Alan Curbishley is confident his team will feel the benefit of a few days
rest and then 'get going again'
10.02.2008
Alan Curbishley is confident West Ham United can still mount a strong
challenge on the leading contenders in the Premier League with 13 games left
to play this season.
The club sit just seven points behind seventh spot with a game in hand and
have the chance to recharge before the trip to Fulham on 23 February.
Despite last week's 1-0 defeat at Wigan Athletic and Saturday's 1-1 draw at
home to Birmingham City, there is every chance of moving up the league next
time out and staying within striking distance of the leading pack.
"We all think it is in our grasp," the manager said. "The players are really
disappointed. We have got to pick ourselves up when we go to Fulham which
will be a really tough game again. Last week, the results went for us and
perhaps this week they didn't. We have got to start winning our games.
"We have got a little bit of a break now and it will do a few of them some
good - especially [England's Matthew] Upson. I am hoping that after a couple
of days rest, they can come back recharged and get going again. The players
that have been playing have done fantastically well. I know everyone is
disappointed but we have got 37 points. What they have achieved so far with
the problems we have had shouldn't go unnoticed and perhaps it has a little
bit."
Curbishley was also clear that Dean Ashton's efforts to get back to his best
should also not go unnoticed - having missed the whole of last season with
an ankle injury and then returned to fitness after a brief setback with his
knee this campaign . "He has done well to get where he is," he said. "It was
a big injury, he has worked ever so hard at it. Sometimes players can be
affected by team selection, can be affected by the way the team's playing,
results, scoring goals.
"This year, he came in roughly after the first couple of games, played three
or four. Then he hurt his knee up at Aston Villa and missed five or six
weeks. I don't think I have done such a bad job in terms of bringing him
back and easing him in. We have all got to get on with it. I have one or two
players there who are not quite happy with what they have produced and we
just have to roll our sleeves up for the next game."
Curbishley added that both Ashton and Carlton Cole have "played a lot of
football" in recent weeks, and hoped to have extra forward firepower in
future. Julien Faubert came on as a substitute on Saturday, having got
through a practice game last Monday. He also reiterated that Scott Parker
"has been running fully this week contrary to stories last week", before
adding that Craig Bellamy's fitness is to be assessed further with the
striker "still feeling this abdominal strain" after he and Bobby Zamora,
returning himself from a knee injury, scored in Monday's friendly.
"We will see where we will go. We have just played Wigan and Birmingham,
expectation levels were that we would pick the points up and push ourselves
right in there but it isn't like that - it is very tough the Premier League.
The last two games we haven't done enough." Recognising that the club's
solid position in the table has meant "the expectation level has changed a
little bit" for fans and players alike, Curbishley pledged that "we are all
working hard at it".
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Sears proves the hat-trick hero - WHUFC
Freddie Sears continued his astonishing scoring streak for Tony Carr's
in-form Under-18s at the weekend
10.02.2008
West Ham United Under-18s 4-1 Norwich City Under-18s
Freddie Sears hit a hat-trick and made the other goal as West Ham United
continued their fine form at Under-18 level at home against Norwich City.
The 18-year-old striker is in prolific form for Tony Carr's Academy side and
his treble strike, and assist for Anthony Edgar, capped a tremendous week.
On Tuesday he returned to the England Under-19 fold and cemented his place
in the squad ahead of some vital European U19 Championship qualifiers in May
with a superb substitute display in a 2-0 friendly win against Croatia.
At Little Heath on Saturday, Sears finally broke the deadlock after a fairly
even first 30 minutes of football. It came from the spot and unsurprisingly
it was Sears himself who won the spot-kick, as he was brought down by the
visiting goalkeeper Declan Rudd. Sears brushed himself down and stepped up
to score the opening goal.
Edgar made it two soon afterwards, pouncing to score with a low drive from a
central position after good work by Sears on the right. Norwich refused to
give in though and were able to pull one back three minutes before the
interval when Tom Miller pounced to score from a corner. Although the
Canaries were back in the contest, Sears restored the two-goal lead seven
minutes after the interval.
The striker displayed his usual predatory instincts when Junior Stanislas's
curling free-kick from distance was spilled by Rudd. Before anyone else
could react, Sears had taken advantage and the ball was in the back of the
net. It was all West Ham United from that point and Jordan Spence and Ben
Hunt both had good chances to get on the scoresheet while Sears also missed
a great opportunity.
It did not matter as his hat-trick finally came in the closing stages. Tony
Brookes burst out of defence and played a neat pass through the middle that
set Sears away. He outpaced the defence, rounded Rudd and finished with
aplomb despite the tight angle to cap a superb display. Sears has now scored
eight goals in five matches since the turn of the year.
Return to whufc.com on Monday for more details and full reaction from the
youth-team success along with highlights to come on WHUTV of Sears' latest
hat-trick.
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Noble injury concern - KUMB
Filed: Sunday, 10th February 2008
By: Matthew O'Greel
Alan Curbishley has revealed why Mark Noble was omitted from yesterday's
squad at the last minute. Noble was listed on the pre-match team sheets as a
substitute for the match against Birmingham but was replaced at the last
minute by rookie Jack Collison. "Mark came back [from England duty] ever so
tired and didn't train until yesterday," said Curbishley, speaking after the
game. "He went out in the warm up and felt his hamstring a bit, so we didn't
want to take a risk with him."
Prior to yesterday's match Noble had played three times in the previous nine
days - the 1-0 win over Liverpool, the 1-0 defeat at Wigan last weekend and
the 3-0 England under-21s win over the Republic of Ireland last Tuesday.
Curbishley will be hoping that the injury scare proves to be no more than
that as Noble's replacement, Lee Bowyer is currently suspended having been
given his marching orders in the 88th minute of yesterday's 1-1 draw. But
Curbishley revealed that he had asked match official Mark Clattenburg to
review his original decision, which most observers felt appeared extremely
harsh.
"We've asked Mark [Clattenburg] to look at it and I think he will,"
confirmed Curbishley. "We'll have to wait and see what he says. "Hopefully
he'll overturn it because I didn't think it was that serious."
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Faubert clears the air - KUMB
Filed: Sunday, 10th February 2008
By: Matthew O'Greel
Alan Curbishley has revealed that Julien Faubert asked him to issue a
statement clarifying comments he made during a recent interview. The French
winger, now back in action after several months on the treatment table was
alleged to have criticised Curbishley's training methods in a recent
interview with French station RMC. Several media sources - SkySports and
several tabloids included - lifted extracts from the interview including
comments Faubert made regarding the game in England and how it was weighted
more towards the physical - as opposed to tactical - side whilst intimating
that these were critical of Curbishley (which they clearly weren't). Talking
after yesterday's draw with Birmingham, Curbishley revealed that Faubert
came to see him in midweek immediately after the articles were published.
"The thing about Julien is that he speaks very good English," said
Curbishley. "As soon as he saw the situation he came and saw me and wanted
to issue a statement. "He's only been with us for five-and-a-half months and
has ony been with the first team for the last two weeks! But never mind."
Faubert came on as a second half substitute in yesterday draw, playing the
last half-hour.
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George's 'huge weapon' - KUMB
Filed: Sunday, 10th February 2008
By: Matthew O'Greel
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has hailed George McCartney's long throw as a
'huge weapon' in West Ham United's armoury. McCartney's hurl into the box
set up United's goal in yesterday's 1-1 draw - although the Birmingham boss
was disappointed with the defending which allowed Freddie Ljungberg to
finish off the move at the far post. It's a huge weapon that West Ham
have," he told the BBC's Match of the Day. "Cole's such a big presence in
the box but he wins it far too easily and Ljungberg's on the end of it but
he runs off somebody. Players are looking around for somebody to do it for
them but they've got to take responsibility in there."
Unlike his counterpart Alan Curbishley, McLeish - unsurprisingly perhaps -
felt that the penalty decision which cost West Ham United all three points
was a correct one. "McFadden dummied the full back, got in behind and looks
as if he's going to pull the trigger and his jersey's been pulled," he said.
"So it's a clear penalty, no doubt about it - especially with the new rules
on jersey pulling."
Birmingham have now come away from The Boleyn Ground, White Hart Lane and
The Emirates undefeated this season - yet McLeish, who saw his team climb
out of the bottom three as a result of the draw still felt that his team
could have snatched a win. "Alan's amassed a great squad here," he added.
West Ham have invested heavily in a few quality players and that's why they
are where they are at the moment. They're trying to push for a European
place which is a measure of the investment that they've made. "I'm pleased
to get the point - but on another day we could have got more with a bit of
luck."
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Failing to meet expectations - KUMB
Filed: Sunday, 10th February 2008
By: Matthew O'Greel
Alan Curbishley has criticised referee Mark Clattenburg for two crucial
decisions that changed the game. Hammers boss Curbishley, talking to the
BBC's Match of the Day* claimed that Clattenburg got both the penalty
decision and the sending off of Lee Bowyer wrong. "I didn't see it as a
penalty," he said. "I didn't see it at the time and I've had a look at it
[again] and I don't think Lucas Neill has got an arm round McFadden,
touching him at all. I'm really disappointed with that. "I don't think Lee
Bowyer's was a sending off. We've asked Mark [Clattenburg] to have a look at
it; hopefully he will because we can do without a suspension at the moment
with the injuries we've got."
Despite the game's major decisions going against the Hammers, Curbishley
admitted that his team should still have performed better on the day. "The
expectation was on us today, as it was at Wigan last week after beating
Liverpool here," he said. "You're playing teams in the bottom three and most
people would think you are going to get the points - but it's not like that.
"The expectation was that we'd turn up today and take the three points - and
the way we started, I thought we were going to do that. But as the second
half drifted on it looked as if no one was going to score and everyone was
getting frustrated with it - the fans and ourselves as well."
Next up for the Hammers is a third-successive fixture against a
relegation-threatened team, with Fulham awaiting in a fortnight's time.
* Unfortunately KUMB.com still cannot bring you our regular full post-match
press conference transcription as we remain banned from attending by West
Ham United FC. For more on that, see here.
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Sears on target again - KUMB
Filed: Saturday, 9th February 2008
By: Matthew O'Greel
Hot shot Fred Sears was on target yet again as the Hammers under 18s
thrashed Norwich at Little Heath this morning. The 18-year-old striker hit a
hat-trick against the Canaries to continue his rich goalscoring vein, with
the Hammers running out 4-1 winners. Sears started the rout on the half hour
mark from the penalty spot, before Anthony Edgar made it 2-0 to the Hammers
five minutes later. Norwich - featuring first team striker Chris Martin -
reduced the deficit to one shortly before the half-time break, but West Ham
United's two goal lead was restored by Sears just six minutes into the
second period.
The final goal of the game came in stoppage time as Sears rounded Norwich
keeper Rudd to complete his hat-trick.
* West Ham United's under 16s drew 2-2 with Norwich's under 16s on Saturday;
Norwich keeper Jed Steer saved a penalty to earn a draw for the Canaries.
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West Ham Utd 1 Birmingham City 1 - KUMB
Filed: Sunday, 10th February 2008
By: Matthew O'Greel
Last week defeat for the Hammers at Wigan helped the Latics climb out of the
bottom three; this time it was the turn of Alex McLeish's Birmingham City to
be given brief respite from the stigma of ending the weekend in the
relegation zone.
Having beaten Liverpool 10 days ago it was 'so very West Ham' to take just
one point from the following two matches against teams in the bottom three.
However unlike last weekend - when Alan Curbishley's side were distinctly
second best at the JJB Stadium - United can count themselves unfortunate not
to have taken all three points today.
But without a creative force in midfield capable of unlocking mean defences
- and with strikers Dean Ashton and Carlton Cole rarely looking like
breaching the last line of Birmingham's defence - the Irons were left
frustrated in a game which they had looked like coasting early on.
Freddie Ljungberg's first ever goal for the Irons gave the home side an
early advantage, and some excellent football in the opening
quarter-of-an-hour offered the distinct possibility that a trouncing a la
Derby away may indeed may be on the cards.
However new Blues signing James McFadden spoiled the plot by notching an
equaliser from the penalty spot right in the middle of West Ham's purple
patch after the slightest of infringements by Lucas Neill.
The Hammers went into the game without Mark Noble and Craig Bellamy (as
predicted here on KUMB.com earlier in the week) whilst Dean Ashton returned
to partner Carlton Cole in attack. From the start, the home side looked the
more positive and it took just seven minutes for Curbishley's side to break
the deadlock.
A cross from the left flank was helped on by Ashton and Ljungberg - perhaps
United's best player on the day - stole in at the far post to fire the ball
past City's Maik Taylor into the roof of the net for his first goal in
claret and blue.
The Hammers pressed on for a second - which seemed inevitable given the
free-flowing football they were playing - but it was Birmingham who scored
the next (and ultimately final goal of the game) when Lucas Neill was
adjudged to have tugged the shirt of City's new signing James McFadden after
being spun by the £5.75m signing.
Although there appeared be contact it certainly wasn't enough to haul down a
fully grown man - however football being what it is these days, the Scot had
no hesitation in falling to the floor and earning a spot kick from which he
fired home the equaliser - despite the best efforts of Rob Green, who was
beaten from the spot for the first time this season.
Thereafter Matthew Etherington had the best chances to restore United's lead
but twice he opted to pass when a shot would surely have been the better
option, and when the reverse was true he fired wildly over with Freddie
Ljungberg in the clear.
For Birmingham, former Chelsea striker Forssell went closest to winning the
game with a shot that narrowly went wide of Rob Green's far post late on.
Despite West Ham's lack of penetration in the second half a defeat would
have been most undeserved, although once again the home crowd were left
frustrated by United's failure to break down a stubborn visiting defence.
The game ended with fussy referee Mark Clattenburg deeming an apparently
innocuous Lee Bowyer challenge deserving of a straight red card, although by
that time the game had long petered out and cartainly had little effect on
the five minutes or so that followed thereafter.
New England boss Fabio Capello was a surprise guest at The Boleyn Ground,
presumably to keep an eye on the likes of Messrs Green, Upson, Ferdinand,
and Ashton. Whilst the first three did their chances of a call-up for next
month's friendly against France no harm at all it was another disappointing
afternoon for Ashton who is still struggling to regain form.
Match Facts
West Ham United: Green, Neill, Ferdinand, Upson, McCartney, Bowyer, Mullins,
Ljungberg, Etherington (Camara 83), Ashton (Spector 90), Cole (Faubert 62).
Subs not used: Wright, Collison.
Sent off: Bowyer (88).
Goals: Ljungberg 7.
Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Kelly, Martin Taylor, Ridgewell, Murphy, Larsson,
Muamba, Johnson, McSheffrey (Parnaby 87), Forssell (Jerome 76), McFadden.
Subs Not Used: Doyle, Nafti, Zarate.
Booked: Johnson (33), McSheffrey (58), Muamba (72), Jerome (90), M.Taylor
(90+2).
Goals: McFadden (pen 16).
Attendance: 34,884.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg.
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Ashton told to be patient - SSN
Boss says he needs to produce for Hammers
Last updated: 10th February 2008
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley says Dean Ashton needs to be patient before he
forces his way back into England reckoning. Ashton failed to find the target
in West Ham's 1-1 draw with Birmingham, as Three Lions chief Fabio Capello
watched on from the stands at Upton Park. The 24-year-old was left out of
Capello's first squad as he continues to battle back to full fitness after
his broken ankle last season. But Curbishley says his striker needs to show
patience. "Deano just has to keep going. We have been easing him in, and it
is difficult getting fit in the first team, but there has been no other
way," said Curbishley. "He had the injury and it took a year to recover from
it. He had another set-back once he got himself going and I think you can
see that he has a bit to do."
Curbishley is confident that Ashton will be back in England reckoning if he
produces for The Hammers, in the same way as Matthew Upson was rewarded with
his call-up. "The games are watched every week and Matthew Upson got himself
in there, so it is performances I think, nothing else," he said. "First
things first, Deano has got to get himself absolutely right and he will know
when he is absolutely right. "Deano has done well to get where he is after a
big injury. He's worked ever so hard at it. "Sometimes players can be
affected by team selection, the way the team is playing, results, scoring
goals. We've all got to get on with it. "I have got one or two players who
are not quite happy with what they produced and we just have to roll up our
sleeves and get on with it."
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Green Denies Capello Glove Jibe - goal.com
Robert Green says the stitching on his gloves, reading 'England's No 6', was
just a joke and not aimed at Three Lions boss Fabio Capello. Many fans of
the Premier League are wondering what more exactly West Ham United
goalkeeper Robert Green needs to do to get his chance in the England squad.
And it appears that the player's glove manufacturers think the same way
after ironically having 'England's No 6' stitched into his latest pair, worn
in the 1-1 draw with Birmingham on Saturday. Green was repeatedly
overlooked for the national squad by ex-boss Steve McClaren, but contrary to
expectations the trend continued under new boss Fabio Capello. "My glove
manufacturer was having a laugh on my behalf," said Green of the
personalised addition to the garment, before stressing that it wasn't a
personal dig at Capello. "(The glovemaker's) been to games, heard the
banter with the crowd and thought it would be funny to have 'England's No 6'
on my gloves. I wasn't having a go at anyone. If it is anyone, it is
against myself." Nevertheless, the former Norwich City keeper hasn't ruled
out gaining an international call-up in the future: "All I can do is play
well and hope," he said.
Goal.com UK
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Dean Ashton fluffs his England audition - Telegraph
By Tom Cary
Last Updated: 2:28am GMT 11/02/2008
West Ham (1) 1 Birmingham (1) 1
Fabio Capello must have wondered what all the fuss was about. After weeks of
speculation that Dean Ashton was fed up with his manager, Alan Curbishley,
for his tendency to drop him in the big games - thereby denying him the
chance to impress the new England manager - the Italian finally pitched up
at Upton Park on Saturday only to see the West Ham striker fluff his lines
badly.
Far from presenting Capello with a viable alternative for Peter Crouch in
the target man role, Ashton looked overweight, short of confidence and ended
a miserable afternoon being booed by his own supporters.
Curbishley defended his player, stressing that he is still short of match
fitness following his on-off return from a year out injured.
"It's difficult getting fit in the first team but there has been no other
way," said Curbishley. "I don't think I've done such a bad job in terms of
easing him back in. If you look at it he's played a lot of football, as has
Carlton Cole. The only time I have changed it is when we've played one of
the big four clubs and I've gone another route because I wanted to beef up
the midfield."
The 4-4-2 formation didn't do West Ham much good here. Although they started
brightly, taking the lead after just seven minutes when the effervescent
Freddie Ljungberg swept home Cole's flick-on from George McCartney's long
throw-in, they soon ran out of ideas.
James McFaddden's first goal for Birmingham since his £5 million move from
Everton - a 16th-minute penalty which he won himself - completely took the
wind out of West Ham's sails. The second half was turgid stuff and even Lee
Bowyer's late dismissal for a dangerous tackle failed to enliven
proceedings.
With Craig Bellamy and Bobby Zamora still out injured, Curbishley must
persevere with Cole and Ashton as a strike partnership for the time being.
It is hardly ideal.
"They're very similar," Curbishley conceded. "We need some of our fresher
players back. We played a reserve game on Monday and both Bellamy and Zamora
played in it. Bellamy is still feeling his abdominal strain. We will have to
assess it and see if we carry on hoping he'll recover or do something about
it."
Rather worryingly for West Ham fans, Cole admitted that his partnership with
Ashton is rather lacking in direction. "We will start on the relationship on
Monday - we've not actually looked at it before," he said. "We will look at
the ProZone stats and the videos to see how we can work better together."
For Birmingham, who moved out of the relegation zone thanks to this point,
this was an encouragingly solid display from a fledgling side. "It's a very
young squad that we have," said manager Alex McLeish. "Muamba is 19,
Ridgewell is 23, McFadden is only 24, Larsson 22 - and four or five others
are not over the 25 mark.
"I've tried to relax the players. Rather than saying, 'we must win, we must
win', I've asked them simply to give me everything. McFadden was still
chasing lost causes at the end and that is brilliant commitment - the fans
love that and team-mates will be inspired by that as well."
Man of the match
Matthew Upson (West Ham United) 8
Made 23 clearances
Completed 88 per cent of his passes
One shot on target
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West Ham United 1 Birmingham City 1: Hammers make easy viewing for McLeish -
The Independent
Hyder Jawad
Monday, 11 February 2008
So much that was unexpected came to Upton Park on Saturday: springtime,
Fabio Capello, Alex McLeish's smile ... it was that kind of afternoon. And
yet, towards the end, with aimless long balls becoming the tactic of choice
for both teams, it was something foreseeable that disfigured this match: the
Lee Bowyer sending off.
Bowyer, who has been known to ruffle the odd feather, was adjudged to have
made a two-footed tackle on Damien Johnson, the Birmingham City captain, in
the 88th minute. The red card seemed harsh, for Johnson was barely
inconvenienced, but these are the pitfalls of being Bowyer.
The pitfalls of being Capello have different consequences. As the England
manager, he watches more football than might be deemed healthy. He said
nothing but he could not have enjoyed himself or benefited professionally
from the experience.
McLeish, the Birmingham manager, did enjoy himself and did benefit. The 1-1
draw ensured that Birmingham climbed out of the bottom three of the Premier
League table and enabled him to reveal how he coped with the frustrations of
the previous week. "I went to the cinema," McLeish said. "I saw No Country
For Old Men. There were a few red cards in it."
He could afford to joke but his demeanour was different earlier on when West
Ham assumed early control. They scored in the seventh minute when George
McCartney's throw-in was flicked on by Carlton Cole for Freddie Ljungberg to
prod home at the far post.
But West Ham were lax, allowing Birmingham to win a penalty in the 16th
minute when James McFadden fell under the challenge of Lucas Neill. McFadden
took the kick and registered his first goal for Birmingham.
Dean Ashton looked on enviously. The West Ham striker endured a wretched
time, on one occasion standing on the ball when clear through on goal. There
are mitigating circumstances – the ankle injury that caused him to miss last
season – but now, 23 matches since his return, he cuts an isolated figure.
"I don't think I have done a bad job with bringing Dean back," Alan
Curbishley, the West Ham manager, said. "He's done well to get where he is
because it was a big injury."
It was left to Ljungberg to provide West Ham's creativity and for Anton
Ferdinand to dictate the pace of play from the back, but late on they
resorted to the long-ball tactic. Capello, brought up on the cultured
cynicism of catenaccio, would not have appreciated the aimlessness of it
all.
Goals: Ljungberg (7) 1-0; McFadden pen (16) 1-1.
West Ham United (4-4-2): Green; Neill, Ferdinand, Upson, McCartney;
Ljungberg, Bowyer, Mullins, Etherington (Camara, 83); Ashton (Spector, 89),
Cole (Faubert, 62). Substitutes not used: Wright (gk), Collison.
Birmingham City (4-4-1-1): Maik Taylor; Kelly, Martin Taylor, Ridgewell,
Murphy; Larsson, Muamba, Johnson, McSheffrey (Parnaby, 87); McFadden;
Forssell (Jerome, 76). Substitutes not used: Doyle (gk), Nafti, Zarate.
Referee: M Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).
Booked: Birmingham Johnson, McSheffrey, Muamba, Maik Taylor, Jerome.
Sent off: West Ham Bowyer (88).
Man of the match: Ferdinand.
Attendance: 34,884.
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Red-hot Sears caps memorable week with hat trick for West Ham youngsters
By Guardian-series
West Ham U18s 4
Norwich U18s 1
(FA Premier Academy League - Group A)
FREDDIE Sears capped a memorable week with a hat trick for West Ham Academy
in an impressive win over Norwich. The striker - who has now fired eight
goals in five games since the turn of the year - returned to the England U19
fray as a substitute in the 2-0 win over Croatia on Tuesday. And the
18-year-old followed it up with another classy performance, a treble and an
assist for Hammers U18s at Little Heath on Saturday. He opened the scoring
on the half hour, blasting home from the penalty spot after being hauled
down by Canaries keeper Declan Rudd. Anthony Edgar doubled the advantage
soon after with a low drive after good work by Sears. Norwich pulled one
back shortly before half time when Tom Miller scored from a corner. But
Sears (pictured) restored the two-goal lead soon after the break with a
typical strike - the lively youngster capitalising on Rudd's fumble to fire
home. He completed his hat trick with moments to go, racing clear of the
Canaries defence before rounding Rudd and firing home from a tight angle.
The result took the Academy's unbeaten run to four games.
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West Ham's Faubert unhappy with radio comments
tribalfooball.com - February 10, 2008
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley has revealed that Julien Faubert asked him to
issue a statement clarifying comments he made during a recent interview.
The French winger, now back in action after several months on the treatment
table was alleged to have criticised Curbishley's training methods in a
recent interview with French station RMC. Several media sources - SkySports
and several tabloids included lifted extracts from the interview including
comments Faubert made regarding the game in England and how it was weighted
more towards the physical side. Talking after Saturday's home draw with
Birmingham, Curbishley revealed that Faubert came to see him in midweek
immediately after the articles were published. "The thing about Julien is
that he speaks very good English," said Curbishley. "As soon as he saw the
situation he came and saw me and wanted to issue a statement. "He's only
been with us for five-and-a-half months and has only been with the first
team for the last two weeks! But never mind."
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