James Tomkins has committed his future to West Ham United after a rapid rise
for club and country
01.05.2008
James Tomkins has become the latest West Ham United youngster to see their
long-term future secured at the club.
With the likes of Bondz N'Gala, Joe Widdowson, Ashley Miller and Freddie
Sears all agreeing new deals recently, the England Under-19 defender said:
"I have signed a contract extension to my existing deal. It is obviously
good that West Ham have come to me and offered me one. It is really great
news and it has been a good end to the season for me. I have got the
contract and that gives me confidence going into the games. It shows what
West Ham think of me."
The 19-year-old homegrown talent has enjoyed a rapid rise in recent weeks
since his first-team debut away to Everton on 22 March and could face his
biggest test this weekend away to Manchester United. He has also made two
other starts and one substitute appearance, with his most recent run-out
being a full 90 minutes against Newcastle United last weekend. In the 2-2
draw at the Boleyn Ground, Tomkins acquitted himself well against Obafemi
Martins and Mark Viduka, while there was also the threat of Michael Owen in
a withdrawn role.
"It was good, another good experience for me," he said, having already come
up against the likes of Yakubu and Kenwyne Jones in recent weeks. "Again I
was playing against some world-class strikers in Viduka and Martins so it
was a good test. I did OK - there is room for improvement but I am sure I
will get there in the end. I am learning with every game and I am just
enjoying it at the moment. Playing against these sorts of players, week-in,
week out is brilliant for me. I am learning from it and enjoying it."
Of the Newcastle match itself, Tomkins said the team were unlucky not to
take all three points. "We were brilliant in the opening half-hour. We were
popping the ball around. I think it was as good as we have played all season
in that spell. We have gone in 2-2 at half-time and we didn't deserve that
at all really. But we can learn from it and it just shows what we can do. We
came out with good character in the second half and we could have nicked
it."
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Collison continues U21 run - WHUFC
Jack Collison is hoping to impress in order to play for Wales in a senior
friendly against the Netherlands
30.04.2008
Jack Collison has been named in the Wales squad to take on England in an
Under-21 friendly on Wednesday 15 May.
The 19-year-old midfielder, who could find himself up against club-mate Mark
Noble in the Wrexham encounter, will hope to do enough to earn a place in
the senior team's squad for friendlies away to Iceland and the Netherlands
on 28 May and 1 June respectively. Wales U21s are also on the verge of
qualifying for the 2009 European U21 Championship play-offs, which will be
held in October before next year's finals in Sweden. Collison is hoping to
make his third appearance for West Ham United away to Manchester United this
coming Saturday.
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England call Tomkins and Sears - WHUFC
James Tomkins and Freddie Sears are in the England U19 squad for a crucial
tournament this May
30.04.2008
James Tomkins and Freddie Sears have been named in the England squad for
May's qualifying round for the 2008 European Under-19 Championship.
The Young Lions need to overcome mini-tournament hosts Belarus, Serbia and
Poland to be one of the eight nations competing in the final round in the
Czech Republic this July. England will play Poland first in Borisov on 26
May, before meeting Serbia two days later in the same venue. The qualifying
campaign will end against Belarus in Minsk on 31 May.
The final tournament will take place between 14 and 26 July, and should
England get there then fellow West Ham United players Jordan Spence, still
only 17, and Junior Stanislas will also fancy their chances of earning a
place in the final squad. Both have also figured for the U19s this season
and will only have just missed out on this qualifying round. Tomkins, 19, is
the most established face though and even scored two goals on his last
run-out - a 3-1 friendly win against Russia on 26 March while Sears, 18, has
made a couple of lively substitute appearances.
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Club awarded Racial Equality Standard - WHUFC
The final home game of the season against Aston Villa will see a special
presentation made to the club
01.05.2008
West Ham United are pleased to announce the club has been awarded the
preliminary level of the Racial Equality Standard.
The important initiative, which has been developed by Kick It Out with the
support of the Premier League, will help West Ham United to promote equality
in all areas of the club's operations, such as stewarding to the recruitment
of young players. Kick It Out director Piara Powar will present the club's
Chief Executive Scott Duxbury with the preliminary Standard at the final
home game of the season against Aston Villa on Sunday 11 May.
The club are proud to be part of a specialist group of elite clubs that have
achieved this award but recognise more can be done. There are three levels
overall to the Standard with the club already looking to secure the
Intermediate stage before working towards the Advanced. West Ham United have
long worked alongside Kick It Out to deliver against a series of objectives
that promotes racial equality at all levels of the club's administration -
such as backing the One Game, One Community week last October.
West Ham United CEO Scott Duxbury said: "As a club that sits proudly in one
of the most ethnically diverse areas in Europe, the Racial Equality Standard
is an important step in the development of our work against discrimination.
The preliminary level is just the start of formalising what is an on-going
commitment and we are proud of the work we have done in this area to date.
However, we recognise that more can be done to ensure that we play a full
and effective role in tackling discrimination at all levels."
Anton Ferdinand, the club's Kick It Out Ambassador, said: "I am right behind
the efforts being made to promote equality through football. There is so
much more that can be done but this is a good step in the right direction.
On behalf of the players, we all take this issue very seriously and are
proud to support the work of Kick It Out. Football has so much influence and
any way we can spread the anti-racism message has got to be applauded."
Kick It Out chairman Lord Herman Ouseley said: "Our achievements so far
should make us proud but they also provide stimulus for tackling exclusion
and inequality. We believe the Standard could herald a new era in
encouraging clubs to ensure that off the field of play equality of
opportunity, inclusion and fair treatment are at the heart of what they do."
Richard Scudamore, Chief Executive of the Premier League, added: "The
Premier League is proud of the contribution its clubs have made in tackling
racism in football. We all have a responsibility and a part to play in
helping to put the Standard into practice."
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Duo in England frame - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 30th April 2008
By: Staff Writer
James Tomkins and Fred Sears have been named in Brian Eastick's England
under 19 squad for the forthcoming European Championship Elite Round
fixtures. The young lions face Belarus, Serbia and Poland in Group One of
the qualifiers next month with the group winners going on to the
Championship Finals which take place in the Czech Republic in July.
Eastick's side have won six of their seven games so far this season
including all three of their preliminary qualification fixtures. They have
also beaten Elite round hosts Belarus 4-0 in a friendly back in September in
which Sears made a second half cameo appearance from the bench.
Full squad
Sone Aluko (Birmingham City - on loan at Aberdeen), Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea -
on loan at Norwich City), David Button (Tottenham Hotspur), Andy Carroll
(Newcastle United), Ciaran Clark (Aston Villa), Jack Cork (Chelsea - on loan
at Scunthorpe United), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Daniel Gosling (Everton), Joe
Mattock (Leicester City), Victor Moses (Crystal Palace), Curtis Obeng
(Manchester City), Krystian Pearce (Birmingham City), Fred Sears (West Ham
United), Scott Sinclair (Chelsea - on loan at Crystal Palace), Jason Steele
(Middlesbrough), Daniel Sturridge (Manchester City), James Tomkins (West Ham
United), Daniel Welbeck (Manchester United).
Elite Round fixtures
England v Poland: Monday, 26th May - k/o 11:30am (Borisov Stadium)
England v Serbia: Wednesday, 28th May - k/o 11:30am (Borisov Stadium)
England v Belarus: Saturday, 31st May - k/o 2:00pm (Traktor Stadium)
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Curbishley on defensive options - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 30th April 2008
By: Staff Writer
Alan Curbishley has revealed that both Matthew Upson and Jon Spector should
be available for selection this weekend. West Ham United take on Manchester
United at Old Trafford this Saturday with the Reds needing a win in order to
remain in pole position for the league title. And Curbishley looks set to
welcome back both England defender Upson - who has been out of action since
the 4-0 defeat at Liverpool on March 5th - and American utility man Spector,
who last played in the 1-0 defeat at Bolton three weeks ago. "[Upson]
trained fully last Wednesday and Thursday and we thought he was back. I
think he just felt [the injury] again," said Curbishley. "Jon Spector's got
a chance - he's probably got more of a chance than Anton Ferdinand. "But
I've been happy with [James] Tomkins and Lucas Neill in there whilst Johnny
Paintsil has come in at right-back."
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United go for four in a row - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 30th April 2008
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United can make it four wins in a row against Man U should they win
at Old Trafford this weekend. United have beaten the Reds in their last
three meetings - and with Alex Ferguson's side needing to win this weekend
in order to stay top of the Premier League, it promises to be another
thriller.
The Hammers beat Man U 2-1 in the last meeting between the two sides at the
Boleyn Ground earlier this season thanks to a missed penalty by Cristiano
Ronaldo and late goals from Anton Ferdinand and Matthew Upson. Prior to that
United had won at Old Trafford on the final day of last season to preserve
their Premier League status thanks to a goal from Carlos Tevez, who has
since switched allegiances - whilst Alan Curbishley's first game in charge
of West Ham, back in December 2006, ended in a 1-0 win for the Irons.
Looking ahead to the game, Curbishley said: "We'll see what we've got -
obvioualy it's a big game now for them. But we need to get something from
the next two games to stay in tenth position. "We have not got the pressure
we had last year but we want to finish as strongly as we can - so we will go
there and give it our best shot."
* The Hammers have won on three of their last six visits to Old Trafford.
Paolo Di Canio's 76th minute winner gave United a 1-0 win in the fourth
round of the FA Cup back in January 2001 whilst Jermain Defoe's header
eleven months later made it two wins inside a year for the Hammers. Perhaps
most memorable of all however was the aforementioned win on the final day of
last season.
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West Ham in my heart - KUMB
Filed: Tuesday, 29th April 2008
By: Staff Writer
Paolo Di Canio has backed Alan Curbishley to bring the good times back to
Upton Park. The former United striker was back at the Boleyn for the first
time in five years to watch the Hammers take on Newcastle. Talking to WHUTV
after the game, he revealed that Curbishley - who he played under at
Charlton for a year following West Ham's relegation in 2003 - had his full
support. "Alan is a good man, a great manager," he said. "He is a hard
working man, and also I think he gives a tactical system in the way you want
it and the players follow him in the right way. "I think he is one of the
best managers in England."
The Italian - who is 40 this summer - retired from professional football in
March after spending his final year in Rome with Cisco Roma, the city of his
birth.
But despite having returned to Italy with his family Di Canio - who received
a rapturous welcome from the Boleyn crowd - insists that he keeps an eye on
West Ham's fortunes, adding that he 'still keeps West Ham in my heart'. "I
always followed every season of West Ham," he added. "This season they have
done well because they have a lot of injuries. "Of course I hope that this
club can grow and give more satisfaction to the fans but today is a special
day for me because I couldn't imagine this response."
Di Canio - who spent four season in East London between 1999 and 2003 - also
has special praise for youngsters Fred Sears, Jack Collison and James
Tomkins who have broken through into the first team this season. "They must
grow up with the passion," he said. "They must remember that everything they
do they have to do with professionalism but especially they must give even
more for these fans because they are absolutely fantastic."
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Green waiting for talks - SSN
Hammers keeper plays down rumours he could be on the move
Last updated: 1st May 2008
Robert Green has dismissed as 'paper talk' rumours that he could be leaving
West Ham United. The goalkeeper has been linked with a summer move to North
London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur following an impressive season
at Upton Park. Hammers boss Alan Curbishley is determined to hang on to
Green and wants to offer the former Norwich keeper a new contract. Green
only signed a new four-year deal at the start of this season and admits
talks regarding improved terms have not taken place. But the England hopeful
also confirmed there is no substance to suggestions that he is looking to
move on in the summer. "Nothing has been discussed," said Green in The
Independent regarding a new deal. "It's purely paper talk, just as much as
there is talk from people saying I'm going to go to various clubs as well."
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Pantsil staying at West Ham
tribalfootball.com - April 30, 2008
John Pantsil is determined to stick around at West Ham United next season.
The Ghana fullback told whufc.com: "I am happy I have been playing. "The
crowd has been fantastic and really encouraged me to keep going. It is
marvellous to be able play for these fans, they support us in everything we
do.
"I have to do everything possible to do my best when I play for the club. It
is all for the team-mates and the fans. Next season is going to be even
better for West Ham United. We are going to challenge the big teams. With
the crowd behind us we are always going to have confidence, and with every
game we can't wait to see them in the stands."
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Manchester United v West Ham United - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 1st May 2008
By: Matthew Coker
After a lengthy mid table spell with little to play for, we suddenly find
ourselves smack bang in the middle of the title race.
Unfortunately, whatever happens the Premier League trophy will not be
heading to East London but we are in a prime position to derail Manchester
United's title hopes this Saturday lunchtime.
Everybody on the planet (well apart from perhaps the younger members of the
Fritzl family), must be aware that Man U currently top the league table over
second place Chelsea, the two sides being separated by goal difference,
after Chelsea's victory last Saturday lunchtime at Stamford Bridge.
Therefore, if Man U can win both of their remaining two fixtures (against us
and away at Wigan), then they will be champions regardless of how Chelsea do
against Newcastle (away) and against Bolton at the Bridge (unless one of
those victories involves a 20 goal winning margin).
Much of Manchester United's title bid this season has been built on success
in their home games. Where they have been beaten four times on the road,
including at our place at Christmas and have drawn five away from Old
Trafford, they have been victorious in sixteen of their eighteen home
Premier League fixtures. The only sides that have managed to get anything at
Old Trafford are Reading, who took a point back home on the bus, having
parked that bus in front of the goal to earn a goal less draw, and local
rivals, Manchester City who are the only away side to have won at Old
Trafford.
The superior goal difference is testament to the way that they have played,
with the emphasis on attacking play. Interestingly, for a side that focuses
on all out attack, they manage to do so without an all out attacker, instead
allowing the trio of Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Christiano Ronaldo
relative freedom to change roles within the final third.
Credit also has to be given to their mean spirited defence, where the
central defensive duo, in particular, have had praised heaped upon them.
This has been fairly deserved of a side that has only conceded twenty one
league goals so far and just six of them in home fixtures.
Recent performances have seen the side in something of a blip, draws away at
both Middlesbrough and Blackburn and the defeat at Stamford Bridge has
allowed Chelsea back into the picture. However, the Champions League ties
and the need to rotate players has contributed to United taking their eye
off the league fixtures, a strategy that paid off as they beat Barcelona in
Tuesday night's game to qualify for the final in Moscow.
"With three games to go there is still plenty to play for and they will not
come any tougher than Newcastle at home."
West Ham captain, Lucas Neill speaks before consulting the fixture list.
Man Utd will line up with Holland international, Edwin Van Der Saar between
the sticks in front of a central defensive duo of in form West Ham academy
product, Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown, unless Nemanja Vidic can recover from
the concussion he suffered in last weekend's clash with Chelsea.
It is the duo of Ferdinand and Vidic that have been much admired, even
drawing gushing praise from the Italian sports paper, Gazetta Dello Sport (a
rag that knows a thing or two about good defending) after their performance
in Rome. The club will be hoping that Patrice Evra is fit to appear on the
left and it will be a choice of Brown or utility player, Owen Hargreaves at
right back.
Ferguson has been tampering with the team in recent games and has tended to
go for a lone striker, particularly when he is up against sides that
Ferguson respects. There is discussion amongst the supporters as to whether
this has been the right strategy, the argument is that when you have one of
the best attacking sides in the world, surely you should be playing to your
strengths rather than attempt to mitigate risk. However, providing Rooney is
fit at the weekend, they are likely to revert to a 4-4-2 against us.
Assuming that Sir Alex is going to put out his best side, we are going to be
up against the free scoring Portugese international, Christiano Ronaldo.
Despite failing to deliver the goal that he promised against Barcelona, he
can console himself with the 28 league goals that he has managed this
season. He arguably has the fastest feet in world football, a seemingly
endless array of stepovers and fancy tricks as well as being a dead ball
expert and is a decent headerer of the ball to boot. His only weakness, of
late has been penalties, missing one at the Nou Camp as well as one at the
Boleyn so it appears that he has some sort of problem with spots.
Man U are spoilt for choice as far as midfield is concerned. The recently
favoured duo to line up in the middle is Paul Scholes and another ex-Hammer,
Michael Carrick with Ryan Giggs on the left hand side. The line up is fairly
flexible and you could look at it as a 4-3-3 with Ronaldo as the third
striker, but whatever set of numbers it goes by, the emphasis is on attack.
Considerable strength in depth comes from Korean international Ji-Sung Park,
renamed "three lungs" by the Manchester United faithful due to his
unfaltering level of effort and commitment, Scottish International, Darren
Fletcher, Portuguese international, Nani and Brazilian, Luis Anderson.
Ferguson may be tempted to bring one or two of these in after his side's
midweek exertions with perhaps Anderson the favourite to get a run out.
Up front, Argentinean striker, Carlos Tevez, needs no introduction after his
role in keeping us up last season and for his textbook performance on how to
return respectfully to your former club, back in December. Tevez has made a
decent start to his Man U career with a total of 12 goals and continues to
impress with his ability and workrate. He has spent some time on the bench
in recent weeks as the side has switched to a lone striker but is expected
to start against an appreciative away support on Saturday. Louis Saha is
currently ruled out of contention with a hamstring problem.
"Wayne has got a big chance [of facing West Ham]. He'll be all right for
Saturday."
Sir Alex on Rooney.
Man Utd will be hoping that Wayne Rooney has regained fitness by the
weekend. He had missed out on the Champions League semi with a hip injury
(ie a sore in the bone around his waist, not something funky like a
metatarsal or whatever's en vogue this season). If he is back, the
experience of marking the England striker should serve as good experience
for young master Tomkins.
Will we screw Man Yoo?
Now, if this was a Serie A game, then traditionally, our side would offer no
resistance, instead happily allowing Man U to win the game in lieu of a
future favour (or possibly because of owing them a favour for last season's
fixture).
However, because this is England and because our virtues of fairplay are
deeply ingrained into the psyche, you know that we are going to turn up at
Old Trafford and overcompensate for any possible thoughts that we helped Man
Utd by raising our game, probably to an "obscene" level of effort.
For once in my life, I would probably take a West Ham defeat as I would be
much happier seeing the likes of Tevez, Rio and Carrick picking up the
Premier League trophy than any of Lampard, Terry or Drogba. However, that is
said in the cold light of day before kick off, I am sure that as soon as we
get underway, the desire to win and to enjoy the pain of the opposition
support will kick in, especially on the last beano of the season.
The game could easily go the Reds' way in a very straightforward manner as
despite the improvements last week, we are still very much a mid-table side
with enough weaknesses not to trouble any of the top four sides (see Chelsea
at home and Liverpool away for examples).
I think our cause would be greatly helped if Evra doesn't return, especially
if Faubert keeps improving at the rate he has done over the last two games
and I think the big game atmosphere, the fact that the match is televised
and that we are the pressure off underdogs in this game will all help us to
put on a good show.
In respect of the score, it is less predictable than most games but I'm
going to stick my neck out for a second successive double over Man Utd as we
beat them 1-0 with a late winner.
Enjoy the game.
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'We're underdogs, but we'll fight' - Noble - Echo News
By Rob Pritchard
WEST Ham midfielder Mark Noble has admitted that he expects title favourites
Manchester United to overcome the Irons at Old Trafford on Saturday.
But the 20-year-old, who enjoyed one of the finest games of his career as
the Hammers beat the Red Devils on the final day of last season to stay in
the Premier League, insisted he would be giving his all to stop them. Sir
Alex Ferguson's side sit top of the Premier League, ahead of Chelsea on goal
difference with two games remaining. And although Noble admits the leaders
are hot favourites to overcome Alan Curbishley's men - and the Blues to win
at Newcastle United - the England Under-21 star is adamant it will not be
easy. "You expect them both to win their last two games. We go into the game
as massive underdogs as they have to win but we're going to go there play
our best, try hard and enjoy the day," he said. West Ham have won their last
three matches against Manchester United, and Noble believes the Irons have
developed a knack of over-coming the Premier League's top dogs in recent
seasons. "We beat United at home this season with two late goals and we beat
them home and away last season," he observed. "At Old Trafford we got
absolutely peppered on the day and they did everything but score. We did it
at Arsenal as well - we held them off for a 1-0 win - I don't know how we
did it but we did and it's a credit to us."
However, Noble admitted that last season's 1-0 triumph at the Theatre of
Dreams - secured through a first half goal from Carlos Tevez, who later
joined United - came on the back of a run of six wins in eight matches. This
time around, West Ham have won just one of their last six games while the
Reds, who will welcome back Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic from injury, won
through to the UEFA Champions League final by beating Barcelona on Tuesday.
"We needed to win that game (Old Trafford match). We had nothing else in our
minds," Noble added. "We were coming off a great run so we were confident
and there was a little bit something extra about us in the sense that we
needed to win. "They need to win this time so it could be a good game."
l WEST Ham defender James Tomkins and striker Freddie Sears have been called
into the England Under-19 squad for the European Championship final
qualifying round in Belarus. England will take on Poland and Serbia in
Borisov on May 26 and 28 respectively before heading to the capital Minsk to
face Belarus on May 31. Should England progress, the finals will take place
in the Czech Republic between July 14 and 26.
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Noble: Hammers Can Hand Chelsea The Title - Goal.com
West Ham United midfielder Mark Noble reckons the Hammers can hand their
London rivals Chelsea the Premier League title by beating Manchester United
at Old Trafford this weekend. West Ham travel to Manchester at the weekend
to take on Sir Alex Ferguson's Champions League finalists, confident they
can cause another upset. Uniquely, the Hammers have won their last three
matches against the Red Devils, who top the table on goal difference from
Chelsea as both contenders go into their final two matches of the campaign.
United know that two wins will guarantee them the title, given their vastly
superior goal difference. But West Ham have proved a hoodoo to United over
the years. The Hammers ended United's title hopes on a dramatic final day
in 1995, and current midfielder Mark Noble says Ferguson's side will have to
be at their best to avoid a similar fate. "The pressure is on United, they
need the points, but we've beaten them the last three times," said Noble.
"It's so tight at the top of the table and at the bottom, and after they
lost to Chelsea last week, they'll be so up for it. "Last year they had
already won the title by the time we played them. This year, we're already
safe and they need to win.
"I think it will be a cracking game. We've just got to enjoy the atmosphere
and enjoy playing against some of the best players in the world and come off
the pitch happy. "We're going to go there with nothing to lose and they have
to win. We're going to go out and enjoy ourselves and whatever happens,
happens."
United's lead at the top of the Premier League table has disappeared
following draws at Middlesbrough and Blackburn and then that defeat at
Stamford Bridge by Chelsea, who thus drew level on points with the defending
champions. Now Noble believes his side can strike a hammer blow against
United's title quest. "It's been a great title race and it's going to go
right down to the wire," he said. "I've fancied Manchester United to win the
title the whole season, but Chelsea have slowly and quietly come up on the
rails. "Both of them have to concentrate on the last two games and we've got
to play one of those teams, so it's a real chance for us to affect the
title. "They need the points, but we're going there to win and keep
ourselves in 10th. "They were celebrating last year after the game with the
trophy, but they won't be able to do that this time."
West Ham did the double over Manchester United last season, Carlos Tevez
memorably scoring against what became his new club to keep his old one in
the top flight. And in December the Hammers beat United at the Boleyn
Ground.
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