different at Liverpool
because we are nearer to the top of the table," he said. "When you play for
a big club you are the favourites to win every game and because you get more
chances you get more goals. "It was more difficult at West Ham because we
were not near the top of the league and last season we were fighting
relegation."
Despite enjoying the start he has made to his Liverpool career, Benayoun has
been frustrated by the Reds' recent form in the Premier League and wants
them to get back to winning ways against his former club. He said: "We have
to improve because we have drawn our last four league games and we cannot
afford to drop any points. But we have a lot of confidence that we will win
a lot of games – hopefully starting with tonight's match – and that we will
still end up having a good season."
Another former Hammer, Javier Mascherano, misses tonight's match through
suspension after picking up five bookings. His place is likely to be taken
by Xabi Alonso. Pepe Reina, Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard and Fernando
Torres will also return to the starting line up having been left on the
bench for Saturday's FA Cup win over Havant.
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Dennis Secures Hammers Move - redimps.premiumtv.co.uk
Posted on: Wed 30 Jan 2008
After 15 years with the Club, Operations & Safety Manager Nigel Dennis will
leave Sincil Bank this week to join West Ham United as their Facilities
Manager and Deputy Safety Officer. Nige, who joined the Imps in December
1992, initially as groundsman, leaves with the best wishes of all at Sincil
Bank and we wish him all the best for the challenges that lie ahead. "On
behalf of the Board I would like to thank Nigel for the excellent work he
has put into the Club over the last 15 years," said Chairman Steff Wright.
"Although his position as Stadium Manager covered many different aspects,
his role as Safety Officer has gained him an excellent profile within
football and other sports. That has resulted in him being head hunted by
West Ham and being offered a new challenge on a Premiership package."
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