Having finished 2007/08 in fantastic form, Dean Ashton is ready to pick up
where he left off next month
08.07.2008
Dean Ashton's ultimate ambition for the 2008/9 season is simple - "get
plenty of goals".
Having finished the last campaign on a high with five goals in his last
eight games before making his England debut and then signing a new long-term
contract at the Boleyn Ground, Ashton knows exactly what he wants to achieve
next time around. "In terms of the new season my main aim is to stay fit,
play more games than I did last season and get plenty of goals," he said.
"For the team it is mainly to have an injury-free season so we can show just
how good this squad is."
The strength of that squad is evident by taking a look at the Chadwell Heath
training pitches and his team-mates hard at work focusing on the steady
stream of Barclays Premier League fixtures that will follow from 16 August.
However, Ashton is not bothered about which defences he will come up against
in the opening games. "To be honest I stopped looking at the fixtures after
the season I broke my ankle. That year I looked at it and picked out all the
games I was particularly looking forward to then I got injured so just feel
like it is bad luck to do that again."
Ashton may not have paid too much attention to the fact it is Wigan Athletic
who get things started but it was against that opposition on 2 February that
he last played alongside Craig Bellamy. The duo, who up to now have only
been on the pitch together for 127 minutes in four league and cup games,
offer plenty of attacking threat along with Carlton Cole, Bobby Zamora and
Freddie Sears. "I don't know who we are playing past the first few games,"
Ashton added. "But I do know we are at home for the first game which gives
us a great opportunity to get off to a flying start."
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Run for Moore this Sunday - WHUFC
Anyone wanting to get active this summer and raise money for a very worthy
cause has a great opportunity
08.07.2008
The final Run for Moore this summer is taking place in London this weekend
to raise vital funds and awareness for the charity in the club legend's
name.
The Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research will benefit from the 5km event
starting in Blackheath at 1.30pm on Sunday 13 July. Open to 1,800 entrants,
demand is high from runners wanting to get involved with a worthy cause that
will be highlighting efforts to combat a disease that affects more than
35,000 people a year
Along with the Richard House Children's Hospice, the Bobby Moore Fund is one
of the club's two chosen charities and has benefited from several events
organised in the past year. Run for Moore days have already been held in
Bristol, Manchester, Hull, Oxford and Ipswich with the cities 'competing'
against each other to find the biggest fundraisers and the fastest
finishers.
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Season ticket sales update - WHUFC
The ticket office will be open from 9am this Saturday for anyone wishing to
purchase a season ticket
08.07.2008
West Ham United ticket office can report a successful season ticket renewal
process that has seen more sold than at this stage last year.
With all renewals processed and those on the waiting list being dealt with
this week, the ticket office has set Saturday 12 July for the general sale
of any remaining season tickets. As was the case after last year's general
sale, the club again expects demand to be high and the maximum number of
26,000 season tickets sold.
The ticket office will be open to both personal callers and telephone
bookings from 9am to 4.30pm. Anyone wishing to purchase any of the
concessionary rates of Senior, Young Adult or Junior are reminded that they
are limited to personal and postal applications only and they must provide
proof of their date of birth.
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Noble wants full England honours - BBC
West Ham midfielder Mark Noble says he wants to play for his club every week
and earn full England honours. Noble, 21, told BBC London 94.9: "Apart from
my name on the team-sheet each week my main target is to get a call-up for
the England team. "Hopefully if that happens it would be great but I want to
play every week for West Ham and that's my main target at the minute."
Noble, a product of West Ham's academy, says he has very high expectations.
The midfielder has made 10 appearance for England at under-21 level and
hopes that starting regularly for the Hammers will help him acheive full
honours. He said: "I played near on 30 games last season, 25 starts I think.
"I still want to improve and do better. I want to be more consistent,
hopefully with age that comes. "We know what we need to do this season and
we know we've got to do better than we did last season. If we can get our
better players fit and keep them fit it'll be a good season." Noble added:
"We came 10th last year. "I know we were there for a long while but we came
there with a lot of players injured. I'm sure we can push on and get into
those Uefa spots."
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Ashton aiming high - KUMB
Filed: Tuesday, 8th July 2008
By: Staff Writer
Dean Ashton says he is looking forward to hitting the ground running once
the 2008/09 season commences. The 23-year-old striker penned a new five-year
contract with the Hammers last month and despite having a slightly shorter
summer break than most of his team mates due to his involvement with
England's end-of-season friendlies against the USA and Trinidad & Tobago,
insists that he is raring to go. Talking to whufc.com, Ashton admitted that
he had felt 'a bit stiff' when returning to Chadwell Heath at the end of
last week but insists that come August 16th he will be ready to roll. "No
one loves the first day of pre-season because you have been resting so you
don't feel as fit," he said. It is hard work to get back into it but after a
few double sessions that is soon gone. "Because I started my summer a bit
later than everyone else I haven't had as long as I had hoped but I have
managed to rest up as much as I can. "In terms of the new season my main aim
is to stay fit, play more games than I did last season and get plenty of
goals."
The Hammers kick off the new season with a home fixture against Wigan - and
with games against Man City, Blackburn, West Bromwich Albion, Newcastle,
Fulham, Bolton and Hull to follow, Ashton believes the team has a great
chance of getting off to a flying start. "I don't know who we are playing
past the first few games," he added. "I stopped looking at the fixtures
after the season I broke my ankle as I feel it is bad luck to do that again.
"But I do know we are at home for the first game - which gives us a great
opportunity to get off to a flying start."
Dean Ashton: West Ham United record
Signed for West Ham Utd on 22 January 2006.
2005/06: 16 games, 6 goals (2 yellow cards)
2006/07: 0 games, 0 goals (0 yellow cards)
2007/08: 35 games, 11 goals (11 yellow cards)
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Hammers link dismissed - KUMB
Filed: Tuesday, 8th July 2008
By: Staff Writer
Valon Behrami's agent has dismissed reports linking his client with a move
to West Ham United. The 23-year-old Swiss international midfielder was
linked with a move to United at the weekend - not true, according to his
agent who last night told Setanta Sports: "I read the news in the press, but
the West Ham link is pure invention. The player is on holiday and will be
back this week to decide his future. "No meetings are planned, but we have
received offers from Germany, Spain and England. However the player's wish
is to play in the Bundesliga. As a consequence, England is not a priority at
all."
The Kosovan-born Behrami moved to Switzerland with his family as a young
child but gained Swiss nationality some years ago. He began his pro career
in Switzerland with Lugano before moving to Italy in 2003 when he was
snapped up by Genoa and Udinese (the former later buying out the latter's
50% investment). A year later he was loaned to Verona before being signed by
Lazio in the summer of 2005.
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Neill staying put - KUMB
Filed: Tuesday, 8th July 2008
By: Staff Writer
Lucas Neill's agent has dismissed reports claiming that the defender is set
to join Turkish outfit Galatasary. Neill was linked with a move to Gala -
who have recently confirmed the capture of fellow Aussie Harry Kewell - at
the weekend after it was reported that the Turks had approached West Ham
United with regard to the Socceroos captain's availability. But Neill's
Australian representative, Paddy Dominguez, dismissed the rumours, stating
that Neill has been - and remains - happy in East London. "It doesn't make
sense that a manager who brought Lucas to the club and has installed him as
captain would look to sell him," Dominguez told The Australian. "It would be
very strange. Lucas' relationship with Alan Curbishley is good and he is
relishing the role of captain." Neill joined the Hammers in the January 2007
transfer window after rejecting the opportunity to move to Liverpool.
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Neill not heading for Gala - SSN
Hammers defender happy where he is
By Chris Burton Last updated: 8th July 2008
Lucas Neill's agent has ruled out the possibility of his client joining
Turkish giants Galatasaray. The West Ham defender has been strongly linked
with a move away from Upton Park this summer, but looks unlikely to be
joining his Australian compatriot Harry Kewell at the Super Lig champions.
He only joined the Hammers in January 2007 and has been named club captain
by boss Alan Curbishley. With that in mind, Paddy Dominguez sees no reason
why the full-back would be looking to secure a move elsewhere. "It doesn't
make sense that a manager who brought Lucas to the club and has installed
him as captain would look to sell him," Dominguez told The Australian. "It
would be very strange. Lucas' relationship with Alan Curbishley is good and
he is relishing the role of captain."
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Hammers due for another mid-table finish next season, says bookmaker -
Guardian Series
WEST Ham have been predicted to flounder in the forthcoming season,
according to the latest odds. Top spread betting firm Spreadex has published
a predicted Premier League table for the end of the season which sees the
Hammers finishing in 12th. This would be a two place drop from last season,
even though the bookmaker believes that Alan Curbishley's men will only
finish three points worse off on 46. The air of pessimism could be down to
the lack of transfer activity at Upton Park. Curbishley has been linked with
releasing several players but has, as yet, failed to sign any new players.
This could confirm speculation that he has been ordered to slash the wage
bill at the Boleyn Ground. Spreadex predicts that the Irons will be in
mid-table limbo, 11 points off the top six and 11 clear of the bottom three.
The company believe that Manchester United will retain their title, while
suggesting that the relegated teams will consist of the three newly-promoted
sides - West Brom, Stoke City and Hull City.
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West Ham establish a Euro link in Spain, thanks to old boy Ken Brown -
SPortigo
by Jake Hall on 08 July 2008
It was in the 19th century that the first wave of English industrialists,
aristocrats and entrepreneurs introduced the game of football to Europe and
South America. Since then the game has exploded all over the world and is
recognised on every continent. It seems that a second wave of English
migrants have decided to involve themselves in the game and carry on the
work of their ancestors. This has happened on the Costa Blanca in Spain,
where a bunch of ex-pats have taken a Fourth Division club called CD Javea
(CD as in Club Deportivo) in the province of Alicante under their wing. The
club president is Mark Catlin and the manager is Ken Brown - the same Ken
Brown who played for West Ham in the 80s - and they are both thoroughly
committed to continuing the steady progress they have made at the club over
the past season.
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West Brom wait for West Ham defender Collins
tribalfooball.com - July 08, 2008
West Brom are waiting for the green light to move for West Ham defender
James Collins. The centre-half, who turns 25 next month, has emerged as a
potential loan target for Tony Mowbray. And the Welshman is now due for
talks with Hammers boss Alan Curbishley to determine whether he has a future
at Upton Park. The Birmingham Mail says Collins could sign on-loan with the
option for a permanent deal in January.
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West Ham keen on Man Utd's Silvestre
tribalfooball.com - July 08, 2008
West Ham United are interested in Manchester United defender Mikael
Silvestre. Roma and Bordeaux have expressed interest in the France
international and the Telegraph says Hammers boss Alan Curbishley is also
keen.
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Prem vultures are circling Madejski - TeamTalk
Steve Coppell claims Reading players have been the subject of bids from
Premier League clubs - but insists he is under no pressure to sell. Coppell
revealed he was aware of as many as three offers for his players. He refused
to name the parties involved, but Portsmouth and West Ham admire full-back
Nicky Shorey, Sunderland are reportedly chasing Stephen Hunt and both
Middlesbrough and Bolton are keen on James Harper. "We have players who
obviously want to remain in the Premier League and who feel they should be
playing in the Premier League, and there have been speculative phone calls
and a couple of bids - three at the very most," Coppell said. "Some players
have come to me and said things along the lines of 'if anybody comes in with
an offer for me then I would like to go'. "I can understand their attitude.
They have tasted the Premier League and they all want to be there, and the
quick and easy way is the transfer and to sign a contract somewhere else.
"But we don't have to sell anybody. Players are under contract and we have
no financial pressure to sell."
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Anton not seeking Hammers exit - Setanta
by Alex Livie, 08 July 2008
Anton Ferdinand has insisted he has no intention of turning his back on West
Ham. The defender has been linked with a move away from Upton Park, with
Newcastle, Tottenham and Aston Villa reported to be in the frame. The
defender is not looking to head away from The Hammers, but claims that if he
is sold then he can leave the club with nothing to regret. "I'm happy at
this club, and until I get told I'm not a West Ham player, I will be a West
Ham player," Ferdinand told BBC London. "I've grown up at the club and I
enjoy playing here. "Should it happen that I leave West Ham, I know I'd be
able to go with my head held high."
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Wigan up the stakes in the race for Johnson - Guardian Series
WEST Ham face a fight to land Andy Johnson after Wigan joined the race for
his signature. Latics boss Steve Bruce is desperate to add some firepower to
his squad and sees Everton striker Johnson - who he managed briefly at
Birmingham - as the ideal signing. Although Everton insist that the
27-year-old is not for sale, media reports reckon that Bruce is ready to
test the Toffees resolve with a £10m bid. Sunderland are also believed to be
monitoring the situation. The Irons had a £16m bid for Johnson - who failed
to nail down a regular place in the Everton line-up last season - turned
down last summer and rumours are rife that Alan Curbishley is ready to make
a move for the player again. But whether he will be willing to go as high as
Wigan's offer remains to be seen.
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Baggies bid to net Collins - Birmingham Mail.net
Jul 8 2008 By Chris Lepkowski
ALBION are waiting to find out whether they will get the green light to
pursue West Ham defender James Collins. The centre-half, who turns 25 next
month, has emerged as a potential loan target for Tony Mowbray. And the
Welshman is now due for talks with Hammers boss Alan Curbishley to determine
whether he has a future at Upton Park. Albion have declared their interest
but the Londoners are nursing a number of key defenders through injuries,
including Matthew Upson, Danny Gabbidon and long-term absentee Calum
Davenport. Anton Ferdinand's future is also in doubt, with Villa among the
clubs being linked with a move for him. But West Ham are expected to
strengthen themselves and that could pave the way for his departure,
although Collins himself is still some way from full fitness. He suffered
cruciate damage during a reserve game against Portsmouth in January and
could yet miss the opening weeks of the season. The Baggies would like to
take Collins on a season-long loan deal with a view to a permanent move at
the end of that term, assuming his recovery from the knee injury remains on
track. I understand the proposed deal may also be structured to include an
option for Albion to sign him at a pre-agreed price during January, similar
to the arrangement they had with Manchester City over Ishmael Miller.
Ex-Albion boss Bryan Robson tried to sign Collins three summers ago only for
the player to opt for West Ham in a joint move with former Baggies man Danny
Gabbidon. Two players unlikely to join Albion are Sheffield Wednesday's
highly-rated defender Mark Beevers and Swansea's midfielder Ferrie Bodde.
Both have been st rongly linked with summer moves but there are no plans to
pursue them. Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi remains a possibility although
Albion are looking at a number of options. Mowbray st ill plans to
strengthen all areas of his team.
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Hammers fail to lure Behrami
Tuesday Jul 08 2008 10:49
Highly-rated Switzerland defender Valon Behrami has ruled out a move to West
ham United. The performances of the 22-year-old full-back were one of the
few positives to come out of Euro 2008 for the co-hosts. But the current
Lazio player would prefer a move to Germany rather than England, according
to his agent. German champions Bayern Munich are reportedly keen to sign the
£5million-rated former Genoa defender, alongside Italian sides Fiorentina
and Juventus. "The stories linking Valon with West ham have no basis," said
agent Alessandro Beltram. "He has his heart set on playing in the
Bundesliga, so therefore England is not a priority for him. "The player will
return from vacation this week after which we will decide his future. "We
have received offers from Germany, Spain and England, but so far there are
no meetings scheduled."
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Hammers star Noble dismisses Arsenal link as skipper Neill denies exit
reports - Daily Mail
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 10:43 AM on 08th July 2008
West Ham midfielder Mark Noble insists he is not interested in a move to
Arsenal. The England Under U21 international said: 'I want to concentrate
on West Ham. 'I think it's just all rumours and I'm firmly happy where I am
at the minute.' Meanwhile Lucas Neill's agent Paddy Dominguez rubbished
speculation that the West Ham captain will be moving to Turkey and linking
up with fellow Socceroo Harry Kewell at Galatasaray. 'It doesn't make sense
that a manager who brought Lucas to the club and has installed him as
captain would look to sell him,' Dominguez told The Australian. 'It would be
very strange. Lucas' relationship with Alan Curbishley is good and he is
relishing the role of captain.' And Lazio midfielder Valon Behrami's agent
Alessandro Beltram dismissed reports of a move to the Hammers. Beltrami told
Setantasports.com: 'The stories linking Valon with West Ham have no basis on
reality.
'He has his heart set playing in the Bundesliga, so therefore England is not
a priority for him.'
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Ferdinand pledges his future to the Hammers
ANTON Ferdinand has again declared that he is happy at West Ham despite
speculation surrounding his future at Upton Park. The 23-year-old
centre-back has been linked with a move away from the Hammers with
Tottenham, Newcastle and Aston Villa all potential suitors. However,
speaking to BBC London, Ferdinand said: "I'm happy at this club and until I
get told I'm not a West Ham player, I will be a West Ham player. "I've
spoken to the manager briefly and he wants to get it sorted as quick as as
possible too, which is a good thing for me." Ferdinand has come through the
ranks at the Boleyn and is proud of his achievements at the club. He added:
"I've grown up at the club and I enjoy playing here. "Should it happen that
I leave West Ham, I know I'd be able to go with my head held high."
Rumours of players coming and going have been rife at West Ham, but very
little transfer activity has taken place. Ignoring the media speculation
surrounding the club, Ferdinand is determined to help the Irons push forward
next season and secure a top-six finish. "I'm an ambitious person," he said.
"I want to play in Europe and I want to play for Engand. "I'm looking
forward to putting that West Ham shirt back on."
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Neill agent rubbishes exit talk - Guardian Series
WEST Ham skipper Lucas Neill is going nowhere, according to his agent. The
Australian international has been linked with a move to Turkish giants
Galatasaray in the past few week. And with the club reportedly looking to
slash the wage bill, it appeared that 30-year-old Neill - who is believed to
be picking up around £60,000 a week with the east Londoners - would be
heading to Istanbul. However, his agent Paddy Dominguez has rubbished the
speculation. "It doesn't make sense that a manager who brought Lucas to the
club and has installed him as captain would look to sell him," said
Dominguez. "It would be very strange. Lucas' relationship with Alan
Curbishley is good and he is relishing the role of captain." Neill joined
West Ham for £1.5million from Blackburn in January 2006 and played a key
role as the Irons avoided the drop that season. However, he struggled to
reach such heights last term and rumours persist over his future at Upton
Park.
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Ashton eager to fire on all cylinders for Hammers - Guardian Series
WEST Ham hitman Dean Ashton is looking forward to an injury free season in
order to get back to his old goalscoring ways. After a stunning end to the
last campaign, when he notched five goals in eight games, the England
international is keen to carry his form into the new term. "In terms of the
new season my main aim is to stay fit, play more games and get plenty of
goals," Ashton told the club's offical website. "For the team it is mainly
to have an injury-free season so we can show just how good this squad is."
The 24-year-old has also stated that due to superstition, he no longer looks
at the fixture list. Previous injuries have ruined his chances to feature in
big games and he does not wish to build himself up and go through the same
hertbreak. He added: "I stopped looking at the fixtures after the season I
broke my ankle. "That year I looked at it and picked out all the games I was
particularly looking forward to, then I got injured so I just feel it is bad
luck to do that again. "I don't know who we are playing past the first few
games. "I do know we are at home for the first game which gives us a great
opportunity to get off to a flying start."
Ashton and his team-mates face Wigan at Upton Park in the season's
curtain-raiser on August 16.
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