Alan Curbishley is expecting Newcastle United to be flying with their recent
form but is ready for the test
26.04.2008
Alan Curbishley is expecting Newcastle United to feel the benefits of a
settled side when they arrive at the Boleyn Ground looking for a third
straight win in east London.
Kevin Keegan's men have enjoyed a resurgence of late but a home win on
Saturday would ensure that United definitely finish above their north-east
rivals this campaign as they would be eight points ahead with only two games
to play. Having won 2-0 and 4-2 in the last two visits, it will not be easy.
"It took Kevin and the players a little bit of time before it settled down
up there," said the manager. "You can see what confidence can do. They have
gone on a bit of a run.
"They have kept the same side for the last five or six weeks. They have been
very settled and the place has started to buzz again a little bit. He will
be looking forward to a decent run-in and looking forward to the summer. He
has kept three forwards in there and Michael Owen has been playing in this
deeper role. And it seems to be suiting everybody. In recent weeks they have
been scoring some goals and perhaps the luck has turned around a bit for
them."
Curbishley is looking to his team to put on a performance that builds on the
2-1 success against Derby County last Saturday, when some fans aired their
frustration at the manner of the victory. He said: "We are second to none
when we get going so we are going to turn it round and perform so that comes
back to us. It is where we are at at the moment. Next season is next season
and if we start well and get the players back ... then it could be a lot
different."
The manager was well aware that Newcastle have similar strong backing from
their supporters when things are going well. "We all know about Newcastle.
If they start rolling on it becomes a bit of a juggernaut and everybody gets
on board. I think in that respect, we are a little bit similar," he said,
adding that the supporters were key to future success.
"We are all in this together. The West Ham fans carried us through last
year. Once we started picking up some points - they carried on the momentum.
We know that is there for us if we can produce that. Coming to Upton Park is
always difficult for the away team, we have got to keep it like that. It was
disappointing last Saturday but it is up to us to turn it around."
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Ashton adds to striking options - WHUFC
Alan Curbishley has four strikers to choose from for this Saturday's visit
of a defensively strong Newcastle United
26.04.2008
Dean Ashton is set to boost Alan Curbishley's attacking options as West Ham
United welcome Newcastle United looking to break the visitors' run of three
clean sheets.
The club's leading scorer Ashton has been back in training following a bout
of tonsillitis but will have competition for places as Bobby Zamora and
Carlton Cole both scored in last week's 2-1 win against Derby County, while
Freddie Sears is also in the mix. The striker's return is possibly the only
addition to the manager's options for the weekend as Matthew Upson, Anton
Ferdinand and Jonathan Spector are all struggling.
"It is very similar to last week," Curbishley said. "Dean Ashton has trained
all week after being ill ... Matty Etherington has just started training
this week. We are hoping Lee Bowyer joins in very soon. Perhaps in some
respects we need the season to go on a little bit longer because one or two
of them will be nearing fitness when we break up."
While the manager has five or six players on the long-term list, he has been
boosted of late by the impressive introduction of young talent like James
Tomkins and Freddie Sears. "[Both] started last week and the squad is very
similar to then. We will have to see. I have got no problems playing young
players. The one I feel a little bit disappointed for is Jack Collison who
was given his debut up at Bolton in a poor team performance ... Freddie has
had a bit of football in the last two or three weeks and Tomks has not let
anyone down. We will have to see how they shape up."
The manager has yet again been pleased with the strength in depth in his
squad as he explained why he replaced Sears late on against Derby with
eventual match-winner Cole. "Freddie was running out of legs. You could see
that and he needed to be replaced. We put on Carlton Cole, who has had a
really good season for us and has had a little bit of a break in recent
weeks. He came on nice and fresh and that's what it is about."
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West Ham United and Seethreesixty - WHUFC
A new ticketing company is being introduced to help improve the service to
fans for the 2008/09 campaign
26.04.2008
West Ham United are pleased to announce that from 14 May 2008 the ticket
office will be working with a new ticketing company - as part of an ongoing
commitment to offer supporters as high a level of service as possible.
The ticket office will be using software called Seethreesixty Venue
Solutions. We are confident that in addition to the many benefits the system
offers internally, the improved level of functionality and user friendly
design of the software will result in a far more satisfactory booking
experience.
Seethreesixty is part of the See tickets group and together they will
provide the club with new facilities for both online and telephone bookings.
What will be immediately noticeable to supporters is the new-look online
service and we can confirm that amongst its many benefits will be:
Reduced Booking Fees
Previously all supporters paid £1.50 per ticket online. However, from the
start of the 2008/09 campaign, season ticket holders and members will pay
just 50p per ticket when purchasing tickets via the internet.
Ticket Trade In
Season ticket holders will have access to the new 'Ticket Trade In'
facility. This means that once a fixture has been declared as sold out by
the ticket office, any season ticket holders unable to attend that
particular fixture will, via the internet, be able to offer his/her seat
available for purchase.
All seats posted by season ticket holders will immediately appear on the
seating plan as available for purchase by other supporters.
Once sold the season ticket holder's card would be blocked for that fixture
and they would receive a credit against their account which can then be used
against either a season ticket renewal or the purchase of a seat for a home
cup fixture.
In the case of a seat remaining unsold, at an agreed period of time before
the fixture the card would be reactivated allowing the season ticket holder
the opportunity to attend.
Further information on this service will be forwarded to season ticket
holders shortly.
View Available Seats
Whereas previously supporters purchasing tickets online were allocated seats
on a best available basis you will now have the option of actually viewing
the seating plan and selecting available seats of your choice. Alternatively
for speed you can just enter the number of seats required and use the Quick
Tickets option.
Although you may have previously registered to the current online booking
service before you can access the new service you will be required to
re-register for the new service.
This is a quick and simple process. It will enable you to prepare for either
season ticket or club membership checking and to make any changes to the
data currently shown or alternatively register in advance of match ticket
sales for the new season.
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Curbs aims to win over fans - SSN
Hammers boss surprised by reaction to last week's win
Last updated: 25th April 2008
Alan Curbishley is determined to get the West Ham United fans on his side
after suggesting some of the abuse has been 'pre-meditated'. The Hammers'
2-1 victory over bottom club Derby County last weekend was greeted by a
chorus of jeers around Upton Park. Curbishley was disappointed with the
reaction to a home win and feels criticism from supporters is an historic
trait at the club. But, with Newcastle United the visitors to Upton Park on
Saturday, Hammers boss Curbishley is eager to change the fans' perceptions.
"Whatever I (would have) done, they would not have been amused," said
Curbishley. "It seemed a bit pre-meditated. "That is the way that it is at
the moment - there is no use crying about it at the moment. "Whatever
happened on Saturday I have not been subject to before. "I don't think that
many people have. Winning 2-1 at home and getting booed. "But it is there
and I have to get on with it. It is not going to stop me wanting to be as
successful as I can and I think that West Ham throughout the years has been
a bit volatile, the crowd, whoever has been in charge. "It is up to me to
turn it around."
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Curbishley looking to end season on high - The Times
Gary Jacob
Talking about playing the West Ham United way can be enough to irritate Alan
Curbishley and although the club's manager has dealt with the topic in
sarcastic humour, he knows that he will have to respond with something more
substantial than platitudes when his team take on Newcastle United today.
A week ago, only Paul Jewell could smile when West Ham were booed from the
pitch because it deflected criticism from his defeated Derby County team.
"He thought he would get stick and thanked me enormously," Curbishley said.
Curbishley left Upton Park to be faced by a few hostile fans comparing
ticket prices to the entertainment on show. Offering value for money may not
be up for consideration while demand outstrips supply, but it will be if the
club proceed with plans for a new 50,000-seat stadium, to be built in the
next four years. Curbishley has argued that playing attractive football is
difficult when his most talented players are in the treatment room.
"Perhaps I should wear a billboard [to list them]," he said, in jest. "It is
not going to stop me wanting to be as successful as I can. Whatever I did,
they would not have been amused. It seemed a bit premeditated. The crowd has
been a bit volatile here throughout the years. But I have not been subject
to it before - winning and getting booed."
Despite the problems, West Ham are likely to finish in tenth place. "If we
get the players back, it could be a lot different," Curbishley said.
One of those is Craig Bellamy, who is recovering well from his groin injury
and could play for Wales in their friendly matches this summer.
The club are close to signing Hólmar Örn Eyjólfsson, a 17-year-old defender
from HK Kópavogur. He impressed playing in midfield for Iceland in the
under-17 European Championship last year.
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From Bridge to Boleyn with Littlejohn on a limo-bike
Russell Brand The Guardian, Saturday April 26 2008
I'm going to two Premiership football matches today, like I'm Tord Grip or
something, flitting about making shrewd judgements and stroking my
Scandinavian chin. I've never attempted such a feat before, many have said
it can't be done, but at 12.45pm I shall be at the Bridge (I'm not paying
for a ticket and am therefore not contributing to Avram's dopey war chest -
in the TV in my brain I always see a pirate's treasure chest when that idiom
is used, bulging with rubies and doubloons, though that'd be a fat lot of
good in any proper war. On the same dubious basis I refused to buy my friend
Les who lives in Los Angeles a Spurs top, even though he'd cherish it and be
deeply moved, I just couldn't bear the idea of the revenue ending up in
Michael Dawson's trousers. Furthermore making any kind of purchase in
Lillywhites sports store in central London, where I planned to coerce my
friend Nik into conducting the filthy transaction as my emissary, is like
trying to score smack in the Kremlin, it was like they didn't want to sell
me anything. If we're going to surrender our souls to consumerism we should
at least end up with a product. I'm aware this is still in parenthesis and
has gone on for too long and that you'll have forgotten the main thrust of
the article, don't worry, we'll be back into the primary narrative in a
trice) watching the title-deciding clash between Manchester United and
Chelsea then I'll be bounding on to a "limo-bike" and darting off to Upton
Park to watch the Hammers take on the Toon.
That may well sound hectic and I imagine it will be, also the term
"limo-bike" may conjure up a rather a glamorous contraption in your
neuron-box. Well know you this: a "limo-bike" is a misleading piece of
marketing language to inaccurately describe a motorcycle taxi service. A
less disingenuous name would be a "motorbike" because that's what it is.
There is no decanter of sherry, no boomerang-shaped television aerial or
dividing screen between you and the driver, in fact you are forced to cling
to his waist like one of Fonzie's girlfriends. Also his helmet is wired to
your own allowing him to make a one-man radio show broadcast directly into
your head, usually covering hot topics like immigration and gays. It's like
developing schizophrenia and discovering your louder persona is actually
Richard Littlejohn.
I don't usually attend matches as a neutral, for me if West Ham aren't
playing I'd sooner watch it on the telly, confidently, in my pants. But
Chelsea v United at this stage of the season will be a spectacle. The last
match I went to which I wasn't emotionally involved with was Celtic v
Rangers last season and it was thrilling. The distance and detachment
afforded by the removal of loyalty and commitment improved my ability to
discern and comment. I became aware of strategy and the use of space.
At Upton Park I'm transported back to my childhood and I witness the fixture
from a cradle of emotional turmoil. West Ham's presence disrupts my critical
faculties. If I was watching a pornographic film and suddenly my mother
appeared on screen, tipsy in a ghastly negligee I would no longer be able to
enjoy the film. I'd be too concerned by the presence of my mum. "Christ" I'd
think, "she never mentioned this to me. I won't say anything - she doesn't
like me to watch blue movies." It's a bit like that.
The match at the Boleyn is of little real significance to either side who
are both assured mid-table mediocrity this season but for the fans it'll be
important. As far as we're concerned our mum's dignity is at stake out
there.
I shall spare a thought for dear Frank Lampard who lost his mum this week.
Frank is a player who has been unduly harangued internationally and
domestically despite being a great midfielder and, by all accounts, a lovely
bloke. As Avram Grant pointed out some things are more important than
football, like mums.
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West Ham youth chiefs reflect on star graduates Carrick, Cole
tribalfooball.com - April 25, 2008
West Ham United academy chief Tony Carr has been reflecting on two of his
graduates ahead of today's big match between Manchester United and Chelsea.
Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole and United's Michael Carrick will come
head-to-head and Carr told the Daily Mail: "There was a lot of hype
surrounding Joe right from the start because of the sort of eye-catching
talent he possessed while Michael was left to quietly develop as a young
player. "Because of the media attention, Michael was in Joe's shadow a bit
in those early days but it never seemed to bother him that much." But Jimmy
Hampson, West Ham's head of recruitment and mentor of both men, remembers
the pair as equally talented, with neither dominant. "We didn't think that
way on the staff," he said. "From the start we thought Joe and Michael were
exceptional young players. They were different but both special in their own
way. "Michael did lack a bit physically when he was a young lad but both he
and Joe always worked hard and matured as they went along. "They're both
still very different as players now but as lads they haven't changed much."
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Hamsik agent cool on West Ham, Chelsea interest
tribalfootball.com - April 25, 2008
West Ham have become the latest club to enter the frame for Napoli shooting
star Marek Hamsik. Despite the Neapolitan side's best efforts to nip the
transfer speculation in the bud by offering the highly talented 20-year-old
midfielder a new contract despite the fact that he only just joined them
last summer. West Ham are hoping that their new technical chief Gianluca
Nani will give them the edge, however, as he was the one who first signed
Hamsik for Brescia in 2004. Hamsik's agent has refused to be drawn out on
any of the rumours, and when confronted about Chelsea's interest he simply
said: "I cannot confirm nor refute this information." "It has been
published by Italian media, nothing about it has been in the English media,"
Juraj Venglos added. "I don't want to make any further comments on this
matter. Chelsea currently have different problems as they need to beat
Manchester United to support their championship hopes." Venglos did,
however, confirm that they are currently engaged in talks over a new deal
with Napoli. "Of course, Napoli want to have Marek under the new contract,"
he added. "The whole issue is not finished yet but it should be done in near
future. "The new contract will be preferable to Marek's current one. Most
lately we have been discussing the length of the contract."
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