A hugely successful run of summer form has left Craig Bellamy eager for the
season to get started
31.07.2008
Craig Bellamy will head to Southampton on a high this Friday after a strong
work-out against Peterborough United in midweek that saw him score another
two goals.
The Welsh international striker showed he is raring to go for West Ham
United by pouncing twice in the first half at London Road to settle an
entertaining contest. As the countdown begins to the new season, Bellamy is
looking to get as much play under his belt as possible so he can be
razor-sharp for the forthcoming campaign.
"We have been working hard, we arrived back from the tour at the weekend and
then began preparation for Tuesday's game straight away. To be honest, it
was good to get out there [against Peterborough] because you tend to feel a
bit leggy after a lot of travelling, so you need to get out there and run it
all off. There was a bit of stiffness near the end of the match but that is
to be expected and I came off, but I am fine and feeling good."
Bellamy scored his first of the evening at Peterborough after just three
minutes - meeting Scott Parker's pass before racing away from the home
defence and slotting the ball into the back of the net. He followed that
with a delightful goal just before half-time. Latching on to Lucas Neill's
long pass, Bellamy rounded the keeper and chipped the ball over his head to
make it 2-0. After scoring a brace up at Hampton and Richmond earlier this
month and taking part in the successful tour for the first-team in North
America, Bellamy is certainly enjoying life.
He said: "Of course you want to get off to a good start, so it's nice that I
have been able to get a few goals so far in pre-season and after being out
last year, to be back playing. You just want to get off the mark, whatever
the game is. I just want to get going now."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Keeper deal confirmed - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 31st July 2008
By: Staff Writer
Reports emanating from the Czech Republic this morning say that Jan Lastuvka
will be joining West Ham on loan for the season. The 26-year-old
international told idnes.cz that a deal had been finally been struck between
United and his current club, Shaktar Donetsk after complications had held up
the deal last week. The goalkeeper is set to fly into London on Friday to
undergo a medical before rubber-stamping his return to the Premier League.
"An agreement was reached; if there is no problem with the medical, I will
join West Ham," said Lastuvka, who admitted he was delighted to have the
opportunity to work with Ludo Miklosko, West Ham United's former Czech
international goalkeeper coach. "I hope everything will be fine," added
Lastuvka. "I am eager for the experience to train under Ludek Miklosko. The
Premier League is the best league in the world, so I would like to fight for
a chance."
Lastuvka - whose previous spell in the Premier League was on loan at Fulham
- will play understudy to United number one Robert Green. Green's former
number two, Richard Wright, left the club in order to join Championship
outfit Ipswich Town earlier this month. Lastuvka, a former student of
philosophy made his name at Banik Ostrava in the Czech Republic before
sealing a move to Shaktar Donetsk in 2004. In 2006 he was sent on a
season-long loan to Fulham where he suffered a torrid time; Fulham
eventually sent him back to Shaktar without taking up the option to buy
clause. Last season Lastuvka - who played at the Boleyn Ground in January
2007 whilst at Fulham - was once again sent on loan, this time to VfL Bochum
of the Bundesliga. However his time with Die Unabsteigbaren was equally
unremarkable and the Germans failed to meet Shaktar's £2million asking
price.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Keeper close to Hammers move - SSN
Czech custodian set for Hammers medical
By Vasek Kadlec Last updated: 31st July 2008
Former Fulham goalkeeper Jan Lastuvka is on the verge of a move to West Ham.
The 26-year-old claims he has agreed personal terms with West Ham to join
the club from Shakhtar Donetsk and that he will make the move to Upton Park
subject to a successful medical. West Ham have set up a loan deal for
Lastuvka as they look to bring in cover for Robert Green and the Czech
keeper is relishing the prospect of returning to the Premier League. "We are
agreed. If the medical turns out well for me, I move to West Ham," Lastuvka
told CTK. "I hope everything will turn out well. I am extremely tempted by
the possibility of being coached by Ludek Miklosko. "The English Premier
League is the best league in Europe, I would like to fight for the chance."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
I won't be the first for the chop, insists Alan Curbishley - The Mirror
31/07/2008
Alan Curbishley insists all bets are off after being made favourite to
become the first Premier League boss to get the bullet. The West Ham manager
is 4-1 to be the first victim of the new season after last year's mediocre
showing. But Curbishley claims leading an injury-ravaged squad to 10th place
was a massive result. Curbs said: "I'm not a gambling man so I won't take
too much notice of it. "People need to have a reality check. Finishing 10th
was a big achievement."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers boss unfazed by bookies' odds - Guardian Series
12:16pm Thursday 31st July 2008
ALAN CURBISHLEY insists he is not fazed by the latest bookies' odds which
make him favourite to be the first manager given the boot this season. The
West Ham boss has come under fire for his safety-first style of play and has
been given odds of 5/1 to win the Premier League's annual sack race.
Newcastle's Kevin Keegan and Bolton's Gary Megson are joint
second-favourites at 7/1. Many of Curbishley's first-team regulars were
sidelined through injury for much of last year, although he still managed to
guide the Irons to tenth place. That achievement has failed to silent the
critics or influence the bookmakers, but the manager refuses to allow such
talk to bother him. "I've had 15 years when I've been the outsider so I've
just got to get on with it," he said. "It's life, all part and parcel of
football. I'm not a gambling man so i didnt pay too much attention to it. "I
dont know if im under pressure. I've been around long enough - I've been a
manager for nearly 20 years now - and for most of my career I've been a rank
outsider so makes a change to be up the other end of it," he joked.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers midfielder eyes England place - Guardian Series
11:59am Thursday 31st July 2008
WEST Ham United midfielder Mark Noble has set his sights on earning a place
in Fabio Capello's senior England squad. The 21-year-old has become a
regular member of the Irons first-team and England Under-21 squad over the
past 18 months. Now, the Canning Town-born player believes he is ready to
take the next step and test himself at the very highest level. "My main aim
this season is to break into the England set up, that's what I want and
hopefully I can achieve that," said Noble. "I want to establish myself but
I'm still learning and still growing and hopefully I can really push on this
season." Noble has become a fans' favourite at Upton Park since forcing his
way into Alan Curbishley's team at the tail end of the 2006/07 season. The
youngster's arrival coincided with the Hammers' great escape from relegation
on the final day, with Noble's own form and on-field relationship with
Carlos Tevez widely accepted as a major reason for the club's survival in
the Premier League. Last term, Noble was hit with a series of niggling
injuries and was forced to undergo hernia surgery. But he is now back to
full fitness and looking forward to forming a solid central midfield
partnership with England international Scott Parker. While the start of the
new Premier League season is something Noble is looking forward to, the
confident young playmaker has one date firmly etched in his mind. England's
Under-21s take on Portugal in a European Championship qualifier at the new
Wembley Stadium on Friday, September 5, and the West Ham man is desperate to
take part. "We've got a qualifier coming up against Portugal which is a big
game and it's at Wembley which is even better," he added. "I've not played
at the new stadium although I played at the old one for my district and my
school but this will be a whole new experience and I really can't wait for
it."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
What has Curbs got up his sleeve?? - BubblesInTheAir.com
Thursday 31 Jul 2008 11:02:14 by Tony Watson
Hammers boss Alan Curbishley has told the West Ham fans to judge his
transfer dealings on the last day of August. Curbs has been under fire from
many fans who have been frustrated with the clubs lack of activity this
summer in the transfer market. The club have made three signings however,
two of those have been youngsters who are unlikely to feature in the first
team set up for some time and the other was Valon Behrami from Lazio for £5
million - The promising swiss utlity man made his debut against Peterborough
on Tuesday. Curbishley has also shrugged off being the bookies favourite to
get the boot first next season, the Hammers boss is just ahead of Bolton's
Gary Megson at 4/1. Curbs told The Sun "I'm not bothered, I'm not a gambling
man. I had 15 years at Charlton as outsider to get the sack. "Other people
like to stir things up and make it worse."
Meanwhile, Reports are gathering pace around Upton Park regarding Freddy
Ljungberg's future at the Club - The swedish winger is said to have been on
Lazio's shopping list - with the arrival of Behrami that move could well be
on the cards - it wouldn't do the wage bill any harm either.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
HAMMERS TALK: Irons join City in hunt for Morocco defender - Guardian Series
10:12am Thursday 31st July 2008
WEST HAM are slugging it out with Manchester City for the signature of Nancy
full-back Michael Chretien, according to reports. The Daily Mail claims that
Alan Curbishley is keen on Chretien, but he will face stiff competition for
the Moroccan from City boss Mark Hughes. The 24-year-old was expected to
join Sevilla or Real Betis, but is interested in a move to the Premier
League. He said: "My agent is in discussions with Betis, but I am aware of
an English club keen to acquire me. "I don't want to be at Nancy next
season, as I've done enough there. I want to test myself in a top European
league." Chretien has been with French outfit Nancy since 2002, making 174
appearances, while he has also been capped by his country.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ferdinand fully focused for the Hammers - Guardian Series
9:30am Thursday 31st July 2008
ANTON FERDINAND is looking forward to finally putting a summer of
speculation surrounding his future behind him and getting down to what he
does best with West Ham. The defender has continually been linked with a
move away from Upton Park, with Aston Villa, Spurs, Sunderland and Newcastle
all believed to be vying for his signature. He was even rumoured to have
rejected the Magpies after the Hammers reportedly accepted a £6million bid.
However, Ferdinand said he has no intention of quitting Upton Park and
insists that the speculation will not stand in his way of himn getting in
the best possible shape for West Ham and the new season ahead. "I don't
think about it that kind of thing at all," said the 23-year-old. "If that
was the case then I'm not being professional. "I'm sure if you asked the
fans about me when they see me playing, I don't look like I'm thinking about
other things, other than doing well for West Ham. "I'm under contract and I
love playing for the club. Now I'm just concentrating on getting fit for and
looking forward to the start of the season."
Ferdinand got his fourth consecutive pre-season run-out under his belt in
Tuesday night's 2-0 win over Peterborough United. And his preparations were
given a real test against the League One club's prolific frontman Aaron
McLean. "He is a livewire and a great player, and it was a joy to play
against him," Ferdinand said of McLean. "It was a good game all round.
That's why the gaffer took on it on because they're a good team who pass it
well, which they showed last season to take them into League One."
A classy first-half brace of goals from Craig Bellamy - his second
pre-season double - proved to be the difference between the sides. And,
after a debut season wrecked by an ongoing abdominal injury last term - he
managed just seven starts - Ferdinand, much like boss Alan Curbishley, is
hoping the pacy frontman can start to string a run of games together. "We
need Craig Bellamy to stay fit because he is looking really sharp and took
his goals well," said Ferdinand. "But Carlton Cole also looked very good and
they played well together. "Of course there is also Dean Ashton, who missed
the game because of illness, so from our point of view, the front line is
looking really strong going into the new season."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Curbs closes in on keeper - Setanta
by Jo Carter, 31 July 2008
West Ham are close to signing former Fulham keeper Jan Lastuvka from
Shakhtar Donetsk. The 26-year-old, who spent the 2006/07 season on loan at
Craven Cottage, would provide back-up to Robert Green. The Hammers have been
chasing the Shakhtar Donetsk keeper for a while and had hoped to sign
Lastuvka a fortnight ago, but the two clubs were unable to agree on a price.
Lastuvka has now agreed personal terms and looks set for a move to East
London. He could make his Hammers debut in Friday's friendly at Southampton
and is relishing a return to England. "The offer from West Ham is there,"
Lastuvka told CTK. "The club wants me and going back to the English league
is definitely interesting and alluring."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
'New' keeper seems hardly worth having By Steve Turner - UptonSparks.com
Posted on Thursday 31 Jul 2008 13:52:00
West Ham's newest 'signing' Jan Lastuvka (we're loathe to say he's actually
joined, as apparently he's now having a medical and if they find something,
like an alien living in his stomach, he won't be coming) will be a total
understudy to Robert Green.
Now, this isn't a bashing of the player: in fact, I've only ever seen him
play briefly for Fulham (and that didn't really inspire any great confidence
in me then, and I didn't care what happened), but he seems to be a bit of an
'unwanted child'.
This is a player who went to Fulham, the perennial under- or over-achievers
(depending on who you believe or speak to) and couldn't get in the team.
In fact, he got sent home from the loan, back to parent club Shaktar
Donetsk, who signed him back in 2004.
But apparently they just didn't want him, perhaps looking on him like an
unimportant step-child, and loaned him out once more to Bundesliga outfit
VfL Bochum.
Nein!
Guess what: they didn't want him either, and said a big 'Nein!' to the £2
million asking price. (They probably also threw sausages or some other
stereotype at Donetsk as well).
So now he look all set to join the Hammers on loan. Whoop-eee.
If a player gets loaned out three seasons in a row...something isn't quite
right.
"I hope everything will be fine," added Lastuvka. "I am eager for the
experience to train under [goalkeeping coach] Ludek Miklosko. The Premier
League is the best league in the world, so I would like to fight for a
chance."
Well...everyone deserves a chance. But forgive me for not breaking out the
champagne and caviar and ordering a couple of masseuses over this one.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment