Bobby Zamora and Craig Bellamy both scored in a behind closed doors contest
at the Boleyn Ground
04.02.2008
Bobby Zamora and Craig Bellamy were both on target for West Ham United on
Monday in a specially arranged practice match against Queen's Park Rangers.
Zamora, after a knee injury, was getting his first run-out since 28 August
and was a lively presence in the 2-1 victory alongside Bellamy, himself just
coming back from an abdominal problem. The duo played for 60 and 65 minutes
respectively. While Bellamy is nearer to full fitness having played a
reserve-team game and then come on as a substitute at Wigan Athletic, Zamora
has not figured since the League Cup game away to Bristol Rovers.
There were also starts for Julien Faubert and Nolberto Solano on the right
wing and in central midfield respectively. Faubert has not featured in the
last two first-team games because of a slight calf strain after making three
substitute appearances previously but played the full 90 minutes. Solano
also continued his comeback from a hamstring problem and, having got most of
the second half at Wigan on Saturday, played the first half before making
way.
QPR opened the scoring within a minute at an empty Boleyn Ground, with a
spectacular long-range effort from Antonio German leaving Richard Wright
with little chance to save. From that point on, West Ham United dominated
proceedings - understandably enough given the inexperience of the
opposition, who nevertheless were fully committed during an entertaining
contest.
Bellamy showed his electric pace on a number of occasions - notably in
combination with Faubert in the sixth minute, before the move ended with a
fine Zamora header that Reece Crowther in the visitors' goal did well to
save. Within two minutes, West Ham United had scored with Bellamy getting
free on the right before pulling the ball back for Zamora to guide a
side-footed volley neatly into the net from 12 yards.
Zamora then returned the favour on 12 minutes, nodding down well for Bellamy
to shoot, but the Wales captain could not keep his shot on target. At the
back, Jonathan Spector partnered Bondz N'Gala in central defence and the
American stepped out well in the 19th minute before feeding Zamora. He in
turn found Bellamy with a defence-splitting pass but the resulting shot was
dragged wide under pressure from Crowther.
Zamora and Bellamy then both went close again as West Ham United continued
to pressure, while Luis Boa Morte and Kyel Reid were also keeping the
opponents guessing by interchanging on the left-hand side. The first half
ended with Bellamy taking three players on before working a good opportunity
to fire on goal, with the resulting shot being claimed well by Crowther.
Faubert was the first to show after the interval, having a good shot saved
in the 47th minute after being picked out by Boa Morte. Faubert continued to
link up well with Bellamy and Faubert before some good skill in the box by
N'Gala teed up captain Tony Stokes for a close-range piledriver which was
blocked. Bellamy then got the goal his persistent play deserved, following
up his own shot after a good save by Crowther to tuck in from close range.
Bellamy was substituted immediately to be replaced by Zavon Hines before
Zamora made way for Jack Jeffery five minutes later. Spector lasted 73
minutes before also going off for a well-earned rest. Wright then did
brilliantly from close range to deny QPR with three quickfire stops from
close-range, the first being the pick of the bunch as he got down low to a
well-placed header.
Another long-range effort then had Wright on his toes but again he saved
well as both sides made a number of changes in the closing stages. Jeffery
had a chance to score from the spot three minutes from time after being
fouled, but missed with Boa Morte just unable to steer the rebound on target
having done well to be first to the ball.
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Collison aiming high with Wales - WHUFC
The 19-year-old Jack Collison will get another chance to shine on the
international stage this afternoon
05.02.2008
Jack Collison is back on international duty with Wales and is looking to
play a key role in a crucial European Under-21 Championship qualifier on
Tuesday afternoon.
The 19-year-old reserve-team captain is in Malta for the lunchtime fixture
which could see Wales take first place in qualifying group 10. After
collecting nine points from their first four fixtures, the principality are
two points behind Romania and France but have one and two games in hand on
the leaders respectively. For Collison, it is also a high-profile chance to
show off his talents.
"Obviously at international level you are playing against top-class players
and that can only help me raise my own game," the midfielder said. Collison
made a significant impact on his U21 debut last November, scoring a stunning
solo goal to round out a 4-0 home victory for Wales against
Bosnia-Herzegovina. He followed that up three days later with a fine display
against a strong visiting France team, as Wales won 4-2.
Collison added: "Last time I got called up, we got two positive results and,
if we win, we can go top of the group, which is a great position to be in
for the last couple of games." After the Malta fixture, Wales go to
Bosnia-Herzegovina on 26 March before home and away games against Romania on
20 August and 10 September. Overall, the ten group winners and four best
runners-up will advance to October's play-offs, with the seven sides coming
through that stage progressing to the final round in Sweden in June 2009.
"It would be great to qualify for the finals. Also, I'm not playing that
regularly at the moment, so these matches will come in handy for me. We
don't have many reserves games and, while I am in and around the squad, I
don't feature every week so the international break will be good for me to
get these games under my belt."
Collison, who made his senior debut for West Ham United as a substitute
against Arsenal on New Year's Day, was yet again with the first team for
Saturday's fixture at Wigan Athletic. "This season has been very good for me
so far. At the start, I got to travel away with the first team, then I made
my international debut and then my debut for West Ham against Arsenal.
"I just have to carry on working hard and keep pushing on, to cement a place
at West Ham and in the Welsh squad. Making it to the senior teams on both
accounts is the aim. With Wales, I scored last time around and it would be
nice to get on the score-sheet again and hopefully make another good
impression."
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Parker set for March return - KUMB
Filed: Tuesday, 5th February 2008
By: Matthew O'Greel
Alan Curbishley has revealed that midfielder Scott Parker will be out for at
least another month. Parker sustained yet another knee injury during the 2-1
win over Manchester United on December 29th, and initial fears were that he
may be out of action for the rest of the season. But Curbishley confirmed
that the former Charlton man would be back in action this term, although he
faces several more weeks on the treatment table. "Contrary to stories this
week, Scotty Parker is about a month or six weeks away," he told whufc.com.
This latest spell on the sidelines is Parker's third already this season. He
missed the start of the season through an injury sustained in pre-season
then damaged knee ligaments against Arsenal last September. In other injury
news, Matthew Etherington is set to return in time to face Birmingham this
weekend despite sustaining heavy bruising to his foot during the 1-0 defeat
at Wigan last weekend.
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Club offer Wigan refunds - KUMB
Filed: Tuesday, 5th February 2008
By: Matthew O'Greel
Supporters who attended Saturday's beamback from Wigan at the Boleyn Ground
at the weekend can apply for a £10 refund after the club agreed to reimburse
those in attendance. For £20 the club had promised to provide a live feed
from the JJB Stadium plus a match programme and pie and mash.
However supporters who attended the event were forced to wait for a delayed
feed whilst the club failed to provide programmes - that particular problem
being blamed on Wigan. Those who attended the beamback should contact West
Ham United via the ticket office to arrange a refund. The club had been
under fire prior to the event for charging more than Wigan were to actually
watch the game live; tickets for Saturday's match were priced at £15 - £5
cheaper than the cost of watching the beamback.
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Hammers grab narrow win - KUMB
Filed: Monday, 4th February 2008
By: Matthew O'Greel
Craig Bellamy and Bobby Zamora were both on target for a West Ham XI against
QPR at The Boleyn Ground this afternoon. The strike pairing both hit the
target in the behind-closed-doors friendly which was arranged last week to
give several members of the first team squad a run out. Also in the side
were Nobby Solano and Julien Faubert, both of whom are also recovering from
injury. Antonio German opened the scoring for the Championship side - who
featured just two first team regulars, Adam Bolder and Angelo Balanta - with
a first-minute long range effort. However their early lead was cancelled out
seven minutes later when Zamora converted a Bellamy cross from close range.
Bellamy grabbed the winning goal himself midway through the second half when
he showed good anticipation to follow up a loose ball that resulted from his
initial shot. West Ham could have made it 3-1 towards the end but Rangers
keeper Reece Crowther did well to save Jack Jeffrey's spot kick, after
Jeffrey had been hauled down in the area by Balanta. Zamora and Bellamy
played for just over an hour whilst Nobby Solano played the first half only.
The latter pair, plus Julien Faubert are likely to be in contention for the
weekend's visit of Birmingham, although Zamora is likely to require further
match practise before being considered. Jon Spector and Luis Boa Morte, who
missed the trip to Wigan on Saturday also played.
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Di Canio seeks Hammers return - KUMB
Filed: Monday, 4th February 2008
By: Matthew O'Greel
Paolo Di Canio has revealed that he'd like to manage West Ham United one
day. The temperamental Italian, who spent four years with the Hammers
between 1999 and 2003 is set to hang up his boots at the end of this season,
but intends to go straight into management - with the Hammers very much in
his sights. "I'm a little too old to carry on playing so I will take up
managing next year. I hope to have the same success as a coach that I did as
a player," he told the Daily Mail. "My dream would be to manage West Ham -
that would be perfect. I spent four seasons there and I would love to go
back and win something with them. The fans are fantastic and the atmosphere
at Upton Park was always so special. "Every weekend I watch all the English
games on TV but I always look out for the West Ham score. I have a special
place for them in my heart."
Di Canio, who currently plays for Cisco Roma was a huge favourite at the
Boleyn Ground. However he left the club on a sour note after falling out
with then-manager Glenn Roeder and was cited by many supporters as having
played a major role in the problems that led to the club's relegation in the
2002-03 season.
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Three Hammers for England - KUMB
Filed: Monday, 4th February 2008
By: Matthew O'Greel
Freddie Sears and Junior Stanislas have been drafted into Brian Eastick's
England under 19s squad to face Croatia tomorrow night. The young Hammers
duo have been called up as late replacements for the game which takes place
at Swindon's County Ground (kick off 7pm). Sears and Stanislas join James
Tomkins, who was named as part of the initial squad on January 17th to
complete a Hammers triumvirate. 18-year-old striker Sears scored again for
West Ham United's under 18s on Saturday in the 2-0 win over Arsenal at
London Colney, and receives his first call-up since making his debut for the
under 19s in the 4-0 win against Belarus last September. Wide man Stanislas
- also 18 - is looking for his first start having been an unused substitute
for England's 1-0 defeat against Germany in Elversberg last November, a game
in which James Tomkins played the full 90 minutes. Jordan Spence - who last
appeared for the under 19s in the 3-1 win over Belgium last October - has
not been named in the squad. Tomorrow's game is a warm up for the
forthcoming Euro Championship Elite Round qualifiers against Poland, Serbia
and Belarus. The game marks the first ever meeting between England and
Croatia at under 19 level.
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Curbs eyes end of injury woes - SSN
Faubert and Zamora set for West Ham return
By Peter Fraser Last updated: 4th February 2008
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley is hopeful he will soon be handed a
solution to his injury crisis with the return to fitness of Julien Faubert
and Bobby Zamora. The Hammers have been badly hit by injuries this season,
but Curbishley is optimistic that the list of players out of action will
soon shorten. Faubert (calf) and Zamora (knee) are both due to be involved
in a specially-arranged friendly against Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday. And
with Craig Bellamy also regaining fitness following a substitute appearance
at Wigan on Saturday, Curbishley will soon have a much larger squad to
select from.
"We are hopeful we will get that (the QPR match) out of the way and that we
are much further forward," Curbishley told West Ham's official website.
"I just want Bellamy and Faubert to get through this week and if Zamora can
also do that, then he'll be that little bit nearer too." Bellamy returned
from a three-month absence at the JJB Stadium, while Faubert and Zamora have
both missed the majority of the season. And Curbishley is hopeful that the
trio will boost the Hammers as they bid to secure a place in Europe this
season. "I am hoping some fresh legs, some fresh minds will come back into
the squad for the long run-in," Curbishley added. "Some of the players have
been playing week in, week out without a break."
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West Ham's Zamora scores on comeback
tribalfootball.com - February 04, 2008
Fit-again Bobby Zamora struck for West Ham in yesterday's closed-doors
friendly against QPR. Zamora, after a knee injury, was getting his first
run-out since 28 August and was a lively presence in the 2-1 victory, which
also saw Craig Bellamy score for the Hammers. Julien Faubert played a full
90 minutes, while Nobby Solano was give the first-half.
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Collison delighted with West Ham progress
tribalfootball.com - February 04, 2008
New Wales squad member Jack Collison is delighted with his progress this
season at West Ham. The young midfielder told whufc.com: "This season has
been very good for me so far. At the start, I got to travel away with the
first team, then I made my international debut and then my debut for West
Ham against Arsenal. "I just have to carry on working hard and keep pushing
on, to cement a place at West Ham and in the Welsh squad. Making it to the
senior teams on both accounts is the aim. With Wales, I scored last time
around and it would be nice to get on the score-sheet again and hopefully
make another good impression."
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Curbishley blasts Wigan pitch as West Ham lose out
By Guardian-series
ALAN Curbishley slammed the dreadful Wigan pitch after West Ham slumped to a
first-ever defeat at the JJB Stadium. The West Ham boss branded the
cabbage-patch surface "embarrassing" as Kevin Kilbane's goal was enough for
the Latics to claim three points to haul themselves out of the Premier
League's bottom three. Curbishley said: "I don't know whose fault it is but
the Premier League is not used to it. "I'm not saying we were the only
footballing side out there because Wigan found it just as difficult as us.
"Eventually, you end up knocking it long and hoping for a scrap or set play
- and that's what Wigan got in the end. "Anybody coming here has got to get
used to it because it's a big factor if you're trying to play football."
Keeper Robert Green endorsed his manager's comments regarding the pitch, but
insisted that Wigan were more equipped to adapt to the conditions than the
Hammers. He said: "It's difficult when you've got footballers in your team
who are not adept at playing in those sorts of conditions. "It was difficult
circumstances for everybody but they've got big players in their team and it
suited their set pieces well. "It was going to be a grind - we knew that -
but it was not a good performance from us "We gave away too many free-kicks
and it cost us eventually."
Curbishley meanwhile, will be equally annoyed that his team could not follow
up on the 1-0 win over Liverpool on Wednesday and continue the push for a
top-six spot. The Hammers struggled to find any rhythm and created only one
notable goal scoring chance the whole match. And, inevitably, they lost out
to a simple set piece in the third minute of first half stoppage time. Ryan
Taylor sent in the deep free kick and Kilbane made a decent run behind
Freddie Ljungberg before sending a looping header over Green. "I thought we
coped quite well until the last minute of the first half when we got
undone," Curbishley said. "It's so frustrating because one of our smallest
players (Ljungberg) was on one of their biggest players (Kilbane), and one
of our biggest players was not marking anyone at all. "It was always going
to be a scrappy, hard-fought contest and I'd have taken a point while the
game was going on.
"We're massively disppointed after our great result in midweek."
4:22pm Monday 4th February 2008
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My dream is to be manager at West Ham, says Di Canio - Daily Mail
Last updated at 13:15pm on 4th February 2008
Fiery former Premier League star Paolo Di Canio has revealed that his dream
job is to be manager at his old club West Ham one day. The news will delight
Hammers fans where Di Canio played for four years and where he became an
idol for fans with his spectacular goals. He said: "I am going to retire at
the end of the season, I'm a little too old to carry on playing so I will
take up managing next year. I hope to have the same success as a coach that
I did as a player. "My dream would be to manage in the Premier League
because English football is the best in the world and my dream in particular
would be to manage at West Ham - that would be perfect. "I spent four
seasons there and I would love to go back and win something with them. The
fans are fantastic there and the atmosphere at Upton Park was always so
special. "Every weekend I watch all the English games on TV but I always
look out for the West Ham score, I have a special place for them in my
heart. "When I watch the Premier League I am always proud to see players
that were young boys when I was at West Ham - I'm talking about Joe Cole,
Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand and Trevor Sinclair. "When I was there they
were really young so I saw them grow up into men and players and I am proud
to watch them playing at the top level in the Champions League. "The
standard in the Premier League was always good but these players and Jermain
Defoe also stand out for me as the best English players."
Di Canio had a remarkable eight years in Britain first with Celtic in 1996
moving to Sheffield Wednesday the following year before joining West Ham in
1999 and staying until 2003. He left the club after a row with then manager
Glenn Roeder and spent a year at Charlton before returning to his boyhood
team Lazio where he had also played. In 2001, Di Canio won the FIFA Fair
Play Award after shunning a goalscoring opportunity the previous December
when Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard was lying injured on the ground. FIFA
described the act as "a special act of good sportsmanship."
But the Italian was also remembered for his fiery temper and the infamous
incident where he pushed referee Paul Alcock to the ground after he was sent
off during a Sheffield Wednesday match against Arsenal. He said: "I'm a bit
different now, I try to keep control of my temper but I sometimes still get
a rush of blood." (Di Canio was given a four-match ban last week after
insulting a referee last Sunday at his current club Cisco Roma.) The
Italian, who will be 40 later this year, also praised FA chiefs for picking
Fabio Capello as the national team squad - despite their previous stormy
past. While on a far East tour in 1996 with AC Milan Di Canio and Capello
had a blazing stand up row peppered with f-words in the changing room after
the bespectacled coach substituted him at half time. Di Canio said: "We have
had our problems in the past. Capello has a strong character and he is very
determined. Things like that happen between players and managers all the
time. "I met him after that and we shook hands and it was all put behind us.
These things can happen in football. "But the FA have made a good choice
with Capello. He won in Italy and Spain, everywhere he has been he has won
something. "I think he will do a great job. He is an intelligent man and
when he wants something he will work 24 hours a day to get it."
Di Canio starts his year-long manager's course at Coverciano - the Italian
equivalent of Bisham Abbey in the summer.
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