Welsh international striker Craig Bellamy does expect to be sidelined for
too long for West Ham United
07.08.2008
Craig Bellamy has pledged to come back firing on all cylinders for West Ham
United after his "best pre-season ever".
The in-form striker has been flying in pre-season with five goals. However,
he had to come off after 23 minutes against Ipswich Town on Monday and,
after receiving the results of a scan, looks likely to be out for a month.
"I just pulled up in the match, I wasn't feeling tight beforehand or
anything like that," he said.
"I have been fit and well throughout the pre-season," he said. "So this was
not anything that had affected me before at all. It is just one of those
things that happened in the match and now I will be just concentrating on
getting through it and coming back strong and well to do my best for West
Ham. I am out for a month and so it is gutting for me not to be able to
start the season, especially as I have had a great pre-season and worked
really hard.
"But it won't affect me too much in terms of working through the
rehabilitation for this injury and to get back better than before again. I
have probably had the best pre-season ever and I think I have shown that I
proved my point in that I totally recovered from my injury last year and
have returned fitter and stronger like I said I would.
"I have been looking forward to this season with West Ham so much, one of
the most I have looked forward to. I wanted to hit the ground running and
make an immediate impact. I have done this in pre-season, and was looking to
carry this into the start of the new season, but I will just have to wait a
bit now to do this. But I am making sure I am working as hard as possible in
getting over the injury and will come back better and stronger than before
to play my part in the team."
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Bellamy 'gutted' to miss opener - BBC
Wales captain Craig Bellamy has vowed to bounce back after a hamstring
injury ruled him out of the opening month of the new Premier League season.
The West Ham striker, 29, is also a major doubt for Wales' opening 2010
World Cup qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Russia on 6 and 10 September.
"It's gutting for me not to be able to start the season, especially as I
have had a great pre-season," said Bellamy. "I wanted to hit the ground
running and make an immediate impact." Bellamy scored five pre-season goals
and was relishing the start of the new campaign. He picked up the injury
soon after scoring in West Ham's 5-3 friendly win over Ipswich at Portman
Road on Monday. It means he will miss the games against Wigan, Manchester
City and Blackburn but could be back for Alan Curbishley's side for the trip
to West Brom on 13 September. That also means a race against time for Wales'
qualifiers.
Bellamy played only nine games for the Hammers last term in an
injury-ravaged first season at Upton Park that was blighted by abdominal and
groin problems. But he said: "I have probably had the best pre-season ever
and I think I have shown that I proved my point in that I totally recovered
from my injury last year and have returned fitter and stronger like I said I
would. "But it won't affect me too much in terms of working through the
rehabilitation for this injury and to get back better than before again."
Only last week, manager Curbishley praised the Welshman, who has been capped
51 times for his country, after scoring a brace in a 2-0 win over
Peterborough. "He has worked extremely hard to return to full fitness and is
a great asset," stated Curbishley. The Football Association of Wales has
already confirmed Bellamy will not be included in John Toshack's squad to
face Georgia in a friendly at the Liberty Stadium on 20 August. Toshack
already has injury doubts over centre-back partners Danny Gabbidon and James
Collins, Bellamy's team-mates at West Ham. Tottenham Hotspur's teenage
full-back Gareth Bale, who has not played since December, also still has not
fully recovered from foot surgery.
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Gael force? - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 7th August 2008
By: Staff Writer
A number of today's papers are linking West Ham with a move for French
defender Gael Givet. The 26-year-old centre-half, who currently plies his
trade at Marseille is said to be surplus to requirements and available for a
knock-down fee of around £1.5million. That has alerted Alan Curbishley, who
is currently looking for bargains to supplement his existing squad. Givet
has made 13 appearances for the French national side, making his debut in
2004. He was also part of the 2006 squad that finished runners-up to Italy.
Greek side Panathinaikos are also thought to be understood to be interested
in the 5'11" defender, and are rumoured to have made a bid worth around
£1million which has been rejected by l'Ohème.
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Bellamy out for a month - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 7th August 2008
By: Staff Writer
Craig Bellamy will definitely miss the start of the new season as a result
of the injury sustained during the 5-3 win at Ipswich on Monday evening.
Bellamy underwent a scan on his right thigh after pulling up mid-run against
Ipswich - and will now miss United's opening games of the 2008/09 season.
However the news hasn't unduly affected the Welsh striker, who had begun
pre-season in style scoring a number of goals. "It is just one of those
things," he told whufc.com this morning. "Now I will be just concentrating
on getting through it and coming back strong. "It is gutting for me not to
be able to start the season, especially as I have had a great pre-season.
But it won't affect me too much. I have probably had the best pre-season
ever and have returned fitter and stronger like I said I would. "I have been
looking forward to this season so much. I wanted to hit the ground running
and make an immediate impact but I will just have to wait a bit now to do
this."
Bellamy's injury leaves Alan Curbishley with just Dean Ashton and Carlton
Cole as fit regular first team strikers ahead of the new season, although
youngters Freddie Sears and Zavon Hines are also likely to be available in
the event of an emergency. United's fourth first team striker Bobby Zamora
was sold to Fulham earlier this month. He is yet to be replaced.
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Curbs critical of 'naive' Green - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 7th August 2008
By: Staff Writer
Alan Curbishley has called goalkeeper Rob Green 'naive' for going to the
press in order to express dissatisfaction over his current contract. Green
was roundly condemned last month after a story appeared in The Sun in which
the former Norwich man claimed he felt undervalued by the club, having had a
request for contract talks refused. West Ham CEO Scott Duxbury fired back by
revealing details of Green's existing deal in which the goalkeeper
specifically requested further talks at the end of the 2008/09 season -
whilst confirming that there would be no talks this year. Since then there
have been no further developments, although several clubs have been
monitoring the 28-year-old's progress. But today Curbishley - speaking in a
Q&A session - criticised Green's decision to contact the press. "I think it
was unnecessary and perhaps a little bit naive in some respects," he told
the Echo. "We rate Greeny highly and nobody has been pushing him more with
Fabio Capello than me. I've said on numerous occasions that perhaps he
should dye his hair white and he might be noticed a bit more. "He's
definitely one we rate highly and it was not needed. Perhaps in the cold
light of day, he will see that as well."
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Curbishley: no Egg on my face - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 7th August 2008
By: Staff Writer
Alan Curbishley has absolved himself of any blame regarding the Freddie
Ljungberg farce. Ljungberg parted company with West Ham United yesterday
having made less than 30 appearances for the club - at a cost estimated to
be anywhere between £8-13million. Many supporters have held Curbishley
culpable for what has been called the worst signing in West Ham United's
history. However the beleaguered manager came out fighting this morning
when he refused to accept responsibility for the blunder, claiming that he
has absolutely nothing to do with the club's finances. "Ever since I've been
at the club, all the transfer negotiations, fees and contracts have been
done by first Eggert Magnusson and now Scott Duxbury," he said. "He's the
person to go and see. I just recommend."
Ljungberg joined West Ham a year ago in a £3million switch from Arsenal. He
left United yesterday after the two parties reached a settlement on the two
remaining years of Ljungberg's contract.
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Kirkland doubt for opener - SSN
Wigan goalkeeper hurts back
Last updated: 7th August 2008
Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland is struggling to be fit for the opening game
of the new Premier League season at West Ham. The England international had
been expected to return to training on Monday after a recent scan on a back
injury showed no serious damage, but he is now to see a specialist.
"Kirky jarred his back," first-team coach Eric Black revealed."He has had it
scanned and he is going to see a specialist. It was a spasm - he has had
these things before. We're hoping it won't be too serious." Centre-back Paul
Scharner is also a doubt due to an ankle injury sustained in the 6-0
friendly win at Barnsley last week. Although Scharner should be fit to take
on the Hammers, of greater concern are midfielder Jason Koumas and
right-back Ryan Taylor.
Wales international Koumas has not made an appearance in pre-season due to a
knee injury, whilst Taylor has only figured in one game because of a calf
problem.
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Bullish Curbishley Aims For Top Seven - Just Like My Dreams
The following is Rob Pritchard's interview with Alan Curbishley taken from
the Basildon Echo...
THE 2007/08 season was not one of West Ham United's most memorable. But,
despite seeing his squad decimated by injury after injury, manager Alan
Curbishley still managed to steer the Irons to the safe waters of 10th place
in the Premier League table. With a host of his best players finally
returning to fitness, Curbishley is taking aim at a European place. We sat
down with the Hammers boss to discuss his hopes for 2008/09.
Last summer, you said you would be happy if West Ham had a "solid" season.
Having done so, what are your hopes this time around?
AC: I was criticised for saying we needed solid season last year, but what I
was trying to say that the last few years had been so hectic for the club –
play-off final loss, play-off final won, FA Cup final loss, relegation
battle won and we were on the back pages for all the wrong reasons for most
of the time.
It wasn't about football, it was for other reasons, so I just wanted to have
a season where we got through it, with the people we brought in playing some
decent football, have a decent season and give us something we could build
on.
Obviously last year it didn't quite work out that way, although we finished
in a decent position, but I think the next step for us is to attack the
European spots and that sometimes can go down to seventh.
That is going to be tough enough anyway with the top six clubs investing
heavily and even those outside the top six investing heavily, so I think,
given a fair wind, that is where I would like to see ourselves.
So, would another "solid" season constitute a failure?
AC: I wouldn't think so, because I think the competitiveness of the Premier
League is there for all to see now.
When you have got Sunderland going again, you've got Fulham spending
£60million in two years, Spurs, Manchester City, Portsmouth, and take the
top four out of that too and you are talking 10 clubs at least who have
invested very heavily.
I said last year that I thought the Premier League was the most competitive
and it might well be again this year.
I wouldn't be happy with a top 10 finish, I want to be chasing a European
spot.
That is the natural progression with the squad we've got and the players
available to us, we are well capable of attacking that just as Portsmouth
did last year, and Everton and Blackburn have done in the last couple of
years.
Talking of investment, you have only made one major signing this summer in
Valon Behrami. Can the supporters expect more new arrivals?
AC: We have still got just over a month left and things could still change.
We are still actively looking to improve the squad and the most difficult
thing is to get a club to say "Yes".
But I think the club is in the position where if we need to go out and do
something we can do it.
There has been some speculation over your own future. What is your
relationship like with new chairman Bjorgolfur "BG" Gudmundsson?
AC: (Former chairman) Eggert Magnusson was more bullish and up front, but BG
is the opposite. He is quite laid back on those sorts of things.
What he wants to see is the team playing well, decent performances and we
will take it from there.
Obviously everyone wants to be successful, but he doesn't show it in the
same way as Eggert.
We speak every week, obviously he is in a different position to Eggert who
was able to base himself here and was very hands on, but Scott Duxbury and
BG are in regular contact.
He came out to Canada and spent three or four days with us.
He is different from Eggert but no less passionate.
I understand that when he and Eggert came into the club, he was the major
force, not just with the money, but wanting to do the job as well.
Last season's injury crisis has led to some sweeping changes in the club's
medical department. Do you now feel confident that the problems are a thing
of the past?
AC: We had a change round last summer when the season settled down, but it
was clear once we started training that here wasn't enough bodies about.
We were saturated with injuries but we couldn't cope anyway.
What happened is that they were just so overworked, but what you will find
now is that there are enough light blue shirts (medical staff) around this
building, so if there is a player who needs specialist treatment or do a
certain bit of work, there is someone here to do it with them.
It was very frustrating last year. I think our ratio was one fitness
specialist to eight or nine or 10 players.
We have greatly reduced that so there shouldn't be a situation where any of
them are hanging around waiting for this bit of treatment or this bit of
work.
We were overworked and understaffed, which is no disrespect to the people we
had, but we knew we had to beef it up, so we took that decision and we have
beefed it up.
People have come in. The head of the sports department has been in this
position at numerous clubs in Europe and with Olympic squads.
Throughout his career he has mixed with athletes.
We've brought in an osteopath, a fitness coach and other people.
The players are high maintenance. They demand people around them so that
they have everything there to improve as a player and stay fit as a player
so we have gone along with that.
Sticking with the off-the-pitch issues, what is the latest with regard to
the proposed move away from Upton Park to a new stadium?
AC: I'm not too sure where we're at. We're concentrating on the training
ground.
I look at Upton Park and just wonder that improving it – making it a
wrap-around stadium – is possible. That would be one hell of a stadium.
There's a couple of opportunities, although I can't really put a screw and
bolt on that.
I've been pressing for the training ground since the first day I've came
here.
I hadn't been to Chadwell Heath for some time and when I came in 18 months
ago, not much had changed, except it's a lot smaller because we've had to
adhere to the Academy status.
It's very difficult on these small areas to rotate and give the groundsman a
chance.
So it's imperative we move, or get a bigger training ground.
Finally, you have been here for 18 months now and, with players returning to
fitness, can really stamp your own style of play on the team. Everyone
associates Arsenal with Arsene Wenger's brand of football, while Manchester
United and Tottenham Hotspur also have a reputation for slick, passing
football. What constitutes "Curbishley's brand" of play?
AC: I want to be quick. Quick in terms of our passing.
I want to try and get to the half-way line and pen teams in, so the passing
becomes shorter.
That puts the onus on the centre half to get there, which some of them don't
like because they've got quick players who can turn them around.
I think if we can get on top of teams, especially at Upton Park, then the
pace we've got in the squad we'll unlock the doors.
I want to have that facility. I look at some of them, and if I can get them
out there, we have got all them attributes – quick, can play, can run with
or without the ball.
We also find ourselves, like we did on two or three occasions last year –
which was disappointing – at Birmingham and Reading away, we know that as
the away team, we've got the qualities to do some damage.
You've got to have that pace in the side and that's what I've tried to bring
in – players who can play in tight areas, have got explosive pace and can
make a difference when it comes to the finishing.
I got a glimpse of that against Ipswich, but it's a long season so we'll see
what materialises.
Posted by Trilby at 10:26
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The Tragedy Of Dick Walker - Just Like My Dreams
Reproduced here with kind permission is the story of Billy Walker by
historian John Simkin. For further fascinating insights into the history of
West ham United you should check out the Spartacus Educational site...
The case of Dick Walker is one of the most distressing in West Ham's
history. Charles Richard (Dick) Walker was born in Hackney on 22nd July
1913. The family moved to Dagenham when he was a child and after leaving
school he played football for Becontree Athletic. In 1932 Walker was spotted
by one of West Ham's scouts. After an extended trial he signed for the club
in 1933. He made his debut as right-half against Burnley in August, 1934. He
played two more games that season.
Walker made his debut as right-half against Burnley in August, 1934. It was
not until the 1936-37 season that Walker replaced Jim Barrett at centre half
and became a regular member of the West Ham United team. In the 1937-38
season Walker played in 32 of the 42 league games. The following season he
played 43 league and cup games and some journalists thought that he was good
enough to play for England.
Walker held his place in the team up until the outbreak of the Second World
War. According to Tony Hogg, the author of Who's Who of West Ham United
(2005): "Had it not been for the war it is highly probable that he would
have been capped for England and also challenged Jimmy Ruffell's appearance
record for Hammers."
Most professional footballers were given the opportunity to become Physical
Training instructors in the British Army. However, Walker decided to
volunteer for active service. Promoted to the rank of sergeant he served
with an infantry battalion who fought from El Alamein to Italy and was
several times mentioned in dispatches. He also represented the Army at
football while in the Middle East.
After the war he replaced Charlie Bicknell as captain of the club. Ken Brown
lived in the same road in Dagenham as Walker: "He was a wonderful man. I
lived in the same street as him. The kids would watch him walk the length of
the road to where his mum lived and we would look out of the window and be
amazed that this was Dick Walker!"
In August 1950 Ted Fenton took over from Charlie Paynter as manager of West
Ham United. Walker clashed with Fenton. "I didn't like him and he didn't
like me". Walker saw Fenton's actions as: "A matter of taking over from
someone popular and wanting to show you're in charge."
Walker remained a regular member of the team until the 1951-52 season.
Walker played his last game for the first-team against Plymouth Argyle on
18th February 1953. Over the next four years he continued to turn-out for
the reserves and helped to coach the young players at the club. This was
something he was very good at and during this period a number of young
players reached the first-team.
Ken Brown has fond memories of Walker: "I was a bit of a skinny lad and Dick
Walker thought I should put on weight otherwise, according to Dick, I should
never last. Andy Malcolm had a car and Dick would take the two of us up to
Soho every Friday night for a glass of stout and a big steak and kidney pie,
full of meat and gravy." John Lyall also praised Walker's attitude towards
the young players at the club. He would be given responsibility for those
young players who Lyall described as "Dagenham-type lads".
At the end of the 1956-1957 season Walker's playing contract was not renewed
by Fenton. Instead he offered Walker a job "to attend to the players boots"
at £4 a week. In other words, the former captain ended up doing the job he
had done as a groundstaff boy 25 years previously. It is believed that
Fenton treated Walker badly because he was so popular with the players and
fans that he feared he would replace him as manager of West Ham United.
Following his testimonial match against Sparta Rotterdam in 1957 Walker left
the club. Walker worked as a coach for Dagenham F.C. and later became a
full-time scout for Sp*rs. It was criminal that Walker was not given a job
at Upton Park. He suffered from bad health and spent long spells in
hospital. According to former team-mate, Tommy Dixon, ended up as a tramp.
Dick Walker died in February 1988.
Posted by Trilby at 10:11
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Bids in for Dean Ashton and Anton Ferdinand from West Ham -avfcblog.com
Written by Damian
Thursday, 07 August 2008
This is a rumour I didn't see coming but Canary Corner, great name, have it
that we've offered £25mn. for the pair. I'd love both if I'm honest and we
need both players and this is hot on the news that the club have finally
confirmed, after every other website and news source, that we've had
successful bids for Shorey and Young. Both players are expected to have
medicals today and sign with some talk that they'll also be heading off to
Spain later to meet up with the squad ahead of the game tomorrow night. For
those badgering me and the one that got my mobile number, these two players
are not the player I've been told about this morning. But if we add these
two to Shorey and Young, along with my fella, which I'm hoping to tell you
about later, we could very well see the seven players in one day Martin
O'Neill spoke about a while ago. It could turn out to be a fantastic day or
few days.
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Gunners Going For Green? - Goal.com
Arsenal are being linked with a possible move for West Ham's disgruntled
goalkeeper, Robert Green. It may just be idle speculation, but according to
some reports, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is keen to bring in West Ham
United's England keeper Robert Green top provide experienced competition for
current number one Manuel Almunia. Green is an excellent goalkeeper and he
has regularly impressed for the Hammers against the Gunners - never more so
than in April 2007 when his defiant, world-class heroics shut a rampant
Arsenal attack out and enabled West Ham to inflict what remains the only
competitive defeat on Wenger's side at Emirates Stadium. Since then Green
has become somewhat disaffected at the Boleyn Ground, feeling he is being
taken for granted in the pay-stakes as he sees team-mates who've arrived
more recently rewarded with much more lucrative contracts. The departure of
Germany keeper Jens Lehmann from Ashburton Grove means Almunia's competition
will come from promising but still inexperienced Polish keeper Lukasz
Fabianski, who has figured in the Gunners' pre-season programme. But whether
that means Wenger will be persuaded to bring in more cover - or be prepared
to meet West Ham's £6million-rated valuation for the 28-year-old ex-Norwich
man remains to be seen. Green wants an improved offer from the Hammers, who
seem unmoved by his situation. Manager Alan Curbishley would not want to
lose him, but a switch to Arsenal, involved in the Champions League and sure
to be challenging for the title, may appeal to Green. On the other hand,
being a number two to Almunia may not.
Mark Hinton, Goal.com
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Bellamy injury vow - Setanta
by Rob Carragher, 07 August 2008
Craig Bellamy has pledged to come back 'strong and well' after being ruled
out of action for a month. Bellamy had been enjoying a prolific pre-season
campaign, grabbing five goals before suffering a hamstring injury in a
friendly against Ipswich Town. With less than ten days to the start of the
season, Bellamy has every right to feel aggrieved at his latest injury woe,
but the Wales striker is choosing to remain philosophical and focus on a
strong return to action. "I just pulled up after the match, I wasn't feeling
tight beforehand or anything like that," said Bellamy. "I have been fit and
well throughout the pre-season, so this was not anything that had affected
me before at all. "It's just one of those things that happened in the match
and now I will be just concentrating on getting through it and coming back
strong and well to do my best for West Ham."
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West Ham confident landing Givet
tribalfooball.com - August 07, 2008
West Ham are confident of landing Marseille defender Gael Givet. The
experienced stopper has priced himself out of a move to Panathinaikos, says
La Provence, though West Ham will have no problem meeting his wage demands.
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Tottenham ready to go to £20M for West Ham's Ashton
tribalfootball.com - August 07, 2008
Tottenham are ready to splash out a staggering £20 million on West Ham
forward Dean Ashton. The Daily Express says the White Hart Lane club are
reportedly considering a fee of £20m for the West Ham star - which would
take their closed-season spending spree up to £50million. The Hammers are
reluctant to sell their main striker, after having sold Bobby Zamora to
Fulham and Craig Bellamy's latest injury and reportedly rejected the first
offer of £15m for the England forward. But Spurs seem intent on persuading
the Hammers with money in what has been a summer of crazy spending for
Juande Ramos's side. A move for Ashton would ease the pressure on the Spurs
front line following Robbie Keane's move to Liverpool and doubts over the
future of Dimitar Berbatov.
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Hammers boss disappointed with Green contract outburst - Guardian Series
2:16pm Thursday 7th August 2008
WEST Ham manager Alan Curbishley has expressed his disappointment at keeper
Robert Green over his contract dispute with the club. Speaking on television
last month, the 28-year-old stopper claimed he felt undervalued as one of
the lowest-paid first-team regulars at Upton Park, and called on the club to
offer him an improved contract. The Hammers turned down the request, instead
telling Green his terms would not be discussed until next summer.
And boss Curbishley believes the England keeper should have kept his
concerns inside the camp, rather than go public with them. "I think it was
unnecessary and perhaps a little bit naive in some respects," said
Curbishley. "We rate Greeny highly and nobody has been pushing him more with
(England coach) Fabio Capello than me. "I've said on numerous occasions that
perhaps he should dye his hair white and he might be noticed a bit more.
"At Ipswich he made two great saves and they went unnoticed because that's
what he does. "He's definitely one we rate highly and it was not needed.
Perhaps in the cold light of day, he will see that as well."
In future, Curbishley urged any players who wished to discuss their
contracts to speak to chief executive Scott Duxbury. "Ever since I've been
at the club, all the transfer negotiations, fees and contracts have been
done by first Eggert Magnusson and now Scott Duxbury," he added. "He's the
person to go and see - I just recommend."
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HAMMERS TALK: Irons in the hunt for Marseille defender - Guardian Series
2:51pm Thursday 7th August 2008
WEST HAM are believed to be lining up a £1.5million bid for out of favour
Marseille defender Gael Givet. The former Monaco star endured a difficult
first season at the Stade Velodrome, and the French outfit are keen to
offload him after landing centre backs Amine Erbate and Hilton this summer.
Although France international Givet is in talks with Greek giants
Panathinaikos about a possible move, reports are suggesting that the Hammers
have also entered the frame for the 26-year-old's signature. Irons boss Alan
Curbishley currently has a wealth of talent at centre back. Yet Danny
Gabbidon, James Collins and Jon Spector are all out injured, Callum
Davenport has yet to prove himself at Upton Park, and doubts persist over
Anton Ferdinand's future at the club.
That leaves just England man Matty Upson and highly-rated youngster James
Tomkins, and Curbishley could be persuaded to enter the market for defensive
cover before the transfer window closes.
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West Ham set to complete Swiss double? - Echo News
2:35pm Thursday 7th August 2008
By Rob Pritchard »
WEST Ham United could complete a Swiss double by signing former Blackburn
Rovers left-back Bruno Berner. The 30-year-old former FC Grasshopper,
Oviedo, SC Freiburg and FC Basel man is a free agent after being released by
Rovers at the end of last season. Berner has been in discussions with
Championship sides Leicester City and Nottingham Forest, but the Irons are
also reportedly interested. The player also spent part of the season at
Norwich City, but failed to earn a contract at Carrow Road. Manager Alan
Curbishley is in the market for a back-up left-back as first choice George
McCartney is out with a hamstring injury. Berner has 16 full caps for
Switzerland and was in his nation's squad for Euro 2004. Should he join
West Ham, the player would be the second Swiss to move to Upton Park this
summer following the arrival of Lazio midfielder Valon Behrami a fortnight
ago.
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HAMMERS TALK: Gunners chase £6m Irons stopper - Guardian Series
9:25am Thursday 7th August 2008
WEST HAM keeper Robert Green is being linked with a move to Arsenal. The
28-year-old has been connected with the north London club in the past.
And reports this morning are suggesting that Gunners boss Arsene Wenger -
who has seen Jens Lehmann depart the club - is willing to shell out
£6million to snap up the shot-stopper. Green's future has been cast into
doubt this summer after the player publicly called on the Irons to offer him
a new contract.
The one-capped England star - - whose consistent performances saw him voted
player of the year at Upton Park last term - reckons he is underpaid
compared to many of his team mates and, as such, feels undervalued. And no
doubt the prospect of playing Champions League football and challenging for
the Premier League title next season would be an appealing option to the
former Norwich man. However, Hammers boss Alan Curbishley would be reluctant
to let his number one leave the club.
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Striker can nail down place with Three Lions - EastLondonAdvertiser
07 August 2008
By JONATHAN CLEGG
ALAN Curbishley has backed Dean Ashton to become a regular in Fabio
Capello's England squad following his sparkling form for the Hammers in
pre-season. Ashton made it six goals in three friendly matches with a
stunning hat-trick against Ipswich Town on Monday night as West Ham
prevailed 5-3 in an entertaining encounter. It took the England striker just
four minutes to open the scoring at Portman Road, smashing home Matty
Etherington's cross off the underside of the crossbar, and Ashton helped
himself to two more after the break in an electric solo performance. The
24-year-old had shaken off a virus to take his place in the starting line-up
but he picked up where he left off following his double strike in West Ham's
high-profile friendly against the Major League Soccer All-Stars last month.
Ashton endured a slow recovery from ankle surgery last season but recovered
his sharpness in the final months of the campaign, netting five times in his
final eight games and finishing as the club's top scorer with 11 goals. The
former Norwich striker made his England debut against Trinidad and Tobago at
the end of the season and Hammers boss Curbishley Ashton will emerge as a
key player for the Three Lions in the coming months. "I think he was in the
last squad and obviously Fabio Capello knows all about Dean," Curbishley
said. "He came to Upton Park on quite a few occasions last year so I think
all Dean can do - and it's that same for some of our other young English
players - is go out there week-in, week-out and make sure they're noticed."
Ashton added two goals after half-time, firing home from the edge of the box
after 57 minutes and sliding in to convert Kyel Reid's cross 11 minutes from
time to complete his hat-trick. But Curbishley was also impressed by the
forward's link-up play with fellow striker Craig Bellamy, who found the net
with an exquisite lob before departing with a hamstring injury. Bellamy and
Ashton played together just twice last season as injury deprived Curbishley
of his first-choice strike partnership. But the West Ham manager believes
the duo will form an exciting forward line this year. "I think we didn't
have them at all last year, I think they played together once or twice,"
said Curbishley. "Obviously we are looking forward to that and we hope it
brings us quite a few goals.
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