Carlton Cole is going to keep working hard after hitting the decisive goal
in the weekend home win
21.04.2008
Carlton Cole has pledged to continue in a "professional manner" after coming
off the bench to great impact at the weekend with the winner against Derby
County.
With 25 league and cup starts and a further nine appearances off the bench,
the hard-working 24-year-old striker has played more games this season than
in any other campaign since breaking through with first club Chelsea in
2001/02. It took Cole just three minutes to score the decisive goal on
Saturday after arriving in the 73rd minute for Freddie Sears. His
close-range finish was just reward for his extra training sessions working
on his forward play.
Rather than dwell on his latest positive, Cole knows he has to keep going in
the final three games - not least because there is plenty of competition for
places looking ahead to next season with Sears, Dean Ashton, Craig Bellamy
and Bobby Zamora all in Alan Curbishley's forward thinking. "It is how
football is," said Cole about the challenge of proving his worth. "It is an
unpredictable game. You have just got to carry on and do things in a
professional manner."
The former England Under-21 striker, who has played mostly as a lone striker
this campaign, said the situation was the same for all players at all clubs
at this stage of the season as squads are assessed for the future. "We have
got to fight all the time. We have had a lot of injuries this season and a
few players that have not really played a big part in the season. They are
going to want to get in the team next season and try and push for places.
There is going to be lots of competition."
For all the individual aims, the main concern has to be the team and Cole
said there was a feeling of what could have been had selection issues been
more straightforward. He said: "We are disappointed we didn't push up higher
in the table when we had to after the Christmas period. We had it really
hard with injuries and people playing out of position so the manager used
his resources well. It was just frustrating that we couldn't get the few
results that we should have had at home and a few away results as well that
went against us. They could have pushed us higher up the league."
Speaking about his match-winner, Curbishley said: "Coley has had a decent
season. We have told him that. He has played up there a lot on his own and I
have got a lot of time for Carlton Cole. As everyone knows I had him on loan
at Charlton for a season. I think he has had a terrific season. He has a lot
to be pleased with. You are hoping that when there is a lot of competition
they come on and want to do something. When I get that competition
[throughout the team] we have got a decent squad."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Stokes in the spotlight - WHUFC
The popular 21-year-old midfielder Tony Stokes has enjoyed being in the
first-team mix this month
21.04.2008
Tony Stokes is aiming to help the reserves finish their season on a high on
Monday having enjoyed being back in the first-team picture in recent weeks.
Kevin Keen's reserve team have an outside chance of still winning the
league, although they need to beat Arsenal at Barnet and hope leaders Aston
Villa and third-placed Reading slip up in their respective final fixtures of
the 2007/08 campaign. "All we can do is get a win in our last game, which
hopefully we will do on Monday night and see what happens," said Stokes.
"Hopefully they can slip up, we go back to the top of the league and then
you never know what might happen."
The 21-year-old midfielder travelled with Alan Curbishley's squad for the
away game at Bolton Wanderers last week before being in the frame for
selection with the weekend win against Derby County. Stokes admitted "it has
been a surprise" to be involved, having only figured once for West Ham
United's senior side, in September 2005 when he came on in a League Cup
match at Sheffield Wednesday.
Stokes said: "I have been working extra hard in the hope of catching the
manager's eye. The last two weeks it has been nice to be around the squad
and travel with them to Bolton last week. To be in the squad again against
Derby was good and it has all been a surprise to me really." Stokes, who has
three times left the Boleyn Ground for loan spells - at Rushden and
Diamonds, Brighton and Hove Albion and, this season, Stevenage United, has
also enjoyed being back with the reserves.
In a 2-1 win against Derby County's second string on 9 April, and with with
Jack Collison rested, Stokes regained the skipper's armband he had last
season. "It was good to be captain again. This season Jack has taken the
captaincy and he has done well for us. It is nice when he is not playing to
still be thought of and given the captaincy and the chance to work well for
the team." Stokes did just that and led the line well in an advanced role,
as he scored the penalty opener after forcing the foul in the first place.
He added: "I am always happy to go up front because I can do a job for the
team. I know where I like the ball when I play up there and when I play in
midfield as well I know where the strikers want the ball." Regarding that
spot-kick, there was no doubt in his mind that he was taking it. "I was
definitely having it. As soon as I went down and the ball fell to my feet, I
just picked it up and thought 'yeah, I'll have this'. I don't normally take
them."
.
Stokes is well placed to judge how good the reserves have been under Keen's
stewardship this season. "I have been playing for the reserves since I was
17 and in all my time at the club, we have never been this high up the
table. We are used to being near the bottom of the league. It has been great
this year because we have not had a lot of first-team players so we have
done well. To be in contention right at the end is a high achievement."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Reserves still have a chance - WHUFC
Kevin Keen's reserve team end their hugely successful 2007/08 season away to
Arsenal on Monday night
20.04.2008
West Ham United conclude their Barclays Premier Reserve League campaign on
Monday night with an outside chance still of winning the southern section
title.
Kevin Keen's men will face Arsenal at Barnet needing to take all three
points and then have to hope that leaders Aston Villa lose on the same
evening at Chelsea and again when they take on the Gunners themselves on
Monday week at Villa Park. Third-placed Reading could also come into the mix
as they are two points behind United, but still have games at Portsmouth on
Tuesday and then at home to Tottenham Hotspur on 28 April.
The team which eventually clinches the ten-team division will go forward to
the national decider on Wednesday 7 May. This will be staged at Anfield, the
home of runaway northern section winners Liverpool. For any United fans
wanting to travel to Underhill, the home of Barnet where Arsenal stage all
their reserve-team fans, click here for more information. As usual,
whufc.com will have full live text coverage.
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Neill staying put - KUMB
Filed: Monday, 21st April 2008
By: Staff Writer
Lucas Neill's agent has denied reports suggesting that his client is set to
leave the Hammers this summer. A number of media sources plucked club
captain Neill's name out of the hat following Scott Duxbury's revelation at
a fans' forum last week that a number of players face the axe this summer as
the club seeks to trim its first team squad. But Neill's representative
Paddy Dominguez has refuted claims that the Australian is one of those
listed for the chop, adding that he is happy at the club . "We have not been
approached by West Ham in regards to that, reviewing his contract or taking
a pay cut," he told Fox Sports. "It doesn't make sense that a manager who
only 14 months ago brought Lucas to the club and has installed him as
captain would look to sell him. "Lucas' relationship with Alan [Curbishley]
is good - and he is relishing the role of captain." Neill has also
privately expressed his desire to remain at West Ham, despite criticism of
his form this season from some quarters.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Curbishley: give us some credit - KUMB
Filed: Sunday, 20th April 2008
By: Staff Writer
Alan Curbishley looks back on a day when a winning Hammers team were booed
off the pitch - and asks for a little bit of love ...
"With the situation we've found ourselves in - yesterday morning Matty Upson
and Jon Spector pulled out, which meant with Anton Ferdinand out as well and
Danny Gabbidon and James Collins, to say the least that's a lot of
centre-half's missing.
We had to juggle it up; young Tomkins came in and did fantastically well for
us. We had a few people returning from injury but have gone out and got the
result. Sometimes the result is more important - especially after losing the
last three games, we did need to bounce back.
Derby, I felt, played well all game and with a little bit of freedom. They
bnroke on us and got the goal, they broke on us and nearly scored before
that. So I knew it was going to be a tough game today with all the
expectation levels on us; you're playing Derby with the position they find
themselves in. But I knew with changes and people coming back in from injury
I knew perhaps we were going to run out of steam.
I just think that there's a lack of appreciation of what has happened here.
I can't keep going on about how many times we've suffered injuries, key
players are missing and that the players that have been playing have done
fantastically well.
We've managed to keep ourselves out of any trouble. I know we've been in
striking distance for some time to catch some of the teams above us but I
will look back on this season as a success.
So I'd just like to call for a little bit of appreciation and realism. The
problems that this club have had all season - and it started really in the
second week of pre-season - we've done alright.
I was looking at the game and how we dropped off a bit; one or two were
getting tired, Freddie Ljungberg and Julien Faubert. We'd conceded ground
and were finding it a little bit tough. Derby scored in that period but we
bounced back, we got the goal.
The way the game was going it was 'are Derby going to equalise or were we
going to get the third?' But we held out, and I'll look at the result
tomorrow morning and I'll be well pleased with it. As I said earlier, I know
what's going on here, I know what we've been through so I'm pleased with
what's happened.
I think that if I can pick a team for next week that will be as much as I
can hope for if it's anything like this week. But we've been in the top ten
all season, we'd like to finish at least there, if we can, and we've got
three games left."
* Alan Curbishley was talking to the BBC. KUMB.com remain banned from
attending press conferences at the Boleyn Ground and therefore unable to
bring you full coverage.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Beauty needs to return to the Boleyn - Echo News
WELL, there is not much to get the blood pumping through the veins down at
the beloved Boleyn at the moment. Yes, I know many football fans (Hammers
included), will be saying I should be happy we are comfortably mid-table and
not embroiled in a relegation rollercoaster. And yes, Curbs has been unlucky
with injuries. But still, he sets the team up and instructs them how to play
and us fans pay for entertainment. West Ham have always tried to play the
beautiful game well, beautifully, and that has just not happened this
season. Yes, Curbs has "shored" us up. Yes, he has made us battle-hardened
and "solid" and deserves credit for that. But the fans deserve more than
hard-fought, ground out results. Expectation is high, as always, but this
stagnant run-in of ours has left a bad taste in my mouth. How dull was
Saturday's win!? Fans pay big bucks to watch players on collossal wages who
should fight as if every game was their last. But I don't care what anyone
says since 40 points was achieved it has seemed a "job done" mentality has
set in. And the motivation and selection buck stops with the manager. I felt
our season evaporate when I heard Curbs' pre-match interview against lowly
Birmingham.
We were only a few points from a European placing, yet the talk was of
Birmingham and how they will be tough to beat, etc, etc. I would have liked
to have heard more positive, fired-up chat about us and our prospects. It
wasn't there and neither, unsurprisingly, was a performance against
Birmingham who left Upton Park with a point after a pitiful 1-1. Still,
Curbs has done what was asked of him. Tenth (well, hopefully). Now, we wait
and see what our first technical director Nani has to offer and see if some
young blood with a bit of flair can be brought to the Boleyn. Next season
Curbs should have his signings fit, many of whom should give us an injection
of pace we have sorely lacked. For me the jury is out. But be sure another
comfortable, often dull, mid-table, Charlton-esqe season will not be
tolerated again.
9:46pm Sunday 20th April 2008
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Alan Curbishley and Paul Jewell both look to the future - The Times
West Ham United 2 Derby County 1
Next season cannot come soon enough for these two teams. West Ham United
will hope to start the 2008-09 campaign with something that more closely
resembles their best side than the ragged, injury-plagued XIs they have been
forced to field for most of this season. Derby County, meanwhile, have
struggled after being promoted beyond the means of most of their players.
But if either manager could take something positive from Saturday's game, it
was probably Paul Jewell, of Derby, whose team recovered some composure
after the 6-0 home defeat by Aston Villa the previous weekend to record a
third successive away defeat by a single goal. That recent record hints at
the sort of character they will need to show on a weekly basis next season
if they are to challenge for an immediate return to the Barclays Premier
League.
"This season is a write-off," Jewell said. "The points are almost
irrelevant, although we want them, but next season is the one that counts. I
know we have got to get it right next season, and I'm fairly confident that
we will."
Jewell's side seemed to have claimed a morale-boosting draw when Tyrone
Mears – who joined Derby from West Ham in January 2007 after failing to
impress in six months at Upton Park – cancelled out Bobby Zamora's overdue
first goal of the season after 65 minutes, outpacing Fredrik Ljungberg to
beat Robert Green, the West Ham goalkeeper.
"It was good to come back and show a few people what I could do," Mears
said. "I hope that they're asking whatever happened to Tyrone Mears now.
Losing to Villa kind of shook us up a bit. People expect us to roll over and
die, and the term 'whipping boys' has been used a lot. But we're trying to
show a bit of pride for the fans. We're going to be completely different
next season. We are going to be animals on the pitch. We are going to be as
fit as fiddles."
West Ham, though, stole the points when Carlton Cole, who took the field to
jeers after replacing Freddie Sears, converted Ljungberg's cross from close
range three minutes later.
Cole is one of the players who has had increased first-team opportunities
thanks to the many bumps and bruises in the East End, not that the locals
have been impressed. The owners, too, have hinted that Alan Curbishley's
squad may have to be trimmed in the summer and Cole knows that he and others
face a more strenuous battle for their futures at the club, let alone for
playing time.
"Do we have to fight for our futures? Definitely," Cole said. "We have to
fight all the time. We've had a lot of injuries and a few of the players
have not played much. They're going to want to get in the team next season.
There's going to be a lot of competition in terms of who's going to stay and
who's going to go. There could be a few worried people this summer. But
that's how football is."
West Ham United (4-4-2): R Green 6 – J Paintsil 5, L Neill 5, J Tomkins 7, G
McCartney 6 – J Faubert 4 (sub: N Solano, 78min), S Parker 5, M Noble 6, F
Ljungberg 5 (sub: L Boa Morte, 90) – R Zamora 4, F Sears 4 (sub: C Cole,
73). Substitutes not used: J Walker, H Mullins. Booked: Noble, Parker. Next:
Newcastle (h).
Derby County (4-4-2): R Carroll 6 – A Todd 5 (sub: J McEveley, 83), D
Leacock 4, A Stubbs 5, E Lewis 5 – T Mears 7, R Savage 5, H Ghaly 6, D Jones
5 (sub: E Villa, 75) – M Sterjovski 4, K Miller 5. Substitutes not used: L
Price, B Feilhaber, D Moore. Booked: Stubbs. Next: Arsenal (h).
Referee: S Tanner
Attendance: 34,612
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United 2 Derby County 1: Jeers for Hammers leave Jewell rueful -
The Independent
By James Wrigley
Monday, 21 April 2008
If this game was not the most meaningless of the weekend, then it was in the
hunt. Derby doomed, West Ham marooned in mid-table. Paul Jewell came up with
a little anecdote to divert attention, however.
Jewell has yet to see his Derby team win after 21 games in charge which, for
someone who quit his last job at Wigan partly because of mental fatigue, is
a mite worrying. He had been forewarned, though. "I remember one Premier
League manager I spoke to in November after they had played Derby – I won't
tell you who it was – and he said to me, 'Get as much money on as you like
that Derby don't win another game all season.' I said, 'It's funny you
should say that, I'm taking the job next week'."
Derby played Everton in late October, followed by Aston Villa, West Ham and
Chelsea in November, so the tip could have come from Jewell's opposite
number on Saturday after the Hammers' 5-0 win at Pride Park. Alan Curbishley
had the look of a man who had forgotten to put the bet on.
His team were booed off on Saturday after winning a far closer affair and
the fans also chanted the tiresome ditty, "You don't know what you're doing"
as Curbishley sent on Carlton Cole for the ineffective Freddie Sears. Cole
scored the winner four minutes later, a tap-in after Freddie Ljungberg's
neat one-two with Mark Noble.
"I don't think there's been too much appreciation for what had gone on here
this season," said Curbishley, referring to his well-chronicled injury
problems. Jewell was asked if he had ever had a team booed off after
winning. "I'd like to have had the chance," came the reply.
Bobby Zamora scored his first goal for almost a year in the 20th minute,
heading home George McCartney's free-kick. The leveller came from Tyrone
Mears, who was a flop in his West Ham days. This was his first of the season
but he took it well, using his pace to latch on to Hossam Ghaly's
through-ball before thumping it past Robert Green. "It was good to come back
and show a few people what I could do," said Mears. "Not so much the staff
but the West Ham fans. They turned on their team very quickly."
His good work was undone by Cole's winner 12 minutes later. "There's going
to be a lot of competition in terms of who's going to stay and who's going
to go in the summer," said Cole, who clearly believes he is playing for his
future. Given the injuries, Curbishley is unlikely to want to let too many
go.
Goals: Zamora (20) 1-0; Mears (65) 1-1; Cole (77) 2-1.
West Ham United (4-4-2): Green; Pantsil, Tomkins, Neill, McCartney; Faubert
(Solano, 78), Noble, Parker, Ljungberg (Boa Morte, 90); Sears (Cole, 74),
Zamora. Substitutes not used: Walker (gk), Mullins.
Derby County (4-4-2): Carroll; Todd (McEveley, 83), Leacock, Stubbs, Lewis;
Mears, Ghaly, Savage, Jones (Villa, 75); Sterjovski, Miller. Substitutes not
used: Price (gk), Feilhaber, Moore.
Referee: S Tanner (Somerset).
Booked: West Ham Noble, Parker.
Man of the match: Ljungberg.
Attendance: 34,612.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
It's just like watching ... Wimbledon - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 17th April 2008
By: Dan Lee
Okay, so I understand that our season is pretty much over but do the team
really have to put us through the misery of the long ball game?
After watching the game against Portsmouth, I found myself banging my fist
against the table on a countless number of times, in frustration with every
long ball we lofted up field, in the hope of finding one of our attacker's
heads.
If god had wanted us to play football in the air then he would have put feet
on our heads!
The thing which certainly got me ticking was the fact that we couldn't even
play the long ball game correctly. The amount of times I watched as Solano
floated in a ball that was either way beyond Ashton or Zamora's reach or
didn't even make it over the first player.
This was a game where I was really expecting a good performance from the
team against a tired Portsmouth side where Harry had decided to rest several
key players. With Jermaine Defoe also absent I thought we really had a
chance to get something out of the game, especially with Portsmouth's only
real attacking threat being Dave Nugent who lets face it, makes Carlton Cole
look like Christiano Ronaldo!
Portsmouth rarely looked like they would give us a scare and the only way in
which they would score would be a shot from one of their midfield players,
and I wasn't wrong. I lost count the amount of shots they had outside our
box, and after the first few I really did expect the team and more
importantly, Curbishly to pick up on this.
The imminent arrival of Freddie Sears obviously got the crowd going but I do
feel sorry for the young lad. He has already shown what a great player he
is, a great player who likes the ball to be played to his feet but sadly the
long ball tactic was still in place so therefore the substitution was a
complete waste of time.
How on earth was Sears going to get a crack at goal if the service was going
way above his head? With his sheer pace surely a ball to his feet would have
left poor old Sol heading for yet another early exit?
I know Alan Pardew had his critics but I did, and still do admired the way
we played in our first season back in the Premiership. That attacking wide
play we used to portray to such good effect is in my opinion sorely missed
and something that we must try to rediscover. The wing play at the moment is
poor and defiantly an issue that needs to be resolved.
With a lack of creativity in the centre of the pitch it is important that we
make use of our wide players, wide players who are prepared to hog that
touchline and make it their own. Back in the Pardew days, Etherington
executed this position and if I'm honest on several occasions this season,
especially in the away fixture at Reading he has done the same.
It is quite obvious that there will be a massive clear out come the end of
the season but for us fans the season is not yet over and we don't expect
the players to just to roll over as they feel there is nothing left to play
for.
I find it hard to point the finger at just one person for our poor end of
the season. The players must be aware that recent performances have not been
good enough and for the first time in a while, with the financial backing
from the board their position in the team can easily replaced.
With regards to the manager, I feel tactically we could be a bit more
adventurous as I find for the first time in my life, being a little bit
bored by the way we play.
Not trying to be all doom or gloom, we do have a lot of key players who will
no doubt, if fit of course improve the team for next season. The
introduction of Sears and Tomkins has also been inspiring and comes with
great comfort that Tony Carr and his team are still doing the fantastic job
of nurturing the talent of the East End.
So Curbishley if you're reading this, ditch the long ball tactic and get us
passing the ball on the grass and not in the sky.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham fans tire of Curbishley's excuses - Telegraph
By Oliver Brown
Last Updated: 2:26am BST 21/04/2008
Listening to Alan Curbishley, you would think West Ham's training ground was
the scene of an outbreak of bubonic plague. Certainly, it is a place to
which any sane person should give a wide berth, if only to avoid hearing
another self-pitying soliloquy about injuries from the manager.
Curbishley was in rare form on Saturday, chastened by a chorus of catcalls
that rang out around Upton Park even in victory. The supporters were
unappreciative, he countered. They did not realise that a likely mid-table
finish constituted a triumph in terrible adversity.
West Ham fans simply looked at a substitutes' bench that included the
not-insignificant talents of Nolberto Solano and Luis Boa Morte and wondered
why their team could not do more than scrape a victory against Derby County.
But Curbishley was having none of it. "Look at the back of the programme and
tick off who is not available," he said. "It's incredible, unprecedented.
I've never known anything like it." True, West Ham were deprived of the
services of Matthew Upson and Jonathan Spector at the last minute on Friday,
taking their number of crocked centre-halves to six. Add in the long-term
injuries to Kieron Dyer and Craig Bellamy and you do form an impression of a
squad ravaged by misfortune.
In the manager's defence, West Ham supporters are not deeply rooted in the
rational either. This might explain why they broke out into chants of "You
don't know what you're doing" even when Curbishley brought on Carlton Cole,
the substitute whose 77th-minute strike sealed the win.
Cole is among many fighting for his future at West Ham, as talk of Icelandic
benefactor Bjorgolfur Gundmundsson's plan for a mass clear-out refuses to
die down. "There's going to be a lot of competition in terms of who's going
to stay and who's going to go," said the striker, himself contracted for
another two years.
Clearly, this was an occasion when players' minds were elsewhere, for Derby
are another club upon whom wrenching transition has been enforced. Tyrone
Mears, who had the brief satisfaction of scoring the equaliser against his
former club, insisted his Derby side would be stronger in the Championship
next season.
"We're going to be completely different," he promised. "We're going to be
animals on the pitch, as fit as fiddles."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Curbishley defends record
tribalfooball.com - April 20, 2008
West Ham United boss Alan Curbishley believes they've been wrongly judged
this season because of their heavy injury problems. "Our injury situation
falls into three categories," Curbishley said. "We have got five or six
permanent injuries which are long-term and impact injuries. These are broken
legs, ruptured Achilles and cruciate ligaments. "We have got four players
who have had stomach injuries for most of the season. These have been Lee
Bowyer, Matthew Etherington, Craig Bellamy and Danny Gabbidon, and we have
not got to grips with them. "Then you add the three or four wear-and-tear
injuries, a hamstring or calf that every club gets, and it takes you up to
14. "It's been a tough and frustrating season for the players on that
casualty list. We are doing everything we can to try and get it right."
Curbishley continued: "Week-in, week-out, we cannot keep a settled side.
People talk to me about last year and the run-in. Well the last nine games I
think we used 13 players - it was the first time I could play the same team
every week. "I have never been in that position this year let alone been
able to pick from a fully fit squad. "We have got a big squad and thankfully
that has held us in good stead. I know I have got a big squad and if
everybody was fit I would have a few problems - but they are not. "When I
get everybody fit I think I will have a decent squad and I am hoping that is
going to come to fruition after the summer. "This group of players have
stood up most weeks to be counted when we have unbelievable problems. So, I
think we should have more appreciation."
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West Ham kid Jeffery impressing at Cambridge
tribalfootball.com - April 20, 2008
West Ham United youngster Jack Jeffery is impressing on-loan at Conference
club Cambridge United. Jeffery struck in Cambridge's victory over Salisbury
and manager Jimmy Quinn said: "I told Jack before the game I had a feeling
he was going to score today. "I am delighted for him. He's worked very hard
since he's been here and that will do his confidence the world of good."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss delighted with Tomkins form
tribalfooball.com - April 20, 2008
West Ham United boss Alan Curbishley singled out James Tomkins for praise
after their victory over Derby County. He told whufc.com: "Tomkins had an
excellent game. He came in [last month in the 1-1 draw] at Everton and got
caught for the goal. I thought he got stronger as the game went on today. I
was really pleased with him and the fact that this group of players have
stood up to be counted most weeks and got us where we are when we have had
unbelievable problems just getting out there sometimes."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Curbishley happy with Roehampton Uni involvement
tribalfootball.com - April 20, 2008
West Ham United boss Alan Curbishley is eager to hear from Roehampton
University staff over their review of the club's fitness facilities.
Roehampton University's Sport Performance Assessment and Rehabilitation
Centre (SPARC) is set to work alongside staff at Chadwell Heath, with the
club also looking at everything from footwear to training pitches.
Curbishley told whufc.com: "We are taking advice on all aspects of where we
are and what we are trying to do and [we will] see what comes out of it.
Roehampton work with elite athletes and go across the board from diets up to
rehab and training."
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West Ham, Sunderland in for Depor striker Xisco
tribalfootball.com - April 20, 2008
Deportivo La Coruna striker Xisco is attracting Premiership interest. West
Ham and Sunderland are battling it out to sign Xisco . The striker is valued
at £10m but the club do not want to sell.
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Sunderland plan £8M bid for West Ham's Ashton
tribalfootball.com - April 20, 2008
Sunderland boss Roy Keane is planning an £8 million bid for West Ham striker
Dean Ashton. The People says Ashton, 24, was wanted by Newcastle under the
club's previous managers Sam Allardyce and Glenn Roeder, but Kevin Keegan is
now happy with his strikeforce, leaving Sunderland in the box seat to snap
up the England hopeful.
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